declare cur cursor for Select Table_Name From INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS Where column_name = 'INV_DATE'
declare @tablename nvarchar(max)
declare @sqlstring nvarchar(max)
open cur
fetch next from cur into @tablename
while @@fetch_status=0
begin
--print @tablename
set @sqlstring = 'update '+@tablename+' SET INV_DATE = CONVERT(varchar(10),INV_DATE,105)'
exec sp_executesql @sqlstring
fetch next from cur into @tablename
end
close cur
deallocate cur
Please suggest me a solution
current format:2016-03-31 00:00:00.000
Required Format:31-03-2016
DataType:DateTime
But it's a rookie mistake, and I'll answer it as a result.
There is but one solution: change your database.
Never store dates in NVARCHAR columns - always use DATETIME or DATE instead.
If you use the wrong column datatype it's easy to set up, and lazy to get the user data into - but it always gives total nightmares after that - because the data in your DB is not valid, or is not in a consistent format, or is in a different format from that which SQL expects.
Think about it: 10/11/12 is a valid date. But is it 10th Nov 2012, 11th Oct 2012, 12th Nov 2010, or some other value entirely? The only time you can tell is when the user inputs the value, and you use his culture to convert it to a DateTime value - as soon as it arrives in the DB it's too late because you no longer have any idea what date format he used: it could be US: MM/DD/YY, European: DD/MM/YY, or ISO / Japanese YY/MM/DD - and you don't even know that the user is using the same calendar as you so the year could be well different (the Hijri date today is Jumada Al-Awwal 3, 1438)! Or even that he didn't enter "hello, my name is Jackie" which isn't even close to a date.
So when you try to convert it to a date at a later time you are almost guaranteed to get errors because the SQL server will try to convert it using it's culture - and generally you don't even know what culture the server is set to!
Always use appropriate data types - it may be easier for your code to slam in NVARCHAR all the time, but it wastes huge amounts of effort later fixing up the holes it leaves.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
SQL update invINVOICE set INV_DATE =convert( datetime , convert ( datetime ,INV_DATE ,( 105 )))
But still got the same error while running the query.
I already written script for database to convert all the columns to datetime with a format '2016-03-31 00:00:00.000'
Now they want only date format containing dd-mm-yyyy.
Please suggest me solution this time.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
@OriginalGriff has said but perhaps use Date instead of DateTime . Anything else should be done in the presentation layer.
TarunKumarSusarapu wrote: Now they want only date format containing dd-mm-yyyy.
Store the values in a datetime , datetime2 or date column. That will store the actual date value, without any associated formatting.
Date and Time Types[^]
Any formatting of the value should be done when you display the date values in your application or report.
SQL Server Reporting Services and Crystal Reports have built-in support for specifying the format of date columns.
In a .NET application, pass a standard[^] or custom[^] format string to the DateTime value's ToString method.
C# DateTime invoiceDate = row.Field( " INV_DATE" ); string displayValue = invoiceDate.ToString( " dd-MM-yyyy" );
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
SQL alter table GL add GL_DATE1 datetime null update GL set GL_DATE=convert( datetime ,GL_DATE, 104 ) update GL set GL_DATE1=GL_DATE alter table GL drop column GL_DATE SP_RENAME ' GL.GL_DATE1' , ' GL_DATE' , ' column'
please give me the advice to copy data from one field to another field using the temp table.
This space for rent
I ' m creating some very large images in .net and i' m using JPEG compression to get the file size down. However, if the image exceeds 65 , 000 (ish) pixels in either width or height, I can no longer use jpeg compression. Is there a max dimensions limit for JPEG? the exception being thrown is : System.Runtime.InteropServices.ExternalException ( 0x80004005 ): A generic error occurred in GDI+. at System.Drawing.Image.Save( String filename, ImageCodecInfo encoder, EncoderParameters encoderParams) the code that is saving the image: public static void SaveImage( ref Bitmap b, string fName) { long quailty = 75 ; ImageCodecInfo jpgEncoder = getEncoder(ImageFormat.Jpeg); Encoder myEncoder = Encoder.Quality; using (EncoderParameters myEncoderParameters = new EncoderParameters( 1 )) { using (EncoderParameter myEncoderParameter = new EncoderParameter(myEncoder, quailty)) { myEncoderParameters.Param[0] = myEncoderParameter; b.Save(fName, jpgEncoder, myEncoderParameters); } } } in the case of the above exception the image is 2 ,000x100, 000 the magic number seems to be in the 65k range, both width and height. Like, I can do 4 ,000x55, 000 but not 2x70000.
I would suggest too to use PNG or TIFF instead. They are lossless and allow you to reload the same image which would not happen with JPEG.
Quote: The theoretical maximum of a jpeg image is 65,535 x 65,535 (width x height). This is because the fields containing the height and widths is a word (2 bytes wide, or 16 bits). Any limitation below that, I presume is software limitation, not jpeg standard.
Have you considered PNG format? It is readily interpreted by most browsers and software on most operating systems and it allows theoretical 4,294,967,295 x 4,294,967,295.
(How big (in pixels) can a jpg image file be - Photo.net Digital Darkroom Forum[^])
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
It would still contain the same data, just not have the limitation that it needs to be read as a single entity.
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] Bastard Programmer from Hell
The Port of Seattle is projecting more than a million passengers this year, following an all-time record last year with 203 calls and 983,539 passengers, Michael McLaughlin, director of cruise and maritime operations, told Cruise Industry News.
He attributed the increase to some schedule changes as well as having the Explorer of the Seas and the Celebrity Solstice, two of the largest ships the respective brands deploy in the market. Both brands did well last year and are expected to do well again this year, he said.
Another increase may come in 2018, with the introduction of the Norwegian Bliss, assuming the other brands maintain their market share.
Norwegian Agreement
When the Bliss arrives, she will be the first brand new ship, coming directly from the shipyard to homeport in Seattle.
She is part of a 15-year agreement between the Port of Seattle and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which also includes the $30 million improvement to the Bell Street Cruise Terminal. That work started as soon the 2016 cruise season finished, working double shifts, six days a week, according to McLaughlin, who said it is slated to be completed by April, in time for the 2017 season.
We are going from a 44,000-square-foot passenger terminal to a 151,000-square-foot terminal within the existing building structure, he explained. We are able to do that by repurposing space that has been used for offices, retail, a museum and a deli. It will be a cruise terminal primarily with a conference and event facility on the third floor for off-season use.
Bell Street and Smith Cove
The Bell Street (Pier 66) facility normally accommodates one big ship at a time, but the pier is long enough to accommodate two medium-sized ships, and McLaughlin would not preclude that they could have a big ship and a smaller ship at the same with the rising interest in expedition-style cruising.
Seattles other facility is Smith Cove (Pier 91), which has two berths, offering cold ironing at both. Last year, both the Explorer and the Solstice docked there on Fridays, taking the facility to its full potential, according to McLaughlin, meaning around 14,000 passengers being processed in one day.
Pilot Program
Last year, the port launched a pilot program with Delta from the end of July, using a temporary facility at Smith Cove where passengers could get their boarding passes, check in their luggage and then spend the day in Seattle before catching a late flight home.
McLaughlin said it turned out to be successful in terms of increasing passenger satisfaction and that other airlines were considering it for this year.
About 70 percent of the passengers fly in, and he said that the city is seeing more pre- and post-stays.
Planning Ahead
In the time frame the cruise lines have laid for the delivery of the LNG-fueled ships, I would like to think the port will be prepared to offer bunkering services, McLaughlin noted. We are seeing other LNG-fueled oceangoing ships in the Northwest. Tote Shipping in Tacoma, for example, recently got the green light for a LNG distribution facility.
Having the supply from Tacoma or British Columbia, the inter-harbor barging can work similar to the way it works today.
Also locally is Harley Marine, which is gearing up its fleet of tugs to do distribution of LNG. While some tugs may be retrofitted to run LNG, barges are being designed for distribution.
We will be ready once these cruise ships come to this part of the world.
He attributed the ports success to taking a more hands-on approach working with the terminal operator and not just being a landlord with tenants. We engage with the terminal operators on a weekly basis; we also engage with the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and the City of Seattle. It takes that collective effort to build the reputation we have earned. he said.
---
Get an in-depth, behind the scenes look at the North America cruise market and the ports that make it happen in the 2016-2017 Winter edition Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine. Subscribe today.
One-size-fits-all regulations arent working for credit unions, consumers and small financial institutions, CUNA Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan explains in CUNAs latest advocacy update video. In the latest video, Donovan stresses the importance of support from the credit union community, particularly leading up to this years CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC).
The overregulation of small institutions is hurting consumers, costing them time and money and limiting their choices, Donovan said. As such, now is the time for Congress to enact regulatory reform that works for credit union members, common sense regulations that work for everyday Americans. And do to this, well need your help.
RACINE House Speaker Paul Ryan says the rollout of a travel ban was confusing but he remains supportive of an executive order banning refugees and travelers from several predominantly Muslim countries.
Protests erupted across the country after President Donald Trump last week signed the order, which includes a 90-day ban on travel to the United States by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
On Monday, a group of about 30 Jewish activists and others demonstrated at Ryans Downtown Racine office calling on him to rescind his support for the ban.
Its regrettable that there was some confusion on the rollout of this. No one wanted to see people with green cards or special immigrant visas, like translators, get caught up in all of this, Ryan, who represents Racine County, said Tuesday at a press conference in Washington, D.C.
Regrettably, the rollout was confusing. But on a go-forward basis, Im confident that (Department of Homeland Security) Secretary (John) Kelly is going to make sure that this is done correctly.
Ryan said the country needs to ensure vetting of immigrants is strong to guarantee the safety of the country. He added the United States can be welcoming to refugees and watch our national security at the same time.
But critics have denounced the ban as un-American and immoral, saying refusing entry to people fleeing war-torn and dangerous countries goes against the countrys values.
In a letter delivered to Ryans Racine office, 216 Sixth St., Jewish activists evoked the history of European Jews who were turned away from countries, including the U.S., during World War II and later perished in the Holocaust.
While President Trump claims this policy was made in the name of national security, we question how a policy that essentially singles out Muslims and Muslin nations could possibly make us safer, wrote Rachel Buff and Rabbi Brant Rosen of Jewish Voice for Peace.
On the contrary, we believe it will only further serve the cause of Muslim extremist groups, who now honestly say to potential recruits that the U.S. president has public said, I think Islam hates us.
I recently attended the 2017 State Government Affairs Conference in Wisconsin, where CUNAs Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan addressed the audience about the new administration, credit union advocacy and lobbying for credit unions in Washington. He told us that, regardless of whos sitting in office, politics is won by those who show up. He also mentioned that on Capitol Hill, credit union people are known as the nice guys.
That got me thinking about two things when it comes to credit union advocacy. For one, whos showing up on behalf of credit unions? And for two, are we finishing last when we show up as the nice guys?
I dont want credit unions to finish last. If you dont either, fortunately there is something we all can do about it. And we dont need to be lobbyists or lawmakers to make a difference. Its a grassroots world we live in today.
Show Up
If you believe that credit unions are a valuable contribution to society and that wed be worse off without them, that means its your job to show up for credit unions. Its as simple as that. Too often we look around thinking if only someone would do something Whenever I think that, I force myself to recognize that someone is me. That someone is all of us.
Heres how to tell if youre the someone that should show up for credit unions:
Do you believe in the cause?
Do you know people that could benefit from using a credit union?
Do you have a Facebook account?
If youve answered yes to all 3 questions, congratulations, youve made the cut! You can be an advocate for credit unions!
If youve ever heard the saying credit unions are the best kept secret and wondered why they theyre such a secretor if youre baffled why not every person in the world isnt already a credit union member, take a moment to reflect on your thoughts, gather your best credit union stories and take it to Facebook. Pour out your true, genuine, real and vulnerable stories about why credit unions matter to you.
Why social media for grassroots advocacy? Advocate any way you feel comfortable, but know that social media gives individuals the power of reach far beyond anything weve seen in the past decade.
A few quick stats on the scope of social media from Pew Research:
The average social media user today has 850 unique connections across their networks.
79% of American adults who use the Internet are regular users of social media.
Content shared by an individual on Facebook receives on average 8 times the engagement that the same content shared by a brand page receives.
Facebook, with 1.8 billion active users worldwide, has recently pivoted away from prioritizing branded content in favor of content shared by individuals to their personal networks.
2.1 billion people worldwide are active users of social media.
I challenge you if youre reading this nowgo post one story on social media about why credit unions matter to you. Watch what response you get. Engage with your networks. This is how you show up for credit unions. Stop looking for someone else to do this work.
Stop Being Nice
What does it mean to stop being the nice guy when it comes to credit union advocacy? In this case, the opposite isnt to be mean. Its about being fierce. Being passionate. Being skilled and knowledgeable. Being confident. Having a plan and being relentlessly loud about why credit unions matter.
We had a book club meeting over lunch one day at Filene where we talked about the digital think tank, evolving to be digital-first and distributing information in more effective ways. One key take-away for us was to use our professional development allowances and opportunities to build our own digital communication and content marketing skills.
Regardless of job title, every aspect of any organization improves when individuals learn basic competency in digital communication and content marketing skills. Take a lesson from new school journalism where the most successful reporters today are also novice designers, editors, photographers, videographers, marketers and social media strategists. These people can see the full picture of how to find, create, produce, package and deliver a compelling and effective story.
This is how you should be thinking as a credit union advocate; about improving your competency at knowing what message will work, with what audience, delivered in what way. This is how you move from being the nice guy about credit union advocacy, to being the strategic thinker that gets your message through the clutter, on top of the pile, and noticed!
Final thought:
Its only through a combination of showing up with a message to tell and gaining skills at getting that message heard that advocacy efforts become effective.
None of this is rocket science, or even a new concept for that matter, but its effective and it needs to be happening now more than ever. With the uncertainty of a new administration and changing economic times, we need credit unions to be a strong foundation for our communities. Its a symbiotic community eco-system; while we count on credit unions to serve us, they count on us to advocate for them.
Something was changing in the community. The staff Prime Financial Credit Union could feel it.
More visitors to the 90-year-old cooperative were asking for Spanish translators and fewer came equipped with the basics of U.S. financial system awareness.
It got to the point where it was a topic of conversation at every meeting, says Colleen Jakubowski, chief operating officer of $111 million asset credit union in Cudahy, Wis. We knew there was a Hispanic community here. But we didnt know how large it was, nor how underserved many of the members of that community were.
Amid those enthusiastic discussions, a member of the Prime Financial marketing team brought forward research on the make-up of the local community.
The explosive growth of the Hispanic consumer segment was an eye-opening finding.
Members of the Dal community expressed shock, sympathy and solidarity in the wake of Sunday nights attack at a mosque in Quebec City.
Campus flags were lowered on Monday, and hundreds attended a vigil on Dals Studley Campus to honour the victims.
The vigil, organized Monday by the Dalhousie Muslim Students Association (DMSA), was one of dozens held in cities and communities across Nova Scotia and Canada throughout the day.
"The only reason we are here today is because hate has drawn us here," said Masuma Asad Khan, DMSA's president. "But what is going to come out of a vigil like this is nothing but love."
While Dal President Richard Florizone was travelling and unable to attend in person, he similarly expressed solidarity in the wake of the shooting.
Sundays shooting in Quebec City was shocking and tragic, and an affront to values we hold dear as members of the Dalhousie community and as Canadians," he said. "In expressing our condolences to all affected, we stand in solidarity with our Muslim community and all Canadians in our commitment to building a more just, diverse and inclusive world."
A painful reminder
Students, staff, faculty and community members converged on the lower quad at 4 p.m. for the vigil, which included remarks from several students, prayers, a traditional Mikmaq song and a moment of silence for the six dead and more than a dozen injured in the shooting.
Amina Abawajy, the Dalhousie Student Unions vice-president academic and external, said the attack was a reminder that Canada is not immune to racism and Islamophobia.
"Hate crimes against Muslims are happening in their own homes, they're happening in their places of worship, she said.
Despite having been born and raised in Canada, Abawajy says she herself has been subject to racism from people telling her to go home to your own country and to not bomb people.
"This is a reality of so many Muslims in the community," she said.
She encouraged those non-Muslims gathered to offer support to Muslims in their own lives and to interject if they witness discrimination and violence, big or small, happening.
Supporting one another
Fourth-year Industrial Engineering student Yazan Khader echoed Abawajys remarks, urging non-Muslims to have the courage to reach out and do what they can to help Muslims experiencing racism.
Khader, a third-generation Canadian whose grandfather originally came to Canada as a refugee from Palestine, spoke about his own identity and the many different elements that shaped it.
I say all these things to remind you and to remind myself how complex we can be, the many things that can make us, he said. For us to be reduced to one thing and for that one thing to be twisted and turned and made ugly can be very painful and very dark."
Many vigil attendees shed their gloves and mittens to light and hold candles during the assembly despite the chilly temperature. And yet, despite the cold, many continued onwards to a second vigil at the Halifaxs Grand Parade Square, scheduled for 6 p.m.
When we need each other, we can gather together just like this today and stand with one another, said Khan, together holding each other, healing with one another instead of hurting one another."
Tau is a key brain protein involved in Alzheimer's disease and other brain diseases. Aggregates of Tau known as "neurofibrillary tangles" have been associated with nerve cell death and cognitive decline.
An important new Tel Aviv University study published in Molecular Psychiatry pinpoints the mechanism harnessed by the drug candidate NAP to block the formation of these harmful neurofibrillary tangles. It facilitates the interaction of Tau with microtubules, the minitubes that serve as "train tracks" for essential movement of biological material in nerve cells.
"Abnormal Tau proteins form tangles that contribute to the progression of Alzheimer's disease," said Prof. Illana Gozes, who led the research for the study. "We showed here, for the first time, that the drug candidate NAP augmented microtubule movement in nerve cells. At the molecular level, NAP, a fragment of activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP), enhanced Tau-microtubule interactions that block the recruitment of Tau to the tangles observed in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders."
Prof. Gozes is the incumbent of the Lily and Avraham Gildor Chair for the Investigation of Growth Factors, Head of the Elton Laboratory for Molecular Neuroendocrinology at TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and a member of TAU's Adams Super Center for Brain Studies and the Sagol School of Neuroscience.
Stabilizing a neurobiological process
Prof. Gozes is responsible for discovering ADNP, a gene that is dysregulated in Alzheimer's. Mutations in ADNP that occur in pregnancy are a major cause of autism with intellectual disability.
"ADNP and NAP operate through the stabilization of microtubules -- tubes within the cell that maintain cellular shape," Prof. Gozes said. "They transport biological material. These microtubules break down in in Alzheimer's disease and may be dysfunctional in autism. NAP works to protect the microtubules, thereby protecting the cell."
"We now discovered that ADNP dramatically enhances Tau binding to the microtubules, protecting them against destruction and against Tau pathology. We further discovered that this action of ADNP is through its NAP fragment, which is now intended for further clinical development."
"Knowing the precise mechanism of its action, it will be much easier to bring NAP to the clinic and to patients," said Prof. Gozes. "Furthermore, the precise mechanism defines a new drug target for autism spectrum disorders, Alzheimer's disease and many other neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases."
###
The research for the study was conducted by TAU graduate students Yanina Ivashko-Pachima and Dr. Anna Malishkevich, together with Dr. Laura C. Sayas of Centro de Investigaciones Biomedicas de Canarias. NAP (now called CP201), a Tel Aviv University technology under a term sheet agreement with Coronis Neurosciences, is now planned for future clinical trials in patients with autism, specifically those with ADNP-related syndrome.
Tel Aviv University (TAU) is inherently linked to the cultural, scientific and entrepreneurial mecca it represents. It is one of the world's most dynamic research centers and Israel's most distinguished learning environment. Its unique-in-Israel multidisciplinary environment is highly coveted by young researchers and scholars returning to Israel from post-docs and junior faculty positions in the US.
American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) enthusiastically and industriously pursues the advancement of TAU in the US, raising money, awareness and influence through international alliances that are vital to the future of this already impressive institution.
WASHINGTON, D.C., January, 31, 2017 -- Our muscles are amazing structures. With the trigger of a thought, muscle filaments slide past each other and bundles of contracting fibers pull on the bones moving our bodies. The triggered stretching behavior of muscle is inherently based in geometry, characterized by a decrease in length and increase in volume (or vice versa) in response to a change in the local environment, such as humidity or heat.
Variations of this dynamic geometry appear elsewhere in nature, exhibiting a variety of mechanisms and structures and inspiring development in artificial muscle technology. Spider silk, specifically Ornithoctonus Huwena spider silk, now offers the newest such inspiration thanks to research from a collaboration of scientists in China and the U.S., the results of which are published today in Applied Physics Letters, from AIP Publishing.
"Spider silk is a natural biological material with high sensitivity to water, which inspires us to study about the interaction between spider silk and water," said Hongwei Zhu, a professor in Tsinghua University's School of Material Science and Engineering in Beijing and part of the collaboration. "Ornithoctonus Huwena spider is a unique species as it can be bred artificially and it spins silk of nanoscale diameter."
Besides the shrink-stretch ability of muscles, the way in which the motion is triggered -- how the muscle is actuated -- is a key part of its functionality. These spider silk fibers, actuated by water droplets, showed impressive behavior in all the ways that matter to muscle performance (or to super heroes that may need them to swing from buildings).
"In this work, we reveal the 'shrink-stretch' behavior of the Ornithoctonus Huwena spider silk fibers actuated by water, and successfully apply it on weight lifting," said Zhu. "The whole process can cover a long distance with a fast speed and high efficiency, and further be rationalized through an analysis of the system's mechanical energy."
The research team looked at the actuation process in a few different scenarios, capturing the macro dynamics of the flexing fibers with high speed imaging. They actuated bare fibers on a flat surface (a microscope slide) and while dangling from a fixed point (held with tweezers) before adding a weight to the dangling configuration to test its lifting abilities.
Zhu and his group also investigated the micro structure of the proteins that make up the fibers, revealing the protein infrastructure that leads to its hydro-reflexive action.
Electron microscopy gave a clear picture of the smooth inner threads that make up the fibrous structure, and a laser-driven technique, called Raman spectroscopy, revealed the precise conformation of the protein folding structures making up each layer. Fundamentally, the specific molecular configurations, in this case having proteins that have a strong affinity for water and that rearrange in the presence of water, give rise to the spider silk's actuation.
"Alpha-helices and beta-sheets are two types of secondary protein folding structures in spider silk proteins," said Zhu. "Beta-sheets act as crosslinks between protein molecules, which are thought relevant to the tensile strength of spider silk. A-helices are polypeptide chains folded into a coiled structure, which are thought relevant to the extensibility and elasticity in spider silk protein."
Returning the fiber back to its relaxed state (as one-use muscles are far less useful) requires only removing the water, which offers conservation along with its simplicity. With some fine tuning, there is also potential for designing the precise behavior of the shrink-stretch cycle.
"In addition, as the falling water droplet can be collected and recycled, the lifting process is energy-saving and environmentally friendly," said Zhu. "This has provided the possibility that the spider silk can act as biomimetic muscle to fetch something with low energy cost. It can be further improved to complete staged shrink-stretch behavior by designing the silk fiber's thickness and controlling droplet's volume."
Understanding this remarkable material offers new insight for developing any of a number of drivable, flexible devices in the future.
"The interaction between matter and liquid may result in the structural changes of materials, which can be further applied to actuators, sensors and flexible devices," Zhu said.
###
The article, "Water-Driven Actuation of Ornithoctonus Huwena Spider Silk Fibers," is authored by Shuyuan Lin, Jia Zhu, Xinming Li, Yang Guo, Yaopeng Fang, Huanyu Cheng, and Hongwei Zhu. The article appears in Applied Physics Letters on January 31, 2017 (DOI: 10.1063/1.4974350). It can be accessed at: http://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/1.4974350.
ABOUT THE JOURNAL
Applied Physics Letters features concise, rapid reports on significant new findings in applied physics. The journal covers new experimental and theoretical research on applications of physics phenomena related to all branches of science, engineering, and modern technology. See http://apl.aip.org.
In 2012 this amounted to US$ 1436 billion, nearly 40 percent of which was borne by developing countries
Smoking consumes almost 6 per cent of the world's total spend on healthcare and nearly 2 per cent of global GDP, reveals the first study of its kind, published in the journal Tobacco Control.*
In 2012 the total cost amounted to US$ 1436 billion, with nearly 40 per cent of this sum borne by developing countries, the calculations show.
The detrimental impact of smoking on national health systems and economies has been widely studied since the 1960s, but most of these studies have focused exclusively on high income countries, say the researchers.
They wanted to include low and middle income countries to come up with more accurate estimates of the total global cost. And so they included data from 152 countries representing 97% of the world's smokers, from Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific.
They used the 'cost of illness' approach, first devised in 1960. This divides the economic impact of an illness into direct costs, such as hospital admissions and treatment, and indirect costs representing the value of productivity lost to death and disability in current and future years, for a given year.
The direct and indirect costs are then added up to provide the overall societal cost, usually expressed as a percentage of annual gross domestic product (GDP).
The researchers trawled through four leading research databases for relevant studies on direct costs, finding 33, and covering the 44 countries which account for 86% of the world's total spend on healthcare.
They estimated the indirect costs, using a validated method (HCM) which calculates the current value of productivity lost to illness/disability and death.
And they used data from sources such as the World Health Organization and the World Bank to uncover information on the proportion of ill health and death attributable to smoking, national employment rates, and GDP for each of the 152 countries, to inform their calculations.
These showed that in 2012, diseases caused by smoking accounted for 12% (2.1 million) of all deaths among working age adults aged 30-69--with the highest proportion in Europe and the Americas. This figure included 1.4 million adults who would have been in the workforce.
The number of working years lost because of smoking related ill health added up to 26.8 million, 18 million of which were lost to death with the remainder lost to disability.
In terms of health spend attributable to smoking, this totalled US$ 422 billion, equivalent to nearly 6% of the global total, with the highest share in Europe and the Americas. In Eastern Europe alone, the calculations indicated that this proportion was 10% of the total healthcare spend for that sub-region.
Based on all these figures, the researchers calculated that the total economic cost of smoking was US$ 1436 billion in 2012, equivalent to 1.8% of the world's GDP, overall. But there were substantial regional/subregional variations.
The equivalent proportion of the GDP of Canada and the US combined was 3%, and 2.5% in Europe, and 3.6% in Eastern Europe.
Almost 40% of the global economic cost was borne by low and middle income countries; the four BRIC countries -- Brazil, Russia, India and China--accounted for 25% of it.
The researchers point out that their calculations did not include the health and economic harms caused by second hand smoke or smokeless forms of tobacco, and that their estimates of lost productivity applied only to those who were economically active.
But they emphasise that in 2015 the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes 17 goals that all member states have signed up to achieve by 2030. Goal 3 includes a target to cut by a third early deaths from non-communicable diseases, such as those caused by smoking, and to strengthen national implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
"Smoking imposes a heavy economic burden throughout the world, particularly in Europe and North America where the tobacco epidemic is most advanced," they conclude.
They add: "These findings highlight the urgent need for all countries to implement comprehensive tobacco control measures to address these economic costs, while also helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the member states."
###
*This study contributed to the body of evidence made available in the monograph The Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Control, launched earlier this month by the National Cancer Institute and the WHO.
Research: Global economic cost of smoking attributable diseases http://tobaccontrol.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053305
About the journal
Tobacco Control is one of 60 specialist journals published by BMJ. http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com
A new species of lobopodian, a worm-like animal with soft legs from the Cambrian period (541 to 485 million years ago), has been described for the first time from fossils found in the Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Details of the new species, called Ovatiovermis cribratus, are being published in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology this week.
Dr Jean-Bernard Caron, senior curator of invertebrate paleontology at Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), associate professor at the University of Toronto in the Departments of Earth Sciences and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and lead author of the study, said: "Ovatiovermis is no longer than my thumb with all limbs stretched out and is only known from two specimens. However this new species provides fantastic new insights into the ecology and relationship of lobopodians, a group of mainly Cambrian marine invertebrates which are key to our understanding of modern tardigrades, onychophorans and the largest group of animals on Earth -- the arthropods."
The researchers believe that strong recurved claws on the back limbs may have allowed Ovatiovermis and other related lobopodian species to anchor themselves on hard surfaces and stand more or less upright. Two long pairs of spinulose (hairy or spiky) limbs towards the front of the body would then have been used to filter or collect food from water and bring it closer to the animals' mouth.
Cedric Aria, a doctoral candidate from the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto and co-author of the study, explained: "The various adaptations of this new animal to anchored particle feeding are reflected in its name. The species, cribratus, is the Latin for 'to sieve', while the genus name, Ovatiovermis, refers to that posture it must have ordinarily adopted: a worm-like creature that stood in perpetual ovation."
Even though lobopodians have long been known and studied, and occupy an intriguing position in the tree of life of invertebrate animals, their ecology had remained poorly understood. The authors of the study believe that their findings provide new views on the evolution of lobopodians and their relatives.
Aria added: "We think that suspension feeding was common among lobopodians and turned out to be important in the initial evolutionary 'burst' of that colossal group of organisms that gave rise to water bears, velvet worms and arthropods. Interestingly, today, skeleton shrimps (Caprellidae), which are arthropods and thus much more complex living relatives of the lobopodians, have adopted a very similar lifestyle, and you can see them waving in the drifting water possibly much like Ovatiovermis used to. "
Dr. Caron further stated: "These results contribute further evidence that suspension feeding was already a widespread mode of life during the Cambrian period. Its emergence has been important for the origin of modern marine ecosystems, and must have played a role in the rapid diversification of the first animals. "
The researchers were surprised to find that unlike other suspension feeding organisms, O. cribratus, did not have any hard structures to protect its body. Dr Caron said: "Contrary to its relatives, this species does not have any spines or plates on its body for protection. Its 'naked' state begs the question of how it was able to guard against predators."
The lack of body protection in O. cribratus demonstrates that organisms that lived in the Cambrian period did not exclusively develop hard defensive structures. The researchers speculate that O. cribratus may have lived in sponge colonies to avoid predators, or that by analogy with modern animals it used camouflage or was toxic or distasteful to predators. "However, this is a question that is difficult to solve with fossils, and it may remain forever one of Ovatiovermis' secrets," Dr Caron added.
The new species is only the third lobopodian that has been formally described from the famous Burgess Shale site in Yoho National Park (British Columbia). It is one of the rarest species found there, and the only two known specimens of this species are now in the collections of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.
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BINGHAMTON, NY - Fake news and fear-based political dialogue are nothing new to politics. In fact, the Founding Fathers of the United States used these types of tactics to unite the 13 colonies during the American Revolution, according to a new book from Robert Parkinson, assistant professor of history at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Fifteen years in the making, The Common Cause: Creating Race and Nation in the American Revolution (University of North Carolina Press) argues that political leaders, with an assist from newspaper printers, connected British aggression to the stereotypes and fears of Native Americans and blacks in an effort to unite the colonies. Following the battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, the patriots needed more than "the British are coming" to unify colonists up and down the coast and keep the war momentum going, said Parkinson. So they targeted black slaves, Indians and (for a short time) Hessian mercenaries as "proxies" of the British who were just as much a violent threat.
"The (patriots) reached into their toolbox and pulled out their most effective weapon," said Parkinson. "They were in emergency mode. ... The 13 colonies didn't like each other and didn't know anything about each other. If they didn't stick together, they were in big trouble."
Parkinson read every newspaper that is still available from the Revolutionary War era, and supplemented those 14 months of work by examining documents highlighting British tyranny from the time at the Boston Public Library and South Carolina Historical Association. He noticed that the front page of newspapers usually featured political essays stressing natural rights and liberties, while the back page offered local advertisements. The middle of the newspapers, however, featured the same dark stories about British tyranny.
"I would drive home and be astounded about how much news there was about African Americans and the potential threats of Native Americans, especially early in the war," said Parkinson. The fear tactics against blacks and Indians came when thousands of the minorities were fighting with the colonists. Six to 10 percent of the Continental Army was comprised of African Americans. Nevertheless, "blacks were always seen in the press as helping the British," Parkinson said. "They were portrayed constantly as aiding and abetting the enemy."
Although there were no reporters at the time, "people interested in the Revolution wanted (colonists) to know what they were doing," Parkinson said. Over time, newspapers were able to share not only resolutions from the Continental Congress, but "stories" issuing warnings about the potential of violence from British allies.
The Founding Fathers also were not shy about fabricating a story. In 1782, Benjamin Franklin--concerned about a potential reconciliation with Britain--reported that American forces had discovered packages containing the scalps of women and children taken by Seneca Indians. Franklin then wrote a fake letter from naval great John Paul Jones urging the importance of independence because the king "engages savages to murder their defenseless farmers, women and children."
By the war's end, the colonies gained their independence. But the "common cause" contributed to racial prejudice becoming ingrained in American society.
"We often give the founders a pass," Parkinson said. "We say: 'Look at all of the things they changed.' It's more complicated than that. Hamilton, Jefferson and all of the (founders)--despite all of their qualms about slavery--participated in the hardening and deepening of it."
The results of the "common cause" are still resonating today more than 230 years after the end of the Revolutionary War, said Parkinson.
"At the very heart of the republic is the idea of exclusion," said Parkinson. "It's the idea that some people are Americans and some people just don't belong. Those notions persist today. There are people who are automatically seen as outsiders. It is so deeply interwoven into the history of the United States. In many ways, it's what originally united the states."
"When somebody is always seen as a threat or suspicious, that's something that has evolved over the 19th and 20th centuries. But it is right there at the founding of the republic, and these are the men who buried those notions there."
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Annapolis, MD; Jan. 30, 2017 -- Carol M. Anelli, Ph.D., a distinguished professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Entomology at the Ohio State University, has been selected to deliver the Founders' Memorial Award lecture at Entomology 2017, the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), November 5-8 in Denver.
The Founders' Memorial Award was established in 1958 to honor the memory of scientists who made outstanding contributions to entomology. Each year at the ESA Annual Meeting, the recipient of the award delivers the Founders' Memorial Lecture, the topic of which is always a deceased entomologist.
At Entomology 2017, the subject of Dr. Anelli's lecture will be Anna Botsford Comstock (1854-1930), the first woman professor at Cornell University, known for her books on nature and conservation and for her wood-engraved illustrations of insects. She was the wife of John H. Comstock, a professor of entomology at Cornell and chief entomologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1879 to 1881. Her art gained recognition as it appeared in textbooks and publications written by her husband, and later she illustrated several of her own books, such as How to Keep Bees, Insect Life, and The Handbook of Nature Study. Anna Comstock was also a pioneer in designing nature study curricula that brought teachers and students outdoors.
Dr. Anelli is the fourth woman to be awarded the Founders' Memorial Award, and Comstock is the third woman honoree. This will be the first time in the award's 60-year history that both lecturer and honoree are female.
Dr. Anelli's career in entomology spans more than four decades, during which she has become renowned as both a researcher and an educator. Her research achievements include the publication of 36 refereed articles and one book chapter, spanning both insect physiology and science education methods. She has received multiple awards for her teaching, including ESA's Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching in 2009. Prior to joining Ohio State, Dr. Anelli served on the faculty for 17 years at Washington State University, first as a professor of entomology and later as Faculty Fellow in the Office of Assessment of Teaching and Learning. She also is deeply versed in the history of entomology, and her early career briefly took her to the same grounds once home to Anna Comstock, when she spent the summer of 1990 as a Historical/Archival Research Associate for Dr. Edward H. Smith, Emeritus Professor of Entomology at Cornell.
A core focus of Entomology 2017 will be scientific communication, with a stated theme urging entomologists to "Ignite. Inspire. Innovate."
"The recognition of Anna Comstock is very appropriate for the theme of our national meeting, as Anna has inspired so many of us over the decades to pursue the study of insects," says Gene Kritsky, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University and Editor-in-Chief of ESA's quarterly magazine, American Entomologist. "Moreover, Carol, a gifted educator herself, is uniquely qualified to present the Founders' Memorial Lecture to document Anna Comstock's many contributions."
Members of ESA's Early Career Professionals Committee nominated Dr. Anelli for the award, noting: "Loved by her students, admired by her colleagues, and an inspiration to entomologists across the United States, Carol possesses the key qualities required for successful entomological education in the digital age. Combined with her expertise on historical and cultural entomology, there are few others who would be better to speak on the like-minded educator and teacher, Anna Comstock."
Dr. Anelli will deliver the Founders' Memorial Lecture at the Entomology 2017 Awards Breakfast, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7.
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CONTACT: Joe Rominiecki, jrominiecki@entsoc.org, 301-731-4535 x3009
ABOUT: ESA is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 6,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. The Society stands ready as a scientific and educational resource for all insect-related topics. For more information, visit http://www.entsoc.org.
Entomology 2017, the 65th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, will take place November 5-8 at the Denver Convention Center in Denver, Colorado. The theme "Ignite. Inspire. Innovate." highlights a vision to increase science communication within the research community. ESA's annual meeting brings together approximately 3,000 insect scientists to share their latest research and communicate the global science of entomology. For more information, visit http://entsoc.org/events/annual-meeting.
New research published in the journal Biological Conservation sheds light on the contentious debate surrounding large Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that restrict or prohibit fishing and other activities. By combining established shark tracking methods with the publicly available Global Fishing Watch platform that allows anyone to track fishing activity anywhere in the world, scientists have demonstrated that remote areas of the ocean can be monitored effectively, and that large Marine Protected Areas can benefit a declining mobile species such as the grey reef shark.
In addition, their results revealed much more fishing activity than expected around the remote MPA studied.
In 2016, 33 countries agreed to establish a global network of scientifically supported MPAs that will increase the amount of ocean area protected from the current 2 percent to 10 percent by the year 2020. However, with relatively few studies on the impacts of MPAs on both marine species and fishermen, skeptics have argued that monitoring such large areas (some twice the size of Texas) is prohibitively difficult, and protection is unnecessary because fishing is minimal in remote regions where large MPAs are located.
This study provides much needed scientific evidence to inform the debate. The researchers compared fishing activity from Global Fishing Watch (a partnership between Oceana, SkyTruth and Google) to the movements of tagged reef sharks throughout the U.S. Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, a large MPA in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Their results showed that most satellite-tracked reef sharks remained within the MPA, while virtually all fishing vessels remained outside. "Not only does this study demonstrate that establishing MPAs can reduce fishing in environmentally important areas and protect critical species," said David Kroodsma, research program manager for Global Fishing Watch and a co-author on the study, "but it also demonstrates that fishing activity in vast, remote areas of the ocean that have been previously invisible can now be monitored by everyone,"
To determine fishing activity, Global Fishing Watch's machine learning algorithm analyzes satellite signals from vessel Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and identifies likely fishing activity based on vessel movements and behavior. Working with 593,807 AIS signals from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014, the team identified 193 commercial vessels fishing within their study region. By totaling the number of days that each vessel fished for at least part of the day, the researchers calculated a combined total of 6,752 fishing days during those 24 months. Fishing hotspots just outside the MPA's southeastern border and outside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) accounted for the majority of those fishing days--a sharp contrast to just one fishing day inside the MPA and six fishing days in the U.S. EEZ.
"Our analysis also underscored the need for a global approach to fisheries management," Kroodsma said, noting that the vessels they identified were registered to 12 different countries distributed across Asia, Oceania, Europe, North America, Central America and South America.
Meanwhile, the shark tagging work revealed that large protected areas can benefit a mobile species--one that may travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers from its core habitat. From May to August 2013, Tim White, lead author on the study and a PhD candidate from Stanford University' Hopkins Marine Station, and his team tagged 11 grey reef sharks with satellite tracking devices. Combining that with an earlier survey using conventional tag-and-recover methods to monitor 262 grey reef sharks, the researchers found that most sharks stayed within the MPA.
Reef sharks are vital predators that help support healthy coral reef ecosystems and generate millions of ecotourism dollars. Many reef shark populations are in rapid decline, so, it is crucial to know if large MPAs are helping protect them. The study showed that a few sharks actually traveled vast distances into the open ocean. "One individual spent 97 percent of its time away from the reef," said White. "We recorded the largest known movements of a grey reef shark: nearly 1,000 kilometers into open ocean." Understanding those movements can help inform decisions on how best to design the global network of MPAs being called for by 2020.
The paper concludes that the new technology freely available through Global Fishing Watch opens the door for future research such as examining competition between fish and fishermen for forage fish, teasing apart the dynamics of human-marine predator interactions, and determining more accurate estimates of bycatch risk (unwanted catch that accounts for unnecessary death of many tons of marine life).
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Video
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one third of the world's wild fish catch. With over 100 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana's campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that one billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. To learn more, visit http://www.oceana.org.
SkyTruth is a nonprofit organization using remote sensing and digital mapping to create stunning images that expose the environmental impact of natural resource extraction and other human activities. We use satellite imagery and geospatial data to create compelling and scientifically credible visuals and resources to inform environmental advocates, policy-makers, the media, and the public. To learn more, visit SkyTruth.org.
Google Earth Outreach is a team dedicated to leveraging and developing Google's infrastructure to address environmental and humanitarian issues through partnerships with non-profits, educational institutions, and research groups. To learn more, visit earth.google.com/outreach.
*Any and all references to "fishing" should be understood in the context of Global Fishing Watch's fishing detection algorithm, which is a best effort to determine "apparent fishing activity" based on vessel speed and direction data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) collected via satellites and terrestrial receivers. As AIS data varies in completeness, accuracy and quality, it is possible that some fishing activity is not identified and conversely, that some fishing activity identified is not fishing. For these reasons, Global Fishing Watch qualifies all designations of vessel fishing activity, including synonyms of the term "fishing activity," such as "fishing" or "fishing effort," as "apparent," rather than certain. Any/all Global Fishing Watch information about "apparent fishing activity" should be considered an estimate and must be relied upon solely at your own risk. Global Fishing Watch is taking steps to make sure fishing activity designations are as accurate as possible.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASDE
An international research group of 32 experts from nine countries has updated the guidelines for diagnosing the genetic disease cystic fibrosis. The researchers expect that these guidelines will provide better direction for clinicians looking at patients with symptoms of the disease to make a correct diagnosis and recommend personalized treatment.
A report of the updated guidelines and two supplemental articles detailing their implications and the data used in their creation were published on Jan. 24 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
"We've more precisely defined what cystic fibrosis is. That precision was a result of the genetic research we did and from studying the many mutations associated with cystic fibrosis," says Patrick Sosnay, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an author on the papers.
Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening disease that occurs when an individual has two inherited mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. People with the disease exhibit symptoms in a variety of organs, but chronic and debilitating lung infections are often most prominent. There are more than 2,000 known mutations that can occur in the CFTR gene, but not all of them result in cystic fibrosis.
In an effort to better define cystic fibrosis and categorize the mutations associated with it, Sosnay and international collaborators have assembled data from patients in North America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Asia and South America to quantify and describe these mutations.
Called CFTR2 (the Clinical and Functional TRanslation of CFTR), the project began in 2008 and has thus far described about 300 out of the 2,000 known mutations, making it the most comprehensive compilation and evaluation of disease liability for all genetic diseases. As a result of CFTR2, mutations are now categorized as either cystic fibrosis causing, mutations of varying clinical consequence, non-cystic fibrosis causing or unknown. Mutations are categorized depending on whether the mutation meets clinical criteria and the likelihood that someone with the mutation will have cystic fibrosis.
The updated cystic fibrosis diagnosis consensus guidelines now recommend using CFTR2 as an aid to determine whether a patient has the genetic evidence of cystic fibrosis, a substantial update from the 23-mutation panel by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that has been in use since 2004.
"The stakes in categorizing a mutation are particularly high. For example, claiming that a mutation 100 percent causes cystic fibrosis may affect people's reproductive decisions if they believe their child will have the mutation," says Sosnay.
However, Sosnay believes that providing patients with all of the available information on cystic fibrosis may lead to more informed health care decisions and a better understanding of the wide spectrum of CFTR-related disease.
"Therapies exist for individuals with certain mutations. The compilation and availability of all this data can lead to more personalized medicine if people know what mutation(s) they have and seek appropriate care," adds Sosnay.
The new guidelines also standardized diagnostic criteria for individuals diagnosed outside of newborn screening. Newborn screening, which started in the U.S. in the 1980s and became rapidly adopted in the 1990s and 2000s, is a standard blood test performed soon after birth that is responsible for the majority of cystic fibrosis diagnoses. However, it's not consistently performed everywhere in the world, and even in the U.S., there is a possibility of a false negative.
Given that over one-third of all U.S. cystic fibrosis diagnoses in 2014 did not occur during newborn screening, it will remain necessary to diagnose cystic fibrosis outside of newborn screening.
Screening outside of the neonatal period relies on symptoms and evidence of CFTR dysfunction, usually indicated by a test for the amount of chloride in a person's sweat. Cystic fibrosis is caused by defects in a protein, coded for by the CFTR gene that is found in places such as the airways and sweat glands. Elevated levels of chloride in sweat provides direct evidence that the CFTR protein is not working, and is used as a main diagnostic test for CF.
Based on data collected from CFTR2 and other research recognizing all cases of cystic fibrosis, the new guidelines lowered the threshold for "possible" cystic fibrosis from 40 millimoles per liter to 30 millimoles per liter for all ages. A normal range for chloride concentration in sweat is 10 to 20 millimoles per liter, and 60 millimoles per liter constitutes a cystic fibrosis diagnosis.
A result of this updated guideline is that those with a chloride level between 30 and 40 millimoles per liter who were previously considered unlikely to have cystic fibrosis will now be reconsidered as possibly having cystic fibrosis or a related disease.
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Other authors on these papers include Karen S. Raraigh of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Terry B. White, Sarah E. Hempstead and Bruce C. Marshall of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Philip M. Farrell of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Clement L. Ren and Michelle S. of the Indiana University School of Medicine; Nico Derichs of Charite University Berlin; Jerry Nick of the National Jewish Center; Kris De Boeck of the University of Leuven; Danieli B. Salinas of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine; Emmanuelle Girodon of Groupe Hospitalier Cochin; and Carlo Castellani of the Ospedale Civile Maggiore.
Patrick Sosnay receives funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
MAYWOOD, IL - The American Urological Association has given Robert C. Flanigan, MD, chair of Loyola Medicine's department of urology, the association's highest honor.
Dr. Flanigan is recipient of the association's 2017 Ramon Guiteras Award, given annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the art and science of urology. The award is named after the founder of the AUA, the largest urological association in the world.
The association cited Dr. Flanigan for his "outstanding contributions to the art and science of urology as a surgeon, educator, leader and investigator, most notably in the field of uro-oncology."
Dr. Flanigan is president-elect of the AUA, which has more than 22,000 member urologists and urologic professionals from the United States and other countries. Urology is a surgical specialty that deals with diseases of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.
The AUA's mission is to promote the highest standards of urological clinical care through education, research and the formulation of healthcare policy.
Dr. Flanigan, who lives in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, is the Albert J. Jr. and Claire R. Speh professor and chair of the department of urology of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Flanigan has been department chair since 1986. He is a winner of the Stritch Medal, the highest honor bestowed on a Stritch faculty member or alum and is an honorary member of many urological societies worldwide.
Dr. Flanigan also is a member of dozens of medical and scientific societies and has been named to local and national top physician lists, including Chicago magazine's Top Doctors list.
Dr. Flanigan has been involved in basic and clinical research throughout his career. He has served as president of the American Board of Urology, president of the Society of Urologic Oncology and president of the Society of University Urologists. He was founder and first president of the Society of Urology Chairpersons and Program Directors.
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One of the big mysteries in the scientific world is how the ice sheets of Antarctica formed so rapidly about 34 million years ago, at the boundary between the Eocene and Oligocene epochs.
There are 2 competing theories:
The first explanation is based on global climate change: Scientists have shown that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels declined steadily since the beginning of the Cenozoic Era, 66 million years ago. Once CO2 dropped below a critical threshold, cooler global temperatures allowed the ice sheets of Antarctica to form.
The second theory focuses on dramatic changes in the patterns of ocean circulation. The theory is that when the Drake Passage (which lies between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica) deepened dramatically about 35 million years ago, it triggered a complete reorganization in ocean circulation. The argument is that the increased separation of the Antarctic land mass from South America led to the creation of the powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current which acted as a kind of water barrier and effectively blocked the warmer, less salty waters from the North Atlantic and Central Pacific from moving southwards towards the Antarctic land mass leading to the isolation of the Antarctic land mass and lowered temperatures which allowed the ice sheets to form.
No one has thought to link these two competing explanations before
A group of researchers, led by scientists in McGill University's Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences now suggest that the best way to understand the creation of this phenomenon is, in fact, by linking the two explanations.
In a paper published on the subject in Nature Geoscience earlier this week they argue that:
The deepening of the Drake Passage resulted in a change in ocean circulation that resulted in warm waters being directed northwards in circulation patterns like those found in the Gulf Stream that currently warms northwestern Europe.
That this shift in ocean currents, as the warmer waters were forced northward, lead to an increase in rainfall, which resulted, beginning about 35 million years ago to reduced carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Eventually, as the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dropped, as a result of a process known as silicate weathering (whereby silica-bearing rocks are slowly worn away by rainfall leading the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to eventually becomes trapped in limestone) there was such a significant drop in CO2 in the atmosphere that it reached a threshold where ice sheets could form rapidly in Antarctica.
Ocean circulation and climate change
Galen Halverson teaches in the Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Science at McGill and is one of the authors of the paper. He believes that no one has thought of combining the two theories before because it's not an intuitive idea to look at how the effects of changing patterns of ocean circulation, which occur on time scales of thousands of years, would effect global silicate weathering, which in turn controls global climate on time scales of 100s of thousands of years.
"It's an interesting lesson for us when it comes to climate change," says Halverson, "because what we get is a thumbnail shift between two stable climatic states in Antarctica - from no glaciers to glaciers. And what we see is both how complex climate changes can be and how profound an effect changing patterns of ocean circulation can have on global climate states, if looked at on a geological time scale."
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To read "Enhanced weathering and CO2 drawdown caused by latest Eocene strengthening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation," by Genevieve Elsworth, et al in Nature Geoscience: http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo2888.html doi:10.1038/ngeo2888
The research was funded by: the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Previous studies have shown that adults and young people who are physically active have a lower risk of developing depression. But the same effect has not been studied in children - until now.
Results from a new study are showing that children receive the same beneficial effect from being active. We're talking about moderate to vigorous physical activity that leaves kids sweaty or out of breath.
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and NTNU Social Research have followed hundreds of children over four years to see if they could find a correlation between physical activity and symptoms of depression.
Healthy to roughhouse
Researchers examined just under 800 children when they were six years old, and conducted follow-up examinations with about 700 of them when they were eight and ten years old. Physical activity was measured with accelerometers, which served as a kind of advanced pedometer, and parents were interviewed about their children's mental health.
"Being active, getting sweaty and roughhousing offer more than just physical health benefits. They also protect against depression," says Tonje Zahl, a PhD candidate at NTNU. She is first author of the article on the study findings, which was recently published in the February 2017 issue of Pediatrics.
The work was conducted as part of Tidlig Trygg i Trondheim, a multi-year study of child development and mental health.
Fewer symptoms
Physically active six- and eight-year-olds showed fewer symptoms of depression when they were examined two years later. Physical activity thus seems to protect against the development of depression.
"This is important to know, because it may suggest that physical activity can be used to prevent and treat depression already in childhood," says Silje Steinsbekk, associate professor in NTNU's Department of Psychology. Steinsbekk and Professor Lars Wichstrm are Zahl's mentors and coauthors.
Steinsbekk stresses that these results should now be tested in randomized studies where researchers increase children's physical activity and examine whether those who participate in these measures have fewer symptoms of depression over time than those who do not participate.
"We also studied whether children who have symptoms of depression are less physically active over time, but didn't find that to be the case," she says.
Facilitate activity for children
Previous findings in adolescents and adults showed that sedentary lifestyles - like watching television and computer gaming - are associated with depression, but the NTNU children's study found no correlation between depression and a sedentary lifestyle.
Depressive symptoms did not lead to greater inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle did not increase the risk of depression.
So the message to parents and health professionals is: Facilitate physical activity, which means that children get a little sweaty and breathless. Try a bike ride or outdoor play. Limiting children's TV or iPad screen time is not enough. Children need actual increased physical activity.
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Source: Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Symptoms of Major Depression in Middle Childhood. Tonje Zahl, MSC, Silje Steinsbekk, PhD, Lars Wichstrm, PhD. Pediatrics, February 2017.
Lybia boxer crabs held engage in fights where they steal sea anemones from one another, after which each crab splits their sea anemone into two identical clones
Researchers have described a little known yet fascinating aspect of the behavior of Lybia crabs, a species which holds sea anemones in each of its claws (behavior which has earnt it the nickname 'boxer' or 'pom-pom' crab). In a series of experiments, they showed that when these crabs need an anemone, they will fight to steal one from another crab and then both crabs will split their anemone into two, creating identical clones.
Lybia crabs were first described in the 19th century, with only a handful of scientific publications since then, mostly dealing with morphology and occurrence, and less with their curious 'anemone wielding' behavior. Although quite common in the aquarium trade, the lack of attention given to them by the scientific community is presumably due to their small size and cryptic behavior.
In a new study, published today in the open access journal PeerJ, Yisrael Schnytzer and Yaniv Giman, both graduate students working under the supervision of professor Yair Achituv at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, and professor Ilan Karplus at the Volcani center, investigated various aspects of the crab-anemone association. Their study focused on trying to resolve a long-standing mystery -- how the crabs acquire their sea anemones.
Over the course of several years more than 100 Lybia crabs were observed or collected from the shallow waters of the Red-Sea on the south shore of Israel in Eilat. These crabs are no more than a couple of centimeters across and have a similar color to the boulders under which they live -- hence even finding them was a task in itself. Throughout the entire study, every single crab was found holding a pair of sea anemones which were identified as belonging to the genus Alicia, probably a newly recorded species.
Remarkably, despite extensive searching the team was unable to find any 'free living' Alicia. Thus, a series of laboratory experiments was employed, to gain an insight into how the crabs might come by their sea anemones in the wild.
A first experiment showed that when a sea anemone is taken from a crab, leaving it with just one, it will split the other into two fragments which then regenerate over the course of several days into two new clones. In the second part of the study a series of trials were conducted whereby a crab with sea anemones was placed in an aquarium together with one which had its anemones removed. The crabs would then proceed to wrestle -- the crab without anemones would move to restrain one of the opponent's claws, and then remove part, or all, of a sea anemone. Most such encounters ended in a successful theft, and with no apparent damage incurred to either of the crabs. The crabs would then proceed to split their anemones, so that once again each held a pair!
Finally, the laboratory experiments were complemented with a molecular fingerprinting study of anemone pairs taken from wild caught crabs. Each crab was found to be holding identical clones, suggesting that the lab observed behaviors are presumably frequently used as a means to obtain their precious sea anemones in the wild.
The researchers report that this appears to be a unique example of one animal inducing the asexual reproduction of another, consequently also affecting its genetic diversity.
This study extends on a previous one investigating the costs and benefits of the association to each of the partner organisms, where it was shown that the crabs limit the anemones food intake and keep them at a small size ('Bonsai anemones'; J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 2013: 248-270).
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Images:
Download images and video at: http://static.peerj.com/pressReleases/2017/01/media-schnytzer.zip (31 Mb)
VIDEOS.
Two videos are available:
Download at: http://static.peerj.com/pressReleases/2017/01/media-schnytzer.zip (31 Mb)
Video 1 - Splitting of an anemone by a crab deprived of one anemone. Video acceleration X8. (15 Mb, 26 seconds)
Video 2 - Fight and theft of anemone between crabs of different sizes. Small crab without anemones. Video acceleration X2. (14 Mb, 1m 42 s)
PDF of this Press Release: http://static.peerj.com/pressReleases/2017/01/Press-Release-Schnytzer.pdf
Link to the Published Version of the article (quote this link in your story - the link will ONLY work after the embargo lifts): https://peerj.com/articles/2954 your readers will be able to freely access this article at this URL.
Citation to the article: Schnytzer Y, Giman Y, Karplus I, Achituv Y. (2017) Boxer crabs induce asexual reproduction of their associated sea anemones by splitting and intraspecific theft. PeerJ 5:e2954 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2954
About:
PeerJ is an Open Access publisher of two peer-reviewed journals and a preprint server. PeerJ is based in San Diego, CA and the UK and can be accessed at https://peerj.com/. PeerJ's mission is to help the world efficiently publish its knowledge.
All works published in PeerJ are Open Access and published using a Creative Commons license (CC-BY 4.0). Everything is immediately available -- to read, download, redistribute, include in databases and otherwise use -- without cost to anyone, anywhere, subject only to the condition that the original authors and source are properly attributed.
PeerJ has an Editorial Board of over 1,400 respected academics, including 5 Nobel Laureates. PeerJ was the recipient of the 2013 ALPSP Award for Publishing Innovation.
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For the authors: Yisrael Schnytzer ; yschnytzer@mbl.edu ; (+1) 508 299 9122
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A brain-computer interface that can decipher the thoughts of people who are unable to communicate could revolutionize the lives of those living with completely locked-in syndrome, according to a new paper publishing January 31st, 2017 in PLOS Biology. Counter to expectations, the participants in the study reported being "happy", despite their extreme condition. The research was conducted by a multinational team, led by Professor Niels Birbaumer, at the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering in Geneva, Switzerland.
Patients suffering from complete paralysis, but with preserved awareness, cognition, and eye movements and blinking are classified as having locked-in syndrome. If eye movements are also lost, the condition is referred to as completely locked-in syndrome.
In the trial, patients with completely locked-in syndrome were able to respond "yes" or "no" to spoken questions, by thinking the answers. A non-invasive brain-computer interface detected their responses by measuring changes in blood oxygen levels in the brain.
The results overturn previous theories that postulate that people with completely locked-in syndrome lack the goal-directed thinking necessary to use a brain-computer interface and are, therefore, incapable of communication.
Extensive investigations were carried out in four patients with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) --a progressive motor neuron disease that leads to complete destruction of the part of the nervous system responsible for movement.
The researchers asked personal questions with known answers and open questions that needed "yes" or "no" answers including: "Your husband's name is Joachim?" and "Are you happy?". They found the questions elicited correct responses in seventy percent of the trials.
Professor Birbaumer said: "The striking results overturn my own theory that people with completely locked-in syndrome are not capable of communication. We found that all four patients we tested were able to answer the personal questions we asked them, using their thoughts alone. If we can replicate this study in more patients, I believe we could restore useful communication in completely locked-in states for people with motor neuron diseases."
The question "Are you happy?" resulted in a consistent "yes" response from the four people, repeated over weeks of questioning.
Professor Birbaumer added: "We were initially surprised at the positive responses when we questioned the four completely locked-in patients about their quality of life. All four had accepted artificial ventilation in order to sustain their life, when breathing became impossible; thus, in a sense, they had already chosen to live. What we observed was that as long as they received satisfactory care at home, they found their quality of life acceptable. It is for this reason, if we could make this technique widely clinically available, it could have a huge impact on the day-to-day life of people with completely locked-in syndrome".
In one case, a family requested that the researchers asked one of the participants whether he would agree for his daughter to marry her boyfriend 'Mario'. The answer was "no", nine times out of ten.
Professor John Donoghue, Director of the Wyss Center, said: "Restoring communication for completely locked-in patients is a crucial first step in the challenge to regain movement. The Wyss Center plans to build on the results of this study to develop clinically useful technology that will be available to people with paralysis resulting from ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injury. The technology used in the study also has broader applications that we believe could be further developed to treat and monitor people with a wide range of neuro-disorders."
The brain-computer interface in the study used near-infrared spectroscopy combined with electroencephalography (EEG) to measure blood oxygenation and electrical activity in the brain. While other brain-computer interfaces have previously enabled some paralyzed patients to communicate, near-infrared spectroscopy is, so far, the only successful approach to restore communication to patients suffering from completely locked-in syndrome.
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In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Biology: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002593
Citation: Chaudhary U, Xia B, Silvoni S, Cohen LG, Birbaumer N (2017) Brain-Computer Interface- Based Communication in the Completely Locked-In State. PLoS Biol 15(1): e1002593. doi:10.1371/ journal.pbio.1002593
Funding: The work was funded by grants from the following: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, Bi195, Kosellek, http://www.dfg.de/), which supported NB, UC, and BX; Stiftung Volkswagenwerk (VW, https://www. volkswagenstiftung.de/), which supported NB; German Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF grant No.: MOTOR-BIC (FKZ 136W0053, https://www.bmbf.de/), which supported NB; Baden-Wurttemberg Stiftung, EMOIO from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (524- 4013-16SV7196, https://www.bwstiftung.de/ startseite/), which supported NB; Eva and Horst Kohler-Stiftung, (Berlin, http://eva-luise-und-horstkoehler-stiftung.de/), which supported NB; National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number: 61550110252, http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/ publish/portal1/), which supported UC; and EU grant LUMINOUS (Grant number: 686764, https:// ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon202), which supported NB and UC. SS was supported by regular salary from San Camillo hospital in Venice, Italy. LG was supported by the intramural research program of the NINDS, NIH. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
ORANGE, Calif. (Jan. 31, 2017) - Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) was named a 2016 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Enterprise Davies Award recipient for achieving improvements in patient care through the use of health information technology. CHOC is the only children's hospital on the West Coast-- and third in the country-- to be honored with the award since its inception.
Since 1994, the HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Award of Excellence has recognized the outstanding achievements of organizations that use health information technology to improve patient care while achieving cost savings. As an award recipient, CHOC will share case studies and lessons learned with other health care organizations across the nation.
"CHOC has made significant investments in health information technology designed to enhance quality and patient safety - our highest priorities. We designed and implemented our electronic health record (EHR) with a focus on improving care. Because building and using an effective EHR is not always easy, and is certainly expensive, it's gratifying to see measurable improvement from our efforts and investments. Making kids' care better-- making kids' lives better--is the ultimate outcome, and proves the value," says Dr. James Cappon, chief quality officer, CHOC.
CHOC received the award from HIMSS based on four case studies that detailed how the use of health information technology and standardized clinical processes has improved patient care. The case studies included:
Through education, a standardized care bundle, and EHR-enabled best practice guidance to minimize urinary catheter use and duration, CHOC significantly reduced catheter-associated infections and urinary catheter use.
Using embedded, evidence-based care guidelines to control asthma and an alert system that triggered when patients were about to be discharged before a home management plan was created, CHOC drove down the average length of stay for asthma patients from 2.14 days to 1.72 days. Asthma readmissions within 30 days also fell from an average of 1.7 per quarter to 0.7 per quarter.
CHOC implemented an EHR-enabled Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) to trigger a rapid response team for deteriorating patients. As result, approximately 369 children have avoided resuscitation, with potentially as many lives saved.
CHOC implemented centralized breast milk preparation including barcoding to effectively eliminate feedings of the wrong breast milk. Efficiencies associated with the centralized processes for breast milk preparation resulted in significant annual savings.
"CHOC demonstrates an enterprise-wide approach to collaboratively identifying clinical challenges, selecting IT interventions and developing workflows to address those challenges," said Jonathan French, senior director of quality and patient safety and Davies program director with HIMSS. "Through using information technology to standardize care and continually look to improve care delivery and outcomes, CHOC has significantly improved the quality and patient safety outcomes for their patients. HIMSS is proud to recognize CHOC as a 2016 Davies Enterprise Award winner."
Named one of the best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report (2016-17) and a 2016 Leapfrog Top Hospital for safe, quality care, CHOC has achieved recognition as a HIMSS Stage 7 EMR (electronic medical record) adoption hospital. CHOC is also a leader in the adoption of population health technologies, and is a recipient of a $17.7 million grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to help Southern California pediatricians expand their quality improvement capacity, learn from one another and achieve common goals of improved care.
"These examples of our institutional quality and safety initiatives are an important part of our mission to nurture, advance and protect the health and well-being of children. As we now reach out to the larger community with our population health efforts, our focus extends to keeping well children well, in addition to keeping those who are ill as well as they are able to be," explains Dr. William Feaster, chief medical information officer, CHOC.
CHOC will be recognized as a HIMSS Davies Award recipient at the 2017 HIMSS Conference & Exhibition, Feb. 19-23, in Orlando, Fla. For more information on the awards program, visit the HIMSS Davies Award website.
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Scientists of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) in collaboration with the French, Swiss and Polish researchers have found unique atomic-scale processes in crystal lattice of antiferroelectric lead zirconate during synchrotron x-ray scattering experiment. The discovery is the first step toward creating efficient electrolyte-free accumulators of electric energy.
The article "Critical scattering and incommensurate phase transition in antiferroelectric PbZrO3 under pressure" was published in Scientific Reports of the Nature group.
During the experiment, the scientists tried to understand the microscopic physics of antiferroelectrics - materials that are very difficult to describe theoretically. The model object of this group is lead zirconate. The properties of this crystal are representative among lead-based antiferroelectrics and, having studied them, scientists can use the obtained microscopic picture for describing the properties of sufficiently broad range of materials. Understanding the physics of these materials is essential for creating new functional materials targeted at particular applications.
Under the external influence this crystal may have two types of lattice dipole ordering, where the dipoles are arranged either parallel or antiparallel to each other. The functional properties of the material depend on the type of lattice order.
To analyze the functional properties, it is essential to understand how the structure of the material reacts to changing of the external parameters, such as temperature, pressure, field. During the experiment, the research group examined the influence of simultaneous change of temperature and pressure to the material properties. The measurements were performed at the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility). The synchrotron x-ray source is required to provide the photon flux, which is sufficiently strong not only for ordinary Bragg scattering, but also diffuse scattering. The diffuse scattering became the key to finding new properties in the crystal lattice. Researches have determined that the symmetry of the crystal phases, which exists at high pressures and temperatures, is not the same as it was long time assumed.
The conditions at which the experiment was carried out are similar to those that can be created in future energy storage device (accumulators), where energy storage and release takes place due to switching between the crystal phases of different structures. Such structural switching will contribute to release of significant energy in a very short period of time, and lack of electrolytes has obvious advantages in terms of integration and miniaturization of energy storage elements.
In the research, the scientists managed to find the formation of the incommensurate phase, the phenomenon rarely occurring in crystal structures. This object is quite difficult to describe theoretically. Scientists of SPbPU and colleagues found that lead zirconate is the functional material, where the incommensurate phases could be located. "Based on the macroscopic measurements, researchers have suspected that the existing theories describing the crystal lattice are not fully correct. The contradictions arise on considering the evolution of the system in pressure-temperature space, and therefore we wanted to find out what processes occur on micro levels. Thus, during the experiment, we identified the incommensurate phase in substitution-free antiferroelectric for the first time," says Dr. Roman Burkovsky, associate professor at the "Physical electronics" department of the Institute of Physics, Nanotechnology and Telecommunications SPbPU, the first author of the paper.
Now the scientific community is faced with the task of construction of the theoretical models consistently describing energy states, and its reaction to external influence. "We have proved that such conditions exist in the in model antiferroelectric, thus highlighting the new challenge to the scientific community. By solving this problem, a big step in the description of functional materials will be taken," added Dr. Roman Burkovsky.
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Researchers at The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai have generated and characterized a genetically modified rat model of autism and intellectual disability, according to a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published January 31 in the journal eLife. Researchers report that in this novel rat model, the hormone oxytocin significantly improved social memory, attention, and nerve cell activity.
The Mount Sinai study focused specifically on the production and characterization of a first genetically modified rat model for Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a developmental disorder with high rates of autism, intellectual disability, attention deficits, and severe language delay. One or more of these symptoms is found in up to 10 percent of children, with limited medicines available for treatment. Phelan-McDermid syndrome is caused by a mutation in a gene called Shank3, leading to a malfunction of nerve cells, especially at the region known as the synapse, where nerve cells communicate with each other.
"Our rat model provides the research community with a valuable tool to study how altered function of synapses and nerve cells leads to subsequent deficits in behavior and cognition that are associated with multiple developmental disorders, including Phelan-McDermid syndrome." says Hala Harony-Nicolas, PhD, an instructor at The Seaver Autism Center, and the lead scientist on this study. "Such studies require sophisticated approaches that are significantly more challenging in other model systems as compared to rats, underscoring the value of this model."
The new model, referred to as the Shank3-deficient rat, mimics a human Shank3 mutation and exhibits deficits in a form of social behavior that depends on long-term memory, attention, and communication between nerve cells. The research team discovered that behavioral and synaptic deficits could be improved by treatment with the pro-social hormone oxytocin, which is known to be a powerful modulator of mammalian social behavior. Oxytocin was also able to reverse attention deficits that were not related to any social context, a finding that has not been seen in previous studies.
These findings provide important leads into how Shank3 plays a role in synapse development and function and, ultimately, behavior. In addition, the effect of oxytocin on reversing developmental deficits provides a tool to understand the causes of nerve cell and behavioral deficits and to develop novel treatments.
"One of the most surprising and promising findings of this study is the effect oxytocin had on attention deficits beyond its known effects on social memory," says Joseph D. Buxbaum, PhD, senior author of the publication and Director of The Seaver Autism Center. "This study is important for understanding developmental disorders broadly and is also the first to indicate that individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome may particularly benefit from oxytocin treatment, a hypothesis that is being further examined in ongoing clinical studies at the Seaver Autism Center."
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The study was funded by the Beatrice and Samuel A. Seaver Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Human Frontier Science Program, the Israel Science Foundation, Autism Speaks, and by a generous gift from William G. Gibson and Paulina Rychenkova, PhD.
About the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai?The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai conducts progressive research studies aimed at understanding the multiple causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The multidisciplinary team is composed of experts in the fields of genetics, molecular biology, model systems, neuroimaging, biomarkers, diagnosis, and experimental therapeutics who are dedicated to discovering the biological causes of ASD. The Center strives to develop innovative diagnostics and treatments for integration into the provision of personalized, comprehensive assessment and care for people with ASD. The Seaver Autism Center was founded through the generous support of the Beatrice and Samuel A. Seaver Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.seaverautismcenter.org.
About the Mount Sinai Health System
The Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services--from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care.??The System includes approximately 7,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 12 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is in the "Honor Roll" of best hospitals in America, ranked No. 15 nationally in the 2016-2017 "Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report. The Mount Sinai Hospital is also ranked as one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Geriatrics, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology/Neurosurgery, and Ear, Nose & Throat, and is in the top 50 in four other specialties. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked No. 10 nationally for Ophthalmology, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's, and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report in "Best Children's Hospitals." For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Researchers in Japan say they may be one step closer to solving the mystery at the core of the Earth.
It has long been established that approximately 85 percent of the Earth's core is made of iron, while nickel makes up an additional 10 percent. Details of the final 5 percent - believed to be some amount of light elements - has, until now, eluded scientists.
According to the Japanese research team, which includes Dr. Tatsuya Sakamaki and Prof. Eiji Ohtani from Tohoku University's Graduate School of Science, new experiments show that possible candidates for the light elements are hydrogen, silicon and sulfur.
Experiments have consisted of building model cores containing different materials, and subjecting them to heat of up to 6,000C and pressure 3.6 million times that at the surface of the planet. The researchers then measured the density and sound velocity, and concluded that the physical properties of the iron-alloy with those three elements are consistent with seismological observations in the real core.
The core, which is the deepest region of the Earth, is composed of a liquid outer core (2900~5100 km in depth) and solid inner core (5100~6400 km in depth). The core is one of the most important "final frontiers" for scientists looking to understand the history of Earth, and the conditions during its formation 4.5 billion years ago.
This study was initially published in "Science Advances" by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on Feb. 26, 2016. More recently, the team gave a presentation at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco in Dec. 2016.
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(Philadelphia, PA) - One of the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease is a decline in glucose levels in the brain. It appears in the early stages of mild cognitive impairment -- before symptoms of memory problems begin to surface. Whether it is a cause or consequence of neurological dysfunction has been unclear, but new research at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University now shows unequivocally that glucose deprivation in the brain triggers the onset of cognitive decline, memory impairment in particular.
"In recent years, advances in imaging techniques, especially positron emission tomography (PET), have allowed researchers to look for subtle changes in the brains of patients with different degrees of cognitive impairment," explained Domenico Pratico, MD, Professor in the Center for Translational Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM). "One of the changes that has been consistently reported is a decrease in glucose availability in the hippocampus."
The hippocampus plays a key role in processing and storing memories. It and other regions of the brain, however, rely exclusively on glucose for fuel -- without glucose, neurons starve and eventually die.
The new study, published online January 31 in the journal Translational Psychiatry, is the first to directly link memory impairment to glucose deprivation in the brain specifically through a mechanism involving the accumulation of a protein known as phosphorylated tau.
"Phosphorylated tau precipitates and aggregates in the brain, forming tangles and inducing neuronal death," Dr. Pratico explained. In general, a greater abundance of neurofibrillary tau tangles is associated with more severe dementia.
The study also is the first to identify a protein known as p38 as a potential alternate drug target in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Neurons activate p38 protein in response to glucose deprivation, possibly as a defensive mechanism. In the long run, however, its activation increases tau phosphorylation, making the problem worse.
To investigate the impact of glucose deprivation on the brain, Dr. Pratico's team used a mouse model that recapitulates memory impairments and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. At about 4 or 5 months of age, some of the animals were treated with 2-deoxyglucose (DG), a compound that stops glucose from entering and being utilized by cells. The compound was administered to the mice in a chronic manner, over a period of several months. The animals were then evaluated for cognitive function. In a series of maze tests to assess memory, glucose-deprived mice performed significantly worse than their untreated counterparts.
When examined microscopically, neurons in the brains of DG-treated mice exhibited abnormal synaptic function, suggesting that neural communication pathways had broken down. Of particular consequence was a significant reduction in long-term potentiation- - the mechanism that strengthens synaptic connections to ensure memory formation and storage.
Upon further examination, the researchers discovered high levels of phosphorylated tau and dramatically increased amounts of cell death in the brains of glucose-deprived mice. To find out why, Dr. Pratico turned to p38, which in earlier work his team had identified as a driver of tau phosphorylation. In the new study, they found that memory impairment was directly associated with increased p38 activation.
"The findings are very exciting," Dr. Pratico said. "There is now a lot of evidence to suggest that p38 is involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease."
The findings also lend support to the idea that chronically occurring, small episodes of glucose deprivation are damaging for the brain. "There is a high likelihood that those types of episodes are related to diabetes, which is a condition in which glucose cannot enter the cell," he explained. "Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for dementia."
According to Dr. Pratico, the next step is to inhibit p38 to see if memory impairments can be alleviated, despite glucose deprivation. "It is an exciting avenue of research. A drug targeting this protein could bring big benefits for patients," he added.
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Other researchers involved in the new study include Elisabetta Lauretti, Jian-Guo Li, and Antonio Di Meco in the Department of Pharmacology and Center for Translational Medicine at LKSOM.
The research was supported in part by a grant from the Wanda Simone Endowment Fund for Neuroscience.
About Temple Health
Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $1.6 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH), ranked among the "Best Hospitals" in the region by U.S. News & World Report; TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; Fox Chase Cancer Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Jeanes Hospital, a community-based hospital offering medical, surgical and emergency services; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; and Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.
The Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM), established in 1901, is one of the nation's leading medical schools. Each year, the School of Medicine educates approximately 840 medical students and 140 graduate students. Based on its level of funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Katz School of Medicine is the second-highest ranked medical school in Philadelphia and the third-highest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to U.S. News & World Report, LKSOM is among the top 10 most applied-to medical schools in the nation.
Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Katz School of Medicine. TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents.
A new generation of advanced pacemakers is the goal of a 5 million project
Creating a new generation of advanced pacemakers which adapt to the demands of a patient's body is the goal of a new 5M international research consortium led by the University of Bath.
This award from the H2020 Future Emerging Technology programme of the European Commission will enable the development, testing and validation of fit-and-forget bio-electronic implants that respond to physiological feedback in real time.
The Bath team led by Dr Alain Nogaret has developed physical models capable of predicting neuron behaviour and small neural devices which have proved effective in reversing the effects of heart failure. The consortium now brings together the resources needed to expand this research and translate it into therapies for chronic cardiorespiratory disease.
The technology developed by the Bath team aims to provide therapies for cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and other conditions such as sleep apnoea and hypertension, extending patients' lifespans and improving quality of life.
Current pacemakers rely on sensors like accelerometers to determine the level of cardiac activity needed. These occasionally provide inadequate adaptation. This new solution will rely on multiple sensors to provide a more physiological response for the patient and better diagnostic tools for the physician. In addition, a number of chronic diseases, such as heart failure, currently have no cure through existing approaches.
In contrast a critical innovation of this project will be to make use of the principles of nonlinear science which have provided competitive advantages throughout evolution but are uncommon in conventional device design.
Nonlinear systems are ubiquitous in biology which means that outputs from systems do not vary proportionally to inputs. Designing a pacemaker using technology mimicking neurons will let the pacemakers respond to inputs nonlinearly, and therefore more realistically and appropriately for the patient. By processing data streams from multiple sensors the new devices will respond accurately to the patient needs.
Dr Alain Nogaret from the University of Bath's Department of Physics said: "This is an exciting research area where Physics and Physiology come together beautifully. This H2020 FET award recognizes the work conducted by the Bath team and its collaborators and the importance of combining sophisticated models with the latest advances in medicine to improve patient welfare."
The Bath-led CResPace (Adaptive-Cardio-Respiratory Pacemaker) consortium brings together academic researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Zurich, Wien, Utrecht and Brno, and industrial research teams at Microsemi and Medtronic.
As a global semiconductor solutions provider, Microsemi will leverage its unique expertise in ultralow wireless and miniaturization to realise system electronics. As a major medical device company Medronic will work with University of Bath to develop advanced sensor technology.
H2020 FET awards are highly competitive and in this round only five per cent of proposals were awarded funding.
Dr Nogaret founded Ceryx Medical Ltd, a spin out company from the Universities of Bath and Bristol, which makes bio-electronic implants for heart failure. This grant will allow the technology to be taken to the next level.
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For further information, please contact Chris Melvin in the University of Bath Press Office on +44 (0)1225 386 319 or c.m.melvin@bath.ac.uk
Notes
The University of Bath celebrates its 50th anniversary this year as one of the UK's leading universities both in terms of research and our reputation for excellence in teaching, learning and graduate prospects.
In the REF 2014 research assessment 87 per cent of our research was defined as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'. From making aircraft more fuel efficient, to identifying infectious diseases more quickly, or cutting carbon emissions through innovative building solutions, research from Bath is making a difference around the world. Find out more: http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/
Well established as a nurturing environment for enterprising minds, Bath is ranked highly in all national league tables. We were chosen as the UK's top university in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2015.
The University of Delaware's Anderson Janotti has won a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award to develop computational models of defects in materials that are used for energy, electronics, and optoelectronics applications.
The five-year grant, "Defects and Polarons in Complex Materials," was awarded through NSF's Division of Materials Research.
According to Janotti, an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the ability to control the type and number of defects present determines whether a given material will be suitable for device applications, so understanding and controlling defects is crucial to materials development.
Not surprisingly, defects can be detrimental to device performance, as is the case with those that limit the efficiency of solar cells.
On the other hand, they can also be manipulated to improve certain desirable characteristics.
"For example, the electrical conductivity of semiconductors such as silicon and gallium arsenide can be drastically modified by adding minute concentrations of impurities, transforming a good insulator into an excellent conductor," Janotti says. "This technology is widely exploited in the microchips that are found inside our computers, smart phones, and tablets."
Computer modeling can play an important role in this effort, as it can complement experiments on materials by providing access to properties and phenomena that are difficult to probe at the atomic scale.
With the NSF support, Janotti will use advanced methods of electronic structure theory and supercomputers to investigate the role of defects in a series of complex materials that exhibit an array of physical properties. The research may enhance existing properties and could even lead to the discovery of new ones that can be used in novel device designs.
The funding will also enable the training of graduate and high school students. The graduate students will learn cutting-edge computational methods and advanced concepts in materials theory. They will also participate in an outreach program that involves teaching scientific programing to high school students. Through summer internships, the high school participants will develop data-manipulation tools that will help the graduate students with complex data visualization.
"Ultimately, we hope the work will identify defects that are detrimental to materials performance in devices and provide a basis to engineer defects, through doping or alloying, to enhance or broaden materials functionality," Janotti says.
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About the professor
Anderson Janotti spent 11 years as a project scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before joining UD in August 2015. A native of Brazil, he earned his doctoral degree in physics at the University of Sao Paulo. Before UCSB, he worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado and at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.
A University of Queensland-led international study published today warns that more than 100 Natural World Heritage Sites are being destroyed by encroaching human activities.
Lead author and UQ School of Earth and Environmental Sciences PhD student James Allan said Natural World Heritage Sites should be maintained and protected fully.
"For a site to lose 10 or 20 per cent of its forested area in two decades is alarming and must be addressed," Mr Allan said.
He said Natural World Heritage Sites, via the process driven by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), were globally recognised as containing some of the Earth's most valuable natural assets.
The authors looked at human pressure (using the updated global Human Footprint) such as roads, agriculture, urbanisation and industrial infrastructure, along with forest loss, over time.
They found that the Human Footprint has increased in 63 per cent of Natural World Heritage Sites across all continents except Europe over the past two decades.
The most impacted Natural World Heritage Sites were found in Asia including: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in India, Komodo National Park in Indonesia, and Chitwan National Park in Nepal; along with Simien National Park in Ethiopia.
In terms of forest loss, highly impacted parks included Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve in Honduras, which suffered 365 km2 (8.5 percent) of deforestation since 2000.
Even celebrated locations like Yellowstone were impacted, losing approximately six per cent of its forests.
Meanwhile, Waterton Glacier International Peace Park - crossing the Canadian and USA border - lost almost one quarter of its forested area (23 per cent or 540 km2).
Senior author, Dr James Watson of UQ and the Wildlife Conservation Society said any place listed as a World Heritage site was a globally important asset to all of humanity.
"The world would never accept the Acropolis being knocked down, nor a couple of pyramids being flattened for housing estates or roads, yet right now, across our planet, we are letting many of our Natural World Heritage Sites be fundamentally altered," he said.
The authors said by highlighting Natural World Heritage Sites in immediate danger, the study provided useful baseline data for future monitoring and conservation efforts.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee meets again in July in Poland, and the authors said the study should be used to stimulate further action.
"It is clearly time for the global community to stand up and hold governments to account so that they take the conservation of Natural World Heritage Sites seriously," Mr Allan said.
"We urge the World Heritage Committee to immediately assess the highly threatened sites we have identified.
"Urgent intervention is needed to save these places and their outstanding natural universal values."
The authors said Natural World Heritage Sites such as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and Mana Pools National Park that showed minimal change in forest loss or human pressure, were in the minority.
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The study by an international team from The University of Queensland, Wildlife Conservation Society University of Northern British Columbia and the International Union for Conservation of Nature appears in the journal Biological Conservation.
Frank Lu, a professor in the Aerospace Engineering Department at The University of Texas at Arlington, has been named a Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics.
He is the first UTA faculty member to earn the honor.
Lu, who is also a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering and the Royal Aeronautical Society, was cited by AIAA for "sustained contributions in gasdynamics and detonation-based technologies, and development of novel experimental facility and measurement techniques." He will be formally inducted at the organization's Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala May 3 in Washington, D.C.
"I am honored and very pleased to be elected an AIAA Fellow," Lu said. "To be recognized by one's peers in such a fashion is a humbling acknowledgement of a lifetime of work."
Lu joined the UTA College of Engineering in 1987 and has been the director of the University's Aerodynamics Research Center since 1993. He has secured more than $6 million in research funding during his career in the areas of fluid dynamics, shock and viscous phenomena, aerodynamic heating, jets and sprays, supersonic and hypersonic flows, propulsion, detonation, fuel reformation and power production, fail-safe construction, shape memory alloys, natural convection, flow visualization, and instrumentation and facility development. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 journal articles, conference papers and other publications, and has mentored dozens of graduate and undergraduate students during his tenure at UTA. In addition, he holds seven U.S. patents.
"This is a remarkable recognition of Professor Lu's accomplishments, standing and professional service within the aerospace community," said Erian Armanios, chair of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. "It is also an acknowledgement of his leadership of the Aerodynamics Research Center, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, and of UTA's unique place in aerospace research and education."
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With more than 30,000 individual members from 88 countries, and 95 corporate members, AIAA is the world's largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession. One Fellow for every 1,000 voting members is elected each year, and nearly 1,900 members have earned the honor since it was first awarded in 1934.
About The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a Carnegie Research-1 "highest research activity" institution. With a projected global enrollment of close to 57,000, UTA is one of the largest institutions in the state of Texas. Guided by its Strategic Plan 2020 Bold Solutions|Global Impact, UTA fosters interdisciplinary research and education within four broad themes: health and the human condition, sustainable urban communities, global environmental impact, and data-driven discovery. UTA was recently cited by U.S. News & World Report as having the second lowest average student debt among U.S. universities. U.S. News & World Report ranks UTA fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. The University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is ranked as the top four-year college in Texas for veterans on Military Times' 2017 Best for Vets list.
Los Angeles law firm Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Raymond Selke and his son for the wrongful death of his beloved wife and daughter, who were tragically killed in the 2015 Germanwings Flight 9525 crash. Yvonne Selke and her daughter, Emily, were the only American residents aboard the ill-fated flight.
The wrongful death lawsuit (case number 1:17-cv-00121), filed in United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division names German corporations Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Germanwings GMBH and Eurowings GMBH, as well as United Airlines.
On March 24, 2015, Yvonne and Emily Selke boarded Germanwings Flight 9525, which was scheduled to fly from Barcelona, Spain to Dusseldorf, Germany. After the plane reached a cruising altitude of 38,000 feet, the flight captain excused himself to use the restroom. Alone at the controls, co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked the cockpit doors and crashed the airliner into the French Alps, killing everyone onboard.
An investigation concluded that Lubitz caused the Germanwings 9525 crash by deliberately steering the airliner into mountainous terrain. Officials said Lubitz was able to lock the captain out of the cockpit because there was no policy in place requiring at least two crew members to be in the cockpit at all times. Such a policy has been in place in the United States for many years.
Mr. Selke's claims are governed by the Montreal Convention, which allows for a lawsuit to be brought in the country where a carrier is domiciled or headquartered, where the contract of carriage was made, or where the plaintiff resides.
Selke Family Statement
"At a time when the deep-seated pain of our losses has scarcely diminished, we believe that the actions of Lufthansa and its subsidiary Germanwings to evade responsibility for the crash of Germanwings Flight 4U9525 leaves us no choice but to pursue legal remedy in the United States. We ask that the media remain considerate of our family's peace and privacy during this trying process, and that all inquiries relating to this matter be directed to our attorneys at Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman PC in Los Angeles."
Defendants Sued for Negligence
At the time of the March 24, 2015 Germanwings crash, the defendants were all part of the Star Alliance of airlines, which allowed Yvonne and Emily Selke to purchase international flights and itineraries through the United Airlines website.
As common carriers that take revenue from U.S. customers whilst promoting themselves as having the highest levels of safety, the defendants owed the passengers of Germanwings Flight 9525 a duty of utmost care and the vigilance for the safe transport of passengers, and to ensure that its aircraft is maintained and operated to the highest degree of safety and care.
According to the lawsuit, the defendants together negligently, carelessly and recklessly breached their duty of care to passengers by failing to maintain, operate, maneuver, handle, control, equip, manage, and pilot Germanwings Flight 9525, and by failing to properly and safely train, educate, prepare, inform, alert, monitor, guide or tutor its pilots, crew, and other personnel to operate a passenger aircraft.
The lawsuit further alleges that the defendants failed to have known policies in place that would have timely and safely responded to or prevented emergency situations, including an unattended sole crew member in the cockpit.
As a direct and proximate result of the defendants' gross negligence, Yvonne and Emily Selke suffered unspeakable horrors before their lives were tragically cut short.
About Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman
Baum Hedlund is representing Raymond Selke and his son in their lawsuit against Germanwings, Lufthansa, Eurowings and United Airlines. The firm has represented more than 650 air crash victims and their families across the globe against some of the largest airlines in the world.
Read more about the Germanwings lawsuit here.
Monday, January 30, 2017
For over 40 years the oceans have been fished with ever increasing industrial ferocity and it has reached an emergency stage for ocean and human health; for the last 150 years land animals were hunted for sport or just slaughtered wholesale for hides, meat or living space; and the fight on both counts is getting more pointed as nature reserves in Africa struggle to protect endangered species and various plans are implemented to keep the fisheries viable.
Danny Quintana, founder of the Global High Seas Marine Preserve and author of Space & Ocean Exploration: The Alternative to the Military-Industrial Complex, is calling for an Earth Day Boycott, April 22, 2016, of all products from nations that continue down the path of destruction of ocean and land wildlife. Below is his article on this effort as he details the nations in questions and their policy towards wildlife.
We must send a message. The governments of the world and the giant fishing companies are emptying out the oceans and killing the wildlife on land. They just dont care. If they did, these governments would fund protection of wildlife both on land and in the oceans.
Hit them where it hurtshit their wallets and they will listen. On Saturday, April 22nd, 2017do not buy anything. If the governments and businesses of the world are going to kill the wildlife on land and in the oceans- there will be an economic price. You the consumer are more powerful then these people who do not care about the natural world but only about money and power. Their lust for money is the root of all evil. Take their money away and they are powerless. Join us for a Global Boycott on Earth Day to Save the Wildlife. We are stewards of the Earth- we will win this battle.
Half of the wildlife in the oceans has been slaughtered and 90 percent of the predator fish have been killed off. The Asian nations are killing over 100 million sharks annually for shark fin soup. Dolphins and whales continued to hunted, rhinos, elephants, walrus, tigers, no animal is safe. Pollution on land and sea as well as a decrease in land area is crushing the wild. Our present course is a path to disaster.
We have two choices: we can continue our present path to the total destruction of the wildlife on land and in the oceans or we can stop the slaughter. Our best choice is to stop the slaughter. How can we go up against the governments of the world who just dont care about the wildlife? We can stop them with our wallets.
The global fishing industry is a mere $80 Billion a year. It is a tiny. WalMart has gross revenue of over $440 billion annually. Home Depot has annual gross revenues of $93 Billion. The value of the ivory trade is approximately $1 billion annually. The price of the animals and plants being exterminated cannot be measured in dollars. A giant Redwood tree that is thousands of years old is priceless. We cannot place a dollar value on a wild elephant, a blue whale, a shark, Blue Fin Tuna, walrus and the various other species and various plants being destroyed globally for money. But we can take away the money of the people in charge and make them pay for their environmental crimes to our great Earth Mother.
One thing governments and industry clearly understand, if you hit them in their wallets, they remember it. Protests do NOTHING but get young people tear gassed and thrown in jail. Writing letters to your congressman and senators is effective as peeing into the wind. You will feel relieved but you will not make a change in policy.
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What will work is a EARTH DAY GLOBAL BOYCOTT TO SAVE THE WILDLIFE. The villains in this historic environmental battle are the following nations and economic blocks:
CHINA: Now that the Chinese have the third largest economy on the planet, their public have the mistaken idea that cutting a sharks fins off for shark fin soup is a sign of prestige, over 100,000,000 sharks are being needlessly slaughtered. A true sign of prestige is having the intelligence to work to save the life on this tiny planet. This is the same country that is killing elephants for ivory, tigers for their testicles, rhinos for their horns and is emitting massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. From the folks who bring you Christmas, lets give them a present- an Earth Day Boycott of Chinese goods and services. Boycott China save the wildlife.
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On Saturday, April 22nd, Earth Daydo not buy and products or services from the Chinese. With an $19 Trillion GDP, this one-day boycott will cost the Chinese over $52 Billion. With these kind of losses, their government will change policy and stop killing the wildlife.
JAPAN: This country has one of the worst environmental records on the planet. Having destroyed the wildlife on their island, this country eats more seafood per capita than any other nation on Earth. They kill whales and lie about it being research. They are hunting Blue Fin Tuna to extinction. Their greed also makes them a major player in the shark fin trade. Their economy is the 4th largest on the planet. At $4.4 Trillion GDP annually, a one-day boycott of the worlds killer of the oceans will cost Japan approximately $10 Billion. This will make the Japanese government listen. Their government and business leaders love money more than life itself. Hit them where it hurts- boycott all Japanese goods and services on Saturday, April 22nd, Earth Day and guaranteed, the shark fin trade and whaling will end. Boycott Japan on Earth Day and save the wildlife.
EUROPEAN UNION: From the people who brought the world colonialism, two world wars and French perfume, these boys and girls are killing the oceans. Their giant trawlers fish off the coasts of poor countries and empty out fisheries. They have to be stopped. The EU is the 2nd largest economy on the planet. At $20 Trillion GDP annually, a one-day boycott will cost the Europeans over $52 Billion and guaranteed, their governments will get the message- STOP KILLING THE OCEANS. Make them pay for their environmental crimes against our great Earth Mother. On Earth Day 2017 Boycott the EU and save the wildlife.
NAFTA: Canada, the United States and Mexico are the largest economic block on the planet.
CANADA: The government of Canada knows that farm raised salmon stocks contain diseases and contaminate wild stocks. Also, in order to raise a predator fish like salmon, you have to use small catch from half way across the world. Two fisheries are thus damaged and destroyed. When you look back at the collapse of the cod fisheries in the Atlantic, you realize that the Canadian government acted too late to stop the slaughter. Dont buy farm raised salmon. It is an environmental disaster that destroys the wild stocks and small fisheries in other parts of the world.
UNITED STATES: The U.S. imports seafood from all over the world. Seafood in this rich country is not a necessity. It is a food choice and this choice is killing the oceans. Fish are relabeled as the species normally used for sushi become rare. Given the voracious appetite of Americans, no ocean is safe. Sword fish, marlin, cod, halibut, wild salmon, Patagonian Tooth Fish (relabeled as Sea Bass), numerous species are hunted so people at a Las Vegas buffet can eat 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and waste what is not consumed.
MEXICO: Each year fisherman overfish and fish illegally. Consequently the fisheries are in decline. Mexico will not enforce its own laws and in time the once rich waters will be exhausted. A boycott will force the Mexican government to pay attention and enforce their laws.
With an annual GDP of $22 Trillion, a one-day boycott of the worlds largest economy will cost these countries over $53 Billion. With these kinds of losses, the NAFTA governments and the fishing and restaurant industry will listen. Make them payBoycott Canada, the United States and Mexico on Earth Day to save the wildlife.
INDONESIA: You would think that a country that claims to be religious, would be stewards of the Earth. They are not. Indonesia is the largest exporter of shark fins. Pollution and habitat destruction are huge problems. Send their government a messageon Earth Day Boycott Indonesia.
THAILAND: The country that invented vacations in paradise also enslaves people for their fishing fleets. Dont buy seafood exported by Thailand and their government will stop the slaves at sea trade. Boycott Thailand on Earth Day and make them pay for their environmental crimes.
COSTA RICA: This beautiful country depends on eco-tourism for economic survival. On land the government protects its environment. But at sea, illegal shark finning contributes to a global disaster. The lucrative shark fin trade is too big a temptation for poor Costa Rican fisherman. So they kill sharks and sell them to the Asian market. On Earth Day Boycott Costa Rica and make them pay for killing sharks.
PERU: El Nino and overfishing are destroying anchovies, one of the worlds largest fisheries. The small species is used to feed pigs in China and the United States as well as for farm raised salmon in Chile and Canada. Pollution is also a huge problem. Dead zones from industrial pollution are making the costal areas fish free. Only two percent of Perus trash is recycled. The rest is burned or dumped into the oceans. Send their government and fishing industries a message. Clean it up and quit selling anchovies to feed other animals. On Earth Day- Boycott Peru and make them pay for their environmental crimes.
CHILE: Has devastated their fisheries. The jack mackerel once thought too plentiful to destroy is on the edge of collapse. Overfishing is the cause. Send this government a message- Boycott Chile on Earth Day.
BRAZIL: The once lucrative fisheries of Brazil are on the edge of collapse. The destruction of the mangroves and costal ecosystems as well as overfishing have left Brazils fisheries in a crisis. Send the Brazilian government a messageBoycott Brazil on Earth Day.
RUSSIA: A government created by the mafia has no respect for human life, much less animal life. Corruption is a way of life in Russia. Consequently, without any respect for the rule of law, Russian trawlers fish off the coasts of poor countries, bribe their leaders and decimate the fisheries. Boycott Russia on Earth Day.
The slaughter must stop. By 2050 the land and oceans will be empty of wild life but full of garbage and concrete edifices that are becoming the new deities. It does not have to end this way. We humans saved the buffalo from collapse. We can save the wildlife from destruction by bringing attention to this issue. This is one environmental battle we can clearly win. The entire global fishing industry is small- approximately $80 billion annually according the United Nations Farm and Agricultural Organization. A global boycott will cost these countries $180 Billion in ONE DAY- Earth Day. The ivory trade will end when the Asian nations suffer monetarily.
Danny Quintana
President & Founder
Global High Seas Marine Preserve
A non-profit organization committed to saving the wildlife in the oceans.
Web Site: www.GHSMP.org
Email: danny@ghsmp.org
Monday, January 30, 2017
Mark your calendars to attend the next Albuquerque Death Cafe on Sunday, February 19, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Gail Rubins home. Send a note to Gail [at] AGoodGoodbye.com to RSVP and get directions.
Refreshments will be provided. The event is free and donations are welcome.
The objective of the Death Cafe is To increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. Its all about an interesting, unstructured conversation open and free-flowing with no specific agenda.
Join the Albuquerque Death Cafe Meetup group to be kept apprised of upcoming events. Click here to go to the Meetup page.
The Death Cafe concept was started in the United Kingdom by Jon Underwood. He was influenced by the ideas of Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz, who started holding Cafe Mortel events in France and Switzerland. At these events, people come together in a relaxed, confidential and safe setting to discuss death, drink tea (or your favorite beverage) and eat delicious cake or cookies.
Albuquerque was the site of the second Death Cafe held in the United States. Gail Rubin hosted this pioneering event in September of 2012. Learn more about the Death Cafe movement.
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Dairy organisation Arla Foods is planning to invest approximately 37.5 million in its UK sites and logistics in 2017, an increase of 51 per cent from 2016.
This ambition is part of the companys global strategy for growth. Arla hopes it will position the company as the 'champion of British dairy.'
The figure is part of the 285 million investment Arla expects to make at its sites around the world.
It will support its global Strategy 2020 by moving more milk from bulk into branded, own label and foodservice sales.
The overall investment forecast is nearly a 50 per cent increase compared to last year (192m in 2016) and one of the highest ever single-year supply chain investment in the company's history.
The 37.5 million will be spread across all its thirteen UK production, packing and distribution sites as well its logistics operation.
Projects included
Taw Valley creamery, in Devon, will see 5m to further develop its capacity.
5m at Stourton dairy, in Leeds, will see a number of projects that will include a new packing facility that will allow it to increase production.
A significant proportion of the 3.5m at Arlas fresh milk processing site in Aylesbury will go on new processing equipment.
The Westbury operation in Wiltshire will see 3m spent on supporting facilities to ensure continuous product production during planned essential maintenance.
A Bristol city farm has been given 38,125 by the Masonic Charitable Foundation to support their Urban Farmers Project which works with disadvantaged young people from local schools.
The project, at St Werburghs City Farm in Ashley Vale, works with teenagers who are among the 10 per cent most disadvantaged in the UK.
The programme was set-up to engage young people in activities that support greater health, wellbeing and personal development.
They are encouraged to learn a range of skills, working with the land and with animals, as well as conservation work and practical building projects.
The young people are aged between 14 to 19, with many come from low-income families, are often at risk of exclusion from mainstream education or are so-called NEETS being neither in employment, education or training. Some have learning difficulties, mental health concerns, physical disabilities or have been in trouble with the police.
The aim is to break cycles of negative behaviour among the young people and encourage them to finish their secondary education, enter higher education, find meaningful paid employment.
The funding for the grant comes from Freemasons and their families across England and Wales.
Kari Halford, Director of St Werburghs City Farm, said: "Were very grateful for the generous grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation for our Urban Farmers Project.
"We offer practical outdoor activities that increase the confidence and wellbeing of disadvantaged teenagers so that they can overcome the challenges they face.
"Thanks to the Freemasons we can employ our Youth Officer for three years, who will be working with more than 650 young people."
Christopher Williams, Deputy Chairman of Bristol Freemasons said: "We're really pleased to be able to support the Urban Farmers Project. St Werburghs City Farm will now be able to continue their excellent work with hundreds more disadvantaged young people, adding to all those they have helped over nearly four decades. Many thanks to all the staff and volunteers for making us so very welcome when we visited."
A UK vote to approve EU proposals to authorise the first new GM crops for cultivation since 1998 suggests the crops may be grown across the country post-Brexit.
The European vote was rejected by the majority of nation states, with the UK being one of eight to vote in favour.
Farming minister George Eustice said last year future arrangements may be put in place for their regulation.
"The Government's general view remains that policy and regulation in this area should be science-based and proportionate," he said.
EU member states were voting on a proposal to authorise two new strains of GM maize, and the reauthorisation of the one GM crop currently grown in the EU (also maize). Thirteen member states voted to reject the new crops, while eight voted in favour.
However, despite the convincing rejection of new crops, neither decision met the qualified majority voting bar and it is now up to the European Commission to decide what to do next.
GM Freeze Director Liz ONeill said: "The UKs vote in favour of all three GM maize crops, despite each being banned in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, should ring alarm bells for anyone who wants to protect biodiversity and consumer choice in post-Brexit Britain."
According to results of a study, on average, GM technology adoption has reduced chemical pesticide use by 37%, increased crop yields by 22%, and increased farmer profits by 68%. Yield gains and pesticide reductions are larger for insect-resistant crops than for herbicide-tolerant crops. Yield and profit gains are higher in developing countries than in developed countries.
In May last year, a major review of GM crops by scientists in the US tentatively concluded that they pose no risk to human health.
'Contamination'
Despite rapid adoption by farmers in many countries, controversies about the technology remain.
Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, GeneWatch UK, GM Freeze and the Soil Association each expressed concerns that controversial Roundup Ready GM crops might be planted in England in Spring 2015. They said that would eventually harm the environment.
"Monsanto and other GM companies are desperate to push their GM crops into other countries before the devastating impacts on wildlife and farming destroy existing markets," said Dr Helen Wallace, Director of GeneWatch UK.
"The Government should not be caving in to commercial lobbying and putting British birds and butterflies at risk."
Peter Melchett from the Soil Association said: "If GM crops spread, GM contamination will make organic farming impossible, and our growing organic market will have to be supplied with imported food."
Mrs O'Neill from GM Freeze said: "British consumers don't want to eat GM food and both Scottish and Welsh governments have made it clear they are opposed to GM crops. So why are our representatives in Westminster doing their level best to hand over control of our food and our natural environment to big business?"
Young farmers in the UK are facing 'serious and unnecessary challenges' which is impacting the entire industry, a NatWest report has said.
The report, 'Harvesting the future for young farmers', claims young farmers are faced with limited succession opportunities, an inability to embrace new farming models, difficulty accessing funding and a varying level of business skills.
Bigger farms are often unaffordable when they come on the market and are being bought up by neighbours.
According to the report, almost 20,000 new diversification projects could be delivered by young farmers, generating 11,900 in additional income per farm.
The banks head of agriculture, Ian Burrow, said: "Millennial farmers are a high tech, high skilled, highly motivated group who hold a realistic picture of farming in their heads and want a career on the land.
"They are however, seriously constrained in a number of ways.
"With Brexit further heightening these challenges and increasing uncertainty, it is important we act now.
"Unless additional investment is secured, it is unlikely that the economic potential these young people hold will be unlocked.
"Banks, government, families, and communities need to come together to ensure todays young farmers receive the support they deserve."
Getting Better
Duncan Morrison, vice-chairman of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers, told the BBC: "The more young people you've got in an industry, it's always a positive, because you've got young people bringing in new ideas and fresh enthusiasm.
"The average age of a farmer is 58 now, I think, and it's not really good. You need younger people coming in and taking the pressure off the older guys."
The report recommended the launch of a UK-wide farming succession summit, the creation of a Westminster committee to draw up strategy to enable the farming community to make the most of Brexit and an annual farm technology conference.
Mr Burrow said: "It's getting better, yes. We're actually undertaking lots of business planning workshops and we're identifying, through the network of agricultural specialists we've got, a willingness to learn and understand.
"The quality of business reports and business cases we're seeing is improving on a week-by-week basis."
Finance
Availability of finance was highlighted as one of the most important issues in the next five years of having a farm business career.
An online consultation by the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC) found the results in a survey titled 'Considerations for a Future British Agricultural Policy'.
Responses included: 39% of respondents stated availability of finance for farm investments; 29% stated availability of farm land or farm buildings; 21% stated availability of working capital and 10% stated the availability of 'other resources'.
NFYFCs Agricultural and Rural Issues Chairman Sam Dilcock said getting started in farming has "many challenges."
"We need to look at short and long-term finance too, which are especially big barriers to new entrants."
Marts to donate Scotch Lamb for St Andrew's Day campaign
Carsales.com Limitedhas announced it will increase its Latin American footprint, after it entered into an agreement to buy DeMotores, online automotive websites.The takeover will make Carsales.com one of the largest online automotive classified sites in the Latin American region.DeMotores operates websites in Argentina, Columbia and Chille and is controlled by one of Argentinas largest media companies.The takeover will provide Carsales with significant growth opportunity.The $6.7 million purchase is tipped to be completed by the end of March 2017.Carsales.composted a profit of $114.08 million at 30 June 2016.
Activists to protest at Sen. Tillis's office here
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A group of Hendersonville activists plan to hold a rally at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in front of Sen. Thom Tillis' office at the Historic Courthouse to send a message to Sen. Tillis' about the cabinet nominees and President Trump's immigration ban.
The group, called POW (Progressive Organized Women), was founded two weeks ago in a living room in Hendersonville with nine people in attendance. It now has more than 250 members on its Facebook page, organizer Jayne Jennings said.
"We are collaborating with Moveon.org and Indivisible.com to voice our concerns to Sen. Tillis," she said. "Last week we had over 90 people join us. We have twice asked the Senator's Charlotte office to send someone to meet with us and they have not responded." Participants plan to record individual messages to send to the senator, whose Western North Carolina office is in the Historic Courthouse.
Interesting Times: A Conversation with Ambassador Chas Freeman
Date:
Tuesday, February 07, 2017
Time:
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Event Type:
Speaker
Organizer/Author:
World Affairs
Email:
Phone:
415-293-4600
Location Details:
World Affairs
312 Sutter St., Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94108
Tickets: $20.00
There is a new world order. This isn't the 20th century anymore: shifting coalitions, changing spheres of influence, evolving economic and political powers. A friend one minute; a foe another. To address these challenges, the next US president must reconsider our statecraft and diplomacy. Career Ambassador and renowned expert on US-China and Middle East relations, Chas W. Freeman, will call upon his decades of experience to discuss how US foreign policy must change to suit todays increasingly competitive and disorderly world.
How can the US better navigate its complex relationship with China? What lessons can be learned from our failed interventions in the Middle East, and what steps can be taken to remedy those diplomatic and military errors? How should the US respond to the Arab uprisings and the deteriorating order in the Middle East? Is Israel a strategic asset or liability for the US?
Ambassador Chas Freeman is well-positioned to respond to these questions. During his three decades as an American diplomat, he has served as the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; negotiated with Fidel Castro and other state leaders; translated for President Nixon during his breakthrough visit to Beijing; and served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. Freeman is one of Americas most distinguished diplomats. Providing frank, but graciously rendered observations, he will challenge us to think critically about US foreign policy - how we have erred in the past, and how we might do things differently in the future.
SPEAKER:
Chas W. Freeman
Senior Fellow, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University; and Chairman of the Board, Committee for the Republic
MODERATOR:
Jane Wales
CEO, World Affairs and Global Philanthropy Forum; Vice President, The Aspen Institute
Over the past 12 months Tesco has unsuccessfully opposed the opening of six new Lidl shops.
In its appeal against the Edenderry plan, Tesco said that the design and layout of the proposed development was not in keeping with the requirements of the Retail Design Manual and if built, would not improve the visual appearance of the site.
Lidl, in reply, said Tesco should be considered a serial objector.
The German retailer said that having objected to numerous retail proposals by Lidl Ireland, it would appear that many of Tescos grounds of appeal are generally not upheld, often merely delaying planning permission.
Lidl requested An Bord Pleanala consider the appeal vexatious or frivolous and it should be dismissed.
However, the inspector in the case stated the points raised by Tesco were not without substance or foundation and the appeal was not, to his knowledge, made with the sole intention of delaying the development.
The new store will replace the existing Lidl store at Edenderry.
An Bord Pleanala said the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area.
A spokesperson for Lidl Ireland said: We have had a very positive response from the community of Edenderry to the redevelopment but the project was subsequently put on hold following an objection from Tesco Ireland.
Tesco Ireland said it only ever raises planning objections where there is a legitimate planning ground or precedent to justify the objection.
The Save Cork City group say it expects up to 200 people to link arms on Sullivans Quay and at Fitzgeralds Park on Saturday to demonstrate their united opposition to the plans. Major interventions are planned at these two areas as part of the 150m Lower Lee Flood Relief project -
The huge flood defence project is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. Details were unveiled last month ahead of a period of public consultation.
It includes the construction of direct defences including new walls and embankments on the River Lee, stretching from key zones at the Lee Fields to the city centre, the construction of walls, embankments and the raising of existing quay walls on the north and south channels of the river; and the installation of flood gates and barriers at other locations.
It includes the development of a new fluvial flood forecasting system, the introduction of new dam discharge procedures for emergency situations at the Carrigadrohid and Inniscarra dams west of the city, and a new early warning system, and drainage improvements. It will also involve the designation of upstream washlands to facilitate greater advance discharges from the dams.
Proposed flood defences along Bachelors Quay, Cork.
The scheme has been designed to minimise flood risk for about 2,000 properties 1,227 commercial properties and 878 homes from a one-in-a-century flood event. A further 1,079 properties not at immediate risk of severe flooding 613 commercial and 466 residential will also benefit from a significant reduction of flood risk, the scheme claims.
Construction on the first phase, based around the citys Morrisons Island, is expected to begin within months, with the bulk of the work getting underway next week. However, it could take up to a decade for the entire scheme to be delivered. The OPW held public consultation days in recent weeks ahead of its February 17 deadline for submissions.
However, a new campaign group, Save Cork City, criticised the level of public consultation and said most people dont realise the extent or impact of the proposed works.
There is a genuine lack of knowledge about the proposals and what will happen to Cork city, architect Sean Antoin O Muiri said.
Proposed flood defences along Corks quay walls at Cornmarket St Bridge
We have the longest Georgian quay walls in the country, and they are removing them from places. We are a group of people who care about the city and the river, and who want to use it as an amenity, he said.
Another campaign member, Polly Magee, also an architect, said while the protection of vulnerable householders and businesses must be prioritised, she said the proposed upstream works may actually increase the flood risk to the city, and that the proposed engineering solutions will obstruct river views.
The end result will be a disconnection of the historic relationship between the city and the river. Effectively, the city centre is to be turned into a large storm drain, she claimed. She called for more consultation and more input from non-engineering experts before the final proposals are signed off.
She urged anyone with concerns about the scheme, which can be viewed on www.lowerleefrs.ie, to make a submission to claire.anderson@opw.ie.
Mr Kennys announcement coincided with news that one person was prevented from travelling to the US from Ireland due to the de facto Muslim travel ban since the controversial policy was implemented at the weekend.
A series of Government ministers yesterday condemned Mr Trumps travel ban amid Cabinet calls for pre-clearance officials in Ireland to ignore the controversial policy.
Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone, Transport Minister Shane Ross, European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy, Communications Minister Denis Naughten and others raised serious concerns over the policy.
Over the weekend, Mr Trump put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the US, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria, and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
Dublin and Shannon airports are among a small number of sites in the world that offer pre-clearance to passengers travelling to the US.
By clearing customs and immigration checks before departure, they are then treated as domestic arrivals on reaching the US.
Last night, it emerged that the review will involve discusssions between the Dublin Airport Authority, the Department of Transport and the Department of Justice who will in turn meet their US counterparts including officials from the Homeland Security service.
The next meeting between them is scheduled to take place on March 1.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny with British Prime Minister Theresa May during their meeting at Government buildings. Picture: Chris Bellew
Speaking at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May, Mr Kenny said he disagreed with Mr Trumps policy and said he will raise his concerns when he meets him face to face on St Patricks Day.
In respect of the policy that used by the American government, I disagree with it. I will say that to the president [Trump] and the vice-president [Mike Pence] when I meet with them.
"I have asked for a complete review now of the pre-clearance facilities here in Ireland in respect of the three departments that are handling this so we can be clear of the importance of it, Mr Kenny said.
It must be remembered that pre-clearance brings enormous convenience to a lot of people so these are issues we are happy to negotiate on. I dont agree with this policy and he will hear my reasons when I meet him, the Taoiseach said.
For her part, Ms May said the UK has a different approach to dealing with immigration.
In respect of the policies which have been announced by the United States, the UK takes a different approach, she said.
At no stage in the six years when I was home secretary did I introduce those sort of arrangements. President Trump has been elected and has implemented what he promised he would. But we have a different approach, she said.
The Department of Transport confirmed the turning away of the passenger at Dublin Airport last night, as the American embassy separately said the ban will also affect thousands of Irish people with dual citizenship from the targeted countries.
In a statement last night, a department spokesperson confirmed one individual was refused US entry at Dublin Airport.
However, the department had not provided any details on the individual, their nationality, and whether they are an Irish citizen, hold dual citizenship or are a citizen of another country at the time of going to press.
However, despite growing opposition demands for Ireland to make a clear show of strength against the earth-shattering plan, only junior minister for skills John Halligan has to date urged Taoiseach Enda Kenny to cancel the annual St Patricks Day visit to the White House.
But Mr Kenny said he still intends on going to Washington DC in March.
Mr Donohoe was very strong in his condemnation of Mr Trump.
I believe what president Trump did was wrong. I believe it is wrong to treat people on the basis of their nationality. I believe it is wrong to treat people on the basis of their religion, or on the religion of the state they originate from, he said.
At a separate event, Transport Minister and Independent Alliance TD Shane Ross said he is very concerned about what is happening in the US, adding no one could expect any Irish government minister to approve of what he [Mr Trump] did.
January 31, 2017 / TheNewswire / Vancouver, British Columbia - LiCo Energy Metals Inc. ("the Company "or" LiCo") TSX-V: LIC; OTCQB: WCTXF is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Dwayne Melrose as Director of the Company and Chair of the Company's Technical Advisory Board. In addition to being a seasoned Director of a public mining company, Mr. Melrose has over 30 years' experience in the mining industry where he has been very successful in advancing three significant exploration projects towards production.
Under his leadership as President/CEO of True Gold Mining Inc., True Gold progressed from an exploration company into a fully permitted and financed company in mine construction in just over 3 years. Mr. Melrose was instrumental in re-focusing the project from a high Capex project into a low Capex high margin, heap leach project, in addition to the company completing over $200 million in equity and debt financing.
Mr. Melrose spent over twenty years with Cameco Corporation/Centerra Gold Inc. working in a variety of different geographic locations and business environments (Canada, USA, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan). Here, Mr. Melrose was directly responsible for the exploration team and its programs at the Kumtor Gold Mine where he significantly increased the reserves and resources at the mine.
Mr. Melrose joined the Minco Mining Group in 2007, where the company successfully progressed from exploration into development stage and greatly increased in shareholder value. Mr. Melrose was directly responsible for defining the Fuwan silver deposit (157 million ounces).
"We are very pleased to have such an accomplished person join our team." commented Tim Fernback, COO of LiCo Energy Metals Inc. "His experience in taking projects towards production will provide great benefits for LiCo shareholders as we advance and fund our lithium and colbalt exploration projects. Dwayne's addition to our team is the first of many steps towards growing our company's depth in experience. Dwayne is very well known by global funders, presenting companies projects, including delivering investment presentations at major conferences to investment Companies in various cities within Canada, United States, Switzerland, Germany and the UK."
Update on Technical Advisory Board
Further to our news release on January 26, 2017, LiCo is pleased to announce that Ad Infinitum of Antofagasta, Chile (http://www.ad-inf.com) has been appointed as principal consultants for its lithium brine exploration projects in Nevada and Chile, as well as, member of LiCo's Technical Advisory Board. Ad Infinitum is a company formed by specialists in engineering and development processes advising on applicable solutions for processing in metal and non-metal mining plants. Ad Infinitum has in-depth, project specific, lithium experience in Chile and Argentina and its principal, Mr. Marcelo Bravo Veas, is a Civil Chemical Engineer who has consulted on all the leading lithium and potash production facilities in Chile and Argentina. This work includes providing operational solutions, developing process engineering (research, data analysis, process controlling, design of bench scale tests and pilot plant); and managing work teams in the development of projects during their engineering phases (conceptual, basic and detail). Mr. Bravo Veas will be providing a lead role on the Technical Advisory Board working alongside Ms. Marcela Matus, a long-term associate of Ad Infinitum, and formally replacing the position held by Ms. Matus.
Qualified Person: The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Alan Morris CPG.
About LiCo Energy Metals: https://licoenergymetals.com/
LiCo Energy Metals Inc. is a well funded Canadian based exploration company who's primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's focus is directed towards exploration for high value metals integral to the manufacture of lithium ion batteries.
Ontario Teledyne Cobalt Project:
The Company has an option to earn 100% ownership, subject to a royalty, in the Teledyne Project located near Cobalt. Ontario. The Property adjoins the south and west boundaries of claims that hosted the Agaunico Mine. From 1905 through to 1961, the Agaunico Mine produced a total of 4,350,000 lbs. of cobalt and 980,000 oz. of silver. A significant portion of the cobalt that was produced at the Agaunico Mine located along structures that extended southward onto property currently under option to LiCo Energy Metals.
Nevada Dixie Valley Lithium Project:
The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest, subject to a 3% NSR, on a large lithium exploration project at the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Dixie Valley, Nevada. The geologic setting and presence of lithium in active geothermal fluids and surface salts in Dixie Valley match characteristics of producing lithium brine deposits at Clayton Valley, Nevada and in South America.
Nevada Black Rock Desert Lithium Project:
The Company has entered into an option agreement whereby the Company may earn an undivided 70% interest, subject to a 3% Net Smelter Return Royalty, in the Black Rock Desert Lithium Project that consists of 128 placer claims (2,560 acres/ 1,036 hectares) in southwest Black Rock Desert, Washoe County, Nevada.
Chile Purickuta Lithium Project:
The Purickuta Project is located within Salar de Atacama, a salt flat encompassing 3,000 km2, being about 100 km long, 80 km wide and home to approximately 37% of the worlds Lithium production. The salar possesses a very high grade of both Lithium (1,840mg/l) and Potassium (22,630mg/l and is close to power, labour, communications, transportation and other infrastructure. The property of 160 hectares is enveloped by a concession owned by Sociedad Quimica y Minera ("SQM") and lies, significantly, within a few kilometers of the property of CORFO (the Chilean Economic Development Agency) where its leases to both SQM and Albermarle's Rockwood Lithium Corp Together these two companies have combined production of over 62,000 tonnes of LCE (Lithium Carbonate Equivalent) annually making up 100% of Chile's current lithium output. The unique characteristics of Salar de Atacama make finished lithium carbonate easier and cheaper to produce than any of its peer group globally.
Purickuta is a smaller exploitation concession rather than a large exploration concession thereby accelerating the task of taking the project to production once a measured reserve can be established. Currently, the Chilean government retains ownership of lithium separate from other minerals and thus production can only proceed upon receipt of a special lithium operation contract know as a "CEOL". In the future, it will be necessary for LiCo and partner to negotiate a production contract with CORFO concurrently with completing any positive feasibility study. "Chile, which has one of the world's most plentiful supplies of lithium, is pushing ahead with new policies to develop those reserves". (Reuters Jan2, 2017).
The Company is planning additional exploration programs for all its properties over the next several months.
The cast of the 6th annual Rocky Horror shadowcast performance, which was produced by Seoul Players, are on stage after their final show at Club Freebird near Hongik University, western Seoul, Oct. 30 last year.
/ Courtesy of Seoul Players
By Celeste Kriel
Seoul Players have chosen two plays by local writers for the second round of their One Act Play Project after they made an open call for various kinds of storytellers from playwrights to poets who wanted to see their stories adapted to the stage, and are now seeking talented actors and actresses to audition for the selected plays.
The English-language theater company, based in Seoul, was looking to expand its pool of writers, performers and storytellers this year to better represent the diverse experiences and stories of the expat community.
Kim Schroeder, a Seoul-based actress and recent addition to the Seoul Players board, stressed their push for diversity this year.
"We were really trying to get people from different groups who have unique stories to share, maybe people who are writers but just don't know how to access these sorts of opportunities," Schroeder said.
Board member Kevin Lambert highlighted the collaborative process as one of the key differences in the production of this year's plays.
"We have so much creativity as expat thespians. We also wanted to work with short-story writers who have maybe toyed with the idea of adapting their stories to the play format but have had cold feet about making it into a play. That is where the collaborative process will be valuable," he said.
Seoul Players said both plays will be workshopped midway through the rehearsal process and performed late May. Auditions will be on Saturday and Sunday, February 4 and 5 at Sinabros Dance Place near Sadang Station from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days. "We are looking for actors of all ages, races, nationalities, genders, physical types, and experience levels."
The Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast production, produced by Seoul Players last Halloween, is an example of the caliber of productions and casting the company is striving for.
"It was one of the most socially, racially and sexually diverse casts we've ever had the pleasure of performing and I think it showed through the performance," said Christopher Zaczek, a Seoul-based actor and board member of Seoul Players.
"I think for the audience it was gratifying to see that diversity represented on stage. Rocky is all about the breaking down of social mores and the ability to express freedom from judgment, freedom of expression and freedom of choice."
Visit facebook.com/SeoulPlayers to get involved in the Seoul Players expat thespian community behind the scenes or for more information on auditioning for the One Act Play Project which take place this weekend.
Lee Kyu-chul, spokesman for the special prosecution team speaks during a press briefing at the team's office in Daechi, southern Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap
Ambassador to Myanmar to be summoned today
By Lee Kyung-min
President Park Geun-hye's confidant Choi Soon-sil, the central figure in the influence-peddling scandal, is facing an additional charge of seeking personal gain in state business worth 76 billion won ($65 million) in Myanmar, prosecutors said Monday. Choi is already on trial for abuse of authority, coercion and bribery.
The independent counsel team said it plans to file additional charges of receiving valuables in exchange for helping a company to participate in an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project last year. The amount of the bribes and the identity of the company have yet to be disclosed.
The team will question Korean Ambassador to Myanmar Yoo Jae-kyung today over his role in the allegation.
According to the team, the state project called "Myanmar K-Town" was spearheaded jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to find partners in untapped overseas markets, to boost hallyu, or the Korean wave, and to help achieve an economic initiative under the Park administration.
While the project initially was to be led by a private consortium, it was later taken over by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), a development aid organization under the foreign ministry.
The project, however, was scrapped as KOICA objected to the plan citing a lack of viability, coupled with an on-site report that concluded the project's low marketability would yield little profit.
The team is looking into whether Choi sought to influence the decision to benefit her or the Mir Foundation, one of two organizations set up by her alongside the K-Sports Foundation.
This, the team added, shares too many similarities with "Iran K-Tower," another state project spearheaded by Park.
Last May, Park and her delegation visited Iran to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Korea Land and Housing Corp (LH) and Iran's Teachers' Pension Fund.
The MOU, however, came under heavy criticism for specifically requiring the Mir Foundation to play the central role in the bilateral deal.
The team believes Choi, through the Mir Foundation, not only exerted influence with state decisions but also netted financial benefits.
Meanwhile, the team is going after Choi, who failed to appear before the team at 11 a.m. citing her objection to the team's aggressive methods of interrogation.
Earlier last week, the team executed a court-issued custody warrant in bringing Choi to the team's office in Daechi, southern Seoul, as she repeatedly refused to cooperate with the investigation.
San Diego, CA A California labor lawsuit thats been litigated for nine years and was finally scheduled for trial on February 6, was suddenly settled through an agreement between plaintiffs in the class action and defendant Penske Logistics LLC. The deal is worth $750,000 at face value, but will be trimmed once approved costs and fees are deducted.
The award will drop to $332,500 following deductions of $225,000 for attorneys fees, $135,000 in costs, $15,000 each in incentive awards for the three primary class representatives, and about $12,500 in settlement administration costs.That equates to an average payment of $965.11 per class member in the long-running California labor code lawsuit over meal breaks and rest periods that were allegedly missed. The plaintiffs, however, nonetheless asked US District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo on January 24 to sign off on a non-reversionary $750,000 settlement to resolve their claims for meal periods under the California Labor Code and Unfair Competition Law.While plaintiffs believe in the merits of their case, they also recognize the inherent risks and uncertainty of litigation and understand the benefit of providing a significant settlement sum now as opposed to risking decertification of their remaining certified claims; and/or an unfavorable result on the merits and/or on an appeal, a process that can take several more years to litigate, the plaintiffs said in their motion.Its been a long road for drivers citing violations of California labor employment law. This past July the judge overseeing the class action lawsuit granted the defendants motion to decertify three of the original five subclasses due to a lack of proof, or so Penske claimed, of the existence of any blanket policy that systematically denied workers their rest breaks.Plaintiffs alleged in their California and labor law class action that Penske failed to offer, or provide rest periods as required under California and labor law. It was also alleged the defendant proceeded to deduct pay for rest periods that were not taken by delivery drivers and Whirlpool appliance installers who reportedly had worked long hours in the field.Plaintiffs claims involve complex and disputed legal issues and fact-specific arguments which the parties have litigated fiercely since inception of the action, the plaintiffs motion further stated. Plaintiffs firmly believe in the strength of their claims, but Penske also has strong defenses to class liability and damage determinations, some of which may have had a bearing on potential decertification hearings.Following decertification of the subclasses last July, the remaining class members asked the judge this week to sign off on the proposed settlement, ending the legal wrangling and avoiding trial.That some supervisors at some locations on some shifts may not have complied with the law regarding provision of meal breaks does not constitute a uniform policy for all class members, Judge Bencivengo said in her ruling. That defendants did not schedule the employees meal breaks into their delivery schedules does not establish that defendants did not provide the opportunity to take a timely meal break. Leaving the decision of when to break to the employee in the field is not the same as prohibiting or discouraging timely meal breaks.The California labor lawsuit is, Case No. 3:08-cv-00318, in the
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Arizona medical malpractice lawsuits occur when patients in Arizona believe their healthcare provider has been negligent in his or her healthcare duties. Arizona malpractice claims can include allegations that healthcare providers failed to act in a manner that a reasonable healthcare provider of the same medical specialty would act, by either taking actions that fall outside the realm of medically competent care or by failing to take necessary actions to provide competent care. Arizona medical malpractice lawsuits can compensate patients for injuries that are the result of a healthcare provider's negligence.In Arizona, patients wanting to file a medical malpractice claim must provide an "affidavit of merit," in which a qualified healthcare professional not affiliated with the case states that the lawsuit deserves to be heard in court. This must be provided within 60 days of a medical malpractice lawsuit being filed.Arizona follows comparative negligence laws in which the plaintiff's award is decreased proportionally to the amount that he is responsible for his own injury. If the court finds the plaintiff 10 percent liable for his own injury and awards $100,000, the award would be decreased by 10 percent.For a plaintiff to be successful in a medical malpractice lawsuit, the plaintiff must show that the healthcare provider had a duty of care, the healthcare provider breached that duty, the breach in duty resulted in damages to the plaintiff, and the damages were directly caused by the healthcare provider's actions or inactions.Plaintiffs usually have to provide expert testimony, medical reports, diagnoses, and other evidence related to their injury and the alleged damages.In 2015, the family of Byron Van Tassell was awarded $6.5 million in damages, after a lawsuit was filed alleging University Medical Center (now Banner-University Medical Center Tucson) was negligent in allowing Van Tassell to develop a pressure ulcer that advanced to stage three. Van Tassell also reportedly suffered from malnutrition and lost 45 pounds while he was in the hospital. He died two years later of "complications of paraplegia". His family alleged his pressure ulcer began the downward spiral. An expert testifying at the trial said Van Tassell might have been rehabilitated from the fall that put him in the hospital in the first place if he had not developed the ulcer.If you or a loved one has suffered similar damages or injuries, please fill in our form and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
AbbVie Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in the worldwide. The company offers HUMIRA, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune and intestinal Behcet's diseases; SKYRIZI to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults; RINVOQ, a JAK inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients; IMBRUVICA to treat adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and VENCLEXTA, a BCL-2 inhibitor used to treat adults with CLL or SLL; and MAVYRET to treat patients with chronic HCV genotype 1-6 infection. It also provides CREON, a pancreatic enzyme therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Synthroid used in the treatment of hypothyroidism; Linzess/Constella to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation; Lupron for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis and central precocious puberty, and patients with anemia caused by uterine fibroids; and Botox therapeutic. In addition, the company offers ORILISSA, a nonpeptide small molecule gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist for women with moderate to severe endometriosis pain; Duopa and Duodopa, a levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel to treat Parkinson's disease; Lumigan/Ganfort, a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension; Ubrelvy to treat migraine with or without aura in adults; Alphagan/ Combigan, an alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist for the reduction of IOP in patients with OAG; and Restasis, a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant to increase tear production, as well as other eye care products. AbbVie Inc. has a research collaboration with Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois.
Xylem Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and servicing of engineered products and solutions for the water and wastewater applications in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Water Infrastructure, Applied Water, and Measurement & Control Solutions. The Water Infrastructure segment offers various products, including water, storm water, and wastewater pumps; controls and systems; filtration, disinfection, and biological treatment equipment; and mobile dewatering equipment under the Flygt, Godwin, Wedeco, Sanitaire, Leopold, Wedeco, and Xylem Vue brand names for the transportation and treatment of water. The Applied Water segment provides pumps, valves, heat exchangers, controls, and dispensing equipment systems under the Goulds Water Technology, Bell & Gossett, A-C Fire Pump, Standard Xchange, Lowara, Jabsco, Xylem Vue and Flojet brand names for residential and commercial building services, and industrial water applications. The Measurement & Control Solutions segment provides smart meters, networked communication devices, and measurement and control technologies, as well as critical infrastructure technologies. It also offers software and services, including cloud-based analytics, remote monitoring and data management, leak detection, condition assessment, asset management, and pressure monitoring solutions, as well as testing equipment and managed services. This segment sells its products under the Pure, Sensus, Smith Blair, WTW, Xylem Vue, and YSI brand names. The company markets and sells its products through a network of direct sales force, resellers, distributors, and value-added solution providers. Xylem Inc. was formerly known as ITT WCO, Inc. and changed its name to Xylem Inc. in May 2011. The company. was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Rye Brook, New York.
Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 900 bank branches and 3,300 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. Bank of Montreal was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE), an S&P 500 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.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, a technology company, focuses in the areas of automation and digitalization in Europe, Commonwealth of Independent States, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. It operates through Digital Industries, Smart Infrastructure, Mobility, Siemens Healthineers, and Siemens Financial Services segments. The Digital Industries segment offers automation systems and software for factories, numerical control systems, motors, drives and inverters, and integrated automation systems for machine tools and production machines; process control systems, machine-to-machine communication products, sensors and radio frequency identification systems; software for production and product lifecycle management, and simulation and testing of mechatronic systems; and cloud-based industrial Internet of Things operating systems. The Smart Infrastructure segment offers products, systems, solutions, services, and software to support sustainable transition in energy generation from fossil and renewable sources; sustainable buildings and communities; and buildings, electrification, and electrical products. The Mobility segment provides passenger and freight transportation, such as vehicles, trams and light rail, and commuter trains, as well as trains and passenger coaches; locomotives for freight or passenger transport and solutions for automated transportation; products and solutions for rail automation; electrification products; and intermodal solutions. The Siemens Healthineers segment develops, manufactures, and sells various diagnostic and therapeutic products and services; and provides clinical consulting services. The Siemens Financial Services segment offers debt and equity investments; leasing, lending, and working capital financing solutions; and equipment, project, and structured financing solutions. Siemens Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany.
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Okyeame Kwame has been invited to perform at a musical concert in Cincinnati in the United States of America (USA) in February this year.
He will be performing live with a band alongside other international artistes, and he is poised to entertain music fans in the Diaspora on the day with most of his hit songs.
The concert forms part of activities lined up to celebrate this year's edition of an annual event dubbed 'Black History Month' slated to take place in February.
The hiplife artiste who is expected to promote Ghanaian music and culture will use the event to promote his brand. He is also expected to interact with the Cincinnati media, as well as the crowd.
Music fans in the States will be the first to hear a live presentation of Okyeame's latest singles making waves on the airwaves on the world music market.
Okyeame Kwame explained that the concert is aimed at displaying the rich history of Africa in boosting the self-worth of the African-Americans.
He disclosed that he is negotiating with the organisers to allow him stage a play titled 'Mansa Musa The King In You' to educate those in the Diaspora about the rich African culture.
Last year, Okyeame Kwame was honoured by the mayor of Cincinnati in the United States for his outstanding contributions towards the development of the Ghanaian and African music industries.
He was honoured with international cultural ambassador status which allows him to organise events, run cultural exchange programmes, among others. On September 18, 2016, Okyeame Kwame also participated in last year's edition of the Arts On Third Festival in Mount Vernon, New York.
He used the opportunity made available to him to promote his brand and musical works and delivered a presentation on the relationship between hip-hop and hiplife music at the festival.
By George Clifford Owusu
Radio France International's (RFI) Jean-Baptiste Placca has apologised to former president Jerry John Rawlings for comments he made on the stations weekly programme La semaine de Jean-Baptiste Placca on January 21, 2017.
In the said programme, Placca alleged that Ghanas former President, had called on the African Union to replicate the ECOWAS mission in the Gambia by removing Camerouns Paul Biya from office.
The office of former President Rawlings strongly denied the report in a statement issued on January 22, 2017.
Describing the report as reckless, unethical, unprofessional and slanderous, the statement said the former President had granted no interview to the media on the Gambian crises.
Mr Rawlings warned that immediate legal action will be taken against media who fabricated stories about a man who is best known for his conflict resolution roles in the sub-region and beyond.
But in a letter dated January 24 this year and addressed to the former President, Jean-Baptiste Placca said:
I humbly and respectfully address my apologies to you for wrongly putting your name in the weekly analysis chronicle on Radio France International. I did the big mistake to involve your name about what African Union should do in Cameroun for H.E. President Paul Biya, related to what was happening in Gambia.
He further acknowledged President Rawlings role in the resolution of peaceful conflicts in Africa and pleaded with the former Ghanaian leader to accept his apology.
The RFI host also offered his apology, live on radio during his programme on Saturday January 28, indicating in all humility the former leader of Ghana did not make those remarks.
Placca confessed that he received the information late into the night and made the professional mistake of not verifying the authenticity of the information.
The journalist does not always have the last word, and when he is mistaken, he has to recognize it, in all humility, and that's what we're doing here, that's what I'm doing here, he concluded.
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
30.01.2017 LISTEN
Accra, Jan. 30, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, AntAnio Guterres, to champion reforms at the UN that would promote and deepen international co-operation.
According to President Akufo-Addo, it is important that during Mr Guterres's tenure of office, he should ensure the implementation of reform of the UN Security Council and all other organs of the international body.
The President urged the UN Secretary-General to see to the realisation of the Ezulwuni Consensus, a position on international relations and reform of the UN agreed by the African Union in 2005.
President Akufo-Addo was speaking on Sunday at a breakfast meeting between African Heads of State and the new UN Secretary General in Addis Ababa, ahead of the commencement of the Ordinary Session of the 28th Assembly of the African Union.
The President recounted how he, as Ghana's Foreign Minister and Chairman of the AU Ministerial conclave in Swaziland, in 2005, together with his colleague AU Foreign Ministers drafted the Ezulwuni consensus, which called for a more representative and democratic Security Council.
The goal of the AU, as contained in the Ezulwuni Consensus, was to be fully represented in all the decision-making organs of the UN, particularly in the Security Council, which is the principal decision-making organ of the UN in matters relating to international peace and security.
Full representation of Africa on the Security Council would mean having not less than two permanent seats with all the prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership including the right of veto; five non-permanent seats.
It required the AU to be responsible for the selection of Africa's representatives on the Security Council.
President Akufo-Addo expressed dissatisfaction that nearly 12 years down the line, very little progress had been made since the drawing up of the Consensus in Swaziland, urging Guterres to hasten efforts towards the full realisation of the consensus.
With the new UN Secretary General advocating 'conflict management and prevention' as one of his topmost priorities in office, President Akufo-Addo expressed concern about the growing rift between some AU Member States and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
His concern was hinged on the fact that as many as six African countries in 2016, namely The Gambia, Burundi, Uganda, Namibia, Kenya and South Africa, announced their intentions to pull out, and in the case of South Africa completely withdrew, from the tribunal, after claims of 'inappropriate targeting of Africa' by the ICC.
President Akufo-Addo called for a closer engagement between the AU and the UN in the spirit of mutual respect and trust, and expressed Ghana's continued support and confidence in the ICC.
Addressing the meeting, the AU Chairperson, President Idriss DAby Itno of Chad, outlined the areas of immediate concern to the AU, which should serve as the basis for an enhanced collaboration between the two organisations.
These concerns are in the areas of peace and security, as well as the harmonisation of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015, together with the AU's Agenda 2063.
The meeting was also addressed by the outgoing Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who not only underscored the need for the UN to take Africa's concerns seriously, but also the AU's new approach to the funding of peacekeeping operations on the Continent.
At the 27th Ordinary Session of the AU held in Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2016, African leaders agreed to create a Peace Fund that would enable the continental body fund at least 25 per cent of the cost of peacekeeping operations, with the remaining 75 per cent being absorbed by the UN with resources from Member States' assessed contributions.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission called on the UN Secretary General to adopt a single reporting mechanism for the implementation of both Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On his part, the UN Secretary-general welcomed the issues raised; emphasising that without Africa's strong participation and contribution, the UN's initiatives aimed at resolving current global challenges will not achieve the desired results.
Therefore, in his view, the global order has to be urgently reformed to enable Africa play a central role in world affairs.
GNA
The Nigerian naira fell against the greenback to 500 on the black market as the nations dollar scarcity worsens, according to abokiFX.com, which collates prices from traders in Lagos each day.
The currencys unofficial rate is now 38 percent weaker than the central banks level of 309. Thats despite several attempts by Governor Godwin Emefiele and the government to stem the rout after a devaluation in June.
Bharti Airtel has refuted media reports it may cease its operations in all 15 countries across Africa by end of the year.
The telecoms giant says remains committed to Africa and will continue to invest in its operations to grow.
Comments by Bharti Airtel Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, that the telecoms operator is working to rationalise its subsidiary operations in Africa sparked reports that Airtel is quitting the continent.
Mittal had said the companys run in 15 African countries had not been as successful as they had hoped.
In its home country India, one of the worlds largest telecoms operators has already seen potential revenue threats thanks to pressure from disruptors in the Indian market.
In Ghana, speculation has already begun that Airtel Ghana and Tigo will merge to be acquired by French operator Orange.
All the steps taken recently with regard to human resources and infrastructure have been geared towards readying the organisation to grow efficiently and sustainably in the medium to long term, a statement from Bharti Airtel quotes the Managing Director and CEO of Airtel Africa, Raghunath Mandava.
Read the full statement below.
Media statement from Bharti Airtel
Airtel Africa, a leading telecommunications company with operations in 15 countries across Africa, has refuted speculative media reports erroneously stating its possible exit from Africa. The organization has reaffirmed that it remains committed to Africa and will continue to invest in its operations to grow sustainably in Africa.
Airtel Africas recent 3rd quarter results were strong. The underlying Africa revenues for the quarter accelerated by 6.0 per cent Y-o-Y, the highest over the last 9 quarters. The organizations efforts to improve the quality of customer acquisitions have resulted in a reduction in customer churn to 4.9 per cent from 6.0 per cent. Data consumption and revenues have grown by 91.0 per cent & 24.0 per cent Y-o-Y respectively, led by stronger data networks. The strong focus on cost management has led to a significant underlying EBITDA margin expansion of 4.5 per cent Y-o-Y, which now stands at 24.5 per cent. Africa is now generating positive free cash and is PBT positive in constant currency.
Raghunath Mandava, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, said All the steps taken recently with regard to human resources and infrastructure have been geared towards readying the organization to grow efficiently and sustainably in the medium to long term. The company remains committed to competing in various markets and providing more choice to customers through further investments to ensure consistent delivery of quality and value for money services to our customers. We are also accelerating our investments in new data networks and to modernize our existing networks. We are committed to launch 4G in multiple countries.
He added Mergers and acquisitions continue to be the norm for any multinational organization and they affect all global organizations in equal measures as and when they happen. As a strategy, we look for opportunities to acquire or merge in opcos that are operating in a fragmented market structure with too many players in a small market. Last year, Airtel and Orange reached a mutually beneficial agreement on the assets in Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso. Similarly, Airtel also acquired assets in Uganda, CongoB and Kenya in recent times. The agreements brought together the strengths of Airtel, Warid and Essar. This has offered benefits to customers in the form of a superior and wider network, affordable voice / data services and better customer care. Away from Africa, recently, we merged with Robi in Bangladesh to create a solid and profitable No.2 player in the market.
The recent results demonstrate the effectiveness of Airtels business strategy in Africa. The organization sees an opportunity ahead to emerge with a broader reach and sharper execution.
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | [email protected]
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, January 30, 2017 The African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, attended the official opening ceremony of the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, which kicked off Monday in Addis Ababa.
The meeting featured the announcement of the election of President Alpha Conde of Guinea as the new Chairperson of the African Union (AU) and the launch of the theme Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth. Conde succeeds President Idriss Deby of Chad in the role.
The Heads of State and Government also announced the election of Chads Foreign Minister, Moussa Faki Mahamat, as incoming Chairperson of the African Union Commission, replacing Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa.
The Assembly, which takes place on January 30-31, 2017, is deliberating on reports focusing on the state of peace and security on the continent, the African Peer Review Mechanism, climate change and the application by the Kingdom of Morocco to become the AUs 55th Member State.
The AU Assembly was preceded, on January 29, 2017, by a retreat of AU Heads of State and Government, which was also attended by the African Development Bank President, where the leaders considered a report presented by Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on institutional reforms of the AU aimed at enhancing the continental bodys governance systems. The report was commissioned at the last AU Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The former Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Tito Mboweni, was appointed by President Kagame as one of the experts who assisted him with the project. Efforts to obtain more financial independence are required according to the Rwandan President.
On the sidelines of the African Union Summit, Principals of the African Union Commission, Economic Commission for Africa and the Africa Development Bank Joint Secretariat, Dlamini-Zuma, Abdalla Hamdok and Akinwumi A. Adesina, held their annual meeting at which they agreed on key strategic areas of cooperation to accelerate Africas development agenda within the framework of Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals embedded in Agenda 2030, and AfDBs priority areas of intervention the High 5s (Light up and power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa).
The heads of the three institutions emphasized the complementarity between the global and continental Agendas and the importance of ensuring their effective implementation in Africa through the High 5s, which would enable African countries to achieve concrete development results.
The AUC/ECA/AfDB leaders stressed the importance of joint planning among and pledged to continue to put their respective comparative advantages at the service of the continent.
The African Development Bank stands fully ready to work with African leaders to achieve these development goals, Adesina said.
The African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) was also on the AfDBs Presidents agenda. The initiative was launched during COP21 in Paris, and has been developed from an African Union mandate and endorsed by African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, in an effort to accelerate and scale up Africas huge renewable energy potential. The Bank is hosting the AREIs Independent Delivery Unit and also act as AREIs Trustee.
The African Development Bank President and his delegation have been scaling up the institutions partnerships with African Heads of State, Governments, development partners and the private sector, among others, and putting the Banks finance and expertise at work to support the Africas development since their arrival, on January 28, 2017, at the Africa Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The average twenty-four year old lady in many parts of the three Northern regions of Ghana may have been married with two, three children and engaged in some menial farm job or other.
Some of these young ladies, travel down south to seek pastures green - many times ending up as 'kayayei', house helps, farm hands, with others landing the odd job of babysitting or store-keeping.
But for Josephine, pursuing a passion now turned a job at Karni with very low economic activity, is what is spurring her on to rewrite the narrative. Marriage may just be the last on her mind, with a dream to further her education top of her wish list.
Her simple sewing machine has 'dressed' children and adults alike in the Karni community in the Lambuisse Karni district of the Upper West region since completing vocational school in 2015.
However, it was only a few months ago that 24-year old Josephine was able to become formally established in the community with a population of about five thousand.
With this sewing machine, she is serving the clothing needs of hundreds of people in the community (including the physically-challenged) especially during the festive periods.
Child marriage figures
21% of girls in Ghana are married before they are 18 but rates can be as high as 39% in the northern part of the country, according to available statistics.
The figures point to a phenomenon which requires a little more attention, especially in the three Northern regions.
An Ending Child Marriage Unit was set up in 2014, spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to help mitigate the situation. The Ministry has been working with UNICEF to develop a three-year National Strategic Framework to End Child Marriage.
The strategy is due to be completed and launched this year (2017) - with some local radio and television commercials currently being run on local Ghanaian broadcast networks on the need to end child marriage.
How it started
Three years of vocational training alone at the St. Monica school in the Upper West Region may not have been enough to get her a decent shop, sewing equipment, and the will to carry through a long-held dream of being a marquee fashion designer.
It may also not have been enough to earn her local clients for her talent, but it certainly has opened her up to bright opportunities; one she describes as having leveraged on, albeit in small leaps.
She's chosen to deviate from farming, which is commonplace in these parts, to pursue a passion, dressmaking.
The one sewing machine which now serves as her only key equipment, was acquired through the help of her father in 2015, when she graduated from vocational school.
"I started this small enterprise after school. I had a vision, farming was not what I would do, but the bigger question was how I was going to begin," the hearty Josephine remarked.
There was not even an opportunity to learn on the job, she tells me. "I did not have the chance to learn at firsthand the art of dressmaking from anyone around here. I had to self-learn, and that you'd imagine was really tough out here," she further added.
Her sixty-year old father - a retired teacher would not watch his daughter idle about after school, that's how she got her first and only sewing machine.
"This machine was bought for me by my father, a year ago. Once I got that, I purchased a few yards of fabric and began sewing one, two, three little shorts and skirts for school pupils. I later began making clothes for the adults too, "Josephine noted.
She would roam the community in search for clients who had torn clothes to be patched, for a token. That was how she announced her presence in Karni- at this time, she had not acquired a shop.
Following months of working as a roving dressmaker, Josephine has been able to acquire a small 'single room' sized shop, and she's rightly named it 'God Never Sleeps', to mirror her journey up until this point of her young life.
"The name of my shop was carefully chosen - I am a Christian and I believe there's a bigger power that makes these things possible. Especially for me, looking back from where it began, I know it's just the hand of God, hence the name God Never Sleeps," she explained.
Working in a 'Disabled Land'
It's another sunny Wednesday at Karni, few days to Christmas - three female clients are helping put final touches to the dresses they ordered. Josephine has been slightly overwhelmed by the numbers with very close deadlines.
She used to travel to Karni from Sigiri, a village close to Jirapa, to work every day - but due to the number of clothes she has to make to meet her deadlines, she's been sleeping in her small shop for at least three days.
Karni, has about four hundred physically- challenged inhabitants, with some fifty of them visually-impaired. On a random walk through the community, one would barely find residents up and about, except a few persons gathered around the market, on their farms and at the dam side, where they draw their water.
It is also evident that economic activities here are very few and far between - across the small village market are lined two huts, under which a group of boys under fifteen are rearranging bolts, nuts, motor spare parts and other small metals.
Their elder brothers own what is really a makeshift bicycle and motor valeting center, where they fix broken motor and bicycle parts. Dotted in the community also are enclosures used as drinking bars and small recreation spots, where some residents while away time.
By all means income streams for residents here are not the most sustainable, but Josephine believes little drops of the proverbial water will make her ocean mighty.
A typical day starts for her at about 09:00 a.m., armed with her sewing machine, a pair of scissors, and other auxiliary materials, she sets out to continue work on clothes she's started making.
On days community folk have torn clothes to fix, she'd quickly attend to those sometimes free of charge.
"This place is very small, but it's all I could get. I rented this place six months ago and I come here every weekday to open up and work, "she recounted.
"It's very difficult working here, which has all these people who are not economically active - but like the little ant, it takes a lot of patience to makes this happen," the 24-year old sporting a coffee brown Lacoste over a knee-length skirt of many bright colors, added.
By 6:00 p.m, she has to be preparing to close up shop and head home unless she has pressing unfinished business to attend to.
Profit versus Philanthropy
The average dressmaker in urban areas charges a minimum of thirty cedis to make a dress for ladies with the men having to pay slightly lower for a shirt or a pair of pants.
This pricing system is however hinged on condition clients come with fabric they want to be made, but the situation here is different.
As low a fee as GHC 5, villagers here can have a dress made for them with their own fabric. The fee moves to GHC 10 if she has to provide the fabric by herself. The unanswered question remains how she's able to break even, acquire fabric, thread and other materials to keep the enterprise running.
But Josephine tells me business is picking up gradually, amidst the obvious difficulties. For many watchers, it's as good an act of philanthropy than running a business with the baseline of making profits.
Occasionally, she gets contracts to make uniforms for some school children in the next village due to contacts she'd made while in school.
Motivation
Despite this, she hopes to save enough money from dressmaking to enable her further her education.
Josephine has resolved to deviate from early marriage rhetoric, to further her education above her current standing, even before thinking about marriage.
She sees a brighter end in sight - one which will eventually lift her family out of poverty.
"I'm not married like the other girls, I also made a decision not to limit myself to farming. I could be a prominent dressmaker if I put my mind to it, and marriage will surely follow later," the dressmaker opined.
In three years, Josephine hopes to have attained what she describes as higher education (polish her craft) after which she may now want to consider getting a soul mate and subsequently spending the rest of their lives together.
In her shop, are lined an array of beautifully sewn clothes, she made all by herself. Customers had placed special orders for the festive season and some of these orders were yet to be collected.
Apprentice-less
Josephine is spending another day at her shop, knitting and stitching clothes and ironing finished clothes ready for the hanger.
Pieces of fabric had littered the frontage of her shop with strands of the blue blouse she was putting together, flying as far as the borehole which was some meters away.
I noticed she was doing the sewing all by herself, so I asked why. Her response pointed to the fact that some of the young girls in the community were lazy and unwilling to go through the period of two to three years as apprentices.
"I work all by myself. In the past, some young girls were brought by their parents as apprentices, but with time, they began playing truant and that was rather negatively affecting my work, Josephine said worryingly.
She was firm in her conviction that "once these girls failed to report to work I cannot go to their homes and ask why or even drag them to work."
How has this affected her work?
"Undoubtedly it would have been much easier to have them around to help in one way or the other, but as is the situation now, there's very little I could do," she mentioned.
For her, apprenticeship should be seen as a learning curve, which should mold young girls in the community and afford them an opportunity to learn on the job.
Challenges
Situated in prime locations in urban areas, tailoring shops are perceived merely as the art of cutting cloth according to body measurements of customers and outsourcing stitching to more established tailors, but same cannot be said of the location of Josephine's own enterprise.
Beyond the struggle to get clientele, there are real-time challenges facing the twenty-four year old.
With very limited working tools, young rejoice is putting her talent to use, just so she could make some money for herself. She tells me getting another sewing machine, an iron, a pair of scissors thread and some fabric will enhance her business.
Challenges of self-employment are baring their teeth at the young entrepreneur, but she appears unfazed.
Like many other dressmakers countrywide, the rising market of readymade clothes; sometimes branded in the city is pushing tailors and dressmaking shops on the verge of extinction.
The major dressmakers across the cities are somehow just surviving with their regular customers, the smaller ones, like Josephine and others in adjoining villages are the worst affected.
"The readymade markets in the regional capital and other big towns in the region, are not the only hurdle we have to surmount, non-availability of raw materials is also a major problem," Josephine lamented as she run the stitches over the edge of the piece she was making.
Other women here in Karni have found themselves one form of activity or another to generate income to support their households...no matter how small.
But it is still mainly men who have the land, credits and farm machinery, and they remain a majority when it comes to decision-making in this part of the Upper West region.
Given the lack of affirmative action by the state to boost female participation in rural areas, several civil society organizations and international aid agencies have been working to foster local development with a gender perspective.
31.01.2017 LISTEN
The camel is known for its resilience. Carrying heavy loads in sweltering desert heat over 160 km with little water to drink is no easy job.
This ship of the desert, however, is built for such terrainthick footpads help it navigate shifting sand and rocky paths with ease; long legs keep its body away from the surface heat; closing nostrils keep sand at bay; and bushy eyebrows and eyelashes protect the eyes.
These adaptive characteristics and physical features have come in handy for a novel transport system that ferries medical supplies and personnel to remote villages and underserved communities in Kenya.
In neighbouring Uganda, motorcycles are the alternative transport of choice, bringing health care to the remotest areas, while in Malawi, mobile phone technology is being used to combat maternal deaths.
Camel clinics
In Kenyas Samburu County, with harsh climatic conditions and more than 50% of the population living below the poverty line without adequate sanitation, many may die in childbirth or from treatable diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, tetanus, waterborne diseases and eye and skin infections.
To reach the residents in this remote county, which is more than 300 km north of the capital, Nairobi, camel mobile clinics now traverse the vast area whose terrain is thorny scrubland and semi-arid bush.
Camel mobile clinics have been hailed as one of the more innovative and sustainable means of reaching local communities in far-flung areas. An initiative of Communities Health Africa Trust (CHAT), a non-governmental organization started 16 years ago by Shanni Wreford-Smith, the camel mobile clinics were started six years later and they target these semi-nomadic communities that move from place to place in search of pasture and water.
According to Ms. Wreford-Smith, a mobile clinic comprises 7 to 10 camels, a team of medical workers and camel handlers. In the group are also two family planning and HIV counsellors.
A normal day for our camel clinics entails waking up early to pack and load the medical supplies on the camels and start the journey before the sun gets too hot. The team walks at the pace of loaded camels and sometimes a distance of 25 km can take a whole day to cover, sometimes we take between two to six hours, Ms. Wreford-Smith told Africa Renewal.
Once at their destination, the convoy pitches tent near a big manyatta (a traditional homestead established by a family or clan) for two to three days while members of the team do door-to-door mobilizing. The clinic serves on average 30 to 80 people, depending on the size of the manyatta, before moving on to the next group. It provides basic health services and holistic family planning, integrating a strong component of ecological awareness and sensitization.
We target communities in dire need of health services for common diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea, says Violet Otieno, a social worker and project officer at CHAT. The clinics also do HIV/AIDS testing and counselling, and referrals for antiretroviral treatment.
The camel mobile clinics are donor-funded, which limits the number of trips they make to at least four circuits per yearwith each circuit taking up to two weeks.
The team has learned to safely navigate various risks, including dehydration, attacks from wild animals and being caught between warring clans. It has lost only four camels to sickness since the clinics started 10 years ago.
The good thing is that the camels enable us to reach places where vehicles cannot [go], Otieno says, adding that CHAT has now expanded the camel mobile clinics to other counties, including arid and semi-arid Isiolo, Marsabit, Molo and Kitui, to serve these marginalized communities.
In Samburu, like other vast areas in northern Kenya that are inaccessible due to nearly impassable roads, locals are forced to walk for hours to obtain urgent medical care. This has made the camel mobile clinics the most convenient means of providing health services.
In one Samburu village, 34-year-old Jeremiah Samana struggled to contain his tears as he recounted the moment he watched his wifes life ebb away while she was giving birth to their third child. If it were today [with the camel mobile clinics], she would be alive, he told Africa Renewal.
Today, as Samana watches camels loaded with medicines plod past his manyatta to deliver services to his neighbours, he is grateful that, although they came a little late to save his wife, he and his children are beneficiaries of the services.
Motorbike ambulances
Health services are hard to come by in Turkana, Kenyas largest county. A shortage of health personnel means that one doctor serves about 50,000 people. The new county government has devised ways of taking health services nearer to the people in this vast, rural county.
We use motorcycle ambulances to reach our people in the countys seven sub-counties. Since the introduction of this innovation, many people can easily access health services, Jane Ajele, the countys health minister, told Africa Renewal.
The ministry has six motorcycle ambulances serving the sub-counties. Demand for the services is high, and Ajele says there are plans to increase the number before the end of this year.
The good thing about these ambulances is that they can navigate impassable roads to save lives. Besides carrying medicine, they also ferry women in labour to the nearest health facility, she said.
Similarly, Tana River County has introduced four motorcycle ambulances for piloting in four remote villages which have one of the highest numbers of maternal deaths in the country. The villages are Biressa, Dende, Wayu-Boro, and Tawakal.
Ugandas village ambulances
As of last June, Uganda was using motorcycle ambulances to reach people in the rural western region.
Commonly known as village ambulances, these three-wheeled motorcycles take medicines, medical supplies and information to patients in remote villages. Before their introduction, community health workers would use improvised stretchers, or carry the sick on their backs to the nearest health facility. Many never made it, as the journey was long and arduous.
With the village ambulances, Swizen Kisembe, a health worker, told the South African Broadcasting Corporation in September, many lives are being saved.
Village ambulances have also turned out to be cheaper and safer than conventional ambulances.
Malawi: Health e-Innovation
Malawis health centres by phone have discovered a novel way of providing crucial health care services to people in rural areas through the use of text messages.
A basic phone becomes a clinic through which a patient gets all the information he or she requires from a doctor without going to a clinic. The text message service also gives tips and reminders about taking medications, making it easy and convenient to connect patients and health providers any time of the day.
This has proven helpful in providing pregnant women with necessary prenatal and also postnatal information. Some of the messages encourage the use of mosquito nets to prevent malaria, others give tips for preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission and for improved health care in general.
The toll-free line, supported by Airtel, a mobile phone company, serves more than 500,000 mothers and children. The Malawi government, which aims to reduce maternal mortality, has endorsed the mobile phone innovation.
Africa Renewal
31.01.2017 LISTEN
Pneumonia, an acute infection of the lungs, is the biggest killer of children worldwide even though it is treatable and easily preventable with vaccines.
The disease remains prevalent in some of the poorest regions in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa in part because of the high price of the vaccines necessary to prevent it. One dose of pneumonia vaccine costs about $68, and it is $204 for the three doses needed to vaccinate one child, although humanitarian organizations may get the vaccines at a lower price.
In 2015 the disease killed nearly 1 million children under the age of 5, accounting for 15% of all worldwide deaths of children of that age group, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Health care providers and other groups, such as Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, an international medical group that provides assistance to populations in emergency situations, have long complained about what they claim are artificially high prices of pneumonia vaccines, among other medicines. They are concerned about not being able to afford these drugs to help prevent the disease in poor countries.
Yet last October, MSF turned down a donation of 1 million free doses of pneumonia vaccine from a New Yorkbased drug company. The group maintained that ad hoc donations are not the solution to the need for affordable medicines and appealed to manufacturers to make drugs more affordable.
In the words of MSF USA director Jason Cone, free is not always better, and the conditions that come with such donations can delay vaccination campaigns and undermine long-term efforts to increase access.
In November the drug company finally agreed to lower the price of the vaccine, but only for children in humanitarian emergencies. Still, civil society organizations, including MSF, believe that the price reduction should be extended to all developing countries.
Report on access
MSFs stance was not widely reported in the media, but coming on the heels of recommendations by a high-level panel of the United Nations Secretary-General on ways to improve access to medicines, it echoed the need to address obstacles in the way of extending to all the benefits of ever-improving health technologies, including drugs, and highlighted the role played by companies in search of huge profits.
Released in September 2016, the Report of the United Nations Secretary-Generals High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines: Promoting Innovation and Access to Health Technologies calls on governments to negotiate global agreements to reduce the cost of health technologies for rich and poor countries alike. For UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the reports message is simple yet powerful: no one should suffer because they cannot afford medicines, diagnostics, medical devices or vaccines.
The report notes that in a market-driven research and development environment, research into new technologies is incentivised by the prospect of high returns to the developers, while rare diseases affecting comparatively small numbers of people fail to spur innovation.
With no market incentives, there is an innovation gap in diseases that predominantly affect neglected populations, said Malebona Precious Matsoso, the director-general of the National Department of Health of South Africa, one of the 15 members of the UN panel.
Ruth Dreifuss, former president of the Swiss Confederation, and Festus Mogae, former president of Botswana, co-chaired the high-level panel.
The report calls for new approaches to health research and development to make sure that the benefits of health technology are extended to all.
Our report calls on governments to negotiate global agreements on the coordination, financing and development of health technologies to complement existing innovation models, including a binding research and development convention that delinks the costs of R & D from end prices, Ms. Matsoso added.
Sky-high prices of medicine and health technologies are of grave concern to developing countries, a situation that gained global attention at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Currently the cost of a years supply of first-line HIV drugs in Africa is less than $100 per person compared to $10,000 in the year 2000, according to UNAIDS.
Back in 2000, only patent-holding drug companies could manufacture antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, but prices started falling when developing countries started producing generic versions and exporting them to other developing countries exempt from the patents.
This was possible thanks to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), negotiated among members of the World Trade Organisation on public health.
Gradually, though, the flexibility afforded by TRIPS, the report indicated, is being threatened, including through bilateral trade agreements, which is a violation of the integrity and legitimation of the Doha declaration on intellectual property rights and public health.
The report calls on countries to continue making full use of TRIPS and report undue economic and political pressure.
Africa Renewal
31.01.2017 LISTEN
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti from Botswana is the first woman to head the World Health Organization (WHO)s Regional Office for Africa. The new regional director has over 36 years of experience in public health. Her goal is to make the organization more responsive, effective and results-oriented. She plans to accelerate progress towards global development goals while tackling emerging threats. The following are edited excerpts of her interview with Tefo Pheage for Africa Renewal.
Africa Renewal: You held your second annual meeting with Africa's ministers of health recently. Are you happy with its outcome?
Dr. Moeti: Yes, it was a very productive meeting. The ministers adopted key strategies and frameworks covering the broader areas of health security; health systems; womens, childrens and adolescent health; ageing; communicable and noncommunicable diseases; financing; and the governance of WHO. They agreed to work towards political commitment and to mobilize more resources for health, as well as strengthen collaboration towards the sustainable development agenda.
Is there any feedback from this meeting that will change your strategy going forward?
I am inspired by the renewed enthusiasm to improve health care in Africa. I am confident that, with all hands on deck, we can improve it.
Please share with us your experience in your first year and what you hope to accomplish during your five-year term.
During the first year, my initial priority was to bring the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa to an end, which was achieved in December 2015, and to strengthen the regions preparedness and capacity for timely response to outbreaks and emergencies. We also began to restructure WHO in Africa to effectively address the priorities of the continent. During my five-year term, I plan to achieve five priorities: improving health security, strengthening national health systems, sustaining focus on the health-related
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing the social determinants of health, and transforming the WHO secretariat in Africa into a responsive and results-driven organization.
You were appointed when the Ebola virus was ravaging Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. What helped defeat the virus?
A number of factors were critical in getting to zero cases of Ebola, including high-level engagement with affected countries, donors, technical agencies and communities. I visited the three affected countries to engage with their presidents, national authorities, partners and the community to ensure that all required actions to stop the outbreak were implemented. Secondly, we mobilized financial resources required to support field operations. Thirdly, we deployed more than 3,800 experts from different fields, who played a critical role in implementing all the interventions in the field, such as tracing of contacts, treatment of patients, detection of the virus using mobile laboratories, and sharing of data and information with the global community on the status of the epidemic.
How could these countries be better prepared against future epidemics, like Zika, for instance?
It is critical for countries to enhance their capacity and capabilities to prepare for and respond to any public health event that may threaten public health security by implementing the International Health Regulations. These are a set of rules adopted by all countries to strengthen their core capacities, provide adequate funding and collaborate with partners. They are also designed to enhance cross-border cooperation on preparedness and to respond to threats arising from epidemic- and pandemic-prone diseases. The participation of civil society and the private sector is also very crucial.
What practical steps can African countries take to improve their national health systems?
Countries should strengthen the leadership and governance of health sectors to gain the confidence of all stakeholders. Governments should be more innovative in raising revenues from domestic sources and ensuring that all of their populations have access to essential health services. They should also improve the quality of health services and the safety of patient and health workers, and build partnerships with civil society and other partners in order to expand access. Investing in district and community health systems should be a priority that can contribute towards universal health coverage and the achievement of the SDGs.
SDG 3 calls for the promotion of healthy living and the well-being of all. What role should governments and partners such as WHO play to support Africa in achieving set targets?
The SDGs will require a new integrated and holistic approach from governments. While SDG 3 is the health-focused goal, intersectoral synergy and complementarity are essential for the health sector to meet its goal. Governments require new platforms to coordinate the social sector and health needs, including protecting the most vulnerable in their societies. Our role, as WHO and other partners, is to assist in building the capacity of the health sector so that technicians and decision makers can fulfill these needs.
What role will WHO play in mobilizing resources for poor countries that cannot afford huge budgetary allocations to the health sector?
We play a strong advocacy role in encouraging partners and donor countries to offer financial and other support to the most challenged countries. However, we must acknowledge that there is donor fatigue globally arising from conflicts, migration and humanitarian crises as they demand more resources from the international community. We need to mobilize more resources from within our region so we can gradually reduce reliance on external donations. African countries may also need to look at innovative ways of mobilizing resources through targeted tax regimes (such as has been done elsewhere with airfares and sin taxes). WHO will offer technical guidance and expertise to build the capacity to mobilize and use resources more effectively while also ensuring transparency and accountability.
WHO has over the years proposed developing community-based mental health services worldwide. Do you have any update for Africa?
In the African region, there are several countries where community-based mental health services (CBMH) are being developed or strengthened. These usually incorporate a recovery-based approach which emphasises assisting individuals with mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities, vulnerable people and survivors of violence. The majority of community-based services in the region are run by NGOs and religious groups, with family and caregiver support. In some countries, the government co-contributes or takes full responsibility. Countries which have embraced the CBMH approach include Benin, Burkina Faso, DRC, Kenya, Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
HIV/AIDS and malaria continue to be key health issues in Africa, which has 11% of the world's population but is home to 60% of the people with HIV/AIDS. In the coming years, what would progress look like?
We have made significant progress by reducing deaths due to malaria by 66% in the last 15 years, while deaths due to HIV/AIDS have declined by almost half in the last 10 years. This has been largely due to the greater political commitment, stronger global partnership, increased financing, increased coverage with effective interventions and the meaningful engagement of AIDS patients.
And going forward?
The next five years will be crucial and we have to work hard if we are to achieve the targets of having 90% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status, 90% of people diagnosed with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of people who are on treatment achieving viral load suppression.
Of the 20 countries with the highest maternal mortality rates worldwide, 19 are in Africa, which also has the highest neonatal death rate in the world. Where is Africa getting it wrong?
Efforts are underway to tackle the high maternal and neonatal deaths in Africa. Eleven out of those 19 countries with highest maternal deaths were facing humanitarian, conflict or post-conflict situations that may have caused the breakdown of health systems, resulting in a dramatic rise in deaths due to complications that would be easily treatable. But some progress was made.
Can you share with us the areas where progress was made?
By the end of 2015, maternal mortality fell by 45% in the region. WHO specifically supported the development of road maps for reducing maternal and newborn deaths in Africa, and newborn deaths dropped by 38%. WHO supported over 36 countries to build capacity for newborn care both in facilities and the community. And this work continues. I must mention also that HIV-related maternal deaths fell from 10% in 2005 to 2% by the end of 2015.
Many believe a number of Africas health workers have emigrated to the West. With such a brain drain, how can Africa ensure adequate human resources for the sector?
We continue to encourage countries to expand private-sector training of health workers. We encourage adequate and timely payment of health workers, along with providing incentives to retain health workers in remote areas. Countries should also take into account the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. The code encourages destination countries to collaborate with source countries in supporting the training of more health care workers. We also urge countries to discourage active recruitment of health personnel from developing countries facing critical shortages. However, the working environment and living conditions ultimately influence performance and motivation of the existing health workers, and we urge governments to address these.
Africa Renewal
Our August House has once again been subjected to International ridicule after being accused of corruption. This is not the first time, series of bribery and corruption allegations have been levelled against the House but all have gone unchallenged.
A section of the minority MPs in Parliament led by Hon Mahama Ayariga have accused Mr Boakye Agyarko of attempting to bribe them after he appeared before the Vetting Committee with GHC 3,000.00 each which he believed was facilitated by the Chairman of the Committee Hon Joseph Osei Owusu. This has compelled three MPs namely Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Hon Alhassan Suhuyini and Hon Okudjato Ablakwa to petition the Speaker to probe the allegation.
TAG is of the view that, with right people at the right office Ghana will work again therefore a person seeking to hold public office should be someone who is Clean, Credible and should be trustworthy.
TAG, believes that for effective investigation into this issue, there is the need to withdraw/ suspend the appointment of Mr Boakye Agyarko to ensure integrity and credibility of himself, the government and the parliament of Ghana.
TAG is by this Press Statement calling on the President to revoke the appointment of Mr Boakye Agyarko the Minister of Energy or better still suspend his appointment until investigations are completed.
We are requesting for this partly with the pledge of President Akuffo Addo's commitment and willingness to fight corruption.
May Allah Bless Us All
And May Bless Our Homeland Ghana.
Thank You.
...............signed................
*Sirr Abdullah*
President
( 0246 216 992)
*Nana Yeboah*
Secretary
( 0245671710 )
*Samed Kooli*
Organiser
( 0262497888 )
31.01.2017 LISTEN
Contemporary slavery, also known as modern day slavery, refers to the institutions of slavery that continue to exist in the present day. Estimates of the number of slaves today range from around 21 million to 29 million. Modern slavery is a multi-billion dollar industry with estimates of up to $35 billion generated annually. The American lottery has received a huge number than the previous years, specifically the just ended 2016/2017 lottery. The Global Slavery Index is an annual ranking of slavery conditions in countries. Ghana is ranked 21st globally. Who is to be blamed for this?
The economy of the African continent is like a bad breadth and our greedy political leaders have no idea on its genesis and its revelation. We are in leadership crisis indeed. No wonder the greater population today from the length and breadth of the country. Through all of this societal topsy-turvy, the poor remain the victims, as the truth is hidden from them.
The intrinsic value of our society is devalued by such behavior. We need policies that will ensure party politics does not have a negative effect on society, but ,rather, aids in the development of this society and its people lets put an end to afflicting conditions and grasp progress!. For sure, the greedy white collar makes the sun ethemologically a curse for the 'ordinary Ghanaian populates'.
If the profit for a day sales in the scorching sun at Kumasi Kejetia market made by the so-called ordinary Ghanaian tax payers is Gh5.00 with a many stomachs to feed. Then why won't this citizen make his aspirations available for the bright side of life. That's what every breadth prays for and hopes for even though it's a maybe. In Kumasi Kejetia Market which is one of the largest market centers in West-Africa, hawkers and vendors are chased with guards to pay tax with no attention to the betterment of the modern day tax payer. She would rather adhere to be a slave abroad rather than to be slaves in her own country. Aren't we slaves in our own land? Voting has lost its sacred significance outrageously in our part of the world. Do we vote for leaders or readers?
Although this exploitation is often not called slavery, the conditions are the same. I stand by my words and judgment even though is a disguised victim of this frustrating pain. I am to share my thought on it not as an apostle of ethics but with an eked to the voices that alarms for the movement against emancipation of the Negro. The only place where black minds will find freedom to the awakening of thought is through the influence of Pan-Africans in the trenches of Black Consciousness, that is where one will come to the full awareness of the intellect of a black mind. Thereafter, Africans can shake off the oppressive weight that society has flung upon them and rejuvenate their mental capacity in order to be three times sharper than before; with the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity. Innovation is part of our proud culture. Black minds, it is time for us to claim whats rightfully ours!
To this end, the cruelest torture is that of a psychological stigmatization that results in mental hunger which, in turn, leads to ignorance. Through those mind -poisoning attempts, black minds showed great determination to evade such attempts made by colonists. With the permission of time, black minds, if given access to great resources, can introduce advances in the field of knowledge as they carry the intellectual capacity. In the era of African epistemic origins, before the western theoretical lies emerged, culturally, black minds were encouraged to realize their full potential in the context of ideas and the advancement of knowledge.
In a simple analogy which doesn't require a degree before one can eke. If for a year 1,000 graduates are instrumentally 'packaged to the Americans. Where lies our future as Africans. We are down to the grave. This is a grave decision. Do we need communicators as leaders or educators? This is the time the Black colour must rise and stop acting as a subordinate.
As a result of Black Consciousness influences, the native carries a mental ability to adapt to the continuous interchange of ideas; as a deep revival of the intrinsic value of a black person.
During ancient African civilization, black minds were the producers of knowledge innovation that was used as a vehicle to express ideas, intellect and talents.
Black minds are still unappreciated as a mechanism of thinking as a well organized pedal of knowledge. This has occurred in order to oust blacks and elevate white dominance in the kingdom of knowledge, forgetting that black minds were the focal point in the formative years of knowledge. After all, one doesnt need a microscope or telescope to see the slow ascendancy of blacks in the narrow corridors of the academic world in Africa.
Africans with regards to the gospel of consciousness, and this revealed itself to be an ongoing problem for the existence of the colonial regime.
Enlightenment meant that, if Africans could come to grasp their full potential, then colonialists were to repent and beg for forgiveness with their faces pressed against the ground. Overall, Pan-Africans have been, and continue to be, a threat to all the forces that seek to keep Africa under-developed. The memorable phrase "Africa for Africans, as an ideal, is by far the most sensational revelation to the black mind. Pan-Africans have, and continue to be, on the qui vive for the realization of Africa, deeply influencing the psychology of the native African.
Its clear, principled ideology is echoed in different continents by African , zealous reformers as an object of veneration, through which incredible dedication by fellow Africans unfolds embodying the true, symbolic development of Africa and its people. Africa needs us all and we must live for the ultimate course to see Africa rise to its fullest. There is no doubt. This is purely modern slavery but we cant refuse simply because we have no 'choice'
Akwasi Brobbey
(Senior writer and editor at TIC)
[email protected]
0548412192/0266175686
New Castle, Delaware-The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) is demanding a public apology from Liberias Minister of Information Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), Eugene Nagbe, for his recent verbal attack on two local Liberian journalists.
ALJA said it wants Minister Nagbe to openly express regrets to broadcast journalists, Emmanuel Capeheart of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) and Estelle Liberty Kemoh of Power TV for the unnecessary public humiliation they suffered at his hands while executing their professional duties at the Capitol Building in Monrovia. The Capitol Building is the seat of the Liberia National Legislature. ALJA insisted "The Johnson-Sirleaf government spokesman must apologize for the psychological harm he has done to Journalists Kemoh and Capeheart."
According to an ALJA press release issued on January 30, 2017, the Association demand comes in the wake of recent media reports which accused Mr. Nagbe of using profanity on the journalists for what he at the time considered unprofessional reporting. The incident occurred on Monday, January 24, 2017, at the Capitol Building where journalists Capeheart, Kemo, and several other media personalities converged to cover President Johnson-Sirleafs 2017 state of the nation address.
Quoting media reports, ALJA said the Information Minister became infuriated when Mr. Capeheart granted a live interview on ELBC radio to Lofa County District Number-5 Representative, Moses Kollie, of the opposition Liberia People Democratic Party (LPDP) minutes following the Presidents address. Representative Kollie is Chairman of the LPDP. As a routine practice in broadcast journalism where the views of eminent newsmakers are often sampled whenever major speeches such as the state of the nation addresses are delivered, the ELBC reporter, sought and granted Rep. Kollie an interview for a dissenting view regarding the President's address.
The Association maintained the live radio interview annoyed the overzealous Information Minister and he became verbally belligerent and authoritative. As a show of power, he rained profanity on Mr. Capeheart and vowed to arbitrarily dismiss him from ELBC. The Information Minister is the Chairman of the LBS Board of Directors. ALJA said Eugenes dismissal threat and unprovoked verbal aggression on Mr. Capeheart were unwarranted. Journalistically, ALJA noted, "Mr. Capeheart committed no wrong; he broke no editorial policy or media law. He simply executed one of the cardinal functions for which ELBC was established in 1963.
ALJA said giving media access to all Liberians including Representative Kollie regardless of political, tribal, and religious affiliations constitutes one of the statutory duties of ELBC. The Americas based Liberian Journalists said although Rep. Kollie is an opposition politician; he is a prominent lawmaker. He is also, an integral component of the Sirleaf Administration. ALJA noted it is sad that a siting Minister of Information, who also, doubles as Chairman of the LBS Board of Directors would stoop so low because of his share ignorance of the stations legal mandates.
The Liberian media advocacy group said LBS is a state owned broadcast entity that is amendable only to Liberian tax payers. "ELBC is neither a private media entity of the Sirleaf government nor a propaganda machinery of the ruling Unity Party(UP) where Minister Nagbe, as Secretary General has the latitude to unilaterally decide, who gets an interview or not," ALJA emphasized.
Commenting on the Minister's public beef with Journalist Kemoh, ALJA said she ran into trouble with the Liberian government spokesman when she attempted to seek clarification from him regarding the controversial news interview which journalist Capeheart granted Rep. Kollie. When she asked him what was the problem with him and the Representative, the Minister angrily responded to her question by telling her to go and ask her boyfriend, Rep. Moses Kollie."
The Association maintained Minister Nagbes uncouth response to Mrs. Kemoh must be denounced by all Liberians at home and abroad including President Johnson-Sirleaf. ALJA said "For Eugene to publicly accuse Journalist Kemoh of engaging in extra marital affairs while performing her reportorial duty without any iota of truth is crude, horrendous, and unfortunate." Meanwhile, the Association is calling on all Liberian journalists, friends of the Liberian media, and the international community to stand in unison with ALJA in demanding a public apology from the MICAT boss.
ALJA expressed gratitude to the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL), Reporters Association of Liberia (RAL), and the Legislative Press Pool (Legispol) for being the first auxiliaries of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) to take such heroic stance against the Information Minister. The Association proposed that if Minister Nagbe refuses to apologize to the journalists for the humiliation caused them, then, President Johnson-Sirleaf should rethink his continuous stay in government.
ALJA said the Ministers actions have the propensity of putting a dimple in image of the Sirleaf government despite the laudable work the Liberian leader has done over the years in promoting and advancing press freedom in Liberia. ALJA said as Liberia prepares for another crucial election in October 2017, the country does not need an overzealous Information Minister, who would blatantly choose to publicly denigrate, harass, and cow members of the Liberian media while performing their professional duties just to win unwarranted political favor from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, or maintain his stay at the Information Ministry.
The Association said it is imperative that Minister Nagbe desist from actions and behaviors that have the likelihood of undermining the prevailing level of press freedom in Liberia. In July of 2016, ALJA called for the resignation or dismissal of Minister Nagbe from the Sirleaf government when he was elected Secretary General of the UP. Then, the Association said his election to the UP Secretary General post posed serious conflict of interest for him in the performance of his statutory duties in government as Minister of Information. Then, ALJA wondered what would be the Minister's disposition when confronted with critical national matters that hinge on the interests of the Liberian government, UP, and opposition political parties.
-30-
Signed: _____________________
Gardea V. Woodson
National Secretary General
Cell: 610-212-1935
Approved: ______________________________
Moses D. Sandy
National President
Cell: 302-494-4688
The Writer
31.01.2017 LISTEN
I would like to express my unplumbed gratitude to the entire Ghanaian populace for the successful general election erstwhile and also the violent-free swearing in ceremony of the New Patriotic Party on January 7, 2017. Indeed, we are the true custodians of Africas Democracy.
Warm congratulations to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) upon their victory during the December 7, 2016 general polls. Kudos to the Ex-President Mahama led NDC Government for conceding a democratic defeat.
However, the Nana Addo led NPP government has really commenced a good course of action that upshots a long-term progressive economic maturation subsequent to the broad consultative meeting with the major stakeholders such as the Birth and Death Registry, Ghana Statistical Services, Ghana Immigration Service, Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority just to mention a few which was moderated by the Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahmudu Bawumia on Wednesday January 25, 2017 to give extra weight to the need to have a secured centralized National Database and smart identity cards to further assist National policy planning and implementation.
In truth, there have been several talks about the National Identity project with a very little action. But, the attempt made by the NPP Government, I am highly convinced and also has the conviction that the project will see the light of the day to help subdue the increasing economic challenges we are faced with as a nation.
The Veep Dr. Bawumia has in consonant with NPPs manifesto exercised a wakeful call up on the benefits of the smart identity project which is scheduled to be completed within the first year of their tenure of office; therefore, I kindly urge all the citizens and residents of Ghana to offer our individual unflinching support to make the Smart Identity project materialize and also to ensure a smooth groundwork throughout the various stages of the project till completion devoid of human interferences and whatsoever during its operational stage.
I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. The lights that will make Ghanaian Diasporas to quickly come back home and also reprove Ghanaians vehemently seeking greener pastures elsewhere under unpalatable and extreme conditions which are highly unacceptable by the mind.
GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA
AGENDA Ghana Identity Authority (G.I.A)
By
Dadzie, Rufus Abdela
(Machinist)
Dubai - UAE
+971523501840 Call
+233205522622 Whatsapp
[email protected] email
I have real difficulty finding an appropriate heading for the true story I am about to recount regarding a reported ongoing hefty utility bills, electricity bills to be more precise, being incurred by a tenant at Kumasi Tafo-Aboaso. According to this tenant who lives in a rented single room in a house of multiple rooms, with each room rented out to a different tenant by the house owner, she is compelled to pay a huge unexplained electricity bill on two-monthly basis. The huge size of the electricity bill has gone way beyond her means and it is now causing her headaches and serious concerns.
The rooms in the multi-tenanted house are arranged in such a way that every two tenants, with each living in a single room, but sharing a common kitchen, toilet and bath, have their own electric meter.
In their rooms, each has the following basic electric appliances a refrigerator, an electric ceiling fan, a single low-consuming energy bulb and an electric iron. They have a single electric bulb in the kitchen, one on the toilet and one in the bathroom. Interestingly, they are both workers who leave home very early in the mornings during the weekdays only to return around 17:00 to 18:00 hours (5 to 6 pm).
Apart from the irons that consume more electricity but are used occasionally to press their clothing, the rest of mentioned electrical appliances do not consume much energy. For the fridges and the electric ceiling fans are inductive loads, operating on motor and do not draw much current unlike the irons that are resistive loads.
She pays around GHC450 every two months with the other tenant with whom she shares the meter paying same. When they became worried about their bill, knowing they are not home during the greater part of the day and have fewer electrical appliances that do not consume much electric current, they notified the Ghana Electricity Corporation or their electricity supplier.
When engineers from the Electricity Corporation attended, they claimed it was because the water meter reading goes through the electricity bill as well, an explanation I find it very difficult to comprehend, being an electrical engineer myself. Anyway, that is Ghana for you and in Ghana everything goes and everything is possible.
The engineers that attended did claim to have separated the water meter or reading from that of the electricity. However, for about six months since the alleged separation of the water from the electricity, she continues to pay the same amount of money for her electricity consumption.
When the Electricity supplier or company was contacted on same issue, they said they suspect someone else in the house has their electricity consumption reading into the electric meter she shares with the other tenant as aforementioned.
What should the supplier do if they suspect some sort of illegal electricity connection from within the house that has been causing the two innocent tenants such unexplained heavy electric bills? Have they helped bring it to the attention of the landlord or raised any such concern about it with the landlord? No!
Have they suggested to the two tenants how to go about resolving the mystery? No! This again, is Ghana for you.
I have to attend to other matters of more importance to me so I shall have to end here but until them, let me suggest to the unfortunate tenants and anyone finding themselves in such an awkward situation as follows:
Switch off all your electrical appliances, or better still, unplug all of them from the main power sockets for say, ten minutes while having your eyes on the electric meter to see if your electric mechanical meter will still be reading. If it does, then it is true there exists some illegal connection where someone is trafficking electricity from you. When such a fact is established, get it confirmed by the landlord and the electricity supplier.
Repeat the exercise several times at different times over say a month, and especially, when almost all the tenants are home but without them knowing what you are doing to uncover any suspected illegal consumption of electricity reading into your meter.
A qualified electrician can reach the ceiling void, junction/connecting boxes etc. where such illegal wiring connections could be made to check but for laypersons, do as I have suggested above.
I could easily have assisted if I were in Ghana to tell whether or not there has been some form of illegal electricity connection that is causing the heavy bills to the said complainant.
The electric meters can as well be deliberately calibrated to cheat customers, especially under that corrupt regime led by former President John Dramani Mahama who was alleged to have imported into the country some so-called Usain Bolt Electric Meters to cheat Ghanaians to get more money to feed his insatiable quest for wealth through corruption.
The basic unit of measure of electric power is the Watt. One thousand Watts are called a kilowatt. When you use electricity to power a 1000-watt vacuum for 1 hour, you use 1,000 watt-hours (1,000 Wh) of electricity. One thousand watt-hours equals 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh). Your utility bill usually shows what you are charged for the kilowatt-hours you use. Electric meters use either digital displays or dials. The difference between one month's reading and the next is the amount of energy units that have been used for that billing period
With the above reference quoted from Wikipedia, you can easily calculate the cost of your electricity consumption on your own. There is what is called a standing charge which is the meter you are using and other service charges. This is a fixed rate that you will pay every month as long as you have the meter in your house. Then comes the running charges which are the number of kWh you use during a month, two or three depending on how your electricity payment has been arranged. Add the VAT placed on your utility bills by the government.
Therefore, STANDING CHARGE + (NUMBER OF KWH X UNIT COST OF KWH =RUNNING COST) + PERCENTAGE (%) CHARGE OF VAT ON TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION will give you your electricity bill for the charging period.
Standing charge could be say, GHC5 per month. Unit cost of kWh could be 20 pesewas. VAT could be 17.5%
If you pay your bill every two months and you happen to consume say 550 kWh within that period, your bill will be 2 x GHC5 + (20P X 550) =10+110 +(17.5% 0f 120) =120 + 21 = GHC141.
Anyway, the calculation is beyond the comprehension of a layperson in the electrical field.
The electricity bills and any related illegal electric connections must be a matter of great concern to the new government for people are suffering in Ghana.
As long as we want to help Ghana prosper by being of service to our people, you are more than welcome to communicate your concerns to me and I shall not hesitate to help provide answers where I am capable.
Boys abre. Girls abre
Rockson Adofo
(Written on Monday, 30 January 2017)
To apologise is to admit some wrongdoing and seek to purge people of the harm ( in whatever shape or form ) that ones action or inaction may have caused. And this can be very expensive in politics; the need to appear infallible, invincible, and invulnerable is nearly indispensable. After all who wants to elect blundering, indecisive politicians? So to apologise is politically difficult. Worse still, is apologising upon the request of ones opponents to ones opponents.
Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba was hounded by her opponents to apologise for making unsavoury comments about the former president, John Mahama. And her foes chose the Appointments Committee sitting to do it. They chose a time they thought she would, should be vulnerable: during her vetting as minister-designate. They were sorely disappointed; she did not only refuse to apologise, she jabbed one opponent so hard that the opponent admitted that he was living in interesting times.
She wouldnt apologise for describing the former President as violent, as being extremely wicked, as having the heart of the devil, as being evil or as being an embarrassment to northerners. Indeed, she wouldnt apologise for accusing him without evidence as having instigated youths to attack then candidate Akufo-Addos residence. She simply ignored that bit.
Hon. Suhuyini wanted her to apologise to the former President and to Ghana for such unsavoury comments. But Madam Djaba said she did not owe him ( Ex-President Mahama) or you( Hon. Suhuyini) an apology. By limiting the people who desired an apology to her political opponents, Madam Djaba effectively justified her comments. But Ghana was listening. Ghanaians who abhor the use of intemperate language were listening. Ghanaians who side with her opponents that her comments were unsavoury were listening. Ghanaians who detest mudslinging were listening. And madam Djaba disappointed them.
No decent Ghanaian will want politicians to mount political platforms and use descriptive words such as evil, extremely wicked and violent on their opponents because they have failed to fulfil promises. They would want them to talk about their policies and strategies, and about how different they would be.
Madam Djabas refusal to apologise has a set a bad precedent for other politicians. Those who have heaped vile insults on President Akufo-Addo will likely follow her lead. If they had anything to apologise for, Madam Djaba has taught them that they can heave a sigh of relief once they said it from conviction. Yes conviction shields you from being unsavoury or insulting. We would likely hear more descriptive words since there exists no day of reckoning.
Yes, the offended could sue the offenders. But we know how slow that can be. We know our courts have enough cases. And every rational person should want their politicians concentrating on their job and not mired in legal cases. Plus suing doesnt stop intemperate language from causing political conflicts.
If she had apologised, she would have communicated quite powerfully to other political activists to be mindful of their use of language; she would have appeased Ghanaians who felt offended by her descriptive words. She would have set the proper tone for her leadership as a minister of all Ghanaians, including all who find her descriptive words unsavoury.
But she did not apologise. So she owes me an apology. And she is the first person to owe me something this year.
31.01.2017 LISTEN
Offensive or not, it perfectly defines a situation in politics or government where a president, competent or incompetent, surrounds him/herself with totally rude unprofessional mischievous young persons.
It is not the first time this has happened, and it will not be the last. However, this phrase has a nice beginning and a wild ending which even makes it more catching to receive the attention of generations to come, and a perfect illustration of what happens when a leader goes that way.
I guess the young will learn something from it and save themselves the trouble some of our politicians find themselves in now.
As a community development activist, I strongly oppose labelling the phrase as offensive let alone, require an apology. It is a simple and easy to remember phrase for adult education, so politicians and change agents alike, should be comfortable using it to explain social problems to the masses because the phrase hits the nail on the head.
Signed;
Charles Owusu
LIDO USA
31.01.2017 LISTEN
Certainly nobody, but some people love to embark on shame-hunting. Shame is wingless it cannot fly but if you dare it, it would follow you to the grave. So chase it not, if you cannot handle it, says author Gordon Offin-Amaniampong.
One beautiful afternoon a young man visited a grocery store to buy condom. Upon reaching the store he noticed there were many people but the presence of six beautiful ladies made him change his mind. He thought it would be embarrassing to go to the canter and pay for the item while the ladies were perhaps looking on.
So what was his plan B?
Instead of buying the condom the guy decided to steal it. But he wasnt lucky. He couldnt sneak the lenses of the camera installed in the store. He was arrested for stealing condom in the broad view of the beautiful girls. Not only that he faced the court and was on national TV for theft.
See, trouble troube those who trouble trouble. I dont know how many times I have featured this line in my articles. But they say if the song is nice you must play it twice. So, I will say if the phrase is good stay with it, keep it and hammer it, till it sticks.
Didnt Jesus tell his disciples to avoid the front roll seat at functions, if it hadnt been allocated to them? That advice is still applicable today as it was in the Apostolic Age. And its as good as the good news. Its for you and me to remind ourselves of the consequences thereof if we lose our guards or puff our egos.
That notwithstanding Man has remained stubborn since the Adamic Age. Man has been trapped between ego and pigheadedness. We think we are too smart, and believe were too clever or too big in our shoes. We think we know it all and can always make it work in our own way without considering their way too.
And do you remember this? I think I prefer the lady...
Theres a short video trending on the social media platforms. It might seem funny to many but I think it carries much weight and has a word in it.
Several years ago a university in Ghana was honouring one of its financiers/donors at a big gathering at the universitys auditorium. The institution was University of Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale the northern regional capital and it was conferring an honorary Doctor of Letters on former President Jerry John Rawlings in recognition of his contribution towards the founding and establishment of the university.
Mr. Rawlings had made a donation of $50,000 dollars which was used to establish UDS in 1992.
The event was perhaps the biggest since UDS establishment and it was graced by ministers of State, members of the academia, chiefs and many more.
While addressing the gathering President Rawlings had a lady stood by him with a hand-held microphone. And there comes drama. Someone who thought he was too smart and deserved to be where the lady was ambled his way to the spot and grabbed the microphone from her. The lady quietly went back to the audience and sat down. But within seconds her glory was restored. The ego-flying bird had been shot in the wings and it dropped flat on the ground amid laughter.
Typical of him, President Rawlings abruptly stopped addressing his audience and turned to the attention-seeker, grabbed the microphone back from him and remarked: I think I prefer the lady. The action sparked laughter at the entire venue.
But Mr. Rawlings wasnt done yet. O ooh this little warmth she wants to enjoy too youre trying to get it from her.
President Rawlings immediately handed the microphone back to the lady. As the man walked away from the spotlight one could see his whole frame wrapped in shame. His eyes rolled like a dice. His heart thumped like a wall clock. He felt butterflies in his bellyready to puke. And he could barely lift his nimble feet from the ground.
Only Goodness knows what else he did but I cant write them here.
Who pumped that idea into you r head that you can always have it your way?
By the way, I dont know if hed the balls to sit through the programme after inviting such embarrassment to himself. How would he explain that to his wife and kids? And would he even have appetite that evening?
It was an embarrassment he sought after. His ego had become restless it needed something to feed on. Unfortunately it landed at a wrong place at the wrong time. And I think he should have been forewarned that, he could do it elsewhere, but obviously not at Papa Jerrys backyard.
Now here we are. We dont know whether our Parliament is indeed corrupted.
The last few days had been unsettling for the nations third arm of governmentthe Legislature. It has been hit by accusations and counter accusation of purported bribery scandal involving Minister of Energy and Petroleum Boakye Agyarko, Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament Joseph Osei-Owusu, Minority Chief Whip Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak and Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga.
It is understood this not the first time the legislative body has faced corruption allegation. Nonetheless, one is hopeful that the outcome of an ongoing investigation would help purge and restore the integrity of the members of the Committee.
But the tone of the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu before the business of vetting ministerial nominees commenced on Monday emphasised a distressed House.
I feel a lot of pain in my heart as I am sitting here, and I dont know whether some people in this country are being cynical or not, but I now understand why people dont trust us again, he said.
If anyone had wanted to influence the decision of the Committee then that person should have paid the bribe to us before the vetting process.
Does that make sense? Sure it does. I think the premise of his argument supports the conclusion. Matter of fact, I think most of us saw Mr. Agyarkos performance during the vetting process and it emerged that he outperformed most of the nominees if not all. But until the dust is well settled one cannot vouch for anyone at this stage.
The chairmans lamentation reminds me of some comments someone posted on my article dated 29, January 2017: Was there bribery scandal in Parliament?
Mr. Fred Benson had wondered what the alleged bribery scandal intended to achieve. He submitted: Boakye Agyarko was going to be approved anyway. So if he paid a bribe, did he want his nomination to be approved by consensus instead of majority vote? And was that for ego or what?
Mr. Benson further questioned why Mahama Ayariga was dragging the NDCs safe seat in Ashanti region through mud. Doesnt he know the implications thereof in the next general elections? Or do they have anything against Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak?
He thinks the burden of proof is on Alhaji Muntaka, explaining that Ayariga blamed Muntaka and not Agyarko because Ayariga wasnt there when the supposed bribe was given by Agyarko through Joseph Osei to Muntaka. He only said Muntaka told him.
Could it be that Muntaka fabricated it and if so to achieve what?
To him there are more questions than answers. But who likes to be shamed?
The UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) is poised to double trade volumes and value between Ghana and the UK in the next four years.
Trade volumes between Ghana and UK are currently estimated at just about 3.5 percent of Ghana's total international trade, and it is valued at about a billion dollars per annum.
But UKGCC CEO, Tony Burkson, said given the rich history of Ghana and the UK relations, that figure is way too small, so the goal of the Chamber is to double it in the next four years.
UKGCC is one of many chambers set up in 40 selected countries as part of the British government's new policy to boost trade between the UK and those countries.
Ghana was one of three countries selected in Africa under this drive. The two other African countries were Kenya and South Africa.
Tony Burkson said the selection of Ghana among just three African countries is a clear indication of how seriously the British government takes its relationship with Ghana.
He said the Chamber is being heavily supported by the British government through DFID and DIT (Department of International Trade), adding that further to that support, former British Premier David Cameron appointed British MP Adam Afriyie as a Special Trade Envoy to Ghana to facilitate regular trade missions between the two countries.
UKGCC is, therefore, a private sector setup designed to actualize the policy and ensure the trade missions allows for companies to meet potential partners and new clients across both countries.
Currently, the main areas of trade between Ghana and the UK are Petroleum Oils, Crude, Cocoa, Cars, Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing, and Engineering equipment, but Burkson thinks the service sector is one area Ghana could use British expertise to develop rapidly.
Indeed, the UKGCC and its partners are organizing their maiden Ghana-focused technology conference in London next month, to promote Ghana's entire technology ecosystem to British investors.
Burkson also noted that Ghana has a vibrant agricultural sector that needs a little help to increase value addition, adding the UK has the manufacturing expertise that can help more Ghanaian farmers go into value addition and thereby increase the value of Ghana's food exports.
"For example Blue Skies, a member of the UKGCC, exports chopped and packed fruit from Ghana to the UK, earning Ghana substantial foreign exchange - but more of such stories can be created in Ghana with the help of British expertise," he said.
The UKGCC CEO noted that Ghana's insurance sector is another untapped market, with less than five per cent of Ghanaians insured, but UK insurance firms like Prudential Insurance and BIMA have entered the market recently to seek strategic partnerships to boost insurance cover for Ghanaians.
Burkson also believes that developing a BPO hub in Ghana should be top on the to-do list of the new Ghana government because British companies could provide Ghana with lots of back office customer service jobs provided government creates the enabling environment.
Enabling environment
Speaking of enabling environment, Burkson said it is also incumbent on the Ghana government to promote Ghana to British companies and to institute policies that are investor-friendly.
"For example is it really necessary for foreign companies to invest US$250,00 before they can set up companies in Ghana - will a policy like this drive more businesses to come here?" the UKGCC CEO asked.
Burkson is confident that Brexit makes the UKGCC mission very interesting, because in the post-Brexit era, "we are already seeing a lot of interest from British firms looking to business in Ghana and West Africa in general."
He, however, emphasized the need for Ghana government to institute investor friendly policies, saying that "this has a potential of making Ghana an investment hub in West Africa, where international companies will set up their headquarters as they trade with the rest of Africa."
UKGCC currently has close to 35 members and is receiving applications on a daily basis from Ghanaian and British companies who realize the value it brings to the table when it comes to driving trade between both countries.
Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - A girl thought to be aged just 10 died after the suicide vest she was wearing exploded in northeast Nigeria, a civilian vigilante said on Tuesday, as another attack killed one at a mosque.
Musa Ahmad, who works with the military against Boko Haram Islamists, said the incident happened at about 11:30 am (1030 GMT) in Banki, near the Cameroon border in Borno state.
"A girl of around 10 came by the military barracks and was trying to cross the road into the IDP (internally displaced persons) camp," he told AFP.
"She was asked to stop by soldiers. But she ignored them. They threatened to shoot her if she didn't stop. She obeyed and she was asked to lift up her hijab.
"She did and explosives were found to be strapped on her. Suddenly she pulled on the trigger and exploded."
No-one else was injured, said Ahmad, who added it was the second attempt on the camp in recent weeks.
On January 18, a young woman and a teenage boy were shot when they refused to stop for a search and exploded just outside the camp, he added.
The vigilante suggested the attempted bombings were a way of Boko Haram "trying to hit back" after recent military operations against them in the area.
Banki, which is 133 kilometres (80 miles) by road southeast of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, is currently home to thousands of IDPs.
In April last year, at least seven people were killed at the camp in a suicide bomb attack carried out by two women.
Boko Haram has frequently deployed young women and children as suicide bombers to target crowded places such as mosques, markets and bus stations.
On Tuesday, at least one person was killed when a suicide bomber exploded at a mosque at Dalori, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, during morning prayers, residents and the authorities said.
Shuaibu Abubakar said the blast happened at about 5:30 am (0430 GMT) as a suicide bomber tried to enter the place of worship.
"One of the worshippers, who was apparently on guard, grabbed him and the explosives went off, killing both of them. Worshippers were saved," he said.
Tens of thousands of people displaced by the conflict are currently living at two camps set up at Dalori.
On January 30 last year, at least 85 people were killed when militant fighters stormed and torched Dalori, sending local residents fleeing into the bush.
Close your eyes and imagine a child as your leader. . . Do you like what you see? I am sure you don't! God declared that children would lead His people.
As for my people, CHILDREN ARE THEIR OPPRESSORS, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
-Isaiah 3:12
The tone of this Scripture leads us to believe that it is a curse or a punishment for a group of people to be led by children. On the surface, this may sound a bit harsh but a little reflection and meditation on the meaning of this scripture will help you to develop your abilities to lead. Indeed, these are two curses that you must understand and avoid at all costs! You must have heard the statement, You are childish! You must have heard the statement, You are behaving like a child!
You must have said before, I am not a child.
These statements are made because grown ups sometimes behave like children. Unfortunately, leaders in high positions often behave like children and this greatly affects everyone around them. You must avoid developing a leadership style that is akin to the leadership of a child!
1. THE LEADERSHIP OF A CHILD IS CHARACTERIZED BY DISORGANIZATION
Then he will appoint children to rule over them, and ANARCHY WILL PREVAIL.
-Isaiah 3:4 (NLT)
If you cannot tidy up your own room you must be a child. If you cannot clean the places where you live, you must be a child. If you cannot clean up your city you must be a child even though everyone calls you the mayor or the minister.
The leadership of a child results in anarchy and disorder as the Bible predicts. Whenever you see disorder, chaos, disorganization and confusion you can assume that the leadership of a child is at work.
2. THE LEADERSHIP OF A CHILD IS CHARACTERIZED BY A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF SERIOUS ISSUES AND IMMINENT DANGERS
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
-1 Corinthians 13:11
You must study leadership, understand leadership, and practice appropriate principles of leadership otherwise you may lead people with the mind of a child. A child's mind is dominated by a lack of understanding of the serious issues and dangers that confront him.
Leaderless people usually have dirty eating places and dirty toilets. Little children live in dirt and do not understand what it means. If children are left alone, filth and dirt multiply. That is why no one leaves children alone. They will not clean, sweep or wipe anything.
The childlike leadership does not sense the connection between these death traps and the welfare of their people. Even if they sense the connection they do not know what to do. The chief characteristic of cities that are ruled by children is the rubbish and life-threatening garbage that can be found everywhere.
Leaderless nations have destroyed the educational system of their countries not knowing the implications of what they are doing.
3. THE LEADERSHIP OF A CHILD IS CHARACTERIZED BY NOT UNDERSTANDING ANYTHING THAT IS A LITTLE COMPLEX
Dear brothers and sisters, DON'T BE CHILDISH IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING of these things but be mature and wise in understanding matters of this kind.
-1 Corinthians 14:20 (NLT)
You must study leadership, understand leadership, and practice appropriate principles of leadership otherwise you may lead people with the mind of a child. When a person is in leadership and has the mind of a child he does not understand anything that is a little complex.
It is obvious when an unlearned person is at the helm of affairs. He does not understand the implications of his statements. One leader boldly declared he would never repay the debts of his country. Another such leader gave every foreigner twenty-four hours to leave the country with a maximum of twenty-four kilos of luggage.
Leaders of poor countries have swallowed the concepts of globalization and free trade with their negative implications of de-industrialization, de-agriculturalization and de-population of cities. Industries, farms have been wiped out in nations, which wholeheartedly accepted these policies without understanding the complex implications it would have on the rest of the nation.
Richer nations like the USA and Australia absolutely rejected the idea of freely trading with England at the expense of not developing their own industries. They understood the complex nature of simply opening their borders to cheap imports. Why are populations being led by people who have studied these things in school but do not know how to apply them in their nations?
The fact that someone who sells iPads and iPhones and iPods will always be at an advantage over someone who sells oranges and cocoa, is not easily understood by leaders who simply announce that their emphasis will be on agriculture.
How can a child understand the practical implications of terms like diminishing returns, increasing returns activities, synergies, innovations, perfect markets, imperfect markets and so on?
These complexities are not obvious to leaders who are like children. You must avoid the leadership of a child!
[email protected]
The Art of Leadership
By Dag Heward-Mills
The Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba, yesterday came under a barrage of questions from the minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) members on the Appointments Committee.
It was in connection with her alleged endorsement of a statement purportedly made by Kennedy Agyapong to the effect that the current Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson, Charlotte Osei, exchanged sex for her appointment by former President John Mahama.
The NDC members on the committee therefore decided to block her appointment when they recommended for her rejection at the committee level, but Otiko scaled through by a majority decision.
The two other nominees, who were also vetted, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei for Monitoring and Evaluation and Dan Kwaku Botwe for Regional Reorganisation, were unanimously cleared.
The MP for Hohoe, Dr Bernice Adiku Heloo, started the 'inquiry' by asking Otiko NPP Women's Organiser to clarify her position on the matter after being reported in the traditional and social media that she had subscribed to a purported statement questioning how the position of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission was given to Charlotte Osei.
The MP for Tamale North, Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu; MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, joined in and continued in the same vein, pinning the nominee to the wall to tell Ghanaians why as a woman she could support such a statement.
But the nominee, Otiko Djaba, said she never supported any such statement by Kennedy Agyapong, who is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin Central.
According to her, what she said was that if such a statement was coming from Mr Agyapong then the matter ought to be investigated for the truth or otherwise to be established and for the EC boss' name to be cleared.
She told the committee that as a victim of such circumstances, she would never support such a statement and that she only wanted the truth to be unraveled for the sake of the EC boss' credibility.
According to her, her comments might have been mischievously interpreted for political gain and that her real comments had been captured by Ghanaweb and therefore if members of the committee still doubted her they could google Ghanaweb news and verity for themselves.
'Wicked Mahama'
The Minster-designate for Gender was also impressed upon by the minority members on the committee, led by Haruna Iddrisu, to withdraw certain comments attributed to her on a campaign trail which sought to impugn the integrity of former President John Mahama.
She was accused of saying on various political platforms before the elections that former President Mahama was a wicked leader, a liar, a disgrace to the people of the North and also has the devil's heart; but the nominee said she was not going to withdraw those comments she made on political platforms.
She said she owes no apology to Mr Mahama for the very critical comments she made about him.
Otiko Afisa Djaba said she took the former Ghanaian leader to task because they both hail from the same region and she has the right to subject his actions to critical scrutiny.
The president is my brother and I spoke from my conviction, she told the MPs.
She explained that she described the former president with those words in specific contexts and that he could be criticized as a leader of the country.
According to Madam Otiko Djaba, she described the president with those words because of the way he managed the country and the economy, bringing a lot of hardships to Ghanaians.
The former president promised to reduce fuel and utility prices. He also promised to put money in people's pockets; and the failure of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) made me to describe him with those words which I think are not insults.
People have died for the country and we at this time must work and continue from where they left off, and, so for me, the president has been like Caesar's wife and the issue of SADA affected me personally and the people of the north.
If you look at the results of the elections, it is an indicative of how the people of the North felt. It is not an excuse to say that other people let him down, because he was the president the president of Mother Ghana and at times I felt he was the emperor without clothes; and there was the need to draw his attention to it.
On the payment of arrears of the school feeding programme, the nominee said that the payment had been outstanding for three months from November, 2016 to January, 2017 and that the necessary arrangements had been made for the caterers to be paid in the next two weeks.
She said the NPP intends to expand the coverage of the school feeding programme from the current 1.6 million school children to three million in the first term of Nana Akufo-Addo's regime to help provide more jobs to women in the catering services industry and also to help boost school enrolment.
She also noted that the new contracts given under the school feeding programme by the previous government would be reviewed and the processes made more open by advertising for such contracts for all qualified people to bid for.
Policing
When the Minister-designate for Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, took his turn at the vetting, he clarified his role as the minister who would be in-charge of monitoring and evaluation in all the sector ministries.
He said per his job description, he would be policing his colleagues.
This, he said, would ensure that government machinery works in efficient, effective and timely fashion.
The president, he told the committee, promised Ghanaians a change and If we are going that waythen it's not going to be business as usual.
Dr Akoto Osei said he would be a cabinet minister and that he intends to have a technical staff to assist him.
Answering a question on a possible role duplication with the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Dr Akoto Osei said Osafo-Maafo's role would be to coordinate the economic sectors.
He said his role is carved in such a way that there won't be any conflict.
My job is partially to police my colleagues, the former minister of state in the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration said.
According to him, this has become necessary because President Akufo-Addo wants to deliver on his promises to the people of Ghana.
He told the committee that as a result of his former position as a minister at the finance ministry, he has a fair idea about the inter-sectorial operations of almost all the ministries and that he would be able to effectively carry out the monitoring and evaluation of all the programmes that would be embarked upon by the various sector ministries.
He told the committee that he would put in place a technical support team to assist him in his work so as to be very effective on the ground.
He said he would be giving more advice to sector ministers as to how certain targets could be achieved and that he would also ensure that Key Performance Indicators at the various levels are highlighted and met.
He said his work as a Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation would be a complementary one to help get the results needed to meet the policy objectives of the NPP government under President Nana Akufo-Addo.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr
To avoid being cited for plagiarism as happened in the recent investiture of Ghanas new president for failing to give credit to former American presidents for paraphrasing their words, I will diligently quote the words of the committee members of Ghanas Parliament on the vetting of Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu for the position of Minister for Health.
And now to the question and a quote, On page 117 of NPP's manifesto that the NHIS has collapsed. How can you describe a scheme with a membership of 11m as a collapsed scheme? Mr. Sampson Ahi enquired.
The response from the Minister designate with reference to collapse went like this: Collapsing might have been a very harsh word. Mr. Agyeman-Manu presupposes that the NHIS is not crumbling as such performing its role as prescribed by the Act that gave birth to it. Indeed he further went on to indicate that the NHIS is not about registering citizens, but rather the quality of health that citizens who obliged to the Act and got registered are required to receive.
He intimated further that there were times he was called upon by members of his constituency who have signed up to the NHIS who sought after medical services to come over and bail them out by way of making payment on their behalf before they will be released from health facilities. Thus contradicting his collapsing might be a very hash word, a presupposition that the NHIS is not meeting its mandatemaking prompt payment to healthcare organizations within the country. And by further extension denoting that the NHIS program is collapsing by the Minister designees explanation.
To ascertain whether the NHIS is collapsing or otherwise, it is important to go into history and verify, this will give credence as to whatever conclusion we/I may come to. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act was passed in 2005, since then Ghanaians have from time to time signed up to the program with the intent of benefitting from it, since it will reduce the burden of paying out-of-pocket. Indeed the NHIS became the then candidate Kufours campaign slogan because a majority of Ghanaians complained about the high cost of healthcare services within the country. Upon ascending the throne of power in 2000, President Kufour kept to his promise by passing and implementing a health insurance program for the citizens of Ghana and christened it the National Health Insurance Scheme. A similitude of the British social health insurance model. Ghanaians welcomed this development, and whole heartedly put their trust in the new savior.
A peek at the Ghanaian media landscape, talks in the taverns, funeral places and other social gatherings indicated that Ghanaians were losing confidence and trust in the savior that was to salvage them from various ailments. The NHIS was failing or in most cases failed to execute its mandate as spelt out in the Act that established it. That is prompt payment to healthcare givers became a mirage as such patients were in some instances made to pay before services were rendered to them. Thus cash-and-carry begun to rear its ugly head in the NHIS regime from the Kufour era to the John Mahama government.
As the NHIS begun to underperform during the Kufour period, and as politicians have the propensity to anchor on issues that inures to their benefit, then candidate Atta Mills capitalized on the poor performance of the program and asked Ghanaians to vote for him to revitalize the program. One time premium payment became the slogan for his campaign. He promised to make funds available to the program so as to make Ghanaians access healthcare services delivery from providers without any form of hindrance.
Professor Mills won the 2008 elections and took over the mantle of government; remittances to healthcare providers remained the same as it was under President Kufours era. Late remittances to healthcare providers meant that resources to run healthcare facilities were getting depleted, and to avoid the situation of closure of facilities, management of most health institutions resorted to cash-and-carry.
This scenario replicated itself into the John Mahama era, and as usual the NPP under candidate Nana Akufo-Addo made a campaign slogan out of it. It was mostly highlighted by his vice Dr. Bawumiathe NHIS started under Kufour is collapsing under the incompetent John Mahama regime. Vote for the NPP and we will rejuvenate the program was the cry of Nana and his vice.
From the above, we/I may conclude that the NHIS failed to execute one of its main functions as spelt out in the Actfailure to make prompt payment to providers except for President Nana Addos regime which is still in its early months if not year.
The way forward is to avoid total collapse of the NHIS so as to secure Ghanaians from out-of-pocket payment for healthcare services. The NHIS was/is a commendable policy but its implementation was poorly executed hence the situation it finds itself. Nevertheless once the problem has been identified, and the necessary remedies followed, the program/policy will be able to sustain itself financially. The main issue of the Ghanaian program is its Father Christmas nature for all beneficiaries; this is not to suggest that the social feature of the NHIS should be done away with.
A glance through health insurance literature across the world indicates that to make the Ghanaian system financially sustainable so as to meet the demands of citizens and needs of providers; it is incumbent upon President Nana Addo to gather all Ghanaians both home and abroad with background in health insurance policy to recarve a program that befits the Ghanaian situation, with the private sector taking a lead role and government taking up the regulatory responsibility so as to avoid overexploitation of the private sector.
Government must also maintain the present regime to take care of the poor and vulnerable in society. I strongly believe that if this suggestion is adhered to, the Ghanaian model will become the best in the world. Sticking to the present path of the policy will spell its doom in no time.
(The writer is a freelance policy advocate practitioner)
31.01.2017 LISTEN
One of the greatest creations or inventions of man that has endured over the centuries is the institution of religion. This modest human invention (an attempt to understand God) is arguably also posing a great threat to mans existence on earth. I say this because, looking at the Thirty Years War, The Crusades, the World Wars, the Holocaust, the Cold War, the Nuclear race and the likes all have their religious undertones. All these show that religion, perhaps, has killed more people than poverty, disease and hunger combined. All these happened, not because religion itself has a problem, but because politicians appear to have taken over the pulpits posing as men of God preaching messages of hate, spreading of fear and promoting violence.
On New Year Eve, I received a call from a friend I met on Facebook. She told me of how correct my analytic predictions on political issues will be in the New Year if I read the prophesies from the men acting under the inspiration of God. She told me all the newspapers contain the powerful prophesies and that they are there for the taking. I politely told her I will do that immediately she dropped the call.
After she dropped the call, I went the newspaper stand close to my place and lo, I wasnt disappointed. Many of the predictions were so obvious that one doesnt need to be acting under the inspiration of God to come up with. How does one explain a prophesy like A politician will flag off his presidential campaign for 2019 election or New political parties will be registered by INEC? We all know that only politicians contest elections so why does one need to hear from God to come up with something like politician will flag off his presidential campaign?
In 1964, during the turbulent era in the Western Region with Chief Obafemi Awolowo undergoing a trial for treasonable felony, rumour became rife that attempt had been concluded to murder the politician in prison. All Awos rivals then controlled all government in the federation hence there was little the politician could do in event of any real attempt on his life. One thing was sure, had the Ikenne-born politician died at the time in prison, there was no way his adversaries in power would have been able to explain the situation to his restless supporters. The unrest, especially in the Western Region, would have become more complicated.
Noticing this scenario, one Prophet B.A Otubogunwa, prophesized (in 1964) that: Towards the end of the year the death of a prisoner will cause unrest and rioting in Nigeria. Did the prophesy came to pass? I say YES. A (political) prisoner, Chief Sunbo Jibowu, died at the time, but there were no unrest and rioting in any part of Nigeria as a result of that!
Prophet Otubogunwa again, when confronted with the development that Chief Jibowu died and there was no unrest, he insisted that an important political prisoner was going to die and will led to unrest and rioting in the country. Obviously, he was referring to Awo. Since Chief Awolowo was the only important political prisoner at the time. People like Otubogunwa cannot claim they heard from God since God cannot be the author of confusion and He cannot be mocked!
While some prophesies are very prophetic in the real sense of the word, this writer insists, many prophesies are nothing but the political voices only using the pulpits to spread their messages.
Only recently, one Apostle Suleman, added a feather to cap. He has a resume of failed prophesies, too numerous to count. His most recent display was his message to his Church members that whoever sees a Fulani herdsman they should Kill him. He added that they should also cut his head. Clearly, this is a political message from the pulpit.
Before I go on, let me make this clear, I do not, and cannot support the nefarious acts of the so-called Fulani herdsmen. They are lawless and should be treated as such. But what I find disgusting is that, an already politicized issue like this one needs to be taken cautiously by the Clergy. Does praying for your enemy to die improve your own living conditions? Does an eye for an eye not make everyone blind? Will he stand for some of his members or listeners who kill or guillotine an innocent Fulani herdsman when the member is being tried for murder? If everyone goes about killing herdsmen as the controversial Apostle said, is that not an easy road to Kigali? If, God forbid, war breaks out in Nigeria today as a result of his careless utterances, will he remain in his Auchi church to sort himself out of will migrate to one of the 42 countries he claims to have churches? What then becomes of his members, whom he had led into bloodletting? Is it not better to apply wisdom than being sorry?
While we must blame the politicians profiting from Fulani herdsmen attacks and get them punished for their wrongdoings, we must also be watchful of politicians behind the pulpits. The former are seen enemies and can be dealt with using a simple process. The latter are more dangerous and can take multiple dimensions at the same time. At they say, two wrongs do not make a right. While we must also deal severely with the criminals attacking our farms in the name of herdsmen, we mustnt leave those politicians using the pulpits to settle personal scores. They are politicians who are simply messing up the pulpits!
OlalekanWaheed ADIGUN is a political analyst and independent political strategist for wide range of individuals, organisations and campaigns. He is based in Lagos, Nigeria. His write-ups can be viewed on his website http://olalekanadigun.com/ Tel: +2348136502040, +2347081901080
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Follow me on Twitter @adgorwell
Aggrieved staff of domestic airline Antrak Air, have accused the company of failing to pay their transport allowances and salaries.
Stephen Adzimah, Flight Dispatch and Operations Officer; Samuel Anator, Senior Driver; Anita Nugloze, Ticketing Agent and 47 other aggrieved workers of the company, accused management of the company of treating them unfairly with regards to the payment of their allowances and salaries.
According to them, they have not been paid their transport allowances pegged at GH2,700 per staff by the airline since December 2013.
Since June 2015 when Antrak Air suspended its operations for three months, we have not been paid our monthly salaries, they indicated.
It would be recalled that Antrak Air in June 2015 suspended its operations for the three months due to challenges with its wet lease arrangement with Swift Air, a Spanish airliner, over the use of two ATR 72-500 turbo prop aircraft.
The workers told BUSINESS GUIDE that the company assured them on several occasions that it would resume operations and pay their allowances and salaries.
The workers, who hired the services of a lawyer at S.K. Boafo & Company, a law firm, said We decided to take legal action against the company after we realized that the company was not in the position to resume operations and pay our allowances and salaries.
Our clients informed us of the suspension of the operations of airline for a three-month period, a letter addressed to management of Antrak Air by Lawyer David Boafo on behalf of the aggrieved workers stated.
Before the said letter was written to the company, we visited Alhaji Asoma Banda, the Chairman of the Board of Antrak Group Ltd on 5th April 2016 to amicably settle the matter, they added.
During the meeting, Mr. Asoma Banda assured them that the airline would resume operations within three months from the date of the visit.
However, the company has failed to resume operations and pay their allowances and salaries, compelling them to report the matter to the National Labour Commission (NLC)
The Commission, BUSINESS GUIDE gathered, wrote to management of the company on three occasions to invite it to a meeting with the workers in order to resolve the issues.
But management of Antrak Air reportedly refused to honour the invitation of NLC.
All efforts to contact Alhaji Asoma Banda or Antrak Air to comment on the matter proved futile, as calls by the paper were not answered.
By Melvin Tarlue
Kotlers Management, a leading institution that connects Ghanaian and other African students to Chinese universities for further studies, says China is currently one of the best countries to choose for such studies, owing to the myriad of opportunities on offer for foreign students.
Samuel Ogyiri Sackey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kotlers Management, who disclosed this in an interview recently in Accra, advised students in Ghana and the continent who want to further their education abroad to consider China.
China has over 34 provinces and each province is unique and well endowed with resources that make the country spectacular, irrespective of where one may find themselves. A peaceful country with law-abiding citizens and with great history dating back 5,000 years ago, China gives opportunities to African students in the area of practical experience and technical know-how. African alumni of Chinese universities are always ready target for employment wherever they travel because of the practical experiences they have so much been exposed to.
Mr Sackey added that China also gives students the opportunity to travel around all its provinces and beyond for research and exchange programmes.
From the fields of science, engineering, business management, technology, media, agriculture and many others, the Chinese have made great strides and are known and respected with their contribution in education, research and development.
In searching for a university to attend, I strongly advise students to choose China as a destination because regardless of the rank or resources of a university anywhere else in the world, China has equally good universities which are very affordable.
Kotlers management has over the past 10 years been assisting students with their admissions and visa acquisition.
The company, which has a partnership agreement with Chonyi Company Limited in China, has also signed collaboration agreements with many universities in China, which mandates it to consult and assist students with an interest in education in China.
Reachable via [email protected], Kotlers follows up on Chinese alumni to ascertain their enrolment satisfaction and difficulties.
In most cases, Kotlers counsels students who need help, and this is done by an officer(s) traveling to China to have a feel of student's satisfaction or otherwise.
The Minerals Commission is optimistic uncertainties among the investor communities in America and the United Kingdom in relation to President Donald Trump and Brexit respectively paints a good outlook for gold prices on the world market in the future.
Investors in developed countries such as America and Britain tend to push their funds into gold deposits anytime uncertainties are rife on major stock markets.
In recent times, a similar instance happened during Brexit when investors moved their funds into gold deposits, causing demand to go up, hence prices also increasing.
Speaking to Citi Business News on how Ghana may benefit from such uncertainties this year, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission Dr. Toni Aubynn was of the view that the new American president's policies against foreign businesses are enough to create uncertainties that may increase gold prices.
America has a new president who is completely a non establishment person. He doesn't come from the political establishment so people are not sure which direction [policies will turn],which is good. It is good because you can't always be predicted but for gold it is even better because gold thrives well in situations of uncertainty not in the same country but in other countries, he observed.
Dr. Aubynn stated that investors are very analytical and risk averse hence will always respond to speculation to secure their investment.
He explained that gold has been a safe investment for investors anytime situations on the stock market get volatile.
He maintained that with the level of anxiety surrounding the Trump administration, investors will always get edgy which may be good for gold since price of the commodity will go up once demand increases.
When there are uncertainties in America gold benefits, when there uncertainties in Europe gold benefits, when there is Brexit [and] people are unsure, gold benefits. So we hope to take advantage of that. The issue of Brexit is not settled so that creates some uncertainty, he stressed.
Outlining some positive predictions for the sector, Dr. Aubynn stated that the World Bank has also made some favorable predictions on this year's good price.
When it comes to gold prices, I am very careful because you need to have the insight to look deep into the crystal ball before you can make the prediction. However, the World Bank is looking at a positive gold price this year.
President Trump
President Trump has made some pronouncements targeting high taxes at foreign companies that operate in the US. He has also threatened to impose levies on goods imported from Asia into America. This announcements have caused the investor communities across the world to be edgy.
By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
I was working with the European Union (EU) Delegation at the time as the Projects Accountant in charge of all EU-funded projects in The Gambia. Sir Dauda Jawara was the President of the country and he had been the President since the country gained its independence in 1965. Then on one Friday morning, 22nd July 1994, around 8.15am, as I looked through our office window, I saw a blue American Chevrolet Saloon car with the American Flag flying, zoomed past the street in front of our office heading towards the Presidential Residence in Banjul. Some 30 or 40 minutes later the same car zoomed past the same street, this time heading backwards towards the Banjul Port. Meanwhile, Radio Gambia had announced a day earlier that an American warship the USS La Moure County was paying a courtesy call to The Gambia and the sailors would be conducting a military exercise with The Gambian Army so people should not panic. In my own thinking, even though I am not a security expert nor a political analyst, I believe this was a ploy to disabuse the minds of people so they would not think deeply about the next day's coup detat .
Some 30 minutes later, we heard rumours that some Gambian soldiers who had returned from ECOMOG Peace Keeping duties in Liberia were marching from their barracks in Yundum towards Banjul to protest against their unpaid allowances. I looked through the office window and I saw that the Presidential Guard had taken position on top of the National Police Headquarters and the Central Bank Building. They had also set up a barricade to block the street right in front of our office. I immediately assessed the situation and I knew from experience, that there was a coup in the making. At that time both Mr. Collingwood, the EU Delegate and Mr Rudd, his deputy were out of the country so one Mr. Mariani, an Italian who had joined the Delegation a year or so earlier was in the charge of the office. I went to him and told him that there was a coup in progress so he should close down the office to allow everybody to go home. Oh, Boateng, you are an afraid man. Didn't you hear the news yesterday that there was going to be a military exercise between the US Navy and the Gambian army today?. Mr. Mariani, I heard the news but this is more than a military exercise. Haven't you seen that the Presidential Guard has taken position awaiting the arrival of the rebellious soldiers? I replied. Boateng if you are afraid, you can go home? I locked up my drawer and asked Janet Davies, my colleague to join me but she kept on laughing at me. Boateng, you are an afraid man. The reason why I left was that the EU office was in direct firing line from three directions so any exchange of fire was going to have direct impact on our building.
As soon as I got home, I gave money to my sons to go and buy rice, sugar, milk and other provisions that could last us for at least 2 weeks and I stored the items in my bedroom. Some 30 minutes later, Janet called me from the office. Mr. Boateng, they are shooting, they are shooting. Mr. Mariani is shouting at everybody to lie down and the bullets have shattered one of our office window's glasses. Apparently, when Yahya Jammeh and his soldiers reached the Central Bank building, they fired some rounds as warning shots and luckily enough, the Presidential Guard refused to fight so they surrendered and Jammeh and his Boys took over the reigns of Government as word went round that President Jawara had fled the country.
Around 1pm, The Gambia National Radio announced that President Jawara and his government had been overthrown by a group of Gambia Army officers led by one Colonel Yahya Jammeh and that all political party activities had been banned and Parliament had been dissolved. At BBC Focus on Africa Programme on that fateful Friday, 22nd July 1994, it was announced that President Jawara's government had been overthrown in a coup d'etat. That, the coup was carried out by some young Gambian soldiers led by one lieutenant Yahya Jammeh with the other officers being, Hydara, Sabally and Singateh. The coup ended President Jawara's almost 29 years reign from 18th February 1965. The BBC announced that President Jawara and his family had taken refuge on board the visiting American Warship which was on its way to Senegal. What a strange co-incidence!
The next Monday when we got back to the office, almost everybody kept asking me how I got to know that the soldiers were staging a coup that Friday. My answer to them was that, Old soldiers don't die. I come from Ghana and I have witnessed several coups so I can easily recognize one in the making.
By K. Adom-Boateng
31.01.2017 LISTEN
If the truth must be told about the killing in Southern Kaduna, nothing can be more convincing than the proclamation by the Northern Nigeria Christian Politicians (NNCP), though the crises predate the present federal and state governments. Many religious and non-religious bodies as well as responsible citizens have revealed it all. Why are the communal clashes in Kaduna South given such acute attention and always given religious coloration. There are hundreds of recorded communal wars all over Nigeria; some are still unresolved in the southern part of the country. But the truth again is that religion has remained an attractive tool used to ensnare sympathizers and catch national and international attentions.
Herdsmen have killed hundreds of Nigerians most of whom are Muslims of the north. Boko Haram was started by targeting churches and Christians. Gradually, the truth revealed that Muslims were the prime target and it is today unarguable that more Muslims have been killed by Boko Haram terrorists who were presumed to be Muslims. During the peak of the Boko Haram terrorism, reports were recorded of arms and bags of hijab found in big churches in the north. There are recorded reports of Boko Haram members caught with the cross hung on their necks. There were reports of arms throttling and importations. What do all these reveal? Conspiracy against Muslims and Islam! The recurring false alarms of unfounded attempts to Islamize Nigeria!
In Ebonyi, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, Bono, Plateau, amongst others, Nigerian people have been killed in communal wars over land and claims on ancestral heritages. Writing on the Bloodbath in Southern Kaduna, Simon Kolawole queried why the issue of framing is at play, believing that it has been successfully framed in the media as a religious war. This is understandable, he postulated because the Southern Kaduna is predominantly Christian and the Fulani herders are Muslims. It is, therefore, expected to be cast as Christians vs Muslims rather than Kaura, Sanga et al vs Fulani herders. This is the same way, according to him, the Berom vs Fulani in Jos north was cast as Christians vs Muslims. It just so happens that people in the same local grouping are not unlikely to be of the same religion. Ethno-religious framing is thus inevitable, even if the core issues have nothing to do with religion.
Why are these men of God so interested in Kaduna state, despite Christians are killing themselves or pagans killing them in communal wars in many states of the federation? Investigations have shown that some pastors men of God fix televisions in their churches and dedicate greater parts of their service time showing followers how Islam is a common enemy. They play video records of wars inside the churches to convince their followers that Muslims are their number one enemies. This attitude must be stopped because no learned imam would fix audio-visuals in Mosques to preach hate speech and instigate followers. However, the existence of political imams cannot be foreclosed.
Yes, Nigerian clamour for peace and unity. They say they want development. But why are the Christian citizens, always backed by the media, furious against Islam and Muslims in Nigeria. How many cases unconnected to religion that have nearly caused religious upheavals in Nigeria! Everything the Muslims do, according to their Islamic injunctions, is envied by Christians. Look at the national pilgrimage body. Look at attempts to institute Christian courts. Look at the Ese-Orurugate, despite thousands of female teenagers are daily abused in villages. Name them.
What do these people gain by instigating the killing of innocent citizens other than political relevance and gains? Truly, because the media both local and outside are in the hands of the non-Muslims, nothing is more threatening. It is preferable to use the word non-Muslims because the Christians have allowed themselves to be ready tools in the hands of the Jews to fight Islam and Muslims. Why must Christians allow themselves to be used to destabilize Nigeria through the hidden agenda of Islamization of Nigeria. Migrant herdsmen who have lived peacefully with their hosts across the country have suddenly become violent due to instigation by some political elements in the society. Some have even started calling on the Christians to boycott consumption of cow meat in their presumed attempt to stagnate Muslims economy.
This accusation against the herdsmen has been refuted, however, by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN). Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, the Assistant National Secretary General of the group, Ibrahim Abdullahi, denied a newspaper story that members of the group had carried out attacks in Godogodo last September. He called on herdsmen nationwide and in particular Southern Kaduna to disregard the article and remain law abiding.
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in an interviewdescribed the Kaduna South brouhaha as fuelled by twisted reports, desperate politics and hate preaching. According to him, so many things have gone wrong including the breakdown of society that has to be rebuilt. Beyond this, he said, there is a lot to worry about concerning politics and religiosity and even media coverage of the crisis. I think it needs to be more enlightened, balanced and evenly handled. It is a crisis where communities are fighting one another and when you read media reports, it is just one side of the story of the victims that is being told.
He noted that involved are Muslims and Christians killing each other but people report only one part of the community suffering which is the misinterpretation of the facts. Politics has a role in all of these things. Dont forget that Southern Kaduna is the only PDP senatorial district in the entire North-West and that has implications for the way politics is run. There is a lot of interest; the PDP is interested and is assuming someone wants to use force to capture this place. The PDP, the media and everyone is throwing things into this thing. So, we have to de-escalate by ensuring balanced media reports, depoliticize the situation and the sermonization of some of the religious leaders. We have seen lately, for instance, there have been this video going viral all over the country that people should be killed.
However, Northern Nigeria Christian Politicians (NNCP) is touched by the truth therein. They believe that that the perpetrators of the crisis are political opponents of the government, who are out to discredit the administration ahead of 2019 general elections. Chairman of NNCP, Hon. Keftin Amuga, at a press briefing in Abuja, called on President Buhari not to give in to such political. He argued that the group is grieved over the crisis and those in neighboring Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau and Taraba states and condemns it in its entirety. We, therefore, demand that the federal government arrests and prosecutes both the masterminds and the foot soldiers.
As remedy, he urged northern governors, traditional rulers and political elite of both faiths in the region to be honest enough to admit the root cause of the endless crisis in the region, and join President Buhari in finding genuine solution that would bring about development to the region.
Muhammad Ajah is an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance in Abuja. E-mail [email protected]
Media critic group, Ghana Media Centre for Social and Economic Justice (Ghana Media Centre) has called on the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye to institute an investigation into the bribery allegations against the Appointment Committee of the House .
According to the group, parliament needs to wake up and clear the dignity of the House by investigating allegations of corruption which has been made against the country's legislature over the years.
In a statement signed by the President, James Kofi Annan said the group sees it as outrageous as most of the allegations are made by members from the House.
They are, however, urging the Speaker to as matter of importance set up a committee to investigate the matter in order to ascertain the real facts of the case.
Below is the full statement:
To the press
January 29, 2017
Ghana Media Center calls on the Speaker to Purge His House
Ghana Media Center for Social and Economic Justice (Ghana Media Center) is calling on the Speaker of Parliament to raise the bar of governance, by applying the law to punish individuals involved in the Mahama Ayariga bribery scandal which has rocked the house presently.
It is disappointing that corruption has becoming epidemic in all the three arms of government; the Executive, Legislature, and the Judiciary. These are supposed to be our centers of integrity. Unfortunately they have become centers of bribery and corruption.
Whether the MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, framed up the bribery allegations or Boakye Agyarko indeed tried to bribe his way out of the vetting, should not be taken as your word against my word situation. The issue is that there has been a plethora of bribery allegations against the Parliaments of the fourth republic over the years. The Speaker has not been able to purge the house of any of the previous allegations.
The MP for Nadowli/Kaleo, Honorable Alban Bagbin is on record as having said that MPs take bribes. Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore K.T Hammond also hinted of corruption against the then Speaker of Parliament, Rt Honorable Doe Adjaho, and the majority members of Parliament in the transaction involving the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz. The Speaker threatened to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee but again we heard nothing there after.
Honorable P. C. Appiah-Ofori also alleged that members of Parliament took $5,000 each in order to approve the Ghana Telecom to Vodafone deal.
Some ordinary members of society have also made allegations of corruption against Parliament. Prof. Stephen Addae has revealed that Parliamentarians used their positions to take bribes for their girlfriends. Martin Amidu has also alleged that MPs demand for money in the delivery of their work. All these allegations have gone uninvestigated, and unpunished.
The Speaker, Right Honorable Professor Mike Ocquaye, is faced with the opportunity to purge the house of all the Charlatans who have found their ways into Parliament. In this regard, Ghana Media Center is calling for a thorough truly independent investigation into the Mahama Ayarigas bribery allegations, and hopes to see severe consequences for those found guilty in the scandal.
James Kofi Annan
(President)
With the advent of social media and the wider access to the internet in Nigeria and other countries of the world, the news is no longer what it is. Unlike in the past when we all depended on the traditional for informative, educative and entertaining content, it is not so now.
This is because the World Wide Web is free and anyone can post or share anything, including fake news, all in the name of driving traffic to their website. Consequently, whatever content you read on blogs or social media should not be taken as the truth. A very recent example is the fake news that President Muhammadu Buhari is dead. The Presidency had to debunk the news. So, how do you identify fake news? Jumia Travel gathers 5 ways to identify fake news.
Check the URL
There are some news websites you can never doubt their credibility. However, to spread fake news, the fake news peddlers usually clone these reliable websites. The original website is www.johndoe.com but when you check the URL, it is www.johndoe.com.co which is fake.
Use other sources to verify
When you are unsure of the trustworthiness of any news on a particular website, you should use other sources to confirm. Oftentimes, a breaking news will be reported by leading news platforms. If these is not the case, you should tarry a while before reporting or you should just ignore it.
Verify with fact-checking websites
As fake news becomes a reality we cannot overlook, there are now websites where you can verify any news. You can use factcheck.org .
The Date
Some individuals just want to be mischievous. They share backdated news that may not be presently relevant. So, you may think the news is true. Hence, you may want to check the date before believing such a story.
The story is too flamboyant
The news story may be too terrifying, humorous, flamboyant, sympathetic and frustrating. If it features these metrics, you should verify the news from other sources and if you dont find it from others, it may be a fake news.
Germany - January 14th , 2017: The 5th edition of Nana Yaa Asantewaas (NYA) Award was held on 2nd October, 2016, at Kulturhof Dulsberg, Hamburg. About 300 people, including politicians, journalists, entrepreneurs and people from civic societies attend the gala night to celebrate, network and witness the 2016 NYA laurels.
NYA Award is an annual programme organised by African German Network Association to nominate, honour and celebrate outstanding efforts in civic engagement, media, business, research & development in the German African discourses. The goal is to make visible role models and create synergy among the youth, families and institutions. We want to encourage them to aim at higher goals in their various endeavors in terms of education, career, family planning and social work. It too intends to effect multiplication, promote gender equality and women's right.
NYA award saw a well contested nomination phase with over 20 nominees. A five member jury consist of Prof. Dr. Rose Baaba Folson (Director of Minerva Research & Consulting), Dr. Bernard Doku (a heart surgeon a. D.), Dr. David Okeke (University of Hamburg) and both engineers Mr. Stephen Ampofo and Nana Kofi Tuffour (Lufthansa Technics GmbH) assessed the achievements of all nominees based on the criterias, very outstanding in profession, family planning and strongly intercultural commitment in social or civic work.
The NYA Prizes include certificate of honor, a trophy and an undisclosed amount of money given by institutions and personalities in charge of each category. The following people were awarded prices in four categories:
Ms. Asmara Habtezion (Ethiopia) 2016 NYA Civic Engagement Prize Winner Dr. Hartmut Brie (Germany) 2016 NYA Civic Engagement Prize Winner Dr. med. Rer. Ina Danquah (Germany) 2016 NYA Research & Development Prize Winner Mrs. Angelina Akpovo (Benin) - 2016 NYA Media & Culture Prize Winner
In a welcome address, Mr. Gulfam Malik, a Social Democratic Party (SPD) Member of Parliament Hamburg and an astute business man with Pakistani root, stressed the importance of volunteer work in various sections of society. He mentioned many social intervention policies put in place by the German government to enhance the integration of migrants and refugees with African background into the German society. He appealed to the African community to intensify its efforts towards integration and praised Ms. Asmara Habtezion, a German-born Ethiopian for her courage, determination and engagement for humanity, especially refugees with African background.
According to him, Ms Asmara deserves the 2016 NYA Civic-Engagement-Prize because she has over the years wholeheartedly supported documented and undocumented people through counseling, provided assistance in dealing with officialdom and organized family reunion as well as fundraising programs for refugee families and the youth over the years. When asked about her expectation on the African community in Germany concerning the current refugee status, she said people should get back to humanity, it is not difficult to do so.
Dr. Hartmut Brie was the second to receive the prestigious 2016 NYA - Civic Engagement Prize for his immense contributions in many Francophone countries in Africa. Ms. Claudia Vo, a representative of the renowned institution, German-African Business Association, who presented the award together with Nana Kwame Poku, the president of Ghana National House of Chiefs, Germany was impressed about the huge number of projects designed and completed by Mr. Brie during his 22 years professional and voluntary assignment across Africa as United Nation expert of ENA (Ecole Nationale d'Administration) and chairman of the Rotary Club Germany, for German Francophone Africa. She also mentioned the completion of homes for the blind, village developments projects, humanitarian aid and disaster relief for breastfeeding mothers alongside his financial aid and man power support for adult education.
The 2016 NYA-Culture & Media-Prize went to Mrs. Angelina Akpovo for the promotion of African cultures for the past thirteen years. Mrs Akporo who hails from Benin, is a dance choreographer, a film actress and an event organizer. She founded Africa Alafia Festival which brings together hundreds of people every year to experience and discover the cultural diversity of Africa. Also she formed the female music group "Black WoMen Power and Yakawumbu". She acted in many films with German film stars like Mr. Dominik Horwitz in the film "Mad About Paris" and Mr. Manfred Krug in the national television broadcaster ARD crime scene Fetish charme.
She is also a regular panelist on Air; e.g. WDR series, 'Strong Women'. She invented with her ensemble many dance theater projects like The goddesses in 1997,' worshipers in 1999: Anan Kora, The Encounters, 2000, A Journey to the rain forest in 2002 and Africa, Allez e Retour 2004. Besides, she organizes cultural exchange programes for the youth. Mr. Asare who gave the laudatiopraised her for her contribution to African course and urged others to emulate her outstanding example. Her price was given by Mr. Malik and Nana Eva Bediako.
The 2016 NYA-Research & Development-Prize was submitted to Dr. Medic. Rer. Ina Danquah by Prof. Dr. Rose Baaba Folson and Nana Kofi Tuffour for her bold and inspirational role in the fight against type 2 diabetes mellitus and an increased risk for malaria infection in the sub-Saharan Africa. She published many articles with summa cum laude. Ina organizes science seminars and congress for African scientists to Germany. She collaborated with Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in Kumasi, University of Ghana, Accra and Charite Medical School in Berlin.
In receiving the award she said "I believe that outstanding performance in science and a satisfied family life can go hand in hand. For me, this is underlined by the fact that with a great mental support by my partner and my three sons, I could have neither published more than 20 papers nor received scholarships, awards and prizes for my research work".
Music for the night was provided by the UK based musician Marion Campbell (The Voice of Germany 2014), Mcclexx Gps (Cote Divoire), The Stewards Band (Germany), Akwasi Antwi aka. Adepa, (Ghana) and Tete Wobi Kyere and other cultural activities. The programme was climaxed with a fundraising program in support of Ghanaian Child with Brain cancer.
N.Y.A wishes to express its profound gratitude to all sponsors and supporters including: Ministry of Culture Hamburg, Project Globus, Basis und Woge, District Authority of Hamburg north, City Council Hamburg Dulsberg, THE Agency, African Courier Magazine, Ga-Adangme Club, Ga Adambe Community Hamburg, Ghana National House of Chiefs, Germany, The Association of German African Business, Top Afric Online Magazine, Ghana Waves Radio, Adikanfo Radio, African Courier Magazine, among others. There was an after show party hosted by Dj Cliff (Ghana) till the early hours of the next day. The presenter of the night was Mrs. Dayan Kodua, a fashion model, film actress and an author.
God bless Ghana, Africa and Germany.
African German Network Association
Straburger Platz 3; D-22049 Hamburg
eMail: [email protected]
Phone: +491796088094
Tony Wheeler and Maureen Wheeler, founders of the widely-known Lonely Planet Publications have received the 13th UNWTO Lifetime Achievement Award. The prize is conferred every year to individuals with visionary leadership and significant contributions to the global tourism sector.
The inspirational role that Lonely Planet inferred worldwide to travelers, writers and the tourism sector in general has been the major reason to concede the UNWTO Lifetime Achievement Award to the Wheelers.
The couple founded Lonely Planet Publications in 1972, after a trip across Asia. In the last 40 years, their guidebooks have sold over 100 million copies in English and other languages. Lonely Planet also ventured into many other travel areas including a television series and an award-winning travel website.
The work of Tony and Maureen Wheeler goes beyond the Lonely Planet Publications and has reached a wider scope through the Planet Wheeler Foundation. It is currently involved in more than 50 projects in the developing world, principally in Southeast Asia and East Africa, with a focus on poverty alleviation.
In addition, the London Business School hosts the Tony & Maureen Wheeler Chair of Entrepreneurship whose work concentrates on entrepreneurship in the developing world. In Melbourne, Australia the creation of the Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing & Ideas played a key role in the citys recognition as a UNESCO City of Literature. Maureen is the Chairperson of the annual Melbourne Arts Festival and the Principal Patron of Opera Australias production of Wagners Ring Cycle in Melbourne in 2013 and 2016. Tony is a director of Global Heritage Fund, which works to protect and develop archaeological sites in the developing world.
Tony and Maureen Wheeler did only not see traveling as an opportunity to visit new places, but as an opportunity to share an untold story with the world and support their values.
The President of the Distance Education Students Association of Ghana, Pearson Sablah, has appealed to the government to employ Teachers who pursue education programmes under the distance education module.
Mr. Pearson Sablah said the experience such Teachers derive during their period of study is more than enough to compliment the efforts of teachers at the various public institutions.
The national president made the appeal during a brief ceremony to launch the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Distance Education students Association in Cape Coast.
The anniversary is under the theme, Ten years of Distance Education and its Impact on Socio Economic Growth and Developments of the country; A Transformational Force.
Mr. Sablah, further stated that the theme for the celebration is appropriate following the immense contributions distance education is playing in building the nation.
The president later in an interview with Space FM Reporter said that the role distance education play in Ghana is significant and cannot be overlooked hence calling on government not to neglect these young Teachers when they complete their various disciplines.
He stated that most sectors within the country are currently managed by leaders who are products of distance education.
The president therefore called on the members of the association to come together to protect and project the high standards set by UCC distance education by being formidable ambassadors of the university.
The university has also assured the association their maximum support to ensure that they have the best of results for the entire students body.
Our Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech to every Ghanaian. It is rich that both local and international laws guarantee the right of every individual to say what they feel and share their opinion on matters at any time.
The freedom of speech and expression as spelled out in Article 21(1) (a) of the the1992 constitution, as well as Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), is a fundamental human right that is to be enjoyed by all persons. However, an abuse of this freedom by one individual could threaten the very life of another individual. One of such persons abusing their right to freedom of speech and expression is the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Hon. Mahama Ayariga.
Alliance For Accountable Governance (AFAG) is gutted at the blatant lies and excessive use of propaganda by some supposed honorable members of Parliament. The habit of mudslinging and slandering of people with decent credibility by some Ghanaian politicians must be condemned unequivocally.
The claim of bribery by Hon. Mahama Ayariga against minister designate for Energy, Boakye Agyarko is very unfortunate.. The allegation of receiving Gh3,000 from the minority Chief Whip, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak as money supposedly coming from Boakye Agyarko to entice the minority to approve his [Mr. Agyarko] nomination has turned out to have never happened.
Mahama Ayarigas claim was also negated by his superiors on the Appointments Committee of Parliament. AFAG is, however, of the view that the public denial of this event by the Chairman of the Committee Joe Osei-Owusu and the minority Chief Whip clearly showed that Mr. Ayariga cooked up this story to damage the reputation and integrity of Mr. Boakye Agyarko, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, Hon. Joe Osei-Owusu and by extension, the Minority Leader, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu.
AFAG believes that for a member of the highest echelon of the Ghanaian society to throw out such baseless accusation without any concrete evidence is reckless and ill-fated. This drama of allegations and denials by the NDC members of parliament is a major indictment on the house of parliament.
AFAG holds the opinion that Parliament must not take this matter lightly since it is a stain on the entire house. This is a major indictment on every parliamentarian. It is only prudent that the leadership of the august house must immediately investigate this matter to the latter. We are also of the opinion that if Mr. Ayariga is found blameworthy, he must be punished by the house. It is the high time people with the title honorable start behaving honorably.
AFAG also support the move by the Chairman of the Committee to go to the court to prove his innocence and have his name cleared from this accusation. We also encourage Mr. Boakye Agyarko and Hon. Muntaka Mubarak to take a similar step to bring this matter to an end.
31.01.2017 LISTEN
Advertisers today face a daunting task in reaching audiences from diverse cultures with a single strategy. Over the years, demographics have become extremely dynamic due to globalisation. Advertisers are faced with the difficulty of creating the right single strategy to meet a miscellaneous target; whether to standardise or localise their advertising strategy, whether to syncretise different creative strategies, or to appeal to each micro-culture with several strategies.
Global brands like Coca Cola, Nike, Toyota etc. are most likely the brands most faced with this type of challenge. However, over the years, these brands have consistently met their advertising needs with a single creative, thereby increasing sales and recognition across the globe. Nikes Just do it, Volkswagens Think Small, Life is short for Xbox, and Coca Colas Taste the feeling campaign barely faced challenges posed by cultural dynamics. Often, ads that are able to penetrate cultures and is not affected by context yield more impact.
In his popular theory, THE WORLD AFTER MIDNIGHT, Eddie Obeng argues that, the real 21st century around us isnt so obvious to us, so instead we spend our time responding rationally to a world which we understand and recognize, but which no longer exists. Eddie further argues that, we are no longer a global village, but rather, a global community; the world becomes an arms reach once a person connects to the internet, even from the smallest closet. With this said, I reckon that, our efforts to grow global business/brands should not be targeted only at the local publics, but have a more global friendly approach. It is sad to note that in the African landscape, there are barely any well recognisable brands. It is true that one of the challenges to African owned global brands is a strong media imperialism that does not favour their quest to compete with the well-recognised international brands. But it is also true that in todays media space, we all own a fair share; make good use of your own space to maximize your business fortunes.
Few African companies have ventured strongly into the global market space and thrived. Of course, other factors such as quality and durability remain in the fore of the product association/patronage decision for most people (not just Africans), however, these are the exact promises a good number of Ghanaian brands possess. One of the principal reasons for such brands inability to maximize this fortune is the fact that, most of our advertising campaigns dont project the brand promise; brands rarely leverage on promises that appeal to the emotions and cognition of their targeted publics. We are more concerned with leaving our contact and location details than an appeal, desire and a need in the minds of consumers of the ads.
According to one of the most promising young advertising professionals from Ghana, advertising that does not appeal to the heart and mind of its target is bound to fail. Whereas culture differs by sect, emotional reactions are largely affected by the general way of life of a group of people, it is why your surest bet to breaking the cultural walls is an emotional and psychological appeal.
By: Kojo Botsio
(Ad Consultant at Edio Global)
The Speaker of Parliament has set up a five-member Committee to probe the alleged bribery attempt made at some members of the Appointments Committee.
Professor Mike Aaron Ocquaye explained that the Committee has become necessary because of the weight of the allegation made by Bawku Central Member of Parliament (MP) Mahama Ayariga.
Upholding a proposal by Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu for the formation of the Committee, the Speaker charged members of the Committee to independently investigate the matter.
More soon...
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
Ghana's former President John Mahama has lashed out at US President Donald Trump over a travel ban slapped on seven Moslem countries.
The ban bars citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the US. It has been welcomed with pockets of protests in some parts of Europe and America.
MPs are holding an emergency debate on the immigration measures. A petition calling for PM Theresa May to cancel Mr Trump's planned state visit to the UK has gathered more than 1.5 million signatures. Thousands of people have joined protests in London and in cities around the UK against a controversial travel ban on seven mainly Muslim countries imposed by US President Donald Trump.
The demonstration in London, organised by author and columnist Owen Jones, took place outside 10 Downing Street.
Speaking on the global issue, Ghana's fourth president is calling on the African Union to state its official position before the end of its summit ongoing in Ethiopia:
The @POTUS travel ban is regrettable. The ongoing AU summit must address this development.
John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) January 31, 2017
Meanwhile, the Trump administration says it stands firm over its ban on immigration from seven countries despite court rulings and mass protests against it.
-Starrfmonline
Addis Ababa (AFP) - "I am finally home", King Mohammed VI said Tuesday as the African Union readmitted Morocco after a 33-year absence, deferring the issue of Western Sahara for another day.
Morocco's return came a day after 39 of the AU's 54 member states agreed to allow it back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from countries such as South Africa and Algeria over the status of the disputed former Spanish colony.
Faced with the AU's decision, Western Sahara officials appeared to accept the new reality and cast it in a positive light, saying AU membership might help speed up efforts to end a protracted conflict.
"It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long an absence," Mohammed VI told the closing ceremony of the AU summit in Ethiopia.
"Africa is my continent and my home. I am finally home and I am happy to see you. I missed you all."
Morocco quit the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after the bloc admitted the former Western Sahara as a separate member.
Morocco maintains that the territory under its control is an integral part of the kingdom, while the Polisario Front, which campaigns for independence, demands a referendum on self-determination.
Some had feared Morocco would seek the expulsion of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a precondition for its own return to the AU, however the country agreed to return without conditions.
"From the moment that Morocco did not impose conditions ... we take their word for it and accept that Morocco be admitted to the African Union," said Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, foreign minister of the SADR, which claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara.
Salek said Monday that having Morocco in the same room would allow the SADR to pressure them into fulfilling their obligations and hold a long sought referendum.
Mohammed did not raise the issue of Western Sahara in his speech, choosing instead to highlight how Morocco as "one of the most developed African nations", could be a boon to the continent.
'Common economic growth'
He noted that in the past 17 years, Morocco had sealed nearly 1,000 agreements with African nations, and put in place projects such as a gas pipeline deal linking Nigeria to Europe and others to improve agricultural productivity.
He recalled that Morocco had taken part in six peacekeeping operations on the continent.
"We do not ignore the fact that we do not have unanimity in this noble assembly. We do not want to create divisions as some have insinuated," he said.
"My vision of South-South cooperation is clear and constant. Morocco ... will be a motor for common economic growth.
"It is time that Africa's riches benefit Africa. For too long we have looked elsewhere to make decisions, commitments. Is it not time to turn towards our own continent?"
Despite reservations by some members, outgoing chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zama said the return of Morocco would "provide a platform to strengthen African solutions to African problems."
The busy AU summit also saw Chadian foreign minister Moussa Faki Mahamat take over from Dlamini-Zuma after a fierce election battle that eliminated four other candidates.
Guinea's Alpha Conde took over the rotating presidency of the bloc, and called for the continent to express solidarity with Somalia, Libya and Sudan, which have been targeted by a United States travel ban.
I had wanted to wait until you had been sworn in before addressing this letter to you.
But the Ayarigasation of the Appointments Committee has forced my hand: I mean, who knows how much longer you will have to wait before the Committee interviews you?
No the issue I am writing to you about cannot wait, so I am not worried about jumping the gun. Anyway, you, with your scientific training, wouldn't mind (I am sure) once you agreed with me that what I am writing to you about is the most grievous issue facing our nation today and that once you have accepted that conclusion, you must not waste any time at all just as you wouldn't dawdle over carrying out surgery on a patient whose heart is showing signs of giving up.
Now, Prof: the Inter-governmental Committee on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated unequivocally that QUOTE: Africassurvival is at risk. No continent will be struck as severely by the impacts of climate change as Africa. UNQUOTE
The IPCC goes on: Given its geographical position, the continent will be particularly vulnerable, due to the considerably limited adaptive capacity, exacerbated by widespread poverty and the existing low levels of development. In Africa... climate change is a threat to economic growth (due to changes in natural systems and resources), long-term prosperity, as well as the survival of already vulnerable populations.
[The] consequences of this include [the] persistence of economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities, particularly for the economic and livelihood sectors. Climate change, variability and associated increased disaster risks are an additional burden to sustainable development in Africa... Constraints in technological options, limited infrastructure, skills, information and links to markets further heighten vulnerability to climate stresses.
Prof, here is the red alert: the Report projects that in the next three years that is, by 2020 QUOTE ... between 75 and 250 million people in Africa are projected to be exposed to increased water stress due to climate change.
By 2020, in some [African] countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50%. Agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries is projected to be severely compromised. This would further adversely affect food security and exacerbate malnutrition. Source: Report:. Summary for Policy Makers, IPCC, 2007.
Prof, when the IPCC talks about increased water stress, it is, of course, using the volume of water supply that existed when the Report was compiled a while ago. But as you know, the water situation in Ghana (in particular) has been deteriorating relentlessly, due to the activities of galamsey operators.
Here, for instance, is a four-year-old report from the Daily Graphic (03 October 2013):
QUOTE: Galamsey is killing water bodies
The heavy pollution of water bodies is making it too expensive for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to operate water treatment plants in many . communities. The GWCL is compelled to shut down the water treatment plants in those areas or drill boreholes for water supply to the communities.
Currently, the GWCL has shut down one of its treatment plants at Odaso, which supplied water to parts of Obuasi and surrounding areas in the Ashanti Region because the cost of chemicals used for the treatment of water from the OdaRiver has skyrocketed due to the pollution of the river.
The GWCL [also] had to shut down its water treatment plant at Kyebi for one-and a-half years, due to the pollution of the Birem River.
[Further] the heavy pollution of the Offin River is also making the operation of water treatment plants for some communities in the Central Region a very expensive option....
It is for this reason that the people in the mining community of Tontokrom in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region are now relying on the use of sachet water for cooking!.... The GWCL [is] compelled to drill boreholes for the people of Dunkwa and surrounding areas because [it] cannot rely on River Offin....
The challenges of the GWCL in respect of water treatment can be well appreciated on a visit to . the Amansie West and Amansie Central districts in the Ashanti Region and the Upper Denkyira East District in the Central Region. ...TheDaily Graphic [saw]... the terribly polluted rivers, as [galamsey] miners had blocked the courses of the water bodies, for mining activities.
At Tontokrom in the Amansie West District, ...the [water in the] River Oda had become brownish and thick, or to bring the description home, it had become like Tom Brown porridge thick and dull! In some instances, one could see trails of oil on the surface of the river, apparently from the equipment used by the illegal miners.
The situation was not different at Dunkwa, where River Offin has been badly polluted by the galamsey operators. ...Basin officers of the WRC have been monitoring the water bodies regularly and [say they] can attribute [the] pollution) to illegal mining.... Measurement is done in the form of [an] Index [top marks =100], with the following classification: Above 80 Class 1 or good; from 51 to 80 Class 2 or fairly good; from 25 to 50 Class 3 or poor; below 25 Class four or grossly polluted.
The results are quite disturbing, with the water quality of the River Offin at Dunkwa, for instance, reducing from 57.8 (Class 2 or fairly good) in 2010 to 49 (Class 3 or poor) in 2011, signifying a drop of 8.8 in quality. River Pra at Twifo Praso: the deterioration of water quality was even worse, dropping by 9.9 from 58.9 (Class 2 or fairly good) in 2010 to 49 (Class 3 or poor) in 2011.
Birem River at Osino... dropped in quality [in one year] by 5.6: from 56.8 in 2010 to 51.2 in 2011.... It is said that water is life, and rightly so, as the River Offin, in the past, was a source of life as communities along the river drank directly from it. But with its heavy pollution now, life in the River Offin (including fish, and as a source of drinking water) is dead. [Galamsey] miners have descended into the river with excavators and other equipment, digging for gold from the bed of the water body...The use of mercury and other chemicals was even more serious because fishes in the rivers got contaminated and people who ate such fishes [are] at risk of death.
Prof, I don't need to burden you with other quotations (I assure you that if you Google galamsey, you will be staggered by the quantum of articles you will see. Currently, they number 422,000!)
Yes, galamsey exists; galamsey is dangerous because it is threatening the very survival of our communities. The question is: why has nothing been done seriously to stop it? What can be done about it NOW?
Prof, pardon me, but I think your first duty, on assuming office, should be to present a Bill to Parliament, spelling out measures the Government intends to take to eradicate galamsey for good.
What? Do I mean another piece of legislation when our statute book is littered with laws that we do not enforce and which have become, in some cases, what someone calls mere suggestions?
Prof, the reason why I am recommending the legislative route is that it will kill two birds with one stone: it will consolidate and lay down the existing laws regarding the destruction of forests and water-bodies, while, at the same time, empowering local communities to embark on supplementary action themselves to prevent the destruction of their forests and water-bodies.
New legislation, if it is first presented to the public for wide discussion in the form of a Green Paper-- would serve as a means of educating the public on the national emergency that galamsey has become.
Whilst the draft Bill is being debated by the public, you could also use the opportunity to lobby Members of Parliament to support the Bill. For as Mr Avenyor-Markin, MP for Efutu, can tell you, there are some MPs who won't go near galamsey with a barge-pole although they know what a killer it is for fear of losing votes!
In the second part of this article, I shall present to you, what I consider to be the most important elements that the provisions of the Bill should contain.
The Member of Parliament for Bekwai Constituency, Joseph Osei-Owusu, is seeking the permission of Parliament to resort to the law courts to clear his name in a bribery allegation that has been brought against him by the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central constituency, Mahama Ayariga.
According to Mr Osei-Owusu, his reputation and integrity has been badly affected by the allegation.
Mr. Osei-Owusu made the request when Parliament discussed the matter on the floor, and eventually a five-member investigative committee, to look into to the matter.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday [January 21, 2017] on the matter, the MP, who is also the Chairman of Parliament's Appointments Committee, said, I've never discussed, requested, demanded or received money of whatever quantum for myself or committee members from Mr Boakye Agyarko or any other person for that matter. Neither have I discussed, offered or given any money to Hon. Muntaka Mubarak for himself or for members of the Minority on the Appointments Committee. The allegations by Hon Mahama Ayariga therefore is a colossal untruth which has done grievous damage to my reputation, my hard-earned integrity.
Mahama Ayariga on Friday [January 27, 2017] accused the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko of bribing the ten Minority members of the committee with GHc3,000 each when he realized that the Minority had refused to pass him for the position following comments he made about former President John Mahama during his vetting.
Mr. Ayariga alleged that the money was given to the Minority Chief Whip, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka by the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu for onward disbursement; a claim other Members of Parliament, Alhassan Suhuyini and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed.
But Mr. Osei-Owusu who has in a previous Citi News interview denied the allegation said, the decision on the approval of Mr Agyarko was taken the same day at the close of the day's vetting.
The charge of bribery for the majority to pass the nominee therefore does not fit in the equation as the nominee had already been recommended to be passed by the majority the same night the nominee was vetted.
I crave your indulgence to assist me to ventilate my grievance in court, if I am successful, it may help redeem the image of this parliament, which is often battered by its own members.
By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor
The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, has approved the setting up of a five-member in-house committee, to investigate the corruption allegations leveled against some leaders of the House, prior to the approval of the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko.
Mr. Agyarko has been accused of attempting to bribe 10 Minority members on the Parliament's Appointments Committee, with GHc 3,000 each, prior to his nomination been approved.
This has become necessary following a petition to the Speaker by three minority MPs namely Mahama Ayariga, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Alhassan Suhuyini.
The three have confirmed that the alleged bribery indeed occured, hence their decision to ask for investigations, despite the denial by Minority Chip Whip and MP for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak.
The Committee has thirty days within which to present its report. It is to be chaired by Former Attorney-General and MP for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey.
The four other members are MPs Ben Abdallah, Ama Pomaah Boateng, Magnus Kofi Amoateng and Hon. B.T. Baba. The decision to form the ad-hoc committee, was approved by the leadership of both sides of the House.
Prior to the setting up of the committee, the Majority Chief Whip and Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei-Wusu, who stands accused for his role in the bribery scandal, requested permission to go to Court, to enable him clear himself of the allegations.
The Speaker cautioned members of the House not to interrupt with the work of the committee, and must refrain from making comments publicly that will affect the process.
The Speaker also stated that, the House per its standing orders, has the mandate to carry out investigations into the matter, despite suggestions that Parliament cannot be objective by investigating itself.
By: Delali Adogla Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
A political communications lecturer at University of Cape Coast says a wrong signal would be sent to young Ghanaians should minister-designate for Gender and Social Protection Otiko Djaba be approved.
Dr Eric Opoku argues that her revelation that she did not do National Service is a dent on her image and the president.
All graduates from Ghanaian tertiary institutions must complete a one-year national service under the National Service Secretariat (NSS) Act 426.
The are offenses for those who personnel who do not report to their posts after 3 months of being posted are considered to have evaded the service. For such a personnel, appropriate sanctions under Act 426 are applied.
Also, a service person that takes up posting but does not complete the full period, without proper authorization from the Board shall be declared a deserter.
Three months after desertion, the service person shall be declared an evader. Any National Service rendered before desertion will be nullified and personnel on reporting back to the National Service Secretariat shall be made to start afresh.
However, candidates for national service may on application be exempted from service by the National Service Board on production of valid documentary evidence establishing that: (i) an individual who has undertaken National Service at an earlier date, (ii) a graduate who is 40 years old or more.
But the sector minister-designate who faced the appointments committee yesterday explained that could not do her national service because she was not in the country.
This notwithstanding, Dr Eric Opoku tells Joy News her explanation does not hold water.
He said what is crucial is the signals such a nominee sends to the general public especially the youth adding "here is a high office holder of such a stature and she did not even serve her nation as an obligation after completing her education."
According to him, the fact that she was bold in saying it before the Appointments Committee is bad enough because it sends information to the youth that they do not have to complete service to be able to serve in any public office.
I would clearly say that Madam Otiko Djaba has demonstrated enough in terms of her commitment to patriotism, but this presents a dent in her image," he said.
He, therefore advises the president not to appoint people whose passage would be a problem.
But former presidential hopeful of the Conventions Peoples Party (CPP), Dr Abu Sakara disagrees arguing this can not be a basis for a disapproval of the appointment.
He said the Committee should have rather sought to inquire if she was a public-spirited person.
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim |[email protected]
Heads of State and Governments who attended the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union have signed up to the Continental Free Trade Agreement.
The purpose of this agreement is to ensure significant growth of Intra-Africa trade, as well as assisting countries on the continent use trade more effectively as an engine of growth and for sustainable development.
The CFTA will, amongst others, reduce the vulnerability of the continent to external shocks, and will also enhance the participation of Africa in global trade as a respectable partner, thereby reducing the continents dependence on foreign aid and external borrowing.
This was made known at the closing ceremony of the 28th AU Summit on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This agreement is in furtherance of the commitment made by African leaders in Addis Ababa in 2012 towards the establishment of the CFTA
It will be recalled that at the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU held in January, 2012, in the Ethiopian capital, the Assembly endorsed an Action plan to boost intra-Africa trade through the operationalisation of the CFTA by 2017.
The Action Plan was specifically aimed at deepening Africas market integration, and significantly increasing the volume of trade that African countries undertake among themselves. The plan also outlined a programme of activities required to remove all bottlenecks and obstacles to intra-African trade.
A key feature of African trade is its low level of intra-African trade, insignificant share of global trade and high external orientation. Intra-Africa trade accounts for some 10% of Africas total trade compared to about 60%, 40% and 30% intra-regional trade achieved by Europe, North America and ASEAN respectively.
At around 3%, the share of Africa in global trade is insignificant. In terms of the direction of Africas trade, exports are mainly to Europe and USA (57%) and in recent times to China.
Again, with the numerous free trade areas existing across the globe such as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA), Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), Africa has no choice but to reduce its vulnerabilities with the creation of a CFTA.
The CFTA, therefore, will create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African customs union.
Additionally, the CFTA aims to expand intra African trade through better harmonization and coordination of trade liberalization and facilitation regimes, as well resolving resolve the challenges of multiple and overlapping memberships and expedite the regional and continental integration processes.
THE NATURE OF TRADE IN AFRICA
Trade is widely accepted as an important engine of economic growth and development. There are many regions and countries of the world that have been able to lift their people from poverty to prosperity through trade. In Africa, however, trade has not served as a potent instrument for the achievement of rapid and sustainable economic growth and development due mainly to its size and structure (composition) and the direction of trade.
The bulk of Africas trade with the outside world is heavily concentrated on primary commodities. This has ensured that the continent has been particularly vulnerable to external macroeconomic shocks and protectionist trade policies. This is evident from the recent global economic and financial crisis which had adverse impact on the continents economic performance.
Africa, meanwhile, Africa has the potential to supply its imports needs from its own sources in areas such as fuels, beverages, ores, metals and precious stones, and basic foods, amongst others.
The CFTA, thus, provides the opportunity for Africa to maintain food security and boost trade in agricultural products.
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
31.01.2017 LISTEN
Hon Barbara Ayisi Asher MP for Cape Coast North Thank you very much Mr Chairman. Mr Osafo Maafo, you have such an impressive CV. You've been a minister, and between 1990 to 92, you were the Managing Director of the National Investment Bank and its stated that within a space of two years you were able to declare profit. As a Senior Minster, how are you going to coordinate the activities of all the ministries to bring about growth and development?
Osafo Maafo I think the number one problem we have in this country is unemployment, and the unemployment is assuming alarming proportions, because the economy is not growing. The economy, in 2011, grew at 14%. The economy today is growing at about 3 4%. Mr Chairman that is the problem, and, therefore, all of us would have to think about growth, and thinking about growth means that we have to look at our economic ministries to pave the way for the private sector to operate smoothly.
That's why we were described it as a private sector friendly system we want to put up. We need growth to be able to solve our unemployment problem, and as a Senior Minister, I will coordinate with my colleagues to think and dream growth, to do things that will enable the private sector to come-in in a big way to assist with growth.
If you look at other programmes and projects we have in our manifesto, we talking about one district one factory; all these are to ginger growth, and were certainly going to pursue them. You need capital to do this, therefore, one of the challenges of this government would be accessing capital, and I think we going to do our best to assist to make this realisable
Hon Barbara Asher Thank you. Mr Osafo Maafo, some people believe that your role overlaps with that of the Chief of Staff, can you clarify so that the ordinary Ghanaian will know specifically your role, and how different that is from the Chief of Staff please?
Osafo Maafo I think from the definition I gave you must be different. The Chief of Staff's role is to coordinate the total ministries, and he is working to enhance the secretariat of the President. Normally, what happens around the President is through the Chief of Staff, and in case her role is not specifically on the economic sectors. Mine is specifically on the economic sectors, because of the President's dream of economic transformation. It is a question of emphasis. The Chief of Staff will be coordinating everything combined and running the secretariat of His Excellency the President. The Chief of Staff role is slightly different.
Hon Titus Glover, MP for Tema East Mr Chairman, congratulations uncle [Mr Osafo Maafo]. There has been a lot of discussion on social media, including the traditional media, in terms of the size of His Excellency Akufo-Addo's government, particularly, in terms of the appointees that he is coming out with.
May I respectfully ask you, looking at the vision of the President, whether it is justified for him to have more ministers to push his agenda, or lesser ministers to look at the work that he wants to do for the country. So from where you are sitting as a coordinator of the economic ministers for the President, do you think it is justified for him to have more ministers to enable him do his job, thank you?
Mr Osafo Maafo Thank you Mr Chairman, I think the earlier close of the constitution I read said that for efficient running of the state, therefore, the decision is that of His Excellency the President. Sometimes, let's say Minister for Railways, you hear it and when you listen to the discussions out there, you find out that people have completely missed the point. Mr Chairman, transportation is either by air, by sea, by land or rail.
Now, since Governor Guggisberg, nineteen, I think, twenty seven, Kade Huni Valley because it passes through my hometown road, there has not been any major railway, as a country. Now to think about constructing railways is not as simple as it appears. Think about aviation; you can go and pay your money and take the plane, and the next morning you are gone, because the airport is run by somebody else. Railway is different.
Indeed, the structural or civil engineering works of laying railway lines is physical; let us all imagine, and in our constitution we have one. The eastern one should go from Accra, Kumasi to Paga. We are going to implement a line, and our line should first of all be realigned. Our lines are very obsolete. The gauge of the land we use at the moment, if we want to go the railway in a modern way, has to be looked at. Therefore, it need a complete overhaul. That's what our manifesto says on the railway system. For the amount of work involved in doing just the civil part, you need more than a minister.
Mr Chairman, not only that, railway financing is very complicated, because you will require medium to long term finance. It's different from aviation; it's different from buses, from roads. For a railway, you need a long term finances, because the repayment is long and the inflow is low. But if we want to save our road network, we need to go rail. We need to make sure that the railway comes and comes alive to carry goods.
So that all the heavy goods would go by rail, take passengers as well, but the emphasis is on goods. And I think that the attention of one minister to do this is not too much; there's a lot of work involved. If I were to look at the Railway Minister, I would give him two deputies. I would give him someone who understands long term financing to be chairing and helping with the financing, because it's a whole job.
I will be looking at somebody with a good engineering background to also be looking at the civil, so that the ministry is holistic. So when the ordinary person hears the ministry of railway, that person says it is part of the Ministry of Transport that why is the President taking them is monolithic. It looked like it's a single project, it is not a single project.
The involvement is such that it requires if you want to do it the way Akufo-Addos dream it requires a minister and that for a long time we have not done much in our railway sector. What have we done since Guggisberg's time in our railway business, very little. Achiase Kotoku was done by Osagyefo, but for a very short period. But to do railway, as envisaged in our manifesto, requires a whole minister with even deputies to help do it and properly.
I don't think the number you must also think about the crusade of the President. The President's objective is to transform the economy, and he needs people to work with; he needs people to be assigned specific jobs; and sometimes not too much to do this. He's got 36; and I think it's okay; and the constitution allows him to it.
Titus Glover Thank you Mr Chairman, my second question. Projects, and for that matter development, are tied to revenue generation. I've heard you again that your interest is to look at those loopholes that are making it easy for people to evade taxes and all that, so that what you are expected to rake in can be harnessed.
Can you share with this committee I mean trying to block this loopholes need a strong fight and motivation by the tax collectors. Can you share with this committee how are you going to coordinate these things to make sure that these loopholes are blocked, so that we rake in the needed revenue for developmental purposes?
Mr Osafo Maafo Mr Chairman, I received a number of memoranda at the Transition Team about loopholes in the revenue. I'm shocked about some of the revelations Im getting. People slip them under the door to my house. I wake up and there are memos and letters at the door of my house. And people are pointing out to me some of the loopholes in the system.
Some arising out of collusion, some arising out of misclassification of the items; some arising out of just shear wrong valuation and that kind of thing. We losing a lot of revenue through these things, and it cannot continue. You may recall that during the NPP time we took off the revenue agency's salary from the payroll and gave them a 3% of what they collect. I don't know whether you may recollect, and that's what I brought in as the Minister of Finance; lets talk about people being rewarded through efforts.
So you get 3% of your revenue, and it was working, because when we introduced it the first time, the salary of revenue personnel went up about 25% to what they would've obtained if they were And anytime we went into negotiations, we told them that look if you are able to improve, if you double your revenue you will double your salary, so what are you talking about negotiation.
And I think we should be looking at this type of arrangement for our revenue people, so that we improve on our revenue; there are just so many loopholes. And the Transition Team, not only myself, but we have papers and papers brought to us even by the revenue officers themselves about loopholes, and I think it is an area we going to look at and try to improve. Sometimes, you block the loopholes with technology.
You remove the human beings from it, and it is very complicated. You've got to sit at it; learn the best practices from other countries. You don't have to re-invent the wheel, other countries are maximising revenue through technology, by removing the human element. They have to be going in that direction to make sure that we maximise our revenue, and it's going to be my dream to push that agenda.
Haruna Iddrisu Chairman, I have an objection to how the minister-designate addressed the President. I heard him in one of his submissions say Nana Akufo-Addo familiarity, they say, breeds contempt. This sitting is been observed by school children and Ghanaian public alike; you ought to give the President his respect as you intend to drink from his fountain of honour. May you retract and address him accordingly?
Mr Osafo Maafo Thank you very much Mr Chairman. I withdraw and address him as His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention.
Excerpts of the continuation
Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa Thank you very much Mr Chairman, and congratulations Hon Yaw Osafo Maafo.My second question, Mr Chairman, has to do with the record of the nominee. Without a doub,t the Hon Yaw Osafo Maafo has paid his dues to this country. He's served this country very, very well, and he's an inspiration to many of us. However, during his tenure as the Minister of Finance and Minister of Education, there were some issues that came up.
You were rocked with a few scandals that Ghanaians would want to hear you on. At the Ministry of Finance there was an IFC loan, there was the CNTCI loan whose address turned out to be the address of a hairdressing saloon in the United Kingdom. Will you use this opportunity to clear the air on this matter?
To be continued
By Maxwell Ofori, Parliament House Accra
31.01.2017 LISTEN
The Sunyani Traditional Council (STC) has vehemently expressed its opposition to the nomination of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, as the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister.
At a press conference held at the Paramount Chief's Palace in Sunyani, the Krontihene of Sunyani, Oboaman Bofotia Boamponsem, indicated that the nomination of Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh was highly against the wish of the Sunyani Traditional Council, and has, therefore, appealed to President Akufo-Addo to revoke his nomination.
Oboaman Bofotia Boamponsem said that the Traditional Council was against the nomination of Asomah-Cheremeh because he disrespected the traditional authority, after the Paramount Chief of Sunyani, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, in October 2016, assured the then candidate John Mahama 80% of presidential votes for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from the region.
The assurance by the Paramount Chief did not go down well with the Regional Chairman of the NPP, Asomah-Cheremeh, who condemned the Chief, describing the endorsement as unfortunate, unacceptable and a breach of the Constitution.
Oboaman Bofotia reiterated that the NPP Regional Chairman stated: The Paramount Chief of Sunyani stooped to the lowest level by promising an 80% votes for President Mahama.
A statement, which the council considered as gross disrespect to the Traditional Authority, hence the NPP Regional Chairman was subpoenaed to appear and apologise for his 'uncultured' language, which Asomah-Cheremeh refused to do.
His conduct, according to the Sunyani Traditional Council, seems to undermine the authority of the Omanhene, therefore, he is not the rightful person to head the Brong-Ahafo Regional Administration due to his disrespect for traditional authority, which he is going to work with in the region.
Meanwhile, shortly after the Sunyani Traditional Council's press conference, a multitude of supporters and members of the NPP trekked to Abesewa to meet the Regional Minister-designate, and ushered him in to the regional capital, Sunyani, where he addressed the crowd, which offered him a rousing welcome.
Lawyer Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh expressed appreciation to the crowd for the support given him saying: The campaign period is over; this is the time to unite and rally behind the current President and his administration to fulfill the promises made, in order to move Ghana forward to the desired destination.
He promised to ensure unified leadership in the region and uphold the rule of law without discriminating against any citizen when his nomination is approved after vetting.
Mr. Asomah-Cheremeh used the occasion to pay tribute to both members of the NPP and the NDC who lost their lives during and after the 2016 elections, including the Asunafo North Chairman of the NPP, and two supporters who were electrocuted during the campaign period, and the former Municipal Chief Executive of Sunyani, Kwasi Oppong Ababio, who was the NDC parliamentary candidate for Sunyani East.
From Michael Boateng, Sunyani
31 January 2017, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Today, Heads of State from across Africa endorsed the Addis Declaration on Immunization , also known as the Ministerial Declaration on Universal Access to Immunization, a historic and timely pledge to ensure that everyone in Africa regardless of who they are or where they live receives the full benefits of immunization. The endorsement was issued during the 28th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
While Africa has made impressive gains over the last 15 years toward increasing access to immunization, progress has stagnated, and the continent is falling behind on meeting global immunization targets. One in five children in Africa still does not receive basic life-saving vaccines and, as a result, vaccine-preventable diseases continue to claim too many lives. Measles alone accounts for approximately 61,000 preventable deaths in the African region every year.
We know that universal access to immunization is achievable, noted outgoing African Union Commission ChairpersonNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. The Addis Declaration on Immunization is a historic pledge. With political support at the highest levels, we are closer than ever to ensuring that all children in Africa have an equal shot at a healthy and productive life.
The Addis Declaration on Immunization calls for countries to increase political and financial investments in their immunization programmes. It includes 10 commitments, including increasing vaccine-related funding, strengthening supply chains and delivery systems, and making universal access to vaccines a cornerstone of health and development efforts. The full declaration can be found below.
Vaccines are among the most effective public health tools available, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. When children are given a healthy start, communities thrive and economies grow stronger. This show of support from Heads of State is a significant step forward in our efforts to achieve universal access to immunization and, ultimately, improve child health and drive sustainable development across Africa.
Fewer than 15 African countries fund more than 50% of their national immunization programmes. As Africa nears polio eradication, critical funding for immunization through the polio eradication programme is expected to ramp down. Additionally, countries approaching middle-income status will transition away from Gavi support for immunization in the coming years. Consequently, governments must redouble their efforts to make universal immunization coverage a national priority.
As long as even one child in Africa lacks access to immunization, our work remains unfinished, said Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. With the right mix of political will, financial resources and technical acumen, Africa can and will stem the tide of vaccine-preventable diseases across the continent.
With strong leadership and investment, increased access to immunization is within reach. For example, in 2010, Ethiopia built 16,000 new healthcentres, purchased 2,000 battery-free solar refrigerators for vaccine storage, and built a network of millions of health extension workers and volunteers at community level to increase access to immunization throughout the country. Since these investments were made, Ethiopia has made remarkable gains, with immunization rates soaring from 61% in 2010 to 86% in 2015.
Immunization is one of the smartest investments a country can make in its future, said H.E. Professor Yifru Berhan Mitke, Ethiopias Minister of Health. We must do more to protect all our children from preventable diseases not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it makes economic sense. When our children are healthy, our families, communities and countries thrive.
The Addis Declaration on Immunization was signed by Ministers of Health and other line ministers at the Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa (MCIA) in February 2016 in Addis Ababa. MCIA was the first-ever ministerial-level gathering with a singular focus on ensuring that children across the continent can access life-saving vaccines. To guide the implementation of the ADI, a roadmap is being developed in close collaboration with the WHO offices in the African Region and Eastern Mediterranean Region, the African Union Commission and immunization partners.
African leaders are showing outstanding leadership by endorsing this landmark commitment which will allow more African children to be reached with life-saving vaccines no matter where they live, said Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance board. We must now ensure that the commitments translate into sustainable financing for immunization. Gavi stands ready to support African countries in their efforts to implement equitable health approaches and maintain strong immunization coverage so we can create together a more prosperous future for communities across our continent.
A man in his early 30s is busily swinging his fingers across silver-plated keypad of a big laptop in front of him.
Beaming with smile all over, he happily flicks his fingers at the keyboards within short intervals as his eyeballs carefully gaze onto the screen of the laptop with rapt attention.
Standing on his right is a man with an American accent spotting a blue shirt with its long sleeve carefully toppled over each other in strokes
Alexander Atiah, a former Agricultural Engineering student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has a long term dream of pursuing further studies abroad.
But for lack of funds and other challenges, he is unable to go after his dreams.
But thanks to a local travel agency, Femon Travel and Tour, Atia now has the opportunity to apply for admission into one of the popular universities in the United States.
It follows a presentation by officials of the overseas office of the university at the Miklin Hotel in Kumasi.
Foreign universities are now adopting innovative ways of reaching potential students in Ghana.
It has become common for agents of schools in the United States, United Kingdom and other parts of the world to travel to Ghana to meet prospective students face-to-face.
It is in sharp contrast to the past when people had to struggle, either to travel abroad for admission or have relatives abroad facilitate the process for them.
Officials of Park University in Missouri are currently in the country to take would-be students through enrollment.
About 150 prospective students attended the first session in Kumasi, with dozen others attending the Sunyani and Accra events.
Atiah, who is currently with Ghanas National Health Insurance Authority, wants to pursue Health Administration at the Park University to help turn the fortunes of the insurance scheme around.
So why has Ghana become the destination for foreign universities?
Senior Director, Office of International Students at the Park University Kevin Vicker says it worth the time of foreign universities to search for students in Ghana.
I think that the students we have had from Ghana in the past especially they have been fantastic students; hardworking students, joyous students-just pleasant to work with. And so those two factors combined and the fact that in Ghana English is spoken which is helpful for any process in this regard in terms of foreign study worth my time for coming here.
Another side attraction is Ghanas growing economy, which means Ghanaians can afford education abroad.
New students are expected to spend between USD 19,000 and USD 22,000 a year on tuition, housing and fee. Students can also enjoy between USD 2,000 and 5,000 in scholarships each year.
When I do research, up and coming markets in terms of growing economies, the currency skill well Ghana is the one we are looking at. I think this country has the potential to grow a lot in terms of infrastructure, in terms of the economy, says Mr. Vicker.
The presence of the foreign universities relieves potential students from the burden and hustle associated with applying for admission abroad.
For Atiah and others who nurture dream of education abroad, its a dream come through for them.
one of the many students who want to further their education abroad.
He is currently with the National Health Insurance Authority.
With the help of a laptop, he can secure admission to the Park University within one month.
One important thing is that, it releases you of the pressure. When you are applying, you don't know whom you are applying to. It gets so hard but when you have the person sitting right [besides] you, you are speaking to the person as a friend so it releases you of the pressure.
"He's here. You will not have to go over there. He is rather here-so for you the student, I don't think its really costly for you. It's cheaper and very very convenient for the student, elated Atia has said.
31.01.2017 LISTEN
The untold story about political infiltration in our national and local student front is the fact that, these parties will use and dump you after your relevance has diminished to the brim.
Please don't be deceived of being absorbed into the mainstream politics. These parties are not as dumb as you are because they know what is good for them at any given time. Try to think through this and see, after the times of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah, Haruna Iddrissu, Sammy Awuku and the likes, mention anyone who has successfully been absorbed in any of these big political parties (any national officer after 2008).
Many of the student leaders allow political infiltration into our national students' front with the hope of obtaining a shortcut to making it big in politics. No party will give appointments to a block headed fellow with no conscience of his own. They believe you could be manipulated like they manipulated you. Focus on being relevant by building a career aside politics and leave a legacy rather than allowing yourselves to be used as puppets. Student leaders should assess themselves and see which appointments (ministerial, DCE, MCE etc.) they fit into with their current character, knowledge and attitudes.
The student leaders in this era should understand that, there is nothing like free lunch and these parties are interfering in our student front for their selfish gains. Let's do this analysis, if the NDC manages to control all the national student blocs, the student leaders in these blocs will be muted and not agitate on the wrongs this government may be doing in terms of education and wellbeing of students. Imagine if NPP is to control National student blocs, the student leaders will agitate and expose all the wrongs of the ruling party and frustrate them with many demonstrations to make the NDC unpopular and portray NDC as incompetent government in the eyes of the people of Ghana.
We are really losing our essence as national student fronts and we have made this political infiltration temper with our consciences. We forget of those days when the Haruna Iddrissu s and the likes fought hard for the GETFUND and other educational reforms most institutions are enjoying today. Ask yourselves as student leaders who want to be absorbed into the mainstream politics like the aforementioned names whether you have been able to achieve a quarter of what these men did when they were in your shoes? Nowhere cool and no shortcut to heaven. Achieve something, leave behind a legacy, have a mind of your own and these parties will respect you when the time comes.
I don't downplay the truth of the tough economic situation in this country and difficulty in raising funds to run for office at the student front which leads to the pathetic political infiltration we see everywhere. As much as I am disappointed in the intellectuals who have been subjected to this infiltration to the extreme level, I do not exclude myself from this canker because I have had my fair share of the manipulation from both angles. I learnt one thing from it, these parties are opportunists and go in for the brightest and most relevant at every given moment. Seek relevance and they shall give you recognition. Long live NUGS, USAG, GRASAG, TTAG, NAHSAG, RSRC, GUPS and all SRCs across the country.
WRITTEN BY: ANGEL DKK-GBEDEMAH (THE FIXER)
31.01.2017 LISTEN
We must be ashamed of what we have become. Instead of being students activists, we call ourselves student politicians. We should be embarrassed that we lost our core mandate.
It should sadden our conscience to see events in this light anytime we view the efforts of past leaders who toiled with their lives, blood, time and academics to make the lives of the Ghanaian student better.
In the past, student concerns were handled in unison but presently our decisions are mostly based on pleasing our political godfathers and not the students who placed us up there.
Our wounds would deepen after we realize we are being used for selfish gains of the big men. We should delve deeper and there we shall envisage that only few of us would be absorbed into mainstream politics based on an individual's self-development.
Our relevance shall diminish after our term of office is over. The top politicians shall keep us around them only and only when we stay relevant to their cause. The promises made to us shall be ditched into the past when we forget to develop ourselves and rather kissing their feet for crumbs.
We must be ashamed when our hopes are placed on the pledges of these men to put us in high offices. We should question ourselves to see how unfeasible that could be if we are incompetent to hold such offices.
We should be ashamed of ourselves when elsewhere the development and growth of student activism is stronger and relevant in South Africa and other nations but ours is still marking time.
We must be ashamed when student leaders in Ghana currently can't boast of educational reforms they have suggested to the appropriate stakeholders.
The division has harmed us and increased their gains. Shame on student leaders for falling prey to the political manoeuvers of the politicians to divide the vision of student activism.
Written by: ANGEL DKK-GBEDEMAH (THE FIXER)
Polytechnic Administrators Association of Ghana has called on government to constitute substantive Councils for all Technical Universities as a matter of urgency to address all issues associated with the conversion of Polytechnics into technical universities.
Chief among the issues that the Association identified is the activities of the National Council for Tertiary Education vis-a-vis the implementation of the transitional arrangements as spelled out in the Technical University Act 2016 (Act 922).
This was contained in a press released issued by Polytechnic Administrators Association of Ghana during a National Executive Council Meeting over the weekend at the Sunyani Technical University.
According to the Administrators, some actions on the part of the NCTE are inconsistent with the Act and the detrimental to a smooth transitional process of the conversion.
Read the statement below:
PRESS RELEASE
The Polytechnic Administrators Association of Ghana (PAAG), soon to be known as Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG) wish to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on their assumption of the highest offices of the Nation as President and Vice President respectively.
We pledge our unreserved intent to partner your administration to advance the developmental agenda of the Country, especially in the area of Tertiary Education and particularly Technical and Vocational Education at the higher level.
We take the opportunity to also congratulate Hon. Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh on his nomination, vetting and approval by Parliament as the Minister of Education for our beloved country Ghana.
Indeed it is our sincere expectation to work with your administration to realize the object of higher Technical and Vocational Education in the Country, using the Technical Universities as the main tool in this regard.
We, however, call on your office as the Minister of Education to in fulfillment of the Governments campaign promise, and as a matter of urgency to convert the remaining two (2) Polytechnics (Bolgatanga and Wa) to Technical Universities. This would forestall the immediate challenge of operational difficulties and the medium to the long-term challenge of the total collapse of these Institutions.
We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Minister to equip the Technical Universities with the necessary infrastructure to enable us to execute our mandate effectively as stipulated in the Technical University Act 2016 (Act 922).
PAAG wish to draw the attention of the Minister and the President to some transitional challenges that are arising as a result of certain actions of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) which are inconsistent with the Act and detrimental to the entire transitional process. We, therefore, call on the Minister to without delay constitutes the various substantive Councils for the Technical Universities to resolve these challenges.
We further pledge our continuous resolve to creditably discharge our service with excellence in the forward match of our Country. We are always available for any form of engagement with your outfit.
Once again we congratulate you on your assumption as President, Vice President and Minister of Education of the Republic of Ghana. Long live Ghana, long live the Polytechnic Administrators Association of Ghana (PAAG).
PAAG, SERVICE WITH EXCELLENCE.
Mohammed Kamal-Deen Alhassan
National President
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Hubert Mawuli Yevu-Agbi
Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya has handed over to the United States four men suspected of trying to smuggle large quantities of heroin, more than two years after their arrest, police said Tuesday.
Kenyan brothers Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha were arrested in November 2014, along with Indian national Vijaygiri Goswami and Pakistani citizen Gulam Hussein, following a sting by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) which infiltrated the Mombasa-based organisation.
East Africa is emerging as a key staging post in the international heroin trade and US officials believe the Akashas are a crucial link in a supply chain that connects Afghanistan's poppy fields with consumers in Europe and the US.
"They were deported last night on a private charter plane and we expect them to be arraigned in court in the US to stand trial for smuggling drugs," said a senior Kenyan anti-narcotics officer on condition of anonymity.
Local media on Tuesday also reported their extradition, though their lawyer Cliff Ombeta said he had not been informed and did not know where they were.
Ombeta said if they had been sent to the US, "then consequences must follow because there is an order in the lower court that says they should not be removed from this jurisdiction".
An explanation was needed if they had been moved, he added.
According to a US indictment, Ibrahim Akasha personally delivered 99 kilos of heroin and two kilos of methamphetamine to undercover agents. Meetings and conversations were recorded.
The US indictment describes Baktash Akasha as "the leader of an organised crime family in Kenya" and his younger brother Ibrahim as his "deputy".
It also describes "Old Man" Hussein as "the head of a transportation network that distributes massive quantities of narcotics throughout the Middle East and Africa", while "Vicky" Goswami "manages the Akasha Organisation's drug business".
The men are accused of conspiring to import pure "white crystal" heroin into the US at a knock-down price of around $10,000 (9,100 euros) a kilo.
US officials believe the Akasha brothers are continuing the business of their late father, also named Ibrahim, who was described in a secret 2006 US diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks as a "drug baron".
He was killed in Amsterdam -- shot four times by a bicycle-riding assassin -- in May 2000 as he took a morning stroll with his wife along Blood Street in the city's red light district.
Over the last two years the extradition request has foundered in Kenya's courts while the four suspects have been out on bail.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said Tuesday that Kenya must "fight the war on drugs".
"We have said we are no longer going to target those small peddlers. We are going for the real drug dealers," Kenyatta said, without specifying whether he was referring to the Akasha case.
3 injured in truck collision along Prithvi Highway
A collision between two trucks at Dorechowk 7 along the Prithvi Highway on Tuesday morning has left three persons injured.
The NPP government will introduce a new revenue management law to regulate the use of gold revenue just as is done in the oil sector, Minister Nominee for Lands and Natural Resources, John-Peter Amewu has disclosed.
Mr. Amewu argues that the law will among others empower local authorities and residents to track the use of all revenue earned from the exploration of mineral resources in the country.
The Minister Nominee made the remarks when he met the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday.
For purposes of mining governance, transparency, equity and fairness to the owners of resources, it is proper the owners should be able to query government what their revenue have been used for, he stated.
This will be in the direction where civil society organisations, chiefs and elders and opinion leaders will be able to determine where the money is going, what quantity is being used and for what purpose is the money being used for, Mr. Amewu added.
The new revenue management law comes despite an existing petroleum revenue management law.
Responding to whether or not the new consolidated revenue management law will contradict the existing legislation in the oil and gas sector, Mr. Awuah explained,
Within the oil sector we have the revenue management law and it is working perfectly because it ties the hands of the public officials to decide on the use and applications of these monies,
He added, This new law is going to look at a different sector (mining). What we have currently is for the oil and gas. We are talking of having a different consolidated law similar to what we have in the oil and gas sector; so they are going to work concurrently.
Meanwhile Mr. Amewu has stressed the need for Ghana to revisit its position on stability agreements in the mining laws.
In his view, the country's democratic credentials puts it above risks that merit stability clauses in mineral licensing regimes.
By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
VOTE OF THANKS DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE 28TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE AFRICAN UNION, ON JANUARY 31, 2017, IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA.
Ghana and my modest person are honoured by the invitation of the newly installed Chairperson of the Assembly, His Excellency Alpha Conde, to move the vote of thanks to all who have contributed in their various ways to the outstanding success of this landmark Summit.
It may, somehow, be appropriate that, at a time when we are attempting to renew our organization and its values, a Guinean should be in the chair and a Ghanaian at the podium, for this may recall the early days of Africas independence, when the strategic alliance of Ghana-Guinea-Mali was one of the seminal events that paved the way for the establishment of our predecessor body, the Organisation of African Unity, in this historic, ancient city of Addis Ababa, in 1963, some 54 years ago.
We salute the election to the leadership of our Union of the Guinean President, His Excellency Alpha Conde, a renowned fighter for democracy and human rights in his native Guinea. Sir, ayekoo, as they say in Ghana. The Assembly has conferred on you a new Bureau, composed of some of the most redoubtable figures of contemporary African politics their Excellencies Yoweri Museveni, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, King Mswati III, and Idriss Deby Itno and a new Commission led by the accomplished Foreign Minister of Chad, with an equally accomplished Ghanaian diplomat as his Deputy and a new set of apparently solid Commissioners. The elements are in place for the successful tenure of office of President Alpha Conde, and we wish him well.
We thank the people and government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia for their traditional, warm hospitality for our meeting. Addis Ababa continues to cement its reputation as the diplomatic capital of Africa. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, thank you.
The Commission of our Union, together with all the other organs, be they policy or advisory, deserve our commendation for the dedication and professionalism with which they have mobilised the facilities placed at our disposal throughout the period of the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, including the working documents and the transportation, interpretation and protocol services. Every human organization can always be improved, but we remain, nonetheless, sincerely grateful for their efforts.
I have called this Summit a landmark one, because of the far reaching decisions that we have taken here. We have made the bold decision to admit one of new Africas founding states, the Kingdom of Morocco, into our fold and extend the reach of our organization, finally, to all parts of our continent, with all its implications. We have adopted the comprehensive proposals for the reform of our institutions prepared by the respected leader of Rwanda, His Excellency President Paul Kagame, and his advisory council of experts.
If vigorously implemented, these proposals will give a significant and enhanced impetus to the operations of our Union. We owe President Kagame and his team a profound debt of gratitude for their excellent work. We have taken the equally bold decision to finance our operations from our own resources and wean ourselves off foreign dependence and charity. The implementation of that decision is necessary for our self-respect. We have also met our deadline of putting into place a programme for the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area to boost our chances for self-reliant economic development, which will, hopefully, help realise the enormous potential of our continent and help bring prosperity and dignity, at long last, to the long-suffering peoples of Africa.
If these and other measures are carried out in their letter and spirit, they will, indeed, mean that this has been a landmark Summit, one which will have succeeded in rekindling the values of unity, solidarity and cohesion that have been the founding values of our continental organization. It will mean that the decision we made, in establishing this Union 15 years ago in 2002, to build our Union brick by brick, in His Excellency President Robert Mugabes eloquent phrase, is paying off, and that, sooner rather than later, we will arrive at the goal of realizing our vision of an integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa, speaking with one voice, that has been the dream of successive generations of pan-Africanists.
I acknowledge the outgoing Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, and all the outgoing Commissioners for their sacrifices and contributions to this Union and, indeed, the overall progress of our continent.
I cannot conclude this vote of thanks without making special mention of two persons, one a woman, the other a man. The woman is Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, outgoing Chairperson of the Commission. A former colleague as Foreign Minister, her vision of freedom and prosperity with its bold initiatives for all our peoples, in particular women, who constitute the very backbone of our survival and progress, means that millions of women and men around the continent are, today, holding the torch of womens social, economic and political empowerment. Nkosazana, wenze kahle.
We wish you well in your future endeavours. There were many in this room who could not have missed the symbolism of that other outstanding African woman, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and ECOWAS current leader, standing by your side on the podium at yesterdays opening ceremony. Who knows, you may next year be the second elected female leader on our continent if the South African people and your party so consent. In Twi, we say nante yie go well, fare thee well.
The other is a man, the Chadian statesman, Idriss Deby Itno. Excellency, your calm, sterling leadership has brought new dynamism into our Union, characterized by the strategic policies during your tenure that have enlarged immeasurably the horizons of our continental body. We are deeply indebted to you for the sacrifices you and the Chadian people have made to inspire the success of your mandate. M. le President Idriss Deby, chef renomee de letat Chadien, on vous remercie vivement pour tout votre oeuvre au sein de notre organisation pour le progres et bien-etre du people africain, qui restera toujours tres reconnaissant de vos efforts. Goodbye and even greater success in the future, both in Chad and in Africa.
We need to remind ourselves regularly that, in launching the theme for 2017 Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in the Youth, we have made essentially a pact with both present and future generations to leave them a better legacy than we inherited from our forebears. Let our generation be at the measure of our history.
In conclusion, on behalf of all Ghanaians, I thank the Union for its assistance in helping to make Ghanas recent electoral contest credible and its outcome acceptable, thereby enhancing our principles of democratic accountability, which have reinforced the peace, stability and unity of the Ghanaian nation. I also thank your Excellencies for the big vote of confidence you gave to my country Ghana, not just by the massive endorsement of Ghanas candidate for Deputy Chair of our Commission, but also for the selection of my compatriot, Prof. Dakoure, as one of the two awardees of this years Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award.
Thank you and may God bless the African Union and Mother Africa.
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
A severe rainstorm in the national capital Accra, has ripped off a part of the roof of the Parliament House.
The Tuesday night rain, accompanied by a severe storm, which has wrecked havoc in several parts of Accra, affected activities in the Parliamentary chamber as the rain flooded in from the roof.
Some electronic gadgets installed in the chamber were left after the mercy of rain, as a few staff of Parliament were seen trying to salvage some important materials.
Citi FMs Parliamentary correspondent, Duke Mensah Opoku, said the incident occurred not long after the house had adjourned sitting.
The house sat on Tuesday night to consider a bill brought before it under a certificate of urgency, to amend the Local Government Bill.
By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
01.02.2017 LISTEN
Nativists arrowhead President Donald John Trump of America is hell-bent on fulfilling his polemical campaign promises, with the attendant risks of creating worldwide instability, insecurity and a downward spiral of the global economy.
Many, including myself never expected Donald J. Trump to be elected a dogcatcher, much less, being elected president of the United States of America, and so, there were many of us, who thought very little of his electioneering campaign rhetoric as anything but mere blusters
Donald Trumps only claim to fame is his real estate business, his scandalous serial marriages, his reality show on television The Apprentice a show in which he made the term, You Are Fired notorious!
President Trumps possibility of winning the elections was so remote, in the view of many pundits and the average person in America and across the world, such that his outrageous and equally outlandish pronouncements regarding Mexico, Muslims, World Trade, TPP, NAFTA, Gender Equality or his misogyny, Global Warming etc were derided and dismissed by so many.
These were merely Trumps characteristic braggadocios, many thought; particularly, coming from a man, who once publicly proclaimed Marla Maples as the best sex he ever had, then, married a divorced her in such rapid disorder! Mr. Trump before dabbling into politics had the reputation of a loudmouth!
President Obama was known to have called the now President Trump out, by chastising Trump with a sort of advice, to the effect that Trump should realize, that the America presidency requires superb intellects and strategic thinking, not the sorts of talking-before-you-think of reality shows on television!
Then the elections came, and like magic, the dam broke, Mr. Trump won the elections by some fluke or by the sheer force of democracy by nativists and nativism! Nativists are Donald Trumps core support.
True democracy requires Trump to keep his promises to these core supporters who ensured his being victorious over Secretary of State Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton, who was projected by pundits and the average Joe, to be the would be first female president of America, and seen as a literal shoo in.
On January 20th, 2017, Donald John Trump was inaugurated or sworn-in, as the 45th president of the United States of America, and he made a lackluster inaugural speech, without flair or flavor, as he singularly focused on a segment of the American population to whom he pandered during, and after the electioneering campaigns, and then, with his bland, brash and quite uninspiring inaugural speech.
President Trump, true to his rhetoric, polemics and blusters during the elections campaigns, has started to make good on his promises, starting with Executive Orders signings with melodramatic fervors on major issues such as immigration, trade, abortion rights and much more.
President Trump has with a simple stroke of the pen, revived the hitherto moribund oil-pipeline project between Canada and the United States, despite the long drawn-out debates between conservatives and environmentalists regarding cost-benefit analyses, the cost to the environment and benefits to consumers.
President Trump after his victory at the American elections was expected to tone down his toxic and acerbic pronouncements about everything, but, instead, he has accelerated and ramped-up his rants against everything and everybody!
President Trump has so far, mostly engage in outbursts like a petulant child. He has thus far refused to grow up and matured into the American presidency, he is everything but presidential in his first week at the presidency.
As have been characteristic of him, he criticized the German leader, Chancellor Angela Merkel for her fair minded and liberal policy on immigration and refugees, Trump blamed her for not acting similar to the advocates and proponents of Brexit, Brexit is referendum which voted in favor of Britain exiting the European Union multilateral organization.
President Trump has also engaged in diatribe against China, even as China has begun to command worldwide respect consequent upon President Xi Jinping of Chinas promotion of free trade and globalization, during the Davos World Economic Forum recently.
It remains to be seen, whether President Trump will go-full-throttle and full-speed ahead with his vociferous threats against China, to the effect of imposing 45 percent trade tariffs on every product made in China and exported to America.
Israel has taken a hint and even solace from Donald Trumps brash worldview, it is protectionist and isolationist, Trumps so-called America First, which is parochial, myopic and quite shortsighted to say the very least.
And so, Israel has announced that she would build almost three thousands housing units, in addition to the illegal settlements which Prime Minister Netanyahu government already built on Palestinian territory lands, an action which has received widespread condemnation worldwide, including criticism by European nations and even the United Nations, but, not a whisper or whimper and murmur from the President Trumps administration.
President Trump and his Defense Secretary have made public statements suggestive of war mongering. Both men have indicated interests in military actions to reverse Chinas presence in South China Sea.
Fighting a war in Chinas neighborhood will be expensive and quite costly in various respects. A war with China may be Trumps wag-the-dog distractions for his domestic audience as plan B, if his much bragged about America First economic theories does not revive America, but any such war, will be debilitating for America and it will be an unwinnable war.
President Trump comes across as totally and completely clueless and ignorant, particularly when he talks about complex and complicated global issues with his simpleton conspiracy theories. He often wag his fingers at everyone. He comes across as an egomaniacal arrogant buffoon, who happens to be president of the United States of America!
There are some who are still hopeful, in the belief that President Trump will soon calm down and curb his enthusiasm for making illogical and unreasonable demands on other nations.
Such hopes were raised on Friday January 27, 2017 as Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain forced President Trump to contradict himself and his threat to undermine North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) he did so publicly, obviously, kicking and screaming, as he said in her presence, that he is now behind NATO funding one hundred percent! This is an about face on NATO by Mr. Trump! More of such swallowing of own vomit are reasonably expected
Others, have speculated and suggested that his talk is just all-talk, and therefore, he is merely engaging in grandstanding and psychological warfare, before negotiations, in order to get the better part of deals or upper hand in relationships, trade or diplomatic. This thinking implies that he is smart and practices what he preached in his old book, The Art of A Deal.
Those who are suggesting this, are reasoning that President Trump knows his limits and Americas, in relationships with all other nations, this thinking better be right, or the world will witness too many trade conflicts, violent military confrontations, sundry cantankerous interactions with other nations, and even the possibility of a nuclear holocaust; as a boaster and an egomaniac is president of America!
President Trumps current attitude to global issues is the very definition of extreme unreasonableness.
I predict that President Trump will lead America out of its world-power status, if he continues to make his outrageous and outlandish provocative pronouncements.
President Trump could unfurl asinine policies which would lead the world into political, economic and military seismic events or even global cataclysms!
Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq
[email protected]
20 days is an incredibly long time. You could write a book in 20 days if you commit to it. You could travel the world in 20 days if you had the money to. You could learn to swim, ride a bike, skateboard or kitesurf.
If youre Donald Trump, you can achieve a lot in 20 days. For instance, you can sign seven presidential executive orders. And you can singlehandedly change the fortunes of public companies.
An executive order is a legally binding order from the US president. Its a bit of a legislative go-around to get things done, fast.
Airlines no, concrete yes
As you already know, a couple of these executive orders have been controversial. One of the most recent has created global chaos.
The executive order we wrote about yesterday is the one thats grabbing all the headlines. Thats where the US is temporarily banning citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Syria.
Its seen the airline industry in a spin. For example, Delta Airlines [NYSE:DAL] was trading at US$51.40 early Thursday. Earlier today, it was US$47.63.
You can see how this makes life hard for airlines. Imagine youre on the check-in desk for Delta at Heathrow. And youre checking in passengers for a flight to LA. On Thursday, you get a passenger with a Syrian passport boarding the flight. No problem. Have a safe flight, Mr Syrian National.
But then come Saturday, you get a Somalian national trying to board the LONLAX flight. Sorry, no can do. The US is banning you from entry. Why? Youre from Somalia. And President Trump says youre a terrorist or a potential terrorist.
That is what the executive order says. The primary purpose of it is to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States. And if youre from one of those seven countries, youre one of those foreign nationals.
However, Trump did promise in his campaign to do exactly that. And, well, hes just fulfilling his election promise.
And then theres the wall. On 25 January, he signed the executive order to secure the southern border of the United States through the immediate construction of a physical wall on the southern border.
Theres already a wall there. Well, a fence really. But this wall will be grand. It will be Trumps Wall. And the executive order says its going to happen.
This order has sent construction companies into overdrive. Take, for instance, a company like CEMEX SAB de CV (ADR) [NYSE:CX], which is a concrete company. And believe it or not, CEMEX is Mexican. But its stock price is up 103% in the last year thanks to Trump. Since Trumps inauguration, its up 16.92%
None of this should really be a surprise. After all, Trump promised he would do this in his election campaign. He is just fulfilling his election promiseagain.
On 24 January, Trump signed another executive order. This one was to rebuild America. Its purpose is to create millions of jobs. Its designed to increase wages, strengthen the economic platform, and reduce the cost of goods and services.
Its a grand plan to invest in infrastructure. The order streamlines environmental reviews and approvals for all infrastructure projects. In particular, it has a focus on electric grid and telecommunications systems and repairing and upgrading critical port facilities, airports, pipelines, bridges, and highways.
This order has had a major impact closer to home. ASX-listed Eden Innovations [ASX:EDE] makes concrete admixtures. And its now up 31.91% since Trumps inauguration. This is partly because it sells and operates directly out of the US.
The immigration ban. The wall. The infrastructure spending. These are executive orders that create controversy. But dont be shocked or surprised. Look for the companies that will benefit, or suffer.
The most divisive person of the 21st century
It is incredible what Trump has been able to get done in just 20 days. I dont agree with it all. I think some of it is downright bigotry. Ironically, the executive order for the temporary immigration ban states: In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred.
But Im not surprised. Trump has said all this before. But most people didnt think he was serious. Guess what? He is.
And perhaps thats the real focus we should have here. No executive order Trump has signed has been a surprise. None of them are out of left field. They are all promises he made in his election campaign. And unlike most politicians, hes actually following through on his promises.
Now, this has obviously enraged half the population. Its also enraged around half the people overseas. I say half because thats what Trump is good at. Divide and conquer. Hes perhaps the most divisive character of the 21st century.
I cant recall anyone else creating so much debate. No one of recent times has been able to polarise groups of people with such ease. He is a phenomenon. One of a kind.
I took note of a BBC report this evening. It was highlighting some of the protests about Trumps immigration ban. It made note of the immense number of young people demonstrating. Well, of course they would. You see, young people generally dont like Trump.
But they werent the ones that voted him into power. Edison Research for the National Election Pool has some incredible numbers on the demographics of Trumps election victory.
In major cities, Clinton easily beat Trump. But in the suburbs which were 49% of the vote Trump took 50% of the vote, Clinton 45%. The numbers are astonishing when you push out further to rural areas and small cities. These areas carry 17% of the vote. Here, Trump took 62% versus Clintons 34%.
And then there are the age demographics. Have a look at the chart below.
Source: Business Insider
Click to enlarge
As you can see, the older votes (and the majority of voters) went to Trump. The younger to Clinton. So of course the youth will protest and complain about a president they didnt vote for.
Profit while others protest
But theres the silent population of the US thats thrilled with Trump. The millions that voted him into power will be happy with their leader. Hes been able to follow through with more promises in such a short time than any president before.
You wont see these people on the news. You wont see them at protests. Youll find them in the suburbs and rural areas of the US. Theyre the retired neighbours. The older folk on the farms. Theyre the ones who are saying to themselves, We made the right choice.
Heres a president of action. And hes doing what most politicians fail to do. Hes doing what he said he would do. In a democratic society, when a politician actually does what they say theyll do, you have to be impressed.
You dont have to agree with it. You dont even have to like it. But you absolutely should keep an eye out for what executive orders come next. If youre sharp enough, and take the time to read them, you could benefit from them. Look at companies like CEMEX and Eden Innovations. Just two examples of many.
And with the next lot of executive orders (and there will be more), there will be other companies that benefit. With decisive action a bit like Trump you might be able to profit while others protest.
Regards,
Sam Volkering
- The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted and seized 661 brand new pump-action rifles stored in 49 boxes in truck in Lagos state
- Although the Customs did not disclose where the weapons were from or where they were headed, there are reports in some quarters that the scary haul came in from China
- The Comptroller-General of Customs Hameed Ali announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with the importation of the weapons and has kicked off investigation into the case
Customs officials inspect the seized 661 rifles in Lagos state. Photo: NCS Facebook
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has explained how it intercepted and seized a massive weapons haul of 661 brand new pump-action rifles in Lagos state.
In a press statement delivered by the Comptroller-General of NCS Hameed Ali at a briefing in Lagos on Monday, January 30, the outfit said the guns were intercepted on Sunday, January 22.
The statement read: "On Sunday 22nd January 2017, the Roving Team of the NCS Federal Operations Unit while on information patrol intercepted a Mack truck with registration number BDG 265 XG conveying a 1x40ft Container with Number: PONU/825914/3along Mile 2 Apapa road.
The brand new pump-action rifles in cartons in which they were seized
"The truck was immediately taken to the premises of FOU Zone A,Ikeja where Physical examination revealed49 boxes containing a total number of 661 pieces of pump action rifles concealed with steal doors and other merchandize goods."
READ ALSO: Apostle Suleman yet to honour DSS 10am invitation
The Customs clarified that the actions of the importer contravened the provisions of the Nigerian laws and it is even more so given the fragile level of security in the country at the moment.
It added: "These Rifles are under absolute prohibition; therefore its importation is illegal. Such deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country."
Cartons and more cartons of pump-action rifles seized by Customs
The Customs confirmed the arrest of three people in connection with the importation of the large arms. They suspects' names were given as: Oscan Okafor (Importer) age 51, Mahmud Hassan (Clearing Agent) age 56 and Sadique Mustapha (who accompanied the consignment to its destination) age 28.
Some of the rifles up-close with clear evidence that they have never been used.
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Hameed Ali says more arrests could still be made as an investigation has been opened into the matter.
He said: "Investigation has already commenced and I have directed that the drag net should be wide enough to fish out all persons involved in the importation and clearing of the consignment. Already, the Officers involved in the clearance of this container are with the Comptroller FOU Zone AIkeja."
The Customs seizure of 661 rifles
Source: Legit.ng
- A Nigerian community in Delta has shown uncommon love to a Sierra Leonean who could not trace his way to Sierra Leone after years of sojourn in the state
- The community members assimilated him into the community and accorded him the privileges that are enjoyed by indigenes of the area
- They gave him a worthy burial after obtaining reports from the police and other legal requirements
A Reverend Father, Israel Dibia, has called on Nigerians to shun speeches of hate and acrimony but focus on issues that will engender peace, love and harmony at this critical moment in Nigeria.
Fr. Dibia said the problem of Nigeria could be solved with the message of love and peace, insisting that the country could triumph over its challenges with the simple show of love and peace from all political and religious divides in the country.
Officiating priest and members of the community during the burial ceremony
The cleric spoke during the burial ceremony of a Sierra Leonean, Babatunde Lewis, who found his way into Okpanam, a suburb of Asaba, the Delta state capital during the trying years of Sierra Leone, prior to the war that ravaged the economy of the West African country.
Babatunde was said to have come to Nigeria in 1983 and could not trace his way back to Sierra Leone after years of sojourn in Nigeria, thereby spending his entire life in the Delta community.
READ ALSO: DSS tightens security at its premises ahead of Apostle Suleman's visit
Considering the manner the community took care of him, the Reverend Father said the world is going in a wrong direction because many people who practice religion, place more emphasis on the rituals and forget the true message of love and peace.
The clerics message was based on the love the people of the community showed to the Sierra Leonean, who cared so much for him having lost knowledge of his way back to his home country.
He said: By love everyone will know that you are the children of God. The kingdom of God will not judge you based on the number of bible verses you know or the time you gave to church activities but by the love you show. Babatunde was a man who was prompt in everything he did.
He commended the people of the community for taking good care of him, giving him accommodation and organizing a befitting burial for someone they never knew from Adam.
The burial ceremony of the late Sierra Leonean
Reverend Father Donatus Chukwuedo, who presided over the burial, said the deceased who came into Okpanam and was assimilated into the community life could not trace his family or relatives in Sierra Leone after years of sojourn in the community.
Consequently, he was adopted as a member of the community and given all kinds of treatment that were the exclusive preserve of the indigenes of the area.
He told the people that upon the death of Babatunde, investigation was launched with members of the Nigeria police force and immigration, and based on the report from the police, court affidavits and others, the community took up the burial of the stranger.
He said the Babtundes life, death and burial opened a new vista of history for the community, noting that: We are showing the world that what binds us together as humans is more than blood but love.
READ ALSO: Opinion: SSS vs Apostle Suleiman: Let the truth be told
It doesnt matter the circumstance behind his departure and arrival on our shore. The only thing that matters is how well we received and accommodated him in Christ.
He called on the international community to take cue from what the community people did, noting that Nigerians that are living in some other countries are being maltreated and made to suffer hardship for being not nationals of those countries.
Specifically, he mentioned South Africa, Libya, Italy, Liberia and Germany and other countries of the world, urging them to borrow a leaf from the incidence which had taken place in the Nigerian community.
Our brothers and sisters are languishing in Libya, Italy, Liberia, Germany, and other countries in the world. These people are only trying to look for greener pastures.
They are being subjected to series of inhuman treatment. This is not fair. We hope these countries can borrow a leaf from what has happened today and do what is right, Chukwuedo added.
Source: Legit.ng
A suspected Boko Haram bomber has reportedly attacked a group of Muslims having their early morning prayers at a mosque opposite the University of Maiduguri.
A scene of a Boko Haram attack in the north-eastern part of Nigeria
The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday, January 31 just days after an earlier incident happened inside the university that ended the life of a professor of veterinary medicine, Professor Aliyu Mani, and others.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: 3 feared dead as female bombers attack Maiduguri (photos)
Daily Trust reports that the male suic*de bomber entered the mosque located in Dalori quarters opposite the university and detonated the improvised explosive device while the congregation observed their prayers.
The report said an unspecified number of people were killed in the attack which was confirmed by the spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sani Datti.
Datti said: "There was a reported case of explosions at Dalori quarters, Maiduguri, Borno State. Our Search and Rescue officers are already on their way to the scene, detail later."
READ ALSO: Final year student killed by Boko Haram in Maiduguri
Sahara Reporters also reported that the incident resulted in the instant death of three worshipers.
Source: Legit.ng
Authorities struggle to evict illegal settlers
The residents of Sonbarsha, Gangapur, Kudarbatewa and Deupurawa in Banke have constructed houses by encroaching the land of local community forests.
- A tribal riot started in Igando, Lagos, after a Hausa man allegedly killed a Yoruba driver
- The duo reportedly fought over N30 ($0.06, black market rate) which led to the death of the driver
- Friends of the deceased took to the street and attacked every Hausa man they could find
Riot started on Monday, January 30, on Mojeed street, Igando Lagos, when a 40-year-old Hausa trader, Ibrahim Adamu, allegedly killed a bus driver, Lekan Adeleke.
Residents and family of the deceased reportedly blocked the street, made bon fire and chased Hausa traders out of the area.
According to a report by ThePunch, trouble started when the deceased had bought noodles worth N230 from the suspects son on Sunday, January 29, around 10.30pm.
Hausa trader allegedly kills Yoruba driver over N30 in Lagos
He was reported to have paid N200 and promised to pay the balance of N30 the following day, which did not go down well with the suspects son.
Hausa trader allegedly kills Yoruba driver over N30 in Lagos
READ ALSO: Iraq responds Trump, bans US citizens from their country
The son allegedly reported to his father, Adamu, who became angry and attacked the 30-year-old Adeleke with a spiked plank.
The victim reportedly slumped and hit his head against the concrete edge of a gutter in the area.
Hausa trader allegedly kills Yoruba driver over N30 in Lagos
A friend of the victim, Kehinde Akinduro, said Adamu had a kiosk where he sold confectioneries, while the son sold noodles beside the kiosk.
He explained that Adeleke had actually paid the balance of N30 to the suspects son.
He said: He was joking with the boy that despite being a customer, he went and reported him to his father. They started abusing each other. At this time, the son was already preparing noodles for me on the instruction of Adeleke.
The next thing I saw was that Adamu, who was eavesdropping, brought out a spiked plank and hit Adeleke with it. I cautioned him, but he faced me and hit me in the leg. I sustained some injuries.
When Adeleke saw that he could no longer handle the situation, he took to his heels. But the man followed him and hit him in the head as he tried to jump the gutter. He fell and hit his head against the edge of the gutter.
When Adamu saw that he had become unconscious, he took him into his kiosk and poured water on his head. He was doing this when a large number of residents stormed the place. When he sighted them, he abandoned the man and took to his heels.
He said the suspect, speaking in Hausa, asked his son to flee in another direction.
The boy escaped, but we were able to get Adamu. We called the police and handed him over to them.
The mob was said to have destroyed Adamus kiosk and set it on fire after Adeleke died around 12am on Monday.
The police public relations officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said investigations were ongoing.
She said: It was a case of murder. One Adamu used a plank to hit a bus driver, Adeleke, in the head which led to his death. The corpse was deposited in the Mainland General Hospital morgue for autopsy."
READ ALSO: Oil mogul donates items to less privileged in Abuja and environs
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has explained how it intercepted and seized a massive weapons haul of 661 brand new pump-action rifles in Lagos state.
In a press statement delivered by the Comptroller-General of NCS Hameed Ali at a briefing in Lagos on Monday, January 30, the outfit said the guns were intercepted on Sunday, January 22.
The statement read: "On Sunday 22nd January 2017, the Roving Team of the NCS Federal Operations Unit while on information patrol intercepted a Mack truck with registration number BDG 265 XG conveying a 1x40ft Container with Number: PONU/825914/3along Mile 2 Apapa road."
Source: Legit.ng
Apostle Suleman of the Omega Fire Ministries has caused a stir in the country with the numerous charges and preaching he has been dishing out to Christians.
File photo of Apostle Suleman of the Omega Fire Ministries.
Although the situation of things in the country is a little awkward, many share the belief that the man of God should have been a little diplomatic with his opinions considering the fact that the issue on ground is a sensitive one.
The Fulani herdsmen in recent times have threatened the peace and unity of the nation with their incessant terrorism. With the series of attacks launched on the Christians, one would think they are on a mission to expunge those who share their faith.
However, thousands of Nigerians have faulted Apostle Suleman for asking Christians to kill Fulani herdsmen since there is a government in power. On the other hand, it seems like the only alternative and could be guided with a section of the law that advocates self defense.
About a week ago, DSS operatives tried arresting the man of God in Ado Ekiti but the operation was foiled. Governor Fayose was quoted to have said the federal officials fled when they saw his car and his people. However, he made a point by saying the DSS should invite him properly rather than snooping around in the night.
On this note, Apostle Suleman was invited by DSS operatives for questioning even though many shared the opinion that he should not have granted the request as there were speculations that he would be arrested.
Find below the things that happened before and during the interrogation:
1. Acceptance
Apostle Suleman's decision to be taken in for interrogation was a huge surprise. The cleric said the DSS was right to have called him for questioning.
READ ALSO: Top companies you should not patronise if you do not like Donald Trump
2. The interrogation was done at night
The man of God seemed to be brave after all; he must have known the implication of going for the interrogation yet, he went. It was like walking into the lion's den but he did not let this bother him. Apostle Suleman got to the office of the DSS around 7pm.
3. He went alone
One would expect that the man of God would go to the DSS office with some people in order to play safe. He chose to go alone without his lawyers.
4. The interrogation was delayed
The media aide of the cleric revealed that the interrogation did not start until some minutes past 9pm.
This means that Apostle Suleiman had to wait for hours before he was attended to despite the federal officials clamoring to take him for questioning.
This decision also left doubts in the mind of people as they keep wondering why the interrogation had to be done late in the night in a free and fair system.
READ ALSO: Top companies you should not patronise if you do not like Donald Trump
5. It was a friendly chat
The much anticipated interrogation turned out to be a friendly chat after all. The series of questions asked were presumed to be mild in order not to agitate any political or religious crisis in the nation. The interrogation lasted for a little over an hour at the long run.
6. Apostle Suleman was released at 11pm
After the friendly chat ended, the cleric was released and made to go home. He left the office of the DSS at about 11pm.
Source: Legit.ng
- An eight-year old girl has been reportedly killed in President Trumps first military order
- She is said to be the daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American al-Qaeda leader killed in a US strike ordered by President Obama five years ago
- The US military however said an American commando was killed in retaliation while three others were injured
Nora, the eight-year-old daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki was among 30 civilians, 10 women and children reportedly killed in President Trumps first military order
Nora, an eight-year-old girl was among 30 civilians, 10 women and children reportedly killed in President Trumps first military order.
READ ALSO: Hurricane Trump: President fires US Attorney General for not Defending his Immigration Orders
The late girl was the daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American al-Qaeda leader killed in a US strike ordered by President Obama five years ago, Daily Mail Reports.
President Trump gave his first military order which resulted in the death of many children and women including Nora, the eight-year-old daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki
Nora, who is also known as Nawar al-Awlaki, was killed along many other non-combat people in the presidents first clandestine operation in Yemen.
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According to Nora's grandfather Nasser al-Awlaki, who was also Yemen's former agriculture minister, the girl died after two hours of being shot in the neck.
He said: My granddaughter was staying for a while with her mother, so when the attack came, they were sitting in the house, and a bullet struck her in the neck at 2:30 past midnight. Other children in the same house were killed.
Ruins of a building destroyed by a US drone air strike that targeted suspected al Qaeda militants
Going further, he said: They (referring to the SEALs) entered another house and killed everybody in it, including all the women. They burned the house. There is an assumption there was a woman from Saudi Arabia who was with al Qaeda. All we know is that she was a children's teacher.'
Why kill children? This is the new [US] administration - its very sad, a big crime, Nasser Al-Awlaki said. [Nora] was hit with a bullet in her neck and suffered for two hours.
However, the US military said that 14 al-Qaeda fighters had been killed in the raid, while two others were killed in a drone strike on central Yemen later in the day.
According to the statement by the US military, an American commando was killed in retaliation while three others were injured.
Anwar al-Awlaki, an American al Qaeda leader was killed in a US air strike ordered by President Obama in 2011
Part of the statement read: "The operation began at dawn when a drone bombed the home of Abdulraoof al-Dhahab and then helicopters flew up and unloaded paratroopers at his house and killed everyone inside," said one anonymous resident, in an account of the incident corroborated by Yemeni security staff.
"Next, the gunmen opened fire at the U.S. soldiers who left the area, and the helicopters bombed the gunmen and a number of homes and led to a large number of casualties."
Meanwhile, Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates Monday night for Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates Monday night for "refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States".
Dana Boente, US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was sworn in at 9 p.m. ET.
Source: Legit.ng
Both sides agree to complete projects in time-bound manner
The second meeting of the Nepal-India Oversight Mechanism that concluded on Monday has agreed to expedite and implement India-funded projects in Nepal in a time-bound manner.
Commercial banks found exceeding lending limit
More than 50 percent of the commercial banks operating in the country are found to have breached the regulatory threshold of the credit to core capital-cum-deposit (CCD) ratio.
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in the United Kingdom on a 10-day vacation which started on Monday, January 23 and will end on Monday, February 6.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was given the responsibility to act as president in the absence of Buhari.
Since Buharis absence, there have been rumours concerning the health of the president. There was a even a rumour that the president was dead but the presidency has since debunked it and presented photo evidence that Buhari is hale and hearty.
READ ALSO: President Buhari proceeds on 10-day vacation
This is not the first time Osinbajo will be playing the role of president since Buhari took over power on May 29, 2015. Buhari has gone on vacation abroad three times and all those times, Osinbajo has acted on his behalf.
The first time was in February 2016 when Buhari took five days leave. The second was June, 2016 when Buhari traveled to London to attend to an ear infection.
Below are some of the activities Osinbajo has carried out as acting president.
1. Inauguration of task force on rice and wheat production
In June 2016, while Buhari was away, Osinbajo inaugurated a task force on rice and wheat production, while stating that feeding the nations population was the focus of Buharis administration.
2. Meeting with governors of Niger Delta states and the Service Chiefs over militant attacks
Osinbajo meets South South govs, service chiefs, others over bombing threats
Acting as president in June 2016, Osinbajo held an emergency security meeting at the State House in Abuja. In attendance were all governors of oil producing states, all the four Service Chiefs, minister of defence, Dan Ali; minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachichuwu; the special adviser on Amnesty Programme, Gen. Boroh and others.
3. Chaired the second Presidential Business Forum
Speaking at the meeting on Monday, January 23, Osinbajo stressed the need for full public/private partnership in the salvation of Nigerias ailing economy.
4. Chairing the meetings of the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
Osinbajo chairs FEC meeting
Whenever Buhari is away, Osinbajo as acting president presides over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja. However, the FEC meeting he chaired on Wednesday, January 25, was trailed by controversy. Repot surfaced that he was under pressure from Nigerian governors to resign as vice president amid rumours trailing Buharis health. This resignation pressure rumour was quickly debunked by Buhari's political adviser, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.
5. Launched the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME Clinic) in Abuja
The media launch of the federal governments Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Clinic, (MSME Clinic) in Abuja held on Tuesday, January 24. Osinbajo, who launched the project said it would serve as a one stop shop to address challenges faced by small business owners.
READ ALSO: Yemi Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting
6. Briefed on the 2017 Appropriation bill
On Monday, January 30, Osinbajo met with the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who briefed him on the progress made so far by the Senate in the consideration of the 2017 Appropriation bill at the National Assembly. The meeting was said to have been attended by a governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
Source: Legit.ng
- The newly appointed majority leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan has made a revelation
- Lawan said senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are now working for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari
- He said the Senate was now united to make sure the government succeeds
Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan has said senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are now working for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Senator Lawan, PDP senators and other opposition parties as well as lawmakers on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) are unanimous in their support for the success of President Buharis administration.
He made the declaration after he met with the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, January 30, to brief him on the progress made so far by the Senate in the consideration of the 2017 Appropriation bill by the National Assembly.
READ ALSO: I dont have a problem if mega party pushes Nigerias economy forward - Saraki
Lawan told State House correspondents: Im here to meet the Acting President to brief him on what the Senate is doing on the Appropriation Bill 2017.
You know we have suspended plenary for three weeks. The idea is to have ample time to focus on the appropriation bill. The committees will start to work from this week meeting the MDAs on the budget defence that they need to do.
Secondly, you know that the Acting President is an APC Acting President of this our administration.
As a new Senate Leader, it is also important that I come here to this office to tell the Acting President and our administration that the APC caucus in the Senate is now a united caucus.
We are ready as a caucus to support our administration; we are also ready as a Senate, that is both the APC and the minority parties, to work for the betterment of Nigerians. Our colleagues in the opposition have always been supportive and being there for the Senate to function.
READ ALSO: You must go! Senators tell Babachir Lawal
Meanwhile, Senate president, Bukola Saraki has described a report credited to a group known as Citizen Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) that the National Assembly leadership collected rent for official accommodation as false.
Source: Legit.ng
Editor's note: Olalekan Waheed Adigun, the Legit.ng partner blogger, in this piece, explains why Nigerians must stop politicians using the pulpits to settle personal scores.
Mr. Adigun could be reached via http://olalekanadigun.com/
More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest bloggers.
One of the greatest creations or inventions of man that has endured over the centuries is the institution of religion. This modest human invention (an attempt to understand God) is arguably also posing a great threat to mans existence on earth.
Fulani herdsmen and people crying over loss of their property
I say this because looking at the thirty years war; the crusades, the world wars, the holocaust, the cold war, the nuclear race and the likes all have their religious undertones. All these show that religion, perhaps, has killed more people than poverty, disease and hunger combined.
READ ALSO: OPINION: Jammehs ouster, a wake-up call to African sit-tight leaders
All these happened, not because religion itself has a problem, but because politicians appear to have taken over the pulpits posing as men of God preaching messages of hate, spreading of fear and promoting violence.
On New Year eve, I received a call from a friend I met on Facebook. She told me of how correct my analytic predictions on political issues will be in the New Year if I read the prophesies from the men acting under the inspiration of God. She told me all the newspapers contain the powerful prophesies and that they are there for the taking. I politely told her I will do that immediately she dropped the call.
After she dropped the call, I went to the newspaper stand close to my place and lo, I wasnt disappointed. Many of the predictions were so obvious that one doesnt need to be acting under the inspiration of God to come up with.
How does one explain a prophesy like A politician will flag off his presidential campaign for 2019 election or New political parties will be registered by INEC? We all know that only politicians contest elections so why does one need to hear from God to come up with something like politician will flag off his presidential campaign?
In 1964, during the turbulent era in the Western Region with Chief Obafemi Awolowo undergoing a trial for treasonable felony, rumour became rife that attempt had been concluded to murder the politician in prison. All Awos rivals then controlled all government in the federation hence there was little the politician could do in the event of any real attempt on his life.
One thing was sure, had the Ikenne-born politician died at the time in prison, there was no way his adversaries in power would have been able to explain the situation to his restless supporters. The unrest, especially in the Western Region, would have become more complicated.
Noticing this scenario, one Prophet B.A Otubogunwa, prophesized (in 1964) that: Towards the end of the year the death of a prisoner will cause unrest and rioting in Nigeria. Did the prophesy come to pass? I say YES. A (political) prisoner, Chief Sunbo Jibowu, died at the time, but there were no unrest and rioting in any part of Nigeria as a result of that!
Prophet Otubogunwa again, when confronted with the development that Chief Jibowu died and there was no unrest, he insisted that an important political prisoner was going to die and will led to unrest and rioting in the country.
Obviously, he was referring to Awo since Chief Awolowo was the only important political prisoner at the time. People like Otubogunwa cannot claim they heard from God since God cannot be the author of confusion and He cannot be mocked!
While some prophesies are very prophetic in the real sense of the word, this writer insists, many prophesies are nothing but the political voices only using the pulpits to spread their messages.
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Only recently, one Apostle Suleman added a feather to the cap. He has a resume of failed prophesies, too numerous to count. His most recent display was his message to his Church members that whoever sees a Fulani herdsman they should Kill him. He added that they should also cut his head. Clearly, this is a political message from the pulpit.
Before I go on, let me make this clear, I do not, and cannot support the nefarious acts of the so-called Fulani herdsmen. They are lawless and should be treated as such. But what I find disgusting is that, an already politicized issue like this one needs to be taken cautiously by the Clergy.
Does praying for your enemy to die improve your own living conditions? Does an eye for an eye not make everyone blind? Will he stand for some of his members or listeners who kill or guillotine an innocent Fulani herdsman when the member is being tried for murder?
If everyone goes about killing herdsmen as the controversial Apostle said, is that not an easy road to Kigali? If, God forbid, war breaks out in Nigeria today as a result of his careless utterances, will he remain in his Auchi church to sort himself out of will migrate to one of the 42 countries he claims to have churches? What then becomes of his members, whom he had led into bloodletting? Is it not better to apply wisdom than being sorry?
While we must blame the politicians profiting from Fulani herdsmen attacks and get them punished for their wrongdoings, we must also be watchful of politicians behind the pulpits. The former are seen enemies and can be dealt with using a simple process.
READ ALSO: Why pro-Biafrans should stop seeking self-determination
The latter are more dangerous and can take multiple dimensions at the same time. As they say, two wrongs do not make a right. While we must also deal severely with the criminals attacking our farms in the name of herdsmen, we mustnt leave those politicians using the pulpits to settle personal scores. They are politicians who are simply messing up the pulpits!
Olalekan Waheed Adigun is a political analyst and independent political strategist for wide range of individuals, organisations and campaigns. He is based in Lagos, Nigeria. His write-ups can be viewed on his website http://olalekanadigun.com/ Tel: +2348136502040, +2347081901080
Email: olalekan@olalekanadigun.com, adgorwell@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter @adgorwell.
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily represent the editorial policy of Legit.ng.
Legit.ng welcomes writers, bloggers, photographers and all sorts of noise makers to become a part of our Bloggers network. If you are a seasoned writer or a complete newbie apply and become Nigerias next star blogger.
Send us some info about your career, interests and expertise and why youd like to contribute to the Blogger Network at blogger@corp.legit.ng Also, please send us the link to your blog and three examples of your work.
More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest bloggers.
Source: Legit.ng
- Anti-Trump protesters have been blasted for their hypocrisy by an American journalist
- The journalist claimed that nobody protested when Boko Haram killed thousands of people in Nigeria
- He also claimed that over a quarter of a million people died in Syria during Obama's time in office but nobody did anything about it
President Trump has caused a lot of protest following his executive order which ban some people from 7 Muslim countries from entering America
Justen Charters, a deputy editor and commentator for Independent Journal Review, has blasted those who are demonstrating across the US over the recent executive order placing a temporary ban on seven Muslim-dominated countries by President Trump.
READ ALSO: Anger as Trumps first military action kills eight-year-old Anwar al-Awlakis daughter, 30 others
According to the journalist, many people protesting the ban are hypocrites.
Thousands of students protesting against President Donald Trump
He said none of those protesting came out to protest against the rampage of Boko Haram in Nigeria and other atrocities over the world.
When Boko Haram came through Nigeria like a battering ram and took over village after village, beheading innocents and burning and pillaging, where were you? Were you calling Congress and telling them we can't stand for this? Were you out in the streets in the thousands? I think not, he said
His full statement as posted on his Facebook page read:
"To all the anti-Trump protesters who are trying to take the moral high ground,
"President Obama was in office when genocide was happening in Syria. Assad crossed the 'red line' on multiple occasions, and Obama continued to talk tough but did nothing.
"Over a quarter of a million people died in Syria during Obama's time in office. He didn't go after Assad. I didn't see a massive crowd of you at the White House protesting. Women, children, dying. Sarin gas attacks, war crimes. Where were you? Where were your signs?
"When James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Adam Kassig and Kayla Mueller were all murdered by ISIS, where were your candlelight vigils? Where were the huge crowds for the innocents who were killed? I must have missed them.
"When Boko Haram came through Nigeria like a battering ram and took over village after village, beheading innocents and burning and pillaging, where were you? Were you calling Congress and telling them we can't stand for this? Were you out in the streets in the thousands? I think not.
"You care about Sudan? Genocide has been taking place on and off again in Sudan since 2003. Did you march against the murders? Did you scream at the top of your lungs for humanity and for Bush or Obama to do something after an estimated 300,000 died? No.
"And Yemen, since when did you care about Yemen, children having been starving in mass in Yemen for years. Their emaciated bodies, their sunken eyes. I don't recall you marching against those injustices either.
"Were you out in force when ISIS ran through Iraq and was killing people in the thousands? Beheading families, burning people alive. I don't remember an Anti-ISIS protest at the White House at the time. I don't remember thousands showing up for innocently murdered Iraqis.
"But now you're out at the White House, telling people that you care about these people. Doubtful. You're out there right now because it's become popular. You want to be part of the crowd. Too bad you stayed silent when you could have actually made a difference."
Meanwhile, Nora, an eight-year-old girl was among 30 civilians, 10 women and children reportedly killed in President Trumps first military order.
The late girl was the daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American al-Qaeda leader killed in a US strike ordered by President Obama five years ago
Source: Legit.ng
The federal government has confirmed the recovery of a treasure trove of materials from the decimated Boko Haram, further calling on the media and the general public to be vigilant.
Part of the weapons discovered from the Boko Haram sect
According to the government, the alleged decimated group has shifted its strategy towards dominating the media space, propagating a perverted version of Shariah law and giving the impression that it is still holding territory.
The governments warning is contained in a statement by the minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
The statement made available to Legit.ng in the afternoon of Tuesday, January 31, 2017 appealed to the general public and the media to ensure that they do not unwittingly provide the terrorists with the oxygen of publicity that they desperately need.
READ ALSO: Army confirms killing of troops by Boko Haram insurgents
Mohammed said the propaganda strategy was discovered from the materials left behind by Boko Haram terrorists after they were routed from their last stronghold in Sambisa.
The materials include documents, phones and computers that contained detailed information on the Boko Haram media and propaganda strategy.
An analysis of the materials reveal Boko Haram's training in videography as well as how they sought and received training from other terrorists groups on video recording and manipulation.
The documents, written in Arabic, also outlined the media strategy that Boko Haram Commanders should employ and how the surviving members should ensure the propagation of the Boko Haram doctrine using the Social Media, Alhaji Mohammed said.
He added that the recovered materials confirmed the announcement of a new media wing called Wadi Baya (Clear Speech) by the Boko Haram in an audio released by the group on January 17 2017, following its routing from Sambisa.
READ ALSO: Troops arrest Boko Haram terrorists, recover cattle
As Boko Haram refocuses its resources to media war and propaganda against the Nigerian people and state, we must all unite against terrorism by denying Boko Haram our platforms to propagate its ideology.
Both the media and the citizens have important roles to play in complementing our Armed Forces, which are combining land and air resources to completely clear the vestiges of Boko Haram, he said.
Source: Legit.ng
DFO seizes pine logs, documents
An inspection team to probe the illegal logging of pinewood at Malika Community Forest in Pipalkande,
Premium Times is reporting that at least 10 people have been killed and several houses burnt in a fresh violence that erupted on Tuesday, January 31, in Taraba state.
According to the police six people died in the clashes between the Fulani and Mummuye ethnic groups in Lau local government area of the state.
Locals say Tuesdays violence started around 2 a.m. when a village, named Bonja, and Mayo-Kunga belonging to Fulani ethnic group, was attacked by suspected Mummuye youth.
The attack on the Mayo-Kunga village led to reprisals attacks on neighbouring communities.
David Misal, the police Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Taraba state, said only six people were killed and 80 houses were torched in the conflict.
READ ALSO: Southern Kaduna killings: Buhari's political opponents behind crisis - NNCP
He said: Since the Friday attack between the Fulani herdsmen and Mummuye farmers in Lushi, there have been reprisal attacks.
For now six persons were confirmed killed on both sides while several others have been arrested.
The latest killings and destruction of properties, including farmlands and domestic animals, is coming barely a week after the state governor, Darius Ishaku, was quoted in the media as urging Christians across the country to rise up and defend themselves against terrorists before they are annihilated.
The governor made the call in Jalingo during a thanksgiving service organised by the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) to celebrate new year and to pray for victims of Southern Kaduna massacre and other victims of terrorism across the country said.
Source: Legit.ng
- The federal government has told ASUP that lecturers on strike will not be paid
- The response came after the polytechnic lecturers embarked on industrial action
- The 5-day warning strike is still on
Call off strike or no salary - FG tells polytechnic lecturers
On Tuesday, January 31, the federal government while speaking through a representative in Abuja indicated that it would implement the No work, No pay rule on polytechnic lecturers currently on strike.
Chris Ngige who is the minister of labour and employment, appealed with the lecturers involved in the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) industrial action, to suspend their 5-day warning strike.
The lecturers had embarked on the warning strike on Monday to protest non-payment of salaries among other issues.
READ ALSO: University of Ibadan postgraduate school fees
According to NAN, Ngige said: I wish to remind the Trade Unions that there is nothing like a Warning Strike in our National Industrial Relations System (NIRS)."
The minister said the strike was subject to all the rules governing strike in the world of work. Noting that Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, CAP. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN, 2004, would be applied regarding the law of No Work No Pay.
He assured listeners that the FG was ready and willing to fully dialogue with the members of the union.
The union had declared its intention to embark on a 5-day warning strike, effective from January 31, 2017.
Government will open an unhindered channel of communication with all stakeholders and shall maintain this.
Moreover, the Federal Ministry of Education has been discussing issues with ASUP on the concerns raised.
Therefore, it is important for Trade Unions to embrace social dialogue in the pursuit and attainment of the economic and social interests of their members anchored on equity, natural justice and agreed procedures," he concluded.
READ ALSO: University of Ibadan admission requirement in 2017
The minister, therefore, appealed to the trade unions to embrace dialogue as the Federal Government is fully committed to peaceful resolution of all the issues at stake.
Meanwhile, only recently, President Muhammadu Buhari had to appeal to the leadership of Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) to call off their strike, and to understand that the nation is in recession, hence the inability of his government to meet their demands.
Source: Legit.ng
Elderly dies in elephant attack
An elderly man was killed after being attacked by a wild elephant at Sonbarsa VDC in Parsa district on Monday night.
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While an independent and capable judiciary can be a great support to liberal democracy, courts without these characteristics may pose a serious threat, particularly in countries with fragile democracies and ineffective civil society groups, like Honduras.
In 2009, the left-leaning president, Manuel Zelaya, apparently tried to circumvent these protections by attempting to initiate a referendum on whether the Constitution should be rewritten. The military deposed Mr. Zelaya in a coup and forced him onto a plane to Costa Rica. Congress supported Mr. Zelayas removal and appointed a successor, citing the term limit law. And despite overwhelming condemnation of the coup from the international community, the Supreme Court blessed the actions of the military.
Not only does the courts recent decision contradict Congresss reasoning in the aftermath of Mr. Zelayas removal, it is also illogical. Constitutional judges around the world recognize that a proposed amendment may be unconstitutional if it clashes with the basic values of the original text. But the Honduran courts judgment gutted a portion of the 1982 Constitution.
The decisions questionable reasoning also appears to be the result of a strategy on the part of the National Party, which opposed Mr. Zelaya. After taking control of the executive and legislative chambers, the party abruptly dismissed four Supreme Court justices in 2012 and replaced them with judges who would back their agenda.
The decision sends a message that politicians can take advantage of the judiciarys relatively low profile by getting the courts to do dirty work that would otherwise invite scrutiny. This is exactly what National Party leaders did. While both the actions of Mr. Zelaya and those who removed him provoked condemnation from the international community, the courts recent decision abolishing presidential term limits has largely slipped under the radar, domestically and internationally.
Tech-savvy entrepreneurs in France are offering apps to help visitors get the most out of Paris and many other cities.
Started by Benjamin and Nina Forlani, Insidr is a digital concierge that provides visitors with an LG 4G smartphone (29 euros for a weekend, 45 for a week or 6 a day for longer stays). It has international and local calling and texting capabilities, and acts as a Wi-Fi hot spot for a travelers devices. It features curated Google Maps for areas around the Louvre and the Champs Elysees. But perhaps the most valuable feature is the 50 or more Angel Insidrs listed as contacts in the WhatsApp application. These Parisians will offer tips whenever they are messaged be it what bars are open in the Marais on a Sunday or where to get dim sum in Belleville.
The phone is also preloaded with apps like the Oanda currency converter, Google Translate, Citymapper and the Paris tour start-ups MeeTrip and Tod (Trip on Demand). Founded by Ralph Guyot-Jeannin, MeeTrip allows visitors to connect with one of 10,000 guides in any of 1,500 cities worldwide; the guide arrives within 30 minutes when booked via the app on Google Play and iTunes. Tod provides a similar service, but offers a wider range of activities, like bike rides. It is available only in France.
Pretty Streets, an app created by Fabrice Gibelin and Benoit Germond, directs users to the most visually appealing blocks based on geotagged, user-generated photos taken in more than 40 cities.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. One by one, a judge detailed the 22 charges against an Alaskan man accused of killing five people and wounding six others in a Florida airport shooting spree. Then the man, Esteban Santiago, pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Santiago, 26, stood on Monday in chains wearing a red max custody inmate jumpsuit as a United States magistrate judge, Barry Seltzer, took the unusual step of reading the entire 17-page indictment aloud in court with repeated emphasis on the victims names. After each count, Mr. Santiago said he understood, and when asked if he realized he could receive the death penalty if convicted, he replied, Yes, I do.
Mr. Santiago, an Iraq war veteran who lived in Anchorage, was taken into custody shortly after investigators said he opened fire in a baggage claim area on Jan. 6 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
He is being held without bail on charges of causing death or bodily harm at an international airport, causing death during a crime of violence and using a firearm during a crime of violence. His court-appointed lawyers declined to comment after the hearing.
The phone calls flew back and forth among the nations top chief executives over the weekend, all asking the same questions: What are you going to say publicly about Trumps executive order? And what can we say about it without becoming his next punching bag?
At the annual Alfalfa Club dinner in Washington a private affair that many prominent executives attended Saturday night one person later described being buttonholed by a rival C.E.O. who asked how he could condemn President Trumps order without poking the bear. Another wondered aloud whether an invitation to meet with Mr. Trump at the White House would be withdrawn if he spoke out. And yet another worried about the prospect of a boycott of their companies products depending on the acerbity of their words.
Welcome to the new reality for corporate America.
Last fall, John Chipman, the director-general and chief executive of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, advanced the notion that in our globalized world, every company needs a foreign policy. Now, our largest companies also have to think about having a domestic policy and possibly a moral policy, too.
Deutsche Bank agreed on Monday to pay a $425 million fine to New York States main financial regulator to settle charges that it helped Russian investors launder as much as $10 billion through its branches in Moscow, London and New York.
The punishment represents the latest regulatory black eye for Deutsche Bank, Germanys largest. In the last decade, it has been implicated in several financial scandals, including pushing toxic mortgages on investors and manipulating Londons main lending rate for its own financial gain.
Deutsche Bank also agreed to pay 163 million pounds, or about $204 million, in civil penalties in a separate settlement with the Financial Conduct Authority of Britain in the matter, the bank and the regulator said on Tuesday.
In its investigation, the New York State Department of Financial Services found that between 2011 and 2015, a group of Deutsche Bank executives based mainly in Moscow and London helped wealthy Russians send money overseas by arranging stock trades that had no economic purpose other than disguising what the client was doing.
Govt briefs diplomatic community
Government on Tuesday briefed Nepal-based diplomatic community on the current affairs of the country.
In addition, the order includes a broad exemption for emergencies and other circumstances.
Despite the obstacles, there are a number of different tactics that Republicans can use to try to dismantle Dodd-Frank.
Congressional Review Act
Dodd-Frank opponents owe Newt Gingrich a debt of gratitude.
The Congressional Review Act, passed some 20 years ago as part of his Contract With America, provides lawmakers at least 60 days to introduce legislation disapproving major new regulations. The lawmakers can ultimately repeal the regulations with support from just a majority of lawmakers and the president. The Congressional Research Service has determined that rules sent to Congress on or after June 13 of last year are vulnerable to repeal.
Until now, the Congressional Review Act was not much of a weapon. It has led to a repeal measure being signed into law only once, in 2001, when Republicans and President George W. Bush wiped out workplace safety regulations adopted near the end of President Bill Clintons administration.
But Republicans have identified dozens of potential rules to override, some of which arose from Dodd-Frank, according to congressional documents reviewed by The New York Times.
Republicans can target a derivatives rule adopted last year by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule for prepaid debit cards and a rule approved by banking regulators that imposed capital requirements for banks that trade derivatives. The threat also applies to any unfinished rules that the consumer bureau completes, including its looming crackdown on payday lending.
The S.E.C. oil-payment rule is the first of five Obama administration rules scheduled to be challenged this week. The House rules committee advanced the legislation to repeal that rule on Monday over the objections of the panels Democrats, who argued that Republicans were misusing the Congressional Review Act to undermine Dodd-Frank.
The oil-disclosure policy has already had a tortured history. The S.E.C. completed the rule in 2012, with the support of antipoverty groups like Oxfam and the One Campaign, but the American Petroleum Institute, the trade group representing Exxon Mobil and other oil companies, sued the agency and won.
In Park Slope, however, gentrification turns out to have brought not only craft beers, man buns and deluxe baby buggies, but also a cohort of sophisticated finance professionals who still join the co-op for its cheap food.
One of them, Jonathan Hessney, went to a recent general meeting armed with his own analysis of the pension investments. He showed that the investments had zigzagged up and down since the crash of 2008 but that in the end, the fund would have been better off just holding cash.
Mr. Hessney also showed that the co-op had not put in the actuarys recommended 1 percent of sales every year, presumably because the trustees thought aggressive investments would make the whole plan cheaper. Many people still do.
Members at the meeting did not seem to know whom to believe, Mr. Hessney or Mr. Holtz, who is widely revered at Park Slope for devising its free-work-for-cheap-food business model.
Mr. Holtz said he predicted that his confidence in the old investment strategy would be borne out on Tuesday, when he plans to reveal the funds average annual return from 1993 to the present, a period that includes the biggest bull market in American history.
Its going to be over 9 percent, he said.
As the governor of a state with a large immigrant population, and as the top-ranking Democrat in the Republican presidents home state, Mr. Cuomo has the prerequisites to be an outsize Trump opponent. And through his statements and gestures, it is clear that Mr. Cuomo intends to try to capitalize on the torrent of anti-Trump fervor and to try to be at the forefront of Trump opposition in New York.
Yet it was still unclear how much influence the governor, or anyone else in Albany, could have over the immigration order.
Were in uncharted territory, said Alphonso David, the governors counsel. But we do have the responsibility to protect the rights of all New Yorkers.
Immigration is largely a federal issue, but like many state officials opposed to the order, Mr. David was evaluating where the states power and state law could be used to thwart Mr. Trumps plans. In practical terms, the state was offering to help connect detainees and their families with nonprofit and pro bono legal aid, but not to file cases for people.
While the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has jurisdiction over the airport, its police are not permitted to enter the Customs and Border Protection area without the invitation of federal authorities. And no such invitation has been forthcoming, said Ron Marsico, an authority spokesman. The Port Authority Police Department had no role in detentions, he said.
ALBANY Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York spent his weekend surfing the rapids of the protests and outrage lashing the country over President Trumps executive order on refugees. The mayor appeared on CNN. He spoke at a protest march in Battery Park City. He vowed, over and over, to safeguard immigrants.
For the first hour or so of his budget testimony in Albany on Monday, however, it seemed that the issue that had most rattled his constituents was a looming 5-cent fee on plastic bags in New York City, which state legislators have complained is unnecessarily punitive, especially for low-income residents.
There were visual aids, employed to score points on both sides a loaf of Wonder Bread and a dozen eggs, held aloft to demonstrate the burden of grocery costs, and a gray reusable tote bag, displayed as a simple alternative to plastic and even some alliterative jargon: petroleum-based product, Mr. de Blasios term for the bags.
I fundamentally disagree that this is an issue that isnt urgent to address in terms of climate change, Mr. de Blasio told Senator Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat who caucuses with Senate Republicans and had brought the groceries.
Harvey Fishbein stood before the jury in a Manhattan courtroom, repeating the words he had told them more than three months ago, when he addressed them for the first time.
Pedro Hernandez is an odd, limited and vulnerable man, Mr. Fishbein, the lawyer leading Mr. Hernandezs defense, said Monday, echoing his opening statements in October. Pedro Hernandez is an innocent man.
Mr. Hernandez is on trial in the kidnapping and death of Etan Patz, the 6-year-old boy who disappeared in 1979 as he walked to his school bus stop in SoHo alone for the first time. The prosecutions case is centered largely on admissions Mr. Hernandez made to investigators around the time of his arrest in 2012 and on other incriminating statements he has made over the years.
But as closing arguments began in the trial in State Supreme Court, Mr. Fishbein sought to discredit his own clients words, saying that Mr. Hernandez has limited intelligence and a personality disorder that make it difficult for him to distinguish between fantasy and reality. During his summations, which stretched on for nearly five hours, Mr. Fishbein also raised the possibility that another man, a convicted child molester, could have been the culprit.
Plenty of presidents have had prominent political advisers, and some of those advisers have been suspected of quietly setting policy behind the scenes (recall Karl Rove or, if your memory stretches back far enough, Dick Morris). But weve never witnessed a political aide move as brazenly to consolidate power as Stephen Bannon nor have we seen one do quite so much damage so quickly to his putative bosss popular standing or pretenses of competence.
Mr. Bannon supercharged Breitbart News as a platform for inciting the alt-right, did the same with the Trump campaign and is now repeating the act with the Trump White House itself. That was perhaps to be expected, though the speed with which President Trump has moved to alienate Mexicans (by declaring they would pay for a border wall), Jews (by disregarding their unique experience of the Holocaust) and Muslims (the ban) has been impressive. Mr. Trump never showed much inclination to reach beyond the minority base of voters that delivered his Electoral College victory, and Mr. Bannon, whose fingerprints were on each of those initiatives, is helping make sure he doesnt.
But a new executive order, politicizing the process for national security decisions, suggests Mr. Bannon is positioning himself not merely as a Svengali but as the de facto president.
In that new order, issued on Saturday, Mr. Trump took the unprecedented step of naming Mr. Bannon to the National Security Council, along with the secretaries of state and defense and certain other top officials. President George W. Bushs last chief of staff, Joshua Bolten, was so concerned about separating politics from national security that he barred Mr. Rove, Mr. Bushs political adviser, from N.S.C. meetings. To the annoyance of experienced foreign policy aides, David Axelrod, President Barack Obamas political adviser, sat in on some N.S.C. meetings, but he was not a permanent member of the council.
SEATTLE Technology executives have for days assailed President Trumps executive order suspending immigration from seven mostly Muslim countries, framing their arguments largely in moral terms.
On Monday, two tech companies Amazon and Expedia stepped up their opposition to the order with filings that were part of a lawsuit in federal court against the Trump administration, arguing that the order will hurt their businesses.
The filings represent an escalation of the technology industrys efforts to push back on the order signed by Mr. Trump on Friday night. There was little sign of the outcry over the order diminishing throughout the industry, as employees at Google staged demonstrations in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
Amazon and Expedia made declarations supporting a lawsuit filed against the Trump administration in federal court Monday night in Seattle by Washington States attorney general. The lawsuit, part of a growing wave of legal challenges to the immigration ban across the country, asked the court to declare key parts of the executive order unconstitutional.
It is unknown when Yemenis began arriving here, but it is believed to have been in the late 1880s. Some gained citizenship by fighting in World War I or II, then traveled to cities like Dearborn, Mich., to work in factories or set up shop.
Anees Aljahmi, 38, co-owns a popular Yemeni eatery in Dearborn, Sheeba Restaurant. He is following the path of his father, a restaurateur who came to the United States from Yemen in 1976.
Right now, he said, the community is terrified. They are commiserating in places like hookah cafes and the Yemen American Cultural Center. They are also flocking to his restaurant, picking at dishes like lamb haneeth and seltah, served in a traditional stone bowl.
They came here for a better life and to escape conditions in Yemen, which have never been worse, Mr. Aljahmi said. Now, theyre worried about being able to go over there and visit their families, because if they leave, they dont know if they can get back.
A close friend, he said, is very upset about having to cancel his plane ticket.
And families in Yemen have kids here, and suddenly they cant come, Mr. Aljahmi added. And we cannot send for them. We dont know if well ever see them.
Many Yemeni business owners voted for Mr. Trump, he said. Now, they feel betrayed.
I support my president and my country, he said, but I dont agree with what he did.
Mary Chapman
_____
Country of Origin: Libya.
The first waves of immigrants from Libya came here in the early 1970s, after the rise of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, the 27-year-old junior military officer who took power in a bloodless coup in 1969. Their numbers have grown, largely because of political uncertainty and instability at home, but there is no dominant center for the relatively small diaspora.
LOS ANGELES Soon after Hossein Vayghan arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, he bought a bouquet of roses to hand to his brother, Ali Vayeghan, who was scheduled to arrive from Tehran just after 7 p.m. on Friday, with his green card in hand.
But Mr. Vayeghan, 52, never made it through security. Instead, he was put on a plane to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and then sent back to Iran. Now, thanks to a court order, he is the only foreigner who was refused entry after President Trump issued a travel ban and has since been given permission to return to the United States.
Mr. Vayeghan is one of hundreds of people who whose lives were upended by the executive order this weekend. The ordeal has left him and his family, which includes several American citizens, shaken and deeply worried about what comes next.
The brothers (who spell their names differently) had planned to spend Saturday catching up over leisurely meals. Mr. Vayeghan would have gone on to reunite with his wife, who arrived in the United States a few months ago to visit their son, a United States citizen working as a nurse in Fort Wayne, Ind., whom they had not seen in more than a decade.
President Trump faced intensifying legal challenges on Monday over his decree sharply restricting immigration from the Muslim world, as two Democratic-leaning states signaled that they would attack the policy in court and a Muslim advocacy group filed a lawsuit calling the order an unconstitutional religious test.
The emerging legal actions are an aggressive effort by Democratic officials in the states to undercut Mr. Trumps executive order, amid a chaotic debate in Congress over the propriety of the policy. Many Democrats at the state level have vowed to use every instrument at their disposal to thwart or blunt the impact of Mr. Trumps policies.
In Washington State, Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson, both Democrats, announced on Monday that they would file a lawsuit seeking to gut Mr. Trumps order, calling it a blunt attack on the Muslim faith that would damage businesses and individuals in the state.
Mr. Ferguson said in a news conference that the suit would be broader than any litigation filed elsewhere, and would be aimed at invalidating the presidents unlawful action nationwide. He said the states complaint would be backed by statements from major companies with their headquarters there, including Amazon and Expedia, attesting to the damaging nature of Mr. Trumps action.
Govt set to brief diplomats today
The government is briefing the Kathmandu-based diplomatic community on Tuesday on the latest political situation.
Since President Trump closed the country to people from seven predominantly Muslim countries, immigration agents have wrongly told some travelers arriving legally that they must sign documents forfeiting their right to enter, according to immigration lawyers and migrants.
Some people it is not clear how many holding valid visas signed the forms and were sent away, they say; others refused to sign, were detained and were allowed to enter the United States after hours or days in custody. Lawyers for those migrants asserted that some immigration agents did not explain the documents that travelers were being told to sign and threatened them, without any legal basis, with being barred from the country for years if they did not comply.
The people affected are from countries whose citizens are barred for 90 days from travel to the United States, under an executive order Mr. Trump signed on Friday: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The president said the nation needed tougher screening to prevent infiltration by Islamist terrorists.
Immigrant advocates obtained court orders blocking implementation of parts of that order. But lawyers who flocked to a number of airports to represent migrants said United States Customs and Border Protection agents there repeatedly resorted to coercion and deception to deny entry.
A group of brain performance centers backed by Betsy DeVos, the nominee for education secretary, promotes results that are nothing short of stunning: improvements reported by 91 percent of patients with depression, 90 percent with attention deficit disorder, 90 percent with anxiety.
The treatment offered by Neurocore, a business in which Ms. DeVos and her husband, Dick, are the chief investors, consists of showing movies to patients and interrupting them when the viewers become distracted, in an effort to retrain their brains. With eight centers in Michigan and Florida and plans to expand, Neurocore says it has assessed about 10,000 people for health problems that often require medication.
Is it time for a mind makeover? the company asks in its advertising. All it takes is science.
But a review of Neurocores claims and interviews with medical experts suggest its conclusions are unproven and its methods questionable.
Neurocore has not published its results in peer-reviewed medical literature. Its techniques including mapping brain waves to diagnose problems and using neurofeedback, a form of biofeedback, to treat them are not considered standards of care for the majority of the disorders it treats, including autism. Social workers, not doctors, perform assessments, and low-paid technicians with little training apply the methods to patients, including children with complex problems.
WASHINGTON The powerful and poignant images and stories of refugees and international travelers caught at airports over the weekend by President Trumps immigration order provoked sympathy and outrage around the world.
Now think of those moving personal tales and pictures multiplied exponentially to encompass thousands of young immigrants living in the United States many more culturally American than foreign and being forcibly removed from their homes, schools and jobs.
Some Republicans have contemplated those potentially searing depictions and worry they could provoke an outcry that would dwarf this weekends response to the new restrictions. It is a chief reason they are anxious about precipitately moving forward with any effort to undo the Obama administrations program to grant relief to the so-called Dreamers: tens of thousands of younger unauthorized immigrants who participate in a program that allows them to remain in the United States, attend school, receive drivers licenses and hold jobs without the threat of deportation.
The weekend tumult was over a few hundred people who were being denied entry as refugees from violence across the Middle East, as well as over some legal residents who were being barred from returning. Any Trump administration effort to overturn the Obama administrations Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative and then deport participants could ensnare almost 800,000 people who are deeply enmeshed in communities, churches and campuses across the nation.
WASHINGTON The calls and emails went out a little past 10 p.m. Friday, rippling through an informal network of current and former Yale Law School students who had worked at the schools immigrant rights advocacy clinic. The news told of an Iraqi man being detained at Kennedy International Airport because of President Trumps travel ban, putting him at imminent risk of deportation.
Around three dozen lawyers and law students across the country divided up research and writing, and worked through the night. Together, they slammed together a legal complaint asking a federal judge to free the man and, soon, another like him and to certify their lawsuit as a class action on behalf of others in a similar situation.
Around 5:30 a.m. shortly before the first Europe-bound flights were scheduled to depart they filed the lawsuit on the electronic docket system for the Eastern District of New York. Then they began converting their files into templates for lawyers in districts across the country to use, as well.
So began the opening salvos of the legal pushback to Mr. Trumps executive order banning entry to refugees and others from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
WASHINGTON Former President Barack Obama spoke out on Monday against President Trumps efforts to seal the United States borders against people from seven predominantly Muslim countries, siding with protesters around the country outraged at Mr. Trumps crackdown on immigration.
President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country, said Kevin Lewis, a spokesman for the former president, in a statement issued after a weekend of protests against Mr. Trumps executive order. Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake.
Mr. Obama, the statement added, fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.
The statement was muted compared to the expressions of vitriol against Mr. Trumps order from other Democrats and humanitarian activists. But its timing only 10 days after Mr. Obama left office vowing to give Mr. Trump time to succeed in the presidency before questioning his policies indicated that Mr. Obama felt compelled to speak out swiftly against what he sees as a misguided start to a new administration.
The decision to keep the order, the statement added, was Mr. Trumps. It uses stronger language than any Republican president has before in favor of equal legal protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, though that is not likely to quiet Mr. Trumps critics on the left.
The move could also anger conservatives who had hoped a Republican president would end some socially liberal policies.
While Mr. Trump remains opposed to the right of same-sex couples to marry, he has been more open to it than many in his party. But there could be another political cost to his decision: On the eve of the announcement of his pick to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court, it could reopen the divisive debate over same-sex marriage and transgender rights, and subject his nominee to more scrutiny over his or her views on those issues.
The Obama order banned companies that do federal work from discriminating against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees. It was the first time the government explicitly protected federal workers from discrimination based on gender identity.
Leaving those protections, of course, does not preclude another executive order that would roll back gay rights in other areas. Mr. Trump could, for example, still enshrine a religious freedom provision in federal policy.
WASHINGTON Bolstered by a growing backlash to President Trumps immigration order, Senate Democrats on Monday steeled themselves to slow the confirmation of cabinet nominees, dimming prospects for cooperation with the new White House.
But each Democratic demand for procedural minutiae and details on nominees stances on Mr. Trumps travel ban illuminated an immutable fact: There is little Democrats can do to stop Republicans from ramming through both Mr. Trumps cabinet and their policy agenda.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, set the tone as lawmakers straggled back to Washington from a weekend extended by their political party retreats. He released a list of eight Trump cabinet nominees he intended to oppose, including Representative Tom Price of Georgia, for secretary of health and human services, and Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mr. Schumer also voiced steadfast opposition to Rex W. Tillerson, the nominee for secretary of state; Betsy DeVos, chosen for secretary of education; and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, nominated for attorney general. Nothing will change that, Mr. Schumer said.
WASHINGTON President Trump plans to announce his nominee for the Supreme Court on Tuesday, moving to fill a seat held vacant for nearly a year by Senate Republicans and touching off what is expected to be a furious ideological showdown early in his administration.
Mr. Trump scheduled a prime-time televised announcement from the White House for 8 p.m. to present his choice to a national audience, his first foray into the judicial wars that have consumed Washington for generations. At least some Senate Democrats were already preparing to block anyone he picks.
The leading finalists were believed to be two federal appeals court judges with strong conservative records: Neil M. Gorsuch of the Denver-based 10th Circuit and Thomas M. Hardiman of the Third Circuit in Pittsburgh, according to Republicans close to the process. A third appeals court judge, William H. Pryor Jr. of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit, has also been reported to be in the running.
Any Supreme Court nomination would raise partisan tensions, but this one is coming when Washington is already on edge over the fast-paced, sharp-edged beginning of Mr. Trumps presidency. In particular, the capital is polarized over Mr. Trumps executive order temporarily shutting the nations borders to refugees worldwide and to any visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
WASHINGTON Iran conducted its first missile test since President Trump took office, American and Israeli officials said Monday, posing an early test of whether the Trump administration will make good on its promises to strictly enforce all aspects of the Iranian nuclear deal and a side agreement on missile testing.
The Iranian missile traveled about 600 miles, but its re-entry vehicle reportedly exploded before the flight was complete. It is unclear whether that was accidental or a deliberate detonation.
Israels United Nations ambassador, Danny Danon, accused Iran of violating a Security Council resolution passed in 2015, shortly after the nuclear accord was reached in Vienna.
While the agreement itself dealt only with Irans nuclear program, then-Secretary of State John Kerry negotiated for days with the Iranians about a revised Security Council resolution on missiles. That last concession by the United States, China, Russia, Germany and France sealed the entire diplomatic package.
Syrian armed forces appear to have retaken the contested Barada Valley area north of Damascus, the capitals main source of water, signaling a possible end to a war-induced shortage that has left millions of inhabitants thirsty and dirty for six weeks.
Syrian government news media reported on Monday that hundreds of rebel fighters and their families had evacuated the Barada Valley, under an agreement reached on Sunday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an outside monitoring group, corroborated the government account, saying ambulances and buses had been seen taking evacuees to other rebel-held areas, and that government soldiers and allied militia fighters were in control.
The Barada Valley agreement expanded areas of Syria adhering to a tenuous nationwide cease-fire negotiated by Russia, the Syrian governments chief ally, and Turkey, which supports some rebel groups that have been fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
Idea of citizenship
In Nepal, after the promulgation of the constitution in 2015, one of the most contested provisions has been the one on citizenship.
Over the past two decades, the Indian novelist and activist Arundhati Roy has published dozens of essays and nonfiction works, taking on subjects such as the dangers of Hindu nationalism, government corruption, environmental degradation and income inequality.
So it irritates her, naturally, when people complain that shes been absent from the literary scene for the last 20 years.
Ive always been slightly short with people who say, You havent written anything again, as if all the nonfiction Ive written is not writing, she said in a 2014 interview with The New York Times Magazine.
But for fans of Ms. Roys fiction, the extended wait is about to end. She is poised to make a comeback this summer with The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, which will be released in the United States this June by Alfred A. Knopf. Its her first new novel since her debut, The God of Small Things, came out in 1997, to rapturous reviews. It won the Booker Prize and drew comparisons to works by Salman Rushdie, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and V. S. Naipaul.
Guston, who began as a muralist, painting for the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, became a highly regarded Abstract Expressionist painter before returning to figuration late in his career, in a scabrous, cartoon-influenced style that shocked his contemporaries. In a letter to a friend in 1975, as he was making these images, he wrote of 15th- and 16th-century Italian art: I am immersed in quattro- and cinquecento painting more than ever! And when I go north, to Venice, faced with Tiepolo, Tintoretto, and even so-called Mannerist work like Pontormo, Parmigianino, etc., I cheat on my earlier loves and fall head over heels.
The exhibition will remain on view through Sept. 3 at the Accademia, whose director, Paola Marini, said in a statement that the paintings he discovered in the rooms and halls of the Accademia exerted enormous influence upon his vision. To bring Gustons work into context and to encourage continued study and new interpretation of his work, is a true pleasure for us.
The Long Island woman who fooled the art world by pawning off paintings by an unknown artist from Queens as the work of Modernist masters was sentenced to time served on Tuesday, more than five years after her actions helped lead to $80 million in fraudulent sales and the demise of New Yorks oldest gallery.
Between 1994 and 2009 prosecutors have said that the woman, Glafira Rosales, a little-known art dealer on Long Island, and her boyfriend came up with 60 pieces that they marketed as previously unknown works by artists including Robert Motherwell, Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock. In fact, they had all been created by a Chinese immigrant who used a garage in Queens as his studio.
In her sentencing, the judge, Katherine Polk Failla of Federal District Court in Manhattan, cited defense arguments that Ms. Rosales had been intimidated and abused by her former boyfriend, who is also charged in the case and whom the defense described in court papers as the mastermind of the scheme. She also feared being separated from her daughter, according to the defense.
Ms. Rosales, Im not putting you back in jail, Judge Failla said.
Ms. Rosales, 60, had served three months in jail. She will be subject to three years of supervised release including 90 days of home detention, the judge said. She will also pay restitution in an amount to be determined. Her boyfriend, Jose Carlos Bergantinos Diaz, was arrested in 2014 in Spain but his extradition has been blocked.
Next up from the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature: More oldies.
Bob Dylan announced on Tuesday that his new album, Triplicate, will be a three-disc set comprising 30 more standards, extending the theme of his last two albums, Shadows in the Night (2015) and Fallen Angels (2016). The collection, to be released by Columbia Records on March 31, includes classics from the golden age of American songwriting like Stormy Weather, Sentimental Journey, I Guess Ill Have to Change My Plans, September of My Years and The Best Is Yet to Come. As with Mr. Dylans previous two albums, many of the songs are closely associated with Frank Sinatra.
It also includes Hoagy Carmichaels Stardust, the title track from Willie Nelsons 1978 album of standards, which Mr. Dylan told AARP The Magazine in 2015 first gave him the idea to pursue such a project. Triplicate is divided into three thematic segments of 10 songs each: Til the Sun Goes Down, Devil Dolls and Comin Home Late. Mr. Dylan is the producer, listed under his pseudonym Jack Frost.
Mr. Dylan was chosen last year as the winner of the Nobel in Literature, but did not attend the awards ceremony in December. The Swedish Academy, the group that bestows the award, said only that Mr. Dylan had told them he had pre-existing commitments.
A new opera is coming from the composer of Written on Skin, one of the most acclaimed and successful musical works of the 21st century so far. Lessons in Love and Violence, George Benjamins next collaboration with the playwright Martin Crimp, his librettist for Skin, will have its premiere next year at the Royal Opera House in London, the company announced on Tuesday.
Inspired by Elizabethan drama, Lessons tells the story of a king whose decisions open familial wounds and set off a civil war. This new opera considers what space, if any, exists for love and human affection inside the dangerous machinery of power, said the announcement from the Royal Opera.
Conducted by Mr. Benjamin, directed by Katie Mitchell and starring the soprano Barbara Hannigan who all collaborated on Written on Skin Lessons will also feature the baritone Stephane Degout. The work will be presented in London in May 2018 before traveling to Amsterdam; Hamburg, Germany; Lyon, France; Chicago; and Barcelona and Madrid, in Spain, the homes of the companies that have commissioned it alongside the Royal Opera.
Missing from that list? New York, which was also late to hear Written on Skin. Skin, which had its premiere at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in France in 2012, did not have any American commissioners, and only reached New York in 2015, when Ms. Mitchells production was presented at Lincoln Centers Mostly Mozart Festival. (The work was heard in concert at the Tanglewood Festival in 2013.)
Madiba isnt uniformly adoring: It registers some of the contradictions and uncomfortable realities of the apartheid struggle, such as the violent infighting among black groups and the subordinate role of women. But it does so in a noted-for-the-record way, without making you think about them or feel their impact. The touchy subject of Mandelas personal association with Communism is glossed over, and the Communist Party a major actor in this history is represented onscreen by the married couple Joe Slovo and Ruth First, portrayed (by Jason Kennett and Kate Liquorish) as plucky, steadfast colleagues.
Slovo and First are the white members of the small group that is shown leading the African National Congress across five decades. Theyre all stick figures, representing various degrees of timidity or conservatism or rashness, in contrast to Mandelas resolute strength, but Orlando Jones (as Oliver Tambo) and David Harewood (as Walter Sisulu) breathe a little life into their characters.
As Mandela, Mr. Fishburne is stuck playing a living saint in a screenplay that doesnt bother to explore the sources of its protagonists exceptional strength. (Mandelas only fault is that of the hero: He cares more about the cause than he does about his family.) Mr. Fishburne seems to have limited his performance accordingly, using the same furrowed expression of concentration from start to finish. (He also doesnt age much, even though he plays Mandela from his early 20s to his mid-70s.)
He probably just wasnt a good fit his style has always been interior, a coiled intensity that shines through the eyes, and Madiba settles for the exterior. Morgan Freeman in Invictus, and Idris Elba in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, managed to have it both ways they were magisterial while also suggesting a complicated inner life.
For all of its lackluster effect as drama, Madiba does have educational value if you dont know Mandelas story, or the history of apartheid and its fall, there are worse ways to spend six hours than watching this digest of the highlights. But if its inspiration you want, turn on the news.
Switched at Birth, which sensitively explores life for the hearing-impaired, begins its final season. Cindy Crawford looks back at her famous Pepsi commercial on its 25th anniversary. And FilmStruck presents the works of Iranian filmmakers, including one by Asghar Farhadi, who has said he wont attend the Oscar ceremony in February because of President Trumps visa ban.
Whats on TV
SWITCHED AT BIRTH 9 p.m. on Freeform. This Peabody-winning series returns for its fifth and final season to find Bay (Vanessa Marano) and Daphne (Katie Leclerc) back at home from 10 months in China after an emergency phone call. With a cast of deaf and hearing-impaired actors, and the use of sign language, the show has, in its quiet way, broken down barriers that many viewers didnt even know were there, Neil Genzlinger wrote in The Times.
SUPER BOWL GREATEST COMMERCIALS 2017 9 p.m. on CBS. Cindy Crawford reminisces about stepping out of a red Lamborghini in cutoffs for Pepsi in this special, whose Top 10 ads pit bigger is better against less is more. Viewers vote on the winner.
Here her gifts have largely fled her. This book does not contain strong or especially perceptive readings of Bishops poems. Marshall fails to fully set the milieu of midcentury American poetry. She lacks seizing talons for detail.
Image Megan Marshall Credit... Gail Samuelson
One example: Bishop maintained over many decades a love-hate relationship with The New Yorker, to which she regularly contributed poems. This relationship is very lightly sketched in Marshalls biography. An ocean of humane and comic detail is left on the cutting room floor.
Reading Marshall, you would never know that Bishop wrote the following to her mentor, the poet Marianne Moore: What I think about The New Yorker can only be expressed like this: *!@!!!@!*!! You would never know that she loathed the way The New Yorker inserted commas into her poems, rendering them less liquid, as she put it.
You would not know that she once composed, and sent to a friend, a cruel little poem about Howard Moss, her longtime editor at the magazine:
All our poems
rest on the shelf
while Howard publishes
himself.
Reading Marshall, you would not know that Alfred Kazin, in his journals, wrote the following about Bishops hair: It rises electrically up her head and seems to shoot up straight, connected node to node to sparks.
Sparks are what this biography does not have, beginning with its subtitle. A Miracle for Breakfast is the name of one of Bishops best early poems (At six oclock we were waiting for coffee,/waiting for coffee and the charitable crumb), but it rests oddly atop this book as a whole. What miracle? Whose breakfast?
Bishop was an only child. Her father died when she was 8 months old. Her mother was permanently committed to a mental institution when the poet was 5. She grew up with grandparents and other family members, a veritable orphan. She did have a small trust fund. She attended Vassar College, where she founded a literary magazine, Con Spirito, with Mary McCarthy.
At a time when discussions of politics threaten to break out at any dinner party, a new book by the American Museum of Natural History researcher Bill Schutt provides a topic of conversation that might prove less disturbing: cannibalism.
Next time you eat Chinese, for example, you might discuss how, during the Yuan dynasty, royalty and upper-class citizens did so, too. So frequently did high society dine on fellow citizens that the various methods of preparing human flesh including baking, roasting, broiling, smoke-drying and sun-drying filled 13 pages of one book Schutt consulted. (Children were considered the tastiest, followed by women and last, men.) In fact, so-called epicurean cannibalism that is, eating your fellow men/women/children because they taste good and not just because theres nothing else in the house was still widespread in China into the late 1960s during the Cultural Revolution.
Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History is full of such surprising news. Early in its pages we learn that almost everybody does it: not just in China, or the Donner party, or the New Guinea highlanders whose practice of eating the brains of dead relatives spread the deadly neurological disease kuru (though theres plenty on these examples, too, in the book). Europeans, we read, routinely consumed human blood, bones, skin, guts and body parts for hundreds of years. Cannibalism, in fact, is not that unusual. It happens not only when people are starving or overcrowded. And its not restricted to humans.
In the natural world, strangers eat strangers, parents eat their children, children eat their parents and siblings eat each other and they do it a lot. Baby black lace-weaver spiderlings cannibalize their mothers. The larvae of the elephant mosquito eat their fellow larvae and pupae. Among invertebrates and 95 percent of animal life on earth, from insects to octopuses, belong to this group of spineless creatures cannibalism is often the rule, not the exception.
On the morning of Oct. 2, 1899, Murray dressed in a silk top hat and a Prince Albert coat had just descended the steps of his three-story red-brick home in northwest D.C. and was on his way to board a plushly outfitted train car. The 40-some passengers all white, except for Murray made up a special welcoming committee appointed by President William McKinley, on the occasion of honoring Admiral George Dewey for his victory in Manila Bay. Despite an initial picture that suggests Murray embraced cliches of racial tranquillity, Taylor makes clear throughout her book that Murray and most of his black elite friends did not crave the company of white people. Taylor, an independent scholar and the author of A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons, understands the mind-set of the black elite, and she quickly points out that despite his own rise to the top, Daniel Murray was a race man to the core :
If he took any pride in being the first black man to join this organization or the only one to be invited to that social occasion, his greater goal, his long-range vision, was to be in the vanguard of merit-based recognition for every American of color. The rise of those in Murrays black elite circle was realized rather than potential. Its members had attained high levels of education, achievement, culture. . . . They were living proof that African-Americans did not lack the ability to become useful contributors to mainstream society.
As Taylor traces Murrays pre-Civil War childhood in Baltimore and his subsequent move to Washington, it becomes clear that his success getting hired and promoted for his government job, purchasing real estate and building a reputation in the business community was due to timing, connections and his ability to network with both whites and blacks. His older half brother, Samuel Proctor, was not only a successful Washington caterer whose client list included President Abraham Lincoln, but also the proprietor of one of the two restaurants in the Capitol. Because the restaurant, known as the Senate Saloon, was located in the Senate wing, Murray was afforded the chance to make casual acquaintance with senators and members of their staffs once he began working there in 1869, when he was 18. It was opportunities like this in a more liberal, Republican-led government that aided Murrays rise. And unlike many other cities with large African-American populations, Baltimore and Washington provided the ideal environment for upwardly mobile blacks. At the time of Murrays birth, 90 percent of the blacks living in Baltimore were free, giving it the largest free black population in the country. Washington, for its part, was a hub for the black elite because of the large number of government jobs and the establishment of Howard University, a magnet for black intellectuals and civic leaders.
Taylor knows how to weave an emotional story of how race and class have long played a role in determining who succeeds and who fails. We get to meet many of Murrays friends and acquaintances, other members of the black elite. Howards law school dean Richard T. Greener was a successful attorney after attending Phillips Academy and then Harvard University; he became Harvards first black graduate in 1870. James Wormley owned the Wormley Hotel, a luxury establishment that opened in 1871 and catered to affluent white visitors. (In a bitter irony, it was also the reported site of the Hayes-Tilden Compromise of 1877, which marked the end of Reconstruction.) The newspaper publisher Pinckney Pinchback served as lieutenant governor and acting governor of Louisiana, and owned a mansion near the Chinese Embassy. Calvin Brent was Washingtons first African-American architect. The civil rights activist Mary Church Terrell graduated from Oberlin College in 1884; her father was recognized as the first black millionaire in the South, and her husband was the first black municipal court judge in Washington. We also meet the United States senator Blanche Bruce of Mississippi, who later served appointments under four presidents.
But the reader shouldnt expect a happy ending in The Original Black Elite. The rug of opportunity and dignity was abruptly pulled out from under the nations African-American population. Murray and his circle watched nervously as white politicians and their own neighbors betrayed them. Angry white Southerners and the Ku Klux Klan claimed that blacks had come too far; Jim Crow laws denied African-Americans access to specific jobs, public facilities, restaurants, transportation; and cynical politicians galvanized white support by publicly demonizing African-Americans. After taking office in March 1913, Woodrow Wilson oversaw the segregation of federal offices, demoting and firing black employees; the few who were allowed to stay were suddenly required to use colored only bathrooms and eating areas.
Murrays life spanned the beginning and the end of an era. While he enjoyed many years of integrated experiences in Washington, just 12 years after Wilsons inauguration and 74 years after he was born, Taylor writes, Daniel Murray died in a segregated hospital and was buried in a segregated graveyard.
Inmates living in poor conditions
The Social Justice and Human Rights Committee of Parliament has called for prison reforms to better the living conditions of inmates across the country.
President Trump nominated a conservative judge from Denver, Neil M. Gorsuch, to the U.S. Supreme Court, presaging yet another political battle in Washington. The 49-year-old nominees legal philosophy echoes that of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whose seat he will fill if confirmed.
In Congress, Democrats sought to delay confirmation for Mr. Trumps cabinet picks after he fired the acting attorney general for defying his contentious immigration order. A so-called dissent cable objecting to the order is going viral at U.S. embassies, and legal challenges are mounting.
Despite the protests and increased anxieties in corporate America and allies abroad, a broad swath of the U.S. electorate appears to back the president.
American divisions are rapidly widening over President Trumps order to close the U.S. to refugees and people from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Mr. Trump fired Sally Q. Yates, above, the acting attorney general, a holdover from the Obama administration, after she instructed the Justice Department not to defend the order.
Implemented with little regard for basic governance, the ban is drawing criticism from self-organized protesters, Silicon Valley, some members of Mr. Trumps own party and former President Barack Obama.
Leaders of U.S. allies have the choice of openly criticizing Mr. Trump, like Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, or possibly facing protests at home, like Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain.
The French capital is eager to host the Olympic Games in 2024 and the World Expo in 2025. If Paris wins either bid, it would need to accommodate more than the roughly six million tourists who visit the landmark each year.
Image A construction site offered a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in May. Credit... Lionel Bonaventure/Agence France-Presse Getty Images
But this concern might not have happened at all had opponents of the tower had their way. There were many, and some might have worked at The Times.
In 1887, when construction started, critics called the monument the grotesque and mercantile imagination of a machine maker, according to a Times report. When the tower was inaugurated at a world exhibition in 1889, The Times wrote, Oh! who will deliver us from the Eiffel Tower!
And in 1937, The Times described the tower as an esthetic misfit that would soon be razed. It is felt that the Eiffel Tower is out of date and out of perspective. So it is doomed.
We were, of course, wrong.
Patrick Boehler contributed reporting.
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BEIJING Zhang Heng barged through an exam-room door, surprising a doctor and a patient. He didnt have time to knock. In Mr. Zhangs business, every second counts.
You have to hand it directly to the person, said Mr. Zhang, one of the legions of package couriers in Beijing who help power Chinas online shopping boom. He spoke as he blitzed through a surgical wing, medical storeroom and patient ward delivering parcels small and large, soft and square, to doctors and nurses in an effort to ensure the right person gets the right package.
Otherwise, Mr. Zhang said, you may get fined.
The Chinese e-commerce industry has been built on the backs of couriers called kuaidi, or express delivery, in China like Mr. Zhang. They number 1.2 million, by one survey, and online retailers like Alibaba use them to zip packages to customers by scooter or three-wheeled electric cart. Across China, the worlds largest market for package delivery, a courier shouting kuaidi! through a door or a phone signals your package has arrived.
But for the couriers who are largely unskilled workers from Chinas interior the work can be low-paying and difficult. It is coming under scrutiny from labor activists and legal experts who say many couriers face punishing hours and harsh working conditions.
The first test of the Trump administrations stance on Chinese investment is approaching: Ant Financials $880 million acquisition of the United States payment processor MoneyGram.
Ant Financial was spun out of the Chinese e-commerce colossus Alibaba in 2014, and was formerly known as Alipay. One way to think about Ants business is that it is the PayPal of China, the main facilitator of online payments in that country. Ant Financial changed its name as it expanded into other finance businesses, but its core product is still Alipay, with 450 million Chinese users and 58 percent of the online payment business, according to Credit Suisse.
The company has moved into many other areas of Chinese finance, even running an app that allows a small investor to buy bonds online with one click. (More on that later.) With rocket-like growth, Ant Financial recently took in venture capital valuing the company to $60 billion nearly as much as the market value of American Express. Ant Financial is aiming for an initial public offering, possibly later this year.
The company has global ambitions and recently bought the mobile wallet company Paytm in India, but it is now aiming for the United States with its agreement to buy MoneyGram. The reason for the acquisition is breadth. MoneyGram has been slow to go online, but it has more than 350,000 partners and locations in 200 countries. And as new online entrants like Venmo arise, the market is ripe for disruption.
The crisis around President Trumps executive order to close borders to refugees and people from predominantly Muslim countries has continued to escalate.
Mr. Trump fired Sally Q. Yates, the acting attorney general, after she refused to defend the executive order. The president declared that she had betrayed the administration and replaced her with Dana J. Boente, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, until Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama can be confirmed.
Mr. Boente announced that he would rescind Ms. Yatess instruction for Justice Department lawyers not to defend Mr. Trumps order against legal challenges.
As a result, the confirmation of Mr. Sessions has quickly become a referendum on Mr. Trumps immigration order action could come as early as Tuesday.
Shoppers buying a dozen eggs these days not only have to decide whether they want organic, free-range or cage-free. They also have to choose among cartons with labels like American Humane Certified, Animal Welfare Approved and Certified Humane.
As the number of consumers concerned about animal welfare grows, such labels, or seals, as they are known in the business, are spreading like kudzu on packages of meat and eggs in the refrigerated cases of grocery stores, to assure shoppers that the cattle, pigs or chickens were treated well.
But the labels may just as easily sow confusion or even mislead shoppers, who probably know little or nothing about the small number of organizations that create most of them and police the food producers that use them.
Consumers are looking behind the barn doors at these factory farms, and they dont like what theyre seeing, said Daisy Freund, the director of farm animal welfare at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which created a website last year to help consumers navigate the seals. Unfortunately, we know that when they hit the grocery store, theyre faced with a profound lack of transparency, accountability and, in some cases, downright deception when it comes to statements on packaging about humane treatment of animals.
If you heard that Chumleys is open again, you were misinformed. The dim, spare, beer-scented hideaway in the West Village is gone, torn down, not coming back. At its old address is a restaurant that has nothing in common with the original except a name, a door, an archway and framed photographs of, and jackets of books by, writers who used to drink there. Most of them wouldnt be able to afford a cocktail there now, let alone dinner.
Chumleys first quietly and selectively opened its unmarked door, inside a hidden courtyard at the end of an alley, during Prohibition. Flappers, sailors, actors, Wobblies, writers heading for fame and bohemians heading for nowhere ate and drank in its windowless rooms. Simone de Beauvoir, who tumbled into Chumleys in the 1950s on a tip from Richard Wright, wrote that it was utterly simple, with its little tables lined against the walls, but it has something so rare in America atmosphere.
On busy nights in later years, the atmosphere could be like that of a college rathskeller in a state with a low drinking age. But if you caught Chumleys at the right hour, when there were empty booths and a log burning in the fireplace, it could be a shelter from the city and an ideal embodiment of it at the same time.
All this time, the building, almost a century old when Chumleys opened, was falling apart slowly at first and then, in 2007, in a landslide of bricks. It was so far gone that it had to be torn down and rebuilt. The work went so slowly that Chumleys nearly lost its chance to renew its liquor license.
Headliner
MR BING Did you ever have a jianbing? asked Brian Goldberg, the entrepreneur who just opened a more permanent kiosk in Manhattan than his usual pop-ups, which sell rolled crepes typical of Beijing street food. To answer: Yes, back in 2000, from a food truck outside the Peking Opera School, which we were visiting in Beijing. They were delicious. I had forgotten about jianbing until very recently, as a few people in New York have started making them. Mr. Goldberg, a Chinese scholar who grew up in Spring Valley, N.Y., in Rockland County, became a professional luge racer and worked in finance before running a couple of places in Hong Kong. He decided a few years ago to do something, he said, that would be interesting and make people happy. Hed like to do his part to make jianbing as mainstream as ramen. At his colorful stand, cooks spread a thin film of batter made with mung bean and rice flours onto a griddle, break an egg on it, add herbs and condiments, flip it, roll it and cut it in two. He has come up with nontraditional versions with roast duck, marinated chicken or roast pork. The stand also sells smashed cucumber salad, steamed dumplings and, soon, an egg, cheese and ham breakfast bing and sweet dessert versions. Mr. Goldberg has also taken on a couple of partners and has plans for expansions, including a brick-and-mortar shop opening in March next to his commissary in Chelsea: Mr Bing, UrbanSpace Vanderbilt, 45th Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, mr-bing.com.
Opening
DIANNE & ELISABETH This wine bar serves snacks, cheeses and charcuterie, along with dishes like boneless short ribs, creamed kale, croquettes and beet pasta with goat and ricotta cheese, most of which can be ordered in small or large portions: 644 10th Avenue (45th Street), 917-472-7808, dianneandelisabeth.com.
KINGS OF KOBE The owners of this former pop-up, which is putting down roots, proclaim their hot dogs and hamburgers to be made from 100 percent American Kobe beef never mind that theres no such thing; its Wagyu. Theyre decking their meats with some uncommon condiments, like red onion marmalade, caramelized apples, burrata and cherry-pepper aioli. Mac-and-cheese balls and red onion rings are some of the sides. (Opens Thursday): 790 Ninth Avenue (52nd Street), 212-247-3703, kingsofkobe.com.
Young people from remote parts of the country face special challenges in furthering their education (Colleges Discover the Rural Student). Many are low income and first in their families to attend college. Universities can be big and distant, and scary: Are the students smarter? Are their values the same? Six students talked about their choices.
I hate to be judged for my beliefs. Autumn Crawford
When deer season opens in mid-November, the halls of Pine River-Backus High School in Minnesota are abuzz with who got the biggest buck or the nicest doe, said Autumn Crawford. She passes hours still and silent in a deer stand with her mothers Remington bolt-action .243 rifle ready, though last fall she focused more on her role in High School Musical and big news: early acceptance to Ohio State University. Her application essay tackled the issue of identity. A lot of people think conservatives are close-minded and have little respect for anyone but their own, she wrote. That can apply to many, but not me. Autumn was raised in Backus (pop. 250), where jobs include logging (her father removes trees), manufacturing (Pequot Tool & Manufacturing is nearby) and seasonal tourism. Most of my family is within an hours drive, she said. They have a really hard time accepting that I wont just be able to come home when I want. But with plans to be a lawyer Autumn expects to move to a pretty big city. At college, she will hold fast to her Christian roots. I am not going to give up my beliefs because I am around people who dont have the same beliefs.
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Marriage of convenience on the verge of collapse?
The conciliatory tune CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was singing to seek Madhes-based parties votes to get elected as the prime minister in August has just lost the appeal,
WASHINGTON A flurry of actions by President Trump and Congress against the Affordable Care Act injected confusion and uncertainty into the final weeks of the annual period to sign up for coverage, and many, but not all, enrollment groups were reporting a drop in people seeking insurance as the deadline loomed on Tuesday.
The actions include the executive order that Mr. Trump signed hours after his inauguration, directing federal agencies to take all possible steps to minimize the burdens the law imposes, and House and Senate votes to begin the process of repealing the law. The Trump administration also scaled back advertisements that encourage people to sign up for health insurance under the law, although after a public backlash late last week, the administration decided not to pull the ads altogether.
Interviews with about two dozen enrollment counselors and insurance agents around the country suggested that in some states, including Alaska, New York and Washington, a steady flow of people were signing up until the last minute. Yet in many other places, counselors who help people sign up for insurance under the seven-year-old law said that enrollment had flattened in recent weeks and that the burst of activity they had come to expect at the end of open enrollment had never happened this year. All said their customers were worried about the future of their coverage and, in many cases, conflicted about whether to buy it for fear that they would soon lose it.
Some people ask, Whats the point if the law is going to be repealed? said Emily Black Bremer, an insurance agent in Clayton, Mo., outside St. Louis. Should they rush to get in before the A.C.A. is cut off? Should they give up because its all going away? Its a tricky situation.
President Trump promised some of the nations top drug company executives in a meeting at the White House on Tuesday that he would slash regulations at the Food and Drug Administration and make it easier for them to manufacture products in the United States.
He also described as fantastic the person he planned to nominate for commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, someone he said would streamline the agency and get drug approval decisions faster.
You cant get approval for the plant, and you cant get approval for the drug; other than that, youre doing fantastic, Mr. Trump said at the meeting, to laughter from top executives of companies like Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly and Novartis.
But even as he struck a cordial tone with them, he said that lowering drug costs would remain a focus and that he would discuss the issue further during the nonpublic portion of the meeting, away from the news media. The U.S. drug companies have produced extraordinary results for our country, but the pricing has been astronomical, Mr. Trump said. We have to get prices down for a lot of reasons.
After the rape, my mom had moved us to our cousins house, where she thought we would be safer than in our isolated home way out in the bush. My dad was still in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds, but at my cousins house there seemed to be safety in numbers. Still, every night, my mom would come into the bedroom where we were all sleeping to check on us three, four, sometimes five times a night.
Image The writers parents in Monrovia in 1969.
Finally, we got the visas. But we still had to get exit permits from the new Liberian military government allowing us to leave the country. My mom drained her bank account and bribed everyone she could find. She had a singular mission, it seemed: She was going to get her daughters to safety any way she could. (My father would join us once he was released from the hospital.)
It was around midnight on May 16, 1980, when we boarded Pan Am Flight 100 at Robertsfield Airport outside Monrovia. The destination was New York. The plane was a DC-10. The cabin engulfed us in its foreignness; it was like we were already in America, with carpets and air-conditioning and air fresheners.
I remember being terrified. I sat across the aisle from my mom, who sat next to my sister. We all kept looking at the open door of the plane, for someone to come and pull us off.
Consider the Source
From Stat: Egg donation doubled between 2000 and 2010, rising to some 18,000 donor cycles a year, but theres little research about the long-term impact on the donor. Would we be so cavalier about anything else? KJ DellAntonia, Writer and Editor, Well Family
Resistance evokes the struggle against totalitarianism, conveying personal defiance and official powerlessness at the same time. So what does it mean to apply that word in an ostensibly democratic system? If youve lost at the ballot box but arent seeking full-blown revolution, what are the most useful forms of political action? If yes seems impossible but no seems insufficient, what fills the space between?
Before Trumps election, anyone who claimed to have been a member of the resistance was most likely over the age of 85, a veteran of anti-fascist struggles in France and other Nazi-occupied territories during World War II. That resistance involved armed conflict and personal risk of the bleakest sort, with guerrilla fighters hiding in the catacombs of Paris while Hitlers forces did their worst above ground. Under fascist rule, there were no plausible options for political engagement. It was a fight to the death, and in early 1940s Europe, before the arrival of Allied troops, the outcome was far from certain. Talking about resistance still evokes this sense of honorable struggle against an occupying power. It implies patience as well as militancy, the ability to say no over and over and over again, to refuse to cooperate until the whole system crumbles.
After the war, anticolonial movements from South Africa to Northern Ireland found their own strategies of resistance, settling in for long, sometimes bloody fights. The United States introduced its own peculiar twist on this idea, transforming a rallying cry of third-world liberation into a defense of white supremacy. In 1954, after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, white Southerners opted for massive resistance a phrase coined by former Senator Harry F. Byrd of Virginia to describe the determined and bitter campaign to prevent the desegregation of Southern society. Massive resistance defended the racial status quo, but it adopted the language of rebellion, casting the federal government itself as an illegitimate occupying power.
The American left created a different language of resistance, much of it focused around the anti-conscription activities of groups like the War Resisters League. This anti-draft sensibility reached its peak in the late 1960s, during the Vietnam War, when student activists proclaimed a transition, per one slogan, from Protest to Resistance. As the movement veterans Staughton Lynd and Michael Ferber pointed out in their 1971 book, The Resistance, that shift grew out of a desire to embrace a deeper and riskier commitment, a move that warranted a new term to replace dissent and protest. The goal was no longer simply to object to the war; it was to throw a wrench into the war machine and make it stop. Antiwar activists continued to engage in peaceful protest but now some also burned draft cards and firebombed R.O.T.C. centers. A small number, like the Weathermen, took up bona fide guerrilla activity, planting bombs at the Capitol, the Pentagon and other prominent buildings.
As folkloric Polish musical sex-comedy horror movies go, The Lure is pretty interesting. The first feature directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska, the film follows two mermaid sisters onto land, where they look for love, feast on human flesh and find work singing and stripping at a nightclub that might have come from an early David Lynch movie or a vintage-80s music video.
As it happens, the club, with its seedy glamour and its muted sparkle, represents a partial concession to realism. Ms. Smoczynska shot much of The Lure in an abandoned Warsaw cabaret, decorating it to evoke the dancing restaurants of the Communist era. An aura of nonspecific nostalgia hangs in the air. We are not exactly in the present and not precisely in the past, but in a dreamy cinematic space where distinctions of genre and tone are pleasantly (and sometimes shockingly) blurred.
Gold (Michalina Olszanska) and Silver (Marta Mazurek) come ashore because one of them is smitten with a hunky unnamed human (Jakub Gierszal). In their natural habitat, the seductive sisters have enormous, slimy tails. Out of water, they temporarily exchange these for legs, becoming anatomically identical to terrestrial women in all respects but one. Below the waist, they are (as the clubs manager puts it) as smooth as Barbie dolls, and their lack of genitalia proves to be a source of protection and frustration in their new environment.
The object of mermaid lust plays bass in the house band, whose other members include, on drums (Andrzej Konopka) and lead vocals (Kinga Preis), a middle-aged couple whose relationship offers a quiet rebuke to Silver and Golds romantic ideas about humanity. The musical numbers written by Barbara and Zuzanna Wronska of the Polish band Ballady i Romanse add a jolt of rock n roll energy and a swirl of camp decadence to a story that swerves, sometimes smoothly and sometimes jerkily, from parody to fairy tale to gleeful gore.
Adalid DeJesus does not remember a lot about his childhood, but he knows this much: It was not a happy time for his family. It was rough. It was bad, he said.
Mr. DeJesus arrived in New York with his parents when he was 2, leaving the mountainous town of Utuado in Puerto Rico for a neighborhood in Brooklyn. They came in search of a better life, but all he remembers are disagreements between his parents and the presence of drugs.
As he grew up, Mr. DeJesus saw drug runners from his apartment window and drug users in his buildings hallways, a temptation right outside his door. He got involved by making deliveries for dealers.
You could make $200 or $300 easy, he said.
Then he went from being a person in the supply chain to a user. I was my best customer, Mr. DeJesus said. When he was 30, he was arrested on drug charges, and he awaited trial for a year at the Rikers Island jail. He thought he would receive probation and not face serious time in prison, but he was wrong.
The Police Departments disciplinary process is completely secretive, said Chris Dunn, a lawyer who filed the suit for the civil liberties union. Our lawsuit is designed to the give the public a window into whats happening to police officers accused of abusing or mistreating civilians. Right now, nobody knows what happens, and that makes police accountability impossible.
The Police Department initially denied the civil liberties unions request, citing Section 50-a and saying that the trial room documents, if made public, could expose its officers to harm.
The department eventually agreed to release some documents pertaining to the disposition of the trials, albeit with the officers names redacted to preserve their anonymity. But police officials have still refused to release the written decisions in the trials.
We have stated our position numerous times, a police spokesman said. An individuals discipline history is covered under New York Civil Rights Law 50-a.
The case now rests in the First Judicial Department appeals court in Manhattan, which held a hearing on the issue in December and could render a decision within weeks.
Ten news media organizations, including The New York Times, have joined the civil liberties unions appeal, arguing in court papers that withholding trial room documents would deprive journalists of information needed to accurately report on discipline imposed by N.Y.P.D. and to hold it accountable to the public it serves especially at a time when public confidence in the police is at extraordinarily low levels.
The second suit, which is before the same court, seeks the release of the disciplinary records of one particular officer: Daniel Pantaleo, who placed Eric Garner in a chokehold moments before he died on a Staten Island sidewalk in 2014. In court papers, lawyers for the city and for Officer Pantaleo argued again that releasing the records could expose the officer to abuse or retaliation.
Please understand, I dont shy away from openly presenting the facts about the changing climate and rising seas. But Ive learned that doing so is not without risk.
In 2010, I was a co-author of a report for North Carolinas Coastal Resources Commission that said sea levels along the states coastline could rise by as much as 39 inches by the end of the century. That conclusion was based on the best peer-reviewed science and was intended to help policy makers plan for the future.
But it alarmed real estate and other economic development interests, which quickly attacked the report. The coastal commission ignored it. The authors, myself included, were widely slandered. And the Legislature passed a law that barred state and local agencies from developing regulations or planning documents anticipating a rise in sea level. I think this is a brilliant solution, the comedian Stephen Colbert said at the time. If your science gives you a result that you dont like, pass a law saying the result is illegal. Problem solved.
You might think that the lesson I learned from that experience was to distrust the political establishment. No. What I learned was that most of those attacking our sea-level-rise projections had never met me, nor my co-authors. Not only that, most of the public had never met anyone they considered a scientist. They didnt understand the careful, painstaking process we followed to reach our peer-reviewed conclusions. We were unknowns, scientists delivering bad news. We were easy marks for those who felt threatened by our findings.
A march by scientists, while well intentioned, will serve only to trivialize and politicize the science we care so much about, turn scientists into another group caught up in the culture wars and further drive the wedge between scientists and a certain segment of the American electorate.
It was the first time I had seen her since it happened.
I arrived at Brooklyn Bridge Park and there, off in the distance, she stood: tall, proud, every bit as elegant as I had left her.
Lady Liberty a.k.a. the Statue of Liberty has long symbolized the open gates to a land of opportunity, an icon of welcome for immigrants arriving in New York Harbor. After President Trump issued an executive order on Friday that suspended refugee admissions and blocked citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, I wanted to check in on her. Tears are running down the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty tonight, Senator Charles Schumer of New York, the Democratic minority leader, said on Friday. No doubt many of her admirers were upset, too.
So this weekend I went on an expedition to look at Lady Liberty from vantage points around the city. I began at my favorite spot in Brooklyn Bridge Park, where I found Mike Gibson, a resident of the Dumbo neighborhood, doing his weekly tai chi practice alongside his friend Liz McGill.
Mitigating risks of a military approach
The interests of China in pursuing the announced joint military exercise with Nepal in the second week of February are clearly defined.
Smiling was a job requirement for Donut Dollies, so they had to compartmentalize their own fear and sadness about the war. Many grew close to the men they worked with. Emily Strange, a Donut Dolly who was stationed in the Mekong Delta with the Ninth Infantry Division and Mobile Riverine Force, became friends with a soldier named Michael Stacy. She had become close with Stacy because they both played guitar, and they often strummed folk tunes together. But after he died in a helicopter crash in March 1969, she realized that she needed to put distance between herself and the guys she worked with. So she stopped learning their names, and stopped becoming their friends.
Long after the war, she says she believed that there were probably guys she had encountered whose names went onto the Vietnam Wall. But she would not have to face the pain of knowing for sure. It was Ms. Stranges job to make lonely, frightened soldiers feel better, and she had to show up and do her job despite the fear and isolation she herself felt. She called it putting on her Eleanor Rigby face that she kept in a jar by the door.
Of the military women who served in the war, the majority, about 5,000, did so through the Army Nurse Corps. They were there from the beginning: As the historian Kara Dixon Vuic has shown, the Army began deploying nurses to Saigon in 1956 to train Vietnamese nurses. As the war deepened, they had the double duty of treating the physical wounds of servicemen, and sometimes Vietnamese civilians, and offering an emotional salve to injured and dying troops. Some nurses held men as they cried out for their parents and took their last breaths. They broke the news that a man would never walk or see again. Literally and figuratively, nurses carried wounded servicemen across the threshold from combat to a drastically altered life, or death.
Some nurses wore perfume because it reminded their patients of home. In a military hospital in a war zone, it was at once utterly incongruous and a desperately needed bit of normalcy. Lynda Van Devanter, a nurse whose memoir, Home Before Morning, was the inspiration for the television drama China Beach, wore ribbons in her hair to uphold the feminine image her patients expected and needed. At the same time, she suppressed her emotions and steeled herself to cope with the mental burden of being soothing and pretty to broken and dying men.
Linda Pugsley was a 22-year-old registered nurse working at Boston City Hospital when she joined the Air Force in 1967. She went through basic training and flight school and was commissioned a second lieutenant. At the time, she had no political feelings about the Vietnam War, but she wanted to help take care of American servicemen who were injured there. She figured she could handle it, with good reason: A weekend shift at Boston City Hospital usually included gunshot and stab wounds, car wrecks and other sorts of bloody trauma.
Marches are useful for the anti-Trump movement because numbers are one of its advantages. But marches have their shortcomings. Marches and parades are, in effect, symbolic gestures, said Retired Colonel Robert Helvey, a scholar and teacher of strategic nonviolence. They can recruit and inspire. But they are infrequent, special events. And they are too sweeping to achieve the series of specific locally won victories the movement needs. And for the anti-Trump demonstrations, they have been mostly in the wrong places. (More about this later.)
Plan
I mentioned this point in the November Fixes column because its so important. Anyone good at planning and protest needs to be planned, as carefully as a war knows to start with the goal and work backward. What specific change is being sought? What steps are needed to get there? No military leader would stage a spontaneous assault. Nor should any nonviolent leader. The bus boycotts and sit-ins in the American South, the Egyptian protests in Tahrir Square those were the visible tips of an iceberg, hiding months or years of training and planning.
Pull out the pillars
All leaders rely on the loyalty of important groups in society. The job of a protest movement is to pull out the leaders essential pillars of support turn his most influential supporters into opponents.
Who are President Trumps pillars? He needs members of Congress to pass his legislation. One good goal for the opposition is to make them think: Trump is a very unpopular guy, and this policy has a lot of opposition. I, too, will be unpopular if I go along with him. Maybe Ill even face a primary challenge.
Who has the power to do that? Representatives care about pressure from their constituents.
Focus
The Womens March movement is now suggesting one action to take each week. The first one is pour your heart out on any issue that you care about on a postcard, post a photo of it on social media and send it via snail mail to your member of Congress.
So any strategic benefits are tiny while the costs are substantial: Trump has just helped ISIS recruiters. He has angered Iraq, France and others battling ISIS. Hes started a new argument in the Middle East, which long distracted the United States. Most alarmingly, he has undercut our claim to stand for larger principles freedom, rule of law, even basic competence.
This undermining of both American values and interests has been an early theme of the administration. And the ultimate beneficiary is not likely to be ISIS. Although it poses serious threats, it is not a serious rival to the United States. The ultimate beneficiary is instead likely to be Americas biggest global rival: China.
China remains far less powerful than the United States. But it has come a long way. Its economic progress and its ambitions, combined with the size of its population, mean that China has become the worlds only other potential superpower.
Some degree of a rising China is inevitable and welcome, given the continued reduction in poverty that will happen. The big unknown is whether China will change as it rises, to become freer and more respectful of the rule of law, or whether China will mold the rest of the world in its current closed and authoritarian image.
Here, too, the Trump administration has set back American interests.
In another executive order, Trump pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Whatever you think about the deals economic effects (and there has been a lot of silliness on both the left and the right), they were likely to be modest. The United States already has few barriers to Asian imports, which is why some combination of your car, television, computer, phone and clothing comes from Asia.
To the Editor:
Re Trump Fires Justice Chief Who Defied Him (front page, Jan. 31):
Bravo to the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, and to those diplomats and career Civil Service employees who have taken a principled stand against President Trumps ill-conceived, counterproductive and possibly unconstitutional immigration ban.
One can imagine that if there had been this howl of dissent from senior officials against F.D.R.s executive order interning law-abiding Japanese-American citizens and their families during World War II, we might have avoided that black mark on our countrys claim to be a beacon of liberty.
DENNIS LEADER
Novato, Calif.
To the Editor:
I had some shopping to do this afternoon in my neighborhood. I bought light bulbs from the Pakistani immigrant who owns the hardware store; a mailer envelope from the Indian immigrant who owns the copy store; bagels from the Korean immigrant who owns the bagel store; strawberries from the Salvadoran immigrant who works in the grocery store; and postage from the Iranian immigrant who works at the post office.
The white Christian nativism of the current America First crowd is no different from the bigotry that the previous America Firsters incited to castigate my immigrant ancestors who were Jews as well as Italians, Irish, Poles, Greeks, Armenians, etc.
It took George W. Bush only a few days after the Supreme Court ended the Florida recount and made him president in 2000 to sum up the essential challenge of being in charge of a democratic government: People have a pesky habit of questioning orders.
If this were a dictatorship, itd be a heck of a lot easier, Bush said on Dec. 18, 2000, after Democrats in Congress told him they expected at least some effort at compromise. Just so long, he added, as I am the dictator.
Bush was not entirely joking, as the country later discovered when he began ordering things like warrantless wiretapping, illegal detentions, torture and the invasion of Iraq and seeking to silence or get rid of anyone who stood in his way.
In March 2004, the Bush White House tried to compel a hospitalized and barely conscious Attorney General John Ashcroft to overrule his own lawyers and declare the Bush wiretapping program legal. Led by Vice President Dick Cheney, the Bush team packed the Justice Department with ideologues who were willing to invent justifications for the use of torture. And in December 2006, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales fired seven United States attorneys who refused to block investigations of Republican officeholders or prosecute phony voter fraud cases.
When President Trump presides over his first meeting of the National Security Council, possibly this week, he is likely to confront a decision whose urgency is matched only by its complexity: whether to arm Syrian Kurdish fighters poised to liberate the Islamic States Syrian stronghold in Raqqa.
[Read more on Joe Biden selecting Antony Blinken as Secretary of State.]
Taking back Raqqa, along with Mosul in Iraq where Iraqi forces backed by the United States-led coalition have freed about half of the city will effectively eliminate the Islamic States self-declared caliphate. The consequences for the Islamic State will be devastating. It will no longer control significant territory within which to train and harbor foreign fighters or exploit resources. It will lose the foundation of its most compelling narrative: the construction of an actual state.
As the noose around the Islamic State tightens, it has tried to adapt by plotting, inspiring or taking responsibility for indiscriminate attacks around the world: a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., a promenade in Nice, France, a cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a square in Istanbul. Recruits are being told to stay home and attack there. Foreign fighters are being pushed out of Iraq and Syria, back to where they came from. The Islamic State directs its external operations from Raqqa. Hence, the urgency of Raqqas liberation.
The only fighters capable of seizing Raqqa belong to our most effective partner on the ground the Syrian Democratic Forces, a mixture of Arabs and Kurds dominated by the Peoples Protection Units, a Kurdish militia. The S.D.F. can succeed only if it is armed to overcome the Islamic States ferocious urban resistance of snipers, suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices.
FRONT PAGE
A news analysis article on Sunday about the unlikelihood that President Trumps executive order on immigration would reduce the terrorist threat misstated the length of the orders ban on all visitors from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It is 90 days, not 120 days. (All refugees including from those seven countries are subject to the 120-day ban.)
NATIONAL
An article on Friday about what President Trump can and cannot do to dismantle Obama administration climate rules referred incorrectly to the American Law Institute of which Richard Revesz is director. It is not affiliated with New York University. (Mr. Revesz is also a professor of environmental law at N.Y.U.)
SPORTS
An article in some copies on Jan. 22 about Venus Williamss advancing to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, using information from The Associated Press, misstated the number of double faults she had in her fourth-round match against Mona Barthel. She had seven; it is not the case that she did not serve any.
THE ARTS
An article on Monday about the documentary Becoming Warren Buffett described incorrectly the development of the book The Snowball, a biography of Mr. Buffett. Although he cooperated with its author, Alice Schroeder, the book was not authorized. Mr. Buffett had no editorial say in its content.
Expedia believes that the executive order jeopardizes its corporate mission and could have a detrimental impact on its business and employees, as well as the broader U.S. and global travel and tourism industry, the company said.
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Mr. Khosrowshahi, who is a member of the board of directors of The New York Times, spoke about the declaration. Edited excerpts are below.
Q. How did Expedia get involved with the lawsuit?
A. The State of Washington let us know on Sunday that the suit was something they were considering and asked for our support. We are generally not aggressive against issues that do not relate to our company, but this is travel, our soul and spirit, and we felt we had to respond. Honestly, it was not a debate whether we should we be involved.
How will a temporary restraining order against the ban, as requested by the State of Washington, help Expedia?
The declaration is about helping our employees and the 1,000 or so Expedia travelers who are currently affected by the ban. Internally, the order has raised a fair amount of anxiety among our employees about where they can travel. We are a United States-based company but a global brand, and we have people flying to Asia, Europe and other parts of the world to do their jobs. Also, although we recruit talent from the United States to join Expedia, we also look for talent from around the world, and the ban makes it more difficult to recruit employees from the seven countries that are part of the ban.
President Donald J. Trump appointed Dana J. Boente, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to be acting attorney general on Monday night after he dismissed Sally Q. Yates from that role over her refusal to defend his executive order on immigration in court. The abrupt dismissal of Ms. Yates and the appointment of Mr. Boente were the latest twists in a fast-moving crisis over the executive order.
Mr. Boente (pronounced BEN-tay) is expected to serve as acting attorney general until Mr. Trumps nominee for attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican, is confirmed. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on his nomination as soon as Tuesday, which means Mr. Boente may be in his new role for a only matter of days.
So, who is Mr. Boente?
Career Civil Servant
Mr. Boente, 62, has worked for the Justice Department since 1984 under both Republican and Democratic administrations. He served in the departments tax division and held several positions in the Eastern District of Virginia. He also served as the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana from December 2012 to September 2013.
In October 2015, Mr. Boente was nominated by President Barack Obama to be the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and was confirmed by the United States Senate that December.
WASHINGTON President Trump made clear in his fiery inaugural speech that he was going to challenge the Washington establishment. Now the establishment is quickly pushing back, creating a palpable air of uncertainty and chaos in the opening days of his administration.
The new president fired an acting attorney general who refused to defend the administrations executive order on immigration. Democrats on Tuesday boycotted Senate confirmation hearings to prevent votes on cabinet nominees. State Department employees opposed to the administration were urged to quit if they didnt like Mr. Trumps direction.
Even after years of unbreakable gridlock and unyielding partisanship, it was a jarring new level of confrontation and conflict, and it was contributing to a building sense of crisis just as the new president was to disclose the identity of a new Supreme Court nominee a selection certain to further inflame tensions.
Republicans, adjusting to the new era, seemed blindsided by the rapid pace of events and the worrying failure of the new administration to engage in the information-sharing and consultation that would typically accompany the issuance of a potentially explosive proposal like the freeze on visas for refugees and immigrants from select countries.
Narayani Hosp denies people free medicines
Not all patients visiting Narayani Sub Regional Hospital in Parsa get free of cost medicines, as they are unaware about such programme and the hospital staff do not tell them.
WASHINGTON After contentious confirmation hearings, protests across the country and two rounds of voting, Betsy DeVos cleared the first hurdle in her path to becoming secretary of education on Tuesday with a party-line vote in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions that advanced her nomination to the Senate floor.
All 12 Republican senators on the committee voted for Ms. DeVos, a billionaire with a complex web of investments, including some in companies with connections to federal education policy. All 11 Democrats opposed her, calling her both dangerous and unqualified.
The committee voted twice on Ms. DeVoss nomination after Democrats protested against a vote cast on behalf of Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, who was initially absent.
Judge Hardiman, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University Law Center, has built a reputation as a conservative over more than a decade on federal courts and earlier in private practice.
He was first appointed to the Federal District Court in Pittsburgh in 2003 by President George W. Bush and then elevated four years later to the Third Circuit. In that position, he has served alongside Mr. Trumps sister, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, who is said to have recommended him for the Supreme Court.
Judge Hardiman, 51, has earned a reputation as a defender of gun rights, with several of his most notable opinions coming in Second Amendment cases.
He has also frequently taken the side of law enforcement. In one case, in 2010, Judge Hardimans majority opinion allowed New Jersey officials to strip-search people arrested for any offense before admitting them to a jail, regardless of whether the authorities had reason to suspect the possession of contraband.
And in a case last May, Judge Hardiman signed on to a decision that ruled asylum seekers were not entitled to file habeas corpus petitions to prevent or postpone their removal from the country while challenging their deportation orders.
The chaos that Mr. Trump has wrought in Washington was not a focus of the meeting, Mr. Meadows said. Any comments would have been minor in scope.
Mr. Trumps firing of Sally Q. Yates as acting attorney general after she refused to defend his executive order drew praise. She was a political hack, said Representative Louie Gohmert, Republican of Texas. I thought it was terrific.
Representative Raul Labrador, Republican of Idaho, said all administrations had a little bit of chaos in their first weeks.
I think theyre learning their lesson, he said. I think theyre going to realize that it behooves both parties to actually have a little bit more communication.
The speaker initially weighed in on the order shortly after Mr. Trump signed it on Friday. President Trump is right to make sure we are doing everything possible to know exactly who is entering our country, Mr. Ryan said then.
But as several Republican lawmakers lodged complaints about the execution of the order and, in rarer cases, the thrust of the order itself Mr. Ryan largely removed himself from the fray. In a statement over the weekend, his office said the order was not a religious test and it is not a ban on people of any religion, rejecting that there was any inconsistency between this position and Mr. Ryans criticism of Mr. Trumps proposed ban on Muslim immigration during the campaign.
At times on Tuesday, Mr. Ryan lurched toward testiness. Were not here to debate, were here to answer your questions, he told a reporter who interrupted one of his answers on the order.
She also took on the leaders of an Atlanta suburb who refused to allow construction of a mosque. The Justice Department sued, and the city reversed itself. Religious freedom requires that local government decisions impacting the exercise of that freedom be free of discrimination, Ms. Yates said at the time.
When Ms. Yates, who declined to comment on Tuesday, became deputy attorney general in 2015, she told colleagues that she had no intention of merely being a caretaker. Were going to run through the tape, she often said.
In Washington, her outgoing personality made her a counterpoint to her more reserved boss, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. At times that made Ms. Yates the face of the Justice Department in ways that caused tension with Ms. Lynchs staff. Ms. Yates was regarded as professionally ambitious, though she has told friends that she has no interest in running for political office.
Last year, Ms. Yates and Ms. Lynch earned the ire of Democrats including many in the department for not intervening to prohibit the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, from sending a letter to Congress in the final days of the presidential campaign. The letter raised the prospect of new and potentially damaging evidence against Hillary Clinton related to an investigation that had been closed. Nothing came of the new evidence, and Mrs. Clintons team says the letter cost her the presidency. Her supporters argued that Justice Department leaders were too timid to stand up to Mr. Comey.
Mr. Trumps executive order prompted a new challenge for Ms. Yates, who was serving until the Senate confirmed a new attorney general. The Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel had reviewed and signed off on the order, but Ms. Yates believed that the department had to also consider the presidents intent, which she said appeared aimed at singling out people based on religion.
Mr. Trump had promised to do as much. His campaign website still calls for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our countrys representatives can figure out what is going on. After the decision was announced, one of his advisers, Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, said in an interview that Mr. Trump had wanted a Muslim ban but needed the right way to do it legally. Mr. Trump then said in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network that Christian refugees would be given priority for entry visas to the United States.
WASHINGTON The White House on Monday warned State Department officials that they should leave their jobs if they did not agree with President Trumps agenda, an extraordinary effort to stamp out a wave of internal dissent against Mr. Trumps temporary ban on entry visas for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Career officials at the State Department are circulating a so-called dissent cable, which says that Mr. Trumps executive order closing the nations doors to more than 200 million people with the intention of weeding out a handful of would-be terrorists will not make the nation safer, and might instead deepen the threat.
These career bureaucrats have a problem with it? Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, told reporters. They should either get with the program or they can go.
It was yet another stark confrontation between the new president, who is moving swiftly to upend years of policies, and a federal bureaucracy still struggling with the jolting change of power in Washington. There is open hostility to Mr. Trumps ideas in some pockets of the government, and deep frustration among those enforcing the visa ban that the White House announced the order without warning or consulting them.
President Trump on Tuesday night named Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, a federal appeals court judge in Denver, to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on the United States Supreme Court. But theres a long way to go before the new nominee is confirmed.
Judge Gorsuch will immediately face a public and private gantlet of scrutiny, and could end up at the center of fevered political maneuvering. Just 51 votes are needed to confirm him, but one big question looms:
Will the Senate Democrats filibuster the nomination? That would require 60 votes to overcome.
Expect the task to drag on for months: Elena Kagan was confirmed 87 days after she was nominated, in 2010; Sonia Sotomayors confirmation in 2009 took 66 days, and Samuel Alito Jr. was confirmed 82 days after his nod, in 2006.
Events would have to unfold very smoothly for the nominee to be confirmed by April 26, the date of the last scheduled arguments in the current court term, which typically ends in late June. The next term begins in October.
WASHINGTON President Trump appointed Thomas D. Homan late Monday to be the new acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency within the Homeland Security Department that identifies, detains, arrests and deports immigrants who are in the country illegally.
Mr. Homan has been the agencys executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations, the division that carries out the removals. Another division, Homeland Security Investigations, has hundred of special agents who investigate fraud and other crimes.
The appointment of Mr. Homan could be seen as an indication that the president intends to carry out his campaign pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and put more focus on I.C.E.s deportation role. An executive order signed by Mr. Trump last week calls for tripling the number of deportation agents.
Mr. Homan replaced Daniel H. Ragsdale, who was the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
For Mrs. May, who visited the White House on Friday, the goal was to clarify Mr. Trumps position on NATO. During the presidential campaign, he derided the alliance as obsolete and questioned whether the United States would automatically come to the defense of its members. More recently, he has said the United States will support it a pledge the prime minister claimed to have extracted from him in their closed-door meeting.
Mr. President, I think you said, you confirmed that youre 100 percent behind NATO, Mrs. May said at a joint news conference, looking at Mr. Trump, who did not mention the alliance in his remarks.
Diplomats draw a distinction between Mr. Trumps plainly false assertions about crowd sizes or that millions of people voted illegally in the election and his hints about lifting sanctions on Russia or promises to rip up the Iran nuclear deal. The first two fall into a more standard category of positions taken by a political candidate that may later change.
Mr. Westmacott said those were not what he would call barefaced lies.
They are early statements of policy, he said, perhaps not well thought through, which European capitals and others which might draw the wrong conclusions need to see clarified. Mrs. Mays meeting with Mr. Trump, he said, was a useful first step in that process.
The trouble is, Mr. Trumps willingness to bend the truth could make it difficult to judge when the United States has settled on firm policies on these issues.
Much of that may hinge on the influence wielded by a cadre of senior cabinet officials, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State-designate Rex W. Tillerson, who hold views that differ from their bosss and are regarded as steadier hands than him.
SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco on Tuesday became the first city in the country to sue President Trump over his order to withhold federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities, saying the order was unconstitutional.
In a lawsuit filed with the United States District Court of the Northern District of California, San Franciscos city attorney, Dennis Herrera, requested an injunction on the Trump administrations attempted crackdown on sanctuary cities, which limit city agencies and local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
You cant put a gun to the head of states and localities to get them to comply with what you might want at the federal level, Mr. Herrera said.
The Trump order says it is in the interest of public safety for local officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and seeks to withhold federal grants from municipalities that have sanctuary city policies.
In September 2015, Vanessa and JR Ford sent a group email to announce that their 4-year-old, whom their family and friends knew as their son, would be starting prekindergarten that year as her true self a girl named Ellie.
The Fords decision to help Ellie transition socially from boy to girl was not something they did on a whim. Starting well before age 4, Ellie showed countless signs of being unhappy as a boy: being sullen; drawing self-portraits as a stick-figure girl; pretending to be female superheroes; dressing up in princess costumes.
For Ellie, whenever she put on a dress, she would turn into a different person; she would smile at people and talk to people, Ms. Ford said. It was such a profound change, we thought we had a son who would grow up to be a gay man. We were only thinking about sexuality because it didnt occur to us that gender identity was a part of this.
That is, until their familys Frozen-themed birthday party. When Ms. Ford said to her child, who was dressed in a Princess Elsa costume, Youre my favorite princess boy, the response was strikingly clear: Mom, Im not a boy; Im a girl in my heart and my brain.
NC, UML cadres clash; 1 hurt
Dharan in-charge of the CPN-UML-affiliated Youth Associa-tion Nepal sustained critical injuries in a clash with the Nepali Congress activists in Dharan on Sunday night.
QUEBEC From the outside, the Islamic Cultural Centers building in the Ste.-Foy neighborhood of Quebec City looks more like a medical center than a place of worship. But it is very much the heart of the citys Muslim community and, now, a site of tragedy.
Several of the six people killed by a gunman at the mosque during Sunday night prayers lived in the surrounding neighborhood, which is dominated by postwar brick houses and low-rise apartments. Others had initially come to the area to study or teach at Laval University in Ste.-Foy. They came from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Guinea, but they were connected by community and faith.
Image Khaled Belkacemi Credit... Universite Laval
Khaled Belkacemi, 60. A professor of soil and agri-food engineering at Laval University, Mr. Belkacemi arrived in Canada with his wife, Safia Hamoudi, to escape turmoil in his native Algeria, said Jean-Claude Dufour, the universitys dean of agriculture and food science.
Some diplomats said they joined the dissent by sending an email saying Im in or Please add my name as a signer along with their full name, title, position and post.
The letter was apparently circulated through informal networks of diplomats and not through any State Department-wide email list. One diplomat on vacation in the United States said he received the letter from a colleague in another part of the world who was not connected to the drafters and was simply passing it along.
What we consider before using anonymous sources. Do the sources know the information? Whats their motivation for telling us? Have they proved reliable in the past? Can we corroborate the information? Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Learn more about our process.
The diplomat predicted that hundreds of other diplomats would be eager to sign it if they could, but because of the complications of figuring out where the dissent memo originally came from, he was not sure how many would actually sign it.
Most people in the State Department have never seen anything like this, the diplomat said. He said dissent memos were reserved for major policy issues, not for little grumbles like bad food in the embassy cafeteria.
That diplomat also requested anonymity, saying that Foreign Service officers were not supposed to criticize American policy publicly and that he did not want to open himself up to accusations that he had violated the rules. That could threaten his job, he said, especially in such a polarized environment.
This is exactly what the dissent channel, as it is called, was intended for.
Starting in 1971 during the Vietnam War, the channel encourages department officials to voice their criticisms internally through a process of sending a memo or a cable to the secretary of state expressing their concerns and suggesting solutions. The final part of the visa ban memo lays out detailed alternatives, including increased vetting for specific nationalities.
State Department rules are supposed to protect dissenters from being retaliated against, and last year several dozen diplomats signed a dissent memo criticizing American policy on Syria.
NEW DELHI Three years ago, Dr. Rajesh Yadav, an investigator with the India Epidemic Intelligence Service, moved to the city of Muzaffarpur, the site of one of the countrys most mysterious outbreaks. And he waited.
Every year in mid-May, as temperatures reached scorching heights, parents took children who had been healthy the night before to the hospital. The children awakened with a high-pitch cry in the early morning, many parents said.
Then the youths began having seizures and slipping into comas. In about 40 percent of cases, they died.
Every year in July, with the arrival of monsoon rains, the outbreak ended as suddenly as it began.
Beginning in 1995, investigations variously ascribed the phenomenon to heat stroke; to infections carried by rats, bats or sand flies; or to pesticides used in the regions ubiquitous lychee orchards. But there were few signposts for investigators.
MANILA The American ambassador to the Philippines said on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte was mistaken when he accused Washington of building an arms depot and threatened to review a defense pact between the two nations.
The ambassador, Sung Kim, said there was never a plan to build any depots in the country, contrary to what Mr. Duterte said Monday at a predawn news conference.
I think perhaps some misinformation was given to the president and that is why he made the statement expressing concerns about a possible weapons depot, Mr. Kim said at a business forum. The fact is, we are not building a weapons depot anywhere in the Philippines.
He noted that Washington was pursuing projects related to the 2014 defense pact, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which allows the rotation of American troops in the Philippines and for the American military to build temporary depots to pre-position or store equipment.
DHAKA, Bangladesh Bangladeshs government is moving forward with a plan to relocate Rohingya refugees staying in camps near the countrys largest tourist resort towns to a remote island that is underwater for much of the year.
A cabinet order on Thursday directed officials to have the refugees transferred to Thengar Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal that is lashed by high tides year-round and submerged during the monsoon season. The suggestion that they be moved to the largely uninhabitable marshland several hours by boat from the mainland drew criticism from around the world.
The relocation plan was last proposed in 2015, but the government quietly suspended it after criticism from international aid groups and rights activists. Its reinstatement follows the arrival of about 65,000 Rohingya from Myanmar in October and November, after a crackdown by Myanmars army and attacks on security forces by Islamic insurgents.
The United Nations has called the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic group denied citizenship in Myanmar, the worlds most persecuted minority. John McKissick, head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Bangladeshi city of Coxs Bazar, near the Burmese border, said in November that Myanmars government was trying to achieve an ultimate goal of ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority.
HONG KONG A Chinese-born billionaire who has forged financial ties with some of the countrys most powerful families was taken by the Chinese police from his apartment at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong late last week and spirited across the border, a person close to the businessman said on Tuesday.
The billionaire, Xiao Jianhua, who has been missing since Friday, is in police custody in China, where he apparently is safe, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of arrest. Mr. Xiao is a Canadian citizen with an Antiguan diplomatic passport, though he was born in China.
His removal from Hong Kong appears to contravene the one country, two systems rule that allows the former British colony to run its own affairs and bars the Chinese police from operating here.
When asked on Tuesday about Mr. Xiao, the Hong Kong police issued a statement saying that the subject had entered mainland China through a border crossing on Friday. His disappearance was reported the following day, but on Sunday one of Mr. Xiaos family members reported that Mr. Xiao was safe and that the family had asked to withdraw the missing persons filing.
PRAGUE A statelike actor infiltrated the Czech Foreign Ministry and hacked emails belonging to the foreign minister and dozens of his colleagues, in a manner similar to the breach of the Democratic National Committees servers, the minister announced on Tuesday.
The announcement immediately raised fears across Central Europe of potential interference by Russia, which the United States government said was behind the attack on the D.N.C. That breach resulted in embarrassing leaks ahead of Donald J. Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton in the United States presidential election. Legislative elections are expected to be held in October another unnerving resemblance to the D.N.C. hack.
The attack in the Czech Republic occurred repeatedly and was detected only during a recent systems check, officials said.
The foreign minister, Lubomir Zaoralek, said at a news briefing in Prague that no classified information had been compromised and that the government uses a separate internal server to exchange confidential information. There have been previous hacking attempts at the ministry, but none succeeded.
BERLIN The seemingly endless saga of the house in which Adolf Hitler was born has taken a new turn, with the owner challenging an Austrian law that allows the government to seize ownership and, possibly, demolish the property.
The house in the town of Braunau, just across the Inn River from Bavaria, has been in limbo for decades. The Austrian government took over the main lease in 1972 in an effort to ensure that the property would not fall into the hands of someone seeking to glorify its link to a dark history. Hitler was born in the building on April 20, 1889, in an apartment that his parents had rented above a tavern on the ground level.
The Austrian government offered to buy the building in 1984 from Gerlinde Pommer, who is a descendant of the original owners. For decades, she refused to sell.
Protracted negotiations collapsed last year, and the government in Vienna submitted a bill to Parliament to expropriate the building in the national interest, given that no other historical property exists in Austria that holds such a special, global and political meaning.
LONDON When British lawmakers vote on Wednesday on whether to allow the government to begin talks on leaving the European Union, a number of opposition Labour deputies face a tricky choice: Should they follow their beliefs or their party line? Thats because the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, declared a three-line whip, a clear order to vote as instructed by the leadership and permit Prime Minister Theresa May to start the negotiations on British withdrawal. Two members of Mr. Corbyns shadow ministerial team in Parliament have so far resigned those jobs, saying that they intend to defy the instruction, and other lawmakers are expected to follow.
What is this whip, and how did the term originate?
Like most of what happens in the British Parliament, there is history here. The term derives from hunting terminology; a whipper in being a huntsmans assistant who prevents hounds from straying, using a whip to drive them back to the pack. Exactly when the word was first used in this context is unclear, though it was not recently. According to the House of Commons library, the Oxford Dictionary first recorded use of the term whipper in in the annual Register of 1772, but The House of Commons in the 18th Century, by P. D. G. Thomas, cites two earlier references, one in 1769, another in 1742.
Who or what is the chief whip?
The job of leader of the whips, known as the chief whip, seems to have been formalized in the early 19th century. In more recent times the post became one of power and patronage. In the British version of the Netflix series House of Cards (based on the book by Michael Dobbs), the sinister and Machiavellian antihero Francis Urquhart starts out as chief whip. In real life, some senior whips also have been scary. The former Labour foreign secretary Jack Straw has told of his first encounter, as a young lawmaker, with the partys deputy chief whip, Walter Harrison, who pushed him against a wall and grabbed him by the testicles. When Mr. Straw managed to ask what he had done wrong, the answer was nothing, though he said Mr. Harrison added: But think what Id do if you crossed me.
Jan Widacki, a representative of Mr. Walesa, said the matter was by no means settled. This is just an opinion, and we have the right to respond to it, he said at a news conference on Tuesday. We would like the prosecution to gather expert witnesses from various institutions, not just one that is subordinate to the government.
Image The report analyzed over 150 documents that were found last year in the house of Gen. Czeslaw Kiszczak, the longtime Communist interior minister. Credit... Kacper Pempel/Reuters
The accusations against Mr. Walesa have been made for more than 20 years, and he has long maintained that they are a result of a vendetta by former Communists. He was cleared of collaboration charges by a special court in 2000, but the controversy along with the taint on his reputation has endured.
In a Facebook post, Mr. Walesa, who was traveling outside Poland on Tuesday, repeated his denial that he had ever been a Communist. Kiszczak could not recruit me, he could not buy me or even kill me, he wrote. So he decided to write those quasi-denunciations to convince you. You can either believe me or Kiszczak.
Jan Skorzynski, a historian at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw who studied Mr. Walesas dossier, said that he believed the documents were authentic but that the political context behind them was much more complicated than the institutes analysis suggested.
Mr. Walesa was just 27 when he found himself one of the leaders of a major strike at the Gdansk shipyard. He was arrested like many other dissenters and faced grave pressure to collaborate, Mr. Skorzynski said.
After the police arrived at his house to arrest him, he left his wedding ring and watch with his wife so that she could exchange them for money in case he didnt come back, Mr. Skorzynski said. Those were the times when police tortured their prisoners. Walesa signed the agreement to collaborate in an general atmosphere of terror.
Over the next several years, Mr. Skorzynski said, Mr. Walesa was transformed from reluctant informant into genuine rebel.
Nepali worker dies in Malaysia
A Nepali migrant worker has died in a road accident in Malaysia.
The European Union has been struggling to contend with fractious internal forces. Among them: the vote by Britain to leave the bloc, the organizations failure to establish a unified response to the arrival of hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers and the debt crisis that has driven many Greeks into poverty. And then there are external pressures like Russias annexation of Crimea.
Before the election and since taking office, Mr. Trump has lauded the vote by Britain, known as Brexit, and said the country would thrive outside the European Union. He met with Nigel Farage, a populist leader of the campaign to leave the bloc, before seeing Prime Minister Theresa May. And at one point he went so far as to suggest that Mrs. May appoint Mr. Farage as Britains ambassador to the United States.
Mr. Trump has also praised President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and indicated he would pursue friendlier relations with Moscow, even as Russia encourages chaos on the European Unions eastern border.
Mr. Tusks letter does not reflect a new policy for the European Union, and member states of the 28-nation bloc are not required to act on Mr. Tusks advice when they meet on Friday. But many European leaders have made their differences with Mr. Trump known.
After the United States said it was temporarily blocking refugees from entering the country, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany felt compelled to point out to Mr. Trump the obligations of nations under the Geneva Conventions to protect refugees of war on humanitarian grounds. And President Francois Hollande of France said he had reminded Mr. Trump that the ongoing fight to defend our democracy will be effective only if we sign up to respect to the founding principles and, in particular, the welcoming of refugees.
UNITED NATIONS Already furious over President Trumps visa ban, Iran warned the United States on Tuesday not to escalate tensions over tests of Iranian missiles tests that his administrations new United Nations ambassador called absolutely unacceptable.
The Iranian warning, made in Tehran by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, came a day after American and Israeli officials accused Iran of having conducted a missile test that they said had violated a United Nations Security Council resolution.
The United States called an urgent meeting of the Council on Tuesday to discuss the grievance, making Iran the subject of the first diplomatic skirmish at the United Nations by Nikki R. Haley, the former governor of South Carolina who is Mr. Trumps new ambassador.
The United States is not naive, she told reporters after the closed meeting. Were not going to stand by. Youre going to see us call them out as we said we would, and you are also going to see us act accordingly.
Two researchers at the center, Don Rassler and Muhammad al-Ubaydi, reviewed the roughly 30 pages she sent. Confirming the authenticity of documents from a war zone is always tricky. But in a nine-page assessment, an advance copy of which was provided to The New York Times along with the documents themselves, the authors concluded the materials were genuine based on where and how Ms. Mironova obtained them and the centers experience working with an array of captured battlefield material.
All of the documents appear to be from around 2015 the early phases of the drone program and the collection includes a mix of official Islamic State forms and handwritten notes, according to the researchers analysis.
The materials reveal that the Islamic State, much like its forerunner, Al Qaedas affiliate in Iraq, is detail-oriented and bureaucratic when it comes to its operations. According to the assessment of the documents, the Islamic States drone unit falls under the Al Bara bin Malik Brigade, a part of the aviation sector of the Islamic States Committee for Military Manufacturing and Development.
The standardized four-page checklist for drone operations provided another example. On the first page, drone operators were asked to provide details about their mission specifically, the type of mission (there are six options, including Bombing and Explosive Plane), the militants who were involved, the location and the way point coordinates for the flight.
The second page of the form consisted of a checklist that seems to have been designed to help the drone operators conduct pre- or post-mission checks of their systems and equipment (including Bomb Ignition sys and Bomb igniter RC), the assessment said. The third page was a checklist of gear in the operators tool case, including screwdriver, pliers and knife.
The last page of the form asked the operators to note whether their mission had succeeded or failed. It also provided space for the operators to write notes, perhaps to document lessons learned from failed missions or interesting events that occurred during successful ones, the assessment said.
The documents also contained detailed acquisition records, essentially shopping lists for the off-the-shelf commercial technology that the Islamic State is buying.
Immigration from the seven countries targeted by President Trump has been going on for decades but has never been much more than a trickle. Altogether, immigrants and visitors from those countries are about 2 percent of all foreign-born people living in the United States.
Europe ASIA Iran Syria Libya Iraq Yemen Sudan Somalia AFRICA Syria Iran Libya Iraq Yemen Sudan Somalia
Most of these people are naturalized citizens and are not directly affected by the ban. But the status of tens of thousands of those with permanent resident status is not as clear, as administration officials have said they may be subject to greater scrutiny if they travel abroad.
And visa holders may not be able to return to the United States if they go out of the country.
Heres a look at who these people are and how they have settled in the United States.
Many Have College Degrees
As a whole, residents from the seven predominantly Muslim countries, especially Iranians and the small group of Libyans, are better educated than the rest of America. People from Syria and Sudan also tend to be better educated than the national average.
Country Less than high school High school/some college Bachelors degree Advanced degree Iran 10 % 36 % 27 % 27 % Iraq 26 % 43 % 21 % 0 9 % Libya 10 % 31 % 32 % 27 % Somalia 40 % 49 % 0 9 % 0 3 % Sudan 17 % 46 % 22 % 14 % Syria 24 % 38 % 19 % 18 % Yemen 46 % 41 % 0 8 % 0 4 %
Percentage with a bachelors degree or higher 0 20 40 60 80 100% U.S. average Iran Iraq Libya Somalia Sudan Syria Yemen 20 40 60 80 100%
Some Have Prospered
Residents from Iran, Syria and Libya, who are more likely than the population as a whole to be managers, engineers and teachers, make close to or above the median income for the entire American population.
Somalis and Sudanese are overrepresented in blue-collar jobs in manufacturing and transportation, and make less. The median income of Somalis is less than half the United States average.
Iran Iraq Libya U.S. median: $54,645 Somalia Sudan Syria Yemen 20,000 40,000 $60,000 Iran Iraq Libya U.S. median: $54,645 Somalia Sudan Syria Yemen 20,000 40,000 $60,000
Iraqis, Somalis and Sudanese Are More Recent Arrivals
The pattern is roughly commensurate with how long immigrant communities have been in the United States, with nearly half of Iranians moving there before 1990. Nearly two-thirds of Iraqis, Somalis and Sudanese have arrived since 2000.
Iran Iraq Libya Somalia Sudan Syria Yemen 100,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 80 90 00 Before 1980s 2010 or later Iran Iraq Libya Somalia 100,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 80 90 00 Before 1980s 2010 or later Sudan Syria Yemen 50,000 25,000 Libya Iran Iraq 100 In thousands 75 50 25 80 90 00 Before 1980s 2010 or later Somalia Syria Sudan 50 25 Yemen 50 25 Iran Iraq Somalia Syria Yemen Libya Sudan 100,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 80 90 00 Before 1980s 2010 or later
Most Are Now Citizens
Most United States residents from these seven countries have become citizens, a rate higher than that of the foreign-born population in the country as a whole. A small number, about 10,000, have served in the American military.
Iran All foreign-born residents: 46.6% Iraq Libya Somalia Sudan Syria Yemen 20 40 60 80 100% naturalized Iran Iraq All foreign-born residents: 46.6% naturalized Libya Somalia Sudan Syria Yemen 20 40 60 80 100%
They Have Settled in Every State
Southern California has absorbed the largest number of residents from these countries, followed by the Detroit area both places with substantial Arab and Muslim communities. But some of the groups, especially the large contingent of Somalis, are widely dispersed.
Main areas where residents from each group live
Somalis Population: 83,843 Iranians Population: 383,527
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians live in suburbs north of Los Angeles, areas that have also drawn many Iraqis, Syrians and Yemenis.
Iraqis Population: 199,380 Syrians Population: 84,035 Yemenis Population: 50,501
Thousands of Iraqis and Yemenis have settled in the Detroit area. A large contingent of Syrians lives in Brooklyn, but they have also settled in Burbank and Glendale, Calif., and the Detroit area.
Sudanese Population: 40,663 Libyans Population: 14,505
Somalis and Sudanese have settled in a very different pattern, and tend to be more isolated. Minneapolis has the most Somali-born residents, but Columbus, Ohio, and Seattle also have significant communities. Des Moines has a large number of Sudanese residents, who are also numerous in Texas and Virginia.
Three Were Involved in Attacks
Of the more than 856,000 immigrants, visa holders and green-card holders originally from the countries affected by the ban, just three are known to have carried out violent attacks inside the United States since Sept. 11, 2001, according to David Sterman, an analyst at the New America think tank who maintains a database of terrorist attacks in the United States.
One of the attackers was born in Iran and was a naturalized citizen when he drove his S.U.V. into a crowd at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006.
The two others were born in Somalia and entered the United States as refugees. One of them stabbed at least 10 people in a mall in Minnesota. The other rammed a car into pedestrians on a sidewalk and stabbed students at the campus of Ohio State University. Both attacks occurred in 2016.
New executive order bans can be found here.
A wide array of people are affected by President Trumps order, which bars for 90 days people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also bans all refugees for 120 days, and Syrian refugees indefinitely.
More than 100,000 visas for foreigners inside and outside the United States have also been revoked, at least temporarily, a government lawyer said in federal court on Friday.
After a review of the screening process, the order says officials may give recommendations for indefinite bans. Other countries may be added to the list as well.
BARRED
Visitors, Students and Workers
There were more than 86,000 nonimmigrant, temporary visits by citizens from these countries in the 2015 fiscal year, including:
Visitors, business travelers 67,669 entries in 2015 People visiting the U.S. for recreational or business purposes on non-immigrant travel visas like B-1 or B-2. Students 14,135 entries in 2015 International students (and their families) enrolled in U.S. programs on non-immigrant visas like F-1, J-1 and M-1. Temporary workers 1,005 entries in 2015 Employees (and their families) on non-immigrant work visas like H-1B for specialty workers and H-2B for agricultural workers. Fiances of U.S. citizens 772 entries in 2015 Temporary visas for fiances of U.S. citizens and for spouses and children of U.S. citizens or green card holders who have pending immigrant visas.
The ban affects people who are currently in the United States on temporary visas who would normally be allowed to travel to their home country and re-enter the United States, like students. According to the Institute of International Education, 17,354 international students from the seven countries were enrolled in American institutions during the 2015-16 school year.
BARRED
New Immigrants
The ban also affects people newly arriving on immigrant visas, which are issued based on employment or family status. People issued immigrant visas become legal permanent residents upon arrival in the United States and are issued a green card soon after.
In 2015, green cards were issued to 52,365 people from these seven countries. In general, about half of recent new legal permanent residents are new arrivals to the country, and the other half had their status adjusted after living in the United States.
BARRED
Refugees
The ban on all refugees to the United States is set at 120 days. Syrian refugees, who made up the second largest group of refugees to the United States in 2016, are barred indefinitely.
The order allows exceptions for refugees in minority religious groups and for those already in transit for whom a denial would cause undue hardship, or in line with pre-existing international agreements. The administration on Tuesday said that about 900 refugees would being processed this week for waivers because of hardship concerns. According to a State Department spokesperson, this group does not include individuals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen.
When the refugee program is reinstated, refugees in minority religious groups will be prioritized for acceptance. Although the order does not explicitly mention Christians as a minority religion that will be given preference, Mr. Trump said that was what he intended.
EXEMPT
Green Card Holders and Special Immigrants
After initial confusion over whether Mr. Trumps order applied to green card holders, the administration said that they would be assessed upon arrival, and that swift entry would be expected. Later it changed course and said that green card holders would not be subject to an additional check.
From 1999 to 2015, 3.6 percent of new legal permanent residents were from the seven affected countries.
Iraqis who worked for the United States government or served as translators or interpreters for the military and had been approved for special immigrant visas (SIVs) will also be allowed, and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad will continue to process new applications. It was initially unclear whether the ban affected these visas.
ALLOWED
Dual Nationals and Diplomats
The ban does not apply to some groups, including U.S. citizens and dual nationals who enter the United States presenting their passport from a country not under the ban. There was initially confusion over how these people would be affected, though the White House had told the governments of Canada and Britain that their citizens who were dual nationals of one of the seven countries would not be barred.
People on certain types of diplomatic or government visas are also exempted from the ban. Nearly 2,500 admissions from these countries were made on these visas in 2015:
Tech: The Voice of the Opposition
In my conversations with officials here in Washington this week, Ive made it clear that Apple believes deeply in the importance of immigration both to our company and to our nations future. Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do.
Timothy D. Cook, Apples chief executive, in a memo to staff.
A significant part of the tech community, which relies on highly skilled immigrants, went to the barricades after Mr. Trump signed the executive order. Just about everyone in Silicon Valley, the heart of the industry, came from somewhere else or is a son or daughter of someone who did or is married to someone who did.
Among the big tech companies, Microsoft, Amazon and Expedia have been the most vocal, declaring support for the Washington State Attorney Generals Office, which is suing in federal court to stop Mr. Trumps order.
Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, Facebook, Google, Apple, Amazon and a host of others have said that they oppose the ban or have expressed concerns about the implications of the order.
Perhaps one of the most notable reactions came from Sergey Brin, a Google founder who immigrated from the Soviet Union when he was 6. Mr. Brin was seen attending an impromptu protest on Saturday night at San Francisco International Airport.
@karaswisher look who joined the protest at SFO pic.twitter.com/tCfm6CS0n7
Sina Vaziri (@SinaVaziri) January 29, 2017
Guinness lovers, rejoice! For the first time in 63 years, iconic Irish brewers Guinness will open a brewery in the United States. The current site under consideration is Relay, Md., an outer suburb of Baltimore. The brewerys parent company, Diageo, is investing $50 million in the project, which is set to include a Guinness brewery, packaging warehouse and an innovative microbrewery at the companys existing Relay facility. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan praised the brewery plans in a statement:
Guinness plan to build a brewery at its historic facility in Relay, Md., is great news for job creation, manufacturing and tourism in our state. Beer tourism attracts millions of visitors to towns and communities across the country every year and I look forward to welcoming Guinness to the roster of excellent breweries we have here in Maryland.
The building will be based on Guinness popular Open Gate Brewery, which boasts experimental and rare limited-release brews. According to Diageo, The new brewery would be a home for new Guinness beers created for the US market, while the iconic Guinness Stouts will continue to be brewed at St. Jamess Gate in Dublin, Ireland. In other words, the original Guinness will still be brewed exclusively in Ireland, while brews intended for U.S. palates will be brewed at the Maryland facility. Diageo is expecting final confirmation soon, with hopes for the construction to start in the spring and conclude in the fall. Apparently, the goal is to have Guinness U.S. open in time for the 200th anniversary of Guinness being imported to the U.S.
Read Pastes review of the Guinness Nitro IPA, and click here to watch some trippy, fever-dream-inspired Guinness commercials from the 1970s.
Sick of your job? Sick of your coworkers? Sick of your friends? Sick of doing pretty much the same thing every weekend and getting vaguely ill at ease with the idea that the weeks and months of your life are falling away quicker and quicker and youre yet to find a sense of purpose or joy in what youre doing? Nothing holds back a tide of crushing ennui like a trip overseas.
Given the current instability in the US, theres never been a better time to pack your bags, head to Europe and hook up with an impressive roster of Mediterranean backpackers in between hearty sips of Czech beer that you couldnt even begin to pronounce properly.
Theres also never been a better time to do it thanks to some insanely cheap flights from Scoot, Singapore Airlines disarmingly low-cost international carrier.
Lets get straight to the biscuits. So the flights all go into Athens, which seems like a not-at-all-terrible place to start a European holiday, but prices will vary based on where youre coming from:
Sydney: $420
Perth: $369
Gold Coast: $415
Sydney: $399
Melbourne: $422
There are none from Adelaide or Darwin, unfortunately, but you could always fix that with a cheeky connecting domestic flight. The flights are available from June onwards, which is perfect if youre after two summers.
The airfares themselves dont include checked baggage or in-flight meals, so there will be an extra cost if you want to bring more than 7 or 8 KG worth of stuff and also dont want to have to bring food for the flight.
You can check out what theyve got going on right here.
Photo:
NWEDC restores quake-affected communities
The Nepal Water and Energy Development Company Private Limited (NWEDC) with support from K-Consortium, IFC,
Northwest Technical Institute Business and Industry Training Center joins Career Step's trusted network of 150+ academic partners
Northwest Technical Institute Business and Industry Training Center
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-- Career Step (http://www.careerstep.com/?uid=pub170131), an online provider of career-focused education and professional training, is pleased to announce Northwest Technical Institute (NTI) Business and Industry Training Center as its newest academic partner."NTI Business and Industry shares our mission of changing lives through education, training and skill development,"said Ryan Ewer, Vice President of Academic Partnerships. "This shared goal made our partnership a natural fit, and we look forward to helping a new group of learners gain the right skills and training to advance their careers and succeed in the workforce."The Arkansas-based NTI Business and Industry joins more than 150 other educational institutions, including University of Utah, Cal State San Bernardino and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, in Career Step's network of academic partners.NTI Business and Industry was founded in 1996 to provide job-skills training to residents of northwestern Arkansas. Their curriculum ranges from healthcare, business and industrial arts career programs to community education and certification/licenses.The academic partnership adds a number of Career Step's healthcare courses to the NTI Business and Industry lineup, including Medical Billing, Medical Coding and Billing, Veterinary Assistant, Medical Transcription and Editing, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant with EHR, Healthcare IT and Medical Office Manager."In a region with few career-training options, we are grateful for quality academic partners offering opportunities that may be challenging for us to provide otherwise," said Gretchen Sawyer, Program Manager at NTI Business and Industry. "Career Step's courses will open doors to fulfilling, in-demand healthcare careers to our students with the added bonus of flexibility and convenience that only an online education can deliver."Career Step's academic partnership program has helped provide students with opportunities to train in growing industries through joint ventures with higher learning institutions for more than a decade. The schools usually offer the courses through their continuing education departments, helping students quickly start new careers.More information about Career Step's partnership with NTI Business and Industry is available at CareerStep.com/ntibi ( http://www.careerstep.com/ ntibi?uid=pub170131 ). To learn more about Career Step's academic partnership program, please visit CareerStep.com/partner ( http://www.careerstep.com/ partner?uid= pub170131 ).Career Step is an online provider of career-focused education and professional training. The company has trained over 100,000 students for new careers, has more than 150 partnerships with colleges and universities nationwide, offers a variety of continuing education courses for healthcare professionals and has educated more than 100,000 healthcare professionals. Career Step provides training for several of the largest and most respected healthcare employers in the nation and is committed to helping students and practicing healthcare professionals alike gain the skills they need to be successful in the workplace--improving lives, advancing careers and bettering business results through education. More information can be found at www.careerstep.com (http://www.careerstep.com/?uid=pub170131)or 1-800-246-7836.
Contact
Brooke Slezak
***@brookeslezak.com Brooke Slezak
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-- World Bicycle Relief is pleased to announce new Board of Director member Paula Restrepo.Ms. Restrepo joins World Bicycle Relief's Board of Directors at a pivotal moment as the organization sets ambitious new goals for accelerated growth in social enterprise business development and philanthropic programs. Ms. Restrepo's significant corporate and philanthropic background coupled with her experience as a Buffalo bicycle customer make her a powerful addition to World Bicycle Relief's Board of Directors.Through her direct experience with World Bicycle Relief's programs in Colombia, Ms. Restrepo brings to the Board of Directors a deep knowledge of World Bicycle Relief's operations. In her former role as Sustainability Director at Postobon, a leading Colombian Food and Beverage conglomerate, Ms. Restrepo worked directly with World Bicycle Relief as a Buffalo bicycle customer. Through a three-year partnership, Postobon delivered 3,000 bicycles to students in Colombia replicating World Bicycle Relief's highly successful BEEP program connecting rural students to distant schools. Ms. Restrepo is uniquely positioned to provide insight and guidance as World Bicycle Relief builds out its strategy to deepen corporate engagement and scale programming."The addition of Paula to our Board will be highly valuable," said FK Day, Co-Founder and CEO of World Bicycle Relief. "Over the past three years we have worked closely with Paula as her company implemented the BEEP program in Colombia. Her knowledge of and insights into our process, product and programming will provide us with a unique and actionable perspective from a partner's standpoint. In addition to her deep knowledge of our organization, Paula also broadens the scope of our Board of Directors with her extensive global business and cultural leadership background."As Sustainability Director at Postobon, Ms. Restrepo directed the corporate brand, reputation management and sustainability that resulted in Postobon continually ranking as one of Colombia's top 20 companies. Before her position at Postobon, Ms. Restrepo was the Corporate Responsibility Director for Empresas Publicas de Medellin, the second largest company in Colombia and the largest utility company in the country. Prior to her role at Empresas Publicas de Medellin, Ms. Restrepo was the Director of the Museum of Modern Art, Medellin, Colombia, and implemented a plan that successfully rebuilt the institution through artist engagement, fundraising, key partnerships with government and the private sector and organizational restructuring.World Bicycle Relief is a global non-profit that designs and distributes high-quality, purpose built bicycles to students, entrepreneurs and health care workers in the developing world. With the increased efficiency and productivity that a bicycle provides, individuals are able to accomplish much more every day. Students stay in school, health care workers visit more patients and entrepreneurs increase profits. World Bicycle Relief is dedicated to helping individuals overcome the barrier of distance through The Power of Bicycles.Founded in 2005, World Bicycle Relief mobilizes people through The Power of Bicycles. World Bicycle Relief accomplishes its mission by distributing specially designed, high quality bicycles through philanthropic and social enterprise programs. These purpose designed bicycles are built to withstand the challenging terrain and conditions in rural, developing areas. Entrepreneurs use the bicycles to increase productivity and profits. Students attend class more regularly and improve their academic performances. And, health care workers visit more patients in less time, providing better, more consistent care. World Bicycle Relief also promotes local economies and long-term sustainability by assembling bicycles locally and training field mechanics to service the bicycles. To date, World Bicycle Relief has delivered over 330,000 bicycles and trained over 1,200 field mechanics in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. World Bicycle Relief is a registered nonprofit in the USA, Canada, U.K., Germany and Australia, and has assembly facilities in Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Angola.For more information, please visit: http://worldbicyclerelief.org Follow us @PowerOfBicycles and Like us at facebook.com/worldbicyclereliefWorld Bicycle Relief Media Contact:Brooke Slezakbrooke@brookeslezak.compress@worldbicyclerelief.orgMobile: 917.689.6024
Utah Business Magazine Names Landmark Home Warranty as One of the Utah Companies with the Happiest Employees
Contact
Jeff Thompson
jthompson@landmarkhw.com
***@landmarkhw.com Jeff Thompsonjthompson@landmarkhw.com
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-- SALT LAKE CITY December 8, 2016 -- Landmark Home Warranty was recently recognized as one of the best companies to work for in Utah by Utah Business magazine.The award came after Utah Business magazine anonymously surveyed the in-state employees who worked at Landmark, asking them about their work experience, growth opportunities, and leadership involvement, to name a few.The results came back as some of the best in Utah, with Landmark Home Warranty being named one of the top 50 companies with the happiest and most satisfied employees. (http://www.utahbusiness.com/medium-companies-best-companies-to-work-for/)Alma Jeppson, President of Landmark Home Warranty, said he was pleased that Landmark had been recognized, and said the award shows how much the leadership of the company cares about its employees."It's a testament to how our leadership here works," Jeppson said. "We truly care about our employees and making sure they feel fulfilled in their jobs here at Landmark. That means giving them accountability and responsibility, and listening to their thoughts on the business."Landmark Home Warranty is headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, in an office that includes a 2,000 square foot communal kitchen, a putting green, a Ping-Pong table, Zen and game room, and soon, a mother's lounge.Although the space the employees work in is important for their contentment in their jobs, Donnie Welch, publisher of Utah Business magazine, said the happiness of the employees of businesses who are on this list is more deeply rooted in their feelings of fulfillment surrounding their job."In their surveys, your employees explained that what they most appreciate are the opportunities to learn and advance their careers, especially when they have a leadership team that is willing to mentor them and support their aspirations,"Welch said in the press release announcing the winners. ( http://www.utahbusiness.com/ best-companies- to-work-for- ho... Chris Smith, Senior Vice President of Landmark Home Warranty, said the award shows how the Landmark culture benefits employees and stands out from other companies of their size."As an executive team, we know how important fun activities and breaks are, but we also recognize that employees are more motivated and satisfied with their jobs when they feel like they contribute something to the company as a whole," he said. "We have tried to develop a culture at Landmark that does both, and it's great to see that employees are seeing the benefit in that."Landmark was also named as the Utah Business magazine's 22nd fastest growing Utah company ( https://www.landmarkhw.com/ resources/landmark- home-warran... ) a few short months ago.Ben Gilchrist, Landmark Home Warranty's human resources director, said that he hopes that this award will draw more future employees to work at Landmark and continue that growth."We hope this award will bring more individuals who are looking to work in a positive and fulfilling environment to apply for positions at Landmark," Gilchrist said.###Please visit www.landmarkhw.com for more information. If you're interested in applying to work at Landmark Home Warranty, you can look at our current job opportunities here (https://www.landmarkhw.com/employment).
By: NextLot, Inc.
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-- Zomer Auctioneering & Associates, an industry leader in agricultural land and equipment auctions, will be hosting several Timed Online Only Auctions and Live Online Auctions this coming month. These auctions will present the perfect opportunity to get some quality items and discount prices.Here are the scheduled auctions for the month of February: Dan Finch Estate-Marlies FinchOwner and Others - Inwood, IA. Auction Closes Saturday February 11at 10:30 am CST Carolyn Porter Estate Dragonware Collection - Inwood, IA. Auction Closes Saturday February 11at 1:15 pm CST Carolyn Porter Estate- Inwood, IA. Auction Closes Saturday February 11at 2:30 pm CST Antique Adoption Copper Dolphin Fountain, Outdoor Items, Books, Etc. Harrisburg, SD. Auction Closes Tuesday February 14at 5:00 pm CST Antique Adoption Signs, Glassware & Decor, Ad. Items, Etc. - Harrisburg, SD. Auction Closes Tuesday February 14at 7:00 pm CST Antique Adoption Vintage Clothing, Linens, Jewelry, Hats, Mannequins & Clothing Racks. - Harrisburg, SD. Auction Closes Wednesday February 15at 5:00 pm CST Antique Adoption Furniture, Lamps, & Pictures. - Harrisburg, SD. Auction Closes Wednesday February 15at 7:00 pm CST Antique Adoption Vintage Kitchen, Crocks, Wicker, Etc. - Harrisburg, SD. Auction Closes Thursday February 16at 5:00 pm CST Antique Adoption Toys and Dolls. - Harrisburg, SD. Auction Closes Thursday February 16at 7:00 pm CSTFirst Time bidding online? Zomer Auctioneering & Associates offers live Internet bidding powered by NextLot.com, the world's leading online auction provider. This online bidding platform will allow you to keep track of all of the lots you are interested in and have bid on. Zomer Auctioneering & Associates desires to make bidders as comfortable as possible when bidding online.About Zomer Auctioneering & Associates: We are your full time Real Estate & Auction Agency where we utilize the cutting edge of the latest digital technology in our auction marketing by focusing on a large network of buyers and sellers. We serve Northwest Iowa, Southeast South Dakota and Southwest Minnesota. With over 75+ years of combined experience, we promote honest and professional service by conducting live and online auctions of farmland, business liquidations, antiques, toys, estates, farm machinery, real estate and personal property. You can expect nothing less than attention to detail, honesty, and a high level of professionalism with marketing your lifetime investments.
By: Open Education Consortium
2017 Awards for Excellence
Contact
Susan Huggins, Open Education Consortium
***@oeconsortium.org Susan Huggins, Open Education Consortium
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--provide annual recognition to outstanding contributions in the Open Education community. The awards are presented by the Open Education Consortium's Board of Directors to recognize truly exceptional work and dedication to Open Education. Individual awards recognize career achievements in the two categories of Leadership & Educator.This year, theis presented to two individuals that have demonstrated strong leadership, longstanding involvement, and whose contributions have spanned regions or had global impact on Open Education.positioned open education as an important strategy of her policy. She started a structural granting programme, supporting bottom-up initiatives for universities. During the EU Presidency of the Netherlands (first half of 2016), she placed open education on the agenda.a pan-African project with 35 partner universities, is being recognized for his lifelong commitment to the expansion of educational opportunities. Through Dr. Diallo's leadership, the AVU has developed OER-based courses and degrees in math and science teacher education and in computer science.Theis presented to an individual who has shown exceptional dedication to high quality teaching and learning and a commitment to the ideals of Open Education, namely: access, equity and opportunity. This year, we are pleased to present the award to. She is highly committed to Open Educational Resources (OER) in the field of Health Sciences and personal development. Her involvement with OER began in 2013 when she joined the Miriada X MOOC platform coordinating several courses. She has taught a total of 28 editions, 7 different MOOCs in Miriada X with more than 230,000 enrollments. In 2014, she won second prize of the Miriada X-SEGIB Latin American Award, for her MOOC "Strengthen your mind."The Open Education Awards for Excellence provide annual recognition to outstanding contributions in the Open Education Consortium community. These awards recognize distinctive open education sites, technological innovations, notable open courses, and exemplary leaders in Open Education worldwide.The Open Education Consortium is a global network of educational institutions, individuals and organizations that support an approach to education based on openness, including collaboration, innovation, collective development and use of open educational materials. The Open Education Consortium is a non-profit, social benefit organization registered in the United States and operating worldwide. http://www.oeconsortium.org/
Instarmac's Portuguese partner, Asfaltovia, have supplied UltraCrete Instant Road Repair Red to a local school to help them create a new playground for their students.
By: Instarmac Group plc
Contact
Instarmac Group plc
international@ instarmac.com
+44 (0) 1827 871871 Instarmac Group plc+44 (0) 1827 871871
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-- Domus Social Empresa de Habitacao e Manutencao do Municipio do Porto, E.M. required a red asphalt to complete their new playground at local school EB Caramila in Oporto, Portugal. The required asphalt needed to provide a permanent finish and cause as minimal disruption as possible to the daily routine of the school.In previous projects of this size, CCR Engenharia Construco Corte Recto, the chosen contractor for this project, had used hot asphalt as the finishing surface. However, access to the playground was very limited and therefore was not possible to get the machinery needed to lay hot asphalt an alternative product was required!UltraCrete Instant Road Repair Red is available in 25kg buckets which allowed the contractors to gain access to site easily, without the need for large equipment. The bucket can also be re-sealed and used another day which meant that no product goes to waste.What's more, Instant Road Repair Red has been independently tested and approved by the Highways Authority Product Approval Scheme (HAPAS) for over 10 years, and is proven to be a quality, flexible and durable solution for first time, permanent repairs.Applied in 3 easy steps UltraCrete Instant Road Repair Red can be applied in all weathers - including the sweltering temperatures in Portugal and can be trafficked instantly which meant the students of EB Caramila school could enjoy their new playground in no time at all!Not only is UltraCrete Instant Road Repair Red suitable for repairs in roads and footpaths, the colour of this cold lay asphalt means it is also ideal for repairs to cushions and ramps, bus lanes, cycle tracks, bus stops and colour coded car parks.UltraCrete Instant Road Repair Red is one of many first time, permanent cold lay asphalts available from Instarmac. To find out more please email international@ instarmac.com or call the International Sales Team on +44 (0) 1827 871871.To contact Asfaltovia, please visit www.asfaltovia.com or email grimnir@asfaltovia.com.
By: Moss & Associates
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-- Moss & Associates celebrated the topping off of Fort Lauderdale's tallest building to date, the much anticipated, 45-story ICON Las Olas, with a luncheon for nearly 650 employees and guests.The $160 million luxury residential project, which is being developed in partnership with the Related Group and Rabina Properties, is located at 500 E Las Olas Blvd., and consists of 272 luxury residential units ranging from 960 to 1,926 square-feet. Designed by Sieger Suarez Architects, the 826,385 square-foot building offers unprecedented ocean and river views while towering above Las Olas, a Sky Terrace, Smart Building Technology, luxury spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, wine cellar, retails spaces, restaurants and a seven-story parking garage."We are proud to be a part of this project, which sets a new benchmark for construction in Fort Lauderdale,"said Scott Desharnais, Executive Vice President of Moss & Associates. "This has been a highly anticipated offering in the market, and being that is the tallest highrise in the city, it honors us that the Related Group trusted our firm with the realization of this concept.""The Related Group has been committed to delivering a property like Icon Las Olas for years, and we are excited to see the concept finally come to life on this iconic street," said Patrick Campbell, Vice President of The Related Group. "Nothing like this has ever existed in Fort Lauderdale before, and we're thrilled to have teamed up with Rabina Properties and Moss to turn this vision into a reality.""Partnering with leading industry titans like The Related Group and Moss & Associates on this project has been a great experience,"said Mickey Rabina, President and CEO of Rabina Properties. "Icon Las Olas combines the best talent with an exceptional location overlooking all of Fort Lauderdale, and I think that will be reflected in the final product."The project broke ground in February 2015 and is expected to achieve final completion in July 2017.About Moss:Moss & Associates (www.mosscm.com)is a national privately held construction firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With 9 regional offices in five states from Hawai'i to USVI, Moss focuses on construction management at-risk, design-build, and public-private partnerships. The company's diverse portfolio encompasses a wide range of sectors, including luxury high-rise residential, landmark mixed-use developments, hospitality, primary and higher education, justice and solar energy. Moss prides itself on a strong entrepreneurial culture that honors safety, quality, client engagement, and employee development. Its employees consistently rank Moss as one of the best places to work for career satisfaction.About the Related GroupEstablished in 1979, The Related Group is Florida's leading developer of sophisticated metropolitan living and one of the country's largest real estate conglomerates. Its innovative residential developments, that reach cross-market sectors, have dramatically altered South Florida's urban landscape. Since its inception, the privately held company has built, rehabilitated and managed more than 90,000 condominium and apartment residences. The Related Group has earned international status for its visionary designs and development of luxury condominiums, market-rate rentals, mixed-use centers and affordable properties often in emerging neighborhoods that impact the lives of all demographics. The firm is one of the largest Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States with a development portfolio of projects in excess of $15 Billion. The Related Group has redefined the new cycle of real estate by diversifying both its products and buyers, expanding internationally with projects in Mexico, India and Brazil, while sponsoring public art installations that enhance the city's global culture and streetscapes. TIME Magazine named Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Related Group, Jorge Perez, one of top 25 most influential Hispanics in the United States, and he's made the cover of Forbes twice. Currently, The Related Group has over 50 projects in varying phases of development, led by Chief Operating Officer, Matt Allen, and four division presidents, including Carlos Rosso, President of Related Condominium;Steve Patterson, President of Related Development;Albert Milo, President of Related Urban Development;and Larry Lennon, President of TRG Management.About Rabina Properties:Rabina Properties (www.RabinaProperties.com)is a real estate investment, development, and management firm based in New York. Family-owned and operated for three generations and more than sixty years, Rabina Properties owns more than seven million square feet of apartment houses, office buildings, retail properties and industrial sites. Icon Las Olas is part of the firm's portfolio expansion which includes the development of two thousand apartments, office acquisitions, and new industrial projects. The development of Icon Las Olas exemplifies one of Rabina Properties guiding principles which is to work with best-in-class partners where each side contributes expertise in addition to equity.
With Much of the Student Population Coming from Lower 60% Income Brackets, 'Equality of Opportunity Project' Analysis Shows Significant Movement
By: Woodbury University
Media Contact
Ken Greenberg
Edge Communications, Inc.
ken@edgecommunicationsinc.com
(323) 469-3397 Ken GreenbergEdge Communications, Inc.(323) 469-3397
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-- In a major new study (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/18/upshot/some-colleges-have-more-students-from-the-top-1-percent-than-the-bottom-60.html)by high-level academics and reported in-depth byearlier this month, Woodbury University (http://woodbury.edu/)has emerged as a national and statewide leader in student economic mobility, the university said today.Addressing economic diversity and student outcomes, the study (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/18/upshot/some-colleges-have-more-students-from-the-top-1-percent-than-the-bottom-60.html), originally published on Jan. 18, examined millions of anonymous tax filings and tuition records for "Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility," from The Equality of Opportunity Project (http://www.equality-of-opportunity.org/). The study defines "mobility rate" as the portion of a college's students who come from a family in the bottom fifth of the income distribution and end up in the top fifth of the income distribution. The analysis revealed that some colleges are even more economically segregated than previously understood, while others are associated with income mobility.According to the, the mobility rate the researchers developed "captures the share of all students at a given college who both came from a lower-income family and ended up in a higher-income family." Dominating the top of this list are mid-tier public and private institutions, not elite colleges.In terms of mobility from bottom 20 percent to top 20 percent of income by one's 30s, Woodbury ranks 36nationally, out of 2200 colleges and universities, and 7in California, out of 167 colleges and universities ( https://www.nytimes.com/ interactive/ projects/college- mobility/woodbury- university ). Approximately 6.4 percent of students at Woodbury came from a poor family but became highly affluent a decade after graduation.According to Nathan Garrett, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Information Technology and Assistant Dean, Woodbury School of Business, the 6.4 percent figure is highly significant when compared to the vast majority of schools, where only 120 colleges and universities have a rate of 4 percent or higher ( http://www.equality- of-opportunity.org/ ). The median family income of a student from Woodbury is $63,800, and 33 percent come from the top 20 percent."This is a score representing the number of students moving up two or more quintiles -- a fifth -- in income after graduating,"Garrett said. "Basically, it's a measure of social mobility. The higher the number, the more likely it is that students who come in end up earning more money than their parents.""Given that more than half of Woodbury students come from the lower 60 percent of the family income brackets, these results are simply remarkable,"said David Steele-Figueredo, Woodbury University President. "They affirm our strategic focus on delivering a quality liberal arts education, built around various practice-based disciplines, at a price families can afford. Our interactive learning environment transforms students many of whom are the first in their families to attend college -- into innovative, highly successful professionals."Under the direction of economists Raj Chetty, John Friedman, Emmanuel Saez, Nicholas Turner and Danny Yagan, The Equality of Opportunity Project (http://www.equality-of-opportunity.org/)analyzed the data of more than 30 million students between 1999 and 2013, as well as the access rate (which percentage of students belonging to the lowest 20 percent of salaried employees was able to enroll) from universities across the country. Analyzing to which economic quintile of the population belonged the students between the age of 15 and 19 years and to which belong to the age of 32 after going to university, it is possible to analyze how many of them have better obtained their socioeconomic position thanks to the studies.The statistics cover only schools that participate in Title IV federal funding, which excludes the military academies and certain other colleges. Measures of access are for students born in 1991, roughly the class of 2013; measures of outcomes and mobility are for students born between 1980 and 1982, who are around age 35, when relative income ranks stabilizes. Class size figures represent the number of students in the study who were born in 1991: approximately the class of 2013 or today's 25-year-olds. This measure does not include international students or students who could not be linked to their parents' tax returns.Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California. The university ranks 15th among the nation's "25 Colleges That Add the Most Value," according toand is a 2016-17 College of Distinction. Woodbury is a finalist for the General Community Service Award, a part of the 2015 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognition program. With campuses in Burbank/Los Angeles and San Diego, the university offers bachelor's degrees from the School of Architecture, School of Business, School of Media, Culture & Design, and College of Liberal Arts, along with a Master of Business Administration, Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture and Master of Science in Architecture. The San Diego campus offers Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture degrees, as well as a Master of Science in Architecture, Real Estate Development. Visit woodbury.edu for more information.
Castellum has signed a 10-year lease with Speed Group for a logistics facility of 28,000 sq.m. adjacent to the Port of Gothenburg. Speed Group is a logistics operator in Gothenburg and Boras. The demand for warehouse and logistics premises is large in the Gothenburg area. Castellum announced in November 2016
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Pakistan detains 26/11 Mumbai attacks suspect
Pakistani officials have ordered the detention of a firebrand cleric linked to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks which killed 166 people.
Patrizia Immobilien AG has increased its first logistics fund Patrizia Logistik-Invest Europe I, which was launched last August, by further purchases made in Germany and France. With additional objects waiting in the queue, the company is about to reach its defined target volume of 500 million within a short
Photos: Patrizia, Patrizia
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Philadelphia's public housing residents are breathing in less secondhand smoke since a 2015 comprehensive smoke-free policy went into place, a new study indicates.
Ann Klassen, PhD, a professor in Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health, led the study that monitored nicotine levels in Philadelphia Housing Authority properties both before and after the smoke-free policy was implemented. Klassen and her team found that although the number of places where nicotine was detected remained unchanged, the levels of detected nicotine were reduced by almost half after the policy was enacted.
"This is encouraging," Klassen said. "These data show a reduction in exposure to airborne nicotine, which is an indicator of reduced exposure to secondhand smoke, and, therefore, healthier air in multi-unit housing."
With the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) now requiring all public housing authorities across the U.S. to implement smoke-free policies by 2018, these findings from Philadelphia are a timely look at what could be accomplished.
For their study, set to be published in Tobacco Regulatory Science, Klassen, Drexel epidemiologist Nora Lee, PhD, and colleagues partnered with the Philadelphia Housing Authority and Philadelphia Department of Health, as well as the Second Hand Smoke Exposure Assessment Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. The Philadelphia Housing Authority is the largest in the country to implement a fully smoke-free policy in their properties. The policy, approved in July, 2015, was developed by Philadelphia Housing Authority leadership in partnership with PHA residents, with technical support from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, including on-site cessation services provided through the Health Federation of Philadelphia and National Nurse-Led Care Consortium.
Prior to the new policy, smoking was not permitted in public areas, but was allowed inside individual homes. However, there was concern about how secondhand smoke drifted in these properties and how much they affected common areas, like hallways, laundry room and elevators, and non-smoking households. In multi-unit housing, as much as 60% of air is transferred between units
To measure potential secondhand smoke exposure, the team placed monitors throughout four different communities, ranging from high-rise apartment complexes to rowhomes, to capture nicotine in the air. Airborne nicotine was measured in common areas, where the average nicotine level was found to be significantly reduced (from 0.44 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013 to 0.23 in 2016). Inside non-smoking residents' homes, trends toward reduced nicotine exposures were also seen.
These findings confirm that community-wide smoke-free policies are more effective in reducing secondhand smoke exposures for all residents than policies that permit smoking inside individual residences. This is very important in public housing communities, which include a variety of residents, including children, elderly, and chronically ill residents, who are especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases, like asthma.
Klassen's study took readings from monitors in 2013, 2014 and 2016, but she supports continuing assessment. "For all new policies, it is very important to continue to monitor implementation over time and support consistent improvements," Klassen said. "Sustainable change takes long-term commitment, but this is a strong start."
Programming could strengthen that start and continue progress.
"Cessation and education services are an ongoing need all communities, as successful cessation takes time and support," Klassen explained. "In addition, environmental education -- how secondhand smoke travels and how it remains over time -- is a great interest for residents. We found that both smokers and non-smokers are truly interested in learning about how to protect the health of their families and communities."
After more than a year of data collection, analysis and mapping, the University of Georgia River Basin Center and the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute recently published a comprehensive survey of Southeastern watersheds and the diverse aquatic wildlife that live in these freshwater ecosystems.
The study's creators say they hope it will serve as a master plan to guide research and conservation work that will ensure the long-term survival of these waterways, which have suffered from intensive human development.
"Rivers and streams in the U.S. are the arteries that flow through our landscape, and they carry a measure of the health of the landscape with them," said Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Director Anna George. "Right now, those rivers are having heart attacks.
"What we're doing is like visiting a doctor to learn how to take better care of the health of our rivers. We've identified some of the most important places to start a small change in our habits and how we take care of our waters."
Scientists scored each watershed based on three characteristics: the number of species it contained, the conservation status of those species and how widespread each species was. Areas containing a greater variety of species, large numbers of endangered or threatened species or species found in few or no other locations were ranked higher.
According to the study, the 10 highest-priority watersheds are:
-- Pickwick Lake in middle Tennessee and northern Alabama
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-- Wheeler Lake in middle Tennessee and northern Alabama
-- Cahaba in central Alabama
-- Upper Clinch in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia
-- Middle Coosa in northeast Alabama
-- Lower Duck in middle Tennessee
-- Conasauga in southeast Tennessee and northwest Georgia
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-- Lower Coosa in central Alabama
-- Etowah in northwest Georgia
-- Caney in middle Tennessee
The report uses colored heat maps to represent the variety of species in a given area -- warmer colors indicating greater diversity -- and are based on the distribution of more than 1,000 fish, crayfish and mussel species in almost 300 watersheds spanning 11 states. The vivid red-and-orange bull's-eye centered on middle and southeast Tennessee, northwest Georgia and northern Alabama shows why this region is so biologically significant.
Experts place the region's plethora of aquatic wildlife on equal footing with that of species-rich tropical ecosystems. More than 1,400 species reside in waterways within a 500-mile radius of Chattanooga, including about three-quarters of all native fish species in the United States. More than 90 percent of all American mussel and crayfish species live within that same area.
"The Southeast's rich aquatic communities are globally significant," said Duncan Elkins, the study's coordinator and a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Georgia River Basin Center, based in the Odum School of Ecology. "There's nothing else like our biodiversity anywhere else on the continent or anywhere else in the temperate world."
More than a quarter of the species included in the study are unique to the region, and some of them are struggling. Twenty-eight percent of Southeastern fish species, for example, are considered imperiled, more than doubling during the last 20 years.
The publication of the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute and River Basin Center study, which was funded by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, comes at a crucial time for Southeastern aquatic ecosystems.
Efforts to study and safeguard freshwater species in the region continue to struggle due to anemic funding and a lack of federally protected lands, especially compared to less-diverse regions, such as the Western United States.
"The Southeast has an incredible number of species, and it's really important that we focus our attention on protecting places where we can get the most bang for our buck," George said. "This project allows us to visualize, across the Southeast, where those places are that are so critically important for our water and wildlife."
A full version of the study is available online at http://southeastfreshwater.org/prioritization.
In the ancient Japanese art of origami, paper must be folded precisely and following a specific order to create the desired result -- say, a crane or lotus flower. It's a complex pursuit that requires keen attention to detail and utmost accuracy.
An equally precise biological process in living cells gives rise to proteins, the large biomolecules essential for life.
Proteins begin life as long strings of amino acids that must fold into the three-dimensional shape prescribed for their particular biological function. When proteins don't fold as expected -- think badly misshapen crane -- the cells activate stress responses meant to mitigate the problem. But severe or prolonged stress produces an acute response: Cell death is triggered to protect the organism.
Sustained activation of one such reaction -- the unfolded protein response, or UPR -- has been implicated in a number of diseases. Seeking to illuminate a piece of this biological puzzle, an international team of scientists, including UC Santa Barbara cell biologist Diego Acosta-Alvear, examined the role of a central UPR component, a stress sensor protein called IRE1 (inositol-requiring enzyme 1), in atherosclerosis.
The researchers found that blocking IRE1 with a small molecule prevented the progression of atherosclerosis in mice. The findings appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"A healthy cell has one type of stress response network wiring and it's likely that a diseased cell accommodates that wiring to survive," said Acosta-Alvear, an assistant professor in UCSB's Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. "Stress response networks control the life vs. death decision in cells, and since a diseased cell is nowhere near its comfort zone, rewiring its stress responses allows it to avoid or delay cell death even when conditions are adverse. That's what we wanted to understand: how a diseased cell does that and why it happens."
The UPR is triggered when the normal functions of the endoplasmic reticulum -- the cell's largest organelle in charge of making and folding proteins -- are compromised. Though the UPR usually promotes healthy endoplasmic reticulum function, sustained UPR activation sometimes results in diseases such as atherosclerosis, the deposition of fatty plaques on artery walls, among other conditions. Understanding what happens with the UPR in disease is key to illuminating the normal operation of this essential pathway -- and to providing insights into the development of targeted therapies.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress is triggered not only by protein-folding problems, but also by fatty acids, explained Acosta-Alvear. Fat-induced stress and metabolic overload of the endoplasmic reticulum can alter its function, triggering chronic inflammation, which plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis.
In this research, the scientists disturbed endoplasmic reticulum function by introducing saturated fatty acids into cells to induce lipotoxic stress. This in turn activated the UPR and IRE1.
Active IRE1 relays the protein-folding stress information to the cell nucleus by controlling the production of a very potent transcription activator, XBP1 (X-box binding protein-1). Transcription activators are proteins involved in the process of converting, or transcribing, DNA into RNA.
The investigators' analyses demonstrated that XBP1 was responsible for turning on pro-atherogenic genes. They then treated mice with a compound that blocked IRE1.
"The end result was that if the transcription factor was not produced, the pro-atherogenic genes were not turned on, which mitigated the progression of the disease," Acosta-Alvear said. "This research is a proof-of-concept study showing that blocking this single critical enzyme delivers a desirable therapeutic benefit. It's a first step in mechanistically understanding how cellular stress responses are wired in specific contexts."
NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has identified the farthest gamma-ray blazars, a type of galaxy whose intense emissions are powered by supersized black holes. Light from the most distant object began its journey to us when the universe was 1.4 billion years old, or nearly 10 percent of its present age.
"Despite their youth, these far-flung blazars host some of the most massive black holes known," said Roopesh Ojha, an astronomer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "That they developed so early in cosmic history challenges current ideas of how supermassive black holes form and grow, and we want to find more of these objects to help us better understand the process."
Ojha presented the findings Monday, Jan. 30, at the American Physical Society meeting in Washington, and a paper describing the results has been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Blazars constitute roughly half of the gamma-ray sources detected by Fermi's Large Area Telescope (LAT). Astronomers think their high-energy emissions are powered by matter heated and torn apart as it falls from a storage, or accretion, disk toward a supermassive black hole with a million or more times the sun's mass. A small part of this infalling material becomes redirected into a pair of particle jets, which blast outward in opposite directions at nearly the speed of light. Blazars appear bright in all forms of light, including gamma rays, the highest-energy light, when one of the jets happens to point almost directly toward us.
Previously, the most distant blazars detected by Fermi emitted their light when the universe was about 2.1 billion years old. Earlier observations showed that the most distant blazars produce most of their light at energies right in between the range detected by the LAT and current X-ray satellites, which made finding them extremely difficult.
Then, in 2015, the Fermi team released a full reprocessing of all LAT data, called Pass 8, that ushered in so many improvements astronomers said it was like having a brand new instrument. The LAT's boosted sensitivity at lower energies increased the chances of discovering more far-off blazars.
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The research team was led by Vaidehi Paliya and Marco Ajello at Clemson University in South Carolina and included Dario Gasparrini at the Italian Space Agency's Science Data Center in Rome as well as Ojha. They began by searching for the most distant sources in a catalog of 1.4 million quasars, a galaxy class closely related to blazars. Because only the brightest sources can be detected at great cosmic distances, they then eliminated all but the brightest objects at radio wavelengths from the list. With a final sample of about 1,100 objects, the scientists then examined LAT data for all of them, resulting in the detection of five new gamma-ray blazars.
Expressed in terms of redshift, astronomers' preferred measure of the deep cosmos, the new blazars range from redshift 3.3 to 4.31, which means the light we now detect from them started on its way when the universe was between 1.9 and 1.4 billion years old, respectively.
"Once we found these sources, we collected all the available multiwavelength data on them and derived properties like the black hole mass, the accretion disk luminosity, and the jet power," said Paliya.
Two of the blazars boast black holes of a billion solar masses or more. All of the objects possess extremely luminous accretion disks that emit more than two trillion times the energy output of our sun. This means matter is continuously falling inward, corralled into a disk and heated before making the final plunge to the black hole.
"The main question now is how these huge black holes could have formed in such a young universe," said Gasparrini. "We don't know what mechanisms triggered their rapid development."
In the meantime, the team plans to continue a deep search for additional examples.
"We think Fermi has detected just the tip of the iceberg, the first examples of a galaxy population that previously has not been detected in gamma rays," said Ajello.
Researchers at Southern Methodist University in Dallas have developed a concise new explanation for the basic mechanics involved in human running.
The approach offers direct insight into the determinants of running performance and injuries, and could enable the use of individualized gait patterns to optimize the design of shoes, orthoses and prostheses according to biomechanics experts Kenneth Clark, Laurence Ryan and Peter Weyand, who authored the new study.
The ground force-time patterns determine the body's motion coming out of each step and therefore directly determine running performance. The impact portion of the pattern is also believed to be a critical factor for running injuries.
"The human body is mechanically complex, but our new study indicates that the pattern of force on the ground can be accurately understood from the motion of just two body parts," said Clark, first author on the study and currently an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
"The foot and the lower leg stop abruptly upon impact, and the rest of the body above the knee moves in a characteristic way," Clark said. "This new simplified approach makes it possible to predict the entire pattern of force on the ground -- from impact to toe-off -- with very basic motion data."
This new "two-mass model" from the SMU investigators substantially reduces the complexity of existing scientific explanations of the physics of running.
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Existing explanations have generally relied upon relatively elaborate "multi-mass spring models" to explain the physics of running, but this approach is known to have significant limitations. These complex models were developed to evaluate rear-foot impacts at jogging speeds and only predict the early portion of the force pattern. In addition, they are less clearly linked to the human body itself. They typically divide the body into four or more masses and include numerous other variables that are hard to link to the actual parts of a human body.
The SMU model offers new insight by providing concise, accurate predictions of the ground force vs. time patterns throughout each instant of the contact period. It does so regardless of limb mechanics, foot-strike type and running speed.
"Our model inputs are limited to contact time on the ground, time in the air, and the motion of the ankle or lower limb. From three basic stride variables we are able to predict the full pattern of ground-force application," said Ryan, who is a physicist and research engineer at SMU's Locomotor Performance Laboratory.
"The approach opens up inexpensive ways to predict the ground reaction forces and tissue loading rates. Runners and other athletes can know the answer to the critical functional question of how they are contacting and applying force to the ground." added Ryan.
Current methods for assessing patterns of ground force application require expensive in-ground force platforms or force treadmills. Additionally, the links between the motions of an athlete's body parts and ground forces have previously been difficult to reduce to basic and accurate explanations.
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The researchers describe their new two-mass model of the physics of running in the article, "A general relationship links gait mechanics and running ground reaction forces," published in the Journal of Experimental Biology at http://jeb.biologists.org/content/220/2/247, bitly http://bit.ly/2jKUCSq.
"From both a running performance and injury risk standpoint, many investigations over the last 15 years have focused on the link between limb motion and force application," said Weyand, who is the director of SMU's Locomotor Performance Laboratory. "We're excited that this research can shed light on this basic relationship."
Overall force-time pattern is the sum of two parts
Traditional scientific explanations of foot-ground forces have utilized different types of spring and mass models ranging from complex to very simple. However, the existing models have not been able to fully account for all of the variation present in the force-time patterns of different runners -- particularly at speeds faster than jogging. Consequently, a comprehensive basis for assessing performance differences, injury risks and general running mechanics has not been previously available.
The SMU researchers explain that the basic concept of the new approach is relatively simple -- a runner's pattern of force application on the ground is due to the motion of two parts of the body: the lower portion of the leg that is contacting the ground, and the sum total of the rest of the body.
The force contributions of the two body parts are each predicted from their largely independent, respective motions during the foot-ground contact period. The two force contributions are then combined to predict the overall pattern. The final prediction relies only upon classical physics and a characteristic link between the force and motion for the two body parts.
New approach can be applied accurately and inexpensively
The application of the two-mass approach is direct and immediate.
"Scientists, clinicians and performance specialists can directly apply the new information using the predictive approach provided in the manuscript," Clark said. "The new science is well-suited to assessing patterns of ground-force application by athletes on running tracks and in performance training centers."
These capabilities have not been possible previously, much less in the inexpensive and accurate manner that the new approach allows for with existing technology.
"The only requirement is a quality high-speed camera or decent motion sensor and our force-motion algorithms," Clark said. "It's conceivable that even shoe stores would benefit by implementing basic treadmill assessments to guide footwear selection from customer's gait mechanics using the approach."
A critical breakthrough for the SMU researchers was recognition that the mass contribution of the lower leg did not vary for heel vs. forefoot strikes and was directly quantifiable. Their efforts lead them to recognize the initial force contribution results from the quick stopping of the lower part of the leg -- the shin, ankle and foot -- which all come down and stop together when the foot hits the ground.
Olympic sprinters were a clue to discovery
The SMU team discovered a general way to quantify the impact forces from the large impacts observed from Olympic-caliber sprinters. Like heel strikers, the patterns of Olympic sprinters exhibit a sharp rising edge peak that results from an abrupt deceleration of the foot and lower leg. However, sprinters accomplish this with forefoot impacts rather than the heel-first landing that most joggers use.
"The world-class sprinters gave us a big signal to figure out the critical determinants of the shape of the waveform," said Weyand. "Without their big impact forces, we would probably have not been able to recognize that the ground-force patterns of all runners, regardless of their foot-strike mechanics and running speed, have two basic parts."
When the researchers first began to analyze the seemingly complicated force waveform signals, they found that they were actually composed of two very simple overlapping waveforms, Ryan said.
"Our computer generated the best pattern predictions when the timing of the first waveform coincided with the high-speed video of the ankle stopping on impact. This was true to within a millisecond, every single time. And we did it hundreds of times," he said. "So we knew we had a direct physical relationship between force and motion that provided a critical insight."
New approach has potential to diagnose injury, rehab
The SMU team's new concise waveforms potentially have diagnostic possibilities, Weyand said.
For example, a runner's pre-injury waveforms could be compared to their post-injury and post-rehab waveforms.
"You could potentially identify the asymmetries of runners with tibial stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis or other injuries by comparing the force patterns of their injured and healthy legs," he said.
And while medical images could suggest the injury has healed, their waveforms might tell a different story.
"The waveform patterns might show the athlete continues to run with less force on the injured limb. So it may offer an inexpensive diagnostic tool that was not previously available," Weyand said.
What caused the rapid disappearance of a vibrant Native American agrarian culture that lived in urban settlements from the Ohio River Valley to the Mississippi River Valley in the two centuries preceding the European settlement of North America? In a new study, researchers from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis reconstructed and analyzed 2,100 years of temperature and precipitation data -- and point the finger at climate change.
Employing proxies of prehistoric temperature and precipitation preserved in finely layered lake sediments, somewhat analogous to tree-ring records used to reconstruct drought and temperature, the IUPUI scientists have reported on the dramatic environmental changes that occurred as the Native Americans -- known as Mississippians -- flourished and then vanished from the Midwestern United States. The researchers theorize that the catastrophic climate change they observed, which doomed food production, was a primary cause of the disappearance.
"Abrupt climate change can impose conditions like drought. If these conditions are severe and sustained, as we have determined that they became for the Mississippians, it is virtually impossible for societies, especially those based on agriculture, to survive," said paleoclimatologist Broxton Bird, corresponding author of the new study. "From the lake records, we saw that the abundant rainfall and consistent good weather -- which supported Mississippian society as it grew -- changed, making agriculture unsustainable." Bird is an assistant professor of earth sciences in the School of Science at IUPUI.
This failure of their principal food source likely destabilized the sociopolitical system that supported Mississippian society, according to archeologist Jeremy Wilson, a study co-author. He is an associate professor of anthropology in the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.
"Archeologists have recognized that from 1300 onward, Mississippian villages started disappearing -- one after the other -- almost like lightbulbs in a string, but the question has always been 'why?,'" said Wilson. "Dr. Bird and his students have shown from the lake-sediment evidence that during the period known as the Little Ice Age, from 1300 to 1800, there was a profound change in climate to colder and drier conditions, which would have negatively impacted the growing of maize in and around Mississippian villages.
"It's important for us to understand how past civilizations coped with climate change as we encounter things like changing precipitation patterns and temperatures that appear to be rising around the world today."
As the Mississippians' culture waned, the IUPUI researchers found, there were lower temperatures and significantly less summer rainfall than during its rise. They attribute these changes to more El Nino-like conditions in the Pacific Ocean and cooling during the Little Ice Age, which altered atmospheric circulation such that moisture delivered to the Midwest was derived from the northwestern U.S. (Pacific and Arctic) instead of the Gulf of Mexico, as was the case during the Mississippians' rise. The longer transport distance of Pacific air masses during the Little Ice Age left less moisture available for rainfall in the Midwest, resulting in drought conditions that undermined agricultural production.
"Climate change had been previously postulated as one of the factors responsible for the disappearance of the Mississippians," Bird said. "What our research did was develop the highest-resolution record yet produced of rainfall in the midcontinental U.S. for the last 2,100 years, including the time frame from the beginning of the Mississippian period -- about 1,000 years ago -- to 500 years ago, when much of the lower Midwest was totally abandoned by these people. Our results strongly support climate change -- drought, specifically -- as a significant cause of the disappearance of Mississippians from the midcontinent through its impact on their ability to farm and produce food surpluses.
"Mississippians did not have irrigation and relied on rainfall to grow their crops. Modern agriculture in the Midwest corn belt likewise relies on rainfall with very little irrigation infrastructure, making us similarly vulnerable to drought," Bird said.
"Midcontinental Native American Population Dynamics and Late Holocene Hydroclimate Extremes" is published in Scientific Reports, an open access, peer-reviewed Nature research journal.
The sediment studied was from Martin Lake in northeast Indiana. Bird and Wilson are continuing their research at additional lakes, especially those adjacent to archeological sites, throughout the midcontinent.
One of the big mysteries in the scientific world is how the ice sheets of Antarctica formed so rapidly about 34 million years ago, at the boundary between the Eocene and Oligocene epochs.
There are 2 competing theories:
The first explanation is based on global climate change: Scientists have shown that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels declined steadily since the beginning of the Cenozoic Era, 66 million years ago. Once CO 2 dropped below a critical threshold, cooler global temperatures allowed the ice sheets of Antarctica to form.
The second theory focuses on dramatic changes in the patterns of ocean circulation. The theory is that when the Drake Passage (which lies between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica) deepened dramatically about 35 million years ago, it triggered a complete reorganization in ocean circulation. The argument is that the increased separation of the Antarctic land mass from South America led to the creation of the powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current which acted as a kind of water barrier and effectively blocked the warmer, less salty waters from the North Atlantic and Central Pacific from moving southwards towards the Antarctic land mass leading to the isolation of the Antarctic land mass and lowered temperatures which allowed the ice sheets to form.
No one has thought to link these two competing explanations before
A group of researchers, led by scientists in McGill University's Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences now suggest that the best way to understand the creation of this phenomenon is, in fact, by linking the two explanations.
In a paper published on the subject in Nature Geoscience earlier this week they argue that:
The deepening of the Drake Passage resulted in a change in ocean circulation that resulted in warm waters being directed northwards in circulation patterns like those found in the Gulf Stream that currently warms northwestern Europe.
That this shift in ocean currents, as the warmer waters were forced northward, lead to an increase in rainfall, which resulted, beginning about 35 million years ago to reduced carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Eventually, as the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dropped, as a result of a process known as silicate weathering (whereby silica-bearing rocks are slowly worn away by rainfall leading the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to eventually becomes trapped in limestone) there was such a significant drop in CO 2 in the atmosphere that it reached a threshold where ice sheets could form rapidly in Antarctica.
Ocean circulation and climate change
Galen Halverson teaches in the Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Science at McGill and is one of the authors of the paper. He believes that no one has thought of combining the two theories before because it's not an intuitive idea to look at how the effects of changing patterns of ocean circulation, which occur on time scales of thousands of years, would effect global silicate weathering, which in turn controls global climate on time scales of 100s of thousands of years.
"It's an interesting lesson for us when it comes to climate change," says Halverson, "because what we get is a thumbnail shift between two stable climatic states in Antarctica -- from no glaciers to glaciers. And what we see is both how complex climate changes can be and how profound an effect changing patterns of ocean circulation can have on global climate states, if looked at on a geological time scale."
The research was funded by: the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
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"Difference just is"; it's not positive or negative, diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategist Sonia Aranza told Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) staff members.
How one reacts to differences, though, is key, she added.
SHRM hosted Aranza, an international speaker and the president and CEO of the Alexandria, Va.-based Aranza Cross Cultural Strategies/Global Leadership Development, at SHRM headquarters in Alexandria for a lunch presentation on Jan. 24. The Filipina Women's Network, based in San Francisco, in 2015 named Aranza, who was born in the Philippines, to its list of the "100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World."
Cultural competencedefined as the ability to engage effectively across differencesand emotional intelligence are inextricable, Aranza said.
[Need to learn more about Personal & Leadership Development? Speakers at the 2017 SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition are exploring these topics.]
She urged HR professionals to:
Evolve as leaders.
Leverage diversity.
Commit to greater self-awareness.
Aranza sat down with SHRM Online after her presentation to talk more about each of the three goals.
Evolve as a Leader
Being open to change is "not just [about] the big stuff," such as interacting with people from different religious beliefs or political ideologies, she said. It extends to the small, daily choices people make, Aranza said.
"Cultural competence is like a muscle that you must build and strengthen," she pointed out. "The most important thing is to understand is that there are so many ways we do not evolve."
In the day-to-day practice of HR, do you follow convenient ways of working "because they're familiar and comfortable? That's a sign of halting your evolution," she explained.
"How can you be open to different thoughts, ideas and approaches if you are unwilling to shift your thoughts, ideas and approaches?"
Leverage Diversity
"Innovation is the end product of diversity; so is agility and resilience," Aranza pointed out.
"Diversity of thoughts and ideas," she noted in a follow-up e-mail, "set[s] the stage for innovation." It's important for HR professionals and others "to continuously expand their network and go beyond the familiar. This includes widening the scope when it comes to recruitment, hiring and creating teams."
An organization trying to anticipate the needs of its Millennial clients or consumers, for example, should have Millennial staffers participate in the product discussions.
Diversity and inclusion initiatives have financial implications. A survey from Korn Ferry Futurestep released in 2016 found that 63 percent of 913 executive respondents from around the globe said that having more women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers would have a "great impact" on their company's bottom line. Korn Ferry is a global people and organizational advisory firm with headquarters in Los Angeles.
"We see that companies that make diversity efforts core to their recruiting and retention strategies have a better chance of attracting and keeping the most dedicated, engaged and productive employees," said Samantha Wallace, Futurestep technology market leader for North America, in a news release.
The concept of groupthinkvaluing harmony over critical evaluation and strongly discouraging disagreement with the consensusis harmful because it discourages diversity of ideas, Aranza said.
In practice, though, "most people find it inconvenient to have a diverse team" because diverse viewpoints can create dissent and prolong discussion and projects, she said.
"But that's really where you get the 'juice,' " she pointed out. That inconvenience is "a small price to pay" for the innovation and problem-solving that may result.
Commit to Greater Self-Awareness
To grow her own self-awareness, Aranza carries a small journal to jot down observations about herself during the day.
"It's a way of learning about personal biases and confronting them," she told SHRM Online, because the lens through which you view the world colors your decisions. She encouraged people to be mindful about why and how they make decisions.
SHRM Online reported that many managers aren't aware of the hidden biases they have about people's clothes, hairstyles, headwear, height, weight, age, race, gender, disability status and even marital status. Biases can extend to the workplace when preference is given to a job candidate or employee who shares the same faith or lifestyle or who graduated from the same school.
"Be open to feedback and be open to self-observation," Aranza said. "The opportunity is there when someone gives me feedback but I can't go further when I'm not open to self-observation."
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Your colleague in the next cubicle seems out of sorts: Her eyes are bloodshot; when she walks to the bathroom, her gait is unsteady; her phone conversations are marred by slurred speech.
Is she ill? On medication? Or could she be drunk?
In recent days, the Society for Human Resource Management's (SHRM's) HR Knowledge Center received an unusual number of inquiries about how to handle workers inebriated on the job.
"The fact that employees are presenting at work under the influence of alcohol is an indication that their drinking is significantly impacting their judgmenta sign that they are in desperate need of help," said Tammy Hoyman, CEO of Des Moines, Iowa-based Employee & Family Resources Inc., which provides employee prevention, intervention and treatment services.
Time of Year May Bring on Drinking
The spate of SHRM inquiries about on-the-job drinking could reflect the time of year, workplace attorneys and substance abuse experts said.
"I suspect winter depressionor boredommay be playing into it," said Robin Shea, a partner with Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete in Winston-Salem, N.C. "It's also possible that not everyone was able to immediately end the bad habits they picked up during the holiday season."
January and February can be depressing months for some people. The holidays are over, the days are cold and sunlight is sparse.
"We do know that seasonal affective disorder is more prevalent at this time of year," said Pam Calvano, director of the Michiana Employee Assistance Program, which provides employee assistance program services to employers in St. Joseph County, Indiana.
It's likely that most employers will eventually encounter a worker with an alcohol problem, Hoyman said.
According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) in New York City, alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States: 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence. That doesn't include several million more who engage in risky, binge-drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems, Hoyman said.
[SHRM members-only Express Request: Accommodating Alcoholism]
Drunk, Ill or on Medication?
Managers should know the telltale signs of on-the-job drinking, but they should never accuse a worker of being inebriated, Shea said.
"It's possible that an employee with an illness or who is on legal medication may be too impaired to work safely or effectively," she said. "An employee in this situation should not be subjected to punitive measures."
Substance abuse experts suggest that employers focus on what they can observebloodshot eyes, an odor of alcohol, slurred speechwithout trying to figure out the cause.
"Managers should never be put in the position to diagnose the problem," Calvano said. "Identifying behaviors of concern and stating those observations with proper documentation should be the extent of their interaction with suspected intoxication. Point out what is observed without specifically identifying alcohol use. For example, 'I am not sure what is wrong, but I am concerned by your unsteady gait and slurred words.' "
The only way to be certain that a worker is drunk is to have the worker take a blood alcohol test, a breathalyzer or some similar test, Shea said.
To Test or Not to Test
An employer should not request or require an alcohol test unless there is "reasonable cause," Shea said. This could include slurred speech, an odor of alcohol, an accident that appears to have been caused by substance abuse, impaired mobility or the discovery of empty bottles of alcohol in the employee's desk drawer.
An employee can refuse to take an alcohol test, Calvano said. But a worker whose condition of employment required agreeing to alcohol testing for reasonable cause can likely be terminated for this refusal, and the employer would probably be on sound legal footing, Hoyman said. She added that employers should check state and local laws on workplace drug and alcohol testing.
In the absence of a company policy, it's wise to consult with a workplace attorney on the legality of requiring such testing or on the legality of firing a worker who refuses to undergo such testing, Hoyman said. This consultation should happen long before a manager is faced with a worker who might be drunk on the job, she said.
In the absence of a specific policy that the employee has agreed to abide by, Shea suggested that:
A manager document his or her observations of the employee regarding behavior, slurred speech or odor, perhaps with one or two witnesses.
A manager take the employee aside, again with HR or managerial witnesses, to discuss the behavior.
If the employee doesn't have a legitimate explanation for the behavior, have a manager drive the employee to the alcohol testing site, assuming the organization has one.
The manager should stay at the site during the test and then escort the employee back to the worksite or drive him or her home.
If the test is positive, require the employee to go through rehabilitation, or face discipline or suspension, depending on the employer's policies.
Extenuating Circumstances?
Shea said employers may want to consider extenuating circumstances if a worker is drunk on the job.
"Bereavement could certainly be an extenuating circumstance, as could a divorce or a child custody proceeding," she said. "To avoid discrimination claims, be careful that you are not more 'merciful' with employees of a given race, sex, national origin or other protected category. As an additional defense, employers who make these occasional exceptions [due to extenuating circumstances] should document thoroughly the reason for the exception."
Hoyman said the employer's response should also take into account the company's overall experience with the employee, the impact of the drinking on the company and the workplace, and how others have been treated in similar circumstances.
"Generally, we recommend compassion and accommodations for employees who suffer from a substance use disorder to allow them to get help, but also recommend using caution with substance use in the workplace," she said. "In most workplaces, impairment due to alcohol or drugs poses risks and dangers to everyone. It's prudent to take actions that remove the intoxicated employee or isolate [the individual] to a designated area, such as the HR department or a nurse's office, until they can be transported home or to a medical facility."
Accommodations
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an alcoholic is a person with a disability and is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if he or she is qualified to perform the essential functions of a job. In such instances, an employer may be required to provide an accommodation to the individual.
However, an employer can discipline, discharge or deny employment to an individual whose use of alcohol adversely affects his or her job performance or conduct, Hoyman said.
Hoyman acknowledged that despite these accommodation requirements, there can be a stigma attached to alcoholism that isn't attached to other ADA-covered conditions. Employers should proceed carefully when it comes to employees who struggle with alcoholism.
"The stereotypes of the alcoholic as less reliable, trustworthy or productive are based on outdated beliefs and assumptions about addiction," she said. "According to the NCADD, addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease. Similar to other chronic, relapsing diseases such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease, drug addiction can be managed successfully. And as with other chronic diseases, it is not uncommon for a person to relapse and begin abusing substances again."
ADA accommodations might include time off to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or other rehabilitation. It is important, Shea said, that the employer not treat the employee who has alcoholism differently from an employee who does not have alcoholism but who shows up to work hung over a few times a year.
"The employer couldn't simply chuckle at employee A, who isn't an alcoholic, for coming to work hung over after a night of binge drinking while disciplining employee B, who is an alcoholic, for doing the same thing," she said.
Problem in the air
Last November, New Delhi was forced to declare an emergency because air pollution became so bad that schools had to be closed for three days.
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Allergan plc, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical, and regenerative medicine products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: US Specialized Therapeutics, US General Medicine, and International. It offers a portfolio of products in various therapeutic areas, including medical aesthetics and dermatology, eye care, neuroscience, urology, gastrointestinal, women's health, and anti-infective therapeutic products. The company also offers breast implants and tissue expanders; and RM-131 (relamorelin), a peptide ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. In addition, it develops medical and cosmetic treatments; therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and other liver diseases; inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders; atopic dermatitis drug candidate; peri-ocular rings for extended drug delivery and reducing elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; and treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Further, the company develops RST-001, a novel gene therapy for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa; small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; topical medicines for fat reduction; and delivery system and botulinum toxin-based prescription products. It has collaboration, option, and license agreement with Lyndra, Inc.; and strategic alliance and option agreement with Editas Medicine, Inc. Allergan plc also has licensing agreements with Assembly Biosciences, Inc.; MedImmune; and Heptares Therapeutics, Ltd. The company was formerly known as Actavis plc and changed its name to Allergan plc in June 2015. Allergan plc was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
Student charged with Quebec mosque attack
Canadian police have charged a French-Canadian student over the fatal shooting of six Muslim worshippers at a mosque in Quebec.
UBS Group AG provides financial advice and solutions to private, institutional, and corporate clients worldwide. It operates through four divisions: Global Wealth Management, Personal & Corporate Banking, Asset Management, and Investment Bank. The Global Wealth Management division offers investment advice and solutions, and lending solutions to ultra high net worth and high net worth clients. This segment also provides estate and wealth planning, investing, philanthropy, corporate and banking, and family advisory services, as well as mortgage, securities-based, and structured lending solutions. The Personal & Corporate Banking division provides personal banking products and services, such as deposits, cards, and online and mobile banking, as well as lending, investments, and retirement services; and corporate and institutional solutions, including equity and debt capital markets, syndicated and structured credit, private placements, leasing, traditional financing, trade and export finance, and global custody solutions, as well as transaction banking solutions for payment and cash management. The Asset Management division offers equities, fixed income, hedge funds, real estate and private markets, indexed and alternative beta strategies, asset allocation and currency investment strategies, customized multi-asset solutions, advisory and fiduciary services, and multi-manager hedge fund solutions and advisory services. The Investment Bank division advises clients on strategic business opportunities and helps them raise capital to fund their activities; enables its clients to buy, sell, and finance securities on capital markets and to manage their risks and liquidity; and offers clients differentiated content on major financial markets and securities. The company was formerly known as UBS AG and changed its name to UBS Group AG in December 2014. UBS Group AG was founded in 1862 and is based in Zurich, Switzerland.
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This touching act of kindness towards animals has gone viral and it's easy to see why. Last Tuesday, Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires was hit by a severe thunderstorm which left the city reeling and wet. Amid the heavy downpour, however, one local bus driver saw fit to offer a free ride to at least two unlikely passengers. After spotting a pair of frightened street dogs shivering unprotected from the rain outside, he stopped the bus and carried them aboard.
Facebook/Stella Maris San Martin
Evidence of the driver's compassion wasn't lost on his human passengers. "They were two very scared little dogs," witness Stella Maris San Martin said, as quoted by Minuto Uno. "He never tried to put them off. He spoke to them like they were his own." A photo taken aboard the bus shows one of the dogs even resting at the driver's feet.
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Facebook/Amor Por Los Animales
It's unclear if the driver picked up more stray dogs as he continued on his route, or what happened after the ride finally ended - but for his gesture of love for those needy pups, the unnamed bus operator is being called a hero. On Facebook, a post describing his actions that day has been shared more than 10,000 times.
If there's one member of the intensive care unit at UC San Francisco who holds his head a little higher than most at this premier medical facility, it's Duke Ellington Morris. Not many humans, much less a cat, have raised themselves, literally, from the streets to these halls of medicine.
Barbara Ries/UCSF
Duke Ellington Morris, or just Duke, spends his days here as a therapy cat brightening just about every corner of the intensive care unit. "He's an absolutely lovely, lovely cat," Elizabeth Fernandez, senior public information representative at UCSF, tells The Dodo. "He's so patient. I've watched him in action a number of times and he's given such consolation to our patients, and to our staff."
Jessica Bernstein-Wax/UCSF
But Duke's outreach work began long before he graced the halls of medicine. Back in November 2010, he reached out from a cage at San Francisco Animal Care and Control. And he found the heart of a 5-year-old girl named Isa Morris. "My daughter fell in love with Duke," her mother, Jennifer Morris, tells The Dodo.
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Jennifer Morris
Isa and Jennifer were visiting the shelter when they came across Duke, who had just been brought in, half-starved, from a feral cat colony. "We went into the cage area and Duke was very smitten by my daughter. So I figured the cat couldn't be all that bad," she says with a laugh. A couple days later, they came back to bring Duke home for good. But first Jennifer had to explain to her little girl that a once-feral cat doesn't adjust right away to family life. "You're not going to see Duke for a couple of days," she told her daughter. "He's going to find the nearest bed or piece of furniture and hide there." But Duke had other ideas. He sprang from his enclosure "and started surveilling the apartment like he already owned it," Jennifer says.
Jennifer Morris
"Already we had him coming over to meet people even that day and Duke would just hop on their laps and purr away," she adds. "Then we noticed when someone rang the doorbell, Duke would be there first, waiting for whoever the person is to walk in so he could greet him." It soon became clear that Duke's was meant for more laps and more cuddles than even the most enthusiastic little girl could offer. Jennifer enrolled him in the San Francisco SPCA's Animal Assisted Therapy Program. "He went to two different sessions to see if he was a good fit and he passed with flying colors," Jennifer says. "They did all sorts of tests. A whole bunch of employees from the SPCA sat in the room and Duke made the rounds going from person to person."
Barbara Ries/UCSF
Two years ago, Duke joined 17 animals - all of them dogs - who comfort patients at UCSF Medical Center. Duke was assigned to the intensive care unit. "They need to be very, very calm and they need to work well with new people," she adds. "And they need to like to be petted by strangers. It's okay. Duke's got this. In fact, he turned out to be a natural, raising patients' spirits one purr at a time.
Barbara Ries/UCSF
"Some of our patients very much want to see a cat," Fernandez says. "Some of them like cats in general. And other patients have cats at home and they miss their cats. So it's nice to see Duke as a surrogate." Duke takes all the cuddles he can get before moving on to his next patient - with a little help from the cart that has become his trademark ride.
Jessica Bernstein-Wax/UCSF
"Initially we had one of the nurses carry Duke in from person to person," Jennifer says. "But Duke didn't like the feeling of not being able to see everything. "We put him on a chair and he liked that, but of course, it didn't allow the patients to pet him so nicely." Finally, someone came up with Duke's rolling throne.
Jessica Bernstein-Wax/UCSF
Workshop on disaster preparedness at airports kicks off
A four-day training and assessment programme to develop a customized disaster response action plan for Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and Nepalgunj Airport has kicked off in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
If a pregnant dog named Nora hadn't been rescued, she would have given birth to her puppies inside a filthy outdoor cage. She was only 10 months old when she was found, but she'd lived her entire life until that point inside that cage.
Elizabeth Spence
Besides being pregnant and imprisoned in a grimy cage, Nora was severely emaciated when rescuers found her at a backyard breeding facility in Manitoba, Canada, in November 2008. "She was just skin and bones," Elizabeth Spence, Nora's future owner, told The Dodo. "You could count all the ribs, and yet she was pregnant. She was dirty and terrified, and she had chain burns around her neck." Thankfully for Nora, who is 9 years old today, she didn't have to give birth at the puppy farm. After animal control seized her and several other dogs from the property, Nora went into foster care with the help of an organization called Funds For Furry Friends.
Elizabeth Spence
Two days after her rescue, Nora gave birth to a litter of five. Unfortunately, one puppy died, but the others grew big and strong with Nora's love and care. When the puppies stopped needing Nora's milk, each one was put up for adoption - including Nora. Spence and her husband wanted to get another dog, so Funds For Furry Friends arranged for them to visit Nora's foster home. The Spences fell in love with Nora the moment they saw her. "We've always liked the ones who really need the love," Spence said. Nora certainly did need a lot of love, as well as a lot of patience. She was scared of everything, according to Spencer.
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Elizabeth Spence
"She was clearly abused," Spence said. "Initially when you'd go to pet her, she'd go down to the floor and she'd hunker away. She looked like she was afraid that she'd be hit or something like that." Despite her fear issues, Nora was a sweet dog who was eager to please, Spence said. "She's been a wonderful dog, as kind and gentle as you'd ever imagine, which is somewhat surprising," Spence said. "We didn't have any kids at the time, but we had a dog, and we had three cats, and she adjusted really well to them. Then we had kids, and she adjusted really well to them, too." Nora formed a particularly close bond with Spence's son Archie, although she loves all three of Spence's children. "I always felt she missed having her own pups to love, and she transferred that to my kids," Spence said.
Elizabeth Spence
Spence thought Nora would never see her puppies again, but last year, Spence got a call that changed everything. The family who owned one of Nora's daughters couldn't keep her anymore, and they asked if the Spences wanted her. "We just had a baby and we had all of these animals, but I gave my husband the proverbial puppy dog eyes," Spence said. "And I said, 'Let's just meet her.'" Nora's daughter - Remington or 'Remi' for short - lived on a farm about six hours away, but her owners drove her all the way to Winnipeg, where Nora lived. If there was any doubt whether the Spences would keep Remi, Nora quickly made the decision for them.
Elizabeth Spence
"They just immediately started playing - jumping on each other, rolling all around," Spencer said. "It was just like Nora and Remi had never been apart." If anything, Spence thought that either Nora or Remi would try and establish dominance with each other, which is something dogs normally do. But they didn't. Spence believes that Nora recognized Remi as her daughter.
Elizabeth Spence
"I think Nora definitely knew," Spence said. "They say that dogs never forget a smell. I don't know if we're romanticizing it or not, but I've never seen Nora so immediately affectionate with another dog."
Elizabeth Spence
Sadly, a week after Remi arrived, disaster struck: Remi slipped out of her leash, ran out onto the street and got hit by a car. Spence rushed Remi to the hospital, but the veterinarians initially thought she wouldn't make it. "They weren't sure if she had internal damage," Spence explained. "It was a bit touch and go there for a few days." But Remi eventually got better, and when she came home, Nora refused to leave her daughter's side.
Elizabeth Spence
"Nora slept on top of her for about a week, like right on top of her," Spence said. "She'd only known her for a week, and she didn't leave her side at all, and she just slept on her." Remi's injuries are all healed up now, and she and Nora continue to be inseparable.
Elizabeth Spence
"They'll play tug of war with the squeeze toy, they'll roll around, they lick each other," Spence said. "They sleep on top of each other all the time, and there's never any fighting or establishing of position. It's just beautiful." It's not just Nora and Remi who have a strong relationship either - all the animals in the Spence family, and well as their three kids, enjoy each other's company.
Elizabeth Spence
"Everyday you just see a pile of cats and a pile of dogs and a pile of kids sleeping together," Spence said. "It's quite surprising to us that we ended up with all these animals who are incredibly loving and affectionate. Everyone gets along. It's really neat, and really fun to see."
Elizabeth Spence
But it's possible that Nora could be the happiest of them all. "The circle of love is complete now that she has Remi, too," Spence said.
Elizabeth Spence
A group of orca families living around Puget Sound is in danger. Known as the southern resident killer whales (composed of the J, K and L pods), there are fewer than 80 of these orcas left because they can't find enough food. In 2006, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listed the southern residents as endangered.
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But since then, not enough has been done to help save them, according to Defenders of Wildlife. That's because dams along the Snake and Columbia rivers - one of the most heavily dammed river systems in the world - are restricting the natural movement of Chinook salmon, and that's what these orcas need to survive.
"Four dams on the lower Snake River are driving all remaining Snake River salmon toward extinction," Quinn Read, Northwest program representative for Defenders, said. "Since the dams were completed, these salmon populations have plummeted by more than 90 percent." Not only that, pollution in the waters of the Puget Sound tend to get stored in the blubber of the orcas, and when they go hungry, the toxins are released, making the animals literally sick from the inside. This is what apparently happened to one orca, J28, who died in October of 2016, after the birth of her child in December 2015.
"J28 was noted to be losing body condition in January 2016, presumably from birthing complications, and by July was clearly emaciated," the Center for Whale Research (CWR) wrote. "If her carcass is ever found, an examination of her ovaries may reveal how many ovulations/pregnancies she actually had, as well as her proximate cause of death (probably septicemia)." Septicemia is blood poisoning. The southern resident pods were also depleted by SeaWorld, which, along with other marine parks, took an entire generation of baby orcas captive in the 1970s.
The death of J28 came at the end of a slew of premature deaths in the pods over the summer, all presumed due to toxins and lack of food. The miscarriage rate for this group of orca families is well over 50 percent, which can be linked to low food supply. The future doesn't look bright for them unless something changes. People are calling for the dams to be breached to help Chinook salmon populations recover, which, in the long run, would help the southern resident orcas survive.
While U.S. immigration restrictions introduced late last week are bringing the stateside technology industry together in outrage, some Canadians see a positive ripple effect on tech recruitment and investment north of the border.
Canada has an opportunity to be a country where the best talent from around the world can move here and do their lifes work as never before, said Alexandra Clark, director of policy and government affairs at Ottawa-based e-commerce platform Shopify.
She said the country must focus on incentives to lure foreign skilled workers, adding in an email that talent is not defined by borders and if they choose to come to Canada, the entire ecosystem will be better for it.
Allen Lau, CEO of Toronto-based online storytelling app Wattpad, said along with measures recently unveiled by Ottawa to shorten the immigration process for foreign-born tech workers, what Donald Trump is doing actually may actually help Canada.
He said the U.S. presidents travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority nations could at least partially bridge a substantial gap in tech talent in Canada.
And Lau said that the travel ban is already having an impact. Americans who I know have contacted me, and are looking at what are other countries they might want to move to, he said, although he called it premature to speculate about tech companies moving north to flee Trump.
Canadas technology community urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week to snap up industry workers caught in Trumps border crackdown, saying embracing diversity drives innovation and the economy. Dozens of the countrys tech chief executive officers signed a letter asking Canada to offer immediate entry visas to those hit by the order.
In choosing to hire, train, and mentor the best people in the world, we can build global companies that grow our economy, said the letter, which included signatures from Shopifys Tobi Lutke, an immigrant from Germany, and Hootsuite Medias Ryan Holmes. By embracing diversity, we can drive innovation to benefit the world.
The letter follows a move by Trudeaus government last year to create a fast-track visa program that would let tech companies bring international workers into the country in two weeks rather than having to deal with the usual months-long bureaucratic slog.
Stephen Green of Toronto-based Green and Spiegel LLP said that his immigration law firm has taken calls since Friday from cross-border companies asking about the process of moving some of their workers to Canada amid U.S. unpredictability.
Green said he has also fielded calls from manufacturers considering relocation, adding that he believes engineering schools here could also benefit in terms of foreign student enrollment gains.
Ben Baldwin, a Toronto-based entrepreneur who founded ScaleDriver, a service that pairs traditional Fortune 500 companies with innovators from the Toronto-Waterloo, Ont., tech corridor and Silicon Valley, said the immediate impact of the Trump administrations tough stance on immigration is to focus the media spotlight on Canada and its welcoming attitude.
If youre a talented individual who is considering moving somewhere and you see a community embracing you for humanitarian reasons, thats a powerful factor. We know that this is going to benefit us.
BlackBerry Ltd. CEO John Chen, meanwhile, said in a statement Monday that Trumps travel ban will hurt trade, adding that it gives us a little bit of a leg up in attracting talent to Canada. Chen noted that more than half of Waterloo-based BlackBerrys executive team and many of its employees, including Chen, are immigrants.
Trump signed an executive order Friday that doesnt allow citizens from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Libya to enter the U.S. for 90 days.
Chen said the move will make it more difficult to conduct business globally, adding that more than half of BlackBerrys executive team, including himself, and many of the companys employees are immigrants.
U.S. tech giants including Alphabets Google, Microsoft and Amazon all have sizable offices in Canada and immigration already plays a key role in their presence: the companies have been known to bring workers to Canada from South Asia or Eastern Europe to get them closer to headquarters while they wait for them to clear more stringent U.S. visa requirements.
Google Canada has nearly 1,000 employees (from Canada and around the world) in Montreal, Toronto and Waterloo.
Our engineers work on global teams building products that are used by billions of people and we have some of the worlds leading researchers in AI (artificial intelligence) based in Montreal and Toronto, a spokesperson said Monday.
Part of the reason the Toronto-Waterloo technology sector is such a powerful force is the strength and diversity of its leadership.
Toronto Mayor John Tory, meanwhile, added his voice to those encouraging the tech sector to continue fostering the inclusive, accepting culture that helps drive innovation in the Toronto Region. I will continue to work with all levels of government to make sure our country remains a safe haven for those in need, he said in an email.
And even though the Trump travel ban isnt an immediate threat to businesses in the U.S., emotions are running high because it violates Silicon Valleys self-image of inclusion and tolerance.
More than any other industry, the tech enclave embraces the work and aspirations of immigrants. At least half of the top 20 U.S. tech companies were founded or are currently led by someone who came from another country.
The late Steve Jobs, Apples co-founder, is the biological son of an immigrant from Syria, one of the countries targeted by the Trump administration. The chief executive officers of Microsoft and Google were both born in India. Among start-ups, 51 per cent of those valued at more than $1 billion (U.S.) had an immigrant as co-founder, according to a paper by the National Foundation for American Policy.
This is essentially a direct attack at what we consider to be incredibly important to our culture and how we built our companies, said Aaron Levie, CEO of Box Inc.
With files from Bloomberg
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In the lead-up to the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, American women warned each other their access to birth control under Obamacare was at risk.
On social media, many women advised getting an IUD. The intrauterine device is a small, T-shaped piece of plastic or copper inserted through the cervix into the uterus by a doctor and provides highly reliable birth control for years at a time.
Under Obamacare, women could obtain one without paying out of pocket, along with other forms of FDA-approved birth control. If Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act something Trump has already begun to set in motion an IUD could cost American women as much as $1,000, according to Planned Parenthood. Without whats known as the birth control mandate, many women may suddenly find it difficult and expensive to access birth control pills each month.
It seems some of those women turned to the IUD. According to data from 2,500 doctors offices across the U.S. compiled by AthenaHealth and published by Vox, clinics in both Democrat and Republican counties saw a 19-per-cent spike in IUD procedures from October to December last year. The data suggest no such increase was observed in 2015.
Experts say something similar happens in Canada when women are faced with losing their health insurance or benefits.
The pill and the IUD are covered by some benefits plans Sun Life, Great-West Life and Morneau Shepell may cover IUDs, depending on the specific financial arrangement with employers and when women switch jobs or age out of their parents coverage they often turn to IUDs, experts say.
Definitely, definitely, we see that, said Dr. Erika Feuerstein, clinic physician and education director at the Bay Centre for Birth Control at Womens College Hospital. When insurance is about to expire, women ask for an IUD because it was covered under their plan.
Because Canada lacks a national pharmacare system, about one quarter to one third of women young, precariously employed or new to Canada do not have access to free birth control because they neither have workplace benefits nor qualify for a drug plan through social assistance, said Sandeep Prasad, executive director of Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, formerly the national Planned Parenthood agency, which is not directly linked to the U.S. organization.
That means they often choose less-effective birth control methods, such as condoms, which are about 82-per-cent effective with typical use, rather than a highly effective method such as the IUD, because of its high upfront cost.
The copper IUD costs up to $63 and the hormonal IUD costs up to $380 at Planned Parenthood Toronto. Some women will ask for an IUD prescription just in case they decide later they want to have it inserted by a doctor. (That procedure is covered by OHIP.)
The most common form of birth control used by Canadian women remains the pill, but IUD use has been on the rise. The pill is about 90-per-cent effective with typical use and the IUD is 99-per-cent effective.
According to data collected by Canadian health information company QuintilesIMS and obtained by the Star, prescriptions for the hormonal IUD brands Mirena and Jaydess have increased 46 per cent from 116,478 in 2011 to 170,061 in 2015. The copper IUD is not included in the data, which only tracks pharmaceuticals.
Usage varies by patient population: the copper IUD is cheaper and desirable among women who are motivated to avoid synthetic hormones, but can make periods and cramping more intense. The hormonal IUD, which releases a progestin called levonorgestrel, is more expensive and can cause side-effects similar to the pill but can make periods much lighter.
McMaster University gynecologist Dr. Dustin Costescu estimates up to 5 per cent of Canadian reproductive-age women are now using an IUD, a figure that had hovered around 1 per cent for years. He also notices patients, especially students and young women entering a precarious workforce near the end of their insurance or benefits coverage, seek long-term birth control.
The fact that American women are at risk of losing affordable birth control isnt ideal, but it may encourage other women to pay more attention to their options, he said.
Other women might see, when issues of coverage come up, that it may be beneficial to maximize their benefits, he said. It wouldnt surprise me if other women start thinking about, as their coverage expires, an option that (prevents pregnancy) in the long term.
While many in the U.S. have expressed concern and even outrage at the defunding of Planned Parenthood, Canadian clinics with the same name are not affected financially. Their relationship to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America is a philosophical one, said Sarah Hobbs Blyth, Planned Parenthood Toronto executive director, in an email.
IUD insertions have increased at Planned Parenthood Toronto, but thats been based on client demand, not the political climate.
IUDs: Hormonal or non?
Both the copper and hormonal IUD can last 3-10 years, are inserted through the cervix into the uterus. Both are acceptable for women who have and have not given birth. Neither are associated with an ill-fated IUD from the 1970s, which gave the device a bad reputation for decades.
The copper IUD: 99-per-cent effective
Works by introducing a foreign body into the cervix and uterus, preventing pregnancy by creating a hostile environment
$54-$63 at Planned Parenthood Toronto
Pros:
Reversible and forgettable
Non-hormonal
May be suitable for women who cannot take estrogen
Lessens the risk of endometrial cancer
Cons:
May increase blood flow, pain and cramping during periods
Some pain or discomfort during insertion
Rare risks include perforation of the uterus during insertion or expulsion
The hormonal IUD: 99-per-cent effective
Works by releasing levonorgestrel, which causes the uterine lining to become thinner and cervical mucus to become thicker, making it hard for sperm to enter
$306-$380 at Planned Parenthood Toronto
Pros:
Reversible and forgettable
May lead to lighter or absent periods
Improves symptoms of endometriosis
May be suitable for women who cannot take estrogen
Cons:
May lead to spotting
May cause hormonal side effects such as bloating, breast tenderness, acne, headaches and mood issues
Some pain or discomfort during insertion
Rare risks include perforation of the uterus during insertion or expulsion
Source: Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
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The Quebec massacre reminds us that terror can erupt anywhere, at any time. From anyone.
And the public response has become a muscle reflex: Insistent demands that Muslims at home condemn, own and atone for the sins of their so-called co-religionists wherever they strike. Followed by the usual chorus insisting that society call it what it is Islamic terrorism.
Except when it isnt.
Read more:
Suspect in Quebec mosque shooting charged with 6 counts of murder
In wake of mosque shootings, Trudeau silent on Trumps ban on Muslims: Hebert
The fear of hatred inspires us to stand and shout: Keenan
Canadian Muslims fear over safety grows after Quebec City mosque attack
Timeline: Shooting at a Quebec City mosque
This homegrown attack isnt them against us. Its us against us a Canadian is accused of killing fellow Canadians for the apparent sin of bowing their heads in prayer at their local mosque.
This time its different. But its not the first time innocent Muslims have been slain in a house of worship, for none are exempt from extremism that thrives in intolerant environments.
Dehumanization is the prerequisite to terrorism. And demonization of Islamic dress is a precursor to dehumanization.
Its worth noting that former prime minister Stephen Harper condemned commendably the Quebec massacre as barbaric. But thats the very same word he used in the 2015 federal election, when his Conservatives announced a barbaric cultural practices snitch line encouraging us to report, anonymously, anyone guilty of female genital mutilation a harmful practice linked in the public mind to Muslims (though it pre-dates Islam and is still widely practiced by Coptic Christians across Egypt).
Harper also used his prime ministerial pulpit to condemn and try to outlaw Islamic face coverings in citizenship ceremonies. That campaign was an echo of equally odious attempts by the shamelessly tribal Parti Quebecois to profit from latent anti-Islamic sentiment by proposing bans on the burka or niqab.
This is a time for introspection, not recrimination. Our politicians might reflect on whether they have stoked the demonization of Muslims in this country by fetishizing Islamic dress and politicizing barbaric acts (linked to Islam).
But that is in the past. The question now is how our leaders, and opinion leaders, will show the way in future.
Dont expect them to beat their breasts on behalf of all Canadians for a massacre perpetrated by one terrorist in a Quebec mosque. That would be as misplaced as the reflexive calls for Muslims to take ownership of Islamist extremism abroad.
Refraining from the demonization of Islamic dress would be a good start. And an example for our neighbours to the south as they go further down the road of dehumanization.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trumps claim that Christians are being executed in droves in Islamic countries, most of the violence takes the form of Muslim-on-Muslim massacres. As a foreign correspondent, I wrote about Sunni fanatics attacking worshippers from the rival Shia sect whom they deem infidels dehumanization by another name.
But the news from Quebec reminded me of another mosque attack that shook a society to its core: In 1994, a Jewish settler named Dr. Baruch Goldstein walked into a mosque in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, and mowed down 29 Palestinian Muslim worshippers at prayers.
Israelis were horrified by his terrorist act. But extremists exalted Goldsteins massacre, building a shrine at his tomb in an adjoining Jewish settlement a controversy I had to cover during my Middle East posting in the late 1990s.
Set amid pine trees in the Judean hills, it featured an octagonal plaza with a prayer niche for worshippers to light candles in memory of the killer. A cabinet with prayer books surrounded the gravestone and its heretical inscription: Holy Baruch Goldstein. He gave his soul for his country and people. Clean of hands, pure of heart.
The terrorist shrine was visited by another Jewish extremist, Yigal Amir, who drew inspiration from Goldsteins tomb before going on to assassinate then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in late 1995. Amir and Goldstein were outliers, but they were not alone.
In their warped ways, they were comforted and legitimized by the intemperate rhetoric of people pious or political who should have known better. To their credit, Israeli parliamentarians ultimately passed a law ordering the dismantling of this perverse shrine, but it took five long years.
Canada is a world away from the tensions and complications of the Middle East. And yet, today, Canadians are trying to fathom an equally fanatical act a massacre in our midst.
Terror can strike in any place, at any time. No community is immune. But our society can lead the way by learning the lessons of history, and humanity, at home and abroad.
Martin Regg Cohns political column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. mcohn@thestar.ca , Twitter: @reggcohn
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OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau said he will stand up for openness and diversity, but stopped short Monday of directly criticizing U.S. President Donald Trumps ban on citizens from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
In the House of Commons Monday, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair asked Trudeau to condemn the practice of banning travellers based on their religion or place of birth.
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Timeline: Shooting at a Quebec City mosque
Trudeau did not directly address Trumps ban, which has set off days of protests across the United States and Canada, and instead touted the Canadian values of openness and diversity.
We are a strong, united people, who are generous and open because we have seen how much openness to the world and diversity not only makes us more prosperous, but more safe as a country and as communities, Trudeau said during Question Period.
I will continue to stand for Canadian values any chance I get, in this House and everywhere.
On Friday, Trump temporarily banned citizens of seven nations Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya from entering the United States for 90 days. The presidents executive order permanently bans Syrian refugees and puts a temporary halt on accepting refugees from any other nation.
Canada was given no prior warning from our largest security and trading partner. Only on Saturday afternoon could federal officials confirm that Canadian dual nationals and permanent residents will not be banned from the U.S.
But Canadian officials still dont appear to have those assurances in writing or many details about how Trumps executive order will be enforced at the two countries shared border.
Joseph Pickerill, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, would not say if Canadian officials had written assurances. But Pickerill did say that Canadian officials are actively seeking clarity on impacts and have updated our travel advice as a result.
The ban was also the subject of some confusion in the U.K., another crucial security partner to both the U.S. and Canada. Boris Johnson, the British foreign affairs minister, said Sunday that Trumps ban did not affect British dual citizens. But the U.S. Embassy in London said Monday that dual nationals would not be granted visas until further notification.
When contacted by the Star, U.S. Customs and Border Protection referred all calls to the Department of Homeland Security, which was not answering the phone or accepting phone messages on Monday. An email to the department was not answered.
On Monday, protests against Trumps ban at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and the U.S. Consulate in Toronto drew hundreds, mirroring Saturday and Sundays protests in cities across the United States.
With files from Daniel Dale.
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As people across the country mourn in the wake of a shooting at a Quebec mosque, questions remain surrounding the motivations of the 27-year-old terror suspect, described as an introvert by some and a far-right fanatic by others.
Alexandre Bissonnette, the sole suspect in Sundays attack at the Centre Culturel Islamique Quebec, has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.
A court clerk initially identified Bissonnette as one of two suspects arrested on Sunday evening. By Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that Bissonnette was the only suspect.
Read the latest news on the Quebec mosque shooting
Bissonnette lived on rue du Tracel in the suburban neighbourhood of Cap-Rouge, a 15-minute drive from the mosque where Sundays shooting occurred.
On Monday evening, the Universite Laval confirmed that Bissonnette studied in the faculty of social sciences. The school is offering psychological support to students and faculty affected by the shooting.
While some details about Bissonnette have trickled out from schoolmates and acquaintances, little is known about the mans life outside online likes and alleged comments.
Bissonnette participated in both the Sainte-Foy and Universite Laval chess clubs with his twin brother, said professor Jean Sevigny, who knew both Bissonnette and his brother through the club.
He gave the impression of being a very good person, said Sevigny, who last remembered seeing him in the fall of 2015.
Others who communicated with Bissonnette online said they had a drastically different impression of him.
A statement posted on a Facebook page welcoming refugees to Quebec City said that Bissonnette was known to several activists for his pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions at Universite Laval and on social media.
Francois Deschamps, the person behind the welcome refugees page, told La Presse he immediately recognized Bissonnette as an online troll. He said he did not recall particular attacks that targeted the Muslim community.
Bissonnettes Facebook profile was deleted at some point on Monday, and combing through an archived screenshot showed he liked a wide range of pages that did not fall under a specific ideology. Among the pages he liked were those of U.S. President Donald Trump, far-right French politician Marine Le Pen, the federal NDP and former NDP leader Jack Layton.
He also liked several different video games, chess clubs, musicians and organizations at Laval University.
Jean-Michel Allard Prus, a classmate at Universite Laval, said his relationship with Bissonnette was limited to school and debating politics online.
Allard Prus saw Bissonnette in passing three weeks ago, but didnt think much of it.
At that time, he didnt seem like a violent person. Not at all, he said.
He was timid, (an) introvert. Awkward a bit.
Another archived Facebook page shows several photos of Bissonnette at what appeared to be family gatherings. One photo shows him taking a selfie with the caption driving to my camping ground! He posted a video of Torngat Mountains National Park in Newfoundland in November with the caption, I will visit this place one day!
Rosalie Bussieres, a 23-year-old neighbour who lived across the street from Bissonnette, said her older brother went to school with him at the College Les Compagnons de Cartier.
She said she was blown away by the mosque shooting. She described Bissonnette as very solitary and very antisocial.
With files from Laura Beeston
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OTTAWAThe Liberal government isnt ruling out imposing budget measures to tax employer-provided health benefits but opposition to the plan may be giving finance officials second thoughts.
The finance department has been weighing the possibility of making employer-provided health and dental plans a taxable benefit, a move that could add more than $1,000 to the income tax bills of the 13.5 million Canadians who have such plans.
Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose pressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the issue Tuesday, demanding to know whether his government was serious about the tax proposal.
People rely on these for prescriptions and much-needed health programs. . . . Is he seriously going to put a tax on the health and dental plans of millions of Canadians? Ambrose said in question period.
Trudeau sidestepped the question, saying only that the upcoming budget would help Canadian families.
Were looking at ways within that budget to help Canadians, to invest in their future, to lower the cost of everyday goods and pharmaceuticals they need, Trudeau said.
In a typical benefit plan, an employer contributes up to $3,500 a year an amount that is currently not taxed, said Stephen Frank, senior vice-president of policy for the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association
If it becomes taxable, then the employee has to pay tax on that amount, Frank said, adding that it could add about $1,300 a year to an individuals tax bill.
Such a move could generate close to $3 billion in additional tax revenues annually, an attractive target for a government currently in the red.
But the proposal carries political risk saddling taxpayers with an additional tax would undercut the Liberals narrative of wanting to help the middle class and could undo some of the benefits of an income tax cut brought in last year.
Industry groups also worry that such a tax would make health benefits less attractive, prompting companies to forgo offering such plans to employees, who would be left having to purchase extended coverage on their own.
The middle and lower class are the ones who would be hit the hardest, by far, Frank said.
Consideration of the plan has sparked mounting opposition from a diverse group of interests, including medical associations and unions.
Our phones have been burning up on this issue from a variety of different organizations, said Monique Moreau, vice president of national affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
We have expressed our concern to the minister, she said in an interview.
Moreau noted that after Quebec taxed such plans in 1993, 20 per cent of employers stopped offering them.
That may wind end up having an extra burden on the health-care system in the long run for people who are no longer maybe doing that preventative treatment, she said.
Running a deficit and facing a big bill for its infrastructure program, the federal government has been casting around for new sources of revenue as it readies the budget it will unveil in the coming months.
As part of that process, finance department officials launched a review of the tax system, which has apparently has put health benefits in the crosshairs.
The finance department was described as hawkish on the issue last fall and had clearly done analysis on the impacts of the measure, said one industry source who met with government officials.
Frank said his group got signals before Christmas it was something they were looking at pretty carefully.
In conversations with Finance Minister Bill Morneau and his senior staff, none of them gave us any comfort that it wasnt a pretty serious consideration for the government, Frank said.
Dan Lauzon, a spokesperson for Morneau, declined to say this week whether taxing health benefits remained under active consideration.
I can tell you that any changes we make will have middle class families in mind, Lauzon said in an email.
However, behind the scenes, industry sources suggested that the lobbying campaign has made the finance department think twice about the measure.
No one has taken it off the table but theyve definitely gotten cold feet, one source said this week.
One tax the Liberal government is not considering, according to Morneaus office, is the much-discussed Netflix tax.
A spokesperson for Morneaus office told the Star they had no plans to apply sales taxes to the streaming giant, or to impose any levy to support Canadian content.
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OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau has had a phone conversation with his Mexican counterpart in which they discussed trade, job creation and competitiveness in North America.
The prime ministers office says Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto look forward to continuing their regular discussions on those matters.
Their conversation comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement that involves the three countries.
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It also comes after Pena Nieto abruptly cancelled a planned visit to Washington this week following Trumps insistence that Mexico would pay for his proposed border wall perhaps through a tax on imports from Mexico.
The statement from Trudeaus office calls North America one of the most successful economic regions in the world.
It also says Pena Nieto expressed his condolences over the recent attack on a mosque in Quebec City that killed six men and injured 19, indicating that Mexico stood in solidarity with Canadians.
It says the two leaders also reaffirmed that religious tolerance, diversity and pluralism are values shared by both their countries.
Trudeau and Pena Nieto spoke on Monday.
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Toronto police have identified both of the citys fatal shooting victims Monday.
Ali Rizeig, 18, of Toronto, was gunned down in Regent Park, near the intersection of Gerrard St. E. and Sumach St. Multiple gunshot holes could be seen peppering the front door at the house where he was shot.
Police responded to the call at around 9:25 p.m., and found Rizeig with life-threatening injuries. He was rushed to hospital where he died.
A suspect was seen fleeing the scene in a dark SUV. Anyone with a dashboard camera or security footage in the area between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. is asked to contact police.
Rizeig is Torontos fifth homicide victim of 2017.
Earlier in the day, Anastasios Leventis, 39, of Quebec, was killed in a brazen daylight shooting near George Brown College at about 2:50 p.m. near Adelaide St. E. and George St.
Leventis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police dont believe the two shootings are connected.
In York Region, a 26-year-old man is also fighting for his life after he was shot during an apparent carjacking in Thornhill.
Two men approached the victim in a parking lot at 100 Steeles Ave. W., near Yonge St. at 11 p.m., and demanded the keys to his vehicle, police said.
He was shot in the altercation, and subsequently rushed to Sunnybrook hospital in life-threatening condition. The 23-year-old woman he was with was also assaulted and suffered minor injuries.
The two suspects fled in the victims 2008 black Ford Fusion with the license plate number BNNM866.
York police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
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A Toronto serial rapist suspected of assaulting as many as 1,000 women and girls has been ordered deported to Malaysia now that his 24-year prison sentence is complete.
Selva Kumar Subbiah, 56, was ordered held in custody until Sunday, when he will be accompanied back to his home country by three guards from the Canada Border Services Agency.
You are the worst offender and the highest risk that has ever come before me in my career, said Andrew Laut, who chaired the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada hearing on Monday.
Subbiah was convicted at two separate trials more than two decades ago of drugging and sexually assaulting 30 women. But there may be hundreds more victims, the hearing was told.
As many as 500 to 1,000 could have been attacked, said Naima Karimullah, a lawyer for the Canada Border Services Agency.
Subbiahs criminal file sat before him, and it appeared to be more than a foot high.
At a hearing in June 2016, he was found ineligible for parole because he was considered likely to commit an offence causing death or serious harm to another person. Subbiah was arrested last Saturday when he became eligible for mandatory release after serving his entire prison sentence.
Laut noted that he was declared a danger to the public in November 1994, meaning he couldnt apply for refugee status.
One of his victims told the Star she hopes she can finally relax when Subbiah has finally been deported.
Its still sort of a presence, she said. Maybe the day after hes finally gone, Ill maybe celebrate with a glass of wine.
Subbiah, a short, soft-spoken man with a slight British accent, said hes prepared to return to Malaysia, where he has not lived since 1980.
Im ready to leave, sir, he told Laut at Mondays hearing.
Subbiah had previously argued that he would be the victim of discrimination in Malaysia because he is Jewish.
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Subbiah, who waived the right to have a lawyer represent him, fought unsuccessfully Monday to block the Star from reporting details of his hearing or from photographing him via a video hookup, arguing that it would be dangerous for him.
It has already been reported on broadly in media articles and on the Internet, Subbiah said.
The Star argued that it was important for his victims to know details of his case and what he looks like now.
I believe the Malaysia public should be fully aware, one victim told the Star. Every border should have his picture.
Malaysian officials have already approved a flight permit for him, the hearing was told. There was no mention of whether he would walk free in Malaysia or be turned over to law enforcement officials there.
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Subbiah arrived in Canada in 1980 but never obtained permanent resident status. He was granted student and visitors visas, and claimed to have studied divinity at McMaster University and Ryerson, but did not graduate from any post-secondary course.
He married two women, one of whom fled the country to escape abuse, the hearing heard.
In 1992, he was convicted at the first of two trials that would ultimately see him sentenced to 24 years in prison for 19 counts of sexual assault, 28 counts of administering a drug or noxious substance, 10 counts of various kinds of assault and a dozen other charges, including extortion.
At the time of his sentencing, Justice David Humphrey ordered police to accompany Subbiah back to his native Malaysia and give police there his extensive criminal file when his prison term was complete.
Subbiah committed several of his crimes while posing as a model agent or movie talent scout, often using the names Richard Wild and Ryan Hunter. Occasionally, he also posed as a professional dancer, a lawyer or a diplomat. He also lured women to the basement of his Parkdale home through ads offering to sell exotic pets.
He would offer them a drink laced with drugs, then rape them and take photos of their naked bodies while they were unconscious.
One victim who spoke with the Star said he was polished when he attacked her, some 33 years ago.
I remember him being smooth, well-practiced, she said. He was practiced already, in 84 or 85.
One of Subbiahs victims told the Star that shes still struggling to cope with the attack on her in the mid-1980s.
Its painful, the woman said. Its not easy to go through. But its important to talk, to move forward . . . to know that youre not the only one.
His trial heard that he was carrying a black book containing the names of 170 women, rated on a scale of 0 to 10, when police arrested him on Aug. 7, 1991.
Subbiah was in the news again in 1998, when police told the Star he was using a string of aliases from behind bars and a female accomplice on the outside to con women to send him nude photos and gifts.
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Toronto police have charged a man after investigating a hoax regarding terrorist activity involving an event and landmark in the city.
Police made the arrest after becoming aware of the threats Sunday, which spoke of death and bodily harm to civilians. When contacted by the Star, Toronto police said they wouldnt identify which event or landmark was targeted for fear of copycats.
Connor Merzetti, 33, of Toronto faces charges of uttering threats and hoax regarding terrorist activity. He made his first court appearance at College Park on Monday.
The police investigation is ongoing.
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The Wynne government is denying Ontarians the right to know the details behind its promised 2015 crack-down on businesses that ignore their responsibilities under the provinces landmark accessibility legislation, an accessibility activist says.
Lawyer David Lepofsky asked the government for details of its plan to beef up enforcement the day after it was announced. That was in a June, 2015 Toronto Star story about the government marking the 10th anniversary of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) with a 10-year provincial action plan.
It would ensure the provinces 1.8 million people with disabilities can live, work and play to their full potential by 2025 as set out in the 2005 legislation.
But in August,2015, government officials said it would cost Lepofskys AODA Alliance, the non-partisan advocacy group he chairs, $4,250 to cover government staff time to retrieve the relevant documents.
Lepofsky, who has been fighting on behalf of the volunteer coalition since then to have the fee waived, is making his case Tuesday, in a hearing before the Information and Privacy Commission of Ontario.
Not only has the government already spent the $4,250 to collect this information, but they are now spending much more on lawyers and a hearing to continue to deny me and the public the right to know how they are implementing and enforcing this legislation, he said in an interview.
According to the 2015 Star story, the government had planned to double compliance audits to 4,000, or 1 per cent of Ontarios 400,000 businesses starting in 2016.
Lepofsky said he was simply asking to see a detailed explanation of the policy along with data and reports to back up the proposed enforcement measure and other actions on implementing the act.
In documents filed in advance of Tuesdays hearing, government lawyers argue the fee is being charged to offset costs to the public.
Lepfoskys request is broad and lists 31 questions, most of which have sub-questions that bring the total number of requests to about 84, the lawyers say.
The user-pay system encourages requests that are reasonable in scope and offsets costs to the public in circumstances such as the present case, where ministry staff were redirected from enforcement activities to satisfy the... request, they add.
They also argue government staff provided many documents in Lepofskys request for free and tried unsuccessfully to narrow the scope of the request in an attempt to lower the fee.
In a new argument, not included in the governments refusal in January 2016 to waive the fee, government lawyers say Lepofskys coalition made no attempt to pay the cost through fundraising.
I cant believe they are suggesting people with disabilities should have to go out and beg for funds to pay for this information when the issue of fundraising has never been raised before, Lepofsky said.
We dont charge for the hundreds of volunteer hours we spend responding as part of government consultations on the act, he added. This is outrageous.
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Hundreds in the Coxwell Ave. and Gerrard St. E community gathered Monday night for a silent candlelight vigil in remembrance of the six people killed and 19 injured in an attack on a Quebec mosque Sunday.
Marching along the Gerrard India Bazaar to the nearby Fatih mosque, members of the east end community mourned the deaths of the men.
Read the latest news on the Quebec mosque shooting
This is the real Canada, said vigil organizer Joanne Doucette.
You see the crowd thats here, Im stunned. But in a way Im not surprised because I know from being on the phone and emails and Facebook all day long that there was a tremendous outpouring of grief and a need to express that.
Joined by city councillors Paula Fletcher, Mary-Margaret McMahon and Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns, the march stopped came to a halt outside the local mosque where an imam, followed by a United Church minister, led an interfaith prayer for peace and unity.
Duke Vipperman, an Anglican priest who marched in the rally, called Sundays attack very counter to the Canadian spirit but felt it proved that Islamophobia happens everywhere.
Its a universal problem, said Vipperman. Its been quite traumatic for quite a lot of people. Thats just very hard to stomach on Canadian soil.
Many carried signs with them, containing messages such as Muslim rights are human rights and Jews + Muslims together.
Paula Jubinville, whose children Ben and Aylish held signs with the words love your neighbour and solidarity, said it was important to her that they see not just the negative side of Sundays tragedy.
They are constantly hearing and taking in these kinds of things and hearing the tragedy of it, said Jubinville. They have to come out and see the counterbalance. That is the hope, the love and the support because its much bigger than the tragic event that occurred. As a mom, its really important that they know they can do something about it.
About 100 people also gathered in Mississaugas Celebration Square on Monday night.
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Candles at the front of the crowd spelled out Peace Canada.
Event organizer and executive director of the Syrian Active Volunteers group, Sam Jisri, said he began working with colleagues to organize this vigil, and others across Canada, at around 1 a.m. Sunday night.
All we need and want is peace. Not a country for just us, but for generations of our children, he said. Canada is about diversity and if you dont agree, youre not Canadian. We will not tolerate any terrorism in this country.
Jisri said he believes the shooting rampage was partially motivated by President Donald Trumps recent immigration order, which temporarily suspends all immigration for citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days.
What happens in the neighboring country should not affect us, Jisri said. Trumps executive orders should not affect us and I think it motivated it.
A number of people, including Ibrahim Hindy, took to the stage in Mississauga to share their thoughts with those gathered. Hindy, a Muslim who has lived in Canada his entire life, said we are not going to hold what happened in that mosque against any one religion or culture or race. We are going to uphold our values as Canadians. We do have friends and allies here.
Rawan Kahlout, who came to Canada as a refugee last year from Gaza, emphasized that all Canadians are the same, regardless of religion.
If something happens to Muslims, we dont look at it as it happened to Muslims, we look at is as it happened to Canadians, she said.
Jeff St. Denis spoke to the crowd while standing beside Yasmeen Youssef, a colleague and friend from work. St. Denis, who had never worked with a Muslim woman before Youssef, said she immediately messaged him when they began working together to make sure he felt comfortable.
St. Denis said hes constantly humbled by Youssefs dedication to her faith.
I encourage anyone who stays within your own bubble to branch out. You miss out on the great opportunity of learning from others and discovering just how much you have in common with them, he told the crowd. Im a gay white male. Who would have thought Id have so much in common with a Muslim from Egypt?
St. Denis also said he finds the newest Canadians are the most proud because they realize how good they have it.
Annis Campione said she attended the vigil to show that were all here in solidarity and here to support each other.
Were all immigrants, she said.
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Mala Dorai was working late, heading downstairs to find food, when she instead stumbled on an opportunity to improve our regions mental health.
The India-born neuroscientist saw a CivicAction session, was invited into it and now is one of the city-building agencys 25 DiverseCity Fellows with a year-long opportunity to tackle one of the big challenges facing the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
In its eighth year, the fellowship is a boot camp for emerging leaders trying to improve communities. The program also aims to inject diversity into the ranks of local leaders who remain, on average, more white and male than the communities they serve.
Dorai, a Deloitte health-care consultant who has studied at the University of California, San Diego and Columbia University and interned at the World Health Organization, says her passion is mental health.
Her fellowship project has yet to be decided, but she sees a gap she would love to help fill.
A lot of people now feel more comfortable about getting a mental health diagnosis but the part left out is how to integrate these people back into society, to get them gainfully employed for example, where they can feel fully included and really improve their quality of life, Dorai said in an interview.
Everyone has been affected somehow by mental health issues and it feels like a giant beast, but if we each take a piece and chip away at it, I think it becomes solvable.
Andrew Do, a 2014 University of Toronto public policy graduate, lives in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood but roams the city interviewing immigrant restaurant owners for his blog, 6ixspots.com, when he is not conducting research for innovation and entrepreneurship policy.
Do says that, although he helps organize Civic Tech Toronto events and was research lead for Better Budget Torontos 2016 report, he was unconvinced his DiverseCity application could match those further into careers.
Its the word leadership that I have some difficulty in owning, and this program is supposed to help me get comfortable owning that label, Do says.
He hopes to work on a project that connects young people with the machinery of government and policy. That would follow on his grad school work teaching high school students how to be mock bureaucrats.
It might not sound as sexy as mock parliamentarian, but it got them to learn how to work behind the scenes, trying to translate policy decisions, how to execute an idea, he said.
Li Koo is a communications professional who helped turn an empty Buddhist temple on Bathurst St. into a centre for culture, arts, media and education.
She wants to spend her year working on a solid project that is sustainable, with lasting impact. She has a special interest in affordable housing, which is in critically short supply in the booming GTHA.
This is our opportunity to come together like a think-tank and put forward solutions and try to enact them, said Koo, a member of the Metropolitan United Church refugee committee who once ran for school trustee.
With issues of intolerance dominating headlines, says CivicActions chief executive Sevaun Palvetzian, DiverseCity Fellows have a chance to become better allies and authentic champions for inclusivity.
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Toronto is in dire need of a large emergency shelter and unless immediate action is taken, people are at risk of becoming seriously ill or dying on the streets.
That is the tone and content of a letter addressed to Mayor John Tory and signed by more than 30 Toronto agencies involved in finding long-term solutions for homelessness, providing front-line services and fighting for affordable housing.
What they want is for the city to find a large space including but not isolated to the citys two military armouries where people could be safely housed over the winter.
As the weather intensifies and we experience frigid temperatures, people who are homeless experience an increased risk of dying due to overexposure to the extreme cold, wrote the authors. We urge City Council to open the armouries or a similarly large facility immediately.
Torys office received the letter Monday afternoon, a spokesperson confirmed. The authors intended to officially present the letter Tuesday morning.
The armouries have been used as emergency shelter before, but city staff in response to repeated calls to open them this winter have said it is not possible to use them to house large numbers of people in a safe, hygienic and dignified way.
Tory, in an interview with the Star earlier this month, said he trusts and relies on the advice of shelter staff, both when it comes to emergency shelters and longer term options. He said his office is constantly evaluating existing programs and seeking to do more.
I am not satisfied that we have done everything that is possible to do, but I am certainly satisfied that we have made huge effort to do more, he said. We are looking constantly.
On Sunday, according to city data, emergency shelters were at 94 per cent capacity, with womens shelters at 95 per cent, and mens shelters at 94 per cent. (That figure doesnt factor in a 36 bed program for single refugee men that opened Monday night.)
Patricia Anderson, with the citys Shelter Support and Housing Administration division, said they have extended the citys cold weather drop-in programs until mid-March and added 150 hotel beds for families.
We share the concern for vulnerable Toronto residents expressed in this letter, but City staff continues to put new programs and beds in place as a priority response to current occupancy rates in Torontos shelter system, said Anderson.
Anderson said the Red Door shelter for families is expected to open a 96-bed temporary program next week. A 30-bed shelter for men was opened on Bloor St. W. in the second week of January, and in late December the city opened a 60-bed womens facility on Kennedy Rd. Both filled in less than a week.
The urgency behind the letter was, in part, spurred by a plunge in temperature, expected to last the week.
Clearly, with the weather turning the way it is, we need to act now, said Sean Meagher, executive director of Social Planning Toronto, one of the signing agencies. We need practical solutions we can implement, he said.
Meagher said the armouries may not be ideal, but they are better than the street. The ideal solution is more affordable housing and more supportive housing.
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Glen Brown, a leading AIDS activist and beloved former executive director of Pride Toronto, is being remembered as a brilliant and courageous strategist who knew how to mobilize people to create change.
Brown died from liver disease early Friday morning. He was 58.
Brown began his activism in the late 1980s as a board member of AIDS Action Now!, a non-profit organization that played an instrumental role during the reform of Ontarios life-saving Trillium Drug Program to assist HIV/AIDS patients.
Glen had a passion for helping others who needed help, said his brother, Keith. Not only was he passionate, but he was effective . . . He wasnt done making a contribution.
Originally from Saskatchewan, Brown was an accomplished leader for non-profits working on a variety of causes. While he was best known for his work advocating for the LGBTQ community, he was also board chair at Greenpeace Canada and worked with the City of Toronto on safe injection sites.
When Brown took over as interim executive director of Pride Toronto in 2011, the organization had been facing enormous financial struggles and was still reeling from the resignation of its former head. Brown was credited with helping to pull it back from the brink and pulling off fantastic Pride celebrations that summer.
Though many at Pride Toronto wanted Brown to stay on permanently, he insisted he had to move on there were other troubled organizations that needed help.
He knew what buttons to push and who to talk to, said Tim McCaskell, a friend who worked with Brown at AIDS Action Now in the 1990s, adding that Browns work on Trillium saved countless lives across Ontario.
It was his strategizing and brilliant use of mass politics that led us to success.
He was a sharp-minded thinker, friends said, who love to travel. He was, above all, a kind-hearted person.
Joanna Kerr, the executive director of Greenpeace Canada, said Brown was not only an incredibly passionate and practical worker, but a warm mentor who was difficult not to become friends with.
The kindness, the smiles, the optimism that he would bring . . . , she said. We were lucky to have him.
Ryan Lester worked with Brown at Pride Toronto, and currently works as director of development at Egale Canada Human Rights Trust a position Brown helped him find.
Long after they stopped working together, Lester said he and Brown would meet in the Village to catch up and strategize.
Following the controversy around last years Pride parade and the Black Lives Matter protest, Lester recalled Browns plan to invite members of the group to speak with him over dinner, and his strong belief in the power of dialogue.
Glen posted to his Facebook that he had seen a number of posts about the behaviour of invited guests (referring to BLM Toronto) to which he said, when I invite guests, I expect them to bring their passion and their politics with them. If not, my dinner parties would be dreadfully boring, Lester said.
Walking down Church St. in the days since Browns death, Lester said he could almost picture Brown sitting near the front of their favourite spot, the Churchmouse and Firkin. He was always a bit early, reading a community newspaper with quiet, wise look about him and a twinkle in his eye.
He was easy to talk to, (he had) a deep-hearted kindness, Lester said. I really never got to tell him what impact he had on my life.
He is survived by his sister Marj, and brothers Larry and Keith.
A small private service will be followed in the spring by a community memorial to celebrate Glen's life and work.
With files from Evelyn Kwong, Alina Bykova and Brennan Doherty
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More than 4,000 university professors, administrators and researchers have signed a petition to boycott international academic conferences in the U.S. to show solidarity with Muslim colleagues affected by U.S. President Donald Trumps travel ban.
It is a support to our (Muslim) colleagues in this beleaguered time, said Haroon Akram-Lodhi, an economics and international development studies professor at Trent University in Peterborough, one of many Canadian academics on board.
The reality is these international conferences are large money generators. They are important economic drivers. We dont want to give the economic support to the U.S. in this situation.
Another online petition denouncing the ban led by American academics has collected more than 18,000 signatures, including 50 Nobel Laureates.
A 2013 National Science Foundation report found 5.2 million of the 29 million scientists and engineers in the U.S. are immigrants.
The academic boycott was a response to Trumps executive order Friday to impose a 90-day ban that denies entry to citizens from seven Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia.
The order also suspends the admittance of all refugees to the U.S. for 120 days and terminates indefinitely all refugee admissions from Syria.
The order institutionalizes racism, and fosters an environment in which people racialised as Muslim are vulnerable to ongoing and intensifying acts of violence and hatred, said the widely circulated petition.
Among those affected by the order are academics and students who are unable to participate in conferences and the free communication of ideas. We the undersigned take action in solidarity with those affected by Trumps executive order.
Ever since the so-called Muslim travel ban was issued, numerous academic associations including Universities Canada, the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences and the Association of American Universities have issued statements condemning the practice.
Shannon Dea, a philosophy professor at the University of Waterloo, said it is an easy decision for many scholars who could earn a CV line from presenting at these conferences.
Some academics who object to the boycott worry it could further isolate their colleagues within the U.S. who cant travel to conferences relocated abroad for fear of refused readmissions to the country.
They are already feeling downhearted. It will be another blow to them, said Dea, who signed the petition. But we have to make clear we cant normalize the new (Trump) administration. When I get an invitation to a conference in the U.S., I can give a clear answer and say Im not travelling and its not business as usual.
Many of the petitioning academics say they dont believe their boycott will make the Trump administration budge.
I feel that I cannot enter the U.S. as that would be condoning Trumps action. I realize that my actions will have little economic effect but its a point of principle, said Jen Marchbank, a professor in gender sexuality and womens studies at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.
I refused to enter apartheid South Africa, too. I see little difference between the U.S.A. today and apartheid South Africa in terms of ethics and morals.
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Extremist groups on Sunday celebrated the Trump administrations ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, saying the new policy validates their claim that the United States is at war with Islam.
Comments posted to pro-Islamic State social media accounts predicted that U.S. President Donald Trumps executive order would persuade American Muslims to side with the extremists. One posting hailed the president as the best caller to Islam, while others predicted that Trump would soon launch a new war in the Middle East.
(Islamic State leader Abu Bakr) al-Baghdadi has the right to come out and inform Trump that banning Muslims from entering America is a blessed ban, said one posting to a pro-Islamic State channel on Telegram, a social-media platform. The writer compared the executive order to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, which Islamic militant leaders at the time hailed as a blessed invasion that ignited anti-Western fervour across the Islamic world.
Several postings suggested that Trump was fulfilling the predictions of Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born Al Qaeda leader and preacher who famously said that the West would eventually turn against its Muslim citizens. Awlaki was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen in 2011.
When U.S. President Donald Trump says We dont want them here and bans the Muslim immigrants from Muslim countries, there is one thing that comes to our mind, said another posting, beneath a banner of al-Awlaki and his quote.
Leaders of the Islamic State speak frequently of their intention to drive a wedge between Western governments and their Muslim populations, and have welcomed outside help intentional or not in fulfilling that goal. In a 2015 essay in the Islamic States English-language magazine Dabiq, the group said that its motivation for launching terrorist attacks in Europe was to provoke an anti-Muslim backlash that would force ambivalent Muslims to enlist with them.
Jihadists would have to argue to lengths that Obama, Bush and others held anti-Islam agendas and hated the religion not just radical terrorists, said Rita Katz, founder of the SITE Intelligence Group, a private organization that monitors jihadist websites. Trump, however, makes that argument a lot easier for them to sell to their followers.
The reaction to the ban from Islamic State sympathizers came as current and former U.S. officials also expressed concern that the temporary ban would undermine the global fight against violent Islamic militants. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairperson of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he worried about the bans impact on Muslim troops fighting alongside Americans to destroy the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The effect will probably, in some areas, give ISIS some more propaganda, McCain told CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday, using an acronym for the Islamic State.
Robert Richer, a 35-year CIA veteran and former chief of the agencys Near East division, said the ban was a strategic mistake that could undermine future efforts to recruit spies and collect vital information about terrorists and their plans. How, he asked, can CIA officers persuade Iraqi and Syrian nationals to risk their lives to help the United States?
This was a win for jihadists and other anti-U.S. forces, said Richer, the deputy chief of the agencys Operations Directorate during the George W. Bush administration. It fuels the belief out there that Americans are anti-Islam. Otherwise, it accomplishes nothing, because the ones we are most concerned about can still get to the United States.
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WASHINGTONIn an extraordinary public showdown, U.S. President Donald Trump fired the acting attorney general of the United States after she publicly questioned the constitutionality of his refugee and immigration ban and refused to defend it in court.
The clash Monday night between Trump and Sally Yates, a career prosecutor and Democratic appointee, laid bare the growing discord and dissent surrounding an executive order that halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days. The firing, in a written statement released just hours after Yates went public with her concerns, also served as a warning to other administration officials that Trump is prepared to terminate those who refuse to carry out his orders.
Yates refusal to defend the executive order was largely symbolic given that Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trumps pick for attorney general, will almost certainly defend the policy once hes sworn in. Hes expected to be confirmed Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee and could be approved within days by the full Senate.
Yet the firing reflected the mounting conflict over the executive order, as administration officials have moved to distance themselves from the policy and even some of Trumps top advisers have made clear that they were not consulted on its implementation.
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As protests erupted at airports across the globe, and as legal challenges piled up in courthouses, Yates directed agency attorneys not to defend the executive order. She said in a memo Monday she was not convinced it was lawful or consistent with the agencys obligation to stand for what is right.
Trumps press secretary, Sean Spicer, soon followed with a statement accusing Yates of having betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States. Trump named longtime federal prosecutor Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, as Yates replacement. Boente was sworn in privately late Monday, the White House said, and rescinded Yatess directive.
The chain of events bore echoes of the Nixon-era Saturday Night Massacre, when the attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned rather than follow an order to fire a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal. The prosecutor, Archibald Cox, was fired by the solicitor general.
Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration who was the top federal prosecutor in Atlanta and later became Loretta Lynchs deputy, was not alone in her misgivings.
At least three top national security officials Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department have told associates they were not aware of details of the directive until around the time Trump signed it. Leading intelligence officials were also left largely in the dark, according to U.S. officials.
Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that despite White House assurances that congressional leaders were consulted, he learned about the order from the media.
Trumps order pauses Americas entire refugee program for four months, indefinitely bans all those from war-ravaged Syria and temporarily freezes immigration from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. Federal judges in New York and several other states issued orders that temporarily block the government from deporting people with valid visas who arrived after Trumps travel ban took effect and found themselves in limbo.
Yates on Monday said that she had reviewed the policy and concluded that it was at odds with the Justice Departments mission. She said that though other lawyers in the department had reviewed the order, their review had not addressed whether it was wise or just.
I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right, Yates wrote in a letter.
Trump said the order had been approved by Justice Department lawyers. However, the department has said the Office of Legal Counsel review was limited to whether the order was properly drafted, but did not address broader policy questions.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer challenged those opposed to the measure to resign.
They should either get with the program or they can go, Spicer said.
The blowback underscored Trumps tenuous relationship with his own national security advisers, many of whom he met for the first time during the transition.
Mattis, who stood next to Trump during Fridays signing ceremony, is said to be particularly incensed. A senior U.S. official said Mattis, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph Dunford, was aware of the general concept of Trumps order but not the details. Tillerson has told the presidents political advisers that he was baffled over not being consulted on the substance of the order.
U.S. officials and others with knowledge of the Cabinets thinking insisted on anonymity in order to disclose the officials private views.
Despite his public defence of the policy, the president has privately acknowledged flaws in the rollout, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. But hes also blamed the media his frequent target for what he believes are reports exaggerating the dissent and the number of people actually affected.
After a chaotic weekend during which some U.S. legal permanent residents were detained at airports, some agencies were moving swiftly to try to clean up after the White House.
Homeland Security, the agency tasked with implementing much of the refugee ban, clarified that customs and border agents should allow legal residents to enter the country. The Pentagon was trying to exempt Iraqis who worked alongside the U.S. and coalition forces from the 90-day ban on entry from the predominantly Muslim countries.
There are a number of people in Iraq who have worked for us in a partnership role, whether fighting alongside us or working as translators, often doing so at great peril to themselves, said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers in Trumps party sought to distance themselves from the wide-ranging order.
While Spicer said appropriate committees and leadership offices on Capitol Hill were consulted, GOP lawmakers said their offices had no hand in drafting the order and no briefings from the White House on how it would work.
I think they know that it could have been done in a better way, Corker said of the White House.
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WASHINGTONThe fight over filling the Supreme Court escalates this week when U.S. President Donald Trump announces his nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
With Trumps choices reputedly narrowed to two or three conservative appellate judges, the president said Monday that he would publicly unveil the nominee on Tuesday, moving up his timetable from the previously announced Thursday. Theres a distinct possibility of a leak before then, as lawmakers, interest groups and everyday citizens appear stoked for a confrontation thats been nearly a year in the making.
I can already tip you off, Vice-President Mike Pence told Republican lawmakers meeting in Philadelphia Thursday. President Trumps going to keep his promise to the American people and hes going to nominate a strict constructionist to the Supreme Court.
One of the leading contenders, Denver-based Judge Neil Gorsuch of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has praised Scalia as a lion of the law. Scalia denied he was a strict constructionist, though the label often stuck.
A strict constructionist, as a general matter, holds that the Constitutions reach is limited to the documents literal text as it was written in 1789 or added to in subsequent amendments. Its also political shorthand thats particularly useful for those, like Trump, who are not themselves lawyers. Pence is a graduate of Indiana Universitys Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Trump started marketing his eventual Supreme Court choice with two public lists, totalling 21 ostensible candidates. Some of the early names seemed floated primarily for political purposes, like the ego-stroking inclusion of Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. The initial lists included four women and, ethnically, one African-American, one Hispanic and one Asian-American.
Gorsuch and the other two reported finalists are middle-aged white men who have conservative judicial credentials that would effectively retain the courts 5-4 rightward tilt during Scalias tenure.
At 49, Gorsuch is the youngest of the presumed finalists and his elite educational background most closely matches that of the current justices. Born in Denver, he earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, his law degree from Harvard and a doctorate in legal philosophy from Oxford University.
Gorsuchs conservative views on issues including the death penalty, religious liberty and the Second Amendment have largely echoed Scalias positions. He is, however, less controversial than at least one other finalist, and he won confirmation to his current seat by a 95-0 vote.
A more incendiary choice, by far, would be Judge William H. Pryor Jr., 54, of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Pryor once denounced the Supreme Courts 1973 Roe v. Wade decision upholding the right to an abortion as the creation out of thin air of a constitutional right to murder an unborn child and as the worst abomination in the history of constitutional law.
Pryor had to fight his way to confirmation to his current seat, finally winning on a 53-45 Senate vote.
A third top contender, Judge Thomas Hardiman, 51, of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is a 51-year-old, Spanish-speaking conservative who has been vocal on Second Amendment rights, generally unsympathetic to death row inmates and mostly silent on abortion. He has also had, until recently, a relatively low profile.
The new justice will enable the court to avoid the 4-4 deadlocks that have stymied definitive statements on some pressing issues. These ties uphold lower appellate court rulings without setting national precedent.
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ZAGAN, POLANDOn a snowy field in southwest Poland, U.S. tanks and troops gathered on Monday to defend against a resurgent Russia that U.S. President Donald Trump wants to befriend.
The troops part of the largest U.S. deployment to Europe since the Cold War plan to spread across Eastern Europe, fanning into the Baltic nations, digging in to Poland and also deploying to Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. Major new commitments were made in July at a NATO summit in Warsaw by then-president Barack Obama and at the time, they seemed like a bipartisan expression of support for U.S. allies at a moment of heightened fear about Russia.
Now, however, they are coming despite the White House, not because of it. Eastern European nations say they fully trust Washingtons commitments but the jubilation of the summer has been replaced by concern over Trumps overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin. NATO leaders acknowledge that the alliance would be rocked if Trump abandons the troop deployments.
The uncertainty has led to an unusual gap between Trumps rhetoric and that of nearly the entire military establishment underneath him.
It was the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the unlawful annexation of Crimea that forced the deployments, said Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the commander of U.S. army ground forces in Europe, ahead of a frigid Monday ceremony on a military exercise range outside the Polish town of Zagan, where a Polish military band played The Star-Spangled Banner to welcome their American counterparts.
The last American tank left Europe three years ago because we all hoped Russia was going to be our partner. And so we had to bring all this back, Hodges said.
Just over a week into the Trump presidency, the new U.S. leader has shown mixed messages on NATO. He called the alliance obsolete in an interview days before the inauguration. But Defense Secretary James Mattis called NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on his first full day on the job last week, praising the fundamental and enduring value of NATO for the security of both Europe and North America, according to NATO. Later in the week, British Prime Minister Theresa May stood by Trumps side and said he had confirmed that youre 100 per cent behind NATO.
The uncertainty has weighed on Eastern European leaders, who have welcomed the international deployment of several thousand troops to their nations.
Any reversal of deployments would be an issue of concern to us, said Ojars Kalnins, the head of the foreign affairs committee of Latvias parliament.
In Zagan, the site of a vast Communist-era artillery training field, there was little explicit acknowledgment of the new questions over NATOs future. But phrases that would have been unexceptional before Trumps November election victory took on new meaning after his inauguration.
An attack on any of us is an attack on all of us, said U.S. ambassador to Poland Paul Jones, the senior representative of the Trump administration at the event.
Polish leaders said they were delighted to be able to choose their friends, something they said was not possible during more than four decades of communist rule.
Thirty years ago, which is not that long in history, we had units here in Zagan which we were forced to treat as allies, said Polish President Andrzej Duda, referring to Soviet Army troops. And today we have in Zagan allies who symbolize freedom.
After the celebratory speeches, Polish and U.S. tanks and heavy artillery conducted live-fire exercises intended to show that they could work together to fend off a common enemy. Explosions and gunfire rang out across a vast, deforested plain, which was covered in the snow and mud of a Polish winter.
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The head of the worlds largest airline said weekend airport chaos stemmed from a divisive U.S. travel ban on seven mostly Muslim countries, countering President Donald Trumps effort to fault protesters and a Delta Air Lines Inc. computer failure.
Crews, reservations agents and airport teams have witnessed turmoil in our airports that shows how divisive this order can be, Doug Parker, chief executive officer of American Airlines Group Inc., said in a letter to employees. It is the current law of the U.S., and so long as that is the case, we must comply.
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Parkers counterpart at United Continental Holdings Inc., Oscar Munoz, said demonstrations in response to Trumps order were peaceful and did not affect our operations. Neither he nor Parker mentioned the Delta disruption, which started two full days after Trump temporarily blocked visitors from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya. The edict also shut U.S. borders to refugees.
Concern that the U.S. restrictions would expand or spark retaliation by other nations prompted investors to dump airline stocks Monday, pushing a Standard & Poors index of five U.S. airlines to a decline of 2.9 percent. That was the biggest tumble in four months and amounted to a drop of $3.75 billion in market value. The index fell another 1.8 percent at 10:45 a.m. in New York on Tuesday.
Read more:Trumps ban leaves many stranded, separated from their families
The acting U.S. Attorney General rejected Trumps Muslim ban because he kept talking about it as a Muslim ban
In two messages on Twitter, Trump said big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage, protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer. That was a reference to Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, who called the travel ban an evil order.
Delta canceled more than 100 flights Monday as it recovered from a computer breakdown the night before. The systems fault began about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and was much shorter than a technology outage in August that forced the Atlanta-based carrier to cancel thousands of flights. Delta didnt comment on Trumps tweet about the service disruption.
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President Donald Trumps outreach to Russia is reverberating through the United Nations, where U.S. allies worry that a partnership between Washington and Moscow could undermine a historic balance of power dating to the early days of the Cold War.
For decades, the five veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council have fallen into two camps France, the U.K. and the U.S., referred to as the P3, on one side and Russia and China on the other.
Just days into his presidency, Trump is upsetting all that.
The result could reshape the world bodys response on conflicts from Syria to Ukraine and its approach to thorny decisions such as whether to deploy peacekeepers or condemn a country for human-rights violations. While the five permanent members can always veto resolutions or decisions, they usually try to win majority support from other Security Council members for their cause instead. Thats where the new American presidents approach comes in.
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Foreign diplomats will be flying blind with Trump, said Richard Gowan, a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Many expect him to work more closely with Russia but are not sure how far this will go.
Few countries have more at stake than Ukraine, which is keenly focused on whether the U.S. will continue to stand with other nations in not recognizing Russias annexation of Crimea, or if Washington softens its stance and eases sanctions in return for more co-operation against terrorism. Syrias beleaguered opposition, which Russia has targeted for bombing in its support of President Bashar Assad, could be wiped out if the U.S. shifts policy and withholds its support.
The U.K., which boasts of its special relationship to the U.S., is said to be deeply concerned that Trumps admiration for President Vladimir Putin will give Russia sway in Eastern Europe, according to two senior officials, who asked not to be identified discussing a sensitive matter. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May met with Trump in Washington on Jan. 27, and Trump spoke with Putin by phone for about an hour the following day.
Its one thing to say you want to put America first and try new things, but this is not the right time to turn your back on alliances that have served us for 70 years, said Edward Luck, a professor at Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs. You may think its time to approach diplomacy differently but you cannot throw out the baby with the bathwater.
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EU president sees Trump comments as threats, gives reminder: United we stand, divided we fall
Trump state visit to U.K. puts Queen Elizabeth in very difficult position
Trumps ban leaves many stranded, separated from their families
While Trumps new UN ambassador, Nikki Haley, was known as a conciliator in her past job as governor of South Carolina, she arrived at her new post last week with a stern warning indicating shes ready to pursue Trumps pugnacious stance at the world body. The U.S. will have the backs of our allies and make sure that our allies have our back as well, she told reporters. For those that dont have our back, were taking names.
Under President Barack Obamas administration, the Russia-U.S. relationship soured to the point that the Security Councils work was largely paralyzed. Samantha Power, Obamas UN ambassador, and her Russian counterpart, Vitaly Churkin, feuded repeatedly over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria.
In a Security Council hearing in December, Power charged Russia with complicity in massacring innocent civilians by backing Assads regime and pro-Assad militias. Churkin, in turn, said Power was trying to act like Mother Teresa and said the U.S. and U.K. were to blame for the rise of Islamic State because of their invasion of Iraq.
But in the most contentious debates, it was typically Russia on the defensive with backing from China, as the two countries sought to stop or slow UN condemnations or calls for ceasefires or other forms of intervention. China has supported Russias positions in vetoing five resolutions on Syria since 2011. Now, with Trump saying an alliance with Moscow would be an asset, it could be even harder for less powerful countries to get the support they need for such action.
Putin, Trump and Xi are a trio of most unfriendly leaders for multilateral co-operation since the end of the Cold War, if not the beginning of the UN, said Michael Doyle, a former UN assistant secretary-general, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The UN is already bracing to be on defence because Haley is taking her seat with support from a president and a U.S. Congress furious over a Security Council resolution in December critical of Israels settlements policy.
The Obama administrations unexpected decision to abstain from the resolution allowed it to pass, and U.S. lawmakers from both parties have fumed ever since. In her Jan. 18 confirmation hearing, Haley called the vote one of the bodys most outrageous. Members of Congress are proposing to cut or freeze funding for the UN as a result.
Asked about potential cuts in UN funding, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Thursday that the president wants to be a strong steward of tax dollars. The U.S. provides about $8 billion a year in contributions to the UN through the State Department and other agencies, or about a fifth of the world bodys total budget of $40 billion.
On Jan. 4, new UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Trump and had a very positive discussion, according to his spokesman. In one of his few tweets directed at the UN, Trump last month said, The United Nations has such great potential, but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad.
Haleys biggest challenge is that shes part of an administration that carries a deep distrust toward multilateral institutions like the UN, said Reva Goujon, an analyst at Stratfor, the geopolitical advisory company.
That suspicion as well as policy disagreements could lead to other ramifications at the UN. As bonds among the P3 loosen, the Russian-Chinese alliance at the UN could also suffer, Gowan said.
If Trump cozies up to Russia while continuing to pick fights with Beijing over trade and Taiwan, Security Council dynamics could become decidedly weird, Gowan said. We could see Moscow and Washington trying to collaborate at the UN while Beijing manoeuvres to undermine their co-operation.
A key test may come in February, when Ukraine will hold the Security Councils rotating presidency. The country will be looking to ensure it still has the councils backing in its claims to Crimea and addressing instability on its eastern border.
The P3 have always been rock-solid supportive of Ukraine when it comes to the issue of Crimea, said Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraines ambassador to the UN. We have heard remarks of Mr. Trump on Crimea when he was a presidential candidate. But we need to understand that campaign rhetoric and real business may vary.
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A Chinese-born Canadian billionaire who has forged financial ties with some of the countrys most powerful families was taken by the Chinese police from his apartment at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong late last week and spirited across the border, a person close to the businessman said Tuesday.
The billionaire, Xiao Jianhua, who has been missing since Friday, is in police custody in China, where he apparently is safe, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of arrest. Xiao is a Canadian citizen with an Antiguan diplomatic passport, though he was born in China.
His removal from Hong Kong appears to contravene the one country, two systems rule that allows the former British colony to run its own affairs and bars the Chinese police from operating here.
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada was aware of reports of Xiaos disappearance and said consular officials were in contact with Chinese authorities, Reuters reported.
When asked Tuesday about Xiao, the Hong Kong police issued a statement saying that the subject had entered mainland China through a border crossing Friday. His disappearance was reported the following day, but on Sunday one of Xiaos family members reported that Xiao was safe and that the family had asked to withdraw the missing persons filing.
Xiao, 45, had spent years outside China, most recently staying at the Four Seasons in Hong Kong.
The situation is eerily reminiscent of the case of another foreign-passport holder, the bookseller Lee Bo, who disappeared off the streets of Hong Kong in late 2015, only to turn up days later in Chinese custody. His case, as well as the disappearance of four of his business associates, made headlines around the world and shook many people in Hong Kong, who saw his abduction as a violation of the city states ability to run its own affairs, guaranteed by international treaty until 2047.
Xiao, a prodigy who passed the examination to enter the elite Peking University at age 14, controls a sprawling empire that holds shares in banks, insurance companies, coal, cement and property through his Tomorrow Group. The Hurun Report, which tracks Chinese billionaires, estimated his fortune last year at 40 billion renminbi, or $7.6 billion. But that amount vastly understates his true wealth, said the person close to the businessman.
Xiaos fortunes rose after his graduation from the university in 1990, where he had been head of the official student organization and stayed loyal to the government during the pro-democracy Tiananmen Square demonstrations in 1989.
In recent years, Xiao has acted as a kind of banker to the ruling class, paying $3.1 million in 2013 to buy shares in an investment firm held by the sister and brother-in-law of Chinas president, Xi Jinping. A company he helped to control financed a deal that helped the son-in-law of a top former leader, Jia Qinglin, The New York Times reported in 2014.
Xiao bought the shares from Xis relatives to help them divest financial holdings following a 2012 report by Bloomberg that detailed his relatives wealth. He did it for the family, Xiaos spokeswoman said in 2014.
His fate in recent days has been the focus of media attention and confusion in Hong Kong and in the overseas Chinese-language press after reports emerged that he had been arrested. On Tuesday, Xiao posted two notices on his companys WeChat account saying he had not been taken from Hong Kong to the mainland and instead was recuperating abroad and soon would meet with media organizations.
In Chinese, there is no ambiguity: Abroad means outside the mainland. Those posts have since been removed.
Those statements were untrue, according to the person close to Xiao, and were meant to tamp down interest in the story, because the Chinese government did not want it publicized.
The person did not know why Xiao had been taken to the mainland, adding that his relatives, including his wife and son, were not in China. The Tomorrow Group has extensive holdings in China. Previous disappearances of Chinese billionaires have generated turmoil in Chinese stock markets, which are closed this week for the Lunar New Year holiday.
On Tuesday evening, the Hong Kong police press office would not comment on whether the local police had helped to arrest Xiao and transport him across the border, and they would not say whether Chinese police had illegally apprehended Xiao, saying only that they had asked the mainland police for help in the case.
The Chinese Ministry of Public Security did not respond to a faxed request seeking comment on Xiao.
A spokesperson for the Four Seasons Hotel, where Xiao lived for years with a large retinue of attendants, was not available to comment.
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WASHINGTONMary Beth Jobe, a 52-year-old homemaker in Idaho, expected to have a quiet Sunday hanging out with her three chickens, two dogs, cat and parrot.
But then she checked the Facebook page for her Boise neighbourhood and someone had posted about a protest at the airport. Eight days after the first demonstration of her life, she drove out to the second.
This is dire, she said Monday. Ive never been this freaked out, ever. Im freaked out, and Ill do whatever I need to do.
Erik Johnson, a 24-year-old biochemistry student in Nebraska, planned to be studying on Sunday night. But his girlfriend told him there was a protest at the state capitol in Lincoln. He had never demonstrated before, but this was a matter of American values. Off he went.
As of right now, he said Monday, I would say Im ready to make my voice heard.
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Jobe and Johnson are part of an America-wide wave of organic street activism that has spread far beyond the usual places and the usual suspects. For the first time since the Vietnam era, it appears that spontaneous public protest may become a regular feature of American life.
Two weekends ago it was massive womens marches, the largest single-day outpouring of protest in American history. Last weekend it was rallies against President Donald Trumps order banning new refugees for 120 days and visiting nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days.
Demonstrators gathered on short notice Sunday in the streets of Alabama and Alaska, Arkansas and Michigan, Louisiana and Montana, Tennessee and Illinois. They gave every impression that they would be back.
When this administration acts like it has some overwhelming mandate and the majority of the country voted for somebody else, people are moved to act. And I dont think that this is a one-off situation, said Jason Kander, the former Missouri secretary of state who lost his 2016 race for the U.S. Senate.
I think it is becoming pretty clear that the demonstrations are going to be a part of the Trump administration if it continues to act as though it has a mandate that it doesnt have.
The number of members who have come to us saying Im writing a letter every day, Im calling a member of Congress every day, Im ready to go out on the streets several nights a week or every night if necessaryits amazing. We havent seen energy like this, ever, said Charles Chamberlain, executive director of the 12-year-old progressive group Democracy for America.
The grassroots rebellion poses a test not only for Trumps young administration but virtually every Democratic elected official willing to work with Trump on virtually anything. The protests have been peaceful, even joyous, but also militant.
Any fondness for bipartisanship that remained after eight years of Republicans strategic impeding of Barack Obama appears to have vanished with Trumps hard-right early behaviour in office. The protesters want the Democratic opposition to oppose, not co-operate.
I want them to fight, Jobe said. They can see all this happening. And whether or not they choose to do something about it will reflect on who gets elected next time. We want to hold them accountable for doing something. Speak out.
At a protest in New York, the Democrats Senate leader, Chuck Schumer, faced chants advocating his ouster. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, long a darling of the party left, has been swamped with furious Facebook comments since she announced she would be voting to confirm Trumps nominee for housing secretary, right-wing neurosurgeon Ben Carson.
Theyre looking for a leader in Washington that understands that we need to have complete and absolute rejection of the Trump agenda as it stands right now. It is unconstitutional, it is un-American. And that means we need to block everything, said Chamberlain.
At least until the travel ban is repealed, he said, We expect total opposition to all of Trumps appointees, to Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court, to any legislation coming out of the Trump administration.
Public protests against Trump may help to galvanize his own supporters. But there are early signs that the groundswell may be making the kind of impact the protesters are seeking.
Schumer, who has voted for some of Trumps nominees, announced Monday that he would vote against eight of them. And the Trump administration has hastily backtracked on major components of the travel ban, announcing that permanent residents and dual citizens from several allied countries, such as Canada, would not be affected.
Even if protesters energy eventually dissipates, the early surge of enthusiasm may pay long-term dividends. The American Civil Liberties Union, poised to be a leading legal challenger of Trumps agenda, says it raised more than $24 million in online donations on the weekend alone six times more than it usually raises from the web in an entire year.
In an extraordinary act of official legal resistance, acting attorney general Sally Yates, an Obama appointee, told the Justice Department on Monday not to defend Trumps order in court, saying she was not convinced it is lawful. She will be replaced soon by a Trump pick, likely Sen. Jeff Sessions, who will defend his policies.
Obama emerged from his post-departure silence much earlier than expected on Monday with a statement that said he was heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities across the country.
Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake, his spokesman said.
There were more than 2,000 protesters in Lincoln and nearby Omaha. The crowd was 600-strong at the small airport in Boise. This astonished Jobe, whose previous Idaho protest experience consisted of bumper stickers about saving the salmon population.
For some new demonstrators, a curious first protest begets an eager second. A day after the Lincoln gathering, Johnson said he could not name all seven countries covered by the ban. But he was committed to action.
What they said last night, what really resonated with me, was things like: its not enough to retweet something or post stuff on Facebook or even attend a rally. You have to go out there, and what a wise man once said, be the change you want to see in the world, he said.
So Im becoming more in tune, more educated about these topics that are becoming so hotly debated, and Im trying to be a voice of change. For people who frankly dont have a voice right now.
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Francois Fillons French presidential campaign plunged deeper into trouble on Tuesday after further revelations about his use of public funds to employ members of his family.
The Republican candidates daughter and son allegedly earned 84,000 euros ($118,500 Canadian) from 2005 to 2007 while working for him when he was a Senator, Le Canard Enchaine said. His wife, Penelope Fillon, earned more than 900,000 euros during over a decade as a parliamentary assistant and a contributor to a magazine, according to Le Canard.
The newspapers initial report on Penelopes job last week triggered a prosecutor to open a preliminary probe into the familys affairs. The candidate says hes innocent.
Read more:French front-runner says hell drop out if judge investigates Penelope Affair
The scandal has gripped France over the last week and offers the prospect of another twist in a race that has the nationalist Marine Le Pen leading the polls and has already seen household names like President Francois Hollande and his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, fall by the wayside. That said, polls show that Le Pen is still a long shot for victory in the second round of voting, with Emmanuel Macron also poised to benefit at least in the short term from Fillons woes.
His image has been seriously damaged, and whats worrying for him is that even among his supporters many are not convinced, said Yves-Marie Cann, director of political studies at pollster Elabe in Paris. The fire is not contained.
Cann said its almost certain the next round of polling will show Fillon has lost support, though its too early to judge whether the main beneficiary will be independent centrist Macron or the anti-European Union Le Pen. Fillons initial attempts to explain his way out of the growing scandal were deemed unconvincing by three-quarters of the French, a poll said.
Francois Fillon is innocent, but the media pressure is such that the French have condemned him, Fillons spokesman Benoist Apparu said LCP television. Its totally unjust. Fillons campaign team and the Republican party declined requests for comment.
Fillon has promised to withdraw from the race if the preliminary inquiry becomes a formal one something that has never happened to a major French candidate this late in a presidential contest.
The former prime minister has been the establishments leading candidate in the battle to stop Le Pens populist campaign to seize the presidency and lead France out of the euro. He won the Republicans primary boasting that he had the irreproachable integrity required to lead the country.
While polls show Le Pen leading in the first round of voting, theyve recently shown Macron close on Fillons heels for the April 23 first round of voting. Surveys also suggest that Le Pen would lose heavily to either Macron or Fillon in the May 7 run-off.
A Kantar Sofres poll released Monday in Le Figaro showed about 22 per cent of voters now back Fillon for the first round of voting, leaving him just one point ahead of Macron and three behind Le Pen. Before the inquiry, Fillon was considered the favourite to be Frances next president.
Investigators on Tuesday searched for documents at the National Assembly, a day after Fillon and his wife were separately questioned for about five hours by the police as part of the probe. The presidential candidate was happy to defend his honour, Antonin Levy, Fillons lawyer, said on BFM television. A parliamentary jobs assistant is often less tangible than other types of work, Levy added.
Marc Joulard, who replaced Fillon at the National Assembly, was also questioned, Agence France-Presse reported. Investigators have searched the offices of Revue des Deux Mondes, the magazine that Penelope Fillon contributed to, and interviewed the magazines former director and its owner, billionaire Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere.
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LOS ANGELESA doctor who saved Syrian lives and a man who cooked thousands of meals for American soldiers in Iraq were among those who saw their lives thrown into limbo when U.S. President Donald Trumps executive order barred travellers from seven Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
In some instances the order separated mothers from young children and husbands from wives as people with valid entry visas were stranded in countries around the world.
I was shocked. She has a visa and theyre telling her she cant go, Ahmed Ali said by phone Monday from a hotel in the African country of Djibouti after authorities refused to let his 12-year-old daughter, Eman, board a plane with him to the United States.
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Ali, his wife and their two older children are U.S. citizens but Eman was born in Yemen and has been living there with her grandparents.
The 38-year-old grocery store manager from Los Banos, California, said he spent five years trying to get Eman a visa and finally obtained one Thursday. By Saturday, when they tried to leave, it had been invalidated and he said he wasnt sure what hed do next. Meanwhile, hes worried that if he doesnt return home soon he could lose his job.
It is racist, he said of Trumps order. We are being targeted for our nationality and religion.
Also barred from returning is Khaled Almilaji, a Syrian doctor who has been attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on a scholarship while he studies ways to rebuild his countrys health system. He said that his pregnant wife remains in the United States while he is in Turkey.
It is really sad where the world is going to, said Almilaji, who risked his life to provide medical care during Syrias civil war and co-ordinated a campaign that vaccinated 1.4 million Syrian children.
Trump denied the order was to blame for chaos at the nations airports where hundreds of legal residents with green cards were stopped and interrogated for hours over the weekend while many with valid entry visas were simply turned away.
Instead Trump blamed computer glitches and the large airport protests his order prompted as he took to Twitter to argue it was needed because there are a lot of dudes out there.
The president issued a 90-day ban on travellers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. He also suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely barred refugees from Syria.
Although thousands protested the order at airports around the country and civil rights groups and some members of Congress denounced it, Trump supporters say it is a needed safeguard.
We need to know who these people are, said retired firefighter Charles Lewis of Topeka, Kansas. I just dont think this nation is secure. Were a day late and a dollar short on everything.
One of the many the order barred is Luey Rabban, who works 16-hour days as cook in a Baghdad restaurant and who received refugee status in the United States about eight months ago. He was waiting for his turn to emigrate but said Monday he is unsure now if that day will ever come.
I just want to come and see my family, Rabban, 47, said by phone from Baghdad through an Arabic translator at his brothers home in El Cajon, California, a suburb east of San Diego that has been a magnet for Iraqi Christians fleeing violence and, more recently, for Syrian refugees.
Rabban, who served meals to the U.S. military at the Baghdad airport from 2003 to 2011, said a U.S. Army officer helped him start on his refugee application six years ago.
Syrian brothers Bassam and Hassan Abouasali waited for 13 years to have their visas approved so they could join their brother, a U.S citizen, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he has a house waiting for them.
They finally got the visas last year but decided to spend one last Christmas in Damascus before leaving.
When they arrived at Philadelphia International Airport with their wives and children on Saturday they learned their visas had been cancelled and they were sent back.
Theyre exhausted. Theyre angry. Theyre frustrated. Theyre afraid, said their sister-in-law Sarmad Assali, a naturalized citizen who came to the United States when she was 13. They dont know what they have done wrong to be treated that way.
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I have never bought a lottery ticket.
Thats because I dont need to hit a multimillion dollar jackpot to persuade me that I have already won the most important lottery of them all. I won the lottery of life when I was born in Canada. Through no effort of my own (but plenty of effort by my grandparents on both sides of my family) I was born in a safe and secure country.
Ive been able to grow up, get an education, have a rewarding career, find a loving woman to marry and have children with, watch my children make their way in the world, and now take pleasure in walking a grandchild to her school bus most mornings.
Its easy to take all this for granted when youre born in Canada. But anyone with two eyes in their head can look around and understand that not everyone is as fortunate. Canadians take pride in opening our doors to some of them.
But now the United States has decided to shut everyone out if they were unlucky enough to be born in one of seven countries, which happen to have mostly Muslim populations.
That is a policy we cant ignore.
Part of why its so good to be a Canadian is our proximity to the United States. Unlike many countries in the world, we are blessed with a neighbour that has no plan to launch a military attack on our territory. In fact, their strongest-on-the-planet military helps protect us from any foreign invasion. We have our differences from time to time, but we rely on our two democratic governments to work things out. And even with Donald Trump as president, things like NAFTA, NATO, pipelines, and Arctic sovereignty, can be left in Ottawas hands.
But the reprehensible Trump travel ban demands a personal response. As an ordinary citizen there is something you can do. You can tell the president that if he closes the door on people who dont deserve such callous treatment, we wont be using the door he has left open for us. Well stop visiting the United States.
A lot of Canadians go to the U.S. on business and that probably cant stop. And Canadian snowbirds who own property south of the border cant be expected to stay home. But plenty of us choose to vacation in the United States, and we dont have to.
In 2015, Canadians made almost 21 million overnight trips to the United States. We stayed for about 216 million nights. And we spent almost $20 billion. On top of that, we made 23 million same day car trips south, scooting across the border for some bargain shopping.
There are a lot of things we cant control in our lives. Hydro prices. Traffic congestion. Doctors who leave you sitting in the waiting room for an hour. But no one tells us where to spend our vacation. And no one forces us to cross the border to buy a sweater or a TV set.
So lets not do it. Theres no need to start a campaign. Just make a personal decision to avoid the United States whenever you can as long as the cruelty persists.
It was a more enlightened president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, who said, Perhaps once in a generation there comes a chance for the people of a country to play their part willingly and fearlessly in some great battle of the age-long warfare for human rights.
This may be our chance. We cant go on behaving like nothing has changed. A hateful darkness has descended over a land that we know and care about. And theres actually something each of us can do to say we wont be part of it.
Its not a terrible sacrifice. Wait four years. We can hope the Trump presidency will then be over. The Grand Canyon will still be there. The Golden Gate Bridge. Mount Rushmore. Disney World. Theyll all be there. And with any luck, the Statue of Liberty will still be there too.
Mark Bulgutch teaches journalism at Ryerson University. He is the former senior executive producer of CBC News, and the author of, Thats Why Im a Journalist.
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U.S. President Donald Trumps refugee ban can be easily condemned on moral and political grounds. The spontaneous protests around the U.S. and the world are a testament to peoples deep sense of the harm it inflicts on those immediately affected, but also its troubling implications for liberal democracy.
Signed on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the order is a poignant betrayal of American values. Beyond these moral failings, the Trump regimes ostensible security rationale is intellectually hollow. Admitting refugees improves national security for several reasons. Banning them undermines it.
Most obviously, banning refugees (read: Muslim refugees) plays into the hands of extremists pushing a narrative of the West at war with Islam. Refugees commit an infinitesimal portion of violent crime, and have committed no acts of terrorism in the U.S.
Indeed, most acts of terrorism on American soil since 9/11 were committed by U.S. citizens. By serving up Islamophobia to actual terrorists, it fuels propaganda and recruitment for groups, such as Daesh, also known as ISIS, and Al Qaeda, while contributing to homegrown radicalization.
Second, it validates and encourages hateful acts against Muslims. As seen in the murder of six people at a Quebec City mosque on Sunday night, Islamophobic terrorism is a major domestic threat that is too often ignored by focusing on unfounded fears of refugees. By villainizing refugees, politicians dont just overstate the threat, but actually encourage violence against minorities.
Third, undermining resettlement forces weak states to shoulder the burden. Most refugees are hosted in already weak states. Developing countries host 85 per cent of the worlds refugees. Half of all refugees are in states with less than $5,000 GDP per capita. Less than 1 per cent of the worlds almost 21 million refugees are recommended for international resettlement (after a thorough security vetting).
Fourth, and least obviously, refugees and asylum seekers are a crucial source of intelligence on contemporary security threats, such as terrorism and transnational organized crime. Our research on counterterrorism, intelligence, and the dynamics of irregular migration systems has made us acutely aware of this.
In Canada, our security agencies CSIS, CBSA, and RCMP debrief incoming refugees for information on the warzones theyre fleeing. Through Syrian and Iraqi refugees, for example, we get a picture of conditions of life in Daesh-controlled territory, recruitment levels in various locations, names of local Daesh commanders, relations between Daesh and other militant groups, and other key details on threats.
Across Europe, security agencies such as the German BND, the French DGSE, and the British MI5 are doing the same. The U.S., too, engaged in these debriefings. Now, they cannot. Trumps ban harms information-sharing and undermines the campaign against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. has just hamstrung its abilities to gain vital counter-terrorist threat intelligence, and as part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership, Canada also loses out.
Right-wing politicians from France to Italy to Israel have congratulated Trump and signalled their willingness to follow suit. Doing so would seriously undermine not just counterterrorism efforts, but law-enforcement as well.
Anti-refugee rhetoric increasingly focuses on the fact trafficking is a transnational crime and funds terrorism. Smuggling and trafficking are complicated businesses, and not all smuggling is exploitative. The confluence of trafficking and terrorism is a serious issue, and some evidence suggests militants in Syria, Iraq, and Libya profit from smuggling. Likewise, abusive trafficking networks should be dismantled. But asylum seekers are the single most important source of intelligence on the matter.
Frontex, Europes common border agency, debriefs asylum seekers about their routes, experiences at borders, and interactions with smugglers down to minute detail. The day-to-day work of operational intelligence (not to mention scholarship) often amounts to drawing out patterns through conversations. Closing doors blinds us.
Of course, this leaves aside the fact that constricting paths to asylum creates the very market incentive for smuggling in the first place a truth America will soon realize if it goes ahead with its great wall on the Mexican border.
By banning refugees, and specifically targeting Muslims, Trump has made the United States a security liability. Canada and its partner states should reassess their intelligence and security co-operation until such time as the Trump administration is willing to behave as an ally. In the meantime, Trump and his entourage should continue to feel the weight of the worlds moral outrage.
Simon Frankel Pratt and Craig Damian Smith are PhD candidates in Political Science at the University of Toronto. Simon researches counterterrorism, intelligence, and national/international security. Craig researches the connections between irregular migration systems and regional security. Follow them on Twitter: @Simon_the_Pratt, @craigdamian.
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It is easy to characterize the road tolls debate as the 905 versus the 416, but that is too simplistic and misses the point entirely. While residents of the 905 who travel into and out of Toronto would be affected by these tolls, so too would residents of Toronto who commute to the 905 to work each day.
Mississauga is a net importer of jobs. If you look at the Gardiner Expressway or Don Valley Parkway in the morning, youll see its busy in both directions. Like the 407, which the province ironically tolls, the tolls on the Gardiner and DVP would be a tax on anyone relying on them the 416, 905, 519, 226, 613, and so on. Toronto Mayor Tory deserves credit for putting forward a solution to repair infrastructure that was downloaded to him 20 years ago, even if I dont believe it was the right solution.
When Mayor Tory first announced his plan to toll these highways, Mississauga did not slam it as a tax on the 905, but cautioned that the money collected be used explicitly to repair the highways and build transit. We recognized Mayor Tory was within his rights to propose these tolls. What frustrates Mississauga and the 905 municipalities more than the tolls is the fact that even if we wanted to, we couldnt do the same thing.
To toll or not to toll is not even a question we can even ask in Mississauga, and that is the crux of the problem. In this sense, it is the 905 versus the 416. The municipalities of the 905 together represent over 3.5 million people, yet were not afforded the same powers as Toronto.
Premier Wynne did not cave to the 905 as it has been characterized, but listened to a significant population a growing population I may add of residents who have been forgotten for far too long. It is my hope Premier Wynne continues to listen as we talk not just about tolls, but about long-term, predictable funding for our cities.
I think all municipalities in Ontario give Premier Wynne credit for doubling the provincial share of the gas tax to municipalities. Gas tax funding is stable, long-term, predictable and bankable attributes that historically cannot be applied to most funding that comes from the two other levels of government. The gas tax is essential to help us invest in transit and other infrastructure, but it is not enough. Our responsibilities continue to outpace our ability to pay for them.
As cities, all we ask is the ability to control our own destinies. I dont think that is too much to ask.
Unlike the Ontario government, by provincial law, cities have to balance our budgets. We have to maintain robust asset management plans. We have rigorous financial reporting systems. In many respects we are among the best run and most transparent level of government, yet we must still go cap in hand to the province and federal governments for funding and hope the political winds are blowing in the right direction.
Were being asked to build 21st century cities using 19th century tools. The property tax alone will not build the cities our residents demand. It is a regressive tax that was never designed to build major capital infrastructure projects. Its time to have an adult conversation about the role of cities and about giving us greater autonomy to control our own affairs this includes raising revenues from other sources. Setting aside 1 per cent of the HST or the income tax for cities is worth considering.
The province cannot on one hand tell us to do more with less, and on the other tell us we cannot use new tools to meet our responsibilities. Cities are the engines of this country and we face enormous pressures as we own two-thirds of Canadas infrastructure, but receive only 10 cents of every tax dollar collected. It doesnt add up. Its costing all of us in terms of underfunded transit, crumbling infrastructure, declining amenities, and overall, our ability to compete as a nation on the global stage.
Its time cities are afforded the respect and autonomy we deserve to build the communities were all proud to call home.
Bonnie Crombie is the Mayor of Mississauga.
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Over the weekend, thousands gathered at airports across the United States to protest the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trumps draconian restrictions on Muslims entering the country.
An executive order signed by Trump on Friday indefinitely halts admission of refugees from Syria, and bans nationals of seven Muslim-majority states Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from coming into the U.S. for 90 days.
Trump claims that these measures are necessary to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America, even though, as an analysis from the Cato Institute points out, foreigners from those seven nations have killed zero Americans in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil between 1975 and the end of 2015.
They are, however, all nations the U.S. has been persistently bombing and/or sanctioning for many years (the Obama administration dropped a combined total of almost 25,000 bombs on Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia in 2016 alone), contributing to the conditions that make people into refugees in the first place. Under Obama, the very same list of countries was already subjected to exceptionally constrictive visa requirements. Now, the people from them have been prohibited altogether.
The enforcement of Trumps order left asylum seekers who were attempting to escape violence and oppression trapped in airports, and American residents who were attending funerals or visiting family abroad scared they would be stranded. The morning after the edict was passed, a mosque in Texas was burned to the ground one more in a long string of hateful incidents implicitly given official licence by Trumps demonization of Muslims.
So far, Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus public response to the Muslim ban has been oblique, a tweet assuring those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength.
Celebrations of diversity are certainly a Canadian forte. But so too is co-operation with U.S. policies that have violated rights and equality in the name of national security. Despite Trudeaus promise of welcome, it is uncertain that those experiencing the terror of Donald Trumps America will find any haven in Canada.
In the winter of 2003, Canadian immigration authorities closed the border to hundreds of Muslims who were trying to leave the U.S., panicked because they were being forced to register with the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS): a special program set up by the American government in 2002 to collect information on and track the movements of non-citizens from 24 Muslim-majority countries (and North Korea).
NSEERS was the blueprint for the Muslim database Trump has been threatening to resurrect, eliciting widespread condemnation and comparisons to Nazi Germany. The original registration system was discontinued in 2011 because it was deemed ineffective in improving national security, having failed to yield a single terrorism prosecution.
It did, however, result in more than 13,000 people being arrested and placed in deportation proceedings by the U.S. including many who had carried their children and their belongings in subfreezing temperatures to the Canadian border, only to be turned away.
Since 2004, the Safe Third Country Agreement has generally precluded refugees entering Canada from the U.S. from claiming asylum here, because the U.S. is (increasingly unrealistically) considered a safe country. And since 2012, the U.S. has also been included on the Canadian governments list of Designated Countries of Origin that do not normally produce refugees.
A petition initiated by No One Is IllegalToronto, calling on the Canadian government to rescind the Safe Third Country Agreement, has garnered more than 26,000 signatures as of this writing. We demand that Trudeau repeal the agreement in order to allow people fleeing violence and deportation in the US to seek safety and protection in Canada, the petition reads.
The Trump administration is now making the racist nature of the national security state too obvious to be respectably ignored; even Vice President Mike Pence had described calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. as offensive and unconstitutional during the campaign.
But Trumps flagrant spectacles of discrimination do not emerge from nowhere. They are fed by the suspicion of Muslims and immigrants cultivated by more than 15 years of War on Terror policies, in which Canada has also participated.
If Trudeau is serious about making Canada a refuge for all those fleeing persecution, terror & war, will he finally repudiate these policies certain to continue to intensify under President Trump that have been producing persecution, terror, and war for so long?
Azeezah Kanji is a legal analyst and writer based in Toronto.
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News coming out of the U.S. over the last few days has shocked and alarmed many across the world. Students, temporarily out of the country, have had their visas rescinded; refugees already on their way to the United States have been detained at airports; and that was after one day. My own thoughts on the issue are both personal and professional.
I have spent the last year conducting research in Lebanon to understand the implications of both national and local responses to the Syrian refugee crisis in the country.
Immediately, my thoughts went first to a Syrian family I met in a village in the Bekaa valley: a young couple with two children, who had been undergoing seemingly endless interviews and security clearances with the hopes of being resettled in the United States. I pictured them on a plane headed to what they believed was finally a real place of refuge, to only be devastatingly detained in an airport and told they may be sent back to Lebanon, where they face near-impossible conditions for legal stay.
I also thought of my husband a dual Syrian-Canadian citizen currently in California for work and what this policy means for his own work, and for any future travel we may take to the United States. I also thought of my own luck and privilege in having found safety in this country: I arrived in Canada at the age of five, as a child of refugees myself. For all of these reasons, I could not stay silent.
Ultimately, there is much confusion, still, about what this policy entails. On paper, it appears to indefinitely suspend the arrival of Syrian refugees, temporarily (120 days) halt the arrival of refugees from other countries, halt the issuance of visas for citizens of Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Yemen, and prevent entry (for 90 days, at least) to the U.S. to any visa holders from these seven countries.
As has become clear, this provides no exception for U.S. green-card holders (i.e. permanent residents), nor for individuals who are dual citizens of both a country on the list and another country. That means that people who have lived in the United States for years, who are temporarily out of the country, cannot go back home (at least for 90 days and perhaps for longer). It also means Canadian citizens who hold a dual nationality in any of the countries listed are now barred entry into the United States, as is the case with my husband.
Many Canadians, I am certain, are wondering what we can do about this. How do we demonstrate our opposition to a clearly discriminatory policy that endangers the lives and security of so many? We can, and should, organize marches in solidarity, strengthen and expand our refugee resettlement commitments, but in order to send the most powerful message we can repeal the Safe Third Country Agreement that is currently in place between Canada and the U.S.
A little-known agreement, it effectively prevents refugees arriving from the United States with a few exceptions including U.S. citizens, unaccompanied minors and individuals who already have legal documents granting them visa-free access to Canada (which would be the case for Mexicans, for example) from requesting asylum in Canada.
Put in place in 2002, it is an explicit acknowledgment that the United States has a fair and functioning asylum policy. In fact, the existence of an extensive administrative system [in the United States], subject to judicial checks and balances, for assessing refugee protection applications [ and] offers a high degree of protection to refugee protection claimants is one of the requirements laid out in the agreement for the designation of the United States as a safe third country.
It has become abundantly clear that is no longer the case. As such, the Trudeau government should send a clear message to the U.S. by repealing this agreement.
This is imperative for two main reasons. First, it sends a strong signal that the United States can no longer claim to be a safe refuge, which is a very important symbolic gesture. Second, and most importantly, it provides protection for many who will find themselves at great risk because of these measures.
To provide just a few examples: Iranian graduate students who, having left their country to study in the United States, may have spoken out against unjust policies in their home country and can no longer safely return, and Yemeni, Syrian or Iraqi citizens, whose countries are embroiled in a civil war, have no safe home to return to.
Canadas commitment to the protection of refugees, under its obligations as signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, must extend to them as well. If Canada wishes to uphold its commitment, then it must rescind this agreement.
Lama Mourad is a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Toronto. She spends her days researching and writing on refugee and migration issues.
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Re: A hard slap for Toronto, Jan. 29
Re:
Re:
A hard slap for Toronto, Jan. 29
I am a Toronto resident who believes we should have road tolls as both a fiscal and traffic control policy: I believe that 905 residents should pay a bigger share of the costs of the Gardiner and DVP. I can also see how those 905ers may think Toronto property taxes are too low, and that we are forcing them to cover our shortfall through road tolls.
The problem is, the scale of Torontos unfunded infrastructure burden (public housing, social programs, transit, etc.) is so great that we need higher property taxes, road tolls and a bigger slice of provincial taxes to tackle them. We are still suffering from downloading and amalgamation: the inability of the various levels of government to get together and address local and provincial taxation in a realistic manner is the root problem here.
If the mayors refusal to raise taxes to match surrounding municipalities turns into a wedge issue that leads to the Conservatives getting into office (and the fiscal bloodbath that would follow for Toronto), Tory and the council will have only themselves to blame.
Lloyd Gray, Toronto
Premier Wynne did the right thing but now has angered Torontonians by rejecting road tolls. The issue is not about the potential revenues generated by tolls, the resulting environmental good or the pandering to the 905 Liberal MPPs election fears, but of property taxes. It is the perception of unfairness.
According to a Dec. 20 article in the Star, a home assessed at $500,000 will cost a Mississauga owner $4,498 in property taxes and in Toronto $3,495. Most 905 municipality rates are higher than Mississauga.
We in the 905 see Torontos budget shortfall as an unwillingness of Torontos leaders to raise property taxes to the level of the surrounding municipalities, to pay for its own services. The proposed tolls are a perceived tax against the 905 car commuters, subsidizing Torontonians.
Al Seymour, Mississauga
Mayor John Tory is outraged that Premier Kathleen Wynne reneged on her promise to approve road tolls. Tory conveniently forgets that as a mayoral candidate, he openly campaigned against road tolls, only to betray those voters who trusted him. Those two politicians deserve each other.
Claire Hoy, Toronto
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Re: Airbnb to take in refugees, others stranded by Trump travel ban, Jan. 29
Re: Chaos, fear and anger, Jan. 29
Re:
Re:
Airbnb to take in refugees, others stranded by Trump travel ban, Jan. 29
Barring immigrants from the United States of America is no way to win friends and influence people. Nor is it a way to reduce terror. It could have the opposite effect. President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown could potentially give terrorists more reason to target the U.S. And with sleeper cells all over the world, terrorists are no doubt ready to strike at any given moment.
JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater, Florida
Chaos, fear and anger, Jan. 29
While citizens of Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Libya are prevented from entering the U.S., citizens of large-population, powerful Islamic nations like Turkey and Indonesia are not banned, nor are citizens of Saudi Arabia, where 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists came from. Its also interesting that these exempt nations, plus the U.A.E., are all locations of Trump real estate holdings.
Douglas Buck, Toronto
Citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen will not be permitted on U.S. soil for 90 days. But Mr. Trump, who wishes to protect his country from terrorists, did not ban Egypt or Saudi Arabia. The 9/11 attackers were Al-Qaeda members from Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Why not ban citizens of these countries?
Carole Wilson, Toronto
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President Trump's promise to make America energy independent was put on the fast track following his proposal to impose a 20% tax on all imports to pay for the border wall.
While the president is primarily focused on preventing drugs and criminals from entering the U.S., Mexico is one of the America's top five sources of crude oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Crude and other petroleum imports from Mexico have been declining since 2006, but the U.S. still imported approximately $14 billion from Mexico in 2015, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative reported.
If the president were to implement a tax on imports, however, it would be American drivers who would feel cost burden.
"Gasoline is already taxed to death, the last thing you need is a tax on crude," says Stephens analyst Matthew Marietta, adding that it "wouldn't make sense to squeeze the lower and middle-class workers through the pump."
Currently, the gasoline tax averages 49.44 cents per gallon. Economic consulting firm PKVerleger's president Phil Verleger expects gasoline prices to rise 30 cents per gallon if the 20% tax on imports is imposed, he told Bloomberg recently.
The U.S. doesn't produce a heavy crude oil like Mexican's flagship Maya grade. That means the US imports headed to the gulf Gulf Coast for processing cost the refiners more. They would be left with the choice of increasing prices at the pump or living with thinner refining margins.
There's also the possibility that they would look elsewhere for a heavy crude source, including Canada. But our northern neighbor's recent federal carbon tax could hurt oil investment there in the longer term, according to S&P Global Platts.
Domestic oil and gas producers could see the import tax as a signal to produce more, which is perhaps what President Trump envisions with his "America First Energy Plan." He has promised to "embrace the shale oil and gas revolution" by opening up more federal lands for production.
"[An import tax] would be a net positive for U.S. producers because WTI would be more attractive," says Marietta, "But it's a gamble to guess on Trump."
U.S. production is already spiking, however. Producers started pushing production shortly after OPEC and non-OPEC producers agreed to curb production for the first half of 2017. Oil and gas producers have been quickly adding rigs, bringing more than 50 rigs online in the past two weeks alone, per oilfield services giant Baker Hughes BHI.
Crude inventories are also near the upper limit for the average range this time of year, according to the EIA.
Regardless, if the president follows through on his import tax plan, it "is really going to hurt lower and middle-class earners," Marietta concluded.
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Politics and money do mix, Jim Cramer assured his Mad Money viewers Monday. They just don't mix that easily for the stock market.
Cramer reminded viewers that stocks trade on earnings per share, not on emotions per share. So no matter what your opinions of Donald Trump's executive orders, there will always be opportunities if you know where to look.
Today's selloff in the market made perfect sense, Cramer said, and ultimately wasn't as bad as some had feared.
The Trump rally is based on his promises for lower taxes, deregulation and the repatriation of funds. Anything that gets in the way of that, such as talk of immigration and border walls, creates uncertainty and investors loath uncertainty.
So what should investors make of CEOs that publicly denounce Trump's policies? Ultimately, these comments should have no impact on stock prices, Cramer said, but then again, we do have a president who likes to retaliate against his most vocal critics.
In the end, Cramer said he still sees opportunities in some sectors, such as aerospace, the banks, semiconductors and the home builders. Even some retailers managed to rally today.
Here are 8 stocks Cramer likes if the economy rebounds.
Wondering how to play a Trump backlash? Cramer says that as the border tax issue gets shaky, retailers are showing signs of revival. Check out Cramer's strategies with a free subscription to Real Money.
Still Weighing the Trump Effect
President Trump impacts the stock market like no other, Cramer old viewers, so prepare your investment plans and don't get rattled.
Take today's simple meeting with small business leaders. In the span of just minutes, Trump announced that he negotiated a deal with Lockheed Martin (LMT) to reduce the price of the F-35 fighter jet by $600 million. That may not seem like a lot for a multi-billion dollar project, but it's a win for the government and it shouldn't be too detrimental to Lockheed.
Trump then said he wants oil pipelines and drilling companies to only use U.S.-made steel. This is big news for U.S. steelmakers since imports from Mexico have been considerably cheaper for years.
Finally, Trump spoke of dismantling the banking reforms known as Dodd-Frank, which would certainly be a win for banks. All of this news came from just one meeting, Cramer said, which is why Trump is becoming so important to your portfolio.
Know Your IPO
In his "Know Your IPO" segment, Cramer highlighted the stock of REV Group (REVG) , the maker of specialty vehicles that went public this past Friday.
When you think REV Group, think school buses, fire trucks, ambulances, street sweepers and mobility vans. The company is the No. 1 or No. 2 player in 72% of the categories in which it sells. REV Group is also run by "Mad Money" Wall of Fame CEO Tim Sullivan, former CEO of Bucyrus.
Cramer said there's a lot to like about REV Group, including strong demographic trends in its favor and solid performance in 2016, including 11% sales growth and a 32% rise in net income.
On the downside however, Cramer was not thrilled with the company's balance sheet, nor its private equity sponsor, which still has shares to sell.
Since its IPO, shares of REV Group are up 2.6%, putting them at 40 times earnings, far more than a company like RV maker Thor Industries (THO) , which trades at 16.
Cramer said he'd be a buyer of Thor today, but would wait for weakness, or perhaps a secondary offering, before pulling the trigger on REV Group.
Executive Decision: United Rentals
For his "Executive Decision" segment, Cramer sat down with Michael Kneeland, president and CEO of United Rentals (URI) , the equipment rental company that posted blowout earnings last week, including a 43-cents-a-share earnings beat, positive commentary for 2017 and an acquisition.
Kneeland said that rising employment has been the biggest driver for his business. While last year saw a lot of uncertainty and an overhang from low oil prices, this year he's seeing more confidence from consumers and CEOs alike.
United Rentals is also enjoying positive cashflows, which affords it the flexibility to grow via acquisition, something the company was able to do this quarter.
As for the Trump agenda, Kneeland confirmed that a pickup in infrastructure spending, oil pipelines and a border wall would all be accretive events to United Rentals' bottom line.
Cramer said the United Rentals is indeed a Trump stock, but it's also one that does well when the economy does well.
Lightning Round
In the Lightning Round, Cramer was bullish on Cisco Systems (CSCO) , Nucor (NUE) , Potash (POT) , Deere & Company (DE) , AGCO (AGCO) , Agrium (AGU) and Weyerhaeuser (WY) .
Cramer was bearish on United States Steel (X) .
Read all of Cramer's comments on the stocks in the Lightning Round.
Executive Decision: Ethan Allen
In his second "Executive Decision" segment, Cramer spoke with Farooq Kathwari, chairman, president and CEO of Ethan Allen (ETH) , the furniture retailer that just posted a penny-a-share earnings beat off of previously lowered expectations. Shares declined 12% after the report.
Kathwari admitted that Ethan Allen was up against some tough comparisons this quarter, but noted that the company will be increasing marketing spending by 20% because after years of restructuring, its products, manufacturing, designers and retail network is now ready to handle the growth.
Kathwari continued by noting that beginning next month, Ethan Allen will begin a national TV campaign, along with digital and print advertising that will help lure customers back to stores. He was also optimistic on a new partnership with Walt Disney (DIS) to bring 500 new Disney-themed items to stores.
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At the time of publication, Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS had a position in CSCO.
This story has been updated from when it was first published at 5:10 p.m. Monday to include comments from Senators Inhofe and Waters.
Congressional Republicans are moving to deliver what could be a major victory for American oil, gas and mining companies in rolling back a rule on foreign payment disclosures.
Representative Bill Huizenga on Monday introduced a resolution to nullify the Securities and Exchange Commission'sresource extraction rule. Mandated under Dodd-Frank and finalized in June 2016, the rule requires companies to disclose payments made to foreign governments for rights to commercially develop oil, natural gas or minerals and has faced fierce resistance by industry leaders. Senator Jim Inhofe is spearheading the cause in the Senate.
"The SEC's proposed rule surrounding resource extraction pursuant to section 1504 of Dodd-Frank fails the agency's core mission on multiple fronts," said Huizenga, chairman of the Financial Services Capital Markets subcommittee, in a statement. He criticized the rule as "overly burdensome" and one that "puts U.S. companies at a competitive disadvantage, and fails to provide investors with useful information."
Inhofe said in a statement that removing the rule would "right the ship and put U.S. companies back on a level playing field."
Representative Maxine Waters, a California Democrat and ranking member of the House Committee on Financial Services, slammed the maneuver in a statement as an example of "the compulsive Republican Party" taking the "first step in repealing the hard work of Democrats to make companies more accountable to American taxpayers."
She also tied the resolution in with the Trump administration's likely incoming Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, who is the CEO of Exxon Mobil (XOM) and has been questioned over his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "This is clearly another conflict of interest on account of Trump and his cronies," she said.
The resolution is one of three rules that target the mining and fossil fuel industries under the Congressional Review Act, a 1996 law that allows Congress to review and potentially overrule new federal regulations.
The resource extraction rule has been controversial since it was mandated in 2010 -- hence why it took six years for it to be finalized.
Lobbying group the American Petroleum Institute sued the SEC in 2012 over the original version of the rule and was successful, requiring the SEC to rewrite the rule. Nonprofit group Oxfam America subsequently sued the SEC over its delay in finalizing the rule and slammed Huizenga over his resolution to repeal the rule.
Exxon , Chevron (CXW) and the National Mining Association were among the dozens of entities to submit comments opposing the rule to the SEC. Billionaire investor George Soros submitted comments in support of it.
Transparency is at the heart of the debate over the rule, a finalized version of which was released in 2016 and would require compliance by 2018.
The rule's proponents say it deters bribery and curbs corruption by making companies disclose payments to foreign governments -- including taxes, royalties, dividends and fees -- of over $100,000 on a per-project basis. They also argue that it is good for investors.
"It's valuable to investors on Wall Street who are making important decisions about the companies that they have investments in," said Ian Gary, director of accountable development finance at Oxfam.
He said investors with assets under management of more than $10 trillion made comments to the SEC in support of the rule.
Proponents also note similar rules have been put in place in other parts of the world, including the European Union. Reporting is already underway in four countries -- the United Kingdom, France, Norway and Canada -- resulting in the disclosure of $150 billion in payments to governments in more than 100 countries, said Joseph Williams, senior advocacy officer at the Natural Resource Governance Institute in the U.K.
Among companies reporting payments under foreign rules are a number of big names in oil, gas and mining, including BP (BP) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) , as well as Russian companies Rosneft and Gazprom.
If the SEC rule were to stay in place in the United States, it would affect all companies traded publicly in the United States, not just U.S.-based companies, meaning Exxon and Chevron would have to report, as would Brazil's Petrobras (PBR) and China's CNOOC (CEO) .
Those who oppose the disclosure rule say it puts publicly traded companies in the U.S. at an unfair advantage against private companies and public companies not traded here.
"The rule came out far stricter than most companies view as practicable, and for that reason, they've been contesting it," said Kevin Book, managing director at research firm ClearView Energy Partners. "There are concerns about competitive disadvantage as a result of the granularity of the scrutiny."
In its comment letter to the SEC, the API argued the rule would cost American businesses billions of dollars. The SEC estimated upfront costs for $55 million to $575 million for the 425 companies that are potentially covered by the rule and whose total assets approach $3 trillion, reports Congressional Quarterly.
API spokeswoman Brooke Sammon in an emailed statement Monday said the rule "undermines global payment transparency efforts and fails American businesses through eroding their ability to grow and compete for new resources."
She commended the House plan to repeal the rule as a "needed step by Congress to establish sensible regulations that balance increasing transparency without diminishing our industry's competitive advantage and fundamentally harming American jobs."
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy in a Wall Street Journalop-ed last week said the GOP will "take the ax" to the rule.
Speaking from the Senate floor Monday, Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, argued the rule "leaves the United States' companies with the choice of complying with the U.S. laws or the foreign laws of other countries," putting them in an "impossible position."
Passing the resolution will require simple majorities in the Senate and the House. Book said he would expect it to make its way to President Trump's desk by the beginning of the second quarter.
"There's a lot of long, painful alternatives [to removing the rule], but this is the most expeditious by far," he said.
Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. The Chemicals segment produces and markets ethylene and other olefin products; aromatics and styrenics products, such as benzene, cyclohexane, styrene, and polystyrene; and various specialty chemical products, including organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalysts, and chemicals used in drilling and mining. The Refining segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks into petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, aviation, and renewable fuels at 12 refineries in the United States and Europe. The M&S segment purchases for resale and markets refined petroleum products, including gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels primarily in the United States and Europe. This segment also manufactures and markets specialty products, such as base oils and lubricants. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
The following companies are subsidiares of MetLife: 10700 WILSHIRE LLC, 1201 TAB MANAGER LLC, 1350 EYE STREET MANAGER LLC, 1350 EYE STREET OWNER LLC, 150 NORTH RIVERSIDE PE MEMBER LLC, 1925 WJC OWNER LLC, 23RD STREET INVESTMENTS INC., 500 GRANT STREET ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, 500 GRANT STREET GP LLC, 6104 HOLLYWOOD LLC, AFP GENESIS ADMINISTRADORA DE FONDOS Y FIDECOMISOS S.A., AGENVITA S.R.L., ALICO HELLAS SINGLE MEMBER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ALICO OPERATIONS LLC, American Life Insurance Company, BEST MARKET S.A., BLOCK VISION HOLDINGS CORPORATION, BLOCK VISION OF TEXAS INC., BORDERLAND INVESTMENTS LIMITED, BOULEVARD RESIDENTIAL LLC, BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER LLC, CC HOLDCO MANAGER LLC, CHESTNUT FLATS WIND LLC, CLOSED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY MASTER-D, COMPANIA INVERSORA METLIFE S.A., CORPORATE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC, COVA LIFE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DAVIS VISION INC., DAVISVISION IPA INC., DELAWARE AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, EURO CL INVESTMENTS LLC, EXCELENCIA OPERATIVA Y TECNOLOGICA S.A de C.V., FORTISSIMO CO. LTD, FUNDACION METLIFE MEXICO A.C., GLOBAL PROPERTIES INC., General American Life Insurance Company, Grand Bank N.A., HASKELL EAST VILLAGE LLC, HOUSING FUND MANAGER LLC, INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO DOS LIMITADA, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO TRES LIMITADA, LHC HOLDINGS LLC, LHCW HOLDINGS LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING 2002 LLC, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING LLC, LHCW HOTEL OPERATING COMPANY 2002 LLC, LUMENLAB MALAYSIA SDN. BHD., Logan Circle Partners, MARKETPLACE RESIDENCES LLC, MC PORTFOLIO JV MEMBER LLC, MCJV LLC, MCPP OWNERS LLC, MCRE BLOCK 40 LP, MEC HEALTH CARE INC., MET 1065 HOTEL LLC, MET CANADA SOLAR ULC, METLIFE 1007 STEWART LLC, METLIFE 1201 TAB MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MANAGER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 555 12TH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 8280 MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ACOMA OWNER LLC, METLIFE ADMINISTRADORA DE FUNDOS MULTIPATROCINADOS LTDA., METLIFE ALTERNATIVES GP LLC, METLIFE ASHTON AUSTIN OWNER LLC, METLIFE ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., METLIFE ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE ASIA SERVICES SDN. BHD, METLIFE ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP., METLIFE ASSIGNMENT COMPANY INC., METLIFE BORO STATION MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMINO RAMON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMPUS AT SGV MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAPITAL CREDIT L.P., METLIFE CAPITAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, METLIFE CAPITAL TRUST IV, METLIFE CB W/A LLC, METLIFE CC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CHILE ADMINISTRADORA DE MUTUOS HIPOTECARIOS S.A., METLIFE CHILE INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS DE VIDA S.A., METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS GENERALES S.A., METLIFE CHINO MEMBER LLC, METLIFE COLOMBIA SEGUROS de VIDA S.A., METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE INCOME FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CONSQUARE MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CONSUMER SERVICES INC., METLIFE CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CREDIT CORP., METLIFE DIGITAL VENTURES INC., METLIFE ENHANCED CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE EU HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE INSURANCE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPE SERVICES LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LLC., METLIFE FINANCIAL SERVICES CO. LTD, METLIFE FM HOTEL MEMBER LLC, METLIFE FUNDING INC., METLIFE GENERAL INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE GLOBAL BENEFITS LTD., METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY I GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY II GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION S.A. De C.V., METLIFE GLOBAL INC., METLIFE GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE GROUP INC., METLIFE HCMJV 1 GP LLC, METLIFE HCMJV 1 LP LLC, METLIFE HEALTH PLANS INC., METLIFE HOLDINGS INC., METLIFE HOME LOANS LLC, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE LIMITED, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE PTE. LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE AND INVESTMENT TRUST, METLIFE INSURANCE BROKERAGE INC., METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF KOREA LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE K.K., METLIFE INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HF PARTNERS LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND I LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND II LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND III LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND IV LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND V LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VI LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VII LP, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT EUROPE LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENTS ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS SECURITIES LLC, METLIFE INVESTORS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, METLIFE INVESTORS GROUP LLC, METLIFE IRELAND TREASURY D.A.C., METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND LP, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS BLOCKER LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS LLC, METLIFE LATIN AMERICA ASESORIAS E INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE LEGAL PLANS INC., METLIFE LEGAL PLANS OF FLORIDA INC., METLIFE LHH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE S.A., METLIFE LOAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT FUND LP, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT MASTER FUND LP, METLIFE LONG SHORT CREDIT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MAS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO HOLDINGS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT FUND II LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP II LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT II RATED FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL GP LLC, METLIFE MMPD II SPECIAL LLC, METLIFE MULTI-FAMILY PARTNERS III LLC, METLIFE OBS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE OFC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ONTARIO STREET MEMBR LLC, METLIFE PARK TOWER MEMBER LLC, METLIFE PENSION TRUSTEES LIMITED, METLIFE PENSIONES MEXICO S.A., METLIFE PET INSURANCE SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE PLANOS ODONTOLOGICOS LTDA., METLIFE POWSZECHNE TOWARTZYSTWO EMERYTALNE S.A., METLIFE PRIVATE EQUITY HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE PROPERTIES VENTURES LLC, METLIFE RC SF MEMBER LLC, METLIFE REAL ESTATE LENDING LLC, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF BERMUDA LTD., METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF CHARLESTON, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF VERMONT, METLIFE RETIREMENT SERVICES LLC, METLIFE SECURITIZATION DEPOSITOR LLC, METLIFE SEGUROS S.A., METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FINCO LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FUND LP, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING GP LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING HOLDINGS LP, METLIFE SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE SERVICES CYPRUS LTD., METLIFE SERVICES EAST PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EEIG, METLIFE SERVICES EOOD, METLIFE SERVICES SOCIEDAD LIMITADA, METLIFE SERVICES SP Z.O.O, METLIFE SERVICIOS S.A., METLIFE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL FUND GP LLC, METLIFE SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL FUND LP, METLIFE SOLUTIONS PTE. LTD., METLIFE SOLUTIONS S.A.S., METLIFE SP HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE STRATEGIC HOTEL DEBT FUND GP LLC, METLIFE SYNDICATED BANK LOAN LUX GP S.A.R.L., METLIFE THR INVESTOR LLC, METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO FUNDUSZY INWESTYCYJNYCH S.A., METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO UBEZPIECZEN NA ZYCIE I REASEKURACJI S.A., METLIFE TOWER RESOURCES GROUP INC., METLIFE TREAT TOWERS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, METROPOLITAN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN LIFE SEGUROS E PREVIDENCIA PRIVADA S.A., METROPOLITAN LIFE SOCIETATE de ADMINISTRARE a UNUI FOND de PENSII ADMINISTRAT PRIVAT S.A., METROPOLITAN TOWER LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN TOWER REALTY COMPANY INC., MEX DF PROPERTIES LLC, MFA FINANCING VEHICLE CTR1 LLC, MIDTOWN HEIGHTS LLC, MIM CAMPUS AT SGV MANAGER LLC, MIM CLAL GENERAL PARTNER LLC, MIM CM SYNDICATOR LLC, MIM EMD GP LLC, MIM I LLC, MIM LS GP LLC, MIM METWEST INTERNATIONAL MANAGER LLC, MIM ML-AI VENTURE 5 MANAGER LLC, MIM OMD MANAGER LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF GEORGIA 1 LLC, MIM SPOKANE INDUSTRIAL MANAGER LLC, MIM THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MANAGER LLC, MISSOURI REINSURANCE INC., ML 300 THIRD MEMBER LLC, ML ARMATURE MEMBER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MANAGER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MEMBER LLC, ML CAPACITACION COMERCIAL S.A. DE C.V., ML CERRITOS TC MEMBER LLC, ML CLAL MEMBER LLC, ML CORNER 63 MEMBER LLC, ML DOLPHIN GP LLC, ML DOLPHIN MEZZ LLC, ML HUDSON MEMBER LLC, ML MATSON MILLS MEMBER LLC, ML MILILANI MEMBER LLC, ML OMD MEMBER LLC, ML ONE BEDMINSTER LLC, ML PORT CHESTER SC MEMBER LLC, ML SENTINEL SQUARE MEMBER LLC, ML SLOANS LAKE MEMEBR LLC, ML SOUTHLANDS MEMBER LLC, ML SOUTHMORE LLC, ML SPOKANE INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML SWAN GP LLC, ML SWAN MEZZ LLC, ML TERRACES LLC, ML THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML VENTURE 1 MANAGER S. DE R. L. DE C.V., ML VENTURE 1 SERVICER LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 1 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 2 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 3 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 4 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 5 LLC, ML-URS PORT CHESTER SC MANAGER LLC, MLIA MANAGER I LLC, MLIA PARK TOWER MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF COLONY MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF MANAGER LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS II LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS LLC, MLIC CB HOLDINGS LLC, MLJ US FEEDER LLC, MM GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER S.A. DE C.V., MMP CEDAR STREET OWNER LLC, MMP CEDAR STREET REIT LLC, MMP HOLDINGS III LLC, MMP OLIVIAN OWNER LLC, MMP OLIVIAN REIT LLC, MMP OWNERS III LLC, MMP OWNERS LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK OWNER LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK REIT LLC, MNQM TRUST 2020, MREF 425 MKT LLC, MSHDF HOLDCO I LLC, MSV IRVINE PROPERTY LLC, MTL LEASING LLC, MTU HOTEL OWNER LLC, NATILOPORTEM HOLDINGS LLC, NEWBURY INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, OCONEE GOLF COMPANY LLC, OCONEE HOTEL COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LLC, OCONEE MARINA COMPANY LLC, OMI MLIC INVESTMENTS LIMITED, PACIFIC LOGISTICS INDUSTRIAL NORTH LLC, PACIFIC LOGISTICS INDUSTRIAL SOUTH LLC, PARK TOWER JV MEMBER LLC, PARK TOWER REIT INC., PJSC METLIFE, PLAZA DRIVE PROPERTIES LLC, PREFCO FOURTEEN LLC, PREFCO XIV HOLDINGS LLC, PROVIDA INTERNACIONAL S.A., SAFEGUARD HEALTH ENTERPRISES INC., SAFEGUARD HEALTH PLANS INC., SAFEHEALTH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, SOUTHCREEK INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS LLC, ST. JAMES FLEET INVESTMENTS TWO LIMITED, SUPERIOR PROCUREMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION BENEFIT MANAGEMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION HOLDINGS INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE PLAN OF WISCONSIN INC., SUPERIOR VISION OF NEW JERSEY INC., SUPERIOR VISION SERVICES INC., Safeguard Health Enterprises, Security First Group Inc., THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH AVENUE MEZZANINE LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL HOLDING LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL OWNER, THE DIRECT CALL CENTRE PTY LIMITED, TRANSMOUNTAIN LAND & LIVESTOCK COMPANY, UVC INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ASSOCIATION INC., VERSANT HEALTH CONSOLIDATIONS CORP., VERSANT HEALTH HOLDCO INC., VERSANT HEALTH INC., VERSANT HEALTH LAB LLC, VIRIDIAN MIRACLE MILE LLC, VISION 21 MANAGED EYE CARE OF TAMPA BAY INC., VISION 21 PHYSICIAN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, VISION TWENTY-ONE MANAGED EYE CARE IPA INC., Versant Health, WDV ACQUISITION CORP., WFP 1000 HOLDING COMPANY GP LLC, WHITE OAK ROYALTY COMPANY, WHITE TRACT II LLC, and Willing.
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- Ugandan police have confirmed that a Jubilee Party MP was registering voters in the country
- Mary Emaase the Teso North MP is reported to have escaped arrest after Ugandan authorities discovered her activities
- The legislators bodyguard was nabbed and is currently held by the Ugandan authorities
Police in Uganda have confirmed that a Jubilee Party MP had escaped arrest for registering Ugandan citizens to vote in Kenya.
Mary Emaase the Teso North MP is reported to have escaped arrest after Ugandan authorities discovered her activities.
READ ALSO: Jubilee MP who was reportedly caught registering Ugandans as voters speaks
The Ugandan authorities said Emaase escaped arrest after being found recruiting voters and campaigning in Uganda.
According to Bukedi regional police spokesman, Sowali Kamulya, the Teso North MP was found campaigning in Amagoro village, Buteba Sub-County, of Busia district.
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READ ALSO: Jubilee MP allegedly arrested while recruiting UGANDANS to register as voters
The Ugandan authorities said Emaase escaped arrest after being found recruiting voters and campaigning in Uganda.
READ ALSO: Uhuru to receive Joho's deputy who was once called 'stupid'
Kamulya said it was a crime to recruit voters and campaign in a foreign country.
You cant cross from Kenya to Uganda purposely to campaign and recruit voters in a foreign country, which is illegal,
Police got information that she was campaigning in that area but as soon as she sighted them, she managed to escape back to Kenya but police managed to arrest her bodyguard, Kamulya is quoted by the Daily Nation.
According to Bukedi regional police spokesman, Sowali Kamulya, the Teso North MP was found campaigning in Amagoro village, Buteba Sub-County, of Busia district.
READ ALSO: Reaction to DP Ruto telling Kisii women to avoid dating unregistered men
According to the Daily Nation, the MP's bodyguard was identified as No 86019 PC Geoffrey Atwaine.
The officer was arrested for entering Uganda with a firearm which was confiscated from him. The officer is set to be freed anytime from Tuesday, January 31.
Emaase had vehemently denied she was arrested after the reports emerged on Monday, January 30.
The officer was arrested for entering Uganda with a firearm which was confiscated from him. The officer is set to be freed anytime from Tuesday, January 31.
READ ALSO: More holes in Railas ODM as more MPs defect ahead of 2017 General Election
The MP said it was propaganda meant to discredit her.
ODM's top officials took to social media to raise the matter saying Emaase was in a Ugandan police cell awaiting extradition by the Kenyan government.
Initially it had been claimed that the MP was aiding Jubilee to register Ugandans for the forthcoming General Election.
The MP's personal assistant, Lucy Ogutu, declined to divulge any information and hung up on journalists when contacted on Monday January 30.
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Watch a video of Raila speaking below on registration of voters.
Have something to add to this article or suggestions? send to news@tuko.co.ke
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Ukraine has informed the Council of Europe about escalation of the conflict in Donbas.
Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe Dmytro Kuleba wrote this on Twitter.
"I have already sent to the top officials of the Council of Europe the information about escalation in Donbas region with a call to act. This is the first step. The next steps are expected tomorrow," Kuleba wrote.
As Ukrinform reported, the militants were conducting shellings of the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the city of Avdiyivka, Donetsk region.
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Representative of the civilian and military cooperation department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Volodymyr Liamzin stated that humanitarian aid from the Red Cross will soon arrive in Avdiyivka.
He said this in a live Armiya FM radio broadcast.
"We have organized the provision of the Red Cross humanitarian aid and heating equipment to Avdiyivka. The aid will be delivered soon," Liamzin said.
He also noted that the civilian and military cooperation department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was making every effort to help the civilian population.
"Our representative is involved in all the working meeting and activities to address the consequences of the attacks. However, we can do nothing until the ceasefire regime is declared. As soon as it will be declared and confirmed, we are ready to help the repair teams to resume electricity, gas and water supply in Avdiyivka," Liamzin said.
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German business is willing to jointly implement energy efficiency projects in Ukraine, in particular, training of energy audit and energy service specialists, the designing of energy efficient systems and implementation of innovative approaches to the efficient energy saving in residential and industrial sectors.
Vice Prime Minister Minister for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Hennadiy Zubko stated this following a meeting with representatives of German business circles in the scope of President Poroshenkos official visit to Germany.
According to Zubko, German business representatives said they supported reforms being carried out in Ukraine and emphasized their success.
"At present about 1,200 German companies work in Ukraine. Last year we opened the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in order to enhance cooperation. We increased commodity turnover between our countries by 17%. The German companies have expressed great interest in the immediate and direct contacts with Ukrainian business through the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zubko said.
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In January 2017, tariff quotas of the European Union on Ukrainian wheat exports have been used by 70%, according to Zerno Online Agency.
This week the EU committee approved licenses for imports of another 83.593 thousand tonnes of Ukrainian wheat in 2017 under the agreement on tariff quotas. Thus, the Ukrainian quota [on wheat] has been used by 675.156 thousand tonnes, or 70.3%, according to the agency. iy
In 2016, the major importers of Ukrainian oilseeds and vegetable oil were Asian, European and African countries, mainly Egypt (19.7%) in terms of oilseeds, India and China in terms of vegetable oil (43% in total).
An Ukrinform correspondent reports this referring to the data from the National Research Center 'Institute of Agrarian Economics' (IAE).
According to IAE Deputy Director Mykola Puhachov, Egypt took the lead among the major importers of oilseeds (19.7%), having outrun Turkey (18.9%). Significant shares in oilseed imports from Ukraine belonged also to Iran (9.6%), Poland (6.5%), France (6.5%) and Germany (5.5%).
In 2016, Ukraine's sunflower oil exports came to 4.8 million tonnes, having exceeded the last year's figure by 23%. Proceeds from sunflower oil sales amounted to $3.7 billion, which is 22.3% higher in contrast to 2015.
In addition, almost 43% of Ukraine's vegetable oil exports were sent to two countries, India and China (29.4% and 13.3% accordingly). Shares of other countries were much smaller, for example the Netherlands (8.1%), Spain (7.1%), Italy (6.2%), Iran (5.4%), France (3.0%), Egypt (3.0%) and Turkey (3.0%).
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For the last two days, the Russian occupation forces carried out massive attacks across the contact line using all available weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements.
This has been said in a statement of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine on deterioration of the situation in Donbas, Governments portal reported.
"We demand from the Russian Federation to cease hostilities immediately and to comply strictly with the ceasefire. We request our international partners to step up political and diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin to stop dangerous escalation in Donbas and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the region," reads a statement.
Civilians suffer because of the shelling of the residential areas: two civilians have been wounded. The cities of Yasinovata and Avdiyivka were fully cut off from electricity by shelling. More than 400,000 civilians in the region have no access to water, electricity and heating.
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The Council of Europe has called for the cessation of hostilities in Donbas near Avdiyivka.
This has been stated by Mr Thorbjrn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.
"I am deeply concerned about the news from Donbas and information about heavy fighting that led to the loss of life and deterioration of the humanitarian situation," the secretary general of the Council of Europe said.
He called on all parties to cease hostilities and to adhere to the ceasefire according to the Minsk agreements.
"We are particularly concerned about the humanitarian situation in the cities of Donbas, in particular - in Avdiyivka," Jagland said.
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Ukraine scored 61 points out of 100 in the ranking of political rights and civil liberties, prepared by the Freedom House human rights organization for 2016, having received the status of "partly free" country.
This is said in the report "Freedom in the World 2017", released by Freedom House on January 31.
"Ukraine continues to recover from the disorder that surrounded the ouster of Viktor Yanukovych from the presidency in 2014, as well as the related crisis sparked by Russias occupation of Crimea and military support for separatists in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine. The authorities failure to prosecute extensive high-level corruption has undermined the popularity of the government and affected reform efforts in a wide range of sectors. In the sphere of civil liberties, political pressure and attacks on journalists have threatened freedom of the press," the report says.
Among the developments, which were used to analyze the freedom rating in Ukraine, the organization mentioned the murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet, "heightening concerns about the safety and freedom of journalists."
One of the positive developments, according to the human rights activists, became strong protection from security forces ensured during the LGBT pride parade, held in Kyiv last June.
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President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko issued a decree declaring the year 2017 the Year of Japan in Ukraine. Therefore, the Information Policy Ministry in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine are planning to hold a range of events aimed at acquainting Ukrainians with the culture, traditions and history of Japan.
As a reminder, on January 20, a ceremony of signing of agreements on grant assistance for grassroots projects (Kusanone programme) of the Japanese government was held at the Embassy of Japan in Kyiv. On January 21, a tea ceremony with the participation of the Ukrainian branch of the Japanese School of Tea Ceremony Urasenke was held at the National Art Museum of Ukraine.
Read also: Information Policy Ministry, Embassy of Japan launching program dedicated to the Year of Japan in Ukraine.
Thus, according to the program of events foreseen within the Year of Japan in Ukraine, which is available to Ukrinform, on February 19, the National Art Museum of Ukraine in Kyiv will host an exhibition of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints. The event organizers are the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine and the National Art Museum of Ukraine.
On January 27-29, classes of Japanese are to be held at the National Art Museum, as well as lectures about the Japanese culture on January 29 and February 5-12.
On February 1-15, an art project "Internal Japan" is to take place at Kyiv History Museum. The organizer is the Fund for Cultural Initiatives ArtHuss.
On February 5-12, the Ukrainian-Japanese center at the National Technical University of Ukraine KPI will host Hatsugama, the festival of the first cup of tea in the new year. The organizer is the Ukrainian branch of the Japanese School of Tea Ceremony Urasenke.
On February 8-12, an origami exhibition is to take place at the National Art Museum of Ukraine, as well as origami master classes scheduled for February 11. The organizers are the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine, the National Art Museum of Ukraine and Kyiv Origami Club.
On February 17-19, the Japanese Film Festival is to take place at Kinopanorama cinema.
On March 3-16, the National Museum in Lviv will host an exhibition of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints.
On March 11, the National Museum of Chornobyl in Kyiv will host an exhibition of Okiagari-koboshi dolls.
On March 17-18, the 9th International Symposium on Japan and Japanese Studies 2017 "Study and Research of Japanese language and literature: the impact and understanding of Japanese realia" is to be held at the Institute of Philology of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
On March 18, the Ukrainian-Japanese Center at the National Technical University of Ukraine KPI will host the 16th all-Ukrainian workshop on problems of teaching the Japanese language. The organizer is the Japanese Language Teachers' Association of Ukraine.
On April 2, a joint performance of Terada Ballet Art School and Kyiv State Choreographic School is to take place in Kyiv Operetta Theater. The organizers are Terada Ballet Art School and Kyiv State Choreographic School.
The Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine Yurii Stets has called on the management of Facebook to introduce special tools to fight against unreliable news in the Ukrainian segment of social network. In particular, according to Minister Stets this mechanism will not allow spammers to operate in the social networks under the names of real news organizations, the ministrys press service reports.
"We have analyzed the Internet space, taking into account users' requests, and appealed to the management of the social network with the request to develop a mechanism to combat fake news for the Ukrainians by analogy with other countries, Minister of information Policy of Ukraine Yurii Stets stated when commenting on the appeal.
Minister Stets said that the social network Facebook is gaining popularity among users in Ukraine, and it is a source of information for mass media. And thats why, according to the minister, Ukrainian people has the right to receive accurate and truthful information on Facebook.
In addition, Minister Stets noted that similar mechanisms are already being developed by Facebook management in other countries, including the United States and Germany. They will provide users with the ability to mark news as unreliable for their further consideration by a specialized agency, he added.
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UNICEF/UN041140/Vittozzi
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 31 January 2017 48 million children living through some of the worlds worst conflicts and other humanitarian emergencies will benefit from UNICEFs 2017 appeal, which was launched today.
From Syria to Yemen and Iraq, from South Sudan to Nigeria, children are under direct attack, their homes, schools and communities in ruins, their hopes and futures hanging in the balance. In total, almost one in four of the worlds children lives in a country affected by conflict or disaster.
In country after country, war, natural disaster and climate change are driving ever more children from their homes, exposing them to violence, disease and exploitation, said UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes, Manuel Fontaine.
UNICEFs Humanitarian Action for Children sets out the agencys 2017 appeal totaling $3.3 billion, and its goals in providing children with access to safe water, nutrition, education, health and protection in 48 countries across the globe.
An estimated 7.5 million children will face severe acute malnutrition across the majority of appeal countries, including almost half a million each in northeast Nigeria and Yemen.
Malnutrition is a silent threat to millions of children, said Fontaine. The damage it does can be irreversible, robbing children of their mental and physical potential. In its worst form, severe malnutrition can be deadly.
The largest single component of the appeal is for children and families caught up in the Syria conflict, soon to enter its seventh year. UNICEF is seeking a total of $1.4 billion to support Syrian children inside Syria and those living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
In total, working alongside its partners, UNICEFs other priorities in 2017 are:
- Providing over 19 million people with access to safe water;
- Reaching 9.2 million children with formal or non-formal basic education;
- Immunizing 8.3 million children against measles;
- Providing psychosocial support to over two million children;
- Treating 3.1 million children with severe acute malnutrition.
In the first ten months of 2016, as a result of UNICEFs support:
- 13.6 million people had access to safe water;
- 9.4 million children were vaccinated against measles;
- 6.4 million children accessed some form of education;
- 2.2 million children were treated for severe acute malnutrition.
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Notes to Editors:
The Humanitarian Action for Children 2017 appeal can be found here: http://www.unicef.org/HAC2017
Video and photos are available for download here: http://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AMZIF0Y3VA
NEW YORK, 31 January 2017 A lifesaving service for vulnerable children caught up in crises is now available to government, aid agencies and social service workers through an open source app developed by UNICEF and its partners.
The app known as Primero, facilitates the secure collection, storage and sharing of data to improve child protection, incident monitoring and family reunification services by key players in the humanitarian sector.
The software is particularly crucial to the work of social workers in emergency situations to support children displaced by conflict.
Primero will help social workers manage the cases of children forced to flee their homes. Once those children reach a place of safety they are often given multiple paper-based identities making it difficult for them to access the basic care that they so desperately need, said Cornelius Williams, Associate Director of Child Protection at UNICEF.
New technology, such as Primero, strengthens the ability of governments and aid organizations to identify vulnerable children, provide them with life-saving services and protect them from exploitation and violence.
Primero will be used in humanitarian settings in Lebanon, Jordan and the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya and can be used more widely in other humanitarian situations in remote locations to access and update files as necessary.
The app, which also meets the needs of social workers in non-humanitarian contexts runs on a laptop, a privately-hosted server, or in a managed cloud environment.
As an open source tool, Primeros code is publicly available and encourages further application for children in communities displaced by conflict and crisis, and in other populations at risk of violence and exploitation.
###
Notes to Editors:
For more information on Primero and its source code visit: http://www.primero.org
Photos available on http://uni.cf/2kKb4ns
Physicians report difficulty convincing patients with prostate cancer about the merits of active surveillance (AS); as a result, a majority of patients unnecessarily choose to undergo radical treatment.
To develop and evaluate a systematic approach for physicians to counsel patients with low-risk prostate cancer to increase acceptance of AS.
A systematic counseling approach was developed and piloted in one clinic. Then five surgeons participated in a 1-h training session in which they learned about the approach. A total of 1003 patients with Gleason 3+3 prostate cancer were included in the study. We compared AS rates for 761 patients who were counseled over a 24-mo period before the training intervention with AS rates for 242 patients who were counseled over a 12-mo period afterwards, controlling for temporal trends and case mix.
A systematic approach for communicating the merits of AS using appropriate framing techniques derived from principles studied by negotiation scholars.
The rate of AS acceptance by patients for management of low-risk prostate cancer.
In the pilot phase, 81 of 86 patients (94%) accepted AS after counseling by the physician who developed the counseling approach. In the subsequent study, the cohort for the training intervention comprised 1003 consecutive patients, 80% of whom met the Epstein criteria for very low-risk disease. The proportion of patients who selected AS increased from 69% before the training intervention to 81% afterwards. After adjusting for time trends and case mix, the rate of AS after the intervention was 9.1% higher (95% confidence interval -0.4% to 19.4%) than expected, a relative reduction of approximately 30% in the risk of unnecessary curative treatment.
A systematic approach to counseling can be taught to physicians in a 1-h lecture. We found evidence that even this minimal intervention can decrease overtreatment. Our novel approach offers a framework to help address cancer screening-related overtreatment that occurs across medicine.
In this study, we evaluated the impact of teaching physicians how to better communicate the benefits and risks of prostate cancer treatments on the willingness of patients to choose active surveillance. Decisions related to cancer are often guided by emotions and biases that lead most patients to seek radical treatment; however, we demonstrated that if discussions are framed differently, these biases can be overcome and more patients will choose active surveillance.
European urology. 2017 Jan 24 [Epub ahead of print]
Behfar Ehdaie, Melissa Assel, Nicole Benfante, Deepak Malhotra, Andrew Vickers
Urology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Health Outcomes Research Group, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: ., Health Outcomes Research Group, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA., Negotiation, Organizations, and Markets Unit, Harvard Business School, Boston, MA, USA.
Go Beyond the Abstract - Read an article commentary written by the author
PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28129893
While radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) has traditionally served as the gold standard treatment for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), post-operative decline in renal function remains a concern. Aside from the increased mortality risk directly related to the development or exacerbation of chronic kidney disease (CKD), declines in renal function may also decrease eligibility for platinum-based chemotherapy regimens, thereby potentially affecting survival outcomes further. As a result, considerable interest has been generated in determining methods to mitigate declines in renal function while managing UTUC.In a subset of patients, renal-sparing approaches may be a feasible option to avoid radical excision of the kidney, including partial ureterectomy (PU) and endoscopic management. Recent data emerging from our institution demonstrated equivalent long-term oncologic efficacy between PU and RNU,with similar impact on post-operative renal function outcomes.To address these findings further, we recently published a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies reporting both oncological and renal function outcomes of PU versus RNU for UTUC ( http://www.urotoday.com/recent-abstracts/urologic-oncology/upper-tract-tumors/91059-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis-of-oncological-and-renal-function-outcomes-obtained-after-segmental-ureterectomy-versus-radical-nephroureterectomy-for-upper-tract-urothelial-carcinoma.html ).In this paper, we incorporated a total of 11 retrospective studies including 3,963 patients with UTUC (25% PU, 75% RNU) and found that oncologic outcomes were rather similar between the two approaches, yet renal function preservation was superior in the PU group. In light of this, there remains a discrepancy between the incidence of ureteral tumors amenable to PU and the actuarial utilization of PU, which is estimated at only 10%, suggesting that PU may be underutilized.Undoubtedly, not all patients with UTUC are eligible to undergo PU based on tumor characteristics and hence require RNU. In these patients, identifying pre-operative risk factors predictive for post-operative declines in renal function may be helpful in facilitating pre-operative counseling of patients and in characterizing the appropriate timing of chemotherapy administration, which as of yet remains unknown. That is, identifying predictors for and degree of renal function loss following RNU may help determine which patients would be eligible for upfront surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy versus those who would be more likely to derive benefit from pre-operative chemotherapy due to decreased likelihood of chemotherapy eligibility following surgery. In the adjuvant setting, retrospective series appear to demonstrate benefits for both overall and cancer-specific survival, yet prospective data is still pending. In the neoadjuvant setting, we continue to await the results of prospective trials currently recruiting (NCT01261728, NCT02412670).In our institutional study, we identified that patients with pre-operative hydronephrosis tend to experience less decline in renal function than those without hydronephrosis ( http://www.urotoday.com/recent-abstracts/urologic-oncology/renal-cancer/90824-preoperative-hydronephrosis-is-associated-with-less-decline-in-renal-function-after-radical-nephroureterectomy-for-upper-tract-urothelial-carcinoma.html ).The potential implications for timing of chemotherapy administration are particularly relevant in this group of patients, given the oncologic association of hydronephrosis with more advanced disease characteristics and worse prognostic outcome.It is plausible that patients with renal obstruction related to tumor experience some degree of ipsilateral renal compromise pre-operatively. As a result, the contralateral kidney may be accounting for the majority of the renal function, and removal of the less functional kidney may be less detrimental. While we did not confirm this in our study with pre-operative renal scintigraphy or quantitative measures of renal cortical thickness, such information would certainly provide useful functional and anatomic information in evaluating our hypothesis.Indeed, when managing patients with UTUC, nephron-sparing surgical approaches in the appropriate clinical setting warrant consideration in the interest of maximizing post-operative renal function without compromising oncologic outcomes. As we await the results of prospective studies to shed light on the benefits of chemotherapy administration in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, attention to risk factors predisposing patients to post-RNU declines in renal function may help guide a skillful multimodal approach to therapy while maximizing options.References:1. Bagrodia, A., Kuehhas, F. E., Gayed, B. A. et al.: Comparative analysis of oncologic outcomes of partial ureterectomy vs radical nephroureterectomy in upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Urology,972, 20132. Singla, N., Gayed, B. A., Bagrodia, A. et al.: Multi-institutional analysis of renal function outcomes following radical nephroureterectomy and partial ureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Urol Oncol,268 e1, 20153. Fang, D., Seisen, T., Yang, K. et al.: A systematic review and meta-analysis of oncological and renal function outcomes obtained after segmental ureterectomy versus radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Eur J Surg Oncol,1625, 20164. Singla, N., Hutchinson, R., Haddad, A. et al.: Preoperative hydronephrosis is associated with less decline in renal function after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Can J Urol,8334, 20165. Chung, P. H., Krabbe, L. M., Darwish, O. M. et al.: Degree of hydronephrosis predicts adverse pathological features and worse oncologic outcomes in patients with high-grade urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Urol Oncol,981, 2014
This rent-controlled building in Columbia Heights has been offered on websites such as Airbnb and VRBO for short-term rentals. (Oliver Contreras/For The Washington Post)
District lawmakers will soon introduce legislation that would further restrict how property owners can use home-sharing sites such as Airbnb and VRBO.
The measure, to be introduced Tuesday by D.C. Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie, would limit hosts to renting out one unit at a time, and only in their permanent homes.
The big target of the legislation is people who buy commercial properties and list all the units of the building for short-term rental on such sites thereby cutting into the supply of affordable housing available to local residents.
When you look at the affordable housing crisis here in the District of Columbia, taking those types of units off the market really puts pressure on our housing market, McDuffie (D-Ward 5) said. Demand is much higher than supply, and when you turn an apartment building into a de facto hotel, it has a deleterious ripple effect on the District housing stock.
Airbnb, founded in San Francisco in 2008, has quickly mushroomed into a leading short-term rental service, accounting for more than 3 million listings in 50,000 cities. Its presence has been particularly widespread in the District, where an estimated 18,500 visitors booked stays during this months presidential inauguration.
Weve been engaged in productive conversations with D.C. officials for the last year and look forward to collaborating on fair, pragmatic home-sharing rules that allow native Washingtonians and long-time residents to continue sharing their homes, said Crystal Davis, a spokeswoman for Airbnb.
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McDuffies bill would create a new business license specifically for short-term rental hosts. Under current rules, District residents must have basic business licenses, but McDuffie says those requirements are not well understood and are seldom enforced. When hosts are in violation of the rule, there are no clear consequences in place.
Under the rules, hosts would be required to report their license number to online platforms such as Airbnb. The hosting platform would be responsible for verifying each license against District records. The rules also would clarify that hosts can rent their entire properties out for up to 15 days a year on Airbnb and other sites.
Right now the regulations are confusing and [the D.C. government] has trouble enforcing them, McDuffie said. We want to clear up the ambiguities and, at the same time, we want our city agencies to be able to enforce the laws that are on the books.
The bill comes on the heels of similar legislation that has passed in cities such as New York, New Orleans and Santa Monica, Calif. The Arlington County Council last month implemented rules that place similar restrictions on hosts by limiting them to renting out space in primary residences, and prohibiting parties, banquets, meetings and other commercial activities in short-term rentals.
A similar measure proposed by D.C. Council member Vincent B. Orange (D-At Large) and backed by a hotel workers union expired when he left the council last year.
Housing advocacy groups, however, say the proliferation of short-term rentals has come at the expense of local residents. They estimate that 40 percent of Airbnb listings in the District are overseen by commercial operators and that 80 percent of Airbnbs D.C. revenue comes from illegal rentals of entire homes. (Airbnb disputes these numbers: More than 75 percent of D.C. Airbnb hosts share their primary residences, Davis said.)
Because these regulations arent enforced, commercial operators are taking over the market, said Valerie Ervin, senior adviser to the Working Families Party. This legislation puts teeth in the regulation, to make sure people are actually doing what theyre supposed to do.
Specifically, she said, the measures would crack down on properties such as a rent-controlled Columbia Heights apartment building that was essentially operating as a hotel. All 20 units were recently being advertised on short-term rental sites, she said. The owner of that building, at 3504 13th St. NW, could not immediately be reached.
This is taking affordable units right off the market, Ervin said. And if there is less availability, rents get jacked up.
Airbnb is mired in a number of regulatory battles, as well as allegations that some of its hosts discriminate against renters. Lawmakers including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) recently pushed the federal government to take a closer look at home-sharing sites after accusations that they were creating housing shortages and driving up rental costs.
The company has tapped four former mayors to help lobby city governments, and last year hired former U.S. attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr. to help craft new anti-discrimination policies.
If the law is passed, Airbnb hosts would have 120 days to comply with the new measures.
Those who violate the proposed rules could be fined up to $1,000 for the first instance and up to $7,000 for subsequent violations.
Airbnb and other platforms could face penalties, too. They would be fined $1,000 for each booking made in violation of the rules, McDuffie said. The fines would be used to create affordable housing in the District, with 50 percent of proceeds used to fund low-income housing.
We appreciate innovation and technology I encourage it, quite frankly, McDuffie said, but we need to make sure we have a regulatory scheme that is designed to look after the best interest of residents in these communities.
Read more:
Airbnb bookings in D.C. are nearing an all-time high for Trumps inauguration
As regulatory attacks mount, Airbnb goes on a charm offensive
Airbnb says it plans to take action to crack down on racial discrimination on its site
Onlookers stand outside the Trump International Hotel hoping to get a glimpse of President-elect Donald Trump arriving on Jan. 19. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post) (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)
Workers at President Trumps Washington hotel have voted to join one of Americas leading labor unions, setting the stage for potentially tense labor negotiations at one of Trumps most high-profile businesses a few blocks from the White House.
About 40 housekeepers and guest-room workers at the Trump International Hotel Washington voted last week to join Unite Here Local 25, a chapter that represents 6,500 hospitality workers across the Washington area, a union executive said.
The vote, the first major unionization effort of Trump-company workers following Trumps inauguration, again highlights the thorny entanglements facing the businessman-president, who has given corporate management responsibilities to his children but has refused to divest from his business interests.
The president will be able to appoint the top members of the National Labor Relations Board, which rules on labor disputes, including the bitter months-long battle last year between Trump and workers at his Las Vegas hotel.
Trumps company agreed to end that dispute in December by negotiating with Unite Heres Nevada affiliate and offering new benefits to hundreds of the Vegas hotels housekeepers, cooks and other employees.
[These hotel workers just took on Trump and won]
Trump Organization representatives did not respond to requests for comment. Trump Hotels chief executive Eric Danziger said in a statement last month that the company and the D.C. union shared a mutual goal to make the Washington hotel one of the finest hotels in the world.
Trumps duel with the Vegas union during his campaign spurred members to protest his hotels and campaign events nationwide. During the days after his election, Trump fired off tweets slamming the leader of an Indianapolis steelworkers union who had questioned Trumps taking credit for saving jobs at a Carrier plant.
But Trump has also sought to court unions since his election. Trump this month convened half a dozen construction-union leaders for an hour-long talk at the White House and hosted the head of Americas biggest union federation, the AFL-CIO, for a meeting at Trump Tower.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Tuesday pointed to how the president had brought unions together to rebut a question during a press briefing about whether Trumps language was divisive.
[Airplanes, golf courses, trademarks and more: Trumps government will oversee his businesses]
Unite Here, whose members largely include hotel, food-service and casino employees, was not part of Trumps early union talks, and they could remain a potential opponent of Trumps policies. The union marched during the Womens March in Las Vegas the day after Trumps inauguration, saying in a statement, We will fight and ensure that all people who make this country great have a seat at the table.
John Boardman, executive secretary and treasurer of the Unite Heres D.C. affiliate, said 95 percent of Trump housekeepers and guest-room workers voted to join the union, which will push to adopt the same benefits and protections offered to workers at other downtown Washington hotels.
Another 80 bartenders, servers, porters and other Trump hotel workers are expected to vote on union membership within the coming months.
The union will serve as the workers bargaining agent with the Trump company, said Boardman, who expects contract negotiations to begin very soon. He said he thinks the company would like to reach an agreement and that negotiations would end fairly quickly.
The union, Boardman said, hopes to cover Trump hotel workers under a broader multi-hotel agreement providing for pension plan increases and raises for workers, with housekeepers and dishwashers annual income rising to $52,000 by the end of the five-year contract.
Trump leases the Pennsylvania Avenue building, the historic Old Post Office Pavilion, but it is owned by the federal government. Trump owns a 76 percent share in the hotel project, with most of the remaining stake divided between his children Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, lease documents show.
The luxury hotel opened its doors this fall and quickly became a fixture in Trumps campaign, hosting news conferences and lavish parties for his inauguration. Trump said this month he would put his sons in charge of managing his businesses, but that he would retain his ownership stakes.
[ Trumps Washington hotel is hub of inaugural action and potential conflicts ]
The hotel has become a key vulnerability and major distraction for Trump in the first days of his presidency. A liberal watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed a lawsuit last week alleging Trump has violated a constitutional clause banning federal officials from accepting payments or gifts from foreign governments.
An attorney for Trump, who has said the case was without merit, argued this month that the constitutional ban, under the emoluments clause, does not apply to hotel stays and other fair-market transactions.
The attorney also pledged that Trump would donate hotel profits from foreign business and government clients to the U.S. Treasury. Neither Trump nor representatives of his private company, the Trump Organization, have released details on how those payments would be tracked, collected and disbursed.
The Department of Justice will defend Trump in the lawsuit. A DOJ spokeswoman said, The Justice Department is reviewing the complaint and will respond as appropriate.
From left: Kifle Tsighe, Iasu O. Michael and Elmi Ahmed, at Kabob Bazaar in 2007. (Lois Raimondo/The Washington Post)
At Kabob Bazaar, the hands that saute eggplant and skewer cubes of lamb belong to immigrants from Latin America, the Philippines and owner Bruce Sarvghadis native Iran. But Sarvghadi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, is finding his Arlington restaurant short-staffed this week: His brother, Davood Sarvghadi, who works in the restaurant, had gone home to visit family in Iran. Due to return Sunday, he was prevented from boarding his flight back to Washington, and is stuck in Mashhad, Iran, with no idea when he will be able to return.
Im just worried the way that things are going in this nation, with Mr. Trump in power, said Sarvghadi. Im hoping that the people will speak out and he will change his mind about his hard policy. Of course, we all want a safe place to live in, but I think the way that hes going is a little too extreme.
[Who makes the tortillas, pierogi and pasta you love? These immigrants do.]
Whether its workers are stranded overseas or threatened with deportation, the restaurant industry is caught in the crosshairs of the Trump administrations hard-line approach to immigration. Since being sworn into office, President Trump has signed executive orders not only temporarily banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, in the name of national security, but also threatening to withhold federal funds from so-called sanctuary cities, which do not cooperate with federal officials in detaining people based on their immigration status.
The orders could have serious impact on an industry that employs about 1.8 million foreign-born workers, or 7.1 percent of the 25 million foreign-born workers in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Pew Research Center estimates that 10 percent of the workforce in eating and drinking places, or 1.1 million employees, were unauthorized to work in 2014.
Jose Andres, the James Beard Award-winning chef with more than 20 restaurants across the country, is one of the few restaurateurs willing to talk about undocumented workers. Immigration is a subject close to his heart: He was once an immigrant himself, a struggling Spanish-born chef who arrived in New York in 1990 with only $50 in his pocket and a set of knives. But in 2013, Andres officially became a U.S. citizen, and now hes embroiled in very public lawsuits with a sitting president over the chefs decision to pull out of the Trump International Hotel in the Old Post Office building in Washington in protest of Trumps derogatory campaign-trail comments about Mexican immigrants.
Jose Andres was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in 2016. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
Andres wants to navigate a middle path between the polar extremes he sees in America. He wants conservatives to see that undocumented immigrants, while not authorized to work here, still pay millions of dollars in taxes at least until the government learns that their taxpayer IDs are fraudulent. And he wants liberals to see that there are other remedies besides citizenship.
Get them work visas, says Andres, whose ThinkFoodGroup company uses E-Verify to determine workers eligibility. Give them a path to citizenship.
A work visa plan, in fact, might prevent a restaurant industry from rapidly shrinking if the Trump administration makes good on plans to start deporting illegal immigrants. An industry that already struggles to find qualified labor cannot afford to lose nearly 9 percent of its workforce, Andres says. Besides, he adds, most of these workers are not the bad actors that conservatives make them out to be.
We cannot just [make] a law that implies everybody is bad, Andres says.
Since the president signed the orders, Ayuda, which provides legal and social services to immigrants in the Washington area, has seen an increase in calls. Our clients are very scared, says Executive Director Paula Fitzgerald. People are afraid to come forward. As their advisers, its becoming more difficult to tell them what to expect.
If groups like Ayuda are concerned about the welfare of their clients, theyre also concerned about their funding. Fitzgerald says that 50 percent of Ayudas $4 million annual budget comes from federal dollars, some of which is passed through the District government. If the president successfully withholds funds from sanctuary cities some say such an order is unconstitutional it could impact Ayudas work to help those threatened with deportation.
For its part, the National Restaurant Association is currently reviewing the executive orders to determine their impact, emails Leslie Shedd, vice president of communications for the association.
Anthony Bourdain author, globe-trotter, Parts Unknown host and former chef has long been a public voice for the immigrants who do much of the prepping, cooking and cleaning at American restaurants, even at some of the priciest ones. If Mr. Trump deports 11 million people or whatever hes talking about right now, Bourdain said to SiriusXM in 2015 when Trump was a presidential candidate, every restaurant in America would shut down.
Anthony Bourdain at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2016. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
But when contacted on Monday by email, Bourdain was in no mood to ponder the effect of the presidents orders on one industry. The stakes now are much higher, he indicated.
In my view we have arrived at the most shameful period of American politics in my lifetime, Bourdain wrote. This is no longer about the hospitality industry. Its about the very nature of America and what kind of country we want to be. The Statue of Liberty, in whose shadow Ive lived most of my life, seems like a bitterly ironic joke. We dont deserve it and should probably return it to France so it wont remind us of what we once were and what we have become.
Some in the restaurant industry are focusing specifically on solutions for unauthorized workers who may face deportation. Dozens of proprietors across the country have signed up to be a sanctuary restaurant, where owners will not allow any harassment of any individual based on immigrant/refugee status, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation to occur in their restaurant. Sanctuary Restaurants is a joint project of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United and Presente.org, a pair of nonprofits that advocate for restaurant workers and Latinos, respectively.
The project was developed even before the president signed his orders on immigration and international travel. Sanctuary Restaurants was originally designed to help protect workers who were feeling threatened and harassed. But now that sanctuary cities have become news, Sheila Maddali, co-director of the Tipper Worker Resource Center at ROC United, makes it clear that Sanctuary Restaurants offer no legal protections for illegal workers. The restaurants that have joined will comply with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, as all private businesses must.
We just wanted everyone to know that were supportive, and we care about everyone and were welcoming to all people, said Dakota Defever, beverage director for the Minor Threat restaurant group, which owns Sovereign, a sanctuary restaurant in conservative-leaning Plainfield, Ill. Its about being open and welcoming to [immigrant employees] and standing up, and trying to make sure we can keep good people in the business.
The president has not backed down from his executive orders in the face of widespread protests and condemnation. You dont know when the next [terrorist] attacks coming, press secretary Sean Spicer said at a Monday briefing. And so the best you can do is to get ahead of it.
Just the threat of a travel ban has made it difficult for Arwa Aljarmozi, 42, and her husband, Abdul, to focus on House of Mandi, the restaurant they own in Arlington.
Originally from Yemen, the Aljarmozis are naturalized American citizens but they fear for their family members. A Yemeni niece with a student visa who was due to return to Virginia before the end of the month is stuck in Dubai. And she worries that her five children will never again see their grandparents, who live in Yemen. It has taken a toll on her 6-year-old daughter, Noora, who became hysterical when she heard her father was going on a business trip to Florida, because she is too young to understand the complexity of the order.
She was tearing up and saying, Mr. Trump wont let me see Daddy again, said Aljarmozi, who explained to her daughter that Florida is within the United States. We do keep Mr. Trump in our prayers, to guide him to love everyone and care of everyone.
The Aljarmozis have also been comforting their mainly Latino staff, who are just as fearful of immigration changes. They are concerned about their relatives and their family, said Aljarmozi, who recently threw a party for a staff member who was reunited with her son after 12 years apart. But shes been heartened by the support shes gotten from the community since the ban was announced.
[A customer] said, Im sorry about what happened, and well be here for a Valentines date on the 14th. Well support you, she said.
Students fill their lunch trays at J.F.K. Elementary School in Kingston, New York, where all meals are free. Some students at other schools find their lunch accounts locked because their families havent paid the bill. A woman in New York aimed to do something about it. (Mary Esch/AP)
Ashley C. Ford felt driven to act by a sad fact of life in the nations school cafeterias: Kids with unpaid lunch accounts are often embarrassed with a substitute meal of a cold cheese sandwich and a carton of milk.
Ford, a New York City writer, appealed to her 66,000 Twitter followers with a solution. A cool thing you can do today is try to find out which of your local schools have kids with overdue lunch accounts and pay them off.
In the nearly two months since, people around the country have been inspired to donate thousands of dollars to erase debts owed by parents that can follow kids throughout their school careers.
In Minnesota, an online fundraising effort has paid almost $100,000 in lunch debt in Minneapolis schools and $28,000 in St. Pauls. Donors, mostly anonymous, erased $6,000 in debts in Topeka, Kansas, $2,000 in Bellevue, Washington, $1,200 in Wilmington, Delaware, and $900 in Herminie, Pennsylvania.
It really hit home for me, said Kristina Arwood, of Evansville, Indiana, who launched a campaign that raised $20,000 to pay lunch debts in her region. I grew up on free and reduced-price lunches, but even that 40 cents was hard to get together with four kids. There were times I wouldnt eat because I didnt have money and didnt want to be labeled as the poor kid.
Ashley C. Ford started a Twitter campaign to help raise money to pay off school lunch debt. Ford didnt like the fact that kids with unpaid lunch accounts are often denied a hot lunch and offered a substitute meal of a cold cheese sandwich and a carton of milk. (Mary Altaffer/AP)
Jill Draper, a yarn maker in the Hudson Valley town of Kingston, New York, said she was inspired by Fords tweet to collect money toward the $6,000 in debts owed by 600 students in her citys schools.
It seemed like a really easy way to make a positive difference locally, said Draper, who has no children. Its amazing how one tweet became this crazy movement.
Draper said the effort drew some criticism from people who said some of the money is owed by parents who can afford the $2.50 for lunch but let their accounts run into the red. But the response has been mostly positive, with really sweet notes from people who donate, she said.
Children from the poorest families get free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. But some struggle to pay even reduced prices, and some families who would qualify for free or reduced prices fail to fill out the necessary paperwork. Some of the IOUs come from kids who simply forget their lunch money or parents who can afford to pay but neglect to keep prepaid accounts up to date.
Most school districts allow children to run a tab for a certain number of meals if they come up short. Others give them an alternate meal of a cheese or peanut butter sandwich and fruit. If parents ignore school notices about their childs overdrawn lunch account, the debt may be sent to a collection agency. Ultimately, taxpayers may have to cover it.
According to a 2016 survey of 1,000 school meal program operators by the School Nutrition Association, about three-quarters of districts had unpaid student-meal debt at the end of the last school year, an increase from just under 71 percent in 2014. The median amount of debt per district was $2,000, but it can run much higher in large districts up to $4.7 million, according to the association.
Its unrealistic to think donations are going to fix this problem for school districts, said Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokeswoman for the association. Its going to continue to be an issue until we get universal free meals for all students.
Its not the first time Fords tweets helped inspire an outpouring of public generosity. In 2014, she was among the first to tweet support for the public library in Ferguson, Missouri, amid tensions over the police shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown. That social media campaign brought in $450,000 in donations.
Ford, who contributed to a school debt GoFundMe drive herself, said her real aim was to inspire a bigger wave of community giving.
I sincerely just wanted to think of something really easy that people could do to make a difference locally, Ford said. It was just one idea; another school might need help with uniforms or tutoring. The point was to do something that helps people in your community.
Sally Yates was fired from her job as acting attorney general after she said her departments lawyers would not defend President Trumps executive order on immigration. (Saul Loeb/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)
President Trump fired the acting attorney general of the United States after she refused to defend in court his refugee and immigration ban.
The clash Monday between Trump and longtime prosecutor Sally Yates revealed disagreements surrounding Fridays executive order that suspended the U.S. refugee program for 120 days and banned entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
The attorney general is the head of the Department of Justice and the chief lawyer for the U.S. government. If a person or group were to challenge whether Trumps order is lawful under the Constitution, the attorney general or someone from that office would argue in support of the order.
On Monday afternoon, Yates told Justice Department lawyers that she wasnt convinced that the executive order is lawful. That night, she received notice that Trump had fired her.
Yates, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, was getting ready to step down to make way for Senator Jeff Sessions, Trumps pick for attorney general. The Senate Judiciary Committee had been expected to confirm Sessionss nomination Tuesday, but Democrats delayed the vote until Wednesday. The nomination will then go to the full Senate for a final vote.
It started in June of 2015, at a small gathering in Bedford, N.H. NBC News had assigned reporter Katy Tur to cover the nascent candidacy of Donald Trump just a few hours earlier.
Tur was standing among a dozen or so reporters, tweeting Trumps remarks, when he stopped talking and looked at her.
Katy, youre not listening to me, he said. Tur looked up. I am listening to you, she replied. Im tweeting what youre saying.
Tur said she found it funny that Trump, whom shed never met, would pick her out of a crowd and call attention to her. I thought, how in the world did this man know my name?
They would get to know each other better soon enough.
(The Washington Post)
A few days later, Tur landed an interview with Trump at Trump Tower. She was polite but insistent in her questioning, probing him about his Mexican-immigrants-as-rapists comments from his campaign announcement, among other topics. Trump grew agitated. At one point, Tur stumbled, and Trump pounced. Cmon, spit it out, he taunted.
When she questioned him about why his clothing line was manufactured abroad, Trump bristled again. Youre not bringing up anything new, he said. Yknow, youre acting like youre the great reporter, bah bah bah.
The would-be coup de grace came a few minutes later when Tur hesitated in framing another question. Cmon, try getting it out, he said. Try getting it out. . . . You dont even know what youre talking about. Try getting it out. Go ahead.
Afterward, cameras off, Trump critiqued her again for her minor slip-ups. I said, So what? Im not running for president, Tur remembers. And he said, You would never be president. And I said, Okay.
Tur spent the next 16 months following the man who would go on to win the Republican nomination and the presidency. Along the way, she would unwittingly, and at times quite uncomfortably, become a kind of symbol, the living embodiment of Trumps hostility toward the news media. And it has been good for her, just as it has been for Megyn Kelly, the former Fox New host.
Trumps attacks on Kelly may have had a higher profile, but few reporters took as much flak from the future president as Tur. His public lashings on Twitter and at rallies seemed to become obsessive, as if he were acting out a frustrated crush. He derided her as Little Katy, recommended that she be fired, called her incompetent, dishonest, a 3rd rate reporter. His most frequent complaint: that she wasnt reporting the size of his campaign crowds (Katy youre not reporting it, Katy, he bellowed at one point. Theres something happening, Katy.)
A predictable comets tail of ugliness followed each slight. Prompted by Trump, supporters would occasionally boo her at rallies. They showered her with abuse on social media (and still do), including not infrequent death threats. The climate became so overheated at one of his events that Trumps aides inquired about her well-being. After another, Secret Service agents approached her and escorted her to her car. NBC eventually assigned a private security detail to her.
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Turs reaction to the tumult was like that during her first confrontations in New Hampshire and in Trump Tower. She stood her ground. She didnt fire back. She continued reporting.
Now she smiles at the memory, as composed as a sonnet.
Generally, I find the hotter the temperature, the cooler I am, she says. Its times of relative calm and ease that I start to wind myself up.
Trump won the election, but Tur got a final laugh, too. His intermittent disparagement elevated her from near obscurity. She became one of NBCs most visible reporters, an almost daily presence on MSNBC and a semiregular on the Today show, NBC Nightly News and Meet the Press. Before the campaign concluded, she signed a book contract to recount her months covering Trump (working title: Unbelievable). NBC handed her an afternoon slot on MSNBC to host a program about the Trump administrations first 100 days.
I think shes incredible, says her boss, NBC News President Deborah Turness. She was tough but fair. She never once stopped working, never once pulled back from her commitment. It takes an amazing amount of poise to hold your position when the crowd is chanting your name, or when people are questioning your journalism.
Tur, 33, is the first to admit its been a fast and bumpy ride. She had almost no experience as a political reporter when Turness decided to assign her to Trumps campaign (Turness thought an outsider covering the outsider might generate some interesting coverage). A foreign correspondent based in London at the time, Tur was on a visit to New York when she was pressed into service to cover a couple of early Trump controversies.
[Trumps war with the media raises questions for journalists]
When NBC newsgathering chief David Verdi asked her to take on the Trump beat in June 2015, he suggested it probably wouldnt last long. Youll spend the summer in New York, she recalls Verdi saying. And if he wins, he said, Youll go to the White House.
The latter idea seemed absurd, but Tur entertained it. I had this premonition at that moment and I thought, Wow, what if he does win? And I said no. And I said to myself, Katy, mark this moment, because if he does win this will be the moment that changes your life. I then just as quickly cast it aside because at the time it was just such a wild thought.
Life on the trail proved to be something like a military deployment. It was often intense and colorful, Tur said, but also featured long stretches of tedium, sleeplessness and discomfort. In her case, there was also heartbreak; a boyfriend who lived in Paris became an ex-boyfriend during her long absence. (She is now engaged to CBS News reporter Tony Dokoupil).
Recalling the experience, Tur who was once a tornado- chasing correspondent for the Weather Channel reaches for a meteorological metaphor: Covering Trump was like a hurricane making landfall every day. [On the Weather Channel], you were always talking about a crazy scene going on behind you. But you also had to find a way to talk about the monotony because there were days where wed see nothing and wed still have to come up with a story.
Tur says her unflappable demeanor may be a byproduct of growing up in a household that was a bit chaotic, fraught with constant improvisation. Her parents, Bob Tur and Marika Gerrard, were airborne journalists, covering fires, plane crashes and police pursuits from a helicopter in the skies over Los Angeles. The couple he at the helicopters controls, she handling the camera relayed the first TV images of O.J. Simpsons Bronco chase in 1994 and the beating of Reginald Denny, the truck driver who was assaulted by a mob at the start of the L.A. riots in 1992.
Tur spent a good part of her childhood in and around the copter, too. Her father sometimes let her take the joystick of the aircraft while she sat on his lap. (Bob Tur changed his name to Hanna Zoey Tur when he began transitioning from male to female in 2013.)
Their daughter experienced the backlash from their reporting when she was just 9. After the Denny beating aired around the world, the family received death threats. As a precaution, she and her younger brother, James, temporarily moved in with their grandparents.
Tur had little interest in pursuing a career in journalism while attending the University of California at Santa Barbara; she thought about becoming a doctor or lawyer but ended up studying art and philosophy. She drifted into the news business after graduation, starting as an editorial assistant at a Los Angeles station, KTLA. Hoping to become a field producer, she tagged along on weekends with a reporter, Jaime Chambers.
She compiled enough production credits to get a job at News12, a cable station covering Brooklyn and Queens. Tur was a one-man band, reporting, shooting, writing and editing her stories. The work was grueling, paid poorly and was occasionally dangerous.
Youd be out at 10 oclock at night in the projects, alone, and the cops would come up to you and say, What are you doing here? she recalls. Id tell them, Well, my assignment editor told me I had to come for a shooting.
Later, she was hired by WNBC, the NBC-owned affiliate in New York, and from there vaulted to the mother ship, NBC News, in 2012. Tur was 29.
Tur mentions several mentors during her career sprint: Chambers, former NBC anchor Brian Williams and Rashida Jones, now MSNBCs managing editor. She doesnt talk about political commentator Keith Olbermann, with whom she had a three-year relationship during her mid-20s.
As for Trumps treatment of her, Tur has no complaints, and only a few guesses about why he was so belligerent toward her. She says it may have had something to do with her constant presence and insistent questioning during the campaign. In some ways, she suggests, it may have been sign of respect.
I think Trump is someone who appreciates and connects with people who hold their own and are strong individuals, she says. I think he can smell weakness and if you show him weakness, he exploits it and he doesnt respect you. If I had rolled over, I think he would have never mentioned my name again.
Charlotte Zarembas family sister Audrey, father Jim and mother Suzanne stand outside their Ellicott City, Md., home, where the 16-year-old was shot to death by a high school classmate on New Years Day. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)
The banging sounded as if furniture was being slammed in her daughters bedroom. Startled by the noise just before 2 a.m. on New Years Day, Suzanne Zaremba dashed down the hallway of her suburban Maryland home to 16-year-old Charlottes room.
She found her slender, brown-eyed daughter wrestling with a masked intruder. Charlotte, she recalled, was screaming, Call 911!
Suzanne, a 52-year-old registered nurse, shouted for her husband, Jim Zaremba. Then she vaulted onto the floor by the bedroom window, where Charlotte and the stranger were on their knees grappling with each other.
Recounting what happened that night for the first time publicly, Suzanne said she wrapped her arms around Charlotte, trying to yank her away from the intruder. All three of them tumbled into the middle of the room where Charlotte had slept all her life.
Then, without warning, the stranger pointed a gun at Suzannes chest, she said. She grabbed the barrel of the gun, which he held in his left hand, pushing it downward.
Charlotte, 16, cheers for the Baltimore Orioles with her aunt, Mary Helen Sprecher, left, mother and grandmother, Zelma Holzgang. (Family photo)
The weapon went off and the bullet tore into Suzannes left leg. She cant remember hearing a second shot fired, but she looked down and saw Charlotte had been wounded, too.
Charlotte was unconscious, and her eyes were wide open, and she was gasping for air, Suzanne said shortly after. She forgot about the gunman and began performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the younger of her two daughters, a high school sophomore who wanted to become a surgeon and who talked about joining the Peace Corps. Her husband, Jim, 51, also a registered nurse, had rushed into the room and began performing chest compressions.
The intruder, whose eyes were the only visible part of his face, scooted backward to the bedroom wall, decorated with a jungle mural Suzanne had painted when she was pregnant with Charlotte. The Zarembas ignored him in their desperation to save their daughter.
He could have shot both of us and left the room and ran away, said Suzanne, who insisted, I wasnt being brave. I was saving my baby.
[Girl, 16, fatally shot, mother wounded in attack in Ellicott City, Md.]
But the Ellicott City, Md., couple had done enough CPR in their lives to know there was little hope. Charlotte was dead or close to dying.
I tried to will the bullet so that it just went through the one lung, Jim said. Because you can survive that.
Charlotte Zaremba with her mother, Suzanne, in an undated family photo. Suzanne was shot trying to save her daughter from a masked intruder on New Years Day. (Family photo)
The intruder just sat and stared at the Zarembas. After a moment or two, he lifted the gun to his head. There was another shot, and he lay dying, too.
A homecoming invitation
It wasnt until Suzanne was released from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center on the afternoon of Jan. 1 that she learned the name of her daughters attacker: Sean Crizer.
He was 15 years old and a classmate of Charlottes at Howard High School, police told her.
They said, Do you know this name? And Jim and I looked at each other and said, No, Suzanne recalled. The Zarembas and their older daughter, Audrey, 20, had never heard Charlotte mention him.
On Friday, the Howard County Police Department announced that after reviewing cellphone records and computers, it had found no evidence that Crizer targeted Charlotte. The teens were described as acquaintances, but investigators do not believe they had a close friendship or relationship.
Police still do not know Crizers motive for entering Zarembas house in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, and may never be able to determine his intent, the statement said.
But in an interview with The Washington Post last week, one of Charlottes closest friends, Juliana Torres, said Crizer had asked Charlotte out for homecoming in the fall, and that she had turned him down.
He asked her to homecoming, Juliana remembered, and she said she just wanted to go with her friends. [He told] her that he had feelings for her. She didnt reciprocate, but he didnt react poorly. She said she wanted to go with friends. She was kind about it.
Juliana, 15, a sophomore at nearby Centennial High School, said Monday night that she had not yet been interviewed by police.
Sherry Llewellyn, a Howard County police spokeswoman, said detectives declined an interview with The Post because the investigation is still active.
Sean Crizer lived a half-mile away from Charlotte with his grandfather, Earl Crizer, a retired technician with the National Institutes of Health. In an interview, Crizer said he was shocked by the news and grieves for the Zarembas.
I feel a lot of pain because when I try to rest at night, I also think about the pain Seans younger brother has, in addition to my own personal pain, Crizer said.
Crizer said he didnt detect anything unusually aggressive in his grandson, who had been an altar boy at an Ellicott City Catholic church.
His grades were very good. Would he back talk . . . from time to time? Yes, Crizer said. Was it violent? It wasnt violent.
But police said the teen had burglarized a couple of homes in the neighborhood and had stolen the gun that he used in the shooting.
After Charlotte was killed, the Zarembas heard that Sean Crizer might have asked their daughter to homecoming. But they still cant fathom what he was doing in her bedroom that night.
He took his reasons with him and his feelings, Suzanne said. Two families lost a child that day.
Amazing people
Suzanne entered her daughters bedroom, still hobbled slightly by the bullet doctors decided not to remove from her left leg. The blood has been cleaned from the floor, and the room is filled with artifacts of Charlottes life: a Polaroid camera on a shelf, a stuffed hippo (her favorite animal) flopped on the bed and a fish tank, with the teens handwritten instructions for My Fishy whenever she was away.
Suzanne and Jim moved into this white brick ranch house, about an hour north of Washington, in 1999. Theyd been living in Southern California and chose Howard County for its affordability and good schools.
Somewhere family-oriented, Suzanne said.
Safe, Jim said.
Now, nearly everywhere the Zarembas look, there are memories of Charlotte: The chickens she wanted as pets Phyllis, Gladys and Bertha in the coop outside her bedroom. A framed living room poster from an Amos Lee concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl that the entire family attended. And the chalkboard-painted door of Charlottes bedroom, scrawled with her words about fate: If yee cud chenge yer fet wutcha?
Charlotte stayed in Girl Scouts even when her friends dropped out. Last summer, she traveled to Costa Rica on a service trip through Global Leadership Adventures, where she worked in a rural village. Ive loved every minute, even breaking concrete in the direct sun, because I was besides amazing people helping to make an amazing change in the community! she posted on Instagram. This photo was taken of us on the playground with the children of Escuela Libertad. She already had plans to make another trip with the company this summer, in Peru.
At Howard High, where she made the honor roll, her favorite classes were science and Spanish. She had set her sights on Towson University, her parents said.
When Charlotte wasnt in school, she threw on blue scrubs and volunteered at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, where she completed one shift in the pediatric emergency room and several others in the intermediate care unit. Although she talked about a career as a doctor, her father thought she might become an FBI agent, because she loved watching Homicide Hunter on the Investigation Discovery network.
She liked finding out how things happened, why they happened, Suzanne said.
She liked puzzles, Jim said.
Thats what drew her to medicine, Suzanne said. She wanted to fix things.
Its gonna be great
On the last night of Charlottes life, she spent New Years Eve at the home of a sick friend, giving her a foot massage. Marisa Poisal, 15, a Howard High sophomore, said Charlotte might have stayed overnight if she hadnt been sick.
She came here because she wanted to take care of me, Poisal said. She was going to stay here all night, but I was throwing up.
Instead, Suzanne picked Charlotte up and drove her home.
Now Poisal, who lunched most days with Charlotte in the atrium next to the school cafeteria, keeps a box of memories to remember her friend: the program from Charlottes funeral on Jan. 7, some concealer Charlotte had given her, and a roll of toilet paper that Charlotte fetched for her on New Years Eve when Poisal ran out of tissues. But Marisa also prizes Charlottes Instagram photos.
Charlotte had two accounts: charlOttez , a public account with 64 posts, and her private one, with 521.
Poisal laughed when she arrived at a photo Charlotte posted Dec. 14 of the two of them.
Picture with someone I love bc I just decided to start writing the book of which Ive been thinking about the plot for months yall its gonna be great, Charlotte wrote.
Poisal was privy to the plot of her friends novel-in-progress.
Her book was about some sort of society where you werent supposed to have feelings, but this one character had feelings and . . . it was weird, Poisal said, smiling. And you had to take something, like a drug, so you wouldnt have emotion.
A place of peace
The emotions hang over all the Zarembas.
Jim said he draws on Taoism for strength.
If I fill my heart with anger, guilt and despair, in the end it will only lead to my own demise, he said. If I fill my heart with love and appreciation of the time I had with her, then I can go on and be the person she wants me to be. I can go on and try to make the world a better place, as she was doing.
He and Suzanne still have work to do. Thank-you cards need to be written and mailed. A headstone needs the right words, and Jim is wondering whether the marker should be engraved with the lyrics of an Amos Lee song. And then there is Charlottes bedroom. Suzanne and Jim want to keep some of her clothes there shirts with hippos (which she fell in love with on a trip to Disney World at age 3), and a sundress with palm trees that she wore in Costa Rica.
Were leaning toward keeping it intact, Jim said. Like a sitting room.
Not like a shrine, Suzanne said. More of a place of peace. After all, your life shouldnt be defined by these horrible moments. Neither should your home.
Democrats say that Congressman Jason Chaffetz, pictured in his office on Oct. 06, 2015, is planning an unprecedented, hands-on review of D.C. government. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)
The House committee that oversees the District plans to exercise its authority over the nations capital more aggressively than at any time in decades, reviewing local laws and spending decisions to ensure they are in line with Congressional mandates and federal law.
The plan to conduct sweeping reviews of actions by D.C. lawmakers is part of a two-year agenda published by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The committee is expected to adopt it Tuesday.
It comes as the committees chairman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), has vowed to stop the District from legalizing physician-assisted suicide. Chaffetz last week also wrote to D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), warning that her plan to use tax dollars to defend illegal immigrants from deportation could violate federal law.
Eleanor Holmes Norton, who has been the Districts nonvoting delegate to Congress since 1991, said the proposal would have federal lawmakers on Capitol Hill taking their most active role in D.C. governance in decades.
It speaks to almost cosmic oversight of a local jurisdiction, Norton said.
Republicans should move in the opposite direction, she said. I urge the majority to follow its principles on local control and to respect the democratic rights of D.C. residents.
Congress last exerted direct control over District operations in the late 1990s, when it created a federal control board to rescue the city from fiscal crisis.
A closer review of D.C. laws could quickly highlight District policies that have for decades quietly existed in conflict with federal laws.
Among them are District guidelines on welfare payments. The federal district never fully implemented welfare reforms begun under President Bill Clinton two decades ago. As a result, the District spends about $40 million annually in payments to welfare recipients beyond the five-year limit that exists in states.
[With Obama leaving, House GOP aims to gut D.C. laws ]
Chaffetzs committee could also target the assisted suicide law. The legislation, passed by the D.C. Council and signed into law by Bowser late last year, includes hundreds of thousands of dollars that D.C. plans to spend to teach health-care professionals how to approach assisted suicide.
[Chaffetz opinion piece: D.C. is disregarding the sanctity of life]
I dont think theres any federal law that allows doctors to engage in assisted suicide, said Hans von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, who was among several conservatives who heralded the committees plan Monday.
Its very clear that the Constitution gives Congress full authority over the District. It has given D.C. some amount of home rule, but that doesnt mean they cant overrule bad decisions by the D.C. government . . . or get rid of home rule, he said. Im not saying they should do that, but if they think a particular law is bad public policy, they have the authority and responsibility to overturn it.
Chaffetz did not respond to a request for comment.
The committees draft plan states that it will work to strengthen Congresss oversight of the District and exercise of its plenary legislative authority granted by the Constitution. Such wide-ranging language was absent from its agenda from the last Congress, which only mentioned oversight of D.C.s use of federal education funds and the working of the Metro transportation system.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said the plan suggested a startling return to federal interference in District affairs.
It feels like a step back in time, he said, noting that Congress pulled away from local interference in 1973 when it allowed residents to elect a mayor and legislative council. For the first time since probably home rule . . . a committee of Congress is saying, Were going to review the Districts expenditures on local programs, implying a level of detail and scrutiny as if theyre going to be involved in day-to-day operations.
Bowsers chief of staff, John Falcicchio, said in an email that the mayor was hopeful that Norton would defend the District.
As Mayor Bowser said recently, the best thing those folks can do is leave us alone, he wrote.
Norton said she would try to persuade Republicans to alter their direction.
That appeared unlikely. Since the new Congress convened this month, Republicans have pushed to gut several of the Districts progressive policies, including its gun-control laws and its use of local tax dollars to provide abortions for poor women.
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (Md.), the ranking Democrat on Chaffetzs committee, said none of his colleagues would stand for the federal government dictating local issues and D.C. should be treated no differently.
Council member David Grosso (I-At Large) said Republicans see D.C. as an experimental lab.
[D.C. is about to declare its independence from Congress]
Its just easier for them to try out their really bad ideas on us, because they dont have any electoral accountability, Grosso said. If they tried this stuff out on the people of Utah they could get voted out of office.
The school district in Cleveland, Miss., has reached a settlement with the federal government after appealing a judges order to desegregate its high schools and middle schools, ending a five-decade legal battle over integrating black and white students. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)
A Mississippi school district has dropped its challenge to the court-ordered desegregation of its middle and high schools, ending a 50-year legal battle over the segregation of black and white students.
The Cleveland School Districts board announced Monday that it had reached a settlement with the Justice Department and private plaintiffs in the long-running case.
Jamie Jacks, a lawyer for the school board, said board members voted unanimously to drop their challenge to offer the community clarity about the future. They felt moving forward with a solid plan would serve the District, its students, faculty, parents and the community best in the long run, Jacks said.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Zakiya Summers-Harlee, director of communications and advocacy for the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, welcomed the move. Its taken way too long but were looking forward to the full desegregation of these schools, which will take away the idea that if youre from one side of the tracks, youre less than those from the other, she said.
Cleveland is a town of 12,000 people and home to two high schools: one on the historically white side of town, whose students are evenly split between black and white students; and the other a mile away on the historically black side of town, with a student population that is almost exclusively black. There are two middle schools with similar racial breakdowns.
[Dont force us to give up our school: A Mississippi town is being forced to integrate ]
In May, a federal judge found that Cleveland was operating an illegal dual system for its black and white children, failing after decades to reach the greatest degree of desegregation possible.
The decision drew national attention and was followed days later by a federal government report on the rise of segregation in U.S. public schools.
The judge ordered the school district to consolidate its two high schools into one that would be approximately two-thirds black and one-third white. The two middle schools would also be consolidated into one. Both of the new schools were to open in fall 2017.
The order drew cheers from some in Cleveland, who said children would have access to more opportunities in one larger school. But for others, including black and white alumni of both high schools, consolidation was synonymous with loss loss of tradition and identity associated with their alma maters.
The school district argued that its open-enrollment policy which allowed families to choose where to send their children had more successfully integrated schools than the involuntary measures common across the South over the past half-century. The school board vowed to fight the ruling and appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
[Mississippi school board to appeal court-ordered desegregation plan]
But on Monday, the board announced that it had reversed course and would consolidate its schools. The Class of 2017 will be the last to graduate from East Side and Cleveland high schools, and this will be the last year that the Trojans face off against the Wildcats at town sporting events. Starting next school year, every high school student in town will enroll at Cleveland Central High, where they will have a new mascot: a wolf.
A Senate panel voted along party lines Tuesday to advance President Trumps pick for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, sending her nomination to the full Senate for final approval amid the first signs of fissures within the GOP majority over her fitness for the job.
Two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), made clear that they have not decided how they will vote on the floor, suggesting that DeVoss confirmation is not assured. Democrats are seeking to block DeVoss confirmation, but they must vote as a bloc on the floor and persuade at least three Republicans to break with the new president.
Collins and Murkowski both said they believe that DeVos a billionaire who has spent decades advocating for charter schools and taxpayer-funded vouchers has the best interest of children at heart. But the two senators also said they are not yet persuaded that she is prepared to lead the Education Department, given her lack of experience in public education.
She may be unaware of whats broken in our public schools and how to fix it, said Murkowski, who said that her state includes many isolated rural communities where vouchers and charter schools are not reasonable solutions to what ails education.
DeVos is a major donor to Republican causes who has become one of Trumps most controversial Cabinet picks, drawing unprecedented opposition for a prospective education secretary. Debate over her nomination has been marked by a sharp partisanship unusual for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which has often managed to find bipartisan compromise on key issues, including sweeping education legislation in 2015. On Tuesday, the Republican-led committee voted 12 to 11 to advance DeVoss nomination.
President Trump's nominee for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, appears before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)
[Progressives launch last-minute push against DeVos; conservatives counter with online ad campaign]
This is a committee of considerable differences of opinion. But its also a committee that has on big occasions been able to resolve those differences of opinion, usually in a cordial way. Im sorry to say that we are not able to do that this time, said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the chairman.
Republicans defended DeVos as a bold reformer who is willing to shrink the federal imprint on education and upend the status quo in the interest of expanding opportunities for disadvantaged children.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said DeVoss impatience with failing public schools should be welcomed. For our children in underperforming schools, this is a sentence for the rest of their lives, he said. That is the real travesty.
Democrats argued DeVos is wholly unqualified for the job. They accused her of favoring policies that undermine the public schools that serve most U.S. children, and said that she has not adequately answered questions about potential conflicts of interest related to her investments.
The overwhelming majority of kids who go to public schools, they deserve a champion of public schools, said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).
[DeVos lauded as bold reformer, called unfit for the job]
Alexander forced Tuesdays vote over objections from Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the committees ranking Democrat, who sought a delay to ask more questions of DeVos. Alexander argued that DeVos who fielded more than 1,000 written questions from Democrats is already the most questioned education secretary in the history of the Senate. Alexander himself held the post under President George H.W. Bush.
Murray countered that DeVos had failed to answer critical questions about her finances, and that many of DeVoss responses appeared to be cut and pasted from previous statements, an apparent reference to sentences and phrases that DeVos appeared to use unattributed from other sources including a top Obama administration civil rights official. She called Alexanders decision to go ahead with the vote a massive break with bipartisanship.
It will dramatically impact our ability to work together in good faith going forward, she said. The usual practices are being ignored here. . . . This nominee is being jammed through with corners being cut and with the minority being brushed aside, and I think thats wrong.
Democrats complaints about the confirmation process sharpened after Republicans voted to approve DeVos.
Murray challenged the result, arguing that since one of the Republicans Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (Utah) voted by proxy, his vote didnt count under committee rules, and the outcome was really an 11-t0-11 tie.
Republicans disputed that point but revoted with Hatch present over the objections of Democrats, who said that another vote could not happen without official notice. Again, the vote was 12 to 11.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) called it a steamroll job. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) accused Republicans of overriding committee rules to protect Trumps nominee.
Democrats repeatedly raised concerns about DeVoss performance at a confirmation hearing Jan. 17. She stumbled over basic policy questions, at one point saying that states should be allowed to decide whether to follow a 1975 law that protects students with disabilities.
This woman has less knowledge about education than almost anyone who has any interest in education, Franken said.
During her confirmation hearing, DeVos left open the possibility that she might seek to cut education funding or support privatizing public schools. She passed up a chance to reassure senators who are concerned that she intends to scale back the Education Departments efforts to enforce civil rights laws in schools. And she rejected a ban on guns in schools, saying that some schools might need firearms to defend against potential grizzlies a line that became fodder for late-night comics.
[Teachers, parents, kids protest DeVos ahead of vote]
Her hearing performance unleashed a broad new wave of opposition, carried along in part by the Womens March on Washington and other anti-Trump efforts. In recent weeks, Senate offices have been swamped with phone calls and emails opposing DeVoss confirmation.
Murkowski said that such calls and visits from Alaskans have contributed to her unease about DeVos.
THE DISTRICT
Md. man is fatally
shot in Northeast
A 34-year-old man was fatally shot Sunday evening in Northeast Washington.
The incident happened about 7:30 p.m. in the 200 block of 51st Street NE.
When officers arrived, they found the man suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim was later identified as Wilson Agbebaku of Oxon Hill, Md.
Dana Hedgpeth
Pedestrian is killed
by car in Dupont Circle
A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle Sunday night in Northwest Washington.
The persons identity was not immediately released pending notification of family. D.C. police said the incident happened just after 11 p.m. on the north side of Connecticut Avenue and N Street NW.
The man, police said, was walking west along Connecticut Avenue in a crosswalk when he was struck by a red Dodge Avenger. The vehicle had a green light, according to police.
The driver was unable to stop in time, and struck the pedestrian, police said in a statement. The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Dana Hegdpeth
Ex-Gallaudet worker
pleads guilty
A former employee of Gallaudet Universitys food service department pleaded guilty Monday to holding two workers at gunpoint during a burglary at the department last year, prosecutors said.
On Oct. 22, Donald Williams, 26, of the District, wearing a mask and wielding a gun, forced his way into the departments kitchen in the 800 block of Florida Avenue NE, from which he had been fired a few weeks before, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia said in a statement.
Williams forced a deaf worker into an office that contained a safe and hit her on the head with a gun when she refused to open the safe, prosecutors said. Williams then forced another deaf employee to open it, which she did, according to the statement.
Williams was arrested in December. Although their assailant had a mask covering his face, the victims stated that his build, skin complexion, leanness, mannerisms and gait were consistent with the defendants, prosecutors said.
Police linked Williams to DNA found on the mask at the scene, and video was found on his cellphone that showed him dumping a large amount of cash into a bathroom sink after the crime, prosecutors said.
Williams, who pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary while armed, is due to be sentenced March 23.
--Justin Wm. Moyer
MARYLAND
Pedestrian, 82, dies
of injuries in crash
An 82-year-old woman struck by a car in Wheaton this month died Sunday, police said Monday.
On Jan. 15 at about 11:50 a.m., officers went to the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Reedie Drive for a report of a collision involving a pedestrian, Montgomery County Police said.
An investigation showed that Kevin Arias, 21, of Wheaton was traveling north in a Chevrolet Impala on Georgia Avenue when he struck Consuelo Mary Anglarill, 82, who was walking west across Georgia at Reedie Drive, the statement said. Anglarill, of Silver Spring, was hospitalized and died, police said.
Police are investigating to determine whether Anglarill was in a crosswalk and what the traffic signal indicated at the time of the incident.
--Justin Wm. Moyer
THE REGION
Gun is accidentally
discharged at airport
An airport police officer at Reagan National Airport accidentally discharged a firearm Monday, authorities said.
At about 3:30 p.m., Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police responded to the exit lane of a security checkpoint for Terminals B and C after the officer accidentally discharged the weapon, an airport spokesman said in a statement.
One round from the weapon hit a nearby piece of law enforcement equipment, the statement said. Airport police determined that there was no threat and secured the scene.
There were no injuries, according to the statement, and screening was halted for about five minutes at the security checkpoint.
Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III wants to take control of the countys troubled Board of Liquor Commissioners, assuming responsibility for the appointment of the five-member panel, its chair and the boards administrator, effectively removing the governor and local senators from the process.
Baker (D) offered an outline late Monday of legislation that will be submitted this week by the countys House delegation.
The action comes just weeks after two Prince Georges liquor board officials were charged in a long-running federal corruption investigation, resulting in calls for an overhaul of the system.
The legislation would compete with a measure proposed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and another that was introduced Monday night by the Prince Georges delegation.
Everyone has been working on how best to move forward, Baker said Monday. This is the legislative process. . . . There will be changes to the legislation, and in the end there will be one bill that will come out.
Under Bakers proposal, the county executives appointments would be subject to confirmation by the Prince Georges County Council. The board members would be required to have public safety, legal or regulatory experience.
Liquor inspectors, now chosen by the board, would become county employees hired by the liquor board administrator and be subject to the countys ethics laws.
What Im proposing is that there is accountability at the local level, Baker said. Its really putting this board in line with the rest of our boards, the Revenue Authority and the Redevelopment Authority.
In many Maryland jurisdictions, liquor board appointees are recommended to the governor by the local Democratic or Republican Party committee depending on which party holds a majority of state legislative seats in that county in conjunction with local state senators. The governor makes the appointments.
The Senate bill, which also applies only to Prince Georges, would remove the governor from the appointment process and require the county executive, after conducting a public hearing, to appoint the members of the countys Board of License Commissioners. Appointees would require confirmation by the state Senate, and at least one of the five members would have to have public safety, regulatory or business experience.
Commissioners, inspectors and employees of the board would be subject to the countys ethics laws. The legislation would also effectively remove the boards current members.
Hogan, who has called the selection of liquor board commissioners one of the last vestiges of the patronage system, made his own proposal for changing the process earlier this month as part of his ethics reform package.
The governor proposed removing the party committees from the process in any jurisdictions where he is tasked with making the appointments, and requiring liquor-board nominees to undergo criminal background checks. He also said that liquor-board commissioners would have to adhere to state ethics rules.
The federal probe includes bribery charges against Anuj Sud, a former Prince Georges liquor board commissioner, and David Son, the liquor boards executive director.
Sud is accused of taking money from a lawyer representing restaurants and liquor stores with business before the Board of Commissioners.
In court filings, law enforcement authorities have indicated that they expect to charge more people in the case.
A group of Democratic lawmakers in Maryland want the state to join a growing number of others that have legalized marijuana for recreational use, taxing and regulating sales of the drug similar to the way the state deals with alcohol.
Legislators said Monday that adults ages 21 and older in Maryland would be able to possess and grow limited amounts of marijuana if the two bills sponsored by Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery), Del. Curtis S. Anderson (D-Baltimore) and Del. Mary L. Washington (D-Baltimore) are approved.
This legislation will effectively end the failed policy of cannabis prohibition in Maryland and replace it with a much more sensible system, Madaleno said of the legalization and regulation bills he will introduce this week. It establishes a thoughtful regulatory scheme and tax structure based on best practices and lessons learned from other states.
Under the regulation bill, the state would license and regulate marijuana retail stores, manufacturers and testing and cultivation facilities. The tax bill would enact an excise tax of $30 per ounce, paid by cultivators, and a 9 percent sales tax on retail marijuana sales.
The resulting revenue would be specifically designated for a community schools program, substance-abuse treatment and prevention, workforce development programs and public education to deter driving while impaired.
The proposal is modeled after a similar system in Colorado, where voters approved the legal sale of marijuana in 2012. Voters have also approved legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Alaska, Oregon, Maine, Washington, California, Massachusetts and Nevada.
You can smell the inevitability of this in the air, said Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery), who is proposing a separate bill that would allow voters to decide in 2018 whether to amend the state constitution to legalize the recreational use of the drug.
Moons bill was described as a Plan B by some of his colleagues, who are hoping that lawmakers will approve the legalization on their own something no other state legislature has done.
A constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature, and having legalization on the ballot could boost turnout for the 2018 elections, when the governors office and every seat in the General Assembly will be on the ballot.
At the same time, letting voters decide may be more palatable to some lawmakers, especially those who opposed previous marijuana-legalization bills.
Moon noted that public support for legal, recreational marijuana has increased in recent years, a change that he compared to what happened in the years before Maryland approved same-sex marriage in 2012.
I think the shift were seeing is probably as fast as we saw with marriage equality, Moon said.
Last fall, 61 percent of Marylanders said they supported the recreational use of marijuana, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll, up from 49 percent of residents in 2014.
Anderson, who is the House sponsor of Madalenos bill, said Maryland has been making gradual steps toward legalizing marijuana.
The state approved the drug for medical use in 2013, and decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2014. That same year, however, lawmakers killed a measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana. Other efforts have failed to move out of committee.
Anderson said the timing is right for Maryland to pass legislation because it can glean from the experience of other states, including Colorado and Washington, that have legal marijuana markets.
But other lawmakers including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) say Maryland needs to deal with the problems surrounding its medical marijuana program before taking on recreational legalization.
The state took until 2016 to issue preliminary licenses for medical cannabis growers, processors and dispensaries, and the drug will not be available to patients until late 2017 at the earliest, amid lawsuits and complaints over how the licenses were awarded.
Miller supported legalizing marijuana in 2014. He did not return requests for comment on Monday.
House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel), who supported the 2014 effort to decriminalize marijuana, has been skeptical of full legalization until the kinks were worked out in Colorado and Washington, said his chief of staff, Alexandra Hughes.
She said Busch has not seen Moons bill calling for a constitutional amendment.
Del. Cheryl D. Glenn (D-Baltimore), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, said the group is focused on overhauling the medical marijuana program before throwing its weight behind recreational legalization.
The caucus has proposed legislation to address a lack of racial diversity among the growers approved by the state.
We need to get the medical marijuana program up and running before we move to full-blown legalization, said Glenn.
Medical marijuana purveyors have split on recreational legalization. Some see adult sales as a natural way to grow their business, while others worry it would undercut the medical market.
A spokesman for the Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Association, a collection of authorized medical cannabis growers and processors, said the group is laser-focused on the important task of providing Maryland patients access to medical cannabis theyve waited long enough. Any discussion of adult use is simply a distraction.
Aicha Hijazi, left, and Abdullah Hijazi, right, are longtime holders of U.S. green cards who may be unable to return to the United States while President Trump's travel ban on Syrian nationals and others remains in place. They are pictured with their son Haitham Hijazi, of Bowie, Md. (Photo courtesy of Hijazi family)
Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, Haitham Hijazi heard Donald Trumps promises to slow or halt immigration. But he didnt think it would come to this.
I thought that because there is a Constitution, because there is due process, this would not happen, said Hijazi, who was born in Syria, came to the United States as a young adult and is now director of permitting, inspections and enforcement for the Prince Georges County government.
Hijazis elderly parents, green-card holders for 20 years, are caught up in the chaos touched off by Trumps executive order temporarily banning citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries, and refugees worldwide, from entering the country.
Hijazis 85-year-old father, Abdullah, and 76-year-old mother, Aicha, spend winters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with his brother, but the rest of the year at Hijazis home in Bowie.
Their 90-day Saudi visitor visas expire in early March, and because of Trumps order Hijazi is uncertain when they will be able to return.
Haitham Hijazi (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)
Because of their age, he and his brother have decided for the moment not to tell them about the ban, hoping it can be resolved before they are due to leave.
Its very hectic, very confusing, said Hijazi, 58, a structural engineer who has worked for the county for 24 years. I dont want to bring them back into this kind of situation. Were hoping that the executive order will be clarified.
Hijazi is proud of his American story, which began when his parents brought him and his two brothers to the United States from Syria in 1982.
His father, with a third-grade education, worked in construction. But he saw to it that Hijazi received a masters degree from George Washington University and a PhD in engineering from the University of Maryland.
There was no room in our house for laziness, Hijazi said.
He described his parents as caring and compassionate people, who have kept their former home in Al-Tall, a suburb of Damascus, as a safe haven for families fleeing the violence of the brutal civil war that has shattered the country. His mother, in particular, has a big heart and cares about everybody.
She wants to make sure that everybody is fed and taken care of, he said.
Hijazi spent a decade as head of the Prince Georges Public Works and Transportation Department before his 2013 appointment to permitting and inspections by County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D).
He is just one of two department heads Baker held over from the administration of his predecessor, Jack Johnson (D), who after leaving office was imprisoned on bribery and corruption charges.
Hijazis six children, four sons and two daughters, are all professionals, including one who is an attorney and another who followed him into engineering.
There are also 15 grandchildren, part of a large extended family that has settled in Prince Georges.
Ultimately, weve become 100 Hijazis, he said. All citizens here.
Prince Georges County detectives are investigating a homicide Monday afternoon at a Forestville area gas station.
Authorities are on the scene at a BP station in the 3200 Walters Lane, said Officer Tyler Hunter, a police spokesman.
Officers responded to the location at around 4:45 p.m. and found a male suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, the Prince Georges County Police Department said in a tweet.
In making Dana Boente acting attorney general, President Trump has elevated a longtime federal prosecutor best known for his handling of public corruption cases.
Boente, a 33-year veteran of the Justice Department, oversaw the prosecution of former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell (R), whose conviction was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court. Previously, Boente oversaw the governments cases against former congressman William J. Jefferson (D-La.) and former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin (D).
Lawyers who have known Boente, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said he has a reputation for being tough but evenhanded. Although he has not been vocal about his political views, they said, he would not have agreed to be thrust into the role of defending Trumps controversial executive order banning some migrants unless he believed it is legally sound.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia said Tuesday that Boente will remain in his position there as he serves as acting attorney general.
[Trump fires acting attorney general Sally Yates ]
(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)
Dana was very circumspect about his politics, said former assistant U.S. attorney Gene Rossi, now a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in Virginia. I never saw Dana, in the 22 years I worked with him, make what I considered to a political decision. . . . He will try his best to enforce what he thinks is the law.
But Rossi added, If he thought that the executive order was illegal, I doubt very seriously he would have taken the position of acting attorney general.
Longtime defense attorney John Zwerling shared that sentiment.
I dont think he would do it if he felt that it was morally wrong to do it, Zwerling said. I believe he looked inside himself and decided he could morally and legally defend the position. I dont know how he votes, but hes no liberal. The Eastern District of Virginia is a very tough jurisdiction, and he ran it as a very tough jurisdiction.
Mike Dry, who worked as a prosecutor under Boente until he left recently for the firm Vinson & Elkins, said whatever Boentes views on the memo were, they were likely not informed by politics. Dry, who led the McDonnell prosecution and was involved when the office was tasked with investigating former secretary of state Hillary Clintons use of a private email server, said, the only guidance that I ever got from Dana on any case was, Were gonna follow the facts, were gonna follow the law, and were gonna do the right thing.
He has a strongly held belief that [the Department of Justice] should not be politicized, and that senior leadership at [the Department of Justice], one of their primary roles is to ensure its not politicized, Dry said. Danas the least political guy I know. I think Danas view is hes going to follow the law.
The Trump administration said Boente, who replaced fired acting attorney general Sally Q. Yates, was sworn in about 9 p.m. Monday.
In an interview, Boente noted that his office had already begun supporting the presidents order against a challenge brought in a Virginia federal court.
I was enforcing it this afternoon, Boente said. Our career department employees were defending the action in court, and I expect thats what theyll do tomorrow, appropriately and properly.
Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg of the Legal Aid Justice Center, who filed a complaint on behalf of two Yemeni men sent away from Dulles International Airport under the executive order, said he had spoken with Boente about the case by phone Sunday and Monday.
Its unclear why Trump chose Boente, a longtime Justice Department lawyer who seemed to hold no greater ambition than keeping his job as U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. President Obama had spelled out a succession order in January that listed the three other U.S. attorneys as being in line to succeed the attorney general should something happen, though Trump, of course, had the option to pick his own person.
Two in that line U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon in Chicago and U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips in D.C. were not asked, according to people familiar with the process. (Phillips, though, lacks Senate confirmation, which might have precluded him from serving).
The U.S. attorneys job in the Eastern District of Virginia is an important and high-profile one. The Eastern District is home to the CIA and the Pentagon, and its prosecutors often handle terrorism cases. The office has about 300 lawyers and other employees working in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News.
Boente was sworn in to head the office in February 2016, but he had served in that post on an interim basis since replacing Neil MacBride in late 2013. He also served as acting U.S. attorney there in 2008 and 2009.
When Boente was sworn in, then-Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch called him one of the departments consummate utility players and said he was one you could always count on to be there for you.
Under Boentes leadership, prosecutors won corruption convictions against McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, although those outcomes were overturned by the Supreme Court. Boentes office pushed to retry the McDonnells, but those moves were overruled by higher-ups at the Justice Department.
In their investigation of Clintons use of a private email server; prosecutors in Boentes office found little evidence that she intended to break classification rules.
Prosecutors working for Boente also won convictions of CIA leaker Jeffrey Sterling under the Espionage Act and television news analyst Wayne Simmons for pretending to be a CIA agent. Boente has overseen 10 prosecutions of Americans accused of supporting the Islamic State, eight of which have yielded convictions. The other two are set for trial this year.
In the past several years, Boentes office also has aggressively targeted opioid dealers implicated in fatal overdoses, taking on what Boente has described as a worsening epidemic in Virginia.
Im very concerned that we havent seen the worst of this, Boente said at a forum late last year in Loudoun County. If you dont know someone whos had a problem with addiction, you will.
Boente was nominated to lead the U.S. attorneys office in Virginia by President Barack Obama on Oct. 8, 2015, and confirmed by the Senate two months later.
Before he became a U.S. attorney, Boente worked in the tax division and as an interim attorney in both the Eastern District of Virginia and the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Boente, who is from Carlinville, Ill., lives in Northern Virginia. He said he expects to serve as acting attorney general until Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) is confirmed.
Still missing: a 25-pound bobcat named Ollie from Washingtons National Zoo.
And early Tuesday morning, zookeepers, police officers for the zoo and rescue experts continued to search for the female cat around the facilitys property in Northwest Washington.
Overnight, officials at the zoo said they received several calls from the public with consistent information that the animal may be in nearby Woodley Park or Cleveland Park.
Officials warned that Ollie, while cute in pictures and inside her enclosure at the zoo, is not a house cat.
Dont call, Here, kitty, kitty. In fact, they warn, no one should approach the bobcat if they see her. Instead, take note of the time and her exact location. Anyone with information should call the zoo at 202-633-7362, officials said.
Ollie the bobcat escaped her enclosure at the National Zoo on Jan. 30. (Barbara Statas, Smithsonians National Zoo)
On Tuesday morning, zoo officials said a crew was using heavy nets and protective gloves in the search, along with food to try to entice the big cat. Zoo officials said there is no imminent danger to the public because bobcats are not known to be aggressive to humans.
[D.C. kept schoolkids inside. But Ollies most likely shy, experts say.]
But Ollie can be a threat to small dogs and cats. D.C. schools spokeswoman Michelle Lerner said in an email that 13 nearby schools were on alert status, which includes moving recess indoors.
James Albright, the principal of Alice Deal Middle School, one of those affected, said in a message to school families: While I dont encourage vigilantism, please keep an eye out for Ollie.
On Tuesday, the D.C. Humane Rescue Alliance said that at least four experts who are trained in finding and tracking animals humanely are helping to search for Ollie. One of the Human Rescue Alliances experts was heavily involved in finding Rusty, a red panda that escaped from the zoo in 2013.
Matt Williams, a spokesman with the Humane Rescue Alliance, said his group is focusing on the area outside the zoo in Rock Creek Park.
They will do what they can to make sure the bobcat is returned safely, he said.
Using a tranquilizer is the best option to bring the animal back to the zoo, Williams said. If the search team sees her, they would shoot her with a tranquilizer.
That is the safest thing for the cat, Williams said, because that way it doesnt have to be handled.
[Ollie the Bobcat escapes from the National Zoo]
Williams said using a tranquilizer would be better than a trap because they would get a lot of other stuff such as possums and foxes before we get this cat.
The best thing is to dart the cat and then bring it in that way, he said.
If they get close enough, experts also could use a large butterfly net to capture Ollie, or a trap in which she would be lured and then a door would close behind her, officials said.
We want to find Ollie and bring her back, zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson said Tuesday. Its very helpful when the public call and give us credible sightings Were doing everything we can to bring her back.
Ollie was last seen in her enclosure at 7:30 a.m. Monday. When keepers returned to give her breakfast at 10:40 a.m., she was gone. A search was done but she wasnt found, and the zoo declared a code green for an escaped animal.
It is believed that Ollie climbed out of her enclosure, which sits near Rock Creek Park, through a small opening in a mesh net around her area. In an inspection on Monday, zookeepers noticed that one piece of the mesh was broken and that there was a hole that measured about 5-by-5 inches.
Being an adept climber, Ollie would have been capable of climbing and crawling through the hole, zookeepers said. She may have fled into Rock Creek Park, where it could be difficult to find her, officials said.
[Missing red panda found in Adams Morgan]
The zoo has three bobcats two males and Ollie. Born in the wild and then orphaned, Ollie came to the zoo in 2013 from a facility in Texas. She is about 7 years old.
Keepers said that Ollie may come back to her familiar grounds for food and shelter. Food is waiting for her in her enclosure, which is surrounded by traps. And cameras are set up that may spot her.
Ollie is not the first animal to escape from the zoo.
In 2013, a female nonflying vulture named Natalie used a wind gust to soar out of her enclosure. She was caught moments later in a nearby parking lot.
And Rusty, the red panda, became one of the most well-known animal escapees. He used overhanging tree branches to flee from his enclosure.
Eventually, he was captured in Adams Morgan when a passerby saw him and called police. He was spotted in a tree and was nudged from his perch using a long pole. He fell into a safety net.
Catching a bobcat is no easy task, experts said.
For one, they are nocturnal, so being able to see them is hard. They are brownish gray and have big whiskers. They eat mice, small deer, goats, chickens, rabbits and squirrels. Bobcats can run fast and climb well. And they hunt with a lot of patience, zookeepers said.
Metro has identified two sources of money that could be used to prevent some of the proposed fare increases and service cuts being considered to close a $290 million shortfall.
It will be up to the agencys governing board to decide whether, or how, to use those funds.
One option under consideration involves a maneuver the board used last year and a practice members pledged to curb: using federal grant money earmarked for capital investments to pay for preventive maintenance.
Using the grant money would lessen the amount available for longer-term investments. And federal lawmakers have warned the agency against the practice.
The second source involves $23 million for rail car spare parts costs that could be pushed to the capital budget, another short-term fix that would still need to be paid for in the long run.
[Congress warns Metro: Dont use federal money for short-term budget fix]
Board members said theyve recently received approval from the Federal Transit Administration, clarifying that preventive maintenance falls within the bounds of how Metro is allowed to use grant money and that its a common practice among federal transit agencies.
[Budget proposal paints grim portrait of Metros future]
The budget for the current fiscal year includes $95 million in grant money for operating expenses; General Manager Paul J. Wiedefelds proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, cuts the amount to $60 million.
Some board members say that if the amount is increased to $80 million or $90 million, it would free up enough money to allow them to pare some of the fare increases and service cuts Wiedefeld has proposed.
Board member Malcolm Augustine isnt entirely comfortable with the practice but said, Were in extraordinary times, you know? Maybe this will give Metro a chance to turn the corner and have that growth weve been looking for.
Wiedefelds $1.8 billion operating budget includes a host of fare increases and cuts to bus and rail service to help close the looming shortfall. Under his proposal, bus fares would increase 25 cents, to $2 per ride. For rail passengers, the minimum and maximum fares would increase to $2.25 and $6, respectively up from $2.15 and $5.90. The cost of daily parking also would increase by 10 cents.
Riders would face longer wait times between trains, and a slew of low-ridership bus routes would be eliminated.
The boards finance committee is expected to decide in March how best to close the $290 million budget shortfall.
One bright spot: the District, Maryland and Virginia all have agreed to give Metro the extra money Wiedefeld asked for in their subsidies to the agency.
Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans said preventing fare increases should be the boards top priority. Thats also the view of Michael Goldman, chairman of the boards finance committee. The problem with restoring service cuts, he said, is that it also affects Wiedefelds proposal to lay off 500 workers.
But Augustine argues that its not that clear-cut. Increasing fares will undoubtedly result in a drop-off in ridership which potentially could also lead to the need to reduce staffing.
What I have heard over and over and over again from people is that they have sacrificed a lot, Augustine said. Were going to have to take a look at what we can do to bring this budget into balance. But riders feel like theyve already sacrificed quite a bit on the service side and on the price side.
Still, all the talk of preferences is preliminary. Board members say they want more feedback from customers, including the results of a survey that riders have until Monday to complete.
[Metro gets some financial breathing room but only for the short-term]
Theres also a possibility Metro might need the money to deal with more immediate problems like this years budget.
Goldman said the board is still waiting for updated ridership and revenue numbers for the current fiscal year. He and others are anxious to see whether Metros financial projections for the year are on target and whether the cost of disruptions related to the agencys SafeTrack rebuilding program will be more than projected.
In addition, Wiedefeld acknowledged last week that the agency might have lost money during the weekend of the presidential inauguration despite the fact that the Womens March on Washington was the agencys second-highest day of ridership in history. While the agency was lauded for its performance that weekend, all the extra staff, police presence and train service cost money.
There are definitely funding implications to that, theres no doubt about it, Wiedefeld said.
[Even with 1 million rides, Metro may have lost money from Inauguration Day and Womens March]
If revenue this year falls short of costs, Goldman said, the agency might be forced to use any money it had hoped to tap to cover next years gap, to plug this years budget hole.
We dont know to what extent SafeTrack work has resulted in a loss of revenue thats greater than anticipated for this fiscal year, and we dont know if theres a big hole that has to be backfilled by the jurisdictions, Goldman said.
Its kind of a lot of moving pieces, he said.
Dan Ellis, left, and Brock Yetso, right, walk in front of rowhouses on East Madison Street in Baltimore that their organization, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, is converting to temporary homes for young adults who are being treated for cancer. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
After Dan Ellis underwent a bone-marrow transplant for leukemia at the University of Maryland Medical Center in 2013, doctors recommended that he stay near the hospital during recovery because he would have frequent follow-up visits and was at high risk for complications.
Ellis had stopped working as a bouncer in Ocean City when he became ill, and he couldnt afford to stay in Baltimore near the hospital, he said. Instead, he lived with his parents in Frederick County and made the nearly hour-long drive to the city several times a week.
Elliss mother had to rush the now 31-year-old to the emergency room in Baltimore on three separate occasions; once when he was throwing up blood, and twice when he came down with pneumonia and began shaking violently. He collapsed at the hospital two of those times because he couldnt breathe and was placed in intensive care.
It is a reality that if you have had a transplant you are more than likely going to have some time when you have an issue and are going to need to get to the hospital quickly, Ellis said. But I didnt have the money to live any closer.
Young cancer patients who face the same dilemma soon will have a place to stay in Baltimore. The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, which provides support services to young people with cancer and their families, is building a house in Baltimore where patients 15 to 39 can stay while receiving lifesaving cancer treatments.
Housing is critical, said Brock Yetso, executive director of the Baltimore-based advocacy group. Just a 30-minute drive when you have to be in the hospital every single day can be very challenging. A patient who doesnt have close housing might bypass treatment. They might go somewhere closer to home where the treatment is not the same.
Founded in 1997 by three-time cancer survivor Doug Ulman, brother of former Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, the nonprofit group broke ground Friday on the conversion of six abandoned row homes on Madison Street near Johns Hopkins Hospital in East Baltimore into the temporary living space.
[Survivor employs fundraising and fitness to battle cancer]
It will cost about $1.25 million to renovate the rowhouses and cover operating costs for three years. The group has raised about $750,000. Administrators expect it will serve 250 patients and their families a year.
Cancer occurs more frequently in adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 39 years than in younger children. About 70,000 people in that age group are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year, and they are often diagnosed with different types of cancer than either younger children or older adults, according to the National Cancer Institute, the federal governments principal agency for cancer research and training.
Scientists are not sure why, but young adults tend to get more aggressive forms of cancers and may need more intense treatment. While children are more likely to have hereditary cancers and adults, lifestyle-influenced cancers, young adults get a mix of the two. They are more likely than either younger children or older adults to be diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, melanoma, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, and sarcoma, the cancer institute said.
And not all doctors know how to treat young adults. Children typically get more aggressive treatment because their bodies are younger and can bounce back. Until recently, some doctors would not treat young-adult cancers the same way, because they worried that patients couldnt handle it and instead treated them more conservatively like older adults.
One researcher in 2003 described the group as the lost tribe. The lack of attention to young adults has resulted in stagnant survival rates, unlike the improved survival rates in children and adults, according to doctors.
Once you get a spotlight on these patients, you realize there are a lot of challenges, said Kenneth R. Cooke, director of the pediatric bone marrow transplant program at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.
Doctors are trying to learn more about caring for young adult cancer patients. Changing treatment styles help explain why young adults need so much monitoring during treatment, physicians said.
It is not uncommon when somebody is diagnosed with a complicated cancer that they may make 100 visits for treatments and follow-up scans and tests, said Kevin Cullen, director of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. It is an unbelievably draining time commitment. And if you travel any type of distance it can be tough. The ability to stay close by and be able to afford it is a tremendous, tremendous help.
In Baltimore, the Ronald McDonald House offers housing to about 1,400 children, up to age 21, and their families each year.
Sandy Pagnotti, chief executive of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore, said more housing services for cancer patients are needed. The organization plans an expansion and will break ground for a new building on West Fayette Street later this year. The building should help the group almost double the number of patients and families it now serves.
The more resources we have to support these families, the better it is for everybody, Pagnotti said.
Baltimore has highly ranked cancer centers, including the Greenebaum and Kimmel cancer centers, that attract patients from across the state and the country.
Pagnotti said the Ronald McDonald House also is seeing many patients from the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, which opened last year. The center is affiliated with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and uses precisely targeted radiation treatment on the toughest cancers.
The Ulman fund received input from cancer patients such as Ellis when designing the new house.
The house will include eight private family suites on the top floor and a communal living space on the main floor. It will also include a 1,000-square-foot meditation room and wellness area.
Patients and survivors said these are the things they wanted to see, Yetso said. They wanted it to be useful and medically safe, but not childish.
Ellis hopes the new house will make life easier for the young people who will stay there so that they dont have to go through the same obstacles he did during treatment.
Its going to be a huge burden lifted off of people, Ellis said.
A populist-style Republican running for Virginia governor traveled to the Capitol on Tuesday to praise a Democrats failed effort to rein in the power of the states largest utility.
Denver Riggleman, a distillery owner making an outsider bid in Junes crowded GOP primary, wanted to draw attention to two bills brought by state Sen. J. Chapman Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax).
Both measures were aimed at Dominion Virginia Power, which has put nearly $4 million into state-level races over the past decade. One would have subjected electricity rates to review by the state. The other would have prohibited Dominion and other state-regulated monopolies from donating to legislators and statewide candidates.
Republicans and Democrats alike teamed up to kill the bills.
Riggleman said the demise of the legislation is part of lawmakers long pattern of allowing Dominion to take from the needy and give to the greedy.
Perhaps we should just stop putting on appearances and get rid of the Old from our nickname and just go with the Dominion State instead, he said.
[Contender for Va. governor vows to bring blunt force trauma to rigged system]
Petersen did not attend Rigglemans news conference, which took place on Capitol Square not long after the Senate had gaveled into session for the day. Afterward, he said he appreciated the support even though he had endorsed Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) for governor.
Hey, more power to him, Petersen said. Ive already endorsed Ralph Northam, but if hes fighting the good fight, Im glad to hear it.
Dominion spokesman David Botkins released a statement saying that Rigglemans complaints were unfounded.
Our 2.5 million customers tell us they are very, very happy with their low rates, superb reliability, cleaner air, and an energy independent Virginia, his statement said.
Riggleman is one of four candidates vying for the nomination in the GOPs June 13 primary. The others are political strategist Ed Gillespie, state Sen. Frank W. Wagner (Virginia Beach) and Corey A. Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
A former Air Force intelligence officer and National Security Agency contractor, Riggleman and his wife opened Silverback Distillery in 2014 outside Charlottesville. He said the regulatory hurdles and entrenched liquor lobby that he encountered as he started the business inspired him to seek the Executive Mansion.
Riggleman also has tangled with Dominion, one of the states biggest businesses, over the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline that would have crossed his 50-acre distillery property in Nelson County. In remarks to reporters, he said he is opposed to eminent domain practices that are unfair to property owners.
I am not opposed to [the gas pipeline], he said. I think every company should do it the right way, though. You dont need to get special favors from the legislature.
One of Petersens bills would have subjected Dominion and Appalachian Power, which supply virtually all of Virginias electricity, to rate reviews by the State Corporation Commission. A bill passed in 2015 spared them from that oversight as the companies braced for the anticipated cost of complying with President Barack Obamas Clean Power Plan.
With Democrats out of the White House and the Clean Power Plan likely on its way out, Petersen said the utilities no longer needed that break. But his bill was killed in committee.
Botkins said the 2015 law is working well for consumers.
Undoing it repeals not only rate security for our customers, but $57 million in new money for weatherization assistance for the elderly and veterans and ends the massive new infusion of solar energy being added to the grid, he said. Plus, regulatory uncertainty over the Clean Power Plan and carbon regulation is as great as ever in Washington, D.C.
Petersens other bill would have prohibited Dominion and other state-regulated monopolies from donating to candidates for the legislature or statewide office. Dominion is the states biggest political donor.
Petersen pulled the bill Tuesday after two senators privately complained to him because he had missed the filing deadline although the Senate frequently makes exceptions for belatedly filed bills. Petersen did not identify the senators who had objected, but he said one was a Democrat and the other a Republican.
Both parties have gone along with it, all levels of government have gone along with it except the attorney general, who has put up something of a fight, Petersen said. And theres no reason for it except our largest corporate citizen wants it that way.
In his appearance Tuesday, Riggleman indicated that he was running against establishment Democrats and Republicans alike and willing to team up with like-minded elected officials regardless of party.
Yes, Senator Petersen is a Democrat, and I am a Republican, but hes right on this one, Riggleman said. I want to be clear: Republicans do not have a monopoly on good ideas, Democrats do not have a monopoly on bad ideas, but given everything that has happened in that building behind me this year, Dominion sure seems to have a monopoly on the legislature. . . . Someone has to drag these vampires into the sunlight. Someone has to keep the big boys honest.
He gave a nod to another Democrat in his vow to keep the big boys honest. That was the slogan of populist Henry E. Howell Jr., a former lieutenant governor who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1969, 1973 and 1977, twice as a Democrat and once as an independent.
When a reporter pointed out that Howell had never won the governorship, Riggleman noted the victories of President Trump and Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.), who unseated Eric Cantor in a stunning 2014 primary upset.
I think the Dave Brat and Trump campaigns showed that maybe attacking the big boys can do pretty well, he said. We are looking at an evolution right now of a revolution thats going on around the country. And I think people have had it.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Former U.S. House Rep. Tom Perriello -- who made a surprise entry into the governor's race in January at the womens march to protest Trump. (Fenit Nirappil/TWP)
Tom Perriello, the former Democratic congressman, is running for his partys nomination for Virginia governor. He is also running against President Trump.
On Tuesday, Perriello sent out a fundraising blast, urging Democrats to donate to his fledging 2017 campaign as a way of rejecting Trump.
In an email with the subject line Help us defeat Trump this year, Perriello said I decided to run for governor because Im determined to fight with every ounce of my being to make sure Virginia rejects Trump at the ballot box this year. In his new backyard, we will defeat him with what he hates most -- a diverse and progressive majority that crushes him and his loser ideology.
Perriello, 42, jumped into the contest last month, challenging Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) for the Democratic nomination to be decided in a June primary.
But Perriello has said little about Northam so far, aiming instead at Ed Gillespie, the presumed Republican frontrunner and, now, Trump.
On the trail, Perriello has denounced the president as a demagogue who ran the most racist campaign in modern American history. Over the weekend, he joined protests against Trumps immigration protests at Dulles International Airport and outside the White House.
Northam, 57, who has been endorsed by nearly every top Democrat, also criticizes Trump. But the low-key, genteel pediatric neurologist physician uses far less harsh language.
Northam missed the weekends protests because he had commitments in the Richmond area, but was the first on social media to condemn Trumps actions. He held an impromptu press conference to condemn Trumps order before Perriello reached the airport. The next day, Northam condemned Republicans who remained silent. His campaigns email to supporters after this weekend urged Democrats to join in building a Virginia thats welcome and open-hearted.
Perriellos aggressive rhetoric matches the rationale he offers for his candidacy: That hes the Democrat most able to turn out the partys progessive base with a tough stance against a Republican-dominated Washington.
This is a unique moment. This is not just another political term, Perriello said Tuesday, noting that he was inspired to run by Trumps presidency. What Donald Trump represents is a deeper and more destabilizing threat, and the people are looking for leaders who are calling that out without fear.
Northam actively campaigned for Hillary Clinton in 2016, while Perriello was barred from political activity as a special envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In an interview Monday, Northam said Trumps actions are appalling but his central focus is to expandeconomic opportunity for Virginians.
Certainly we are observant and paying attention to Washington, said Northam. What happened this weekend is outrageous. Its inexcusable.
Geoffrey Skelley, a political analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said attacking Trump is smart politics with the Democratic party electorate because neither candidate is well-known and voters are itching for confrontation.
You saw this throughout the Obama years: Republicans trying to be the most anti-Obama, said Skelley. It follows logic that now with a Republican in office, especially one who I think is particularly polarizing, that Democrats would try to be as anti-Trump as possible.
Gregory S. Schneider contributed to this report.
Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.), left, and Dave Brat (R-Va.) on Jan. 10 at the confirmation hearing for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the nominee for attorney general. (Jim Lo Scalzo/European Pressphoto Agency)
Facing pressure from constituent groups who say he has been avoiding them, Rep. Dave Brat on Tuesday afternoon announced that he would hold a Facebook town hall that same evening.
The announcement came as Brat (R-Va.) was criticized by residents in his district who say he has refused to hold an in-person town hall meeting to hear their concerns about President Trumps administration.
In a video taken Saturday at a meeting in the Richmond suburbs in his safely Republican district, Brat said, Since Obamacare and these issues have come up, the women are in my grill no matter where I go.
He added: They come up When is your next town hall? And believe me, its not to give positive input.
The comments, first reported by left-leaning blogs and the Richmond Times-Dispatch, contrast starkly with Brats message of the 2014 campaign when he toppled then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R) on a promise to be responsive to constituents.
(Jackie Kucinich/The Washington Post)
[May 2014: Cantor faces tea party fury in his back yard]
In the newspaper, Brat said he would hold a town hall sometime after Trumps first 100 days in office. Yet he is planning to travel to Arizona later this month as the special guest of Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.) at an event billed as a town hall meeting.
The confluence of events rankled Karen E. Peters, a Chesterfield resident who previously voted for Brat and is leading a group of about 50 residents who want to meet privately with him. I know hes a busy man, but if he can go to Arizona, he can meet with his constituents, she said.
Members of her group began contacting Brats office after the November election over worries about Trump strategist Stephen K. Bannon. She said theyve grown increasingly anxious about about Trumps policies on health care, immigration and other issues.
We have some hard questions we want to ask him, and we dont understand why he wouldnt want to sit down with his constituents when theres this much concern, she said.
Maureen Haines, 33, started the Facebook page agitating for a town hall out of frustration that Brat who she voted for seemed to be inaccessible. In 2015, she was surprised by an event where questions to Brat had to go through a staffer. In 2016, she couldnt find any Brat events open to the general public.
He called us paid activists were taxpayers, for crying out loud! said Haines. When I saw that Arizona announcement this morning I was baffled. He was on television last night, saying hes been busy, busy, busy with everything going on and couldnt hold an event until after the first 100 days.
Brat announced his Facebook town hall on social media Tuesday afternoon. His office did not respond to questions about why he decided to hold an online event.
I am looking forward to hearing your questions and concerns and giving you a quick update on what is happening in Washington, the online post says.
Quentin Kidd, a political scientist and pollster at Christopher Newport University, said the public may not be best served by the approach, but its smart politics.
Brat was elected to his first term in 2014, and Kidd said he and other tea party favorites are learning to avoid the mistakes of officials lambasted in sometimes contentious town halls after the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
Brat is being very ,very smart if hes thinking, How do I keep myself out of trouble? he said.
David Weigel contributed to this report.
Snow falls as a jogger, framed by the Brooklyn Bridge, runs underneath the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Drive overpass on Jan. 31. (Mary Altaffer/AP)
ARKANSAS
Voter ID proposal
passes in state House
The Arkansas House of Representatives approved a plan Tuesday to reinstate a voter ID law that was struck down more than two years ago, with Republicans counting on a new state Supreme Court roster to uphold the measure this time.
The proposa, approved by a voter if 74 to 21, is nearly identical to a law the Republican-majority legislature enacted in 2013 requiring voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot. The state Supreme Court unanimously struck down the measure in 2014, with the majority ruling it unconstitutional because it added a new qualification for voting.
The latest proposal aims to address a concern raised by three of the courts seven justices, that the prohibition didnt pass with enough votes in the legislature when it was enacted in 2013. The proposal will need two-thirds support in both chambers, a threshold it easily cleared in the House. It now heads to the state Senate.
Four of the justices who struck down the 2013 law are no longer on the court, and one of the new justices is a former Republican state legislator. The three justices who said the 2013 law did not get the two-thirds vote needed remain on the court.
Associated Press
civil rights
Bomb threats continue at Jewish centers
Several Jewish community centers around the United States closed Tuesday after receiving bomb threats, the third wave of threatened attacks targeting them this month.
Police in Albany, N.Y., said they responded to a threat at a Jewish community center there and determined that there was no bomb. The building later reopened, according to the centers Facebook page.
Jewish community centers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, Utah and Wisconsin also received threats, according to social media posts and reports by local media. No attacks or injuries were reported.
A series of telephoned threats on Jan. 9 threatened 16 Jewish community centers in nine states, and a second wave on Jan. 18 targeted 27 centers in 17 states.
Some of the calls were made using an automated robo-call system, while others were made by live individuals, security officials have said.
After the second round of threats, the FBI said in a statement that the bureau and the Justice Department were investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with threats. No arrests have been made.
Reuters
TEXAS
Border agent found guilty of aiding cartel
A South Texas jury has acquitted a Border Patrol agent of murder but convicted him of aiding organized crime in a drug-related case that left a man decapitated.
Joel Luna was acquitted Tuesday in Brownsville of the most serious charges in the 2015 death. Prosecutors contend Luna used his position to help a Mexican cartel move illegal weapons and ammunition south of the border and drugs to the north.
A Cameron County jury found Luna, 31, guilty of two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity.
His brother, Eduardo Luna, 26, was convicted of capital murder for retaliation, murder and two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity and sentenced to mandatory life in prison without parole.
Joel Luna faces up to 99-year prison terms.
Associated Press
Missing Dartmouth students body found: Police have recovered the body of a missing Dartmouth College student in a river near campus. Police in Hanover, N.H., said Adam Wright, 21, was found near the shoreline of the Connecticut River about 500 yards from campus Tuesday morning. Wright was last seen on campus shortly after midnight Monday. A Dartmouth employee found a backpack along the riverbank later that day, and his body was discovered a half-hour later. Police said a preliminary investigation shows no foul play. Dartmouth President Philip J. Hanlon said Wright was a senior studying government and was president of a student-run International Business Council.
Associated Press
TEXAS
George H.W. Bush leaves hospital
Former president George H.W. Bush was released Monday from Houston Methodist Hospital, where he received treatment for pneumonia for more than two weeks.
Bush, 92, was experiencing breathing difficulties when he was admitted Jan. 14. During his treatment, which included a stay in intensive care, doctors inserted a breathing tube and connected him to a ventilator.
He is thankful for the many prayers and kind messages he received during his stay, as well as the world-class care that both his doctors and nurses provided, Bush spokesman Jim McGrath said Monday.
Bush has been allowed to return to his Houston home, McGrath said.
The 41st president was joined at the hospital by his 91-year-old wife, Barbara, who spent five days there for treatment of bronchitis until her release a week ago.
Associated Press
NATIONAL SECURITY
Arizonan convicted of giving support to ISIS
An Arizona man was convicted Monday of charges that he provided support to the Islamic State by helping a New York City college student travel to Syria, where he died fighting for the militant group.
Ahmed Mohammed el-Gammal, 44, was found guilty by a Manhattan federal jury on all four counts he faced, including that he provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 55 years.
The verdict came on the third day of deliberations in the case, which centered in part on evidence collected from social media.
The case stemmed from Gammals interactions with Samy Mohammed el-Goarany, a 24-year-old student at Baruch College in Manhattan, who prosecutors said had become obsessed with the Islamic State and wanted to fight with it.
Prosecutors said Gammal, an Egyptian-born resident of Phoenix, was a supporter of the Islamic State who had settled in America and, after befriending Goarany online, decided to guide the student toward his goal.
In October 2014, Gammal traveled to New York, met with Goarany and put him in touch with a friend in Istanbul who could help him travel to join the Islamic State, prosecutors said.
Goarany flew to Istanbul from New York in January 2015 and sometime after that arrived in Syria, where he received religious and military training and died fighting with the Islamic State, prosecutors said.
Gammals lawyers denied that he knew about Goaranys plans, saying the student misled people into believing he was traveling to do humanitarian work.
Reuters
2 killed as drunk driver crashes into crowd: Two pedestrians were killed and seven others injured after police say a drunken driver whose blood-alcohol content was five times the legal limit lost control of his vehicle and plowed into a crowd standing near a food truck in a Kentucky parking lot. A Louisville Metro police spokeswoman said Chad Erdley, 37, was speeding when he struck a parked car and continued into the parking lot just before 1 a.m. Sunday, hitting nine people. Two unidentified pedestrians were pronounced dead at the scene. Seven others were hospitalized with injuries that do not appear to be life-threatening. Police say Erdley was slurring his words, smelled of alcohol and fell asleep several times after he was arrested. Court records show his blood-alcohol level after the crash was 0.40.
31 pounds of cocaine found in nose of plane: Authorities said 31 pounds of cocaine worth around $434,000 was accidentally discovered stashed in the nose of an American Airlines aircraft in Tulsa. A Tulsa County Sheriffs Office spokesman said the plane arrived in Miami from Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday. It was flagged for maintenance and sent later that day to Tulsa International Airport, where American Airlines has a maintenance base. While working on the nose gear, an airline employee noticed what seemed to be a brick-like object and called the sheriffs office. Authorities discovered seven bricks of cocaine.
From news services
Restaurant owner Elias Shetayh, who came to Allentown, Pa., in 1971, is pictured behind hookah pipes at his restaurant on Jan. 29. Syrians have been immigrating to Allentown for more than a century. (Mark Makela for The Washington)
Hookah smoke drifted through the restaurant as Elias Shetayh and Aziz Wehbey spoke intently about their support for President Trump, whose temporary halt on immigration from war-torn Syria their homeland had touched off a political firestorm. Nearby, a waitress carried out several platters of Mediterranean food to a large Arab American family.
Trump is right, in a way, to do what hes doing, Shetayh said, discussing the executive order banning certain immigrants from entry into the United States. This country is going into a disaster.
Allentown and surrounding Lehigh County have one of the countrys largest and most established communities of Syrian Americans, many of them emigres who moved from the Christian Valley in Syria decades ago. They have helped a steady stream of family members join them in the United States, and to the surprise of many offered strong support to Trump during the presidential election.
Gathered at Saados on Sunday, Wehbey, Shetayh and Shetayhs wife, Georgette, took turns talking proudly about Syria and expressed pain at seeing the country split in two. Elias Shetayhs view is a common refrain up and down the 6th Ward, where many agree with Trumps decision to end the Syrian refugee program, even as they dispute the wisdom of his blanket ban on all legal immigration from Syria as too extreme.
We would not like to bring refugees for a simple reason: We do not know their background, Wehbey said. Were concerned about, if God forbid a terrorist attack happened here . . . that were all labeled as bad people. I hate to say it.
The national conversation about the U.S. position on accepting refugees of the Syrian civil war has hit a fever pitch in the days since Trump signed an order halting the program, amid fears that along with refugees, terrorists will seek to surreptitiously enter the country. In Allentown, there is an additional religious subtext: The established Syrians in the 6th Ward are Christian; the newcomers, refugees fleeing the war, tend to be Muslim.
Were not by any means prejudiced against Islam. As long as youre a good human being, you have the right to believe whatever you want to believe. But the majority of the population over here are Christian Syrian, said Wehbey, who is regarded as a community leader. Now theyre bringing new elements from Syria, refugees shook by a religious war. They may have hate in their heart because of whatever happened to them.
And we dont want to see a religious conflict over here, he added.
Aziz Wehbey, president of the Syrian American Amarian Charity Society of Pennsylvania, in Allentown on Jan. 29. He came to the United States in 1991. (Mark Makela for The Washington Post)
The Shetayhs, who own the restaurant, have lived in the United States for decades Elias for 46 years, Georgette for 30. Wehbey came to the United States in 1991, when he was 19 years old. All three are now U.S. citizens. They all describe a peaceful and multicultural community here, about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia, that has embraced diversity without conflict.
As in most of the rest of the country, there is not consensus in Allentown that the United States should stop accepting refugees, even among those who continue to support Trump.
Talking over baklava and cookies filled with dates, Fouad and Mouna Younes expressed concern about the families who will now be turned away. But even though they disagree with the decision to stop accepting refugees altogether, they insist that Trump is right that refugees must be rigorously screened.
These poor people are coming from war. For them to get here and all of a sudden to be told and theyre legal and have visas and all of a sudden you tell them, You cant come in. You have to go back thats a shame, Fouad Younes said. But instead of fighting amongst ourselves, lets give the man a chance. Maybe hes going to bring jobs back.
Like other pro-Trump Syrian Americans in Allentown, Younes was frustrated by President Barack Obamas calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down. Younes supported Obama and said he is usually a liberal but supported Trump during the election because of his stances on foreign policy. As a military veteran, Younes said, the controversy over the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, soured him to Democrat Hillary Clintons candidacy.
A 6th Ward street in Allentown, Pa. (Mark Makela for The Washington Post)
Largely supportive of Assads regime, many of Allentowns Syrian Christians have expressed skepticism that any moderate rebels in Syria exist, including the Free Syrian Army, with many emphasizing that they believe the rebels are hoping to covertly wage a religious war. There remains a strong sense among many of the Syrians in Allentown that Assad led the country reasonably and that things were going in the right direction before the civil war.
Theres no such thing as moderate rebels anymore. Its all jihadis fighting the government. Thats the fear. You saw what happened in Paris and in other European countries, Younes said, referring to terrorist attacks there. But were worried about these poor people that are running away from war. These arent people that are going to hurt you.
The Younes familys story is typical for immigrants in Allentown; they arranged U.S. residency through family connections and marriage and in turn helped other family members enter the United States as permanent residents, including Mouna Youness mother. Her brother, Afif Salibi, immigrated to the United States in 2013 with his wife and four children. Mounas younger brother, who lives in Syria, has been unable to arrange a visa. The family was hoping he would be able to apply for refugee status, but the new ban has stalled their hope.
Even if the refugee program permanently ends, Fouad said he wont necessarily abandon his support for Trump. Its not going to necessarily turn me against him, he said. It just turns me against the policy. Ive always been against the policy.
Mouna added: Im with them. You have to decide if these people who are coming are good, are terrorist. They have to get their background.
Mouna Younes with her children at home in Whitehall, Pa., a town outside of Allentown, on Jan. 29. (Mark Makela for The Washington Post)
Many in the community believe that the U.S. government will make exceptions for Christian Syrians, particularly those with family members already in the United States. Wehbey has advised many in the community to be patient, noting that the travel-ban order is temporary.
We are being punished for something we didnt do. And were being labeled as terrorists, Elias Shetayh said. I want the president to be tough on everyone, not single out a single people. For Trump to come out and label us as terrorists, its not fair to the Syrian people.
A Syrian refugee who moved to the United States with his wife and six children 16 months ago and now lives in Allentown expressed gratitude to the United States and to the residents of his new home. Speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear that the Trump administration might retaliate against him for talking to the media, he said he believes Americans do not fully understand the depth of the violence wrought by war.
When he still lived in Daraa, Syria, he was abducted by authorities one night from his bedroom and held for 37 days, he said. He described repeated beatings while he was detained. In his experience, Syrian Muslims and Christians have always gotten along well, but that all changed after the war started, and he blamed the Syrian government for stoking those tensions. But he said the tensions stay in Syria.
Radical Muslims dont come to the United States, he said. The people that are coming here are people looking for a better life.
Mouna and Fouad Younes also said that the Christian and Muslim divide was not an issue in Syria before the war. Mouna said that it wasnt until after the war that she began to sense religious tensions.
Fouad added that he agrees with people who say suspicion of all Muslim refugees is wrong: It is Islamophobic.
Read more:
Denied Entry: Stories of refugees and immigrants barred from the U.S.
From order to disorder: How Trumps immigration directive exposed GOP rifts
Angry Republicans lash out at Trump for not consulting them on travel ban
A SUPREME COURT nomination isnt a forum to refight a presidential election, we wrote in 2006. The presidents choice is due deference the same deference that Democratic senators would expect a Republican Senate to accord the well-qualified nominee of a Democratic president. We wrote those sentences in preparation for Senate hearings on President George W. Bushs nomination of then-Judge, now-Justice, Samuel A. Alito Jr.; and we believe they still apply, even after the past decade of partisan warfare, and even in the context of an impending nomination by President Trump on Tuesday night.
They apply notwithstanding the shabby treatment of President Barack Obamas last nominee for the court, Judge Merrick Garland, by the Republican Senate leadership last year. We understand that there are many Democrats, still seething over the GOPs nakedly partisan refusal to grant Mr. Garland so much as a hearing, who regard the seat vacated by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia almost a year ago as stolen. Speaking for those Democrats, Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.) promised Monday that he would call for a filibuster against anyone Mr. Trump might pick, in the spirit of calling out the GOPs manipulations, as Mr. Merkleys spokeswoman put it to us. This position goes beyond that of Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), who has said only that his caucus will fight tooth and nail against an out of the mainstream Trump nominee.
Emotionally satisfying as Mr. Merkleys approach might be, it would be mistaken. We say this not because it is contrary to the Democrats own best interests, though that is probably true, too: Filling the former Scalia seat wont tip the courts ideological balance, yet provoking Republicans to resort to the filibuster-abolishing nuclear option would leave Democrats disarmed of that weapon against a second Trump pick should another vacancy arise during his presidency.
Our objection is rooted, rather, in our belief that the Supreme Court confirmation process needs to be protected from partisan politics to the greatest extent possible and that a scorched-earth Democratic response to any nominee, regardless of the individual merits, would simply deepen that harmful politicization. Yes, Mr. Trump seeks to fill the courts vacancy to his liking, on the basis of a thin electoral college-only victory. Still, however narrow, his victory was legitimate and he does have the clear constitutional prerogative to make the choice.
Let Mr. Trump do so. Then let the Senate expeditiously but thoroughly probe that nominee on his or her legal qualifications, as well as jurisprudence. And then let the Senate vote yes or no. We advocated that approach consistently for the past five nominees to the Supreme Court, going back to 2005. This group includes two Republican picks Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Alito and three Democratic ones Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, and Mr. Garland. It is a formidable list; we hope Mr. Trump nominates someone worthy of joining their company.
Where, exactly, is the red line for Republicans in Congress right now?
We have a president with pronounced authoritarian tendencies, who believes he alone can fix it; who signs sweeping executive orders reportedly without even briefing relevant Cabinet members on the logistical, humanitarian and national security consequences; who directs his staff and surrogates to lie about the tiniest and most ridiculous and easily fact-checkable of details; and whose staffers brought us to the brink of a constitutional crisis when they ignored federal court orders.
Democrats have few tools at their disposal to obstruct President Trump, let alone force him to double back, given their minority status in both chambers of Congress. They could slow business to a crawl if they wished through procedural measures. But that comes with longer-term strategic risks, and more to the point, can only slow things down; it cannot reverse actions the executive branch is already taking.
Which is why its ultimately up to Republicans to show leadership, whether through words or (preferably) actual legislative deeds.
So when will they stand in Trumps way?
(Dalton Bennett,Erin Patrick O'Connor,Katherine Shaver,Monica Akhtar,McKenna Ewen/The Washington Post)
Not, apparently, when he violates their stated commitment to fiscal conservatism by offering a tax plan that would add $7 trillion to deficits over a decade. Or when he pledges to spend tens of billions of dollars, paid for by neither Mexico nor any domestic offsets, on a border-wall boondoggle.
Not when he withdraws the United States from a major trade pact among 12 Pacific Rim countries that would have weakened Chinas influence and that, more to the point, pro-trade Republican leaders had championed.
Not when they learn he had boasted about sexually assaulting women, comments that at one point Republican politicians said forced them to withdraw their political support. Right before they pledged it anew.
Not when he practices parody-worthy levels of executive overreach, supposedly the greatest and most unforgivable sin of his Democratic predecessor, by violating immigration laws laid down by Congress.
Not when he picks a needless fight with our peaceable neighbor and third-largest trading partner, Mexico.
Not when he bullies and threatens private companies into making operational decisions according to his centrally planned liking, rather than letting free markets guide them, as Republicans have long advocated.
Not when he refuses to disclose conflicts that might compromise the economic, security and political interests of this country.
And most shockingly: not when he cruelly shuts our doors to refugees, Iraqi translators who helped safeguard American lives, students, dissidents, scientists, doctors and others in what appears to be indeed, what Trump surrogates have claimed is an immigration ban targeting Muslims.
A mere year ago, Republican leaders condemned Trumps proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) said it was not conservatism. Then-Gov. Mike Pence (Ind.) called it offensive and unconstitutional. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) called it completely and totally inconsistent with American values. Senator and then-presidential-candidate Marco Rubio (Fla.) agreed, saying, It violates a lot of the things that we think about our country.
There you have it: Then, Trumps proposed Muslim ban was decried as not conservative, not constitutional, not American. If there were ever a red line for Republicans, it seems to have been crossed Friday.
When a version of the ban became reality, however, Ryan endorsed it. Now-Vice President Pence smiled and applauded as it was signed. McConnell said he doesnt want to criticize [the Trump administration] for improving vetting. And Rubio offered some cowardly pablum about needing clarity on unanswered questions about the ban.
Three days after the order was signed, 80 congressional Republicans had explicitly endorsed this once un-conservative, unconstitutional, un-American ban, more than three times the number who publicly opposed it. The vast majority of congressional Republicans refused to choose a side or remained silent.
Trump has repeatedly violated the principles and policy goals his co-partisans on the Hill claim to hold dear. He has stripped the legislative branch of its powers. Scratch that. Members of the legislative branch have ceded these powers and their duty to check and balance, along with most of their vertebrae quite willingly.
And in exchange for what, exactly?
Party unity, perhaps? Or maybe the promise of tax cuts for the wealthy, an agenda item apparently more important than safeguarding the Constitution. Or fleeting protection from the ire of Trumps fan base, whose allegiance to the president is rapidly receding.
Trump once bragged that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and voters would let it slide. Im starting to wonder if congressional Republicans would, too.
Sam Waterston is a stage, film and television actor and serves on the board of Oceana and the emeritus board of Refugees International.
[No man has the] right to mislead others, who have less access to history, and less leisure to study it. . . . Thus substituting falsehood and deception for truthful evidence and fair argument.
Abraham Lincoln, Cooper Union Address, 1860
You may know me as an actor. Im also a longtime supporter of election reform and opponent of partisanship. In 1999 I gave a talk at one of the last bipartisan congressional retreats, using what I had learned preparing to play Abraham Lincoln to warn against faction, partisanships original name. The founders knew partisanship to be one of the few things powerful enough to destroy the great American democratic experiment. I had some great quotes. John Hume, a Nobel laureate for his work to bring peace in Northern Ireland, spoke before me. His experience made searing testimony. We did our best. It seems it didnt work.
Until 2008, when an effort called Unity08, led by Democrat Gerald Rafshoon and Republican Doug Bailey, to elect a bipartisan presidential ticket was defeated, I was a registered Independent. To vote for Barack Obama in the primary that year, I joined a party. Believing it to be the best use of what influence my career in show business might have, Ive served, more or less quietly, for many years on the boards of Oceana and Refugees International. But working quietly doesnt feel like an option now. This feels like an all-hands-on-deck moment.
[Republicans are alarmed to discover Trump is doing exactly what he said he would]
The great issue of today is lying constant lying in public. Lying is the ally of faction and, since President Trumps rise to power, it is the greater danger. Yes, the word is lying not negotiation, salesmanship, bluster, attention-getting, delusion, deception, braggadocio, exaggeration, bullying, alternative facts, or any other euphemism. Once, President John F. Kennedy could say that our national problems were no longer ideological but technical. Lying on a grand scale has reversed that.
And its hard to keep up. Trump has lied about climate change and the character and motives of refugees, about how asylum-seekers have been vetted in the past and how many have been able to enter the United States, about immigrants, and a long list of other matters. As with partisanship, the more lying there is, the worse it is. And Trumps alternative facts have meant nasty real-world consequences.
As lying comes easily to Trump, it should come first in every report about his administration. Trump doesnt lie about this and that, and he doesnt lie sometimes. He is a liar, a person who lies. This news should be reported everywhere.
Politicians have lied before, but this is not an old problem getting worse. Indeed, past presidents have sometimes paid dearly for the mere appearance of a lie. A man of great good character and a lifetime of public service, President George H.W. Bush, said Read my lips, which was branded a lie, and he lost an election. Accusations of lying Lying Hillary tainted Hillary Clintons run for president. President Bill Clinton told a lie in public and under oath and the scandal got him impeached. The impeachment gained some weight from the sound legal principle that a liar in one thing is likely to lie about other things. That principle should be applied to Trump.
(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)
[Trumps erratic first week was among the most alarming in history]
By the frequency of his lying, Trump has revealed a truth we have avoided confronting: Like partisanship, regular and habitual lying is an existential threat to us, to our institutions, our memories, our understanding of now and of the future, to the great American democratic experiment, and to the planet. It blurs the truth, subverts trust, interferes with thought, and destroys clarity. It drives us to distraction.
Its impossible to overstate what is at stake. I won, says Trump truly, following it up with lies about landslides, voter fraud and crowd size. Every American should be alarmed. It ought to be the lead in every article about him and his administration, no matter the subject. Lying at this level is a threat to the Republic.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich has embraced the world of alternative facts if he believes what he wrote in his Jan. 27 op-ed, Thatcher, not Reagan, is the right model for Trump. Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher would be appalled at President Trumps rejection of the Western alliance and his embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But the comparison is valid in one respect: Thatcher had a 29 percent approval rating on average in 1990, the year she resigned.
Peter Thomas, Waterford
Just one full week into Donald Trumps presidency, the dizzying pace of news has left many of us feeling a sense of political vertigo and dread.
The new administration began with a poorly attended inauguration that led a wounded Trump to lash out at the media in a bizarre speech at the CIAs headquarters. As millions of women and men marched in Washington and cities around the world, press secretary Sean Spicer summoned reporters to the White House briefing room and, defying clear evidence to the contrary, brazenly and falsely claimed that Trump drew the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration period. A day later, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway went on national television and rebranded Spicers bald-faced lies as alternative facts. Later in the week, White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon launched a calculated strategy of open war on the press, saying the elite media should keep its mouth shut.
[Three simple, effective ways to stand up to Trump at the Oscars]
All of this established the tone for Trumps full-blown, Orwellian assault on reality. After scrubbing mentions of global warming from the White House website, Trump imposed gag orders on the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies. Attempting to rewrite the history of his election, Trump doubled down on his widely debunked claim that he lost the popular vote only because of massive voter fraud and promised to launch a major investigation into the alleged crimes. In an interview with ABC News, Trump reiterated his belief, contradicted by intelligence experts, that torture absolutely works. The problem with these alternative facts is not just that Trump is either pathologically dishonest or completely divorced from reality; they could be laying the groundwork for pernicious policies such as a systemic attack on voting rights or the reinstatement of CIA black sites overseas.
Add to that a string of controversial Cabinet confirmations and an ever-growing list of executive actions on issues including the Affordable Care Act, the global gag rule on abortion, the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipeline projects, the Mexican border wall, and the grotesque Muslim ban and its hard not to be sickened by it all.
(McKenna Ewen/The Washington Post)
However, Trumps cascading attacks on the body politic, including instigating a potential constitutional crisis by firing the acting attorney general for ordering Justice Department lawyers not to defend his un-American travel ban, cannot erase the fundamental truth that he does not represent a majority of the American people. The incredible turnout for the Womens March, which turned out to be the largest single day of mass political action in U.S. history, made that much clear. The resistance to Trump is big, diverse and ferocious, and its not going away.
We saw more of that passion and energy on display over the weekend, as demonstrations against Trumps de facto Muslim ban spontaneously erupted on Saturday at airports across the country. Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups moved swiftly to file legal challenges to Trumps order, winning temporary victories in federal court. And the protests continued into Sunday, with tens of thousands attending rallies in more than 30 cities nationwide.
We also got an early look at how city and state governments will help drive the resistance. In response to a Trump order to cut off funds for sanctuary cities, a number of mayors defiantly promised not to back down, while leaders in the California legislature signaled that they will fight the order in court. Also in California, Gov. Jerry Brown delivered a fiery State of the State address vowing opposition to Trump and declaring that California is not turning back.
[Did you attend a protest? Tell us what you plan to do next.]
Looking ahead, organizers are planning another day of mass demonstrations on Tax Day to protest Trumps refusal to release his tax returns. There are promising signs that the resistance will carry over into the electoral arena as well. A day after the Womens March, Emilys List held a training session for 500 women who are interested in running for office, 40 percent of whom were between 25 and 34 years old. Run For Something, which is dedicated to helping progressive candidates under 35 run in state and local elections, says it signed up more than 1,000 recruits this weekend alone. VoteRunLead, an organization committed to recruiting and training female candidates to run in state and local races, has also reported a surge in interest since November. Trumps war on science and facts is also inspiring scientists to get more involved. Plans for a Scientists March on Washington are underway, and a new group, 314 Action, recently formed to help members of the scientific community get elected.
For progressives, continuing the momentum for grass-roots efforts such as these is key to rebuilding and taking back power. Thats why, in the face of so much daily outrage, its sometimes important to step back and take a deep breath and remember that it will take sustained and strategic action on many fronts to defend our democracy while building a bigger, stronger progressive movement. Trump wants to suffocate his opposition. Resistance and reconstruction need oxygen in order to survive.
Read more from Katrina vanden Heuvels archive or follow her on Twitter.
Holocaust survivor Michel Margosis, right, lights a candle during an International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington on Jan. 27. (Saul Loeb/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)
IGNORANCE AND INCOMPETENCE would be the charitable explanations of the White Houses intentional decision to omit any mention of the slaughter of 6 million Jews from an annual statement marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, an event established, on the anniversary of the liberation of the death camp at Auschwitz, to remind the world of a genocide conceived and executed by the Nazis to exterminate European Jewry.
A passing familiarity with Nazi Germanys history, with Hitlers Final Solution or with modern manifestations of anti-Semitism would have enlightened the White House that while the Nazis victims included Roma, homosexuals, and mentally and physically handicapped people, among others, the Holocaust was, first and foremost, a calculated campaign of mass extermination carried out by a regime for which anti-Semitism was a fixed worldview and an organizing principle.
Another reading of the White House statement, which was a departure from those issued by both the Obama and Bush administrations, is more sinister. By stripping any reference to Jews from its brief statement, the Trump administration engaged in what Deborah Lipstadt, an Emory University historian, calls soft-core Holocaust denial.
The hardcore variety is depicted in the 2016 film Denial, about Ms. Lipstadts and Penguin Books legal defense of historical truth in a lawsuit brought 20 years ago by David Irving, a notorious British Holocaust denier who cast doubt on the existence of gas chambers and mass killings. Soft-core denial is much more insidious and squishier but when you know something is not quite right, she told us. When you take out the identity of the victims, when those victims were specifically targeted, that is a form of rewriting history, and thats what denial is all about.
Trump administration officials reject any such intent, while doubling down to defend their statement as a purposeful act of inclusion. I mean, everyones suffering [in] the Holocaust including, obviously, all of the Jewish people affected and miserable genocide that occurs, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said.
To expand the Holocausts meaning to include everyone is to obliterate history. By refusing to name the Holocausts primary targets by positing an infinite number of victims the mass incineration of Europes Jews is minimized and diminished. Right-wing governments in present-day Europe have similarly fudged the historical record.
The Nazis perpetrated a staggering number of unspeakable crimes routine murders; human medical experimentation; mass rape and Hitlers victims were legion. In the former East Germany or Soviet Union, a visitor to a World War II museum could form the impression that communists were the Nazis main victims.
Yet the Holocaust was a unique crime undertaken on a vast scale, impelled by a focused, sustained hatred, specifically of Jews. That hatred, and that crime, must not be conflated with all Nazi hatreds and all crimes, nor gauzily recalled as one of many such atrocities, nor reimagined as a worn-out grievance. In an extraordinary repudiation of the White House on Monday, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum felt compelled to restate the obvious: Nazi ideology cast the world as a racial struggle, and the singular focus on the total destruction of every Jewish person was at its racist core. . . . As Elie Wiesel said, Not all victims were Jews, but all Jews were victims.
AMERICAS HISTORY of orderly freedom reflects the strength of our Constitution and laws. Yet it also demonstrates the power of unwritten rules norms of civility and decency that are often hard to define but always crucial to respect, lest social trust disappear and instability spread. As Judge Learned Hand famously remarked: Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it.
Unwritten rules lie at the heart of the conflict over President Trumps firing of the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, a caretaker left over from the Obama administration. Ms. Yates felt she was honoring a vital unwritten rule the Justice Departments political independence by refusing to defend the presidents executive order restricting refugees and others from seven majority-Muslim countries. Ms. Yates was absolutely right that Mr. Trumps order is neither wise nor just, as she said in a letter made public Monday. Less certain is that the appropriate response was to remain at her post, blocking legal defenses of the order unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to change course, as she also wrote.
[Trumps firing of the acting attorney general sets a dangerous precedent]
The orders legality, or lack thereof, is an unsettled issue; much of Mr. Trumps decree, alas, may be permissible under the wide discretion that immigration statutes grant the president. Significantly, Ms. Yates herself did not state flatly that the order was unlawful, only that she was not yet convinced of its lawfulness. Given all that, she could have resigned in protest and let Mr. Trump appoint someone who could, in good conscience, defend his policy.
Mr. Trump was, accordingly, within his rights to oust her. Characteristically, however, the new president took power he legitimately possesses on paper and abused it in practice. The White House statement announcing Ms. Yatess firing could have expressed respectful disagreement or thanked her for her long service to the government. Instead, it hurled politicized insults weak on borders at Ms. Yates and, more shockingly, accused her of having betrayed her department.
Among the unwritten rules that make democracy possible, none is more important than resisting the impulse to demonize political opponents. The fledgling Trump administration, like the Trump campaign before it, has violated this norm with zest. Before the White Houses ugly response to Ms. Yates, press secretary Sean Spicer told dissenters within the Foreign Service that they should either get with the program or they can go. Such rhetoric is having its predictable radicalizing effect on Democrats, including over-the-top tactics such as Tuesdays boycott of Senate committee meetings on the confirmation of Mr. Trumps Cabinet picks.
[Will backlash to Trumps travel ban paralyze the executive branch?]
Hand gave his Spirit of Liberty address in 1944, before administering the oath of citizenship to immigrants assembled in Manhattans Central Park. In a world at war, these new Americans heard his words and looked forward to new lives in a stable political community flawed by deep social ills but blessed by democratic processes for addressing them.
Every participant in politics today could benefit from reflecting on Hands message Mr. Trump most of all.
ON SUNDAY, a White House official told reporters that President Trumps order for temporary travel bans on visitors from seven countries and on refugees, as well as an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees, was a massive success story in terms of implementation on every single level. What really happened was a train wreck of decision-making. More worrisome even than the rookie procedural mistakes are the grave potential consequences of an order thats wrong ethically and strategically.
Mr. Trumps executive order was not vetted in advance by key Cabinet departments, including Homeland Security, State, Defense and Justice, according to multiple reports. Rather, it appears the order was drafted by a White House coterie. The New York Times reports that Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly was on a Coast Guard plane, in the middle of listening to an internal briefing about it, when Mr. Trump signed the order. Confusion erupted as thousands of green-card holders who are permanent legal U.S. residents found themselves stranded abroad. At first, the administration said that green-card holders were included in the travel ban; Mr. Kelly later said they should be admitted. Those who were hurt were not terrorists but residents of the United States who had already gone through extensive checking.
The temporary inconvenience and insult are unfortunate but not the worst of this debacle. Mr. Trumps order for a 90-day halt to entry and four-month pause in refugees included Iraq, the United States main ally in the battle that Mr. Trump claims to prioritize, against the Islamic State. As Mr. Trump insults their nation, Iraqi troops are engaged in a grinding struggle, supported by more than 5,000 U.S. troops, to reclaim Mosul. Where is the wisdom in undermining the credibility and standing of their fragile government in Baghdad, which is so essential to the strategic goal of defeating the Islamic State? If the point of Mr. Trumps action was to improve security, why deepen the dangerous power vacuum in Iraq? In the future, the United States may need battlefield allies such as translators, but Mr. Trumps order has endangered hundreds of them in Iraq who helped U.S. troops, had been waiting for special visas to the United States and now find themselves in limbo. Who will risk helping Americans if this is the thanks they get?
Yet another counterproductive outcome will be to give terrorist groups such as the Islamic State fresh recruiting material for the calumny that the United States is at war with the Muslim world. A self-inflicted wound, said Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsay O. Graham (S.C.), among the small number of Republicans with the gumption to speak out against Mr. Trumps misguided action.
It was an inspiration to see the spontaneous outpouring of public support for refugees and immigrants at airports and in cities across the country, including from lawyers who rushed to help those being denied entry. As Mr. Trump stained the nations reputation by barring the doors to deserving refugees, those demonstrators showed the world that thousands of Americans remain committed to the values that have made this nation a beacon for so long.
Matthew Miller was director of the Justice Departments public affairs office from 2009 to 2011.
President Trumps decision on Monday night to fire acting attorney general Sally Yates for daring to exercise her objective legal judgment about the presidents recent immigration order violated the traditional independence of the Justice Department and sets a dangerous precedent for the rule of law under his administration.
Under long-standing traditions in administrations of both parties, the attorney general is charged with enforcing the law free from political interference from the White House. This standard of independence, unique among Cabinet members, is designed to insulate questions of law from inappropriate political pressure, and presidents and attorneys general who have violated that standard have typically paid a grave price for doing so.
The legality of the underlying executive order is hotly debated. Four federal judges have already halted the administration from enforcing various aspects of it, and people affected by the ban continue to bring new lawsuits. The Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel did apparently approve the order on the narrow basis of form and legality, but since the Trump administration has not released a copy of the offices opinion or answered questions about whether it raised any objections, we do not know the extent of its analysis.
Yates clearly had profound doubts about the orders legality. In her letter to Justice Department employees, she implied that Trumps references in interviews and tweets to giving preferential treatment to Christian refugees revealed the orders true discriminatory intent, something that would render it unlawful.
But whatever one thinks about the executive order, the more fundamental issue is that in this case the decision whether to defend it in court rested not with the president, but with the attorney general. When Yates raised her objections to the order, she noted that she remained open to being convinced of its legality. The White House, which did not consult with her or other Cabinet members in drafting the order, could have worked with her to make changes that would satisfy her concerns about its legality. Instead, the president chose crisis and chaos.
The White Houses statement announcing her firing revealed the political nature of Trumps decision. It accused Yates a career prosecutor with 25 years experience of putting violent criminals behind bars of having betrayed the Justice Department. Instead of even attempting to wrestle with any questions of the attorney generals proper role, the White House attacked Yates as being weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.
Earlier on Monday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer had announced that career State Department officials who disagreed with the presidents immigration order should either get with the program or they can go. In its attack on Yates, the White House made clear the president expects the same level of quiet obeisance from his attorney general.
This is not the first time that Trump has shown he does not respect the Justice Departments independence. During the campaign, he promised to appoint a special counsel to prosecute Hillary Clinton, and as president-elect he waded into the departments territory again, saying he changed his mind and would not prosecute her. Neither statement was appropriate. Those decisions, like other decisions about investigative matters, are to be made solely at the Justice Department without White House pressure.
This disrespect for the departments traditional independence would be troubling from any president, but it is especially so from one whose campaign associates are currently under investigation for possible ties to Russian interference in the election. The next attorney general will oversee that investigation and be charged with executing it faithfully. He or she will also be charged with probing any accusations of corruption inside the Trump administration, or whether at any point the presidents vast business holdings which he refuses to divest lead him to violate federal bribery or conflict-of-interest statutes.
The ability of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Trumps nominee for attorney general, to decide these matters fairly was already under question. Sessions was not just a Trump supporter during the election, but also an active and official member of Trumps campaign, serving as chair of its national security advisory committee. Nevertheless, he has refused to commit to recusing himself from the Justice Departments investigation into Trump campaign members despite department rules that clearly require him to do so.
Trumps actions on Monday have now raised the ante for the Senate. Recusal might have previously been enough to put to rest concerns about Sessionss independence, but now that Trump has made clear he expects his attorney general to follow orders without questioning them, the Senate must respond by rejecting that notion and showing it will confirm only someone who is truly independent. Sessions does not clear that bar.
There is no law that establishes the Justice Departments independence. Like many democratic norms, it has rested on faithful adherence by committed public servants, attorneys who are willing to make independent judgments, and the oversight of Congress and the free press. Trump just made clear that he does not respect this tradition. It now falls to the rest of us to show that we do.
Early in World War II, my friends father put on his Civil Defense helmet and scanned the Coney Island beach for the arrival of German saboteurs. Maybe because he was so alert, Nazis never landed near the roller coaster, but on the West Coast similar no-shows nevertheless produced a panic. Soon enough, U.S. citizens and noncitizens of Japanese descent were incarcerated in detention camps. I cite this history to assure you that Trumps anti-immigrant snit has a precedent. We have been this stupid before.
But never for less reason. After all, the men who watched Brooklyns night sky knew the United States was at war. Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor, and at least eight Nazis got to the East Coast, where two chose to surrender, the others were captured and all but the first two were executed. The panic was not totally without cause.
If there was panic this time, the cause was not terrorism, but Trumps klutzy efforts to deal with it. Trump has arbitrarily barred citizens of seven mostly Muslim countries from entering the United States. To cite just one of those countries Yemen no one can name a Yemenite who has carried out a terrorist attack here. But to cite another mostly Muslim country, Saudi Arabia, a child can tell you that it is where 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists came from. Yet, Saudi Arabia is not on the list. It happens to be where Trump has business interests.
The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, looked into the matter of terrorist threats and came up with risk figures that seem taken from an astronomy textbook, including a 1 in 3.64 billion chance per year of an American citizen being killed by a refugee-turned-terrorist. David Miliband, a former British foreign secretary who clearly has a head for numbers, put it this way in a New York Times essay: An American is far more likely to be killed by lightning. Trump, Im sure, will get to lightning in due course.
The headline on Milibands piece branded Trumps new policy as Un-American. But this is surely wrong. Our country undergoes periodic episodes of extreme intolerance and fear of foreigners, refugees in particular. Not only were people of Japanese descent placed in internment camps during World War II, but so were some Italians and Germans. About the same time, the government with immense public support was keeping out Jews and others who were fleeing Hitler. The government has since apologized and paid compensation to surviving Japanese internees, but the vein of ugliness has resurfaced. Michael Flynn Jr., son of Trumps national security adviser, tweeted the other day: Give me ur tired, ur poor, Ur huddled masses yearning 2 breathe free. Its OUR time as Americans to BREATHE FREE! WERE TIRED! His Twitter account has since been deleted.
(Dalton Bennett,Erin Patrick O'Connor,Katherine Shaver,Monica Akhtar,McKenna Ewen/The Washington Post)
Flynn the younger does not speak for the Trump administration, but he seems to have caught its zeitgeist. Our old immigration laws were largely based on crackpot ideas of eugenics and national character that Trump, in some cases, has revived. In his campaign, he referred to Mexicans as rapists, and he is now prepared to build a wall to keep them all out of the country, even though few of them are coming. He is turning out to be adept at solving problems that dont exist.
A former government official I consulted was just plain appalled at what Trump is doing. He pronounced the present system tight, rigorous and safe. Refugees are vetted and then vetted some more. It can take up to three years to gain admittance to this country. Nonetheless, Trump is imposing his new policies as if hordes of terrorists are heading toward Vegas when instead some refugees are seeking to rejoin their families. The new executive order is not only foolish, it is mean, too.
We have seen something alarming and a bit frightening over the past several days. The Trump administration is inept and indifferent to the suffering it might cause. Even if a new policy is needed, Trumps people have no idea of how to implement it and the White House seems similarly oblivious to the damage it is doing to the United States image.
Now the world is on notice. The Statue of Liberty, a charming French idea, is being mocked. We will deal cruelly and arbitrarily with refugees, responding to an emergency that does not exist, currying favor with the mob and setting the nation on a new course. Ronald Reagan, quoting the Puritan John Winthrop, referred to America as that shining city upon a hill. It took Trump barely a week to tarnish it.
Read more from Richard Cohens archive.
President Trump has narrowed his potential Supreme Court nominees to two, and both were reportedly called to Washington before he announces his choice Tuesday night in a televised prime-time event at the White House.
CNN reported that Judge Neil Gorsuch of Colorado was already in Washington and that Judge Thomas M. Hardiman was on his way from Pittsburgh. There was no comment from the White House about why both men were needed in the capital, but social media exploded with satirical comparisons to Trumps television show The Apprentice as well as to The Bachelor.
Gorsuch, 49, and Hardiman, 51, have emerged as Trumps most likely choices. A third person on the shortlist Judge William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama has seen his chances diminish as some Senate Republican leaders have said his confirmation would be difficult.
Pryors outspokenness about overturning Roe v. Wade and other controversial remarks when he was Alabamas attorney general made even his confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit a years-long ordeal.
By comparison, Gorsuch was confirmed a decade ago to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver on a voice vote, and Hardiman was approved unanimously by the Senate for a spot on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia.
(The Washington Post)
Neither would have such a comfortable ride to the Supreme Court. Democrats are furious that the Republican-led Senate refused to hold even a hearing on the man then-President Barack Obama nominated to fill the seat of the late justice Antonin Scalia, who died almost a year ago. Judge Merrick Garlands nomination lapsed with the new Congress.
Democrats feel that the seat was stolen, and some have pledged to try to block a vote on Trumps nominee, no matter who it is. I wont be complicit in this theft, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote in an email to supporters. There is only one person in America who is a legitimate selection: Judge Merrick Garland.
Other Democrats arent likely to make such a bold move. But there were already signs that things wont be particularly cozy: Trump invited senior Democratic senators to the White House for a reception to meet his Supreme Court pick, but they declined the invitation, according to senior aides.
Groups supporting Trumps selection are getting to work as well. The conservative Judicial Crisis Network will launch an ad buy within minutes of the presidents announcement, the first phase of a $10 million effort on behalf of the nominee.
The ads will attempt to put pressure on senators in states that Trump won, including Missouri, Indiana and North Dakota. Websites are under construction for Hardiman and Gorsuch.
The Judicial Crisis Networks Carrie Severino said her organization will be happy with whichever candidate Trump picks from a list that was developed by conservative think tanks and legal organizations.
President Trump is in a great position choosing off this list of judges, Severino said. Its like being an admissions officer at Harvard: You have a bunch of people with 4.0 GPAs and 1600 on the SAT, and you can pick whether youd rather have the concert pianist, the math prodigy or the kid who formed an Internet start-up at age 18.
Ed OKeefe contributed to this report.
Mar-a-Lago, President Trumps private club in Palm Beach, Fla., will be the site of a Red Cross charity gala and protests this Saturday. Trump also plans to spend the weekend at the Winter White House. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
The forecast calls for some heat at the Winter White House this weekend.
The guests who descend on President Trumps private Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Saturday night for the American Red Crosss annual fundraising gala will be met with protesters opposed to Trumps policies at home and abroad.
This years white-tie charity ball comes with an additional twist: Trump happens to be spending the weekend at his private club, which his press secretary dubbed the Winter White House Tuesday during his news briefing. And the Red Cross is already offering relief to individuals affected by Trumps executive order on Friday, which implemented a 120-day ban on all refugees trying to enter the United States and a temporary ban on individuals from seven majority-Muslim countries. The order indefinitely bans all refugees from Syria.
Mar-a-Lago Trumps well-manicured, palm-tree-lined resort on Floridas southeast coast has long hosted the international relief groups ball, with little controversy.
Elizabeth Penniman, the groups vice president of communications, said this years event was booked many, many months in advance. She declined to comment on whether the Red Cross, which is not a political organization, would have selected Trumps private club knowing he would be president.
Then president-elect Donald Trump talks to members of the media after a meeting with military leadership at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 21. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
We are grateful to all those attending this event and appreciate their generous donations, which will help those affected by disasters, supply much-needed blood to patients and hospitals, teach life-saving skills, support our military and their families, and provide international humanitarian aid, Penniman said in an email statement. President Donald J. Trump has attended the International Red Cross Ball in the past, and we appreciate his support for our work.
A Facebook page for the protest, which calls itself the March to Mar-a-Lago for Humanity, already has more than 1,000 people who say they plan to attend and nearly 4,000 who say they are interested in attending.
The protests Facebook page says organizers planned the march because they say they believe the aid organizations choice of venue a Trump-owned property contradicts the Red Crosss mission of alleviating human suffering.
The Muslim ban, moratorium on accepting Syrian refugees, immigrant deportation policy, stance on reproductive rights, etc. will cause AVOIDABLE suffering around the world, reads the Facebook post, which also suggests that the Trump administration will marginalize women, minorities, immigrants, Muslims, Jews and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The ball will feature fireworks, and the protest urges demonstrators to bring glow sticks and flashlights, among other luminescent gadgets. We want to shine so bright, we will be seen from afar and from above, reads the Facebook post.
It remains unclear, however, if Trump himself will attend the party; a White House spokeswoman did not respond to requests about Trumps specific schedule this weekend.
The gala, where more than 500 guest are anticipated, will mark the Red Crosss 60th annual charity ball. Penniman noted that Marjorie Merriweather Post hosted the original event at Mar-a-Lago, which was then her property, and the charity ball usually finds a home either there or at the Breakers the two largest venues in Palm Beach.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, right, confers with the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. on Capitol Hill in Washington. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Despite pleas from Democrats, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee agenda for the next two years includes no planned inquiries into the Trump organizations global entanglements and the potential for conflicts of interset.
Instead, the 43 items listed in a proposed agenda for the GOP-led panel includes a look at District of Columbia spending, cyber security policy at federal agencies and reform at the Office of Government Ethics, which had previously been critical of Trumps failure to divest himself of potential conflicts.
The committees chair, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), said the panel considered investigative priorities from Democrats and adopted many of them.
Democrats proposed several Trump-related investigations in different formats, they said. But so far, they said Chaffetz has expressed more interest in non-Trump inquiries, including a recent letter to the FBI asking for more detail about Hillary Clintons email operations. Another asked about the conduct of the director of the Office of Government Ethics, who was critical of Trumps decision not to divest his personal holdings.
There is great irony here, said ranking Democrat Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). The very first letter to come out of our Committee regarding the Trump Administrations conflicts of interest was the Chairmans letter attacking the head of the Office of Government ethics for raising concerns about the president refusal to divest.
The partisan differences over the agenda of the Oversight Committee the Houses main investigative body are expected to emerge publicly Tuesday at a hearing to discuss priorities in the 115th Congress.
In the agenda distributed Monday, Republicans proposed investigations into health care and entitlement programs, federal grantmaking and the operation of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Democrats are expected to reiterate their interest in three areas related to the Trump administration they proposed to Republicans on Monday.
First, they suggested the committee probe foreign funds or other benefits received by any businesses owned by the president to protect against violations of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids presidents from obtaining any benefit from foreign government entities without the consent of Congress.
Second, Democrats asked that the panel examine reports of funding or other benefits received by the president and his businesses from Russian individuals or entities. The proposal, provided to the Post by the committees Democratic staff, specifically calls for review of communications between Russian officials or entities and the Presidents advisors and associates, including contacts with Trumps national security adviser, Michael Flynn.
Finally, the Democrats want the panel to review the presidents apparent breach of his companys lease with the General Services Administration for the Trump Hotel in the Old Post Office Building. The lease prohibits elected officials from being a party to the transaction.
Last week, Cummings reminded his colleagues that he often joined with Republicans to investigate the Obama administration, signing 740 letters with Republicans to pursue such probes. We conducted bipartisan investigation of the Secret Service, law enforcement agencies, monitoring the cell phyones of American citizens, sexual misconduct at the National Park Service, and leadership problems at the Chemical Safety Board.
I know Republicans are not going to investigate President Trump with the same urgency that they investigated President Obama and Secretary Clinto for the past eight years. But our oversight cannot be non-existent.
Chaffetz said in a statement provided to The Post that his team has listened to Democrats concerns and adopted many of them. We exercised a high level of flexibility when incorporating the priorities of members on both sides of the aisle into our oversight plan. Over the last two years weve earned a reputation of working with democrats and will continue to do so moving forward.
Thats not Cummings view. Unfortunately, I have been extremely saddened by what we have seen since the election, he said.
The falsehood took root a week ago, when President Trump claimed in a private Jan. 23 meeting with top congressional leaders that between 3 million and 5 million undocumented immigrants illegally voted in Novembers election.
From there, the infection spread, strengthened with faulty evidence and scattered anecdotes: A congressman offered his own estimate of 2.4 million illegally registered voters. The White House press secretary misrepresented the findings of a study and suggested, with no evidence, that fraud happens in big states, very populous states and urban areas. Other Republicans pointed to an investigation of a small batch of voter registrations in Virginia, convictions for vote-buying in local races in Kentucky and a false statistic about voter turnout in Pennsylvania being suspiciously high in 2012.
Within days, the stray comment at a reception a variation on a false claim Trump had been making for months led to the presidents call for an investigation, plans for an executive order and a promise from Vice President Pence to Republicans that the administration would initiate a full evaluation of voting rolls.
The voter fraud canard was just one in a rush of falsehoods that poured from Trump and his advisers during his first 10 days in office. There were also claims that the crowd on the Mall for his inauguration was the largest ever (it wasnt); that readership at the New York Times is falling (not true, the newspaper says); that there is an unprecedented surge of illegal migrants (the number has stabilized after decades of growth); and that a newly implemented travel ban is similar to actions that President Barack Obama took in 2011 (its not).
The rapid dissemination of such easily refutable claims shows how Trumps administration will be unlike any other and how comments rooted in conspiracy theories instead of facts can now become the basis for official government policy.
I would urge the president to knock this off, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) said soon after Trumps igniting comment. This is going to erode his ability to govern this country if he does not stop it.
Tuesday, Jan. 24, about 10 a.m.: In an MSNBC interview, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said its plausible that 2.4 million undocumented immigrants are registered to vote, based on his own calculations. King said a gateway to illegal voting is registering for a drivers license, which some states allow undocumented immigrants to do.
Maybe they dont understand the language, maybe they understand. They can be signed up anyway, King said. But some of them go in and vote. Im completely convinced of that.
During a 10 a.m. news conference: House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) seemed annoyed when the topic came up.
Look, Ive already commented on that, Ryan said. Ive seen no evidence to that effect, and Ive made that very, very clear.
During the 1:30 p.m. White House briefing: Press secretary Sean Spicer claimed that the president said 3 to 5 million people couldve voted illegally, instead of what the president actually said, which was that millions of illegal ballots were actually cast. Spicer said the president has studies and evidence that people have presented to him.
Theres one that came out of Pew in 2008 that showed 14 percent of people who voted were noncitizens, Spicer said. He seemed to be referring instead to a widely criticized study by Old Dominion University professors, who used data from 2008 and 2010 and found that 14 percent of the noncitizens in their small samples said they were registered to vote.
A 2012 study from the Pew Center on the States revealed the sloppiness of many voter rolls, but that study found no evidence that this led to fraudulent votes being cast.
During a 2 p.m. news conference on Capitol Hill: A reporter asked top Republicans in the Senate if it is true that millions of illegal ballots were cast in November.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) responded: On the whole issue of election fraud, which our Democratic colleagues always argue is just a fiction, there are people literally in jail in Kentucky for this kind of activity. It does occur.
Kentucky has a long history of local officials paying people to vote for them, leading to several convictions including three county officials who were sentenced to prison time in December. These cases involved local races, not widespread fraud in a presidential election. The National Association of Secretaries of State said that afternoon that it is not aware of any evidence that supports the voter fraud claims made by President Trump.
Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7:10 a.m.: The president started tweeting.
I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and . . . , Trump tweeted in his first message, then adding in a second: even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!
Meanwhile: Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) was on CNN and asked to respond.
Its always important to make sure we dont have illegal votes. We know we have them, Collins said, without providing evidence. We dont check ID when somebody comes to vote. We have states where, you know, illegal immigrants can get a license and automatically be signed up to vote. We should have American citizens voting.
About 8 a.m.: Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Tex.) was on CNN and claimed there are places, for instance, in and around Pennsylvania where 110 percent of the voters turn out.
But that is not people who are here illegally, he said. It is not about illegals.
Sessionss staff has yet to explain the congressmans claim. He may have conflated two examples that were included in a widely circulated web post about the 2012 election that contained made-up or misconstrued statistics.
At the 1 p.m. White House briefing: Spicer suggested that fraud is happening in big states, very populous states and urban areas. He didnt provide any evidence.
I dont want to start throwing out numbers but theres a lot of people that are dead that are on rolls, there are people that are voting in two places or that are on the rolls in two different states, sometimes in three different states, Spicer said.
That doesnt mean those people are voting two or three times. Several people close to Trump are registered in two states: Daughter Tiffany Trump is registered in Pennsylvania and New York. Son-in-law Jared Kushner is registered in New Jersey and New York. Chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon is registered in Florida and New York. And Spicer is registered in Virginia and Rhode Island.
(Erin Patrick O'Connor/The Washington Post)
After 10 p.m. that night: ABC News aired an interview with the president, who said there are millions of votes cast by dead people, illegals and those registered in two or three states. He pointed to the Pew report as evidence, even though it does not contain that conclusion. He also insisted that none of these illegal votes were cast for him.
They all voted for Hillary. They didnt vote for me, Trump said, according to a transcript. I dont believe I got one.
There are only a handful of documented cases of fraud from the November election, including a woman in Iowa who tried to vote for Trump twice, a man in Texas who claimed to be an employee of Trumps campaign, and a Republican in Illinois.
Thursday, Jan. 26, about 7 a.m.: White House aide Kellyanne Conway appeared on NBCs Today show and insisted that Tiffany Trump is not registered in two states, even though there is documentation showing she is.
I talked last night with Tiffany Trump, and she said it is flatly false, Conway said.
About 8 a.m: On CNN, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) said the United States has a long history of voter fraud.
Just this election cycle, in my congressional district, an organization affiliated with the Democratic Party was registering dead people to vote, Goodlatte said. So this is something that does need to be examined.
Authorities are investigating 19 voter applications collected by the group HarrisonburgVOTES that contained the names of people who had died, including the late father of a local judge. The incident is being blamed on a college student who worked for the group, which describes itself as nonpartisan.
Lunchtime: Aboard Air Force One, Spicer told reporters the president might sign an executive order related to voter fraud that afternoon.
Later that afternoon: Pence met privately with Republican lawmakers in Philadelphia and took a question from Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.).
In my first election in 1982, Democrats rigged about 25 percent of the voting machines to vote for everyone on the ballot but me. Thats 11 of 45 machines, Brooks said, according to a recording obtained by The Washington Post.
Brookss office provided The Post with three newspaper clippings from 1982 showing there were reports of voting machine irregularities on Election Day and that the FBI was asked to investigate. There is no evidence available to confirm that such an investigation occurred.
Now, decades later, Brooks accused authorities of having opened a huge floodgate for illegals and others to register to vote.
Pence responded: What I can tell you is that I would anticipate that the administration is going to initiate a full evaluation of voting rules in the country, the overall integrity of our voting system in the wake of this past election.
At 4:52 p.m.: The White House postponed the presidents signing ceremony.
Friday, Jan. 27, 8:12 a.m.: The president tweeted: Look forward to seeing final results of VoteStand. Gregg Phillips and crew say at least 3,000,000 votes were illegal. We must do better!
Phillips claims to have a database of 180 million voter registrations that he says includes 3 million people who are not citizens but voters. He has repeatedly refused to provide evidence.
Monday at the 1:30 p.m. White House briefing: The controversy over alleged voter fraud was quickly drowned out in recent days by controversy over Trumps new executive order on immigration. Trump has yet to sign an executive order related to voter fraud. Aides say they are still working out the details.
Yes, yes, we still have plans to do that, Spicer told reporters.
Mike DeBonis, Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.
The nominee for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, speaks during her confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 17. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
President Trumps nominee for education secretary, in written responses to questions from senators, appears to have used several sentences and phrases from other sources without attribution including from a top Obama administration civil rights official.
The responses from nominee Betsy DeVos were submitted Monday to the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which voted Tuesday morning to send her confirmation to the full Senate for final approval.
In answering a set of questions from Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) on how she would address bullying of LGBT students, DeVos wrote: Every child deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive environment where they can learn, thrive, and grow.
[Here are Betsys DeVoss answers to 139+ questions from Democratic Sen. Murray]
That sentence is almost identical to language used by Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Departments civil rights division under President Barack Obama, in a news release announcing the administrations controversial guidance to schools on how to accommodate transgender students.
(Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions)
Every child deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive environment that allows them to thrive and grow, Gupta said in the May 2016 release.
Rob Goad, a White House education adviser, said in an email: This is character assassination. The secretary designate has long been referencing the need for safe and supportive learning environments, free of discrimination, for all students, so that they can learn, achieve, thrive, grow and lead successful productive lives. To level an accusation against her about these words included in responses to nearly 1,400 questions 139 alone from the ranking member is simply a desperate attempt to discredit Betsy DeVos, who will serve the Department of Education and our nations children with distinction if confirmed.
The revelation comes as Democrats are making an all-out push against key Trump nominees including DeVos, attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), treasury secretary nominee Steve Mnuchin, and others. But Democrats cannot block those confirmations unless they can persuade a handful of Republicans to break with the new president.
DeVos has come under withering scrutiny from Democrats who have raised concerns about her advocacy for school privatization initiatives, her financial ties to the education industry and the seemingly weak grasp of federal civil rights laws she demonstrated at her confirmation hearing this month.
Murray made reference to the apparent copying in remarks at the committee vote.
(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)
This nominee is being jammed through with corners being cut and with the minority being brushed aside, she said. We just received responses to hundreds of written questions yesterday, less than 24 hours before this scheduled vote, and with no time to fully review and ask any follow-up questions. Though, I will say, upon initial review, many of the responses look copied and pasted from previous statements or are simple reiterations of the law and no true responses at all.
Murray also appears to have used language from other sources without attribution in at least two questions she asked of DeVos. One question about personnel shortages in special education included six sentences that match verbatim language from a factsheet published by the National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services.
Another question, about DeVoss stance on resolving student complaints about distance-education programs, included several phrases that match language in a 2016 Education Department press release.
Senator Murray and Committee staff work closely with constituents and education advocates to make sure that the people she represents have a voice in this process and have their questions and concerns addressed by the nominees, said Eli Zupnick, a spokesman for Murray. As questions and ideas from advocates and education groups were pulled in by staff for the written questions for the record, a number of lines were included in the final product that did not include proper citation to their original source.
In a set of questions about her views on lesbian, gay and bisexual students, including about whether transgender students should be able to use bathrooms that match their gender identity, DeVos answered: Every student deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive environment where they can learn, achieve and thrive and are not discriminated against. Period.
That language is similar to language appearing in an article in a magazine published by ASCD, an organization devoted to education leadership.
The article outlines what educators can do to create schools that are supportive of transgender students, and concludes: You as an educator and an ally can dramatically shift the school climate to one that is safe, supportive, and inclusive: a place where all students can learn, achieve, and thrive.
In other instances, answers that DeVos submitted in Murray in her 62-page response used text verbatim from federal statutes and Education Department materials without direct quotation.
In one response, to a question about whether she would continue the practice of publishing a list of schools under Title IX civil rights investigations, DeVos said, Opening a complaint for investigation in no way implies that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has made a determination about the merits of the complaint.
That language mirrors an Education Department website: Opening a complaint for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a determination with regard to the merits of the complaint.
Other responses refer to a requirement that the departments assistant secretary for civil rights make an annual report to the Secretary, the President, and the Congress summarizing the compliance and enforcement activities of the departments Office of Civil Rights and that the assistant secretary is authorized to collect or coordinate the collection of data necessary to ensure compliance with civil rights laws within the jurisdiction of the civil rights office.
Those are verbatim excerpts of a 1979 federal statute, but the law is not quoted or cited.
Read more at PowerPost
For hours, the intruder strolled around what should have been one of the most tightly secured buildings in the country.
Inside the Loews Hotel in downtown Philadelphia at various points Thursday were President Trump, Vice President Pence, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and scores of other Republican members of Congress. Reporters were kept out, and only a few select staffers, family members and outsiders were allowed to participate in the private GOP policy retreat.
But at least one unauthorized person made it inside, and while it is unclear to what degree the countrys top leaders were in physical danger, their circle of trust was undoubtedly breached.
[Behind closed doors, GOP lawmakers fret about how to repeal Obamacare]
A person secretly recorded closed sessions on national security and health care that were attended by many dozens of GOP lawmakers. They had gathered for a private discussion of some of the thorniest legislative issues of the moment, as well as a question-and-answer session with Pence.
(Obtained by The Washington Post)
The recordings were anonymously emailed that night to reporters for The Washington Post and other news outlets that published stories exposing qualms inside the GOP over the partys plans to roll back the Democratic health-care overhaul and a looming debate between defense hawks and advocates of fiscal rectitude. Pence, meanwhile, made news by committing to pursue an investigation into unfounded accusations of widespread voter fraud.
The identity of the source of the recordings is not known; the individual communicated with The Post anonymously via email. The Post reported the contents of the recordings after confirming their authenticity with quoted lawmakers or their staffs.
Several lawmakers said they were outraged by the infiltration and have demanded answers on how an interloper made it inside Republicans sanctum sanctorum.
Members want to be able to have a candid discussion about issues in that setting, said Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.). I have to think most of my colleagues are very upset about how this could have happened.
Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) said: If someone can get in and we dont know who it is, they could have gotten in and been a dangerous person. Just from the security standpoint, thats not good.
On Tuesday, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), chair of the House Republican Conference, told Republicans in a private meeting on Capitol Hill that an active criminal investigation was underway and that police were close to determining the identity of the intruder.
The president of the Congressional Institute, the private nonprofit group tied to Republican lobbyists that organizes the retreat each year, told lawmakers in an email late Saturday that an unauthorized person infiltrated the retreat Thursday for nearly 11 hours using counterfeit credentials. The intruder was later ejected.
The woman misrepresented herself on multiple occasions to retreat organizers as the spouse of an elected official, wrote the groups president, Mark Strand.
We are working closely with Capitol Police to ascertain the identity of the woman in question, he added. In the meantime, we have already initiated efforts to develop new security protocols in order to better protect the internal nature of these meetings moving forward.
The email did not indicate whether the woman who was ejected was the person who made the recordings. Strand declined to comment further, citing a very active police investigation.
Also unclear is whether the intruder or intruders could have posed a physical threat to Trump, Pence or lawmakers. Strand, in his email to members, said the woman who was ejected entered the event through the same security checkpoints as every other attendee (i.e. magnetometers, police checkpoints, etc.).
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police, which had primary responsibility for security at the event, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
U.S. Secret Service spokeswoman Cathy Milhoan said the agencys Philadelphia field office was assisting with the matter. Trump and Pence, she added, were not in physical danger although at least one of the recordings appears to have been made while Pence was in the room.
The USSS relies on a multilayered security approach, and we are confident in the protection operation for the president and vice president, Milhoan said.
Should the intruder be identified, the person could face charges under local trespassing or wiretapping laws. In Pennsylvania, it is a felony crime to record a conversation unless all of the recorded parties consent though that applies only if a person speaks under the expectation that the remarks will not be recorded under circumstances justifying such expectation.
Cameron Kline, a spokesman for the Philadelphia district attorneys office, declined to comment, citing an office policy not to confirm, deny or otherwise discuss pending investigations.
Top congressional leaders, meanwhile, have been forced to reassure their colleagues that their private deliberations will remain that way.
McMorris Rodgers said in a statement Saturday she was pleased the matter was under investigation.
Leaks from internal member discussions are unacceptable, she said, adding that these conversations are intended to allow members to candidly discuss how to address the issues facing the American people.
Carol Leonnig contributed to this report.
Read more at PowerPost
Democrats intensified their opposition to President Trump on Tuesday by further delaying the confirmations of several of his Cabinet nominees, prompting a bitter showdown with Republicans who accused them of paralyzing the formation of a new administration.
First, Democrats boycotted a Senate committee scheduled to take two votes, one on Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), Trumps nominee for secretary of health and human services, and the other on Steve Mnuchin, his choice to lead the treasury. Then, they blocked a vote on Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Trumps nominee for attorney general.
The theatrics reflected growing concern over Trumps travel ban for refugees and foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, an order issued Friday with virtually no consultation with top government officials or senior lawmakers. In blocking Sessions, Democrats also cited the presidents firing Monday night of acting attorney general Sally Yates for refusing to defend the ban.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-
Calif.) and other Democrats strongly defended Yates against Trumps claim that she had betrayed the Justice Department. Yatess defiance of Trump took guts, Feinstein said.
That statement said what an independent attorney general should do. That statement took a steel spine to stand up and say no.
(Alice Li,Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post)
I have no confidence that Sen. Sessions will do that, she added. Instead, he has been the fiercest, most dedicated and most loyal promoter in Congress of the Trump agenda.
Democrats alone lack the votes needed to block any of Trumps nominees from taking office and there are no signs of Republican opposition to any of his picks. In fact, Republicans lashed out at Democrats for what they described as partisan, obstructionist moves.
It is time to get over the fact that they lost the election, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said. The president is entitled to have his Cabinet appointments considered. None of this is going to lead to a different outcome.
That did nothing to tamp down enthusiasm among liberal activists and some Democratic lawmakers to mount a fierce resistance to Trumps priorities. On the 12th day of Trumps presidency, Democrats said they now plan to match growing anger in the streets by exhausting every mechanism at their disposal even if it still results in Trumps nominees taking office.
Democrats are going to keep fighting back, said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). We are going to stand with people across the country. And we will keep pushing Republicans to put country above party, and stand with us.
That stance was met with praise from liberal activists, labor unions and constituents, who have been pressuring Democrats to mount more resistance to Trump.
Were seeing someone who came into office with a historic popular vote loss come in and push a radical, unconstitutional agenda, said Kurt Walters, the campaign director of the transparency group Demand Progress. Yes, radical and bold tactics are what senators should be using in response.
During a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats criticized Trump for firing Yates and said that they would vote against Sessions out of concern that he would never similarly defy Trump in the face of a potentially unconstitutional act. Then they invoked an arcane rule to block the committee from holding a roll-call vote on the nomination, forcing Republicans to postpone the vote until Wednesday.
In a nearby hearing room, the Senate Finance Committee convened to vote on Mnuchin and Price. Democrats boycotted that meeting entirely, denying Republicans a necessary quorum and forcing them to reschedule both votes.
They had less success delaying confirmations elsewhere. They tried once again to stall a committee vote to advance Trumps pick for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, but Republicans prevailed on a party-line vote despite new revelations that her written responses to hundreds of questions from committee members appeared to include passages from uncited sources.
[DeVos questionnaire appears to include passages from uncited sources]
Senators also confirmed Elaine Chao to serve as Trumps transportation secretary by a vote of 93 to 6 although, in a sign of a new level of toxicity, Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) was among six members of the Democratic caucus who voted against her. Chao, who is also McConnells wife, is the first transportation secretary ever to earn no votes, according to a C-SPAN review of Senate records.
Additionally, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the nominations of former Texas governor Rick Perry to be energy secretary and Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) to be interior secretary both with bipartisan majorities, sending them to the full Senate for final up-or-down votes.
Developments in the Judiciary and Finance committees, however, signaled how defiant Democrats remain in stalling Trumps nominees. Most of the drama unfolded along a fluorescent-lit hallway on the second floor of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Finance Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) sat at the dais with just three other Republican senators at the start of his hearing. Having just come from the Judiciary Committee, Hatch told his colleagues, Jeff Sessions isnt treated much better than these fellas are.
Some of this is just because they dont like the president, Hatch said, later adding that Democrats ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots.
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) agreed. I think this is unconscionable, he said.
We did not inflict this kind of obstructionism on President Obama, added Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.), the only other senator in the room. He added that the Democrats were committing a completely unprecedented level of obstruction. This is not what the American people expect of the United States Senate.
In fact, in 2013, Republicans similarly boycotted a Senate committees vote on Gina McCarthy to serve as former president Barack Obamas Environmental Protection Agency administrator. Senators said at the time that she had refused to answer their questions about transparency in the agency. Republicans did it again that year to one of Obamas nominees to serve as a deputy secretary of homeland security. And throughout 2016, they blocked a hearing for Obamas nominee to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland.
Aware of the growing national anger with Trumps travel ban, Democratic senators began mulling their options over the weekend, aides said. In a series of interviews on Monday, Schumer threatened to jam the Senate calendar if Trump did not revoke his order or if Republicans did not allow a vote on legislation that would rescind it.
Senate Democrats, were the accountability, Schumer boasted in an interview with Spanish-
language network Univision.
Strategy discussions continued late into Monday night and coincided with two developments: first, Trumps dramatic decision to fire Yates and a Wall Street Journal report on a discounted stock purchase by Price.
A series of stock buys Price made in an Australian company, Innate Immunotherapeutics, has brought Democratic scrutiny for weeks. In 2016, he received a discounted price for his purchases as part of a private offering made to only a certain number of investors; the questions have been whether he received certain insider information from Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), a company board member and its largest investor, and whether he got a special price when he bought $50,000 to $100,000 in shares last year.
The Journal reported Monday that Price received a privileged offer that he had mischaracterized in the hearings when he said they were available to every single individual that was an investor at the time.
Innate Immunotherapeutics chief executive Simon Wilkinson told The Washington Post on Monday that Price received the same 12 percent discount as about 620 shareholders in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), the ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee, told reporters that Prices statements contradicted those by Wilkinson and other company officials.
At a minimum, Wyden said, I believe the committee should postpone this vote and talk to company officials.
On Tuesday, shortly before the Finance Committee hearing began, committee Democrats huddled in Wydens office and agreed to boycott the meeting.
They also voiced several concerns about Mnuchin: He initially misstated his personal wealth on a financial disclosure form, and he misstated under oath how OneWest Bank, a bank he led as chairman and chief executive officer, scrutinized mortgage documents.
In some ways, were doing President Trump a favor, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said in explaining the boycott. If these nominees had been confirmed, and then these stories broke about how they lied, how they made money on foreclosures, how they made money off of sketchy health-care stock trades, this would have been a major scandal for the administration. Now its just a problem we can fix.
In the Judiciary hearing, Republicans defended Sessions but said little about Trumps executive order. Democrats ended the hearing by using the obscure two-hour rule that permits either party to stop committees from meeting beyond the first two hours of the Senates official day. During the Obama administration, Republicans used the same rule against Democratic Cabinet nominees.
[ Here are Betsys DeVoss answers to 139+ questions from Democratic Sen. Murray ]
Then senators toiled over the actual vote on DeVoss nomination. Democrats complained that the vote should not count because Hatch a committee member who was simultaneously dealing with events in the Judiciary and Finance meetings was allowed to submit a proxy vote. After a recess and several minutes of heated argument, Republicans ordered a new vote with Hatch in the room and approved DeVos along party lines, 12 to 11.
Hatch, the longest-serving Republican senator, later marveled at having to rush back and forth between three contentious hearings.
I lost some weight here today, he quipped.
Further delays and high-level vacancies across federal agencies could have far-reaching consequences. Some Republicans complained that the slowdown of Prices confirmation is hampering Republican plans to begin repealing the Affordable Care Act.
Amy Goldstein, Kimberly Kindy and David Weigel contributed to this report.
Read more at PowerPost
Holly Ridge is a development in Glen Burnie, Md., that will have 42 single-family houses and 55 townhouses. The houses range from about 2,300 square feet to almost 3,000. (Benjamin C. Tankersley/For The Washington Post)
Obed and Janecia Moreau began looking for a home a couple of years ago but took a break. It wasnt until their second round of house-hunting last year that they found the right place.
Obed and Janecia Moreau were among the first buyers to settle on a single-family house in the Holly Ridge subdivision in Glen Burnie, Md.They sealed the deal a week after Christmas and just in time to celebrate the New Year.
It was a very good Christmas present to us, said Janecia.
The couple have lived in the Washington region for 12 years, relocating from Florida. They visited the Anne Arundel County community last year.. and the sales agent took them to see houses by the same builder in other nearby areas. But the Moreaus liked the size and location of the community.
Its in a nice intimate setting and in a really good location for all of the major highways, she said.
[Condos near Anacostia River make the most of square footage]
Thats one of the things that Tim Bates, president of the Mid-Atlantic Division of the developments builder, CalAtlantic Homes, said makes the community special. He said buyers perceive the community as quainter than some of the other larger and more dense developments theyve visited.
The other thing they really like at Holly Ridge is that most of the home sites, if not all of the home sites, back up to forest conservation area, he said. Just that green space to them is a big advantage given the fact that our buyer demographic is proving out to be a fair number of families and young couples planning families.
Once completed, Holly Ridge will have 42 single-family houses and 55 townhouses, Bates said. He said eventually there will also be villa houses available for sale with a size and price point between the single-family and townhouses.
1 of 15 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Buying New | CalAtlantic Homes at Holly Ridge View Photos The single-family houses are priced from $414,990 to $459,990. Caption The single-family houses are priced from $414,990 to $459,990. CalAtlantic Homes at Holly Ridge is a development consisting of single-family houses and townhouses in Glen Burnie, Md. Benjamin C. Tankersley/For The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.
Diverse home styles: Holly Ridge is a little over a mile from Maryland Route 2 in Glen Burnie. The community is enveloped in nature but also close to major commuter routes and retail options.
There are five single-family floor plans with traditional and contemporary designs. Most have four bedrooms, but there is a three-bedroom plan as well as a six-bedroom option for families that need the extra sleeping quarters. The houses range from about 2,300 square feet to almost 3,000.
The Moreaus chose the 2,576-square-foot Bristol model. The builder calls the design the family-first plan with its centrally located kitchen and dining area. Guests enter the house through a foyer with an 11-by-9-foot study off to one side. However, just past the stairway tucked away to the side of the foyer, the rear portion of the house is the hub of activity.
[In Lorton, Va., a former horse farm will feature 8 luxurious estate houses]
Janecia said they especially enjoy the bright morning room adjacent to the kitchen. The morning room is standard with this floor plan.
We like the way the dining room and living room all flow and open into the kitchen, she said. This living room or family room, depending on what you prefer to call it, anchors one end of the house with the kitchen and dining area in the middle and morning room anchoring the opposite end. Granite counters, stainless-steel appliances and 42-inch cabinetry are standard in all of the floor plans.
The kitchen area where the model has white cabinetry contrasted with dark countertops and a large kitchen island with pendant light fixtures. (Benjamin C. Tankersley/For The Washington Post)
Flex space: Bates referred to the spare fifth room what is often known as the in-law suite as a Generation X suite. This is a small multipurpose extra room on the main level with a variety of uses ranging from a cozy den to retreat to, after a long day, a hobby room or a bedroom. Its off the kitchen and comes with a powder room and closet space and has its own entry directly from the garage.
One of the most distinctive things of all of the floor plans we offer out there is the flexibility and wide variety of bedroom count, Bates said. And a couple of the floor plans offer an alternative bedroom location that can act as a Generation X type suite or in-law or au-pair suite or used for extended family or someone moving back in to the household while theyre in a transition period. We see that design requirement today as important for our buyers.
Also one of the floor plans has a main-
level owners suite, which Bates said is ideal for some of the mature couples who may still like the style of the single-family house but prefer first-floor living.
The owners suite has an optional vaulted ceiling, which in the Linganore model is highlighted in wood that gives it a luxurious cabin feel. (Benjamin C. Tankersley/For The Washington Post)
Seated window bay: Guests visiting the 2,871-square-foot Linganore model will first see the staircase on one side of the foyer and spacious living and dining rooms on the opposite side. The model showcases rich dark hardwood flooring and a sunny bay window with a built-in seat in the dining room. The family room comes with a vaulted ceiling and an optional fireplace, and it opens into the kitchen area where the model has white cabinetry contrasted with dark countertops and a large kitchen island with pendant light fixtures above.
The second floor has four bedrooms and features an overlook in the hall down onto the family room. The owners suite has an optional vaulted ceiling, which in the model is highlighted in wood that gives it a luxurious cabin feel. The bathroom has tile floors, a large garden tub and stand-up shower, and his-and-her sinks.
While the houses all come with an unfinished lower level, the model shows the possibilities with wood floors, a game room, and dining or study nooks with built-ins.
Whats nearby: The community offers easy access to hiking and biking trails at the nearby Baltimore and Annapolis Trail. Once completed, Holly Ridge will have four community parks, including two nature parks, a shaded dog park and a playground. Marley Station Mall has several shopping and dining options.
Transit: The development is close to major commuter corridors such as Baltimore Beltway (4.3 miles away), the Harbor Tunnel Thruway (10.2 miles away), and Maryland Route 2 (1.5 miles away).
Most of the home sites, if not all of the home sites, back up to forest conservation area, said Tim Bates, president of the Mid-Atlantic Division of CalAtlantic Homes. (Benjamin C. Tankersley/For The Washington Post)
President Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 27. Trumps temporary halt to the U.S. refugee program has sparked protests across the country. (Evan Vucci/AP)
They were deemed the most vulnerable cases: refugees suffering from medical conditions so severe that normally their journeys to the United States would be expedited.
One is a 9-year-old Somali child in Ethiopia with a congenital heart disease that cannot be treated in a refugee camp. Another is a 1-year-old Sudanese boy with cancer. A third is a Somali boy with a severe intestinal disorder living in a camp that doesnt even have the colostomy bags he needs.
After President Trumps executive order last week, their resettlement in America was put on hold. Now, the organization responsible for processing refugees in sub-Saharan Africa, Church World Service, says that order could be their death sentence.
The organization compiled an internal list of some of its most desperate cases, and it is urging the U.S. government to lift the suspension. When youre talking about a 9-year-old with congenital heart problems, a [delay of a] day is too long, said Sarah Krause, the senior director of Church World Services immigration and refugee program. It is unnecessary for these individuals to die while waiting for resettlement.
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Monday that 20,000 people in precarious conditions would be banned from traveling to the United States under the 120-day suspension on refugee admissions that was announced Friday.
The Trump administration said it stopped accepting refugees temporarily to study ways to ensure that the new arrivals dont pose a threat to the United States.
But the U.N. agency noted that the refugees it referred to the U.S. government for resettlement are highly vulnerable including people in need of urgent medical assistance or survivors of torture.
About 80,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa are at some stage of the U.S. refugee process, which can take years to complete. Of those, about 2,000 are deemed most vulnerable, because of urgent medical problems or extreme protection concerns such as worries about their safety or well-being, according to Church World Service, which represents dozens of Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox religious communities and also works with refugee resettlement offices across the United States.
Its list offers a glimpse into the human lives affected by the executive order.
In addition to people with medical conditions, the list includes refugees who have endured horrifying cases of physical and psychological trauma. One is a young Somali woman who was raped multiple times by assailants. She is now living in a safe house in a neighboring country with a child who was conceived in one of those assaults, Krause said.
Many of the people on the list were days or weeks away from traveling to the United States. Some had already been through a cultural orientation program, which teaches refugees what to expect in America like how to use public transportation and how to apply for a job. They had passed numerous interviews and security screenings.
These are already the most thoroughly vetted of any individuals entering the United States, Krause said.
One 38-year-old Somali woman that Church World Service added to its list is waiting at a small refugee transit center in Nairobi. Her name is Momina Hassan Aden. She had recently had a blood transfusion and was raising seven children alone, after her husband died last year.
She remained fragile, said other refugees, who did not know the details of her medical condition. She had spent the last four years at the Kakuma Refugee Camp, a sprawling facility in northwestern Kenya that is home to more than 150,000 people.
Theres not enough health care for me there, Aden said in a brief interview at the Nairobi transit center. She sat on the ground, surrounded by her children, who range in age from 1 to 12.
Were so worried about her, said Mohammed Abdi, another refugee at the center.
Refugees like Aden are in a new kind of purgatory. They have already given up their tents and humanitarian supplies, because they assumed they would be traveling to the United States. Now, the same buses that brought them from their refugee camps might end up taking them back.
They would be treated as new arrivals often sent to crammed communal tents, waiting all over again to receive a card that entitles them to food rations. In Kakuma, those rations were halved in December, as humanitarian organizations ran low on money as they struggled to respond to the global refugee crisis.
Because many of the refugees U.S. clearances will expire during the 120-day suspension, it could take them months or even years to get to complete the process again, Krause said.
Refugee organizations are frantically trying to find ways to save the lives of those who could suffer serious health problems or even die while waiting for the suspension to end. One possibility discussed was redirecting urgent cases from the United States to other countries.
The U.S. executive order allows the secretaries of state and homeland security to admit individuals as refugees on a case-by-case basis in the national interest, but it is not yet clear whether that would help the individuals on the Church World Service list. A call to the State Department for comment was not immediately returned on Monday.
Krause was distraught as she described her worries about the refugees.
I dont how else to take this but as a personal failure, she said, choking up.
Read more
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Shayaras 13-year marriage ended when her husband wrote the words I divorce you three times in a letter. This controversial practice is prevalent among Indias 170 million Muslims, who believe that Islamic law allows it. (Rama Lakshmi/The Washington Post)
More than a year ago, the letter carrier handed the soft-spoken Shayara a letter that would not only change her life but trigger a national storm about the rights of Muslim women in India.
In the letter, her husband wrote the words I divorce you three times.
That is all it took. Her 13-year marriage came to an end with that letter.
One minute I was a married woman with two children. The next minute I became a divorced woman. I was not asked. I was not even present when he wrote the word divorce, said the 35-year-old Shayara, who uses only one name, sitting in her hometown of Kashipur, in the foothills of the Himalayas. What kind of a one-sided, unfair divorce is this?
India allows communities to follow family laws that are governed by their religion. But the practice of what is known as triple talaq, or the triple divorce, among the countrys 170 million Muslims is one of the most controversial, because it allows a Muslim man to divorce his wife by merely uttering the word three times sometimes even by Skype or email or text message.
Shayaras petition in Indias Supreme Court to end this practice has energized a national debate about womens status in Islam and the contentious quest for a modern civil law in a country with many religions. (Rama Lakshmi/The Washington Post)
After struggling to get justice at the local police station and in court for months, Shayara and her case reached Indias Supreme Court last year. She asked it to abolish the practice, pointing out that it has been reformed in many Muslim countries and is not integral to Islam.
In the past year, her personal pain and the lawsuit have energized the national debate about womens status in Islam and the contentious quest for a modern civil law in a country with many religions. She also has been pitted against powerful religious clerics who say she is helping undermine religious rights.
In recent months, Muslim leaders in her town have called Shayara a traitor and an agent of Hindu extremists. A prominent Muslim leader asked her to withdraw her case and become a martyr for the cause of Islam.
We dont regard her very well in the community. By going to the court, she has insulted Islam and ridiculed the divine law, said Mufti Zulfiqar Khan Naeemi, who interprets Islamic law in Kashipur. In Islam, if the word is uttered three times instantly or over time it is final.
Petition finds support
In her petition, Shayara asked the court to declare her divorce illegal and said the triple divorce practice treats women like chattel.
Muslim women have their hands tied while the guillotine of divorce dangles, perpetually ready to drop at the whims of their husbands who enjoy undisputed power, she says in the petition, which also asks the court to end polygamy among Muslim men.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a group that advocates for Islamic laws, responded in court that the religious laws of a community cannot be rewritten in the name of social reform, and said abolishing triple divorce could drive some husbands to murder their wives.
But Shayaras petition has found widespread support among many Muslim womens groups.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis government told the court in October that the practice is incompatible with the constitution and cannot be regarded as an essential practice in Islam.
What is the crime of my Muslim sisters that someone says divorce over the phone and her life is destroyed? said Modi at a public meeting in October. His Hindu nationalist group, the Bharatiya Janata Party, has been campaigning to enact a uniform civil code for all Indians.
In October, the government asked citizens to give their opinions on having a common civil code that will address discrimination and harmonize the various cultural practices.
The intention of this government is suspect, this is an assault on diversity. We were guaranteed religious freedom and we will fight to preserve and practice our culture, language and religion freely, said Arshad Madani, the head of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Indias largest Muslim group.
Very courageous
Shayara grew up with four other siblings on a military base in Kashipur, in a family that stayed away from displays of excessive religiosity.
I did not send my children to a religious school, my daughters never wore a veil, said her father, Iqbal Ahmed, 57, a clerk in the army. I wanted them [to] think of themselves as free Indian citizens first, not just as Muslim women.
A graduate in sociology, Shayara married a high school dropout in 2002. After two children, her husband made her go through six abortions, she said, pushing her into severe depression. She moved to her parents home in 2015 for psychological treatment.
Just when I began to heal, I got the divorce letter, Shayara said. In it, her husband complained about her relationship with his mother, and about what he called her un-Islamic ways. In court, he said that she is dull in the head.
Whatever I did is valid and correct under Islam, said her husband, Rizwan Ahmed, but he declined to discuss his reasons for the divorce. Some women are strong and can handle the divorce. Some are weak.
But that is not what Shayara is hearing.
So many divorced women come to me, pour their woes and say you are very courageous, she said. I may not benefit personally. My marriage is over. But I dont want other women to suffer anymore.
Pandering to patriarchy
India was at the cusp of a similar breakthrough more than three decades ago when another Muslim woman went to court asking for alimony. But the Congress party government at that time buckled under pressure from Muslim groups and overturned the Supreme Court verdict that allowed maintenance.
Various governments in the past decades have pandered to the patriarchal elements in the community in the name of maintaining pluralism, said Zakia Soman, who heads the Indian Muslim Womens Movement. This has deprived Muslim women of justice.
In 2013, a national survey among Muslim women showed that more than 65 percent of respondents who were divorced said their husbands parted simply by uttering the word three times.
The religious clerics have succeeded in making the Muslim masses believe that this practice is Islamic, said Tahir Mahmood, former chief of the National Minorities Commission. Nothing has been done to codify the Muslim law, so the varied interpretations and distortions by clerics prevail.
But many are hopeful that the time is ripe to challenge orthodoxy. There have been unprecedented public conversations about womens rights, mobility and safety in the past four years. New laws regarding sexual assault, workplace sexual harassment and acid-throwing have been passed.
Touching a raw nerve
Shayaras case has touched a raw nerve in the country. People cant digest such things anymore, said Balaji Srinivasan, her lawyer.
Shayaras wedding photo album, titled romantic moments, collects dust in a corner of her home. She has other things on her mind now. She is trying to decide whether to study law or teach at a kindergarten. She wants to be with her estranged children, who are with her husband in another city.
Shayara said she has a recurring nightmare these days.
I dream repeatedly that I am crying out loud, but there is no sound coming out of my throat. Nobody can hear me, no matter how loudly I shout, she said.
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Supporters of the militant group Jamaat-ul-Dawa chant slogans to condemn the house arrest of its leader, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, during a demonstration Tuesday in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Faisal Mahmood/Reuters)
The sudden house arrest of a high-profile Islamist cleric in Pakistan on Monday sparked peaceful protests Tuesday by his followers, who condemned it as a government effort to appease the Trump administration after it banned visitors and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries over the weekend and after a top presidential aide hinted that Pakistan could be added to the list.
Supporters of Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the fiery leader of the Jamaat-ul-Dawa movement, said the move by Pakistani officials had also come at the behest of India, Pakistans Hindu-led rival and neighbor. The group zealously opposes Indias claim to the disputed Kashmir border region, and a previous militant group led by Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, was blamed for the 2008 terrorist siege that killed 166 people in the Indian city of Mumbai.
There was pressure coming from the U.S. on Pakistani authorities to either arrest Hafiz Saeed or face the sanctions, and the government succumbed to that pressure, Nadeem Awan, a spokesman for Saeed, said in an interview Tuesday. The U.S. government offered a $10 million bounty for Saeeds arrest in 2012.
At a rally in the capital Tuesday, about 200 supporters burned representations of the U.S. and Indian flags and repeatedly chanted, We are Hafiz Saeed! One speaker praised Saeed as a champion of the needy and said his supporters are civilized citizens who only perform relief work and carry out no illegal or anti-state acts.
Pakistani officials dismissed suggestions that they had moved against Saeed under foreign pressure, insisting that they were only implementing the terms of a U.N. resolution that declared Saeeds group a terrorist organization after the Mumbai attacks.
Supporters of Hafiz Mohammad Saeed hold a banner at a protest Tuesday in Lahore, Pakistan. (Rahat Dar/European Pressphoto Agency)
They also criticized Trumps new visa restrictions, which Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said would not affect terrorists but the victims of terrorism.
Many Pakistanis agreed with that assessment. One analyst, Mosharraf Zaidi, wrote in the News International newspaper Tuesday that the ban is going to launch a thousand narratives of victimhood, of seething rage, and of hatred. He praised the American protesters who have criticized Trump, adding, Tomorrow, the list may include our country too.
Still, there was no clear explanation for the abrupt decision to confine Saeed, who has been arrested and released several times in previous years and accused but never convicted of extremist activities. He has regularly preached impassioned anti-government and anti-India sermons to large crowds without being stopped by police, and he has a wide popular following. His groups assets were frozen two years ago, but it has never been banned, and Saeed could be freed in six months.
The news of his detention was greeted in India with a heavy dose of skepticism. Many on social media noted that Saeed had been previously detained and speculated that Pakistan was reining him in now as a sop to the new American president. Indian authorities have long demanded tougher action against him and others accused of carrying out or orchestrating anti-India violence.
Only a credible crackdown on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organizations involved in cross-border terrorism would be proof of Pakistans sincerity, said Vikas Swarup, the spokesman for Indias Ministry of External Affairs.
Some Pakistani analysts also questioned the timing of the arrest and attributed it to pressure from Washington, noting that Trumps chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said the ban might be extended to Pakistan and other countries that have had similar problems with terrorism as the seven now on the list: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan.
But others said they doubted that the Trump administration would add Pakistan to the visa ban without first adding Saudi Arabia, another longtime U.S. ally that was the home country of most of the 9/11 hijackers. Instead, they suggested that Islamabad was looking for a way to improve ties with India after months of tension and violent episodes in Kashmir, which led to harsh accusations on both sides.
Pakistani supporters of the Jamaat-ul-Dawa group burn Indian and American flags during Tuesdays protest in Quetta. (Banaras Khan/AFP/Getty Images)
This is something India has wanted for years, and it was a major stumbling block to resuming dialogue, said Rifaat Hussain, a professor of government and public policy at the National University of Sciences and Technology. There was also a feeling that Hafiz Saeed had gotten too big for his boots and was becoming a nuisance. This was mostly a desire for a restart.
Up to a point, though, the rhetoric of Saeed and other anti-India agitators has long helped bolster Pakistans domestic crusade and high-cost military buildup against a country that it considers an existential enemy and nuclear rival. Pakistani officials are especially wary of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a lifelong Hindu nationalist, and are concerned about Trumps substantial business investments in India.
Many Pakistanis would have little disagreement with the chants and arguments Tuesday of Saeeds supporters, who denounced Indias military oppression of Kashmiris and cast its growing friendship with the United States as a conspiratorial alliance against Muslim interests.
The new U.S. president has time and time again declared India a best friend of the United States and is following upon the desires of that friend, Awan said. But if our rulers want to please the United States, they cant. Pakistan has done a lot for the U.S., but it always pressures Pakistan to do more.
Annie Gowen in New Delhi and Shaiq Hussain in Islamabad contributed to this report.
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More than 10 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in some of the heaviest shelling in months between army and anti-government forces in southeast Ukraine, an outburst of violence that may provoke an early test of President Trumps ability to manage negotiations with the Kremlin over the thorny conflict.
In Washington, the State Department on Tuesday called for an immediate cease-fire.
With temperatures as low as minus-4 , what Ukrainian officials described as Grad rockets and 152mm artillery shells have rained down for days on the city of Avdiivka, an industrial hub built around a sprawling coking plant that has hosted a grinding standoff in this three-year-old conflict. Ukrainian forces, who recaptured the town in 2014, have suffered high casualties in the latest spate of violence: eight dead and 26 others wounded in two days. Separatist forces said that two of their fighters had died and six had been wounded in the fighting.
The latest round of violence occurred suddenly, and both sides have blamed the other for it.
Today for the first time in days Grad rocket launchers and heavy artillery were used against the civilian population and our units, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said during a meeting with security officials Tuesday. The shelling is massive.
The situation has grown so dire that Ukrainian authorities have announced an evacuation of Avdiivka, the first of the city during the conflict.
Veronika Bahal, a press officer for the Ukrainian Ministry for Emergency Affairs in the Donetsk region, said by telephone that as many as 12,000 people may be evacuated by bus and light rail from the city beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Conditions are difficult in the town, she said, which lacks electricity and running water.
The uptick in fighting came just days after Trumps first telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, when the two discussed the conflict in Ukraine and declared plans to improve relations. The fighting in Ukraine, where Russia is supporting anti-government separatists, and the war in Syria were the basis for a frigid relationship between Putin and former president Barack Obama.
Trump, meanwhile, echoed Russian talking points about Ukraine during the campaign, saying that Putin had not sent his military into the country and that most people in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, did not want to be a part of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian administration is eager to establish a relationship with Trump, counting on traditional Republican skepticism about Russia to persuade the new president to maintain badly needed U.S. support for Kiev. Ukrainian officials have floated a possible meeting between the two presidents in February, although it is not clear where or how that would be organized.
There have been suggestions that the Kremlin would test Trump early in his presidency with an international crisis or take advantage of the chaos in Washington to consolidate gains in southeast Ukraine. But with Trump now occupying the White House, the Kremlin may see the negotiating table as the best way to get what it wants now: a repeal of the sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea and recognition of Russia as a great power that can dominate a sphere of influence that includes Ukraine.
Mark Toner, the acting spokesman for the State Department, said that monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had reported the use of heavy artillery and other weapons that are prohibited by the Minsk protocols, which were supposed to provide a road map out of the crisis but have increasingly gone ignored. He said a cease-fire was necessary to avoid a larger humanitarian crisis, and he reaffirmed American support for the Minsk agreement.
A miner sits in an ambulance Tuesday in Donetsk, Ukraine, after being evacuated from a mine that lost power, reportedly because of shelling in the region, which pro-Russian separatists control. (Alexander Ermochenko/European Pressphoto Agency)
The conflict has left more than 10,000 dead since April 2014. Little territory has changed hands in the war since February 2015, when the separatists seized the town of Debaltseve in a bloody advance, but flare-ups in the form of artillery duels have occurred periodically.
There was no sign that the violence was slowing by Tuesday night. Reached via an electronic messaging app, Musa Magomedov, the head of Avdiivkas coking plant, said there was still a lot of firing.
Magomedov said that the gas at the plant was being used to heat water for the town but that the plant urgently needed deliveries of natural gas or would have to shut down.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told journalists the violence was a provocation.
At an emergency meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, U.S. Charge dAffairs Kate Byrnes, a 24-year veteran of the State Department, blamed the violence on combined Russian-separatist forces.
We call on Russia to stop the violence, honor the cease-fire, withdraw heavy weapons, and end attempts to seize new territory beyond the line of contact, she said.
Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report.
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Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said his email account and the accounts of dozens of ministry officials have been successfully hacked. (Michael Sohn/AP)
Hackers have breached dozens of email accounts at the Czech Foreign Ministry in an attack resembling one carried
out during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said Tuesday.
He said he was told by experts that the cyberattacks were probably conducted by a foreign state. He said the ministrys internal communication system was not affected and no confidential material was compromised, though an extensive amount of data was stolen.
Zaoralek, whose email account was also hit, did not name any countries he thought might be responsible for the attack.
When I discussed this with the best experts that we have here, they told me that the character of the attack was such that the attack was very sophisticated, that it must have been, according to them, conducted by some foreign state, from the outside, Zaoralek said at a news conference.
They also told me that the way the attack was done very much resembles the character of attacks against the system of the Democratic Party in the United States, he said.
Hackers attacked the email accounts of the Democratic National Committee and the campaign chairman for Hillary Clinton, the partys presidential nominee. Information from those hacks was posted online and blamed for damaging Clintons campaign. U.S. security officials have said Russia was involved in the hacking. Moscow has denied those assertions.
Zaoralek said the ministry had known since the beginning of January that hackers had breached its email and added that it was necessary to check whether other key government institutions have also been attacked, something he said was possible.
He said the ministry was not registering any further attacks at the moment.
The Czech Republic is a member of the U.S.-led NATO military alliance and of the European Union.
In October last year, Czech police detained Russian citizen Yevgeniy Nikulin, who has been indicted in the United States for allegedly hacking computers of social-media companies. The United States and Russia have both requested his extradition.
In December, Germanys domestic intelligence agency reported a striking increase in Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing German society, and targeted cyberattacks against political parties.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she could not rule out Russia interfering in Germanys 2017 election through Internet attacks and misinformation campaigns.
Russian officials have denied all accusations of manipulation and interference intended to sway the U.S. election outcome or weaken the European Union.
Reuters
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Iraqi Christians pray during a mass on Christmas at an Orthodox church in the town of Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq, on Dec. 25. (Khalid Al Mousily/Reuters)
In northern Iraq, one Christian called the plan unnecessarily divisive and another said it could endanger others of his faith still living in the Middle East.
In Damascus, a Christian lawyer, speaking of President Trumps pledge to prioritize Christians in refugee admissions, called it bigoted and part of a plot to rob the Arab world of its diversity.
Who does he think he is, to discriminate between human beings? said the lawyer, Bassam Sabbagh, 56.
The criticism by some Christians in the Arab world was a striking addition to the global chorus of consternation over Trumps executive order temporarily banning immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries while allowing exceptions for religious minorities.
Trump said in an interview last week that persecuted Christians would be given priority in resettlement, and focused his comments on Syrian Christians who had suffered at the hands
of the Islamic State militant group. His order indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from settling in the United States, along with all other refugees for four months.
View Graphic Who is affected by Trumps travel ban
A federal judge put the ban on hold, but the Trump administration has appealed and predicted that it will be reinstated.
[Denied Entry: Stories of refugees and immigrants barred from the U.S.]
More than a dozen interviews with Christians in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and other countries revealed sharply divided opinions about the ban, with some especially those in the diaspora or uprooted, possibly permanently, from their homes praising Trump for highlighting the historical persecution of Christians, although they emphasized that it was unclear whether he would follow through with his pledge.
But there was notable discomfort, too, about a foreign leader showing favoritism to one minority group in an ever more divided Middle East, a move that struck some as an echo of sectarian tactics practiced by the regions own rulers for political gain. There were fears that it would undermine the efforts of Christians who have advocated for the need to hold fast and assert their place in the region as an integral part of the multilayered identities of Iraq, Syria and other countries.
There was sadness, too, about the decision to ban their Muslim neighbors.
We ask our friends to help us stay, not to take us from our homeland, said Yonadam Kanna, an Iraqi Christian member of parliament from northern Iraq.
Christian history in Iraq stretches back thousands of years, he said. Its very important that Christians stay if not, there will be a huge demographic change in the region.
A fighter with a Christian militia member walks in the damaged church on Jan. 24. (Khalid Mohammed/Associated Press)
A better American plan, he said, would aid in the rebuilding of Christian towns and villages that were sacked by the Islamic State group. Houses and churches are destroyed and burned. We call on Americans to help us repair and clear, he said. Nineveh has been liberated for over 100 days, but nothing has been done to rebuild and help Christians go home its just talk and talk.
Theres no future in Iraq for Christianity, said the Rev. Samir Sheer, who spoke at the Mar Elias Church in the northern city of Irbil after the evening Mass on a recent Sunday. There are many militias, Shia, Sunni Kurdish. Everyone is trying to control. We hope that people can return to their houses, but its very difficult, he added. Their neighbors stole everything. There is no trust.
That did not mean confidence in Trumps promises. Europe and America dont really care, they just sell the weapons and get the oil, he said. If Trump says something, we still dont know that hell do it. Im not sure hell let in Christians. But he should.
The Islamic States bloody march across the region has in many ways left no group with a monopoly on suffering. The mass graves unearthed in Iraq alone have held Sunni Muslims executed as government collaborators and members of the Yazidi minority condemned as heretics.
More than 1,700 Shiite Muslim soldiers were killed by the extremists three years ago, in the worst sectarian mass killing in Iraqs recent memory. As their churches were torched by the militants, Christians living in and around the northern Iraqi city of Mosul were forced to either convert or pay a tax, or they would be killed.
Trumps pledge seemed most warmly received among some recently displaced Christians, whose memories of near-death escapes were still raw. At a church in Lebanon, Hany Dawoud, 50, said he had been forced to move twice because of the Islamic State. The first time was in his home town of Bartella, Iraq, when his family escaped at sunrise, 15 minutes before Islamic State militants arrived, he said.
His family spent time in Qamishli, Syria, before traveling to Lebanon. We have suffered more than anyone in this region, he said.
Will it increase tensions between Muslims and Christians? he said, speaking of Trumps promise. Of course it will. But can things between us get much worse?
[Trump defiantly says all is going well on immigration order amid chaos]
Days after Trump issued the order, there was no evidence that Christians were being treated better than anyone else as they tried to travel to the United States. Two Syrian Christian families were held at Philadelphia International Airport and deported to Qatar, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Diana Sarkisian, an Assyrian Christian whose family moved to Australia as refugees more than a decade ago, said she has family members in Turkey whose applications for resettlement in the United States are on hold. They have been told, Dont get your hopes up too much, she said.
We are all human beings. The whole distinction between Christians and Muslims is totally wrong, she said. Given the broad suffering in Iraq, affecting many minority groups, the perception that Christians were receiving better treatment could make them a target, she said.
These are dangerous waters, she said of Trumps order.
Juliana Taimoorazy, an Assyrian Christian activist based in Chicago, called it a very complicated issue. As a former refugee whose family fled persecution, she said members of her community in Iraq are facing extinction and deserve preferential treatment if they want to resettle in the West.
But if he opens the doors, no one is going to be left in Iraq, to hold our roots there, said Taimoorazy, who raises money to rebuild Christian communities in Iraq and is an advocate of a creating a multiethnic province in the area around Mosul.
When we see a leader who puts an emphasis on us, its a breath of fresh air, she said. But when you remove yourself, you realize the message should be unifying. I understand what Trump is doing. It should be more thought out. The way he is going about it is wrong.
Morris reported from Irbil. Aaso Ameen Shwan, also in Irbil, and Louisa Loveluck and Suzan Haidamous in Beirut contributed to this report.
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Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi speaks in Baghdad on Jan. 31. He called the U.S. visa ban an insult. (Sabah Arar/AFP/Getty Images)
Iraqs prime minister said Tuesday that a ban preventing his citizens from visiting the United States was an insult but that barring Americans in retaliation could hurt national interests during the war against the Islamic State.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi gave a measured response in his first public comments since Iraq was included on a list of seven Muslim-majority countries in President Trumps executive order restricting immigration.
Abadi said he was looking for ways to reduce the damage from the decision. He said he would not enforce an equal ban on Americans, an option the Iraqi parliament had supported in a vote Monday.
We are in the middle of a battle, he said.
More than 5,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq, where they are backing Iraqi forces in their fight against the Islamic State. The visa ban has shaken relations between the two countries as they draw close to defeating the militant group in Mosul, the last major city it controls in Iraq.
View Graphic Who is affected by Trumps travel ban
[The number of people affected by Trumps travel ban: About 90,000]
The restrictions have increased pressure on Abadi, who is being pushed to act in retaliation to the ban but is beholden to U.S. military support.
Abadi pointed out that it is unfair to tar with the same brush the entire population of a nation.
There are Americans fighting with the Islamic State, he said. I cant say because of that all Americans are terrorists. Each country has good and bad people.
It echoed comments made a day earlier by Iraqs foreign minister, Ibrahim al-Jafari, who added that no Iraqis have been responsible for acts of terrorism on U.S. soil. Other countries whose nationals have been involved in attacks, such as Saudi Arabia, have escaped the ban, which has been imposed for 90 days while the Trump administration makes assessments. Refugee processing has been suspended for 120 days.
The move caused chaos at airports as those with valid visas were turned back. Some Iraqi families who had sold all their possessions after being approved for resettlement were told they could not travel.
Mustafa Salim in Baghdad contributed to this report.
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Denied Entry: Stories of refugees and immigrants barred from the U.S.
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President Trump fired acting attorney general Sally Yates on Monday night after she ordered Justice Department lawyers not to defend his immigration order temporarily banning entry into the United States for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world.
In a news release, the White House said Yates had betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States. Trump named in her place Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Boente said he would enforce the presidents directive until he was replaced by Trumps attorney general nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala).
[Who is Sally Yates? Meet the acting attorney general Trump fired for betraying the Justice Department]
Yes, I will, he said in a brief phone interview with The Washington Post. I was enforcing it this afternoon. Our career department employees were defending the action in court, and I expect thats what theyll do tomorrow, appropriately and properly.
Later Monday, he formally rescinded Yatess order and instructed Justice Department employees to do our sworn duty and to defend the lawful orders of our President.
View Graphic Who is affected by Trumps travel ban
The move came just hours after Yates ordered the Justice Department not to defend Trumps immigration order, declaring in a memo that she was not convinced the order is lawful. Yates wrote that, as the leader of the Justice Department, she must ensure that the departments position is legally defensible and consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.
At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful, Yates wrote. She wrote that for as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.
The stunning events marked the latest sign of turmoil over Trumps announcement Friday that he would shut the U.S. borders to refugees and those entering the country from seven Muslim-majority countries.
More than 100 State Department diplomats have signed a memo objecting to Trumps order, arguing that it will not deter attacks on American soil. The document, which says Trumps ban will generate ill will toward U.S. citizens, is destined for whats known as the departments Dissent Channel, which was set up during the Vietnam War as a way for diplomats to signal to senior leadership their disagreement on foreign policy decisions.
Yates was a holdover from the Obama administration, but her move still represented notable disagreement from someone who would be on the front lines of implementing it.
A Justice Department official said that hours after Yates released her memo refusing to defend the presidents executive order, she was delivered a one-line letter from the head of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel saying that she had been removed. The White House then announced her firing with a statement criticizing her as an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.
It is time to get serious about protecting our country, the statement said. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country.
(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)
[Read the White House statement on Sally Yates]
Sessions, Trumps pick to lead the Justice Department permanently, is awaiting Senate confirmation, although it could come as early as this week. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider his nomination Tuesday, and the entire Senate must wait one day before voting. A spokeswoman for Sessions declined to comment.
Boente (pronounced BEN-tay), who was sworn in at 9 p.m., said he would serve until Sessions is confirmed, which he understood from news reports might happen by weeks end. He declined to say when or by whom he was approached to take over as acting attorney general, and he also declined to discuss the specifics of Yatess memo.
Boente is a longtime federal prosecutor who has a remarkably low-key demeanor, although he has supervised high-profile investigations and prosecutions. Assistant U.S. attorneys from his office were involved in the probe of Hillary Clintons use of a private email server, and they won the criminal convictions which were later vacated against former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell (R). Boente also led the prosecutions of former U.S. representative William J. Jefferson (D-La.) and former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin (D). At his swearing-in ceremony as U.S. attorney, then-Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch called him that reliable middle child, the one you could always count on to be there for you.
Boente would not have been first in the line of succession ordered by Obama, who had placed U.S. attorneys in the District of Columbia, Chicago and Los Angeles ahead.
[Who is new acting attorney general Dana Boente?]
Yatess refusal to defend to Trumps immigration order and her firing over it capped a day in which resistance to the ban fomented inside the government and across the country.
Civil rights lawyers and others across the country increased the pressure on Trump on Monday to dial back the ban filing legal challenges to the executive order as they worked to determine whether people were still being improperly denied entry or detained. Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Immigrants Rights Project, who worked on one of the legal challenges, said of Yatess memo, It sends a very strong message that theres something very wrong with the Muslim ban.
Earlier in the day, former president Barack Obama also weighed in on the executive action through a spokesman, seeming to back those demonstrating against Trumps decree and declaring his opposition to discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.
Obama said that he was heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country an apparent reference to protests at airports nationwide. He also disputed Trumps claim that his ban was based on Obama administration decisions.
A Justice Department official familiar with the matter said Yates felt that she was in an impossible situation and had been struggling with what to do about a measure she did not consider lawful. A Justice Department official confirmed over the weekend that the departments Office of Legal Counsel had been asked to review the measure to determine whether it was on its face lawful and properly drafted.
In her memo, though, Yates said her role was broader. She wrote that an Office of Legal Counsel review does not address whether any policy choice embodied in an Executive Order is wise or just, nor does it take account of statements made by an administration or its surrogates close in time to the issuance of an Executive Order that may bear on the orders purpose.
That could be a reference to Trumps campaign trail comments about a Muslim ban or the recent assertion by Trump surrogate Rudolph W. Giuliani that the president had asked him the right way to do it legally.
Democrats criticized Yatess firing as an unfair termination of someone who was following the law. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said, What the Trump administration calls betrayal is an American with the courage to say that the law and the Constitution come first. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the termination underscores how important it is to have an attorney general who will stand up to the White House when they are violating the law, and said many have doubts about Sessions.
Others, though, turned their ire on Yates.
It cant be stated strongly enough how reckless, irresponsible and improper the behavior was of the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, in refusing to defend the presidents order, senior policy adviser Stephen Miller told Fox News.
Miller accused Yates of refusing to defend the lawful powers of the president. He also said he had no doubt about the orders legality.
George J. Terwilliger III, a deputy attorney general in the George H.W. Bush administration, said Yatess memo was a foolish, naked political move by what appears to be an ambitious holdover official that would only create unnecessary disorder.
Even with Yates gone, there remain serious questions about the implementation of the order. A lawsuit in Virginia asserted that dozens of people may have been forced to give up their green cards by Customs and Border Protection agents, although that figure could not immediately be substantiated. Lawyers in Los Angeles said they had received similar reports, though they were still exploring them.
The ACLUs Gelernt said that lawyers were having trouble independently verifying anything because the government will not provide full access to all the detainees. Of particular concern, he said, was that the government had not turned over a list of detainees, as it had been ordered to do by a federal judge in New York. He said that lawyers might be back in federal court in the next day or so to forcibly get access to it.
[ACLU: Delay Sessions confirmation vote until Muslim ban is stopped]
The ACLU lawsuit in New York is perhaps the most significant of a growing number of legal challenges. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also filed a sweeping challenge Monday, alleging that the order is meant to initiate the mass expulsion of immigrant and non-immigrant Muslims lawfully residing in the United States. The lawsuit lists 27 plaintiffs, many of them lawful permanent residents and refugees who allege that Trumps order will deny them citizenship or prevent them from traveling abroad and returning home. Lawyers with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed a similar challenge in Washington state.
Bob Ferguson, Washington states attorney general, also filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging broad, constitutional concerns with the order and its impact on Washington making him the first state official to do so. That lawsuit has the support of Microsoft and Amazon.com, two companies based in Washington state. (Amazon owner Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post and has voiced Amazons opposition to the order personally.)
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that one lawsuit doesnt make any sense and sought to minimize the action as simply subjecting 109 people to more rigorous screening. According to State Department statistics, about 90,000 people received nonimmigrant or immigrant visas in fiscal year 2015 from the seven countries affected by Trumps executive order.
Read more:
Some international passengers entering the U.S. more easily, but members of Congress say theyre still not getting answers
Scholars: Many more legal challenges likely for Trumps executive order on immigration
Jihadist groups hail Trumps travel ban as a victory
Ed OKeefe, Rachel Weiner, Ellen Nakashima, Juliet Eilperin, John Wagner and Carol Morello contributed to this report.
Senate Judiciary Committee members on Tuesday sparred over whether Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) can operate independently of the president if confirmed as attorney general a debate that took on new importance after President Trumps late-night firing of acting attorney general Sally Yates for refusing to defend his immigration order.
Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), the committees chairman, said that Sessions will follow the law, regardless of whether he would have supported it as a matter of policy as a senator. He said Sessions offered no help in drafting Trumps order, although it is not clear to me why it would be a problem even if he had been involved.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the panel, attacked Trumps order and noted that Sessionss ideals seem to have at least shaped it. She read aloud from Yatess memo declaring that she did not find Trumps immigration order lawful, then referenced the Saturday Night Massacre, when two top Justice Department officials resigned over an order from President Richard Nixon.
Members, that statement took guts, Feinstein said. That statement said what an independent attorney general should do. That statement took a steel spine to stand up and say no. It took the courage of Elliot Richardson and William Ruckelshaus, who stood up to President Nixon. That is what an attorney general must be willing and able to do. I have no confidence that Senator Sessions will do that.
The committee scheduled a vote on Sessionss nomination for Wednesday morning. A vote by the full Senate is expected later in the week.
(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)
Trump replaced Yates with Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who said he would enforce the presidents directive to temporarily ban entry into the United States for citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world.
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) said he will vote against the nominee because of concerns about Sessionss civil rights record, his failure to address Russias interference in the November presidential election and ethical conflicts in the Trump administration, among other issues. He took aim Tuesday at Trumps firing of Yates, saying the president had placed the independence of the Justice Department at stake.
Ive said and I believe the presidents decision to fire acting attorney general Sally Yates is shameful, Leahy said. His accusation that she betrayed the Department of Justice is dangerous. The attorney general is the peoples attorney, not the presidents attorney.
[Democrats are doubling down on plans to drag out the confirmation of President Trumps top Cabinet picks]
On the first day of his confirmation hearing, Jan. 10, Sessions sought to assure senators that he could fairly enforce the law as attorney general, and he said repeatedly during that days eight-hour grilling that he would not let his personal views interfere with his duties. He said he would abide by Supreme Court decisions on abortion rights and legalized same-sex marriage, although he opposes both. And Sessions said he would recuse himself from any Justice Department investigations of Hillary Clintons email practices or her familys charitable foundation issues he raised while campaigning for Trump.
On the hearings second day, several civil rights leaders spoke out against Sessions, and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) broke with tradition by testifying as a sitting senator against a colleague. Booker said he believed that, as attorney general, Sessions would not defend voting rights or the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
Appearing on the nominees behalf, Michael Mukasey, a former federal judge who served as attorney general under President George W. Bush, testified that Sessions is thoroughly dedicated to the rule of law and the mission of the department.
Ron Hosko, president of the nonprofit Law Enforcement Action Network and a former FBI assistant director, sent a letter in support of Sessions to the Judiciary Committee on Monday and said 20,000 members or supporters of the law enforcement community were backing his nomination.
Sen. Sessions enjoys great respect from law enforcement officials across the country who believe the nation will be well served by his confirmation, Hosko said.
But no Democrat on the committee has declared an intention to vote for Sessions, and Democrats are increasing efforts to delay the confirmation of several of Trumps Cabinet nominees.
Philip Rucker and Robert Costa contributed to this report.
Read more:
Trumps pick for attorney general is shadowed by race and history
Trumps hard line actions have an intellectual godfather
At the Justice Department sessions could play a key role on immigration
A moment of silence is observed by staff and students of Laval University in honor of professor Khaled Belkacemi, one of the six mosque shooting victims in Quebec City.
Jan. 31, 2017 A moment of silence is observed by staff and students of Laval University in honor of professor Khaled Belkacemi, one of the six mosque shooting victims in Quebec City. Alice Chiche/AFP/Getty Images
Multiple people were killed and others injured after gunmen opened fire on worshipers at a Quebec City mosque during evening prayers, police and local media said.
Multiple people were killed and others injured after gunmen opened fire on worshipers at a Quebec City mosque during evening prayers, police and local media said.
Multiple people were killed and others injured after gunmen opened fire on worshipers at a Quebec City mosque during evening prayers, police and local media said.
They call it radio poubelle, or trash radio. Quebec City has developed the dubious reputation of being Canadas capital of shock jocks, online radio hosts who love to provoke with outrageous talk about women, homosexuals and Muslims.
As this city of 800,000 deals with the emotional aftermath of Sundays shooting at a local mosque that left six worshipers dead and several injured, the role of trash radio in spreading xenophobic attitudes is getting new attention. A 27-year-old local university student and follower of far-right causes was charged Monday with murder and attempted murder in connection with the massacre.
There is no indication that the man charged in the attack, Alexandre Bissonnette, was particularly influenced by trash radio, but members of the Muslim community were quick to complain about the corrosive impact of the anti-immigrant rhetoric heard on the citys airwaves.
Quebec Citys popular mayor, Regis Labeaume, also appeared to criticize the radio stations. Speaking at an outdoor vigil in memory of the victims Monday evening, he denounced those who get rich from peddling hatred.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard acknowledged Tuesday that the province has its demons and that xenophobia, racism and exclusion are present here. But he told reporters that Quebec society is generally open and tolerant.
[After Trump sows chaos, Canada picks up the pieces]
Whenever you happen to listen to this trash radio, you hear clearly xenophobic language, said Mohammed Ali Saidane, who has lived in Quebec for 30 years.
What I reproach with these media is that they import problems from elsewhere, especially France. We dont live in ghettos here. Its not the same as France, he told the Journal de Quebec newspaper.
The real danger of this kind of radio is that they play with the line between news, opinion and demagoguery, said Louis-Philippe Lampron, who teaches human rights law at Laval University.
Lampron said four or five talk-show hosts dominate the market, moving among a handful of stations and constantly competing for listeners with outrageous talk, which is often right-wing and populist in tone.
Its very insidious and aggressive, he told The Washington Post.
Jeff Fillion, one of the best-known hosts, was fired last spring by Bell Media, owner of Energie 98.9 FM, after he ridiculed a prominent local businessman who had publicly grieved his sons suicide. But soon after, Fillion was back on the air at another station.
Its like reality TV, said Guillaume Verret, a 21-year-old college student and part-time barista as he sat with friends at a Starbucks in suburban Sainte-Foy. Its completely stupid and easy. They dont give you facts. They just give you opinions that provoke people.
Although Muslims make up a tiny percentage of Quebec Citys population, their presence has been growing as the provincial government encourages immigration by French-speaking Africans.
Quebec has been involved in an often-heated public debate in recent years over what is referred to as reasonable accommodation of immigrants and religious minorities, including a controversial effort to ban the wearing by government employees of conspicuous religious symbols such as hijabs, turbans and yarmulkes. The measure, known as the Charter of Values, was seen as a key reason for the 2014 election defeat of the Parti Quebecois government.
The issue of the hijab continues to bubble up in Quebec, as have cases in which mosques in the province have been denied permission to open or expand their premises.
In Quebec City, attention continues to be focused on the life of the man charged in the shooting. Although previously unknown to police, Bissonnette became increasingly attracted to far-right politics online and was considered a troll who railed on the Internet against women and immigrants.
A former military cadet, he was also reportedly obsessed with guns. Police have yet to give details on the weapon used in the attack.
Firearms are heavily regulated in Canada, and permits are required for restricted weapons such as semiautomatic guns. But firearms are available if people are willing to go through the legal process and have no criminal record.
Doctors at LEnfant-Jesus Hospital reported Tuesday that two of the survivors remain in critical condition and need further surgery.
Julien Clement, the hospitals trauma chief, said, however, that he expects both men to survive, though possibly with long-term damage. Each man was shot three to six times in the abdomen and other parts of the body.
Two other victims remain in the hospital and are said to be recovering.
A fifth man was released Monday. An additional 13 people who had minor injuries were released earlier.
Read more
The U.S. closed its doors to some immigrants. Canada, hit by terror, opens its arms.
The long history of terror and violence in Canada
Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Canadian authorities on Monday charged a 27-year-old university student known for his far-right sympathies with six counts of first-degree murder in a mass shooting the day before at a local mosque.
Alexandre Bissonnette, described by neighbors and acquaintances as a socially awkward introvert who had recently adopted virulent political views, was also charged late Monday afternoon with five counts of attempted murder with a restricted firearm. The five surviving victims were still in the hospital, with two of them in critical condition, although hospital officials said their injuries were not life-threatening.
Handcuffed, his feet manacled and wearing a white prison jumpsuit, Bissonnette reportedly looked at the floor throughout the court hearing, aside from casting a brief glance at his lawyer. The prosecutor, Thomas Jacques, indicated that terrorist charges could be added later to the murder and attempted murder charges.
The attack, which took place just as about 50 worshipers at the small mosque in the suburb of Sainte-Foy near Laval University had completed evening prayer, sent shock waves through Canada. Accustomed to seeing violence as a phenomenon taking place in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Canadians found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was clear that his government considered the shooting a terrorist act. This was a group of innocents targeted for practicing their faith, Trudeau told the House of Commons. Make no mistake. This was a terrorist attack.
Alexandre Bissonnette, the suspect in the shootings at a Quebec City mosque, is seen in a Facebook posting. (Reuters)
These were people of faith and of community, he said. And in the blink of an eye, they were robbed of their lives in an act of brutal violence.
Bissonnette was described in media reports as an ardent nationalist and a strong supporter of the French far-right politician Marine Le Pen. He was known to activists in Quebec for taking positions against feminism and refugees, said Francois Deschamps, of the pro-refugee group Bienvenues aux Refugies, on his Facebook page.
The suspect was captured by police about 15 miles from the scene of the attack after he called 911 and offered to surrender. The police initially said they had also arrested a 29-year-old engineering student at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center. By Monday afternoon, they released him and called him a witness to the event.
It turned out the witness, Mohamed Belkhadir, had left the mosque at the end of prayers and was near the building when he heard shots. Returning inside, he called 911 and began helping a friend who had been shot. When he saw armed police arrive, he panicked and ran off and was quickly stopped. He said the police had treated him well.
On Rue du Tracel, a quiet crescent of modest houses in suburban Cap-Rouge about a 15-minute drive from the mosque, Rejean Bussieres knew something was up when several police cars descended on his street Monday morning. Having heard of the shooting, he said, he immediately thought it could be Bissonnette.
He used to like to break things as a kid, said Bussieres, who has been a neighbor of the family for 30 years. He was turbulent.
Bussieres, a retired municipal blue-collar worker, said that Bissonnette and his twin brother Mathieu were always introverted.
Bussieress 23-year-old daughter, Rosalie, said the twins had reputations as nerds who were obsessed with violent computer games and were bullied at school. They were always just with each other. Its sad. They were always home alone.
According to Torontos Globe and Mail website, Vincent Boissoneault, a friend of the suspects who also studied at Laval University, said that Bissonnette had been uninterested in politics until Le Pen visited Quebec City last year. Soon Boissoneault was clashing with his friend over his support for Le Pen and Trump.
I wrote him off as a xenophobe, Boissoneault told the newspaper. I didnt even think of him as totally racist, but he was enthralled by a borderline racist nationalist movement.
But the Globe and Mail also quoted friends from Bissonnettes days in junior college as saying he was apolitical and more interested in chess than right-wing politics.
While mosques in Canada and the United States have been the targets of vandalism and other hate crimes in recent years, the Quebec City attack appears to be one of the first mass shootings at an Islamic house of worship in North America.
Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies, whose research is focused on Canadian attitudes toward immigrants and religious minorities, said that the far right is a marginal movement in Quebec but that it does not stop unstable people from being attracted to its propaganda.
He told The Washington Post that Bissonnette was clearly a person with problems who was drawn to far-right ideology.
But Jedwab noted that there were no prominent elected politicians in Quebec who backed far-right positions, and he praised Trudeau and other leading Canadian politicians for reaffirming the governments position of openness and support for the acceptance of Syrian refugees.
Jedwab said he did not link the attack to Trumps election win or his ban on refugees and visitors from several Muslim-majority countries last week. I dont think this was planned in 24 hours. This was planned over a period of time, he said, noting that Canadian firearm laws make it difficult to procure weapons in short order.
The attack is a particular shock for Quebec City, a prosperous city of 800,000 that prefers to be known for its winter carnival and charming Latin Quarter. Unlike the multicultural centers of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, Quebec City remains overwhelmingly white, Catholic and French Canadian.
Nevertheless, the city has seen recent growth in its Muslim population, particularly immigrants from French-speaking North and sub-Saharan Africa. The mosque located a short distance from the university was a microcosm of that growing community.
Among the victims identified by the Quebec coroner late Monday was Azzediene Soufiane, a 57-year butcher, whose halal meat market and grocery story was shut on Monday afternoon, a few forlorn bouquets left at the front door.
He was nice, social and well-liked by his customers, Amine Noui, a longtime friend of Soufiane, told Radio-Canada, the French service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Noui said it was Moroccan-born Soufiane who was one of the first people to lend him a helping hand when he moved to the community a decade ago.
Khaled Belkacemi, another victim, was an Algerian-born professor at Laval whose work focused on green chemistry and functional foods. Calling it horrible news, university rector Denis Briere said Belkacemi was a colleague who would be greatly missed.
Two of the remaining victims were from Guinea. Both were married and leave a total of six children. The other victims were born in Tunisia and also had young families.
Bever and Hawkins reported from Washington. Marissa Miller in Quebec City contributed to this report.
Read more
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The long history of terror and violence in Canada
The U.S. closed its doors to some immigrants Canada, hit by terror, opens its arms
Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Amid growing protests across the United States and internationally against US President Donald Trumps order denying access to the United States to travelers from seven Muslim countries, German and French officials criticized the ban this weekend. On Saturday, newly installed German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, pledged to raise the issue in future talks with Rex Tillerson, Trumps nominee to be US Secretary of State, once he takes office.
The ban can only worry us, Ayrault declared. We have signed international obligations, so welcoming refugees fleeing war and oppression forms part of our duties There are many other issues that worry us. This is why Sigmar and I also discussed what we are going to do. When our colleague, Tillerson, is officially appointed, we will both contact him.
Gabriel claimed that Trumps policies broke with Western traditions of offering refuge to the persecuted: Love thy neighbor is part of this tradition, the act of helping others. This unites us, we Westerners. And I think that this remains a common foundation that we share with the United States, one we aim to promote.
Trumps immigration ban is unquestionably reactionary and anti-democratic, underscoring the rapid move in the United States towards police-state forms of rule. Nonetheless, the criticisms of Trump from Berlin and Paris are hypocritical to the core. They aim to shield the European Union (EU) from growing mass anger over the persecution of Muslims and immigrants, and prepare to assert the imperialist interests of a European alliance led by Berlin and Paris against Washington.
Having joined Washington in arming Islamist militias in civil wars for regime change in Libya and Syria, the EU powers are implicated in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and the turning of tens of millions into refugeesover a million of whom fled to Europe in horrific conditions. Gabriels fatuous invocation of a policy of love thy neighbor notwithstanding, the EUs treatment of refugees was as thuggish and politically criminal as Trumps.
As the refugee crisis escalated, the EU canceled rescue operations in the Mediterranean under the Mare Nostrum program, hoping to deter migrants from coming to Europe with reports of mass drownings in the Mediterranean. Canceling the program would probably lead to a higher number of deaths, EU border agency Frontex wrote in a paper applauding that decision, since it anticipated that this meant significantly fewer migrants will attempt to cross the Mediterranean. Over 5,000 refugees drowned in the Mediterranean last year.
Refugees who arrived in Europe were herded into detention camps across Europe, blocked from going to countries of their choice, and targeted with arbitrary expulsion orders in Germany and other EU member states.
Responding to criticisms of Trump, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano told the Corriere della Sera that Europe is not in a good position to give opinions about the choices of others. Or is it that we want to forget that we too erect walls in Europe?
Meanwhile, far-right politicians across Europe hailed Trumps ban. No more immigration from any Islamic country is exactly what we need ... Islam and freedom are incompatible, said Geert Wilders of Party for Freedom in the Netherlands, while Matteo Salvini of Italys Northern League declared, An invasion is under way, it needs to be blocked.
European capitalism does not represent a kinder, more reasonable alternative to Trump. Its record underscores that Trumps reckless policies during his first week in office are not the product of Trump personally, or even the deep decay of American capitalism, but of the contradictions of world capitalism as a whole. This is the driving force of the social and political collapse that has led to the imperialist war drive and the international victimization of immigrants and foreigners, of which Trump is the most finished and noxious expression.
European politicians who are criticizing Trumps militaristic and anti-democratic politicians are also defending Germanys moves to re-militarize its foreign policy, and Frances effectively permanent state of emergency, which has been used to assault social protests against austerity.
More lies behind their cynical and carefully calibrated criticisms of the Trump administration, however, than just a reaction to anti-Trump protests, aiming to defuse them. As Trumps reactionary rampage discredits Washington internationally, they are seeking to better position the leading powers on the European continentprimarily Germany and Franceto benefit.
From a summit of Southern European countries in Lisbon on Saturday, French President Francois Hollande called for European opposition to Trumps policiesnot only on the refugee ban, but over a broad range of subjects, underscoring the EU powers sharp dissatisfaction with US foreign policy.
When the president of the United States mentions climate to say that he is not convinced of the usefulness of [the Paris climate] accord, we must respond, Hollande said. When he adds protectionist measures, which could destabilize entire economies, not simply European economies but those of the world, we must respond and when he refuses the arrival of refugees, where Europe has done its duty, we must respond.
Hollande also attacked Trumps attempt to split the EU by holding up Britains exit from the EU as a model for all of Europe. When there are declarations coming from the president of the United States about Europe, and when he talks about Brexit as a model for other countries, I believe that we have to respond, Hollande said. We must clearly state our positions and launch a dialogue with firmness about what we think.
Significantly, Hollande did not criticize Trumps orders to the Pentagon to prepare for war with the United States near peer competitors, including nuclear-armed Russia and China and, potentially, the European powers themselves. On military matters, the French president indicated that he hoped a deal could be reached with Washington. Referring to Syria, Iraq and Russia, he said that all of that should be the subject of dialogue with Trump.
Nonetheless, Berlin, Paris and other allied EU states are unquestionably moving to make broad inroads in US imperialisms commercial and strategic positions internationallya strategy that can only lead, sooner rather than later, to a potentially catastrophic military clash with Washington.
Speaking to the German financial paper Handelsblatt, Gabriel laid out an aggressive German-led commercial strategy aimed at the United States internationally. If Trump launches a trade war with Asia and South America, this also opens up chances for us, Gabriel said, adding: Europe should rapidly work on a new Asian foreign policy If US protectionism produces a situation in which new opportunities for Europe open up in all of Asia, we must intervene.
Gabriel added that Brexit offered Berlin and Paris an opportunity to refashion the EU in order to strengthen their power inside it. We also have the opportunity to develop the cooperation of a group inside the EUabove all, the [euro] currency unionand then integrate a second ring of EU states more weakly, he said. That would also very much reduce the tensions inside Europe and really strengthen core Europe.
A major target of a core Europe dominated by Berlin, in alliance with Paris, would be the working class in Europe itself. In an interview to the Daily Telegraph, Jurgen Stark, a former vice president of Germanys Bundesbank, proposed to expel Italy, Greece and other countries from the euro zone in order to strengthen a core euro zone: Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. Stark hoped this would allow for tougher monetary policies and force politicians to implement even more drastic austerity programs.
As long as the [European Central Bank] gives a signal in its operations that we are the backstop and we will prevent country A or country B from becoming insolvent, there will be no structural reforms, Stark said. The politicians dont feel the heat.
January 20 was the last day of work for 1,202 hourly workers and 43 salaried employees at the General Motors Lordstown Assembly Plant in Ohio. The workers who lost their jobs were among 2,000 GM workers laid off in Ohio and Lansing, Michigan on the same day that Donald Trump delivered his Inaugural Address, posturing as a defender of the American worker.
Another 1,300 GM workers at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant face the loss of their jobs when GM phases out the second shift at its only remaining Detroit plant between March 6 and 19. The layoffs, the first by GM in six years, are an ominous sign that the boom in auto sales that followed the 2008 crash and 2009 bankruptcy restructuring of GM and Chrysler is coming to an end.
The job cuts at Lordstown are the biggest layoffs since 1980 at the sprawling assembly and stamping plant complex, located halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The company added a third shift to the plant in 2010 when it launched its Chevrolet Cruze small passenger car, and has been operating at full capacity.
Many of the workers on the third shift are lower paid temporary workers who have been hired or rehired over the last several years. The United Auto Workers exploited the precarious position of these workers in an attempt to pressure them to vote for the 2015 UAW-GM agreement, which facilitates the layoff of workers. They have now been thrown out onto the streets and as of today will no longer have medical benefits for themselves and their families.
UAW locals 1112 and 1714 did not even make a pretense of opposing the layoffs and instead are echoing GMs claims that the layoffs are necessary because of falling sales of the Cruze model. Its supply and demand, and right now the demand is not there for what we have, said Glenn Johnson, president of UAW Local 1112 at the stamping division of the Lordstown plant.
The Facebook pages of the two locals contain instructions on how to fill out unemployment claims, seek state assistance to prevent home foreclosures and refinance student loans.
The union and GM only brought in the temporary workers to get them to ratify the contract, Tonya, a veteran Lordstown worker, told the World Socialist Web Site. I told them not to vote yes. The UAW told the workers to vote yes and promised the company would hire them as full-time workers. Now after the contract got passed they are laying off these workers. Its so wrong the way people are treated. It makes me sick to my stomach.
The union local is going on about giving us free jackets and book bags marking the 50th anniversary of the Lordstown plant. I told the workers its not for freewe paid for that with our union dues. Now we can wear the jacket to keep warm when they kick us out of the plant and use the book bags to pack our stuff when we clear out our lockers. Thats GM and the UAW for you.
I had to relocate to get a job here and they did not give me my full corporate seniority. The UAW International and the local allowed that. I could retire soon but I probably wont be able to because they screwed us out of our seniority when we came to GM from Delphi. The UAW and GM negotiated after Delphi declared bankruptcy and they cut our wages and pensions.
The layoffs follow the public announcements by GM executives that they were investing to expand operations in the US and shifting some production from plants in Mexico. Trump hailed the announcement by GM and other automakers as proof of the success of his America First economic nationalism. In reality, the auto bossesincluding GM CEO Mary Barra, who has been tapped by Trump for a seat on his corporate competitiveness boardanticipate massive profits from Trumps plan to slash corporate taxes and regulations and use threats of trade war to expand their overseas markets.
While GM has spent billions of the profits it has extracted from workers to finance stock buybacks and dividend payouts to its richest stockholders, it is just getting started on the destruction of jobs and living standards. For its part, the UAW wants to help Trump divert the social anger that will erupt over his coming attacks with anti-Mexican and anti-Chinese chauvinism.
Its not the fault of Mexican or Chinese workers, Tonya said. They are trying to find jobs just like American workers. Our kids cant go around today and move from one job to another, like we used to. Im scared for my grandkids that there is going to be a war.
The Congress, the presidency, they are not for you. If I would meet Trump, he would dog me and have nothing to do with me. We work to feed the president, the Congress and make sure they are all wealthy. I dont hate the Mexicansits the corporations that are cutting our jobs and wages and our union is allowing it.
I didnt want to vote for Trumphes against people making money other than himself and the rich. My friend told me Trump was going to put a big tax on GM for importing cars from its factories in Mexico. I didnt like Clinton, so I voted for him. But now he is sucking face with the GM and Ford executives and is going to cut some deal for them.
Im not liking what is going on. I knew Trump was too good to be true. A lot of workers here voted for him, me included. Right now, I dont know if I regret it and Im confused and angry. You dont know who to trust. You dont trust the company and, after 22 years as a UAW member, Im sad to say I dont trust them either.
Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has launched a series of provocative moves against the Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and inside Israel itself.
His aim is to distract public attention from the corruption probe that could force his resignation and bring down his government. In doing so, he has been emboldened by strong support from the incoming Trump administration.
Netanyahu has given the go-ahead for building 2,500 new homes in settlements in the West Bank, the largest construction scheme of its kind since 2013-14, saying, We are building, and will continue to build.
This follows the announcement that 566 new homespreviously on hold because of US oppositionare to be built in East Jerusalem. Jerusalems deputy mayor, Meir Turjeman, who also heads the planning committee, said plans for 11,000 other homes in East Jerusalem were also under consideration, although he did not say when they would be approved.
These moves come just days after Donald Trumps inauguration as US president. Trump, who has vowed to be the most pro-Israel president in history, has indicated his support for the Greater Israel project and backs moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He has appointed David Friedman, his personal bankruptcy lawyer, who is pro-settler and a fervent opponent of the two-state solution, as his ambassador to Israel. Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, is charged with imposing a deal with the Palestinians on Israeli terms.
Netanyahu has welcomed this shift in US policy. He had clashed repeatedly with former US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry over settlement expansionamong other issuesbecause it cut across the charade of the two-state solution, seen as vital to suppressing social and political opposition to the imperialist powers reactionary and authoritarian allies in the region.
His extreme right-wing coalition partners hope that Trump will allow them to move forward with their goal of annexing so-called Area C, the 60 percent of the West Bank under Israeli military control; passing the law to legalise illegal settler outposts, including Amona, retroactively; and approving the Jerusalem Law proposal which would apply sovereignty to greater Jerusalemthe Eztion Bloc, Maaleh Adumim, Betar Ilit and Givat Zeev, all of which are across the 1967 borders.
Netanyahu has cautioned against taking unilateral action before he has met the new administration. He is set to meet Trump in Washington in February.
Not only is construction on land seized during the June 1967 war illegal under international law, but the Palestinians view the settlements, now home to more than 600,000 Israelis, as a major obstacle to any peace deal and the creation of a future Palestinian mini-state.
In another inflammatory move, the authorities have demolished dozens of homes belonging to Israels Palestinian citizens, in part to appease the right-wing settler movement, which opposes the evacuation of illegal outposts in the West Bank. The authorities claim the Palestinian homes are illegal as they were built without a warrant, which is in fact impossible to obtain. Last year, the government approved the demolition of tens of thousands of Palestinian homes on this basis.
A new law, now going through the Knesset, will establish a national enforcement unit to wage an offensive against unauthorised construction in Palestinian towns and villages in Israel, giving it the power to demand information from the local authorities and restricting the right of judicial appeal.
On January 10, 11 homes were demolished in the city of Qalansawe. A week later, a further 15 were demolished in Umm al-Hiran, in the Negev, whose Bedouin community, along with dozens of other Bedouin communities, face expulsion.
While many of Palestines original inhabitants fled or were driven out by the Israeli army in 1948, one-quarter of those who remained were subsequently driven from their homes by the Israeli army, including the Bedouin families who relocated to Umm al-Hiran. Since then, the exclusion of the Palestinians from the national master plans has led to the Palestinian local authorities holding just 2.5 percent of the land and a severe housing shortage for Palestinians who constitute 20 percent of Israels population.
Successive governments refused to recognise Umm al-Hiran and similar villages now been classified as illegal. Under government proposals, drawn up to replace the Prawer Plan that was abandoned in 2013 following mass demonstrations, the villagers are to be relocated to overcrowded slum townships that are the most deprived in Israel. Their land is slated for the development of a new Jewish town.
At a mass rally to prevent the demolition of Bedouin homes in Umm al-Hiran, violent clashes broke out, ending in the death of two people. One of them was a local teacher, Yacoub Abu al-Qian, who had been shot by the police. Ayman Oydeh, head of the Palestinian Joint List, the third largest party in the Knesset, suffered a head injury from a rubber bullet.
Numerous witnesses insisted that al-Qian posed no threat to anyone when the police opened fire on his vehicle, causing him to swerve out of control and drive into the police officers. The police claimed that they had shot him because he had deliberately rammed into the police in a terrorist attack. Afterwards, they sought to justify their actions alleging he was active in the Israeli Islamic Movement, which his family denied. Later still, the police said he was struck not by police fire but by demonstrators rocks, which conflicted with the medical reports.
Since then, there have been protests all over Israel by Palestinian citizens, who fear that the demolitions and forced evacuations in Umm al-Harin are a taste of what is to come as the government opens up a new front against its own citizens and brings the war against the Palestinians to Israel itself. The police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to break up the demonstrations.
A mass rally from all over the country descended on the Knesset in Jerusalem, demanding that the police release al-Qians body without preconditions on his funeral, which the Supreme Court has now supported, and an end to the house demolitions. His family are demanding an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
Netanyahu and his ministers have repeated the unsubstantiated claim that the killing of al-Qian was a justified response to a terrorist attack by an ISIS supporter. The lies and cover-up of his murder are of a piece with claims a few months ago of a vehicle-ramming terror attack in East Jerusalem, which turned out to be a misunderstanding in which the driver was shot and killed by police. Similarly, when a wave of fires broke out at the end of last year, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, senior police officers and fire fighters claimed that many of the blazes were deliberate arson attacks by Palestinians. Despite numerous arrests for arson, all of the supposed suspects have been released without charge.
These provocations against Israeli Palestinians follow a particularly deadly and violent period for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Since the start of a wave of violence in October 2015, in the wake of increasing restrictions on the right of access to and prayer in the al-Aqsa compound in East Jerusalem over the preceding summer, 247 Palestinians have been killed by Israelis, with 135 Palestinians killed between the months of October and December 2015 alone. Of the 130 killed in 2016, 112 were Palestinians, 15 were Israelis, and three were foreign nationals.
Netanyahu has already ordered his security chiefs to prepare plans to counter mass opposition expected in the West Bank if Trump does move the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Princess Diana has remained in everyones hearts, most especially her two sons. To honor her memory, Prince William and Prince Harry have commissioned a statue of their mother.
In a statement, Prince Harry said, It has been twenty years since our mothers death and the time is right to recognize her positive impact in the U.K. and around the world with a permanent statue. Our mother touched so many lives. We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and her legacy.
Both princes have carried on their mothers charitable works. Prince Harry co-founded Sentebale in Lesotho, which means Forget Me Not. The charitys goal is to help the most vulnerable children of southern Africa who suffer from HIV/AIDS.
Most recently, Prince Harry supported the Running Charity. The organization works with young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. After running with a group of kids, Prince Harry recreated his moms photo with the same charity 22 years later, in the same stairwell.
Meanwhile, Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, visited to a Child Bereavement UK Centre. Originally supported by Princess Diana, the charity helps families deal with grief. Prince William was seen comforting a little girl whose father had died of cancer. The Duke of Cambridge said to the 9-year-old girl, I lost my Mummy when I was very young, too.
A memorial to the Princess of Wales will soon grace the grounds of Kensington Palace. It will be unveiled before the end of 2017.
Go down memory lane and watch Prince Harrys 14-day Caribbean Tour.
Tell us what you think! Share your comments with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Julissa Bermudez, on Twitter.
What the SAG Award Attendees Really Thought of the Nights Many Political Speeches
Things got political at Sundays 2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Before the annual award show even began, stars were vocal about the strained political situation in the U.S. after President Donald Trump was sworn into office earlier this month. And, during the actual award show, many winners took time in their speeches to send out strong political messages.
And the attendees (and other winners) felt that the political turn on the show was necessary and welcome.
I think it was an opportunity for everybody to show that they wont and have no intention of being complicit with their silence, Orange is the New Blacks Uzo Aduba told PEOPLE during the SAG Awards afterparty on Sunday.
Stars including Simon Helberg, Ashton Kutcher and Julia Louis-Dreyfus spoke passionately against Trumps executive order to temporarily ban all refugees from entering the U.S.
Helberg took to the shows red carpet with a sign that read REFUGEES WELCOME and Louis-Dreyfus spoke of her late fathers journey to the United States as he fled religious persecution in Nazi-occupied France. Julia Louis-Dreyfus Speaks Out Against Immigrant Ban In Emotional SAG Awards Speech
Joining the long list of stars to give a politically charged speech at the award show was Adubas costar Taylor Schilling. The actress elaborated on her speech backstage, telling PEOPLE that OITNBs cast ensemble wouldnt be had it not been for immigration.
I dont think our cast would exist without people coming to America to seek a better life, she said.
What happens, I think, in our show is the more individual and personal we get with peoples stories the more we realize that they are universal. We are not as separate as we think we are.
During her own impassioned speech Taraji P. Henson praised the diversity in her SAG Award-winning Hidden Figures and called for unity.
This story is about what happens when we put our difference aside and we come together as a human race, she said.
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Henson echoed her statements to PEOPLE backstage, saying that people need the film about black women working at NASA who helped send the first Americans into space because it represents hope.
If you just focus on the bigger goal of the American dream, that is what makes this country great, she said. I think is a reminder of that. It is timely, it is not, there is a reason that this film wasnt made five years ago. It was needed now.
The most passionate acceptance speech of the night came from Stranger Things actor David Harbour. In the moving address, Harbour vowed to repel bullies and shelter freaks and outcasts.
Charlie Heaton, Harbours castmate in the Netflix show, praised Harbours speech, calling it powerful.
Obviously he was very nervous tonight, Heaton said backstage. You know David is a person who means what he says, and it was very relevant, very powerful.
Many feel Captain America is needed now more than ever, so it's no surprise that the image of a San Jose Councilmember being sworn in using Cap's shield made national headlines - and elevated the young politician to internet fame.
San Jose Councilmember (and comic book fan) Lan Diep dug the collector's item (produced for Captain America: The First Avenger) out of his closet and on a whim decided to bring it to his swearing in ceremony Jan. 24. Messages began pouring in praising him, with many his new fans assuming Diep used the shield as a form of protest of President Donald Trump's policies.
Though the Republican says it was not an act of protest, he does have a very personal connection to a controversial executive order Trump signed days after Diep's ceremony: an immigration and travel ban on seven predominately Muslim countries.
"Its upsetting to me. America is at its strongest when it's compassionate and it's open, when it stands up in the face of danger knowing that terrorism and danger lurks out there," says Diep, whose parents were political refugees who fled communism in Vietnam, and were welcomed with open arms in the United States.
In a conversation with Heat Vision, the attorney (whose first name Lan rhymes with "fun," he wants people to know) also shares his thoughts on what Captain America means for the U.S. during uncertain times.
How did you decide to bring the shield to your swearing in ceremony?
In the moment, before I decided to do it, I just felt like I had this cool shield I wanted to show off. The shield to me is an extension of the flag, so it's not proppy in the sense that if I had brought Aquaman's trident to the proceedings. It's patriotic. So it was OK.
What does the shield represent to you?
The shield represents America's ideals. The things I want to strive for: fair play, equal justice, liberty. The things I want to protect in my little part of San Jose. And to give back to the country that has done so much for me. I wasn't protesting the president or doing anything like that. But I received a lot of messages, both negative and positive, from people in the last week. It makes me realize that I kind of became a touchstone for people who are disappointed with the current political climate and who see what I did as a symbol of hope - and that really surprised me. People thanked me and told me I was brave for doing it. Some people have called me an embarrassment, but it comes with the territory.
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It sounds like in a way, people can read into what you did however they want.
I wasn't intending it at the time, but after the fact, I think it is a nice image to see a Vietnamese guy be Captain America. "American" means many different things, so to challenge that traditional narrative. On the negative side, some people assumed I got sworn in on my shield instead of a Bible. In California, at least at the local level, you just raise your hand and take the oath. There is no Bible. Not everyone in California is a Christian, so there's no requirement that you get sworn in on anything.
And this was actually not your first swearing in ceremony for this office.
It was my third swearing in ceremony, which is why I felt it was ceremonial, it was redundant, and therefore I could have a little fun with it, because it wasn't the official. I've been in office since Jan. 1, so I'd already been sworn in.
What are your thoughts on the president's immigration ban?
That's upsetting to me, as the son of Vietnamese refugees, political refugees, who fled from Communism in Vietnam. My parents came to the United States and they were welcomed with open arms. They worked hard, but they were also given federal assistance. They were given student loans and federal aid to give them the opportunities to climb the economic ladder and then they put me and my brother through college. I went on to law school. I've helped people with my education and the skills I acquired. So it's upsetting to me. America is at its strongest when it's compassionate and it's open, when it stands up in the face of danger knowing that terrorism and danger lurks out there.
To me, America represents a symbol of hope to the rest of the world, to oppressed peoples everywhere. To the people who actually make it here, we are the land of opportunity. And that's been the case with my parents, with my family, with countless other refugees and immigrants who have arrived here.
Do you think the ideals of Captain America can teach us anything in today's climate?
I think Americans need to continue to be open, be brave and win over the people who oppose us by being that shining example of what a free society can be. In the context of Captain America, he represents those ideals, but he doesn't serve any one president. He doesn't serve any one administration, or any one government. He follows his own moral compass, and I didn't plan it, but it kind of seems apropos.
What do you think the role of local governments will be under the current administration?
Under this administration, through what we've seen in the past few days, it's clear that local government - state, county and city governments - will have a bigger role to play in protecting and serving our residents, and so San Jose will step up to that challenge.
What are you working on in San Jose that you are most excited about?
San Jose is the 10th largest city in the U.S. It's the capital of the Silicon Valley, and in my term, I hope to really make San Jose earn that moniker. Venture capitalists and innovation happens maybe a bit farther up north in Palo Alto. I want to attract a little bit more of that innovation to San Jose proper, and locally we are going to get BART for the first time into my district, so I want to make sure that goes smoothly. San Jose is dealing with rebuilding its police force, so hiring great people back to San Jose to bolster our ranks and tackle things like affordable housing and the stagnant economy. Making San Jose a vibrant place that is accessible to people of all incomes and all creeds.
Anti-Trump protests spread to the U.K. as British people took the streets to protest President Donald Trumps controversial executive order restricting immigration as well as British Prime Minister Theresa Mays decision to invite Trump for a state visit later this year. Understatement, sarcasm, passive aggressiveness and baffling slang abounded on signs all around, with protestors gathering everywhere from London to Scottish capital Edinburgh and many university towns in between. Also present: a surprising number of Love Actually fans.
Here are some of the best signs and their translations:
1.The U.K. Has Culture Wars Too
Glasgow: You mom was an immigrant. You absolute fool.
Cambridge: This is what a very, very angry Englishman sounds like.
2. Meanwhile, in Edinburgh
Pretty sure this sign won the Scotland Against Trump Protest in Edinburgh tonight. #NoBanNoWall #Resist pic.twitter.com/pVGTZ2CQLw Marian Perez (@marianperez93) January 30, 2017
Irn-Bru: For Scots, a delicious national soda . Non-Scots respectfully disagree.
3. Hugh Grant was the Obama Britain needed
I still genuinely can't believe someone made Hugh Grant's terrible speech from Love Actually into a sign. pic.twitter.com/VHIg31QZcX Catherine Wilkins (@Catiewilkins) January 30, 2017
4. The classics all came out.
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5. The British P.M. got some fashion advice
6. At Downing St.
How to know you're at a London protest. LOL. #StandUpToTrump pic.twitter.com/5y75ssNLvi Tansy E Hoskins (@TansyHoskins) January 30, 2017
Wasteman = London slang for someone who doesnt do very much with their life, spends all day on Twitter etc.
7. It all got a bit aggressive.
8. The Dealmaker
This placard at tonight's protest in Manchester. Favourite. pic.twitter.com/vbm03F4bdV (@fxxckoff) January 31, 2017
Avon representatives are lovely, somewhat irritating salespeople who really deserve better than this.
9. Obviously people complained about the weather.
Impossible.
10. The soft side of London came out
Translation: Muslims are friends too. Aww.
11. Its a very special relationship.
12. Protect The Queen.
A very British protest sign at the emergency demo against Trump's #MuslimBan in London. #StandUpToTrump pic.twitter.com/CCguZQctvV (((Linda Mannheim))) (@LindaMannheim) January 31, 2017
Well, quite.
Bogota (AFP) - Colombian officials said Monday that 17 civil campaigners have been murdered over the past two months in the country, amid tensions over its contested peace process.
President Juan Manuel Santos has warned that fresh violence could destabilize the demobilization of the leftist FARC rebels under a historic peace accord.
He signed the deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and pushed it through the legislature in December, defying criticism from conservative rivals.
In the weeks following, reports emerged of killings by local civil campaigners by unidentified groups in conflict areas.
On Monday the Victims' Unit, a state conflict resolution body, said in a statement that "17 civil leaders have been murdered since December 1, after Congress ratified the peace accord."
The last known victim was Porfirio Jaramillo, leader of a group demanding rural land restitution. He was killed on Saturday in Antioquia department, in the northwest, it said.
Land rights were at the heart of the conflict that pitted the Marxist FARC against Colombian state forces since 1964.
The peace agreement reconciles the two main rival forces in the war, but there are fears of score-settling between renegade players in the multi-sided conflict.
As well as leftist rebels and state forces, the conflict drew in right-wing paramilitaries backed by landowners.
They were supposedly disbanded in the 2000s but the FARC and other groups say former members of them are still active.
The Victims' Unit said Jaramillo was taken away from his home by four armed men. Police found his dead body on Sunday morning.
"We are extremely worried by these events, because the truth is they are massacring social leaders," the unit's director, Alan Jara, said in a statement.
He called on prosecutors to investigate the killings and urged authorities to provide protection for social group leaders.
Offensives launched by pro-Russian separatists in southeastern Ukraine Sunday and Monday have left seven Ukrainian soldiers dead and 14 wounded, Ukrainian government officials said Monday.
The initial assault from the separatists resulted in three of its soldiers being killed while fighting to prevent the rebels from gaining control of the important industrial town of Avdiivka Sunday. Two more Ukrainian servicemen also died in the fighting that occurred the same day outside of the city of Donetsk, which has become the rebels de facto capital.
The death toll grew when two Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly killed in a battle just north of Donetsk Monday.
The Ukrainian government has accused the rebels of using tanks and several Grad grenade launchers during the attacks. But both tanks and Grad launchers have been categorized as the types of heavy-caliber weapons prohibited from being used in the conflict, according to a September 2015 truce between Ukraine and pro-Russia rebel forces. The 2015 ceasefire called for the withdrawal of all mortars and heavy weapons with a caliber of less than 100mm from the conflicts front lines.
Each sides has routinely accused the other of violating the two-year-old ceasefire. Ukraine and NATO have said Russia was militarily supporting the rebels, which it has denied. Though the United States and the European Union have placed sanctions on Russia over the conflict, the recent outbreak in violence coincided with President Donald Trumps call for better relations with Moscow, which has alarmed Ukrainian government officials. Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin Saturday about how the two countries planned to work together to resolve the conflict in Syria. Trump has also spoken about the possibility of lifting the sanctions against Russia.
"The situation in the Avdiyivka industrial zone is challenging," a spokesman of the Ukrainian military, Oleksandr Motuzyanyk Motuzyanyk, told reporters Monday. "The enemy continues to fire at our positions with heavy artillery and mortars."
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One rebel fighter was killed during the fight on Sunday, a representative of the separatist groups told Agence France-Presse Monday. The representative also said one female civilian was killed amid the crossfire and three others were wounded.
At least 9,750 civilians and militants have lost their lives in the armed conflict between Ukrainian forces and separatist rebels since 2014.
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After the holidays, cruise lines lure travelers with enticing deals and attractive perks, from onboard spending credits to free shore excursions. This time of year, which begins in January and lasts through March, is known as "wave season." Wave season is an excellent time to score a bargain, regardless of whether you're a veteran cruiser or you're sailing for the first time, says Sandy Haberman, general manager of airline and cruise divisions at Sojern, a performance marketing platform for travel brands. "To make the deals even more enticing, cruise lines might offer perks including shore excursions, cabin upgrades, onboard credits, drink packages, specialty dining experiences and possibly better choice of cabins," he adds. With that in mind, here are nine tricks for taking advantage of the industry-wide phenomenon and landing a deal.
[See: The 2017 Best Cruise Lines for the Money.]
Research, Research, Research
Prior to booking a wave season cruise deal, Haberman advises conducting plenty of legwork. "Get an idea of what the exact cruise itinerary might normally cost on the same cruise line or another cruise line (of similar 'class') to make sure the deal is just that -- a deal," Haberman says. And when comparing costs, account for extra perks like cabin upgrades that might be included as part of the deal and make sure your cost comparison not only includes these benefits, but also any other expenses you might incur on the cruise. "You may also want to include airline costs to get a true look at overall trip expenses," Haberman adds.
Sail at Off-Peak Times to Optimize Savings
If you have some flexibility in your travel dates, you'll increase your odds of snagging a deal. "It is all about passenger loads, so one week's sailing may be a less than another so you want to grab the less expensive [itinerary] although your onboard service is no different," says Margie Lieb, owner of PW Travel Consulting near Denver. "There are fewer crowds on board but no compromise with the onboard amenities like the shows, food, etc. Also, [during off-peak times] a traveler is more likely to get reservations at the specialty restaurants and other specialty venues that can be booked way ahead of sailing," Lieb says.
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Plan a Winter Escape
With hurricane season behind us, now is a prime time to secure a deal without having to worry about the weather-related interruptions. "The weather is great in the Caribbean to enjoy without having to pay the high season prices," Lieb says. Now is also a great time to escape icy conditions and plan a trip to the Southern hemisphere, she adds.
Consider a Home Port Cruise
If you sail from a close-to-home port, you can maximize savings. For example, if you live near New York City, consider sailing with Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line. Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is offering a five-night sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, to Bermuda, starting from $646. This deal includes 30 percent off a standard cruise fare for all guests in a stateroom, reduced deposits and cruisers can get up to instant savings per stateroom. And through Feb. 6, if you book a cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway or Norwegian Gem departing from New York City, you can enjoy additional amenities with a Norwegian Selects promotion, including unlimited phone calls, a Wi-Fi package, a 10-photo package and an onboard spending credit.
[See: 10 Underrated Cruise Destinations for 2017.]
Become a Loyalist
If you frequently cruise on a particular cruise line, you can reap rich rewards and nab discounts on select sailings by staying attune to the latest promotions and deals. Carnival, for example, has a promotional event with special savings, discounts and onboard perks throughout January. Beyond this month, check Carnival's website for more offers. Another popular line, Princess Cruises, offers several "Drop and Go" deals this winter, including a 10-day Caribbean cruise special on one of their newest and largest ships, Royal Princess. Cruisers can take advantage of deals on two different 10-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries. Meanwhile, Celebrity Cruises is offering a myriad of wave season promotions for a variety of sailings across the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Asia. For example, the line's Sail Beyond Event (from Feb. 1, 2017, to April 30, 2018) allows you to enjoy discounts on a variety of Celebrity's itineraries.
Take Advantage of Senior Discounts
AARP offers enticing wave season discounts for senior cruisers. Their website, AARPAdvantages.com, is available to AARP members and offers a range of customized travel deals. Want to take your adventure abroad? AARP has great deals on river cruises too. Currently, AARP Members can receive 20 percent off of featured 2017 European river cruises. Savings are also available on Holland America Line, Uniworld, Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises to AARP members.
Book a Honeymoon Cruise
Norwegian Cruise Line is offering those looking to soak up the sun among the exotic islands of Hawaii a one-of-a-kind cruise vacation aboard the recently renovated Pride of America, with an exclusive Free at Sea offer. Guests who book a seven-day inter-island Hawaii cruise now through Feb. 6 aboard Pride of America have the freedom to select one of five offers to enrich their cruising experience. Take your pick from a complimentary one-night pre-cruise hotel stay with an option to select reduced airfare, a free specialty dining package, free pre-paid gratuities, shore excursion credits and the Norwegian's Kids Sail Free program, which allows the third and fourth guests in each stateroom to sail for free on select dates.
Act Quickly
During wave season, Holland America Line invites travelers to take advantage of its "View & Verandah" promotion, available on select 2017 and 2018 cruises and Alaska Land+Sea Journeys. If you book the "View & Verandah" deal by Feb. 28, you can enjoy a stateroom upgrade, onboard spending credits and up to 10 percent off select shore excursions, among other perks. The offer is available on select cruises from Mar. 30 to April 28, 2018. Featured destinations include Alaska, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and Hawaii, among other itineraries.
Meanwhile, Oceania Cruises is offering an exciting wave of offers on all 2017 and 2018 sailings. Through Mar. 31, travelers can take advantage of free and value-laden perks, including airfare, onboard spending credits and complimentary shore excursions.
[See: The Best Cruise Lines of 2017.]
Consider All Vacation Costs
Snagging a last-minute cruise may be a good deal, but factor in other costs like airfare, says Sally Black, author of "Fearless Family Vacations: Make Everyone Happy Without Losing Your Mind." When you add in extras like airfare, make sure you're getting a good value. "If people need to fly to get to port, there will be higher last minute flight prices that will need to be factored in," Black says.
Quebec City (AFP) - Alexandre Bissonnette cut a low profile as a shy, withdrawn political science student, keen on far-right ideas.
Now, he stands accused of gunning down six worshippers at a Quebec mosque in one of the worst attacks ever to target Muslims in a western country.
The 27-year old grew up in a quiet suburb of Quebec City, posting online about friends, family and food.
He studied anthropology and political science at nearby Laval University, and most recently lived in a fourth-floor apartment with his twin brother that neighbors described as often noisy.
The apartment is one kilometer (0.6 miles) from the Sainte-Foy mosque where Bissonnette allegedly shot worshippers in the back.
His Facebook account has since been deleted, but an analysis of stored pages by SITE Intelligence Group -- a US-based organization that monitors extremists' activities -- described his posts as "largely apolitical."
"It is a cruelly banal profile that resembles many others and it is extremely difficult to perceive the evolution," David Morin, co-director of the Observatory on Radicalization and Violent Extremism, told AFP.
Bissonnette went to classes at Laval University, read the essays of French poet Charles Baudelaire, and worked part-time at the province's blood collection agency. It has expressed alarm over learning that one of its employees was suspected in the mosque shooting.
Although Bissonnette was not affiliated with any group, he appears to have embraced a "right-wing, a bit reactionary, somewhat anti-immigrant, anti-feminist ideology," said Morin.
He espoused positions taken by US President Donald Trump, French National Front leader Marine Le Pen, and a Quebec group that rejects multiculturalism.
SITE Intelligence Group noted that on his Facebook page, "There were no posts about Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State (ISIS), or Muslims, nor were there any posts related to immigration."
But he "liked" the pages of Le Pen, Trump and Quebec's Generation Nationale.
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- 'The light went out' -
Morin said it is always hard to determine exactly what will lead to a person's break with reality, to an existential crisis, insecurity about their identity, and a need for self-affirmation.
In fact, this young man "may not even have been radicalized" to nationalist ideas. In a moment it is likely simply "the light went out," he said.
This might explain why after allegedly carrying out these murderous acts, Bissonnette fled and called police to turn himself in.
Morin suggests parallels with a case in the US state of South Carolina in which Dylan Roof shot dead nine black parishioners at a church in 2015.
Profiles of the suspects in both cases run contrary to the fanatics who typically commit suicide, including blowing themselves up during or after an attack.
There were no obvious signs of Bissonnette's predilection for violence. Prior to Le Pen's controversial March 2016 visit to Quebec City, he showed little interest in politics, despite majoring in it at school, his friends told local media.
Former classmates described him as a quiet, unassuming guy who blended in. Others said he was introverted, socially awkward and frequently bullied in high school, but that he brushed it off.
People who knew him described him as having lately become a xenophobe, an ethnic nationalist and an online troll, but not a racist.
He denounced, for example, the flood of Syrian migrants into Europe last year.
"He was someone who made frequent extreme comments in social media denigrating refugees and feminism. It wasn't outright hate, rather part of this new nationalist conservative identity movement that is more intolerant than hateful," Francois Deschamps, who runs a refugee-support Facebook page, told the daily Globe and Mail.
One of Bissonnette's last online postings was a photo circa 2002 of himself as a boy in a military cadet uniform, stone-faced.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) Federal prosecutor Dana Boente, described by a former attorney general as a "consummate utility player," is being asked to pinch hit again, this time in one of the most influential posts in U.S. government.
President Donald Trump tapped Boente late Monday to serve as acting attorney general, replacing Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration. Trump fired Yates after she instructed Justice Department lawyers not to defend the Trump administration's travel ban because of questions over its legality. Boente has said the order is lawful and the Justice Department will defend it in court.
The Trump administration hopes Boente's term will last just a few days, as they push for Senate confirmation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general. Sessions could be confirmed this week, but so far a vote has been held up amid Democrats' objections.
Boente, a career prosecutor, has served most recently as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
This isn't the first time he's been asked to take the reins of an office in turmoil.
Boente took over as the top federal prosecutor in New Orleans amid a scandal that led to the resignation of U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
Letten stepped down in 2012 after two of his top deputies acknowledged they had posted anonymous comments on a newspaper website about cases their office had handled, including the prosecution of police officers who shot and killed unarmed residents on a New Orleans bridge in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In 2013, a federal judge threw out the convictions of five former officers and ordered a new trial, concluding the case had been tainted by "grotesque prosecutorial misconduct."
Boente served as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana until September 2013. During his brief stint there, he oversaw the high-profile case against former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who was indicted on corruption charges in January 2013 and convicted at trial the following year.
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Matthew Coman, who was lead prosecutor in Nagin's case, called Boente an intelligent, hard-working career prosecutor with a "high moral character."
"He's got a great depth of experience," said Coman, who left the U.S. Attorney's office to join a New Orleans law firm.
Some of the anger at Trump's handling of the travel ban and Yates' dismissal has spilled over to Boente. His Wikipedia page was briefly vandalized to describe him as "the newest sock puppet for the Trump administration."
John Fishwick, who recently resigned as U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Virginia, said he was dismayed by Yates' dismissal, but he said Boente shouldn't be tarred by association for stepping in to a difficult situation.
"I often turned to him for advice," Fishwick said of Boente. "If there's a silver lining to (Yates' dismissal), it's that we're getting a thoughtful, conscientious lawyer in there."
He's also earned the respect of his adversaries. Geremy Kamens, who heads the federal public defender's office in the Eastern District of Virginia, called him "a professional and a straight-shooter, and our relationship is positive and very cordial. He's willing to work with us on issues of mutual concern, although obviously there are many issues on which we disagree."
When he was formally sworn in last year as U.S. Attorney after a unanimous confirmation by the Senate, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch attended the ceremony and called Boente "one of the Justice Department's consummate utility players."
Boente, 62, is a native of Carlinville, Illinois. He began his Justice Department career as a tax attorney. Except for his brief stint in New Orleans, he's been a prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2001.
He is described as low-key and unfailingly polite. Even though he oversaw numerous high-profile cases, he avoided the spotlight and rarely held press conferences. But he frequently conducted community outreach, meeting with community leaders on issues of concern like responding to an epidemic of heroin cases, and maintaining good relations with Northern Virginia's Muslim community.
The district is home to the Pentagon and CIA, and for decades has been one of the most important prosecutorial offices in the country, handling numerous espionage, terrorism and national security cases. Boente led the office through several high-profile corruption cases as well, including the prosecution of Republican former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell, whose conviction was overturned unanimously by the U.S. Supreme Court after the Justice's expressed concern that prosecutors' theory of the case would criminalize routine interactions between politicians and their supporters.
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Associated Press writer Michael Kunzelman contributed to this report from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports
The Packers ruled out linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (knee) after he missed practice all week. That leaves rookie Quay Walker to wear the communication helmet on defense against the Lions. The only game Campbell has missed the past six seasons was Week 18 last season when he was inactive to rest for the postseason, not for [more]
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates has told the U.S. Justice Department not to defend President Donald Trumps executive order banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries.
I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right, Yates wrote in a letter to lawyers in the Justice Department on Monday, according to ABC News. At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful.
Yates, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, is serving in the role until Jeff Sessions, Trumps nominee for Attorney General is confirmed.
For as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so, she wrote.
Trump on Twitter quickly lashed out against Democrats, accusing them of delaying the confirmation of his cabinet nominees.
The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct. Now have an Obama A.G. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2017
Yates dissent is the latest in a slew of government officials who have come out against Trumps executive order. Democrats on Monday evening rallied against the order outside the U.S. Supreme Court.
Washington (AFP) - An embattled Donald Trump fired his government's chief lawyer for refusing to defend his controversial immigration orders late Monday, deepening a political crisis engulfing his presidency.
In a caustic statement, Trump's White House said acting attorney general Sally Yates "betrayed" the Department of Justice in defying the president and had been relieved of her duties with immediate effect.
Yates -- a career prosecutor promoted by president Barack Obama and held over by Trump pending confirmation of his own nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions -- had refused to defend Trump's ban on immigration from seven Muslim nations.
In a memo to Department of Justice staff, she expressed doubts about the legality and morality of Trump's decree.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is," Yates wrote.
"I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful," she added.
"For as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so."
In the end, her tenure lasted only a few more hours.
The White House snapped back, accusing Yates of being "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration."
Trump has replaced Yates with Federal prosecutor Dana Boente as he awaits the Senate confirmation of Sessions.
Boente said he would defend Trump's directive, stating that it was "both lawful on its face and properly drafted."
Trump's executive order suspends the arrival of all refugees for a minimum of 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
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Several federal judges have since filed temporary stays against the decree's implementation.
On Sunday, attorneys general from 16 US states, including California and New York, condemned Trump's directive as "unconstitutional" and vowed to fight it.
- 'Monday night massacre' -
Trump's furious response may have lasting political repercussions, not least complicating Sessions's confirmation.
He faces a vote Tuesday on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and then has to be confirmed by the full Senate before taking up the post.
Congress's top Democrat, Senator Chuck Schumer said Yates's firing underscored how important "it is to have an Attorney General who'll stand up to the White House when they violate the law."
The firing came as Trump said he would announce late Tuesday his pick to fill a Supreme Court opening. The unveiling was originally scheduled for Thursday.
Democratic lawmakers have vociferously opposed Trump's immigration order and Republicans are privately seething over the way his White House has handled the issue.
In a separate decision announced without explanation by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Trump also replaced acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Daniel Ragsdale.
The two dismissals in one night has echoes of President Richard Nixon's 1973 "Saturday night massacre" during the Watergate scandal.
Then, Nixon fired the special prosecutor investigating him, prompting the departures of his attorney general and deputy attorney general.
The events catalyzed Nixon's impeachment.
House Democrat John Conyers, Jr. said that Trump's conduct "is Nixonian in its design and execution," and threatens the justice department's independence.
"If dedicated government officials deem his directives to be unlawful and unconstitutional, he will simply fire them as if government is a reality show," Conyers said in a statement.
- 'American values' -
In remarks at the White House and on Twitter, Trump tried to play down the order's impact and defended the decision not to give advance warning to border guards, diplomats and travelers.
"If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad 'dudes' out there!" Trump claimed.
Around 48 percent of Americans support a freeze on immigration from "terror prone" regions, even if it means turning refugees away, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Monday.
But after a weekend of chaos at airports, protests and a diplomatic outcry, criticism even came from Trump's predecessor Obama, breaking a silence he had held since leaving office.
"President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country," spokesman Kevin Lewis said, adding that "American values are at stake" and noting Obama rejects faith-based discrimination.
Senior national security officials from the Obama and George W. Bush administrations warned in a letter to top Trump cabinet members that the order "will do long-term damage to our national security."
Calling the measure a tragically "unnecessary" move that will fuel violent extremist propaganda, they said it "sent exactly the wrong message to the Muslim community here at home and all over the world: that the US government is at war with them based on their religion."
Late Monday, a crowd chanted slogans and held banners outside the Supreme Court, which could ultimately rule on the measure.
Actor Kal Penn has raised more than $500,000 for Syrian refugees after launching an online fundraiser over the weekend.
Penn also served as an associate director in former President Barack Obama's White House Office of Public Engagement. Penn, whose parents are Indian, responded to an Instagram commenter who told him he didn't "belong in this country" by launching the fundraiser Saturday and asking followers to donate to it in the commenter's name.
Penn says in an online video that he thought the fundraiser would simply be "an uplifting way to raise $2,500 bucks." He calls it "a beautiful way to resist" President Donald Trump's order to temporarily suspend immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations.
Penn starred in TV's "House" and in the "Harold & Kumar" films.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) _ Advanced Energy Industries Inc. (AEIS) on Monday reported fourth-quarter net income of $44.3 million.
On a per-share basis, the Fort Collins, Colorado-based company said it had net income of $1.11. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.06 per share.
The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 81 cents per share.
The maker of power-conversion products posted revenue of $135.3 million in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $129.5 million.
For the year, the company reported net income of $127.5 million, or $3.18 per share, swinging to a profit in the period. Revenue was reported as $483.7 million.
For the current quarter ending in April, Advanced Energy expects its per-share earnings to range from 90 cents to $1.
The company said it expects revenue in the range of $141 million to $151 million for the fiscal first quarter.
Advanced Energy shares have climbed nearly 9 percent since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Monday, shares hit $59.61, more than doubling in the last 12 months.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AEIS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AEIS
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Keywords: Advanced Energy Industries, Earnings Report
NATO no longer has a monopoly on drones on the battlefields of Afghanistan. Because now insurgents are using them.
In the past, seeing a UAV once or twice a month would be normal, spokesman for the U.S.-led NATO coalition in Afghanistan Capt. William Salvin told Stars and Stripes, using the acronym for unmanned aerial vehicles. Now, were seeing them once or twice a week.
The drones are small, commercial-use and cheap. But theyre effective. With eyes in the sky, insurgents can conduct spy on coalition forces and target them in mortar attacks with real-time live feeds of the battlefield. In October, the Taliban even used a drone to record a suicide bombing attack for propaganda purposes.
But whats more worrying is the possibility of insurgents arming drones with bombs and its already happening in Iraq and Syria. Numerous videos of militant group purportedly dropping explosives from jerry-rigged drones have already populated YouTube (see here and here). And in October, the Islamic State attacked French and Kurdish forces in Northern Iraq with an exploding drone that killed two Kurdish soldiers.
After the incident, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq said drones-turned-bombs were alarmingly easy and cheap to come by. They can just buy them as anybody else would, Col. John Dorrian said, as AP reported. Some of those are available on Amazon.
There havent been any reported incidents of insurgents using drone explosives in Afghanistan yet. But the Afghan military isnt taking any chances. The Afghan Air Force posted flyers around its bases urging troops to be on the lookout for quadcopter drones, warning they could be bombs.
Weve seen this before, Chris Woods of Airwars, an organization that monitors casualties from airstrikes in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, said, per Stars and Stripes. Back in 2006, (improvised explosive devices became) were unheard of in Afghanistan. Eventually, IEDs became the primary cause of loss of life for U.S. and Afghan forces.
The Pentagon is scrambling to deploy counter-drone technology to troops to respond to the threat. In October last year, Lt. Gen. Michael Shields, the director of the Pentagons Joint Improvised Threat-Defeat Organization (JIDO) said at a media event his organization would test state-of-the-art tools to rebuff drones in January or February.
Still, Salvin said NATO wasnt losing any sleep over the drone threat in Afghanistan yet. Its something we watch for, [but] we believe their use will have very little impact to our operations, he said.
Photo credit: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
By Mohammad Stanekzai LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan forces said they were holding off a Taliban offensive in Helmand province on Tuesday, as reinforcements and air support arrived. Both sides reported heavy fighting as Taliban militants attacked government positions in Sangin district, an area where insurgents have made major gains in the past two years. "There is heavy fighting still ongoing between the Taliban and our forces but those places that were captured by the Taliban yesterday have been taken back," said Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the governor of the southern province. Among the reinforcements sent to the embattled district were new commando units, he said. A regional Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, said fighters had captured at least 25 government checkpoints and killed more than 100 soldiers and police. The Taliban used tunnels dug from houses to attack the government's front-line checkpoints, General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai, commander of the 215th Army Corps, said on Monday. Army officials said they had killed at least 19 Taliban and wounded 25. British, American and other international forces battled the Taliban in Helmand for years after the ouster of the militant group from power in late 2001. Sangin and other districts saw sustained heavy fighting. The Taliban have made gains in several parts of the country since most foreign combat troops withdrew from Afghanistan at the end of 2014. The U.S.-led coalition has redeployed hundreds of troops to Helmand, however, to train and advise Afghan forces, as well as provide occasional air support. (Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Robert Birsel)
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) African leaders on Tuesday adopted a strategy calling for a collective withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. The non-binding decision came behind closed doors near the end of an African Union summit.
It was the latest expression of impatience by African leaders with the court, which some say has focused too narrowly on Africa while pursuing cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Late last year, South Africa, Burundi and Gambia all announced plans to leave the court, leading to concerns that other states would follow.
Desire Assogbavi, head of Oxfam International's liaison office to the AU, confirmed the adoption of the strategy. A source close to the continental body's legal council also confirmed it, saying countries had been divided on whether to call for leaving the court individually or together.
The source said the majority of countries also wanted the meaning of immunity and impunity amended in the Rome Statute, the treaty that set up the court in 2002. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
Some African countries have been especially critical of the ICC for pursuing heads of state. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been wanted by the court since 2009 for allegedly orchestrating atrocities in Darfur. The ICC also caused an uproar among some African nations by indicting Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on charges of crimes against humanity for 2007 post-election violence in which more than 1,000 died. The case collapsed because of what the ICC prosecutor called lack of cooperation by Kenya's government.
Elise Keppler with Human Rights Watch's international justice program said the ICC withdrawal strategy has no timeline and "few concrete recommendations for action." She pointed out that several African countries, including Nigeria, Senegal and Congo, have spoken up in support of the ICC in recent months.
A draft of the strategy, obtained by The Associated Press, recommends that African countries strengthen their own judicial mechanisms and expand the jurisdiction of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights "in order to reduce the deference to the ICC."
By Ed Cropley ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Morocco rejoined the club of African states on Tuesday, 33 years after quitting over recognition of Western Sahara, bringing one of Africa's largest economies into the fold and raising hopes of a softening of one of its thorniest territorial disputes. Capping a year-long charm offensive that mirrored a broader investment push into Africa, Morocco's King Mohammed VI was cheered as he took his seat for the first time in the Addis Ababa headquarters of the 55-nation African Union (AU), one of the few international fora to recognize rival Western Sahara. Rabat left the AU's predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity, in 1984 in anger at its acceptance of the phosphate-rich territory on Africa's north Atlantic coast as a full-blown member. However, African support for Western Sahara - which the United Nations defines as a non-self-governing territory - has ebbed as the importance of Morocco's $110 billion economy, Africa's fifth largest, as a trade and investment partner has grown. At an AU summit this week, Morocco was re-admitted to the fold, with 39 countries expressing support and only 10, believed to be led by Algeria and South Africa, expressing reservations. "Africa is my home and I am coming back home," King Mohammed said, to applause from other heads of state. "I have missed you all." For Morocco, a relatively liberalized economy and firm Western ally, readmission to the AU should smooth its entry into fast-growing African economies to the south and help reduce its reliance on stagnant European markets to the north. In the last few years, Moroccan firms have made significant investments across Africa in everything from financial services to housing projects to fertilizer plants. King Mohammed made clear this was just the beginning. "Africa is indispensable to Morocco and Morocco is indispensable to Africa," he said. "MAJOR STEP" During his 20-minute speech, King Mohammed gave a nod to the tensions over Western Sahara, which has been contested since Spanish colonial powers left in 1975, but made clear he was not interested in making them worse. "We don't want to divide the continent," he said. Morocco claimed the territory after Spain's exit and fought a 16-year war with the Polisario independence movement, that established the self-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic with support initially from Algeria and then from across Africa. Since a 1991 ceasefire, Western Sahara has been split by a earthen berm, with U.N. peacekeepers monitoring the Moroccan forces in what Rabat calls its southern provinces and guerrillas in the Polisario-controlled area bordering Algeria. U.N.-backed attempts to hold a referendum on self-determination have been deadlocked since 1991 and Rabat has presented its own autonomy plan. Sahrawi foreign minister Salem Ould Salek described the AU's admission of Morocco as a 'major step' towards full international recognition since it would now be in the same room, on equal terms, with its rival. "It's a positive step for the people of Western Sahara," he told Reuters. "After 33 years, Morocco has realized that it has to sit with the Sahrawi Republic. We hope that Morocco will have the goodwill to resolve this conflict and withdraw its troops." The return to the AU comes at a sensitive time. Last year, Morocco expelled some U.N. staff from Western Sahara after then-U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon visited Sahrawi refugee camps in southern Algeria. In August, U.N. peacekeepers intervened when Moroccan forces crossed into a U.N.-mandated buffer zone and Polisario forces dispatched troops in kind to the remote area near Mauritania. (Corrects size of economy in para 4) (Additional reporting by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Tom Heneghan)
After a patchwork of rulings temporarily scaled back President Trumps ban on travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries over the weekend, advocates and lawyers are struggling to determine how many people with visas or green cards are now being detained at airports or are stranded abroad.
Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Gillian Christensen told Yahoo News the Customs and Border Patrol had processed all individuals who were initially affected by the order at airports around the country as of Sunday night. But she said she wasnt sure if additional people were detained after arriving Monday morning.
Advocates and lawyers are also unsure and keeping close watch on U.S. airports as the lawsuits wind their way through the courts. On Monday evening, Trump fired his acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she announced she would not defend Trumps executive order, which she called unlawful. Trumps attorney general nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions, has not yet been confirmed.
Were trying to confirm that it is in fact the case that no one is being held in a New York airport, said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who wrote a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Sunday demanding it release a list of names of all who were held at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Advocates arent sure how many people from the seven banned countries who have visas to come to the United States are currently stranded abroad. The ban is set to last 90 days, with the entire U.S. refugee program suspended for 120 days.
We dont know how many people there are that still need to come home, said Clare Kane, who is tracking these cases for the Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic at Yale Law School. I guess nobody really knows.
The presidents executive order reportedly took the Department of Homeland Security by surprise, contributing to chaotic airport scenes over the weekend as customs officers detained and, in some cases, deported people with visas to enter the country, as well as U.S. green card holders.
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Four federal judges also issued rulings over the weekend temporarily scaling back Trumps order until the courts could consider the claims of the plaintiffs. But each ruling was fairly limited in scope, meaning much of the ban remains in place. A federal judge in Brooklyn ordered that only people who were in transit when the ban came into effect Friday could not be deported. Another federal judge in Boston ruled that travelers coming into Logan International Airport could not be subject to the new travel ban at all but her decision applies only to that airport. And a judge in Virginias decision staying the executive order only extended to green card holders from the seven countries. Another decision in Seattle applied to just two specific plaintiffs.
Homeland Security announced Sunday night that green card holders from the seven countries would be allowed to enter if they passed screening, significantly scaling back the original interpretation. At least 500,000 people received green cards from the seven banned countries in the past 10 years.
Advocates are still keeping a close eye on U.S. airports, but they suspect much of the orders impact will now take place abroad.
Elizabeth Foydel, policy counsel for the International Refugee Assistance Project, said she has heard reports of U.S. green card holders and visitors with visas to enter the United States being removed from boarding at international airports. Because of the Boston federal judges order, people with valid visas to travel to the United States should still be allowed to board flights to Logan Airport at this time, even if they fall under the presidents ban.
Its a concern that thats a government workaround, Foydel said. If you prevent these people from getting on a plane in the first place, they wont be detained at an airport.
On Sunday night, the Department of Homeland Security stressed that the executive orders remain in place prohibited travel will remain prohibited, and the U.S. government retains its right to revoke visas at any time if required for national security or public safety.
But the department also said it was complying with the court orders.
Read more from Yahoo News:
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PARIS (Reuters) - The hardline CGT trade union at Air France has called on its members to refuse to work on U.S.-bound flights in protest against the U.S. immigration order that temporarily prevents refugees and travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn criticism from airlines body IATA, which said its members were struggling to enforce unclear rules, faced additional costs and were worried they could be fined if they get it wrong. Airlines have already juggled crew rosters to make sure staff holding passports from the affected countries don't fall foul of the new rules. On Tuesday, the CGT said Air France employees were within their rights to decline to work on U.S.-bound flights to object against what the union described as "anti-humanist" practices. "Staff should let their managers know that they don't want to work on affected flights," Miguel Fortea, secretary general of CGT Air France, told French broadcaster BFM TV. "Staff have a conscience; with political action, by refusing to apply the Trump order on French territory we can make start to make a change," he added. Air France, part of the Air France-KLM group, has come under fire on social media for preventing passengers from boarding as a result of the new rules. In response, the carrier has said that like other airlines, it had to abide by immigration requirements of the countries that it flies to, which means not allowing passengers to board a flight to a destination where they would be refused entry. It was not immediately available for comment on the union's remarks on Tuesday. Several lawsuits have been filed against the order, which the White House has said is needed to protect the citizens of the United States. On its website, the CGT described the executive order as xenophobic and illegal. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents travel industry executives, said suspending travel based only on a person's nationality or origin was wrong and called on the Trump administration to reconsider the ban. "None of the shocking domestic incidents in the U.S. since 2001 have been attributed to external terrorists who have specifically flown into the country to commit an atrocity," WTTC president and CEO David Scowsill said. "Preventing 'aliens' from entering the U.S. for legitimate business or leisure purposes is misguided and counter-productive for the American economy." (Reporting by Marine Pennetier; Additional reporting by Victoria Bryan and Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Mark Potter)
President Yoweri Museveni has expressed concern over the high cost of electricity, which he says will not come down until the African Development Bank loan is fully paid.
The President was yesterday meeting the Banks President Akinwumi Adesina at the sidelines of the 28th Ordinary AU summit of Heads of States and Governments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Presidents concern follows reports by Ugandan manufacturers and other big businesses that have complained of the high cost of electricity in the country, which they say makes their products uncompetitive in the region.
Uganda is developing two more hydropower dams, Karuma and Isimba, on the Nile with a combined capacity of 780 MW.
Akinwumi in his response gave full assurances to government that it will provide affordable electricity to all Ugandans.
President Museveni said he would brief cabinet and send official communication on the matter.
Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Sam Allardyce finally secured his first win as Crystal Palace manager as the struggling Eagles beat Bournemouth 2-0 on Tuesday.
Palace had taken just one point from five matches since former England boss Allardyce replaced the sacked Alan Pardew in December.
That barren run had left Palace in the relegation zone, but the south Londoners' boosted their survival bid thanks to second half goals from Scott Dann and Christian Benteke at Dean Court.
Palace remain in the bottom three, but crucially the victory keeps them two points behind fourth bottom Swansea, who also won on Tuesday.
Allardyce gave Patrick van Aanholt his debut after signing the defender from Sunderland on Monday, while winger Wilfried Zaha was back in the starting line-up after African Cup of Nations duty with the Ivory Coast.
Some impressive footwork saw Zaha lose Bournemouth's defence before his low shot hit the post in the early stages.
Palace were on top for much of the first half but couldn't find a goal.
They had to wait just 55 seconds for one after the restart however.
Yohan Cabaye's corner was punched away by Artur Boruc but the ball fell to Van Aanholt, whose quick pass gave Jason Puncheon time to curl the ball back into the box.
Damien Delaney's flick fell to Dann, who slotted it home to score his first goal since September.
Bournemouth piled on the pressure after the goal but despite a number of chances, they conceded a second in stoppage time.
Andros Townsend, who had been linked with a move back to Newcastle, whipped over a cross to the unmarked Benteke, who had an easy task to head home from close range.
Bournemouth have conceded at least two goals in six of their last seven home league fixtures as they slip to 14th in the table after failing to win a single match in January.
San Francisco (AFP) - A technology-wielding archeologist billed as a real-world "Indiana Jones" on Monday launched an online platform that lets anyone help discover archeological wonders and fight looting.
A "citizen science" platform that space archaeologist Sarah Parcak wished for a year ago as part of a coveted TED prize went live at GlobalXplorer.org .
"The world's hidden heritage contains clues to humankind's collective resilience and creativity," Parcak said in a release.
"With GlobalXplorer we are empowering a 21st century army of global explorers to discover and protect our shared history."
A video of Parcak unveiling the wish was posted online Monday at www.ted.com.
GlobalXplorer blends satellite imagery with pattern-hunting of a sort to make a game of spotting clues to the whereabouts of antiquities or looting.
Visitors to the website are invited to sign in and take a quick tutorial before virtually hunting relics and thieves.
Spending time scrutinizing satellite imagery lets people "level up" as in video games and earn rewards such as a chance to virtually join archeologists on actual digs.
"Parcak's wish has put the tools in everyones hands to discover and protect humanitys rich history, effectively opening up a traditionally closed discipline," said TED prize director Anna Verghese.
"Now our stories are safeguarded by millions rather than just a handful."
- Eye on Peru -
Only tiny sections of imagery are shown, along with broad location data such as what country is involved, to avoid being a resource for looters seeking tips of where to search.
DigitalGlobe, which specializes in capturing high-resolution pictures of the Earth from space, said that it provided more than 200,000 square kilometers of satellite imagery of Peru and a customized version of an online crowdsourcing tool.
National Geographic and Sustainable Preservation Initiative were listed among collaborators on the project.
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Archeologists will follow up on sites pinpointed by the "crowd," paving the way for protection from governments or law enforcement agencies
"As soon as they see new or destroyed sites from space, we will be there on the ground to investigate and protect them," said SPI founder and executive director Larry Coben.
Sarah Parcak envisions a 21st century army of citizen scientists discovering and defending relics.
Parcak condemned destruction of antiquities by the likes of violent extremists from the Islamic State group and saw looting done by the desperately poor as "heartbreaking."
The TED Prize provides a million dollars to kickstart a big vision and opens a door to call on the nonprofit organization's innovative, influential and ingenious community of "tedsters" for help.
The TED community includes scientists, celebrities, politicians, artists, and entrepreneurs.
Her work has caused some to refer to Parcak as a real-world version of the Indiana Jones character made famous in films starring Harrison Ford.
Parcak is a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she founded the Laboratory for Global Observation.
She has won attention for her work satellite mapping Egypt and uncovering hidden pyramids, tombs and settlements.
The annual TED Prize has grown from $100,000 to a million dollars since it was first awarded in the year 2005, to U2 band leader Bono and his vision of fighting poverty and disease.
Since its inception in 1984, TED has grown into a global forum for "ideas worth spreading" and has won a worldwide following for trademark "talks" during which accomplished speakers deliver thought-sparking presentations.
Amazon.com, Inc. (ticker: AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos condemned President Donald Trump's executive order barring immigrants from certain Muslim-majority countries.
In a letter to employees Monday, Bezos detailed the immediate legal action the company took in response to the executive order.
"Our public policy team in D.C. has reached out to senior administration officials to make our opposition clear," he says. "We've also reached out to congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to explore legislative options. Our legal team has prepared a declaration of support for the Washington state attorney general who will be filing suit against the order. We are working other legal options as well."
The Amazon.com CEO -- who also owns the Washington Post -- and the president haven't always seen eye to eye, Fortune notes. In a May interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump called out Bezos for the Post's critical campaign reporting and said, "He's using the Washington Post, which is peanuts, he's using that for political purposes to save Amazon in terms of taxes and in terms of antitrust."
Following the election, Bezos ultimately tweeted support for Trump: "Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump. I for one give him my most open mind and wish him great success in his service to the country." The president later invited Bezos to Trump Tower for a tech leaders meeting in December.
This hasn't stopped Trump from continuing to lash out against the Washington Post on Twitter.
Thr coverage about me in the @nytimes and the @washingtonpost gas been so false and angry that the times actually apologized to its.....
-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
January 28, 2017
...dwindling subscribers and readers.They got me wrong right from the beginning and still have not changed course, and never will. DISHONEST
-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
January 28, 2017
Of note: Politfact points out that the New York Times ( NYT) never apologized for its coverage of Trump. It calls Trump's claim "a distorted and over-the-top description" of a Nov. 13 letter to readers in which the newspaper's leadership acknowledged it underestimated Trump's chances on Election Day and pledged to rededicate itself to "the fundamental mission of Times journalism."
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The newspaper said this weekend that its subscribers and audience are at "all-time highs."
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David Oliver is Associate Editor, Social Media at U.S. News & World Report. Follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, or send him an email at doliver@usnews.com.
Since signing executive orders that restrict entry of refugees and citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, and kick-starting the proposed U.S.-Mexican border wall, President Donald Trumps disapproval ratings slipped further, according to a recent Gallup survey.
The disapproval itself has manifested itself in a barrage of protests with thousands standing up to oppose the orders across the country, in places such as New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Phoenix and Detroit.
However, the Gallup survey findings are a curious anomaly when compared to the analysis of data by Pew Research that gathered opinion-polling archives from the Cornells Roper Center for Public Opinion Research. The Pew study suggests that historically, the U.S. public has seldom approved of accepting large numbers of refugees.
Through some of the biggest humanitarian crises over the past century that have displaced thousands such as the World War II, the Hungarian uprising in the 1950s and Kosovo in the 1990s, to name a few, Americans have been resistant to provide safe haven to refugees, even though elected leaders and people in power acted against populist urges and admitted more refugees.
World War II
Although public opinion was stacked against admitting refugees from European dictatorships to come to the United States leading up to the war and after it, the U.S. still authorized the entry of 200,000 (later raised to 415,000) European refugees through the Congress-approved Displaced Persons Act.
Three polls, two from Gallup (in 1939 and 1948) and one from Roper (in 1938), found that an overwhelming majority of Americans opposed granting asylum to European refugees.
Hungary
Two years after the Hungarian uprising of 1956 was crushed by Soviet troops, when Gallup asked Americans their thoughts on resettling 65,000 Hungarian refugees in the U.S., more than half of the respondents disapproved of the idea. Eventually, 30,752 Hungarians were admitted under the Hungarian Refugee Act of 1958.
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Indo-China
Despite domestic opposition toward allowing passage to the first wave of refugees after the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975, reflected in a May 1975 Harris poll, they were allowed to stay.
But, following another humanitarian crisis, when the second wave of refugees confronted then-President Jimmy Carter in June 1979, he decided to double up the number of Indochinese refugees to be accepted, to 14,000 a month.
His decision was not received favorably by the public, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll the following month that suggested that 62 percent disapproved of Carters action.
However, eventually, about 590,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos were admitted to the U.S. between 1980 and 1990, according to federal immigration data compiled by Pew Research Center.
Over the Decades, American Public Generally Hasn't Welcomed Refugees
Cuba in 1980 and Haiti in 1994
After the Cuban government allowed the masses to leave the country, in late October 1980, some 125,000 Cubans arrived in south Florida. About 71 percent of respondents disapproved of the Cuban immigration, according to a June 1980 CBS/New York Times poll, even though eventually only about 2,700, or 2.2 percent, were returned to Cuba).
However, the official state response was very different when in 1994 more than several thousand Cubans and 20,000 Haitians who fled political violence at home were intercepted at sea. The public was also against the move, according to a September 1994 CBS/New York Times poll. Eventually, only about half the Haitians were admitted, though almost all of the Cubans (about 30,000) were accepted, according to a Brookings Institution report.
Kosovo
Only about 14,000 Kosovars from roughly a million displaced Kosovars found passage into the United States in the aftermath of the 1998-99 war between Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Liberation Army, despite the U.S. commitment to admit up to 20,000 Kosovar refugees as part of a multinational response to the crisis in April 1999.
Are Xenophobic Americans supposed to historically and naturally like Trumps travel ban?
Although a poll from the right-leaning polling firm Rasmussen Reports indicated Monday that more than half of likely voters support Trumps travel ban, the mass protests against Trump indicated that based on the changing political zeitgeist, a big proportion of the population is now resisting xenophobic tendencies, unlike their predecessors and are embracing humanitarian action.
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Angela Merkel may not seem at first glance the hardest-nosed operator: Shes soft-spoken, physically unimposing, and concertedly uncharismatic. But if Donald Trump thinks he can intimidate the German chancellor into doing his bidding, or at least staying out of his way as he does his own, he might consider counsel from his fellow parody of hyper-masculine bullying, Vladimir Putin. The Russian president, whose economy is now paying the price for testing her on Ukraine, considers Merkel a dangerous person, alone among her European peers capable of pushing back, according to Russian dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
The chancellors astounding record in outfoxing, outlasting, and outmaneuvering full-of-themselves male rivals, however, began before Putin appeared on the scene. Her track record offers the outlines of a go-to plan for dealing with bullies and, not coincidentally, it dovetails tightly with her top foreign-policy advisors five-point plan for taking on Trump.
Merkel prides herself on her caution and dispassion, and she has thus far refused to dignify Trumps repeated excoriation of her refugee policy as a catastrophic mistake with a direct response. But she wasted no time in responding full force to the presidents immigration ban that bars the entry of refugees and others from several Muslim-majority countries, pointedly reminding Trump of the international right to political asylum embedded in the Geneva Conventions. At a press conference Monday, she sugarcoated nothing: The necessary and resolute fight against terrorism in no way justifies a general suspicion against all people who share a certain faith, in this case people of the Muslim faith, or people from a certain background. The procedures adopted by the Trump administration contradict the fundamental philosophy of international refugee assistance and international cooperation, continued Merkel.
From zero hour of the Trump era, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has indicated that she will not play the patsy. Upon learning on election night that Donald Trump would become the next U.S. president, she insisted that Germanys relationship with the United States continue within the traditional parameters of the North Atlantic alliance, based on their common values of democracy, freedom, and human rights. She specifically underscored respect for the dignity of the individual, regardless of their origin, skin color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or political views. On the basis of these values, she said, I offer close cooperation to the future president of the United States of America, Donald Trump.
Berlin insiders say the German government is extremely wary of the new president and his team and uncertain whether he sets any store at all in the North Atlantic alliance. Among other headline issues, Germany is deeply worried that hell unravel the tenuous deal in Ukraine by abandoning sanctions against Russia, damn NATO with faint attention, or through either meddling or bungling exacerbate existing rifts in the EU. Trump and Merkel spoke by telephone Saturday afternoon, for the first time since the inauguration, apparently discussing a wide spectrum of issues including NATO, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the conflict in Ukraine, and relations with Russia including sanctions.
Though caught off guard by Trumps victory, the German government has scrambled to come up with a strategy of dealing with him. Indeed, Merkel has a plan, one that builds on her considerable experience taking on aggressive alpha male bullies, evident in the dozen or so scalps she already has on her belt.
Most outsiders have probably forgotten a pivotal early moment in Merkels precipitous rise in German politics, namely her brazenly principled, unemotional cutting loose of her political mentor, former Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Merkels dramatic move in 1999 stunned the country and burnished insight into how shed deal with domineering, ethically challenged alpha males in the years to come. As the brand-new Christian Democratic Union (CDU) chair, Merkel, who owed her entire political career to Kohls patronage, unceremoniously relieved Kohl of his post as honorary CDU chairman (and de facto king-maker) for operating secret party bank accounts worth millions of dollars. In the name of principle, she effectively banished Kohl from German politics.
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A sense of how bold and especially in the top-down, authority-obliging CDU wildly contentious this was: Merkel was still a relative political fledgling. Shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Kohl handpicked the 37-year-old nobody from East Berlin, a naive-looking career physicist with no political record at all, to serve in his cabinet, a post from which he shepherded her into ever higher positions of power, eventually as the CDUs No. 1 in 1998. She was referred to as Kohls girl and appeared to demurely accept the part. Kohl, in stark contrast, was a world-renowned statesman, a figure destined for the history books for engineering German unification and redefining German Christian democracy. But Merkel did the right thing the secret accounts for funding the party branches were completely illegal and stuck to her guns when the CDU faithful came after her screaming treason and patricide.
In many ways, Merkels cold dispatch of Kohl presaged how she would deal with a long string of male rivals in German politics, as well as how years later as chancellor shed engage with the likes of Nicolas Sarkozy, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Putin and she shows every intention of using much the same playbook with Trump. The day before the inauguration, her foreign-policy confidant, Christoph Heusgen, in an entirely unprecedented move, publicly issued a five-point policy paper on Trump-era transatlantic relations. In short: Germany will not be coddling Trump the way British Prime Minister Theresa May seems wont to do.
No sudden movements. Strategic patience is needed at first, according to Heusgen. Understandably, the chancellery has said it wants to see what Trump really has up his sleeve in Europe before Germany can act.
This will not prove challenging for Merkel; it is the foundation of her career, especially when dealing with unpredictable hotheads, whether theyre German, Russian, or American, and the aspect of it most deeply rooted in her upbringing. What some criticize as a lack of pathos is in fact a go-slow pragmatism gleaned from three decades of living as a pastors daughter in the dictatorship that was communist East Germany. She watched and waited for the governments actions, keeping her cards close to her chest. (Some former East German oppositionists note that she waited much too long to become involved until after communism had collapsed.)
Central to Merkels demeanor is her steely patience, which makes her impossible to bait. Shes not like Meryl Streep, whos provoked to emotional reaction by Trump, said Caroline Fetscher, a columnist for the German daily Der Tagesspiegel. She rose in German politics in a party dominated by loud, West German men. She, an East German woman, watched them very closely to identify strengths and weaknesses, but she never mimicked them.
Fetscher claims that Merkel has employed this reserve to her advantage again and again. Merkel is so not an alpha that shes constantly underestimated, Fetscher said. But shes thinking, observing. She often appears vague, but she has a taste for power. This helps with big-headed people because she isnt intimidated by them. Shes obviously not one of the boys, nor can men play up to her femininity because she goes for none of that either. She doesnt play on the same chessboard they do, and that flummoxes them.
As for Putin, one 2007 episode might have led him to respect Merkel even before her pushback on Crimeas annexation. At Putins summer residence in the Russian city of Sochi, Merkel, who is famously afraid of dogs, remained calm and even forced a smile when the Russian leader let into the room his full-grown black Labrador Konni, who stalked around for a while before finally settling at Merkels feet. She kept her nerves and refused to lash out at Putin afterward, even though German observers saw it as a deliberate, audacious provocation. She told the German press corps after the incident that only insecure types resort to such tricks. And through them, she added, is how you discover their vulnerabilities.
Show off a little. The chancellery has recognized that one of Trumps beefs is Germanys failure to meet its commitment as a NATO member to spend 2 percent of GDP on national defense. Apparently Berlin has received the message and is willing to pitch in more, if not the full 2 percent, which would be politically unpopular.
But the implication of Trumps one-liners is an insult: that Germany and other NATO members dont do much of anything on security at all, but rather simply free-ride on Americas coattails. The Heusgen manifesto says Germany has to flaunt what it can do and has done on the geopolitical stage.
Merkel is not a showoff; on the contrary, understatement is an art form she has perfected. But Merkel has presided over a foreign and security policy with victories to its credit theyre just not the kind that hawks such as Trump think matter. Those successes tend to involve significant compromise and long, arduous negotiations, such as those at the height of the euro crisis which kept the EU intact (for the moment, at least) and in hammering out a deal with Turkey on refugees, which in 2016 cut down the number of refugees arriving from Turkish shores.
Take Russia again. When Russia grabbed Crimea in 2014 and then went on to encourage and arm ethnic Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, it looked like pro-Russian forces would march straight to Odessa. But Germany led the diplomatic efforts to end the war, and even though the Russians didnt stop in their tracks, they eventually halted. American hawks urged the Europeans to respond militarily. But Merkel ruled it out, grasping that this could ignite full-scale war with Russia. The German-brokered Minsk accords are anything but perfect (Crimea isnt even addressed), yet they finally stopped the worst of the carnage, maintained the formal territorial unity of Ukraine, and introduced a civilian peacekeeping mission into the country. Rather than a military response, Germany led the imposition of EU sanctions on Russia, which are hurting Russia still today.
Heusgen underscored other German contributions: Bundeswehr troops in Latvia, German warships in the Aegean, military helicopters in Mali. Germany is involved in police and peacekeeping missions across the world. Merkel could go further, pointing out that Germany spends a much higher proportion of its budget on development aid than does the United States, which some observers think will do leagues more to maintain international stability than investment in weaponry. The total that the EU and its 28 member countries pay for aid is nearly three times that of the United States under former President Barack Obamas administration. Look for Merkel to remind Trump of that.
Make (or resist) a deal. Germany has to speak a language that the businessman in Trump understands, the chancellery maintains. Apparently, this was a piece of advice that Obama gave Merkel on his final swing through Europe in late 2016. The Germans figure that a businessman will listen to dollars-and-cents reasoning. But all indications until now are that thats just wishful thinking on their part.
Rather, Merkel will soon probably find herself forced to accept that any deals with Trump will have to proceed from his idiosyncratic idea of American interests. Here, her resume illustrates that she wont cave in if she thinks Germanys bottom-line values are at stake, be they human rights or international norms. The deal many Europeans are expecting is some quid pro quo for dropping sanctions against Russia (perhaps involving a Russian reduction of nuclear stock piles). Many EU nations have been hurt economically by the sanctions and would gladly call them off. Some suspect this is what Theresa May is currently negotiating with the U.S. president.
But Merkel has been unbending when it comes to the fundamental values of Europes liberal order. By far the most well-known instance is her highly controversial migration policy. Though she has come a long way from the open-borders policy of 2015 (and the number of refugees entering Germany has dropped by nearly three-quarters), Merkel has steadfastly refused to limit the right to asylum for the politically persecuted.
Do-it-yourself leadership. If the United States pulls back from NATO, the EU is going to have to stand up to replace the alliances security guarantee, the cornerstone of Atlantic security since World War II. This is easier said than done considering the vast discrepancy between Americas military capabilities and those of the EU states. Europe has been trying unsuccessfully for ages to get common foreign and security policies off the ground but to little avail.
Nevertheless, Washington threw the Ukraine conflict into Berlins lap, and it responded admirably. Germany has led most of Europes important diplomacy in recent years. Moreover, Heusgen notes, Germany has been pushing for a joint central command for European troops for ages, but the Brits had until now blocked it. Brexit has changed that.
Merkel doesnt want to give up the North American leg of the Atlantic alliance; she sees the North Atlantic-led West as responsible for ending communism in Europe and liberating her and her fellow East Germans. But her relations with Trump will be largely determined by the extent to which Merkel believes that Europe can go it alone and the extent of the leverage she feels that gives her. The stumbling block is that neither she nor anyone else in Europe has a clear vision of what a post-NATO European alliance would look like. How much investment would it take to plausibly defend Eastern Europe? So unexpected was Trumps victory that no one has even done the numbers yet.
Fire back.When steps are taken that adversely impact German interests, the chancellor will duly comment on it, claims Heusgen. Although duly commenting doesnt really amount to firing back, the chancellors first diplomat was surely just being professional. In her release of Kohl, German politicians first learned that this unassuming woman could and would fire back coolly, without anger or vengeance, but with cold efficiency. And she has done it many times since then. As a matter of fact, she has already fired back at Trump: with her bold election night note and clear condemnation of the presidents immigration ban. Firing back may weaken his moral legitimacy or even contribute to isolating the United States under Trumps leadership. But Merkel isnt leading the entire free world against Trump. Rather, shes defending a liberal Europe, which is under threat from its own populists now, too, who hail Trumps every move.
Merkels masterpieces in political power have been when she is the weaker protagonist, says political scientist Detlev Claussen. She didnt seek out confrontation but rather waited until her opponent showed weakness or sentimentality and then, ice-cold, drove a knife into their back. Claussen notes that Europe isnt Trumps priority at the moment. Shell probably wait until some of his initial glitter rubs off. But this is how shell take him on.
Photo credit: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images
THESSALONKI, Greece (AP) They fled their homes in war-torn Syria with only what they could carry on their backs. Then many were forced to leave even those bags on the shores of Turkey as they embarked on short but dangerous boat across the Aegean Sea to Greece. The one thing they managed to keep with them was photographs.
Some bring back happy memories that help cut through the sadness at leaving everything they knew behind. Nadima Allo couldn't hold back tears as she talked about the home in Aleppo's northern district of Sheikh Maqsud where she and her husband, Henef Slu, 37, lived with their two children, now ages 5 and 6. They're in a shelter at the Ritsona refugee camp north of Athens.
Her husband showed a photo of their wedding day in 2010, saying, "It was the most beautiful day of my life the day I got married to my wife, Nadima. We had a lot of guests, family and friends. This photograph was the only thing we carried with us from home."
Amineh Hamad and Ali Abdulqader, both 58, carry a photo of them on a summer day in 2010 that they spent at the Roman site of Busra al-Sham, a place they dream of returning to. It was one of a few photographs they brought with them when they left their home in the Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus. They're also living in the Ritsona camp, but hoping to settle in a European city and start their life over again.
"We had a barbecue, walked and laughed a lot, a day from life, we miss these days, we hope one day it will come back," Hamad said.
Others carry reminders of relatives left behind, or those who have gone on ahead to Europe. More than 62,000 refugees and other migrants have been stuck in Greece since a series of Balkan border closures and a European Union-Turkey deal on stemming migration. Almost all hope to be granted asylum and be resettled in other European countries, so they are not directly affected in terms of refuge by the recent order halting the U.S. refugee program.
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"When you are in fear of your life and forced to flee your home, what mattered the most after being safe is these memories, the photographs of my children," said 40-year-old Sahar Dargzini, who shared pictures of her two sons and two daughters when they were small. They now range in age from 15 to 26. One lives in Turkey and two in Sweden. Dargzini, who fled Damascus and has been living in a tent with her husband in a Greek camp in the northern city of Thessaloniki for the last seven months, hopes to join her oldest daughter, Dania, 26, who is living in Norway.
"I want to see my granddaughter for the first time, I want to be able to hold her in my arms and tell her that I am her grandmother," she said.
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Muhammed Muheisen is The Associated Press chief photographer for the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan and a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.
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Follow Muhammed Muheisen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Muheisen81 and on Instagram as https://www.instagram.com/mmuheisen
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; Black Manta (Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images; Image: Courtesy of David Finch/DC Entertainment)
By Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who starred in Netflixs Baz Luhrmann show The Get Down, is in early talks to put on his wetsuit for Warner Bros. Aquaman movie.
The actor has nabbed the part of Black Manta, one of the DC Comics villains. Director James Wan and the studio have been meeting with numerous actors for the part for the past two weeks, settling on Abdul-Mateen over the weekend. The official offer went out yesterday and the parties are now in talks.
If a deal makes, Abdul-Mateen will suit up as Manta, who first appeared in a DC comic in 1967 and stood out due to his unique battle-costume, trident, and deadly schemes.
Related: Everything We Know About Aquaman
Aquaman is a massive undertaking for the studio and the next DC movie to be going before cameras. An April start in Australia is being planned.
Jason Momoa is starring as the half human, half Atlantean who is king of the underwater seas. Amber Heard is on board as Mera, his royal love interest and Willem Defoe is playing Aquamans advisor, scientist Dr. Vulko. Patrick Wilson, who starred in Wans The Conjuring movies, reteams with the filmmaker to Orm, a villain who happens to be Aquamans half-brother.
Abdul-Mateen was a finalist for the role of Lando Calrissian in the Han Solo Star Wars spin-off movie thanks to the acclaim he received for his work on Get Down. Since then, he has booked roles in high-profile movies such Baywatch, the Dwayne Johnson-Zac Efron action comedy that opens this summer, and The Greatest Showman, Hugh Jackmans musical take circus founder P.T. Barnum.
He is repped by Gersh.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) The Arkansas House approved a plan Tuesday to reinstate a voter ID law that was struck down more than two years ago, with Republicans counting on a new state Supreme Court makeup to uphold the measure this time.
The proposal approved by a 74-21 vote is nearly identical to a law the Republican Legislature enacted in 2013 requiring voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot. The state Supreme Court unanimously struck down the measure in 2014, with the majority of the court ruling it unconstitutionally added a new qualification for voting.
The latest proposal is aimed at addressing a concern three of the court's seven justices raised that the prohibition didn't pass with enough votes in the Legislature when it was enacted in 2013. The proposal will need two-thirds support in both chambers, a threshold it easily cleared in the House. It now heads to the state Senate.
"We've got a new court and we have a new opportunity to establish what the law is on this," Republican Rep. Bob Ballinger told lawmakers before the vote.
Four of the justices who struck down the 2013 law are no longer on the court, and one of the new justices is a former Republican state legislator. The three justices who said the 2013 law didn't get the two-thirds vote needed remain on the court.
The justices no longer on the court weren't voted out of office because of the ruling. Three retired and the fourth was an interim justice appointed to the court whose term expired at the end of 2014.
The proposal is advancing as President Donald Trump is promoting unsubstantiated claims that millions of ballots were cast illegally in last year's election, Election officials across the country have dismissed Trump's voter fraud claims as baseless. It also comes months after Arkansas Republicans expanded their majorities in both chambers of the Legislature.
The measure was approved despite Democrats' objections that there wasn't an estimate on how much the requirement will cost the state. The legislation requires the state to provide photo IDs to voters who don't have another valid form of identification. The state still has equipment for providing the IDs that was purchased before the 2013 law was voided.
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The lawmaker behind the latest effort has said the requirement would help instill confidence in the state's election system, but Democrats cited the more than 1,200 voters that opponents of the law said were disenfranchised before it was voided.
"If people who are lawfully registered to vote and meet all of the constitutional criteria to vote in the state of Arkansas are turned away from the ballot, that is not going to instill more confidence in the democratic process," Democratic Rep. Clarke Tucker said. "In fact, it would probably be the opposite."
Arkansas' 2013 voter ID law was enacted after Republicans overrode the veto of then-Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson has said he generally supports voter ID, but has stopped short of saying whether he backs the latest effort to reinstate the law.
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Follow Andrew DeMillo on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ademillo
Education minister Janet Museveni has blamed schools for the poor performance in the 2016 UCE examinations arguing that most schools have sacrificed academic excellence at the altar of commercial gain, with many asking students to pay money for numerous tests and Mock exams instead of teaching.
She has also faulted teachers for not assessing students and instead pushing parents to pay extra money to get test papers from several examiners, calling on head teachers to desist from such tendencies.
The selection for Senior Five Entry will be conducted on 9th and 10th February, 2016 at the UMA show grounds Lugogo.
She has called upon MPs, RDCs, DISOs, head teachers to make use of information to devise strategies for improvement.
She says Political leaders should also mobilize their communities for better performance.
Meanwhile, she has decried the persistent absenteeism of candidates which she says works against all efforts to improve the quality of education in the country.
Science subjects registered the worst performance in last years Uganda Certificate of Education Examinations, with Physics recording the highest failure rate.
This is according to the Executive Secretary of the Uganda National Examinations Board Daniel Nokrach who has been giving an overview of the performance at the release of the results at the Office of the Prime Minister.
He says performance of non-USE candidates was better than their USE counterparts.
The failure rate for 2016 is at 13.2% compared to 9.2% for 2015, he attributes this to poor performance in Maths, English, and sciences. More than 60% of candidates failed Physics.
Meanwhile, UNEB chairperson, Dr Mary Okwakol says there was a general decline in last years performance.
Dr Okwakol says there was no examination leakage reported, but fraud was detected in the form of third party support and copying from smuggled material.
Some of the Schools whose results were withheld include Queen SSS Wakiso, Good Hope SS Bundibugyo, Iganga High School Iganga, JaKayz SS Kabowa in Kampala district, Lutembe boarding school wakiso, Hillside SS Kamuli, Muhanga SS Kamwenge among others
323,276 candidates registered, for the exams but out of this 316,624 appeared for exams, an increase of 3.2 per cent compared to 2015.
A top cybersecurity specialist and his deputy in Russias intelligence service, the FSB, are reportedly being accused by the Kremlin of breaking their oath by working with Americas Central Intelligence Agency.
Sergei Mikhailov, allegedly detained at a board meeting last December, and his deputy, Dmitry Dokuchaev, were arrested by the Kremlin on Jan. 27 for treason and illegal hacking. Then, on Tuesday, Russian news agency Interfax, after hearing from unidentified sources, reported that they, along with Ruslan Stoyanov, the head of cybercrime investigations at Kaspersky Labs, and a fourth, as yet unnamed person, are suspected of passing along secret information to the CIA or of passing it to someone who passed it to the CIA. The Kremlin, for its part, has refuted such claims through spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, who said, we categorically deny any assertions about the possible complicity of the Russian side in any hacker attacks, adding, All the suspects have been charged with high treason. This is the sole count in the case. There are no other accusations.
These are the latest in a series of developments regarding the FSBs cybersecurity unit and Kaspersky Labs that has unfolded since the U.S. presidential election, colored as it was by the leaking of a dossier alleging the Russians had compromising information on Donald Trump (kompromat, if you will.) The idea is that the Russians could get Trump to do their bidding once he was elected. U.S. intelligence officials did summarize the dossier for Trump and President Barack Obama.
It is unclear if the people just arrested allegedly passed on the information in question directly, or worked with other individuals to do so (The Moscow Times has more on how the four allegedly worked together).
It is also unclear whether this is connected to the charges of illegal hacking levelled against Mikhailov at least one source has said that the hacking is separate from the leaking of secret information.
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What was that secret information? According to Novaya Gazeta, Mikhailov tipped off U.S. intelligence officials to King Servers, a computer server rental company run by Vladimir Fomenko. King Servers has been identified by an American cybersecurity researchers as helping Russia carry out cyber attacks.
On Jan. 13, three days after news of the dossier leaked, Kommersant reported that Andrei Gerasimov, head of the FSBs Information Security Center since 20009, would be dismissed. The center was being investigated for its relationship with certain cyber companies, including Kaspersky Labs. Some speculated that the news was linked to the dossier. But the FSB security center dealt with internal, not external, cyber issues.
Unless, of course, somebody inside the FSB cyber center took it upon themselves to warn those outside of Russia what was going on within it. As Churchill said in a different context, Russia is a riddle wrapped in mystery wrapped in a terribly confusing story of leaks, showers, and spies.
Update, Feb. 1 2017, 10:52 am ET: This post has been updated to include the Kremlins statement of denial.
Photo credit: MIKHAIL KLIMENTIEV/AFP/Getty Images
By Francois Murphy and Kirsti Knolle VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria's coalition government promised on Monday to ban Muslim face-covering veils and to restrict eastern European workers' access to the labor market, in a package of policies aimed at countering the rise of the far-right Freedom Party. The anti-Islam Freedom Party (FPO) has topped opinion polls for months, boosted by the influx of more than a million migrants into Europe in the past two years and concerns over their impact on jobs and security. Last month the FPO candidate came close to winning Austria's presidential election. With a parliamentary election due next year, Chancellor Christian Kern of the Social Democratic Party (SPO) hopes the package will provide fresh impetus to an eight-month-old coalition widely seen as ineffective. "We agreed that we must work faster and more clearly," conservative Vice Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner told a joint news conference with Kern outlining their 35-page plan. "It is now up to us to do what governing parties do, namely implement the program." The deal included a ban on Muslim veils such as the burka and niqab, which cover all or most of the face, and said a more general ban on civil servants wearing religious symbols was in the works. "We believe in an open society that is also based on open communication. Full-body veils in public spaces stand against that and will therefore be prohibited," the agreement said. Mainly Catholic Austria is home to around 600,000 Muslims in a total population of about 8.7 million. UNEMPLOYMENT The conservative People's Party, the junior coalition member, obtained tougher measures on security, including the electronic tagging of former jihadists. The SPO opposed its call for a lowering of an annual cap on asylum claims, agreeing instead to strengthen existing border controls in general and to support measures such as greater incentives for voluntary deportation. The deal also included a requirement that 30 percent of a company's supervisory board members be female and a plan to make foreign multinationals, particularly online companies, pay the same tax on advertising revenue as newspapers. Unemployment in Austria has been steadily rising but is still relatively low at 5.9 percent, under a harmonized EU measure. Earlier this month Kern proposed returning to a system that gave local workers priority for jobs in sectors that employ a high number of people from poorer eastern European member states. The system was in place provisionally from 2004 to 2011 after many ex-communist countries joined the bloc. The coalition agreement said the government would push for the European Commission to allow a similar system, supporting a "reduction of and limit on labor force migration". Brussels is unlikely to accept such a system, however, as it clashes with the fundamental EU principle of free movement of people. (Reporting by Francois Murphy, Kirsti Knolle and Shadia Nasralla; Editing by Gareth Jones)
(In this Jan. 30 story, corrects spelling of Sergey Brin in paragraph 24) By Roberta Rampton and Julia Edwards Ainsley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump fired top federal government lawyer Sally Yates on Monday after she took the extraordinarily rare step of defying the White House and refused to defend new travel restrictions targeting seven Muslim-majority nations. It was another dramatic twist in the unusually raucous roll-out of Trump's directive that put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The Friday night ban prompted protests and chaos at airports on the weekend as customs officials struggled to put the order into practise, and the fallout spread to U.S. markets on Monday, where stocks suffered their biggest drop of 2017 and companies affected by the change spoke out against it. Yates said late on Monday that the Justice Department would not defend the order against court challenges, saying that she did not believe it would be "consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right." Hours later, she was fired. The White House said Yates "has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States" and portrayed her actions as political. Trump has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from terror attacks but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and defiles America's historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants. Yates, an appointee of former Democratic President Barack Obama, was days away from being replaced by Trump's pick for the top spot at the Justice Department, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, who is awaiting Senate confirmation. "Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration," the White House said in a statement. The White House said that Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was sworn in at 9 p.m. ET and would be acting U.S. attorney general until Sessions is approved. Boente said in an interview with the Washington Post that he would enforce the immigration order. DRAMA There have been only a handful of instances in U.S. history of top Justice Department officials publicly breaking with the White House. The most famous example was in 1973, when then-Attorney General Elliot Richardson and his deputy resigned rather than obey President Richard Nixons order to fire a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal. The incident, which became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre," was a public relations disaster and is seen as a turning point in Nixon's administration. The drama at the Justice Department is another sign of how hastily Trump's immigration order was developed and how little it was reviewed by the agencies now grappling to implement it. The White House said key government officials were briefed before Trump signed the order on Friday, but there was little coordination or consultation, resulting in confusion. Most State Department officials found out about it from media reports. Officials from the State Department circulated a draft memo of dissent on Monday, saying Trump's move would hurt America's image abroad and inflame anti-American sentiment. White House spokesman Sean Spicer dismissed the memo. "These career bureaucrats have a problem with it? I think that they should either get with the program or they can go," he told reporters at his daily briefing. An internal Department of Homeland Security document seen by Reuters showed 348 visa holders were kept from boarding U.S.-bound flights this week, and more than 200 people came to the United States but were denied entry. More than 735 people were pulled aside for questioning by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at airports, including 394 green card holders, who are legal permanent residents of the United States, the document said. Trump's administration is granting waivers from the refugee ban to allow 872 people into the country this week - refugees that had already been cleared for resettlement in the United States and were in transit when the order came out. Tens of thousands of people protested Trump's order in major American cities and at airports on the weekend. Obama took the rare step of weighing in, saying through a spokesman that he was heartened by the political activism on the issue. Employees of Alphabet Inc's Google in San Francisco, Mountain View, Seattle and other cities held protests. Backed by a sign that said "We are a nation of immigrants," Sergey Brin, president of Alphabet, said he was outraged by the order. "The U.S. had the courage to take me and my family in as refugees, he said in a YouTube video of his remarks. TECH BACKING FOR COURT CHALLENGES Federal judges blocked deportation of those detained under the order through the weekend, and more lawsuits were filed on Monday. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the country's biggest Muslim advocacy group, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 people. Washington state filed a lawsuit, arguing that Trumps order violates the equal protection clause and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Several other Democratic state attorneys general have said they are considering legal action. "It is an insult and a danger to all of the people of the state of Washington, of all faiths," Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, told reporters. Amazon.com Inc and Expedia Inc, both of which are based in Washington state's Seattle area, are supporting the state's suit. Amazon scrapped a business trip for a senior company lawyer who was born in Libya but has UK citizenship, according to a declaration filed in support of the lawsuit. Forty-nine of its employees were born in one of the banned countries, and seven new hires may need to be placed in offices outside the United States, it said. A declaration from Expedia said the order could impact the travel itineraries of at least 1,000 customers, costing it refunds as well as expenses to monitor how the order is applied and who exactly is affected. The U.S. technology industry, a major employer of foreign workers, has been the most vocal corporate opponent to Trump's order. A group of top companies plans to meet on Tuesday to discuss how best to support legal challenges. [L1N1FL04H] (Additional reporting by Dan Levine and Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco, Eric Beech, Doina Chiacu, Arshad Mohammed, Susan Heavey, Mark Hosenball and Patricia Zengerle in Washington, Jonathan Allen in New York, Brian Snyder in Boston, and Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento; Writing by Roberta Rampton and Alistair Bell; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Bill Rigby and Nick Macfie)
Madrid (AFP) - You'd think the prospect of bad acting, a terrible script and rock-bottom directing would put movie buffs off. But if Madrid's CutreCon trash film festival is anything to go by -- you'd be wrong.
Lured by such films as the musical "Nudist Colony of the Dead" and Bollywood's "Action Jackson", some 3,500 people turned up at the five-day event.
They also came to see one of the holy grails of the bad film world: "Troll 2" -- with its rating of just six percent on review site Rotten Tomatoes, is considered one of the worst movies ever.
CutreCon, which ended Sunday, is one of several festivals in Europe dedicated to films so bad they're good, many of which have been pulled from oblivion by the internet, at times earning them and their protagonists cult status.
Nostalgia for the era of low-quality, VHS films, dissatisfaction with mainstream cinema and a general desire to laugh and let off steam have contributed to the genre's rise in popularity.
Also influential was Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's 2007 ode to trash cinema "Grindhouse."
- Killer yoghurt, sharks -
"The first time I came across a trash film... was when I was around 10 or 11, with a film by Larry Cohen called 'The Stuff', which is about killer yoghurt," says Carlos Palencia, a culture journalist and CutreCon's director.
His interest in the genre eventually prompted him to create the festival, now in its sixth year, having evolved from a one-night-only film viewing to the current multi-location event.
Keyvan Sarkhosh, senior research fellow at Germany's Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics who co-authored a research paper on the subject, says there are two types of trash films -- the unintentionally bad and those deliberately made to be awful.
The man who perhaps best represents the first category is Edward Wood, whose "Plan 9 from Outer Space" film about aliens has been dubbed the best worst movie ever made.
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Wood died in 1978 a poor alcoholic, but achieved posthumous fame thanks in part to Tim Burton's biopic "Ed Wood" starring Johnny Depp.
Then come films intentionally made to be incoherent and clumsy for "ironic consumption," says Sarkhosh.
Cue the recent "Sharknado" franchise -- films about freak storms that see sharks sucked up in water spouts and rained down on unsuspecting city dwellers.
Bad taste? Not so, says Sarkhosh, whose research found that those who watched these movies were highly educated, cultural "omnivores" just as happy to watch arthouse films.
"To enjoy bad cinema, you need to really like good cinema... you need good taste to appreciate bad taste and find the fun side (of a movie)," concurs Palencia.
- Vegetarian goblins -
For Angel-Luis Andres, a 40-year-old sales manager who turned up to see "Troll 2" at the festival, nostalgia is also part of the appeal.
"My father would bring home a batch of videos at the weekend," he recalls.
"He always brought back stuff that me and my brother liked -- monsters, dinosaurs... These are nostalgia films," he says, before sitting down for a lively screening.
"Troll 2" is about a family that goes to a small, isolated village for a break, only to find it populated by evil goblins.
The goblins are vegetarian but still want to eat humans, which means they have to surreptitiously feed people a green goo that turns them into green, vegan goo too.
The laughter gets so loud at times during the screening that it becomes hard to hear the film itself.
During a scene depicting a candle-lit seance to communicate with a dead grandfather, the audience spontaneously erupts into a rendition of "Happy Birthday".
A 2009 documentary about the film's rise to cult status said one of the actors was a patient at a psychiatric hospital and auditioned while on leave.
Though it initially went straight to video in 1990, the film's new-found popularity has meant that its Italian director Claudio Fragasso, who was present at the screening, will direct a sequel.
- 'Oddly brilliant' -
Others have also found belated fame from their initial embarrassment.
Matt Hannon, a US actor who starred in the direct-to-video film "Samurai Cop" in 1991, dropped his career straight after.
So desperate was he to be forgotten that when people started saying he was dead, based on the obit of another Matt Hannon, he did nothing to dispel the rumours.
But with the rising popularity of his film some two decades after it was made, he finally came back into the limelight... and starred in the sequel "Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance."
Another example is actor, director and screenwriter Tommy Wiseau, whose 2003 drama "The Room" bombed.
"This film is like getting stabbed in the head," one user on movie site IMDb said.
But sure enough, this too has achieved cult status, and Hollywood star James Franco has directed a comedy film about it called "The Masterpiece."
In an interview, actor Seth Rogen who plays in Franco's film acknowledged there was something "oddly brilliant about it."
"There is something you have to give credit to, because of all the shitty movies, he made one that people still watch."
Tallinn (AFP) - Baltic state leaders inked a deal Tuesday to build a high-speed rail link to Berlin and Western Europe that has taken on added significance due to concerns over a resurgent Russia.
The Rail Baltica project, which may eventually also connect the region to Finland and other Nordic countries through a connected undersea rail tunnel, will cost an estimated five billion euros ($5.4 billion).
"We have to continue to strengthen our defence capability," Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis told reporters alongside his Estonian and Lithuanian counterparts in Tallinn.
European Council president Donald Tusk was also in attendance as the European Union is expected to co-finance the project that will link Tallinn to Berlin via Warsaw by 2025.
"As a Pole, I understand how important this project is, not only for the Baltic States but for Europe as a whole and therefore you can count on me," Tusk said.
Project head Baiba Rubesa said the countries will apply for EU funding and hope to receive 85 percent of the financing from the bloc.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- which broke free from the Soviet Union when it crumbled in 1990-1991 and went on to join both the EU and NATO in 2004 -- all have Soviet-era wide gauge railways.
With a total population of just six million people, the Baltic trio are hoping the new railway will create fresh opportunities for the region in terms of trade and logistics.
But critics say the venture may ultimately prove too costly and have also raised environmental concerns.
"As a scientist, I have to say there is a very big risk that this high-speed train track will have a very negative impact and spoil the ecological environment," Estonian ecologist and politician Mart Jussi told AFP.
He and his colleagues point to the fact that the train track will go through forests, swamps and wetlands that have been untouched till now.
By Ruma Paul DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh has resurrected a plan to relocate thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar's northwestern Rakhine State to a flooded island in the Bay of Bengal to prevent them from "intermingling" with Bangladeshi citizens. The United Nations says around 69,000 people have fled the Muslim-majority northern part of Rakhine to Bangladesh since attacks that killed nine Myanmar border police on Oct. 9, sparking a heavy-handed security response in which scores were killed. Bangladesh first proposed the idea of sending the Rohingya to Thengar Char, which floods at high tide, in 2015, prompting anger among rights groups. In a Jan. 26 notice on its website, Bangladesh's cabinet said several panels were set up to examine the influx of Rohingya Muslims, which the country fears could lead to law and order issues as they mix with residents. Dhaka was preparing a list of the people to be temporarily moved to Thengar Char before being sent back to Myanmar, it said. "There's a fear that the influx of Rohingya Muslims from time to time will lead to a degradation of law and order situation, spread communicable diseases ... and create various social and financial problems," it added. A Bangladesh home ministry official said the process to shift the Rohingya to the island would take time, adding, "If that place is not livable, the government will make it livable." International aid officials working with the refugees, now sheltered in the tourist resort of Cox's Bazar, said they were surprised by the relocation plan and had sought clarification from the Bangladesh government. However, they declined to be identified, citing the sensitivity of the situation. RELIGIOUS TENSION Hundreds were killed in communal clashes in Rakhine in 2012, exposing a lack of oversight of the military by the administration of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. Many Myanmar Buddhists view the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, but an advisory panel of the Myanmar government said the refugee crisis was more than just a religious issue. Three members of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State visited the refugees in Cox's Bazar on Monday. They met government officials in the capital, Dhaka, on Tuesday. "There are many Muslims outside Rakhine ... they are Myanmar citizens," one member, Ghassan Salame, told reporters on Tuesday. "There's a religious dimension to the conflict, but there are also the issues of rights, citizenship, ethnicities, issues related to freedom of movement and the rule of law and human rights." (Reporting by Ruma Paul; Additional reporting by Serajul Quadir and Antoni Slodkowski; Writing by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Nick Macfie and Clarence Fernandez)
Dhaka (AFP) - A young Bangladeshi girl with bark-like warts growing on her face could be the first female ever afflicted by so-called "tree man syndrome", doctors studying the rare condition said Tuesday.
Ten-year-old Sahana Khatun has the tell-tale gnarled growths sprouting from her chin, ear and nose, but doctors at Dhaka's Medical College Hospital are still conducting tests to establish if she has the unusual skin disorder.
Less than half a dozen people worldwide have epidermodysplasia verruciformis but none so far have been women, said Samanta Lal Sen, the head of the hospital's burn and plastic surgery unit.
"We believe she is the first woman," Sen told AFP.
Her father, a poor labourer from Bangladesh's rural north, said he didn't worry too much when the first warts appeared on his daughter's face about four months ago.
But as the growths spread rapidly he grew concerned and brought Khatun from their village to the capital Dhaka for treatment.
"We are very poor. My daughter lost her mother when she was only six. I really hope that the doctors will remove the barks from my beautiful daughter's face," her father Mohammad Shahjahan told AFP.
Another of Khatun's doctors said the young patient was displaying a milder form of the disease, and it was hoped she would make a quicker recovery than those in the more advanced stages.
The hospital has been treating one man with a serious case of the disease for the better part of a year, conducting 16 surgical procedures to remove giant warts from his hands and legs.
Huge growths weighing five kilogrammes (11 pounds) each had consumed the hands of 27-year-old Abul Bajandar, the first recorded Bangladeshi to be suffering from the disease.
His plight has captured national attention and the interest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who promised the patient would receive treatment free of charge.
Doctors told AFP last month that for the first time in a decade, Bajandar had been able to touch his wife and daughter, and was almost ready to leave the ward.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than a dozen Jewish community centers around the United States and one in Canada received bomb threats on Tuesday, the third wave of threatened attacks against them this month.
A total of 14 centers across 10 states, along with one in Canada, received the threats, according to David Posner, a director at the JCC Association of North America who advises centers on security.
He said most of the centers had received the all-clear from law enforcement officials and had resumed regular operations, though security was heightened.
"We are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats," Posner said in an emailed statement. He added that the previous threats phoned in this month were deemed to be hoaxes and that no one has been injured.
Jewish community centers in California, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Utah, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada received the threats, according to the statement.
Telephoned threats on Jan. 9 were made against 16 Jewish community centers in nine U.S. states, and a second wave on Jan. 18 targeted 27 centers in 17 states.
Some of the calls were made using an automated "robocall" system, while others were made by individuals, security officials have said.
After the second round of threats, the FBI said that it and the Justice Department were investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with threats. No arrests have been made.
(Reporting by David Ingram; additional reporting by Curtis Skinner; Editing by Sandra Maler and Dan Grebler)
Ramsbury (United Kingdom) (AFP) - "It's like you're a bird," says 16-year-old drone-racing champion Luke Bannister as he whizzes his quadcopter through the air with astonishing precision.
As drone use proliferates around the world, first-person view (FPV) racing is really taking off -- rather than watching the craft from the ground, the pilot puts on a headset and navigates with a real-time view from the camera mounted on board.
Drones are playing a growing part in everyday life, from parcel deliveries to video shoots, farming and security, so perhaps it was only a matter of time before they made their debut in the world of sport.
FPV competitions pit pilots against each other on race tracks, each competing as if they were physically sat in a cockpit.
With his goggles in place, Bannister, a British schoolboy who goes by the pseudonym "BanniUK", is practising his skills at a park in Ramsbury, a picturesque village in Wiltshire in rural southwest England.
- 'Like a fighter jet' -
With a characteristic waspish buzz, the small polycarbonate drone whizzes around a series of gates and obstacles that Bannister has set up.
Most racing models are quadcopters, which have four propellers and are capable of reaching speeds topping 100 kilometres (60 miles) per hour.
Each drone typically costs between $250-$375 (230-350 euros) with the headset another $320-A435 (300-400 euros).
"When you put the goggles on it's like you're in the drone," says the youngster, wearing a tracksuit and body-warmer.
"It's an amazing experience," he told AFP.
"It could be compared to flying super-low and super-fast in a fighter jet. It's really exciting, and sort of like an extension of your body."
Bannister first got into aerial acrobatics at the age of 10, using a radio-controlled polystyrene biplane.
Then, at 11, he became the darling of his local model aircraft club, where he built his own planes and became their youngest pilot.
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A few years later, he discovered the joys of FPV racing.
And things really took off when he won the glitzy World Drone Prix in Dubai in March last year, the world's biggest drone race.
Set against the Dubai skyline, the futuristic-looking racetrack is full of neon lights and has many features in common with motor racing: hairpin bends, pit stops -- for changing batteries, live onboard footage and commentators.
Wearing the colours of his XBlades Racing team, Bannister scooped the $250,000 (235,000-euro) top prize.
- To fly, for real -
"He made his name in Dubai," Vincent Sergere, from the French specialist website Course-de-drone.fr, told AFP, describing Bannister's flying technique as minimalistic.
"He has a very direct style as a pilot. You get the impression that he doesn't ask himself many questions, that he really gets straight to the point.
"The most difficult thing will be to keep his place" in a rapidly-growing sport, he said.
Still at school, Bannister lives an unusual daily life, dividing his free time between practice, competitions and working on his drones.
He is cultivating a presence on social media and maintains a YouTube channel where he shows off his aerobatic skills.
"I want to.. enjoy myself, have fun with my friends, mess around, have some good racing, and fly to the best of my ability," he says.
But there is also schoolwork to be done, something this lively, ambitious teenager is careful not to neglect.
"I have to balance my schoolwork and my drone racing," he admits after a practice session while walking back to his workshop which is filled with rotors, batteries and wires.
"I spend the majority of my time on schoolwork" to get the best possible marks.
All with one goal in mind: to fly, one day, for real.
"The sport is expanding at a rapid rate right now, but it's a bubble so it could burst or it could keep expanding," he says.
"So we'll see where it goes, but I'd like to go to university and become a pilot after that."
(Reuters) - The Boy Scouts of America said on Monday the group would begin accepting transgender boys, bucking its more than a century-old practice of using the gender stated on a birth certificate to determine eligibility. "Starting today, we will accept and register youth in the Cub and Boy Scout programs based on the gender identity indicated on the application," Boy Scouts of America communications director Effie Delimarkos said in an emailed statement. Delimarkos cited shifting definitions of gender under state laws, which can "vary widely from state to state," in explaining the change. She said that while the organization offers programs for all youths, its Cub and Boy Scout programs are specifically for boys. The change will allow children to apply even if male is not listed on their birth certificate. Advocacy group Scouts for Equality applauded the move: "This is another historic day for the Boy Scouts of America. The decision to allow transgender boys to participate in the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts is an important step forward for this American institution." In 2013, the Boy Scouts voted to lift a ban on openly gay scouts that had been in place throughout the organization's history after gay rights advocates gathered petitions with more than 1.8 million signatures in support of ending the ban. Support also came from some of the biggest American churches, including the Mormons and the Methodists, two of the largest scouting sponsors in the United States. Two years later, the organization lifted its blanket ban on gay adult leaders after its president, former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, called the ban "unsustainable" in the face of numerous lawsuits challenging the policy on grounds of discrimination. The Boy Scouts of America, whose stated mission is to prepare youth for life and leadership, has nearly 2.3 million members between the ages of 7 and 21 and roughly 960,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the country, according to its website. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Bill Rigby)
London (AFP) - The British parliament is set to debate for the first time the government's bill to trigger the country's departure from the European Union, following a referendum last year in which a majority voted for Brexit.
Prime Minister Theresa May has said Britain will leave the EU's single market and seek a new customs deal with the bloc.
But the precise timings and terms of departure are uncertain as negotiations have yet to begin.
Here is an outline of what we know so far:
- Referendum:
On June 23, 2016, Britons voted to leave the EU by 52 percent in favour to 48 percent against, although most voters in Scotland, Northern Ireland and London backed remaining part of the bloc.
Britain has had a love-hate relationship with Brussels since joining what was then the European Economic Community in 1973.
Former prime minister David Cameron, who took office in 2010, called the referendum in a bid to end long-standing divisions in his Conservative party but his campaign to stay in the EU failed.
- Timing:
Cameron's successor May has said she wants to trigger Article 50 -- the formal procedure for leaving the EU under the Lisbon Treaty -- by the end of March.
Finance minister Philip Hammond has said he expects negotiations to begin before the summer.
Article 50 foresees a maximum two-year time period for the negotiations. If no deal is in place by then, Britain would have to leave without any agreement on future ties with the EU, unless the timeframe for talks is extended by unanimous agreement of all member states.
The EU's top Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said there should be an agreement in place ahead of the 2019 European Parliament elections.
- Parliament:
Britain's Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that May must receive parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50, and the government last week brought a short draft bill backing her timetable before the House of Commons -- to be debated Tuesday.
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Most MPs supported Britain staying in the EU but are expected to back the start of Article 50 talks -- although opponents have already tabled amendments that could slow up the process.
May has also promised that any final deal on Britain's future relations with the EU would go before both chambers of parliament for a vote.
- Transition deal:
In a major speech on January 17, May said she wanted a "phased approach" to ensure stability for businesses between the moment Britain leaves the EU and the implementation of its new relationship with the bloc.
"We will seek to avoid a disruptive cliff edge," she said.
May added that all existing EU laws that apply in Britain will be turned into British laws under a "Great Repeal Bill" and parliament will then be able to choose which ones to keep, reject or amend.
- Immigration:
May has said she will make cutting immigration a priority in negotiations, after the issue dominated the referendum campaign.
Hundreds of thousands of people, mainly from eastern and southern Europe, move to Britain each year.
In her Brexit speech, she gave no detail of what the new entry criteria will be for Europeans, but acknowledged that this demand would mean Britain leaving the EU's single market.
May has refused to confirm that EU citizens already in Britain will be able to stay after Brexit until similar guarantees are offered to Britons living elsewhere in the bloc.
- Trade:
May said she wants "maximum possible access" for British companies to the single market even though Britain will no longer be a member, and also called for a new customs arrangement with the EU.
She said full customs union membership would prevent Britain from striking its own trade deals with other countries but said the country could remain a signatory to some parts of the customs union.
May also warned EU member states against pushing for harsh exit terms for Britain, saying it would be "an act of calamitous self-harm" for the European Union.
She warned that she could "change the basis of Britain's economic model" -- for example by slashing business taxes -- if British companies are excluded from accessing the single market.
By Ned Parker UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The next round of United Nations-based peace talks on Syria have been scheduled for Feb. 20, diplomats told reporters on Tuesday. The talks had been planned to begin in Geneva on Feb. 8 but Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week that they had been postponed. The UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said on Tuesday that he had decided to delay the UN-sponsored talks in order to take advantage of last week's negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition in Astana, Kazakhstan, hosted by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran. The Astana talks ended with Moscow, Ankara and Tehran agreeing to monitor Syrian government and opposition compliance with a Dec. 30 truce. "We want to give a chance to this Astana initiative to actually implement itself," de Mistura told reporters outside the Security Council. "If the ceasefire becomes as solid as we hope, that will only help the serious talk to achieve the concrete." He added invitations for the UN-sponsored talks in Geneva would go out on Feb. 8. If the Syrian opposition cannot agree on its delegates, de Mistura said the UN would choose the opposition's representatives "in order to make sure that it can be as inclusive as possible." De Mistura said the United Nations would be attending a follow up technical meeting on Feb. 6 of the Russia, Iran and Turkey backed talks in Astana on the implementation and monitoring of the Syria ceasefire. (Reporting by Ned Parker; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
London (AFP) - Britain takes a key step towards leaving the European Union on Tuesday as lawmakers begin debating whether to empower Prime Minister Theresa May to embark on the historic divorce.
MPs will hold their first discussion on legislation giving the government the power to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, opening two years of negotiations on leaving the bloc.
While the bill is expected to pass the House of Commons, it could be delayed in the upper House of Lords as May's Conservative Party does not have a majority there.
The government had sought to exclude parliament, insisting it had the power to trigger Article 50 on its own, but the Supreme Court last week ruled it must consult lawmakers.
A majority of both houses of parliament opposed Brexit, but May has urged them to respect the result of the June referendum, when 52 percent of Britons voted to end the country's four-decade membership of the EU.
"I hope that when people come to look at the Article 50 bill they will recognise it is a very simple decision: do they support the will of the British people or not?" she told reporters on Monday.
May is under intense pressure to push the bill through quickly, having promised EU leaders that she will trigger Article 50 by the end of March.
- 'Decision already made' -
At just 143 words, the European Union Notification of Withdrawal Bill has been tightly drafted, making it difficult to amend either to delay the government's plans or to tie its hands in the talks.
Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has promised not to block the bill, but his party -- like the wider country -- is deeply divided over Brexit and a large minority of his MPs are expected to rebel.
Dozens of May's Conservative MPs are also opposed to her plan to pull Britain out of the single market when it leaves the EU, fearing the damage to one of the bloc's biggest economies.
But most have promised to back the government, as long as ministers keep parliament informed on their strategy and the course of the negotiations.
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"It is not a bill about whether or not the UK should leave the EU, or how it should do so," Brexit secretary David Davis said ahead of the debate.
"It is simply about implementing a decision already made, a point of no return already passed."
Several opposition MPs have submitted amendments to kill the legislation in its preliminary phase, but they are unlikely to succeed.
A vote on Wednesday allowing the bill to move to its next stage is viewed as largely procedural.
Over three days next week, however, the Commons will consider more substantive amendments on issues such as access to Europe's single market.
There are also demands for greater involvement from the devolved parliaments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the latter two voting in June for Britain to remain in the EU.
The bill will then move to the Lords for debate from February 20, with the government hoping for their approval by March 7.
The Times newspaper said this could mean that Britain -- the first country to vote to leave the EU -- would trigger Article 50 at an EU summit on March 9-10.
The Article 50 process gives Britain just two years to negotiate its departure and, it hopes, a new trade deal with the EU before it leaves.
But the European Commission's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said the talks must be wrapped up by October 2018 to give the EU and national parliaments time to ratify the final agreement.
May has promised that parliament will be able to vote on the final divorce deal agreed with Brussels.
London (AFP) - British MPs will hold a debate on February 20 on US President Donald Trump's state visit to Britain after 1.6 million people signed a petition calling for the trip to be downgraded.
"Parliament will debate this petition on 20 February 2017," parliament said on its petition website.
The petition reads: "Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen."
A counter petition calling for Trump to proceed with a full visit also passed the 100,000 threshold requiring MPs to consider it for debate, and it will be discussed at the same time.
Thousands took to the streets of Britain on Monday in protest following Trump's decision to ban citizens and refugees from seven mainly-Muslim countries.
Guests afforded a state visit are hosted by Queen Elizabeth II, who is the head of state, and they are seen as the highest expression of friendly ties between two countries.
By Sally Hayden LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Victims of modern slavery in Britain have spoken about being forced to work 19 hour days for little or no pay, beaten up and having their IDs taken from them, in a program by the UK's Channel 4 television. Due to be broadcast on Tuesday evening, The Modern British Slave Trade follows prosecutors as they investigate cases of labor exploitation, and interviews victims about the abuse they experienced. Filmed over two years, it details the story of Christopher Nicholls, whose skeletal remains were discovered in 2008, six years after he disappeared. He had been working for an traveler couple William and Mary Connors, who ran a business laying driveways and were jailed on forced labor convictions in 2012. They held Nicholls captive and physically abused him, according to another employee. Victims who worked for other members of the Connors family spoke about being hit with brooms or hosed with cold water naked in the middle of winter. One former worker, Mark Ovenden, said he was on the edge of destitution after losing his job in 2009 when he was recruited. "I experienced some hardship, I started to feel very depressed," he told Channel 4. Offered a job with accommodation and three meals a day by one of the Connors family, he agreed. But once he arrived at their rural property, he found workers were living eight to a horsebox. His head was shaved, clothes taken and his phone and ID were confiscated. "I was definitely kept a prisoner," he said. "It was made very clear that if... I was to try and leave the consequences would be very great." The program also interviews migrant workers, including a 16-year-old boy who was trafficked from Vietnam to work at a nail bar. There are an estimated 13,000 victims of forced labor, sexual exploitation and domestic servitude in Britain. In 2015 the UK passed tough anti-slavery legislation introducing life sentences for traffickers and forcing companies to disclose what they are doing to make sure their supply chains are free from slavery. Last week, two Polish brothers were jailed under Britain's modern slavery laws for stealing wages of around 18 other Poles they tricked with promises of work in the UK. The brothers seized their travel documents, credit cards and most of their wages and -- by sometimes threatening violence -- exerted total control over them, prosecutors said. (Reporting by Sally Hayden @sallyhayd, Editing by Ros Russell. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org)
Leading up to Super Bowl LIs matchup between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, Budweiser has released their commercial for the big game a minute-long spot about the German-born co-founder of Anheuser-Busch. Dubbed Born the Hard Way, the ad tells the story of Adolphus Busch immigrating from Germany to St. Louis in 1857 to begin brewing beer.
This is the story of the original self-made man, one of the founders of the American Dream, making it the hard way, and his path that all came after him followed, Laura Rowan, group strategy director, told Adweek.
However, despite the ads relevancy in todays political climate, Budweiser vice president of marketing Ricardo Marques said the spot should not be seen as a political statement. Theres really no correlation with anything else thats happening in the country, he explained. We believe this is a universal story that is very relevant today because probably more than any other period in history today the world pulls you in different directions, and its never been harder to stick to your guns.
Watch the full ad above.
Reuters
(Reuters) -U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Friday again declined to block President Joe Biden's plan to cancel billions of dollars in student debt, this time in a challenge brought by two Indiana borrowers, even as a lower court considers whether to lift a freeze it imposed on the program in a different case. Barrett denied an emergency request by the Indiana borrowers, represented by a conservative legal group, to bar the U.S. Department of Education from implementing the Democratic president's plan to forgive debt held by qualified people who had taken loans to pay for college. Barrett on Oct. 20 denied a similar request by a Wisconsin taxpayers organization represented by another conservative legal group.
OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian economy grew 0.4 percent in November from October, slightly more than expected, pushed up in part by a rebound in manufacturing, Statistics Canada data indicated on Tuesday. The increase, the fifth in the past six months, was greater than the 0.3 percent advance forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll. Statscan revised its October data to show a contraction of 0.2 percent, less than the previously reported 0.3 percent drop. Manufacturing grew 1.4 percent after a 1.7 percent drop in October, pushed up by higher output of petroleum and coal products, food, machinery, computer and electronic products. Mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction expanded 1.4 percent while finance and insurance jumped 1.5 percent, the largest increase since December 2014. Canada's economy is still performing sluggishly as it gradually adjusts to a plunge in oil prices. Earlier this month the Bank of Canada said it expected annualized fourth-quarter growth to be 1.5 percent. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Paul Simao)
By Allison Lampert and Alastair Sharp QUEBEC CITY/TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian police visibly patrolled mosques and schools in Muslim communities in several cities on Monday following the shooting attack at a Quebec City mosque that killed six worshippers. Authorities said a French-Canadian university student was the sole suspect in Sunday's shooting that also wounded 17 people and was described by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "a terrorist attack." While mass shootings have become commonplace in the United States, Canada's neighbor to the south, they are rare in a country with more stringent gun laws. In Quebec City, police cars were stationed in front of various mosques, with officers checking the identification of reporters waiting outside. Several blocks around the Islamic center that was attacked were cordoned off, with police officers parked outside questioning people passing by. "We have been in touch with the police, asking for more protection for all the mosques of Quebec (City)," said Majdi Dridi from the Quebec chapter of the Muslim Association of Canada. "I don't think there will be another attack, but we have to reassure our people, to make them feel secure." The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other law enforcement agencies also reached out to Muslim groups, asking those with security concerns to contact their local police forces. "Before the community even asked, the Toronto police chief's office already issued a statement that patrols around the mosques have increased because of this incident," Imam Abdul Hai Patel, a member of the Canadian Council of Imams, said. Police from York region north of Toronto had also contacted him to say patrols were being increased. "I think certainly this tragedy has heightened the urgency around ensuring that every precaution is taken," said Amira Elghawaby, a spokeswoman for the National Council of Canadian Muslims. Others said a more obvious police presence would not necessarily ease the concerns of Muslims, who have often had a testy relationship with law enforcement. "This is the dilemma. You don't want that kind of overt police presence, but maybe this is the direction we're going in," said Mubin Shaikh, a former extremist turned police informer who is now a national security consultant. U.S. POLICE RESPONSE The shooting influenced policing in the United States as well. The New York Police Department directed special attention to all mosque and other houses of worship throughout the city, the NYPD said in a statement. New York's armed Critical Response Command was assigned to extended coverage at certain mosques, the statement said. Near New York City in northern New Jersey, home to a significant Muslim population, authorities planned to increase patrols around mosques, the Record newspaper reported, citing police officials. Police in Chicago said in a Twitter message they would be "providing special attention to mosques and surrounding areas," even though there was no known threat. Canada's public safety minister said the government was extending indefinitely a Tuesday deadline for communities considered at risk of hate crimes to apply for federal funding toward the purchase of security cameras and other protective measures. "It's obvious with the circumstances in Quebec City that there may be other groups and organizations that perhaps haven't bothered taking advantage of this program that now might want to reconsider their position and make an application," he told reporters in Ottawa. The fund will match private funds up to a total of C$100,000 ($76,000). (Reporting by Allison Lampert in Quebec City and Alastair Sharp in Toronto; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Peter Cooney)
Hong Kong (AFP) - Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific will switch to biofuels made from landfill rubbish on select long haul flights, reports said Tuesday, in an effort to cut harmful emissions.
Cathay flights to Hong Kong from the US, where the new fuel is produced, will use a combination of conventional jet fuel and biofuels starting in 2019, the South China Morning Post reported.
The airline hopes to cut emissions on those flights by 80 percent.
"Aviation biofuels will play a key role for Cathay and the aviation industry's quest for lower emissions," Cathay Pacific biofuel manager Jeff Ovens told the Post.
The carrier had invested in the US-based sustainable biofuel developer Fulcrum BioEnergy, which converts municipal solid waste into aviation fuel, in 2014.
"These fuels will have a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels, and the pricing we have is competitive with traditional fuels, Ovens said.
Cathay and other airlines have also been facing volatile oil prices.
The company has suffered huge hedging losses in the first half of last year as the price of oil plunged from its peak.
Oil hedging is when an airline locks in price of fuel -- a huge chunk of most airlines' outlay costs -- at a pre-determined level for a certain amount of time.
In the first six months, Cathay recorded hedging losses at HK$4.49 billion ($578.8 million), and saw its net profit drop 82 percent from a year earlier to HK$353 million.
Cathay shares plunged in October after it said it did not expect business to improve in the second half of 2016, citing competition and overcapacity.
In 2015, China's Hainan Airlines flew from Shanghai to Beijing in the country's first commercial flight using biofuel made from cooking oil.
The Boeing 737 plane used a 50-50 mix of conventional jet fuel and biofuel made from waste cooking oil collected from restaurants in China.
Australia's Qantas and Air Canada have both tested biofuel on commercial flights.
A Chinese billionaire has been abducted in Hong Kong by mainland agents, according to reports Tuesday, triggering more concerns over security in the city after the disappearance of five booksellers.
Financier Xiao Jianhua, founder of Beijing-based Tomorrow Group, was staying long-term at Hong Kong's luxury Four Seasons hotel, according to reports in overseas Chinese-language media.
Xiao, who is usually looked after by a group of female bodyguards, was led away from an apartment at the hotel by Chinese security agents, the Financial Times reported, citing a person familiar with the investigation.
It is unclear why Xiao may have been targeted, but it will add to fears that Chinese authorities are increasingly interfering in semi-autonomous Hong Kong.
It is against Hong Kong's constitution for mainland agents to operate in the territory.
But after the disappearance of five city booksellers in 2015, there were widespread accusations those restrictions had been breached as one of the men, Lee Bo, went missing from Hong Kong.
All five were involved in publishing salacious titles about the Chinese leadership and resurfaced on the mainland.
Hong Kong police confirmed they had received a "request for assistance" concerning a mainland citizen on Saturday when asked about Xiao's case.
On Sunday, a family member requested the report be withdrawn, saying the person had contacted them and was safe, a police statement said. It added the person had entered the mainland through a Hong Kong boundary control point.
Tomorrow Group posted a message on its WeChat account Monday, purportedly from Xiao, saying he was taking a break because he was ill. It has since been removed.
"Regarding the reports on me in recent days, I have to say that I, Xiao Jianhua, have been recovering from a sickness outside the country," the message said.
"Currently everything is fine," it added, saying the company was running "normally".
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Xiao is reported to have come to Hong Kong in 2014, two years after Chinese President Xi Jinping started a much-publicised anti-corruption drive.
He has denied that he was ever the target of an investigation.
Chinese-language news site Boxun said Xiao had been tipped off that a special investigative unit was about to abduct him when he was still in mainland China.
Hong Kong's Apple Daily said Tuesday that Xiao had been taken over the border between Hong Kong and mainland China with his wife, who then returned and reported the case to police and media.
She then said Xiao had contacted her and did not want to exaggerate the incident, according to the report.
"Over The River" was dreamed up in 1992, with the intention of showcasing 5.9 miles (9.5 km) of shimmering panels of fabric suspended above natural waters. In 1996, the Arkansas River in the US state of Colorado was designated for the project. Although lawsuits stagnated the advancement of the project, this mammoth creative endeavor was nearly on its way to realization until Christo abandoned it for political reasons.
The stunning scale of the work created by Christo -- the Bulgaria-born New York-based artist -- has always required years, usually decades, of research and prep. To master diverse environments, Christo and his long-time partner Jeanne-Claude (who died in 2009) investigated the populations occupying designated areas, as well as the structural engineering required to execute their unrivalled ambitious blueprints. Last year Christo's "The Floating Piers," a vividly-hued walkway on Lake Iseo in Italy, drew over one million visitors.
Christo's projects are so unwieldy that many never become reality -- often enough, in fact, to warrant a rubric on the artist's website entitled "Projects Not Realized" (which includes other iterations of his infamous Wrapped series for Trees, Monuments, and Bridges).
However, in a statement on January 25, Christo announced one of his projects has landed in the "Projects Not Realized" pile of his own volition. After pursuing 'Over The River, Project for the Arkansas River, State of Colorado,' for 20 years and going through five years of legal arguments, I no longer wish to wait on the outcome," Christo stated, citing politics as the reason he's desisting. The New York Times assessed Christo's decision as having "just escalated the culture world's war against Donald J. Trump."
The artist told the newspaper: I use my own money and my own work and my own plans because I like to be totally free. And here now, the federal government is our landlord. They own the land. I can't do a project that benefits this landlord.
Christo declared he will shift his attention to "The Mastaba," which will be carried out in the Western region of Al Gharbia, some 100 miles (160 km) south of Abu Dhabi. Although the artist has a long history of creating ephemeral projects ("the fact that the work does not remain creates an urgency to see it," Christo has said), this will be a permanent implementation, conceived in a fiery hue to match its background of sun-baked sands. "It will be the largest sculpture in the world, made from 410,000 multi-colored barrels to form a mosaic of bright sparkling colors, echoing Islamic architecture," his website boasts.
Christo has explained of his practice: "the effect lasts longer than the actual work... Years after every physical trace has been removed and the materials recycled, original visitors can still see and feel them in their minds when they return to the sites of the artworks."
Avdiivka (Ukraine) (AFP) - Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels clashed heavily for a third straight day at a flashpoint town Tuesday while thousands of locals remained without power after a deadly surge in fighting.
The industrial hub of Avdiivka came under attack on Sunday from insurgents seeking to wrest back territory controlled by Kiev during the nearly three-year war.
The clashes have claimed the lives of at least 13 civilians and fighters on both sides since Sunday in the worst outburst of violence since the two sides agreed a supposed truce in December.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko underscored the urgency of the situation by cutting short a visit to Berlin on Monday.
Poroshenko is worried that Donald Trump's rise to the US presidency and praise for Russia's Vladimir Putin may add fuel to a conflict that began shortly after Ukraine's 2014 ouster of its Moscow-backed leader and tilt toward the West.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the Kremlin was "extremely worried" but had "reliable information" that renegade units of pro-Kiev fighters -- and not the army itself -- were in fact responsible for the initial attacks.
An AFP reporter saw the separatists shell the town of about 20,000 people with repeated rounds of Grad multiple rocket systems and artillery fire from the early morning.
"Right now, there is no power. We have not resolved problems with heating homes, and the gas pipe has been shattered," a Ukrainian army brigade spokeswoman, Olena Mokrynchuk, told AFP.
The town's military administrator Freedon Vekua told AFP he was preparing for a possible evacuation of Avdiivka -- which sits just five kilometres (three miles) north of the rebels' de facto capital of Donetsk -- because of the power outage.
Ukraine is struggling through freezing conditions in which temperatures drop to -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit) at night and the homes in Avdiivka are in dire need of heating.
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"The issue of an evacuation has not been decided fully. We see it as our very last resort because there is still a chance of restoring heating," said Vekua.
The town's heating is provided by a coke plant that has been heavily damaged by the falling shells.
Its director Musa Magomedov said it would be incredibly difficult to restart the gas-producing factory if its generators shut down.
That would leave Avdiivka without a source of local power and uncertainty about its future.
We are "very concerned for Avdiivka residents, especially the 2500 children who are without water, electricity and heat after power lines were cut," the US embassy in Ukraine tweeted.
Kiev and the rebels agreed to an "indefinite" ceasefire on December 23 -- the latest in a series of attempts to stop the the violence.
But as on previous occasions, the truce was never fully respected and a broader European-brokered peace plan remains stalled.
The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people -- more than half of them civilians -- and plunged Moscow's relations with the West to a post-Cold War low.
The Kremlin denies backing the insurgents and only admits that Russian "volunteers" and off-duty soldiers have entered the war zone of their own free will.
burs-is-zak/del/ric
Policarpa (Colombia) (AFP) - Colombia is moving towards peace, but in the coca fields whose narcotic produce have fueled decades of conflict, villagers fear they are being abandoned to a new kind of war.
A historic deal signed by the government and FARC rebels aims to demobilize the leftist force and replace the drug crop that has funded it with something safer.
But in Narino, a jungle-covered region on Colombia's southwestern coast, people that live off the sparkling fields of green coca plants say the deal takes away their livelihood and leaves them at the mercy of a new gang turf conflict.
- Safety -
Locals used to pay the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for protection from other forces in the conflict, and from authorities looking to stamp out coca.
Over the past half-century of conflict, the Narino region has suffered violence involving rebels, drug gangs, illegal miners and human traffickers.
"There was a war between various groups for control of the area," said Jesus Ramos, a 42-year-old coca grower in the village of Policarpa.
"As soon as the FARC gives up and this village is left alone, the same thing that happened in past years will happen again."
For the authorities, the FARC were a murderous rebel force. But for locals here, they were protectors.
With the FARC around, "there was respect. They punished anyone who was disorderly," says shopkeeper Roberto Delgado, 42.
"We are afraid that when the FARC leave, there will be no more security."
- Livelihood -
Colombia ranks as the world's biggest coca and cocaine producer, according to the United Nations.
Coca leaves produce the paste that forms the base ingredient for the drug.
Under the peace deal, the FARC has agreed to abandon the coca trade and disband, transforming into a political party.
The state has pledged to help plant alternative crops.
"It is a cause for hope in this process that they have committed to honoring their historic debt to overcome the poverty that so affects this area," local FARC commander Ramiro, 44, told AFP.
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"Now we must seek alternative ways of making a living."
But locals do not trust that will happen without the FARC to stick up for them.
"When the FARC aren't there, people will come and tear out the crops and there will be no work for us," says Delgado.
"If the coca goes, there will be nothing. People live off it."
- Earnings -
Locals do not believe that they can earn the same living from planting other crops in this isolated, impoverished region.
"We make a living from coca because other crops do not yield as much," says Alexandra Matitui, 30, a grower with ragged clothes and callused hands.
Coca is the only crop she has seen grown successfully in this region.
A one-hectare (2.5-acre) field of coca can bring in $330 a month, she says.
A similar field of peanuts, avocados or cocoa would yield just half that.
Matitui was raised on the proceeds of coca and is now raising her own children on it, living in a mud house.
It does not make you rich, she says, but it earns you a living.
Coca "is easy because it is a very light crop. After six months, it yields the first harvest and it keeps on doing so every three months after that," she said.
"What's more, there is no need to transport it to the city. The buyers come right here."
- Stigmatized -
Local people are facing a "critical" situation, said the mayor of Policarpa, Claudia Cabrera.
"If the government does not reach a negotiated agreement with the local farmers about crop eradication, there will be a social problem," she said.
Cabrera carries a pistol wherever she goes, having received death threats from armed groups.
"The national government has no excuse. It has always stigmatized us as a conflict hotspot," she says.
"Now there must be investment here."
Bogota (AFP) - Colombian FARC rebels gathered in demobilization zones on Tuesday to start a historic disarmament process to end Latin America's last major armed conflict, authorities said.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are due to disband with UN supervision under a peace deal with the government after 52 years of conflict.
Meanwhile, the country's last active rebel group, the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN), was taking the final steps towards its own peace talks with the government.
The government's top delegate for the peace process, Sergio Jaramillo, said a total of 6,300 FARC fighters were due to reach the disarmament zones by Wednesday, and thousands had already arrived.
"What is happening is really most extraordinary. This is the peace process in action," he told a news conference.
He said there had been no major incidents in what the government has called the FARC's "last march."
Fighters traveled by boat, canoe, bus, truck and on foot as they headed to 26 zones where they will disarm and eventually re-enter civilian life.
But a monitoring group warned that only one of the camps was fully ready.
"The preparation of the disarmament zones is at 30 to 35 percent," said Leon Valencia, head of the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation.
The ELN, meanwhile, said Monday the government had begun releasing certain detainees to clear the way for peace talks.
In return, the ELN is to release a former lawmaker it is holding hostage, Odin Sanchez, on Thursday.
The government is due simultaneously to release two other imprisoned ELN members and grant them a pardon.
The ELN announced Tuesday that it was also holding another hostage, a Colombian soldier previously reported missing by the army, whom the rebel force seized last week.
It said it was willing to release him, too.
ELN negotiators are gathered in the Ecuadoran capital Quito, where talks with the government are scheduled to start on February 7.
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After last year's contested peace accord with the Marxist FARC, President Juan Manuel Santos says he wants a deal with the ELN to seal a "complete peace" in Colombia.
The Colombian conflict grew out of a crushed uprising over land rights in the 1960s.
It has killed more than 260,000 people and left 60,000 missing, according to authorities.
The conflict has drawn in not only the Colombian armed forces, the FARC and the ELN, but also drug gangs, right-wing paramilitaries and other leftist rebel groups that have since disbanded.
Lashing back against President Trumps executive orders on refugees and responding to pressure from progressives rallying nationwide, a growing number of Democrats are promising to throw wrenches in the White Houses agenda, gum up the legislative process and hold back Cabinet nominees.
Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, has vowed to block any Supreme Court nominee President Trump puts forward that is not mainstream, and he doubled down on that commitment on Monday, adding that he would vote against eight of Trumps Cabinet nominees.
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley told Politico in an interview Monday morning he would filibuster any Supreme Court nominee Trump puts forward, calling the Supreme Court seat stolen after Republicans refused to fill it with President Obamas nominee last year.
On Monday afternoon, Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation that would block Trumps executive order that halted the entrance of refugees into the country. And later in the day, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, Schumer and dozens of Democrats gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court to protest Trumps halt on refugees entering the country.
The lady in the harbor in the city in which I live holds a wonderful torch, Schumer told a scrum of cameras. We will not let this evil order extinguish that great torch.
The increased opposition from congressional Democrats comes after Trump issued an executive order halting refugees from certain Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. A week after millions of women and progressives marched across the country, and days after thousands demonstrated at airports where refugees had been detained, Democrats in Congress are increasingly watching their base.
It was an abrupt shift. Democratic leaders promised shortly after Trumps victory that they would oppose a Trump agenda when they disagreed with the President, but they also said they were willing to work with Trump when they found common ground.
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There have been few similar overtures in recent days, and opposition to Trump among members has hardened.
Im prepared to use every tool that we have to stop a nominee to the Supreme Court, said Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal. This [executive] order is so beyond the pale, has caused such confusion, fear and chaos that it has really changed the way people think about the Trump Administration.
Still, there are limits to how far Democrats would go. Merkley is the only Democrat who has publicly committed to filibustering any Trump nominee the President is expected to announce his nominee Tuesday evening and most Democrats say they will wait until then when they hear who it is. Merkley told TIME on Monday night that he did not confer with Democratic leadership before saying he would take a stand, and it is unclear whether top Democrats support his effort.
It is nearly unprecedented for the Senate to filibuster a Supreme Court nominee, though Democrats attempted to block Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in 2006. But many Democrats are sour over Republicans efforts to block Judge Merrick Garland from getting a hearing last year. This was a stolen seat, Merkley said again on Monday evening.
Progressive activists are exerting extraordinary pressure on Democrats to block every Trump proposal they oppose. Schumer has faced blowback for supporting Trumps national-security nominees. Even Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a liberal firebrand, angered progressives when she announced last week that she would vote to confirm Ben Carson as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
After spending a weekend at press conferences and rallies in New York, Schumer said on Monday he would vote against Representative Tom Price for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Scott Pruitt for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Andy Puzder for Labor Secretary, Steve Mnuchin for Treasury Secretary and Representative Mick Mulvaney for Budget Director. He has already said he will oppose Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary, Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, and Jeff Sessions for Attorney General.
The rallies are a reminder to Democrats of the demand to resist Trumps agenda.
At the Democrats rally at the Supreme Court on Monday night, hundreds of demonstrators chanted at the gathered members of Congress. Do your job! they shouted. I think they need us to do this, said Laura Neal, a Washington, D.C., resident who attended the rally with her dog. Power needs to come from us.
Members have taken notice. It reinforces the idea that there are millions of Americans who want a more hopeful, more positive politics in Washington, and who reject a politics of division and misogyny and frankly of hatred, said Delaware Senator Chris Coons last week.
They run the risk, however, of appearing to be obstructionist to moderate voters. By February 2009, the Senate had confirmed 11 Obama nominees; this year, due to Democratic resistance, the Senate has confirmed just two, along with CIA director Mike Pompeo and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. McConnell and the Republicans have accused Democrats of denying Trump his Cabinet for political reasons.
Under Senate majority leader Harry Reid, Democrats eliminated the filibuster for Cabinet nominees and judicial appointments, meaning that today Trump needs just 51 votes to confirm his appointees. That means Democrats have limited leverage in opposing Trump. The Supreme Court nomination is one of the few places Democrats can take a stand.
Trump took to Twitter on Monday night to express his frustration with Democrats backlash. The Democrats are delaying my Cabinet picks for purely political reasons, Trump wrote. They have nothing going but to obstruct.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Democratic leaders in the General Assembly and the state's consumer counsel on Monday called for an investigation into the marketing practices of electricity suppliers.
Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz said there is evidence that some suppliers may by targeting low-income, elderly, disabled and non-English-speaking consumers with offers that would actually switch them into higher-cost programs.
Katz said her office has received complaints about calls from third-party suppliers falsely claiming to work for Eversource or United Illuminating who use high-pressure tactics to switch customers.
"Customers who are already experiencing financial hardship may be pushed further into poverty by retail rates for electric supply that are unreasonably high," she said. "We need to investigate the best ways to protect our most vulnerable populations from such high rates, which may be the result of abusive sales practices."
The state passed a law in 2014 designed to safeguard customers from dishonest billing and marketing practices.
State Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney said state regulators should use that law to crack down on unscrupulous suppliers.
Officials cited data showing that during 2016, residential customers who chose a retail supplier paid, in aggregate, $59 million more than the standard service offer from the utility companies.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- For months Ronald Murillo overheard stories of murder and kidnapping told in hushed voices by the customers at his furniture store outside of San Salvador. So in September, when a tattooed teenager no older than 16 showed up to his store asking for cash in "collaboration" with the Barrio 18 gang that ran the neighborhood, he wasn't surprised.
"They call it collaboration, but it's extortion," says Murillo, whose name has been changed for the safety of his family back in El Salvador. "And if you don't pay, they threaten you, and if you still don't pay, they kill someone in your family."
He paid the money. The next time, he paid again. When he couldn't pay anymore, he got online to research moving his family out of El Salvador. Murillo quickly ruled out the U.S. -- a family member had died a year earlier along the treacherous trail north. Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala were too dangerous, he thought. He didn't trust Nicaragua's government. Finally, he stumbled upon a brochure for a Costa Rican refugee agency; it seemed like the only option.
Murillo and his family are in good company in Costa Rica, where applications for permanent refugee status have quadrupled since 2012, according to the Immigration Ministry. While the U.S. is temporarily closing its borders to refugees, Costa Rica -- considered a leader in the treatment of refugees -- has been accepting more. Most of these refugees come from El Salvador, Venezuela and Colombia and many, like Murillo, are fleeing increasing violence in their home countries.
Costa Rica's welcoming of refugees is rooted in its history. Since abolishing its military in 1948, Costa Rica has been a rare stronghold of peace and stability in a region plagued by conflict. The country opened its doors to South Americans fleeing dictators in the 1970s and 80s, and has taken in significant numbers of Colombians displaced by guerrilla warfare for decades.
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Due to this tradition, Costa Rica has developed one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks for refugees in the region, experts say. Costa Rica allows refugees two appeals if their applications are denied and gives them the right to work and attend school while their applications are processed. The country also has one of the most well-established integration programs in the region that helps refugees find jobs, start businesses and adapt to the new culture, according to refugee advocates.
"I got a lot of support through programs that helped me learn more about the country and how to make it mine," says Dennis Castillo, a gay rights activist who fled Honduras for Costa Rica four years ago after his life was threatened and several fellow activists were killed. "Like any procedural process, it's not easy, but it's obvious that the government and civil society are working to make it easier."
Because of this reputation, the United Nations refugee agency chose Costa Rica last year to serve as the intermediary country for a new protection transfer agreement with the United States. Though U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders on refugees and immigration have likely killed the deal, Costa Rica's initial selection bolstered its refugee-friendly reputation.
"For its broad and solid legal structure, Costa Rica is considered a regional leader in the treatment of refugees," says Valentina Duque with the UNHCR in San Jose. "But perhaps more important is that there has always been and remains today a clear political will to help protect refugees."
This political will may soon be put to the test as Trump's new hard line on immigration may begin to drive refugees who would have traveled to the U.S. to other countries like Costa Rica.
Last week, Trump signed a pair of executive orders calling for "extreme vetting" of refugees, the construction of a border wall and the end of a catch and release policy where refugee applicants apprehended at the border were released while awaiting their hearings.
While most measures were directed at refugees from the Middle East, one order also calls for the detention of refugees arriving to the U.S. while their applications are considered. It is unclear whether there are enough resources to immediately enact this policy. Such a plan would eventually affect the tens of thousands fleeing gang violence from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras -- a region known as the Northern Triangle, which has the highest murder rate in the world.
"Increased and harsher U.S. enforcement will likely lead to more Central American [refugees] seeking protection in other countries in the region," says Maureen Meyer, an immigration expert with the Washington Office on Latin America. "We have already seen a significant uptick in countries like Costa Rica and Mexico and this will likely continue."
Costa Rica has received accolades not only for its treatment of refugees fleeing violence, but also for how it has welcomed migrants, many of whom pass through the country in search of better economic opportunities further north.
In 2016, more than 30,000 undocumented migrants crossed into Costa Rica, and the country is now receiving 100 migrants a day at its southern border. Despite their intentions to travel to the U.S., Nicaragua closed its borders to undocumented migrants in November 2015, trapping them in Costa Rica.
Rather than shut their border, the Costa Rican government has developed a system to register and control the flow of migrants, while building shelters and providing food to those stopped at the northern border. Though most migrants eventually find a way to move north, many remain in Costa Rica for months. While Costa Rica has received some donations aid from the U.S. to offset these costs, its resources are being stretched thin.
"We made a decision, a decision I am very proud of, to register these people passing into our country and to make sure they stay in good condition," says Carmen Munoz, Costa Rica's vice minister of the interior. "It's a responsibility that the government is taking very seriously."
For Murillo and his family, the transition to life in Costa Rica has not been easy. He has struggled to enroll his youngest son in school and he still flinches when he sees Costa Ricans with tattoos -- in El Salvador only gang members wear them. But, for the first time in months, he feels safe.
"It's not perfect, but I don't worry about getting shot when I walk down the street," he says. "I truly believe there are opportunities for me here in Costa Rica."
Lindsay Fendt is a freelance reporter and photographer based in Central America. She covers the environment and human rights. Follow her on Twitter.
It may seem as if the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 fiasco is over, but there is potential for issues to resurface. Despite Samsung having recalled the majority of the three million Galaxy Note 7 handsets sold worldwide, a significant number of enduring fans continue to use the device. The handsets that remain on the market may serve as a case study for what would have happened to the Galaxy Note 7 had it not been recalled.
The Galaxy Note 7 was discontinued in October 2016 due to several cases of handsets catching fire and exploding. Though there have been no other reports of Galaxy Note 7 explosion or injury since the final recall, some believe the device was doomed to malfunction even its flaw did not present as spontaneous combustion.
The ones that are still out there, over time youll see the battery swell. When batteries swell its going to push everything out. The frame is going to pop, Wayne Lam, IHS Markit principal analyst for mobile electronics, told International Business Times.
Samsung presented the findings of its investigation into the Galaxy Note 7 last week and determined the fault was primarily in the devices battery. The manufacturer explained there were different faults within the two batteries used on the Galaxy Note 7, which lead to short circuiting and explosion. However, there was likely a design flaw within the Galaxy Note 7 handset that also contributed to its failure, according to Lam.
Samsung did not focus on this aspect in its investigation, but third-party research groups that studied the Galaxy Note 7 independently determined the battery housing was too small to accommodate the devices 3,500mAh cell. Having reported its findings in December 2016, the teardown publication Intrumental also believes Galaxy Note 7 handsets would break apart over time due to an inability to accommodate natural battery swelling.
What was supposed to be Samsungs greatest innovation in the Galaxy Note 7 turned into its greatest hinderance. The manufacturer aggressively promoted the Galaxy Note 7s unique design when it released. The Galaxy Note 7 was the first phablet to feature Samsungs dual-edge curved display. With this design, the Galaxy Note 7 handset was 2.2 mm narrower than the previous Galaxy Note 5, Samsung Senior Designer Hong Yeo told iDigitalTimes in August.
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The shrunken chassis housed the battery in a highly pressurized environment. While batteries are already a densely packed power source, the Galaxy Note 7 battery was approximately 22 percent more dense than the previous Galaxy Note 5, according to Lam. It was also denser than the 3,600mAh battery in the Galaxy S7 Edge, which features a design similar to the Note 7.
The fundamental technology of the battery hasnt changed. But cramming everything into a smaller and smaller space leads to safety gaps, Lam told IBTimes. They left very little room for error. Unless it was a perfectly manufactured battery cell there was bound to be some issues.
While exploding handsets were the immediate catalyst behind the Galaxy Note 7 recall, it was likely this possible long term-effect that lead to the ultimate discontinuation of the device. Samsung was forced to acknowledge that other malfunctions could arise while the device remained on the market, Lam added.
In addition to the recall and urging users to surrender devices for exchange or refund, Samsung also deployed a software update to disable handsets. Still, there are approximately 76,000 Galaxy Note 7 handsets still being used in the United States, according to CNBC. Many of those users have found ways to bypass the end-of-life update or continue to ignore notifications to power down Galaxy Note 7 handsets.
Several owners have congregated within online support forums, and indicate they plan to keep using the handsets, at least until the Galaxy Note 8 releases. They dont feel their handsets are dangerous, to the chagrin of friends, family and media. Instead, numerous forum members feel they have been unfairly scrutinized in Samsungs effort to bury the Galaxy Note 7.
However, it is likely fans continuous loyalty to the brand that will keep the Galaxy Note line going. It is likely many more Galaxy Note 7 owners would have kept their original devices had the final recall not occurred.
Since its press conference discussing the Galaxy Note 7, Samsung appears to be more forward-facing, giving hints toward the Galaxy S8 launch and confirming that the Galaxy Note 8 will release later in 2017. The manufacturer has detailed future devices will be rigorously tested under a new eight-point safety check system in an effort to rebuild consumer trust.
What those quality checks really serve as is to calm the market down, Lam said. You need a big company like that to admit fault and take responsibility.
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Members of a banned voodoo cult in West Africa died while waiting for the world to end as they ran out of fresh air while sitting in a prayer room burning incense and charcoal. Five members of the Benin religious sect died of asphyxiation and several others were taken to a local hospital over the weekend in Adjarra town, near the capital Porto Novo, BBC News reported Monday.
The cult known as the "Very Holy Church of Jesus Christ of Baname" is lead by a young woman, Vicentia Chanvoukini, who is a self-proclaimed god and is known by her followers as "Lady Perfect." Cult leaders told followers to wait in prayers rooms for the end of the world this weekend so as "not to be held accountable."
"With the help of old cloths, we sealed off all of the exits to the prayer room before using incandescent charcoal and incense to prepare for the descent of the Holy Spirit," one survivor, Yves Aboua, told Reuters at the Porto Novo hospital.
About 40 percent of the population practice voodoo in Benin, where Voodoo Day is a public holiday. In November, officials said people were digging up dozens of graves to grab human organs for black magic rituals.
"So long as there is Africa, there will be voodoo. As I've said before, we need to bring voodoo in from the dark," one of the country's most famous black magic priests, Dah Aligbonon Akpochihala, has told his followers.
West Africans aren't the only ones preparing for the end of the world. The New Yorker recently chronicled tales of rich doomsdayers. Steve Huffman, the 33-year-old co-founder and CEO of the online community Reddit, got Lasik ahead of the apocalypse.
"If the world ends and not even if the world ends, but if we have trouble getting contacts or glasses is going to be a huge pain in the ass," he told the magazine. "Without them, I'm f---ed."
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Nicosia (AFP) - Ground still needs to be covered until the Cyprus peace process can be put back on the international stage as it was in Geneva this month, a UN envoy said Tuesday.
UN envoy Espen Barth Eide criss-crossed the island's UN-patrolled ceasefire line on the eve of face-to-face talks with the Cypriot leaders on the next steps in the peace process.
It will be the second time Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mustafa Akinci have met since the January 12 Geneva conference involving guarantor powers Greece, Turkey and Britain.
This was followed by a meeting of technocrats from the parties involved in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland.
It is now up to the Cypriot leaders how to push the process forward, said Eide.
"I think there is agreement we will convene when the time is ripe and when that is, has to be agreed by the leaders with other participants of the conference," Eide told reporters.
He said the Geneva conference was an open-ended process and was not going to be over in two days as some people thought.
"The purpose of the next meeting (conference on Cyprus) is that we conclude something," said Eide.
"My sense though... is that while the guarantor powers see a bigger game, they also see a settlement of the Cyprus problem as positive for their bigger question."
The Norwegian diplomat added: "So there is a convergence that solving the Cyprus problem is a good thing but exactly how it's solved we are trying to find out."
Eide said a recent unanimous UN Security Council statement in support of the process should be "cherished" by Cypriots.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.
The island's leaders have been holding direct talks at various locations for 20 months on how to forge a unified, two-zone federation.
Turkey, Greece and Britain attended talks in Geneva and Mont Pelerin to focus on reforming the "guarantor power" agreement, a 1960 deal giving them the right to intervene to defend Cyprus' sovereign integrity.
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There is general consensus the guarantor system needs to change, although the fate of some 40,000 Turkish troops deployed on the Turkish Cypriot side remains an obstacle, with Ankara insisting they will stay.
Meetings in Geneva and Mont Pelerin were inconclusive and now talks in Cyprus must point the way ahead.
Greece, like Britain, has said it was happy to do away with the guarantor power arrangement but has insisted the Turkish military's "occupation" of Cyprus end.
PRAGUE (AP) The Czech Republic's foreign minister said Tuesday that his email account and the accounts of dozens of ministry officials have been successfully hacked.
The January cyberattack was sophisticated, and experts believe it was done by a foreign state, Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said.
Zaoralek did not specify the country suspected of being behind the hack, but said it was similar to the theft of Democratic National Committee emails in the United States.
U.S. intelligence agencies have alleged that email accounts of prominent Democrats were hacked as part of a campaign ordered by President Vladimir Putin to influence the presidential election in favor of Donald Trump. Moscow denies the allegation.
In the Czech Republic, experts from the National Cyber Security Centre, spy agencies and the foreign ministry have been investigating the January attack and taking measures to prevent more in the future.
Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka called the attack "serious."
"The issue has to be thoroughly investigated," he said.
The breach was discovered during a security check. Zaoralek said a large amount of data was involved, but he told a news conference that no classified information had been compromised.
He said the case shows a need for funding to ensure the country's cybersecurity.
Zaoralek said experts have to check out whether any other state institutions have been targeted for similar attacks.
He said his ministry has faced cyberattacks before, but none were successful until now.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing at the White House. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
White House press secretary Sean Spicer has shaken things up in his daily briefing by sometimes calling on popular but nontraditional outlets before turning to major legacy news media. On Wednesday, Spicer will unveil another innovation by taking questions from four people in rotating virtual Skype seats designed to bring in voices from far outside Washington.
The inaugural class includes Natalie Herbick, a correspondent for an Ohio affiliate of Fox; Lars Larson, a conservative talk show host from Portland, Ore.; Jeff Jobe, a Kentucky community publisher and owner who supports President Trump; and Kimberly Kalunian, a reporter for a local television outlet from Spicers home state of Rhode Island.
Not sure how she snuck in there, the spokesman quipped as he announced the lineup during his daily question-and-answer session on Tuesday.
The press secretary had announced the plan for Skype seats at his inaugural briefing on Jan. 23, saying he aimed to open up the briefing to journalists who live beyond 50 miles of the Washington, D.C., area. He also wanted to include organizations that dont have the U.S. Secret Service hard pass that enables reporters to enter the White House without undergoing daily background checks, as well as journalists who perhaps lack the means to travel to Washington.
I think this can benefit us all by giving a platform to voices that are not necessarily based here in the Beltway, Spicer said at the time.
The plan, he told Yahoo News, will be to try to do this on a daily basis. The questioners may appear on large television screens that can be mounted behind the press secretary.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer takes questions. (Photo: Yuri Gripas/Reuters)
It was unclear how the inaugural Skype seats class was put together but it came together quickly.
It all sort of happened today, Kalunian told Yahoo News by telephone. Deputy White House press secretary Lindsay Walters called her to offer her a slot in the inaugural class. Kalunian enthusiastically agreed its a great opportunity for a local reporter to get that kind of access and 30 minutes later Spicer was announcing it from the podium.
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Jobe had watched the briefing in which Spicer first laid out the proposal. I was sitting there, watching it, and I thought, Its kind of a neat concept; maybe Id like to do that, he told Yahoo News by telephone.
Jobe reached out to White House deputy communications director Jessica Ditto, whom he knew from her days in Kentucky politics. I told her, I think its a great concept, Id be honored to be part of that if the opportunity arises, he recalled.
Ditto told him she had forwarded Jobes message to Spicer. The Kentucky publisher heard nothing more until he got a text message at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, asking whether he was still interested and whether he could get a reliable live Skype connection.
I still dont know all the details yet, Jobe told Yahoo News.
Youre probably going to ask whether Im a Trump supporter. I am. I am because I think this is a new breed of politician, he added, unprompted. This guys doing exactly what he said he was going to do.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer holds the daily press briefing. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Presidents are forever looking for new ways to reach Americans, typically building on their predecessors work and harnessing new or unusual means of communications. Barack Obama and George W. Bush did interviews with nontraditional outlets, like Runners World or YouTube stars. And many presidents have taken their message to local or regional television or to talk radio. Even in the briefing room, press secretaries face a vastly diverse press corps that can include a dizzying array of domestic and international outlets with very different audiences and has, at this point in the Trump era, drawn in organizations that have not typically covered the White House regularly. Despite some of the angry antimedia talk from Trump and some of his top aides, Spicer has called on a variety of outlets, both established and upcoming, at his briefings.
Successive White Houses have learned that regional reporters arent necessarily pushovers, and that questioners who tend to agree with a candidates campaign promises can be the first to ask why a president has yet to keep them.
The daily White House briefing regularly comes under fire from government officials, partisans, and even reporters, but it serves important information-gathering and symbolic purposes notably sending the message that no part of government is above being questioned.
The Skype seats journalists now have to decide how to use their newfound access.
Im going to make sure that the folks at home who watch WPRI feel that it is a question that they would want me to ask, Kalunian said.
And Jobe described a conundrum familiar to even the most grizzled White House press corps veteran: I dont even know what my question is going to be yet!
Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - German auto giant Daimler on Tuesday said it had struck a partnership with Uber to supply self-driving cars for the US ride-hailing company.
The tie-up comes as both carmakers and ridesharing firms are jockeying to establish themselves as leading players in the burgeoning world of autonomous driving, seen as the future of the auto industry.
"Under the terms of the cooperation, Daimler plans to introduce self-driving vehicles... on Uber's global ridesharing network in the coming years," the companies said in a joint statement.
The agreement will see Daimler build and operate self-driving Mercedes-Benz cars for use by Uber, but the statement revealed no financial details.
"As the inventor of the automobile, Daimler aims to be a leader in autonomous driving - one of the most fascinating aspects of reinventing mobility," Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said in the statement.
San Francisco-based Uber has invested heavily in self-driving car technology in recent years and is currently piloting the use of autonomous vehicles in the US city of Pittsburgh.
But it has no car-building experience, prompting it to seek partnerships.
"Self-driving technology holds the promise of creating cities that are safer, cleaner and more accessible," Uber CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick said.
"But we can't get to that future alone. That's why we're opening up the Uber platform to auto manufacturers like Daimler."
Uber is already working with Sweden-based Volvo Cars to develop self-driving cars for sale by 2021.
And in a world first, a self-driving truck built by Uber's Otto unit successfully delivered a beer shipment in October.
Cars with some autonomous functions, such as the ability to adjust the speed, are already on our roads.
But nearly all the major global automakers -- including BMW, Volkswagen and Ford -- are racing to get fully self-driving cars on the market in the next few years, often in cooperation with tech firms.
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US automaker General Motors last year announced a $500-million (460-million-euro) investment in Uber's rival Lyft, while Google parent company Alphabet has partnered with Fiat Chrysler to develop self-driving cars.
The BMW group, which has partnered with US computer chip giant Intel, said earlier this month it plans to start testing self-driving vehicles on roads in the US and Europe by the end of the year.
Auto industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of Germany's CAR institute predicted that the tie-up between Uber and Daimler wouldn't be the last in the sector.
"It's almost to be expected. And Uber is sure to work with more car manufacturers in the future," he told AFP. "It only makes the world of tomorrow even more exciting."
By Daniel Trotta
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lawyers for the man accused of injuring 30 people by detonating a bomb in New York City complained that government investigators took a DNA sample from him without his attorneys present and promised a fight to keep that evidence out of court.
Defense attorneys also sought to delay the trial of Ahmad Khan Rahimi, 29, an Afghan-born U.S. citizen, saying a U.S. judge and prosecutors were pushing for too prompt a start for a case that could result in life in prison.
Rahimi has pleaded not guilty to a host of both U.S. and New Jersey state charges that he detonated bombs in New York and New Jersey in September and left behind others that failed to explode.
U.S. investigators have portrayed Rahimi as a jihadist who bought bomb components on eBay and kept a journal expressing outrage at the U.S. "slaughter" of mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Palestine.
Prosecutors want to start the trial in March, as originally set by U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, partly because "there is an elevated interest on the part of the public," Assistant U.S. Attorney Emil Bove told a hearing on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court.
The hearing did not address what defense lawyers called a "serious breach," as described in a letter to the judge, when a U.S. agent took a DNA sample in December.
"An agent met and spoke with Mr. Rahimi in connection with obtaining a DNA sample without notifying defense counsel or giving counsel the opportunity to be present. This breach will require pretrial litigation to determine the scope of any constitutional, procedural and ethical violations," said the letter, dated Monday and signed by Patton, Peggy Cross-Goldenberg and Sabrina Shroff.
By speaking to Rahimi without his lawyers present, the government could give the defense an opening to strike that DNA evidence from trial.
The defense wants to wait until December so it can review massive amounts of evidence compiled by prosecutors.
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"Simply because the case has received publicity is no reason for the government to rush to trial," said David Patton, one of Rahimi's court-appointed lawyers.
Berman asked both sides to agree to a start date or else he would impose one of his own.
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the accused a right to a defense lawyer. The Fifth Amendment also protects a defendant from being a witness against himself.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Peter Cooney and Dan Grebler)
When the New York Symphony goes on strike for better wages and benefits in the web TV series Mozart in the Jungle, its members find new ways to make do. Union Bob, a piccolo player whose nickname underscores his commitment to union rules, starts taking Uber fares in his Prius.
Uber couldnt have asked for a better endorsement: Even for striking union leaders, the service offers but a harmless opportunity for micro-entrepreneurship. Work that puts you first, Ubers website declares. Drive when you want, earn what you need.
Reality proves more complex. On Saturday, in response to President Trumps executive order restricting immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) issued a work stoppage at JFK airport, one of metro New Yorks major international hubs. In its statement, the Alliance cited the large Muslim and international population among the citys 50,000 licensed taxi drivers.
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Shortly after, Uber lifted surge pricing, its demand-quelling fare-increase mechanism, to JFK airport. The NYTWA, along with already-agitated protesters across the country, saw this as a deliberate, even if unconscious, act of organized strike-busting. Uber drivers became de facto scabs.
The public took notice, using the hashtag #DeleteUber to call for customers of the service to remove their Uber accounts as punishment. It wasnt the first mark against the company in the Trump era. Ubers CEO, Travis Kalanick, was among the business leaders who had joined the presidents Strategic and Policy Forum, making some see him as a Trump apologist.
The general publics commitment to the taxi protest is notable, but even more remarkable is the fact that the taxi drivers dispute with Uber gained attention as a side-effect of race, creed, or nationality. It took a crisis of identity politics to reveal a crisis of economic politics.
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In a statement, Uber declared that it had no intention of breaking the JFK taxi strike. But while Uber doesnt labor-bust directly, its service routes individuals around bottlenecks and restrictions on labor. The companys app, which provides access to its network of drivers, covers its impact on the funding, management, and support of delivery and public-transit services. When Uber users can simply tap a button and go, they forego the need to ponder how taxi and car services work and why. As a result, the sharing economy becomes a de-facto network of accidental scabs who avoid the personal, social, or organizational cost of directly busting actual strikes.
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Thats true whether an Uber passenger crosses picket lines at an airport during a national protest or is just hopping in a car back home from the local brewpub. Sharing economy apps offer the opportunity to opt out of labor- and regulation-controlled industries like transit and lodging in exchange for marginal price savings, increased convenience, and better compliance with app-controlled lifestyles.
This irony wasnt lost on the NYTWA. In a statement about #DeleteUber, the alliance both praised app-deleters for their support and excoriated them for having missed the point for so long.
Make no mistake, the corporations leading the gig economy and the sharing economy will never be a part of the resistance. Backed by billions of dollars in Wall Street funding, these companies, including Uber and Lyft, are upending labor standards for which workers have spent centuries fighting. Sharing is the new euphemism for worker exploitation, meaning that workers share the scraps after corporations loot profits. Even as these corporations make million-dollar pledges today, they still refuse to abide by Minimum Wage laws.
Ubers effects on labor as such havent gone unspoken. Sharing services have long been connected to the rise of precarious labor, the decline of living standards among the working class, and the hollowing out of workers rights. Some critics have advocated for an alternative, platform cooperative approach to sharing-economy services, which would be owned by their operators rather than by bankers and entrepreneurs. But these criticisms have largely gone unheard, even among the predominantly young, city-dwelling liberals who use Ubers services most. Like Union Bob, many progressive elites see Uber as a service or income convenience decoupled from broader issues of labor policy.
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Until now, that is. #DeleteUber shows that the left is receptive to the plight of workers, but that labor concerns had to be activated by other means.
* * *
Its been a problem for the left for some time. As Matt Stoller wrote for The Atlantic last fall, young liberals of the 1970s traded concerns about financial power for those of statist aggression and human rights. Opposition to international conflict and support of civil rights, tolerance, and equity became Democratic party mainstays. Four decades later, Stoller writes, liberals face a paradox. On the one hand, they have produced a culture of extreme tolerance. But on the other hand, they have also facilitated massive consolidation of wealth and economic power.
Now that it can be reviewed with hindsight, the 2016 presidential election seems to affirm the results of this trend. Hillary Clinton lost the blue wall states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania by failing to connect to blue-collar and middle-class whites, who were susceptible to Donald Trumps promises of job reform. Supporters of Bernie Sanders will be quick to point out that his candidacy was more vocal about economic reform, but Sanders isnt really a Democrat; hes served as an independent in the small state of Vermont, making his play against wealth inequality and financial reform just another example of how low-priority such matters have become for the Democrats. That leaves Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, often the sole voice of economic- and labor-reform in her party, and thereby the exception that proves the rule.
Big technology businesses like Google have earned praise for publicly objecting to Trumps executive order; Microsoft and Amazon have even issued support for the state of Washingtons lawsuit against the immigration ban. But these businesses, which rely heavily on foreign worker visa programs, might be supporting an identity issue partly as way to maintaining international-labor flexibility. And Ubers competitor Lyft, sometimes seen as better for drivers, has investment ties to Trump supporter Carl Icahn, making it harder for anti-Trump ridesharers to make a simple app switch.
Theres a bittersweet lesson to take away from the weekends airport protests and the #DeleteUber campaign. The progressive left is willing to take to the streets in droves. But, at least among the subset of left elites that tweet hashtags and use car services, such actions still seem more easily motivated by issues of identity than economics. Which isnt necessarily to say that the latter is more important than the former, or even that the two arent intertwined. But progressive political action and political anger still appear far more easily motivated by hostility against identity than against material. After all, thousands of protesters never turned out at airports to rally against the sharing economy on behalf of its labor pool, diverse though their collective identities also might have been.
If the #DeleteUber folk really did delete their accounts rather than just their apps, then perhaps a change is afoot. But then again, arent hashtag campaigns on social media their own form of identity performance? A new smartphone taptivism to replace web-page clicktivism. Even if the left recovers a commitment to economic politics as first principles, its not yet clear that it can do so without in-fighting over the moral consequence of subordinating matters of identity as a prime political mover, even if just temporarily.
For now, one cant help but wonder how many of the progressive protesters that have taken to the streets since January 20 also took Ubers to the airports and downtowns and public squares and city halls where they marched and waved signs. Revolt, but with convenience.
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This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
SEATTLE (AP) Washington, Massachusetts, Virginia and New York are becoming the first states to sue the Trump administration with filings announced this week over the executive order restricting refugees and immigration. They likely won't be standing alone for long.
Since Donald Trump was elected president, Democratic state attorneys general have been forming a coordinated wall of legal resistance over immigration, environmental protections, health care, and other major issues.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman told The Associated Press that lawyers, including attorneys general, are having an "awakening" regarding the Trump administration.
"This is a president who does not have respect for the rule of the law," Schneiderman said. "That's something that bothers a lot of people."
On Tuesday, Schneiderman, and the attorneys general for Massachusetts and Virginia announced separately that their offices were joining legal challenges to Trump already filed in their states by advocacy groups.
The state officials' plan for legal pushback has precedent: Several Republican attorneys general made it a practice to routinely file lawsuits against the policies of former President Barack Obama.
Unlike groups taking up fights on behalf of individuals, attorneys general the chief lawyers for state governments can sue more broadly on behalf of their states. Most are elected and thus can act independently of their state legislatures or governors.
"It's my responsibility as attorney general to defend the rule of law, to uphold the Constitution on behalf of the people of this state. And that's what we're doing," Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Monday when announcing his lawsuit against Trump's executive order.
He said other states could join the lawsuit, which asks a judge to throw out key provisions of the order Trump issued Friday to temporarily closes the U.S. to all refugees and all people from seven majority-Muslim countries and bars Syrian refugees indefinitely.
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Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who has held town hall meetings around Massachusetts on responding to Trump, called the policy "harmful, discriminatory and unconstitutional."
The administration says such action is needed to protect the country from terrorist attacks. Since it was issued, the White House has said people from the banned countries who have permission to work in the U.S. can enter.
On Sunday, 17 Democratic attorneys general signed a letter vowing to "use all of the tools of our offices to fight this unconstitutional order." Most of the signatories were from states controlled by Democrats and that Hillary Clinton won in November. But also signing were the Democratic attorneys general from Iowa and Pennsylvania, which voted for Trump, and Maine, where the electoral vote was split.
Attorneys general have taken smaller actions since Trump was elected, both on their own and in concert.
For example, some wrote Trump calling for him to keep former President Barack Obama's clean power plan in place.
In January, a group of them asked a judge to let it intervene in a court case on the constitutionality of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That motion could be a step toward the state officials defending the office in court. Trump said Monday he intends to do "a big number" on the bill that created the agency. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller told the AP that protecting the office is a priority.
Some attorneys general banded together to urge the U.S. Senate to reject Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to lead the U.S. Department of Justice.
Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen said he has spoken with advocacy groups about legal strategies. Among them is Planned Parenthood, which is preparing to react if Trump and the GOP-led Congress defund the organization.
One of the first steps T.J. Donovan took when he became attorney general in Vermont this month was forming a task force to advise him on immigration policies.
State attorneys general have a history of banding together. Most notably, a series of lawsuits from them led to the 1998 tobacco industry settlement under which cigarette makers agreed to pay states more than $200 billion over 25 years.
Republican attorneys general sued President Obama over his health insurance overhaul minutes after he signed it and over his rules to limit power plant emissions even before the details were final. In both cases, courts sided with them, at least in part. After Trump won the White House in November, taking on the president became part of the job description for their Democratic counterparts.
State attorneys general have become more active since the administration of former President George W. Bush, especially when it comes to federal laws and policies, said a scholar who studies the office.
"It's become such an established part of what AG's do on the national level," said Paul Nolette, an assistant professor of political science at Marquette University. "It's become much more AG's going on the offensive."
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Mulvihill reported from Haddonfield, New Jersey. Associated Press writer David B. Caruso in New York contributed to this article.
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Follow Bellisle at http://www.twitter.com/marthabellisle and Mulvihill at http://www.twitter.com/geoffmulvihill
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This story has been corrected to remove former before Scott Pruitt's title in 16th paragraph.
Washington (AFP) - US Senate Democrats blocked committee votes Tuesday on two of Donald Trump's nominations for key cabinet posts, drawing White House charges of obstruction amid sharpening partisan tensions.
"Today Senate Finance Democrats refused to move forward with nominations of Mnuchin & Price," Senator Ron Wyden, top Democrat on the finance committee, said on Twitter, referring to Treasury secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin and Tom Price, Trump's pick for health secretary.
The White House offered a swift and firm rebuke of the boycott, with press secretary Sean Spicer calling it "truly outrageous" and accusing Democrats of seeking to stall the workings of government.
Despite the political clashes, one cabinet member managed to win confirmation Tuesday: Elaine Chao to be the next transportation secretary. Three others advanced to the full Senate, after winning approval in committee.
But Democrats, alarmed by what they see as extreme picks for a raft of key posts and angered by Trump's aggressive first week in office, have dug in their heels.
They also brought to a crawl the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to advance Trump's pick for attorney general, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, forcing postponement of the vote on Sessions until Wednesday.
"This is not just a hearing on a nomination. This is a constitutional moment," the number two Senate Democrat Dick Durbin said in an empassioned speech opposing the nomination of Sessions, who Democrats see as an architect of Trump's controversial immigration executive order.
The furor over the order, which temporarily bars travel to the United States by refugees and by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, has colored the confirmation debate.
Tensions escalated Monday night after Trump fired acting attorney general Sally Yates, an Obama holdover, for questioning the orders legality and instructing Justice Department lawyers not to defend it.
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- 'Unwilling' to speak out? -
"My fear is that Senator Sessions will be unwilling or unable to stand up and speak out" against the president, as Yates did, said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat.
Wyden said Democrats' concerns about Price focus on a "litany of ethics revelations" related to allegations that he invested in a medical company that stood to benefit from legislation the Georgia congressman co-sponsored.
As for Mnuchin, Wyden tweeted that he "continued to fail to come clean on shady foreclosure practices that hurt Americans."
Mnuchin, a Wall Street banker and Hollywood financier, was accused during his confirmation hearing of failing to disclose offshore holdings, and was grilled over the home mortgage foreclosure practices of a bank he owned.
Senate Finance Committee chairman Orrin Hatch was furious as he sat in a hearing with no Democrats.
"It's a sad time when this bipartisan committee has become a prop in a partisan sideshow," he fumed.
"I think they ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots."
Senate rules require at least one lawmaker from the opposition party to be present for votes to be held.
Democrats told Hatch they wanted more time to demand new information from the nominees.
Trump has repeatedly assailed Democrats for slow-walking nominations for political reasons.
"They should be ashamed of themselves!" Trump tweeted early Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Chao was confirmed as transportation secretary in a bipartisan Senate vote of 93-6.
Chao, who served as labor secretary under president George W. Bush, would be one of just four women in Trump's cabinet.
Vice President Mike Pence is expected to swear in Chao later Tuesday, making her the fourth confirmed official of cabinet rank, joining Defense Secretary James Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, CIA chief Mike Pompeo, and the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley.
Three other Trump nominees advanced Tuesday to the full Senate, after being approved in committee: Rick Perry for energy secretary; Ryan Zinke for interior secretary; and Betsy DeVos to head the Education Department.
U.S. Democratic congressional leaders struggled to appease a crowd of protesters gathered Monday night to voice opposition to the Trump administrations ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Standing before a crowd of hundreds on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and other lawmakers and immigrants assailed Trumps immigration order as illegal and immoral. But the lawmakers stopped short of proposing specific remedies.
What the president did is not constitutional. Indeed in the view of many of us, it is immoral, Pelosi said.
Its against the principle of our nation. It makes us less safe, said Maryland Senator Ben Cardin.
The Democratic lawmakers organized the rally to give protestors and party leaders a chance to coalesce behind a common cause: the plight of refugees and immigrants barred from the United States under Trumps immigration executive order signed Friday. But there was a striking contrast between the energy of the speakers and protesters gathered in the 36-degree chill with signs decrying the ban.
At times, the lawmakers struggled to project their voices over the chants of hundreds of protesters yelling, do your job, and no human is illegal. It was not clear whom protesters were addressing the court or the politicians in front of them. The case could end up at the nations highest court as battles have already taken hold in lower courts. A federal judge issued a stay of the order Saturday, after a lawsuit was filed by the ACLU, and at least 15 Democratic attorneys general have also vowed to fight the order in court.
President Trump lost no time pointing out the bad optics of the rally, tweeting Tuesday morning, Nancy Pelosi and Fake Tears Chuck Schumer held a rally at the steps of The Supreme Court and mic did not work (a mess)-just like Dem party!
Democrats have been under fire recently from their supporters for greenlighting some of President Donald Trumps cabinet nominees after viscerally opposing them. After protests and chaos over the weekend decrying Trumps immigration executive order, the rally seemed a time for lawmakers to assure their constituents they were behind them.
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But with Republicans controlling the House and Senate, Democrats only hope stands with bipartisan action or legal action. Some Republican senators have come out against Trumps immigration ban, and Senate Democrats have vowed to filibuster Trumps Supreme Court nominee, which he is slated to announce Tuesday night. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D., Calif.) proposed two bills Monday that would prevent the president from unilaterally banning groups of immigrants, but they arent likely to gain traction in the Republican-controlled Congress.
Despite the disconnect at Mondays rally, some protesters were heartened to be out in the cold and more concerned with the courts than the Democratic leaders they were straining to hear.
Arlington residents Cadice Lopez and her four-year-old daughter Natalie came to protest out of solidarity for those affected by the ban. Were human, Lopez said. We believe that everyone deserves a right to a safe place to live.
Photo credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
New York (AFP) - New York and British authorities on Monday slapped nearly $630 million in fines on German banking giant Deutsche Bank over alleged money laundering in Russia, New York State's Department of Financial Services announced.
The scheme illegally moved $10 billion out of Russia, using so-called mirror trades among the bank's Moscow, London and New York offices, authorities said. The US Justice Department also is investigating the matter.
The fines were the latest development in the string of legal woes for the German banking giant, coming less than two weeks after the bank finalized a $7.2 billion settlement with the US Justice Department over its role in the 2008 global financial crisis.
The New York authorities said in a statement they were joined by Britain's Financial Conduct Authority in penalizing the bank after finding pervasive weaknesses in Deutsche Bank's internal safeguards for money laundering and client risk.
DFS fined the bank $425 million, while FCA's fine was 163 million pounds, or about $204 million.
"This Russian mirror-trading scheme occurred while the bank was on clear notice of serious and widespread compliance issues dating back a decade," DFS Superintendent Maria Vullo said in the statement.
Bank units tasked with legal compliance and preventing money laundering were understaffed and ineffective, the DFS said.
In "mirror" trades, clients would purchase stocks in rubles in Moscow while other clients who were related or even had the same owner would sell the same stock at the same price through the bank's London branch.
"By converting rubles into dollars through security trades that had no discernible economic purpose, the scheme was a means for bad actors within a financial institution to achieve improper ends while evading compliance with applicable laws," according to the legal document detailing the settlement with DFS.
In addition to paying the fines, Deutsche Bank also will be required to hire an outside monitor to review its internal compliance measures.
Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - German banking giant Deutsche Bank on Tuesday announced it would stop financing coal projects as part of its commitments under the Paris Agreement to tackle global warming.
"Deutsche Bank and its subsidiaries will not grant new financing for greenfield thermal coal mining and new coal-fired power plant construction," it said in a statement.
Existing exposure to such projects will be gradually reduced, it added.
The lender said the decision was in line with the pledges it made at last year's Paris climate conference, along with 400 other public and private companies, to help fight global warming.
A study last month by the legal group Arabella Advisors found that global funds were increasingly signalling plans to pull out of fossil fuel investments, one year on from the Paris climate agreement.
The accord, signed by 192 countries, is the world's first universal, legally binding climate deal.
It sets out a plan to limit global warming to below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels.
US President Donald Trump has vowed to withdraw his country, the world's second-largest greenhouse-gas polluter after China, from the agreement.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - There is still some uncertainty over whether Deutsche Bank may need to increase its capital, management board member Christian Sewing was quoted as saying in German daily newspaper Handelsblatt.
"There is still some uncertainty. Only when this is gone will be know exactly what our capital resources look like for the long term," the paper quoted Sewing as saying in an interview published on its website on Monday.
"Currently we fulfill all capital requirements comfortably," Sewing added.
Chief Executive John Cryan said earlier this month that his preference was still to avoid issuing new capital to strengthen a balance sheet hit by large fines for legacy criminal behavior but said he knew "never to say never".
Sewing also said the lender needed certainty over future capital requirements before it could decide whether to resume dividend payments to shareholders.
Regulators had planned to strike a deal on the future capital rules - dubbed Basel IV - by early January, but have now postponed a decision until March as they struggle to find a compromise between European and American interests.
The capital rules will also determine whether Deutsche Bank can afford to reintegrate its retail unit Postbank, which sources have said the lender may want to keep rather than sell.
Sewing said Postbank remained up for sale, only for the right price.
"The market environment was not right for it last year, and I'm not certain whether it will be in 2017," he said.
But when asked whether Deutsche Bank would post a profit in 2017, Sewing said the lender was confident it would return to sustainable profits.
Analysts on average see Deutsche Bank, which is due to publish fourth-quarter financial results on Thursday, posting a 2017 net profit of 1.25 billion euros ($1.3 billion), after a net loss of 668 million for 2016.
(Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Alexander Smith)
By Karen Freifeld and Arno Schuetze
NEW YORK/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $630 million in fines to U.S. and UK regulators for failing to prevent around $10 billion in suspicious trades being laundered out of Russia, settling a second major legal case this month.
The scheme involved so-called mirror trades between the bank's Moscow, London and New York offices from 2011 to 2015, in which it bought Russian blue-chip stocks in rubles on behalf of clients and sold the identical quantity of the same stocks at the same price through its London branch shortly afterwards.
"The offsetting trades here lacked economic purpose and could have been used to facilitate money laundering or enable other illicit conduct," the New York Department of Financial Services said, which fined Deutsche Bank $425 million.
"The bank missed numerous opportunities to detect, investigate and stop the scheme due to extensive compliance failures, allowing the scheme to continue for years."
Britain's Financial Conduct Authority separately fined Deutsche Bank 163 million pounds ($204 million) for failing to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering controls between 2012 and 2015, allowing customers to transfer billions from Russia to offshore bank accounts "in a manner that is highly suggestive of financial crime".
It is the largest financial penalty for anti money-laundering controls failings yet imposed by the FCA or its predecessor, the Financial Services Authority.
The Russian case settlements, on the heels of a $7.2 billion agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this month over the misselling of mortgage-backed securities, lift much of the uncertainty swirling around the bank over its exposure to fines and enforcement.
Deutsche Bank said the Russia-related settlement amounts were "materially reflected" in existing litigation reserves. It added, however, it was still cooperating with other regulators and authorities who had their own ongoing investigations.
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Its shares rose 1.5 percent to the top of Germany's blue-chip index <.GDAXI> at 18.88 euros in early trade.
The U.S. Department of Justice, which also has been investigating the suspicious trades, is not party to the deal. A spokesman for the department declined to comment on the status of its probe.
Reuters reported earlier that Deutsche Bank was poised to settle over the trades.
The New York regulator, which licenses and supervises the New York branch, found Deutsche Bank conducted its business in an unsafe and unsound manner in violation of state banking law.
The trade of a Russian blue chip stock, typically valued at between $2 million to $3 million an order, was cleared through the bank's New York operations, with the sellers typically paying in U.S. dollars, DFS said.
In addition to the penalty, Deutsche is required to retain an independent monitor to review the bank's compliance programs.
Deutsche Bank disclosed last September that it had taken disciplinary measures against certain employees as part of an investigation of the trades and would continue to do so. It also cut back on its investment banking activities in Russia.
Monday's consent order found Deutsche Bank's Moscow traders facilitated the scheme, with most of the trades placed by a single trader representing both sides of the transaction.
Deutsche's Moscow traders did not question the suspicious trades because it made for easy commissions when their Russian business had slowed, the regulator found.
The bank is due to report fourth-quarter financial results on Thursday.
($1 = 0.8000 pounds)
(Reporting by Karen Freifeld and Arno Schuetze; Writing by Karen Freidfeld and Georgina Prodhan; Editing by Bernard Orr and Louise Heavens)
From Popular Mechanics
According to CNBC, Donald Trump has announced a dramatic $600 million savings in the troubled F-35 program. This follows negotiations between the president and F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin, as well as Trump's pre-inauguration tweets criticizing the program's budget. However, there's evidence Trump may actually be taking credit for cost cuts that were going to happen anyway.
The F-35 program is currently in a part of its development called Low Rate Initial Production, or LRIP. That means the government is buying F-35s in smaller numbers until the plane clears all developmental and operational testing. LRIP 9 was just concluded last year, and the LRIP 10 stage is next.
LRIP 10 consists of 90 new airplanes: 76 F-35A models for the U.S. Air Force and allied countries, 12 F-35B vertical-takeoff-and-landing models for the U.S. Marine Corps, and 2 F-35C carrier-borne versions for the U.S. Navy. We know that the previous stage, LRIP 9, priced the F-35A at $102.1 million each, the F-35B at $131.6 million each, and the F-35C at $132.2 million apiece. Using those numbers, LRIP 10 should cost a total of $9.5 billion.
Air Force General Chris Bogdan, who heads the F-35 Joint Program Office, predicted late in 2016 that F-35 prices would drop by "6-7 percent" between LRIP 9 and LRIP 10. It makes sense: The F-35 is gradually becoming cheaper as Lockheed Martin discovers more efficient construction techniques and takes advantages of economies of scale, wherein the manufacturer can negotiate better deals for more materials, labor, and overhead.
A 6 percent cost reduction would amount to $570 million shaved off that $9.5 billion total, while a 7 percent reduction is $665 million. As such, Trump's claimed $600 million cut is right in the ballpark of what the price reduction was going to be all along. General Bogdan's prediction is less than two months old, and there's been nothing, for better or for worse, that would impact his forecast.
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Trump claims he got involved in the F-35 program "about a month ago" and that there was "no movement". Lockheed Martin CEO Marilyn Hewson visited the White House on January 23. The president has not disclosed the details of his deal with Lockheed Martin and how the two reached the $600 million dollar savings figure. It is unlikely that the planes in this new development stage are suddenly 12 to13 percent cheaper, which is what would have to happen for Trump to have achieved an additional $600 million savings over Bogdan's forecasted price cut, so perhaps Trump is personally taking credit for cost reductions that were going to happen all along.
"I appreciate Lockheed Martin for being responsive and that will be appreciated," FlightGlobal quoted the president as saying.
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Paris (AFP) - The rib of a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur that lived 195 million years ago has yielded what may be the oldest remains of soft tissue ever recovered, scientists said Tuesday.
The find promises a chance to extract rare clues about the biology and evolution of long-extinct animals, a team wrote in the journal Nature Communications.
Such information is mostly missing from preserved hard skeletons, which form the bulk of the fossil record.
"We have shown the presence of protein preserved in a 195 million-year-old dinosaur, at least 120 million years older than any other similar discovery," study co-author Robert Reisz of the University of Toronto Mississauga, told AFP.
"These proteins are the building blocks of animal soft tissues, and it's exciting to understand how they have been preserved," he added.
Reisz and a team scanned a rib bone of Lufengosaurus, a common dinosaur in the Early Jurassic period. Fully grown, these lizards measured about eight metres (26 feet).
The researchers used a photon beam at the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center in Taiwan to examine the insides of the bone, specifically its chemical contents.
They found evidence of collagen proteins within tiny canals in the rib and concluded they were "probably remnants of the blood vessels that supplied blood to the bone cells in the living dinosaur."
Most previous studies had extracted organic remains by dissolving away other parts of the fossil, the team said.
With the synchrotron method, this is not necessary, and even older remains may be uncovered without damaging dinosaur bones in future.
Does it bring us any closer to recovering DNA from which dinosaurs may one day be cloned?
"No, that is still fantasy," said Reisz.
The previous oldest find of suspected red blood cells and collagen fibres was reported in 2013, in dinosaurs that lived about 75 million years ago.
Proteins and other organic remains usually decay soon after an animal dies. During fossilisation, the space they occupied within bone is filled by mineral deposits carried by groundwater.
Finding fossilised soft tissue is very rare indeed.
Washington (AFP) - A group of US diplomats declared their opposition to President Donald Trump's travel ban Tuesday, despite the White House warning that they should get behind his agenda or resign.
A large group of diplomats from posts around the world submitted a "dissent memo" through an official State Department channel, a spokeswoman confirmed.
When it was reported on Monday that such a memo was being prepared, Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer issued an extraordinary warning that the officials "should either get with the program or they can go."
Trump's White House argues that the ban is necessary to slow arrivals from countries plagued by violent extremism while his administration draws up tough new rules to weed out potential terrorists.
"If somebody has a problem with that agenda, that does call into question whether they should continue in that post or not," Spicer told reporters. "This is about the safety of America."
According to leaked drafts of the memo, the US envoys argue that Trump's decision to suspend refugee arrivals and ban visitors from seven mainly-Muslim countries is a betrayal of American values.
"We are better than this ban," they declare, scorning Trump's plan to introduce "extreme vetting" for visa applicants as a "high, vague and nebulous bar" for travelers from the seven countries to meet.
"A policy which closes our doors to over 200 million legitimate travelers in the hopes of preventing a small number of travelers who intend to harm Americans from using the visa system to enter the United States will not achieve its aim of making our country safer," the memo reads.
Trump's order bans the arrival of citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for at least 90 days. All refugees are barred for 120 days, while Syrian refugees are blocked indefinitely.
The order triggered mass protests at US airports, as arriving refugees and travelers from the targeted countries were turned away, and stoked outrage around the globe.
The State Department's internal "dissent channel" was created during the Vietnam War. The last time it was used was in June 2016, when about 50 diplomats urged president Barack Obama to reconsider his opposition to US military strikes against Syria.
But its use just 10 days after a new president was inaugurated -- and even before Trump's nominee for secretary of state has been confirmed -- is unprecedented.
Doctors in India removed a lengthy pork tapeworm from a man's gut, according to a recent report of the man's case.
The tapeworm, which goes by the scientific name Taenia solium, was nearly 2 meters (6.6 feet) long. In fact, it was the longest worm that Dr. Cyriac Philips, a liver specialist at PVS Memorial Hospital in India who treated the man, had ever seen, he said.
The 48-year-old man told the doctors that he had been having abdominal pain for two months before he sought medical attention, according to the brief report of the man's case, published today (Jan. 25) in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The doctors performed a colonoscopy, and found a segment of an undulating worm in the man's colon, Philips told Live Science. [The 10 Most Diabolical and Disgusting Parasites]
In patients with tapeworms, doctors typically find segments of the parasite in the gut, Philips said. But in this case, the piece of the parasite in the man's colon was only a part of the story.
Next, the doctors performed an endoscopy, meaning that they inserted a camera into the man's stomach and the upper part of his small intestine, to explore the upper part of the man's digestive system, according to the report.
They were surprised to find a whole worm curled up in the upper part of the man's small intestine, Philips said.
The doctors were able to remove the worm by pulling it up through the man's mouth, according to the report. The intact tapeworm spanned 1.88 m (6.2 feet), the doctors wrote.
Tapeworms can grow to be longer than 11.5 feet (3.5 m) and live for years in a person's gut, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Because tapeworms usually do not cause symptoms, people may not realize they have an infection, the NLM says. In some cases, however, a tapeworm can cause abdominal pain, according to the NLM.
The whole procedure, which included the endoscopy and the parasite removal, took about an hour and 15 minutes, Philips said. The man was sedated during the procedure, Philips said.
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After the tapeworm was removed, the man was given anti-parasitic medications to kill any remains of the tapeworm, according to the report. A month after the tapeworm's removal, the man reported having no additional symptoms, the doctors wrote.
In October, doctors in New York reported seeing an increase in a different type of infection from this same tapeworm, which occurs when a person ingests eggs from the pork tapeworm. These eggs can form cysts throughout the body, including the brain. The lead author of that report, Dr. Amy Spallone, a resident in internal medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York, told Live Science at the time that the prevalence of this particular type of infection in the rest of the U.S. is not well understood.
Originally published on Live Science.
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Hours after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer declared that no Americans would be targeted in lethal U.S. anti-terrorism operations overseas, the Trump Administration has reversed course.
U.S. policy regarding the possible targeting of American citizens has not changed, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Tuesday.
In his press briefing Tuesday, Spicer said, No American citizen will ever be targeted, in such operations. His comments were an apparent break from the policy of the Obama Administration, which targeted American-born al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki in a 2011 drone strike.
Spicer made the comments in response to question about a recent U.S. military strike in Yemen that reportedly killed Awlakis the 8-year-old American daughter. Spicer refused to comment on reports that the girl, Nawar al-Awlaki, was killed in the raid. Her grandfather confirmed her death to NBC.
The United States does not and will not deliberately target family members of terrorists, Sanders added.
As a presidential candidate, Trump promised to get tough on terror groups. In December 2015, Trump told Fox News that the families of terrorists must be targeted. The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families, he said. They care about their lives, dont kid yourself. When they say they dont care about their lives, you have to take out their families.
The Jan. 28 strike was the first explicitly ordered by President Donald Trump, an official confirmed. U.S. Central Command said in a statement that the operation resulted in an estimated 14 AQAP members being killed and the capture of information that will likely provide insight into the planning of future terror plots.
The statement cast the raid as one in a series of aggressive moves against terrorist planners in Yemen and worldwide.
melania trump immigration
In light of Donald Trumps new immigration ban against Muslim-majority countries, California state senator Nancy Skinner has officially asked the White House to release all the immigration papers concerning Melania Trump.
Last week, Donald Trump signed an executive order that bans the citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for a period of 90 days. The executive order from the 45th president of the United States denies permission of the immigrants from Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Iraq to enter the country effective immediately.
A California state legislator wants the White House to release documents on Melania Trump's immigration records https://t.co/htAEexNq53 pic.twitter.com/emF7RcYdiZ POLITICO (@politico) January 31, 2017
There are millions of citizens from the U.S. and other countries who are not pleased with the presidents new reform movement. In the recent news, a California state senator has called on to the White House to release all the concerning documents related to Melania Trumps immigration.
Melania Trump attends the Limited Edition Marchesa/NFL Collaboration Launch. [Image by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images]
Back in November 2016, an AP investigation revealed the Melania Trump lacked proper work visas when she was employed as a model after her arrival in the country from Slovenia more than two decades ago.
The documents obtained by the AP showed that the First Lady was paid for a total of 10 modeling assignments between Sept. 10 and Oct. 15, during that time her visa permitted her to stay in the U.S. and look for work, but not perform paid work.
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Donald Trump Immigration Ban: California State Senator Wants White House To Release Melania Trumps Immigration Records is an article from: The Inquisitr News
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San Francisco became the first city to sue the Trump Administration over immigration policy on Tuesday, as City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced a federal lawsuit regarding so-called sanctuary cities.
Flanked by lawyers at City Hall, the city attorney criticized President Trumps executive order seeking to cut federal funding to cities that restrict the amount local officials will cooperate with federal immigrations agents.
The presidents executive order is not only unconstitutional, its un-American. Thats why we must stand up and oppose it, he said. This is not a step I take lightly but its one that is necessary to protect the people of this city, this state and this country from the overreach of a president who has shown little respect for our Constitution, states rights or the rule of law.
The federal funds potentially at stake for San Francisco, which amount to over $1.2 billion, have not yet been cut, but Herrera argued the lawsuit was necessary to prevent that from happening.
Herrera cited previous case law that suggests the federal government cant put a financial gun to the head of local and state governments in order to force them to act as its agents. Said Herrera: That remains true no matter who is in charge of Washington, D.C.
Obey the rule of law. Abide by the Constitution, he said when asked if he had a message for Trump. Youre not [an] emperor who rules by fiat.
Along with the executive order, the lawsuit filed in Californias Northern District challenges a federal statute related to information-sharing between state and federal authorities. In addition to Trump and the United States, the suit names Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and acting attorney general Dana Boente.
While running for president, Trump liked to cite the fatal shooting of a young woman at a popular San Francisco tourist spot as evidence that the border was not secure. Officials in the city, where people voted 85% to 9% against Trump in the presidential election, have vowed to defy him on the issue of sanctuary status.
At the press conference, Mayor Ed Lee argued that sanctuary cities are safer because those policies encourage undocumented people to report violent crimes and seek medical care, among other actions, interactions with public agencies which they might otherwise avoid.
Herrera added that there are at least an estimated 30,000 undocumented immigrants in San Francisco, adding that the comfort and confidence of our residents is paramount.
Donors motivated by a well-timed tweet have raised thousands of dollars to pay off school lunch debt in districts around the country.
It started when New York City writer Ashley C. Ford read that kids with unpaid lunch accounts are often embarrassed with a substitute meal of a cold cheese sandwich. She appealed to her 66,000 Twitter followers with a solution in early December: Ask if your school has kids with overdue lunch accounts, and pay off the debts.
The tweet resonated. In Minnesota, an online fundraising effort has paid almost $100,000 in lunch debt in Minneapolis schools and $28,000 in St. Paul's. Donors also stepped forward in Kansas, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Indiana and upstate New York.
Ford says she hopes the acts will inspire more community giving.
(AVDIIVKA, Ukraine) Heavy artillery and rockets hit residential areas in eastern Ukraine Tuesday amid a new outburst of fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels, leaving at least eight people dead and dozens injured.
Salvos of heavy-caliber artillery were heard throughout the night and late morning in Avdiivka, a town on the northern outskirts of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk where residents have been without electricity for days. In Donetsk, at least one civilian was killed by shrapnel.
Fighting around Avdiivka has cut water and power supplies for most of the town and it was left without heating in the dead of winter. Temperatures plunged to minus 18 Celsius (0 F) on Tuesday morning.
The warring sides blamed each other for the spike in hostilities, the worst in months. The Ukrainian government was considering evacuating 12,000 residents from Avdiivka, Pavlo Zhebrivsky, head of the administration in charge of the government-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, said on Facebook.
With no signs of an immediate evacuation in sight, some residents went to a local bus station, hoping to get away from the heavy shelling.
Volodymyr Bassak, 67, was waiting to catch a bus Tuesday morning to a city some 200 kilometers (125 miles) north because of the lack of heat in his home.
The house was shaking (shelling) was really intense at about four in the morning, Bassak said as he brushed tears from his eyes. There were flames along the front line.
Valery Tretyakov said he was having tea at home in Donetsk when he heard a big explosion and the sound of shattered glass. He rushed into the bedroom and saw his wife bleeding from a shrapnel wound to her neck that proved fatal.
It was impossible to stop bleeding, Tretyakov said. One minute and thats all.
The rebels Donetsk News Agency also reported that four fighters died and seven were injured overnight along with three civilians.
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Oleksandr Turchynov, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council, said on Tuesday that shelling around Avdiivka killed at least three government troops and injured 24 more. Another seven soldiers were killed on Sunday and Monday, the government said.
The press office of the Ukrainian military operation in the east reported an unspecified number of civilian casualties. It said the rebels turned down the governments offer for a cease-fire to allow the dead and wounded to be moved.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accused the Ukrainian government of provoking the hostilities to distract public attention from domestic issues.
Peskov told reporters in Moscow the Kremlin has reliable information that Ukrainian volunteer battalions crossed the front line Monday night and tried to capture rebel-controlled territory.
Kiev is worried that Donald Trumps administration could ease some sanctions on Russia the U.S. imposed for the annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and support for the insurgency in the east.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Tuesday that the escalation of hostilities proves the sanctions must be kept in place to bring the aggressor to justice.
Peskov, in turn, said that Kievs aggressive actions threaten to derail a 2015 Ukraine peace deal brokered by France and Germany. The agreement obliging the warring sides to hold fire and pull back heavy weaponry has been regularly violated.
The U.S. State Department voiced concern about the spike in fighting and on Tuesday reaffirmed Washingtons support for the full implementation of the peace deal.
To avert a larger humanitarian crisis, we call for an immediate, sustained cease-fire and full and unfettered access for OSCE monitors, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement, referring to an observer mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The European Union also has expressed its worry over the renewed fighting and called on both sides to pull back immediately to allow for the urgent repair of critical infrastructure.
An escalation in the east could be beneficial to both the separatists and the Ukrainian government, Kiev-based independent political analyst Vadim Karasyov said.
Kiev is eager to win support of the new Trump administration, and for this they need to show that separatists and the Kremlin are derailing the peace accords, he said. For the Kremlin, its important to show that it holds war and peace in its hands; if the new U.S. administration wants peace in Ukraine, it needs to offer something in return.
Rebels in Donetsk said an electricity sub-station was damaged in shelling, cutting power to the Zasyadko coal mine. The mine is notorious for poor safety standards; a methane blast there killed 33 people in 2015.
With elevators not working, the miners were trapped underground for several hours before local authorities found backup generators outside the mine. By late afternoon on Tuesday, all 207 men were able to get out.
The director of Avdiivkas giant coking plant said on Monday that preparations were being made to stop production, something rarely done throughout the conflict that has claimed more than 9,700 lives since it began in 2014.
The coking plant, which switched to a natural gas supply after power was cut off on Tuesday, was providing some heating to homes in the town even though its gas reserves were are running low, director Musa Magomedov told The Associated Press.
Corinne pulled out all the stops when the cast headed to New Orleans in Season 21, episode 5 of The Bachelor. The villain on the 2017 installment of the ABC dating competition proved she was in it to win it by going above and beyond to bury her nemesis Taylor.
The episode kicks off with an elimination ceremony that sees Sarah and Astrid leave the house. As the cast dwindles, its clear that the remaining The Bachelor contestants are getting nervous about their fates. Those nerves are quickly replaced with excitement as the ladies learn that theyre headed to New Orleans with Nick Viall. There, one woman will get solo time with The Bachelor, two lucky or unlucky, depending how you look at it hopefuls are paired up for a two-on-one date while the rest of the group spends time together with Nick.
After landing in New Orleans, the Bachelor cast learns which of them will be going on which date. Rachel is chosen for the one-on-one, Taylor and Corinne who left episode 4 on worse terms than they were originally on learn they will be going on the two-on-one and the rest of the remaining cast members are placed on a group date.
Rachels date is picture perfect. She and Nick hit the French Quarter to live it up like locals and enjoy a few tourist attractions. They try oysters, extra spicy hot sauce and beignets from the famed Cafe du Monde, which Kim Kardashian once traveled all the way to The Big Easy for. They then take to the streets to dance and soak in the culture rich city while getting to know one another better and further cementing their already strong bond. Nick assures Rachel that shes a strong contender for his heart, which she appears happy to hear.
The Bachelor
Photo: ABC
After their date, Nick and the group date ladies get ready for a rather unusual outing. The Bachelor and his suitors head to a historically haunted mansion, where they are spending the night. The caretaker a guy name Boo tells them all about the little girl who haunts the place and warns them not to touch certain items near and dear to her heart. Naturally, they do so anyway because whats The Bachelor without a little drama, paranormal or otherwise.
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Danielle M. and Vanessa decide to embrace the ghost rather than fear it, and try to connect with her. They ask her about their fates and believe she thinks theyre safe. Meanwhile, Nick enlists a crew to explore the house and what they find totally freaks them out. The little girls doll is missing and, after being instructed to do so by Nick, Jasmine touches a statue that seemingly prompts a chandelier to fall from the ceiling. Spooky!
After the frightfest, Nick manages to find a few moments to spend with the Bachelor cast members chosen to join him in the mansion. As predicted by one of the contestants, Nick is hoping to use the group date rose to recement his bond with someone he courted early on in Season 21. After spending a moment connecting outside the house, Nick decides to give Danielle M. the rose.
Nick and the cast leave the haunted house and head back to their respective hotel rooms. Their, Nick readies himself for a day on the bayou with Taylor and Corinne while they get a pep talk from Rachel. When the time to head out on their date finally arrives the tension is palpable, and it only becomes more so after the voodoo priestess reading their tarot cards and assesses the group. Corinne is the first to get a moment alone with Nick while Taylor sits with the card reader. While shes being warned not to get caught up in the Bachelor drama, Corinne is unloading a world of alternative truths about her and Taylors feud on Nick. She claims that Taylor has been bullying her and called her stupid which she may have done, but certainly not to Corinnes face.
Taylor then switches places with Nick, who sits her down to talk about what hes learned. He tells her he was shocked by the accusations, but perhaps more shockingly seems to believe Corinne. Taylor tells him what really happened and it seems for a moment that theyre going to be OK. Back at the table Corinne is told by the card reader that she may be coming off a bit callous shocker.
When Nick reemerges with Taylor to join Corinne its time to make a decision about which of the two women will be getting the rose. Much to Taylors surprise, Nick chooses Corinne, who channels her inner actress and manages to appear sympathetic about her enemy being sent packing. Corinne and Nick hop back in the speedboat that brought them to the bayou while Taylor engages in a ritual with the voodoo priestess and other tribe members. Corinne and Nick clean up and head out on a romantic evening together while this is going on, but it seems they havent seen the last of Taylor.
In the final moments of the episode she reemerges, crashing Corinne and Nicks date. She is shown telling him there is something more she needs to say before she goes home, though viewers will have to wait until episode 6 of ABCs The Bachelor to find out just what that is. It appears that two of the cast members will be sent home when all is said and done, though its not clear at this time who will be eliminated.
Catch a brand new episode of The Bachelor next Monday at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
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While thousands of people across the country were protesting Donald Trump's immigrant ban, folks at the White House were gathered around for a Finding Dory screening on Saturday afternoon.
Whether or not Trump realized it, the journey Dory goes through in the film is eerily similar to the situations at play in real life. Ellen DeGeneres, voice of Dory, noticed the similarities and pointed it out in her monologue for Tuesday's show.
SEE ALSO: Celebrities shared their outrage following Trump's immigration ban
"I don't get political so I'm not going to talk about the travel ban," she said before diving into the plot of Finding Dory, emphasizing the similarities between Dory's quest to be reunited with her parents and overcome obstacles like a big wall in her way.
*cough, cough*
Sound familiar?
"You won't believe it, but that wall has almost no effect in keeping them out," DeGeneres explained.
"Even though Dory gets into America, she ends up separated from her family, but the other animals help Dory. Animals that dont even need her. Animals that dont have anything in common with her," DeGeneres said.
"They help her, even though theyre completely different colors," she continued. "Because thats what you do when you see someone in need you help them."
No word on whether or not Trump understands the premise of the film, but I'm sure he'll tweet about it sooner or later.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is looking to help improve President Donald Trump 's controversial anti-Muslim immigration ban.
On Friday, the Trump administration announced that it was barring from the U.S. travelers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
Musk, who is himself a South African immigrant to the U.S., expressed disapproval shortly after the policy was announced.
Late Sunday afternoon, Musk took to Twitter, seeking specific recommendations on how to improve the controversial ban. The entrepreneur said he would take suggestions to the President.
In recent weeks, Musk has been criticized for his " budding bromance " with Trump. And Twitter users further criticized the tech titan for seeking feedback on how to improve an executive order seen by many as morally wrong.
Musk replied that he understood that Trump would not repeal the ban but that the President might be open to adjusting it.
And some Twitter users did express support for Musk's efforts to find a way forward.
By Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Donald Trump has joined Russia, China and radical Islam as a threat to the European Union, EU leaders were told on Tuesday by the man chairing a summit where they will debate relations with the United States. European Council President Donald Tusk, a conservative former premier of Poland, wrote to EU national leaders to lay out themes for discussion when they meet in Malta on Friday to discuss the future of their Union as Britain prepares to leave. In vivid language that reflects deep concern in Europe at the new U.S. president's support for Brexit, as well as his ban on refugees and people from several Muslim countries, Tusk called on Europeans to rally against eurosceptic nationalists at home and take "spectacular steps" to deepen the continent's integration. Saying the EU faced the biggest challenges of its 60-year history, Tusk named an "assertive China", "Russia's aggressive policy" toward its neighbors and "radical Islam" fuelling anarchy in the Middle East and Africa as key external threats. These, "as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration, all make our future highly unpredictable," he said. Laying out issues leaders may address in a 60th anniversary declaration at Rome in March, Tusk said the EU unity built after World War Two and the Cold War was needed "to avoid another historic catastrophe". He also said Americans should not weaken Transatlantic ties fundamental to "global order and peace". "The disintegration of the European Union will not lead to the restoration of some mythical, full sovereignty of its member states, but to their real and factual dependence on the great superpowers: the United States, Russia and China," Tusk wrote to the EU leaders. "Only together can we be fully independent." CAUTION TEMPERS DISMAY Senior officials discussed a possible EU response to Trump at a meeting in Brussels on Monday where some governments stressed that Europeans should not be hasty to alienate a key ally, diplomats said. "We don't want to get fired," one senior EU diplomat said in reference to Trump's reality TV catchphrase. Another said that because the full U.S. administration was not yet in place, Europeans should be cautious: "No government in Europe can respond in a coherent manner to this series of orders and tweets," the diplomat said. Yet after 11 days in office, Trump and his aides have stirred concern in Europe due to their doubts about NATO and countering Russia in Ukraine, as well as over free trade. The Socialist finance minister of France, a nation long skeptical of U.S. market economics, said on Tuesday Washington seemed set on protectionism that was a "grave risk to the world trade order". Friday's summit could also expose tensions with British Prime Minister Theresa May, who will attend a morning session on efforts to curb migrants heading for Europe from Libya but will leave before the other 27 discuss post-Brexit reforms. British and EU officials said they expect May to attend a lunch where all 28 leaders will discuss "international challenges", including Trump. But May's embrace of Trump by way of a visit to Washington last week and push for a post-Brexit UK-U.S. trade deal have irritated London's continental partners. Some were also annoyed by a British announcement that its citizens who also hold passports from the seven states on Trump's banned list could enter the United States. That, diplomats said, risked breaking EU rules on equal treatment for EU citizens. Washington later said it would accept all EU passports. (Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Dublin (AFP) - The EU's competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager on Tuesday defended a landmark decision that US tech giant Apple should pay billions in back-taxes to Ireland.
In August, the European Commission, the EU executive arm, ordered the iPhone maker to reimburse a record 13 billion euros ($14 billion) in unpaid taxes in Ireland.
The EU had accused Ireland of giving Apple a secret tax deal that allowed it to enjoy near zero tax on its huge sales worldwide for more than a decade.
Addressing Irish lawmakers in Dublin on Tuesday, Vestager denied that Brussels was conducting a "witch-hunt" against multinationals such as Apple.
Vestager said the investigations in this and other cases in other European countries were purely about illegal state aid.
"We simply want to make sure that they are not used to rubber stamp a way of allocating profits that does not match economic reality," she said.
It did not mean that the EU Commission was assuming the authority over a country's tax rules, the commissioner argued.
The investigations "do not affect the sovereign right of member states to determine their own corporate tax systems, or to set their own tax rates. They are simply about special treatment for certain companies," she said.
Vestager said "good progress" was being made by the Irish authorities with regards to the collection of the money.
Luxembourg (AFP) - EU nations can reject asylum seekers who have taken part in a terrorist groups' activities even if their role was confined to logistics, the bloc's top court ruled Tuesday.
The European Court of Justice ruled against a Moroccan whose request for asylum in Belgium was rejected after a Belgian court convicted him in 2006 of forging passports for a Moroccan group recruiting jihadists for Iraq.
It said the Moroccan, Mostafa Lounani, had applied for refugee status expressing fears of persecution if he were returned to his home country which would likely view him as a radical Islamist and jihadist.
"An application for asylum can be rejected if the asylum seeker has participated in the activities of a terrorist network," the court ruled.
"It is not necessary that the asylum seeker personally committed terrorist acts, or instigated such acts, or participated in their commission," it added.
The court cited a UN Security Council resolution in 2014 that raised alarm about the international networks created by foreign terrorist fighters moving across borders as they waged war in Syria and Iraq.
It said grounds for exclusion from asylum can extend to people engaged in the activities of recruitment, organisation, transportation of people who travel across borders to perpetrate or plot terror attacks.
The Belgian court, it said, had sentenced Lounani to six years in jail for actively participating in the Belgian cell of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group by forging passports to help volunteers fight in Iraq.
The court also based its decision on the fact that Lounani was a member of the leadership of a terrorist group operating internationally and blacklisted by the United Nations in 2002.
ANGOLA A man accused of shooting his father last March admitted to murder Monday morning in Steuben Superior Court.
Cody Scott Smith, 26, appeared composed and lucid in court with short, soft-spoken answers to the questions posed by his public defender Anthony Kraus and Judge William Fee.
After hearing the short plea dialog and a proposed deal that calls for a cap of time served of 55 years, Fee took the guilty plea under advisement. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing hearing was set for Feb. 27 at 1:30 p.m. in Superior Court.
Smiths personality in Mondays proceedings was a departure from his initial hearing March 10, 2016, following the March 9, 2016, gunshot killing of Rusty Smith, 51, of the rural Lake Gage area. When he was arraigned by videoconferencing equipment a year ago by Judge Randy Coffey, Cody Smiths words were garbled and he was difficult to understand.
In an interview with Steuben County Sheriffs Detective Mike Meeks after his arrest, Meeks reported that Codys pupils were fully dilated and he appeared to be agitated one second and then crying the next. From his experience, Meeks said Cody appeared to be on a stimulant.
Smith, represented by public defender Anthony Kraus, asked for competency evaluations last fall, indicating that he may have been mentally unable to comprehend criminal proceedings.
That issue is conceded, said Kraus Monday. The contents of mental health evaluations by area professionals were not disclosed.
A murder conviction carries a maximum sentence of 65 years and a minimum of 45 years. The plea agreement proffered by Smith and Steuben County Prosecutor Jeremy Musser calls for a sentence of 45-65 years with a maximum served term of 55 years. Fee would make that determination at sentencing, if he chooses to accept the guilty plea as presented. If not, Smith could be tried by a Steuben County jury.
At least two people may have witnessed the shooting, including Cody Smiths girlfriend, who had their infant daughter with her the morning of March 9, 2016. The crime was reported to 911 by a mail carrier, who Cody allegedly approached and showed a shell casing, telling her his prints would be on the gun.
He also allegedly admitted the murder to a rural Steuben County homeowner before his whereabouts were reported and he was taken into police custody.
Luxembourg (AFP) - EU states can reject asylum applications from people who have worked with terrorist groups, even if their role was only logistical, the bloc's highest court ruled Tuesday.
The Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice (ECJ) was ruling on the case of Mostafa Lounani, a Moroccan sentenced to six years in a Belgian jail in 2006 for terrorist activities over his links to the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM).
Lounani had been found guilty of procuring false passports for members of a recruitment network that was sending fighters to Iraq.
In 2010 he requested asylum in Belgium, saying he feared persecution if he was sent back to Morocco as authorities there would consider him a radical Islamist due to his Belgian conviction, a court statement said.
Belgian legal authorities gave contradictory rulings on the matter, finally landing his case in the ECJ.
The EU court said in its judgment that while there was no evidence Lounani had personally committed or planned a terrorist act, European countries like Belgium had no obligation to offer asylum to a person in his position.
The "exclusion of refugee status... is not limited to the effective perpetrators of acts of terrorism, but can also extend to the persons who engage in activities of recruitment, organisation, transportation or equipment", of people travelling abroad to carry out attacks.
Riyadh (AFP) - Europe hopes to restart dormant free trade talks with Gulf states partly in response to the "worrisome" rise of protectionism from the new American government, a European Commission vice-president said Tuesday.
"We would like to restart FTA negotiations with GCC," Jyrki Katainen, who is in charge of jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness for the EU's executive arm, told AFP in an interview during a visit to the Saudi capital.
Free trade talks that began almost 30 years ago between the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council and the EU have been on hold for many years, the former Finnish prime minister said.
But things are different now with "political momentum" in favour of such negotiations, he said after talks with Saudi officials including the finance and commerce ministers.
Katainen arrived from similar meetings in the United Arab Emirates.
"It's been quite interesting to hear that authorities here as well as in UAE, they agreed with us... that (the) political situation is quite worrisome," Katainen said.
He cited "growing protectionism" and said "it's partially true" that the isolationist policies of US President Donald Trump are giving impetus to EU free trade efforts.
If free trade talks resumed "it would be a strong signal" to the world that the EU and the Gulf believe in open trade.
Shortly after taking office on January 20 Trump withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an agreement of 12 Pacific Rim economies.
There is growing protectionism in developed economies -- not only the United States -- where globalisation is increasingly regarded as a responsible for sending jobs abroad and eroding living standards.
Katainen, however, said "the benefits come from increasing trade."
He said the need for the economies of both Europe and the Gulf to "modernise" is another factor boosting the prospects for a resumption of free trade talks.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest petroleum exporter, has begun a wide-ranging economic diversification effort to cope with a collapse in crude revenues since 2014.
After the interview with AFP Katainen left for talks with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is leading the kingdom's economic reform drive.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump has joined Russia, China and radical Islam among threats to Europe and called on Europeans to stick together to avoid domination by three other continental powers. In a letter to national leaders before a summit that he will chair in Malta on Friday to prepare the Union's future after Britain leaves, the conservative former Polish prime minister said Trump's more protectionist trade policy offered the EU a chance and it should do more now to set up free trade deals. Saying the EU faces its biggest challenges in its 60-year history, Tusk said an "assertive China", "Russia's aggressive policy" toward its neighbors, "radical Islam" fuelling anarchy in the Middle East and Africa were key external threats. These, he said, "as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration, all make our future highly unpredictable". Tusk's remarks were among the strongest directed at the new U.S. president since Trump took office 11 days ago and reflects a growing sense in many European capitals of a need to respond to his policy moves, notably the ban at the weekend on the entry of refugees and others from seven Muslim-majority countries. Leaders in Brussels have been particularly concerned that Trump has supported Brexit and spoken of other countries following Britain out of the bloc. "The disintegration of the European Union will not lead to the restoration of some mythical, full sovereignty of its member states, but to their real and factual dependence on the great superpowers: the United States, Russia and China," Tusk wrote to the EU leaders. "Only together can we be fully independent. "We must therefore take assertive and spectacular steps that would change the collective emotions and revive the aspiration to raise European integration to the next level." European diplomats said senior national officials and diplomats discussed a possible EU response to Trump at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. However, some governments were cautious that Europeans should not be hasty to alienate a key ally. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; @macdonaldrtr; editing by Philip Blenkinsop)
Brussels (AFP) - EU chief Donald Tusk warned on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump's administration was a "threat" facing the bloc along with China, Russia and radical Islam.
In a strongly worded letter to EU leaders ahead of a summit in Malta, Tusk said the bloc must take "spectacular steps" to stay together and should take advantage of Trump's isolationism to boost trade with other countries.
The former Polish prime minister said in the wake of the Brexit vote the European Union faced "three threats" that made the 28-nation bloc's situation "more dangerous than ever before".
"The first threat, an external one, is related to the new geopolitical situation in the world and around Europe," European Council president Tusk said in the letter obtained by AFP.
"An increasingly, let us call it, assertive China, especially on the seas, Russia's aggressive policy towards Ukraine and its neighbours, wars, terror and anarchy in the Middle East and in Africa, with radical Islam playing a major role, as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration all make our future highly unpredictable," Tusk said.
"Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy," Tusk added.
The second threat, said Tusk, was the internal challenge posed by a rise in anti-EU nationalism, and the third was the "state of mind of the pro-European elites" who were too keen to pander to populism to win votes.
EU leaders have become increasingly concerned by Trump's recent ban on migration from seven Muslim countries, plus comments in which he appeared to back Britain's exit from the EU and the eventual break-up of the union.
- 'Dependence on USA, Russia, China' -
All 28 EU leaders will discuss Europe's migration crisis at Friday's summit in Valletta, Malta.
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They will then meet without British Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the future after Brexit, and preparations for a summit in Rome in March to mark the 60th anniversary of the EU's founding treaty.
Tusk added that "only together can EU countries be fully independent. Disintegration will only result in dependence on USA, Russia and China."
"We must therefore take assertive and spectacular steps that would change the collective emotions and revive the aspiration to raise European integration to the next level," he said.
These included securing Europe's borders, boosting the economy and increased cooperation on defence and security, Tusk added.
Europe should in the meantime seek to boost its own trade with the rest of the world even as the United States tightens its frontiers.
"We should use the change in the trade strategy of the US to the EU's advantage by intensifying our talks with interested partners, while defending our interests at the same time," Tusk added.
But he warned that European-American ties were still essential for the future.
"We cannot surrender to those who want to weaken or invalidate the transatlantic bond, without which global order and peace cannot survive," he said.
"We should remind our American friends of their own motto: United we stand, divided we fall."
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Former Iowa Sen. Kent Sorenson, who accepted money for endorsing presidential candidate Ron Paul in 2012, is appealing the 15-month prison sentence handed down earlier this month.
Judge Robert Pratt shocked Sorenson on Jan. 17 when he sentenced the former lawmaker to prison even though federal prosecutors sought probation. Pratt said those who betray the public trust must be punished. Sorenson pleaded guilty to causing false campaign finance reports to be filed and obstructing an investigation.
Sorenson notified the court Monday of his appeal to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Sorenson was paid $73,000 for switching from Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign to Ron Paul days before the 2012 Iowa caucuses.
Three Paul campaign staffers were convicted of filing false campaign finance reports and are appealing.
Lucca (Italy) (AFP) - Mauro Moretti, the former head of Italian railways, was Tuesday among a string of executives sentenced provisionally to prison terms over a 2009 freight train disaster that killed 32 people.
The tragedy in the Tuscan port of Viareggio was Italy's deadliest rail accident in over 30 years and remains the country's worst of the 21st Century.
The executives were held responsible for poor infrastructure and risk-avoidance systems deemed to have contributed to a freight train carrying liquid petroleum gas derailing and exploding.
The full extent of their liability and the judges' assessment of where exactly the blame lies will not be known until a written verdict is published at a later date.
Moretti -- one of Italy's most prominent industrialists and the current boss of defence and aerospace group Leonardo -- was found guilty of manslaughter and causing multiple injuries and sentenced to seven years in prison.
But, like the 22 others convicted, he will not serve any of it before at least the first of two possible appeals have been heard.
That could take years and there is a strong chance the charges could time out before a definitive conviction can be obtained.
Moretti was one of 33 charged with a range of charges including causing a disaster in connection with the explosion on June 29, 2009.
The force of the blast, which occurred as the train was leaving Viareggio station, brought down two small blocks of flats, where many of the fatalities lived.
Relatives of the casualties briefly applauded after the verdicts were pronounced in court in front of empty chairs adorned by T-shirts printed with images of each of the victims.
"We are still the ones who have had the heaviest sentences," said Claudio Menichetti, whose daughter Emanuela, 21, died from burns 42 days after the disaster.
"We have already been given a life sentence," he told La Repubblica.
Neither Moretti or Michele Mario Elia, another top rail executive who was given a seven years, six months sentence, were in court to hear the verdicts.
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Prosecutors had requested 16 years for Moretti and 15 for Elia. Not all charges against them were upheld.
Moretti, 63, has been in charge of Leonardo since May 2014. He was Italian State Railways (FS) boss from 2006-14.
The court did not issue an explanation for its 10 acquittals.
The court proceedings and Moretti's conviction hit Leonardo shares which closed down 2.3 percent in Milan.
The company, formerly called Finmeccanica, is best known for its helicopter production.
The Viareggio tragedy was the worst rail accident in Italy since two high-speed trains collided south of Bologna in April 1978, leaving 50 people dead.
Another collision, in the southern region of Puglia in July of last year, left 23 dead.
Ottawa (AFP) - Two former ministers in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government took up posts Tuesday as envoys to the European Union and China with an eye to boost trade.
Stephane Dion, a Trump critic who lost his job as foreign affairs minister in a recent cabinet shuffle, will become the next ambassador to both Germany and the European Union. The EU recently signed a free trade accord with Canada.
The former academic was first elected in 1996 and has held several portfolios in government, including the environment.
He was also briefly leader of the Liberal Party. Trudeau described him as a "mentor."
The new diplomatic configuration -- having a single ambassador for both the EU and one of its member states -- is highly unusual.
John McCallum, who was most recently immigration minister responsible for the intake of Syrian refugees, will move to Beijing, where he is to spearhead preliminary talks on a possible free trade agreement with the Asian Tiger.
The former economist was first elected in 2000.
By Shadia Nasralla VIENNA (Reuters) - The former owner of Adolf Hitler's birthplace has launched a legal challenge against its expropriation by the government which wants to ensure the house can never become a shrine for neo-Nazis, a court spokesman said on Tuesday. Parliament voted last month for the compulsory purchase of the three-storey house in the town of Braunau am Inn, aiming to end a long-standing dispute with its owner, a retired woman who had turned down previous offers by the state to acquire it. The Interior Ministry had been renting the building since 1972 and it has been used for a variety of purposes by the authorities in the city which is near the border with Germany. In recent years it has remained empty. "We received a claim by the owner. This is about the owner contesting the constitutional validity of the law," a spokesman for the Constitutional Court said, adding that such cases normally take several months. The law does not specify what form the overhaul of the building should take. Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said he favored a "thorough architectural rearrangement", which could include demolishing it. Hitler was born in 1889 and went on to lead Nazi Germany into World War Two and perpetrated the Holocaust. (Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
The debate over immigration restrictions in the United States isnt a new topic. A quick review of American immigration policies shows that legal cases over restrictions date back to the 1880s, and various groups have been barred entry to the United States since then.
Case file documents from the Exclusion Era
The current debate is centered on the Trump administrations policy, enacted with an executive order, that temporarily restricts immigration for refugees to the United States and for residents of seven Middle Eastern countries seeking valid visas.
President Trump cites powers granted to him by Congress under the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952 as allowing the President to place temporary restrictions on immigration based on country of origin. Opponents of the policy object to the executive order on various constitutional grounds, including claims the Presidents executive order violates the separation of powers provisions in the Constitution and poses a religious test for entry into the country.
In the past, tests and criteria have been frequent factors in considering admission to this country. And adherents to some political and moral philosophies have consistently been barred from entry to America.
Today, the federal government has the authority to decide who becomes a citizen or resides in the United States. Congress set the first basic immigration requirement in 1790, which required a two-year residency in the United States for those who sought citizenship.
Congress and the executive branch work together on matters of immigration policy and enforcement. Although there is no explicit mention of immigration policy in the Constitution, a series of Supreme Court decisions has established that the political branches of the federal governmentCongress and the Presidentshare responsibility for immigration. In many cases, Congress passes immigration laws enforced by the executive branch; in other cases, the executive branch has prosecutorial discretion to implement immigration policies.
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In 1875, the first direct immigration-criteria law, the Page Act, came from Congress. It declared that people and groups could be excluded as immigrants based on specific criteria. Initially, prostitutes and criminals were banned from entry, and port inspectors were appointed to question and screen immigration candidates.
The Chinese Exclusion Acts, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Chester Alan Arthur in 1882, at first barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States, and these restrictions were expanded to many ethnic Chinese, regardless of nationality, in subsequent laws.
The Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the Chinese Exclusion Acts in 1889 in the case of Chae Chan Ping v. United States, where the Court said that immigration matters were part of the plenary power shared by the legislative and executive branches and disputes over those laws are not questions for judicial determination.
The Immigration Act of 1891 expanded the list of undesirables to include idiots, insane persons, paupers or persons likely to become a public charge, persons suffering from certain contagious disease, felons, persons convicted of other crimes or misdemeanors related to moral turpitude, and polygamists. In 1903, an immigration act signed by President Theodore Roosevelt added anarchists to the banned list and the act allowed immigration officials to ask people about their political beliefs during the questioning process.
In 1917, another act combined all the previously defined excluded groups in one do-not-admit list; added alcoholics to the list; required literacy tests; and banned people from many parts of the Asia-Pacific region, and in 1924, quotas were set for immigration based on countries of origin, and Japan was effectively added to the do-not-admit list.
By the 1950s, immigration exclusion laws changed to lift the ban on Chinese immigration, and the 1952 McCarran-Walter Act (also known as the Immigration and Naturalization Act) eliminated immigrants who advocated the economic, international, and governmental doctrines of world communism. (President Harry Truman vetoed the McCarran-Walter Act, but Congress overrode the veto.)
The 1952 version of the Immigration and Naturalization Act combined various immigration laws and provisions into one act. The act has been amended many times since then, including a significant revision in 1965.
As the immigration system has grown more complex, there are still some basic criteria left from older exclusion laws.
In overall terms, the Immigration and Naturalization Act provides for an annual worldwide limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants, with exceptions for close family members. Potential immigrants are evaluated based on family, employment, refugee and country-of-origin criteria.
According to the State Department rules on which criteria make potential immigrants ineligible for visas under the INA, people can be excluded if they have certain health conditions or have a criminal record. Potential immigrants found to have terrorist ties are also excluded, including anyone who endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization.
Anyone who is a current member of a totalitarian party is still excluded, such as any immigrant who is or has been a member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party (or subdivision or affiliate thereof), domestic or foreign. There are provisions to allow former party members to come to the United States as immigrants, based on how long ago they ceased their party membership and if they lived in a nation where the ruling government prescribed party membership. And the ban placed on polygamists back in 1891 still stands.
If you have specific questions about people or classes of people who could be ineligible to enter the United States, the State Department maintains a list on its website at https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/ineligibilities.html.
Scott Bomboy is editor in chief of the National Constitution Center.
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By Julia Edwards Ainsley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government has granted waivers to let 872 refugees into the country this week, despite President Donald Trump's executive order on Friday temporarily banning entry of refugees from any country, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security document seen by Reuters. A Homeland Security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the waivers, noting that the refugees were considered "in transit" and had already been cleared for resettlement before the ban took effect. Refugees preparing for resettlement typically have severed personal ties and relinquished their possessions, leaving them particularly vulnerable if their plans to depart are suddenly canceled. The waivers, granted by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), came amid international protests against Trump's rushed executive order. Critics said the order in some cases was not clearly communicated to the agencies responsible for implementing it. It was not known if additional waivers would be granted, the official said. The document did not give the nationalities of the refugees who will be admitted into the United States. Over the weekend, non-refugee visitors from seven majority-Muslim countries also targeted in Trump's executive order were detained, deported and in some cases blocked from boarding flights to the United States. The countries covered by the traveler ban were Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen. The internal DHS document said that between late Friday and early Monday 348 visa holders were prevented from boarding U.S.-bound flights. In addition, more than 200 people landed in the United States but were denied entry, the document showed. More than 735 people were pulled aside for questioning by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in airports, including 394 legal permanent U.S. residents holding green cards, over the same time period. Trump said the executive order he signed on Friday was designed to protect the United States "from foreign terrorist entry." The order stopped all refugee admissions for 120 days while government officials determine how to ensure that any refugees admitted do not pose a threat. The 872 refugees to be admitted this week, under the waivers, were screened using Obama administration procedures, which typically take two years and include several interviews and a background check. The DHS said on Sunday night that green card holders would be allowed to board U.S.-bound flights, but would be subjected to additional scrutiny upon arrival. The public guidance from DHS also said some people from the seven majority-Muslim countries could be allowed entry to the United States on a case-by-case basis. Congressional Democrats and some foreign countries, including key U.S. allies, put pressure on Trump on Monday over the executive order. Democratic Senators tried to force a vote on a bill to rescind the order, but were blocked by a Republican lawmaker. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said she had 27 co-sponsors for the legislation. But under Senate rules it takes only one member to prevent a vote, and Republican Senator Tom Cotton blocked consideration of the measure. The Democrats' leader in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer, said he would bring legislation on Monday evening seeking to end the ban, although the measure stood little chance of being passed by the Republican-led Congress. (Reporting by Julia Edwards Ainsley; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Jonathan Oatis)
(Reuters) - Sunderland manager David Moyes hopes that signing players he has previously worked with will help them settle quicker and boost the club's fight for Premier League survival but has denied his policy is to only target familiar faces. Moyes has added three players so far in the January transfer window, all of whom worked under him when he was in charge of Everton. Centre-back Joleon Lescott joined on a free transfer last week, while Costa Rica left back Bryan Oviedo and Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson switched from Everton on Monday. "The advantage of signing players I've worked with before is that I know what I'm getting. I know what they'll do and their characters more than anything," Moyes told British media. "They trust me and they know the way I manage and the way I work. They will know what to expect. Sometimes for them, that makes the move easier. I hope it shows. "When you sign players you never know if it will make a difference, but I believe in time they will make a difference because of their type and their attitude. I do believe we will be stronger on February 1st than we were on January 1st." After taking over at Sunderland in the close season, Moyes signed Steven Pienaar, another player he worked with at Everton, as well as Adnan Januzaj, Paddy McNair and Donald Love, who were at Manchester United during the Scot's ill-fated spell there. "I've tried for one or two others, so to say I'm only going for players I know is not true," Moyes added. "It's actually the players who have been available and have said, 'Yeah, I'll have a go at that'. We tried for the boy at Norwich (Robbie Brady) and he said no. There were others as well, but people have said no." Sunderland are bottom of the Premier League on 15 points from 22 games, though they are only three points from safety. They host Tottenham Hotspur later on Tuesday. (Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
January 31 marks the 20th anniversary of franchise-defining entry "Final Fantasy VII," and Japanese publisher Square Enix has announced a raft of upcoming events for it and other games in the series.
Royal boy band goes on a road trip and saves the world -- that's one way of describing November 2016's acclaimed "Final Fantasy XV," a phenomenal ten years in development and the biggest launch effort in franchise history.
Post-release content is now on its way, with a pack of superhero-style, full body motorcycle suits coming February 21. They bestow invincibility upon the player's team members for 30 minutes at a time.
Perhaps more significant are release dates for expansions featuring some of those supporting team members.
March 28 sees the arrival of Episode Gladiolus, which is all about royal bodyguard Gladiolus and his time away from the main storyline. June beckons the release of Episode Prompto, which is about a non-aristocratic friend who was also closely involved in the story's adventure.
Remakes were also prominent during the event, with announcements pertaining to "Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age" and "Final Fantasy VII Remake."
One of the series' biggest games, "Final Fantasy VII," is celebrating its 20th anniversary on January 31, and "Final Fantasy VII Remake" is set to update its visuals, the way it plays, and even story elements.
Despite the timing, it wasn't the event's focus, but a new image recalled key art for the original PlayStation game from 1997 and gave an indication of where things are headed as far as the remake is concerned.
Similarly, "Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age" updates 2006's "Final Fantasy" game -- a PlayStation 2 release -- in high definition for the PlayStation 4, and is now set for the week of July 11 internationally.
Numerous crossover plans celebrate the 30th anniversary year of the "Final Fantasy" franchise.
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"Final Fantasy VII" hero, Cloud, will become part of another mobile spin-off, "Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius" from February 6. His opposite number, antagonist Sephiroth, is being inducted into "Final Fantasy Mobius."
New mobile game "Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia," which gets its worldwide debut via a Japanese launch on February 1.
Linking "Final Fantasy XII" and the cute, bobble-head style "World of Final Fantasy" (PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita) will be "FF XII" character Balthier, released as a piece of downloadable content for the latter.
And the next game in Square Enix's "Fortune Street" series, which bears some resemblance to board game "Monopoly," will include Noctis, main character from "Final Fantasy XV." "Fortune Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary" had already been announced for a PS4 and Vita release sometime in 2017.
Crossovers didn't stop there, with several branded products among the clutch of announcements, including a collaboration with Cup Noodle, already featured within "FF XV," and even a $1,000 "Final Fantasy" wine that comes with Swarovski crystal glasses.
A few big companies reacted swiftly and negatively to Donald Trumps new travel ban on immigrants from 7 Muslim countries. None pronounced themselves in favor of it.
We agree with many of the presidents policies, Ford Motor Co. (F) CEO Mark Fields tells Yahoo Finance in the video above. In this particular case, we dont.
Ford is headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., where theres also a sizable Muslim and Arab community including some people who work for Ford. Fields says hes not aware of any Ford employees who have been unable to travel or otherwise affected by the ban. But family members of Ford employees could be affected, which may explain why Ford went to the trouble of issuing a statement expressly opposing Trumps travel ban. Im getting a lot of notes, Fields says, of how proud our employees are to work for Ford.
Other companies protesting the ban include Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG), Apple (AAPL), Starbucks (SBUX), Microsoft (MSFT) and Netflix (NFLX). Some of those companies do have workers affected by the ban, with more disruption possible if Trump issues further orders governing various types of work visas, as rumors suggest.
Trump has attacked the auto industry more than any other, for building some products in low-cost countries such as Mexico and shipping them back to the United States. He has threatened to withdraw from a free-trade deal with Canada and Mexico, and impose tariffs on products exported for Mexico to the United States. If its an outright tariff, Fields says, it would hurt the industry. It would drive up the cost of the product and be passed onto the consumer or eaten by the company, which would reduce our profitability and our ability to invest in new products. That seems inimical to Trumps stated goal of creating 25 million new jobs over a decade.
The unanswered question about Trump, of course, is how much is a bluff meant to aid in negotiations, and how much full-blown disruption is he actually willing to cause. Nobody knows, but Fields says its heartening that Trump has formed committees of CEOs to advise him on business policy and how best to create jobs. Immigration will probably come up at the next confab.
Newman tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com
Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.
By Robert Muller PRAGUE (Reuters) - Hackers have breached dozens of email accounts at the Czech Foreign Ministry in an attack resembling one against the U.S. Democratic Party that the former Obama administration blamed on Russia, Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said on Tuesday. He said he was told by experts the cyber-attacks were likely conducted by a foreign state. He said the ministry's internal communication system was not affected and no confidential material was compromised, though an extensive amount of data was stolen. Zaoralek, whose email account was also hit, did not name any countries he thought may be responsible for the attack. "When I discussed this with the best experts that we have here, they told me that the character of the attack was such that the attack was very sophisticated, that it must have been, according to them, conducted by some foreign state, from the outside," Zaoralek told a news conference. "They also told me that the way the attack was done very much resembles the character of attacks against the system of the Democratic Party in the United States." A government source told Reuters authorities suspect the attacks originated from Russia. Zaoralek said the ministry had known since the beginning of January that hackers had breached its email, and added it was necessary to check whether other key government institutions have also been attacked, something he said was possible. He said the ministry was not registering any further attacks at the moment. The Czech Republic is a member of the U.S.-led NATO military alliance and of the European Union. In October last year, Czech police detained Russian citizen Yevgeniy Nikulin, who has been indicted in the United State for hacking computers of social media companies. The U.S. and Russia have both requested his extradition. The state attorney office has yet to file its recommendations on the requests. Obama administration officials said Russia engaged in cyber attacks during the U.S. presidential election campaign meant to tar the reputation of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and help Republican Donald Trump to victory. Russia denied this. Trump later acknowledged that Russia likely hacked the Democratic National Committee and the emails of top Democrats during the presidential election. Russian officials have denied all accusations of manipulation and interference intended to sway the U.S. election outcome or weaken the European Union. In December, Germany's domestic intelligence agency reported a striking increase in Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing German society, and targeted cyber attacks against political parties. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she could not rule out Russia interfering in Germany's 2017 election through Internet attacks and misinformation campaigns. (Additional reporting by Jan Lopatka; writing by Jason Hovet; editing by Mark Heinrich and Dominic Evans)
Lille (France) (AFP) - French club Lille have offered free tickets to women for their home game this weekend after sexist banners were unfurled in Saturday's Ligue 1 clash at Lyon.
"Ladies, you are welcome with us!" Lille wrote on the club's Twitter account, offering tickets for Saturday's game against Lorient at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
A pair of banners, one showing a woman above the word "kitchen" and another depicting a man alongside "stadium", provoked a social media outcry.
Irate internet users blasted the banners as "misogynistic" after they were caught by Canal+ Sport cameras amidst a section of home fans during the first half of Lille's 2-1 victory at Parc OL.
Lille changed the image on Twitter and instead of "kitchen", the name of their Pierre-Mauroy Stadium is mentioned.
"LOSC (Lille) welcomes women by proposing an exceptional offer: all places are free for women for LOSC-FC Lorient!" the northern club said, adding the offer was "valid within the limit of places available at this rate".
France international captain Wendie Renard, star of Lyon's women's team who are the Champions League holders, took to Twitter to blast those responsible for the banners.
"Lyon supporters... can you give me an explanation for that banner? The men at the stadium, the women in the kitchen?" she demanded.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said the club were investigating the incident.
Paris (AFP) - French investigators seized documents in parliament on Tuesday as part of a probe into allegations that conservative presidential hopeful Francois Fillon paid his wife for a fictitious parliamentary job.
The investigators searched Fillon's office for information on payments totalling around 500,000 euros ($535,000) received by his Welsh-born wife Penelope from public funds available to MPs, several parliamentary sources said.
Sources close to the investigation said, however, that Fillon's staff were voluntarily handing over the documents.
The legal woes of Fillon, who had led the presidential race for weeks, is the latest twist in a rollercoaster election that has seen voters hungry for change dump several political heavyweights.
Former prime minister Fillon swept past scandal-tainted ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and ex-premier Alain Juppe in November's Republicans primary, campaigning on his reputation for integrity.
Conservatives were also won over by his promise to slash 500,000 public servant jobs, cut benefits and increase working time.
But he goes into the last three months of the race damaged by allegations that he paid his wife for years for a fake job as his parliamentary aide.
While lawmakers are entitled to employ family members, the Canard Enchaine weekly behind the revelations said it could find no witnesses to Penelope's work.
Fillon has insisted that his wife played a real, if discreet, role and that he is the victim of a dirty tricks campaign.
The couple were quizzed separately by investigators for several hours on Monday. They were also questioned over money received by Penelope for work at a literary review.
On Monday, the Republicans group in the French parliament expressed "unanimous support" for their candidate.
"He has the unanimous support of the lawmakers," the leader of the Republicans in the lower house, Christian Jacob, said.
The election race is tightening as the April 23 first round approaches, with former economy minister Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen of the anti-immigration and anti-EU National Front both scoring highly in polls.
PARIS (AP) A spokesman at France's National Front Party says the terrorist attack in Canada against Muslims at a Quebec City mosque is "deplorable."
But Alex Frederiksen tells The Associated Press that the far-right party is not commenting on news that suspect Alexandre Bissonnette supported their party leader Marine Le Pen, who's known for her anti-Islam message.
Bissonnette has Le Pen and U.S. President Donald Trump as likes on his Facebook profile.
Frederiksen said Tuesday that "It's deplorable, but Marine Le Pen should not excuse herself for comments people make on their private Facebook pages."
The shooting during evening prayers on Sunday left six people dead in an attack that Canada's prime minister called an act of terrorism against Muslims.
President Trumps first decisions on the environment and the appointment of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency has left scientists at the agency nervous about their ability to fulfill their mission, former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman tells TIME.
Whitman, who served as President George W. Bushs first EPA administrator, spoke with TIME shortly after Pruitts nomination and again this week before Wednesdays expect confirmation vote.
Hes really someone who doesnt believe in the mission of the agency, she says, noting the many times Pruitt has sued the EPA. It puts him in the presumption of an adversarial position with the career staff, which is going to make it difficult to do anything.
Read More: Donald Trumps Victory Could Mean Disaster for the Planet
Pruitt, who has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from the oil and gas industry, earned notoriety leading a charge against President Obamas environmental regulations. He sued the agency 13 times in his capacity as Oklahomas attorney general, most famously to halt the Clean Power Plan. The Senate is expected to confirm the nomination Wednesday despite strong opposition from Democrats in Congress.
Whitman also expressed strong concern at an executive order Trump signed Monday mandating that federal agencies unwind two regulations for every one they issue. That policy could hamper efforts to protect public health when there is a clear basis for regulation, she said.
Its just mindless. You have to think more than that, she says of the executive order. You can argue that regulations overreach, but the substance of what theyre addressing is reviewed by scientists. They target a problem. Theres not a box of irrelevant regulations.
Whitman said Trumps Supreme Court nominee could be a crucial to protecting the mission of the EPA if the new Administration goes after some of the agencys more firmly rooted programs. A recent report in Climate Wire suggested that officials in the new Administration are debating whether to challenge the EPAs greenhouse gases endangerment finding, a key document that underpins the agencys action on climate change. Such a move would be a massive setback to efforts to address climate change.
Its all going to be resolved in the courts, says Whitman. I think a lot will revolve on the next Supreme Court nominee.
BERLIN (AP) German troops and tanks are en route to central Lithuania as part of NATO's move to enhance its presence in the alliance's easternmost countries as a deterrent against Russian aggression.
The German military said Tuesday that 36 vehicles, including Boxer armored fighting vehicles, were being loaded on a train in Bavaria for the trip to Rukla.
Germany will be leading the NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. Its contingent also consists of some 450 troops and other equipment, including Leopard 2 main battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.
The complete unit will consist of more than 1,000 soldiers, including troops from the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Luxembourg.
Battlegroups led by the U.S., Canada and Britain are also being stationed in Poland, Latvia and Estonia respectively as part of NATO's mission.
MADISON (AP) Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and a sexual assault prevention group launched an initiative Monday to help victims track evidence in their cases.
More than 6,000 sexual assault evidence kits were sitting untested on Wisconsin shelves in 2014. The kits are sitting for a variety of reasons, including prosecutors deciding cases were too weak to warrant testing, cases were resolved without the need for testing or victims refused to cooperate with investigators. A USA Today Network investigation in 2015 found at least 70,000 untested kits nationwide.
Victim advocates have pushed for testing all the kits to establish DNA profiles that could help identify serial offenders.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice received $4 million in federal grants in September 2015 to accelerate testing. USA Today Network-Wisconsin reported this past September that $2 million is earmarked for testing and the remaining $2 million for research and a public awareness campaign, but the agency was moving slowly because it was still collecting up-to-date information from local police departments on the status of the kits.
The DOJ and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault announced the creation of the By Your Side campaign Monday. The campaign offers victims a hotline number and a website they can use to start locating their kits and explore options for testing and connect with support services.
DOJ officials said in a news release that WCASA developed the campaign using feedback from sexual assault survivors. The release doesnt say if the campaign is funded from the 2015 federal grant. DOJ spokesman Johnny Koremenos didnt immediately respond to emails, and WCASA spokesman Dominic Holt said he was too busy preparing for a morning news conference in Green Bay to elaborate on the campaign.
BERLIN (Reuters) - German police arrested three men in Berlin on Tuesday on suspicion of having close links to Islamic State militants and planning to travel to the Middle East for combat training, a police spokesman said on Tuesday. The three men, aged 21, 31 and 45, are formally suspected of having prepared "a serious act of violent subversion" for planning to attend combat training; the police spokesman said there was no indication of any concrete plan to carry out an attack in Germany. The newspaper Bild reported that the three suspects had close links to Islamic State members in Syria and Iraq and were frequent visitors of a mosque in the Berlin district of Moabit that Anis Amri, who attacked a Berlin Christmas market in December, also used to visit. The police spokesman declined to comment on the background of the suspects, but confirmed that police had raided a mosque in Moabit. Amri killed 12 people when he drove a truck into the market on Dec. 19, the worst of a spate of attacks on random members of the public in Germany over the past year. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
(BERLIN) The human rights situation in Libya is catastrophic, with migrants heading for Europe bearing the brunt of abuse, the German government said Monday.
A report Sunday by German weekly Welt am Sonntag quoted an internal Foreign Ministry memo describing how migrants face torture and execution at detention camps in Libya. The country has become a key departure point for migrants from Africa trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. Thousands of people died last year when their rickety boats sank en route.
A separate Foreign Ministry memo obtained by The Associated Press described the camps as terrible.
Europe mustnt look away but try to make the living conditions bearable now, the memo said. Our credibility is on the line here.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer declined Monday to confirm or deny the authenticity of the memos.
It is of course right, though, that the human rights situation in Libya is catastrophic, Schaefer told reporters in Berlin. It hits the weakest of the weak most, so to speak, and in this case that could be hundreds of thousands of people who are making their way from West Africa to what they regard as the promised land, Europe.
The European Union has been trying to stem the flow of migrants to Europe by encouraging the Libyan government to crack down on smugglers who have taken advantage of chaos and lawlessness since the ouster of Muammar Gadhafi six years ago. But the United Nations-backed government has little control over armed groups outside the capital, Tripoli.
The (Libyan) state doesnt work, or only in a rudimentary fashion, Schaefer said. Thats why talks with the Libyan government about the situation, for example, of refugees, arent very productive.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday that a deal in which migrants rescued by European navies patrolling the Mediterranean might be sent back to Libya would only be possible once the country becomes politically stable.
E.U. leaders are scheduled to discuss the situation in Libya at a summit Friday in Malta.
Gigi and Bella Hadid took to the NYC streets to protest Trumps Muslim ban
Over this past weekend, we were in awe of the sheer number of American citizens who took to the streets (and the airports) in protest of President Trumps policies. Two of them, we just learned, were Gigi and Bella Hadid, who joined New York protests against Trumps Muslim ban on Sunday afternoon.
The two sisters were spotted at the #NoBanNoWall march in Manhattan which, of course, was a response to Trumps executive travel ban on seven Muslim-majority nations. This makes sense because they both seem like decent people, but also because their father, real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, is Jordanian-American and Muslim, their mother Yolanda Hadid is Dutch-American, and Gigis boyfriend Zayn Malik is, of course, a British Muslim.
They carried a sign that read We are all Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists, Christians, Jews, spelling out HUMANS from each of the religions.
A photo posted by Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) on Jan 29, 2017 at 8:56pm PST
Mom Yolanda later shared an Instagram supporting her daughters.
That's right, we are one..... Open to all religion, all races and all countries #America #LoveTrumpsHate #WeAreHuman A photo posted by YOLANDA (@yolanda.hadid) on Jan 29, 2017 at 3:49pm PST
Several onlookers posted pics and videos of the girls joining in on protest chants to social media.
Gigi and Bella Hadid at the #NoBanNoWall march in New York today. pic.twitter.com/atHh2AkIVe Gigi Hadid News (@GigiHadidsNews) January 30, 2017
Gigi and Bella Hadid at the #NoBanNoWall march in New York, January 29th. pic.twitter.com/DwYV04sFCh Gigi Hadid News (@GigiHadidsNews) January 30, 2017
Were proud of them and of thousands of others nationwide who sacrificed their weekends for democracy.
Gigi and Bella Hadid at the #NoBanNoWall march in New York today. pic.twitter.com/KVie1gQPah Gigi Hadid News (@GigiHadidsNews) January 30, 2017
Kudos to the Hadid sisters for standing up for their family, friends, and fellow Americans, loud and proud against hate.
Google employees in multiple cities across the U.S. and beyond held rallies against President Trumps executive order banning refugees and immigrants from seven countries from entering the United States Monday afternoon. Speakers at a rally on Googles campus in Mountain View, Calif. included employees directly affected by the order as well as Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Google founder Sergey Brin.
So proud that I work for @Google right now. Fight the Muslim Ban. #googlersunite pic.twitter.com/U9uQ69FZV1 Rachel Been (@rachelbeen) January 30, 2017
The protests came after executives from multiple technology companies had spoken out against the executive order this past weekend. Google also responded by offering matching grands of up to $2 million for donations raised by its employees for the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil and refugee rights organizations.
One of the speakers, Iranian-born product manager Soufi Esmaelizadeh, retold how she was temporarily stuck in limbo this past week after traveling to Zurich for work reasons, only to find her phone buzzing with messages about the order as soon as her plane touched ground. I just thought this couldnt be true, she said.
Esmaelizadeh contacted the Google legal team to figure out whether she could return to the United States, and was initially advised against it. Only after a judge had struck down the order, she was told to board a plane immediately, and made it back safely Sunday. This executive order is racist, unconstitutional and needs to be revoked, Esmaelizadeh said to loud cheers of the crowd.
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Another speaker, a U.S. citizen or Iranian descent identified only by her first name, told the crowd in an emotional testimony that she met her husband during a trip to Iran two years ago. The two continued a long-distance relationship, and went through the legal process to have him join her in the U.S. this spring. We were planning to get married this March, she said. Her husband had already been approved for a visum, which was cancelled indefinitely after Trumps executive order was instituted last Friday.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai told the crowd that it had been difficult for the company to figure out how to respond to the order and deal with cases like this one, but that he felt encouraged by Googlers standing up and taking part in protests. Every step, I felt the support of 65,000 people behind me, he said.
There are some values that you should never be compromising on, he continued, imploring Googlers to continue to speak out. We need to stand together, he said. The fight will continue.
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Resistance to President Trumps immigration ban on Friday has been loud and clear, with many individuals, politicians, and companies showing their support of Americas history of embracing immigrants. While companies like Lyft and Starbucks were clear in their pro-immigration action (to some backlash), Google initially took a more subtle approach to voicing their dissent with a powerful Google Doodle honoring civil rights activist Fred Korematsu. Korematsu worked tirelessly against the Japanese internment camps from WWII, which many have drawn parallels to with the Trump administrations treatment of Muslim immigrants. However, Google employees at eight different locations worldwide are mobilizing to show their disgust for the plan with a walk out.
Sharing their voices on social media with the hashtag #GooglersUnite, the protest stemmed from the $2 million dollars (and matched by Google) raised by employees for a fund that would funnel into various organizations that aid refugees. More than 2,000 employees walked out in protest, including many at the Mountain View headquarters.
More Googlers here than people at the Trump inaguration #GooglersUnite pic.twitter.com/weuWlkKraz Rogelio Gudino (@cananito) January 30, 2017
Simultaneous walk out in 8 Google offices across entire US in support of #NoBanNoWall happening now. #GooglersUnite pic.twitter.com/mxRN1udLK8 Malte Ubl (@cramforce) January 30, 2017
At HQ today #GooglersUnite to show solidarity with immigrants, refugees, Muslims and fellow Googlers worldwide. pic.twitter.com/g4V7fh8nZZ Life at Google (@lifeatgoogle) January 31, 2017
#GooglersUnite rally today: Trump can only wish this many people attended his inauguration. pic.twitter.com/MjCArB3pOL Michael Mattiacci (@mattiacci) January 31, 2017
Photos from the #GooglersUnite San Francisco protest, from our Vjeran Pavic pic.twitter.com/P4YOMq60Bg Casey Newton (@CaseyNewton) January 30, 2017
Speakers at the protest included co-founder and CEO Sundar Pichai and co-founder Sergey Brin, who speaks from direct experience as an immigrant.
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Here are Google cofounder Sergey Brin's full remarks from today's #GooglersUnite rally pic.twitter.com/OPslALFRsp Ryan Mac (@RMac18) January 31, 2017
Well have to wait and see how long the protest is sustained and how much it affects the work done at Google. However, the biggest question remains:
Are @realDonaldTrump supporters also going to start a #BoycottGoogle movement, & spend the rest of their lives asking Jeeves? #GooglersUnite Daniel Keenan (@daniel_keenan1) January 31, 2017
Not quite as easy as boycotting Starbucks, is it?
(Via The Verge)
Athens (AFP) - Greek authorities on Tuesday relocated dozens of migrants from a congested camp on the island of Lesbos following three deaths attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning.
State agency ANA said around 150 people were moved out of the camp of Moria, and work is underway to improve facilities for others still sleeping in tents.
"There are currently around 250 migrants in single-person tents. At the end of the week we aim to have none," immigration ministry official Anthee Karangeli told ANA.
Some 50 migrants were relocated to a Greek navy ship moored at the local port and another 100 were moved to a second camp on the island where conditions are better, the agency said.
Immigration minister Yiannis Mouzalas on Monday told reporters in Athens that additional heated tents would be installed in Moria.
The moves came after three men died in the camp in the space of six days, and a fourth was hospitalised.
The four men from Pakistan, Egypt and Syria were sharing two tents.
Greek media have cited carbon monoxide poisoning as a possible cause of death, as the cold weather has forced migrants to use makeshift stoves in tents pitched outside to keep warm.
Coroners have not announced the definitive results on what caused the three deaths, but a police source told AFP that the deaths were probably not drugs-related.
The UN refugee agency, which helps the Greek government manage the camps, declined to comment.
In November, a 66-year-old Iraqi Kurd and her six-year-old grandson died in Moria from the apparent explosion of a cooking gas cannister inside their tent.
The boy's mother and four-year-old sibling also suffered serious burns.
Greece has over 60,000 refugees and migrants on its soil, the result of a series of border closures in the Balkans and eastern Europe last year.
Many of the camps are overcrowded, especially on the islands facing Turkey. On Lesbos there are nearly 5,000 people in camps nominally built to hold 3,500, according to government figures.
The Greek immigration ministry has refused to permit large-scale relocation from the islands to the mainland, fearing that such a move could jeopardise an EU-Turkey agreement that has helped stop further arrivals to the continent.
There are frequent clashes in the island camps, with the residents tired of the long wait for asylum papers and fearful of being returned to Turkey.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greek authorities are investigating the deaths of three migrants over the past week in a camp on the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesbos.
Two of the men, an Egyptian and a Syrian national, were found dead in their tents in the Moria camp last week. A third migrant, a Pakistani, died in his tent Monday.
Initial indications suggest they were poisoned by fumes from stoves lit inside the tents to counter bitter winter conditions.
Greece's immigration ministry said Tuesday a coroner's report is pending. A full post-mortem could not be held on Lesbos and samples from the bodies have been sent to Athens.
About 5,000 refugees and other migrants are trapped on Lesbos following Balkan border closures last year and the European Union's deal with Turkey to control immigration.
To the unfamiliar, Groundhog Day is perhaps one of Americas weirdest traditions. Every Feb. 2, people wait for a large, furry rodent to see his shadow and then we predict the weather based on the animals actions.
But the winter holiday has a long history rooted in everything from early Christian traditions in Europe to 19th century American newspapers. Here is everything you need to know about how Groundhog Day got its start.
The origin story
The idea of Groundhog Day comes from an ancient Christian celebration known as Candlemas Day, which marked the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. On Candlemas Day, clergy would bless candles needed for winter and distribute them to the people, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Clubs website says. Superstition held that if the day was sunny and clear, people could expect a long, rough winter, but if the sky was cloudy, warm weather would arrive soon.
The Germans then expanded on this tradition, introducing the hedgehog to the mix. They believed, according to the Groundhog Day website, that if the sun appeared and the hedgehog saw his shadow, there would be six more weeks of bad weather, or a Second Winter.
Groundhog Day in the United States
Many of Pennsylvanias early settlers were German, and they brought this tradition with them, switching the hedgehog for the groundhog, which could be more easily found in their new home, according to the Punxsutawney site.
In 1886, the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper printed the first news of a Groundhog Day observance. The next year, everything fell into place. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club celebrated for the first time at Gobblers Knob, according to History.com, and the newspapers editor declared that Phil, the Punxsutawney groundhog, was Americas official weather-forecasting groundhog.
What Groundhog Day is like today
Since then, the tradition has grown in popularity with many other cities across the country hold their own Groundhog Day celebrations. But none are as elaborate as the one that takes place at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania every Feb. 2. This year will by Punxsutawney Phils (or rather his descendants) 131st prediction.
Tens of thousands of visitors show up for the event each year, according to the official website, and in case you cant make it in person like Bill Murray in the 1993 hit movie Groundhog Day, there is a live stream of the prediction for all to watch.
Brussels (AFP) - A leading transparency watchdog on Tuesday urged the EU to crack down on the "revolving door" of former officials joining lobbying groups.
More than half of the people on the last European Commission and nearly a third in the previous European Parliament have joined EU lobbies, Transparency International said.
Cases of former politicians moving into private sector jobs extended well beyond the high-profile incident of former commission president Jose Manuel Barroso joining the board of the US investment bank Goldman Sachs.
"We need rules that prevent conflicts of interest or the capture of the institutions by lobbyists," Daniel Freund of Transparency International EU said in a statement.
The group said it had carried out the first full analysis of such moves, which showed that 50 percent of ex-Commissioners and 30 percent of former MEPs were now working for organisations on the EU lobby register.
In one case, 57 percent of the accredited lobbyists for the US hi-tech giant Google had previously worked for EU institutions.
Transparency's analysis covered the 27 commissioners on the European Commission, the executive of the 28-nation European Union, and the 485 members of the European Parliament who left their jobs after the 2014 parliamentary elections.
It said the trend, which was also happening in the United States, raised the risk of favours, group think and the exchange of insider knowledge about how to circumvent EU regulations.
- Tackling the 'revolving door' -
"Risks of conflicts of interest cannot be ruled out," the watchdog said.
"Most worrying are those situations where senior decision-makers from the EU move directly into positions where they seek to influence former colleagues or their staff or join organisations they have previously regulated," the watchdog said.
It said commissioners from former Portuguese prime minister Barroso's second term from 2009 until 2014 have taken up jobs in big firms like Arcelor-Mittal, Uber, Bank of America and Volkswagen.
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In the wake of the Barroso scandal last year, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker proposed extending from 18 months to three years the "cooling-off" period during which former commission presidents must inform Brussels if they take a new job.
That period would be extended from 18 months to two years for former commissioners.
Responding to the report on Tuesday, Juncker's spokesman Margaritis Schinas defended EU ethics rules as "the tightest rules that you will find in the areas of ethics, both in international organisations and national governments."
Transparency International said Canada, Norway and France had tougher rules against the "revolving door phenomenon" than the EU.
Canada requires a five-year cooling off period for senior officials, ministers and members of parliament, it added.
The Holocaust Museum issued a statement on Monday explaining why International Holocaust Remembrance Day is particularly important to Jewish people after the White House deliberately omitted any mention of the 6 million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust or the virulent anti-Semitism of Nazi Germany in its recognition of the day.
The White House said it purposely did not mention Jews because others were also victims of the Holocaust, drawing immediate criticism for minimizing the genocide. White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Monday defended President Trumps statement, calling critics pathetic.
While the Holocaust museum did not directly reference the White Houses defense, it took care to explain that Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically targeted Jews.
Nazi ideology cast the world as a racial struggle, and the singular focus on the total destruction of every Jewish person was at its racist core, the statement said. Millions of other innocent civilians were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis, but the elimination of Jews was central to Nazi policy. As Elie Wiesel said, Not all victims were Jews, but all Jews were victims.'
The Holocaust Museums statement came amid anger surrounding Trumps executive order banning immigration from seven Muslim majority countries. The museum warned that it was critical to understand the history of the Holocaust to adequately honor the victims.
The Holocaust teaches us profound truths about human societies and our capacity for evil, the statement said.
Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly said he was fully aware that President Trump would suspend travel from seven majority-Muslim countries Tuesday.
Pushing back on a New York Times report that he learned about the order while on a Coast Guard plane when an aide saw Trump signing it on television, the retired Marine general said he knew it was coming.
I knew he was going to sign an order about a year and a half or two years ago before he became the president-elect, he said, adding later that he certainly didnt learn about it on an airplane.
Trump signed an executive order suspending the refugee resettlement program and temporarily barring visa entry from Iraq, Syria and five other countries on Friday. But it was unclear exactly how the order would be interpreted, with the White House backtracking on whether it applied to green-card holders and lawyers working with detainees saying there was confusion.
At a press conference Tuesday, Kelly sought to clear the air, saying that the order was not a surprise and that the process went smoothly.
It wasnt a surprise it was coming, Kelly said before seeming to reference the protests at many airports. The only chaos they saw was what was taking place in other parts of the airport.
Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Kevin McAleenan said that within the first 72 hours of the order, 500,000 foreign travelers came to the U.S. via airplanes. Of those half a million people, he said 721 were denied entry and 1,060 lawful permanent residents were processed for waivers, while another 75 visa holders were granted admission.
The numbers differ from the those presented by the White House, which had said only 109 people faced inconvenience as a result of the order, but Homeland Security officials said that number was from the initial hours of implementation.
Defending the order from criticism, Kelly argued it was a necessary step to protect Americans.
We cannot gamble with American lives, he said. I will not gamble with American lives.
By Naomi Tajitsu and Paul Lienert TOKYO/DETROIT (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co Ltd <7267.T> and General Motors Co (GM) will jointly produce pollution-free hydrogen fuel cell power systems in the United States from around 2020, the companies said Monday, despite President Donald Trump's promises to dismantle U.S. environmental regulations intended to spur green car demand. At a briefing in Detroit, GM executive Mark Reuss said the fuel cells could be used in autonomous vehicles, as well by ride-sharing companies, such as GM affiliate Lyft. He also said fuel cells could have aerospace and military applications. The companies on Monday said they will invest $85 million to add a production line at a GM battery plant in Brownstown, Michigan, and create 100 jobs. The fuel cell production line will be partly automated and is designed to be quickly scaled up if demand warrants. The companies' U.S. investment plan is the latest this month from the auto industry after Trump urged car makers to raise production in the United States and vowed to cut regulations, including environmental ones, and taxes to make the U.S. more business friendly. Honda on Monday said fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) remained central to new-energy cars making up two-thirds of its line-up by 2030 from around 5 percent now. "The United States is where demand for fuel cell vehicles is going to be among the highest so we've decided to consolidate our manufacturing operations into one location there," Honda spokesman Teruhiko Tatebe said at a joint news briefing in Tokyo. Honda is among a handful of automakers to develop FCVs, which combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and emit only water. But limited fuelling infrastructure has limited demand while in the United States while low petrol prices have pushed consumer preference toward sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks. Honda has produced just 118 of its Clarity Fuel Cell cars since its U.S. and Japan launch last year at a relatively high price of 7.66 million yen ($66,795). Honda makes that vehicle's components in Japan but on Monday said it would eventually shift production of fuel cell power systems to the U.S. to cut costs. It said it had not decided whether to continue assembling FCVs at home in the longer term. At GM, research into hydrogen as a fuel stretches as far back as the mid-1960s with a modified Chevrolet Corvair minivan. As part of a development partnership forged in 2013, the latest agreement will see GM and Honda each hold 50 percent of newly formed Fuel Cell System Manufacturing LLC. Their future FCVs will share the same power system from around 2020. (Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu in Tokyo and Paul Lienert in Detroit; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Cynthia Osterman)
Quebec City (AFP) - Five worshippers hospitalized with life-threatening injuries caused by a shooting rampage at their Quebec mosque are out of danger, doctors said Tuesday.
Six people were killed in the attack at the Sainte-Foy mosque during evening prayers on Sunday and eight were wounded, including five that were listed in critical condition.
Some 50 people were in the mosque at the time of the attack.
The suspect in the shooting spree, Alexandre Bissonette, was arrested after surrendering to authorities. He is charged with six counts of premeditated murder and five counts of attempted murder, police said.
Genevieve Dupuis, a spokeswoman for Enfant Jesus hospital, said at a news briefing Tuesday that two people remained hospitalized in critical condition, two are stable, one was "doing fine" and one person had been discharged.
Their injuries included mainly gunshots to the abdomen, but also to the neck, shoulders and legs. Doctors removed an average of three to six bullets per shooting victim, said surgeon Julien Clement.
The two patients with the most serious injuries "are expected to survive, but it's too early for a long-term prognosis," he said.
Psychologists are also on hand to help victims, their families and the community at large cope with the trauma from the shooting, said Josee Martel, director of mental health at the hospital.
By the time Boston opened the United States first subway system, roughly 120 years ago on Sept. 1, 1897, the need for such a network was inescapable.
As seen in this clip from the new PBS American Experience documentary The Race Underground, premiering on Tuesday, Boston wasnt the only city where officials knew it was time to figure out a way for their growing populations to get around but as explained by the film, based on a book of the same name by Doug Most, the Massachusetts capital illustrated the problem more than most other places.
The reason: the mass wave of migration seen by American cities in the late 19th century, as immigrants from around the world and Americans from more rural areas flocked to urban centers in hopes of a better life.
As a result, Boston was an extraordinarily crowded place, a relatively tiny city with hundreds of thousands of inhabitants and thousands of horses helping them get around. Smells, manure and noise assaulted the citizenry, and there was no sign of the problem letting up. As historian Clifton Hood explains in this clip, The city is growing but the transit system isnt growing with it.
One solution, inspired by underground transportation systems that had been built in cities like London, was to move the streetcar traffic below ground.
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It wasnt an easy sell. Not only did politicians and business leaders disagree about the logistics, but many people resisted for a simpler reason: unfamiliar with the very idea of a subway, they feared that human beings simply werent supposed to be underground like that. Fears were compounded by the many graves uncovered in the process of digging.
Nevertheless, thanks to the influx of new residents, such concerns had to be resolved. And once Boston had proved the system could work, other cities like New York soon followed.
Photo credit: Chris Gould / Getty
From Popular Mechanics
America's infrastructure-its highways, bridges, airports-has been in some state of degradation for decades. But there is another "highway" few people talk about that's vital to our way of life. You likely use it every single day, but you've never even seen it.
We're talking about spectrum, the information superhighway that carries voice, video, and data to our smartphones and televisions. It's a part of the electromagnetic spectrum (hence the name) once dominated by radio communication and broadcast users. Now certain spectrum bands have been overwhelmed by billions of new wireless devices over the past decade, and they need more room to breathe.
This increased demand, spurred on by the rise of the smartphone, is why President Obama issued an executive order in 2013 directing federal agencies to make 500 MHz of spectrum available for both mobile and fixed wireless commercial broadband within a decade. But as the federal government makes moves to create the bedrock of our high-speed 5G future, it comes with one serious side effect: It's intruding on the military's wavelengths. The result is a spectrum migration that could take upwards of a decade to complete.
Why Hertz Matter
A big portion of this newly freed-up spectrum will come from UHF bands. UHF is the sweet spot where the short, high frequency waves that offer bandwidth wireless devices need are combined with the ability to travel relatively long distances and penetrate walls and buildings. It's the spectrum coveted by mobile carriers, often referred to as "beachfront spectrum," that could one day become the cornerstone for the nation's future high-speed 5G network, according to former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler.
Photo credit: Getty
That's great news for companies like AT&T and Verizon that have ponied up tens of billions of dollars for spectrum. But the U.S. military also uses that same range for radars, unmanned aircraft systems, telemetry, meteorological satellites, computed tomography, and classified systems.
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The continued sale of spectrum is forcing the military to move to different frequencies-or else share existing bands with commercial users. This electronic mass migration will begin this February and go on for as long as a decade. The cost of this whole operation will be more than $3 billion. The Feds have also set aside $500 million for research and development to ease the transition.
In most cases, government and military users will have to move to higher frequencies. While these frequencies theoretically provide plenty of bandwidth, their shorter radio waves don't travel as far and often get blocked by buildings or other structures. To make up the difference, higher frequencies require using different waveforms and more power.
Changing Times, Changing Frequencies
Moving military equipment up a few gigahertz isn't nearly as simple as it sounds. Take flight testing, for example, which uses extensive telemetry to test airplanes, UAVs, and even artillery rounds. Erik Perrins, professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Kansas, leads a research team cooperating with the Air Force Research Laboratory to move the flight test community up the spectrum to 5 GHz.
Perrins says we could imagine using a wireless transmitter from which you need to send 40 megabytes of data every single second-about 10 YouTube videos streaming simultaneously-over a distance of 100 miles. The transmitter can't be bigger than a pack of chewing gum. All the while, it's traveling Mach 2 at 30,000 feet.
imagine using a wireless transmitter from which you need to send 40 megabytes of data every single second-about 10 YouTube videos streaming simultaneously-over a distance of 100 miles.
"These guys need high power signals in miniaturized transmitters," Perrins says. "The inefficiency (waste heat) makes it difficult to miniaturize things without them being melted. This is a major disruption to the way they've historically been doing things."
The team thinks they can get around the power/range problem using a different signal amplification technique called Amplitude Phase-Shift Keying. But there is a risk of interference with other bands Perrins admits, potentially disrupting communications or data on nearby frequencies.
A Spectrum of Possibilities
Flight testing is only a small portion of the people who will be affected by this spectrum shuffle. Satellite operators and UAV managers will be affected as will the data they provide along with secure mobile communications. But the Department of Defense's chief information officer, Terry Halvorsen, told Popular Mechanics that there is a silver lining.
"There are new risks we'll work through, but the move also makes it harder for [adversaries] trying to gather intel," he says. "They have to take all the investment they made [in intelligence collection] in the current spectrum and move it up to the new spectrum." So as the government invests in this gigahertz move, so too must its opponents.
The FCC expects that most of the military and other government services will make the transition within five years. However, some groups will need 10 years, and others like air combat training telemetry and high-powered satellite uplink users, will just share spectrum rather than move to a new spectrum band. So far, the FCC has turned over 245 MHz of spectrum to commercial users. Future auctions will turn over the remaining spectrum in years to come, essentially adding new lanes to the information super highway-a few megahertz at a time.
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Los Angeles (AFP) - When Sara Yarjani handed her passport to an immigration officer at Los Angeles airport she was sure she'd be waved through customs, as had happened before. Instead, 23 hours later, she was deported.
The 35-year-old Iranian graduate student became one of the first victims of the chaos unleashed by President Donald Trump's executive order blocking citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, from entering the United States.
Yarjani, who spoke with AFP by telephone late Monday from Vienna, where she is a permanent resident, said her ordeal began shortly after her plane landed Friday evening and -- unbeknownst to her -- Trump's travel ban had kicked in.
"I had been on holiday in Canada to see my sister and then went to Austria and was coming back to resume classes," said Yarjani, a student of holistic health at the California Institute for Human Science, located north of San Diego.
"I was not expecting to be stopped," she said. "I had previously entered the country and was treated very well ... and gone through customs within minutes."
This time she quickly realized that it would be different, as the immigration officer took her passport and ushered her to a waiting area.
Two female officers who barked orders patted Yarjani down as she stood against a wall with her arms raised. She was told to remove her shawl, her jewelry and shoe laces, and was asked to hand over any cash as well as her cell phone -- all of which were later returned.
Yarjani said after nearly four hours of waiting and questioning, during which she was allowed no phone calls, an officer compelled her to sign a form agreeing to deportation on grounds, he claimed, that her student visa was no longer valid.
- 'Leave voluntarily or forcibly' -
"The officer told me 'you have two option-- either you comply and agree to leave voluntarily ... or you will forcibly be deported and face a ban of one to five years or longer of reentry to the US'," she said.
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"The way he was saying it was very threatening and I felt I had no choice."
Yarjani said she became aware of the mayhem caused by Trump's order when she was allowed, shortly after midnight, a quick call to her sister to let her know she was being deported.
"I arrived in LA at 8:35 pm Friday and left at 7:30 pm the next day," she said.
Yarjani said as she was being escorted by two armed officers for her flight back to Europe, she was able to briefly check her phone and learned that a federal judge had temporarily blocked part of Trump's executive order.
"I told one of the officers that a judge had ruled against the ban ... and that I should not be put on the plane but all she said was 'wowza' while ordering me to keep walking," Yarjani said.
She said now that she was back in Austria with her parents, she was still trying to come to terms with what had happened and considering her next move.
"It's a very confusing feeling right now because on the one hand I feel thankful I am out of their custody but on the other hand, it's really sad and heartbreaking because I really love what I am studying," she said, her voice breaking.
"I have worked so hard for the past year and a half and it's been such a long journey to get there and to study something I am really passionate about."
She said university officials have been very supportive and concerned about her fate while attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have also offered assistance.
"Being stopped from entering the country to continue my studies does not make any sense," said Yarjani, who was due to graduate this summer.
"I was treated as if I had done something drastically wrong ... and I don't think studying something that is aimed at helping people is a crime you should be deported for."
Baghdad (AFP) - An Iraqi lawmaker who has campaigned prominently for fellow Yazidi women enslaved by the Islamic State group said Tuesday that new US travel restrictions may prevent her from accepting a human rights award.
Vian Dakhil had been due to travel to Washington to receive the Lantos Human Rights Prize next week for her work highlighting the plight of Yazidi women turned into sex slaves by the jihadists after their homes were overrun in 2014.
But Friday's executive order by President Donald Trump barring nationals of Iraq and six other Muslim countries from entry to the United States has thrown those plans into question.
"It is not clear yet if I will travel or not," Dakhil told AFP.
Trump said that the entry ban, which will apply for at least 90 days, will help make America safe from "radical Islamic terrorists".
But Dakhil is a Yazidi, a member of a non-Muslim minority that has been subjected to a campaign of killings, kidnappings, enslavement and rape by the Sunni Muslim extremists of IS.
"The decision came as a surprise," Dakhil said.
She said the Iraqi embassy and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, which is awarding the prize, were working to secure an exemption to the travel ban.
The fact that she is a member of the Iraqi parliament may help her case.
The Lantos Foundation was critical of the blanket nature of the closed door policy adopted by Trump.
"Dakhil's case is a startling example of how the executive order signed by President Trump is having unintended consequences and ensnaring not only those who have no links to terrorism but also those who have risked their lives to fight terrorism in cooperation with the United States," it said.
The foundation said the award was acknowledgement of Dakhil's "courageous defence of the Yazidi people as they faced mass genocide two years ago at the hands of the Islamic State and for her ongoing rescue mission on behalf of enslaved Yazidi women."
The foundation is named after the late US Congressman Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who was a lifelong champion of human rights.
The Italian label has picked the famous Russian model and Tim Dibble to front its summer 2017 campaign.
The campaign, which marks the 20th anniversary of Angela Missoni at the helm of the label's creative direction, was shot at the designer's summer residence in Puntaldia on the Italian island of Sardinia.
The ads, shot by Harley Weir, reflect the brand's unique personality with colorful, floral and Mediterranean themes. The brand's signature stripes and geometric patterns feature once again, with the association and superimposition of different styles and materials.
See the campaign: Missoni.com/experience/en/advertising/summer-2017/
CAIRO (AP) The Islamic State group in Egypt claimed on Tuesday that its fighters killed and wounded 20 Egyptian soldiers in four days of clashes in northern Sinai.
In a statement posted on a pro-IS website, the Egyptian affiliate of the Sunni militant group said the fighting took place south of the coastal city of el-Arish and that the militants also destroyed two tanks, a Humvee and two other military vehicles.
There was no immediate comment from the Egyptian government on the claim, and the restive area of the Sinai Peninsula is off limits to the media.
Security forces have been battling IS-led militants in Sinai for years, but the insurgency has grown deadlier and more widespread since the 2013 ouster by the military of Egypt's former Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi.
Following a spate of deadly attacks blamed on IS, Egypt recently stepped up security operations south of el-Arish and the desert beyond, saying many militants were killed and that weapons, ammunition and explosives were seized.
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has described the fighting in Sinai as a "harsh war" that Egypt is fighting alone, and last week called on Egyptians to stand together against terrorism.
Separately, a Christian supermarket owner in el-Arish was gunned down on Monday night by suspected militants, the latest in a series of killings by IS targeting members of Egypt's Christian minority in Sinai.
Wael Milad was shot inside his supermarket, after which his killers fled to the olive orchards south of the city, security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
Last summer, IS gunned down a priest, Rafael Moussa, in el-Arish's industrial area as he waited for his car to be repaired.
Egypt is home to one of the world's oldest Christian communities, with Coptic Christians accounting for roughly 10 percent of its 92 million people. They have long complained of discrimination at the hands of the Muslim majority.
Nearly 30 Christians, mostly women, were killed in December when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a packed Cairo church in an attack claimed by IS. Also in December, a suspected militant killed a Christian storeowner with a kitchen knife outside his liquor and candy shop in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria. Islam prohibits consumption of alcohol.
A militant group held protests in Pakistan's major cities Tuesday after its leader, one of the alleged masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was put under house arrest following years of foreign pressure.
Firebrand cleric Hafiz Saeed, who heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) group and has a $10 million bounty on his head, was placed under "preventative detention", according to an order from the interior ministry.
Police took Saeed away from a mosque in Lahore late Monday and escorted him to his residence, hours after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had hinted action against him was imminent.
But India on Tuesday expressed scepticism at the move.
"Exercises such as yesterday's orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also," a foreign office statement said.
"Only a credible crackdown on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross-border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity."
JuD, listed as a terror outfit by the United Nations, is considered by the US and India to be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant group blamed for the attack on India's financial capital which killed more than 160 people.
Protests by the group's followers broke out in some major cities on Tuesday afternoon.
Some 300 JuD activists staged a demonstration in Islamabad, burning the flags of India and the United States, while a similar number protested in the central city of Multan.
In Pakistani Kashmir, the group staged a joint rally with the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group.
"Kashmiris see Hafiz Saeed as their messiah and they will continue his mission. The government of Pakistan should behave and release him immediately," said Abdul Aziz Alvi, a local JuD leader.
JuD has also announced it will challenge in court the detention order, which places the group and a foundation tied to it on a watch list and also places four other men under arrest.
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Islamabad has not officially commented on the move's timing.
Following a brief period of house arrest in 2008, Saaed led a high-profile public life and regularly delivered fiery anti-India speeches. JuD has operated freely across the country and is popular for its charity work, especially in the wake of natural disasters.
But a senior security source based in Islamabad said the decision was in response to US pressure as well as a global perception that Pakistan has refused to tackle Islamist groups which pose no risk at home but carry out attacks abroad.
"Yesterday's actions were in fact a huge event," he said.
"There's been increasing US pressure on the issue, which compelled Pakistan to take this action. There has also been Indian pressure. They have always said unless you take certain steps things can't move forward.
"So the move effectively kills two beasts with one arrow. Now India won't have a chance to say, 'Pakistan isn't serious'."
Amir Rana, a security analyst, said Islamabad had come to realise it was facing increasing isolation over its alleged dealings with proxy fighters.
"There was some stress on Pakistan's foreign policy especially around this group," he said.
Rana added that though JuD had ties to militancy, it was in the process of converting itself into a political movement and the threat of a violent backlash was low.
The horror of the Mumbai carnage played out on live television around the world as commandos battled the heavily armed gunmen, who arrived by sea on the evening of November 26, 2008.
It took the authorities three days to regain full control of the city. India has long said there is evidence that "official agencies" in Pakistan were involved in plotting the attack -- a charge Islamabad denies.
Tel Aviv (AFP) - An Israeli military prosecutor on Tuesday sought a prison sentence of three to five years for an Israeli soldier who shot dead a wounded Palestinian as he lay on the ground.
"We believe the appropriate sentence for the accused should not be less than three years and not more than five years," the prosecutor, Nadav Weisman, said during a court hearing in Tel Aviv.
Elor Azaria, 20, was convicted this month of manslaughter in a military court for the killing of Abdul Fatah al-Sharif, after a trial that deeply divided Israel.
The March 24 shooting in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron was caught on video and spread widely online.
It showed Sharif, 21, lying on the ground, shot along with another Palestinian after stabbing and wounding a soldier, according to the army.
Azaria then shoots him again in the head without any apparent provocation.
Convicting him of manslaughter on January 4 after a months-long trial, a three-judge panel ruled there was no reason for Azaria to open fire since the Palestinian was posing no threat.
Judge Colonel Maya Heller called his testimony "evolving and evasive".
"His motive for shooting was that he felt the terrorist deserved to die," she said.
Azaria, who also has French nationality, faces up to 20 years in prison.
His family showed no emotion in court on Tuesday.
The prosecutor said Azaria "acted deliberately, he used his weapon to punish, he killed a person, even if it was a terrorist".
Colonel Gay Hazut, who formerly commanded the unit in which Azaria was serving, said he had "committed something serious and should be punished".
"But," he added, "I do not think he should spend 20 years or even 10 years in prison."
The prosecutor also asked for an unspecified suspended term and for Azaria to be demoted from sergeant to private.
Weisman said the time Azaria had spent confined to base should not be deducted from the sentence, but the nine days he spent in jail could.
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The case has sparked political tensions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israeli history, has called for him to be pardoned.
Right-wing ministers have defended Azaria despite top army brass condemning his actions in an extraordinary public rift between politicians and the military.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel announced plans on Tuesday for 3,000 more settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, the third such declaration in eleven days since U.S. President Donald Trump took office. Trump has signaled he could be more accommodating toward such projects than his predecessor Barack Obama. A statement from the Israeli Defence Ministry, which administers lands Israel captured in a 1967 war, said the decision was meant to fulfill demand for housing and "return to life as usual". The announcement came close to midnight as preparations began for the eviction of 330 settlers from an outpost in the West Bank. The Supreme Court had ruled that the Amona outpost must be evacuated by Feb 8. because it was built illegally on privately-owned Palestinian land. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are due to meet in Washington on Feb. 15. The president's chief spokesman said last week the two leaders would discuss settlement building. The muted response from the Trump White House so far on Israel's settlement announcements has been a clear departure from Obama, whose aides routinely criticized settlement construction plans. An announcement a week ago by Israel that it would build some 2,500 more homes in the West Bank drew rebuke from the Palestinians and from the EU. It followed approval of more than 560 new homes in East Jerusalem days before. Palestinians want the West Bank and Gaza Strip for an independent state, with its capital in East Jerusalem. Israeli troops and settlers withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Most countries consider settlements illegal and an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace as they reduce and fragment the territory Palestinians need for a viable state. Israel disagrees, citing biblical, historical and political connections to the land - which the Palestinians also assert - as well as security interests. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Bernard Orr)
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Jews born in the seven countries included under US President Donald Trump's travel restrictions will not be banned from America, the country's embassy in Tel Aviv said Tuesday.
The executive order signed on Friday banned nationals of seven mainly Muslim countries from the Middle East and Africa for 90 days but has sparked confusion in its interpretation.
Israel is home to around 140,000 people born in the seven countries covered by the decree, including about 45,000 from Iran and 53,000 from Iraq, according to official statistics.
Many fled persecution, and the majority are now over the age of 65.
Their Israeli passports say where they were born but most do not still have the nationality of their country of birth.
The Israeli government had been seeking clarification as to whether they were included in the ban.
"If you have a currently valid US visa in your Israeli passport and were born in Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen, and do not have a valid passport from one of these countries, your visa was not cancelled and remains valid," a US embassy statement said.
"We continue to process visa applications for applicants born in those countries, so long as they do not have a valid passport from one of those countries," it added.
JERUSALEM (AP) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming White House visit aims to cement ties to a surprisingly supportive U.S. president but it also presents a political minefield.
While Netanyahu appears to have hit it off with President Donald Trump, he will have to tread carefully during their meeting or risk being seen as endorsing divisive policies that have alienated key constituencies in Israel and the United States.
"On the one hand, the prime minister is going to want to and absolutely should establish a close working relationship with the new president," said Dan Shapiro, who earlier this month completed his term as President Barack Obama's ambassador to Israel.
But on the other hand, Shapiro said "there is a risk that by seeming to associate too closely with certain proposals, and perhaps in some ways with him personally, there's an alienation factor for other key (American) constituencies that have been part of the bipartisan pro-Israel coalition. That is something the prime minister may want to keep in mind."
In a sign of what could lie ahead, Netanyahu over the weekend set off a diplomatic incident with Mexico with a tweet supporting Trump's border wall a posting that Israel apologized for on Tuesday.
Netanyahu also stayed conspicuously silent while American Jewish groups condemned an awkward White House statement about the Holocaust that made no mention of Jewish suffering. He also avoided speaking out on Trump's executive order banning travel to the U.S. for citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, despite deep misgivings among many American Jews and fears here that Israelis of Middle Eastern descent might also be affected.
On the surface, Trump appears to be a welcome change for Netanyahu from Obama: they repeatedly clashed over Israeli settlement construction on occupied lands and the U.S-backed nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.
Trump has signaled a vastly different approach to both issues, and in their Feb. 15 meeting, Netanyahu will likely be looking to reach understandings with the tycoon-turned-president.
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He is expected to seek guidance on what sort of settlement construction will be tolerated by the Trump administration, and to push the president to revisit the nuclear deal or at least seek other ways to put pressure on Iran.
The nationalist Netanyahu may also be looking for Trump to follow through on promises to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move long favored by Israel and vehemently opposed by the Palestinians.
In a series of tweets, Shapiro said that both men will want their meeting to be a "lovefest," but suggested that Netanyahu should beware. "The real question is what does Trump want from the meeting?"
Netanyahu got a possible taste of the future what with his handling of Trump's proposed wall along the Mexican border.
Responding to Trump's praise for Israel's own border walls, Netanyahu sent out a Trump-like tweet: "President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea," he wrote.
Mexico quickly demanded an apology, and Netanyahu was forced into damage-control mode. Appearing to take another page from the Trump playbook, he angrily accused the media of inflating the issue.
Shapiro said Netanyahu moved perilously close to involvement in U.S. affairs, apparently under pressure from Trump.
"It surprised me, that he kind of weighed in on a very divisive domestic American issue, considering that desire to maintain bipartisanship, and on an issue that doesn't really have a core Israeli interest," he said. "It struck me as certainly possible that the administration sought that endorsement from him as kind of an early sign of friendship."
Netanyahu's conservative worldview tends to be in sync with the U.S. Republican Party and he has a long record of appearing to side with Republicans.
But Trump is no mainstream Republican, and his recent policy pronouncements could trigger backlashes from some of Netanyahu's most important constituencies.
Trump angered U.S. Jewish groups across the political spectrum with his comments on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in which he made no mention of the Nazi genocide of 6 million Jews. Even the Zionist Organization of America, a right-wing group that has been supportive of Trump, expressed "chagrin and deep pain."
Trump's ban on refugees and visitors from the seven predominantly Muslim countries has also upset many American Jews, some of whom have strong memories of their forefathers fleeing persecution in Europe.
In Israel, it set off a scare that tens of thousands of Israelis who were born in Muslim countries might also be caught up in the ban. The U.S. Embassy in Israel clarified that on Tuesday, saying Israelis of all backgrounds were eligible for visas as long as they are not dual citizens of the countries affected by the ban Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Few Israelis would be affected.
Trump's travel ban also threatens to upset Israel's Muslim minority, which has long had a rocky relationship with Netanyahu. Caught between a new U.S. president who shows little patience for critics and groups who fiercely oppose Trump, Netanyahu has kept noticeably silent.
David Horovitz, editor of the centrist Times of Israel news site, said Netanyahu should show the courage to speak up. He also urged the Israeli prime minister to act as a "fire prevention officer" in an explosive Mideast region, with a U.S. president who has a "potentially very short fuse."
"His embrace of Trump's Mexican wall did not make for a good start speaking out when he had no need to. His failure to highlight the Jewish problem with Trump's Holocaust Day statement was still more discouraging staying silent when he should have spoken out. He needed to find the words to convey concern at the too-sweeping entry bans," Horovitz wrote.
He also urged Netanyahu to assert some leadership. "For now, he's looking like Donald Trump's yes-man," he said.
Japan Airlines on Tuesday said net profit dropped in the nine months to December due to a slump in income from international flights, but the carrier left its full-year forecast unchanged.
JAL posted a net profit of 108.3 billion yen ($955 million), down 24.6 percent from the same period the year before. Revenue fell 4.7 percent to 975.5 billion yen.
The airline said in a statement that income from international passenger flights dropped nearly 10 percent during the period, while that for domestic flights edged down less than one percent.
JAL, which slashed its full-year earnings outlook three months ago, left its latest target unchanged, forecasting a net profit of 161 billion yen and sales of 1.28 trillion yen for the year to March.
While the airline did not elaborate on negative factors behind the slump, analysts and local media said increased personnel costs, particularly rising salaries, were squeezing the bottom line.
"Increasing personnel costs are pressuring JAL's fiscal year profit," said Hiroshi Hasegawa, an analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities in Tokyo.
"JAL has been winding up the recovery stage from its crisis," he said. "JAL is now moving to the next stage where it may need to consider LCC (low cost carrier) businesses and expanding international routes."
JAL received a government bailout after a high-profile bankruptcy restructuring in 2010. The carrier relisted on the Tokyo bourse two years later.
In sharp contrast, rival carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) last Friday said its net profit jumped 18 percent in the nine months to December thanks to brisk performance on international flights.
However, ANA said it sees the policies of new US President Donald Trump as a risk factor, with many economists fearing his protectionist slant could hurt the global economy or even spark a trade war.
JAL and ANA said Tuesday they decided to bar passengers from seven Muslim-majority countries from taking their flights to the United States following Trump's entry ban.
West Salem Elementary owes its nomination for a national Blue Ribbon Schools award by Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers to its dedicated staff, Principal Ryan Rieber said last week.
The school was one of eight public elementary schools in Wisconsin to be nominated for the awards, which recognize academic excellence and a dedication to closing learning gaps.
To be nominated, schools must outperform other schools in statewide assessments or show effectiveness at closing achievement gaps within various student groups.
Its a tremendous honor for the staff at the elementary school, Rieber said. This honor goes to speak for all their hard work.
He said the honor really highlights the faculty and staffs dedication to students in the classroom and ensuring students who are struggling dont fall behind, using techniques like one-on-one intervention.
Rieber said the nomination should also be reassuring to parents, many of whom make the decision to send their child to West Salem over other area school districts in the region.
When you have a great school within your community it makes the community greater, he said.
Also nominated this year were, Elmwood Elementary, Mountain Bay Elementary, Oriole Lane Elementary, Phillips Elementary, Robinson Elementary, Shorewood Hills Elementary and Washington Elementary.
West Salems next step will be to complete the Blue Ribbon School Program application and undergo a national review process. If selected to receive an award, the school will be notified in early September.
Christian Grey himself, Jamie Dornan, joined Ellen on Tuesday, and they discussed the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon and the repercussions its had on society. The main repercussion was the noticeable bump in pregnancies after the release of the first movie. Now, with the upcoming release of the second film, Fifty Shades Darker, and the third due early next year, its safe to say there are going to be a lot of babies being born over the next couple of years.
When DeGeneres first brought up this phenomenon, Dornan admitted that there may have been a few extra deliveries following the release of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2015. In fact, hed even had an encounter in an elevator with a woman who told him shed become pregnant shortly after the release of the film.
I had one genuinely quite a touching, sincere, lovely story of a woman who stopped me, Dornan said. She said that she had trouble conceiving, and then after Fifty Shades came out, it all clicked into place for them and they had a baby.
Check out Timothy Olyphants story about being a victim of voyeurism and being OK with it:
Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Khail Anonymous, on Twitter.
Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez and her production company I Can and I Will Productions are about to make great things with CBS Studios. Her production company has just signed a multi-year overall deal with the studio, according to The Wrap.
According to the report, her company will first be pushing the German series format, Dr. Illegal. The series will provide a humorous take on the lives of refugee seekers, and it is set in an illegal doctors office.
Rodriguez raved about this deal on her social media page, calling it a true blessing because they are now given a bigger platform to put women in front of and behind the camera.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez is known for her role as Jane Gloriana Villanueva in The CW comedy series Jane the Virgin.
This Season 3, her character is going on a job hunt and will experience one bad interview after another. It wouldnt be realistic if she got the first job she interviews for, and it certainly wouldnt be a telenovela if Jane clicked with the first recruiter, Rodriguez told Rotten Tomatoes. I think Jane always is on bad interviews. Everything bad that can happen to Jane happens.
However, in the end, Jane will say yes to one particular job, only to find that she has too many things in common with her new boss. Maya Kazan will play the boss Jane eventually works for, and she is just about the same age as Jane.
Jane is young, her boss is young, a young wunderkind who is Janes contemporary but much more accomplished than she is, executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman said. Theres definitely some tension and different feelings about having a boss thats her same age and where they are in their life versus your life.
Jane the Virgin Season 3 airs every Monday at 9 p.m. EST on The CW.
Gina Rodriguez
Photo: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni
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TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will explain the facts about its auto market to U.S. President Donald Trump and seek his understanding, trade minister Hiroshige Seko said on Tuesday.
Seko said it was undecided whether he would accompany Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his visit to Washington to meet Trump on Feb. 10.
At the meeting between the two leaders, Trump is expected to seek quick progress towards a two-way trade deal with Japan and discuss the automotive sector.
(Reporting by Ami Miyazaki, writing by Kaori Kaneko, editing by Chris Gallagher)
Rae Kushner. (Screenshot via Kean College of New Jersey Holocaust Resource Center)
As the Trump administration faces continued blowback over the executive order barring citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the country, an interview with the late Rae Kushner, a Holocaust survivor and the grandmother of Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, has resurfaced.
The interview, given in 1982 to the Kean College of New Jersey Holocaust Resource Center, is now part of the archives at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
In it, Kushner describes atrocities in Nazi-occupied Novogrudok, Poland, and laments Americas refusal to admit Jewish refugees. Her experiences echo those of refugees from Syria and the six other nations seeking safety in the United States.
We felt the anti-Semitism, Kushner recalled. We felt something was coming, but we couldnt help ourselves. The doors of the world were closed to us.
Of her parents and three siblings, only Kushner, her father, and one sister survived. They escaped the ghetto through an underground tunnel and lived in the woods for nine months. Eventually Kushner boarded a train to Czechoslovakia by concealing her Jewish identity and walked through Austria and Hungary to Italy, where she lived with her husband for 3 1/2 years in a camp for displaced persons before being allowed into the United States.
Kushner said the Italian camp was like being in the ghetto again and described her desperation to leave Europe.
We wanted to go to Africa, to Australia, to Israel, she said. We would go anywhere where we could live in freedom but nobody wanted us. (What is now Israel was at that time part of the Palestine Mandate, under the control of Great Britain, which excluded most Jewish refugees.)
Nobody opened their doors to us. Nobody wanted to take us in. So for three and a half years, we waited until we finally got a visa to come to the United States.
Kushner also specifically invoked the St. Louis, a ship of German Jewish refugees that was turned away by Cuba and the United States in 1939. The day Trump signed the travel ban (also Holocaust Remembrance Day), a Twitter account under the handle @Stl_Manifest started posting the names of those passengers who were later killed in the Holocaust.
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For the Jews, the doors were closed, Kushner said. We never understood that.
Even President Roosevelt kept the doors closed. Why? The boat, St. Louis, was turned back. What was the world afraid of? I dont understand.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website explains that Public opinion in the United States, although ostensibly sympathetic to the plight of refugees and critical of Hitlers policies, continued to favor immigration restrictions.
Jared Kushner (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)
Jared Kushner wrote about his grandparents experiences last summer in a letter defending his father-in-law against allegations of anti-Semitism. He warned that their story would be trivialized if accusations like racist and anti-Semite are being thrown around with a carelessness that risks rendering these words meaningless.
I go into these details, which I have never discussed, because its important to me that people understand where Im coming from when I report that I know the difference between actual, dangerous intolerance versus these labels that get tossed around in an effort to score political points, Kushner wrote in the New York Observer, the newspaper he owns.
Rae Kushner, who died in 2004, closes her interview marveling at the miracle that she and her husband were able to survive the Holocaust and prosper in the U.S.
Our life is a miracle, she said. We survived the camps, the ghettos, and the woods.
It is a miracle that we lived to become normal people. Our lives are miracles, our children and grandchildren are miracles. We never dreamed that out of the ashes and rubble, we would survive to lead normal lives and see and build the next generation.
Read more from Yahoo News:
LONDON (AP) Former England international Adam Johnson has launched a fresh legal challenge against his six-year jail sentence for child sex offenses.
Johnson was convicted in March after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and another of "grooming" building an emotional connection with a child to gain trust for sexual motives. He was also found guilty of another charge of sexual activity with the schoolgirl.
The 29-year-old Johnson had a previous application for leave to appeal refused in July. His latest appeal will be heard at the Court of Appeal on Feb. 28.
Johnson played 12 times for England, and his clubs included Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
MIAMI (AP) A federal jury convicted a man Tuesday of a plot to detonate a nail-filled backpack bomb on a Florida Keys beach that prosecutors said was inspired by the Islamic State extremist group.
Court records show the jury in Key West convicted Harlem Suarez, 25, on Tuesday of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to a terrorist organization after a seven-day trial. Suarez faces a maximum of life in prison at sentencing set for April 18.
Suarez, whose family emigrated from Cuba, came to the FBI's attention through Facebook posts praising the Islamic State group and containing extremist rhetoric, according to an FBI affidavit.
"By intending to place an explosive device on a public beach, Harlem Suarez posed a grave threat to the residents and visitors of Key West," said Miami U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer in a news release. "Let this case serve as an example to others that the U.S. attorney's office and our law enforcement partners stand as a united front against all domestic threats."
According to a criminal complaint, Suarez told an FBI informant he wanted to make a bomb, bury it on a Key West beach and detonate it.
He was arrested in 2015 after taking possession of an inert explosive device provided by an FBI informant, it added. Suarez had given the informant some bomb supplies, including two boxes of galvanized nails, the backpack and a cellphone to be used as a detonator, the complaint said.
"I can go to the beach at the night time, put the thing in the sand, cover it up, so the next day I just call and the thing is gonna, is gonna make, a real hard noise from nowhere," Suarez told an FBI source in a recorded call, according to the complaint.
The FBI said Suarez also sought to make an Islamic State recruitment video using a script he wrote himself. It eventually was made under FBI surveillance at a motel in Homestead, according to the complaint, with Suarez dressed in a black tactical vest, black shirt, mask and yellow-and-black scarf.
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Taking the stand in his defense, Suarez insisted he was only playing along with men he met online, local media reported. His attorney, Richard Della Fera, told jurors Suarez was no terrorist and that he had been goaded along by the FBI informant.
Earlier, the attorney said Suarez had become obsessed with news reports about the Islamic State. There was no indication Suarez ever made actual contact with Islamic State members overseas, according to the FBI, but several of his Facebook posts expressed solidarity with them.
In one post, the FBI said Suarez wrote, "Be a warrior, learn how to cut your enemies head and then burn down the body learn how to be the new future of the world Caliphate" a reference the Islamic State goal of building a regional fundamentalist entity.
The FBI said he later added a request "from any brother. How to make a bomb send me a video or something, what do I need to make it."
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Follow Curt Anderson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/miamicurt
Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya has handed over to the United States four men suspected of trying to smuggle large quantities of heroin, more than two years after their arrest, police said Tuesday.
Kenyan brothers Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha were arrested in November 2014, along with Indian national Vijaygiri Goswami and Pakistani citizen Gulam Hussein, following a sting by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) which infiltrated the Mombasa-based organisation.
East Africa is emerging as a key staging post in the international heroin trade and US officials believe the Akashas are a crucial link in a supply chain that connects Afghanistan's poppy fields with consumers in Europe and the US.
"They were deported last night on a private charter plane and we expect them to be arraigned in court in the US to stand trial for smuggling drugs," said a senior Kenyan anti-narcotics officer on condition of anonymity.
Local media on Tuesday also reported their extradition, though their lawyer Cliff Ombeta said he had not been informed and did not know where they were.
Ombeta said if they had been sent to the US, "then consequences must follow because there is an order in the lower court that says they should not be removed from this jurisdiction".
An explanation was needed if they had been moved, he added.
According to a US indictment, Ibrahim Akasha personally delivered 99 kilos of heroin and two kilos of methamphetamine to undercover agents. Meetings and conversations were recorded.
The US indictment describes Baktash Akasha as "the leader of an organised crime family in Kenya" and his younger brother Ibrahim as his "deputy".
It also describes "Old Man" Hussein as "the head of a transportation network that distributes massive quantities of narcotics throughout the Middle East and Africa", while "Vicky" Goswami "manages the Akasha Organisation's drug business".
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The men are accused of conspiring to import pure "white crystal" heroin into the US at a knock-down price of around $10,000 (9,100 euros) a kilo.
US officials believe the Akasha brothers are continuing the business of their late father, also named Ibrahim, who was described in a secret 2006 US diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks as a "drug baron".
He was killed in Amsterdam -- shot four times by a bicycle-riding assassin -- in May 2000 as he took a morning stroll with his wife along Blood Street in the city's red light district.
Over the last two years the extradition request has foundered in Kenya's courts while the four suspects have been out on bail.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said Tuesday that Kenya must "fight the war on drugs".
"We have said we are no longer going to target those small peddlers. We are going for the real drug dealers," Kenyatta said, without specifying whether he was referring to the Akasha case.
San Salvador (AFP) - Relatives of more than 1,000 people murdered in the worst massacre of El Salvador's 1980-1992 civil war are to be given up to $35,000 each by a compensation commission set up Tuesday, the government said.
The disbursement complies with a ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights handed at the end of 2012.
The court ordered a full investigation of the 1981 massacre that occurred in the town of El Mazote, where government troops raped and slaughtered its inhabitants on suspicion of aiding leftwing guerrillas. It also said the remains of those killed should be given to their families for burial, and compensation paid.
A president's office official, Roberto Lorenzana, confirmed that the commission had been formed to give the court-ordered compensation, of between $10,000 and $35,000, to each of the relatives.
He and representatives of the families are sitting on the panel.
South Korea's government on Tuesday unveiled the final version of state-issued school history textbooks despite criticism that they are a throwback to the country's authoritarian past.
The education ministry published middle and high school history textbooks even as parliament is moving to ban their use. Legislators say they glorify the dictatorship of Park Chung-Hee, late father of impeached President Park Geun-Hye.
Park Chung-Hee ruled the country for 18 years until his assassination in 1979.
"We need to establish a historical perception that will encourage positive views about our own history," vice education minister Lee Young told reporters at the announcement.
But critics argue the new textbooks exaggerate Park Chung-Hee's role in industrialising the country, while glossing over his human rights abuses.
"As a result of government efforts to boost exports, export volume jumped 40 percent every year," an online copy of the new high school textbook said about the Park era.
History remains a bitter ideological battleground in South Korea, which achieved democracy only in 1987.
Conservative critics argue that current texts are too left-leaning and warp students' minds with allegedly leftist-leaning ideological bias.
They say the existing books belittle achievements under the South's former authoritarian rulers, including the country's rapid industrialisation after the Korean War, while barely touching on the North's human rights abuses.
The government initially planned to impose the state-authored history textbooks this year for exclusive use.
But in the face of waves of protests from historians, teachers and other critics, it announced in December that it would let schools choose between them and approved texts from commercial publishers.
Opposition lawmakers from parliament's education committee -- who are mulling a move to outlaw the new books -- slammed their final versions, calling them "Park Chung-Hee textbooks".
The state textbooks must be scrapped immediately, they told a press conference following the government unveiling.
South Korea's defence chief and his new US counterpart vowed Tuesday to push ahead with a plan to deploy a US anti-missile system this year, Seoul's military said, despite angry protests by China.
The two allies last year announced the plan to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system following a series of atomic and missile tests by nuclear-armed North Korea.
New US Defense Secretary James Mattis and his South Korean counterpart Han Min-Koo reaffirmed the plan in a phone conversation, Seoul's defence ministry said, days before Mattis visits Asia.
How the incoming administration of President Donald Trump will approach the region has raised worries in South Korea and Japan, both of them longstanding US allies.
During his campaign, Trump threatened to withdraw US forces from the two countries if they did not step up their financial support for their defence.
Mattis and Han voiced grave concern over growing threats from North Korea and agreed on "a need...to push ahead with the deployment of the THAAD as planned", the ministry said in a statement.
The two ministers also warned that the North may stage armed provocations at times of power transitions in the South and the US.
Their conversation came after Trump and South Korea's acting president Hwang Kyo-Ahn agreed Monday to strengthen their joint defence capabilities, but with the White House's official statement making no specific reference to THAAD.
The North's leader Kim Jong-Un boasted early this month that the country was in the "final stages" of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The THAAD plan has infuriated China, which fears it will undermine its own ballistic capabilities and has slapped a series of measures seen by Seoul as economic retaliation.
It also sparked angry protests from residents of the area chosen to host the powerful missile system, with several South Korean presidential hopefuls vowing to scrap the plan if elected.
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Mattis, during his first overseas tour since taking office this month, visits South Korea from Thursday to Friday before flying to Japan.
He is expected to meet with Han as well as Hwang, who has been serving as acting head of state since parliament impeached President Park Geun-Hye last month.
The South's Constitutional Court is reviewing the validity of the motion. If the court confirms the impeachment, a presidential election will be held within 60 days.
Each week I set aside Monday morning to write this column a time when I avoid other business and focus with a topic in hand. But seldom in the many years Ive been writing the column have I been met on a Monday morning with such a chaotic barrage of contradictory information. The contradiction is evident when one juxtaposes a new, hastily announced federal government policy with what I supposed was an established national value prohibiting discrimination based on religion.
Compare, for example, the newly announced anti-terrorism policy by President Donald Trump barring entry into the United States to all refugees and citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries with Canadas reaction to that policy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointedly tweeted to refugees, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength.
And then, Discrimination based on national origin is a thinly veiled attempt to discriminate on the basis of religion, according to Richard W. Painter and Norman L. Eisen, who were chief White House ethics lawyers for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, respectively.
They noted in a co-written op-ed that the Trump order does not require a similar ban for other Muslim nations in which Trump has business interests. They cite Trumps most recent financial disclosures, but acknowledge that the full story will depend on public disclosure of his tax returns, which he has refused to do. They also noted that Trump has said he will eventually give immigration policy exceptions to Christians in the Muslim-dominated countries.
They concluded: After the election we often heard the phrase to the victor belong the spoils. But there are ethical and constitutional limits to that maxim. In this case, an already suspect immigration ban is subject to yet more doubt because President Trump may be looking to his business interests at the same time as he makes decisions about human beings who want to come to America to study, earn a living, avoid persecution and in some instances, to survive.
Little wonder, then, that protests spread across the country and world. The administration made some quick adjustments to its policy and the situation probably will change by the time this column is printed. So my thoughts Monday moved on to another topic that received less attention amid the furor of the immigration restrictions.
President Trump has elevated his chief strategist Stephen Bannon for a seat at the National Security Council Principals Committee meetings a position that adds to his influence in the administration. Bannon said recently in an interview with the New York Times that The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for a while.
Would he, then, have the media gagged as it works to inform the public about the effects of the presidents recent action? Would he have the media shut up about the need for the public to see the presidents tax returns? One wonders if he is the source of the strategy being employed by his boss to question the honesty of journalists.
Journalists will continue to provide us the information we need to make informed judgments about the actions of our governments, national, state and local. We need them now more than ever given the ability of government leaders to control the message with the tools of social media. We must not forget that, without journalists, after all, a president hostile to the press might have survived in office even though he was a liar and a conspirator. The medias exposure of President Richard Nixons lies and cover-up resulted in his resignation.
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) The Latest on a speech by Milo Yiannopoulos at the University of California at Berkeley (all times local):
9:22 am.
A polarizing editor from Breitbart News is scheduled to speak Wednesday at the University of California at Berkeley.
The event featuring Milo Yiannopoulos has raised an issue facing campuses across America at the dawn of the Trump presidency: What is the line between free speech and hate speech?
The visit is sponsored by the campus Republican club and is the last stop on Yiannopoulos's cross-country tour that has sparked protests and sporadic violence.
Nearly 100 professors have joined students at Berkeley, calling for the event's cancellation. But university officials say it will be allowed in the name of free speech.
Fans and foes agree that Yiannopoulos specializes in controversy. He is a self-proclaimed internet troll who has been criticized as racist, misogynist and white supremacist.
Yiannopoulos rejects those accusations.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Latest on doctor charged with running a pill mill and evading taxes (all times local):
5 p.m.
The government says a doctor and former university trustee has pleaded guilty to charges of running a pill mill and evading $3.5 million in taxes.
Prosecutors say in the plea entered Monday in federal court that Dr. Kevin Lake acknowledged knowing that doctors and staff at his Columbus medical clinic were prescribing painkillers without a legitimate medical purpose.
The government says Lake oversaw illegal operations at Columbus Southern Medical Center which included more than $38 million in patient payments.
The 50-year-old Lake faces five years in prison at sentencing. A message was left with Lake's attorney seeking comment.
Lake served one year as a Bowling Green State University trustee and about seven years as an Ohio University trustee before resigning Jan. 21.
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1:20 p.m.
The government says a doctor and former Ohio University trustee plans to plead guilty to charges of running a pill mill and evading $3.5 million in taxes.
Federal prosecutors say that in the deal made public Monday Dr. Kevin Lake acknowledges knowing doctors and staff at his Columbus medical clinic were prescribing painkillers without a legitimate medical purpose.
The government says Lake oversaw illegal operations at Columbus Southern Medical Center which included more than $38 million in patient payments.
The deal calls for the 50-year-old Lake to serve five years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. A message was left with Lake's attorney seeking comment.
Lake began serving a nine-year term as an Ohio University trustee in 2010 and resigned effective immediately on Jan. 21.
PHOENIX (AP) The Latest on the fatal shooting of a woman in the parking lot of a Phoenix apartment complex (all times local):
8:50 a.m.
Phoenix police say a woman's two children were present but unharmed when she was gunned down in the parking lot of an apartment complex.
Sgt. Vince Lewis says the 35-year-old woman apparently was shot at close range Tuesday morning.
Lewis says the children are in Fire Department custody until an adult relative can be located.
Police didn't immediately release the victim's identity or additional information about the shooting, but media outlets report that the woman had just loaded her two young children into a car when she was shot.
Police cordoned off the parking lot and searched for a suspect.
The shooting happened near Cave Creek and Greenway roads shortly before 6 a.m.
___
7:45 a.m.
Phoenix police say a 35-year-old woman has died after being shot multiple times in the parking lot of an apartment complex.
Sgt. Vince Lewis says no additional information is immediately available on the Tuesday morning shooting, but media outlets report the victim was gunned down while loading her two young children into a car.
The shooting happened near Cave Creek and Greenway roads shortly before 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Thanks to some leaked images, LG's next major smartwatch, which will be powered by the latest version of Android Wear, is slowly but surely coming into focus.
Credit: Evan Blass/@evleaks
Credit: Evan Blass/@evleaks
The latest leaks come from TechnoBuffalo and serial leaker Evan Blass, who previously reported that the device will be called the LG Watch Style when it reportedly debuts on Feb. 9 alongside Android Wear 2.0.
MORE: Best Smartwatches - Top Picks for Android and iOS
Based on the pictures, which look like images that typically accompany product announcements, the LG Watch Style would come with a round watchface and a digital crown to the right. According to Blass, the LG Watch Style will be available in silver and rose gold versions; if the leaked images are accurate, they'll feature a stylish watchband, too.
Perhaps most importantly, the LG Watch Style will run Android Wear 2.0, the update to Google's operating system for wearables first previewed last year. The new OS will let you run standalone apps on your watch without the need to have a connected smartphone on hand. Google Assistant will also come to Android Wear 2.0 watches.
Google has only said that the new OS will arrive in early February. Blass, in an earlier report, pegs that date as Feb. 9, with the LG Watch Style and a second model, known as the LG Watch Sport, debuting alongside the OS.
The leaked images don't reveal what's hiding under the LG watch's hood. According to Android Police, which cited a source of its own, the smartwatch's screen could measure 1.2 inches and feature a 360-by-360 resolution. It might also offer 512MB of RAM and a 240mAh battery. That source says LG will price the smartwatch at $249.
See also : Cheap Smartwatches Under $40 Ranked Best to Worst
If there is anything we have learned about Donald Trump since he descended his golden escalator 18 months ago to announce his presidential campaign, its that his ego is easily bruised and that he holds a grudge against whoever did the bruising. He gets and remains angry at people who have criticized him, belittled him or stolen his spotlight, and feels compelled to lash out.
For the brief moment in the campaign when Ben Carson surged ahead of him in the polls, he lashed out at the celebrated brain surgeon, comparing him to a child molester. When members of Congress make headlines criticizing him, he goes after them personally on Twitter. The idea that he didnt win the popular vote gnaws at him enough to spawn an investigation of massive voter fraud that nobody with real knowledge of the electoral system believes in for a moment.
Related: Trumps Immigration and Obamacare Policies Could Trigger a GOP Backlash
Given Trumps sensitivity to slights and his anger at the suggestion that he is not as popular or as strong a leader as he believes he is, it seems reasonable to ask: How long is he going to be able to tolerate headlines declaring that it appears to be Steve Bannon, President Trumps chief White House strategist, thats running the administration, and not Trump?
Because there are a lot of them out there right now. The New York Times on Tuesday ran an editorial headlined simply, President Bannon? GQ magazine carried an article that states, In Case It Wasn't Clear Yet, Steve Bannon Is Our President. Politico ran with The man behind Trump? Still Steve Bannon. And Foreign Policy writes about President Bannons Hugely Destructive First Week in Office.
The unkindest cut of all, for a president addicted to Twitter, may have been when the hashtag #StopPresidentBannon began trending on the social media platform after the administrations controversial executive order on refugees was released on Friday.
In the past, Trump has exploded when actors on Saturday Night Live portrayed him as an egotistical naif whose top advisers (and potential adversaries, like Russian President Vladimir Putin) are leading him around by the nose.
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How much more will it irk Trump to see the question of who is really running the White House being asked openly is the media that he professes to despise, but consumes voraciously? Its a question that must be consuming a lot of people in the White House right now, not least of them Steve Bannon.
Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
From Popular Mechanics
Last summer the United States Air Force Museum officially opened the doors on their fourth hangar featuring some very exotic aircraft like the XB-70 Valkre Supersonic bomber . All the museum exhibits are open to the public free of charge, but if you can't make the trip to Dayton, Ohio, this massive composite image is the next best thing.
The photo spans over 190 degrees from left to right and is compiled from 115 separate images stitched together to create a panoramic experience at a resolution of over 1 gigapixel1,030 megapixels to be exact. During your virtual trip around the museum, you'll get detailed views of the world's fasted air breathing jet, the SR-71. You'll also take a gander at the X-15, claiming the highest speed ever recorded by a manned aircraft.
There are many more fascinating aircraft ready to explore in four differentPresidential, Research and Development, Space, and Global Reach. The building also hosts three science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Learning Nodes. And if that doesn't satiate your historic aircraft viewing cravings, the museum's website also features 360-degree interactive cockpit photos from over 60 of its other exhibits.
To make these massive pictures, a photographer uses an automated rotating gimbal made by Gigapan . Once the boundaries of the desired image are defined, the device can automatically meter and focus through a series of shots all while seamlessly stitching them to create an impressive ultra high-resolution photo.
It's a neat piece of a technology and a perfect one to show off examples of the U.S.'s aerospace achievement.
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President Donald Trumps ban against Muslims entering the United States doesnt have a prayer of support among the majority of religious leaders in the country, a sentiment that many Coulee Region faith representatives share.
Some religious leaders in the region are equally skeptical of the Trump administrations claim that the restrictions against people from seven Muslim-majority countries are intended solely to safeguard the homeland, indicating that they seem more like wholesale discrimination against Muslims.
I was extremely alarmed and shocked by the action taken by President Trump. This could have very easily been my own family, La Crosse Muslim Wale Elegbede said Monday.
To me, this is a Muslim ban, and it doesnt matter how folks spin it, said Elegbede, a native of Nigeria who has lived in La Crosse for 17 years and has three children with his wife, Audrey.
Elegbede participates in an interfaith group that is a subcommittee of the La Crosse Interfaith Justice and Peace Network. The groups goal is to promote religious understanding among all denominations. It also aims to help the estimate 100 to 300 Muslims in La Crosse the higher number being when universities are in session feel safe and respected.
Similarly chagrined about Trumps executive action, announced Friday, is Vince Hatt, former head of the Franciscan Spirituality Center who chairs the networks subcommittee.
My image today is of the Statue of Liberty weeping, Hatt said. This decision violates the compassion of most Americans.
Lutheran bishop rejects blaming Muslims
Bishop Jim Arends, leader of the La Crosse Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said, As an American, this depresses me.
My main concern is as a bishop in the ELCA, the world has more refugees than any time, said Arends, who lives in La Crescent and whose synod includes 74 churches in southwest Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota.
The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service has been conscientious in vetting refugees and in working with the federal government to help them settle in the United States, he said.
Thats just not being addressed now, except (alleging) danger, Arends said.
The Lutheran bishop agreed with the need for caution in crafting immigration rules, adding, You do this carefully. We do have concerns for safety. But as a Christian, I reject the idea of blaming all Muslims for the acts of a radical minority.
Thats just not who we are, he said.
Bishop William Callahan, head of the 19-county Diocese of La Crosse, also noted the need for balance, saying, It behooves us as people of faith to assist those in need and protect those who are helpless and unjustly deprived of life and liberty in their native land.
Along with the longtime U.S. leadership in resettling refugees, It is also our responsibility as citizens of this country to protect ourselves from those who may harbor evil intentions in their plans to come here, Callahan said.
Under Trumps order, more than 100 people, including a 5-year-old boy separated from his mother flying to the United States from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen were detained for hours upon landing at several U.S. The detentions resulted in demonstrations of thousands of people at airports, although Trump said Monday that the hubbub was the result of computer glitches and that the sequestering went smoothly.
Nationally, leaders of denominations and organizations representing more than 150 million Americans of virtually every denomination criticized Trumps action in voices ranging from careful and measured to condemnatory.
Although Trump and administration officials insisted that the restrictions are not intended to target Muslims, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani contradicted them during an interview on Fox News on Sunday.
Giuliani: Trump specified Muslim ban
When host Jeanine Pirro asked Giuliani whether religion was a consideration in forming Trumps decree, he said, Ill tell you the whole history of it. So when [Trump] first announced it, he said, Muslim ban.
He called me up, said Giuliani, an adviser to Trump. He said, Put a commission together. Show me the right way to do it legally.
The executive order has come under fire in federal courts, among lawyers and in other quarters as illegal on its face, violating the 1965 law that outlawed discrimination based on national origin on immigration matters.
Trump further roiled the waters with comments that Christians can move ahead of Muslims in the immigration line to enter the United States.
Thats discrimination, and its totally anti-Christian, Hatt said.
La Crosse Muslim Elegbede added his disdain for the qualifier, insisting, The fact that President Trump also said he will prioritize Christian Syrian refugees over Muslim refugees is quite alarming. There should be no favoritism between Christian and Muslims.
Arends added a biblical tack, saying, In our Christian practice, when our neighbor is in need, we care for our neighbor. The good Samaritan story is much more across racial and social lines than just our neighbor.
Callahan also invoked the justice aspect, saying, The presidents immigration plan is indeed painful for us who try to make Gods mercy our own. We must continue to engage the new administration and work vigorously to ensure that refugees are humanely welcomed and reunited with their loved ones.
As people of faith, we must remain vigilant and pray that equal justice can be achieved for all, Callahan said.
Elegbede noted that many of those the order affects have built lives in this country, as he has since he came here to attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
They love America and have entrusted her with their future and are people with spouses, families, property, careers all of which have been cut off from them in an instant by this action, he said, also noting that most terrorism victims are Muslims.
Despite the chaos resulting from the executive order, Elegbede said, We definitely have a tough road ahead of us, but I believe the decency of the American people will prevail in the end. I do not believe actually, I refuse to believe this action represents the heart of America.
Asked what he might say to the president if he were able to address him one-on-one, Elegbede said, You are the president of all. Your rhetoric and actions are hurtful and do not keep us safe.
Getty Image
Without immigration, would the tech industry exist? Sergey Brin, Steve Jobs, and many more tech CEOs and engineers were and are either immigrants or second-generation Americans. The tech industry itself is global, and fond of believing the internet has no borders. But with Trumps executive order banning refugees from Syria indefinitely and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries for at least ninety days, the tech industry has signed on to fight the order directly.
Mashable has a good summary of major tech companies offering their perspective on the ban by supporting a lawsuit from Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Ferguson is suing to invalidate the order on the basis that its unconstitutional. And while Microsoft, Amazon and others dont weigh in on that legal argument, they do point out immigration is crucial to their business.
Microsoft, for example, is providing the AGs office with hard data and has publicly stated company executives would be willing to testify in support of the suit. Amazon is also supplying assistance and Expedia, whose CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is an Iranian immigrant and sharply criticized Trumps actions, will be participating as well.
Theyre also likely just the tip of the iceberg. Many tech companies rely on immigration, and its heavily viewed as a detriment to the industry. Trump may soon have far more than just Amazon and Microsoft to deal with, and theyre formidable opponents already.
(via Mashable)
A La Crosse mother told police her son stabbed her in the shoulder Wednesday afternoon after she asked him to shovel snow, according to La Cro
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian authorities have arrested three men for suspected links with the Islamic State militant group, police said on Tuesday. Muslim-majority Malaysia has been on high alert since an attack last January by Islamic State-linked militants in Jakarta, the capital of neighboring Indonesia. Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspects were detained in three separate raids from Jan. 27 to Jan. 29. Police also confiscated a shotgun and an air rifle. Khalid did not identify the suspects but said one of them, a 38-year-old Malaysian, had posted a plan to carry out a bomb attack in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on his Facebook page. Another of the suspects is an Indonesian with Malaysian residency working as security guard with the national carrier, Malaysian Airlines. He and the third suspect, another Malaysian, were believed to have been planning to join Islamic State militants in Syria, Khalid said. The three face charges of suspected involvement in terrorism, he said. Malaysia has not seen a serious militant attack but authorities say they have disrupted several plots. Seven people were wounded in a grenade blast at a bar near Kuala Lumpur in June, in an attack claimed by Islamic State. Malaysia has arrested more than 250 people between 2013 and 2016 for suspected militant activity linked to Islamic State. According to police data, 91 Malaysians had gone to fight in the Middle East as of October last year. Of them, eight had returned to Malaysia and 24 had been killed in fighting there. Last week, authorities said they had arrested four people with links to an Islamic State cell based in the southern Philippines. (Reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Editing by Robert Birsel)
The family of a Los Angeles man suffering from dementia has been accused of abandoning him in Great Britain, leaving the man to own devices until he was found at a bus stop in November with no ID and no recollection of how he got there.
The 76-year-old man was discovered at a bus station parking lot in the western city of Hereford in England on November 7, 2015, according to court documents obtained by the BBC Panorama.
Though he was wearing new clothing and appeared to have been well looked after, the elderly man had no identification and only once was he able to tell authorities his name was Roger Curry, the BBC reported.
He was taken to a local nursing home, where he was cared for during the polices investigation.
When no local missing persons reports matched Currys description, investigators expanded their search, appealing to the public and tapping Interpol to help their search. No one came forward to claim the quiet septuagenarian.
"He's a blank canvas, completely blank," Amanda Bow, the manager of Currys nursing home in England, told the BBC.
Read: Woman Abandoned In Phone Booth 20 Years Ago Reunites With Man Who Saved Her
Still, Bow said that the day Curry may have to leave the home would be "devastating, because hes our Roger. Weve adopted him."
After reporting on his story, social media sleuths set out to identify Curry, and a commenter posted a high school yearbook photo from 1958 they believed to look like him.
The post led a BBC reporter to the burnt out shell of a Southern California home, where neighbors said they remembered Curry as a father-of-two and kind family man.
Neighbors said that he and his wife Mary Jo had last been seen living on an inflatable mattress in the back of the locked-up, fenced-in property, allegedly being fed by their son Kevin Curry, who Curry had filed a restraining order against about 17 years earlier, the BBC reported.
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Read: Moment Man Learns Missing Wife With Alzheimer's Has Been Found
Kevin Curry told the BBC that he did not abandon his father, saying he and his parents went to England on vacation and his dad had to be hospitalized during the trip.
He claimed he asked someone to take his father to a hospital, the BBC wrote.
Curry was brought back to the United States in July and is currently living in a residential care facility for the elderly, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health told InsideEdition.com.
The Los Angeles County Office of the Public Guardian alleges in court documents that in late 2015, Curry had been "taken surreptitiously to England by his wife Mary Curry and his son Kevin Curry and abandoned there."
Simon Hayes, who was originally thought to be a stranger who discovered Curry at a bus stop, later told police he knew Kevin Curry and lied about finding his father wandering the streets, according to a petition for appointment of temporary conservator by the Los Angeles County Office of the Public Guardian.
"He stated that Kevin Curry and Mary Curry had brought Mr. Curry to England so that he could be hospitalized there," the petition said.
Hayes, a 50-year-old man from western England, was arrested on the suspicion of kidnapping in connection to the incident, but was later released.
The County is currently petitioning to take legal control of Curry, but his son and wife have challenged the petition for control of their father and husbands care.
Kevin Curry has been banned from making unsupervised visits to his father, DailyMail.com reported.
Watch: 5-Year-Old Girl Left Abandoned At Bus Station Leads Police to Murdered Mom
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A Brazilian oil and mining tycoon has been jailed in Rio de Janeiro after turning himself over to police on corruption charges. Eike Batista, who was once the countrys richest man, is accused of paying millions of dollars worth of bribes to officials for government contracts.
The BBC reports that Batista, who denies all allegations of wrongdoing, was arrested in Rio upon his arrival from New York on Monday morning.
The network cited Brazilian newspaper O Globo, which quoted Batista as saying he was now at the disposal of the courts, and that despite his denial of the charges, As a Brazilian, I am doing my duty.
Batista reportedly said he was returning to his home to clear his name and help the Brazilian government tackle what he said is widespread corruption. The BBC reports he will be held at Bangu penitentiary, a high security facility on the outskirts of Rio. He was originally taken to Ary Franco prison, but was transferred shortly after his arrival.
Read More: A Key Judge in Brazils Graft Scandal Just Died in a Plane Crash. Few Think Its an Accident.
Batistas surrender to authorities follows his sudden departure last week, when he fled to New York just hours before a police raid on his Rio home and was declared a fugitive, according to the BBC. Many initially assumed that Batista would flee to Europe using his German passport, a BBC South America correspondent said.
The resource mogul is accused of shelling out some $16.5 million to then-governor of Rio Sergio Cabral, who was also arrested for alleged corruption last year during an investigation called Operation Car Wash.
The BBC says the expansive probe has resulted in more than 100 convictions for crimes including money laundering and bribery, and has landed powerful figures, such as construction magnate Marcelo Odebrecht, behind bars.
[BBC]
Today marks the birth of maybe the most colorful of all the Founding Fathers. It was Gouverneur Morris who put the finishing touches on the Constitution in 1787, and gave the words We The People to all Americans.
Morris lived an interesting and well-rounded life. Born on January 31, 1752 in what is now the Bronx, Morris was part of a wealthy family in New York. He graduated from Kings College (later known as Columbia University) at the age of 16 and he passed the bar at the age of 19.
After some initial hesitation due to his social status, Morris embraced the Revolutionary cause. He was one of the youngest members of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Articles of Confederation. Morris wasnt reappointed to the Continental Congress in 1779 and he moved to Philadelphia to eventually work with the financier of the Revolution, the unrelated Robert Morris.
Also in 1780, Morris lost a leg in a carriage accident.
In his new job in Philadelphia, Morris became very knowledgeable of the financial shortcomings of the new U.S. government, and by May 1787, when the delegates gathered in Philadelphia to write a new Constitution, Morris played a key role in the process.
In fact, Morris was the most vocal of all the Founders, speaking at the convention a total of 173 times more than any delegate. In his speeches, Morris strongly supported religious freedom in the new nation, and he strongly condemned slavery.
He also wanted a strong central government that was guided by an elite class. At the end of the convention, Morris was one of five delegates chosen to write the actual document we know as the Constitution.
Historian Richard Brookhiser tells the story of how Morris crafted the Constitutions Preamble in Gentleman Revolutionary: Gouverneur Morris, the Rake Who Wrote the Constitution.
The Preamble was the one part of the Constitution that Morris wrote from scratch and here he showed creativity, and condensed thought, said Brookhiser.
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Brookhiser said historians are still debating if Morris fully understood how extensive some of his wording changes were to the draft Preamble, specifically naming the People and not the 13 states as the source of the governments power.
Here is the draft version of the Preamble given to Morris in early August 1787:
We the people of the states of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare and establish the following constitution for the government of ourselves and our posterity, the draft Preamble read.
Once given the task of editing the Preamble, Morris took into consideration the various debates and arguments made in Philadelphia and offered this revised version:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Patrick Henry, a Patriot and prominent Anti-Federalist, attacked the words We The People during a debate with James Madison at Virginias convention to approve the Constitution.
Who authorized them to speak the language of We the People, instead of We the States? Henry declared at the Virginia convention.
Madison countered with an argument that government should be established by the people.
Should all the states adopt it, it will be then a government established by the thirteen states of America, not through the intervention of the legislatures, but by the people at large, Madison said. In this particular respect the distinction between the existing and the proposed governments is very material. The existing system has been derived from the dependent derivative authority of the legislatures of the states; whereas, this is derived from the superior power of the people.
In later years it was also Madison, who documented the Constitutional Convention, who gave the credit to Morris as the penman of the Constitution, saying a better choice could not have been made.
After his considerable role in writing the Constitution, Morris turned down an invitation to join Madison and Alexander Hamilton as one of the writers of the Federalist papers. Instead, he went to France and became a witness to the French Revolution.
Morris remained in Europe until 1799, when he returned home and served briefly in the U.S. Senate. In his retirement years, Morris remained an ardent Federalist and opposed the War of 1812. He also led the effort to create the Erie Canal.
Morris died at his family home in New York in 1816 at the age of 64.
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By Scott Malone
BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts on Tuesday joined a legal effort to block U.S. President Donald Trump's order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, which the state's attorney general has said is unconstitutional.
Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, said her office was joining the lawsuit filed in federal court on Friday challenging the ban and also filing its own lawsuit seeking to have the ban struck down. Over the weekend, a federal judge in Boston, home to Logan International Airport, blocked Trump's order from being enforced for seven days.
"During his campaign, President Trump called for a 'complete shutdown on Muslims entering the U.S.' On Friday he acted to make good on that promise," Healey told reporters at her Boston office. "Over the past three days my office has closely reviewed the language of the order and its many impacts ... the executive order is harmful, discriminatory and unconstitutional. It discriminates on the basis of religion and national origin."
Massachusetts is following the lead of Washington state, which said on Monday it would file a lawsuit in federal court challenging the ban on constitutional grounds. [L1N1FK0WQ]
Trump's order halted travel by people with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, and stopped resettlement of refugees for 120 days. In an interview with a Christian broadcaster over the weekend, Trump said he would give preference to Syrian Christians seeking refugee status.
The White House has described the ban as necessary "to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States."
Thousands of people took to the streets and airports of major U.S. cities over the weekend protesting the action, which has provoked a global backlash including from U.S. allies who view the ban as discriminatory.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion.
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On Monday, Trump fired acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates after she took the rare step of defying the White House and refused to defend the new travel restrictions.
Yates said the Justice Department would not defend the order against court challenges as she did not believe it would be "consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right."
She said she was not convinced the order was lawful.
Federal judges in five states blocked U.S. authorities over the weekend from enforcing Trump's order.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs of Massachusetts took the strongest action by barring the detention or removal of approved refugees, visa holders and permanent U.S. residents entering from the seven countries for seven days. Her order also stopped federal officials from expelling from the country two Iranian men who teach at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.
(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Toni Reinhold)
PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Business confidence on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius rose in the last quarter of 2016, a survey of leading private companies showed on Tuesday. The Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry's quarterly confidence index climbed 4.9 percent to 97.5 points. But the index remained well below the long-term average of 100 points. The Mauritius economy grew by an estimated 3.6 percent in 2016, higher than the 3 percent growth in 2015. Statistics Mauritius forecast growth to be at 3.8 percent this year with an expected rebound in the construction sector. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the index rose on the back of a positive evaluation by business leaders of the economic situation between October and December 2016. It said those surveyed anticipate better future prospects for business. (Reporting by Jean Paul Arouff; Editing by Edmund Blair and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
By Bob Chiarito CHICAGO (Reuters) - Hundreds of medical students and faculty members gathered at Northwestern University's school of medicine in Chicago on Monday to voice their opposition to the dismantling of Obamacare. The demonstration was part of a larger White Coats for Coverage effort organized by medical students across the country and came a day before the annual deadline to enroll in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), former President Barack Obama's healthcare law. The ACA is not perfect, but pulling the rug out from under the feet of our most vulnerable patients is not the answer," Dr. Bruce Henshaw, a faculty member at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine, told the group of around 600 people. We will not stand idly by as our patients lose their rights. We will not stop today. We will write and call our representatives to ensure this doesnt happen. Students organized the event. Northwestern University spokeswoman Marla Paul said the school had no official position on the issue. Photos on social media showed students rallying at numerous universities and cities. "Proud to join my Yale colleagues to collectively say #protectourpatients. Improve the ACA, DON'T repeal it," Ryan Murphy, who shared photos of a rally at Yale University, said on Twitter. Republican President Donald Trump's first executive order, signed hours after taking office, directed the federal government to scale back regulations, taxes and penalties under the ACA. Republican Representative Tom Price, Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has said an overhaul of Obamacare will initially focus on individual health plans sold through online exchanges and the Medicaid health insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump has said he wants to keep some elements of the program, such as allowing young adults to be covered under their parents' insurance. He favors plans that use health savings accounts and sale of insurance across state lines. More than 8.8 million Americans were signed up for 2017 coverage under the ACA through HealthCare.gov as of Jan. 14, according to the site, up from around 8.7 million sign-ups as of Jan. 14 last year. Arturo Salow, a second year student at Northwestern from Miami, Florida, urged people to sign up for ACA coverage before Tuesday's deadline, saying more enrollees would make a rollback more challenging for Republicans. "I'd advise any patient to sign up immediately," Salow said. "If they are going to take away coverage, lets make it as difficult as possible." (Editing by David Gregorio)
BLACK RIVER FALLS The Jackson County Sheriffs Office on Tuesday identified Donovan Scheurich Sr., 50, as the man killed by deputies Jan. 25 in the town of Millston.
Deputies responded to repeated 911 calls from Scheurich, formerly of La Crosse, in a state forest. He was suicidal and making threats against police and shot at deputies before they returned fire, according to the department.
Three deputies are on paid administrative leave pending the investigation led by the state Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation. The sheriffs department identified them as Sgt. Evan Mazur and deputies Michael Bartlett and Aaron Johnson. Mazar joined the agency in 2002, Bartlett in 2011 and Johnson in 2012.
The Division of Criminal Investigation will turn over its findings to the Jackson County district attorney.
neil gorsuch
As President Donald Trump whittles down his short-list for a Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, who serves on the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, has emerged as one of the likely selections.
Trump tweeted on Monday that he'd announce his pick on Tuesday.
He told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Thursday that he had mostly finished deciding.
"I have made my decision pretty much in my mind, yes," Trump said. "That's subject to change at the last moment, but I think this will be a great choice."
Media reports have indicated Trump has narrowed his list to three candidates: Gorsuch, William Pryor, and Thomas Hardiman.
Trump said during his campaign that he would seek to "appoint judges very much in the mold of Justice [Antonin] Scalia" a characteristic that Gorsuch embodies in particular.
In a speech to Case Western Reserve University's law school shortly after Scalia's death in February 2016, Gorsuch praised Scalia for his unyielding textualism interpreting a law according to its plain text, rather than considering the intent of the lawmakers or the consequences of its implementation.
Gorsuch said Scalia's greatest achievement was perhaps his emphasis on the differences between legislators, who, he said, use the law according to their own morals and ambitions for society's future, and judges, who "should do none of these things in a democratic society."
"Judges should instead strive, if humanly and so imperfectly, to apply the law as it is, focusing backward, not forward, and looking to text, structure, and history to decide what a reasonable reader at the time of the events in question would have understood the law to be," Gorsuch said.
Scalia's method of statutory interpretation was done "correctly" and was undoubtedly a "success," according to Gorsuch, who quoted Scalia as saying: "If you're going to be a good and faithful judge, you have to resign yourself to the fact that you're not always going to like the conclusions you reach. If you like them all the time, you're probably doing something wrong."
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Similarly, Gorsuch also supports originalism, meaning he seeks to interpret the law according to the meaning of the Constitution as it was written. Gorsuch would frequently ask his clerks to scour historical sources when a constitutional issue arose in a case, David Feder, one of his former clerks, wrote in a blog post for the Yale Journal on Regulation.
"'We need to get this right,' was the motto and right meant 'as originally understood,'" Feder said.
scalia
'Conservatives will love him'
Gorsuch, who at 49 would be the youngest justice on the current Supreme Court bench, comes with a prestigious academic and legal background, as well as staunchly conservative credentials.
He graduated from Harvard Law School and clerked for Supreme Court justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy. A Denver native, Gorsuch was appointed in 2006 by President George W. Bush to the federal appeals court for the 10th circuit. He worked in the administration's Justice Department before his appointment.
Like Scalia, Gorsuch has become known for his writing style, which is often infused with his wit and personality. But, in a departure from the famously combative justice, Gorsuch has a reputation for projecting an easygoing demeanor a trait that could work in his favor during confirmation hearings in which Democrats have vowed to fight "tooth and nail."
"I think the conservatives will love him and the liberals will find very little to fault," Mark Hansen, a former partner of Gorsuch's at Kellogg Huber Hansen, told CNN. "He's an affable, collegial, unpretentious man with a good sense of humor."
Gorsuch is also known for his votes and opinions in favor of religious liberty. In perhaps his most notable case, he sided with claimants Hobby Lobby and Little Sisters of the Poor, who argued that their religious beliefs were violated by the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate.
The government must not force those with "sincerely held religious beliefs" to be complicit in "conduct their religion teaches to be gravely wrong," Gorsuch wrote in his opinion.
The case went to the Supreme Court in 2014. In a 5-4 vote, it came to the same decision as Gorsuch.
In criminal law, too, Gorsuch applies a textualist interpretation and often sides with defendants over prosecutors in an effort to avoid criminalizing conduct that could potentially be innocent.
In one 2013 case, for instance, Gorsuch upheld a lower court's ruling that a police officer in Lafayette, Colorado, who used a stun gun on 22-year-old Ryan Wilson, who died from the incident, had qualified immunity, The Denver Post reported.
According to Gorsuch, all officers were protected under broadly applied qualified-immunity laws, with the exception of "the plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law."
Gorsuch has also been a staunch opponent of what he calls "executive overreach," a position that could appease many Republicans who criticized the Obama administration's use of executive orders to cut through congressional gridlock, while also reassuring Democrats worried about the ramifications of Trump's executive orders.
Executive bureaucracies, according to Gorsuch, "concentrate federal power in a way that seems more than a little difficult to square with the Constitution of the framers' design."
"Maybe the time has come to face the behemoth," he wrote.
In keeping with Republican tradition, Gorsuch leans in favor of state power over federal power an approach that can be challenging in civil-rights cases that frequently revolve around the power of "rogue" state laws, Justin Marceau, a University of Denver law professor, told The Denver Post.
"We would see a judge who, while perhaps not as combative in personal style as Justice Scalia, is perhaps his intellectual equal," Marceau said, "and almost certainly his equal on conservative jurisprudential approaches to criminal justice and social justice issues that are bound to keep coming up in the country."
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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke by phone on Monday, agreeing to stay in close touch and work more quickly to deepen North American ties, Mexico's government said in a statement. Pena Nieto "reiterated the will of the Mexican government to continue reinforcing ties ... between the two peoples," the statement said. "Both leaders agreed to keep in close contact and intensify their teams' work to speed up the integration of a stronger and more prosperous North America," the government said. The call comes after threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that binds the three countries if he cannot renegotiate it to benefit the United States. U.S. authorities say Trump is more focused on large U.S. trade deficits with countries such as Mexico. Meanwhile, Canadian officials have said they will focus on preserving U.S. trade ties during talks to renegotiate NAFTA and may not be able to help Mexico avoid being targeted by the Trump administration. A planned summit between Trump and Pena Nieto was canceled last week after the American real estate mogul said it was better to forgo it if Mexico was unwilling to pay for a wall separating the two countries. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp <7211.T> on Tuesday said it expects a smaller full-year net loss than previously forecast due to lower costs and the impact of a weaker yen, after swinging to an operating profit for the third quarter.
Japan's sixth-largest carmaker, which is recovering from a mileage cheating scandal, posted an 8.4 billion yen ($73.85 million) operating profit for October-December, lower than a 9.36 billion yen estimate drawn from four analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S/.
Net profit reached 6.3 billion yen, down 18.3 percent from the same period a year earlier but improving from a first-half loss of 31.6 billion yen.
Domestic sales fell 24 percent in the quarter from a year prior, staying weak after the automaker overstated the fuel economy on many of its domestic models, tarnishing its brand image.
Sales in most of its other markets including Asia were also weaker, but a broad slide in the yen during the quarter slashed currency-related losses seen in the first half of the year and lifted Mitsubishi's bottom line.
Mitsubishi now expects full-year operating profit of 1.0 billion yen, after previously forecasting a loss of 27.6 billion yen. It sees a net loss of 202.0 billion yen, better than initial expectations of 239.6 billion yen.
The forecasts are better than analyst estimates of an operating loss of 6.17 billion yen and net loss of 222 billion yen.
Mitsubishi said cost efficiencies resulting from its alliance with Nissan Motor Co Ltd <7201.T> would improve its bottom line this year. It said it had reorganized the engineering division involved in the mileage manipulation scandal and improved testing processes to prevent a repeat.
Nissan in October acquired a 34 percent controlling stake in Mitsubishi in a 237 billion yen deal, pledging to help its smaller rival recover from the scandal.
Mitsubishi also said it expects the domestic currency to trade at around 109 yen per U.S. dollar in the second half of the year, weaker than an initial forecast of 100 yen.
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Chief Financial Officer Koji Ikeya said the automaker wanted to increase U.S. sales in the longer term, adding that it was closely watching changes in U.S. trade policy under President Donald Trump, who is pressing for more products sold in the United States to be made locally.
The automaker last year shuttered its only U.S. factory in Illinois due to sluggish sales. It now relies on exports for the U.S. market, which accounts for about 9 percent of its global sales. The automaker counts Asia as its biggest market.
($1 = 113.7500 yen)
(Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu)
Good morning. These are todays top stories:
President Trump axes defiant attorney general
President Donald Trump last night fired Sally Yates, the acting attorney general of the United States, saying she betrayed the Justice Department by refusing to enforce his temporary immigration ban. Yates had publicly opposed the order and had told Justice Department lawyers not to defend it. Trump appointed Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to temporarily replace her. In a statement, Boente said he would defend and enforce the laws of our country.
Trump to announce his Supreme Court choice
This evening, Trump will reveal his nomination to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant last year when Justice Antonin Scalia died. Trump said his announcement would come at 8 p.m. Those in the running for the position likely include Neil Gorsuch, Thomas Hardiman and William Pryor.
American values are at stake. Obama praises protesters
Former President Barack Obama applauded the thousands of Americans who protested against Trumps controversial travel ban in his first public statement since leaving the White House. Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by the elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake, Obama said, adding that he fundamentally disagrees with Trumps directive.
Boy Scouts opens its door to transgender children
The Boy Scouts of America announced it will now begin allowing transgender children who identify as boys to participate in its programs. The organization said it will defer to the gender identity indicated on applications instead of birth certificates for enrollment.
Trayvon Martins parents release book
Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, the parents of Trayvon Martin, chronicle the life of their slain 17-year-old son in a newly published book, Rest in Power. Trayvon Martin was shot dead by George Zimmerman nearly five years ago. The authors told TIME they hope their story will lift somebody else, including others who lost a child.
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Also:
The Quebec City mosque shooting suspect had frequently expressed his support for Trump online.
Masaya Nakamura, the man who founded the video game company behind Pac-Man, has died at 91.
Former President George H. W. Bush has been discharged from a Houston hospital after being treated for pneumonia.
Ben Affleck said he cannot direct a standalone Batman movie for Warner Bros. anymore.
Tomorrow kicks off Black History Month.
A bobcat is still on the loose in Washington, D.C. after escaping from the Smithsonians National Zoo.
The Morning Brief is published Mondays through Fridays. Email Morning Brief writer Melissa Chan at melissa.chan@time.com.
Addis Ababa (AFP) - "I am finally home," King Mohammed VI said Tuesday as the African Union readmitted Morocco after a 33-year absence, deferring the issue of Western Sahara for another day.
Morocco's return came a day after 39 of the AU's 54 member states agreed to allow it back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from countries such as South Africa and Algeria over the status of the disputed former Spanish colony.
Faced with the AU's decision, Western Sahara officials appeared to accept the new reality, saying AU membership might help speed up efforts to end a protracted conflict.
"It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long an absence," Mohammed VI told the closing ceremony of the AU summit in Ethiopia.
His speech came after a long day of feverish speculation in the halls of the AU headquarters over whether he would indeed show up.
- No conditions -
Morocco quit the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after the bloc admitted the former Western Sahara as a separate member.
Morocco maintains that the territory under its control -- which is home to large reserves of phosphate, a key ingredient in fertilisers, as well as rich fish stocks off its coast -- is an integral part of the kingdom.
But the Polisario Front, which campaigns for independence, demands a referendum on self-determination for the territory of half a million residents.
Some had feared Morocco would seek the expulsion of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a precondition for its return to the AU, but the country agreed to return without conditions.
"From the moment that Morocco did not impose conditions ... we take their word for it and accept that Morocco be admitted to the African Union," said Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, foreign minister of the SADR, which claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara.
Salek said Monday that having Morocco in the same room would allow the SADR to pressure them into fulfilling their obligations and hold a long-sought referendum.
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The European Union has welcomed the move, saying: "Cooperation and regional integration are essential for prosperity, stability and peace."
- 'Common economic growth' -
King Mohammed did not raise the issue of Western Sahara in his speech, choosing instead to highlight how Morocco, "one of the most developed African nations", could be a boon to the continent.
"We do not ignore the fact that we do not have unanimity in this noble assembly. We do not want to create divisions as some have insinuated," he said.
Morocco will be "a motor for common economic growth", he vowed.
"It is time that Africa's riches benefit Africa. For too long we have looked elsewhere to make decisions, commitments."
- Pan-African splendour -
The busy summit also saw Chadian foreign minister Moussa Faki Mahamat take over from South Africa's Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as AU commission chief after a fierce election battle that eliminated four other candidates.
Guinea's Alpha Conde took over the rotating presidency of the bloc, and called for the continent to express solidarity with Somalia, Libya and Sudan, which have been targeted US President Donald Trump's travel ban.
The decision to re-admit Morocco, and election of a new chairman, took place despite regional divisions that observers feared could lead to delay or deadlock on both issues.
Morocco's press on Tuesday hailed the kingdom's return to the bloc, with headlines including "Victorious return" and "Thank you your Majesty".
"The country will now revert to its role as a political and economic leader and correct its previous errors," Mohamed Alaoui, a pensioner in Rabat, told AFP.
- UN peacekeeper scrutiny -
A combative Conde also called for more urgency in reforming the United Nations so that Africa could get a permanent seat on the Security Council -- a long-running demand from the continent.
He appointed South African President Jacob Zuma to lead negotiations with the UN, and also look into the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations on the continent.
"What is the role of the blue helmets? What purpose does this army serve?" Conde asked, pointing to violence in places like South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.
He also appointed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to negotiate on behalf of the continent with the European Union on the issue of migrants.
"On the migration problem we need to speak with one voice," Conde said.
Police arrested NAACP President Cornell Williams Brooks and 10 other activists Monday for occupying the Mobile, Alabama, office of attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a local ABC affiliate reported. The arrests came just hours after authorities dropped charges against Brooks and others stemming from a Jan. 3 occupation of the same office.
More than 100 people joined the protests at Sessions' office, which was closed Monday, WVTM reported. The Mobile Police arrived after receiving a trespassing complaint and asked all protestors and media to leave. Police made arrests after approximately 20 of the protesters refused to leave, the station said.
Along with other civil rights groups, the NAACP has been a vocal opponent of Sessions, who could be confirmed as attorney general as early as Tuesday. Since President Donald Trump nominated Sessions for the nation's highest law enforcement position in November, the four-term Senator has come under fire for his record on voting rights, race, immigration and police reform.
Earlier in the day, a Mobile municipal prosecutor dropped trespassing charges against the six NAACP leaders who conducted a sit-in of Sessions' office earlier this month. The charges, which carry a penalty of up to three months in jail and a $500 fine, were dropped against Brooks, Alabama chapter president Benard Simelton, Mobile branch president Lizzetta McConnell, Joe Keffer of the Alabama Moral Movement, NAACP Youth & College director Stephen Green and NAACP youth fellow Devon Crawford. The lawyer for some of the activists said they would have preferred to enter a plea and "accept responsibility," AL.com reported.
"They feel their point would be made better [with a conviction plea] and that having a conviction is the lesser of two evils with the main one being Jeff Sessions getting the [attorney general] appointment," attorney Carolyn Shields said. "We're still committed to fight. It will go on."
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Brussels (AFP) - US President Donald Trump and NATO both agree on the need for dialogue with Russia from a position of strength, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday.
Trump has badly rattled Europe with his softer line on Moscow and by calling into question Washington's near-70 year commitment to an alliance he dubbed "obsolete" and an unfair burden on the US taxpayer.
But Stoltenberg said that in recent phone conversations with Trump and US Defence Secretary James Mattis, "they all conveyed the same message that the United States remains committed to NATO and the transatlantic bond."
"The message of the new administration is that they also want dialogue with Russia but from a position of strength," Stoltenberg told reporters after talks with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
NATO leaders in July last year signed off on the alliance's biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War in response to Russia's intervention in Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea.
At the same time, they endorsed dialogue with "a more assertive" Russia so as to ensure transparency and to avoid any dangerous misunderstandings at a time of increased tensions.
Radev, seen as more sympathetic to Moscow than his predecessor, highlighted the fact that he had chosen NATO HQ for his first visit abroad since taking office.
"NATO remains an extremely important organisation to safeguard the allies ... we support NATO efforts to defend and deter and we believe that Bulgaria is part of these efforts," he said.
Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 along with several other former communist states once ruled by Moscow.
Radev, a former air force commander, who was partly US-trained and according to Stoltenberg served at NATO, said earlier this month he believed Trump offered hope of an improvement in relations with Russia.
A decorated Navy SEAL has been identified as the first military combat casualty under the leadership of President Donald Trump.
Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens, 36, of Peoria, Illinois, died January 28 from injuries he sustained during a raid on an al-Qaida base in Yemen.
Watch: Girlfriend of Navy SEAL Who Died During Training Believes It Could Be Murder
"Ryan gave his full measure for our nation, and in performing his duty, he upheld the noblest standard of military service," Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said in a statement Monday. "The United States would not long exist were it not for the selfless commitment of such warriors."
The raid was the first carried out under the new president, the Pentagon said. The mission was approved by President Trump and was not a holdover approved under the previous administration, according to reports.
"My deepest thoughts and humblest prayers are with the family of this fallen service member," Trump said of Owens' death.
Pictured: 8-year-old Nawar al-Awlaki was reportedly killed in the first military raid OK'd by Donald Trump
Owens was reportedly killed during an exchange of gunfire that ensued on the ground.
Among the dozens killed in the mission's airstrike were several children, including the 8-year-old daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical Yemeni-American cleric who was killed, controversially, by a U.S. drone strike in Yemen in 2011.
The girl's grandfather, Nasser al-Awlaki, told The Associated Press that Nawar, also known as Nora, was shot in the neck and bled for two hours before she died.
The girl's American-born 16-year-old brother was killed in a a previous drone strike ordered by President Obama.
Watch: 4-Year-Old Has Heartwarming Reaction To Navy Dad's Homecoming: I'm So Happy
All told, about 30 men and women were killed in the raid.
U.S. Central Command also said in a statement that 14 al-Qaida militants in Yemen were killed in the raid, which they say provided the U.S. military with "information that will likely provide insight into the planning of future terror plots."
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Watch: Decorated Pentagon Official Identified as Man Threatening Young Men With Gun
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New shoreland zoning rules in La Crosse County aim to give property owners more flexibility while increasing efforts to mitigate the environmental effects of development.
Thanks to Act 55, which was folded into the 2015-17 budget bill by the state Legislature, all counties in the state were required to adopt new shoreland zoning ordinances. The deadline for counties to adopt the new ordinances was Oct. 1, but counties that had their ordinance rewrites underway got some slack from the state Department of Public Resources, which has to approve their new ordinances.
Nate Sampson, the countys zoning administrator, said the new ordinance isnt a radical departure from the existing rules, which hasnt been the case around the state.
In some counties, the ordinance change has brought on a boom in applications for shoreland development because the state rules are less restrictive than what the local governments had in place, but that wont likely be the case in La Crosse County, said Sampson. Thats because the countys ordinance has been fairly well aligned with the state since the county first adopted its ordinance in 1984.
Under the new state ordinance, local governments can no longer require an approval process or fee when a property owner wants to repair or replace a nonconforming structure within the footprint of the existing structure. In addition, nonconforming structures can be expanded vertically up to 35 feet above grade without any special approvals.
But if they want to expand the footprint of the structure so that it covers more than 15 percent of the lot with impervious surface, then the property owners will be required to come up with a certified mitigation plan to keep additional runoff generated from going into the adjacent lake or river and carrying soil with it.
Sampson said the county could require mitigation before for such variances but county officials didnt always do that. Mitigation plans could include creating or expanding a vegetation buffer, removal of imperious surfaces or creating a stormwater detention pond. The mitigation plans would have to be filed with the register of deeds office so the mitigation plans would be carried on by subsequent owners of the property.
Overall, he said, I look at it as a win for property owners and at the same time it requires us to apply those mitigation standards where in the past they didnt have to be applied.
The public hearing held Monday evening before the La Crosse County Boards Planning, Resources and Development Committee drew little comment, and the committee unanimously approved it. The ordinance requires final approval from the full county board, which net meets on Feb. 16.
Cell towers
A conditional-use permit application for a proposed telecommunications tower in the town of Holland that was pulled from consideration in December was back before county officials Monday.
The main difference in the new application is the cell tower, which is proposed by Bug Tussel Wireless of Green Bay, meets the countys setback requirement, according to county planner Charlie Handy.
Under regulations included in the states 2013 budget bill, local governments can no longer deny wireless tower permits solely for aesthetic reasons, limit the height of towers to under 200 feet, or require that antennas and structures be placed on public property, such as water towers. Basically, county and municipal governments cant say no to cell towers if they meet basic requirements.
The tower, which would be on a 50-foot-by-100-foot parcel on Old Hwy. NA west of Hwy. 35, would be 195 feet high.
A hearing in December drew about 20 concerned neighbors and lopsided commentary in opposition to the tower. Mondays hearing also drew anti-tower comments, and committee members voted 5-2 to delay consideration of approval for the application until the Feb. 28 committee meeting. The delay would still allow county board action on the permit within the required 90 days under state law.
The committee later unanimously approved a conditional-use permit for a 240-foot cell tower in the town of Hamilton along the north side of I-90 just east of the boundary with the city of Onalaska. No objections were raised during the public hearing on this tower.
HONOLULU (AP) The number of people traveling to Hawaii neared 9 million in 2016 as visitor spending and arrival figures hit records for the fifth straight year, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said Monday.
The state agency said 8.9 million visitors came to Hawaii, up 3 percent from 2015. Tourists spent $15.6 billion in the islands, a 4 percent increase over the previous year.
A recovering U.S. housing market boosted travel to the islands, as have stable oil prices, said Daniel Nahoopii, the agency's director of tourism research. "The economy has been pretty strong in the United States mainland," he said.
The introduction of new airline routes and service also brought more visitors. For example, last year was the first full year Virgin American operated flights to Hawaii. The airline launched service to the state with routes from San Francisco to Honolulu and Kahului in late 2015.
Travelers from the U.S. West Coast grew 4.3 percent to 3.7 million. Travelers from the eastern part of the continental U.S. climbed 3.7 percent to 1.9 million.
Nahoopii said the industry benefited from relatively stable exchange rates for the Korean won and Australian dollar when it came to international travelers. A slight strengthening of the Japanese yen also helped.
Nahoopii said data indicates the additional visitors are staying in hotels and vacation rentals.
The number of people staying in hotels climbed 3.5 percent while those staying in rental homes climbed 7 percent, he said.
The state is forecasting continued visitor growth this year, though at a slower pace.
The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism said in November it expected 1.8 percent more travelers to come to Hawaii in 2017. It forecast spending would rise 4 percent.
Tourism authority CEO George Szigeti said the agency is committed to maintaining this momentum in the current year.
Even the master manipulator of the Watergates cover-up is appalled by the way President Donald Trump dispatched his acting attorney general.
John Dean, who earned that moniker from the FBI in 1974 after he served as White House counsel to Richard Nixon, said in a tweet late Monday that hed never seen a White House statement as nasty as the one issued against former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates.
Trump fired Yates Monday for refusing to defend legal challenges to his ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. In a statement, the White House said Yates has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.
Dean, who in 1971 wrote a memo detailing Nixons political enemies, called the White House statement a new low, adding that even Republicans know that the Trump administration will end in calamity.
On Tuesday, Dean continued his attacks, asserting Trump wasnt a Republican. So its striking how he is using them and they him to get what each wants. Its pure political swamp politics, he wrote.
Dean was not the only one to react to Yatess dismissal on social media. Others on Twitter were quick to call up video evidence suggesting that team Trump perhaps should not have been surprised by Yatess stance.
Jeff Sessions grilled Sally Yates on her duty to follow the law during a 2015 hearing https://t.co/gi7gqNyk8w pic.twitter.com/nvavT6OcQH CNN (@CNN) January 31, 2017
In 2015, during her hearing to become deputy attorney general, Yates explained that her job would be to offer independent legal advice. She said so after she was asked whether she would carry out unlawful executive orders. By whom?
By Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Trumps nominee for attorney general.
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Yatess firing, then, raises the question of what will happen if those under Sessions (if confirmed) also feel they are being made to carry out unlawful orders, and whether Sessionss 2015 questioning of Yates will come back to haunt him.
Such questions will likely not be answered for some time. But, as Dean likely knows from his Watergate days, calamity can come quickly.
Photo credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
New York (AFP) - Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his rock poetry, but he is returning to classics with his new album which marks his latest collection of Frank Sinatra standards.
"Triplicate," which will come out on March 31, will be Dylan's first three-disc album and his third successive album consisting of covers of tunes performed by Sinatra.
Dylan released a first track from "Triplicate" -- a take on "I Could Have Told You," originally released by Sinatra in 1954, with the rock legend's grainy voice over a melancholy slide guitar.
Other songs Dylan covers on "Triplicate" include "The Best Is Yet To Come," one of Sinatra's most famous songs whose title is inscribed on his tombstone; "As Time Goes By," best known for the piano scene in classic film "Casablanca"; and "Stardust," a perennial American favorite since Hoagy Carmichael's 1927 original.
While Sinatra is the common thread on "Triplicate," Dylan's 38th studio album, the 30 songs come from a range of songwriters. Dylan picked the selection and recorded them with his touring band at Capitol studios in Hollywood, his label said.
At 75, Dylan has shown no sign of slowing down. He plans a tour of Europe in April and May and was recently announced as a headliner of the Firefly festival to take place in June in the eastern US state of Delaware.
But Dylan was characteristically reticent in October when he was the surprise winner of literature's most celebrated prize, with the Nobel Committee hailing his unique rock voice.
He did not show up to the prize ceremony in Stockholm in December, although he sent a speech read by the US ambassador in which he said he was "honored" to receive the award.
It was unclear when Dylan recorded "Triplicate," although he cited pre-existing commitments for his failure to attend the Nobel ceremony.
Dylan released a first album of Sinatra covers in 2015, "Shadows in the Night," and a second one last year, "Fallen Angels."
His last album with newly written songs, "Tempest," came out in 2012 and was tinged with dark lyricism and Irish roots music. The critically acclaimed work had initially triggered speculation it would be Dylan's last owing to the title, as Shakespeare's final play was "The Tempest."
By Roberta Rampton and Deena Beasley
WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump in a meeting on Tuesday with pharmaceutical executives called on them to manufacture more of their drugs in the United States and cut prices, while vowing to speed approval of new medicines and ease regulation.
Trump told them the government was paying "astronomical" prices for medicines in its health programs for older, disabled and poor people and said he would soon appoint a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration leader.
"Were going to streamline the FDA," Trump said in a statement, referring to the regulatory agency responsible for vetting that new drugs are safe and effective.
The meeting between Trump and the pharmaceutical executives signaled a defusing of tensions that have kept drug stock prices in check since the presidential election. Shares of most of the group rallied on Tuesday following the meeting, even as the broader stock market slid.
Trump is a populist above all else, and having these (drug) prices skyrocket, hes commented that under his administration, this is not going to happen, said market strategist Quincy Crosby of Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey.
She said Trump was playing a balancing act between controlling prices and loosening regulations. "I dont think the majority of Americans want all regulations lifted from drug makers.
Attending the meeting were top executives at Merck & Co Inc, Johnson &, Celgene Corp, Eli Lilly & Co, Amgen Inc and Switzerland's Novartis AG as well as the head of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) lobbying group.
According to a transcript of the televised portion of the meeting, Amgen Chief Executive Officer Robert Brad way promised to add 1,600 U.S. jobs at his California-based biotechnology company this year.
Amgen clarified in an email that it currently employs around 20,000 people worldwide, including 12,000 in the United States, and said the 1,600 includes new staff as well as hires to address attrition.
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Celgene, Lilly, Merck and Amgen said by email after the meeting that they were encouraged by Trump's focus on innovation, tax reform and the need for a more value-driven health care system.
Lilly said discussion topics also included stronger trade agreements and removing "outdated regulations that drive up costs and slow innovation."
PhRMA echoed those points in its own post-meeting statement, adding that the policies, if enacted, would result in up to 350,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.
"Tax, deregulation - those are things that could really help us expand operations," Lilly CEO Dave Ricks said.
Officials at Novartis and J&J did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
Shares of the six companies were mostly higher, for an overall gain averaging 0.7 percent, compared with a 0.4 percent drop in the broad S&P 500. The Nasdaq Biotech Index was up 1.2 percent, reversing earlier losses, and the S&P 500 health care index gained 0.6 percent.
WORLD'S HIGHEST DRUG PRICES
"We have to get prices down for a lot of reasons. We have no choice, for Medicare and Medicaid," Trump said, citing the nation's government insurance programs for the elderly, the poor and the disabled.
Trump also said currency devaluation by other countries had increased drugmakers' outsourcing their production, and he called on the companies to make more of their products in the United States.
Foreign countries must pay a fair share for drug development costs, he added. "We're going to end global freeloading."
The United States typically pays more for drugs than any other developed nation. Most Western European countries, as well as Japan, have government-run health care coverage under which drug prices are negotiated.
High drug prices have become a national issue during the past two years as healthcare costs have risen Trump spooked pharmaceutical and biotech investors by saying on Jan. 11, before his inauguration, that drug companies were "getting away with murder" on what they charged the government for medicine and that he would do something about it.
Company executives, meanwhile, have tried to tread a careful line in defending their industry while expressing optimism that the United States would continue to reward scientific advances.
"Regulations - great, streamlining the FDA, perhaps," Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank in Chicago said. "But if Trump is going to address his constituency, drug prices have to come down. So I think this is maybe a Pyrrhic victory.
(Additional reporting by Eric Beech, Ben Hirschler, John Miller, Chuck Mikolajczak, Rodrigo Campos, Susan Heavey and Caroline Humer; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Cynthia Osterman)
President Donald Trumps executive order barring refugees and immigration from certain predominantly Muslim countries was met with immediate backlash from citizens and officials alike after it was signed Friday. Former President Barack Obama has even weighed in.
President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country, Obamas spokesperson, Kevin Lewis, said in a statement Monday. The President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.
The statement went on to say the former president heralded citizens exercising their Constitutional rightwhen American values are at stake.
Trump issued an executive order Friday temporarily suspending immigration from Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Syria. The order also halted the current refugee program for at least 120 days. The action was met with nationwide protests as people were detained at airports across the country. Congressional Democrats called for a demonstration in front of the Supreme Court Sunday in protest and the American Civil Liberties Union spearheaded efforts to challenge the order on constitutional grounds.
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Photo: Getty
Its unsurprising that Obama has come out in opposition to Trumps executive order. When Trump first floated the idea during his campaign, the then-president immediately shot it down.
Thats not the America we want, Obama said in June 2016. It doesnt reflect our democratic ideals. It will make us less safe. Obama compared it to other shameful moments in U.S. history, to which Trump responded that he was more angry at me than he was at the shooter.
If we ever abandon those values, we would not only make it a lot easier to radicalize people here and around the world, but we would have betrayed the very things we are trying to protect," Obama said.
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Trump, for his part, has defended the order and denounced its labeling as a Muslim ban.
To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting, the president said in a statement Monday. This is not about religion this is about terror and keeping our country safe.
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Panama City (AFP) - Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht has pulled out of the pre-bid qualification process to build another bridge over the Panama Canal, as part of its penalty in a bribery scandal.
Odebrecht pulled out of the process that was under way to qualify as a bidder, the Panamanian government said, heeding an order to withdraw.
According to the US Justice Department, the Brazilian company paid more than $59 million in bribes to Panama between 2010 and 2014 to obtain contracts valued at $175 million.
Panama's current government is accusing the previous administration of former president Ricardo Martinelli of involvement in Odebrecht's alleged bribery.
Two of Martinelli's sons have denied Brazilian newspaper reports that they had received $6 million intended as a bribe from Odebrecht for their father.
Martinelli, who denies the charges, lives in voluntary exile in Miami. The Panamanian government has requested his extradition on allegations of espionage and corruption.
The new six-lane bridge is expected to cost about $1 billion. Companies from China, South Korea, Italy and Spain are reportedly interested in building it.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) A Philadelphia police officer with an eagle tattoo resembling a Nazi emblem has been cleared of wrongdoing.
The police department said Tuesday that an internal investigation cleared the officer last month and he remains on the job.
Mayor Jim Kenney was among those criticizing the officer's tattoo after images surfaced on social media last August. He called it "incredibly offensive."
The forearm tattoo shows a spread-winged eagle under the word "Fatherland."
Kenney reiterated his stance Tuesday, saying it's inappropriate for officers to have such tattoos given the "impact on those they are sworn to protect and serve."
He says the investigation determined that since the department doesn't have a tattoo policy, the officer couldn't be dismissed.
He says the city "will draft such a policy so this cannot happen again."
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran's oil minister says there is no ban on American companies working in Iran's oil industry.
The semi-official ILNA news agency on Tuesday is quoting Bijan Zanganeh as saying: "American companies face no ban for entering our oil industry."
However, Zanganeh said American companies "have not directly applied" to work in Iran's oil industry, so far.
This is the first such remark by Iran after an executive order by U.S. president Donald Trump on Friday banned immigration and visa processing for Iranians alongside six other Muslim countries.
In January, Iran's Oil Ministry published list of 29 international companies qualified to bid for oil and gas projects following the lifting of sanctions under a landmark nuclear accord that went into effect last year.
Rob Greenfield didnt always pay attention to the impact he had on the world.
When he was in college, the 2009 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduate admitted, he spent most of his time focusing on women and partying it up on Third Street. It wasnt until a few years later that he started reading and thinking about the lifestyle choices he had made.
I never really made the connection that my life had an impact, he said. I realized that my lifestyle was causing destruction to the things I wanted to protect, not harm.
Greenfield started making small changes to his life, then bigger ones such as ditching his car for a bike and downsizing from his apartment to a tiny house. He also became an activist, biking across the U.S., with a stop in La Crosse in 2014, while living out of dumpsters and off the land to highlight the fact we dont need as many material things as we think we do.
Greenfield chronicled his experiences during that journey in his 2015 book Dude Making a Difference and gave a TedxTeen talk last year on ending food waste. He recently expanded his creative ventures into television, starring in the series Free Ride, which aired last year on Discovery UK. He hopes to bring some of his ideas to U.S. television audiences.
I feel purposeful, Greenfield said of his work. I feel a sense of wholeness and completeness.
Greenfield grew up spending most of his free time exploring the outdoors around his hometown of Ashland, Wis. He loved nature and wildlife and spent hours fishing or hunting for frogs and turtles.
He came to UW-L to study biology with an eye toward a career in marine life. While he said he learned a lot from his professors at UW-L, including his mentor Roger Haro, he never really connected what he was learning with his daily life.
By 2011, he said, he couldnt ignore the connections, and he started making changes.
In 2016, he again biked across the United States, to raise awareness of food issues. He walked around New York City wearing items he created from trash.
When he stopped in large cities, he foraged in dumpsters, finding fruit and vegetables and even unopened containers of cereal and milk. Hed collect the food and stage food fiascos, highlighting how much Americans waste.
I realized all is not well in the world, he said. We are dealing with serious environmental and social problems.
Haro said he reconnected with his student after he started noticing the attention Greenfields efforts were getting on social media such as Facebook. While not a huge social media user himself, Haro said he enjoyed living Greenfields crazy adventures vicariously.
I think it is marvelous to have an ambassador like that for our university, he said. It fills me with a lot of hope and a lot of pride about what we do here at UW-L.
To combat materialism, Greenfield took a one-way plane ride to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, carrying only his passport, a cellphone and the clothes he was wearing. He hitchhiked home, just to prove that he could get home by relying on strangers not money or possessions.
That experience inspired Free Ride, in which Greenfield and British filmmaker James Levelle journeyed to Rio de Janeiro and hitchhiked their way across a number of South American countries on their way to Panama City. Levelle documented the journey, which aired on Discovery UK last summer in seven countries.
Greenfield said is still working on some other television projects he hopes will be aired in the United States. And he is planning another bike ride across the United States this summer that anyone can join.
Its what keeps me going, he said. It is working and showing people how to take action to live in a more healthy and happy way that is beneficial to the Earth.
sergey brin
On Monday afternoon, about 2,000 Google employees left their desks and took to the streets to protest President Donald Trump's immigration ban.
This employee-led rally was attended by Google cofounder Sergey Brin, who addressed the crowd about his own experiences Brin's family came to the US as refugees from the Soviet Union when he was a child, at the height of the Cold War. His remarks, as captured on YouTube, took many jabs at Trump's policies.
"So many people were obviously outraged by this order, as am I myself, being an immigrant and a refugee," Brin told the crowd.
"I'm glad to see the energy here today and around the world to know that people are fighting for what's right out there," Brin continued.
"I think it's important to not frame this debate as being 'liberal' versus 'Republican' and so forth," Brin told the crowd. "It's a debate about fundamental values, about thoughtful policymaking and many of the other things that I think are apparently not universally adored but I think the vast majority of our country and of our legislators and so forth support."
You can read a transcript of Brin's full remarks below, in which he calls for unity and makes a joke about sporting a "Pence 2017" bumper sticker, which could be taken as a call for Congress to impeach Trump.
Of note is that while Brin and Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke at this event, we're told the official keynote speaker at the rally was Soufi Esmaeilzadeh, a Google product manager and Harvard Business School alum. Esmaeilzadeh is an Iranian-born Canadian citizen who has lived in the US for the past 15 years but had just landed in Switzerland when the order went into effect.
soufi Esmaeilzadeh google product manager
The ban has temporarily halted the US's admission of refugees and barred immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries, including Iran, from entering the country.
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While the wording of the order was unclear as to whether she'd be affected, Google opted to bring her home immediately, in the window granted by a federal court's emergency stay of Trump's executive order.
Pichai, who was born and raised in India, has been especially vocal in fighting Trump's executive order on immigration. Google is setting up a $4 million emergency fund to help affected employees with legal and living costs. In a leaked email to Google employees, Pichai wrote, "It's painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues."
Read what Brin told Google employees:
"But in all seriousness, so many people were obviously outraged by this order, as am I myself, being an immigrant and a refugee.
"I came here to the US at age 6 with my family from the Soviet Union which was at that time the greatest enemy the US had, maybe it still is. It was a dire period, the cold war, as some people remember it. It was under the threat of nuclear annihilation. And even then the US had the courage to take me and my family in as refugees.
"And Id say the risks at the time, letting in these foreigners from a land that might spy on you, learn the nuclear secrets on the back...and there were many cases of espionage, those risks were far greater than the terrorism we face today. And nevertheless, this country was brave and welcoming and I wouldnt be where I am today or have any kind of the life that I have today if this was not a brave country that really stood out and spoke for liberty.
"But to fast forward, Saturday night at SFO was a really warm wonderful experience to be honest. I saw so many of you there, I saw so many friends and family there, all with the same spirit. I found that very touching and Im glad to see the energy here today and around the world to know that people are fighting for whats right out there.
"I think that as we do that, and Ive spent time talking to [Google CEO] Sundar [Pichai] about it and so forth, I think that we need to be smart about it too. And that means bringing in folks who have some different viewpoints and so forth. Maybe its somebody who we dont agree with on climate change. But nevertheless, there are many rational, thoughtful people out there, who maybe they vote Republican, or Democrat or independent, or whatever, but are outraged by these kinds of actions. and its important to be welcoming and reach out to them. and in fact weve been working to do exactly that. Some of us might even adopt Pence 2017 bumper stickers.
"But I guess my point being, I think its important to not frame this debate as being liberal versus republican and so forth. Its a debate about fundamental values , about thoughtful policymaking and many of the other things that I think are apparently not universally adored but I think the vast majority of our country and of our legislators and so forth support. And I think its important to frame it in that way and to be inclusive in that way. and sometimes think that might be really difficult because I know we have many many different values here that might not be universally shared. But I think these are really special times and i think its important to form friendships with many different people.
"I hope this energy carries forward in many different ways, beyond what just our company can do, beyond just what company can do, but as really a powerful force and really a powerful moment."
Watch Brin and Google CEO Sundar Pichai address the crowd:
NOW WATCH: Heres how the top Silicon Valley companies are responding to Trumps immigration ban
More From Business Insider
Pakistani police are expecting unrest after Hafiz Saeed, the suspected mastermind of the deadly Mumbai attacks in 2008, was placed under house arrest Monday night in Lahore.
Reuters reports that Saeed, founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group, was detained at the headquarters of his charity late Monday and later returned to his home, where barricades have since been set up and small crowds of his supporters began to arrive chanting slogans.
Saeed has denied involvement in the attacks, during which 10 armed LeT militants killed 166 people and injured hundreds of others over four days of terror. The incident nearly brought the two neighbors to war.
In recent years Saeed has stepped back from the LeT and publicly aligned himself more with his charity, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, though the latter is largely viewed as a front for the LeT. The militant group and charity are listed by the U.N. as terrorist organizations and there is a $10 million bounty on Saeeds head.
Read More: A Look Back at TIMEs Cover on the 2008 Mumbai Attacks
The timing of Saeeds detention has raised questions; he was initially detained shortly after the attacks, but was released six months later by Pakistani authorities. According to Reuters, his supporters have accused the Pakistani government of caving to pressure from the U.S. and India. A Pakistani defense official cited by the news agency claimed the new U.S. Administration, led by President Donald Trump, had not been in contact with Islamabad, but pressure was already evident.
Trump is taking hard decisions against Muslim countries, there is open talk of actions against Pakistan also, Reuters quoted the unnamed official as saying. So yes, this was a consideration.
Other officials reportedly said Islamabad may have been worn down by broader efforts by India and China, which have long been seen as allies, to diplomatically isolate Pakistan.
[Reuters]
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) The Palestinian self-rule government in the West Bank has set May 13 as a new date for municipal elections after infighting between Hamas and Fatah groups derailed such a vote last year.
The elections will likely only take place in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement run autonomous enclaves.
The Islamic militant Hamas is unlikely to permit voting in the Gaza Strip, which it seized in a violent 2007 takeover.
Hamas' spokesman Fawzi Barhoum says the group rejects Tuesday's decision by the West Bank-based Fatah on the new election date.
Hamas sat out local elections in 2012. The last general election, with both Hamas and Fatah competing, took place in 2006.
Since then, their rivalry has prevented new general elections.
Jerusalem (AFP) - The Palestinian Authority said Tuesday that local elections delayed last October after a spat between political factions will now take place in the West Bank and Gaza on May 13.
The Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip has been at odds with president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party over the organisation of their first competitive polls in a decade.
"Today, at a regular meeting, the council of ministers decided to hold elections on May 13, to be held in the West Bank and Gaza," local government minister Hussein al-Araj told AFP.
The rival parties have not contested an election since 2006 parliamentary polls, which Hamas won -- sparking a conflict that led to near civil war in Gaza the following year.
Reconciliation attempts have repeatedly failed, and Hamas boycotted the most recent municipal elections in 2012.
Hamas rejected the announcement. Spokesman Fawzy Barhoum said in a statement it "strengthens divisions and serves Fatah politically."
"Any upcoming elections must be part of a reconciliation," he added.
The elections will choose municipal councils in some 416 cities and towns in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The delay was sparked by the disqualification of a number of Fatah candidates in Gaza by the courts there.
Shortly afterwards rival courts in the West Bank labelled the ruling unlawful, and said the elections would go ahead only in the West Bank -- prompting the government to postpone them.
Fatah and Hamas traded blame over the delay.
Salem Barahmeh, a Palestinian commentator, said if Hamas wanted to the group could prevent the elections from taking place in Gaza.
The 2012 municipal elections were held only in the West Bank.
"For elections to happen in both Gaza and the West Bank needs the approval of both Fatah and Hamas," Barahmeh told AFP.
Hamas, labelled a terrorist organisation by the United States and European Union, said before the elections were delayed it would not submit candidates itself, instead supporting lists of hopefuls not officially linked to the movement.
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Analysts said this was partially to avoid potential sanctions if they won.
Abbas, 81, has faced political pressure as opinion polls have suggested most Palestinians would like him to step down.
He strengthened his grip on power in December as Fatah held its first congress since 2009, with many Abbas opponents excluded from the elections for the party's central committee and parliament, known as the revolutionary council.
By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have developed a brain-computer interface that reads the brain's blood oxygen levels and enables communication by deciphering the thoughts of patients who are totally paralyzed and unable to talk. In a trial of the system in four patients with complete locked-in syndrome - incapable of moving even their eyes to communicate - it helped them use their thought waves to respond yes or no to spoken questions. People who are paralyzed except for up and down eye movements and blinking are classified as having locked-in syndrome. If all eye movements are lost, the condition is referred to as complete locked-in syndrome. Researchers leading this trial said the brain-computer interface (BCI), which is non-invasive, could transform the lives of such patients, allowing them to express feelings and opinion to their loved ones and carers. Counter to expectations, the researchers said, the patients reported being "happy" despite their condition. "The striking results overturn my own theory that people with complete locked-in syndrome are not capable of communication," said Niels Birbaumer, a neuroscientist at Switzerland's Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering, who co-led the study. The trial, published in the journal PLOS Biology on Tuesday, involved four patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a progressive motor neuron disease that destroys the part of the nervous system responsible for movement. The researchers asked personal questions with known answers, such as: "Your husband's name is Joachim?", and open questions that needed yes or no answers, such as "Are you happy?". The BCI technique used technologies called near-infrared spectroscopy and electroencephalography (EEG) to measure blood oxygenation and electrical activity in the brain. "The machine records the blood flow... and calculates how (it) changes during "yes" and during "no", and the computer develops an idea, a pattern," Birbaumer told Reuters. "And after a while, we know what the patient is thinking, when he thinks "yes", or when he thinks "no", and from that we calculate the answer." The "known" questions elicited correct responses seven times out of 10, and the question "Are you happy?" resulted in a consistent yes response from the four people, repeated over weeks of questioning. John Donoghue, director of the Wyss Center, welcomed the work as "a crucial first step in the challenge to regain movement" for completely locked-in patients. He said his team now plans to build on these results to develop the technology further and eventually aim for it to be available to people with paralysis resulting from ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injury. (Additional reporting by Marina Depetris in Geneva; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Washington (AFP) - The Defense Department pledged Monday to lobby for US entry of Iraqis who supported the American military after President Donald Trump barred nationals from Iraq and six other countries with Muslim majorities.
The Pentagon is working on a list of names of Iraqis who have worked for the US military, including fighters and translators, "often doing so at great peril for themselves," Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis told a news conference.
"We are ensuring that those who have demonstrated their commitment tangibly to fight alongside us and support us, that those names are known" to the services responsible for authorizing entry into the country, he said.
In an executive order Friday, Trump barred entry to the US for 90 days for citizens of Iraq, a key ally in the fight against violent extremist groups, and Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The order, billed as a temporary move to allow time for the new Trump administration to review visa criteria in an effort to make America safe from "radical Islamic terrorists," also banned all refugees from coming into the country for 120 days.
The sudden travel ban sowed confusion and led to distressed scenes over the weekend at airports in the US and abroad as would-be passengers were detained or turned away.
It also sparked outrage in the US and criticism from the United Nations human rights chief and a number of countries, including Iraq.
"We are still in the process of assessing" the order, Davis said. He declined to say whether the Defense Department had helped in planning and advising the president's move.
The status of Iraqi pilots who are currently training at an air base in Arizona appeared murky.
"That is one of the issues that we are specifically looking at," the spokesman said.
Iraq pushed back against the US ban, urging Washington to "review this wrong decision."
The Iraqi parliament approved a bill calling for the government to take similar measures against Americans if Washington does not scrap the directive.
The travel restrictions come on the heels of repeated assertions by Trump that the US should have stolen Iraq's oil before drawing down its troops in 2011 from the war there.
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LONDON More than 9 million people across the UK are always or often lonely, according to the British Red Cross.
SEE ALSO: 90-year-old man writes tips to combat loneliness after losing his wife and sister
But, the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness which launched on Tuesday in memory of murdered MP wants to do something to combat Britain's loneliness epidemic.
On Tuesday, a group of campaigners from the commission are handing out badges with the words "Happy to Chat" at London's busiest Tube stations in an effort to start a "national conversation" about loneliness.
Pleased to pick one of these up at Waterloo this morning, I'm always #happytochat @JoCoxLoneliness pic.twitter.com/2YpRncxnYI Tessa Tyler Todd (@tessatylertodd) January 31, 2017
Commuters have been posting photos of the badges on social media, expressing their support for the initiative.
Super excited to be handed this #happytochat badge at King's Cross today! Lots of work planned to support @JoCoxLoneliness in 2017 pic.twitter.com/Yfo81egDRY Kate Fitch (@FitchyK) January 31, 2017
Jo Cox set up a cross-party commission on loneliness before she was murdered in June 2016.
Campaigners and politicians worked together to ensure that Cox's good work didn't go to waste. Throughout 2017, the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness will be working with partners including Action for Children, Age UK, Alzheimers Society, The British Red Cross to shed light on various aspects of loneliness and the positive steps anyone can take to combat it.
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Today the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness launches which Jo started to expose the loneliness crisis and find ways to solve it #HappytoChat pic.twitter.com/wS2pXS0Cru Jo Cox Foundation (@JoCoxFoundation) January 31, 2017
A spokesperson for Age UK said the charity hopes the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness will have a big impact on the millions of people grappling with feelings of loneliness.
"Our analysis shows that around 1.2 million older people are chronically lonely, meaning they have been feeling this way for years pointing to something of a social crisis at the very heart of our society," says Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK.
"Its clear that loneliness can affect us all at any stage of life but older people are particularly at risk simply because they are more likely to experience deteriorating health and the death of a loved one," she said.
Mohamed Elhindi doesn't know when he will be able to see his father, Elhindi Elhindi, again.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's chief information officer, former Winona School Board chairman and president of the Islamic Center of Winona said his father traveled to visit family and friends in Sudan for the holidays. It's among those listed in President Donald Trump's travel ban and 120-day suspension of the U.S. refugee program.
While Mohamed is a naturalized U.S. citizens, his father has a green card, and because of confusion around the restrictions, no one is sure when he will be able to return home. Elhindi didn't pack for a long trip, and, in his mid-70s, needs medications he doesn't have access to in Sudan.
"We don't even know if we should put him on the plane," Mohamed said. "For now, we told him to just stay put."
Donald Trump's executive order, what many are calling a Muslim ban, led to chaos and confusion over the weekend as some Muslim passengers were detained at airports or barred from flights. That confusion is continuing for several La Crosse and Winona families as they try to figure out what the new restrictions mean for them and loved ones.
"The unknown parts are what are driving me crazy," Mohamed said. "My father lives here. I'm worried about how to get him home. It is not safe to put people in these positions."
Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy sent out a statement Monday acknowledging that 100 employees and patients might be affected by the executive order. The health system was still trying to assess the situation and address concerns.
At UW-L there are no international students or visiting professors from the countries affected by the executive order, campus officials said. UW-L interim provost Betsy Morgan said the university has two tenure-track professors from Iran, one with a work visa and the other with a green card.
"I have reached out to them letting them know that my office and HR stand ready to be of help or support if we can be," she said. "At this time, human resources has advised them not to leave the country over concerns that getting back into the U.S. may be difficult."
Winona State University President Scott Olson sent out a statement Monday morning saying administrators didn't believe any students or employees would be immediately affected by the ban. He recommended staff and students not plan any travel to the seven affected countries within the next 90 days, while university staff learn more.
While La Crosse hasn't seen an influx of refugees fleeing recent crises in the Middle East, it does have a history of taking in Christian refugees fleeing persecution. During the first two decades of the 20th century, more than 130 Syrian and Lebanese immigrants and refugees came to the city, according to the La Crosse Public Library archives, settling mainly on Copeland Avenue on the city's north side and building lasting ties in the community.
The Rev. Dionysios Wilhelm, the pastor at St. Elias Orthodox Christian Church, said his congregation donates heavily to charities that help today's Syrian and other Middle East refugees. Wilhelm said one of the new families in his congregation came to the U.S. from Egypt and is worried future expansion of the restrictions might affect family still living there.
Fatima Said, executive director of Project FINE in Winona, said the executive order does not restrict the work of her nonprofit, which helps integrate immigrants and other newcomers into the community. Spirits are reasonably high, she added, among those who now face an uncertain future.
"People are scared and dont know exactly what's going on, but no one is getting ready to leave," she said. "They're doing what they've always done -- working hard and making things better for themselves and their community.
"And we have great support from our community."
Mohamed was frustrated about the countries the president's administration has targeted. None of those involved in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center came from Sudan, Iran, Libya or Iraq he said.
Muslims have been in the country for hundreds of years, he said, brought over on slave ships.
"This is really just a ban on Muslims," Mohamed said. "It smells like it, tastes like it and looks it."
He said there has been an outpouring of community support. He has received calls from friends and other offering help and resources.
"People are saying they are with us," he said. "The support from this community is greatly appreciated."
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he had asked China to help in the fight against Islamic State-linked militants by sending ships to patrol southern waters plagued by raids on commercial vessels. Speaking to newly promoted army generals, Duterte said he had sought China's help in dangerous waters in the south to check the activities of Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim rebel group sustained by piracy and kidnap-for-ransom activities. A surge in piracy off parts of the Philippines is forcing ship-owners to divert vessels through other waters, pushing up costs and shipping times. Duterte said piracy in the Sulu Sea between eastern Malaysia and the southern Philippines would escalate to levels seen in Somalia, and raise insurance costs for firms and increase prices of consumer goods and services. "We would be glad if they have their presence there ... just to patrol," Duterte said, adding that China could send coastguard vessels, not necessarily "gray" warships. "In the Malacca Strait and here in Sulu Sea remains to be a big problem," he said. The Malacca Strait, between Malaysia's west coast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, has over the years also been plagued by pirates. He did not say if China had responded. The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia had an agreement to patrol and tackle the Abu Sayyaf in the Sulu and Celebes Sea after they kidnapped the crew of Indonesian and Malaysian tug boats and South Korean and Vietnamese merchant ships. Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana last week said cooperation might be expanded to include Brunei and Singapore. The United States has also expressed concern about the security problem and held exercises with Malaysia and the Philippines last year. Lorenzana said on Tuesday the military had intensified operations on land with the aim of defeating Abu Sayyaf within six months. (Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel)
Manila (AFP) - President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he has asked China to send sea patrols to help stop Islamic militants abducting sailors and attacking vessels off the southern Philippines.
Duterte said he would like Beijing to dispatch a fleet like it did in 2009 when it sent a naval convoy to the Gulf of Aden to protect Chinese ships from Somali pirates.
"I also asked China if they can patrol the international waters without necessarily intruding into the territorial waters of countries," Duterte said in a speech to newly promoted Filipino generals.
"Grey ships are not really needed," he said, an apparent reference to warships.
"I said even coast guard cutters would do, just to patrol, like what they did in Somalia."
Manila has said militant groups are trying to establish an Islamic State-backed caliphate in Southeast Asia that would include the Philippines' southern island of Mindanao.
Duterte pointedly made his appeal for help to China rather than the United States, which has traditionally been the country's main defence ally.
Since his election last year, Duterte has responded to US criticism of his deadly war on crime by pivoting away from America and moving closer to China, despite ongoing territorial disputes between the two.
Abu Sayyaf, one of the groups seeking to set up a caliphate, began kidnapping sailors in waters between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines last year, taking several dozen hostages and attacking cargo ships.
Indonesia has warned the region could become the "next Somalia" and the three later pledged coordinated patrols.
The International Maritime Bureau said this month the number of maritime kidnappings hit a 10-year high in 2016, with waters off the southern Philippines becoming increasingly dangerous.
By Manuel Mogato and Martin Petty MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte suggested on Tuesday he may seek military support after withdrawing the national police from his war on drugs and handing the job to a much smaller anti-narcotics agency. More than 7,600 people, mostly users and small-time dealers, have been killed since Duterte took office at the end of June, vowing to crack down on methamphetamine use. About 2,550 of the deaths were in police operations while the others were vigilante killings or were unsolved murders. The Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) would run anti-drug operations, according to presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella. Its 1,800 staff are equivalent to just over 1 percent of the 160,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP). After a high-level security meeting on Sunday, Duterte said the PNP was "corrupt to the core". A suspension of its drugs operations came a few hours later. Duterte is furious with the PNP for the kidnap and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo by police drugs squad officers. Jee was killed within the PNP headquarters grounds. In a speech to soldiers on Tuesday, Duterte suggested he might need their help, saying he would be dead "if I don't include you in the game". The mercurial Duterte has threatened several times to invoke military rule to help his war on drugs. Last week, he appeared to rule out declaring martial law, but said he could do so if he wished. Presidential spokesman Abella could not immediately confirm whether the military, which has played a minor supporting role in the drugs war, would be given more responsibility. Armed forces spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said military involvement was discussed at the security talks, but it was not clear what that would be. Duterte said police had been ordered to stand down from anti-drugs operations. "No policeman in this country anywhere is allowed to enforce laws related to the drug campaign," he said, adding about 6,000 of them were "into drugs". Local radio stations, which routinely cover drug killings, said there were no reports of any deaths in what appeared to be a rare bloodless night on Monday, although police could not confirm whether or not there were casualties. Official data on Tuesday showed four additional deaths in police operations, although it was not immediately clear when those took place. The attack on the PNP is a surprise about-face by Duterte, who had been unwavering in his support for police on the front lines of his drugs war. His spokesman said the president was fully aware of PNP corruption when he gave police the lead in fighting narcotics, but the drugs problem was so big, he had no other choice. "The president had to act, he did act, to enforce his political will," Abella told a news briefing. "To avoid any of the apparent corrupt activities within the organization, he has now transferred (control) to PDEA." TOUGH TASK The anti-drugs campaign has caused international alarm due to the high death toll and disputed circumstances of many of the killings. Human rights groups say the police have been involved in widespread extrajudicial killings. The PNP and Duterte strongly reject that. Congressman Edcel Lagman described the sidelining of police as "a blessing" and said it was time to get tough. "For the first time in six months there are no reports today of drug-related killings," Lagman said. "There should be no more kids gloves for police scalawags who deserve an iron fist." Police officials who spoke to Reuters said there had been no written directive on the suspension of their role in the drugs war, but they were following the police chief's comments on television. "That is good as an order," said Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo at Manila's Northern Police District. "We now go after other crimes ... that's better for us, we fight all crimes." One senior policeman said raids and sting operations on drug sellers had stopped and police operations had shifted towards reining in wayward officers, especially those reinstated following internal investigations. "The cleansing process will take a front seat by strengthening our counter-intelligence operations, checking lifestyles of police officers involved in drug operations," said the officer, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media. "This is a huge job. I'm not sure how long will it take to do this because our Internal Affairs Service lacks manpower." (Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
The little girl is wearing a hijab and the little boy a kippah. Both are sitting on their fathers shoulders, smiling to each other and holding signs in protest of President Donald Trumps immigration order.
The photo, shot by Nuccio DiNuzzo, a staff photographer at the Chicago Tribune, and published on Monday night, has since gone viral, with people praising the universality of its message. I think that the picture speaks for itself, DiNuzzo tells TIME.
DiNuzzo shot this photograph on the third day of the airport protests. This was at OHare airport terminal 5, which is the international terminal, he says. There were protests on Saturday and Sunday [when] up to 1,500 people showed up. But yesterday, when the Tribune sent DiNuzzo on assignment, there were only about three dozens protesters and lawyers present. That was at 3:00 PM. Three hours later, after taking some photographs of the protesters signs and the lawyers waiting to assist arriving foreigners, DiNuzzo filed his images.
All of a sudden, I saw two girls holding signs. They were wearing hijabs, he says. I always have an eye out for children in protests like that. That was my first picture. I asked their dad for their names. They had baked some cookies to bring to the attorneys. I thought that was great.
Then, the father grabbed one of the girls and put her on his shoulders. I started shooting pictures of that, says DiNuzzo. And then, I see this other boy with a signed to the left of one of the girls. It kept getting better and better. The boys father picked him up and put him on his shoulders.
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Thats when DiNuzzos instinct kicked in. It was just a matter of waiting for the moment where I could see them looking at each other. I got maybe one frame of that and that was it. I knew I had the picture.
DiNuzzo filed the picture back to his editors, and while it was too late for the paper, it made it on the Tribunes website and on Twitter, where it went viral.
A lot of things that I post on Twitter, from sporting events and news events, [I] get a few re-tweets and a few likes. Its rare that it gets in the thousands, he says. I had a Bruce Springsteen photo last year that he re-tweeted out to his fans and that was the most I ever got over 2,000.
But his photograph of the Muslim girl and Jewish boy has already amassed more than 7,000 re-tweets and 10,000 likes.
For DiNuzzo, who has been a staff photographer with the Tribune for the last 25 years, the image has a universal message. It makes people feel good, he says. Its affecting people emotionally. And thats what photography is all about, he adds. You want to get right to their heart.
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Johannesburg (AFP) - South African prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who came to worldwide attention for securing the murder conviction of Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, has resigned, the country's prosecuting authority said on Tuesday.
Nel's forensic questioning and ferocious style attracted global interest as the so-called "blade runner" trial was broadcast around the world after double amputee Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius clamed he mistook Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, for a burglar when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, a claim that Nel hotly contested.
"You killed a person, that's what you did! You shot and killed her, won't you take responsibility for that?" he said during the trial.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku confirmed Nel's departure to AFP.
"We can confirm that prosecutor Gerrie Nel handed in his resignation (on) January 30," he said, adding that he would pursue "other interests".
South African agency News 24 reported that Nel, who was dubbed "the bulldog" during his 25-year career, will be joining Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum to pursue prosecutions on their behalf.
AfriForum refused to confirm or deny the reports but said that there would be an announcement "very soon".
In July, Pistorius was given a six-year jail term after an appeals court upgraded his manslaughter conviction to murder.
He had earlier been given a five-year sentence and was released on parole after one year.
Nel led the state's criticism of Pistorius' six-year sentence, calling it "shockingly lenient and disturbingly inappropriate".
Pistorius killed his 35-year-old partner at the peak of his fame, following his historic performance in London in 2012 when he became the first double-amputee to race at Olympic level.
Nel was already well known in South Africa before taking the case but became renowned during the Pistorius trial due to his sharp eye for detail and his take-no-prisoners approach.
His interrogations prompted at least one complaint to South Africa's Human Rights Commission -- which later found Nel had no case to answer.
The judge in the Pistorius case, Thokozile Masipa, had to interrupt proceedings to say "restrain yourself, Mr Nel" while he was scrutinising witnesses.
Johannesburg (AFP) - South African prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who came to worldwide attention for securing the murder conviction of Oscar Pistorius, has resigned to join a lobby group.
Nel's forensic questioning and ferocious style attracted global interest as the so-called "blade runner" trial was broadcast around the world after double amputee Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius claimed he mistook Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, for a burglar when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, a claim that Nel hotly contested.
"You killed a person, that's what you did! You shot and killed her, won't you take responsibility for that?" he said during the trial.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku confirmed Nel's departure to AFP.
"We can confirm that prosecutor Gerrie Nel handed in his resignation (on) January 30," he said.
Nel, who was dubbed "the bulldog" during his 36-year career, told a press conference he will join Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum to pursue prosecutions on their behalf.
South Africa's Afrikaner community are descendants of the first European settlers in the country. Many members of the community claim they have faced discrimination at schools, universities and the workplace since the end of apartheid.
- 'Aiming high' -
AfriForum is a mainly white Afrikaner civil rights group that lobbies on issues including farm murders, hate speech and language rights, and is often critical of the African National Congress party, which has ruled South Africa for over two decades.
"I think it's a brilliant new concept and I think it's necessary," Nel said.
"AfriForum will fund all the prosecutions. We're aiming high."
AfriForum's chief executive Kallie Kriel said that "nobody is above the law" after he was asked whether President Jacob Zuma might be one of those subject to a private prosecution.
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Zuma is facing some 783 criminal charges relating to allegations of corruption, racketeering and money laundering over a multi-billion dollar arms procurement deal by the government in the late 1990s.
In July, Pistorius was given a six-year jail term after an appeals court upgraded his manslaughter conviction to murder.
He had earlier been given a five-year sentence and was released on parole after one year.
Nel led the state's criticism of Pistorius' six-year sentence, calling it "shockingly lenient and disturbingly inappropriate".
Pistorius killed his 35-year-old partner at the peak of his fame, following his historic performance in London in 2012 when he became the first double-amputee to race at Olympic level.
Nel was already well known in South Africa before taking the case but became renowned during the Pistorius trial due to his sharp eye for detail and his take-no-prisoners approach.
His interrogations prompted at least one complaint to South Africa's Human Rights Commission -- which later found Nel had no case to answer.
The judge in the Pistorius case, Thokozile Masipa, had to interrupt proceedings to say "restrain yourself, Mr Nel" while he was scrutinising witnesses.
Canadian police say there is only one suspect in custody in connection with Sundays deadly mosque shooting in Quebec City, backtracking from earlier statements that two people were considered suspects and had been arrested.
One of the people previously described as a suspect is actually a witness, police said Monday on Twitter.
Investigators have not released additional information about the suspect, citing the investigation, according to the CBC.
La SQ confirme quun seul des individus arrete hier soir en lien avec l#attentat de #Quebec est considere comme suspect. Surete du Quebec (@sureteduquebec) January 30, 2017
#Attentat de #Quebec Suite a lenquete, lautre individu est maintenant considere comme temoin. Surete du Quebec (@sureteduquebec) January 30, 2017
The SQ confirms that only individuals arrested last night is considered to be suspect, Quebec police said, according to a translation. In a later tweet they said, Following the investigation, the other individual is now considered a witness.
It was not immediately clear what charges the suspect faces, when they will appear in court or if they have retained an attorney.
Police have not yet released a motive in the shooting, at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre, but said they do not believe there are other suspects, according to the Associated Press.
The shooting, which occurred about 8 p.m. Sunday in Quebecs Sainte-Foy neighborhood, killed six people and injured an unconfirmed number of others, including some critically, according to local media reports.
About 39 other people at the center were unhurt in the attack, which a witness told Reuters occurred during evening prayers.
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The victims who were killed, all men, were between the ages of 35 and 70, according to the CBC.
Six of our brothers were assassinated the back while they were praying, one Muslim community leader said of the victims at a news conference in Quebec on Monday, according to the Globe and Mail. Theyve left orphans.
Quebec Provincial Police previously said that two people were arrested after the shooting: one at the scene and another about an hour later after calling 911, reportedly to express a desire to cooperate with authorities.
Police have not said which of those two people is now considered the suspect, according to the AP.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted after the incident, Tonight, Canadians grieve for those killed in a cowardly attack on a mosque in Quebec City. My thoughts are with victims & their families.
Trudeau has described the shooting as a terrorist attack, according to the AP, saying in a statement, It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence. Diversity is our strength, and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear.
In a statement posted to Twitter, the Canadian Council of Imams said that they were grieved and shocked at the senseless killings of worshippers, and they implored the Canadian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The statement also warned against a rush to judgement.
As Canadian Muslims, we know how devastating it is to be blamed for the actions of a few, the statement continued. We reject blaming any community, culture or religion for these murders.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders clashed in the Dutch Parliament Tuesday with the foreign minister over U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban for people from seven Muslim nations.
Wilders seen by many as a Dutch equivalent of Trump paid tribute to the new U.S. leader, saying, "Finally America has a president, finally a country in the West has a president, who not only lives up to his promises but who says 'the freedom of my citizens is more important than anything.'"
Foreign Minister Bert Koenders hit back. "If you want to fight terror, then the worst thing you can do is trample human rights," he said.
The heated debate foreshadows what is likely to be a highly charged campaign ahead of national elections on March 15. Wilders' Party for Freedom, which currently holds 12 seats in Parliament's lower house, is polling strongly ahead of the vote.
Wilders' party has long advocated banning migration to the Netherlands from Muslim nations and even called on Trump in a tweet over the weekend to extend his ban to Saudi Arabia.
"President Trump has, in two weeks, pursued an immigration policy that is more effective than your entire Cabinet for as long as you have existed," Wilders told Koenders.
The Dutch government, meanwhile, has been pushing back at some of Trump's policies since he took office. On Tuesday, Koenders also said he was suspending talks with the U.S. about placing American border checks at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.
Dutch authorities also updated their official travel advisory for the U.S. to warn of the effects of Trump's new policy on Dutch citizens who have dual nationality with one of the seven nations affected.
In another move, the government announced on Saturday it is putting 10 million euros ($10.7 million) into an international fund it has launched to finance access to birth control, abortion and sex education for women in developing nations after Trump cut U.S. funding for such services.
Lisbon (AFP) - Portugal's supreme court on Tuesday upheld the acquittal of an ex-policeman sued for libel by the parents of Madeleine McCann, the British toddler who disappeared during a family vacation in 2007.
Goncalo Amaral, who had led the inquiry into the child's disappearance just a few days before her fourth birthday, in Praia da Luz in southern Portugal, was sued over his 2008 book "The Truth of the Lie".
In the book, he accused Kate and Gerry McCann of concealing their daughter's body after her accidental death.
Goncalo had originally been ordered to pay the parents of the missing girl 500,000 euros ($540,000), plus more than 100,000 euros in interest, but that judgement was struck down on appeal last April.
The supreme court ruled Tuesday that "Goncalo Amaral did not abuse the liberty of expression", as his claims remained "within the limits tolerated in an open and democratic society".
The decision is final in Portugal, but can be appealed before the European Court of Human Rights.
After 14 months of controversial investigations -- which saw Madeleine's parents investigated and Amaral sacked -- Portuguese police closed the case in 2008 before reopening it five years later.
British police opened their own inquiry in July 2013, but excavations in Praia da Luz yielded no evidence.
Ask any hiring manager what helps a candidate stand out in the interview process and they will confirm the importance of preparation. While you can't change your previous experience, your education or your overall skills shortly before an interview, you can excel in getting yourself ready before the big meeting. Here are four effective things to do.
[See: 7 Ways to Crush a Phone Interview.]
First, create a written comparison of your qualifications to the job description. I call this a "T Resume" -- where you prioritize the top five to seven requirements on the left and then succinctly list how you have these requirements to the right of each one. To really maximize the benefit of this exercise, start by writing everything that comes to mind. Once you have a complete list, now refine it to one to two sentences that answer the question: "If I need someone who can perform a certain task, explain to me how you are the best candidate."
The best answer to that question is not just a list of everything you have done related to that subject. It involves communicating the most relevant examples that are of interest to this specific hiring manager. In focusing on relevance and transferability, you have a better chance of showing how you are the best candidate, not just a qualified one. Additionally, customizing your response displays how well you understand the role.
Second, move beyond the job description. Exemplary candidates can confidently address how their background is a match for the role, but they can also speak to how this role impacts the larger organization. Every role in a company solves a business problem or provides a specific value to the company. The size and complexity of the problem that is solved or the value that is provided usually ties to how much compensation the company will offer. As a competitive interviewee, you should clearly understand what problems you will solve and what value you will deliver.
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Knowledge of the bigger picture conveys a more strategic outlook and a higher level of professional sophistication. Employees who understand how performance impacts the bottom line typically outperform those who do not recognize the true value of their contributions. It also demonstrates your capacity for more growth once you master your immediate role.
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
Third, think like an investor. If you are serious about building a career at this company, research like an investor. You can start by checking out their "Investor Relations" page online if they have one. You can also look up analysts' thoughts on the industry, trends in the future and overall outlook for the business or service. Furthermore, look into top competitors, companies that have failed and any other catalysts (like changes in regulations or laws) that may have a potential impact.
Putting on your analytical hat can accomplish many things. Initially, it can strengthen your conviction that a specific company is the right place for you. Additionally, it can deepen your knowledge of the opportunities and challenges ahead in this field. Finally, it gives you significantly more interesting talking points and questions than the overused, "Tell me about a typical day," and, "How do you train new employees?"
[See: How to Follow Up on a Job Application Without Being Annoying.]
Finally, phone a friend. Whenever possible, try to identify if you know someone who works at the company. Even if that contact is not in your ideal department, she can still give you an insider's view of the culture, organizational structure, hiring process and companywide goals or objectives. If the contact is a friend or you have a close relationship, you can simply call or email to ask if she can give you some advice.
When the best contact is more removed from your everyday circle, you should strategize on the best way to get a quick response. Do you share a mutual friend who could call in a favor to get a quick response? You can also send a politely worded direct email (if you have the email address) or via an InMail on LinkedIn. Highlight that you have a time-sensitive advice request so that you can better prepare for an interview with X company. Include a few times when you are available, how much time you think the call might take (10 to 15 minutes is more likely to get a response than 30 minutes) and your best contact information. And, of course, express your sincere appreciation for any assistance and your willingness to return the favor.
In summary, interviewing is stressful and often grueling, but there is much you can do to improve your performance. Expertly preparing before a meeting is one of the simplest things an interviewee can do to raise his or her chances for success. Start with a strong command of your value, followed by a deep knowledge of the role and the overall business, and you will be in excellent shape to ace your interviews.
Robin Reshwan is the founder of Collegial Services, a consulting and staffing firm that connects college students and business professionals with the organizations that hire them. She has interviewed, placed and hired thousands of people across a broad spectrum of companies and industries. She is a Careers contributor for U.S. News and World Report and her career tips and advice have been used by national clubs, associations and businesses in addition to media outlets such as Yahoo, Business Insider, Fast Company, Monster, Kiplinger and Schools.com. Robin is also a frequent speaker on professional development for the alumni associations at Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business and University of California, Davis, plus the School of Economics and Business Administration at Saint Mary's College of California. A Certified Professional Resume Writer, Robin has been honored as a Professional Business Woman of the Year by the American Business Women's Association.
(WASHINGTON) Republicans are muscling more of President Donald Trumps Cabinet nominees to the cusp of Senate confirmation over Democratic objections, with committees poised to advance his picks to head agencies in the thick of partisan battles over health care, legal protections, education and the economy.
The Senate Finance Committee was expected Tuesday to advance Trumps picks of Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to be health secretary and Steve Mnuchin, a wealthy former financier, to lead Treasury.
Other panels were considering Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., to be attorney general and wealthy conservative activist Betsy DeVos to head the Education Department. All had strong Republican support, though final confirmation votes by the full Senate werent yet scheduled.
The Finance Committees top Democrat, Ron Wyden of Oregon, said hed oppose Price and Mnuchin. Democrats have accused Price of insider trading in health industry stocks, which hes denied, and criticized Mnuchin for not initially revealing nearly $100 million in assets.
I cannot support nominees who treat disclosures like shell games and ethics laws like mere suggestions, Wyden said.
Republicans were trying to help Trump staff his Cabinet in the second week of an administration that has ignited fights on multiple fronts. Trump by executive action has clamped temporary bans against refugees from all countries and visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations, and hes seen relations with Mexico sour after insisting it will pay for a border wall. And hes backing the GOPs problematic efforts to dismantle President Barack Obamas health care overhaul.
Trump complained Monday night about the confirmation process, tweeting: The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct.
Trump has nominated some of the wealthiest Americans to serve a president, leading to exhaustive ethics reviews. A Senate schedule interrupted by breaks has also delayed the process.
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Democrats have targeted Price, a seven-term congressional veteran, for his staunch backing of his partys drive to scuttle Obamas health care law and to reshape Medicare and Medicaid, which help older and low-income people afford medical care.
Theyve also assailed Price for buying stocks of health care firms, accusing him of using insider information and conflicts of interest for backing legislation that could help his investments. Price says his trades were largely managed by brokers and that hes followed congressional ethics rules.
The Finance panel was also expected to approve Mnuchin to become treasury secretary. Democrats have accused Mnuchin of failing to protect homeowners from foreclosures and criticized him for not initially disclosing all his assets.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., was on track to win Senate Judiciary Committee approval to become attorney general. That vote was coming with Democrats and demonstrators around the country in an uproar over Trumps executive order blocking refugees. Even some Republicans were warning it could hinder anti-terrorism efforts.
Democrats have questioned Sessions devotion to enforcing civil rights laws.
DeVos, a wealthy GOP donor, has long supported charter schools and allowing school choice. Thats prompted opposition from Democrats and teachers unions, which view her stance as a threat to federal dollars that support public education.
Critics have mocked her for suggesting that guns could be justified in schools to protect students from grizzly bears. Health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., called her an excellent choice.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee was expected to affirm the nominations of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to become energy secretary and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., to head the Interior Department.
The full Senate was on track to easily confirm Elaine Chao to become transportation secretary in a mid-day vote.
Chao was labor secretary under President George W. Bush, and is wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. She would be a lead actor in pursuing Trumps promise to invest $1 trillion to improve highways, rail service and other infrastructure projects.
On Monday evening, the Senate cleared the way for a final vote on Rex Tillerson, Trumps nominee to be secretary of state. Democrats wanted Tillerson to answer questions about Trumps ban against entry for people from seven majority Muslim countries, but lost a bid to delay his nomination.
Democrats were opposing Tillersons selection even before Trump issued his immigration orders over the weekend, citing his close ties with Russia as CEO of Exxon Mobil. Democrats want him to retain sanctions imposed by Obama because of Russias seizure of Ukrainian territory and U.S. intelligence agencies conclusion that Moscow meddled in Novembers U.S. elections to help Trump.
(WASHINGTON) The legal fight over President Donald Trumps ban on refugees is likely to turn on questions of a presidents authority to control Americas borders and on whether the new immigration policy unconstitutionally discriminates against Muslims.
Civil liberties advocates have challenged the order, which temporarily suspends immigration from seven countries and the United States broader refugee program. It has drawn nationwide protests since the order was issued on Friday.
Federal judges in New York and several other states issued orders that temporarily block the government from deporting people with valid visas who arrived after Trumps travel ban took effect. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, a Democratic appointee, said Monday she has directed Justice Department attorneys to not defend Trumps order, as she is not convinced it is lawful. Trump responded by swiftly firing her and replacing her with Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Washington states attorney general announced hes suing Trump over the order.
And the Council on American-Islamic Relations also filed a lawsuit arguing the ban violates the First Amendments bar of preferential treatment for a religion by appearing to favor Christian over Muslim refugees.
While this ban does not apply to all Muslims, it only applies to Muslims, said Gadir Abbas, one of the councils lawyers. That type of religious gerrymandering is illegal.
The court cases are only beginning, and legal experts are divided as to whether courts will find Trumps action constitutional.
Federal law gives the president unconstrained power to suspend the entry of any class of aliens if he determines their entry would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. But a different law prevents discrimination against the issuance of an immigrant visa based on a persons nationality or place of birth.
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Historically, the courts have not tried to regulate the executive branchs determination as to whos allowed to enter the country, said Eric Posner, a University of Chicago law professor. The immigration statute gives the president very broad discretion to block people from entering the country, including for national security reasons.
Posner said he expected judges to give the policy more deference if the administration can show that it was done to protect national security, rather than for political reasons.
He also said courts could find it compelling that the executive order is temporary rather than permanent, and that it does not cover all Muslims from all countries, notably omitting Saudi Arabia the home nation for the majority of Sept. 11 hijackers.
The fact that he lets in Muslims from Saudi Arabia tends to undermine the theory that hes acting out of animus, Posner said.
Trump isnt the first American leader to apply a different standard to Saudi Arabia. Its status as the worlds leading oil producer and close U.S. ally has led Republicans and Democrats to often overlook its woeful human rights record and spotty history in fighting terrorism. The travel ban applies to Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan.
Courts have a long history of upholding portions of immigration law that discriminate on the basis of race and nationality, said Peter J. Spiro, a law professor at Temple University. As far back as 1889 the Supreme Court upheld the exclusion of Chinese laborers, and more recent rulings have also upheld similar discrimination.
The court, for example, ruled in 1953 that a noncitizen trying to enter the U.S. has no right under the Constitution to challenge the governments decision to deny entry. That case involved a legal permanent resident of the United States who traveled abroad to Hungary for 19 months. He was denied re-entry because the government said he posed a threat to national security.
But that case and others were decided at a time when the public was more accepting of discriminatory policies.
Adam Cox, a law professor at New York University, said its historically been challenging to prove that a policy was enacted with the purpose of disadvantaging a particular religion or race, often requiring smoking gun evidence of the state of mind of the people behind it. He said that though courts in the past have sustained discriminatory policies, it could be possible for a judge in this instance to pierce the veil and decide that the executive order was motivated by animus.
If a court gets to the point where it sees this as open discrimination on the basis of religion or race, at that point I would part company with people who argue that simply by virtue of this being an immigration policy, it is insulated from constitutional attack, Cox said.
Its also possible that federal judges could be more likely to push back in light of the massive public backlash over Trumps ban, Spiro said.
If theres going to be a case in which a constitutional challenge has some chance of succeeding, this is it, he said.
___
Associated Press writer Sam Hananel contributed to this report.
On Friday, the same day that he ordered a halt in the entry of persecuted refugees into the United States, President Trump issued a statement on the Holocaust. In a crisp three paragraphs, Trump said, It is with a heavy heart and somber mind that we remember and honor the victims, survivors, heroes of the Holocaust. It is impossible to fully fathom the depravity and horror inflicted on innocent people by Nazi terror. He added that in the name of the perished, he would work to prevent such a tragedy again.
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Pointedly missing from the statement, as was immediately noticed, was any mention of the Jewish people, of whom roughly 6 million were murdered during the Holocaust. The omission was roundly criticized by Jewish groups, and not just mainstream groups like the Anti-Defamation League, though they were also critical. The Republican Jewish Coalition weighed in, too, saying that The lack of a direct statement about the suffering of the Jewish people during the Holocaust was an unfortunate omission and adding, We hope, going forward, he conveys those feelings when speaking about the Holocaust. The head of the very conservative Zionist Organization of America, which is funded in part by the Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson, was blunter. Especially as a child of Holocaust survivors, I and ZOA are compelled to express our chagrin and deep pain at President Trump, in his Holocaust Remembrance Day Message, omitting any mention of anti-Semitism and the six million Jews who were targeted and murdered by the German Nazi regime and others, Mort Klein said in a statement. (The ZOA kicked up a controversy when it announced that Steve Bannon would attend a dinner it was throwing in November. Bannon then never showed.)
But the White House wants credit anyway. Press Secretary Sean Spicer was quizzed on the omission during a briefing on Monday. As to criticism, Spicer said, Hes aware of what people have been saying, but I think by and large hes been praised for it.
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Spicer added:
I gotta be honest, the president went out of his way to recognize the Holocaust and the suffering that went through and the people that were affected by it and the loss of life, and to make sure that American never forgets what so many people went through, whether they were Jews or gypsies, gays, disability [sic] I mean priests
This is a double act of revisionism. For most mainstream scholars, the Holocaust refers specifically to the extermination of Jews. While the Nazis killed others en masse, the Holocaust itself refers to the killing of Jews, and the other murders were contemporary but different.
The Holocaust Museum on Monday issued a statement that did not mention Trump by name but sharply criticized his approach. The museum notes that The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, the statement said. Millions of other innocent civilians were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis, but the elimination of Jews was central to Nazi policy. As Elie Wiesel said, Not all victims were Jews, but all Jews were victims.
Historian Deborah Lipstadt writes that the de-Judaization represented by Trumps statement is historically inaccurate. Had the Germans won they probably would have eliminated millions of other peoples, including the Roma, homosexuals, dissidents of any kind, and other useless eaters, Lipstadt writes in a piece accusing the White House of softcore Holocaust denial. But it was only the Jews whose destruction could not wait until after the war. Only in the case of the Jews could war priorities be overridden.
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Yet despite the warnings and complaints of advocates and historians alike, Spicer again on Monday once again trotted out the parade of other victims of the Holocaust to excuse the omission.
The other act of revisionism in Spicers defense is the even more audacious one of claiming that Trump should be lauded for going out of his way to recognize the Holocaust. There was a reason that Trumps statement came out, rather uncomfortably, on the same day as the immigration executive order targeting travelers from several mostly Muslim countries: Friday was International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the great effort Trump made was to issue a three-paragraph statement.
Spicer tried to deflect attention away from the Holocaust on two separate matters, by changing the subject away from the substance of the statement and toward Trumps policies toward Israel as well as toward the aides who helped draft it.
Spicer first conflated support for Israel with recognition of Jewish deaths. With regard to Israel and the Jewish people generally theres been no better friend that Donald Trump, Spicer said. He argued that the Obama administrations differences with the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu had received too little scrutiny from the press compared to the current presidents statement. Theres no obvious reason, however, why Trumps steadfast support for the Israeli right ought to excuse him from recognizing the centrality of Jewish genocide in the Holocaust.
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Later in the briefing, Spicer got increasingly agitated after another question on the topic. The statement was written with the help of an individual whos both Jewish and the descendant of Holocaust survivors, he said. (Spicer appeared to be referring to Trumps adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, though he would not directly acknowledge that.) To suggest that remembering the Holocaust and acknowledging all of the people, Jewish, gypsies, priests, disabled, gays, and lesbiansit is pathetic that people are picking on a statement.
The question is not, however, whether some of Trumps best advisers are Jewish, so to speak, but whether the president will emphasize the Jewish deaths at Nazi hands. This makes for bizarre politics, too. Why would Trumps spokesman pick a fight with the Republican Jewish Coalition and the ZOA, groups that have been solidly in Trumps corner even as he comes under harsh attacks for flirtations with white supremacists from other parties?
Trump and his aides have taken a stance of never admitting error or backtracking. In this case, the White House could say that the omission was an inadvertent one, apologize, and declare the matter closed. Instead, the administration is choosing to insist they did nothing wrong, adopt a discredited historical revisionism, and call its own political allies pathetic instead. So far, it must be said, this statement has left Trump in good stead: He continues to notch political victories, and many of his supporters praise him for not backing down. But logic dictates that such an approach must eventually bring peril.
The broader implications of the Trump strategy aside, the pushback with regards to Fridays statement represents a dramatic case of setting expectations low. If President Trump demands congratulations simply for recognizing the Holocaust, then surely it must be too much to ask that he recognize the Jewish character of the catastrophe.
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This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
By Jon Herskovitz COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Reuters) - The leaders of the only private university in North Korea asked Texas A&M University, known for its agricultural economics and public health programs, for help on Monday in teaching subjects such as how to grow food in a land of chronic shortages. The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) was founded by evangelical Christians and opened in 2010, with students generally the children of the country's elite. A PUST delegation visiting the school said the help is not about politics but about using academics for humanitarian ideals. "There is no school like this in North Korea," Yu-Taik Chon, executive vice president of the university in the North Korean capital, told Texas A&M officials, adding PUST can open a door to the outside world for the future leaders of the reclusive state. North Korea's centrally planned rationing system never recovered from a famine in the 1990s. From April to June last year the state handed out just 360 grams (12.7 oz) of rations per person per day, the lowest amount for five years, a World Food Program report said. The volunteer faculty of PUST, many of whom are evangelical Christians, has a curriculum that includes subjects once considered taboo in North Korea, such as capitalism. The college is an unlikely fit in a country that has been condemned by the U.S. State Department for cracking down on freedom of religion. But at times, North Korea has allowed help, especially when someone else picks up the tab for an expensive project the country's leadership has felt was not undermining the state. The staff at PUST avoids talking about politics and religion in the classroom, delegation members said. The delegation is seeking help from about 10 U.S. universities on topics such as food security and improving nutrition. The United States is a leading proponent of sanctions on North Korea for its military provocations and nuclear arms program. PUST faculty members in the delegation said the other U.S. schools that have been approached have asked to keep their names private. Texas A&M has projects in several global hot spots, including Afghanistan and central Africa. "For us, it is as much a scholarly engagement as an altruistic engagement," said Edward Price, director of the school's Center on Conflict and Development in the Department of Agricultural Economics. "We are driven by the notion that food security is fundamental to peace," Price said. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Frances Kerry and Cynthia Osterman)
Earth's moon could help scientists locate exploding stars in the Milky Way galaxy and beyond, according to the creators of a proposed space science mission.
The Lunar Occultation Explorer (LOX) would orbit the moon and scan the sky for high-energy light called gamma-rays; in particular, the instruments would look for light that is produced by a particular type of exploding star that's called a Type Ia supernova.
LOX would take advantage of the relatively quiet lunar environment, where the significant sources of background noise that would plague such an instrument orbiting the Earth would be absent or well understood. In addition, LOX would effectively use the moon as a reference object to better determine the location of the supernovas it discovers. If the mission flies, it would be the first dedicated astrophysics mission to the moon, according to the scientists who are making the proposal. [Supernova Photos: Great Images of Star Explosions]
A proposal for the LOX mission has been submitted to NASA for consideration in its Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) program Kenneth Moscati (JHUAPL), for LOX Mission Concept
"It's been a wish for a long time, really since before we went to the moon, to see what we could do to leverage the lunar environment as a platform for astrophysics," Richard Miller, a professor of physics at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and leader of the LOX mission proposal, told Space.com. "And while we've gotten very good at space-based astrophysics platforms, like the Hubble Space Telescope, for example, if one wants to go to the moon, there has to be a really good motivating reason that you want to do your astrophysics there."
Miller thinks that he and his collaborators on LOX have come up with a pretty good reason to send an astrophysics spacecraft into orbit around Earth's nearest natural satellite. LOX currently only exists on paper, but in the next six months NASA could decide to move ahead with making the mission a reality.
LOX's primary mission would be to locate and study a type of supernova called Type Ia. These stellar explosions are thought to occur when a white dwarf (a collapsed star that is still fairly hot) starts siphoning material away from a nearby companion star. The material accumulates on the surface of the white dwarf, building up internal heat pressure, ultimately causing the entire white dwarf to explode and become a supernova.
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The instruments aboard LOX would detect light in a very specific energy range that Miller calls the "nuclear energy regime." A supernova explosion is driven by thermonuclear processes meaning energy is released from the nuclei of atoms. But theorists have shown that there are multiple ways to set up the conditions for a white-dwarf supernova explosion. For example, these explosions could come from a white dwarf that is stealing material from a "normal" star like the sun; but they could also be created by the merger of two white dwarf stars. The stellar arrangement that ultimately produces a supernova is known as a supernova progenitor, Miller said.
"This isnt such a crazy thought," Miller wrote. "There is a range of possible [Type Ia supernova] progenitors that are physically allowed (as far as we know). But whether nature facilitates all of these, a subset, or just one type, makes such open questions relevant."
So, are all Type Ia supernovas initiated by the same process, or is there diversity among these stellar explosions? According to Miller, studying these "nuclear" gamma-rays could help answer those questions.
Type Ia supernovas are fascinating in their own right, but they are also extremely useful to cosmologists, because they can be used to measure distances to far-off cosmic objects, which is a notoriously difficult problem for anyone who wishes to study the universe. When a Type Ia supernova goes off, scientists can figure out how far away it is based on how bright it appears to be; from there, it's possible to figure out the distance to other objects near the supernova. Type Ia supernovas helped reveal to scientists that the universe is not only expanding, but is doing so at a faster and faster rate. The explanation for that universal acceleration is called dark energy, although the nature of this force is still a mystery. Type Ia supernovas continue to be an important part of cracking that cosmic puzzle.
The potential diversity of scenarios that lead to Type Ia supernovas is important to cosmology because itmight influence the use of these supernovas to measure distances. For example, scientists might only want to compare distance measurements among supernovas that form in the same way, Miller said. Grouping the distance measurements by type could, in principle, "minimize systematics and ultimately improve the precision of supernova cosmology studies that WFIRST and others will perform," Miller told Space.com in an email. On the other hand, if it turns out that all Type Ia supernovas form in the same way (which Miller said would be a "an odd situation, to be sure,") then that is "equally important" for cosmologists to know. [Gamma-Ray Universe: Photos by NASA's Fermi Space Telescope]
To the moon
The nuclear energy regime has not been thoroughly studied by space-based gamma-ray telescopes, according to Miller. NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Telescope, for example, studies much higher-energy gamma-rays than what LOX was designed for. NASA's Swift observatory was designed to study a phenomenon known as gamma-ray bursts, but those bright flashes would be invisible to LOX, Miller said.
Trying to capture and isolate photons in the energy range that's targeted by LOX comes with one big hurdle: the background noise near the Earth. Anyone who has ever tried to have a conversation at a rock concert knows about the impact of background noise (although the kind that astronomers deal with isn't literally sound). Astronomers often have to find a way to remove unwanted light signals in order to isolate the light they want to study. Cosmic rays (powerful charged particles from space) collide with Earth's atmosphere and create gamma-rays in LOX's "nuclear energy regime." In addition, the Earths magnetic field causes these backgrounds to change throughout a spacecrafts orbit, so they are difficult to characterize. This limits the scientists' ability to subtract them from the signal without error, Miller said.
The last major NASA mission to investigate this regime was called the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory, which flew from 1991 to 2000. That spacecraft was equipped with a Compton telescope, which is an instrument that was configured in part to deal with those background-signals that exist around the Earth. But this approach requires an instrument that is "very complex, power-hungry, massive, low-efficiency and very expensive," Miller told Space.com.
To get around this challenge, LOX would orbit Earth's moon, which has little to no atmosphere, immediately reducing one major source of background noise. Cosmic rays collide with the lunar surface and create some background, but because the moon doesn't have a magnetic field, the background noise doesn't change rapidly, the way it does on Earth. Hence, it's easier for scientists to measure the background alone, and subtract it from their measurements of the supernova gamma-rays.
Ultimately, the lunar environment would allow for more sensitive measurements in the nuclear energy regime, and so scientists would have the ability to see supernovae much further away. Using the lunar environment to study these supernovas "represents a paradigm shift," Miller wrote. With the ability to observe a source for a full two weeks, LOX would be on the order of "10 [times] more sensitive than next-generation Compton telescopes and that sensitivity gets better with time."
An artist's rendition of the inside of the proposed LOX spacecraft. James Leary (JHUAPL), for LOX Mission Concept
A Type Ia supernova builds up to its peak brightness over a period of a few weeks, and then gradually dims down; the whole processes takes place on the order of about 100 days, Miller said. LOX would scan almost the entire sky about once every two to three weeks, looking for the gamma-rays emitted by these supernovas. Thus, it could collect information on a particular supernova at different points through its lifetime, from its explosive buildup, all the way through its gradual comedown. The sensitivity of the instrument would allow LOX to see out to about 100 Megaparsecs, or about 325 million light-years. All told, Miller said that the mission planners expect that LOX would detect and characterize about 50 to 100 supernovas each year. [Top 10 Gamma-Ray Sources in the Universe]
There's a final benefit to orbiting the moon, and that's the ability to use the lunar disk as a kind of reference object for narrowing down the location of these supernovas on the sky. This ability would help scientists pinpoint the particular galaxy the supernova lives in. That in turn could help scientists learn more about what environmental conditions create these Type Ia supernovas.
The LOX spacecraft would use the moon as a point of reference, via a method called the Lunar Occultation Technique, which boils down to something most people have probably experienced while driving long distances in a car: It's possible to gauge the location of and distance to a faraway object by looking at how that object appears to move in relation to objects that are closer to the observer. For example, the size and distance of a mountain on the horizon can be better gauged as the person in the car watches the changing position of a tall building in the foreground.
Scientists working on the LOX mission would use precise geometric measurements to determine the location of a supernova, rather than just gauging these distances by eye. As LOX orbits the moon, a distant supernova may at first appear to one side of the moon, until it gradually sets behind the moon, and then rises over the lunar horizon a little later on. Over the course of a few days or weeks, that information can be used to narrow down a precise position for the supernova.
Miller and colleagues published a proof-of-concept paper for the technique using data from NASA's Lunar Prospector Gamma Ray Spectrometer (LP-GRS). By learning about the stellar arrangement, environmental conditions, and explosion mechanisms that create an individual supernova, along with the type of galaxy it resides in, scientists could begin to understand the relationship between a supernova and the properties of its home galaxy.
A proposal for the LOX mission has been submitted to NASA's Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) program.
Editor's Note: This article has been corrected to state that 10 Megaparsecs is equal to 325 million light-years, not 325 light-years.
Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield.Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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Photo credit: Associated Press
From Cosmopolitan
President Donald Trump's travel ban barring citizens of seven predominantly Muslim nations entry into the U.S. has sparked protests around the country Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
Although the ACLU successfully halted deportations in federal court late Saturday evening, the fight is not over. The stay granted in court covered the airport detainees and those currently in transit, but doesn't effect the ban going forward. As such, many more airport protests are expected today.
A look at what is happening:
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SEATTLE
At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, about 3,000 protesters holding signs and chanting "no hatred, no fear, immigrants are welcome here" and "let them in" gathered Saturday evening and continued demonstrating into early Sunday morning.
Aayah Khalaf, a Muslim American, was sitting at home watching the protest on television when she and her friend studying from Egypt decided to join the rally. It was her second time joining a protest. The first one was the Women's March.
"It's not just against Muslims. It against environmental rights and human rights overall. I think everybody has to stand up against this," said Khalaf, 29.
The Port of Seattle Commissioners, which oversees the airport, issued a statement criticizing the executive order.
"The Port of Seattle Commissioners, Tom Albro, Courtney Gregoire, Stephanie Bowman, Fred Felleman and John Creighton are here today to express our concerns over the immigration ban executive order that was issued late last night. As the government that operates this airport, this executive order runs counter to our values. America is great because we are a land of immigrants and that is what made us great to begin with," the statement said.
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NEW YORK
Cries of "Let them in!" rose up from a crowd of more than 2,000 people protesting at John F. Kennedy Airport, where 12 refugees were detained Saturday. Celebrities including "Sex and the City" actress Cynthia Nixon joined the demonstration. "What Donald Trump did in the last 24 hours is disgusting, disgraceful and completely un-American and I'm here in protest," said protester Pamela French. The agency that runs the airport tried to restore order by shutting down the train that runs to airport terminals. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, reversed that decision, saying people had a right to protest. "The people of New York will have their voices heard," he said in a statement.
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
More than 120 people clutching signs denouncing the Trump immigration orders gathered at Newark Liberty International Airport. NorthJersey.com reports that they joined lawyers who'd rushed to the airport to defend the rights of refugees and immigrants who were being detained and denied entry.
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FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA
Dozens of protesters inside Washington Dulles International Airport chanted "Love, Not Hate, Makes America Great" and "Say It Loud, Say it Clear, Muslims Are Welcome Here," as travelers walked through a terminal to a baggage claim area to collect luggage and greet their loved ones. There was a heavy police presence during the peaceful protest. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said during a press conference at Dulles that he has asked Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring to look into "all legal remedies" available to help individuals who may be detained in Virginia.
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DENVER
Dozens of people converged on Denver International to show their support for refugees. Standing in the main terminal Saturday, they sang "Refugees are welcome here." Some held signs declaring their identity, such as Jew or Christian, and the phrase "I come in peace." Denver has some direct international flights but it wasn't clear whether anyone has been detained under the president's executive order.
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CHICAGO
A crowd of demonstrators held a rally at O'Hare International Airport. The Chicago Sun-Times reports protesters blocked vehicle traffic to O'Hare's international terminal for a time. The newspaper says some arriving travelers joined the protest, while others were upset by the demonstrations.
Lawyers working with the International Refugee Assistance Project tell the Chicago Tribune that 17 people who had been detained at O'Hare all released by late Saturday.
Among those released before the federal judge's order was Hessan Noorian, a suburban Park Ridge resident returning with his family from Iran, the Tribune reported.
Noorian, who is of British and Iranian citizenship and has a green card, was detained at O'Hare after he and his wife, Zahra Amirisefat, a U.S. citizen, arrived from Tehran, the newspaper said.
The couple, who told the Tribune that they work at a community college in the Chicago area, said they were questioned for five hours.
After Noorian was released, his wife told the Tribune: "I can't believe something like this can happen to someone with a green card."
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DALLAS
Protesters who gathered at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Saturday evening voiced their displeasure with Trump's executive order. The crowd of a few dozen ballooned into hundreds of demonstrators who frequently chanted "Set them free!" At times, cheers erupted from the crowd as those who were detained got released.
Among those still held at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport at midnight Saturday was a 70-year-old Iranian widow, Shahin Hassanpour, whose son said she suffers from high blood pressure and had breast cancer surgery four years ago. She obtained an immigrant visa in November on her son's petition.
Bahzad Honarjou, a 43-year-old network engineer, said he spoke twice to his mother by phone after her 9 a.m. arrival, but that they hadn't talked since courts stayed the executive order, meaning she should have been released.
Hundreds of protesters stood in the waiting area and chanted "This is what democracy looks like."
Immigration agents were not being very communicative, Honarjou said.
"They were like a machine when I talked to them today," he said. His mother only speaks a few words of English and a fellow passenger was translating for her from her native Farsi as no immigration agents spoke the language, he said.
Hassanpour was originally going to be deported on a Sunday flight, she informed her son the first time they spoke.
"She was about to cry," he said. "She is not able to take (tolerate) a 20-hour flight back to Iran."
Honarjou said he is a U.S. citizen, obtained entry in a lottery, and has been in the country for seven years. Why did he come?
"To have a better life and to make more money," he said. "And, you know, for the freedom."
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PORTLAND, OREGON
A protest by several dozen people in and around Portland International Airport briefly disrupted light rail service at the airport. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the demonstrators carried signs and chanted "Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here" and "No ban no wall America is for us all."
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LOS ANGELES
Hundreds of people expressed their displeasure with the ban at Los Angeles International Airport Saturday night. Protesters entered the airport's Tom Bradley International Terminal after holding a candlelight vigil.
Avriel Epps held a candle and a large photo a drowned 3-year-old Syrian boy who washed up on a Turkish beach in 2015 and became a haunting symbol of the Syrian refugee crisis.
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SAN FRANCISCO
Hundreds of protesters blocked the street outside at San Francisco International Airport's international terminal to express their opposition to the barring of people from Muslim-majority nations.
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SAN DIEGO
As motorists honked their support, demonstrators outside San Diego International Airport chanted "No hate, no fear, everyone is welcome here."
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By Saad Sayeed and Mehreen Zahra-Malik LAHORE, Pakistan/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani supporters of Islamist leader Hafiz Saeed staged small protests on Tuesday and condemned the United States, after police detained the accused architect of an attack on the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 166 people in 2008. Saeed, pointed to by critics as evidence of Pakistan's reluctance to crack down hard enough on militants, was held late on Monday at the headquarters of his charity before being placed under house arrest at his home in the eastern city of Lahore. He denies involvement in the Mumbai attack. The move follows a U.S. visa ban by President Donald Trump aimed at countries deemed linked to terrorism, and, while Pakistan was not named, a Pakistani official said worry over the new administration was a factor in the decision. Pressure from key ally China may also have played a role, according to senior Pakistani officials, who say Beijing has for months been quietly lobbying Islamabad to crack down on Saeed and other Islamist leaders. "Release Hafiz Saeed! ... Anyone who is a friend of the U.S. is a traitor!" chanted about 150 members of Saeed's Islamic charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) in the southern city of Karachi. About 500 protesters shouted similar slogans outside the provincial assembly in Lahore. Demonstrations also were held in Islamabad, according to the JuD, which the United States says is a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group blamed for the Mumbai attack. Saeed founded LeT in the 1990s but later distanced himself from it. Arch-rival India was skeptical that Pakistan would bring Saeed to justice, pointing out that he had been detained before and released. "Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organizations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity," said a statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs. BRINK OF WAR India has been demanding action against Saeed since the Mumbai raid by 10 gunmen from Pakistan, who infiltrated the city by boat and killed 166 people in a rampage that included attacks on two luxury hotels, a Jewish center and a train station. The attack brought nuclear-armed Pakistan and India closer to war, although Islamabad denied any state involvement. Pakistan's military has long been accused of sponsoring LeT and other anti-India militants, a charge it rejects. Saeed was placed under house arrest just after the Mumbai attacks but was released six months later when a court ruled there was insufficient evidence against him. In recent months, Saeed has been holding regular news conferences to denounce a security crackdown in the Indian-controlled part of the divided Kashmir region. "If they believe that they can throw the Kashmir issue into the background through our arrests and our confinement, that is not possible," Saeed said as he was being led away by police. U.S. PRESSURE, CHINESE PERSUASION Saeed accused the government of bowing to pressure from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United States. "This is taking place because of Modi's insistence, Trump's pressure and Pakistan's helplessness," Saeed told reporters. The United States has listed both the LeT and the charity as "foreign terrorist" organizations and has a $10 million reward for information leading to Saeed's arrest. The Pakistani government has not officially commented on why it acted now. A senior defense ministry official said the government had not been contacted by the new U.S. administration, but it had been feeling American pressure on the issue. "Trump is taking hard decisions against Muslim countries, there is open talk of actions against Pakistan also. So yes, this was a consideration," said the official, who declined to be identified. Several other government officials have said recently that long-time ally China has been working to persuade Pakistan to act against wanted militants such as Saeed. Officials in Beijing did not respond to queries on Tuesday, which falls during the Lunar New Year holiday. Since 2007, Pakistan has been battling the Pakistani Taliban and other militants seeking to impose strict Islamic law. But critics say it has targeted only militants who attack its own state, not those active in neighboring Afghanistan and India, such as the Afghan Taliban, Haqqani network and LeT. (Additonal reporting by Syed Raza Hassan in KARACHI and Douglas Busvine in NEW DELHI; Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Nick Macfie, Robert Birsel and Mike Collett-White)
A militant group held protests in Pakistan's major cities Tuesday after its leader, one of the alleged masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was put under house arrest following years of foreign pressure.
Firebrand cleric Hafiz Saeed, who heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) group and has a $10 million bounty on his head, was placed under "preventative detention", according to an order from the interior ministry.
Police took Saeed away from a mosque in Lahore late Monday and escorted him to his residence, hours after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had hinted action against him was imminent.
But India on Tuesday expressed scepticism at the move.
"Exercises such as yesterday's orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also," a foreign office statement said.
"Only a credible crackdown on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross-border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity."
JuD, listed as a terror outfit by the United Nations, is considered by the US and India to be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant group blamed for the attack on India's financial capital which killed more than 160 people.
Protests by the group's followers broke out in some major cities on Tuesday afternoon.
Some 300 JuD activists staged a demonstration in Islamabad, burning the flags of India and the United States, while a similar number protested in the central city of Multan.
In Pakistani Kashmir, the group staged a joint rally with the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group.
"Kashmiris see Hafiz Saeed as their messiah and they will continue his mission. The government of Pakistan should behave and release him immediately," said Abdul Aziz Alvi, a local JuD leader.
JuD has also announced it will challenge in court the detention order, which places the group and a foundation tied to it on a watch list and also places four other men under arrest.
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Islamabad has not officially commented on the move's timing.
Following a brief period of house arrest in 2008, Saaed led a high-profile public life and regularly delivered fiery anti-India speeches. JuD has operated freely across the country and is popular for its charity work, especially in the wake of natural disasters.
But a senior security source based in Islamabad said the decision was in response to US pressure as well as a global perception that Pakistan has refused to tackle Islamist groups which pose no risk at home but carry out attacks abroad.
"Yesterday's actions were in fact a huge event," he said.
"There's been increasing US pressure on the issue, which compelled Pakistan to take this action. There has also been Indian pressure. They have always said unless you take certain steps things can't move forward.
"So the move effectively kills two beasts with one arrow. Now India won't have a chance to say, 'Pakistan isn't serious'."
Amir Rana, a security analyst, said Islamabad had come to realise it was facing increasing isolation over its alleged dealings with proxy fighters.
"There was some stress on Pakistan's foreign policy especially around this group," he said.
Rana added that though JuD had ties to militancy, it was in the process of converting itself into a political movement and the threat of a violent backlash was low.
The horror of the Mumbai carnage played out on live television around the world as commandos battled the heavily armed gunmen, who arrived by sea on the evening of November 26, 2008.
It took the authorities three days to regain full control of the city. India has long said there is evidence that "official agencies" in Pakistan were involved in plotting the attack -- a charge Islamabad denies.
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The suspect in the shooting at a Quebec City mosque was known as an Internet troll who frequently voiced his support for President Donald Trump online.
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, who is the suspect in the Islamic Cultural Center of Quebec shooting that left six people dead and 19 others injured, was known among the citys activist circles for making Facebook comments in support of extreme-right-wing and nationalistic views, the Globe and Mail reported on Monday.
Inspired by French nationalist leader Marine Le Pen, Bissonnette began clashing with others online by attacking refugees and writing of his support for Le Pen and Trump, according to the Globe and Mail.
Bissonnette on Monday was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder in the Sunday shooting, which Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called an act of terror against Muslims.
Francois Deschamps, the leader of a local organization that works with refugees and immigrants, said Bissonnette often trolled the groups Facebook page and also targeted feminist groups, according to La Presse.
He was someone who made frequent extreme comments in social media denigrating refugees and feminism, he told the Globe and Mail. It wasnt outright hate, rather part of this new nationalist conservative identity movement that is more intolerant than hateful.
Archives of Bissonnettes now removed Facebook page show he liked Le Pen, Trump, the Israel Defense Forces and Richard Dawkins, among many interests.
By Anna Mehler Paperny (Reuters) - Abdi was sitting cross-legged on the floor reading the Quran with his friends when the shooting began - a staccato spray of bullets into the crowd of worshippers gathered on Sunday at the mosque in Quebec City, Canada. It was the shout from the doorway that alerted them: "Allahu akbar!" which means "God is greatest!" "We all turned and thats the point when they started shooting," said Abdi, a 22-year-old student who declined to give his last name, fearing for his safety. Abdi hit the floor, arms over his head and ears. But he could still hear the men around him praying for their lives until gunfire cut them short. He felt a trio of bullets whisk over his head. Everyone got down, and those people standing in prayer, two of them were in the same row as I was, and the bullets hit them, said Abdi, who spoke with Reuters Monday from his home in Montreal. He was in Quebec City visiting friends when he was caught in the carnage. "People were praying to God, Save us from this hell; save us from this massacre." Again and again, Abdi heard the sound of reloading guns. He prayed the attackers would not go upstairs, where the women and children were gathered. "I thought I was going to die." Abdi is convinced he saw two shooters. Police say there was only one. It was not until police cleared the scene that Abdi opened his eyes. He stood and beheld "a graveyard" dead, dying and injured people just feet from where he and his friends had lain. "It was a horrible moment." The phrase "Allahu akbar" is a common religious invocation that has been uttered by some attackers in incidents inspired by Islamic State. But that night, Abdi said, he could tell it was not a Muslim speaking it. "The tone of voice is different for a person who speaks Arabic or who can recite the Quran." On Monday, Alexandre Bissonnette was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon in connection with the shooting that killed six people and injured 17 others. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it "a terrorist attack." In the massacre's aftermath Sunday night, survivors and bystanders gathered across the street from the mosque in a coffee shop that handed out free coffee as family members crowded in to dial loved ones on repeat, and swarms of reporters charged their phones. Amin emerged from the cafe to head home, shell-shocked, his gloveless hands growing cold and chapped in the below-freezing air. Amin told Reuters he had cowered by the mosque's eastern wall from the gunfire. When silence fell, he stood to see bodies slumped around him. He asked that only his first name be used. Zebida Bendjeddou left the mosque before the carnage erupted and spent much of Sunday night glued to her television, trading phone calls with friends and community members hungry for news of the attack on their place of worship. "Everything is toppled," she told Reuters. There have been threats before, she said, but nothing like this. "In June they'd put a pig's head in front of the mosque. But we thought, 'Oh, they're isolated events.' We didn't take it seriously. There are mean people everywhere. But now, "those isolated events, they take on a different scope." (Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; Additional reporting by Kevin Dougherty and Allison Lampert in Quebec City; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
By Allison Lampert and Anna Mehler Paperny QUEBEC CITY/TORONTO (Reuters) - A French-Canadian university student was the sole suspect in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque and was charged with the premeditated murder of six people, Canadian authorities said on Monday, in what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called "a terrorist attack." Court documents identified the gunman in the attack on Sunday evening prayers as Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, and charged him with six murder counts and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon. The slightly-built Bissonnette made a brief appearance in court under tight security wearing a white prison garment and looking downcast. Prosecutors said all of the evidence was not yet ready and Bissonnette, a student at Universite Laval, was set to appear again on Feb. 21. No charge was read in court and Bissonnette did not enter a plea. "The charges laid correspond to the evidence available," said Thomas Jacques, a representative of the prosecutor's office, when asked why Bissonnette was not charged with terrorism-related offences. Among the six men killed were a butcher, a university professor, a pharmacist and an accountant, according to police and Canadian media. The government of Guinea said in a statement that two of its citizens were among those killed in the mosque attack. Police declined to discuss possible motives for the shooting at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. "They consider this a lone wolf situation," a Canadian source familiar with the situation said. In Washington, U.S. government security experts were leaning to the view that the gunman most likely was motivated by hatred for Muslims, a U.S. government source familiar with official reporting said. Trudeau, who has made a point of welcoming refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, told parliament in Ottawa: "Make no mistake, this was a terrorist attack." "Last night this community experienced something that no community should ever have to know: Unspeakable cruelty and violence perpetrated on those who came together in friendship and in faith," Trudeau said later at a vigil attended by hundreds who braved frigid temperatures in Quebec City. He added a personal message to Canada's 1 million Muslims: "We stand with you. We love you and we support you and we will always defend and protect your right to gather together and pray today and every day," Trudeau added. The attack was out of character for Quebec City, a city of just over 500,000 which reported just two murders in all of 2015. Mass shootings are rare in Canada, where gun control laws are stricter than in the United States. Incidents of Islamophobia have increased in Quebec in recent years. The face-covering, or niqab, became an issue in the 2015 Canadian federal election, especially in Quebec, where the majority of the population supported a ban on it at citizenship ceremonies. In addition to the six killed, five people were critically injured and 12 were treated for minor injuries, a spokeswoman for the Quebec City University Hospital said. Federal Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters in Ottawa there was no change to "the national terrorism threat level" from medium because "there is no information known to the government of Canada that would lead to a change at this time." U.S. President Donald Trump called Trudeau to express his condolences "and offered to provide any assistance as needed," said Trudeau spokesman Cameron Ahmad. Over the weekend, Trudeau said Canada would welcome refugees, his response to an executive order by Trump on Friday to halt the U.S. refugee program and to temporarily bar citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Trump's action, which the president said was "not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe," was widely condemned in the United States and abroad as targeting Muslims. On Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the Quebec shooting was "a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant, and why the president is taking steps to be proactive, rather than reactive, when it comes to our nation's safety and security." FATHER OF FOUR KILLED A father of four, the owner of a halal butcher near the mosque, was among those killed, said Pamela Sakinah El-hayet, a friend of one of the people at the mosque. The mosque concierge was killed, as was Ahmed Youness, a 21-year-old student, El-hayet told Reuters. One of El-hayets friends, Youness roommate, was in the mosque at the time of the shooting. He was unharmed, she said, but in total shock. A man of Moroccan descent who had also been arrested was now considered a witness, although his nationality was not immediately known, a Canadian source familiar with the situation said. Ali Assafiri, a student at Universite Laval, said he had been running late for the evening prayers at the mosque, near the university in the Quebec City area. When he arrived, the mosque had been transformed by police into a crime scene. "Everyone was in shock," Assafiri said by phone. "It was chaos." Vigils were planned for Montreal and Quebec City, the provincial capital, as well as in Edmonton. There was an outpouring of support for the mosque on social media. (Additional reporting by Kevin Dougherty in Quebec City,; Alastair Sharp and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Mark Hosenball in Washington; Saliou Samb in Conakry; Writing by Andrea Hopkins, Frances Kerry, Grant McCool; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Alan Crosby)
At least four of the six people who were killed in an apparent "terrorist attack" in a Canadian mosque Sunday night have been identified, according to multiple reports. The devout Muslims in were all participating in evening prayer when two gunmen opened fire inside the house of worship in Quebec, injuring eight others.
The alleged assailants, named by local law enforcement as Alexandre Bissonnette and Mohamed Khadir, were taken into custody shortly after the shooting. A motive was not immediately announced.
The four fatal victims were named as Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassen, Azzedine Soufiane and Boubaker Thabti. While their ages were not disclosed, the six people who dies ranged in ages from 35 to about years old.
Five of the eight people injured remained hospitalized from their injuries.
Belkacemi was remembered by Universite Laval, where he was a professor at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences And Food (FSAA) in Quebec City, according to a statement by the university.
"I wish to salute the human qualities and professionalism of my colleague Khaled Belkacemi. He was a very educated man, passionate and committed to the Faculty. His remarkable work will survive his sudden departure, which sadden us all deeply," said Jean-Claude Dufour, a dean at the FSAA.
Hassen, who had three children, was a government employee.
Soufiane, who was also a father to three children, was a fixture among local Muslims in Quebec "because he opened one of the first [Muslim] community businesses here," Karim Elabed, an imam at a nearby mosque, told the Canadian Press. "Myself, when I arrived here eight years ago, (his shop) was the first place I learned about and pretty much all of Quebec's Muslims did their groceries there," he added.
Details on Thabti were scarce, but the father of two moved to Quebec in 2011, according to CBC.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the shooting "a terrorist attack on Muslims," a designation that has left the local Islamic community in Quebec on edge.
"Its not just that its unsettling, its scary," Imam Zia Khan of the Centre for Islamic Development in Halifax told local news outlet The Star. "Whats the next mosque? Its not a good feeling. Its a feeling of the unknown."
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SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) _ Rambus Inc. (RMBS) on Monday reported a fourth-quarter loss of $3.4 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier.
On a per-share basis, the Sunnyvale, California-based company said it had a loss of 3 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 16 cents per share.
The results met Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of 16 cents per share.
The memory chip designer posted revenue of $97.6 million in the period, beating Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $96 million.
For the year, the company reported profit of $6.8 million, or 6 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $336.6 million.
For the current quarter ending in April, Rambus expects its per-share earnings to range from 13 cents to 17 cents.
The company said it expects revenue in the range of $93 million to $98 million for the fiscal first quarter. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $96 million.
Rambus shares have risen 1.5 percent since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Monday, shares hit $13.98, a climb of 17 percent in the last 12 months.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on RMBS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/RMBS
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Keywords: Rambus, Earnings Report
Correction appended, Feb. 1
Jenna Bush Hager, NBC anchor and daughter of former President George W. Bush, this week tweeted an excerpt of a speech her father made in the days after 9/11.
Islam is peace, President Bush said in a speech at the Islamic Centre in Washington, D.C. shortly after the World Trade Center attacks. America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country.
Bush Hager wrote on Twitter that the excerpt was a reminder to teach acceptance and love to our kids. Her post followed continued outcry over President Trumps immigration restrictions on citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Read the excerpt of Bushs speech that his daughter posted below:
The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. Thats not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists dont represent peace. They represent evil and war. When we think of Islam we think of a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world. Billions of people find comfort and solace and peace. And thats made brothers and sisters out of every race out of every race. America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country. Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect. Women who cover their heads in this country must feel comfortable going outside their own homes. Moms who wear cover must not be intimidated in America. Thats not the America I know. Thats not the America I value. Ive been told that some fear to leave; some dont want to go shopping for their families; some dont want to go about their ordinary daily routines because, by wearing cover, theyre afraid theyll be intimidated. That should not and that will not stand in America. Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger dont represent the best of America, they represent the worst of humankind, and they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior.
Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly described Jenna Bush Hagers Twitter post. The words were from a speech her father, former President George W. Bush, gave shortly after 9/11, not from Jenna Bush Hager herself.
Donald Trump
The White House may compel US customs officials and border patrol agents to ask foreign visitors to provide their social media and cell phone contacts upon entering the US, White House policy director Stephen Miller said on Saturday.
The move would fall under Trump's executive order temporarily barring refugees and visa holders from six Muslim-majority countries Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen from entering the US, according to CNN.
Syrians have been banned indefinitely.
The idea of checking foreigners' social media posts, which remains limited to a preliminary discussion, draws on a supposed history of terror attacks where the attacker had previously expressed extremist views on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Some have pointed to the San Bernardino terror attack as evidence that such a policy might be useful: An FBI document produced shortly after the shooting said that the woman who helped carry it out pledged allegiance to ISIS while the attack was ongoing. FBI director James Comey later confirmed, however, that the attackers Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 29 expressed support for "jihad and martyrdom" in private communications but never did so publicly on social media.
It is unclear whether the social media mandate would be constitutional. Legal challenges have already been presented to Trump's "extreme vetting" order, and large protests erupted at airports across the country on Saturday as news emerged that people from the banned countries, who had valid visas and green cards, were being detained and, in some cases, deported by customs officials and border patrol agents.
Lawyers representing two Iraqi refugees who were detained at John F. Kennedy airport in New York filed legal challenges to Trump's executive order, and a federal judge in Brooklyn issued an emergency rulingSaturday evening to prevent the continued deportation of travelers.
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The ruling, a temporary emergency stay, now allows those who landed in the US and hold a valid visa to remain. Federal judges in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Washington also made emergency rulings on various aspects of the executive order.
Natasha Bertrand contributed reporting.
NOW WATCH: A British reporter called Trump a 'brash TV extrovert' while asking if he'd get along with UK's prime minister
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Bucharest (AFP) - The head of Romania's governing leftist party, who has already been convicted of voter fraud, proclaimed his innocence Tuesday as he went on trial charged with abuse of power.
"This case is based on false testimonies," Liviu Dragnea from the Social Democrats (PSD) told reporters outside the court in Bucharest, which adjourned the trial until February 14.
The new charges against Dragnea, 54, relate to when he was president of Teleorman county council in southern Romania from 2006-12. Last year he was given a suspended jail sentence for voter fraud in 2012.
In December, the PSD romped to victory in general elections but President Klaus Iohannis refused to appoint him as prime minister because of his conviction. Instead Sorin Grindeanu was nominated on December 30.
Grindeanu has since then published two emergency decrees that critics say will free corrupt officials from prison and decriminalise other offences. The government says it wants to reduce prison overcrowding.
The decrees, which the government wants to enact without parliamentary approval, have sparked anger in Romania with tens of thousands of people taking to streets in protest last Sunday.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm which has long been critical of Romania's record on corruption since the ex-communist country joined the European Union in 2007, last week expressed concern.
Russia's Pacific Fleet is getting a state-of the-art-warship armed with the newest missile launching technology and a cutting-edge stealth radar system. The warship, a Steregushchy-class corvette, is scheduled to join Russia's Pacific Fleet by the "first half of 2017," according to a press release from The Russian Navy Monday.
The addition will be the fifth Steregushchy warship in the Russian Navy, but the first to join the Pacific Fleet. The ship named the Sovershenny, which translates into Unbeatable, was undergoing sea trials.
The Sovershenny, which is roughly 343 feet long, requires a crew of between 90 and 100 people. The Russian Navy said the construction of the Sovershenny was for the purpose of defending its eastern coasts.
It is armed with the newest guided missile launchers that have the abilities to strike ships on top of the water as well as submarines, aircrafts, and shore-based targets. The targeting system on board allows military personnel to track multiple targets simultaneously. The ship is also armed with large caliber machine guns and grenade launchers.
The ships stealth technology is considered to be state-of-the-art because it was constructed with a steel hull and covered with a type of fiberglass specifically designed to prevent it from being detected by radars.
The ship can go 4,000 nautical miles and last 15 days at sea without having to refuel.
Russia announced it would increase its military spending by $6 billion in 2016 while reducing its budget on welfare programs that year from $210 billion to $203 billion.
Russia allocated $66.4 billion towards military expenses in 2015, making it the fourth biggest spender on defense in the world, according to a Moscow Times report on April 5, 2016. The United States led all countries by spending $596 billion on defense costs in 2015, followed by China that spent $215 billion and Saudi Arabia that spent $87.2 billion.
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As Russia remains in the middle of the bloody civil wars raging on in Ukraine and Syria, the most prevalent fear among its citizens today is the country engaging in "international conflicts," according to a survey from the state-run pollster VTsIOM Monday. The index of fear, which was developed by sociologists with the goal of finding out what Russians were most afraid of, ranked "inflating prices" as the second highest rated fear and family problems as the least.
The poll interviewed 1,600 Russian citizens in December 2016 across the country. The index of fear categorizes Russian citizens fears by points ranging between -100 and 100, according to the Moscow Times Monday.
In the same poll conducted lasted year, "international conflicts" were still what Russians feared the most, but while the numerical value signifying the countrys trepidations about global wars was recorded at 23 points in January 2016, it was recorded at 14 points Monday.
When an independent polling company called Levada conducted a similar poll in October 2016, it found that 48 percent of respondents feared that Russias role in the ongoing crisis in Syria could end up in a global military conflictor nuclear catastrophe, the RT reported Monday. Thirty percent of those asked said Russia and the West could eventually come to a peaceful solution about Syria.
Western governments including the United States would like to see Syrian President Bashar al-Assad removed from power amid accusations that his military used chemical weapons on rebel forces throughout its civil war. While Moscow remains committed to helping Assad fight off opposing forces, the tide may have turned regarding the stark divide between Russian and the West over Syria on Saturday when President Donald Trump talked on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about their nations helping each other to resolve the conflict.
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Moscow also faces political opposition from the governments of European nations and the United States over accusations that it has provided military aid for pro-Russia separatist rebel groups in the southeastern part of the Ukraine, which The Kremlin has denied. While Trump has said he would consider dropping the sanctions the U.S. placed on Russia over its alleged role in Ukraine, the two leaders did not talk about the subject during their recent phone call.
Former President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev told Time Magazine Thursday that he too had concerns about a potential nuclear war. He said a compromise from Trump and Putin would be an important step toward creating a declaration banning nuclear war at the United Nations Security Council.
"I propose that the UN Security Council hold a meeting at the head of state-level and adopt a resolution declaring nuclear war to be unacceptable and that it must not be conducted, Gorbachev told Time Magazine.
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Since becoming the first-ever two-time NXT Champion and subsequently dropping that title back to Shinsuke Nakamura a little while ago there hasnt been much else left for Samoa Joe to accomplish by remaining in NXT if anything. Since he feud with Nakamura came to an end, he has been expected and occasionally outright reported to be moving up to the main roster.
On Saturday night, Joe appeared in the crowd at NXT TakeOver: San Antonio, watching the event as a fan, more or less. On Sunday, a not-insignificant number of wrestling fans expected Joe to make his long-awaited main roster debut as a participant in the 30-man Royal Rumble match. In perhaps the most shocking development of all, however, there was only one TRUE surprise entrant: Tye Dillinger at No. 10, who made HIS main roster debut.
So the debut was delayed, but only for one day. On Monday, Joe finally, FINALLY appeared on the main roster, debuting on Raw. After Stephanie McMahon warned Seth Rollins that Triple H was coming for him, the other half of the Authority showed up near the end of the episode and made his way to the ring, where he ran down Rollins at length. Rollins and Triple H finally came face-to-face, which is when Samoa Joe appeared.
Joe beat down Rollins while Triple H departed, then choked him out in the Coquina Clutch and left Rollins laying as the show went off the air.
There have been rumors that WWE is planning a big high-profile feud or two for Joe, and this would certainly seem to fit the bill. WWE may also have him earmarked for a featured match at WrestleMania 33. Its been a good long time since the main roster has had a truly threatening heel on the roster other than Brock Lesnar (and possibly with Braun Strowman, although its too soon to say definitively. Heres hoping he gets to look as good as hes looked in NXT over the past year. He certainly deserves it.
Dubai (AFP) - Gulf monarchies, notably Saudi Arabia, and other major Muslim nations have been spared the US travel ban because they are crucial allies of Washington and not "failed states", experts say.
President Donald Trump's controversial executive order on Friday singled out citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen to prevent "radical Islamic terrorists" from entering the United States.
But the ban, which could still extend to other states, has exempted Muslim-majority nations associated with major attacks in the West.
Out of the 19 hijackers of planes used in the September 11, 2011 attacks, 15 came from Saudi Arabia, also the birthplace of Al-Qaeda founder and attack mastermind Osama bin Laden.
The other four included the Egyptian plot leader, two Emiratis and a Lebanese.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf and Arab nations are also home to scores of jihadists who have joined Al-Qaeda and its rival Islamic State group, both of which have been behind deadly attacks in Europe.
But the kingdom, cradle of the austere Sunni doctrine of Wahhabism, has traditionally been a strategic ally of Washington.
"Trump appears to consider -- in line with longstanding mainstream US policy -- the Gulf states as crucial allies for the United States government," said Adam Baron, a visiting fellow and Yemen specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
"The nations appear to have been chosen due to their governments' poor relations with the US or their precarious state," he said.
Saudi Arabia has been in war with Al-Qaeda for more than a decade, hitting what it calls the "deviant group" with an iron fist. It is also in the US-led coalition fighting IS, along with other Gulf states.
- US partners -
The ban is not about "countries where we have close partnerships with their counter-terrorism forces and where there is a well-developed structure of intelligence cooperation", said Anthony Cordesman, from the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
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The same applies to Egypt, the Arab world's most-populous nation and birthplace of the transnational Muslim Brotherhood -- branded as terrorist by Cairo and main Gulf states.
"Egypt and Saudi Arabia are seen as the main US partners in the region," said Victor Salama, political science professor at Cairo University, highlighting a "convergence in points of view" between Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
"Sisi was the first to congratulate Trump" from the Middle East after the November election, Salama noted.
Intelligence cooperation with Cairo could also mean Washington finds the "Egyptian services reliable enough to trust them in controlling their nationals", said Tawfik Aclimandos, a lecturer in political science at Cairo University.
Hot on the heels of the travel ban, Trump called Saudi King Salman and UAE strongman Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi's crown prince.
Trump agreed with both on cooperation to fight "radical Islamic terrorism", the White House said.
He also agreed with the Saudi monarch to "rigorously" enforce the nuclear agreement with Riyadh's arch-foe Iran, an agreement that Trump had opposed.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Since Saudi Arabia is the enemy of Iran in the region and Iran is the enemy of Israel, then the US is the friend of Saudi Arabia," argued Mathieu Guidere, a Paris-based professor of Middle East geopolitics.
- Business interests -
But as much as strategic ties affect the ban, the decision was based on "indicators of failed states" that are "unable to ensure security and exchange data with the US about their citizens", Guidere said.
The billionaire president's business interests have also been cited as why some countries were not on the list.
A map compiled by Bloomberg showed that Trump has business ties with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE.
But analysts downplay such a claim.
"Getting the occasional fee for selling a brand name is not really enough to motivate a president," said Cordesman.
Beyond the Middle East, Trump has business interests in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country and one that has long struggled with Islamic militancy and suffered deadly attacks.
"He doesn't want to jeopardise that," said Tobias Basuki, a political analyst from Jakarta-based think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
He said that Indonesia as "a democracy" is not a threat.
"Of course within his so-called constituency, no one is afraid of Indonesia. Right-wing conservatives don't even know where Indonesia is, so it's not a problem for him," Basuki said.
- Afghan support needed -
Leading Taliban expert Rahimullah Yousafzai said sparing Afghanistan might be because of the US presence in the country where it is fighting its longest ever war, with security issues spiralling more than 15 years on.
"They have their troops and they need people's support there," he said, adding that if the administration imposes restrictions on Afghans, "it might send the wrong signal, that the United States and NATO have not been able to stabilise the country".
According to Afghan writer Ahmad Rezaee, "Afghanistan is considered an ally and the US needs Afghanistan in this region".
"Afghanistan might not be on the list as there are a lot of business deals and economic ties between it and America, or the administration in DC might fear that listing Afghanistan would be read as signifying the 2001 intervention was a failure," said Kate Clark, director of the Afghan Analysts network.
As for keeping Pakistan off the list, Yousafzai said the US administration needs Islamabad's support because of neighbouring Afghanistan.
Pakistan's status as a nuclear power "might be a factor" also, he added.
But regardless of the countries affected, the ban "will be problematic no matter where Trump wants to apply it, whether weak or strong states", said Ibrahim Fraihat, conflict resolution professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
"It violates basic human rights," he said.
When you shop for car insurance, youre driving blind. Give your details to a dozen carriers and you could end up with a dozen different quotes, some twice as high as others.
Insurers base their premiums on many factors, including age, driving record, and car type. But when Consumer Reports analyzed more than 2.7 billion premiumsthe bulk of the U.S. auto insurance marketwe also identified some factors that you might not even be aware of, including credit history and education, that have nothing to do with your driving. We also learned that because each insurer has its own pricing formulapenalizing or rewarding factors differentlyconsumers can save by shopping around.
It worked for Donna Greene of Greenburgh, N.Y., a Geico customer for more than 20 years. She saved $793 on auto coverage and $390 on homeowners by moving to Amica, an insurer based in Rhode Island. Dont assume that because youve been a good customer for years, youre getting a break, she says. Insurers take advantage of your inertia.
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Poor Credit Makes Rates Skyrocket
A two-car couple with poor credit will pay an extra $2,090, on average, compared to a family with excellent credit. Thats more than what it usually costs to add a teen driver or even the penalty for having two DWIs.
CRs advice: Shop around. For example, an Illinois driver with poor credit could save about $1,700 by using Country Insurance vs. Metropolitan. Also, improve your credit by paying credit card bills on time and monitoring your record for errors and fraud. For free copies of your reports, go to annualcreditreport.com. (California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts forbid insurers from using credit scores when setting rates.)
Accident Not Your Fault? It Will Still Cost You
A two-car family with just one not-at-fault accident within a three-year period typically pays about $270 more each year. And if you are responsible, the penalty can be more than twice as high.
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CRs advice: Comparison shopping can yield big savings. In Pennsylvania, a driver with one at-fault accident with Allstate can save more than $1,050 by signing up with Erie Insurance Group, Nationwide, or State Farm. In New York, a driver with one moving violation can save about $800 with Progressive, compared with Liberty Mutual.
How We Did Our Price Analysis
For our analysis of car insurance premiums that appears on pages 42 to 46, we first created profiles of 44 hypothetical policyholders ages 20 to 80. They included men and women, singles and married couples, and families with and without teens. They all had perfect driving records, excellent credit histories, and 2016 Toyota Camry LEs. They also had identical liability, collision, comprehensive, and other insurance coverages.
We then used data from Quadrant Information Services, a company that collects insurers pricing formulas, to get annual quotes for our policyholders from the largest company in each state and Washington, D.C.specifically, each insurers largest subsidiary, where available.
Finally, we changed the drivers characteristics to see how premiums changed. For example, we looked at what the average premium would be if the driver had an at-fault accident or bought a home.
When a company did not change its rate due to a particular characteristic, its premium was not included in our analysis. When appropriate, we used a subset of our drivers. For instance, we looked only at drivers ages 60 to 80 when evaluating the impact of mature driver education discounts.
Our analysis did not include two insurers in our car insurance ratings: USAA Group, because its only open to active and honorably discharged military and their eligible family members; and Amica Mutual Insurance, because it did not provide its data to Quadrant.
Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the March 2017 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
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Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2017 Consumers Union of U.S.
A group of Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers and liberal activists said Tuesday the open U.S. Supreme Court seat President Donald Trump plans to fill is a "stolen" one.
Trump is set to announce his pick to fill the seat vacated by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in an announcement from the White House Tuesday evening.
The seat has been vacant for nearly a year, after Republicans refused to hold confirmation hearings for Judge Merrick Garland, former President Barack Obama's nominee.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle made the vacancy a key issue in the 2016 campaign. Democrats argued Republicans weren't doing their jobs by blocking hearings, while Republicans argued the seat should be filled by the next president.
The liberal group One Wisconsin Now pushed often over the last year for Republicans to consider Garland's nomination. OWN executive director Scot Ross said Tuesday there are issues within Trump's administration that must be resolved before his Supreme Court nominee is considered.
"His lack of commitment and lack of compliance with the Constitution warrants a hold on this appointment," Ross said at a press conference Tuesday, citing the president's recent executive order on immigration and the subsequent firing of the acting attorney general who refused to defend it.
The order indefinitely bans admission to the U.S. of Syrian refugees, bars for 120 days all other refugee admissions and prevents citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days.
"Nominating a justice to the Supreme Court who shares this administrations shameful and discriminatory views on immigration is reckless," said Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee. "This is the United States of America. Were better than this."
Perceived by some as a religious test amounting to a "Muslim ban," the immigration order has provoked widespread criticism from Democrats, business leaders, academics and some Republicans. Others, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, have praised it as a necessary national security measure.
Rep. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, voiced concerns that a Trump nominee would support rolling back protections for LGBT rights, and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin director of government relations Nicole Safar said a Trump nominee would likely support efforts to limit access to, or entirely outlaw, abortion. Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, said Trump's comments about voter fraud raise concerns that his nominee may support efforts to restrict voting rights.
Meanwhile, Republicans are already seizing on expected Democratic opposition to Trump's nominee as they gear up for 2018 electoral fights.
"After Senator Baldwin lectured (voters) over the last year on the importance of a full Supreme Court, Wisconsinites deserve to know that Senator Baldwin will stand by her past statements and swiftly confirm the Presidents nominee for the vacancy on the Supreme Court," a spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin said in an email to reporters on Tuesday.
Lerwick (United Kingdom) (AFP) - A flaming Viking longship has been dispatched from a remote Scottish island to Valhalla in the grand finale of one of the most dramatic fire festivals in the world.
"Up Helly Aa" takes place every January in Lerwick on the Shetland Islands, which lie in the middle of the North Sea around 400 miles (640 kilometres) from Edinburgh.
The Shetlands are closer to Norway than mainland Scotland and their residents are fiercely proud of their Norse heritage.
Some 60 "Vikings" paraded on Tuesday through Lerwick, Shetland's biggest settlement, trailed by around 1,000 torchbearers known as "guizers" -- dressed in eclectic costumes, from superheroes to pop bands.
The procession ended with Vikings throwing their torches into the replica longship.
Vikings, guizers and spectators braved torrential rain and high winds to witness the spectacle -- but the residents are used to the harsh conditions in one of the most remote and exposed places in Europe.
Every year, an experienced Viking is appointed to lead the parade and becomes known as Guizer Jarl, from the old norse word for "chief".
Lyall Gair, 37, from the nearby town of Quarff, has been preparing to become this year's Guizer Jarl for 15 years.
"Everything is pretty personal, from the suit design to the way you want your galley finished," he told AFP.
"It all ties into a saga and the history of the Vikings," he said.
- 'End of a journey' -
A team of volunteers has been working on the construction of the wooden, dragon-shaped longship since October.
"We work two nights a week, averaging about four hours a week, and on Up Helly Aa it is sent to Valhalla," Gair said in reference to the vast hall ruled by the god Odin, where slain fighters were said in Norse mythology to travel upon their death.
"Obviously it's a little bit emotional, but it's the end of a journey."
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Gary Shewan, 39, a fisherman from Scalloway to the west of Lerwick and a member of this year's Jarl's Squad, said: "In Viking times, when the Jarl died they would set the boat on fire and he went off to Valhalla and this is what the burning signifies."
"It's just a huge, huge deal to be involved with this. The people come home from New Zealand, Canada, Norway, just to be in our squad tonight and it's very humbling to be part of it," he told AFP.
- 'Outside our norm' -
The tradition of Up Helly Aa is only around a century old, but its roots stretch back much further.
Ian Tait, curator of the Shetland Museum, told AFP: "Around the year 800 outgoing Scandinavians, who we now call the Vikings, left in search of land, treasure and adventure.
"The first place they reached was Shetland and the island became an entirely Scandinavian society.
"In 1469 Shetland was pawned by the Kingdom of Denmark to Scotland in lieu of payment for a dowry for a dynastic marriage, but when Denmark finally raised the money Scotland reneged on the deal," Tait explained.
"After a few centuries Denmark gave up its claim and Shetland became part of Britain."
Following the Napoleonic wars, rowdy veterans returned to Shetland and began holding all-night parties around bonfires of burning tar barrels.
In the late 19th century Shetland authorities formalised the event, taking inspiration from the Scandinavian mythology and sagas which were popular throughout northern Europe at the time.
Tait added: "Here in Lerwick it was the perfect amalgamation of forces -- the growth of an urban centre, young men with spare time and disposable income, and the Scandinavian imagery."
Daniel Kim, 34, a physician, travelled 4,500 miles from Houston, Texas, to witness Up Helly Aa.
Wearing a fake Viking beard and woolly horned helmet, he told AFP: "It's very unique, it's very remote -- it's something that you don't see on TV a lot.
"It's just completely different and outside our norm."
Hannah Boden, from Nottingham in central England, said: "I just love the atmosphere, and the warmth of the torches, and singing, it just brings the family together."
By Tonderayi Mukeredzi HARARE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - After years of bad maize harvests as a result of worsening drought, farmer Dorothy Chihota switched a few seasons back to growing sorghum, millet, cowpeas and groundnuts on her 50-acre farm in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe district. Since then she has had only good harvests, she said but that doesnt always mean she has had good years as a farmer. Small grains are giving us better yields but our problem is that there are no markets to sell our produce, she complained in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Prices for the grains are poor, and seeds are not available in shops. Faced with failing maize harvests as climate change brings more droughts and other severe weather, Zimbabwes government and a range of aid agencies have urged farmers to diversify the countrys agriculture and plant more drought-hardy alternatives to maize, the staple crop. But the systems to support farming such alternative grains from the creation and marketing of seeds to finding markets for what is grown have not kept up, farmers say. TOO LITTLE SEED Figures from Seed Services, a Zimbabwean institute focused on improving agricultural production, show that in 2016-2017 only 460 hectares of certified sorghum seed were likely to be grown in the country, compared to 400,000 hectares of certified maize seed. Mujaju said a big problem holding back wider use of grains such as sorghum and millet is the tradition of holding onto part of last years harvest to replant or sell to neighbours as seed in the coming season. A lot of small grain is retained (to replant), and because the quality of seed tends to degenerate, that affects yields. Because of seed retention, the power of seed companies to produce more seed is not there," he said at a meeting in Harare last month. "To them, there is no guarantee if they produce more their seed will be bought, he said. A lack of research funding to develop better varieties of small grains also is a worry, he said. Since 2000, only 11 new varieties of sorghum have been developed in Zimbabwe, compared to more than 140 varieties of maize, Mujaju said. MORE WORK? Marjory Jeke, a small-scale farmer in Murehwa, said another problem is that harvesting small grains can be a more tedious task than bringing in maize. We can produce more if we have appropriate harvesting and processing technologies, she told Thomson Reuters Foundation. But Kizito Mazvimavi, a crop expert with ICRISAT the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics said the technology needed to harvest and process small grains already exists. Its not true that farmers have abandoned sorghum and millet because it is difficult to process. Way back in the 1980s we pushed de-hullers all over the place. The technology is there, he said. According to the Andrew Mushita, executive director of the Harare-based Community Technology Development Centre (CTDC), farmers in low-rainfall areas of Zimbabwe already grow and eat a lot of small grains. Mushita estimates that they are cultivated on more than 400 000 hectares of land or about 13 percent of the countrys arable land. About 30 percent of the population derive their livelihoods from small grains - but this could increase as maize continues to fail because of climate change, making small grains the reliant cereal, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. He believes small grains can effectively compete with or outperform maize if the country invested more in them. If we invest more in research and crop improvement, small grains will perform very well. They can indeed be a replacement to maize, he said. With the advent of climate change they have a huge role to play, he said. Charles Dhewa, a markets expert and the CEO of Knowledge Transfer Africa, said that he believes a good market for small grains exists because people prefer to eat healthier food and most small grains are highly nutritious. The harvests themselves also are in increasing demand to make everything from beer to animal feed, he said. GOVERNMENT PUSH Growing more sorghum, millet and other small grains is part of Zimbabwes national climate change policy. Under the Presidential Input Support Scheme, farmers each season are entitled to 10 kg of either maize or small grain seed, said Pardon Njerere, an agricultural economist with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development. The farmer has an option to take what they like. Government does not want to prescribe, though there is an outcry that we should give farmers small grain inputs only in all the dry areas, Njerere said at a meeting. A 2009 government policy also sets the government purchase price for maize and other grains at parity, to encourage growing of alternatives to maize. A December paper on lessons from drought, jointly authored by the Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDC) and Oxfam, suggests the government has been too focused on supporting the profit-making formal seed supply system and should instead focus on helping farmers to save, exchange, multiply and sell farm-saved seed. However, the seed market for small grains is also seeing new players come in. Champion Seeds, a new company backed by farmers and CTDC is expected to start operating in the 2017/18 farming season, with an initial target to produce 500 metric tonnes of small grain seed. The new company, which will help small-scale farmers produce both hybrid and regular seed, aims to double the area under cultivation of small grains within five years, in part by giving poor farmers access to good quality seed, Mushita said. There is a positive future for small grains. What has been lacking is their promotion, he said. (Reporting by Tonderayi Mukeredzi; editing by Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate)
By Susan Cornwell and David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats on Tuesday postponed votes on several of President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, citing their responsibility to do a "thorough vetting," while Republicans accused them of unreasonable delays in considering the picks. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee exploited Senate rules to delay until Wednesday a vote on Senator Jeff Sessions' nomination to be attorney general. That job was in the spotlight after Trump fired the acting attorney general on Monday over her refusal to defend his executive order blocking nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Democrats also boycotted a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee where votes had been scheduled on Steve Mnuchin to be Treasury secretary and Tom Price to head the Health and Human Services Department. Since at least one Democrat is required to be present for the committee votes to take place, no votes were held. Despite the delays, all three nominees are considered likely to be confirmed once their names are sent to the full Republican-led Senate. The White House, as well as Republicans on Capitol Hill, accused Democrats of slow-walking the work of the government. "The people want change. President Trump is delivering that change. And the only response from Senate Democrats so far is to try to stall the core functions of our government," said White House press secretary Sean Spicer. "When will the Democrats give us our Attorney General and rest of Cabinet!" Trump said in a tweet. "No wonder D.C. doesn't work!" Senate Democrats were unapologetic, with their leader, Chuck Schumer, saying it was their obligation to "thoroughly vet" Trump's Cabinet nominees. "And if it takes a little longer, they could be in office up to four years, and it makes eminent sense to get their views out," Schumer told reporters. The Senate has already confirmed several of Trump's picks for national security posts, and the chamber voted 93-6 on Tuesday to confirm Elaine Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, as head of the U.S. Transportation Department. EXECUTIVE ORDER CONTROVERSY Sessions' closeness to Trump - he was the first senator to endorse him during Trump's presidential campaign - was clearly working against him as far as Democrats were concerned following several days of controversy over Trump's executive order on immigration. "We saw last night that it is also the duty of our nation's chief law enforcement officer to support and defend the Constitution when the president's actions do not. The attorney general swears an oath to the Constitution, not to a president," said Senator Dick Durbin, a member of the Judiciary Committee, elaborating on his opposition to Sessions. The Judiciary Committee rescheduled its vote on Sessions for 10:30 a.m (1530 GMT) on Wednesday. Democrats on the Finance Committee said they were delaying votes on Price and Mnuchin because they wanted more information on Price's stock trades in an Australian medical company and reports that Mnuchin's former bank, OneWest, used automated "robo-signings" of foreclosure documents, which apparently contradicted statements the nominees had made to senators. "We've made clear that we need additional information to make these judgments," said Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the committee. It was unclear when the committee votes would be held. Republican Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Finance Committee, called the Democratic boycott "shocking" and "offensive." "What's the matter with the other party?" he asked. "Are they that bitter about Donald Trump?" (Reporting by Susan Cornwell and David Lawder; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Peter Cooney)
Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) - A goal from Icelandic star Gylfi Sigurdsson secured Swansea a crucial 2-1 win over Southampton on Tuesday the first time they have won two successive Premier League games this term.
Sigurdsson's goal restored the hosts lead after Ireland international Shane Long had levelled following Alfie Mawson's opener.
The win sees Swansea -- whose performances and fortunes have been transformed since Paul Clement was appointed earlier this month -- remain outside the bottom three level on points with Middlesbrough and ailing champions Leicester and two points clear of third from bottom Crystal Palace.
Southampton -- decimated by injuries to eight players including outstanding centreback Virgil van Dijk -- are not out of trouble as they hover nine points above the drop zone.
Swansea weathered some early Southampton pressure and felt they might have had a penalty when the ball struck Saints defender Jack Stephens on the hand but nothing was given.
However, playing with new found confidence under Clement, first Leroy Fer forced Fraser Forster into a fine save and from Sigurdsson's resulting corner Mawson headed home.
Swansea looked comfortable in the lead but they were pegged back approaching the hour mark as Ryan Bertrand burst down the left flank and his cross was tucked away by Long, whose goal last week propelled Saints into the League Cup final at Liverpool's expense.
Clement thought that the moment to bring on January signing Dutch international winger Luciano Narsingh, who had been unable to play prior to Tuesday because he arrived with a calf injury from PSV Eindhoven.
The 26-year-old -- signed for 4 million ($4.9 million, 4.6 million euros) -- made an instant impact with a dazzling run, after Swansea cleared a Saints corner, and looking up he saw Sigurdsson hurtling into the box -- he produced the ideal cross and the Icelandic star volleyed it home.
Bannons rules. If here was any question about who is largely in charge of national security behind the scenes at the White House, the answer is becoming increasingly clear: Steve Bannon, writes FP contributor Kate Brannen in an important new story that peels back the layers of how national security policy is being made at the White House.
Even before he was given a formal seat on the National Security Councils principals committee this weekend by President Donald Trump, Bannon was calling the shots and doing so with little to no input from the National Security Council staff, according to an intelligence official who asked not to be named out of fear of retribution. He is running a cabal, almost like a shadow NSC, the official said. He described a work environment where there is little appetite for dissenting opinions, shockingly no paper trail of whats being discussed and agreed upon at meetings, and no guidance or encouragement so far from above about how the National Security Council staff should be organized.
Secrets. None of Washingtons top national security officials were told by the White House about the coming refugee and immigration ban announced Friday, and it appears even Trump allies on Capitol Hill were left in the dark.
At least three top national security officials Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department have told associates they were not aware of details of the directive until around the time Trump signed it, the AP reports. In a dramatic Monday night firing, President Donald Trump removed Sally Yates, the acting attorney general of the United States and a Democratic appointee, accusing her of betrayal after she directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend the executive order.
DoD scrambles. Caught flatfooted by the White House, the Pentagon has scrambled to compile a list of Iraqi nationals who could be granted a waiver by the State Department due to their work with U.S. forces over the past 14 years. But as FP first reported Monday, Iraqi nationals with Special Immigrant Visas, or SIVs, who served as interpreters for the U.S. military will be treated essentially the same as green card holders. Pentagon officials told FP Monday they werent aware of the DHS reading of the presidential order.
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The view from Baghdad. On Monday, the Iraqi parliament demanded that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi respond to the White House order, calling for American contractors and journalists to be banned from entering Iraq, a move that could potentially affect operations for the 6,000 U.S. troops currently deployed to the country. The ban on Iraqis is a betrayal said Lukman Faily, Baghdads former ambassador to Washington. To be treated like thisto say its a betrayal (is) an understatement, he told AFP.
A group of bipartisan lawmakers sent a letter to Trump yesterday asking him to make an exemption for the Iraqis. Several who signed onto the letter are vets, including Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Seth Moulton (D-Ma.). Reps. Earl Blumenauer, (D-Ore.), Steve Stivers, (R-Oh.), also signed the letter.
State revolt. The State Department is also moving to protest the ban, FPs John Hudson reports. The number of State Department officials signing memos opposing the move quickly surpassed 200, Hudson writes. The exact number of signatures is unknown as several different draft versions are in circulation, but the number far outstrips the 51 signatories who spoke out against former President Barack Obamas Syria policy last summer, a number viewed at the time as extremely large, if not unprecedented.
Trumps first test. Here it is. Iran has once again tested a medium range ballistic missile, leaving the Trump administration to show its cards on how to approach the thorny legal issue of whether such tests violate U.N. sanctions against the Islamic Republic. U.N. Resolution 2231, passed just after the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran negotiated by the Obama administration, calls on Iran to cease the tests. Emphasis on the calls upon bit. After previous tests, Irans allies in Moscow argued that the language is more a suggestion than a firm ban, blocking any potential action against Tehran in the U.N. Security Council
In another possible Iranian-backed attack, Houthi militants hit a Saudi ship with three suicide boats off the coast of Yemen on Monday, according to Reuters. Video of the incident surfaced on social media showing a large explosion. The explosion killed two members of the vessels crew. The Saudi-led coalition cited explosive-laden boats as the method of attack but Iranian state media, citing Houthi sources, reported that the an unspecified guided missile had hit the ship. An anonymous U.S. defense official tells Stars and Stripes that the ship appeared to be hit by something other than suicide boats.
Response? Its not clear yet how the Trump administration will navigate the issue. National security advisor Mike Flynns book, Field of Fight, portrays Iran as the linchpin of a global terrorist alliance, and Defense Secretary James Mattis, as FPs Dan De Luce and Paul McLeary have pointed out, is also a longtime Iran hawk. So much so that the Obama administration nudged him aside as commander of U.S. Central Command over his calls to strike Tehrans military over attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq.
Welcome to SitRep. Send any tips, thoughts or national security events to paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or via Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley.
SecDef
Defense Secretary James Mattis is headed to Asia for talks with allies in Japan and South Korea. In Tokyo, Mattis will meet with his Japanese counterparts but he wont be asking them to cough up more to pay for protection from the U.S., as President Trump suggested during the campaign, according to the Japan Times. Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said that the trip will be more of a listening tour than anything else. Mattis also spoke by phone with South Korean Defense Minister Shortly before the visit, which includes a stop to South Korea Han Min-Koo before the trip. Hoo and Mattis both reaffirmed their commitment to the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to defend against North Korean ballistic missiles despite recent pressure from China to cancel the deployment.
Moscow to Baghdad
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dropped some heavy hints that Moscow may be open to pitching in with some tips for the fight against the Islamic State. Lavrov said that Russia would be willing to provide extra intelligence help to Iraqi officials if they show interest in the proposal. In 2015, Russia announced that it had formed a joint coordination center in Baghdad with representatives from Iraq, Syria, and Iran to focus on fighting the Islamic State.
Yemen
NBC News has more information on the special operations raid in Yemen that resulted in the death of a Navy SEAL and an eight year old Yemeni girl. An official tells the news outlet that almost everything went wrong on the raid. Anonymous military officials say the girl, Nawar al-Awlaki, the daughter of former al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leader Anwar al-Awlaki, died in the confusion of a firefight that began as several Yemeni women opened fire on a SEAL Team approaching their camp. Nawar al-Awlakis family disputes that account, telling NBC that SEALs killed all the women inside a house and that Nawar died alongside other children killed in the raid.
Canada
Canadas CBC News has learned more about the man behind what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling a terrorist attack. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have accused Alexandre Bissonnette of killing six people by gunning them down in front of the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. A Facebook account allegedly belonging to Bissonnette show he was a fan of far-right French politician Marine Le Pen and other right wing political causes.
Baltics
American tanks are on their way to the Baltics to take up positions along the Russian border and reassure NATO allies nervous about the prospect of Russian aggression. The Wall Street Journal reports that the tanks will head from Poland, where theyve been used in exercises with the Polish military, onward to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, where theyll stay for a brief rotation. The trip was planned during the Obama administration so theres not many tea leaves to read for Baltic leaders, anxious about the pro-Russian tilt of the Trump administration.
Syria
The Syrian government is tamping down rumors that President Bashar al-Assad has suffered a stroke or is otherwise medically incapacitated, according to Reuters. Versions of the rumor vary as to the nature of the ailment, ranging from a stroke to a gunshot wound to the head, but none bear any proof. Nonetheless, the clamor rose to the level of an official denial from Syrian state media, saying that Assad is in excellent health and that he spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday.
Business of defense
President Trump claimed on Monday that he struck a deal with Lockheed Martin to shave $600 million off the price of the F-35 program. But when Popular Mechanics crunched the numbers, it found less than meets the eye to the presidents math. At issue is a statement from Air Force General Chris Bogdan last year that the cost of the jet would come down six to seven percent as it moved through the development process. That six to seven percent amounts to around $570 to $665 million or about the amount of money that Trump is claiming to have negotiated off the cost of the program.
Photo Credit /AFP/Getty Images
By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool will attempt to sweep away the January blues on the last day of a wretched month when they host commanding Premier League leaders Chelsea at Anfield on Tuesday. Juergen Klopp's side have played eight matches since the turn of the year and won only once - an FA Cup replay against Plymouth Argyle, only to fall to second tier Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fourth round on Saturday. That came on the back of League Cup semi-final defeat at home to Southampton and a damaging first home league loss to Swansea City which dealt a major blow to their title hopes. So there could not be a more opportune time to rediscover their mojo than against Antonio Conte's side who are eight points ahead of the chasing pack and 10 clear of Liverpool. "We have to lift ourselves for Chelsea, that is very important. We all left the dressing room (after the Wolves defeat) feeling so disappointed because we lost again," playmaker Philippe Coutinho said. "We have another opportunity straight away to bounce back, and it is a good opportunity, a big game against Chelsea." Liverpool are winless in four home league matches against Chelsea but won at Stamford Bridge this season and several clubs will be hoping Klopp's side can put a spanner in the works of Conte's relentless team. "We know this type of situation and for sure we must pay great attention. After three defeats a team are very dangerous," Conte, who has never played or managed at Anfield, said. Arsenal could be the chief beneficiaries of a Liverpool win while Tottenham Hotspur are also looking to make up ground. Second-placed Arsenal host Watford while Tottenham, nine points behind Chelsea in third place, travel to bottom club Sunderland having taken 22 points from the last 24 available. Watford have only one win from their last 10 matches and will hope French striker M'Baye Niang, signed on loan from AC Milan, can spark them back into life. Niang was once at Arsenal on trial and manager Arsene Wenger, who will be in the stands watching because of a four-game touchline ban, knows he could be a threat. "We have to keep him quiet because he's a guy who can do something special," Wenger said. Manchester City and Manchester United, both with work to do to get into the top four let alone become serious contenders in the title race, play on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola's City, in fifth spot, are likely to have a much sterner task at West Ham United's London Stadium than they encountered earlier in January when they hammered the Londoners 5-0 in the FA Cup third round. Jose Mourinho's sixth-placed United are unbeaten in 13 in the league but have drawn their last two matches and must beat struggling Hull City at Old Trafford to stay in touch with the leaders. (Editing by Ed Osmond)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African fast-food company Nandos Group is considering an initial public offering (IPO), possibly in London, Bloomberg reported on Monday, as the maker of Portuguese-style peri-peri chicken seeks to raise funds. Bloomberg quoted unnamed sources, who said that no final decisions had been made yet and the company could look at other ways to raise funds. The company, which traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange between 1997 and 2003, is weighing a London listing among other potential venues, Bloomberg reported. Nandos, which operates restaurants selling peri-peri chicken, has grown from being a local brand to an international one operating in countries that include the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Australia, Qatar and Malaysia. Nandos could not immediately be reached for comment. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Paris (AFP) - Pedro Almodovar, Spain's most celebrated living movie director, will lead the jury at this year's Cannes film festival, its organisers said on Tuesday.
The flamboyant auteur, who made his name with a string of colourful and melodramatic black comedies including "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!", said, "I am grateful, honoured and a bit overwhelmed."
He is the first Spaniard to preside over the world's top film event in its 70-year history.
"I can only tell that I'll devote myself, body and soul, to this task, that it is both a privilege and a pleasure," the 67-year-old director added.
Although Almodovar won the best foreign film Oscar for his powerful 1999 drama "All About My Mother", which also won him best director at Cannes, he has never taken its top prize, the Palme d'Or.
The man who would become known as the "Tennessee Williams of La Mancha", first began to make his mark during the "Movida", the hedonistic Madrid-led cultural revival that followed the end of the Franco dictatorship in 1975.
"Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" (1988) brought him a cult international following, and his movies are often marked by the strength and warmth of his leading women, played by Carmen Maura, Victoria Abril, Rossy de Palma and Marisa Paredes.
- Exuberant rebel -
As his films grew more ambitious and serious, Almodovar helped launch the Hollywood careers of the actors Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.
Cannes film festival director Thierry Fremaux said his "20 films form an incandescent work, a legacy of his punk, protest-filled youth, driven by an insatiable passion for female figures and the history of film itself."
Born to a farming family in a small, dusty town south of Madrid where his mother wrote letters for her illiterate neighbours, Almodovar was sent to a Catholic seminary at eight in the hope that he might become a priest.
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But the exuberant rebel later ran off to Madrid and joined a parody glam rock duo, and began dabbling in film-making while he working as a telephone company clerk.
Fremaux said "with his dazzling and iconoclastic 35-year filmography, this virtuoso storyteller has forged a strong bond with filmgoers the world over."
Although he is "ever surprising", he said Almodovar never loses "sight of his pet themes: passion, friendship, destiny, guilt and buried secrets."
English-speaking directors have presided over the Cannes jury in eight of the past 10 years.
The 70th Cannes film festival will run from May 17 to 28.
The rest of the jury and the films that will make up its official selection will be announced mid-April.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Monday bluntly told State Department employees who oppose President Trumps controversial immigration order that they should either get with the program or they can go.
Spicer had been asked about news reports that scores of diplomats have signed drafts of a memo, distributed through a dissent channel set up for employees to criticize U.S. policy, that breaks with Trumps freeze of immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations. One version of the document reportedly says the ban will not achieve its aim of making our country safer.
Spicer portrayed the diplomats as career diplomats and declared: I think that they should either get with the program or they can go.
Trump is going to implement things that are in the best interest of protecting this country prospectively, not reactively, and if somebody has a problem with that agenda, then that does call into question whether or not they should continue in that post or not, the press secretary said at his daily briefing.
I know the president appreciates the people who serve this nation and the public servants, but at some point, if they have a big problem with the policies that hes instituting to keep the country safe, then thats up to them to question whether or not they want to stay or not, Spicer said.
Earlier, former President George W. Bushs office said he would not comment on Trumps order. But a spokesman for former President Barack Obama said he was heartened by the nationwide opposition to the order.
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order banning immigration to the United States by citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days. Admission of all refugees was halted for 120 days. The order sparked protests at major U.S. airports and criticism by some U.S. allies, as well as legal challenges from civil liberties groups.
Read more from Yahoo News:
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By Silvio Cascione and Leonardo Goy BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's government expects environmental regulator Ibama to grant preliminary approval to Chinese utility State Grid in the second half of February for another power line in the Amazon forest, two government sources told Reuters on Tuesday. State Grid, the world's biggest utility, had expected to receive the preliminary license last October. A second license would then be needed for the company to start construction, probably some months later. The company has been pushing for a speedier process as delays could increase the cost of the 2,500 km (1,553-mile) line between the Belo Monte dam and cities throughout Brazil beyond the 7 billion reais ($2.21 billion) originally planned. Ibama is expected to finish its technical analysis on the project around Feb. 17 and then grant the preliminary license about a week later, according to the sources, who requested anonymity as they are not allowed to talk publicly. They did not give a forecast for the building license. Ibama's press office said the legal deadline for the preliminary analysis is April 7. Although there was still a small chance that the license could be denied, the government sources said the process was going on normally. The Chinese company, together with two units of the Brazil's Centrais Eletricas do Brasil SA state-controlled utility, is already working on another transmission line in the same area. Belo Monte, built on the Xingu River in the Amazon forest, will have a total installed capacity of 11,233 megawatts, exceeded only by China's Three Gorges and Brazil's Itaipu dams. Construction of the power line needs to be complete by December 2019 if Belo Monte is to operate at full capacity. Otherwise, it would only be able to supply part of its capacity to the rest of the country. Brazil's long environmental licensing process is often blamed for the high cost of doing business in the country, which has been in a deep recession since 2015. State Grid did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Silvio Cascione; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Bernard Orr)
Steven Mnuchin testifies before a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be treasury secretary. (Joshua Roberts: Reuters)
Donald Trump is in the White House, and Yahoo News is taking a look at the top stories to watch in his first 100 days. From the unusual role family members will play as White House advisers to his promises to aggressively transform U.S. trade policy, and from investigations into Russian interference in the election to his relationship with Paul Ryan, well be rolling out 15 stories over five days signposts for the road ahead.
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THE STAKES
During an unconventional presidential campaign, perhaps no platform advanced by then-candidate Donald Trump was better received by establishment Republicans than his plans to cut taxes. Trump has pledged to cut taxes for families earning less than $50,000, to eliminate the so-called death tax and to simplify the tax code. According to the Trump team, this would eliminate federal income taxes for over 50 percent of U.S. households.
And no issue has had Wall Street and market watchers more intrigued than Trumps proposal to cut the federal corporate tax rate to 15 percent from 35 percent. An analysis from Goldman Sachs said such a cut could result in a 26 percent increase in S&P 500 earnings in 2017. A boost to earnings of this magnitude could support a 15 percent rise in stock prices without any increase in valuation, according to Goldmans report, published shortly after the election.
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THE STORY
The current House Republican-supported tax plan has proposed a corporate tax cut down to 20 percent. On the individual tax front, the plans are roughly similar. On the corporate side, any legislation is likely to aim to achieve not only lower tax rates, but to make it less attractive for companies to either park foreign earnings overseas or move their corporate headquarters abroad for tax reasons.
The Obama administrations Treasury Department put in place rules to make corporate inversions transactions in which U.S.-based companies move corporate headquarters overseas to enjoy lower foreign corporate tax rates less attractive. Goldman Sachs notes that, like Obamas rules, Trumps proposal would end the deferral of foreign earnings and thus make inversions less advantageous while allowing foreign tax credits against U.S. taxes.
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When it comes to trade, however, a new tax environment in 2017 could make things quite a bit more interesting. The House Republican plan would see the U.S. corporate tax code shift from an origin-based taxation system to a destination-based system. What this shift would most simply do to American business is favor goods either exported or made and sold in the U.S. over imports.
Potential issues arise, however, given the United States obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization. The WTO does allow value-added taxes, which are basically taxes incurred during the production of a good and can be rebated upon export or charged upon import. But opponents of this plan have argued that shift would not be a value-added tax but instead a border-adjusted income tax, which is prohibited under the terms of the WTO.
The effective result could see exports be more or less tax-exempt while imports remain subject to taxes, a dynamic that would seem to fit Trumps pledge to Make America Great Again but would likely run afoul of international trade agreements.
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THE PLAYERS
Aside from Trump, the main players on taxes will be House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and Treasury Secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin. Shortly after the election, Brady said that the Trump and House plans were kissing cousins and assured attendees at a conference that tax reform is going to occur in 2017. Mnuchin told CNBC in November that Trump would propose the biggest tax overhaul since the Reagan administration.
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Read more from Yahoo News:
Donald Trump is in the White House, and Yahoo News is taking a look at the top stories to watch in his first 100 days. From the unusual role family members will play as White House advisers to his promises to aggressively transform U.S. trade policy, and from investigations into Russian interference in the election to his relationship with Paul Ryan, well be rolling out 15 stories over five days signposts for the road ahead.
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THE STAKES
Even as President Trump forms his administration, his White House is still haunted by a ghost from its past: the role Russia played in helping to elect him in the first place. At stake may be nothing less than the perceived legitimacy of his presidency.
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THE STORY
Just two weeks before Barack Obama left office, the U.S. intelligence community published an extraordinary document concluding that Russia had launched a wide-ranging campaign aimed at disrupting the U.S. presidential election including the use of cyberattacks and state-run media outlets to wage a propaganda war against Hillary Clinton. Yet when President Trump had his first phone call with President Vladimir Putin, the subject of Russias meddling in Americas election never came up.
That does not mean the story is going away anytime soon. The FBI is reportedly investigating whether some Trump campaign officials may have had contacts with Russian officials, although it is far from clear at this point whether any crimes were committed.
More immediately, both the Senate and House intelligence committees have announced separate investigations into the Russian influence campaign probes that could make life uncomfortable, or worse, for officials in the White House. Both panels have confirmed that their investigations will specifically include allegations spelled out in a sensational, but unverified, dossier prepared by a British spy that there were links between the Kremlin and Trumps campaign. Were not taking that off the table, a spokesman for California Rep. Devin Nunes, the House intelligence committee chairman, recently told Yahoo News when asked about the dossier.
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Overhanging all these probes is a major policy issue that Trump will have to address early in his presidency: whether to scrap sanctions imposed by Obama against Russia over the election hack or strengthen them, as GOP hawks such as Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham want to do.
There is no way to tell how long the FBIs probe will last, or whether the public will ever know its resolution, if any. But the Senate intelligence committee set a tentative three-month deadline last week for its investigation. Thats not a lot of time for an in-depth probe of this nature. Still, if it drags on much longer than that, it could be a sign that the committee believes there is much more to learn about exactly what did happen in the 2016 election.
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THE PLAYERS
First and foremost is FBI Director James Comey. Still under fire from Democrats over his handling of the Clinton email probe, hell ultimately have to decide the resolution of his bureaus counterintelligence probe into Russian meddling.
On Capitol Hill, Nunes and Rep. Adam Schiff, ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, and Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Richard Burr and ranking Democrat Sen. Mark Warner are the players to watch. McCain and Graham may be keys to the sanctions debate. And inside the White House, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn who popped up on the FBIs radar screen over his pre-inaugural talks with the Russian ambassador may be the most significant player, both in setting policy and deciding how to respond to the committees requests for information and testimony.
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When Black History Month begins on Wednesday, the annual observance will come, for the first time, with a new way for Americans to learn about that history: the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which opened in September. Its an important milestone, as the fight to create such a museum actually dates back to before Black History Month was conceived.
As TIME has explained, Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week, the precursor to Black History Month, in 1926, as an initiative to make African-American achievements a permanent part of American public history. When the observance was formally declared on a national level in 1976, it was characterized by President Gerald Ford as the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.
Ironically, 1976 was the eighth consecutive year that legislation to create the NMAAHC had failed in Congress. Robert L. Wilkins, who chaired the NMAAHC Presidential Commission under George W. Bush, detailed the history of the museum in his book Long Road to Hard Truth: The 100 year Mission to Create the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which began with a simple question, Why dont we have a museum to tell all of those stories?
Wilkins found the answer in a complicated narrative that began in 1915, the year of the 50th anniversary of the Unions Civil War victory. The Committee of Colored Citizens, which had raised funds and organized social activities for black veterans visiting the nations capital but which had been barred from social activities organized by the Grand Army of the Republic, which according to Wilkins was, the preeminent organization of Union veterans decided to use the leftover funds as seed money for a monument in this city to the memory of the colored soldiers and sailors who fought in the wars in our country.
The following year, black leaders organized the National Memorial Association and embarked on a nationwide fundraising campaign to support the effort. Missouri Republican Leonida Dyer sponsored HR 18721, the first of many bills in support of the memorial. But Americas entry into World War I in 1917 brought the project to a standstill.
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But the NMA did not give up. By 1920, the group had broadened its vision beyond commemorating black military achievements, to also include Negro achievement in business, education, politics, the arts and every other aspect of American life. On March 4, 1929, President Calvin Coolidge, on his final day in office, signed Public Resolution No. 107, which authorized the NMA to plan a building in Washington that would be a tribute to the Negros contributions to the achievements of America. The association, however, was required to raise $500,000 in private contributions before the Treasury would pitch in to help make the plan a reality.
That October, the stock market crashed, the Great Depression began, and the hope of a national memorial was once again deferred.
The post-World War II Civil Rights Movement gave rise to the Black Museum Movement which, according to From Storefront to Monument: Tracing the Public History of the Black Museum Movement by Andrea A. Burns, resulted in the establishment of several groundbreaking local museums during the 1960s and 70s, including the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago in 1961; The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (formerly the International Afro-American Museum) in Detroit in 1965; the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum (formerly the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum in Washington, D.C.) in 1967; and the African American Museum in Philadelphia in 1976. As noted by the African American Museum Association, founded in 1978, the community museum may be identified both in terms of the physical that is the predominately African American neighborhoods that typically surrounded these early museums and the global community that comprises the African Diaspora.
While the Black Museum Movement was successful on the local level, during this period, all efforts to gain federal support for the creation of a national museum failed.
As Wilkins has noted, just days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rep. Clarence Brown proposed legislation that would create a national museum of Black history and culture in his home district in Ohio a place called Wilberforce, which had been founded by manumitted blacks and had served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. But, though several pieces of legislation were proposed over the next few years to build a national museum at Wilberforce, the idea never gained congressional support, partially due to the idea (supported by the National Park Service) that any national museum of that sort ought to be operated by the Smithsonian Institute, and not in Wilberforce. But at that time the Smithsonian declined to endorse the project. By 1989, however, the Institute accepted a recommendation from An African American Institutional Study to create the NMAAHC.
During the 1990s the NMAAHC faced political opposition in both the House and the Senate, but bipartisan support gradually grew, thanks to the work of Rep. John Lewis and others. On Dec. 16, 2003, President George W. Bush signed H. R. 3491, which formally authorized the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture within the Smithsonian.
This year the NMAAHC will have its first of many annual Black History Month celebrations, at a site that for decades to come will stand as a shrine to the thousands which Wilkins aptly characterized as brave and visionary souls, who like Woodson maintained that Black achievement should be acknowledged and celebrated not just for one week, or for one month, but all year long.
The Long View
Historians explain how the past informs the present
Arica L. Coleman is the author of That the Blood Stay Pure: African Americans, Native Americans and the Predicament of Race and Identity in Virginia and chair of the Committee on the Status of African American, Latino/a, Asian American, and Native American (ALANA) Historians and ALANA Histories at the Organization of American Historians.
President Donald Trump will announce his Supreme Court nominee at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Two candidates have been discussed in the media for the past week as the leading contenders. But who will get the call?
Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman
Federal judges Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman reportedly have interviewed with President Trump and are rumored to be the top two names on Trumps list. CNN reported last week it was told by administration officials that two other federal judges, William Pryor and Diane Sykes, also were interviewed during the search process.
Last May, Trump released a list of 11 potential nominees, which included Hardiman, Pryor and Sykes. In September, he released a second list that added Gorsuch.
Legal observers expect the nominee to be conservative and in line with the originalist constitutional school endorsed by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Two conservative groups, The Heritage Foundation and The Federalist Society, worked with the Trump administration on the search process, and the Presidents closest advisers undoubtedly had some role in evaluating nominees. (The Presidents sister, who also is a federal judge, is rumored to have had a recommendation for at least one candidate.)
Here is a look at the top candidates, in alphabetical order:
Neil Gorsuch, 49, United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Gorsuch attended school at Columbia, Harvard and Oxford, and he clerked for two Supreme Court Justices: Byron White and Anthony Kennedy. Gorsuch was in private practice in Washington, D.C., until 2006, when President George W. Bush named him to the 10th Circuit bench. Gorsuch would be the first Supreme Court Justice to serve on the Court with a Justice he had clerked for at one time.
Thomas Hardiman, 51, United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Hardiman serves on the same court as Maryanne Barry Trump, which is based in Philadelphia. Unlike the current Justices, Hardiman doesnt have an Ivy League law degree a fact Trump said on the presidential campaign trail was a positive for a potential nominee if he became President. Hardiman went to Notre Dame and Georgetown. Hardiman also put himself through Georgetown by driving a taxi. Hardiman is also a George W. Bush appointment to the federal bench. Before joining the federal bench, Hardiman practiced law in Pittsburgh.
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William Pryor, 54, United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. During the Trump campaign, Pryor was one of the most-mentioned names on the Trump list of potential Supreme Court nominees. Pryor also didnt attend an Ivy league school; he studied at Northeast Louisiana and Tulane. Pryor first worked as a private attorney and he then served as Alabamas attorney general for seven years. President Bush named Pryor to the federal court in 2004.
Diane Sykes, 59, United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Sykes has a journalism degree from Northwestern and a law degree from Marquette, and she also worked briefly as a reporter. She was a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court until President Bush appointed Sykes to the federal bench in 2004. Sykes was also a rumored candidate for the Supreme Court a decade ago, when President Bush nominated John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Court.
Other candidates on the Trump list last year included Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larson (who clerked for Scalia), Senator Mike Lee and Justice, Michigan Supreme Court, a federal appeals court judge who clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy.
DETROIT (AP) Federal authorities have arrested the man accused of shooting 10 people at a party at a National Guard Armory in western Tennessee.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says in a news release that 20-year-old Kyanedre Benson was arrested Monday by U.S. Marshals in Detroit. The Jackson, Tennessee, man is being held without bond while he awaits an extradition hearing in Wayne County, Michigan.
Benson is facing 10 counts of attempted murder in connection with a shooting that occurred when a fight broke out at the armory in Brownsville late Friday night.
TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland says two juveniles and eight adults were wounded. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
It was not immediately clear whether Benson has an attorney.
ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss dual citizens with valid visas have been exempted from a temporary travel ban issued by U.S. President Donald Trump against citizens from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries, Switzerland's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. "Swiss dual citizens who are additionally citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia or Yemen are once again allowed to travel to the United States with immediate effect, provided they have a valid visa in their Swiss passport," the ministry said in a statement after talks with U.S. authorities. Such Swiss dual citizens would not be able to travel to the United States without already having a valid visa because they cannot now apply for one, it added, citing U.S. officials. (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Michael Shields)
Geneva (AFP) - Switzerland on Tuesday said it would lift its 40-year ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood but will still prohibit donations from those who have had sex in the last year.
In shifting to a 12-month abstinence requirement for donors, Swiss guidelines fell in line with other European countries like Britain and France, which implemented bans following the discovery of HIV in the early 1980s.
The policy change was approved by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic), a federal regulator, following an appeal from Swiss Transfusion SRC, a division of the Red Cross responsible for blood products.
Switzerland's 1977 ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM) preceded the discovery of HIV.
It was triggered by fears of other pathogens within the gay and bisexual male population, although concern over HIV's spread helped sustain the policy.
In a statement, Swissmedic noted that MSM in Switzerland are still disproportionately at risk of contracting HIV, accounting for roughly half of all new cases in the country.
But the guidelines "will not lead to an increased risk for recipients of blood transfusions", the regulator said, adding that testing improvements have made it dramatically easier to detect infections.
Enforcing the one-year deferral relies entirely on prospective donors being honest about their recent sexual activity, and Swissmedic urged people to answer "truthfully" on the mandatory pre-donation questionnaire.
For Swiss Transfusion chief Rudolf Schwabe, Tuesday's policy shift marked "a first change to discriminatory regulation" even if the new rules are "far from perfect."
He echoed calls from elsewhere in Europe for blood donation guidelines to be completely detached from sexual orientation and focused strictly on discouraging donors who engage in high risk behaviour, whether they are gay or straight.
Swissmedic said the new rules will come into effect on July 1.
Hasakeh (Syria) (AFP) - A coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria has received US armoured vehicles for the first time and a promise of new American support, a coalition spokesman said Tuesday.
"American armoured vehicles have arrived for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for the first time. This happened after the new US administration came to power," spokesman Talal Sello told AFP.
He said the decision to supply the vehicles was taken by President Donald Trump's administration, rather than in a simple continuation of US support under former president Barack Obama.
"Before we used to receive light weapons, ammunition... with these armoured vehicles we've entered a new phase in the (US) support. It's a sign," Sello added.
"We have had meetings with representatives of the new administration, and they promised us extra support."
The SDF has long been a key partner of the US-led coalition fighting IS in Syria and Iraq, and Washington has previously supplied the coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters with light weaponry and has sent US and other Western special forces as "advisers".
The US-led coalition has also backed the force with heavy air strikes targeting IS fighters.
The alliance has caused tensions between Washington and ally Turkey, which considers the main component of the SDF -- the Kurdish YPG force -- to be a "terrorist" organisation.
The SDF has been battling since November 5 to oust the jihadists from the city of Raqa, the group's de facto capital in Syria.
Sello said the Trump administration had pledged extra support "particularly in the fight for Raqa".
In a two-month offensive, the SDF has taken large areas of northern Raqa province.
The alliance was formed in October 2015, after the YPG Kurdish militia had already scored a string of victories against IS in northern Syria with air support from the US-led coalition.
Trump has said his focus in Syria will be battling IS, and on Saturday signed an executive order giving the US military 30 days to devise a plan to "defeat" the jihadist group.
The order, which called for a "comprehensive strategy and plans for the defeat of ISIS", was seen as meaning more US forces and military hardware moving into Iraq and Syria.
Damascus (AFP) - After nearly 24 hours of exhausting travel from war-ravaged Syria, the Abu Assaleh family arrived in Philadelphia, brimming with excitement to begin their new life in the United States.
The Christian family of eight had waited more than 13 years since first applying for the immigration visas now stamped neatly into their Syrian passports.
On Friday, they travelled from Damascus to Beirut, then Amman and on to Doha, before finally landing at Philadelphia International Airport.
"The whole trip took more than 20 hours of travel," 60-year-old Josephine Abu Assaleh told AFP at her home in the Tijarah district of Damascus, just hours after arriving back in Syria with her relatives.
She travelled to the US with her husband Bassam, his brother Hassaan and Hassaan's wife and four children.
But as they shuffled through the airport, an immigration official approached them and asked to see the family's passports.
"They took us into a special hallway and I started to get nervous," Josephine told AFP, her voice halting as she recalled the nerve-wracking moment.
"The officer came back and told us that our visas had been cancelled and we wouldn't be allowed to enter the United States."
In a split second, hopeful anticipation turned to shock and devastation, as the family was informed they would be sent back to Syria after US President Donald Trump's new restrictions on immigration.
"I told the officer 'You're kidding, right?', and he responded 'Do I look like I'm kidding?'," Josephine said.
- 'Such a happy feeling' -
Trump's executive order, signed Friday, bars entry to the US for travellers from seven mainly Muslim countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- for 90 days.
It also suspends the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, and Syrian refugees indefinitely.
Josephine rubbed at the dark circles under her eyes and gestured to nearly 20 packed suitcases scattered across the house.
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"We spent around 15 days shopping, buying gifts for our friends there. We were so happy while we were packing our suitcases," she said.
"After this exhausting trip, I can't bring myself to open the suitcases and take out the gifts, but I know I have to."
Her grey-haired husband Bassam, 62, showed AFP the US visa printed into his passport -- now marred with a thin blue line to show it had been cancelled.
"It was such a happy feeling to get a visa to America, considering so many countries are fighting us and won't give us visas," he said.
His family had been applying to emigrate to the United States since 2003, and the visas were finally issued in October.
"We travelled on January 27 and arrived in Philadelphia where we found, to our surprise, that a decision had been issued to cancel our visas while we were in the air," he told AFP.
"We thought it was something personal against us," he said.
- 'Robbed of our rights' -
Their 20-year-old niece Sara was glued to her cellphone on a nearby sofa, reading news of fellow Syrians being turned back at other US airports.
After receiving their immigration visas in October, Sara's parents sold their home and their car in Damascus.
"I said goodbye to my friends in school, my neighbours, and all the places that I love," and began imagining a new life, Sara said.
"It was a beautiful dream that started turning into reality. I started to read a lot about America, the university that I wanted to enrol in and the places I would visit as soon as I arrived," she said.
Most of all, she was excited at the prospect of being reunited with her brother Tufiq, who left Syria three years ago to study in the US and had been waiting impatiently in Philadelphia airport's arrivals lounge.
"The most difficult moments were in the airport, when the police wouldn't let my mother go out to meet my brother, whom she hadn't seen in three years," Sara said.
"There were just a few metres (yards) between my brother and my mother, who collapsed in tears because she wanted to wrap my brother in her arms but couldn't," she said.
After pleading fruitlessly with airport officials, Sara's family was escorted to a departing aircraft without seeing Tufiq.
"I thought my father was going to have a heart attack. We couldn't eat or sleep on the plane ride back," Sara said.
"We weren't allowed to have a lawyer or a translator.
"They robbed us of our simplest rights in a nation that everyone says is the country of laws and human rights."
Syrian officials Monday denied rumors President Bashar Assad was ill, attempting to tamp down speculation he had suffered a stroke and was in critical condition.
"The presidency denies all these reports. President Assad is in excellent health," his office said in a statement.
"They [the reports] coincide with the changing circumstances in the field and politically."
A Facebook post said Assad was in excellent health and carrying out his functions quite naturally.
To back up the denial, the Ikhbariya news channel said Assad talked by phone with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Monday, Reuters reported. State media had not reported on any activities by Assad for some time.
Rumors, however, swirled on Twitter that Assad had died, the Beirut Daily Star reported. Reports in the Arab press indicated Assad had been shot in the head by his personal Iranian bodyguard, Mehdi al-Yaacoubi. Other reports said he had suffered a brain tumor.
Al-Jazeera reported Sunday night Assad was in critical condition.
The Saudi Arabia-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, quoting Kremlin insiders, reported Assad was suffering from exhaustion and psychological pressure.
The rumors about Assad, 51, coincided with peace talks hosted by Russia and Turkey between the government and opposition forces in Kazakhstan last week to reaffirm the month-old ceasefire. A new round of peace talks is planned for Geneva.
Assad, who has ruled Syria for more than 16 years, has said he would be open to discussions about his position during the talks to end the 6-year-old civil war. Rebels have insisted they he leave office as part of any deal.
With Russian support, Syrian government troops have gained the upper hand in the fighting, recapturing Wadi Barada near Damascus Sunday, just weeks after rebels were driven from areas they held for years in east Aleppo.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun told French TV channel LCI Monday Assad likely will remain in office and said he wants Syrian refugees in his country to go home, despite continued fighting.
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Lebanon cannot take in Syrian refugees indefinitely on its territory, Aoun said. We hosted them for humanitarian reasons, and they must return to their country.
Large portions of Syria remain in the control of the Islamic State group and Kurdish forces.
The Syrian civil war began in March 2011, and since then hundreds of thousands have died and millions more have been displaced, creating a refugee crisis.
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By Nick Carey
Jan 27 (Reuters) - Ordering a bottle of Corona beer at a bar in the United States is a simple proposition.
Getting it there from its brewery in Mexico involves a complex, cross-border supply network that will likely get more complicated if U.S. president Donald Trump follows through on vows to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or tax imports.
Trump has not outlined specific plans for revising NAFTA, but he has made repeated calls for a levy to discourage companies from moving jobs outside the United States. On Thursday, the White House floated a plan to impose a 20 percent tax on imports. Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives have included a tax on imports in their blueprint for overhauling corporate taxes.
The ideas have met opposition in Congress, even inside Trump's own party. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a republican from South Carolina, took to Twitter on Thursday, saying "Simply put, any policy proposal which drives up costs of Corona, tequila, or margaritas is a big-time bad idea. Mucho Sad."
Trump's rhetoric has also heightened uncertainty over the billions in supply chain and infrastructure investment that a diverse array of companies from automakers and railroads to appliance makers and food producers have made on both side of the U.S.-Mexico border during the past two decades.
The stakes are high for brands like Corona, which is entirely brewed in Mexico, and the transport companies such as Union Pacific Corp that make money moving the beer's raw ingredients and packaging into Mexico, and bringing the finished brew back to the United States.
Victor, New York-based Constellation Brands Inc, which owns the U.S. rights to Corona, plans to spend $2.5 billion to expand an existing brewery in Nava, just south of the border with Texas and $2 billion on a new brewery in Mexicali by 2021.
Just days before the November 8 U.S. election, the company said it would buy a Mexican brewery from Grupo Modelo for $600 million and expand its operations in the country.
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To qualify as a Mexican beer, Constellation's beer brands must be made in Mexico. However, about 40 percent of the cost of the company's Mexican beers are tied to ingredients, supplies and freight services that come from the United States, said David Klein, Constellation's chief financial officer during a conference call earlier this month.
The company - which has seen its market valuation triple to nearly $30 billion since 2013 when it obtained rights to sell Corona and other Mexican beer brands - imports hops, barley and other grains from the United States to brew Corona. The company does not disclose the specific origin of ingredients.
"The majority of our glass bottle supply comes from the glass plant at the Nava brewery and other Mexico suppliers. We source less than 20 percent of our glass bottles from the United States. Some raw materials, including hops and grains to brew the beer, do come from the United States," Constellation said in a statement.
Farms in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States are major growers of barley in North America, and in 2015 Mexico was the world's largest importer of U.S. barley. Since 2010, Mexico has been either the world's largest importer of U.S. hops or second just behind the United Kingdom.
Unraveling the NAFTA supply chains of companies such as Constellation, or the big automakers, would lead to higher prices for consumer goods, experts and industry executives say.
"Everyone would lose, especially the consumer, it's that simple," said Brandon Stallard, CEO of Troy, Michigan-based TPS Logistics, which handles tens of thousands of cross-border shipments for customers daily.
U.S. companies also benefit from Corona production. Perrysburg, Ohio-based glass maker Owens-Illinois formed a joint venture with Constellation to expand a glass bottle plant next to the Nava brewery and subsequently bought a major Mexican glass bottle producer to meet demand. Owens-Illinois declined to comment on where its raw materials come from.
Broomfield, Colorado-based Ball Corp is building a plant in Monterrey to make cans for Constellation's new brewery.
Constellation says it imports almost 20 percent of its glass bottles from the United States. The company did not say where those bottles come from, but Lance Fritz, chief executive of No. 1 U.S. railroad Union Pacific often cites the example of glass bottles the company hauls from a plant in Texas to a brewery in Mexico and that those bottles are made from recycled glass Union Pacific hauls from all over America.
The railroad has also invested $40 million in cleaning, washing and repair facility for beer-carrying box-cars just north of Constellation's Nava brewery. Union Pacific hauls U.S. barley, malt and rice for brewing.
"The job we have at hand is to help our elected officials see the world from our perspective and then pray for them to make the right decision," said Fritz.
(Reporting By Nick Carey; editing by Joe White and Edward Tobin)
By Kevin Dougherty QUEBEC CITY (Reuters) - In the wake of Sunday's fatal attack on a mosque in Quebec City, attention is turning to the role of populist talk radio stations and their possible role in whipping up resentment against Muslims. The day after the massacre at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec, one local talk show host in Quebec City told his listeners several times that two hooded men shouting "Allahu Akbar!" had carried out the attack. "Is this Islamophobia or an Islamist attack?" asked Sylvain Bouchard on station FM93. In fact, police that day charged a white Quebec man with six counts of premeditated murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon for the attack. Members of Quebec's Muslim community suggest views expressed on what is known popularly as "radio poubelle" (garbage pail radio) may be encouraging extremist views in a province which has at times struggled to cope with immigration. Quebec has seen a steady rise of right-wing groups, especially since a heated debate in 2007 about "reasonable accommodation": how far the province should go to make immigrants feel welcome. The province last year unveiled draft legislation to ban face-coverings in the public sector in a move criticized as marginalizing Muslim women and potentially inflaming anti-immigrant tensions. "This unhealthy climate is fed by garbage pail radio where you can say anything and where the hosts vomit all over Muslims, Jews -- in short, everyone who isn't 'us' but 'them," wrote Michele Ouimet, a columnist for the La Presse daily. Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard on Tuesday would not answer directly when asked by a reporter whether the radio stations were partly to blame. But, he added: "Words are important - written words, spoken words. People need to think carefully about that." By Tuesday morning, Bouchard had radically changed his tune. "Did I make a mistake? Yes," he said on air warning listeners to beware of unverified social media messages. He also interviewed Quebec City Muslims, who called for acceptance in Quebec society, and Mathieu Fiset, a native-born Quebecer, who went from skin-head neo-Nazi to opponent of the alternative-right. Several far-right groups are active in Quebec, with their activities increasingly expanding from online discussion to physical displays of protest. Soldiers of Odin, an anti-immigrant group founded in Finland in 2015, has a particularly visible presence in Quebec City, where it has regularly patrolled streets since early last year. "There is an underground culture of small far-right groups in Quebec," said Chedly Belkhodja, a professor of public affairs at Concordia University in Montreal. "They feel their values are threatened by immigrants, by the mainstream political elites accepting more immigrants," he said. Couillard admitted Quebec society was not perfect. "Racism, xenophobia and exclusion exist here. We have to recognize that and act together to highlight the path we want society to take," he said. Francois Blais, the provincial government minister in charge of the Quebec region, admitted frankly that relations between locals and Muslim immigrants could be better. "I think native Quebecers in the region still don't know enough about this community ... We are going to focus on organizing activities to boost rapprochement," he told reporters. (Additional reporting by Alastair Sharp in Toronto and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Alan Crosby)
Washington (AFP) - A broad coalition of US technology firms has begun planning a joint legal strategy challenging President Donald Trump's executive order barring refugees and many Muslims from American soil, sources say.
More than 20 firms from the sector were expected to attend a meeting to discuss legal options on the ban, which was expected to have a large impact on Silicon Valley and other tech firms that employ thousands of immigrants.
"It's still very early, but the strategy would probably be similar to the San Bernardino iPhone briefs," said one tech sector employee familiar with talks on the condition of anonymity.
The source was referring to the coalition which fought a US government order which would have forced Apple to weaken iPhone security to inspect a handset used by one of the shooters in a deadly attack in Southern California in December 2015.
Participating in the talks were Google parent Alphabet, Netflix, Airbnb and Twitter, the source indicated.
Other firms invited or participating include Adobe Systems, Dropbox, Etsy, Mozilla, Pinterest, Reddit, Salesforce, Yelp, SpaceX and Zynga, according to the source.
The talks included "several" member companies of a Washington-based technology policy association, according to a separate source.
Trump's order has provoked widespread outrage, including from technology firms, with executives from Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple and Netflix expressing concerns over the ban.
The executive order, signed Friday, suspends the arrival of refugees for at least 120 days, and for the next three months bars visas for travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
- Flurry of lawsuits -
Several lawsuits have been filed over the order, and judges in several jurisdictions have blocked some elements of the directive.
In Washington state, Expedia and Amazon filed comments supporting a challenge by the state's attorney general, Bob Ferguson.
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Amazon stated it had 49 employees born in one of the countries identified in the Trump order and seven who have received job offers from the tech giant.
"We reached out to impacted Amazon employees and dependents and recommended that they refrain from travel outside of the United States until further notice," the statement said.
Since Friday, several technology firms and associations have criticized the order and warned it could harm the competitiveness of US tech firms.
Microsoft said in a statement Tuesday it would "continue to work directly with employees and their families affected by the executive order, including providing them with legal and other assistance."
Ed Black of the Computer & Communications Industry Association said that the "hasty executive order is unlikely to achieve the desired goal and instead damages the principles that make this country a place immigrants aspire to work."
Linda Moore of TechNet, another industry group, said the measures "create considerable uncertainty in our nation's immigration system and will adversely impact technology workers who live and work in our nation," and added that the group "opposes all discrimination, including on the basis of race, religion, and country of origin."
Gary Shapiro of the Consumer Technology Association said that "blocking access en masse of employees of US companies who are lawful visa and green card holders based on religion or national origin raises constitutional issues, hurts our nation -- both morally and economically -- and runs counter to our country's longstanding values."
By Jon Herskovitz
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - With arms locked and voices joined to sing the U.S. national anthem, more than 1,000 people rallied at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday against Trump administration immigration policies and travel restrictions aimed at seven mostly Muslim countries.
Texas Muslim Capitol Day, designed to show Muslims how the state government in Austin works, has been held for more than a decade when the legislature meets every other year for its regular session.
This year's event held increased significance after Republican President Donald Trump last week imposed the travel restrictions, and a Texas Republican lawmaker held a meeting over what he sees as Islamic threats.
"We are witnessing the unprecedented normalization and legalization of discrimination. We will not stand by and let this happen," Democratic state Representative Victoria Neave told the crowd, which included people waving signs reading, "Muslims, We've Got your Back."
Crowds chanted: "No ban. No Wall," in reference to proposals to ban Muslims and Trump's plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
As speakers railed against Trump policies they said run counter to American democracy, a handful of protesters said Islam was a threat against the United States and praised the president for protecting the country.
Houston resident Cheryl Walker came with a handgun strapped to her thigh to denounce the rally.
"I am against Muslims being in our country because if you are a Christian, they believe they have to kill you," she said.
There are hundreds of thousands of Muslims in Texas and many at the rally were worried about travel after Trump issued a directive that put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
"There has been Islamophobia boiling up for a while, but the ban makes Muslims feel more alienated and afraid of what their futures look like," said Sadaf Siddiqui, an optometry student from Houston.
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A day before the travel restrictions that prompted protests at numerous U.S. airports, Republican state Representative Kyle Biedermann held a security conference to guard against what he called "radical Islam terrorism."
Biedermann, who last year made headlines when he dressed as a "gay Hitler" for a costume party fundraiser, this month sent a survey to Muslim leaders demanding a response about their beliefs on issues such as Islamic sharia law. Civil rights groups condemned the survey, saying it promoted Islamophobia.
Biedermann issued a statement on Tuesday saying he opposed discrimination based on religion, race or gender.
During the 2015 Muslim Day event, a Christian activist seized the microphone and said, "I proclaim the name of the Lord Jesus Christ over the capitol of Texas. I stand against Islam."
On Tuesday, hundreds locked arms to prevent interference and cleared a path for the Texas Muslims entering the Capitol.
"I am here to protect my Muslim brothers and make sure that they have the same rights and liberties as every other American," said Hart Viges, who served with the U.S. Army in Iraq.
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and David Gregorio)
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick; REUTERS/Shu Zhang
Call it a protest by app.
Some users in recent days have ditched Uber for competitor Lyft over concerns that the popular ride-hailing app attempted to capitalize over the weekend on airport strikes around the country by charging less for rides. Around the US, demonstrators showed up in droves at airports in areas such as San Francisco, New York and Seattle to protest a controversial executive order President Donald Trump signed on Friday barring people from seven primarily Muslim countries from entering the US for at least 90 days.
The movement, which earned the Twitter hashtag #deleteUber, generated a slew of headlines on its own, causing many users to rethink their relationship with their favorite ride-hailing app.
Although Uber and Lyft declined to comment for the purposes of this story, data from third-party app tracking firm App Annie indicates Lyft surpassed Uber in the US on Sunday for most app downloads on iOS in the US in a single day more than twice the number of times people downloaded Lyft just two weeks prior. Downloads for the Android version of Lyfts app in the Google Play store also saw a significant boost that day.
As a first-generation immigrant who used to be undocumented, I want to support tech companies and founders who support immigrants, Carlo Almendral, CEO and co-founder of The Data School, explained to Yahoo Finance.
For Samantha Unger Katz, a resident of Brooklyn, New York, the decision to stop using Uber in lieu of Lyft was weeks in the making, spurred by the news in December that Uber CEO Travis Kalanick had joined Trumps Strategic and Policy Forum, an advisory board of 19 business leaders that now also includes Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk and PepsiCo (PEP) CEO Indra Nooyi.
Katz finally made the switch on Sunday after Lyft announced it would donate $1 million over the next four years to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Over the weekend, a judge temporarily blocked part of the White Houses immigration order after the ACLU filed a lawsuit over it.
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I think its important to put our money where our mouth is, Katz told Yahoo Finance. Just as [outgoing Starbucks CEO] Howard Schultz said we should live by our values, I think we should invest and shop by our values. Through shifts in spending, we can make an impact.
Lyft CEO Logan Green. Laura Buckman/Reuters
Not everyone necessarily sees it that way.
Uber, for its part, said on Twitter (TWTR) over the weekend that it did not intend to break the airport strikes by charging less. While Kalanick came under fire for joining Trumps advisory board a move viewed by some as Ubers CEO aligning himself with the new US president Kalanick himself argued in a January all-hands meeting his advisory role will help aid the companys mission of improving global transportation.
Kalanick also separately promised the company would create a new $3 million legal defense fund to help Uber drivers stranded overseas because of Trumps travel ban.
In light of these promises from Uber, Travis Katz, CEO and co-founder of the travel site Trip.com, believes a boycott against the ride-hailing app might not make sense. Of all the ways we, as Americans, could be investing energy to safeguard our democratic principles, boycotting a company that is actively supporting your cause, albeit via different tactics feels misguided, he told Yahoo Finance.
Its far too early to tell whether users who switched to Lyft will remain Lyft users for the long-haul or whether the boycott will ultimately prove temporary. But if this latest protest is any indication, democracy, in all its diversity and divergence, is obviously still alive and kicking.
JP Mangalindan is a senior correspondent for Yahoo Finance covering the intersection of tech and business. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook.
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PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) Salespeople at Pyongyang's premier car dealership wait patiently beside racks of glossy brochures in a showroom filled with that unmistakable new car smell from a couple dozen Whistle sedans and Cuckoo SUVs all bearing the distinctive, double-pigeon logo of Pyonghwa Motors, North Korea's only passenger car company. The streets of Pyongyang are more crowded than ever, but Pyonghwa, whose sole factory just south of the capital was designed to produce as many as 10,000 cars a year, appears to be stuck in neutral. Experts say pretty much everything its pigeon hood ornaments are attached to these days comes straight from China.
TOKYO (AP) North Korea will be casting a dark and nuclear shadow over U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' first foray abroad. When Mattis calls on South Korea and Japan from Wednesday he will be visiting Washington's two staunchest allies in Asia. Both host tens of thousands of American troops and both will be looking for reassurances the new administration in the U.S. is not going to drop the ball on North Korea. North Korea, racing ever closer to having a nuclear-tipped missile that could strike the U.S. mainland, is without doubt already one of the biggest security challenges on new President Donald Trump's plate.
HONG KONG (AP) Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of a Chinese billionaire reportedly taken away from his Hong Kong hotel by mainland police, in a case that has parallels with last year's disappearances of five booksellers. Chinese police officers escorted Xiao Jianhua from his suite at the luxury Four Seasons hotel last Friday, according to overseas Chinese news sites that carry reports of political gossip and unverified corruption scandals. Xiao is the founder of Tomorrow Group, a well-connected financial services company. Hong Kong police say their initial investigations showed the "subject" crossed into the mainland at a border checkpoint on Friday.
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) New Zealand's recently appointed Prime Minister Bill English announced Wednesday that the country will hold a national election in September in what will be a test of his popularity following the surprise resignation of former leader John Key. English said his conservative National Party will campaign on its strong record with the economy. He said that budget surpluses would allow the government to spend more on infrastructure as well as pay down debt and enact tax cuts. "We're in a fantastic position of having an economy generating, in the last 12 months, well over 100,000 jobs," English said.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) A majority of the thousands of killings of poor suspects under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug crackdown appear to be "extrajudicial executions," Amnesty International said Wednesday, and may constitute crimes against humanity. The London-based human rights group urged Duterte's government to adopt an approach that respects human rights in its fight against drugs and crime, and called on the police and judiciary to ensure accountability and prosecute officers involved in unlawful killings. After investigating the deaths of 59 people, and interviewing 110 witnesses, relatives of slain suspects, drug users, police officers and even hired killers, from November to December, Amnesty said it had concluded that "the vast majority of these killings appear to have been extrajudicial executions." Amnesty said it's "deeply concerned that the deliberate and widespread killings of alleged drug offenders, which appear to be systematic, planned and organized by the authorities, may constitute crimes against humanity." There was no immediate government reaction, but Duterte, a lawyer and former government prosecutor, has defended the crackdown and says that he and his top police officials have authorized law enforcers to open fire only when threatened by suspects.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) Philippine communist rebels say they are terminating their unilateral cease-fire after accusing the government of failing to release all political prisoners and encroaching on rebel-held areas. The Communist Party of the Philippines said Wednesday the cease-fire, which took effect Aug. 28, will expire Feb. 10. The rebels and the government had separately declared a cease-fire as they resumed their peace talks. The rebels say they continue to support peace negotiations. Founded in 1968, the rural-based guerrillas have unsuccessfully tried to negotiate an end to their rebellion and their inclusion in government with six Philippine presidents, including Rodrigo Duterte.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Australia's prime minister on Wednesday would not say how many refugees from Pacific island camps would be resettled in the United States after President Donald Trump's administration said "extreme vetting" would be used to check their cases. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that Trump had agreed during a weekend telephone conversation to keep an Obama administration promise to resettle an undisclosed number of mostly Muslim refugees. Australia has refused to accept them and instead pays for them to be housed on the impoverished nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea. White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the refugees would undergo enhanced screening designed to reduce the terrorist threat to the United States.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) The United States is not building any weapons depot anywhere in the Philippines, the U.S. ambassador said Tuesday, denying the basis on which President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to abrogate a 2014 defense pact that allows U.S. forces to temporarily base in local camps. Ambassador Sung Kim said that nothing is being planned now that even closely resembles a weapons depot. "I think perhaps some misinformation was given to the president and that is why he made the statement expressing concerns about a possible weapons depot," Kim told a forum of business leaders. "The fact is, we are not building a weapons depot anywhere in the Philippines." Projects being pursued under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement have to do with disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, he added.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesia's tsunami detection system, made up of seafloor sensors that communicate with transmitting buoys on the surface, has been rendered useless by vandals and lack of funding. Now Indonesian and U.S. scientists say they've developed a way to dispense with the expensive buoys and possibly add crucial extra minutes of warning for vulnerable coastal cities. The prototype, nearly four years in the making, is designed to detect so-called near-field tsunamis and has been tested off Padang on the western coast of Sumatra. It awaits a decision on government funding to connect it to disaster agencies on land.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) A Dutch tourist aboard a cruise ship near Antarctica who suffered a suspected stroke was successfully evacuated Tuesday to a U.S. base on the frozen continent. New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre said the 66-year-old woman was flown on the ship's helicopter to McMurdo Station and is to fly on Wednesday to New Zealand, where she will receive further medical treatment. Chris Henshaw, a senior search and rescue officer, said conditions in Antarctica make medical rescues complex and challenging. "It's a long way from anywhere," he said. "There's not a lot of support out there." He said the woman was cared for by a doctor aboard the cruise ship Ortelius, which sailed 670 kilometers (416 miles) off its normal route to get close to the base.
BOSTON (AP) Universities across the nation say President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven Muslim countries is disrupting vital research projects and academic exchanges in such fields as medicine, public health and engineering, with untold numbers of scholars blocked from entering the U.S.
For years, schools in the U.S. have worked to widen exchanges with scholars in the Middle East and especially Iran, known for its strength in math and science. But many academics worry those bridges are now in jeopardy because of the ban against Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen. Some fear the U.S. will lose its standing as the world leader in research and innovation.
"It's terrifying," said Sarah Knuckey, director of the Human Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School. "We're damaging international research, including on issues like health and medicine."
Students in Knuckey's clinic have been working with a think tank in Yemen to explore the health consequences of the country's civil war, inviting scholars to lecture and planning a conference in New York this year. Because of the travel ban, they are trying to move the event to Canada.
Research between the U.S. and the seven countries covers a wide range of fields. According to the National Institutes of Health, U.S. and Iranian researchers have teamed up to study cancer, heart disease, hepatitis and opiate addiction.
Navid Madani, an HIV researcher at Harvard Medical School, said collaboration with scientists in Iran has been crucial to her work. Much of that cooperation is now in question. One of her counterparts in Iran was scheduled to teach at Harvard this year but may be prevented from entering the country.
"I've tried to balance my anger and despair with resolve," said Madani, who was born in Iran and is now a naturalized U.S. citizen. "This is something that really has to be reversed."
An Iranian researcher working on his Ph.D. in Italy was refused check-in at a Milan airport Monday while trying to travel to California. Nima Enayati, 29, had obtained a visa to conduct research on robotic surgery at Stanford University.
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"It is rather disappointing to know that you will not be able at least physically to have more collaboration with them," he said. "And we will see how it is going to affect our work."
At Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, officials were planning to welcome the first class of Iranian graduate students into a new engineering program in partnership with the University of Tehran. Now it's on hold because the students can't secure visas.
"These are the best and the brightest. They have made tremendous sacrifices to be able to come to the United States," said Gil Latz, the university's associate vice chancellor for international affairs. "In the stroke of a pen, their future hopes and dreams are being questioned or brought to a halt."
Overall, colleges and universities in the U.S. hosted about 17,000 students from the seven banned countries last year, a fourfold increase over the past decade. Of those here last year, more than 12,000 were from Iran.
Many of the students and researchers here are now stuck in the U.S., afraid they won't be allowed back in if they leave to visit home or travel to academic conferences. Others who were planning to come here are now blocked.
Seyed Soheil Saeedi Saravi, a scientist from Iran, said he realized a childhood dream when he received a cardiology fellowship at Harvard. He was scheduled to arrive days after the travel ban was put in place, but found that his visa is now suspended indefinitely.
"I only can say Iranians are really sad, depressed and somewhat angry," he said in an email.
In response to the ban, thousands of academics abroad have signed an online petition boycotting academic conferences in the U.S. Some conferences are being pressured to relocate outside America.
Meanwhile, dozens of college presidents have called on Trump to reverse the ban.
"This is not only unbefitting a country built by immigrants on the ideals of liberty and equality, but it is also a self-inflicted wound that will damage the very innovation that lies at the root of our nation's prosperity," said Angel Cabrera, president of George Mason University.
Nicholas Dirks, chancellor at the University of California-Berkeley, said the ban gives an advantage to countries that compete with the U.S. for scholars.
"Allowing them to replace this country as the prime destination for the most talented students and researchers would cause irreparable damage and help them to achieve their goal of global leadership," he wrote.
Some academics say the ban will simply leave the U.S. out of future research.
Caroline Wagner, who studies global collaboration in science at Ohio State University, said the number of papers published by co-authors in different countries has grown dramatically since 1990. In 2013 alone, academics from Iran and the U.S. teamed up on more than 1,000 published papers.
"International collaboration is increasingly the way science is done," Wagner said. "We cannot assume that leadership and science belong to the United States."
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This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Sarah Knuckey's first name.
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Associated Press reporter Colleen Barry contributed from Milan.
Stephen Bannon At Nikki Haley Swearing In
Though he has been clear about his disdain for the mainstream media (MSM), Donald Trumps White House strategist Stephen Bannon gave the New York Times an interview, and a message about keeping its mouth shut that sounded more like a threat, and less like a suggestion. Bannon has been given a position by Trump that is almost exclusively a security role reserved for Generals, and Bannon is not a General, nor does he hold a military position. Prior to consulting Donald Trump, Stephen Bannon wrote for the alt-right website, Breitbart, which makes his distrust of all things media/press confusing.
In a typical administration, the press secretary would be the one corralling the press, but after his own run-ins, Sean Spicer, the Trump Press Secretary, is creating a wall, along with Stephen Bannon between President Trump and the press, said the Inquisitr. In his first week, Spicer battled CNN and Buzzfeed, and then had to go public with what was reported to be a Twitter war with the ice cream company, Dippin Dots, that has been annoying Spicer for five years. The relationship between Spicer and the media got so bad, so fast, that some outlets published Spicers home address in Alexandria, Virginia.
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump was set to announce his nominee to sit on the US Supreme Court Tuesday -- a prime-time choice between two shortlisted finalists with more than a hint of reality TV drama.
Trump's pick to fill the long-vacant ninth position on the bench will likely swing the court in the conservatives' favor -- with significant ramifications for issues from gender rights to gun control.
For the new Republican leader, the selection is part of a tacit election compact with conservatives, some of whom reluctantly backed him after he promised to choose an anti-abortion, pro-gun justice.
"For 70 percent of the voters, the president's choice for supreme court was an important factor in their choice at the ballot box in November," White House spokesman Sean Spicer acknowledged Tuesday.
The Supreme Court seat has been vacant since the death of Antonin Scalia on February 13, 2016.
For the better part of a year, Congressional Republicans refused to give then president Barack Obama's pick a confirmation hearing.
"I have made my decision on who I will nominate for The United States Supreme Court. It will be announced live on Tuesday at 8:00 P.M," Trump tweeted, ramping up the drama for a normally sober occasion.
Trump described his deliberations as a "very big decision" and said the pick was someone "unbelievably highly respected."
The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of many of the most sensitive issues of American life and law.
Its members, who must be confirmed by the Senate, are named to life terms so their influence is long-lasting.
Trump had said he would announce his pick on Thursday, but then moved the date up amid a raging controversy over his short term ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
- 'Unprecedented' spectacle? -
Among those tipped as frontrunners for the post are Neil Gorsuch, 49, a respected appellate court judge who is considered an ideological match to Scalia.
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Also in the running is Thomas Hardiman, 51, also an appellate court judge with a record as a defender of gun rights, police powers and the rights of local governments to display the Ten Commandments.
Once confirmed, however, justices enjoy independence and some have proved politically unpredictable.
"It is unprecedented for a sitting president to create such a spectacle over a Supreme Court nomination," Adam Feldman wrote on his Empirical SCOTUS blog.
"It would not be unprecedented for President Trump to have a trick up his sleeve."
A third appellate court judge, William Pryor, a 54-year-old former Alabama attorney general, is seen as another possible nominee.
- Scales of justice, balance of power -
Given the advanced age of several sitting justices, Trump could potentially make several appointments during his term, shaping the court's direction for a generation.
But Democrats, who are in a minority in both chambers of Congress, are still smarting from Republican hardball tactics over Obama's pick Merrick Garland.
Garland has since returned to his old job as chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington, but Democrats could yet pick a fight.
And although Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate, they need 60 to confirm a nominee.
That means Trump's choice must be someone capable of winning some Democratic votes.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to fight "tooth and nail" if Trump nominates someone unacceptable to Democrats, an outcome considered likely.
"That just shows you that it's all about politics, it's not about qualification," Spicer told reporters.
"The president has a right to have his nominees taken up," he said.
The Boy Scouts of America announced Monday night that the organization would start accepting transgender boys for its Cub and Boy Scout programs.
Groups like Scouts for Equality and GLAAD celebrated the announcement as another victory in their fight for inclusivity within the long-standing U.S. institution. In 2013, the Boy Scouts had famously lifted a ban on openly gay scouts.
Were very excited for the Boy Scouts, and were very proud of them for having made this decision, Justin Wilson, executive director of Scouts for Equality, told Yahoo News. I think that its really important, not only because of the policy change itself, but the speed with which it happened shows that the Boy Scouts is now becoming an organization that is ready and willing to adapt to society as it changes. And that gives me great hope that they are going to remain a relevant and strong force in America for many years to come.
Several of President Trumps Cabinet nominations have ties with the Boy Scouts: Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. (chosen for attorney general), and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (approved for energy secretary) are both Eagle Scouts.
Most notably, former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson (picked for secretary of state) also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, became president of the Boy Scouts of America, and reportedly supported ending the ban on gay scouts.
The Boy Scouts are an iconic American institution, and its no surprise that people working at the highest levels of government have a lot of experience in the Boy Scouts, especially for an administration thats so male-heavy, Zacharia Wahls, a co-founder of Scouts for Equality, told Yahoo News.
Rick Perry was very publicly opposed to the Boy Scouts including gay members when that fight was happening in 2012 and 2013. He was a part of this big right-wing push that included Rick Santorum. But then people like Rex Tillerson were not opposed to the policy change and even supportive.
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John Hamre, the president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, told the Dallas Morning News that Tillerson lobbied internally for the Boy Scouts board to allow openly gay boys.
Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson in January 2017. (Photo: Steve Helber/AP)
I cant get into the intimacy of these conversations. But he agonized over this. He prayed on it, and ultimately he came to the conclusion the only thing that can guide him here is whats best for the young boys, Hamre said.
Still, Wahls warned against overemphasizing Tillersons role in ending the ban: He did lobby in favor of changing the policy, but the leadership that was involved with that process was really much more Bob Gates, Wayne Perry, Bob Mazzucco and a few other folks.
Former Defense Secretary Bob Gates was among those who recommended Tillerson to Trump. Gates had actually met Tillerson while serving as president of the Boy Scouts of America. They were both involved in discussions about the organizations changing membership policies, Wahls said.
[Tillerson] was president of the Boy Scouts from 2010 to 2012. Thats the highest volunteer role in scouting, Wilson said. Thats right when those discussions [to end the ban] got started.
But some social conservatives have taken exception to Tillersons role at the Boy Scouts. Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, criticized Trumps decision to nominate Tillerson saying the oil executive led the charge to open the Boy Scouts to gay troop leaders.
The Left, which doesnt usually need a reason to oppose Trumps choices, wont find many here, since the ExxonMobil executive may be the greatest ally liberals have in the Cabinet for their abortion and LGBT agendas, Perkins wrote in December. That should be particularly alarming to conservatives, whove spent the last eight years watching the State Department lead the global parade for the slaughter of innocent unborn children and the intimidation of nations with natural views on marriage and sexuality.
Contrary to Perkins statement, liberals found plenty of issues with Tillerson: most notably his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As president of the United States, Trump is also the honorary president of the Boy Scouts of America. His relationship with the LGBT community at large has been strained stemming predominantly from his selection of Mike Pence for his vice president. Before joining Trumps team, Pence was roundly criticized by the LGBT community for his highly controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which critics denounced as discriminatory and antigay. Pence has also staked out staunchly conservative positions on a host of LGBT-related policy issues throughout the years.
President Trump (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)
Trump, however, has given conflicting statements regarding his personal commitment to LGBT rights. He has variously reached out to the LGBT community, expressed support for controversial legislation like North Carolinas House Bill 2 and appeared far more concerned about other issues.
Despite being nominally against same-sex marriage, Trump has said that the issue is already settled, citing the Supreme Courts June 2015 decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. He also made history in July 2016 as the first GOP presidential candidate to mention the LGBT community while accepting the partys nomination.
Only weeks ago in Orlando, Florida, 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by an Islamic terrorist. This time, the terrorist targeted our LGBTQ community. No good. We are going to stop it, Trump said during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, referencing the Pulse nightclub shooting.
As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology, believe me, Trump said to applause. He paused.
I have to say as a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said. Thank you, Trump said.
On Tuesday morning, LGBT advocates woke up to some encouraging news. After media speculation that Trump planned to sign an executive order rolling back Obama-era protections for LGBT people in the workplace, the White House released a statement vowing that they would remain intact. Its unclear if the administration has any additional policies it plans to put forward related to gay rights.
President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community, the statement reads. President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election.
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WASHINGTON (AP) King Abdullah II of Jordan's visit to Washington this week is testing President Donald Trump's ability to maintain key Arab alliances while cracking down on immigration from some Muslim countries and possibly moving the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The next few days could provide an indication if Trump is willing to compromise.
Abdullah, a close U.S. ally, held meetings Monday with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Vice President Mike Pence. Trump and the king were to come face-to-face on Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast, the White House said. The king also planned to meet with U.S. lawmakers this week.
Abdullah's trip comes as the Trump administration is embroiled in its first major Mideast controversy, sparked by Trump's executive order temporarily halting all refugee admissions and suspending entry to the U.S. for citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries. Although Jordan isn't among the seven, even U.S. friends in the region fear Trump's move could embolden Mideast extremists and contribute to a perception that Washington is at war with Islam which Trump's administration insists is not the case.
Trump's embassy decision looms even larger for Jordan.
The kingdom, fighting as part of U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group, is closely watching to see if Trump fulfills a campaign pledge to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Doing so could trigger widespread protests among Jordan's massive Palestinian population, potentially even jeopardizing Abdullah's hold on power.
"The U.S. relationship is central to the internal stability of the kingdom," said Robert Satloff, who runs the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "This is really part and parcel of the national security fiber of the kingdom, and building this new relationship is really important to the king."
This month, Jordan warned in unusually brusque terms that moving the embassy would cross a "red line" and could entail "catastrophic" consequences. Information Minister Mohammed Momani told The Associated Press it would be a "gift to extremists," threatening U.S. ties with Mideast allies.
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The embassy was a prime topic of discussion in Abdullah's meeting with Pence, officials said. The White House said they discussed Abdullah's "views on potential changes" and how to make progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace. The Jordanian Embassy in Washington said the U.S. "committed to working closely with Jordan" on issues related to the conflict.
Jordan serves as the custodian of Islam's third holiest shrine, located in Jerusalem's eastern sector. Any U.S. rift with Jordan could spill over to the kingdom's participation in the fight against IS, a campaign both Trump and Abdullah say they hope to accelerate.
During his campaign, Trump pledged repeatedly to move the American Embassy in Israel, a promise former U.S. presidents have made and broken. Since his inauguration, Trump has backtracked slightly, with White House spokesman Sean Spicer saying the administration is only in the "beginning stages of even discussing" such a move.
Although Israel considers Jerusalem its capital, the U.S. and most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv. The U.S. says conflicting Israeli and Palestinian claims to Jerusalem must be worked out in peace negotiations.
Israel claims all of Jerusalem and annexed east Jerusalem after capturing it from Jordan in 1967, but the Palestinians want the capital of their future state in the city's eastern sector.
The U.S. relies on Jordan for major military and intelligence support in fighting IS, and the kingdom plays a major role in combating radicalization in the Middle East.
Both Trump and Abdullah say they want close ties. On Twitter, Trump said during the campaign he had "great respect" for Jordan's monarch. The two spoke by phone shortly after Trump was elected.
Jordan, like most U.S. allies in the region, has avoided criticizing Trump's temporary ban on refugee admissions and on travel to the U.S. by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
However, the refugee measure which indefinitely blocks Syrian refugees could still trouble Jordan. The Syrian neighbor hosts more than 650,000 refugees from Syria's civil war and wants other countries to help resettle refugees to ease its burden.
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Associated Press writer Karin Laub in Amman, Jordan, contributed to this report.
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Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP
Washington (AFP) - A top economic advisor to US President Donald Trump bashed Germany for exploiting an undervalued euro to take advantage of its trading partners, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.
The public rebuke of a major trading partner is the latest example of the brash tactics that have become a feature of the new US administration, with Trump himself using public attacks and Twitter to criticize businesses and allies, including Mexico.
Peter Navarro, who advised Trump during the campaign and heads the White House's new National Trade Council, said in an interview with the FT that Germany "continues to exploit other countries in the EU as well as the US with an 'implicit Deutsche mark' that is grossly undervalued."
Trump later said the United States also should take advantage of devaluation as a trade strategy.
"Our country is run so badly we don't know anything about devaluation," Trump told a group of pharmaceutical executives at a White House meeting.
"You look at what China is doing and what Japan has done over the years, and they played the money market and the devaluation market and we sit there like a bunch of dummies."
During the campaign Trump repeatedly threatened to take action against China on his first day in office due to its currency policies, by declaring the country a "currency manipulator."
But economists argue that view is several years out of date.
China for years was accused of intervening in currency markets and buying billions of dollars in US Treasury debt to keep its currency undervalued, in order to promote its exports.
But in recent years weak economic conditions have kept the yuan depressed and the Chinese central bank instead has been intervening to support the currency and keep it from devaluing further.
- 'Serious risk' to world trade -
The criticism of Germany is not new, as the country has large trade and current account surpluses, and the International Monetary Fund, for example, has repeatedly urged the country to increase spending so as to boost consumption and sluggish economic growth in the EU.
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Germany is an export powerhouse and gains a trade advantage by being part of the eurozone where the currency value is held down due to the weak economies in the union, like Greece, Spain and Italy, economists say. Were Germany to operate outside the currency union, the Deutsche mark value would be much higher, making the country's exports more expensive and less competitive.
However, it is highly unusual to conduct these discussions over policy differences in newspapers rather than behind closed doors.
France's Finance Minister Michel Sapin hit back at the Trump White House, saying "the decisions of the new US administration pose a serious risk to the world trade order."
He warned that "history reminds us that protectionist retreats are the worst of solutions," and said neither France nor Europe "will be able to watch helplessly what might risk being a dislocation of our economic institutions."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in Stockholm, deflected the criticism from Navarro, saying the currency value is the responsibility of the European Central Bank.
"As far as the question of the euro and its assessment is concerned, Germany is a country that has always promoted the European Central Bank to make an independent policy, as did the Bundesbank when there was no euro," Merkel said.
"Therefore, we will have no influence over the choices made by the ECB. So I cannot either, in the situation as it is, and I do not want to change anything."
There has been no comment so far from the ECB.
Navarro, a hardliner on trade and especially China's rise, also said the planned trade deal between the United States and European Union -- the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership -- was dead.
He repeated Trump's statements that the administration will pursue bilateral agreements that favor the United States.
Navarro also reiterated that the Trump administration will focus on bringing manufacturing and production back to the US shores.
"It does the American economy no long-term good to only keep the big box factories where we are now assembling 'American' products that are composed primarily of foreign components," he said in the FT.
"We need to manufacture those components in a robust domestic supply chain that will spur job and wage growth."
The US had a $60 billion trade deficit with Germany for the first 11 months of 2016 -- nearly identical to the trade deficit with Mexico -- while the deficit with the whole European Union was $134 billion.
UPDATE: 9:45 p.m. EDT The White House moved swiftly to replace Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for questioning the legality of the executive order banning immigrants from seven countries. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney in Richmond, Virginia, would take over leadership of the Justice Department until Jeff Sessions is approved as attorney general by the Senate.
In a Facebook post, President Donald Trump said Yates had "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order."
UPDATE: 8:50 p.m. EST Former Attorney General Eric Holder praised Acting Attorney General Sally Yates as a person of integrity, saying her judgment should be trusted.
UPDATE: 7:55 p.m. EST President Donald Trump reacted angrily to Acting Attorney General Sally Yates' decision against enforcing his executive order on immigrants from seven countries, tweeting Democrats were delaying his Cabinet picks for "purely political reasons."
Original story
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, Monday ordered Justice Department lawyers not to defend President Donald Trumps executive order barring immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, saying she did not believe the order was lawful.
Yates decision comes a day before likely Senate confirmation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general and could provoke a confrontation with the White House.
Trump signed an executive order Friday barring immigration from Syria indefinitely and for at least 90 days from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. He also suspended the U.S. refugee program for at least 120 days.
At least four federal judges moved to block the order late Saturday and early Sunday, and the White House spent the weekend trying to clarify exactly who was covered.
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Yates, a career prosecutor and former U.S. attorney in Atlanta before being appointed deputy attorney general, sent an email to Justice Department lawyers, saying she had serious concerns about the orders legality and instructing them not to appear in court on behalf of the administration.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts," she said. "In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right."
"At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful," she wrote.
In addition to the emergency orders handed down during the weekend in Virginia, New York, Massachusetts and Washington state, a fifth case is pending in California.
Thousands of people demonstrated at U.S. airports during the weekend to protest the order, which many see as running counter to U.S. values. Democrats held a protest on the steps of the Supreme Court Monday to protest the order.
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Believe it or not, President Donald Trump has a grand strategy. According to some analysts, Trumps endless streams of erratic and apparently improvisational ideas dont add up to anything consistent or purposeful enough to call a grand strategy. We see it otherwise. Beneath all the rants, tweets, and noise there is actually a discernible pattern of thought a Trumpian view of the world that goes back decades. Trump has put forward a clear vision to guide his administrations foreign policy albeit a dark and highly troubling one, riddled with tensions and vexing dilemmas.
Grand strategy is the conceptual architecture that lends structure and form to foreign policy. A leader who is doing grand strategy is not handling global events on an ad hoc or case-by-case basis. A grand strategy, rather, represents a more purposeful and deeply held set of concepts about a countrys goals and orientation in international affairs.
At a minimum, a grand strategy consists of an understanding of the basic contours of the international environment, a countrys highest interests and objectives within that environment, the most pressing threats to those interests, and the actions that a country can take in order to address threats and promote national security and well-being. Grand strategy, then, is both diagnostic and prescriptive. It combines an analysis of what is happening in the world and how it impacts ones country, with a more forward-looking concept of how a country might employ its various forms of power hard or soft, military or economic to sustain or improve its global position. Every grand strategy has a what dimension, a notion of what constitutes national security in the first place, and a how dimension, a theory of how to produce security in a dynamic international environment and given the tools at hand.
(Photo credit: SEAN GALLUP/Getty Images)
Threats and Fears
The fundamental grand strategic interest of the United States today is precisely the same as it has been for the past 240 years: to ensure the countrys physical security, economic well-being, and way of life. The really interesting part of a particular presidents grand strategy, therefore, often begins with his or her perception of the nature of the international environment and the main threats to these basic interests. For Trump, the principal threats to the United States stem primarily from what might be called intermestic challenges that is, powerful external forces that reverberate directly into the American domestic arena, threatening homeland security, disrupting the U.S. economy, and contaminating our society.
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In particular, three dangers dominate the new presidents worldview. The first is the threat from Radical Islam which, for the president and many of his closest advisors, poses an existential and civilizational threat to the United States that must be eradicated from the face of the Earth. Trump and his team see this threat as emanating not only from Sunni jihadist groups such as the Islamic State and al Qaeda, but from all Islamists. Michael Flynn, Trumps national security advisor, has described all forms of Islamism as a cancer, a political ideology that hides behind being a religion, and a messianic mass movement of evil people. (K.T. McFarland, the new deputy national security advisor, also appears to share these views.) The Trump worldview draws no distinctions between Sunni, Shiite, or other Islamic sects and traditions. Consequently, the description of the threat extends to Shiite Iran, which is a deeply problematic actor in the Middle East, but one that frequently finds itself at odds with radical Sunni jihadist groups such as the Islamic State. And, perhaps most troubling of all, the perceived threat also includes many devout Muslim-American citizens in the United States, who in Trumps view are a potential fifth column of homegrown Islamic extremists.
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Second, Trump portrays unfair trade deals and the trade practices of key competitors as grave threats to the U.S. economy and therefore a national security priority. In Trumps view, disastrous trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have gutted American manufacturing and depressed wages for millions of American workers. Trump has described the recently negotiated (but not ratified) Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) along similar lines, labeling it a rape of our country on the campaign trail.
In Trumps eyes, however, Enemy No. 1 in the economic domain is China which is not, contrary to what he often said during the campaign, a party to the TPP. Just as Trump often accused Japan of waging a campaign of economic predation against the United States in the 1980s, today Trump has gone so far as to declare that we already have a trade war with China one that Beijing is winning. For years, Trump has accused China of devaluing its currency, dumping steel and aluminum, stealing intellectual property, and exploiting other unfair trade practices vis-a-vis the United States, especially since Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001. The purported goal of this Chinese campaign is to cripple American manufacturing and advance Beijings goal of economic and military dominance over the United States.
Trump has delivered warnings about Chinas geopolitical behavior as well, including its militarization of the South China Sea and failure to do enough to rein in North Korea. But these issues are ultimately secondary to the dagger China has allegedly stuck into the heart of the U.S. economy. Trumps pick for U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, has expressed a similar zero-sum view of the economic competition with China, as has Peter Navarro, the head of Trumps newly created National Trade Council. And the view also extends to Trumps top national security aides, Flynn and McFarland. Indeed, in White House meetings during the recent presidential transition period, a number of incoming Trump officials made it clear that the new administration viewed the economic war with China as perhaps the defining issue of the 21st century.
Third, and finally, Trump has consistently railed against illegal immigration, arguing that the pace and scale of migration has cost American jobs, lowered wages, and put unsustainable strains on housing, schools, tax bills, and general living conditions. He has also consistently framed immigration as an issue of personal and national security, arguing that illegal immigration is associated with crime, drugs, and terrorism and claiming, without providing supporting evidence, that countless Americans have died as a consequence. And, tying the issue back to his diagnosis of the terrorist threat, Trump has consistently portrayed Muslim refugees, immigrants, and the children of immigrants as a Trojan Horse for the spread of radical Islam in the United States.
(Photo credit: DREW ANGERER/Getty Images)
The Trump Doctrine
To address these perceived threats, Trump has put forward an America First grand strategy with four key pillars.
The first is what White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon proudly calls economic nationalism. Trump has signaled a willingness to embrace a protectionist and mercantilist foreign policy more familiar to the 19th and early 20th centuries than to the 21st. In his inaugural address, for example, Trump declared: From this day forward, its going to be only America first, America first. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our product, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.
To enact this vision, Trump, in one of his first executive actions as president, withdrew the United States from the TPP. He has also pledged to renegotiate NAFTA, and to withdraw from that accord if Canada and Mexico do not meet his terms. He has threatened stepped-up trade enforcement actions and the imposition of tariffs as high as 45 percent against China and others engaged in unfair trade. And he says he will impose consequences on U.S. companies that move jobs overseas, perhaps by enacting heavy border duties on the importation of goods manufactured abroad. If you think that the foreign economic policies of the 1920s and 1930s worked well for the United States, then Trumps economic statecraft is for you.
A second key pillar is what might be called extreme homeland security. This includes the infamous wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and other investments in stepped-up border security. It includes Trumps threat of mass deportations of illegal immigrants, starting with those with a criminal record. And his approach calls for an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees, a temporary ban on all refugees, and a suspension of legal immigration from several Muslim countries until such time as extreme vetting procedures can be put in place to ensure that entrants to the United States share our values and love our people. Last week, Trump signed an executive order putting all of these measures in motion. Trump has also expressed openness to a registry of all Muslims living in the United States, and threatened punitive action against those who fail to report friends or family members suspected of holding extremist views to law enforcement.
What we call amoral transactionalism represents the third, and perhaps most central, feature of Trumps grand strategy. In Trumps view, the United States should be willing to cut deals with any actors that share American interests, regardless of how transactional that relationship is, and regardless of whether they share or act in accordance with American values. In the battle against radical Islam, for example, Trump has said: All actions should be oriented around this goal, and any country which shares this goal will be our ally. The biggest perceived opportunity, in this regard, is for a strategic realignment with Russia a country Trump and some of his advisors see as a natural partner in the fight against Islamic extremists and perhaps in countering China too.
Trumps grand strategy is transactional in another sense as well. It contends that those allies and partners that gain from U.S. assistance should pay up and, if they dont, that the United States ought to cut them loose. Since the 1980s, Trump has consistently characterized U.S. allies as wealthy freeloaders who disproportionately gain from American commitments and expenditures, to the detriment of U.S. security and the American economy. He has argued that NATO is obsolete and questioned the wisdom of the U.S. commitment to Japan and South Korea. For Trump, Americas treaty alliances in Europe and Asia are not sacred commitments; U.S. allies are no better (or worse) than any other states, and, accordingly, our relationships with them should be conditional rather than special. As Trump argued in April: The countries we are defending must pay for the cost of this defense, and if not, the U.S. must be prepared to let these countries defend themselves. We have no choice. Trump put it even more starkly in his inaugural address, arguing that the United States had subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military in essence, that Americas alliances have made the country weaker and less secure.
The final pillar of Trumps grand strategy is a muscular but aloof militarism. For decades, Trump has advocated extreme military strength. On the campaign trail and during the transition, Trump called for larger U.S. naval, air, and ground forces, and significant new investments in cyber warfare capabilities and nuclear weapons. (On January 27, Trump announced an executive order to follow through on this commitment, but the details remain unclear.) Yet Trumps stated purpose is not to engage in military adventures, or to bolster U.S. alliances, but rather to deter potential adversaries and defeat those who attack the United States. Trump has pledged to intensify the military campaign against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups but he has consistently criticized both regime change and nation building. In the campaign against the Islamic State, it is clear Trump hopes to depend heavily on local and regional Muslim forces to carry on the fight on the ground while the U.S. militarys role is primarily to bomb the shit out of them and perhaps, if Trump is taken literally, to take Iraqs oil once the Islamic State is defeated. Past U.S. presidents wanted an America that was strong enough to shape global affairs; Trump seems to want an America that is strong enough to eradicate terrorism and then simply be left alone.
Taken together, Trumps America First grand strategy diverges significantly from and intentionally subverts the bipartisan consensus underpinning U.S. foreign policy since World War II. American presidents in the postwar era have generally seen a world of expanding democracy and free markets as safer and more prosperous. They have also believed that the modest investments the United States makes in protecting its allies and supporting international institutions are bargains, because they prevent adverse geopolitical developments that might ultimately require far higher costs in both lives and money to address.
Not so for Trump. He simply doesnt subscribe to the long-held belief that American exceptionalism and U.S. leadership are intertwined that the influence of the United States on the world stage is rooted in the idea of America and the values it represents, not just its material power. Moreover, as Thomas Wright notes, Trump believes that America gets a raw deal from the liberal international order it helped construct seven decades ago and sustain to this day. He is therefore hostile to that order, institutionalized through alliances with other democratic states and international agreements that promote an open, rule-based international economy, and refuses to invest blood and treasure to maintain it.
(Photo credit: DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Trumps Grand Strategic Dilemmas
Trumps grand strategy is thus at odds with longstanding traditions in American foreign policy and poses an acute threat to the liberal international order that has underwritten U.S. security and prosperity for the past seven decades. Yet, even on its own terms, Trumps grand strategy is plagued by internal tensions and dilemmas that will make it difficult to achieve the presidents stated objectives. There are many problems, but here we emphasize six.
First, it will be difficult for Trump to reconcile his policies toward Russia and Iran on the one hand with his desire to defeat the Islamic State on the other. Trumps apparent desire to go all-in with Russian President Vladimir Putin and perhaps Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to fight the Islamic State in Syria is likely to backfire. President Barack Obama conditioned the prospect of counterterrorism cooperation with Russia in Syria on Moscow enforcing a nationwide cease-fire and ensuring humanitarian access for the U.N. conditions the Kremlin was ultimately unable or unwilling to meet. Moreover, during discussions with Moscow last fall, Obama insisted that the United States would have a veto over Russian targeting, that Assads air force would be grounded over much of the country, and that the parties should return to the negotiating table to discuss a political transition. If Trump chooses to cooperate with Russia with no strings attached, it will make the United States complicit in Russias indiscriminate bombing campaign and its efforts to prop up Assad. This is a recipe for fueling the civil war and jihadism, not combating it, and it is likely to alienate precisely the Sunni states Trump hopes to join his anti-Islamic State coalition on the ground.
Then there is the issue of Iran. In practice, backing Russia and Assad means aligning whether openly or tacitly with Iran, its surrogate Hezbollah, and Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Syria. This would effectively strengthen Iranian influence in Syria and the broader region the very opposite of what Trump and his advisors desire. Consequently, if Trump means what he says about taking a harder line against Iran both in the context of the nuclear deal and vis-a-vis Irans destabilizing behavior across the Middle East he will have to try to convince Moscow to sever its partnership with Tehran and attempt to box Iran and Hezbollah out of Syria. That is easier said than done. Iran and Hezbollahs tentacles in Syria run deeper than Russias, and they have a far greater stake in the outcome of that conflict than Moscow does. The Iranians are, therefore, likely to react to any overt effort to push them out by playing an active spoiler role that undermines the campaign against the Islamic State and, potentially, puts at risk U.S. special operations forces supporting counter-Islamic State opposition forces on the ground in Syria.
A similar dilemma will face Trump in Iraq. The United States should work to balance and minimize Iranian influence in Iraq, in particular by encouraging the Baghdad government to work overtime to rein in Shiite popular mobilization forces (PMF). But an overtly hostile posture toward Iran (not to mention continued rants about taking Iraqs oil) would put Iraqs Shiite Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in a jam, empowering his rivals who seek to distance Iraq from the United States. It could also incentivize Iran to unleash Shiite PMF to attack the approximately 5,000 American forces supporting the counter-Islamic State campaign in Iraq, something Iran has refrained from doing over the past two-and-a-half years. The result could be dramatically increased U.S. casualties and reduced American influence in Baghdad.
A second dilemma is that Trumps extreme measures to protect the homeland could further complicate the fight against the Islamic State. At home, Trumps expansive definition of radical Islam, his apparent belief that many American Muslims harbor secret sympathies for the Islamic State, and his threats to profile, register, and collectively punish entire communities, could poison ongoing efforts to forge better relations between American Muslims and law enforcement. Meanwhile, Trumps executive orders banning refugees and immigrants casts the United States as deeply Islamophobic, making it much less likely that Muslim-majority countries will step up their support for the U.S.-led fight against the Islamic State overseas. This will be doubly true if Trump follows through on other actions he has repeatedly pledged, including resuming torture, expanding Guantanamo, and moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Third, Trumps approach to Europe and Russia at least as he has outlined it so far is equally self-defeating and contradictory. Trumps warm embrace of Putin; intimation that he will throw Ukraine (and potentially the Baltic states) under the Russian bus and lift Ukraine-related sanctions on Moscow; repeated trash-talking of NATO, the European Union, and committed Atlanticist leaders such as Germanys Angela Merkel; and celebration of Brexit and European populist movements will all drive a deep wedge between America and its most important democratic allies. These steps will also embolden Moscows attempts to divide and coerce its European neighbors, and incentivize countries like Italy and Hungary, which are eager to get back to business as usual with Moscow and lift sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, although Trumps threats to abandon U.S. allies might lead to greater European defense spending in the short term, it will radically undercut the organic solidarity and cohesion that make NATO so exceptional, and lead Washingtons European partners to consider whether the United States is a dependable partner after all.
As problematic as these outcomes would be for European stability and security the preservation of which has been a fundamental objective of U.S. policy since World War II Trump might not find any of them particularly objectionable on their own. But what he appears not to understand is that weakening Europe will cut across his other policy objectives. Losing the support of U.S. allies will make it harder for Trump to cut good deals with Moscow: On issues from Ukraine to arms control to sanctions, the Kremlin will take advantage of every opportunity to play the United States and its estranged allies off one another. More broadly, the transatlantic alliance is the primary vehicle through which the United States tackles nearly every world problem, from the Islamic State to financial crises. Undercutting that alliance will therefore make for a more dangerous world, and more onerous American burdens of the sort Trump so often laments.
Fourth, Trump is likely to have difficulty taking punitive action against China while also contending with the growing threat from North Korea. Pyongyang already has a fairly robust nuclear arsenal, and according to news reports, it could field test its first nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile in the coming months. Two new U.N. Security Council resolutions passed last year imposed unprecedented sanctions on Pyongyang, including a strict limit on coal exports. These represent the best hope for a nonmilitary solution to the North Korean problem, but they will curb Pyongyangs programs only if China faithfully implements them, something Beijing regularly holds at risk depending on the tenor of the U.S.-China relationship. At times, Trump has suggested that he intends to use economic leverage to pressure China to play ball on North Korea. Most recently, in early January, Trump tweeted: China has been taking out massive amounts of money & wealth from the U.S. in totally one-sided trade, but wont help with North Korea. Nice!
Yet, consistent with Trumps view that the main axis of U.S.-China conflict is the zero-sum economic contest between Washington and Beijing, he seems more likely to try to use geopolitical leverage to change Chinas economic behavior. Trump has explained his threats to re-open the One China policy, for example, as a negotiating tactic to force Chinese concessions on currency and trade. The net result is likely to be a policy that is so antagonistic toward China an approach that puts Beijings most important interests at risk, and actively seeks to harm Chinas economic prospects that it cannot generate or sustain a working relationship to help address North Korea (or any other global challenge). Trumps tendency to diss and dismiss Americas key Asian allies, Japan and South Korea, will further complicate his efforts to address the North Korea threat.
Fifth, in a bid to supposedly help American workers by withdrawing from the TPP (a pact creating a free-trade zone among a dozen countries representing 40 percent of global GDP), Trump is in fact helping China by ceding the economic battlefield in Asia to Beijing. He is also undermining Americas geopolitical position in the worlds most dynamic region. Seven of the 12 TPP countries (Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam), as well as eight other countries (Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand) are already in negotiations with Beijing on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. This partnership would promote trade with China, and offer new opportunities for China to expand its political influence, without any of the requirements for economic liberalization or labor and environmental protections built into the TPP.
Economists disagree about how much the TPP would or would not help the U.S. economy. But what is indisputable is that the Asia-Pacific region views the TPP as a bellwether of U.S. geopolitical commitment, and key states are likely to make decisions on non-economic issues like the South China Sea based on perceptions of retrenchment by the Trump administration. After all, if the United States is willing to abandon them on the TPP after many years of difficult negotiations, they may justifiably ask: What guarantee do they have that a Trump administration will actually show up when a major security threat emerges?
Finally, Trumps proposal to build a wall and somehow force Mexico to pay for it (perhaps through a 20 percent border tax), his threat to deport millions of illegal immigrants, and his pledge to renegotiate or even withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement, could create a train wreck in the U.S.-Mexico relationship as evidenced by the abrupt cancellation of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos planned visit to Washington. A diplomatic crisis with Mexico would deeply complicate cooperation on a host of issues, including immigration, that are top priorities for Trump.
Since 2009, migration from Mexico itself has fallen dramatically. Nevertheless, Mexico has served as a land bridge for tens of thousands of migrants from other parts of Latin America seeking to make their way to the United States, especially those fleeing poverty, corruption, and crime in Central America. In recent years, Mexico has cooperated with the United States to address this challenge by improving security along the Mexico-Guatemala border and repatriating migrants back to their home countries before they reach the United States. The Obama administration also worked with the U.S. Congress to allocate nearly $1.5 billion since 2014 to address the economic, governance, and violence-related drivers of Central American migration and it will be essential to partner with Mexico on these efforts if they are to succeed. Trump could put all this cooperation at risk with his shortsighted approach toward Mexico. And if actions on trade that contribute to a free fall in Mexicos economy compound Trumps approach, providing fresh incentives for Mexicans to once again move north, the migration crisis will worsen even further.
(Photo credit: DREW ANGERER/Getty Images)
No Purpose Without Process
Every new president, of course, faces dilemmas to confront and strategic contradictions to resolve. But what is remarkable about Trumps America First grand strategy is the number, pervasiveness, and centrality of such contradictions. In other words: Trump has consistently articulated a set of basic grand strategic concepts, but the policy implications of those concepts add up to a Gordian knot of conflicting initiatives.
This raises the question of why Trumps grand strategy is so tangled and internally contradictory. And the answer has to do with the process or rather, the lack thereof through which these ideas are born, as well as, shall we say, the unique personality of the president himself.
It is hard to think of a presidential campaign, or a presidential transition, that has been more haphazard about translating ideas into a cohesive, practical, and implementable body of policies. Trumps campaign had virtually no foreign policy apparatus to speak of many of his senior advisers had little foreign policy experience and little contact with or influence on the candidate himself. The Trump team produced no meaningful white papers during the campaign compared to those produced by Republican candidate Mitt Romneys team in 2012, for instance that undertook the task of turning ideas into policy proposals and seeing how various themes might, or might not, fit together.
The transition was similarly shambolic and disorganized. Even nominees for top posts have apparently had few substantive conversations on issues such as Russia or alliances with Trump, although Rex Tillerson, the presidents pick for secretary of state, has assured us that he has the presidents phone number should the need for such a conversation arise. Moreover, the mechanics of transferring power from one presidential team to another and thus the mechanics of actually starting to grapple with the real world challenges and contradictions of policy were painfully slow to start moving. Add in a candidate (now president) whose core ideas are strongly held but often poorly considered, who likes bold proposals but disdains the nitty-gritty of turning them into workable courses of action, and for whom intellectual coherence does not seem to be a top priority, and you have a recipe for the grand strategic contradictions we see in Trumps approach.
What all this means, in practical terms, is that the implementation phase of Trumps grand strategy the period in which the ideas upon which one campaigns are translated into the day-to-day initiatives by which one governs is likely to be far messier than is normally the case. The Trump administration will have to determine how to proceed on those issues such as Russia, Iran, alliance relations, trade, and homeland security where key advisers have staked out positions very different from those of the president. More fundamentally, the Trump administration will have to determine how to reconcile the presidents various promises and impulses and where those things cannot be reconciled, how to prioritize among them.
This could be good news for the country and the world. As the Trump team realizes how intractable the contradictions are among the presidents various policy pronouncements, it may see the wisdom in backing off of some of the more problematic or dangerous ones. And the fact that there are so many profound disconnects between what Trump says and what is wise may create space for the presidents more sober advisers such as James Mattis, James Kelly, Rex Tillerson, and Nikki Haley to shift policy and even influence the presidents thinking. We can hope that this is the scenario that ultimately unfolds. But in the meantime, both the content and contradictions of Trumps grand strategy make it seem likely that U.S. foreign policy and the international order are in for a rough ride.
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Top photo credit: ANDREW HARRER/Pool/Getty Images
President Donald Trump's executive order banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries didn't only create problems for refugees fleeing those countries, it caused problems for legal residents and dual citizens from banned countries already living in the U.S., some of whom were detained for hours at U.S. airports this weekend.
Immigrants from the countries on Trump's travel ban list make up a small percentage of the overall immigrant and foreign-born population of the U.S., but that hasn't stopped them from building communities large and small throughout the U.S.
Below is a look at where in the U.S. people from the seven banned countries have settled with the help of data visualization tools from the Migration Policy Institute that demonstrate where immigrants settled between 2010 and 2014 and census data from the 2015 American Community Survey.
Iran
Iranians living in the U.S. represent the largest group of immigrants from any country on the ban list. There are nearly 400,000 foreign-born Iranians living in the United States. Iranian immigration to the U.S. exploded after the 1979 Iranian Revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed Shah. Much of the Iranian immigrant population settled in Los Angeles, where the term "Tehrangeles" -- a mashup of Iran's capital Tehran and Los Angeles -- emerged to describe the neighborhood between Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles.
Somalia
Somalia has been torn apart by a civil war for decades and hasn't had a functioning government since 1991. The chaos has given birth to a Somali Diaspora that resulted in almost 90,000 foreign-born Somalis living in the U.S., according to 2015 estimates. Much of that population has settled in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, which is now home to more than 40,000 Somalis. Last year, Somali refugee Ilhan Omar became the first Somali-American state lawmaker in the U.S. when she won House District 60B in southeastern Minneapolis with 80 percent of the vote. Somalis have also settled in Maine, where an estimated 11,000 Somali immigrants now live in Portland and Lewiston.
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Iraq
The foreign-born Iraqi population in the U.S. is 215,000. Much of that immigration has happened over the last decade since the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In 2007, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State began a large-scale program of settling Iraqi refugees in the U.S. Since then, more than 100,000 refugees have been settled. Much of that population has settled in the Detroit area.
Syria
A total of 84,995 refugees entered the U.S. in 2016, and 12,587 were from Syria, more than any other country except the Democratic Republic of Congo. The foreign-born Syrian population of the U.S. is estimated at around 82,000. While many recent refugees have settled in the major metropolitan areas of New York and Los Angeles, some have headed to the Syrian enclave of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Syrian community Pennsylvania's third largest city dates to the 19th century. Now the region is home to more than 5,000 Syrians.
Sudan
Sudan has long been a nation in turmoil. The Second Sudanese Civil War raged for more than 20 years from 1983 to 2005, displacing 20,000 children who became known as the "Lost Boys," 4,000 of which were settled in the U.S. in 2001. South Sudan seceded from the north to become its own country in 2011, and is now in the grips of a humanitarian crisis. Now there are more 45,000 foreign-born Sudanese living in the U.S. In recent years, much of the refugee population has been settled in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, according to the Migration Policy Institute, but a major Sudanese population has grown in Omaha, Nebraska.
Yemen
The foreign-born Yemenis population in the U.S. is around 45,000 people, and the number of Yemenis seeking refuge is increasing as the war in Yemen, which has displaced 3 million people, rages on. Like many other Muslim refugee groups, a significant portion of the Yemeni population entering the country in recent years made their way to the Detroit area.
Libya
The foreign-born Libyan population is small, so small that immigrants from Libya aren't their own census category. The Migration Policy Center doesn't have visualizations of recent Libyan settlement destinations.
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The Never Trump movement began to fade after Donald Trump became the GOP presidential nominee, and it shriveled up when Donald Trump claimed victory over Democratic Hillary Clinton and establishment Republican naysayers climbed aboard the Trump train.
With the Republicans in control of the White House and both chambers of Commerce for the first time in a decade, the GOPs agenda of repealing and replacing Obamacare, ramming through major tax relief, curtailing regulations and construction of a security wall along the 2,000-mile southern border all seemed like a slam dunk.
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Little more than ten days into the new tumultuous Trump administration, small fissures are beginning to develop within the party that could threaten important parts of the GOP agenda in the coming months. While experts say its far too soon to gauge the extent of party unity heading into some of the Republicans biggest challenges this year including confirming Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court there already have been some warning signs of a possible backlash.
The first sign surfaced late last week in Philadelphia, where House and Senate Republicans staged a three-day policy retreat. During protracted closed-door meeting, both rank and file members and more senior Republicans voiced concern that Trump and congressional leaders might be inadvertently leading them into political quicksand by pressing for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act before the party has designed a practical replacement that would prevent tens of millions of Americans from losing their health insurance.
While House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) were boasting to reporters that Republicans were moving swiftly to rescue Americans from a crumbling and costly Obamacare system, other members were caught on tape fretting that GOP ideas for improving the system dont add up to a coherent plan.
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Wed better be sure that were prepared to live with the market weve created with repeal, said Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), according to a recording leaked by someone in the room. Thats going to be called Trumpcare. Republicans will own that lock, stock and barrel, and well be judged in the election less than two years away.
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During that same conference, some Republicans raised concerns about Trumps call for an historic buildup in the U.S. military and nuclear arsenal in the coming decade, asking how Congressional leaders intended to pay for that and other initiatives without sharply cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid or by simply adding to the national debt.
From what Ive seen, theres a lot of inner turmoil in a lot of these members that theyre getting into something at a much earlier stage that they didnt think theyd have to deal with, Norman Ornstein, a congressional political expert with the American Enterprise Institute, said in an interview. Barely more than a week into this new world, plenty are trying to figure out how to get out of it.
Some Republicans reportedly were taken aback by Trumps feud with the media last week over the size of his inauguration crowd, and his insistence on pursuing a wide-ranging probe into his unfounded claims that three million to five million people voted illegally for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November election.
Then, amidst a global uproar and chaos over Trumps executive order abruptly blocking all refugees from entering the country for the next 120 days and barring all visitors from seven majority Muslim countries for the next 90 days, a steadily growing group of Republican lawmakers either denounced the action or voiced strong reservations.
Related: Team Trump on Immigration Disruption: Its a Small Price to Pay
Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, both leading voices on national defense and foreign policy, quickly complained that Trumps executive order had not been properly vetted and could be seen as the U.S. turning its back on Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere who had risked their lives to serve as interpreters and guides to the military.
Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism, they wrote. Trump later dismissed the statement by McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee and a decorated Vietnam War pilot, and Graham as weak on national security.
Yet four other Senate Republicans, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Jerry Moran of Kansas, came out strongly against the executive order, according to a tally by The Hill. Collins, for example, said that "religious tests serve no useful purpose in the immigration process and run contrary to our American values."
Fifteen other Republican senators, including McConnell, the majority leader, and Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Corker of Tennessee, expressed concern or reservations about the way it was handled, according to The Hill. McConnell said that "it's a good idea to tighten the vetting process, but I also think it's important to remember that some of our best sources in the war against radical Islamic terrorism are Muslims." Ryan has largely defended Trumps actions.
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Corker, Alexander and Collins have also raised concerns about their partys health care strategy, favoring instead a more measured pace in developing a replacement for Obamacare one that might take years rather than months to fully implement.
Collins and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have co-sponsored a bill that would essentially leave it to the states to decide whether to continue operating under the Affordable Care Act or adopt a replacement plan largely funded by the federal government. Graham recently signed onto the bill.
Nine or 10 House Republicans came out against the executive order as well, including conservative Justin Amash of Michigan and moderate Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. However, the Republicans hold an overwhelming 247 to 188 vote majority in the House, and Ryan should have relatively little trouble holding his conservative caucus together to advance the Trump agenda and fend off Democratic assaults.
But it is a far different picture in the Senate, where McConnell and the Republicans hold a narrow 52 to 48 majority over the Democrats and can ill afford to suffer any defections. Much has been made about the GOPs plan to utilize special budget reconciliation rules to push through a repeal of major provisions of Obamacare with a simple majority.
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Usually, it takes a 60-vote supermajority to cut off a filibuster and pass a major bill. Under reconciliation, however, the party in power needs just 51 votes to pass a budgets measure that eviscerates key subsidies, tax provisions and mandates on individuals and businesses. However, if just three Republicans voted against the budget, that would stop the Obamacare repeal effort in its tracks.
GOP party unity will also be critical in adopting Obamacare replacement legislation. Thats because any plan advanced by the GOP would not be afforded special treatment under reconciliation rules and would need a super-majority of 60 votes to get anything done. That means McConnell and his lieutenants will somehow have to keep their party members n line while rounding up at least eight Democratic votes.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will not help the Republicans pass a replacement plan if they forge ahead and repeal Obamacare without an acceptable replacement in hand. Whats more, Republicans will need Democratic help down the road on a broad array of spending measures - including Trumps proposed defense buildup - and meeting an April 28 deadline for averting another government shutdown.
The Democrats most immediate concern is fighting Trumps immigration executive order and they spent the weekend rallying opposition and resources to help refugees and migrants caught up in the crisis. Schumer fought back tears in announcing plans to introduce a bill Monday evening to stop the order.
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McConnell and other Republicans blocked the Democrats effort to bring the bill to the floor, but Democrats say the fight over it served to put Republicans on the spot. Last night, a large crowd of Democrats turned out for a protest in front of the Supreme Court.
Whit Ayres, a veteran Republican pollster and political adviser, said that while Trump and the Republicans may have gotten off to a rocky start, the looming battle between the Republicans and Democrats over Trumps Supreme Court nominee will soon dominate the news. Trump is scheduled to announce his choice to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia on Tuesday evening.
There will always be things that a President will do that will cause some disagreement [within the party], but its much too early to be talking about any split. The real question is whether the Democrats will split over a Supreme Court nominee. There clearly are as many divisions in the Democratic party as the Republican party right now.
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday postponed signing an executive order that is expected to require the heads of government agencies to play a more direct role in reviewing and managing risks to networks under their control. Trump, at a White House event with top officials to discuss his order, said his initiative would "hold my Cabinet secretaries and agency heads accountable, totally accountable, for the cyber security of their organizations." "We must defend and protect federal networks," he said. A signing ceremony was planned for Tuesday afternoon but an aide said it had been postponed. When signed, the order will give the White House budget office a central role in assessing cyber risks for the entire executive branch, and will require agency heads to develop plans to modernize aging information technology systems, a White House official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. Cyber breaches featured in the run-up to the Nov. 8 election, which Trump won over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, most notably with the hacking and leaking of Democratic National Committee emails. Trump said hackers tried to penetrate the Republican National Committee as well but that they failed. Trump vowed his administration will work with the private sector to ensure owners and operators of critical infrastructure to make sure they have the support they need from the federal government to guard against cyber threats. Trump said he would take steps to ensure cyber security is central to the U.S. military. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Roberta Rampton and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Rigby)
NEW YORK (AP) It had been a few years since attorney Roman Zelichenko left immigration law for a career in finance, and longer still since he pulled an all-nighter.
But after President Donald Trump issued his immigration order, Zelichenko spent 21 straight hours at what swiftly became one of the nation's most closely watched immigration law centers a diner at John F. Kennedy Airport where volunteer lawyers, translators and others tried to find and free people detained under the new rules.
Alerted by law school friends, Zelichenko joined the effort because it resonated personally: He emigrated from Ukraine as a child.
"We all have different personal connections," he said Monday as he worked on the project's social media postings. But "we're here as professionals, and our agenda is to uphold the rule of law."
As Friday's presidential order reverberated around the world, dozens of attorneys descended on JFK to advocate for people suddenly stuck in a legal limbo that the lawyers argue is unjust and unlawful.
Trump temporarily banned refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the U.S. Throughout the weekend that followed, travelers were held for questioning, confusion spread across the air-travel system and protesters marched against the measure.
Mobilized by email and word of mouth, the legal effort known on Twitter as "NoBanJFK" is one of several at major U.S. airports. Lawyers filed roughly two dozen lawsuits on behalf of detainees in several states and won several federal court rulings that, at least temporarily, blocked the government from removing people who arrived with valid visas.
At JFK, where lawyers helped win the first of the rulings Saturday night, the round-the-clock work began with attorneys typing on laptops on the airport floor. Now they sit at a cluster of cafeteria tables, and law students have toiled alongside seasoned litigators.
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The volunteers take hotline calls on cellphones. Signs in multiple languages offer help.
More than 650 attorneys have volunteered for the project, which participants feel has done their profession proud.
"I think lawyers get a bad rap, and sometimes it's deserved. But most of us went to law school to help people," said Melissa Trent, a civil rights lawyer who left a training session to spend over 24 hours at the airport over the weekend.
"We believe in this country, its laws and the Constitution ... and when we see those values challenged, we show up."
The lawyers say Trump's order violates constitutional protections against religious discrimination, among other principles and federal laws.
Trump casts the measure as a safeguard against violent Islamic extremism. The order temporarily blocks immigrants and visitors from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. It does not include all countries with ties to terrorism affecting the U.S., nor does it address the threat of homegrown militants.
Legal experts are divided as to how federal courts will ultimately view Trump's action.
Whatever the final outcome, the airport attorneys and groups working with them have demonstrated a spontaneous form of legal rapid response to the new administration's policies. Meanwhile, Democratic state attorneys general are mounting broader challenges.
Roughly 400 attorneys have signed up to volunteer at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, taking six-hour shifts from 6 a.m. to midnight.
On Tuesday, some held signs "Do you need an attorney?" ''Was anyone on your flight detained?" in arrival areas. Supporters donated office supplies, coffee and doughnuts.
At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, reports of detained travelers were still coming in Tuesday to volunteer lawyers who organized an airport hotel "war room" and set up tables outside the customs area, attorneys Peter Schulte and Paul Wingo said.
A legal team also set up in the international arrival area at San Francisco's main airport. And at Washington Dulles Airport, about 100 attorneys gathered on Sunday alone.
"I was born here in order to help people who can't help themselves," said Mariam Masumi, who is Muslim, an immigration lawyer and the daughter of Afghan immigrants. She skipped a funeral to lend her skills at the airport.
With no information coming from the government on who is being held, legal volunteers glean what they can from arriving passengers and from detainees' relatives or friends.
"These were families that were torn apart who had done nothing wrong," says Russell Kornblith, an employment-discrimination lawyer who joined the JFK effort Saturday with his fiancee, Elizabeth Rosen, a corporate litigator.
One family Kornblith met was waiting for a 68-year-old Yemeni woman with diabetes who had a visa to stay with her son, a U.S. citizen, lawyers and relatives said. She was ultimately released after Saturday night's court order.
Carolyn Lipp isn't even a lawyer yet, but she got a new sense of the profession's potential at JFK, helping with the work that won the New York court order.
"It's definitely why I came to law school, to do something like this," said Lipp, a Yale Law School student who got involved through the school's Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic. "To make a difference."
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Associated Press writers William Mathis in New York; Ben Nuckols in Chantilly, Virginia; Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco; Sophia Tareen in Chicago and David Warren in Dallas contributed to this report.
Washington (AFP) - The US Senate advanced the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be President Donald Trump's secretary of state, setting up a final confirmation vote for later this week.
Several other Trump cabinet picks are scheduled to receive votes in Senate panels Tuesday. If they pass favorably out of committee, as expected along party lines, they head to confirmation votes by the full Senate.
The nomination of Tillerson, the former chief executive of ExxonMobil who has never served in government, advanced by a vote of 56 to 43, with four Democrats joining all 52 Republicans in support.
"He has the type of international work experience that will serve him well as the next secretary of state," Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.
Trump has pressed hard to get his cabinet in place as he begins the complex task of governing.
The White House has accused Senate Democrats of obstruction, and the new president lashed out at the opposition party late Monday, writing on Twitter that Democrats were "delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons."
"They have nothing going but to obstruct," Trump said.
The Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, fuelled by Trump's recent actions including his controversial executive order on immigration, has announced his opposition to most of Trump's cabinet picks, including Tillerson and attorney general nominee Senator Jeff Sessions.
"In his first week in office the president has stomped over our proud American tradition of welcoming immigrants and refugees, trafficked in alternative facts, and is attempting to fill his cabinet with billionaires and bankers," Schumer said.
Republicans hold 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate. A simple majority is required for confirmation of cabinet positions, so any Democratic effort to derail a nominee would need Republican help.
With just three of Trump's cabinet members in place so far -- Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and CIA chief Mike Pompeo, plus cabinet-rank US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley -- Republicans have sought to speed confirmation of Trump's other nominees.
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The Senate will hold a flurry of votes Tuesday, including a confirmation vote for Elaine Chao as secretary of transportation.
Sessions will get his vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, after Democrats on the panel delayed the vote by a week.
Also receiving votes Tuesday before relevant Senate panels are nominees for energy secretary Rick Perry, interior secretary Ryan Zinke, secretary of education Betsy DeVos, Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, and health secretary Tom Price.
But Democrats, livid about what they call Trump's unconstitutional immigration action, were seeking to put up barriers to confirmation in order to debate the executive order, which bars US entry for travellers from seven mainly Muslim countries for 90 days, and suspends all refugee arrivals for 120 days.
"We can take a pause in confirmation votes to try to get this executive order right," Senator Chris Murphy said, according to the Washington Post.
Tillerson's confirmation vote is expected Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch, a fast-rising conservative judge with a writer's flair, to the Supreme Court Tuesday night, setting up a fierce fight with Democrats over a jurist who could shape America's legal landscape for decades to come.
At 49, Gorsuch is the youngest Supreme Court nominee in a quarter-century. He's known on the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals for clear, colloquial writing, advocacy for court review of government regulations, defense of religious freedom and skepticism toward law enforcement.
"Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous discipline and has earned bipartisan support," Trump declared, announcing the nomination in his first televised prime-time address from the White House.
Gorsuch's nomination was cheered by conservatives wary of Trump's own fluid ideology. If confirmed by the Senate, he will fill the seat left vacant by the death last year of Antonin Scalia, long the right's most powerful voice on the high court.
With Scalia's wife, Maureen, sitting in the audience, Trump took care to praise the late justice. Gorsuch followed, calling Scalia a "lion of the law."
Gorsuch thanked Trump for entrusting him with "a most solemn assignment." Outlining his legal philosophy, he said: "It is the rule of judges to apply, not alter, the work of the people's representatives. A judge who likes every outcome he reaches is very likely a bad judge."
Some Democrats, still smarting over Trump's unexpected victory in the presidential election, have vowed to mount a vigorous challenge to nearly any nominee to what they view as the court's "stolen seat." President Barack Obama nominated U.S. Circuit Court Judge Merrick Garland for the vacancy after Scalia's death, but Senate Republicans refused to consider the pick, saying the seat should be filled only after the November election.
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Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer said he has "serious doubts" that Gorsuch is within what Democrats consider the legal mainstream, saying he "hewed to an ideological approach to jurisprudence that makes me skeptical that he can be a strong, independent justice on the court."
Trump's choice of Gorsuch marks perhaps the most significant decision of his young presidency, one with ramifications that could last long after he leaves office. After a reality television buildup to Tuesday's announcement including a senior Trump adviser saying more than one court candidate was heading to Washington ahead of the event the actual reveal was traditional and drama-free.
For some Republicans, the prospect of filling one or more Supreme Court seats over the next four years has helped ease their concerns about Trump's experience and temperament. Three justices are in their late 70s and early 80s, and a retirement would offer Trump the opportunity to cement conservative dominance of the court for many years.
Gorsuch would restore the court to the conservative tilt it held with Scalia on the bench. But he is not expected to call into question high-profile rulings on abortion, gay marriage and other issues in which the court has been divided 5-4 in recent years.
If confirmed, Gorsuch would join the court that is often the final arbiter for presidential policy. Justices upheld Obama's signature health care law in 2012 and could eventually hear arguments over Trump's controversial refugee and immigration executive order.
Gorsuch's writings outside the court offer insight into his conservative leanings. He lashed out at liberals in a 2005 opinion piece for National Review, written before he became a federal judge.
"American liberals have become addicted to the courtroom, relying on judges and lawyers rather than elected leaders and the ballot box, as the primary means for effecting their social agenda on everything from gay marriage to assisted suicide to the use of vouchers for private-school education," he wrote.
Gorsuch has won praise from conservatives for his defense of religious freedom, including in a case involving the Hobby Lobby craft stores. He voted in favor of privately held for-profit secular corporations, and individuals who owned or controlled them, who raised religious objections to paying for contraception for women covered under their health plans.
The judge also has written opinions that question 30 years of Supreme Court rulings that allow federal agencies to interpret laws and regulations. Gorsuch has said that federal bureaucrats have been allowed to accumulate too much power at the expense of Congress and the courts.
Like Scalia, Gorsuch identifies himself as a judge who tries to decide cases by interpreting the Constitution and laws as they were understood when written. He also has raised questions about criminal laws in a way that resembles Scalia's approach to criminal law.
University of Michigan law professor Richard Primus said Gorsuch "may be the closest thing the new generation of conservative judges has to Antonin Scalia."
Gorsuch, like the other eight justices on the court, has an Ivy League law degree. The Colorado native earned his bachelor's degree from Columbia University in three years, then a law degree from Harvard. He clerked for Supreme Court Justices Byron White, a fellow Coloradan, and Anthony Kennedy before earning a philosophy degree at Oxford University and working for a prominent Washington law firm.
He served for two years in George W. Bush's Department of Justice before Bush nominated him to the appeals court. His mother was Anne Gorsuch Burford, who was head of the Environmental Protection Agency in the Reagan administration.
Gorsuch was among the 21 possible choices for the court Trump released during the campaign. Other finalists also came from that list, including Thomas Hardiman, who serves alongside Trump's sister on the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and William Pryor, a federal appeals court judge and Alabama's attorney general from 1997 to 2004.
If Democrats decide to filibuster Gorsuch's nomination, his fate could rest in the hands of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Trump has encouraged McConnell to change the rules of the Senate and make it impossible to filibuster a Supreme Court nominee a change known in the Senate as the "nuclear option."
A conservative group already has announced plans to begin airing $2 million worth of ads in support of the nominee in Indiana, Missouri, Montana and North Dakota, four states that Trump won and in which Democrats will be defending their Senate seats in 2018.
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AP writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
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Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Mark Sherman at http://twitter.com/shermancourt
New York (AFP) - It's the wedding without a bride: Donald Trump's ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries has left an American groom heartbroken, his Iranian wife in shock and their plans to celebrate on ice -- indefinitely.
Roozbeh Aliabadi, a 32-year-old managing partner in a consulting firm, and Zhinous, a 31-year-old architect, met at a party two years ago in Tehran and fell in love. They married legally last June in Iran.
Aliabadi returned to America and applied for his wife to join him, excited to introduce her to the country he loves, celebrate their wedding properly and settle down -- with Zhinous looking for jobs and Aliabadi applying for PhD programs.
On January 17, in the dying days of the Barack Obama administration, they heard her permanent residency had been approved. Ecstatic, the couple thought they would be reunited by Valentine's Day.
Ten days later, Trump suspended visas for people from the seven countries -- Iran included -- for 90 days to review vetting procedures and determine whether requirements needed to be tightened.
"I was heartbroken," Aliabadi told AFP in a telephone interview from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where his family is based.
Never in his wildest dreams did he think this would happen in America.
"I don't think we can have a wedding if you don't have a bride," he said.
"Frankly, we just stopped planning."
- Love is stronger -
Not normally one to make his personal life public, Aliabadi posted a picture of the couple on Twitter with a heartfelt message for Trump.
In the photograph, Zhinous is wearing a checked shirt, her hair braided. He wears a blazer and shirt. He wanted to inspire empathy for regular people affected by the explosive order.
"Our love will be stronger than ur ban & wall," Aliabadi wrote. The tweet quickly went viral.
"We all care about making the United States safe," he told AFP. "What I wanted to show is these types of things have obstructed the way we're living."
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Aliabadi says he has experienced prejudice as a Muslim in the past but says nothing comes close to the temporary travel ban -- not even in the days after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"As horrific as those events were, I felt a sense of responsibility. Today people like me, they feel a sense of fear," he said.
More than one million Iranians live in the United States. A total of 35,000 Iranians visited the United States in 2015 on visas.
Zhinous may have been approved as a resident, but she still needs a visa. To get that, she will need to travel abroad as the US embassy in Tehran closed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution -- a time-consuming and expensive process.
"What type of option do I have? If my wife cannot come to the United States, that means essentially Mr Trump is kicking me out of the United States. Or I should get a divorce, which is not an option," he said.
- Look on the bright side -
He now says he is fighting two public relations battles: one in America to show that Iranians are law-abiding, good people, and another with Zhinous.
"I am trying to tell my wife, 'Don't listen to our 45th president... it's a really great country'."
"She doesn't understand it. She's in a state of shock."
He tries to distract her by being funny and telling her how much he loves her.
An eternal optimist -- his American side, he jokes -- he is confident that the ban will expire and his wife can still come.
"I have tremendous faith in the political system here," he said.
Nevertheless, his in-laws and some of his relatives live in Iran. The couple planned to travel back and forth. What if that becomes difficult?
Like many Iranians, they have relatives scattered around the world by the 1979 Revolution. Will they be able to get visas to come to the wedding?
"I said, 'Honey, look on the bright side. In five years or six years or 10 years we have really, really funny stories to tell our kids," Aliabadi said.
"I just hope that when I talk about these stories to my kids I'm going to think of Mr Trump in a good way and in a kind and nice way. Not in a bitter way. That's what I'm hoping for," he said.
New York (AFP) - Lawyers armed with laptops, smartphones and legal papers have since Saturday transformed an airport diner into a headquarters of resistance to Donald Trump's controversial travel ban.
They have worked around the clock from the space of 20 odd tables at the restaurant in the arrivals hall at John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 4 to free travelers stopped or detained by the decree.
Work stations have been earmarked by small white signs -- a corner for Arabic language interpreters, another saying "habeas corpus" for lawyers filing requests for people's release and tables set aside for new volunteers.
Even on Monday, by which time most of those stopped had been released, more than 20 volunteer lawyers were still inquiring after new arrivals and fielding concerns from worried travelers by telephone.
About 20 more are working at other terminals in the airport, said Camille Mackler, a lawyer for a non-profit group that advocates for immigrants and who has been helping to coordinate the work since Saturday.
"I think more than anything it sends the absolutely wrong message to Americans and to the rest of the world," the 37-year-old.
Friday's order unleashed chaos for refugees and visa holders already in transit and unaware that American borders had suddenly closed to those from seven Muslim countries.
"But I'm also so proud of the lawyers, of all people, the butt of so many bad jokes -- who have just sort of stood up and helped," said Mackler.
"One of my friends said it was our moment to be rock stars and I'm kind of feeling like a rock star right now."
- Country changing -
Jason Stump, 29, turned up with a friend to see if there was anything they could do to help. He works as a hotel receptionist in Manhattan and had been stuck at work all weekend.
"This was the first day we could come out to show our solidarity with the lawyers who are doing such important work," he said.
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"We need to figure out how we can best help people."
Siobhan Atkins, 29, who specializes in criminal defense, greeted them with a smile.
Like lots of other lawyers here, some without immigration experience, it is the first time she has acted in protest against the government.
"This weekend, I felt so helpless, it feels the country is changing so quickly, we don't recognize the place we love anymore," she told AFP.
She went onto Facebook, found a website for lawyers who defend people in detention, and volunteered her services.
On Sunday night, she arranged the day off from work and registered for a 7:00 am shift at the airport.
- 'I'm galvanized' -
"It's the first time I do something like that. It's great. That shows how powerful people can be if they get together," Atkins said.
It's also the first time for Mark Hanna, 29, a general practice lawyer from Brooklyn who has found a new sense of importance to his work.
A lawyer friend called him from JFK on Saturday to ask him if he wanted to come.
He came for several hours, then returned on Sunday, staying until 1:00 am at Terminal 7, trying to find information on people detained and writing release requests for those he could identify.
Among those he helped was an Algerian green card holder, who emerged in tears after being questioned for hours even though his country was not on the list of the targeted countries.
"It sucks, just because he's brown... they asked him all sorts of questions and went through all his stuff in his laptop," said Hanna.
"This is the first time I have ever been on the ground helping out people in this kind of way," he said.
"I'm going to be hoping he (Trump) does not do anything else that crazy. But at this point I'm galvanized.
"If anything else happens, I am definitely involved."
Calls to boycott travel to the US as a show of protest against President Donald Trump's travel ban are growing louder, with the biggest appeals coming from some individuals in its closest neighbor: Canada.
Following Trump's wide sweeping ban on refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, American protesters have been filling up airports and marching outside US consulates to express their outrage.
But the ban is also spurring non-Americans to show their solidarity with those affected, including a growing movement north of the border where Canadians are placing self-imposed travel bans to the US, and where the country's biggest daily newspaper, The Toronto Star, published a commentary this week calling on fellow Canadians to do the same.
"...the reprehensible Trump travel ban demands a personal response. As an ordinary citizen there is something you can do," wrote Mark Bulgutch, a journalism professor at Ryerson University in Toronto and former journalist.
"You can tell the president that if he closes the door on people who don't deserve such callous treatment, we won't be using the door he has left open for us. We'll stop visiting the United States."
Over on Twitter, it seems other Canadians are two steps ahead of him, with some pledging to spend their time -- and more importantly money -- anywhere other than the US.
"Officially decided not to go to a conference in the US this summer. Might not step foot on US soil until 2021," tweeted Emmett McFarlane, a professor of political science at the University of Waterloo, along with newspaper columnist and author.
Another U of Waterloo professor Josh Neufield echoed the same sentiment.
"Difficult decision but I am boycotting all travel to the USA for four years under @POTUS. Apologies to seminar and conference organizers," he tweeted.
Trump's controversial ban has also had a ripple effect outside the travel industry, with some calling for the boycott of American-made goods and brands.
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Coffee giant Starbucks has found itself in a difficult position as one of the most ubiquitous and easily identifiable US brands in the world: Trump's plan to build a wall between Mexico and the US prompted calls among Mexicans to boycott the coffee shop.
But Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has been a vocal opponent of Trump's policies and announced this week plans to hire 10,000 refugees to protest the ban.
Meanwhile, in retaliation against Trump's move, lawmakers in Iraq -- one of the seven countries that are banned -- voted Monday to ban US citizens from entering their country.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Donald Trump's often contentious path to becoming the 45th president included unusual battles with major businesses like Macy's and Amazon.
Trump mocked Macy's financial performances after the national retailer stopped selling his clothing line after the then presidential candidate made derogatory comments about Mexicans. Trump also accused Amazon of "getting away with murder, tax wise" after accusing its CEO of other improprieties.
Now insurgent candidates in Virginia's gubernatorial race one of the most closely watched contests of 2017 are employing the same combative technique.
Their target: energy giant Dominion Resources, who critics says uses its political leverage to abuse property rights and overcharge its customers for electricity.
Dominion, the biggest corporate donor in Virginia politics, said its customers are happy with its service.
Two out of four GOP primary contestants are openly hostile to Dominion and want to ban the company from making campaign donations. An insurgent Democrat is indicating he'll make the company's broad political influence a significant campaign talking point.
The jabs at Dominion come as Virginia's gubernatorial race moves into the national spotlight. It is one of two states, along with New Jersey, to have scheduled gubernatorial elections in the country and Trump fans and critics want to use the contest as a referendum on the president's first months in office.
Two GOP candidates running say Trump's style of calling out companies by names resonated with voters, and is something they will replicate.
"Somebody has to drag these vampires into the sunlight," said GOP candidate Denver Riggleman, a distillery owner who battled Dominion over eminent domain issues. Riggleman had a Capitol news conference Tuesday to pledge support for longshot legislation that would prohibit regulated monopolies from making campaign contributions. A Dominion subsidiary is a regulated electric utility that provides service to about two thirds of the state.
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Republican Corey Stewart, a one-time Trump campaign chairman in Virginia, said if elected he would support the ban on donations from regulated monopolies as well and would look at other areas to curb the company's political influence.
"They have virtually every member of the General Assembly in their pocket," Stewart said.
Stewart and Riggleman are facing off against Ed Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman, and state Sen. Frank Wagner, who has long been a strong supporter of Dominion.
On the Democratic side, former Congressman Tom Perriello is also making Dominion's influence a campaign issue.
"Tom believes our political system has become too rigged in favor of big corporations and special interests and that Virginians suffer when the very politicians charged with regulating monopolies accept campaign contributions from them," his spokesman Ian Sams said.
Perriello is competing with Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, the party's establishment favorite who like virtually every politician in the state has received donations from Dominion. A spokesman for Northam said he is committed to making sure "we get best the deal for ratepayers."
Both parties hold their primaries in June.
It's unclear how much traction the candidates will get from attacking Dominion, which has massive resources to defend itself. The company currently spends millions of dollars each year on positive advertising and charitable giving, in addition to heavy spending on political campaigns and lobbying.
Said company spokesman David Botkins: "Our 2.5 million customers tell us they are very, very happy with their low rates, superb reliability, cleaner air, and an energy independent Virginia."
But the company also has plenty of critics, ranging from property owners who say the company infringes on their rights to environmentalists who say the company is too slow to embrace renewable energy sources. Businesses and consumer groups also complain that Dominion has used its political power to set unnecessarily high electric rates.
Dominion-backed legislation limiting the State Corporation Commission's ability to set rates is costing a typical customer $68 a year, according to one business group's calculations. Dominion disputes those figures.
Populist-led efforts in Virginia have not had much success in previous campaign cycles. But Riggleman said Trump's victory, along with Rep. Dave Brat's surprise win over then U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in 2014, showed that "maybe attacking the big boys can do pretty well."
"I think people have had it," Riggleman said.
donald trump
President Donald Trump's executive order barring immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the US doesn't include Saudi Arabia, the country where most of the 9/11 attackers came from.
In fact, the executive order doesn't apply to any of the countries where the 9/11 attackers were from. Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon were also left off the list.
The executive order temporarily bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from traveling to the US. Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said over the weekend that the order was "a ban on prospective travel from countries ... that have a recent history of training and exporting and harboring terrorists."
Trump also cited the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, DC, directly several times in his executive order.
"The visa-issuance process plays a crucial role in detecting individuals with terrorist ties and stopping them from entering the United States," the order said." Perhaps in no instance was that more apparent than the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when State Department policy prevented consular officers from properly scrutinizing the visa applications of several of the 19 foreign nationals who went on to murder nearly 3,000 Americans."
Fifteen of those 19 foreign nationals were from Saudi Arabia. Osama bin Laden was born in Saudi Arabia, and his family had strong connections to the Saudi royal family. The rest of the attackers were from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia in particular, however, has a long history of exporting Wahhabism, a strict strain of Islam that has been blamed for fueling extremism around the world.
Farah Pandith, America's first special representative to Muslim communities at the State Department, wrote for The New York Times that in each of the 80 countries she visited from 2009 to 2014, "the Wahhabi influence was an insidious presence, changing the local sense of identity; displacing historic, culturally vibrant forms of Islamic practice; and pulling along individuals who were either paid to follow their rules or who became on their own custodians of the Wahhabi world view."
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Pandith continued: "Funding all this was Saudi money, which paid for things like the textbooks, mosques, TV stations and the training of Imams." She called on countries to "reject free Saudi textbooks and translations that are filled with hate" and "expose the Saudi financing of extremist groups masquerading as cultural exchanges and 'charity' organizations."
Trump called Saudi Arabia the "world's biggest funder of terrorism" in 2011.
On "Meet the Press" in 2015, Chuck Todd asked Trump why the US should have diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia if the country funded terrorism.
"The primary reason we are with Saudi Arabia is because we need the oil," Trump said. "Now, we don't need the oil so much."
He continued: "Like it or don't like it, people have backed Saudi Arabia. What I really mind though is we back it at tremendous expense. We get nothing for it."
Saudi Arabia has been a major US ally for decades. From 2011 to 2015, Saudi Arabia has been the top destination for US arms exports.
Trump also has a personal financial link to Saudi Arabia, as The Times noted. The Trump Organization registered eight companies in Saudi Arabia in 2015.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer noted over the weekend that the seven countries included in Trump's executive order were first flagged by the Obama adiministration as "countries of particular concern" for visa screening.
NOW WATCH: 'This is not about religion': Trump defends his immigration ban as thousands protest around the US
More From Business Insider
By Scott Malone and Dan Levine BOSTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Legal challenges to President Donald Trump's first moves on immigration spread on Tuesday, with three states suing over his executive order banning travel into the United States by citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries. Massachusetts, New York and Virginia joined the legal battle against the travel ban, which the White House deems necessary to improve national security. The challenges contend the order violated the U.S. Constitution's guarantees of religious freedom. San Francisco became the first U.S. city to sue to challenge a Trump directive to withhold federal money from U.S. cities that have adopted sanctuary policies toward undocumented immigrants, which local officials argue help local police by making those immigrants more willing to report crimes. The legal manoeuvres were the latest acts of defiance against executive orders signed by Trump last week that sparked a wave of protests in major U.S. cities, where thousands of people decried the new president's actions as discriminatory. Both policies are in line with campaign promises by Republican businessman-turned-politician Trump, who vowed to build a wall on the Mexican border to stop illegal immigration and to take hard-line steps to prevent terrorist attacks in the United States. The restrictions on the seven Muslim-majority countries and new limits on refugees have won the support of many Americans, with 49 percent of respondents to a Reuters poll conducted Monday and Tuesday saying they agreed with the order, while 41 percent disagreed. Massachusetts contended the restrictions run afoul of the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits religious preference. "At bottom, what this is about is a violation of the Constitution," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said of the order halting travel by people with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. The order also barred resettlement of refugees for 120 days and indefinitely banned Syrian refugees. "It discriminates against people because of their religion, it discriminates against people because of their country of origin," Healey said at a Boston press conference, flanked by leaders from the tech, healthcare and education sectors who said that the order could limit their ability to attract and retain highly educated workers. Massachusetts will be backing a lawsuit filed over the weekend in Boston federal court by two Iranian men who teach the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. A federal judge blocked the government from expelling those men from the country and halted enforcement of the order for seven days, following similar but more limited moves in four other states. The attorneys general of New York and Virginia also said their states were joining similar lawsuits filed in their respective federal courts challenging the ban. "As we speak, there are students at our colleges and universities who are unable to return to Virginia," Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring told reporters. "This is not an action I take lightly, but it is one I take with confidence in our legal analysis." Multiple foreign nationals have also filed lawsuits challenging the ban. They included one filed in Colorado on Tuesday by a Libyan college student and one in Chicago filed on Monday by an Iranian father of three children all living in Illinois. SANCTUARY CHALLENGE San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed suit over Trump's order cutting funds to cities with sanctuary policies, a move that could stop the flow of billions of dollars in aid to major U.S. population centres also including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. "If allowed to be implemented this executive order would make our communities less safe. It would make our residents less prosperous, and it would split families apart," Herrera said. Sanctuary cities adopt policies that limit cooperation, such as refusing to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer requests. Advocates of the policies say that, beyond helping police with crime reporting, they make undocumented immigrants more willing to serve as witnesses if they do not fear that contact with law enforcement will lead to their deportation. Both the San Francisco and Massachusetts actions contend that Trump's orders in question violate the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that powers not granted to the federal government should fall to the states. Michael Hethmon, senior counsel with the conservative Immigration Reform Law Institute in Washington, called the San Francisco lawsuit a "silly political gesture," noting that prior federal court decisions make clear that the U.S. government "can prohibit a policy that essentially impedes legitimate federal programs." (Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg, Curtis Skinner, Timothy McLaughlin, Ian Simpson and Keith Coffman; Editing by Tom Brown)
Did you see the photograph released earlier this month of Donald Trump glowering at the camera from behind a secluded, scholarly Mar-a-Lago reception desk as he rests the fat tip of his Sharpie on a legal pad tilted upward to conceal the words that are, or are not, there?
If you did, and if the image convinced you that Trump was, in fact, writing his own inaugural address, as he claimed, we have some bad news for you: Trump did not write his inaugural address.
Instead, the speech was written by a skinny, balding, previously obscure 31-year-old former Capitol Hill aide named Stephen Miller.
Normally this information would be of little importance to anyone outside the Beltway. Presidents have been outsourcing their speechwriting duties since James Madison and Alexander Hamilton helped George Washington compose his farewell address in the late 1700s, and modern presidents including Barack Obama, who is considered more literary than most typically employ whole teams of writers to put words in their mouths.
But speeches arent the only things Miller is writing for Trump. According to a recent Politico report, Miller now Trumps senior White House adviser for policy is also penning the presidents executive orders, including the divisive ban on immigrants and travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries that triggered worldwide chaos over the weekend.
Whats more, Miller along with former Breitbart CEO turned chief Trump strategist Steve Bannon is writing these unilateral decrees without consulting lawyers from the affected agencies or lawmakers on Capitol Hill, stoking fears, as Politico put it, that the White House is creating the appearance of real momentum with flawed orders that might be unworkable, unenforceable or even illegal.
Questioned Monday evening on MSNBC about the decision by acting Attorney General Sally Yates not to defend the entry ban, Miller responded piously: Its sad that our politics has come so politicized.
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This is new territory.
And so now, given that Stephen Miller is, for all intents and purposes, rewriting the laws of the United States of America even though Miller is not a lawyer, or an elected official, or even particularly experienced in governance its probably worth knowing a little more about him.
Stephen Miller at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Bangor, Maine. (Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters)
Heres a quick primer.
Miller reached out to Trump shortly after the Manhattan mogul announced his presidential run in June 2015; he officially joined the Trump campaign as a senior adviser in January 2016. He soon became Trumps top policy guy and sole speechwriter. (Trump famously improvised most of his campaign speeches.)
How did Miller crack Trumps inner circle? Likely by reminding Trump of himself. Its not just that the two men both subscribe to a far-right, anti-immigration, anti-free-trade nationalism. Its that they are both inveterate self-promoters provocateurs skilled at attracting attention, building their brands and gratifying their own egos by courting controversy.
Miller started his gadfly act early. Raised in a Jewish and Democratic family in the toniest section of ultraliberal Santa Monica, Calif., he was inspired in part by a copy of National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierres 1994 book, Guns, Crime, and Freedom and in part by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 to reject his parents politics while still in high school, resolv[ing] to challenge the campus indoctrination machine instead.
Young and aggressive, Miller saw leftist, peacenik, multicultural conspiracies everywhere. He railed against his schools Spanish-language announcements, claiming that such concessions only served to hold Hispanics back. Latino students recall Miller telling them dismissively that they would do better to work on their English language skills rather than spend their time forming clubs based on ethnicity, the Los Angeles Times recently reported. Some called him racist.
Miller went on to complain, in a column titled Political Correctness Out of Control, about the availability of condoms on the Santa Monica High School campus. He took issue with the administrations acceptance of gays and lesbians, later writing that just in case your son or daughter decides at their tender age that they are gay, we have a club that will gladly help foster their homosexuality. He griped that his fellow students werent being required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, or to learn how heroic their predecessors were. Maybe American soldiers shouldnt have killed Indians? Miller asked, sarcastically. Or, better yet, he continued, we could have lived with the Indians, learning how to finger paint and make tepees, excusing their scalping of frontiersmen as part of their culture.
For many people, the things [Miller] would say and do were offensive heresies, Ari Rosmarin, former editor of the school newspaper and now a New York attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, told the Los Angeles Times. He loved playing that role, loved drawing peoples outrage. He loved the performance.
He would take the opposing position and almost shock people, said one acquaintance. He would sort of chuckle and enjoy that.
Miller also realized early on that Santa Monica High School was too small a stage for him. So, as Politicos Julia Ioffe has pointed out, Miller didnt just invite button-pushing Southern California arch-conservative David Horowitz to speak on campus; he immediately claimed that the administration had denied his request, then documented the injustice in Horowitzs publication, FrontPage Magazine. While still a teenager, Miller reached out to conservative talk radio personality Larry Elder, becoming a regular guest on Elders show and inspiring listeners from around the country to call the Santa Monica High switchboard to complain about liberal bias run amok. Shortly after graduation, Miller published a column titled How I Changed My Left-Wing High School.
Stephen Miller, 17 years old, just graduated from Santa Monica High School, read his bio at the bottom. Since his Junior year in High School, he has been a guest on local and national radio over thirty times.
Miller continued to provoke and promote his own provocations at Duke University. His microphone was a biweekly column in the Duke newspaper called Miller Time, which Miller used as a way to court angry reaction and put himself at the center of major campus controversies, according to Ioffe:
He wrote that interacting with the population outside the campus was overrated. Durham isnt a petting zoo, he chided. The residents wont get lonely or irritable if we dont play with them. He was a strong supporter of the war in Iraq and called Ted Kennedy a traitor for criticizing American use of torture. He went after professors for being registered Democrats. He blamed 9/11 on politically correct domestic security and unenforced immigration laws. He wrote about black students racial paranoia and their mistaken understanding of where true racism resides. The problem is not rich, conservative white people, he wrote. Its Democrats [who] continue to fuel the destructive vision of a powerful, racist white oppressor from which they need to protect black voters in order to keep their lock on that vote. He wrote that worshipping at the altar of multiculturalism undermines American culture and ignores the fact we have shared with the world the cultural value of individualism and liberty, a value rooted in our unique and glorious history of settlers, pioneers and frontiersman [sic]. Although he identified himself as a practicing Jew, he lamented the War on Christmas, saying youd probably find more Christmas decorations at your local mosque. Maya Angelou, in Millers mind, was a leftist full of racial paranoia who shouldnt be allowed to give the opening address at the start of the school year. In a column called Sorry, Feminists, he wrote that the gender pay gap was actually because of women working fewer hours and choosing lower-paying professions. Women already have equal rights in this country, he wrote. Sorry, feminists. Hate to break this good news to you. (Its not chauvinism, he signed off. Its chivalry.)
Miller very much knew the impact of his work, and he planned and plotted, a fellow Duke Chronicle alumnus told Politico. He was very businesslike about it. It smacked of architecture, like he intentionally provoked people, and it worked for him because he was making a name for himself.
Stephen Miller departs after attending meetings with President Trump at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
According to Richard Spencer, the white nationalist alt-right founder, he and Miller met each other and clicked as members of the Duke Conservative Union (DCU). In October, Spencer told Mother Jones that Miller helped him with fundraising and promotion for an on-campus debate on immigration policy that Spencer organized in 2007 featuring influential white nationalist Peter Brimelow. Another former member of the DCU confirmed to Mother Jones that Miller and Spencer worked together on the event. At meetings of the Conservative Union, Miller denounced multiculturalism and expressed concerns that immigrants from non-European countries were not assimilating, a former DCU president told the magazine.
Its funny no ones picked up on the Stephen Miller connection, Spencer said. I knew him very well when I was at Duke. But I am kind of glad no ones talked about this because I dont want to harm Trump.
(I have absolutely no relationship with Mr. Spencer, Miller wrote in an email to Mother Jones. I completely repudiate his views, and his claims are 100 percent false.)
After appearing on The OReilly Factor and on Nancy Grace to defend the white Duke lacrosse players who were falsely accused in 2006 of raping a black stripper Being a white, male lacrosse player was all it took, he wrote at the time Miller went to Washington. He first worked as a press secretary for Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann and John Shadegg before landing with Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2009. (Horowitz recommended Miller for the job.) Miller soon became Sessions right-hand man, providing, as Tucker Carlson told Politico, the intellectual architecture for a [nationalist] insurgency against the Republican Party.
When I was in Sessions office, this movement for nation-state populism, the intellectual framework for that was being formed, Miller explained in the same story, noting that he fought to kill the Gang of Eight immigration bill in 2013. A big part of my day was being in touch with the people who were the key players in that. We saw ourselves as a kind of think tank for immigration issues and linking that to the larger questions of globalism and populism.
Always the media-savvy operator, Miller developed a symbiotic relationship with Bannons Breitbart the platform for the alt-right, as Bannon himself once put it. Miller fed the site scoops; the site promoted Millers media appearances. Stephen Miller is a jewel, Bannon said in June, before signing on with Trump. We try to get as many of his TV things as we can. Some of them have been epic.
On the Trump campaign, Miller transferred his talents to the stump, often serving as the candidates warm-up act. Everybody who stands against Donald Trump are the people who have been running the country into the ground, who have been controlling the levers of power, Miller would shout. Theyre the people who are responsible for our open borders, for our shrinking middle class, for our terrible trade deals. Everything that is wrong with this country today, the people who are opposed to Donald Trump are responsible for! No other speechwriter has ever taken on such a role at rallies. It was yet another example of how much influence someone can amass, in Trump World, if the boss decides he likes you.
Now that Bannon and Miller are ensconced in the West Wing Trump lovingly refers to them as my two Steves their influence seems limitless. For instance, Bannon and Miller not only devised Trumps controversial travel ban; Miller in particular spent Saturday directing how it would be implemented, overruling Homeland Security officials and insisting, according to reports, that green card holders would also be barred from entering the country unless granted waivers on a case-by-case basis. On the same day, Miller effectively ran the National Security Council principals meeting an unprecedented move. In terms of policy, Miller who knows his way around Capitol Hill and remains close to Sessions, Trumps attorney general nominee is probably even better positioned than Bannon to steer Trump in his desired direction, even though hes a less familiar boogeyman among liberals.
You could not get where we are today with this movement if it didnt have a center of gravity that was intellectually coherent, Bannon himself said in June. Stephen Miller was at the cutting edge of that.
Read more from Yahoo News:
Arbil (Iraq) (AFP) - If they had known what would happen, Fuad Sharif and his wife would have waited before quitting their jobs, selling their belongings and leaving Iraq with their children for the US.
Sharif and his family are among a growing number of people whose lives have been upended by travel restrictions ordered by President Donald Trump on seven Muslim-majority countries with the stated aim of keeping America safe from "radical Islamic terrorists".
"After two years of waiting... they confirmed that I do not represent any danger to the United States and the American people," Sharif, 51, told AFP.
"On this basis, they gave me an immigration visa," said Sharif, who worked with RTI International, a US-based non-profit organisation contracted by the American government to work on issues including local governance in Iraq.
Sharif said he was hoping for a "new life" in the US, but now he and his family are back in Iraq.
Sitting with his wife and children at a house in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region among a number of bags they had planned to take with them to America, Sharif's disappointment is clear.
"I helped the American government and worked with them in a time of crises and put my life in danger," he said, noting that some of his colleagues were killed.
"Trump and his new administration let us down," Sharif said.
The family travelled to Cairo and they were preparing to fly to the US from there, but were barred from boarding their flight.
- No jobs, no school -
An employee at the airport gave the family their boarding cards, but later returned and said: "Just a minute, just a minute -- you are prohibited from travelling to the United States."
When asked why, the employee cited an "email from the American embassy in Baghdad warning us that you are prevented from travelling", Sharif said.
The next flight back to Arbil was not until the following morning, meaning that he, his wife and their three children had to spend some 25 hours at Cairo airport before they could leave.
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Now they are back in Iraq, staying at his brother-in-law's empty home and living off savings.
Before leaving, "I had to sell my belongings and resign from my work and my wife resigned from her work and my children left school," Sharif said.
"I am relying on the money I have to live... now I am without work and my wife is without work and the children are without schools."
Trump's travel restrictions -- coming as Iraq battles the Islamic State jihadist group which the president has repeatedly cast as a threat to America -- have sparked a growing backlash in Baghdad.
Iraq has called on the US to review the move, terming it a "wrong decision", and parliament voted Monday to back reciprocal restrictions on Americans if Washington does not change course.
But for now, Sharif and others are left in limbo.
"I sent a request to the American embassy in Baghdad" asking "what they advise me" to do, he said.
"Until now, I have not received a response."
London (AFP) - The invitation for US President Donald Trump to make a state visit to Britain has put Queen Elizabeth II in "a very difficult position", a former top civil servant said Tuesday.
His remarks were made as thousands took to Britain's streets in protest following Trump's decision to ban refugees and citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries.
Peter Ricketts, formerly the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, said the invitation should be downgraded to an official visit to spare the queen further embarrassment.
The proposed visit will be put to a debate by British MPs on February 20, parliament said on Tuesday, after more than 1.6 million people signed a petition demanding the invitation for a state visit be withdrawn.
Ricketts, a member of the House of Lords who also served as national security adviser to former prime minister David Cameron and as ambassador to France, called the invitation "premature" in a letter to The Times newspaper.
"It would have been far wiser to wait to see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the queen to invite him. Now the queen is put in a very difficult position," he said.
- 'Protect Her Majesty' -
Such visits involved the queen, who is the head of state, and are seen as the highest expression of friendly ties between two countries.
Official or working visits are less ceremonial and usually do not include royal engagements.
Prime Minister Theresa May announced the state visit during a meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday which was intended to boost trade ties after Britain leaves the EU.
"There is no precedent for a US president paying a state visit to this country in their first year," Ricketts said.
"The government needs to move fast to protect Her Majesty from the growing controversy."
The Times quoted sources close to Buckingham Palace saying that the state visit was going ahead on May's recommendation after a Downing Street spokesman appeared to shift the blame away from her entourage.
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One source said that royal officials "don't want the queen being dragged into something political".
- 'A virus of misogyny' -
But former foreign minister William Hague, writing in the Daily Telegraph, played down the concerns.
"A queen who has been asked over the decades to host tyrants such as Presidents Mobuto of Zaire and Ceausescu of Romania is going to take a brash billionaire from New York effortlessly in her stride," he wrote.
The controversial visit has sparked a backlash among the public with 1.68 million people signing a petition calling for the trip to be downgraded.
Such petitions must be considered by lawmakers if they attract more than 100,000 signatures, with parliament confirming on Tuesday that MPs will debate the matter next month.
"Parliament will debate this petition on 20 February 2017," said a statement on its petitions website.
The petition reads: "Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen."
A counter petition calling for Trump to proceed with a full state visit also passed the 100,000 threshold, meaning it will be discussed at the same time.
Senior Labour MP Harriet Harman on Tuesday told journalists that May "should take back control and cancel that visit", calling Trump a "virus of misogyny".
ISTANBUL (AP) Turkey's pro-Kurdish political party says a court has ordered another of their lawmakers imprisoned on terror charges, raising the number of party legislators in jail to 12.
Ayhan Bilgen, the spokesman for the Peoples' Democracy Party, or HDP, was ordered arrested pending a trial on Tuesday, accused of membership in an armed terror group.
The arrests of HDP legislators, including the party's co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksedag, have increased fears over rights and freedoms in the country as it heads toward a referendum on increased powers for the president.
The government accuses the party which defends minority rights of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. The HDP denies the accusation.
The PKK is considered a terror organization by Turkey and its Western allies.
Istanbul (AFP) - Turkey arrested two MPs from the main pro-Kurdish party on Tuesday, including its chief spokesman, the latest move in a crackdown on the group ahead of a vote on changing the constitution.
Ayhan Bilgen -- spokesman for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and an MP representing the eastern province of Kars -- was remanded in custody ahead of trial after he was detained by police at an Ankara airport on Sunday and taken to the Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir in the southeast.
The state-run Anadolu news agency reported that he was arrested on charges of "membership in an armed terror organisation."
Another prominent HDP lawmaker, its legal expert Meral Danis Bestas, was also placed under arrest after being detained at her home in Diyarbakir.
But the party said Bilgen's arrest was meant to prevent the HDP from campaigning against constitutional changes that would dramatically expand President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers in a referendum set for April.
"The arrest of our party spokesman Ayhan Bilgen is to block our referendum work but you cannot turn down the volume of 'NO,'" the HDP wrote on its Twitter account.
- 'Insulting the president' -
The arrests raised the number of HDP MPs behind bars on terror charges to 12, including the party's co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag. The party holds 59 of the 550 seats in parliament.
Bilgen had become the public face of the party in the absence of the co-leaders.
Turkish prosecutors are demanding up to 142 years in prison for Demirtas on charges of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.
Demirtas and other MPs have denied any links to the PKK, listed as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies, and denounced the case as political.
In another move, police detained a member of the secular opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Sera Kadigil, on accusations of "insulting the president", "publicly denigrating religious values and inciting hatred" through a series of social media posts.
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These included a post questioning slogans like "martyrs never die", which have been much repeated as the army presses offensives against Kurdish militants and jihadists.
Kadigil, a lawyer and a member of the party's assembly, was held by the police after her client's hearing at an Istanbul courthouse, Anadolu reported.
CHP lawmaker Baris Yarkadas, who appeared at the Istanbul courthouse in support of Kadigil, argued that the detention was timed to coincide with the referendum campaign, saying the tweets in question dated to 2015.
"How interesting it is that Kadigil's tweets -- ignored since 2015 -- were all of a sudden taken out of the archives and began to be discussed as the date for referendum draws closer," he said.
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish authorities have dismissed more than 90,000 public servants for alleged connections to a coup attempt in July as part of a purge critics say has broadened to target any political opposition to President Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking to reporters at a roundtable interview broadcast on television, Labour Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu said 125,485 people from the public service had been put through legal proceedings after the coup attempt, and that 94,867 of those had been dismissed so far. Turkey has been rooting out followers of the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of having infiltrated state institutions and plotted to overthrow the government. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied the charge and condemned the coup. Some 40,000 people from the police, the military, the judiciary, the civil service or the education system, have been remanded in custody pending trial for alleged connections with the coup attempt, during which at least 240 people were killed. Emergency rule declared after the failed coup attempt enables the government to bypass parliament in enacting new laws and to limit or suspend rights and freedoms when deemed necessary. Rights groups and some of Turkey's Western allies fear that President Tayyip Erdogan is using the coup as a pretext to stifle dissent, from state institutions to political parties. NATO member Turkey has been hit by a spate bombings and shootings in the past year, claimed by Kurdish and Islamic State militants, on top of July's failed coup, in which soldiers commandeered tanks and fighter jets in a bid to seize power. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Ece Toksabay and Ralph Boulton)
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey tourism revenues fell almost 30 percent in 2016, the country's statistics office said Tuesday, after visitors stayed away following multiple terror attacks and a failed coup.
In 2016 income from tourism fell by 29.7 percent compared to the previous year, falling to $22.1 billion (19.7 billion euros), the Turkish Statistics Institute (TUIK) said on its website.
The country has been hit by a spate of attacks blamed on Islamic extremists and Kurdish militants while tourists were further spooked by the attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the July 15 failed coup and the subsequent crackdown.
For the whole of last year, over 31 million visitors came to Turkey, TUIK said, compared to nearly 42 million in 2015.
The statistics include Turkish residents who live abroad.
Tourism is a key economic sector in Turkey, accounting for some five percent of GDP, and the slowdown in the sector has contributed to a deterioration in growth.
The economy in the third quarter contracted for the first time year-on-year since 2009, shrinking 1.8 percent.
Tourists have been put off in particular by attacks in locations frequented by foreign visitors blamed on jihadists.
In June 2016, 47 people were killed in a triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, with authorities pointing the finger at Islamic State (IS) jihadists.
And just 75 minutes into 2017, an IS-linked militant killed 39 people in an elite nightclub in Istanbul as New Year celebrations were in full swing.
But Turkish officials are still hoping for better times in 2017, pinning expectations on an upsurge in tourism from key market Russia after a deal to normalise ties.
In August, visitor numbers to Turkey from Russia fell 83.63 percent compared with the same month in 2015.
For the whole of 2016, Turkey saw foreign visitor arrivals drop by 30 percent, the tourism ministry said.
"God willing, 2017 will be better than 2016, and 2018 will be better than 2017," said Tourism Minister Nabi Avci, quoted by the state Anadolu agency.
"Turkey is a perfect destination, everyone should absolutely see it," UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Taleb Rifai said.
"And it's important for this second reason, travelling to Turkey is the best response to give to terrorism," he added.
Istanbul (AFP) - US President Donald Trump's immigration and refugee restrictions are "offensive", a top Turkish official was quoted as saying on Tuesday, in the first explicit criticism by Ankara of the controversial policy.
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus called on Trump to reconsider the decision, which he said was motivated by Islamophobia, the Haberturk daily reported.
"It is not possible to accept this," said Kurtulmus, who is also the chief government spokesman, according to the daily. "The policy should be reviewed."
On Friday, Trump issued an executive order that bars US entry for travellers from seven mainly Muslim countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- for 90 days.
Trump defended the new policy, introduced just a week after he became president and which stirred up fresh protests this week, by saying that it would make the United States safe from "radical Islamic terrorists."
Kurtulmus blamed rising Islamophobia, anti-immigrant feelings and xenophobia in the West for the decision, calling on the new administration to "correct" the policy.
"It is extremely offensive that such a decision was made in a country like the United States which is known as a nation with all different religions and ethnic groups in a melting pot," he said.
"It is not correct. It is really a decision that triggers discrimination... None of the countries' citizens can be categorically branded as bad."
A champion of the fight against Islamophobia, Ankara had until now steered clear of explicit criticsm of Trump's move, although Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Saturday warned against "putting up walls" to solve the refugee crisis.
Turkey is home to some 2.7 million Syrian refugees who have fled from the almost six-year war between rebels and President Bashar al-Assad.
Ankara has high hopes of the new American administration, seeking to amend ties that deteriorated under the Barack Obama over a number of issues including US support for Syrian Kurdish militia.
Last week, US media reported that the Pentagon would be given 90 days to craft a plan to set up "safe zones" in or near Syria -- which Ankara said it would watch closely.
By Caroline Valetkevitch and Mike Stone
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. defense company shares have largely shrugged off President Donald Trump's criticisms over costs and may be poised to fly higher even with prices at lofty levels.
Promises by Trump to expand the U.S. military give many investors and analysts confidence the defense industry will grow strongly in coming years.
"There's a multi-year upturn in play here. If you believe we're in the first inning of a multi-year up cycle, the valuations can stay extended for a longer period of time," said Peter Arment, an aerospace and defense analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co.
Bank of America-Merrill Lynch analyst Ronald Epstein in his 2017 defense industry outlook said the up cycle started before the election, but the Republican sweep in Congress could mean even more robust growth in defense than previously expected.
Defense shares shot up just after the Nov. 8 election but have experienced volatility as Trump in tweets and comments has attacked the defense contractors on costs.
He targeted Boeing Co on Dec. 6 with tweets for "out of control" costs on new Air Force One planes and said the order should be canceled.
On Dec. 12 Trump slammed Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 fighter jet program as too expensive. On Monday Trump said he and Lockheed Martin had trimmed $600 million from the latest contract to buy 90 of the F-35 fighters.
But Lockheed's shares ended Monday's session little changed, and analysts downplayed news of the cuts, saying they were likely already being planned by the company, which is the Pentagon's No. 1 weapons supplier.
"We do not think this is anything new, or material," Jim Corridore, airlines and logistics analyst for CFRA Research, wrote in a note this week, adding that the firm is keeping a "strong buy" recommendation on Lockheed. "Overall, we think the F-35 is likely to be a strong driver of EPS for LMT."
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Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, who runs the F-35 program for the Pentagon, had said on Dec. 19 that the cost per plane should decrease about "6 to 7 percent" for this the 10th batch of the stealthy jets.
Lockheed shares are now up 5.1 percent since the election. Shares of Boeing, which has a much higher percentage of its revenue coming from non-government projects, have risen about 15 percent since the election.
The F-35 program is critical to Lockheed's results, with a roughly $2 billion increase in its fourth-quarter revenue attributed mostly to higher sales of the jet fighter.
Investor interest in the space remains high.
The iShares aerospace and defense fund has had inflows in 10 of the 12 weeks since the election, according to Thomson Reuters Lipper data.
The ETF is up 9.3 percent since the election, while the S&P 500 aerospace and defense index <.SPLRCAED> is also up about 9 percent in that time, compared with a gain of 6.5 percent in the benchmark S&P 500 <.SPX>
But valuations are up as well. The S&P aerospace and defense index is now trading at nearly 18 times forward earnings, its highest level in about 12 years, and above its median of about 15, according to Thomson Reuters data.
However, outlooks from some defense companies last week were less bullish than investors were expecting.
"The stocks got ahead of themselves," and there's still uncertainty ahead for the defense group, said Peter Tuz, president of Chase Investment Counsel in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Raytheon forecast 2017 sales below analysts' expectations, while Northrop Grumman , a supplier of parts for the F-35 jets, gave a weaker-than-expected earnings per share outlook for this year.
Trump's plan to build a wall on the border with Mexico could benefit defense contractors that make border security systems such as remote video surveillance towers.
(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch in New York and Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
(WASHINGTON) The U.N. Security Council scheduled urgent consultations Tuesday on an Iranian ballistic missile test at the request of the U.S.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said it wanted the U.N.s most powerful body to discuss Sundays launch of a medium-range missile.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said earlier that he did not know the exact nature of the test and expected to have more information later.
A defense official said the missile test ended with a failed re-entry into the earths atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Iran is the subject of a United Nations Security Council resolution prohibiting tests of ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear warhead. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal, the U.N. ban was prolonged by eight years, although Iran has flaunted the restriction.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the U.S. Security Council resolution.
When actions are taken that violate or are inconsistent with the resolution, we will act to hold Iran accountable and urge other countries to do so as well, Toner said.
Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Iran for the missile test.
No longer will Iran be given a pass for its repeated ballistic missile violations, continued support of terrorism, human rights abuses and other hostile activities that threaten international peace and security, Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said in a written statement.
Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, meanwhile, claimed a successful missile strike against a warship in the Red Sea belonging to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting alongside Yemens internationally recognized government. Video footage shown on the rebels al-Masirah television on Monday shows a warship being hit and a fire on board starting as a man not shown in the video shouts the rebels trademark chant of Allahu akbar (God is greatest), death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam.
The media arm of the Shiite rebels, also known as the Houthis, said the vessel was believed to belong to the Saudi Arabian navy.
WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and his South Korean counterpart agreed during a phone call on Monday to strengthen their defense against "the evolving North Korean threat," the Pentagon said, amid reports the North may be preparing a new missile test. Mattis, who is to visit South Korea on Thursday, reaffirmed to South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo the U.S. commitment to defend the country and "provide extended deterrence using the full range of U.S. capabilities," the Pentagon said in a statement. The South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement the two sides had agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea as planned to defend against North Korea's nuclear and ballistic capabilities. China has objected to THAAD, saying it will destabilize the regional security balance, leading to calls from some South Korean opposition leaders to delay or cancel it. Mattis's visit to the region comes amid reports that the North may be readying to test a new ballistic missile in what could be an early challenge for of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. The North also appears to have restarted operation of a reactor at its main Yongbyon nuclear facility that produces plutonium that can be used for its nuclear weapons program, according to a U.S. think tank. North Korea has carried out a series of nuclear and missile tests in defiance of U.N sanctions. It conducted its fifth nuclear test in September. North and South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Mattis also met Jordan's King Abdullah at the Pentagon and expressed his deep appreciation for Jordan's contributions to the fight against Islamic State, the Pentagon statement said. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Ju-min Park in Seoul; Editing by Nick Macfie)
UK protests erupt over Trumps Muslim travel ban Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trumps ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US on College Green on January 30, 2017 in Bristol, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Tens of thousands of people protested in London and other British cities against President Donald Trumps ban on entry to the United States by refugees and people from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Thousands of people, some holding placards reading No to Racism, No to Trump, Dump Trump and I stand with Muslims, joined a protest on Monday outside the Downing Street residence of Prime Minister Theresa May, the first leader to visit President Trump.
Some chanted Shame on May for her offer to Trump of a visit to Britain while 1.5 million people signed a petition calling for Trumps planned trip which will involve lavish displays of royal pageantry and a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth to be cancelled.
Its a lot worse under Trump than I was expecting, because its only been 10 days but hes changed so much already, Rawnak Jassm, a 23-year-old British-Iraqi, who joined the protest, told Reuters. Its pretty scary.
Trumps immigration order, which was signed just hours after his meeting with the British prime minister in Washington, has soured Mays attempt to show that post-Brexit vote Britain can have a special relationship with the worlds superpower.
Some British voters, including thousands on protests across Britain, have expressed concern that May has failed to criticize Trump sufficiently for his temporary ban on travel to the United States by people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
While the protests in Britain were smaller than those in the United States, they illustrate how Trumps first days in office have had a sometimes unexpected impact on politics across the world, even in some close allies such as Britain.
Trump said the new controls were aimed at securing the United States by keeping out radical Islamic terrorists, but protesters in Britain said the measures were racist and anti-Muslim. Trump has denied the measures are anti-Muslim. (Reuters)
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Brussels (AFP) - The EU said Tuesday an upsurge in fighting between pro-Russian rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine is an outright breach of the Minsk truce accords, which are tied to sanctions against Moscow.
"The intense fighting around Avdiivka in the last few days, involving heavy shelling with proscribed weapons and leading to a considerable number of casualties, is a blatant violation of the ceasefire, as stipulated by the Minsk agreements," the EU foreign affairs arm said in a statement.
"We call for the fighting to stop immediately ... Full observance of the ceasefire is a crucial step towards the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, which is the basis for a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the conflict," it said.
France and Germany helped broker the Minsk accords with Moscow and Kiev, and European Union leaders tied implementation to a series of sanctions, including very damaging economic restrictions, against Russia.
Fighting in eastern Ukraine has waxed and waned since then, with Brussels insisting repeatedly there can be no change to the sanctions regime until the accord sticks.
New US President Donald Trump however has taken a much softer line on Moscow, suggesting on the campaign trail he could even lift some sanctions against Russia in an effort to ease tensions.
Trump talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the weekend in a call the White House described as a "significant start" to better ties.
The Kremlin said it was a "positive" exchange and the two leaders touched on many subjects, including the Ukraine crisis.
The industrial hub of Avdiivka, home to 20,000 people, came under attack on Sunday from insurgents seeking to wrest back territory controlled by Kiev in a near three-year war which has so far cost some 10,000 lives.
Avdiivka (Ukraine) (AFP) - Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels were on Tuesday locked in fighting for a third straight day at a flashpoint town that left thousands shivering without power and sparked renewed EU concern about security in its backyard.
The industrial hub of Avdiivka came under an unexpected assault Sunday from insurgents seeking to wrest back territory controlled by Kiev during the nearly three-year war.
The clashes have claimed the lives of at least 13 civilians and fighters on both sides since Sunday -- the worst outburst of violence since the two sides agreed a new truce on December 23.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko underscored the urgency of the situation by cutting short a visit to Berlin on Monday and convened an emergency meeting of his National Security and Defence Council.
Poroshenko is worried that Donald Trump's rise to the US presidency and praise for Russia's Vladimir Putin may add fuel to a conflict that began shortly after Ukraine's 2014 ouster of its Moscow-backed leader and tilt toward the West.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the Kremlin was "extremely worried" but had "reliable information" that renegade units of pro-Kiev fighters were in fact responsible for the initial attacks.
An AFP reporter saw the separatists shell the town of about 20,000 people with repeated rounds of Grad multiple rocket systems and artillery fire from the early morning.
"Right now, there is no power. We have not resolved problems with heating homes, and the gas pipe has been shattered," local Ukrainian army unit spokeswoman Olena Mokrynchuk told AFP.
The town's military administrator Freedon Vekua told AFP he was preparing for a possible evacuation of the town that sits just north of the rebels' de facto capital of Donetsk because of the power outage.
Ukraine is struggling through freezing conditions in which temperatures drop to -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit) at night.
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"The issue of an evacuation has not been decided fully. We see it as our very last resort because there is still a chance of restoring heating," said Vekua.
The town's heating is provided by a coke plant that has been heavily damaged by the falling shells.
Plant director Musa Magomedov said it would be incredibly difficult to resume gas production were the factory's generators shut down.
That would leave Avdiivka without a source of local power and uncertainty about its future. The fighting has prevented repairs being carried out, Magomedov said.
- Global condemnation and concern -
The Organization for Security and Cooperation and Europe (OSCE) is responsible for monitoring ceasefire violations and organising peace talks between envoys from Russia and Ukraine.
It helped negotiate a February 2014 truce deal in Minsk that was co-sponsored by Germany and France and which EU leaders cling on to as the one remaining roadmap to peace.
"The intense fighting around Avdiivka in the last few days... is a blatant violation of the ceasefire, as stipulated by the Minsk agreements," the EU foreign affairs arm said in a statement.
The OSCE said the fighting was "of grave concern" while the US embassy tweeted that it was especially worried about "the 2,500 children who are without water, electricity and heat".
Charge d'affaires Kate Byrnes of the US mission to the OSCE's Permanent Council said that "Russia and the separatists initiated the violence in Avdiivka".
"We call on Russia to stop the violence, honour the ceasefire, withdraw heavy weapons, and end attempts to seize new territory beyond the line of contact," she said in an address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.
The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people since 2014 -- more than half of them civilians -- and plunged Moscow's relations with the West to a post-Cold War low.
The Kremlin denies backing the insurgents and only admits that Russian "volunteers" and off-duty soldiers have entered the warzone of their own free will.
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United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN-led peace talks on Syria have been postponed until February 20 to allow a ceasefire to take hold and to give the opposition time to present a united front, the UN envoy said Tuesday.
The talks in Geneva had been scheduled to begin on February 8 but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week announced they would be delayed, without providing reasons.
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told a closed meeting of the Security Council that the postponement would help bolster preparations for the talks aimed at ending the nearly six-year war.
"We want to give a chance both to the government to become seriously engaged in discussions and the opposition (...) to actually be able to be given a chance to come with one unified opposition," De Mistura told reporters after the meeting.
Russia, Iran and Turkey last week led talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana on shoring up a ceasefire in Syria, where more than 310,000 people have died.
"If the ceasefire becomes as solid as we hope that will only help the Syria talks," said the envoy.
The Syrian opposition has been divided over representation to the talks.
De Mistura warned that if the opposition failed to agree on the composition of the delegation by February 8, he will select the representatives from the various groups who will come to the peace table.
"If by the 8th of February, the opposition will not be ready to come up with a unified group, I will have to ....actually select the delegation in order to make sure that it can be as inclusive as possible," he said.
- Fears of sidelining UN -
The council heard a report from De Mistura amid concerns that the Astana discussions could open up a new track of negotiations.
During the Astana talks, Russia, Syria's main ally, presented opposition rebels with a draft constitution that was immediately rejected by the groups.
The unilateral move by Russia raised concern in Western capitals.
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"We have been concerned that the Geneva talks have been delayed and we would be concerned if there were any watering down of the basis of those talks," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters.
"It's very important that there is confirmation that the UN will lead the next round of talks," said Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog, this month's council president.
"The UN has to be front and center in the political process," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre.
He cited the need to respect the Geneva communique agreed with Russia that calls for a transition in Syria.
"We start with a transition, then the constitution, and then the elections," said Delattre. "I think if we can all stay on this line, then we can move."
Previous UN-led talks have broken down over disagreements on ensuring a transition in Damascus that would lead to President Bashar al-Assad's exit from power.
Western powers have for weeks questioned the purpose of the Astana talks and raised concern that they could sideline the Geneva talks.
Turkey, which backs rebel forces, has for the first time conceded that a peace deal that excludes Assad from power might not be possible.
The new date was announced after US Ambassador Nikki Haley meet with De Mistura on Monday to discuss the way forward in Syria.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council will hold urgent talks Tuesday on Iran's test-firing of a medium-range missile, diplomats said.
The United States requested the emergency consultations after the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations called for council action.
"In light of Iran's January 29 launch of a medium-range ballistic missile, the United States has requested urgent consultations of the Security Council," the US mission said in a statement.
The talks on Iran will follow a meeting on Syria scheduled for 10:00 am (1500 GMT).
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said the missile test violated UN resolutions that bar Iran from launching ballistic missiles that could have a nuclear capability.
"The international community must not bury its head in the sand in the face of this Iranian aggression," said Danon.
"The Security Council members must act immediately in response to these Iranian actions which endanger not only Israel, but the entire Middle East."
It was the first request for council consultations made by the United States since new US Ambassador Nikki Haley took office.
US President Donald Trump has promised to strengthen ties with Israel and has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal that led to a lifting of international sanctions against Tehran.
Trump is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 15.
A Security Council resolution adopted a few days after the 2015 nuclear agreement bars Iran from developing missiles "designed to carry nuclear warheads."
Iran has said its missiles would never carry a nuclear warhead as it has no plans to develop atomic weapons, but military officials have insisted on expanding the country's missile program.
Britain, France and the United States have sought council action over Iranian missiles launches last year, but Russia and China opposed discussion of possible sanctions that they argued would jeopardize the hard-fought nuclear deal.
The deal reached with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions.
Senate Democrats delayed three of Donald Trumps Cabinet nominations Tuesday, using parliamentary tactics as fury mounts in their base over the presidents recent immigration order temporarily barring refugees and travelers from seven predominantly-Muslim countries.
All 12 Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee boycotted the vote on Health and Human Services Department nominee Rep. Tom Price and Treasury Department nominee Steve Mnuchin. The boycott forced the committees chair, Sen. Orrin Hatch, to delay the vote until Wednesday since the committee did not have a quorum. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said in a statement that he boycotted the vote because both nominees misled the public in Prices case about the details of his investment in a biomedical firm and in Mnuchins case about whether his former bank robosigned mortgages.
Hatch, a Republican, called the Democratic boycott the most pathetic thing Ive seen in my whole time in the United States Senate.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer railed against the Democrats at his briefing Tuesday. The mere idea that theyre not even showing up to hearings is truly outrageous, he said.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats also sought to delay the vote on their colleague Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general in a Judiciary Committee hearing. Democrats ignored Committee Chair Chuck Grassleys request to keep their statements explaining their votes to five minutes. Each Senate Democrat dragged out his or her statement so that the hearing lasted hours, triggering an obscure rule that allowed them to demand that the hearing come to an end and the vote not take place that day. (Republicans had used the so-called two-hour rule to delay some of Obamas nominees as well.) Grassley scheduled the vote on Sessions for Wednesday around 11 a.m.
While stalling the Sessions vote, Democrats tied him to Trumps controversial executive orders on immigration. Just yesterday [White House chief strategist] Steve Bannon called him the administrations clearing house for policy and philosophy, Sen. Pat Leahy of Vermont said. Sen. Diane Feinstein, a Democrat from California, praised former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates guts for refusing to defend Trumps executive order. Trump fired Yates Monday night. Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii recounted the experiences of Japanese-Americans who were interned during WWII, expressing her concern that the executive order targeting predominantly Muslim nations was discriminatory.
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I hope they get beyond the anger theyre currently feeling, Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, complained as the Sessions hearing dragged on.
Democratic senators, most of whom voted for Trump Cabinet picks Nikki Haley, Gen. John Kelly, and Gen. James Mattis, are under pressure from their base to put up more resistance to the Trump administration. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wrote a Facebook post defending herself from criticism from the left for voting to advance Ben Carsons bid to be secretary of housing and urban development. And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, also facing blowback for voting for several of Trumps nominees, announced Monday that he would oppose many of Trumps remaining ones.
The resistance is largely symbolic, since Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate and need just a majority to confirm. (Supreme Court nominees, however, need 60 votes to overcome a minority filibuster.) Some of Trumps nominees fared better Tuesday. His pick to lead the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos, made it out of committee, even with all the Democrats opposing her. The Senate also confirmed Elaine Chao, the former secretary of labor under George W. Bush, as secretary of transportation by a nearly unanimous vote.
On Monday night, Senate Republicans were able to muster enough votes to end a Democratic filibuster on the secretary of state nomination for Rex Tillerson. But the Democrats then began using up every one of the 30 hours theyre allotted before the vote must take place, talking on the floor until late in the night. The vote is now expected to take place Wednesday. Democrats are criticizing Tillerson, who was CEO of ExxonMobil, for his ties to Russia.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN children's agency on Tuesday launched an appeal for $3.3 billion to help 48 million children caught up in crises worldwide amid fears of a funding cut from top donor the United States.
Some 42 percent of the UNICEF appeal for 2017 -- $1.4 billion -- is earmarked to support Syrian children living in the country and as refugees across the borders in neighboring states.
This year's appeal represents a 18 percent increase from the initial 2016 request for funding. Donors contribute to the appeals on a voluntary basis.
The United States is by far the top donor to UNICEF, followed by Germany, Britain and the European Commission.
Media reports that the new administration of President Donald Trump is seeking to cut at least 40 percent of voluntary contributions to international organizations have set off alarm bells at the United Nations.
UNICEF deputy executive director Justin Forsyth said there was "no indication at the moment" that the children's agency will be hit by cuts, adding that he remained hopeful that US support will continue.
Faced with rising humanitarian needs, notably from the wars in Syria, Yemen and South Sudan, UN agencies have been requesting more funding, but the donor response often falls short.
"The impact on the ground of our appeals not being funded is children dying, children not going to school, children not being protected," said Forsyth.
Almost one in four of the world's children now lives in a country affected by conflict or disaster, according to UNICEF.
Aside from Syria, UNICEF's assistance in 2017 will be heavily focused on Yemen, South Sudan and Nigeria - three countries ravaged by wars that have had a heavy toll on children.
UNICEF is struggling to ensure children caught up in conflict still have access to schools to avoid creating a lost generation of youths vulnerable to violent extremism.
"There are consequences, not just for the children," said Forsyth. "There are consequences for global and regional security by not investing in the needs of these children for education."
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) The University of Michigan Museum of Art is offering free membership as part of an effort to connect with more visitors.
The museum in Ann Arbor says membership previously was available through a minimum $50 donation or a donation of $15 for University of Michigan students.
Starting this week, membership is available to everyone. A grant will help the museum promote its membership program and boost interest in events.
Carrie Throm, the museum's deputy director of development and external relations, says in a statement the museum "hopes to upend the notion that to be a stakeholder in the museum's future you have to be a major donor."
Members will get information via the museum's magazine, calendar and email newsletter as well as members-only invitations to special events.
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Online:
http://umma.umich.edu
Washington (AFP) - US anti-abortion advocates have long dreamed of defeating their sworn enemy Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that enshrines a woman's right to the procedure across all 50 states.
But even with Trump's expected nomination Tuesday of an anti-abortion justice to the Supreme Court, abortion opponents will have inched closer to victory but not yet arrived at a cause for celebration.
The nomination of a conservative to replace deceased justice Antonin Scalia would tilt the court, which is currently divided evenly between four conservative and four liberal justices.
But with conservative justice Anthony Kennedy sometimes joining the progressives when it comes to abortion issues, Trump will have no ironclad assurance on the matter.
Only with the death or resignation of one more justice might Trump be able to stack the court against abortion.
"There is now a serious risk to women's right to abortion, given what Trump has said about his intentions and the likelihood that there will be at least one retirement on the high court in the next four years," Sherry Colb, a professor at Cornell Law School, told AFP.
"If one or more of the five more liberal-on-abortion justices should retire between now and the end of Trump's time in office (whether that be four years or eight years from now), then there would likely be five votes to overrule Roe v. Wade."
Under such a scenario, states would be free to restrict the right to abortion and a Republican Congress could pass national anti-abortion legislation.
On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence hailed the new political era as a "historic" time for the anti-abortion movement.
- Overturn 'unlikely' -
The Roe v. Wade decision was handed down on January 22, 1973, with seven justices backing it and two dissenting.
Now firmly rooted in legal precedent by four decades of doctrine, the ruling will be challenging to completely overthrow.
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It is "unlikely that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade altogether. But the constitutional right to an abortion would be cut back significantly," said abortion expert Michael Dell.
In a study published this month by the Pew Institute, seven out of 10 Americans are opposed to canceling Roe v Wade. And according to a Quinnipiac survey published Friday, 64 percent of Americans believe that abortion should remain legal, while 31 percent believe the opposite.
Roe v. Wade has had a hectic existence, with its scope diminished by subsequent Supreme Court decisions, and the right to an abortion under constant attack by legislatures in Republican states.
Despite its legality, abortion restrictions take many forms such as bans on certain forms of the procedure, lengthy waiting periods and administrative complications, among other issues.
Under new restrictions, "the gravest impact would be on poor women who lack the resources to travel to where abortion is legal," Colb said.
The Roe v. Wade decision handed down 44 years ago ended a lengthy legal drama that began in the state of Texas three years prior, where abortions were permitted only if the pregnancy endangered the mother or child.
Norma McCorvey, a single mother who had a rough childhood, was pregnant for a third time and wanted an abortion.
Encouraged by two feminist lawyers, McCorvey filed suit under the pseudonym Jane Roe against Dallas district attorney Henry Wade.
Although her child was born, the case took on a life of its own, becoming one of the most important and best-known decisions ever made by the Supreme Court.
McCorvey later became a fervent opponent to abortion, converting to evangelical Protestantism and then Catholicism before eventually coming out as a lesbian.
Trump's announcement for his Supreme Court justice comes after optimistic anti-abortion advocates rallied on Friday in Washington at the 44th annual anti-abortion march, billed as the world's largest "pro-life" rally.
Washington (AFP) - US consumer confidence retreated in January after hitting a 15-year high in December, amid a less optimistic outlook for business and jobs, the Conference Board said Tuesday.
The consumer confidence index slipped to 111.8 from 113.3 in December; however, that level is still higher than at any time since July 2008, prior to the outbreak of the global financial crisis.
The expectations index, however, fell nearly seven points to 99.8.
"The decline in confidence was driven solely by a less optimistic outlook for business conditions, jobs, and especially consumers' income prospects," said Lynn Franco, the Conference Board's director of economic indicators.
However, Franco noted, "Despite the retreat in confidence, consumers remain confident that the economy will continue to expand in the coming months."
Confidence in the current situation remained healthy, and improved slightly from December, with 27 percent of consumers surveyed viewing jobs as plentiful, and 29 percent labeling business conditions as "good."
But the outlook for six months out worsened slightly, with 23 percent viewing business conditions as good, from nearly 25 percent the prior month, and less than 20 percent describing jobs as plentiful, from nearly 22 percent in December.
Only 18 percent expect incomes to increase, compared to 21.5 percent the prior month.
Ian Shepherdson, chief economist with Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the decline in confidence is "more evidence that the post-election spike in confidence is over."
Washington (AFP) - The United States declared itself "deeply concerned" Tuesday about renewed fierce fighting between Russian-backed rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine, demanding a ceasefire.
The industrial hub of Avdiivka came under an unexpected assault on Sunday from insurgents seeking to wrest back territory controlled by Kiev, and combat has continued for three days.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said dozens of Ukrainian troops were killed, along with 10 civilians.
Some 17,000 civilians, including 2,500 children, were also left without water, heat or electricity, according to the spokesman.
"To avert a larger humanitarian crisis, we call for an immediate, sustained ceasefire and full and unfettered access for OSCE monitors," he said.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is responsible for monitoring ceasefire violations in the three-year-old conflict.
The State Department is still in transition, with President Donald Trump's secretary of state-designate Rex Tillerson yet to gain Senate confirmation.
Tillerson formerly had close ties with Moscow as chief executive of the US oil giant ExxonMobil, and Trump has frequently said that he wants to mend fences with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
But Washington's European allies remain very concerned about Russian provocations on NATO's eastern flank and its interventions in the former Soviet republics Moscow still sees as within its sphere of influence.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday raised alarm at the United Nations over Iran's test-firing of a medium range missile, calling it "absolutely unacceptable," after Tehran warned the United States against fuelling tensions.
New US Ambassador Nikki Haley had requested the urgent consultations at the UN Security Council -- the first action taken by the envoy just days into her mandate.
The row comes against a backdrop of already strained relations between Washington and the Islamic republic over US President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens from Iran and six other Muslim-majority countries.
"We have confirmed that Iran did have a medium-size missile launch testing on January 29, on Sunday. This is absolutely unacceptable," Haley told reporters following a closed-door council meeting.
The ambassador accused Iran of trying to convince the world that "they are being nice" before adding: "I will tell the people across the world that is something we should be alarmed about."
"The United States is not naive. We are not going to stand by. You will see us call them out," warned Haley.
"We are committed to making them understand that this is not anything that we will ever accept."
Tehran has neither confirmed nor denied firing any missiles at the weekend.
Under a council resolution that endorsed the historic nuclear deal with Iran, Tehran is barred from developing missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads.
Any violation of that resolution could trigger a snapback of sanctions that were lifted under the nuclear agreement, opening up the Iranian economy to investment and opportunities.
- 'More than enough' -
The US ambassador challenged Iran's assertion that its missiles are not in violation of the UN resolution because they are for defense purposes and not designed to carry nuclear warheads.
"They know that they are not supposed to be doing ballistic missile testing" of anything that can carry warheads, said Haley.
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The missile launched Sunday was capable of carrying a 500-kilogram payload and had a range of 300 kilometers, she said.
"That is more than enough to be able to deliver a nuclear weapon."
Earlier, Iran cautioned Washington not to push too hard.
"We hope that Iran's defense program is not used by the new US administration... as a pretext to create new tensions," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told a press conference in Tehran.
"We have always declared that we will never use our weapons against others except in our defense," Zarif added, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault at his side.
He slammed the new US administration's "shameful act of denying entry to people holding legal visas" for the United States.
The European Union, which helped broker the landmark nuclear deal between major powers and Iran, had appealed to Tehran to refrain from activities such as the missile tests, "which deepen mistrust."
Ayrault said France had made clear its disquiet over the missile tests, calling them "contrary to the spirit" of the Security Council resolution
Britain maintains that the test is "inconsistent" with UN resolutions, but has not declared the launch to be a violation.
But the diplomatic push by the West quickly ran into trouble as Russia said a missile test would not breach the UN resolution.
Moscow, which is fighting alongside Tehran's forces in Syria, said the demand for emergency talks at the Security Council was aimed at "heating up the situation."
"Such actions, if they took place, do not breach the resolution," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax news agency.
- Creating new tensions -
The Security Council requested a report on the missile launch from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and from a committee set up after the council endorsed the Iran nuclear deal, British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said.
That report would then allow the council to determine whether the resolution has been violated and whether it should consider re-imposing sanctions.
UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which includes terms of the nuclear accord, was adopted in July 2015.
It states that Iran "is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology."
Russia and China have opposed discussion about a return to possible sanctions against Iran, arguing that it would jeopardize the hard-fought nuclear deal.
Trump has sharply criticized the deal between Tehran and world powers, which led to a lifting of international sanctions against Iran, and has vowed to strengthen ties with Israel, which opposes the agreement.
WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration said 872 refugees will be allowed into the United States this week despite a presidential order suspending the U.S. refugees program.
Kevin McAleenan, the acting head of Customs and Border Protection, said Tuesday that the refugees were already traveling and stopping them would cause "undue hardship." Their admission comes despite President Donald Trump's warnings that refugees like these, vetted under the Obama administration, were not adequately screened to ensure they are not potential terrorists.
The refugee ban was part of an executive order signed Friday by Trump that has stoked outrage and protests. Besides the 120-day ban for refugees, the order also bans entry to the United States from citizens of seven majority Muslim countries and indefinitely bars travel by Syrians to the U.S.
At a news briefing with McAleenan, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the travel ban for the seven countries may be extended and other countries could also be added to the list.
"I would be less than honest if I told you that some of those countries that are currently on the list may not be taken off the list anytime soon," Kelly said. "They're countries that are in various states of collapse" and may not be able to verify that people applying to come to the United States are who they say they are.
In his first briefing with reporters since he was confirmed, Kelly defended Trump's order and said its intention is to keep would-be terrorist out of the United States and not serve as a ban on Muslims. Early in his campaign, Trump had called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.
Kelly said "the vast majority of the 1.7 billion Muslims that live on this planet, the vast majority of them have, all other things being equal, have access to the United States."
The troubled rollout of the immigration and travel order prompted an interagency phone call on Monday, according to two U.S. officials. Participants included top Trump advisers Michael Flynn, Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, along with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Acting Secretary of State Tom Shannon.
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The officials said Kelly and Shannon told the White House they would take the lead in clearing up the situation. One of the officials said Bannon and Miller agreed to let the agency leaders take the lead after prodding from Flynn, Trump's national security adviser.
Kelly had a briefing Tuesday, in which he sought to clarify the extent of the new refugee and immigration and travel restrictions. The State Department, meanwhile, issued coordinated guidance to embassies and consulates overseas. The officials weren't authorized to speak publicly about internal government discussions and demanded anonymity.
Kelly, a retired Marine general, also said the order was "not a travel ban" but a "temporary pause that allows us to better review the existing refugee and visa- vetting system."
White House Sean Spicer made that point too in his daily briefing to reporters. But Trump referred to it as a "ban" in a tweet Tuesday defending the decision not to provide advanced notice to travelers. Spicer also called it a ban on Monday.
"If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week," Trump wrote. "A lot of bad 'dudes' out there!"
The rollout of the order has been widely criticized, a point McAlleenan conceded, saying communication among government agencies had "not been the best."
But he said the refugees' waivers were being done in concert with the State Department. He said the refugees would be processed through the end of the week.
According to guidance provided to some refugee aid agencies by the State Department none of the refugees are from the seven countries singled out for an all-out travel ban. Those countries are Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Libya.
Kelly denied reports that he had been out of the loop in the White House planning for the immigration restrictions.
Kelly told reporters he looked at two drafts of the order before the Friday signing and that high-level government lawyers and agency officials were involved in drafting it. He didn't provide names of who was involved in the initial planning, but said the group included people from Trump's transition team. Kelly also said he knew the order was coming because Trump had long talked about it as a candidate.
People who know Kelly, however, told The Associated Press that he was not aware of the details in the directive until around the time that Trump signed it.
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Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Matthew Pennington and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
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Follow Alicia A. Caldwell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acaldwellap
Washington (AFP) - Travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries singled out for "extreme vetting" will face scrutiny of their social media footprint and phone records, the new Homeland Security secretary said Tuesday.
Secretary John Kelly sought to explain President Donald Trump's travel ban four days after he issued it with no warning, setting off mass protests, legal challenges and confusion.
"There are many countries, seven that we are dealing with right now, that in our view and my view don't have the kind of law enforcement, records-keeping, that kind of thing, that can convince us that one of their citizens is indeed who that citizen says they are," Kelly said in a press conference.
For that reason, he said, US authorities will investigate visa applicants' social media use and telephone contacts, "so that we can see who they are talking to."
On Friday, Trump ordered a suspension of arrivals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, as well as all refugees, to give time for the new government to develop procedures for extreme vetting to weed out potential extremists.
With the move under widespread criticism, Kelly denied it specifically targets Muslims, which could violate the US Constitution.
"The vast majority of the 1.7 billion Muslims that live on this planet, all other things being equal, have access to the United States," he said.
"And a relatively small number right now are being held up for a period of time until we can take a look at what their procedures are."
- Longer ban possible -
Trump's order halted immigration from the seven countries for at least 90 days, but Kelly suggested that for some the ban could go on longer if stronger vetting procedures are not in place once the review period has elapsed.
"Some of those countries that are on the list may not be taken off the list anytime soon. There are countries that are in various states of collapse, for example," Kelly said, without offering specifics.
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The sudden order caught many US immigration gateways and foreign airlines by surprise, resulting in many people with legal US residency being blocked from boarding aircraft for the United States or being detained upon arrival.
US Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan cleared up an issue that had impacted many travelers with dual nationality, saying they could enter the United States as long as the passport they present is acceptable.
"Travelers will be assessed at our borders based on the passport that they present, not any dual national status," he said.
That clarification got a cheer from Europe's Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos, who tweeted after speaking by phone with Kelly: "Glad that issue of EU dual nationals is resolved."
McAleenan meanwhile said that through Monday 721 people had been denied boarding while more than 1,000 people were granted waivers from the Trump order to allow them to enter the country.
It was quiet Monday morning at Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City. There was no sign of protesters, and nobody was chanting Let them in!
Instead, a group of lawyers and translators is gathered at the Central Diner, a small, red-paneled building sitting in the arrivals gate of the terminal. At about 9 a.m., about 20 volunteers were working. By 2 p.m., upwards of 50 gathered some wore suits, others vests and hoodies, most of them relatively young. Some sat at tables, drinking coffee donated from Dunkin Donuts. Others sat on the floor and typed away on their laptops. For many, heavy bags under their eyes indicated that theyd been awake and working all night.
Lawyers at JFK
Photo: Kasia Kovacs/IBTimes
They had worked all weekend long and into Monday, but they werent being paid. These lawyers were part of the on-the-ground effort opposing President Donald Trumps executive order temporarily banning refugees and people from the Muslim majority countries of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Trump signed the order Friday. As of Monday, 630 lawyers in New York were signed up to volunteer their time and services at JFK Airport.
"Mobilization was incredible, but it was a bit of a logistical headache," Camille Mackler, director of legal initiatives at the New York Immigration Coalition, said Monday.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which raised $24 million over the weekend, filed lawsuits at the federal level, and one of those lawsuits halted deportations Saturday night. But its the motley crew of volunteer lawyers at the airport who worked pro bono on the ground. They communicated with individuals families to file habeas corpus petitions to release travelers who had been detained at airports.
By Monday afternoon, 42 people had been released from airports after being detained. Two other travelers were deported before Saturdays federal ruling. Two were unaccounted for, with family members concerned that they had been detained, although that hadnt been verified. And Monday afternoon, the legal group received reports that at least nine people, including one child, who flew in from Saudi Arabia were held for multiple hours at JFK, although the nationality of the travelers who were detained for questioning was unclear.
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It's difficult to verify this information, Mackler said, because the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection were not communicating with the lawyers.
Lawyers arrived Saturday, an unprompted effort with the goal of freeing travelers who had been detained at the airport for several hours. More and more attorneys joined throughout the day, including those from the New York Immigration Coalition, and their outpost turned into an organized system. They've stayed in Terminal 4 ever since, trading shifts so they could sleep and shower.
When volunteer lawyers arrived at the Central Diner, they were assigned to work with a group, each handling a different task: tracking flights of travelers; corresponding with family members; translating; and promoting the group on Reddit and Twitter. Some attorneys were dispatched to help any traveler who might need help when landing.
Its a matter of triage to see who needs help, said Sara Lind, an attorney whos now in graduate school at Columbia University in New York City.
Sign
Photo: Kasia Kovacs/IBTimes
The number of detainees has been decreasing since the attorneys arrived at JFK Airport, but now the legal group is grappling with other challenges. For one, theres the issue of people being rejected from flights at foreign airports. Although Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said green card holders would be allowed into the United States, travelers do not receive their green card until landing in the U.S. People set to board planes in foreign countries with green card paperwork have been turned away because they did not have the green card itself, said Mackler.
In addition, the New York Immigration Coalition received reports that some people were stopped from boarding planes by having their visas blocked. Travelers with visas are allowed to enter the U.S. on a case-by-case basis. The group of lawyers at JFK was working with the Urban Justice Center, a non-profit legal advocacy group, to communicate with people who are being turned away abroad.
What's more, two of the travelers who were detained and then released were from Saudi Arabia and Senegal two countries not affected by the ban. Its possible that these travelers were refugees and therefore affected by Trumps executive order, Mackler said. But the uncertainty surrounding why they were detained has raised questions about how the ban is being implemented, and whether other countries are next on the ban list.
Were still here, and were going to keep being here for the foreseeable future, Mackler said.
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Wal-Mart is replacing a program that offered free shipping but had an annual fee with one that has a lower free shipping threshold and faster delivery as it hopes to answer Amazon's powerful Prime membership success.
The retailer says it will reduce shipping time to two days on 2 million of its most popular items including essentials like diapers and pet food as well as hot toys and electronics. Wal-Mart's average shipping time has been three to five days. Starting Tuesday, it's also reducing the spending necessary for free shipping to $35 from $50.
Wal-Mart's ShippingPass, launched as a pilot program in the summer of 2015, was aimed at challenging Amazon Prime and had allowed members to buy more than a million items for free shipping at Walmart.com. Last year, it trimmed its shipping time to two days from three, and cut the annual fee by a dollar to $49. Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart said it worked well, but the company concluded shoppers shouldn't have to pay a membership fee for free shipping.
The strategy shift is one of the first big moves by Walmart.com's CEO Mark Lore, who joined the company when Wal-Mart bought online retailer Jet.com last year. And it's an illustration of how Wal-Mart is trying to figure out a way to compete with Amazon and its dominant Prime plan.
But some analysts say the approach may not be sufficiently aggressive to compete with Amazon Prime. They believe Wal-Mart which also has encouraged shoppers to collect their online orders from stores to avoid shipping costs should get rid of any minimum required for free shipping.
"They should eliminate the threshold altogether, said Ken Perkins, president of research firm Retail Metrics LLC. "I know it's a difficult pill to swallow. But if you look at how things are going, click-and-pick is never going to be as popular as click-and-ship."
Amazon's membership program costs $99 a year, but includes services like streaming music and video that have created fierce loyalty. Analysts say Amazon Prime members buy more frequently and spend more money. Amazon doesn't disclose a Prime subscriber total, but it's estimated to be around 65 million. Wal-Mart wouldn't say how many ShippingPass subscribers it had, but all will receive a refund of their membership fee.
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Lore declined to comment on Amazon, but said lower prices, a wider assortment of eligible goods and faster shipping alone can build loyalty. Lore promised more moves ahead to spur Wal-Mart's online business.
"Two-day, free shipping is table stakes," he said in a conference call Monday. "We've upped the ante. On a very fundamental level, we don't have to charge for membership. We can save customers both time and money."
Lore said he believes the new approach will dramatically increase sales. Wal-Mart's online sales had been slowing over the past two years, but notably accelerated during last year's third quarter. Wal-Mart reports fourth-quarter results next month.
Wal-Mart said purchases outside the 2 million most popular items will count toward free shipping, but won't get the faster delivery.
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Ah, yes: "Waste of my f*cking time." It's a phrase many Americans have probably found themselves thinking, recently.
But some of them can't hold it in, as evidenced by the way a hot microphone caught someone expressing their unedited opinion during a GOP press conference on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
SEE ALSO: Paul Ryan didn't give us the dab we wanted, he gave us the dab we deserved
After House Speaker Paul Ryan concluded the press conference where he answered questions on President Trump's recent travel ban, a hot mic on CNN caught someone complaining about the conference just as Ryan walks off stage.
"F*ck. Waste of my f*cking time," the person can be heard saying under their breath. It's unclear if that person was at the press conference, an upset journalist, or if it was a microphone feed from CNN.
Many were quick to point the blame at Speaker Ryan, but a closer look revealed that the words weren't coming from him. It's also unlikely Ryan would be wearing a portable microphone at the press conference considering most of the media's microphones are located at the podium or in the crowd. Not to mention it doesn't sound like him at all.
As Mediaite points out, even Nancy Pelosis Deputy Chief of Staff Drew Hammill accused Ryan of uttering the phrase in a tweet that has since been deleted.
Image: screenshot via mediaite
Later, Ryan's communication director, Mike Ricci, responded to Hammill stating that it was not Ryan who said it."You know better," he scolded Hammill in the tweet.
@Drew_Hammill Drew, that is not Speaker Ryan. You know better. Mike Ricci (@riccimike) January 31, 2017
Hammill later apologized for the tweet following some backlash on Twitter.
this is a lie. a blatant lie. you should be ashamed of yourself @Drew_Hammill #Drewisaliar https://t.co/EIPX7B3owS Josh Finestone (@Josh_Finestone) January 31, 2017
.@BrendanBuck tells me that was not his boss. Will take his word for it and I apologized. Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) January 31, 2017
Needless to say, someone didn't enjoy the GOP's press conference.
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WASHINGTON (AP) Comparisons to the Nixon-era "Saturday night massacre" were swift after President Donald Trump fired the acting attorney general for refusing to enforce his executive order on immigrants and refugees.
In both cases, a dispute between a president and his Justice Department led to an evening maneuver by the president to install an acting attorney general more to his liking.
"There's a political component to both: The Department of Justice wasn't playing the president's game," says historian Luke Nichter, an expert on the Nixon years.
Dig deeper, though, he says, and the two situations quickly diverge.
Trump acted within his authority to remove an acting official who was destined to be replaced soon anyway by his new attorney general.
Richard Nixon, by contrast, went three-levels deep into the Justice Department to find someone willing to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who was closing in on Nixon's White House in his investigation of the Watergate break-in and cover-up.
A look at details of the two cases:
TRUMP-SALLY YATES
Trump's executive order temporarily suspends the U.S. refugee program and bars entry for citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries for three months.
With a number of federal judges questioning the constitutionality of the order, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, a career prosecutor and holdover from the Obama administration, on Monday ordered Justice Department lawyers to stop defending it. She questioned whether the order reflected the department's obligation to "always seek justice and stand for what is right."
The White House quickly accused Yates of betrayal and Trump fired her. He replaced her Monday night with Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who pledged to enforce the president's order. Boente will serve until Trump's nominee for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, wins expected Senate approval.
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NIXON-SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE
This was a constitutional drama of the highest order over the limits of executive privilege, with Nixon already under threat of impeachment.
Nixon ordered Cox fired in October 1973 for his continued efforts to obtain tape recordings made at the White House, important evidence in the Watergate investigation. Cox said he would not bow to "exaggerated claims of executive privilege" and drop his pursuit of the tapes.
Attorney General Eliot Richardson refused to carry out Nixon's order to fire Cox and resigned in protest. Richardson's deputy, William Ruckelshaus, also wouldn't fire Cox, and he resigned as well. Next, then-Solicitor General Robert Bork, the third-ranking official at Justice, fired the prosecutor.
The law at the time wasn't clear on how to fire a special prosecutor unless there was clear wrongdoing, according to Nichter.
In his memoirs, Nixon said he thought it was "tasteless" for some to compare his action to Hitler's 1934 purge of political and military rivals known as "The Night of the Long Knives."
Ruckelshaus, 84, in an interview with The Seattle Times, drew a distinction between being asked to thwart an investigation into the president and being asked to defend the president's policy in court.
As for Trump, "If he ordered her to carry out one of his orders, and she refused to do it, he doesn't have an awful lot of choices if he wants the order carried out," Ruckelshaus said. He added that he would caution Trump to "exercise a little more care in these types of orders. Because they can end this way, and that doesn't help him discharging his responsibilities."
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Follow Nancy Benac on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nbenac
London (AFP) - Goals by Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney inflicted a highly damaging blow to Arsenal's title hopes as Watford emerged 2-1 winners in their Premier League clash on Tuesday.
Alex Iwobi got one back for the hosts in the second-half but they couldn't eke out at least an equaliser with the loss leaving them nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea, who the Gunners face this weekend.
The visitors -- who are eight points above the relegation places -- took the lead through a freekick from Frenchman Kaboul.
He stepped up and opted for power, not placement. His low drive was heading towards one corner when it struck Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey on the back and wrongfooted Petr Cech to end up in the other one.
Arsenal found themselves 2-0 down less than three minutes later.
Etienne Capoue -- who like Kaboul played for Arsenal's north London rivals Spurs -- burst on to the ball and smoothly slalomed his way past flimsy challenges from first, Francis Coquelin and then Skhodran Mustafi.
His shot was blocked by Cech but rebounded into the path of Deeney who steered it home with glee.
Worse was to follow for Arsenal when injury forced Ramsey to be replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 20th minute.
It was Watford who were creating the better chances.
The inspirational Capoue again drove past defenders before crossing for Sebastian Prodl to force Cech into a tip-over after 34 minutes.
Cech made an even better stop moments later, acrobatically turning away a Daryl Janmaat effort.
Wenger, whose players were booed off at half-time, brought on Theo Walcott upon the restart.
The sense of urgency in Arsenalas play was immediately apparent with Walcott shooting narrowly wide. Two minutes later another Walcott effort following a flowing move was blocked by the legs of Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes.
Mustafi then headed wide from a corner before Gomes denied both Iwobi and Mesut Ozil in quick succession, the first with a brilliant reaction stop low down to his right.
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The breakthrough finally came in the 58th minute. Alexis Sanchez had been all but invisible in the first half but he drove to the by-line before looping a delightful pass into the path of Iwobi whose volley was ill-timed but deceived Gomes nonetheless.
Watford were struggling to relieve the pressure. As they became ever more desperate in defence, Prodl was booked for upending Sanchez on the rain-sodden surface.
As the minutes ticked away, however, Arsenal were also guilty of snatching at chances with one Gabriel shot lifted high into the night sky.
Substitute Lucas Perez came closest to snatching an equaliser five minutes from time.
Sprinting on to a throw-in, he struck a rising drive which thudded against the underside of the bar and away to safety.
During a briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer disputed the notion that President Trumps executive order halting immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries constitutes a ban.
Yahoo News asked Spicer about comments Mayor Rudy Giuliani made in a Fox News interview last Saturday, in which he suggested that the order evolved out of Trumps campaign promise to impose a Muslim ban. Spicer argued that the order does not constitute a Muslim ban or a travel ban.
I think the president has talked about extreme vetting and the need to keep America safe for a very, very long time. At the same time, hes also made very clear that this is not a Muslim ban. Its not a travel ban. Its a vetting system to keep America safe. Thats it plain and simple, and all of the facts, and a reading of it, clearly show that thats what it is, Spicer said.
Yahoo News pointed out that Giuliani did not say the ban was based on religion, but instead suggested that it arose as a result of a desire for a Muslim ban.
Then you should ask Mayor Giuliani, Spicer replied. Thats thats his opinion. Im just telling you what the president has said, and what the president has done has been to focus on making sure that we keep the country safe and that the executive order that was drafted does just that.
The order, which Trump signed last Friday afternoon, stopped people from Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Libya and Somalia from entering the United States for 90 days. It also barred all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days and indefinitely suspended the entry of refugees from Syria. The order caused some people with current visas to be detained and led to widespread protests and legal challenges.
During his presidential bid, Trump called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the U.S. That proposal subsequently evolved into a vague promise to impose extreme vetting. In his Fox News interview, Giuliani said Trump approached him to find a legal way to implement a Muslim ban.
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Ill tell you the whole history of it: When he first announced it, he said Muslim ban,' Giuliani said.
Giuliani went on to claim that Trump had asked him to form a commission to discuss the policy.
He called me up, he said, Put a commission together, show me the right way to do it legally, said the mayor.
Giuliani said he had assembled a group that focused on, instead of religion, danger. He stressed that the policy it settled on was not based on religion and called it perfectly legal, perfectly sensible.
Its based on places where there are substantial evidence that people are sending terrorists into our country, he said.
Yahoo News followed Spicers advice and reached out to a spokeswoman for Giuliani, Jo Ann Zafonte, to ask about the mayors comments.
Im sorry, the mayor is not available, she said.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer addresses a daily media briefing. (Photo: Yuri Gripas/Reuters)
In the briefing, Spicer stressed to Yahoo News that the seven countries affected by the order had already had restrictions placed on them during the administration of President Barack Obama. Specifically, people traveling from those countries, or who had recently visited them, were deemed ineligible for the visa waiver program, and had to apply for a visa to enter the U.S. But they were not excluded altogether.
It is to make sure and to ensure that people coming in from seven countries identified by the Obama administration [where] we didnt have the proper systems, to know who was coming into our country, Spicer said, later adding, A 90-day period was also granted to ensure that we knew how to further address vetting situations in the future.
Despite Spicers contention that the order is not a ban, he and Trump have both used this language in the past. Spicer referred to it as a 90-day ban in an appearance on ABCs This Week on Sunday that was subsequently touted in a White House press release. Trump himself described the order as a ban in a tweet he sent on Monday, in which he defended the fact that it was announced without warning, as a necessary step to ensure bad dudes did not rush into our country before it took effect.
During the briefing, NBC News Kristen Welker read Trumps tweet and asked Spicer how he could deny that the order was a ban if the president was using that language to describe it. Spicer argued that Trump is using the words that the media is using, which prompted an incredulous response from another reporter in the briefing room.
Those are his words! the reporter exclaimed.
Spicer went on to argue that the U.S. is still admitting large numbers of visitors into the country.
It cant be a ban if youre letting a million people in that is by nature not a ban. It is extreme vetting, Spicer said.
In recent years, the total number of foreign visitors to the U.S., including those from Canada and Mexico, has been around 6 million a month.
Spicer concluded by repeating his claim that the media was responsible for the order being described as a ban.
I think that the words that are being used to describe it derive from what the media is calling this. He has been very clear that it is extreme vetting, he said.
WASHINGTON (AP) The White House said Tuesday that no American citizen "will ever be targeted" in raids against terror suspects, a blanket statement that appeared to signal a break from the Obama administration's strategy for pursuing and targeting suspects in counterterrorism operations overseas.
Under former President Barack Obama, the Justice Department had issued a legal opinion giving the U.S. the authority to target Americans who are working with terrorists abroad.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters the Trump administration will lean on the guidance of Central Intelligence Agency director Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, but he added that "no American citizen will ever be targeted."
It was not immediately clear whether Spicer's intended to recalibrate U.S. policy.
The U.S. specifically targeted and killed American Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical cleric, in Yemen in 2011. Other Americans, including suspected terrorists, have been killed in U.S. drone strikes, but they were not specifically targeted.
A U.S. service member and an American child died in a ground raid authorized by President Donald Trump last week. The child was the 8-year-old daughter of al-Awlaki. Al-Awlaki's 16-year-old American son was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2012.
Sunday's raid left nearly 30 others dead, including more than half a dozen militant suspects. Several more children were also killed.
Whether the U.S. should target its own citizens in drone strikes has been the subject of much debate. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump discussed "going after" the families of suspected terrorists, but he did not specify what that meant.
The U.S. has been striking al-Qaida in Yemen from the air for more than 15 years, mostly using drones. Sunday's surprise pre-dawn raid could signal a new escalation against extremist groups in the poor but strategically located country.
Last week, the Trump administration imposed an immigration and travel ban on people from seven countries, including Yemen, citing terrorism concerns.
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Obama said in 2013 that he did "not believe it would be constitutional for the government to target and kill any U.S. citizen with a drone, or with a shotgun without due process, nor should any President deploy armed drones over U.S. soil."
He added, however, that if that citizen wages war against America or is actively plotting to kill Americans, "his citizenship should no more serve as a shield than a sniper shooting down on an innocent crowd."
Later that same year, the Obama administration triggered a fiery debate on Capitol Hill over the limits of its drone program following the death of al-Awlaki's teenage son, an American citizen. Sixteen-year-old Abdulrahman al-Awlaki, an American citizen at the time of the 2012 strike that killed him, hadn't seen his father in two years when he was killed. He had no known links to al-Qaida and is said to have lived the life of an ordinary teenage boy.
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Associated Press reporter Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this story.
By Idrees Ali and Warren Strobel WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Monday tried to tamp down the furore over President Donald Trump's reorganization of the National Security Council, saying "nothing has changed." A comparison of Trump's order with documents from the Bush and Obama administrations, however, shows that is not entirely accurate. Unlike President Barack Obama, but like President George W. Bush, Trump did not make the U.S. Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff regular members of the cabinet-level Principals Committee. But Trump's directive gives an unprecedented NSC role to a political advisor, Steve Bannon, who headed Breitbart News, a website and voice for the alt-right movement, a loose confederation that includes hardcore nationalists, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and anti-Semites. Critics of the move say it could allow domestic politics to influence national security and puts a political adviser on par with other Cabinet level officials. In his briefing on Monday, Spicer argued that identifying Bannon by his title was a move to show that the administration was transparent about who is attending top-level meetings. He said that David Axelrod, a top political adviser to Obama, attended national security meetings "quite frequently." Axelrod disputed that, saying he attended early meetings under Obama only on Afghanistan-Pakistan policy. "I was not a member of the committee. I did not speak or participate. I sat on the sidelines as a silent observer," he wrote on CNN's website on Monday. A former top Obama administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, called the addition of Bannon "an unprecedented politicization of foreign policy that exceeds even what hubris is the new normal." "In many ways that is unprecedented, often time these discussions are analytical, very technical, and it is not a lot of politics in the room," said Shannon Green, who served on the National Security Council staff and is now a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Green said that there are few areas where the U.S. military and intelligence agencies do not have expertise and relationships with foreign governments that could be beneficial for non-military issues. The Pentagon said it did not see Trump's reorganization as downgrading the role of the Joint Chiefs chairman, who is the top U.S. military officer. The chairman and the U.S. intelligence czar are advisers to the National Security Council by law. Trump's directive says they will attend meetings of the Principals Committee "where issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed." That is the same language used by Bush in a February 2001 order. Defense Secretary James Mattis, "when he engages with the National Security Council, whether it is with the full NSC or at a PC (Principals Committee), he intends to always have the chairman at his side when he is discussing anything that has anything to do with national security and our military," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said. In a statement the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford said he would continue to provide his best military advice to the President and members of National Security Council. (Additional reporting by Phil Stewart. Editing by Andrew Hay)
By Idrees Ali and Warren Strobel WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Monday tried to tamp down the furor over President Donald Trump's reorganization of the National Security Council, saying "nothing has changed." A comparison of Trump's order with documents from the Bush and Obama administrations, however, shows that is not entirely accurate. Unlike President Barack Obama, but like President George W. Bush, Trump did not make the U.S. Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff regular members of the cabinet-level Principals Committee. But Trump's directive gives an unprecedented NSC role to a political advisor, Steve Bannon, who headed Breitbart News, a website and voice for the alt-right movement, a loose confederation that includes hardcore nationalists, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and anti-Semites. Critics of the move say it could allow domestic politics to influence national security and puts a political adviser on par with other Cabinet level officials. In his briefing on Monday, Spicer argued that identifying Bannon by his title was a move to show that the administration was transparent about who is attending top-level meetings. He said that David Axelrod, a top political adviser to Obama, attended national security meetings "quite frequently." Axelrod disputed that, saying he attended early meetings under Obama only on Afghanistan-Pakistan policy. "I was not a member of the committee. I did not speak or participate. I sat on the sidelines as a silent observer," he wrote on CNN's website on Monday. A former top Obama administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, called the addition of Bannon "an unprecedented politicization of foreign policy that exceeds even what hubris is the new normal." "In many ways that is unprecedented, often time these discussions are analytical, very technical, and it is not a lot of politics in the room," said Shannon Green, who served on the National Security Council staff and is now a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Green said that there are few areas where the U.S. military and intelligence agencies do not have expertise and relationships with foreign governments that could be beneficial for non-military issues. The Pentagon said it did not see Trump's reorganization as downgrading the role of the Joint Chiefs chairman, who is the top U.S. military officer. The chairman and the U.S. intelligence czar are advisers to the National Security Council by law. Trump's directive says they will attend meetings of the Principals Committee "where issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed." That is the same language used by Bush in a February 2001 order. Defense Secretary James Mattis, "when he engages with the National Security Council, whether it is with the full NSC or at a PC (Principals Committee), he intends to always have the chairman at his side when he is discussing anything that has anything to do with national security and our military," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said. In a statement the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford said he would continue to provide his best military advice to the President and members of National Security Council. (Additional reporting by Phil Stewart. Editing by Andrew Hay)
The Trump Administration signaled Tuesday that it is apparently breaking from the Obama Administration directive that allowed the government to target specific American citizens involved in terror plots overseas.
The statement came after a a strike in Yemen reportedly killed the 8-year-old American daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula propagandistwho was himself killed in 2011 by an Obama-ordered drone strike.
No American citizen will ever be targeted, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters Tuesday.
In 2014, a federal court released a redacted version of a 41-page memo justifying the Obama Administrations to strike Awlaki, despite his U.S. citizenship.
We do not believe that al-Aulaqis U.S. citizenship imposes constitutional limitations that would preclude the contemplated lethal action, the memo stated.
Spicer opened the briefing by stating that President Trump had a very somber and lengthy conversation with the family of Navy Chief Petty Officer William Ryan Owens, the Navy SEAL, who was killed in the raid.
As a presidential candidate, Trump promised to get tough on terror groups. In December 2015, Trump told Fox News that the families of terrorists must be targeted.
The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families, he said. They care about their lives, dont kid yourself. When they say they dont care about their lives, you have to take out their families.
Spicer refused to comment on reports that the girl, Nawar al-Awlaki, was killed in the raid. Her grandfather confirmed her death to NBC.
The Jan. 28 strike was the first explicitly ordered by President Donald Trump, an official confirmed. U.S. Central Command said in a statement that the operation resulted in an estimated 14 AQAP members being killed and the capture of information that will likely provide insight into the planning of future terror plots.
The statement cast the raid as one in a series of aggressive moves against terrorist planners in Yemen and worldwide.
By Curtis Skinner
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The wife of the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, asked a California court on Tuesday to be released from custody pending trial, arguing she had no knowledge of his plans and was asleep as the attack unfolded.
Noor Salman, 30, was arrested this month and pleaded not guilty to federal charges of obstructing justice and aiding her late husband, Omar Mateen, in his attempt to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
Salman's attorneys filed the petition arguing for her release ahead of her detention hearing on Wednesday in a federal court in Oakland. She has been jailed since her arrest in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The filing said that on the night of the June 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Salman put her young son to bed and fell asleep before getting a call from her mother-in-law, who asked if she knew where Mateen was after he failed to show for a planned visit.
Salman did not know her husband's whereabouts, according to the petition, and texted Mateen to find out. He responded with a text saying: "Do you see what's happening?" When she replied she had not, he wrote only: "I love you, babe."
It was the last communication they had, Salman's lawyers said. Mateen was killed in a shootout with police after he took hostages during a three-hour standoff in the nightclub.
"These are not the actions of someone with knowledge of her husband's murderous plans," the filing said.
Salman was indicted by a grand jury, and prosecutors said she lied to investigators looking into the shooting. The first person charged by U.S. authorities in connection with the attack, she could face life in prison if convicted.
The court motion by the defense said Salman was physically abused by Mateen, who was "rapidly succumbing to steroid abuse" and exerted significant control over her.
Friends and family describe her as "simple," "obedient" and "child-like," the lawyers said, adding Salman had no criminal history and posed no threat to the public.
Should the court release her into the custody of her uncle or mother, Salman's lawyers said her mother would be willing to relocate to Florida, where prosecutors have said they intend to try Salman.
(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Dan Levine; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Peter Cooney)
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When you're annoyed about the cost of weed going up, who should you talk to? Probably anyone else, but the police.
The folks at Australia's Northern Territory Police received an "unusual" phone call from a woman complaining about the cost of marijuana from her local drug dealer increasing.
SEE ALSO: Cops ask owner to claim 5-pound bag of weed
"Completely offended, the woman demanded that police investigate this 'outrageous' price hike. When asked for further details, the woman hung up," the police Facebook post reads.
Unsurprisingly, there were plenty of people who had a giggle at the odd request.
Of course, the Northern Territory Police stated that it'd love to help when it comes to matters of the cost of drugs, encouraging the aggrieved to contact authorities.
"If you know a drug dealer who is ripping you off, give us a call, we'd love to help," the post reads.
Cue nervous laughter.
Factoring in rising health care costs is an essential part of the retirement planning equation. It takes even more priority for women, who face higher health care expenses as they grow older.
A 2016 report from HealthView Services found that a 65-year-old woman retiring now will spend approximately $314,673 on health care in retirement. That's 18 percent more than a 65-year-old man would pay.
This puts women at a disadvantage for making their retirement savings stretch further. The problem is compounded by the fact that women often face obstacles in building their investment portfolio.
The gender wage gap, for example, means many women are saving for retirement on a smaller salary. A Vanguard study revealed that while women save a larger percentage of their income than their male counterparts on average, men have account balances that are more than 50 percent higher due to the difference in earnings.
For women who are actively investing for retirement, finding ways to mitigate the impact of future health care costs is a priority.
Up the ante. If you're concerned about health care taking a bite out of your retirement income, you may want to take a second look at your target savings number.
"Aim higher," says Terra Bonucchi, a certified financial planner and financial advisor with Advance Capital Management in Southfield, Michigan.
[See: 9 Stocks to Buy for the Aging Baby Boomer Market.]
Bonucchi advises clients to look at what they think they're going to need in retirement and add another 10 to 15 percent to the total.
"If you plan with a higher than average expense figure and save a little more aggressively, then you have a better chance of success," Bonucchi says. "No one has ever said to me, 'I wish I wouldn't have saved so much.'"
Evaluating where you're investing your retirement dollars is the next step. "It's essential that women maximize retirement contributions from their employer," says Patricia Cathey, an investment advisor with Smart Retirement Plan in Denver.
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Cathey advises investing enough to qualify for the full company match, if one is offered. She also advocates investing in a Roth IRA. "You'll pay taxes on the money today but then you're able to withdraw it tax-free in retirement," Cathey says. "It's beneficial to pay taxes now because tax rates are relatively low and could go even lower."
A health savings account is another investment avenue women should explore, says Dana Anspach, founder of Sensible Money in Phoenix. "Funds in an HSA grow tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free when used for qualified health care expenses," Anspach says, which can give women an edge in terms of their life expectancy.
"As women live longer and are likely to be single later in life, they'll be filing at single tax rates," Anspach says. "Having a tax-free source of funds, such as savings in an HSA, Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) can make a big difference."
Understand the financial implications of Medicare. Medicare can be a help with managing health care costs in retirement, but there is a financial toll associated with this coverage.
Byron Ellis, managing director at United Capital in The Woodlands, Texas, says women who are on the verge of retirement need to account for the cost of Medicare Part B premiums.
"Medicare premiums are based on your prior year's income and you could be in for quite a shock the first year of retirement when you see how big the monthly cost is," Ellis says.
Chris Alberta, president and senior financial advisor at Principium Tactical Wealth Management in Brighton, Michigan, says women earning high salaries should be aware of how that could affect their health care costs. "Unless something changes drastically, Medicare's model for income-related premiums will continue to charge higher earners significantly more for their Part B coverage," Alberta says.
[See: 6 Strategies To Avoid Working in Retirement.]
He offers an example of how the costs can add up. As of 2017, the standard monthly premium is $134. A single filer earning between $160,000 and $214,000, however, would pay $348 per month. When you add in the costs of a supplemental plan and prescription drug coverage, the yearly total could approach $10,000.
Women need to keep that in mind if they're contemplating working beyond age 65 or if they're planning to execute a Roth conversion in their first year of retirement. A Roth conversion could reduce your taxable income in future years but it can trigger a much larger tax bill in the short term, which would impact your Part B premiums.
Plan now for long-term care and Social Security. Long-term care can add substantially to your health care costs in retirement and women should think about insuring against it. Purchasing long-term care insurance sooner rather than later is ideal, says Lisa Hutter, senior director of wealth planning for Wells Fargo Private Bank in Austin, Texas.
"Long-term care insurance, just like life insurance, is generally less expensive the younger and healthier you are," Hutter says.
Kimberly Foss, founder of Empyrion Wealth Management in Roseville, California advises her clients to look into long-term care insurance between the ages of 50 and 60, before the cost becomes too prohibitive. She says women should first ask themselves whether they really need this type of insurance. "Age, health history and family support are all factors in deciding whether long-term care insurance is needed or not," Foss says. Women who have few health issues and substantial investments may be able to self-insure.
Long-term care planning is also important for your spouse if you're married, says Ellen Jordan, senior vice president and women's wealth advisor at Bryn Mawr Trust in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
"Couples should plan to cover health costs for both individuals," Jordan says.
She recommends that couples research hybrid long-term care insurance, which is a single premium policy combining long-term care coverage with a small death benefit. In that scenario, a woman whose spouse passes away without using the long-term care component would still benefit financially.
Social Security, like Medicare, can reduce some of the financial pressure women may feel as they enter retirement but the timing is critical.
Delaying Social Security, if possible is something women should consider, says Tiffany Welka, vice president of VFG Associates in Livonia, Michigan. Women who can hold off on taking Social Security until age 70 would see their monthly benefits increase by 8 percent.
[See: 7 Pharma Stocks and the Prognosis for Profits.]
"You'd have that higher benefit for the rest of your life," Welka says, but she cautions women against waiting until the last minute to decide. "Integrating when to take your Social Security benefits with your health care plan and retirement income plan is something that women should start thinking about prior to age 62."
Rebecca Lake is a freelance Investing & Retirement reporter at U.S. News & World Report. She's been reporting on personal finance, investing and small business for nearly a decade and her work has been featured on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, CBS News and Investopedia. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter or email her at rlake0836@gmail.com.
The New Jersey mother who championed her 8-year-old transgender sons rights to stay in the Boy Scouts of America cheered the organizations decision this week to open its doors to transgender children.
Kristie Maldonado, 43, last week filed a civil rights complaint with the state against the Northern New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts her sons hometown chapter that booted him in November because he was designated as female at birth.
On Monday night, the Boy Scouts of America announced it would now welcome transgender children who identify as boys. The national organization said it has started deferring to the gender identity indicated on enrollment applications, rather than birth certificates.
Im ecstatic for everyone that they dont have to go through what my child went though, Maldonado told TIME on Tuesday.
Her son, Joe Maldonado, loved being part of the Boy Scouts team and was devastated when he was kicked out last year. The emotional turmoil from feeling isolated caused him to fall behind in school, his mother said.
Now, hes excited for the chance to return to the Boy Scouts, his mother said. Just knowing that he can go back to his Scouts and knowing that hes accepted, it means a lot, she said. It does.
Maldonado said Joe will likely join a different Boy Scouts chapter because she does not want him to return to his hometown chapter under its current leadership. The Boy Scouts of America and the Northern New Jersey Council did not immediately return requests for further comment. In the statement announcing the change, the Boy Scouts of America said: This is an area that we will continue to thoughtfully evaluate to bring the benefits of Scouting to the greatest number of youth possible.
Maldonado said she plans to fill out a brand-new application for Joe this week a moment she said shell savor.
Im going to feel very proud that we won, she said, just knowing that they didnt win. Just knowing my kid can go in there if he feels like it. It feels good.
Leaders from around the world have reacted to President Donald Trump's decision to halt restrict all immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East, with many slamming the newly inaugurated leader's controversial policy.
Trump's executive order immediately voided all visas from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, nations whose nationals his administration deemed particularly threatening to national security. The scope and sudden implementation of the order caused chaos and outrage throughout the U.S. with scores of foreigners being detained at airports despite having previously valid travel documents. Political leaders have since commented on the developing situation as well as Trump's remarks toward immigrants in general.
Germany
"The chancellor regrets the entry ban imposed by the U.S. government against refugees and nationals from certain countries," German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesperson Steffen Seibert said Sunday in a statement. "She is convinced that even in the necessarily resolute battle against terrorism it is not justified to place people from a certain origin or belief under general suspicion."
France
"Faced with an unstable and uncertain world, withdrawal into oneself is a dead-end response," French President Francois Hollande reportedly told Trump in a phone call, adding that defending democratic ideals meant complying with "the principles on which it is founded, in particular the acceptance of refugees."
United Kingdom
"Immigration policy in the United States is a matter for the government of the United States, just the same as immigration policy for this country should be set by our government," U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, a political ally of Trump, said through a spokesman.
While far-right politician Nigel Farage praised Trump, other prominent political figures in the U.K. attacked Trump's policy and some criticized May for not condemning it. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who has supported Trump in the past, said it was "divisive and wrong to stigmatize because of nationality," while Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn censured May for not standing up to Trump. Saddiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of London, called Trump's restrictions "shameful and cruel."
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Norway
"Refugees and other people must be treated equally regardless of religion, nationality and skin color. The USA violates this by refusing entry," Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solber told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang Sunday. "We must be resolute in the fight against terrorism, but I do not think it is right to cut so many people from certain countries."
China
"China believes that adjusting immigration and entry and exit policy is an act within each country's sovereignty," the China's foreign ministry told Reuters in a statement Monday, adding, "At the same time, relevant moves must also consider the reasonable concerns of relevant countries."
Canada
"To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada," Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau tweeted Saturday.
Turkey
"Regional issues cannot be solved by closing the doors on people. We expect the Western world to lighten Turkey's burden," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters Saturday at a press conference.
Iraq
"We are against this stance from the new administration," Sadiq al-Laban said in a statement Monday, adding: "We hope that the American administration will rethink ... this decision."
Iraq's parliament successfully voted to call on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's government to condemn to implement a reciprocal ban against U.S. citizens entering Iraq, where U.S. forces are assisting the military and allied militias in battling the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS. The foreign ministry and influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr also slammed Trump's policy.
Iran
"#MuslimBan will be recorded in history as a great gift to extremists and their supporters," Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif tweeted Saturday, adding that the "international community needs dialogue & cooperation to address the roots of violence & extremism in a comprehensive & inclusive manner."
Zarif said his ministry would "take reciprocal measures to protect citizens," but that Iran's ban against U.S. citizens would not be retroactive like Trump's.
Sudan
"The Sudanese citizens living in the United States are known for their good reputation, respect for American laws, and their lack of involvement in radical and criminal acts, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
The Sudanese government has reportedly summoned the U.S. ambassador over the incident and has called on the restrictions to be lifted.
Yemen
"The decision to ban travel for Yemeni passport holders into the United States supports extremists and sows discord among peoples," Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel Melek al-Mekhlefi tweeted Monday. In the military's first operation under Trump, a U.S. commando, 14 militants and around 30 civilians, including an 8-year-old girl, were killed Monday.
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BRASILIA (Reuters) - The worst yellow fever outbreak in decades is not just killing Brazilians, it threatens to wipe out monkeys in the Atlantic rainforest that are already close to extinction, experts warned on Tuesday. So far 400 monkeys have been found dead in the state of Espirito Santo where the fever outbreak has spread from neighboring Minas Gerais. At greatest risk is the muriqui monkey, Brazil's largest primate and one of the planet's 25 most-endangered species of primates, said biologist Roberto Cabral at the Brazilian environmental agency Ibama. "The monkeys are vulnerable to yellow fever just like humans but we have vaccines to protect us, they don't," Cabral said. "They are being decimated." Farmers first alerted authorities about the dying animals when they realized that the forest had gone silent and the monkeys had disappeared. Yellow fever is a viral disease found in tropical regions of Africa and the Americas that mainly affects humans and monkeys and is transmitted by the same type of mosquito that spreads dengue and the Zika virus. Public health officials have confirmed the death of 46 humans from yellow fever in rural areas and are urging people to get vaccinated in nine states where the disease is present to prevent the outbreak from becoming an epidemic. Most of the cases were reported in Minas Gerais state. Ibama has received reports of rural inhabitants killing monkeys out of the erroneous belief that they can transmit yellow fever to humans. "Some people are blaming the monkeys, which is absurd, because the mosquitoes are the villains," said Cabral. "The monkeys are helping us humans by alerting us to the presence of yellow fever." (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Tom Brown)
SANAA (Reuters) - The armed Houthi movement attacked a Saudi warship off the western coast of Yemen on Monday, causing an explosion that killed two crew members and injured three others, Saudi state news agency SPA reported. Separately, the Houthis said they launched a ballistic missile at a Saudi-led coalition military base on the Red Sea island of Zuqar between Yemen and Eritrea on Tuesday morning, according to the group's official news channel al-Masira. There was no immediate coalition reaction to that claim and it was unclear if there were any casualties. The attacks signal an escalation to weeks of combat on Yemen's western coast between the Iran-allied Houthis and the coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government. "A Saudi frigate on patrol west of Hodeidah port came under attack from three suicide boats belonging to the Houthi militias," the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said in a statement on SPA. One of the boats collided with the rear of the vessel, causing an explosion and a fire that killed two crew members and wounded three others. The Houthi movement's al-Masira channel contradicted this account and quoted a military source saying the explosion was caused by a guided missile. It was at least the second attack by the Houthis on ships off the coast of Yemen in the last six months. The group is engaged in battles on the mainland with coalition troops and pro-government fighters, who are trying to advance northward to deprive the Houthis of Red Sea ports. The Saudi-led coalition warned the attack on the ship "would impact international navigation and the flow of humanitarian assistance to the port for Yemeni citizens." Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies have carried out thousands of bombing raids in Yemen since March 2015 in a campaign to try to restore the ousted administration government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari and Ali Abdelaty; Writing by Tom Finn; Editing by Tom Heneghan and Richard Pullin)
By Nate Raymond
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York art dealer avoided prison for her role in a scheme that led two Manhattan galleries to buy dozens of fake paintings that they then sold for $80 million, after a federal judge ruled on Tuesday she was coerced by her abusive ex-boyfriend.
Glafira Rosales, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla in Manhattan to nine months of home detention after pleading guilty in 2013 to charges that included conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.
Failla, who said the sentence would be served as part of the Long Island resident's three years of supervised release, cited defense arguments that Rosales' conduct stemmed from abuse she suffered at the hands of her boyfriend, the scheme's mastermind.
"I do believe that you did a lot of what you did because of concern for your daughter being harmed or taken away from you," Failla said.
Rosales, who served three months in prison following her initial arrest, cried in court, saying she was "truly, truly sorry for what I have done."
Rosales is the only one of four defendants in the case to be sentenced over a scheme to sell over 60 fake paintings promoted as works by artists including Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning to the two galleries for $33.2 million.
Around 40 counterfeits were sold to Knoedler & Co, which before closing in 2011 was New York City's oldest art gallery, while the rest were sold to Manhattan art dealer Julian Weissman.
Prosecutors said the paintings were created by a Chinese artist, Pei-Shen Qian, who after meeting Rosales' former boyfriend, Jose Carlos Bergantinos Diaz, at his behest began creating fakes that Diaz sold to several galleries.
Rosales' lawyers said she became the scheme's face after people began questioning the authenticity of art sold by Diaz. Prosecutors said in selling the paintings, she claimed to represent a Swiss client or a Spanish art collector.
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In court papers, Rosales' lawyers said on many occasions, she told Diaz she no longer wanted to sell the counterfeits, only to be threatened.
Diaz and his brother, Jesus Angel Bergantinos Diaz, were indicted along with Qian in 2014 connection with the scheme after Rosales began cooperating with authorities.
The Diaz brothers were arrested in Spain in 2014, but the U.S. government's extradition requests were denied. Qian is considered a fugitive and is believed to be in China.
(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by David Gregorio)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's government has made a fresh attempt to seize more than half of platinum producer Zimplats' mining land, the company said on Tuesday. It said it received a new notice from President Robert Mugabe's administration on Jan. 13 that the government wanted to seize the land and gave the company 30 days to lodge an objection. This is the third time since February 2012 that the government has issued a notice to seize 27,948 hectares of mining ground from Zimplats, the country's biggest platinum producer. It objects to the acquisition. Zimplats, which is 87 percent owned by South Africa's Impala Platinum Holdings, owns a total of 48,535 hectares in mining claims. "The operating subsidiary (Zimplats) is engaging the government of Zimbabwe on the matter," the company said in its third-quarter results statement. It did not give more details on the issue. Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa did not answer his mobile phone when contacted for comment. Mugabe's government has previously defended the decision to seize Zimplats land, saying the miner had an excessive amount of land and it wanted to distribute the claims to new companies. Zimplats said its profit for its third quarter, ended Dec. 31, rose 28 percent to $21 million thanks to higher platinum matte sales, which increased to 133,978 ounces from 100,392 ounces previously. The mining company ships its platinum matte for further processing at refineries in South Africa. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Mark Potter and Susan Fenton)
Miss Bulgaria recently competed in the 2017 Miss Universe pageant. (Photo: Getty Images)
Although Miss Bulgaria 2016, Violina Ancheva, didnt take home the crown at the 65th Miss Universe pageant Sunday night, she still managed to make headlines around the globe for a very different and inspiring reason.
Ancheva decided to graciously gift her Miss Universe gown, a blue Sherri Hill ensemble featuring a full skirt and a crop top, to a teen in a need of a prom dress.
She posted a message on Facebook to her followers in the Philippines, where the pageant was held, urging someone in need of the dress to send her a personal message. Dear friends, I would like to give as a present my Miss Universe Gown (on the picture) to one of you that really want it and need it. I want to give the dress to a girl in need that cant buy a dress for her prom the next month, she wrote.
She also directed users to act fast, as she was leaving the country soon after posting the message. Please write to me a personal message for details. I am leaving soon, so please hurry up, she captioned the image of her wearing the dress during the competition.
The post received more than 13,000 comments, with many sharing personal stories and detailing why they wanted the dress. The lucky recipient? Fifteen-year-old Zyra Nicole Cifra, the daughter of a single mother of two, Issay Gallano.
Cifras mother sent a message to Ancheva, as she could not afford to buy her daughter a dress, and was shocked to receive a response. I was checking my SSS (Social Security System) already so I can buy her a dress because she really wanted a memorable prom this year. And then this necklace Im ready to pawn this just to add to the budget, Gallano told CNN Philippines on the steps she was prepared to take to attempt to buy her daughter a dress.
Ancheva and Gallano met up to exchange the dress, and CNN captured a sweet moment of the women embracing.
EXCLUSIVE: #MissBulgaria #ViolinaAncheva and Issay Gallano hug after meeting at the @ConradManila | Photo courtesy of Marc Sobhrajani pic.twitter.com/J7sNuRZadZ CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) January 31, 2017
I know how she feels and Im happy I gave it to you, and your daughter will have the best dress of the evening, Ancheva told Gallano during the meeting, according to CNN.
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The women also took a selfie together during the meeting, which Gallano uploaded to Facebook.
Gallano later posted an image of her daughter wearing the exquisite dress, which she appeared to love.
Thank you so much Miss Bulgaria. You have a beautiful heart. We wish you all the best. God bless you and your family, she captioned the image of her daughter.
As much as the mother and daughter were touched by the gesture, Miss Bulgaria was also impacted as well. This is probably the most beautiful thing that I have ever done for somebody, the most touching thing, Ancheva said.
Related: Ahead of Pageant, Miss Universe 2017 Contestants Go Makeup-Free
Related: Miss Universe 2017: Steve Harvey Crowns the (Correct) Winner
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Photo credit: Getty
From Town & Country
With over eight million overnight visitors last year, Barcelona was the fourth most-visited city in Europe in 2016, beating out even Spain's capital Madrid.
While that might sound like good news for a city that depends on tourism for about 12 percent of its $77 billion GDP (according to 2014 figures), Barcelona passed a law last week to limit the number of tourists. Apparently the onslaught of visitors is overwhelming the city's 1.6 million residents.
Known as the Special Urban Plan for Tourist Accommodation, the new law issued a moratorium on the construction of new hotels and a stop to new licenses for tourist apartments. The city currently has 75,000 hotel beds along with 50,000 beds in tourist apartments (plus an estimated 50,000 beds in illegal ones).
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The new law has local support, since the high number of tourist apartments has caused a shortage-and consequent rise in rents-in the city, but the tourism industry is not happy.
"The focus of the plan is wrong," Manel Casals, director general of the Barcelona hoteliers association, told The Guardian. "Of the 32 million people who visited Barcelona last year, only eight million stayed in hotels. Twenty-three million were day-trippers who spend very little money in the city. You're not going to regulate tourism by limiting the number of beds. They're not regulating tourism, they're only regulating where people sleep."
Since several new hotel projects are already under way, the law isn't expected to have an impact on travelers until 2019. Until then, keep in mind that July and August are the most popular months to visit Barcelona so plan your trip in the off season to avoid the crowds.
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But if you want to skip Barcelona all together, Spain has plenty of other beautiful seaside cities to visit. Here are a few of our favorites:
San Sebastian
This low-key Basque city on Spain's northern coast has not just one, but two beaches right downtown so there's plenty of room to plant your towel and umbrella for the day.
Photo credit: Getty
Valencia
Want to visit a coastal city in Spain with noteworthy modern architecture? Sure, Barcelona has some of Gaudi's best work, but Valencia has Calatrava's futuristic City of Arts and Sciences.
Photo credit: Getty
Sitges
The Catalonian town of Sitges has those small beach town vibes you'd miss out on if you stayed in Barcelona-which is only 30 minutes away by train.
Photo credit: Getty
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Isabella Springmuhl, left, with her biggest inspirations her family, including her stylish mother and grandmother. (Photo: Courtesy of Instagram.com/down2xjabelle)
Shes one of the most recognized fashion designers in all of Guatemala, and shes just 19 years old. But her age is not the only thing that makes Isabella Springmuhl stand out in the fashion world. She also has Down syndrome.
The talented teen was the first designer with Down syndrome ever to show her work at London Fashion Week, according to the BBC, which recently included her on its list of 100 inspirational women.
Springmuhl expressed an interest in design when she was in high school, she told Metro. Her influences reach back to her grandmother, who had an atelier that made clothing using traditional Guatemalan fabrics, which are known for their vivid hues and vibrant designs. But because of her chromosome disorder, Springmuhl hasnt had an easy road pursuing her passion.
Paz interior #paz #downtoxjabelle #down2xjabelle #Guatemala A photo posted by Down to Xjabelle (@down2xjabelle) on Sep 8, 2016 at 4:27pm PDT
The girl was rejected by two design schools, her mother, Isabel Tejada, told the BBC, both of which felt that she would not be able to cope. Though angry, Tejada didnt let that hold her back from encouraging her childs creativity and talent. I was furious that these institutions did not give Isabella a chance to learn. It was so sad, but it made her change everything. She then decided she wanted to learn sewing, so I took her to a sewing academy for women, Tejada told the publication.
A quick study, she soon became fluent in digital pattern-making. Her process, as she explained to Metro, includes drawing designs in her mannequin book, coloring them, and then using special software to create three-dimensional printouts. After that, its off to the atelier, where she instructs the seamstresses and embroiderers to transform her visions into tangible garments.
New Collection coming soon! #downtoxjabelle #down2xjabelle #newcollection #newcollection2016 #fashion A photo posted by Down to Xjabelle (@down2xjabelle) on Sep 10, 2016 at 10:38am PDT
Springmuhl launched Down to Xjabelle Down because I have Down syndrome. Xjabelle was the name of my grannys atelier, she says where she has sold one official collection, Peace and Love, and has another on the way. Her clothing is unique to her specific aesthetic, which includes modern silhouettes, floral embroidery, and plenty of playful, one-of-a-kind Guatemalan fabrics, which she describes as carefree just like me on her website.
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The textiles, which she gets from a supplier in Antigua, are woven by Mayan indigenous women who live in the rural areas of my beautiful Guatemala. Each community in Guatemala has different patterns and colors that identify them, she says, adding, Using the Mayan textiles in my designs, I honor all these women that for ages and ages have been weaving Guatemalas history in clothing and textiles.
A designer AND a model ???????? una disenadora Y una modelo???? A photo posted by Down to Xjabelle (@down2xjabelle) on Dec 1, 2016 at 5:08pm PST
On her site, she says, I wish that every garment I so lovingly work on warms the dreams of other youngsters who have different abilities we can do it!
When shes not mingling with her peers and design mentors or showing her work at fashion week, Springmuhl spends her time taking sewing lessons and Zumba classes, and going horseback riding, she tells Metro. In the afternoon, I learn more about fashion design on the Internet.
Springmuhl, whose signature pieces include embroidered bolero jackets, ponchos, handbags, and cushions, has high aspirations. I want to export my brand Down to Xjabelle all over the world, she told the BBC. I want people to know my designs and to know that people with Down syndrome can do what they set out to do I want people to know me for my work, and what is inside my heart.
Start your 2017 filled with colors! ????Empieza tu 2017 lleno de colores!???? A photo posted by Down to Xjabelle (@down2xjabelle) on Dec 31, 2016 at 3:33pm PST
And Springmuhl is grateful for what shes achieved thus far. She tells Metro, I feel happy for all the love that I receive from so many people worldwide.
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By Sankalp Phartiyal and Tanvi Mehta MUMBAI/BENGALURU (Reuters) - India's IT lobby warned on Tuesday that a bill before the U.S. Congress aimed at imposing tougher visa rules unfairly targets some of its members and will not solve a U.S. labor shortage in technology and engineering. Industry lobby group Nasscom was responding to a bill introduced by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California, that would double the minimum salary required for holders of H-1B visas to $130,000 and determine how many of the visas were allocated, based on factors such as overall wages. India's $150 billion information technology sector, led by Tata Consultancy Services , Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd , uses the H-1B visas to fly engineers and developers to service clients in the U.S., their biggest market, but opponents say they are using the visas to replace U.S. workers. Concerns about President Donald Trump's immigration policies were heightened by his ban on refugees on Friday. "The Lofgren Bill contains provisions that may prove challenging for the Indian IT sector and will also leave loopholes that will nullify the objective of saving American jobs," Nasscom said. The industry body said the bill did not address the shortage of skilled STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workers in the U.S., adding that its provisions were "biased against H-1B dependent companies". The chief executive of Tech Mahindra , the country's fourth-biggest software services exporter, said the Indian IT sector was already looking for alternatives. "We will have to wait and watch for any impact felt on us after a few quarters," C.P. Gurnani said in a statement. "Indian IT is already creating jobs and have been investing in form of setting up delivery centers and local hiring." India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday it had expressed its concerns to the U.S. government, without providing further details. "India's interests and concerns have been conveyed both to the U.S. Administration and the U.S. Congress at senior levels," Vikas Swarup, a spokesman for the ministry, said. Shares in India's IT firms have tumbled in recent days on worries about the impact of the bill. The Nifty IT index <.NIFTYIT> fell 3.2 percent on Tuesday after earlier hitting its lowest since Nov. 24. Analysts have said the bill would push India's software services exporters to ramp up automation, reducing the need for workers, although IT firms would still need to hire more workers in the U.S., including university graduates, increasing costs. "All companies will have to bear higher expenditure if this bill gets passed, and the impact can be quite severe," Dipen Shah, senior vice president of the Private Client Group Research, Kotak Securities, said. "There will be a severe hit (to) profitability." TCS, Infosys and Wipro declined comment, while smaller rival HCL Tech did not respond to requests for comment. (Writing by Rafael Nam; Editing by Alexander Smith)
The future will feature a lot more pizza bots instead of pizza boys if London-based delivery robot maker Starship Technologies has anything to say about it.
The robot-focused startup founded in 2014 by Skype cofounders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis is on something of a tear at the moment, having just raised $17.2 million from investors that included Daimler. That funding, says Starship marketing and communications manager Henry Harris-Burland, will support the companys pilot programs in current and new markets as well as technological development moving forward.
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The company is manufacturing and currently testing in local markets around the world robots that can deliver up to three shopping bags worth of goods within 30 minutes to homes within a 3-mile radius. The company, according to CEO Heinla, is reinventing the so-called last mile of transportation, and its currently running tests with commercial partners such as Londons takeout food delivery service Just Eats that involves the robots ferrying meals to customers.
starship5
Were testing in multiple cities around the world with partners in the grocery industry, parcel industry and food takeaway industry, Harris-Borland said. Each has their own specific challenges, and were overcoming them from extensive testing.
The long-term vision of the company is to be completing millions of deliveries every day in thousands of cities around the world. (And) were aiming, in the long run, to offer on-demand delivery for $1 in the future.
Some observers and news reports have likened them to resembling beer coolers on wheels. That was the quirky reaction upon their arrival stateside, for example, when Starship hooked up with food delivery service DoorDash and the courier service Postmates to kick off more tests with commercial partners in Redwood City, Calif., and Washington D.C. in recent days.
Ok, so they can zip along at a top speed of just about four miles per hour. They can ferry a few bags worth of goods. But theyre also one more reminder that were living in an on-demand economy one that even the robots want a piece of.
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They are made in Tallinn, Estonia, Harris-Borland said. All made in house. They have nine cameras round the front and back, they have sophisticated obstacle detection systems, and they carry around 10 kilograms of goods, or 3 shopping bags (also) the robots have to map an area to start driving autonomously, they can go up and down curbs, they can deliver within 15 to 30 mins in a 3-mile radius and travel 4 miles per hour on sidewalks.
Starship isnt the only startup in this space, of course. Dispatch is another such enterprise; it landed $2 million in funding in 2016 from Andreessen Horowitz, and its team includes robotics and AI experts whove done stints at major institutions like MIT and UC Berkeley.
Dispatchs idea is similar to Starships. The formers vehicles which sport the cute nickname Carry are programmed to likewise traverse sidewalks and other pedestrian-heavy areas. Users unlock the vehicle when it arrives with their delivery, grab the waiting items, and Carry scurries off to continue its rounds.
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Delivery remains a challenge with no convenient, affordable, and simple solution, Dispatch explains in a company blog post. A fleet of autonomous delivery vehicles paves a clear path toward such a solution, and promises savings of time and money for both consumers and businesses Artificial intelligence has advanced significantly, and now is the time to develop a fleet of autonomous delivery vehicles.
Startups built around a model focused on robo-butler-drones may be a winning formula for delivery enterprises, or at least a useful one. The robots dont need time off; raises; overtime pay; training sessions; or have many of the other limitations that traditional delivery companies are stuck with working around.
As of October, Starships robots had visited 56 cities in 16 countries, encountered 1.7 million people and driven 10,000 miles. Spec-wise, the robots are fitted with 9 cameras and sensors that include a 360-degree view, among other features. The company also has a message to anyone worried about loss of jobs to robots the effect might not be what you assume.
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Last mile delivery is the largest bottleneck in growth of the e-commerce industry, especially local e-commerce such as groceries and food delivery, according to Starship. By removing this, we will provide a new lease of life to retailers, and therefore increasing deliveries from warehouses using trucks and vans.
All of which is to say we already knew robots and the like will loom large in the future. Thanks to companies like Starship, that future will also in all likelihood be landing directly on our doorstep soon, and weaving in and around us as we go about our day.
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See the original version of this article on BGR.com
In this Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 photo, a computer screen shows an archived copy of the Twitter feed belonging to Phineas Fisher, a hacker who claimed responsibility for breaching the union of the Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, last year. Spanish police have arrested three people over a data breach linked to a series of dramatic intrusions at European spy software companies feeding speculation that the net has closed on an online Robin Hood figure known as Phineas Fisher. (AP Photo/Raphael Satter)
MADRID (AP) Spanish police have arrested three people over a data breach linked to a series of dramatic intrusions at European spy software companies claimed by an online Robin Hood-type figure known as Phineas Fisher.
The bust fed a swirl of speculation that the net had closed on the flamboyant hacker, although an email exchange seen by The Associated Press appeared to suggest he, she or they weren't in custody.
Officials were not saying one way or the other.
A spokesman with Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, said only that two men and a woman were arrested Tuesday in Salamanca and Barcelona on suspicion of breaking into the website of the Mossos labor union in May, hijacking its Twitter feed and leaking the personal data of more than 5,500 officers. No more arrests are expected, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with force policy.
The arrests sent rumors flying because the Catalan breach had previously been claimed by Phineas Fisher, a hacker who first won notoriety in 2014 for publishing data from Britain's Gamma Group responsible at the time for spyware known as FinFisher. The hacker or group of hackers cemented their reputation by claiming responsibility for a spectacular breach at Italy's Hacking Team in 2015.
Gamma Group did not immediately return messages left after hours. Neither did FinFisher, the Munich-based company that now markets the eponymous intrusion tool. Hacking Team spokesman Eric Rabe said he had "no special insight" into the arrests but declined to comment on whether his company was in touch with Spanish authorities.
Toni Castejon, the general secretary of the Catalan police union whose site was hit, expressed doubt that Phineas Fisher had been taken into custody.
Similar doubt was raised by a hacker who shared screenshots of messages he had received from Phineas Fisher in the past few hours. The hacker agreed to share the private correspondence only if granted anonymity.
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Although not conclusive, the messages suggested the mystery over the hacker's identity would linger at least a little longer.
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Associated Press writer Aritz Parra reported this story in Madrid and AP writer Raphael Satter reported from Paris.
Iranian-born bioengineer researcher Nima Enayati works on a robotic surgery machine during an interview with the Associated Press at the Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. An Iranian researcher at Milan's Polytechnic University, Enayati was refused check-in Monday at Milan's Malpensa Airport for his U.S.-bound flight on Turkish Airlines after the Trump administration's executive order came down. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
BOSTON (AP) Universities across the nation say President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven Muslim countries is disrupting vital research projects and academic exchanges in such fields as medicine, public health and engineering, with untold numbers of scholars blocked from entering the U.S.
For years, schools in the U.S. have worked to widen exchanges with scholars in the Middle East and especially Iran, known for its strength in math and science. But many academics worry those bridges are now in jeopardy because of the ban against Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen. Some fear the U.S. will lose its standing as the world leader in research and innovation.
"It's terrifying," said Sarah Knuckey, director of the Human Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School. "We're damaging international research, including on issues like health and medicine."
Students in Knuckey's clinic have been working with a think tank in Yemen to explore the health consequences of the country's civil war, inviting scholars to lecture and planning a conference in New York this year. Because of the travel ban, they are trying to move the event to Canada.
Research between the U.S. and the seven countries covers a wide range of fields. According to the National Institutes of Health, U.S. and Iranian researchers have teamed up to study cancer, heart disease, hepatitis and opiate addiction.
Navid Madani, an HIV researcher at Harvard Medical School, said collaboration with scientists in Iran has been crucial to her work. Much of that cooperation is now in question. One of her counterparts in Iran was scheduled to teach at Harvard this year but may be prevented from entering the country.
"I've tried to balance my anger and despair with resolve," said Madani, who was born in Iran and is now a naturalized U.S. citizen. "This is something that really has to be reversed."
An Iranian researcher working on his Ph.D. in Italy was refused check-in at a Milan airport Monday while trying to travel to California. Nima Enayati, 29, had obtained a visa to conduct research on robotic surgery at Stanford University.
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"It is rather disappointing to know that you will not be able at least physically to have more collaboration with them," he said. "And we will see how it is going to affect our work."
At Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, officials were planning to welcome the first class of Iranian graduate students into a new engineering program in partnership with the University of Tehran. Now it's on hold because the students can't secure visas.
"These are the best and the brightest. They have made tremendous sacrifices to be able to come to the United States," said Gil Latz, the university's associate vice chancellor for international affairs. "In the stroke of a pen, their future hopes and dreams are being questioned or brought to a halt."
Overall, colleges and universities in the U.S. hosted about 17,000 students from the seven banned countries last year, a fourfold increase over the past decade. Of those here last year, more than 12,000 were from Iran.
Many of the students and researchers here are now stuck in the U.S., afraid they won't be allowed back in if they leave to visit home or travel to academic conferences. Others who were planning to come here are now blocked.
Seyed Soheil Saeedi Saravi, a scientist from Iran, said he realized a childhood dream when he received a cardiology fellowship at Harvard. He was scheduled to arrive days after the travel ban was put in place, but found that his visa is now suspended indefinitely.
"I only can say Iranians are really sad, depressed and somewhat angry," he said in an email.
In response to the ban, thousands of academics abroad have signed an online petition boycotting academic conferences in the U.S. Some conferences are being pressured to relocate outside America.
Meanwhile, dozens of college presidents have called on Trump to reverse the ban.
"This is not only unbefitting a country built by immigrants on the ideals of liberty and equality, but it is also a self-inflicted wound that will damage the very innovation that lies at the root of our nation's prosperity," said Angel Cabrera, president of George Mason University.
Nicholas Dirks, chancellor at the University of California-Berkeley, said the ban gives an advantage to countries that compete with the U.S. for scholars.
"Allowing them to replace this country as the prime destination for the most talented students and researchers would cause irreparable damage and help them to achieve their goal of global leadership," he wrote.
Some academics say the ban will simply leave the U.S. out of future research.
Caroline Wagner, who studies global collaboration in science at Ohio State University, said the number of papers published by co-authors in different countries has grown dramatically since 1990. In 2013 alone, academics from Iran and the U.S. teamed up on more than 1,000 published papers.
"International collaboration is increasingly the way science is done," Wagner said. "We cannot assume that leadership and science belong to the United States."
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This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Sarah Knuckey's first name.
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Associated Press reporter Colleen Barry contributed from Milan.
President Donald Trumps Muslim ban is wreaking havoc at airports across the country, but the administration still wont take any action to fix it in spite of all the negative feedback its received over the weekend. Judges, high-ranking Republicans, movie stars, and tech companies have expressed their concern with Trumps ban over the last few days. But Trump is still defending his executive orders, and the Trump administration is working on a new immigration-related order that might deliver a blow to American tech innovation.
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According to a document obtained by Bloomberg, Trump is looking to make it harder for companies including Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and many others, to hire talent from other countries. But these arent the only tech companies that might be affected by the move. India-based companies including Infosys and Wipro who bring in specialized employees to handle tech departments at other corporations.
The new work-visa programs would force tech companies to first offer jobs to Americans first, and only then recruit foreign workers, with priority given to the most highly paid.
Our countrys immigration policies should be designed and implemented to serve, first and foremost, the U.S. national interest, the draft proposal says. Visa programs for foreign workers should be administered in a manner that protects the civil rights of American employees and current lawful residents, and that prioritizes the protection of American workers our forgotten working people and the jobs they hold.
Bloomberg notes that recent years there have been allegations that visa programs have been abused to bring in cheaper workers from overseas. The top recipients of the H-1B visas are outsourcers, the report says. Trumps rumored move might have a larger impact on Indian companies than American tech companies.
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If firms are using the program for cheap labor, I think it will affect them, and they will have to pay workers more, Howard University professor Ron Hira speculates. If tech firms are using the program for specialized labor, they may find there are more visas available.
Hiras research shows that Apple, Google, and Microsoft are paying H-1B workers more than $100,000, while the median wage for outsourcing firms was less than $70,000. This might be an indication that American companies are going after highly skilled employees, whereas Indian outsourcing firms might seek less expensive talent.
In theory, Trumps rumored visa order might not make it more difficult for the tech sector to hire essential, high-end workers. But then again, the Muslim ban is causing quite a stir right now, suggesting that Trumps administration did not think it through. Combined with new visa regulation, these immigration policies might make it harder for American tech giants to recruit people from overseas.
Independent of Trumps upcoming order, Congress is also working on visa reform. Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren introduced a bill last week to tighten requirements for H-1B visas.
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President Trump's executive order on immigration has left Southern California colleges struggling to parse out how students and faculty will be affected.
The January 27 executive order temporarily banned travel and immigration for all refugees, as well as nationals from seven predominantly Muslim nations (Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Syria, and Sudan), leaving college administrators scrambling to protect their students and staff affected by the new order.
At CSU Long Beach, 106 students have been affected by the immigration ban, according to Dr. Jeet Joshee, Associate Vice President of International Education for the university. Joshee told LAist that 53 students are visa holders from the seven designated countries and an additional 53 are green card holders from those countries. None of CSULB's faculty is a visa holder affected by the ban.
"No one is out of the country at the moment," Joshee continued. "And we are advising them not to leave the country unless they have to. We are primarily concerned with the visa holders at the moment, because it seems the green card holders are safe, but we advise the affected students to see student advisors if they have to leave the country." Joshee also noted that all 23 of the state's CSU campuses are in communication and are being advised by legal counsel.
A representative for UCLA told LAist that 75 of the university's undergraduate and graduate students are currently affected by the ban.
"We are actively engaged with the UC Office of the President to understand the full implications of the order and to find ways of protecting members of our community," UCLA's Chancellor Gene Block wrote in a statement also released January 29. "The UC Office of the President has advised 'UC community members from these seven countries who hold a visa to enter the United States or who are lawful permanent residents do not travel outside of the United States.' In the meantime, if you are a student, scholar or faculty who have visa issues or questions that deserve our attention, please contact the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars"
A representative from UC Irvine told KPCC that there are 154 students and faculty from the seven countries listed in the immigration order at the university.
Community members at USC and Caltech have also been affected, though we haven't yet heard back from either university about exact numbers. Both schools issued statements over the weekend.
"Our foremost concern is with the members of our community from those countries who are directly affected by this order," Michael Quick, USC's Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, wrote in a statement released on Sunday. "We have reached out and are working with them to provide our support and assistance. ...We are also advising members of our community who may be trying to enter the U.S. to wait until visa and admission restrictions are lifted."
Thomas F. Rosenbaum, president of Caltech, issued a statement on January 27 noting that "This order immediately impacts the personal and professional travel of a subset of students, postdocs, faculty, and staff from abroad and elevates uncertainties for the next few months and likely beyond."
"I write to assure you that Caltech remains fully dedicated to supporting every individual in our community, regardless of country of origin," Rosenbaum continued. "Caltech will honor all financial commitments and help those in need obtain legal advice and other support services. ...On Tuesday, January 31, Ilana Smith, director of the international offices, and Cindy Weinstein, vice provost, will lead a meeting for students, postdocs, faculty and staff from the seven countries cited in the executive order. This session will be held at 4:00 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the Center for Student Services. Another meeting will be scheduled soon thereafter for individuals from other countries."
Global universities rely on global drawing top talent from around the world (both as students and as faculty) to maintain their pedigree and prestige. According to Pacific Standard, the United States currently has about 975,000 international students in its universities. But of those, only about 16,000 are affected by the Trump administration's immigration ban.
According to FiveThirtyEight, American universities hosted 12,269 students from Iran, 1,901 from Iraq, 1,514 from Libya, 783 from Syria, 599 from Yemen, 253 from Sudan, and 35 from Somalia during the 2015 to 2016 school year.
Medical marijuana is legal in parts of the United States and several countries in South America. Argentina is not one of them.
But that has not stopped a group of Argentine mothers from growing cannabis illegally at home. They want to help their children who suffer from diseases such as epilepsy and autism.
Valeria Salechs son, Emiliano, has epilepsy. Traditional drugs stopped the epileptic seizures, but left him unable to smile or socialize. Salech decided to give her 10-year-old son some cannabis oil in December 2015.
All the mothers remember that first day when we gave the oil to our children, she told VOA.
She said that within a few hours, her son went from looking at nothing and having no reaction to looking at her and smiling. Salech said she had waited for that moment for 10 years.
And you just cannot believe it, she said.
She is now president of a group called Mama Cultiva Argentina, or Mom Cultivates. The group shares knowledge of growing cannabis and pushes for the legalization of medical marijuana.
She is so confident about its effectiveness that she describes her group as a public health network.
We did what the state cannot do for us that is to cultivate a lot [of cannabis] to have enough for all of us all the time, she said.
But there is limited scientific research so far on the medical benefits of cannabis oil. There is also concern about potential psychedelic effects that marijuana may have on children.
Carlos Magdalena is a neurologist for children. He said, as a natural therapy, a small amount of cannabis oil does not have bad side effects. And, Magdalena added, the side effects are less severe than those of legal prescription drugs.
Countries like Uruguay and Chile have already legalized the use of medical marijuana. As the Argentine government is studying its use, Valeria Salech hopes her country will follow next year.
Salech said the government would find out everything that [she] already know[s] and that she will continue to grow cannabis for her son.
Im Alice Bryant.
Faith Lapidus reported this story for VOAnews.com. Alice Bryant adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.
__________________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
cannabis - n. the hemp plant (which produces marijuana and cannabis oil)
epilepsy - n. a disorder of the nervous system that can cause people to suddenly become unconscious and to have violent, uncontrolled movements of the body
autism - n. a condition or disorder that begins in childhood and that causes problems in communicating with other people
seizure - n. an abnormal state in which you become unconscious and your body moves in an uncontrolled and violent way
network - n. a group of people or organizations that are closely connected and that work with each other
psychedelic - adj. used to describe a drug (such as LSD) that affects your thinking and causes you to see things that are not real
adverse - adj. bad or unfavorable; not good
Almost 30,000 students attend classes in the Chula Vista Elementary School District in California.
The elementary school district is the largest in the state. It operates 45 schools between the city of San Diego and the United States border with Mexico.The majority of students are between five and 12 years old.
The district is also one of California's most diverse. Sixty-eight percent of students are Hispanic and 35 percent are learning English.
Some of the students come from the Mexican city of Tijuana and speak Spanish at home. The English language ability among these students differs widely.
The Salt Creek Elementary School works with students in the town of Chula Vista, about 15 kilometers north of the Mexican border. The boys and girls there share their cultural traditions and learn from one another, including the languages spoken by other students.
Francisco Escobedo heads the Chula Vista Elementary School District.
"We see Spanish as an asset, not a liability. So we use that richness that they come with and build upon it."
The public discussion of immigration issues during and after the 2016 elections led California to take action. Escobedo wrote to the parents across the school district. He told them that their elementary schools were safe areas for students of all citizenship situations.
He said the letter helped ease worries.
"I received an email from a teacher, thanking me for that letter that helped her talk to her child and ease his fear, because he came to school crying," Escobedo said. "He came to school in fear that someone will come and remove him from the classroom."
In Chula Vista, the classroom is more than a safe place, however. It is where boys and girls can celebrate bilingualism and the sharing of cultures.
Emma Sanchez heads the Language Development and Instruction Services and Support office at Chula Vista elementary schools.
"Our students come and go from both countries, so we want to empower and build our teachers' capacity to support the children in both languages."
Sixth-grader Valeria came to the United States from Tijuana. She describes her life as ideal in her ability to speak two languages and often travels across across the border into Mexico.
"It's mainly just going back and forth, visiting my dad and coming back to my mom, and then going to school."
Others, like fourth grader Lucia, say bilingualism is important so they can communicate with students and extended family.
"I feel happy because I'm with my grandparents and I'm really happy that I see them because sometime time flies, so I better stay with my grandparents until they're gone."
Lucia hopes her language skills will help her get a good job, and meet people from many more cultures around the world.
Im Caty Weaver.
Ramon Taylor reported this story for VOANews.com. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Additional information came from Arturo Martinez. George Grow was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.
______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
district - n. an area or section of a country, city or town
diverse - adj. different from each other
asset - n. a valuable person or thing
liability - n. someone or something that causes problems
bilingualism - n. ability to speak and understand two languages
capacity - n. the ability to do something
ideal - adj. exactly right for a particular purpose
time flies - idiom, used to say time seems to pass very quickly
This is Whats Trending Today
Walt Disney Pictures has released the final trailer for its remake of Beauty and the Beast. The movie will come out in March.
Disneys first Beauty and the Beast was an animated film. It came out in 1991. The story is based on a French fairy tale written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.
In the 2017 version of the romantic fantasy film, real-life actress Emma Watson plays Belle and actor Dan Stevens plays the Beast. Other well-known actors include Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci.
The latest trailer shows Belle as she is imprisoned by the Beast in his large castle. It also shows her meeting some of the castles so-called staff members. They include household objects, like candles, teacups and teapots. The trailer also shows Belle and the Beast dancing together. Watson is seen wearing Belles iconic yellow dress.
The final trailer also includes the films beloved song. Ariana Grande and John Legend sing the new version of the emotional ballad.
Tuesdays trailer quickly became the top trending video on YouTube.
Fans of the earlier Beauty and the Beast are pleased that the live-action version looks very similar to the animated classic. One fan even created a video comparing scenes from the 1991 film to scenes from the newest trailer.
But, some say Disney should have tried to make the live-action version more original. Writer Michael Welsh wrote on Nerdist.com that if the movie is not a success, a major criticism will be that it wasnt allowed to be its own thing and to exist on its own terms.
Beauty and the Beast opens in U.S. theaters on March 17. It opens March 15 in the Philippines; March 16 in Chile, Argentina and Cambodia; March 30 in Brazil; and April 21 in Japan.
And thats Whats Trending Today.
Ashley Thompson adapted this report from Reuters, with additional materials. Hai Do was the editor.
________________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
trailer - n. a short video of a movie or program that is used to advertise it
animated - adj. produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another
fairy tale - n. a simple children's story about magical creatures
fantasy - n. a book, movie, etc., that tells a story about things that happen in an imaginary world
iconic - adj. widely known; famous
ballad - n. a slow popular song that is typically about love
original - adj. not like others : new, different, and appealing
U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to enforce or defend an executive order he signed last week limiting immigration.
The president appointed Dana Boente to replace Yates as the acting head of the Justice Department. Boente immediately cancelled Yates order and vowed to defend the lawful orders of our president.
The order stops all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, and bans Syrian refugees indefinitely. It also blocks people from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia.
The Associated Press noted that Yates removal was a warning to other administration officials that Trump is prepared to terminate those who refuse to carry out his orders. The news agency called the firing an extraordinary public showdown.
Yates was named to the second-highest position in the Justice Department by then-President Barack Obama. On Monday, she ordered the departments lawyers not to defend the immigration order.
In a memo, she wrote, At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful.
The career prosecutor added: For as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.
A few hours later, Yates was fired. The White House press secretary released a statement saying Yates betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States. It said the departments Office of Legal Counsel approved the order.
Mixed reaction to the firing
Many Democrats criticized the decision to fire Yates. Steny Hoyer, a senior Democratic congressman, called the decision alarming. He said the American people need to consider whether President Trump simply plans to dismiss anyone with whom he disagrees, and I hope my Republican colleagues stand up and express concern over this as well.
Chuck Schumer is the Senate minority leader. He wrote on Twitter that the attorney general should pledge fidelity to the law and the Constitution, not the White House. The fact that this [administration] doesnt understand that is chilling.
But Republican Senator Ted Cruz strongly defended the decision to fire Yates. He said Yates refusal to support the executive order is a fitting and sad last act of Obamas Department of Justice.
President Trump was exactly right to fire an acting attorney general who refused to carry out her constitutional duty to enforce and defend the law, Cruz said.
This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to approve the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general. He is expected to defend and enforce Trumps immigration order.
Senator Sessions was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2015 when Yates was confirmed to be the deputy attorney general.
During a hearing on her confirmation, Sessions asked Yates: If the views the president wants to execute are unlawful, should the attorney general or the deputy attorney general say no?
Yates said she believed that the attorney general or the deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and to give their independent legal advice to the president.
Im Anna Matteo.
VOA News Writer Chris Hannas wrote this story with additional reporting from Nike Ching, the Associated Press and Reuters. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.
________________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
executive order n. an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law
terminate v. to take a job away from (someone)
betray v. to do something that does not agree with (your beliefs, principles, etc.)
pledge v. to formally promise to give or do (something)
fidelity n. the quality of being faithful or loyal to a country, organization, etc. (usually + to)
chilling adj. very disturbing or frightening
act n. something that is done
Last Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
The countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Protesters across the U.S. immediately objected to the restrictions. Some argue that Trumps order discriminates against Muslims and defies the American tradition of welcoming immigrants.
Many of these protesters correctly point out that the U.S. is a country of immigrants. However, history shows that the U.S. is also a country of restrictions on immigrants.
Trumps government is not the first administration to restrict immigration, including on the basis of national origin.
Restrictions on Asian immigrants
The U.S. Constitution, which went into effect in 1789, gave Congress absolute authority over immigration law, says Linda Monk. The president executes those laws through regulations.
Monk wrote a book about the Constitution called The Words We Live By.
She explains that for about the first 100 years of American history, Congress did not place any federal limits on immigration.
During those years, Irish and German immigrants came to the U.S. in large numbers. Many Chinese immigrants did, too. They hoped to find gold in California and then, when they did not, they stayed anyway.
But some members of the American public disapproved of these groups. They did not like the Catholic religion that many Irish and Germans immigrants practiced. And they did not like Asian immigrants, whom they viewed as convicts, prostitutes, or competition for jobs.
So, in the late 1800s, Congress moved for the first time to limit the number of immigrants. Lawmakers targeted Asians, especially Chinese. The Page Act and the Chinese Exclusion Act banned most Chinese women and workers.
Restrictions on other nationalities
By the turn of the 20th century, the U.S. federal government had increased its role in immigration. It established Ellis Island in New York as the entry point for immigrants. And it oversaw a dramatic increase in the number of immigrants, especially from Italy and Eastern Europe. Many of the new arrivals were uneducated and had little money.
Once again, some people opposed the number and kind of immigrants entering the country. A group called the Immigration Restriction League was formed. They petitioned Congress to require immigrants to show that they could at least read.
Both Presidents Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson opposed the requirement. But in 1917, Congress approved the measure over Wilsons objections. People who wished to settle in the U.S. now had to pass a literacy test.
In the 1920s, restrictions on immigration increased. The Immigration Act of 1924 was the most severe: it limited the overall number of immigrants and established quotas based on nationality. Among other things, the act sharply reduced immigrants from Eastern Europe and Africa. And it completely restricted immigrants from Asia, except for Japan and the Philippines.
At the same time, the historians page at the State Department notes that the act made more visas available to people from Britain and Western Europe.
In all of its parts, the most basic purpose of the 1924 Immigration Act was to preserve the ideal of U.S. homogeneity, the State Department history page concludes.
Major change in U.S. immigration policy
During the 1940s and 50s, the U.S. made some policy changes that increased however slightly the number and nationalities of immigrants.
Then, in 1965, a major change happened. Under pressure in part from the civil rights movement, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act. President Lyndon Johnson signed it.
The act eliminated the quota system based on nationality. Instead, it prioritized immigrants who already had family members in the U.S. It also sought to offer protection to refugees from areas with violence and conflict.
Even though the act kept some limits in place, the origins of immigrants changed dramatically. Instead of being from Western Europe, most immigrants to the U.S. by the end of the 20th century were originally from Mexico, the Philippines, Korea, the Dominican Republic, India, Cuba and Vietnam.
So, what about Trumps order?
A professor at the University of Miami School of Law says the 1965 law ended overt discrimination in U.S. immigration policy. Kunal Parker is also the author of a book called Making Foreigners: Immigration and Citizenship Law in America.
Parker says that people who are protesting Trumps executive order probably perceive what is happening as contrary to U.S. tradition since 1965.
But Parker cautions against seeing Trumps action as illegal. He points out that the Supreme Court has historically permitted the president and Congress a good deal of authority to regulate immigration.
And, he notes, President Obama also signed an executive order related to immigration. That order aimed to protect the families of undocumented immigrants with U.S.-born children.
However, Parker says, Something that is legal might be very problematic.
Both Parker and legal scholar Linda Monk also note the Constitution requires both Congress and the president follow certain procedures when regulating immigration. Those procedures protect against discrimination.
The highest law says that these actions have to be carried out fairly, says Monk.
Im Anne Ball.
Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.
___________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
executive - adj. an order by the president
origin - n. the point or place where something begins or is created
petition - v. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something
quota - n. an official limit on the number or amount of people or things that are allowed
slightly - adv. n a very small amount or degree
eliminate - v. to get rid of something
overt - adj. obvious
How many of these critically beloved dramatic movies have you seen?
The memory of a beloved pet inspires one couple's fight against injustice.
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".
On January 25th, Rabbi Avraham Kagan, director of government affairs for Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois and Rabbi of Chabad of River North, delivered the invocation at the joint session of the Illinois House of Representative and Senate in Springfield, Illinois. The invocation preceded Governor Bruce Rauners annual State of the State address.
In his prayer, Kagan, alluding to the state of gridlock and the violence plaguing Chicago, called on the lawmaking body to recognize that their privileged position is actually the performance of one of the seven divine laws given to us by Gd at the dawn of civilization to ensure a peaceful and moral society. As one of the seven Noahide Laws, maintaining order is a task incumbent upon all human beings.
The office of the governor as well as numerous state legislators thanked Rabbi Kagan for his ongoing support and service to the elected officials and their staff.
A man accused of molesting two children was apprehended after St. Petersburg Police say he broke into one home Monday morning and peered into the window of another.
Steven Kirkland, 32, was wanted on child molestation charges
Police say he didn't know his 2 victims
Officers found him hiding in a trash can
At about 7 a.m. Monday, police said a 16-year-old girl sleeping on her couch woke up to a man standing over her.
Police said she was able to call for help, prompting the man who was reportedly wearing Spongbob Squarepants clothing to run.
Fifteen minutes later and half a mile away, calls came in regarding a peeping Tom who was reportedly peering through another woman's window as she was getting ready for work.
As officers arrived on scene, they said the man, identified as Steven Kirkland, 32, bolted.
Demora Bailey, the woman police say Kirkland was looking at through the window, said she was happy to help officers.
"Me and my sister ran after him and he got about two blocks down," said Demora. "I asked him what are you doing by my window and hes like, 'running from police, what do you think Im doing.' And Im like, 'well Im going to help them get you.' So I called the police as Im chasing him."
According to police, Kirkland attempted to hide in a trash can before officers found him.
Police said Kirkland, who was wanted on two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child under the age of 12, was charged with occupied residential burglary, trespassing, loitering and prowling and unoccupied residential burglary.
The molestation charges reportedly stem from a Jan. 22 incident. Police said the two children involved did not know Kirkland before the attack.
He's also facing indecent exposure charges from another Jan. 22 event at Bay Vista Park.
Kirkland is currently being processed at the Pinellas County Jail.
While Afghanistan is not one of the seven countries on the list, Trumps efforts to reduce immigration, particularly from Muslim nations he perceives as security threats, have alarmed Razeqy and others who feel the
will be abolished or curtailed even further.
An Afghan national traveling on an SIV was detained briefly Friday at San Francisco International Airport while his wife and children were allowed through, said Matt Zeller, an Afghanistan veteran and founder of No One Left Behind, a nonprofit group that helps Afghan and Iraqi combat interpreters resettle in the U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers held the Afghan man for several hours because they were unclear on which nationalities were subject to the ban, Zeller said.
Trumps order would slash the number of refugees allowed into the United States in 2017 to a maximum of 50,000 fewer than half the number allowed last year. That could significantly restrict approvals under the SIV program, which has a backlog of 13,000 applicants in Afghanistan and only 1,500 more visas available over the next four years under the latest congressional authorization.
The visa program also seems in trouble because Trumps order will prohibit immigration from countries that fail to provide adequate information to the U.S. about visa applicants. Record-keeping in Afghanistan has long been scant; many SIV applicants, for example, never obtained birth certificates.
Trumps nominee for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, is one of the harshest critics of the visa program and has argued that it should be killed.
The visa program has resettled more than 52,000 Afghan and Iraqi interpreters and family members in the United States since 2007. The program in Afghanistan was long criticized for bureaucratic delays until the State Department significantly sped up processing of the applications in 2014. - Read More, latimes
An observant neighbor is thankful to be alive after his attempt to stop three brazen burglars ended with gun shots.
Incident happened Monday afternoon
Neighbor confronts thieves, who then fired shots
Anyone with information asked to call police
Joe Gerena is the type of neighbor always looking out for those around him. So on Monday afternoon when he saw something that didnt quite seem right at his neighbors home, he decided to do some investigating of his own.
It just seemed way out of place to see a vehicle pulled up and three individuals walking through the backyard, through the gate and my neighbor not being home, Gerena said.
Once Gerena saw the three burglars carrying out a TV and two dirt bikes he called his neighbor. Moments later he went outside to call 911 and to try and scare the thieves away.
I just asked them, I told them, I said, 'Hey thats not your stuff.' And to just let them know or to scare them off, he said.
But he said the burglars didnt go away that easily.
One of the other suspects on the other side of the truck had something in his hand and he fired one shot off," Gerena said. "And I was literally just in the middle of my driveway and kinda ducked and worked my way back towards the sidewalk here. And I was looking back over my shoulder as this was happening and I noticed him lay his hand down on the roof of the truck and fire another shot.
The bullet went through his garage door, just inches from where he was crouched down. The bullet then went through to his kitchen, landing near a bedroom.
He said hes thankful his family wasnt home at the time and his neighbor is thankful he was looking out for them.
The homeowner whose home was burglarized said she believes she spotted those suspects as she was backing out of her driveway. She said she got an alert from her Ring doorbell system, her alarm company and from her neighbor and she knew something wasnt right.
Now investigators are using that Ring surveillance video and the info Gerena gave them to catch the thieves. So far theyve recovered one dirt bike, and both the victims and their neighbors are hoping this serves as a reminder that theres always someone watching.
Investigators are looking for three men last seen driving a White, Ford F150 with tan stripe on the bottom from fender to fender. The truck has a Green Florida specialist tag with a fish on it and begins with "TE." If you have any information contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).
Gun violence has recently plagued the St. Petersburg area.
City leaders looking to implement new tech. to deter gun violence in St. Pete
ShotSpotter technology detects shots fired in real time
New technology to cost $700K for first 3 years
Last week, two men were shot in part of a rash of shootings in St. Pete. Now city leaders and community leaders are joining forces to turn the situation around.
Last Monday, Jan. 23, Emmanuel Sims, 19, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Rajax Food Mart while sitting in his car.
Two days later, police found a man with multiple gun shot wounds laying outside a liquor store on 16th Street South.
And those are just a couple of recent shooting incidents.
City and community leaders may have come up with a solution. It's called ShotSpotter.
City councilman Karl Nurse said ShotSpotter uses sensors to detect, locate and alert law enforcement when shots are fired in real time.
The technology is already being used in Hillsborough County.
Councilman Nurse conducted a phone survey with 1,000 residents to see what they think, and know, about the ShotSpotter technology.
St. Petersburg residents seemed to have mixed opinions about it.
"The shots are fired. It may help them catch the criminals, but it's not going to stop the crime," said resident Bill Lemieux.
"A lot of the shootings and violence that goes on, it's like between friends and family and different stuff. But in the area when we're out shopping, we like to be safe, when we're out at the park, we like to be safe. Everywhere, we like to be safe," said resident Carlos Lewis.
Nurse said safety is key, and with data showing that only 20 percent of gunfire is even reported in high crime areas, he feels ShotSpotter is what St. Pete needs.
Nurse said, "You end up with a message to the possible shooters that if you fire a gun in this area within 30 seconds the police are going to begin to head in your direction."
One concern St. Petersburg police have is about having adequate staff to respond to all of the additional calls they'll receive.
However, Nurse said that is a separate issue that would be worked out.
Councilman Nurse is hoping to get the funding for ShotSpotter technology added to this year's budget -- which will be finalized in the fall.
He said it would cost about $700,000 for the first three years.
A former marine and an officer with the Pinellas Park Police Department is hoping to be reunited with his IED detector dog, whom he served with in Afghanistan.
Crist makes request to help reunite local marine with military dog
Nathan Naumann & IED detection dog, Jazzy, served together in Afghanistan
Jazzy now works for TSA, and is soon to retire
Local marine Nathan Naumann is seeking to adopt Jazzy as she nears the end of her service and Congressman Charlie Crist is committed to help see that happen.
Naumann was the first service member to act as a handler for Jazzy's first deployment to Afghanistan in 2011.
Jazzy now serves as a TSA explosives detection dog and Naumann has been made it known to the Transportation Security Administration of his interest in adopting Jazzy once she retires.
Congressman Crist has made a formal request to the TSA that "Naumann be given the first opportunity to adopt her immediately following retirement."
Nathan and Jazzy formed a powerful bond while serving together in a war zone. Five years after their first deployment to Afghanistan, it will be a comfort to them both to be reunited, said Crist. I am asking the Transportation Security Administration to give Nathan the first opportunity to adopt Jazzy upon her retirement. After they both bravely served our nation, it is a simple matter of reuniting this marine and his best friend.
Click here for Charlie Crist's letter to the TSA.
IntercityHotel is continuing to grow, and will provide Deutsche Hospitality with its first presence in Eastern Europe by 2019. A new hotel will be created in the Hungarian capital of Budapest in a modern building located by the square in front of the city's Eastern Station ("Keleti palyaudvar"). It will have 300 rooms and thus offer travellers plenty of space. The hotel's interior design will bear the signature of the Italian architect Matteo Thun, whose style concept will characterise the next generation of IntercityHotels. The building will have a restaurant, a bar, a conference area and an underground car park with 200 spaces.
Although the IntercityHotel brand is mainly focused in Germany, it has increasingly been expanding abroad over the recent past. There are now locations in Vienna (Austria), Enschede (Netherlands), Salalah (Oman) and Qingdao (China). Further hotels will be added in Germany and at three more foreign sites during the coming years. Alongside Budapest, the locations that have been earmarked are Leiden (Netherlands) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates).
Joachim Marusczyk, Managing Director of IntercityHotel GmbH, is looking forward to the new opening in Hungary: "Budapest is a city with a great past and lots of potential. We are delighted that our brand will soon be able to offer a centrally positioned and modern hotel in such an attractive metropolis."
The building is owned by the Hamburg-based B&L Group which, as well as acting as contractual partner in this case, is also currently working with IntercityHotel GmbH to develop three new hotels in Hamburg-Barmbek, Dortmund and Hildesheim. This is the first occasion on which B&L has joined forces with IntercityHotel GmbH to implement a project abroad.
The B&L Group's Managing Partner Thorsten Testorp stated: "For B&L, the development of the IntercityHotel project in Budapest represents an extraordinarily exciting challenge which we are delighted to be able to tackle. We are looking forward to working together with Deutsche Hospitality, a partner of many years' standing, to realise this outstanding hotel property."
About Deutsche Hospitality
Vision, passion and cosmopolitanism. Deutsche Hospitality delivers the perfect guest experience. Tradition and an eye for the future come together in an inimitable portfolio of eight brands operating across more than 160 hotels globally. "Celebrating luxurious simplicity.": Steigenberger Icons are extraordinary luxury hotels which combine historical uniqueness and modern concepts. The Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels brand is generating innovative impetuses in the Luxury Lifestyle Segment. Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts represent the epitome of upscale hospitality on three continents. Jaz in the City's Lifestyle Hotels dictate the rhythm in the Upscale Sector. House of Beats unites a passion for the hotel business with the fascination of lifestyle, fashion and music. IntercityHotel is located at the very hub of any destination and offers a true home of comfort and mobility in the Midscale Segment. MAXX by Deutsche Hospitality is a charismatic conversion brand which is also positioned in the midscale area of the market. Zleep Hotels provide a smart marriage of design and functionality in the Economy Segment. All of these brands are unified under H-Rewards, Deutsche Hospitality's loyalty program which yields benefits from the first booking onwards.
Christopher Holschier
Director Corporate Communications
+49 69 66564-422
Deutsche Hospitality
The Chatwal Maaga Maldives, Opening 2019
Dream Gasveli Maldives, Opening 2020
NEW YORK, NY Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group signed two hotels in the Maldives with local entrepreneur Mohamed Manik and Alpha Kinam Holdings to develop The Chatwal Maaga Maldives and Dream Gasveli Maldives. Set to open in 2019 and 2020 respectively, the new locations triple the group's presence in Asia and mark a pivotal step in Dream Hotel Group's global expansion strategy.
"Last year, we signed more new hotels and resorts than ever before," said Dream Hotel Group CEO Jay Stein. "I'm thrilled to announce another equally strong year of growth momentum with the signing of The Chatwal Maaga and Dream Gasveli in the Maldives, one of the strongest luxury leisure resort markets in the world."
Nestled in picturesque North Ari Atoll, The Chatwal Maaga Maldives will feature 80 ultra-luxury villas, six private beach villas and two presidential villas, as well as three world-class culinary experiences bringing fine dining and casual barefoot elegance to the lagoon's edge. The Chatwal Maaga Maldives will be the second location to debut in The Chatwal collection of luxury hotels.
Dream Gasveli Maldives will feature 500 villas, eight experiential dining and nightlife venues, including the brand's signature Dream Beach Club, a 20,000-square-foot wellness spa and a dozen designer brand retail outlets for exclusive duty-free shopping on site. Spanning across three islands in Meemu Atoll, Dream Gasveli will be the largest fully-integrated resort ever developed in the Indian Ocean.
"I've been in the resort and hotel business for over 30 years in the Maldives," said Mohamed Manik, Chairman of Alpha Kinam Holdings. "I am pleased to partner with Dream Hotel Group in bringing its leading edge lifestyle brands to the Maldives and look forward to taking our luxury market experiences one step beyond here with many more projects in the future."
"I have known Mohamed Manik for a number of years and there is no better partner we'd rather work with to bring The Chatwal and Dream brands of hospitality into the Maldives, delivering on the standards of excellence we hold so high." said Kevin Wallace, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Dream Hotel Group.
Late last year, Dream Hotel Group announced the signing of its first hotel in Vietnam with locally owned Beegreen Group to develop Dream Oceanami Villas & Spa in Long Hai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, the country's top tourist destination. Set to open in June 2017, Dream Oceanami Villas & Spa will be the first of four new resort hotels developed by Beegreen Group and managed by Dream Hotel Group in Vietnam over the next two years. Future locations include Vung Tau City, Hoi An, Ho Tram and Con Dao.
Dream Hotel Group plans to sign more than 150 hotels and resorts worldwide across all its brands Dream, Time, The Chatwal and Unscripted over the next four years, continuing to solidify its burgeoning portfolio worldwide.
"This will be a milestone year for us as we welcome an unprecedented number of new hotels into our ever-growing family of brands across the globe," added Stein.
About Alpha Kinam Holdings
Alpha Kinam Holdings is a leader in hotel and resort development in the Maldives and Sri Lanka and owns an eco-resort in Sri Lanka, Ellaidhoo Island Resort in the Maldives and the Nasandhura Palace Hotel in Male currently undergoing a major renovation and expansion and has investments in travel and tourism, inter-island transport services, logistics and supply, fish processing and exporting, healthcare and trading with over $175 million in assets.
About Dream Hotel Group
Dream Hotel Group is a hotel brand and management company with a rich, 30-year history of managing properties in some of the world's most highly competitive hotel environments. Home to its Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, The Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels brands, Dream Hotel Group encompasses three business lines: Proprietary Brands, Hotel Management and Dining & Nightlife. The Company is committed to the philosophy that forward-thinking design, service and guest experiences should be available across market segments. Dream Hotel Group is dedicated to offering travelers an authentic connection to their chosen destination through a truly original approach. For more information, please visit www.dreamhotelgroup.com and follow @dreamhotelgroup on Twitter.
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The number of visitors on package tours decreased by 2.6 percent year-on-year to 706,000 in December 2016, a slower decline compared with November. According to information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), the number of package tour visitors from mainland China (554,000) dropped by 4.1 percent year-on-year, while those from the Republic of Korea (36,000) and Taiwan (39,000) increased by 17.8 percent and 11 percent respectively.
For the whole year of 2016, visitors on package tours totaled 7,544,000, down by 23.4 percent year-on-year. Those coming from mainland China (5,968,000) and Taiwan (427,000) decreased by 26 percent and 21.3 percent respectively, while those from the Republic of Korea (371,000) increased by 14 percent.
Outbound residents using the services of travel agencies totaled 127,000 in December 2016, down by 4 percent year-on-year. The number of residents travelling on package tours decreased slightly by 0.7 percent year-on-year to 57,000, of which those visiting mainland China and the Republic of Korea comprised 65.5 percent and 12.9 percent respectively. For the whole of 2016, outbound residents using the services of travel agencies dropped by 14.3 percent year-on-year to 1,256,000. Residents travelling on package tours (501,000) decreased by 17.9 percent, with those going to mainland China (342,000) falling by 27.9 percent while those to the Republic of Korea (51,000) surged by 135.5 percent.
There were 107 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of December 2016, up by one year-on-year. The number of guest rooms increased by 4,000 to 36,000, with that of three- star hotels rising the most, by 3,000. Guest rooms of five-star (22,000) and four-star (7,700) hotels accounted for 60.1 percent and 21.2 percent of the total respectively.
For the whole of 2016, guests of hotels and guesthouses totaled around 12 million, up by 13.6 percent year-on-year. Guests from mainland China (7,607,000), the Republic of Korea (304,000), Hong Kong (1,782,000) and Taiwan (477,000) grew by 12.8 percent, 34.3 percent, 17.8 percent and 24.7 percent respectively. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses stood at 83.3 percent in 2016, up by 1.8 percentage points year-on-year. Four-star hotels had the highest rate at 86.3 percent.
The average length of stay of guests was 1.4 nights, down by 0.1 nights year- on-year. Visitor-guests accounted for 72 percent of total overnight visitors, up by 2.6 percentage points year-on-year.
MOSCOW (AP) University presidents in Idaho and Washington State are urging foreign students to avoid trips home or international travel following President Donald Trumps recent executive order.
The order blocks people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for 90 days, along with other limitations placed on refugees. Specifically, the executive order addresses travel from Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Libya and Yemen.
Washington State University President Kirk Schulz and University of Idaho President Chuck Staben told The Moscow-Pullman Daily News that students from the Muslim-majority countries singled out by Trump are safe in the U.S. with their valid visas but would not be permitted to re-enter the country if they leave.
It does not matter that they would be traveling with a student visa, at the time they seek to come back into the U.S. their entry would be blocked, said UI associate law professor Kate Evans. That has happened over the course of the weekend.
At Washington State University, 130 international students are from the countries mentioned in Trumps order. The University of Idaho has 21 such students.
We will be reaching out and advising them not to travel abroad until we know more about the specific practices that will be implemented, Staben, the UI president, wrote in a statement to faculty, staff and students.
Schulz, of Washington State, wrote that we are carefully monitoring developments to better understand how the executive order issued Friday will impact our community.
WSU international programs communications coordinator Craig Lawson said his office was busy all day Monday working on addressing student concerns.
International Studies Director Bill Smith said he has not heard of any UI students or faculty struggling to re-enter the country, adding that most people are on campus because the semester is already in its fourth week.
But Smith said the travel ban might force students to reconsider traveling home for family emergencies, among other things.
Obviously now youd have to think very carefully about that, whether you can get back in to continue your studies or not, he said.
TWIN FALLS Dr. Allen Rader, president of Idaho Weight Loss, has been designated a Master Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association.
The organizations highest honor is given to clinicians who are making significant contributions to OMA or in the field of obesity medicine.
For 20 years, Rader has been serving patients for problems related to obesity and being overweight. He served OMA in various positions during that time, and has been a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
I am passionate about the field of obesity medicine and grateful to receive Master Fellow status in an organization committed to growing my field, Rader said in a statement. Obesity is a chronic disease affecting thousands in Idaho alone.
The Life that is Waiting for Us
American mythologist, Joseph Campbell, explored the possibilities of consciousness and radiant living. He believed that we should follow our bliss, diving into and not away from the sorrows of the world.
As we give his teachings consideration, we learn to be present and embrace the rapture of being alive and so open ourselves to the life that is waiting for us.
Unitarian Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys.
Unitarian Universalists covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.
Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building. Child care is available.
Please visit the Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday at the Vendor Blender and Event Center, 588 Addison Avenue West in Twin Falls at 10:30 a.m.
The Vendor Blender is located near the old hospital near the intersection of Martin St. and Addison Avenue West.
Grace Church
grand opening
Grace Church Grand Opening Celebration for our NEW WORSHIP CENTER! Dont miss Friday, Saturday and Sunday as we have worship by Ryan Stevenson and as we welcome guest speakers Pastor Scott Jones, Pastor Darryl Carnely, Pastor Norman Rutzen and Pastor Richard Page. Friday Jan 20th 7pm, Saturday Jan 21st 7pm, and Sunday 8:15am & 10:15am. Grace Church is located at 100 North Meridian Rupert, ID. Please contact Pastor Travis Turner (208) 989-3921 or check out our website Graceid.org for any questions.
Listen to the ROHR
Beginning this Sunday afternoon, Jan. 15th, from 4 to 6 pm, Ascension Episcopal Church will offer a 10 week class listening and discussing the recorded teachings of international speaker and teacher Fr. Richard Rohr. This week will begin the teachings on True Self/False Self. For questions, contact Dave Duhaime, 733-8881.
Services of Holy Communion will be held at 8 and 10 am Sunday morning, celebrated by Neal Collins. Ascension Cafe meets from 9:10 to 9:50 for fellowship and discussion. Child care is available from 9:30 to 11:15 am. A fellowship coffee hour will be held after the 10 am service.
On Wednesdays, Knit-Us-Together, the handwork group, meets from 1 to 3 pm. Choir practice is at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. All are welcome for worship, study and fellowship at Ascension.
Ascension Episcopal Church is handicapped accessible and is located at 371 Eastland Dr. North, Twin Falls. More information about Ascension can be found at www.episcopaltwinfalls.org or call 733-1248.
TWIN FALLS President Donald Trumps executive orders that temporarily suspends the U.S. refugee program and stops the admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely brought an outcry from religious leaders across the country
The executive order signed Friday suspends the entry of refugees into the United States for 120 days and directs officials to determine additional screening. It also bars entry of nationals from seven predominately Muslim countries Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen into the United States for 90 days.
Many leaders from various denominations and faiths were quick to condemn the order. In Twin Falls, leaders are more torn. Many say they see the need for more vetting and security, but at the same time want the U.S. to save those fleeing war and seeking safety.
Nearly 19,000 people have signed a statement promoted by the National Association of Evangelicals, who pledge to welcome refugees and urge elected officials to assist them. On Sunday, more than 550 people gathered to attend a Mass organized by young Catholics to show their solidarity with refugees, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the official body of the Church in America, declared that it strongly opposes Trumps executive orders.
Trump said in a statement on Sunday the order is not a Muslim ban.
This is not about religion this is about terror and keeping our country safe, he said in a statement. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order.
The president said Christian refugees would be given priority status.
In 2016, slightly more Muslim refugees (38,901) were admitted to the U.S., compared with 37,521 Christian refugees, according to Pew Research Center data.
Here is how local religious leaders have reacted to Trumps executive order.
The Rev. Kathleen McKevitt, Unity Spiritual Center of Southern Idaho
I foundered and paced over the weekend when the innocent was barred from their travel plans. There are now legal issues before the president that indicate that he didnt know what he was doing. Hundreds of people were with the elderly, little children and were to a one treated like chattel, for hours and days. Where is the good in this act? I started to judge. Then when I turned to my faith it was clear I was not on the right path. Where was the ultimate good in my thinking? When we look to our faith we know what we must do. We must pray, yes, for this President, who must feel lost and demeaned. We pray for him to be sent positive support and strength and a way forward. We can expect a miracle that his ego is strengthened into solid truth; strong and positive allies will rally to him and a relationship with God will emerge. We must recognize that is a time for lifting up, knowing that as we align with loves ways, we become a continuing light of support. We cannot fix ourselves if we start with anger and hate. No matter what, we must start with love. In this case, were not trying to make the president better, but rather to initiate the thoughts and activities of Love. They, the spirit of them, will bring out the best in us.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
According to a church statement: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned about the temporal and spiritual welfare of all of Gods children across the earth, with special concern for those who are fleeing physical violence, war and religious persecution. The Church urges all people and governments to cooperate fully in seeking the best solutions to meet human needs and relieve suffering.
The Rev. Michael Habib of St. Ignatius of Antioch Church
His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America has not issued an official statement.
If he deems it necessary, he will put out a statement, said the Rev. Michael Habib of St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Twin Falls. He doesnt want individual priests commenting on it.
The Rev. Paul Thompson of Eastside Southern Baptist
As a church, we conduct ourselves and order ourselves by Scripture and not by our government. If our country allows refugees in, we will minister to them. If they are here, we care for them, regardless of where they are from. ... I, as a person, Im not in favor of our government giving privileges to any particular segment. ... I want to have the confidence that the government is properly vetting them for the safety of all the citizens. If they are here, we stand ready to help anyone. Where we do give care to anyone, we are also are very clear to identify the differences in religion and we see there are clear differences in Christianity and Islam, but the differences we identify are not identifiers to stop to care or stop giving aid to someone.
The Rev. Matt Woodroof of Buhl Calvary Assembly of God
I agree that priority should be give to the Christian refugees who are running for their lives. At Buhl Calvary Assembly of God we believe and practice to be open to having a missions heart toward those coming into our country seeking help from war in their home country. Its the heartbeat of Jesus. We are praying for Gods will to be done and praying for the persecuted church. Many Christians are killed all over the world because of the extremist groups out there. We should also protect our country from any extremist group. Looking back to 9/11 was not only a painful day for the U.S. but for the other good citizens of the world.
The Revs. Lynn and Dorette Schaal of Amazing Grace Fellowship
According to the actual executive order, this is a not a travel/immigration restriction based upon religion. It is a temporary moratorium/pause on people traveling from seven countries whose governments have limited ability to provide vetting credentials necessary for the US government to make a comprehensive determination as to whether or not they (the potential immigrant) meet the necessary requirements of our (U.S.) immigration policy. In light of that, I think all Americans hope to ensure that no immigrants with evil/terrorist intent ever enters our country. America has demonstrated in the past our openness as a nation to receive refugee immigrants regardless of their religious faith. In addition, the teachings of Christ as found in the Gospels, compel us to have a heart of compassion for all people ... regardless of national origin or religious background. Our prayer is both for the safety of our nation and for those who are in the unfortunate predicament of being persecuted and only seek to have a better life.
TWIN FALLS The City Council voted Monday to raise the pay of police and firefighters.
City Manager Travis Rothweiler advocated for the increase, saying Twin Falls needs to be able to better compete with the Treasure Valley in what it pays public safety workers. A mid-year, 7 percent average raise for sworn police and firefighters would help alleviate the problem of retention, he said.
The Council voted unanimously in favor of the increase, with the understanding that a longer-term analysis may be required.
Im really tired of training people for other agencies, Councilman Greg Lanting said.
The city has approved a number of compensation changes equating to a 9.7 percent increase among all staff since October 2015 most recently a citywide pay scale increase of 5 percent, passed in August.
We have moved our table more steps than at any point in our history, Rothweiler said.
As a result, most departments are fully staffed but that hasnt closed the gap in public safety areas, he said. In the past five years, Twin Falls Police Department has had a nearly 65 percent turnover rate. In the past year-and-a-half alone, the city had seven officers resign to take other jobs.
Any organization and here were speaking about the city of Twin Falls that has a 64.5 percent five-year turnover rate, is bordering on dysfunctional and not operative, Councilman Chris Talkington said.
The fire department has not had nearly that amount of turnover, Fire Chief Tim Soule told the Times-News.
For us, its more being able to recruit and attract firefighters in Twin Falls, he said. The steps the Council took tonight will make Twin Falls more attractive to recruit potential candidates.
The raise will also fix some pay equity problems seen in the fire department, Rothweiler said.
The wage increase will bring police officer salaries up to roughly 91 percent of what a cop typically makes in the Treasure Valley (excluding Boise). Pay raises in police and fire departments will be based on experience and comparing salaries between Twin Falls and the Treasure Valley ranging from no raise for some, and a 22 percent raise for others.
The adjustments will cost the city $376,000 over the rest of the fiscal year, but Rothweiler believes the city will have resources available to offset those costs.
Its a significant amount of money, but to me its an investment, not an expense, Mayor Shawn Barigar said.
Rothweiler said he admitted that he has failed to provide Council with the best information in past years. And the city is still playing catch-up in its compensation, something that will likely be analyzed in a new compensation model.
This isnt where it ends, he said. This is a multi-step process thats really no different than the multi-step process weve been in.
Trail extension expected this fall
Also at the meeting, the City Council approved an amended agreement between the city, the Twin Falls Community Foundation and Gary and Connie Storrer regarding accessing property to build the final piece of the Canyon Rim Trail.
The decision moves the original payment deadline to Feb. 15, with up to one year to pay the final $100,000 of the Storrers $600,000 costs.
To date, the Magic Valley Trail Enhancement Committee has raised $537,000, a committee member told the Council. A dinner auction is scheduled for March 16 to raise the final funds.
Rothweiler anticipates the city could bid for the trail section this spring, with trail development to be completed by fall.
BURLEY The Cassia County Sheriffs Office wants the publics help finding the people involved in a vehicle burglary.
At about 5 p.m. Jan. 16, a vehicle was burglarized in the Anytime Fitness parking lot, 749 N. Overland Ave., according to a release from George Warrell, Cassia County undersheriff.
A dark-colored, newer Nissan Rogue was caught on video driving up to the vehicle.
A person got out of the rear drivers-side back seat of the Rogue, then broke a rear window out of the GMC Acadia. The person took several items from the Acadia.
The sheriffs office is asking for help identifying the people involved in the burglary.
Call the sheriffs office at 208-878-2251 or Crime Stoppers at 208-878-2900, where the caller can remain anonymous.
RUPERT The owner of a Rupert home that burned to the ground Jan. 25, was preparing for a confrontation with police, officials say.
The remains of a body, which has not been identified, was found in the rubble of the burned home at 314 First St.
On Tuesday, the Minidoka County Coroners office continued to wait on identification results for the body that was found at the home belonging to Dale Mounce.
We are still waiting on results from x-ray and dental records, Coroner Lucky Bourn said.
Bourn said the Ada County Coroners office is assisting with the identification, which will be done by a forensic odonatologist.
We anticipate that once we have identification on the body that we will bring it to a quick conclusion, Detective Jeff McEwen said Tuesday.
According to a press release issued by the Rupert Police Department, police had received information that Mounce, 46, was preparing for a confrontation with police prior to the fire.
Officers had not made contact with Mounce when the incident occurred, the release said.
Last week, McEwen said that police officers and firefighters were at the home when the fire started.
Rupert Police Chief James Wardle was speaking with a female in front of the home when it caught fire, the release said.
The female had come from American Falls to talk with Mounce about not showing up for court.
Anyone with information regarding the fire should call the police department at 208-434-2330.
An arrest warrant was issued for Mounce earlier that same day for failure to appear in court on charges of aggravated battery stemming from his November arrest at the same house.
Mounce was charged in November after police said he hit three people with a 9mm pistol during a fight.
After the fight, a man told police that Mounce pulled the gun from his waistband at the home and started hitting him on the head with it, which knocked him to the floor.
One woman at the home said she and a second woman tackled Mounce and he hit them both in the head with the gun. Both woman received head injuries during the attack.
Along with three counts of felony aggravated battery, Mounce was charged with grand theft and possession of a financial transaction card.
Susan Fowler, who lives near Mounces home, said she was doing housework when she heard loud noises last week that sounded like ammunition going off.
Police have not identified the cause of the noises reported by neighbors.
Residents within two blocks of the home were told to leave their homes and an emergency shelter was set up for them.
BOISE The Idaho Board of Education voted unanimously Friday to recommend creating a community college district in eastern Idaho, the board announced.
Now, the board will send a notice of approval to county commissioners in Bonneville County recommending an election be held.
If a new taxing district is approved by voters, it would cover Bonneville County.
The College of Southern Idaho is playing a key role in helping eastern Idaho residents further their education.
At the request of state officials, the college has offered general education classes in subjects such as English in math in Idaho Falls since 2013.
Now, CSI is helping in an advisory role for an initiative to transform Eastern Idaho Technical College in Idaho Falls into a community college.
Its the last major population center in the Gem State without that offering.
In December, the Bonneville County clerk notified the Idaho Board of Education that more than 2,000 voters signed a petition seeking a community college district.
The board conducted a financial and needs assessment, which shows theres a growing demand for higher education in the area.
Governor C.L. Butch Otter and state legislators also appropriated $5 million for start-up costs for the new community college if voters approve the district in fiscal year 2017.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Dont talk about airport protests in Trump Country. In the places that propelled Donald Trump to the White House, the presidents fans couldnt be much happier with his executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven mostly Muslim countries.
Trump promised to put America first during the campaign, his supporters say, and hes doing it. That includes securing the nations borders and doing everything possible to prevent terrorists from entering the U.S.
In their view, Democrats and liberal snowflakes and soft-hearted do-gooders just need to calm down. Trump is being Trump.
Hes going to do what he says and says what he does, said Barbara Van Syckel, 66, of Sterling Heights, Michigan. Thats a little frightening for some people.
Two of Barbara Woods three sons served in the military after Sept. 11, and shes all for Trump and his immigration order.
The president is fulfilling his campaign promises to the best of his ability. I applaud him for that, said Wood, who lives in suburban Birmingham.
Thousands of people have demonstrated at U.S. airports since Trump issued an order Friday blocking people from seven countries in the Middle East and Africa from entering the United States and suspending refugee immigration for four months. The protests included a gathering of several hundred people in Birmingham, the largest airport in a Southern state that Trump carried with ease.
Washingtons state attorney general filed a lawsuit over the order, and a federal judge in New York issued an emergency order temporarily banning deportations of people from the seven nations. Some Republican lawmakers have questioned the order, with Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina saying they fear it will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism.
Yet none of that criticism matters much in Trump Country, those states and counties where Trump claimed the votes to win the Electoral College despite losing the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Retired social-service worker Judith Wilkenroh says the order shows Trump means what he says.
Hes just unafraid. Hes just going ahead like a locomotive, and I like him more and more every time he does something, said Wilkenroh, 72, of Fredrick, Maryland.
Trump supporters said they are happy with the immigration order and the ideas behind it. Some Trump backers said they might do things a little differently than the president, but their overall reaction is positive.
Were not the worlds Social Security office. Were not here to take care of people, said Jim Buterbaugh, the head of custodial work and maintenance at a public school in the western Montana town of White Hall. I understand that people need help, but there are other ways besides bringing them here.
Buterbaugh, who has actively fought the re-settlement of Syrians in Montana, was frustrated that Trumps moratorium did not include countries such as Saudi Arabia, where most of the Sept. 11 hijackers were from. The executive order also did not include the creation of safe zones for refugees, which he favors.
Mike Honaker has some misgivings, too. A Trump supporter in a struggling West Virginia coal town, he didnt think blitzing everybody with an order that spread chaos around the world was the right way to go.
But Honaker worries about terrorism and does not have a problem with Trumps plan to screen refugees more thoroughly. Overall, Honaker likes 85 percent of what the president has done so far.
I think hes shaking it up, the whole of Washington, D.C., and half the country, like he said he would, he said.
Attorney Terri King, 56, said Trumps order has widespread support in her Rust Belt city of Middletown, Ohio.
The only people who dont support it are those who are paid to protest on the left ... and some Democrats, said King, an also-ran in a GOP congressional race last year.
Republican Scott Presler of Virginia Beach, Virginia, likes Trumps order so much he thought about staging an airport protest of his own in support of the president.
Presler, who is gay, said he wanted to go to Virginias Dulles International Airport to support the presidents immigration ban while carrying a sign that said Radical Islam Murders Gays. But he said he stopped short of making the trip out of fear for his safety.
Im a compassionate human being, said Presler, 28. Im a humanitarian. But Im also compassionate toward the health and well-being of the American people. We have 50,000 homeless veterans in this country. We have our own poor and suffering.
Hes going to do what he says and says what he does,Barbara Van Syckel, 66, of Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Brian Lee Utz
April 2, 1974 - January 19, 2017
BOISE - Brian Lee Utz, 42, of Boise, Idaho died January 19, 2017 at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise.
Brian was born on April 2, 1974 in Gooding, Idaho, the son of June and Kerry Utz. He was raised, educated, and developed a love for life in Gooding. Many memorable experiences were shared with family and what would become life-long friends in the rural landscape.
He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow from 1992 to 1995 before returning to Gooding to study aviation. He was a fixed-wing aircraft pilot and instructor for many years before becoming a Jet Captain for the J.R. Simplot Corporation where he flew for 10 years until his death.
He married Kristin Muchow in Twin Falls in July 2001. They were later divorced in 2005. In May 2008, Brian married his life partner Tiffany Anderson in St. Thomas.
Brian is survived by his wife, Tiffany June; and his parents, June Annette and Kerry Lee Utz; as well as two daughters, Austyn June (8) and Savanah Lee (4); and older brother, Aaron Douglas (Darolyn) Utz of Bliss, Idaho.
He is preceded in death by: his grandparents, Eula and Alvin McConnell, as well as Beverly and Ronald Utz, Sr.
Brian lived a life of challenge, excitement, and adventure. One of his favorite activities was sitting in camp with family, close friends, and a cold drink. He loved the adventure and comradery that hunting and fishing trips afforded. His negotiating skills were the envy of many, and he made a hobby of buying, trading, and selling tools of the trade for outdoor adventures and interests. Anyone had the potential to become a close friend as far as he was concerned. To many, he was a fascinating personality and will be sorely missed.
There will be memory trees at the celebration so please bring a written memory, an anecdote, or a copy of your favorite photo of Brian to be shared on the trees.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund to aid in the education of Brian's daughters will be established and more information will follow.
A celebration of Brian's life will be held at the Gooding Basque Center on Saturday, February 4, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.
Local funeral services are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service Gooding Chapel.
Condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary link at www.demarayfuneralservice.com.
Stephen Glenn Buck
February 2, 1942 - January 26, 2017
BURLEY Stephen Glenn Buck returned home to his Heavenly Father on Jan. 26, 2017, in Boise, Idaho, after suffering valiantly through ill health for 20 years without complaint or bitterness. He was 74 years old.
Stephen was born Feb. 2, 1942, in Logan, Utah, the second child of Charles Glenn Buck and Ruby Dott Webb. His siblings are Ferrell Buck (Richard Terry) and Don Lyle Buck (Lane Alexander); he was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Ray Buck (Stella Ballesteros).
Stephen's life was characterized by a love of God and his fellow man. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 4, 1950, in Los Angeles, California. A bit of a prankster as a boy, Stephen grew up in East Los Angeles, where he attended Garfield High School. He loved exploring, hiking, fishing, and going out to the California desert with his brothers and friends. In March 1962, he was called to serve an LDS mission for the Church in the Gulf States Mission where he was made a district leader. Afterward, he served in the United States Army Medical Corps for six years as an x-ray technician and received recognition as a sharpshooter. Then, in 1966, Stephen met the great love of his life, Tanya Rae Willson-Bluemel, at an East Los Angeles Stake dance. They married in the Los Angeles California LDS Temple on March 29, 1968, and remained best friends throughout their almost 50 years of marriage.
He began his career after graduating from Los Angeles Business College, in the JCPenney management program. After the birth of their first child, their little family left Southern California to work in Idaho Falls. Penneys moved their growing family all over Idaho. In 1975, he was made store manager for the Rupert store. After one more transfer to Twin Falls, they decided to make a permanent home in Southern Idaho. In 1980, Stephen began working for the LDS Church, managing the new Deseret Industries Store in Burley, where the family has remained for 37 years. Once settled in Burley, Stephen never wanted to leave. He loved being an Idahoan.
Stephen's 23 years at D.I. made evident an essential part of his character; compassion and charity. He served faithfully in many church callings. He was the first bishop of the Burley Tenth Ward, beginning in 1981. In Burley, Stephen also served as a transient bishop and as a chaplain for the Cassia County Sheriff Department. His children cherish memories of the love their father always showed to people who needed help. He left a great legacy of humanitarian service and love.
Stephen and Tanya raised a family of five girls: Tamara Lynne, Carol Anne Garcia (Tony), Heather Marie Hullinger (Jeff), Angela Gail Larson (Teancum), and Holly Janelle George (Rick). He loved outdoor activities; fishing, hiking, and exploring; something he passed on to his girls. They were regular visitors to Alturas and Redfish Lakes. He had a goofy sense of humor that made family life a joy.
Stephen had a keen mind and a nearly photographic memory. His knowledge of the scriptures was thorough and he spent many hours studying. He could freely quote chapter and verse on almost any topicand he passed a love of this learning and study onto his children and grandchildren. He was very proud to be a husband, father and grandfather. Once his own children were grown, he and Tanya planned many vacations with their grandchildren. He was always delighted with their personalities. He is survived by his wife and children; 14 grandchildren; and three-and-a-half great-grandkids.
A funeral service in his honor will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Burley LDS 2nd and 4th Ward Church, 515 E. 16th St., in Burley, with Bishop Adam Haynes conducting. Military rites will be accorded by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization. Burial will follow at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday, preceding the service at the church.
TWIN FALLS As U.S. troops battled the Taliban for control of Fathe Nooris hometown in western Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army veteran was offered a chance to become an interpreter for the U.S. military.
Noori seized the opportunity, working with American forces from 2009 to 2014. But his service to the U.S. came at a huge price. His father was later murdered in part because of Nooris work. And the Taliban placed a large bounty on Nooris head.
The Taliban orders the interpreter is the first target, Noori said during an interview Monday at a Twin Falls coffee shop. For each head of an interpreter, they will pay $25,000.
One night, while driving home, a Taliban assassin tried stopping Nooris car and shooting him. He escaped unharmed.
Another time, Taliban fighters stopped Nooris wife and young son, but local villagers intervened to save the mother and child.
Noori and his family lived in constant threat of the Taliban, yet he continued his important work translating for American soldiers. In 2012, he requested a visa to bring his family to the U.S. Two years later, after a long and arduous vetting process, he finally received that visa. But he continued to translate for U.S. soldiers until the day he left Afghanistan.
Finally, in April 2014, Noori and his family arrived in the United States as refugees.
Now, nearly three years after settling in Twin Falls, Noori is dismayed that President Donald Trump has halted the nations refugee resettlement program. The order, signed Friday, bars refugee resettlement in the United States for 120 days and indefinitely for Syrian refugees. It also prohibits citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S. for 90 days.
Noori says the move will endanger U.S. troops in the Middle East and cost the lives of people like him who are wanted for helping the infidels.
The reality is, Mr. Donald Trump doesnt know exactly who is the enemy and who is the friend, Noori said. Especially because he stopped the Special Immigration Visas. Because they are people who put their lives at risk to support this government, to support this people. In Iraq or Afghanistan. They are not your enemy. If they were your enemy, they would kill or do something back there to your soldiers, to your troops. But you can see that they are supporting you.
Noori said people waiting to come to the U.S. will be killed every day refugees are barred from the country especially those like him who helped the American military.
The order has been widely criticized by others who have dubbed it a Muslim ban because of the way it offers priority to religious minorities from Muslim-majority nations. It has also prompted lawsuits by organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. On Saturday, in response to the ACLU lawsuit, a U.S. District Court judge in New York issued an emergency order blocking deportations of those whod already arrived in U.S. airports.
Locally, the order casts doubts on the future of the College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center. The refugee resettlement agency has provided services to thousands of refugees entering Twin Falls since the 1980s.
Director Zeze Rwasama said Monday theyll continue helping refugees who are already in Twin Falls and hes hopeful resettlement will resume later this year. Hes getting phone calls from refugees, whove expressed sadness and surprise.
The refugees are affected big time because they have family members on the other side, he said, who theyre hoping will come join them in Twin Falls.
Rwasama whos in Puerto Rico this week at an international immigration conference said hes telling refugees to be patient. A family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo arrived in Twin Falls on Thursday night the day before Trump signed the executive order halting refugee admissions.
They didnt have any issues, Rwasama said. At that time, the executive order was not signed.
On Monday, a young couple from Afghanistan filled out paperwork at the CSI Refugee Center as their toddler-aged son played nearby. It was their first full day in the United States, after arriving in Twin Falls on Sunday night.
Seven refugees a Nepalese family of three and Congolese family of four are slated to arrive in Twin Falls this Wednesday. The families received approval and were scheduled to come before Trumps executive order went into effect, but theres still uncertainty about whether theyll arrive. Rwasama hasnt heard an update about their travel status and still needs clarification about whether theyll be allowed entry.
That lack of clarity about what will happen is the most striking part of the order, which has sowed confusion among various federal agencies tasked with implementing the travel restrictions. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, while offering support for Trumps order to review the refugee vetting process, also criticized the way the White House implemented the executive order.
They failed to provide clear guidance on the policy, which caused substantial confusion at the ports of entry, Labrador said in a statement.
Twin Falls Mayor Shawn Barigar said its hard to interpret the executive order until the federal government finishes reviewing the vetting process. He said its especially difficult to interpret the portion of the order that says state and local jurisdictions may have greater involvement in the process of determining the placement or resettlement of refugees in their jurisdictions.
The balance of order is take a pause and review the vetting process, Barigar said. Its hard to push those decisions down to the local level while the federal government is still looking at it.
He said when the federal review is done, the City Council will welcome community input.
But that would be a community conversation to have once the federal government completes their review of the program and has some facts and findings, so there can be an educated conversation about what they may have found in the program, Barigar said. I think people stepping up right now to share their sentiments about refugee resettlement, absent that federal review, would be kind of counterproductive.
Rick Martin, an outspoken opponent of refugee resettlement and head of the Committee to End the CSI Refugee Center, praised the executive order.
Im really excited about what President Trump has done, Martin said. Weve been trying to get Congress to do something like this for a long time.
Martin, who ran unsuccessfully for election to the CSI board of trustees, also circulated a petition last year for a ballot measure to ban refugee centers in Twin Falls County. The petition needed 3,842 signatures to get on the May 2016 ballot but got just 892 signatures.
Martin will continue working to stop the CSI program locally, he said, because the federal ban is temporary.
Ultimately, I feel CSI needs to get out of the refugee resettlement business, Martin said. Theyve got education related issues and it will help them to focus on their primary mission, which is education.
Deborah Silver, a Democratic candidate last year who lost her race for the state senate, is part of the group Magic Valley Refugee Advocates. She criticized Trumps order for the way it was implemented and said the vetting process for refugees is already good enough.
Of course we want our country to be safe, Silver said. But the vetting process is very strong already.
Silver said targeting specific religions is a problem, the way the order was implemented was appalling, and refugees are nervous.
Refugees afraid
That was certainly what Solomon Tekle felt Monday. Tekle, who arrived in Twin Falls about five years ago as a refugee, said hes worried about the situation with halting refugee resettlement. He prays that Trump will change or improve the situation and says other refugees are worried.
Tekle asked a Times-News reporter: Will the government turn me back to my home country?
Despite his concerns, Tekle an Eritrean refugee who moved from Ethiopia said he likes Trump and stopping Syrian refugees is a good decision. He said hes worried about the spread of Al Qaeda terrorists.
In this issue, it is a good decision, he said. Otherwise, Im worried about me and other refugees.
Tekle is from a Christian family and came to the United States for a better life. He came to Twin Falls with his wife, and they have since separated. They have a daughter.
The Times-News reached out to about a dozen local refugees Monday. Several said they didnt want to comment. Others either didnt respond to inquiries or said they were too busy at work to talk.
Since Oct. 1, the CSI Refugee Center has resettled 133 refugees. It was slated to receive up to 300 total by the end of September.
Idaho typically receives about 1,000 refugees each year, with approximately 70 percent in Boise and 30 percent in Twin Falls.
On Monday at the CSI Refugee Center, employees were helping the new family from Afghanistan and a group of children wearing Clover Christian School T-shirts filed into the meeting room. Plastic bags and cardboard bins full of donations such as clothing, shoes, toys and diapers were stacked up inside near the front door. Rena Garibyan, a coordinator for English classes at the center, had just wrapped up a class that morning and was working with two women on paperwork.
She told one woman shed teach her how to call and schedule a taxi ride. Were going to practice tomorrow, Garibyan told her. Got it? Thank you very much.
Garibyan who arrived in the United States with her husband 26 years ago as a refugee from Azerbaijan in the former Soviet Union said her students have been asking her questions about the executive order and dont really know whats going on.
She talked with her Friday afternoon classes about it. She said she wants facts on Trumps executive order and wants clarification from his administration. And she wont share her opinion with students until that happens.
Nearly two years ago, controversy around refugee resettlement started brewing in Twin Falls. During a 2015 presentation to the CSI board, Rwasama said he expected to receive refugees in Twin Falls from possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Syria.
Crowds began showing up at CSI meetings expressing opposition and voicing worries about an influx of radical Muslims. There havent been any Syrian refugees resettled through the CSI Refugee Center.
Rwasama said Monday he hasnt heard any opposition to local refugee resettlement lately. And he said he hopes if Trumps administration is going to redesign the refugee program, that it will address concerns so everyone feels confident theyre safe and the vetting process for refugees is adequate.
For fiscal year, the total number of refugees from all countries allowed into the United States will drop from more than 100,000 to 50,000.
Trumps order has sparked widespread protests and denunciations from Democrats and a handful of Republicans. Many have accused the administration of rushing to implement the changes, resulting in panic and confusion at the nations airports.
Citizens of the seven countries with a 90-day travel ban who hold permanent U.S. residency green cards will not be barred from re-entering the U.S., as officials had previously said. It remains unclear what kind of additional screening they will now face.
Trump is vigorously defending his immigration restrictions, as protests spread throughout the country, saying this is about terror and keeping our country safe. Trump released a statement asserting, To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting.
Rwasama said hes concerned about preventing Syrian refugees from accessing resettlement. The U.S. should have a system that can vet refugees from any country, he added. By singling out Syrian refugees and denying them entry into the U.S., he said, the executive order shows a sense of weakness presented to the world.
As expected, Morocco has regained its seat at the African Union, after an overwhelming majority of African countries okayed the Moroccan bid to rejoin the pan-African organization after 33 years of absence.
The return, officially enacted Monday during the first day of the 28th African summit, is viewed as an outstanding victory for Moroccan diplomacy over hostile attempts to botch up the reintegration of the North African Kingdom into its African institutional family.
The readmission of Morocco is also regarded as recognition for the tireless efforts made by King Mohammed VI who has placed Africa at the top of the Kingdoms priorities.
By readmitting one of its founding members, the African Union and Africa will gain momentum thanks to the backing and leverage of a powerful regional economic actor.
Morocco was one of the founders of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of the present African Union.
It was in Casablanca that the OAU was born but Rabat left the organization in 1984 after it illegally granted membership to the Polisario separatist militia in violation of international laws.
Many African leaders and experts applaud Moroccos return to the AU, saying it will give a new impetus to the African bloc on the regional and international scenes, and will enhance peace and stability in the continent, which is facing major socioeconomic and political challenges.
Morocco is currently the 2nd major investor in Africa. Its private companies are present in several African countries operating in banking, telecommunication, construction, insurance, housing, electricity, fertilizers, air transportsrevving up social and economic development of Africa.
King Mohammed VI has paid several visits to African countries, part of his Africa-oriented strategy seeking to promote a strong and solidarity-based South-South cooperation serving the African peoples interests within the frame of a win-win partnership.
Kuwait, which has posted a budget surplus for 16 years in a row, has approved for the third consecutive time a budget with expenses surpassing the income forecasted by the state despite the introduction of several austerity measures to reduce state expenditures.
The financial year begins on April 1 in Kuwait and Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh said the budget deficit for the year is estimated at $25.9 billion. The government is considering the issuance of international sovereign bonds to finance the deficit but no date has been fixed.
Al-Saleh hinted, in November 2015, that it would be offering around $9.8 billion to international investors at the beginning of this year. The foreign reserves that were accumulated during the glorious days of high oil prices are expected to reduce state borrowing.
Kuwait heavily depends on revenue generated from oil and it is estimated to account for around 88% of the states total income. The drastic fall of oil prices from $150 a barrel to around $20 before recovering to around $50 has affected the countrys income. Oil revenues for the 2017-2018 financial year are expected to provide around $38.4 billion. Amid an increase of 36%, the expenses of the country are estimated to be around $75.3 billion which is more than double that amount.
In the previous years, Kuwait built up a sovereign wealth fund worth around $600 billion. The money is invested mostly in the United States, Europe and Asia. The countrys sovereign wealth has already contributed 10% of revenues to the budget.
Meanwhile, a long-term development plan has been launched. Kuwait 2035 vision also dubbed as New Kuwait is designed to activate development, boost the economy, diversify productivity, and press ahead with economic and financial reforms through mega projects while giving a leading role to the private sector.
A Saudi frigate patrolling off the coast of Yemen was struck by what is dubbed as suicide boats but the Houthi Movement claims that it was a guided missile.
Two soldiers are reported to have been killed by the blast but the frigate was able to continue sailing. Saudi State media reported that that the terrorist attack was carried out by three boats but the ship was able to deal with them except for one which collided with the back of the ship and exploded thereby causing a fire outbreak that was later on brought under control.
The Houthi Movement has claimed responsibility for the attack. One of its officials stated that the ship was hit with precision after an accurate surveillance operation off the western coast. That attack was filmed and broadcast on the rebel-controlled al-Masirah television channel.
The area of the attack has not been revealed but the Saudi-led coalition claims that the port of Hodeiba continues to serve as a launch-pad for terrorist operations at sea which poses a threat to international navigation and the supply of humanitarian and relief aid through the port.
Within a scope of five months, the Houthi Movement and its allies have launched three attacks. Last year, a US navy vessel intercepted a missile launched at it near the Bab al-Mandab Strait before retaliating. An Emirati vessel was also hit by missiles fired by the Houthis near the coast of Mokha when it was returning to the UAE from Aden. The rebels boasted that the ship was completely destroyed.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen is aimed at reinstating President Hadi as the legitimate president but the task is proving to be challenging since the launching of the military operation on 26 March 2015. The Houthis are still in control of the capital and other major towns. They also established a council that is overseeing the affairs of the territories under their control.
Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.
Two professors from Ghana and Egypt have been awarded the 2017 African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award on Monday.
Ghanaian Felix Dapare Dakora and Egyptian Ali Ali Hebeish were handed the $100,000 prize each at the ongoing 28th African Union Summit in Ethiopias capital Addis Ababa.
Professor Dakora won the award for his work on the interaction between legumes and social micro-organisms.
Because fertilizers are very expensive, we try to actually identify leguminous species which when associated with the soil bacteria can produce a lot of nitrogen, he told reporters.
He has in over twenty-three years of postdoctoral research, studied the molecular conversation between legumes and soil. More specifically, the fixation of biological nitrogen (N2) in legumes promised great results.
Professor Ali Ali Ali Hebeish won the award for his contribution to the production of suitable textile fibers for apparels, furnishing and technical purposes like lining water canals and medical threads among others.
81-year-old Professor Emeritus Hebeish has over 360 publications to his credit and accredited with 9 patents and 9 books.
The African Union Commission launched the prestigious African Union Scientific Award Program in September 2008 with the support of its Development Partners particularly the European Commission.
Under this program, prizes are awarded to top African scientists two sectors: Life and Earth Science; and Basic Science, Technology and Innovation.
Sudans foreign affairs ministry has summoned the United States envoy Steven Koutsis to protest against Donald Trumps immigration Executive Order, temporarily banning people from seven countries, including Sudan, from entering the U.S.
The seven Muslim-majority countries targeted by President Donald Trump in his executive order on immigration were initially identified as countries of concern under the Obama administration.
According to the State-run News Agency Sudan Tribune, the Sudanese foreign ministry undersecretary, Abdel-Ghani al-Naim, told U.S. diplomat Steven Koutsis that the ban marred recent progress in relations between the two countries, including the lifting of some sanctions against Sudan by former U.S. President Barack Obama.
The tension is high in Khartoum where an advisory message posted on the U.S. Embassys Facebook page Saturday told all nationals or dual nationals of the affected countries not to attend scheduled visa appointments as we will not be able to proceed with your visa interview.
The foreign ministry also expressed its dismay that Sudan remains on a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. The State Department designated Sudan as a sponsor of terrorism in 1993, accusing it of providing a haven for militant groups, including al-Qaeda.
Trumps order also prohibits all refugees, regardless of their origin, from entering the U.S. for 120 days and for an indefinite period for Syrian refugees.
The ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) on Monday said it has seized important quantity of weapons and ammunition from the private home of exiled former President Yahya Jammeh.
According to the commander of the ECOMIG mission, General Francois Ndiaye, who directed the operation in the home-town of the former president, all weapons and ammunition are now in the custody of ECOWAS, so nothing will happen there (Kanilai).
The situation is under control the Gambian armed forces have been very cooperative, he said.
He did not specify the quantity of weapons nor the day when they were seized.
General Ndiaye also confirmed the arrest of the head of an elite unit of the Gambian army, General Bora Colley in Senegal and four members of Jammehs bodyguards who had accompanied him into exile but tried to return to The Gambia.
General Bora Colley was appointed prisons boss by Jammeh in 2012. He was arrested at the border checks conducted by the authorities.
Exiled Yahya Jammeh governed The Gambia for over two decades and is on record to have said he could continue for a billion years if it was the will of Allah.
He came to power through a bloodless coup in 1994 after deposing Dawda Jawara, the countrys first president.
Thousands of citizens of U.S.-allied nations in Europe and beyond may be barred from entering the United States under President Trumps travel ban, sparking a wave of outrage and fresh confusion that threatened to open an early rift across the Atlantic.
Yet the administration also appeared to be doling out exceptions to nations such as Britain playing favorites among allies at the possible expense of long-standing relationships.
Following instructions from the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. embassies in Berlin and Paris warned Monday that German and French citizens who are also dual nationals of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen the seven mostly Muslim nations targeted by the ban would fall under the travel ban, joining people who hold passports only from those countries.
The measures full effect appeared unclear even to the U.S. embassies in Europe, where conflicting information circulated. The U.S. Embassy in Paris, for instance, warned that even existing U.S. visas granted to dual citizens would be revoked, while the U.S. Embassy in Berlin suggested only that new visas would not be granted.
The Trump administration, however, may be favoring the dual nationals of some Western nations a turn of events that could further complicate the White Houses already floundering relations with Europe. After talks with the White House, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, for instance, reassured his nation Monday that dual British nationals of the flagged Muslim nations have received an exemption from the travel ban.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested that it targets Muslims and said she would seek to defend the travel rights of all German citizens.
The necessary and also resolute fight against terror does not justify in any way a general suspicion against people of a certain faith, in this case against people of Muslim faith, or people of a certain origin, Merkel said Monday. Alluding to the uncertainty surrounding the ban, she added that Germany is making all efforts to clarify the legal situation for the dual citizens affected and to strongly assert their interests.
The U.S. guidance appeared to catch the Europeans off guard. The French Foreign Ministry issued a warning about travel to the United States, mentioning the uncertainty of the regulations for dual nationals.
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Spending more time outside as a child linked to protection against nearsightedness
When children spend more time outside, they are less likely to develop nearsightedness later in life. These are the results of a new European study published in the Dec 1, 2016 issue of JAMA Ophthalmology.
Also known as myopia, nearsightedness is when a person struggles to see clearly at a distance. Objects farther away appear blurry. Researchers at Kings College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine suspect that the suns ultraviolet B (UVB) rays may play a role in protecting against nearsightedness. UVB rays spur the body to produce vitamin D; however, the researchers couldnt correlate higher vitamin D levels with reduction in nearsightedness. Is there another property of sunlight that is responsible for protecting vision health? How does constant bombardment of artificial light from modern indoor settings weaken visual strength?
Detachment from sunlight, outdoor settings weakening our eyes
The further we detach from our natural surroundings, the weaker our senses become. The researchers confirmed this in a study involving 371 Europeans with nearsightedness and 2,797 without the condition. We found that higher annual lifetime UVB exposure, directly related to time outdoors and sunlight exposure was associated with reduced odds of myopia, the study authors wrote. Exposure to UVB between ages 14 and 29 years was associated with the highest reduction in odds of adult myopia, they concluded.
The association, although vague, does point out the importance of connecting with real sunlight and the natural environment. Nearsightedness could simply be the result of humans adjusting to modern day indoor environments full of artificial light. The condition of nearsightedness may not be a condition at all. It could simply be a learned adaptation.
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When the eyes are free to take in full spectrum scenery and sunlight outdoors, they are naturally going to be better suited to see clearly at greater distances. With modern day school settings locking kids indoors for hours, forcing them to concentrate on close-up tasks, the childrens eyes could just be adjusting to the environment theyve grown accustomed to. In fact, in the study, the research found that nearsightedness is more common among educated people who spend more time indoors studying. People who have grown up outdoors in the country show less signs of nearsightedness.
Dr. Donald Mutti, a professor at the Ohio State University College of Optometry, says that real visible light affects the eyes in profound ways. Bright sunlight is known for stimulating the release of dopamine from the retina, which ultimately prevents problems like myopia. (RELATED: Read more news about the prevention of health problems at Prevention.news.)
Ian Morgan, a vision researcher and visiting fellow at Australian National University also notes, Increasing the amount of time outdoors in schools in Taiwan over the past five years has led to decreases in the prevalence of myopia for the first time in 40 years. Today in East Asia, myopia affects close to 80 percent of children. In Europe and the US, myopia affects 40 to 50 percent of kids. Nearsightedness could have everything to do with modern day separation from sunlight.
Find more news about living in harmony with the natural world at the Green Living News website.
Sources include:
Consumer.HealthDay.com
NEI.NIH.gov
Oklahoma state senator pushing to forcibly vaccinate children in complete violation of medical ethics
Oklahoma State Senator Ervin Yen continues his crusade to introduce mandatory vaccination legislation for all children in his state, except those exempted for serious medical conditions. For the third year in a row, Yen is seeking to push a bill through the Oklahoma legislature that would remove non-medical exemption options for parents.
From NewsOK.com:
Oklahoma is one of 18 states that allow philosophical exemptions for those who object to immunizations because of personal, moral or other beliefs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Yen, a cardiac anesthesiologist, would like to see that change, and this coming session, he will have more support and opposition than last year.
Since last years legislative session, the debate has heated considerably, with battle lines now having been drawn between two factions each represented by its own political action committee.
On the other side of the issue is Oklahomans for Vaccine and Health Choice, who last year opposed Yens legislation on the grounds that it removed parental choice from the equation.
The group is growing in membership and is planning a February rally as part of its continuing effort to defeat this years attempt to pass the forced immunization bill. The groups president, Liza Greve, said that its mission is not to convince parents to avoid immunization, but to fight for their right to informed consent.
Where theres a risk there must be a choice, she said.
The group has contributed to the campaign of Republican State Sen. Nathan Dahm, who has introduced his own vaccine bills into this years session: one that would require school boards to include giving vaccine exemption information to parents when notifying them of vaccine schedules for school enrollment, and another that would require health care providers to obtain informed consent from parents before vaccinating children.
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Under Dahms proposed legislation, doctors would be required to provide relevant information regarding benefits and risks of the vaccine as well as information concerning the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
Similar bills introduced by Dahm last year were vetoed by Gov. Mary Fallin.
In response to what he viewed as dangerous anti-vaccine legislation, a Norman Oklahoma pediatrician named Dr. Thomas Kuhls decided to establish an opposition campaign represented by a group called Vaccinate Oklahoma.
Kuhls, the president of of the group, was alarmed when Yens bill was soundly defeated last year while Dahms own bills almost passed. He decided to organize a group of fellow pediatricians to lead the campaign in support of Yens bill and in opposition to those introduced by Dahm.
Yen, who is not a pediatrician, but rather a cardiac anesthesiologist, has chosen to ignore the fact that vaccines have been linked to autism and other serious illnesses, despite official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assurances that vaccines are entirely safe.
In fact, the CDC cant be trusted at all regarding vaccine safety since its own whistle-blower revealed that the agency knowingly destroyed evidence that vaccines indeed are linked to autism.
Sen. Yen claims to believe that despite Oklahomas current 90 percent immunization compliance rate that children are still at risk.
If I fail this session, Ill keep doing it until we get it passed, and we will get it passed but I hope it doesnt take a big outbreak where lots of kids die, he said. Id like to get it passed before that happens.
Many, like Liza Greve, cant help but wonder if Yens zealous pursuit of forced vaccinations for all Oklahoma children might not be motivated by profits rather than public safety perhaps the result of some backroom deal with vaccine industry lobbyists?
At any rate, the showdown in Oklahoma may set a precedent for other states to follow. Stay tuned for further developments on this story.
Sources:
TheFreeThoughtProject.com
NewsOK.com
OPHA.com
Azerbaijan, UN set economic co-op priorities
The main strategic priority of the Azerbaijan-UN economic cooperation in 2016-2020 is the achievement of sustainable and inclusive economic development, backed by a growing diversification, said Ghulam Isaczai, UN resident coordinator and UNDP resident representative in Azerbaijan.He was addressing a meeting on the UN-Azerbaijan Partnership Framework (UNAPF) for 2016-2020, held in Baku Jan. 19, Trend reports.The main goals to be reached by 2020 are to ensure a more diversified economy and sustainable growth, provide work for youth, women, disabled and other vulnerable segments of the population, he said.Isaczai said the results of the work will be judged by three indicators the average annual growth of GDP by 7 percent or more in the non-oil sector, improvement of the global competitiveness index to 4.7 points, and reducing the unemployment rate among women and youth (aged from 15 to 29) to 5.7 and 9.5 percent, respectively.
Nothing to celebrate on Georgia-Gazprom deal
By Messenger Staff
The Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili has stated Georgia has nothing to celebrate about the recently achieved Georgia-Gazprom deal, which envisages monetary compensation instead of receiving in kind gas for Russias gas transit to Armenia via Georgia.In previous years, Georgia received 10 percent of all gas Russia transported to Armenia through Georgian territory.However, as Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze has stated this year, Russia demanded that Georgia accept money and not gas for the service.Kaladze refrained from naming the amount of money Russia would pay. However, it was stated the money was less than the price of the gas Georgia was receiving free of charge.In his comments, the Energy Minister stressed it was an optimal decision for Georgia, as receiving money for such a service was an international practice.He also said Georgia would get one of the highest prices in Europe for the service.The information has caused an outcry and critical statements towards the Government of Georgia.Kvirikashvili stated no one has displayed the solution, Kakha Kaladze among them, as beneficial for Georgia, and that the Government of Georgia doesnt love our country less than any of its citizens.The PM said as much information in the document as possible would be made public.The Government of Georgia and the Prime Minister had to make additional explanations over the issue, as their prior statements over the topic were made with the tone as if Georgia achieved some success and that it was a profitable outcome for Georgia.Russia is anoccupant country, which occupies 20% of Georgias lands, and Georgia previously had a deal with Russia whichtruly was beneficial for Georgia.Now the situation has changed, and the population of Georgia has the right to have accurate information over a deal the country has signed with the Russian Federation, which has threatened Georgias interests and rights for many years.
The News in Brief
First end-of-life care unit for children opens in Tbilisi
After years of fundraising and hard work, a new end-of-life care unit for children living with life limiting illnesses has finally opened in Tbilisi.
The center is a hospice for minors who need a specific type of palliative care. At the opening ceremony on Tuesday, first lady MakaChichua held an emotional speech about the importance of finally getting a place that can offer the highest standards of care for children in Georgia who are living with cancer and other life limiting illnesses.
I cant speak about this without being brought to tears. I am very emotional today. This is a great example of humanity and support. However, public awareness regarding this kind of problem is still very poor in this country and I would wish for people to get to know more about it, and get united to help and support kids who suffer lifelong diseases and help them easily get through it. I wish people will not die alone, MakaChichua said.
The new ten-bed end of life care rest home, located in a quiet area of the city, will be open from February 1 24 hours a day, seven days a week providing free hospice care for patients under the age of 18. The hospice will be the only place in Georgia where children with a lifelong decease can get relief from their symptoms and stress due to serious illness.
According a study from 2013, there are around 840 children in Georgia suffering from a chronic, lifelong illness, the majority of whom need palliative care. However, despite such a significant number, the capacity for caring for these patients is lower than the demand on the service.
Tamar Kvijinadze, a home-care coordinator at Firefly World, emphasized that the hospice aims to reduce the number of inappropriate admissions and deaths of young palliative patients and offer them a decent environment to die.
Unfortunately, I have to acknowledge that public awareness as well as recognitions of the problem from the families of the patients is a great problem in our country. Today, we have made a great step forward toward maintaining the life conditions of the palliative patients, but this is a drop in the sea. I always say the care is effective when all ring of the chain patient-team-family and society are involved in it. Exactly on this we are working now, Kvijinadze told DFWatch.
Firefly World offers three forms of services: 24 hour professional care for minors and their parents staying at the hospice, a day centre where patients and their family may spend time receiving proper care, and homes providing special care by specialist nurses from the hospice. At the moment, the home care service is only available in Tbilisi, and currently being offered to 26 patients suffering a lifelong serious illness.
The new unit is made a reality thanks to the involvement of various individuals, the business sector and organizations. The project is funded by the Open Society Georgia Foundation and the Evex Medical Corporation in Georgia.
(civil.ge)
Diplomatic Corps backs current reforms in Georgias Defense Ministry
Georgias Defense Minister LevanIzoria has hosted diplomats of the NATO and EU member countries accredited to Georgia.
At the meeting, Izoriaprovided the foreign diplomats with information on reforms conducted in the ministry through the last 6 months.
As IPN has been informed by the Defense Ministry, Izoria said the reforms are aimed at training troops compatible with NATO.
The diplomatic corps representatives showed full support to LevanIzoria through the process of the reforms. As U.S. Ambassador Ian Kelly said, the reforms are being conductedat the right period.
The new four-year strategy of the Defence Ministry as well as the process of elaboration of the strategic review documentwas also discussed.
As the French Ambassador to Georgia said,the achievements were unanimously assessed positively by all diplomats.
NATO Liaison Office Head William Lahue said it was necessary to make complex steps in order to strengthen Georgias defensive capabilities.
As reported by the ministry, the diplomats evaluated the meeting positively, and said that they back the NATO-Georgia substantial package implementation as well as Georgias European integration.
(IPN)
@amysherman1
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said on Fox Business Network Tuesday that President Donald Trump "believes he was elected as a dictator" and that the acting Attorney General Sally Yates is a "profile in courage."
Trump fired Yates after she refused to comply with his immigration ban.
Wasserman Schultz, a Weston Democrat, is no longer the Democratic National Committee chair but she remains South Florida's most outspoken basher-in-chief of Trump and his administration.
Here is a partial transcript:
On acting Attorney General Sally Yates recent actions:
I think its important to note that she did exactly what she said she would do if she was given an order by the President of the United States, which she believed violated the law Her answer to Jeff Sessions was that she would make sure that the Department of Justice followed the law. And frankly, because President Trump did absolutely nothing to consult the Department of Justice, his Secretary of Homeland Security, any members of Congress, the leadership of Congress, since they basically slapped this policy together in which they were barring immigrants and refugees for a period of time from countries, by the way, none of which had the 9/11 attackers come from.
On President Trumps tweet this morning regarding Democrats delaying his cabinet nominations:
The Presidents tweet this morning was very interesting and telling because it shows that he believes he was elected as a dictator. There is an advised and consent role in the United States Senate, and that is what they are doing. He doesnt just get to have his nominations rubber stamped, and he has nominated some very disturbing individuals.
On Steve Mnuchin:
Mnuchin was a Goldman Sachs alumni, an executive at Goldman Sachs. He actually wants to roll back Dodd-Frank. He wants to undo all the consumer protections that have been put in place, that caused the crash in our economy, that allowed all the banks to make money unethically off of the backs of consumers.
On the 2016 election:
Look, Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by nearly 3 million votes. The people did speak and Donald Trump would do well to listen to them.
@ByKristenMClark
Senate President Joe Negron told reporters Tuesday he isn't upset that Gov. Rick Scott's 2017-18 budget proposal doesn't include funding for Negron's top legislative priority: Purchasing land for water storage south of Lake Okeechobee.
"I dont expect the governor to put the priorities of the House and Senate in his budget," Negron, R-Stuart, said. "I have the burden of proof to convince him and convince my colleagues that based on Amendment 1 and based on the current issue that its appropriate to spend money on additional water storage south of Lake Okeechobee."
Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, filed legislation last week to carry out Negron's $2.4 billion plan to buy 60,000 acres of farmland to create a water-storing reservoir and prevent future toxic algae outbreaks in local estuaries, such as those that wreaked havoc on the state last summer.
In reiterating his pitch for the land buy, Negron said "the best we've come up with" as a state hasn't worked and isn't good enough.
"We have a lake in the middle of Florida - one of the largest lakes in the country - and it rises when you have a lot of rain. So when that happens, and it gets too high, we say the only solution we can come up with in the United States of America is were going to open up floodgates and were going to drain the water through man-made canals and we are going to poison estuaries, rivers and now the ocean," Negron said.
"This is it? This is the plan?" he added. "Its not acceptable. No ones defending it anymore."
While Scott's budget proposal doesn't include money for the land-buy, it does recommend more than $215 million for several water storage projects around Lake O, including federal projects for the Indian River Lagoon for which the state bears some of the cost.
The Legislature ultimately decides on the state's annual budget, although the governor has some veto power over specific projects.
Image credit: Florida Channel
Coming soon
Red Cross blood drives The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to help ensure a readily available blood supply for emergencies. Donors of all blood types are needed. To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to help reduce wait times.
MISSOULA: Wednesday, Feb. 1 PEAK Health and Wellness. Join the team at the PEAK at their downtown location on Monday, or their Blue Mountain facility on Wednesday, and receive a coupon for a free drink at their Juice Bar!
Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 The Bicycle Hanger on Brooks Street. Visit the Bicycle Hanger as their awesome team works to knock out the need. All participating donors will be entered to win a Be Awesome t-shirt.
Fitness, dance classes For more information on the following classes offered by the Lifelong Learning Center, call 406-549-8765 or visit missoula.classes.com:
Beginning/Intermediate CoreAlign-Wednesdays, Feb. 1-24, 7-8 a.m., Alpine Physical Therapy, $104.
Introduction to CoreAlign, Wednesdays, Feb. 1-22, 5:35-6:35 p.m., Alpine Physical Therapy, $55.
Introduction to Pilates Reformer, Wednesdays, Feb. 1-22, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Alpine Physical Therapy, $55.
OULA Palooza!, Friday, Feb. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center, $11.
Red Willow Center For more information on the following classes at the learning center, 825 W. Kent, call 406-721-0033 or visit redwillowlearning.org:
Ongoing classes include "Yoga for Wellness" at noon Mondays, $12 or $40 for four weeks; "Mindfulness Meditation" at 12:10 p.m. Tuesdays, $12 or $40 for four weeks; "Yoga Beyond Cancer" at 4 p.m. Tuesdays, $40 for four weeks; "Yoga for Wellness" at 10 a.m. Wednesdays, $12 or $40 for four weeks; "Yoga for Chronic Pain" at 5 p.m. Wednesdays, $40 for four weeks plus $50 for prerequisite screening' "Meditation for Veterans" at 1:15 p.m. Thursdays at Missoula Vet Center, 910 Brooks, free.
Ongoing programs
AA and Al-Anon For the latest Alcoholics Anonymous meetings list, visit aa-montana.org or call the Missoula hotline at 406-543-0011. For more information on Al-Anon and Alateen, which are 12-step recovery programs for relatives and friends whose lives have been affected by alcoholism, visit mt.al-anon.alateen.org.
Acupuncture for cancer caregivers Missoula Community Acupuncture, located in the Radio Central Building, 127 E Main St., Suite 314, offers free acupuncture treatments for friends, family, nurses, doctors or anyone who takes care of cancer patients 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call Michael Peluso at 406-926-1611.
Adult Asperger's support group An open meeting for those with Asperger's as well as their family and friends is held 6-7:30 p.m. every Thursday at the University Center, Room 215, on campus. Contact Monique Casbeer at 406-721-3947 or Cindy Bacon Janego at cjanego@communitymed.org for more information.
Alzheimers support Meets the second Wednesday of each month at noon at the Summit Independent Living conference room, 700 S.W. Higgins Ave. Another group meets the fourth Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Missoula Senior Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave. For more information, contact Jackie Johnson at 406-549-3433 or jackiej45@yahoo.com.
Alzheimers caregivers support group Meets the fourth Monday at 6:30 p.m. of each month at the Missoula Senior Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave. For more information, call Jackie Johnson at 406-549-3433.
Arthritis programs The Montana Arthritis Program offers physical activity and self-management education programs, such as the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Walk with Ease and Stanfords Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. Classes are available in several communities including Florence, Hamilton, Kalispell, Libby, Missoula, Plains and Polson. To find a class or for more information, visit dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/arthritis.
Bereavement support groups Frontier Hospice offers open door meetings 6-7 p.m. Thursdays at the following locations: The Springs at Whitefish on the first Thursday; Rising Mountains Assisted Living Community in Bigfork on the third Thursday; and Frontier Hospice in Kalispell on the second and fourth Thursdays. Call 406-755-4923 for more information.
Breast cancer support group Meets the first and third Wednesday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon at the Montana Cancer Center, St. Patrick Hospital Broadway Building, second floor. Call 406-329-5656.
Cancer Center support group Meets noon-1:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Montana Cancer Center, 500 W. Broadway. For more information, call Bonnie at 406-240-0996.
Cancer Resource Guide The online guide covers resources including support groups, treatment centers, camps and retreats, in Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli counties. It is available at cancerresourcesMT.org.
Cancer support group A support group for anyone affected by cancer meets noon-1 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays at the Polson United Methodist Church, 301 16th Ave. For more information, call Tammy at 406-883-7284 or 406-824-2868.
Celebrate Recovery The Christian-based 12-step recovery program meets 6-9:30 p.m. every Friday at Christian Assembly Foursquare Church, 1001 Cleveland St. Dinner is available from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and child care is provided for ages birth to 11. For more information, call 406-721-6884 or email cafc@4bible.com.
Cheerful Heart Lake County cancer patients in treatment can receive a massage and help with hair and skin problems, free of charge, from local therapists and cosmetologists. Other non-medical services include transportation to treatment and doctor appointments, running errands, yard work and meal preparation. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 406-883-3070.
Colorectal Cancer Support Group Meets 1-2 p.m. the third Friday of every month through March 20, Community Cancer Care Conference Room, 2827 Fort Missoula Road.
"Coping, Education & Support for Women with All Cancer Types" The support group for women in all stages of cancer treatment or survivorship will be held noon-1:30 p.m. the second Monday of every month through March 14, 2016, at the Community Cancer Care Conference Room, 2837 Fort Missoula Road. For more information, call Deb Rivey at 327-3912, Terri Paxinos at 406-327-3957 or Kimberly Hardwick at 406-327-3906.
Diabetes program At 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, there will be a short presentation on a topic related to the management of Type 1 diabetes at the YMCA, 3000 S. Russell St. It will be followed by the option for socializing in the foyer or being active together at the Y. A fee of $5 per person will be collected at the door for those choosing to use the facility. Designed for ages 14 and older, children are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent/caregiver.
Double Trouble in Recovery The 12-step program for people with mental health and addiction issues meets 3-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Winds of Change Recovery Mall, 2685 Palmer St., No. C (second floor). Coffee is provided. For more information, call Veronica at 406-721-2038.
Epilepsy support group Meets the first Monday of the month from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Summit Independent Living Center, 700 S.W. Higgins Ave., Suite 101. Patients, friends, family and caregivers welcome. Call Debbie at 406-721-0707 for more information.
Free health exams Women ages 30 to 64 who meet necessary income guidelines and either have no health insurance or have insurance that will not pay for breast and cervical health exams can receive free exams through Partnership Health Centers Montana Cancer Screening Program. Call 406-258-4162 for more information.
Gentle yoga class The Missoula Senior Citizen Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave., offers a class that focuses on balance training, back strength and core conditioning through gentle yoga matwork every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m. Fee is $4 per class. All ages welcome. For more information, call 406-543-7154.
Health Insurance Assistance Service Montana cancer patients can call the American Cancer Societys 24-hour toll-free number to be connected to a health insurance specialist to ask about coverage and insurance programs specific to the state. The number is 800-227-2345.
Mens cancer support group Open to men in all phases of testing, treatment and followup, the group meets the fourth Tuesday of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Montana Cancer Center, 500 W. Broadway. It is facilitated by Gary Weisbrich and Tom King. Call 406-329-5628 or email gary.weisbrich@providence.org for more information.
Narcotics Anonymous Meets at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Alano Club, 8 Third Ave. W., Polson. Call 406-883-4135.
National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI Missoula meets every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon in the lower level (behind the cafeteria) of the Providence Center. It is open to anyone affected by mental illness or interested in learning more about the group. The NAMI Connection group for adults living with mental illness meets 1:30-3 p.m. Thursdays at the NAMI offices, 202 Brooks St., Room 210. Call 406-880-1013 with questions.
NAMI Family Support Group National Alliance on Mental Illness Missoula meets Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brooks St., in Room 210. The peer-led support for adult family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals with mental illness is free. For more information, call 406-880-1013 or email namimissoula@gmail.com.
My No-Nonsense Nutrition Program A seven-week webinar course to improve your nutrition and fitness. Faith-based approach to better health. Free initial consult with Judy Gilman, registered nurse, diabetes and wellness educator. mynononsensenutrition.com or 406-546-7819.
Overeaters Anonymous Local meetings include 7 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brooks St. A meeting for newcomers is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday followed by a "Back to Basics" meeting at 7 p.m. at St. Paul's. Everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively is welcome. There are no dues, weigh-ins or lectures. For more meeting information, visit oa.org.
SAA For the latest Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting list visit saa-recovery.org, call the Missoula hotline at 406-241-4005 or email MissoulaBetterway@yahoo.com. SAA is a 12-step fellowship of men and women who share experience, strength and hope for the purpose of finding freedom from addictive sexual behavior and helping others recover from sex addiction.
S-Anon Local meetings are held weekly for this recovery program for people affected by another persons sexual behavior. Visit sanonmontana.org or call 406-544-1271 to learn more.
Stroke and Brain Injury Support Group Meets the second Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Providence Center, 902 N. Orange St., in the dining area on the fourth floor. For details, call 406-329-5784.
Tai Chi for Arthritis Class offered 9:15 a.m. Mondays at the Missoula Senior Citizens Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave. $4 per class. All ages welcome.
Tai Chi Chih Classes are offered at the following locations: Missoula Senior Citizens Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave., 9:15 a.m. Wednesdays, $4 per class; PEAK Health & Wellness Center, 5000 Blue Mountain Road, 11 a.m. Tuesdays, call 251-3344; and The Womens Club, 2105 Bow St., 9 a.m. Fridays, call 406-728-4410.
TOPS Take Off Pounds Sensibly, an affordable, nonprofit, weight-loss support and wellness organization, meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Christian Church, 2701 S. Russell St. Another TOPS meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2512 Sunset Lane. For additional meetings, go to tops.org, click on "Find a Meeting" and enter your ZIP code or call 800-932-8677.
The future of the Affordable Care Act is unclear, stirring up financial and medical concerns for many consumers. It leaves some to wonder, What now?
Experts say the best thing to do is to focus on the here and now including the Jan. 31 deadline to sign up.
About 11.5 million people nationally had signed up for coverage through the ACA's public exchanges as of the end of December. President Donald Trump has vowed to repeal it, but lawmakers have yet to reach an agreement on a replacement.
"What we have seen, certainly following the election but it continues today, is uncertainty," said Jennifer Sullivan, vice president of programs at Enroll America. "The truth is no one knows how the law will fare this year, the uncertainty is warranted."
In the meantime, here's what experts suggest:
SIGN UP
The process to repeal or replace the law could take time, but a health emergency could hit at any time. And without insurance, it could be financially disastrous.
So if you don't have health insurance, consider signing up.
The final deadline to access coverage through ACA is Tuesday. If you sign up by then, you'll can get coverage by March for the remainder of 2017 and avoid a tax penalty for being uninsured. If you are in a state that has expanded Medicaid under the law and you qualify for that, you can sign up at any time.
Special enrollment periods are still available after the deadline, which allows people to adjust coverage if they are going through life-changing circumstances such as marriage, divorce, loss of a job or the birth of a child.
"It's still the law, so it's in your best interest to have insurance," said Elizabeth Colvin, program director for Insure Central Texas. "People think something has happened, but the Affordable Care Act is still the law."
Colvin said all signs suggest a lengthy transition. Though people may worry that their coverage may be yanked away, she notes that these health insurance policies are legal contracts that guarantee coverage for the year and are unlikely to be challenged.
So should you bother to enroll? Absolutely. Visit healthcare.gov to find out how to sign up and where to get help.
PAY UP
It's important to keep paying your premiums if you are enrolled in a health plan. Sullivan said many people getting coverage under the ACA haven't had insurance before, so this is a new requirement.
If you don't pay your bill, you could lose your coverage.
Be mindful to use services that are within your insurer's provider network to control costs while you're on the plan. And financial advisers say to brace for health care cost increases each year, regardless of where you get your insurance.
USE IT
Do what you need to do while you have insurance, said Kathryn Hauer, a financial planner and author of the book "Financial Advice for Blue Collar America."
People tend to put off care doctor's appointments, medication or even surgery but this is not the time to do so, she said. While some have criticized ACA-related plans for being high in cost or offering bare-bones coverage, seeking treatment while you know the costs and coverage may be in your best financial interest. And some preventative care services, such as flu shots, are provided at no cost under ACA.
SEEK HELP
If you suspect you might not be able to afford care later if the ACA's format changes, look at your alternatives. You might not need them, but it can help you feel prepared and provide peace of mind.
Find out if you can get coverage through someone else's policy, such as a parent, spouse or domestic partner. Check if your employer's policy might have changed since you last looked. Or research what free or low-cost medical services are available in your community.
Seek advice from your doctor, financial planner, insurance broker or community organizer for your individual situation.
Sometimes an alternative may work out. Sara Stanich, a financial adviser in New York, has a client who is divorcing who opted to get COBRA coverage through her ex's insurance even though it was more expensive because it provided three years of coverage she could count on right now.
BREATHE DEEPLY
Experts remind people that changes to the ACA aren't a done deal. And while the prospect may be upsetting, it's not the first time there have been uncertainties in the process from a rocky rollout to challenges in court.
Madeline "Edwina" Lantigua of Miami is feeling the strain. The 41-year-old film editor is fighting an aggressive form of breast cancer and just finished chemotherapy. But she has five years of additional treatment ahead and is not sure she'll have coverage available beyond this year, given her pre-existing condition. So she's been talking with her doctor, looking at options such as going to Mexico for future treatment and trying to stay aware of any changes to the ACA.
"I'll figure it out, but it's scary," she said. "I'm not going to freak out till I have to."
Experts say to take comfort in the fact that you have coverage now and the indications both from Congress and the president that there will be health insurance options ahead for those who gained coverage under the ACA.
"Even in the best of times, health insurance is confusing. ... Add this layer of politics and it can get complex," Sullivan said. "What we have taken solace on doing is focusing on the here and now."
HELENA If proposed budget cuts to higher education in Montana stand, students will directly suffer and in some cases lose access to education, according to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
The governors budget proposal is $25.5 million short of what OCHE requested for the 2019 biennium, which included a $12 million reduction. The Joint Education Appropriations subcommittee presented their own proposal, which includes an actual reduction of $25 million. The committee heard testimony from OCHE, university representatives and students on Monday and Tuesday, who said students would directly bear the cost of the deficit by way of increased tuition costs.
The Legislature has the option to adopt the governors proposal, fund a present law increase to the 2017 budget, or approve the request of the Montana University System.
While discussing rising education costs, the history of higher education funding in the state and retention and enrollment costs, speakers explained a vicious cycle. When the state funds higher education at a low percentage, students see rising tuition costs. They stay in school longer while working additional jobs or taking time off to save and enter the workforce later, which impacts the economy. If students choose to stay in school, they accrue student loan debt that eventually limits their economic contributions when theyre burdened with repayment.
Some students leave altogether and enter the workforce with skills that sometimes limit them to low-wage jobs. And without higher education, people are more likely to utilize costly social programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In 2012, 25.6 percent of users had a high school diploma while 12.2 percent of users completed one or more years of college.
OCHE explained the history of funding higher education the last 20 years. Over the last decade, the state tried to make up for a loss of funding without passing the cost on to students by implementing a cap, also called a tuition freeze.
Data provided by OCHE say the state appropriated $120 million in 1992. In 2005, the state appropriated $7 million less. State appropriations per student declined by 38 percent from 1992 to 2005. During that time, the Board of Regents was forced to raise tuition to make up the deficit.
Following that era, we move in 2006 to 2017. We call that the tuition freeze era, Tyler Trevor, deputy commissioner, said.
During the tuition freeze, the Legislature moved back to a model where the state and students were funding higher education at a more equal level, which is on trend with the rest of the country.
Commissioner Clayton Christian asked the committee to protect that progress and fund the $25.5 million OCHE needs.
Were finally back to approaching a similar bite out of a median household income, Christian said. Were still slightly below where were at, but were close.
Even if the subcommittee funded what OCHE was asking for, Montana would still lag in funding higher education. The state funds students at 75 percent of the national average and ranks 48th in the nation for funding per student.
When committee members asked if enrollment played a part in the need for additional funding, Christian and Trevor said while enrollment decreased in the Montana University System, it was mostly budgeted for. During the recession in the late 2000s, people returned to higher education for a short period of time and then re-entered the workforce. The expected enrollment decline applies to the entire university system, which means the recession isnt the only contributing factor to chronic enrollment problems at certain campuses, such as the University of Montana.
Trevor provided examples of how students would make up the cuts. The scenario assumes a flat enrollment and no tuition revenue beyond what was budgeted in fiscal year 2017. If resident students were to make up the entire deficit, tuition costs would increase by $1,059 per year.
We are asking you to not turn your backs on us now, Levi Birky, the student representative for the Board of Regents, said.
The committee heard from institutions to evaluate whether they were using their money wisely and had strategic plans for retention and enrollment. While testimony from OCHE made it clear it was difficult to recruit and keep students who were unable to afford their education, Montana State University President Waded Cruzado said she started a campaign to ensure students take more than 12 credits to save money and graduate on time.
Tuition does not increase once a student registers for more than 12 credits. A bachelors degree requires 120 credits, or 15 credits each semester to graduate in four years. Cruzado said faculty and advisers were encouraging freshmen to take it easy their first semester with 12 credits.
We were guaranteeing that that student will never graduate in four years, she said. The research is absolutely clear. Students that enroll in more credits actually do better than students enrolled in less credits.
She said the research applies to students who work while in school, are student athletes or participate in other extracurricular activities. In 2011, fewer than 50 percent of undergraduates at MSU were enrolled in 15 credits. Now, 70 percent of all first year students are in 15 or more.
Tom Crady, vice president for enrollment and student affairs at the University of Montana, said schools were at a disadvantage for recruitment and retention while a gap in funding exists. After subtracting financial aid from tuition, room and board, there is often a remaining balance. If students are unable to pay out-of-pocket, they must apply for loans.
Parents since 2008 simply dont have the ability to borrow against their homes anymore, he said. We still have to figure out a way to bridge the gap for those students.
Students who demonstrate the greatest financial need are likely to take out more loans. The average Pell Grant recipient in Montana borrows $30,065, and 36 percent of those students graduate in six years. Students without Pell Grants borrow an average of $22,598 and have a six-year graduation rate of 52 percent.
At the end of 10 years of excellent progress, we are going to leave students and those in middle- and lower-income groups struggling to find access to higher education, Trevor said.
OCHE is presenting the remaining sections of their budget including the MUS Research Initiative and Research and Service Agencies, Tribal College Assistance and Community Colleges over the next three legislative days.
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The sound of yelling in the room above them woke Christopher Eckhoff and his girlfriend Hannah Kendall on Dec. 21, 2015.
The raised voices themselves werent particularly worrisome, the pair testified in Missoula County District Court on Monday. Emmanuel Gomez one of Eckhoffs roommates at a house on Whitaker Drive and his then-26-year-old girlfriend Charlie Ann Wyrick frequently yelled at each other behind Gomezs closed bedroom door.
Gomez was charged with deliberate homicide after Wyrick's body was found stabbed in the chest on Dec. 27, 2015, at the bottom of an embankment in the Deer Creek area near Pattee Canyon.
On Monday, the couple's roommates testified that Wyrick and Gomez usually made up after fighting. But on Dec. 21, they heard a thud and a scream coming from the room upstairs.
The pair got out of their own bed, dressed and ran upstairs. Kendall said she saw Gomez running out the front door. Eckhoff said he went to Gomezs room and pounded on the locked door, turning around when Kendall called to him from the entryway. The couple watched Gomez, who had gotten into his SUV, peel out of the driveway and speed away.
There were drops of blood in the entryway, on the front steps, and in the snow near where Gomezs vehicle had been parked, Kendall and Eckhoff said. She said she also saw spots of blood trailing to Gomezs room. Defense attorney Brian Smith said Kendall didnt mention the blood in the hallway during her other interviews.
Is it possible today is the first time youre telling anybody this? he said.
The pair said they wrote a note to Gomez, telling him they needed an explanation or they would call the police. They never got an explanation, and never called officers.
During Gomezs trial Monday in Missoula County District Court, his other roommates shared Eckhoffs view that Gomez and Wyrick yelled at each other a lot.
Only one other roommate was home during the Dec. 21 fight. Jeffrey Neubauer said he woke up to the argument and went back to bed, not getting up again until he heard the sound of the front door slamming.
In an interview with a police detective days after the incident, Neubauer said he thought he had seen Wyrick at the house once in the days after the fight. On Monday, he said that was inaccurate, and that he was certain he didnt.
***
In addition to the homicide charge, Gomez also faces a count of partner or family member assault after prosecutors said he consistently abused Wyrick over the course of their relationship in 2015.
In late October 2015, Gomez went to the emergency room at Providence St. Patrick Hospital with a broken hand, saying he was working on his car the previous night when the hood fell down and slammed on it. Dr. Kevin Eichhorn said the particular break is commonly referred to as a boxers fracture.
The most common mechanism is a punch, he said, adding that what Gomez described could also have caused the break, which caused the hand to swell up.
The next day, Wyrick also came to the ER with an injured nose, bruising under her eyes, and the symptoms of a concussion. She told Dr. Greg Kazemi she had fallen and hit her face on the crossbeam of a staircase.
Gomezs trial will resume Wednesday, taking one day off so District Court Judge Karen Townsend can attend to matters in other cases.
A rollover accident on Evaro Hill northwest of Missoula that occurred at about 11 a.m. on Tuesday has been cleared, according to the Montana Department of Transportation.
Current conditions on Highway 93 are scattered snow and ice, according to MDT.
According to the Montana Highway Patrol website, no one was injured in the accident.
The National Weather Service reported that the Missoula Airport had received .8 inches of snowfall as of 9:45 a.m. in the last 24 hours.
Motorists are advised to drive with extra caution and avoid unnecessary travel today.
A handful of Idowu Bamigbaye's fellow international classmates at the University of Montana are from Saudi Arabia, and he said Monday they're worried about traveling because of President Trump's executive order concerning immigrants and refugees.
"A few people from Saudi, I don't think they will be traveling home again," said Bamigbaye, a master's student in psychology.
Friday, President Donald Trump signed the order banning nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for at least 90 days even if they hold visas and green cards. Sunday evening, though, the Department of Homeland Security said waivers had been granted to many with green cards that give people lawful permanent residency status.
"It's really unfair," said Bamigbaye, from Nigeria. "Those people might be established here. They might have children and families here. They'll be badly affected."
UM counts 11 students from those countries Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Syria, the last affected indefinitely.
Saudi Arabia isn't one of the countries affected, but Bamigbaye knows the order has unsettled those students regardless.
"They're still nervous."
The 11 students affected by the order are in Missoula, and none was stranded at an airport, said Effie Koehn, interim director of the Global Engagement Office at UM. However, she said she did not know if any of their family members were stopped in travel as a result of the order.
Monday, Koehn was in the process of setting up a time to meet with students this week to address their concerns.
"We are trying there to give the support and guidance to the students as best as we can, and we are looking forward to the same support and understanding from the Missoula community," Koehn said.
She said UM provides the immigration status of students only to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Otherwise, she said UM does not share their status.
"This is private information, confidential," Koehn said.
Monday afternoon, a UM spokeswoman did not have the number of faculty and staff affected by the ban.
However, Mehrdad Kia, a professor of history and director of the Central and Southwest Asian Studies Center, said UM does have some faculty and staff from those countries, and he's talked with colleagues who are dismayed.
"They feel humiliated," Kia said. "They feel frightened. And they feel targeted."
They are also confused, he said.
Can they leave the country to care for an ailing family member? Will they be allowed to return? What is their legal status if they leave?
"They don't understand why they have been targeted other than the fact that they have been labeled as Muslims," said Kia, who directs them to attorneys.
Trump also has banned all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, and campuses have pushed back against his dictates. UM is among the universities asking that the temporary ban be "promptly reconsidered" given the hardship it imposes on students, faculty, and staff, and the values of fairness in the nation.
Monday, UM President Sheila Stearns emailed the campus community a statement from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and said she supported its sentiments.
"Public research universities are deeply concerned about the administration's new policy preventing visa and green card holders of seven countries from returning to the U.S. for 90 days," said the statement from the association, citing 17,000 students from the seven countries in the United States last school year.
"The consequences of this action, along with the ban on refugees, reverberate far beyond the higher education community and are worthy of everyone's attention."
Some students are stranded and unable to return to their research and work, and some faculty may not be able to return to teach, the statement said. Some are separated from their families.
"But the impact of this decision goes beyond those immediately impacted," the statement said. "Our nation's universities are enriched and strengthened by the talent, insight, and culture that international students, faculty, researchers and staff bring.
"With appropriate and effective vetting, international students from all countries and of all religions have long been a core part of our campus communities and that should continue uninterrupted."
In the email, Stearns said UM is a member of the APLU, and the statement reflects her "immediate thoughts on the matter."
"I realize that the executive order, the court responses, and the ensuing challenges and changes to policy brings many questions and concerns from those both directly and indirectly affected at the University of Montana," she said.
"Please know that we are following this matter closely and working to clearly define our responsibilities and how best to address the needs and concerns of our campus community members."
In response to the ban, the School of Journalism was circulating a petition in front of Don Anderson Hall on Monday and offering hot cocoa and coffee to show support for foreign students.
"We the undersigned strongly support the presence of foreign students and scholars from all countries and all faiths at UM," read the petition. "We applaud the University of Montana for its efforts to welcome visitors from outside the United States, and we oppose the White House ban."
Dean Larry Abramson said the School of Journalism teaches its students to be citizens of the world, and interacting with people from different places, such as Somalia, Iraq, and Iran, shows the truths about those countries. How else will people who have concerns address them?
UM's journalism students study abroad to Germany last summer to cover the refugee crisis, and Japan this spring to cover the lingering effects of the radiation leaks from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant and he said universities in the United States need to welcome others the same way.
"I don't know that any other sector of society is as directly affected," Abramson said of campuses.
Kia, who has lectured about Islam and the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, said the response from Main Hall was inadequate, a "carefully worded memo."
"I feel very strongly that the so-called populist discourse of demonizing a certain group of people because of their religion and faith has really crossed the line here," Kia said.
For one, he said, the facts don't match the ostensible threat. Kia wanted to know the number of U.S. citizens hurt or killed by citizens of those seven countries in the U.S.
The Cato Institute, promoting conservative public policy, posted an answer on its website:
"Foreigners from those seven nations have killed zero Americans in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil between 1975 and the end of 2015," according to the Cato post.
"Six Iranians, six Sudanese, two Somalis, two Iraqis, and one Yemeni have been convicted of attempting or carrying out terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. Zero Libyans or Syrians have been convicted of planning a terrorist attack on U.S. soil during that time period."
Kia wondered why Saudi Arabia, which sent terrorists in the 9/11 attack, and Egypt, given that one of the 9/11 pilots was Egyptian, weren't on the list.
"Some have concluded that any country which has had any Trump tower building or hotel has been excluded from the list," he said.
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Sunday in an NBC broadcast that the list comprises "countries of concern" already identified under the Obama administration and disputed that Trump's business ties influenced the order.
Due to weather concerns, the Montana Department of Veterans Affairs has postponed a town hall meeting that was scheduled for Missoula on Thursday.
The event will be rescheduled in the coming months as weather allows, according to VA Montana spokesperson Mike Garcia.
The meeting was scheduled to take place at the Missoula Public Library at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday. It was to be hosted by the VA Montana Health Care System and the Fort Harrison Regional Benefit Office to give members of the public an opportunity to ask questions about provider agreements, billing and other topics.
Because of widespread snowstorms around Montana, driving conditions have been deemed too unsafe to have people driving from long distances.
As a member of Missoula Rises denied access to Sen. Steve Daines staffers on Jan. 25, I write to stress that Daines support of confirming Jeff Sessions as U.S. attorney general indicates his lack of concern for all Montanans rights. His repeated votes against bills that work to protect women, and his support of bills that permit outright discrimination against LGBTQ people, directly affect me and my familyand all women and members of the LGBTQ community in Montana.
I am a domestic violence survivor. Without the Violence Against Women Act, which Sessions has voted against repeatedly, the domestic violence center that helped me to access vital services wouldnt have had the funding it needed to keep its doors open. Sessions votes against protections for women experiencing violence are votes against my safety, my daughters safety and the safety of countless other women across Montana and the U.S. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million women are assaulted in the U.S. annually.
Additionally, as a queer-identified woman, Im entitled to the same rights to marry and protection from workplace discrimination as heterosexual U.S. citizens. Sessions co-sponsorship of the State Marriage Defense Actan act that would restrict marriage equality at the state levelestablishes that he is actively working against equal rights. Additionally, his co-sponsorship of the First Amendment Defense Act and his vote against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act demonstrate his support of workplace discrimination of LGBTQ people, as well as sanctioned religious discrimination of LGBTQ people by business owners and government employees.
The position of attorney general is one that requires upholding and protecting equal rights for all American citizens. Sessions voting record renders me and thousands of other Montanans as less than human. In supporting Jeff Sessions nomination, Daines is failing his constituents.
Emily Withnall,
Missoula
LIBBY The death of a Libby woman more than three months ago has been ruled a homicide.
The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, in a news release, said circumstances at the Montana State Crime Lab caused the results of the autopsy to be significantly delayed.
The crime lab, however, said the autopsy was performed two days after the woman's body was found, and the sheriff's office was told that same day the initial findings were that 53-year-old Tami Sunell's death was a homicide.
"The final report was released 69 days after the autopsy was conducted, which is not unusual considering the complexity of this autopsy," Phil Kinsey, administrator with the Forensic Science Division and State Medical Examiner's Office, told the Missoulian.
The Lincoln County coroner had been unable to determine the cause of death for Sunell, and ordered the autopsy. Deputies and the Libby Volunteer Ambulance had responded to a report of an unresponsive female at Libby-area residence on the morning of Oct. 18, 2016, and found Sunells body.
Undersheriff Brandon Huff said when the autopsy results finally came in, the medical examiner had determined that Sunell had been strangled to death, and ruled it a homicide.
The cause of death was listed as manual strangulation.
Kinsey said both the coroner and sheriff's office "were made aware the day the autopsy was performed, Oct. 20, that the crime lab initially determined the death to be a homicide."
Huff said Lincoln County Sheriffs Detective Nate Scofield is continuing his investigation into Sunells death.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Scofield at 406-293-4112.
BILLINGS A medical marijuana patient who harvests his own plants has asked the Montana Supreme Court to review his pending felony case in Yellowstone County.
Wayne Steven Penning, 65, has asked the Montana Supreme Court to rule on whether the state has the right to prosecute medical marijuana patients in possession of more than one ounce of marijuana, even if the plant is not dried yet.
As of November 2016, 6,557 out of 7,558 medical marijuana patients grew their own marijuana, according to the Montana Marijuana Program Current Status Report.
Yellowstone County District Court Judge Rod Souza ruled that the question of whether the marijuana is dry should be answered by a jury. The court also found drying begins when the bud is cut from the stalk of the marijuana plant.
The Montana Supreme Court should intervene in this case, Penning said. The question of whether it is illegal to possess partially dried marijuana affects thousands of marijuana patients and law enforcement across the state.
Penning believes the district courts ruling makes it illegal for cardholders to harvest their plants.
Penning was charged by Yellowstone County prosecutors with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute in December 2015. A Montana Highway Patrol Trooper had pulled over Penning for speeding in October 2015. Penning, a cardholder in the Montana Marijuana Program, was transporting the harvest of his four marijuana plants in sealed containers.
The trooper arrested Penning for possessing more than one ounce of marijuana allotted to him under the marijuana program.
Penning asked Souza to dismiss the case because the marijuana Penning had in his car was not dried, and not usable marijuana.
Penning would harvest his crop, dry part of it, and refrigerate the rest, drying it one ounce at a time, according to his testimony in district court.
Montana Highway Patrol Bureau Chief Mark Long testified marijuana is in the process of drying at two different times; either 20 minutes after cut off the plant or as soon as it is cut from the plant.
A mature female marijuana plant can produce up to 16 ounces of marijuana per yield, according to Pennings petition to the Montana Supreme Court. At the point of harvest, medical marijuana patients will possess more than one ounce of marijuana plant, Pennings petition said.
If Penning is found guilty of the charge against him, he would lose access to his medical marijuana card.
Penning is represented by Billings attorney Penelope Strong. The case is being prosecuted in Yellowstone County by Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito and Senior Deputy County Attorney Victoria Callender.
The Montana Supreme Court has requested a response from prosecutors or Souza by mid-February.
HELENA The Capitol rotunda played host to a raucous crowd of public land advocates Monday, many traveling from across the state to denounce land transfer efforts while calling for improving access.
Organizers estimated more than 1,000 people packed the main rotunda floor and lined the balconies above, which was about double the attendance of a similar rally held during the 2015 legislative session. Many rally-goers loaded buses in Missoula, Billings and Bozeman to attend while smaller contingencies came from other locales, including about 40 from Sanders County.
They came to tell the Legislature in no uncertain terms that public lands are not just parcels on a map but define Montana as a state, and Montanans as a people.
This heist is an assault on my lifeblood, not just my livelihood, fly-fishing guide and Trout TV host Hilary Hutcheson told the crowd.
Hutcheson described her childhood near Glacier National Park, the chance for young eyes to experience outdoor adventure, and the hope of passing that legacy on to her daughters.
Mountaineer Conrad Anker noted the many people using public lands and paraphrased Duwamish Chief Seattle, who famously said land is not inherited from ancestors but borrowed from future generations.
Opponents of transferring federal lands to state ownership contend that states such as Montana would be unduly burdened by owning millions of additional acres, citing firefighting and other management costs. They say hamstrung states would be forced to sell off the lands, putting public lands in private ownership.
Losing those lands would mean a loss for many Montana businesses, said CEO of Simms fishing company K.C. Walsh.
I always remind people how important Montana and Bozeman are to the success that Simms has had and how this really takes form in attracting great people who enjoy Montanas outdoor value and everything our state has to offer, he said.
Small transfers and sales of federal and state lands have long occurred for a variety of reasons. Opposition centers on transfers on much larger scales that would potentially take tens of millions of acres out of federal ownership.
Supporters of federal land transfer have argued that national policies result in closed roads while stifling timber and mineral industries. They say that under state control, the lands would be better managed and become an economic catalyst for rural communities.
Senate Majority Leader Fred Thomas, R-Stevensville, responded following Mondays rally, saying the Legislature values public input but that federal lands have been mismanaged. He put responsibility at the feet of rally organizers, saying that litigation and other efforts to maintain federal ownership stifle timber production and continue failed policies.
Thomas contended that better management under state ownership would produce revenue while benefiting wildlife. He called the notion of a state sell-off of transferred lands silly at best and added the state isnt in the business of selling lands.
They have their opinion and I respect their opinion, but there is no merit to their position, he said. If the state were to own these lands, theyd be better managed, so their position is completely fake.
Mondays rally took on a personal tone at times, directed at one of the leading land transfer advocates in Montana and the West. Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, has been an outspoken transfer proponent, and is sponsoring legislation to study federal land conveyance and to request conveyance, although both bills remain on hold.
Fielder is also CEO of American Lands Council, the chief organization pushing for large-scale transfers across the West.
Referring to Fielders district, Prickly Pear Land Trust Executive Director Mary Hollow said to cheers, Lets let them hear us down every hall in this building and all the way to Sanders County.
The Sanders County contingency held up signs both directed at their senator and in support of maintaining federal land ownership. Trout Creek residents Daisy Carlsmith and Barb Tully made the five-hour journey by bus, standing at the top of the steps holding signs saying Sanders County Supports Public Lands.
For me, its making sure that public lands are there for my grandchildren, Tully said, adding that breathing clean air and access to mountain lakes are also major inspirations.
Carlsmith noted that transfer opponents are in the minority in their area Fielder won reelection with 67 percent of the vote but she wanted her values to be heard.
Were way outnumbered, but we had to come no matter who our representatives are, come and stand and say no, she said.
A message left for Fielder was not returned in time for this story.
Also drawing ire from the crowd were recent actions on the federal level.
Utah U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz introduced legislation instructing the Department of the Interior to sell 3.3 million federal acres in several western states, including 100,000 in Montana.
A rule change in the U.S. House of Representatives making land transfers easier by considering transfers budget-neutral also drew a strong response from conservation groups, many of them critical of Interior secretary nominee U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., for voting for the rules package.
Zinke has maintained his opposition to federal land transfer despite the vote.
Walsh mentioned Zinkes nomination and support from several conservation and outdoor business groups, drawing a smattering of jeers from the crowd, until Walsh said, If confirmed, we all need to hold him accountable for his public statements, which was met with resounding cheers.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., phoned in to encourage rally-goers to make their voices heard, and he promised to oppose Chaffetz and other efforts to sell or transfer federal lands.
Gov. Steve Bullock took to the podium, citing public lands as an equalizer where anyone can go to recreate. Public lands are also a major draw for tourism and 64,000 Montana jobs.
Its time that we recognize access to our public lands should be promoted, not threatened, he said. Its time we send a message to that floor of the building, gesturing to the House and Senate chambers, that proposals to transfer our public lands or study the transfer of public lands have no place in this building and no place in Montana.
Look, this aint about politics, whether you're Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or vegetarian, these lands belong to you.
HELENA Historians say the Women's March on Montana in Helena could have been the biggest political gathering in state history, depending on which crowd estimate you use.
Organizers of the Jan. 21 "Women's March on Montana: Human Rights for All" at the state Capitol initially estimated the size of the crowd at 10,000 people, but they have since said aerial photos show it could have been between 10,000 and 16,000.
We had an aerial photo of the march, or high-up photo, and we calculated how many square feet were covered by marchers ... and then based on two different density measures -- 6- or 10-square-feet per person, we came up with 10,000 to 16,000 people, said Deb ONeill, one of the organizers.
The Independent Record made a rough estimate on crowd size at 10,000 the day of the march, but had no aerial images to work with.
Comparing the Womens March to other gatherings in Montana history, MHS researchers conclude it is one of the biggest if not the biggest.
The recent march clearly outnumbered the womens suffrage parade Sept. 26, 1914, according to historical specialist Martha Kohl.
According to newspapers at the time the ... suffrage parade had thousands (or according to one report, 1,000) and was 3/4-mile in length, writes Kohl, adding that the current womens march was bigger.
On Nov. 6, 1894, after a bitter battle between Copper Kings, Helena won the vote to become Montanas permanent state capital, wrote the late historian Dave Walter in More from the Quarries of Last Chance Gulch.
On Nov. 12, 1894, the scene quickly became bedlam -- thousands of merrymakers thronged the downtown and spilled into the residential districts, he wrote. The crowd for the victory parade the evening of the 12th was estimated to number more than 15,000 people.
The recent womens march is easily among the largest gatherings for a political event in Montana history, I am told, wrote MHS public information officer Tom Cook in an email.
It appears that ... at least 10,000 showed up for the funeral of (murdered labor leader) Frank Little in Butte, which was also anti-company-tinged event, wrote Cook.
There were other large crowds for political leaders visiting or campaigning in the state as well.
An estimated 8,000 attended a campaign speech by Barack Obama in Missoula in 2008, according to a Missoulian article at that time.
And a Billings Gazette 2016 article estimated a Donald Trump campaign crowd there at about 7,500.
The only complaints the Helena Police Department received about the march regarded parking problems, said Lt. Jayson Zander the evening of the event.
No damage was reported at the Capitol during the event, according to the custodians, though the building did get muddy from people going in and out.
MHS is collecting signs, banners, hats, flyers and other artifacts from the Womens March on Montana. For those interested in donating, contact Maggie Ordon at mordon@mt.gov or call 406-444-4711.
***
Follow-up meetings to spur political action have already started in cities around Montana, with more expected to follow.
One in Helena Sunday drew 160 people while Missoula reported 400 and Whitehall 40, said ONeill. Another was held in Billings.
Were calling them community conversations all over the state, ONeill said.
The Bitterroot, Bozeman, Butte, Columbus, Dillon, Ennis, the Flathead, Great Falls and Red Lodge are all planning community conversations as well.
The Helena group agreed to meet once a month, but is looking for a larger space to gather, said ONeill.
The Montana Women's March website will become a clearinghouse for different groups that are already doing great work, she said. They include such watchdog groups as the ACLU and Montana Human Rights Network.
The website womensmarchmontana.com is being revamped in the coming week. Although it will keep the same link, it will be called March on Montana.
Were going to provide geographic links ... so you can find out whats going on near you, she said.
There will also be issue pages on civil rights, environment, reproductive rights and more.
It already lists activist organizations and their contact information, as well as contacts for local geographic groups meeting around the state.
There will also be weekly calls to action, ONeill said, listing specific actions people can take, such as testifying at hearings, or making phone calls, or showing up at legislator's and Congressmens offices.
Several trainings are being planned, such as how to run to be an elected official, a 101 workshop on government that will explain how bills become laws, and possibly one on civil disobedience.
Were here to stay, said ONeill. The march was a moment, and what we created is a movement.
This is a lot of hard work now, she said, especially with all the executive orders that came out last week. A lot of our fears are being realized.
We know we have to remain active. The groups in Helena and Missoula have decided to stay very engaged and meet once a month until we dont have to do this anymore.
She and Missoula organizers are urging people to pick just one activity a day or a week or a month on an issue thats important to you.
A peaceful rally is already set for noon Friday at the Homeland Security Office in Helena, 2800 Skyway Drive, to protest President Trumps executive order last week on immigration and refugees. Trump signed an executive order that banned citizens of seven mostly Muslum countries from entering the United States for 90 days and stopped the admission of all refugees for 120 days.
Copyright 2022 HT Digital Streams Ltd All Right Reserved
MURDOCH'S CASHIER HIT BY CAR DURING ROBBERY
Police were called to Murdoch's on Harrison Avenue at 2:30 p.m. Friday for a robbery. Employees said two men leaving Murdoch's tripped the detector alarms positioned at the front doors, and then ran out to a waiting Chevy Cavalier driven by a woman. A Murdoch's employee followed the men outside, and was hit in the leg by the vehicle as the trio sped off. Police said the struck worker is uninjured, and the truck is registered out of Idaho. Police are unsure what the men might have stolen, and are investigating.
HOMELESS MAN ARRESTED AFTER FIGHT OVER OAKLAND RAIDERS CARDS
A homeless man staying in an alley on the 100 block of Galena Street was arrested at 1:50 p.m. Saturday for assaulting a homeless woman also staying in the alley after an argument over Oakland Raiders cards. Police said Bodell Schulz, 37, slapped the victim in the face, and the woman then ran down the street and informed police. Schulz was booked on partner family member assault.
WOMAN INJURED AT TOWN PUMP GIVES HOSPITAL NURSE METH PIPE
Police said a woman jumped off a porch at the Town Pump on the 500 block of South Montana Street, injured her ankle and was taken to St. James Healthcare on Saturday afternoon. The woman had a felony arrest warrant out of Helena, but Butte police said they didn't arrest her at the time as she needed medical attention. Police said that the woman gave a nurse at the hospital a meth pipe, and that they are seeking an additional warrant for the woman's arrest on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia.
MAN EJECTED FROM BAR ARRESTED FOR ATTACKING GIRLFRIEND
Police arrested a man for partner family member assault at his residence after ejecting him from a bar with his girlfriend early Saturday morning. Police said After being kicked out of the Party Palace, the man, 36-year-old Graham Walker, and his girlfriend went home where they were instructed to sleep in separate rooms to prevent further fighting. Police left, but were called back to the residence at 4:40 a.m. after his girlfriend reported that Graham broke into her room and threatened her.
MISSOULA Rodney Lee Zahn, 60, formerly of Sheridan, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years to life, up to $250,000 in fines, and not less than 5 years of supervised release. He also agreed to forfeit the Ford pickup truck and camper used to transport the child across state lines. U.S. District Court Magistrate Jeremiah C. Lynch presided over the change of plea hearing and set sentencing for May 18 in Missoula.
No Montana Tech of the University of Montana students are affected by President Donald Trumps executive order that temporarily bans refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States, says one Tech official.
Its very good news, said Margie Pascoe, international students adviser in the counseling center, 33-year campus employee and a mother figure for students far away from home. At this time, I know students are all aware.
Countries on Trumps temporary ban list are Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia. The ban is slated to last for 90 days. In addition, all new refugee admissions are suspended for 120 days and Syrian refugees are banned indefinitely.
Still, she said she plans to schedule an information meeting sometime within the next week to ensure all international students studying at Tech know that they are not included on the list.
Tech draws international students from 17 countries: Kuwait, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Russia, China, India, Vietnam, Mauritania, Australia, Nigeria, Angola, Congo, Brazil, Bangladesh, Cameroon and South Korea.
Being that nobody is on the list, its not a big emergency, Pascoe added about scheduling a meeting.
At last count, in November during fall semester, Tech had 260 international students, both enrolled in graduate school and in undergraduate classes. Total enrollment as of fall 2016 was 2,809.
Spring semester started on Jan. 9. Complete enrollment counts wont be out until later in the semester.
University of Montana President Sheila Stearns on Monday issued a response to Trump's executive order, as reported in the Missoulian:
"I realize that the executive order, the court responses, and the ensuing challenges and changes to policy brings many questions and concerns from those both directly and indirectly affected at the University of Montana," wrote Stearns.
Stearns' statement Monday follows scathing attacks Sunday on Trump's executive order by the presidents of several universities, the Missoulian reported. Many said it's already disrupting research and academics for their scholars, while some suggested they would defy the ban as far as legally possible.
The Association of American Universities, which represents 62 schools, including Montana Tech and UM, urged Trump to reverse the order and said it will only steer top scholars to countries that compete with the United States.
Other Tech officials, including Chancellor Donald Blackketter and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Doug Abbott, did not respond to requests for comment from The Standard on Monday.
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Last week the Montana House Judiciary Committee pulled the rug out from under police chiefs and news organizations who jointly supported a simple measure to clarify that booking photos are public information and should be treated as such. Unbelievably, the committee chair submitted a request to amend the bill to instead prohibit the release of these photos.
He did so despite the fact that no one spoke in opposition to the original bill at the hearing Jan. 18. And despite the fact that the intent of House Bill 236 is to at last provide the obvious answer to the question of whether the mugshots taken of suspects upon their arrest should be made available to the public.
For a long time, each county in Montana answered this question individually, leading to a situation in which mug shots were routinely released by some counties, such as Yellowstone, and routinely withheld in others, such as Missoula.
That changed in October 2015, when a district court case helped set a statewide precedent after the judge ruled that Park County was required to release the booking photo of a registered violent offender who was charged with aggravated assault and attempted deliberate homicide. Attorney General Tim Fox later referred to the ruling to explain his decision not to offer a new ruling in a Gallatin County case that also concerned booking photos.
For most county attorneys in Montana, as well as the state attorney general, that settled it: Mugshots would henceforth be released along with arrest records. Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst was among these sensible souls; she immediately informed the Missoula County Sheriffs Department that booking photos were to be treated as part of the arrest record and considered public criminal justice information. And for the past year, the Missoulian has published mugshots along with relevant crime stories.
Gallatin County, on the other hand, resisted the ruling and began insisting that anyone seeking access to mugshots should be required to file a motion and secure a court order each and every time. So, although the issue was indeed settled for the most part, legislative clarification has been needed to make the law crystal clear to the lone holdouts.
Thus Rep. Frank Garner, a Republican from Kalispell, introduced a straightforward bill this legislative session to accomplish that clarification. The four-page bill is an easy read, and includes a simple addition to state statute clarifying that booking photographs are included in the definition of initial arrest records, meaning they are public information. Notably, the bill has the support of nearly every news organization in the state as well as the Montana Association of Police Chiefs.
However, the Judiciary Committee ignored this support and prepared amendments to the bill to prohibit the release of booking photos until after the person is convicted of a crime, with some limited exceptions. Chairman Alan Doane said he thinks the public release of booking photos is comparable to revenge porn and counter to the spirit of innocent until proven guilty.
But this reasoning makes no sense. Law enforcement officials often provide mug shots to news media when asking for the publics help identifying or locating a suspect. What good would it be to wait to provide these photos until after the person is caught and convicted?
A photo doesnt mean a suspect is guilty any more than an arrest report does. All it means is that an individual has been charged with a crime. Remember, a lot of people booked into the Missoula County Detention Facility are subsequently released on bail. People have the right to know who in their community has been arrested and what crimes they are being charged with as a matter of public interest and public safety, and to hold our criminal justice system accountable.
Mugshots are far and away the most accurate way to identify an individual. Providing only a suspects name can lead to community confusion if the name is a common one, as in John Smith or Jane Anderson. Eliminating the possibility of such confusion is precisely why booking photos are taken in the first place.
The original version of the bill should be passed out of committee for a full vote in the House without further complication. If the proposed amendments are made, however, the bill should be killed.
-- The Missoulian
MISSOULA Historians say the Women's March on Montana in Helena could have been the biggest political gathering in state history, depending on which crowd estimate you use.
Organizers of the Jan. 21 "Women's March on Montana: Human Rights for All" at the state Capitol initially estimated the size of the crowd at 10,000 people, but they have since said aerial photos show it could have been between 10,000 and 16,000.
We had an aerial photo of the march, or high-up photo, and we calculated how many square feet were covered by marchers ... and then based on two different density measures -- 6- or 10-square-feet per person, we came up with 10,000 to 16,000 people, said Deb ONeill, one of the organizers.
The Independent Record made a rough estimate on crowd size at 10,000 the day of the march, but had no aerial images to work with.
Comparing the Womens March to other gatherings in Montana history, MHS researchers conclude it is one of the biggest if not the biggest.
The recent march clearly outnumbered the womens suffrage parade Sept. 26, 1914, according to historical specialist Martha Kohl.
According to newspapers at the time the ... (the) suffrage parade had thousands (or according to one report, 1,000) and was 3/4-mile in length, writes Kohl, adding that the current womens march was bigger.
On Nov. 6, 1894, after a bitter battle between Copper Kings, Helena won the vote to become Montanas permanent state capital, wrote the late historian Dave Walter in More from the Quarries of Last Chance Gulch.
On Nov. 12, 1894, the scene quickly became bedlam -- thousands of merrymakers thronged the downtown and spilled into the residential districts, he wrote. The crowd for the victory parade the evening of the 12th was estimated to number more than 15,000 people.
The recent womens march is easily among the largest gatherings for a political event in Montana history, I am told, wrote MHS public information officer Tom Cook in an email.
It appears that ... at least 10,000 showed up for the funeral of (murdered labor leader) Frank Little in Butte, which was also anti-company-tinged event, wrote Cook.
There were other large crowds for political leaders visiting or campaigning in the state as well.
An estimated 8,000 attended a campaign speech by Barack Obama in Missoula in 2008, according to a Missoulian article at that time.
And a Billings Gazette 2016 article estimated a Donald Trump campaign crowd there at about 7,500.
The only complaints the Helena Police Department received about the march regarded parking problems, said Lt. Jayson Zander the evening of the event.
No damage was reported at the Capitol during the event, according to the custodians, though the building did get muddy from people going in and out.
MHS is collecting signs, banners, hats, flyers and other artifacts from the Womens March on Montana. For those interested in donating, contact Maggie Ordon at mordon@mt.gov or call 406-444-4711.
***
Follow-up meetings to spur political action have already started in cities around Montana, with more expected to follow.
One in Helena Sunday drew 160 people while Missoula reported 400 and Whitehall 40, said ONeill. Another was held in Billings.
Were calling them community conversations all over the state, ONeill said.
The Bitterroot, Bozeman, Butte, Columbus, Dillon, Ennis, the Flathead, Great Falls and Red Lodge are all planning community conversations as well.
The Helena group agreed to meet once a month, but is looking for a larger space to gather, said ONeill.
The Montana Women's March website will become a clearinghouse for different groups that are already doing great work, she said. They include such watchdog groups as the ACLU and Montana Human Rights Network.
The website womensmarchmontana.com is being revamped in the coming week. Although it will keep the same link, it will be called March on Montana.
Were going to provide geographic links ... so you can find out whats going on near you, she said.
There will also be issue pages on civil rights, environment, reproductive rights and more.
It already lists activist organizations and their contact information, as well as contacts for local geographic groups meeting around the state.
There will also be weekly calls to action, ONeill said, listing specific actions people can take, such as testifying at hearings, or making phone calls, or showing up at legislator's and Congressmens offices.
Several trainings are being planned, such as how to run to be an elected official, a 101 workshop on government that will explain how bills become laws, and possibly one on civil disobedience.
Were here to stay, said ONeill. The march was a moment, and what we created is a movement.
This is a lot of hard work now, she said, especially with all the executive orders that came out last week. A lot of our fears are being realized.
We know we have to remain active. The groups in Helena and Missoula have decided to stay very engaged and meet once a month until we dont have to do this anymore.
She and Missoula organizers are urging people to pick just one activity a day or a week or a month on an issue thats important to you.
A peaceful rally is already set for noon Friday at the Homeland Security Office in Helena, 2800 Skyway Drive, to protest President Trumps executive order last week on immigration and refugees. Trump signed an executive order that banned citizens of seven mostly Muslum countries from entering the United States for 90 days and stopped the admission of all refugees for 120 days.
A Butte resident says the countys historic preservation officer has espoused grand plans for the vacant, beat-up Basin Creek Reservoir caretakers house without proper plans, bids or input from commissioners.
But Mary McCormick says she doesnt even know how much repairing the county-owned house might cost yet, let alone have precise plans for it, so Chris Harris concerns are premature.
She also says shed be happy to meet Harris immediate demand that she give an update on the house to the Council of Commissioners. Harris a frequent critic of county government - said he considers that a victory.
"Now they can't hide anything anymore," he said Monday.
Its just the latest flap over a house thats been empty of everything but controversy for years now.
The Butte Water Co. built the two-story house about 10 miles south of town in 1913 and until the 1990s, the caretaker of the reservoir and water works lived there. But a new house was built nearby and the older house at Basin Creek Park has been empty and often vandalized since then.
After numerous ways to save it were explored, each stirring new debate, county officials proposed in 2014 that it be demolished. But the Historic Preservation Commission granted it a 90-day stay, then a 60-day extension, and its still there today.
Bill Ryan, a construction technology instructor at Highlands College in Butte, has said his students could earn credit by doing free renovation and repair work on the house if the county provided the materials.
But Harris has raised recent objections before commissioners about any plans for the house, saying they are not being discussed openly and could lead to big public expenses.
This issue at the caretakers house has been going on for several years now and I was taken aback that there was no agreed-upon project scope what specifically needs to be done, he told The Montana Standard. Its a big project.
He said McCormick has stated publicly that the county could get $40,000 from a pending insurance claim for vandalism at the house, and once repaired, the house could be used for county employee housing.
I am more than mildly curious as to why we are having conversations about potential end uses and about the work out there without a proper scope of work and the possible, approximate cost of that, Harris said.
Harris, a former restoration contractor, said he no longer works in the field and has no opinion on what its fate should be. But it could be expensive for taxpayers, he said.
Based on a visit over a year ago, he said, the cost of materials could easily exceed $20,000 when figuring the replacement of windows, doors, sheet rock, moldings, lighting fixtures, roof replacement, plumbing fixtures, kitchen cabinetry, flooring, and demolition costs.
He said plumbing and electrical work might require licensed, bonded professionals not just students. Those and other matters, including sources of money, a bidding process and long-term plans, should go before commissioners, he said.
McCormick said Harris is way ahead of himself.
She said the county has filed an insurance claim for vandalism and another official suggested it could result in a $40,000 payment, but it was still pending. She simply repeated a figure from another official, she said.
The house was home to a county employee caretaker for years, she said, and she only suggested to the Historic Preservation Commission that it would be great to have someone out there again.
Public Works Director Dave Schultz said when Buttes new Basin Creek water treatment plant is up and running this spring, it would be nice to have a county employee living in the area to look after it and the reservoir.
In the next few years, Schultz and McCormick said, the county would like to open up the reservoir itself to public uses that werent possible before the new treatment plant. That would be in addition to the existing park.
We may have to do it over four or five years but it is our hope and intention to rehab that house, Schultz said Monday. And it might be beneficial to have a county employee in it, he said.
But those decisions are a ways off, McCormick said. Assessments for lead and asbestos in the house have only recently been done, she said, and although Highlands has done some preliminary measurements, no real work has begun.
McCormick said a contractor just looked over the house Monday and will estimate how much all the repair and renovation work might cost, but even that isnt in yet.
It has kind of slowly evolved over time and we havent seen anything really big going on there, she said.
She said she would be happy to give the same information to commissioners.
I work out in the open and nobody is trying to keep anything from anybody, she said.
Harris said historic preservation matters are often contentious in Butte and his biggest concern is they be addressed openly and properly.
Tell us what you are going to do, he said.
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors will conduct a public hearing on February 13, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at the Muscatine County Administration Building, 414 E. 3rd Street, Muscatine, Iowa to receive public comment on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for a proposed Cold Storage Building located at 3610 Park Ave. W., Muscatine, Iowa.
The Board of Education of the Muscatine Community School District, in the County of Muscatine, State of Iowa, met in work session on Monday, January 23, 2017 at 6:13 p.m. at the Administration Center Auditorium, 2900 Mulberry Avenue. President Tammi Drawbaugh called the meeting to order. Directors Tim Bower, John Dabeet, Aaron Finn, Randy Naber, and Mary Wildermuth were present. Director Nathan Mather was absent. Superintendent Jerry Riibe, Assistant Superintendent Mike McGrory, Director of Teaching and Learning Becky Wichers, and Director of Finance Tom Anderson were present.
The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Drawbaugh welcomed visitors and media representatives.
A motion was made by Director Naber and seconded by Director Dabeet to approve the 3-year contract with the Muscatine Education Association. All ayes; motion carried.
Friends of FFA representative Doug Hoag provided an update to the board regarding the advisory group that oversees the Muscatine Ag Learning Center and its programs. He noted that there are 365 high school students and 555 middle schools students that are currently in ag-related classes. He also noted that there are 250 students in FFA. He stated that they would like to see another teacher added as the numbers could potentially rise. He invited everyone to the FFA Banquet on March 23, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ag Learning Center.
McKinley Principal Joelle McConnaha, elementary guidance counselors Jonathan Schreiner and Sheila Kinyon Johnson, middle school counselors Scott Mauck and Edwin Colon, and high school counselors Jake Mueller and Brandon Welch reported on the mental health needs of students throughout our district and how mental health affects behavioral referrals, chronic absenteeism, graduation rate, and academics. They presented the Pyramid of Mental Health. This outlines how, with added social workers and/or student advocates, students can be referred internally for mental health help before being referred to outside agencies as this can take several months for students to be serviced. They also reviewed the roles of the school counselor and the gap of services at the elementary level. They presented a proposal to meet student's mental health needs at all three levels: elementary, middle school, and high school.
Elena Bobay provided an overview of district data. She reviewed chronic absenteeism data compared to last year's data, FAST data, and district ACT and Aspire data.
Assistant Superintendent Mike McGrory gave an update on the MHS Construction Projects noting that the board will be taking action on the final drawings for the weight room and gym entrance at its next meeting. Bid letting will then take place shortly thereafter. He also noted that a RFP for architectural services will be sent out for Phase III of the project (the science/industrial tech/ag wing) soon with the final design to be approved in July and construction to start sometime in December for the industrial tech and ag part of the project (the first piece of the project).
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 13, 2017 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
A motion was made by Director Naber and seconded by Director Finn to adjourn the meeting. All ayes; motion carried. Time: 8:40 p.m.
Tammi Drawbaugh, President
Lisa Mosier Bunn, Secretary
MUSCATINE, Iowa In honor of the Chinese New Year, an internationally-acclaimed Chinese orchestra will give a free concert in Muscatine on Wednesday night at Calvary Church. The Shaanxi Province Song and Dance Theater National Orchestra has visited Muscatine once before in 2015.
Among those attending the concert will be Gov. Terry Branstad and Lei Hong, Consul General from the Chinese Consulate of Chicago. The festivities will include remarks by both before the performance.
In an interview on Monday, Branstad said Iowa has very important and close relationship with the Chinese community.
Muscatine, he said, has a special place in that relationship because Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the city in 1985 as a young man. Since then, Muscatine has had several cultural and business exchanges with China. Branstad and Xi remain close friends and in 2012, he and then-Vice President Xi had a reunion in Muscatine.
When I heard from Sarah Lande and others [like] Dan Stein that they were having this event in Muscatine to celebrate the Chinese New Year, my wife and I indicated our interest in coming and so we will be there on Wednesday night for the reception and for the concert, he said.
Branstad thanked the city for furthering the relationship with China.
The community of Muscatine has done a phenomenal job of maintaining the relationship and celebrating the relationship we have with China and I think its going to be a good thing, he said.
In a separate, invitation-only reception before the event, Branstad, who will soon serve as President Donald Trumps ambassador to China, will be honored for his role in forging relations between Muscatine and China.
When it [the concert] was beginning to be planned, we did not know that Gov. Branstad would be nominated, said Sarah Lande, one of the organizers of the concert.
Its quite a fitting tribute that well have this orchestra and hes coming so we can thank him as our community and try to be a good send-off to him, she said.
Branstad will also answer questions in a 9 p.m. press conference after the concert.
Chinese Consul General Hong said the concert is another opportunity to deepen Muscatines relationship with China.
We hope with this event, we could bring the splendid Chinese art performance to your town once again so as to jointly celebrate the lunar new year with our good friends in Muscatine, he said.
Hong said the orchestra will showcase the splendor and the glamor of Chinese traditional music.
Lande encouraged the community to come to the concert.
Its quite a community welcome and celebration and so more people in our community can experience and, I hope, grow to love the Chinese culture, she said.
MUSCATINE, Iowa - The Muscatine County Parkinson Support Group will meet at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, at the Muscatine County Extension Office, 1514 Isett Ave.
A social time will be from 3:30-4 p.m., followed by the program from 4-5 p.m.
Anyone whose life is affected by Parkinson's is welcome to attend the monthly meeting.
MOLINE, Ill. The vibrant colors and vigorous rhythms of Latin American music will come to life in a Music at Butterworth Center performance at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, when Quinteto Latino takes the stage for a special concert for local homeschool students.
The group blends the sumptuous voices of the wind quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn and bassoon. Whether exploring new twists on traditional folk songs or premiering works by living composers, these five musicians perform with impeccable artistry and infectious energy educating, enriching, and entertaining listeners of all ages and backgrounds.
Founded in 2004 by French horn player Armando Castellano, this unique ensemble is passionately dedicated to a dual mission: to expand the cultural boundaries of classical music, and to make that music available, relevant, and inspiring to entirely new audiences. The musicians of Quinteto Latino trained in the nations top conservatories, and work regularly with ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony, Opera and Ballet. Learn more at www.quintetolatino.org.
This event is part of the Music at Butterworth Center series funded by the William Butterworth Foundation, and part of the Quad City Arts Visiting Artist Series. Quinteto Latino, 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 22, Butterworth Center, 1105 8th St., Moline, Ill. No charge for admission; refreshments following. For more information, call (309) 743-2701; www.butterworthcenter.com.
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 []
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The celebrated photojournalist, activist and author Boniface Mwangi has taken to social media to share with his followers about the hidden war in his life.
According to Mr Mwangi, since he became an activist his life has changed significantly because of death threats and intimidation.
While those claims are not new to many, Mr Mwangi says the threats are taking a dangerous tone because, for the first time since he began activism, his wife and children have been included as targets.
Read his post below:
My life has been haunted by all kinds of threats. Some close friends know about the intimidations that I receive, but I have always been reluctant to go public about them. I did not want to ever be the boy who cried wolf.
In the past five years, I have publicly been accused of many things. In 2013, for example, during the Love Protest on Feb 13, l was accused of trying to overthrow the government with the backing of the US government. I was neither investigated nor arrested for this alleged treason even after the National Security Advisory Committee made these serious and outlandish allegations. These were blatant lies and cheap attempts at discrediting my patriotism.
In 2014, l received credible death threats that led me to write to the president. Upon delivery of the letter, the threats promptly disappeared. In November 2015, I took part in a protest against insecurity and there were thugs hired to stab me during the peaceful protest in the streets of Nairobi. I reported the matter to the police with images of the goons and video footage of the confessions, but no investigation was ever carried out.
My close family and friends are in constant fear for my life. My mother-in-law even has a permanent prayer chain of friends who pray for me daily. Do I fear for my life? Its the question on everyones mind and it comes up at every interview or talk I give. Like most humans, I am afraid of death, but often my convictions for a better Kenya have overcome this real and palpable fear. It is a great sacrifice to die for Kenya, but an even better one to live for her.
Since l became an activist, my life has changed significantly. I cant be out alone late at night. A veteran politician once cautioned me that evil loves the dark. I am constantly looking over my shoulder. When working late or hanging out with friends, l must ensure I am with trusted company. I cannot speak freely on my phone. I have had to adjust my life drastically as I cannot afford to take these threats lightly. Routinely, supportive friends with access to info will send me information shared by people who have been paid to spy on me. In spite of these chilling reports, I refuse to be intimidated into silence. I refuse to be paralyzed by fear.
Late last year, l was sued by the Deputy President, Ruto, and my response brought many death threats in its wake. Although it is the Deputy President who is suing me, the irony is that threats are coming my way.
I am anguished because the threats are now taking a more dangerous tone. For the first time since I began engaging in activism, my wife and children have been included as targets. The source of the threats claims that because I have refused to be bought and wont compromise, I have put my family in danger.
I shared these threats with fellow Human Rights defenders who convinced me to have my family leave the country late last year. I remained behind all the while being followed and monitored by people who were looking for an opportunity to do me harm. I left Kenya for South Africa and when l came back l was still been followed. I was then advised by fellow human rights defenders to leave the country for awhile. I left and took the opportunity to promote my book in the US. In the past month I have managed to conduct a successful book tour with the support of good friends in the Diaspora.
While the book tour experience has been amazing, deep down I am emotionally drained. I want to come back home.
We were meant to travel back last week, but then I received a frightening warning message: DO NOT COME HOME: THEY WILL KILL YOU. To prove the messages authenticity, my source shared specific details of how they intend to hurt me and my family. It has broken my heart to see my wife cry, almost everyday. In her tears she keeps saying, You fight for Kenyans everyday, but who will fight for me and for our children?
As I write this, I am on my way back home. I intend to make a statement of the current threats to the police. They may not do much about it, but I will have done my part in reporting. My family will follow once I have shared all the information I have with the police.
It is only cowards who kill women and children. It is cowards who praise the people who illegally acquired wealth and are continuing to impoverish our nation. I chose not to be a coward. I shall also expect a response from the state. A state loses its legitimacy if it cannot protect the lives of its citizens and their property.
Miss World Nyamira County 2016 Mercy Mokeira passed away aged 23 on Saturday, January 28, at 11:30am at North Kinangop Hospital.
The beauty queen who got to national spotlight after her photos with Langata Women Prison inmates went viral, had been hospitalized since mid-January 2017 after she returned to Nairobi from a function in Tanzania mid-December 2016.
Her father Josephat Momanyi narrated to eDaily his heartwrenching last moments with the model as follows:
My daughter Mercy Mokeiras health problem began when she returned to Nairobi from a function in Tanzania mid December 2016. She called me on phone and said she had symptoms of malaria. She also told me that she had visited medical facilities, but the doctors would see nothing wrong with her health.
I told her to come to Gilgil so that I could take her to hospital. Christmas was approaching at the time. When she came, I took her to a Mission hospital in Gilgil. They ran tests on her but no successful diagnosis was made.
They referred us to a Naivasha hospital for advanced laboratory testing. We went to the hospital, the tests were conducted but still there was no detection of an illness. We returned to the Gilgil hospital. At that time she had lost 5Kgs down to 40 from 45. The doctor then referred us to a Kijabe hospital.
While at Kijabe, they diagnosed her with thyroid disease. They put her on medication. She used to complain of joint weakness and pain. However, she could still do several activities by herself, including walking. She lost another kilogram, dropping to 39. However, she used to eat normally.
She continued her medication but later her condition worsened. It is from that point that she could no longer walk. I returned Mercy Mokeira to the Mission hospital in Gilgil. This time, her mouth would fill up with saliva. She could no longer eat. She had to be fed through a feeding tube, which was inserted through the nose into the stomach. The doctors advised us to conduct a chest X-ray on her, but still no health problem was detected.
The Mission hospital then referred me to North Kinangop Hospital. The doctors at North Kinangop conducted nearly all tests on her, but still nothing was detected. They even asked me, desperately: What are we supposed to treat? We cant see anything wrong with her.
They gave Mokeira some antibiotics and took blood samples from her, which were sent to Lancet Group of laboratories in Nairobi for further scrutiny on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they told me to go take the test results. Given the vegetative state of my daughter, I told her sister who lives in Gilgil to look after her as I embarked on a journey to Nairobi.
On Saturday morning, I was yet to receive the results. Her sister told me Mercy Mokeira had woken up well but she was complaining of excessive body heat. At around 4:00pm Saturday, her sister called me on phone while crying and told me that Mokeira had not been talking and was pronounced dead at 11:30am. I called a doctor at North Kinangop Hospital who confirmed the heartbreaking news.
Mercy Mokeira was to graduate from Kenyatta University in June this year with a Bachelors Degree in Law.
Miss World Kenya franchise holder Terry Mungai has eulogized Mercy Mokeira as a cheerful and hard-working lady.
I am saddened by the death of Mercy Mokeira. I pass my condolences to her family and the entire Nyamira County. Mokeira was a very cheerful lady, and she did a good job in the fight against jigger infestation in different parts of the country.
Mayonde has finally released the audio to her highly anticipated project dubbed Nairobi.
Featuring upcoming rapper Stonee Jiwe, Nairobi is a tribute to the capital city. According to the songbird, the song is a love letter to Nairobi.
Following Mayondes brilliance in her previous projects, Kama Kawaida and Feeling It, anticipation was high and the talented songbird has delivered.
Nairobi was produced by Real Tym Music and sees Mayonde contribute her sultry vocals with Stonee complementing the track with his bars.
Give it a listen below:
QUEBEC CITY A French Canadian suspect known for his far-right, nationalist views was charged Monday with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder in the shooting rampage at a Quebec City mosque that Canadas prime minister called an act of terrorism again Muslims.
Alexandre Bissonnette made a brief court appearance and did not enter a plea in the attack that left six people dead during evening prayers Sunday. Wearing a white prisoner jump suit, his hands and feet shackled, he stared down at the floor and fidgeted, but did not speak.
The 27-year-old suspect, who has espoused support for the French far-right party of Marine Le Pen and had liked U.S. President Donald Trump on his Facebook page, was known to those who monitor extremist groups in Quebec, said Francois Deschamps, an official with a refugee advocacy group. Its with pain and anger that we learn the identity of terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette, unfortunately known to many activists in Quebec for taking nationalist, pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions at Laval University and on social media, Deschamps wrote on the Facebook page of the group, Bienvenues aux Refugies, or Welcome to Refugees.
An anthropology and political science major at Laval University in Quebec City, Bissonnette had also expressed support on his Facebook profile for Generation Nationale, a group whose manifesto includes the rejection of multiculturalism.
More than 50 people were at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre when the shooting erupted. In addition to the six dead, 19 people were wounded all men. Of the five victims who remained hospitalized, two were in critical condition, authorities said. The dead ranged in age from 39 to 60.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard both characterized the attack as a terrorist act, which came amid heightened tensions worldwide over Trumps travel ban on seven Muslim countries. Le Pen, leader of the National Front in France, is known for her anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant positions and has won the endorsement and admiration of white supremacists.
Canada is generally welcoming toward immigrants and all religions, but the French-speaking province of Quebec has had a long-simmering debate about race and religious accommodation. The previous separatist government of the province called for a ban on ostentatious religious symbols, such as the hijab, in public institutions.
Trudeau said in Parliament the victims were targeted simply because of their religion and spoke directly to the more than 1 million Muslims who live in Canada, saying, We are with you.
Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours, Trudeau said. Know that we value you.
The prime minister later attended a vigil outside the mosque.
Pala Investments Ltd. fund manager Anthony Milewski figures one of the best payoffs from a global boom in electric vehicles will be a hard, gray metal that so far has drawn little interest from investors. That's why he's stockpiling it.
During the past year, the Switzerland-based mining fund has been buying cobalt, an essential element in the lithium-ion batteries powering Tesla Motors cars as well as all sorts of mobile devices. Even after a 50 percent surge in prices last year, Milewski and other bulls expect more gains as companies like General Motors and Volkswagen make their own electronic vehicles.
But cobalt investing isn't all that simple. There's very little trading in futures contracts offered by the London Metal Exchange, which can mean increased volatility risk. A handful of penny-stock companies like Fortune Minerals Ltd. are developing cobalt projects, though most won't start producing for years. And for mining giants including Glencore and Vale, the metal remains just a small byproduct of bigger copper and nickel operations.
"By buying physical stock, you actually own the metal that's going into the batteries," Milewski, a Pala managing director, said by telephone from Zug, Switzerland. "It's a much more attractive option, and we're not the only fund out there doing this." He declined to disclose how much he's accumulated.
The appeal of cobalt for manufacturers of next-generation batteries is that the metal makes for an efficient electrode, and can help stored power last longer. While the market was mired in surplus for years after the financial crisis, supplies are tightening because the electric-vehicle boom is set to boost demand 16 percent annually on average through 2022, according to commodity researcher CRU Group.
That's already impacting physical prices, which are the highest in more than five years. Low-grade cobalt was at a high of $16.50 a pound on the spot market on Friday, up more than 80 percent from lows in December 2015, according to London-based Metal Bulletin Ltd., a commodity market price tracker. Average prices this year may exceed CRU's November high-end forecast of $18, and may rise "well above" $20 if supplies fall short of estimates, Edward Spencer, a senior consultant at CRU, said by email.
Increased attention for the market also has boosted cobalt trading on the LME to the highest since its contract began in 2010. Average volume that was just 24 contracts a day during the year before November has since jumped to 162 a day, including several sessions above 600, exchange data show. By comparison, the LME handles about 140,000 copper contracts every day.
Global demand exceeded output in 2016 for the first time in seven years, and increased purchases by fund managers this year probably will deepen the production deficit, according to Guy Darby, co-founder of Darton Commodities Ltd., a cobalt trading house based in Guildford, U.K.
The industry supplies about 100,000 metric tons annually. But about 65 percent of refined supply comes in a non-metal form, including chemicals and powders used in making parts for smartphones, jet engines, drilling tools and pigments. So, only about 35,000 tons produced each year is in the metal form preferred by investors. At current prices, that's worth about $550 million, which may be too small a market for some commodity-focused funds. By comparison, annual copper output is 22 million tons valued at $127 billion.
Still, the market is growing. Ivan Glasenberg, the chief executive officer of Glencore, the world's largest producer, said the pickup in production of electric vehicles means increasing demand for both cobalt and nickel, another component in batteries. Even after last year's big price gains, cobalt has "fantastic potential" in 2017, Benedikt Sobotka, head of closely held mining company Eurasian Resources Group, said in a statement this month.
Expanding output to keep pace with demand may not be easy. About 63 percent of global supplies come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which derives as much as a fifth of its production from small-scale operations that rely on child labor to extract minerals by hand, according to an Amnesty International report last year. The pressure group called on battery-makers like South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and end-users like Apple to step up efforts to ensure minerals they use aren't mined illegally in dangerous conditions.
The Amnesty International report made investors like RobecoSAM reluctant to own cobalt. The Swiss asset manager focuses on sustainable industries such as electric vehicles and green energy, with investments in lithium producers including Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile and Albemarle Corp., as well as battery makers including LG Chem Ltd. and Samsung SDI.
"We monitor allegations of human rights abuses closely," said Pieter Busscher, a Zurich-based portfolio manager for the Smart Materials fund at RobecoSAM. "What we don't want exposure to is a commodity that can be produced in conditions where workers aren't looked after and protected."
The increased public scrutiny could put pressure on global supplies outside the central African country. Chemical companies that supply battery makers rely on semi-refined cobalt being produced by Glencore and others in Congo.
"The next stage is whether we're going to see a response in supply, or whether consumers will start panicking and buying up any units they can," said Tony Southgate, a cobalt trader at Engelhart Commodities Trading Partners based in London. "If battery demand spills over into the metals market in a huge way, then the chances are prices will spike."
There's also the risk that higher cobalt prices will encourage battery makers to come up with better designs that use less of the metal.
Milewski isn't worried. Any attempts to substitute other materials will be dwarfed by the surge in overall demand for cobalt as the world's fleet of battery-powered cars increases. Analysts may be underestimating just how popular the vehicles will become, not only in the U.S. and Europe but in China and India, where governments are eager for ways to curb fossil fuel emissions, he said.
"So far, sales of electric vehicles have been blowing forecasts out of the water," Milewski said. "I don't see why that won't continue."
St. Helena Hospital Napa Valley has earned the Joint Commissions Gold Seal of Approval for advanced certification for total hip and total knee replacement. It is the second hospital in California to receive the certification for its orthopedic program, said a news release.
The Napa Valley Unified School District is facing an accelerating decline in student population over the next decade, leaving officials and trustees facing some tough decisions in the years to come.
NVUSDs longtime consultants, Jack Schreder & Associates, presented their annual demographic report last Thursday to the school board, one year after they first projected a modest dip in enrollment within 10 years.
Only now, the declines are speeding up, according to consultant Jamie Iseman, thanks to the impacts of increasing housing prices and rents on families, birthrates and kindergarten enrollments.
Last year, Iseman reported the district would lose 365 students by the middle of next decade. That projection has now more than tripled, with the decline being as great as 1,350 students by 2026-27.
Napa County is one of the least affordable counties in the country, said Iseman. Youre not the most expensive ZIP code, she added, but when you compare your wages to housing prices, its become too costly to live here for many.
Iseman said many families with children have gotten pushed out of town. Plus, there is a lack of affordable housing in all the communities in the county.
Most of the projected student decline will happen in the city of Napa, which has become more affluent and is aging, said Iseman. American Canyon is expected to see its student population hold steady or increase slightly.
Napa schools could lose more than 1,000 students in total, forcing the district to start deciding how it will manage the effects of this decline.
We are in need of some serious strategic planning to address this issue, said Trustee Robb Felder.
Superintendent Patrick Sweeney didnt go into specifics at the meeting, but warned theres going to be some big decisions to make.
Assistant Superintendent Wade Roach, who oversees the NVUSD budget, said hes already factoring in the projections for the next school budget in 2017-2018. He said there would be fairly dramatic impacts on the budget stemming from the declines.
Sweeney urged the school board to not brainstorm in public, and instead called for creating a task force to thoughtfully consider options.
Still, some trustees spitballed ideas, some of which could rile parents.
Longtime Trustee Joe Schunk referenced the closure last decade of three rural elementary schools Carneros, Wooden Valley and Capell Valley because of declining enrollments.
It could be an element to consider, shuttering schools, said Schunk. I hope Im off the board by then.
Other options tossed around included changes to district policies addressing open enrollment and intra-district transfers, and perhaps luring students from Vallejo.
American Canyon, which is next door to Vallejo, would have no need to draw students in. Their schools are projected to still be largely full.
Napa, however, will bear the brunt of the decline. The consultants projected the Napa/Yountville area (mostly Napa) to lose 1,296 students from 13,622 currently to 12,326 in 2026-2027.
Schreder & Associates said local birth totals went down numerous times so far this decade: 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015.
This creates smaller kindergarten classes, they wrote in their report, which, in turn, produce enrollment declines as they replace larger classes of older students moving through the system.
There is now a bubble of smaller cohorts that must pass through NVUSD before enrollment can increase, they wrote.
The consultants attributed the loss of students and fewer births to changing demographics brought on by the high cost of housing locally and in the region.
The Bay Area housing crisis has had a significant negative impact on NVUSD, the report says. The District is shifting demographically, aging, and becoming more affluent, with corresponding declines to the relevant school aged population.
The report included some startling facts and numbers on the housing market, beginning with San Francisco, which has acted like a rock dropped in a pond, creating powerful ripples through Bay Area towns.
In just over three years, from January 2012 to spring 2015, median home prices in San Francisco almost doubled from about $700,000 to about $1.3 million, the consultants reported using data from Paragon Real Estate Group.
Prices in San Francisco drive much of the trend in the Bay Area, since individuals and families priced out of the San Francisco market tend to raise prices in other areas as they seek to relocate and bring larger budgets with them, Schreder and Associates said.
They also revealed that Napa County hasnt helped itself, creating an imbalance between demand and supply for housing.
Over the last five years, the countys population increased by 5,000 to 7,000, equivalent to the population of Calistoga, according to the consultants. During this same period, the county added only about 550 housing units.
With supply falling so far short of demand, the cost of housing has increased significantly, the report said. Napa County was recently ranked by real estate data company ATTOM Data Solutions as the 8th most unaffordable housing market in the nation.
In recent weeks, two news stories converged to highlight an interesting point with a local application. Both stories have to do with extreme wealth. Wealth must produce some interesting changes in how one thinks. What happens to the mind of a person (or group) when extreme wealth provides the lens through which the world is viewed?
Oxfam is the source of the first story. Oxfam is a group dedicated to alleviating world poverty. It was founded in 1942 by a group of socially conscious Quakers. These are people that some might characterize as liberal, socialist do-gooders today -- perhaps even tree huggers. A recent report released by Oxfam reveals that eight men control as much wealth as the poorest half of the worlds population. In 2010, the number was 43 instead of eight. The divide between rich and poor grows. That is eight men controlling as much wealth as 3.75 billion people. How do these men see the world?
Mark Zuckerberg is one of the eight men highlighted in the Oxfam report and he is the source of the second news story. Some of Zuckerbergs recent activities might provide an insight into how the mind of an extremely wealthy person works. Zuckerberg purchased 700 acres on the island of Kauai. Unfortunately, there are a significant number of Hawaiian families who own small islands of property within Zuckerbergs 700 acres. And these families apparently have easements through Zuckerbergs property allowing them access to their property.
Zuckerbergs solution to this problem is interesting. He has begun a legal maneuver forcing the sale of these properties at auction to the highest bidder. These properties were granted to native Hawaiian tenant farmers between 1850 and 1855. Apparently this is legal and Zuckerberg is within his legal rights to take this action. One does wonder how such a maneuver became legal in the first place. It was probably not a law written by or requested by tenant Hawaiian farmers or their families. (Editor's note: Since this letter was submitted, Zuckerberg has said he will drop the lawsuits against these small landowners).
What does this have to do with Napa?
A front-page article in the Registers Jan. 18 issue, Wine battle now a pizza fight, illustrates a point. In the article, Rex Stults of Napa Valley Vintners is quoted as saying, I would have a hard time believing a local restaurant wants to dine-and-donate for Vision 2050 and alienate the Napa Valley wine industry who they rely on for a large part of their business. In the paragraph following this quote, the article says, Stults said he simply made a courtesy call, given that Forge is a new business and might not know about Vision 2050.
A courtesy call from a group associated with wealth. If there was no intent to persuade Forge to cancel the dine-and-donate event, what was the purpose of a courtesy call?" Was the call not intended to notify Forge who their friends and enemies in the community were?
With wealth comes power, and one with wealth can be expected to exercise the power that wealth brings. The people in these incidents do not view themselves as the rest of us might. They see themselves as hard working, upright citizens contributing to the welfare of the larger society. And to a certain degree, this is absolutely true. But in the minds of those in possession of wealth, and the power wealth brings, there must be a special blindness to the darker side of wealth and power.
Do those of us not exercising this kind of power really admire this manipulative behavior? Is it alright to take actions that harm others even though those actions are legal? Is it all right for Mark Zuckerberg to force people to sell land he wants simply because he has the power to do so? Is it alright for a courtesy call to end a fundraiser simply because the fundraiser was for a local nonprofit that does not have the blessing of the wine industry?
This really is a David-and-Goliath battle. If you resent such self-serving abuses of power then put a stone in Davids sling and donate to Napa Vision 2050 or one of its affiliate groups. Get involved.
Ask the county why it pulled a qualified ballot measure after citizens gathered signatures on watershed protections. In doing so, the county denied you a voice that is rightfully yours.
Unfortunately, the wine industry is not always the benevolent benefactor it portrays itself to be. There is a darker side the industry would prefer to keep hidden. Napa Vision 2050 and its members value and support Napas wine industry. Napa Vision 2050 and its affiliates are opposed to, and will stand against the abuses of power and sense of entitlement that all too often seem to accompany great wealth.
Richard Cannon, Treasurer
Defenders of East Napa Watersheds
On Thursday evening, Jan. 26, the pews at Grace Episcopal Church overflowed as Bishop Barry Beisner, leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, formally installed the Rev. Amy Denney Zuniga as the churchs new Rector.
Joining parishioners were more than a dozen visiting clergy members, including the Rev. Jonathan Eastman of St. Helena Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Audrey Ward from St. Helena United Methodist Church and countless other friends and family.
With pomp and circumstance fitting the occasion, the evening began with a procession that included clergy from throughout California who have played important roles in Rev. Amys life and came to support and welcome her into her new role and to participate in the service.
Reading the gospel and serving at the altar was the Rev. Susan Napoliello, a deacon from St. Lukes Episcopal Church in Calistoga, and an ardent supporter of causes throughout Napa Valley and beyond.
During her sermon, Amys spiritual director and mentor the Rev. Linda Taylor from the Diocese El Camino Real shared that she and Amy have been through many scary, difficult, but also joyful times and was delighted to be at Grace for the biggest celebration of all, not just for the new pastor, but for everyone at the church and in our community.
Following the readings and sermon, Bishop Beisner and Rev. Amy, accompanied by boisterous audience participation, led the congregation in the renewal of their baptismal vows. As the choir led the congregation in the hymn Wade in the Water, the newly installed Rector and her Bishop walked up and down the aisles sprinkling the baptismal waters on everyone in attendance.
Ordained in El Salvador, Spanish language and culture are close to Amys heart, so to recognize her passion, the congregation sang La Paz Este Con Nosotros (peace be with us) as they greeted each other with hugs and handshakes among friends old and new.
In addition to including songs in Spanish, Amy said she looks forward to expanding the churchs connection with St. Helenas Spanish-speaking community. Following the fellowship of the peace, Canon Andrea McMillan, the Bishops right arm and the ceremony coordinator, joined Amy in introducing Amys family, including one of her sisters, her mother and her stepfather, all of whom are ordained in the Episcopal Church.
After recognizing her three young children, laughter ensued when Amy realized she neglected to mention her husband Vince Zuniga and tried to make up for it by declaring that You just know the priests spouse is always there!
One of the highlights of the evening followed after the Rev. Amy, the Bishop, other visiting clergy and lay servers made their way to the altar at the front of the church to prepare for serving the bread and wine that represent the body and blood of Christ.
One by one, representatives of the churchs many and various ministry groups made their way to the altar to present their new leader with gifts representing the work they do within the church. To name a few, the Grace Outreach Committee presented a globe highlighting their work on behalf of people in need throughout the world, the Greeter Ministry brought a personalized name badge and encouraged Amy to go into the community to meet, greet, and welcome people to the church, Amys son Lucas gave his mom a statue of the Good Shepherd to symbolize the Childrens Ministry, and the Youth Ministry got a big laugh as they presented a stuffed pink flamingo representing their annual community flocking fundraiser.
In a nod to Amys connection to the Spanish-speaking community, maintenance and housekeeping leaders Ramon and Maria Gallegos shared their gifts in both English and Spanish.
Following the serving of the bread and wine, the blessing, and the boisterous singing that accompanied the procession out of the church, attendees adjourned to the adjacent Bourn Hall for wine, food and fellowship. With smiles, hugs, warm wishes and good will in abundance, Rev. Amy, her family, the members of Grace Church and all the visitors knew that she had found a new home where together with her congregation and the community they will grow and flourish in the love of God and each other.
Sara Cakebread is a member of Grace Episcopal Church.
Tuesday, Jan. 24
0711 -- The owner of a Hunt Avenue business said that a woman who sleeps on the bench outside his business has been leaving her garbage on the sidewalk.
0802 -- Medical aid for a sick person on Voorhees Circle.
0808 -- A big rig got stuck in mud up to its axles, blocking one lane of traffic on Crane Avenue between Grayson and Sulphur Springs.
1307 -- Police on Spring Street arrested a 17-year-old St. Helena resident for an active warrant.
1358 -- Report of a large delivery truck blocking the roadway while making a delivery near Main/Spring.
1429 -- Medical aid for an sick woman on Hunt Avenue.
Wednesday, Jan. 25
1107 -- Report of a dog in the middle of traffic near Main/Pope. Police checked the area.
1403 -- Report of an ongoing problem with a loose dog in the Chablis Circle area.
1554 -- Police responded to a minor-injury accident on Silverado Trail just south of Taplin Road. A car with four occupants hit a pole.
2046 -- Numerous callers reported a power outage in the Hunt/Meadowcreek area after residents heard a loud boom or explosion. The calls were referred to PG&E. An officer checked the area and saw that homes from Harvest Lane south still had power.
Thursday, Jan. 26
0021 -- Medical aid for an elderly woman feeling very dizzy on Arrowhead Drive.
0954 -- A skunk was caught in a trap on St. Andrews Court.
1228 -- A street sign post at Mitchell/Oak was bent, and the Oak Avenue sign was missing.
1425 -- Medical aid for a disoriented man on San Juan Court.
1523 -- An ATV was stolen from Hardin Road sometime between mid-December and mid-January. The CHP was notified.
1708 -- Police responded to a two-car accident on Highway 29 just north of Deer Park Road.
1842 -- A woman asked police to check her Hunt Avenue home after she saw a stranger standing in her front yard as she drove up. She waited in her car until police arrived.
Friday, Jan. 27
0001 -- A set of keys was found on the sidewalk on Hunt Avenue. It has two keys, a blue stone, and a metal tag engraved Believe in miracles.
0133 -- Emergency units responded to Laguna Seca Court for a lift assist.
0344 -- Report of a man named John hollering and running from one unit to the other at a Pope Street apartment complex.
0828 -- Medical aid for a man with leg and stomach pains on Pope Street.
0939 -- Emergency units responded to San Juan Court for a lift assist.
1358 -- Police issued a parking citation in the 1300 block of Main Street.
1546 -- A tray and candles were stolen off a porch on Church Street sometime since Thursday afternoon.
1828 -- Two callers reported a large amount of foam on the side of the road near Spring Mountain Road and Dean York Lane.
Saturday, Jan. 28
0239 -- Medical aid for an elderly man with a bloody nose on Crane Avenue.
1005 -- Report of a station wagon parked in the 1400 block of Adams Street for three days.
1225 -- A dog had reportedly been barking for the last 24 hours on Stockton Street, and the neighbors couldnt take it anymore.
1226 -- Report of a truck parked in the 1200 block of Stockton Street for six months. The caller said parking is a major issue in the neighborhood.
1326 -- An iPhone in a black case was lost downtown on Friday.
1410 -- Report of a chemical odor on Peppertree Circle.
1559 -- Two light-colored dogs were seen running loose on Spring Street near upper Sylvaner Avenue. Police checked the area and didnt see them.
2214 -- Medical aid for a person having trouble breathing on Sulphur Springs Avenue.
Sunday, Jan. 29
0147 -- Following a traffic stop on Main Street, police arrested a 24-year-old Napa woman on suspicion of DUI.
1044 -- Police talked to some small children whod been messing with bee hives on Hollis Lane.
1108 -- Someone heard shots in the Dean York/Fir Hill area.
1122 -- Report of a water leak on Monte Vista.
1425 -- Medical aid for a fall victim with a gash on his head on Voorhees Circle.
1515 -- Medial aid for an elderly person with chest pains and breathing difficulties on Pope Street.
2120 -- A Hudson Avenue resident said her roommate had donated her coffee table to the Salvation Army.
2137 -- An unusually shaped black stroller was stolen from in front of a store in the 1100 block of Main Street sometime between 3 and 4 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 30
0208 -- Report of a possible drunk driver on Main Street.
0736 -- A blue merle Australian shepherd named Rosie was found on Sulphur Springs Avenue.
0813 -- Medical aid for a sick and disoriented person on Hunt Avenue.
1137 -- Report of loud music coming from an apartment on Monte Vista.
1241 -- Non-injury accident at Pratt/Main.
1248 -- An officer participated in Career Day at the Catholic school.
1552 -- Report of a non-injury hit-and-run involving a large truck blocking the Pope Street bridge. It was gone when police arrived.
NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will meet with the Prime Minister of Libya, Mr. Fayez al-Sarraj, at NATO Headquarters on Wednesday 1 February 2017.
Media Advisory
14:30 NATO Secretary General and the Prime Minister will jointly meet the press Main entrance
The press point will be streamed live on the NATO website and available on satellite on demand via Eurovision Geneva.
Still and video imagery of the meeting will be available after the event on the NATO website.
Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg)
The video shows that the Frigate was hit at the stern, resulting in an explosion and a fire. The crew was able to extinguish the fire but two members of the ships crew were killed in the attack while three others were injured.
The Saudi ship has continued its patrol duties in the area of operations, while the air force and the coalition forces' ships continued to chase the fleeing boats to deal with them, the statement read.
The command of the coalition asserts that the continuation of the Houthi militias' use of the port of Hodeida as a launching pad for terrorist operations is a serious development that would affect the international navigation and the flow of humanitarian and medical assistance into the port for Yemeni citizens, the statement added.
The requested page is currently unavailable on this server.
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NEW DELHI: In a first for the Indian e-commerce industry, leading eyewear company Lenskart has launched a unique 'Lenskart Lite' app for Android users which requires no internet connection to shop from its website.
The app is based on SMS technology.
In the absence of internet, the app uses proprietary protocol on top of SMS to communicate with the internal system and, thereby, process the user's request.
"With the changing online business models and evolving consumer behaviour with regard to online shopping, Lenskart aims to provide a hassle-free experience to shoppers through this initiative," said Peyush Bansal, CEO Lenskart, in a statement on Monday.
When the internet connection is available, the app switches back to internet.
The app requires internet only at the point of download and is a little over 1 MB in size.
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For students, by students
Built in 1910 to house the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Newell Hall is undergoing a transformation. When it re-opens this spring, the third-oldest building on the UF campus will be reborn as the Newell Hall Learning Commons, a 21st-century study space where UF students can meet, socialize, dine, create and collaborate.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after their talks in Islamabad, Sharif said ensuring peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without a just settlement of the Palestine-Israeli dispute.
The Palestinian President arrived in Islamabad on a three-day visit late on Monday on his third visit to Pakistan. He is leading a 17-member delegation including five ministers.
Abbas and Sharif jointly inaugurated the newly-constructed Palestine Embassy Complex in Islamabad.
Sharif said the new embassy building in Islamabad would be a symbol of the brotherly relations.
The Pakistan government gifted a plot of land in 1992 for the construction of the Palestinian Embassy Complex. Subsequently, in 2013 Pakistan also contributed towards its construction.
The two leaders earlier held bilateral talks and exchanged views on regional issues and the challenge of terrorism.
Nawaz Sharif called for implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territory.
"Pakistan is firm in its support for the just cause of Palestinian people," Nawaz Sharif said.
The Palestine President thanked Pakistan for its steadfast support for the cause of Palestinian people besides financial assistance and scholarships for Palestinian students in Pakistani universities.
--IANS ahm/bg
( 237 Words)
2017-01-31-19:10:14 (IANS)
Even as the Niti Aayog has said that India does not have the necessary financial resources for the project, the government's Economic Survey 2016-17 presented on Tuesday advocated a Universal Basic Income (UBI) scheme as an alternative poverty reduction mechanism in place of various ongoing social welfare programmes. The Economic Survey, authored by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian and tabled in Parliament on the first day of the budget session on Tuesday, pitched for a scheme to transfer a reasonable basic income to Indians below the poverty line based on a survey on misallocation of resources which showed that districts where needs are the greatest are precisely those where state capacity is the weakest. The survey's findings suggest that a more efficient way to help the poor would be to provide them resources directly, through a UBI. Elaborating on the UBI scheme, which has no precedents globally, Subramanian has earlier said that it would entail making an unconditional cash transfer of about Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 a year to every citizen and could replace more than 1,000 schemes the government runs for poverty elimination. The Economic Survey said the two prerequisites for a successful UBI are a functional JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile) system to ensure that the cash transfer goes directly into the account of a beneficiary, and Centre-State negotiations on sharing the programme's cost. Meanwhile, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya has stated in a recent interview that India lacks the fiscal resources for a UBI benchmarked to the poverty line. "At the current level of income and our needs for investment in health, education, infrastructure and defence, we simply do not have the necessary fiscal resources to transfer a reasonable basic income to 130 crore Indians," Panagariya told Indian Express in an interview earlier this month. The Tendulkar Committee on the urban poverty line has placed this at Rs 1,000 per person per month at 2011-12 prices. Panagariya also mentioned that a Swiss referendum last June on a UIB for the country had seen an overwhelming 77 per cent of the voters rejecting this. --IANS bc/vm ( 362 Words) 2017-01-31-14:38:07 (IANS)
Joining the battle against the US President Donald Trump's executive order banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has said that the company does not support the order. According to a report in The Verge, Bezos reacted to Trump's executive order in an internal mail to employees. "This executive order is one we do not support. Our public policy team in Washington D.C. has reached out to senior administration officials to make our opposition clear. We've also reached out to Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to explore legislative options," Bezos said in a statement late on Monday. Bezos added that Amazon's legal team had prepared a declaration of support for the Washington State Attorney General who would be filing suit against the order and that they were working other legal options as well. "We're a nation of immigrants whose diverse backgrounds, ideas, and points of view have helped us build and invent as a nation for over 240 years. No nation is better at harnessing the energies and talents of immigrants. It's a distinctive competitive advantage for our country -- one we should not weaken," the statement added. Bezos assured his employees in the US and around the world who may be directly affected by this order that the full extent of Amazon's resources were behind them. According to media reports, Microsoft and Expedia are also part of the chorus of voices speaking against Trump's executive order. Earlier, Google's India-born Chief Executive Sundar Pichai critcised the executive order, suggesting that the ban could affect at least 187 Google employees as the Internet search giant ordered its travelling staff to return to the United States. "We're upset about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US," The Wall Street Journal quoted Pichai as saying in an e-mail to staff. "It's painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues," he added. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also expressed his concern over the order. "We need to keep this country safe, but we should do that by focusing on people who actually pose a threat," he wrote on his Facebook page. --IANS qd/na/vt ( 393 Words) 2017-01-31-17:50:07 (IANS)
India on Tuesday said it has conveyed its concern to the US over a bill being introduced in the Congress to change rules on H1B visas which is likely to impact the Indian IT industry and Indian techies working in the US. "India's interests and concerns have been conveyed both to the US administration and the US Congress at senior levels," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. The High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017, introduced in House of Representatives by California Congressman Zoe Lofgren, calls for doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to $130,000 from the current minimum wage of $60,000 - a move that could impact Indian techies. The bill, likely to be signed by President Donald Trump, would make it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India, with lower wages. As Trump was preparing to issue executive orders on H1B, the draft of the order was leaked and published by some news websites on Monday. As per the leaked draft order, Trump would reverse his predecessor Barack Obama's extension of the duration of the optional practical training work visas, which allowed foreign students to stay in the US a bit longer after completion of their studies. The bill would require that employers first offer a vacant position to an equally or better qualified American worker before seeking an H1B or L-1 visa holder. It would also establish wage requirements for L-1 workers and improve H1B wage requirements to encourage companies to hire qualified American workers and prevent them from using foreign workers as a source of cheap labour. --IANS rs/vd/mr ( 287 Words) 2017-01-31-17:54:06 (IANS)
His trip will begin in Bikaner, travel through Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and end in Gangtok, Sikkim.
Irrfan said in a statement: "I'm excited to start shooting for the film. We have an amazing crew put together for this film and I can't wait to spend time on it, especially amidst all the travel. I'm sure we will make some amazing memories on this one."
He plays the protagonist who is on a road journey through Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
The film is being co-produced by Zee Studios and will release later this year.
--IANS nn/vt
( 141 Words)
2017-01-31-14:26:06 (IANS)
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has voiced support for filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who recently found himself in the eye of controversy after being attacked by a political group Karni Sena in Rajasthan on the sets of his upcoming movie 'Padmavati'. Citing 'discussions' as the only plausible means to sort issues out, Shah Rukh said art and creativity should initiate conversations. "As far as art and creativity are concerned, everybody wants to do something new, say something new. Art should start conversations, discussions. A person might like a painting, or a poem. Other person might not. So, it should be a discussion. And a discussion should be an exchange of knowledge," he said. Shah Rukh added, "If anybody should have a disagreement, or an issue with a form of art, they should sit down and have a discussion. There's no other means that's plausible to sort issues out." Last week, members of Rajput Karni Sena had entered the Jaigarh Fort at Jaipur, Rajasthan, vandalised it and beat up Bhansali accusing him of distorting history relating to Rajput queen Padmini, her ruler-husband Raja Ratan Rawal Singh and Delhi ruler Alauddin Khilji, who was besotted with Rani Padmini. According to Karni Sena, which had earlier protested during the shooting of Ashutosh Gowariker's directorial 'Jodhaa Akbar', Bhansali's film has love scenes between Padmini and Khilji. Bhansali's team, however, clarified that there were no love scenes between Rani Padmini and Khilji and history was not distorted. The National award-winning later pulled the shoot off Jaipur. Following the attack, many celebrities, including filmmakers, actors and politicians, have taken to Twitter to express their disappointment over the incident. Padmavati has actress Deepika Padukone playing the titular role, while Shahid Kapoor essays the role of Raja Ratan Rawal Singh. Actor Ranveer Singh will be seen as Alauddin Khilji in the film. (ANI)
The ban covers 1,000 private training centres which will be monitored to ensure compliance, Xinhua news agency reported.
The ban followed an order issued this month to stop all forms of Reiki therapy in Saudi Arabia.
Reiki is an alternative therapy that is said to reduce stress and help promote healing.
It is administered by "laying on hands" and based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through people and is what causes them to be alive.
The Saudi National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine warned early in January of the negative effects of Reiki on patients who could neglect their modern medical treatment and face serious health complications for believing that such alternative medicine could heal serious illnesses.
--IANS py/mr
( 152 Words)
2017-01-31-14:36:06 (IANS)
No arrests have been made so far.
It is the fourth incident in this area within a few days.
In October last year, the BSF seized a Pakistani boat from the same area.
The boat was empty and had got washed away along with its anchor due to rising water level in the river.(ANI)
Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers and trucks laden with essentials, left Jammu this morning for the Kashmir valley as the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was through for one-way traffic despite rain. The highway was through for one-way traffic though there was rain in the morning, a traffic police official told UNI. He said all types of vehicles, including those carrying passengers and trucks laden with essentials, left Jammu for the Kashmir valley. However, no vehicles are being allowed from the opposite direction. The official said that only one-way traffic will continue on the highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country till further orders to avoid traffic jam. Vehicles, including trucks stranded at several places on the highway, have also been allowed to move towards Srinagar. However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has been working round the clock to make the road safe for two way journey. A traffic police official said that two-way traffic on the highway will be resumed only once a green signal is received from BRO and Traffic police officials posted at different places. Traffic on the highway, the only road linking the valley with the rest of the country, was disrupted frequently due to snowfall and landslides besides slippery road conditions since first heavy snowfall on January 6. However, the closure of the highway has resulted in considerable increase shortage of essentials, particularly fresh vegetables and fruits, as trucks remained stranded for the past about a week across the tunnel. The prices of local vegetables had also witnessed increase. Kashmir valley is importing vegetables, fruits and chicken and meat from different parts of the country. Majority meat and chicken shops remained closed in the valley because of no supply from outside due to closure of the highway. Traders at vegetable mandi remained idle as only onion and potatoes are available.''We were receiving hundreds of trucks loaded with fresh vegetables every day but for the past about more than a week there is hardly any, the traders said, adding that the local vegetables are also under snow forcing people to consume pulses and dry vegetables. The historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region and national highway, linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir remained closed due to heavy snowfall. Both the roads will reopen only in summer. The Mughal road is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway. UNI BAS SB ADG 1052 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-1129646.Xml
Panneerselvam said if visuals of the police torching vehicles and huts are proven true then they would be punished severally.
"A new investigation commission headed by a former high court judge will set up to inquire about the violence and police excesses and it will submit its report within a week," he added.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister further said that steps are being taken to release 21 students from Chennai and 15 students from other districts arrested during the violence.
Panneerselvam earlier on January 27 said various "anti-social elements" and organisations had "infiltrated" the week-long pro-jallikattu protest at Marina Beach with the intention of "diverting" it.
He promised that the "evil forces" behind the violence would be identified and brought to book.
The Supreme Court earlier in the day heard a batch of petitions by animal rights groups challenging the validity of a Tamil Nadu law permitting Jallikattu.
Anjali Sharma, the lawyer for Animal Welfare Board of India, today filed an affidavit in the apex court, mentioning that she had filed her reply to the charges levelled by G.S. Mani, who is an intervener in the case.
There was widespread agitation in Tamil Nadu, including protests at Chennai's Marina Beach in support of Jallikattu. (ANI)
The company plans to add more than 10 lac merchants in the regionin this fiscal.
Paytm's QR Code-based POS solution enables small and mediummerchants across India to accept mobile payments for free withoutinvesting in a card machine, a company release said.
Commenting on the development, Kunal Abhishek, Vice President -Paytm said, ''We are looking to add more than 10 lakh merchants inBengaluru alone this year. As we reach out to a wider set ofmerchants across the region, consumers would see more shops aroundthem accepting Paytm while shopkeepers would notice more customerswilling to pay using Paytm.''
Currently more than 3 million offline merchants across Indiaaccept Paytm as their preferred payment mode. Paytm has also enabledself-declared merchants across the country to accept up to Rs.50,000 directly in their bank accounts. This would not only help thecompany reach every merchant in India but also act as a strongfoundation for its goal of bringing half a billion Indians to themainstream economy.UNI RS HVB CS 1351
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Indian soldier Chandu Chavan, who inadvertently crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan last year, met his family for the first time after being released in Amritsar today. Chandu Chavan's brother Bhushan Chavan expressed his gratitude to the Indian Army for taking strident efforts in bringing back his brother. "I am also a soldier and I will forever remain grateful to the army for this. I am also grateful to the villagers, who supported me and my brother. Since I am overwhelmed with happiness, I am unable to express my feelings," Bhushan told ANI. The Pakistani troops handed over Chandu yesterday to the Indian Army at Wagah Border after which he was debriefed and a special medical check-up was carried out. Pakistan's Military's media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement, "As a gesture of goodwill and in continuation of our efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity along LOC and WB, Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chohan has been convinced to return to his own country and will be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah Border on humanitarian grounds." The soldier had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control on September 30 last year and was captured by the Pakistani troops, a day after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on terror launchpads across the LoC. The Indian Army has said that the soldier, who belongs to the Rashtriya Rifles, was not involved in the surgical strike. Article 4 of the Third Geneva Convention protects captured military personnel, some guerrilla fighters and certain civilians. It applies from the moment a prisoner is captured until he or she is released/repatriated. One of the main provisions of the convention makes it illegal to torture prisoners and states that a prisoner can only be required to give their name, date of birth, rank and service number if applicable. (ANI)
Police said that the cash bags were hidden between Onion andPotato bags in the lorry. 35 bags of Onion and 10 bags of Potatowere also seized.
The arrested were identified as Mohamed Afzal, Abdul Nazir andShamshudin-- all hailed from Koidapalli village, Kozhikode District, Kerala.
Police have also seized the Mini Goods lorry, One toyota carused for the crime.UNI MSP CNR RSS1440
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Maitub, a second-year pharmacy under-graduate student, was killed when his classmate Mohammad Alauddin attacked him with a kitchen knife during a fight over an unpaid loan.
The attack occurred late Monday night at a house in Ibrahimpatnam, near here.
According to the police, the two Sudanese studying at Nova College of Pharmacy were staying together with other students from African countries in the Ibrahimpatnam house.
Maitub had lent some money to Alauddin. A fight broke out around midnight when Maitub demanded his money back. They attacked each other and Alauddin stabbed him.
Other students shifted an injured Maitub to a hospital in Vijayawada, where he died early on Tuesday.
The police have arrested Alauddin, who was also injured in the clash.
--IANS ms/in/vt
( 160 Words)
2017-01-31-15:02:07 (IANS)
The mortal remains of Rasila Raju O P, found murdered in the campus on Sunday night, was handed over to her father and relatives after post-mortem had been conducted in Pune last night. Large number of people, including relatives, had gathered at the Calicut Airport to receive the body.
Later the body was taken to Payimbra and kept for people to pay their homage.
Raila was strangled to death with a computer cable and was found in the conference hall of the multi-storey building in the campus.
A Security Guard from Assam and posted in the campus, has been taken into custody in connection with the murder.
Stating multiple wounds were inflicted on the body, her relatives here demanded a high level probe into the murder case.
Meanwhile, Infosys had announced Rs one crore compensation to the family of the deceased.UNI PCH CS 1506
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The Supreme Court today rejected a petition filed by Uttar Pradesh BJP leader, Neeraj Shankar Saxena, demanding action against Bahujan Samaj Party chief, Mayawati, for allegedly seeking votes in the name of religion.A bench, headed by Justice SA Bobde, held that since Assembly polls had already been announced, only the Election Commission could take appropriate action in the matter.On behalf of Uttar Pradesh State BJP Executive Committee, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain told the bench that during her January 3 press conference, Ms Mayawati appealed to Muslims to vote for BSP. It amounted, Mr Jain said, to seeking votes in the name of religion which is completely banned after a Constitution Bench declared elections as a secular exercise.The bench said during elections, courts cannot interfere. It was for the Election Commission to take note of it and act on the complaint.The petitioner said he had approached the poll watchdog which did not take any action against the BSP chief.After that the petitioner went to the Allahabad High Court but again his prayer was declined.The bench said the law was very clear on the issue. "We can't interfere during elections."UNI XC RP1512 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1130058.Xml
Further financial assistance for Greece depends on the successful completion of a review of its bailout programme and the participation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a spokesman for the German Finance Ministry said on Tuesday."Further payments depend on the successful completion of the programme's review and the participation of the IMF," the spokesman said.On Monday, the head of the euro zone's bailout fund said Greece will only receive more loans from the bloc if the IMF joins its latest aid programme, spelling out a condition thus far disregarded by Athens's creditors.Greece needs a new tranche of financial aid under its 86 billion euro bailout by the third quarter of the year or it faces the risk of defaulting on its debts.REUTERS SDR AS1551 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1130199.Xml
President Pranab Mukherjee today described the North Eastern states as the ''Ashtalakshmi'' that could take India to new heights. In his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Mr Mukherjee said the North East was the gateway to South East Asia and India was opening road and rail routes to neighbouring countries to boost economic development of the region. He cited the government was continuing with the special dispensation in the assistance pattern to the North-eastern states to ensure their unhindered support and development and was providing assistance in the ratio of 90:10 for core central schemes and 80:20 for non-core schemes to these states. By 2017-end, all meter-gauge tracks in the north-eastern states ''will be converted to broad-gauge. The Railways have undertaken a major expansion in the region at a cost of around Rs 10,000 crore. Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have been put on the rail map, Agartala in Tripura has been connected with broad gauge line,'' he announced. Noting that the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd and Numaligarh Refinery Ltd's wax unit were big projects that would ''create huge employment opportunities in the N E region, he said the Government had approved North East BPO promotion scheme in the Digital India programme for creation of employment opportunities. Turning to the untapped tourism potential of the region, he said the beauty and diversity of the North East made it a ''natural hub for tourism'', adding that the Ministry of Tourism had identified a thematic circuit for the North East region.UNI SD AE 1653 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0005-1130307.Xml
Eastern Railway will run 21 pairs of special trains between Kolkata and Alipurduar Jn. stations between February 5 to June 26, 2017. The 03129 KolkataAlipurduar Jn. weekly special train via Dankuni will leave Kolkata station at 2245 hrs on every Sunday between February 5 & June 25, 2017 and 03130 Alipurduar Jn.Kolkata weekly special train will leave Alipurduar Jn. at 1655 hrs on every Monday between February 6 & June 26, 2017. South Eastern Railway has also decided to run one pair of EMU special train between Haldia and Panskura during the period from February 3 to 13.UNI PC AKM 1725 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-1130412.Xml
The government today "prematurely" eased out senior IPS officer Rupak Kumar Dutta, who was Special Secretary in the Ministry of Home, to his parent cadre Karnataka. An official statement said there will be "Premature repatriation of Shri Rupak Kumar Dutta,IPS (KTK/81) Special Secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs to his parent cadre with immediate effect." Dutta was moved out of CBI in December to the Home Ministry sparking off controversy that he was moved out of the premier probe agency deliberately as he was senior most official after the then CBI director Anil Sinha. Special Director, CBI, Dutta was considered among the frontrunners for the top post but was moved to the Home Ministry as a Special Secretary. In fact, the post of second special secretary was created for the first time in the ministry. It may be mentioned that Congress had attacked shunting out of Dutta from the CBI with floor leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge registering his protest at a meeting of the Selection Committee with Chief Justice of India J S Khehar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Kharge had also described Dutta as "the most suitable candidate" for CBI chief. In today's announcement, the Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances also said Gujarat cadre IPS officer P P Pandey be given an extension of three months as Director General of Police (DGP) and Director, Anti Corruption Bureau, Gujarat for three months from January 31, 2017. The appointment of new CBI Chief has run into high-voltage controversy in December after the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as the 'acting' CBI Director was challenged by NGO, Common Cause, in the Supreme Court. Finally, seeking to put at rest all controversies, the government ordered appointment of the then Delhi Police Commissioner Anil Verma as the new CBI chief. Mr Verma's name was cleared by the Prime Minister and Justice Khehar while Mr Kharge had given his note of dissent.UNI DEVN SW 1735 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0445-1130421.Xml
The Dal Khalsa today warned the Badals against maligning the concept of 'Khalsa Raj' and painting it with a negative brush for garnering votes. Slamming Badals and their coterie, the organisation pointed out that they would not allow any politician or political party to ridicule the concept of 'Khalistan'. The controversy had triggered in the wake of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal accusing the 'Khalistanis' of hobnobbing with Arvind Kejriwal to support AAP in the upcoming state assembly elections. Speaking at a religious function here, Dal Khalsa president H S Cheema said Badal's propaganda holds no water as both AAP and 'pro-freedom' groups were ideologically poles apart. He termed Badal's malicious propaganda as nothing but an attempt to instill fear among the populace. He justified the demand for 'Khalistan' and asserted that at one point of time the majority of community stood with the cause including the Badals. He reminded the singing the memorandum seeking right to self determination submitted to UN Secretary General in 1992. "However as the Sikh struggle had weakened, opportunists like Badal have betrayed the cause and are now singing peans of their Delhi masters. The "fear tune" is nothing but his Master's Voice because both Badal and BJP are echoing the same," he alleged. "Whether there is an upsurge in favour of AAP and who is responsible for this, is a matter of political debate and one does not have to look far to unearth the faulty policies and wrong doings of Akali Dal, which has deviated from its original mission and objectives," he said "We are not concerned who wins the elections and becomes the face of Punjab after March 11. However, we certainly wish that all those including the Badals who are responsible for sacrilege, alarming level of drug menace, denigration of religious institutions and providing immunity to the police officers responsible for the deaths of two Sikh protesters at Behbal Kalan, should be taught a lesson," he said. He clarified that Dal Khalsa would stay away from parliament and assembly elections under the Indian dispensation. UNI XC DB PS SW 1732 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1130374.Xml
BEIJING - China and Switzerland have signed a customs agreement on mutual authorized economic operator (AEO) status, a move that will further boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation, the country's top customs authority said on Saturday.
Chinese companies that obtain the AEO status will enjoy the same simplified customs procedures as native Swiss companies when their products enter Switzerland, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement on its website.
According to the World Customs Organization (WCO), an AEO is an organization or company involved in the international movement of goods that has been certified by, or on behalf of, a national customs administration and complies with WCO or equivalent supply chain security standards.
China and Switzerland launched AEO negotiations at the start of 2015, and finally reached the agreement this month after three rounds of talks.
AEO programs are expected to play a key role in boosting the country's exports amid sluggish global demand, according the statement.
China's exports dipped 2 percent year on year to 13.84 trillion yuan last year, while imports rose 0.6 percent from one year earlier to 10.49 trillion yuan.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich today said as SAD-BJP-Congress combine have already sensed their humiliating defeat in the February 4 assembly polls hence they have deployed their 'Goons' to disguise as 'AAP workers' with an eye to defame of the party in Punjab. "As per the specific information, hundreds of such Goondas already spread in entire Punjab and disguised themselves as 'AAP workers' by wearing AAP's 'Topi' before indulging in illegal activities like consuming liquor at public places, distribution money among voters and even in Goondagardi in front of public," Mr Waraich said in a statement here. "I hereby appeal to the people of Punjab, wherever they see such goondas, they must report immediately to the EC to expose their links with particular political party before handing them over to police," the AAP leader said. Earlier also, many a times, Akalis resorted to such 'cheap tactics' but people of Punjab were intelligent enough to understand and expose such tactics of Akalis and Congress, said Wariach, adding that such cheap tactics by Akalis were already in use on social media.UNI DB SW 1726 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1130379.Xml
Delhi Safai Karmacharis under the banner of the Delhi Nagar Nigam Mazdoor Congress today arrived here and would campaign in several villages of Punjab against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This was announced by the Mazdoor Congress, which appealed to the Punjab 'Balmiki Samaj' to throw AAP natiuonal convenor Arvind Kejriwal out of Punjab before he gets the chance to ruin Punjab the way he had ruined Delhi. Addressing mediapersons at the Congress Bhawan, the Delhi municipal Safai Karmacharis appealed to the people of Punjab not to be taken away by the lies of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader as the people of Delhi were already suffering. "The people of Delhi were regretting having elected Kejriwal to govern them, said Charan Singh, one of the member of Mazdoor Congress, adding that they felt cheated by the AAP leader, who had be-fooled them with his false promises. He warned the people of Punjab against being misled by Kejriwal's lies. Complaining that the municipal Safai Karamcharis were not being paid their salaries in time and the retired employees not getting their pension in Delhi, Charan Singh and his colleagues announced a protest Dharna at Rajghat in the National Capital on February 15 against Kejriwal's deceit and treachery. "We have to sit on dharnas every three months to get our dues," said Charan Singh, adding that Kejriwal had made a dirty mess of Delhi since taking over as Chief Minister.UNI DB PS SW 1824 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1130499.Xml
The Ambala Cantonment town, which was famous as Science City of India, lost its importance due to continuous neglect by the successive governments that came to power after Haryana came into existence. Stating this while addressing the party workers at his residence here, Haryana Minister and local MLA Anil Vij said the town which was one of the developed city, went backward because of political bias and neglect by these governments. But during the last two years after the BJP government came to power, a number of development schemes and projects had been launched to give it its past glory. He called upon the workers to remain active and vigilant to implement the development projects being launched by the government. Mr Vij told them that scores of projects and schemes aimed at development had been launched to bring the town to its past status. He said that the present government had allotted funds liberally for the projects which included Shahid Smark, Regional Science Centre which would bring the city on world map when completed. He told the workers that development work was being done in each field to make it the a developed place. He said that civic demands of the citizens would be fulfilled by strengthening the areas of roads, electricity, drinking water supply, lining of streets in villages attached with the constituency, street lights and pavements of katcha paths. He said a five-storey civil hospital was being constructed which would provide medical facilities at metropolitan level when completed at a cost of about Rs 129 crore. The most important wing of the hospital would tertiary cancer wing which would be attached with the hospital which would cater to the needs of the people suffering from the dangerous disease. Mr Vij asked the workers to associate themselves to making the city a model city so that it should come to the category of World Class City.UNI XC DB SW -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1130715.Xml
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today rebutted the comments of PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh about AAP and blamed him for creating a Kashmir-like situation, when he banned the government jobs in the state in during his rule in 2002 to 2007 and gave police free hand to beat up the protesting women teachers. In a statement here, AAP campaign committee chairman and MP Bhagwant Mann said that Capt Amarinder Singh's job ban decision had caused wide spread unemployment and demoralization among youth. He said that police was given unbridled powers to supress agitations of teachers and unemployed youth and even women teachers were beaten up mercilessly. He said that Capt Amarinder was never concerned with the plight of people and worked for his own political promotion. He won Patiala Assembly seat in 2007, but did not turn up to take oath. He again won in 2012 from Patiala and his 'missing MLA' poster were seen on the walls of city. He resigned from Patiala assembly and contested Amritsar Lok Sabha and now resigned from there too to contest assembly. He said that his dream to become CM would never be fulfilled. Mann said that people of Punjab have preferred AAP over Congress and SAD-BJP alliance to bring the state back to rails. The successive Congress and SAD-BJP government had created rule of anarchy in Punjab, formed mafia to loot people. In the past AAP had neither ruled in Kashmir nor in Punjab. The AAP leader said that AAP has ruled in Delhi for two years and brought a radical changes in education and health sectors and worked for welfare of all sections. He said that Capt Amarinder Singh has no credibility and people of Punjab understand his collusion with SAD and BJP to defeat AAP. Congress and SAD are responsible for drugs, unemployment and spurt of crime in the state. Punjab is ready to get rid of Capt Amarinder and Badal family, he added. The state will go to polls in single phase on February 4.UNI DB PS RJ 2001 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1130737.Xml
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav today addressed six elections meetings in districts of Agra division and canvassed for the support of the party candidates. In all the meetings, UP Chief Minister explained the nitty gritty of the alliance of SP and Congress. He said earlier the 'cycle' was alone now it has the support of the 'Hand' and the people can imagine that this alliance is all set to sweep the elections. Mr Yadav reminded the people about the political significance of the present state assembly election. "Though it's the assembly election for electing the state government, this election will determine the political future of India and also the outcome of the next Lok Sabha elections in 2019." "Earlier there was some confusion over the success of the SP candidates. After the alliance with the Congress there is no confusion at any level as the votes of the SP will only increase," said Mr Yadav. Making an emotional appeal to the people he said "it's your election, if SP lags behind then they will remove me. The victory of the SP will not only be a historic event but a great honour of Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) who built this party brick by brick,'' said the SP chief. "In all the seats going to polls in first phase of elections, the Congress candidates in previous elections polled from 10,000 to 20,000 votes, now this vote will be added to the votes of the Samajwadi party and ensure the victory of the party candidates and clear majority to the alliance," said SP president. "Earlier the agenda of the public discourse was the achievements of the SP government and the development works done by the government. All the pre poll surveys conducted by the private TV news channels are endorsing that and have predicted that SP- Congress alliance government will be voted to power," he said, while addressing election meetings in Etah and Aligarh. "Need of the hour is to increase the speed of the 'cycle', if we pick up the required speed in the first phase of the elections, then it will only grow further in the remaining six phases of the Assembly elections'', he said, adding "it was general perception that the SP is weak in the districts of west UP going to polls in the first phase of the elections, this time I am confident that SP will win maximum number of seats in the first phase of elections." The state will go to polls in seven phases, between February 11 to March 8.UNI MB SHS RJ 2124 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1130915.Xml
He also rewarded the personnel for the commendable job.
Dr Vaid, while issuing orders in this regards here, said that Jammu and Kashmir Police has a rich tradition of public service and the personnel of Anantnag district have uphold the sanctity of this tradition.
He said the force has responded every call of assistance and saved human lives and public properties in the times of calamities.
Braving all odds, the cops evacuated seriously ill people from the snow-bound villages and ferried them to nearby hospitals for immediate treatment, which is an appreciable work, said Dr Vaid.
The DGP disclosed that all formation of JKP have been put on high alert for providing every possible help to the people stranded in far off areas, where the roads have become inaccessible due to heavy snow or avalanches.
Supervisory officers have been asked to remain visible on the ground and monitor rescue work wherever any emergency arises, he added.UNI VBH SHS RJ 2121
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Addressing a press conference here, Darul Uloom Deoband Old Boys Association Ppresident Mufti Aijaz Ahmad Qasmi, Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya College Principal Maulana Sajid Ali, Nadwa Old Boys Association president Maulana Akhtar Nadvi said here that they would mobilise their committee to vote in favour of the BJP.
They said Akhilesh was taking a soft Hindutva line and accused him of failing to control communal riots during his five-year rule.
They also alleged that this government did nothing to help the victims of Muzaffarnagar riots.
Mufti Qasmi said the Samajwadi Party cannot indulge in politics of fear, creating a scare of BJP for long. They said under the Mayawati rule, no riots took place.
When asked whether they would be, by their steps indirectly helping the BJP, Mohd Javed said it was SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had softened his stand towards the BJP and it is his party, which was indirectly helping the saffron party. Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in seven phases, between February 11 to March 8.UNI SAC-RBE RJ 2026
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Haryana Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Choudhry today asked the BJP government, led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, to take urgent steps to check the soaring crime rate and stop Haryana from acquiring the dubious distinction of becoming the rape capital of northern region, and ensure people, especially women and girls, safety and security. In a statement here, she said with daylight murders becoming the order of day and rapes being cases rocking all parts of the state, law and order situation had deteriorated like never before, making people feel unsafe and insecure. Ms Choudhry said while rape cases were being reported every day from every part of the state, Panchkula and Gurgaon districts were hogging the limelight. Panchkula had five rape cases in the first 27 days of this month. One involving the rape of 21-year-old engineering student on January 18 is yet to be solved. Gurgaon records at least one rape case every alternate day. Only yesterday, eight persons gang-raped two women inside a factory in Pataudi. Their ordeal went on for about four hours after which the miscreants merrily walked away, she added. The Congress leader said daylight murders had become quite common. To count a few, a prominent lawyer Subhash Gupta was stabbed to death by a group of assailants in broad daylight the Hisar-Delhi road. A 21-year-old youth was stabbed to death and his cousin was seriously injured when a group of goons attacked them with sharp-edged weapon in Hansi town. A petrol pump owner was shot by goons in Barwala. "The rising number of rapes prove beyond an iota of doubt that despite spending crores of rupees of tax payers' money on promoting the cause of the girl child, the BJP Government has failed to protect women and girls in the state. With goons committing murders in broad daylight, life has become unsafe and insecure. It is time the Khattar government acted fast to restore law and order in the state", she demanded.UNI DB SHS RJ 2156 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1130798.Xml
An office order signed by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh said Kartinder "is hereby permanently expelled from the Primary Membership of the Party for anti-party activities and contesting from Assembly constituency 66-Gill (SC) against the official party candidate."
Kartinder is the 18th rebel candidate to be expelled by the party for refusal to withdraw from the electoral race in favour of the official party candidates in the fray from different assembly segments of the state.
The party leadership had decided to take strict disciplinary action against those refusing to toe the line with regard to contesting the Assembly polls in Punjab, while continuing with its efforts to amicably persuade the rebels, some of whom had acceded to Capt Singh's personal request in the matter.
The PPCC president has assured all rebels agreeing to leave the fray that they would be accommodated in key positions after the Congress government is formed in the state.
The state will go to polls in single phase on February 4.UNI DB SHS RJ 2152
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A composite Indian delegation was led by Preeti Saran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs while the Russian delegation was headed by H.E. Oleg V. Syromolotov, Deputy Foreign Minister.
Both sides shared views and assessment on the threats posed by the scourge of terrorism, including state-sponsored, cross border terrorism faced by India. They also shared concerns regarding the emergence of Af-Pak region as the epicentre of terrorism. They discussed successful experiences in curbing terrorism and countering radicalisation.
They agreed that the UNSC 1267 Sanctions List processes for blacklisting various terrorist individuals and entities must be stringently complied with. Prospects for deepening engagement on counter-terrorism under the UN, BRICS and SCO mechanisms were also emphasised.
India and Russian agreed to a joint action plan which seeks to focus on enhancing capacity building, frequent expert-level meetings, sharing of insights, exchange of best practices in countering radicalisation and curbing terrorism. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today praised Union Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Manohar Parrikar for his simple behaviour. Addressing a gathering at Porvorim near the city, Col Rathore said he had seen Mr Parrikar on television, when he was the Chief Minister of Goa and admired him for being the IITIan and the Chief Minister, who has done so much for Goa. ''When he became the Defence Minister, I started interacting with him being from the Defence forces,'' he said. Praising the decision-making capability of Mr Parrikar, Col Rathore said his capability of decision making could not be compared to any other defence minister in the past. ''During the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, A K Anthony was the Defence Minister. People say he did not make any money. But in the bargain, he used to get worried to sign the files,'' Col Rathore said. ''He used to fear of being involved in the scam. Because of this, he did not buy a single ammunition for 10 years. You can imagine the situation, wherein armed forces did not get new ammunition,'' he alleged. ''In the last two years, Mr Parrikar gave orders of Rs one lakh crore, of which 80 per cent are manufactured in India,'' the Minister said. UNI AKM RJ 2328 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1131003.Xml
Former Union minister and Indian Union Muslim League leader E Ahamed today collapsed during President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint sitting of Parliament and is in a serious condition at Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, sources said. The sources said Mr Ahamed collapsed soon after he took his seat at the Central Hall of Parliament. He was provided first aid by the Parliament staff. Thereafter, he was rushed to the hospital, with doctors monitoring his condition on the way.Hospital sources said Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Jitendra Singh visited RML Hospital to inquire about Mr Ahamed's health condition.An MP from Kerala's Mallapuram, Mr Ahamed was a Minister of State for External Affairs in the previous UPA government. UNI AR RJ 2333 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1131018.Xml
A US commando died and three others were wounded carrying out a deadly dawn raid on the al Qaeda militant group in southern Yemen, in the first military operation authorized by President Donald Trump.Yesterday the US military said it killed 14 militants in a raid on a powerful al Qaeda branch that has been a frequent target of US drone strikes. Medics at the scene, however, said around 30 people, including 10 women and children, were killed.Two more US servicemen were injured when an American military aircraft was sent to evacuate the wounded commandos but came under fire and had to be "intentionally destroyed in place," the Pentagon said.The new US president called the operation a success and said intelligence gathered during the operation would help the United States fight terrorism."Americans are saddened this morning with news that a life of a heroic service member has been taken in our fight against the evil of radical Islamic terrorism," Trump said in a statement.The gunbattle in the rural Yakla district of al-Bayda province killed a senior leader in Yemen's al Qaeda branch, Abdulraoof al-Dhahab, along with other militants, al Qaeda said.Eight-year-old Anwar al-Awlaki, the daughter of US-born Yemeni preacher and al Qaeda ideologue Anwar al-Awlaki, was among the children killed in the raid, according to her grandfather. Her father was killed in a US drone strike in 2011."She was hit with a bullet in her neck and suffered for two hours," Nasser al-Awlaki told Reuters. "Why kill children? This is the new (US) administration - it's very sad, a big crime."In a statement, the Pentagon did not refer to any civilian casualties, although a US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they could not be ruled out.The Defense Department said the raid netted "information that will likely provide insight into the planning of future terror plots."The American elite forces did not seize any militants or take any prisoners offsite, the official said, adding that the group had come under fire.The Pentagon did not say how the team's one death occurred, and the US military official declined to give details on the fatality.The operation's goal was to gather intelligence on al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is regarded as one of the global militant group's most dangerous branches, the official said.DAWN ATTACK"The operation began at dawn when a drone bombed the home of Abdulraoof al-Dhahab and then helicopters flew up and unloaded paratroopers at his house and killed everyone inside," said one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity."Next, the gunmen opened fire at the US soldiers who left the area, and the helicopters bombed the gunmen and a number of homes and led to a large number of casualties."A Yemeni security officer and a local official corroborated that account. Fahd, a local resident who asked that only his first name be used, said several bodies remained under debris and that houses and the local mosque were damaged in the attack.In a message on its official Telegram messaging account, al Qaeda mourned al-Dhahab as a "holy warrior" and other slain militants, without specifying how many of its fighters were killed.American forces have not conducted any special operations in Yemen since December 2014, months before nearly two years of civil war rendered the country even more dangerous and offered al Qaeda leeway to expand into more lawless areas.The United States conducted dozens of drone strikes in Yemen throughout Barack Obama's presidency to combat al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, regarded as one of the global militant group's most dangerous branches.The local al Qaeda unit organized the Charlie Hebdo magazine attack in Paris in 2015 and has repeatedly tried to down US airliners. REUTERS AKC 0425 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1128086.Xml
Authorities initially said that there were two suspects, but Canadian police said on Monday that only one man was a suspect and that another man -- identified as Mohamed Belkhadir -- was only a witness, New York Times reported.
The remaining suspect, Alexandre Bissonnette, who according to a local newspaper has a history of provocative views and antisocial behaviour, has been detained.
On Monday, two gunmen opened fire in a Quebec mosque killing six people and injuring eight others.
"We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
"On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of all those who have died and we wish a speedy recovery to those who have been injured," he said.
The president of the mosque, Mohammed Yangui, said people were at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Qubec for regular evening prayers and 60 to 100 people were in attendance.
The mosque is one of six in the Quebec City region.
The shooting came two days after US President Donald Trump imposed an American travel ban that bars citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the country.
--IANS vgu/
( 233 Words)
2017-01-31-03:14:06 (IANS)
The UN special rapporteur on torture Nils Melzer appealed to US President Donald Trump not to reconsider the acceptability of waterboarding and other methods of torture used as interrogation techniques. In a statement published on Monday, the UN expert stressed that without any doubt, waterboarding amounts to torture, Xinhua news agency reported. "Any tolerance, complacence or acquiescence with such practice, however exceptional and well-argued, will inevitably lead down a slippery slope towards complete arbitrariness and brute force," Melzer cautioned. "I urgently appeal to President Trump to carefully consider not only US legal obligations and tradition, but also the consolidated legal and moral views of the entire international community before allowing the re-introduction of methods or interrogation that are more closely associated with barbarism than with civilization," he added. "If the new administration were to revive the use of torture, however, the consequences around the world would be catastrophic," he warned. Trump said earlier last week that he is ok with torturing terrorists in order to "fight fire with fire." "When ISIS is doing things that nobody has ever heard of since medieval times, would I feel strongly about waterboarding? As far as I am concerned, we have to fight fire with fire," Trump said during an interview with US TV network ABC. Trump said he has recently met the senior intelligence officials who told him that torture "absolutely" works, but according to Melzer, contrary to popular belief, torture simply does not work. "Torture is known to consistently produce false confessions and unreliable or misleading information," he said, "Faced with the imminent threat of excruciating pain or anguish, victims simply will say anything --regardless of whether it is true -- to make the pain stop and try to stay alive." --IANS vgu/ ( 301 Words) 2017-01-31-05:54:07 (IANS)
"No one is above the law, not even the president," Los Angeles Times quoted Ferguson as saying while announcing the federal lawsuit.
"And in the courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. It's the Constitution," the Washington attorney general said.
Ferguson became the first state attorney general to announce a legal action against the Trump administration over one of its policies.
Trump signed an executive order on Friday that suspends all immigration for citizens of seven countries -- Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Somalia -- for 90 days.
Ferguson was one of 16 state attorneys general who released a statement Sunday calling Trump's immigration action "un-American and unlawful."
He said the lawsuit against Trump and high-ranking Trump administration officials would be filed later on Monday in federal court in Seattle, US.
--IANS vgu/
( 169 Words)
2017-01-31-07:20:06 (IANS)
According to CNN, the White House confirmed it had extended an invitation to Netanyahu last week.
The moving of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem remains a priority for U.S. President Donald Trump but the development is not expected to break ground soon, said a senior administration official.
Netanyahu's last visit to Washington in March 2015, will widely boycotted by over 50 democrats after his polarizing speech to Congress.
Obama's National Security Adviser Susan Rice said at the time that his decision to speak was "destructive to the fabric of the relationship" between Israel and the US.
However, Trump has extended his complete support to Netanyahu, who has angered liberals in the US with his push for new Israel settlements. (ANI)
The US Senate Democrats will urge their Republican colleagues to postpone a vote on Tuesday on the nomination of Tom Price, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, over ethics concerns, the media reported. Democratic Senators Patty Murray, Al Franken, Tammy Baldwin and Elizabeth Warren urged the Senate Majority Leader in a letter on Monday, that the vote be postponed until Price answers "outstanding and significant questions about (Price's) qualifications and ethical conduct", CNN reported. Both the Senate Health and Finance committees held hearings with Price this month, and the Finance panel is set to vote on Price's nomination Tuesday morning. "A vote has been scheduled to advance Representative Price's nomination even though he has not responded to questions submitted by members of the HELP (Health, Education, Labour and Pensions) Committee following his January 18 testimony, and in spite of serious concerns regarding Price's financial investments," the letter said. The four Democrats argued that Price's nomination should not move forward before the Georgia congressman has answered the committee's questions "and has provided documents sought in connection with his inappropriate and potentially illegal investment activities." Murray, along with Senator Ron Wyden, a top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, have asked Price for copies of his brokerage statements. Their colleagues have also pressed for other information pertaining to Price's past financial investments. Several reports released earlier suggested that Price had invested in shares of pharmaceutical companies that would benefit from a law that he supported in the House of Representatives, which could lead to him being implicated in the ethical violation of insider trading, Efe news reported. Republicans are unlikely to delay the vote, however, as the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Orrin Hatch, dismissed questions about Price's stock holdings as "exaggerated" and "distorted". If confirmed, Price will be the executing arm of the repeal and replacement of former President Barack Obama's government health reform. --IANS ksk ( 336 Words) 2017-01-31-09:54:07 (IANS)
Australian dual-nationals will not be affected by US President Donald Trump's executive order blocking visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said today."Australian passport holders will be able to travel to the United States in the same way they were able to prior to the executive order," Mr Turnbull told Sky News television."I've just received that official confirmation." REUTERS AKC 0409 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1129567.Xml
A French-Canadian university student was the sole suspect in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque and was charged with the premeditated murder of six people, Canadian authorities said yesterday, in what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called "a terrorist attack."Court documents identified the gunman in the attack on Sunday evening prayers as Alexandre Bissonnette. He was also charged with five counts of attempted murder, according to court papers.Among the six men killed were a butcher, a university professor, a pharmacist and an accountant, according to police and Canadian media.Police declined to discuss possible motives for the shooting at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Qubec."They consider this a lone wolf situation," the source said.In Washington, US government security experts were leaning to the view that the gunman most likely was motivated by hatred for Muslims, a US government source familiar with official reporting said.A man of Moroccan descent who had also been arrested was now considered a witness, although his nationality was not immediately known, a source familiar with the situation said.Trudeau, who has made a point of welcoming refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, told parliament in Ottawa: "Make no mistake, this was a terrorist attack."He added a personal message to Canada's 1 million Muslims:"Know that we value you. You enrich our shared country in immeasurable ways. It is your home. Last night's horrible crime against the Muslim community was an act of terror committed against Canada and against all Canadians. We will grieve with you. We will defend you. We will love you. And we will stand with you."Somber parliamentarians observed a moment of silence. Trudeau was scheduled to visit Quebec City later yesterday.The attack was out of character for Quebec City, a city of just over 500,000 which reported just two murders in all of 2015. Mass shootings are rare in Canada, where gun control laws are stricter than in the United States.In addition to the six killed, five people were critically injured and 12 were treated for minor injuries, a spokeswoman for the Quebec City University Hospital said.Federal Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters in Ottawa there was no change to "the national terrorism threat level" from medium because "there is no information known to the government of Canada that would lead to a change at this time."US President Donald Trump called Trudeau to express his condolences "and offered to provide any assistance as needed," said Trudeau spokesman Cameron Ahmad.Over the weekend, Trudeau said Canada would welcome refugees, his response to an executive order by Trump on Friday to halt the US refugee program and to temporarily bar citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.Trump's action, which the president said was "not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe," was widely condemned in the United States and abroad as targeting Muslims.Yesterday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the Quebec shooting was "a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant, and why the president is taking steps to be proactive, rather than reactive, when it comes to our nation's safety and security."FATHER OF FOUR KILLEDA father of four, the owner of a halal butcher near the mosque, was among those killed, said Pamela Sakinah El-hayet, a friend of one of the people at the mosque.The mosque concierge was killed, as was Ahmed Youness, a 21-year-old student, El-hayet told Reuters. One of El-hayet's friends, Youness' roommate, was in the mosque at the time of the shooting. He was unharmed, she said, but in total shock.Ali Assafiri, a student at Universit Laval, said he had been running late for the evening prayers at the mosque, near the university in the Quebec City area. When he arrived, the mosque had been transformed by police into a crime scene."Everyone was in shock," Assafiri said by phone. "It was chaos."Universit Laval is the oldest French-language university in North America, with 42,500 students.Vigils were planned for Montreal and Quebec City, the provincial capital, as well as in Edmonton. There was an outpouring of support for the mosque on social media."Last night's shooting, targeting people of faith during their worship and prayer, is a deplorable attack on all Canadians and our most deeply-held values," said Joe Gunn, executive director of Citizens for Public Justice, a group of Canadian Christians, churches and other religious congregations.Incidents of Islamophobia have increased in Quebec in recent years. The face-covering, or niqab, became an issue in the 2015 Canadian federal election, especially in Quebec, where the majority of the population supported a ban on it at citizenship ceremonies. REUTERS AKC 0429 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1129569.Xml
US President Donald Trump fired top federal government lawyer Sally Yates after she took the extraordinarily rare step of defying the White House and refused to defend new travel restrictions targeting seven Muslim-majority nations.It was another dramatic twist in the unusually raucous roll-out of Trump's directive that put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.The Friday night ban prompted protests and chaos at airports on the weekend as customs officials struggled to put the order into practise, and the fallout spread to US markets yesterday, where stocks suffered their biggest drop of 2017 and companies affected by the change spoke out against it.Yates said late yesterday that the Justice Department would not defend the order against court challenges, saying that she did not believe it would be "consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right."Hours later, she was fired. The White House said Yates "has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States" and portrayed her actions as political.Trump has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from terror attacks but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and defiles America's historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants.Yates, an appointee of former Democratic President Barack Obama, was days away from being replaced by Trump's pick for the top spot at the Justice Department, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, who is awaiting Senate confirmation."Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration," the White House said in a statement.The White House said that Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was sworn in at 9 p.m. ET and would be acting US attorney general until Sessions is approved.Boente said in an interview with the Washington Post that he would enforce the immigration order.DRAMAThere have been only a handful of instances in US history of top Justice Department officials publicly breaking with the White House.The most famous example was in 1973, when then-Attorney General Elliot Richardson and his deputy resigned rather than obey President Richard Nixon's order to fire a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal.The incident, which became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre," was a public relations disaster and is seen as a turning point in Nixon's administration.The drama at the Justice Department is another sign of how hastily Trump's immigration order was developed and how little it was reviewed by the agencies now grappling to implement it.The White House said key government officials were briefed before Trump signed the order on Friday, but there was little coordination or consultation, resulting in confusion. Most State Department officials found out about it from media reports.Officials from the State Department circulated a draft memo of dissent yesterday, saying Trump's move would hurt America's image abroad and inflame anti-American sentiment.White House spokesman Sean Spicer dismissed the memo. "These career bureaucrats have a problem with it? I think that they should either get with the program or they can go," he told reporters at his daily briefing.An internal Department of Homeland Security document seen by Reuters showed 348 visa holders were kept from boarding US-bound flights this week, and more than 200 people came to the United States but were denied entry.More than 735 people were pulled aside for questioning by US Customs and Border Protection officers at airports, including 394 green card holders, who are legal permanent residents of the United States, the document said.Trump's administration is granting waivers from the refugee ban to allow 872 people into the country this week - refugees that had already been cleared for resettlement in the United States and were in transit when the order came out.Tens of thousands of people protested Trump's order in major American cities and at airports on the weekend.Obama took the rare step of weighing in, saying through a spokesman that he was heartened by the political activism on the issue.Employees of Alphabet Inc's Google in San Francisco, Mountain View, Seattle and other cities held protests. Backed by a sign that said "We are a nation of immigrants," Sergei Brin, president of Alphabet, said he was outraged by the order."The U.S. had the courage to take me and my family in as refugees," he said in a YouTube video of his remarks.TECH BACKING FOR COURT CHALLENGESFederal judges blocked deportation of those detained under the order through the weekend, and more lawsuits were filed yesterday.The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the country's biggest Muslim advocacy group, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 people.Washington state filed a lawsuit, arguing that Trump's order violates the equal protection clause and the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Several other Democratic state attorneys general have said they are considering legal action."It is an insult and a danger to all of the people of the state of Washington, of all faiths," Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, told reporters.Amazon.com Inc and Expedia Inc, both of which are based in Washington state's Seattle area, are supporting the state's suit.Amazon scrapped a business trip for a senior company lawyer who was born in Libya but has UK citizenship, according to a declaration filed in support of the lawsuit. Forty-nine of its employees were born in one of the banned countries, and seven new hires may need to be placed in offices outside the United States, it said.A declaration from Expedia said the order could impact the travel itineraries of at least 1,000 customers, costing it refunds as well as expenses to monitor how the order is applied and who exactly is affected.The US technology industry, a major employer of foreign workers, has been the most vocal corporate opponent to Trump's order. A group of top companies plans to meet today to discuss how best to support legal challenges.REUTERS JW NS1114 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1129674.Xml
Arnold Schwarzenegger has said that President Donald Trump's ban on entry of citizens from seven Muslim majority countries makes the US "look stupid". Schwarzenegger, who was Governor of California for eight years, said the White House was "ill-prepared to put this kind of" directive out there, the Sun news reported on Tuesday. "You go in there new, you have a new team, and mistakes are made; I hope this is a wake-up call for them," Schwarzenegger said. "The real problem is it was vetted badly." Schwarzenegger, who has succeeded Trump on the show Celebrity Apprentice, said he thought the President's team was still trying to find its way. "If they would run this by the Justice Department and Homeland Security, and had the lawyers really study and focus on it and give it some time to do it the right way." "To go and ban people who have a green card, that means the US has given you permission to work here permanently and you are on the way to permanent citizenship... I was in that position." Schwarzenegger, 69, moved to the US in 1968 from Austria. --IANS sm/mr ( 200 Words) 2017-01-31-13:00:07 (IANS)
Chinese tourist Fan Li Xia and other passengers held on to the body of a dead friend for as long as they could as they trod water after a catamaran capsized in the cold waters of the South China Sea.The catamaran, carrying 27 Chinese tourists and three crew on a Lunar New Year cruise, sank on Saturday off the coast of Borneo after being battered by heavy waves while en route to the popular Malaysian holiday island of Mengalum.Three of the tourists were found dead on Sunday, while 22 people, including the captain, were rescued, many of them bleeding and heavily sunburnt.Four tourists and one crew member were missing.Fan Li Xia said the group, tied together on the catamaran in life jackets, were swept away by the current and struggled in the cold water for more than 30 hours."If we were found any later, I don't think I would have survived," she told reporters at a hospital in Kota Kinabalu, capital of Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo."My friend died. We dragged his body around for half a day, but we couldn't manage any more so we had to let it go."The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said the tourists were rescued by fishermen and tugboats. Military ships and aircraft were scouring the choppy waters for the missing five.Fellow survivor Yang Yaoru said their collective will helped them endure the cold. They were sharing the little food they had and urging each other to stay alive.Yang, who was on holiday with her mother, said the survivors huddled together to try to shake off the cold and did not loosen their grip.Yang said she was especially concerned about her mother, who was not a good swimmer."If I had died, my mother couldn't have survived by herself...I must bring my mother home," the 24-year-old Yang told Chinese broadcaster CCTV from her hospital bed.Thousands of Chinese visitors flock to Mengalum island during the long Lunar New Year holidays. China is one of Malaysia's main sources of tourists.Ties between the two countries were strained in 2014 when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 went missing on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Most of its passengers were from China.The search for the airliner ended this month without success.Boating accidents involving tourists are common off Sabah. Media reports said police arrested the owner of the catamaran and two crew and were investigating.REUTERS JW NS1321 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1129890.Xml
The Philippines handed its anti-narcotics agency the lead role in running a controversial war on drugs today after President Rodrigo Duterte lambasted the national police for rampant corruption and took them off the job.More than 7,600 people, mostly users and small-time dealers, have been killed since Duterte took office at the end of June, vowing to crack down on drugs.Local radio stations, which routinely cover drug killings, said there were no reports of any deaths in what appeared to be a rare bloodless last night .Police could not confirm whether or not there were any casualties. Official data today showed four additional deaths in police operations, although it was not immediately clear when the operations took place.The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced a temporary halt of anti-drugs operations yesterday to rid the ranks of "scalawags", after Duterte said police were "corrupt to the core" and estimated 40 per cent of the force were dishonest.The Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency would run anti-drug operations, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters today.So far, these operations have predominantly been carried out by police in a campaign that has caused international alarm due to the high death toll and disputed circumstances of many of the killings.Abella said Duterte was fully aware of PNP corruption when he gave it the lead in fighting narcotics, but he had no other choice because of the gravity of the drugs problem."The president had to act, he did act, to enforce his political will, and we really can see there is corruption within the police organisation," Abella told a news briefing."In order to avoid any of the apparent corrupt activities within the organisation, he has now transferred it (control) to PDEA."Congressman Edcel Lagman described the sidelining of police as "a blessing" and said it was time to get tough on the PNP.IRON FIST"For the first time in six months there are no reports today of drug-related killings," Lagman said in a statement. "There should be no more kids gloves for police scalawags who deserve an iron fist."In a break from his steadfast support, Duterte lambasted the PNP on Sunday for the kidnap and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo by rogue officers. He was killed within the national police headquarters grounds.The suspension of operations came just a few hours later.A total of 2,555 people have been killed in police operations since the crackdown started seven months ago, police say. The PNP says those were all in self-defence and the other killings were carried out by vigilante groups or were unsolved murders.Human rights groups say extrajudicial killings are frequent, as are "hits" by assassins they say are linked to police. The PNP and Duterte strenuously refute that.Police officials who spoke to Reuters said there had been no written directive on the suspension, but they were following the police chief's comments on television."That is good as an order," said Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo at Manila's Northern Police District."We now go after other crimes ... that's better for us, we fight all crimes."One senior policeman said raids and sting operations on drug sellers had stopped and Operation Double Barrel Alpha, as the PNP's mission is known, had shifted towards reining in wayward police, especially those reinstated following internal investigations."The cleansing process will take a front seat by strengthening our counter-intelligence operations, checking lifestyles of police officers involved in drug operations," said the officer, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media."This is a huge job. I'm not sure how long will it take to do this because our Internal Affairs Service lacks manpower."REUTERS JW NS1413 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1129999.Xml
The German finance ministry declined to comment today on remarks in which US President Donald Trump's top trade adviser said Germany was using a "grossly undervalued" euro to gain advantage over the United States and its European partners."We will not comment on that," a spokeswoman for the minisry told Reuters.Peter Navarro, the head of Trump's new National Trade Council, told the Financial Times newspaper that the euro was like an "implicit Deutsche Mark" whose low valuation gave Germany a competitive advantage over its main partners.REUTERS SDR GC1859 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1130638.Xml
Yemen has lost a decade's worth of gains in public health as a result of war and economic crisis, with an estimated 63,000 children dying last year of preventable causes often linked to malnutrition, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today. About 3.3 million people, including 2.2 million children, across the Arab peninsula's poorest country are suffering from acute malnutrition, it said. They include nearly half a million children under the age of five with severe acute malnutrition.The most severe form of malnutrition leaves young children vulnerable to life-threatening but preventable diarrhoeal diseases, malaria and respiratory infections."What worries us is the severe acute malnutrition because it is killing children," Meritxell Relano, UNICEF representative in Yemen, told Reuters in Geneva."Because of the crumbling health system, the conflict and economic crisis, we have gone back to 10 years ago. A decade has been lost in health gains," she said, with 63 out of every 1,000 live births now dying before their fifth birthday, against 53 children in 2014.Yemen has been divided by nearly two years of civil war that pits the Iran-allied Houthi group against a Sunni Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia. At least 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting.Releno later told a news briefing that the rate of severe acute malnutrition had "tripled" between 2014 and 2016 to 460,000 children."The under-5 mortality rate has increased to the point that we estimate that in 2016 at least 10,000 more children died of preventable diseases," she said.SCREENINGChildren and pregnant and lactating women are most heavily affected by the malnutrition crisis in the northern province of Saada, in the coastal area of Hodeida and in Taiz in the south, she said.UNICEF mobile teams aim to screen more children and reach 323,000 severely malnourished children this year, up from 237,000 last year, Relano said, adding that partner agencies would target the rest.The Yemeni conflict has left more than half of the country's 28 million people "food insecure", with seven million of them enduring hunger, the United Nations has said.Jamie McGoldrick, the top UN aid official in the country, told Reuters on Friday that Yemen has roughly three months' supply of wheat left to draw from, leaving the country exposed to serious disruption as a central bank crisis cuts food imports and starvation deepens.UNICEF is seeking 236.5 million dollars for Yemen this year, as part of its overall appeal of 3.3 billion dollars to help women and children in 48 countries. REUTERS SHS BL2216 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1130968.Xml
The Russian Foreign Ministry urged Kiev today to halt "armed provocations" in the rebel-held regions of eastern Ukraine, which it said was "on the verge of humanitarian and ecological catastrophe".The comments were issued amid a flare up between government forces and rebels in eastern Ukraine where clashes led to the highest casualty toll in weeks. REUTERS SHS BL2222 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1130974.Xml
Swiss dual citizens with valid visas have been exempted from a temporary travel ban issued by US President Donald Trump against citizens from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries, Switzerland's foreign ministry said today."Swiss dual citizens who are additionally citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia or Yemen are once again allowed to travel to the United States with immediate effect, provided they have a valid visa in their Swiss passport," the ministry said in a statement after talks with US authorities.Such Swiss dual citizens would not be able to travel to the United States without already having a valid visa because they cannot now apply for one, it added, citing US officials. REUTERS SHS BL2313 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1131005.Xml
by Xue Fei, Lin Hao
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- In darkness early on Monday, a vessel flashing blue alarm light slowly left a jetty of Kota Kinabalu, capital of Malaysia's Sabah state on North Borneo.
It suddenly started to accelerate with a roaring engine, soon disappeared in darkness, leaving those who watching it behind.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency vessel was to guide a fishing boat carrying Chinese tourists who were rescued earlier on Sunday into the jetty. They were scheduled to arrive early Monday.
"It would take approximately two hours for the fishing boat to reach the jetty," Oh Ei Sun, President of Malaysia-China friendship association Sabah, told anxious reporters, kept behind security fences.
The tourists were traveling on a boat from Kota Kinabalu to Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist island some 60 km to the west when they went missing on Saturday, the first day of Chinese lunar new year.
After intense search and rescue efforts, reports emerged that they were rescued by a fishing boat, the boat that people on the jetty were expecting.
The lights on the jetty made it feel like daytime. The gathering search and rescue personnel, medical staff and media reporters made surprisingly little noise, but whisper and sounds of camera shutters.
People were also waiting for the confirmation that three of the passengers had been found passed away. One could easily smell the tense in the air.
"I have never thought such things could happen," a reporter of the local Sinchew Daily said. "Such incidents seldom happen here. In my memory, it has been almost 10 years without such sinking boat accident."
A 20-meter fishing boat slowly emerged from the darkness and approached the dock, stirring up the orderly crowd.
"Is this the ship?" China's Consul-General Chen Peijie, who had been waiting at the jetty, asked the Malaysian officials next to her. It was already 10 minute to 2:00 on early Monday morning.
The boat with black smoke and heavy smell finally came to a stop at the jetty. First in sight were several Chinese tourists with heavy sunburn and three bodies fully covered in clothes.
Chen quickly stepped toward the boat, reaching out her hands to help a middle-aged woman to get on shore. The woman had messy hair and looked weak and tired.
Medical staffs put her on the stretcher soon to have a check-up.
"Careful, careful, don't take off her clothes," the Chinese diplomat said to the staffs carrying a Chinese tourist on stretcher.
"Their skin and clothes have stuck together after severe sunburn, don't make further injury."
A tired-looking man leaned on the roofing of the ship. Hardly could see any excitement on his sun-burned face for someone who had just cheated death.
"Lying here is my wife," he looked down to the body next to his feet as his voice choked with sob. "We were separated by waves when the boat sinked," he said, "She didn't make it."
"I am Wei," another surviving tourist said to the first man, referring to his own surname. "My mother is gone."
"I am He," said the first man. Looking at each other, silence emerged between the two survivors.
One by one, the survivors were taken on shore as the ambulances ferried them to hospital.
A dark-skinned young man was surrounded by media. His name was Larahe Lakule, the fisherman who rescued the tourists.
"I was going down to the cabin to have some food when I spotted there seemed to be people asking for help some distance away," he said.
"As we sailed near, we discovered more than a dozen people drifting together. We also found three bodies after rescuing the survivors on board."
At the hospital, Fizah had preliminary examinations for the survivors. "They were all injured to different degrees, notably severe sunburn and bruises caused by wearing the clothes and life jackets for too long," said the doctor. "Besides, they need time to recover from psychological trauma."
As the darkness withdrew, another day of search and rescue was about to begin. Malaysian authorities said they would deploy more assets for the operations, which China's Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu said they would urge the Malaysian side to continue searching until all the missing are accounted for.
US President Donald Trump signs an executive memorandum on defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria after signing it in the Oval Office of the White House on January 28, 2017, in Washington, DC. (AFP PHOTO/MANDEL NGAN)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order under which the federal government will need to remove two regulations for every new one put forward.
Under the order, the U.S. federal agencies will propose rules they want to drop and the White House will review them. Rules on emergencies and national security are made exceptions.
The order, aimed to fulfill one of his campaign promises, will benefit both U.S. small and large businesses, said Trump on Monday, reiterating his another campaign pledge that he will try and cut 75 percent of regulations.
"Regulation has been horrible for big business, but it's been worse for small business," he told a group of small business owners in White House.
"We're going to be doing a big number on Dodd-Frank," he added, calling the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law a "disaster."
Canada, Australia and Britain all have similar policies requiring existing rules be repealed before a new one is issued, said a TheHill news daily report.
LISBON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States needs Europe to guarantee peace and democracy in the world, Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos said during a two-day state visit to Portugal on Monday.
"No power can alone guarantee peace and democracy," Pavlopoulos said in Coimbra, around 210 km north of Lisbon at a joint press conference with his Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
"The United States alone cannot carry out its role in the world," he added.
"For the United States to carry out its role it needs Europe, all of Europe," he pointed out. "Europe is the birth place on Western civilisation and democracy. Without it, we cannot have world stability which is essential."
He said 2017 was a crucial year for Europe and it would have to reconsider the role it will carry out.
Pavlopoulos highlighted that there was solidarity in Greece in welcoming refugees but said there were states who were not as accepting.
"We have partners in the European Union who act on the basis of fear, and want to highlight fear," he said, while praising Portugal for its "exemplary" stance in taking in refugees.
In regards to Trump's policy to limit the entry of immigrants in the United States, Pavlopoulos said patience was needed, but pointed out that it was a country with "exemplary democracy" and that international rights would be respected.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said Portugal would continue to welcome refugees.
"We are a country of emigration, that always received immigration with open arms," he said. "We are all over the world. Our position in terms of refugees does not vary according to different political regimes, presidents or governments."
Pavlopoulos will meet Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Lisbon on Tuesday.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Former Chile international striker Gustavo Canales could leave Brazilian outfit Botafogo as he seeks to kickstart his stalled career.
Canales has scored just one goal from 11 appearances since joining the Rio de Janeiro outfit from Universidad de Chile in May last year.
His 2016 season was cut short by an ankle injury which required surgery in October and the 34-year-old is yet to fully recover, according to the Lance news outlet.
The newspaper said Canales had fallen behind Sassa and Roger on Botafogo manager Jair Ventura's list of preferred strikers.
Canales, who has also represented River Plate and Arsenal de Sarandi in a 14-year professional career, has been capped once for Chile's national team.
Italian Filippo Grandiholds his first press conference after being appointed as UN High Commissioner for Refugees of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 7, 2016. The 58-year-old Grandi previously headed the agency that assists Palestinian refugees, the UN Relief and Works Agency. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The head of the United Nations refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, on Monday said he is "deeply worried" by the uncertainty facing thousands of refugees around the world who are in the process of being resettled to the United States after the country suspended its refugee program last week.
Grandi's statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump's Friday signing of an Executive Order that, among things, suspends the U.S. refugee program for 120 days and, according to media reports, bars entry of refugees from several mostly Muslim countries, including Syria, until further notice.
Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, underlined once again the position of the the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race.
According to a news release from UNHCR, more than 800 refugees were set to make America their new home this week alone, but instead find themselves barred from travelling to the United States.
UNHCR estimates that 20,000 refugees in precarious circumstances might have been resettled to the United States during the 120 days covered by the suspension announced Friday, based on average monthly figures for the last 15 years.
"Refugees are anxious, confused and heartbroken at this suspension in what is already a lengthy process," the press release said.
"Refugees share the very same concerns about security and safety that Americans have," the press release said. "They themselves are fleeing war, persecution, oppression and terrorism."
"The individuals and families UNHCR refers to governments for resettlement are the most vulnerable -- such as people needing urgent medical assistance, survivors of torture, and women and girls at risk," it said. "The new homes provided by resettlement countries are life-saving for people who have no other options."
The vast majority of the world's refugees are hosted in developing countries, and less than one percent will ever be resettled globally, the UN agency said. "Those accepted for resettlement by the United States, after a rigorous U.S. security screening process, are coming to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. UNHCR hopes that they will be able to do so as soon as possible."
"Resettlement has been a sign of tangible solidarity with the world's most vulnerable refugees," the press release said. "It is also an important way governments and communities can help share responsibility with major refugee-hosting countries, which have been shouldering the brunt of the displacement crisis in recent years."
Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued a statement on child refugees that might be affected by the new U.S. policy.
"The needs of refugees have never been greater," the statement said. "Worldwide 28 million children have been uprooted by conflict, driven from their homes by violence and terror. They need our help."
"The United States has a long and proud tradition of protecting children fleeing war and persecution," the statement said. "We trust that this support will continue and that the recent measures will prove to be temporary. All refugee children need our support."
UNICEF said it is committed to continuing its work with governments and other partners around the world to help some of the most vulnerable children everywhere, from Syria to Yemen to South Sudan.
BUCHAREST, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Bucharest Municipality on Monday adopted a decision to ban the animal performances at shows of Bucharest "Globus" Circus & Variety Company, the most famous circus of the country.
The municipality made the move after a fire on Jan. 12 killed 11 animals, including two tigers, at a shelter accommodating circus retired animals. The incident has sparked an outcry from animal activists.
"Globus" circus shows will no longer include acts that require animal training, in a move to get in line with the European and global trend, General Mayor Gabriela Firea told the meeting of the General Council of the Bucharest Municipality.
She mentioned that according to experts, the animals trained for circus performances are subjected to ill treatment that affects them.
The municipality also announced to completely forbidden any animal shows in Bucharest, adding that as many as 19 European Union member states have fully or partially banned the use of wild animals in shows.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The annual European Parliamentary Week, which brings together parliamentarians from all over the European Union (EU) to discuss economic policy coordination, kicked off here on Monday.
During the three-day event, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) meet their counterparts from EU member states to debate on how to boost growth and employment and increase fairness.
The conference started with a debate about this year's economic policy priorities -- structural reforms, investment, responsible fiscal policies -- and continued with an exchange of views on how to make European economic and monetary union stronger and more efficient.
Monday's debate was part of the European Semester, which is a cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination within the EU.
The lawmakers from the EU countries are expected to better implement the country-specific recommendations issued by EU institutions in the previous year after the debate.
WELLINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A rescue operation is underway to evacuate a sick Dutch woman from a ship in Antarctica, New Zealand maritime authorities, who are coordinating the rescue, said on Tuesday.
The urgent medical evacuation (medevac) was launched after the 66-year-old woman suffered a suspected stroke on the cruise vessel, MV Ortelius, in Antarctic waters early on Monday, said the Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand (RCCNZ).
RCCNZ said it was working closely with the U.S. Antarctic Program and the vessel's operator and crew after receiving the call from the ship in the Ross Sea, off the Antarctic ice shelf, 3,600 km south of New Zealand.
The ship's medical staff had recommended that the patient be taken to New Zealand for further medical treatment, said a statement from RCCNZ.
The MV Ortelius was transporting the woman, who was in a stable condition, towards McMurdo Station, a U.S. Antarctic research center on the south tip of Ross Island, 620 km from the ship's original position on Monday.
"The MV Ortelius will attempt to get as close to McMurdo Station as conditions allow for the woman to be transferred. If ice prevents the vessel reaching McMurdo she will be transported by the vessel's own helicopter and flown to McMurdo Station. The woman will fly on to New Zealand on a regular scheduled flight," RCCNZ senior search and rescue officer Chris Henshaw said in the statement.
CANBERRA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Australian dual national passport holders will be able to enter the United States despite President Donald Trump's executive order banning entry from seven Muslim-majority nations, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed on Tuesday.
There were fears that dual national Australians who hold a passport from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen would be turned around at the U.S. borders after Trump ordered the 90-day travel ban for those nations, but Turnbull said Australians who hold a second passport will be allowed to come and go from the United States "in the usual way."
"Our Ambassador (to the United States) has just called me to say he has assurances from the White House that Australian passport holders, regardless of their place of birth or if they're dual nationals, will remain welcome to come and go to the United States in the usual way," Turnbull told Sky News.
The Turnbull government said it supports the United States' right to protect its borders, but the opposition and other politicians have labeled the prime minister "weak" while other world leaders, including those from Britain and Germany, denounced Trump's executive order.
It is believed that more than 110,000 Australians were born in the seven banned nations, with many holding dual passports. They will no longer be affected by the ban.
Despite Tuesday morning's developments, the opposition has increased pressure on the government to join other nations in condemning the immigration ban.
Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Turnbull showed a lack of "moral leadership" in not denouncing Trump's executive order.
WELLINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Fijian woman was jailed in New Zealand Tuesday after being convicted of passport and immigration offenses, the country's immigration agency said.
The 59-yaer-old woman was sentenced to a total of 19 months in prison after fraudulently obtaining a passport using a false identity and entering New Zealand under the false identity.
The sentence was a "strong deterrent" to those who would fraudulently enter the country, said Immigration New Zealand officials.
The woman had admitted at the Hamilton District Court three charges of providing false or misleading information to an immigration officer in respect of visa applications and one charge of producing a fraudulently obtained passport.
The court heard that she visited New Zealand from Fiji on three occasions between September 2009 and March 2012.
She subsequently unsuccessfully applied for residency and numerous visitor visa applications were declined on character grounds.
Her return to New Zealand in 2015 was initially undetected by authorities because she had entered under a fraudulently obtained passport.
Immigration New Zealand assistant general manager Peter Devoy said the dual identities came to light when the woman was asked to provide her original passport as part of the verification process for a temporary visa application.
A deportation order had been served on the woman.
WELLINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A surge in travelers from China, Australia and the United States drove New Zealand visitor numbers to a new annual record last year, the government statistics agency said Tuesday.
Annual visitor arrivals numbered almost 3.5 million, up 11.8 percent from 2015, according to Statistics New Zealand.
"People coming over for holidays made up more than half of the visits in 2016," population statistics manager Jo-Anne Skinner said in a statement.
"Almost three-quarters of holidaymakers stayed in New Zealand for a fortnight or less."
Visitor numbers from Australia were up 6.2 percent to 1.4 million, while Chinese visitor numbers rose 14.9 percent to 409,008, and U.S. numbers were up 19.9 percent to 291,392.
Visitor arrivals numbered 494,200 in December 2016, setting a new monthly record and up 11 percent from the previous record month of December 2015.
YANGON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar Police Force has asked the public to provide information on anyone involved in Sunday's fatal shooting of U Ko Ni, a prominent legal advisor of the ruling party.
The police announced Monday night its hot line numbers of 15 police stations for reporting information about the shooting.
The police claimed that they had arrested the gunman, U Kyi Lin, 52 and has charged him in accordance with the law.
The suspect is under interrogation, the announcement said.
A press release of the President's Office Monday night said the initial interrogation indicates the intention to destabilize the state, requesting the public not to be stricken by panic and to stay calm and be careful of religious and racial incitement.
U Ko Ni, legal advisor of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, was gunned down at the Yangon international Airport on Sunday afternoon upon his arrival back from Indonesia.
The government is continuing to make urgent investigation into the incident for further exposure of those behind the scene and security measures are being tightened.
The gunman also killed a taxi driver who had tried to capture him before he was arrested by the police and bystanders.
U Ko Ni was shot in the head at a close distance at the airport's taxi stand near arrival terminal-1.
DAVAO CITY, Philippines, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Three government troops were wounded in attacks by suspected leftist guerrillas in southern Philippines on Monday, raising anew fears the fragile truce between the Philippine government and the rebels could unravel and plunge the entire country back to war.
The attacks against peace and development teams (PDTs) in Mindanao's Caraga region and recent killings in nearby region of Davao has prompted the military's Eastern Mindanao Command to raise alert, according to Major Ezra Balagtey, regional military spokesperson.
Balagtey condemned the 15-minute attack by New People's Army guerrillas at a PDT outpost in a village in Surigao City on Monday night.
"Shortly after midnight, three more PDTs were attacked in Kitcharao town in Agusan del Norte town. These atrocities ran contrary to the spirit of the peace process," Balagtey said.
Last week, leftist guerrillas also executed two civilians in Davao City for suspicions of being military informant and drug dealer.
The 4, 000-strong New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) which has been waging a leftist insurgency in the Philippines since 1969.
Representatives from the Philippine government and the CPP have recently culminated the third round of talks in Rome in the hopes of ending the nearly half-century civil war that has killed nearly 50, 000 people.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) should create an asset management company as an option to tackle the big amount of bad loans that threaten the stability of the euro-zone economy, the head of the bloc's banking watchdog said on Monday.
In a seminar in Luxembourg at the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), European Banking Authority (EBA) Chairman Andrea Enria said as the non-performing loans (NPLs) piled up in the EU, to deal with those bad loans was "urgent and actionable."
As a possible solution to tackle those NPLs, he proposed establishing an Asset Management Company (AMC), which is not designed for crisis prevention, but aims to repair the lending function of banks.
Tougher actions were needed as EBA has identified "market failures" in tackling bad loans, he said.
Klaus Regling, head of the ESM, welcomed Enria's idea of the AMC as "a valuable policy proposal" to reduce NPLs.
"Banks need to aggressively reduce NPLs, which are keeping down profitability, particularly in some countries," Regling said at the same event.
According to data released by the EBA, the EU has more than 1 trillion euros (1.069 trillion U.S. dollars) of bad loans, with Italian banks accounting for 276 billion euros (295 billion dollars), or 27.6 percent of the total, the largest among the EU member states. Moreover, there are 10 EU countries whose NPL ratios stand above 10 percent.
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Mexico "deeply rejects" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's applause for the erection of a border wall between the United States and Mexico, Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Videgaray said on Monday.
Mexico hopes that Israel's government reconsiders its position regarding the controversial wall and Netanyahu should apologize, Videgaray said in an interview with a morning news program aired by the Televisa TV network.
"Mexico is a close friend of Israel's" and "the prime minister's position is absolutely irresponsible," Videgaray added.
Over the weekend, Netanyahu praised U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to erect a wall along the border to keep out illegal migrants and drug traffickers.
"President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea," Netanyahu posted on Twitter Saturday.
Netanyahu's words stunned Mexico, and led prominent Mexicans of Jewish descent to distance themselves from the Israeli leader's stance.
Later, Emmanuel Nahshon, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, tried to smooth over ruffled feathers.
The "Israeli PM referred to our specific security experience which we are willing to share. We do not express a position on U.S.-Mexico relations," he said.
BOGOTA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's FARC rebels have begun their "final march" towards designated transition zones, where they will lay down their weapons as part of a peace deal reached with the government, local media reported on Monday.
The mobilization "is the first step in the definitive disarming" that will mark an end to five decades of fighting between FARC (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrilla and the military, the Caracol News network said.
"Colombia awoke on Monday to images that confirm the end of the armed conflict with the FARC," the agency said, alongside video footage of a boatload of rebels leaving their jungle camps for one of several transition zones around the country.
Nearly 4,400 rebels began the transition move early Saturday, accompanied by representatives from the United Nations and others to help monitor the peace process, Colombia's High Commissioner for Peace said in a statement Sunday, noting "the FARC's final march has begun."
"The first rebels set off this weekend, rifle across the shoulder, willing to exchange it for a life of legality, a life of democracy, a different kind of life that will contribute to building peace," the commissioner's office said.
Some of the rebels were traveling "up to seven hours on foot, by bus, truck or boats," the office said, adding the move to the transition zones should be completed "in the next few days."
In an interview with Caracol Radio, FARC leader Marcos Calarca said education and employment were key to having the former rebels successfully transition to a normal life.
"Essentially, the guerrillas are going to be in the zones for the process of re-incorporation in matters of education, training ... and above all the start of productive projects," said Calarca.
In May, he said, FARC was set to transform itself into a legally-founded political party to continue its work to push for social and political reforms.
The Colombian government and FARC signed a cease-fire and disarmament deal in Havana, Cuba on June 23, 2016, bringing Colombia a major step closer to ending the more than 50 years of guerrilla warfare in the country that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Over the past five days, part of the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday, Vietnam saw 190 traffic accidents which killed nearly 120 people, and injured 190 others, the country's Traffic Police Department announced Monday.
Compared with the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents remained flat, that of deaths dropped four percent, and that of the injuries increased four percent.
On Monday alone, 60 traffic accidents occurred in Vietnam, claiming 38 lives and injured 69 people.
During the ongoing Tet, many motorbike riders wearing no helmets, over-speeding or crossing red lights have been reported in Ho Chi Minh City and the two northern provinces of Hai Duong and Thanh Hoa. Meanwhile, drunken driving has been fairly popular in rural areas.
Over the past five days, traffic police nationwide handled 1,800 cases of traffic law violations and fined them to the tune of over 3.6 billion Vietnamese dong (160,000 U.S. dollars).
Last year, 21,589 traffic accidents occurred in Vietnam, killing 8,685 people, severely injuring 6,180 people, and slightly hurting 13,100 others, said the department.
SYDNEY, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Controversial far-right Australian Senator Pauline Hanson said Tuesday that Canberra's plan to force farmers to sell their property to build a training site for Singapore goes against the constitution.
Hanson suggests the plan would fail the public interest test, and furthermore may breach not only the constitution, but also the Commonwealth Land Acquisition Act.
Where exactly is the public purpose as required by the legislation? Hanson said.
The Australian Government entered into an agreement with Singapore, which would see 14,000 soldiers deployed to Australia per year, as part of a joint defense initiative between the two nations.
In order for the bases to be able to cope with the additional strain, the government of Singapore agreed to kick in 2 billion Australian dollars to upgrade the infrastructure at the proposed shared facilities.
The Australian government has been selling the idea to the public, highlighting the boost to local business who will be required to cater for the influx of troops to the area.
Hanson said that the benefits, such as providing the Singaporean troops with transport, food, and other services, are being misrepresented.
"It has been shown that the Singaporean government has already sought expressions of interest from transport companies for the importation of food and ordinances into the area. So where is the 'public purpose'?" Hanson said.
Politicians from both sides of the aisle also spoke out against the sale on Monday, calling for Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to act.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the government in Queensland was angry about the manner in which the ADF has so far handled the acquisition.
This was done without consultation with the local community, Palaszczuk said.
The leader of Queenslands opposition party echoed the sentiments of Palaszczuk, and insisted the ADF had mishandled the situation from the very beginning.
Australias defence and good relations with our allies such as Singapore are of course important, but the process the ADF has undertaken has been confusing, muddled and needs a rethink, Nicholls said.
The ADF has dropped the ball on this, and clearly hasnt communicated the process to the potentially affected landowners, or successfully justified the acquisitions to the wider community.
A decision on the approval to upgrade the lands classification to be suitable for the joint Australian and Singaporean defence training initiatives is set to be handed down by the Australian government later this year.
MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russian Emergencies Ministry has sent an Il-76 plane to Chile to help fight with wildfires, the biggest in the country's history, on the request of the latter, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.
According to the Russian Emergencies Ministry's press-service, the Il-76 aircraft arrived in Santiago on Monday to help extinguish wildfires raging in Chile, and it has already started fighting fires in agreement with Chile's authorities.
Another plane, an "Antonov" with four helicopters, will arrive in Chile on Tuesday to join the fight against the wildfires.
The ministry said that Russian aircraft would be used in the area with the most difficult situation, where fire threatens to spread to the town of Portezuelo, with a population of about 1000 people. The main aims of the Russian rescuers are to protect locals from fire and extinguish wildfires in the area.
On Jan. 20, the Chilean government declared a state of emergency due to wildfires raging in the south and central areas of the country, which have been described as the worst in the country's history, prompting an international response. Wildfires have claimed the lives of 11 people, including five firefighters.
The Il-76, designed for work under heavy conditions, has a great experience of fighting wildfires and participated many times in liquidating emergency situations in the Russian Federation and abroad. The plane is equipped with spray tanks that can discharge up to 42 metric tons of water in one time.
Demonstrators hold placards as thousands gather outside Downing Street in London, Britain, to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entry into the United States, on Jan. 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Ray Tang)
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The recent temporary entry ban imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries has been rejected by traditional U.S. allies.
MPs (members of the Parliament) in Britain's House of Commons voted unanimously after an emergency debate Monday to call on Trump to repeal his travel ban on Muslims.
More than 1.5 million people have signed a petition to the British Parliament saying Trump should not be invited to make an official state visit because it would cause embarrassment to Queen Elizabeth.
Under an executive order signed by Trump on Friday, refugees from all over the world will be suspended from entering the United States for 120 days while all immigration from so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days.
Countries included in the ban are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The total population from these countries exceeds 130 million.
British Prime Minister Theresa May's office said Sunday that the minister would interfere if the decision affected British nationals, stressing, "we do not agree with this kind of approach."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday slammed the U.S. ban.
Anti-terrorism efforts should not justify general suspicion against a specific group of people, Merkel told a press conference prior to her talks with visiting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
"The essential and also resolute fight against terrorism in no way justifies general suspicion against people of a specific faith, in this case people of the Muslim faith or people of a certain background," she said.
"This approach, in my view, contradicts the basic tenets of international aid to refugees and international cooperation," the chancellor said.
Trump's entry ban was also rejected by French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who emphasized that "welcoming refugees who are fleeing war is part of our duty."
French President Francois Hollande on Saturday warned Trump about the economic and political consequences of a protectionist approach, urging him to respect the principle of accepting refugees.
In a telephone conversation, Hollande said that "faced with an unstable and uncertain world, withdrawal into oneself is a dead-end response."
Moreover, the Dutch government declared late Sunday it rejects the Trump order and asked the United States for clarification.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders issued a joint statement with his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, saying that the two countries' embassies in Washington "are urgently examining the consequences of the U.S. executive order for our citizens and residents with a double nationality."
"We are determined to protect the rights of our citizens and residents, and will discuss swiftly within the European Union (EU) the necessary steps," the statement said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also voiced his disagreement on the issue.
"To those fleeing persecution, terror and war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength," Trudeau tweeted Saturday.
Governments of Finland, Iceland also expressed the position that the U.S. move is unacceptable.
Related:
British parliament calls on Trump to reverse "Muslim ban"
LONDON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- MPs (members of the Parliament) in Britain's House of Commons voted unanimously after an emergency debate Monday to call on U.S. President Donald Trump to repeal his travel ban on Muslims.
by Liu Tian, Ji Wei
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Giving up plans to return to their hometown for family reunion during the lunar New Year, hundreds of Chinese road workers stayed in the construction sites of Pakistan's Karakorum Highway (KKH), to ensure an early completion of the project.
The KKH, which is part of an arterial road from Pakistan's north to south, is the only land route that connects China and Pakistan.
The KKH improvement plan is a flagship project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that will improve connectivity, facilitate local economy and people's lives in the less developed country.
The first phase of the project, to upgrade roads in the northern part of the KKH, was completed in 2013, while the second phase, with new second-grade roads and a highway linking Havelian and Thakot to be built, began in September last year, Hu Junquan, general project manager of the second phase of the project, told Xinhua on Sunday.
Hu, who is with the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has been working abroad for 15 years. He said he had spent the Chinese lunar New Year many times at project sites in foreign countries, away from home and family.
"I really feel sorry for my family and I also appreciate them for their understanding of my job and duties," Hu said.
At the KKH second phase project site, some 900 Chinese workers stayed at work at the beginning of the Year of Rooster, a year standing for diligence in Chinese tradition.
To make sure the project can be completed according to schedule, the CRBC workers only had two half-day breaks during the festival and continued to work around the clock on all sections of the 118-km long road project.
According to Hu, the project including a total of 105 bridges and 67 tunnels will be constructed in 42 months, and most of the construction are in dangerous mountainous areas.
In face of the poor geographical conditions, Hu and his colleagues had to be very careful and made progress painstakingly when handling tunnels, such as the Tunnel of Abbottabad. Currently, only about half a meter of earth could be excavated a day for the 1,700-meter tunnel.
"My Chinese colleagues are very, very hardworking. They are also very good people," Ehtisham Khan, a retired Pakistani Army major who now serves as a security coordinator at the project's main camp, told Xinhua.
Khan said following the KKH project, industrialization will expand, traffic will be connected from China to Pakistan's Gwadar, which will be very good for both countries.
He added that in the northern part of the KKH, road conditions have been greatly improved, compared to decades ago when he went there as a soldier.
"When I joined the project seven months ago, I only knew it is a project that will link Havelian and Thakot, but with the passage of time, I have learned that this is a game changer for local people. The project, also the entire CPEC, will bring a lot of business and jobs to the locals," said the retired major.
According to him, about 700 ex-armymen have been reorganized as a police team to protect the project and all its sections, while some of his neighbors have also been hired by the CRBC for the KKH second phase construction.
According to Hu, some 1,600 Pakistanis are working in the construction field along all the sections from Havelian to Thakot.
Hu said approximately 15,000 jobs will be provided to Pakistanis from senior managers and engineers to common road workers and truck drivers.
"We will provide training to the Pakistani employees so as to increase their skills. They will enjoy paid annual leave, the same as their Chinese colleagues. We also provide endowment insurance for them," said Hu.
Hu said when the entire KKH project is finished, connectivity from Pakistan's north to Islamabad will be dramatically improved and the arterial road will also support peripheral business development and enhance social stability and defense in northern Pakistan.
The second phase of KKH is expected to be completed in February 2020, he said. At that time, traveling time from Islamabad to Khunjerab which borders China will be shortened from two or three days to about one day.
"And we can expect more frequent trade between China and Pakistan," Hu added.
MONTEVIDEO, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Latin American Integration Association (Aladi) on Monday called for stronger regional solidarity to help counter the divisive effects of U.S. President Donald Trump's order of the erection of a border wall with Mexico.
Aladi Secretary General Carlos Alvarez said recent "objections" shown by several Latin American governments to the wall erection were "timely and necessary."
"Any policy that represents an aggression against any of our nations by another country, or as in this case, by an outside power, must be answered with a sense of Latin American belonging and solidarity," Alvarez said in a statement issued out of Montevideo, Uruguay's capital, where Aladi is headquartered.
Alvarez believes "the strongest ... response should be to launch a common political disposition to establish a comprehensive Latin American economic and trade agreement."
The current situation "puts to test" regional countries' willingness to pursue today's "most urgent need for integration," he said.
"A pragmatic, plural and flexible perspective," which takes into account the political differences in the region, suggests that such an agreement seek "the convergence of sub-regional blocs," he added.
Such an agreement could serve as "the foundation to considerably increase intra-regional trade, identify and make the most of our complementarity, and promote partnerships among our companies and productive sectors," said Alvarez.
Bolstering regional integration would in turn serve "to show that we can rise to the challenge" posed by "such threatening circumstances" as Trump's border wall, according to Alvarez.
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States on Tuesday reaffirmed the bilateral agreement to deploy the U.S. missile shield, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in South Korean soil.
Seoul's defense ministry said that South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo held the first telephone talks with his U.S. counterpart James Mattis, who became the first defense secretary under the Trump administration Monday.
During the dialogue, they shared security situations on the Korean Peninsula, agreeing to strengthen their defense capability against nuclear and missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and develop the bilateral alliance under severe security environment.
The defense chiefs expressed serious concerns about top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's New Year's Day address that said Pyongyang had entered a final stage in preparations to test-launch the long-range ballistic rocket.
Han and Mattis agreed to push the THAAD installation as scheduled and beef up close cooperation in DPRK policy between defense authorities.
Seoul and Washington abruptly announced the agreement in July last year to deploy one THAAD battery in South Korea's southeastern region by the end of this year.
It caused strong oppositions from China and Russia as the THAAD's X-band radar can peer into territories of the two nations. The U.S. anti-missile shield is composed of the super microwave-emitting radar, six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors and the fire control unit.
The radar also caused a barrage of criticism from residents in Seongju county, where the THAAD is scheduled to be installed, and its nearby Gimcheon city as it is detrimental to environment and human body.
The absense of open discussions stoked parliamentary and public objections. Some of conservative voters believe that the THAAD is a cure-all to protect South Korea from the DPRK's nuclear threats, but others raise doubts over its intercepting capability and worry about escalated tensions and arms race in the region.
The THAAD is designed to shoot down incoming missiles at an altitude of 40-150 km, but most of DPRK missiles targeting South Korea fly at an altitude of less than 40 km.
The U.S. missile shield is also incapable of protecting Seoul and its suburban metropolitan area, which has more than half of the country's 50 million population.
Related:
China again calls for stop of THAAD deployment in ROK
BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday again urged the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to stop deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in the ROK.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said here Monday it is "not the time for change" concerning the sanctions the European Union imposed on Russia.
"We have taken our decisions, these decisions are valid, and when we have to come back to these decisions we will do so. But this is not the time for change," Juncker told a press conference after meeting with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.
Last December, the European Union extended the sanctions against Russia for another six months, until July 31, 2017. However, some European countries became unsettled as Trump hinted earlier this month that he could lift the sanctions against Russia if Moscow proved helpful in battling terrorists and reaching other goals important to the United States.
"We were discussing our relations -- the relations between the European Union and Russia -- in a not too intense way, but I do not think there are major divergences between the President (Trump) and the Commission when it comes to the sanctions against Russia," Juncker said.
The EU slapped the sanctions on Russia in July and September 2014 in response to an alleged role that Russia played in conflicts in east Ukraine. In July 2015, the EU extended the sanctions against Russia until Jan. 31, 2017.
In response, Russia imposed a year-long embargo on food imports from Western countries in August 2014, and extended the anti-sanction measures for one more year in June 2015.
In late June, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to extend embargo on food imports from the EU and other countries until the end of 2017.
Pakistani supporters of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) organization shout slogans during a protest against the arrest of JuD leader, Hafiz Saeed, in eastern Pakistan's Lahore on Jan. 31, 2017. Authorities in Pakistan have detained Hafiz Saeed, chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), the group accused of planning the 2008 attacks in the Indian commercial center of Mumbai that had killed 166 people, the groups spokesman said Tuesday. (Xinhua/Jamil Ahmed)
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Pakistan have detained Hafiz Saeed, chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa(JuD, the group accused of planning the 2008 attacks in the Indian commercial center of Mumbai that had killed 166 people, the groups spokesman said Tuesday.
Yahya Mujahid confirmed to Xinhua that the government placed Hafiz Saeed under arrest late Monday, shortly after he spoke to the media in the city of Lahore.
Mujahid also said that four other senior officials of the group have also been detained at different cities in Punjab, of which Lahore is the capital.
Police were deployed at the JuDs headquarters at Muridke, a town near Lahore, the spokesman said.
Hours before Saeed was placed under house arrest, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said in Islamabad the JuD has been under observation since 2010-11 after it was listed by the UN Security Councils Sanctions Committee.
We are bound to take some steps. We are taking those steps to fulfill our obligations, the minister told reporters.
The JuD leader was detained after the Interior Ministry issued the order under the provisions of an anti-terrorism law, officials said.
The United States had announced in 2012 a reward of 10 million US dollars on Hafiz Saeed for his alleged role in 2008 Mumbai attacks in which six American citizens were also killed. He had denied involvement of his group in the attack.
Photo released by Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID) on Jan. 31, 2017 shows Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain (1st R) meeting with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (1st L) in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. (Xinhua/PID)
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has started his three-day visit to Pakistan, will inaugurate the newly constructed Palestine Embassy Complex in Islamabad on Tuesday, officials said.
President Abbas, accompanied by a 17-member delegation including five ministers, arrived in the Pakistani capital late Monday. Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain received the Palestinian leader on his arrival.
This is Abbas' third visit to Pakistan. He has previously been to Pakistan in 2005 and 2013.
During the visit, the Palestinian president will have a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan's prime minister, followed by delegation-level talks, a foreign ministry statement said.
Abbas and his delegation will also meet with the president of Pakistan, followed by a state banquet in his honor. Bilateral political issues as well as other issues of common interests will be discussed between the two heads of state.
President Hussain told the Palestinian president at the reception ceremony that Pakistani people kept the Palestinians close to their hearts and reiterated Pakistan would always raise the Palestine issue at all fora.
President Abbas welcomed the sentiments and said he considered Pakistan as his second home, radio Pakistan reported.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday night fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates, hours after she ordered the Justice Department not to defend his temporary ban on refugee and immigration that sparked nationwide protests and worldwide criticism.
"Ms. Yates is an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration," said a White House statement.
Trump appointed Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to replace Yates until his nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions, is confirmed by the Senate, local media reported.
Yates had been deputy attorney general before serving as acting chief of the Justice Department from Jan. 20, when Trump was sworn in.
"Consequently, for as long as I am the acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so," Yates said in a letter to the department on Monday.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts," she said.
"At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful," she added.
Her remarks echoed Democratic lawmakers' ongoing fight aimed to urge Trump to rescind his executive order temporarily barring U.S. entry to refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
On Monday evening, House and Senate Democrats, holding up candles, gathered at the Supreme Court with thousands of supporters in protest against the controversial order.
Afterwards, Senate Democrats kicked off a talkathon of floor speeches, urging Trump to rescind the ban, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called counterproductive, dangerous and evil, noting Trump's move "raises serious doubts" about his competence.
In response, Trump on Twitter attacked the Democrats "have nothing going but to obstruct," calling Yates an "Obama A.G."
Earlier on Monday, former President Barack Obama also voiced his support for the protests against Trump's controversial immigration ban.
"President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country," Kevin Lewis, Obama's spokesman said.
Trump has compared his order to Obama's 2011 moves to restrict entries from Iraq after two Iraqis were arrested in the United States on terrorism charges.
"With regard to comparisons to President Obama's foreign policy decisions, as we've heard before, the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion," said Lewis.
Trump tweeted early Monday that "only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning" due to his execution order, blaming "protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer" for chaos across U.S. airports in the past two days.
Schumer tweeted Friday that "Tears are running down the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty" over the ban.
On Sunday, attorneys general from 15 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, all Democrats, condemned Trump's ban as "unconstitutional, un-American and unlawful."
In a joint statement, they vowed to "use all of the tools of our offices to fight this unconstitutional order and preserve our nation's national security and core values."
Under the executive order Trump signed Friday, refugees from all over the world will be suspended U.S. entry for 120 days while all immigration from the so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days.
Countries included in the ban are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States on Tuesday reaffirmed the bilateral agreement to deploy the U.S. missile shield, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in South Korean soil despite strong oppositions at home and abroad.
Seoul's defense ministry said in a press release that South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo held the first telephone talks earlier in the morning with his U.S. counterpart James Mattis who became the first secretary of defense under the Trump administration.
During the dialogue, they shared security situations on the Korean Peninsula, agreeing to strengthen their defense capability against nuclear and missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and develop the bilateral alliance under severe security environment.
The defense chiefs expressed serious concerns about top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's New Year's Day address that said Pyongyang had entered a final stage in preparations to test-launch the long-range ballistic rocket.
Under the expected DPRK rocket test-launch, Han and Mattis agreed to push the THAAD installation as scheduled and beef up close cooperation in DPRK policy between defense authorities.
They agreed to maintain a complete defense readiness through the U.S. extended deterrence and the firm U.S.-South Korea combined forces given the possibility for the DPRK to conduct strategic and tactical provocations.
Seoul and Washington abruptly announced the agreement in July last year to deploy one THAAD battery in South Korea's southeastern region by the end of this year.
It caused strong oppositions from China and Russia as the THAAD's X-band radar can peer into territories of the two nations. The U.S. anti-missile shield is composed of the super microwave-emitting radar, six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors and the fire control unit.
The THAAD deployment in South Korea will destabilize the regional strategic balance and undermine China's strategic interests as well as the strategic mutual trust between China-U.S. and China-ROK, a spokesman of China's Defense Ministry has said.
The radar also caused a barrage of criticism from residents in Seongju county, where the THAAD is scheduled to be installed, and its nearby Gimcheon city as it is detrimental to environment and human body.
The absense of open discussions stoked parliamentary and public objections. Some of conservative voters believe that the THAAD is a cure-all to protect South Korea from the DPRK's nuclear threats, but others raise doubts over its intercepting capability and worry about escalated tensions and arms race in the region.
The THAAD is designed to shoot down incoming missiles at an altitude of 40-150 km, but most of DPRK missiles targeting South Korea fly at an altitude of less than 40 km.
The U.S. missile shield is also incapable of protecting Seoul and its suburban metropolitan area, which has more than half of the country's 50 million population.
The two defense heads are expected to discuss the THAAD deployment during their upcoming talks in Seoul later this week. The Seoul ministry said Mattis will make his two-day visit to South Korea from Thursday to Friday.
Han and Mattis were originally scheduled to hold the defense ministers' talks on Thursday, but it was delayed to Friday as the Pentagon head will pay a courtesy call on Thursday to South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is serving as acting president, and top presidential security advisor Kim Kwan-jin.
Mattis' visit to South Korea will become his first overseas trip since the Trump administration was launched on Jan. 20. It would mark the first time for the Pentagon head to pick South Korea as the first overseas destination.
The upcoming face-to-face dialogue is forecast to be focused on the THAAD deployment and the DPRK's nuclear threats. Pyongyang conducted its fourth and fifth nuclear tests in January and September last year respectively.
The South Korean ministry said the defense chiefs will make a joint assessment on and discuss countermeasures against the DPRK's nuclear and missile threats, while exchanging views on how to strengthen the bilateral alliance.
The commander of U.S. forces in South Korea expected the THAAD deployment as early as in July this year, but it could be hard to happen given the domestic political schedule.
South Korea's constitutional court is deliberating on the motion to impeach President Park Geun-hye, which was passed on Dec. 9 in the parliament by an overwhelming majority. The court is widely forecast to rule on it as late as the middle of March.
If the court holds the motion, President Park will be permanently removed from office and a presidential election must be held within 60 days.
Major presidential hopefuls in the opposition camp have argued for the cancellation or re-negotiations on the U.S. missile defense system deployment in their territory. Following the presidential scandal, the possibility gets lower for the conservative candidate to win the presidency.
Meanwhile, the U.S. defense chief could take issue with shortage in South Korea's financial contribution to U.S. forces stationed here.
During the 2016 campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump said South Korea should pay more for over 28,000 U.S. troops in its soil, the legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday exchanged congratulations with his Maltese counterpart Joseph Muscat on the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between their two countries.
In his congratulatory message, Li said that since China and Malta established diplomatic relations 45 years ago, the traditional friendly relations between the two countries have kept developing and have been fruitful.
"China is willing to make joint efforts with Malta to continue deepening bilateral exchange and cooperation in all fields, further enrich the connotation of bilateral relations, and promote continued achievement of new progress in the China-Malta traditional friendship," he added.
Muscat, in his congratulatory message, highlighted the mutual respect and precious friendship developed since his country established diplomatic relations with China 45 years ago.
He said he believes the Malta-China relations of mutually beneficial cooperation will inject new driving force into bilateral cooperation in all fields, in the interest of the two peoples.
HERAT, Afghanistan, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and 12 others wounded after a minibus collided head-on with a truck along a highway in Afghanistan's western province of Herat on Tuesday, a local official said.
SANAA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's dominant Houthi group has claimed responsibility for attacking a Saudi warship that killed two crew members and wounded three others on Monday.
"The targeted Saudi warship was taking part in the aggression against the Yemeni western coastal cities and fishermen," Houthi-run Saba news agency said, quoting a statement issued late Monday night.
In Riyadh, Saudi state news agency SPA reported that Houthi militants attacked the warship with three suicide bombing boats, causing an explosion that killed two crew members and injured three others.
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Jaguar Land Rover will start to recall 6,438 vehicles in Chinese mainland due to defective safety belts on Feb. 24, the top quality watchdog has said.
The recall affects 1,554 imported 2016-2017 Range Rover and 3,438 imported 2016-2017 Range Rover sport series manufactured between July 12, 2016 and Oct. 26, 2016, according to a statement from China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
The affected vehicles also include 1,132 imported 2017 Jaguar XE manufactured between July 13, 2016 and Dec. 7, 2016, and 314 imported 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE manufactured between July 19, 2016 and Dec. 16, 2016.
The defective safety belts may not function when vehicles are involved in collisions, said the statement.
The automaker will check all the affected vehicles and replace defective parts free of charge, the statement said.
RIYADH, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia has banned training institutions from offering courses on so-called Reiki therapy, a local newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The ban covers 1,000 private training centers, which will be monitored to ensure compliance, local daily Al Riyadh said.
The ban followed an order issued earlier this month to stop all forms of Reiki therapy in Saudi Arabia.
Reiki is an alternative therapy that is said to reduce stress and help promote healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through people and is what causes them to be alive.
The Saudi National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine warned early in January of the negative effects of Reiki on patients who could neglect their modern medical treatment and face serious health complications for believing that such alternative medicine could heal serious illnesses.
LHASA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- After running a family hotel in Tibet for 10 years, Losang Jigme feels it is time for him to try something new.
At only 28, Losang Jigme already manages two hotels with 30 rooms altogether in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
When the hotels are closed this winter, the off-season, he plans to spend some time learning about Tibetan Buddhism. "I plan to provide classes on Tibetan culture including, for example, the local style of yoga," he said.
Losang Jigme wants to profit from tourists' growing curiosity about Tibet. "Tourists today do not just take scenic photos," he said.
His inn opened in 2006, and the branch a few minutes walk away in 2008. They did well in the high season from May to November last year, with nearly all rooms booked during the period at an average price of 690 yuan (100 U.S. dollars) per night. He would not reveal his company accounts, but said he paid about 50,000 yuan in tax last year.
Lhasa has 141 starred hotels and more than 100,000 people work at least some of the time in tourism. As transportation and infrastructure have improved, so has tourism with 30 million expected in 2020, bringing in 55 billion yuan and employing 500,000 people.
Losang Jigme's father was raised around 100 km away from Lhasa and moved to the city in 1982. As the eldest son in the family, Losang Jigme started working in the hotel after graduating from high school.
Having hosted foreign tourists for a long time, Losang Jigme's English is fluent and he knows what tourists want very well. "Foreign tourists tend to stay for four nights, the first three to adapt to the altitude and one more night before leaving Lhasa," he said.
Business was slack in 2015 because of the earthquake in Nepal and the border area of Tibet. Tourists were banned from visiting Mount Qomolangma, the top destination for foreign tourists.
Business picked up in 2016 when tourist numbers from Europe and the United States began to recover, and Losang Jigme saw fresh faces from Southeast Asia. He plans to add a new foreign language to his repertoire soon.
Around 10 p.m., Losang Jigme is usually in reception chatting to guests eager to share the stories of their day. It is the best time to make friends, he said.
"My hotel is like a school. I have met and served thousands of people, and I think it will be time for me to graduate when the number reaches 100,000," he joked.
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- South Korean prosecutors independently probing the scandal involving President Park Geun-hye are talking with the presidential office to interrogate the impeached leader next week, local newspaper Donga Ilbo reported on Tuesday.
The independent counsel team had requested a face-to-face interrogation of President Park next Monday or Tuesday, but the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae wanted to delay it to between Wednesday and Friday for further preparations, the newspaper said without elaborating on sources.
The exact date has yet to be set. If conducted, Park would become the first sitting South Korean president to be probed by prosecutors.
The face-to-face interview would reportedly be conducted in the "third place" except for the independent counsel team's office and the presidential Blue House. The interrogation will not be made public to local media outlets.
Lee Kyu-chul, spokesman of the special prosecutors, told a regular press briefing Tuesday that nothing has been decided yet though it is true that the team is discussing with the presidential office about the date and the place for the interrogation.
The special prosecutors are widely expected to raid the presidential office this week before grilling the president.
The Cheong Wa Dae had allegedly opposed the raid for reasons of possible leakage of top secrets, but some of local media speculated that it allowed Park to buy time for the destruction of key evidences.
Counsel spokesman Lee told reporters that if evidences were destroyed, it would be revealed through search and seizure, stressing the need to search the presidential office.
The special counsel team, which was launched on Dec. 21, is scheduled to terminate on Feb. 28. If Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is serving as the acting president, approves an extended investigation, it can continue its probe for 30 more days.
President Park had refused to be quizzed by general prosecutors, who identified the president as an accomplice to her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil who is at the center of the influence-peddling scandal.
The first South Korean female leader has also refused to appear in the constitutional court's pleading session, and instead held a meeting with press corps of the presidential office on the New Year's Day to claim her innocence in the case.
Before the lunar New Year's holiday, Park had an interview with a conservative Internet podcast, evoking public criticism for her reluctance to appear in court and to be investigated by prosecutors.
MUMBAI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The following are foreign exchange rates of the Indian rupee with major international currencies as was released by the Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday.
Currency Rate
USD 67.8125/1
Euro 72.5526/1
Japanese Yen 59.7700/100
Pound Sterling 84.8470/1
NEW DELHI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed after inhaling poisonous gas at an oil mill in western Indian state of Maharashtra, officials said on Tuesday.
The workers were cleaning a chemical tank of the oil mill at Latur industrial area, about 472 km east of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra.
"Nine workers were killed inside an oil mill here," a police official posted in Latur said. "The incident occurred yesterday evening after which bodies of seven workers were taken out. Early today two more bodies were recovered from the tank."
One worker, who was rescued in an unconscious state, was hospitalized at a nearest medical facility.
"He is undergoing treatment at Vivekanand hospital here," the official said.
Police registered a case and ordered a probe into the mishap.
Witnesses told media they came to know about the incident when the workers did not came out for long and fellow workers who went to check on them too got stuck.
"Bodies were found stacked inside the tank," a fire service official said. "Primarily it appears workers have died due to inhaling poisonous gas but exact reason will be known only after the post mortem of bodies is carried out."
Police have arrested four persons including the owner of the mill in connection with the mishap.
Labor union leaders in India often accuse factories and mills of ignoring safety standards vis-a-vis workers.
RIYADH, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Two crew members aboard a Saudi frigate were killed and three other injured in a Houthi attack off western Yemen, Saudi Press Agency has reported.
The suicide attack involved three boats, a Saudi-led coalition against Houthi militias in Yemen said late Monday.
The coalition said one of the boats collided with the Saudi warship and exploded, causing a fire at the rear of the ship.
The Houthi rebel group has claimed responsibility for the attack west of the port of Hodeida.
"The targeted Saudi warship was taking part in the aggression against the Yemeni western coastal cities and fishermen," Houthi-run Saba news agency said, quoting a statement issued late Monday night.
The command of the Saudi-led coalition described the Houthi attack as a "terrorist" operation that affects international navigation and disrupts the flow of humanitarian and medical assistance into the port for Yemeni citizens.
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Former UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who returned to his home country earlier this month, on Tuesday proposed a constitutional amendment before the South Korean presidential election expected to be held earlier than scheduled.
Ban told a press conference at his office in Seoul that he offers to push the constitutional revision before the presidential election by forming a consultative body, comprising representatives from all political parties and factions.
The former UN head, whose second, five-year term terminated at the end of last year, arrived in South Korea on Jan. 12.
He has not officially declared his run for the presidency, but he has been regarded as the best hope in the conservative bloc as support for the ruling Saenuri Party sank with the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.
Ban, however, had seen his approval rating decline following his comeback to his home country for his mistakes during the so-called "people-friendly" trip across the country and local media speculations about his involvement in a bribery scandal.
Ban is estimated to have proposed the constitutional amendment to combine support from potential presidential candidates in all political camps except for Moon Jae-in, the current frontrunner and former head of the biggest opposition Minjoo Party.
The impeachment of President Park, which was passed in the parliament on Dec. 9, kindled hopes for changes to the presidential power. It increased public support for presidential hopefuls in the opposition bloc.
Ban, a career diplomat who has no experience in the political sphere, is seeking to appeal to the public with his expertise in the diplomatic field.
Under the revised constitution, Ban could serve as a president tasked only with diplomacy and security, together with a prime minister in charge of domestic affairs.
Ban told reporters that the current power structure, under which a president exercises an imperial power, should be changed by revising the constitution, offering to abolish the single, five-year presidential term. He said that the decentralized presidential system would be desirable for South Korea.
The constitutional amendment before the presidential election has been viewed as being almost impossible due to lack of time. An election to replace the impeached leader is widely expected to be held in late April or in May if the constitutional court upholds the impeachment motion.
Under the original schedule, the presidential election is set to be held in December this year.
Ban said the revised constitution can be put to a referendum three months before the early presidential poll.
He added that whether to enter any existing political party or create his own party will be decided as early as possible.
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday vowed to seize the property of self-exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy, including the party's headquarters, if he wins a defamation lawsuit.
Hun Sen filed a defamation lawsuit on Jan. 18 against Rainsy, leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), for accusing him of giving 1 million U.S. dollars to social media celebrity Thy Sovantha to attack the CNRP.
The prime minister demanded a compensation of 1 million U.S. dollars from the opposition leader.
"I'm waiting for the verdict to be finalized. This time, I take money. I'm demanding 1 million U.S. dollars," Hun Sen said during a parliamentary session.
"I heard that the party's headquarters is registered under Sam Rainsy's name, so the party's headquarters will be auctioned," he said.
The prime minister said that when the verdict is finalized, he will ask the court to freeze Sam Rainsy's property for auction, and the money would be used to build houses for disabled people.
Rainsy, 67, has been living in exile in France since November 2015 to avoid a two-year imprisonment over defamation charge.
In December 2016, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court also sentenced, in absentia, him to another five years in prison for conspiring to incite chaos in the country through posting fake documents on his Facebook page.
On Tuesday, Hun Sen also proposed that the parliament amend the Law on Political Parties to include a provision that would ban convicts from serving as the president of a political party.
The kingdom's parliament currently comprises 123 seats, including 68 from the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and 55 from the CNRP.
CAPE TOWN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday expressed regret over the readmission of Morocco to the African Union (AU).
The ANC "notes the regrettable decision" by the AU to readmit Morocco into the organization, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said in a statement.
The 54-member AU voted overwhelmingly to readmit Morocco following a lengthy debate at the 28th AU Summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Monday. Thirty-nine of the 54 states approved Morocco's return to the AU.
"This decision represents a significant setback to the cause of the Sahrawi people and their quest for self-determination and independence in the Western Sahara," Kodwa said.
The ANC notes that the AU decision paves the way for the Kingdom of Morocco to take their place amongst the community of nations and to enjoy the benefits of AU membership, whilst the Sahrawi people continue to suffer under an unjust occupation of their ancestral land, Kodwa said.
By readmitting Morocco into the AU is tacitly endorsing the longstanding occupation of the Western Sahara, the ANC claims.
Morocco has to date failed to comply with successive UN resolutions on the issue of the Western Sahara, most importantly the holding of a referendum on self-determination, the ANC says.
It was mainly countries led by former liberation movements on the continent, amongst them South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique as well as Botswana and Algeria, which opposed the decision. All of these countries have been active supporters of the rights of the Sahrawi people and their right to an independent homeland.
"The ANC, whilst respecting the decision of the AU, hopes that in coming months the AU will not allow the matter of the independence of Western Sahara to be swept under the carpet of political expediency. Rather the quest for the self-determination by the people of Western Sahara takes centre stage on the AU agenda," Kodwa noted.
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony under dispute since 1975 between Morocco and the Polisario Front which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a government-in-exile in Tindouf, southwestern Algeria.
The Western Sahara has been on the UN list of non-self-governing territories since 1963. A UN-led process of negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario is lagging behind.
Morocco says it is ready to grant autonomy rule to Sahrawi people, while the Algeria-backed Polisario demands holding a self-determination referendum.
The ANC keeps longstanding fraternal ties with the Polisario Front and the SADR.
TEHRAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said here Tuesday that U.S. companies can establish themselves in Iran's oil projects, Iran's Labour News Agency (ILNA) reported.
"If U.S. companies want to work in Iran's oil industry, there will be no restriction for them from Iran's side," he was quoted as saying.
However, "no American company has directly applied to work in Iran's oil industry so far," Zanganeh told ILNA.
The remarks followed U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive order to restrict immigration from seven Muslim countries, including Iran, that he said are "compromised by terrorism."
Earlier January, the National Iranian Oil Company invited 29 companies from 14 countries to submit tenders for the country's oil and gas projects.
The move represents a big step to open up Iran's oil and gas fields to Western investment, Iran's Petro-Energy Information Network said.
ABUJA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A child suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device at a mosque in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno early Tuesday, killing one other person, a national emergency response team said.
In a short electronic message to Xinhua, the northeast office of Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the incident occurred at a mosque in Dalori town located on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The suicide bomber was aged between eight and 10 years old, said Abdulkadir Ibrahim, a spokesman of NEMA in the region.
According to him, the body of the bomber was so mangled and shredded that only health personnel or experts could determine whether it was that of a boy or a girl.
Terror group Boko Haram, which has killed more than 20,000 and displaced 2.3 million people since the current insurgency started in 2009, is believed to be responsible for the suicide attack.
The terror group claimed responsibility for two suicide attacks on a mosque inside the staff quarters of the University of Maiduguri in Borno State on Jan. 16.
At least five people were killed and 15 injured in that particular attack carried out by a seven-year-old boy and an adult, according to local police.
Dalori Quarters, where Tuesday's attack occurred, is close to the University of Maiduguri.
Boko Haram is suspected to be regrouping in Maiduguri after the Nigerian military dislodged them from the Sambisa Forest, their last enclave in the West African country, last month.
JUBA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has called for the need of an inclusive political solution in South Sudan, urging warring Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the SPLA-in-Opposition to cease hostilities and protect civilians from crossfire.
In a statement received in Juba, the EU expressed concern about the continuing spread of fighting and the risk of inter-communal violence escalating into mass atrocities, and the dire humanitarian situation in the country.
"The population of South Sudan must be spared further suffering. An immediate cessation of hostilities must be accompanied by a process of political consultation that is representative of, and trusted by, the entire population of South Sudan," the EU said.
The world's youngest nation has faced ongoing challenges since a political face-off between President Salva Kiir and his then former Vice-President Riek Machar erupted into full blown conflict between forces loyal to each in December 2013.
The crisis has produced one of the world's worst displacement situations with immense suffering for civilians.
Despite the August 2015 peace agreement that formally ended the war, conflict and instability have also spread to previously unaffected areas of the country, sparking a humanitarian crisis.
The EU, which echoed a statement issued by the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN on Sunday, said an inclusive political process should be initiated without delay and without obstacles.
"There are no shortcuts to full and fair representation," said the EU and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged the parties to ensure an inclusive political process in the proposed National Dialogue and in the implementation of the peace deal.
The EU said it stands ready both to support such an effort and further to strengthen and enhance international cooperation in support of the South Sudan peace process.
RABAT, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- One Moroccan was killed and three others wounded in Sunday's attack on a mosque in the Canadian city of Quebec, local media reported on Tuesday.
Citing sources at Morocco's consulate in Quebec, Hespress news site said that one of the wounded was in critical condition.
The mosque attack in Quebec left six dead and eight others wounded.
A Canadian political science student was charged on Monday with six counts of murder over the shooting spree.
A refugee mother and her child look outside of a window at a hospital in Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya, May 8, 2015. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
NAIROBI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- About 6.5 million children are at risk of hunger in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia due to severe drought that is ravaging several parts of the Horn of Africa region, Save the Children has warned.
The charity said in a statement received in Nairobi on Monday that nearly half a million children in the region are already suffering from severe malnutrition.
"Thousands of families (in Somalia) are on the move in search of food and water, and many are now crossing the border into Ethiopia -- which is dealing with its own effects of the drought -- in search of help," it said.
Several seasons of either failed or erratic rainfall have led to severe water shortages and the death of livestock, leaving nearly 15 million people across the three countries in urgent need of assistance.
According to the charity, 77 percent of children being screened on arrival in Dollo Ado camp are showing signs of malnutrition.
It said with the next rainy season expected to bring below-average rainfall across the region, the situation for already desperate children and families in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya will only get worse, leaving millions at risk of hunger, and even death.
"The lives of millions are at stake. We must not allow many of the same past errors that resulted in the deaths of 130,000 children under five during the last Somalia famine alone, to be repeated," said John Graham, Ethiopia Country Director for Save the Children.
With nearly half its population (five million people) facing severe food and water shortages, the charity said Somalia is now on the verge of a famine.
Malnutrition rates across Somalia have already reached critical levels and are expected to worsen in the coming weeks.
In Ethiopia, the drought is forcing many children to drop out of school, leaving them at risk of early marriage and forced migration.
While the Ethiopian government worked to mitigate the effects of last year's drought, the country is appealing for 948 million U.S. dollars in funding -- of which it has already committed over 47 million dollars -- to help 5.6 million people in need.
In Kenya, more than 1.25 million people are in urgent need of food, with hunger levels expected to worsen over the coming months.
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government troops killed five Abu Sayyaf militants while 9 others, including 2 soldiers, were wounded in a gun battle Tuesday in the southern hinterland of Sulu, a security official said.
Troops from the army Scout Ranger initially encountered a big number of Abu Sayyaf led by Alhabsy Misaya at the village of Pugad Manaul, Panamao town, said Lt. Col. Franco Raphael Alano, acting spokesman of Western Mindanao Command.
Alano said the militants withdrew with undetermined casualties after the 30-minute gun battle.
He said fighting raged as blocking troops from the 1st Infantry Battalion tracked down the withdrawing Abu Sayyaf group, sparking an almost one-hour firefight.
"Bag packs and heavy bloodstains were noticed in the encounter site," Alano said.
Alano said the troops have pressed on its pursuit to rescue the remaining 27 hostages still in the captivity of Abu Sayyaf group.
The Philippine military is conducting all-out operations against terrorists and extremists and it plans to defeat the terrorist groups in six months under President Rodrigo Duterte's order.
TIRANA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Albania saw a significant increase in the export of fruits and vegetables in 2016, the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) said on Tuesday.
Revenues from fruit and vegetable exports reached 7.9 billion leks (61.5 million U.S. dollars) in 2016, an increase of 4,000 percent from 2007, according to official data.
The result was attributable to an increase in farmland and policies implemented in the last 10 years, INSTAT experts said.
Albania's agricultural sector contributes 41 percent of the country's employment and 22 percent of its GDP, according to Eurostat data for 2015.
However, the country imported 8.3 billion leks (65.3 million dollars) of fruits and vegetables in 2016, more than it exported, according to data on foreign trade.
ASTANA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan intelligence agencies prevented 12 violent extremist acts in 2016, Sergei Shveikin, deputy chief of the anti-terrorist center of the Kazakh National Security Committee, said on Tuesday.
"Last year we faced a difficult situation -- the so-called single-Jihad. In 2016, 12 violent extremist acts were prevented at the early stage of preparation and 182 people were convicted in Kazakhstan, among which three were convicted for financing terrorism, who were members of international terrorist organizations," said Shveykin at an international meeting against terrorism in Astana.
The deputy chief added that Kazakhstan arrested and handed over five foreign extremists to other partner states. Besides, the Kazakh National Security Committee contributed to the arrest of 14 international terrorist organization members.
Eight people were killed in terrorist attacks on two weapon shops and a military unit in Aktobe on June 5, 2016. The Specialized Inter-District Criminal Court of the Aktobe region convicted 29 people in connection with the terrorist attack, among whom seven have been sentenced to life in prison and two received 25 and 22 years of imprisonment respectively.
JAKARTA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy on some Muslim-majority nations can raise "suspicion" toward Muslims.
"It can raise suspicion especially toward Muslims," Kalla said at the vice presidential office.
He said the risks of the policy would finally backfire, such as the recent protests in the United States, reminding that it could endanger the unity of the United States itself.
The immigration policy would also lead the immigrants shifting their destination to Asia, said Kalla, citing that Indonesia is open for them.
"Based on experience, we welcome them all, including Rohingya refugees and Afghan refugees," he added.
Indonesia is not included in the blacklist of nations - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - whose citizens have been temporarily barred from entering the United States.
Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim country with most of its 250-million population Islamic followers.
Photo released by Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID) on Jan. 31, 2017 shows visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) inspecting guard of honor at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. (Xinhua/PID)
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has started his three-day visit to Pakistan, will inaugurate the newly constructed Palestine Embassy Complex in Islamabad on Tuesday, officials said.
President Abbas, accompanied by a 17-member delegation including five ministers, arrived in the Pakistani capital late Monday. Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain received the Palestinian leader on his arrival.
This is Abbas' third visit to Pakistan. He has previously been to Pakistan in 2005 and 2013.
During the visit, the Palestinian president will have a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan's prime minister, followed by delegation-level talks, a foreign ministry statement said.
Photo released by Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID) on Jan. 31, 2017 shows Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) and visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas inspecting guard of honor at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. (Xinhua/PID)
Abbas and his delegation will also meet with the president of Pakistan, followed by a state banquet in his honor. Bilateral political issues as well as other issues of common interests will be discussed between the two heads of state.
President Hussain told the Palestinian president at the reception ceremony that Pakistani people kept the Palestinians close to their hearts and reiterated Pakistan would always raise the Palestine issue at all fora.
President Abbas welcomed the sentiments and said he considered Pakistan as his second home, radio Pakistan reported.
A lion rests at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, July 23, 2016. The Maasai Mara National Reserve, popularly known as Africa's Greatest Wildlife Reserve, is a great tourist attraction center as it offers visitors an opportunity to observe the Africa's "big five": lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo and rhino. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei)
NAIROBI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan wildlife authorities have invested in strong measures to ensure swift response to attacks on human beings by carnivores and big mammals in protected parks, officials said on Monday.
Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Kitili Mbathi said deaths linked to wildlife attacks have reduced dramatically thanks to quick response by rangers manning national parks and game reserves.
"Though deaths linked to wildlife attacks are a rare phenomenon nowadays, we have put strong measures in place to ensure they do not occur. We always prioritize saving the lives of citizens who encounter hostile animals," Mbathi told Xinhua.
Mbathi said Kenya has always prioritized the safety of visitors to wildlife sanctuaries though it is hard to predict when the attacks can occur.
"Our animals are not in a zoo but in free range territories where they can attack humans at the slightest provocation. Nevertheless, we always encourage visitors to the parks to keep a distance from the roaming wildlife," Mbathi said.
He clarified that killing an animal that has attacked a human being is always the last option.
A dead lion is seen in Isinya, Kenya, on March 30, 2016. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers on Wednesday shot dead a stray lion after it had attacked and injured a man in Isinya, Kajiado County in southeast of Nairobi. (Xinhua/Allan Mutiso)
"We only kill an animal if the lives of human beings in the vicinity are in grave danger. Rangers usually tranquilize an animal in a bid to rescue the victim," Mbathi told Xinhua.
He disclosed that wildlife rangers recently managed to dis-empower a leopard that had attacked a passerby at Tsavo National park and could not kill it because it was too old and fragile.
Kenya was in the global spotlight mid last year when lions strayed from Nairobi National Park and roamed in the nearby residential areas.
Wildlife rangers managed to return the big cats to the parks after combing the residential areas while armed to deter attack on passerby.
In another tragic incident, a stray lion nicknamed Mohawk was shot dead by rangers when it attacked people on the southern edges of Nairobi National Park.
DHAKA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government has asked the relevant state bodies to reserve 30 percent space in the country's economic and export-processing zones for women entrepreneurs, an official said on Tuesday.
The Industries Ministry official who declined to be named said Bangladeshi Prime Minister's Office made the decision at a meeting.
Also at the meeting, relevant government bodies including Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) have been instructed for further steps in this regard, he said.
The official said the government is setting up a special economic zone exclusively for women entrepreneurs to pave the way for their participation in more economic activities. Enditem
ANKARA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of 30 Islamic State (IS) terrorists were killed in Turkish military operations in al-Bab of northern Syria in the last 24 hours, the Turkish General Staff said on Tuesday.
The army shelled 207 targets belonging to the terrorists, destroying hideouts, defense positions, command centers, weapons and vehicles, it said in a statement.
A total of 3,550 improvised explosive devices and 55 mines have been destroyed since last August, when Turkey launched Euphrates Shield Operation against both the IS and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).
Turkey regards the YPG and the PYD as terrorist organizations due to their links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.
Photo released by Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID) on Jan. 31, 2017 shows Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) and visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas inspecting guard of honor at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Xinhua/PID)
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged the international community on Tuesday to play its role in just resolution of the Palestinian issue.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after their talks in Islamabad, Sharif said ensuring peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without just settlement of the Palestine-Israeli dispute.
The Palestinian president arrived in Islamabad on a three-day visit late Monday on his third visit to Pakistan. He is leading a 17-member delegation including five ministers.
Abbas and Sharif jointly inaugurated the newly-constructed Palestine Embassy Complex in Islamabad.
Sharif said the new embassy building in Islamabad would be a symbol of the brotherly relations.
The Government of Pakistan had gifted a plot of land in 1992 for the construction of the Palestinian Embassy Complex. Subsequently, in 2013 Pakistan also contributed towards its construction.
The two leaders earlier held bilateral talks and exchanged views on regional issues and the challenge of terrorism.
Nawaz Sharif called for implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territory.
"Pakistan is firm in its support for the just cause of Palestinian people," Nawaz Sharif said.
The Palestine president thanked Pakistan for its steadfast support for the cause of Palestinian people besides financial assistance and scholarships for Palestinian students in Pakistani universities.
HELSINKI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser, who's on a visit to Finland, said on Tuesday that he did not believe the relations between Moscow and Washington would improve during the new U.S. presidency.
Talking to Finnish national broadcaster Yle, Mikser said he hoped that the U.S. would not deal with the sanctions against Russia in a wrong way.
He insisted that Russian pullout from Crimea and adherence to the Minsk peace deal should be the requirement.
Mikser also dismissed speculations that spheres of interest of great powers would re-emerge in Europe. He said the NATO security guarantees for Estonia would hold during the new U.S. administration.
Russian ties with the United States and other NATO members experienced a record low during the Obama administration, mainly due to the Crimea issue, the Ukrainian crisis and the hacking accusations.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to stabilize and deepen bilateral cooperation during a phone conversation on Saturday, according to the Kremlin.
"The two sides expressed willingness to work actively together to stabilize and develop Russian-American cooperation on a constructive basis, as equals, and to mutual benefit," the Kremlin said in a statement issued after the two presidents' first phone conversation since Trump's inauguration last week.
And Putin was also among the first leaders of major powers to send congratulations to Trump after the result of the U.S. presidential election was announced in November.
ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has commended the "extraordinary" unity and leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the peaceful transition of Gambia.
In his address to the 28th African Union Summit on Monday, the UN secretary-general said the unity in ECOWAS and the restraint of the Gambian people in the face of possible conflict was commendable.
"The extraordinary union showed by ECOWAS is even a lesson to the world," he said.
"When we see so many conflicts multiplying, the only way to allow the international community to be able to address those conflicts, the only way to allow the international community to act boldly, is with unity of the countries of the region, able to serve together and in the same universal principles," he said.
"Our world needs to move from managing crises to preventing them in the first place. Too often the world responds too late and too little. I look forward to exploring with you how to break that cycle."
Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh departed Gambia peacefully following ECOWAS' intervention after he had refused to hand over power to President Adama Barrow who beat him in elections held in December 2016, recalled a UN statement on Tuesday.
Guterres outlined several areas, including peace and security, where the UN and Africa could work together to improve the lives of the ordinary people.
The United Nations will step up its support to further promote good governance and reinforce the nexus between peace, security and development, said Guterres, adding the UN will support African efforts to realize its initiative to "Silence the Guns by 2020", or even before, including by strengthening support for the African Peace and Security Architecture.
"It is also very important that we are able to promote long-term thinking and commitment to building and maintaining peace after conflict ends to prevent backsliding," said Guterres.
The Secretary General has pledged his full commitment to working with AU in solidarity and respect to advance peace and security on the continent and realize the vision of Agenda 2063.
He said he intended to work with AU to present a set of concrete proposals to the Security Council on predictable, reliable and sustainable financing for AU peace operations.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the outgoing Chairperson of the AU Commission, led the assembled leaders in honoring ECOWAS for ensuring a peaceful transition in the Gambia.
Liberian President Johnson Sirleaf received a present on behalf of ECOWAS from the pan-African bloc.
"You made us proud as you stood by the people of The Gambia and defended the values of our Union," said Dlamini-Zuma.
"Our thank to all those who participated and remained steadfast. We are particularly proud that it was under your stewardship as our first elected female President. You are a pioneer and inspiration to all women and men."
NAIROBI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya Airways said Tuesday its recovery strategy continues to bear fruit as passenger traffic grew by 2.3 percent in the third quarter (October-December 2016) compared to the same quarter prior year.
The airline said it flew 102,749 passengers to Europe, a growth of 2.8 percent, despite a 0.7 percent capacity decline, driving the seat occupancy level to a higher Cabin Factor of 83 percent compared to prior year's 80 percent.
"Despite a reduction of 15.6 percent in capacity, the uplifted passenger traffic at 138,700 in the Middle East and Far East regions showed a decline of 6.8 percent on prior year level, but an improvement of 5.3 percent from 65.9 percent to 71.2 percent cabin factor," it said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
The company said passenger numbers in Africa, excluding Kenya, grew by 5.2 percent to 530,842 during the quarter compared to same period the prior year.
The achieved passenger Cabin Factor improved by 3.4 percent to 65.6 percent compared to prior year. In Kenya, passengers grew to 347,136, a 10.3 percent increase, driving Cabin Factor up by 3.3 percent to 79.0 percent.
The airline put into the market place a total capacity of 3,553 million seat kilometres compared to 3,676 million offered in a similar period prior year, representing a 3.4 percent reduction year on year.
"During this quarter the airline continued its network optimisation, enhancing operations into the Indian Ocean Island of Zanzibar via Kilimanjaro and to Capet Town via Livingstone," Kenya Airways said.
The capacity offered into Europe, using the Boeing 787, remained largely at par with the prior year.
Capacity offered into the Middle East, China and India declined compared to same period the prior year as the airline deployed the Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft, as compared to the higher capacity Boeing 777-300 largely used in the previous year.
During the period the airline continued to invest in Africa, its mainstay. Capacity offered to Northern Africa region grew by 9.6 percent compared to prior year driven by increased frequencies to Addis Ababa and Juba.
In the East African region capacity grew by 7.1 percent driven by more operations on the Boeing 737-800, which has a higher capacity, and additional frequencies.
Capacity offered into West, South and Central African regions grew by 2.5 percent compared to same period in the prior year with the introduction of the Nairobi-Entebbe-Bangui route, as well as the Nairobi-Doula-Bangui flight.
The airline, however, suspended Gaborone and Abuja operations in November in an effort to optimize operations in Africa during the quarter.
During this quarter the airline said it continued to operate a smaller fleet more efficiently, as part of its recovery strategy.
The total passengers uplifted by the more efficient airline stood at 1.12 million, 4.8 percent growth, achieving a cabin factor of 72 percent compared to 68 percent achieved during the same period last year.
YANGON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's investigation commission on armed attacks in Rakhine state has postponed date for releasing overall report, which was originally assigned to report to the president on Tuesday, announced Myanmar's President Office.
The date was postponed as the new acquisitions concerned with human right abuses are appearing in Rakhine state.
The report will be released when the investigation process is completely accomplished.
Three border outposts in Maungdaw, Rakhine state were under violent attack by armed men on Oct. 9 last year in which nine policemen and five soldiers were killed. A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in Maungtaw since Oct. 10.
Following the incident, the government formed a 13-member investigation commission, led by Vice President U Myint Swe, to probe into the background of the Oct. 9 violent attack.
Tasked to formally report to the president by Jan. 31, the commission released an interim report on Jan. 4, exposing that the armed attacks in Maungdaw were conducted by Havid Tuhar-led Aqa Mul Mujahidin linked with Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) operating in the region.
The commission members visited Maungtaw in December last year and this January for two rounds of field trip, inspecting the attacked villages and security camps.
NAIROBI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's exports into the European Union (EU) will not be affected even if the East Africa Community (EAC)-EU trade agreement is not signed and ratified by all members by the Jan. 31 deadline, Kenya's officials said on Tuesday.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of Economic Affairs and International Trade Nelson Ndirangu told Xinhua in Nairobi that Kenya has already met its obligations under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
"Kenya will therefore not be punished even if other EAC countries have not signed and ratified the deal before the deadline lapses," Ndirangu said.
So far only Kenya and Rwanda in the EAC have signed the EPA agreement with the EU. EAC member states negotiating the deal are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
Under the EPA, Kenya is classified as a developing country while the other EAC states are classified as Least Developing Countries and so their goods will still access the EU market duty free even if they don't sign the agreement.
The initial deadline for the agreement to be signed by all the EAC member states was October 2016, but the EU pushed it to January 31 in order to give time for the EAC states to sign the deal.
Ndirangu said that Kenya would prefer if all the EAC partner states went along together but if for some reason others don't sign, Kenya will proceed with implementing the agreement.
He noted that Kenya has to sign the agreement so that its goods can enter the EU market at preferential terms.
Without the agreement, Kenyan goods will be charged import duty by the EU and this will erode the competitiveness of its products.
The EU is Kenya's largest export market after Africa and absorbs majority of its cut flowers and horticultural exports.
JERUSALEM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday backtracked on a statement seen as praising U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for a wall along the Mexican border, following strong protest from Mexico City.
In a tweet on his personal account on Saturday evening, Netanyahu wrote "President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea."
The tweet, referring to a high-tech fence between Israel and Egypt to prevent African asylum seekers from entering Israel from the Sinai desert, was retweeted 53,000 times.
The tweet sparked anger in Mexico, with the foreign ministry expressing "profound astonishment, rejection and disappointment over Prime Minister Netanyahu's message."
"Mexico is a friend of Israel and should be treated as such by its prime minister," the ministry said in a statement.
Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray urged Israel to apologize and clarify its position on the controversial wall. "We are expecting a clarification, a rectification."
"I think that an apology would be something appropriate in this case," Videgaray told Mexican Televisa network. "We hope that the government of Israel has sensitivity to correct this position."
Netanyahu's remark on Saturday was also criticized within Israel, with Interior Minister Arye Dery urging him to apologize to prevent a looming diplomatic crisis.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu said his tweet "did not comment about U.S.-Mexico relations," adding the incident was a "misunderstanding."
"I did point out the remarkable success of Israel's security fence," he told an annual cyber conference in Tel Aviv. "We've had, and will continue to have, good relations with Mexico."
"I've had a long, fruitful and very friendly relationship with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and it will continue," Netanyahu said.
MANILA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government expressed concern on Tuesday over the series of attacks launched by the leftist rebels against its troops, saying it endangers the government unilateral ceasefire to smoothen the peace talks.
An army spokesman, Col. Bartolome Bacarro, said the military has tallied at least nine attacks, including the ambush of soldiers in Isabela, a province in northern Philippines, last Monday. Two soldiers were killed in the attack, he said, accusing the rebel of insincerity in forging peace.
In Batangas province, south of Manila, the military said the rebels attacked a posh beach resort in Nasugbu town on Monday night. The rebels reportedly disarmed resort's security men and carted away an undermined number of high-powered firearms from the resort.
Bacarro said seven other rebel attacks against government troops and private companies were recently recorded in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Sarangani, Surigao del Norte and Compostela Valley, a province in the Davao region in the southern Philippines.
In Kiamba town in Sarangani province, the military claimed that rebels set on fire a passenger van on Monday. He said rebels abducted on Sunday a soldier in Alegria town in Surigao del Norte. The next day, he said that a solder was killed and three others wounded in an attack on Monday in Surigao City.
Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military is mulling to recommend the lifting of the unilateral ceasefire if the rebels continue their attacks.
Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza issued a statement on Tuesday, saying the government is "distressed and extremely disturbed by the recent (rebels') attacks and harassments" in various areas nationwide.
He said the government declared the truce to pave the way for the peace talks to end the decades-long insurgency.
"We do not wish to unnecessarily squander those gains that even saw (President Rodrigo) Duterte exercising strong political will to move the peace process forward," Dureza said.
He added, "Either some in the National Democratic Front leadership talking to the government are not in full control of their own forces on the ground, or they are themselves undermining these efforts for sustainable peace, or pressuring government for certain concessions."
Dureza said the Duterte administration "will definitely walk the extra mile for peace." However, he stressed the need for the other side to "also reciprocate accordingly and do the same."
Since 1986, the government has been trying to clinch a peace deal with the rebels but failed to make any headway. Peace negotiations with the rebels were suspended in 2011 and resumed last year after Duterte came to power. Enditem
TEHRAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned the United States on Tuesday against creating new tension over the missile program of the Islamic republic, official IRNA news agency reported.
Zarif expressed the hope that Iran's missile program would not be used as an excuse by the new U.S. administration to create new tension for his country.
"Iran would not allow others to decide on its defense program," IRNA quoted Zarif as telling in a joint press conference with his visiting French counterpart on Tuesday.
He denounced a recent executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump to restrict immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, saying the move would be a "shameful spot in history" for the new U.S. administration.
LONDON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Biologists in Britain have discovered a link between the human body clock and the risk of breast cancer, the University of Manchester announced Tuesday.
Chinese-born Dr. Qing-Jun Meng and Professor Charles Streuli have discovered that breast tissues have 24-hour body clocks, and that several hundred genes are regulated in a daily cycle.
They say their discovery may offer the first evidence of a link between breast biology, including breast cancer risks, and the human body clock.
They found that ageing of breast tissue has a central role in controlling these clocks.
A spokesman at the university explained: "Breast tissues get stiffer as they get older which, the authors found, causes the clocks to get weaker."
Higher mammographic density, or breast tissue stiffness, is a known risk factor for breast cancer, according to the spokesman, but the way that stiffness contributes to cancer is not known.
Research funded by Britain's Medical Research Council and Wellcome enabled the Manchester biologists to discover that the amplitude (strength) of clocks within breast cells is dependent on the biological stiffness of the tissue.
They also found that body clocks are needed for the production breast stem cells.
The weakening of clocks in ageing may therefore reduce normal stem cells, and it may help cause the tissue to become cancerous.
Their study was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.
Dr. Meng said: "We have discovered that tissue stiffness contributes to the age-dependent dysregulation of both clocks and stem cell function in the breast tissue."
"There is now a widening interest in the importance of stem cells for the formation of breast cancers - so our findings in relation to that are of much interest," explained Meng.
Prof Streuli said: "A lot of epidemiological work links both breast tissue density and body clock disruption to the risk of getting breast cancer. And now for the first time we've identified a biological link."
Meng is currently Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, at the University of Manchester. He obtained his first degree in medicine in China in 1996, as well as an MSc and doctorate, also in China.
In 2003, Meng began his post-doctoral training at the University of Manchester, eventually starting his own research group to continue his work into the roles of the cartilage circadian clocks in health and disease of the joint tissue.
Meng's journey into the world of body clocks started as he worked in China as a flight surgeon in the aviation industry.
He says the work as a flight surgeon and his ongoing research into how changes in the body's circadian rhythm during ageing cause disease are no so different.
"It sounds like discipline hopping, but some of the lectures I gave to pilots were about body clocks and jet lag. That was when I first got interested in the field," he said.
MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's attacks against insurgents in the eastern region of Donbass have torpedoed the Minsk agreements, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
Ukrainian nationalist volunteer battalions supported by artillery fire crossed the line of contact on Monday, and the militia of Donbass had to repel their offensive, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS news agency.
"These aggressive actions, with the support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, are hurting the objectives and tasks of the implementation of the Minsk agreements," said Peskov.
The Kremlin lamented victims on both sides as a result of the attacks, he added.
Kiev launched a military operation in the country's southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new pro-West Ukrainian authorities. Violence has been plaguing the Donbass region since then.
The two sides reached a peace agreement brokered by Russia, France and Germany in September 2014 in Belarussian capital of Minsk, and a more detailed renewal of the agreement was signed in February 2015.
The Minsk deals envisage a cease-fire, a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the contact line, a prisoner exchange, and holding local elections in Donbass, among other measures.
On Tuesday, Peskov suggested Moscow, Paris and Berlin should pressure Kiev to observe these documents.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday that his country remained committed to the Minsk agreements.
"There is no alternative to the deals," Poroshenko told a joint briefing in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who expressed her concern over the current situation in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces and the insurgents clashed heavily for a third straight day at a town in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, which have claimed the lives of at least 13 civilians and fighters on both sides since Sunday.
Poroshenko reportedly had cut short a visit to Berlin due to the situation.
ISTANBUL, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's tourism income dropped by nearly 30 percent year-on-year in 2016 as tourists chose to shun the country due to worsening security.
Turkey posted an income of 22.1 billion U.S. dollars from tourism last year, a sharp fall from 31.5 billion dollars in 2015, according to data released by the Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat) on Tuesday.
In 2016, Turkey welcomed 31.3 million visitors, a dip of 24.6 percent over the previous year, according to the latest figures.
"The decline in 2016 is very significant due to worsening security concerns and increasing terror threat in the country," Serdar Ibis, a member of board with Dorak-Itir Tours, told Xinhua.
Over the past one and a half years, Turkey has been hit by more than 30 bombing attacks, in which over 400 people were killed.
"In the meantime, all the optimistic expectations of Turkey's tourism sector have collapsed with the latest attack on Istanbul's Reina nightclub on New Year's Day," said Ibis.
The shooting attack inside the nightclub by an Islamic State militant left 39 people dead, mostly foreigners.
Ibis noted that foreign tourists in particular had been very much influenced by the attacks in Turkey as most of them had revised their travel plans for 2016 and 2017.
"Turkey as a center of attraction has dropped down to 4th or even 5th place in the eyes of foreign tourists," he added.
Nearly 73 percent of Turkey's tourism revenue comes from foreign arrivals, with 27 percent from Turks living abroad, according to TurkStat's figures.
While the country's tourism income in 2016 plummeted by almost 30 percent, tour operators saw their turnover dwindle by as much as 50 percent, Ibis said.
In his view, if stability returns soon to Turkey, "there will be some recovery in the second half of this year," as efforts are being made to draw potential foreign holidaymakers to the country.
MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency said Tuesday a Dutch-led team deliberately delayed a probe into the crash of the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight in 2014.
"The team wants to deliberately mislead public opinion," Oleg Storchevoy, deputy head of the Russian aviation regulator, was quoted by TASS news agency as saying.
A Boeing 777 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 298 people on board died, most of them Dutch citizens.
In September 2016, the joint investigation team, consisting of representatives of the Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia, Belgium and Ukraine, announced that the airplane was hit by an anti-aircraft Buk missile from the territory controlled by pro-Russian insurgents.
But Moscow refuted the results as "biased and politically motivated," and provided the Dutch-led team with data which were supposed to prove that the plane was shot down from the territory controlled by Ukrainian authorities.
On Saturday, Austrian Der Standart newspaper reported that the investigators were unable to decode images from the radar data provided by Russia as they did not conform with international standards.
Storchevoy said he is puzzled that the team has failed so far to decode the information and there are no international requirements for such kinds of data.
He added that the investigators did not request any assistance from Moscow, which is eager to provide experts and information "necessary for the public to know all about the truth."
TEHRAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned the United States on Tuesday against creating new tension over the missile program of the Islamic republic, official IRNA news agency reported.
Zarif expressed the hope that Iran's missile program would not be used as an excuse by the new U.S. administration to create new tension for his country.
Iran's tests of missiles fall outside the UN Security Council's Resolution 2231, Zarif said in a joint press conference with his visiting French counterpart on Tuesday, according to Press TV.
The resolution only points to the ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads, he said, adding that "We have announced that none of our ballistic missiles are designed to carry nuclear warheads."
"Our missiles are for... conventional warfare and serve the purpose of the Islamic republic's legitimate defense, thus falling outside the purview of Resolution 2231," he said.
Under the Resolution 2231, adopted on July 20, 2015, to endorse a nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.
"Iran would not allow others to decide on its defense program," IRNA quoted Zarif as saying.
He also denounced a recent executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump to restrict immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, saying the move would be a "shameful spot in history" for the new U.S. administration.
NAIROBI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's electoral body on Tuesday announced it had registered 1.5 million new voters as biting drought, apathy in some regions and insecurity hamper the exercise that started two weeks ago.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati said a target of 53.9 percent has been achieved since the final phase of mass voter registration exercise kicked off in mid January.
Chebukati told journalists that the voter registration exercise was going smoothly save for minor hiccups occasioned by drought, insecurity and poor infrastructure in remote counties.
"The mass voter registration exercise has been smooth but we are concerned about several challenges that include low turnout in high potential regions, drought in pastoral counties and transfer of voters," said Chebukati.
Kenya's electoral body targets 6 million new voters by Feb. 14 when the final phase of mass voter registration exercise ahead of August 8 polls is terminated.
Chebukati assured Kenyans the electoral agency had put in place adequate legal and technical safeguards to ensure the voter registration exercise is above board.
He revealed the electoral agency is rectifying anomalies like double registration while upgrading biometric voter registration kit to ensure accurate data is available to key stakeholders.
"We have invested in state of the art technology to ensure the August polls are carried out in a transparent and credible manner," Chebukati said.
He added the electoral agency is working on modalities to facilitate prisoners, students and Kenyans in Diaspora participate in the Aug. 8 general elections.
The Kenyan electoral agency has partnered with key stakeholders to ensure the ongoing voter listing concludes without major hitches.
Ezra Chiloba, the CEO of IEBC said Kenya has borrowed international best practices to ensure the voter registration exercise and the August general elections are conducted in an efficient manner to deter a political crisis.
ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- After leaving the pan African organization three decades ago, Morocco rejoined the African Union (AU) on Tuesday during the 28th African summit.
For over three decades since its withdrawal from the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which later became the African Union (AU), Morocco had not been part of the organization, but recently, the country has changed its stance towards the Union, making the readmission to the AU on the top of its agenda.
"It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long an absence. Africa is my continent and my home. I am finally home and I am happy to see you. I missed you all," King Mohammed VI of Morocco told African leaders at the closing ceremony of the 28th AU summit in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.
According to King Mohammed VI, Morocco has developed stronger ties with many African countries in the continent, despite the country's 33 years of nonattendance at the African Union.
"We have never broken up the ties. We have always been there and you could rely on us," said King Mohammed VI.
"Morocco has concluded many cooperation agreements with African countries over the past years," the King added.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco has also vowed to work in partnership with the rest of African Union member countries so as to realize that African resources utilized by African people.
"We want to give a new impetus to our continent... We have to deal with the problems of Africa," he said.
The outgoing African Union Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has also congratulated Morocco on its membership.
"This summit took a historic decision to reunite the African community of states, with its decision on the membership of the Kingdom of Morocco," she said.
"This provides a platform to strengthen African solutions to African problems, in furtherance of the principles and objectives of the Constitutive Act of our Union," she added.
BUCHAREST - China's Belt and Road Initiative can greatly benefit the world and significantly reshape the global economic development if certain risks are addressed, Jean-Pierre Lehmann, an expert on the international economy, said here Friday at a conference.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes. It has won support from over 100 countries and international organizations.
In his speech, Lehmann, who is also the founder of the Evian Group, said the initiative, involving $2.5 trillion and infusing 1.75 percent surplus into the world's gross domestic product (GDP), could bring huge economic benefits, if some challenges, like the new-asset quality and social unrest in some of the areas within the network, are overcome.
Reminding that "the narrative of the 21st century will be written in Asia by the Asians, and above all, by China as a regional and global power," Lehmann said that "China is already the main market for many countries, from Brazil to France ... there are Chinese interests across the world, from Seattle to Djibouti."
China's global dimension is already obvious, he suggested. "The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), set up in 2016, attracted even the US allies, and Obama failed to prevent them from joining the AIIB. China already set up 110 economic zones in 50 countries. In Xi'an (a city in China's northwest), the Summit of the Silk Road gathered 500 participants from 52 countries," he said.
Some 25 percent of the world economic growth comes from China, the expert said, adding that by 2030, China will become a high-income economy with strong harmonious relations and driven by creativity and power of ideas. "The Chinese economy was made by muscle, but now it's getting more with the brain, but many do not understand this!"
The world depends on China and China depends on the world, Lehmann said.
Deng Xiaoping, the late Chinese leader who initiated the reform and opening-up policies, said that China cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world. Three decades later, the world cannot do without China, the expert pointed out.
Lehmann also suggested there is strong competition when it comes to doing business with China. "Often, many countries seem to have the same competitive advantages, but you should keep up the discussion and build relations for business with the Chinese."
"In January 2017, the first freight train from Yiwu (in eastern China) to London became operational and Xi Jinping was the first Chinese president to come to Davos, this is staggering! We already speak of Eurasia. Things happen at an amazingly rapid pace," Lehmann said.
Whereas "China's foreign policy could reshape a good part of the world's economy," Lehmann said we should not conclude from this that China wants to be the hegemon.
BELGRADE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Prime minister of Serbia and Greece agreed here on Tuesday to start negotiations on reconstruction of the railway that connects Serbian capital city Belgrade and Greek northern city of Thessaloniki.
The visiting Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Tuesday.
After their meeting, Vucic said that one of the most important topics of their meeting was the 650 km-long joint railway project that would accelerate both passenger and cargo transport from Belgrade to Thessaloniki.
"Currently, a cargo train needs 49 hours to arrive there, and this needs to be decreased to 30 hours by year 2020. While passenger trains would need around six hours to reach Thessaloniki. This would significantly influence economic cooperation between the two countries," Vucic said.
According to the Servian PM, he agreed with Tsipras to establish a joint council of the two countries comprised of government members which will meet this spring to discuss details of the railway project, as well as other planned projects.
"We are fully prepared to get into this project, having in mind that we have a favorable situation in state budget," said Vucic.
Tsipras also highlighted the importance of the reconstruction of the railway line between Belgrade and Thessaloniki, saying the "modern railway network would enable citizens as well as goods from the port of Piraeus to reach Belgrade faster."
According to Tsipras, Greece is the third biggest investor in Serbia, and the two countries need to raise their relations to level of strategic cooperation.
He revealed that this spring in Thessaloniki the two governments will, besides the railway project, talk about initiating further cooperation in areas of energy, infrastructure, communication and technology.
The two prime ministers also discussed their relations and cooperation with other countries, including some outside the European Union.
"We talked about our relations towards partners who are not EU members and agreed it is necessary to maintain good relations with China, as well as Russia and other countries," Vucic said.
"I think that the opening of the New Suez Canal and the cooperation with China could turn Greece into a major hub, while Serbia could become a bridge connecting Western and Eastern Europe," Tsipras said.
Tsipras arrived in Belgrade together with a Greek state delegation for a two-day visit.
He was officially welcomed by Vucic and other government members in front of the Palace Serbia, before his meeting with Vucic, the first between the two government leaders after seven years.
Tsipras's agenda in Serbia also includes meetings with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic as well as participation in a Greece-Serbia business forum.
On Wednesday, the second day of his visit, Tsipras will meet with speaker Maja Gojkovic and lay wreath at the monument of the 18th century Greek revolutionary Rigas Feraios here in the Serbian capital.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Starbucks has announced a plan to hire 10,000 refugees over five years in 75 countries in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban.
"There are more than 65 million citizens of the world recognized as refugees by the United Nations, and we are developing plans to hire 10,000 of them over five years in the 75 countries around the world where Starbucks does business," Haward Schultz, the coffee retailer's chairman and CEO, said in a letter to employees on Sunday.
"And we will start this effort here in the U.S. by making the initial focus of our hiring efforts on those individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where our military has asked for such support," Schultz added.
Under the executive order Trump signed Friday, refugees from all over the world will be suspended U.S. entry for 120 days while all immigration from the so-called "countries with terrorism concerns will be suspended for 90 days."
Moreover, Schultz committed to offer Starbucks employees the access to health insurance even if the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, is repealed causing them to lose their healthcare coverage.
In open defiance against Trump's proposal to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, Schultz said the company is "building bridges, not walls, with Mexico," noting that "we will continue to invest in this critically important market all the same."
This is not the first time that the outspoken CEO took aim at some of Trump's agenda, including asking customers not to bring guns into stores.
Schultz is among CEOs of some of the world' s biggest companies who are fighting back against the controversial travel ban.
The heads of Apple, Ford and Goldman Sachs also said they don't support Trump's executive order.
The Starbucks decision also caused a stir on social media, with #BoycottStarbucks became a trending topic on Twitter immediately after the company's announcement.
Twitter user named "The Trump Train" tweeted that "Black American unemployment rate is double the national average but Starbucks is looking to hire refugees." The post has got more than 5,500 likes and 3,300 retweets as of Tuesday.
Still, there are many more Starbucks supporters including actress Jessica Chastain. Chastain tweeted that "#Starbucks plans to hire 10,000 refugees #buyStarbucks."
Another Twitter user named "The Vocal Majority" posted a photo showing a hand holding a cup of Starbucks coffee and said "doing my part to support Starbucks in the face of #boycottstarbucks."
Photo released by Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Jan. 31, 2017 shows Pakistan army spokesman, Major-General Asif Ghafoor speaks to media in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Pakistan army said on Tuesday the country is not involved in acts of terror in neighhbouring Afghanistan. (Xinhua/ISPR)
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan army said on Tuesday the country is not involved in acts of terror in neighhbouring Afghanistan.
Comments by the army spokesman, Major-General Asif Ghafoor, came at a time when relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is tense.
Both countries routinely accuse each other of loose border control that enable the militants cross the porous border for violent activities. Pakistan and Afghanistan have nearly 2,600 kilometers border, mostly porous.
"Afghanistan should take steps for improving management of its borders," General Ghafoor, Director-General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) told a news conference in his office.
"Pakistan desires peace and stability in Afghanistan. We support an Afghan owned and Afghan led reconciliation process for peace in the country," the military spokesman said.
Talking about the outcome of the security situation he said that sanctuaries of terrorists have been eliminated in the lawless tribal regions, which border Afghanistan.
"Most of the terrorists were killed in the operation while the remaining managed to take refuge in Afghanistan due to non-presence of troops on the other side of the border," he said.
General Ghafoor said leadership of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Talban Pakistan is hiding in Afghanistan, adding it is the stated policy of Pakistan that it will never allow its territory to be used against any other country.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) and his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault exchange signed documents of economic agreements in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 31, 2017. Iran and France on Tuesday signed five memoranda of understanding on expanding economic cooperation in areas such as airport development and fisheries. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)
TEHRAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran and France on Tuesday signed five memoranda of understanding on expanding economic cooperation in areas such as airport development and fisheries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his visiting French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, were present in the signing ceremony.
The documents cover development of Iran's Mashhad Airport, construction of a bioethanol factory in Kermanshah, fishery cooperation aimed of producing caviar, and technology transfer, semi-official Fars news agency reported.
In addition, Iran's Alborz Chamber of Commerce and a French company agreed to offer aviation training courses for Iran and regional countries.
During his meeting with Ayrault, Zarif hailed the upward trend in relations with France, saying bilateral trade in 2016, at more than 1.7 billion U.S. dollars, tripled as compared with the previous year.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran as a reliable partner is ready for sustainable economic cooperation on the basis of mutual interest with the European countries, especially with France," Zarif added.
For his part, Ayrault underlined his country's efforts to further develop trade and economic relations with Iran through the involvement of more French banks in interactions with Tehran.
"France has been active in guaranteeing exports to Iran and the French banks have played a role in this regard which shows France's confidence in trade with Iran," Ayrault said. "We will try to involve more banks."
He also pledged to facilitate visa issuance for Iranians.
"I have declared this issue to our embassy in Tehran and our ambassador is also taking action in this regard," Ayrault said.
Ayrault, who arrived in Iranian capital Tehran on Monday on a two-day visit, is also scheduled to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday said at a press conference that Bulgaria has been a valued ally for almost 13 years, making many important contributions to NATO's collective defence.
Welcoming Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, who has ever served as commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, at NATO headquarters, Stoltenberg said "I know that you will remain committed to NATO and to our shared security now in your new role as president."
He praised Bulgaria's contributions to the alliance, including providing troops in Kosovo and Afghanistan, and ships to NATO patrols in the Black Sea.
"The security environment which surrounds us is changing," NATO chief said, adding that "We are responding by increasing our presence both in the southeast of the alliance, and in the Baltic countries and in Poland."
Stoltenberg noted that plans for an enhanced NATO presence in the Black Sea region will be finalized at February's meeting of defence ministers, calling this "a strong sign of NATO solidarity."
He also encouraged Bulgaria to increase defence spending, underlining " security does not come for free."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech at a Cyber security conference in Tel Aviv, Israel January 31, 2017. (Reuters photo)
JERUSALEM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday backtracked on a statement seen as praising U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for a wall along the Mexican border, following strong protest from Mexico City.
In a tweet on his personal account on Saturday evening, Netanyahu wrote "President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea."
The tweet, referring to a high-tech fence between Israel and Egypt to prevent African asylum seekers from entering Israel from the Sinai desert, was retweeted 53,000 times.
The tweet sparked anger in Mexico, with the foreign ministry expressing "profound astonishment, rejection and disappointment over Prime Minister Netanyahu's message."
"Mexico is a friend of Israel and should be treated as such by its prime minister," the ministry said in a statement.
Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray urged Israel to apologize and clarify its position on the controversial wall. "We are expecting a clarification, a rectification."
"I think that an apology would be something appropriate in this case," Videgaray told Mexican Televisa network. "We hope that the government of Israel has sensitivity to correct this position."
Netanyahu's remark on Saturday was also criticized within Israel, with Interior Minister Arye Dery urging him to apologize to prevent a looming diplomatic crisis.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu said his tweet "did not comment about U.S.-Mexico relations," adding the incident was a "misunderstanding."
"I did point out the remarkable success of Israel's security fence," he told an annual cyber conference in Tel Aviv. "We've had, and will continue to have, good relations with Mexico."
"I've had a long, fruitful and very friendly relationship with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and it will continue," Netanyahu said.
A Syrian man walks past a cemetary in the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus, on January 30, 2017. (AFP/Xinhua)
ANKARA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of 30 Islamic State (IS) terrorists were killed in Turkish military operations in al-Bab of northern Syria in the last 24 hours, the Turkish General Staff said on Tuesday.
The army shelled 207 targets belonging to the terrorists, destroying hideouts, defense positions, command centers, weapons and vehicles, it said in a statement.
A total of 3,550 improvised explosive devices and 55 mines have been destroyed since last August, when Turkey launched Euphrates Shield Operation against both the IS and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).
Turkey regards the YPG and the PYD as terrorist organizations due to their links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Tuesday slammed the fighting in an eastern Ukrainian town, calling it a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire brokered by Russia, France, and Germany.
Ukrainian forces and insurgents clashed heavily for a third straight day on Tuesday, claiming at least 13 lives since Sunday.
"The intense fighting around Avdiivka in the last few days, involving heavy shelling with proscribed weapons and leading to a considerable number of casualties, is a blatant violation of the ceasefire, as stipulated by the Minsk agreements," a spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU's diplomatic service, said in a statement.
Stressing that civilians were at grave risk, the EU called for the fighting to stop immediately.
The EEAS did not mention who should be blamed for the fighting.
The two sides reached a peace agreement brokered by Russia, France, and Germany in September 2014 in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, and a more detailed renewal of the agreement was signed in February 2015.
The Minsk deals envisage a ceasefire, a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the contact line, a prisoner exchange, and holding local elections in Donbass, among other measures.
HELSINKI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A 32-year-old Finnish man was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting and harassing 28 underage girls, reported Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday.
The crimes took place from 2007 to 2015. The victims were minors who were under the age of 16.
The Helsinki District Court said the defendant had asked the girls to show their intimate body parts to him online and performed sexual acts in front of the computer camera.
He contacted some of the girls and met six of them. He had sex with the six girls several times.
Furthermore, the offender was found guilty of spreading pornographic pictures on the Internet.
In addition to the imprisonment, the offender was ordered to pay a total of 98,400 euros (106,200 U.S. dollars) to the victims.
The man was arrested in April 2015, and has been detained ever since, said the daily.
Last week, the Finnish police revealed that sex-related crimes increased by 12.6 percent and child sexual abuse cases had increased by 10 percent in Finland in 2016.
Teija Koskenmaki-Karaharju, detective chief inspector at the Helsinki Police Department, told Finnish media earlier that such cases were growing all the time and victims were getting younger. Not only girls, but also boys suffer from online sexual abuse.
ROME, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Italian authorities issued at least four arrest warrants on Tuesday in an operation against an alleged traffic of weapons towards Iran and Syria, local media reported.
The operation was coordinated by the anti-mafia District Directorate in Naples (DDA), and targeted three Italians and a Libyan national, according to Ansa news agency.
All of them were charged with trafficking weapons into Libya and Iran between 2011 and 2015, local media said citing sources of the prosecution office.
The trafficking would have concerned assault rifles, surface-to-air missiles, helicopters, and some foreign-made "dual-use" materials to be smuggled into Libya and Iran despite the arms embargo both countries were subject to.
The operation was countrywide, and carried out by Venice's finance police in Naples, Salerno, Rome, and L'Aquila. The three Italian suspects were arrested, while the Libyan man could not be traced, according to authorities.
Among the Italian suspects are a couple living in San Giorgio a Cremano at the outskirts of Naples. The man, 69, converted to Islam, and would have become radicalized.
Among other things, prosecutors in Naples suspected the couple to have smuggled weapons to an armed Libyan armed group linked to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, according to Ansa. The couple's son would also be under investigation, but not arrested.
The third Italian arrested is the chief executive of Societa Italiana Elicotteri, an aviation company headquartered at the Urbe Airport in the Italian capital, according to the firm's own website.
The owner of the company was already under investigation in a different probe launched in 2016 for allegedly smuggling arms, and recruiting mercenaries for Somalia.
The Libyan suspect was believed to be currently outside Italy, and there was so far no evidence he had direct contacts with terrorist groups, Italian AdnKronos news agency cited a colonel of the finance police in Venice running the operation as saying.
The investigation began in 2011, based on information gathered during an anti-mafia operation by Naples prosecutors against a Mafia clan.
KUNMING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Two drug traffickers have been killed in a shootout with police in southwest China's Yunnan Province during the lunar new year holiday, local police authorities said Tuesday.
The two resisted arrest and exchanged fire with police in Longchuan County of Dehong Prefecture early Saturday morning when entering China from Myanmar driving two sport utility vehicles, the prefecture's public security bureau said in a press release.
They also threw grenades at police officers. One suspect were shot dead at the site and the other were injured and died one day later in hospital, it said.
Two policemen were injured but the injuries were not life-threatening.
A total of 330 kg of heroin, meth and opium and one handgun and 10 bullets were seized in the police operation.
JERUSALEM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military on Tuesday ordered the residents of the illegal outpost of Amona in the West Bank to evacuate within 48 hours, local media reported.
A photo on the Ynet news site showed a notice signed by Maj. Gen. Roni Numa, the commander of the Israeli forces in the West Bank.
The notice was posted at the entrance of the outpost, Ynet and other Israeli outlets reported.
The military spokesperson unit did not have an immediate comment.
In 2014, Israel's top court ruled that Amona must be evicted because it was built on private Palestinian land. The court later set the final date for the eviction on Feb. 8.
The court was reportedly scheduled to rule later Tuesday on the government's proposal to allow Amona's settlers to relocate to an adjacent plot. However, the settlers already announced they reject the plan.
Amona, east of Ramallah city, is the largest of about 100 outposts which far-right settlers have erected in the West Bank without official permissions from the Israeli authorities.
The Israeli governments have often turned a blind eye to their construction.
Some 40 families live in Amona, which has become a symbol of Israel's defiance to the international pressure to halt the expansion of the settlements.
There are about 100 unauthorized outposts and 120 settlements that Israel considered as legal.
Both outposts and settlements are illegal under international law as they were built on lands occupied by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War, where the Palestinians wish to build their future state.
GENEVA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The head of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) has hailed China's role as a catalyst and as one "showing the way forward" in promoting the construction of a better world.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Michael Moller, director-general of UNOG, hailed Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Palace of Nations in Geneva.
"Particularly in today's world that is fragmented, confrontational and difficult, his message was extremely welcome," said Moller.
"I look forward to our working very closely together to make sure we move forward on what is basically a very common approach," said Moller.
In the face of climate change, migration, resource scarcity, water, health and financial issues, the world must cooperate to find solutions and reduce the impact of these global scourges on affected populations, he added.
Against this challenging backdrop, the UN official welcomed Chinese support for multilateralism, adding that the country can play a key role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris agreement on climate change, both adopted in 2015.
"There the role of China is really important as a catalyst, and showing the way forward," he said.
"China is a very important country. When it decides to go in a certain direction, a lot of people will follow. It's a leadership role," he added.
While wishing the Chinese people a happy lunar Year of the Rooster, he reminded that China's well being has a direct impact on people around the world.
"If things go well for China and the Chinese people, the chances are it's going to go well for a lot of other people around the planet....I wish that the year of the rooster will indeed bring good luck for everybody, especially for China and its people," he said.
On Jan. 15-18, President Xi paid a state visit to Switzerland, attended the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos and visited international organizations based in Switzerland.
LUSAKA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government has suspended the export of wood or logs of any timber tree species with immediate effect, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapata said timber export permits will only be issued for processed or sawn timber.
She told reporters during a press briefing at her office in Lusaka, the country's capital that the suspension was in accordance with Statutory Instrument Number 94 of 2015.
The government, she said, was concerned that there was illegal harvesting and trade of timber in the country, especially the Mukula tree, adding that the trend had reached alarming levels.
She went on to state that no round logs will be allowed to be moved from any concession area beyond 100 kilometers and that any trucks found carrying logs for exports will be impounded.
ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The African Union on Tuesday has requested the United Nations Security Council and other partners for more support to its peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in the fight against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
"AMISOM, as compared with other missions in Africa such as UN, we are still lacking enablers... The support AMISOM is getting needs to be scaled up and reinforced," said Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, on Tuesday within the framework of the 28th AU Summit being held in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.
He also noted that the salary of troops needs to be "taken seriously."
"In our view the best approach is to ask UN and the Security Council, who has the overall responsibility on peace and security, to make sure that we have salaries paid through [assessed] contribution so that our troops will be treated like others while we are combating in the most difficult environment," he said.
The AMISOM is in a period of transition. On April 28th 2016, the Peace and Security Council has renewed the mandate of the AU mission to Somalia until the end of March 2017.
According to Chergui, one of the major exit strategies is to train the Somali national forces so as to take over the situation starting from October 2018.
Briefing journalists on current peace and security situations in the African continent, he said that the pan-African block has successfully secured the election in Somalia and the process will be finalized next month after the presidential election.
The commissioner has also indicated that the peace keeping force is preparing to launch an offence to recover the last stronghold of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
ACCRA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Six children were killed when a kindergarten school building collapsed in Breman Gyambra, a town in the Central Region of Ghana, local media reported on Tuesday.
Several other pupils reported to be in critical condition are responding to treatment at a nearby hospital, according to a report on Citi Fm, a local radio in the capital.
The incident occurred Tuesday morning when the children's classroom block at the Bremen Gyambra Methodist School, some 130 km west of Accra, collapsed while class was in session, killing four learners on the spot.
Two others died later at the Breman Asikuma Government Hospital on Tuesday morning.
Eyewitnesses told local media that there had been cracks in the building housing the pupils aged between four and five years.
The police from the district command rushed to the scene to control the situation as people gathered to assist in the rescue operations.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday launched an appeal of 3.3 billion U.S. dollars to provide emergency assistance in 48 countries around the globe, against the backdrop of ever increasing number of children driven from their homes due to conflict, disasters and climate change.
A total of 48 million children living through some of the world's worst conflicts and other humanitarian emergencies will benefit from UNICEF's 2017 appeal, which was launched on Jan. 31, the UN agency said in a press release.
"From Syria to Yemen and Iraq, from South Sudan to Nigeria, children are under direct attack, their homes, schools and communities in ruins, their hopes and futures hanging in the balance," the press release noted.
"In total, almost one in four of the world's children lives in a country affected by conflict or disaster," it added.
The UN agency fears that an estimated 7.5 million children will face severe acute malnutrition across the majority of appeal countries, including almost half a million each in north east Nigeria and Yemen.
The situation is further complicated due to unavailability of accurate information in parts of the Lake Chad basin due to lack of access because of continuing activities of Boko Haram militants.
In Yemen, the worst affected areas include the capital, Sanaa, where 78 percent of children are chronically malnourished. Furthermore, many other areas have also seen growing deprivation, from Hodeida in the west to Taiz and now Aden to the south.
UNICEF's Humanitarian Action for Children sets out the agency's 2017 appeal and its goals to provide children with access to safe water, nutrition, education, health and protection in some of the world's worst conflicts and humanitarian emergencies.
"In country after country, war, natural disaster and climate change are driving ever more children from their homes, exposing them to violence, disease and exploitation," said UNICEF director of emergency programmes, Manuel Fontaine.
The largest single component of the appeal, or 1.4 billion U.S. dollars, is for children and families caught up in the conflict in Syria, which will soon enter its seventh year. This also includes Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, such as Jordan where, according to estimates, almost half of all refugee families have a child who is a breadwinner.
With enough funding, UNICEF hopes to reach 81 million people, including 48 million children with access to safe water, nutrition, education, health and protection.
UNICEF is particularly concerned about another slow-burning threat -- malnutrition.
"Malnutrition is a silent threat to millions of children," Fontaine said. "The damage it does can be irreversible, robbing children of their mental and physical potential. In its worst form, severe malnutrition can be deadly."
For his part, UNICEF's Yemen representative, Meritzell Relano, said that children in Yemen were locked in a "catastrophic" situation, with at least 10 million in need of some form of humanitarian assistance.
"Children are dying of malnutrition, that is for sure ... under-five mortality rate has increased to the point that we estimate that at least in 2016, 10,000 more children died of preventable diseases," she said.
The UN agency believes that as great as these challenges are, they're not insurmountable.
Thanks to donors, UNICEF saved lives every day in 2016, providing water to 13.6 million people, protection from measles to more than nine million children, education to over six million, and treatment for severe acute malnutrition to 2.2 million, in the first ten months of the year.
MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia called on Ukraine to "immediately stop armed provocations" in the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.
The ministry urges Ukranian government to observe the ceasefire, reached in Sept. 2014, in the southeast of Ukraine, where conflicts between Ukrainian government forces and pro-independence insurgents have recently escalated.
Ukrainian forces and insurgents clashed heavily for a third straight day, claiming at least 13 lives since Sunday.
"The southeast of Ukraine, which is already suffering due to the economic blockade of Kiev, is again on the verge of a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
A civil war broke out in southeast part of Ukraine in April 2014 after local residents refused to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities. Violence has been plaguing the Donbass region since then.
The two sides reached a peace agreement brokered by Russia, France and Germany in September 2014 in Belarussian capital of Minsk, and a more detailed renewal of the agreement was signed in February 2015.
The Minsk deals envisage a ceasefire, a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the contact line, a prisoner exchange, and holding local elections in Donbass, among other measures.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday that his country remains committed to the Minsk agreements.
"There is no alternative to the deals," Poroshenko told a joint briefing in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who expressed concern over the current situation in eastern Ukraine.
The European Union on Tuesday slammed the escalated fighting in eastern Ukraine and called for an immediate end to the fighting.
MADRID, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Tuesday issued a statement criticizing the decision taken by new U.S. President Donald Trump to prohibit the entry of citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen into the United States.
It says the Madrid-based UNWTO has long highlighted the importance of tourism and international travel, both for promoting sustainable economic growth in developing nations and increasing understanding between people from different countries and cultures.
The statement expresses the UNWTO's "deep concern and strong condemnation" of the ban, explaining such an action based solely on nationality was "contrary to the principles of freedom of travel and travel facilitation promoted by the international tourism community."
As a result, the ban, which has met with strong opposition and mass protests both in the United States and around the world, "will hinder the immense benefits the tourism sector brings in terms of economic growth and job creation to many countries... including the United States," says the statement.
UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai, a long-standing defender of freedom of movement, said that "isolationism and blind discriminatory actions will not lead to increased security, but rather to growing tensions and threats," warning the ban would have negative effects for the United States.
"The image of a country which imposes travel bans in such a hostile way will surely be affected among visitors from all over the world," which would risk lowering travel demand to the United States, Rifai said.
MADRID, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Spain's consumer prices shot up by 3 percent in January when compared with the same month of a year earlier, according to advanced data of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published on Tuesday by Spain's Statistical Office (INE).
The INE said the rise was mainly due to an increase in prices of electricity and fuels as opposed to the fall experienced by those items a year ago.
Prices of electricity have shot up over the last weeks due to several factors. The cold snap caused an increase in demand leading to price hikes.
The INE will confirm this figure on Feb. 15 when it will provide more information about the evolution of prices. If confirmed, the figure would be the highest since January 2011 when prices rose by 3.3 percent, and Spain's prices would have been rising year-on-year for five consecutive months.
Meanwhile, the INE reported that Spain's consumer prices fell by 0.5 percent from December to January.
A girl is pictured in front of a damaged building in Gorlovka, eastern Ukraine, on July 10, 2016.
MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's attacks against insurgents in the eastern region of Donbass have torpedoed the Minsk agreements, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
Ukrainian nationalist volunteer battalions supported by artillery fire crossed the line of contact on Monday, and the militia of Donbass had to repel their offensive, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS news agency.
"These aggressive actions, with the support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, are hurting the objectives and tasks of the implementation of the Minsk agreements," said Peskov.
The Kremlin lamented victims on both sides as a result of the attacks, he added.
Kiev launched a military operation in the country's southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new pro-West Ukrainian authorities. Violence has been plaguing the Donbass region since then.
The two sides reached a peace agreement brokered by Russia, France and Germany in September 2014 in Belarussian capital of Minsk, and a more detailed renewal of the agreement was signed in February 2015.
The Minsk deals envisage a cease-fire, a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the contact line, a prisoner exchange, and holding local elections in Donbass, among other measures.
On Tuesday, Peskov suggested Moscow, Paris and Berlin should pressure Kiev to observe these documents.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday that his country remained committed to the Minsk agreements.
"There is no alternative to the deals," Poroshenko told a joint briefing in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who expressed her concern over the current situation in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces and the insurgents clashed heavily for a third straight day at a town in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, which have claimed the lives of at least 13 civilians and fighters on both sides since Sunday.
Poroshenko reportedly had cut short a visit to Berlin due to the situation.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- European Council President Donald Tusk on Tuesday branded U.S. President Donald Trump's "worrying declarations" as an external threat, which, along with other factors, "make our future highly unpredictable."
"Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union (EU) in a difficult situation, with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy," Tusk said in a letter to leaders of EU member states ahead of the Valletta Summit slated for Friday.
Vowing that the EU would not "surrender to those who want to weaken or invalidate the transatlantic bond," he said "we should remind our American friends of their own motto: United we stand, divided we fall."
The EU is at odds with the Trump administration over an executive order banning entry to the United States of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Under the executive order signed by Trump on Friday, refugees from all over the world will be suspended from entering the United States for 120 days while all immigration from so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days.
"This is not the European way, the European Union will continue to first of all to take care and host Syrian refugees and others who are fleeing from war," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday.
The bloc was earlier angered by then President-elect Trump when he said in an interview published on Jan. 15 that Britain's exit from the EU would turn out to be "a great thing" and pledged to strike a swift trade deal with Britain.
Trump also predicted that other countries would follow Britain's lead in leaving the EU.
"I think people want...their own identity, so if you ask me...I believe others will leave," Trump said.
But Tusk said in the letter that "only together can we be fully independent."
KHARTOUM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Sudan and Egypt agreed on Tuesday not to raise the issue of Halayeb Triangle disputed between the two countries, official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported.
The agreement came at a meeting between Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the ongoing African Union Summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
"Halayeb issue is extensive, where al-Bashir and el-Sisi agreed that the issues of difference are not to preoccupy the two countries from what can lead efforts to strengthen the relationship between them," SUNA quoted Ibrahim Ghandour, Sudan's foreign minister, as saying.
"The two presidents directed the two countries' foreign ministers to work out executive and structural frameworks for integrative visions, including coordination at all political, parliamentary and people's levels," he added.
According to a joint communique published by SUNA, al-Bashir and el-Sisi reiterated solidarity in the face of challenges in the Arab region, Africa and the Middle East.
The two presidents also stressed commitment to better bilateral ties in all economic, commercial, cultural, political and security fields.
They expected further coordination and cooperation between Sudan and Egypt at all levels and a new phase of brotherly relationship between the two countries.
Sudan and Egypt have been disputing Shalateen and Halayeb areas as both countries claim sovereignty over them.
About two weeks ago, Khartoum announced that it had renewed its complaint to the UN Security Council on the disputed Halayeb Triangle.
Last October, Sudan threatened to resort to international arbitration over Halayeb if negotiations with Egypt failed.
Last April, Cairo rejected a request by Khartoum for direct negotiations over the disputed Halayeb and Shalateen areas.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday said that the world body hopes to see the temporary U.S. ban on the entry of refugees into the country "lifted as soon as possible."
An expert from Malaysian investgation team takes photos of debris of airplane at the crash site of flight MH17 of Malaysia Airlines in Ukraine's Donetsk region, on July 22, 2014. (Xinhua/Dai Tianfang)
MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency said Tuesday a Dutch-led team deliberately delayed a probe into the crash of the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight in 2014.
"The team wants to deliberately mislead public opinion," Oleg Storchevoy, deputy head of the Russian aviation regulator, was quoted by TASS news agency as saying.
A Boeing 777 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 298 people on board died, most of them Dutch citizens.
In September 2016, the joint investigation team, consisting of representatives of the Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia, Belgium and Ukraine, announced that the airplane was hit by an anti-aircraft Buk missile from the territory controlled by pro-Russian insurgents.
But Moscow refuted the results as "biased and politically motivated," and provided the Dutch-led team with data which were supposed to prove that the plane was shot down from the territory controlled by Ukrainian authorities.
On Saturday, Austrian Der Standart newspaper reported that the investigators were unable to decode images from the radar data provided by Russia as they did not conform with international standards.
Storchevoy said he is puzzled that the team has failed so far to decode the information and there are no international requirements for such kinds of data.
He added that the investigators did not request any assistance from Moscow, which is eager to provide experts and information "necessary for the public to know all about the truth."
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday said that the world body hopes to see the temporary U.S. ban on the entry of refugees into the country "will be lifted as soon as possible."
"We hope it will be lifted as soon as possible," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here in response to a press question.
Thousands of protesters rallied in front of the White House in Washington D.C. on Sunday while demonstrations continued across more than 30 American airports after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entry into the United States.
Under the order, refugees from all over the world will be suspended U.S. entry for 120 days while all immigration from so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days. Countries included in the ban are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
People hold posters during a protest against President Donald Trump's executive order banning entry of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, outside the Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, the United States, Jan. 29, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday said that the world body hopes to see that the temporary U.S. ban on the entry of refugees into the country "will be lifted as soon as possible."
"We hope it will be lifted as soon as possible," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here in response to a press question.
Thousands of protesters rallied in front of the White House in Washington D.C. on Sunday while demonstrations continued across more than 30 American airports after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entering the United States.
Under the order, refugees from all over the world will be suspended U.S. entry for 120 days while all immigration from so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days. Countries included in the ban are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
Earlier Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on his way back from Ethiopia which is the largest refugee holding country in Africa, issued a statement which said that any country's border control over refugee entry "cannot be based on any form of discrimination related to religion, ethnicity or nationality," Dujarric said.
While acknowledging that "countries have the right, even the obligation, to responsibly manage their borders to avoid infiltration by members of terrorist organizations," the UN chief made the statement because the ban "is gainst the fundamental principles and values on which our societies are based."
Meanwhile, the ban also "triggers widespread anxiety and anger that may facilitate the propaganda of the very terrorist organisations we all want to fight against," Guterres said in the statement read by Dujarric to reporters here.
"Blind measures, not based on solid intelligence, tend to be ineffective as they risk being bypassed by what are today sophisticated global terrorist movements," the statement said.
"I am also particularly concerned by the decisions that around the world have been undermining the integrity of the international refugee protection regime," Guterres said.
"Refugees fleeing conflict and persecution are finding more and more borders closed and increasingly restricted access to the protection they need and are entitled to receive, according to international refugee law," he added.
The secretary-general, while in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, on Monday commended African countries for opening their borders to refugees and people fleeing violence while other parts of the world, including the developed West, close boundaries and build walls.
Guterres was in Addis Ababa to attend the summit of the African Union, which attracted several dozen African leaders.
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European lawmakers deeply concerned over U.S. travel ban
BRUSSELS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The lawmakers in charge of Development and Foreign Affairs of the European Union (EU) voted for a joint resolution on Tuesday, expressing deep concerns over the U.S. decision to ban entry of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. Full story
Swedish, German leaders slam U.S. travel ban
MADRID, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Spain received a record-breaking 75.6 million international tourists in 2016, according to data published on Tuesday by Spain's Statistical Office (INE).
The figure indicated a 10.3-percent increase when compared with 2015, when Spain received 68.1 million international tourists, also a record high.
In 2016, there were 17.8 British visitors, a 12.4-percent increase on 2015, followed by the French, whose arrivals stood at 11.4 million, 7.1 percent more than a year earlier, and the Germans, whose arrivals reached 11.2 million, a 6.4-percent increase from the year prior.
As far as regions visited, the northeastern region of Catalonia was chosen as the main destination receiving 18 million tourists, followed by the two archipelagos of the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands that received 13.3 million and 13 million international tourists respectively.
The Spanish minister of energy, tourism and digital agenda Alvaro Nadal, has recently predicted an optimistic 2017 for the tourist sector and for arrivals from Britain. "We expect the tourists sector not to be affected by the Brexit negotiations," he said.
He also emphasized the quality of Spain's tourist sector.
"We must be proud of it," he said, adding that "economic policy should aim at consolidating this sector."
by Keren Setton
JERUSALEM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Days after U.S. President Donald Trump was inaugurated, the Israeli government announced its plans to build an additional 2,500 homes for Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
In the past, such an announcement immediately resulted in an American condemnation. This time it was smooth sailing for the Israeli government.
It was a farewell message from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to former U.S. President Barack Obama. The two often clashed on the issue which put a strain on their relationship.
At the time of the announcement, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel "was resuming normal life in Judea and Samaria (the bibilical name of the West Bank)."
The right wing government in Israel felt restricted during the years of the Obama administration. Although settlement building continued, it was not at a satisfactory pace for Netanyahu and his allies.
Israel's construction plans did lead to a Palestinian outcry. Their fear, together with the majority of the international community, is that the more Israel tighten's its grip on the West Bank, the hopes for them achieving a state become dimmer. Palestinians see the West Bank as a critical part of their future state.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been a contentious topic since Israeli forces captured the West Bank during the 1967 Mideast War.
Once under its rule, Israel immediately started settling the area with Jewish citizens. However, it never officially annexed the land, aside from East Jerusalem.
In the West Bank, which Israelis often refer to by its biblical name Judea and Samaria, there are approximately 385,000 Jewish settlers, nearly tripple the figure for 1993 when the Oslo Accords were signed.
Palestinians see the territories as part of their future state and the settlements which have been expanding annually since 1967 are a major stumbling block for them.
The international community is at odds with Israel on the issue, leaving the country largely isolated in the international arena.
Only recently did the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution condemning Israel, saying settlements are illegal.
Anat Ben Nun is the Director of Development and External Relations at Peace Now which is an Israeli organization aimed at promoting a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians and functions as a settlement watch-dog, monitoring their evolution on the ground.
She explains the legal standing of the territories, as many in the international community see it.
"According to the Geneva conventions and the Hague regulations, an occupying power cannot transfer its own population to the occupied territory and this is exactly what Israel has been doing since 1967. Israel did not really decide on what to do with these territories. On the one hand it did not annex them and give citizenship to everyone who lives in these areas. On the other hand, it sent its own population to go and live in these areas," Ben Nun explains.
Israel claims it has a biblical right to the land but also a security need. Israeli presence in the West Bank is believed by many in the country to safeguard it from Palestinian attempts to attack it.
However, the ambiguity with which it treats the territories, as Ben Nun describes, indicates that successive Israeli governments are aware of the problematic nature of the settlements.
She does not deny the Jewish biblical connection to the land.
"Jews have a vast history in this place and this cannot be denied. It doesn't mean that we need sovereignty over the entire land in order to have a religious connection to it," she believes.
Still, there are different interpretations of international law.
Israel captured the territory from Jordan during the 1967 Mideast War. Since Jordan has said it has no claim over the land, Israel says its future needs to be decided by both Israelis and Palestinians through negotiation.
But for Moshe Saville, a deputy mayor of Gush Etzion, one of Israel's large settlement blocs in the West Bank, Jewish history is the main reason for the country's need to be the sovereign power there.
"We lived here for thousands of years in this land. We have all the proof that this land belongs to us," Saville says.
"It's absolutely legal. There's not a question about it. There is no question that we must stay here," he adds with conviction.
Throughout the years, the Israeli governments of all political affiliations have supported settlements and helped them grow.
In fact, left-wing governments with members who support the two-state solution were instrumental in the fortification of Israel's presence in the West Bank.
But for the last eight years, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his substantial support for the settlements can be felt on the ground.
It led to a highly tense relationship with former U.S. President Barack Obama.
Despite a short recess in which he committed Israel to a 10-month moratorium on settlement construction in order to try and revive stalled peace talks with the Palestinians, Netanyahu strengthened Israel's hold on the West Bank.
Peace Now says there never really was a freeze on settlements.
"When you look at construction on the ground, in the time of a so-called freeze, you see that construction is still ongoing. Construction is now happening in the most sensitive areas which is either those areas in the blocs that will never be a part of Israel or deep in the West Bank," says Anat Ben Nun.
The Israeli presence in the West Bank is visible to anyone. A view from the elevated settlement of Neve Daniel in the outskirts of Jerusalem displays small dots of Palestinian presence amidst thousands and thousands of Israeli housing units.
The congruence of the Netanyahu and Obama administrations were testing times for the former's settlement policy. Even though Peace Now reported a continuation of settlement expansion, for the settlers this was not enough.
"Even in those days, we could (have) built thousands of houses in Gush Etzion and we just built in the last few years 600 houses... so it isn't like we built whatever we want, wherever we want. But I hope this situation is going to change and we are going to build more," says Moshe Saville of Gush Etzion.
He was speaking days after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump who many think will be more accommodating to Israel's settlement policies.
American flags were put up next to Israeli flags at the main intersection in Gush Etzion, a symbol of local Jewish anticipation of the Trump era.
The Gush Etzion intersection has been the target of many violent attacks by Palestinians in recent months. As Palestinian taxis mingle with Israeli cars, the area is tense and peaceful at the same time. It is representative of many areas in the West Bank.
The attacks are part of a low-intensity conflict that has been brewing over the past year.
A renewed wave of violence has seen Palestinians targeting mainly soldiers and settlers, seeing them as legitimate targets in the struggle for statehood.
Since September 2015, approximately 200 Palestinians have been killed. Tens of Israelis have also been killed.
Israel says most of the Palestinian victims were assailants who were killed while attacking or attempting to attack Israelis. Some of them were killed in clashes with Israeli forces.
This comes after years of consecutive Netanyahu governments fostering the settlements. Tensions on the ground are at a constant boiling point.
"Throughout the Netanyahu period, we've seen a few different trends on the ground. One was the expansion of the settler population, especially in the most sensitive areas. Areas that are being or will be negotiated over. We have seen the expansion of construction of a lot of bypass roads, a lot of infrastructure that later leads to the expansion of the settler population. We also saw a phenomena of legalization of illegal outposts. So those outposts that even the Israeli government considered as illegal before are now slowly being turned into official settlements."
Indeed, a quick tour of the territories will convey not only a construction boom in housing but also in infrastructure.
After the Israeli-Palestinian interim agreement of 1993, Israel continued to create new settlements, only now they were not officially recognized by Israeli law. They are called outposts and many of them are in isolated areas. Some are not, they are just extensions to existing settlements.
Palestinians call this land grab, creating facts on the ground that serve as an obstacle to statehood.
Often these outposts are a collection of run-down caravans in which families live in cramped quarters in the name of ideology.
In recent months, the Israeli government is promoting a law that will retroactively legalize these outposts.
This has attracted international and internal Israeli criticism.
It is clear that the feasibility of a Palestinian state decreases as the Israeli presence in the West Bank grows. Saville, however, dismisses the notion of a state for the Palestinians.
"I don't think the Palestinians need a state. We see Palestinians as residents and not as part of a Palestinian state. It's a bad solution to give (them) a state, it is going to bring terror immediately," he explains.
He may see Palestinians as residents of Israel, but they are not equal under Israeli law. Saville insists peaceful coexistence under the same flag is possible saying peace will come from "down upwards."
"If we'll build more and more and more, I believe, (it will) create a real peace between us and the Palestinians," Saville explains.
Israelis and Palestinians may lead their daily lives along in the West Bank. They travel on the same roads and often shop at the same markets. But they also live separated from each other with huge differences in their quality of life. Palestinian movement is severely restricted not only by the presence of the Israeli military that covers the area with checkpoints but also by settlements scattered throughout, sabotaging any possibility of territorial continuity for the Palestinians.
For Anat Ben Nun at Peace Now, a future settlement does not include any Israeli presence in the West Bank.
"Settlements as they are today are not just peaceful towns in the midst of Palestinian population. These are ideological, political statements claiming sovereignty, trying to prevent the possibility of a Palestinian state and therefore I think an evacuation of settlements in this point in time is a critical part of a solution," she says.
In a poll conducted a few months ago, a small majority of Israelis and Palestinians remained in favor of a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict. These numbers were higher in previous years.
Saville expresses a growing sentiment amongst many Israelis that the solution is a dying prospect.
"I don't think this is the solution," he says.
On the ground, Israel is tightening its grip on the land and Palestinians are fighting an uphill battle against it.
U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May(front) arrive for a joint press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, Jan. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
LONDON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Politicians in the British House of Commons made moves Tuesday to stop U.S. President Donald Trump from addressing parliament during his state visit to Britain.
So far, more than n 70 of 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) have signed a motion as part of a process to win parliamentary backing for a ban.
MPs are calling for the invitation by Prime Minister Theresa May to President Trump to be withdrawn, following his decision to introduce travel bans to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries.
May has insisted the invitation to President Trump still stands.
May gave her first public comment Monday night on the controversy during a visit to Dublin.
"The United States is a close ally of the United Kingdom. We work together across many areas of mutual interest and we have that special relationship between us. I have issued that invitation for a state visit for President Trump to the United Kingdom and that invitation stands."
Previous formal visits to Britain by U.S. presidents have included them addressing MPs and members of the House of Lords. The last U.S. president to address the British parliament was Barack Obama.
The motion tabled at Westminster on Tuesday called on parliament to deplore Trump's executive order on immigration and refugees.
It asks the speakers of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords and other parliament officials to withhold permission from the government for an address to be made in Westminster Hall, or elsewhere in the Palace of Westminster, by President Trump. MPs who have signed the motion say an invitation to address the British parliament is an honor of historical significance.
Thousands of people gathered outside Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament on Monday to protest Trump's actions. Protests also took place in around 40 British cities.
By Tuesday afternoon, a public petition to parliament saying Trump should not be allowed to pay a state visit to Britain had reached around 1.7 million signatures.
But a counter petition saying Trump should be invited to make an official state visit had gathered more than 100,000 signatures.
JUBA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN migration agency said on Tuesday that it had been forced to suspend humanitarian activities in Wau Shilluk in South Sudan's Upper Nile area due to violent clashes over the weekend putting thousands at risk.
In a statement released in Juba, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it had also postponed the registration of nearly 3,000 vulnerable individuals for humanitarian assistance indefinitely due to this increased insecurity.
"Civilians will undoubtedly suffer as sporadic fighting makes it more difficult for aid workers to deliver services," IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission William Barriga said.
"Violence in Upper Nile has once again hindered the ability of IOM and other relief agencies to provide assistance to populations seriously in need," he added.
Clashes between government and opposition forces began south of Wau Shilluk on Jan. 25 and continued to spread in the direction of Wau Shilluk and Malakal town.
The shelling gradually grew closer to Wau Shilluk on Jan. 27 just as the 14-person IOM team was about to resume registration, forcing staff to evacuate to safer areas with the support of World Vision, which provides humanitarian aid in the area.
Wau Shilluk is located across the White Nile River from Malakal town, one of South Sudan's largest urban areas before the current crisis and home to more than 33,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are sheltering at the protection of civilians (PoC) site.
According to the IOM, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people remained to be registered when the team was forced to evacuate.
Three years of civil crisis have left millions in need of lifesaving humanitarian aid in South Sudan.
More than 1.83 million people have been displaced internally and another 1.17 million people have fled to neighboring countries since the crisis erupted in December 2013.
European Council President Donald Tusk addresses a press conference with Prime Ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (not seen in the picture) in Tallinn, Estonia, on Jan. 31, 2017. The prime ministers of the three Baltic states during a meeting in Tallinn on Tuesday inked an agreement outlining the general technical parameters, route and construction schedule of Rail Baltica European-gauge railroad line, local media reported. The prime ministers of the three Baltic countries met with European Council President Donald Tusk in Tallinn on Tuesday, with upcoming EU summits, the bloc's future after the Brexit referendum and security featuring high on the meeting's agenda. Tusk had arrived in the Estonian capital as the honorary guest of the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting. (Xinhua/Janis)
TALLINN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The prime ministers of the three Baltic states during a meeting in Tallinn on Tuesday inked an agreement outlining the general technical parameters, route and construction schedule of Rail Baltica European-gauge railroad line, local media reported.
The agreement also regulates the ownership of and access to the planned railway infrastructure, sets out terms for the project's funding and provides guidelines for choosing the infrastructure operator.
The EU's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is expected to cover up to 85 percent of the railway project's total costs, which are expected to reach an estimated 5 billion euros (5.39 billion U.S. dollars), with the national governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania planning to provide the rest of the necessary funding.
The conclusion of the Rail Baltica agreement was essential in order not to lose the EU funding for the project as the three Baltic states are preparing to apply for the next portion of CEF money.
At a joint news conference that followed the signing of the agreement in the Estonian capital, the three Baltic premiers stressed the deal's significance as a signal demonstrating the Baltic states' ability for cooperation.
Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas described Rail Baltica as an extremely important project that will be driving the Baltics' economic growth in the future. The transport corridor that will be created to connect the Baltic states and the rest of Europe will be a sustainable and important, he said.
Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis pointed out that now the railroad project has been launched already and that "there is no turning back on it."
Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis indicated that the signing of the agreement was proof of the Baltic countries' political strength and ability to "implement strategic projects of this scope."
Rail Baltica is intended to reestablish a direct railway connection between the Baltic states and the European railway network. The project is expected to facilitate regional integration by means of a railway link from Helsinki to Tallinn, Riga, Kaunas, Warsaw and Berlin and might potentially be extended to Venice.
by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua)-- Under the burden of 200 million euro (215.09 million US dollars) debts to banks, one of the largest press groups with a long history in the Greek media landscape, Lambrakis Press Group (DOL), has changed hands, outgoing managers announced on Monday.
Greek lenders are due to launch within days the process to place the group under special management regime.
Facing the padlock and the long queue of unemployment 500 journalists, technicians and administrative employees of DOL did not leave their posts and struggle to keep alive two of the oldest and best-selling newspapers in Greece, To Vima (Tribune) and Ta Nea (The News), as well as VIMA FM, news portals and other publications.
Founded in 1922 and 1931 respectively the weekly To Vima and the daily Ta Nea have put their mark on the history of the Greek Press, politics and culture.
They are about to fall victims of the debt crisis that has hit hard Greek economy, including the media sector, since 2009. Besides DOL several other press groups are in the red.
In an editorial printed on the front page of Sunday's Vima this weekend it was announced that DOL is forced to cease publication within days as it can no longer service its debts to banks.
The 500 employees who have not been paid since August keep working determined to keep the newspapers to the newsstands across Greece until they run out of paper and ink.
"The employees are waiting to hear from the banks which will be their fate," their representative Kostas Delezos, also member of board of the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions (POESY) and the Athens Daily Newspaper Journalists' Union (ESIEA), told Xinhua on Tuesday.
"The 500 employees today are claiming 12 million euros of overdue salaries and compensations for those who will leave. This is what keeps them united and determined to not leave the group until a solution will be given- any solution- either bankruptcy or restructuring and take over by other businessmen," he explained.
Asked how one of the largest press groups ended up fighting for survival, Delezos referred to the dramatic slump in revenues from advertisement and sales due to the economic crisis in recent years which has affected the entire media landscape in Greece.
In 2008 the overall ad spending in Greek media stood at one billion euros. Today it hardly reaches 200 million euros.
Although Ta Nea's circulation gradually dropped from 200,000 copies in the 1990s to 13,000 on average last year, still remained at the top of Greek dailies.
Poor management choices, bailout policies and political pressure are also cited as factors contributing to the current drama.
During the crisis the media landscape in Greece has shrunk dramatically. In 2010 Apogeumatini (Afternoon) daily shut down, in 2013 Alter TV, in 2014 Eleftherotypia (Press Freedom), another historic newspaper.
MINSK, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The national debt of Belarus increased by 12.5 percent in 2016 comparing with the previous year, Belarusian Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.
Belarusian external public debt amounted to 13.6 billion U.S. dollars, having increased by 1.2 billion U.S. dollars, or 9.6 percent.
In 2016, Belarus received 800 million U.S. dollars loan from Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development, 552 million U.S. dollars as credits from the government of the Russian Federation and Russian banks, 446.9 million U.S. dollars from Chinese banks.
Belarus paid a total of external public debt of 892.4 million U.S. dollars in 2016, the Ministry added.
Belarusian internal public debt amounted to 10.2 billion rubles (168 nillion U.S. dollars) as of January 1, 2017, an increase of five percent from a year ago.
WINDHOEK, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Namibian Minister of Finance Calle Schlettwein Tuesday threatened tax defaulters with asset seizures and freezing of bank accounts, when he addressed ministry staff in the capital Windhoek.
Schletttwein said defaulters who do not take advantage of the recently announced incentive program for payment of outstanding taxes, will have their assets forfeited to the State and their bank accounts frozen.
Namibia, which is currently battling unprecedented economic challenges since Independence from South Africa in 1990, which has resulted in Government introducing austerity measures since October, is owed 19 billion Namibia dollars (about 1.4 billion U. S. Dollars) in tax arrears including interest and penalties.
Treasury announced last week that it would write off 80 percent of the interest and waive penalties, provided the tax amount owed is paid in full and 20 percent of the interest is paid under the incentive program, which begins Wednesday and ends on 31 July.
The program applies to Income Tax, Value Added Tax, VAT Import, Employee's Tax, Stamp Duty, Non-resident's Shareholders Tax and Tax on Royalties.
KIEV, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine will ask the United Nations to consider the escalation of violence in the country's eastern Donbass region, President Petro Poroshenko said here Tuesday.
"I have instructed the deputy head of the presidential administration to immediately put the issue for consideration of the UN Security Council. Today we expect the relevant statements from our international partners," Poroshenko said after an emergency meeting with the heads of Ukraine's law enforcement agencies.
Besides, Kiev has requested an emergency session of the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine, which includes Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Euroe, to discuss ways out of the ongoing confrontation, the Ukrainian president said.
Later in the day, the representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk republics issued a joint statement, appealing for the leaders of Russia, the United States and Germany to prevent the humanitarian disaster in the region.
After more than a month of a relative calm, a fierce fighting between government troops and pro-independence rebels started in eastern Ukraine during the weekend, resulting in heavy combatant and civilian casualties. The Ukrainian army and the insurgents have accused each other of launching the offensive.
The conflict between government troops and rebels in eastern Ukraine has been raging since April 2014, claiming some 10,000 lives.
Michael Moller, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), speaks with Xinhua during an interview in Geneva, Switzerland, on Dec. 19, 2016. The Director-General of UNOG Michael Moller said he wishes to further cooperate with China to better tackle global challenges. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)
GENEVA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The head of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) has hailed China's role as a catalyst and as one "showing the way forward" in promoting the construction of a better world.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Michael Moller, director-general of UNOG, hailed Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Palace of Nations in Geneva.
"Particularly in today's world that is fragmented, confrontational and difficult, his message was extremely welcome," said Moller.
"I look forward to our working very closely together to make sure we move forward on what is basically a very common approach," said Moller.
In the face of climate change, migration, resource scarcity, water, health and financial issues, the world must cooperate to find solutions and reduce the impact of these global scourges on affected populations, he added.
Against this challenging backdrop, the UN official welcomed Chinese support for multilateralism, adding that the country can play a key role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris agreement on climate change, both adopted in 2015.
"There the role of China is really important as a catalyst, and showing the way forward," he said.
"China is a very important country. When it decides to go in a certain direction, a lot of people will follow. It's a leadership role," he added.
While wishing the Chinese people a happy lunar Year of the Rooster, he reminded that China's well being has a direct impact on people around the world.
"If things go well for China and the Chinese people, the chances are it's going to go well for a lot of other people around the planet....I wish that the year of the rooster will indeed bring good luck for everybody, especially for China and its people," he said.
On Jan. 15-18, President Xi paid a state visit to Switzerland, attended the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos and visited international organizations based in Switzerland.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Tuesday the 2017 humanitarian appeal for Ukraine, which was launched last month and calls for 214 million U.S. dollars, is only 1 percent funded.
"The humanitarian coordinator and the aid community there today said they are gravely concerned by the drastic deterioration of the security situation in the country's east and its impact on the humanitarian work," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.
The UN humanitarian coordinator, Neal Walker, said that an immediate cessation of hostilities is needed to prevent further loss of life and to allow repair teams to restore critical basic services, including water and heat, to people living in freezing cold weather.
According to the UN estimates, the conflict between government troops and pro-independence insurgents, which rages in eastern Ukraine since April 2014, left some 3.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May (not in the picture) at the White House in Washington D.C.,the United States, Jan. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
BRUSSELS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- European Council President Donald Tusk on Tuesday branded U.S. President Donald Trump's "worrying declarations" as an external threat, which, along with other factors, "make our future highly unpredictable."
"Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union (EU) in a difficult situation, with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy," Tusk said in a letter to leaders of EU member states ahead of the Valletta Summit slated for Friday.
Vowing that the EU would not "surrender to those who want to weaken or invalidate the transatlantic bond," he said "we should remind our American friends of their own motto: United we stand, divided we fall."
The EU is at odds with the Trump administration over an executive order banning entry to the United States of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Under the executive order signed by Trump on Friday, refugees from all over the world will be suspended from entering the United States for 120 days while all immigration from so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days.
"This is not the European way, the European Union will continue to first of all to take care and host Syrian refugees and others who are fleeing from war," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday.
The bloc was earlier angered by then President-elect Trump when he said in an interview published on Jan. 15 that Britain's exit from the EU would turn out to be "a great thing" and pledged to strike a swift trade deal with Britain.
Trump also predicted that other countries would follow Britain's lead in leaving the EU.
"I think people want...their own identity, so if you ask me...I believe others will leave," Trump said.
But Tusk said in the letter that "only together can we be fully independent."
RAMALLAH/GAZA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) consensus government decided on Tuesday to hold municipal elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on May 13, while Islamic Hamas movement said the decision is "illegal" and it will boycott it.
Hussein al-Araj, minister of Palestinian municipal affairs, told Xinhua that May 13 was decided by the government in its weekly cabinet meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday.
He said the decision was made in accordance to the electoral law.
The municipal elections were sheduled on Oct. 8, 2016, but postponed after a Palestinian court ruled that they should only be held in the West Bank because Hamas courts in Gaza deprived dozens of Abbas Fatah Party's candidates of their right to run for the elections.
"A new court, specialized in elections, is to be established and it will be authorized to decide whether this candidate or that one fits to run in the municipal elections," said al-Araj, adding that municipal elections will be held in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
However, Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that the election decision is "rejected and illegal."
"This decision boosts the internal division, serves the policies and interests of Fatah and harms the interests of the Palestinian people and their establishments," said Bahroum.
"It's illogic to hold the elections amid severe internal division and any elections should be held in a frame of a reconciliation deal," he added.
In an earlier exclusive interview with Xinhua, Salah al-Bardaweel, a senior Hamas official in Gaza, said that his movement won't participate in the municipal elections in the Palestinian territories until the end of the decade-long internal split between Hamas and Fatah.
Hamas forcibly seized control of the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2007, after weeks of fighting with Abbas' security forces.
Since then, an internal Palestinian political and geographical division remains between the two sides despite a series of mediations from Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt.
The last municipal elections held in the West Bank without the Gaza Strip was in 2011, while the last elections held in both enclaves was in 2005.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday appointed Toby Lanzer of the United Kingdom as his deputy special representative for Afghanistan, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.
Lanzer is to serve as the deputy head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which is a political UN mission established at the request of the Afghan government to assist it and the people of Afghanistan in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.
He succeeds Mark Bowden of the United Kingdom, who will complete his assignment at the end of February 2017, the spokesman said.
"The secretary-general is grateful for Mr. Bowden's dedicated service in Afghanistan," Dujarric said.
Lanzer brings significant experience in development, humanitarian affairs and peacekeeping. His most recent positions have included Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel and before that he was Deputy Special Representative in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Demonstrators participate in a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entry into the U.S. in front of the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 29, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday said that the world body hopes to see that the temporary U.S. ban on the entry of refugees into the country "will be lifted as soon as possible."
"We hope it will be lifted as soon as possible," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here in response to a press question.
Thousands of protesters rallied in front of the White House in Washington D.C. on Sunday while demonstrations continued across more than 30 American airports after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entering the United States.
Under the order, refugees from all over the world will be suspended U.S. entry for 120 days while all immigration from so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days. Countries included in the ban are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
Earlier Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on his way back from Ethiopia which is the largest refugee holding country in Africa, issued a statement which said that any country's border control over refugee entry "cannot be based on any form of discrimination related to religion, ethnicity or nationality," Dujarric said.
While acknowledging that "countries have the right, even the obligation, to responsibly manage their borders to avoid infiltration by members of terrorist organizations," the UN chief made the statement because the ban "is gainst the fundamental principles and values on which our societies are based."
Demonstrators participating in a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entry into the U.S. march towards Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 29, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
Meanwhile, the ban also "triggers widespread anxiety and anger that may facilitate the propaganda of the very terrorist organisations we all want to fight against," Guterres said in the statement read by Dujarric to reporters here.
"Blind measures, not based on solid intelligence, tend to be ineffective as they risk being bypassed by what are today sophisticated global terrorist movements," the statement said.
"I am also particularly concerned by the decisions that around the world have been undermining the integrity of the international refugee protection regime," Guterres said.
"Refugees fleeing conflict and persecution are finding more and more borders closed and increasingly restricted access to the protection they need and are entitled to receive, according to international refugee law," he added.
The secretary-general, while in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, on Monday commended African countries for opening their borders to refugees and people fleeing violence while other parts of the world, including the developed West, close boundaries and build walls.
Guterres was in Addis Ababa to attend the summit of the African Union, which attracted several dozen African leaders.
File photo taken on Sept. 8, 2014 shows students waiting for the arrival of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, before the inauguration of the Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre Building in Oxford, Britain. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
LONDON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese Embassy to Britain remained silent one day after a detailed media report said that it had been paying a British think tank to propagate against China.
An official with the Japanese Embassy in London acknowledged on Monday morning that the Embassy had received an enquiry letter from Xinhua seeking confirmation and comments on the Jan. 29 The Sunday Times report.
But the Japanese Embassy has failed to reply so far.
The Times report claimed that Japan had been paying 10,000 pounds (12,475 U.S. dollars) per month to a British think tank to hype up "China threat" among British high-level politicians.
It said that the Japanese Embassy in London reached a deal with the Henry Jackson Society (HJS), a registered charity, to wage a secret propaganda campaign against China.
A spokesman from HJS told Xinhua on Monday that the society works with organizations and governments in promoting liberal democracy, human rights and international security.
The spokesman refused to say whether the alleged financial deal with Japan is part of its efforts to promote democracy and human rights.
"We can never reveal specific details. Our position on this is well known and we will continue to support the values that free and democratic societies uphold," the spokesman said.
British media said that the financial deal was reached in response to growing cooperation between China and Britain.
This weekend, former British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind acknowledged that the HJS, founded in 2005, had approached him to put his name to an article published by the Daily Telegraph last August, expressing concerns about China's involvement in Britain's Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.
The article -- titled "How China could switch off Britain's lights in a crisis if we let them build Hinkley C" -- raised fears that "no one knows what 'backdoor' technologies might be able to be introduced into the building of a power plant".
The Sunday Times said Japan's secret public relations war on China reflects Tokyo's concerns about the "golden decade" of Sino-British cooperation.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said here Tuesday that he had asked the UN Security Council to postpone the intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva until Feb. 20.
"I did ask the Security Council and based also on the discussions I had with the SG (UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres) to postpone the talks until the 20th" of February, de Mistura made the remarks while talking to reporters after he briefed the 15-nation UN body at a closed meeting on the current situation in Syria.
The Syria talks in Geneva had been scheduled for Feb. 8, de Mistura told the closed council meeting that he sought the postponement in order to give the Syrian opposition more time to prepare for the talks and ensure that the peace talks are as inclusive as possible, diplomats said here.
Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the Syrian peace talks would be delayed, but he did not elaborate. However, the United Nations did not confirm it at that time.
Rounds of Syrian peace talks have taken place in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations, but little progress has been made mainly due to continuous fighting in the Middle Eastern country.
Also last week, Russia, Iran and Turkey led talks in Astana, the Kazakh capital, in a bid to bring an early ceasefire into Syria, where a political crisis broke out in March 2011 and it was followed by a subsequent civil war.
More than 310,000 people have been reportedly killed in the Syria war.
PARIS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- More than three quarters of French voters are not convinced by presidential candidate Francois Fillon's defense over allegations that he paid hefty salaries to his wife for job he had never did, a survey showed on Tuesday.
An online Elabe poll for BFMTV news channel showed that 76 percent of respondents found Fillon's arguments to defend his wife Penelope were not convincing.
Fillon has been the frontrunner to win the upcoming presidential election until last week when the satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine published a report that raised question over the "honest, morally irreproachable", image that Fillon had projected during right primary campaign.
The newspaper claimed that his Britain-born Fillon's wife had been paid 600,000 euros (648,120 U.S. dollars) for her job as a parliamentary assistant to her husband and for work at a cultural journal for 1998-2013 period.
However, there was no evidence she had really worked, the report said.
In its edition to appear on Wednesday, the investigative newspaper reported Penelope drew hundreds of thousands of euros more that it had originally reported, without really doing any work.
It claims that she had been paid more than 900,000 euros as her husband parliamentary assistant and after for his successor Marc Joulaud and for her work in a magazine owned by a rich close friend of the Fillons.
The report added Fillon hired two of his five children as parliamentary assistants when he was a senator. Both had gained 84,000 euros.
Earlier on Tuesday, investigators searched French parliament as part of an inquiry into possible "misuse of public funds" and "misappropriation of assets," relating to Penelope fictitious job.
According media reports, no material evidence including access badge and specific e-mail when she was a parliamentary assistant, had been found during the raid.
As the investigation is gathering pace, the Fillon couple was questioned on Monday to stand their case.
Last week, investigators searched the headquarters of the cultural journal that employed Penelope Fillon. They also seized files on ex-prime minister held by France's official anti-corruption watchdog.
ROME, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Former chief of Italy's state railway company Mario Moretti was sentenced to jail along with other executives on Tuesday over a train disaster that caused 32 deaths in the Tuscan city of Viareggio in 2009.
Moretti -- head of Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) group until April 2014, and now chief executive of Leonardo engineering and defense company -- was given 7 years in prison by a first grade court in Lucca.
Michele Mario Elia, the former head of Italian Railway Network (RFI) managing the national rail network, was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in jail.
Overall, some 33 people and 9 companies were on trial on charges of rail disaster, multiple manslaughter, culpable fire, and culpable injuries, Ansa news agency reported.
The trial concerned the derailment of a freight train occurred in the coastal city of Viareggio, Tuscany, in the evening of June 29, 2009.
The train carried 14 wagons loaded with liquefied gas, and the derailment caused a huge explosion, which suddenly engulfed the station and some blocks of apartments nearby.
Some 11 people were immediately killed in the fire and the collapse of some buildings, and 21 injured people died in the following weeks, bringing to 32 the total death toll.
The direct cause of the derailment was the structural failure of an axle in the leading wagon of the train, according to a 2015 report by the General Directorate for railway investigations of Italy's Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport.
Of the 33 individual defendants, eight were cleared from all charges. Among those convicted was the former CEO of rail operator Trenitalia, Vincenzo Soprano, who was given 7 years and 6 months in jail.
Among the companies involved, FS and FS Logistic were cleared, while RFI and Trenitalia were held variously responsible, according to Ansa.
The convicted managers would not go to jail immediately. The first grade court's sentence could in fact be appealed against, and, under the Italian law, those convicted are allowed to wait until the final ruling to serve their sentence.
BANJUL, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Gambia's new president Adama Barrow has appointed 11 ministers to his government, his spokesperson Halifa Sallah announced this Tuesday.
"I am not mandated to reveal the names [of the appointees]," Sallah said at a press conference. "What the president wanted is for you to know that he has fulfilled his promise. The people appointed will be sworn in tomorrow and you will know them."
He confirmed that the ministerial positions filled are finance, trade, justice, foreign affairs, tourism, lands, interior, fisheries and environment.
Barrow led a coalition of seven political parties and an independent candidate to a shock election victory against longtime president Yahya Jammeh, who has now been forced into exile following ECOWAS military intervention.
According to Sallah, the cabinet positions emerged out of a compact forged by the coalition, which President Barrow is trying to satisfy.
Barrow returned home from Senegal last Thursday. His first cabinet appointee was Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang as vice president.
Tuesday's announcements leave seven more ministerial positions to be announced.
"The remaining seven cabinet positions will be based on the competencies of the individuals," Sallah said.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (C), D-Ohio, stands with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (3rd L), D-Connecticut, and other Senate Democrats to explain their decision to boycott the confirmation hearings on Steve Mnuchin for U.S. Treasury Secretary and Tom Price for U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services on January 31, 2017 Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.. (Xinhua/AFP PHOTO)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) - U.S. Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday postponed votes on the nominations of Steve Mnuchin as the Treasury Secretary and Tom Price to head the Health and Human Services department after a boycott by Democrats.
Democrats on the committee said they wouldn't attend votes on Mnuchin, because of concerns that the Treasury Secretary pick gave false testimony on foreclosure practices by OneWest Bank, of which Mnuchin was former chairman.
The Democrats also demanded more information on Price's stock trades in an Australian medical company before they attend the vote on the health department head.
"I cannot support nominees who treat disclosures like shell games and ethics laws like mere suggestions," said Ron Wyden, a Democratic and the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. "I am a 'no' vote on Mr. Mnuchin and Congressman Price," he said.
Local media reported that a spokesman for Mnuchin disputed the allegations of false testimony, and stated that the OneWest Bank hadn't engage in a practice known as "robo-signing" which refers a method for approving mortgage documents that was criticized for not fully considering them.
The delay on the approval of Price may create some obstacles for the Republicans' efforts to push forward a plan to replace Obamacare, for which Price has long been a critic.
BAGHDAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to ban Iraqis from traveling to the United States is punishing those who are "sacrificing and fighting terrorism."
Abadi's comment came four days after Trump put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travelers from Iraq and six other Muslim-majority countries, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks.
"You come to the victim to hold him accountable. You come to the people who are sacrificing and fighting terrorism, to punish them," Abadi said at a press conference after his weekly cabinet meeting.
"The way the order was issued was not good and represents an offense to Iraqis that must be corrected, and I don't want to cause the same offense to the American people now," Abadi said.
"We are studying all our choices," Abadi said, adding that he hopes the order will be changed.
On Monday, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry expressed "regret" over the latest restrictions by the Trump administration on the entry of Iraqi nationals into the United States, and asked Washington to "reconsider" the travel ban on Iraqi citizens.
"It is very unfortunate that such U.S. decision was issued against an allied country (Iraq), which is linked with the United States in a strategic partnership," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"It is necessary that the new U.S. administration reconsider this wrong decision," the ministry said. "Iraq has a real desire to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries."
The ministry statement came a day after the Iraqi parliament's foreign affairs committee voted for recommendations that the Iraqi government should demand "reciprocation" and take countermeasures against the Trump decision.
"We reject the decision of President Trump as Iraq is on the frontline of fighting terrorism, and we are the side who gives martyrs and sacrifices for a war that we fight on behalf of the whole world," said Hanan al-Fatlawi, a member of the foreign affairs committee.
"It is unfair that Iraqis are treated in this way," she told a press conference after a committee meeting to discuss the U.S. decision.
Trump's order has caused angry reactions in Iraq, where more than 5,000 U.S. troops are deployed, helping Iraqi forces in the battles against the extremist militants of the Islamic State (IS) group in Mosul in northern Iraq.
LIMA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Peru's former deputy communications minister, a key suspect in a multinational corruption investigation, turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday.
Jorge Cuba flew back from the United States "to face graft charges" stemming from revelations that Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht paid millions to Peruvian officials in exchange for lucrative public works contracts.
Cuba served during ex-president Alan Garcia's second term in office (2006-2011), and "is accused of receiving 2 million U.S. dollars in bribes from corruption-tainted Odebrecht," state news agency Andina said.
According to investigators, the company made three deposits to Cuba's bank accounts from an offshore firm to secure a contract to build a stretch of Lima's urban rail network.
Cuba is the second Peruvian suspect detained in connection with the case, after Edwin Luyo Barrientos, a former government official and president of the bidding committee for Lima's rail line, was arrested in mid-January.
Several political observers have said Cuba's boss, former transport and communications minister Enrique Cornejo, should be held "politically liable" for the corruption under his watch.
Odebrecht has admitted to paying more than 29 million U.S. dollars in bribes to Peruvian officials during the administrations of former presidents Alejandro Toledo, Garcia and Ollanta Humala, who between them governed from 2001 to 2016.
Also Tuesday, Peru's former corruption prosecutor Joel Segura called on all three ex-presidents to cooperate with the investigations by providing any information they have.
The Odebrecht scandal broke at the end of December, following Brazilian media reports that the firm revealed to U.S. prosecutors it paid more than a billion U.S. dollars in bribes across much of Latin America and parts of Africa.
A Syrian army soldier stands guard as a poster depicting Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is seen in the background in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria January 31, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said here Tuesday that he had asked the UN Security Council to postpone the intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva until Feb. 20.
"I did ask the Security Council and based also on the discussions I had with the SG (UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres) to postpone the talks until the 20th" of February, de Mistura made the remarks while talking to reporters after he briefed the 15-nation UN body at a closed meeting on the current situation in Syria.
The Syria talks in Geneva had been scheduled for Feb. 8, de Mistura told the closed council meeting that he sought the postponement in order to give the Syrian opposition more time to prepare for the talks and ensure that the peace talks are as inclusive as possible, diplomats said here.
Syrian soldiers take a break in the town of Ain Fijeh, northwest of Damascus, capital of Syria, on Jan. 29, 2017. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the Syrian peace talks would be delayed, but he did not elaborate. However, the United Nations did not confirm it at that time.
Rounds of Syrian peace talks have taken place in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations, but little progress has been made mainly due to continuous fighting in the Middle Eastern country.
Also last week, Russia, Iran and Turkey led talks in Astana, the Kazakh capital, in a bid to bring an early ceasefire into Syria, where a political crisis broke out in March 2011 and it was followed by a subsequent civil war.
More than 310,000 people have been reportedly killed in the Syria war.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Jamie McGoldrick, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, on Tuesday said that he is "extremely concerned" about the safety and well-being of civilians in the Dhubab and Al Mokha districts of Taizz Governorate, a UN spokesman said here.
Information from the field indicates that military operations in the coastal region have forced most residents of Dhubab to flee the area, while in Mokha an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people, almost one third of the population, are trapped in the town and require immediate protection and relief assistance, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.
"Repeated airstrikes, shelling and sniper attacks in and around the town of Al Mokha have killed and injured scores of civilians and have ground most services to a halt, including the main market and the water supply system.
Meanwhile, "the humanitarian coordinator is equally concerned over reports that roads and bridges connecting the port city of Al Hudaydah with other governorates have been damaged and destroyed by airstrikes in recent days," Dujarric said.
"He deplored such actions, as they risk further isolating Yemeni communities and aggravate the already alarming food security situation," said the spokesman.
On Monday, the UN special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, condemned in the strongest terms the attack on the De-escalation and Coordination Committee building in Dhahran Al-Janoub.
"He said that it was especially tragic that this attack took place at a point in time where we are calling for a restoration of the Cessation of Hostilities," the spokesman said.
The building attacked was supposed to host the committee that will oversee the Cessation of Hostilities and report on violations, Dujarric said.
The UN envoy said that the United Nations maintains a regular presence in this building and this incident is not a sign of good faith.
The situation in Yemen has deteriorated economically and politically since March 2015, when war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullash Saleh, and the government backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.
Houthis and Saleh's forces hold most of Yemen's northern regions while government forces backed by Saudi-led military coalition share control of the rest of the country including seven southern provinces.
The civil war, ground battles and airstrikes have already killed more than 10,000 people, half of them civilians, injured more than 35,000 others and displaced over two millions, according to humanitarian agencies.
TALLINN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The prime ministers of the three Baltic countries met with European Council President Donald Tusk in Tallinn on Tuesday, with upcoming EU summits, the bloc's future after the Brexit referendum and security featuring high on the meeting's agenda.
Tusk had arrived in the Estonian capital as the honorary guest of the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting, which brought together Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas, Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis and Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis.
Both Tusk and the Baltic prime ministers agreed during their meeting that NATO remains the cornerstone of the region's security, even though it is still too early to judge how the Alliance will be affected by the recent change of the U.S. administration. Meanwhile, work has to continue on boosting member states' defense capabilities.
Baltic News Service reported citing Latvian prime minister's spokesman Andrejs Vaivars that as far as the EU's forthcoming March summit in Rome is concerned, Latvia believes its participants have to adopt a brief and clear declaration, conveying three messages: that people's concerns about their physical and social security have been heard, that EU member states have a joint action plan and that the bloc is united and committed to the European project.
In the future, the EU should concentrate on developing those areas that ensure economic growth and facilitate convergence among member states, as well as reinforce the bloc's internal and external security, Latvian Prime Minister Kucinskis said during the meeting with his Baltic counterparts and the European Council president.
It was also pointed out at the meeting that it is essential to maintain the Eastern Partnership initiative as the EU's foreign policy priority. The countries involved in the Eastern Partnership project have to be encouraged to develop mutual cooperation, for instance, by enhancing their trade and business contacts.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May(not in the picture) at the White House in Washington D.C.,the United States, Jan. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
By Matthew Rusling
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Not even a month into his term, U.S. President Donald Trump has already been the subject of much controversy. The billionaire New Yorker will not enjoy the "honeymoon" period - the first 100 days in which both the press and the president take it easy - that many other U.S. presidents have historically enjoyed.
Trump shocked the world in November when he clinched the presidency from Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, as polls and experts expected Clinton to be the winner. But the new commander-in-chief, ever controversial, is already seeing demonstrations against his presidency and much criticism in the U.S. press.
"Trump is starting as the least popular new president in recent memory," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.
"He has high negatives and Democrats are united in fighting his changes...There are likely to be major protests at every step of the way as Trump makes various policy changes," West said.
Indeed, the weekend and Monday saw protests in several cities nationwide over Trump's temporary ban on visas from seven predominately Muslim nations that have serious problems with terrorism.
Critics said the ban is unfair to those not involved in terrorism, and some have called it anti-Muslim. The Trump administration says the ban is a bid to make the nation safer from violent attacks from radicals, and supporters insist the ban is not anti-Muslim as it does not cover people in Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and many other Muslim nations.
Dan Mahaffee, an analyst with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua that for Trump, the lack of a honeymoon comes from the press, as well as growing rifts between the president and Congressional Republican Party (GOP) leadership on issues such as trade and infrastructure spending.
Some of the pressure the Trump administration faces is from its promises to shake up the Washington establishment and the need to keep highly unorthodox, populist campaign promises, Mahaffee said.
West said Trump could have had a honeymoon if he had reached out to those who didn' t support him, right after the election.
"He could have been gracious and said he wanted to represent all of America. Instead, he handled his transition period in a partisan manner and did nothing to assuage the concerns of opponents," West said.
Some experts said that due to the increasingly partisan nature of U.S. politics, along with the media environment, a "presidential honeymoon" may become a thing of the past.
Mahaffee said a honeymoon period is increasingly unlikely for future presidents, as the media cycle now analyzes their agenda before they even enter office.
Other presidents have also had short honeymoon periods.
Mahaffee noted that former President Bill Clinton's honeymoon was quickly derailed by a push for healthcare legislation early in his administration. That not only ended the honeymoon, but also allowed the then-minority GOP to focus on the 1994 midterm elections.
Similarly, for former President George W. Bush, the honeymoon period was under the shadow of the controversy over who actually won the election, as the results of the 2000 election were contested.
NICOSIA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The estranged communities of Cyprus are "probably not far away" from a give-and-take stage in their negotiations to end the four-decade-old partition of the eastern Mediterranean island, a United Nations official said on Tuesday.
Espen Barth Eide, the personal emissary of the UN Secretary General on Cyprus, pointed out that this would be the last stage before an international conference to put its stamp on any agreement.
"We would like to refer to it as a win-win outcome," Eide said.
He made his remarks after separate meetings he had with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, representing the Greek Cypriot community, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, to plan a joint meeting on Wednesday.
"Tomorrow it will be a crucial meeting because we need to see how to use these coming days optimally in order to prepare for a return to the international format," Eide said.
He was referring to the reconvening on an international conference in Geneva which ended inconclusively in mid-January.
The two Cypriot leaders and Greece, Turkey and former colonial power Britain, the three countries having the guarantee rights over Cyprus, failed to conclude an agreement.
Eide could not say when the Geneva conference would be reconvened, saying that this will happen when the time seems ripe to put the finishing touches on a Cyprus solution.
"We need to understand which things need to be done here in order to successfully reconvene... You can always have a meeting, but the purpose of the next meeting should be that we conclude something," said Eide.
He cautioned that concluding an agreement may be influenced by other issues, which may guide the way Greece and Turkey think about the Cyprus question.
"We need to be aware of this bigger picture while we need to focus on the need to solve the Cyprus problem," he concluded.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech at a Cyber security conference in Tel Aviv, Israel January 31, 2017. (Reuters photo)
JERUSALEM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Israel approved on Tuesday the construction of 3,000 housing units in West Bank settlements, amidst a spate of settlement expansion in the wake of the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to a statement from Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the approval is "part of returning to normal life" in the West Bank, after some construction projects were put on hold during the term of Barack Obama's administration.
Their statement was released hours before the expected eviction of the illegal Jewish outpost of AMona, east of Ramallah, and was widely viewed by local media as a mean to appease hardline settlers.
The new approval was given to construction projects throughout the West Bank, including 150 units in Pisgat Ze'ev, a settlement neighborhood of Jerusalem, 650 units in Beitar Illit, east of Jerusalem, 700 units in Alfey Menashe in the central West Bank, and 650 units in Beit Aryeh in the northern West Bank.
About 2,000 of units are ready to be marketed immediately, and the rest are in earlier stages of reviews by planning and construction committees, the statement said.
Last Tuesday, days after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn into office, Lieberman and Netanyahu gave the green light to 2,500 other housing units.
"We are in a new era in which life in Judea and Samaria goes back to the normal track, and from now on we give a proper response to the needs in that area," Lieberman said in the statement.
The settlements are illegal under international law because they are built on lands seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War, where the Palestinians wish to form their future state.
The former U.S. administration criticized Israel's continuous expansion of the settlements, which it considered as a major obstacle to peace.
Protesters hold posters at the San Francisco International Airport in the United States, Jan. 28, 2017. Protesters took to San Francisco International Airport on Saturday afternoon to denounce U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order banning entry of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. (Xinhua/Xu Yong)
Rescuers search for missing Chinese tourists off Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Jan. 30, 2017. Malaysia has expanded the search area for the six people remained missing after their boat sank off Sabah state on North Borneo, with neighboring Brunei also joining the search effort, authorities said Monday. (Xinhua)
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China urges continuing search for Chinese tourists in boat accident
BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday asked Malaysia to maintain its search and rescue effort for Chinese nationals from a boat that sank off Malaysia's Sabah State on North Borneo on Saturday evening.
Chevron Nigeria acts on commitment to develop agribusiness in the country
STAR Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited, a subsidiary of Chevron Nigeria has sponsored the training of 50 youths in Oyo State for a three months course at the OFFERCentre institute of Agriculture, Oluponna, Osun State and expressed its commitment to enhance agricultural business in Nigeria.
Chairman, Star Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited, Mr Lanre Kalejaiye, who was represented by the acting Director, Deep Water and Product Sharing Contract, (DW and PSC) Chevron, Mike Kabi, during the valedictory ceremony of the first set of capacity building graduating students at the centre, recently said, "We are also committed to making social investments that will add value to the people's lives in several other spheres of human endeavor.
From 500 applicants, the institute was able to select 50 young men and women to undergo a three month training sponsored by Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited, and others like Lukoil Oil Company, Oil and Gas Nigeria limited among others.
Kabi said "today's graduation ceremony in Agriculture and catering is another demonstration of the Co-venturers' determined efforts to enhance the capacity building of Nigerians and improve agriculture.
"This economic development programme, aimed at building capacity in young Nigerians to go into farming and to make farming a potential career and a business, is one of such investments.
"We believe it will have a tremendous impact on the youths in Oyo state through employment creation, poverty reduction, and livelihood improvement as well as support the development of rural-based cottage industries and development of the local economy. This will in no doubt boost government's efforts in making agriculture a significant revenue yielding sector in the country. I therefore encourage our recipients to effectively make best use of the opportunity."
The Rector of the institute, Reverend Father Macarius Olatunji in his address said the occasion was a celebration of the virtue of hope as ignited in the heart of the young mean and women who had just graduated from the institute.
He said, "OFERCentre Institute of Agriculture has come to stay and is getting better and stronger to make meaningful contributions to the wellbeing of our beloved country.
"All these while, our training was focused on indigent youths, undergraduates and prospective and active farmers. However, with the coming of Star Ultra Deep, a subsidiary of Chevron, the outlook was focused on graduates who have passion for agriculture and want to develop skills for Agribusiness and other crafts."
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Oyo state, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi, described the event as a pragmatic approach towards enhancing food production, poverty alleviation and job creation among other things.
He said, "The need to provide the necessary guidance and support for our youths cannot be over emphasized. This programme without doubt represents the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan's determination to give unflinching support to the development of agriculture, and acquisition of skills for people in Nigeria as a whole.
"It is very relevant to state here that, OFFERCentre is determined to train both indigent and non-indigent youths, which invariably, according to her vision will improve the standard of living of the people in rural communities. This institution has been able to achieve all these by providing an enabling environment that promotes technical ability, proficiency and discipline of youths irrespective of creed, place and tribe."
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Man on murder charge
Noel Gow, who was arrested last week Monday appeared in court before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John charged for the murder of Khemraj Persaud, 35, also known as Khemraj Ramkelawan, also known as Leaf .
The arrest was effected by Head of San Fernando Police Headquarters Operations Unit Inspector Don Gajadar, at a service station in Duncan Village. Persaud, 30, was shot dead outside his apartment in Duncan Village on April 25, 2015. The victims friend Guyanese-born Shawn Boodhoo was also shot and wounded in the April 25, 2015 incident.
Persaud who lived in Trinidad for eight years, was shot twice in the head. His body was flown back to Berbice, Guyana for burial, ten days after the murder.
Gow yesterday stood before Senior Magistrate Forde-John who read four charges namely that on April 25, 2015 Gow murdered Persaud; on that same day, he allegedly shot and wounded Boodoo; on the same date he had in his possession an illegal firearm and the last charge was that he had in his possession illegal ammunition.
All charges were laid indictably and the accused was not called upon to enter a plea. As murder is a capital offence (for which the penalty is death), the accused cannot be afforded bail. Magistrate Forde-John asked court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan if he had anything to disclose and he said that a file will be prepared and sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for appointment of a State attorney.
The accused was not represented by an attorney. Woman Police Constable Tricia Knights laid the charges. The case was adjourned to April 23.
Murdered Christine laid to rest
Pastor Kwame Jordan was addressing mourners at the funeral service of murdered security officer, Christine Roxanne Joseph, at Guides Funeral Home, Coffee Street, San Fernando. Joseph, 21, was murdered by her estranged boyfriend, Keyon Roberts, 29, who stabbed her repeatedly and later committed suicide by setting himself ablaze in an outdoor bathroom.
He died as a result of third degree burns to 90 percent of his body.
The incident occurred at Parforce Road Extension, Gasparillo on January 23. To date Trinidad has recorded 54 murders and today is the 30th, so in 30 days there are 54 murders that we know of and everyone is looking at the Government for the answers, he told mourners.
I am not PNM or UNC, I am a Trinidadian.
When UNC was there we had the same murders and the PNM is here we have the same murders and yet we are still looking for answers from government.
The government dont have the answers, but we blame government come and go. We want to blame them for the situation we having in our country. He told mourners that the situation we are now experiencing as a nation started in the homes.
Parents, he said, are leaving their children unattended and there are no longer father figures in the homes so the young men dont know what it is to be a man or how to treat a woman.
Jordan said society has become so broken down with no moral values and now we live in a place where anything goes. He said that not even the police could curb the crime or solve murders because they themselves are afraid.
Apparently criminals have better guns than them. Eulogising Joseph, relative Deanna Forbes described her as loving and kind. She said Josephs smile was always contagious. She loved herself and she was known as the selfie boss.
She was one of the most loving and ambitious women you would have ever met. Joseph was laid to lest at the Caratal Public Cemetery.
Men held in connection with threat to Carmona released
The three were detained at the Central Police Station over the weekend and questioned by officers of the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit and Special Branch about why they were enquiring about the whereabouts of the President.
Newsday understands that after being interviewed, investigators ordered that the trio be released pending further investigations.
The men said they had no intentions of issuing any threat to Carmona and that they had no ill intention towards him.
On Friday afternoon, a caretaker at the Blanchisseuse residence reported to police that the men arrived in a black vehicle and began asking questions about when next the President will there.
Newsday understands that after the men left, the caretaker became concerned and alerted the police who organised a roadblock at Maracas Bay and the men were detained.
Last Sunday, a male caller telephoned the E999 Command Centre and threatened to kill the president and all of them.
The matter was reported to the Special Branch and police officers took the necessary steps to increase the security in and around the President and members of his family.
Even Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon said that the threat was being taken seriously and additional security arrangements had been put in place.
Woman missing, male acquaintance surrenders to police
Simms of Rampersad Trace, Rochard Road, Penal was last seen on Saturday leaving a Penal restaurant in the company of a man who, investigators say, was known to her and who, according to reports, had promised to find her a job. Relatives said Simms was laid off as a waitress two weeks ago and they believe she knew the man from his visits to the restaurant as he was a regular customer.
He had promised to help her get a job and she left home saying she was going to meet him, her worried aunt, Jennifer Hamid, told Newsday.
When Simms did not return home on Saturday, loved ones became worried and on Sunday reported her missing to officers at the Penal Police Station. The surveillance camera at the eating establishment has since confirmed that Simms met the man and spent time with him. They were also captured leaving the restaurant together just around one oclock on Saturday afternoon.
Hamid said yesterday, He gave up himself to the police but we still cant find my niece. Simms was last seen dressed in a maroon coloured top, black pants and a pair of slippers.
Anyone with information can contact the Anti Kidnapping Squad, Penal Police Station or the nearest police station.
Enterprise residents want foot patrol in community
Two men riding around in a jeep is not patrol, argued one angry resident who asked not to be identified. What we want to see is foot patrol as two men in a jeep is a waste of time. They get friendly with the men and them. Is a war you come to face. The camp which is housed in a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) apartment building is located a couple streets away from the spot where Lewis was gunned down.
The resident recalled that on Friday night Lewis was liming on the block - a police vehicle was parked in close proximity to the well known block.
Newsday was told that about four men came out the track with guns blazing.
He then gave this account: When the (gun) men come out from the track and start firing, the police van drive off. Gunmen came from both sides and they (police) only returned when it was over. The man accused the officers of failing to assist the wounded Lewis in getting medical attention.
Man over him trying to lift him up to carry him to the hospital and the officers would not even lift a finger. Is almost like if is a joke to them, he said.
If they had helped, he might have been alive today. Lewis was shot in his back as he tried to escape gunmen and succumbed to his wounds in the arms of his uncle while on the way to the Chaguanas Health Facility.
The resident warned that if law enforcement officers dont step up their game in the community, the same gunmen they are friendly with will turn their guns on them.
They are out of control. Is Muslims they (police) dealing with. Another eyewitness who spoke to Newsday said he narrowly missed being shot and was scared to go to work on Saturday.
When Newsday spoke to Lewis mother on Saturday, she had a different view about the work being done by the officers saying that they were doing their best in the crime ridden community.
She however felt that it was left on the young men to change their lifestyle. She said her son had been warned about hanging out on the dangerous blocks in the community.
Officers of the Central Division, up to yesterday, continued the hunt for Lewis killers. Police are also searching for the hit man who shot and killed Barrackpore doubles vendor / wrecking service owner Ramesh Raj Jacob on Saturday. At about 6 am, the 41 year-old father of two was killed while setting up his doubles stall outside the entrance of the Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain in Couva where he has peddled his trade for the past 17 years. His wife Halima and employees who were present at the time escaped injuries. Investigators believe his death was a hit as nothing was taken from him.
It was reported that a gunman alighted from a car and walked up to him shot him in the head and back before escaping in the waiting vehicle.
PM SLAMS TERROR EXPERT
Those countries are Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Somalia. The ban also includes citizens from those countries who have dual American citizenship.
In a statement, Rowley declared, Mr Nances broad and simplistic statement is not supported by fact and ignores the robust and substantial national security cooperative partnership between TT and the United States. Rowley, who is chairman of the National Security Council (NSC) and holds the security portfolio in Caricoms quasi-Cabinet, further declared, TTs unshakeable commitment to combatting terrorism and religious extremism in all its forms, cannot be called into question. We will continue to work with our partners in the international community, particularly the United States, our major trading partner, until this threat to world order and security is addressed, he added. Rowley explained it is against this background that he participated in the high level regional security conference of Caricom and the US which took place in Washington DC in May.
He also said that in October, TT hosted the 12th Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas which brought together defence leaders of nearly all nations in the Western Hemisphere, including the US Defense Secretary. Rowley said that on September 21, TT became the first Caricom nation to sign the Customs Mutual Administrative Agreement (CMAA) with the US, further expanding our two nations bilateral security relationship. The Prime Minister also said, Furthermore, in September of 2016, the TT Defence Force, the TT Police Service and the United States Southern Command participated in Joint Combined Exchange Training to bolster our mutual capabilities as partners to conduct security operations. He reiterated that Government will continue to focus on strengthening its, long-standing relationship with the United States, while fostering a dialogue which promotes increased economic, cultural and national security collaboration for the benefit of both our nations. In a separate statement, the National Security Ministry said while TT is currently experiencing challenges with some of its nationals being linked to terrorist groups internationally, this country, takes the fight against global terrorism seriously and is continuously taking all necessary measures to combat the threat. The ministry said it is working closely with the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, which has established an Anti-Terrorism Desk. Among other things, that desk is examining legislative amendments required to the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Further our courts, based on applications made by the Attorney General, have listed over 300 individuals or entities and their associates which were designated as terrorist entities by the Security Council of the United Nations, the ministry said.
In his comments on an MSNBC programme last Saturday, Nance said, We (the United States) have not banned terrorists from Brazil. ISIS has dozens of members from Brazil or Trinidad or the Bahamas who have more terrorist members than any of those other countries.
US citizen stabbed 8 times
A bloodstained kitchen knife, believed to be the murder weapon, is in the hands of investigators.
Matthews two daughters and two sons arrived in the country yesterday to take possession of her body and make funeral arrangements. Sources said that agents from the United States will arrive in this country to take an active role in investigations.
Pieces of evidence, taken from the crime scene, will be sent to the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) forensic labs for assessment. Sources said that key information is already in the hands of local police investigators and the probe is now at a sensitive stage. Sources said that investigators remain confident that arrests will be made soon.
Matthews, who lived alone, was found dead in her Arima home on the weekend. The house was ransacked, suggesting that robbery may have been the motive behind her murder. For the year, there have been 52 murders with 17 occurring in Northern Division.
Contacted for comment, Matthews relative, former Director of the National Operations Centre (NOC) Garvin Heera said Matthews posed no danger to anyone and her brutal and callous murder was a reflection of how deeply Trinidad and Tobago has sunk into lawlessness, disrespect and gross hatred for human life.
Crime is definitely out of control and citizens, especially law-abiding ones, are no longer living in fear of just being robbed, they are living in fear of being murdered. No one knows who will be next, Heera said.
La Brea beaches clean
Last Friday, president of the La Brea Fisherfolk Association, Alvin La Borde, said oil pellets had been observed staining the brown sands at Carrat Shed and Coffee beaches during the early morning hours. He observed that not only were the oil pellets proving to be a nuisance to fisherfolk who use a portion of the beach to anchor their boats, but it was also hampering tourism in La Brea as a group of tourists stopped by Carrat Shed beach after visiting the Pitch Lake but left after venturing into the water with clumps of oil sticking to their feet.
In a media release yesterday, the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) stated that the Coffee, Carat Shed, Pointe Sable and Station beaches as well as beaches at Fullerton, which had been affected by the washing ashore of tar balls had been completed.
The EMA stated that site visits conducted by its officers confirmed that Fullerton Beach was successfully cleaned by community representatives, with the assistance of Petrotrin, while at La Brea, clean-up was conducted by Petrotrin, as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts in the area. No upset conditions were identified at Petrotrins onshore or offshore operations, the EMA stated after fisherfolk observed that the oil could be emanating from either a fuel bunkering barge or an oil well.
Imam tells citizens to change their ways
Ali also made a call for better role models in the nation. He said the persons calling themselves role models have influenced the majority of the nations youth in a negative way.
People call themselves Muslim and Rasta because they want to appear to have a certain level of rank where others would look at them and say they want to be like them, Ali said.
These people who call themselves Muslims really have no basis behind calling themselves such. We lack a lot of discipline today.
There is no humility any more, and people are very arrogant. But that does not mean that the persons have to remain arrogant. The companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were known as the worst of people. The background that they had, no one in history could have consumed more alcohol than them. They used to kill their girl children because they thought they were blights. Yet when Islam came to them, they became so pleased with Allah, that even Allah himself became pleased with them.
International judge hails arrest of Nigerian ship
It is a landmark decision for this country; a commendable move by the local courts, to arrest a Nigerian vessel for whatever breach it was, said Lucky who is based in Hamburg, Germany where he presides as a judge in cases relating to the conflicts between countries on sea matters.
The MT Tumini has been docked off the Trinidad Cement Limiteds Claxton Bay jetty for the past four years, apparently abandoned by its owners in Nigeria.
The crew, who are all Guyanese nationals, decided to stay on board until they are paid their wages and for securing the ship for its owners. It is not the first time a ship was arrested by the court.
Lucky reminded that in 1996, while presiding as a judge of the High Court, he made an order in an Admirality action filed by the officers and crew of the foreign tanker Duchess which was docked off the Port of Spain jetty. Lucky granted leave to arrest the ship so that the officers and crew could be paid.
Lucky, in commenting on the order of Justice Devendra Rampersad, told Newsday that if and when the MV Tumini is sold, the money would be paid into the court and the obligation in disbursing payments, would be first, to the crew members on board.
Under Admirality Law, Lucky said, the first obligation is for the crew to be paid their wages.
The International Law of the Sea judge said that had the ship not been arrested via the action taken by the agent and the crew, the matter could have become one for consideration by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Lucky said, I must commend the judge and the local courts for taking a step in the right direction.
It will enhance our development in dealing with such matters. In the judges order, the MT Tumini is to be sold in the next nine months, failing which, the court will sell the vessel by private auction.
COSTAATT Chaguanas campus a dream come true
The campus, located on Pierre Connector Road, was allocated 35 acres of land for construction by the former government under the leadership of former Tertiary Education and Skills Training Minister, Fazal Karim, with a budget of $157.7 million in 2012. NIPDEC was made the project manager for the construction of the campus, and its Chief Executive Officer, David Benjamin, was happy to announce on Thursday last that the final cost came up to $145.5 million.
Benjamin credited the under budget construction to the early disbursement of funds by the government and the careful planning by contractor, NH International.
According to Benjamin, NH International was chosen out of eight contractors who tendered for the project. NH International, in collaboration with Fojo Design and Development Limited, designed, built, and outfitted the three storey campus that occupies 65,000 square feet with 25 acres of land surrounding for further expansion by the campus.
Construction began in June, 2014, and was completed in July of 2016, becoming COSTAATTs new main campus, this time without a monthly rent bill.
President of COSTAATT, Dr Gillian Paul, remarked that This is a milestone achievement for those of us who believe that COSTAATT is destined to be a great national institution, said Paul. Though the North American community college model upon which COSTAAT is based was foreign to the country, It has taken root because it is actually precisely the type of tertiary institution that Trinidad and Tobago needed to expand access in a purposeful way that would allow those who had been marginalised, not able to benefit, not for reasons of aptitude or potential but circumstance, finance, the secondary school they were in, the rural community they were in never to realise their potential. In his feature address, Minister in the Ministry of Education, Dr Lovell Francis, told a story of growing up as a bright boy in Moruga around friends who were not conventionally bright. These friends went on to become engineers and software designers, earning salaries much larger than his as a former lecturer at the University of the West Indies.
Former Central Bank governor now disruptive economist
In an email which announced the new blog, Rambarran said it is, a space to share ideas for a better world through more enlightened economic policy. Rambarran said, Posts are written in a simple style, convey alternative viewpoints to policymakers, and are usually delivered once weekly. Central Banking, public finance, foreign exchange (forex) market and innovative financing for development are the categories which Rambarran deals with on his blog.
In a post about forex, Rambarran said Prime Minister Dr.Keith Rowley blamed my tinkering with the Central Banks foreign exchange distribution system for the creation of a US dollar black market and for the country living in the shadow of foreign exchange shortages, when he responded to a question from the Opposition in the House of Representatives on December 7, 2016.
In his response, Rowley expressed confidence that arrangements are in place to ensure that small, medium and large businesses in the country are able to access the foreign exchange that they require.
The Prime Minister said, We will still expect that the arrangements in place will permit small medium and large businesses to survive within the context of our circumstances. Rowley said regardless of the size of the users of foreign exchange, this conversation has to be rooted in the fact that there has to be an understanding that foreign exchange in TT is not at the level that it used to be. The Prime Minister said people would be burying their heads in the sand if they did not accept that foreign exchange is being, bought and sold outside of the banks in TT. He attributed this to a tinkering in April 2014 under the then Peoples Partnership (PP) government, with the distribution of foreign exchange that first took us down the road to the creation of a black market in this country. According to Rambarran, The existing foreign exchange distribution system encourages inequality because it inherently gives undue preference to banks based on size. He claimed, The changes I made in April 2014 to the distribution system sought to make US dollars more widely accessible, both across banks and across their customers. In December 2015, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said Rambarran was free to challenge his dismissal as governor in court if he wished.
In a statement in December 2015, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said, The Cabinets decision was based primarily on legal advice from both internal and external counsel, including senior counsel, who advised that the disclosure by the former Governor of the names of the largest users of foreign exchange in Trinidad and Tobago and the amounts of foreign exchange that they used was a breach of section 56 of the Central Bank Act and section 8 of the Financial Institutions Act. Section 56 of the Central Bank Act deals with preserving the secrecy of matters related to the affairs of the Bank.
Any member of the Bank who breaches this section is liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine of $6,000 and to imprisonment for two years.
Duke hits Rowleys feteing
At a press conference yesterday at the Public Services Association (PSA) officer in Port-of-Spain, Duke who is also PSA President, displayed a newspaper photo of Dr Rowley at the annual Bishop Anstey High School all-inclusive fete on Saturday.
It irks me to see the Prime Minister frolicking at a Carnival party when crime is on the increase, Duke said. He also knocked new THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles for saying he (Charles) had no crime plan.
When the Chief Secretary says he has no crime plan that seemed to me to be a window for criminals.
Because in the ensuing days a number of criminal activities have taken place (in Tobago) in an intense manner as never before seen. Duke said gunshots were heard in Signal Hill, a man was robbed of his car at gunpoint, one was almost kidnapped while walking along the Claude Noel Highway and there have been two murders already in the sister-isle.
Duke also spoke of a child aged three found wandering along Shirvan Road on the weekend.
This is just the tip of the iceberg where crime and criminality are concerned in Tobago and we have a Chief Secretary who says he has no crime plan and will look to Trinidad for one. He queried the $25 Billion that National Security got in the past five years and asked what value had citizens gotten for that expenditure.
Duke called for the full outfitting of all 15 municipal corporations with the appropriate municipal constabularies and for Rowley to give this directive to the Local Government Minister to get it done.
We the Progressive Democratic Patriots have a crime plan and as the minority leader I will be writing the House asking for the crime plan of the Chief Secretary and also the legislative agenda, because high on that agenda should policing in Tobago, he said. As for Rowley being at fetes, Duke had this to say: We are calling on the Prime Minister to get more involved in Tobagos business and stop falling around with the party business.
You are not a party man, you are an old man...act your age and act more responsibly.
Persad-Bissessar: Let citizens own guns
Allowing citizens to legally acquire guns, said Persad-Bissessar, is one of the key issues that the government must prioritise discussing.
In fact, she demanded that the Keith Rowley-led government immediately convene an extraordinary session of Parliament to debate the crime situation, with the specific aim of informing the public of their immediate plans and strategies, the measures it intends to utilise to ensure the immediate short term reduction of the murder, kidnapping, rape and assault rates. Additionally, she called for women to be allowed to legally carry pepper spray so they could better protect themselves.
Persad-Bissessar said if the ruling Peoples National Movement (PNM) had not dismantled some of the previous crime-fighting initiatives by the Peoples Partnership, like the Community Comfort Patrol and the National Operations Centre, crime would not have reached the crisis level that it has.
Deyalsingh urges citizens to get flu vaccine
Vaccinations are being given on Tuesdays and Fridays.
At a press conference held last week at the Insect Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Cunupia, Deyalsingh said cases of influenza were down last year.
This was due largely, he said, to about 100,000 flu vaccines being administered during the last flu season.
The flu season ended in May 2016.
The ministrys flu vaccination drive has also gone into the fields starting at the Tunapuna Market last Friday.
Other areas targeted are the Chaguanas Market, Gulf City Mall, City Gate, and Harris Promenade.
Overseas visitors coming to Carnival 2017 are also advised to get flu shots before they arrive.
Having learnt from the 2015 experience when a number of persons died due to the H1N1influenza, Deyalsingh said, the ministry implemented a much more robust vaccination drive starting in October 2016.
Because we have been so successful and because no one has died and there is no screaming headline of Yet another death due to H1N1, he said, the response to the vaccination drive is not what it should be. To date about 22,000 people have been vaccinated.
The vaccines must be used by May 2017 because it will expire at that time. The new batch of vaccines for whatever new strain of flu comes around will be available in September for the new year.
The flu vaccine is given annually.
During October and November 2016, Deyalsingh said that the focus of the vaccination programme was on the vulnerable population that included pregnant women, the elderly, those suffering from chronic diseases and children.
The vaccination drive is now open to everyone, regardless of age or health status, he said adding I want to go through this flu season with no deaths.
Bill prefiled in Alaska would legalize industrial hemp production
Industrial hemp is a cannabis sativa plant that has less than 1% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive properties of marijuana. In addition to food products created from the hemp plants seeds, oil, and stalks, says Leafly.com, hemp can provide fuels, ink, lubricants, rope, canvas, clothing, concrete, and much more. Hemps resilience, strength, and ecosystem-repairing properties have long been well documented. Industrial hemp is an important export in over thirty nations including Canada, China, Russia, Germany, Chile, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, and Egypt, as reported by Hempuniversity.com. But growing hemp in the U.S. is done only when the farmer complies with a complicated combination of hoops and rules and statues from both federal and state authorities.
While the 2014 Farm Bill opened the door for industrial hemp research, those hoops have kept the U.S. hemp market practically non-existent. In fact, the United States is the worlds biggest importer of hemp, to the tune of about $620 million per year. The Cannabist reports that only 6900 acres of hemp research plots fields are currently being grown. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) still insists that hemp and all marijuana products and extracts remain as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. But, as detailed by Tenthamendmentcenter.com, a bill recently filed in Alaska to legalize industrial hemp production may actually nullify federal prohibition on the plant. If this bill passes, as far as the authorities in Alaska are concerned, hemp plants and seeds are not controlled substances. This means that farmers would be able to grow, process, harvest, and possess the plant without a license.
Alaska hemp farmers would then simply look at hemp seed the same as other commodity seeds, like tomato, corn, or kale. Current federal law only authorizes the farming of hemp by research institutions only, for research only. This newly filed bill in Alaska rejects the need for federal approval. Oregon, Vermont, and Colorado have taken similar actions. One would hope its just a matter of time until hemp production is promoted in the United States, just like it was during World War II.
Hemp has a long and storied history in America. According to Farm Collector, the first hemp seeds arrived on our shores when the Puritans carried them across the ocean in the Mayflower, a ship fortified with hemp fiber in its lines, sails, and caulking. Industrial hemp was grown extensively throughout the early American colonies in the mid- 1600s and crafted into rope, cord, cloth, paper, sacks, and canvas, and occasionally used to pay taxes. The early drafts of the Declaration of Independence were printed on hemp paper.
The 1970s war on drugs created a war on hemp, as hemp and marijuana were looked upon as an identical plant. But the demonization of hemp started way before President Nixons signature. The story of how the marvelous and sustainable benefits of hemp were suffocated is the same as most stories. Because hemp is a renewable resource, that caused problems for Duponts chemical, wood pulp, and synthetic nylon industries back in the 1930s and 1940s. As Theinfluence.org tells it, there was a collusion between Dupont, Randolph Hearsts media empire, and the federal government to convince the public that marijuana and hemp were a devil weed, and a deadly drug [that] American children must be protected against.
Fortunately, these lies are being scraped away, one by one. Industrial hemp, medical marijuana, and CBD oil are being rediscovered and utilized as they were intended.
Sources:
Leafly.com
HempUniversity.com
Leafly.com
TheCannabist.co
TenthAmendmentCenter.com
YouTube.com
FarmCollector.com
TheInfluence.org
YouTube.com
Submit a correction >>
Indian police rescue 6,000 turtles from poachers smuggling them to Southeast Asia
In whats been described as the largest wildlife seizure of its kind in Indias history, authorities have rescued more than 6,000 freshwater turtles caught by poachers who planned to sell the meat and bones of the animals in various Southeast Asian countries.
The 6,430 Indian flapshell turtles (Lissemys punctata) weighing 4.4 tons collectively were found stuffed into 140 jute bags and loaded on a truck that would have transported them from the state of Uttar Pradesh in the northeast of the country to the eastern Indian city of Kolkata.
From there, the illegal cargo would have been shipped to markets in Bangladesh, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia, where the flapshell turtles meat is prized for its purported aphrodisiacal powers and its powdered bones are used in folk remedies and soups.
From The Star Online:
Rachna Tiwari of the US-based Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) said smugglers can earn up to 1,000 rupees ($15) per flapshell turtle, while a bigger softshell whose meat is considered a delicacy is sold for up to 8,000 rupees.
The turtles liberation from the poachers was the work of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, a team charged with the enforcement of wildlife laws within the state. Arvind Chaturvedi, head of the special task force, told AFP: Wildlife authorities confirmed that this is the largest haul in the countrys wildlife history, both in terms of number and weight 4.4 tonnes.
Chaturvedi also said that the kingpin of the interstate turtle smuggling gang, Raj Bahadur Singh, was arrested during the raid that took place in the town of Gauriganj, located in the Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh.
Several members of the gang are yet to be arrested, authorities said.
Indian flapshell turtles are not endangered or particularly rare, but they are protected under the Indian Wildlife Act passed in 1972. And despite efforts to raise awareness and increase enforcement of anti-poaching laws, they and other turtle species some of which are endangered are being smuggled out of Uttar Pradesh at an alarming rate.
From Earth Touch News:
According to the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), trade is brisk: Indian flapshells can sell for up to 1,000 rupees (approximately $15) per animal. And the flapshells arent the only coveted species. The Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), whose meat is considered a delicacy, is also regularly poached, fetching prices of up to 8,000 rupees (approximately $117).
Like the flapshell, the Indian softshell turtle is a protected species and not yet on the endangered list but for how long?
Enforcement against poaching has improved, but the scale at which these protected turtles are being poached, who knows, they may also soon become endangered, said Tiwari.
It is estimated that as many as 20,000 turtles are smuggled out of Uttar Pradesh every year. The state happens to be home to 14 of Indias 28 endangered turtle species.
The 6,430 rescued turtles are currently being housed in a makeshift sanctuary in the Turtle Survival Alliances local center.
Turtles and tortoises have been around for 220 million years, but for many species, the future looks grim.
According to a 2011 report published by the TSA, entitled, Turtles in Trouble: Top 25+ Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles, hunting, poaching and destruction of natural habitats will lead to the extinction of the worlds 25 most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles within the next few decades unless concerted conservation efforts are made.
To learn more about the plight of turtles and tortoises throughout the world or perhaps to make a contribution to the cause please visit the Turtle Survival Alliance website.
Sources:
TheStar.com.my
EarthTouchNews.com
ChannelNewsAsia.com
LiveMint.com
TurtleSurvival.org
Submit a correction >>
Permit-less Constitutional Carry Bill filed in the Kentucky Senate
No matter how clearly it is stated in the Constitution of the United States, the Regressive Left will continue to deny the fact that owning and operating firearms is an American right. They will claim that the Founding Fathers were referring to muskets. This isnt true. They will claim that gun owners are all sociopaths. This also isnt true. They will make generalization after generalization in hopes of convincing the masses that firearms are inherently evil and that there is no reason to own one.
Unfortunately for those freedom-haters, it doesnt appear as though any of us are buying into their lies and nobody is willing to give up their guns just yet. In fact, more people than ever are purchasing firearms and it seems as though a major culture shift is taking place in regards to the kinds of people that are supporting the Second Amendment. (RELATED: For more news stories related to liberty in the United States, visit Liberty.news)
Furthermore, lots of pro-liberty bills regarding firearms have been considered, including one that was recently filed in the Kentucky Senate known as the Constitutional Carry bill.
Recently, ten senators in Kentucky filed Senate Bill 7, which would allow for a Constitutional Carry of firearms. The Tenth Amendment Center reports, The legislation would allow persons not otherwise prohibited by other laws to carry concealed weapons without a license. The proposed law stipulates a number of places where it would remain illegal to carry a concealed weapon including hospitals, police stations, courthouses, government meetings, and areas primarily dedicated to selling alcoholic beverages for consumption.
Only time will tell whether or not the bill passes, but it is definitely a good start. Hopefully this will extend beyond Kentucky and end up becoming a nationwide trend. It is time for our country as a whole to embrace liberty, and few aspects of American life are more important than the Second Amendment after all, it is what protects the rest of our freedoms.
Instead of constantly pushing the idea that everyone who has even considered owning a gun is a psychopath, the left should really start to embrace the Second Amendment. This is a right that protects every single American regardless of political affiliation, so the fact that the powers that be have convinced these people that they should oppose firearms is just absurd. But it is now up to us to spread the truth regarding the Second Amendment.
We need to have concealed carry in the United States. We need to be allowed to protect ourselves and others from potential dangers. We need to take the Constitution more seriously and its nice to see that these Kentucky senators are doing just that. Should this Constitutional Carry become commonplace, it will certainly be one of those small victories that promises to be one of the key moments in a much larger war. It is important that we stay tenacious and never lose sight of our goal: enabling widespread liberty in our country once again.
Sources:
BearingArms.com
NRAILA.org
Blog.TenthAmendmentCenter.com
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What might be the single most important thing Norfolk could do to help smooth the way for the addition of OCT Pipe to the community?
The majority of the member states attending the 28th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa have officially welcomed Morocco as a fully-fledged member in the African institutional family.
Morocco was readmitted in the African Union following the broad consensus among an overwhelming majority of member states on the North African countrys application to join the continental organization. Morocco has thus won the support of 39 member states out of 54, a figure that exceeds by far the minimum 28 number needed to secure membership within the AU.
This group of 39 countries imposed de facto the Kingdoms membership without going through a vote that would have in all cases been predominantly in favor of Morocco.
This broad consensus on Moroccos return to the pan-African organization evidences the success of the Kingdoms African foreign policy, which matches words with actions in promoting south-south cooperation and win-win partnerships in the continent.
Speaking to the press, Senegalese President Macky Sall welcomed Moroccos return saying if the family grows bigger, we can find solutions as a family.
Echoing him, Liberias President said: Africa wants to speak in one voice. We need all African countries to be a part of that voice.
The endorsement of Morocco by 39 AU member countries foiled all attempts by the opponents of the Kingdoms territorial integrity, notably Algeria and South Africa that vainly campaigned till the last minute in a bid to obstruct the Kingdom from regaining its legitimate place in Africas institutional family.
Morocco withdrew from the predecessor of the AU, the Organization of African Unity, in 1984, to protest the biased decision of admitting the separatist SADR entity as a member state within the Organization in total violation of neutrality in the Sahara conflict.
Monday brought another good news for Morocco and for the rest of Africa: the election of Moussa Faki Mahamat as new head of the African Unions Commission in replacement of Dlamini Zuma whose tenure was fraught with failures on Africas pressing issues.
Faki Mahamat, former Foreign Minister of Chad, pledged to place development and security at the top of his agenda and to streamline the organizations bureaucracy
The Monday session was also marked by the election of a new chairperson of the African Union in the person of Guinean President, Alpha Conde.
The AU Chairperson, elected by the Assembly of Heads of State for a one-year term, is the ceremonial head of the Union. He chairs, in this capacity, the biannual summits and represents the continent in various international fora such as Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) The Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation (FOCAC), the G8 and G20 summits.
King Mohammed VI delivered a landmark speech before the heads of state attending the 28th summit of the African Union that massively endorsed Moroccos readmission within the continental organization.
In the speech, King Mohammed VI underscored the south-south cooperation underpinning the Kingdoms African endeavor and the large-scale win-win partnerships sealed with a range of African countries to boost co-development efforts in the continent.
The Monarch started his address by thanking Moroccos friends within the pan-African organization for their outspoken support for the Kingdom, a support that evidenced solid bonds, and noted that although it was necessary to withdraw from AUs predecessor, the Organization of African Unity, OAU, Morocco has never turned its back to Africa.
Now, said the King, it is time to return home; at a time when the Kingdom is among the most developed African nations and when a majority of Member States looks forward to our return, we have decided to join our family again. A family we had not really left!
Despite Moroccos absence from AU institutions, explained the Monarch, Morocco has maintained strong ties with sister African nations. Strong bilateral relations have thus been significantly developed: since 2000, Morocco has signed nearly a thousand agreements with African countries, in various fields of cooperation.
Tangible Win-Win Partnerships
Highlighting Moroccos efforts to boost ties with African countries, the King said that between 1956 and 1999, 515 agreements were signed, whereas 949 agreements have been signed since 2000.
During this period I, personally, was keen to give fresh impetus to this action, by making more visits to various African sub-regions. On each of the 46 visits I paid to 25 African countries, numerous agreements were signed involving the public as well as the private sector, the Sovereign went on to say, before he underscored the importance of training in Moroccos cooperation with African countries through granting thousands of scholarships to African students to continue their higher education in the Kingdom.
The King also elaborated on the major strategic projects that were sealed during his recent African tours. In this regard, he shed light on the importance of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, which was launched in partnership with Nigeria, saying, this project will of course allow natural gas to be transported from gas-producing countries to Europe. But more than that, it will benefit the whole of West Africa. The project, he added, will, indeed, contribute to creating a regional electricity market and be a substantial source of energy, which will help develop industry, improve economic competitiveness and speed up social development.
He explained that the project is geared towards creating wealth for neighboring countries and populations, generating crucial momentum that will stimulate the emergence and the development of parallel projects.
The project is also conducive for more peaceful bilateral and multilateral relations and for an environment conducive to development and growth.
Boosting agricultural productivity is another priority area for Moroccos African action, said the King, noting that fertilizer production plants have been set up with both Ethiopia and Nigeria. These projects will benefit the continent as a whole. As we know, basic food needs cannot be met with gas or oil.
In this regards, the King pointed out to the Morocco-led initiative, dubbed Adaptation of African Agriculture, or Triple A Initiative, which was promoted during the COP22. It is an innovative and extremely concrete response to the common challenges posed by climate change.
The initiative, which aims at helping small farmers counter climate-change effects, has so far received the backing of some thirty African countries, said the king.
Touching on the security challenges facing the continent, King Mohammed VI emphasized Moroccos commitment to African stability through promoting peace and security initiatives on the continent. Since its independence, Morocco has contributed to six UN peace-keeping missions in Africa, engaging thousands of troops in various theaters of operation, said the Monarch, noting that Moroccan forces are still present today in CAR and DRC.
Morocco has also conducted a number of mediations which helped achieve substantial progress towards peace, namely in Libya and the Mano River region, he added.
Clear South-South Cooperation vision underpinned by solidarity and humanism
In his address, the Sovereign paid special attention to Moroccos vision of south-south cooperation in the continent in line with an approach underpinned by solidarity and humanism. In this regards, the King pointed to Moroccos migration policy in favor of Sub-Saharan citizens, noting that more than 25000 people benefited from the first phase of a large-scale regularization campaign that will help them integrate the Moroccan society.
The second phase was successfully launched just a few weeks ago, in the same spirit of solidarity and humanism. We are proud of these actions, said the King.
All this constructive action to help migrants has bolstered Moroccos image and strengthened the bonds we had already forged, explained the King, stressing that it is to Africa that the Kingdom is seeking to give the leadership.
Call for regional integration
The Monarch made it clear that after its return to the African Union, Morocco will have a platform to constructively contribute to the agenda of activities and help bring about unity and progress.
We participated in the creation of this beautiful pan-African edifice and we naturally look forward to regaining the place that is ours within it, he said.
He stressed that Morocco as an emerging economy, with acknowledged expertise; is today one of the most prosperous nations in Africa, adding that the Kingdom has always considered that its strength comes primarily from the integration of the Maghreb sub-region.
It is however clear that the flame of the Arab Maghreb Union has faded, because faith in a common interest has vanished!, deplored the King, saying that today, we regret to see that the Maghreb Union is the least integrated region in the African continent, if not in the whole world.
Intra-regional trade has reached 10% between ECOWAS countries and 19% between SADC countries, while it is still stagnating at less than 3% between Maghreb countries, said the King, while lauding the example of ECOWAS as a sub-regional grouping offering a reliable space for free movement of persons, goods and capital, while economic cooperation between Maghreb countries is at a low level.
In this respect, the King urged following the example of neighboring African sub-regions in order for the Maghreb Union to live up to the ambitions of the Marrakesh Treaty, which gave birth to it 28 years ago.
Commitment to the prosperity of African citizens
Moroccos African commitment is to serve African citizens, stressed the King. My country has opted to share and transfer its know-how; in concrete terms, it is offering to build a safe, solidarity-based future.
We enthusiastically invite African nations to join our countrys dynamism and to give new impetus to the whole of our continent, said the King, adding that It is time for Africa to benefit from Africas wealth.
We must work to enable our land, after decades of looting, to enter an era of prosperity. Admittedly, colonialism is not the sole cause of Africas problems. However, its negative impact persists, he explained.
Africa can and must validate, on its own, its elections and thus endorse its citizens free choice. It has regulatory tools and legal institutions, such as Constitutional Councils and Supreme Courts, which can settle electoral disputes and appeals, noted the King, lauding the new generation of uninhibited leaders in the continent who are working for the stability, political openness, economic development and social progress of their peoples.
The Monarch concluded his speech by reaffirming Moroccos commitment to the development and prosperity of African citizens. We, peoples of Africa, have the means and the genius; together, we can fulfill the aspirations of our peoples.
Azzedine Soufiane, a Canadian citizen from Moroccan origin has been identified among the six victims of the terrorist attack that targeted a mosque in Quebec City on Sunday evening.
Details of the dead and the injured have emerged. Quebec City police released the names and ages of the victims of the fatal shooting.
Soufiane, aged 57, is a Moroccan native who has lived in Canada for years. He is a butcher and owns a grocery store. Father of three children Soufiane is remembered for his friendliness and desire to serve the community. He often helped guide newcomers in the city.
He opened one of the first community businesses here, Karim Elabed, a local imam in the city said.
Oussama Dali, co-owner of a Montreal bakery described Soufiane as local community father.
Other victims are Aboubaker Thabti, 44, from Tunisia, Abdelkrim Hassane, 41, an Algerian native, Mamadou Tanou Barry, 41 and Ibrahima Barry, 39, both Guinean natives as well as Khaled Belkacemi also reportedly from Algeria. The man aged 60 was lecturer at the Food & Agriculture Department of Laval University.
Police arrested two alleged suspects, both of them students at Laval University. One of them of Moroccan origin has been released but is considered as a witness.
27-year old Alexandre Bissonnette, the other alleged suspect, was charged Monday with six counts of first degree murder and five counts of attempted murder, reports say.
Police also recovered a handgun and two assault rifles following the attack.
Ankara Monday announced it reopened its embassy in Tripoli, becoming the second foreign country to do so following Italy.
The embassy was close more than 2 years ago following general pull-out of foreign missions in Tripoli over security concerns.
The reopening of the embassy will allow Turkey to make stronger contributions to efforts to build peace and stability, as well as reconstruction in Libya, the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.
The embassy has been operating from Tunis while consulate general in Misrata has been fully in operation. Staff at the embassy has been limited as security still remains critical.
The road where the embassy is located close to Tripolis seafront was closed on Monday, and there was a heavy security presence, Reuters reports.
The Turkish embassy sits around 600 meters from the Italian embassy also reopened early this month. The neighborhood witnessed a car bombing attack on January 21. The blast killed two people founded charred in the car. The attacks not claimed, occurred about 300 meters from the Italian embassy and near the ministry of Planning.
Ankara also announced it would support ongoing unity efforts in Libya as well as territorial integrity of the North African country.
Foreign minister Cavusoglu met UN-backed Prime Minister Faiez Serraj in May to lay the ground for the resumption of diplomatic affairs.
Sally Yates. Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates was fired on Monday night shortly after ordering Justice Department lawyers not to enforce President Trumps executive order suspending immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Yates had said she was not convinced that the order was legally defensible.
Several hours later, the White House said Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, had been relieved of her duties. The president appointed Dana Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve as acting attorney general until Senator Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the Senate.
The White House issued a statement saying Yates had betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce Trumps executive order. It also described her as an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.
Trump has fired Sally Yates as acting Attorney General, White House says pic.twitter.com/8MKlRWmUgl Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) January 31, 2017
The statement noted that the executive order was approved by the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel, but in a one-page letter to top lawyers at the Justice Department, Yates said that the review only considered whether the order was lawful on its face and properly drafted. Yates argued that, as head of the department, she had a broader task.
My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts. In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right, Yates wrote.
At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful, she continued. For as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.
President Trump initially responded to Yatess defiance by tweeting that he was forced to keep an Obama appointee as acting attorney general due to Democratic obstruction.
The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct. Now have an Obama A.G. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2017
The chaotic implementation of Trumps immigration ban sparked anger even among members of Trumps cabinet. The Washington Post reports that Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly fumed privately because they were caught off guard by the travel ban. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker told reporters that they werent briefed before Trump signed the order, and congressional aides said GOP lawmakers received little guidance as protests erupted at airports across the country.
Senator Marco Rubio said on Monday that the State Department was refusing to answer his questions about how the order would be implemented, though the White House denied that. More than 200 State Department employees have reportedly signed internal memos criticizing the order. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said State Department employees can either get with the program or they can go.
Over the weekend, federal district courts in several states issued temporary stays blocking parts of the order from being implemented. On Monday, officials from Massachusetts and Washington said they would challenge the executive order in court.
White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, who reportedly drafted the executive order along with chief strategist Stephen Bannon, defended the orders legality in a Monday night appearance on MSNBC, saying, The ability to exclude any class of would-be visitors or immigrants to our country [is] based on our national security interests.
Miller said Yatess move is a further demonstration of how politicized our legal system has become, adding, Its sad that our politics have become so politicized, that you have people refusing to enforce our laws.
Democrats praised Yates, and several lawmakers said the incident demonstrates why theyre opposed to confirming Sessions as attorney general. The vote on Sessions could come as early as Tuesday.
Sally Yates: person of integrity/attorney with great legal skill. Has served this nation with distinction. Her judgment should be trusted. Eric Holder (@EricHolder) January 31, 2017
Firing of Sally Yates underscores how impt it is to have an Attorney General who'll stand up to the WhiteHouse when they violate the law. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 31, 2017
The American ppl should know exactly how ind. Sen Sessions plans to be when the WhiteHouse violates the law BEFORE the Senate votes on him. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 31, 2017
The AG should pledge fidelity to the law & the Constitution not the WhiteHouse. The fact that this admin doesnt understand that is chilling. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 31, 2017
Yates was asked during her confirmation hearing in 2015 if the attorney general has a responsibility to say no if the president asks them to implement a policy they believe is improper. She said she believes the attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution and to give their independent legal advice to the president. Ironically, the senator pressing Yates was Sessions.
Amazing. Sally Yates at her confirmation hearing answering her job-ending Q. Look who's asking. Via @charles_gaba pic.twitter.com/3Vsf9UugIu Not Individual-1 (@yottapoint) January 31, 2017
Yatess firing drew comparisons to the 1973 Saturday Night Massacre, in which President Nixons attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned after refusing to carry out the presidents order to fire Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor in the Watergate case. While a federal judge ruled that it was illegal for Nixon to have Cox dismissed, it is legal for President Trump to fire the acting attorney general.
Another difference: It doesnt look like there will be any more firings tonight. Boente is a 31-year veteran of the Justice Department who is known for handling public corruption cases. Several colleagues told the Washington Post that they dont know his political affiliation, but theyre sure he would not uphold the executive order unless he believed it to be legally sound.
I was enforcing it this afternoon, Boente told the Post. Our career department employees were defending the action in court, and I expect thats what theyll do tomorrow, appropriately and properly.
This post has been updated throughout.
Photo: Ivanka Trump/Twitter Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump had an awkward Saturday night.
Ten days into the Trump administration, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have already let America down. Despite claims that they would advocate for climate change and peace in the Middle East, so far their only visible contribution to the Trump White House has been an Instagram post that showed them decked out in eveningwear, as those affected by the immigration ban were detained in airports across the country. The internet derided the photo as the social-media equivalent of Marie Antoinettes let them eat cake.
But now sources close to the First Couple Jr. are claiming that they had nothing to do with the discriminatory travel ban or its chaotic rollout and they even have an alibi. President Trump announced his executive order minutes before the sun set on Friday night, and Vanity Fair reports that Ivanka and Jared were initially unaware of the uproar because they were observing Shabbat.
The couple, who are both Orthodox Jews, do not use technology or do work from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. Kushner is often portrayed as a moderating force, both on his father-in-law and between the different factions in his orbit. One source suggested thats why both Saturdays of the Trump administration were especially tumultuous. He wasnt rolling calls on Saturday when this happened, a source said of the day after the inauguration. To me, thats not a coincidence.
Sources tell Vanity Fair that Kushner cant really be blamed for the other six days of the week either, because his influence over his father-in-law is already waning. He reportedly expended a great deal of effort to arrange Mexican president Enrique Pena Nietos visit to the White House, only to have the president call off the meeting in an angry tweet. Kushner was fucking furious, said a source. Id never once heard him say he was angry throughout the entire campaign. But he was furious.
Sources claim that despite what their tone-deaf social-media missive would have you believe, the stress is getting to Jared and Ivanka. Per Vanity Fair:
As for Ivanka, she feels just awful about advertising her opulent lifestyle at an inopportune moment.
Of course, someone must be blamed for the apparent disarray within the Trump administration, and if not the Kushners, then who? Initial reports suggested senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, who wrote the order, would take the fall. (Particularly after Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough looked into the camera and told Miller, This weekend was a disgrace and its all on your shoulders.)
Several sources told the Washington Post that the growing influence of Miller and Steve Bannon, the Breitbart wing of the Trump team, is making Priebus suspicious.
A little bit of under-competence and a slight amount of insecurity can breed some paranoia and backstabbing, the source said of Priebus. We have to get Reince to relax into the job and become more competent, because hes seeing shadows where there are no shadows.
Nothing boosts confidence and cures paranoia like a colleague leaking some backhanded advice to the press.
HHS nominee Tom Price keeps digging himself into deeper trouble about a possible conflict of interest. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Representative Tom Price was nearly out of the woods, despite mammoth confusion over the Trump administrations plans in the areas he would supervise as secretary of Health and Human Services, and also notwithstanding hazily answered questions from Senate Democrats about his dubious habit of investing, while he was in Congress, in companies potentially affected by health-care legislation. But a new revelation from the Australian biomedical company at the center of these questions has raised new suspicions Price has been hiding something. The Wall Street Journal had the story today:
Rep. Tom Price got a privileged offer to buy a biomedical stock at a discount, the companys officials said, contrary to his congressional testimony this month.
The Georgia Republican tapped by President Donald Trump to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services testified in his Senate confirmation hearings on Jan. 18 and 24 that the discounted shares he bought in Innate Immunotherapeutics Ltd., an Australian medical biotechnology company, were available to every single individual that was an investor at the time.
In fact, the cabinet nominee was one of fewer than 20 U.S. investors who were invited last year to buy discounted shares of the companyan opportunity that, for Mr. Price, arose from an invitation from a company director and fellow congressmen.
This is precisely the concern Senate Democrats have doggedly pursued: Price got a sweetheart deal via his House colleague Chris Collins, from New York, who was reportedly heard boasting he had made some friends a lot of money with tips to buy this stock. At a minimum, Price will have to once again refresh his memory: Initially he disclaimed any personal involvement in the purchase of the stock, before admitting that, oh yeah, he directed it after talking to Collins.
The controversy over this particular stock draws additional attention to the more generally shady habit Price has had of investing in companies that could definitely be affected by his legislative activity.
Mr. Price has traded more than $300,000 in shares of health-related companies since 2012, while on the House Ways and Means Committees subcommittee on health and while writing and voting on health-care legislation that could affect the shares of those stocks, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal.
So this issue arises once again on the very eve of Tuesdays scheduled vote in the Finance Committee on Prices confirmation. Democrats may be stiffed by Committee Chairman and Utah Republican Orrin Hatch from reopening questions about Prices financial irregularities. But its bound to come up again on the Senate floor, assuming the latest news doesnt screw up Prices expected committee approval on a party-line vote. He should have probably been more forthcoming on this matter early on.
Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Snow is coming to the tristate area Tuesday. Up to two inches is expected in and around the city, with higher accumulations farther north. Flurries will be falling throughout the late morning and into the afternoon, and may trail off into a wintry mix in the early evening, particularly south and east of the city.
Here is our snowfall forecast for the snow Tue. 1"- 3", with higher amounts from S to N. Rain mixes w/snow for S LI and S portions of NYC pic.twitter.com/lXQ0DB7pcR NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) January 30, 2017
Brace for the cold, too. Temperatures will hover around freezing Tuesday, but the wind chills will make it feel as if its in the 20s. But this frigid, snowy day is just a blip; it will warm up Wednesday, with highs in the 40s and lots of sun. And then its Groundhog Day, when Staten Island Chuck, safe from the mayor, will let us know whether the city is due for an early spring.
Loyal opposition. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
The Democratic base believes that the FBI and Vladimir Putin just threw Americas election to a racist, authoritarian insult comic who sees the presidency as a profit center and the Constitution as an afterthought.
Senate Democrats spent much of the last year describing Donald Trump in similar terms. But they also spent much of last week voting for Trumps cabinet nominees.
While Democrats do not have the power to block Trumps cabinet picks, they can delay the confirmation of those nominees and/or deny them the imprimatur of bipartisan support. But the Democratic caucus has declined to exert this power over Trumps every appointment.
There are reasonable arguments for this tactical choice: Opposing all the cabinet picks would dilute the symbolic impact of united opposition to the most odious nominees; both parties have an interest in upholding the norm of deference toward the president on cabinet selections; and some nominees, like James Mattis at Defense, seem like they could be moderating influences on the new administration.
But none of these rationales resonated with the most engaged liberal voters. And the spectacle of a supposed progressive firebrand like Elizabeth Warren voting to hand Ben Carson the keys to the Department of Housing and Urban Development an agency he has no qualifications to run, and whose work he has decried as communist was too much for many lefties to stomach.
Here's @markos on the oceans of Democratic YES votes on Trump's nominees - including Warren's on Carson https://t.co/pDvF3OlhBt pic.twitter.com/iKyGNO5FCR Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 26, 2017
I still can't believe that Warren voted for Ben Carson. That's wild. deray (@deray) January 25, 2017
Warren was harder on Clinton (see that bankruptcy video in which she distorted Clinton's record) than Ben Carson? Darren Hutchinson (@dissentingj) January 26, 2017
But this week, the Democratic leadership is heeding its bases cries for obstructionism. Apparently, all it takes to get Senate Democrats in a fighting mood is a needlessly cruel (and possibly illegal) executive order, protests at all major American airports, and ostensible acts of perjury from multiple cabinet nominees.
On Tuesday, every Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee decided to play hooky: By boycotting votes on Steve Mnuchins nomination for Treasury Secretary, and Tom Prices bid to lead Health and Human Services, Democrats denied their Republican colleagues the quorum required for advancing both nominations.
Their reason for doing so was simple: Both Price and Mnuchin appear to have spouted demonstrable falsehoods while testifying to the committee.
Everyone agrees that Congressman Price traded medical stocks while working on legislation that could have affected their value (which, in a less kleptocracy-friendly era, might have been disqualifying by itself). And everyone acknowledges that one such trade was a bulk purchase of discounted shares in an Australian biotechnology company less than a week before Price introduced legislation that would directly benefit that company.
But Price testified that he had received no special deal from that Australian firm, explaining that the discounted price was available to every single individual that was an investor at the time a claim that was subsequently contradicted by The Wall Street Journal. In a report published Monday, the paper shows that only a limited number of U.S. investors were privy to that discount.
Senate Democrats feel like Price should be asked to account for that. Senate Republicans disagree.
We did not inflict this kind of obstructionism on President Obama, Pat Toomey, a Republican senator and apparent amnesiac, said at the Senate Finance Committees sparsely attended meeting.
Meanwhile, after Mnuchin had assured the Senate Finance Committee that his former bank had never used robo-signing on mortgage documents, bank records obtained by the Columbus Dispatch proved the opposite.
Mr. Mnuchin told me his bank didn't engage in robo-signing, a predatory practice, I found the docs showing he did. Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) January 31, 2017
Until questions are answered, Democrats believe the committee should not move forward with either nomination, Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden said Tuesday. This is about getting answers to questions, plain and simple. Ethics laws are not optional, and nominees do not have a right to treat disclosure like a shell game.
Down the hallway, at a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats tied would-be Attorney General Jeff Sessions to the Trump administrations executive order barring refugees and immigrants from a list of Muslim-majority countries.
On Monday night, deputy attorney general Sally Yates refused to defend the executive order from legal challenge and was promptly fired for her insubordination. At Tuesdays hearing, California senator Dianne Feinstein said that Yatess act of defiance took guts. That statement said what an independent attorney general should do. That statement took a steel spine to have the courage to say no.
I have no confidence that Senator Sessions will do that, she continued. Instead, he has been the fiercest, most dedicated, and most loyal promoter in Congress of the Trump agenda.
Democrats deployed such complaints to drag out debate over Sessionss nomination, thereby kicking his committee vote to Wednesday.
Democrats also tried (unsuccessfully) to delay a vote to advance Betsy DeVoss nomination for Education Secretary to the full Senate. The push came amid new revelations that DeVos may have plagiarized some of the written testimony she submitted to the committee.
Still, Democrats arent pursuing a policy of maximum obstruction. Trumps picks for Energy Secretary, Rick Perry, and Interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, both cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. And Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao was confirmed by the Senate with only six Democrats declining to endorse her appointment.
But last week, it looked like Chaos confirmation vote would be unanimous. And when you add Tuesdays acts of obstruction to Mondays promise of Supreme Court filibuster, it certainly looks like Democrats no longer feel compelled to bring a knife to the next four years of gunfights.
Photo: Vintage Images/Getty Images
The upside of apologizing is pretty obvious: You patch things up, you offload your guilt, and you move on from any tension or awkwardness thats been plaguing your relationship with the person you hurt.
But the worst part of apologizing is obvious, too: Its deeply uncomfortable. No one likes to talk about how they screwed up, nor does anyone enjoy making themselves vulnerable. Which means that we often make clumsy attempts to get to the good stuff without the requisite unpleasantness, offering up a non-apology that doesnt require you to acknowledge any hard truths, but doesnt really smooth things over, either. In a New York Times column earlier this week, writer Jane Brody highlighted one easy way to render an apology ineffective: Using the word but. As in, Im sorry, but
Offering an apology is an admission of guilt that admittedly leaves people vulnerable, Brody wrote, citing therapist Harriet Lerners recent book Why Wont You Apologize? (Science of Us has previously interviewed Lerner about how rushing to forgiveness can be worse than holding a grudge, another topic covered in her book). Adding a but to the end, then, is an excuse that counters the sincerity of the original message. The best apologies are short and dont include explanations that can undo them.
They also tend to have a few other things in common: According to one 2014 study on the subject, a well-executed apology requires the offender to make it clear that they understand what they did wrong, take full responsibility, offer a plan to fix things, and promise to improve in the future. An ineffective apology, on the other end of the spectrum, will include justifications or excuses, downplay the seriousness of the wrongdoing, or blame the person on the receiving end (like the most passive-aggressive of non-apologies, Im sorry you were offended).
Dwelling on your own mistakes can be rough on the ego, sure, but if you think of it from a selfish standpoint, theres additional incentive to do it beyond helping the other person to feel okay again. Apologizing is a little like ripping off a Band-Aid: Grit your teeth and do it right the first time, and it ends your misery, too.
What do we need now? Books. Books that instill empathy. Books that show readers how to deal with the inevitable chaos and evil and injustice swirling around us (especially in times like these). Books that portray fierce, intelligent, courageous, perseverant characters especially girls! readers can look up to, see themselves in, and from whom they can gain important skills about how to be a strong adult in the world. Luckily, the young-adult category is full of such books. Here are some of my favorites, from classics to nonfiction to poetry to novels. (For more young feminist books, check the Amelia Bloomer Projects fantastic selections.)
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie $10 now 10% off $9 This book began as a TEDx talk, and its as appropriate a refresher for your grandma as it is for your teenage niece (or nephew). Adichie, a novelist, uses her personal experience growing up in Nigeria as a branching-off point to share universal truths in this slight (in size) but inherently weighty work. $9 at Amazon Buy
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis $18 now 6% off $17 McGinniss novel about a teenage girl who avenges her sisters rape and murder and becomes a self-created human weapon is a gut punch that will leave you reassessing everything you thought you knew about the lives of young women. $17 at Amazon Buy
You Dont Have to Like Me by Alida Nugent $8 In this collection of hilarious essays, Nugent explores topics ranging from lipstick to food to friendship. Her thread is the feminism that empowers us throughout all of our daily activities, no matter who we are (or how we initially feel about the F-word). $8 at Amazon Buy
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson $11 now 36% off $7 Melinda is a high-school girl whos lost her voice she doesnt talk, and shes become isolated from her peers. As Anderson reveals the trauma thats led to Melindas change in behavior, she presents a crucial study of communication, compassion, and the need to fight back against rape. $7 at Amazon Buy
Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti $18 Prominent feminist Valenti presents a youth-friendly (and fun to read) updated manual on the many issues facing women and girls today and why it matters that we call ourselves feminists. $18 at Amazon Buy
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine LEngle $9 now 22% off $7 Young Meg Murry fights against forces of darkness to save her younger brother and her dad in this sci-fi kids classic that introduced concepts of quantum physics to a mass youth audience. Spoiler: Shes really good at math, too. $7 at Amazon Buy
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas $19 now 47% off $10 Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter is in a car with her childhood best friend Khalil when hes fatally shot by a cop. As the only one who knows what really happened, Starr has to figure out how to protect the truth, and also herself. Thomass debut novel inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement isnt even out yet (February 28), and its already slated to be a movie. $10 at Amazon Buy
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank $9 Lest anyone forget, Anne Frank was a refugee. By chronicling her intimate thoughts and experiences while in hiding during the Holocaust, Frank demonstrated to the world how human we all are, and how each of us can make a difference by our actions for each other. More important than ever right now. $9 at Amazon Buy
Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World edited by Kelly Jensen $18 now 56% off $8 Jensen gathers the work of 44 writers, dancers, actors, and artists in this collection of writing and art about everything from body positivity to romance to gender identity to intersectionality to the greatest girl friendships in fiction. Contributors to this feminist power tome include Mindy Kaling, Malinda Lo, Wendy Davis, and Roxane Gay. $8 at Amazon Buy
The Strategist is a new site designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best notebook, black T-shirts, fashion-editor-approved jeans, toothbrush, and apartment decor. Note that all prices are subject to change.
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Sally Yates. Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
Acting attorney general Sally Yates was fired on Monday night shortly after ordering Justice Department lawyers not to enforce President Trumps executive order suspending immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Yates had said she was not convinced that the order was legally defensible.
Several hours later, the White House said Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, had been relieved of her duties. The president appointed Dana Boente, United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve as acting attorney general until Senator Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the Senate.
The White House issued a statement saying Yates had betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce Trumps executive order. It also described her as an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.
Trump has fired Sally Yates as acting Attorney General, White House says pic.twitter.com/8MKlRWmUgl Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) January 31, 2017
The statement noted that the executive order had been approved by the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel, but in a one-page letter to top lawyers at the Justice Department, Yates said that the review only considered whether the order was lawful on its face and properly drafted. Yates argued that, as head of the department, she had a broader task.
My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts. In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right, Yates wrote.
At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful, she continued. For as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.
President Trump initially responded to Yatess defiance by tweeting that he was forced to keep an Obama appointee as acting attorney general due to Democratic obstruction.
The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct. Now have an Obama A.G. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2017
The chaotic implementation of Trumps immigration ban sparked anger even among members of Trumps cabinet. The Washington Post reports that Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly fumed privately because they were caught off guard by the travel ban. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker told reporters that they werent briefed before Trump signed the order, and congressional aides said GOP lawmakers received little guidance as protests erupted at airports across the country.
Senator Marco Rubio said on Monday that the State Department was refusing to answer his questions about how the order would be implemented, though the White House denied that. More than 200 State Department employees have reportedly signed internal memos criticizing the order. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said State Department employees can either get with the program or they can go.
Over the weekend, federal district courts in several states issued temporary stays blocking parts of the order from being implemented. On Monday, officials from Massachusetts and Washington said they would challenge the executive order in court.
White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, who reportedly drafted the executive order along with chief strategist Stephen Bannon, defended the orders legality in a Monday night appearance on MSNBC, saying, The ability to exclude any class of would-be visitors or immigrants to our country [is] based on our national security interests.
Miller said Yatess move is a further demonstration of how politicized our legal system has become, adding, Its sad that our politics have become so politicized, that you have people refusing to enforce our laws.
Democrats praised Yates, and several lawmakers said the incident demonstrates why theyre opposed to confirming Sessions as attorney general. The vote on Sessions could come as early as Tuesday.
Sally Yates: person of integrity/attorney with great legal skill. Has served this nation with distinction. Her judgment should be trusted. Eric Holder (@EricHolder) January 31, 2017
Firing of Sally Yates underscores how impt it is to have an Attorney General who'll stand up to the WhiteHouse when they violate the law. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 31, 2017
The American ppl should know exactly how ind. Sen Sessions plans to be when the WhiteHouse violates the law BEFORE the Senate votes on him. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 31, 2017
The AG should pledge fidelity to the law & the Constitution not the WhiteHouse. The fact that this admin doesnt understand that is chilling. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 31, 2017
Yates was asked during her confirmation hearing in 2015 if the attorney general has a responsibility to say no if the president asks them to implement a policy they believe is improper. She said she believes the attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution and to give their independent legal advice to the president. Ironically, the senator pressing Yates was Sessions.
Amazing. Sally Yates at her confirmation hearing answering her job-ending Q. Look who's asking. Via @charles_gaba pic.twitter.com/3Vsf9UugIu Not Individual-1 (@yottapoint) January 31, 2017
Yatess firing drew comparisons to the 1973 Saturday Night Massacre, in which President Nixons attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned after refusing to carry out the presidents order to fire Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor in the Watergate case. While a federal judge ruled that it was illegal for Nixon to have Cox dismissed, it is legal for President Trump to fire the acting attorney general.
Another difference: It doesnt look like there will be any more firings tonight. Boente is a 31-year veteran of the Justice Department who is known for handling public corruption cases. Several colleagues told the Washington Post that they dont know his political affiliation, but theyre sure he would not uphold the executive order unless he believed it to be legally sound.
I was enforcing it this afternoon, Boente told the Post. Our career department employees were defending the action in court, and I expect thats what theyll do tomorrow, appropriately and properly.
This post has been updated throughout.
Eight-year-old Nawar Al-Awlaki, who went by Nora, was killed in a raid in Yemen. Photo: Twitter
On Sunday, the U.S. military conducted a raid in southern Yemen that was reportedly intended to capture information that [would] likely provide insight into the planning of future terror plots from Al Qaeda operatives. A member of Navy SEAL Team 6, an elite group of commandos, died in the raid, which was the first under President Trump. And on Tuesday, officials confirmed that an 8-year-old American girl named Nawar Al-Awlaki was also killed.
Nawar, who went by Nora, was the daughter of New Mexicoborn Al Qaeda leader Anwar Al-Awlaki, who was killed in a U.S. raid five years ago. At the time, some worried that the targeted killing of Al-Awlaki would transform someone who was, at best, a marginal figure into a martyr, and Karen Greenberg, the director of Fordham Universitys Center on National Security, said Noras death could be used the same way. The perception will be that its not enough to kill Al-Awlaki that the U.S. had to kill the entire family, she told NBC.
This is not the first of Al-Awlakis children to die during an American military strike. Her 16-year-old brother, Abdulrahman, was killed in 2011 under the Obama administration. (Asked why the boy was not actively involved in terrorism in any way former Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs gave the strange and discomfiting answer that Abdulrahman should have had a more responsible father.)
The girls grandfather and Yemens former agricultural minister, Nasser al-Awlaki, told NBC that Nora had gone to stay at her mothers house, which is where the attack took place. They entered the house and killed everybody in it, including all the women, he said. As for Nora, a bullet struck her in her neck at 2:30 past midnight. He said she died two hours later.
According to the Pentagon, 14 militants and numerous civilians died in the raid; the Associated Press reports that nearly 30 people were killed. Al Qaeda has already released a statement calling the raid a massacre, and saying the SEALs fired on women and children in cold blood. But U.S. officials said some of the women Nasser al-Awlaki described were combatants, who fired on the SEALs as they approached the camp.
Photo: Nancy Stone/TNS via Getty Images
This weekend, as protesters descended on airports nationwide to protest Trumps executive order banning entry to the U.S. from a number of Muslim-majority countries, hundreds of lawyers from organizations and firms around the country were busy setting up impromptu crisis centers to offer their legal services to those impacted by the order. And according to reports, an overwhelming number of those attorneys were women.
Chicago-based lawyer Dee Armstrong told the Cut that she saw an approximately 70-30 female-male ratio during her weekend shifts working with immigrants and refugees at Chicago OHare, while on Twitter, Atlantic editor Matt Ford pointed to a similar striking gender disparity among the lawyers at Washington Dulles Airport. As Rebecca Traister points out, women have been a major force in crafting the legal opposition to Trumps administration: It was four female judges (plus one male judge) who issued stays on Trumps executive order this weekend, while Sally Yates, Obamas now-fired appointee for attorney general, became an overnight hero for refusing to enforce Trumps executive order.
The Cut spoke to some of these women, many of whom spent both Saturday and Sunday at their nearest airports and have plans to return this week, about what the experience was like and the people they worked to help. I felt like I had a superpower, said attorney Esther Panitch of her time at Atlanta Airport. And my superpower is that I have the experience and the training to help people, which is exactly why I went to law school.
Dispatch from JFK: People really stepped into action.
There were dozens and dozen of lawyers. We were all congregated near the Central Diner in JFK Terminal 4. Everyone was on laptops either drafting petitions or trying to make contact with passengers or passengers families, trying to deal with press contacts, questions from congressmen and -women.
When I got there in the morning, there was a young woman whose parents were coming on visitors visas from Iran and they had been held overnight. She had been waiting a very long time for them. Habeas petitions had been filed in their cases, and they had been told that they would be sent back. But ultimately, around 3:30 p.m. they were released, which was wonderful.
People worked really hard. I was so inspired by the people that were there. People really stepped into action to put systems in place to make a more cohesive effort. Spreadsheets were coming together, Google Docs were being sent for people to put in client intake information in a centralized way. And, of course, it was chaotic but as the day went on it really came together. Melanie Zuch, staff attorney at the Urban Justice Center, New York
Dispatch from LAX: It was Kafkaesque at best.
Ive spent my career trying to raise awareness about immigrant rights and the plight of refugees and have always felt a bit frustrated that the public at large isnt aware of these issues, so it was incredible to see people who had never been engaged come out. I think were going to see a very different dynamic in the months and years to come.
I spoke with a cousin of an Iranian woman whos a graduate student here in California with a student visa. She went abroad briefly to visit family, and came back to this disaster. And when she landed she was told that if she did not go back she would never get into this country again. They canceled her visa. She was put on a plane after the New York court issued a stay preventing the government from removing people.
There was also a couple that was finally released after 22 hours they had been held without food and water. They were the elderly parents of a lawful permanent resident who lived in L.A., and they had a history of heart surgery so their daughter was very worried. These are not normal times It was Kafkaesque at best. This was not the country that any of us were used to operating in. Judy London, directing attorney of public counsel, Immigrant Rights Project, Los Angeles
Dispatch from ATL: Every lawyer is gonna fight like hell.
An immigration lawyer at the airport was essentially giving me and a couple other lawyers a quick and dirty [rundown] of what the law is, because were not immigration lawyers. We all figured that the more of us [who showed up], the more likely it would be that somebody would know how to handle a situation. So even though its not my wheelhouse, I felt pretty empowered that I knew enough about the Constitution to make an argument if somebody needed it or that I would know who to call to get help.
I was on the train home from the airport, and there was a family who were speaking in Farsi I think, and one of the women walked up to me and asked, Are you a lawyer? And then it was lot of thank-yous from people who realized I was a lawyer on the train. That was unbelievable. And then they were asking about their own situations, and what [do I think] is gonna happen? And I told them that I dont know. Essentially I said, Were gonna fight like hell. Every lawyer is gonna fight like hell. Yesterday it was an incredible day to be a lawyer. I felt like I had a superpower and my superpower is that I have the experience and I have the training to help people, which is exactly why I went to law school. Esther Panitch, criminal and civil trial attorney, Atlanta
Dispatch from DIA: The longer the government refuses to discuss whats happening, the longer we will stay out there.
We set up this little station outside of international arrivals so that we could be prepared for anyone who needed help. Customs and Border Protection was not actually sharing any information about who was being detained or what their official policies are, so mostly, our presence was to interview people leaving those flights to see what they were seeing: Did you see anyone get pulled away for secondary inspection? Right now were intending to have groups at the airport for at least the next couple of days. The longer the government refuses to discuss whats happening and what their policies will be, the longer we will stay out there and make sure that they know were there and were going to be there to defend anyone who needs help.
The non-immigration lawyers in our group came down knowing that they dont know a lot about representing someone specifically in this sort of situation but that theyre willing to learn and willing to help, but they actually ended up being very useful for different issues that arose. On Sunday we had an issue where the Denver police department and the deputy city attorney thought we were soliciting in the airport and there was some talk of us needing a permit or being arrested and so having some civil rights attorneys and constitutional law attorneys, that really helped us. We had a team right there who could get the information together that we needed to defend ourselves and avoid arrest. Christina Brown, immigration lawyer, Denver
Dispatch from ORD: The entire situation was incredibly harrowing and catastrophic.
In the first ten minutes of arriving, I met a man whose wife and 18-month-old daughter had been detained. He showed me a picture of his daughter. I have kids myself, and it immediately felt like this was my child. This was all of our children. This was a person that we needed to immediately act and defend and stand up for.
That family, the mom and the daughter were not released until the federal order of the stay was issued. The entire situation was incredibly harrowing and catastrophic because they were detaining children and they were detaining U.S. citizens who were traveling with people who were legal residents. We all were called to the airport expecting to meet with refugees who were trying to gain asylum into the United States and every single person that we represented, throughout the weekend, was a legal permanent resident or had a visa of some kind.
What I think is unique about [the support from the legal community] was it happened so instinctively and so immediately. People heard what was happening and I think their own sense of humanity was triggered. Everybody who encountered this issue understood the gravity of the situation and how critical every moment was and how fast we had to move. Emily Benfer, founder and director of the Health Justice Project, Chicago
Kamala Harris; Sally Yates; Kirsten Gillibrand. Photo: Getty Images
It must be galling for a man who has been so open about his disregard for women to find that the strongest pushback to his administration so far has come from a bunch of women who appear more than a little unimpressed by President Trump, his appointees, and his executive orders. On his first day in office, there was the Womens March, the largest global political protest in Americas history, led by women of color. The march did many remarkable things, establishing a culture of protest and setting a determined, exuberant tone for the dozens of spontaneous demonstrations that have occurred since many of which have also been populated and led by women.
But womens leadership extends beyond the grass-roots revival. In Congress, where many Democrats began the new administration short a spine, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand emerged as the only senator to so far vote no on all but one of Trumps picks (she voted for Nikki Haley for U.N. ambassador). In the House, California congresswoman Barbara Lee was among the first to announce that she was boycotting Trumps inauguration. New York congresswoman Nydia Velazquez was early to John F. Kennedy Airport on Saturday where she demanded the release of refugees being held at the airport after Trump signed an executive order that prevented travelers with valid visas and green cards from entering the U.S. Velazquez, along with Gillibrand, Womens March leaders Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory, and New York City public advocate Tish James, was among those receiving the biggest cheers at Sundays anti-wall, anti-ban rally in Battery Park. And on Tuesday morning, California representative Maxine Waters is having a press conference about Trumps ties to Russia.
As Dahlia Lithwick has pointed out, it was four women judges Anne Donnelly in New York; Leonie Brinkema in Virginia; Allison Burroughs and Judith Dein in Boston along with Thomas Zilly in Washington, who ordered the temporary stays of Trumps ban. Many noted that among the lawyers who flocked to airports over the weekend to help detainees, the preponderance of them were female. The Atlantics Matt Ford tweeted on Sunday night after leaving Dulles, Gender disparity was striking: probably 70 percent of lawyers volunteering there are young women. He noted in his later story that many of the volunteer lawyers were also people of color.
On Monday afternoon, Californias Kamala Harris and Washingtons Patty Murray led a coalition of their fellow senators in opposition to Trumps Muslim ban, writing a letter expressing outrage at Trumps executive order, and noting that the order and its haphazard implementation both run counter to our American values and the Constitution, as well as our national security and economic interests. Executive action that denies entry to refugees escaping violence and oppression with an explicit preference for people of one religion over another is unconscionable and unconstitutional.
And of course on Monday night, interim Attorney General Sally Yates sent a letter to lawyers in the Justice Department noting that she was not convinced that the executive order is lawful, and that consequently, for as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so. Yates was not acting attorney general for long; Trump fired her by the end of the night, releasing a statement in which he claimed that she has betrayed the Department of Justice and called her weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.
But Yatess reputation is unlikely to be tied to any sense of weakness; rather, she has, in the span of a few short hours, become the symbol of righteous defiance of a leader whose team spent Monday defending the detention of 5-year-olds at airports.
Yes, there are men whove been doing their part to oppose Trump: Congressman John Lewis made news by questioning his legitimacy as president and settled in at the Atlanta airport in support of detainees on Saturday; New Jersey senator Cory Booker broke precedent to testify against Trumps attorney general pick Jeff Sessions; Oregon senator Jeff Merkley promised on Monday to filibuster any Trump candidate for the Supreme Court who is not Merrick Garland; congressman Jerrold Nadler was right next to Velazquez at JFK; and the anonymous park ranger insurrectionists on social media are surely women and men. Yet its striking how many women have put themselves, or found themselves, on the front lines of this burgeoning political fight. In part, this is the result of having more women in public and political spaces where they used to be such distinct minorities thanks to the kinds of social progress that Trumps team seems to want to roll back.
Despite the strides, women remain minorities in the institutions where they are leading the fight against Trump. They make up less than 20 percent of Congress and 33 percent of state and federal judges, though as journalist Lisa Belkin pointed out on Monday, more than 60 percent of public interest lawyers are women. To suggest that womens leadership is inherently more righteous than mens is both essentialist and wrong, but the female will to resist is pretty poetic: Trump may have vanquished one powerful female foe in the election, but now a million more women have sprouted in her place.
Rycol <3
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you people really really hate this movie
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Lol no they don't. They'll all go see it opening day. Then again after that. It's just cool to hate Emma Watson on ONTD so....
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Pretty much.
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ontd in a nutshell
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I think it looks what you'd expect for a Disney live action remake. But my impression is that it's been overhyped because Emma is in it, so people expect it to have higher quality than what it aimed for in the first place... but I probably won't watch it anyway, the last Disney live-action that I watched was 101 Dalmations. Unless you count Jungle Book, which was great, but mostly CGI so I guess it doesn't count.
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yup
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I don't hate it, I'm just not that interested in it. Neither have I seen the other live action remakes.
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i actually quite like Emma, at least she tries, but i still think she's not the best fit for this
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because it's 100% unnecessary. we just had a live action beauty & the beast with lea seydoux and vincent cassel. this version is a shot-for-shot remake of the original disney version, which, btw, there isn't anything wrong with.
this CGI fest is a hot mess and emma watson has zero acting talent and zero on-screen charisma
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I'm so giddy for this
45 days is so many days away.
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Bc he is according to test screenings lol
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i'm not even remotely surprised to be honest
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good bc I love him and his Gaston is already reminding me of the one at the parks
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reading your comment and hearing Alec Baldwin SNL cheeto impression of "because it IS" lol
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probably because he is
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I'm okay with it b/c he's the whole reason I'll go to this mess.
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the only reason i'll watch. if someone else pays for my ticket.
i mean, animated prince adam looked better in beast mode than in human form, and this cgi ram-beast is killing my boner. and dan stevens is QT but they make him look fug from what i've seen... and emma, like her a lot, but she is a LACKLUSTER belle so far
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I did like him the best so far..
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Did she even try? I just can't see her as Belle at all. Dan Stevens was also an awful choice. Luke seems like he may actually be the only good thing about it.
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This is the first trailer that makes me think I should go see this movie. Mostly because it gives me hope that Gaston will remain truer to the movie/play version.
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trash. beast and the furniture look like bad cgi nightmare fuel, emma watson couldn't play a convincing belle in community theater and the costumes all look like cheap cosplay
bet it still spends weeks at #1
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It's def going to bank. The CGI looks so bad tho. Such a huge budget and they couldn't even get it right.
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i'm baffled that this is the state of the movie when it was filmed TWO years ago. they had tons of time for reshoots and to make this look better
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srsly like...the very first few seconds when she comes out of the door of their cottage....wow. WOW.
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i'm more mad abt her hair than her dress
where was the effort here? she looks like she just got done cleaning the castle, but in a dress
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i wanted this to be good because i love the movie, but it just looks.. so cheap and embarrassing. and i like emma watson pretty ok.
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I think Power Rangers will be #1 by BATBs 3rd week
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the costumes bother me the most. i dont mind the look of the fixtures as much as other ppl do, but her dress looks awful to me.
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This trailer looks better than the others that were released but I really don't like dan Stevens or Emma as their characters. They could've done better tbh.
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mte
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I hate Emma's acting in everything but I'm so excited for this movie still
the music just gets me everytime
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This is like a scene by scene remake of the animated version. Not even an interpretation. By my God, is she a terrible actress.
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why change a masterpiece?
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bc it doesn't translate well to RL
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she is HORRENDOUS but i will be seeing this
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seriously, how is she so bad just in the trailer?
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agreed on both counts:)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZOkWV9POcs I am parched for Luke Evans. I was youtubing him signing and really enjoyed this
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wow I am now sold on seeing BatB for him
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I should be getting a cut of the profits! But really, he has such a nice voice, makes it look easy.
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yeah once i saw him, i snatched him up and dropped his ragged counterpart (orlando bloom)
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I just cant get into Emma Watson's 'acting'.
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Genuinely curious whether she'll be able to con Hollywood into giving ha more roles.
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I mean she was offered the lead in LLL first so she's never had problems being offered high profile roles and def won't after this film breaks box office records
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ngl this trailer made me want to see it once it's on blu-ray. Even though Emma Watson is terrible casting. I'm a sucker for the original movie and its music.
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John Legend and Ariana do the theme song justice from what I have heard. The music is just so beautiful in the original, I have high hopes
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BREAKING: President Trump dismisses Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Daniel Ragsdale BNO News (@BNONews) January 31, 2017
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Ffffffffuck
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THIS. IS. INSANE. Repubs have got to kick his ass to the curb now, you know he's gonna come for the ones that don't kiss his ass.
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They're not going to or they would have done it when Trump first started this ridiculousness.
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They want to get all their lovely tax cuts, and gutting the ACA, SS, Medicare, EPA, and all other regulations first. Things like the Muslim ban (which they know damn well is a Muslim ban) and The Wall they'll put up with to placate their rabid base.
They don't care about this country at all. Now that being said, if they get all the tax cuts, destroying our safety net, and regulations, THEN they'll go after Trump and get him impeached and get Pence in there.
If Dems voters hadn't sat on their asses for at least Senate candidates, this wouldn't be a problem, but of course they did, so we're fucked.
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this would be funny if it wasn't super dangerous
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OMG. I saw this a minute ago. We are fucked.
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... what the fuck
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IMPEACH HIS ASS
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Fuck cheeto dust.
Locate his horcruxes already and get him the fuck out of power.
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Wow just wow
What a fucking nightmare
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If it wasn't bad enough, this is...I don't even know what to say about it.
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This is like the final days of Nixon, where he started firing everybody cause he lost his mind.
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Ok. When the hell does this fucker get impeached?
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jfc
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We're legit fucked
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Jesus fucking Christ
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WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON
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I don't want to travel anywhere anymore, good god.
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Son of a bitch. He's going to make speaking out against him in any way shape or form illegal before this is all over. I wouldn't be surprised.
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BIG MOOD
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me every day since the election
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Me everyday
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me too, marge
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accurate
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Same
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lmao perfect
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yup
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Me! My boyfriend works in DC and I feel like if any retaliation is going to happen, it's going to happen there first. This has got me fucked up. I don't know what to do anymore.
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I feel you. My bf lives in NYC and I get so nervous that something will happen and I can't do anything to help him.
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I lived and worked in DC for four years and sometimes I miss it but I can't lie, I would be terrified if I were still there...and not just for my job. :/ I'm worried as hell for my friends in the area.
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Literally i was on the bus reading about how Sally Yates ordered the DOJ not to defend the ban, and by the time i got home she was fired
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SAME
i went into class happy and left and almost started crying on the subway home
i hate what hes doing to this country
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omg this is making me laugh so hard
but tbh anytime im not home and away from twitter (and dont feel like looking on my phone while im gone) i always wonder what fresh hell has been brought upon us when i get back.
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I'm in Ireland so this is me every time I go to bed and get up.
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I'm at Disneyland and I was waiting in the queue for a ride when I read the news and by the time I finished the ride she was fired what the fuck
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I watched tonight's episode of Quantico inbetween.
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Basically what happened to me. I talked to my mom and she was like "turn off the TV, get off the internet, go to bed". We just can't fucking catch our breaths on any of this. He does 5 new shitty things every day, and we have no time to regroup and formulate because the hits keep coming. My stress level just goes up, up, and up. So my mom spent 10 minutes telling me to turn it all off and get in bed. So I laid dow in bed and read for an hour. Just a freaking hour. Then I turned on the TV so I could put on Netflix to numb my brain a bit more, and was immediately bombarded with her firing. We seriously can't turn away from the media for a moment without more shit hitting the fan. It's crazy.
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Same lol I was at Zumba for an hour and came home to America being in shambles again
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Yup. I heard about it around the time I got home, and by the time we went to bed she was out.
I can't even keep up anymore, and I'm starting to think that whoever is behind this godawful puppet show is doing it this way on purpose, to wear people down and make us give up. I hope we don't.
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Looks like anybody who goes against this clown get fired. It scares the shit out of me.
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How do I unsubscribe from this nightmare???
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Send me the link or magic voodoo chant when you get it.
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Same. Get me the fuck outta here. I didn't subscribe to this!
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mte
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I loved Black Mirror too much and now we are living in an episode , I need a magical charm to get me out of this
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If this is an episode of Black Mirror then take me to San Junipero.
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having a solid panic attack right now. i'm choosing to come your way with it because your post was the one that made me laugh. i want to sing the theme song to series of unfortunate events: "look away, look awaayy".
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Lol
We never asked to be a part of this narrative!!!
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bitch I'm wishing Marie Laveau would come thru like she did in American Horror Story
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organize, mobilize, but change won't come if you stay quiet
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I was hoping someone was making a post because this is FUCKING CRAZY. Like... he couldn't even wait a day. He had to kick her ass out immediately. I have a lot of admiration for this lady, she could have gone quietly.
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HE just fired the Head of Immigration.
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Watching The Last Word on MSNBC when it was announced but the first comment in the post has more details. I didn't notice it was already commented on.
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i've only seen one tweet about it but i think it's a fake account
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He is pure evil and knows no bounds. This travel ban shit is just his way of figuring out what he can get away with.
Terrifying how inexplicably cruel and inhumane his policies are when it's only the tip of the iceberg.
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And there goes the ICE chief...
Two down, who's next?
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Going to reply to myself and say Thomas Shannon, Acting Secretary of State, come on down, you're the next contestant on The White House Apprentice because your staff won't shut up!
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god just make this stop
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When the FUCK is someone going to stop this? Dems? Anyone?
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EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM BETTER VOTE NO TOMORROW
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They should for their base, and it won't matter. Minority in both Houses. Simple majority vote.
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they need to all vote no
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Everybody on the Hill is too cowardly or sycophantic to do anything. We're so fucked.
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DEMOCRATS ARE USELSS
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Democrats are responsible for this shit, they were the ones who picked Hillary over Bernie
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Seriously! Where are the fucking checks and balances in action?? And fuck the dems, tired of them too. They need to take their share of responsibility for this M E S S.
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Dems can't do jack, they are the minority in both Houses of Congress, don't control the Executive branch (because Trump is Prez, ugh); and it's the Exec. that appoints Federal judges, up to the SCOTUS.
So even if every Dem Congress person votes no, or asks to have Trump impeached, they can't unless some Repub Senators go along with them. SCOTUS they might be able to filibuster (it's not a simple majority vote) but Repubs could nuke filibuster, and even THAT won't be possible.
Basically Dem/indie voters fucked us all by not voting Dem in Pres election by enough votes in the right states or not voting for Dem Senators.
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dems are complicit to this tho
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trump and bannon are going to stage a coup
I foresee this happening.
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"betrayed" "serve President Trump" "Jeff Sessions wrongly held up by Democrat senators for political reasons"
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I'm not surprised that they labeled her as a betrayer with the way Trump loves to publicly shame people, but for them to so blatantly show that they don't care about convincing her the EO was legal...
She literally said in her statement "unless I can be convinced otherwise". They either can't or just didn't want to bother doing so and fired her instead, slapping that label on her and acting like this is all normal.
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I can see it happening now too.
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the statement was so fucking unprofessional and would be laughable if this weren't so fucking upsetting
i want to rip out my hair
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srsly. it's a butthurt tweet in official document form.
i've seen ontd-ers fight trolls in a more eloquent manner.
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when you say they will stage a coup what do you mean? he's already pres so what more can they get? sorry im not super ~educated
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Do they have the military in their pocket?
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That wording, "betrayed." Very deliberate and plays into his followers thought process that he is their president thus all must do what he says... god this is sickening.
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I thought the US was a Republic, I don't understand how he's able to do that
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the new ag he named is a pasty white looking nightmare, vom.
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Was watching Rachel Maddow when this news broke. This is crazy, we are not even 2 weeks in...
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Same! It was the first time I watched my queen's show since the election (because I couldn't bear hearing about any of it for the past two months) and then this happened!!
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I've been watching her stuff on youtube lately because she often goes so fast or talks about things that I'm not as well educated on as I'd like to be, so I enjoy being able to rewind and listen again. Tonight at 9 I realized she was on and decided to watch her live for the first time in ages and yeah...same. This is all just so shocking.
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I love Rachel sfm. She honestly gets me through a lot of this bullshit.
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Queen Rachel gets me through the tough times lately
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Same....I haven't been able to watch her show since the election. I watched the day after when Elizabeth Warren was on, but haven't since then until this week. It's just all so much and it's only day 10.
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I respect her cause she spoke about the flint water crisis and chris christies bridge-gate like weeks or months before they were on any other mainstream news.
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I read a tweet about it being 3 weeks since the piss dossier and started drinking
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lmao a white immigrant from africa give me a fucking break
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Lol
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Lmao like this is really a great announcement to be made this week
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mte, and where exactly in africa is this happening hmm
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At the capital of Africa: Africa City
Duh
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IKR
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lmao honestly
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MTE and to announce it this week, of all weeks? foh
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lmao right
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seriously
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As soon as I read the first line I was like here we goooo
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Mte
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seriously fuck off
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I actually thought I was have ONTD reading skills for a bit, I couldn't believe that was actually the premise. This is such garbage.
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Lmao Mean Girl tease.
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my fucking thoughts exactly
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literally MTE
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This has white saviour syndrome written all over it.
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for real. who asked for this.
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If she's from Africa... why is she white?
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lol mte
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mte
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ah yes, the famous country of africa.
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the plot of this.... jfc
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UGHHHHH
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So Mean Girls in another century.
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Jfc a white immigrant from Africa. My eyes are gonna get stuck from rolling them so often these days. Wtf Saoirse. Why do you always pick shit projects?
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lmao k I just can't...
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lol everyone here hates it, and the summary in the post is so much more flattering than others
Like Brick Lane and The Kite Runner, Camilla Gibbs widely praised new novel is a poignant and intensely atmospheric look beyond the stereotypes of Islam. After her hippie British parents are murdered, Lilly is raised at a Sufi shrine in Morocco. As a young woman she goes on pilgrimage to Harar, Ethiopia, where she teaches Quran to children and falls in love with an idealistic doctor. But even swathed in a traditional headscarf, Lilly cant escape being marked as a foreigner. Forced to flee Ethiopia for England, she must once again confront the riddle of who she is and where she belongs.
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After her hippie British parents are murdered, Lilly is raised at a Sufi shrine in Morocco. As a young woman she goes on pilgrimage to Harar, Ethiopia, where she teaches Quran to children and falls in love with an idealistic doctor. But even swathed in a traditional headscarf, Lilly cant escape being marked as a foreigner.
omw this can't be real
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I was being somewhat sarcastic when I said it had white saviour syndrome all over it but give me a break!! A white person teaching brown kids about the Qu'ran. SMDH. Saoirse hasn't had a good movie since Atonement and that was 10 years ago. She's an excellent actress but picks such crappy roles.
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lmfaoooo noooo
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Still sounds pretty bad. Why do we need a film that goes out of their way to contrive a story to show a white person feeling like an outsider when that's the daily life story of minorities.
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Omg my eyes were already O_o at rhe post summary but this is even more fucked up omg.
I hope it flops / hard /
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Fuck no.
Can't we have a film about a white girl in the UK with an idenity crisis who goes to Morocco in the hopes to fix it and realizes her privileges in the end? We can still have all the pretty scenery and sexy doctor but more to work as a mirror for white ppl.
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o boy
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jfc, I thought the ONTD summary was bad enough, but this is AWFUL!
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this is so much worse
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This makes it sound worse though?
We gotta bring Islam into this too?
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This is the film that is going to make white people feel better about "things".
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um saoirse...
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yikes x1000
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is her dad still making shitty choices for her? is her dad still making shitty choices for her?
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this line better be in the movie
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Dammit I didn't see this comment when I made mine
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You can't just ask people why they are white, homewrecker.
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omg lmfao
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lmaoooo
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lolllllll
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really not the week to announce this
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oh god yeah, exactly
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mte
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My eyebrow was rising when I read the titled and said "Ok so maybe she will play an Irish immigrant".
But nope. A poor white orphan from "Africa" who totally understand racism because she is discrimated by the mean white English and she has a black sidekick. Fuck off Hollywood.
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Same, I thought it was gonna be like the plot of Brooklyn but it ended up being worst
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I know everyone is donating to the ACLU but who else should people be donating to?
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southern poverty law center
people for the american way
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NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
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International rescue committee https://www.rescue.org/
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CAIR
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SPLC, CAIR
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Southern Poverty Law Center
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Center for Investigative Reporting
Brooklyn Community Bail Fund
VERA Institute of Justice
Safe Passage Project
CASA
Higher Heights
The Innocence Project
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i want cake
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omg that cake looks so goooood
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it's so good. used to get a slice of it every time while i was near the bakery.
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so what the fuck are we going to do about the orange asswipe?
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that cake is HUGE
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I KNOW!
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she's 40 that means i'm almost 40. :'(
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she looks young and vibrant regardless, and i'm sure you do too :)!
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thanks. just a little bit of anxiety about being past 35.
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she's so fucking beautiful and kind and smart. i love her <3
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That cake is HUGE
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OP i luv ur icon, she has the cutest smile
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She's just so beautiful, inside and out.
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That cake looks delish.
Hope it's buttercream!
I hate paper plates.
They know good and well they have actual plates at craft services.
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It's from Sweet Lady Jane and even better: it's whipped cream! (The piped leaves and vines are buttercream, though). My first job out of culinary school was working there, I'd recognize that signature cake anywhere. :)
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i shoulda known she was a aquarian. that cake looks good. hmm fruit filled.
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That sounds like a good gift tbh!
Why are american birthday cakes so huge? Do you guys use half for 1 person and the other for another or 1 person eats a 4 piece slice of cake? I don't think anyone here could deal with that much cake :/
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I think it's so big so it can feed the whole staff?
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So two layers for every person? I meant the slice having 4 layers of cake. That's 2 layers too much for me :/
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american birthday cakes lol
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Americans like things to be huge. restaurant portions are alway massive.
Edited at 2017-01-31 09:03 pm (UTC)
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I think Kerry's cake is so large because it's meant to feed the entire cast and crew of Scandal since she's celebrating on set. Cakes are not usually this huge lol.
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my family used to freeze whatever cake was leftover and consume it bit by bit over the next few weeks. i remember liking the frosting better frozen anyway
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I've set up a monthly $20 donation, but I'm thinking about lowering that just bc there are other groups I'd like to donate to as well. Maybe I can do a monthly donation to PP & a refugee/immigrant advocacy group too. And an lgbt org that isn't GLAAD or HRC.
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i really have to dig into my finances to see how much i can set aside every month
ultimately i'd like to split something between PP, SPLC and ACLU
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Lol
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lmao
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not in the original article
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Kinda
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maybe she meant these words?
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this shit still pisses me off like sis really ?
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lol yep she's full of shit
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I can't. Celebs are so dumb.
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a celebrity went the whole weekend without knowing there was controversy associated with her?? or her team just came up with this response.
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She's married to a billionaire. She was probably vacationing somewhere in the middle of nowhere only to come home to the consequences of her statements.
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has since been depicted as a cat fight, and worse yet painted in this way by a female journalist.
lmao yas the tswift school of deflection
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Course: Lena Dunham 101
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am surprised she didn't end by saying there's a special place in hell for the ~female journalist who ~twisted her words...
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lmao yes this tswift shade like she had to HAD TO basically shame the journalist for not writing about her (another woman, no less!!) in an entirely flattering and positive way.
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right? girl we see you
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'together we rise'.. bitch youre already on the top
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mfte
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girl, shut up. take the L. that sounded exactly like the dumbass shit you would say.
Learn from this and learn to listen.
I hope she doesn't put Jessica in an awkward position to corroborate her story.
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luckily Jessica already vagued about it so it's gonna look real messy if anyone tries to go for Jessica
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smh, taking no responsibility, what a shame.
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Nah Jessica has said she felt silenced but keep trying it!
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Ya callate pendeja!
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salma has been trash for a while. this is what she said to three 6 mafia after they won their Oscar in 2006
"Salma Hayek walked up to me who I was super in love with because of From Dusk Till Dawn with George Clooney and said the craziest shit: You know your brothers and sisters are dying over in Africa because of all this jewelry youre wearing. Because I guess we had those big ole watches they gave us on, and these platinum necklaces. So I was like, What?! What are you talking about? I dont have no brothers and sisters in Africa! And like that, Salma Hayek killed my hard-on. I just went limp. I told her it was nice meeting her and walked out away from that."
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I see someone took Diamonds From Sierra Leone very serious.
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What?! What are you talking about? I dont have no brothers and sisters in Africa!
lmaoo
why is she so condescending?
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I get it, but it's hard to care about this when he refers to how she killed his hard-on and went limp. Disgusting.
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...wtf is this comment? are y'all incapable of thinking both comments are disgusting or nah?
I didn't know misogyny trumps racism now, thought they were both pretty awful.
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It's gross what he said (and how he turned her only into a sexual object like all she's meant for is to please his dick) but are you really gonna dismiss everything else he said because of that??
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u sound white
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i didn't know she was this much of a mess... disappointing ugh.
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The fucking nerve to say this as she is rolling in money and a rich lifestyle from being married to a luxury conglomerate CEO. Cara-de-pau MESMO.
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i want to respond to how stupid this is but i'm tired and don't have the energy and it's unnecessary. she's just so fucking dumb.
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lol so does she never wear jewelry now too? so fucking condescending
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It must be nice thinking you're a white woman, or even better, that you trascended race, when you are raised with fucking tigers and then marry a billionaire. Does she care about her "brothers and sisters" dying over in Mexico for all the silicon she got in her boobs?
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did she ever comment on this? the fuck
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wow...not to her just saying something like this, but to a complete fucking stranger.
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now sis this aint the first time you said/done something like this
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Ugh and this king wrote hey Valentina for her messy ass.
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he wrote a song for her child???!!!
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East Timor and Australia have agreed to a new maritime border which would give East Timor control of a $40 billion oil field. But not everyone is happy.
With the host of maritime disputes in the Pacific, it is encouraging to see efforts at reconciliation and compromise, as Australia and East Timor have announced their intention to create a new maritime border agreement in 2017. In the wake of meetings in Singapore, which the Permanent Court of Arbitration Conciliation Commission described as productive where both parties reaffirmed their commitment to work in good faith, an agreement is likely to emerge in September 2017.
The area of contention concerns the maritime border between Australia and East Timor in the Timor Sea. After its independence from Indonesia in 2002 an event which was facilitated by Australian support East Timor created the Joint Petroleum Development Area with Canberra, which created a profit sharing scheme for oil and gas extraction in the Timor Sea. After independence, East Timor had no permanent maritime border with Australia, yet this very area housed significant oil and gas resources. This agreement was hastily signed by East Timor, as the nascent nation desperately needed income sources.
In 2006 Australia and East Timor signed a temporary border treaty, which saw a 50:50 revenue sharing scheme and also delayed final border arbitration for 50 years. In recent years, there has been growing discontent in East Timor over the terms of this treaty, which many Timorese see as an unfair agreement negotiated with a far stronger partner. Relations between the two countries hit a low point in 2013 after allegations emerged that Australia had bugged Timorese cabinet meetings during the 2006 negotiations.
East Timors Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo summed up the island nations feelings towards Australia in a 2015 interview, stating that having [spying devices] as an advantage for you to negotiate something that is a matter of death and life for a small country, I think is at least morally a crime [sic]. The fact that East Timor has managed to agree on 98 percent of its borders with Indonesia its former oppressor with the remaining two percent to be finalized in 2017-2018, before reaching a deal with Australia shows how broken bilateral relations with Canberra have been.
East Timor looking towards a new sunrise
At the heart of the longstanding dispute is the Greater Sunrise oil and gas field. Discovered by Woodside Petroleum in 1974, the fields five trillion cubic feet of gas and 225.9 million barrels of oil (valued at $40 billion) has remained stuck in political limbo and untapped. Woodside owns 33.44% of the field, with Phillips-Conoco controlling 30%, Shell 26.56% and Osaka Gas 10%. This group has sought to finally develop the field, yet East Timors 2015 suit in the Hague scuppered those plans. Woodside is predicting a commodity price rally in 2019, and encouraged by improving bilateral ties, has called on Canberra and Dili to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
(Click to enlarge)
The core point of contention has been thus: Australia has argued its border extends along the continental shelf, whereas East Timor has called for the border to be halfway between the two countries, a move which would place the majority of the Greater Sunrise field within Timorese waters. Related: Refiners Stand To Lose From Trumps Border Tax Plan
It is therefore encouraging that despite such animosity, both countries are making steady progress towards a permanent resolution in 2017. Having taken Australia to the Hague and invoking the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), both countries have decided to work together to enlarge East Timors maritime territory in order to give it more access to the regions oil and gas resources. UNCLOS is a friend to small nations, yet has been challenged by countries like China, especially in the South China Sea.
(Click to enlarge)
Australia and East Timors commitment to working in good faith could offer an example for productive regional dispute resolution. Australia withdrew from the UNCLOS compulsory dispute settlement procedures in 2002, yet it has managed to cooperate with UN organs to work on a solution with East Timor. Australias reservations about UNCLOS are mirrored by Chinas resistance to outside mediation. Furthermore, the power disparity between Australia and East Timor is just as stark as that between China and countries like the Philippines. Furthermore, both the Timor and South China seas are contested for their oil and gas wealth, involve gross power disparities among claimants and dominant powers skeptical of UN arbitration.
Why is progress happening now?
Recently, Australia agreed to East Timors demand to scrape the 2006 treaty. In return East Timor dropped its espionage case against Australia in January; allegations which were being used to validate its efforts to abolish the treaty. East Timor is facing significant pressure to resolve the maritime dispute, as the country is quickly running out of viable oil reserves. East Timors oil and gas income peaked in 2012, and has been declining ever since; its Kitan oil field stopped producing in 2014, and the countrys last remaining field Bayu-Undan is expected to cease production between 2020-2022. This is a very troubling scenario for East Timor as oil and gas revenues account for 75% of the state budget. It is therefore in the countrys interest to resolve the dispute as soon as possible.
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Despite wisely investing in the development of a petroleum fund, East Timor cannot sustain itself on investment revenue alone, and is being forced to withdraw from the principal: at current rates the country will be bankrupt in a decade. Moreover, alongside international pressure from the UN, it is in Australias best interest to ensure East Timors stability. If East Timor becomes a failed state, Australia will undoubtedly face not only a refugee crisis, but potentially renewed Indonesian efforts to reacquire the island. Indeed, Australia led the UN intervention in the country in 1999: failing to act on the border issue, and letting East Timor fall would severely damage Australias international image and increase regional instability.
East Timors pending bankruptcy has led some Timorese to question the governments reliance on oil and gas, arguing that the country needs to address basic needs and diversify the economy, rather than engage in more mega-projects. This is has been echoed by both the IMF and World Bank, with the later stating that East Timor must employ its finite resources effectively and implement key reforms to support a more diversified economy [] a combination of marginal investment and high costs also raise important questions [about] the quality and prioritization of the infrastructure programme.
Indeed the $2 billion price tag to get Greater Sunrise off the ground dwarfs the $1.39 billion 2017 state budget. The current government also wants to build a processing plant in the country in order to create jobs. Opponents of this plan argue that the costs of such a project would outweigh the benefits, especially since existing infrastructure exists in Darwin, or could be repurposed from the Bayu-Undan floating platforms. Opponents have also criticized the government for being out of touch with the needs of ordinary citizens, focusing instead on prestige projects such as joining ASEAN.
2017 elections complicate matters
East Timors Parliament Red: FRENTILIN, Light Blue: CNRT
These criticisms come as the government touts its successes and engagement with Australia ahead of upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in 2017. The problem for those who oppose the governments trajectory is that both major parties FRETILIN and the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) have been in an informal power sharing agreement since the 2012 election created a hung parliament, which has left the country without an effective opposition. Related: From Feces To Fuel: Our Cars Could Soon Be Powered By Human Waste
In 2016 a new party the Peoples Liberation Party (PLP) was founded by the popular former corruption commissioner Aderito Soares in order to fill this gap. The PLP is critical of the governments development strategy and is seeking to make corruption and basic service provision key election issues.
East Timors current president, Taur Matan Ruak, joined the current government as an independent in 2012. As the election slated for sometime between mid March and the end of July gets closer, Ruak is expected to resign as president and run as the PLPs prime ministerial candidate. Currently there is no declared CNRT presidential candidate, so it remains unclear whether the party will field its own candidate or support FRETILINs Francisco Guterres.
Soares and Ruak are a popular couple, and put the PLP in a good position. While support for the PLP is growing, it is unlikely to form government: capturing 20% of the vote is seen as a good result, especially for such as young party. The PLP is angling for third party status, a role currently occupied by the languishing Democratic Party. While not expected to form government, the PLP could benefit from a protest vote, and it would certainly not be the first populist upset in recent months.
Regardless of East Timors ultimate development focus, the main threat facing the government in 2017 is its ability to present a united front in, and thereby successfully concluding negotiations with Australia. Any fragmentation will present Australia with an opportunity to play on the FRETILIN governments fears about anti-development / anti-oil critics to force more concessions out of Dili in return for a speedy resolution to the border dispute. It remains to be seen whether Greater Sunrise will see a rising East Timor or if the light of day lays bare the countrys divisions.
By Jeremy Luedi via Globalriskinsights.com
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Oil price rose on Tuesday after a Reuters survey found a high OPEC deal compliance rate, indicating that OPEC has already cut output with 1 million bpd in January
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Chart of the Week
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U.S. oil production is set to rise from an average of 8.9 million barrels per day (mb/d) in 2016 to 9.3 mb/d in 2018, according to estimates from the EIA.
Output gains will come primarily from the Permian Basin, with some smaller additions from the Bakken, Eagle Ford and Niobrara Shales.
Production in the Permian is set to rise from 2 mb/d last year to 2.3 mb/d in 2017 and 2.5 mb/d in 2018.
Market Movers
Seadrill (NYSE: SDRL) saw its share price fall 18 percent premarket after it failed to reach a deal to restructure $8.2 billion in secured debt. The announcement pushes the firm one step closer to Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) reached a deal to sell up to $4.7 billion in North Sea gas assets, plus some assets in Thailand.
GE (NYSE: GE) sees offshore drilling activity picking up in 2018 and 2019. GE is still on course to merge its oil and gas services unit with Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI).
Tuesday January 31, 2017
Oil prices rose on Tuesday after further evidence emerged that OPEC was making good on its promise to cut output. A Reuters survey found that OPEC cut output by over 1 mb/d in January, achieving an 82 percent compliance rate with the promised cuts. "This is very high, a good number," an OPEC source told Reuters. The bullish news from OPEC outweighed the figures from Baker Hughes on Friday showing yet another week of strong gains in the U.S. rig count. Oil was up on Tuesday by more than 1 percent.
Oil industry hit by Trumps immigration ban. Oilfield services giant Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) reportedly told its employees not to travel to the United States if they were nationals of the seven countries listed under the Trump administrations temporary immigration ban. Confusion reigned across airports in the United States and around the world in recent days, and Halliburton told its employees that it would be inadvisable to travel to the U.S. during the restriction period. The oil and gas industry is highly globalized and multinational, much more so than many other industries, and the headquarters of many firms in places like Houston are staffed with foreign nationals that could be affected by tighter immigration policies. Oil and gas is going to have the most heartburn from this, Michael Webber, deputy director of the Energy Institute at University of Texas at Austin, told Bloomberg. The energy sector was among the hardest hit in a down day for Wall Street on Monday. Meanwhile, Iraqs parliament moved to ban U.S. citizens from entering the country in response to being singled-out as one of the seven countries listed under Trumps ban. The proposed ban on U.S. citizens entering Iraq, while not finalized, could hit ExxonMobil, which produces almost a half million barrels of oil per day in Iraq.
ExxonMobil reports earnings. The oil major reported earnings of $0.41 per share, missing consensus estimates of $0.70 per share, the largest disappointment in at least a decade. Most notably, Exxon decided to write down $2 billion worth of assets, notable because the company has stubbornly refused to write down assets during the past few years even as its peers took very large impairment charges. The practice raised the ire of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Nevertheless, Exxon still reported a profit of $1.68 billion, the ninth consecutive profitable quarter. Related: Fundamentals Be Damned Oil Price Correction Likely
Trump wants U.S.-made steel in pipelines. As part of President Trumps revival of the Keystone XL pipeline, he wants companies like TransCanada (NYSE: TRP) to use American-made pipelines, built with U.S. steel. He threatened to withhold the use of eminent domain that helps pipeline companies gain access to the private lands needed to construct their projects if they refuse to use U.S. material. "If we're going to use our powers of eminent domain and all the other powers, then I want the pipe to be manufactured with United States steel," Trump said. International oil and gas companies tend to oppose local content rules because they inflate the cost of construction.
U.S. Congress to repeal anti-corruption provision for payments to foreign governments. The Republican controlled Congress is moving to kill a rule that requires oil and gas companies to disclose their payments to foreign governments, arguing that it makes American companies less competitive. The provision is part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial overhaul, and is intended to cut down on corruption that can occur from major resource extraction projects in countries with spotty governance.
Congress to overturn methane rule. Republicans are close to repealing an Obama executive order that cracks down on methane emissions from oil and gas drilling on public lands. The Republicans argue the measures are a burden on the industry.
Oil majors cautious, smaller drillers moving ahead. The WSJ reports that the largest oil companies are approaching 2017 with a bit of caution, holding off on higher spending levels in order to repair their balance sheets. Meanwhile, smaller companies are stepping up drilling as oil prices rise. Related: OPEC May Be Powerless To Stop Lower For Longer
Dakota Access timeline unclear. A complex web of legal challenges and ongoing regulatory processes, combined with the Trump administrations executive order, have confused the timeline for the Dakota Access Pipeline. A U.S. Justice Department official told a judge this week that the administration did not know when the final easement would be granted to Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE: ETP) to move forward.
Oil speculators continue to go long on oil. Another week, another increase in the net-long bets by hedge funds and other money managers. The combined positions by these investors are now at their most bullish in over a decade. This speaks to the optimism surrounding the OPEC deal, a tightening oil market, and expectations of rising prices. But it also leaves the market dangerously exposed to a reversal. Traders could unwind their positions if sentiment starts to sour, potentially opening up WTI and Brent to sudden losses.
BP to look at 3D printing. BP (NYSE: BP) said that it will study the impact that 3D printing could have on complex global supply chains. Freight travel accounts for about one-fifth of global oil consumption, and 3D printing could cut into that if the volume of global shipping declines because of 3D printing. The news comes after the oil major last week said that it is concerned about the long-term health of oil prices as demand begins to enter permanent decline. BP said that there are twice the volume of oil and gas reserves that the world will need through 2050, which means a lot of that wont be produced. The implication is that the oil industry could race to produce as much as possible to monetize the value, which would keep prices permanently low.
By Evan Kelly of Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Crude is rallying on this final day of January, as hopes and projections of OPEC production cuts return to the fore once more. Before we charge into a new month tomorrow, amid weekly inventory data to boot, hark, here are five things to consider in oil markets today.
1) The implications of a Border Adjustment Tax (BAT) - aka an import tax - on U.S. crude would not only impact import flows, but exports and domestic production as well.
If crude was homogenous, then there could be direct substitution: U.S. domestic production, suddenly at a 20 percent advantage given an import tax, could replace crude imports. But it is not quite that simple; crude comes in many different grades (we tracking nearly 400 of 'em). There are three main grades: light, medium and heavy. This is where the challenge arises.
U.S. shale plays produce higher quality, light crude. This is juxtapositioned with the U.S. Gulf coast, the refinery hub where nearly half of U.S. refinery capacity is. It has some of the most sophisticated refineries in the world, which are configured towards refining lower quality, heavier crude. They are not configured to refine light crude.
2) In addition to Canadian land-based flows of over 3 million barrels per day, the U.S. imports nearly 1.7mn bpd of waterborne heavy crude, the vast majority of which (1.45mn bpd) goes to U.S. Gulf refiners. The remaining volume finds its way to East and West coast refiners. There are two leading suppliers of this heavy crude, Mexico and Venezuela, who account for three-quarters of these flows.
Given that U.S. domestic light crude cannot replace these heavy imports, they will continue to be imported by U.S. Gulf Coast refiners, just at a 20 percent higher price. The refiners will then pass on this cost to the consumer in the form of higher refined product prices - aka...higher prices at the pump.
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3) 'What about light crude imports?', I hear you say. That's a good question. The U.S. imports nearly 1.5mn bpd of light crude, despite U.S. shale plays producing nearly 5mn bpd of the stuff. This is simply because of logistics. Related: Refiners Stand To Lose From Trumps Border Tax Plan
It is cheaper for U.S. East Coast refiners to import light crude from the likes of Nigeria, Algeria and Norway, than to ship Bakken crude by rail from North Dakota. The West Coast has limited access to crude by rail, pulling in predominantly Saudi grades of Arab light and Arab Extra Light instead.
Hence, our ClipperData show (hark, below) that both East and West Coasts imported well over 400,000 bpd of light crude last year, while the Gulf Coast imported nearly 600,000 bpd. Gulf Coast refiners have already maxed out their receipts of domestic crude, although an immediate 20 percent discount to domestic crude (via a 20 percent premium to foreign light grades) will likely inspire a renewed appetite.
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4) We here at the good ship ClipperData (aharrrgh, me hearties!) put the below chart together to highlight certain scenarios based on varying degrees of OPEC compliance for our recent ClipperView events (as well as the mighty Abudi Zein's Argus webinar yesterday). We can riff off this to highlight the impact of an import tax also.
We presented three scenarios:
If OPEC / NOPEC show full compliance of production cuts, then prices could rise to as high as $65/bbl. If this were to happen, we believe that domestic production would rise to over 9.6mn bpd by year-end
If OPEC / NOPEC show partial compliance to the tune of ~950,000 bpd (with Core OPEC participating fully, Oman too, Iraq cutting in part, and Mexico dropping naturally), then we believe a price of ~$53 seems reasonable. At this price level, we project domestic production to rise to 9.2mn bpd by year-end
If the deal unravels, chaos reigns, and everyone returns to putting their pedal to the metal in terms of production, then prices could drop to $39, leading domestic production to finish the year at 8.8mn bpd Related: From Feces To Fuel: Our Cars Could Soon Be Powered By Human Waste
Applying a similar logic to a potential import tax, should we see demand for U.S. crude rise, we should see prices rise, and in response...higher production. Should we see WTI move to a material premium versus Brent - bid fare thee well to U.S. crude exports...because they'll be toast.
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5) Now for something completely different. Let's switch gears as we finish up with an observation about the supermajor Shell. After its whopping $54 billion purchase of BG group, it is in the process of trying to pare some of its net debt, which has risen to $78 billion as at the end of Q3 2016.
After already making asset sales in every quarter of last year, it has just sold oil fields in the North Sea and Thailand for $4.7 billion. More sales are to come: it is targeting $30 billion in total divestitures to defend both its credit rating and its dividend.
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By Matt Smith
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Irans Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh has said that U.S. oil companies willing to do business in Iran will not be banned from doing so. The remark, quoted by local and international media, comes on the heels of a Friday executive order signed by Donald Trump that suspended the visa processing and entry into the U.S. of people from seven Muslim-majority states: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
The suspension order will be in effect for three months when it concerns entry into the country. When it concerns the resettlement of refugees from these states, bar Syria, it will be in effect for four months. Refugees from Syria are banned from resettlement in the U.S. indefinitely. The order also covers legal residents of the U.S. who are citizens of any of the seven countries, so if they leave, they wont be allowed to come back for the duration of the order.
Earlier this month, the National Iranian Oil Company issued a list of 29 foreign oil companies that have been approved for participation in oil and gas tenders, to be held later in the year. Interestingly, one of the companies on the list was U.S. Schlumberger the only U.S. company to be approved as a bidder.
Related: Fundamentals Be Damned Oil Price Correction Likely
Yet, Zanganeh, as quoted by the AP, said that no American oil companies have so far directly applied for participation in Irans energy industry recovery. Schlumberger is not an E&P business, which may explain the remark. Another list of approved companies is due to be released later, it recently emerged, with three Russian companies to be included in it, among others.
Following the lifting of Western sanctions last year, Iran has already struck deals with Lukoil, Total, CNPC and Sinopec, and Petronas for the development of oil and gas fields. Total is working on the huge offshore South Pars field; Petronas is drilling for oil at South Azadegan and Sheshmeh Hosh; and CNPC and Sinopec are developing Yadavaran and North Azadegan.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com
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The Safest Driver in the State of California
by Woody LaBounty
(Originally appeared in SF West History, Jul-Sep 2015)
She is Champion Safe Driver
Six hundred and fifty thousand miles of driving without a single mishap is the record on which a safety committee headed by Ray Ingels, director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, declared Mrs. Nell A. Leavitt of San Francisco the States safest driver. Mrs. Leavitt is seen here starting in her Dodge sedan for New York City and a national Safety conference once at which she represented California.
That was the news copy accompanying the image, transcribed from text pasted on the back of the print.
I stumbled onto the photo on eBay, and thought the scene looked like a western San Francisco locale. I was intrigued. The Department of Motor Vehicles used to track the safety of state drivers and award them prizes? The winner selected was a woman?
In the 1930s, most women didnt have motor vehicle licenses, much less drive hundreds of thousands of miles. A quirky story, I thought. So I bought the print, planning to perhaps put it on the back page of SF West History magazine with no more than the short caption that came with the image.
First, I wanted to do a little research to pin down the western San Francisco location, since I assumed Mrs. Nell A. Leavitt was posing in front of her house. Turned out I was right. The photo was taken on the 800 block of 42nd Avenue.
But I got much more than I bargained for, discovering an unusually adventurous and independent woman that experienced a terrible tragedy six years before she smiled for a press photographer in front of her Dodge sedan.
Nell Anthony was a graduate of Polytechnic High School (the school changed its name from Commercial High School while she was attending in the 1890s). She later said she chose the school specifically because it was the only high school offering commercial subjects. Polytechnics mission was to prepare students to enter the trades and the world of work capable in shorthand or cabinetry or accounting or welding. Nell Anthony was a hands-on type of person.
Shortly after high school, she married John Wheeler Leavitt, a man who started as a bicycle salesman in 1894 before moving into motorcycles. By 1902, had taken on two partners, W. J. Pedlar, and a teenager named Albert D. Plughoff, to run one of the first automobile dealerships in San Francisco. The age of the motorcar had begun. In 1902, alone, fifty new companies formed to manufactured automobiles in the United States.
J. W. Leavitt & Co. became one of the countrys largest auto dealerships, and its energetic president became head of the citys Automobile Dealers Association. Leavitt was an adventurous and confident face of automobile ownership and enjoyment when people werent quite sure if the new inventions were little more than rich mens toys. Taking a new roadster or touring car on a three-day ride across California Leavitt would make sure to get a short article in the newspapers about the ease and convenience, touting how well his product could tackle wild country while simultaneously advocating for new and improved public highways. In the days when roads were often rutted, muddy, and impassable in bad weather, when a day of driving could mean two or more flat tires, Leavitt headed for the Sierra Nevada mountains in winter, drove one of the first automobiles into Yosemite, and accompanied a buyer to christen Calaveras County with its first motorcar. He became one of the earliest transcontinental drivers, going to the East Coast multiple times to find new models and drive a sample back to his San Francisco showroom.
Nell accompanied her husband on most of these publicity jaunts, not only as a passenger, but also as an enthusiastic driver. She knew her way around an engine and a tire change. In 1908, she was called one of the citys best known women motorists. Oh, and along the way she had six children.
Selling automobiles had become a very good business by the 1910s and 1920s. In 1902, when Leavitt started his auto dealing, about 23,000 motor vehicles were registered in the United States. In 1929, that number had risen to 23 million. Leavitt and his partner Plughoff, vice president in the firm, prospered. They were great friends outside of business that went on hunting and fishing trips and had neighboring country estates in Belvedere. Both were rumored to be millionaires. The Leavitt family lived in the Richmond District at 101 20th Avenue, a stately home on the corner of Lake Street.
But fortunes fell after the stock market crash of October 24, 1929. As the world slid into what would become known as the Great Depression, Leavitt and his partners found themselves scrambling. Sales plummeted so much in the auto industry that production was halved in 1930.
In late July 1930, J. W. Leavitt & Co. had to shut down. Behind the doors of the firms showroom and offices at 1414 Van Ness Avenue, the citys Auto Row, the owners made a desperate attempt to reorganize the firm and save it from bankruptcy.
The pressure on 62-year-old Leavitt must have been overwhelming. He rewrote his will in early August, simplifying it to leave the entirety of his estate to his wife, Nell. He borrowed a pistol from his son-in-law, saying he was planning on doing some squirrel shooting.
Then, in the middle of the negotiations to rescue the company, Plughoff told Leavitt he had accepted a well-paying job from General Motors. The old friend and business partner, whom Leavitt had hired as a 15-year-old to sell bicycles thirty years earlier, said he wanted out. The two began negotiations on a financial settlement for Plughoffs exit that looked to leave a near-death J. W. Leavitt & Co. $40,000 in the red.
On the afternoon of August 11, 1930, employees cleaning up the mostly-emptied showroom heard a muffled report they assumed was a car backfiring. President Leavitt walked slowly out of the building, remarking Looks like a quiet day in the automobile business. He drove away.
Soon after, the body of Plughoff was found at his desk. He had been shot behind the ear, and a note on the desk signed by Leavitt read Sorry to do this.
Nell greeted her husband when he arrived home on 20th Avenue. She didnt notice anything odd in his demeanor. Leavitt went upstairs, still in possession of the borrowed pistol he had used on Plughoff. He wrote two blank checks made out to his wife and stripped off his shirt. When he heard the police arriving outside, he went into his sons bedroom and shot himself in the head.
When Nell filed final accounting of her administration of her late husbands estate, after the payout by the life insurance policy and the settling of debts, there was a net balance of $13,573.11.
Six years later, when Ray Ingels announced the winner of the California State Automobile Association safety campaign contest, Nell A. Leavitt was living at her daughter Dorothys house at 847 42nd Avenue. Dorothy had divorced her husbandthe man who had lent her father the pistol he used on his partner and himselfthree years earlier.
The California contest had been part of a national campaign. Each states designated safest driver would meet in New York City for a safety motorcade and conference. Nell Leavitt definitely deserved the honor in California: no recorded accidents or violations in a 34-year-old driving record, much of it in the days of poor roads, horse-drawn wagons, few signals or traffic controls. But prejudicial assumptions and jokes about women being bad drivers were commonplace in 1936. Only two other states picked woman drivers, and the Associated Press noted Ingels admittedly stuck out his chin in the direction of male drivers when [] he picked Mrs. Leavitt as the queen of Californias driving army.
Leavitt herself said she was surprised to be chosen, because of how women drivers were criticized, but took the opportunity to say that women were as good, if not better drivers then men, mostly because of attitude and manners. Look at any traffic crowded intersection where there are only male drivers in a tieup due to a lack of courtesy.
As if to alleviate fears that Mrs. Leavitts title somehow threatened the presumed role of women in society, articles across the country described the 57-year-old as a motherly individual with grandchildren. A list of her safe driving maxims were published in the newspaper, including watch the left front wheel of an approaching car to find out what the driver is going to do and watch the feet of old people to determine how long they will take to cross the street.
The national safety conference and motorcade took place on August 31, 1936. As part of the rules of participating, Leavitt had to drive herself to New York City. She planned to cover 300 miles a day in getting there and visit some East Coast family afterwards. Her 20-year-old son Robert came as a passenger to keep her company.
On August 19, she officially launched her trip from City Hall, where Mayor Angelo J. Rossi offered her a personal farewell at the window of her Dodge sedan. Shed owned 21 different makes of car between her first, a 1902 model she described as a one lung red roadster, with tiller control and chain drive and the Dodge, which she praised highly on her return after covering 7,000 miles of the United States.
Her time in the limelight didnt end after the successful conference and cross-country trip. As Californias No. 1 safe driver, Nell Leavitt went on in the next few years to speak at luncheons, appear on radio shows, advocate for newsboys to be more visible by wearing white at night, and pose for public service photos checking her oil and getting her windshield cleaned.
Nell Leavitt died October 18, 1960. A simple notice in the newspapers listed her as the widow of J. W. Leavitt, named her children, and identified where the funeral service would be held. There was no mention of her onetime title as Californias safest driver.
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Oh, Boo Hoo! Americas liberals are insulted and upset about President Donald Trumps plans to build a border wall/fence to stop the flow of illegal aliens..........In a televised address to the Mexican nation last Wednesday night, President Pena Nieto stated that Mexico does not believe in walls"........The only reason Mexicos President and Mexican people are insulted is that it means theyll have to keep their poor and criminal elements in their own country. It will cost Mexico millions of dollars and hundreds of millions of pesos to take care of their poor, themselves...........For years, few have done anything to protect America and American citizens from the ravages of illegal aliens. Had they done what was right from the beginning, it wouldnt be such a big deal now. Do I care if they are offended by America building a border wall/fence? Heck NO!!! Do I care if they are insulted that America is finally taking action to protect OUR nation and OUR people? Heck NO!!!..........
From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As...
Of course. You would have to be be barking mad to want to bring this rabble to NZ. But then socialists are mad by definition. It's not as if we don't have...
In my last post we observed how overwhelming the desire for change is in America, and we also paused to notice the penalty the Democratic Party has paid for ignoring voters wishes. In this post and the ones that follow, I will touch on some of the more important policies and practices that will be evaluated by the new Administration, for better or worse.
Ill skip some of the high profile changes the Trump Administration has promisedtax reform and infrastructure spending, for examplebecause these have been widely discussed and, except possibly for the proposed reduction in tax rates for high earners, arent particularly controversial. Instead, Ill focus on some of the more tendentious issues that will undergo reevaluation.
The Affordable Care Act
I know precisely nothing about the substance of healthcare reform, so Ill focus instead on the (ugly) politics of it. But first lets pause to notice the magnitude of the task we face. Americans want world-class health care but we dont want to pay much for it. We want health insurance whether or not we have a job. Even though we have preexisting health issues, which are going to cost a bundle, we dont want to pay any more than anyone else. We want to keep our own doctors and hospitals. Ohand dont even think about raising our taxes to pay for any of this.
The elephant in the room is that a very small group of Americans are responsible for most of the health care dollars we spend: 1% spend over 20%, 5% spend over half, and 20% spend over 80%. But of course we dont know in advance who those health care hogs are going to be. This year its the annoying lady down the street, but next year it could be us.
And then theres the mastodon in the room: self-inflicted diseases represent a huge chunk of healthcare costs. We eat too much and we eat all the wrong things. We drink too much. We smoke cigarettes. We abuse prescription and other drugs. We dont exercise. And then one day we wake up and have lung cancer, diabetes, COPD, and/or heart trouble and we demand that everyone else pay for our foolishness. And here its not a small minority of folks who are causing the trouble; its most of us.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Ill refer to it as the ACA) was a disaster from the day it was signed into law. I dont mean that it was a legislative disaster, far from it. Given the complexity of the subject matter, the ACA is a pretty good piece of legislation and it has succeeded in its principal mandate of dramatically reducing the number of uninsured Americans.
No, I mean that it was a political disaster. In 2008, the Democrats succeeded in gaining control of the House, the Senate and the Presidency. Like so many political parties before it (witness Newt Gingrichs Contract with America), the Democrats mistook their electoral win as a mandate to implement all their pet projects.
In point of fact, when any party takes control, all it means is that, at the margin, voters preferred them over the alternative. Except in very rare circumstancesFDR and the Democrats in 1932, for examplethere is no mandate involved. Americans expect that the winning and losing parties will find ways to compromise and get things done in a manner that avoids either partys most extreme views.
But thats not what happened. We had an inexperienced President in officeas one Clinton advisor put it, when he ran for office Obama had been a Senator for twenty-five minutes and one who was constitutionally disinclined to involve himself in the rough and tumble of legislative horse-trading. As a result, partisans like Harry Reid and, especially, Nancy Pelosi, rammed the ACA through the House and Senate using bureaucratic subterfuges (budgetary reconciliation, for example). The ACA passed both houses without a single Republican vote. As J. P. Morgan & Co. has pointed out, the ACA was passed with the greatest partisan gap in [American] history.
Given the complexity of the health care challenge, everyone in Congress knewhell, everyone in America knewthat however well-constructed the ACA was, it would inevitably need to be revised, probably significantly, to make it work. But the Democrats now owned the ACA and the Pelosi-Reid strategy made sense only on the assumption that the Democrats would control Washington for a very long time.
As we know, that was patently silly. Indeed, the Republicans regained the House a mere eight months (almost to the day) after the ACA was signed into law, and in part because of the partisan manner in which it was enacted. As more and more parts of the ACA became problematic, they couldnt be fixed because the Republicans, furious with the Democrats hardball tactics, were in no mood for compromise. Thus, for six long years the ACA was left twisting slowly in the wind, and now that the Republicans control Washington it will quickly be repealed.
The political history of the ACA is important because it now appears that the Republicans are about to make exactly the same mistakes. The bureaucratic shortcuts used by the Democrats to pass the ACAreconciliationhave already been rolled out by the Republican leadership, and Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell seem determined to ram repeal and replacement through Congress without regard to Democratic concerns. This makes sense only on the assumption that the Republicans will control Washington for a very long time. In fact, Republican overreach is probably the best possible way to hand the Senate back to the Democrats in 2018.
As it happens, however, your humble blogger has in his hands the solution to the political imbroglio over the ACA. Since were running out of space, though, Ill have to save that for next week.
Next up: Loose Change, Part III
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.
The blaze was reported at a large two-story home at 95 East Broadway at 7:17 p.m., according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The fire was knocked down in about two hours, and firefighters remained on the scene into late Monday night.
QUEENSBURY Great Escape and Warren County are partnering on an advertising campaign that uses $150,000 in occupancy tax funding and an equal amount of funding from the amusement park company.
Great Escape leadership successfully lobbied for $150,000 in county tourism funding to target central New York with commercials in the spring and summer that will highlight the companys offerings as well as the Lake George region.
The Warren County Board of Supervisors Tourism Committee endorsed the proposal last week after hearing from the parks president and marketing manager about their plans to target the Syracuse and Utica areas in June and July to try to attract new visitors to the park and area.
The funding will come from $400,000 of occupancy tax money that was set aside last year for more promotion of the region. Occupancy tax funds stem from a 4 percent tax charged on hotel, motel and bed-and-breakfast rooms.
Great Escape President Eric Gilbert told supervisors that the company has undertaken similar public-private partnerships in other markets where it has parks, including Illinois and Texas.
Great Escape will put $150,000 of its marketing funds into the effort, with most of the money used to buy television commercial time in central New York and some used for social media marketing.
Six Flags marketing staff will produce the commercials at the companys expense, with input from the county Tourism Department and use of video of Lake George and other attractions in the region.
Rebecca Wood, Great Escapes marketing director, said the commercials will equally highlight the region and the amusement park.
The Lake George region has all these amazing things, and roller coasters too, she summarized.
The ads will run for a six- to eight-week period in June and July, and Wood said the campaign will be metric-based and performance-based.
We will spend money where it makes sense, she said.
Some supervisors had questions about the arrangement, with Glens Falls 5th Ward Supervisor Matt MacDonald and Queensbury at-Large Supervisor Ron Montesi asking to clarify some of the details.
Lake Luzerne Supervisor Gene Merlino, chairman of the county boards Tourism Committee, said the county Tourism Department will be involved in the production.
This would be complete and separate from all of our other media buys, Gilbert said.
Gilbert was named earlier in the day to sit on the county boards Tourism Committee, though Merlino said that had no impact on the decision to grant funding. The marketing campaign was proposed late last year.
Warren County Tourism Director Joanne Conley said Great Escape was the first local business to make a proposal for use of the $400,000 that the Board of Supervisors set aside last year, after a coalition of business leaders called for more tourism promotion of the region.
Voters in New York in November will decide a statewide referendum on whether to allow judges to remove or reduce pension benefits of government officials convicted of a felony associated with duties in office.
State Assemblyman Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, predicted the referendum will pass by at least a 4-to-1 margin.
I am absolutely certain that the voters will pass this, he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
The state Senate and Assembly on Monday passed final legislation to put the measure on the ballot as a constitutional amendment in November.
The legislation had to pass in two consecutive two-year legislative terms to schedule a referendum.
Its about time. Its about time, said Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
Area legislators have been advocating for pension forfeiture since 2012, when former Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, R-Willsboro, introduced legislation.
Stec picked up on the issue when he took office in 2013, and Woerner when she took office in 2015.
If approved by voters, the pension forfeiture law would apply to elected and appointed municipal and state officials.
Judges would have the authority to revoke or reduce pensions of convicted officials on a case-by-case basis.
Pension forfeiture is at the discretion of the judge and would not be automatic.
Im fine with that. I trust our judiciary to make the decision, Stec said.
Legislators said by passing the measure near the start of the legislative session, it sent a signal that ethics reform is important.
It really made a strong stand, Woerner said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The town of Queensbury on Friday held a reception to honor Marilyn VanDyke on her retirement as town historian, a post she held for 25 years.
(Marilyn) VanDyke has gone above and beyond in giving her expertise, dedication, responsibility, respect, and life experience for the betterment of the Town of Queensbury, said Supervisor John Strough, in a proclamation honoring VanDyke, who retired at the end of the year.
VanDyke received many honors during her career.
New York State Association of Municipal Historians selected VanDyke as Outstanding Historian in 1998, and Adirondack Girl Scout Council honored her in 2007 as a Woman of Distinction.
The Champan Historical Museum in Glens Falls presented her with a Preservation Award in 1997 and honored her in 2009 for Outstanding Contributions to Local History.
Volunteers needed
The Glens Falls Food Co-Op in Empire Theatre Plaza on South Street in downtown Glens Falls is seeking additional volunteers.
If you think its important for healthy, natural, organic, locally grown food to be accessible in downtown Glens Falls, please pitch in to make
this effort strong enough to last, said Kate Austin-Avon, a Co-Op spokeswoman.
For information, attend a volunteer meeting held at the Co-Op at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, or email glensfallscoop@gmail.com.
The next volunteer meeting is at 7 p.m. Feb. 15.
Art exhibit
An exhibit of 14 oil paintings by Seth Butler will be on display starting Friday to Feb. 28 at the Friends of Crandall Public Library gallery on the librarys second floor.
Butler, age 43, studied fine arts at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire and has studied locally with Mark Walp at SUNY Adirondack and David Miller at Skidmore College.
The exhibit is open any time the library is open.
Beard contest
Get ready, get set to start growing a beard.
Chapman Historical Museum has added a new Biggest Beard From Scratch category to its annual Wild Whiskers beard contest, to be held from 5 to 8 p.m. April 8 at Lake George Brewing Co., the Davidson Brothers brewery, on Route 9 in Queensbury.
Contestants in the new category must document by photograph they were clean shaven on Wednesday or after.
Other categories are: Best Groomed Full Beard, Best Partial Beard, Best Mustache, Best Fake Beard and Best Mountain Man Beard.
The Mountain Man category is for beards that resemble the facial hair of legendary Adirondack guide Old Mountain Phelps.
Entry fee is $20.
Information is available at chapmanmuseum.org or by calling 518-793-2826.
Historic beard
Speaking of whiskers, The Commercial Advertiser of Potsdam Junction on June 11, 1929 published the following short editorial about the surprise appointment of Charles Evans Hughes Jr. as Solicitor General of the United States.
Charles Evans Hughes Jr. has entered the spotlight of publicity. For the present all that can be said is that he hasnt the beard his father has.
The father, a Glens Falls native, was famous throughout his political and judicial career for his distinctive whiskers.
The editorial can be viewed at The New York State Historic Newspapers website, a project of public libraries.
Contents
Comments or questions? E-mail: info@sirrida.de
Intro
This is a description of several bit permutation types as well as some routines performing them. You can download an implementation of the routines.
In contrast to the routines posted elsewhere most of them act in a SWAR-like fashion and hence have an additional parameter which describes the subword size.
I have also prepared an online code generator for practical permutations. It currently operates only on 32 bit since PHP cannot reliably do more.
There is also the program calcperm.pas resp. calcperm.cpp, you can compile yourself which does not have this limitation.
Several routines are presumably published here for the first time such as a bit-parallel implementation of compress-flip and expand-flip which I am very proud of.
Not two weeks after I published the first public version of the bit permutation stuff on http://programming.sirrida.de (setup on 2011-06-01), Intel introduced (published 2011-06-11, proposed for 2013, released about 2013-06) two new instructions for x86 processors named PEXT and PDEP. They have the potential of massively speeding up some (but not all) of the routines. The introduction of these future instructions caused several changes of this site
On this site I assume that the underlying machine has a word size of a power of 2 using two's complement for integer numbers. For non-conforming systems I have not taken any precautions and thus you should not use the routines on them but with extreme care and exhaustive tests.
The equations on this site are roughly in C syntax in order to avoid multiple description systems. I hope that fans of other programming languages will excuse me.
Word definitions
Here are some word definition used on this site:
Bit
A bit is the smallest piece of information and can contain the boolean values 0 or 1. Alternatively you can associate the truth values false and true.
A number can be seen as an array or group of bits when written in base 2. A group of 8 bits is called a byte or an octet. The bit group the processor can most naturally process is called a word.
Bits are numbered "right" (least significant bit, index 0) to "left" (most significant bit), i.e. 76543210 .
The reason for this numbering is the naming of the shift operations, i.e. the shift right operator >> should shift to the right side and the shift left operator << should shift to the left side.
This is only a notation issue and has nothing to do with memory layout (endian problem).
For further information you may look up some information in Wikipedia.
bits
bits is the used word size.
bits = 2 ld_bits .
Bitwise boolean operators
The bitwise boolean operators act in parallel on an array of bits, i.e. on a whole word.
If they act on a single bit (a boolean value), they are simply called boolean operators.
Here are the most common ones:
not
The not or inversion operator ~ converts 0 to 1 and vice-versa.
Other names include complement and negation .
The C operator ! is similar but acts on boolean values.
and
The and operator & becomes 1 if all of its operands are 1, and 0 otherwise.
This operation is idempotent, commutative and associative.
Other names include intersection and conjunction ; the operation generates a subset.
The C operator && is similar but acts on boolean values and is evaluated with short-circuit evaluation.
or
The inclusive or or simply or operator | becomes 1 if any operand is 1, and 0 otherwise.
This operation is idempotent, commutative and associative.
Other names include union and disjunction .
The C operator || is similar but acts on boolean values and is evaluated with short-circuit evaluation.
xor
The exclusive or, xor or exor operator ^ becomes 1 if the sum of its operands is odd, and 0 otherwise (even); therefore it has the meaning of "odd parity".
When applied to the usual two operands the result can be interpreted in the verbatim meaning of "exclusive or" as "either-or", and also as "not equal" or "different".
This operation is commutative and associative.
Other names include symmetric difference and exclusive disjunction .
I have also seen >< which is fortunate because it looks similar to an X (like eXclusive or) and is also similar to the "not equal" operator <> in Pascal.
Paradoxically there is no corresponding C operator dedicated to boolean values.
sources not and or xor a b ~a ~b a & b a | b a ^ b 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0
d
d is the parameter describing the direction; it can hold the values left and right .
Integer number
Here integer numbers are values which are mostly unsigned.
Numbers might be encoded in other bases such as 10 as was done on ancient computers. Today only base 2 (i.e. bits) is used, and this is what is crucially needed for all bit operations.
If signed numbers are present, it is assumed that they are encoded as two's complement, e.g. the bit representation of -1 contains only bits with the value 1, i.e. ~0. This makes sense because it avoids signed zeros and also avoids special treatment of negative numbers for addition and subtraction. However the most negative number has no positive counterpart.
Overflows occurring in operations must typically be ignored.
A number is usually stored in a word.
Hexadecimal numbers (numbers of base 16) are often prefixed with 0x (C style programming languages) or $ (Pascal), or are postfixed by H (Assembler).
ld_bits
ld_bits is the binary logarithm (log 2 ) of bits (the used word size).
bits = 2 ld_bits .
Rotate
Similar to shift the rotate operation moves bits in the denoted direction but feeds the bits back in on the other side.
Although most processors support these operations directly unfortunately most programming languages have no intrinsic support therefor.
A rotation by n is equal to n rotations by 1.
These operations are cyclic with a cycle length equal to the word / subword size.
ror
The rotate right operator moves bits to the right.
Rotate right by 1
rol
The rotate left operator moves bits to the left.
Rotate left by 1
It is the inverse of the rotate right operator.
Shift
The shift operators move bits in the denoted direction. A shift by n is equal to n shifts by 1.
On this site n is assumed to be 0 and < bits .
A shift by bits is undefined by the C/C++ standard.
For almost all processors either n is masked by 31, 63, or 255 (i.e. 5, 6, or 8 bits) or there is no instruction with a variable amount of shifting. Thus shifting x by n = bits usually yields either x (i.e. shifted by 0) or the natural result which is 0 (or -1 for an arithmetic shift of a negative number).
shr / sar
x >> n (i.e. x shifted right by n ) is equal to x / 2 n rounded toward negative infinity.
There are two different shift right operators:
shr
The logical shift right operator shifts in zeros (division of unsigned numbers by powers of 2).
Logical shift right by 1
sar
The arithmetic shift right operator duplicates the highest bit (division of signed numbers by powers of 2).
Arithmetic shift right by 1
On this site only the logical shift right operator >> is used.
shl
x << n (i.e. x shifted left by n ) is equal to x * 2 n ; overflows (superfluous bits) are discarded.
The operation is the same for signed and unsigned numbers.
Shift left by 1
Subword
On this site a subword denotes a part of a word and is a bit string/array/group consisting of 1<< sw bits, e.g. one bit ( sw =0), nibble (4 bit, sw =2) or byte (8 bit, sw =3).
Subwords are always aligned to their natural boundaries, e.g. bytes always start at a bit position divisible by 8; see bit numbering above.
Some of the algorithms also work (or can be modified to work) with arbitrary large subwords and/or even with different sized subwords within words.
sw
sw is the parameter describing the granularity; it is the binary logarithm (log 2 ) of the number of bits of one subword.
Word
A word is essentially the same as a subword but is the amount of information the processor can naturally process. It can e.g. hold an integer number.
In the examples given on this page I chose a working size of 8 bit and in the source files you can currently choose between 8, 16, 32, 64, and possibly 128 bit.
It is not difficult to modify most of the routines to act on SIMD, registers as well, especially when sw is constant.
Almost all contemporary processors store integer numbers in binary as two's complement, using a word size of a power of 2. Very old processors used e.g. 12 or 36 bit. Also, some embedded processors might use e.g. 24 bit.
Some kinds of bit processing such as the ones on the Benes network make little sense or more effort for word sizes of non-powers of 2.
Source files
The source files of the test programs, testperm.c resp. testperm.pas and their include files contain an implementation of most routines discussed here. The include files are perm_bas.* and perm_b#.* where # is 8, 16, 32, 64, or possibly 128.
See also the list of function descriptions.
I have also prepared some x86 32 and 64 bit assembler routines demonstrating the usage of the instructions PEXT and PDEP: perm_32.asm and perm_64.asm.
There is also a small collection of macros for bitwise shifts on xmm registers in xshift.asm.
Finally there are the sources in calcperm.pas. resp. calcperm.cpp permutation code generator which works similar to the online version.
You can download these files by right-clicking on the links and selecting "Save as". For convenience all sources are packed into one ZIP archive.
Comments on the test programs
The test programs contains an implementation and a simple test of most of the routines discussed here.
For convenience I have prepared versions in C / C++ and Pascal.
There is also a list of function descriptions.
General comments on the test programs
The test programs should be compiled to a console application in order to get the debug output.
Overflow-checking should be turned off.
Be sure that the shift right operator ( >> resp. shr ) shifts logical, i.e. shifts in zeros.
For optimum readability, adaptability and portability I have not used compound assignment operators such as ^= or += and liberally used parentheses; I have also resisted to use classes.
I have used the C++ style // comments for better readability than the usual /* */ .
I have formatted the sources according to the Ratliff style which has proven to be optimally readable.
DidIMentionThatIHateCamelCaps?! I_think_that_names_with_underscores_are_much_better_readable.
The code should be compilable with any modern C compiler such as GCC.
You might need to adapt the include statements and the debugging output functions.
See also my general comments on C / C++.
The Pascal version is essentially the same as the one in C.
It should be compilable with a modern Pascal compiler like Delphi (aka Turbo/Borland Pascal, commercial), Free Pascal (free), and even GNU Pascal (free).
If you face problems with your Pascal compiler, you might need to change the const parameters to var or value parameters.
Also the // comments might need to be changed into the usual (* *) ones.
The type-casted constants, especially lo_bit , also can be problematic and might needed to be replaced by the typecased values in place, i.e. e.g. lo_bit by t_bits(lo_bit) .
Procedures which are passed as parameters might need to be declared FAR.
When you address all those mentioned obstacles, even the ancient compilers Borland Pascal and Delphi-1 (16 bit) can be utilized.
See also my general comments on Pascal.
Optimization
For a real application in a program you should take care that all generator and usage routines presented in the test programs will be fully unrolled, i.e. contain no loops, and that for a word size of 32 bit or less all constants from the arrays are realized as manifest constants. On x86 processors bigger values can only be used as a memory operand or assigned as constants to a register.
This means that the routines with a a loop containing a variable loop count should have a switch statement for the small number of values sw can have.
Fully unrolling shuffle and unshuffle is sumptuous due to the many cases sw1 and sw2 can have combined; I am not sure whether this is the best way to go.
I have given some clues in the programs as ALL CAPS.
By the way: It might happen that the unrolled routines are slower than the ones with loops. This depends e.g. on the actual parameter sw , how often the routine is called, the memory bandwidth, first level cache size, and the instruction decoding speed of the processor.
Especially when the loops are not unrolled, it might make sense to do some optimizations such as loop-inductions.
For example
for (i=a; i<=b; ++i) { s=1< 15732604 => 73261504 => 76543210
This shifting is a SAG operation on the target bits as well as on the diagonally mirrored array of bit indexes. This is also mentioned in Hacker's Delight, (chapter 7.5/7.7, "General Permutations, Sheep and Goats Operation").
When this same algorithm is applied to compress_right_flip , the sort is obviously not stable because of the "flip"; instead the index bits are sorted into Gray code order.
Example: 12605743 => (bit 0) 37512604 => (bit 1) 62735104 => (bit 2) 45762310.
To correct this, all target indexes must first be replaced by their Gray code:
Replace: 76543210 => 45762310 (Gray code).
Example: 12605743 => (Gray code) 13507462 => (bit 0) 75310462 => (bit 1) 26375104 => (bit 2) 45762310.
Obviously similar algorithms exist for compress_left_flip and the inverses UNGRP and expand_flip .
Lee's algorithm (merge lists)
Donatas Radomskis brought to my attention that Ruby B. Lee, Zhijie Shi, Xiao Yang ("Efficient permutation instructions for fast software cryptography", chapter 3.2) describe an even better approach using SAG. Since SAG is invertible, inverse SAG can also be used.
Here is my interpretation and attempt to make it clear. Assuming the given bit indexes refer target indexes, we want to e.g. perform the following permutation:
37560421 => 76543210
We want to sort the indexes and to note the necessary commands on each step. The main idea is to split the index list into ordered partial lists and to merge pairs of them on each step. After ceil(ld(n)) steps (maximally) we are finished because each step halves the number of partial lists. For odd numbers of partial lists we simply add empty ones. Using the example from above we get 4 partial lists (no empty one needed):
3, 75 / 60, 421
Now we separate the 4 partial list into the left and the right half. Afterwards we pairwise merge the left lists with the right ones.
3, 60 => 630 (101)
75, 421 => 75421 (00111)
Starting with the lowest index, one by one fetching the next lowest, we write down a 0 for a left index and 1 for a right one, and create a SAG mask this way. As usual we are starting from the right end. Afterwards the new partial lists and partial masks are concatenated:
630, 75421
101, 00111
As we see, now the indexes (lists are concatenated) walk towards the desired order. The resulting mask can be used for a reverse SAG (aka UnGRP) command which performs exactly the operation for the partial lists, and does not intermix the new partial lists. We could now repeat all this, but using the combined partial lists suffices. In our example the final step follows:
630, 75421 => 76543210 (10110110)
All in all these are the resulting commands:
UnGRP 2$10100111
UnGRP 2$10110110
Needless to say, we can possibly improve the result by trying to prepend or append simple commands such as ROL or BSWAP and also trying to use SAG/GRP instead of their reverse operations. In all cases this approach is at least as good as Knuth's.
It should be possible to adapt this algorithms to use the flip operations, inherited instead of SAG. I leave it as an exercise to the interested reader.
Omega-flip network
Omega and flip networks are funny variants of the butterfly network.
You need the same number of stages for both network types.
The most interesting feature is that in contrast to butterfly stages all omega stages ( omega ) are equal; also all flip stages ( flip ) are equal, so a hardware solution is quite easy, especially when the stages are used recurrently.
Unfortunately however a software emulation is quite expensive on most processors.
Here is one stage of the omega network:
One stage of the omega network
An omega operation is the same as a shuffle operation followed by a a butterfly step of stage number 0 (called an exchange step):
One omega stage as shuffle+butterfly
This is why these networks are also called shuffle exchange networks.
An omega operation is also the same as a butterfly step at maximum stage number ( sw-1 ) followed by a shuffle operation, even if it does not look like this at first sight:
One omega stage as butterfly+shuffle
The omega diagrams imply different mask layouts; for easier handling I prefer the steering bits to be at the positions as seen in the lowest one (butterfly+shuffle) and in the flip diagrams below (compressed masks, see below).
Here is one stage of the flip network:
One stage of the flip network
A flip operation is the same as an unshuffle operation followed by a butterfly step at maximum stage number ( sw-1 ):
One flip stage as unshuffle+butterfly
For every given configuration the flip operation is the inverse of the omega operation and vice-versa.
An omega-flip network is an omega network followed by a flip network (or vice-versa). This is similar to a butterfly network followed by the inverse being a Benes network.
An omega network is isomorphic to a butterfly network, and a flip network is isomorphic to an inverse butterfly network.
Hence an omega-flip network is isomorphic to a Benes network and therefore is also capable of performing any permutation.
To translate the configuration from one network type to the other, only some shuffling is necessary.
When compressed masks are expanded to the usual places for the [inverse] butterfly network (green trapezoids in the diagram) and [un]shuffled stage number times for the omega resp. flip operation, both network types have the same result.
A compressed mask has all relevant steering bits crammed to the right.
A butterfly stage needs expanded masks for fast simulation.
For more information on omega-flip see numerous articles from Ruby B. Lee and others.
Bit index manipulations
Some of the mentioned bit permutations can alternatively be described as operations on the bit indexes.
The bit index manipulation function simply maps the bit indexes. The allowed bit index range is 0 to x-1 where x is the word size in bit. As an example, for a word size of 32 bit the indexes 031 are mapped to 031, and the index itself has 5 bit.
A bit index function is reversible if and only if every index of the valid range is hit exactly once.
Every reversible bit index function is equivalent to a bit permutation and vice-versa.
See also Hacker's Delight, (chapter 7.6/7.8, "Rearrangements and Index Transformations") or Matters Computational (chapter 2, "Permutations and their operations").
The bit operations relate to the bit index operations in a similar way like * relates to + or x relates to log 2 (x). Do you remember slide rules?
As an example a rotate left by 1 adds 1 to each bit index.
Here are some examples of bit permutations and the corresponding reversible bit index functions:
If a bit permutation shall occur only within subwords of size 1<< sw , only the lower sw index bits are affected and the other index bits remain constant.
In other words: Operations are performed modulo the needed subword size.
If a bit permutation shall only mix complete subwords of size 1<< sw , the lower sw index bits remain constant and the other index bits are affected.
Bit-permute/complement permutations
It happens that some special bit index operations can be implemented with very little effort. In particular there is a set of very small and fast loop-less auxiliary routines which get especially fast if they are completely inlined with all index parameters being constants. They
complement one index bit ( bit_index_complement ): i => i
This is one stage of Generalized bit reversal.
): => This is one stage of Generalized bit reversal. exchange two index bits ( bit_index_swap ): ij => ji
): => exchange and complement two index bits ( bit_index_swap_complement ): ij => j i
This is effectively the same as bit_index_swap and two times bit_index_complement but executes as fast as bit_index_swap .
These procedures span a small but very powerful subset of bit index manipulations called bit-permute/complement permutations (BPC permutations), also known as dimension permutations.
This class of permutations was defined 1980 by David Nassimi and Sartaj Sahni in "An optimal routing algorithm for mesh-connected parallel computers" (Journal of ACM 27/1).
Implementing a given permutation by applying these procedure is about as fast as a [inverse] butterfly network operation.
You need at most n of such operations for any BPC permutation of n index bits where at most n-1 of them are bit_index_swap or bit_index_swap_complement .
The subclass of bit-permute permutations (without complementing) are also known as rational permutations and their effect can be seen as transpositions of n-dimensional hyperrectangles also known as orthotopes or rectangular parallelepipeds whose edge lengths are powers of 2.
You need at most n-1 bit_index_swap operations for any bit-permute permutation of n index bits.
Similarly the complement permutations (xor-permutations) performed by generalized bit reversal can be seen as mirror operations on hyperrectangles.
You need at most n bit_index_complement operations for any complement permutation of n index bits.
Here are some other examples of what you can do with BPC permutations. You can perform
rotations of matrixes by 90 as needed e.g. for chess bitboards. This can be done by a matrix transposition (bit index permutation) and a mirror operation (bit index complement), with a word size of 64 bit: 543 210 => 210 543
=> the so-called bit-reversal permutation or revbin permutation which mirrors the index bits: 43210 => 01234
It is also called an FFT unscramble operation.
or which mirrors the index bits: => It is also called an operation. the "shuffled row major" permutation which shuffles row and column index bits: 543 210 => 52 41 30
This creates the "Z-order curve".
=> This creates the "Z-order curve". the inverse of the "shuffled row major" permutation: 54 32 10 => 531 420
=> even the initial ( 543210 => 0 21 543 ) and the final ( 543210 => 210 43 5 ) permutation of DES, albeit you need a word size of 64 bit.
I found the procedures (in ARM assembler) in the ARM System Developer's Guide, (chapter 7.6.2, "Bit Permutations"), and I am quite sure that this is not the only place where these routines can be found.
Hypercube revisited
The simplest non-trivial hypercube is a square. Let us assume we have 4 bits (dcba) grouped as follows:
Square / simple hypercube
Bit X Y a 0 0 b 0 1 c 1 0 d 1 1
Apart from denoting the axes and butterfly stage numbers, X and Y function as bit index indexes. For simplicity let us assume that Y>X; otherwise we exchange X and Y. The corresponding swaps shift the bits by x=1<>R) :
Perm m1 L m2 R adcb 0001 x+y 1110 x cbad 0111 x 1000 x+y
If we move a subset, we need to calculate (x&m0) | ((x&m1)<>R) :
Perm m0 m1 L m2 R bdca 0001 0010 y 1100 x cbda 0001 0110 x 1000 y dacb 1000 0001 y 0110 x dbac 1000 0011 x 0100 y
The masks must obviously extended like above.
The last formula is capable of emulating the permutation primitive but needs far more parameters. Therefore I omitted the permutations from the tables which are already covered by the permutation primitive.
The natural extension seems to be bit group moving.
For higher dimensions of the hypercube much more is possible but the things get too complicated to be treated in general here.
Bit group moving
It is possible to extract bit groups needing the same amount of shifting or rotating. All groups are masked and shifted, and finally combined. This is ugly and inelegant but can be quite fast, amazingly often beating the alternatives, provided that there are not too many such groups. The worst case however is as horrible as moving bit by bit as for almost each bit one group is needed. Keep in mind that for each group one mask is needed.
bit_permute_step is a special case which needs only one mask and one shift count parameter instead of two each.
It is obviously possible to cascade this method. Unfortunately I have no clue how to do this optimally. I am quite sure that if the cascading is done properly, this method will often be the best.
Shift by multiplication
Multiplication hardware has become amazingly fast. Since a multiplication can be seen as a bunch of shift and addition operations, similar to Bit group moving bits can also be shifted by a multiplication.
If the factor contains more than one bit we can create copies of source bits on different locations. As an example a factor of 3 effectively creates a copy of each masked source bit one place left to it.
I assume that masks and factors are chosen in such a way that no addition produces a carry, at least no carry which might trash a relevant bit.
Some multiplications can be replaced by faster replacements such as combinations of SHL, ADD, SUB, and LEA on x86.
If the result is masked once more, we can replace some bit group moves.
A carry-less multiplication such as the newer x86 instruction PCLMULQDQ would be a better replacement just because no carries are generated. Unfortunately this instruction only acts on SSE registers, and is painfully slow (at least in early implementations).
To some extent this method is similar to PEXT and/or PDEP.
This an other similar approaches can be advantageously used for bitboards in chess programming.
PEXT and PDEP
This chapter might be slightly off-topic but is nevertheless interesting and useful
In the document 319433-011 (June 2011) the *_right variants of compress and expand are introduced (proposed for 2013, released about 2013-06) by Intel as "Haswell New Instructions" for x86 processors and are named PEXT (parallel bits extract) and PDEP (parallel bits deposit) (in the BMI2 instruction set). They act on 32 and 64 bit "general purpose" registers, albeit without the possibility to specify subword sizes (it equals the word size; sw is always maximum, i.e. 5 resp. 6).
You can use the free assembler NASM to assemble these instructions if you use a version of 2011-07-08 or later, see snapshots.
The Intel Software Development Emulator 4.29 (dated 2011-07-01) is capable of emulating these instructions if you have hardware which does not natively execute them.
I have prepared some assembler code for emulating some of the functions of this article. In contrast to the routines of the test programs sw is always 5 resp. 6 here.
To reflect this I modified the function's names in that I appended the missing parameter values.
The routines shall demonstrate the usage of PEXT and PDEP by some examples.
As you will see, the instruction POPCNT ( nr_1bits ) which simply counts the 1 bits is a good friend of these instructions and is typically available for Intel processors since SSE4.2 and AMD processors since SSE4a.
For the 32 bit routines I assume that only eax, edx and ecx are freely usable registers, and also these registers are in this order used for parameters. The result is placed in eax. This arrangement conforms to the register calling convention of Delphi. You will find the routines in perm_32.asm.
For the 64 bit routines I assume the parameters in rcx, rdx, r8, r9 and the result in rax. This conforms to the (IMHO stupid) 64 bit Windows calling convention; however in contrast to the Windows convention I have not put any extra stuff into the routines (such as setting up stack frames, what for?). You will find the routines for 32 and 64 bit math in perm_64.asm.
For other operating systems or calling conventions you will need to adapt the routines; this should be easy.
Assuming PEXT and PDEP present, similar to BIT group moving we can collect (extract/compress) groups of bits having ascending target indexes with PEXT and redistribute (expand) these bits with PDEP into their final position. These groups are finally combined.
If the masks used for collecting and redistributing are the same or can be made the same by shifting, we can replace this whole step by simple masking and shifting. For contiguous groups of bits we can replace PEXT and/or PDEP with simple masking and shifting. When we detect that we scatter and gather the same pattern, we can optimize this by moving all other bits with the same distance for the same "price" as well as we do in bit group moving.
The worst case is about the same as in BIT group moving.
Speeding up permutations
For all optimization tips I am assuming that we have to permute large buffers in the same (usually fixed) way such as in image operations:
rotate
mirror
change bit/byte endian
convert pixels between chunky and planar (e.g. one line of one CMYK pixel per nibble vs. one line of C/M/Y/K bits each)
Promoting the mentioned permutations to SSE is straight forward for subword sizes up to 8 bytes.
Shifting longer subword sizes up to 128 bit can be emulated with not too much effort, see [v]xpsrldq and [v]xpslldq in xshift.asm.
The SSSE3 instruction PSHUFB can be utilized for an arbitrary shuffling of bytes. All BPC permutations on 128 bit can be done with only 3 BPC bit shuffling steps and one PSHUFB instruction or even less.
Also, PSHUFB can be utilized as a miniature lookup table (16 elements); two of such instructions acting on masked subsets can be combined (using POR) to e.g. mirror all bits in every byte.
AMD's new XOP instruction VPPERM can do everything PSHUFB does but can do much more such as drawing from 2 sources and mirroring bits. Unfortunately Intel has not (yet?) copied the XOP instruction set.
For AVX2 processing with a subword size of 256 bit we may need to cross lanes. Here VPERMD and VPERMQ come handy, but we may also need explicit masking.
For additional speedup 2 or even a few more calculations can easily be done in parallel by interleaving the instruction streams. This is a win because most processors are superscalar nowadays. The masks are very often the same for all streams and need only be loaded once in this case. This is especially a gain for the SSE/AVX2 variants because of the missing immediate values which must be replaced by memory accesses. AVX2's VPBROADCAST instructions might also help in this case.
Very recent x86 processors even support even more relevant instructions, i.e. AVX-512. A chapter about this is really missing.
Alternatives
There are alternative ways to perform bit permutations.
The most obvious alternative is to extract one bit after the other and insert it into the right place of the result (or vice versa). In assembler you may use the carry flag. These types of methods are by far the slowest you can get.
Bit group moving is typically a much better generalization thereof.
According to first tests the methods with PEXT and PDEP, i.e. gather/scatter and arbitrary permutations with SAG, will be quite fast since both instructions have a latency of 3 cycles and are fully pipelined, i.e. they a reciprocal throughput of 1 cycle. It might be that these instructions will become even faster in subsequent generations.
It is possible to do few permutations with special instructions like ror, rol, and BSWAP.
Another idea is to build a lookup table. For up to about 16 bit this might be feasible but for more it is not since the needed space is simply too large; e.g. for a direct lookup of 32 bit the needed table space is 232*4 byte = 16 GiB.
A workaround is to split the input into some parts, apply lookup tables, and combine the looked up results with an operation like or, xor, and, or add. For 32 bit one might use e.g. a split up into 4 tables of 256 entries each; this costs "only" 4*256*4 byte = 4 KiB.
Evidently the more parts are used the slower it will perform while using less memory: A space-time trade-off.
The tables must be (pre-) calculated which adds to the costs.
An operation done by splitting up into 4 tables of 256 entries each is typically faster than a butterfly operation for 32 bit but it needs quite a lot of table space which is used in a random fashion and thus might fill up or even trash the first level cache.
The timing is largely depending on the used processor, the processor load (especially while hyper-threading), and the actual usage of the routine.
Keep in mind that first level data caches are quite small, typically only some kibibytes.
When operating on a larger working size, say 64 bit, the table lookup method is still valid but costs twice the time and 4 times the space whereas the version using shifts and masks costs only 6/5 of the time and 2*6/5 of the space making it much more attractive. An easy extension of the lookup version to SSE or AVX2 is not possible, albeit AVX2's proposed gather instruction might help.
On the other hand this table lookup method allows for much more functionality than permutations; for example bits can be replicated, inverted or set to a fixed value. Depending on the combining operation, other functions are possible as well.
The lookup version might be fast and flexible but is IMHO plain boring while the "magic" shifting variants are interesting and funny.
Comments on the permutation code generator
The online permutation code generator
In my online permutation code generator I check for any bit permute/complement permutation (5!*25=3840 combinations) as well as for any stage ordering (5!=120 combinations) of a reordered Benes network. The reordering very often saves one stage, i.e. the corresponding mask is zero.
Furthermore I analyze the cost of bit group moving. This method can be deactivated.
Finally I optionally challenge the methods gather/scatter and sheep and goats utilizing PEXT and PDEP. According to timing tables published by Agner Fog these instructions cost 3 cyles latency (and throughput 1) each and hence are slower than one AND and a connected SHL/SHR/ROL instruction, so I optimize to masking and shifting if possible.
The cycle calculation is not perfect and might not correctly reflect the real timing since the superscalar nature of modern processors can not be simulated easily and also heavily depends on the used processor.
I have no clue how to find the very best sequence of permutation macros. If you know of an algorithm which runs in acceptable time, please let me know.
The permutation code generator
There is also a version of the permutation code generator in Pascal, calcperm.pas resp. C++, calcperm.cpp.
In contrast to the online permutation code generator the Pascal / C++ version also features some additional permutation approaches and an optional optimization which prefixes and/or postfixes most permutations with ROL (only once) and/or BSWAP (at most 3 times: once first, once last, and once between ROL and the main permutation).
These options massively slows down the computation. The slow down becomes relevant for bits > 32 since the whole calculation for the remaining permutation is done for every combination with ROL and/or BSWAP as described above (up to about 16*bits times). If you do not want to spend that much time, you should switch off the ROL optimization completely with the parameter "/opt_rol=0". The ROL optimization for the most time consuming permutations (BPC and Benes) is switched off as default (i.e. "/opt_rol_ex=0").
Talking of parameter: The file calcperm.ini shows all parameters but the actual indexes.
Do not expect the online permutation code generator to include this feature, since PHP is too slow for such escapades, even for 32 bits.
You can adapt the functionality by changing the bit depth in the sources (different include file) or modifying calcperm.ini.
The output is not necessarily the same as in the online version. The online (PHP) version is based on an older version of the Pascal source.
Summary
If you need a fixed permutation, you may consult the online permutation code generator or compile and use the source version calcperm.pas resp. calcperm.cpp.
If you need a permutation many times in your program, determine its type and - if applicable - use a special generator and its evaluators.
Special cases include [inverse] butterfly networks and perhaps BPC permutations whereas in the general case you can employ the Benes network or even the bit group moving method.
The methods gather/scatter and sheep and goats only make sense when you have real hardware which can execute PEXT and PDEP.
Also, a runtime dispatching between several methods might be fortunate.
Index
Here is a list of some key words and where you find them.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Last change: 2020-03-17
"Its apparent to all but his most serious defenders and those who are his greatest advocates," Bernstein said on CNN Monday night.
"Republicans on Capitol Hill who I'm talking to who are doubting his abilities," Bernstein said, "doubting even his stability under pressure. This is an extraordinary series of events."
Bernstein famously reported on the Watergate scandal during Richard Nixon's presidency in the 1970s, which eventually led to Nixon's resignation.
Trump on Monday night fired acting US Attorney General Sally Yates over her objections to his executive order on immigrants and refugees, after 72 hours of dissent from Republicans and Democrats following Trump's signing of the order last week.
Bernstein said that, while Trump was "within his rights" to dismiss Yates, "it was not wise that he did."
Hundreds of thousands of people have flooded the streets in the US and abroad protesting Trump's executive order, dubbed a "Muslim ban" by prominent critics because the order specifically targets immigrants and refugees from seven majority-Muslim nations.
Bernstein continued:
"[Trump] has obstructed the most basic of American principles of what we stand for as a country in terms of immigration; a nation of immigrants. These are authoritarian pronouncements that he has been making for days now, and it's starting to haunt him."
Yates, who will be replaced by Trump's appointee Jeff Sessions once he's confirmed, denounced the executive order in a letter to Justice Department lawyers, saying it may not be lawful.
"I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right," Yates said in the letter.
"At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful."
Trump's executive action, authorized on Friday, calls for a temporary halt on all refugees coming to the US, and bars the entry of foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The order has sparked protests in streets and airports across the country, and has been roundly condemned from members of both parties. Trump spent the day Monday vigorously defending the order.
Trump criticized Yates in a tweet Monday evening:
In response, Chinese media has signaled a willingness to fight for Beijing's claims in the much-disputed region.
While Trump plans to oversee a massive military buildup of US forces, especially in the navy, China has been pushing an aggressive and far-reaching modernization of its military forces.
Additionally, China has built a series of artificial islands on the South China Sea and militarized them with the apparent intention of countering even the most advanced US platforms.
The infographic shows the range of different Chinese missile platforms.
The idea was to fight the rising tide of Islamophobia that occurred after 9/11 by inviting kids to study in the US via a cultural exchange program called Youth Exchange & Study (YES).
YES was founded in 2003 and is still going strong today.
About ten years ago, a high school kid named Murtadha Al-Tameemi from Iraq came to the US via the YES program, his travel expenses paid for by the State Department.
Today, he's 24 and works as an engineer at Facebook in its Seattle office, and considers the US be his real home. He lives here under a work visa.
In 2013, his family escaped their war-torn country and fled to Jordan as refugees. And, about a year ago, they got Canadian visas and moved to Vancouver, just a few hours from Al-Tameemi.
He was finally able to see his family easily again, and he visited every weekend.
Until Friday.
The panic zone
That's when President Trump issued an executive order banning from entering the country, since he travels with an Iraqi passport.
was in Canada last on Wednesday, when he received a surprise call from a lawyer who worked at Facebook telling him that if he was out of the country, he needed to get back fast. There were warnings last week that President Trump was working on this order.
"I got the call and the panic began," he told Business Insider.
Grateful to the Facebook lawyer for thinking to call him, made it back across the border before the ban took place, but noticed that things felt different that day, writing:
"
Now that the ban is active, he will be unable to see his family again for months.
Even scarier, when he called the Custom Border Protection office for more information, an agent warned him that if he went to Canada and tried to reenter during the ban, his visa may be revoked altogether.
American visas, particularly from Muslim-majority countries, take years to get. As an Iraqi citizen, if he lost his visa he might never be able to return. That's like losing your job, your career, your home, your friends, and your adopted country all in one fell swoop, with no place else in the world to go.
"What makes this all the more ridiculous is that the only reason Im here in the first place, is that the US government brought me here. They covered my expenses to be here. Ten years ago, I came in a high school exchange program sponsored by the department of state, the very same entity that's now been told to ban me," he said.
Terrorists vs. law-abiding, legal immigrants
non-political young person. He said during the election there was a lot of talk about illegal immigrants, but he is a legal immigrant.
"The government has taken an official stance of 'we dont want them here," he says. "That's a direct quote from president himself. Hes referring to terrorists, but we [legal immigrants] have been lumped into 'them' and are being asked not to be here."
There's now been over 10,000 kids that have taken part in the YES program and "it works," Al-Tameemi says.
"I am one of the success stories of this program. I came to the US with very little knowledge about the culture and loads of misconceptions, and I learned so much. I immediately noticed the principals and values of American people, their kindness and generosity and welcoming nature. They would tell us this phrase, 'melting pot,' and it took me forever to understand. But now I cant see society as anything other than a melting pot."
worries that this ban takes the US "many steps backward" with its international relationships and will actually fuel the recruitment messages of ISIS and Al Qaeda. He says hey will use it to argue that American is targeting Muslims and cannot be trusted, and that's why they must join their organizations and fight.
also wants the Americans who have downplayed the ban to understand how disruptive it is for the people it covers.
"I was reading other perspectives, what some very Republican news outlets were saying and the word 'hysteria' kept showing up. People like me are not being hysterical. If any of these people were told, 'You cant come back into the country and you cant go to your work and you could lose your jobs, are they not going to respond in the same way that they are now calling hysterical?"
Extreme vetting?
If travel restrictions do get reinstated for legal immigrants from the banned countries, and visits his family in Canada again, people have warned him he might still face trouble at the border.
"When the dust settles, down the road a few months, I'm hearing I'll need to be careful about what border officers start to do in screening people. Will they be asking people, 'Do you like our president?' Will they be looking at my social media for my posts? Will they construe me as being Anti-Trump and then oppose me from re-entering?" he says.
If there's a silver lining to this all, it's that despite the ban, says he's never felt more supported by the American people: From the lawyer that called him to warn him to co-workers and executives at his company who have reached out to him, to strangers who have offered him support in response to his Facebook post.
"This feeling of not being wanted here is so quickly offset by the outpouring of support that Ive received from people,"says. "People have been saying to me, this is not OK and we will support you however we can. And I can do my part by telling my story, by speaking up."
This employee-led rally was attended by Google cofounder Sergey Brin, who addressed the crowd about his own experiences: Brin's family came here as refugees from the USSR when he was a child, at the height of the Cold War.
His remarks, as captured on YouTube by a Googler in attendance, take many jabs at President Trump's policies.
"I think its important to not frame this debate as being 'liberal' versus 'Republican' and so forth," Brin told the crowd.
"Its a debate about fundamental values, about thoughtful policymaking and many of the other things that I think are apparently not universally adored but I think the vast majority of our country and of our legislators and so forth support."
You can read a transcript of Brin's full remarks below, where he calls for unity and makes a joke about sporting a "Pence 2017" bumper sticker, which could be taken as a veiled call for Congress to impeach President Trump.
Of note is that while Brin and Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke at this event, the official keynote speaker at the rally was
Esmaeilzadeh is an Iranian-born Canadian citizen who has lived in the U.S. for the past 15 years, but had just landed in Switzerland when the order went into effect.
While the wording of the order was unclear as to whether or not she'd be affected, Google decided it was safer to bring her home immediately, in the window granted by a federal court's emergency stay of Trump's executive order.
Pichai, who was born and raised in India, has been especially vocal in fighting President Trump's executive order on immigration, with Google setting up a $4 million emergency fund to help affected employees with legal and living costs.
Pichai also wrote that
"But in all seriousness, so many people were obviously outraged by this order, as am I myself, being an immigrant and a refugee.
"I came here to the US at age 6 with my family from the Soviet Union which was at that time the greatest enemy the US had, maybe it still is.
"It was a dire period, the cold war, as some people remember it. It was under the threat of nuclear annihilation. And even then the US had the courage to take me and my family in as refugees.
"And Id say the risks at the time, letting in these foreigners from a land that might spy on you, learn the nuclear secrets on the back...and there were many cases of espionage, those risks were far greater than the terrorism we face today.
"And nevertheless, this country was brave and welcoming and I wouldnt be where I am today or have any kind of the life that I have today if this was not a brave country that really stood out and spoke for liberty.
"But to fast forward, Saturday night at SFO was a really warm wonderful experience to be honest. I saw so many of you there, I saw so many friends and family there, all with the same spirit.
"I found that very touching and Im glad to see the energy here today and around the world to know that people are fighting for whats right out there.
"I think that as we do that, and Ive spent time talking to [Google CEO] Sundar [Pichai] about it and so forth, I think that we need to be smart about it too. And that means bringing in folks who have some different viewpoints and so forth.
"Maybe its somebody who we dont agree with on climate change. But nevertheless, there are many rational, thoughtful people out there, who maybe they vote Republican, or Democrat or independent, or whatever, but are outraged by these kinds of actions, and its important to be welcoming and reach out to them. And in fact weve been working to do exactly that. Some of us might even adopt Pence 2017 bumper stickers.
"But I guess my point being, I think its important to not frame this debate as being liberal versus republican and so forth.
"Its a debate about fundamental values , about thoughtful policymaking and many of the other things that I think are apparently not universally adored but I think the vast majority of our country and of our legislators and so forth support.
"And I think its important to frame it in that way and to be inclusive in that way. and sometimes think that might be really difficult because I know we have many many different values here that might not be universally shared.
"But I think these are really special times and i think its important to form friendships with many different people.
During the two-month ban, Ghana would have to rely on fish imports and aquaculture to satisfy the market.
The Fisheries Commission has announced that anyone who violates the directive will pay a fine ranging from US$ 500,000 to US$ 2 million as well as forfeit their catch, fishing gear or vessel to the state.
The Deputy Director for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance at the Fisheries Commission, Godfred Baidoo Tsibu said that the directive was reached following a scientific assessment which revealed that the countrys fish stock is dwindling year on year.
We are not allowing them to fish so that the stock they fish can be free to reproduce, he told Accra-based Starr FM.
Fishermen have often complained about a decline in their catch after long hours on the sea.
They usually attribute this to improper fishing methods and nets which do not spare fingerlings.
But Mr Tsibu is optimistic that the two-month ban is a long period and can do a lot for reproduction.
The Control and Surveillance at the Fisheries Commission, Navy, Marine Police and the Fisheries Enforcement Unit will conduct regular patrols on Ghanas waters to ensure adherence to the directive.
On Monday (January 30, 2017) Dr Bawumia paid an unannounced visit to the Tema Port in the Greater Accra Region.
This is the second time Dr Bawumia is paying such visit to a public institution.
The Tema Port is a major backbone of the country's revenue collection efforts, generating a significant percentage of annual domestic revenue. The Tema Collection Point of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) however missed its 2016 target, mobilizing GH7,334,174,613.10 against a target of GH7,690.380.000.00. The shortfall was 4.63 percent.
Jacob Kwabla Adorkor, Director of Ports, and officials of the Customs Division including sector commander, Confidence Nyadzi conducted Dr Bawumia round to observe the operations of the Nick TC Scan, Meridian Port Services (MPS), Golden Jubilee Car park, State Warehouse, and Atlas Copco, among others.
The Vice President also interacted with Clearing Agents, workers at the Port, security and other officers, and ordinary Ghanaians anxious to clear their goods on time.
He inspected seized goods stored in the State warehouse, including mattresses, fridges and other materials barred from importation.
In brief comments after the tour, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, indicated that the Akufo-Addo government would take steps to consolidate some of the functions at the port that interface with the public in order to reduce the frustrations of Agents and port users, while plugging any revenue leakages.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Wednesday (January 18, 2017) paid a surprise visit to the Registrar-Generals Department to familiarise himself with the challenges facing the State outfit.
During his visit, he met with the Registrar General, the staff of the Department and ordinary Ghanaians who had gone to register their businesses.
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The people who had come to register their businesses expressed their displeasure at the bureaucratic processes in registering their establishments.
Wife of the tenant, 32-year-old Kelechi Ajibo, on Tuesday, told a Masaka Chief Magistrates Court in Nasarawa State that her husband was having an affair with their landlady, Ngozi Ugwu.
Sometime my own husband takes permission from our landlady before doing anything for me; when I complain, he gets annoyed with me.
They both go out occasionally and my husband did not see anything wrong with that.
It was when I started condemning the act that she (landlady) asked us to pack out of her house and brought my husband to court, Kelechi said.
In her response, Ugwu denied the allegation, insisting that she brought them to court for not settling their rent over a period of time.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the verbal exchange between the two parties almost resulted in a brawl during the trial, but for the timely intervention of the Magistrate, Mr Victor Manga.
Thereafter, Kelechi pleaded with the court to give her and her husband two weeks to pack out of the compound but the landlady objected, insisting that they must pack out immediately.
Manga therefore ordered the defendant to pack out of the compound on or before February 13.
He also directed both parties to write an undertaking to stay in peace, warning that violation of the court order would be viewed seriously.
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An eye witness and a local reporter in the area, Abdul Malik Anokye told UltimateFM the suspect is currently in police detention assisting the police in their investigations after he was apprehended with a human skull and other parts at the community cemetery.
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He claims it was part of their ritual performances as ordered by an unnamed Mallam in order to succeed in their galamsey activities. They were required to bring a skull and other bones of a human being, Abdul Malik Anokye disclosed.
The suspect whose name has been withheld by the police together with other three colleagues, decided to dig a corpse from the community cemetery at Adimasa in the Manso Adubia district in the Ashanti region, a mission that did not succeed as they were caught.
In a sharply worded statement, the White House called Sally Yates "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration" and also criticized Democrats for not yet confirming the appointment of attorney general-designate Jeff Sessions.
"The acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," the White House said in a statement.
"This order was approved as to form and legality by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel," it said.
"Tonight, President Trump relieved Ms Yates of her duties."
Federal prosecutor Dana Boente will serve as acting attorney general "until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate, where he is being wrongly held up by Democrat senators for strictly political reasons," it said.
With Trump's White House facing multiple lawsuits and worldwide opprobrium over an order banning migrants from seven Muslim nations, Yates had whipped the rug from under her boss in a defiant and damaging parting shot.
In a memo to Department of Justice staff, Yates -- a career government lawyer promoted by Barack Obama -- expressed doubts about the legality and morality of Trump's decree, which has prompted mass protests.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is," Yates wrote.
"I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful," she added.
"For as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so."
Yates's directive means that the US government, at least for now, has no authorized courtroom representation in the lawsuits.
It was a remarkable act of defiance against a tough-talking president who has showed little sign of brooking insubordination.
Sessions vote upcoming
Sessions has not yet been confirmed by Congress. He faces a vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday and must then be confirmed by the full Senate.
If confirmed, Sessions would almost certainly reverse course.
But Democratic lawmakers have vociferously opposed Trump's order and Republicans are privately seething over the way his White House has handled the issue.
The order signed on Friday suspended the arrival of all refugees for a minimum of 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
jpegMpeg4-1280x720Several federal judges have since filed temporary stays.
Firing Yates has uncomfortable echoes of President Richard Nixon's "Saturday night massacre" during the Watergate scandal.
Then, Nixon fired the Watergate special prosecutor, prompting the departures of his attorney general and deputy attorney general. The events catalyzed Nixon's impeachment.
According to President Akufo-Addo, Africas present generation must be at the measure of our history, and, thus, urged his colleague African Heads of State to do well to help implement the raft of policy measures agreed to at the Summit, so as to meet the aspirations and wishes of their peoples.
The President made this known on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, when he delivered the vote of thanks at the end of the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He described the 28th AU Summit as a landmark one, largely because of the far reaching decisions taken by the Heads of State present.
We have made the bold decision to admit one of new Africas founding states, the Kingdom of Morocco, into our fold and extend the reach of our organization, finally, to all parts of our continent, with all its implications, he said.
The President continued, We have adopted the comprehensive proposals for the reform of our institutions prepared by the respected leader of Rwanda, His Excellency President Paul Kagame, and his advisory council of experts. If vigorously implemented, these proposals will give a significant and enhanced impetus to the operations of our Union.
The Assembly also took the decision to finance its operations from its own resources, thereby weaning itself off foreign dependence and charity, with President Akufo-Addo describing this decision as necessary for our self-respect.
The President also applauded the Assembly for meeting the deadline of putting into place a programme for the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area to boost Africas chances for self-reliant economic development. This, he stressed, will help realise the enormous potential of the continent and help bring prosperity and dignity to the long-suffering peoples of Africa.
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If these and other measures are carried out in their letter and spirit, they will, indeed, mean that this has been a landmark Summit, one which will have succeeded in rekindling the values of unity, solidarity and cohesion that have been the founding values of our continental organization.
It will mean that the decision we made, in establishing this Union 15 years ago in 2002, to build our Union brick by brick, in His Excellency President Robert Mugabes eloquent phrase, is paying off, and that, sooner rather than later, we will arrive at the goal of realizing our vision of an integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa, speaking with one voice, that has been the dream of successive generations of pan-Africanists, President Akufo-Addo said.
The President used the opportunity to commend the outgoing Chair of the AU Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for successful completion of her tenure of office, and wished her well in her future endeavours.
Her vision of freedom and prosperity with its bold initiatives for all our peoples, in particular women, who constitute the very backbone of our survival and progress, means that millions of women and men around the continent are, today, holding the torch of womens social, economic and political empowerment. Nkosazana, wenze kahle. We wish you well in your future endeavours. Who knows, you may next year be the second elected female leader on our continent if the South African people and your party so consent, he said.
President Akufo-Addo also commended President Idriss Deby Itno, the outgoing Chair of the AU, for his calm, sterling leadership, which has brought new dynamism into our Union, characterized by the strategic policies during your tenure that have enlarged immeasurably the horizons of our continental body. We are deeply indebted to you for the sacrifices you and the Chadian people have made to inspire the success of your mandate.
In concluding, the President thanked the Union for its assistance in helping to make Ghanas 2016 elections credible and its outcome acceptable, thereby enhancing the countrys principles of democratic accountability, which have reinforced the peace, stability and unity of Ghana.
He also thanked his colleague Heads of State for the big vote of confidence you gave to my country Ghana, not just by the massive endorsement of Ghanas candidate for Deputy Chair of our Commission, but also for the selection of my compatriot, Prof. Dakoure, as one of the two awardees of this years Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award.
A month into the educational calendar and pupils are still aimlessly loitering about in the community instead of being in school.
Its a sensitive situation. The community is divided. The elders in Kokrobite and the Ghana Education Service are calling for a shift system between two sets of pupils from the Kokrobite M/A Primary School and the Bokemi Academy to allow teaching and learning to take place.
However, the pupils and stakeholders of the Kokrobite M/A Primary School are vehemently against embracing their counterparts from Bokemi to share their facility.
How did it all start?
Bokemi Academy was originally started by a German who wanted to curb the alarming level of illiteracy in the community. He handed the facility over to government when he left the country. Years later he is back to reclaim his property because of poor maintainance.
The outcome of a routine inspection by the District office of the Ghana Education Service also indicated that Bokemi Academy is no longer habitable by both pupils and staff and therefore the need for relocation.
After deliberations by Government representatives, chiefs, school heads and Parent and Teacher Associations, three possible solutions were proposed. The first being a relocation of the private facility to a new government structure built for the school. The second solution was distributing the pupils to all the government schools in the community, and the third was for Bokemi Academy to share Kokrobite M/A Primary School facility with a shift system introduced to accommodate the large numbers.
Authorities of Bokemi pushed against the first solution for proximity reasons, so the third solution was adopted.
Standoff
Currently pupils and staff of Bokemi Academy have left their original facility but Kokrobite M/A primary school is refusing to accept them unto their compound.
Pulse Ghana has learned that school authorities of Kokrobite M/A primary school were not consulted before the agreement to allow Bokemi share the Kokrobite M/A facility was reached
When Pulse Ghana got to the campus of the Kokrobite M/A Primary School, the staff was on strike to protest the new directive, flouting an order by the District Director of Education to commence the arrangement.
The Headmaster of Bokemi Academy also told Pulse Ghana they were sacked from the school when they showed up to implement the shift system.
They said the structure cant accommodate all the pupils. But will you allow your child to walk that far (to the new government structure) just to access education? What wrong have they done? Are they not Ghanaians too? Before they get to school, they are already tired. Wont it affect their education? Our Director went there and said the children just cant walk there; the place is on the very outskirts.
A member of Kokrobite M/A school Council Jackson Otabil, explained to Pulse Ghana why they are refusing to accept the new arrangement.
The government wants to run a shift but we dont want it. The other school (Bokemi) has a land which has a school building and even the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) handed over the keys to them to relocate there. But they are saying the school is too far.
By running a shift at the Kokrobite M/A Primary school, the children will be going to the shore. When you ask them, they will say they are going to morning school, or they are going to afternoon school, and before you know it, vices like teenage pregnancy will set in. So we dont want the shift system.
The MCE said they are going to erect canopies for the children to study under at their old premises or at this place but if they put canopies here, where will the pupils go for assembly?
He further complained that the Kokrobite M/A Primary School premises is already full and cannot accommodate more pupils ,There are no empty classrooms here to accommodate more pupils, he said.
Some pupils of the Kokrobite M/A School who spoke to Pulse Ghana revealed that their parents are not aware of the shift system, neither were they informed by their teachers.
A pupil of the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, gravely lamented that the shift system is set to cause many problems in the future.
Most of the children will not come to school. They will always either go the beach or help their parents at home, while some will also take advantage to do bad things, the student said, Teaching and learning will be disorganised. I wonder how we are going to write exams. Are we going to write together or follow the shift system. The second batch to write the exams will always get the questions before they write their paper. In fact, I just dont like the shift system.
Another member of the Kokrobite M/A Primary School Management Committee, Martial, who has been making donations regularly to the school seems to hate the shift idea too.
We have a situation with the kids running shifts. Even with the normal school system, kids dont come - and we are in fact still trying to solve that situation - and now theyve brought the shift system.
The Assemblyman for the Kokrobite Saka Allotey is however shocked by the posture of the Kokrobite school authorities.
"They had three alternatives; the kids going to Langma, they going to government schools closer to them or they running shifts for two terms with the Kokorbite School. And the chiefs agreed to the shift system. As an Assemblyman I dont entirely control the internal affairs of the assembly. The GES, chiefs and all authorities have agreed to the shift system for two terms but I dont know why the children are loitering about. The Headmaster of Bokemi School informed the Directorate that they went to the Kokrobite School and they were sacked,
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The rainstorm started in the evening of Tuesday, January 31, 2017 when most people had closed from work or other daily activities and were returning home.
The rain which was accompanied by severe storm and has caused some destruction in parts of Accra also affected the Parliamentary Chamber.
It is reported even though the few staff of Parliament were doing their best to salvage some important materials of the house other electronic gadgets installed in the chamber were left at the mercy of the rain.
Plastic containers had to be placed at the leaking parts to prevent the water from soaking the carpet on the floor.
The incident occurred shortly after the house had adjourned sitting.
The house sat on Tuesday night to consider an amendment of the Local Government Bill brought before it under a certificate of urgency.
In 2014, the Chamber of Parliament was renovated following complaints of congestion by MPs. The congestion was because of the increase in the number of parliamentarians from to 230 to 275.
READ ALSO: Speaker warns MPs to remain silent on bribery allegation case
The house while on recess between July and October 2014 underwent infrastructural adjustment to ease congestion and change worn-out materials.
At the reconvening of the house in November 2014, modern electronic gadgets had been fixed. They included the communication gadgets fixed to the table for every MP.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee of parliament on Tuesday, Baffour Awuah said some of the CEOs were asked to leave because they engaged in partisan politics during the John Mahama-led administration; a situation he believes will affect their work in the current administration.
"If you would go all the way to support that particular party, then perhaps you would have missed the point. So much as we would advise the appointees to be apolitical as possible, then we would also have to advise whoever is appointed there not to meddle in partisan politics," Mr Awuah said.
READ ALSO: Top management staff of COCOBOD asked to proceed on leave
The Nana Addo-led government recently asked 11 top management staff of COCOBOD to proceed on leave with effect from Monday 30th January 2017.
They included the Deputy Chief Executive Agronomy and Quality Control, Deputy Chief Executive Finance and Administration, Deputy Chief Executive -Operations, Director Human Resource, Director Civil Works, Deputy Director Civil Works, Procurement Manager, Director of Estates and the Deputy Director Finance.
READ ALSO: Bawumia pays surprise visit to GPHA
Some top staff members of Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC); a subsidiary of COCOBOD, were also asked to proceed on leave.
They include CMCs Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director and Deputy Director Finance.
President Nana Akufo-Addo dismissed the Chief Executive of Cocobod Dr Stephen Opuni barely 3 weeks ago.
Some Ghanaians have since raised concerns with the manner in which the appointments of some public officials were terminated by the new government.
She said her political detractors are the masterminds behind the scandal.
"What is important is that having a civil case is totally different from having a criminal case. I have been cleared by Article 94 in 2006 to be a member of parliament, I have been cleared again in 2015 to be a member of parliament," she said.
Read more: Nana Addo investigates Catherine Afeku over fraudulent charges
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Evalue-Gwira Constituency in the Western Region with her husband, were defendants in a fraud case in 2007.
Read also: Group accuses Catherine Afeku
A group called Truth and Accountable Governance (TAG), said Madam Catherine Afeku as Minister designate of Tourism and Creative Arts is not the right person for the ministry.
The group is alleging that the nominee is a fraudster and as such, should have her nomination revoked in order to save the integrity the presidents nominees.
"Mrs Afeku and her husband, Mr Seth Afeku, were found guilty for defrauding an American couple on 19-10-2013 by an Accra High Court presided over by Her [Ladyship] Barbara Ackah-Yensu. The trial judge directed the MP for Evalue-Gwira constituency and her husband to pay an amount of $217,464 plus 50 per cent interest to the plaintiff, Patricia and Bill Gick."
According to the group, such a character should not be allowed to hold public office.
But Catherine Afeku said "you always have to look at having friends and having enemies. Its just a game that some people will play to see how formidable you are, can you withstand the heat so if you are not strong enough, you will [wither] and fall down."
"I have nothing to hide, its a matter of public records, its a civil matter and Im actually the one who has won an appeal Im a woman on fire... its very rare to have diasporas or white people come into our country get some judgment and then you fight back and win a temporary injunction," she said.
"Im a woman who is formidable. I have been cleared by Article 94. I do not have a criminal record and I have never been found or charged with fraud. I have a civil case and I have contested it and I am the one who has won a temporal relief."
According to him, Otiko Afisa Djaba is a "pale shadow" of the immediate past Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Nana Oye Lithur.
He said she [Otiko] was terrible at the Appointments Committee vetting, he said in a Facebook post.
Otiko Djaba during her vetting at Parliaments Appointments Committee on Monday, 30 January refused to apologise to former President John Mahama for her unsavory comments during the 2016 campaign.
According to her, she criticized former President Mahama but did not insult him.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, who raised the matter on the floor of Parliaments Appointments Committee, entreated the minister designate to apologise and disassociate herself from those comments since they were unpleasant.
But Madam Otiko Djaba who described the former president as a brother said she stood by her words and spoke based on her convictions.
"The President is my brother and I spoke from my convictions. I made the statements that I made as a wakeup call for him. We are building the nation. He was running for re-election and I felt that the people who should tell him as it is were not telling him as it was. I spoke in relation to SADA. SADA is very dear to my heart. My mother is a Northerner; the incidence of poverty is highest in the three Northern Regions and for a President who comes from the Northern Region, who promised to alleviate poverty, what happened to the Guinea fowls? It was an embarrassment to me and to the North. The Chiefs of the North actually made that statement and so I dont owe him or you any apology. We are developing and building a nation."
When asked to withdraw her earlier comment made on Mahama, Otiko Djaba said "When I talked about his wickedness, the people of Ghana were asking for reduction, they were asking for dumsor to be solved, people were losing jobs and so forth Are you saying we cannot criticize in this country?"
According to her, comments by Otiko were not the best but she refused to apologise when she appeared before the Appointments Committee in Parliament.
Anita De Sosoo speaking on the issue apologised on behalf of Otiko Afisa Djaba.
In an interview on Accra FM, she said "If you are wrong and several people are calling on you to apologise, out of respect you should do that, but I was very sad with the posture of Otiko Djaba during her vetting.
"Those comments she made about former president Mahama, that he was an embarrassment to Ghanaians and so on, were below the belt, which she should have apologised for," she added.
"I am standing on my sisters behalf to apologise to all Ghanaians. If you want to be a leader, you dont lord over anybody; you need to be submissive to all persons."
Otiko Djaba during her vetting at Parliaments Appointments Committee on Monday, 30 January refused to apologise to former President John Mahama for her unsavory comments during the 2016 campaign.
Mahama Ayariga said on Accra-based Radio Gold that the Energy Minister Agyarko sent money to the minority side in an attempt to influence their decision on his approval after he was vetted for the position.
The NDC Member of Parliament said they (the minority) received the money thinking it was sitting allowance for being part of the Appointments Committee only to be told it was coming from the minister designate.
He said they rejected the money and asked that the money be returned to him.
But the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei Owusu, subsequently denied this allegation and described it as illogical and ill-motivated on the floor of parliament.
READ ALSO: Otiko Djaba to sanitise media
The members of Special Committee are:
1. Joe Ghartey (Chair)
2. Ben Abdallah
3. Ama Pomaa Boateng
4. Amoatey Kofi Magnus
5. B. T Baba
Even though the Majority leader in parliament thought the ad-hoc committee should work within their own time frame the speaker of parliament caused him to suggest a working period, he said I suggest that we give the special committee a period of not more than 4 weeks.
Commenting on the matter the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said "we need to redeem our personal reputations and that of parliament."
READ ALSO: Boakye Agyarko considers legal action against Mahama Ayariga
It is fit and proper for the special committee to be set up to investigate the bribery allegations, Mike Ocquaye said
He explained that the pieces of evidence available are not enough to warrant the invitation of the CID. The former lands Minister holds the view that the police or CHRAJ should first be allowed to investigate the matter before the CID is considered.
I will not call for the CID to probe this matter now. The Speaker has the powers to constitute a committee outside of parliament to look into the matter because the leadership of parliament is involved in the matter, Dr. Osae told AccraFM.
I think CHRAJ must take charge of the investigations. The CID should not come in at this time; they can come in only when there is credible evidence that can lead to prosecution.
He also added that those parliamentarians making the allegations should also be sanctioned if it is realized that the bribery allegations were falsified.
In the same vein, we demand the harshest of parliamentary and possibly criminal sanctions for those making the allegations if they prove to be false."
READ ALSO: EC sets February 9 for election of Council of State reps
They have therefore prayed the court to direct the election management body to ensure compliance with Act 699.
Among the other reliefs being sought, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that each of the applicants right to vote and entitlement to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda in light of the Act 699 and said various and legal instruments is not subject to any condition precedent aside the article 42 citizenship, age, and sanity of mind criteria.
They also want a declaration that it is discriminatory for respondents, [particularly the Electoral Commission] to continue to register abroad and ensure that a category of citizens studying abroad or working in Ghanas Missions/Embassies abroad vote in public elections and referenda while living abroad to the exclusion of the applicants.
The applicants had earlier filed a similar lawsuit in April 2016 but withdrew it after the EC filed its affidavit in opposition.
They also decided to withdraw the lawsuit because the EC attached certain documents which indicated a clear road-map for the effective implementation of Act 699.
Google employees are sharing photos from this rally on Twitter, under the hashtag "#GooglersUnite." Executives like Nest CEO Marian Fawaz are visible addressing the crowds in these pictures.
It was not immediately clear if the protests were officially sanctioned or organized by Google, the world's largest internet company, or were organized by employees.
One person familiar with the matter described it as a "company-supported rally by employees."
Pichai, who was born and raised in India, told the crowd assembled at Google's Silicon Valley headquarters that "the fight will continue," according to New York Times reporter Daisuke Wakabayshi, who tweeted photos from the scene.
And Sergey Brin told the crowd that he would not have the life he does today if this "wasn't a brave country".
Google is among numerous tech companies that have decried Trump's order on immigration.
Many tech companies count foreign-born workers among their rank and file employees as well as at the highest leadership levels.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has described the immigration ban as "un-American" while Apple CEO Tim Cook has said it is "not a policy we support."
According to an eyewitness, Bright Jossy, who posted the incident on his Facebook page, the ladies identified as Favour and Uchechi were caught along the Rumuoke Road with bundles of master keys they used in breaking into homes of residents who had gone to work.
Two femalewho claimed to be Favour and Uchechi from Abia and Imo State were caught along Rumuoke, off Ada George Road, Port Harcourt, with the help of the Capacity Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State chapter, and some NYCN members in a broad daylight.
They were with bundles of several sophisticated master keys, which they used to penetrate doors of homes of residents in the neighborhood who had gone out for work and daily livelihood.
The Director of Lagos State Fire Service, LSFS, Rasak Fadipe, disclosed on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, that the two bodies were recovered from a petrol tanker and a deep well on Monday, January 30, 2017, Daily Post reports.
ALSO READ: Security guard dies in tanker while stealing fuel
Fadipe said that the man who attempted to steal fuel from a parked tanker was reportedly suffocated to death by the fuel fumes.
The directors told reporters, The tanker was parked opposite Morogbo Police Station, along the Badagry Expressway. The dead man was removed at about 5 pm on Monday and was handed over to Morogbo policemen.
Fadipe added that the body of another yet-to-be identified man who fell into a deep well of about 150 feet on Monday night was also recovered by the service.
The well is located at a virgin land, no one knows what the victim was looking for before falling into the well.
The LSFS boss said that the sad incident took place at Iju Isahga area of the state, noting that it had been difficult for the service to retrieve the corpse of the deceased.
ALSO READ: Truck assistant dies inside fuel tanker when he entered to steal diesel
He said, We got information that a male adult fell into a deep well of about 150ft deep at Iju Road, besides Skye Bank. Our men mobilized and went there immediately, but were able to retrieve the body many hours later on Monday."
Wilson, 27, and Ann Mutura, 24, have become viral sensations for their modesty, case in point, their $1 wedding which they attended in what we would refer to as 'house clothes'.
Instead of worrying over an expensive wedding, the pair found a way around their money problem and settled for far less than expected.
BBC reports that Wilson and Ann initially postponed their wedding twice in 2016 over their inability to raise the $300 (240) fee.
Finally deciding to get married with the lowest budget available, Wilson spent only $1 on two budget wedding rings which still caused a cheer among the witnesses as the pair exchanged their vows.
Thankfully, other expenses such as the license fee, were settled by their church.
The couple has been hailed online for their brave move, with social media users noting just how expensive weddings have become in recent times.
After dating for three years, Wilson and Ann appealed to friends to help them raise some cash for their wedding, all to no avail.
Speaking with BBC, Wilson says that his older brother had advised him to live with Ann without the hassles of a wedding.
However, the fruit seller and his fiancee wanted much more and would not settle for anything less than "a permanent and blessed union".
"As a [Christian] couple, we wanted to marry and live with dignity in order to avoid other temptations," said Ann.
In the same vein, the pair settled for a very, very...... very low-key wedding ceremony which took place in Nairobi, without a wedding cake, flowers or decorations.
Dressed in jeans, T-shirts and trainers, their only assets, two shiny steel circles that served as wedding rings, Wilson and Ann had their dream come true.
Pastor Jasper Ojwach from the Community Christian worship center in Nairobi told the BBC that Wilson left the congregation shocked when he ran out of the church to buy the wedding rings.
Wilson received hearty cheers when he pulled out the rings from his pocket after the exchange of vows.
The couple has also expressed their surprise over the positive reaction their rather frugal wedding has garnered online.
"I believe money should not stop young people like us from getting married. If people love each other and want to marry they should," Ann said.
The Mutura's were celebrated so much so that they have received gifts from companies and individuals who were moved by their story.
Haruna Maitala posted the warning on the Facebook page of a group known as Nigerian Civil Rights Movement, in the wake of the wicked rumour that has been making the rounds on the death of the president.
Maitala was unequivocal when he said that the Hausa/Fulani would never accept a situation where the Vice President, Yomi Osinbajo, would assume leadership of the country because power belongs to them and they are not ready to let it go.
The Jos, Plateau State-based Maitala added that in the event of Buharis death, anyone taking over must be of the Hausa/Fulani stock or there will be war in the country and that as long as the person is their brother, they will be satisfied.
This is what Maitala wrote:
"President Buhari is healthy and enjoying his time in UK. God forbid if Buhari is to die, Christians/Southerners should not celebrate because Osinbajo or any other Christian will not take power because this power belongs to the North (Hausa/Fulani) we will never agree to lost power how we did in 2010.
If Osinbajo did not resign, then another civil war awaits Nigeria. Or Buratai should stage a coup. Or they should bring anyone else from the North (Hausa-Fulani) as far as our brother is in power we are satisfied. This should serve as a warning.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Paul Dogo, disclosed this at a one-day stakeholders forum in Kaduna.
The forum is being organised quarterly by a coalition of Civil Society Organisations known as Kaduna State MNCH Accountability Mechanism (KADMAN) in collaboration with the Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR).
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Ibrahim Jere, the Commissioner said the government was taking several measures to tackle maternal mortality and morbidity in the state.
He said the councils approval was secured for recruiting 1,245 professional health workers to shore up the deficit in human resource for health.
He said the personnel will be employed, trained and retrained for effective service delivery in the health sector.
We are going to recruit health personnel and most of them will be nurses for effective service delivery in the health sector.
We made request in 2016 and it has been approved and we hope to recruit health personnel, whose funds had been reflected in the 2017 budget, he said.
He said the renovation of 255 healthcare centres is on-going to improve health facilities to enhance service delivery across the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government is collaborating with general electric to deliver electricity to all the healthcare centres in the state.
This year ended was eventful in meeting the set targets in reduction of mortality and morbidity in the state.
It was also a year and a lot of changes were made by way of policy, management as well as operationalisation of policies.
There was a deliberate effort to concentrate more on capital expenditure and the government believed would touched the citizenry directly than the traditional dominance of recurrent expenditure, the commissioner said.
According to him, a new agency, Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment, was established to reduce the high prevalence of substance abuse among youths in the state.
Dogo said other agencies, including the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Drug and Medical Supply Management, were equally strengthened by the Nasiru El-Rufai administration to boost the health sector.
NAN reports that Alhaji Mustapha Jumare, KADMAM Co- chairperson, said the event is being organised to review sectorial performance of the state government in the health sector with particular attention to maternal mortality and routine immunisation as well as HIV/AIDS control.
He lauded the state government on budgeting and policy implementation in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina could not be produced in court on Tuesday as he had been arrested by the military over another alleged offence of links with Boko Haram insurgents.
When the case of alleged diversion came up for hearing, Mr Alquasim Jaafar, EFCC Prosecuting Counsel, sought for adjournment of the case to enable him amend the charges.
In his ruling, Justice Fadamu Umar granted the request and adjourned the case to Feb-9 for further Hearing.
Maina, along with Bulama Ali Zangebe and Modu Bulama, had allegedly connived and misappropriated about 300 bags of rice worth N2 million, meant for IDPs in Mafa LGA.
Ajimobi described the rumour of President Buhari's death as unfounded and untrue.
He further dismissed allegations that governors were summoned to Abuja over the health of the president.
He emphasised that president Buhari was on a well-deserved vacation to the United Kingdom due to the rigours of governance.
There is no iota of truth in the rumour making the rounds that governors were summoned to Abuja for an emergency meeting to discuss the health status of our dear President," the governor said told journalists in Ibadan.
He goes on to say: We should desist from circulating callous insinuations aimed at denting the image of prominent citizens.
Instead of peddling unfounded rumour, I will advise Nigerians to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders, including governors, because their well-being is tied to the well-being of the people.
ALSO READ: Ajimobi: Oyo Governor is a disgrace
The rigours of governance require that leaders take time off to relax and recoup for the daunting challenges ahead of them. We should be fair to our leaders because they are also human beings with feelings.
It is pertinent to state here that the President only went for a break and to use the opportunity to undergo routine medical check-up. To the best of my knowledge, he was not even admitted to any hospital for any ailment.
There is nothing wrong with the president taking some time off to rest and meet with some people abroad unofficially. Im reaffirming the fact that our President is hale and hearty.
President Buhari appointed Onnoghen on Thursday, November 10, 2016, as the acting CJN after Mahmoud Mohammed retired.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, January 31, 2016, Senator John Enoh described as "unfortunate" President Buhari's delay in forwarding Onnoghen's name for confirmation.
"President Buhari's inaction in this instance has acted as a cannon fodder for those alluding a vast conspiracy to deny justice Onnoghen his earned position," Senator Enoh said.
Pursuant to its mandate, what is required from the presidency, in this case, is a decisive action of simply transmitting the name of justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen to the senate for confirmation which unfortunately has not stopped.
ALSO READ: Walter Onnoghen: CJN tells Court of Appeal justices to shun corruption
This unfortunate development has enveloped the supreme court and judiciary with an intriguing cobweb of uncertainty and given conspiracy theories a field day to decode why this obvious travesty has endured up till now.
Under these circumstances, the continuous delay of the president to forward the name of Hon. Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen to the senate for confirmation without any lawful and constitutional cause has brought the issue of the independence of the judiciary and security of tenure of judges to doubt and public discourse.
It has opened the floodgate of political and social insinuations and entrenched the perception of ethno-regional prejudice and politicisation of the judiciary. This is most unfortunate.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has renominated Ibrahim Magu as chairman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Babatunde Adejumo, President of the Court, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, when he displayed some features of the app through a mobile phone to lawyers in court.
Adejumo noted that his administration would apply modern techniques to ensure that cases were readily handled and justice delivered as at when due.
He said the court was working with a team of consultants to develop the app, which would soon be launched with the new National Industrial Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2017.
Adejumo said it was important for lawyers and judges to improve on their skills especially in labour practice, and stressed the importance of employer, employee relationship in the development of the country.
Labour issues affect the sacked employee and in turn the family, his landlord, the market woman he buys things from; in fact, labour is the powerhouse of the economy and governance."
So we will do all that is humanly possible to deliver in line with our mandate."
This mobile app will display cases for each day, the cause list for the different courts, and hearing notices will be sent via messages from the app and will be recorded as sent."
Numbers of registrars of each court will be readily available on the app, to which people can reach them easily concerning their cases."
The Comptroller of NIS in the state, Alhaji Habibu Haruna, showed the victims to newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday.
He later handed them over to the National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
Haruna said that the officers of the command intercepted the victims in a bus travelling from Zaria to Sokoto en route Libya.
Our men tried to contact their agents but there was no any response. As such, we have to bring them here and contact their families.
We will hand them over to NAPTIP to be reoriented and take them back to their parents, as they are not criminals, but citizens of this country, he said.
Haruna said that three of the victims were from the same family from Delta, while the other five were from Anambra, heading for same destination.
He called on parents to always monitor the movement of their children to prevent them from being victims of trafficking and other antisocial activities.
Responding, a spokesman of the victims, name withheld, said, We have been invited to go to Libya by our sister, who promised us of so many job opportunities there.
Suleiman, who is the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, honoured the DSS invitation on Monday, January 30, as he showed up at the agency's headquarters in Abuja.
The pastor was invited for questioning over his directives that any Fulani herdsman who comes near his church should be killed.
He was said to have been accompanied to the DSS office by two Governors whose names were not revealed.
It was gathered that Suleiman arrived at the office 7:45 pm, hours past the 10 am appointment the security agency gave him.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State had last Wednesday foiled an attempt by some DSS operatives to arrest Suleiman at his hotel room in Ado Ekiti.
According to Oba Akiolu, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar told Obasanjo that retiring Akiolu would help him win the 2003 elections in Lagos.
The monarch made the disclosure on Monday, January 30, at a stakeholders meeting held in Lagos.
Atiku, Daura and others sat down and advised President Obasanjo that if he wanted to win Lagos in 2003, I should be removed. It was written on paper, Akiolu said.
For someone to sit at the PSC and determine who retires from the police is unfair. This is not how to run a very efficient and effective police force, he added.
Obaseki made this known while receiving executive members of Womens wing of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state in Benin.
He assured the women of 35 per cent appointment in his administration but insisted that government house is not where you come to make money, but where you come to serve.
According to him, "I dont have money to give anybody; the money I have is to work for the people.
I can create money going by my experience as an investment banker; I can organise things and people must be ready to work, the governor said.
He told the women that the days had gone when politics was about money sharing.
"The question is what do you do with the political power. It is our level of commitment that gets us where we want to be.
"People should be ready to work. We should prioritise and cut waste because our biggest problem is waste.
"God chose me for a purpose to change things at this time and politics of money and sharing is not possible, Obaseki said.
He commended the party women for supporting him during the 2016 governorship poll in the state and urged them to be the vanguard of the new politics.
He called on the women to partner the government in the development of the state, especially in the area of ensuring quality basic and technical education for their children.
In her remarks, the APC women leader in the state, Dr Aisosa Amadasun, commended the governor on his victory at the polls and pledged their support to the success his administration.
According to a report by Tribune, the Chieftain urged Nigerians to stop ridiculing the nations leaders before International community with the death rumour.
Ilupeju reportedly made this known on Monday, January 30, 2017 while speaking to newsmen in Abuja.
In his words: President will return to the country safely with his two legs ,contrary to the wicked expectations of the few of our People and their Foreign collaborators.
We should have fear of God and stop ridiculing our leaders with death any time any of them is having health challenges rather, we should be praying for them so that they can get well on time and continue with their work.
None of our religions support this wicked act, be it Christianity .Islam or traditional Worshipers, the other time it was the late Alhaji Musa Yaradu,today it is President Buhari, who knows the next one?
All those behind this wicked death rumour are only making us a laughing stock before the international community, what will the gain or interest of these wicked rumour mongers? They want to take over his seat or what? '
God forbids, if anything should happen to the President, Nigeria as a Nation will suffer for it because we will have to start all over again.
Nigeria is a fragile nation, the issue of economic recession is there, the Boko Haram matter is there, Castle rustlers are now everywhere, the militants in the Niger Delta are there, People are tired, a small crisis anywhere now can set the whole nation ablaze, it will be in the overall interest of Buhari to come back home safely, he declared.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Nneka Anibeze, the Special Assistant, Media to the minister, said Buhari commiserated with Dalung through the telephone from London.
The President prayed God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.
Buhari, who expressed shock at the death of Mrs Dalung which came at an unripe age, prayed that God would forgive her sins.
He also prayed to God to give the family she left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.
The President promised to support the Dalung family in their moment of grief.
Mrs Dalung is survived by her husband and five children.
Okereke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that constant training and researching deeply into story lines and handling of equipment were very vital to the development of the industry.
He identified talent development as fundamental in the film industry, saying it would help to increase the quality of films produced.
If you train people on the job or they train themselves, development will come and you will retain high productivity and get the best out of employees."
It will also help to motivate people working with you and you get talent development persons to create high performance goals."
Training will sustain the organisation and its strategies, operational purposes and objectives would improve, he said."He said that a good number of organisations were offering training in film-making and the likes.
We have schools that train people in films both in Nigeria and abroad; people coming into the industry can key in to make the sector better."
Constant training in the industry will always present the good final product for the cinematographic art industry, he said.Okereke said that the MPI should develop not only in good pictures, but also in literature, creative writing, visual arts, animations and others.
Training should also involve human resource management, knowing the different stages of a movie from casting, directing, producing, editing, directing and delivering."
We have obsolete equipment and cameras, but we need to improve on them or get new ones, he said.
I wish to place it on record that though I am the signatory to the schedule, I am not a signatory to the cheques of the House.
I did sign the schedule in line with the budget passed by the House so that I do not hold up the business of the House in the likely event that I do not return from my journey early enough.
Most certainly, I did not speak with the Director of Finance and Administration on the issue of cheques or any other matter at all, and I also did not speak with the Clerk.
I did not ask the Pay Master, Mr , who was unfortunately brutalised by some of my colleagues to bring any funds to my House, she said.
She said she was in Lagos on Friday and received a call that some 13 members allegedly removed the leadership of the House on the puerile and baseless claim of fraud or financial impropriety.
Akindele explained further that the Pay Master was the lawful custodian of all unspent funds of the House and he was only acting in his official capacity as such.
The suspended speaker further said the money in question was meant for some projects in the House as passed in the budget and approved by the proper authority.
She alleged that some PDP caucus members seemed more interested in proving their loyalty to the incoming administration in the state.
They are actively working hand in hand with their APC counterparts to destabilise what would have been one of the most peaceful transitions ever.
They are desirous of becoming speaker and deputy speaker at all cost and are therefore playing to the gallery to show they are disenchanted with the outgoing governor, she stated.
Akindele further stated that she was not desperate and was actually set to resign since the emergence of the governor from the North District and the Deputy Governor from the South District.
We are a people with an age long tradition that demands that the Speaker must, of necessity, emerge from the Central District of Ondo State.
I sustained this position because I owe it to Nigerians worried of the dangerous precedent that may be created if fraud, forgery and forceful takeover of this nature is allowed to prevail.
It is disheartening that some of my honourable colleagues forged the signatures of five members to make up their list.
The members whose signatures were forged have strenuously asserted that their signatures were forged and have stood with the leadership of the House since the beginning, she said.
Akindele said change was inevitable and may even be desirable, adding that the house leaders could not be removed by no fewer than 18 members in accordance with the law
She expressed her sympathy with the workers, promising that all justifiable grievances would be addressed while taking the blame for the crisis and pleading for forgiveness.
I remain loyal to my party, the PDP, and I consider it a solemn duty to work with any government, outgoing or incoming, regardless of the political party that births it as long as it works for the interest of the people.
To my colleagues, let me state that the most difficult job is to lead ones peers who are as entitled to ones position as oneself
I, therefore, call that we come together and ensure that we do the desirable as guided by the dictates of our oath of office, she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader were suspended for allegedly withdrawing N15 million from the House account without parliamentary approval.
NAN reports that 14 of 26 members, including the Speaker, Deputy speaker, and Majority Leader, attended a press briefing where the suspension was made public.
NAN also reports that the suspension process was carried out on Friday by 14 lawmakers, made up of five All Progressive Congress (APC) and nine PDP members.
Bode Adeyelu, the Clerk of the House, and the mace were present at the process.
Mr Malachi Coker, representing Ilaje 2 Constituency, was sworn in by the clerk as the Acting Speaker while Mr Ayodele Arowele, representing Owo 1 Constituency emerged Acting Deputy Speaker,
Mr Usman Dutse, National President of the union told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone in Lagos that the warning strike would end on Feb. 6.
According to him, the strike will affect all federal and state-owned polytechnics and Colleges of Technology.
We have issued a circular directing all our members to down tools from 12.00 noon today (Monday)."
For about a year now, we have been receiving a fraction of our salary due to a cut from the budget office."
Also, our allowances were withdrawn due to the shortfall; non-implementation of the NEEDS assessment conducted some years back."
There are also issues of interference from the governing councils of some institutions and victimisation of our members."
Some states like Osun, Oyo and Edo have not paid salaries for several months."
There are also issues of establishment of Polytechnic Commission and HND/B.Sc dichotomy," Dutse said.
He said that after the warning strike, the union would hold a National Executive Council meeting to decide the next line of action.
Mr Adeyemi Aromolaran, ASUP Chairman, Yaba College of Technology chapter, Lagos, also confirmed the chapters readiness to comply with the directive on the national strike.
Aromolaran told NAN that the chapter would begin the strike after its congress.
Yes, we have been directed to commence a one-week strike by our national body."
We are holding a congress now to deliberate on the issue and we are ready to comply with the directive."
We will direct all our members to down tools with immediate effect."
The strike is very important following recent developments in the polytechnic sector, he said.
Meanwhile lecturers of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu Chapter, complied with the strike directive.
Mr Uthman Olayinka, General Secretary, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), LASPOTECH chapter, told NAN that the strike began at noon as directed.
Olayinka said the strike was total and comprehensive as all lecturers are expected not to lecture or participate in any academic activity until the strike elapses.
He said that the union had informed the management of the action and also sent a letter of notification to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.
Morah, the Proprietor of Fidel Madonna College of Excellence, Ibah, Lagos, said on Tuesday that Nigerias cultural diversity was unique and should be explored for the nations greatness.
The proprietor spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said that each tribe in the country had its distinct culture that should be tapped for national development.
We must realise that the beauty of this country is the diversity that was destined by God; it is what makes us thick and unique from other countries."
This should, therefore, be a unifying force instead of becoming a disadvantage, he said.
We need each other; that is why we should promote cultural dances and organise cultural days in schools to enlighten the young ones, he told NAN.
He advised Nigerians to learn other Nigerian languages besides their dialects.
According to Morah, appreciation of one anothers culture would promote peaceful coexistence.
When you can speak the language of another tribe, know its dance and foods, you will not want to be in conflict. We must co-exist, he said.
Morah urged adequate exploitation of Nigerias culture for its socio-economic advancement.
The government should collaborate with other stakeholders to make our culture an attraction for tourists."
The numerous beautiful cultures, languages, dances and attires we have in this country are enough to earn the country a fortune if we tap into them".
Existing investors Digital Currency Group, Pantera Capital Management, Blockchain Capital, Zephyr Acorn, FuturePerfectVC, and BnkToTheFuture participated in the round led by US-based Draper VC. New shareholder Greycroft Partners also joined in.
This brings the company's total amount of funding to almost $6 million less than four years after it launched in 2013.
BitPesa currently operates in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, the DRC, the UK and Senegal and says the focus of this funding round is to help it expand further across West and Southern Africa. It also wants to step up operations in Europe.
ALSO READ: Bitstakes launches operation in Nigeria
BitPesa is well positioned to dominate the huge market opportunity for digital payments across Africa and beyond. It takes a locally-based team to work in the evolving landscape of frontier market financial services, and BitPesas approach to investing in teams, infrastructure, and compliance from Lagos to London gives them a strong advantage, said Tim Draper, founder of Draper VC.
BitPesa accepts bitcon payments and can exchange them for over 30 currencies which it can also deposit into bank accounts or mobile wallets.
The ANC notes the regrettable decision by the AU to readmit Morocco into the organisation, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said in a statement.
The 54-member AU voted overwhelmingly to readmit Morocco following a lengthy debate at the 28th AU Summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Monday.
Thirty-nine of the 54 states approved Moroccos return to the AU.
This decision represents a significant setback to the cause of the Sahrawi people and their quest for self-determination and independence in the Western Sahara,"kodwa said.
The ANC notes that the AU decision paves the way for the Kingdom of Morocco to take their place among the community of nations and to enjoy the benefits of AU membership, whilst the Sahrawi people continue to suffer under an unjust occupation of their ancestral land, Kodwa said.
The ANC claimed by readmitting Morocco into the AU is tacitly endorsing the longstanding occupation of the Western Sahara.
It said Morocco has to date failed to comply with successive UN resolutions on the issue of the Western Sahara, most importantly the holding of a referendum on self-determination.
It was mainly countries led by former liberation movements on the continent, among them are South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique as well as Botswana and Algeria, which opposed the decision.
Meanwhile, all of these countries have been active supporters of the rights of the Sahrawi people and their right to an independent homeland.
The ANC, whilst respecting the decision of the AU, hopes that in coming months the AU will not allow the matter of the independence of Western Sahara to be swept under the carpet of political expediency."
Rather the quest for the self-determination by the people of Western Sahara takes centre stage on the AU agenda, Kodwa noted.
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony under dispute since 1975 between Morocco and the Polisario Front which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a government-in-exile in Tindouf, southwestern Algeria.
The Western Sahara has been on the UN list of non-self-governing territories since 1963.
Report says a UN-led process of negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario is lagging behind.
Morocco has said it is ready to grant autonomy rule to Sahrawi people, while the Algeria-backed Polisario demands holding a self-determination referendum.
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five of attempted murder.
Vigils have been held across Canada in commemoration of the deceased and injured.
The incident occurred during evening prayers at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre on the evening of Sunday, January 29.
Over 50 people were said to be at the mosque when the shooting began.
Nineteen people were wounded - all men - and of five people still in the hospital, two were in a critical condition, BBC reports.
Goncalo Amaral, who had led the inquiry into the child's disappearance just a few days before her fourth birthday, in Praia da Luz in southern Portugal, was sued over his 2008 book "The Truth of the Lie".
In the book, he accused Kate and Gerry McCann of concealing their daughter's body after her accidental death.
Goncalo had originally been ordered to pay the parents of the missing girl 500,000 euros ($540,000), plus more than 100,000 euros in interest, but that judgement was struck down on appeal last April.
The supreme court ruled Tuesday that "Goncalo Amaral did not abuse the liberty of expression", as his claims remained "within the limits tolerated in an open and democratic society".
After 14 months of controversial investigations -- which saw Madeleine's parents investigated and Amaral sacked -- Portuguese police closed the case in 2008 before reopening it five years later.
In separate statements, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said over 800 refugees were set to make America their new home this week alone, but instead were barred from travelling to Washington.
UNHCR estimates that 20,000 refugees in precarious circumstances might have been resettled to the U.S. during the 120 days covered by the suspension announced Friday, based on average monthly figures for the last 15 years, UNHCR said.
Refugees are anxious, confused and heartbroken at this suspension in what is already a lengthy process, it added in a statement received in Nairobi.
Somali refugees in Kenya are among those affected and who were scheduled to travel to America to start new lives under a longstanding resettlement programme after waiting for more than ten years.
The statement follows Trumps signing on Jan. 27 of an Executive Order that, among things, suspends the U.S. refugee programme for 120 days.
According to the media, bars entry of refugees from several mostly Muslim countries, including Syria, until further notice.
UNICEF said child refugees might also be affected by the new U.S policy.
The needs of refugees have never been greater."
Worldwide 28 million children have been uprooted by conflict, driven from their homes by violence and terror, they need our help, UNICEF said in the statement.
The UN agency said Washington has a long and proud tradition of protecting children fleeing war and persecution.
We trust that this support will continue and that the recent measures will prove to be temporary, all refugee children need our support, it said.
UNICEF said it is committed to continuing its work with governments and other partners around the world to help some of the most vulnerable children everywhere, from Syria to Yemen to South Sudan.
Trumps executive order prevented people with passports from three African nations; Libya, Somalia and Sudan from travelling to the U. S.
It also blocked visas for citizens from four Middle Eastern countries; Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran.
UNHCR stressed its position that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race.
Those accepted for resettlement by the U.S. are, after a rigorous U.S. security screening process, coming to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity."
UNHCR hopes that they will be able to do so as soon as possible, the release added.
The UN refugee agency said that for decades, Washington has been a global leader in refugee protection, a tradition rooted in the tolerance and generosity of the American people.
Trump issued an executive order on Friday that barred entry to citizens from Syria, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Libya and Sudan for 90 days and suspended the U.S. refugee programme.
It is not possible to accept this, said Numan Kurtulmus, adding that immigration policy in the West was being heavily influenced by Islamophobic attitudes.
He warned that anti-Muslim groups and organisations like Islamic State were ultimately working in the same direction.
Kurtulmus expressed hopes the ban that targeted citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries would be amended.
The deputy prime minister was the sole Turkish official to express open opposition to the immigration ban so far.
Though Turkey is a Muslim-majority country, officials have so far been cautious when it comes to criticising Trump.
The order signed by Trump on Friday suspends arrivals by refugees in general for 120 days and Syrian refugees indefinitely.
"UNHCR estimates that 20,000 refugees in precarious circumstances might have been resettled to the United States during the 120 days covered by the suspension," the statement added, basing that figure on averages over the last 15 years.
"Refugees are anxious, confused and heartbroken at this suspension," it further said, describing UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi as "deeply worried" by the impact of Trump's move.
Refugees who qualify for resettlement to the US or other developed countries have typically endured extreme hardships and have no prospect of safely returning to their home countries.
The AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Smail Chergui, made this known on Tuesday in Addis Ababa at a news conference on the activities of the commission
He expressed concern that while the process to restore political order remained stagnant, the countrys population lacked basic services such as electricity and medical care, causing additional problems to the peace process.
He added that the AU had formed a High-Level Committee on Libya and asked Libyas neighbours to become part of the Committee to accelerate the search for peace and stability there.
We cannot achieve much in Libya without Libyas neighbours, Chergui said.
He said that Chadian President Idriss Deby was a member of the High-Level Committee, which had been overseeing the political process.
According to him, the AU Summit endorsed the High-Level Committees request to allLibyan political players to revisit the composition of the Presidential Council, which is mandated to appoint the government.
The High-Level Committee on Libya held its last meeting in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo, where it appealed to the government and the House of Representatives to speed up resolution on the crisis.
President Gjorge Ivanov was informed by parliament that the VMRO-DPMNE party led by Nikola Gruevski, the former premier and a veteran conservative leader, had failed to form a government within the 20-day deadline, his office said.
A source in the office told AFP that Ivanov would restart consultations.
In the vote, VMRO-DPMNE secured 51 seats in the 120-seat parliament, or two more than the Social Democrats (SDSM), the main opposition party.
The neck-and-neck results meant that ethnic Albanian parties, with 20 seats between them, emerged as kingmakers, but Gruevski was unable to negotiate a deal.
The three main ethnic parties are demanding that Albanian be made an official language.
Ivanov may now ask the Social Democrats to try to form a government, or he could seek to form a broader coalition, according to analysts.
SDSM leader Zoran Zaev said he was expecting Ivanov to give him the mandate, saying the president would be "breaking the constitution" if he did not, while VMRO-DPMNE said new elections were the "only mature solution".
European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic urged the president to swiftly give the task to a leader capable of forming "a stable, solid and accountable coalition".
Speaking in Brussels, she told reporters the coalition should be "as broad as possible" with a strong reformist consensus and inter-ethnic cooperation.
Macedonia's political crisis emerged after a mass wiretapping scandal erupted in February 2015, inciting huge street protests both for and against the government.
The scandal led Gruevski to step down in January 2016 after nearly 10 years in power, clearing the way for new elections.
Macedonia wants to join both NATO and the EU, but its membership has been blocked by Athens over a dispute about the country's name -- a northern region of Greece is also called Macedonia.
The UN migration agency has said that IOMs South Sudan Chief of Mission, William Barriga, regretted on Tuesday that civilians would continue to suffer as aid delivery could not reach them.
Civilians will undoubtedly suffer as sporadic fighting makes it more difficult for aid workers to deliver services.
Violence in Upper Nile has once again hindered the ability of IOM and other relief agencies to provide assistance to populations seriously in need, Barriga said.
In addition to aid, Barriga said the migration agency was in the process of registering people to receive supplies when clashes between the Government and opposition forces forced everyone to evacuate.
An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people remained in line when the team was forced to flee, the IOM official said.
According to IOM, clashes reached Wau Shilluk on Jan. 27, just as a 14-person team from IOM was about to resume registration.
A partner organisation, which provides aid, was with UN agency at the time.
Wau Shilluk is located north-eastern South Sudan, across the White Nile River from Malakal town.
Malakal was one of South Sudans largest urban areas before the current crisis and home to more than 33,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who are sheltering at the protection of civilians site, said IOM.
Trump has badly rattled Europe with his softer line on Moscow and by calling into question Washington's near-70 year commitment to an alliance he dubbed "obsolete" and an unfair burden on the US taxpayer.
But Stoltenberg said that in recent phone conversations with Trump and US Defence Secretary James Mattis, "they all conveyed the same message that the United States remains committed to NATO and the transatlantic bond."
"The message of the new administration is that they also want dialogue with Russia but from a position of strength," Stoltenberg told reporters after talks with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
NATO leaders in July last year signed off on the alliance's biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War in response to Russia's intervention in Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea.
At the same time, they endorsed dialogue with "a more assertive" Russia so as to ensure transparency and to avoid any dangerous misunderstandings at a time of increased tensions.
Radev, seen as more sympathetic to Moscow than his predecessor, highlighted the fact that he had chosen NATO HQ for his first visit abroad since taking office.
"NATO remains an extremely important organisation to safeguard the allies ... we support NATO efforts to defend and deter and we believe that Bulgaria is part of these efforts," he said.
Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 along with several other former communist states once ruled by Moscow.
Morocco's return came a day after 39 of the AU's 54 member states agreed to allow it back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from countries such as South Africa and Algeria over the status of the disputed former Spanish colony.
Faced with the AU's decision, Western Sahara officials appeared to accept the new reality and cast it in a positive light, saying AU membership might help speed up efforts to end a protracted conflict.
"It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long an absence," Mohammed VI told the closing ceremony of the AU summit in Ethiopia.
"Africa is my continent and my home. I am finally home and I am happy to see you. I missed you all."
Morocco quit the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after the bloc admitted the former Western Sahara as a separate member.
Morocco maintains that the territory under its control is an integral part of the kingdom, while the Polisario Front, which campaigns for independence, demands a referendum on self-determination.
Some had feared Morocco would seek the expulsion of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a precondition for its own return to the AU, however the country agreed to return without conditions.
"From the moment that Morocco did not impose conditions ... we take their word for it and accept that Morocco be admitted to the African Union," said Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, foreign minister of the SADR, which claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara.
Salek said Monday that having Morocco in the same room would allow the SADR to pressure them into fulfilling their obligations and hold a long sought referendum.
Mohammed did not raise the issue of Western Sahara in his speech, choosing instead to highlight how Morocco as "one of the most developed African nations", could be a boon to the continent.
He noted that in the past 17 years, Morocco had sealed nearly 1,000 agreements with African nations, and put in place projects such as a gas pipeline deal linking Nigeria to Europe and others to improve agricultural productivity.
He recalled that Morocco had taken part in six peacekeeping operations on the continent.
"We do not ignore the fact that we do not have unanimity in this noble assembly. We do not want to create divisions as some have insinuated," he said.
"My vision of South-South cooperation is clear and constant. Morocco ... will be a motor for common economic growth.
"It is time that Africa's riches benefit Africa. For too long we have looked elsewhere to make decisions, commitments. Is it not time to turn towards our own continent?"
Despite reservations by some members, outgoing chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zama said the return of Morocco would "provide a platform to strengthen African solutions to African problems."
The busy AU summit also saw Chadian foreign minister Moussa Faki Mahamat take over from Dlamini-Zuma after a fierce election battle that eliminated four other candidates.
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
MUSCATINE In honor of the Chinese New Year, an internationally acclaimed Chinese orchestra will give a free concert Wednesday night at Calvary Church in Muscatine.
The Shaanxi Province Song and Dance Theater National Orchestra has visited Muscatine once before in 2015.
Among those attending the concert will be Gov. Terry Branstad and Lei Hong, consul general from the Chinese Consulate of Chicago. The festivities will include remarks by both before the performance.
In an interview on Monday, Branstad said Iowa has very important and close relationship with the Chinese community.
Muscatine, he said, has a special place in that relationship because Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the city in 1985 as a young man. Since then, Muscatine has had several cultural and business exchanges with China. Branstad and Xi remain close friends, and in 2012, he and then-Vice President Xi had a reunion in Muscatine.
When I heard from Sarah Lande and others (such as) Dan Stein that they were having this event in Muscatine to celebrate the Chinese New Year, my wife and I indicated our interest in coming, and so we will be there on Wednesday night for the reception and for the concert, he said.
Branstad thanked the city for furthering the relationship with China.
The community of Muscatine has done a phenomenal job of maintaining the relationship and celebrating the relationship we have with China, and I think its going to be a good thing, he said.
In a separate, invitation-only reception before the event, Branstad, who will soon serve as President Donald Trumps ambassador to China, will be honored for his role in forging relations between Muscatine and China.
When it (the concert) was beginning to be planned, we did not know that Gov. Branstad would be nominated, said Lande, one of the organizers of the concert. Its quite a fitting tribute that well have this orchestra, and hes coming, so we can thank him as our community and try to be a good send-off to him.
Branstad also will answer questions at a 9 p.m. news conference after the concert.
Lei Hong said the concert is another opportunity to deepen Muscatines relationship with China.
We hope with this event, we could bring the splendid Chinese art performance to your town once again so as to jointly celebrate the lunar new year with our good friends in Muscatine, he said.
He said the orchestra will showcase the splendor and the glamour of Chinese traditional music.
Lande encouraged the community to attend the concert.
Its quite a community welcome and celebration and so more people in our community can experience and, I hope, grow to love the Chinese culture, she said.
Bond was set Tuesday morning at $100,000 cash-only for a Texas woman charged in connection with a deadly crash Monday night at the intersection of 2nd and Brady streets.
Lauria Lee Kelly, 57, of Alvarado, appeared in Scott County District Court via closed-circuit TV on a charge of homicide by vehicle-reckless driving, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
She also was cited for failure to stop in assured distance, red light and no insurance.
Kelly has a preliminary hearing Feb. 10.
The crash happened shortly before 6 p.m. Monday.
According to an arrest affidavit filed Tuesday by the Davenport Police Department in support of the criminal complaint:
Kelly was driving her 2005 Dodge truck eastbound on 2nd Street at a high-rate of speed. The speed limit downtown is 25 mph and the street is narrow with diagonal parking along one side and parallel parking along the other side. The street has several areas of restricted vision due to the height of the nearby buildings closely positioned to the street.
Witnesses to the crash and events leading up to it told police that Kelly was driving very fast and that she ran through at least two red traffic lights; one at 2nd Street and Harrison streets and the other at 2nd and Main streets.
One witness, who was crossing 2nd Street at Brady, said she heard the roar of an engine just prior to the crash.
Kellys vehicle struck the rear of a Chevrolet that was stopped at the red light on 2nd and Brady. The force of the impact caused fatal injuries to the driver.
The Chevrolet then was pushed into the rear of Buick that was in front of it. The force of the crash was so great that all three vehicles came to a rest on the other side of the intersection more than 100 feet away, according to the affidavit.
The driver of the Chevrolet was identified Tuesday as Cynthia Jones, 53, of Davenport.
Kelly and the driver of the Buick were taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
She was arrested after her release from the hospital and taken to the Scott County Jail.
UPDATED: (From East Moline Police) At about 9 p.m. Monday East Moline police responded to a call of a shooting victim in the 1300 block 19th Street.
Police located a 17-year-old male who had been shot in the lower body. Police learned that prior to the shooting the victim had been inside a vehicle with several other juveniles.
The vehicle encountered other subjects that they were familiar with when a shooting occurred, leaving the victim with a non-life threatening injury.
The case is still under investigation by the East Moline Police Department. Anyone with information can call the East Moline Police Department at 309-797-0401 or Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500.
EARLIER REPORT: East Moline police were investigating a reported shooting at 10:15 p.m. Monday near River Bend Industrial Center, 1300 19th St., East Moline. Officers searched the area and K-9 officer Argo searched a nearby field.
At least six squad cars, multiple detectives and the K-9 unit were involved. Police blocked off 19th Street to traffic between 12th and 14th avenues.
At least one man, who vomited on the ground, was transferred in handcuffs from one squad car to another.
Police at the scene would not confirm details about the incident.
Ross Medical Education Center, headquartered in Flint, Michigan, has purchased the Brown Mackie College located on Kimberly Road, Bettendorf.
The announcement was made Tuesday by Anne Dean, a corporate spokeswoman for Brown Mackie's former owner, Educational Management Corp., Pittsburgh.
The new name is Ross College Quad-Cities, and it will offer medical programs. Coursework includes business management, medical assistant, medical insurance billing and office administration, business management, occupational therapy assistant and information technology.
The actions to change or close Brown Mackie College programs came about six months after a landmark decision by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education. In November 2015, a $95.5 million settlement of false claims was announced by federal officials, including Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.
At that time, Educational Management Corp. operated the for-profit colleges under names that included "Brown Mackie Colleges," as well as "The Art Institutes."
Miller has said the settlement came after the corporation was charged with a broad range of activities, including how they marketed to and recruited students, and the claims made about job placement.
Dean said students are still attending Brown Mackie Colleges across the country, but most are not accepting new students.
Other locations besides the Quad Cities also were sold to Ross College, including facilities in North Canton, Ohio, and Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
According to its website (rosseducation.edu), the company was founded by J.M. Ross in 1969, to provide after-school academic instruction to students in Flint, Michigan. It was sold in 1973 to Howard Hulsman, who helped it evolve into career training. Medical instruction was started in 1976.
It provides medical education in 31 communities in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Ross College is accredited, and specializes in focused, short-term, hands-on education that helps to prepare students for careers in the allied healthcare field.
"It is with much excitement that Ross enters and begins to serve these three communities, offering a variety of educational training programs," said Vince Norton, a college representative.
Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to choose a representative for Iowa's 89th House District.
Monica Kurth, a Davenport Democrat, is facing Mike Gonzales, a Republican from Davenport.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. in the district, which includes much of west Davenport. Included are parts of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th and 8th wards.
Kurth is a retired educator and counselor. Gonzales is a sergeant with the LeClaire Police Department.
About 1,100 absentee ballots had been turned in for the election, the Scott County Auditor's office said early Monday. Democrats had turned in 941 ballots, while Republicans had returned 57. Those who did not belong to either major party had turned in 145 ballots.
Absentee ballots are expected to make up a large part of the total turnout.
The special election is being held to fill the seat vacated by state Sen. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport. Lykam won the special election last month to fill the District 45 Senate seat, which was left vacant after the death last September of Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport.
Georgia McKeever has always lived on her own, and one local agency is helping the 72-year-old East Moline woman continue her independence.
A case worker from Alternatives for the Older Adult regularly visits McKeever at Ridgewood Tower Apartments, where she lives, and helps her with housekeeping, errands and personal care. But like a lot of local agencies, the Moline-based Alternatives is getting squeezed by an ongoing Illinois state budget impasse and providers aren't sure what services may get cut.
"I like Illinois, but they keep saying they're broke," McKeever said. "How are they broke?"
Providers say they will continue assisting clients as long as they can, but without a state budget, they will do so with a lot of anxiety and confusion. The biggest challenge facing Alternatives, which assisted 16,692 clients in 2016, is the inability to plan for the coming year.
No budget means we dont know, Alternatives director Kathy Weiman said. We just dont know how to plan one, two or three years out.
The 30-year-old organization assists the elderly to stay in their homes by connecting them to various resources in the community. It covers a 10-county area between the Quad-Cities, Ottawa and Macomb.
In that regard, we save the state of Illinois tons and tons of money, Weiman said, adding the costs to stay in nursing homes are high and the majority of nursing home residents end up on Medicaid.
Weiman, who has spent 30 years in social service work in Illinois with a variety of agencies, said this year is the worst budget crisis she has seen.
They always got a budget, good or bad, she said. The budget kind of lets you go, OK, now we can plan. Without a budget, we are stuck in this place trying to maintain the best we can.
Dozens of Quad-City agencies are affected by the ongoing budget impasse. The Child Abuse Council Quad-Cities in Rock Island stands to lose $350,000 in state grant money, said Angie Kendall, the agencys director of development and communications.
Were OK through June, Kendall said. But after that, were left to operate an agency with guesses and empty promises. We are forced to do business this way every day.
For 39 years, the Child Abuse Council has provided prevention, education and treatment programs for children and families in the bi-state metropolitan area. State money funds a home visitation prenatal program as well as therapy for abuse victims up to 5 years old.
Kendall said 44 percent of its state money was cut last year, which pulled the rug out from under us, causing staff cuts and the elimination of services. But, she said, this years impasse is the worst she has seen.
The stress of keeping a program open affects our ability to provide the best possible service, Kendall said.
The Rock Island County Health Department relies on state grants for most of its budget.
If the state doesnt pay, we run out of funding quickly, said Janet Hill, the health departments chief operating officer. There is little cushion.
The most vulnerable program, Hill said, is family case management, but that grant is being paid through a court order. Family case management works to reduce the states infant mortality rate by providing help and resources for parents or guardians who might be struggling. For example, the health department can help clients apply for subsidized housing or heating assistance.
In most years, the state would put out grants for the next fiscal year in about April. Last year, Hill said, it was well after July 1, the date the new fiscal year starts.
The health department is OK at the moment, Hill said, because grants through the end of the current fiscal year are still being paid.
Looking elsewhere
Judith Gethner, executive director of the Chicago-headquartered Illinois Partners for Human Service, said that when state grants fail to come through nonprofits often have to look elsewhere for funding.
"How would you operate your life without 12 months of income?" she asked. "The nonprofit has to find other resources to be able to sustain them when the government wasn't paying them. They didnt know when the money was going to come."
Agencies have coped by extending their lines of credit, organizing fundraisers, furloughing staff and not filling vacant positions and doubling up on duties, she and others said. The Southern Seven Health Department administrators, for instance, combined the duties of its nursing staff that was once at 15 a few years ago into a staff of eight.
Other social service agencies were not as fortunate. The Mahoney Transitional Living home, a facility in Rosiclare for homeless ages 16 to 24 years old, succumbed to the budget fiasco, closing in February.
Planning in uncertainty
Just because legislators passed a stopgap budget did not mean money was released the next day, Gethner said.
"So oftentimes, they're having to work together to make these critical decisions about maintaining programs and staffs during a time when they are not getting reimbursed," she said.
Her agency is one of those entities Voices for Illinois Children that had made it their mission to track and tabulate the cost of legislators' inability to agree to a budget.
The Center for Prevention of Abuse's executive director Carol Merna said not knowing also didn't help her staff with any kind of planning. They were able to absorb 40 children served by the loss of its Safe From The Start program, which cost $10,000 a month, and seniors served by the $52,000 Self Neglect program into other programs at the facility.
That agency primarily serves clients in Peoria, Woodford and Pekin counties and serves seniors in parts of Fulton, Marshall and Toulon counties.
"We continue to root for our legislators, but compromise is a very important piece of that, and we dont see a whole lot of compromise in the upper levels of leadership," Merna said.
1 million affected
More than 1 million people have been affected by cuts to social service agencies, ranging from those that offer mental health services and help to youth and families, according to an Associated Press report quoting a United Way source.
Gethner agreed with that assessment, noting that it's hard to come by a specific measure of the impact. She said there are 400,000 state employees, some of whose jobs have been affected. That estimate of 1 million people affected reflects the notion that about a third of those accessing human services are affected in some way.
Its a third of the people that are served its huge," she said.
DES MOINES The Iowa Utilities Board plans to seek public records exemptions from the Legislature so it can better communicate with utilities and federal regulatory agencies about cybersecurity and cyberattacks.
Under the current public-records law, information about cybersecurity at utility companies is not shielded from the public, IUB Chairwoman Geri Huser told the House Commerce Committee on Monday. That limits board members and staff from complete access to cybersecurity information, such as how utilities protect against cyberattacks and respond in the event of an attack.
If they have an attack, they can tell us we need to do A, B and C, but they cant tell us why, Huser said.
If there was an actual attack, they could tell us, but nothing else about it, added board member Nick Wagner.
At this time, Huser said that when she or other board staff meet with utilities on those matters they do not retain any documents so that information does not become public record.
The request for an exemption to the public records laws doesnt surprise Randy Evans, of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Similar exemptions exist for various state agencies, such as the Department of Corrections, that have emergency and security plans.
The council takes a pretty realistic view of exemptions like that, Evans said. We would be concerned if it appeared to be a catch-all for other kinds of records.
Iowa law assumes that government records are open to public inspection unless a specific exemption exists in the law.
Huser also told lawmakers she is obtaining federal security clearances so she can discuss cybersecurity with federal agencies as well as utilities under Iowa Utilities Board jurisdiction. Like the federal regulatory agencies, Huser said, most utilities have staff members with clearance that allows them to share information but not with her.
There are people who have information on cyberattacks on our utilities, but there is no one at IUB with clearance, so we cant be told about it, she said. Even with that security clearance, Huser will be limited in what she can share with other board members and staff if they dont have a security clearance.
Gaining the proper security clearance has taken her more than a year and is not complete, Huser said.
Next week, Mid-American Glass Inc. is scheduled to shut down for two days when a specialized furnace at the Davenport company will undergo inspection and maintenance.
The company is expecting that a Toronto-based contractor will be on hand to do the work. But on Monday, just days after President Donald Trump signed an order restricting travel from seven mostly Muslim countries, they're not so sure.
The contractor, who also has become a friend, holds dual citizenship from Canada and Iran, said Michelle Magyar, the company president.
Will he be able to get in?" she asked.
As of early Monday afternoon, she didn't know. An official from U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack's office said it had asked for clarification from the Department of Homeland Security but hadn't received a reply by Monday afternoon. A spokesperson for Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said it was unclear Monday how dual nationals would be handled.
The president's action, which also puts in place a four-month ban on refugees coming to the U.S., is drawing widespread protests.
The White House defended the order Monday, saying it's needed to keep the country safe. However, questions have arisen about how it will be implemented.
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said in a statement Monday morning that she thinks it's prudent to "take the time necessary" to assess vetting procedures. But she added, "with respect to the president's executive order, there must be more clarity surrounding the order's implementation."
Over the weekend, people were detained at airports as the order was being implemented.
So far, the Quad-Cities largest employer, Deere & Co., hasnt had any instances involving its employees, said spokesman Ken Golden. But the company continues to monitor the situation, he said.
During the fall campaign, Trump said he planned to restrict people from Muslim-majority countries from coming to the U.S. The president has denied this is a Muslim ban.
Still, the impact on the ability of refugees to travel to the Quad-Cities is apparent.
Amy Rowell, the director of World Relief in Moline, said Monday it usually helps 225 refugees move to the area annually. Now, World Relief is planning on 120. She said she felt "complete disappointment and sadness" for refugees when she heard the news of the temporary ban.
"It's just more waiting and more disappointment," she said.
At Augustana College, Rock Island, a spokesman said it had no students enrolled from any of the seven countries affected by the immigration ban. However, Steven Bahls, college president, sent an email to students on Sunday saying he is concerned about developments in Washington, D.C.
"Our nation is stronger when we welcome immigrants, provide education and other opportunities to those who dream of citizenship, and support and value all members of our community, including those who are Muslim or represent other religious minorities," he wrote.
A spokesman for St. Ambrose University, Davenport, said none of its students was prevented from entering the country.
Politically, Democrats condemned the order, while Republicans praised the focus on national security, even as they were cautious about how the order would be implemented.
Grassley said national security is the federal government's prime responsibility.
"The goals of the executive order are commendable, and something President Trump promised during the campaign, but implementation will be key to ensuring the bad guys are kept out while remaining a welcome nation to people of all backgrounds and religions, he said.
Meanwhile, Loebsack, D-Iowa, and Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., condemned the president's actions. Loebsack called the refugee ban "shameful" and said it "gives fodder to our enemies."
Bustos called it "life-threatening" and said, "I strongly urge President Trump to rescind this un-American and dangerous executive order before serious damage is done."
(Jennifer DeWitt contributed to this report.)
Good afternoon, Quad-Cities. Here is your National Weather Service forecast.
This afternoon will be cloudy with a high near 40 degrees. West winds will be around 15 mph with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low around 27 degrees. West winds will be around 10 mph.
Wednesday will be partly sunny with a high near 32 degrees. Northwest winds will be 5-15 mph with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 15 degrees. Northwest winds will be around 10 mph.
Here's a look back at the Top 10 Super Bowl ads since 2008.
'Super weed' enters Scott County farmfields
An invasive weed that grows seven feet tall and that has a hard, woody stem has been spotted in Scott County this year.
The weed is Palmer amaranth, said Virgil Schmitt, agronomist at the Iowa State University Extension Office in Muscatine. It's called a "super weed" because of its ability to grow quickly and because it is resistant to many herbicides.
According to experts, farmers need to act quickly if the plant is found in their fields. Read more
Illinois budget impasse cripples state debt, investment
As Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats continue their game of chicken over the budget, a fire rages inside the states bank vault.
Day after day, the state operates without a balanced budget, and as a result, the states financial health continues to deteriorate as the backlog of unpaid bills, late fees and interest payments continue to skyrocket.
The state's backlog of bills has now surpassed a record $11 billion spread among close to 150,000 vouchers and will continue to get worse if the status quo doesn't change, according to current projections from the state Office of Management and Budget.
Meanwhile, the state's credit rating is sinking, raising borrowing costs. Read more later today online at qctimes.com and in print editions of the Quad-City Times.
Construction halted on Kinnick Stadium house
How would you like to live next to Kinnick Stadium? Homeowners in an Iowa City neighborhood aren't thrilled about it.
A couple building a house modeled after the Hawkeyes' 87-year-old stadium, have voluntarily halted construction until a court rules on a lawsuit filed by neighborhood residents against the Iowa City Board of Adjustment. The residents' lawyer said Monday that they had already asked the court for an order halting construction.
The house Reed and Sandy Carlson plan to build would look like the Hawkeyes' stadium, complete with brick siding and a replica of the press box.
The neighborhood association has expressed concern about the home's size, the potential for big parties, as well as drainage, fire safety and traffic issues. The board officials have said the house plans met all of the city's guidelines.
Police: Pastor caught with man's wife, flees naked
A police report says a prominent Florida pastor was forced to run out of a house naked after a woman's husband came home to find him having sex with his wife.
The Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat reports police documents show a woman's husband found her in bed with Pastor O. Jermaine Simmons in the middle of the afternoon on Jan. 17. The woman told police that her husband yelled that he was going to kill Simmons, who fled the apartment naked and hid behind a nearby fence. The husband took the pastor's clothes, wallet and car keys and later agreed to return the items following negotiations with police.
Video posted online shows Simmons asking for forgiveness from his congregation at Tallahassee's Jacob Chapel, saying "you cannot defend sin."
An invasive weed that grows seven feet tall and that has a hard, woody stem has been spotted in Scott County this year.
The weed is Palmer amaranth, said Virgil Schmitt, agronomist at the Iowa State University Extension Office in Muscatine. It's called a "super weed" because of its ability to grow quickly and because it is resistant to many herbicides.
According to experts, farmers need to act quickly if the plant is found in their fields.
The weed is originally from Texas and the warmer climates of the southwestern United States, Schmitt said. It was spotted in 2013 in five Iowa counties, but now it is in nearly half of the state's 99 counties.
"The only way it got to a farm in Scott County is because it was carried in," Schmitt said.
The local farm was affected because either animal feed or hay was purchased from another state and the tiny seeds were within one of those products.
The Palmer amaranth is quite like a native plant, called waterhemp, or pigweed.
"Management of both are virtually identical," Schmitt said, as the herbicides that work on waterhemp also work on Palmer amaranth.
The biggest difference between the two plants is that Palmer amaranth is like waterhemp on steroids.
"It grows really fast and really large," he said.
Once farmers have the weed, it's a challenge to stay ahead of the scourge. The idea is to pull it, or kill it, before it goes to seed.
The seeds of both waterhemp and Palmer amaranth are about the size of a grain of pepper, Schmitt said. Farmers unwittingly bury it in rows when they till the fields.
On the bright side, the agronomist said the weed survives in Iowa, but it hasn't fully adapted to the climate here.
This weed seed won't be in corn, soybeans, oats, rye or barley, Schmitt said. The usual culprits are seeds purchased from out of state.
In addition, common-sense farm sanitation is important. Last week, Schmitt spoke to a farmer who recently had purchased some used equipment from the Marshalltown, Iowa, area.
The local buyer made sure he power-washed the implements he had acquired, just to get rid of any unwanted pests or seeds.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
The Quad-Cities Lodging Association, which offers a new scholarship program for college students, will partner with Scott Community College Foundation for the second annual gala Thursday, Feb. 2, at Hotel Blackhawk, 200 E. 3rd St., Davenport.
Cocktails will be available at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The event raises money for tourism-industry students. For more information and tickets, visit www.qclahotels.org. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.eicc.edu.
The association works with the Quad-Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau to identify, solicit and fund events that benefit its members and the Quad-City area. The foundation provides financial resources for scholarships and college enhancement.
DES MOINES Todays evolving nature of warfare requires an evolving warrior, the leader of the Iowa Army National Guard told lawmakers Tuesday.
One that is highly educated, physically fit, technologically savvy and globally aware, Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr, adjutant general of the Iowa Army National Guard, told a joint session of the Iowa Legislature.
For the Guard, that means drawing from the broadest pool of service-eligible Iowans, he said in his annual address. That pool includes young Iowans who are benefiting from the emphasis in K-12 schools on STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math.
From intelligence-gathering and analysis, to aviation, to communications, to cybersecurity, we have dozens of part-time and full-time positions that utilize state of the art technology and application of STEM disciplines, Orr said.
Although only 425 Iowa Guard members deployed around the globe, Orr hinted at increased mobilizations.
The days of the Iowa National Guard serving exclusively as a strategic reserve called up only in emergencies are now over, Orr said.
Several Iowa Army National Guard and Iowa Air Guard units and individuals have been identified for potential overseas deployments.
Given the level of global uncertainty, instability and potential for significant conflict around the world, we are now at a point where current and projected demands for our assets around the globe will continue to remain constant, he said.
So the Iowa Army National Guard continues to increase training opportunities for members to improve their individual skills and unit readiness.
Orr noted the Guards history goes back 180 years. Today, Camp Dodge is the third-busiest National Guard training base in the United States for training National Guard, Reserve and active duty service members, law enforcement officers, interagency personnel, and civilians, Orr said.
In addition to its duties around the world, the Guard also is called on for emergencies at home, Orr said. Last year was relatively quiet, he said, but that changed in September when the Guard was called on to assist local agencies in dealing with unusual fall flooding along the Cedar River in eastern Iowa.
In one week, the Guard placed nearly 500 soldiers and airmen on state active duty to assist Palo and Cedar Rapids with security personnel, liaison officers and an aerial reconnaissance team.
The Guard also dispatched teams downriver to provide assessments on potential critical infrastructure issues and support requirements to mitigate the flood damage, he said.
These teams provided timely, critical information to federal, state and county emergency coordinators, who were able to make more accurate decisions, and thus apply the right resources at the right time, Orr said.
He also reminded lawmakers of the economic impact of the Guard. In the past year, the Iowa Army National Guard brought in more than $353 million of federal funding into the state. For every $1 of state funding, the Iowa Army National Guard returned more than $32 of federal funding.
To put it in perspective, our soldiers and airmen pay more in state property, payroll and sales taxes than what the State of Iowa provides in funding to the Iowa National Guard, Orr said.
He also said the Guard will start construction this year on a $23 million armory project in Davenport, utilizing 100 percent federal funding. The new facility will replace the Brady Street Armory, which is the Iowa Guard's oldest readiness center.
With legislative support, Orr said, the Iowa Army National Guard has been able to maintain its position as a national leader in personnel readiness because of programs such as the Iowa National Guard Education Assistance Program, which he called a critical recruiting tool. This year, nearly 1,200 Guard members received up to 100 percent tuition at regents universities and community colleges, keeping our young people here in the state and providing them with a high-quality, Iowa education.
In return, members of the Iowa Army National Guard are woven into the fabric of Iowa through communities in every corner of this state, ready and willing to transform from civilians to soldiers and airmen in a moments notice to answer the call of our state and nation, Orr said.
A new engineering study focusing on traffic control options at the intersection of Highways 20 and 385 is expected to be released in the coming days, but many businesses and individuals arent waiting for the results to voice their opinion on one option.
Bat and Patricia Pourier are spearheading opposition to a roundabout at the intersection, asking instead for an actuated traffic light with an early warning light. They have collected nearly three dozen signatures from Chadron business owners opposed to a roundabout, all attached to a letter addressed to the Chadron City Council.
We ask that our tax dollars go to a traffic light, not a roundabout, the letter reads. As small businesses, our survival depends on customers being able to access our stores, restaurants and gas stations. We fear that a roundabout will discourage visitors from passing through Chadron and frequenting our businesses. Anything that reduces visitors to our businesses will negatively impact our bottom line and the citys sales tax revenues.
The letter also cites concerns for semi trucks hauling agricultural products and over-sized loads.
More than 3,500 bright orange postcards were also distributed to every address in the 69337 zip code, seeking public opinion on the matter.
We need to give another side of the story, said Bat Pourier when asked about the postcards. The goal is to give a percentage of those for and against a roundabout at the Feb. 6 Chadron City Council meeting, when the engineering study will be released to the public. The results will be part of a larger presentation that will also include video interviews and news articles about the negative impacts of roundabouts.
Truckers, a key segment of business for the Pourier familys Big Bats store at the intersection, hate roundabouts and avoid them whenever they can, Bat said. With the addition of Ash Street and the recent remodeling of the store, Big Bats has completed approximately $2 million in improvements, said Corey Pourier. Those improvements have increased diesel fuel traffic, but a roundabout could kill it all, he continued.
The idea of a roundabout at the intersection has recycled through the community numerous times since 2011. The Nebraska Department of Roads has federal safety dollars available for safety improvements and suggested the roundabout as an option. The NDOR has long said its traffic studies do not justify a light at the intersection.
In 2012, the council indicated a willingness to consider the option, if only to prevent the construction of a bypass around Chadron during Heartland Expressway construction. Two years later, the idea was presented again. At that time, NDOR said that installing a traffic light at the intersection would increase the chances of the Heartland Expressway bypassing Chadron.
The NDOR cites statistics that show roundabouts as an effective safety device for controlling traffic and decreasing accidents. Fatality accidents can be decreased by up to 90 percent, and overall crashes are reduced by 40 percent, according to the NDOR.
Later in 2014, an engineering study conducted by the NDOR ruled out all traffic control options except for the roundabout. The study indicated traffic volumes were down 10 percent from the year prior and did not warrant a traffic light, nor did the intersection meet the criteria for a four-way stop. A free right turn lane was also ruled out, despite its existence at that intersection many years ago. The NDOR removed free right turn lanes across the state due to crashes at the merge area. The NDOR study said while a free right turn ramp may alleviate some issues, it doesnt qualify for the safety grant dollars.
In light of that study, the council took no action to pursue any traffic control device.
The state is dangling these grant dollars. That doesnt mean thats good development, Bat Pourier said.
Last year, the city and the NDOR agreed to hire a third party to conduct another traffic study at the intersection. Olsson and Associates will review its findings Monday. During the study, businesses within 1,000 feet of the intersection had an opportunity to share their concerns with the engineers. Only three took advantage of that opportunity, said City Manager Wayne Anderson.
The idea behind the new survey was to update the traffic counts given the recent development near the intersection and to determine best practices for traffic control based on empirical data.
Thats what we want the decision made on, not personal opinion, Anderson said.
At a meeting approving the agreement to hire an independent contractor for the study, council members John Coates and Mark Werner assured the audience that they would seek to have public input included as part of the study.
The Chadron State College music department is expecting more than 100 musicians from 24 high schools in Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado at the 45th annual High Plains Band and Choir Festival Feb. 6 and 7.
The honor band and choir will rehearse both days and perform the final concert for the public in Memorial Halls Auditorium on Tuesday at 5 p.m. An audio stream of the concert will be available at chadronstate.tv.
Dr. Joel Schreuder, CSC music professor, will conduct the honor choir, and guest conductor Dr. Kenneth Steinsultz, associate professor of music and director of bands at the University of Evansville (Illinois), will lead the honor band.
Schreuder is the director of choral and vocal activities at CSC. He has also been a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in Nebraska and the High Plains region. Since his arrival at CSC in 2002, Schreuder has directed the High Plains Choir Festival as well as several district music festivals and honor choirs in Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, and Colorado. His international conducting and performing experience includes concerts, tours, and conferences, in China, Germany, and Ukraine.
Steinsultzs university ensembles have performed at regional festivals and state organizational conferences, most recently the College Band Directors National Association 2016 North Central Division Conference at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. At the University of Evansville, he conducts the Wind Ensemble, University Band, Aces Brass Pep Band, and teaches courses in applied low brass and conducting.
He has presented clinics at state conferences in Illinois and Indiana and frequently conducts district and regional honor bands.
Two directors will be honored for outstanding student participation. They are Randy Raines, director of bands for Gering Public Schools, and David Mead, a CSC alumnus and choir director at Sidney High School. Raines was the recipient of the Nebraska Music Educators Music Educator of the Year award in 2010. Meads choir is planning to compete in Los Angeles in May.
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. | KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender crews from five bases on three continents provided aerial refueling support during the B-2 bomber mission which struck two Daesh training camps in Libya Jan. 18, 2017.
Two B-2 Spirit bombers dropped 500-pound GPS-guided bombs on the camps, which were being used to plan and train for attacks against U.S. and allied interests in North Africa and Europe.
A total of 15 tankers participated in the operation, enabling the B-2s to fly the more than 30 hours round-trip to the target from their home base at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. Planners at 18th Air Force and the 618th Air Operations Center at Scott AFB coordinated the tanker mission, ensuring the refueling aircraft were at the right place at the right time to get the bombers to and from the Daesh training camps.
Our goal was to find the aircraft to do the mission, said Lt. Col. James Hadley, 18th Air Force operations planner. The mobility enterprise flexed to put tankers from the U.S., U.S. European and U.S. Central Commands toward this effort. Everybody had a part in making this work, and it was very successful.
The 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, was one of the units that contributed tankers to the refueling mission. Col. Darren Cole, the 305th AMW commander, said several units had to come together from different locations and commands and function together as a team to make this mission happen.
Its a big team that has to execute things on time to make it work right, he said. Its pretty impressive to be able to hit a target globally at a moments notice with so many people participating.
Making sure the tankers and bombers meet at the right place and time is like choreographing a Broadway production, Hadley said.
When you get the request, you have to look at the whole enterprise, he said. Some tankers may already be in the right spot, some may have to be moved. The speed of the aircraft are completely different, so they wont all take off at the same time, and it takes several mid-air refuelings to make an air bridge. If one person is off, the whole mission can go awry.
Col. Clint Zumbrunnen, 305th Operations Group commander, said the 305th AMW keeps two aircraft on continuous alert just in case such a mission should come up. He said that, coupled with an efficient operations team, made sure the 305th would fly on time.
The crews grow up here being conditioned for short-notice missions, to show up, plan and get the fuel to the fight, Zumbrunnen explained. Our Current Operations team is also particularly skilled at making operations happen on short notice. It makes us particularly well-equipped to do this sort of mission.
Hadley said the stakes can be high.
If a tanker fell out you might have seen on the news how a couple of bombers had to land somewhere in Europe, he said. Or even worse, you might have seen a news report about two bombers lost in the North Atlantic. Our tanker fleet enables them to do what they do.
Using tankers sends a message to friend and foe alike, said Hadley.
They affect things on a global scale, he said. They tell our forces that we can support them where ever they are, and it tells our adversaries that we can find you and touch you on a moments notice.
Cole said hes proud of the role his Airmen played in this mission.
As always, they do an outstanding job when their nation calls upon them to do the tough tasks, he said. And it came off extremely well. Its air refueling that puts the global in global strike.
The Libya strike is just one example of how the command facilitates the tanker war against Daesh, said Brig. Gen. Lenny Richoux, 18th AF vice commander.
"The air bridge our planners and tanker crews create enable U.S. and allied strike aircraft to continuously hit Daesh, or any enemy, no matter where they hide," Richoux said.
"Missions like this one are merely one of many executed every day, he added. The mobility enterprise conducts a massive amount of planning every single day, and we coordinate with customers around the globe for each mission. America's air refueling tanker capability are one of the key missions that set us apart from every other Air Force in the world. Everyone needs air refueling and we deliver it."
Commissioners bemoan federal land acquisitions
HOT SPRINGS Fall River County commissioner Joe Falkenburg on Tuesday, Jan. 17, penned a letter to President Trump bemoaning the fact that former President Obama placed so much federal land in National Monuments and other designations that it has resulted in what Falkenburg claims is 554 million acres of land being off limits to developments, grazing and other activities.
Falkenburg asked for support for sending this letter to Trump also South Dakotas Congressional delegation of Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds, and Rep. Kristi Noem saying he was incensed that 5 million acres or more could be set aside for grouse while taking away grazing land from ranchers. So you cant ranch, he said. Then you have the The Nature Conservancy coming in.
He received this support from all commissioners but Joe Allen: Paul Nabholz said he was happy to second a motion to send Falkenburgs letter; both Ann Abbott and Deb Russell said they were supportive of this letter.
In the letter, Falkenburg cites the percentage of each state that is owned by the federal government as follows: Nevada, 76.1 percent: Utah, 70.2 percent; Idaho, 60.5 percent; Wyoming, 55.9 percent; Arizona, 32.2 percent; Montana, 26.5 percent; South Dakota, 8.9 percent, Nebraska, 2.8 percent.
The tragedy of these designations are most felt in our Western states where many have vast amounts of public lands, he writes.
The problem with this, according to his letter, is that these large public land holdings take vast sums of money from county tax bases. Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) money for county governments assist and are greatly needed, but dont make up for the difference if these lands were actively utilized by ranchers, farmers of for development, Falkenburg argues.
Without PILT money, maybe Western counties would be bankrupt, he writes.
He also cites the amount of land declared in National Monuments by various presidents: Franklin Roosevelt 2.8 million acres; Harry Truman 23,000 acres; Dwight Eisenhower removed 26,000 acres; John Kennedy - 26,000 acres; Lyndon Johnson 360,000 acres; Richard Nixon 0 acres; George H. W. Bush - 0 acres; Bill Clinton 5.7 million acres; George W. Bush 214 million acres; Barak Obama 554 million acres.
It would be my hope that some of these designations by President Obama could be reversed or eliminated, Falkenburg writes.
He also writes about how environmentalists proposed the creation of a Buffalo Commons to run from Canada to Texas, taking all federal land and some private lands for a Lewis and Clark type park. Farfetched?, Falkenburg writes, Think again. This is the fly over section of the United States.
It is extremely important in our county of Fall River, SD where approximately 300,000 acres is Federal land that we do not lose any more to Government acquisition of any kind, Falkenburg writes.
It is our hope to get the heavy hand of Government off our backs and out of our lives.
Please stand up for freedom.
According to a December 2014 document from the U.S. Congressional Research Service, Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data, Falkenburgs figures his source for acreage is not cited in the letter are somewhat skewed. Some states have more federal ground, some significantly less, including South Dakota.
Arizona, for example was at nearly 39 percent federal ground in late 2014, Idaho nearly 62 percent, Montana 29 percent, Nevada nearly 85 percent.
However, the percentage of federal ground in Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota differed from Falkenburgs figures.
South Dakotas 2.6 million-plus federal acres represented 5.4 percent of the states nearly 49 million total acres, not nearly 9 percent.
Nebraskas 546,000 acres of federal ground is 1 percent of the 49 million acres there.
Wyomings 30 million acres of federal ground is 48 percent of its total acreage of 62 million acres.
Altogether, the federal government owns about 640 million acres (28 percent) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the U.S. Some 92 percent of federally owned acres are in 12 Western states, and four federal agencies, the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in the U.S. Department of Agricultureoversee 95 percent of these federal acreages.
Also, since 1990, the total acreage of federal lands have generally declined, according to the report. Many federal acres were disposed of, at the same time the federal government acquired new parcels. Also, numerous new federal land designations including wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, and national park units have taken place.
According the report, total federal land ownership has declined by 23.5 million acres, or 3.6 percent. BLM lands declined by 24.8 million acres (more than 9 percent), while U.S. Department of Defense lands declined by more than 6 million acres (almost 30 percent).
Meanwhile, the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service have holdings expanded since 1990, with NPS showing the largest increase in both acreage and growth3.5 million acres (4.6 percent).
A reduction in federal lands in Alaska was a major reason for the total decline in federal lands since 1990. Federal land there was reduced by 21.9 million acres.
To view these figures for yourself, visit https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42346.pdf
Lots of promises, few deliveries mark operation
HOT SPRINGS The world according to Robert Vicino, founder of The Vivos Project the concept to use the abandoned U.S. Army ammunition bunkers in Igloo as a haven for people who want to survive any number of, according to Vicino, impending crises is a dark one, filled with dread.
Vicino, via the Vivos Project, sees a world full of threats:
War or terrorism resulting in nuclear, biological or electro-magentic pulse weapons being used with devastating effect, making the surface of the planet largely uninhabitable.
Anarchy, the result of the collapse of current socio-economic institutions, where the haves must thwart a massive have-not push and fight over dwindling resources for all.
A harsh Mother Nature exploding, drowning, burning or messing up the world as we know it with solar flares, shifting tectonic plates resulting in a global tsunami, a reversal of the poles essentially flipping the Earth upside down, the Yellowstone caldera erupting and smothering most of North America in ash, etc.
Even some pretty far out stuff, like Planet X, a mysterious and currently undiscovered planet, that supposedly has an orbit through our solar system that every couple million years or so, that results in a polar shift or other calamity that destroys most of life as we know it. To justify this, The Vivos Projects website points to a 4,500 year old Sumerian tablet that shows a 12th planet in the solar system, Tiamat, that was supposedly destroyed when it collided with Nibiru (Planet X). It also cites Revelation and a dark dwarf star called Wormwood that supposedly has an effect on Earth.
Vicinos cure for these maladies? Lease an Igloo Vivos xPoint bunker for the next 99 years! Inside the bunker you can survive nearly any calamity, and when its all over, youll come out smiling into a brave new world because these bunkers can, according to Vivos xPoint:
Handle flooding submersion for extended periods, although no one says where the water is coming from at Igloo.
Keep you cool in external fires of 1,250 degrees Fahrenheit and surface winds of 450 mph
Keep you safe from the effects of a magnetic pole shift. How, they dont say.
Survive 100-pound hailstones whacking the outside of the bunker at 100 mph.
Not collapse after Force 10 earthquakes in succession.
Even, heaven forbid, a 20 megaton air burst detonated just 10 miles away
How does Vivos know these bunkers can withstand all this?
According to Vivos Media Director Barbi Grossman, Vivos chose the Ft. Igloo site due to its distance from all known military and metropolitan targets. We dont claim the bunkers can withstand nukes or even a nearby nuclear blast within 10 miles. Nothing can withstand a direct hit, especially if you are at ground zero. The bunkers were designed to withstand a 500,000 blast from within, due to the thick concrete and steel construction, the barrel shape and the large deposits of soil overburden on each. The bunkers will each be outfitted with an NBC filtration system (nuclear, biological and chemical) to scrub all air.
A Yellowstone eruption is of concern, Grossman said, since Vivos xPoint is roughly 350 miles from the Yellowstone caldera, but well outside of the predicted blast zones. The bunkers were designed to support an overburden of earth, and will easily support the anticipated quantity of ash fallout. Vivos will also maintain the roadways (nearly 100 miles) on the property, pushing ash away much like snow.
Still, each bunker owner is supposed to manage any excessive deposits on their bunker, and filters are supposed to scrub ash particles from air entering the bunkers.
Now all this survival comes at a cost, and if you want to get in on Vivos xPoint better hurry, says the website it will cost you $25,000, up-front.
Payment plans are offered. For $5,000 down, you can take out a $20,000 loan for three years (6 percent interest). And, in the fine print it says youll also need a $1,000 per year ground lease. All of this (loan and lease payments) will cost $692 per month. Vicino via Vivos xPoint offers no credit check, no fees, no points on this loan.
To economize, Vivos xPoint says you could share your bunker with nine other people (212 square feet per person), split the cost and spend only $69 per month.
Also, once the initial $25,000 is paid off only the lease payment remains.
Despite what most people think, Vivos xPoint is NOT for the rich, the elite, or the 1%. It is for everyone. There will be no safer or more fortified place to be when the SHTF. We cannot make it any more affordable than this, nor can anyone build a real, all-risk, life-assurance bunker for less! Anywhere!
History
The 575 hardened concrete military bunkers Vivos xPoint is hawking as a cure for doomsday scenarios were once part of the Black Hills Ordinance Depot, a munitions storage and maintenance facility operated by the U.S. Armys Ordnance Corps in southwestern Fall River County.
The igloo-like bunkers that gave Igloo (the town) its name were built in 1942, during World War II, to accommodate the war efforts increased need for ammunition. Igloo served the depot and included public schools, a hospital, post office, church, shopping, a theater, a swimming pool and a recreation center. Newscaster and author Tom Brokaw spent several years on the base as a boy, and during WW II Italian prisoners of war were kept at the base.
The depot, in later years, was also used for storage and testing of chemical weapons. This included:
Sarin This colorless, odorless liquid, a weapon of mass destruction, can be lethal in very low concentrations. Direct inhalation can cause death, from suffocation, within 10 minutes. Also, people who absorb a non-lethal dose but dont receive help may suffer permanent neurological damage. Under some circumstances, Sarin can decompose rapidly, under others this may take weeks, even months. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) adopted sarin as a standard chemical weapon during the 1950s Cold War, intending to spray Communists with it via chemical cluster bombs, like the Honest John. However, production of sarin weapons in the U.S. ceased in 1957, and sarin was outlawed under the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993
Mustard gas This chemical warfare agent, developed by German scientists during World War I, has the ability to create large blisters on exposed skin, eyes and lungs. Mustard gas was spread via artillery shells, aerial bombs, rockets and sprayed by war planes. Those exposed didnt experience symptoms immediately, but within 24 hours, intense itching and skin irritation becomes a chemical burn, with large, pus-filled blisters forming. In the eyes, the result is temporary blindness. Mustard gas easily penetrates wool or cotton uniforms, so not only exposed skin gets burned. Mustard agent is persistent, and remains on the ground for weeks, continuing to cause harm. Mustard gas was first used against British and Canadian soldiers near Ypres, Belgium, in 1917. It was outlawed by 1993s Chemical Weapons Convention.
Both the depot and Igloos prominence varied over the years, increasing during periods of war, declining during peace. During the 1950s, about 750 workers were employed at the depot, and Igloo had about 1,800 people more during WW II.
The depot was closed in June of 1967, and Igloo was largely abandoned.
Who is Vivos xPoint?
According to the companys website Robert Vicino ramrods Vivos.
Vicino is described as an entrepreneur with a global history of success in manufacturing, marketing and real estate development.
Vicino claims he first envisioned the need for Vivos xPoint in 1980, when a gut wrenching feeling that something was going to happen and the only solution was with an underground shelter complex struck him. His first thought was converting an abandoned mine shaft into a bunker capable of handling 1,000 people for a year. As time continued, he realized this was more difficult to locate and construct than expected.
Vicino officially launched the Vivos project in 2008, when his conviction to make this happen collided with his unique skill set and the huge responsibility of sticking his neck out for ridicule, and investing years of his life and savings to save others. Vicino says he put together a team of experts in engineering, architecture, construction, medicine, psychology, healthcare, nutrition, law, the Constitution, finance, management, logistics, manufacturing, security and self defense to bring the Vivos network to reality around the world.
The current Vivos spoke and hub design was born out of the need to have as many complexes spread across the country as possible, at the lowest cost, to make it affordable for co-ownership.
Vicinos plan evolved as more people expressed concerns about the possibility of calamities.
While 2012 (Mayan apocalypse prediction) came and went without incident the catastrophes and threats to mankind have not dissipated, the Vios website notes. Nobody really knows for certain what the Mayans may have foreseen, if anything. But the prophecies of the Bible, and great prophets through the ages, all seem to point to this age in our time that these epic events will be realized.
Who is a typical Vivos xPoint co-owner?
Our typical member is well-educated, middle class, conservative, with a family (sometimes three generations), said Grossman. They are not scared, but rather aware of the threats that are now all around us, from mankind and nature.
These concerns range from economic collapse, WW III, terrorism to anarchy, major earth changes (volcanoes, earthquakes and climate), she said, even the far out stuff like asteroids and Planet X.
While their concerns are different, the best solution for survival is the same, she says, namely a real, fortified, underground bunker. They all seem to sleep better knowing they have a life-assurance solution waiting for them and their families when all hell breaks loose. The bigger question is what will everyone else do?
Meanwhile, documents filed with the states Secretary of State office show Fort Igloo Bunkers LLC as the company running the Igloo operation. Jason Sparling, of 415 Park Street, Northville, in East Rivers Spink County, is named at the organizer of the limited liability, member-managed company.
In February of 2014, Robert Ronayne of Ronayne Law Office PC, in Aberdeen, filed the official paperwork to create the LLC. Annual reports have been filed with the Secretary of States office for 2015 - 2017, but these reports simply list Sparling as the state agent of the LLC, and share no other information.
For 2016 and 2017, Thomas Brady, a Spearfish lawyer, the law offices of Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun, P.C., a law firm with offices in Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Spearfish is listed as the state agent.
In the January 2017 listing of property transfers for Fall River County, S & S Land & Cattle, L.L.C. of Northville transferred property to Fort Igloo Bunkers, L.L.C., Northville, using a warranty deed.
S&S Land & Cattle and Josie Land & Cattle appear to be the same outfit, according to business records in the Secretary of States office. Josie Land & Cattle is headed by Sparling, and its business location is Igloo. Josie Land & Cattle LLC also received more than $219,000 in US Department of Agriculture subsidies between 1995 and 2014. This included $219,000 in livestock subsidies, $3500 in corn, $1,800 in wheat, $1,100 in barley, $440 in sorghum, and $100 in oat subsides.
Sparling has also been involved in the buffalo meat business. In 2007, in a case before the state Supreme Court involving two separate agreements for the slaughter and sale of buffalo, Sparling, doing business as Gourmet Bison, couldnt pay a buffalo supplier for meat, and was part of a nearly $8,000 judgment.
Grossman didnt know who Thomas Brady was, but said Sparling is one of the underlying land owners, but not involved in the Vivos project.
Next week Part II
STVA, others will try to influence VA Sec. nominee to reconsider
HOT SPRINGS With the Trump administration coming into power in the federal government, Save the VA (STVA) and others against what the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to do with its Hot Springs facility are hoping to influence the new nominee for Secretary of the VA, Dr. David Shulkin.
Earlier this month, then VA Secretary Robert McDonald announced that the VA would move forward with its plans to reconfigure the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS), and move much of what Hot Springs VA currently does to Rapid City.
This includes:
Renovating Hot Springs Building No. 12, the current VA Hospital, for outpatient services, including dialysis, to create a community based outpatient clinic (CBOC), then discontinuing other services at Hot Springs. The EIS states that the VA intends to identify and approve appropriate re-use of the remainder of the Hot Springs campus. Still, this will result in the loss of about 300 Hot Springs jobs at the VA.
Constructing a multi-specialty outpatient clinic (MSOC) and a 100-bed Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) center in Rapid City.
Also, three call centers will remain at the Hot Springs campus: Two of these centers a regional VA/BHHCS Call Center and a Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) center are currently operating. The third, a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) call center, plans to bring more than 120 new jobs to Hot Springs.
Who is Shulkin?
According to information from the VA, Shulkin is a VA insider. He served as Under Secretary for Health for the VA under McDonald.
His VA biography shows him as the Chief Executive of the Veterans Health Administration, where he leads the nations largest provider of graduate medical education and major contributor of medical research, and has oversight on some 300,000 people who work in the health system.
Prior to the VA, Shulkin served in numerous chief executive roles including serving as President at Morristown Medical Center, Goryeb Childrens Hospital, the Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute, and the Atlantic Health System Accountable Care Organization.
Shulkin was also President and CEO of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, Chief Medical Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University Hospital, the Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital, and served as Chairman of Medicine and Vice Dean at Drexel University School of Medicine.
A board-certified internist, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, Shulkin received his medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, his internship at Yale University School of Medicine, and a residency and Fellowship in General Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Presbyterian Medical Center. He received advanced training in outcomes research and economics as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania.
Influencing Shulkin
STVA, for example, recently wrote to U.S. Sen. Michael Rounds, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, asking him to use his position on the committee to influence Shulkin and possibly achieve a reversal of McDonalds decision.
STVA, the letter states, is preparing for possible next steps in fighting the VAs decision.
At the top of that list is the upcoming nomination hearing for Dr. Shulkin. As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee you are in a unique position to continue the discussion regarding the VAs reconfiguration plans for the Hot Springs VA.
Save the VA is asking you to include the Hot Springs VA on the list of questions youll ask Dr. Shulkin during his confirmation hearing. Specifically, if Dr. Shulkin is aware of the VAs decision to implement their preferred alternative and if hes willing to reconsider that decision.
The opinion of Save the VA, and anyone other than the VA, that has looked at the reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System with an open mind, agrees the VAs changes wont be in the best interest of veterans that have used the Hot Springs VA for their healthcare.
Without the continued support of South Dakotas congressional delegation and the support of the Nebraska and Wyoming delegations efforts to keep the Hot Springs VA open, the VA would have already relocated the Domiciliary to Rapid City and the Hot Springs VA would be just an outpatient clinic and dialysis center. Opposition to the VAs original proposal over the last five years has resulted in delaying the implementation of the VAs reconfiguration plans and in veterans receiving a greater variety of care and traveling fewer miles for that care. You have an opportunity to continue this important discussion and influence the VAs decision.
Trump has pledged to overhaul the VA.
Rounds met with Shulkin recently for a private discussion.
I thank Dr. Shulkin for meeting with me to discuss our shared goals of fixing the systemic problems facing the VA and making our veterans the top priority, said Rounds. During our meeting, we discussed the future of the VA health care facility in Hot Springs and the Choice Program, which is set to expire in August 2017. Additionally, I urged the VA, under his leadership, to comply with the Emergency Care Fairness Act (ECFA) based on the clear intent expressed by Congress and the court system. Since the ECFA was enacted in 2010, the VA has failed in its legal obligation to cover the emergency room bills of hundreds of thousands of veterans.
Its clear that Dr. Shulkin understands the problems within the VA and truly cares about our nations veterans. I look forward to working closely with him to improve the lives of all veterans, should he be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Don Ackerman, who says he represents thousands of veterans who use Hot Springs VA he is also a STVA committee memberhas been gathering intelligence on Shulkin.
Ackerman has requested that the Senate leadership from South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado and North Dakota make a reversal of McDonalds decision about Hot Springs, which we all know is biased on false information, part of the confirmation process.
Ackerman disputes the public statements made by McDonald and BHHCS Director Sandra Horsman. For example, earlier this month, he told The Star that the VA is already dismantling Hot Springs facility, despite requiring a Congressional mandate for funding to do this, prior to doing so. He pointed to a Pine Ridge veteran who requested Hot Springs VA hospice, but was denied this, saying it would be moved to Rapid City as one example.
Horsman denies this. In a Jan. 12 statement, she reiterated how appropriations laws prevent VA/BHHCS from moving forward with reconfiguration in fiscal 2017, and how VA is working to meet the requirements of this legislation, including a national realignment strategy. Veterans and employees will not see immediate changes.
She couldnt speak to specific veterans concerns, but said the VA was aware of the case Ackerman cited, and was taking every action necessary to ensure high quality care is being provided.
U.S. Navy veteran John Renstrom would disagree. Renstrom shared a recent medical experience with The Star.
Renstrom says that on Jan. 11, he had a sudden onset medical problem, that left him extremely weak, on his left side and dizzy. His wife, who has physical limitations, suggested they call an ambulance, which they did.
Renstrom told the ambulance driver he wanted to go to the VA, where his primary doctor and medical records were. The attendant told him that their instructions were that if there were signs of a coronary issue, they were to take him to Fall River Hospital (FRH) emergency room. He was taken there, and told he did not have a heart problem but that he should see a neurologist. (Renstrom says he has been through 10 primary care physicians at the VA since 2010, and worries about the continuity of care.)
After being discharged, Renstrom tried to schedule a visit with neurologist. He received a huge run-around there, a two hour wait for a returned phone call; being chided for asking for the VA, instead of FRH. He got an appointment for Jan. 13, and asked about getting the record of his emergency room visit to his primary doctor. Again, he had to wade through a morass of bureaucracy to get this accomplished.
On Jan. 13, at this lab appointment, VA personnel told him there was no reason for his Fall River Hospital visit, that he could have been taken to the VA.
What concerns me most is that someone connected with the center directors office would be so unaware of the resources down here for the veteran population, Renstrom said, that they would not know the ER at the local hospital was no different than the urgent care facility at the VA.
Renstrom is also concerned about having an experienced person on duty, and that neither the VA nor the local hospital, has the ability to keep a cardiac or orthopedic patient in need of surgery intervention. The VA used to. The local hospital has not since at least the 1980s.
He also disliked getting all the conflicting information he received, his information not getting to his doctor and the $2,000 he is out for the ride and the treatment he received.
Horsman, in a letter to Renstrom, backs up the efforts behind his care, essentially saying what was done was done by the book. She also notes that his primary doctor has received the clinical documents from his emergency room visits and appropriate consultations and follow-ups have been ordered.
Ackerman is encouraging his veterans who want to fight the VA to gather at least one item each that is a false statement on why the VA decided to nix Hot Springs, and express this to Shulkin, those in Senate leadership and anyone else on the Trump team who will listen.
If we all do that then I am sure the mass of false data the VA is publicly stating and written in the decision will make a review of the correct decision happen, Ackerman notes.
Offutt Brass, the brass ensemble of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band, is coming to Sturgis.
A free concert will be held at the Sturgis Community Center Theater at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19. All are welcome to attend. Free tickets will be available at the front desk of the Sturgis Community Center. The concert is held in partnership with the Sturgis Area Arts Council.
Offutt Brass is stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Comprised of two trumpets, French horn, trombone, tuba, and percussion, Offutt Brass showcases the Air Forces excellence, precision, and innovation in every performance. From classical to jazz and popular music, Offutt Brass has something sure to inspire everyone!
In addition to community concerts, Offutt Brass also performs patriotic music and fanfares for military ceremonies and important civic events throughout Nebraska. They represent the more than 313,000 Air Force professionals around the world who protect and defend America's freedoms.
The Rapid City Area Schools board has taken one step closer to eliminating early-release Wednesdays.
The early release of students that day is intended to provide time for teachers to pursue training and professional development.
Superintendent Lori Simon and a task force of local educators presented four recommendations as alternatives to the practice during a study session on Monday evening. None of the recommendations presented included the continuation of early release Wednesdays.
What were doing right now in terms of professional development is clearly not meeting the needs of our educators, and when you look at student outcomes, were clearly not meeting the needs of students, either, Simon said. Its clear to me ... that we need to do something significantly different.
The four recommendations all focused on scheduling professional development days for teachers either on one day a month; in line with fall, winter, and spring breaks; or on holidays.
Simon seems ready to give up on early-release Wednesdays because evidence shows they have been having a negative impact on student attendance and achievement.
Many parents in the district have also said that it is sometimes difficult to work around their jobs to pick up students or arrange for their care on early release Wednesdays, when students may be out of class an hour to an hour and a half early.
In putting together alternatives for the school board, Simon sought input from staff and students on what they thought of early-release Wednesdays.
Not only our students but our teaching staff said that theyre just not high-quality instructional days, Simon told the school board on Monday. Just think about that.
School board members spent the study session asking several questions about the logistics of the four alternatives. Based on their feedback, Simon will put together a final recommendation to be presented to the board in February.
In other news, Simon also unveiled a plan to introduce arts and medical classes to all grade levels in the district. The initiative is being called STEAM, adding an A for arts and another M for medicine to the traditional STEM acronym, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.
The additions would provide deeper education for a wider array of career options for the districts students, Simon said.
Several local organizations are partnering with the district to make the initiative a reality, including the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Rapid City Regional Health, which Simon expects could offer health care professionals to speak to classrooms of students interested in entering the medical field.
Apart from pulling from local resources such as the hospital, the program would require the creation of some new courses, the roll-out of which Simon does not expect until 2020.
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology has eight students and two faculty members who could be affected by President Trump's immigration order, and the state's congressional delegation fully supported it Monday, with one reservation.
A spokesman for the school said five students are from Iran and one each from Yemen, Sudan and Somalia. Also, two faculty members are from the seven barred majority Muslim nations listed in the order, but he said he did not know which countries they are from.
Statewide, Paul Turman, vice president for academic affairs with the South Dakota Board of Regents, says officials have found four faculty members and 74 students who are affected at the six public universities.
He says they're being notified of the executive order and the "implications associated with it." Turman says there's a lot of uncertainty in higher education right now.
The universities are advising students and faculty from the countries included in the order that they may not be allowed to re-enter the United States if they leave, but there's confusion about how the order applies to certain groups, such as U.S. legal permanent residents.
In Washington, U.S. Sen. John Thune says the immigration order gives the nation a chance to fully assess the threats it is facing, though he criticized the way it was rolled out.
The third-ranking Senate Republican said the order's roll-out has created unnecessary confusion and that Americans deserve more clarity from Trump's administration. But Thune says the "very brief pause" would also allow a chance to strengthen the nation's vetting process.
"I strongly oppose any religious test, but I do support a security test," Thune said.
U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, also a Republican, said she supports a temporary pause on refugees from "terrorist-held" areas.
Noem said that she shares Trump's concerns about America's ability to screen refugees and that her first priority is the safety of the American people.
Natalie Krings, a spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, said in a statement that until the administration is confident that it's able to process the high number of refugees expected with high certainty, "we should not be allowing this group of refugees into our country."
"Terrorists have shown they are willing to infiltrate countries posing as refugees," Rounds said. "We must make certain our top U.S. intelligence officials are satisfied that we have all the information needed to properly vet certain refugees to make sure they don't have ties to terrorism."
Immigration lawyers in South Dakota are hearing concerns from families who have resettled in the U.S. from now-banned countries. Taneeza Islam, a Muslim-American immigration lawyer in Sioux Falls, said she has spoken with clients who wonder when they'll be able to see family members overseas.
A Rapid City man has been honored with a ceremony and commemorative day for his service to the nation.
Today has been declared Lonny Hofer Day by Gov. Dennis Daugaard. Hofer recently retired from the National Guard after 42 years.
"It's kind of a one-day thing he does for a lot of retirements, so I don't feel that special," Hofer said. "But it felt very good to have my family here for my retirement ceremony."
Hofer's ceremony was attended by Linda, his wife of 32 years, and his five children, most of whom traveled some distance to be there. His oldest son, Adam, is a priest who performed the benediction at the ceremony. His second son, Michael, read the retirement orders.
"It was a very nice ceremony," Linda said. "It was amazing to have all of them there."
It was a great event for Hofer, who initially joined the National Guard in 1974 to support his education at Mitchell Technical Institute. He later earned degrees in business administration from Black Hills State University (bachelor of science) in 1992 and the University of South Dakota (master of business administration) in 1998.
Hofer said the role of the National Guard has changed significantly in his 42 years of service.
"I did a lot of training in the Cold War era in anticipation of being deployed, but we never were," Hofer said.
That changed as Hofer was deployed in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War, and again in 2004 in Afghanistan.
Hofer served in numerous maintenance positions, from wheeled vehicle mechanic to senior maintenance supervisor, before becoming chief warrant officer in 2014.
For most of his service, Hofer was able to be with his family.
"I appreciated that opportunity," he said.
As he turned 60, a mandatory retirement took effect.
As he reflected about his service, he said the biggest thing he took away was the mentorship he received from "a world-class organization."
"I got deployed a few times, achieved my goals for education, for travel, for career," Hofer said. "I had a great career with the National Guard, and I got to be with my family during it."
CANNON BALL, N.D. | Dakota Access pipeline protesters and area law enforcement officers, both in a show of good faith, started cleaning up a protest camp and clearing out barriers Monday.
"Cleanup is underway," said Joe Britt, who is head of construction for the Oceti Sakowin camp. "It's the busiest the camp has ever been .... People are out there really working."
Britt said about 200 people were at the camp cleaning up trash Monday. Online videos also showed police beginning to dismantle the barricade it built in October on the Backwater Bridge.
Britt said four front-end loaders, dump trucks and a half-dozen Bobcats were put to work. The workers moved snow into horseshoe-shaped piles surrounding large rollout Dumpsters to block any trash from blowing away in the wind.
Britt said he and his team are also sorting items, including sleeping bags and winter clothing, so they can be donated to those in need in Bismarck and on other Native American reservations. Compost piles of food scraps will be moved to nearby farms to finish composting, he said.
It is paramount for public safety, and to prevent an environmental disaster, that the camps be cleared prior to a potential spring flood, Gov. Doug Burgum said in a statement issued Monday. Once the floodwaters recede, the land will need to be cleaned and eventually restored to pre-protest conditions.
The cleanup comes after months of protests against the 1,172-mile crude oil pipeline over fears that a spill into the Missouri River would contaminate tribal water supply. A few hundred protesters left at the camps, which had once numbered in the thousands, have agreed to clean up and leave the Oceti Sakowin camp, situated within a floodplain on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land, for safety reasons before potential spring floods come.
Were not trying to forcefully remove anybody, said Hans Youngbird Bradley, brownfields coordinator for the tribe's environmental protection agency. Were just there to clean up the abandoned camps.
An Army Corps of Engineers representative indicated the agency is prepared to hire contractors to complete the cleanup after the camps are vacated.
Protest organizers have called for widespread acts of civil disobedience nationwide as a new way to express opposition to the pipeline project.
A Rapid City man is accused of defrauding consumers of nearly $17 million through the sale of an allegedly bogus medical device, and of secretly continuing to sell the device after he was ordered to stop.
Robert Larry Lytle, purveyor of the QLaser, pleaded not guilty Monday at the federal courthouse in Rapid City. He faces charges including conspiracy, criminal contempt, aiding and abetting, mail fraud, wire fraud and obstruction.
An indictment alleges that Lytle, 81, has been selling QLasers since at least 2002 at prices ranging from $4,000 to $13,000, mostly to elderly consumers, while falsely claiming the devices treat more than 200 conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart attacks, paralysis and diabetes.
The lead prosecutor, a lawyer from the Consumer Protection Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking the forfeiture of money and property gained from the scheme, including a sum of $16.62 million. That amount represents proceeds obtained as a result of the mail and wire fraud, according to the indictment.
Lytle, who did not immediately respond to phone messages Tuesday from the Journal, has been released from custody pursuant to numerous conditions, including the wearing of an electronic monitoring device.
One of his alleged associates, Fredretta Eason, 76, also appeared Monday in court, where she entered a not guilty plea and was released pursuant to a list of conditions. She is described by the prosecution as having cohabited with Lytle while partnering with him in his business activities, and she is charged with criminal contempt and aiding and abetting.
Another alleged Lytle associate, Irina Kossovskaia, 62, who is described by the prosecution as a Canadian resident and the distributor of QLasers, was arrested Saturday in New York on charges of conspiracy, criminal contempt, aiding and abetting, mail fraud and wire fraud. As of Tuesday morning, there was no record of an initial court appearance for her.
A fourth individual, Ronald D. Weir, 38, of Rapid City, agreed Monday to plead guilty to related conspiracy charges contained in a separate criminal information that was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. Those charges follow a separate civil enforcement action brought by the United States against Lytle and his QLaser businesses in late 2014.
The cases are a continuation of longstanding regulatory and legal troubles for Lytle, a former dentist. His dental license was revoked in 1998 for allowing unlicensed people to practice dentistry and dental hygiene, and for permitting unacceptable patient care.
The new indictment says Lytle was warned numerous times since 2002 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that selling QLasers without FDA approval was illegal. He allegedly persisted, and in 2015, the federal government obtained court-ordered injunctions to stop Lytle from selling the devices.
Lytle and Kossovskaia allegedly disobeyed the injunctions by secretly transporting 600 QLasers from a hiding place in Rapid City to New York, and then offering the devices for sale. Lytle allegedly tried to conceal the proceeds of the sales, in part by attempting to open a bank account in Belize.
Meanwhile, Lytle allegedly lied to federal inspectors and said he had closed his business and sold all of his remaining QLasers to a company in India about two weeks before the effective date of the first injunction. He allegedly orchestrated the falsification of an invoice to support his claim.
But the indictment cites evidence that Lytle and Kossovskaia continued to sell QLasers in the United States. That evidence includes the purchase of a QLaser by an undercover U.S. postal inspector last May.
LANTRY | The fate of endangered wild horses in north-central South Dakota has been resolved with a settlement allowing an embattled nonprofit organization to keep 20 horses with the 520 others transferred to a new owner and put up for adoption.
The settlement agreement forestalled a two-day hearing last week on a motion by state and local authorities to seize all the horses from the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros.
The horses had been impounded at the societys small and overgrazed ranch near Lantry since October, where they were being cared for by local authorities after a state-employed veterinarian determined the horses had been neglected.
The settlement prohibits the society from allowing its 20-horse herd to grow beyond 40 horses during the next five years and says the horses will be seized if that happens. Among other conditions, the settlement requires the society to undergo, for the next 18 months, quarterly veterinary inspections and other inspections as scheduled by the sheriffs of Dewey and Ziebach counties (the county line is straddled by the society's ranch), and to pay the counties a total of $10,000.
The 520 horses taken from the society's ownership will be transferred to the ownership of Fleet of Angels, a Colorado-based nonprofit that provides crisis management and transportation for horse-related emergencies in the United States and Canada.
Fleet of Angels and another nonprofit, Return to Freedom, of California, said in a joint release they would work to find suitable placements for the horses at approved homes, sanctuaries and rescue facilities.
The settlement sets the stage for one of the largest known equine rescue and adoption efforts in U.S. history, the release said.
The agreement allows the rescue organizations to keep the horses at the societys ranch for up to 60 days while conducting the adoption campaign. The release from the rescue groups also said they may relocate their 520 horses to a more suitable adoption hub.
When the horses were impounded in October, they numbered 810. Some were thin and others had various physical ailments, and a former society employee alleged that some horses had died of starvation-related causes while the cash-strapped society struggled to acquire hay.
Fleet of Angels stepped in to arrange adoptions of 270 of the horses in the past few months, leaving 540 whose fates were determined by the settlement agreement.
Fleet of Angels and Return to Freedom reported that the current health of the horses varies from good to underweight, and some suffer from blindness or vision impairment.
The rescue groups said they face feed costs of $40,000 per month for the 520 horses, and additional costs are anticipated for veterinary care, hoof care and transportation.
Dewey and Ziebach counties predict their impounding-related costs from the past few months will reach $200,000 when all the bills are tallied, but Dewey County States Attorney Steven Aberle said the counties will be reimbursed for most or all of those expenses.
Through Dec. 29, the counties had spent $156,735.53 but had been reimbursed $52,000 by the society, $11,714.14 by donations from the public and $15,000 by a grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, leaving $78,021.39 yet to be reimbursed. Aberle said Fleet of Angels agreed to pay that amount.
The counties are still compiling costs incurred since Dec. 29. Aberle said the $10,000 paid by the society as part of the settlement will be applied to those bills, and Fleet of Angels has agreed to pay the rest.
Fleet of Angels reported that the Humane Society of the United States, the Griffin-Sofel Equine Rescue Foundation and another national equine welfare organization, which was not identified in the release, contributed money to reimburse the counties.
Without the efforts of the many concerned people who are helping with this mission in a variety of ways, a massive emergency rescue like this could never be possible, Elaine Nash, executive director of Fleet of Angels, said in the release.
The International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros also issued a release, summarizing some provisions of the settlement. One provision requires that none of the parties to this action will make disparaging remarks, comments or statements about another party.
Aberle, the Dewey County states attorney, said he is very pleased with the settlement and called it positive for everyone involved the rescue groups, which saved the horses from being auctioned and potentially sold to foreign slaughter plants; the society, which gets to keep some horses; and the counties, which will recoup their costs.
The society and its president, Karen Sussman, who lives at the ranch, still face other difficulties including some pending lawsuits from hay suppliers.
In one of those suits, a judge ordered $90,004.95 to be released from a society bank account Jan. 5 after the Spearfish-based plaintiff, who is owed money for hay deliveries, had legally garnished the account.
In another suit, a court clerk issued issued a document known as an execution Jan. 4, directing the sheriff of Dewey County to collect $30,322.96 that the society still owes to a Lantry hay supplier after the supplier had won a judgment against the society in May.
Three Russian nationals to be paid 18,000 for confinement in courtroom cages - ECHR
MOSCOW, January 31 (RAPSI) The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Russia to pay 18,000 in damages to three Russian nationals who complained about their confinement in metal cages in courtrooms during criminal proceedings against them, according to the ruling posted on the court's website on Tuesday.
Two complaints were filed with the Strasbourg Court in October and December 2014, the third application was lodged in January 2015. ECHR has consolidated the complaints.
The applicants, Ruslan Vorontsov, Alexander Susarin and Yevgeny Belyayev, insisted that Russian authorities had violated Article 3 (prohibition of torture) of the European Convention of Human Rights.
The Court ruled that Russia is to pay 3,000 to Vorontsov, 7,500 to Susarin and 7,500 to Belyayev in respect of non-pecuniary damage.
Interestingly, ECHR has already considered similar complaints. In 2012, the Court granted an application filed by two Russian citizens, Alexander Svinarenko and Valentin Slyadnev, who believed that their placement in a metal cage during court proceedings violated their fundamental rights.
Russian authorities insisted, among other matters, that confinement in cages in courtrooms is an ordinary safety measure.
However, ECHR sided with the applicants and ordered Russia to pay 15,000 in compensation to Svinarenko and Slyadnev.
Russian court lifts arrest on property of deceased anti-corruption official
MOSCOW, January 31 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has lifted arrest on property belonging to the family of deceased high-ranking official within the Interior Ministry's Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department, Boris Kolesnikov, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.
Kolesnikov, former deputy of the Departments head, Lieutenant General Denis Sugrobov, was a defendant in a criminal case over alleged organization of a criminal group along with his superior. He was arrested in February 2014. In June, he fell out of a window during questioning at the Investigative Committee. Later, the Basmanny District Court said no evidence was found of assisted suicide.
According to investigators, Sugrobov and Kolesnikov tried to provoke a Federal Security Service (FSB) officer by offering him $10,000 a month for his protection. Sugrobov was charged with organizing a criminal group, abuse of power and bribery last May. In total, 10 defendants are involved in this case with case materials making 393 volumes. Thirty persons are recognized as aggrieved parties, thirteen of whom seek to recover in total 218 million rubles (about $3.5 million) from the defendants.
Sugrobovs lawyer Eduard Isetsky said that prosecution did not found corruption in actions of the defendants and asked the court to lift arrest on property of Kolesnikovs mother and his former lawyer Georgy Antonov. He added that victims in this case abandoned their financial claims against the defendants.
Russian tour operator appeals recovery of $5.8 mln in favor of Transaero
MOSCOW, January 31 (RAPSI) Tour operator Natalie Tours has filed an appeal with the Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals against recovery of $5.8 million in favor of Transaero airline, RAPSI learnt in the court.
The court will consider the complaint on February 16.
On November 11, 2016, the Moscow Commercial court granted the air carriers claim seeking to collect the debt from the travel company. Under the contract signed between parties, the tour operator was to transfer earnings from transportation sales excluding fee to the plaintiff. Additionally, the court dismissed a counterclaim by Natalie Tours demanding to invalidate provisions of the agreements supplementary contract.
The travel company also filed a lawsuit to recover about 400 million rubles ($6.7 million) in damages from Transaero. However, the claim has been dismissed without prejudice.
In 2015, Transaero found itself unable to pay its debts valued at 250 billion rubles (about $4 billion). Government-approved plan of transferring 75% of companys shares to Aeroflot failed. Its problems resulted in a large number of flight cancels and delays.
In October 2015, Sberbank and Alfa Bank filed bankruptcy petitions against the troubled airline. The Commercial Court of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region initiated a bankruptcy procedure against Transaero on December 16.
Natalie Tours, a tour operator on the Russian foreign tourist market, was founded in April 1992. In 2014, the companys amount of business was estimated at $850 million.
Investigators seek to extend detention of former and current FSB officers in bribery case
MOSCOW, January 31 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko, Yevgeniya Sokolova) - Investigators have filed a motion demanding to extend until April 6 the detention of Vlad Novikov, a former officer of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), and Karen Krayukhin, an officer still in FSB service, who stand charged with bribery, attorney Dagir Khasavov told RAPSI on Tuesday.
The motion will be considered by the Moscow Garrison Military Court on February 3.
As it has been reported, Novikov and Krayukhin have been arrested on suspicion of taking a bribe from the Turkish construction firm Esta Construction.
Investigators claim that Esta Construction has been fined over 37 million rubles ($570,000) for violation of migration legislation. The companys lawyer in order to avoid payment of the fine asked the defendants for help in the termination of the case for 5 million rubles ($77,000).
In September, a military prosecutor told RAPSI that criminal proceedings may be instituted against Esta Construction lawyer Valerian Kochergin, who has been initially recognized as victim in the case.
Esta Construction is a contracting company established by Bahattin Demirbilek in Moscow in 2006 and operating as a general contractor and project designer in international construction market, the firms website says.
Comments and links to reports on science, and its applications.
KATHMANDU, Jan 31: The deadline to complete the Upper Trishuli Three ' A' project has been extended by the next 34 months. The implementation of the 12.42 billion project got affected due to the Gorkha Earthquake and India's unofficial border blockade.
A meeting of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Board of Directors held last Wednesday, deciding to extend the project's completion term, urged the Chinese contractor to immediately resume the construction works. As per the new development, the contractor China Gezhouba Group of Companies Ltd, is expected to complete the 60-Megawatt project by mid-April of 2020.
Besides, the government has allocated additional Rs 610 to the project implementing body to reconstruct an approach road to the project damaged by the earthquake and construct walls on both sides of its dam site. The project's approach route was damaged by the quake. The Energy Ministry was already informed about the extension of the project completion deadline by the NEA, according to Ministry Spokesperson Gokarna Raj Pantha.
Only 35 percent works of the project remains to be completed. RSS
MANILA, Philippines, Jan 30: A 23-year-old dental student from France won the Miss Universe crown Monday in the annual pageant held in the Philippines, saying her triumph will make the beauty contest more popular in Europe and help her efforts to put more underprivileged children in school.
Iris Mittenaere from Lille city in northern France buried her face in her hands in shock and joy as the outgoing winner from the Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, crowned her and the crowd erupted in cheers at the packed Mall of Asia Arena by Manila Bay.
Miss Haiti, Raquel Pelissier, a 25-year-old survivor of the devastating 2010 earthquake that destroyed her hometown, was named first runner-up, while Miss Colombia, 23-year-old industrial designer and photographer Andrea Tovar, was second runner-up.
"I think France and Europe really need a Miss Universe," Mittenaere said in a post-pageant news conference when asked how her countrymen would receive her victory, the first by a French woman in more than 60 years.
The beauty contest has not been as popular in France as in other countries, she said, but "French people will love it now and every year they will be watching Miss Universe."
"I'm very proud to bring this crown to Europe," she said.
Mittenaere said she would focus during her reign on helping all children, especially girls, attend school.
Pellissier said surviving Haiti's quake, which officials in her country estimated killed more than 300,000 people and displaced more than 1.5 million others, and her pageant success underscored her rise from adversity because she "chose to be a very positive person and learned a great lesson from it."
"If I am here today, it is because I am living my dreams," said Pelissier, who is studying for a master's degree in optometry research.
Eighty-six candidates vied in this year's pageant, which was formerly owned by Donald Trump.
As he closed the ceremony, American comedian host Steve Harvey declared, "I got it right," referring in jest to his mistaken announcement of Miss Colombia as the winner in last year's pageant in Las Vegas. He was roundly criticized for the embarrassing error.
"One thing I learned in life, when you make a mistake, you gotta keep on moving forward man, that's all," Harvey said.
In her farewell remarks as the outgoing winner, a smiling Wurtzbach thanked Harvey for making her "the most popular Miss Universe." Harvey, laughing, thanked her for making him the most famous Miss Universe host.
Judges initially selected a dozen candidates, with a 13th picked through online balloting involving 100 million votes worldwide.
MAHOTTARI, Jan 31: Rastriya Madhesh Samajwadi Party Chairman Sarat Singh Bhandari has warned that the Madheshi Front, an alliance of Madhesh-centric political parties, will not vie in the local elections until new constitution is revised.
Leader Bhandari made the statement at Belgachhi in Mahottari today at the time when the government is preparing to declare the date for the long overdue local election.
Inaugurating Jhanda (Flag) Fair, Bhandari reiterated that the Front will only compete in the election when the parliament considers an amendment in the constitution amendment bill registered at the Legislature-Parliament on November 29, 2016.
The former Minister claimed that the local unit re-structuring was impractical and unscientific and the Front would not agree with the proposed draft. He demanded formation of the commission at the local level to address the issues relating to the delineation of federal provinces.
A huge flat measuring 105 feet in length is hoisted in the Fair, according to Fair Organizing Committee Chair Rama Avatar Mahato. RSS
Musings, observations, and written works from the publisher of Eckhartz Press, the media critic for the Illinois Entertainer, co-host of Minutia Men and Free Kicks, the author of "EveryCubEver", "The Living Wills", "$everance," "Father Knows Nothing," "The Radio Producer's Handbook," and "Records Truly Is My Middle Name", former writer/producer/executive producer/announcer for WLUP AM, WLUP FM, WJMK, and WPGU, and writer/columnist for dozens of publications from 1991-present.
There are strong signs that countries in Asia and the Pacific region are turning away from the United States and tilting toward China as the Trump administration emphasizes "America First."
Perhaps the most alarming signals are coming from Australia , a country that has deep cultural and historical ties to the United States but which depends on exports of raw materials to China. Donald Trump is deeply unpopular in Australia, which like the United States is an immigrant nation.
Last week, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was open to the idea of China taking the place of the United States in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. The Obama administration had led the effort to build the TPP, and had designed the trading bloc with the U.S. at its center. But President Donald Trump effectively killed the TPP immediately after taking office.
Donald Trumps abundance of presidential initiatives this past week has added new vitality to the term energetic executive. Among the most controversial executive orders have been those on the Affordable Care Act and immigration . However, with the stroke of a pen the new president could bring additional pressure to bear upon North Korea. Specifically, he could bring back the Bush administrations Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and strengthen the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
America needs to face a brutal truth: North Korea is a nuclear power, and is likely to remain one for the foreseeable future. Pyongyangs leaders have little to gain from such deal to denuclearize and everything to lose, given the fates of Iraqs Saddam Hussein and Libyas Muammar Qaddafi after they gave up their nuclear programs. While North Koreas ballistic and nuclear capabilities have improved, our answers to this threat remain the same: the hope that a combination of dialogue and sanctions will resolve this crisis once and for all . We need to readjust our aims from denuclearizing Pyongyang to containing its nuclear capabilities and capacity to wreak atomic havoc.
Second, the Trump administration can easily upgrade the status and attention paid to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The MTCR has been proven to be effective when it comes to reducing states ability to develop ballistic missiles in the short-term . The status of the voluntary regime and, thus, its effectiveness can be bolstered in at least two ways. First, the Trump administration can appoint a high-level White House czar to the organization (bypassing Senate confirmation) and signal its seriousness about containing missile proliferation. Second, it can use its executive prerogatives to coordinate export control policies with other G7 states.
We should stop deluding ourselves into thinking that we can cut a deal with Pyongyang that will bring about its denuclearization. Instead, we need to focus on means to limit North Koreas ability to threaten America. This can begin with the stroke of a pen. The Trump administration can immediately bring back the Proliferation Security Initiative and upgrade our participation in the Multilateral Technology Control Regime. North Korea has often been called the Hermit Kingdom; measures like these will help to keep it in its box.
Dr. Albert B. Wolf is a legislative assistant for foreign affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives. The views presented here are his and his alone.
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Japan supposedly enjoys protection from an American nuclear umbrella. But Japanese leaders are unsure that the U.S. would come to its defense in a major war, much less a nuclear war. Russian, Chinese, and possibly even North Korean missiles can deliver nuclear weapons to the U.S., its territories, and its military bases in Asia. North Korea could even put a nuclear weapon in a cargo container and ship it to a U.S. mainland port. In defense of Japan, would the U.S. really strike a major conventional or even nuclear blow against the military forces of one of these authoritarian states, and thereby risk a cold-hearted nuclear counter-attack against Honolulu, San Francisco, New York, or Washington, DC? Such a counter-attack could destroy the U.S. economy for decades, cause a fiscal crisis that would mean decreased military expenditures and military retreat from U.S. forward-deployed positions, and kill millions of Americans.
Military and diplomatic analysts in Japan are increasingly unsure that Washington would take this risk after Japan itself may have suffered a conventional or nuclear blow that devastates its military strength as an ally. If Japan questions the willingness of the U.S. to counterstrike a nuclear-armed adversary, then Russia, China, and North Korea are likely questioning Washingtons commitment as well. They may see the current lack of commitment as an opportunity for a preemptive conventional or nuclear strike against Japans military. This is not a safe position for any country to be in, especially a country like Japan whose military forces are daily threatened by the aggressive nuclear and other brinkmanship of these same adversaries.
Japan needs an iron-clad nuclear deterrent force. Because Russia, China, and North Korea may perceive a lack of U.S. commitment,There is no better such deterrent than one that Japan would own and control itself, coupled with a public announcement to reserve the option of using that deterrent force against any state that attacks it or infringes its sovereignty. This is a far stronger and more reliable nuclear deterrent than the current U.S. umbrella.
Some have argued that a Japanese nuclear weapon would cause China or North Korea to attack Japan militarily. They are wrong. Once Japan goes nuclear, China and North Korea cannot attack without factoring in the risk of a devastating nuclear counter-blow. A Japanese nuclear deterrent would also decrease worries in Japan that China dominates the upper rungs of the escalation ladder theorized by Herman Kahn. Japans conventional military, combined with an indigenous nuclear deterrent and its strong U.S. alliance, would thereby have far more latitude to stop Chinese, Russian, and North Korean attacks and blustering.
Economic retaliation for a Japanese deterrent is also likely to be light. President Trump has already positively raised the idea of a Japanese nuclear deterrent. It is unlikely that Japan would suffer U.S. or unilateral European economic sanctions.
China exports more to Japan than Japan exports to China. If China wants to proceed down a road of economic tit-for-tat, as much pain could be done to China as vice versa . If the U.S. supports Japan with retaliatory economic sanctions against China, the economic cost to China would devastate its economy and thereby destabilize the government. The stability of the government is perhaps Xi Jinpings greatest goal, so China will not invite economic disaster by imposing economic sanctions on Japan.
Japan cannot continue to risk its sovereignty because of its very well-intended and understandable pacifism. Some argue that a nuclear Japan will increase pressure on the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). But, the NPT has been a failure for Asian democracies. China, Russia, and North Korea have nuclear weapons, and they are aggressively bullying the region. The reasonable democracies have followed the rules, and as a result are now at risk of war because of these authoritarians constant threats against territorial features like the Senkaku Islands. Given that territorial expansion seems to be the mindset of leaders in Russia, China, and North Korea, democracies must defend themselves.It needs to recognize the reality of increasing Chinese, North Korean, and Russian militarism, and it needs to defend itself with an unquestionable nuclear deterrent.
U.S. security is improved when stable democracies like the UK, France, and India have obtained a nuclear deterrent. It keeps them safe from their enemies, and through our alliances, strengthens the U.S. Yet when the UK, France, and India initially developed nuclear deterrence in 1952, 1960, and 1974 respectively, the U.S. was not fully cooperative. We now have the benefit of close security cooperation with these strong nuclear democracies, which act as important counterweights against Russia and China. Their nuclear deterrents allow them to forward deploy their forces for global peacekeeping, and against piracy and terrorists, while at the same time remaining unintimidated by authoritarian regimes.
Germany, Poland and South Korea should also obtain nuclear weapons. These frontline regional powers need them as a deterrent against authoritarians, war and regional instability. The threat of war is real, given Chinas violation of Philippine sovereignty with the occupation of Mischief Reef in 1995, and Russias occupation of Ukraine in 2014. These two occupations, which still go militarily unchallenged, instantiate an unfortunate lack of resolve by the United States to back up its obligations to the Philippines per the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, and to Ukraine under the Budapest Agreement of 1994. It is precisely because the U.S. did little to defend these countries when arguably obligated to do so by solemn agreements, that Japan now questions U.S. resolve to risk nuclear war to defend Japan from China, Russia, or North Korea.
If Japan goes nuclear, it will not cause non-nuclear authoritarian countries to do the same. While some countries like China and North Korea hype a threat from Japan in their state-run media, no serious analysts see Japan as an aggressive power. It is a democracy with a pacifist constitution. It has experienced the horrors of nuclear war as has no other country. Vietnam, for example, will not see a Japanese nuclear weapon as a threat. Rather, it will see a Japanese nuclear weapon as stabilizing Asia through a check on China, Vietnams main threat. Such a weapon could even allow Japan to increase economic and military aid to Vietnam in the safety of knowing that China would be less likely to retaliate.
Australia, South Korea and Taiwan might go nuclear, but not from fear of Japan. In fact, Japans going nuclear might decrease the probability of these countries going nuclear because they would feel safer with Japans new nuclear check on China. If they did go nuclear, however, they would be additional bulwarks against authoritarian aggression in Asia and thereby increase stability in the region. They are well-developed democracies that would maintain security procedures such that nuclear weapons did not fall into the hands of extremists. As responsible democracies, they can be counted on to only maintain their nuclear deterrent for defensive purposes.
Could the nuclearization of Asian democracies lead to nuclear proliferation in authoritarian regimes beyond Asia, for example in the Middle East? It is possible that Iran and Saudi Arabia, which are currently involved in multiple proxy wars, would use Asias nuclearization as an excuse to go nuclear themselves. However, even with Israels nuclearization, these countries have thus far been restrained by the threat of economic sanctions and diplomatic ostracization. They are authoritarian regimes, which history shows us are known to be aggressive against democracies. Until they democratize, they should not be trusted with nuclear weapons. The added strength that the democracy club of countries would have through additional nuclear members will be sufficient to free political and economic resources to pressure authoritarian regimes from going nuclear.
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Donald Trump and Iran: the one thing to know
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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.
PLEASE NOTE!
Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!
All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!
(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
As'ad's Bio
As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants.
"A Better Approach to Violent Crime" | Main | "Delaying a Second Chance: The Declining Prospects for Parole on Life Sentences"
January 30, 2017
Is VP Pence going to be a key player for possible federal sentencing reform?
The question in the title of this post is prompted by this interesting new Daily Caller article headlined "Want Drug-Sentencing Reform? Look To Mike Pence, Congressman Says. Here are the details:
Criminal-sentencing reform proponents in Congress are hopeful that Vice President Mike Pence will be an ally, helping them to work with the new law-and-order administration to pass legislation to cut mandatory minimum sentencing for drug-law offenders. Ive got reason to be hopeful, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz told reporters at a morning session of the Seminar Network, a large group of wealthy libertarian and conservative donors gathered in Palm Springs by Charles and David Koch.... Speaking to reporters alongside Sen. Mike Lee, also of Utah, Chaffetz said, Gov. Pence, having been a governor, he understands this. In the end, hes done some wise things. And I also think you will see concerted support from conservative governors who will buoy up any support in the White House. If youre going to be tough on crime, you better be smart about it. And there are hardened criminals who do need to spend the rest of their lives in prison. But, he added, we need to fix the problem of repeat offenders spending years in prison for drug crimes. Doug Deason, a Seminar Network donor with an interest in sentencing reform, highlighted the White Houses new legislative director, Marc Short, as another reason to be hopeful. Before joining the administration, Short was a longtime adviser to Pence and a lead deputy in the libertarian Koch network. He cares passionately about criminal justice reform, Deason said. Deason, a Texas businessman who is president of Deason Capital Services, was less enthusiastic about Sessions, telling reporters, Im glad they got him out of the Senate, they got him out of the way! Chaffetz defended Sessions, however, pointing to the Fairness in Sentencing Act the Alabama senator shepherded through in 2010, reducing the difference between sentences for crack cocaine and powder cocaine. I think last year we were caught up in presidential politics and I think hes in a different position now, Chaffetz said.... We were so close last time, Lee, a member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, lamented to reporters at the seminar.
January 30, 2017 at 05:00 PM | Permalink
Comments
Don't bet on it....
Posted by: Pat | Jan 30, 2017 6:07:28 PM
Don't pay your bill to a non-violent drug offender. Try to sell product on the same corner as a non-violent drug offender.
Mike Pence is a lawyer, so I have no doubt he will be amenable to sentencing reform.
But, what if the reason for the drops in crime is the incarceration of non-violent drug offenders? No one knows the answer to that question because, to my knowledge, no one has asked them how many people they hurt to maintain their businesses. Such a survey would require absolute legal immunity from prosecution to get truthful answers.
Posted by: David Behar | Jan 30, 2017 6:30:04 PM
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Last Thursday night, January 26, from the passenger seat of a friend's Prius, I examined a paper map of Russian Hill and Fisherman's Wharf, giving sometimes confusing and wrong directions to her while also tallying, with pencil and paper on a clipboard, anyone who appeared to be homeless in the 15-square block radius we drove, as spotted and called out by two more volunteers in the back seat who had eyes on the street.
That's one lesser known aspect to San Francisco's homeless census, the Homeless Point-In-Time count conducted every two years on the same January night in every US city that receives federal homeless assistance funding: A significant portion of it is conducted by car.
I don't mean to draw attention to this as criticism, necessarily, and in fact it's a relief, as the section of the city to which we were assigned is one of its steepest, which is saying something. We even drove the twisty section of Lombard Street not exactly known as a haven of tent encampments. Walking a section even a quarter the size of the one were assigned would have required oxygen tanks. I also suspect it wouldn't be terribly worthwhile. In the somewhat affluent corner of San Francisco that we scoured, we tallied fewer than 10 people we deemed to be homeless.
The Point-In-Time Count, conducted last week by a record high number of volunteers, is actually a patchwork of different counts. From St. Ignatius College Preparatory school in the Outer Sunset, which served as the staging area, car units fanned out across the city from 8 p.m. to midnight to roam large swathes of hilly and residential neighborhoods. In the Tenderloin and Mission Districts, meanwhile, groups on foot tallied the homeless people they saw in smaller, more precise areas. A designated unit conducts the census in BART stations, where many seek shelter for the evening, and elsewhere, in areas like Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, park officials conduct the count themselves. As one training official explained to us, nobody from our group would be walking around on the rocks at the beach that night.
Still, for three small park spaces included in our section Russian Hill Park and Open Space, George Sterling Park, and the lawn area of San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park we found parking and continued the count on foot. It's obviously easier to be precise this way, but precision is far from guaranteed. That's in part because we were instructed not to speak with any homeless people during our training session. Volunteers are told this would take too much time and interfere with the count.
Nonetheless, volunteers are asked to note the observed ages under 18, 19-24, or over 25 and genders male, female, transgender of the homeless individuals they observe. "Unknown" is an option here, and we used it for several people like one wrapped in a sleeping bag. The point: Without engaging with people, much of this is a guessing game.
Similarly, volunteers are told to mark down tents or RVs that seem to serve as shelter for homeless people even if it's not possible to look inside. We were told not to shine flashlights on tents or knock on doors, but instructed that if we could peer into shelters and count people without causing a disturbance, we should do that. Volunteers are also asked to note if homeless people are members of a family.
For us it was easy, which I assume was lucky. We saw two RVs parked with people in them. In one, there was a couple in the front, and written on their vehicle were requests for donations for their disabled son. We guessed they were living out of the RV and marked them as a homeless family of three. In another RV, we found a couple playing cards. We assumed they were on a road trip.
These are assumptions, and as such, could very well be wrong. In recapping her participation in the count last week, Chronicle columnist Caille Millner writes that "the unspoken difficulty with raising a small battalion... of volunteers to try to count all of the homeless people on one night in San Francisco: The citys government is relying on the judgments of those volunteers." That troubled Millner, and it worried me too. "Most of us arent experts. Were just regular people, bringing our own prejudices about class and race to a crucial task that can determine everything from San Franciscos level of federal support for homelessness to city leaders decisions on solutions," she concluded.
To Millner's concern, I would add that engaging with people to determine if they're homeless isn't always effective either. In one of our park segments, in the dark, two men sat on a bench. Breaking the rules, I asked them if they were spending the night there, told them what I was doing, and emphasized that I wouldn't keep them from doing so or tell anyone where they were. The two men said they weren't sleeping there, and I believed them they just had a small backpack, probably not enough for the night, I assumed. But would they have told me if they were homeless?
In 2015, the Point-In-Time Count came to 6,686 people, a 3.8 percent increase from two years prior and a number that's been relatively static for a decade. The San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness considers 13,000 a more realistic count, since not all those who are homeless are visible some aren't tallied, some are marginally or temporarily housed, etc. Another figure sometimes invoked is the 9,975 homeless people who availed themselves of services provided by the city's Department of Public Health between 2014 and 2015.
Jeff Kositsky, who heads the city's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing,
was among the group surveying the Tenderloin on Thursday night, the Chronicle reports accompanied by his 14-year-old daughter. In fact, he was one of a number testing out a new Google form to perform the tally. This year, the Chronicle writes, could be the last that paper and pencil are used for the count. Orange County has already made such a switch. But electronic systems won't ensure accuracy, they'll just speed up tabulation, sending along results faster. Those are due later this spring in 2015, after the last January count, they were available in May.
Critical as so many are of the count, Kositsky tells the Chronicle it's still of value. "It's still important because it provides us an apple-to-apple comparison to other counties and locally over the years," he emphasizes.
Human Services Agency Director Trent Rhorer, an official in charge of services for homeless people who precedes Kositsky, was encouraged by another count: The number of volunteers. A record 768 people showed up for the one-night count. I think this much turnout, this many people shows the increased interest in the whole subject of homelessness and, really, the compassion of the people in this city, Rhorer told the paper.
A final note: This year, as it has in so many spheres of American life, the Trump Administration has caused concern regarding potential cuts to the federal funds correlated to the Point-In-Time count. Trump is going to be a disaster with regard to homelessness, Paul Boden of the Western Regional Advocacy Project in SF told the Chronicle. A guy whos a brain surgeon ... will now be in charge of housing, Boden said, referencing Ben Carson. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know. Its all going to get worse.
Former SF Mayor Art Agnos agreed with Boden. Carson, Agnos told the Chronicle "is ignorant and uninformed about homeless and housing issues ... and, quite frankly, in the HUD bureaucracy there is no strong inclination toward dealing with homelessness, either. If anything, services will diminish. At best they will stay the same."
Related: First Homeless Navigation Center Abandons Permanent Housing Placement Promise
Uber's loss is Lyft's gain as the long-running battle between the two San Francisco-based ride-hailing companies takes on a political valence. Reports (possibly spurious) that Uber had continued to operate to-and-from New York's JFK Airport this weekend during a taxi strike launched in solidarity with protests against President Trump's immigration ban led to a social media campaign to boycott the service. The #deleteuber trend is bolstered by the much-publicized fact that Uber CEO Travis Kalanick announced he would be a member of Trump's advisory team in December though prior to the uproar Saturday Kalanick had come out publicly denouncing Trump's immigration plan, and said he'd be voicing his objections in a business-advisory summit with the President this Friday.
Uber issued a statement over the weekend saying they were not trying to break up any strike, and there was a misunderstanding about a tweet they sent about suspending surge pricing to JFK a half hour after the strike ended.
Meanwhile, Lyft, who had pledged to donate $1 million to the ACLU on Sunday morning, capitalized on the anti-Uber sentiment to take the lead in the Apple App Store this morning, surpassing Uber in the Travel section to rank first place, seuring 4th place in overall downloads.
Lyft's co-founder and chief executive Logan Green made his company's stance clear in a tweet condemning Trump's executive order.
1/ Lyft has worked hard to create an inclusive, diverse and conscientious community where all our drivers and passengers feel welcome. logangreen (@logangreen) January 29, 2017 2/ Trumps immigration ban is antithetical to both Lyft's and our nation's core values. logangreen (@logangreen) January 29, 2017
"Whats clear is that Ubers reputation to a lot of people is garbage," The Verge observes, tying the #deleteuber trend to poor brand loyalty.
This moment of backlash against Uber, which as of 2016 continued to dominate its next biggest competitor in the rideshare wars by about a 10-to-1 margin in terms of valuation, could help spur some quicker than usual growth for Lyft, which was already seeing steady growth through last year. As of May of last year, Lyft told Forbes they were growing rapidly in major US cities, and already enjoyed a 40 percent market share in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin.
Meanwhile, and but of course, Uber dug into its considerably deeper pockets to outmatch Lyft's donation pledge creating their own legal defense fund of $3 million for drivers "impacted by the immigration ban" even shelling out for a promoted tweet to make sure that was clear.The gesture is in addition to a weekend promise Kalanick announced to "identify these drivers [who are trapped in their home countries and unable to return to work in the US] and compensate them pro bono during the next three months."
Now that's good, healthy American competition.
Previously: As Thousands Delete Their Uber Apps Over JFK Story, Uber Denies Trying To Break Up Taxi Strike
A little-known subsection of Oakland called Bushrod, next to Temescal and on the Berkeley border west of Telegraph Avenue, was named by real estate site Redfin as the number one "hottest neighborhood of 2017," the first time that an Oakland neighborhood has made one of the site's "hottest" lists. They cite "soaring demand in late 2016" particularly from San Francisco couples who had been renting in SF and looking to buy in Oakland or Berkeley.
Locals from the last decade may recall that Bushrod Park, the centerpiece of this neighborhood, was the site of a crazy crash landing of a large chunk of ice on April 8, 2006, spraying dirt into the air and leaving a three-foot-wide crater in the grass. The ice was determined not to be the dreaded "blue ice" that sometimes becomes dislodged from commercial airplane lavatories, but it was baffling and freaky to nearby residents, at least one of whom took a chunk home to put in his freezer, as he told the Chronicle. The source of the ice remains a mystery to this day, with one FAA official suggesting to the East Bay Times at the time that it could have been tossed from a small plane passing overhead and witnesses did say a plane passed by near the time of impact.
As for the hottest neighborhoods for home sales in San Francisco this year, Redfin is predicting those will be Visitacion Valley, Excelsior, and the Inner Richmond. Real estate agent Miriam Westberg says, "Viz Valleys hotness is no surprise for one simple reason: it is one of the last places within the city limits of San Francisco where you can still buy a single-family home for less than a million dollars." She also notes its proximity to freeways for Peninsula commuters, and the proximity of McLaren Park. "The best part about it is that you can actually enjoy being outdoors more often here since its southerly location means Karl the Fog doesnt really hang out here that often," Westberg adds.
Among the top five hottest neighborhood around the country, besides Oakland's Bushrod, are one other Bay Area 'hood, Serra in Sunnyvale, where homes spend an average of 13 days on the market; Woodridge in Bellevue, WA, outside Seattle; Somerset in Glendale, CA, near LA; and Portland's Eliot, in the NE quadrant of the city.
Related: New 'Bubble Index' Says SF Is Seventh In The World For Housing Bubbles
Pacifica police investigators tell CBS 5 that 55-year-old Gerald Destremps was arrested after allegedly piloting his personal drone near a helicopter, causing an interruption to a rescue attempt on Friday morning.
Destremps's drone, police say, caused the California Highway Patrol to abort an attempted rescue of a man who had fallen off a cliff, starting the operation anew. The Pacifica accident took place in an area near where serious erosion has occurred over the last few years.
After receiving a call regarding the man's fall, CHP arrived at the scene in Pacifica to assist with the rescue. A medic was lowered to the beach to assist the injured man, and a helicopter arrived to shine a light on the scene. However, responders spotted the drone near the scene soon after the helicopter's arrival, and to avoid a potential collision, the helicopter suspended the rescue operation and gained altitude. Police located Destremps and took him into custody, and eventually the injured person was taken to the hospital via airlift in unknown condition.
Capt. Joe Spanheimer of the Pacifica Police Department wagged his finger at drone pilots according to the Chronicle. Theyre fun, sure, but because were in the San Francisco International Airport airspace, there are actually very very few spots in Pacifica that you can legally fly a drone," Spanheimer said.
Related: Electromagnetic Wave Gun Zaps Drones, Provides Hope To SF
A 27-year-old man was killed Sunday, in a brazen midday shooting on Third Street in San Francisco.
The San Francisco Police Department says the call reporting the slaying at Third Street and Armstrong Avenue came in at 12:35 p.m. Sunday.
When officers responded to the scene, they discovered a 27-year-old male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where police say he succumbed to his injuries.
Saying only that the suspect in the shooting is male, and is associated with an "unknown vehicle," police cited the ongoing investigation as the reason no additional information on the crime was available as of publication Monday. They do confirm, however, that no arrests have been made in the case.
That slaying marks the sixth homicide for San Francisco for 2017, following the death of a man found injured at Mission Street and Excelsior Avenue at 9:15 a.m. Sunday. According to SFPD's Compstat report from January of 2016, at this time last year San Francisco had suffered one homicide, and in January, 2015, we'd suffered nine.
Related: SFPD Investigating Dying Man Found On Mission Street
Protest along Embarcadero, with chants of "No Ban, No Wall." #ImWithThem pic.twitter.com/zY09fv6QAB Jill Witty (@jwitty) January 30, 2017
A company-wide protest organized and attended by Alphabet/Google employees occurred Monday afternoon along the Embarcadero in San Francisco, with a similar and larger event at the Googleplex in Mountain View, expressing anger over President Trump's executive orders barring immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations, suspending the immigration of Syrian refugees indefinitely, and vowing to build a new wall along the Mexican border.
Carrying signs saying "This Is Wrong" and "We Are All Children of Immigrants," the SF group marched along the thoroughfare near Google's local offices at Embarcadero and Howard.
At the Mountain View demonstration, Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke to assembled employees saying the "fight will continue." As The Verge reports, employees at the company have collectively donated $2 million to a crisis fund that will be distributed to various non-profits working to help those affected by the immigration ban, and Alphabet has pledged $2 million in matching funds.
Alphabet president and company co-founder Sergey Brin also spoke, and according to one employee tweeting from the event Brin said "It's a debate about fundamental values." Brin also appeared at the Saturday demonstration at SFO, telling reporters it was because he himself was a refugee, having emigrated from the Soviet Union with his parents when he was six years old.
Similar walkouts and rallies occurred at eight Google/Alphabet offices nationwide, including their Seattle campus.
While other Silicon Valley CEO have come out publicly against Trump's recent actions, this is the first time a company has organized and staged its very own show of protest.
Previously: Trump Resistance Rises Fast In The Tech And Science Sectors As They See A Work Visa Ban Comes Next
Y Combinator president Sam Altman's heart grew three sizes today as he announced the American Civil Liberties Union would join his startup incubator in order to manage its massive influx of funding. The ACLU received $24 million in donations this weekend alone, and though it's far from a "startup," that's what's known in the tech biz as a very good seed round.
Altman made the announcement today on the company blog. "The ACLU has always been important, but has a particularly important role right now," wrote Altman, linking to a post written by ACLU executive director Anthony Romero celebrating the group's success Saturday in securing a stay blocking President Trump's anti-immigration executive order.
In response to that executive order, Altman took personal action, joining a protest at San Francisco International Airport.
This is an extreme first world problem, but I'd really love to stop getting pitched at protests. Kinda kills the vibe. Sam Altman (@sama) January 30, 2017
There's a degree of precedent to the ACLU's inclusion in Y Combinator, as Paul Graham, the incubator's original head honcho, announced that the incubator would begin including nonprofits "in every YC batch" starting in winter 2013. And so far, Y Combinator companies appear to have been welcoming to the new member of their cohort.
25 YC founders offered to go help at the ACLU in the first 30 mins since I sent the email. our community. Sam Altman (@sama) January 31, 2017
Can't wait to see what the ACLU will have for Demo Day, the big showcase for YC incubees. But there's also a bit of a conflict here in Altman and Y Combinator's association with Peter Thiel, an advisor to President Trump and high-profile supporter and donor to him during his campaign. In October, Altman said that he wouldn't cut ties to his pal because "diversity of opinion" is important.
3) Thiel is a high profile supporter of Trump. I disagree with this. YC is not going to fire someone for supporting a major party nominee. Sam Altman (@sama) October 17, 2016 6) Diversity of opinion is painful but critical to the health of a democratic society. We can't start purging people for political support. Sam Altman (@sama) October 17, 2016
As the Y Combinator president wrote in 2015 to announce Thiel's addition as a part-time partner: "We generally wont bring on people that are involved with other investing firms given the obvious conflict, but Peter is so good we felt like we had to make an exception."
Gizmodo no fans of Thiel, who secretly bankrolled the lawsuit that destroyed its original parent website Gawker levels the charge that Altman is a "coward" who "wont do the one thing within his power that could actually be construed as a rejection of the Trump Administration."
As they frame it, "Its hard to know exactly why Altman refuses to do thisis it because it will eventually affect Y Combinators bottom line, or is it because Altman just cant bear to cut ties with his friend?"
Probably both, and also because Thiel is Altman's escape pod from Trump's mess. "If the pandemic does come, Altmans backup plan is to fly with his friend Peter Thiel, the billionaire venture capitalist, to Thiels house in New Zealand," the New Yorker revealed in a profile of Altman this past fall.
"I try not to think about it too much, Altman said of apocalypse, as caused by anything from a synthetic virus to an AI takeover. But I have guns, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, batteries, water, gas masks from the Israeli Defense Force, and a big patch of land in Big Sur I can fly to. Good to know he'll be fine.
Related: Y Combinator President Sam Altman Is Prepping For The AI Apocalypse With Guns, Planes, Peter Thiel, And Elon Musk
As far back as the 70s, one expert says, heads of first-responder agencies (think police and fire) have been the recipients of pension pay from a previous position even as they pull down even more in their current one. It makes for a nice figure! The Chron's Matier and Ross ran down the details of SF's new top cop, as well as Oakland's heads of fire and police, and found that each were getting a very nice second paycheck from the gigs they'd left behind.
San Francisco Police Department Chief Bill Scott
Sworn in just last week, Scott had devoted the last 27 years of his life to the LAPD. That's why, in addition to the $316,000 base salary he'll get to head the SFPD (reportedly the highest salary for a police chief anywhere in the country), Scott will receive a $152,000 annual pension from our pals down south.
Total: $468,000/year
Oakland Police Department Chief Anne Kirkpatrick
It took Oakland seven months to find a head for its troubled department, and finally they convinced Kirkpatrick to join as its first female chief earlier this month. Though she came to us from Chicago, where she was the head of their Bureau of Professional Standards, Kirkpatrick has had a lengthy career in multiple police departments across Washington State and was most recently Spokane's top cop. That's why she's got a $87,420 annual pension payout to add to her base salary in Oakland of $270,000. (Up for in the air is an additional $55,000 in "special pay" that her predecessor in Oakland received, so we'll leave that out for now.)
Total: $357,420/year
Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed
The Ghost Ship Fire thrust Reed into the spotlight last month, as she was frequently on camera to explain the circumstances behind the deadly blaze. The first female big-city fire chief when Oakland named her as head of the department in March 2012, she had served in the San Jose Fire Department since 1986, ending her career there as Assistant Fire Chief. That's why San Jose continues to pay her a $127,000 annual pension, in addition to her yearly base pay in Oakland of $241,000.
Total: $368,000
Related: SFPD Salaries By The Numbers
SF City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging President Trump's executive order that threatens to withhold federal funds from so-called Sanctuary Cities, becoming the first city the nation to do so. Reuters broke the news, and the San Francisco Business Times published some of the text of the lawsuit, noting that it reads, "In blatant disregard of the law, the President of the United States seeks to coerce local authorities into abandoning what are known as 'Sanctuary City' laws and policies."
Many have questioned the constitutionality of the order under the Tenth Amendment since it was signed last week, and San Francisco city leaders have put up a united front in standing firmly at odds with the Trump Administration's agenda. On Monday, Mayor Ed Lee, Police Chief William Scott and Sheriff Vicki Hennessy wrote a joint letter to the Department of Homeland Security, as the SF Chronicle reports, stating in part, "Pressing local jurisdictions to become entangled in federal immigration enforcement betrays that trust and undermines the work our public safety departments have done to improve relations with our residents. We will not jeopardize the public safety of our communities to do the job of the federal government. The letter said firmly that the city "declines to participate in any agreements" laid out in Trump's two executive orders, and that city public safety agencies would not enforce federal immigration law.
The city's lawsuit, meanwhile, goes further to say, in part:
San Francisco is a city of immigrants, many of whom are undocumented, who come here to live, work, and raise families. San Francisco is safer when all people, including undocumented immigrants, feel safe reporting crimes. San Francisco is healthier when all residents, including undocumented immigrants, access public health programs. And San Francisco is economically and socially stronger when all children, including undocumented immigrants, attend school.
Using city and county resources for federal immigration enforcement breeds distrust of local government and officials who have no power to change federal laws, and can also wrench apart family and community structures that support residents and thus conserve resources. For these reasons, among others, San Francisco has directed its employees and officers not to assist the Federal government in enforcing federal immigration law, with limited exceptions.
You can read the full text of the suit here, and it further asserts that Trump's Sanctuary City order "strikes at the heart of established principles of federalism and violates the United States Constitution."
While three of the largest cities in the state of California Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento already have declared themselves Sanctuary Cities, legislation introduced in December by California Senate President Kevin de Leon would make all of California a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants who do not commit violent felonies. As CBS 5 reports, that legislation is getting its first public hearing today in Sacramento.
The Hill reports that the measure, dubbed the California Values Act, would "prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from spending money to enforce federal immigration laws [and] would also ban immigration enforcement in state schools, health facilities and courthouses."
Upon introducing the bill in December, de Leon said, "We will not stand by and let the federal government use our state and local agencies to separate mothers from their children."
Update: Herrera issued a formal statement on the lawsuit saying, "The presidents executive order is not only unconstitutional, its un-American. That is why we must stand up and oppose it. We are a nation of immigrants and a land of laws. We must be the guardians of our democracy that President Obama urged us all to be in his farewell address.
Mayor Ed Lee issued a statement on the city lawsuit, saying, in part, "I commend City Attorney Herrera and his team for their swift action on this filing to protect our Sanctuary City. The misguided Executive Order makes our cities less safe, and we believe, is unconstitutional."
Previously: 'A Sanctuary From Trump's Hate': San Francisco Reacts To Executive Order Punishing Sanctuary Cities
JUST NOW: On Sessions attorney general nomination: I must vote no. pic.twitter.com/lfQnX5Khug Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) January 31, 2017
Though it was unclear if Senator Dianne Feinstein was going to extend a courtesy to Republicans and help confirm President Trump's controversial nominee for attorney general, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, she announced Tuesday in her role as ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that she would be voting against Sessions's confirmation. Saying that an attorney general needed to enforce the nation's laws regardless of the will of the White House, per NBC News, Feinstein said, "I have no confidence that Sen. Sessions will do that. Instead, he has been the fiercest, the most dedicated, the most loyal [supporter] of the Trump agenda."
Also, as the Associated Press quotes her as saying, Feinstein said she couldn't reconcile the independence required of the job "with the partisanship this nominee has exhibited."
Sessions's nomination comes up for a vote just as there is widespread backlash over the president's sweeping executive order on immigration and basic travel from seven Muslim-majority nations, and questions about the constitutionality of said ban and less than 24 hours after the president fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for her stance against the ban.
Previously Feinstein took time just prior to surgery to get a pacemaker installed two weeks ago to give some harsh opening remarks at the beginning of the committee's hearing on Sessions's nomination. She said at the time "the job of the attorney general is to enforce federal law, even if he voted against a law, even if he spoke against it before it passed, even if he disagrees with the precedent saying that the law is constitutional." (But in votes on some other Trump nominees, as Chron columnist David Talbot notes with disgust, Feinstein has voted to confirm the likes of Mike Pompeo as CIA director and John Kelly as Homeland Security director.)
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy also said Tuesday morning that he would not be voting for Sessions, however much of this is ceremonial as Sessions's nomination is still expected to pass through via the Republican majority on the committee, and with a 52-seat majority in the full senate, the GOP is expected to approve his nomination along party lines.
Meanwhile, Democrats on the Finance Committee sought to stall two other of Trump's nominations by failing to appear for votes on Tuesday. As the New York Times reports, votes were scheduled today on the confirmations of treasury secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin and secretary of health and human services nominee Tom Price, but those votes will now be delayed as Democratic Senators demand more information on the nominees.
Previously: In Preparation For Trump Presidency, Dianne Feinstein Gets Pacemaker
My new shop window, courtesy of our president. pic.twitter.com/FoHurAz0Y8 Omnivore Books (@omnivorebooks) January 28, 2017
Food-focused Noe Valley bookshop Omnivore Books is encouraging cooks in the neighborhood to learn about several of the seven countries that are included in Trump's executive order barring all travel and immigration for at least 90 days via a window display they tweeted out over the weekend. In response to the positive outpouring on Twitter reacting to the photo, store owner Celia Sack said, "Doing my part, as small as that may be," and "Don't know what else to do [I] just feel so helpless!"
Grub Street spoke to Sack about her book choices, which include The New Persian Kitchen by Louisa Shafia, The Iraqi Family Cookbook by Kay Karim, and The Aleppo Cookbook: Celebrating the Legendary Cuisine of Syria by Marlene Matar.
Of the latter she writes it's "A comprehensive collection of recipes, but particularly striking are the simple portraits capturing daily life in Aleppo. A shopkeeper stealing a nap behind tubs of lentils and nuts, three kids hamming it up for the camera in front of an ancient door, a busy market hall teeming with people within a beautiful old building. I flip through the pages and wonder if that market hall still stands, where those three kids are now."
She also highlights several books about the cuisines of North Africa, including one, Classic Vegetarian Cooking from the Middle East & North Africa by Habeeb Salloum, about which she says "sadly not enough people pick this one up because it has no pictures," and that's "their loss" because "this book relies on skillful combinations of herbs and spices creating super flavorful vegetarian dishes."
California state senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) makes a good point: If we already know that First Lady Melania Trump worked in this country illegally when she first arrived here from Slovenia in 1996, how do we even know what her exact citizenship status is? "No one in the Trump operation has released any of the documentation to indicate what was the circumstance [of Mrs. Trump's immigration], or whether she had full legal status, Skinner tells Politico California. We only know they had a lawyer look at whatever papers she chose to give."
Skinner further points out that President Trump announced back in August that his wife would be giving a press conference to set to rest any questions about her own immigration status, but that actually never happened. Melania did, however, make a formal statement on Twitter, because that's how the Trump's settle things for the public record. In the statement, she said that she "had been at all times in full compliance with the immigration laws of this country," and she stated that she became a US citizen in July 2006, 18 months after marrying Trump.
The Associated Press proved that this was partly a lie, however, with a November investigative report stating that "Melania Trump was paid for 10 modeling jobs in the United States worth $20,056 that occurred in the seven weeks [in 1996] before she had legal permission to work in the country, according to detailed accounting ledgers, contracts and related documents" that were provided to the AP.
Politico spoke to immigration attorney David Leopold, a former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, who calls Skinner's request for Melania's file "fair game," saying that if the AP story is based in fact, that is certifiable fraud. Also, given Trump's harsh stand on immigration both from Mexico and from Muslim-majority nations, with much rhetoric focused on saving American jobs for Americans, we should be able to know for certain if Trump's own wife was or was not once an undocumented alien working illegally in the US.
Meanwhile, predictably, Republicans have come out swinging at Skinner's request, with Alameda County GOP chair Sue Caro calling it "a crap grandstanding posture" and Republican National Committee member and SF attorney Harmeet Dhillon saying it's "a cheap trolling tactic" and "really beneath the dignity of these California legislators."
Pretty sure the Dems had better get their cheap trolling game on point in the coming months, if they know what's good for them.
Previously: San Francisco Becomes First City To Sue Over Sanctuary City Order As California May Become Sanctuary State
Milwaukee's rap scene has been in overdrive for the last couple of years, but we do our best to keep up with it. Once again we've rounded up our favorite recent singles, mixtapes, videos and odds and ends for our periodic Milwaukee Hip-Hop Round-Up.
El-Shareef & Derelle Rideout - Matching Verts
Perhaps the quintessential Milwaukee producer, Derelle Rideout can usually be counted on to provide the standout tracks on any project he contributes to. Any album produced entirely by him, then, is worth getting very excited about. Localjourneyman El-Shareef has never sounded better than he does over Rideouts blissful, punchy production on their collab LP Matching Verts, an album that should be in store for a lot of spins once spring rolls around.
Ju Preach Preach4Ever
We flagged Ju Preachs single Notice in an earlier installment of this roundup, and like most everything coming out of IshDARRs CCM camp right now, it was catchy as hell, in an unusual, sticky, minimalistic kind of way. So it goes without saying that IshDARR fans will find plenty to enjoy on the full EP, which features many of the same producers IshDARR leans on. Despite that familiar sound, Ju Preach has a charisma thats all his own, and a knack for stretching his voice and playing off of the unusual ways these beats crest and bounce. It came out all the way back in August, but I keep coming back to it every few weeks, and each time it sounds better.
Hakeem Paragon Paragons Ladder EP
Lots of artists rap about their demons from time to time, but some do it with more intensity than others. Paragons Ladder, the latest EP from Milwaukee rapper Hakeem Paragon, documents the worst period of his life, a months-long fog of depression that found him fighting off suicidal thoughts. Just how bad was it? Impulses to swerve my Camaro into oncoming traffic at high speeds, he tells the Shepherd. Nightmares of killing myself over Facetime to show my wife what she did to me. So, yeah, that bad. Theres no sugar-coating it, this is not an easy listen, and the unsettling production from local producer Water.lo doesnt do anything to calm your nerves.
Joey Burbs Conversations
And now for something a lot lighter. Conversations, the bouncy latest single from 21-year-old Milwaukee rapper/producer Joey Burbs, is a welcome respite from whats been a very, very bleak January. The song, he says, is about the talk of other people and doing what you feel will make you successful and happy. Everyone has an opinion and a lot of people may hate, but those are the people that always seem to not be doing anything worthwhile themselves. All they do is have these conversations while others are working and achieving dreams.
Yogie B & Keez All We Do
If youre like me, youre still probably shaken from that Hakeem Paragon EP, so heres another palette cleanser: All We Do, a party track from the local bro-hop duo Yogie B & Keez. Im not a fan of this stuff at allsorry, Asher Rothbut theres a demand for it so somebodys got to do it, and Yogie B & Keez do it better than most. They also get points for self-awareness: They are not trying to be anything they arent.
Blax ft. G.R.A.M.Z. Nothin
You might remember Blax from back when he went by the name Adebisi and fronted Milwaukees most popular live hip-hop band of the era, Fresh Cut Collective. In the years since, hes lived in New York where he collaborated with producer Ski Beatz and the Jet Life family, but these days hes back in Milwaukee and preparing for the release of an album called Be Well next month. His fierce single Nothin offers a taste of what hes been working on.
Will Static ft. Smoov Too Long
Will Static used to run with a Milwaukee hip-hop collective called DRS, but these days hes riding solo. In advance of an upcoming EP, this month he teased his first solo single, Too Long, a territorial little track set to a twisty Classix beat that promises theres much more to come.
Renz Young Lovenvy
Lean Beatz In The Whip
Renz Young is another Milwaukee producer with a gift for bringing out the best in his collaborators, but he tends to save his best tracks for himself. His latest one is mighty smooth.
For symmetrys sake well end this roundup with another prolific local self-producing rapper, Lean Beatz. Hes been on an Atlanta-inspired, self-medicating Future vibe for a while now, and it carries through his latest single, In The Whip. Cold stuff. Very, very cold.
DES MOINES Legislative Democrats and education lobbyists met Republicans proposal to increase state aid for K-12 public schools by $40 million a 1.11 percent bump with disappointment and outrage Monday at the state capitol.
In addition to what they called an inadequate funding level, Democrats in the Senate Education Committee railed against Republicans and said they were not told of the substance of the bill until only hours before a scheduled vote. That prevented them from consulting with constituents about its possible repercussions, Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said.
Im supposed to work with a bill with no input on what the effect will be, Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, said. What is the impact on rural schools? Is it going to mean consolidation? Is it going to mean closing? Is it going to mean more bussing?
There are a lot of unanswered questions.
Republican legislators said their proposed 1.11 percent increase to K-12 education funding which would raise the states per-pupil funding to $6,664 is in line with the states available revenue.
Funding for K-12 is approaching $3.2 billion.
Republican legislators have calculated they have about $200 million in new state revenue to spend in the fiscal 2018 budget, said Rep. Walt Rogers, R-Cedar Falls, chairman of the House Education Committee. Education and Medicaid are at the top of the list of priorities, along with public safety and corrections.
We just felt that $40 million of the new revenue was the appropriate amount of money that we could in good conscience give to K-12 education, he said. We are also looking at many ways to relieve pressure with district budgets by looking at inequities in district cost per pupil and flexibility of spending.
Education lobbyists told members of the House Education Committee the small increase could force cuts at school districts across the state.
We know that there are many, many issues that we need to work on and we appreciate that, but we also know that growth in funding for schools the last few years has been extremely low, said Tom Narak of the School Administrators of Iowa. And schools are getting into a crisis area.
In Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, district superintendents said a 1.11 percent increase would lead to significant cuts.
In Iowa City, the cuts would equal about $1 million. There would be about $1.5 million in cuts to Cedar Rapids schools.
That is bad news for the district, Iowa City Superintendent Stephen Murley said in an email. It will certainly mean that we have to look across the board at everything from staffing to programming.
Because the majority of school districts costs are in staffing, Cedar Rapids Community School Superintendent Brad Buck said the proposed funding level would mean a reduction in district personnel.
To provide context, Buck said in an email, we are pushing $20 million dollars in reductions over the last six years as our costs have exceeded our increases in revenue.
Rep. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, called the GOPs proposed increase woefully inadequate, given that state tax collections are projected to grow by 4.2 percent in the coming fiscal year and Republicans were proposing to boost state aid by $73 per pupil.
She said more than half of Iowas school districts have declining enrollment, which means property taxpayers will have to pitch in $23.64 million to make up for the lack of state supplemental aid.
I would like to think that we could do better than this, she said.
Gov. Terry Branstad who recommended a two percent increase in K-12 state aid for each of the next two fiscal years conceded his fellow Republicans were offering less than the $78.8 million he sought for fiscal 2018 and $63.5 million for the following year. But he applauded their willingness to decide the funding issue within the sessions first 30 days.
He also noted that K-12 schools were not being asked to take any cut in the current fiscal year due to lower-than-projected tax collections that are forcing nearly $118 million in adjustments by June 30.
But Winckler pointed out that Republican legislators were not abiding by state law that required the fiscal 2018 funding level for K-12 schools to be established last session and the fiscal 2019 aid total to be set this February.
Rep. Rogers said legislators may look at the fiscal 2019 school aid funding issue once they get the March state revenue estimate.
This number on education is something we felt comfortable with and good about as far as overall increases in spending all across the board, Rogers said. Well continue to work for the most fiscally conservative route that we possibly can go looking at the new dollars that are available.
Monday ended on a contentious note, when members of the Senate Education Committee clashed over a GOP effort to close debate at 9 p.m. before voting 9-6 along party lines to approve the school funding measure with the 1.11 percent increase and send it to the Senate debate calendar.
The committee meeting had been delayed for more than five hours awaiting a Democratic amendment that never was introduced. Committee chair Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, defended the process over objections by Democrats that the process was a sham and shouts of shame from Iowans who attended the unruly evening meeting that ended at 9:18 p.m.
During a brief public comment period, Megan Christofferson, a Johnston mother of eight, said there were armies of parents like herself begging for the Legislature to adequately fund schools.
They cant keep doing more for less, she said. Its impossible.
About at the same time across the Capitol rotunda, Republicans in the House Appropriations Committee passed the school aid measure on a 14-9 party-line vote with expectations the bill could be debated by both chambers yet this week.
DES MOINES | A long-running lawsuit between the owner of the former Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino and its local partner has been set for trial in Des Moines early next year.
A case coordinator set a Feb. 12, 2018, trial date in Polk County District Court for Penn National Gaming's breach of contract suit against Missouri River Historical Development.
District Judge Lawrence McLellan is presiding over the case.
Action in the case had been on hold for months while lawyers focused on resolving a separate lawsuit dealing with the actions that led to the casino's closure.
In its breach of contract suit, Penn sued MRHD, the state-licensed nonprofit group that had held Woodbury County's gambling license with the Belle of Sioux City, a subsidiary of the Wyomissing, Pa.-based Penn National Gaming, in 2012, claiming that MRHD schemed to replace the Argosy with another operator even before their 20-year contract expired in July 2012.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission later put Woodbury County's license up for grabs and began accepting proposals for a land-based casino after MRHD and Penn could not agree on a long-term contract extension that would have included a land-based casino.
MRHD denied the allegations and countersued, claiming that Penn interfered with MRHD's prospective relationships by sending letters threatening legal action against potential operators with whom MRHD might pursue an agreement. MRHD claimed Penn's actions prevented or delayed it from negotiating a more lucrative land-based casino agreement.
The casino closed in July 2014 after the IRGC denied the Belle's license renewal, and MRHD had formed a partnership with developers who built and opened the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in downtown Sioux City.
In May, the Belle's challenge of the IRGC's action ended when the Iowa Supreme Court denied its request to review an Iowa Court of Appeals ruling that upheld previous rulings that led to the casino's closure.
Belle of Sioux City is subject to another lawsuit filed by Community Action Agency of Siouxland for nearly $2 million in revenue-sharing payments that were withheld from MRHD for distribution to charities. The 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 distributed a portion of the casino's gambling profits to dozens of area organizations.
Penn stopped making payments -- 3 percent of the Sioux City boat's adjusted gross revenues -- to MRHD for 16 months before the Argosy's closure.
LE MARS, Iowa | A Craig, Iowa, man pleaded guilty Monday to videotaping naked teenagers at his home.
James Grasz, 67, entered his plea in Plymouth County to four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Sentencing was set for March 3.
As part of a plea agreement, two additional counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and four counts of invasion of privacy will be dismissed, and Grasz' sentence will be up to a judge to decide.
According to court documents, Grasz photographed or filmed without their knowledge or permission five females ranging in age from 13-63 and one 25-year-old man in various states of nudity or participating in sex acts from January 2007 through October 2014.
The incidents were first reported last March, when a Plymouth County resident reported she was spied on by a man in Craig. The Plymouth County Sheriff's Office later served a search warrant on Grasz' house, where items were seized and taken as evidence.
SIOUX CITY | For centuries, people of all ages have looked at their surroundings, their natural curiosities leading to questions about how the world and the things in it work.
Their minds continually look for answers. It's how discoveries are made, how new inventions come into being.
It's what being a scientist is all about.
Josiah Dykstra's curiosity was piqued when he first saw a computer in Joyce Rasmussen's fifth-grade classroom in Sioux City's now-closed Lincoln Elementary School.
"I was intrigued by how does this thing work. What can I make it do?" Dykstra said.
At Bishop Heelan High School, that curiosity remained. Now Dykstra wanted to know how computers networked or "spoke" to each other. He couldn't get enough information.
His search for answers has led to a career in cybersecurity research, work that recently was honored when then-President Barack Obama named Dykstra one of 102 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, an award established by President Bill Clinton in 1996 to honor young science and engineering professionals for their research in science and technology.
A subject matter expert in computer network operations at the National Security Agency headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland, Dykstra said it was an honor to be nominated, then to receive the award.
"I could have never predicted where I am today. To have a presidential award is a big deal. I was really excited," said Dykstra, the son of Dan and Sharon Dykstra.
Dykstra's work, too, is a big deal.
We all have computers, cellphones and online accounts that have passwords protecting vital information. The government has troves of information that must be protected from spies and hackers.
Staying one step ahead of them is about as important as it gets.
"It's a problem that isn't going away," Dykstra said.
Dykstra followed his interest in computers by receiving bachelor's degrees in computer science and music from Hope College in Michigan in 2002, then a master's degree in information assurance from Iowa State in 2004. While at Iowa State, Dykstra had three internships with the NSA and accepted a full-time job there after completing his master's.
"I like the mission of the NSA, which is to help protect the nation. I get to do things at the NSA that I wouldn't get to do elsewhere," said Dykstra, a 1998 Heelan grad who has since added a Ph.D in computer science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Generally, Dyskstra said, the NSA's research is to advance security through science. He enjoys tackling the tough problems associated with developing new cybersecurity programs.
For example, he's currently working on a project to find ways to protect against phishing -- unsolicited emails that try to trick people into revealing passwords, credit card numbers and other personal information. The research is for the benefit of the NSA and the federal government, but it's possible there could be public applications that would benefit everyone.
Doing such important research is a world that his younger self never could have imagined, said Dykstra, now 36. He's working on solutions to important, everyday problems.
"If I were to go back and talk to myself as a fifth-grader, I'd tell me these are real things that are happening," Dykstra said. "This is something you can aspire to."
There are likely children sitting in Sioux City classrooms right now wondering what makes their computer, or something else, work. They should know that scientists aren't just college professors in white lab coats doing experiments.
And they should keep seeking answers, just as Dykstra did.
"Ask 'What if?' or 'What if we did this a different way?'" Dykstra said.
Those are the questions that lead to breakthroughs and discoveries, the questions that scientists young and old have always asked.
STORM LAKE, Iowa | A Storm Lake man who was accused of preventing state officials from taking custody of his children has pleaded guilty to child endangerment.
Scott Banks, 33, entered his plea Monday in Buena Vista County District Court to the charge, which was amended from conspiracy to third-degree kidnapping as part of a plea agreement. A second count of conspiracy to kidnapping and one count of perjury will be dismissed.
Banks has agreed to a two-year suspended prison sentence and will serve two years on probation.
The two children, then ages 1 and 3, were reported missing on Dec. 14, 2015, after the family did not turn them over to Iowa Department of Human Services workers for an evaluation of their well-being. The children were later found at the home of a family member.
According to court documents, Banks kept the children from the DHS and lied while under oath at a court hearing that day.
The grandmother of the children, Dionne Pamon, 51, of Storm Lake, was initially charged with two counts of conspiracy to third-degree kidnapping. The Buena Vista County Attorney's Office has asked that the charges be dismissed.
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Who Is Kelly Rebecca Nichols Alex Jones Ex-Wife? Kelly Rebecca Nichols is the ex-wife of controversial American radio show host, Alex Jones. She got nationwide attention following her divorce and subsequent custody battle with her estranged husband. Nichols, who worked with PETAs public relations department, was herself no stranger to controversies as she was involved in several publicity stunts of the non-profit animal rights ...
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Does Vanna White Have Husband or Children, What Is Her Net Worth / Salary? For over three decades, Vanna White has been a household name, famous as the co-host and letter turner of the iconic NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. The talented and beautiful television personality is also an actress with several TV series and films to her credit. Since making her Wheel of Fortune debut in 1982, she has become one ...
Liz Wheeler Biography, Husband & Net Worth Liz Wheeler is the kind of girl who sets the room on fire whenever she comes around. In this situation, however, she sets our screens on fire each time she appears as the host of One America News Tipping Point. She is, therefore, a presenter, publisher, consultant and a member of the Board of Zoning ...
Betty White Net Worth, Children & Husband The entertainment industry will remain indebted to personalities like Betty White who brought something extra to the table and kept the world entertained for donkey years. The comedienne, actress, and writer graced the big screens in the early 50s as a show host and has been a delight since then. She is the queen of ...
Is Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Dead or Alive, What Are His Net Worth & Education? Everyone will always remember Bill Nye as the Science Guy. Besides his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, he is well-known for his Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World which started airing in 2017 as well as his appearances in many famous media projects as a science educator. The star studied mechanical engineering ...
Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ...
Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ...
Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. Apart from his impressive stint at Fox News Channel which includes but not limited to his classic news delivery, upfront stance on virtually every issue and much more; he loves his job as much as he loves his personality. Smith ...
Is Milo Yiannopoulos Gay? His Husband and Net Worth Milo Yiannopoulos is a popular writer, journalist, polemicist, public speaker, and political commentator who is also known as the founder of The Kernel, an online blog. He has been said to be among the list of 100 weird and influential people in the United Kingdom. He appeared on this list as a result of personal beliefs and ...
Does Ryan Seacrest Have A Wife Or Girlfriend, What Is His Net Worth? From radio to television, Ryan Seacrest is a household name and a force to be reckoned with in showbiz. The radio personality, television host, and producer is best recognized as the host of the popular TV talent search contest American Idol. Heres how the media personality who always knew what his lifes ambition was and diligently pursued ...
Is Anderson Cooper Gay, Who is The Boyfriend or Husband? For many, the thought of becoming a millionaire by writing and talking about other people appears unachievable but this is the reality of the prominent American journalist Anderson Cooper who gathered millions of dollars for conducting accurate political analysis and other vital reports on TV. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show Anderson ...
Is David Muir Gay or Does He Have A Wife, What Is His Salary? David Muir is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for the ABC broadcast-television network and anchors the ABC World News Tonight with David Muir program while also co-anchoring the magazine program 20/20. The Ithaca College graduate, whose show has become the most-watched newscast in America, has covered stories from all across America and the world; reporting ...
Joel Osteen Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ...
Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ...
Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ...
Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ...
Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ...
Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ...
Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ...
Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ...
Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ...
Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ...
Demystifying Pokimane Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ...
A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ...
Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ...
Alex Aiono Biography Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ...
Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ...
Princess Love Bio Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ...
Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ...
Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ...
Safiya Nygaard Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ...
The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ...
Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ...
Inside Fred Armisens Life Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ...
Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...
Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ...
Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ...
Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ...
xChocobars Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ...
Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ...
Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ...
Matpat (Matthew Patrick) Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...
Facts About Ricegum His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...
Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...
What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...
David Letterman Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...
Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ...
Lester Holt Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ...
What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...
The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...
Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...
The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...
Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...
The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...
Jeff Dunham Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...
Ellen DeGeneres Net Worth, Wife Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...
Revisiting Joan Rivers Death The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...
The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...
Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...
Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...
How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...
Madison Gesiotto Bio Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...
Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...
What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...
Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...
Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...
Carli Bybel Bio Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...
Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...
Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...
Norm MacDonald Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...
Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...
Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...
Samantha Bee Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...
What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...
Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...
A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...
Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...
Desi Perkins Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...
The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...
Connor Franta Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...
Rhett and Link Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...
A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...
What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...
David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...
Merrell Twins Bio Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...
Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...
Ninja Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...
What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...
Emma Chamberlain Biography Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...
Anna Akana Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...
Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...
Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...
Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...
Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...
Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...
The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...
Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...
PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...
Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...
Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...
LaurDIY Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...
Lachlan Ross Power Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...
Alfie Deyes Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...
Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...
Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...
Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...
Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...
How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...
5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman) The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...
Grace Helbig Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...
Mark Wiens Bio Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...
Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...
CaptainSparklez Bio Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...
Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...
5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...
Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...
Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...
Jacksepticeye Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...
Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...
Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...
Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...
Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...
Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...
Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...
Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...
Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...
Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...
Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...
Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...
Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...
Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...
5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...
Lilypichu Bio Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...
KSI What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ...
The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...
The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...
What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ...
What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...
Matt Carriker Biography Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...
Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...
Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ...
Gloria Govan Bio Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ...
Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ...
Who Is October Gonzalez Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ...
Who Is Tony Berlin Harris Faulkners Husband: His Children and Family Facts Tony Berlin is a popular American media guru. He has variously worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for some of the biggest TV networks in America. They include CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC (where he hosted the popular Good Morning America). Berlin has now diversified into public relations and owns his own PR firm. ...
The Progression of Gianna Tobonis Journalism Career and Details About Her Marriage to Kyle Buckley Gianna Toboni may not be your ideal newscaster but her unusual reporting is what made her a household name. The American journalist is renowned for her hard-hitting and authentic reportage. A motivator and activist for total press freedom, Gianna loves to explore pervasive cultural issues. Not only does this unique and ambitious journalist call for all ...
Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ...
Vicky Karayiannis, Chris Cornells Wifes Bio, Children and Family The world of showbiz is made up of different people who serve different roles, and function in a variety of capacities, and one of the most important people are those in the background. Publicists are undoubtedly one of these background people yet they are vital to the life and fame of most of our favorite ...
Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ...
Josh Gates and Wife Hallie Gnatovich Have 2 Kids But Who Has the Higher Net Worth? Best known for his explorations and adventures, Josh Gates, is a television presenter with a voracious appetite for seeing the world and the beauties in it. Some of that beauty, however, is in his home, in the form of two children he shares with his wife, Hallie Gnatovich. Not excluded is their marriage which has lasted ...
Holly Sonders Wiki, Plastic Surgery & Why She Divorced Her Husband Erik Kuselias After trying everything within her capacity to have a low key wedding, Holly Sonders was drawn to the public because of her husbands controversy at his workplace. Well, the two are rumored to be divorced but the article below will give more light on how true these rumors are. Meanwhile, Holly Sonders is yet to ...
Nadeska Alexis Bio Age, Boyfriend & Net Worth Journalism is one diverse profession that allows the practitioners to choose their area of specialty, build a career on it by reporting the truth and facts which in the long run will distinguish them as deserving commendation and recognition among their peers. Some choose to specialize in political journalism, while to others it is sports ...
Media Platforms Charlamagne Tha God Has Explored and All The Controversies He Has Courted Charlamagne Tha God is an American on-air personality, radio presenter, and more recently, author. He is popularly known as a co-host on New York radios nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, a program he has been hosting alongside DJ Envy and Angela Yee since 2010. However, his early years had no connection to his current career ...
A Look At Jimmy Fallons Net Worth and Family Including His Wife & Kids Sometimes, a childs passion for something is a pointer to what he/she would become in the future. As a child, Jimmy Fallon was literally obsessed with watching the late-night comedy program, Saturday Night Live (SNL). Then, his parents would tape the clean parts for him to watch and later, he and his sister would re-enact sketches from the ...
Kay Adams Biography Does The Sportscaster Have A Husband or Boyfriend? When you hear the phrase sports enthusiast, women are hardly the first group that comes to mind. Well, thats changing pretty fast. Especially with the rise of female sports analysts and broadcasters like Kay Adams who is famed for knowing more about sports than most men do. And why not, shes paid handsomely for it ...
Ben Shapiros Family Meet His Wife, Kids and Sister Who is Popular for the Wrong Reasons A multi-talented man, Ben Shapiro is a man of controversial nature, an attribute that has made him an unusual public figure. An intellectual whose career path was clearly defined even before he became a man, the Jewish conservative commentator has always had his way with words. He became popular by sharing his critical and often ...
QVC Shawn Killinger Bio Husband, Net Worth & Facts To Know Shawn Killinger is a prominent TV personality who has worked her way to the top. Though not initially a journalist by training, she defied the odds and today has established herself as a household name, as well as, worked alongside some industry legends. More than just being a reporter, newscaster, and anchor, heres all you ...
Liv Lo Dissecting the Ethnicity, Parents and Personal Life of Henry Goldings Wife While many are aware that Liv Lo is the better half to Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, only a few understand why his beautiful wife appears increasingly endearing to fans. A former model turned TV personality, and fitness star, Liv has an impressive resume which when combined with that of her statuesque spouse is considered a perfect ...
Stpeach Age, Husband and Other Facts About The Twitch Streamer Lisa Vannatta, famously known by her online alias, STPeach is a Canadian video game streamer cum vlogger who has garnered fame through her appearances on different video-sharing/social networking platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Twitch, Reddit, and Twitter. The beautiful lady got her career to a start in August 2015 when she joined the live streaming video platform, Twitch. She rose to ...
Insights into Seth Meyers Wife, Family and What His Net Worth Is Celebrities are mostly remembered and known for the work they do. For Seth Meyers, his career as a comedian, writer, actor, TV host, and producer is his biggest identifier. He was on Saturday Night Live SNL show as a head writer and cast member for more than ten years during which he built a reputation ...
Who Is Jessica Gadsden Age, Net Worth & All About Charlamagne tha Gods Wife Jessica Gadsden is an American fitness coach as well as a personal trainer. She is better known as the spouse of popular American media personality, Charlamagne Tha God. Charlamange Tha God is a well-known TV and radio personality in the U.S. He has featured in several shows (both on the radio and TV) and is ...
Who Is Collins Tuohy Michael Ohers sister ? Her Wedding, Husband & Net Worth Collins Tuohy is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, blogger, and social media personality. She is also better known as the adoptive sister of NFL player, Michael Oher, whose life story inspired the Hollywood blockbuster The Blind Side. The Blind Side tells the true life story of Oher who grew up in an impoverished background consisting of a ...
Eye-Popping Facts About The Personal Life And Career Success Of Sportscaster Heidi Watney Heidi Watney is a media personality who has created a niche for herself as a sportscaster. Starting out as a radio presenter, the brilliant young lady has gone on to work for several prominent sports networks, and currently, she is with the MLB. The sportscaster is also known to have been an avid sports lady right ...
Marty Lagina Bio Siblings (Martina and Rick Lagina), Net Worth and Wife Marty Lagina is an American engineer and businessman who has risen to fame as a reality TV star. This is thanks to his involvement in the adventure TV series, The Curse of Oak Island. The Curse of Oak Island is a long-running TV series which airs on the history channel. The show aims to solve ...
Is Jordan Schlansky Just A Character or a Real Life Person and What Does He Do? The world of late-night television is an interesting one. Shows during that time are geared towards giving viewers comedic relief from a long day at work through interviews and comedy sketches. The often charismatic host of this show requires the balancing talent of a producer whose primary job is to deliver great episodes. It is ...
Heres How Wealthy Jimmy Kimmel Is From All The Phases of His Career, Marriages and Sons Health Jimmy Kimmel is a renowned late-night talk show host known for his charm, wit, and the A-list guests he features on his show. As the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On ABC, Jimmy has been serving comedy to television viewers for years which played a pivotal role in launching him into mainstream fame and enabled ...
Natasha Bertrand Biography Is She Married? Who Is the Husband & What Is Her Age? Natasha Bertrand is not just a young prominent journalist but a first-rate investigative reporter. With her natural beauty and smile, Natashas sharp, insightful political commentary also makes her a thorough reporter. Her sound political perspective and coverage in the country have made her a force to be reckoned with in the profession. Renowned for her ...
What Happened to Shane Kilcher? His Injury Update, Net Worth and More Shane Kilcher is well-known thanks to the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier. It is a show that documents the daily lives of the extended Kilcher family, people who live without plumbing or modern heating. The episodes follow their routines as they rely on hunting and farming for their nutritional needs as well as ...
Is Stephanie Gosk Gay or Lesbian, Who is the Wife or Partner Jenna Wolfe? In August 2013, NBCs Today viewers were greeted with two shocking news. Today weekend anchor, Jenna Wolfe, announced that she was as a lesbian, introducing her partner as NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk, and said the two are expecting their first child. A long time has passed since then and certainly, a lot of things ...
Nikki Mudarris Bio and Net Worth: 5 Interesting Facts You Need to Know Nikki Mudarris, also known as Miss Nikki Baby, is a reality television star, model and fashionista. Shes best known for VH1s reality TV series Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood. Her entrepreneurial skills enable her to create and run a successful lingerie line Nude by Nikki. Not only that, but Nikki has also successfully run the Las ...
5 Interesting Things You Need To Know About Kelly Nash Ever heard of the lady who gained national prominence for taking a selfie with a dangerous ball just a few inches away from hitting her? Its no other person than Kelly Nash, an American sports broadcaster currently working as host of The Rundown show which airs on MLB Network every weekday at 2 pm ET. ...
Understanding The Height of Fame John Oliver Achieved With The Daily Show and How He Met His Wife Without knowledge of who he is and his exemplary career, John Oliver cuts an unassuming figure of a regular man but he is one of the most influential personalities in America, especially on television. Since he began his career in 1998, he has been a loud and unapologetic agent of change, using his wit and ...
Why Did Big Chief Leave Street Outlaws, Where Is He Now And Why Did He Divorce His Wife? Justin Shearer, otherwise known by his professional name Big Chief is a famous street racer and television personality. He is famously known for being one of the main characters on the racing reality television series, Street Outlaws. Justin, who had been a significant part of the show since its premiere in 2013, appeared in a ...
Who is Josina Anderson of ESPN? Her Husband and Family Facts There has been a gradual paradigm shift in the world of sports which has today produced the likes of Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and other female athletes that are pulling great feats in different sporting fields. Their achievements have also been followed by the emergence of female sports journalists such as Jillian Mele, Eboni Williams, ...
Is Brittany Wagner Married, Who Is The Husband, How Old Is She? Brittany Wagner has been an inspiration to a lot of sports youngster. She has won the hearts of many athletic students with her role as a life coach and an academic counselor. She is well groomed in her career and has worked over a decade for The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and The National ...
Tati Westbrook Bio Age, Husband & Net Worth With five videos dished out every week, alongside running her own brand, beauty guru, and YouTube superstar Tati Westbrook has proved to the world that theres utterly no impossibility or limit to whatever one is passionate about. Tati is best known for being the owner and manager of the worlds most-viewed beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel, ...
Cathy Areus Long Road to Becoming a Freelance Journalist and What to Know About Her Kids An American freelance journalist, news analyst, and author, Cathy Areu has built a lasting reputation for herself on cable television. Popular for her skillful and sassy presentation of professional views on varying topics including cultural and feminist issues, Cathy is an inspiration to many women across the globe. In addition to being a journalist, she ...
Tucker Carlsons Love Story With Wife Susan Andrews, their Children and Net Worth Today On the TV screens, Tucker Carlson is that fiery fellow who passionately dishes out his conservative and often controversial views on issues of national importance. Such brazenness has fetched him many enemies, especially on the left-wing, but it has also helped him cement a reputation as one of the foremost broadcast journalists in America. His ...
Paige Wyatts Net Worth, Boyfriend and Where She Is Now Paige Wyatt became popular after the Wyatt family began running the reality television show, American Guns. The Wyatt family comprises Rich Wyatt (father), Renee Wyatt (mother), Paige and Kurt Wyatt (children). Rich Wyatt originally ran a gun shop, the Gunsmoke Guns in Wheat Ridge, Colorado which is outside of Denver. The business which he ran together ...
The Progression of Howard Sterns Career As A Media Personality And Why He Divorced His First Wife Howard Stern is a legendary American radio host, who has also done some notable work as an actor, producer, author, as well as photographer. The radio personality achieved worldwide fame as a result of his self-titled radio program, The Howard Stern Show. As a professional radio personality, he has worked in different radio stations. Since 2006, ...
Lisa Joyners Biography Ethnicity, Net Worth and Other Key Facts Lisa Joyner is an American Journalist, TV talk show host, and actress. Some of her well-known works are her correspondences for the Los Angeles based TV KCBS, inFANity show, Find My Family Show including her film and television appearances in Brimstone, American Sweetheart, The Bold and The Beautiful among others. Lisas passion for reconnecting people with their biological families ...
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DES MOINES Todays evolving nature of warfare requires an evolving warrior, the leader of the Iowa Army National Guard told lawmakers Tuesday.
One that is highly educated physically fit, technologically savvy and globally aware, Major General Timothy Orr, adjutant general of the Iowa Army National Guard, told a joint session of the Iowa Legislature.
For the Guard, that means drawing from the broadest pool of service-eligible Iowans, he said in his annual address. That pool includes young Iowans who are benefitting from the emphasis in K-12 schools on STEM science, technology, engineering and math
From intelligence-gathering and analysis, to aviation, to communications, to cybersecurity, we have dozens of part-time and full-time positions that utilize state of the art technology and application of STEM disciplines, Orr said.
Although only Iowa 425 Guard members deployed around the globe, Orr hinted at increased mobilizations.
The days of the Iowa National Guard serving exclusively as a strategic reserve -- called up only in emergencies -- are now over, Orr said. Several Iowa Army National Guard and Iowa Air Guard units and individuals have been identified for potential overseas deployments.
Orr noted that as he spoke, members of the 185th Air Refueling Wing from Sioux City were "deployed worldwide, providing ongoing refueling support for real-world missions."
Given the level of global uncertainty, instability and potential for significant conflict around the world, we are now at a point where current and projected demands for our assets around the globe will continue to remain constant, he said.
So the Iowa Army National Guard continues to increase training opportunities for members to improve their individual skills and unit readiness.
Orr noted the Guards history goes back 180 years and 2017 marks the development of Camp Dodge as a major training base to mobilize soldiers for World War I. Today, Camp Dodge is the third busiest National Guard training base in the United States for training National Guard, Reserve and Active Duty service members, law enforcement officers, interagency personnel, and civilians, Orr reported.
In addition to its duties around the world, the Guard also is called on for emergencies at home, Orr said. Last year was relatively quiet, he said, but that changed in September when the Guard was called on to assist local agencies in dealing with unusual fall flooding along the Cedar River in Eastern Iowa.
He also reminded lawmakers of the economic impact of the Guard. In the past year, the Iowa Army National Guard brought in more than $353 million of federal funding into the state. For every $1 of state funding, the Iowa Army National Guard returned more than $32 of federal funding.
To put it in perspective, our soldiers and airmen pay more in state property, payroll, and sales taxes than what the State of Iowa provides in funding to the Iowa National Guard, Orr aid.
Orr also highlighted renovations of several bases around the state, including the 185th, which will break ground this year on a $12.4 million structure that will consolidate three aging facilities into one complex adjoining the Sioux Gateway Airport. The Iowa Army National Guard last year also completed renovation projects at armories in Sioux City and three other cities.
With legislative support, Orr said, the Iowa Army National Guard has been able to maintain its position as a national leader in personnel readiness because of programs like the Iowa National Guard Education Assistance Program, which he called a critical recruiting tool. This year, nearly 1,200 Guard members received up to 100 percent tuition at regents universities and community colleges keeping our young people here in the state and providing them with a high-quality, Iowa education.
The Iowa Army National Guard is in the top echelon nationally for the quality of recruits accessioned into the National Guard for 2016.
More than 20 percent of our Basic Training, Advanced Individual Training, or technical school graduates are either honor or distinguished graduates, on the commandants list, or in the top 10 percent at their respective military schools, he said.
In return, members of the Iowa Army National Guard are woven into the fabric of Iowa through communities in every corner of this state, ready and willing to transform from civilians to soldiers and airmen in a moments notice to answer the call of our state and nation, Orr concluded.
DES MOINES The Iowa Utilities Board plans to seek public records exemptions from the Legislature so it can communicate more thoroughly with utilities and federal regulatory agencies about cybersecurity and cyberattacks.
Under the current public records law, information about cybersecurity at utility companies is not shielded from the public, IUB Chairwoman Geri Huser told the House Commerce Committee Monday. That limits board members and IUB staff from complete access to cybersecurity information, such as how utilities protect against cyberattacks and respond in the event of an attack.
If they have an attack, they can tell us we need to do A, B and C, but they cant tell us why, Huser said.
If there was an actual attack, they could tell us, but nothing else about it, added IUB member Nick Wagner.
At this time, Huser said that when she or other IUB staff meet with utilities on those matters they do not retain any documents because they do not want them to become public records.
The request for an exemption to the public records laws doesnt surprise Randy Evans of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Similar exemptions exist for various state agencies, such as the Department of Corrections, that have emergency and security plans.
The council takes a pretty realistic view of exemptions like that, Evans said. We would be concerned if it appeared to be a catch-all for other kinds of records.
Iowa law assumes that government records are open to public inspection unless a specific exemption exists in the law.
Huser also told lawmakers she is in the process of getting federal security clearances so she can discuss cybersecurity with federal agencies as well as utilities under IUB jurisdiction. Like the federal regulatory agencies, Huser said most utilities have staff members with clearance that allows them to share information but not with her.
There are people who have information on cyberattacks on our utilities, but there is no one at IUB with clearance, so we cant be told about it, she said. Even with that security clearance, Huser will be limited in what she can share with other board members and staff if they dont have a security clearance.
Gaining the proper security clearance has taken her more than a year and is not complete, Huser said.
DES MOINES The Iowa Legislature sent legislation to the governor Monday night to cut $117.8 million from the state budget during the last five months of the 2017 fiscal year.
The cuts werent easy or something anyone wanted to do, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said. However, state departments have had several months to prepare for the cuts, he said before the House voted 58-38 to approve the cuts.
I dont this this will have significant impacts because the departments have been made aware of this all the way back in October that this was a possibility so they should have been preparing themselves, Grassley said. After December, it was clear that it was going to be.
House Republicans were following the lead of the GOP-controlled Senate, which approved Senate File 130, a de-appropriations bill that included $88.2 million in targeted cuts and $25 million in fund transfers on a party line vote last week.
The tweaks to the states $7.2 billion general fund were necessary because of weaker than anticipated revenues, according to Gov. Terry Branstad. As farm commodity prices dropped over the past year, the state Revenue Estimating Conference reduced its projections three time prompting Branstad to call for spending reductions.
Branstad and majority Republicans protected K-12 schools, Medicaid and property tax backfill payments to local government about 75 percent of the budget from the mid-year budget correction.
That meant cuts of $8 million each to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University and a $2 million cut to the University of Northern Iowa, and $3 million to community colleges, $5.5 million for corrections, $4.5 million for the Department of Education, $3 million for the Judicial Branch, $1 million for public safety, and $11.5 million in executive-branch operations.
House Democrats sought to cut $62,640 from the Governors Office budget and direct the money to the civil commitment unit for sexual predators in Cherokee.
Rep. Chris Hall, D-Sioux City, said Iowans expect everyone in state government to share in the pain of the budget cuts. He pointed out Branstad recommended the cut to his budget.
In the bill, Republicans called for cutting their daily expense money after 100 days rather than 110. Hall called for reducing that to 90 days so Iowans would see that legislators were leading by example.
The Legislature typically meets for 110 days in odd-numbered years and 100 days in election years. So cutting per diem expense money after 100 days is the norm, Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said.
Lawmakers, she said, should be willing to make a sacrifice in our own pay to fund some of the priorities people sent us here to support.
There should be shared pain, she said. Anything less is not the Iowa way.
Both amendments failed 38-57.
Another amendment called for a review of the millions of dollars of tax credit the state gives businesses. Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt, D-Cedar Rapids, tried to protect the Cultural Trust Fund. SF 130 scoops the $6 million trust that was used to provide small grants, which had to be matched three-to-one, to various arts and cultural organizations.
It was a tough choice, Branstad said, but is it better to lay people off?
Her amendment was ruled not germane.
The Azerbaijani side violated ceasefire along the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces more than 25 times, from late Monday night to early Tuesday morning.
January 31, 2017, 09:21 Azerbaijan intensively violated ceasefire in eastern and southern directions
STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 31, ARTSAKHPRESS: During this time the Azerbaijani armed forces fired around 56 shots toward the Karabakh position-holders, and with shooting weapons, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army informed.
The Azerbaijani armed forces intensively fired especially in the eastern and southern directions of the line of contact.
But the NKR Defense Army vanguard continue confidently carrying out their military watch and respond only in case of necessity.
Newly widowed, Kay McCowen quit her job, sold her house, applied for Social Security and retired to Mexico. It was a move she and her husband, Mel, had discussed before he passed away in 2012.
"I wanted to find a place where I could afford to live off my Social Security," she said. "The weather here is so perfect, and it's a beautiful place."
She is among a growing number of Americans who are retiring outside the United States. The number grew 17 percent between 2010 and 2015 and is expected to increase over the next 10 years as more baby boomers retire.
Just under 400,000 American retirees are now living abroad, according to the Social Security Administration. The countries they have chosen most often: Canada, Japan, Mexico, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Retirees most often cite the cost of living as the reason for moving elsewhere said Olivia S. Mitchell, director of the Pension Research Council at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
"I think that many people retire when they are in good health and they are interested in stretching their dollars and seeing the world," Mitchell said.
McCowen's rent in Ajijic, a community outside Guadalajara near Mexico's Lake Chapala, is half of what she was paying in Texas. And since the weather is moderate, utility bills are inexpensive.
In some countries, Mitchell said, retirees also may find it less expensive to hire someone to do their laundry, clean, cook and even provide long-term care than in the United States.
McCowen has a community of other American retirees nearby and has adjusted well.
But for others there are hurdles to overcome to adjust to life in a different country.
Viviana Rojas, an associate professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, says the biggest obstacle is not speaking the language or knowing the culture.
"Many of the people we interviewed said they spoke Spanish, but they actually spoke very little Spanish," said Rojas, who is writing a book about retirees in Mexico. "They didn't have the capacity of speaking enough Spanish to meet their basic needs like going to the doctor or to the store."
Access to health care also can be a challenge. While retirees still can receive Social Security benefits, Medicare is not available to those living abroad, Mitchell said.
Joseph Roginski, 71, says that while the cost of living is higher in Japan, access to health care is not. "Things are very expensive here. It is impossible to live off Social Security alone," said Roginski, who was stationed in Japan in 1968. "But health insurance is a major factor in staying here."
The former military language and intelligence specialist said he pays $350 annually to be part of Japan's national health insurance. His policy covers 70 percent of his costs. The rest is covered by a secondary insurance program for retired military personnel.
Japan experienced biggest growth, 42 percent, of American retirees than any other country between 2010 and 2014, according to data from the Social Security Administration. The large U.S. military presence in the country may be a factor.
There are more than 50,000 U.S. military servicemen and -women stationed in Japan. The presence is so large that in the island of Okinawa, the U.S. military occupies about 19 percent of the area, according to Ellis S. Krauss, professor emeritus of Japanese politics and policy-making at the University of California, San Diego.
Roginski, who volunteers for the Misawa Air Base Retiree Activities Office, said he helps connect more than 450 retirees and their families living in Northern Japan with resources. He said he would never move back to the United States.
"We have a real strong sense of security here," he said. "I can leave my door unlocked and no one will take anything. When I go to another country I feel nervous, but when I come back I feel like I'm home."
Mexico has become home for retired firefighter, Dan Williams, 72, and his wife, Donna, 68. The couple has been living near the same retirement community in Lake Chapala for 14 years.
"The climate and the medical services are very good," Williams said.
Williams teaches painting to adults and children and puts together a monthly magazine for the local American Legion. He is also a member of the Lake Chapala Society, which offers daily activities for American retirees.
It was those same services that attracted McCowen to the region.
"Before moving, I found out how many widowed and divorced women lived here," she said. "There is comfort in numbers."
She says she loves being in a lively community.
"I see older people walking year round. I see them all over the place even in their wheelchairs. If they were in the U.S., they would probably be in a nursing home," she said. "I don't think I could move back."
___
EDITOR'S NOTE Maria Ines Zamudio is studying aging and workforce issues as part of a 10-month fellowship at The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which joins NORC's independent research and AP journalism. The fellowship is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. The sprawling White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico is where the United States Army tests many of its latest weapons. The site is probably best known as the place where the first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945.
While most of the base is off limits to civilian visitors, just inside the main gate is a missile park displaying all the missiles and rockets tested there, and nearby is a museum telling the history of White Sands. Both are open to the public.
Up until the 1800s the New Mexico desert was largely ignored by most people and even scorned by some. It was said that in 1848 a young military officer was sent to the area after the MexicanAmerican War to report on what the United States had won. The young officers name was William Tecumseh Sherman, who would go on to become a successful Union General during the Civil War. When Sherman reported back to Washington, D.C., he told President Zachary Taylor, Sir, we may have to go to war with Mexico again. The president was shocked and asked why that would be. Sherman replied, To make them take the damned place back.
But many years later, after WWII began, the Army started looking for a remote place to test weapons and they found it at White Sands. The huge, desolate area was perfect for their needs. The range is an amazing 3,200 square miles, making it as large as Rhode Island and Delaware put together.
The first major weapon to be tested at White Sands was the atomic bomb. On the morning of July 16, 1945, the bomb was detonated. Scientists and dignitaries positioned themselves 10,000 yards from the site to observe the explosion. The mushroom cloud roared 40,000 feet in the air above the desert. It generated the destructive power of 15,000 to 20,000 tons of TNT. The tower holding the bomb was vaporized.
After the war White Sands continued to test other less destructive military weapons, rockets and missiles. The test range now has an area for testing high power lasers and another location called Hot Target Areas where real warheads are used.
The first thing visitors see at White Sands after entering the main gate is the Missile Park displaying a variety of missiles and rockets tested at the base. These include everything from the early days of rocket and missile research, like the Armys WAC Corporal and the Loon, which was the Navys version of the German WWII weapon the V-1 rocket. There are also modern missiles like the Pershing II and Patriot. There are more than 50 items on display.
Inside the museum are artifacts from the prehistoric culture of the area along with the story of the Old West in New Mexico and displays about the missile range. Since every missile or rocket launched had to be photographed, there are numerous film and still cameras once used at the range. Also on display in the museum are several control stations used for tracking the missiles.
One display in the museum is dedicated to the Missile Tracking dogs at White Sands. When a missile is launched it can travel miles downrange before returning to earth. During the 1960s scientists were having a difficult time tracking the missiles even though they carried instruments on board that transmitted their location and they were tracked by radar. The solution was to coat the missiles before launch with squalene, a shark liver oil almost odorless to humans but easily detected by dogs. After the missiles general landing area was located by radar, dogs and their handlers were taken to the site by car or helicopter. The dogs usually found the missile within an hour.
The museum also has a gift shop with paintings and sculptures from local artists along with a variety of clothing, books and souvenirs relating to New Mexico and White Sands.
Its February, the month with a day of romance -- Valentine's Day, February 14. I did some checking on the history of Valentine's Day and discovered it was named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the 5th century. But my experience with Valentines Day only goes back to the 5th grade. Im sure we did things for Valentines Day before that but it was around 5th grade that I discovered those wonderful and highly complex creatures called, girls. From then on Valentines Day took on a whole new meaning.
A few days before Valentines Day our teacher announced that we should all get enough valentines to give one to each student in the class. When I got home I told my mother I needed valentines and she suggested I make some. I quickly rejected that idea as being way too much work. My mother reluctantly gave me some money and I went to the variety store in our neighborhood and bought valentines for everyone in the class. I didnt really want to buy the boys any cards but it was a requirement to get one for every student in the class, even the boys.
The night before the big day I dutifully sat down at the kitchen table and signed all my cards. I tried to separate the ones that were a little mushy from the ones that were a little tamer. The mushy ones would go to girls.
I picked one and set it aside. This one was special and it would go to a special girl. This was a girl I admired from afar. I admired her from afar because at the time I was way too shy to express my undying love in person to her or anyone else. In reality it must not have been undying love since I cant remember her name. Nevertheless I selected the mushiest of the mushy cards to give to whats her name.
The next morning I gathered up my cards and headed to school. I might not be able to talk to my 5th grade goddess but at least I could express my love with that card. It was a perfect plan but like most of my perfect plans this one too went astray.
The time came for everyone to march around the room and deposit their cards in the makeshift containers we had taped to the front of our desks. I nervously walked around the room putting one card in every box. As I got close to my beloved I looked for that special card. There were only a few left but it was gone! I had put it in someone elses box by mistake! I looked around the room and tried to figure out who got my secret sweethearts card but I had no idea. I finished delivering my cards and reluctantly sat down devastated by what had just happened.
It was about that time I noticed Fred, the biggest kid in class and my arch enemy glaring at me while holding a valentine. And not just any valentine. It was the one for my secret sweetheart. My heart sank as I imagined getting pummeled by Fred on the playground, on the long walk home and probably other places in between for giving him the valentine designated for my love.
I worried about that all day, but, like so many other things I worry about, nothing happened. I dont know if Fred thought I was a little weird or what but he never bothered me that day. As a matter of fact he never came near me again.
So even though I didnt get my mushy valentine to my sweetheart, I did manage to rid myself of a bully, so it turned out to be a pretty good Valentines Day.
Terry Turner is a Prime writer who can be reached at turnert185@outlook.com.
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The following companies are subsidiares of HP: 3Com, 3PAR, ABB CADE, AOME Holdings Ltd., Albacore Holdings Jersey Ltd, Alpha Holding One B.V., Alpha Holding Two B.V., Anatolus Holding B.V., Apogee, Apogee Corp, Apogee Corporation Ireland Limited, Apogee Corporation Jersey Limited, Apogee Corporation Limited, Apogee Europe Limited, Apogee France Holdings SAS, Apogee France SAS, Apogee Germany Holding UG, Apogee Group Limited, Apogee Rentals Limited, Apollo Computer, AppIQ, Applied Optoelectronic Tech, ArcSight, Arnon Holding B.V., Arteis, Artivision Technologies, Aruba Networks, Atos Origin, Atos Origin Middle East group, Autonomy Corporation, Avantek, BAS - Burosysteme GmbH, BT & D Technologies, Balreed Digitec Group Limited, Balreed Digitec North Limited, Balreed Digitec SE Limited, Balreed Digitec UK Limited, Bamberga Holding B.V., Bitfone Corporation, Bluestone Software, Boonton Radio, Bristol Technology Inc., Bromium, Bromium UK Limited, CEC Europe Service Management, CGNZ, CaLan, China HP Co. Ltd Hangzhou Branch, China HP Co. Ltd., China HP Co. Ltd. Chengdu Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Guangzhou Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Jiangan Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Nanjing Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Shanghai Branch, Choose Packaging, City Docs Limited, City Docs Solutions Limited, Colorado Memory Systems, Colubris Networks, Colubris Networks, Compaq Cayman Holdings Company, Compaq Cayman Holdings General Partnership II, Compaq Information Technologies, Compaq Information Technologies LLC, Computing and Printing Global Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Computing and Printing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Consera Software, ConteXtream Inc, Convex Computer, David Vision Systems GmbH, Dazzle, Digipro Limited, Division, EDS (Electronic Data Systems), EEsof, EYP Mission Critical Facilities, ElseWare, Eon Systems, Eucalyptus Systems, Eunomia Holding B.V., ExcellerateHRO, Exstream Software, Extreme Logic, F&M Scientific Corporation, F. Smith & Co Office Equipment Limited, F.L. Moseley Company, Flame Holding B.V., Fortify Software, Four Pi Systems, GNA Biosolutions GmbH, HP Austria GmbH, HP Belgium BV, HP Bilgisayar ve Baski Teknolojileri Limited Sirketi, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda. - Branch 01 Tambore, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda. - Branch 2 Sorocaba, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda. - Branch 3 Porto Alegre, HP Canada Co. HP Canada Cie, HP Canada Licensing L.P., HP China Holding B.V., HP Chongqing Co. Ltd, HP Chongqing Manufacturing Export Procurement and Settlement Co. Ltd, HP Colombia SAS, HP Computing and Printing Middle East FZ-LLC, HP Computing and Printing Nigeria Ltd, HP Computing and Printing Systems India Private Limited, HP Computing and Printing d.o.o., HP Deutschland GmbH, HP Deutschland Holding GmbH, HP Europe B.V., HP Europe B.V. - Abu Dhabi Branch, HP Europe B.V. Regional Dubai Branch, HP Europe BV Amsterdam Meyrin Branch, HP Finland Oy, HP France Holding SAS, HP France SAS, HP Global Trading B.V., HP Global Trading B.V. Kazakhstan Branch, HP Health Solutions Inc., HP Health Solutions Spain Sociedad Limitada, HP Hewlett Packard Group LLC, HP Inc AP Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Argentina S.R.L., HP Inc Bulgaria EOOD, HP Inc Chile Comercial Limitada, HP Inc Costa Rica Limitada, HP Inc Czech Republic s.r.o., HP Inc Danmark ApS, HP Inc Gulf, HP Inc Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Magyarorszag Kft., HP Inc Peru S.R.L., HP Inc Polska sp. z o.o., HP Inc Romania SRL, HP Inc Slovakia s.r.o., HP Inc Thailand Ltd., HP Inc Tunisie SARL, HP Inc UK Limited, HP India Sales Private Limited, HP Indigo B.V., HP Indigo Ltd, HP Information Technology R&D Shanghai Co. Ltd, HP International Pte. Ltd., HP International Pte. Ltd. Taiwan Branch, HP International Sarl, HP International Trading B.V., HP International Trading B.V. Puerto Rico Branch LLC, HP Israel Ltd, HP Italy S.r.l., HP Jade Holding LLC, HP Japan Inc., HP KSA Ltd., HP Korea Inc., HP Licensing Holding LLC, HP Luxembourg S.C.A., HP Malaysia Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., HP Nederland B.V., HP New Zealand, HP Norge AS, HP Onyx Holding L.P., HP PPS Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Australia Pty Ltd, HP PPS Costa Rica Limitada, HP PPS India Operations Private Limited, HP PPS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Maroc, HP PPS Philippines Inc., HP PPS Sales Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Services India Private Limited, HP PPS Singapore Sales Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Sverige AB, HP Pakistan Private Limited, HP Panama Sales and Distribution S. de R.L., HP Print Services Ireland Limited, HP Printing Korea Co. Ltd., HP Printing Shandong Co. Ltd., HP Printing and Computing Solutions S.L.U., HP Printing and Personal Systems Hellas EPE, HP Production Company Limited, HP Puerto Rico LLC, HP R&D Holding LLC, HP R&D Singapore Pte. Ltd., HP Schweiz GmbH, HP Scitex Ltd, HP Singapore Private Limited, HP Solutions Creation and Development Services S.L.U., HP South Africa Proprietary Limited, HP South Africa Trust, HP Taiwan Information Technology Ltd., HP Technology Holdings LLC, HP Technology Ireland Limited, HP Technology Israel Ltd, HP Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd, HP Technology Vietnam Company Ltd, HP Trading Kunshan Co. Ltd., HP Trading Shanghai Co. Ltd., HP Trading Shanghai Co. Ltd. Dalian Branch, HP Trading Shanghai Co. Ltd. Zhangjiang Branch, HP UK Development Limited, HP US Digital LLC, HP USA Manufacturing LLC, HPCP Computing and Printing Portugal Unipessoal Lda., HPI Bermuda Holdings LLC, HPI Brazil Holdings LLC, HPI Federal LLC, HPI J1 Holdings LLC, HPI Luxembourg LLC, HPQ Holdings LLC, Heartstream, Hewlett-Packard A.O., Hewlett-Packard Angola Lda., Hewlett-Packard Company Archives LLC, Hewlett-Packard Copenhagen B.V., Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P., Hewlett-Packard Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard G.K., Hewlett-Packard Global Holdings B.V., Hewlett-Packard Global Investments B.V., Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Solutions Europe BV, Hewlett-Packard Ireland 1 Limited, Hewlett-Packard Ireland Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Japan Holding B.V., Hewlett-Packard Japan NK Holdings C.V., Hewlett-Packard KSA Ltd. Qatar Branch, Hewlett-Packard Lisbon B.V., Hewlett-Packard MENA FZ-LLC Libya Branch, Hewlett-Packard Mercator B.V., Hewlett-Packard Sunnyvale B.V., Hewlett-Packard West Indies Limited, Hewlett-Packard World Trade LLC, Hiflex Software, HyperX, IBRIX, IndiGo, Indigo America Inc., Iseo Holding B.V., Kale Holding B.V., Kale Holding B.V. Puerto Rico Branch LLC, Knightsbridge Solutions, Kopiervertrieb Rhein-Ruhr GmbH, Lefthand Networks, Limited Liability Company HP Inc, Logoworks, Lyra Holding B.V., MacDermid ColorSpan, ManageOne, Manzana Bidco Limited, Manzana Holdings Limited, Melodeo, Mercury Interactive, Metrix Network Systems, NUR Macroprinters, Neoware, Nihon HP Nin-I Kumiai, Novadigm, NuView ManageX, OOO Hewlett-Packard RUS, Office Perfection Limited, OneFlow Systems Limited, Opelin, Opelin, Open Skies, Opsware, Opsware, Optimization Systems, Optotech, OuterBay Technologies, OuterBay Technologies, PERSIST Technologies, PIXACO, PROLIN, PT Hewlett-Packard Indonesia, Palm, Palm, Peregrine Systems, Perigee Holdco UK Limited, Perigee Midco UK Limited, Perseus Holding B.V., PipeBeach, Poly, PolyServe, PrinterOn America Corporation, Printware Limited, Qosnetics, RLX Technologies, Regor Holding B.V., SPI Dynamics, Samsung Printing Solutions, Scitex, Scitex Vision, Scope Communications, Security Force Software, Shunra Software, Shunra Software, Silverwire Holding, Simpress Comercio Locacao e Servicos Ltda, Snapfish, StorageApps, Stratavia, Synstar, Tabblo, Talking Blocks, Tall Tree Insurance Company, Technology Partners, Telegra, Teradici Corporation, Teradici Inc., Teradici UK Limited, The Danwood Group Limited, The Technology Partners, Tower Software, Tower Software Engineering Pty Ltd, Transoft Networks, Trellis Software & Controls, Triaton, Trinagy, TruLogica, Trustgenix, VeriFone, Verifone, Versatest, Vertica Systems, Vital Technology Pte Ltd, Voltage Security, VoodooPC, Xact Document Solutions Limited, and Xera-Logic Group Limited.
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STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 31, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The meeting didnt inspire optimism to Mammadyarov.
I cannot accept the results of talks held in Moscow with optimism, Mammadyarov said at a press conference in Baku.
He informed that a meeting is expected with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in Germany in February. The meeting must be held between the period from February 17 to 19. I gave my consent, he said.
The Russian-Azerbaijani relations became tense when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, responding to provocative question of an Azerbaijani reporter at an annual press conference, said the implementation of military operations in Nagorno Karabakh is not exclusively Azerbaijans interior affair. The reporter asked whether Russia will intervene in Azerbaijans internal affairs if the Azerbaijani side launches military operations in Nagorno Karabakh.
After this incident the Azerbaijani FM visited Moscow to meet and hold discussions with Lavrov over this issue.
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.
The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.
By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
Keith Wayne Buckmaster, 64, of Prince Frederick, Maryland passed away on January 29, 2017 in Burnett-Calvert Hospice House, Prince Frederick, Maryland. He was born on September 23, 1952 in Prince Frederick, MD to the late Thelma Sophia and Samuel Harrison Buckmaster, Sr. He is preceded in death by siblings Evelyn E. Holland, Ellen L. Wood, Sylvia D. Gilbert and Mark C. Buckmaster.
A skilled carpenter by profession, Keith was first and foremost a devoted father, friend, and consummate jokester, whose repertoire included a wide variety of "made you looks," such as, waving to invisible people, inquiring as to "what was on your shirt", and even the occasional "your shoes are untied"; whatever it took to get a laugh.
He enjoyed collecting and researching antiques, listening to music, spending time with family, drag racing and cooking. It was not at all unusual to find him trying new recipes from antique cookbooks while listening to The Doors. Keith was a vibrant example of dedication, contagious laughter and loving sacrifice. He will be greatly missed by many.
Keith is survived by his son William E. Buckmaster and his wife Kristin. Brother of Samuel H, Buckmaster, Jr. and his wife Sydna, Danny B. Buckmaster and his wife Rita, Kevin W. Buckmaster and his wife Naomi, Donna B. Canter and her husband Paul.
The family will receive friends at the Rausch Funeral Home, 4405 Broomes Island Road, Port Republic, MD on Saturday February 4, 2017 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. Services are private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Burnett-Calvert Hospice House. Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home.
LA PLATA, Md.
Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme.
(Jan. 31, 2017)The Charles County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.FIRST DEGREE MURDER: On January 27 at approximately 5 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff's Office responded to the 5400 block of Topsmelt Court in Waldorf for the check on the welfare call. Upon arrival, officers entered the residence and located the victim, Carlton Bell Sr., 66, deceased with obvious signs of trauma. The residence was secured and detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division responded to assume the investigation, during which the following was learned: The victim (Carlton Bell Sr.) and suspect (Carlton Bell Jr., 22) were involved in a verbal dispute earlier in the day. The dispute resulted in the suspect attacking the victim inside the residence causing severe injuries. The suspect fled the residence in his vehicle and was involved in a single vehicle accident in the area of Route 301 and Mitchell Road. The suspect fled on foot but was subsequently taken into custody by officers a short time later. Due to his injuries, the suspect was flown to a hospital for treatment. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect related to the murder, and he will be charged accordingly upon his release from the hospital. The investigation is ongoing. Det. C. Shankster is investigating.POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE: On January 29 at approximately 9:40 p.m., officers responded to a gas station in the 600 block of Charles Street in La Plata for the report of a subject attempting to sell prescription pills. Upon arrival, officers located the subject near the gas pumps. Based on a witness statement and a K-9 alert, officers searched the vehicle and located various narcotic prescription pills. Thomas Wilfred Livers III, 27, of Marbury, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. Cpl. R. Anderson investigated.CCSO INVESTIGATING FOOD DELIVERY THEFTS: On January 28 and 29 at approximately 7 p.m., delivery workers for two different restaurants were delivering their orders to two locations within the same area in White Plains. In both instances, the delivery workers were met outside by three male suspects who confirmed their order, took the food, and fled without paying for it. Officer V. Pancotti is investigating. fled without paying for it. Officer V. Pancotti is investigating.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained an Iranian native who was disembarking from a gay cruise ship on Sunday.
The passenger in question, Maysam Sodagari, disclosed his predicament via Facebook as it was unfolding. Several news agencies reported Sodagaris detainment, which was the result of an executive order issued by President Donald J. Trump that bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for the next 90 days and suspends the admission of all refugees for 120 days.
They were very friendly, very professional, Sodagari told the Miami Herald. They explained all the processes, and why they are doing this. And I understand. Its their job.
Sodagari was a passenger aboard Royal Caribbeans Allure of the Seas a gay themed cruise produced by Atlantis Events when Trump signed the executive order.
I left the port with a legal status for a Gay Cruise. Now, I may not be able to enter the US tomorrow. My future is all unclear just by a sudden change in law. If I get detained and sent back to Iran, at least I lived the life to the fullest as a gay man in the US, and I want to thank you all fir being part of this experience, Sodagari posted on Facebook Saturday afternoon from Cuba.
Ellen Kennedy, Assistant Director of Business Development and Communications at Port Everglades, told SFGN the detainment of Sodagari was the only incident to her knowledge involving the new executive order on immigration. However, Kennedy did admit there is confusion over the issue.
There needs to be more written clarification from the Department of Homeland Security so that Customs can do their job, Kennedy said.
Kennedy said Sodagari was detained because of his green card status and it was only a secondary check. NBC reports Sodagardi was born in Iran, moved to the United States in 2008 and lives in San Francisco where he works as a biotechnology researcher.
For Gary Bremen, 2016 was a special year.
An interpretive ranger for the National Park Service, Bremen participated in the agencys centennial celebrations throughout the year. Working out of Biscayne National Park, Bremen leads boat tours, hikes and various other informational exercises into the natural world.
But it took a gay bar in New York City to open a new chapter in his career.
I feel like the creation of Stonewall National Monument has given me permission to talk about things I never felt I could talk about or was afraid to talk about before, Bremen said.
The Park Services designation of Stonewall Inn as a National Monument was part of an overall effort to broaden the nations narrative. Incorporating stories from Americas minority communities adds to the countrys rich history.
In announcing Stonewalls designation, the White House issued the following statement: From major legislative achievements to historic court victories to important policy changes, the President has fought to promote the equal rights of all Americans no matter who they are or who they love.
Bremen was at the Stonewall designation and marched in uniform in last summers pride parade in New York City. He would tell his coming out story at a program in Wilton Manors titled Songs and Stories of Our National Parks.
That was a career highlight for me, Bremen said.
Bremens coming out story delves into an 18-year relationship with his partner Roger and the couples journey into the Grand Canyon for self-discovery.
Waking up early one morning, Bremen ventured into the Canyon and hiked down the South Kaibab trail. As the sun began to rise, the colors and landscape came to life.
After 32 years, I was coming to terms with who I really was, Bremen said. I began to look at the Canyon as a metaphor for my life. It was dark and coming out into the light. All the rough, craggy edges were smoothed out by the snowlike a brand new beginning. For over twenty years, I too had been lurking in the shadows, ashamed of who I was because so many around me told me I should be. I had never doubted that I was gay; I just never thought I would say those words aloud.
Bremen grew up in Miami. He decided he wanted to be a park ranger at age 7 and by 12 knew he was gay. Raised Catholic, Bremen discovered there were others like him when his mother decided to sign Anita Bryants Save Our Children petition.
I knew exactly who I was at age 12 and knew it was something to never speak about, he recalls.
He is speaking about it now and with the governments blessing. In addition to Wilton Manors, Bremens Songs and Stories of Our National Parks has played in Sarasota and Coral Gables.
Bremen describes the program as a throwback program with a campfire stories theme.
I was pretty nervous about telling my coming out story at Coral Gables High School because that is where I did my student teaching, he said. In fact, we did the program in the same classroom that I did my student teaching. I started to twitch as I walked in. I was nervous about telling my coming out story to kids who laughed and made fun of me when I was a kid. But it wasnt that way this time, there was no laughs or snickers. Its just normal for them now.
Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Justin Flippen knows Bremen well. The men are good friends and have a competitive relationship when it comes to visiting Americas great outdoors.
The amazing wealth of the quality of our residents is exemplified in neighbors like Gary Bremen who with his role in the National Park Service demonstrates a commitment to the preservation of our nations natural beauty and diverse heritage, said Flippen. Gary and I share a true love of our national parks, visiting over half of the 400-plus sites managed by the National Park Service. His role in the Park Service preserving LGBT heritage is important so that our story can be told and remains protected and visibly interwoven into the fabric of our great nations history.
Biscayne is a mostly marine park with four different ecosystems mangrove forest, the bay, the keys and coral reefs coexisting. Biscayne received its national park status in 1980 and a video, featuring Bremen, can be seen at the parks Dante Fascell Visitor Center just a few miles east of Homestead.
Gary and Roger call Wilton Manors home, but the Grand Canyon will always have their heart. It was on the Canyons North Rim, some 8,000 feet above sea level, where the two decided to go gayly into the future.
I told Roger to close his eyes as I led him to the edge for his first view of the place that got me to this moment, Bremen said. This perfect moment when every pinnacle, ledge, crack and crevice of this perfectly imperfect place was revealed in the growing light. We sat, hand-in-hand, on the opposite side of this miles-wide gash in the earth, and watched the sunrise together.
STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 31, ARTSAKHPRESS: The official welcoming ceremony of the Defense Minister was held in the morning of January 31.
Armenias Defense Minister paid a tribute to the memory of the victims of the Iranian-Iraqi war 1980-1988 and laid a wreath at the tomb of Unknown Soldier.
During the visit Vigen Sargsyan will meet the countrys high-ranking political figures. Bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest will be discussed.
(AP) A bill that would have restricted which locker rooms South Dakota transgender students could use was scuttled Tuesday, for now averting another bitter fight in the Capitol over the regulation of school facilities.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Jim Bolin said right before the bill's first hearing that its author wanted it withdrawn. The sponsor, Sen. Lance Russell, didn't immediately respond to telephone calls for comment about the measure, which required public school students to use the locker rooms, shower rooms and changing facilities matching their gender at birth.
Related: Harrison Browne Scores in NWHL Debut as Transgender Player
Under the bill, schools would have been allowed to provide alternative accommodations, such as single-occupancy restrooms.
The proposal was similar to one Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed last year, and the Republican had said he would veto this bill too if it reached his desk.
Dale Bartscher, who lobbies for a conservative group that supported the bill, said the governor's opposition was a "strong factor" in its withdrawal. Conversations are ongoing about whether another bill will be introduced this year or next year, said Bartscher, of Family Heritage Alliance Action.
Bolin said lawmakers have the option to introduce another bill this session, but that it "would be an extremely unwise decision."
Related: Texas Judge Halts Federal Transgender Health Protections
The abrupt announcement that it would be pulled was surprising to foes, who said they hoped the issue had been laid to rest. Jessie Lamphere, an 18-year-old transgender high school student from Sturgis, said he was relieved.
"I just want them to know that transgender boys are boys, and transgender girls are girls, and that's just who we are," Lamphere said. "We all want privacy and safety in locker rooms, and we're not in there to harm anyone. We're just in there to get dressed and get out."
Bartscher said the measure may live on in further legislation, or at the ballot box, "but this issue is not going to go away."
A ballot measure that would require transgender students to use bathrooms corresponding with their sex at birth may go before voters in 2018. Sponsor Jack Heyd of Box Elder has said he wants to protect children and ensure that students have privacy.
In January, a California prisoner, Shiloh Quine, made headlines when she became the first prisoner to receive sex reassignment surgery.
However, her story begins much earlier and through the journey of another transgender woman, Michelle-Lael Norsworthy.
I am so happy that she got it, Norsworthy said of Quine. Anybody who disagrees with an inmate getting sex reassignment surgery is saying and a lot of trans people are against it that gender dysphoria is a choice, [that the surgery] is an elective or cosmetic procedure.
Norsworthy, 53, who is now out of prison, made waves of her own when she petitioned the state to receive the surgery while she was serving time, a surgery she and medical professionals said was a medical necessity, in Norsworthy v. Beard.
However, after being denied parole five times, the state decided she was cured and ready to be released from prison. While she could finally say goodbye to prison life, it meant that she would no longer be getting the surgery.
Related: Boy Scouts Will Allow Transgender Children Into Programs
It was amusing, she said. I was denied parole five times, that Im a threat to society and here you are now saying I am no longer a danger I was being evicted from my home and I was being denied something that I had won fair and square.
On the outside, reporter Annie Brown had been following cases of transgender prisoners and was interested in Norsworthys story. The two got in touch and for five months worked on the story, with Brown witnessing the struggle of obtaining medical care, housing, learning how to navigate the internet, and continuing to fight the state.
I just followed her and her path home for the next several months, Brown said. Its this very confusing, emotional situation where youre excited but also sad and I was also really interested in that experience.
In May 2016, Michelles Case was published in The California Sunday Magazine, an in-depth piece on the case of the first prisoner to be granted gender confirming surgery.
Theres the potential for everyone to be mad at you. But the reception was really positive, I think, Brown said. Its hard to have someone write about such an intimate part of your life. Its a minefield, theres such a potential for error.
Norsworthy was also happy with the piece, saying it was factual and that she got everything right. Today, the two are still in touch as Brown, who now is a reporter for The New York Times, continues to report on the case. She is working on a radio story with the Center for Investigative Reporting.
Related: South Dakota's Transgender Locker Room Bill Withdrawn
In the story, Brown recounted how Norsworthy served 28 years in prison in California after being found guilty of murder when she killed an acquaintance during a fight. When he was shot, Norsworthy used her military training to treat the wound and call for help. Six weeks later, he died from a blood clot.
In prison, Norsworthy struggled with her identity. It was the priest in the chapel who encouraged her to look up the word transsexual in the dictionary after she told him how conflicted she felt. In 2000, she was diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
During the rest of her time in prison, she became a constant figure in the law library, where she read up on cases, learned legal jargon, and advocated for herself. In fact, she helped write the Prison Rape Elimination Act Peer Education Program in California transgender women in prison are 13 times more likely to be raped than their peers in prison. This included Norsworthy, who was gang raped during her incarceration and contracted Hepatitis C as a result.
I spent most of my time fighting for the rights of my kind to exist, just to exist, she said. I dont care if a bigot hates me, their freedom to hate me is my freedom to be me.
Finally, she then petitioned the state to be allowed to have sex reassignment surgery while incarcerated. The case was taken up in Norsworthy v. Beard. After much back and forth, and a doctor vouching that it was a medical necessity, a judge ruled in April 2015 that she be granted the surgery. Then, she was suddenly granted parole and was released from prison in August.
When she got out, after nearly three decades behind bars, she was completely unequipped to live on the outside, let alone as a transgender woman.
Theres no shelter or programs even on the outside world for trans people, she said. I had to self-advocate again. I had to start over again.
Related: Thailand Separates LGBT Inmates, Considers Segregated Prison
Also, with her case being high profile, nonprofits came out of the woodworks to represent her and make her the face of their campaigns. When she got out, some didnt follow through.
When I got out, some of the people that were supposed to be representing my interests werent exactly as representative as they had told the world.
So again, she decided to advocate for herself, and also for others. A year to the date of her release, she received nonprofit status from the government for her charity, Joans House Shelter. Here, she wants to create a safe haven for transgender people. Especially with Donald Trump becoming president, she believes transgender people are more vulnerable than ever.
I dont know what else to do other than try to build a shelter and try to build an ark and try to weather this storm, she said.
When Quine, the other transgender prisoner, received her surgery, angry readers across the nation lashed out why should the taxpayers pay for the surgery of a convicted killer? Reading the stories, some never mention Norsworthys name as the one who set the standard for SRS surgeries for inmates.
Theyre mad at the wrong person, she said. They really are. They should be mad at me. It was me that helped her get her settlement because her settlement came following my decision.
And that same public will probably get angry again very soon Norsworthy is having her long-awaited surgery on Feb. 10. After petitioning the government again, and the case bouncing from court to court, she won a settlement in February 2016, covering attorneys fees and costs totaling under half a million dollars.
A year after the settlement, she will go under the knife in an event that, like many others in her life, is filled with conflicting feelings.
Im excited about the fact that I will finally dismantle a level of discomfort that Ive been living with for a long time, she said, adding that on the other hand, I am scared because Ive never in my life had a surgery before. I have a fear of going under, so that part is really bothering me. Ive never been out of control like that.
For more information about Joans House or to donate, visit JoansHouseShelter.wordpress.com.
Update: We now have a complete map of all the participating cafes here. To see a list of companies who are helping match donations from those cafes, please click here. Many of you are joining us from other websites for the first timewelcome to Sprudge. Find out more about who we are here.
Not all heroes wear capes, but all lawyers need coffee.
Sprudge is not a political publication. We did not endorse a 2016 Presidential Candidate, nor have we endorsed past candidates in elections in the United States or elsewhere. Although Sprudge is edited and published in the US, roughly half our daily readers come from outside of this country, as does our worldwide corps of editors, staff writers, and contributors. We dont typically report on anyones local politicsand at some point, its all just local politics.
Stick to coffee, Sprudge!
Wed love to, but unfortunately, the situation in our country has moved beyond political theater. We believe that the current executive order banning refugees from the United States and immigration from 7 majority Muslim nations is illegal, immoral, and fundamentally un-American. Like a hot mug of drip coffee spilled on a crisp white apron, these actions are a dark stain on our national conscience, and as Americans, we feel compelled to stand up against them.
Fortunately, there are heroes in these dark times. The United States is a nation of laws, not of men, and our government has three branchesExecutive, Legislative, and Judicial. It is in this final branch where the battle is now being fought, by the thousands of lawyers organized and funded by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU is Americas non-partisan guardian of liberty, working tirelessly since 1920 to defend the countrys original civic values, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They have no political affiliation or ideological component to their mission. Today theyre defending innocent refugee and immigrant families impacted by the recent executive orderstomorrow they could be defending you, because they are committed to defending all of us.
So were standing with them by organizing a nationwide fundraiser in coffee bars across the country. Next weekendFriday, February 3rd thru Sunday, February 5thwere partnering with coffee companies throughout the United States to raise funds for the ACLU. You can take part in this fundraiser by patronizing these cafes, or by donating directly to the ACLU Foundation.
Sprudge will match the first $500 per company raised next weekend for the ACLU, in partnership with the following twenty-six launch partner brands across 125 cafes:
All Day, Miami, FL
Blacksmith Coffee, Morningstar & Greenway Coffee, Houston, TX (3 locations)
Blueprint Coffee, St. Louis, MO
Blue Bottle Coffee, Oakland, CA (25 locations in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland)
Coffee Manufactory & Tartine Manufactory, San Francisco, CA
Cultivar Coffee, Dallas, TX (3 locations)
Either / Or, Portland, OR
Equator Coffees & Teas, San Rafael, CA (5 locations across the Bay Area)
Everyman Espresso, New York, NY (2 locations in Manhattan)
Fleet Coffee, Austin, TX
G&B Coffee and Go Get Em Tiger, Los Angeles, CA (3 locations)
Huckleberry Coffee Roasters, Denver, CO (2 locations)
Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago, IL (10 locations in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles)
Joe Coffee, New York, NY (15 locations in Manhattan and Philadelphia)
La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Philadelphia, PA (22 locations in New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC and Philadelphia)
Olympia Coffee Roasting Company, Olympia, WA (3 locations)
PTs Coffee, Topeka, KS (2 locations in Topeka and Kansas City, MO)
Peace Coffee, Minneapolis, MN (Wonderland Park location)
Slate Coffee, Seattle, WA (4 locations)
Spiller Park Coffee, Atlanta, GA
Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Portland, OR (12 locations in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, and New Orleans)
Tipico Coffee, Buffalo, NY
Ultimo Coffee, Philadelphia, PA (2 locations)
Variety Coffee Roasters, Brooklyn, NY (3 locations)
The Wormhole & Halfwit Coffee Roasters, Chicago, IL
Wrecking Ball Coffee, San Francisco, CA
The Complete List of Supporting Cafes [Updating]
451 Brands
809 Cafes
41 States
[wc_row][wc_column size=one-third position=first][/wc_column][wc_column size=one-third][/wc_column][wc_column size=one-third position=last][/wc_column][/wc_row]
Alabama
Alchemy Lounge, Huntsville, AL
Revelator Coffee, Birmingham, AL (12 locations in Birmingham, New Orleans, Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Charleston)
Alaska
Dark Horse Coffee Co., Anchorage, AK
Uncle Leroys Coffee, Anchorage, AK
Arizona
Exo Roast, Tuscon, AZ
Late For The Train, Flagstaff, AZ (3 locations)
Presta Coffee Roasters, Tuscon, AZ (2 locations)
Provision Coffee Bar at Palette Collective, Phoenix, AZ
Arkansas
Arsagas Coffee Roasters, Fayetteville, AR (4 locations)
(R)evolve Cafe, Oakland, CA
California
Andytown Coffee Roasters, San Francisco, CA
Augies Coffee Roasters, Redlands, CA (4 locations)
Awaken Cafe, Oakland, CA
Back To The Grind Coffeehouse, Riverside, CA
Bar Nine, Los Angeles, CA
Barking Dog Roasters, Sonoma, CA
Bartavelle Coffee & Wine Bar, Berkeley, CA
Beacon | Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA
Bean Bar, San Diego, CA
Black Ring Coffee, Long Beach, CA
Blackwood Coffee Bar, Hollywood, CA
Blue Bottle Coffee, Oakland, CA (25 locations in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland)
Boba Guys, San Francisco, CA
Bodega, Santa Monica, CA
Bravado Roasting Company, Fullerton, CA
Brew, Santa Rosa, CA
Cafe de Leche, Highland Park, CA (2 locations)
Cafe Rumi, Castro Valley, CA
Cake Bakeshop, Manhattan Beach, CA
Chimney Coffee House, Los Angels, CA
Chromatic Coffee Company, San Jose, CA
Citizen Bean, Oakland, CA
Coffee Manufactory & Tartine Manufactory, San Francisco, CA
Coffeebar, Reno, CA (3 locations in Reno, Truckee, and Squaw Valley)
Coffeeville, Santa Cruz, CA
Cognoscenti Coffee, Los Angeles, CA (3 locations)
Coloso Coffee, Oakland, CA
Coupa Cafe, Palo Alto, CA
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, San Diego, CA (3 locations)
Demitasse, Los Angeles, CA
Endorffeine Coffee Bar, Los Angeles, CA
Equator Coffees & Teas, San Rafael, CA (5 locations across the Bay Area)
Farleys Coffee, Oakland, CA (2 locations)
Flying Goat Coffee, Healdsburg, CA (3 locations)
Found Coffee, Los Angeles, CA
Four Barrel Coffee Roasters, San Francisco, CA (3 locations)
FrankieLucy Bakeshop, Los Angeles, CA
G&B Coffee and Go Get Em Tiger, Los Angeles, CA (3 locations)
Greenbox, San Francisco, CA
Groundwork Coffee, Los Angeles, CA (11 locations in California and Oregon)
Hals Office, Albany, CA
Hadden Hill Cafe, Oakland, CA
Highwire Coffee Roasters, Oakland, CA (3 locations in Oakland & Berkeley)
Industrial Grind Coffee, San Diego, CA
Ironsmith Coffee Roasters, Encinitas, CA
Joes The Nose, San Diego, CA
Joshua Tree Coffee Company, Joshua Tree, CA
Kean Coffee, Newport Beach, CA (2 locations)
Kindness & Mischief, Los Angeles, CA
Lavender & Honey Espresso Bar, Pasadena, CA
Lord Windsor Coffee, Long Beach, CA
Maru, Los Angeles, CA
Neat Coffee, Costa Mesa, CA
Nourish Cafe, San Francisco, CA
Olive Ave. Market, Redlands, CA
Paramount Coffee Project, Los Angeles, CA
Philz Coffee, San Francisco, CA (39 locations)
Pinhole Coffee, San Francisco, CA
Public Square Coffee House, La Mesa, CA
Ritual Coffee, San Francisco, CA (5 locations)
Roys Station Coffee & Tea, San Jose, CA
Saint Frank Coffee, San Francisco, CA
Shreebs Coffee, Los Angeles, CA
Sightglass Coffee Roasters, San Francisco, CA (3 locations)
Smith and Tait, Los Angeles, CA
Stereoscope Coffee Company, Buena Park, CA
Subrosa Coffee, Oakland, CA
Take Flight Coffee at Coffee Hall, Los Angeles, CA
Taylor Made Farms, Sebastopol, CA
The French Press, Santa Barbara, CA
The Wheelhouse, Los Angeles, CA
Two Guns Espresso, Los Angeles, CA
Union Hill Coffee, Sonora, CA
Uplifters, Santa Monica, CA
Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz, CA (7 locations)
Warbler Coffee Roasting, Santa Monica, CA
WESCAFE, Alameda, CA
Wrecking Ball Coffee, San Francisco, CA
Zocalo Coffee, San Leandro, CA
Colorado
Amethyst Coffee Company, Denver, CO
Bittersweet, Louisville, CO (2 locations)
Boxcar Coffee Roasters, Boulder, CO (2 locations)
Crema Coffee House, Denver, CO
Demitasse, Los Angeles, CA (3 locations)
Dragonfly Coffee Roasters, Boulder, CO
Huckleberry Coffee Roasters, Denver, CO (2 locations)
Kaladi Coffee Roasters, Denver, CO (2 locations)
Method Roasters, Denver, CO
Moxie Bread Co., Louisville, CO
Novo Coffee, Denver, CO (3 locations)
Snow Street Coffee Company, Laffeyette, CO
Stompin Grounds, Beulah, CO
Urban Steam Coffee, Colorado Springs, CO
Connecticut
Fathom Coffee, Virginia Beach, VA
Franklin Street Works, Stamford, CT
Lorca, Stamford, CT
Molten Java, Bethel, CT
So. G Coffee Roasters, South Glastonbury, CT
Source Coffeehouse, Bridgeport, CT
Willoughbys Coffee & Tea, New Haven, CT (4 locations)
Florida
All Day, Miami, FL
Bandit Coffee Company, St. Petersburg, FL
Black Dog Cafe, Tallahassee, FL (2 locations)
LeAnns Cheesecakes N More, Tampa Bay, FL
Subculture Coffee, West Palm Beach, FL (2 locations)
The Bikery, Saint Petersburg, FL
Vice City Bean, Miami, FL
Volta Coffee, Tea & Chocolate, Gainesville, FL
Georgia
1000 Faces Coffee, Athens, GA
Alcove Coffee House At Lake Lucerne, Liburn, GA
Butterfly Cafe, Atlanta, GA
Cakes & Ale Cafe, Decatur, GA
Condesa Coffee, Atlanta, GA (2 locations)
Cool Beans Coffee Roasters, Marietta, GA (3 locations)
Hodgepodge Coffeehouse, Atlanta, GA
Joes Coffee EAV, Atlanta, GA
Little Tart @ Krog Street Market, Atlanta, GA
Octane Coffee, Atlanta, GA (6 locations)
ParkGrounds Neighborhood Cafe, Atlanta, GA
Proof Bakeshop, Atlanta, GA
Revolution Doughnuts & Coffee, Decatur, GA (2 locations in Decatur & Atlanta)
Spiller Park Coffee, Atlanta, GA
Hawaii
Brue Bar, Honolulu, HI (2 locations)
The Curb, Kaimuki, HI (2 locations in Kaimuki and Kailua)
Illinois
ArrivaDolce Highland Park, IL
Backlot Coffee, Evanston, IL
Beans & Bagels, Chicago, IL
Big Shoulders Coffee, Chicago, IL
Brew Brew Coffee & Tea, Chicago, IL
Brewpoint Coffee, Elmhurst, IL
Cafe Jumping Bean, Chicago, IL
Caffe ArrivaDolce, Chicago, IL
CC Ferns, Chicago, IL
Counter Coffee, Forest Park, IL
Cup & Spoon, Chicago, IL
Damn Fine Coffee Bar, Chicago, IL
Dollop Coffee, Chicago, IL
Fannies, Chicago, IL (2 locations)
Four Letter Word, Chicago, IL
Front Bar: Coffee & Drinks, Chicago, IL
Gaslight Coffee Roasters, Chicago, IL
Grind Cafe, Chicago, IL
Hero Coffee Bar, Chicago, IL
Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago, IL (10 locations in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles)
Kindred Coffee Roasters, West Chicago, IL
Jackalope Coffee & Tea House, Chicago, IL
La Parada En Pilsen, Chicago, IL
Loba Pastry & Coffee, Chicago, IL
Metric Coffee, Chicago, IL
Metropolis Coffee Company, Chicago, IL
Nighthawk Coffee Bar and Tavern, Chicago, IL
Owl and Lark, La Grange, IL
Perkolator Coffee, Chicago, IL
Portage Grounds Coffee & Tea, Chicago, IL
Sawada Coffee, Chicago, IL
Scone City, Chicago, IL
Spoken Cafe, Chicago, IL
Tall Tale Coffee, Chicago, IL
Ten Drops Coffee, Plainfield, IL
The Coffee Studio, Chicago, IL
The Wormhole & Halfwit Coffee Roasters, Chicago, IL
TrueNorth Cafe, Chicago, IL
Two Hearted Queen, Chicago, IL
Indiana
Bee Coffee Roasters, Indianapolis, IN (2 locations)
Calvin Fletchers Coffee Company, Indianapolis, IN
Grindhouse Cafe, Griffith, IN
Rabble Coffee, Indianapolis, IN
Iowa
(drips) Coffee, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Java Johns Coffeehouse, Decorah, IA
Kansas
1900 Barker, Lawrence, KS
Arrow Coffee Company, Manhattan, KS (2 locations)
Mojos Coffee Bar, North Newton, KS
Reverie Coffee Roasters, Witchita, KS
Kentucky
Highland Coffee Company, Louisville, KY
Third Street Stuff & Coffee, Lexington, KY
Quills Coffee, Louisville, KY, New Albany, IN, Indianapolis, IN (3 locations)
Louisiana
Spitfire Coffee, New Orleans, LA
Maine
44 North Coffee, Deer Isle, ME (2 locations)
Bard Coffee, Portland, Maine
Bold Coast Coffee & Tiller and Rye, Brewer, ME
Coffee By Design, Portland, ME (5 locations)
Hilltop Coffee Shop, Portland, ME
Rock City Coffee, Rockland, ME
Tandem Coffee, Portland, ME (2 locations)
TREATS, Wiscasset, ME
Wicked Joe Organic Coffee, Topsham, Maine
Maryland
Bump n Grind, Silver Springs, MD
Gravel and Grind, Frederick, MD
Massachusetts
3 Little Figs, Somerville, MA
1369 Coffeehouse, Cambridge, MA (2 locations)
Bagelsaurus, Cambridge, MA
Bloc Cafe, Somerville, MA
Bourbon Coffee, Cambridge, MA and Washington, DC (2 locations)
Cafe Zing, Cambridge, MA
Chilmark Coffee Company, Marthas Vineyard, MA
Curio Coffee, Somerville, MA
Diesel Cafe, Somerville, MA
Forge Baking Company, Somerville, MA
George Howell Coffee, Boston, MA (3 locations)
Hi-Rise Bread Company, Cambridge, MA
Home.stead Bakery & Cafe, Dorchester, MA
Kickstand Cafe, Arlington, MA
MEM Tea Imports, Somerville, MA
Pan Y Cafe Chelsea, Chelsea, MA
Render Coffee, Boston, MA (2 locations)
Setas Cafe, Belmont, MA (3 locations)
Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters, Shelburne, MA (6 locations)
Simons Coffee, Cambridge, MA
Snowy Owl Coffee, Brewster, MA
Stanmeyer Gallery & Shaker Dam Coffeehouse, West Stockbridge, MA
Stoughton House of Brews, Stoughton, MA
Union Coffee Roasters, Ayer, MA
Michigan
Bestsellers Books & Coffee Co., Mason, MI
BLK / MRKT, Traverse City, MI
Bloom Coffee Roasters, Lansing, MI
Comet Coffee, Ann Arbor, MI
Cuppa Joe, Traverse City, MI (2 locations)
Fido Motors Cafe, Kalamazoo, MI
Field & Fire, Grand Rapids, MI (2 locations)
Higher Grounds Trading Company, Traverse City, MI
Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge, Grand Rapids, MI
Madcap Coffee Roasters, Grand Rapids, MI (2 locations)
Roosroast, Ann Arbor, MI (2 locations)
Strange Matte Coffee, Lansing, MI
The Coffee Factory, Muskegon, MI
Uncommon Coffee, Saugatuck, MI
Minnesota
Anelace Coffee, Minneapolis, MN
Duluth Coffee Company, Duluth, MN
Fika Coffee, Lutsen, MN
Spyhouse Coffee Roasters, Minneapolis, MS (4 locations)
T-Rex Cookie Company, Minneapolis, MN
Workhorse Coffee Bar, St. Paul, MN
Missouri
Blueprint Coffee, St. Louis, MO
Broadway Cafe, Kansas City, MO (2 locations)
Comet Coffee, St. Louis, MO
Goat Hill Coffee & Soda, Kansas City, MO
Monarch Coffee Establishment, Kansas City, MO
Rise Coffee, St. Louis, MO
The Coffee Ethic, Springfield, MO
The Mud House, St. Louis, MO
Montana
Le Petit Outre, Missoula, MT
Montana Coffee Traders, Flathead, MT (5 locations)
Wild Joes Coffee Spot, Bozeman, MT
Nevada
PublicUs, Las Vegas, NV
Vertical Coffee Roasters, Reno, NV
Vesta Coffee Roasters, Las Vegas, NV
New Hampshire
A&E Coffee & Tea, Amherst, NH (2 locations in Amherst and Manchester)
Prime Roast Coffee Co., Keene, NH
New Mexico
Humble Coffee Company, Albuquerque, NM
Milagro Coffee y Espresso, Las Cruces, NM
New Jersey
Cais Cafe, Metuchen, NJ
Harvest Coffee, Medford, NJ
Modcup Coffee Co, Jersey City, NJ (3 locations)
Montclair Bread Company, Montclair, NJ
Rojos Roastery, Lambertville, NJ (2 locations in Lambertville and Princeton)
The Able Baker, Maplewood, NJ
New Mexico
The BREW, Albuquerque, NM
Iconik Coffee Roasters, Santa Fe, NM
New York
Baked, New York, NY (2 locations)
Bakeri, Brooklyn, NY (2 locations)
Birch Coffee, New York, NY (7 locations)
Black Fox Coffee, New York, NY
Brooklyn Roasting Company, New York, NY (8 locations)
Cafe Grumpy, New York, NY (8 locations)
Coffee Labs Roasters, Tarrytown, NY
Dot & Line, Brooklyn, NY
Electric City Roasters, Schenectady, NY
Elk Cafe, Brooklyn, NY
Espresso 77, Jackson Heights, NY
Everyman Espresso, New York, NY (2 locations in Manhattan)
Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters, Rochester, NY (3 locations)
First Village Coffee, Ossining, NY
Gimme! Coffee, New York, NY (7 locations in NYC and the Ithica region)
Gotham Coffee Roasters, New York, NY (2 locations)
Grade Coffee, Brooklyn, NY
Hartland On Hudson, Leeds, NY
Irving Farm, New York, NY (8 locations in NYC and Millerton, NY)
Indian Road Cafe, New York, NY
Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, Rochester, NY
Joe Coffee, New York, NY (15 locations in Manhattan and Philadelphia)
Kettle & Thread, Brooklyn, NY
Kos Kaffee, Brooklyn, NY
Kurzhals Coffee, Peekskill, NY
Lagustas Luscious Commissary, New Paltz, NY
Lark Cafe, Brooklyn, NY
Little Zelda, Brooklyn, NY
Lunitas Cafe, Brooklyn, NY
Merriweather Coffee + Kitchen, New York, NY
Moto Coffee Machine, Hudson, NY
Muddy Water Coffee & Cafe, Tarrytown, NY
Murrays Tivoli, Tivoli, NY
Northerly Coffee, New York, NY
Orens Daily Roast, New York, NY (8 locations)
Padoca Bakery, New York, NY
Peaks Coffee Co, Cazenovia, NY
Peekskill Coffee House, Peekskill, NY
Plowshares Coffee, New York, NY
PLG Coffee House and Tavern, Brookyln, NY
Prodigy Coffee, New York, NY
Public Espresso + Coffee, Buffalo, NY
Pudge Knuckles Cafe, Brooklyn, NY
Red Eye Coffee, New York, NY
Rubyzaar Baked, Brooklyn, NY
Southside Coffee, Brookyln, NY
Spreadhouse Coffee, New York, NY
Stacks Espresso Bar, Albany, NY (2 locations)
Stand Coffee, New York, NY (2 locations)
Stinky BRKLN, Brooklyn, NY
Subalpine Coffee, Keene Valley, NY
Supercrown Coffee Roasters, Brooklyn, NY
Superior Merchandise Company, Troy, NY
Sweet_ness 7 Cafe, Buffalo, NY
The Black Cow Coffee Company, Pleasantville, NY (3 Locations)
The Chipped Cup, New York, NY
The Krafted Kup, Poughkeepsie, NY
The Pantry, Cold Spring, NY
The Peoples Cauldron, Rosendale, NY
The Pewter Spoon, Cazenovia, NY
Third Rail Coffee, New York, NY
Tinto, Brooklyn, NY
Tipico Coffee, Buffalo, NY
Tobys Estate Coffee, Brooklyn, NY (5 locations across New York City)
Ugly Duck Coffee, Rochester, NY
Underline Coffee, New York, NY
Variety Coffee Roasters, Brooklyn, NY (3 locations)
North Carolina
42 & Lawrence, Raleigh, NC
BattleCat Coffee Bar, Asheville, NC (2 locations)
Bean Traders, Durham, NC
Breakaway Cafe, Chapel Hill, NC
Caffe Bellezza Mobile Coffee Bar, Durham, NC
Caffe Driade, Chapel Hill, NC
Central Coffee Company, Charolette, NC
Coco Bean Coffee Shop, Chapel Hill, NC
Cocoa Cinnamon, Durham, NC (2 locations)
Coffee Park, Winston-Salem, NC (2 locations)
Ednas of Asheville, Asheville, NC
Friends Cafe, Chapel Hill, NC
Gray Squirrel Coffee Co., Carrboro, NC
Joe Van Gogh, Durham, NC (4 locations in Durham and Chapel Hill)
Johnnys Gone Fishing, Carrboro, NC
Looking Glass Cafe, Carrboro, NC
Magnolia Coffee Company, Charlotte, NC
Open Eye Cafe, Carrboro, NC
PennyCup Coffee Company, Asheville, NC (2 locations)
Rude Awakening Coffee House, Fayetteville, NC
Scratch, Durham, NC
Smelly Cat Coffee Roasters, Charlotte, NC
Summit Coffee, Davidson, NC (2 locations)
The Dripolator Coffeehouse, Black Mountain, NC
The Secret Chocolatier, Charlotte, NC (2 locations)
Videri Chocolate Factory, Raleigh, NC
West End Coffeehouse, Winston-Salem, NC
Ohio
Bexley Coffee Shop, Bexley, OH
Black Kite Coffee, Toldeo, OH
Dojo Gelato, Cincinnati, OH (2 locations)
Fox In The Snow, Columbus, OH
Global Gallery, Columbus, OH
Phoenix Coffee, Cleveland, OH
Oklahoma
Cafe Evoke, Edmond, OK
Oregon
Anna Bananas, Portland, OR
Barista, Portland, OR (5 locations)
Blue Kangaroo Coffee Roasters, Portland, OR
Either / Or, Portland, OR
Extracto Coffee Roasters, Portland, OR (2 locations)
First Cup Coffeehouse, Portland, OR
Happyrock Coffee Roasting Company, Gladstone, OR
Heart Coffee Roasters, Portland, OR (2 locations)
Just Bob, Portland, OR
Literary Feast Cafe, Tigard, OR
Marigold Coffee, Portland, OR
Nossa Familia Coffee, Portland, OR
Portland Roasting Coffee, Portland, OR (3 locations at PDX Airport)
Ristretto Roasters, Portland, OR
Rocking Frog Cafe, Portland, OR
Rose City Coffee Co., Portland, OR
Street 14 Cafe, Astoria, OR
Strickly Organic Coffee Co., Bend, OR (2 locations)
Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Portland, OR (12 locations in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, and New Orleans)
Pennsylvania
21st Street Coffee & Tea, Pittsburgh, PA (2 locations)
Bennas Cafe, Philadelphia, PA (3 locations)
Bodhi Coffee, Philadelphia, PA (2 locations)
Chhaya Cafe, Philadelphia, PA
Concave Coffee, Philadelphia, PA
Elementary Coffee Co., Harrisburg, PA
Elixr Coffee, Philadelphia, PA (2 locations)
Enricos Tazza Doro, Pittsburgh, PA
Grateful Roast Cafe and Coffee Roaster, Nanicoke, PA
Green Engine, Haverford, PA
Grindcore House, Philadelphia, PA
High Point Cafe and Coffee Roaster, Philadelphia, PA (2 locations)
HubBub Coffee Company, Philadelphia, PA (3 locations)
Joe Coffee, Philadelphia, PA (2 locations)
Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Harrisburg, PA (3 locations)
Menagerie Coffee, Philadelphia, PA
Nook Bakery & Coffee Bar, Philadelphia, PA
Ox Coffee, Philadelphia, PA
Passenger Coffee, Lancaster, PA
Philter Coffee, Kennett Square, PA
Square One Coffee, Lancaster, PA (3 locations)
Rhode Island
Bolt Coffee Company, Providence, RI (2 locations)
Coffee Exchange, Providence, RI
New Harvest Coffee Roasters, Providence, RI
The Queen Bean, Providence, RI
South Carolina
Little River Roasting, Spartanburg, SC (2 locations)
O-CHA Tea Bar, Greenville, SC
The Wired Goat Cafe, Columbia, SC (2 locations)
Welkin Coffee, Charleston, SC
Tennessee
Barista Parlor, Nashville, TN (3 locations)
City & State, Memphis, TN
Southland Books & Cafe, Maryville, TN
Vienna Coffee Company, Maryville, TN
Texas
Atlas Coffee Club, Austin, TX
Blacksmith Coffee, Morningstar & Greenway Coffee, Houston, TX (3 locations)
Cafe Medici, Austin, TX (5 locations)
Cultivar Coffee, Dallas, TX (3 locations)
Electric Coffee, Boerne, TX
Epoch, Austin, TX (2 locations)
Estate Coffee Company, San Antonio, TX
Figure 8, Austin, TX
Fleet Coffee, Austin, TX
Full City Rooster Coffee Roasting Studio, Dallas, TX
Grimpeur Bros. Specialty Coffee, Austin, TX
Houndstooth Coffee / Tweed Coffee Roasters, Dallas, TX (4 locations in Dallas and Austin)
Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters, Dallas, TX
Once Over Coffee Bar, Austin, TX
Southside Espresso, Houston, TX
Texas Coffee Traders, East Austin, TX (5 locations)
The Wild Detectives, Dallas, TX
Toasted Coffee + Kitchen, Dallas, TX
Vintage Heart Coffee, Austin, TX
Wright Bros. Brew & Brew, Austin, TX
Utah
Publik Coffee Roasters, Salt Lake City, UT
Vermont
Speakeasy Cafe, Rutland, VT
Stowe Street Cafe, Waterbury, VT
Virginia
Fathom Coffee / 1701, Virginia Beach, VA
Lamplighter Coffee Roasters, Richmond, VA
Sugar & Twine, Richmond, VA
Red Rooster Coffee, Floyd, VA
Rostovs Coffee and Tea, Richmond, VA
Washington
Analog Coffee, Seattle, WA
Black Drop Coffeehouse, Bellingham, WA
Bluebeard Coffee, Tacoma, WA
Cloud City Coffee, Seattle, WA
Convoy Coffee, Seattle, WA (2 locations)
El Diablo Coffee Company, Seattle, WA
Elm Coffee Roasters, Seattle, WA
Herkimer Coffee, Seattle, WA
La Marzocco Cafe @ KEXP, Seattle, WA
Little Oddfellows, Seattle, WA
Oddfellows, Seattle, WA
Olympia Coffee Roasting Company, Olympia, WA (3 locations)
Preserve & Gather, Seattle, WA
QED Coffee Roasters, Seattle, WA (2 locations)
Royal Drummer, Seattle, WA
Sound and Fog, Seattle, WA
Squirrel Chops, Seattle, WA
Union Coffee, Seattle, WA
Velocity, Port Townsend, WA
Walnut Street Coffee, Edmonds, WA
Washington, DC
The Coffee Bar, Washington DC (2 locations)
Wisconsin
Anodyne Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee, WI
Hawthorne Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee, WI
Kickapoo Coffee, Milwaukee, WI
Kin Kin Coffee & Johnson Public House, Madison, WI
Rochambo Coffee and Teahouse, Milwaukee, WI
Timshel Cafe, Neenah, WI
International
Cafe Estrusca, Mexico City, Mexico
Quentin Cafe, Mexico City, Mexico
Steampunk Coffee, North Berwick, Scotland
We are actively seeking more cafes to join in this effort! If you own or operate a cafe and want to get involved, we welcome you to join us next weekend. Please click here add your name to the list of cafes raising funds next weekend to support the ACLU. Well update with more participating cafes throughout the week.
If you own or operate any sort of coffee companyimporter, machine manufacturer, products supplier, private citizen or media companywe would love your support in the form of matching sponsorships. Please click here and we will give you all the information you need to join us as a matching fundraiser. We hope to publish a long list of matching companies in the coming days.
If you live beyond easy visitation distance from any of the cafes participating this weekend, or want to just donate without all the rest of it, please consider making your tax deductible donation directly to the ACLU Foundation.
To our readers around the world, let us be clear: Americans of all stripes, all political backgrounds and beliefs, are deeply troubled and shocked by the refugee and immigration orders. This is not a coastal elite issue, or a hardcore liberal issueit is not a Democrat or Republican issue, nor really even a political issue. This is a human issue, and one on which there can be no equivocation. America is a nation of immigrants and refugees, and whether your family came a year ago or 150 years ago, we are equal. All immigrants and refugees are welcome here no matter their spiritual beliefs, their country of origin, or color of their skin.
Thank you for joining us.
#RefugeesWelcome
#YesEqual
Jordan Michelman, co-founder, Editor
Zachary Carlsen, co-founder, Editor
Zac Cadwalader, News Editor, Staff Writer
Mike Wolf, Features Editor
Max Ortiz, Processing Editor
Robyn Brems, Accounts Manager
Noah Sanders, Staff Writer, SF Bureau Chief
Anna Brones, Staff Writer-At-Large
Daniel Scheffler, Staff Writer-At-Large
Karina Hof, Staff Writer
Tatiana Ernst, Staff Writer
Hengtee Lim, Staff Writer
Charlie Burt, SprudgeLive Lead Photographer, Contributor
Eileen P. Kenny, Contributor
Jenn Chen, Contributor
Lizzie Derksen, Contributor
Evan C. Jones, Contributor
Laura Jaye Cramer, Contributor
Michael Light, Contributor
D. Robert Wolcheck, Contributor
Eric J. Grimm, Contributor
Ximena Rubio, Contributor
After recently recharging the batteries on a family trip to Jamaica, trainer Carmen Auciello shipped into Woodbine Racetrack with his crew and pulled off a Monday evening hat trick.
Auciello, who watched his barn rack up more than $2 million in purse earnings in each of the last four seasons, got the ball rolling with Free Willy Hanover in Race 2. The recent acquisition won as he pleased in 1:55.4 for driver Jonathan Drury, who was making his first start since returning from shoulder surgery.
Auciello joined forces with driver Doug McNair to capture Race 5 with Jimmy Be Good. Recently plucked out of a claiming event, the gelding rallied for the narrow score in a career-best clocking of 1:51.
That same duo teamed up to take Race 9 with another newcomer via the claiming game, Ocaptain Mycaptain. The four-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover turned in a wire-to-wire score in a career-best clocking of 1:52.
Auciello, who operates a satellite stable between Canada and the U.S., has harnessed 889 winners to date. He recently watched his stable surpass $12.5 million in purse earnings.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results Woodbine Racetrack.
A number of officials from across Ontario were on hand for the 2016 O'Brien Awards, and had nothing but praise for the industry and the black tie awards gala.
Standardbred Canada announced harness racings national champions this past Saturday at the 2016 OBrien Awards, honouring Canadas best in harness racing over the past season.
Jeff Leal, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, was just one of the dignitaries that participated in the 2016 OBrien Awards black tie gala. Minister Leal took the time to explain why the Standardbred racing industry plays such an important role in the economy of rural Ontario.
Well, it is very important to us, Leal said. As Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs particularly the Rural Affairs side of it I get the opportunity to visit a lot of small tracks in the province. In fact, I have one of them right in my hometown of Peterborough - Kawartha Downs - and I go out on four or five occasions and make the odd bet on horses at Kawartha Downs.
I really enjoy it. (Horse racing) is a very important industry in rural Ontario. The people in the business buy the Ford F-150s, they have veterinarians that work for them, they buy hay and feed, so it really is a very important aspect of the rural economy in Ontario.
Ontario Racing Executive Director Rob Cook said that his organization jumped at the opportunity to sponsor the OBriens media excellence awards, and that OR recognizes the important role that the black tie gala plays in showcasing and honouring the provinces harness racing industry.
Ontario Racing is looking to support the Standardbred industry whenever we can, said Cook, who was attending his first OBrien Award gala. Obviously, the awards night is a big night, its very visible, and Ontario Racing wants to be seen to be supportive, so we are here and happy to be sponsoring the award on the media side. Its great.
Even those not directly connected to the harness racing industry recognize its importance to Canadian municipalities, cities and provinces.
Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz was also amongst the crowd on Saturday. The longtime mayor and supporter of Ontario harness racing is a veteran of the OBriens gala, and he took the opportunity to convey why the local racing industry is such a key cog for his municipality.
The horse racing industry - not only in Ontario, but in the Town of Milton - is very important, Krantz said. One of the main reasons, of course, is that we have Mohawk Racetrack in the Town of Milton, which is a huge part of our economy. Milton is made up of a fairly large rural area - which, of course, really blends itself to the horse racing industry - and a fairly large urban area, as well. So, hence I have been very supportive of the horse racing industry for many, many years.
Liberal MPP Indira Naidoo-Harris (Halton) also took in another edition of the OBrien Awards on Saturday, and the Minister of Womens Issues / Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care.
Its always a fantastic evening. Its so great because its such a celebration of harness racing and it really gives me a chance to get out and meet some of the folks in the industry and I always have a wonderful time, said Naidoo-Harris.
Harness racing is very important for my riding. My riding is Halton and we have Mohawk Racetrack right there in Halton. So, a lot of the breeders are here and [drivers] and people that are working on some of the farms are from Halton, so essentially, they are my friends and neighbours. This is my way of coming out and showing my support to the industry, but also to those people that are essentially my neighbours and do so much to support the local economy.
The family of renowned horsemen Aime J. Choquette has finalized funeral arrangements that will take place this Saturday, February 4 in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Choquette passed away January 24 at the CHSLD St-Vincent Hospital in Sherbrooke. He was 102 years old. He spent nearly all of his life working and training horses, starting with jumping and show horses early in his career in Quebec and then 30 plus years as a Standardbred harness racing trainer, working for the late Hall of Famer Delvin Miller.
The family will be present at the Immaculate Conception Church, 1085 Adelard-Colette Street, Sherbrooke, in the presence of the ashes, starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4 in order to receive sympathies from relatives and friends. A religious service will follow at 11:00 a.m. The ashes will be placed at the cemetery of Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley at a later date.
Aime Choquette was the brother of Suzanne, the late Gertrude, the late Beatrice, the late Robert, the late Gilles, the late Simonne, and the late Guy. He left his nephews, nieces: Yvan, Raymonde, the late Raymond, Louise, Claude, Pamela, Jocelyn Ann, Martha, the late Peter, Danielle, Peter Smith and many other nieces and nephews and many cousins in Quebec, the United States of America, and around the world.
His relatives would like to sincerely thank Dr. Anne-Marie Boire-Lavigne and all the staff of the CHSLD St-Vincent (3-A) in Sherbrooke for the good care and good services received and thanks to all the staff of Residences du Carrefour of Sherbrooke for their good services.
In lieu of flowers, your remarks of sympathy can be translated into a donation to the VITAE Foundation and forms will be available on their website or donations can be made to the Aime Choquette Sunshine Fund that assists horsemen and women in need. Cheques can be made payable to Florida Chapter USHWA and posted to P.O. Box 669273, Pompano Beach, FL. USA, 33066.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Aime J. Choquette.
(Steve Wolf)
The Harness Horse Youth Foundation (HHYF) has awarded its most prestigious honour, the 2016 Service to Youth Award, to Dr. Patricia Hogan.
The Service To Youth Award is given to individuals or organizations that exemplify outstanding effort in facilitating youth participation in harness racing. Recipients show exceptional assistance (either financially or educationally) to existing HHYF programs or in their own successful efforts. Dr. Hogan is a well-known and well-respected veterinarian, most notably known for her involvement with Dan Patch Horse of the Year Always B Miki.
Dr. Hogan has been honoured by numerous organizations over her career. She previously received the 2016 Inaugural Equistar Award from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemens Association, the 2008 Spirit of the Horse Award from Rutgers University, and the 2004 Presidents Award from the American Veterinary Medicine Association.
"Dr. Hogans long-term support of HHYF in addition to her benevolence fortifies her selection, HHYF President Marlys Pinske said. She exemplifies the best in harness racing and our board is pleased to present her yet another honour for her efforts.
HHYF Executive Director Ellen Taylor added that, Dr. Hogan has a long affiliation with HHYF, having received scholarships from the foundation during her schooling in the late 1980s. She serves as an exceptional role model for countless young people with aspirations to become veterinarians. She mentors college students, offers clinic tours during the annual Fair Winds Open House and has participated in take your daughter to work efforts.
The late Stan Bergstein won the inaugural Service To Youth Award in 1979 and since then a whos who of harness racing, including Delvin Miller, John Campbell, Doug Brown and Albert Adams, have been honoured. Organizations including Hanover Shoe Farms Foundation, Brittany Farms and Hoosier Park have also received the award. Callie Davies-Gooch and Chris Wittstruck shared the award last year. A complete list of Service To Youth award recipients is posted here.
HHYF welcomes nominations from the harness racing industry for consideration.
(HHYF)
The essential component of totalitarian propaganda is artifice (het toepassen van kunstgrepen. svh) . The ruling elites, like celebritie...
The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have proposed the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to have a meeting on the eve of the Munich Security Conference, foreign minister Edward Nalbandian told a press conference.
STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 31, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The co-chairs proposed the foreign ministry of Armenia to have a meeting on the eve of the Munich Security Conference. A proposal was also made to organize a meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Of course we never refuse any meeting. But in terms of a meeting with Azerbaijans minister, I cannot confirm at this moment, Nalbandian said, stressing its unknown what kind of tricks Azerbaijan can pull this time.
Brazils oldest dam has become a new turtle graveyard.
Now totally dry, Acude do Cedro is covered by more than 400 carcasses of dead turtle killed by the drought.
The dam was one of the first major works undertaken by the Brazilian government to combat drought.
However, the reservoir does not currently contain a single drop of water.
The seriousness of the situation was recently exposed by zoologist Hugo Fernandes-Ferreira who launched an urgent investigation on the impacts of the drought on the ecosystem.
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There are people who would proclaim 'End of Capitalism' as each new crisis breaks, only to be proved wrong. Just as Marx did in his time, they see this end coming in every war or revolution, and indeed, in big and small financial crisis - from great depressions to currency crisis to stock market crashes. They see germination of an alternative from the triumph of socialist agenda in Vietnam or Venezuela, or a general apocalypse in climate change or a Russian face-off. In short, they seem to expect a definitive, episodic end of capitalism.
But nothing yet has come of it. 'Capitalism', the beast these thinkers aspired of killing, has only come back stronger, proving its resilience through defying the odds. Stock markets that went down went up eventually, financial crisis dissolved into stability, revolutionary regimes decayed into business as usual and the apocalypse failed to arrive. Ironically, as it defied misplaced expectations of its demise, it seemed Capitalism can not end.
However, it is perhaps worthwhile asking whether a system like Capitalism can indeed have a definitive end. And, if it is its detractors created such an expectation, they have also allowed 'capitalism' to be defined in most diffused of ways - in terms of market exchanges, private property and pursuit of self-advancement. Such common concepts and desires, ingrained in our language stretching all through known history, make capitalism appear perennial and its end, an idea without precedence. And, both in capitalism defined in terms of some of the commonest markers of everyday life and the revolutionary expectation of a dramatic end lies the impossibility of such an end.
And, yet, there are reasons to believe that our economic systems need changing. It is strange that such admissions are most pronounced within what we would call the 'capitalist' literature, talks of business gurus and strategy firms. Disruption, Revolution and Paradigm Shift are in common use, and investors and entrepreneurs fully embrace those ideas. They talk about obsolescence of industrial age ideas and look for new ones. Read closely and you will know that there is an admission that Capitalism isn't working, only because, as some of the proponents of the new view believes, what we have is not the 'real capitalism'. The advocates of 'real capitalism' mourn the complicated politics of regulation and welfare, all the democratic rhetoric that goes with it, as it reigns in the 'animal spirits', a free-for-all world where nothing except the rights to maximise returns on privately owned capital would be sacred. This is indeed inherently unsustainable, as one starts stripping away the laws made over last hundreds of years, it automatically strips away the legitimacy of any property rights that exist - going back to the 'state of nature' comes with acknowledging land and other property actually belongs to no one!
But this question of 'real capitalism', rather than indicating the strength of the system, signal what the 'end of capitalism' debate misses. First, that Capitalism as we know it is a cultural rather than an economic system. Second, the cultural systems fade, rather than being thrown out like a political regime, overnight. And, third and finally, cultural systems fade when its foundations, built around relationships, economic and social, become unstable.
This 'fading of', rather than 'ending', should let us see what is in trouble. To start with, democracy is in serious trouble, both because the advocates of 'real capitalism' believes that it is coming in the way of profits and responsible for the fall in the rates of profit (which is spreading worldwide), and the middle class supporters of democracy believes that it is not delivering growth and leaning too much on to new claimants rising from poverty. One could see Capitalism as an economic system and democracy as a political system, but they are one and the same in the cultural schema of Capitalism. The key difference between feudalism and capitalism is the question of agency: We must vote ourselves into being exploited! Treating democracy as merely a political system - to be abandoned when it becomes cumbersome - undermines the cultural system of capitalism.
Then, the foundations of Capitalist production - consumption through credit creation on the demand side and participation through labour on the supply side - are also becoming shaky. These are two sides of the same phenomenon: The rise of the machines! The quest for higher rates of profit are driving automation, and exclusion of labour, which, in turn, not only limiting the ability to consume and play a part, through pledging of future labour, in credit creation, but also limiting the number of people participating in production. This undermines the all-encompassing culture of capitalism, through economic exclusion of a lot of people.
The political and the economic exclusions reinforce one another. Indeed, a fashionable idea today is to provide everyone a basic income. Outlandish as it may sound - this may be as far from 'real capitalism' one could get - this provides an interesting insight how cultural systems fade away, and therefore, worth exploring. The Universal Basic Income provides everyone an income, and resolve the existential crisis of consumption and credit creation on the demand side. However, while it is supposed to be designed for preservation of the current system, it is easy to see how it undermines the cultural system of Capitalism. The debate - who will pay for an Universal Basic Income - has one clear answer: The machines! There are many ways of paying for this, but one could be done with the least amount of disruption. All countries allow a more lenient treatment of the income from capital, dividends, than the income of labour, wage, as it is assumed that capital investment creates jobs. However, they don't - not anymore - as more and more capital is invested into automation and replacing workers in search of greater profits. So, the most commonsense way to do this is to tax dividends as one taxes the wages - no exemptions - and one can find a way to fund an universal basic income. Of course, in reality, the Governments are set to do just the opposite: The conversation is to LOWER corporate taxes and LOWER welfare, despite all the evidence of technological unemployment. This is indeed what the 'real capitalism' advocates want, but this is also precisely the kind of thing that exclude a lot of people, and weaken the cultural consensus of Capitalism.
Remember how feudalism ended? One could say it did not end at all - as feudal relationships still persist - but it did not end through the storming of Bastille or the Winter Palace. Rather, it just fell out of favour, became an inconvenient way of ruling and managing the state and conducting the conversations. The most feudal of the great powers, the Habsburg Austria, literally committed suicide in search of 'real' vainglory. And, such will be the end of time for Capitalism, as its most ardent preachers and true believers unleash its 'real' form stripped of the cultural trappings, and discover the illusion of its being.
The Net has described me as a 'mad scientist of RPG blogging,' and a 'Quixotic bastard' ... and also 'the most gonzo - and the grouchiest - old school DM.'
Began playing Dungeons and Dragons at the age of 15, forty-two years ago. I am a steadfast AD&D gamer, but I have made so many changes to the original system that my present model is something of a Frankenstein's monster of role-playing design. I continue to make new changes every day to my game's structure and function.
It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
When we first read his essays and other writing, we knew we had encountered a special talent. Martyn then went on to win the inaugural 2011 award for essays and journalism.
It wasnt always like this. Back in 2011 Martyn was a medical school drop-out selling betel nut on the streets of Port Moresby. At some point he bought a computer and modem and read about the Crocodile Prize.
When he publishes something on his blog or on Facebook, appears on television, speaks on radio or is quoted in the press, people, including the government, listen.
I still remember his appearance at the awards ceremony at the Australian High Commission. He was late because he thought he had to wait in the visa queue instead of marching straight up to the entrance gate.
When he rushed down the aisle just as Keith Jackson was about to set aside his award, we for the first time observed a skinny, slightly dishevelled, unshaven young man with a colourful bilum over his shoulder.
Then as now, Martyn radiated a charm and confidence and with many adventures as a writer already under his belt he remains very much that extraordinary activist and writer in 2017.
This essay is the one that launched him on readers in Papua New Guinea and Australia as an important, courageous and perceptive Papua New Guinean voice.
In re-reading it today, one cant help but think how prescient it was six years ago and how even more relevant it is today.
_________
The political economy of everything thats wrong in developing PNG
MARTYN NAMORONG
I WAS born in Baimuru, Gulf Province. In Papua New Guinea that doesnt mean Im from Gulf because my parents are from different provinces. My mum is from Western Province and my Dad is from Madang.
I regard myself as being from Western Province because I grew up there - mostly in a remote Rimbunan Hijau logging camp called Kamusi. I am thus, familiar with the languages, customs and oral histories of my mums people.
My introduction to the phenomenon of neo-tribalism was at high school in Port Moresby. The key question that arose being, What does it mean to be a Papua New Guinean? It is easy to identify a New Irelander, or Sepik or Engan but who is a Papua New Guinean?
The fact of the matter is there arent any Papua New Guineans. Every time someone asked me where I was from and I said Papua New Guinea I knew they were really inquiring about my home province. Today however, my notion of being from Papua New Guinea is not as concrete as it used to be.
In 2010 I dropped out of medical school because I had not performed well academically. I was hoping to return to university but for reasons unknown to me I wasnt accepted back to repeat my Year 4 Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.
While it was a testing time of my life it was also a time of huge change in terms of how I perceived myself and the world I live in. I always thought all my life that I was destined for great things and to make a difference to humanity.
Today, faced with the uncertainty about the future and the hardship of living in the city, Im more concerned with being able to survive each day. I am more concerned about my own welfare than saving the world.
In talking about my situation I was hoping to give some context to the challenges faced by many other Papua New Guineans. And it is here that the dilemma faced by this nation lies - what does it mean to be a Papua New Guinean?
The system of education in this country is a failure trap. It is supposed to groom Papua New Guineans but all it does is it produces a lot of failures. In grade 8 ten thousands get thrown out, in Grades 10 and 12 thousands more fall through the cracks in the system. This is the failure trap.
Students spend much of their lives learning about ideas in arts, science and mathematics and are not prepared for both the cash economy and the subsistence economy. I regret going to medical school because now I am just an unskilled person.
I am definitely not skilled to survive in the savannah of East Trans-Fly nor do I have formal qualifications to be recognised in the cash economy. Thus by default I sell betel nut on the street like many other disenfranchised people.
Hundreds of thousands of young people around this nation are trapped like me. For some hopelessness and depression lead to suicide. I lost three of my colleagues from Year 12 who committed suicide within two years of dropping out of Year 12. A fellow medical school dropout is now a patient in the psychiatric ward.
I believe the mental health of many young people deteriorates once they are caught up in the education trap. There is an intense feeling of shame associated with loss of self-esteem once someone drops out of school.
As for me I tried to deal with my mental state by engaging with my former colleagues at high school and medical school. I figured from the suicides of my Year 12 colleagues that what they had done was go into a downward spiral by isolating themselves.
Many try to escape reality by resorting to drugs, alcohol and risky sexual practices. Others take out their frustrations on society through juvenile delinquencies, petty crimes, fights, sexual violence and other indictable offences. I totally empathize with all of them because I now understand what its like to lose everything, including ones dreams and ambitions.
Many who do not understand the psyche of those of us being disenfranchised think we have an attitude problem. When reduced to the simplest elements there is an I dont care about anything or anyone including myself attitude among most of us.
Many males make wrong choices and become a nuisance/threat to society. They dont care if the police or their rivals kill them nor do they have second thoughts about prison. After all once you feel like youve lost everything, what more is there to lose? It is suicidal behaviour.
That is why band aid solutions or knee-jerk reactions such as awareness activities on HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, toughening of laws or promotion of sporting activities have been categorically ineffective in curbing the chaos the Papua New Guinea.
The antidote to crime in this country is to enable everyone to earn a living so that they are able to meet some of the challenges they face in life and achieve personal goals. Obviously, some challenges are difficult for individuals to handle and individuals with mental health issues need professional help.
In order to bring meaningful and sustainable change in the physical and social settings of this nation one has to liberate its people from the education trap. Im referring to every Papua New Guinean, be they in the urban or rural areas.
A married man in a village who cannot sustain his family within the subsistence economy will commit crimes to make ends meet. Likewise a man in an urban setting would do something similar.
Young women who are unable to participate in either economy are vulnerable to prostitution and suicide. Uncertainty about the future creates negative sentiments, thus manifesting in the kind of law and order problems faced by the country.
The solution is not necessarily to teach a person how to catch fish but to give them a net. I believe its now fair to comment that microfinance institutions in Papua New Guinea have failed in providing people with that net.
Politicians, churches, NGOs and business interests have been excellent distributors of free handouts instead of the net. The net Im referring to is the ability to trade goods and services and/or labour.
Our rural people need efficient and affordable transport networks to move goods to local and global markets and to access services. Our urban people need jobs or financial assistance to start small businesses.
Earning an income brings enormous benefits to the individual and their community. People who have money are less of a burden to others as well as to the state. For example, people with money are able to send their children to private schools and seek healthcare at private hospitals, thus easing the pressure on state health and education facilities.
People with money are more likely to have access to technology that makes life easier and more productive. A villager with good income can send his children to school and should they fall into the education trap he is able to bail them out by sponsoring them elsewhere or making them partners/employees.
Unfortunately, there is too much hypocrisy and tokenism from all parties involved in aid and development. People want to be seen to be trying to address issues without actually doing anything of substance. That is why the news media are full of stories about conferences, symposiums, summits, workshops and forums where everyone spends huge amounts of money on stipends, venue fees and accommodating guests.
Worse still are donor projects that are handed over to communities only to disintegrate with time. If a classroom is built or a water supply project carried out or a road built for that matter, what happens with regard to their long term maintenance? Communities where people dont have income generating opportunities cannot possibly guarantee the sustainability of donor projects.
I believe change is driven by innovation and innovative people are empowered people. When my home village of Malam, in the Morehead LLG area of the Western Province was being built at a new site, it coincided with a period in 1995 when the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was buying acacia seeds at K80-K100 per kilo.
Many villagers decided to use some of their income to buy corrugated iron sheets for their houses. All the villagers had no problems paying school fees and airfares for students to fly to high school.
Today Malam people are very proud of their village, which has a main street down the centre lined by flowers and trees. Many homes, of course, have metal roofs and villagers exaggerate, saying pilots of aeroplanes get confused about whether theyre at a village or government station.
Self-generated changes address the needs and aspirations of individuals and communities and are more profound in how they inspire and motivate the people.
Malam is also where a CSIRO project funded by AusAID flopped. The villages of Malam, Kwiwang and Bensbach were chosen as sites for the distillation of essential oils from two plant species found in the savannah. The projects were doomed from the start.
Firstly, no management structure was put in place to manage the project once the donor pulled out.
Secondly, markets were inaccessible and there was no distribution network created. There were also other various technical flaws that made the project resource/labour intensive and inefficient.
People became disillusioned and gave up production altogether. All production equipment has been dismantled and is rusting away in tall grass. Imposed change can be positive but is usually temporary if individuals and communities arent empowered to take ownership of the new developments.
I dont believe handouts solve issues but simply cover them up for another time. This has been so profoundly manifest in my life that I now tell people, I dont need your money; I need an education and a job.
Perhaps more irritating for me is that some people think they know what is best for me. While expert advice is valuable, an expert who is not fully versed on the unique circumstances of each case is not in a position to give a fully rounded assessment.
The CSIRO are experts in the sciences but failed the villagers in the economics of the project. Likewise a full assessment of a project would not only address my points but various other issues I may not fully understand.
I dont dream anymore, I am grounded in the reality. I grapple with the facts as they are. Perhaps there are too many visionaries and dreamers and no one is there to deal with the reality of life in Papua New Guinea.
Even the vast majority of people who are trapped like me do not wish to deal with reality. That is why fast money schemes continue to thrive and voters are gullible about politicians promises.
Bill Clinton is famous for saying that his number one campaign issue was the economy. In developed countries growth and employment are at the heart of government policies. If we are to become a fairer, wiser, healthier, happier society by 2050 we need to remove impediments to income earning opportunities for all Papua New Guineans.
By addressing the bottlenecks that prevent everyone from meaningful participation in income earning opportunities we will also address issues such as law and order, food security, HIV/AIDS, and all the other social problems.
I have deliberately said nothing about what the government should do. All I can say in reference to the government is that it must implement all that it has been planning to do.
There are so many well-meaning plans that are gathering dust on the shelves of state agencies. This nation is being governed on an ad hoc basis with decisions being made solely for perpetuating the survival of the ruling class instead of addressing fundamental issues that affect the nation.
I must conclude by thanking Dame Carol Kidu for the Informal Sector Act that protects me at my roadside buai market.
This is a classic example of giving people the opportunity to be self-sufficient or in my case relatively autonomous.
I have bought an internet modem that I use to access the internet, mainly to publish my blog and to communicate via email as well as on social network sites such as Twitter.
Mi-Young Watson, 59, owns four restaurants in the Salem area. But when she saw an advertisement for a restaurant for sale in Longview an opportunity to move back to Washington, the most beautiful state she took it.
This is my home state, she said. The first time I arrived in the United States, I arrived in Washington state.
My Teriyaki & Sushi Restaurant, located at 902 14th Ave., opened last week. Watson said she plans to sell her restaurants in Salem and is looking for a house in Longview.
Watson moved from South Korea to Tacoma at the age of 26, and now her family is scattered from Lacey to Vancouver. Her first job in the U.S. was as a manager at a sewing factory. But she said she always dreamed of owning a business.
When she first went into business, Watson estimated she had a 50-50 chance of success. But if she didnt try, she said, she would have no chance at all. Watson said her sister, who moved to the U.S. several years before her, told her anyone can have a good opportunity in the U.S. if he or she works hard.
She said, America treats people equally, Watson said. Thats why I came here. My whole life, Im working hard.
Watson spent about $60,000 to remodel her new Longview location, which used to be Fuji Teriyaki. Her business is outfitted with yellow and red walls, red tables, wooden floors and white hanging ceiling lamps.
One thing she hopes to make her business unique is to cater toward the trends or needs of her customer, she said. When many began asking for gluten-free dishes in Salem, she created new recipes using gluten-free ingredients and new salad dressings.
Watson said she doesnt want to be a restaurant owner who never challenges herself or changes the menu. She cooks the food in addition to managing the restaurant, and she said shes always playing around with recipes. She constantly tries to set standards for herself, Watson said, and she isnt afraid of failure.
I challenge myself. Whatever Im doing, Im not really scared of it, she said. I just try to prove myself.
Dishes at My Teriyaki & Sushi range from $5.95 to $11.95. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Longview ranks third in U-Hauls top cities with growth
Longview ranked third among cities between populations 10,000 and 50,000 for the number of one-way truck rental customers coming into the city.
Longview had an 11 percent rise in one-way truck arrivals compared to last year, while one-way departures rose 3 percent, according to a U-Haul press release issued last week.
Bottom lines ...
Damon George, a financial advisor and owner of the Retirement Strategies in Longvew, recently completed an advanced training program through American University and earned his designation as a chartered financial consultant. He said he has been working on completing the self-study program for the last three years. Retirement Strategies is located at 1315 14th Ave.
Theft, drugs Woodland police Friday arrested Falon Nicole Connors, 35, of Tigard on suspicion of theft and felony drug possession.
Drugs Washington State Patrol troopers Friday arrested Corey Jacob Reid, 26, of Vancouver on suspicion of third-degree driving while license suspended or revoked, felony eluding and felony drug possession.
Theft
700 block of Olson Road, Longview. Friday. Medication.
1200 block of 21st Avenue, Longview. Friday. Laundry coin boxes.
Superior Court
Sentencings
Lance Evan Daggy, 52, of Longview, four months in jail and $800 for second-degree theft on Oct. 4. Guilty plea Dec. 5.
Steven Vaughn Walker, 33, of Longview, 60 days in jail and $800 for second-degree theft on June 27. Guilty plea Aug. 30.
Morisa Annemichele Courser, 24, of Kelso, 21 months in prison, a year on probation and $1,390 for three counts of heroin delivery between Nov. 15 and Dec. 19. Guilty plea Dec. 1.
Jerry Wayne Noblin, 23, of Longview, six months and a day in jail, a year on probation and $1,050 for meth and clonazepam on March 25. Bench verdict Dec. 13.
Larry Alyn Eugene Rontty, 50, of Longview, six months in jail and $800 for attempted meth possession and first-degree driving while license suspended on Feb. 22. Guilty plea Nov. 17.
Stephanie Rose Suttles, 21, of Longview, six months and a day in jail, a year on probation and $1,600 for second-degree possession of stolen property, first-degree criminal impersonation and third-degree theft on July 2 and heroin possession, first-degree criminal trespass and two counts of obstructing a law enforcement officer on Feb 27. Bench verdicts Nov. 29.
Daniel Paul Norton, 42, six months in jail under a special sex offender sentencing alternative (with 89 months to life suspended), three years on probation, 60 months of sex offender treatment and $800 for first-degree child molestation and second-degree incest between June 20 and 22, 2015. Guilty plea Aug. 11.
No charges
The Cowlitz County Prosecutors Office declined to file felony harassment or fourth-degree domestic violence assault charges against Tyson Lockrem (case 17-1-00007-5), and second-degree burglary or organized retail theft charges against Sharlene Tew (case 17-1-00013-0).
The US-based space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has developed a novel technology for detecting signs f lives beyond earth. The new technology is 10, 000 times more sensitive than the existing technology and is expected to pave new paths for exploring extraterrestrial lives.
On this context, the researcher of NASA has published a complete report in PDF format, under the title Enhanced Resolution of Chiral Amino Acids with Capillary Electrophoresis for Biosignature Detection in Extraterrestrial Samples. The paper holds the complete description of the new technique, developed by NASAs researchers. As highlighted in the paper, the method used laser-provoked fluorescence recognition a technique that is capable of seeing a laser shone throughout amalgam of organic molecules to scrutinize and arrange them.
In the research and developmental process, the scientists use a liquid-based method called capillary electrophoresis for isolating the mixture of organic molecules into its components. The method was specifically programmed to scrutinize the amino acids, which is the formation building blocks of all life, existed on Earth. The new technology is claimed to be 10,000 times more responsive than the contemporary methods engaged by spaceship like NASAs Mars Curiosity rover. The study, published in the scientific journal Analytical Chemistry was conducted by the scientists from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.
As mentioned in the research report, one of the key advantages the new technique of using capillary electrophoresis is its comparatively simple and effortless process in contrast to the current one. Authors new technology is moderately uncomplicated and easier to computerize for fluid testers expected on oceanic world missions. The technique is developed by using a combination of the fluid sample with a liquid reagent, which later amalgamated using the chemical analysis under certain conditions.
By shining a laser diagonally on the mixture the process called laser-induced fluorescence detection, scientists observed the molecules to be moving at dissimilar speeds. Following their quick response to electric fields, their separation speed was determined, stated the paper.
According to Peter Willis, the head investigator of the study, The new examination is tuned to perceive left-handed amino acids a complete portrayal for one of the dual Chiral structures of amino acids which are one of the most influential signs of Earth-based life.
tech2 News Staff
The state government of Telangana is said to be working on creating a database of its residents to strengthen security, ensure compliance across platforms and of course, solve crime. The database is said to include details like names, aliases, family details, addresses and information on various documents like Aadhaar cards, passports and driving licenses.
The Hyderabad City Police has already compiled a similar comprehensive database of people in the city and hopes that it will be implemented across the state. Known as the Integrated People Information Hub (IPIH), it can offer a '360 degree view' of every citizen, says City Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy. The database is sourced from police records including information on arrested people, offenders lists, missing person reports, FIRs, case diaries as well as from external sources like phone / power / water connections, tax payments, voter IDs, RTA licenses, registration data, e-challans, passports and terrorist records. The data is combined and indexed by an Identity Resolution engine (IRE) to figure out the identity of a person which is then made available to authorities.
Various authorities have already been using it to identify and remove duplicate ration cards, identify tax defaulters, compare scholarship data, and so on.
There are offenders who give different names and addresses when arrested for different crimes. But the IRE engine mines through the data and collects common points and gives a complete profile of the person from various data sources, along with previous offence details and even a family tree, said an official.
This kind of database of a city or even a state can be a great tool for the government and various authorities. However, the question of privacy lurks as there is policy around it. Which means there will be no clear liability in case there is a data breach that compromises the data of all citizens in the state.
tech2 News Staff
US President Donald Trump is yet to give up his beloved Samsung Galaxy S3, his tweet machine. Were sure that the S3 is causing sleepless nights for the CIA and theyre desperately trying to get him to give it up.
Why? The Samsung Galaxy S3 is an ancient device by todays standards, and, horror of horrors, it only supports Android 4.4. Were on version 7.1.1 now.
The most powerful man in the world is using a phone that is out of date and has received no security updates for at least two years. Security experts are already worried that the phone will be used to spy on Trump and to make matters worse, hacker collective Anonymous has just issued a simple guide to hacking Trumps phone. A guide that literally anyone can follow.
Trump refuses to use another smartphone other than the Galaxy S3. How you could hack and get access to his phone: pic.twitter.com/Ino7NGFpsa Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) January 27, 2017
As Anonymous so graciously points out, hacking Trumps S3 is childs play; the type of project they would assign as homework to an advanced undergraduate class.
The stagefright reference alludes to a famous group of Android bugs that allowed hackers to take full control of a phone with nothing more than a malicious MMS. The targeted user doesnt even need to do anything for the bug to take effect. The moment the MMS is downloaded, the phone is compromised.
A hacker only needs a phone number to make it work.
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The Department of Telecom is likely to seek clarification from telecom regulator Trai on Rs 3,050 crore cumulative penalty recommended by it on service providers Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular. A DoT panel, set up to study and recommend action on penalty suggested by Trai, is likely to seek clarification as to whether the regulator considered 90-day period that is given to telecom operators for providing Point of Interconnection to Reliance Jio from the date of request, a source said.
In August, Jio had submitted to Trai that it will need 12,727 network interconnection for mobile services and 3,068 points for STD call facility before commercial launch of its services. The company launched commercial services on September 5.
Trai's recommendation came on complaint by Reliance Jio that over 75% of calls on its network were failing as incumbents were not giving sufficient points of interconnect that would help complete calls. The issue is likely to be discussed by inter-ministerial Telecom Commission as well which is scheduled to meet on February 6.
In October Trai had recommended imposing total penalty of Rs 3,050 crore on Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea for allegedly denying interconnectivity to newcomer Reliance Jio that led to deterioration in quality of service.
As per Trai's recommendation, the penalty for Airtel and Vodafone works out to about Rs 1,050 crore each, while in case of Idea Cellular it comes to about Rs 950 crore. The regulator stopped short of recommending cancellation of their telecom licences saying it may lead to "significant consumer inconvenience".
DoT then sought legal opinion from Attorney General (AG) on whether it has powers to impose penalty in the case. The AG opined positively saying that the DoT can impose penalty on the three telecom operators.
PTI
Nimish Sawant
It looks like the Trump administration is on an executive order passing spree. After it emerged that US President Donald Trump passed an executive order halting the arrival of all refugees into the US for 120 days, another executive order has been accessed by Bloomberg. According to this new order drafted by Trump's administration, there could be an overhauling of the work-visa program which technology companies depend on to get workers from abroad to work in the US.
According to the order accessed by Bloomberg, the draft proposal states that US immigration policies should be designed and implemented "...to serve, first and foremost, the US national interest. Visa programs for foreign workers should be administered in a manner that protects the civil rights of American workers and current lawful residents, and that prioritizes the protection of American workers -- our forgotten working people -- and the jobs they hold."
According to latest developments, the US House of Representatives, has already called for more than doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to $130,000 (approx Rs 89 lakhs) making it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India.
Numbers point that Indian companies are a job-generator in the US
Recently, R Chandrasekhar, president of Nasscom had said that the industry requires high-skilled workers which are not available in the US. He said that according to data available, Indian IT companies have created 4.11 lakh jobs in the US of which 1.5 lakh are direct employment. Besides job creation, Indian IT industry has also contributed to the US economy in terms of tax payment, social security outgo and CSR activities.
That is close to half a million jobs in the US. This isn't a small number by any means.
What could the new order translate into?
The whole point behind getting foreign workers for high skilled professional jobs is because the US lacks talent in such departments.
To make his point even clearer, Chandrasekhar quoted data from an Indian IT company which tried hiring in the US. Out of the 4,000 people interviewed only about 20 could be hired, facts which have been shared with the relevant authorities in the US. This is not to say that US does not have skilled workers, but they are not necessarily qualified with the skills that are needed.
How it affects the IT employee
An IT associate consultant with a leading IT company (who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity), who has worked in the US for many years and would soon be going there on an H-1B visa, said that nothing is certain as of now.
"It is not known if Trump will stop issuing new visas or stop renewing existing H-1B visas - it's open for debate. Both the options are not practical and it is not so easy to follow through on executive orders which take such measures. They can be legally overturned as well. Trump will most likely raise the minimum wages for H-1B visa holders, which will make it difficult for companies issuing these visas," said the consultant.
According to the Bloomberg report, the median wage at outsourcing firms for H-1B visa holders was less than $70,000 whereas US companies such as Apple, Google and Microsoft, paid their employees over $100,000 for the same program. According to the associate consultant we spoke to, these minimum wages depend on the parts of the US you are working in. This will itself put a strain on the outsourcing company's finances and it will prefer issuing less H-1B visas. In fact, the consultant has seen a significant drop in the H-1B visas issued by his own IT company.
According to the consultant, with a wage has high as $130,000 two things could play out, either Indian IT companies will try to compensate for that by increasing their hourly charges or they will work remotely. "In the first case, the US companies will have to pay more for using Indian IT services. Whereas in the second case, if the US clients are unwilling to pay higher charges, majority of the Indian employee base could return to India and work from here. At the client's IT end, it could result in chaos and lot of back and forth, as their worker base is working remotely. In both the scenarios, the job would remain with Indians," he said.
Data from the US
source: tradingeconomics.com
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics report, the unemployment rate in the US is at 4.7 percent. If one goes by the chart above, it is definitely in a better state than it was post the 2008 years. And over these years, the drop in unemployment rate is despite the fact that there have been immigrant workers. According to law, there is a cap of 85,000 on the H-1B visas that can be issued.
So even if Trump does go ahead and raises the minimum wages, to prevent more H-1B visas from being issued, the reality on the ground according to past reports states that there would be few US natives who can fill in those high skilled work profiles.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Gary Burtless, a senior fellow at Brookings Institute research labour markets has said that immigrant STEM workers have played a large role in job creation in the US and building American companies. "Discouraging such people to apply for visas to enter the United States to work -- I cant imagine how that can be considered to be in the American national interest," said Burtless.
R Chandrasekhar of Nasscom has also said that Indian IT services companies have always been fully compliant with the law and there has been no case of any wrong doing by an Indian company. He said that while the IT industry is open to any kind of checks in the system, there shouldn't be any hindrance in the smooth operations of such companies.
tech2 News Staff
VZBZ, The Federation of German Consumer Organisations, a non-governmental organisation has filed a lawsuit against WhatsApp for sharing its user data with Facebook. The group pointed out that the company is illegally collecting and storing the data to pass it to Facebook. Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014 but there was no privacy concern or problem around WhatsApp.
#WhatsApp gibt widerrechtlich Daten von Nutzern an #Facebook weiter. Das muss auhoren- wir sehen uns vor Gericht! https://t.co/lkAThAlnjS Verbraucherzentrale (@vzbv) January 30, 2017
Roughly translated, the tweet is saying that, "WhatsApp is illegally transmitting data to Facebook. See you in court!"
Things took a major turn as WhatsApp modified its privacy policy as it hinted the direction the development of the app will head. The new privacy policy would allow the company to share user contact details with Facebook, enabling it to match contacts with the registered phone numbers of Facebook. This would help Facebook with advertising and providing more Friend suggestions. VZBZ pointed out its concerns and said that the shared data will not change for the users who are not using WhatsApp.
The group demands that the companies stop transferring the data of users who are not using WhatsApp and delete the data for users if it has already been transferred, as reported by PCWorld It also objected to the eight clauses in WhatsApp's revised terms of use where one of the eight allows WhatsApp to serve its users with advertising from Facebook without any user consent.
The privacy outcry is not limited to Germany and other regulators like Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy in USA and privacy groups in India filed complaints with FTC in USA and High Court in India respectively. German courts and an India High Court ordered Facebook to delete such data and take in regard the user privacy of its users.
tech2 News Staff
The fight against Donald Trumps executive order on immigration is rapidly gaining steam in Silicon Valley. Joining Amazon, Expedia and the Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in their lawsuit against the order is Microsoft.
The lawsuit alleges that the ban on immigration is unconstitutional, separates families, is harmful to Washington's economy and "undermines Washington's sovereign interests." The lawsuit was filed in Seattle, Washington and is limited in scope to factors affecting Washington.
Amazon has been relatively quiet since Trumps order was issued, only commenting on the impact the order would have on its staff. Yesterday, however, Jeff Bezos sent out a mail to Amazon employees where he expressed support for the Attorney Generals lawsuit against the order.
He added that the company was exploring other legal options as well and that Amazon has reached out to congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to explore legislative options.
Reuters received a statement from Microsoft saying that the software giant has been cooperating with the Washington State Attorney General's Office and that it was providing information about the orders impact "in order to be supportive. And we'd be happy to testify further if needed," Microsoft spokesman Pete Wootton said.
The Verge reports that Expedia hasnt yet released a public statement on the same.
Other tech CEOs including the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey have taken to social media to express support for immigrants and disdain for Trumps order. Some have also donated money and resources to organisations that are fighting the order and doing their part in helping immigrants.
Anirudh Regidi
Recent reports indicate that Chinese handset makers Oppo and Vivo have increased their market share from a mere 2 percent to a whopping 18 percent seemingly overnight. Well, technically over a 12-month period.
All this market share was gained from ground lost by Indian smartphone makers and even Korean giant Samsung. Some are calling Oppos and Vivos rise disruptive and are amazed at the way these companies have used offline sales to push their business so far.
Xiaomi and OnePlus triggered the craze for flash sales, invite-only sales and more. These companies embraced the online-only model and many saw this as disruptive to the market at the time. Xiaomi has since lost its top position in China to other smartphone companies and even in India, hasnt made as much headway as one would have expected.
However, looking at the success of Oppo and Vivo its clear that what theyre doing is working. But what is that exactly?
Offline sales
The Economic Times (ET) spoke to retailers and analysts and concluded that the push for offline sales is what contributed to the success of Oppo and Vivo.
Navkendar Singh, Head of Mobile Devices and Research, India and South Asia at IDC India told tech2 that, "IDC has always maintained that in India, offline channel cannot be wished away." He goes on to explain that the "low penetration of digital forms of payment" and addressing the unfamiliarity of the internet is a challenge to online players. IDC believes that such consumers "get a certain comfort" from the offline experience; touching the device, talking to the shopkeeper, etc.
Elaborating on the online marketplace, Singh mentions that the online channel is only 30-33 percent of India's market. "The online channel definitely caused disruption in the market, with the entry of several online-only China-based vendors and price discounting. Consumers started experimenting with online channel primarily due to, convenience of shopping, price advantage and better specced models in some cases, which led to online channel taking almost 25 percent to 33 percent of the market quickly," he adds.
Shobhit Shrivastava, an analyst for Counterpoint Research, told tech2 that the headway made by these Chinese companies is the result of their long term planning and investments in that regard. These companies focussed heavily on offline sales and invested in setting up a distribution network across India at an early stage. Xiaomi and OnePlus have only recently started doing this.
Youll note that Nokia's and Samsungs strength in India came from the same factors. Its unlikely that an online-only Samsung would have had as much market share in India as it does now. By last report, Samsungs market share stands at around 25 percent.
Surprisingly, Singh tells us that the high-end smartphone market phones that cost over Rs 30,000 have "traditionally been offline heavy with around 80 percent of the segment being offline."
Smarter distribution model
Speaking about their online presence, Shrivastava tells us that Oppos and Vivos strategy went beyond mere offline marketing. The companies are using a decentralised distribution system that gives them greater reach and flexibility than the centralised system that companies like Samsung traditionally employ. As a result of this, Oppo and Vivo can distribute newer phones faster and get them into the hands of more people.
Singh says, "These China-based vendors went a step ahead and gave the power to the retailer and very successfully leveraged the power of 'point of sales conversion at the moment of truth'" He explains that these brands placed "smart, educated promoters" at outlets, spent a great deal on local marketing, disproportionate channel commissions and more. He believes that these moves "almost forced the consumer to consider these brands in his purchase decisions."
While Shrivastava doesnt believe that these companies will dethrone Samsung any time soon, he does believe that Samsung is in for a tough time in the years ahead. If nothing else, he says, Samsung will be forced to rethink its distribution model.
Oppo and Vivo reportedly used these same techniques to take over the Chinese smartphone market. In fact, theyve gone so far as to bring the same staff over to India to help set up a similar system and take over the Indian market, reports ET.
Last year, Forbes reported that Oppo beat Apple and Huawei to become the number one smartphone maker in China. The companys sales volume jumped 337 percent that year.
Advertising blitz
All this effort into offline distribution was backed by a marketing blitz that lasted years. Theyve sponsored T20 matches, paid for celebrity endorsements from the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Amy Jackson, to Hrithik Roshan, Sonam Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, partnered with TV channels and more.
These companies dont have fancy, over-the-top announcements and keynotes, but they seem to know the audience theyre looking for and appear to be targeting them well.
Their portfolio is also arguably more focussed than Samsungs. Samsung is in the habit of building and selling models in just about every price range, but its focus has always been on its flagship products.
In the case of Oppo and Vivo, that might not be the case. Oppo, for example, is now the selfie smartphone. Its hard to associate that name with any other brand today. In the budget and mid-range smartphone bracket, even that much of an identity stands out from the flood of nameless, faceless smartphones flooding the market today. Vivo is trying to offer phones in this segment as well, with the recently released Vivo V5 Plus, which has a dual front-facing cameras.
If anything, Samsung is contributing to that flood.
The future
It's interesting to note that demonetisation appears to have had no impact on offline sales. We did report that Foxconn factory workers were put on forced leave because of reduced demand and we expected offline sales to be heavily impacted.
IDC's analysis says otherwise, however. "On an overall level, demonetisation had a marginal impact on the mobile phone market in November and December," says Singh.
Clearly, the offline market is too large to be ignored. If the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus hope to make a larger impact, investing in an offline distribution network seems to be essential.
tech2 News Staff
Make of it what you will, but it appears that Samsung has just filed a trademark application in the EU for a Gear Fit Pro.
Samsung offers a couple of fitness trackers and a handful of smartwatches to the public already. The latest version of the fitness tracker currently on sale is the Samsung Gear Fit 2, which essentially packs in all the features that youd expect from a fitness tracker. This includes an in-built GPS unit, heart-rate monitor, various training modes, an Amoled display and to top it off, its water resistant.
How does Samsung intend to top that? We have no idea. We also dont know what makes this device is the pro version and not just the Gear Fit 3.
Regardless, a trademark application has been filed (PDF) and we will wonder what it relates to.
As youre probably aware by now, Samsung has confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S8 flagship will not be coming to MWC 2017. However, unlike Xiaomi, Samsung hasnt made any mention of backing out of the event.
Without the S8, we do wonder what theyll showcase. Hopefully, the Gear Fit Pro will make an appearance.
Source: Galaxy Club
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German software maker SAP SE, Europe's largest technology company, criticized Donald Trump's immigration curbs, saying the United States, its biggest market, has drifted away from the nation's principles of opportunity and equality.
In a letter addressed to "all our nervous families wondering about your place in the world" Chief Executive Bill McDermott told SAP's 84,000 global employees that "we are always in your corner", while emphasizing its own non-discrimination policies.
SAP joined US technology leaders from Apple, Facebook and Google in emailing their employees to denounce the suspension of the U.S. refugee program and the halting of arrivals from seven Muslim-majority countries.
McDermott, a New York native and US citizen, described a nation "stitched together by immigrants" and expressed confidence that "America will find its way back to its original identity," which he asserted was based on opportunity and equality for all.
SAP is moving gingerly to reassure its employees while also seeking to avoid tussling publicly with the new US administration. The firm, which supplies software planning tools that help multinational companies manage far-flung operations, generates nearly one-third of its revenue in the United States.
Twenty-one percent of SAP's employees were based in the United States, according to its 2015 annual report. Last week, SAP said trade uncertainties presented by the Trump policies could drive sales of its business planning software as it raised its business outlook for the next four years. McDermott said it was premature to say what impact US policy changes may have on business.
While technology firms denounced the travel restrictions, many counterparts in other industries either declined to comment or responded with statements reiterating their company's commitment to diversity.
Reuters
tech2 News Staff
Thousands of Google employees walked out in protest of US President Donald Trumps ban on immigration.
Reports suggest that there are about 2000 employees participating in the protest, and these include Google top brass like Sunder Pichai and Sergei Brin, both of whom are technically immigrants.
Using the #GooglersUnite tag, these employees are tweeting out photos and videos of their walkout, reports The Verge.
A number of tech companies have protested Trumps order banning immigrants and Google, among others, has set up a $4 million fund for immigrants. This fund includes $2 million contributed by Googles own employees.
Photos from the #GooglersUnite San Francisco protest, from our Vjeran Pavic pic.twitter.com/P4YOMq60Bg Casey Newton (@CaseyNewton) January 30, 2017
Insiders have told The Verge that this was a spontaneous protest organised by Google employees. The protest has the full backing of the company, however.
The company, headquartered in Mountain View, California, employs over 57,000 and hires talented individuals from all over the world. Trumps immigration ban affects more than just its employees. In fact, Googles corporate code of conduct states that the companys unofficial motto is, Do the right thing.
Nimish Sawant
Google is one of the most influential internet companies in the world and part of a tech conglomerate Alphabet. It is also a company whose employees have been quite vocal in their criticism of the executive order that was passed by Trump targetting immigrants. Sure, a lot of tech CEOs raised their voices against the order. We have a whole list here. But in the case of Google, it is not only the CEO, but also a co-founder, former CEO as well as the Google employees themselves, who have made their stand clear over the last few days.
Walking the talk
Pichai in an email to staff said the US ban on foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries will hit at least 187 Google employees.
We are upset about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US, the Wall Street Journal quoted Pichai as saying in the email. It is painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues, he said.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin, whose family immigrated to the US in 1979 from the then Soviet Union, took part in the protests taking place at the San Francisco international airport. While protesting in his personal capacity, Brin said that he was protesting because he himself was a refugee.
https://twitter.com/wjrucklidge/status/826211170595987456
Recently at a meeting with Google employees, Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman of Alphabet said "that the Trump administration is going to do evil things as they've done in the immigration area and perhaps some others." Schmidt did say that the government is focussed on economic growth in his meeting with employees. He said that these 'evil things' will be done while keeping the focus on the growth rate in the US by increasing federal spending.
According to reports, there were about 2000 employees participating in the protest on 30 January, and these included Google top brass like Sundar Pichai and Sergey Brin, both of whom are technically immigrants.
Google has also set up a $4 million fund for immigrants. This fund includes $2 million contributed by Googles own employees. All things point to the fact that Google employees, while not in the official capacity, are taking a political stand by their actions and gestures.
Wooing the Republicans
It is no secret that Google backed Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton during the Presidential elections. But the company has since been trying its best to get into the good books of the Trump administration as well. According to Bloomberg Google had sought a 'DC veteran to act as liaison to conservative, libertarian and free market groups'.
However, Google / Alphabet have made it public whenever it has met with Trump. For instance, when Trump met with the top tech CEOs from Silicon Valley, Larry Page was present. More recently, even Eric Schmidt had met the president at the Trump Tower. According to Buzzfeed, Google states that it was better to work behind the scenes with the administration, rather than making statements which would antagonise people from the administration with whom Google / Alphabet has to work.
Schmidt has also stated to his employees that he did all he could in his power to dissuade the administration from taking an anti-globalisation and discriminatory stand on the immigration order, but nothing has come out of it.
Pichai has also tried to explain why it is counterproductive for Google as a company to take a stand officially. In a statement to Vice News, Pichai said, "If you publicly take a strong position, once theyve identified youre completely on one side, you lose the ability to come to a rational position. We get very strong reactions when we try to reach out to the other side. Taking public positions is productive in some cases, and counterproductive in others." According to a New York Times report, Google also recently organised an event for Republican lawmakers.
Treading a fine line
While on the one hand Google and Alphabet employees are protesting against the controversial executive order, on the other hand, it is trying to be in the good books of the Trump administration as well. In doing so, Google and its parent company Alphabet are trying to find a right balance between its employees putting forth a resistance against unfair orders, at the same time not antagonising the government in the official capacity.
At the end of the day, a lot of Google and Alphabet's projects require government co-operation. So it is treading a path which any profit-making institute would take.
Targetting immigrants from certain nations based on religious lines, specially when a lot of the top US companies have been built by immigrants, smacks of arrogance. It is then heartening to see employees of the Silicon Valley tech giants taking to the streets to protest against this unfair executive order.
Whether the companies or its employees would be punished for these protests, is something only time will tell. But if there are penalties to be paid, then that would set a wrong precedent.
The House of Representatives has once again passed U.S. Rep. John Katko's bill to study whether Fort Ontario and the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum in Oswego should be designated as a national park.
The bill, the Fort Ontario Study Act, passed by voice vote Monday. Katko, R-Camillus, reintroduced the measure in early January after it failed to receive approval from both houses in the last Congress.
"This site stands as a testament to the important role central New York has played in our nation's history," Katko said in a statement. "I'm proud to be a champion for this effort, and I'm especially grateful for the tireless work of countless Oswego County residents, advocates and leaders who have worked to raise the profile of historic Fort Ontario and Safe Haven."
Fort Ontario was a military installation dating back to the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812.
The U.S. Army had a presence at the fort until the end of World War II, when the site was used a shelter for nearly 1,000 refugees, many of whom were Holocaust survivors from Europe.
After World War II, Fort Ontario was transferred to the state and used to house veterans and their families, according to the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
In 1953, the fort became a state historic site.
During his freshman term in Congress, Katko introduced the Fort Ontario legislation that would require the federal government to conduct a special resource study. The study is a prerequisite for any site to be added to the national park system. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand sponsored the same bill in the Senate.
The House passed Katko's bill in September 2016, but it wasn't voted on in the Senate. Katko and Gillibrand, D-N.Y., had to reintroduce their measures this month.
In the last Congress, Katko was joined by then-U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, who represented the eastern portion of Oswego County. Hanna's successor, U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, is now a cosponsor of the bill.
"This important piece of legislation will begin the process of advancing this local landmark to national park status and further develop the unique and rich history of Fort Ontario," Tenney, R-New Hartford, said.
Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy
Trump defiant, Obama weighs in as travel ban fury mounts
US President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Monday.
AFP, Washington :
A defiant President Donald Trump lashed out at protesters, lawmakers and even Delta Airlines Monday as he struggled to defuse a mounting backlash over his ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations.
After a weekend of chaos at airports, mass protests and diplomatic outcries, criticism of Trump's proposal even came from Barack Obama, who broke his silence for the first time since leaving office.
"President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country," Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis said.
"Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake."
Obama's foray back into politics will only add to the White House's sense of besiegement. For much of the last 48 hours, the embattled Republican president has been on the defensive.
"We actually had a very good day yesterday in terms of homeland security," Trump insisted as he met with small business leaders early Monday.
In remarks at the White House and on Twitter, Trump variously tried to play down the impact of the order he signed Friday and defended the White House's decision not to give advance warning to border guards, diplomats and travelers.
The new president also moved up a decision on his pick of Supreme Court justice to Tuesday-two days earlier than planned-as he sought to change the topic.
"Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning. Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage," Trump claimed.
The order-which affects nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen-caused confusion among US officials and led to at least four federal court injunctions.
"If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad 'dudes' out there!" Trump claimed.
Eltirmizy Mohamed, a 34-year-old Sudanese doctor, was traveling back to the United States when the order was rolled out.
After three years training at the Atlanta Medical Center, he was returning to Georgia to take up a full-time post, but was stopped while trying to catch a connecting flight in Qatar.
"I have served many homeless and poor Americans," he told AFP in Khartoum. "My plans were to work in a rural area of Georgia where there are many such Americans in need of a doctor. But now I'm stuck here."
Trump, a property tycoon who has never previously held elected office, sees the ban as making good on a promise to subject travelers from Muslim-majority countries to "extreme vetting."
Around 48 percent of Americans support a freeze on immigration from "terror prone" regions, even if it means turning refugees away, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Monday.
Counterterrorism experts warn that the ban could make essential cooperation with governments in Muslim-majority countries more difficult, while doing little to prevent attacks. Iraq's parliament backed reciprocal restrictions if Washington does not change course..
Italy welcomes 41 Syrian refugees, seeks bridges not walls
Sima, a 7-year-old Syrian refugee from Homs, plays with a balloon as her mother M\'aha Aleweir holds her 3-year old sister Sidra upon their arrival at Rome\'s Fiumicino international airport on Monday..
AP, Rome :
Italian government and church officials welcomed 41 Syrian refugees at Rome's airport Monday, saying they wanted to show solidarity with those fleeing war at a time when the U.S. is sending refugees away and building a wall to keep migrants out.
The children among the Syrians were given balloons as they arrived, and a colorful sign reading "Welcome to Italy" greeted them and their parents in the airport terminal. They were the latest group of refugees to be resettled in Italy via a "humanitarian corridor" agreement between the Italian government and a Catholic-Protestant collaborative project.
"At a moment in time where they're building walls in other parts of the world, we are making bridges and bringing by air those who have the right to come to arrive in security," said the vice prefect of the interior ministry, Donatella Candura.
The airlift was organized by the Sant'Egidio Community and the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, an ecumenical collaboration that has resettled some 540 people in Italy in the past year as an alternative to the deadly sea crossings most migrants make to try to get to Italy at the hands of smugglers. Aid workers identify refugees in Lebanon and arrange for visas via the Italian embassy. Once in Italy, the churches take charge of finding the refugees housing, schooling and other immediate services to help them integrate into Italian society.
"We thank Italy for this hospitality, and we hope that all countries in all the world will do what Italy has done saving people who have escaped from Syria, from the war that is going on right now," said Ahmad Alkhaled, one of the refugees who fled his home in Homs.
The refugees said many of them planned to return home after peace is restored to their country, and that regardless they didn't represent a security threat as the Trump administration charged. "Islam is full of people who are friendly, who are full of friendship. There are no terrorists among us refugees," said M'aha Aleiwer from Homs.
Italy's deputy foreign minister, Mario Giro, greeted the Syrians at the airport and denounced as inefficient the Trump administration's immigration restrictions banning travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, Syria included.
He said walls, as proposed by the Trump administration along the Mexican border, have similarly been shown not to work.
A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Katko to boost the nation's counterterrorism efforts has been approved by the House of Representatives.
The House passed the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act, which Katko, R-Camillus, first introduced last year and reintroduced at the beginning of the 115th Congress.
The legislation would update the Counterterrorism Advisory Board's charter and require the board to provide updates to the homeland security secretary when terrorism alerts are issued.
The Department of Homeland Security would be required to submit a report to Congress on the activities of the board, which is a panel under the agency's purview.
Katko said the bill is necessary because the board, which formed in 2010, hasn't been codified. The board's charter, he added, hasn't kept pace with new terror threats.
A panel led by Katko, the Task Force on Combating Foreign Fighter Travel, recommendation the legislative action in a report released in September 2015.
"It is critical that we continue our efforts in Congress to combat the threat of ISIS," Katko said in a statement. "With ongoing counterterrorism investigations in all 50 states, we must act to strengthen the programs that address these threats."
The bill received bipartisan support in the House. Four Democrats, including U.S. Reps. William Keating and Donald Payne, cosponsored the measure.
Keating, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Payne, D-N.J., are members of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security chaired by Katko.
The House approved 16 other homeland security-related measures Tuesday. Katko's bill was included in the package.
Katko's legislation received praise from House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, who said the bill will "bolster the security of our homeland."
"These 17 House-passed Homeland Security Committee bills are all common sense solutions to improve our border security, counterterrorism posture, transportation security and cyber defenses, as well as enhancing first responder capabilities and streamlining the management efficiency of the Department of Homeland Security," he said. "The sooner these critical bills pass the Senate and become law, the safer the American homeland and our people will be."
Army to complete works of Dhaka-Ctg 4-lane Highway
Chittagong Bureau :
Bangladesh Army is going to take the charge of finishing of incomplete works of Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane highway. The Engineering Core of the Bangladesh army would be involved in the works as some of the works are still incomplete. Sources said, project of Dhaka-Chittagong four lane Highway has officially been completed last year. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the highway on July 2 last year by video conferencing.
But, some of the bridges on 190.48 km long Dhaka-Chittagong Highway are yet to be completed. The contractors left the work after constriction of only one bridge. There are two bridges which are yet to be constructed.
Meanwhile, the planning commission decided to hand over the charges to complete the works of the high way, sources concerned said.
The main works of the highway project was completed in last year. The project was also handed over. But some supplementary works will be completed within the current year.
Arun Chakma, engineer of RHD said the works of Dhaka-Chittagong four lane highway was scheduled to be completed earlier.
But due to some unavoidable reasons, the project was delayed. " The project of Dhaka-Chittagong four lane highway likely to be completed very soon." Sources said, earlier, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI), one of the prime trade bodies of the country had urged the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her firm intervention and necessary action in implementing Dhaka-Chittagong four lane Highway.
Following the demand of business community leaders and the election manifesto of incumbent government, she intervened for completing the construction works of the high way.
As a result, almost all works have been completed. Sources said, the 28km section in the existing Dhaka-Chittagong Highway (N1), from Dhaka to Daudkandi except for Meghna and Daudkandi Bridges, was a four-lane road in 2005. The traffic on the highway has exceeded 40,000 passenger car equivalents a day (PCU/day) at most of the locations.
In order to cope up with the increasing traffic on the highway, the government decided to expand the existing 194km two-lane Daudkandi to Chittagong road to a four-lane divided road with provision of future expansion to a six-lane road. Following the completion of the project, the journey time from Dhaka to Chittagong reduced by approximately three hours.
Dhaka-Chittagong Highway up-gradation project was initiated in January 2006. The proposal for the development was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in January 2008.
The project was executed by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) or build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) or private-public partnership (PPP) basis. The up-gradation involves the construction of a new road between Daudkandi and Chittagong.
It also involves the construction of embankment, pavement, culverts, bridges and green belts.
The road was converted into a four-lane road by adding a separate two-lane road to the existing highway separated by a raised median.
The construction project was divided into ten road works and two bridge work segments. Sources said, in May 2006, National Engineering Service Pakistan Limited (NESPAK) was awarded a contract by the government of Bangladesh to provide engineering services for the project. The agreement was, however, terminated by the government in May 2010 due to unsatisfactory consultancy services.
Extracurricular activities to flourish children's talents underscored
City Desk :
Arranging more extracurricular activities for the adolescents and children in primary, junior and high schools along with their regular studies has become imperative to properly flourish their latent talent.
Speakers expressed the view at inaugural ceremony of the two-day Children Fair-2017 organised by Nilphamari District Information Office (DIO) on the 'Unmukto Manacha' ground in Nilphamari district town yesterday.
The district administration has been extending assistance in organising the fair under the 'Communication Programmes for Children and Women Development' of the Department of Mass Communications under the Ministry of Information.
Deputy Commissioner of Nilphamari Zakir Hossain attended the opeing ceremony as the chief guest and inaugurated the fair with Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh Muhammad Belayet Hossain in the chair.
Zila Parishad Chairman of Nilphamari Joynal Abedin, Nilphamari municipality Mayor Dewan Kamal Ahmed, District Education Officer Shafikul Islam and District Children Affairs Officer Mostaq Ahmed, addressed as the special guests.
Earlier, a colourful rally, participated by officials, students, teachers, political leaders, officials and employees, sociocultural and NGO activists, guardians and common people, was brought out in the streets of the district town.
District Information Officer of Nilphamari Mozammel Haque delivered welcome speech narrating the awareness building objectives of the fair where different schools and service providing government and nongovernment organisations have set up 28 stalls.
"Debate and drawing competitions for children and adolescents, discussions and screening of documentary films for the children are being organised in the fair that will conclude through prize giving ceremony tomorrow," he said.
The speakers said the children should be provided with quality education and all basic needs irrespective of their socioeconomic status to ensure their human rights to make them worthy citizens so that they could properly lead the nation in future.
The chief guest stressed on ensuring birth registration, education, healthcare and nutrition of the children and adolescents, eradicating repression, dowry, child marriage, human trafficking and other social curses for development of the children.
"There is no alternative to attaining sustainable development goals in the process of building a middle income digital Bangladesh by 2021 and developed country by 2041 through ensuring rights and development of the children," he said.
Sheikh Hasina's 'Nirbachita Prabandha' to be published today
BSS, Dhaka :
A new book named "Nirbachita Prabandha" (selected articles), authored by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is set to be published today, the first day of Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela.
Agamee Prakashani, a leading publishing house of the country, will publish the book on the occasion of the book fair.
"The importance of the book is unbounded as it carries the identity of thought, mentality and outlook of Bangladesh's most key political personality," a press release of the publishing house said. Emeritus Professor Rafiqul Islam wrote the introduction of the book, while Anwar Faruk painted its cover. The price of the book is Taka 350, the release added.
Mukul Bose inducted into AL Advisory Council
BSS, Dhaka :
Former Awami League Joint General Secretary Mukul Bose has been inducted to the party's leadership as a member of Awami League Advisory Council.
"Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, by the power bestowed on her during two-day party's 20th National Council on October 22 and 23 last year, made Mukul Bose a member of AL advisory council," said a press release signed by AL Office Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap.
Mukul Bose, also a former student leader, was made one of the joint general secretaries of AL along with Syed Ashraful Islam, now AL presidium member, and Obaidul Quader, now party general secretary, in the AL's 17th National Council.
Readers Forum
No doctors on Fridays! :
Doctors do not generally attend in their chambers on Friday in Dhaka city. However, people with busy work schedules on weekdays prefer to care of their medical needs on weekends. Medical emergencies also tend to arise that require urgent consultation with doctors during the weekend. Since there are many retired and non-government doctors in this city, it would be beneficial to the citizens if they adjusted their weekly schedules to keep their chambers open on Fridays.
I request doctors to take this suggestion into consideration, and the Health Ministry to look into this matter of public interest.
Md. Arifur Rahman
Dhaka
Railway is running with one-third stations closed
THE Minister for Railways Mujibul Haque has said one-third of the country's Railway Stations are now closed and blamed shortages of manpower to run them. Speaking to Parliament, he made disclosure in Parliament on Monday depicting a dismal picture of the Bangladesh Railway. What it does mean is that our trains don't stop at around 33 percent of the Railway Stations across the country denying people to use the low cost commuters.
Reports said over one-third of Railway Posts are also vacant following retirement of old employees but recruitment business is so scandalous that over 13,611 such posts are remaining vacant. A railway minister lost job in the past and some senior railway officers were jailed for bribe making recruitment task difficult.
Train service is always rated as cheaper poor men's ride. But not only railway stations were shut, railway lanes at some places also has been shut because they are dilapidated and risky for safe journey. But the question is why the Minister is blaming shortage of fund because there should not be any shortage of fund given the size of the Railway budget and the need to run Railway throughout the country.
A report found in 2015 said around two crores people in North-West and southern region were facing trouble and counting additional fare for bus and intercity trains. The number of people who had once used railway for cheaper journey has almost halved now for closure of stations and some Railway lanes. There is no denying of the fact that highly corrupt officials and employees are misusing large part of the railway budget. The government has no control over them and rather party leaders have joined hands in many cases. Their local procurement is highly costly to grab money from higher quotations, their cost of buying Railway wagons and locomotives is twice as much of the real cost as news reports say and overtime bills are almost twice of the normal pay.
The Railway Trade Union is so powerful because they are members of the labour front of the ruling party and their greed for unaccounted income is not unknown. So the easiest way is to shut one station after another to save money to make it available to Railway employees and contractors under the ongoing system. Local people will not come to demand accountability for closing a railway station or railway section but, the government knows the challenge from within will be too big to sustain.
We would suggest that the government must prove its leadership competency to run the railway instead of closing stations one after another. Any sensible government can't wait with so many stations closed and people deprived of services. The situation must improve immediately.
Local Govt bodies should be free from outside interference
NEWS report said Union Parishad Chairmen and members demanded the government to take effective actions to keep lawmakers and other politicians from meddling in the affairs of local government institutions. Not that the predicament is a new phenomenon, in fact, successive governments of the country have deliberately weakened the local government mechanism in Bangladesh so to practice full control over them. Quite often our lawmakers coupled with Chairmen of District Councils and Upazila Parishads have illegally attempted to influence Union Parishads' activities with hidden political and financial agendas. They have even tried to exercise political authority to get hold of development projects awarded to their selected contractors by dubious means.
As a dire repercussion, it has become increasingly complex to ensure accountability and transparency of actions taken by MPs' - thus affecting the overall development in our unions. The fact is, however, failures and weaknesses of our local institutions will continue unabated until autonomy to function is granted. Sadly, the local government bodies had never been, 'self-governing' bodies in the true sense in independent Bangladesh. They are mere extension of the political government with guided and limited local participation. Consequently, local governments have always been institutionally and financially weak, poorly managed and lacking in social, administrative and political credibility.
Quite shockingly, no room has been left open to hold our local institutions accountable and transparent. Misuse of resources is going unabated while corruption is unchecked individually or jointly. With regard to political interference, a recent trend has been reportedly the government to suspend UP chairmen and members on political consideration - purely based on vindictive and questionable grounds. Had a legal framework existed to ensure that no elected representative of UPs can be suspended until they are convicted by the court the prevailing vice could have been evaded. Most significantly, according to our constitution, the government should encourage the local government institutions, and not control them, but in reality administrative officials are reportedly running some Local Government Institutions, which is a clear violation of the Constitution.
Last but not least, the government will have to take full responsibility for intruding in local government affairs for turning it into a political and corrupt affiliate. It cannot get away with violating the Constitution either.
BARISAL: Students of different educational institutions of Barisal City formed a human chain in Sadar Road area on Monday demanding death sentence of killers of Hridoy on Monday.
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Mahmoud Abbas arrives today
UNB, Dhaka :
Palestinian President arrives here on Wednesday on a three-day official visit to advance the 'special relations' with Bangladesh.
A special flight carrying Abbas and his entourage is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5pm, said a senior official on Tuesday.
The visit is taking place at the invitation of President Abdul Hamid who will receive Abbas on his arrival at the VVIP terminal of the airport.
The government will show the highest level of respect to the Palestinian President.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Dr Reyad Al Malki, Chief Justice of Palestine and the Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud al-Habbas, Palestinian Authority Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Majdi al-Khalidi and senior military and civil officials will accompany the Palestinian President during the visit.
Abbas who had made a stopover in Dhaka in February last year will meet his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid at 7pm on Thursday at Bangabhaban.
The meeting will be followed by a cultural programme and dinner in honour of the Palestinian President.
Abbas will have bilateral talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the visit.
AUBURN A 26-year-old man charged in connection with more than a dozen burglaries in Cayuga and Onondaga counties pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Cayuga County Court.
Steven Clark, of 255 Cedar Court, Baldwinsville, was one of four people charged with committing several burglaries last summer.
According to the Onondaga and Cayuga County sheriff's offices and New York State Police, law enforcement was investigating 16 daytime residential burglaries between May 31 and June 9, 2016. At the time, Onondaga County Sheriff's Office Detective Jon Seeber said officers had begun to notice a pattern as the suspects stole guns, jewelry and electronics from people's homes.
Clark and 27-year-old Ashley Tremaine, also of 255 Cedar Court, Baldwinsville; 34-year-old Laura Young, of 101 Meadow Road, Elbridge; and Brian Vermette, of 1394 Church Road, Baldwinsville, were arrested in June and charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in Onondaga County. Other charges from state police and Cayuga County were pending at the time.
Earlier this month, Tremaine pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree burglary in Cayuga County. She told Judge Thomas Leone she acted as a lookout for Clark while he broke into three homes one in Sennett and two in Cato on June 7 and 8, 2016.
Then, a week after Tremaine's plea, Young admitted her involvement in the string of Cayuga County burglaries. She also pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree burglary, telling Judge Mark Fandrich she let Clark drive her car and acted as a lookout while he burglarized houses.
On Jan. 17, 2017, a grand jury indicted Clark on three counts of second-degree burglary and one count of fourth-degree conspiracy, all felonies. He was also charged with three misdemeanor counts of petit larceny.
Clark denied all charges Tuesday before Judge Fandrich.
Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Clark recently pleaded guilty to 11 burglaries in Onondaga County. He will likely be sentenced to 12 years in prison there this week.
Also in court:
An Auburn man was sentenced to prison Tuesday for breaking into a home in the town of Conquest.
Joshua Abrams, 29, of 116 S. Fulton St., pleaded guilty Jan. 10, 2017, to third-degree burglary for illegally entering a home on Bush Hill Road last fall.
The second felony offender was sentenced to two to four years in prison. However, Fandrich and Budelmann both agreed Abrams would serve his sentence as parole supervision at the Willard Drug Treatment Center in Seneca County.
A former inmate at Auburn Correctional Facility will spend another one to three years in prison for throwing a bucket of urine at a corrections officer.
In November 2016, 21-year-old Russell Hanson pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate, a class E felony. At the time, Hanson had admitted to throwing urine at an officer in February because the officer "denied him chow."
Budelmann said, due to the "heinous nature" of the crime, he believed one to three years was appropriate. Hanson's sentence will run consecutive to the current term he is serving as a youthful offender.
"You're a real young man," Fandrich told Hanson at sentencing. "I just hope you're able to turn your life around after your incarceration."
Crisis to end if citizenship ensured by Myanmar
Various diplomatic steps taken for rehab, says FM: BD plans to move refugees to islands: US plans permanent solution, says Bernicat
Staff Reporter :
Visiting UN Special Advisor to Secretary-General Ghassan Salame on Tuesday said if the citizenships of Rohingya people are ensured by the Myanmar government the crisis created in Rakhine State would go away.
"We are here to observe the overall situation now prevailing at Rohingya slums in different places of Cox's Bazar and its adjacent areas after Myanmar security forces' crackdown on them in October last year," he told journalists after a view-exchange meeting with civil society members at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies in the city yesterday.
Replying to a query whether Rohingya people are being repressed and continue to trespass into Bangladesh due to religious reason, Ghassan Salame said they (Rohingya) did not flee the Muslim-majority northern part of Rakhine to Bangladesh not only religious reason.
"Apart from religious reason, questions relating to their (Rohingya) rights, citizenship as well as livelihood are also responsible to cross the border. So the main work is to ensure their citizenship by the Myanmar government," he said.
Earlier in the morning the visiting three-member delegation comprising Myanmar National Human Rights Commission Chairman U Win Mra, Core Member and Founder of Religions for Peace in Myanmar U Aye Lwin and former Lebanese Minister of Culture and UN Special Advisor to Secretary-General Ghassan Salame also a held meeting with the Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.
Later, the Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali told the Parliament that various diplomatic steps like bilateral, regional and multilateral have been taken to rehabilitate the Rohingya people.
"During the all bilateral meetings with Myanmar we have strongly raised our voice and placed demands to take back Rohingya from Bangladesh," he said while replying to a question raised by ruling Awami League lawmaker Pinu Khan.
On Monday, the three-member delegation visited two unregistered Rohingya slums in Cox's Bazar's Ukhia and Teknaf. They visited Paschim Balukhali Rohingya slum in Palongkhali Union of Ukhia Upazila and Leda slum in Hnila Union of Teknaf Upazila.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has resurrected a plan to relocate thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar's northwestern Rakhine State to a island in the Bay of Bengal to prevent them from "intermingling" with Bangladeshi citizens.
The United Nations says about 65,000 people have fled the Muslim-majority northern part of Rakhine to Bangladesh since attacks that killed nine Myanmar border police on October 9, sparking a heavy-handed security response in which scores were killed, according to agency report.
Bangladesh first proposed the idea of sending the Rohingya to Thengar Char, which floods at high tide, in 2015, prompting anger among rights groups.
A notice dated January 26 and posted on the website of the Bangladesh government's cabinet says several committees had been formed to look at the influx of Rohingya Muslims, which the country fears could lead to law and order issues as they mix with local residents.
Dhaka was preparing a list of the people who would be temporarily moved to Thengar Char before being sent back to Myanmar, the notice said.
A senior official at Bangladesh's Home Ministry said the process to shift the Rohingya to the island would take time and that "if that place is not livable, the government will make it livable".
Hundreds were killed in communal clashes in Rakhine in 2012, exposing a lack of oversight of the military by the administration of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat on Tuesday said that her country is trying its level best to give a permanent solution to Rohingya refugee crisis and they are optimistic about it.
"We have directly talked to the victims about different issues and have learnt a lot of things from them," She told local journalists after visiting different registered and unregistered refugee camps in Teknaf and Ukhia upazilas of Cox's Bazar. She was leading a seven-member entourage during the visit.
Trump sacks defiant AG
BBC Online :
Donald Trump has fired the acting US attorney general after she questioned the legality of his immigration ban.
Sally Yates, who was appointed by Barack Obama, ordered justice department lawyers not to enforce the president's executive order.
A White House statement accused Ms Yates of "betraying" the justice department and being "weak on borders". Mr Trump replaced her with Dana Boente, US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Mr Boente said he was "honoured to serve President Trump"
and immediately directed his department to enforce the controversial order. Mr Trump also replaced the acting director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Daniel Ragsdale, who has been in the post since 20 January. He is the former deputy director.
No reason was given for Mr Ragsdale's sacking. He has been replaced by Thomas Homan, the executive associate director of enforcement and removal.
Mr Trump's order temporarily banned nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, and sparked street protests in the US and abroad. Ms Yates, a career prosecutor who served as deputy attorney general under Barack Obama, said in a letter that she was "not convinced" that the president's order was lawful.
"As long as I am the acting attorney general, the department of justice will not present arguments in defence of the Executive Order," she said. Within hours, the White House announced: "President Trump relieved Ms Yates of her duties." A statement claimed she had "betrayed the department of justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States". It also described her as "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration". Democrats hits back at Ms Yates' dismissal. Senator Chuck Schumer, the party leader, said in a statement that the "attorney general should be loyal and pledge fidelity to the law, not the White House. The fact that this administration doesn't understand that is chilling".
Donald Trump's critics are calling it the "Monday Night Massacre". That's a reference to President Richard Nixon's Saturday night sacking of his attorney general during the depths of the Watergate scandal of 1973, the last time top justice department officials were forced out by a president.
This time around is a bit different, however. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates essentially forced Mr Trump's hand when she ordered justice department lawyers not to defend the president's recent immigration order in court. Mr Trump could not abide such defiance from an Obama Administration holdover due for replacement soon anyway. Once again, however, his White House team could not help but turn the rhetorical volume up to 11 in announcing the firing, accusing Ms Yates of having "betrayed" the justice department.
Ms Yates's move follows on the heels of a similarly extraordinary reaction to a letter, signed by more than 100 career state department officials, condemning the immigration action as un-American.
It's easy to imagine that this administration - just over a week in power - feels set against a Washington bureaucracy seeking to undermine it at every turn. If that kind of bunker mentality grows in the days ahead, this political bloodletting likely will be only the beginning. Her replacement, Mr Boente, was also appointed by Barack Obama, in 2015. He was confirmed by the US Senate - making him eligible for appointment while Mr Trump waits for his own nominee to be approved. Senator Jeff Sessions is awaiting a confirmation hearing for the role later this week. Meanwhile, hundreds of diplomats and foreign servants have been drafting a "dissent cable" to formally criticise the president's executive order.
A draft version of the cable said that immigration restrictions will not make the US safer, are un-American and will send the wrong message to the Muslim world.
The ban bars citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
The White House has consistently defended Mr Trump's executive order despite the controversy, with press secretary Sean Spicer saying diplomats should "get with the programme".
In addition, former President Barack Obama has apparently broken with the convention of former presidents avoiding comment on their successors. Commenting on the protests about the immigration order, President Obama said he was "heartened". "Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," he said in a statement, which did not mention Mr Trump by name.
AL proposes Wahiduzzaman, BNP Dr Salehuddin
Staff Reporter :
Speculation runs high that Awami League proposed the former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Mollah Wahiduzzaman as the Chief Election Commissioner while former PMO Secretary Abdul Karim, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad, former Senior Secretary of Local Government Manzur Hossain and former Information Commissioner Prof Dr Sadeka Halim as Election Commissioners.
BNP proposed the name of former BB governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed as probable Chief Election Commissioner.
It also named noted lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik, local government expert Dr Tofail Ahmed and former BDR DG Fazlur Rahman and Dhaka University teacher Prof Dr Tasneem Siddiqui have been proposed as Election Commissioners.
Hillary questions Trump`s mental fitness
US protesters in Manhattan demonstrate against President Trump\'s executive order imposing controls on travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Independent :
Hillary Clinton claimed Trump was "temperamentally unfit" to be President, and in recent months many people the world over have reached the same conclusion.
Clinton was, of course, Trump's political opponent, but some psychologists have now started questioning his state of mind. Until recently, psychologists weren't allowed to assess public figures and talk to journalists about their findings. But this rule is noe being cast aside and mental health experts are speaking out about Trump.
In a bid to warn the public, psychologists are publishing their diagnoses of Trump. Most recently, John D. Gartner said Trump "is dangerously mentally ill and temperamentally incapable of being president."
He believes Trump shows signs of "malignant narcissism," which is defined as a mix of narcissism, antisocial personality disorder, aggression and sadism in Campbells' Psychiatric Dictionary.
Narcissism is in fact one of the most common diagnoses of Trump from psychologists: "Narcissism impairs his ability to see reality so you can't use logic to persuade someone like that," clinical psychologist Dr. Julie Futrell told NY Daily News. "Three million women marching? Doesn't move him. Advisers point out that a policy choice didn't work? He won't care." In December, three leading professors of psychiatry wrote to Barack Obama expressing their grave concerns over Trump's mental stability.
"His widely reported symptoms of mental instability - including grandiosity, impulsivity, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality - lead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office," the professors from Harvard Medical School and the University of California wrote to the then President, urging him to order a "full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation" of the then President-elect. Just after the election, a group called Citizen Therapists Against Trumpism was created, which was joined by thousands of psychologists. They published a manifesto warning of Trump's psychosis, citing the following as the signs to fear.
"Scapegoating and banishing groups of people who are seen as threats, including immigrants and religious minorities; degrading, ridiculing, and demeaning rivals and critics; fostering a cult of the Strong Man who appeals to fear and anger; promises to solve our problems if we just trust in him; reinvents history and has little concern for truth (and) sees no need for rational persuasion."
The American Psychiatry Association has a nine-point checklist for narcissism - if someone displays just five of the traits, they have Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Even Trump's most ardent supporters might struggle to deny the President displays at least five of those characteristics.
Through numerous interviews and his infamous tweeting sprees, it seems Trump only believes facts that praise him - anything else is 'fake news' in his eyes. And according to psychologists, this pathological disconnection from reality is dangerous. He surrounds himself with people who admire and applaud him, and goes on angry tirades against journalists who enrage him by daring to suggest anything negative about him.
Trump's team will only tell him what he wants to hear, thus pandering to his narcissistic and sociopathic ways.
"With Trump, he's a disturbed person who protects himself by building up his ego and tearing down others," an anonymous psychologist explained to the NY Daily News.
One woman who used to be one of Trump's construction workers, Barbara Res, emailed the NY Daily News with a story from 1982 when she was working on one of his construction sites. The NY Times had just published an article about narcissism, which one of the team-members brought to work.
"Being the team who was charged with building Trump Tower, we all knew Donald Trump very well, especially myself. To a person, we all agreed that the characteristics outlined in the article fit Donald to a 'T'. Now, 35 years later, professionals are saying what we knew back then. Only now he is so much worse."
For a "severe narcissist" like the President, the need to maintain the self-image is so great that he "bends reality to fulfill whatever fantasy about power, wealth, beauty, etc. he maintains" Futrell added.
The Citizen Therapists' manifesto believes Trump's egotistical ways are creating "the illusion that real Americans can only become winners if others become losers."
"Simply stated, Trumpism is inconsistent with emotionally healthy living."
However some mental health experts believe we should be wary of psychologists diagnosing someone they've never met.
The University of Glasgow's Professor of Psychiatry Daniel Smith told The Independent: "It's considered not very ethical or good practice to comment on things like this if you've never assessed the individual. It's also important to remember that there's a difference between personality disorder and mental illness."
But nonetheless, as more psychologists speak out, the more worrying the situation appears.
Ekushey Boi Mela opens today
DU Correspondent :
The month-long Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2017 begins today (Wednesday) on the Bangla Academy premises and part of Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.
This year a total of 409 publication houses, the government, the non-government, the autonomous
bodies, the socio-cultural and the research organisations are participating in the fair with 663 stalls.
Of those, 549 stalls have been allotted to 329 publication houses at Suhrawardy Udyan and the rest 114
stalls to 80 other bodies.
Besides, 15 pavilions have been sanctioned for 14 publishing houses, including Bangla Academy.
The fair will remain open for the visitors from 3:00pm to 8:30pm on all the weekdays and from 11:00am to 8:30pm on holidays. On February 21, it will remain open from 8:00 O' Clock in the morning to 8:30pm.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken strict security measures in and around the Boi Mela venue to avert any unpleasant incident.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the month-long Boi Mela today at 3:00 in the afternoon. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will be present as special guest.
Bangla Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan will deliver the welcome address.
On the opening day, the winners of the Bangla Academy Shahitya Puroshkar (Literary Award) 2016, will receive Tk one lakh each, a crest and certificate from the Prime Minister.
Eleven personalities have been selected for Bangla Academy Shahitya Puroshkar.
The recipients are Altaf Hossain (Poetry), Shaheen Akhtar (Fiction), Abdul Momen and Dr. Atiur Rahman (jointly for Essay), Moniruzzaman (Research), Abdus Selim (Translation), Tajul Mohammad (Literature on Liberation War), Faruk Chowdhury (Biography and Eravelogue), Masum Reza (Drama), Sharif Khan (Science, Technology and Environment) and Sujan Barua (Juvenile Literature).
HC order over Judicial probe on Feb 7
Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Monday fixed February 7 to pass an order on the probe report prepared by the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gaibandha over the incident of setting fire to Santals' houses during an eviction drive in Gaibandha in November last.
The HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Devnath fixed the date after the report was submitted. It found policemen and locals guilty of torching houses of the Santals.
The court asked the officials concerned of the district court to supply a copy of the investigation report to the writ petitioner seeking necessary order within February 5.
On December 14, the High Court directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gaibandha to investigate if police were involved in setting fire to the houses of Santal community during a clash that took place
in the cane farm of Rangpur Sugar Mills in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district over harvesting of sugarcane.
The HC bench asked the Chief Judicial Magistrate to submit the report within 15 days.
On that day, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) filed a supplementary petition attaching some national and international media reports and images, where police were seen to set fire to a house, seeking the court order to carry out an investigation to identify the arson attackers.
The court also directed the police to conduct the investigation into the two cases, filed on November 17 and 26 against 600 and 33 identified and unidentified people respectively over the same issue, same status.
On November 26, Santals of Gaibandha filed a case against 33 people, including a local Awami League MP Principal Abul Kalam Azad and the UNO of Gobindaganj Abdul Hannan on charge of provoking an attack on the community on November 6.
On November 17, Swapan Murmu, a member of the community, filed another case against 600 people on charge of attacking the community.
The clash on November 6 took place in sugarcane farm of Rangpur Sugar Mills located in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha over harvesting sugarcane. The clash left three Santals dead and 25 people, including nine cops, injured.
Search body picks up 20 names
Staff Reporter :
The Search Committee on Tuesday picked up 20 names for constituting the six-member new Election Commission (EC) after short-listing their names submitted by the political parties, including ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP.
The names were shortlisted based on their honesty, qualification and capability, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told journalists after the Search Body's meeting at the Supreme Court Judges' Lounge last evening.
The Cabinet Secretary said, earlier a total of 28 political parties out of 31 have submitted names of five people each to the Search Committee for constituting the next EC.
"They have submitted around 120 to 125 names preferring them as the next Election Commissioners. The Search Body took 20 names after short-listing their names," he added.
Awami League and the Opposition BNP on Tuesday submitted names of five people each of probable
CEC and other Commissioners to the Search Committee through the Cabinet Division.
Awami League Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi submitted the names of probable CEC and other commissioners separately to the Cabinet Division on Tuesday afternoon.
The Cabinet Division is carrying out secretarial responsibility of the six-member search committee formed by President Abdul Hamid on January 25 as Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led incumbent EC's tenure ends this month.
While talking to the reporters at the Secretariat, Golap said the list was finalised at a joint meeting of the party's advisers and executive body on Monday.
"Five names have been picked from the names proposed by the majority members," he added.
Golap said they considered the candidates' background, credibility, transparency and belief in the spirit of the Liberation War when selecting them.
He submitted a letter of his party containing the names of potential Chief Election Commissioner and four other commissioners to the Cabinet Division around 12:40pm.
"BNP recommended the names following the 13-point preamble given to President Abdul Hamid by their Chairperson Khaleda Zia on the Constitution of a stronger and neutral election commission upcoming Parliament Election," said Rizvi.
Both the leaders, however, declined to disclose the names which they have submitted to the Cabinet Division.
Earlier, the BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and BNP Chairperson's Personal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar went to the Cabinet Division around 12:30pm to hand over their names.
The Cabinet Division's additional secretary Abdul Wadud said 27 parties have submitted names of their preferred candidates to the committee between Monday and Tuesday noon.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Islamic Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish, National Awami Party (NAP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh and Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon have also submitted names of their preferred candidates to the Cabinet Division on the day.
However, Bangladesh Communist Party did not propose any name to the Search panel as it sent a letter to the Search Committee thanking it for taking the initiative for the EC formation.
The committee will suggest names of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Commissioners.
The committee held its first meeting on Saturday asking each of the 31 political parties which took part in talks with the President over formation of the next EC to propose five names.
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.
AUBURN In the summer of 1998, thousands of people gathered outside Harriet Tubman's Home for the Aged to celebrate history. The heroine's South Street home was one of First Lady Hillary Clinton's first stops on her Save America's Treasures tour, an initiative to preserve culture across the country. And it was then that the effort to nationally recognize Tubman truly began.
Now, nearly 20 years later, that effort has finally paid off.
In April 2016, the federal government made a major move to honor the famous abolitionist with the so-called "Tubman Twenty," as the Treasury selected Tubman to replace President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.
Then, just weeks later, the media company Macro announced plans for "Harriet," a film about her work with the Underground Railroad. That film in addition to an untitled HBO Films project starring Viola Davis announced in 2015 would be the first major movie on Tubman since 1978.
Still, perhaps the biggest development came on Jan. 10, 2017, when the federal government formally established the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Cayuga County.
"This is monumental ... and it's a long time coming," Auburn City Clerk Chuck Mason said. "(The park) really has been over two decades in the making and it's really just the beginning."
As news of the national park spread, local leaders looked to social media to measure the public's reaction, which ranged from a local Facebook post's 800 likes to over 6,300 likes on the National Park's Services' page, Mason said.
"It just kind of shows you that there's a lot of enthusiasm and excitement out there in the world for the story of Harriet Tubman," Mason said. "We are anticipating that it will have a very positive impact and we will see increased visitation (in the county)."
While Auburn's park is now the 414th unit within the national park system, it is the first to honor an African American woman. It is also one of the few to have a partnering park: the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Dorchester County, Maryland, where Tubman was born. That park which celebrates the first half of Tubman's story is set to open a $20-million welcome center this spring.
"The Maryland site is a couple years ahead of us," Mason said, noting that the Dorcester County park started as a state parks project in 2014. "There's still a lot of work to do (here) to get the sites truly ready. ... So what you're going to see over the next couple of years is a lot of preparing for the future."
But once the park in Cayuga County is finished having restored the Tubman properties on Parker and South streets it will then work with the park in Maryland, encouraging people to visit both locations to experience Tubman's story in its entirety.
"If you made your way to the Tubman park down there (in Maryland) and you learned the first half of her life story, you'll probably want to put (Auburn) into your future vacation plans as well," Mason said. "Then once we have them here, we want to be able to capture their attention for everything else there is to do in Auburn, the county and the region."
That's where the city's new regional welcoming center will come into play, as the governor announced that Auburn will also be home to one of 10 state-funded tourism centers across the state. The Central New York center will identify immediate local history guiding visitors to places like the new Tubman park while offering guests a regional history as well.
"This (park) will hopefully encourage folks to come visit us to see what Auburn, Cayuga County and the Finger Lakes is all about," Auburn Mayor Michael Quill said. "There is so much to be discovered in Auburn and Cayuga County and hopefully this will propel people here to find out why we're called History's Hometown.
Karen Hill, the president and chief executive officer of the Harriet Tubman Home, agreed.
"It's a great time to be in central New York," she said. "This should increase the level of tourism to the Finger Lakes and to Auburn in particular ... bringing resources to Cayuga County through the legacy and contributions of Harriet Tubman."
In addition to the state welcome center and national park, Hill said the Tubman Home has plans to build a brand new $30 million interpretive center to honor the abolitionist movement in Central New York.
"The contents of this new center should really spark more interest as they will go far deeper into Harriet's life," she said. "We have over 60,000 archaeological artifacts and for the first time ever, we'll be able to display them, interpret them and really tell the story."
The interpretive center, national park and "Tubman Twenty" all plan to be completed in time for the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in 2020, something Mason feels is important.
"I truly believe that Harriet's story and the story of the abolition movement and women's suffrage needs to be told and taught now more than ever," he said.
"Now all of a sudden things are happening," Mason added. "It's great for Auburn's future economy and for our downtown ... and Harriet is finally getting her day."
AUBURN Of the hundreds who lined up outside Prison City Pub & Brewery in September and December for cans of its beer, the majority came from outside Cayuga County.
From as near as Syracuse and as far as Portland, Oregon, beer fans have been pouring into Prison City for its No. 1-ranked Mass Riot India pale ale, its Great American Beer Festival silver medalist Bleek Worden Belgian pale ale, its novel Cocoa Puff-flavored Puff Puff Shiv brown ale and more.
Marc and Dawn Schulz, who opened the State Street brewpub in December 2014, said about 50 percent of its customers came from outside the Cayuga County area before Paste Magazine named Mass Riot No. 1 of 247 IPAs in its annual blind taste test last summer. Since then, Marc Schulz said, it's been about 65 percent.
There's a term for that: beer tourism.
"It keeps spreading how far people are traveling to Prison City to Auburn, New York for beer," Marc Schulz said. "Tourism's monumental and extremely paramount to our success."
Further bolstering the area's craft beverage scene in that short window of time has been the opening of Sterling Cidery in July 2015, Last Shot Distillery in Skaneateles later that year and, most recently, Grisamore Cider Works in Locke.
More new businesses have factored into the Cayuga County area's craft beverage scene despite not producing any of their own: Thirsty Pug Craft Beer Market in Auburn, which joins D&L Truk Stop on Owasco Street as bottle shops whose rare selections draw visitors from well outside the area. And Finger Lakes on Tap in Skaneateles, a 60-tap showcase of upstate New York's craft beer output, opened in summer 2015.
Mike Sigona, who opened Thirsty Pug in June 2014, said more than half of his customers are people from outside the area who came to check out its craft beverage scene. Like Auburn's museums, Skaneateles' boutiques and all things cultural, craft beer has been driving travel to localized pockets of production like the Cayuga County area as it grows into a $55.7 billion industry nationally.
"You can plan a mini beer vacation in Auburn," Sigona said.
With nine new businesses in the Cayuga County area significantly increasing its craft beverage draw, Schulz, Sigona and others now face a question: How can it draw even more people to the area? With an estimated 10 million people visiting the country's 4,200 breweries yearly, and both figures trending upward, how can Cayuga County become a bigger craft beverage tourism destination?
The simplest solution would seem to be more breweries, more cideries and more distilleries. Indeed, one of the four variables in travel agency Travelocity's formula for grading the beer tourism draw of metropolitan areas is the number of breweries it boasts per 1 million residents. The more breweries, the more draw.
With four breweries and a population of almost 80,000, Cayuga County has about 50 breweries per 1 million residents putting it well within range of Travelocity's top small metro-area beer tourism destinations. It's unclear, though, how the area's beer tourism score would be calculated from that and the agency's other three variables: rideshare availability (0), nonstop air destinations (13.5 from Syracuse Hancock International Airport) and lodging score (a Travelocity calculation based on average room prices).
If volume is the solution, Cayuga County and the whole Finger Lakes area appear poised for victory. Theresa Hollister, president and co-founder of the Finger Lakes Beer Trail, said that when the trail was launched in February 2011, it counted 24 members in its swath of New York spanning Rochester to Binghamton. Now there are more than 110 and counting.
"The more publicity the beer trail gets, the more people realize the Finger Lakes isn't just a destination for wine," Hollister said. "I think it's going to go the same with distilleries and cideries. I envision, at some point, it will become a whole craft beverage tourism destination."
The Finger Lakes' nationally known wineries of which 11 are located in Cayuga County appear to be a model for tourism by volume. With more than 100 wineries concentrated in a much smaller area than that of the beer trail, wine tours can be conveniently planned along just about any shore of any Finger Lake, Schulz said, whereas beer tours require some more creative mapping.
The two forms of tourism aren't completely analogous, though: Wine may be more isolated and less friendly to inclusion with other craft beverages. Schulz invoked the image of the guy on the wine tour who wants to stay in the car or stop at a bar for a cold one. Spirits and cider, meanwhile, seem to enjoy more crossover on the palates of beer fans: Last Shot owner and distiller Chris Uyehara said he's been working with Prison City, Lunkenheimer and Finger Lakes on Tap, offering their receptive beer crowds a chance to sample his whiskey, gin and more.
Schulz and Sigona also pointed to deeper differences between beer and wine tourism or, as Schulz said with air quotes, "beer nerds" and "wine snobs."
The latter is more male-driven, Sigona said, and maybe a little less open-minded. Whereas wine fans seem to balance their attention between the beverage's various styles, he continued, beer fans overemphasize the IPA at the expense of sours, saisons, stouts and others. The rising authority of ranking platforms like BeerAdvocate, Untappd and, to be sure, Paste, has also made beer drinkers less adventurous, he said: Sometimes, their minds are made up that a beer is good or bad before they can even whiff it.
Schulz added that he's never heard of wine enthusiasts waiting three hours in line for a bottle or case of it.
The frequent cause of those lines rankings, awards and almost cultish word-of-mouth is also demonstrably important to the Cayuga County area's growth as a craft beverage tourism destination, Schulz and Sigona said. It may even be more important than simply adding more producers.
Where Asheville, North Carolina, and Portland, Oregon, became early beer meccas in the '90s and '00s by boasting dozens of breweries per capita, the eastern Massachusetts area has more recently earned as much attention from beer fans on the strength of the critically acclaimed Trillium (Boston/Canton), Tree House (Monson) and Night Shift (Everett) breweries alone, Schulz said.
In Auburn, Prison City saw firsthand the drawing power of such acclaim when Paste's IPA list was published, Schulz and Sigona said. A line of 100-plus snaked outside the brewpub before it even opened for its September Mass Riot release, which eventually saw more than 500 mob its State Street block. Hundreds more followed in December.
"Hype does drive sales," Sigona said. "If they assume it's the best, then everybody wants the best and they're willing to do anything to get it. Prison City having that is huge."
With several national accolades to its name, Schulz said, Prison City has only to make its beer more available to capitalize on its draw. The brewpub frequently gets calls from customers two or three hours away, asking if they'll be able to bring any of its beer home should they make the trip. Given the current strain on brewer Ben Maeso's five-barrel system, however, they can't.
Schulz hopes that with the recent acquisition of the 1,000-square-foot space below Prison City and, at some point, the construction of a 4,000-7,000-square-foot production facility in Auburn that situation will change in the near future. Until then, he said, some people will balk at traveling for beer they can't take with them.
Instead of simply more beer, then, Schulz and Sigona believe the key to making the Cayuga County area a bigger craft beverage tourism destination is more of the right beer. Travelocity's formula may not account for quality. But the two believe adding breweries, cideries and distilleries won't increase the area's craft tourism draw as much as more distinction for its already existing ones will.
"People aren't going to just travel around because there's a concentration of breweries," Schulz said. "They want to travel because there's a concentration of amazing breweries."
The cost of installing blue-green algae toxin treatments to the city of Auburn's plant will likely cost between $1.5 million and $15 million, city and Cayuga County leaders learned on Monday.
Seth Jensen, director of Municipal Utilities for Auburn, said GHD Consulting Services Inc. met with local officials to go over preliminary results of the water treatment plant's engineering study. While GHD is still waiting on a set of tests to verify initial results, the firm outlined ballpark costs for three options the city has been closely considering the use of powder activated carbon, ozone and extending the facility's intake pipe deeper into Owasco Lake.
The hope, Jensen said, is to choose one or a combination of those treatment methods to rid the treated drinking water of microcystin, a toxin that can be released from blue-green algae or cyanobacteria. Eleven times last year, toxins were detected at low levels in the drinking water of more than 45,000 Cayuga County residents.
The use of powder activated carbon, Jensen said, is expected to cost between $1.5 million and $5 million. The cost of using ozone ranges from $4 million to $6 million. And the cost of extending the intake pipe is projected to cost $15 million.
"That's a tough one," Jensen said about extending the intake pipe. "That a big, big number to have to try and absorb, even if you are a large public utility, which we are not. That's a huge cost."
The entire projected cost list is sobering, especially after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in January that $2 million would be devoted to Auburn and Owasco's water facility upgrades. There has been no determination yet on how those funds could be split between the two plants, though there has been discussion about upgrading Auburn's plant to provide water to those residents served by Owasco during algae season. Jensen said if the city decides to seriously consider extending the intake pipe, they'd also likely partner with Owasco. Owasco, meanwhile, has just started work with GHD to study its own treatment facility after its town council voted to hire them on Jan. 23.
"It's just unfortunate that these costs are as high as they are for a one-month-out-of-the-year treatment," Jensen added.
Powder activated carbon is something the city already began using last summer when they discovered the paint-like scum floating into the plant. But GHD has consulted with experts in Toledo, Ohio, and Australia, where blue-green algae has plagued public water supplies. With their input, GHD has pinpointed specific kinds of powder activated carbon that have proven more effective at removing microcystin.
The wide cost range of $1.5 million and $5 million is due to the carbon byproduct, Jensen said. When the carbon is added to the water, it binds itself to the various particles and eventually settles out of the water as a kind of silt. That will likely need to be treated before its removal and disposal, and that could get expensive, Jensen said. Based on materials' cost alone, too, powder activated carbon is more expensive than ozone, he added.
"There's definitely ancillary benefits to powder activated carbon," Jensen said. "It's about the same time each year we're dealing with complaints from the public about the taste and odor, largely because there's blue-green algae in the water, whether it's harmful or not. It gives an earthy taste people don't like. (The carbon) helps to mitigate it. To some extent, that's a two birds, one stone approach."
Using the disinfectant, ozone, is going to be trickier. Jensen said the timeline to install an ozone system will be nearly impossible to meet before this summer. While there are batch machines that can hook up temporarily, Jensen said specs still need to be worked out.
GHD has also recommended the city consider potassium permanganate, something that it had not considered closely before. Also an oxidizer like ozone and chlorine, the potassium could be added at the plant's intake pipe. It would only remove microcystin and not the algae itself. Jensen said the main concern with using that treatment method is that if too much is used, the oxidant can turn the water purple. Jensen said the city used to use potassium permanganate at its intake pipe in the past, and at one point had used too much.
"We overdosed it at one point in time, and our filtration plant staff got many, many phone calls because they (customers) went to fill their bathtub with water, and it had a purple-ish tint to it," he said. "There are no health impacts, but obviously you don't want your water to be purple."
Still, it could help address the other problem lurking at the plant's intake pipe zebra mussels. The city stopped using chlorine at the intake pipe, which was killing off the invasive species, because it was also killing the algae, thereby releasing microcystin. And if that weren't enough to worry about, Jensen said, experts in Toledo recommended considering a multi-pronged treatment process in case other toxins besides microcystin crop up.
Scientists are still grappling with what makes an algae bloom toxic, and what makes it have certain toxins over others. Microcystin, a liver toxin, has been one of the most common detected in Owasco Lake's blue-green algae blooms, but experts in Toledo warned that officials should test and prepare for saxitoxins. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, saxitoxins can cause gastrointestinal and neurological issues including nausea, headache, vertigo and cranial nerve disfunction. The CDC also says the toxin can be lethal through paralysis.
Jensen said saxitoxins have not been detected in Owasco Lake's water, but it's something they are taking into consideration.
"We don't want to necessarily design around one specific toxin if there are emerging toxins out there," he said.
While no decisions were made on Monday as to which treatment methods to use, Jensen said GHD will present its findings at the Auburn City Council meeting on Feb. 9. He hopes the city will have a better idea then about how to move forward. Meanwhile, he added, the plant has more information from GHD's study about what it can do in its existing facility to enhance toxin removal.
"I'm still hopeful, though, that we'll be able to have some sort of plan implemented that will effectively treat microcystin in the short-term, and if there is the need for a long-term solution, it might just take a year or two to fully develop," Jensen said. "We'll coordinate those together to get our final goal of being able to remove microcystin."
The proposed 162-mile Bayou Bridge Pipeline would traverse 11 parishes, including 600 acres of wetlands in the Atchafalaya Basin as well as 700 other bodies of water.
The Louisiana Bucket Brigade, a nonprofit environmental group, is encouraging residents to participate in teach-ins this weekend statewide to discuss the perils of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline. The proposed 162-mile pipeline would traverse 11 parishes across South Louisiana, including 600 acres of wetlands in the Atchafalaya Basin as well as 700 other bodies of water. The project is the work, in part, of Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline.
The Bayou Bridge Pipeline, according to Bucket Brigade, would create 12 permanent jobs
To learn more about the teach-in and to access discussion materials, click here.
On Jan. 23, we published an op-ed about the pipeline written by Anne Rolfes, founding director of Louisiana Bucket Brigade. Read it here.
Reports Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics in his Tuesday Tracker:
Long-time Louisiana Oil and Gas President Don Briggs has returned to his home in Lafayette, where he continues outpatient rehabilitation treatment from a serious head injury he suffered in North Carolina last October. Most recently, he had been an inpatient at a rehabilitation facility in Houston. He continues to progress in his recovery. The Briggs family is grateful for the continued outpouring of well wishes and prayers and appreciates everyones consideration of their privacy at this time. Meanwhile, the work of LOGA continues with Vice President Gifford Briggs acting as president of the organization during his fathers recovery. LOGA will provide additional updates on his condition as they become available.
Paris, TX (75460)
Today
Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 63F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..
Tonight
Clear skies. Low around 50F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Former IRA volunteer and ex-prisoner, spent 18 years in Long Kesh , 4 years on the blanket and no-wash/no work protests which led to the hunger strikes of the 80s . Completed PhD at Queens upon release from prison. Left the Republican Movement at the endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement, and went on to become a journalist. Co-founder of The Blanket , an online magazine that critically analyzed the Irish peace process. Lead researcher for the Belfast Project , an oral history of the Troubles.
JORDAN The Elbridge Town Board plans to send out four letters in hopes of resolving some issues related to the town.
First, with suggestions that New York State Thruway exits around Syracuse should be toll free to encourage the thruway's use as a thoroughfare, the board agreed to send a letter to the state Thruway Authority.
Exits 34 through 40 make up the proposed free zone as part of the discussion over the future of Interstate 81 and related traffic issues. The board hopes the Jordan-Elbridge area can be a part of the free zone.
"Regardless of what they do, there is going to be a traffic issue," Supervisor Ken Bush Jr. said. Albany and Buffalo have some free areas of the thruway.
Next, Bush pointed out the poor condition of Route 5 between Hamilton Road and the Byrne Dairy in that it is littered with potholes.
The state Department of Transportation is planning to continue its Route 5 resurfacing that was started last year from Camillus to Elbridge by resurfacing through the village of Elbridge to Hamilton Road.
In addition, Route 5 from Auburn to the county line was completed, so the area in question will be left as an eyesore in the middle of a newly resurfaced Route 5. The board agreed to send a letter to the state asking for roadwork repair in that area to be added to the project.
The final two letters relate to the state and county regarding the upkeep of the Jordan-Elbridge canal trail that is paved with stone dust. There were complaints last summer that the canal trail was in need of maintenance after a large bicycle tour came through the area.
The county hasnt done much to maintain its trail, Bush said, adding that even though this is county land, the town has been taking care of the mowing the shoulder and the lock in the summer in an attempt to make it look good.
You can go in with a small grader just to smooth it off a couple of times a year, Councilor Doug Blumer said.
Bush responded that the governor has proposed blacktopping the trail, which is county land. That would be good for the bicyclists, but the joggers, walkers and snowmobilers dont want it paved, Blumer said.
Councilor Vern Richardson said DeWitt paved part of its canal trail and had a lot of complaints so they stopped. Councilor Floyd Duger said the Elbridge Environmental Club is againt the paving as well.
Blumer said he is concerned that once blacktop deteriorates it becomes a real mess, and he would rather not see it hard-surfaced. The board decided to send letters to the state Legislature and governor against paving the trail while also asking the county for maintenance.
MEETING NOTES
Elbridge Town Attorney Dirk Oudemool suggested that cable is on its way out and to expect neither Time Warner nor Verizon to add to the existing infrastructure in order for the remaining 124 properties to get high-speed internet connections.
But, the good news is there is a new technology that is wireless available through MobileLite. If customers can hook up to a fiber-optic network, it will bounce signals from 100 foot monopoles to short whip antennas that are on old utility polls.
Richardson said Elbridge either has a low density or income level issue, so the town hasn't yet been able to qualify for funding through Connect NY.
Oudemool said this new technology might be the way to work around Time Warner in Jordan-Elbridge. He added that Time Warner had already given up on finishing Camillus, which already decided to enter into a contract with MobileLite.
Its a new smarter way to get data from one place to another, he said.
Bush said an auditor discovered that Time Warner shorted the town $32,000. The town had to pay this auditor 50 percent of the $32,000 in its contract, so the town was still shorted $16,000.
Time Warner turned around and added a surcharge to the customers' bills from April 2016 to this April to make up for this loss which the company wrongly noted was a request from the town, Richardson said. He has had several residents call about the charge.
Oudemool believes there is going to be litigation over this practice, as Time Warner did the same thing in the town of Camillus for a much larger number.
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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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How to choose a sextoy for Indian
Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.
Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)?
Does the size fit you (your partner)?
Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?
Price range
First of all, the choice of size is quite important.
Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.
For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.
Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.
Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.
If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.
Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.
Finally, there is the price range.
The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.
Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.
Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?
I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.
For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.
If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.
How to buy sextoys in India
The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.
For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.
Sextoy is one of them.
Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.
SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.
They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.
Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.
To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.
ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.
Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.
Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.
Cautions for Indians using sextoy
When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind
Keep sex toys clean
Watch out for electrical leakage
Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy
As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.
Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.
It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.
In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.
Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.
If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.
You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.
Summary
What did you think?
In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.
The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.
As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.
However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.
If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try?
Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women.
I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it.
CARBONDALE SIU's Multicultural Resource Center and the Carbondale Community Arts are presenting a free community screening of "Finding the Gold Within," a movie about four African-American college men.
The film will be screened from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at 304 W. Walnut St. The film was screened at the Big Muddy Film Festival in 2015 and won the prestigious John Michaels Award.
This feature-length documentary is directed by Karina Epperlein, and is being screened as part of Black History Month at SIU.
"Finding the Gold Within" follows six black men from Akron, Ohio, through their first years of college. Each of them is determined to disprove societys stereotypes and low expectations, according to a news release from organizers. In the intimate circle of Alchemy which has been their family since sixth grade they speak of their disappointments, despairs, trials and triumphs with a disarming honesty.
Alchemy Inc. and its leaders have been working in the school system in the Cleveland area, mentoring young black urban youth from middle through high school, according to a press release from the organizers. Exploring ancient stories from diverse cultures, as well as drumming and writing, this innovative program gives the youth a chance to grow into self-knowledge, discipline and confidence.
CARBONDALE A local sorority is joining with The American Heart Association to raise awareness about heart disease.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Gamma Kappa Omega Chapter hosts its third annual "Pink Goes Red for a Day" program from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Carbondale School District 95 Administrative Building, at 925 Giant City Road. Admission is free.
The AKA sorority whose colors are pink and green is hosting this family event in conjunction with The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign.
The program aims to raise awareness of heart disease, and focuses on recognizing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack that often go undetected in women, according to a news release.
The program will feature Dr. Brian Bird of Allied Physicians and Rehab in Carbondale, who will discuss ways to reduce inflammation and pain in the body.
Representatives from Jackson County Health Department and American Heart Association will be available to discuss heart health programs in the region.
Visitors to the AKA event can also get blood pressure screenings and trigger point massages, and learn line dances from instructors Elizabeth "T" Welch and Joyce Stephenson.
There will be heart-healthy food, giveaways and door prizes.
Participants are asked to bring a backpack for the sorority's international Million Backpack initiative or consider a $5 donation to the American Heart Association. They are also encouraged to dress comfortably and bring a towel to wipe off the sweat from their participation in some of the planned activities.
For more information, find the event "Pink Goes Red for a Day" on Facebook and follow Gamma Kappa Omega on Instagram @aka1908gko, visit the sorority's website at www.akagko41.com, or call 618-305-9840.
Starting Sunday, The Southern and its sister papers throughout Illinois embarked on the State of the Standoff, a three-part series that looks at those most affected by the failure of state leaders and lawmakers to make tough budget decisions. This is the second part.
CARBONDALE A little more than three years ago, Centerstone administrators opened an eight-bed critical care facility in Carterville, where people with mental health distress could be counseled and go to regroup for three to five days. It closed this past summer, and that program served 400 people and purportedly saved taxpayers millions from not having people show up at hospital emergency rooms.
In Peoria, the 41-year-old Center for Prevention of Abuse which serves 5,000 women, men and children and seniors and those with disabilities in six counties had to eliminate its Safe From The Start for children (serving about 40 children at any one time) and its Self Neglect program for 90 seniors. Executive Director Carol Merna said the 105 staff members at CPA which operated on a $4.5 million budget helped find ways to keep the 40 percent of missing state funding as far away from the clients as possible.
Farther south, cities serviced by the Southern Seven Health Department saw their clinic hours reduced to four days a week, or three or two or even one day a week, as is the case for the main location in Ullin in Pulaski County.
All of this, said Judith Gethner, executive director of the Chicago-headquartered Illinois Partners for Human Service, is what has happened to human service agencies and providers across a state where they have had to wait to see what they will receive for expenses incurred months earlier.
"How would you operate your life without 12 months of income?" she said. "The nonprofit has to find other resources to be able to sustain them when the government wasn't paying them. They didnt know when the money was going to come."
Agencies have coped by extending their lines of credit, organizing fundraisers, furloughing staff and not filling vacant positions and doubling up on duties, she and others noted. The Southern Seven Health Department administrators, for instance, combined the duties of its nursing staff that was once at 15 a few years ago into a staff of eight.
Some other social service agencies were not as fortunate. The Mahoney Transitional Living home, a facility in Rosiclare for homeless 16- to 24-year-olds, succumbed to the budget fiasco, closing in February. For a while this past year, the not-for-profit Stopping Woman Abuse Now domestic violence shelter in Olney, in Richland County, closed, but is now back open.
Living, trying to plan in uncertainty
Just because the legislators passed a stopgap funding measure did not mean the money was released the next day, Gethner said. Often, recipients had to wait even longer, adding to their economic stress and load.
"These guys are living under uncertainty," she said, adding that boards of directors collaborate with agency heads to create "financially sustainable plans going forward, and theyre realizing we have to close up programs," she said.
"So oftentimes, they're having to work together to make these critical decisions about maintaining programs and staffs during a time when they are not getting reimbursed.
"We dont know with certainty when theyre going to come and give us January to June of this year (and have to make difficult decisions in the meantime) because the board does not want to operate on this wait and see.'
Her agency is one of those entities Voices for Illinois Children and the Sparrow Coalition of Southern Illinois are others that had made it their mission to track and tabulate the cost of legislators' inability to agree to a budget.
Illinois Partners for Human Service created what it calls a "heat map" to show the impact of the state's slow pay to social service agencies, via communities, legislative districts, programs, for instance.
The Center for Prevention of Abuse's Merna said not knowing also didn't help her staff with any kind of planning. They were able to absorb the 40-some children served by the loss of the Safe From The Start program (which cost $10,000 a month) and seniors served by the $52,000 Self Neglect program into other programs at the facility.
That agency primarily serves clients in Peoria, Woodford and Pekin counties and serves seniors in parts of Fulton, Marshall and Stark counties.
"We continue to root for our legislators, but compromise is a very important piece of that, and we dont see a whole lot of compromise in the upper levels of leadership," Merna said.
One million people impacted
More than 1 million people have been impacted by cuts to social service agencies, ranging from those that offer services for mental health services and outreaches to youth and families, according to an Associated Press report quoting a United Way source.
Gethner agreed with that assessment, noting that it's hard to come by a specific measure of the impact. She noted that there are about 400,000 state employees, some of whose jobs have been impacted. That estimate of one million people impacted reflects the notion that about a third of those accessing human services are affected in some way.
Its a third of the people that are served its huge," she said.
Toni Hayden, executive director of the United Way of Jackson County, said she's heard of several agencies dropping programs and facing closure on a day-to-day basis.
"We have several agencies that have had to drop programs, which in turn is leaving clients with nowhere to go," Hayden said. "If some of these agencies cant get their state funding, its going to be basically detrimental in this area, because there is not a lot of services down here as it is."
In Southern Illinois, one of those agencies particularly hard-hit was Centerstone, a not-for-profit provider of community-based behavioral health care for 14,000 people a year inside in the state. It has operations in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida. Its sites in Southern Illinois are in Alton in Madison County; Carbondale in Jackson County; Marion in Williamson County; and West Frankfort in Franklin County.
Early on in the budget chaos, agency executives made the decision to drop the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, not because it received any state funding for it, but because officials made the calculated decision to conserve their resources, Chief Executive Officer John Markley said.
This past summer, though, agency officials made the decision to close the Carterville facility, he said.
"All of this chaos, if you will, adds chaos to our environment and to our industry where the people, in terms of developing services and service continuum that makes sense, service continuum that has quality, service continuum that lower costs, it prohibits us from being able to be that because we have no commitment from our state," Markley said. "And that to me, as a taxpayer, first off, is unacceptable."
Trying to maintain 'status quo'
While some social service agencies have closed, cut staff and programming, others are doubling down on resources and responsibilities, doing what they can to continue to meet the needs of others fulfilling their missions, Gethner noted.
"We are, I guess, maintaining 'status quo' is probably the best way to describe it," said Nancy Holt, executive director of the Southern Seven Health Department. "We are probably 10 to 11 positions (down from) where we were prior to the budget crisis (that began FY 15).
Before fiscal year 2016, six of the agency's seven clinics were open five days a week: the Anna and Metropolis clinics are open four days a week; the one in Cairo, three days week; in Vienna, two days a week; and the clinics in Hardin, Pope and Pulaski, down to one day a week.
At the best, its an inconvenience," Holt said. "At worse, they cant get services, when they want to get service or they have to travel."
For instance, if a mother misses her appointment for WIC Women Infants and Children she can't just drive to another clinic later that day or the next day; a fair amount of paperwork and processing has to be done, which could have that woman waiting another few weeks, Holt noted. What Southern Seven staff have done to help that is to forge relationships with area churches and food pantries, to get needed food and milk to infants, children and the women. In some cases, Southern Seven Health Department staff themselves have purchased needed baby formula and food for the clients.
Additionally, Southern Seven serves a largely rural part of the state, where there are large distances between cities and towns. Southern Seven nursing administrator Cheryl Manus quickly rattles off the distance from the Ullin site to the nearest next clinics: 20, 23, 24, 25 miles.
"Thats the problem," Holt said.
"Gas is expensive, some people dont have transportation and if you have to travel, say you live in Pulaski County, and you need a service on a day where we are not open on our Pulaski site and you have to travel to Anna you may be driving 20 miles or more and that would present a hardship.
Other agencies, like Williamson County's Family Crisis Center, which provides shelter to families who are homeless, are "weathering the storm."
We are weathering the storm," Peggy Russell, executive director, said. "We have had to use our line of credit, that sort of thing, but we have been fortunate. We have not had to turn anybody away, we have not had to close at all. We did have to do a restructuring, and we cut back on a few hours and have changed the duties of some (of our staff)."
Those include her duties, which now have her spending half her time as a case manager. The agency did lose two staffers and is now at five employees. Family Crisis Center, which operates on less than $200,000 a year, is looking to celebrate 33 years of service in March.
Even through this budget crisis, the Family Crisis Center Russell has provided about 4,000 nights of shelter a recent average calculated as the time anyone sleeps there (a single person sleeping there one week would equal seven shelter nights). On average, the agency provides shelter, in a given year, to 175 to 200 people.
Weve been very lucky, and weve been able to find a way to pick up the slack," Russell said. "The clients that were here two years ago if they were to come back, wouldnt notice any difference in the services.
At Lutheran Social Services of Illinois' Prisoner and Family Ministry program, they also haven't lost any clients or cut any staff, but have scaled back some services.
Leading to donor fatigue?
The stalemate is leading to pressure on the state's residents, a type of donor-fatigue, noted the United Way's Hayden.
CARBONDALE The stroke of President Donald Trumps pen changed Asia Abobakers world overnight.
When the Southern Illinois University Carbondale student heard the news that the executive order on immigration and travel that Trump signed Friday would suspend travel to the U.S. from seven countries, including her home country of Sudan, her thoughts turned to May, when she will walk across the stage to accept her masters degree in engineering.
My family planned to come and they started, actually, their visa application, Abobaker said. I was really devastated knowing that they wont be able to come.
Trumps executive order has been widely criticized as too broad and poorly executed, leading to chaos at international U.S. airports during the weekend. Chaos also reverberated across US colleges and universities that annually welcome thousands of international students. The action also been praised by some Republicans including Southern Illinois Reps. Mike Bost and John Shimkus, who both called it a step in the right direction to improving the vetting process for people traveling to the U.S. from countries of concern in relation to terrorism.
On Monday, Trump tweeted, There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country. This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world!
But Abobaker said she is in the dark as to why her country was on the list, and this makes coping even harder. Sometimes, if you know why, even if you dont accept it, you will understand it. But, I cant accept it because I dont know the reason, she said.
There are currently 88 international students enrolled at SIU Carbondale from the seven countries listed in the presidents executive order on immigration and travel, according to Rae Goldsmith, the universitys chief marketing and communications officer.
The order, signed on Friday by Trump, indefinitely bans Syrian refugees from entering the United States and for 90 days bans travel to the U.S. from the following Muslim-majority countries: Libya, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Iran, Yemen and Somalia.
In a statement, Goldsmith said that the university is not aware of any of these students currently traveling outside of the United States or any students studying abroad in any of the seven countries.
In a letter to the campus community, Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell said that he and other administrators have heard concerns from students, faculty and staff about the executive order. I share this concern, and I know that many of you across campus are concerned as well, Colwell wrote.
While the presidents executive order is temporary and under legal review, it creates great uncertainty not only about the order itself, but about possible future federal policy changes that could negatively impact our international students, faculty and staff, the letter continued. Until new policies are proposed or implemented, we cannot predict what effect they will have.
"However, in the face of uncertainty, we can continue to assure all of our international students and employees that they are welcome and supported on our campus."
SIU is entering its 70th year of enrolling international students. Since 1947, students from other countries have traveled to Carbondale to study. The first international student to earn a bachelors degree from the university was from Iraq. There are 1,263 international students enrolled at SIU Carbondale from more than 100 countries. Nearly all are graduate students studying legally in the U.S. on student visas.
SIU has a long and proud history serving international students from around the world, Colwell wrote. Our commitment to our international students and scholars remains strong to this day."
Abobaker has been in the U.S. for the past two years and said she has loved most of her time in the country and at SIU Carbondale.
I felt, actually, pretty welcome when I came, Abobaker she said. But Abokaker said she began to feel a shift in attitudes around June. Ive never felt people are hostile to me but I felt that people sometimes are not comfortable with me, she said.
She said the change was so noticeable she even considered making a significant change in her daily practice. I thought a lot about taking off my scarf, Abobaker said of her religious headcover.
Ultimately, she decided to keep it. Abobaker said she welcomes new relationships, as that is how people grow and learn to understand one another.
If people get to know me, they will change their idea. I know that, Abobaker said.
In his letter, Colwell wrote that the universitys support of its international student population includes protection of student privacy. Additionally, the Center for International Education and the Center for English as a Second Language are reaching out to all international students on campus to invite them to a series of meetings to hear their concerns, provide support and respond to questions, his letter stated.
Colwell additionally noted that SIU is part of The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, which has issued a statement on the current executive order describing its impact and asking that it be reconsidered.
In early January, SIU President Randy Dunn announced that the university would not adopt the sanctuary campus label, which it had been asked to do by the Undergraduate Student Government and the Graduate and Professional Student Council. In declining the label that some universities have adopted, Dunn cited the legal ambiguity of such a designation and concerns that it could put SIU and all of its students at risk, including a potential loss of federal financial aid.
In explaining SIUs position, Dunn reiterated SIUs commitment to its international student and faculty population, as Colwell did on Monday.
I encourage all students, faculty and staff to support and respect our international students in these uncertain times, Colwells letter concluded. They need to know that we value them and that we are here for them, just as we value all students, faculty and staff. Please join me in this commitment.
Think past the moments and make wise decisions, Teenb4Parents Teen Pregnancy Prevention Advocate Renee Mack advised teens in her remarks at a brunch hosted by the local SAFE (Self-esteem, Advocacy, Faith and Education) organization on Jan. 21.
The Teen Pregnancy Prevention event, sponsored by the New Morning Foundation, was focused on educating 11- to 17-year-olds about sexual abstinence and building their self-respect. SAFE was founded by Shanika Maple of Orangeburg. New Morning Foundation works to reduce unplanned pregnancies among youth in the state through reproductive health education and clinical services.
South Carolina has (the) 12th highest teen pregnancy percentage in the U.S. . Orangeburg is ranked No. 40 in teen pregnancy out of the state's 46 counties," Mack said. "In Orangeburg (the) teen birth rate is 24 percent.
She said she believes the teen pregnancy rate is so high in Orangeburg because of the "lack of education."
"Young people don't know their resources or how to be abstinent," Mack said. "They don't feel they're worthy enough to tell someone they don't want to have sex ... . When you don't know you're worthy enough, you'll settle for anything.
Another speaker, DJaris Jenkins, spoke about her story of teen pregnancy to encourage the audience to make wise decisions.
Children are definitely a blessing from God, and I love my girls dearly. But I felt that I could have been further in life had I not made the bad decision because children put your plans on hold," Jenkins said. "When your plans are on hold, you have to wait until the time is more appropriate to finish the goals that you started before you had children."
Jenkins, a 28-year-old author and motivational speaker, said she had her first child when she was a senior in high school and her second child at age 19. She now uses her story to encourage youth to move away from teen pregnancy and towards God.
I think a lot of teen pregnancy starts with low self-esteem issues. If a girl doesn't feel valued, beautiful or wanted, they'll go out to look for that love or affection from someone else, and (the) majority of time that attention is going to be looked for in a man," Jenkins said.
God intended sex to be between a man (and) his wife, not a boyfriend and girlfriend who think they're in love, she added.
Jenkins encouraged youth to recognize and appreciate their own worth.
"You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are the apple of God's eye and God made you beautiful and He loves you and validates you," she said.
Karen Clinton, assistant director of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Department of the Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg Community Action Agency Inc., said the key to decreasing teen pregnancy in Orangeburg is to unite and support programs and organizations that provide activities to reduce teen pregnancy ... "
"Its imperative we get faith-based organizations involved ... . The more students we get involved in these programs, the better," Clinton said.
She said parents need the correct information and they need to learn how to address the sensitive topics surrounding sex with their children.
"If we could get parental, community and faith-based support ... and we come together as one, we could really reduce the number (of teen pregnancies), Clinton said.
A few of the teen girls who attended the brunch shared what they had learned.
I learned that you shouldnt lower your self-esteem and have sex with some guy just to make yourself feel higher, and being pregnant shouldnt be something you do when youre a teenager because its too much to handle, said Destiny Rynes, an eighth grader at Branchville High School.
Im happy that there was an event to teach younger children about these things and prevent them from getting pregnant or getting an STD," said Yazmine Cobbs, a BHS senior and spokesperson for the SAFE Youth Advisory Board at the school. "At least theyll know beforehand and they wont find out before its too late.
To volunteer or donate to the SAFE organization, contact Shanika Maple at 803-308-0069 or thesafeorg@yahoo.com or visit www.thesafeorg.info.
The Denmark Technical College Area Commission has removed Dr. Leonard McIntyre as president.
The commission voted Monday to end the at-will employment relationship with McIntyre, effective immediately, State Board For Technical and Comprehensive Education Director of Communications Kelly Steinhilper said.
There were concerns on behalf of the area commission concerns about operations and the financial viability of the college, she said.
The area commission has asked the board for assistance finding an interim president to serve until a new president can be hired.
McIntyre could not be reached for comment. Area Commission Chairman Thomas Williams also could not be reached for comment.
Rep. Justin Bamberg, whose district includes the college, said McIntyres removal came as a surprise to him. He just spoke to McIntyre last week at the Statehouse.
"I did not know what they were planning to do," the Bamberg Democrat said. He said its within the commissions discretion if it followed proper procedures.
Bamberg said that historically black colleges and universities have struggled to get adequate funding from the state.
He said, "It is something they often have to fight hard for, but what I do know is that what will not be allowed to happen is that Denmark Tech will not be put through what South Carolina State was put through.
There is no indication there was anything improper going on based on information that was shared to me."
Bamberg said he will continue to focus his efforts on, doing what I can to assist Denmark Tech and being a resource to the students that attend.
He said most recently the S.C. House was working to obtain money for the school's welding and nursing programs.
"It is an important piece of the fabric that makes Bamberg County what it is," Bamberg said. "At the end of the day, we will be OK."
McIntyre's removal followed a State Tech Board examination of the school.
Last month, the board determined Denmark Tech had apparent operational deficiencies.
It said the college needs to accept technical assistance from the system to improve its operations in finance, academic and student affairs, and human resources.
The board said the college needs to accept technical assistance in finances to improve its payroll process and ensure compliance with all federal and state payroll policies and procedures.
The college also needs to accept technical assistance to improve such issues as grade reporting and consistency in reporting on financial aid for students, the board said.
Finally, technical assistance is needed in areas such as ensuring consistency in processing compensation plans, salary supplements, classification plans, leave processes and annual evaluations.
McIntyre became the DTC president in March 2014, taking over for then-interim President Dr. Joanne Boyd-Scotland.
His higher education experience includes serving as dean of South Carolina State Universitys College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences. He also served as interim president of the university.
During his tenure at S.C. State, McIntyre led a student growth initiative that resulted in an increase in student enrollment.
McIntyre is a native of New Orleans. He received his undergraduate degree in Spanish education from Loyola University and his masters degree from Tulane University in Spanish literature. McIntyre earned his doctorate in educational administration from Iowa State University.
McIntyre has taught at both the high school and college level.
In addition, McIntyre served as associate superintendent for instruction and staff development in Spartanburg School District 7, superintendent of schools in Hampton District 2 and state deputy superintendent of education with the State Department of Education.
The Regional Medical Center's Medical Staff Executive Committee Chairman Dr. Arden Weathers says the hospital board's decision to replace longtime CEO and President Tom Dandridge was made "without cause" and without the proper consultation with RMC doctors.
"Charity and gratitude are foundational characteristics of human behavior," Weathers said in a letter he sent to the entire board of trustees Wednesday as chair the MEC. "We have shown neither in dealing with Mr. Dandridge.
"We have adopted a just culture at RMC, condoned by the Board, in which one must give an employee instruction or corrective action before termination.
"We have effectively terminated Mr. Dandridge without cause, instruction, or corrective action," Weathers stated. "This action undermines the morale and spirit and the principles of a just culture. It is a destabilizing action for the entire 1,300 employees. I am ashamed of our action as a Board. We should be better people."
The RMC Board of Trustees voted 8-7 this past week to replace Dandridge with QHR Regional Vice President Frank Swinehart as the hospital's interim CEO until RMCs management contract with QHR ends on March 30.
The 67-year-old Dandridge has served as CEO since 1993. He is only the hospital's second CEO in the past 56 years.
Dandridge's last day was Friday. He will remain an employee of Quorum Health Resources in another capacity.
Once the management contract ends with QHR, the hospital will enter into an advisory contract with the company. QHR will serve in an advisory and consultative role for the next two years.
Trustees will then conduct a national search for a new CEO outside of QHR.
Weathers, speaking as a member of the MSEC and not as a trustee, said despite asking several trustees the reason for Dandridge's removal, he has yet to received a good answer.
"We don't know," Weathers said. "I have asked that question. They don't have a succession plan. There is no plan. We are in limbo."
Weathers said it is his opinion that the decision to remove Dandridge is agenda driven.
"I think they have an agenda and I think it is even more control of the CEO," Weathers said. "That makes a medical staff that does not trust the board now even less trusting."
"They bring up superfluous stuff at the board meetings that should be handled by the CEO and should not even get to the board level," Weathers said. "I don't know whether it is political or whether it is ego. I really don't know what their motive is."
Weathers said no documentation has been presented to the board that says an advisory contract is beneficial for a hospital.
He says there was supposedly a meeting held in the past where some trustees heard that other hospitals with an advisory arrangement were successful. But he said other trustees at the same meeting heard differently.
Weathers said what he does know is that the hospital's Medical Staff Executive Committee, which has about nine doctors representing the heads of each medical department in the hospital, is in agreement.
"The consensus by leadership on the executive committee is that this is a really bad situation," Weathers said. "Number one, we don't know who is going to be next. We don't know whether we are going to have any say who is next. It is an unsettling feeling for the medical staff and for the people who work here."
He said the MSEC voted to keep the present administration 6-2 with Weathers withholding his vote as chairman. The MSEC also voted unanimously to hold a joint conference with the board of trustees about the matter.
A joint conference was held this past week between members of the board and doctors, but Weathers said it was after the fact.
"Their bylaws, our bylaws and the Joint Commission says there should be a joint conference first," Weathers said. "They ignored. They went ahead and did that and said we will have a joint conference, but we already voted on it. It was not done in the proper order and did not follow the bylaws of those bodies or the Joint Commission standards."
Weathers said the board of trustees also voted for a second legal opinion to ensure the board followed due process.
"They have not done that yet and I don't see any point of it as a matter of fact since they already made their decision," Weathers said. "We are in a situation now I don't know what the board is going to do."
Hospital attorney Bob Horger said he has not been involved in the the board's seeking a second opinion.
Weathers said the MEC is also wondering, "Who will come into a situation where there is such division on the board?"
"What kind of administrator will we get who is willing to come into that situation?" he said.
He said the MSEC also agreed to sending an open letter in December to the board; both Orangeburg and Calhoun county councils, which own the hospital; and the residents of both counties expressing concern about any decision to remove Dandridge.
"We are only concerned about the sustainability of the RMC financial and clinical integrity," the letter states. "We believe under the present circumstances, Mr. Dandridge can assist with this transition."
The letter praises Dandridge's accomplishments at the hospital in his 24-year tenure, including renovation of the Mabry Cancer Center, formation of the Dialysis Access Center, formation of Edisto Regional Health Services and establishment of a certified trauma program.
Weathers said the letter was not released as initially planned as there was hope of coming to an agreement with the board of trustees.
As to how doctors apart from the MSEC see the issue, Weathers said an unofficial poll of 110 doctors at RMC revealed more than 50 percent were in support of Dandridge. He said about 25 percent were opposed. He said about a third did not vote.
Outside of the doctors, he says there are also questions from other employees.
"There is a lot of uncertainty and questions," he said. "We have heard the hospital is going to close, that somebody is going to buy the hospital. The rumors just abound. That is part of the unsettling."
Weathers said for all Dandridge has done at RMC, it would make sense to have sent him out properly with a going-away party and the like.
"It would not have caused any of this turmoil," he said.
In addition to his concerns about the board's decision, Weathers said he is also concerned about how the board made its decision.
"For as long as I can remember, the board of trustees has not wanted physicians on the board," Weathers said. "It is bizarre."
"We produce every year a quarter of a billion dollars and the board of trustees produces nothing," Weathers said. "And yet we have been kind of shut out from the board."
There are three doctors on the board: Dr. M.S. Nassri, who serves at-large; Dr. Frank Coulter, who serves as the chief of the medical staff; and Weathers, who is chairman of the MSEC.
But he says in three years on the board he has only been asked his opinion a handful of times.
Weathers said now that a decision has been made to remove Dandridge, the MSEC wants representation on the hiring and selection committee for a new CEO.
"What we were asking is that we have an equal say in the selection committee as to who will come on as CEO," Weathers said, noting the board would have the right to accept or refuse this request. "We want to be a part of the selection process, but they have not given us a yes or no as of this date."
He is not optimistic.
"I really don't think they have any intent in giving us any position at all," Weathers said. "I am not optimistic and, to tell you the truth, if they say they will, I don't have any confidence that they will carry through with it."
Weathers also said the doctors will be bringing their concerns to Orangeburg County Council.
Weathers said the MSEC hopes the council will decrease the size of the 17-member board to about 11 members, with half being doctors and one nurse.
He also said doctors will ask council to "have more professionals" on the board such as "people with business experience and people who can make sound judgments."
"We have kind of an unparalleled lack of civility on the board," he said. "There are clashes between board members and a heavy-handed chairman who kind of cuts people off in talking."
Board of Trustees Chairman Melvin Seabrooks declined comment on Weathers' statements, noting he did not hear the comments and did not want to respond to "second-hand information."
The long-standing policy of the board is to have the chairman serve as the spokesman for the trustees.
The boards decision to remove Dandridge comes a year after it entered into a three-year contract with QHR. That contract gave it the option to leave the contract after one year.
Trustees wanted the option to see if the hospitals finances improved as a result of QHRs turnaround plan.
The hospital system had losses totaling $6.3 million for 2014 and 2015.
The hospital implemented a turnaround plan that included reducing overtime hours, reducing contract employees and reducing supply expenses. Last April, the hospital announced it was cutting about 33 positions and reducing the hours of about 27 employees.
The finances improved.
The hospital system, including Edisto Regional Health Services, ended the past fiscal year $1.8 million in the black. The hospitals fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2016.
Since Oct. 1, however, the hospital system has seen a loss of $2 million compared to last year's loss at this time of $3.1 million, according to December financial reports.
A 12-year-old was able to run to safety Saturday morning as a gunman fired at his grandparents.
An incident report released Monday details the shooting of a 74-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man. Both are recovering.
Their Sorin Street neighbor, John William Coleman, killed himself after shooting the couple, according to the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office.
The couples grandson told an investigator that he and his grandparents were sitting in a vehicle in front of their house when they heard gunshots.
A white male subject with gray hair was shooting at them from across the street, he said.
The boys grandfather instructed him and his grandmother to run inside the house. As they were running through the yard, the grandmother was shot, the report said.
His grandfather was trying to get inside the home to retrieve a pistol, but gunfire struck him as he approached the door.
The grandson managed to make it to the rear of the residence without being shot.
Meanwhile, the wounded grandfather was able to call 911 to report that he and his wife were shot by their neighbor.
Deputies found the wounded woman next to a hedgerow in front of the residence.
The woman told deputies that she believed she had been shot in her right hip and left shoulder area.
Near the doorway of the home, deputies found the grandfather. He told them he thought hed been shot in the left thigh or hip area.
He told deputies that he saw Coleman reenter his residence at 320 Sorin Circle, but hadnt seen him since.
Other law enforcement officers from other agencies also arrived on the scene.
As officers rendered aid to the wounded, other officers set up a perimeter at Colemans residence.
A deputy called out to him over a public announcement system, but didnt hear from him.
As the officers continued to set up a perimeter, they heard loud popping noises that sounded like possible gunshots coming from Colemans garage.
Orangeburg County EMS medics did not respond to the incident location due to concerns that it wasnt secure, according to the report.
OCSO Sgt. Steven Thompson then removed a 20-foot section of fencing from the couples yard so EMS could access the property. EMS still considered the scene too dangerous.
Thompson then placed his patrol vehicle in front of the victims to shield them from further harm.
S.C. Department of Natural Resources Officer Justin Whetstone arrived at the scene.
Together he and Thompson used an ironing board to load the injured woman into the back of Whetstones truck to transport her to the EMS staging area.
Elloree police officer Shawn Murphy met Thompson and Whetstone at the EMS staging area and assisted in removing the injured man from the residence.
Helicopters transported both victims to a Columbia-area hospital.
By that time, the victims family members began to arrive near the scene and took care of the couples grandson.
The OCSO SWAT team took command of the scene and entered Colemans house after he didnt respond to communication attempts from deputies.
Once SWAT entered the home, they discovered Coleman deceased in his bedroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The condition of the Sorin Circle couple is not known at this time, but they remain hospitalized in Columbia.
The U.S. electric power grid remains catastrophically vulnerable to foreign attacks and natural disaster. This vital and aging infrastructure is particularly susceptible to prolonged blackouts from high impact threats primarily that of electromagnetic pulse, which is capable of disrupting, disabling and irreparably destroying electronics over a wide geographic area.
As the only state with a self-contained grid, Texas has the opportunity to proactively guard itself and the countrys most vital defense assets from disaster.
The potential for a long-term power failure is not something of science fiction, as critics suggest. According to weather experts, the suns capability to create naturally formed electromagnetic pulses can generate ruinous geomagnetic storms and intense solar flares. Canada experienced such an event in 1989, causing a daylong blackout across half the country. A similar strike in 1921 damaged electronic railroad switches throughout North America.
The most powerful solar storm on record occurred in 1859. The Carrington Event, as it is known, impaired telegraph systems worldwide and destroyed the intercontinental telegraph cable at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
A weather-related incident of that magnitude today would cause incalculable harm to our multilayered, interconnected web of energy and electricity. In fact, NASA found that the Earth narrowly escaped another Carrington Event on July 23, 2012.
More frightening, electromagnetic pulse can be weaponized. Former CIA Director James Woolsey explains that the most destructive of the electromagnetic pulse options remains the high-altitude detonation of a nuclear weapon. Such an operation could theoretically be accomplished by launching a single, unsophisticated ballistic missile from a freighter floating off the American coast. Other delivery systems could include low-orbit satellites and crude nuclear devices.
In any case, an atmospheric detonation would emit a high-frequency shockwave that would cause irreparable injury to electrical equipment big and small. Transportation, emergency services and other life-sustaining infrastructure would come to a standstill. The congressionally mandated EMP Commission concluded in its 2008 report that an electromagnetic pulse attack would so injure important power equipment that a yearlong blackout would ensue, leading to the possible deaths of 270 million Americans from starvation, disease and anarchy.
Americas adversaries recognize the advantage of electromagnetic pulse and actively promote it as a 21st-century means of attack. In 2010, the Defense Intelligence Agency released a translated copy of Irans Passive Defense military doctrine, which made mention of using electromagnetic pulses 22 times.
Meanwhile, the EMP Commission found that Russia and China have considered limited nuclear-attack options that employ EMP as the primary or sole means of attack. North Korea actually practiced an EMP strike scenario in early 2013, according to Peter Pry, executive director of the congressional advisory Task Force on National and Homeland Security.
Texas finds itself in a remarkable position to protect the nation by protecting itself. Most know that the Lone Star State has the second-largest economy and the second-largest population of any state in the country. Few know that it also has the second highest concentration of military installations outside the Northern Virginia/D.C. metro area, and hosts just over 11 percent of the active duty military population currently stationed in the continental United States. Add in civilians, reservists and National Guard members, and the total defense-related population in the state exceeds a quarter of a million people.
From rapid mobilization to next-generation weapons, the countrys national security depends on a functioning Texas grid. And the increasingly unstable geopolitical environment combined with a near-complete societal reliance on electronic technology demands action. There are readily available and cost-effective shielding technologies designed to safeguard electric grid components from an EMP, and detailed steps on implementation. The solutions are at our fingertips. State leadership and the utilities industry just need to make securing the grid a top priority.
Remember: As Texas goes, so goes the nation.
President Donald Trump has wasted no time in making his presence felt in Washington. In just his first week, Trump signed numerous executive orders reversing Obama-era policies, including one signaling the new presidents resolve to reverse course on the Affordable Care Act and a series of orders expediting energy-related projects and bringing the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines back to life.
The most important announcement of Trumps first week in office, however, may very well be that he soon plans to name his selection to fill Justice Antonin Scalias still-vacant Supreme Court seat. According to reports by The New York Times and Politico, among other outlets, Trump has narrowed his search to two or three, with the Times reporting 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge William Pryor and 10th Circuit Judge Neil Gorsuch the most likely to be chosen. Based on what we know about the two jurists, who is Trump likely to pick?
Pryor and Gorsuch have a long history of supporting pro-liberty causes and hold originalist views on interpreting the Constitution, the view held by the late Justice Scalia. In either case, most of those who supported Scalia, including many in the Never Trump wing of the Republican Party, will be quite pleased with the result.
However, Trumps decision could have a far-reaching impact on his presidency, potentially dogging his agenda for years to come. For instance, Pryor an otherwise staunch social conservative who once referred to Roe vs. Wade as one of the worst examples of judicial activism in American history, joined the majority in a controversial 2011 case that held a government agent violates the Equal Protection Clauses prohibition of sex-based discrimination when he or she fires a transgender or transsexual employee because of his or her gender non-conformity.
Pryors view on transgender rights has made him a target among some social conservatives who say such an opinion could lead to future decisions by the Supreme Court that imposes transgender rights on private institutions, including religious establishments, and that its a sign Pryor might engage in judicial activism.
Its also unclear how many in the evangelical Christian community, a group that overwhelmingly supported Trump in the 2016 election, might feel about Pryors support for some transgender protections. According to the Pew Research Center, 81 percent of evangelical voters supported Trump, compared to just 16 percent for Hillary Clinton, a larger margin of victory than that enjoyed by George W. Bush in 2004, John McCain in 2008, or Mitt Romney in 2012.
Support from evangelicals is going to be essential to Trumps run in 2020, so doing anything that might damage their opinion of him so early in his presidency could prove to be disastrous.
Pryor also, perhaps ironically, may end up being the more controversial of the two judges with liberals concerned about gay rights. In a 2003 supporting brief about a Texas law criminalizing sexual relations between two people of the same sex, Pryor wrote, The states should not be required to accept, as a matter of constitutional doctrine, that homosexual activity is harmless and does not expose both the individual and the public to deleterious spiritual and physical consequences.
At 49, Gorsuch is five years younger than Pryor and isnt without controversies of his own. A graduate of Columbia, Harvard and Oxford, Gorsuch is an avid believer in restricting the power of regulatory agencies, a decision many environmental organizations would find particularly concerning. On that front, Gorsuch may be more conservative than Scalia.
For instance, Gorsuch opposes whats known in administrative law as Chevron deference, a legal principle giving power to government agencies when a law is considered ambiguous. Although Scalia often opposed agencies imposing expansive regulations on individuals and businesses, he was a big defender of Chevron, one of the few issues on which many limited-government advocates disagreed with Scalia.
Despite the serious opposition Gorsuch will likely receive from environmental groups and Democrats who want to expand regulatory power, he seems to be the safer of the two choices for Trump, and therefore the most likely pick. Gorsuchs commitment to taking power out of the hands of federal agencies fits well with Trumps commitment to expanding domestic energy development and making the United States a friendlier place for businesses, both large and small, to operate.
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By Azernews
By Rashid Shirinov
Moscow is trying to arrange a meeting of Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian foreign ministers and Baku has given its consent to this meeting.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov announced about this at a joint briefing with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on January 31 in Baku.
I cannot optimistically accept the results of the negotiations in Moscow, Mammadyarov said commenting on the latest meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov which took place on January 24.
In Moscow, the ministers had comprehensive discussions on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They also exchanged views on the issues raised by the two countries presidents at the Vienna and Saint Petersburg meetings.
Mammadyarov further added that Munich Security Conference will be held on February 17-19 and it is planned to hold a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs as part of the conference.
The OSCE Minsk Group has acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict so far. But, the occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.
Restoration of liberated lands
Mammadyarov also touched upon the issue of restoration of the Azerbaijani lands liberated from the Armenian occupation.
The minister said that Azerbaijan holds negotiations to attract international organizations to this process.
"This is not a simple process - there are a number of issues regarding security, technical aspects of the issue, etc. It is necessary to prepare all proposals and consider in what form to attract international organizations to this process," the minister said.
On January 24, President Ilham Aliyev ordered to restore Jojug Marjanli village in Jabrayil region of Azerbaijan, which was liberated from the Armenian occupation in April 2016 as a result of a successful counter-attack of the Azerbaijani Army.
Under the presidential order, four million manats ($2.12 million) were allocated from the President`s 2017 Contingency Fund to the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs for the construction of 50 private houses, a school building and relevant infrastructure at the first stage.
More than 190 families out of 400 families, who once lived in the village, have already expressed desire to return to their homeland. The construction work in the village will begin soon, as first 50 families out of 190 will be settled in this village at the first stage.
Mammadyarov noted that first and foremost, Azerbaijans government will carry out the main work regarding restoration of the liberated lands, and on the second stage, the international organizations may be involved in the process.
As a foreign minister, I am sure that Azerbaijan will liberate all the occupied territories and restore them," he added.
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions of Azerbaijan are under the control of the Armenian military and separatists since a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended in 1994. Negotiations lasting for about 30 years have brought little progress in resolving the conflict, though a fragile truce has been in place.
Return of Azerbaijani soldiers body
Mammadyarov also spoke about the issue of returning the body of Azerbaijani soldier, who was killed when suppressing Armenian provocation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border in late December 2016.
"Refusal to return the body of our soldier is an inhuman act," said the minister.
Mammadyarov condemned the actions of the Armenian side and said Azerbaijan will discuss this issue with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs as well. "Several times, we came to an agreement on the return of the bodies of those killed in the fighting," he said, adding that the aggressor country refuses to follow the agreements.
A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on December 29, 2016. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders and suffered heavy losses. During the fighting, Azerbaijani serviceman Chingiz Gurbanov went missing. Later, it was clarified that he was killed by the Armenian Armed Forces and his body remained on the territory controlled by the Armenian Armed Forces.
The Azerbaijani side officially appealed to the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), OSCE Minsk Group, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk in order to return the body. Despite this, the body of Azerbaijani soldier has still not been returned.
By Azernews
By Amina Nazarli
The current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, a leader in the South Caucasus region, and Persian Gulf state Qatar were on the agenda of Baku talks, as high-level Qatari delegation has visited the country.
The delegation led by Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani was first received by President Ilham Aliyev, who hailed the bilateral ties and described the political ties between the two countries as excellent.
The president noted that the visit of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Azerbaijan played an important role in developing bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that the visit of the Qatari FM paves the way for discussion of cooperation prospects.
Pointing to the activities of Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Commission, the head of state expressed his hope that the commission will focus on the practical issues of Azerbaijan-Qatar economic cooperation.
President Aliyev said there are good opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Qatar in economic, trade, tourism and other areas too, and noted the importance of exploring the investment opportunities in this regard.
The Qatari minister, in turn, conveyed greetings of the Emir of the State of Qatar to President Aliyev, saying the Emir is looking forward to welcoming the Azerbaijani president in his country.
President Aliyev said he is looking forward to visiting Qatar.
The minister further said that the ongoing development processes in Azerbaijan are followed with great interest in his country. Touching upon the economic cooperation, he expressed his hope that Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Intergovernmental Commission will work in a constructive manner.
The talks on prospective areas for the Azerbaijan-Qatar cooperation were continued at a meeting between Qatars FM and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.
The bilateral cooperation is developing day by day and the two countries positions coincide on international issues, said Mammadyarov at a joint briefing.
The Azerbaijani FM noted that Azerbaijan and Qatar plan to intensify economic cooperation. The two countries intend to develop cooperation in the energy sphere, agriculture, tourism, within international and regional organizations, said Mammadyarov adding that it is also planned to expand the contractual legal base.
The minister noted that 15 agreements on bilateral cooperation have been drafted, which are planned to be signed during the high-level negotiations to be held in Doha in 2017.
As foreign ministers we will do our best to develop these relations, the minister added.
Mammadyarov also noted the great potential for development of relations between the two countries in the tourism sector.
The number of visitors from Qatar is growing every day and that is why it was decided to increase the number of flights of Qatar Airlines to Baku, he said.
Abdulrahman Al-Thani, in turn, emphasizing the significance of expanding economic cooperation, noted that the establishment of a joint foundation is expedient in this regard.
The minister went on to say that Qatar supports Azerbaijans position on many issues.
On the same day, the first session of Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Intergovernmental Commission was held in Baku.
Prior to the session the two co-chairs of the commission, Azerbaijani Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held a one-on-one meeting.
Heydarov noted that the documents of Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Intergovernmental Commission will soon transform into action.
The Qatari minister said that the joint commission will give its contributions to developing relations between the two countries. The joint commission was launched in the beginning of 2016, during the visit of Emir of Qatar to Azerbaijan. We hope that the partnership between the two countries will cover all areas. The commission will play its positive role in expanding relations between the two brotherly countries, Al-Thani said.
Following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994, the key directions of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Qatar have been determined as ties in the field of investment, the exchange of experience in the field of oil and gas, and supply of the Azerbaijani agricultural goods to the Qatar market. The energy industry is one of the most promising as the two countries are rich in their energy, oil and gas reserves.
Given the fact that Azerbaijan and Qatar has a simplified visa regime, close relations between the two countries in tourism sphere is also of utmost importance.
Trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $129,550 in January-November 2016, some $67,410 of which accounted for the export to Qatar, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.
By Azernews
By Kamila Aliyeva
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to visit Russia in early spring, Sputnik reported with the reference to Turkish diplomatic circles.
Erdogan is scheduled to arrive in Russia in early March and attend the meeting of the Russian-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council.
During the visit, bilateral contacts between the Turkish leader and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected as well.
They expected to mull the measure for further removal of economic restrictions from Turkish products and the complete abolition of the visa regime with Turkey. In addition, the parties intend to discuss a number of international and regional issues, including the Syrian problem.
The previous meeting of the Council was held in December 2014.
In late 2015, relations between Russia and NATO member Turkey deteriorated after Turkish forces downed a Russian warplane and Moscow imposed economic restrictions against Turkey.
In June 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a formal apology to the leader of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, which was accepted. Russia and Turkey have begun the process of restoration of bilateral relations.
By Trend
Turkey and Israel will hold political consultations for the first time in the last six years, Anadolu agency reported.
The consultations will take place in Ankara on February 1. The Turkish delegation will be headed by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Umit Yalcin and Israels delegation will be headed by Yuval Rotem, director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Besides, one of the Turkish Cabinets officials is expected to visit Israel during the week.
Turkey and Israel are currently aiming at normalizing the bilateral relations and increasing the number of mutual visits.
In July 2016, Turkey and Israel signed an agreement on normalization of relations after the crisis connected to the Freedom Flotilla incident in 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one flying Turkeys flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces, with eight Turkish citizens being killed as a result.
By Azernews
By Nigar Eyvazova
Iran has welcomed the message of the Emir of Kuwait to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani about the proposal from the Gulf countries to initiate a dialogue.
Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Jarallah announced about this while talking to reporters on January 29,KUNA reported.
"The message was delivered and has been apprehended. The Iranian side welcomed its content and voiced readiness to positively react to the content of the message, he said.
The official expressed optimism that upcoming steps would witness a breakthrough in Gulf-Iran relations.
Earlier, Rouhani said countries including Kuwait had offered to mediate in the escalating feud between Shiite Muslim Iran and Sunni power Saudi Arabia.
Relations between Iran and the Gulf states, especially with Saudi Arabia, remain strained due to the differences on regional issues.
Riyadh and some other members of the GCC accuse Tehran of using sectarianism to interfere in Arab countries and build its own sphere of influence in the Middle East. Tehran denies interfering in Arab countries.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in January 2016 cut diplomatic relations with Iran and some other Gulf states recalled their ambassadors in solidarity with the oil-rich kingdom after its embassy in Iran was torched by protesters.
But long-standing trade links and shared access to oil and gas fields have stopped many Gulf states from shutting the door on Iran.
Kuwait, which has a sizeable Shi'ite Muslim minority, is seen as a potential mediator. When Kuwait's emir visited Iran in 2014 it was the first by a ruler of the U.S.-allied Gulf Arab state since the 1979 revolution.
By Azernews
By Rashid Shirinov
Armenian media constantly reports about facts of the lawlessness in the national army, which shows the poor state of Armenian soldiers.
Most recently the media revealed another story proving the chaos reigning in the Armenian army. A soldier of an Armenian military unit, Avetik Isahakyan, should've been demobilized more than three weeks ago, but the command of his military unit refuses to send the soldier home, and demands from him to repair a car.
The two years of my sons service expired on January 9, but he is still not allowed to return home. We don't know what to do, and whom to contact, the soldier's father, Ishkhan Khachatryan, told Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper.
Khachatryan, commenting on the demands to repair the car, said that this car was assigned to Avetik after he started the army service.
One day, he touched something and broke the car mirror. After that, he was not allowed to drive it. The car was given to the contractors, but it remained registered under Avetiks responsibility. Now the car is in bad condition, someone ruined it, and they say its my sons fault, complained the father.
The soldiers father claims that the deputy commander of the military unit threatened Avetik Isahakyan that he wont go home until he fixes the car, and hinted that the soldier should give money.
However, the soldiers family does not have money because Ishkhan Khachatryan is unemployed and has taken many loans from different banks to feed his family. It is worth noting that many families in Armenia live in similar conditions.
I sent my son to serve the motherland, but not to repair a car. Do they hold him hostage?!, the father says.
Isahakyan also worries that something can happen to his son in case they further refuse to repair the car.
Companies across the GCC must be well versed with different aspects of VAT and chalk out a clear roadmap to ensure its timely and smooth implementation, say senior tax experts.
Jeanine Daou, ME Fiscal Policies and Indirect Tax Leader and Rob Hucknall, ME Finance Consulting Partner, both from PricewaterhouseCoopers, said during a session on VAT in the GCC Recent developments at the recently held CIOMajlis in Dubai, that the role of technology toward ensuring a smooth implementation in the organisations is critical and hence CIOs need to be well-prepared in advance for the possible challenges ahead.
CIOMajlis, an initiative by Smartworld, a joint venture between Etisalat and Dubai South, aims to contribute to realising the vision of the National Innovative Strategy with the goal of making the UAE the worlds most innovative country by 2021.
As the GCC member states are in the process of agreeing on a common framework for the introduction of a VAT system in the GCC next year, each member state is expected to issue its own national VAT legislation based on the agreed common principles upon ratification of the GCC Treaty.
The PwC experts explained how VAT works and its impact on businesses, implementation approach and roadmap as well as VAT compliance and technology challenges.
Daou advised that businesses assess VAT impacts, starting by mapping all relevant transactions and processes to determine VAT treatment and implications and identify changes required to cater for the new tax obligations.
Hucknall, in his presentation, told the CIO Majlis members that companies should design and establish an internal control system for ongoing monitoring, understand changes required to native systems such as Oracle and SAP and any separate transaction systems and assess the use of VAT determination (tax) engines.
The IT department is the backbone of a compliant model while implementing VAT and it should consider the key areas such as tax relevant master data, tax condition rules, invoicing and documentation, intercompany transactions, reporting, maintenance of tax master data and codes, he said.
For effective management of VAT and scenario planning as well as to identify capability to cater for VAT, companies need to have high level understanding of the capabilities of their existing systems such as the ERP. The process involves automated tax control framework embedded in regular business processes, and data and analytics for vendor management and fraud detection.
Abdulqader Obaid Ali, chief executive officer, Smartworld, said: Financial systems will rightfully be the focus, but getting integration right will also be important for compliance. As we understand, mapping and optimising the impacted transactions will serve as a baseline activity for every VAT implementation. It is here at the integration level that the CIOs assume importance. I therefore urge the CIOs to keep abreast of the situation for their companies to facilitate a smooth adaptation of the compliance system.
Ahmed Al Mulla, Chairman of CIOMajlis, who is also senior vice president, IT, Emirates Global Aluminium, said: There is need for accurate integration of data, audit trail information and VAT treatment between transaction systems, such as POS, procurement, and financial systems such as ERP. The role of CIOs is paramount on these fronts, said.
The experts said PwCs VAT implementation approach and tax and technology capabilities can help businesses reduce complexity and cost in managing VAT. Throughout the implementation, to ongoing reporting, data and analytics and compliance consultancy can support a range of client requirements, they said. TradeArabia News Service
Imdaad, a leading integrated facilities management (FM) company based in Dubai, UAE, plans to invest Dh60 million ($16.3 million) this year to achieve growth via targeted acquisition of local firms.
Announcing this at a press conference in Dubai today (January 31), Imdaad said the move is in line with Imdaad's strategy of maintaining market leadership in introducing pioneering solutions and innovative services.
Imdaad has embarked on a number of game-changing initiatives over the past years that have had reshaped the FM market in the UAE.
The state-of-the-art Imtedaad, for instance, has become one of the industrys much-talked-about technological platforms due to its ability to intelligently analyze the performance trends of interconnected assets, it stated.
Imtedaad - designed based on the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) - works by correlating all essential data with the behaviour of the buildings eco-system to come up with a set of recommendations and corrective actions.
Among the technologys top-notch features include cognitive computing platform, predictive maintenance capability, seamless machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, automatic corrective measures, real-time monitoring and tracking of assets, and energy management.
It has a significant potential to reduce the use of energy by up to 50 per cent and increase facility utilization by up to 80 per cent.
Speaking at the press conference, Imdaad officials also unveiled the company's latest contract wins with giant industry players and strategic roadmap for 2017 as it moves to cement its leadership in the flourishing regional FM sector.
Last year, Imdaad acquired a firefighting company and a lifts, installations and maintenance firm as part of its comprehensive expansion approach to widen its scope and services.
The 2017-investment plan will carry on the objectives of its growth strategy this year. Additionally, it expects to perform strongly yet again after sealing new major deals with key organizations and renewing agreements with top long-time clientele.
Its new contracts include a deal with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai (IACAD) for the upkeep of all mosques under its mandate; Mashreq Bank; Dubai Parks and Resorts; the posh Palazzo Versace hotel; Lapita Hotel; Tecom; the Dubai Opera house; Beah (Oman Environmental Services); Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD); Nakheel; Wasl; Al Fattan Properties; Kingfield Owner Association Management Services; and Enova, said the statement.
Imdaad said it has always emphasized on deploying eco-friendly equipment and sustainable technologies across its operations to ensure the highest level of service to its clients.
The move also actively contributes to the UAEs strategy to build a sustainable economy and an environment that will help enhance the quality of life in the country.
These new developments alongside Imdaads latest achievements and industry expectations for 2017 were announced against the background of a rising FM sector in the UAE.
Industry estimates put the GCCs cumulative FM spend at $892 billion over the last 25 years, with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE topping the list. Globally, as per a market research report released by Global Industry Analysts, the FM industry is seen to be worth $394.69 billion by 2017.
CEO Jamal Abdullah Lootah said: "Although the UAE FM industry is still in its infancy when held up against mature markets such as Europe and North America, it is nonetheless accelerating at unprecedented rate."
"To capitalise on considerable opportunities in the local and regional FM sectors, we at Imdaad are intensifying our efforts to keep up with the latest trends and developments in these markets, especially in terms of technological innovations," stated Lootah.
"For 2017, we have laid out an all-encompassing roadmap that will ensure both exceptional delivery of services to our clientele and significant contributions to the Emirates socio-economic prosperity in line with the goals of UAE Vision 2021. With our new agreements and key investment strategy, we are keen on working with all our partners from the public and private sectors to achieve our development objectives," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
NFT, a leading specialist in tower cranes, has won accolades from Samsung C&T, one of the major construction companies in the GCC and worldwide, for its performance last year.
The UAE-based company received a certificate of excellent contribution in recognition of its outstanding performance and commitment to safety, quality and team work and an award of Appreciation for Excellent Contribution from the Korean construction major.
Samsung C&T recently organised its annual MEA Partners Day in Dubai, UAE, to mark the efforts of companies it has worked with. The event kicked off with Samsung C&Ts presentations on its procurement strategy for 2017 followed by powerful presentations on safety and quality.
At the award ceremony, Samsungs head of subcontracts Jae Jung Huh and head of Middle East and Africa (MEA) R O Elie Obaid awarded seven partners for their round-the-year performance.
The awards were received by NFTs Nabil Al Zahlawi, the CEO and managing partner, Nagham Al Zahlawi, strategic marketing manager, Mazen Barbar, the sales and operations manager for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and Bassem Kini, operations manager.
Kini was the main point of contact for the Baraka Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) project, where Samsung has joined forces with Hyundai, Gosan, Hilalco/Wade Adams and others for the UAEs first nuclear power plant.
NFT supplied and erected more than 40 tower cranes including the gigantic MD 1100, MC 310 K12, MC 235, MCi85 and IGO 50 self-erecting for this mega project. NFT was also the main provider of key services such as maintenance, erection, dismantling throughout the entire project.
Commenting on the award, Al Zahlawi said: NFT is honoured to be working with a company like Samsung C&T and we appreciate the recognition.
The strategic marketing manager showcased the numerous projects that Samsung C&T and NFT have worked on together in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore and even Malaysia.
NFT, she stated, had worked alongside Samsung on several landmark projects including the Tadawul Tower at King Abdullah Financial District and Al Rajhi bank headquarters in Saudi Arabia, the new Umm Al Houl power plant in Qatar, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and BNPP in the UAE.
The latest recognition crowns a series of accolades won by NFT over the past year, she added.
The company was awarded the Best Record for Stocking Cranes and Parts by Potain at the Dealer Conference during Bauma China, a key construction equipment showcase, held in Shanghai, China, last November in recognition of its risk-taking approach.
Other awards secured by NFT during 2016 include Potains 'Best Dealer in the World' award presented in April last year during bauma, the worlds largest construction equipment expo, held in Munich, Germany.
Then, in September, NFT was ranked as the Number One worldwide supplier of tower cranes in terms of capacity by International Cranes & Transport magazine for having an IC tower index of 678,560 tonne-metres, a 74 per cent increase from 2015.
NFT, which is operational in 32 countries worldwide, continues to ensure superior after-sales service. One of its competitive advantages is having 1,500 brand new and used tower cranes readily available and spread across its 18 depots.-TradeArabia News Service
A number of international figures will take part in the upcoming Innovation Arabia being hosted by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) in Dubai, UAE.
The 10th edition of the event will be held from March 6 to 8 at The Address Dubai Marina under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMSU.
The congress aims to promote innovation in the Arab World by creating an environment conducive to innovative revolution and creativity as the region transitions to an integrated knowledge-based economy.
To be staged under the theme Innovation and Entrepreneurship: The Engines of Sustainability, Innovation Arabia 10 is of strategic importance given that innovation plays a crucial role in the development of vital sectors affecting the future of the Middle East.
These sectors include education, health, public services, economy, manufacturing, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and family-run businesses. Focusing on innovation is in line with HBMSUs commitment to support government efforts aimed at fostering a culture of innovation in education and entrepreneurship.
Aside from being the driving force behind the Arab regions and the rest of the worlds economic and social development, innovation will also help turn into a reality the vision of the wise leaders to make the UAE one of the worlds most innovative countries by 2021 in line with the objectives of the UAE National Innovation Strategy.
Innovation Arabia 10 includes three main international conferences on Quality & Business Management under the theme Unleashing Innovation, Empowering Entrepreneurship; Smart Learning which will tackle Build Knowledge Based Communities; and Health and Environment, which will discuss pivotal issues under the theme Changing Minds, Protecting the Environment.
The participants will particularly focus on the role of education, health and the environment in re-shaping the future of sustainability based primarily on innovation.
Dr Mansoor Al Awar, HBMSU chancellor, said: Innovation Arabias success for over a decade is due to the worlds high interest in the congress, the first of its kind in the Middle East, and its strategic focus on the important role of education, business, the environment, healthcare, and Islamic banking and finance in the Arab Worlds sustainable development.
We have chosen Innovation and Entrepreneurship: The Engines of Sustainability as this years theme in line with our tireless efforts to make a positive impact on the growing need for excellent models of innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability. This also demonstrates our support for the Dubai Governments initiatives to help achieve the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the education sector, in accordance with Dubai Plan 2021,which aims to build innovative and creative individuals as part of the emirates development plan.
Smart Learning Excellence is the leading forum to discuss smart learnings modern and innovative concepts as well as its role in creating knowledge-based societies, in addition to identifying ways to enhance the positive impact of transformational and societal education on the quality of the learning experience. The latter will create a knowledge revolution to improve the region's ability to bring about sustainable development in line with the global educational goals set by UNESCO, particularly in terms of promoting education for sustainable development, he added.
Similarly, we are confident about this years Health & Environment Conference, which will gather leading researchers, academics and international figures to discuss ways to overcome obstacles facing innovation in the health and environment industry. The conference will also showcase the latest effective solutions for promoting the role of innovation in paving the way for a sustainable future in a bid to restore balance in the ecosystem and maintain public health, Al Awar said.
Dr Al Awar concluded: Under the theme Unleashing Innovation, Empowering Entrepreneurship, Quality & Business Management Conference 2017 will certainly not be any less important as it will highlight the significance of entrepreneurs in modern markets and their contributions to a sustainable economy through innovation.
At HBMSU, we look forward to the upcoming international conferences which will showcase the best expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship to ensure the sustainable development of the UAE and the rest of the Arab World.
Innovation Arabia 10 will feature a series of innovative training programs to be held on the sidelines of the international conferences. Quality & Business Management Conference 2017 will host a training workshop on Planning by Scenarios Shaping the Future.
A training workshop on Innovation in Social Responsibility and Sustainability will be held on the sidelines of the Health & Environment Conference and in line with the declaration of 2017 as Year of Reading.
The Smart Learning Conference, on the other hand, will enable educators to take part in a training workshop on Using Information Technologies in Education to learn about the positive impact of Microsoft tools and technologies in enhancing the learning experience and outputs, with a special attention to the development of the necessary skills required in the 21st century.
For first time in its history, Innovation Arabia will feature a rich agenda of live demonstrations, research workshops, panel discussions and interactive sessions through a Virtual Congress.
The 10th edition will allow participants to attend the Quality & Business Management, Smart Learning, and Health & Environment Conferences from around the world through a virtual platform. TradeArabia News Service
UAEs Ministry of Health and Prevention has launched the latest Health Mirror service and the newest device for laboratory analysis of blood samples as part of its efforts to offer innovative services to the general public.
The unveiling was made during its participation at the Arab Health 2017 exhibition and conference held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from January 30 to February2, 2017.
Dr Youssif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Ministry of Health and Prevention - Hospitals Sector, said this development reflects the Ministrys keenness on improving the local healthcare sector in accordance with the national strategy to promote science, technology and innovation in the country.
The national strategy strives to build local and international partnerships and bring cutting-edge medical technology to the UAE in a bid to continuously improve the local health system, develop world-class facilities, and ensure peoples accessibility to quality health services in accordance with international standards.
Dr Al Serkal explained that the unique and one-of-a-kind Health Mirror service technology is being offered for the first time in the Middle East.
It works by conducting a comprehensive body scanning using the Pro Mybiodi smart device to get a patients health status and identify the biomarkers in about a minute. The collected data can serve as a health guide and initial diagnosis before a patient is sent for laboratory and other medical tests.
As for the new device for blood lab analysis, Dr Al Serkal said that the Ministry has partnered with Atellica Solutions Siemens. Also a first in the Middle East, the device is equipped with an exclusive feature that enables transfer of blood samples 10 times faster than conventional systems. It is flexible, has the ability to handle different work rates, and easily scalable to deal with more than 30 types of samples.
Dr Kulthum Mohammed Al Balushi, director of the Ministrys Hospital Management, said: This device allows multiple vision cameras and intelligent systems for sample distribution and quality check to achieve better regulation and control of all samples. The innovative system can be used as a separate solution as connected solutions up to 10 units built together up to 300 different design and that including straight designs or in the form of L or U, it can also be connected to a mechanism system which raises services for various laboratory sections.
One can also use similar types of operating solutions on different models from different locations, allowing for easy management of laboratory work, better inventory solutions, enhanced operating performance, and accurate results.
An Immunoassay device can produce more than 400 results per hour, which is considered the fastest in terms of productivity compared to the used space in the field of medical tests. Other benefits include surveillance and remote control to ensure readiness of work for longer periods, in addition to a wide range of functionalities developed based on scientifically proven and practical techniques. TradeArabia News Service
Dubai Municipality has signed a contract with Philips Lighting on Monday for the design, manufacture and supply of Dubai Lamp, an energy-efficient lamp that will be available in the Emirate by the end of this year.
The Dubai Lamp will be the worlds first commercially available 200 lumen per Watt LED lamp, which will be available in a range of shapes and colours.
Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality signed the contract on behalf of the Municipality, while Philips Lighting was represented by Paolo Cervini, president, Philips Lighting, Middle East & Turkey.
We have plans to replace 80 per cent of the traditional lamps used in Dubai with the new Dubai Lamp. Dubai Municipality and Philips Lighting are preparing for the supply of two million Dubai Lamps for residential and professional use across the city in 2017. This could increase to 10 million lamps by 2021, said Lootah.
To begin with, we will make it mandatory for new buildings under construction to use Dubai Lamp. It will be made the basic requirement for getting the Building Completion Certificate, he said.
This will be beneficial for both sides. The owner of the building will be able to save a lot of money on energy charges and we will able to protect the environment, Lootah pointed out.
In the beginning, we will concentrate on the new buildings. As regards the old buildings, we will make a study on the implementation mechanism. The Municipality will also focus on big complexes such as schools, hospitals, mosques and other big buildings, he said.
He said the Dubai Lamp Initiative aims to raise public awareness of the need for energy saving and for reduction of carbon emissions. It is in line with the government directives and Dubai Municipality Vision and also supports the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy which targets a 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption by 2030 and the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy aimed at reducing carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2021, in addition to promoting clean energy practices to protect the environment and achieve sustainability in all walks of life, and contribute to Dubai Municipality's share of the proceeds to support the Green Fund to be used in innovative initiatives, said Lootah.
"Dubais pioneering collaboration with Philips Lighting to realize such accomplishments in the field of clean energy are encouraging and offers an imitable international model. Environmental protection forms the first priority for everyone, and from our part, we keep this in mind with our constant work and relentless efforts to reach the goal of a smart and sustainable city," he added.
The contract is for five years, and the intellectual property right will be divided equally between Dubai Municipality and Phillips Lighting for a period of five years. The Municipality will make investments in the field of research and development to create the most efficient lamp in the world. The manufacturing and supply of lamps will start during the month of March 2017.
The Dubai Lamp initiative offers many tangible benefits, most notably the savings in the electricity bill by up to 90 per cent. Besides raising light and energy efficiency to new levels, Dubai Lamp is extremely durable with an average lifespan of up to 15 times longer than conventional lamps (based upon typical usage of 1,000 hours per year). The lamp is characterized as environmentally friendly as it does not contain mercury or generate heat and thus saves cooling costs, and does not spread ultraviolet light.
The lamp is available in four models both in cool daylight and warm white colours: 1W Candle Lamp to replace 25W incandescent lamp, 2W Bulb to replace 40W incandescent lamp, 3W Bulb to replace 60W incandescent lamp, 3W MR16 Spot to replace 50W halogen spots.- TradeArabia News Service
Motorcity, the sole distributor for Hyundai Heavy Industries Co in Bahrain, was named Top Dealer Distributor in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region for 2016.
Hyundai evaluates dealer performance through an assessment of sales growth, market share, marketing activities, after sales support, facilities, and other criteria, said a statement from the company.
The award was announced during the Hyundai Dealers Conference, which was held in Dubai, UAE, it said.
With strong product performance and after sales support, Hyundai Excavators continued their dominance in the excavator segment, with more than 40 per cent market share, it added.
The new 9 Series Excavator and Wheel Loader achieved strong sales momentum in the Middle East region, said a statement.
Currently Hyundai offers Hydraulic Excavators from 1.6t to 120t, 2-6 CBM Wheel Loaders, 4WD Backhoe Loaders, Skid Steer Loaders and a wide range of industrial equipment such as diesel, electric and bi-fuel forklifts, reach trucks and stackers.
With 500 dealers in more than 120 countries, the division is a global force manufacturing 35,000 units of heavy machinery each year, it stated. TradeArabia News Service
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has submitted a request to the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) to host the 71stsession of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), said MBRSC director general.
The event will be held in 2020, in coordination with the UAE Space Agency.
Yosouf Hamad Al Shaibani made the announcement during the opening session of the Global Space Congress organised by the UAE Space Agency, from January 31 to February 1.
Al Shaibani said: The IAF will announce the country hosting the conference in 2020 during the coming edition taking place in Australia next September. If we were to win, the UAE would become the first Arab and Muslim country to host the conference.
IAC is one of the most important conferences in the world addressing space affairs and issuing influential recommendations for the global space sector."
Al Shaibani also confirmed that MBRSC seeks to enhance communications with the global space community, organise and host international events aimed at sharing experiences and promoting cooperation, which will contribute to driving the sector to more advanced and sophisticated levels.
Al Shaibani noted: Over the last two decades, the UAE has been advancing in its journey to develop a sustainable space sector. I can confirm that, in a few years from now, the UAE space sector will achieve a huge leap towards the consolidation of a distinct space industry in the Arab world, as an industry that reflects a reality filled with hope and ambition for the future generations.
In his speech, Al Shaibani drew attention to the pillars upon which the UAE space sector is built, saying: These pillars enable the space sector to become a driving force for economic growth and sustainable social development in the UAE. It is a journey with an already outstanding record of achievements through which a strong infrastructure was established, capacities were developed, three remote sensing satellite projects were launched, and the launch of the first Arab and Islamic project to explore Mars- Hope mission.
The Hope probe will not only send us images and data on the Martian atmosphere, it will also carry a message of hope to young Arab generations and will open the doors to a new era of scientific and technological invention and discovery, Al Shaibani added.
Since 1950, IAF has been holding the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) annually, in cooperation with the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), at one of the countries that falls under the umbrella of IAF, including the UAE.
The International Astronautical Congress is one of the leading space conferences worldwide, attended by presidents and CEOs of international space agencies, decision makers, researchers, academics and professionals in the space sector from 70 countries over the last 66 years. In 2016, IAC received nearly 5,000 visitors, with an expected increase in 2020.
Meanwhile, MBRSC showcased its space projects and initiatives at the Global Space Congress, while the centres engineers participated in a series of sessions.
Amer Al Sayegh, the MBRSC senior director of Space Engineering department and KhalifaSat project manager, explained in a session entitled: "UAE Visions of New Technology Applications, MBRSC strategy on building an integrated system for the space industry in the UAE.
UAE engineers have achieved great developments in the national space sector, from2006 until they came to build the first Arab satellite on UAE soil with only Emirati expertise, as well as leading the first mission of its kind to explore space, with the Hope mission, he said.
The MBRSC satellites have developed significantly after the centre launched the first satellite project in the UAE. The MBRSC team invented new technology specifically for KhalifaSat, and there are other space applications, developed by the Application and Analysis Department within the centre, which will be used in studies and research aimed to improve the accuracy of satellite images.
Over the last decades, countries have participated and made advancements in the space industry and science, and have proved that space is a major driver of economic development, and a producer of new discoveries and technologies affecting human life directly and indirectly, Al Sayegh added.
MBRSC is a Dubai Government entity which aims to promote scientific innovation and technology advancement in Dubai and the UAE. The Centre works on research projects and studies related to space science, in line with the approach of the UAE, in its quest to develop the sector and build national academic skills through it. TradeArabia News Service
Leading Iranian vehicle manufacturer Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) and PSA Peugeot accomplished one-fifth of a 2016 deal by so far investing 100 million ($106.9 million) in a joint company in Iran, said an official.
Each of the two companies has invested 50 million ($53.4 million) in the factory whose first product, Peugeot 2008 will be out by March, Hashem Yekke Zare, CEO of IKCO, was quoted as saying in an Iran Daily News report, citing Fars News Agency.
The two companies from Iran and France signed a contract on June 21, 2016, to launch a joint company in Iran to produce Peugeot cars, it said.
Zare further noted that Iran's share of the parts that will be used will initially be 40 per cent and increase to 70 or 80 per cent in two years.
He added that the company will start production with Peugeot 2008 and then move on to models 301 and 208.
An unstable global economy, fraught with geopolitical uncertainty, left many wondering if retailers in the Mena region would struggle to turn a profit in 2016. Yet, just as challenges have come to characterize the regions business landscape, so too have a wealth of technological advances that are rapidly changing the regional retail sector. What impact will these developments have in 2017?
The power of customer data: Developments in digital commerce and underlying predictive customer analytics promise to deliver significant opportunities to a sector that is forecast to grow by 4.6 per cent region-wide this year. If seized, this opportunity could not only offset the economic pressures that retail now faces, but take the sector to new heights. But there is a caveat: to realize this potential, retailers must learn how to successfully navigate the digital space and turn the deluge of public and customer data scattered across their different business units into tangible business results at their fingertips.
Here, the target is to provide customers with a seamless, omnichannel shopping experience that will, in turn, create new revenue streams beyond the shop floor. The monstrous datasets that follow each of us around, like digital shadows, as we navigate our way through the online world, represent the single biggest opportunity for retailers to improve this seamless experience across channels. By leveraging the value of both internal (customer profiles, footfall, transactions) and external (customer social profile, traffic, weather, macroeconomic, and other) data, retailers can tailor their offering to drive sales, while at the same time optimizing their return on investment.
Evolving customer expectations: The rise in the appetite for e-commerce signals a huge advancement in the world of retail and constitutes a massive growth opportunity for regional retailers. However, this also intensifies the pressure on retailers to revisit their approach of engaging with customers and adapting their business models to changing preferences in the region.
International players such as eBay and Amazon have created an expectation of excellent and instantaneous service when shopping online. Whereas once, shopping online might have been considered unconventional, perhaps even risky, investment driven by the big players in this field has raised standards to the point that it has become second nature to expect reliable, speedy service to rival the best physical retailers.
In addition to that, recent developments in the region have also set new benchmarks for online retailers. UAE businessman Mohamed Alabbar announced two new online ventures targeting the Middle East, including a Dh505.5 million ($137.5million) joint venture with Italian luxury online retailer Yoox Net A Porter as well as e-commerce firm Noon. Dubai-based Al Tayer Group has also recently launched a new luxury retail e-commerce platform called Ounass. The company will deliver goods for free, within two hours for Dubai residents, on the same day for other emirates, and within 48 hours for other GCC residents.
The Mena e-commerce market is expected to grow to USD 7.5 billion by 2020 according to Euromonitor. While there is much opportunity, this will also be a time of intense competition and the need to differentiate through customer experience.
Change is the only constant: Retail customer preferences and habits are changing, both choice and competition are increasing, and groundbreaking correlations are emerging. With these and other dynamic changes in the regional economic landscape on the horizon, each of these advances can be viewed as either an obstacle to success, or an exciting chance for growthand it is those who adopt the latter view who stand to gain.
Danny Karam is vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton Mena, a top provider of management and technology consulting and engineering services to leadingFortune500 corporations, governments, and not-for-profits across the globe.
UAE-based Aldar Properties is reprising its role as Founding Patron of the Gulf and Indian Ocean Hotel Investors Summit (GIOHIS), which returns for its second edition to the UAE capital in February.
GIOHIS, which is the only hotel investment event run by and for hotel owners, was launched in 2016 by the global hotels owners alliance HOFTEL. Aldar a leading hotel owner in Abu Dhabi with a portfolio of nine owned hotels in the emirate, including seven on Yas Island was a key contributor to the success of the inaugural summit. The event saw hundreds of business executives convene to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving hotel industry, with hotel owning groups, developers and investors making up a significant proportion of the delegates.
Jahed Rahman, director of hospitality and leisure at Aldar, said: This conference was created to provide a forum for owners and investors to exchange knowledge and ideas for a region that is key to the growth of the global hospitality market, bringing together many key industry decision-makers from across the Gulf and Indian Ocean. Aldar plays an important role in Abu Dhabis expanding hotel industry, and our support for this event demonstrates our commitment to contributing to its ongoing development. We were pleased with the compelling outcomes of the 2016 event, and look forward to another successful GIOHIS this year, and to making Abu Dhabi thrive further as a business and leisure travel destination.
GIOHIS 2017 will take place at the Yas Viceroy in Abu Dhabi on February 6 and 7, with 70 speakers, including 36 hospitality industry CEOs, confirmed to participate. The event will offer a global range of perspectives with speakers attending from across the globe, including Australia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Mauritius, the Maldives, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. - TradeArabia News Service
Etihad Airways has announced plans to launch a third daily flight on the Abu DhabiBengaluru route, starting from March 26.
The triple daily schedule will provide greater choice to local passengers travelling between the two cities, and improved connectivity to destinations across the GCC, North America and Europe via the airlines Abu Dhabi hub.
The capacity increase underscores the airlines commitment to offer guests more travel options between Abu Dhabi and key destinations across its network.
With a new daily late night departure from Abu Dhabi, and early morning service from Bengaluru operated with a two-class Airbus 321, the schedule provides additional online connectivity to and from a number of destinations, including Doha, Jeddah, London, Dublin, New York and Dallas.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief executive officer, said: Our expanded services between Abu Dhabi and Bengaluru are in line with Etihad Airways strategy to offer greater travel options when aircraft availability and market conditions permit.
The extra flights to Bengaluru will cater to the strong demand between both cities, and bring closer our global network to and from Bengaluru over our Abu Dhabi hub.
Etihad Airways launched flights to Bengaluru, capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, in January 2011 with four services a week, rising to daily two months later. It has steadily grown capacity with additional frequencies and aircraft upgrades to its current double daily operation. More than 700,000 guests have been flown on the route over the past six years.
Partner carrier Jet Airways will codeshare on Etihad Airways enhanced Bengaluru services, and also offer connectivity from Bengaluru to destinations across India. - TradeArabia News Service
Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village
Wyomings congressional delegation took steps Monday to repeal three Obama-era regulations that affect coal mining, oil and gas drilling and public land management in the state.
The anticipated move is part of a widespread strategy from current conservative political leaders, including Wyomings delegation, to dismantle what they see as federal strong-arming on environmental issues.
Under the Obama Administration, lands in Wyoming and all across the west were the target of aggressive federal regulations that were devastating to our jobs, our land, and our way of life, said U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney in a statement Monday.
Cheney introduced a motion to revoke the Bureau of Land Managements updated land use plan, BLM 2.0, arguing that it undermines the strength of local input, from county commissioners to governors.
U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Mike Enzi motioned to dismantle the same federal land agencys venting and flaring rules. A similar fate was proposed for the Stream Protection Rule, which would force coal companies to restore streams and surrounding vegetation that were adversely affected from nearby coal mining to pre-mining conditions.
The lawmakers are using the Congressional Review Act to accomplish the repeals, a mechanism that gives Congress a 60-day window to slash rules and regulations from a previous administration.
Environmental and public land recreation advocates have pushed back against the bevy of proposed repeals, saying arbitrary repeals undermine the public good and undercut the agencies responsibility to carry out their missions on public lands.
Moreover, they oppose the finality of a Congressional Review Act repeal, which would prohibit the agencies from starting again on a rule that had been annulled unless directly instructed to do so by Congress.
Land management
Some of the political choices are baffling, like revoking BLM 2.0, said Joel Webster, Western lands director for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
Its very hard to understand why anybody would be opposed to it, he said. A lot of the concerns are more being created out of somebodys imagination than reality.
Before BLM 2.0, the agency was carrying out planning and rule-making based on a system developed in 1983. It was updated after a long review process to allow the public a chance to weigh in at the beginning of the rule-making process, he said. For years, a draft would be developed before the public understood the scope of a rule, introducing controversies and concerns late in the process.
What the rule doesnt do, Webster said, is undermine the input of county commissioners and governors, an early complaint that some believe ended up in the final draft.
There may be issues with BLM 2.0, Webster acknowledged, but they should be addressed by the new Department of the Interior and the administrative process, not by Congress, he said.
To use the CRA is to revert to the 1983 plan with no means to update or adapt the process, he said.
It sounds like a nightmare scenario for Congress to micromanage these federal agencies, Webster said.
Flaring
The BLM flaring rule has been more controversial than BLM 2.0. It forces companies to do on-the-ground checks for leaks and take advantage of new technology to catch fugitive emissions.
Proposed for repeal by Barrasso, the rule is currently being contested in the courts by industry groups and states including Wyoming.
Opponents argue that the BLM overstepped its congressional authority in developing a rule over air quality.
In a statement Monday, Barrasso echoed that position, saying the BLM should focus on boosting industry, not reducing emissions.
Instead of enforcing a duplicative regulation, BLM should use its limited resources to permit natural gas pipelines on federal lands in a timely manner. Pipelines will help producers capture additional gas and get that gas to market. These projects will also create jobs and provide energy for Americans, he said.
Those in favor of the emissions rule say it is a matter of both environmental precaution and the responsible management of public resources. As the agency that oversees public resources like natural gas and coal, the BLM is within its right to develop gas waste rules, they say.
Barrassos actions against the rule are disappointing, said Jon Goldstein, senior energy policy manager at the Environmental Defense Fund. Goldstein was involved in the successful development of emissions controls in Wyomings Upper Green River Basin, an area once plagued by dangerous ground level ozone levels.
Its detrimental if this is going to pass and be signed by the president, Goldstein said It not only undoes the rule but prevents the agency from doing something similar. Its really a sledgehammer, where a scalpel would suffice.
Wyoming loses about $42 million a year in revenue from natural gas thats leaked, vented and flared every year, Goldstein said.
Wasted public money is an issue that resonates even outside the environmental community.
You dont have to support the methane waste rule to see why repealing it using the Congressional Review Act will only make the problem worse, Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, said. Taxpayers have been losing millions every year from wasted gas thanks to outdated, ineffective rules. A vote to repeal the methane rule is a vote to make the old rules permanent, which would be a disaster for taxpayers.
Streams
The Streams Rule is also on the CRA chopping block. The resolution of disapproval was brought by West Virginia and Ohio lawmakers.
Wyoming companies have pointed out that the rule does not work for western mines. Some state regulators have argued that the federal agency, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, did not collaborate with the state in developing the rule.
Environmentalists, however, have praised the rule as a protection of Wyomings water resources.
A vote on the Streams Protection Rule in the House is expected Wednesday. The BLM flaring rule may go before the House on Friday. Under the Congressional Review Act, resolutions of disapproval for rules and regulations need a simple majority in each house to be repealed. They also need the signature of the president.
CHEYENNE Sierra Trading Post has laid off 40 employees amid a restructuring of the digital operations of its parent company, TJX Companies Inc.
The Cheyenne-based catalog and online retailer announced the layoffs. It was not clear from a company statement whether all of the job losses were in Cheyenne.
TJX spokeswoman Doreen Thompson says TJX, which also owns Marshalls, T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods, created a digital operations group in the last several months to better support is online business in the U.S.
Most of the digital operations are based in Massachusetts. Some Sierra Trading Post employees in Cheyenne were given the chance to relocate. Other jobs were eliminated through restructuring.
Laid-off coal miners in seven Wyoming counties may be eligible for federally funded grant money.
The U.S. Department of Labor recently approved up to $2 million for retraining Wyoming workers in Campbell, Converse, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan and Weston counties.
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services paired with local economic development agencies and the Northern Wyoming Community College District to apply for the federal grant in May, months after almost 500 coal miners lost their jobs in a single day.
The downturn in the coal sector was a sudden blow to local economies in coal communities like Gillette, Wright and Newcastle.
Wyomings congressional delegation, Sens. Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, issued a joint statement in favor of the grant last week.
We know workers in Wyoming would rather welcome the return of coal and other energy jobs," the release read. "We have never stopped working to improve conditions for our energy sector and it is with renewed hope in a new Administration that we begin our work in 2017.
The grant amount was based on the departments projection of need. It is intended to help around 140 displaced coal workers who have either failed to find new employment or are underemployed since the layoffs, said Hayley McKee, spokeswoman for the department.
Each worker will be eligible for around $6,500 to be used on classes, certifications and training, from CDL licensing to nursing classes, she said.
CHEYENNE The House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee on Thursday voted down a bill to require voters to show photo identification at the polls.
But it advanced bills concerning a system for permanent absentee ballots, election recounts and the date at which an absentee ballot must be accepted.
Committee members voted down a voter ID bill that was brought by committee member Rep. Lars Lone, R-Cheyenne.
Lone said he was given a ballot for an incorrect precinct when he went to vote and said if he had been required to show identification, that situation could have been avoided. Lone said he was not bringing the bill because of voter fraud concerns.
However, questions were raised about the effectiveness of voter ID laws, how absentee voters would need to prove identity and disenfranchisement of voters who may not have a government photo identification.
County clerks said voter fraud is extremely rare and didnt know how having to show identification would have fixed Lones situation.
Several people, including Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett, said the bill could be an issue for elderly voters, some of whom have never had a photo identification.
Casper, Wyoming
October 31, 1920 January 25, 2017
A REMEMBERANCE reception will be held Feb.4th at the Elks Lodge, 7th and Center from 3PM to 6PM for long time Casper resident and businessman Harold Selby, who peacefully passed away January 25, at the age of 96, while living in Kingston, WA. He moved there in April of 2016, to be with his son, Ramon and his wife Tomi.
He was born at home in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to James and Hazel (Walker) Selby. His parents brought him to homestead near Natrona, Wyoming, later moving back to Nebraska for him to enter school. Having spent his early school years in Nebraska, at the age of 13 he became responsible for the sole support of his family. The Great Depression and other circumstances brought him, his mother, grandmother and three siblings, back to Wyoming and the family homestead, were he was better able to provide for their support.
He graduated from Natrona County High School where he met and later married the love of his life Mavis Kisor who preceded him in death after nearly 57 years of marriage. It was a marriage filled with constant love of each other, three children, music, laughter, and multitudes of friends. They are now, once again, singing in perfect harmony.
In 1956 he founded Selby Trailer Sales with his brother Jim and it flourished with family and friends at the helm until he retired in the 80's. He made a second home in Logandale, NV and added to his circle of friends.
Music was a major part of his life. He was self taught and by the age of 12 he was sitting in at dances. He played music throughout his life with family, friends and various groups. Harold was loved by all who knew him for his generous, loving spirit, his cheerful disposition, his amazing sense of humor, and his incredible musical talents.
Also preceding him in death were his siblings, Bette A. Tucker, Jim R. Selby and Patty Dice Patton.
He is survived by his son, Ramon Selby and wife, Tomi, and daughters, Rita Bale and Roxana Taylor and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his dear friend, Barbara Genest of Billings MT.
He lived a life of integrity and devotion. In lieu of flowers or donations and in keeping with the way he lived his life, do a kind deed, say a kind word or lend a helping hand to someone in need.
More than half of westerners oppose transferring federal public lands, according to a comprehensive poll released Tuesday morning.
This is the seventh year for the Colorado College State of the Rockies Conservation of the West Poll, which surveys seven western states on issues related to conservation, the environment, energy and the role of the government.
Wyoming residents oppose public lands transfer by 53 percent. All westerners polled oppose transfer by 56 percent.
As leadership changes hands in Washington, D.C., and Congress votes in new budget rules removing any monetary value from public lands, voters in the Mountain West are sending a clear statement that they do not want to see a dramatic change of course when it comes to national public lands, Dr. Walt Hecox, professor emeritus of economics at Colorado College and founder of the State of the Rockies Project said in a news release.
The results come on the heels of concerted efforts in Wyoming and in D.C. to transfer federal public lands to the states. Wyoming Senate President Eli Bebout recently killed a bill that would have amended the state Constitution to determine how federal lands would be managed if the state ever assumed control over them.
Another bill recently introduced in the Legislature, House Bill 293, would offer a time extension for developing a plan to manage transferred federal lands.
At the end of the day, sometimes the Legislature forgets who they work for, and they do work for the people of Wyoming, said Buzz Hettick, a Laramie hunter and chairman for the Wyoming chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. If the majority arent wanting something like public lands transfer, they should drop it. It gets tiresome. It really does.
Nationally, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz is proposing selling 3.3 million acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The bill is based off of land identified in a 1997 report as eligible for disposal.
The total includes 694,000 acres in Wyoming. The report includes breakdowns by county 40,500 acres would be available for sale in Johnson County, and 11,200 acres in Fremont County, for example but does not have more details on the location of the land.
A letter at the beginning of the decades-old report sent by the Department of the Interior states that many of the lands identified appear to have conflicts which may preclude them from being considered for disposal or exchange Conflicts include high disposal costs, critical natural or cultural resources and habitat, mineral claims and leases and hazardous conditions.
Chaffetz said on his website that The long overdue disposal of excess federal lands will free up resources for the federal government while providing much-needed opportunities for economic development in struggling rural communities.
Hettick, the sportsman, said Chaffetz idea is horrible. He quoted an Outdoor Industry Association report showing outdoor recreation generates $646 billion in consumer spending nationally and supports 6.1 million direct jobs.
In Wyoming, outdoor recreation generates $4.5 billion each year in consumer spending and provides $300 million in state and local taxes.
According to Tuesdays Colorado College poll, 68 percent of westerners want to protect sources of clean water, air quality and wildlife habitat while providing opportunities to visit and recreate on national public lands. Conversely, 22 percent said the government should focus on producing more domestic energy by increasing the amount of public lands available for oil and gas drilling and mining.
In Wyoming, 49 percent support the focus on water, air and wildlife habitat, and 39 percent wanted more responsible drilling and mining opportunities.
About three in five western voters oppose more energy production on public lands, the survey concluded. The same number support President Donald Trumps statements that he opposes transferring federal public lands to the states.
Other notable results from the survey include:
87 percent of Wyomingites support the current flaring and venting rule that may be overturned by Congress;
75 percent of Wyomingites want to maintain national monument designations on public lands;
82 percent of westerners approve of the National Park Service, 76 percent approve of the National Forest Service, 76 percent approve of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and 56 percent approve of the Bureau of Land Management;
Protect or preserve the countrys natural resources and environment was offered most frequently as advice to the new administration;
94 percent of westerners support improving and repairing infrastructure such as roads, bridges and historic buildings in national parts and other outdoor destinations;
71 percent of Wyomingites identified themselves as conservationists.
CHEYENNE A group of lawmakers advanced three of four measures Monday night that pro-choice Wyomingites described as restricting abortion rights but that pro-life champions said updated state laws to align with modern science.
The House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee listened to nearly four hours of testimony from 100 people on both sides of the debate. Testimony and discussion took five hours.
House Bills 116, 182 and 250 would change a number of the state health care statutes from adding to the definition of a fetus viability to include the time when it can feel pain to charging medical professionals who give or sell tissue or cells from aborted fetuses with a felony to requiring women to get an ultrasound or sign a piece of paper saying they chose not to at least 24 hours before the abortion.
Some of the bills have similar provisions, such as requiring the state to collect new or additional information on women receiving abortions. In fact, a fourth bill, HB132 was considered Monday night but the sponsor, Rep. Scott Clem, R-Gillette, ultimately asked the House committee not to vote on the legislation because he felt the reporting provisions were well covered in the other bills.
In each bill that the committee cleared, the votes were six to three.
Voting in favor of the measures were Clem, along with Reps. Eric Barlow, R-Gillette, Joe MacGuire, R-Casper, Marti Halverson, R-Etna, Timothy Hallinan, R-Gillette, and Lars Lone, R-Cheyenne.
Against the measure on each vote were Reps. Mike Giereu, D-Jackson, JoAnn Dayton, D-Rock Springs, and Pat Sweeney, R-Casper.
There are only two doctors who provide abortions in Wyoming. Both are in Teton County.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fewer than 20 women had abortions in Wyoming in 2013, the year with the most recent data.
Most physicians who testified opposed the legislation.
No abortions are performed in Wyoming after 12 weeks, said Dr. Rene Hinkle, a Cheyenne obstetrician and gynecologist.
Hinkle said its typical for doctors to send fetal tissue for genetic testing when there are miscarriages or problems that result in the termination of the pregnancy.
If were going to be fined $10,000 for that, that seems astronomical, she said.
Bob Brechtel, a former Casper lawmaker, spoke in favor of the ultrasound bill. Most of the time, he said, when women see an image of the fetus, they decide against abortion.
It just makes sense to provide them with information, he said.
Another former lawmaker, Mary Throne of Cheyenne, said her views in favor of abortion rights were formed by women in her life.
Women know, she said. Women do not need the government to explain this to them. Women have the ability to make their own health care decision without the government.
Many women broke down with emotional stories about choosing abortions they later regretted, or having abortions that broke their hearts but were the right decision for them.
Joyce Jaeggli said she had an abortion 47 years ago, before the U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized abortion, Roe vs. Wade. She got German measles shortly after she was pregnant, a condition she said that would have killed the fetus or caused severe deformities. Her physician appealed to the board of the Houston hospital where he worked and received permission to terminate the pregnancy six weeks later.
Im here to support all of the women who have to make this horrible, horrible decision, she said. Its not something a woman takes lightly.
Pro-life Wyomingites said that they were present to speak for the unborn child.
Sierra Parker of Gillette traveled to Cheyenne to voice her support of the legislation.
I am pro-life because I believe women had a choice in most of these cases, she said. And they chose to make themselves pregnant.
CHEYENNE Last summer, Nate Kearns of Laramie received a commercial drivers license and began earning more money. He underwent LASIK surgery to improve his eyesight and had purchased new fishing equipment.
He also loved to camp. And if Nate was in a University of Wyoming stadium, he was the loudest Cowboys fan, said his father, Jim Kearns.
But weeks later, on Aug. 29, he shot himself, Kearns told the House Judiciary Committee on Monday afternoon. Nate was 33.
As Jim Kearns spoke, his wife JoAnn sat behind him, clenching a tissue and wiping away tears. He described their mourning, the questions the family has asked themselves about why Nate killed himself and whether they should have known that he had fallen into a dark place.
Something happened in a short period of time, Jim Kearns said.
Kearns shared his familys story while speaking in support of House Bill 160, which would have required handgun sellers to wait three days before delivering a gun to the purchaser.
The House Judiciary Committee defeated the bill, eight to one, with only Democratic Rep. Charles Pelkey of Laramie voting in favor of the measure.
The bills sponsor, Democrat Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie, said that the Kearns family were her constituents and well-respected in the community. Jim Kearns is retired, having worked in communications for years at the University of Wyoming.
Waiting periods have reduced suicides and other impulsive acts of violence, she said.
After Nate Kearns died, a receipt was found in his pickup.
It showed Nate had purchased the pistol the afternoon before he killed himself, Jim Kearns said.
If he would have had three days, Im certain hed still be with us, the father said.
But representatives from National Rifle Association, Wyoming Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and the Wyoming Gun Owners argued that the evidence isnt conclusive that waiting periods decrease suicide.
Members of the Judiciary Committee questioned Wyoming State Health Officer Dr. Wendy Braund about the research on gun waiting periods.
Wyomings suicide rate is 25.9 per 100,000 people twice the national average, Braund said.
A national task force attempted to determine whether waiting periods in the nine states and Washington D.C. reduced their suicide rates. But the study was inconclusive. The task force looked only at six studies in peer-reviewed journals, and only a couple of them withstood the groups scrutiny.
However, states with waiting periods see signs that indicate the suicide rate decreases, she said.
If people are determined to kill themselves, they can try other methods. But those other means are less successful, Braund said.
Rep. Mark Jennings, a committee member, said his family was touched by suicide. But, he, like the majority of the committee, ardently supported gun ownership.
Im conflicted with it, but I still think we have to look at the larger picture, he said.
As Jim and JoAnn Kearns walked out of the Legislature, they said they were not too surprised by the committees decision to reject the bill. On the drive from Laramie to Cheyenne, they had been preparing for the possibility.
This is Wyoming, where everyone loves guns, JoAnn Kearns said.
Its disappointing, she said.
Wyomingites, remember our statesmen, Alan Simpson, Cliff Hansen, Ed Herschler, Tino Roncalio? Maybe I agreed with them 20 percent of the time, or maybe 80 percent of the time. But it was not important; I could talk to these leaders and they would listen. They were not puppets but real citizens who were connected to people. They did not send me old recycled emails on Social Security like I just received from Sen. John Barrasso. I could talk to them and I trusted them. Not so now, with the leadership at the Wyoming Legislature or at the national level.
Who owns the public lands, who decides on land use and who decides on the success of land use decisions? These questions have become mired in a discussion on what certain words mean and how words and strategies might be turned to foster special interests.
Case in point is the language used by many people in the minerals industry, especially the phrase multiple use. Over the many years I have watched and participated in land use decisions in the state, I have found that the mineral industry, in particular, is consistent with an attitude that they have an almost divine obligation or assignment from on high to extract any and all minerals.
With the exception of minerals considered locatable, most of the mineral rights belong to the United States government (we the people) and must be leased from the feds. State Sen. Eli Bebout in recent communications with constituents accuses the federal government of poor management, burdensome regulations and opposition to responsible development of minerals. He goes on to say that multiple use is not being observed by state and federal agencies.
According to many in the fossil fuel industry, their use is just one of the multiple uses. Not so. Mineral extraction is a one time, non-renewable resource. Once gone, there is no more. Other uses such as agriculture, wildlife, water quality, air quality, recreation, proper timer management are all renewable multiple uses. Almost all of these real multiple uses are harmed or eliminated by mineral extraction. So please, Sen. Bebout, do not equate mining of minerals with other multiple uses. Your single mineral use does not Trump other uses. (Sorry for the pun.)
While I am talking about how words are used, I am wondering if other citizens resent how some public officials appear to lecture us and tell us what is important. At both the state and national level, I feel this attitude is pervasive. We are the people, and they should be listening to us. Time and again there is an assumption of speaking for all the people, that I feel is really just a political or special interest speaking.
Mr. Bebout claims that agencies have failed the people of Wyoming. What a crock. The Forest Service has just completed extensive management plans and conducted public hearings and compiled planning documents. This system may not be perfect, but it is way better than other alternatives.
We have had a flood of claims that coal will be king again. It would be nice to think we can turn back the clock, deny climate change and supply jobs and coal at previous levels, but the real economic fact is that burning fossil fuels is on the way out. World markets are going in the opposite direction. Coal production in Wyoming and Montana is off 10 to 20 percent from averages in 2010-14. Exports fell 23 percent overall in 2015 and have fallen another 32 percent through the first half of 2016.
Consumer demand is also going toward clean energy. According to the Yale-based newsletter Environment 360, Cloud-based companies such as Amazon, Google and Apple, for example, are investing in their own renewable resources to enable their data centers to be powered by green electrons. This report also points out that any regulation rollback by the Trump administration will help natural gas production, not the coal industry. The fact is that the impact of the EPA on the demise of the coal industry was vastly overstated, and dismantling the EPA itself, as Trump promised ... will do little, if anything, to bring the industry back.
It is a disservice to Wyoming not to look at the facts and plan for the future. Why are our elected officials promoting land transfers, penalties for citizens using solar power, disincentives for wind power and the ultimate rape by considering a nuclear waste dump in Wyoming? We need leadership toward a new future and ideas that protect the beauty of our state.
The way David Farnsworth sees it, billboards should not be advertising things that are not legal in Arizona, at least for some.
So the veteran senator from Mesa is proposing to make illegal any sign that promotes unlawful goods or activities to the public.
But his legislation does not stop there. SB 1294 would also outlaw any billboard that may be interpreted as contributing to the delinquency of a minor. And Farnsworth acknowledged that potentially cuts a wide and politically problematic swath.
The proposal comes as Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, has temporarily put the brakes on SB 1114, which would allow electronic billboards in his section of northwest Arizona.
That legislation is a slimmed-down version of what Borrelli tried last year, only to be slapped down by colleagues. It had been scheduled for a hearing Monday but Borrelli yanked it from consideration in a bid to line up votes.
Farnsworths measure is designed to deal with a different problem: too much outdoor advertising at least of the type he considers unacceptable.
He told Capitol Media Services it started with a constituents pointing out a billboard a few blocks from my house advertising the annual Hemp Fest taking place near Las Vegas. Nevada recently joined other states in making the use of marijuana legal for all adults; the drug is legal in Arizona only for those who have a doctors recommendation.
I was offended by it, Farnsworth said. The senator said he believes his proposal will help.
But potential issues remain.
For example, Farnsworth acknowledged that if billboards cannot promote things that are not legal, Arizona would preclude Nevada casinos from advertising along Arizona roads.
The bill as written may be too broad, he conceded.
And then theres the language about promoting the delinquency of a minor, defined in existing law as any act that tends to debate or injure the moral, health or welfare of a child. Farnsworth said that could be interpreted to preclude advertising of tobacco and alcohol, both items permissible for adults but legally off limits to minors.
You know my reputation, Farnsworth said.
Im probably the most socially conservative person in the Legislature, he said. So it wouldnt offend me if we outlaw all those things.
Southern Arizona multifaith religious leaders statement
SOUTHERN ARIZONA MULTIFAITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS STATEMENT
JANUARY 31, 2017
Southern Arizona prides itself in being an immigrant, refugee friendly region.
We, the multi-faith religious leaders of Southern Arizona, express our wholehearted affirmation and support of those in our community who have fled violence and turmoil in their home countries and who have found their new home in Southern Arizona. We welcome them and cherish the gifts refugees and immigrants bring to our country.
As people from many faith traditions, many of whom have experienced persecution and prejudice in their histories, we affirm our solidarity with our Muslim neighbors and friends. We stand with them now in the face of religious discrimination and hate crimes directed toward individuals or communities, and we defend their civil liberties.
While we fully understand the need for security protocols and proper vetting procedures of immigrants and refugees, we repudiate the current administrations executive orders regarding asylum seekers, the border wall, the ban on the admission of any refugee for a period of time, as well as the ban on admitting all immigrants and non-immigrants from seven countries. This order applies to Syrian refugees, perhaps the most vulnerable. These orders are not in keeping with the values and moral fabric of our nation.
We call upon the President to rescind these orders and to take the lead in introducing a comprehensive immigration policy reform that would better meet the needs of our nation. We also call for the continued reception of properly vetted refugees as is our responsibility as a nation of compassion that has benefited significantly from the contributions of refugees and immigrants.
In a climate of heightened anxiety, we call upon our neighbors and friends to reach beyond our fear and division to find common ground in welcoming the stranger and in fostering peace with love.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Jan. 31 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages.
Massive open online classes, or MOOCs, are shrinking the world of education and in the process bringing cutting-edge astronomy to tens of thousands of people.
Im teaching MOOCs through Coursera and Udemy, and so far, over 100,000 people from over 180 countries have signed up.
Students learn about recent discoveries in astronomy, such as the growing haul of Earthlike planets orbiting other stars, and hints about the nature of dark matter and dark energy. They also get to see how astronomers are building a new generation of giant telescopes that will cheat the blurring effect of the Earths atmosphere. Both courses are free and open to anyone.
All the material is online, with a centerpiece of 22 hours of video lectures, supplemented by readings, quizzes, podcasts, discussion boards and live video Q&A sessions. The students participate in citizen science projects as a way to get hands-on experience with real data. My team and I are using the classes to research how people learn, to help improve online classes at the University of Arizona.
Ive had email from students in developing countries who couldnt attend a university class where they live. The internet now reaches places with no electricity or running water. MOOCs are helping to democratize education.
The courses have had 6,000 students enrolled from India, more than from England or from Australia. And lone learners from far-flung locations like Bhutan, Tajikistan, Somalia and Vanuatu are represented.
PHOENIX Saying the state cant legally deport criminal immigrants, a Senate panel on Monday took what one lawmaker said is the next best step: Ensure they serve more time in Arizona prisons for the crimes they commit here.
SB 1279 says judges sentencing someone convicted of a felony must impose at least the presumptive sentence required by law if the person is in this country illegally. That means more time behind bars sometimes years longer than what is now an option for judges.
Potentially more significant, the measure approved on a 5-3 party-line vote by the Committee on Commerce and Public Safety eliminates the possibility of parole.
Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, ushered a similar measure through the Senate last year before it died in the House. Smith said he is hoping this slightly altered version meets a better fate.
But the legislation also comes amid a sea-change at the federal level with the Trump administration focusing new attention on immigration.
That point did not go unnoticed by Steve Ronnebeck, whose 21-year-old son, Grant, was working the graveyard shift at a Mesa convenience store in January 2015 when he was shot and killed, apparently for not giving someone his cigarettes fast enough.
We have several cities in our country that are defying the president, Ronnebeck told committee members, referring to Trumps directive that sanctuary cities will lose federal dollars. Ronnebeck was present in Washington when Trump signed the executive order.
Lets send a message that Arizonas going to be different and were going to set the bar, he said.
According to police, the man arrested was in the country illegally, had been convicted of burglary in 2012 and was placed on probation. A judge had ordered immigration officials be notified of his conviction.
According to Smith, had this law been in effect in 2015, the person would not have had an opportunity to kill Grant because the judge would have had to sentence the person to at least two years in prison, if not more, for the earlier crime.
Smith made no bones that he is targeting illegal immigrants, but he said there is nothing racist about it. Smith said the enhanced sentencing would apply to anyone in this country illegally, regardless of where they came from.
Will Gaona, an attorney with the Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the legislation is illegal. He said it effectively becomes a state court imposing a punishment on someone because of a violation of federal law.
PHOENIX Saying it will lead to healthier children more ready to learn, a House panel voted Monday to require all schools to offer at least 50 minutes of recess a day to those in kindergarten through fifth grade.
And it has to be unstructured, meaning the kids decide for themselves how they want to spend the time.
The approval of HB 2082 by the House Education Committee came after a plea from freshman Rep. Jesus Rubalcava, D-Gila Bend. He told colleagues his experience as a teacher working with students with special needs, including hyperactive children, convinces him that all youngsters will benefit.
But despite the unanimous vote, not everyone was convinced.
I dont support mandates, said Rep. David Stringer, R-Prescott. And he questioned the comments of witnesses who insisted that play time leads to better education.
If the research on this is so strong in favor of the benefits of recess, then why wouldnt charter schools and why wouldnt individual districts and individual school governing boards recognize that and implement it? he asked.
Rep. Jill Norgaard, R-Phoenix, said shes not convinced that schools have the time to do what the legislation proposes. What subjects would you suggest be replaced to include recess? she asked.
But Rep. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, who chairs the committee, suggested thats looking at the issue the wrong way.
The question presupposes that this is not a critical component, especially for the little guys ... of their educational experience, said Boyer who teaches at Veritas Preparatory Academy.
It helps with behavior problems, it helps with all of the other subject areas, he said. So I think this is a critical component of ones education, especially K through 5.
And Rubalcava said the research is so strong that it becomes an obligation on state lawmakers to tell districts they will fit this into their schedules.
He cited one study where recess was added to a school where that was not part of the day.
Students became more on-task and less fidgety on days when they had recess, Rubalcava said, saying that even included students with attention-deficit disorder. And he said there is evidence that sunlight stimulates the pineal gland that regulates the bodys clock and simply makes us feel better.
But Rubalcava said hes not relying purely on academic studies, citing his experience with hyperactive kids.
Recess is an opportunity to expend energy in a healthy, suitable manner, he said.
Imagine tens of thousands of mosquitoes, first as eggs in water containers, then as larvae and pupae, eventually flying away as adults to mate and lay eggs.
Every day there is a chance they will not survive to see the next morning. As temperatures increase, they develop faster and females lay more eggs; when it rains, dormant eggs hatch all at once, leading to even more adults two to three weeks later.
These mosquitoes can carry diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya or Zika.
All too familiar? Of course, especially if youve read the news lately, except these mosquitoes exist only as computer bits in our study. Their lives are ruled by mathematical functions and probabilities, all combining to give a model of mosquito abundance in different regions of Arizona or the Caribbean.
This is part of the work we do to understand how climate, including temperature, rainfall and relative humidity, drives mosquito population dynamics and how it relates to disease transmission.
The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, has been infamously known in the U.S. as far back as a large yellow fever outbreak in 1793, killing over 5,000 of the 50,000 residents in Philadelphia. It was eliminated from the U.S. and many parts of the Americas in the 1950s and 1960s.
However, with the cessation of vector control efforts, Ae. aegypti returned and is well established in many southern and western states, including Arizona. In the desert environment of Tucson, winters are too cold and dry for adults to remain active in large numbers, but models and field observations agree that abundance increases again every spring.
At the heart of our teamwork is a synergistic interaction among mathematical modeling, field experimentation and public health assessment of model predictions.
Mathematical models can help us to better understand the risk of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks, but these models rely on reasonably accurate knowledge of how mosquito development, survival and behavior is influenced by environmental variables.
It is thus important to design well-thought-out experiments to infer this information, such as those we conduct at Biosphere 2 with support from the National Institutes of Health.
For decades, researchers have been estimating how fast various species of mosquitoes grow in the lab by measuring mosquito development in incubators maintained at different temperatures.
They also studied how long eggs remain viable before the environment becomes suitable for hatching, how well adult mosquitoes survive in cold or warm climate, and how long a virus takes to develop inside a female mosquito.
This knowledge is incorporated into the mathematical model we and others developed to predict seasonal variations in Ae. aegypti numbers, as well as the proportion of females that could be infected with a specific virus.
As our collaboration crosses disciplinary boundaries, we strive to prepare our students for a future where transdisciplinary research is the norm.
Our small research group, co-directed with our colleague Daoqin Tong, an associate professor in the UA School of Geography and Development, has undergraduate and graduate students from three different colleges working together to model and understand the dynamics and spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
In a rare political alignment, the five members of Southern Arizonas congressional delegation all agree that President Trumps refugee and travel ban is flawed in some way.
Republican U.S. Rep. Martha McSally said she learned of very real and dangerous gaps in the vetting process of those entering the United States while serving on a congressional task force focused on combating ISIS.
With American intelligence officials previously conceding vulnerabilities with established vetting processes, McSally said it was prudent to take a comprehensive look at those procedures with any new administration.
However, McSally added in her statement there are issues with the executive order that must be addressed and fixed immediately.
I have concerns about certain individuals being denied entry, such as green card holders, those who served alongside our military, and partner military service members who train here, such as Iraqi pilots in Tucson, she said.
Republican Sen. John McCain offered a harsh condemnation of the executive order, arguing that barring entry to the U.S. from residents of seven Muslim-majority countries would do more to benefit ISIS than keeping Americans secure domestically.
McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, released a joint statement Sunday, calling the measure a self-inflicted wound.
This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country. That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security, the pair wrote.
Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona said the measure backed by the White House is unacceptable when even legal permanent residents are being detained or turned away at airports and ports of entry.
Enhancing long term national security requires that we have a clear-eyed view of radical Islamic terrorism without ascribing radical Islamic terrorist views to all Muslims, Flake said in a posting to medium.com
U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, labeled it as a betrayal of American values, calling the executive action a Muslim ban.
The United States of America has never known a politics as toxic as this, he said in a statement. Donald Trumps cowardice defines our national policy and reflects on our values for as long as he holds office, and I hope for all of our sakes, and for the sake of desperate refugees, that time period is as short as possible.
U.S. Rep. Tom OHalleran, a Democrat who represents District 1, agreed with McCain and Graham, saying the actions do nothing to protect Americans. It ignores our real national security needs and has created chaos at our nations airports.
PHOENIX Saying the state can't legally deport criminal immigrants, a Senate panel on Monday took what one lawmaker said is the next best step: Ensure they serve more time in Arizona prisons for the crimes they commit here.
SB 1279 says judges sentencing someone convicted of a felony must impose at least the presumptive sentence required by law if the person is in this country illegally. That means more time behind bars sometimes years longer than what is now an option for judges.
Potentially more significant, the measure approved on a 5-3 party-line vote by the Committee on Commerce and Public Safety eliminates the possibility of parole.
Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, ushered a similar measure through the Senate last year only to have it die in the House. He said Monday he is hoping this slightly altered version meets a better fate.
But the legislation also comes amid a sea-change at the federal level with the Trump administration focusing new attention on immigration, both legal and otherwise.
That point did not go unnoticed by Steve Ronnebeck whose 21-year-old son, Grant, was working the graveyard shift at a Mesa convenience store in January 2015 when he was shot and killed, apparently for not giving someone his cigarettes fast enough.
We have several cities in our country that are defying the president, Ronnebeck told committee members, referring to Trump's directive that sanctuary cities will lose federal dollars. He was present in Washington when Trump signed the executive order.
Let's send a message that Arizona's going to be different and we're going to set the bar.
According to police, the man arrested was in the country illegally, had been convicted of burglary in 2012 and was placed on probation for that offense. A judge had ordered immigration officials be notified of his conviction.
Smith said had this law been in effect in 2015 the person would not have had an opportunity to kill Grant because the judge would have had to sentence him for the earlier crime to at least two years in prison, if not more.
The legislation also drew support from Mary Ann Mendoza whose son, Mesa Police Sgt. Brandon Mendoza, was killed in 2014 by a drunk driver who was not in the country legally. Mendoza, also present for Trump's executive order signing, said people like that made a conscious decision to enter or remain in the country illegally as well as to commit a crime.
It wasn't my son's fault, it wasn't Grant's fault, she said.
Smith made no bones that he is targeting illegal immigrants. But he said there is nothing racist about it.
It's not what you look like nor how you sound, he said. Smith said the enhanced sentencing would apply to anyone in this country illegally, regardless of from where they came.
And he said nothing in this measure will affect other people not here legally as long as they remain on the right side of the law.
Will Gaona, an attorney with the Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the legislation is illegal. He said it effectively becomes a state court imposing a punishment on someone because of a violation of federal law.
Courts have already found this to be unconstitutional, Gaona said.
Sen. Bob Worsley, R-Mesa, had a more practical concern.
He pointed out that Arizona law already requires the Department of Corrections to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement before someone is released to hold that person for deportation. Worsley said this just delays that inevitability.
So it sounds like we're going to pay to incarcerate and then turn them over to ICE at the end of their full sentence, he said, though he eventually voted for the measure.
Smith, however, said incarceration costs actually went down in the years following SB 1070, a 2010 law aimed at illegal immigration. Many of those provisions, however, have since been struck down. But some survive, including one requiring that police officers, when possible, check the immigration status of people they have stopped for any other reason.
Could it be that you would have a decrease in prison costs as a result of the deterrent effect? Smith asked in defending SB 1279.
Department of Corrections lobbyist Art Harding, however, declined to speculate on the fiscal impact of the legislation. He said the number of undocumented immigrants behind bars decreased in the years after that law was passed. But Harding said there also has been a drop in the overall number of people being sent to his agency.
Northern Arizona Universitys Center for International Education is providing counseling to students over immigration related concerns in the midst of an executive order from President Donald Trump suspending travel to the United States by citizens of seven Muslim majority countries.
The order includes people from Syria, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan for at least 90 days, and has prompted responses from educational institutions across the country.
NAU President Rita Cheng issued a statement Monday afternoon in regards to the executive order, stating the university is stronger because of international representation.
In her statement, Cheng advocated for a strong visa process, and said university is committed to fostering inclusive communities where individuals are valued, safe and heard.
Cheng said the university will work with other colleges and universities nationwide to promote federal policies that enhance our mission to produce innovative research and serve students.
Northern Arizona University spokeswoman Kim Ott said there fewer than 10 students in total at the university from four of the seven countries included in the order studying at the university. Three of the countries are not represented in the NAU student body.
The executive order also sparked a petition titled Academics against Immigration Executive Order, which had garnered over 10,000 signatures by Monday afternoon, including three affiliated with NAU. The petition also includes signatures from faculty members at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.
In the petition, the authors call Trumps executive order discriminatory, detrimental to the national interests of the country and say it imposes an undue burden on members of our community.
The petition calls the people affected by the order our students, friends, colleagues and members of our communities, and calls the action inhumane, ineffective and un-American.
Anthony Hessel, the president of the Graduate Student Government at NAU, was one of three signees from the university, and said as a graduate student many of his peers are from foreign countries.
Hessel said diversity in higher education contributes to the greater body of knowledge, and said banning large groups of people limits the countrys potential.
A friend of his who does not attend NAU, from one of the seven countries affected, has been stuck in Egypt after having a connection there, Hessel said.
The order can make students studying in the United States feel isolated or targeted, Hessel said.
These are people who far and away are just trying to be really good members of society, he said.
The Graduate Student Government at NAU has been working with the university and graduate student leadership at ASU and UA to possibly release a statement if they see fit, Hessel said.
However, he encouraged people who want to take action on the order, or other issues, to call their senators and representatives.
Help India!
By Faisal Fareed, Twocircles.net
If elections are all about winning and getting the maximum votes, then can we say that like arithmetic, it is a game of numbers? Some people almost always refer to elections as a game of numbers, but is it so simple. Lets say, if A gets 40 votes and B gets 40 votes in one election and then fight the next elections as one unit, will they get 80 votes? Yes? No?
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The thing is, unlike arithmetic, elections can always never guarantee you a fixed result. So, keep all the Two-plus-Two equals four out of the equation. And we will analyse this statement in the context of Mondays announcement that after months of negotiations, the Congress Party had formally joined hands with Samajwadi Party.
Then Congress which got 11.65 % votes in 2012 polls while Samajwadi Party which polled 29.13 % votes. But if you believe that this means that together, they will poll around 40.78% votes in 2017 as they are contesting as an alliance, forget it.
Elections are not won on drawing room table by calculating the average and percentage. Elections are contested at booth level where every vote counts. This time, SPs national president Akhilesh Yadav and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi joined hands and claimed that their alliance will win over 300 seats. They also took out a roadshow in Lucknow as the first show of strength.
The Congress-SP alliance has only one silver lining, and for that too, you need to look hard. It has cleared the confusion among its voters, mainly Muslims, that they are a more potent alternative against BJP than BSP which is aggressively wooing Muslims.
Except this, the alliance is unlikely to have any other potential impact and the reason is simple: there is no camaraderie between SP and Congress workers. They are two separate parties, after all. And of course, nothing remains on course when it comes to SP these days, The first line of criticism came from none other than Mulayam Singh Yadav who within hours of sealing the alliance termed it as opportunistic alliance for power and ruled out any support. He even exhorted his workers to file nominations on those 105 seats which Congress has been allocated by SP in the alliance. See where this alliance is heading?
We must remember that alliances are successful only if the partners are in a position to transfer their votes to the ally. Going by the circumstances and current political situation, BSP seems to be the only party which has the authority to transfer its vote bank to any party. It means that its voters will follow the direction of their supremo Mayawati. Besides this, a few caste-based parties like Mahaan Dal of Keshav Prasad Maurya, Bhartiya Samaj Party of Om Prakash Rajbhar also have the power to transfer their vote to any party. It is another matter that they have never won a seat in UP assembly but have following among their community and have demonstrated it in 2012 polls. Except these, no party worth its name in UP can transfer their votes to any other party if contesting in an alliance.
When Rahul Gandhi was addressing joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav at Hotel Taj in Lucknow, the few supporters who were present at UP Congress Committee office Nehru Bhavan in Mall Avenue, Lucknow were beaming with confidence. Their joy was not that they have forged an alliance and will now win seats; instead, they confided that now they have got a face-saving situation. In an alliance, at least they need not worry about managing the crowd and even finding candidates to contest polls as the grand old party was running short of serious candidates to contest all 403 assembly seats.
Statistically, Congress won 28 seats in 2012 from the contested 355 seats. What is lesser known is that 240 Congress candidates lost their deposits and the party failed to open its account in 53 districts from total 75 districts. In the caste-ridden politics of Hindi belt, there is not a single community which irrespective of their geographical presence in UP supports Congress. The party has virtually no vote bank in the state. Rahuls shows like Khat Panchayat, Kisan Sabha may earn him space in media but there are no takers among people. Leave aside supporting Congress, most of the communities who vote in block openly detest Congress in UP. Hiring poll managers even failed to change the situation for Congress in UP. The Congress winning seats in 2012 assembly polls can simply be attributed to candidates individual capacity, local equations, and constituency specific reasons. MLAs like Pramod Tiwari, Anugrah Narain Singh, Ajay Kapoor, Vivek Singh, Nawab Kazim Ali Khan, Ajay Rai won as they have their individual aura. Others like Daljeet Singh, Bansilal Pahadia won due to local equations. Nadeem Javed, Pankaj Malik, Kaushal Kishore won due to their own poll management. It is hard to find a safe seat for Congress in all 403 seats which can be termed as its stronghold. Needless to say, the vote percentage may be 11.65% due to these candidates but not an iota of the vote is within the power of Congress to transfer. So when Congress does not possess vote bank what will it transfer?
But still, Congress stands to gain due to the alliance. Dont be surprised if its tally rises from existing 28 seats. But in a haste, dont attribute it to its rising popularity or efforts of its leaders. It will be totally due to two factorsfirstly absence of SP candidates will limit the options in various constituencies and where BSP is lagging or Congress candidate is in a strong position, it will collect a majority of the non-BJP votes.
Secondly, some local satraps like Imran Masood will help increase tally in Saharanpur and the candidates hired from SP like Shahnawaz Rana, Sher Ali Khan, Kuldeep Ujjawal will help in increasing the vote share.
Finally what will happen is that Congress with increased share will give fodder to its armchair politicians for preparing charts, analysis, discussions for a possible resurgence of Congress. The laidback workers of Congress and its very very senior leaders though hailing from UP but doing national and international level politics will get ready for another round of elections in 2019. Because contesting elections is the easiest mode to remain alive in politics.
What does the SP gain?
As mentioned earlier it only gains by providing the psychological edge to its voters mainly Muslims that it is the only alternative against BJP. Even SP and Akhilesh dont have the authority or appeal to get these Muslims voters transferred to Congress as an ally. The other vote bank Yadavs, it will be again a tough task for Akhilesh to rally them behind Congress.
It is always better to part with some seats so that when you lose or win at least there will be some element left for political experts, seasoned journalists and debaters to discuss it as foremost reason for your result. SP may boast of getting 224 seats in 2012 polls but no one remembers that its candidates forfeited deposits in 53 seats and it even failed to win a single seat in nine districts.
As the election progresses there will be many hiccups. Already, three Congress and SP candidates are contesting against each other in Baldev, Koil and Pukazi seats in the first phase. Much more such cases will erupt. Then there is media originated pocket borough of CongressAmethi and Rae Bareillywhere seats are under contention.
The maximum which can occur due to this alliance is very aggressive branding, advertising blitz, superb marketing will present the alliance as a strong contender and how much mileage it gives at ground level, it is still debatable.
Help India!
By TCN News
Aligarh : Dr Mehdi Hayat Shahi, Assistant Professor associated with the Interdisciplinary Brain Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University has been awarded the Farha Deeba Haq Award for outstanding contribution in the field of biomedical sciences. Dr Shahi has been awarded by the Indian Academy of Biomedical Sciences during the 6th Annual Meeting of Indian Academy of Biomedical Sciences and International Conference at Bhavnagar in Gujarat.
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During the Meeting and Conference, Dr Shahi also delivered a lecture on Sonic Hedgehog signalling Pathway from Brain to Brain Cancer Development. The Meeting and Conference was attended by many International and National Clinicians and Biomedical Scientists.
"In my opinion"
Concerning to whom the fault of oppression belongs;
"We are not all equally guilty but we are all equally responsible" - Rabbi Abraham Hescel
Concerning blaming others for the problem;
"...And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?... - Matthew: 7 1-5
Concerning how to fix the problems concerning oppression;
"Someone once said that the word 'motivation' should never be used in the singular. Some combination of motives always exist and it's impossible for anyone to qualify the proportion of each that is involved in any given act" - Warren Buffet (in an interview in the USA Today)
Please take into account that the views expressed on my blog are prefaced with; in my opinion, in my experience or even (sometimes) random observations and/or thoughts.
Please make your statements without the endless litany of cross referenced materials. Source information is fine but I'll just assume that you've done due diligence and that your statements are correct or an accepted editorial.
Thank you, UBJ
The United States (US) President Donald Trump has been invited to the United Kingdom (UK) on a state visit later this year. But the invitation has been met with mass protests, criticism and discontent. So the questions to ask are, why are so many protesting against the visit and should it go ahead?
What has exactly happened?
Prime Minister Theresa May has invited Donald Trump to come to the UK on an official state visit. But the invitation has been met with widespread fury and anger, from across the board. Thousands have taken to the streets across the UK to protest against the invitation, in cities such as Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London, as reported in the Guardian newspaper.
In addition more than 1.5 million people have signed a petition, calling for the visit "to be abandoned" according to The Telegraph newspaper. Further on from this, the internet petition "quickly smashed" the 100,000 signatures needed to be considered for a debate in Parliament.
Why such outrage?
But the first question to ask is, why is there such a protest against Trump's scheduled visit? It is mainly down to the policies advocated by the Trump in the past few days. The President provoked "global outrage" as reported in the Express newspaper, by banning travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East and Africa. Critics of Trump have expressed concern that the ban is "Islamophobic" and "unfairly targets Muslim people".
Criticism within Parliament
Such a policy has also caused discontent within Parliament itself. Politicians from across the political spectrum have come together in "questioning May's decision" to go ahead with the state visit as stated in the Guardian newspaper. The Labour leader has called for the visit to be "postponed" while Trump's immigration ban was in place.
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said in an interview on Sky News that the invitation should be withdrawn and "should never have been made". Even Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Conservative party in Scotland, said that Trump should not be welcomed to Britain "while a cruel and divisive policy...is in place".
Standing firm
However, despite such criticism, Theresa May has stood firm. The Independent newspaper reported that May was "very happy" to extend the invitation to Trump, seen by many as an attempt to preserve the good relations between the countries. May stated that "the United States is a close ally of the United Kingdom" and "we have that special relationship between us".
Should the visit go ahead?
It seems a little hasty to make the invitation so early, given that the visit will not take place until later this year. Who knows what will happen between now and then. As the saying goes, 'a week is a long time in politics'. Whilst I do disagree with the initial decision to invite Trump amidst all that is going on, I do not think that you can retract the offer now.
It is too late and will probably cause more problems going forward. The fact that the UK needs all the friends that it can get what with Brexit, this may be playing on the Prime Minister's mind in that she needs the continued support of the US as a result.
Prime minster Theresa May will meet President Donald Trump for the first time next week. May will discuss trade and terrorism, but hasn't confirmed if she will confront Trump about his "unacceptable" comments about women.
Making a statement
Whilst being interviewed by Andrew Marr, the prime minster was asked on multiple occasions if she will raise women's rights issues with the most powerful man on the planet. Yesterday, over 100,000 people marched in London over concerns about gender equality. May argued that her meeting with Trump would be the biggest statement about women that she could make.
Previously, May had derided the President of the USA's comments about women, in particular a video in which Trump can be heard describing how he "grabs attractive women by the pussy". May stated that, due to Britain's special relationship with the USA, she would be able to raise any concerns that she has.
"I have previously stated that some of the comments made by Trump in relation to women were absolutely unacceptable. Some of those comments Trump has apologised for," stated May before invoking her history of defending women's rights when she was home secretary.
"I will be talking to Donald Trump about issues that both the United Kingdom and the United States face.It's the special relationship that we share that allows us to raise issues that we find unacceptable.
Whenever I find something unacceptable, I will tell Donald Trump that I find it unacceptable," said May.
A rocky start
May will fly to Washington next week to hold discussions with Trump. The President of the United States will come over to the UK for a state visit later in the year. May's attempts to build a relationship with the new president have been regularly undermined by Nigel Farage.
Trump took to Twitter to express his desire for Farage to become the British ambassador in Washington.
Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition, asked May challenge Trump on comments made about Islam and women. "There was no sign of any special relationship between the U.K and the U.S.A in Trump's inauguration speech," stated Corbyn.
An estimated 400 people carrying signs and chanting in unison crowded into Flagstaff's Pulliam Airport on Sunday afternoon, according to Repeal Coalition Arizona, which organized the solidarity protest.
The goal was to join nationwide efforts to stand against President Trumps bans on refugees and travel into the United States from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Even though no refugees are being held in Flagstaff, we still have many people who are here on similar visas. They and many others could face similar issues in the future, the event description said.
In a message to the Daily Sun, the group said it didnt know how many people to expect at the protest. It first posted a Facebook announcement about the event Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the event.
It was obvious that the Flagstaff community felt particularly strong about the issue of the ban against refugees, as did many people across the nation, the group said in its message.
Flagstaff City Councilmember Eva Putzova was one of the hundreds who attended.
It was a reflection of values that I think Flagstaff holds very dear, values of tolerance and acceptance. And obviously in the Flagstaff community as well as many other communities it is outrage over president Trumps ban on accepting refugees from several majority Muslim countries and from Syria, Putzova said. I think people recognize that refugees deserve our compassion.
In terms of the events impact, Repeal Coalition said the protest contributed to a larger message.
The many people who came out to airports on short notice all over the United States were able to drastically reduce the impact of a not so well thought-out executive order. That is clearly evident. And it shows that people will have to continue to place pressure so that no other communities are singled out unfairly, the group wrote.
Two counterprotestors who had their faces covered with bandanas and held Confederate and American flags arrived at the airport near the end of the protest, but Putzova said their presence didnt incite any additional tension and didnt result in any confrontations. Some people became more cautious, but many others didnt notice the men were there, she said.
Flagstaff police officers escorted the two men back to their vehicle at the conclusion of the protest.
On Monday, local elected officials commented on the protest and Trumps actions.
The number of people that showed up at the rally yesterday at the airport and the discussion on social media is indicative of how concerned our community is. Any action that causes fear amongst our residents and community is of concern, Coconino County Supervisor Liz Archuleta wrote in an email. We have a responsibility at the local level to provide input to the President, the Administration and Congress about how our community views their actions or inactions.
U.S. Rep. Tom OHalleran, D-Sedona, issued a statement as well.
President Trumps broad executive order banning refugees from entering our country fails to make America more secure, OHalleran said in a press release. It ignores our real national security needs and has created chaos at our nations airports. I agree with Sen. McCain that this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.
Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with the leaders of the devolved nations of the United Kingdom before the article 50 bill to trigger Britain's departure from the European Union goes through parliament. Theresa May is expected to tell the leaders of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales that they have no veto over the process. The artile 50 bill will go in front of parliament next week.
Scottish and Welsh first ministers against hard Brexit
Nicola Sturgeon and Carwyn Jones, the leaders of Scotland and Wales respectively, have repeatedly stressed that they can't accept a hard Brexit without full access to the EUs single market.
Theresa May is expected to tell Sturgeon and Jones that this is not possible, arguing that there is no such thing as a hard or soft Brexit.
Although we certainly wont agree on every single point, we will shy away from the necessary conversations between the nations and I sincerely hope that we will have further constructive discussions in the future,' Theresa May said before the meeting.
Last week, a ruling by the supreme court determined that MPs would have to vote before triggering article 50, which Theresa May stated showed the 'United Kingdom needs to stick together and put our best interests at the heart of discussions'. An element of the judges decision last week was that the devolved governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland could not veto the process.
Meeting takes place this week
May continued, stating: 'The UK voted to leave the European Union and the government has a responsibility to deliver on that mandate'. Brexit secretary David Davis and trade secretary Liam Fox will be in attendance for the meeting in Cardiff.
Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the SNP and first minister of Scotland, said May was determined to prove that the devolved nations had no power in the Brexit process. Sturgeon said:'It is abundantly clear that Theresa May and her government are pursuing a hard Brexit. This would be devastatng to Scotland. That is not what the people of Scotland voted for'.
Hollywood didn't keep quiet on Sunday night during the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards about presidents impetuous ban on immigrants from seven Muslim nations. And some of them have found diverse ways to speak out against Donald Trump's strict resolution. A host of the prestigious Screen Actors Guild ceremony in the USA - Ashton Kutcher allowed himself to criticize Trump in his opening monologue right from the scene, some guests wrote slogans against the president's policies directly on their body, and one of the winners said how he accepted Islam.
Plenty of Hollywood stars voiced their rage at Trump's decision
Ashton Kutcher welcomed all who are present in the hall, and those watching the broadcast, including 'everyone at airports who belong in my America, you are a part of the fabric of who we are ... we welcome you' - said Kutcher, addressing not only the audience but also to those who fall under the law." Hence, he said he would not accept a presidential order to tighten immigration rules.
A certain tone was also well-established by Julia Louis-Dreyfus - an actress, who won an award for Best Actress in a TV comedy. According to her, 'the immigrant ban is a blemish, and it's un-American.'
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, whose father fled religious oppression in Nazi-occupied France said: 'I am an American patriot, and I love this country, and because I love this country I am horrified by its blemishes.'
Simon Helberg and Jocelyn Towne appeared at the ceremony with slogans against the ban on entry into the US for the refugees and residents of several Muslim countries.
Helberg held the poster: "Refugees welcome," while Town's chest wore the words "let them in."
The Hall with standing ovations met the performance of the star in the film "Moonlight" Mahershaly Ali, honored as the best supporting actor. In his speech, he stated: 'My mother is an ordained minister, I am a Muslim; she didn't do back-flips when I called her to tell her I converted 17 years ago.
But I'll tell you now, we put things to the side, I was able to see her, she was able to see me. We love each other, the love is real, and that stuff is minutiae, it's not that important.'
Winona Ryder's reactions blow up the Internet
However, the most prominent speech was proclaimed by the Stranger Things star - David Harbour.
He used the shows acceptance speech to rage against Donald Trumps Muslim immigration ban as well.
Harbour shouted: "I would just like to say that in light of all thats going on in the world today, its difficult to celebrate the already celebrated Stranger Things.We are united in that we are all human beings and we are all together on this wonderful painful, horribly painful, joyous, exciting and mysterious ride that is being alive.We will as per Chief Jim Hopper punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the weak and the disenfranchised and the marginalised and we will do it all with soul with heart and with joy."
But the reaction by Winona Ryder to David Harbour speech was the most emotional and meme-friendly event at the ceremony. She was caught pulling a series of shocked and expressive faces while her co-star was declaring the speech.
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
Emma Lazarus, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty
But if youre from Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya or Somalia, the wait time is at least 120 days for the process to begin.
And if youre from Syria, your entry is considered detrimental to the interest of the United States and you cannot pass through this door, until President Donald Trump decides (your) admission is in the national interest. Executive Order 7 Sec 5(d).
The theme behind Executive Order 7, signed into law Friday, at its core is a good idea that I can get behind: protecting the nation from terrorist entry into the United States, but Trumps approach is flawed. As Benjamin Franklin put it: If you give up liberty for security you deserve neither.
We cannot protect ourselves and call ourselves Americans by turning our backs on those in need.
We must streamline the process that takes approximately 36 months by hiring more individuals to vet these refugees and immigrants instead of slamming the golden door in their faces and telling them to go back to the hell they just left.
The America that Trump wants to create does not want to base-quibble or argue over tangible facts. His administration will ask us: Who do you believe? Me, or your own eyes? Only one person born in one of the seven countries listed in the executive order has committed an act of terrorism on U.S. soil.
Mohammed Reza Taheri-Aza, an Iranian-born U.S. citizen, injured nine people on the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill campus in 2006. Recent acts of terrorism were committed by Americans: Adam Lanza, Dylann Roof, Omar Mir Seddique and Micah Xavier Johnson, to name a few. If Trump truly wishes to protect our country from terrorism, he should start with the United States.
His executive order is irrational and not based on evidence. Fear-mongering based on national origin and religion is dangerous. This type of rhetoric led to the internment of millions of Japanese-Americans and the extermination of over 6 million Jews. Xenophobia led to persecution based on how the person looked or prayed; nothing based in fact, just fear.
Refugees come seeking safety for themselves and their families. They are fleeing terrorist groups like ISIS. However, under Sec 5 (b) of Executive Order 7: Upon the resumption of U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) Admissions, the U.S. will prioritize refugee claims made by individuals based on religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individuals country of nationality. Of the seven countries listed, all are predominantly Muslim countries.
The intent of this language is quite clear: If youre Muslim (regardless if Shia or Sunni), coming from a predominantly Muslim country deemed terror-ridden, you do not have priority. This is fundamentally wrong.
According to U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly, there is imminent danger that, absent the stay of removal, there will be substantial and irreparable injury to refugees, visa-holders, and other individuals from nations subject to (Executive Order 7). The order, she says, violates their rights under the equal protection and due process clauses.
On a more humanitarian level, you do not just watch a person drown: You save them. Moreover, these executive orders will only fuel ISIS, enabling it to use the bigoted rhetoric as a rallying cry. To truly make America great again, you must take a good look at what it means to be American. Our diversity of languages, cultures and religions are a beacon the rest of the world marches toward. The people of this nation will not stand by idly as you tear apart this country.
We will fight to keep that door open.
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Alexandre Bissonnette has been arrested and is facing very serious charges after he allegedly walked into a mosque in Quebec, Canada, and opened fire during evening prayers. Reports indicate that Bissonnette was one of two men arrested but that he is the only person that is now facing charges. A man by the name of Mohamed el Khadir was also arrested but authorities claim that he is just a witness. No charges have been filed against him.
Police piece together the puzzle
Authorities believe that the 27-year-old university student acted alone at the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Center.
About 20 minutes after the shooting, Bissonnette reportedly dialed 911 and turned himself into police. Those who know this man claim that he was a Trump supporter but that he was fairly quiet -- no one could have predicted that he'd do such a thing. Those who knew him say that he wasn't the violent type. His actions have shocked many people.
The shooting aftermath
A total of six men were killed at the mosque on Sunday night when Bissonnette opened fire. Five men remain in a critical condition at Quebec City's Hopital de l'Enfant-Jesus. Reports indicate that 12 others suffered less serious injuries and a total of 39 people escaped from the mosque unharmed.
Although a motive has not yet been confirmed, most people see Alexandre Bissonnette's act as being anti-Muslim and it is being treated as an act of terror.
Bissonnette has been charged with six counts of murder. No additional people are being sought in connection with this case. An investigation is still ongoing and authorities are still working to tie up all of the loose ends.
Picking up the pieces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the following statement earlier today:
"Make no mistake, this was a terrorist attack,' he said, before issuing a heartfelt message to the country's Muslim community.
Know that we value you. You enrich our shared country in immeasurable ways. It is your home. Last night's horrible crime against the Muslim community was an act of terror committed against Canada and against all Canadians. We will grieve with you. We will defend you. We will love you. And we will stand with you."
President Trump's immigration policies have inspired one California state senator to demand the release of citizen documents pertaining to First Lady Melania Trump. According to Politico.com, State Senator Nancy Skinner of Berkeley issued the demand at the state capitol last week to protest President Trump's order limiting federal funding to so-called "sanctuary cities." "No one in the Trump operation has released any of the documentation to indicate what was the circumstance, or whether she had full legal status, Skinner told Politico in an interview earlier this week.
Skinner pointed out that, last August, Donald Trump had promised that Melania-- who was born in Slovenia-- would hold a press conference to address the issue, but the press conference never took place.
GOP accuses Skinner of hitting below the belt
While Skinner's demand was applauded by some California legislators, such as Senate Pro Tem Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, others have accused the Berkeley legislator of sexism and harassment. Harmeet Dhillon of the Republican National Committee, called Skinner's demand "a cheap trolling tactic" that is beneath the dignity of an elected official. Sue Caro, the chair of the Alameda County Republican Party, referred to Skinner's demand as "a crap grandstanding posture."
Melania worked illegally for seven weeks
Skinner's crusade against the First Lady stems from an Associated Press investigation from last November, which concluded that Melania Trump did not have the proper work visas during her career as a fashion model after coming to the United States from her homeland of Slovenia.
According to the AP investigation, Melania was paid for ten modeling jobs over a seven week period before she had legal permission to work in the U.S. David Leopold, an immigration attorney, told Politico that because of the AP story Melania Trump is "fair game." "Its only appropriate they make his wifes file public, so we know that his family also complied with immigration rules," said Leopold.
Over the last 72 hours, Donald Trump and his executive order to ban Muslims from select Middle East countries has dominated the news cycle. As expected, backlash followed and the new president expressed his frustration on Twitter.
Trump on Twitter
On Friday, Donald Trump attempted to make good on his campaign promise when it comes to fighting Islamic terrorism, but many believe he has gone too far. As part of his executive order, a travel ban has been put in place that affects seven countries in the Middle East. The ban also included green card holders, and those with duel citizenships.
As airports were forced to comply with the order, authorities detained several individuals which sparked massive protests over the weekend. On Sunday night, Delta Air Lines was forced to cancel 280 flights, citing a computer error, but the new president thinks there is more to the story, which was evident during a Twitter rant on January 30.
Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning. Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage,..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017
protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer. Secretary Kelly said that all is going well with very few problems. MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017
"Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning.
Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage, protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer," Donald Trump wrote on Twitter. In a follow-up tweet, Trump added, "Secretary Kelly said that all is going well with very few problems. MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!"
There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country. This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017
"There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country," Trump tweeted, while also noting, "This was a big part of my campaign.
Study the world!" In yet another tweet on the issue, the billionaire real estate mogul continued to pile on. "If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week," Trump wrote, stating, "A lot of bad 'dudes' out there!"
If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the "bad" would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad "dudes" out there! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017
Trump on the media
In his most recent tweet, Donald Trump decided to take a shot at Democrats and the media, who his administration has since labeled "the opposition." "Where was all the outrage from Democrats and the opposition party (the media) when our jobs were fleeing our country?" Trump asked on Twitter.
Where was all the outrage from Democrats and the opposition party (the media) when our jobs were fleeing our country? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017
Moving forward
While there has been serious backlash to Donald Trump over his executive order, it doesn't appear that the administration will be backtracking anytime soon. With only a week in the White House, the tension between the president and millions of Americans is only getting worse.
Within minutes after the news broke that Donald Trump had signed an execute order banning Muslim refugees from entering the United States, critics quickly lashed out. As expected, Presidential Counsel Kellyanne Conway has come to the president's defense.
Conway on Trump
Ever since replacing Paul Manafort as the campaign manager for Donald Trump last August, former Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway has become one of the most high-profiled figures in American politics. A regular to make the rounds on cable news and Sunday talk shows, Conway has often been criticized for defending Trump, most recently being her use of the term "alternative facts" to describe the falsehoods coming out of the White House.
After backlash resulted in protests opposing the aforementioned "Muslim ban," Conway took to her Twitter account on January 28, while also lashing out on Fox News.
Get used to it. @POTUS is a man of action and impact.
Promises made, promises kept.
Shock to the system.
And he's just getting started https://t.co/AoUsZWClXt Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) January 28, 2017
"Get used to it. @POTUS is a man of action and impact," Kellyanne Conway wrote on her Twitter feed on Saturday, before adding, "Promises made, promises kept. Shock to the system. And he's just getting started." Not stopping there, Conway went on to appear with Judge Jeanine Pirro on Fox News to express her thoughts on the current news at hand.
Tonight on "Justice," @JudgeJeanine has an exclusive interview w/ key @POTUS adviser @KellyannePolls - Tune in at 9p ET on Fox News Channel! pic.twitter.com/XWJpt6BlX7 Fox News (@FoxNews) January 28, 2017
"You wanna be in America? We have some of the most generous immigration laws in the world," Kellyanne Conway said, while advising, "Go stand in line.
Go do it the way our ancestors did it." "You can't break the law and then allow liberals tell everyone that 'illegal immigrants are here to do the jobs that Americans just won't do,'" Conway continued, explaining that Americans are willing to take the jobs that illegal immigrants typically get hired for, despite what the political left often says.
Moving forward
Twenty-four hours after Donald Trump signed the executive order, at least a dozen people were detained at Kennedy International Airport in New York. Over the next few hours, protests took place in New York, while the ACLU filed a lawsuit over the ban in question on the behalf of two Iraqis detained at the airport. As of press time, a federal judge has issued a temporary stay, though the White House has not yet responded.
Over the last year and a half since Donald Trump became a candidate for president, his relationship with the media has been poor, often engaging in public feuds with various hosts, networks, and newspapers. After one MSNBC host was accused of spending New Year's Eve partying with Trump, things quickly went south on Twitter.
MSNBC freak out
There's only been a handful of reporters and members of the media that Donald Trump has been friendly with since announcing his candidacy in June 2015. One those names was Joe Scarborough, the co-host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC.
At one point, Scarborough, and co-host Mika Brzezinski, were so close to Trump that they would speak outside of the show. However, the billionaire real estate mogul clashed with the hosts several times during the election, and the relationship seemed over. Despite this, Sopan Deb of CBS pushed the idea that Scarborough spent New Year's Eve partying the night away with the president elect, but as seen on his official Twitter account on January 1, the MSNBC host is pushing back.
Scarborough Blows Up at Reporter for Claiming He 'Partied' With Trump on New Years https://t.co/5tVq2zb8we pic.twitter.com/lbUkXplcfD Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 1, 2017
It started when Sopan Deb tweeted an excerpt of an article from the New York Times claiming the "Morning Joe" MSNBC hosts were at a Mar-a-Largo New Year's Eve party.
Quickly, Joe Scarborough fired back. "Partied? You're very good at pushing fake news. You should write for CNN. Apparently making up facts is fine if you're writing about us," Scarborough tweeted on Sunday night. "One of the more entertaining aspects of media coverage of media is how so many who blast Trump for half truths attack us with half truths," he went on to write in a follow-up tweet.
Partied? You're very good at pushing fake news. You should write for CNN. Apparently making up facts is fine if you're writing about us. https://t.co/mCe0EYghRB Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) January 1, 2017
One of the more entertaining aspects of media coverage of media is how so many who blast Trump for half truths attack us with half truths. https://t.co/mCe0EYghRB Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) January 1, 2017
Not backing down
Not stopping there, Joe Scarborough explained that the claim he "partied" with Donald Trump was "not even close," while pointing out how he criticized his campaign for being "racist, xenophobic and disqualifying." "I'm tired of hacks attacking politicians for lies and false narratives and then doing the same to us," Scarborough continued, before asking, "Does @CBSNews know that you just make shit up on your twitter feed?"
Last year I said Trump's campaign was racist, xenophobic and disqualifying. But be snide while making facts up. Partied? Not even close. https://t.co/mCe0EYghRB Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) January 1, 2017
Yeah. I'm tired of hacks attacking politicians for lies and false narratives and then doing the same to us. https://t.co/d74af4qxJU Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) January 1, 2017
After Sopan responded on Twitter by asking how the report was wrong if the hosts were at the location, Joe Scarborough broke down exactly how his night went.
"I 'partied' last night by watching Groundhog Day and Ghostbusters with my kids," the MSNBC host wrote, before adding, "Then watched the Mariah Carey dumpster fire."
You're defending a guy who lied about me and you're telling me to be careful? I think you have that backwards. You be careful. Facts matter. https://t.co/5YE0necdu8 Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) January 1, 2017
Agreed! Facts matter: so you weren't at Mar-A-Lago on New Years Eve? You called it fake news, so let's get this right. https://t.co/M8ByaSXHBE Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) January 1, 2017
Going further, Scarborough explained that Donald Trump was holding a black tie event at his resort, but that he, along with Brzezinski, were only there to take part in a "preset meeting" with the president-elect, and that they didn't attend the party.
1. I "partied" last night by watching Groundhog Day and Ghostbusters with my kids. Then watched the Mariah Carey dumpster fire. Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) January 1, 2017
2. Around 7pm, I had a preset meeting with PEOTUS before his party trying to set up an interview (much like reporters at CBS & NYT do. Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) January 1, 2017
"Anyone suggesting otherwise is a hypocrite who ignores what great journalists from Ben Bradlee to Tom Brokaw have done for years," Joe Scarborough wrote. The two went back and forth for the better part of the next hour, arguing over the issue in question. Sopan Dep appeared to mock Scarborough for calling the report "fake news," despite being at the the location, though not for the party. The rest of their conversation could be found on their Twitter accounts, @JoeNBC and @SopanDeb.
President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order that could literally kill the EPAs Clean Power Plan and roll back onerous climate change regulations. It directs federal agencies to eliminate two regulations for every new one that gets passed. It also sets a regulatory budget for next year to zero dollars. Trump said this new order would be the largest ever cut by far in terms in regulation. Trump has given agencies the authority to decide what rules they want to roll back before the White House reviews them. There calling it the "one in, two out" rule.
The latest order would ostensibly cut many of the onerous regulations laid down by former EPA chief Gina McCarthy. Many were rolled out just weeks before Inauguration Day while others have been percolating through the legal system as individual states and industry sue the federal government for overreach. Trump said clean air and water were his first priority, but the environmental rule-making has gotten out of control.
Regulatory overreach
One such rule is the Clean Power Plan (CPP), an expansive interpretation of the Clean Air Act that gives the EPA unprecedented powers to regulate the trace gas carbon dioxide (CO2).
The problem arises because the indicators the EPA uses show the air is actually very clean. With no evidence to support its decision, the EPA added CO2 to its list of harmful air pollutants to regulate coal-fired power plants and other industries like fracking and drilling.
Trump campaigned that if he were elected, he would use an all-of-the-above energy approach.
Shortly after the inauguration, the Trump administration was handed the reins of Whitehouse.gov after it was backed up and wiped clean by the National Archives. It has since been updated to reflect his campaign promises. Under the heading America First Energy Plan, Trump plans to remove restrictions placed on U.S. energy production put in place by Obamas Climate Action Plan.
Trump signs executive order aiming to slash regulations https://t.co/a86zdRB3UA pic.twitter.com/K5gC9T9UZi CNBC International (@CNBCi) January 30, 2017
Pruitt vs. EPA
First on the chopping block will likely be the CPP, a rule put in place to allegedly lower CO2 emissions and avert global warming. In reality it has shuttered coal-fired power plants without averting any discernible warming. Right now the CPP is currently on hold by the Supreme Court pending the outcome of lawsuits filed by 28 states and industry.
Trumps EPA nominee Scott Pruitt can direct the Justice Department to not defend the rule, or simply drop it completely based on the new "one in, two out" order. If two rules need to be eliminated for every new one, the CPP would likely violate that law.
But with Chuck Schumer obstructing the confirmation of Trumps incoming cabinet it may be months before Pruitt gets nominated.
No, Scott Pruitt at the EPA Will Not Be a Threat to the Planet https://t.co/gKLY5dtKN5 pic.twitter.com/7JskTn9fWq National Review (@NRO) December 9, 2016
Despite a standing regulatory freeze for all agencies, the new order establishes a process for when agencies resume issuing rules. Trump has tasked Mick Mulvaney to lead the Office of Management and Budget to oversee its implementation. Easing the regulatory burden was a pledge Trump made throughout his campaign that is coming to fruition. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that not since 1981 has an order of this magnitude been issued that will benefit so many job creators across the country.
Republican U.S. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who are not political or personal friends of President Donald Trump, released a joint statement on Sunday condemning the executive order banning Muslims from entering the United States from seven select Muslim countries. The two Senators criticized the Muslim ban issued by the Trump White House, and stated that the ban would only serve to exacerbate the situation, and not accomplish its stated intended purpose of making America safer. The statement went on to say that the "Muslim ban" would only serve to recruit more terrorists.
'Muslim ban' a self-inflicted wound resulting in recruiting more terrorists
The Senators also called the executive order a "self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism," according to CNN. They were also critical of the stopping at airports of green card holders. This singling out of green card holders would stop them from returning to the country "they call home." The unintended consequences of the executive order signals that "America does not want Muslims coming into our country." That is the reasoning behind their contention that the "Muslim ban" may do more to help terrorists recruit new members to inflict harm on the United States.
U.S. Senators McCain, Graham: Order may help recruit terrorists https://t.co/X93n9Txh1s pic.twitter.com/UDzLjzTJ1z Reuters Politics (@ReutersPolitics) January 29, 2017
Trump tweets again, slamming McCain, Graham
President Trump tweeted out his response to U.S.
Senators McCain and Graham. As usual, Trump made it a personal attack instead of addressing the issue at hand. He labeled the two as "sadly weak on immigration." Trump also tweeted that they should focus their energies on "ISIS, illegal immigration and border security." He accused them, ironically, of always looking for ways to start another world war.
The joint statement of former presidential candidates John McCain & Lindsey Graham is wrong - they are sadly weak on immigration. The two... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017
...Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017
Trump defends Muslim order on Facebook
The White House also issued a statement through the press pool and later posted on Facebook, vigorously defending the "Muslim ban" executive order.
In the statement, Trump vehemently denied this was a "Muslim ban." The statement was unconvincing when it went on: "This is not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe." In an attempt for a safer haven, Trump tried to pin this on former President Barack Obama, claiming that he essentially did the same thing "in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months."
Federal judges issue stay orders on 'Muslim ban'
Meanwhile, a number of federal judges have issued stay orders on the ban, with varying degrees of success. However, in many cities across America, the protests continue.
Tens of thousands in U.S. cities protest Trump immigration policies: https://t.co/YqafD96v3v pic.twitter.com/Gzwahf0e18 Reuters Politics (@ReutersPolitics) January 29, 2017
President Donald Trump is about to make his first Supreme Court nomination and people are anxious to know more about the potential candidates. Judge Neil Gorsuch is a name that has been front-and-center in the discussions regarding the next nominee and people are anxious to know more about this potential Supreme Court Justice. What is Gorsuch's background?
Trump's frontrunners are reportedly Gorsuch and Hardiman
As CNN notes, Thomas Hardiman and Neil Gorsuch had reportedly become the top two candidates that President Trump was considering. The official announcement will be made Tuesday night and heading into the announcement, the buzz is that Gorsuch is going to be getting the nomination.
However, Trump has been known to make last-minute changes in his picks for various positions, although some believe that a Hardiman pick could generate some fresh criticisms of nepotism considering that he serves in the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals with the president's sister, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry.
Gorsuch was said to have been rspotted in Washington D.C. Tuesday afternoon ahead of the official announcement and sources have revealed that he reportedly has been told that he'll be the nominee. Is this a nominee that can sail through the confirmation process, considering how tense things have been between the Republicans and Democrats?
As Mother Jones details, Gorsuch is a judge in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Colorado and he is 49-years-old.
He went to Columbia, Harvard, and Oxford, notes Politico, and he actually attended Harvard Law with former President Obama. The judge previously clerked for Supreme Court Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy back in 1993 and 1994 and he also worked in the Department of Justice for a while.
Will a Gorsuch pick satisfy Scalia fans?
Gorsuch will clearly appeal to conservatives as he was involved in the controversial Hobby Lobby decision that was a big win for the right. However, some conservatives are concerned that he may not lean as pro-life as they would like, a detail that would surely irritate many who are counting on President Trump to make a pick that could help overturn Roe v.
Wade.
Many conservatives are buzzing over their approval for Gorsuch, believing that he would be a good replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia who passed away suddenly last year. The Republicans will surely be immediately onboard with this judge, if indeed he is President Trump's pick, but will the Democrats vote in favor of him as well? Sixty Senators will need to approve the nominee and given what happened with Obama's pick of Merrick Garland last year, there will likely be a lot of talk about how cooperative the Democrats feel like being in this matter.
President Donald Trump will announce his pick for the Supreme Court Tuesday night, and everybody will be curious to see if Judge Neil Gorsuch indeed gets the nod. Will he be able to garner the votes needed to become the next Supreme Court Justice?
Donald Trump's latest Executive Order has perhaps been the most controversial yet. Described by many as a Muslim Ban, the decision to halt immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations has been met with worldwide dismay and criticism, as well as numerous protests at home. The Order also suspends the whole US refugee admissions system for 120 days, despite it already being one of the most rigorous processes in existence. On top of this, the Syrian refugee program, perhaps the most vital in the current climate, was suspended indefinitely.
World leaders outraged
Leaders across the world have responded with both surprise and anger, dismayed at the thinking behind the decision as well as the haste in which it has been implemented. One of the first to speak out was Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, who tweeted that Canada would welcome any refugees fleeing terror, war, or persecution, regardless of their faith. Whilst stopping short of criticizing Trump himself, his message was clear and has been met with worldwide support.
The response in Europe has been similar. According to France24, French President Francois Hollande called the decisions "a dead-end response," and urged Europe to respond firmly to the American President should he continue to promote the break-up of the EU or refuse to admit any more refugees.
He stressed that Europe must continue to hold firm to its responsibilities as a space for liberty and democracy alongside resisting any populist movements that may arise.
Angela Merkel was similar in her criticism (according to the Independent), announcing that it is "not justified to put people from a specific background or faith under general suspicion" in the name of combatting terrorism.
Germany accepted around 300,000 Syrian refugees in 2016, compared to just 12,486 by the US. Praised for her humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis, a spokesperson for the German leader insisted Ms. Merkel was convinced that any fight against terrorism didn't justify putting people of certain faiths or origins under general suspicion.
Reaction in the United Kingdom
The response in the UK has been rather confusing. Having just returned from her visit to the US, British Prime Minster Theresa May at first refused to condemn the Executive Order. Following a public outcry, her subsequent response has still been muted and may become a defining moment of her tenure. The British public, on the other hand, responded with anger. A petition to downgrade President Trump's expected State Visit to the UK later in the year reached over 1.2 million signatures as of Monday afternoon, triggering a debate in Parliament on the issue in the coming weeks. A long time ally of the United States, it is expected that there will be large-scale protests across the UK during Mr.
Trump's visit.
It remains to be seen whether the Executive Order will continue to be enforced. Since its signing, lawmakers across the US have been challenging the decision, with federal judges in both New York and Virginia ordering stays on the deportations for anybody with a valid visa. Whilst this only affects a small portion of the total number of individuals affected, it is a blow to the Trump regime, with more battles in the courts expected.
Aftermath of decision
The decision has caused chaos both at home and abroad, and law enforcement officers at ports and borders have been confused as to their roles, combined with refugees confused as to where they now stand in their attempts to reach safety.
The seven nations named on the banned list have also begun to take reciprocal actions. On Sunday Iran announced it would no longer be issuing new visas to US citizens, and on Monday stated that it would stop using the US Dollar in official statements.
The coming days and weeks will provide a clearer picture as to how serious the consequences of the Trump administration's actions will be. With a greater number of nations likely to speak out against the ban, the US may be left isolated.
Absolute Monarchies were a major part of European History for centuries and the country where it reached its maximum glory was in France. One of the reasons that the institution lasted so long was that the Monarch was protected from any form of criticism and the punishment for those who dared oppose him was often extreme, either in long term imprisonment or even death. Yet the beginning of the end came not from political treatises, but from comedy and Satire. These lessons are useful reminders for modern day politicians beginning with President #Donald Trump.
The stage and the Aristocracy
The period leading up to the fall of the French Monarchy was one of great artists and thinkers such as Voltaire and Diderot, but the two who had the greatest impact were Moliere and Beaumarchais who with their comedies were the first to break the wall of ridiculing the idiosyncrasies of the countrys aristocracy. While not directly referring to the King, these authors allowed future satirists to direct their attention towards Louis XVI and his Queen Marie Antoinette who would pay the ultimate price for their power.
French Absolute Monarchy created a huge disparity between the opulent life style of the King and his aristocracy and the poor lower classes. The French satirists and comedians drew from this disquiet and gave it voice.
Rather than deal with the issues of poverty and oppression the aristocracy pretended it did not exist and the satire fueled the anger and disdain for the rich who were no longer seen at their betters, but as oppressors.
Popular discontent
The failure of the French aristocracy was further highlighted when it sent soldiers to assist the newly born American Democracy.
These soldiers came home and their stories of rights and democracy fuelled a hunger for a freedom the population never knew. Thus it was no coincidence that the French Revolution occurred so soon after the American War of Independence.
In modern day America the politicians have forgotten these lessons. They have forgotten that satire and comedy are another face of the discomfort many citizens feel on both sides of the political fence.
President Donald Trump and his advisors disdain any expression of discontent against their decisions, yet the public protests over the weekend show that the concerns are real and that a sizable section of the country is prepared to act on them.
Saturday Night Live on television, the satirical memes on Facebook and dissenting articles are all methods of communicating to the countrys leaders that there are matters to be addressed and that the solutions given so far are not resolving these issues. Attacking the messengers on the screen such as Alec Baldwins representation of the President is not a solution, but a denial of issues that the common citizens see every day.
Americas politicians should look towards the French example and learn from those tragic experiences.
Creating a super rich and powerful ruling class as many perceive the current administration can only lead to further discontent and protest. If they do not remember these lessons and act accordingly then these protests will only widen and spread further. Hopefully the appropriate actions will come quickly because, as Louis XVI learnt too late, once the population starts to take matters into its own hands nobody knows how it will end, beginning in the highest office of the land.
In ancient Rome victorious generals were awarded Triumphs by the Senate in recognition of a great victory. When the winning general rode through the adoring crowds to soak in the glory a slave held the laurel leaves, the symbol of victory, over his head and constantly whispered into his ear Remember, thou art only human. The tradition was wise because Rome had suffered at the hands of general who tried to exchange the glory for personal power.
Deadly weapon
The modern United States has its own triumphs in the Presidential campaign for the winning candidate and it comes in the form of Inauguration Day and the ceremony surrounding the Office of President.
Yet, one aspect of Roman times still continues, the tradition of reminding the President that he is still only human and that he too is subject to the observations and judgments of his fellow citizens. This tradition takes the form of Satire and it can be fatal to the image of any Head of State and not only the President.
Even during the presidential campaign and before his surprise victory #Donald Trump was subject to satire and particularly to the attention of Saturday Night Live on NBC. In the course of the last year Alec Baldwin presented the former businessman become politician in all his idiosyncrasies and mannerisms. This did not stop on November 8th and drew the ire of the victorious candidate.
This progamme drew on news items and controversies and did not even save Russian President Vladimir Putin who allegedly ordered the hacking of the presidential campaign which is now the subject of a number of investigations by the countrys intelligence community. What raised the profile of the satire even more were the numerous tweets of protest and disdain by Donald Trump which did nothing to make the issue go away and in fact drew even more attention to the criticisms.
Warning signs
Yet the President Elect and now President did not understand that satire is in fact a major warning sign of disquiet in at least a part of the population and that disregarding these messages effectively does nothing to reduce the opposition to his position of power. Rather, his allergy to personal criticism or any comments directed at him and his quick, often impulsive reactions are potential indicators that his political opponents on the international stage, such as the Chinese and Russian leadership, can use to their advantage.
President Donald Trump would do well to study what happened to another politician who in many ways was a precursor for his political career. Amongst the many points that Trump has in common with disgraced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was also this impatience for satire and in a famous occasion during a press conference in Bucharest during a state visit to the Rumanian capital publicly ordered the ban of satirist Daniele Luttazzi from state television and naturally Berlusconis own television networks also obeyed the directive. This act would hang over Berlusconis head as a sign that his behaviour was not that of a democratic leader.
Freedom of speech and criticism
Satire is a form of freedom of expression, even though it can be uncomfortable for its subjects.
It allows its creators and actors to put on stage those matters and themes which are causes for worry amongst the population. The ratings success of such programmes around the world reflect this fact and politicians would do well to remember this when they protest the way they are presented. Praise and criticism are both legitimate forms of speech and as such to be encouraged.
Satire gives those with worries a means to publicly express them and in a peaceful manner, even if it is sometimes uncomfortable for the subjects. At the same time the subjects of the satire must remember that the alternative is much worse and potentially more violent as we have seen too often around the world. Satire is an expression of a true Democracy and not something to be banned or limited.
The thirteen former English colonies that fought the War of Independence represented by the stripes on Old Glory had been ruled under English Law. Amongst these laws was Lese majeste which potentially punished any expressions of that may offend the Crown and while rarely used some forms of the law still exist in modern times.
Fundamental right
One of the victories of the Revolution was the right protected under the First Amendment. This right allows citizens and residents to freely express their opinions in a non violent manner without fear of punishment.
This right is one of the most precious of any Democracy and the most important expression of this freedom is in fact by the ballot box and thus to be able to elect the countrys leaders.
As a result of this freedom of expression, politicians and particularly Presidents are subject to constant comment, praise and criticism from the general population as President #Donald Trump has learnt in the week and a half since his inauguration. In addition, the President has also learnt that some of these expressions may not be gentle or generous towards his image or person as his protests against the television programme Saturday Night Live can testify. This is one of the prices any President must pay when in Office and it is a fundamental symbol of the Freedom won in 1776.
Democracy not Absolute Monarchy
The United States of America proudly stands as the worlds first modern Democracy which put into effect the basic rights and freedom that many migrants seek when they try to flee tyrannies and oppression. These rights separated the two Blocs that fought the Cold War and are still strong symbols in the modern day international struggle between America, Russia and China, without forgetting those fanatics who are seeking to form Moslem theocracies in the Middle East and Africa.
For this reason all those who seek public office would do well to remember that Lese majeste is no longer a crime in the United States and in fact the expressions it prohibited are now protected by the Constitution. This right was won by the blood of those who fought in the Revolution and made more precious by those American soldiers who fought and still fight against fanaticism and oppression.
Democracies can and do make mistakes as we have seen not only in the United States during the Civil War and the Jim Crow period. But these mistakes have always been rectified by adherence to the basic principles contained in the Constitution which the Supreme Court uses to measure the suitability of any Law. For these reasons we must remember what Lese majeste represented and understand that any law to protect politicians from criticism simply brings it back into American Law under another guise.
In the year and a half that Donald Trump was running for president, he would often make headlines for his controversial and outlandish tirades on Twitter. After Trump sent out a questionable tweet to end 2016, celebrities were quick to offer their response as the year came to an end.
Trump's Twitter backlash.
On Saturday morning, Donald Trump sent out a Happy New Year Twitter message, but made sure to take a shot at his "many enemies" in the process. Over the next few hours, the billionaire real estate mogul sent out a multiple messages on social media, with most being basic well-wishes and retweets from his family and transition team.
As 2016 came to close and 2017 kicking off a new year, various celebrities took to their own Twitter accounts on December 31 and January 1 to voice their opposition.
Donald Trump is that strange person you sorta knew from high school who overposts. You want to tell them to stop, but it's pretty hopeless. https://t.co/sAm10ywQbz George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 31, 2016
"Donald Trump is that strange person you sorta knew from high school who overposts," "Star Trek" actor George Takei tweeted out, while adding "You want to tell them to stop, but it's pretty hopeless." In response to a recent Washington Post article questioning Trump's financial ties to Russia, actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner gave his thoughts.
"I applaud The Wash. Post for raising questions of DT's $ ties to Russia, Reiner tweeted, stating, "If treason exists, we need to know. Media and electeds-stay focused."
I applaud The Wash. Post for raising questions of DT's $ ties to Russia. If treason exists, we need to know. Media and electeds-stay focused Rob Reiner (@robreiner) December 31, 2016
Filmmaker Michael Moore, who hit back at Donald Trump for his earlier New Year's Even tweet, expressed his relief that 2016 was now in the past, tweeting, "Whew.
Well THAT's over! Yay. It can only get better now." The hits kept coming against Trump, who has vowed to be the president of all Americans, but continues to be criticized for allegedly dividing the country even further.
Whew. Well THAT's over! Yay. It can only get better now. Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 1, 2017
Moving forward
Despite the growing backlash against his administration and agenda, Donald Trump is now just three weeks away from becoming the 45th President of the United States.
While the former host of "The Apprentice" prepares for Inauguration Day, as many as 100,000 protesters are planning to take to the streets in Washington, D.C. to air their grievances and make their opposition known to the new commander in chief.
Ms. Jane Kleeb, newly elected Chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party, attended the regular monthly meeting of the Gage County Democrats Tuesday, January 24th. The founder of Bold Nebraska spoke of President's Trump's executive order signed that day which seeks to remove obstacles to the XL pipeline and the Standing Rock pipeline project. Ms. Kleeb noted that permits for the XL pipeline will be required by Nebraska before it can be built in the state and that landowners will object to the taking of their land by eminent domain.
Ms. Kleeb also described the re-organization of the state party now underway with new staff members and an emphasis on informing local county party and precinct leaders while developing support for candidates.
Kleeb answered questions about the state party structure, Senator Kintner, the Republican failure to reduce or restructure taxes, and her appearances on the media that day.
Gage county Chair, Don Schuller, thanked Ms. Kleeb for traveling from Hastings during such a busy time to join Democrats in Beatrice and he give a brief report on the recent developments around the Beatrice Six cases and property tax organizing efforts.
Former State Senator Bill Burrows presented Norm and Pat Wallman with a book on hemp, a flowering plant and a plaque honoring their years of service to the residents of District 30, their Gage County community and all Nebraskans throughout their 44 years of marriage.
Cheryl Nichols was selected to fill a vacancy as Legislative District Delegate to the State Party.
Those attending learned Senator Baker had introduced two bills to provide Gage County options if the appeal of the Beatrice Six cases is unsuccessful. LB 353 would allow the State Treasurer to loan a county funds to pay a federal judgment. LB 656 would permit a county faced with a federal judgment exceeding its resources to apply to the State Claims Board for state payment of the judgment.
It was also noted that approximately 72% of the assessed value of taxable property in the county is classified agricultural. According to the USDA FSA, there are only 1,447 farm operators left in the county.
Oprah Winfrey is adding another job to her resume. The latest announcement came on Tuesday, January 31 that Oprah will become a special contributor for "60 minutes" this fall. Executive producer Jeff Fager made the announcement that CBS is happy that Oprah is joining the Sunday night news broadcast. Fager says he is looking forward to having the 63-year-old television personality bring her powerful and unique voice to "60 Minutes."
Oprah's upcoming gigs
Earlier this week, it was announced that Oprah was getting into the ready-to-eat food business.
She is already a spokesperson for Weight Watchers. In the last couple of weeks, it was revealed that Oprah and Tyler Perry are teaming up to produce and lend their voices to an animated Christmas film to be released in December.
The broadcaster, producer, actress, spokesperson, owner of a network, and philanthropist said she is looking forward to joining "60 Minutes." She considers it an honor to be a special contributor for the news series she has been an admirer of since she was a young reporter.
Winfrey's background
Winfrey's background has prepared her for the "60 Minutes" assignment. She hosted her own successful talk show for 25 years. The Oprah Winfrey Show was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history.
Winfrey founded her own production company, Harpo Productions. Through that company she helped other syndicated programs get their start. Dr. Phil, The Dr. Oz Show, and Rachael Ray are successful today because of Oprah's initial leadership.
In addition to Oprah being successful in television, she is also an active philanthropist.
For example, she donated more than $20 million to the Smithsonians National Museum of African-American History and Culture. Also, she contributed more than $100 million to open the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa that is now in its 10th year. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded Oprah the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her service to the country.
Do you already watch CBS' "60 Minutes"? Do you think more people will watch it once Oprah Winfrey becomes a special contributor?
Steve Burton has left The Young and the Restless and the role of Dylan McAvoy, setting the stage for a lot of drama throughout Genoa City. Now the actor is opening up about why he decided to leave the show and he talks a bit about whether he might be open to returning to daytime. What did he have to share?
The 'Young and Restless' actor is focusing on family
Burton told Soap Opera Digest that there was no particular moment that drove his decision to leave Young and Restless. He admits that he is the one who created the geographical challenge he faced in playing the role of Dylan on "Y&R," as he and his family moved to Nashville, Tennessee some time ago and that meant that he was traveling and away from his wife and three children quite a bit.
The actor notes that it was a difficult decision to leave Y&R and he is taking some time with his family before making too many decisions about what comes next. Fans who follow Burton on social media have seen that he has started sharing details about a number of new projects, but in terms of ongoing acting gigs, those are on the backburner for the moment.
The former General Hospital and Young and Restless star has several craft beer bars he is part-owner of and he owns a restaurant with fellow GH alum Jonathan Jackson. Burton has just launched an online school to help people break into Hollywood, partnering with GH star Derk Cheetwood, who plays Max, and he has some musical projects in the works as well.
Burton has a lot of irons in the fire
Fans will see Burton developing some fitness and lifestyle projects in the months ahead and he notes that he's also working on some real estate ventures. Given all of that, avid supporters of Steve's have to wonder if he's retiring from acting entirely. The Young and Restless star scoffs at that, saying that he's already doing some voiceover work and he'll be auditioning for acting gigs.
Could Burton eventually return to Young and Restless, General Hospital, or one of the other soaps still airing? As the actor joked with Michael Fairman's On-Air, On-Soaps, one never knows what can happen, especially in the world of soaps. Obviously, Y&R left the door open for a return should Steve want to reprise the role, as the Fisk case could always be resolved and Dylan could return home.
The actor says that he's glad the storyline wrapped up in the way that it did, but he also detailed that he has no regrets about having moved his family to Nashville and now leaving the soap to focus on what his wife and children need from him. Do you think that Steve Burton is done with Young and Restless and the world of soap operas for good, or will he be lured back in after taking a bit of a break?
The name on everyone's lips after the 2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards is Viola Davis. The "Fences" star made history, winning five SAG Awards. Davis is the first black woman to claim so many after being the first to win an Oscar for "Best Actress" on television last year. Davis won more than just an armful of statues. Her #OscarsSoWhite acceptance speech earned big respect on this touchy subject. Davis was named best dressed, too, in a gorgeous white gown which showed off weight loss and an amazing figure.
Viola Davis makes history
Last year the "How to Get Away With Murder" star became the first black woman to win an Oscar for "Best Actress" in a television series.
This made folks of all colors wonder why it took the Academy Awards so long to recognize a woman of a color other than white. The Oscars have traditionally snubbed women, and black women even more so. The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite reflected this exclusion. So this year, when the "Fences" star claimed five SAG Awards -- a record regardless of color or gender -- the pendulum seemed to swing less exclusive.
Viola Davis talked and people listened
Naturally, after this momentous shift at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards, eyes turned toward the upcoming Academy Awards. Would the Oscars be "so white" this year? Davis deconstructed this issue in her acceptance speech and her graceful handling of it left folks speechless.
First of all, Viola's talk wasn't your average one. Many observed that "The Help" star's was more of a dissertation. Instead of the rambling, ho-hum "thanks to the little people, you know who you are," it actually had a point. She embraced everyone in the love, saying America is "Blackish" and "Stranger Things" and "Jane the Virgin." She championed both sexes and all sexual orientation.
Viola Davis aims for inclusion over diversity
Davis stated that the reason the 2017 awards season is more colorful and LGBT aware is due to talent, or at least more recognition of it. She also focused on the notion of cultural and racial inclusiveness (vs. exclusiveness) rather than diversity. She shouted out "Fences" author August Wilson and his portrayal of 1950s black America.
She mentioned former co-star Octavia Spencer and her amazing role in "Hidden Figures."
Viola Davis gets away with murder
But it wasn't just her acceptance speech that dropped jaws. The celebrity sported weight loss and to-die-for curves in a killer dress. She really embodied her body love message. Like Miss Universe contestant Siera Bearchell says, it's about acceptance of self, and Davis glows with it. Her dress on a red carpet that has seen some big fails, was proclaimed the winner. Many commented on how old her co-star Denzel Washington looked. They said that at 51, Davis looked barely 40.
Global organizations serve as a potential place for allies and agreement in the face of division between nations. The United Nations and European Union are among the well-known international organizations, but the African Union plays a major part on their own continent. On Monday, the organization made a major decision by deciding to readmit Morocco back into their ranks.
Morocco returns
The decision to bring Morocco back into the African Union was confirmed by leaders Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Mohamed Salem Ould Salek on Monday. The country originally quit the organization 33 years ago over a dispute involving the territoriality of the Western Sahara, a dispute that remains strong even today.
Part of the Western Sahara, led by the Polisario movement, is determined to break away from Morocco and become independent, which several countries on the continent approve. Other nations on the continent are strongly opposed to this movement. Still, the country was likely allowed back into the African Union due to the affluent position of the country, and the financial strain facing the organization over the past several years.
Debates and reforms
The Morocco issue was the biggest one facing the African Union on Monday, but there were other notable takeaways from the summit. The most significant one came in the form of condemnation of United States president Donald Trump, who recently barred refugees from seven countries from entering the country.
Libya, Somalia and Sudan are among the countries facing the refugee ban, which drew historical comparisons to the enslavement of Africans in the Western world many years ago.
The summit began with the election of Chadian Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat as the new African Union Commissioner, as he beat out four other candidates.
He ran on a platform of bringing peace and stability to the region while fighting against the same radical Islamic factions that have sent the Western world into just a frenzy about border security and national safety.
Contact: Ford Porter
Ford Porter govpress@nc.gov
RALEIGH, N.C. Governor Roy Cooper signed a proclamation declaring January 2017 as Stalking Awareness Month in North Carolina. The month of January is also recognized as National Stalking Awareness Month.The proclamation seeks to encourage public awareness about the harmful and often lethal effects of stalking on its victims.Cooper said.According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, an estimated 7.5 million Americans are stalked each year. About 15 percent of women and 6 percent of men have been stalked at some point in their lives, and in many cases, their stalkers were current or former intimate partners.Stalking affects all parts of victims' lives, including personal relationships, professional lives, and even places of residence. Stalking victims experience significant stress, miss work, change jobs, relocate, assume new identities, and navigate the legal system in order to feel safe.Cooper encouraged building partnerships between communities and the criminal justice system to create public policy that better addresses the problem of stalking.Cooper said.Under North Carolina law , stalking is defined as a crime that causes a long-lasting impact on the victim's quality of life and creates risks to the security and safety of the victim and others, even in the absence of express threats of physical harm. Cyberstalking , including using email, text messaging, cameras, tracking devices, and fleet vehicles, is also illegal under state law.If you believe that you or someone you know is being stalked, contact the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 1-888-997-9124 or at nccadv.org to learn more about service providers near you.
HELENA Environmentalists are lining up with the owners of Montana's Colstrip plant against a bill that would set cleanup guidelines ahead of the plant's anticipated partial shutdown.
The bill's Republican sponsor, Sen. Duane Ankney of Colstrip, told the Senate Natural Resources Committee Monday that the measure would ensure Colstrip is cleaned properly.
Ankney said the measure is not intended to punish utilities that want to shut down two of Colstrip's four units by 2022.
But representatives of Colstrip co-owners Talen Energy and Puget Sound Energy said Ankney's measure duplicates existing laws and would be a hindrance to the cleanup.
Anne Hedges with the Montana Environmental Information Center said language that suggests any cleanup work needs to be practical and cost-effective should be changed.
Committee members took no immediate action.
A year after St. Vincent Healthcare shook up its heart and vascular services by ending a contract with the physician group that provided the services, the hospital has rounded out the hiring of more than a dozen new staff.
There are now more than 15 providers, including 10 physicians, working in the St. Vincent Healthcare Heart Institute in an effort that hospital leadership said opens up new services and procedures not previously available to patients while also allowing more people to receive care.
"We are building on that and expanding our programs," said Dr. William Knopf, chief of cardiovascular services. "Our vision is to be the best heart institute in the region. We're thinking big and broad, and we're getting these great people here."
Knopf was among the first to join in the new effort, coming from Georgia to the hospital in late 2015 to head up the new effort. Previously, the hospital contracted out with four physicians after it purchased the Montana Heart Institute in 2014.
St. Vincent decided to move into a different leadership model and bring the physicians in-house, which led to the decision to not renew the contract. One of those physicians, Dr. Robert Terry, decided to stay with the practice after the contract decision was made.
Since then, the center has brought in doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other medical staff with a wide range of experience from all over the country. The doctors include cardiologists, cardiac and vascular surgeons, an electrophysiologist and an imaging and echocardiography specialist.
"We now have a full complement of surgeons that can perform nearly every procedure you'd find anywhere across the country," said Dr. Michelle Ellis, chief of cardiovascular surgery, who previously worked as a cardiothoracic surgeon at MidMichigan Health.
Included in that new staff is Dr. Tas Saliaris, the new director of electrophysiology. Developing the program collaboratively with the rest of the staff, including members of the internal cardiology team, is a key component of the new efforts.
He said that with the hospital administration's support, including the availability of new and cutting-edge technology, patients now have access to new procedures and expertise they couldn't get before, including certain defibrillator and wireless pacemaker implants.
"We work together to figure out what's the best approach," Saliaris said. "It's been made very easy for us to get along."
Within the next six months, he also plans to have a center for atrial fibrillation ablation a minimally invasive procedure to address a patient's irregular heartbeat, which can cause blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart problems up and running within the program.
With the expanded resources, more staff and an increase in available procedures, along with a centerwide effort to see patients as soon as possible 24 hours a day, the physicians are seeing more and more patients.
Ellis said members of the team have opened up their schedules to ensure that patients don't wait long to see a physician, whether it's by appointment or a visit to the emergency room.
"We expect our growth to continue," Knopf said. "There are two ways to grow programs. One, you bring in the best staff. Second, you provide each patient with a quality experience so they become your best advocate."
With that, Knopf said he's seen a growth of around 25 to 30 percent, some of them dealing with issues more complex than what the hospital could previously handle.
That also plays into what many of the new staff described as a focus on providing a holistic experience that looks at any number of factors, using the expertise of people from all over the team.
"We meet two times a day as whole team," Knopf said. "We go over every patient that's been admitted."
A medical marijuana patient who harvests his own plants has asked the Montana Supreme Court to review his pending felony case in Yellowstone County.
Wayne Steven Penning, 65, has asked the Montana Supreme Court to rule on whether the state has the right to prosecute medical marijuana patients in possession of more than one ounce of marijuana, even if the plant is not dried yet.
As of November 2016, 6,557 out of 7,558 medical marijuana patients grew their own marijuana, according to the Montana Marijuana Program Current Status Report.
Yellowstone County District Court Judge Rod Souza ruled that the question of whether the marijuana is dry should be answered by a jury. The court also found drying begins when the bud is cut from the stalk of the marijuana plant.
The Montana Supreme Court should intervene in this case, Penning said. The question of whether it is illegal to possess partially dried marijuana affects thousands of marijuana patients and law enforcement across the state.
Penning believes the district courts ruling makes it illegal for cardholders to harvest their plants.
Penning was charged by Yellowstone County prosecutors with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute in December 2015. A Montana Highway Patrol trooper had pulled over Penning for speeding in October 2015. Penning, a cardholder in the Montana Marijuana Program, was transporting the harvest of his four marijuana plants in sealed containers.
The trooper arrested Penning for possessing more than one ounce of marijuana allotted to him under the marijuana program.
Penning asked Souza to dismiss the case because the marijuana Penning had in his car was not dried, and not usable marijuana.
Penning would harvest his crop, dry part of it, and refrigerate the rest, drying it one ounce at a time, according to his testimony in district court.
Montana Highway Patrol Bureau Chief Mark Long testified marijuana is in the process of drying at two different times: either 20 minutes after being cut off the plant or as soon as it is cut from the plant.
A mature female marijuana plant can produce up to 16 ounces of marijuana per yield, according to Pennings petition to the Montana Supreme Court. At the point of harvest, medical marijuana patients will possess more than one ounce of marijuana plant, Pennings petition said.
If Penning is found guilty of the charge against him, he would lose access to his medical marijuana card.
Penning is represented by Billings attorney Penelope Strong. The case is being prosecuted in Yellowstone County by Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito and Senior Deputy County Attorney Victoria Callender.
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., restarted his efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, an organization he said traffics human baby parts.
Daines on Monday co-introduced bills with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, redirecting funding from Planned Parenthood and toward other womens health care providers, while also undoing rulemaking by former President Barack Obama that protected Planned Parenthood funding.
We must fight for those that are unable to fight for themselves, Daines said in a press release. We will maintain funding for womens health care and redirect those funds toward community health clinics that provide comprehensive care instead of an organization that traffics human baby parts.
Daines has attempted to defund Planned Parenthood in the past. The latest effort follows last weeks March for Life protest against a womens constitutional right to decide personal health matters, including abortion, under the Fourteenth Amendment.
The protest march and Daines bill coincide with the 44th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, a ruling that declared state laws banning abortion to be unconstitutional.
Asked whether he recognized abortion as a womans constitutional right, Daines replied, I am pro-life. He would not elaborate.
Planned Parenthood is the nations largest womens health network and receives roughly $500 million a year from the federal government for services other than abortion, for which it receives no federal funding. Planned Parenthood reported that in 2013 abortion accounted for 3 percent of the 10.6 million services provided to women that year.
Pro-life lawmakers, including Daines, have attempted for several years to prevent any health care provider that also provides abortions from receiving federal funding.
Daines and other lawmakers insist they're not asking that women's health funding be cut, only that it not be given to Planned Parenthood.
Last December, former President Barack Obama attempted to prevent Planned Parenthood and other clinics offering abortions from being denied grant money for any reason other than an inability to provide services.
Monday's actions by Daines and fellow Republicans would undo Obama's rule making. Observers have cautioned that defunding Planned Parenthood will come with a cost to women's health. Medicaid offered to low-income women is a major source of the $500 million paid to Planned Parenthood each year.
"A majority of Americans overwhelmingly support Planned Parenthood and strongly oppose these attacks," said Martha Stahl, Planned Parenthood of Montana president and CEO. "If these politicians succeed, it will be a national health disaster and devastate care.
"Nationally, millions of people, nearly half of whom are people of color, and many people who live in rural areas, would lose the care they rely on each year," she said.
Daines' remark that Planned Parenthood "traffics human baby parts" stems from a House Energy and Commerce Committee report about where fetal tissue is obtained for research and whether Planned Parenthood Federation of America was profiting from tissue sales.
Anti-aborton activists in 2014 produced a movie in which they posed as undercover fetal tissue buyers duping a Planned Parenthood worker into talking about fetal tissue. The movie sparked several state and federal investigations, including the one cited by Daines.
Planned Parenthood hasn't been found to have profited from tissue sales. Fetal tissue donations from abortion providers have been permitted since 1993 on the condition that the provider only recover the cost of donating. The female donor consents to the donation.
Fetal tissue has been used in medical research for decades. The tissue is used to reproduce viruses like mumps for vaccine testing. The tissue played a role in eradicating polio.
The research is mostly done at universities.
Montana law grants schools one free day per year off for emergency circumstances. For many area schools, a historic combination of cold and snow earlier this year qualified.
The Billings area was notoriously averse to granting snow days for decades until last school year, School District 2 hadn't had a snow day in about 30 years.
In November 2015, a combination of snow and ice-glazed roads led to area school cancellations. And in December, storm dumped 16 inches of snow, which combined with temperatures well below zero to shutter schools.
Last year, SD2 used a provision in Montana law that allows schools one emergency cancellation without making the day up. Some neighboring districts have already written off this year's snow day as an emergency day, and SD2 Superintendent Terry Bouck plans to recommend that school trustees do the same.
The state mandates a certain amount of instructional time, and if a snow day would threaten a school meeting that requirement, schools have to make it up somewhere else in the year. With emergency days effectively used, that means local districts would have to add a school day if they take another snow day.
With up to six inches of snow forecast for the Billings area, the storm will likely snarl traffic. But it doesn't appear to be more ominous than the many storms that didn't close schools over the years.
The December snow day sparked discussion in the last SD2 board meeting about building a snow day into next year's calendar. There would be a built-in day off sometime in the spring; if there's a snow day, school would be held that day instead.
Some trustees raised the possibility of multiple snow days, or a late-spring snow day, which could throw a wrench into the calendar even with a built-in snow day.
Bouck emphasized that regardless of scheduling complications, student safety would be his first priority.
Safety is the most important factor in the decision to close schools; its not because of inconvenience or anything of that nature, he said. If it came to the point where I had to close another day this year due to safety issues, I would do it.
The district also rolled out a series of alternate bus routes last school year that have been deployed for much of this year, as snow has lasted far longer than it usually does it Billings. Combined with unplowed roads, it's created off-road-like driving conditions in many neighborhoods.
The district called off alternate routes for the first time in weeks on Monday, but Bouck said the district is considering using them because of Tuesday's snow.
He noted that no matter what plans are made, Montana's weather is often a "roll of the dice."
A Lame Deer-area woman suspected of drunken driving denied involuntary manslaughter and assault charges in U.S. District Court in Billings on Monday.
Ethel Marie Brady, 38, of Muddy Cluster, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with involuntary manslaughter and with assault resulting in serious injury alleged to have happened on Sept. 1, 2016, near Lame Deer, court records said.
The indictment was filed Jan. 19 and unsealed with Brady's arraignment.
The manslaughter charge alleges that Brady, while driving under the influence of alcohol, killed a person identified as K.K. near Lame Deer. The assault charge alleges that on the same day, Brady willfully and recklessly assaulted a person identified as J.S., resulting in serious injury.
Brady faces a maximum 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on the assault charge and a maximum eight years and a $250,000 if convicted on the manslaughter count.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan ordered Brady detained. The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. School administrators and local citizens urged Wyoming lawmakers Monday to avoid disrupting the state's public education system any more than absolutely necessary as they seek solutions to a looming $360 million K-12 shortfall.
Several hundred people turned out for a House Education Committee public hearing on a comprehensive education finance bill that would change how the state calculates enrollment, shorten the school year by five days and freeze special-education funding.
Other provisions would raise the state sales tax from 4 to 4.5 percent, with the additional funding going to schools.
Wyoming faces the $360 million K-12 shortfall amid declining state revenue caused by downturns in the coal, oil and natural gas industries. Nobody expects the problem to resolve itself any time soon, and a 16-member special committee of state lawmakers proposed in the bill would hire outside experts and hold meetings around the state as it tackled the problem during the next couple of years.
Still, the scope of the bill up for consideration over the remaining five weeks of this year's legislative session appeared to spook school officials. Wyoming's school-finance system was a result of years of litigation and legislation, said Kirk Schmidt, assistant superintendent of finance for Fremont County School District 21 in Fort Washakie.
"It's a very complicated system, and there's a lot of thought that goes into it. To try to make changes on the fly right now is kind of dangerous," Schmidt told the lawmakers.
In the past, school finance debates in Wyoming have pitted poorer and small districts against bigger and richer ones. Not this time.
The funding crisis doesn't demand immediate action, agreed Kirby Eisenhauer, associate superintendent of Campbell County School District 1 in Gillette. "This is too big, it's too fragile, it's too complicated and it's too important to rush through," Eisenhauer said.
Any cuts made should be across the board as much as possible rather than target specific areas, said Colby Gull, superintendent of Uinta County School District 6 in Lyman. "It makes it easier for the local school districts to make those decisions rather than have the legislature make those decisions for us," Gull said.
Former state Rep. Mary Throne, a Democrat who used to serve on the committee, urged the lawmakers not to harm teachers with cuts. "They are not responsible for the drop in oil," Throne said to applause.
The committee held the hearing at Cheyenne East High School auditorium, which was filled nearly to capacity.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. Wyoming will soon have it first veterans national cemetery.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday that it purchased about five acres near Cheyenne for a VA National Cemetery.
The agency paid the city of Cheyenne about $64,000 for the land.
Interim Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald E. Walters said the Cheyenne cemetery will help reach veterans in rural parts of Wyoming without reasonable access to a national or state veterans cemetery.
The new cemetery will serve nearly 22,000 veterans, their spouses and eligible family members.
The cemetery will include burial sites, above-ground columbarium niches, a memorial wall, flagpoles, a memorial walkway, roads and other infrastructure.
The Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery at Evansville is run by the state.
Wyoming's congressional delegation welcomed the announcement.
Lenders, advisors, brokers, and other financial service providers can have a major impact on your long-term ability to generate and retain wealth. The right choice can save you money, give you access to better financial products, and give you advice that leads you to much better decision making. So how can you choose the best partners for your needs?
Factors to Consider
These are some of the most important factors to consider in your search:
Personal needs. First and foremost, what are your personal needs? How much wealth do you currently control? Are you shopping for services for yourself as an individual or for your business? Do you need niche advice or are you fine working with a generalist? What kinds of services are you shopping for?
First and foremost, what are your personal needs? How much wealth do you currently control? Are you shopping for services for yourself as an individual or for your business? Do you need niche advice or are you fine working with a generalist? What kinds of services are you shopping for? Personal priorities. Next, think about your personal priorities and you can consult the remaining items on this list to help you do it. For example, if youre torn between a provider with excellent rates and one with stellar customer service, which one would you choose? Hopefully, youll find a provider with both low rates and great customer service, but if you could only have one, which would you choose?
Next, think about your personal priorities and you can consult the remaining items on this list to help you do it. For example, if youre torn between a provider with excellent rates and one with stellar customer service, which one would you choose? Hopefully, youll find a provider with both low rates and great customer service, but if you could only have one, which would you choose? Rates and fees. Obviously, youll need to think about the rates and the fee schedules of each financial service provider and be sure to check for hidden fees while youre at it. Some lending institutions advertise low interest rate loans, but have high closing costs or other fees to close the gap. Make sure youre comparing different institutions and different products apples to apples to ensure the comparison is appropriate.
Obviously, youll need to think about the rates and the fee schedules of each financial service provider and be sure to check for hidden fees while youre at it. Some lending institutions advertise low interest rate loans, but have high closing costs or other fees to close the gap. Make sure youre comparing different institutions and different products apples to apples to ensure the comparison is appropriate. Customer experience. Next, think about the customer experience youll get when interacting with this brand not just the customer service, though customer service is part of the customer experience. Customer experience is about the sum total of the experiences you have with this brand, from the feeling you get when you first see an advertisement to the support you get when youre trying to resolve a major issue. Is this company known for its excellent customer service? Have you interacted with it in the past? Do they put their customers first?
Next, youll get when interacting with this brand not just the customer service, though customer service is part of the customer experience. Customer experience is about the sum total of the experiences you have with this brand, from the feeling you get when you first see an advertisement to the support you get when youre trying to resolve a major issue. Is this company known for its excellent customer service? Have you interacted with it in the past? Do they put their customers first? Products and services available. Youll also need to think about the different types of financial products and services available through this provider. Sometimes, you can shop for providers on a per-item basis, adding new providers whenever you have new needs. But most of the time, its better to keep as many services as possible under one umbrella; therefore, it pays to partner with providers who can do a bit of everything.
Youll also need to think about the different types of financial products and services available through this provider. Sometimes, you can shop for providers on a per-item basis, adding new providers whenever you have new needs. But most of the time, its better to keep as many services as possible under one umbrella; therefore, it pays to partner with providers who can do a bit of everything. Brand reputation. What kind of reputation does this brand have? Has it been around for decades, or is this a new player in the financial industry? What vibe do you get from them?
What kind of reputation does this brand have? Has it been around for decades, or is this a new player in the financial industry? What vibe do you get from them? Ease of communication. How easy is it to communicate with someone from this institution? Ideally, youll have a dedicated agent or point of contact with whom you can consult on a regular basis. If youre stuck waiting for an email response for days, this probably isnt the provider for you.
How easy is it to communicate with someone from this institution? Ideally, youll have a dedicated agent or point of contact with whom you can consult on a regular basis. If youre stuck waiting for an email response for days, this probably isnt the provider for you. Long-term relationship potential. Do you see potential for this financial institution to serve you well into the future? Or are you just taking care of your immediate needs ?
Do you see potential for this financial institution to serve you well into the future? Or are you just ? Reviews and testimonials. Also be sure to check out the reviews and testimonials of previous clients who have worked with this provider in the past. What do they have to say about this brand?
Conducting the Search
So how can you find the financial service providers you need?
These are some of your best options:
Referrals. For starters, you can try to get some referrals from friends, family members, and colleagues (depending on the context of your needs). Are there financial service providers theyve used in the past? Do they have direct connections to any individuals or institutions? Its often helpful to get a personal referral, rather than relying on online reviews or self-promoted claims in marketing materials.
For starters, you can try to get some referrals from friends, family members, and colleagues (depending on the context of your needs). Are there financial service providers theyve used in the past? Do they have direct connections to any individuals or institutions? Its often helpful to get a personal referral, rather than relying on online reviews or self-promoted claims in marketing materials. Search. You can also search for financial service providers using an online search engine. This is the easiest and most straightforward way to discover new institutions; its also a convenient way to compare different providers apples to apples and investigate customer reviews and testimonials.
You can also search for financial service providers using an online search engine. This is the easiest and most straightforward way to discover new institutions; its also a convenient way to compare different providers apples to apples and investigate customer reviews and testimonials. Networking. Fleshing out your personal network is never a bad thing. Meeting new people and getting access to more points of contact could help introduce you to financial service providers you didnt know existed and help you collect some sound advice along the way.
Even with these strategies in place, making the final decision for your financial service providers can be tough. Be sure to talk to your contacts directly, compare information thoroughly, and set your priorities in a way that makes your decision logically clear.
Infosys will ensure financial stability and consider ex gratia payment to the kin of a 23-year-old IT professional who was allegedly strangled to death by a security guard near her workstation in the company building at Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Pune on Sunday.
In the tragic event of the demise of any employee under unfortunate circumstances, as happened in this instance with our employee, O P Rasila, in Pune, Infosys ensures that the next of kin of the deceased employee does not suffer financially in any way, Infosys said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Rasila Raju O P, who belonged to Kozhikode in Kerala, was found dead in a conference room on the ninth floor of the Infosys building in Pune on Sunday evening. The security guard has been arrested in connection with her murder.
The statement said that towards ensuring financial stability for the family, Infosys takes into account the statutory payments to be made as per the company policy.
The company also considers ex gratia payments based on the circumstances. Infosys also endeavors to make every effort at a suitable employment opportunity for the next of kin who qualify its recruitment criteria, it said.
Meanwhile, a senior office-bearer of the Pune Kerala Samaj has claimed Infosys has issued a letter to the family of Rasila, agreeing to pay Rs one crore as ex gratia to her nominee.
Repeated calls to Infosys officials for reaction on the claims regarding issuance of the letter remained unanswered.
Rasilas father Raju OP along with Malyali community members had visited Infosys officials on Pune campus on Monday night.
Her mortal remains were cremated on Tuesday at her village in Kozhikode district in presence of a large number of people.
Meanwhile, the Congress in Kerala today demanded a comprehensive probe into the techies murder.
In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devandra Fadnavis, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, said he had visited the relatives of Rasila at Kozhikode on Tuesday morning.
There is some mystery in the murder and some others had a role in her death, Rasilas relatives informed me. Besides, the family also complained that there was a serious lapse on the part of the company, he said.
Police had yesterday arrested Bhaben Saikia, a security guard from a private security services firm deployed at the Infosys campus, in connection with the murder.
According to police, Rasila had chided Saikia for staring at her and threatened to complain against him.
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. A proposal to raise the state minimum wage in Wyoming to the federal level of $7.25 per hour has been defeated in the state House.
House Bill 140 failed on a 40-20 vote Tuesday.
Wyoming's current minimum wage is $5.15 an hour for employees not covered by the federal minimum wage. Wyoming's minimum wage is tied for the lowest in the country among the states that have minimum wages.
Most workers in the state are subject to the higher federal minimum wage.
Proponents of raising the wage argued it would be good for Wyoming residents and remove the stigma of the state having the lowest wages in the country.
But opponents say free enterprise should be allowed to work and the higher wage would cause some employers financial stress.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is considered a ministry that has made significant improvements in its administrative procedure reform over the past few years.
This year, the ministry plans to continue removing barriers for the business community. Minister Tran Tuan Anh speaks to Vietnam News Agency on the issue.
Viet Nams deeper integration with the world economy means that countries will enhance the application of commercial and technical barriers. What solutions will the ministry come up with to facilitate local businesses development?
It should be said that the trend of applying trade protection and technical barriers has become popular. These have been applied to all countries, not just Viet Nam.
However, Viet Nam has special meaning since it is a developing country with limited ability in production.
Particularly, in the context of deeper integration with a range of new free trade agreements (FTAs), the challenges for Viet Nam are huge.
Local businesses could enjoy favourable conditions in tariffs and technical process to access new markets. However, the technical barriers would not be simple, especially for agriculture, seafood and food products, which have garnered high attention from foreign markets.
It is the reason many projects have been planned, such as sustainable exports by 2020 to provide solutions for the countrys exports.
The economys restructuring and renewing of its growth model have been extremely important. The increase of investment effectiveness and products added value, especially through hi-tech content, would meet requirements from imported markets.
The ministry would continue to complete its legal framework and business environment to help domestic firms better exploit resources for their development.
Several experts say Vietnamese retailers will have to face imbalanced competition with foreign companies. Resolution No 35/NQ-CP asked the ministry to pay attention to developing a retail system, promoting production and encouraging the use of Vietnamese goods. What are your measures to promote development of the local retail market while following international commitments?
The local market has always been defined, reflecting its important role in the countrys socio-economic development.
The target to develop the domestic market in general and the retail market in particular is being paid significant attention. It is considered as an integrated task through different development periods in the upcoming years.
I think the government should have a clear strategy for the sustainable development of the retail market in the integration process. In addition, local producers should concentrate on improving their production ability to provide high quality products at reasonable prices.
These will be sufficient conditions for sustainable development of the countrys retail market, which can compete with foreign firms and products.
The ministry in cooperation with relevant ministries has striven to review, build and adjust regulations and policies related to production and trading to remove difficulties for businesses.
Can you provide the specific targets for restructuring and administrative procedure reform of the industry and trade sector this year?
The restructuring plan of the industry and trade sector is aimed at promoting a shift in the economys structure, improving quality of growth, productivity and competitiveness.
In addition, the plan would involve a study to renew the sectors model and organisation to meet with the socio-economic development demand, thus serving industrialisation and modernisation needs.
The restructuring will be implemented in the sectors of industry, energy, trade and international economic integration, of which the ministry will develop prioritised industries toward high-added value sectors and high export value.
In addition, we would also create a market for the development of support industries, using hi-tech, creating jobs with qualified professionals and reducing sectors using high natural resources.
The ministry would continue to promote diversifying export markets and strengthening and expanding the market share of Vietnamese goods in its traditional markets such as Russia and East Europe.
On the other hand, we would also use the opportunities to create a breakthrough to expand potential export markets, including India, other South Asian countries, Africa, Middle East and the United States. The ministry would give priority to exploiting key and strategic export markets, such as the United States, Japan, China, European Union, as well as ASEAN and Australia.
MoIT would also focus on trade promotion activities to seek new markets for Vietnamese agricultural and fruit products. We would better take advantage of tax cuts and reductions to promote export to markets with which Viet Nam has signed FTAs.
The ministry has targeted to diversify the import market, especially imported material for production to gradually improve trade balance at markets in which Viet Nam reported trade deficit.
In particular, the ministry would enhance checks on imported products, in addition to using technical barriers to limit imports.
Regional planning is considered one of the good factors to develop the sector. How will the planning be paid attention to and adjusted this year?
We learnt many real lessons over the past few years on building and developing planning.
However, the most important lesson on renewing management and operation was achieved by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
I hope this can create a foundation for quality and sustainability in planning in the future.
However, I think State management agencies have an important role in ensuring that planning is completed and effectively organised.
Most important is the need for a legal mechanism to create conditions to release social resources in private, foreign firms and others, not only State-owned enterprises. We should have an equal competitive environment for all economic components.
Moreover, the planning should be made available for all and should also be linked to a legal framework related to State management. VNS
HA NOI Favourable transport infrastructure and the beautiful landscape are expected to boost tourism in the northern port city of Hai Phong.
Cat Bi International Airport and the Ha Noi-Hai Phong expressway, which were put into service in early 2016, have helped reduce travel time from Ha Noi to Hai Phong.
Direct flights between Hai Phong and countries such as Thailand and the Republic of Korea, localities such as HCM City and Phu Quoc Island District in Kien Giang Province in the south, a Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam ong and Nha Trang City in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa have been launched.
Along with favourable transport infrastructure, efforts made by agencies to promote tourism and the involvement of large investors have turned Hai Phong into a popular tourist destination.
At a workshop on Hai Phong tourism held by the municipal Department of Tourism, leading experts in this field from across the country discussed ways to boost local tourism through social communication and developing standard tourism products.
Various tourism promotion activities have been conducted in Cat Hai District, which is the administrative management unit of the Cat Ba Archipelago, an attractive tourist site with leisure, exploration and ecological tourism in the Cat Ba National Park in the island commune of Viet Hai.
Firms such as Vingroup, Sungroup and Him Lam have invested in luxurious resorts in Cat Ba and o Son. Once operational, the projects are expected to become ideal destinations for both domestic and foreign holidaymakers.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Hai Phong, particularly o Son beach town, has experience in tourism development.
The northern port city welcomes a large number of visitors every year. In 2017 the locality is expected to greet 5.7 million tourists, the agency said, noting that the target is within reach as about 5.6 million tourists visited Hai Phong last year.
Nguyen Quy Phuong, head of VNATs Travel Department, at a recent workshop on tourism development in Hai Phong said the city should make a breakthrough in tourism and consider the sector a driving force for local economic development.
He also suggested the city step up State management to synchronously conduct tourism activities.
To that end, Hai Phong should revamp the municipal Tourism Department, ensuring it has enough human resources capable of implementing the citys guidelines and plans, Phuong said.
At the same time, it is necessary to develop spearhead tourism products, such as leisure tourism on Cat Ba Island in a sustainable manner, he added.
Nguyen Thi Ha, director of Viettravel Hai Phong, described tourism products as decisive to tourism promotion, saying Hai Phong should connect with other localities to promote tourism products for the northern coastal region.
Travel companies will introduce products for their customers, she said, underlining the need for Hai Phong to turn into an attractive and safe destination, different from others in culture and landscape.
Channels should be built and updated with new mechanisms, policies and information about tourist attractions and Hai Phongs connection with foreign and domestic localities, Ha suggested.
In particular, information about Cat Bi International Airport needs to be updated more regularly for partners and tourists, she added.
Tran Thi Kim Quy, deputy director of Hung Vuong Investment JSC, investor of international brand names such as Cat Ba Resort and Flamingo ai Lai in the northern province of Vinh Phuc, said the Cat Ba Archipelago has advantages for tourism development, with the most noteworthy being its biodiversity and Cai Beo, the most ancient fishing village in Viet Nam.
However, Cat Ba has failed to fully tap its potential, she said, suggesting Hai Phong extend the duration of tourism projects on the islands to 70 years and shorten the time for administrative procedures while upgrading infrastructure in Cat Ba. VNS
HAI PHONG A forest fire broke out on Monday in Thuy Nguyen Districts Mot Mountain in Hai Phong Province, burning down at least three hectares of eucalyptus trees.
The fire started around 2pm and took around an hour to put out, but more than three hectares of forest vegetation was totally damaged within that time.
The districts forest rangers said that there are many graves on the mountain and that the fire may have been caused by people who visit on Tet and burn incense, fake banknotes and paper clothes at the graveside of their loved ones. VNS
HA NOI A painting exhibition is on at the Viet Nam Museum of Fine Arts, displaying 100 watercolour sketches by Vietnamese artists of different generations.
The artists include the first students of the Indochina College of Fine Arts, which was set up under French colonial in 1925; artists during the resistance war against the Americans; and artists established after the countrys reunification in 1975. The exhibition aims to present to the public sketches which not only have aesthetic value, but also are a precious source of history.
"The country and the people are always the main themes on display at the museum," Vu Anh Minh, the museums deputy director said at the exhibitions opening ceremony recently.
"The sketches are vivid and are based on artists field trips to every nook and corner of the country. The works were sketched in the 1941-82 period, reflecting the national revolution and the construction progress in the country."
To Ngoc Van, Tran Van Can, Nguyen Sang, Luong Xuan Nhi and Nguyen Van Long, from the Indochina College of Fine Arts, were masters of Vietnamese fine arts. Artists Tran Van Can and To Ngoc Van were known for their skill in oil-on-canvas painting, while Nguyen Sangs lacquer paintings and oil-on-canvas paintings are considered the best from the national revolution period.
Five sketches by artist Van in four years, from 1951-54, including Mua Lua (Dancing with Silk), Quan Ben uong (Small Inn on Road) and Thieu Nu Dan Toc ung (Ethnic Girl), and three sketches by artist Can, including Ba Ke Nguoi Nung (Mrs Ke from Nung Ethnic) and Khau Ao Cho Con (Shirt Sewing,) are showcased at the exhibition.
Artists Van, Can and Sang have won the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, while artist Nhi has received the State Prize for Literature and Arts. At the exhibition, Nhis sketch titled May Xuc eo Nai (Power Shovel in Nai Mountain Pass) will transport visitors to coal mines in the northern province of Quang Ninh.
A sketch by artist Long titled Song ong Ba-Hue (ong Ba River in Hue), created in 1941, is the oldest work on display at the exhibition. The 26.2cm by 30.7cm sketch features Hue women carrying out their daily chores at the ong Ba River bank.
Huy Oanh represent artists from the resistance war period. His work, sized 34.2cm by 49.4cm, depicts volunteer youngsters constructing a road in Truong Son. The sketch was created in 1973.
In particular, the Nha May ien Tra Noc (Tra Noc Power Plant) sketch by female artist ang Thi Khue depicts a milestone in the progress of national construction. It was created in 1978 and is 26.8cm by 39cm in size. Khue is one of the artists from the post 1975 period. She sketched a panorama view of the Tra Noc Power Plant in the southern province of Can Tho during her first field trip to the south.
"I was greatly impressed by the modern plant and the hardworking young workers," Khue said "I still remember how I was inspired by the enthusiasm of the young workers at the power plant and I sketched the scene under the sun without covering by head."
One hundred sketches by 70 artists whose works present the history of painting and sketching in Viet Nam are on display.
"During Viet Nama resistance against French and American invaders, many Vietnamese artists observed peoples daily lives, soldiers, battles, rural labourers and the simplicity of life in the countryside, which they translated into moving sketches," critic Nguyen Hai Yen said.
The exhibition is on until February 20 on 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ha Noi. VNS
HA NOI Several majors at Hue College of Arts under Hue University are in danger of being discontinued due to a lack of students.
Data from the college showed that it only enrolled 63 students, about 30 per cent of its target last year, according to the Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper.
For example, the graphic-design major, expected to enroll 10 students, enrolled none. The sculpture major enrolled one student while their target was five students. The art major enrolled three students when its target was set at 30. The major of fashion design enrolled 10 students and the major of interior design enrolled 10 students while their targets were respectively 25 and 60.
The number of students enrolled in the college has slowed since 2012, with the number of enrolled students always below target.
The college received 153 students in 2012 while its target was 180. In 2013, it enrolled 144 students when its target was 260. In 2014, it got 153 students while its target was 225.
However, in 2015, the number of enrolled student sharply decreased to 84 students, 40 per cent of the target.
Nguyen Thi Hoa, head of the graphic-design major of the college said the major could be closed if it failed to enroll students this year. If it enrolled no students, it would become the third consecutive year the major enrolled had no students.
This could lead to a lack of graphic-design artists in the near future, she said.
The same situation also happened to physical education and architecture majors under Hue University. Physical education only enrolled 14 students, reaching 9.4 per cent of its target in 2016. The architecture major enrolled 54 students, 56 per cent of its goal.
Explaining the situation, Associate Professor Phan Thanh Binh, principal of the college said job opportunities for students of art-related majors were believed to be scarcer than others, thus, the number of students studying arts has fallen year after year, he said.
Another reason was students preferred studying art-related majors in HCM City than in Hue because they could get more job opportunities in HCM City, he said.
Additionally, private colleges enrolling students on art-related majors with lower enrollment scores added to the problem, he said.
Lastly, the college had not promoted itself well to attract more students.
Binh said the colleges management board was planning to fix the situation. One solution was to boost advertising of the college via its website.
Activities to enhance interactions between the school and society would be increased, he said.
The Hue College of Arts was established in 1957 under the management of the Ministry of Culture and Information. The college was handed over to the Ministry of Education and Training in 1994.
Nguyen Van Toan, former principal of Hue University said since 1994, the college seemed to focus on training human resources working in art-related fields rather than artists.
Toan suggested the Government and the Ministry of Education and Training consider issuing a special policy to run art schools across the country, including the college.
For example, there should be more investments in these schools to cultivate talented people as well as training art-related human resouces to the requirements of the State, he said. VNS
NGHE AN The Mong ethnicitys cultural view of marriage is driving young girls out of school and into early marriage in the central province of Nghe An.
Merely a month after school opened again following the summer break, four ninth graders of the Muong Long Ethnic Minority Boarding School in Ky Son District informed their homeroom teacher that they would drop out of school to get married. Three girls tied the knot in October while another wedded a few days after the school-opening ceremony.
The class homeroom teacher Vi Thi Sam said that she was no longer surprised to see her teenage Mong students quit school and get married so young.
Poor, ethnic students dropped out for many reasons, she said, but the teachers and the school always tried to persuade them to study.
But girls who stopped going to school to get married, in particular, are the hardest to talk out of the decision, Sam said.
Efforts by the Muong Long school to protect their students from child marriage achieved little, even when they resorted to forcing the students to swear not to get married before finishing 12th grade. Most girls dont dare to swear, or they only promised the teachers that they would not marry before finishing ninth grade.
Child marriage is common among Mong ethnicity people as they believe the ages of 13 or 14 are ready for marriage and starting a family. Older girls, aged 16 or 18, will be dubbed leftovers by her own village and family if no boys ask for her hand.
The custom, against the law in Viet Nam which allows marriage from the age of 18, forced several children to drop out of school to get married illegally. Across the mountainous Ky Son District where a majority of Mong people reside, early marriage was a common reason for dropping out of secondary school in Huoi Tu, My Ly, Na Ngoi and Muong Long communes.
Muong Long Peoples Committee Vice Chairman Va Cha Xa said that the rate of child marriage in the commune ranged from five to 10 per cent and showed little signs of decreasing.
Life post-marriage of most of the newly-weds is difficult as they dont know how to take care of themselves, let alone a family, he said. VNS
QUEBEC CITY A Canadian political science student known to have nationalist sympathies was charged Monday with six counts of murder over a shooting spree at a Quebec mosque -- one of the worst attacks ever to target Muslims in a western country.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned as a "terrorist attack" Sunday nights assault on the Islamic Cultural Center in a busy district of Quebec City, which sent terrified worshippers fleeing barefoot in the snow.
Eight people were also wounded in the crossfire, and five of them remained in critical condition in hospital Monday.
Alexandre Bissonnette, who made a brief court appearance after surrendering to authorities, was charged with six counts of premeditated murder and five of attempted murder, police said.
More indictments are expected later, police added.
"There are search warrants underway," a spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told a press conference.
"We hope to obtain the evidence to reach the point where we will be able to lay terrorism and national security charges," she said.
So far, authorities have shed no light on what may have prompted the attack.
Local media said Bissonnette is a Quebec nationalist and anti-feminist who recently "liked" US President Donald Trumps page on Facebook. He also has reportedly expressed support for French far-right politician Marine Le Pen.
Both police and witnesses had initially described two masked men opening fire inside the mosque, where worshippers were gathered for evening prayer.
But authorities said Monday that a second person detained had only been questioned as a witness.
Explaining how one suspect was eventually let go, the RCMP said: "This morning and last evening we had reason to believe that two individuals should be arrested, that two people had participated."
After investigating, they said: "we reached the conclusion that we should focus on one single suspect. And there was no reason to believe that the other individual had participated."
Victims are dual nationals
Some 50 people were in the mosque at the time of the attack.
The dead are all dual Canadian nationals: one Moroccan, two Algerians, one Tunisian and two Guineans.
Quebec has traditionally attracted Muslim immigrants from North Africa.
Bissonnette, who is a student at Laval University, surrendered 20 kilometers (12 miles) outside the city after calling an emergency services hotline an hour after the attack to reveal his location.
"It is a domestic investigation at this time," Royal Canadian Mounted Police Inspector Martin Plante said.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the nations security threat level remained at medium -- requiring security forces to be on guard but having no specific information about an imminent threat.
It was raised to this level in October 2014 after a lone gunman attacked parliament.
Open door to Muslims
Police are continuing to collect evidence in a bid to "identify exactly who is involved and what was their motivation," Goodale said.
Authorities, he added, dont have "sufficient, hard facts yet to be able to draw conclusions."
The Quebec mosque had already been the target of hate: a pigs head was left on the doorstep last June during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Other mosques in Canada have been targeted with anti-Muslim graffiti in recent months.
Police stationed near the mosque told AFP that they had feared this type of attack "because its happening all over the world."
The shooting came as Canada vowed to open its arms to Muslim refugees after Trumps controversial immigration ban prompted travel chaos and outrage around the world.
"Last nights horrible crime against the Muslim community was an act of terror committed against Canada and against all Canadians," Trudeau said.
To the one million Canadians who profess the Muslim faith, he said "36 million hearts are breaking with yours," alluding to the countrys total population.
"Canadians will not be intimidated," Trudeau added. "We will not meet violence with more violence. We will meet fear and hatred with love and compassion."
Trump telephoned Trudeau to offer his condolences following the attack, which was condemned around the world including by leading Sunni Muslim body Al-Azhar, as well as Egypt and Jordan.
Senseless violence
Mohamed Ali Saidane, who lost a relative in the shooting, joined elected officials at city hall Monday to denounce escalating hate.
"The Arab-Muslim community has become the victim of populist politics," he told AFP.
People fleeing the mosque -- where custom requires worshippers to remove their shoes during prayer -- did not have time to collect their winter boots.
"They arrived in a panic," said Louis-Gabriel Cloutier, the manager of a cafe across the street who saw them fleeing the rampage.
Some took refuge at the cafe.
"I never thought that such a thing could happen," said a man who frequents another of the citys 10 mosques. He had ventured to the scene because "I know people who were inside."
Hamid Nadji learned of the shooting from a friend and rushed to the mosque area.
"For us Muslims, Quebec and Canada had been a safe zone," he said.AFP
KALEAO, an intellectual property and server solutions company, announced today that it has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with ILA-microservers, as a value add distributer located in The Netherlands specializing in delivering server solutions and technical services to parts of the European region. ILA-microservers is KALEAO's first formal technology partner outside of the United States and will evangelize, promote and sell KALEAO's KMAX in the Netherlands, Germany, France, England and Ireland.
"We strongly believe in the platform that KALEAO is rolling out to the market and the team leading KALEAO," commented Fred Buining, CEO and Managing Director, ILA-microservers. "With such a partner, we will be able to enter into a growing sector with disruptive technology that will allow us to affirm ILA-microservers as one of the main distributors and technical services providers in the region."
KALEAO's KMAX was launched in October 2016 and removes the typical performance overhead when layering applications over a virtualized, hyperconverged platform, enabling appliance simplicity and the flexibility of a software-defined solution. Leveraging all-flash storage for higher performance densities and energy savings and the cost advantages of ARM 64-bit hardware, KMAX is capable of achieving significant improvements in efficiency and scalability.
"This partnership is a recognition of the power of KALEAO's technological solution, KMAX, in the server appliance market," said Greg Nicoloso, General Manager and Business Development Officer, KALEAO. "KALEAO will continue to stay focused on providing companies with the best and most technologically advanced server platforms and this partnership is proof that our efforts and vision are in line with the market's evolution."
Justice head wont defend ban, is fired
WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she announced she would not defend his controversial immigration order.
He named Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve in her place.
The White House press office said in a statement Monday Yates has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.
Yates, an Obama appointee, Monday directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend President Donald Trumps controversial executive refugee and immigration ban, joining a growing group of administration officials distancing themselves from the new presidents order.
Iraqi considers ban on U.S. citizens
IRBIL, Iraq (TNS) Iraqs parliament urged its government to bar U.S. citizens from entering the country in response to an entry ban President Donald Trump ordered on citizens of Iraq and six other Muslim-majority nations.
The Iraqi measure, if adopted, could shut the Middle Eastern countrys doors to U.S. oil workers, diplomats and military advisers who are helping Iraq fight Islamic State militants.
Scouts will allow transgender boys
DALLAS (AP) The Boy Scouts of America announced Monday it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to enroll in its boys-only programs.
The organization said it had made the decision to begin basing enrollment in its boys-only programs on the gender a child or parent lists on the application to become a scout. The Boy Scouts had previously held a policy that relied on the gender listed on a childs birth certificate for those programs.
The organizations leadership had considered a recent case in Secaucus, N.J., where an 8-year-old transgender child had been asked to leave his Scout troop after parents and leaders found out he is transgender. But the statement issued Monday said the change was made because of the larger conversation about gender identity going on around the country.
George H.W. Bush out of hospital
HOUSTON (AP) Former President George H.W. Bush was released Monday from Houston Methodist Hospital where he received treatment for pneumonia for more than two weeks.
Bush, 92, was experiencing breathing difficulties when he was admitted Jan. 14. During his treatment, which included a stay in intensive care, doctors inserted a breathing tube and connected him to a ventilator.
The nations 41st president was joined at the hospital by his 91-year-old wife, Barbara, who spent five days there for treatment of bronchitis until her release a week ago.
Computer beats poker pros, hands down
PITTSBURGH (TMS) The machines are taking over at least in poker.
Carnegie Mellon Universitys poker-playing computer, Libratus, on Monday soundly defeated four of the worlds best Heads-Up, No-Limit, Texas Hold m poker players by a resounding $1,766,250 in theoretical dollars in 120,000 total hands played over 20 days at Rivers Casino.
Yeah, this was a beat down, said a tired human team member, Jimmy Chou, after finishing his 30,000th hand Monday.
It was the second match between a CMU computer and four of the worlds best poker players. The last time in May 2015 the humans won.
ST. LOUISA -- Budweiser released its upcoming Super Bowl commercial that chronicles an immigrant's journey to the U.S. and the beer brand's origins in St. Louis.
The 60-second "Born the Hard Way" commercial filmed in New Orleans and created by ad agency Anomaly stars actor Sam Schweikert as a young Adolphus Busch, A-B's co-founder. After he arrives in the U.S. from Germany, people tell him "You're not wanted here," and "go back home," before Busch is greeted with the phrase: Welcome to St. Louis, son in the ad.
Busch co-founded Anheuser-Busch with his father-in-law Eberhard Anheuser, in St. Louis, now the North American headquarters for A-B InBev. The ad shows the two men meeting at a bar.
Stay updated with St. Louis Post-Dispatch in your news feed.
A-B said the "American Dream" theme in the ad will be a central theme for Budweiser throughout 2017.
"Budweiser believes freedom and the pursuit of the American dream are nothing without ambition something the brand has believed throughout its 141-year history directly dating back to company co-founder Adolphus Busch," the company said in a statement Tuesday.
The ad was directed by Chris Sargent, director of Budweiser's prior Super Bowl ad Not Backing Down. That spot highlighted the brands heritage and status as a macro brewer.
For the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, A-B bought three minutes of air time for four of its top selling brands: Bud Light, Budweiser, Michelob Ultra and Busch.
ST. ANSGAR A summer stock theater will be coming to St. Ansgar.
The Cedar Summerstock Theater is a chance for college students to experience what working for a professional theater company is all about.
Its spearheaded by Nancy Nickerson Lee, a St. Ansgar High School graduate.
Modified after programs Lees children were involved in on the East Coast, the theater is designed to be an intensive program with a rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule.
Once the first show opens we will start rehearsing the second show during the day while continuing to perform the first show at night, Lee said.
Each show will feature a two-week run, with the cast, crew and artistic planners living and working out of the old elementary school building.
With summer quickly approaching, Lee has already been working on organizing notifications about auditions so people can begin to apply.
While final rehearsals and performances will be held at the Cedar River Complex in Osage, all of the preparation for the shows, including set designs and scene creation, will be done in the old elementary school building.
With a 10-day rehearsal period planned for each show, the idea is to give college performing arts students an opportunity to see what is in store for them in a professional setting.
After seeing what summer stock in upstate New York, Massachusetts and Maine was like, I felt we needed to do this in the Midwest. We need to give our students here the same opportunity, said Lee.
If we were to start a program like this in the city, it would just be one more theater company. Small towns are the best places for something like this. Eventually, we would like to get high school kids involved as well.
In addition to evolving to the point of adding high school students to the mix, Lee also has expressed an interest in bringing new scripts to the program, giving writers a space to create them and then having the Summerstock Troupe perform them.
With strong ties already in place in Mitchell County, Lee said she saw St. Ansgar as the perfect place to set up a creative space that would allow young performing artists to work toward their futures.
The idea is to create affordable spaces where people can live and work out of, said Lee. There is a need for creative endeavors in the community. I want summer stock to be the seed that starts things.
With the closeness of Osage and St. Ansgar and the presence of the Cedar River Complex, Lee said making Mitchell Country a center of creative work would give both towns an investment in the arts and forge a community support system for the program.
WATERLOO Police are investigating an overnight shooting that damaged a Waterloo home.
According to police, a neighbor called 911 at about 12:40 a.m. Tuesday after hearing gunshots. Bullets shattered a front picture window of 115 Western Ave. and entered the home where Corvelous Caston, 26, and Shavonna Dufachard, 28, were located.
No injuries were reported. Officers recovered several bullets from the house and found spent shell casings outside, said Capt. David Mohlis with the Waterloo Police Department.
No arrests have been made.
This is the second time the house has been the target of gunfire. On Jan. 2, residents were leaving the home at about 5:20 p.m. when someone fired from a passing car. No one was injured, but a bullet struck a vehicle parked at the address.
WATERLOO A Minnesota man was apparently trying to use a car wash vacuum cleaner to hide a shipment of ice meth when a state narcotics officer fired at him last Jan. 22.
The bullets missed Paul Daniel Greseth, 31, of Wanamingo, who was initially detained on state drug charges and Monday was arrested on a federal charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
He appeared in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids on Monday and was detained pending a further hearing.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety is reviewing the shooting, which happened at the Awesome Car Wash on Logan Avenue when a struggle broke out as officers moved in at the culmination of a drug sting. An unidentified agent with the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement fired the shots, according to the Department of Public Safety.
At the time, Greseth failed to comply with multiple, ongoing commands from officers. During the attempt to secure Greseth, one agent fired two rounds from the agents handgun.
The bullets did not make contact with any of the involved individuals.
A struggle ensued between officers and Greseth, Greseth and Purdy were both secured in handcuffs and taken into law enforcement custody, reads an affidavit submitted by another DNE agent as part of Greseths federal charge.
The second man detained in the investigation, 24-year-old Dylan Vaughn Purdy, of Upper Minneapolis, Minn., hasnt been charged federally.
Court records describe him as a drug user who drove Greseth around at times and may not have known the reason for their trip to Waterloo.
According to the affidavit, Greseth told investigators he was trying to get rid of the drugs when he saw officers closing in.
Greseth stated upon observing the Sheriffs vehicles approach he immediately started attempting to rip open the bags of methamphetamine and vacuum up the methamphetamine, according to the agents affidavit.
Officers found five bags of ice meth under and near the car Greseth was traveling in, court records state.
One bag of ice meth weighed 85 grams, one bag was 95 grams, two other bags had a combined weight of 240 grams and one bag weighed 75 grams. All weights include packaging. There also was a syringe with a clear liquid in the glove compartment.
The drug probe began weeks earlier when West Union police seized some 200 grams of ice meth Jan. 15. Investigators began working with a confidential source who had allegedly obtained meth from Greseth and owed him $8,400, records state.
On Jan. 18, an undercover DNE officer posing as the sources friend traveled to meet Greseth half way to make a $5,000 payment on the debt, court record state. That exchange took place at a public location in Howard County, Iowa.
In the days that followed, undercover officers worked on arranging a meth deal, and Greseth allegedly offered to drive down to Iowa for the transaction Jan. 22.
Court records show the original meeting point for the deal was to be the McDonalds restaurant parking lot on Logan Avenue, but Greseth changed the location to the car wash next door after arriving.
While Greseth and Purdy were standing outside their vehicle waiting, three marked Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office patrol vehicles drove up behind them, and two DNE officers came in from the side.
WATERLOO A former Waterloo man has been returned to Iowa to face charges in a 2015 gun robbery.
Police said Julius Jewel Jones Jr. had arranged to have another person rob his friend at gunpoint and take her gun when she came to give Jones a ride on June 17, 2015.
Then Jones allegedly fled to Oklahoma City where he was arrested on weapons charges a short time later.
On Monday, Jones, now 28, was arrested on the Waterloo warrant charging him with first-degree robbery in the 2015 holdup. He was booked at the Black Hawk County Jail, and bond had been set at $200,000.
The June 2015 robbery happened in the 300 block of State Street at about 11:30 p.m. after Jones had requested a ride. When the victim arrived to pick him up, the masked gunman displayed his weapon, demanded her .45-caliber Hi-Point pistol and ran off.
Jones exited a nearby house and allegedly pretended to chase the robber, returning a short time later to tell the victim he ended the chase when the gunman threatened to shoot him, court records state. The victim then gave Jones a ride to 702 Fowler St. and notified police.
The woman later noticed a Facebook photo of Jones and a man clad in the same clothing the gunman had worn during the robbery. Investigators determined the picture was taken on Fowler Street about an hour after the robbery.
Oklahoma City police detained Jones two days later when they raided a house. He was arrested on Oklahoma charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm after he was found with the stolen Hi-Point. He pleaded guilty in August 2015 and was released from prison on Jan. 20, 2017, and waived extradition to Iowa.
WATERLOO A few perks come with being Waterloos mayor. On Tuesday, that included being among the first people to snap a photo with the Chicago Cubs World Series trophy.
Mayor Quentin Hart, in a gray suit and sunglasses, flashed a smile next to the Commissioners Trophy, presented to the Cubs after they won the Fall Classic in November. He couldnt stop smiling.
Its very exciting, said Hart, a Cubs fan. I dont know, its incredible. ... I think Im going to take another picture, actually.
Being the mayor, Hart wasnt denied a second photo before the rest of the Cedar Valley began streaming in.
And he wasnt alone in his assessment of the trophy.
A 108-year championship drought and any and all curses on the long-suffering franchise were extinguished when the North Siders clinched Game 7 against the Cleveland Indians on Nov. 2. Seeing the trophy with their own eyes inside the Cedar Valley SportsPlex in downtown Waterloo made it real for the fans.
Its a once-in-a-lifetime thing possibly, said Randy Reinard of Waterloo. He and his wife, Sandi Reinard, took the day off and arrived at 7 a.m. to ensure theyd be among the first in line to see it.
Of the two, Randy is the Cubs superfan. But Sandi stayed up for the thrilling World Series Game 7, even after Randy went to bed thinking the Cubs had lost.
Then I woke him up, told him they were winning, Sandi said.
Diehard Cubs fans living at Ravenwood Specialty Care in Waterloo were all awake to see the late-night conclusion of the extra-inning Game 7, making posters for the occasion. Three of them, including 82-year-old Walter Milota, came to see the trophy.
Milotas only been a fan for three years, he said, when a nurse turned me on to the team. But he became hooked on the Cubs.
Last year, I watched every game on TV, Milota said.
Seeing the Commissioners Trophy was the icing on the cake. I never saw a real trophy, he said.
The crowd, nearly all of them decked out in game jerseys and Cubbie blue, was let in about 45 minutes before the official viewing time of 12:30 p.m. Officials expected to let in 1,000 people to ensure everyone had time to see the trophy; by 1:25 p.m. the official count was 1,018.
Fans were ushered into a small room, handed their cameras and phones to staff to take their photos, then ushered out just as quickly.
Mary Bahe of Dunkerton became a Cubs fan at age 5, thanks to her uncle, and brought Jamie Bahe and Tim Jensen into the fandom with her.
Jamie Bahe and Jensen were outside Wrigley Field for games 3, 4 and 5, Bahe said.
Just the people, the electricity, Bahe said.
As the crowd waited in the gymnasium for their turn, a man ran across the bleachers shouting Its worth it! The crowd broke into a cheer.
Thats because it wasnt just about seeing a gleaming trophy, Hart said.
Its determination, despite all the odds, he said.
CEDAR FALLS A demonstration against President Donald Trumps executive orders regarding immigration and a U.S.-Mexico border wall will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday outside U.S. Rep. Rod Blums office, 515 Main St. on the downtown Parkade.
Wed like to hear from Representative Blum on where he stands, both on what we see as a ban on Muslims from other countries and where hes at on the border wall, said Black Hawk County Supervisor Chris Schwartz, who is active in Americans for Democratic Action Iowa.
Others involved in the rally are the Masjid al-Noor Islamic Center, Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center (EMBARC), Cedar Valley Advocates for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (CVAIRR) and immigration legal counsel.
Blum made his views known on the issues last week.
The congressman said Trumps 120-day pause in resettling refugees from seven countries Blum called hotbeds of terrorism makes sense to him after receiving classified briefings by the directors of the FBI and National Security Agency.
The bottom line is they cant properly vet people coming from war-torn areas like Syria and Iraq, the Dubuque Republican said. If we cant vet people properly, then we shouldnt be allowing them into our country. Im supportive of that.
Regarding the border wall, Blum said, Were going to save money in the long run by not spending money on social services for illegal immigrants. Theyre heavy users of social services, of police. We spend a lot of money, states do, cities do and the federal government does, on the problem of illegal immigration.
Im very supportive of that effort as well, Blum said of the wall.
Schwartz said the demonstration, which will include speakers, is anticipated to last 30 minutes. Cedar Falls police have been notified, and participants will make sure pedestrian traffic and access to businesses are not impeded.
The presidents executive order bans refugees from entering the country over the next 120 days, and bans citizens of seven countries Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the United States for at least 90 days. Several federal courts have issued temporary orders providing limited relief to portions of this executive order.
Sundays event will be preceded by a panel discussion by community activists and faith-based leaders noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Room 102 of Tama Hall at Hawkeye Community College.
The Lee-Gazette Des Moines Bureau and Courier Staff Writer Christinia Crippes contributed to this report.
Inequality video
set to be shown
CEDAR FALLS A DVD on Inequality for All will be shown Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at University Book and Supply in Cedar Falls.
The presentation is by Robert Reich, secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton and currently professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley.
Discussion will be led by R. Allen Hays, coordinator of the Iowa Justice Action Network, and former director of public policy at UNI.
The event is free and open to the public, sponsored by UNIs American Democracy Project.
Task force plans
to fight bullying
CEDAR FALLS The Center for Violence Prevention and Governors Office on Bullying Prevention has announced the development of a statewide task force to examine practices and gaps in anti-bullying programming and other gender-based violence affecting children.
Funding for this initiative was made available through a grant from the Kind World Foundation.
Kindergarten round-up planned
DUNKERTON All parent or guardians of students who will be 5 on or before Sept. 15 are welcome to attend the Dunkerton Community Schools kindergarten round-up at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in rooms 142 and 144 at Dunkerton Schools.
Staff will give a brief overview of the kindergarten program and information about signing up for the 2017-2018 school year.
Parents may bring the childs birth certificate, an up-to-date copy of immunization records and a current physical.
Those unable to attend should call 822-4295.
WATERLOO A Waterloo police officer is being honored for his work as part of a new program that benefits area charities.
The Waterloo Police Foundation chose to recognize the work of Officer Marc Jasper in January. As part of the program, Jasper was given the option to donate $200 from the foundation toward a nonprofit group, and he chose Cedar Valley Hospice on Kimball Avenue.
Police Chief Daniel Trelka said he has received several positive notes on Jasper during the month.
Between citizens, officers, command staff, Ive had three or four of them comment on the job Officer Jasper did in January with different duties public presentations he was involved in, calls he was involved in where he just represented us very well, Trelka said.
Jasper was the first officer Trelka hired after he was appointed police chief in 2010.
The idea for the recognition program came last year during the creation of the Waterloo Police Foundation as a way to build bridges with the community. It is funded through donations.
The nonprofit foundation also handles the Cops and Kids back-to-school and Christmas shopping events with the help of the Waterloo Police Protective Association.
WATERLOO A Waterloo woman was rushed to the hospital after she crashed into a fire station apparently while trying to seek medical aid.
Details werent available, but the Chevrolet truck slowly rolled into a closed overhead door at Fire Station No. 1, 425 E. Third St., around 8 a.m. Monday. The woman was bleeding heavily, possibly from a recent medical procedure, and it appeared she had lost control while driving, authorities said.
Paramedics with Waterloo Fire Rescue took her to a nearby hospital for treatment. Her identity and condition werent immediately available, but authorities said she was conscious and talking at the hospital.
Decorah man
faces charges
WEST UNION A Decorah man faces multiple charges following an incident Saturday afternoon.
Fayette County sheriffs deputies were called to the area of S Avenue just north of 100th Street in reference to a vehicle in the ditch. While conducting the investigation, Brian A. Fullhart, 34, of Decorah, became confrontational with deputies.
Fullhart was arrested and charged with third-offense public intoxication, interference with official acts with bodily injury, third-degree criminal mischief and two counts of assault on a peace officer.
Arrest made in home robbery
CEDAR FALLS A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly holding people at knife-point while he searched for his misplaced cell phone in a Cedar Falls mobile home over the weekend.
Cedar Falls police arrested William Kennedy Shindoll, 22, of 2100 W. Ninth St., on Saturday for first-degree robbery. He was taken to the Black Hawk County Jail, and bond was set at $250,000.
According to court records, Shindoll had been at a mobile home in the 700 block of West Ridgeway Avenue on Saturday afternoon. He left and returned a short time later in search of his phone.
When he was unable to locate the phone, he became aggressive, pulling out a knife and demanding its return, records state. He lined up people inside the mobile home and patted them down and then made them write their names, home addresses and contact information and eventually demanded compensation for the phone
He received $130 in cash and left, telling people inside the mobile home not to call police, court records state.
Officers stopped Shindolls Mercury Monterey minivan before it left the mobile home park. Officers recovered the notebook with the names and the cash and found a knife hidden in the engine compartment, records state.
As for his cell phone, it was later discovered in the center console of his vehicle, according to police.
Window tint leads
to gun indictment
WATERLOO A federal grand jury has indicted a Waterloo man who was found with a handgun during a traffic stop in December.
Authorities allege John Daniel Forehand III, 30, of 612 Keystone St., was barred from handling firearms because of a 2010 drug conviction and a 2011 conviction weapons conviction. On Dec. 12, Waterloo police stopped him in the area of Westfield Avenue and Commercial Street for having excessive window tint on his red Dodge Charger.
During the investigation, police found loose marijuana on the floorboard and a .22-caliber Walther P22 handgun with the serial number scratched off inside a bag, according to court records. Also in the bag was a digital scale and a childs cup with marijuana residue.
Forehand was arrested on state gun charges in December, and a grand jury returned an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a felon in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. The indictment was unsealed on Monday.
Deputies seek
sex offender
WEST UNION Fayette County authorities are looking for a sex offender in connection with a drug investigation.
Deputies with the Fayette County Sheriffs Office filed papers charging Herman Lee Ronnfedlt, 52, with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. They also charged five others with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
The charges are the culmination of a narcotics investigation that included searches at three addresses and the help of the First Judicial Districts Department of Correctional Services.
Ronnfedlts last known address was a home on Pine Street in West Union, but deputies said he is currently unaccounted for. He is also being sought for violating parole.
He is currently on the state sex offender registry because of a 1988 conviction for second-degree sexual abuse in Allamakee County. The victim in the case was under age 14, according to the registry.
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By The Associated Press
Jan. 30, 2017 | QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC CANADA
By The Associated Press Jan. 30, 2017 | 02:00 AM | QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC CANADA
Quebec police say six people were killed and another eight were wounded in a shooting at a mosque.
Christine Coulombe, the Quebec Provincial Police spokeswoman, says some of the wounded were gravely injured. She says the dead were approximately 35 to 70 years of age. Thirty-nine people were in the mosque at the time of the attack. Two people have been arrested.
She says one person was arrested at the scene and the other nearby in Ile d'Orleans.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard says there will be solidarity rallies across Quebec on Monday and says the province's people will all be together to express horror.
Couillard says that like elsewhere in the world Quebec has been hit with terrorism. He says it is an act of murder against a specific community but added he doesn't want to talk about the motive until it's known.
Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume appeared visibly shaken at the early morning press conference. He says no person should have to pay with his or her life for their race or color.
UNITED STATES On Friday, President Trump signed an Executive Order, which put a 120 day freeze on immigration from 7 countries. While the Department of Homeland Security initially interpreted the Executive Order as not applicable to persons from those 7 countries who already possessed a Green Card or a temporary VISA, the White House quickly clarified they, too, were included in the travel ban.
Word quickly spread that families had been detained at airports. Spouses were reportedly taken off planes and employees stranded overseas while on business trips. On Friday evening, hundreds of pro bono attorneys headed to airports to seek the release of persons detained due to enforcement of the new Executive Order. By Saturday morning, the ACLU had received almost $20 million in online donations, which far exceeds the average $4 million that the organization receives in an entire year. Then, by Saturday afternoon, spontaneous protests were breaking out across the nation. The Wild Hunt spoke with several Pagans who took part in the weekend protests.
District of Columbia
David Salisbury had looked for a protest to attend on Friday night, but wasnt able to find one. Then he searched Facebook Events and noticed a rally at The White House scheduled for Saturday afternoon and he joined in. The rally lasted for an hour and then turned into a march.
David Salisbury: This just seems like a very common sense thing for decent people to speak out about. As a lover of American history, I find any attempt to ostracize and banish ethnic and religious minorities deeply troubling. Historys shown us that it never ends well, and it never will. Im also learning more about families who are separated from each other or trapped in situations of terror and its all so heartbreaking.
TWH: What did you experience while there?
David Salisbury: The volume of people who showed up was very impressive. For many thousands to come out for something organized so quickly, that was exciting to see. I also noticed that despite the dreadful reasons we were there for, people seemed to be in good spirits, like we were all just excited to see such a big show of solidarity in our city.
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Minneapolis/St Paul
On Saturday, Tasha Rose received a message from a friend asking if she wanted to go to the protest. Tasha said 15 minutes later they were on their way to the Minneapolis/Paul International Airport with markers and poster board in hand.
: I went because the values I have and the values that this nation has do not have room for religious bigotry or irrational and reactionary behavior based on events that happened 15 years ago. There is no room for racism or white supremacy. There is, however, room for families fleeing violence.
TWH: What did you experience while there?
Tasha Rose: It was pretty light-hearted and happy as we welcomed international arrivals. No protesters were angry or rude. We did experience some people arriving who were not happy we were there, but there were more arrivals who started chanting with us or giving up thumbs up or other encouragement. It was pretty annoying when the person organizing told us that the police asked us to not chant. Protest, but dont chant. People got a little annoyed at the free speech zone threats. At the end we were told we had 15 minutes of allowed time left. Nancy and I left at that point. Overall I was glad to have gone. It was spontaneous and there was no permit and the organizer was new at it so there wasnt a huge turn out, but people turned out. That was the important part.
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Elysia Gallo heard about Saturdays protest at the Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport through a post on Facebook from the group Stand Up Minnesota.
Elysia Gallo: Big picture: because I believe this presidential order is simply unconstitutional. In addition, it was poorly thought out and executed, with no language on exceptions for people who are permanent residents, students, or on other types of work or study visas. A blanket ban like this accomplishes nothing but chaos, to borrow a term from Sen. Klobuchar.
On a more personal level, I strongly support immigrants. Ive volunteered for the International Institute of Minnesota since I was a child and was raised valuing cultures different from my own. My father was a refugee immigrant, and my husband was an immigrant. Both are citizens now, and neither is Muslim, so my family is not personally threatened, but thousands of Minnesota families are. All day on Facebook I saw stories of friends and friends of friends who were directly impacted, stranded, or separated. This is not what America is about. Although I do not believe Trumps administration will be swayed by popular opinion or protests in the least, I still couldnt sit idly by and condone the executive action with my silence.
TWH: What did you experience while there?
Elysia Gallo: I got to the protest late, but even after I arrived more and more people joined us. We were told not to block the walkway or wed be removed. Many people held signs. There was some chanting and some singing. I think passengers disembarking were more alarmed by the chanting (it can be jarring and one doesnt know if one is safe or not), but while singing many passengers sang along as they exited or gave us the thumbs up. The gathering did not have a permit, and the organizer negotiated with an airport security officer that we could be there for one hour before we needed to move to the designated free speech zone. Therefore, at the end of the hour, we peacefully left en masse. I did see on Facebook, however, that more latecomers arrived after we left and took up the same position and continued the efforts.
One final comment, the organizers had said several international flights were landing in that time frame on Facebook they said London, Frankfurt, Mexico, and Liberia. However, the Star Tribune reported that the only international arrival to the terminal at this time was a flight from Cancun! If thats the case, then I wish the organizers had been more on the ball. We also are not or were not aware whether there were any detentions at our airport, unlike many of the other protesting airports. So was it worth it? I think just to take a stand against fascism, yes. But the impact was definitely lessened.
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Courtney Weber was in Minneapolis due to a speaking engagement and was scheduled to fly back home on Sunday. She saw a friend post on Facebook about protests at the Minneapolis airport and decided to go to the airport early so she could take part before her flight left.
At Minneapolis International airport pic.twitter.com/oXECjtJbzB Courtney Weber (@thecocowitch) January 29, 2017
TWH: Why did you go?
Courtney Weber-Hoover: I am sickened and saddened by the news of refugees, green card-holding citizens, and others turned away at the border. Im reading about researchers sent back, Syrian families refused entry after being approved. My Ancestors were immigrants. I have Muslim friends and colleagues. This ban is against the principals of Love and Trust that I, as a Witch, hold dear.
TWH: What did you experience while there?
Courtney Weber-Hoover: It was peaceful, but it was serious. When I was on the elevator, a man asked me if I were heading to the protest. I said yes. He said, Thank you. This is my wifeshe is Iranian. She is a legal citizen and a flight attendant. She is having trouble working right now. His wife said, I cant take international work at the moment. She was in tears and then, so was I.
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San Francisco
Christina Gargiullos partner heard about the protest forming at the San Francisco airport on Indivisible East Bay Facebook page. She attended rallies on both Saturday and Sunday.
TWH: Why did you go?
Christine Gargiullo: Im an interfaith chaplain, and I spent my teenage years as a member of a minority religion in the South. Im passionate about protecting religious freedoms in general and fighting Islamaphobia in particular. Islam is as peaceful a religion as Christianitywhich is to say they are the 1st and 2nd largest religions among humans in the world. Humans have the capacity for cruelty and bloody conflict and, I have faith, far greater capacity for peace and compassion. I find it deplorable and hypocritical to judge the Muslim 23% of the worlds population by the actions of a sect of extremists. The racist component cannot be overlooked either: most Muslims are people of color.
If that werent enoughand it isI know that if we allow explicit religious prejudice to become law in this country, in any form, then all minority religious communities are at risk. I am one of many concerned by the Nazi echoes in Trumps campaign talk about keeping a government registry of a specific minority religion scapegoated as a public safety threat in a time of sociopolitical unrest.
Its not abstract for me. Ive got a coworker and friend from one of the banned countries, and I spent some time on the weekend supporting her through her fear for her aging parents overseaswho are in danger of losing their green cards & being separated from the rest of the family indefinitely if the ban is not lifted.
TWH: What did you experience while there?
Christine Gargiullo: The protest honestly started for me while I was BARTing on the way over with my partner and a fellow clergy member of Come As You Are Coven, with people checking on each other in the train, sharing Lawyers Guild phone numbers in case of detention, and sharing stories of anger, fear, and hope. Saturday we were at the airport for nine hours, and the energy was amazing and sustained the whole time. I kept an eye on the police throughout the day and night, and Im pleased to report that they appeared ready for action should things get ugly but stayed back, relaxed and chatting, while we demonstrated peacefully.
Around 6 pm, people started circulating food among the crowdfirst random things that individuals had brought, then stacks of pizzas and crates of granola bars and water bottles that Im told were donated by people too distant to protest themselves. The atmosphere was one of fierce determination and community. I found out later that a swell of cheering around 9:30 pm indicated the announcement of the first San Francisco detainee released. Announcements via Peoples Mike didnt carry reliably to the back of the crowd and, at the time, my little crew only caught that all detainees in Chicago had been released.
When we left at 1:30 pm in the morning the protest was still going strong, with some people pulling out pillows to bunk down, and most others rocking out with protest songs alongside an honest-to-Goddess brass band.
After some good sleep and a little preparation, I returned on Sunday late afternoon with my sister, my violin, and lyrics handouts for We Shall Overcome and This Land Is Our Land. The acoustics were bad, so I had limited immediate feedback, but my sister was on the other side of the terminal while I was playing. She says she could hear the crowd singing with me from over there. At one point a drummer and a tamborine player joined me. When I put the violin down the chanting started again, loud, and fierce. Im fortunate to have been there when we got news that the fifth and final detainee at our airport had been released. The crowd erupted in elated cheers. I know the fight is just beginningand also Im proud and honored to have been part of this small victory.
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There has been confusion, much of it caused by conflicting statements from White House officials, on how the Executive Order is currently being interpreted. The order bars the entry of any refugee who is awaiting resettlement in the U.S. for the next 120 days. It also bans persons from 7 countries (Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen) from entering the U.S.
On Saturday, this was enforced on persons who are permanent residents of the U.S., also known as green card holders. By Sunday, after judges in four U.S. cities ruled against detaining permanent residents at airports and ordered their immediate release, the White House appeared to be changing its stance. Rince Preibus, on Meet the Press, said the order wouldnt affect permanent residents going forward. And, on Sunday evening, the Department of Homeland Security said all permanent residents would be allowed immediate entry to the U.S., except in cases where information suggested that a specific person was a national security threat.
However, on Monday, the president fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates, who had previously stated that she would not enforce the executive order on immigration. More legal challenges to the order are expected to be filed and due to the complex nature of presidential authority on immigration law, those challenges are expected to be taken up by the Supreme Court of The United States.
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As Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. is seeking to raise its rates, AARP has filed to intervene on behalf of residential consumers before the North Dakota Public Service Commission in April.
The company says the rate increase, which includes a 9.4 percent for residential customers in North Dakota, is needed to help recover the cost of infrastructure development and increased cost of delivering power to customers, but AARP, a membership-based association for those 50 and older, says the companys more than 80,000 residential customers are being unfairly targeted.
This is a pocketbook issue for thousands of North Dakota families and MDUs proposed rate hike will hurt fixed-income North Dakotans the most, said AARP State Director Josh Askvig.
Askvig said AARP takes issue with MDU doubling its fixed monthly customer charge to $19.76 per month for residential. This fixed charge would be paid by all residential customers before they are charged for usage.
Thats before they ever flip on a light or turn on a toaster or coffeemaker, said Askvig, adding the organization wants to see MDU use other mechanisms to recoup costs that would give customers more control over their bill.
AARP said MDU wants an overly generous return on investment of 10 percent, while returns across the country for utilities have been running closer to 9 percent.
Hanson said the proposed rate increases for each of the companys six classes of customers is based on a study by the company on how much it costs to provide service to the different classes. The study found residential costs the most to supply but pays one of the lowest rates.
Residential is essentially being subsidized by the other users, said company spokesman Mark Hanson.
In addition to the increase for residential customers, small business customers would see a nearly 11 percent increase. Large users, such as schools and hospitals, would see a 4 percent increase, and municipal pumping would see a 9.7 percent increase. The increase for the other two municipal-related classes is less than 2 percent.
Hanson said the imbalance in payment structures has developed over the years and this rate increase would somewhat correct that. Had residential been raised to the full cost of providing service, rates would have gone up nearly 21 percent.
The idea is to have each rate class coming close to paying what it costs to serve them, he said.
The last increase in electricity rates at MDU was a 6.9 percent overall rate increase in 2011. There was an interim rate increase of 5.8 percent, refundable should the company not prevail in its case for an increase, that went into effect in December.
The need for increase is mainly to do with infrastructure, including investments at the Heskett Station in Mandan, the purchase of the Thunder Spirit wind farm, transmission and substation build out and a new billing system. Hanson said, from 2010 to 2017, MDU will have doubled its infrastructure investment $412 million in new energy production, $126 million in transmission, $142 on substations for distribution and $36 million for other administrative expenses.
Two public listening sessions were held in Bismarck and broadcast to Williston and Dickinson last week, with about 30 people in attendance at each. The rate case will go before the North Dakota Public Service Commission in April, with opportunity for public comment.
A series of girls and young women cautiously took the stand Monday against a former federal cop accused of recording them as they tried on clothes.
"That's me," a 20-year-old woman told the jury when presented a picture of herself changing in a Target dressing room. "No I do not (know him)," she said.
The woman identified as H.G. in the criminal complaint is one of 21 young women, ages 12 to 33, allegedly peeped on by the former deputy U.S. marshal. Several of them, along with state and federal detectives, testified on the first day of the three-day jury trial for 29-year-old Michael Rivera.
Accompanied by parents and boyfriends, they entered the courtroom as Rivera sat still, his right hand clenched in a fist over his mouth. Questioned by Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Julie Lawyer, most said they had never met Rivera nor noticed a cell phone camera lurking under their dressing room door. They did not find out they had been recorded until detectives called. Authorities allege Rivera had been recording these homemade videos for a year before he was arrested.
The investigation began with one 15-year-old girl, who noticed a camera propped below her dressing room door as she tried on a bathing suit at Target in June 2016, the same day as H.G. was there. She told store managers, who told Bismarck Police, who launched an investigation.
As a fellow law enforcement officer, Rivera was quickly identified as a suspect.
Randy Helderop, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, who jointly investigated the case, testified about the investigation that followed the first report.
Helderop said it began when police got a search warrant for Rivera's apartment. There they found a laptop with videos of women in changing rooms. He and Bismarck Police Detective Brandon Rask used location and time information stored with digital recordings to track down the retail stores where they were recorded. Most pointed to Kirkwood Mall.
Using that data as a jumping off point, Helderop and Rask walked through the mall looking for dressing rooms that matched. A white and black curtain at one store was an early clue as were the red walls at Target. From there, they talked to store managers and reviewed transaction data and surveillance videos to find the girls and women from the videos. One woman was apparently so upset she cried.
This broad investigation led to 20 charges stacked upon the first one from June and revealed photos taken in retail store aisles and in a hotel elevator.
Rivera was interviewed by police when he was arrested June 19 on a single charge of attempting to record the 15-year-old at Target. Police picked him up as he was disembarking an airplane back to Bismarck from Chicago.
At first, Rivera denied knowing what the police were talking about and asked if he'd been misidentified, Helderop said. Later, he allegedly admitted to following women around Target and trying to snap a picture or get a "quick little peek" as they went in and out of the dressing rooms. Asked about their ages, Rivera apparently said he "doesn't card."
When questioned about the 15-year-old girl who first reported him, Rivera denied it was possible.
"His response to that is that you couldn't fit a cell phone or a camera or a hand under that fitting room door," Helderop testified. "That's not something a normal person would even think about."
Rivera is being represented by Lloyd Suhr, a local defense attorney and former prosecutor. Suhr suggested in court that in Rivera's defense, he would challenge whether some of the charges fit the facts at hand.
Rivera is charged with creation of sexually expressive images, surreptitious intrusion, attempt to promote a sexual performance by a minor, attempt to create or possess sexually expressive images and promoting a sexual performance by a minor.
"As you hear the evidence, you will be disappointed, disgusted and offended," Suhr told the jury. But he asked them to consider whether Rivera had actually captured anyone in a sexual performance.
"You will not hear any one of the witnesses describe what they were doing as sexual conduct," Suhr said. "It's what you will not hear that brings us here."
In court Tuesday, Lawyer is expected to bring several more girls and women to the stand along with Rask, of the Bismarck Police Department, to show the videos to the jury. Suhr said he was not sure yet whether he would stage witnesses, that would depend on the state's case.
South Central District Judge Tom Schneider is presiding over the case.
Rivera pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to downloading child porn. He has not yet been sentenced in that case.
Officials who work each day with victims of human trafficking told lawmakers on Monday that continued funding is needed to maintain critical assistance programs, despite budget constraints.
Senate Appropriations Committee members heard from several program leaders in favor of Senate Bill 2203, which would provide $1 million to the North Dakota Attorney Generals Office for grants to organizations dedicated to dealing with human trafficking victims.
One-time legislation passed in 2015 for $1.25 million for programs related to human trafficking victims programs, training and services.
Danielle John, survivor leader and educator for Youthworks, told her story as a former victim of human trafficking.
The Duluth, Minn., native met her trafficker at age 18 and was quickly wrapped up in the world of trafficking, eventually having multiple arrests for prostitution. She said she eventually separated herself from her trafficker in early 2010 and began her recovery in summer 2013.
I dont say all of this for people to have pity on me, John said. I openly share this with you because I want people to understand the reality of trafficking and the barriers survivors of trafficking face.
John said there was a lack of programs and options as she searched for housing and support groups. She said her criminal record also made finding housing and a job extremely difficult.
She said progress has been made since last session and urged lawmakers to continue funding so important programs dont go away.
Like our state efforts, I am also a work in progress, John said. Our services are vital for any victim at any time in their journey.
Youthworks director Melanie Heitkamp said accomplishments have been plentiful in the past year in working to improve human trafficking programs and services. These include providing host homes for sheltering victims, creation of an after-hours crisis hotline and training more than 2,500 professionals across the state.
All of this programming was created from scratch, said Heitkamp, adding that tight funding has made it an uphill climb.
Christina Sambor, director of the states human trafficking coalition, FUSE, provided statistics on trafficking to the committee.
A total of 79 victims of human trafficking were assisted by the North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force last year, said Sambor, the task forces former director. Of those, 66 were involved in sex trafficking. Twenty-six were children.
I think they will continue to go up, she said of the number of victims over time. This isnt something were going to solve in the next two years.
Sambor said a large majority of human trafficking cases go unreported.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks, said a number of budget items passed in 2015, such as the human trafficking funding, were passed as one-time funding items. He said despite this, there was recognition that some of the items would need to continue.
Its something we should face the reality of that its not going away, Holmberg said.
Sen. Bill Bowman, R-Bowman, called the testimony eye-opening.
Weve got to get a handle on this. The sooner the better, he said.
(Who's Who seal) Nancy Conrad has been included in Who's Who of American Art 14 times. This years honor of being voted a" LEADER in the Profession " is especially nice.
HOUSTON, TX, January 31, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Nancy Conrad has been honored by being elected to Who's Who of American Art as a leader in her profession.
Her work is in many corporate, private and health care collections such as Conoco/Phillips, Hermann, Methodist, MD Anderson Hospitals, Vinson and Elkins Attorneys, several of the Chase/Texas Commerce banks and BNSF. She enjoys teaching.
Nancy's art education began with a full scholarship to the Houston Museum of Fine arts for talented students program 12 years during her public school years.
Her College majors were painting and art history with a minor in early education. Much of the history studies centered on the Classic Oriental painters and their gift for depicting distance and silence. Shortly after graduation from Randolph College with a BFA degree, she began showing and competing in regional exhibits. She was honored to Jury several.
She especially loves to work with young artists, teaching animated film making, painting and drawing.
Her work resides in the permanent collection of The El Paso Museum of Fine Art and many corporate collections.
Book available through Blurb, "The paintings of Nancy Conrad" - The nature of West Texas and Montana.
Nancy Conrad is an independent artist working in her studios.
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.nancyconradartist.com
# # #
Gov. Doug Burgum has rejected a plea by North Dakotas American Indian tribes to give them exclusive rights to host internet gambling and sports betting in the state. But Burgum did endorse the tribes appeal to lower the legal gambling age from 21 to 19 at American Indian casinos and to allow use of credit or debit cards to bet. The tribes asked Burgum to approve the gambling expansion under tribal-state agreements. The tribes wanted gamblers using mobile devices to place bets that would be funneled through computer servers on tribal land. Burgum says state law doesn't allow that.
Jan 31, 2017 | By Benedict
Researchers from the University of Nottingham have used 3D scanning technology to uncover a secret room hidden inside a building used by conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The hiding hole was used by Catholic priests escaping persecution in the 17th century.
Coughton Court, 3D scanned and photographed
Following the English Reformation of the 16th century, in which the Church of England broke away from Catholicism, many Catholics who wanted to continue practicing their faith had to do so in extreme secrecyor else face execution as traitors. Consequently, many owners of large country houses devised clever methods of hiding Catholic clergymen, often by creating so-called priest holes in the various nooks and crannies of their properties.
One such house containing a priest hole is Coughton Court in Warwickshire, a place so rich with secrecy that it was also used by Sir Everard Digby, one of the main conspirators in the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, in which a group of men sought to blow up the House of Lords and kill King James I. The priest hole, however, was designed to enable practicers of the Catholic faith to hide within a turret, between two floor levels.
Following its initial use, the priest hole went undiscovered until the 1850s, when it was found with a rope ladder, portable alter, and some bedding still in place. But while the Coughton Court priest hole has been public knowledge for over 150 years, few have had a chance to see it, or properly visualize how it is laid out. As such, researchers from the University of Nottingham began 3D scanning the priest hole in 2015 in order to create a digital 3D model of the unusual cavity.
The priest hole was found within the near right turret of the tallest section of the house
A few weeks ago, courtesy of a grant from the National Trust, the same group of researchers returned to Coughton Court to perform a more comprehensive 3D scan, taking into account the entire building, which provides better context for the priest hole. And with the data collected from the 3D scanning process, the researchers have been able to assemble a digital 3D model of the building that people will be able to access online.
At Coughton, the priest hole is hidden away out of sight and the 3D model will really help visitors to understand where it fits inside the building, explained Dr Chris King, an archaeologist at the University of Nottingham. Many visitors cant access the tower room where the secret space is located, so this digital model allows them to experience the building and its story in a whole new way.
To gather the visual data about the house and its priest hole, the Nottingham researchers used a technology called terrestrial laser scanning, a process which involves rapidly obtaining 3D point clouds using laser rangefinding. The process is frequently used in the surveying of architecture and landscapes.
The 3D scanned priest hole from various angles (shown in white)
Terrestrial laser scanning is an important new technology for recording ancient monuments as [it can capture] a huge amount of data very quickly, said Dr Lukasz Bonenberg of the Nottingham Geospatial Institute. This is the first time that TLS has been used for the purpose of visualizing hidden spaces inside Tudor houses.
The researchers are now looking to secure funding to continue their research elsewhere, as they attempt to discover priest holes in other historic locations across England.
Digital visualizations of historic buildings are vital tools for helping the public to picture the past, Bonenberg added.
Posted in 3D Scanning
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Jan 31, 2017 | By Tess
Weve long been aware of graphenes material potentialsits exceptional conductivity, its lightness and strengthbut we have to admit, we never thought wed see it used to make a dress! Now, for the first time ever, wearable tech company CuteCircuit and the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester have used the groundbreaking material to construct a stunning little black dress, all with the help of 3D printing.
Graphene, the revolutionary material with strength 200 times greater than steel, unprecedented electrical and heat conductivity, and a unique transparent quality, has been touted as the material of the future, with the potential to impact almost every aspect of our daily lives, apparently even fashion.
The graphene dress was recently unveiled by CuteCircuit at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, the English city where scientists first isolated graphene, opening up the doors for research potential everywhere. If youre still not totally convinced about graphenes impact, the scientists who succeeded in isolating the atom-sized carbon form went on to win a Nobel Prize for their research. The material has also presented stunning opportunities within the 3D printing industry, including 3D printed graphene super batteries, and recently, a 3D printing material 10 times stronger and 20 times less dense than steel.
The dress, which is stunning to look at, contains so much more than meets the eye. With graphene sensors integrated into its structure, the dress is capable of doing some really amazing things. For starters, a contracting graphene band that fits around the wearers waist can monitor the wearers breathing rate, translating the rhythm to micro LEDs on the front of the dress, which changes colors and flashing frequencies according to the breathing patterns.
National Graphene Institute, Manchester
According to the University of Manchester, the 3D printed graphene filament used on the dress shows the intricate structural detail of graphene in raised diamond shaped patterns and showcases graphenes unrivalled conductivity with flashing LED lights.
The amazing features of the dress can be controlled via the Q app, which CuteCircuit developed for the graphene garment. Cute Circuit, for those unfamiliar, is the London-based innovative wearable tech company that has gained recognition for its designs for artists the likes of Katy Perry and Nicole Scherzinger, who wore the famous and world's first Twitter Dress.
The graphene dress, which is currently on display at the Trafford Centre, could be indicative of a future trend in fashion. Within the industry, many are hopeful that graphene, as a highly conductive, flexible, and transparent material, could be used to create wearable screens, so to speak, which could display digital images and be programmed by the wearer. Think of it as an ever-updating clothing item, with changeable colors, patterns, etc.
Francesca Rosella, chief creative director for Cute Circuit, commented on the project, saying, This was such an exciting project for us to get involved in, graphene has never been used in the fashion industry and being the first to use it was a real honour allowing us to have a lot of fun creating the stunning intu Little Black Graphene Dress, and showcasing graphenes amazing properties.
Similarly, Dr. Paul Wiper, a research associate at the National Graphene Institute, said: This is a fantastic project, graphene is still very much at its infancy for real-world applications and showcasing its amazing properties through the forum of fashion is very exciting. The dress is truly a one of a kind and shows what creativity, imagination and a desire to innovate can create using graphene and related two-dimensional materials.
The graphene dress was commissioned by the Trafford Centre in Manchester to celebrate the citys title as European City of Science. Once the dress is done being exhibited there, it will be available to museums and galleries for tech fashion displays.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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Cardiac troponins T and I are highly specific to myocardial cells and are the primary measure of myocardial injury. Measurement of other biomarkers, such as creatine kinase myocardial isoenzyme and myoglobin, is no longer recommended.5 Troponins T and I are clinically equivalent and have a sensitivity of 79% to 83% and a specificity of 93% to 95% for detecting myocardial injury.1921 Cardiac troponin should be measured at presentation and three to six hours after onset of ischemic symptoms.5 A troponin value above the 99th percentile of the upper reference level (laboratory specific) is required for the diagnosis of myocardial necrosis and an increase or decrease of at least 20% is required for the diagnosis of acute myocardial necrosis.3,5 Alternatively, if the initial troponin level is below the 99th percentile, a change greater than three standard deviations is considered positive for acute myocardial necrosis.5 When initial troponin results are normal but ECG changes or clinical presentation suggests a moderate or high risk of ACS, troponin levels should be measured again after six hours.5 Accelerated protocols with troponin levels measured at presentation and two hours later have been shown to have a negative predictive value of 99.7% in low-risk patients.22
Bluestein, Nichols, Thompson and Delgado is rated among the top law firms in Columbia in three practice areas in the new edition of Best Law Firms in America, the eighth consecutive year the firm has been honored.
BNTD received Tier 1 rankings for the Columbia Metropolitan area for its work in Appellate Practice and Workers Compensation Law Claimants, and Criminal Defense White-Collar, an area where the firm was first recognized in 2010.
Additionally, the 2017 Best Law Firms in America recognized BNTD as a Tier 2 firm for its work in Criminal Defense General Practice.
In order to be eligible for inclusion in Best Law Firms, a firm must first place at least one attorney in the annual Best Lawyers in America publication. Four BNTD attorneys Marti Bluestein, John Nichols, John Delgado and Allison Sullivan were included in the 2017 edition, with Nichols earning Lawyer of the Year honors in appellate practice.
From there, clients and colleagues are asked to evaluate firms on key factors such as knowledge, responsiveness, cost effectiveness and integrity. Attorneys also are asked if they consider the firm to be a worthy competitor.
The extensive data is then compiled to determine final rankings for Best Law Firms.
Its an honor to be included once in Best Law Firms in America, Bluestein said. To be included in so many consecutive editions is humbling. Its gratifying that both our clients and our peers have chosen to recognize our work year after year.
About BNTD:
The attorneys at Bluestein, Nichols, Thompson and Delgado, LLC strive to combine innovative solutions with professional services to protect the rights of South Carolina citizens in a compassionate environment. Founded in 2000, BNTD offers representation in the following areas: workers compensation, social security disability, criminal defense in both state and federal courts, appellate advocacy, veterans disability, personal injury, products liability, trucking accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, whistleblower lawsuits and wrongful death.
Media Contact
Company Name: BNTD
Contact Person: Allison Sullivan
Email: apsullivan@bntdlaw.com
Phone: 803.779.7599
Address:1614 Taylor Street, PO Box 7965
City: Columbia
State: SC
Country: United States
Website: http://bntdlaw.com/
There is much to cheer about President Donald Trump's first decisions as president. Conservatives are almost certainly going to love his Supreme Court pick, his stepped-up efforts to deport criminal aliens, the approval of two oil pipelines stubbornly blocked by the previous administration and more.
Trump remains a potential time bomb, however, both because of his genuine, anti-trade beliefs and because of his unwholesome character. Leave aside the distractions about crowd sizes and voter fraud. There is an aspect to Trump's egotism that is more than unseemly or clownish; it's aggressive. He enjoys disparaging and demeaning others personally, often about things (like their appearance or their "time of the month") that few over the age of 11 would stoop to.
These two strands Trump's misguided view that trade is bad for America, and his penchant for humiliating others came together last week. The president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, canceled a meeting with Trump, signaling an escalation of tensions with our southern neighbor. This is entirely our fault.
It's one thing to stress getting control of our borders. Even those who believe that immigration is a net positive for the nation agree that illegal immigration must be better policed. But cracking down on illegal immigration should mean getting our own house in order. It should mean policing all of our borders, not just the one with Mexico, and it should mean due diligence about visa overstays. Visitors who overstay their visas amount to at least half, and probably closer to 60 percent, of those entering the country illegally now. They arrive at airports, not across the Rio Grande. The great wave of illegal crossings from the south crested in 2007 and has declined steadily since. As immigration hawk Mark Krikorian noted in 2015, "Border crossings really are way down." Well, some border crossings are way down, others not. More Mexicans cross the border heading south now than north. In other words, net migration from Mexico is negative.
One of the blessings the U.S. has always enjoyed is having good neighbors. As Aaron David Miller put it, "The United States is the only great power in the history of the world that has had the luxury of having nonpredatory neighbors to its north and south, and fish to its east and west."
But that can change. Not content with proposing a totally unnecessary wall across our entire southern border (double fencing is much cheaper, easier to maintain and effective), Trump felt the need to insult and humiliate Mexico. It began with the accusation that the Mexican government was "sending" the illegals who crossed the border and somehow complicit in their traffic of crime and drugs. In fact, the Mexican government cooperates with the U.S. in fighting drug trafficking and other crimes. Earlier this month, Mexico extradited drug lord "El Chapo" to the U.S. for prosecution. Further demeaning our friends to the south, Trump made forcing Mexico to pay for a wall part of his stump speech and has refused to drop the demand.
Naturally, Mexicans are offended and outraged by this insult. "We're not paying for your ..... wall," fumed former Mexican president Vicente Fox. And they're worried, and should be, that Trump has proposed to "renegotiate" the NAFTA trade agreement, which he describes as "the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere, but certainly ever signed in this country."
One reason that fewer Mexicans are attempting to enter the U.S. illegally since 2007 may well be that NAFTA has succeeded in improving the jobs picture there. (Another reason is surely that the birthrate has declined, which always reduces emigration.) Fred Smith, founder and chairman of FedEx, estimates that NAFTA makes the U.S. $127 billion richer every year than it would be without it.
So the two areas of maximum importance to stability and prosperity in our hemisphere, trade and mutual respect, are both under assault by our president.
It is not written in stone that Mexico will remain a stable nation and friendly neighbor. Mexico is under stress due to falling oil prices, corruption and other woes. The peso has lost 10 percent of its value due to fears about NAFTA, and as Jose Cardenas notes in National Review, a left-wing, Hugo Chavez-like demagogue named Andre Manuel Lopez Obrador could stand to benefit from the current uncertainty and understandable resentment.
Good fences may make good neighbors. But this wall, and particularly the way Trump has rubbed Mexicans' noses in it, may turn a good neighbor bad fast.
Elk Petroleum Limited (ASX:ELK) (OTCMKTS:EKPTF) is pleased to present its new corporate overview video, showcasing the Grieve Field, the Madden Gas Field and the Lost Cabin Gas Plant located in the US Rocky Mountain Region of the State of Wyoming USA. This video updates shareholders on the progress of the Grieve Project and the Madden Gas and CO2 Field and the Lost Cabin Gas Plant.
Yesterday the Australian market closed higher led by resources sector as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the Chinese government will increase spending to boost the economy and achieve an 8% growth target this year. It raised the expectations that China's stimulus measures will prompt the demand for resources. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 22.1 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 3,188.5, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 22.9 points, or 0.73 per cent, to 3,148.8.
China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. is principally engaged in international project contracting, non-ferrous metal exploration at home and abroad, the production and sale of non-ferrous metal products as well as the manufacture of equipment and other businesses. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company obtained approximately 46% and 34% of its total revenue from its non-ferrous metal products and project contracting, respectively. The Company has operations in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Zambia, Mongolia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, among others. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had 15 major subsidiaries/associates.
Antofagasta has three business divisions: Mining, Transport and Water, with the first of those being the most important. Antofagasta plc is one of the largest international copper producing companies in the industry.Today its activities are mainly concentrated in Chile where it owns and operates three copper mines, Los Pelambres, El Tesoro and Michilla, with a total production of 428 thousand tonnes in 2007, at an average cash cost of 31.6 c/lb. Additionally the Company owns the Esperanza Project, which is expected to produce around 200 thousand tonnes of copper and 230 thousand ounces of gold from 2011 onward.The Group's mining division, Antofagasta Minerals, is also actively involved in exploration particularly in Chile, Ecuador, Zambia and Pakistan.
Atrum Coal Limited (ASX:ATU) is a metallurgical coal developer. The Company flagship asset is the 100%-owned Elan Hard Coking Coal Project in southern Alberta, Canada. Elan hosts large-scale, shallow, thick, hard coking coal (HCC) deposits with a current JORC Resource Estimate of 298 Mt (70 Mt Indicated and 228 Mt Inferred). Comprehensive quality testing of Elan South coal on samples from the 2018 exploration program, combined with review of substantial historical testwork data for the broader Elan Project, has confirmed Tier 1 HCC quality.
The initial focus for development is the Elan South area, which is located approximately 13 km from an existing rail line with significant excess capacity, providing direct rail access to export terminals in Vancouver and Prince Rupert. Elan South shares its southern boundary with Riversdale Resources Grassy Mountain Project, which is in the final permitting stage for a 4.5 Mtpa open-cut HCC operation. Around 30km to the west, Teck Resources operates five mines (the Elk Valley complex) producing approximately 25 Mtpa of premium HCC for the seaborne market.
The World Copper Conference of CRU is consolidated in the calendar of the copper industry as a mandatory event. In it, the market leaders meet to discuss key issues that impact the industry. It is considered a flagship event held during CESCO Week Santiago.
See the most recent brochure here (see link below)
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- Enter the code ABN10 when requested
>Sign up today<
2017 CEO Exhibitors Announced
Oscar Landerretche, Chairman of the Board, Codelco Chile
Jiangqiang Wu, President, Chinalco China Copper ( HKG:3668 )
) Donald R. Lindsay, President & CEO, Teck Resources Limited ( NYSE:TECK )
) Daniel Malchuk, President of Americas Minerals Operations, BHP Billiton ( ASX:BHP )
) Ivan Arriagada, CEO, Antofagasta Minerals ( LON:ANTO )
) Arnaud Soirat, Executive Director of Copper and Diamonds, Rio Tinto ( ASX:RIO )
) Jorge Gomez, Executive President, Minera Collahuasi
Daniel Muniz Quintanilla, Chief Financial Officer, Grupo Mexico (BMV:GMEXICOB)
Michael Harris, General Director of Commercial Development, Cobre and Latin America, Rio Tinto
Aurora Williams, Minister of Mining, Government of Chile
Daniel Meilan, Secretary of Mining, Ministry of Energy and Mining, Federal Government of Argentina
Nelson Pizarro, Executive President, Codelco Chile
P. Ramnath, Executive Chairman, Sterlite Copper, Vedanta ( LON:VED )
) Xue Jing, Director of Statistics, China Electricity Council (CEC)
Mikael Staffas, President, Boliden Mines (STO:BOL)
The complete list of exhibitors is available here (see link below)
New and Returning Features
The event begins with the delegates' exclusive field visit on Monday, April 3, and the three-day program expanded to include several new features.
Delegates will now be able to attend with the payment of a single fee to the main copper conference and can access the following:
- International Exploration Forum
- Metallurgical Sulfur Acid Seminar
- Innovation Showcase
- ICA Workshop - Copper Demand and Substitution
- Visit to the mines of Chuquicamata and Minister Hales
All of this is included in the delegate fee.
Assistants
The conference attracts leading CEOs from the entire copper industry, decision makers, buyers and leading copper users.
2016 DELEGATES LIST
The annual meeting will bring together the top mining executives to ensure that:
Get advance information on Chinese demand
Get familiar with the scenarios of the developing physical and financial market
Listen to the economics of bidding strategies of leading mining CEOs
Form networks at the largest and most influential copper industry conference
Find out if the fundamentals will support the 2016 price hikes
Get access to the networking system to organize pre-event meetings
>Sign up today<
About CRU Group
CRU Group is an independent business analysis, and consultancy group focused on the mining, metals and fertilizer sectors. Founded in the late 1960s and still privately owned to ensure its independence, the group employs more than 200 experts in London, Beijing, Mumbai, Santiago, Sydney and key centres within the United States.
Quarterly Activities Report Q3-16
Perth, Jan 31, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Incremental Oil And Gas Limited ( ASX:IOG ) ( ICRMF:OTCMKTS ) are pleased to provide the Company's latest Quarterly Activities Report for the period ended 31 December 2016.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Company achieved record quarterly production of 817 BOEPD for Q4-16.
- Gas wells successfully recompleted contributed to a 27% increase in gas production for the quarter.
- Net sales revenue increased by 14% from Q3-16.
PRODUCTION
Gross production across all fields in Q4-16 of 75,118 BOE was the highest quarterly production that the Company has achieved, an average of 817 BOEPD. The December's gross production average from all fields was even more at 837 BOEPD.
Gas, oil and NGL production from the Silvertip Field increased by 23% as a result of the Phase II Work Program, which included recompletions and workovers, that were completed in Q4-16.
Incremental's gross production from its oil and gas fields in the last two quarters (Q4-2016 and Q3-2016) and corresponding quarter (Q4-2015) can be viewed in Table 1 (see link below).
SALES REVENUE
Net volume sold and Net sales revenue for the last two quarters (Q3-2016 and Q4-2016) and the corresponding quarter last year (Q4-2015) are provided in the Table 2 (see link below).
Oil, gas and NGL prices increased by 14%, 10% and 49% respectively. Gas prices remained higher in Q4-16 with a marked uplift in December due to colder winter temperatures and increased gas demand in the US.
SILVERTIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
In Q4-16, eight recompletions were completed in the Silvertip Field. The average 15-day initial production (IP) rate for these wells was 157 MCFD.
The production data of the top three wells in the Phase II Work Program can be viewed in Table 3 (see link below).
CASH, AND BANK DEBT (Unaudited)
Sales proceeds in Q4-16 (US$1.28M) were the highest for the year as a result of increased production and higher commodity prices.
At the end of the quarter, the consolidated cash and bank debt position of the Company were as follows:
Cash (US$) - $982,000 (Q3-16 - $1,190,000)
- (Q4-16 cash balance includes funds held on deposit as security for performance bonds issued by ANB Bank)
Bank Debt (US$) - $7.792M (Q3-16 - $8.032M)
To view the complete Quarterly Report including tables and figures, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/2G87FMQ7
About EON NRG Ltd
EON NRG Ltd (ASX:E2E) is an USA onshore focused energy exploration and production company. The Company's growth path is through drilling of high impact oil exploration wells, supported by its 100% owned and operated long life oil and gas production assets and associated cashflow. The company also has a battery minerals division with prospective leases in Nevada which are at the early stages of low-cost exploration.
Quarterly Activities Report
Melbourne, Jan 31, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Indago Energy Ltd ( ASX:INK ) ( POGLY:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to provide the Company's Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report.
Summary
- Indago signs agreements for the acquisition of Hydrocarbon Dynamics
- Terms of acquisition changed to reflect new circumstances
- Cash position at December 31st of A$3.65m (after $~A525,000 provided to HCD)
- Indago identifies projects on which to trial HCD technology
- Operator at Newkirk considers well test to assess project
HCD Acquisition
Indago ('INK' or 'the Company') has today signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire the Hong Kong based HCDI Holdings Ltd, its related companies and associated Intellectual Property (collectively "the Companies"). Details of the Companies are contained at http://www.hydrocarbondynamics.com.
Together the Companies own an exceptional new oil technology and business that allows for the swift, clean and cost effective treatment of heavy, asphaltenic and paraffinic oils.
The technology can be applied to improve oil flow rates by the re-liquification of oil deposition from oil wells and pipelines and can also be used to recover oil from storage facilities. The product has proved its effectiveness in large-scale commercial oil wells and pipelines in Malaysia and India.
The key product, HCD MultiflowTM comprises small, specially engineered carbon-based organic molecules that can disaggregate the large, naturally occurring agglomerations of waxes and asphaltenes in heavy or paraffinic oil. Once disaggregated, these agglomerations are reabsorbed into the crude oil, reducing its pour point, viscosity and increasing API gravity thus providing outstanding flow assurance and transfer system efficiency. The HCD MultiflowTM molecule can also separate water and sediment from the crude oil and the product will have far-reaching applications in the productibility and transport of heavy/paraffinic crudes, as already evidenced by the product's use in a large offshore oil field and with many successful trials to its credit.
The Transaction Details
There are a range of conditions precedent and subsequent to completion of the proposed transaction including respective shareholder approvals of both Indago and HCD and regulatory approvals. These conditions also include various completion related documentation and processes. Indago will now prepare detailed information on the HCD acquisitions that will be sent to shareholders for their consideration expected to be distributed in Feb 2017 with a meeting expected to be held in March 2017. Indago cautions that there remains a risk that the transaction will not be completed.
In a staged transaction and subject to the various conditions, Indago will initially pay ~A$1m in cash or assumed liabilities plus 50 million fully paid shares and 33.2 million options (exercisable at $0.25c for two years). Of the 50 million shares, 20 million will be withheld pending either the re-instatement of drum sales to Malaysia or a new contract is entered into for drum sales of roughly the same amount (note this is a change from the MOU terms where the full 50 million shares were to be issued on completion). Subject to certain EBITDA hurdles being met, Indago may issue up to a further 30 million shares in April/May 2018 and 50 million shares in April/May 2019. To secure ownership of the Intellectual Property Indago will also pay a royalty of 5% of net sales to inventor Nick Castellano until those payments total US$20m. The royalty is also subject to a US$20,000/month minimum (once the Malaysian contract has been replaced). Further details will, once finalised, be disclosed in more detail in the Notice of Meeting to shareholders.
The staged payment of the 50 million shares has been introduced due to the fact that sales arrangements to Malaysia have ceased since the MOU was signed and there is no certainty that they will resume in 2017. Indago and HCD have therefore agreed to withhold 20 million shares pending the re-instatement of these sales arrangements or replacement sales of a similar quantum within 3 months of the completion of the acquisition.
As foreshadowed in the initial announcement, Indago has financed approximately US$400,000 worth of product inventory for HCD to sell to potential customers to enable the Companies to deliver product orders. Indago shareholders will however receive the sale proceeds from this product whether or not the merger completes.
Two representatives (the MOU envisaged three) from HCD will initially, subject to shareholder approval, join the INK board and will include the founder and inventor of the technology, Nick Castellano, along with HCD's Managing Director Allan Ritchie. Both will fulfil Executive Director roles.
The technology is proven, however is at an early stage of application in the industry with revenues of around A$1.2m in 2016 where HCD MultiflowTM was being used by Malaysia's national oil company, Petronas, successfully for 4 years on a major offshore platform and pipeline system. These sales have not resumed in 2017 while an alternate product is tested in an attempt to reduce costs. It should also be noted that sufficient stocks of Multiflow are on hand in Malaysia to resume sales quickly if required.
Early encouraging and reproducible results have been reported in trials at a major oilfield in India where Multiflow has been applied. Test work is also scheduled for Brazil later in the year as well as new projects identified by Indago in North America.
Indago will use its technical, financial and commercial resources to expand the technology rapidly and will also look to acquire existing oil accumulations where the technology will be used to increase or commence oil production. Many of the world's oil provinces produce waxy or heavy crudes and experience associated production and transport problems and will represent early targets for the growth in both oil production and technology sales.
Newkirk Project, Kay County Oklahoma (100% WI 81.25%NRI)
During the Quarter there were no new developments at the Company's Newkirk project where Indago holds a 100% WI and 81.25% NRI in 4,049 acres located in Kay County, Oklahoma near Ponca City. The leases were largely acquired during 2015 with a three year primary term and two year bonus term. The project is located within the Mississippi Lime tight oil play, a relatively mature play in which hundreds of wells have been drilled in the past decade.
The Operator at Newkirk, Empire Energy Limited ( ASX:EEG ) suggested in a corporate presentation that they are considering a 2 well appraisal programme at Newkirk in the March Quarter, though no formal proposal has been presented to Indago. In EEG's presentation, they suggest well costs are expected to be US$375,000 to drill and complete. Indago had earlier estimated well costs at US$500,000 and net recoverable reserves/well expected to average ~30 Mstb oil and 200 MMscf gas.
As reported previously, the main target Mississippian Lime (MSSP) is a carbonate formation which underlies a large portion of northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. The play lies at shallow depth of 1200-2200m (4000-7000') and is about 100m (300') thick. Oil & gas is sourced from the underlying, highly prolific Woodford shale.
Reservoirs comprise the upper 'Chat' and lower 'Solid' members. The Chat is 12-15m (40-50') thick and is typically high porosity with variable permeability. The underlying Solid displays low porosity with local higher porosity 'sweet spots'.
Both MSSP resevoirs have been the focus of drilling and fracture simulated completions employing vertical wells since the 1940's and horizontals since 2007. Initial flow rates for vertical wells average ~45 stb/d oil and ~80 Mscf/d gas. For horizontals, initial flow rates are highly variable dependant on how many 'sweet spots' are encountered. Wells produce significant salt water with low oil cuts, typically 10:1. Consequently, salt water disposal/injection (SWD) is an important consideration at the Newkirk Project.
As reported last quarter, the prospectivity review concluded that Indago's leases are prospective for oil and gas but given the paucity of modern wells in the immediate vicinity of Newkirk, the project should be appraised with 2-4 wells prior to development. Should the appraisal programme confirm typical play production and recovery characteristics, the project would present an attractive development when US domestic oil prices approach US$60/bbl.
Indago is currently awaiting a proposed work programme from the Operator. Initial joint venture discussions revolved around a two well work programme to test the key characteristics of the play. It should be noted that some of Indago's leases begin to expire in 2017.
Oil and gas leases held by Indago are contiguous with an additional 4,936 acres held by EEG. Under a Joint Operating Agreement, the two companies have agreed to the further development of the combined acreage (8,985 acres) on a 50/50 basis.
Financial
At December 31st , Indago Energy had cash resources of $3.65 million after providing HCD with ~A$525,000 (US$400,000) for the production of its main product, Multiflow, as described above. For clarity, should the acquisition not proceed the US$400,00 will be paid back from product sales.
Corporate
The Company continued to review upstream oil projects that would complement the HCD technology. Samples from three projects in North America have undergone preliminary testing with two showing encouraging early results.
To view the quarterly report, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/H76YGA7L
About Indago Energy Ltd
Indago Energy Ltd (ASX:INK) (OTCMKTS:POGLY) is an Australian listed company engaged in oil and gas exploration, development and production. Indago's project portfolio includes liquid rich producing assets together with substantial oil development and exploration acreage in the United States.
The Company's Exploration and Production focus is on high growth oil and gas projects offering scalability of production, cash flows and reserves. Indago currently has several producing projects together with a significant acreage position. The Company's immediate focus is the development of its Capitola Oil Project located in an active region of the Cline Shale resource play along the Eastern Shelf of the Permian Basin, Texas. The project's core development and exploitation opportunities are shallower multiple "stacked" sandstones and limestones to depths of 7,000 feet which are effectively produced from vertically drilled wells. Indago's value driven model is executed through exploiting shallower, well defined intervals with advanced completion and stimulation technology within known produced oil fields together with exposure to the emerging Cline Shale resource play.
Indago's shares are publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX ticker: INK) and also as American Depositary Receipts on the OTCQX (ADR ticker: POGLY).
Major Step Towards Advancing Citronen Project Financing and Construction
Agreement with China Nonferrous
Perth, Jan 31, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Following the grant of a 30-year Mining Licence for the World Class Citronen Base Metal Project (Citronen) in Greenland, Ironbark Zinc Limited (Ironbark) ( ASX:IBG ) ( IRBGY:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to announce the immediate appointment of China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd (NFC)( SHE:000758 ) under an agreement to:
- Incorporate current Chinese equipment and construction costs into the Citronen Feasibility Study
- Prepare a project study report in compliance with the financing requirement of China's banks
- Ensure the technical criteria is in compliance with local laws, regulations, standards and codes in Greenland and China
- Assist Ironbark in securing Chinese project debt financing for the development of Citronen under the terms of the earlier Memorandum of Understanding
Ironbark views this agreement as a major step towards advancing the financing and development of Ironbark as it progresses to become one of the world's largest zinc mining companies.
Ironbark has selected NFC as providing the most technically capable, rapid and competitive construction engineers to deliver a turnkey, fixed price EPC solution to developing and commissioning Citronen.
Moving beyond the existing Memorandum of Understanding with NFC, Ironbark will see the Citronen Feasibility Study updated and tailored to meet the Chinese banking requirements that will target 70% debt financing and provide NFC with an option to acquire up to 19.9% of the Citronen project.
Ironbark is excited by this opportunity to work with NFC, one of the world's largest construction engineering groups that has the relevant experience and the capability to provide the key equipment for the Citronen project. NFC has a strong relationship with the Chinese banking sector that is expected to provide an excellent basis to achieve the debt funding objectives of 70% of the capital for Citronen.
To view the release, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/WI6FV517
About China Nonferrous Metal Ind. FE & Const.
China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. is principally engaged in international project contracting, non-ferrous metal exploration at home and abroad, the production and sale of non-ferrous metal products as well as the manufacture of equipment and other businesses. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company obtained approximately 46% and 34% of its total revenue from its non-ferrous metal products and project contracting, respectively. The Company has operations in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Zambia, Mongolia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, among others. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had 15 major subsidiaries/associates.
About Ironbark Zinc Limited
Ironbark Zinc Limited (ASX:IBG) (OTCMKTS:IRBGY) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and is seeking to become a base metal mining house. Ironbark has an undrawn US$50M funding facility provided by Glencore to expand its project base through acquisition.
Ironbark seeks to build shareholder value through exploration and development of its projects and also seeks to actively expand the project base controlled by Ironbark through acquisition. The management and board of Ironbark have extensive technical and corporate experience in the minerals sector.
The wholly owned Citronen base metal project currently hosts in excess of 13.1 Billion pounds of zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb). For full details refer to ASX announcement 25 November 2014 Citronen Project Resource Update JORC 2012 compliant resource.
Editor's note: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp announced Monday that she would vote against Betsy DeVos' nomination.
North Dakota and the nation are awaiting changes to education. While our North Dakota legislators are moving toward changes in education, the real change will start in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump has chosen Betsy DeVos to lead the country in education.
DeVos has been in the forefront of education change in Michigan and she believes in voucher programs and charter schools, as well as public education. Most importantly, she believes parents and teachers working together can drive a strong education platform for a child. Those philosophies coincide with what we as North Dakotans believe.
She acknowledges each state is unique and learning styles may need to vary. She has continually pushed back on federal overreach in education and firmly believes there should be limited government in the classroom.
It is my hope Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., will look upon DeVos with open eyes and vote to approve DeVos as the next secretary of education. North Dakota can be a leader in education reform just as we are a leader in agriculture, oil and gas production.
F-35A maintenance sparks Red Flag 17-1
The debut of the F-35A Lightning II at Red Flag has afforded the pilots and maintainers of the aircraft a chance to be a part of the Air Force's premier air-to-air combat training exercise.
For Airmen involved with the F-35, Red Flag 17-1 provides a unique type of training that prepares them to be fully mission ready.
Its been great coming here and doing something that some of us havent necessarily done before, said Senior Airman John Girtman, an F-35A avionics systems specialist assigned to the 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. It gives us the ability to exercise our strength. Being able to work in an environment like Red Flag and seeing all of our training and hard work from back home come to fruition is extremely beneficial.
A major part of the success so far of the F-35 aircrew can be contributed to the planning and training that went into getting prepared for Red Flag 17-1.
Before we came out to the exercise we sat down and came up with a game plan as to what we may encounter or any issues we might face and how we can overcome those challenges, said Staff Sgt. Brandon Bailey, a 388th AMXS crew chief.
Now that we are here, the challenges we face during Red Flag helps us see what kind of challenges we might be faced with in a deployed environment and how we can overcome those, Bailey said. The things we learn during this exercise will allow us to progress and get better.
Red Flag exercises are fast-paced and provide aircrews the experience of multiple, intensive air combat sorties in the safety of a training environment.
Here at Red Flag there is a great sense of urgency, said Airman 1st Class Anhre Bourgeois, a 388th AMXS F-35A weapons troop. We are always on the go. If it ever came to a real world contingency I think it will be the same thing. Just constantly on the go to get the job done and the jets up in the air. Red Flag really prepares me for that.
The F-35s combined lethality and survivability make it the platform of choice for operations in a highly-contested threat environment. The F-35 will be the backbone of future joint and combined air operations, enabling critical interoperability.
Its an eye opening experience to be out here, Bourgeois said. Its not every day that you get to work on an aircraft as smart as the F-35A. Its definitely taught me a lot and Im very humbled to be working on an aircraft like this.
This is the first deployment to Red Flag for the F-35A and the first large movement since the Air Force declared the jet combat ready in August 2016.
Lt. Col. George Watkins, the 34th Fighter Squadron commander, said, It is exciting to integrate the newest operational fighter squadron and the newly initial operational capability F-35A with all the other experienced warfighter including two of our partner nations. The professional aggressors are giving us great training, but enemy is no match for our integrated fourth- and fifth-generation Air Force.
An outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) was declared in Ghana on 7 July 2022, after a test on an index case who died 24 hours after presenting to a health facility in the Ashanti region with symptoms of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHF) returned positive after his death.
The Parsis should be grateful that the Indian government actually cares about preserving their community and is even on board monetarily to reverse the decline. The government has launched a scheme called Jiyo Parsi in order to reverse the declining trend of Parsi population. Parsis are an illustrious community and their contribution to India and its development is starkly out of proportion to their tiny numbers. Their numbers have declined by 12 per cent every census decade on the other hand Indias population increases by 21 per cent. Having attained a certain level of education and profession, the girls want boys from a higher status and standing if not equal and that leads to late marriages or single status and consequently fewer children. The average age of marriage for Parsi women is 29-30 and 35 for men. Fertility rates have fallen below viable levels; only one in nine wholly Parsi families have a child under age 10. Thirty per cent of the community never marries. Many girls marry outside the community and so they and their children are not considered Parsis. Time has now come when cognizant effort is needed by the young Parsi generation to make a change in their socio-psychological attitude. They should get married early at the right time and should not delay the birth of children for the sake of better careers.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
A 33-year-old Indian-origin Singaporean woman has said that she was humiliated by German police when was told to squeeze her breast at Frankfurt airport to prove she was lactating, a media report said on Tuesday.
Gayathiri Bose, a manager at a transport company who has a three-year-old child and a seven-month-old baby, said she has filed a complaint with German police alleging she was told to squeeze her breast at airport security to prove she was lactating.
She told the BBC she was humiliated and very traumatized by the experience and would explore formal legal action.
She said police at Frankfurt Airport were suspicious because she was carrying a breast pump but travelling without her baby.
German police declined to comment on the specific allegations, the report said. But they said such measures were clearly not part of routine procedure.
Bose, who was travelling alone, said she was on her way to board a flight to Paris last Thursday when she was stopped at the security screening station.
She said that after her carry-on bag, which contained her breast pump, went through the X-ray machine, she was taken aside for questioning.
[They had] an incredulous tone. You are breastfeeding? Then where is your baby? Your baby is in Singapore?, she said about the 45-minutue episode.
They kept her passport and she was then led to a room by a female police officer for further questioning, she said.
Inside the room, She asked me to open up my blouse and show her my breast. She wanted me to show her by hand- expressing a little.
Bose said she complied and squeezed her breast. I was just in shock, I was going through the motions. I was all by myself as well, and wasnt sure what would happen to me if they decided to make trouble for me.
The Maratha community members on Tuesday staged chakka jam, as a part of their ongoing protests across Maharashtra to press for their demands, including reservation.
Vehicular movement on some roads connecting Mumbai to Pune, Nashik and Gujarat were affected because of the agitation, the protesters said.
According to Mumbai police, there were reports of the agitation being held at Kurla, Bhoiwada, Trombay, Bhandup, Mankhurd areas in the metropolis in a peaceful manner.
A meeting regarding the agitation was held in Mumbai two weeks back where the line of action was decided, the Maratha community leaders involved in the planning said.
The community leaders have also decided to hold their biggest rally in Mumbai on March 6, the first day of the state Budget session.
The community, pre-dominant in Maharashtra politics, had earlier taken out silent marches in various districts of the state last year, following the rape and murder of a girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district. The victim girl was a Maratha, while the culprits were Dalit.
The community members are demanding inclusion in OBC category, reservations for Marathas in educational institutes and government jobs, and strict punishment for accused in the Kopardi rape and murder case.
Pressure from several quarters, including the US, led to Pakistan taking steps to curtail the activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed but it is still not clear if the move was part of a larger crackdown on his terrorist network.
Saeed and four others were put under detention in Punjab Province last night.
He was at Masjid-e-Qadsia Chauburji when a heavy contingent of police surrounded the JuD headquarters. Saeed was reportedly later taken to his residence at Johar Town after declaring it a sub-jail.
Later, Saeed released a video in which he claimed that Trump was pressurising the authorities to arrest him since he wanted to become friends with Modi.
There has been no official comment yet from the Pakistani government.
Saeed was collected by the police at the headquarters of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), which calls itself a charity but is a well-known front for the Lashkar and is accepted as such by the United Nations. Shortly before dawn on Tuesday, police took him to his house. Saeed blamed the rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump for his detention. This is taking place because of Modis insistence, Trumps pressure and Pakistans helplessness, Saeed told media.
The detention order surfaced hours after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan hinted that a crackdown was imminent. He told reporters in Islamabad earlier Monday that, given the group had been under observation for years and was blacklisted internationally, Pakistan is under obligation to take some action.
The situation will be clear on this by tomorrow, he said, without giving further details. The order from the interior ministry placed Dawa and a foundation tied to it on a watch list, and also ordered the preventative detention of four other members in various cities in Punjab.
India has long seethed at Pakistans failure either to hand over or prosecute those accused of planning and organizing the Mumbai attacks, while Pakistan has alleged that India failed to give it crucial evidence.
Hours after Mumbai attacks mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed was placed under house arrest in Lahore, the Indian government has welcomed the move and has asked Pakistan to confirm the detention.
Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre has told India Today that if the details that have emerged so far are correct, then it is a welcome step.
We will have to confirm this bit and if this is true then this is a welcome step from their side. We have been trying for peace with our neighbours even as our forces remain ready on the borders, he said.
The Shiv Sena on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) not to field candidates in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections if it is offering unconditional support to the BJP.
If it doesnt field candidates then we believe MNS is thinking for Marathi manus else its apparent that MNS is BJPs B team, the Shiv Sena said in a statement.
The Shiv Sena has ruled out any alliance with the MNS.
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has indicated that he was not keen on any rapprochement with estranged cousin Raj Thackeray.
A day after MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar went to Matoshree (Uddhavs residence) seeking an alliance, the Sena chief said: I have not received any proposal. Anyway, the Sena is all prepared to go solo and we will win across Maharashtra.
The MNS leader, earlier on Sunday, was not granted an audience by Uddhav and hence he had to be content meeting Sena leaders like Anil Desai, to whom he proposed an informal alliance.
The proposal would include the MNS not fielding any candidates in constituencies where the Sena is strong and in return the Sena would not field any candidates that had sitting MNS corporators.
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]otormouth BJP leaders are hell bent on damaging party prospects in Uttar Pradesh. One of the lawmaker, Yogi Adityanath has applauded US President Donald Trumps temporary ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries roundly condemned within the US and worldwide and said similar action is needed to check terrorism in India. While campaigning for the Uttar Pradesh polls, he warned that the region could soon become another Kashmir. His communal speech may not really deter any Hindu voter but definitely kill the chances of those Muslim votes which could have come to BJPs kitty. UP has been known for communal politics in the past. However in the last few elections, the scenario has changed.
In Uttar Pradesh, people think to belong to a particular party. The same has been the case with BSP and SP, the top two contenders. Data from the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies shows the percentage of traditional BSP voters voting for the Mayawatis party has declined. A part of this vote drifted towards the SP the proportion of Jatavs voting for the SP increased in the past. Among Balmikis and other scheduled castes, the percentage of those voting for the Kanshiram founded party has fallen down. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, we have seen that everyone irrespective of their caste or religion, chosen Narendra Modi, aka BJP candidates. During 2014, Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party stood to gain from the changing caste dynamics in the state. The 16th parliamentary elections in Uttar Pradesh (UP) have brought to the fore the collapse of the traditional model of caste and communal politics in the state. However, after the two and half years of poor governance, the party has lost election in major states like Bihar and Delhi. However, only communal polarisation in the state and manipulation of castes might boost the partys prospects here now. BJP lawmakers are trying their best in doing so. Though many see UP voters franchises their rights on communal lines, existing data does not support this proposition. The BJP, symbolising communal politics, rightly or wrongly, was politically marginalised after the demolition of Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992. This is clearly evident in BJPs declining tally over the years in assembly elections (1991: 221, 1993:178, 1996:174, 2002: 88, 2007:51, 2012:47). Its vote share was halved from 31.5% in 1991 to 15.0% in 2012, 2014 they managed to bounce back in only Lok Sabha elections.
At the same time, Mayawatis vote share among the upper castes didnt change much, but Dalit votes declined. The vote share among Brahmins increased. But BJP or BSP were unable to win the confidence of Muslims. Whereas maximum Muslims vote for SP and this time Congress too is one of the strongest contenders. Mayawati, in the process of consolidating her upper caste vote bank, took the Dalit vote for granted and ignored the communitys interests. The hope was that because of the coming together of Brahmins and the lower castes, the unequal relationship between the two communities would get balanced. This did not happen. Earlier too, Mayawati gave too much emphasis to Brahmin leaders in her party at the cost of Dalits interests. The inequality continued through her term as chief minister. This time again her voters smell the same threat, she met Amit Shah for post alliance, also gave many tickets to Muslim candidates ignoring Dalits. After the occurrence of Rohit Vemula incident Dalits are not in favour of BJP. They feel discriminated and Mayawati bringing them close may go against her own interests.
The SP too was marginalised. The Akhileshs government has been thoroughly discredited as dysfunctional, corrupt, biased and lawless and has incurred displeasure of both Hindus and Muslims. His unpopularity with a section of Muslims became apparent when the Aligarh Muslim University teachers did not allow Mulayam Singh to address a seminar at the university and decided not to support him in the 2014 elections. But in the recent past, the politics of UP has gone in his favour, as many believe that he has done some development work in the state. The infamous drama family war between Akhilesh and his father Mulayam and alliance with Congress has increased his chances of victory. SP and Congress have better prospects than any other party in the state at present.
BJP received 71 parliamentarian seats out of 80 in UP due to Modis wave in 2014. However, they simply have done nothing when it comes to any sort of development in the state. Forget about change, none of them were ever accessible to common public after elections. None of these MPs ever bothered about citizens and areas. They just made controversial statements and damaged Modis image randomly. They dont have any relation with vikas but only religion. Now by polarising they want to come to power. BJPs election campaign in Goa is based on development and job creation but in UP it is purely communal. PM demands a development oriented political discourse, Amit Shah indulges in double speak, lawmakers like Adityanath issue below the belt communal statements, making this encompassing political strategy to win UP elections, targeting all segments of the society, throw in caste calculus. Well! Lets trust the voters and see whom they choose here.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
A bill introduced in the North Dakota House in response to recent Dakota Access Pipeline protests would increase the criminal penalties for engaging in a riot.
House Bill 1426 would elevate offenses such as instigating a riot of 100 or more people or providing firearms or weapons for a riot from a Class C felony to a Class B felony.
That would double the maximum penalty for such offenses to 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Byers, who testified in support of the bill, said the riot charge is intended for people who engage in tumultuous and violent conduct.
It does not apply to peaceful protests or boycotting or anything like that, Byers told the House Judiciary Committee during a hearing Monday.
Rep. Todd Porter, R-Mandan, who introduced the bill at the request of law enforcement, said some involved with recent pipeline protests were arrested but then returned to commit violent offenses after being released on bond.
It definitely takes the bad actors off the street and out of the realm of the protest rather than just bail out and run right back out there and start over again, Porter said.
Engaging in a riot would become a Class A misdemeanor under the proposal, which has a maximum penalty of one year in prison and/or a $3,000 fine. Currently the offense is a Class B misdemeanor with 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.
Rep. Steve Vetter, R-Grand Forks, asked what happens to people who intend to protest peacefully but the event turns into a riot.
Is everybody then now part of that riot? You might have a group of 150 people and there might be 25 people who are really aggressively violent and the rest of them arent, Vetter said.
Byers said prosecutors would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the individuals engaged in a riot.
However, Byers added that individuals could be guilty of engaging in a riot if law enforcement gives an order to disperse and they dont leave the area, a Class A misdemeanor under the bill.
Thats where you could be guilty if you remain there even if you arent necessarily engaging in a riot, Byers said.
No one testified in opposition to the bill. The committee did not take action on the proposal.
Also Monday, the House voted down a bill that would have required people convicted of criminal trespass to pay a minimum $1,000 fee on top of their court-imposed fine. The fee would have supported the sheriff's office in the county in which the arrest took place.
Rep. Kim Koppelman, R-West Fargo, said the bill had good intentions, but he said there are other bills in response to protests "that are much better suited to address the issue."
House Bill 1332 failed on a 20-74 vote.
Report on Assyrians Under Kurdish Rule in Northeastern Syria
Syria's disintegration as a result of the Syrian Civil War created the conditions for the rise of Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria, specifically in the governorates of Al-Hasakah and Aleppo. This region, known by Kurds as 'Rojava' ('West', in West Kurdistan), came under the control of the Kurdish socialist Democratic Union Party (abbreviated PYD) in 2012, after the strain of the civil war caused the weakened Syrian state to withdraw and leave the area under local militia control. The 2012 PYD takeover of northern Syria is often described in Western media as the 'Rojava Revolution.' The governorates of Al-Hasakah and Aleppo are referred to by the PYD as the cantons of Kobani, Afrin, and Jazire. In March 2016, the PYD officially declared its intention to become an autonomous federation, a move rejected by the Syrian state and opposition groups.
Read the full report
The PYD's self-proclaimed Autonomous Administration maintains security through the Asayish, its police, and the People's Protection Units (YPG), which serves as its armed forces. The rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in summer 2014 has further boosted the Kurdish struggle for autonomy and brought international recognition and support to the YPG, as they have been successful in combating ISIL with the help of U.S support. Aside from their fight against ISIS, the Autonomous Administration has earned praise due to its inclusive constitution, adopted in 2014, which guarantees non-Kurdish communities protection, freedom of religion, and the freedom to use and teach their own language. Despite the democratic and inclusive language used by the Kurdish administration, severe human rights abuses against non-Kurdish groups have been noted by international human rights organizations. Among them is Amnesty International, whose October 2015 publication outlines destructive campaigns against the Arab population living in the region. Assyrians have experienced similar abuses. This ethnic group resides mainly in Al-Hasakah governorate ('Jazire' canton under the PYD, known by Assyrians as Gozarto). The largest city in Al-Hasakah, Qamishli, now serves as the de facto capital of 'Rojava', although Qamishli's population has historically been majority Assyrian and the city itself was established by Assyrians fleeing from genocide in the early 20th century. Incidents against Assyrians are underreported. Kurdish-led media outlets, favorable to the Kurdish cause, prefer to minimize the severity of repression and its effects on and significance for the non-Kurdish populations. These outlets often provide information used by the mainstream media when covering areas of Syria dominated by the Kurdish administration. A recent report by NPR in the United States quotes a Kurdish man who was too "afraid of the Kurdish forces" in Hasakah to allow the reporters to use his real name. Given that this state of affairs prevails among the Kurdish population, it should be no surprise that Assyrians, with their comparative lack of demographic, political and military clout, are in a weak position when it comes to speaking out against abuses committed against them. This report addresses legal burdens, intimidation and violent incidents experienced by Assyrians under the Autonomous Administration, abuses which depict a pattern of attempted ethnic cleansing of Hasakah, overreaches by Kurdish forces, and retribution against Assyrian individuals and groups which refuse to join Kurdish organizations.
Arguments over local control and property tax relief clashed in a North Dakota legislative committee hearing Monday.
At issue was a bill introduced by Republican lawmakers to limit dollar increases in property tax levies to 3 percent annually, with some exceptions. Voters would need to approve larger increases.
Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, argued local control ultimately rests with the taxpayers.
The people are the ones who have been frustrated over the years, he told the House Finance and Taxation Committee. The people ultimately should be able to make the decision.
The hearing came as lawmakers continue to examine their property tax relief efforts in the early weeks of the session. In addition to the school aid formula, the state has provided a 12 percent property tax buydown in recent years.
Lawmakers are considering a transfer of county social services costs to the state, which proponents hope will make for permanent property tax relief. Gov. Doug Burgums proposed budget for the coming two-year budget cycle includes $275 million for that transfer, which would end the 12 percent buydown.
Terry Traynor, assistant director of policy and programs for the North Dakota Association of Counties, said the county social service transfer is likely their biggest legislative priority this session.
Property taxes have been a contentious issue in North Dakota in recent years, and lawmakers in Mondays hearing cited constituent frustrations with tax increases. Voters even considered a measure to abolish the tax in 2012, but it was soundly defeated.
House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, called House Bill 1361 a property tax reform bill. Hes the legislations primary sponsor.
The committee heard testimony earlier this month on a nearly identical bill that focuses its cap on individual parcels.
Carlsons proposal was met with opposition from people representing local taxing authorities, with Traynor warning that artificial limitations may cause unknown and unintended results. In prepared testimony, he said county officials may see it as prudent to take the maximum because of unknown costs of future events such as snow emergencies and floods.
Bill Wocken, lobbyist for the North Dakota League of Cities, said local officials are careful about raising property taxes and are ultimately accountable to voters.
Voters have sharp pencils and long memories, he said.
Brandt Dick, superintendent of the Underwood School District, told the committee the cap could affect how much school districts receive in state aid.
But Kasper said the bill, which he cosponsored, will force local governments to find ways to be more efficient, citing Burgums message of reinventing government.
The elected officials at the local level are going to have to make tough decisions just like we here during this session on our budget, he said.
Nepals two strategic airports are to host a four-day training and assessment programme to develop a customised disaster response action plan.
Airport authorities, military and humanitarian partners will participate in Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD) workshops at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj Airport.
The workshops, led by Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will build on experience learned after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal in April 2015.
Within 48 hours, Nepals main airport in Kathmandu was flooded with humanitarian aid supplies and rescue and relief teams coming in from all around the world.
However, about a week later, large aircraft were unable to land at the airport as the runway was damaged from the influx of flights delivering aid.
Being a landlocked country with a mountainous geography, Nepal relies heavily on air routes to transport aid and supplies during times of emergency.
The 2015 earthquakes have shown that an adequate level of infrastructure and effective logistical operations would not only save lives but help reduce economic loss.
More than 30 officials from government agencies and airports will attend the GARD workshops and allow participants and trainers to evaluate the current level of preparedness at the two airports.
They will go through trainings, provide concrete recommendations and an action plan to ensure that Nepals airports are prepared for future disasters.
"The 2015 quake truly demonstrated the crucial role airports play in Nepals national emergency response network," said Valerie Julliand, UNDP Resident Coordinator.
"We just cant wait for another disaster to strike to have strong and effective contingency plans to manage the flow of emergency relief goods to the people in need.
The GARD workshop is a key milestone in UNDPs efforts to support the government in making Nepal a disaster-resilient country and the airports ready to implement immediate response actions in the event of a disaster."
The workshops will also raise awareness of Disaster Risk Reduction and identify priorities for investment in national infrastructure that could further improve the resilience of emergency supply chains during a disaster.
"A clear and flexible action plan can help airport operators to minimize logistics bottlenecks and better manage sudden influxes of relief aid, bulky supplies like food, water and medical supplies, as well as NGO personnel entering the country," said Chris Weeks, director of humanitarian affairs for DHL.
"Almost two years since we first went into Nepal in the earthquakes aftermath, its especially heartening to see the government and airports considering preparedness as paramount, and incorporating it into action plans that could potentially save more lives in the future."
To date, GARD workshops have been held at around 40 airports in Armenia, Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Nepal, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
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BLACK REPUBLICAN BLOG - The Republican Party is the party of civil rights and the four Fs: faith, family, freedom and fairness. The Democratic Party is the party of the four Ss: slavery, secession, segregation and socialism (Quote By Author Michael Scheuer).
January 29, 2017
US President Donald Trumps Jan. 27 executive order to ban the entry of citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, continues to prompt reactions from both Iranian officials and media.
On Jan. 28, in remarks interpreted by Iranian media as a direct hit at Trump for seeking to build a wall along the US border with Mexico, President Hassan Rouhani said, Today is not the time for raising walls between nations; they have forgotten that the Berlin wall collapsed a long time ago. Now is the time for being neighbors.
Rouhani, who was speaking at the 17th Convention of World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations in Tehran, continued, Breaking trade pacts does not contribute to the global economy and development.
On Jan. 29, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took to Twitter to express his disappointment and anger about the executive order, writing, #MuslimBan will be recorded in history as a great gift to extremists and their supporters.
He continued, "#MuslimBan shows [the] baselessness of the US claims of friendship with the Iranian people while only having issues with the Government."
"While respecting Americans & differentiating between them & hostile U.S. policies, Iran will take reciprocal measures to protect citizens. Unlike the U.S., our decision is not retroactive. All with valid Iranian visas will be gladly welcomed," Zarif concluded.
The Swiss envoy to Iran, who represents US interests given the absence of diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Jan. 29 in protest of Trumps executive order.
Ali Akbar Velayati, the foreign policy adviser to the supreme leader, said Jan. 29, "It is the pride of Iranians that they don't need acceptance from an imbalanced individual such as Trump. Without doubt, these kinds of measures will be detrimental to the future of the United States and what can be evaluated about the future of this country is that day by day its domestic problems are getting worse."
Also on Jan. 29, parliament Speaker Ali Larijani slammed Trumps move, saying that it showed their violent and racist spirit, adding that the US government is even afraid of its own shadow.
Referring to prominent Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoostis decision to boycott the upcoming Academy Awards in protest of the racist visa ban, Larijani described her stance as an example of respect for Iranian national values and a sense of patriotism.
In this vein, Hamid Aboutalebi, the deputy chief of staff of the president for political affairs, tweeted Jan. 27, Mr. President of the United States, the Iranian nation is the symbol of identity and Aryan history, Islamic humanitarianism, freedom, liberty and philanthropy. You have definitely seen the Cyrus Cylinder? The Iranian nation is an ancient and very civilized nation. It doesnt tolerate violence and terror and will stand up to it.
He continued, You have definitely read history, Mr. President. You should remember that the Iranian nation has been strong and proud for more than 3,000 years. Nobody has been able to belittle Iranians during their history.
Of note, the Cyrus Cylinder, which dates to the 6th century B.C., has been referred to as the oldest known charter or symbol of universal human rights.
Meanwhile, Masoud Khansari, the chairman of Tehrans Chamber of Commerce, said Jan. 28, Iranian businessmen, like other persons, arent allowed to go to the United States following Trumps executive order, and this order puts some restrictions on the trade between the two countries.
The executive order has been a gift to Iranian hard-liners, who have continuously sought to undermine and question Rouhanis foreign policy achievements, including the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed with six world powers in July 2015.
the hard-line Kayhan daily, under the headline The first signature of Trump on the anti-Iran document, wrote Jan. 29, The new situation of today is clearly the result of the weakness of our countrys [nuclear] negotiating team, and is the fruit of trusting the false promises of the United States. If the Foreign Ministry had dealt with the first violation of the JCPOA with the Obama administrations approval of the [December 2015 US law to exclude nationals of Iran and several other Muslim-majority countries from the] Visa Waiver Program and forbidding tourist trips, Trump wouldnt have dared to raise his excessive demands to an extent that is a practical violation of the JCPOA.
Hard-line analyst Foad Izadi told the ultraconservative Vatan-e-Emrooz on Jan. 29, The question is why the situation has worsened after the JCPOA. Now the time has arrived for the government to change its foreign policy toward the United States, and [the government] should answer for why the outcome of its policy of approaching the United States is this new situation.
However, Amir Abolfath, a foreign policy analyst, told the Reformist Shargh daily Jan. 29, The important matter is that we shouldnt display a hysterical reaction, and the supreme institutions of the establishment should make decisions based on accurate studies [of the situation]. We should be cautious not to be trapped by the United States. The more serious danger [for Iran] than a violation of the JCPOA by the United States is that they shouldnt succeed in provoking us into violating the JCPOA.
Meanwhile, under the headline The wall of Trump [has] reached Iran, Reformist Shahrvand daily published a report about the problems caused by the executive order.
In an interview with Shahrvand on Jan. 29, Mehrdad, a mechanical engineering student who has been admitted to a doctoral degree program at the University of Rhode Island, said the executive order could destroy the chances of hims studying in the United States. There is nothing I can do except wait. During this [90-day] period [outlined by the executive order for review of entry requirements], I will surely go to the US Embassy [in a neighboring country], and I hope that at least this [order] will not be extended, Mehrdad said.
Speculation has also mounted about whether Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, nominated for an Academy Award this year for his film The Salesman, will be able to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
The public relations team of The Salesman said Jan. 28, Mr. Farhadi faces no legal prohibition to travel to the United States, but he will state his decision about whether to attend the ceremony in the next few days.
Farhadi's A Separation won an Oscar for best foreign language film in 2012.
Then, on Jan. 29, the prominent director announced he would not be attending. I neither had the intention to not attend nor did I want to boycott the event as a show of objection, for I know that many in the American film industry and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are opposed to the fanaticism and extremism which are today taking place more than ever. However, it now seems that the possibility of this presence is being accompanied by ifs and buts which are in no way acceptable to me even if exceptions were to be made for my trip.
He added, Hard-liners, despite their nationalities, political arguments and wars, regard and understand the world in very much the same way. To humiliate one nation with the pretext of guarding the security of another is not a new phenomenon in history and has always laid the groundwork for the creation of future divide and enmity.
Farhadi concluded, I hereby express my condemnation of the unjust conditions forced upon some of my compatriots and the citizens of the other six countries trying to legally enter the United States of America and hope that the current situation will not give rise to further divide between nations.
January 31, 2017
Accompanied by a 60-member political and business delegation, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault arrived in Tehran on Jan. 30. He met with President Hassan Rouhani, parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during his two-day visit.
In a joint press conference in Tehran on Jan. 31, the Iranian and French foreign ministers emphasized the importance of the continuing implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Ayrault said, We are against any initiative that is contrary to the spirit of the JCPOA, and especially if it leads to new negotiations.
Noting US President Donald Trumps campaign pledge to tear up the nuclear deal, Ayrault added, Trump has made remarks during his presidential campaign and afterward, and we have paid attention to this and have concerns about this, but we are waiting to see what will happen, and we are very cautious and careful.
Referring to Trumps Jan. 27 executive order to ban citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries including Iran from entering the United States, Ayrault said, The unilateral position to forbid the issuing of visas under the pretext of combating terrorism in America is very concerning and not at the right time. Common sense requires Trump to retreat.
Hinting at the ongoing issues faced by Iranian banks despite the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear deal, Ayrault stated, You should have a positive view of French banks. There has been progress and there will be more progress.
The major banks are avoiding banking transactions, and we are having negotiations with them. The reason for major banks avoidance [of business with Iran] is that the United States has punished them in the past and of course not because of Iran; it is because of other matters. However, they have become cautious, Ayrault acknowledged.
Iran has repeatedly complained that the July 2015 nuclear deal has failed to convince major banks to resume business with its banks.
Referring to coverage of a Jan. 29 Iranian missile test, Ayrault said, We are studying the reports. France has expressed its concern at Iran's continuation of its ballistic missile tests on several occasions and has said these actions are against the spirit of the [UN Security Council] Resolution 2231 [endorsing the nuclear deal] and hamper the process of restoring the confidence established by the Vienna agreement. He added that Paris had clearly conveyed its position to Tehran within the framework of our bilateral cooperation.
Zarif said at the joint press conference, Iran does not depend on the permission of others to defend itself just as all parties to the JCPOA said at the negotiations, missile tests are not part of the JCPOA.
He said, The new administration in the United States, presently facing an unfortunate international situation following the imposition of the visa ban, may capitalize on the [missile] issue to provoke new tensions. Zarif added, Iran will never use missiles produced in Iran to attack any other country," and "No Iranian missiles have been produced to carry nuclear warheads.
Irans foreign minister and his French counterpart also attended the French-Iranian Trading Conference on Jan. 31.
On Jan. 30, Ayrault said, "France wants to be able to allow a larger number of Iranians wishing to travel to France. This project, which aims to double the number of visas currently issued for Iran, should take effect in the summer of 2017." At present, France issues 41,000 visas to Iranians a year.
The French foreign minister also noted that bilateral trade has increased by 200% following the signing of the nuclear deal. Indeed, French carmakers Renault and Peugeot have seen a resurgence in Iran, while a contract for the delivery of 100 Airbus aircraft has been signed. Ayrault said ATRs negotiations with Iran Air for a deal on 20 turboprop aircraft is practically sealed, adding that construction group Vinci is in talks for the building of two airports in Iran.
Meanwhile, Reformist Arman newspaper reported Jan. 31, This is the first trip of a European official to Iran following Donald Trump's taking office. Trumps adoption of the position that he will tear up the JCPOA and his election as president of the United States have prompted mixed feelings among the P5+1 [China, Russia, Britain, United States, France and Germany]. On the other hand, the visit of the French foreign minister to Tehran is the prelude to the trip of Rouhani to Paris or even a trip by [French President] Francois Hollande to Iran.
January 27, 2017
BAGHDAD Under a new contract between the General Authority of Iraqi Antiquities and Britain, a British exploration mission to the historic Tell Khaiber site west of Nasiriyah arrived Jan. 16. Iraqis are hoping that excavations will resume at about 17,000 sites, 1,200 of which are found in the province of Dhi Qar in the south, mostly dating back to the era of the dawn of dynasties (2800 B.C.), the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian civilizations, and the Islamic era.
In Iraq's south, there are about 623 of these sites in Babylon, 200 partly buried in Karbala province and 200 discovered ancient sites in Najaf. It is thought that the completion of surveys could cause these numbers to double.
More scientific missions are being deployed across Iraq to excavate the rich land of Mesopotamia and discover the underground archaeological treasures.
In 2013, a team co-led by Stuart Campbell of Manchester University began conducting the first British-led archaeological excavation mission at Tell Khaiber near the ancient city of Ur in southern Iraq since the 1980s. Tell Khaiber is about 375 kilometers (233 miles) south of Baghdad in Dhi Qar province.
Under the new contract, the first between the General Authority of Iraqi Antiquities and Britain since the 1980s, the exploration mission will receive protection and security services from the government and has committed to hand all findings to the government. Under the 1932 Antiquities Law, prospectors must deliver everything they find to the Iraqi National Museum.
The British have discovered a residential city, clay tablets, seals and graves in the ancient city of Ur and at the nearby Tell Khaiber site.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities launched in 2015 a national campaign to protect Iraqi antiquities by documenting archaeological and ancient sites, while encouraging people to report any archaeological materials they may find near their homes. However, what impedes this campaign is the lack of appropriate security conditions, particularly in Islamic State (IS) controlled areas such as the northern city of Mosul and areas where IS still has a strong influence such as Ramadi. Also, the successive wars that have gripped Iraq since the beginning of the 1980s have prevented continuous and systematic exploration works for decades.
Layth Sahar, an activist in the field of protection of antiquities, told Al-Monitor, The role of security and stability in the detection of many of Iraqs antiquities that are buried in the sand will promote exploration investment opportunities. He said, This will significantly contribute to the worlds participation in bringing out the hidden antiquities to sunlight.
He added, Since 2003, the year in which the political system changed and the country opened up to the world at the cultural level, Iraq succeeded in attracting scientific missions of universities and prospectors from different countries, albeit insufficiently, as the large number of available archaeological sites requires further cooperation with foreign expertise.
He said, The excavations should not be postponed amid the continuing stealing of antiquities on the part of smugglers. Also, a large number of antiquities were lost and damaged due to environmental conditions such as rain.
Rain that fell on ancient hills and other areas on April 5, 2016, washed away about 74 archaeological pieces located above ground and dating back to the Babylonian era in the ancient city of Babylon.
One example of how exploration works have been expanding in Iraq is the Italian mission that started excavating on April 14, 2016, in the center of Wasit province, in cooperation with the Wasit Inspectorate of Antiquities and Italy's University of Turin.
And on Dec. 15, a UNESCO mission visited the Nimrod archaeological site in Ninevah province in northern Iraq to assess the extent of the damage there; the site was largely destroyed by IS after it took control of the region in June 2014.
Amer Abdul-Razzaq al-Zubaidi of the Dhi Qar Antiquities Inspectorate told Al-Monitor that there has been an increasing amount of archaeological activity. He said, Iraq has already begun to attract foreign exploration missions to its territory, especially in the central and southern regions because of the stability of the security situation, peoples cooperation with the missions in those areas and the help of the antiquities departments of the provinces in question.
He said there are several missions currently working in Dhi Qar province, namely, the Italian mission in ancient Tel Abu Tbeirah and Tel Zerghol, the British mission in Tell Khaiber, the US mission in the ancient city of Ur, the Slovak mission at the Uma site and the French mission in the city of Kerso.
He also said there are missions that are about to sign work contracts [with Iraq], including the Italian mission in Erido, the German mission in Badtibira, the Italian mission in Wasit province and the German mission in Warka in Muthanna province, and there are hundreds of universities and museums waiting to sign contracts with the Iraqi side.
Asked about the projects and the potential harnessed for the excavations, Ajyal Salman, the chairwoman of the Tourism and Antiquities Committee in Dhi Qar, told Al-Monitor, The parliaments Finance Committee managed to obtain approvals for the allocation of 90 billion Iraqi dinars [$75.8 million] to develop archaeological areas. She added, The Dhi Qar province share will be larger because of the many archaeological sites it contains.
Salman called on archaeologists, prospectors and teachers to contribute to the detection of ancient civilization landmarks buried under the ground in Iraq for thousands of years.
She also revealed a promising plan of action for the development of archaeological areas, especially considering that Iraq attracted more than 6,000 tourists per month during 2016, and that Iraqs civilization concerns all peoples of the world because it wrote the human history on earth.
Iraq has a plan that goes beyond attracting foreign missions. It plans to establish Iraqi scientific groups that can carry out excavations aimed at rehabilitating archaeological sites through national efforts. These sites will be turned into investment projects that introduce the civilization of Iraq to the world and generate funds that contribute to enhance and develop exploration capabilities.
January 31, 2017
Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal told Al-Monitor that the Russians view the Middle East as vital to their interests, saying, "The Syrian conflict is finally moving toward resolution. Eleven Palestinian factions met in Moscow recently, and there are positive signs as far as Russias relations with the new Donald Trump administration." Nofal noted that all these activities are signs of the increased role of Moscow in the region. It became clear during the Paris peace conference that the international community accepts [the fact] that Russia will have a bigger role to play in trying to resolve various conflicts. The Russians consider the Middle East as their vital sphere of interest, the ambassador said by phone from Moscow.
Nofal said that the Russians hosted an inter-Palestinian meeting on Jan. 15 and Jan. 17 where important announcements were made. Eleven Palestinian factions and not just Fatah and Hamas attended the meetings in Moscow, he said. The meetings hosted by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov focused on Palestinian national unity and the needs to establish a Palestinian state in the areas occupied during the 1967 war.
On Jan. 13, Secretary-General of the PLO Saeb Erekat met with Lavrov in Moscow ahead of the meetings and delivered a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Nofal explained that the message included a request regarding the US plan to relocate the US Embassy to Jerusalem. President Abbas asked that the Russians use their good offices to convince the Americans of the dangers of the embassy move and that this will escalate the tensions and will introduce a religious element to the conflict, he said.
Nofal believes that the new Trump administration will work closely with Russia in the coming period to find a common vision for the conflicts in the Middle East. What the Russians are trying hard to do is to convince the Americans that the Middle East is vital to their [Russians] interests and that no action should be taken without consultation with Moscow, he said.
A sign of the increasing role of Russia in the Middle East can be seen by Moscow hosting regional visitors recently. On Jan. 25, the Kremlin hosted Jordanian King Abdullah who met with Putin. According to the Jordanian official press agencys report from Moscow, Abdullah and Putin discussed the significance of Russias role in regional issues.
On Jan. 25, the Jordan Times quoted the king as talking about the importance of the Russian role to the press before the meetings, writing, Without Russia, we will not be able to find solutions to not only the Syrian problem but other regional problems in the Middle East.
The Moscow sponsored talks, which appear to violate commitments made by the Quartet of which Russia is a member regarding shunning Hamas until it recognizes Israel, does not seem to have fazed the Russian and Palestinian participants.
The leaders of the Hamas and Fatah delegations to the Moscow meeting showed preference to Russia rather than the Quartet to sponsor the peace talks. The Palestinian delegation heads criticized the Quartet and called for the creation of a new body to oversee the Middle East peace talks.
On Jan. 17, delegation heads Azzam al-Ahmad of Fatah and Moussa Abu Marzouk of Hamas were quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying that the Quartet made up of the United Nations, European Union, Russia and the United States has failed to advance peace. It was unable to advance the decisions taken by the international community, including [UN] resolutions. It is imperative to find a new working mechanism for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ahmad said.
Abu Marzouk, a senior member of the Hamas leadership, was also quoted in Moscow as saying that the Palestinians no longer wanted to work with the Quartet but instead with countries and organizations on an individual basis. Russia can play a substantial role in the region, he was quoted as saying.
Nofal reiterated opposition to the role of the Quartet, saying, Russia has recognized the state of Palestine since 1988 and has the right to meet with any Palestinian faction.
As the newly elected US president works on his own foreign policy within his America First position, it is clear that the Russians are going to quickly fill the vacuum that is being left by the retraction of the US influence in the Middle East. This retraction in fact began with the Barack Obama administration, and will most probably continue under Trump leaving Russia with the golden opportunity of spreading its wings in the region.
The relative Russian victory in Aleppo, Syria, which has enhanced the new Russian role, will greatly improve this new role for Moscow. While Russia can talk about its vital sphere of interest, it still remains to be seen whether the newfound Russian role in the Middle East will weaken Washingtons attempts to monopolize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
January 30, 2017
Middle East leaders who just days ago were cheering the inauguration of someone who appeared to share their worldview are getting rattled by the worldwide blowback against Donald Trumps hard-edged policies.
Top officials from Israel to Saudi Arabia more or less openly welcomed the departure of Barack Obama, who they saw as too accommodating toward Iran and too friendly to revolutionaries upending the region. Their warm embrace of Trump, however, is creating its own set of problems amid an unprecedented global backlash against the new president just 10 days into his administration.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the first foreign leaders to get stung for too closely identifying with the new White House occupant. In a tweet published Saturday evening ahead of his Feb. 15 meeting with Trump, Netanyahu voiced support for the US presidents proposed wall with Mexico.
"President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea," said Netanyahu.
President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 28, 2017
The tweet immediately caused a furor in Mexico, which is home to about 50,000 Jews and has good relations with Israel. Dozens of Mexican Jews canceled donations to the United Israel Appeal campaign, while Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray asked for an apology.
"It's absolutely incomprehensible that [Israels] prime minister should express himself in this way, which frankly we consider an aggression," Videgaray said Jan. 30. "I think an apology would be appropriate in this case."
Trumps Israel policy, meanwhile, is of particular concern for several US allies in the region.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the first foreign leader to call Trump to congratulate him for his win in November, is widely believed to have urged Trump to postpone any decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem when the two talked by phone Jan. 23. And King Abdullah II of Jordan is believed to have shared the same concerns with Vice President Mike Pence when the two met for breakfast Jan. 30.
No policy, however, is causing greater angst for Trumps putative new friends than his decision to rush through an executive order that bars US entry to citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days and bans Syrian refugees indefinitely.
King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia discussed the refugee situation over the phone with Trump over the weekend and agreed to support potential safe zones in Syria and Yemen, according to a White House readout. Riyadh has so far remained silent about the ban, but the kingdom is under pressure to stand up for Muslims around the world as the custodian of two of Islams holiest sites.
As a result of this ban, many of those fleeing war and persecution have been adversely and unjustly affected, the Mecca-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation said in a statement Jan. 30. Such selective and discriminatory acts will only serve to embolden the radical narratives of extremists and will provide further fuel to the advocates of violence and terrorism.
And the Saudi-backed government in Yemen, which is battling Houthi rebels and welcomes Trumps stance against the Houthis Iranian patron, also denounced what they call Trumps ban.
"We resent the US ban, the Yemeni Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Such decisions support the stance of extremists and sow divisions.
Even the Iraqi Kurds, many of whom trust Trump to be more supportive than former President Obama of their dreams of independence, are keeping a nervous eye on the developments of the past few days. Like other Iraqis, they are covered by new regulations denying them entry into the United States for 90 days.
We are working to get more information from the United States government and a better legal understanding of what the US president's executive order means for various Kurdistani groups in America including students, dual nationals and people in the United States with a work visa or residency, the Kurdistan Regional Government representation in the United States wrote in a statement. [We] would like to assure the Kurdistani-American community that we have the well-being of our community at the forefront of our work.
In next-door Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan initially welcomed Trumps election, inviting the fellow anti-establishment figure to visit as soon as possible. Within days of Trumps inauguration, however, Erdogan was already telling reporters that some language about the Middle East is reaching our ear, and it is frankly disturbing.
Regional issues cannot be solved by closing the doors on people, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said at a press conference with British leader Theresa May on Jan. 28. You can build a wall. But its not a solution. That wall will come down like the Berlin Wall.
Earlier today Freedom House released the 2017 edition of their flagship report, Freedom in the World. It was not positive. Titled Populists and Autocrats: The Dual Threat to Global Democracy, it shows much erosion in various freedoms throughout the world.
According to their website, Freedom House has published this important report since 1973 in order to track trends and view democracy and civil liberty from a large, global point. The organization evaluates countries and decides a ranking by analyzing electoral process, political pluralism and participation, the functioning of the government, freedom of expression and of belief, associational and organizational rights, the rule of law, and personal autonomy and individual rights.
The key findings in the 2017 report:
It is the 11 th consecutive year of greater global declines in freedom than gains in freedom
consecutive year of greater global declines in freedom than gains in freedom Many free countries saw a loss in political rights and/or civil liberties, including the United States and South Korea
195 countries were assessed and a fourth of them were rated Not Free.
The breakdown: Free: 45 percent Partly free: 30 percent Not free: 25 percent
The worst rated countries were in the Middle East and North Africa
In an essay summarizing the report, Arch Puddington and Tyler Roylance explain much of the data. The troubling impression created by the years headline events is supported by the latest findings, they explain. A total of 67 countries suffered net declines in political rights and civil liberties in 2016, compared with 36 that registered gains. They included an especially dark note:
While in past years the declines in freedom were generally concentrated among autocracies and dictatorships that simply went from bad to worse, in 2016 it was established democraciescountries rated Free in the reports ranking systemthat dominated the list of countries suffering setbacks. In fact, Free countries accounted for a larger share of the countries with declines than at any time in the past decade, and nearly one-quarter of the countries registering declines in 2016 were in Europe.
The United States was given special attention in the report. Freedom House included a section to address the 2016 presidential election in the United States. The success of Donald Trump, the section began, demonstrated the continued openness and dynamism of the American System. But more importantly, his election demonstrated that the United States is not immune to the kind of populist appeals that have resonated across the Atlantic in recent years. It named the United States as a country to watch because Trumps unusual campaign left open questions about [his] administrations approach to civil liberties and the role of the United States in the world.
The United States received 89/100 aggregate score (100 being the most free) and a 1/7 freedom rating (1 being the most free). The overview of the United States notes:
The United States remains a major destination point for immigrants and has largely been successful in integrating newcomers from all backgrounds. However, in recent years the countrys democratic institutions have suffered some erosion, as reflected in legislative gridlock, dysfunction in the criminal justice system, and growing disparities in wealth and economic opportunity.
Ultimately, U.S. democracy suffered some loss last year. The aggregate score in the 2016 report was 90.
Freedom Houses worst of the worst included 49 countries labeled not free. The worst three offenders were Syria, Eritrea, and North Korea.
On a somewhat positive note, under trend arrows, Colombia received an upward trend due to the peace process between the government and left-wing FARC [Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia] guerrillas, leading to a reduction in violence. Unfortunately Colombia was the only country with an upward trend arrow. Colombias aggregate score is 64 and the nation is only considered partly free.
As we move into 2017 it is important to understand:
In the wake of last years developments, it is no longer possible to speak with confidence about the long-term durability of the EU; the incorporation of democracy and human rights priorities into American foreign policy; the resilience of democratic institutions in Central Europe, Brazil, or South Africa; or even the expectation that actions like the assault on Myanmars Rohingya minority or indiscriminate bombing in Yemen will draw international criticism from democratic governments and UN human rights bodies. No such assumption, it seems, is entirely safe.
Visit Freedomhouse.org for an interactive map, breakdowns of all the countries evaluated, and explanations by Puddington and Roylance.
There is also a PDF available in Spanish.
Last years report also noted a general decline in global freedom, including in the United States.
January 30, 2017
Illegal groups within the state, extrajudicial killings and political murders have been major topics on Turkeys agenda during the past 15 years.
The issues date to the 1990s, when, at the height of the Kurdish conflict, rogue groups of soldiers, public servants and confessors former Kurdish militants who became collaborators embarked on a spree of summary executions of Kurdish civilians, including politicians and businessmen, in the name of fighting terrorism. The aim was to control Kurdish cities through bloodshed, coercion and intimidation. Occasionally, some of the perpetrators were caught red-handed and charged, while a few scapegoats were also convicted, with their atrocities played down as isolated incidents.
After its victories in the 2007 legislative elections, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) moved to reopen the files, as it began to confront the military and the established order. The JITEM cases as they are widely known, using the acronym of the notorious Gendarmerie Intelligence and Anti-Terror unit kicked off with big political pledges, raising hope that Turkey would face up to the dark episodes of its past and strengthen its democracy.
In time, however, the process slackened with the changing political climate. In the past couple of years, a series of high-profile cases were either closed or resulted in acquittals, as the AKPs relations with the military leadership warmed. In short, Turkey was neither able to face up to the states brutal policies in the past nor hold the wrongdoers to account.
In the meantime, political murders continued, though with different actors and targets. The backdrop this time was not the Kurdish conflict, but Turkeys bid to join the European Union.
In the early 2000s, the AKP government launched far-reaching reforms to align with EU norms, shaking the Kemalist establishment. Hushed-up issues such as the Armenian genocide came to the fore, and fresh debates on identity and history challenged established narratives. The changing climate polarized Turkey, as many grew anxious over the countrys unity and regime. The military was particularly stirred. Angry generals fumed at the AKP and its policies, issued memorandums and sought ground for tougher interventions in politics.
It was in this atmosphere that the political murders began anew. The targets this time were the others within, i.e., the non-Muslim minorities. The gangs were more complex and better organized than their predecessors were in the 1990s, and the policies enabling them were better concealed.
In February 2006, Catholic priest Andrea Santoro was shot dead in the northern city of Trabzon. The gunman was a teenager who said he was furious over the priests missionary work.
In January 2007, journalist Hrant Dink, the leading voice of Turkeys Armenian minority, was gunned down in broad daylight in Istanbul. The young killer and his accomplices emerged as a bunch of do-nothings, supposedly incensed over Dinks writings.
Three months later, a group of young men slit the throats of three Protestants in a Christian publishing house in the eastern city of Malatya. The assailants story was familiar they had acted out of personal anger over the victims proselytizing activities.
The circumstances surrounding Dinks murder, however, debunked the narrative of rage murders from the very first day, pointing to a new wave of systematic killings. Shortly before the murder, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), acting at the General Staffs behest, had cautioned Dink to soften his writings, warning he might enrage hotheads and put himself in harm's way. The security forces, it emerged, had long been aware of a plot to kill Dink, but, curiously, all those responsible for stopping it had somehow neglected their duties. In short, Dinks murder unfolded just as in Gabriel Garcia Marquezs Chronicle of a Death Foretold.
A decade later, the details of Dink's assassination are far from being fully brought to light. Only the hit man and his cohorts have been convicted, while probes and trials over the deliberate negligence of the security forces and other public servants drag on amid new findings and allegations. Yet the probes have not even come close to the military or MIT. Meanwhile, some of those responsible for the failure to protect Dink have been promoted to head key offices, including the police intelligence department and even the Interior Ministry, which speaks volumes of how the AKP government approaches the issue.
Things are no different when it comes to the other murders. The kid who killed Father Santoro completed his jail time last year, still insisting he acted alone. The five perpetrators of the Malatya massacre got life sentences in September 2016, while their suspected instigators vanished into thin air.
While many aspects of the murders have been swept under the rug, the cases have served a common function as tools and weapons in political power struggles.
Dinks murder, for instance, was initially perceived as the work of neonationalist groups. The main shapers of this perception were the Gulenists who, at the time, dominated the police and the judiciary. Today, things have turned upside down, and the Gulenists are accused of having orchestrated the murder. Similarly, neonationalist military figures who were arrested for pulling the strings in the Malatya massacre are now said to be the victims of a Gulenist setup.
In fact, only the political equations and the axes of conflict have changed. The AKP-Gulenist alliance that targeted the neonationalists yesterday has been replaced by an AKP-neonationalist alliance that targets the Gulenists today. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also changed his mind on Dinks murder after his fallout with Gulen. The recent developments in the Dink case are quite intriguing. The actors [behind the scene] are coming to light, he said in February 2015, alluding to the Gulenists.
In December the same year, Gulenist policemen were for the first time charged over the murder. The suspects, the prosecutor argued, were fully aware of the murder plan and let it proceed.
The high-profile probes into alleged coup preparations, Ergenekon and Sledgehammer, have been similarly upended. The military espionage probes, which also targeted the army, turned out to rest on trumped-up evidence, designed to purge unwanted officers and replace them with Gulenists. In Ergenekon and Sledgehammer, however, some potentially credible aspects were diluted with the addition of fabrications, as a result of which innocent officers were arrested and expelled from the army. After the AKP-Gulen fallout, higher courts aborted all those cases, quashing hundreds of convictions. Still, the trials seriously scarred the military, eroded the judiciarys credibility and led to major rights violations.
On the flip side of the coin, however, some suspects, for whom serious evidence existed for coup plotting or setting up criminal networks, were cleared along with the innocent.
Retired Brig. Gen. Veli Kucuk and nationalist lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz, for instance, were involved in serious incitement ahead of Dinks murder, but they, too, were cleared in the Ergenekon case. With the collapse of the case, any suspects who might have played a role in the assassination got away.
Since the failed coup attempt in 2016, a dangerous trend has emerged, threatening to further undermine the quests for justice. In the words of Erdal Kuzu, an attorney in a JITEM case of over 22 summary executions, The JITEM cases are being watered down by being linked to Gulenists.
Pro-government papers this month launched an attempt to portray Armenian intellectual Etyen Mahcupyan, a close friend of Dinks, as a Gulenist and link him to the murder after he vocally criticized Erdogan and his push for an executive presidency.
Criminalizing dissenting voices is seemingly becoming the new normal in Turkey, as the judiciary is being used as an instrument in power struggles, crippling democracy by the day. The dirty relationship between power and judiciary, arbitrariness, self-censorship and fear are becoming commonplace. Is this an omen of what lies in store in the new governance system the AKP is proposing? It is hard to say, but this is certainly what comes to mind.
January 30, 2017
QAMISHLI, Syria Syrian Kurds are working quietly but feverishly to build a state entity with its own security, economy and sociocultural bodies. But what if Damascus rejects this system and opts for war?
I recently traveled through the country, taking the main road controlled by the Syrian army between the airport and the compound of public offices outside Qamishli. Just past the government-controlled section of the road is an orgy of wall graffiti. Competing for space are posters of the Islamic State (IS), Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and the Free Syrian Army; black-framed photographs of those killed in clashes with the army; and portraits of imprisoned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan.
On electricity poles flutter flags of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and its Women's Protection Units (YPJ) the defense forces of the Democratic Federal System of Northern Syria, still known informally as Rojava. Streets are controlled not by the army, but by the Kurdish Asayish (a Kurdish security organization) units.
In a swath of land along the north, a pre-planned structure for autonomy is slowly taking shape from Qamishli to Hasakah, from Tell Abyad to Kobani and Manbij. Although they are not physically linked to the main body, Afrin and Aleppos Sheikh Maqsoud district are considered parts of it.
Syrian officials I spoke with talk of first eroding organizations like IS and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and then regaining control of the area without fighting the Kurds but also not allowing them to mutate into federalism. Kurds ultimately want to steer Syria to a federal structure and to have Rojava autonomy recognized in the constitution. War is the last thing the Kurds want. They are also aware that under current conditions, they cannot think of dividing the country or setting up an independent state.
Both sides are approaching a critical threshold that evokes incendiary questions: How will the Syrian regime manage with the Kurds? What will happen to Rojava if Turkey and Syria decide to cooperate? Can the Kurds risk fighting the Syrian army?
Kurds have already taken major steps toward a state structure with a constitution, a constituent assembly, popular committees, defense and security forces, and education and cultural institutions.
At the new guesthouse of the Asayish forces in Tell Abyad, I met with Omar Alloush, the foreign relations official of Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM), which is the driving force of the autonomy process. He said TEV-DEM wants to apply the Rojava model throughout Syria.
What if that doesnt work and it leads to war, I asked. He retreated a bit, saying, If we cannot persuade the state, then we will turn to the people. There should be a referendum in the north and the government should accept its outcome. We dont insist on federation or war. We are seeking a decentralized solution. We wont accept a centralized or Baathist rule.
Those remarks seem to summarize the determination, but also the realism, of the Kurds.
After two meetings arranged by Russians at Khmeimim air base between the regime and the Kurds, a third meeting was held in Damascus, but without any representatives of TEV-DEM and the Kurdish nationalist Democratic Union Party (PYD), the dominant forces of the region. Only the less influential groups were invited, which raised questions about Damascus' intentions.
Alloush said that was a regime tactic to avoid a solution. The PYD was not at Damascus because it has a defined, concrete project. Other Kurdish movements were there because they have no projects. In fact, our project is more suitable to the Syrian system," he said, noting that the other groups want an independent Kurdistan. "The regime knows this, and that is why it invites parties it cannot reconcile with. The regime has reconciliation feasibility with the PYD, but the regime doesnt want reconciliation."
Inviting only Kurds to these meetings was not realistic, as Kurds are working with other communities. I asked Iso Gweriye, the head of the Syria Union Party and a member of the Syrian Democratic Assembly, about the nature of the Damascus meeting.
Arabs, Kurds and Syriacs listed their demands in a joint statement after the first and second Khmeimim meetings. We are open to meet and discuss. But we received no replies. We are saying all of Syria should become a federal system, he said.
Gweriye said the regime is flexible on some issues, such as allowing Kurds to use their native language in education and to accept that all parties are responsible for security in their areas. Damascus thinks of expanding the power of local administrations. They agree to Asayish to serve as local police, but they don't want to discuss a comprehensive security system with them. For Damascus, the status of YPG, YPJ and Syrian Democratic Forces is not up for discussion, he said.
He added that the future of Rojava depends on the attitudes of parties to the problem: It is not a problem that can be solved by local forces. There can be no solution without the United States. Also Russia, Iran or Turkey cannot unilaterally bring about a solution.
Turkish intelligence's assassination teams
The Asayish guesthouse is a simple building constructed with local materials, including mud and stones outside the Qamishli town center. Sitting on a cushion near the fireplace is former journalist Cowan Ibrahim, the current chief of the Asayish forces.
Ibrahim, whose mother is a Kurd and father is an Arab, said that for them the Damascus regime is as much a threat as IS. He added, Both are trying to provoke the Arab populace against Kurds."
He referred to Turkeys intensifying threat against Rojava, saying that Ankara, together with Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani, is trying to eradicate the autonomy movement in Rojava. Ibrahim accused Turkish intelligence services of assassinating the Kurds. In the last three years, they killed eight PYD people. We tracked down the assassins and wiped them out by capturing 23 of them, all Arabs. We exposed their connections with Turkey, he added.
Asayish: subject of contention with the regime
Ibrahim explained the rather informal, haphazard security in the region, which is lacking in communication and coordination among the various groups there. We have no contacts with the regime. Lets say one of our people is detained. There has to be someone in the middle who will enable us to contact the regime. Likewise, how is the regime going to contact us when we detain a regime policeman or soldier? Sometimes we use tribal chiefs to mediate, but we have no ready access to them," he said. "We have serious problems with unofficial, disorderly forces affiliated with the regime.
He then touched on the Christians. We are careful with Christians. They are peaceful. Sutoro, the Syriac [Christian] local security unit, controls two neighborhoods in Qamishli, but we have a base 100 meters [109 yards] from them. We move in and out freely. They dont interfere. We dont interfere with their movements. Kurdish Asayish is careful not to enter the areas the regime controls, and their soldiers stay away from our areas. If a regime soldier or police want to pass through our area, he has to not be in uniform and unarmed. Otherwise, he will be detained, Ibrahim said.
What is Asayish?
In Rojava, not only regime police and soldiers are subject to restrictions, but also anyone who comes from outside the region. Syrians who dont hail from the Rojava area need a residence permit if they want to live there. They must have a resident of Rojava as their sponsor. Ibrahim said this visa-type arrangement is temporary and will be annulled when the situation in Damascus changes.
Ibrahim said Asayish today has 10,000 personnel in Jazeera, 3,000 in Afrin and 2,000 in Kobani canton. Half of the Asayish personnel in Jazeera are Arabs. In Tell Abyad, there are a few Turkmens. In the entire Asayish there are 300 Turkmens. About 30% of Asayish personnel are women. Members of the force are paid $120 monthly salaries. In Syria, civil servant monthly salaries are $80 to $100, so Asayish employment is attractive.
The Syriac police force Sutoro is subordinate to Asayish, but autonomous in its internal affairs. Sutoro is represented on the four-person Asayish executive board. Ibrahim laughed: So, they tell us what to do but we cant tell them what to do. If they want to appoint someone, all they do is inform us, but if we want to appoint someone we have to get their approval.
Nobody can predict where bargaining in Damascus will end, but the regime cannot forever ignore the realities of the north. The Rojava autonomy movement, if nothing else, has introduced the idea of decentralization to the Syrian regime, hence local administrations have taken small steps to develop legislation.
Things will have to change. Even within the powerful Baath structure, there is discussion of shifting from Arab nationalism to Syrian nationalism. Very few Syrians will approve Kurdish autonomy, but there are some who say the regime could learn from the experience of the Kurds.
Two Shoals hospitals are cutting staff and hours due to uncertain economic conditions.
Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield. (File photo)
Spokeswoman Christa Martin said they have reduced scheduled hours and eliminated certain positions at Helen Keller and Red Bay hospitals, affecting 22 employees between both campuses. The changes took effect late last week.
"Although we hear and read about the issues of healthcare in Washington and Montgomery, unfortunately, the greatest impact of these issues is always local," she said in a statement. "The economic challenge of rising costs and uncertain reimbursement cannot be ignored, so we are taking steps necessary to ensure that patient care remains our priority."
Helen Keller Hospital operates on 1300 S. Montgomery Ave. in Sheffield, while Red Bay Hospital resides on 211 Hospital Road in Red Bay, a city in Franklin County. Both facilities are affiliates of the Huntsville Hospital Health System, the third-largest publicly owned hospital system in the nation.
Martin said the recent staff changes should not affect patient care.
"We are working with our staff to help them in this transition and we do not expect any further staffing action to be taken," she said. "None of these changes will diminish our ability to provide quality care."
Red Bay and Helen Keller hospitals, which employ a combined 1,000 workers, have been a part of the Huntsville Hospital Health System since 2014 when officials signed a 40-year lease agreement assuming all liability and responsibility for the Colbert County-Northwest Alabama Healthcare Authority's operations and facilities. Those facilities include Keller Home Healthcare and Hospice, Red Bay Hospital and the North Alabama Sleep Disorders Center.
The Huntsville Hospital Health System also includes hospitals in Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Moulton, Russellville, Haleyville, and Winfield.
The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that a man convicted of rape and sodomy can sue his appellate attorney. The inmate claims the lawyer's firm took $25,000 from him to file motions the lawyer knew had no chance at succeeding.
The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday found that the trial judge erred when he dismissed Myron Timothy Yarbrough's lawsuit against attorney Steven Eversole and Eversole's firm. The justices, however, allowed the dismissal of the lawsuit against a former member of that law firm, Richard Perry Jr., to stand.
"There exists a plain dispute of fact as to what Eversole told Yarbrough about the prospects of a Rule 32 petition and the subsequent appellate filings," the court stated. "Therefore, a judgment on the pleadings in favor of the firm and Eversole was not warranted."
A Rule 32 is a petition filed with the original trial court challenging a conviction on a limited number of grounds such as newly discovered evidence or claims of ineffective counsel. But there also are time limits on when the petitions can be filed.
Yarbrough's attorney, Roger Appell, said the Supreme Court has allowed one other case under the Alabama Legal Services Liability Act to proceed without first having to prove that "but for" some kind of negligence on behalf of the attorney the defendant would have won his case. The other case involved a client who was deemed mentally incompetent to sign a legal contract.
The Supreme Court is now saying Yarbrough doesn't have to meet that "but for" provision, Appell said. Instead the court is allowing the lawsuit to proceed on the claim that the Eversole firm should not have taken the money for filing the petition.
"He (Eversole) knew, or should have known, he had no case," Appell said.
Eversole responded Tuesday evening with a statement to AL.com.
"Although the recent ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court is unfortunate, I am confident that this case will be ultimately dismissed," Eversole wrote."The Alabama Supreme Court has set an extreme and unprecedented burden of proof in Alabama beyond any previous case law or statute."
Eversole stated that the Supreme Court has "substantially chilled and hindered the rights of criminal defendants in this country. I'm astonished to learn, in today's times, an attorney who advocates for the freedom of wrongfully convicted clients shall be subject to malpractice actions based upon frivolous and wildly unsubstantiated claims beyond all precedent."
"As an attorney that has represented many defendants successfully in their appellate and post-conviction relief measures, I have fought and won rights for the accused and oppressed," Eversole stated. "The Court's opinion will substantially hinder other defendants, and their attorneys, from filing claims to alleviate injustice. This opinion chills the rights of any criminal defendants who wish to examine and continue to exercise their rights under the Constitution.
"Throughout history, the rights of the accused and the unfortunate, have been dictated by the injustice of the system," Eversole stated. "I will continuously fight for the rights of the wrongfully convicted despite attempts to circumvent the avenues of justice. This opinion, dictated by the Alabama Supreme Court, without precedent, is about the ability of a criminal defense attorney's duty to pursue all avenues of their client's Constitutional rights."
"This ruling essentially is designed to curtail and poison a lawyer's ability, again without prior precedent and deviation from same, to challenge his client's wrongful conviction," Eversole stated.
But Eversole and Perry denied Yarbrough's claims in court filings. The two lawyers asserted they told Yarbrough from the outset that any post-judgment relief from his sentence would be a "long shot," but Yarbrough told them to submit the filings anyway, according to the Supreme Court opinion.
In 2006 Yarbrough was convicted in St. Clair County of one count of rape in the first degree and two counts of sodomy in the first degree. The trial judge sentenced him to life imprisonment for each conviction and ordered that the sentences were to run concurrently, according to the Supreme Court order. The Court of Criminal Appeals later affirmed his convictions the following year.
In March 2012 Yarbrough hired the Eversole firm to explore the possibility of filing a Rule 32 petition on Yarbrough's behalf. In his complaint, Yarbrough alleges Eversole and another attorney in the firm, Richard C. Perry Jr., represented to him that there was a basis for filing a Rule 32 petition," the Supreme court states in its order.
Yarbrough paid the firm $10,000, according to the Supreme Court document.
Yarbrough claims in his lawsuit that Eversole and Perry "knew that there was no 'newly discovered' evidence as defined by Alabama case law and that the statute of limitations would be a complete bar to all claims of newly discovered evidence and for the claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel and appellate counsel.
On Dec. 12, 2012, Eversole and Perry filed a Rule 32 petition on Yarbrough's behalf in the St. Clair Circuit Court alleging the existence of newly discovered evidence and ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel. In March 2013 the judge denied the petition stating it was filed too late.
In July 2013 the firm filed a notice to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals appealing the denial of the petition. That appeals court sent Eversole and Perry notices that it was filed too late and sought an explanation as to why, according to the Supreme Court opinion. When the attorneys did not respond the appeals court dismissed the appeal.
"Yarbrough alleges Eversole and Perry never informed him that the reason his appeal had been dismissed was that it was not filed timely," according to the Supreme Court opinion. "He (Yarbrough) states in his complaint that they represented to him that 'for an additional $15,000 they could filed other legal proceedings in order to have (the) appeal reinstated."
"Yarbrough alleges that Eversole and Perry knew those representations were false and knew that, in fact, another appellate filing at that point would be fruitless," the Supreme Court opinion states.
The law firm filed a petition for a writ of mandamus with the Court of Criminal Appeals, which denied it without opinion in November 2013. That same month the firm filed an out-of-time appeal in St. Clair County Circuit Court, which Yarbrough claimed had no basis in fact and that the court had no jurisdiction in which to grant the motion, according to the Supreme Court opinion.
Yarbrough filed a lawsuit seeking back the $25,000 he paid the law firm.
Shelby County Circuit Judge Corey Moore dismissed Yarbrough's lawsuit.
Moore wrote that Yarbrough's lawsuit was brought under the Alabama Legal Services Liability Act.
Moore wrote that under that law it was Yarbrough's burden to prove that that the lawyers breached the applicable standard of care. "This is an especially difficult burden in the context of post-conviction criminal proceedings when the appellate counsel is oftentimes forced to resort to novel theories of law," Moore wrote.
Yarbrough faced two "insurmountable" burdens, Moore stated. An attorney does not guarantee the success of his representations and a lawyer is not "expected to achieve impossible results for a client," Moore stated. And the legal services liability law mandates and proof that "but for" the negligence of the lawyer the outcome of the case would have been different.
Yarbrough did not provide a "but for" argument, but instead said the Rule 32 petition should have never been filed in the first place, Moore wrote. "This argument, however, overlooks the underlying premise for which defendants were hire by plaintiff (Yarbrough) in the first place; namely, to develop some legal basis to overcome the daunting task of reversing the jury's guilty verdict."
The Alabama Supreme Court, however, rejected Moore's analysis.
"Under such circumstances, it makes no sense to require the plaintiff (Yarbrough) to demonstrate that, but for counsel's improper conduct, the outcome of the Rule 32 proceeding would have been different," the Supreme Court ruled.
The Alabama Supreme Court likened it to another case in which an attorney allegedly fraudulently induced the daughter and son-in-law of his client to pay for legal services that could never be performed because at the time that lawyer knew his client was incompetent and could not contract for legal services.
"Moreover, although there appears to be a dearth of similar legal-malpractice cases in Alabama, they are commonplace throughout the country, even though the 'but for' test applied by the circuit court in this case is also a mainstay of legal-malpractice actions nationwide," according to the Alabama Supreme Court opinion.
Updated at 7:55 p.m. to add comments from Eversole
Protests against President Donald Trump's policies, including his controversial executive order banning travel to the United States by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, are coming Tuesday to Birmingham and Anniston, according to the progressive group MoveOn.
The demonstrations are part of "Resist Trump Tuesday," a protest where the group's members "will tell our members of Congress and the media why Trump's cabinet is not what America wants or needs."
According to the group's website, 15,000 protesters rallied across the country to voice their frustration with the new administration.
At least two protests are scheduled in Alabama, with MoveOn asking protesters to gather at the district offices of Reps. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, in Birmingham and Mike Rogers, R-Saks, in Anniston.
"Democrats and Republicans alike need to hear from us before this parade of greed and hate is confirmed to a Cabinet that will attack working people, civil liberties, and the environment, while benefiting fellow billionaires and corporations," the group said on its website.
The protest at Rogers' Anniston office kicks off at noon, while the Palmer protest is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP, a leading provider of legal services to the healthcare, financial services, technology, retail and hospitality industries, recently elected litigation attorney Christopher Driskill to the firm's partnership.
Representing financial services companies and employers across myriad industries, Driskill helps guide Waller clients through complex litigation issues and disputes. Driskill's versatile background and range of industry experience further deepens Waller's legal team.
"Chris has represented our financial services clients in both complex commercial litigation and consumer disputes, and he has helped obtain favorable judgments in cases ranging from shareholder derivative actions to claims for wrongful foreclosure," said Larry Childs, partner in Waller's Birmingham office.
Driskill also maintains an active labor and employment practice, having successfully defended employers against all manner of claims of discrimination, retaliation and harassment. These include actions stemming from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Ac, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, among others. Driskill also advises employers on employment contracts, personnel decisions and business strategies to avoid potential litigation.
"Chris has made a tremendous impact in our Birmingham office by constantly exceeding the needs of our clients," said Waller Chairman Matt Burnstein. "We know he will continue to strengthen our financial services practice and make a major difference for our clients in the years ahead."
Before joining Waller, Driskill served as a clerk for District Judge William Acker in the Northern District of Alabama. He is currently a member of the Defense Research Institute - Labor and Employment Section, the Birmingham Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Driskill earned his B.A. from the University of Tennessee and his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he was the senior editor for the Alabama Law Review.
With more than 225 attorneys in Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., Birmingham and Austin, Texas, Waller assists clients in complex transactional, regulatory and litigation matters. The firm has built a national reputation for its work in healthcare, financial services, retail and hospitality, and has extensive experience in manufacturing, real estate, technology and other industries.
For more information, please visit www.wallerlaw.com.
Japanese Americans were moved "discretely" into horse stables.
This is a response to "Was the relocation of West Coast Japanese racist?" , which appeared in theon January 29, 2017.Today, January 30th, is the celebration of the birthday of Fred Korematsu, one of the bravest men of his time, who stood up to the U.S. government, and challenged the constitutionality of the Japanese Incarceration, where around 120,000 people of Japanese descent, 2/3 being American citizens, and the majority being women of children, and all of whom were innocent of any crimes of espionage, were stripped of their civil rights and human dignity, and forced into concentration camps for four years, resulting in the loss of many of their homes, livelihoods, and many of their possessions they could not take with them.Today is a day to reflect on this history, and remind ourselves of why we should be careful not to repeat it. That said, why on earth is the Tri-City Herald publishing an article attempting to defend the Japanese Internment and say that it had nothing to do with racism?I'm trying to get this written as quickly, but as accurately as possible, so I will pick out the major statements I take issue with.The term relocation, right from the start, is a way to distort the history. This was by definition an incarceration that did not just involve "relocating" people. They were forced into concentration camps and denied their civil rights. "Relocation" is a dangerous euphemism that ignores the seriousness of this historical travesty.Technically, the ruling has never been overturned. However, during President Obama's administration in 2011, the Department of Justice filed an official notice stating that the Solicitor General's defense of the internment policy was in error. Constitutional scholars such as Bruce Fein and Noah Feldman have likened it to Dred Scott and Plessy v. Ferguson, rejecting it as any kind of modern legal precedent. Why did the author not mention any of this?Furthermore, what historical circumstances could possibly render this part of history irrelevant to today's situation? Why are comparisons "problematic"? During the campaign, a spokesman for a pro-Trump super PAC explicitly referenced the Japanese Incarceration as a "precedent" for a Muslim registry. Rounding up and stripping the rights of citizens based on their religion is hardly any different than doing so based on race. The animus at the heart of this is towards people of Middle Eastern descent, evidenced by the hate crimes against non-Muslim Middle Eastern Americans, such as people in the Sikh community.This brings us to the next, very "problematic" statement.I am appalled that we are using this excuse again. The author is saying that racism had nothing to do with the unlawful incarceration of around 120,000 people whose only crime was looking similar in appearance to the wartime enemy. What do war crimes by the Japanese military have to do with Japanese Americans? Most of them were born and raised in the U.S., and had never even been to Japan. Do I really need to explain this? Apparently, I do to a lot of people, judging by the number of people I have seen expressing similar opinions.The author starts bringing up all the Japanese war crimes and sex slavery, which none of us are denying. But Japanese Americans are not the Japanese military, and shouldn't be the ones to pay the price for this.How does this make things any better? My family was "discreetly" forced to live in horse stables on a race track in Puyallup. Should they be grateful that this was handled "discreetly"? Should we be grateful they didn't lock up more of us? Is that how low the bar should be set for our government?You neglected to mention that Takeo Yoshikawa was not Japanese American. He was stationed in the U.S. working for the Japanese government, and was never part of the Japanese American community. I can't believe the author would leave out something this important.This is the infamous loyalty oath that was given to Japanese Americans to get them to "prove" their loyalty. The author tries to make it sound so reasonable, but let's consider those "historical circumstances." They were being stripped of their civil rights and treated without basic human dignity. How would you feel about your country when it treated you like that?Densho, an organization dedicated to preserving Japanese American history, has a copy of the loyalty oath available for viewing online. Questions 27 and 28 caused a severe amount of confusion among Japanese Americans. Question 27 asked, "Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty, wherever ordered?" Question 28 asked, "Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States and faithfully defend the United States from any or all attack by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, or any other foreign government, power, or organization?"Question 27 made inmates confused as to whether or not answering "yes" meant they were volunteering for the military. Were they supposed to join the military and fight for their country while their families were in concentration camps?Question 28 is worded like a trick question. Swearing allegiance now seems to imply that they were at some point loyal to the Japanese emperor, which is beyond ridiculous. First generation Japanese Americans were worried that this might be a trick, and if they were deemed disloyal, they worried they might be left stateless, as they were ineligible for citizenship. And above all, why should any of them swear unwavering allegiance to a country that is stripping them of their basic rights?The author is portraying them as disloyal for not going quietly into the concentration camps, which is an incredibly argument to make. The author also only briefly mentions that they were "reassigned to the Tule Lake facility," which the author neglects to mention was the most brutal of the American concentration camps. Tule Lake was a high security segregation center with a prison to isolate people that the government felt were the most disloyal. At this concentration camp, hundreds of young men resisted answering the questions mentioned above, and were threatened with charges under the Espionage Act, $10,000 fines, and as long as 20 years in prison.This is amazing. The argument here seems to be that not signing your loyalty oath means that you constituted a significant security threat to the nation. Japanese Americans fought so hard to try to prove their loyalty, even disavowing those who stood up for their civil rights and did not go quietly to the camps, only acknowledging their bravery decades later. Refusing to swear loyalty to a country that denies you your rights does not make you a national security threat.Additionally, this word "national security" was used a lot in the context of Japanese Americans, just as it is being used this very day to justify the unconstitutional and inhumane ban on immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim majority countries. The parallels are crystal clear, and should make us take a much harder look at our history of racial discrimination.You're wrong. It was racist. It was in every way an incarceration of a minority group "motivated largely by racial prejudice, wartime, hysteria, and a failure of political leadership," as the Commission on Wartime Relocations and Internment of Civilians proclaimed forty-two years after Executive Order 9066. This executive order is just as racist as the recent executive orders banning immigrants and refugees from Muslim majority nations, and I will not hesitate to draw every necessary parallel to remind us why we cannot distort or forget our history, lest we repeat it.
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January 31, 2017
German School Hails Opposition to Holocaust Remembrance Day
In Germany, Muslim students of Arab and Turkish origins refused to participate in International Holocaust Remembrance Day eventsand the school applauded the students decision.
Benjamin Weinthal, a Jerusalem Post correspondent and fellow at the Washington D.C.-based think tank, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, covered the widely underreported story (German Muslim Students Protest Holocaust Remembrance, Attack Israel,? Jan. 27, 2017).
Muslim students at The Weiterbildungskolleg Emscher-Lippe high school in Gelsenkirchen, Germany refused to participate in Holocaust commemoration events held at the school. Part of the event included students holding signs saying I Remember? or We Remember.? Instead, some Muslim students reportedly defaced the schools blackboard, writing F**ck Israel, Free Palestine.?
The schools director, Gunter Jahn, approved of the students decision, telling German newspaper Der Westen: It is important that there is criticism. That is the basis for a discussion.? Yet, as CAMERA and others have noted, antisemitism often masks itself as anti-Zionism; unprincipled and frequently discriminatory opposition to the worlds sole Jewish state.
Antisemitism in Germany is on the rise, as Weinthal noted. Earlier in January 2017shortly before the 75th anniversary of the Wannsee Conference in which Nazi leaders decided on the final solution? for the so-called Jewish problem?German courts reaffirmed a legal decision that excused the torching of a synagogue in the city of Wuppertal by three Muslim men. The court claimed that the arson was merely an attempt to draw attention to the blazing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.?
Antisemitic attacks in Germany doubled from 2015 to 2016, according to a World Jewish Congress report cited by Weinthal. The actual number of attacks may in fact be higher due to the lack of standards to identify contemporary antisemitism in the Federal Republic.?
That lack of standards is readily apparent if certain German schools and courts are an indicator.
Nor is Germany alone in Europe for blaming Jews for anti-Jewish violence. In France, for example, 60 percent of French citizens believe that Jews are at least partially responsible for rising antisemitism (Poll: Majority in France Believe Jews Responsible for Antisemitism,? CAMERA, Feb. 12, 2016).
As CAMERA has noted, many Western news media outlets routinely underreport the burgeoning antisemitism in Europe. A 2015 study by Tel Aviv University found that anti-Jewish violence went up forty percent in 2014 (Violent antisemitic attacks up 40 percentWheres the Coverage?? April 21, 2015). That report went received scant mention in the press.
By contrast, The Jerusalem Posts Weinthal frequently writes on antisemitism in Europe. His most recent report can be found here.
Posted by SD at January 31, 2017 04:23 PM
sorry to say but I got the same reaction on websites in the USA this last weekend. Antisemitism seems to go hand in hand with being anti-Israel. They would like us to think it is only about President Trump but that is the lie. What is especially unfortunate is when "reformed Jews" act like Agents of Influence, like Chuck Schumer for Iran and the "Arab Spring", or is it useful idiot a verbiage from the Cold War, sic. And are highlighted in the protests giving the false image even Jews don;t support Israel.
Posted by: jeb at February 2, 2017 04:59 PM
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If Trump approves the move, it would overturn decades of international consensus on Jerusalem.
Jerusalem From the windows of the grey, cube-shaped building that houses the US embassy in Tel Aviv, staff enjoy an undisturbed view out over the Mediterranean and a beach adorned in the summer with sunbeds and parasols.
Most days the only evidence of activity is outside on the pavement: A queue of Israelis snake out of a side door, clutching their documents and watched over by Israeli soldiers as they wait expectantly for a US travel visa.
The drab exterior offers no clues of the incendiary battle raging behind the scenes over whether the embassys days are numbered. Israel, and its allies in Donald Trumps new administration, want to relocate the embassy to Jerusalem, 70km away.
The distance may be short but the move risks a political and diplomatic earthquake, according to most analysts.
READ MORE: Trumps embassy move to Jerusalem self-destructive
If the Trumps White House approves the relocation, it would overturn decades of international consensus on Jerusalem.
The message to the Palestinians and Arab world would be clear and provocative, said Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian official and former Palestinian foreign minister.
Moving the embassy is the same as recognising Jerusalem as Israels united capital. Its a war crime, he told Al Jazeera.
Theres no way we or the Arab world could accept it. It would mean the end of the US as the broker of the peace process. We would fight back and mobilise the rest of the world against the move.
The Israeli army has been advising the government of Benjamin Netanyahu on the possible fallout too, according to a report last week in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. A change of address would be seen as a US green light for Israel to extend its sovereignty over the city and its holy places, including the al-Aqsa mosque, in the view of Israeli military intelligence.
Reactions could include mass protests from the Islamic movements inside Israel; riots in the occupied Palestinian territories and neighbouring states such as Jordan, which is the official guardian of al-Aqsa; and the collapse of Mahmoud Abbas Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli army believes the move also risks inflaming the wider Muslim world and increasing the threat of terror attacks against Israeli and Jewish sites around the world.
Moving the embassy is the same as recognising Jerusalem as Israel's united capital. It's a war crime. by Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian official and former Palestinian foreign minister
Tensions over Jerusalem have been high since the United Nations announced a partition plan in late 1947. It treated the city as an internationally protected zone, separate from the Jewish and Arab states it proposed in the rest of historic Palestine.
But months later, in a war that created Israel on the Palestinian homeland, Jerusalem was divided in two, under separate Israeli and Jordanian control.
In that period, Israel worked strenuously to pressure countries to set up embassies in West Jerusalem over stiff opposition from the US, said Nimrod Goren, the author of a book in Hebrew on the battles over the US embassys location.
Initially, Washington stuck by the international consensus so strictly that its diplomats refused even to travel to Jerusalem for political meetings and ceremonies, Goren, who heads Mitvim, a think-tank on Israeli foreign policy, told Al Jazeera.
But US resolve weakened through the 1950s as Israels main institutions, from the parliament to the presidents office, relocated to West Jerusalem.
A further turning point came in the early 1960s. The US started to cultivate much closer ties with Israel, especially in defence matters, he said. Washington turned a blind eye as Israel offered aid to poor, newly independent states in Africa and others in Latin America in return for establishing their embassies in Jerusalem.
By the time Israel invaded and occupied East Jerusalem in 1967, Goren observed, more than a third of the 54 diplomatic missions in Israel were located in the city.
When Israel formally annexed East Jerusalem in 1980, in violation of international law, declaring the entire city its eternal, united capital, the US again pressured states to move out of West Jerusalem. Only El Salvador and Costa Rica remained, until they too pulled out in 2006.
Another significant shift in Washingtons attitude followed the signing of the Oslo accords in 1994. Israels lobbyists worked hard to erode the significance of the accords, which, it was widely assumed, would entail the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem.
In 1995, the US Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act , which recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and required a change in the embassys location by May 1999 at the latest.
Like Trump, Bill Clinton and George W Bush promised during their presidential campaigns to implement the Jerusalem Embassy Act. Yet, once in office, they baulked at the daunting ramifications.
The US president, as the chief broker in the Oslo process , could not afford to be seen pre-judging the outcome of negotiations on Jerusalem, the most contentious of the final-status issues.
The continuing sensitivity was evident during Barack Obamas presidency.
He turned to the US Supreme Court in 2015 to strike down another Congressional measure designed to confer implicit US recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. The legislation would have entitled American parents of children born in Jerusalem to list Israel as the birthplace on their passports.
Last October, the White House also made a point of publicly correcting the dateline on a press release concerning an eulogy delivered by Obama at Shimon Peres funeral in Jerusalem. The press release was re-issued with the word Israel struck through.
Will Trump take a different tack, or will he too relent on his embassy pledge now he is in office?
In an interview late on Thursday, Trump indicated that he was not in a hurry to approve the move. I dont want to talk about it yet. Its too early, he told Fox News.
The confusing signals from his officials since his inauguration more than a week ago have hinted at a clash behind the scenes, said Nathan Thrall, a Jerusalem-based analyst with the International Crisis Group, a conflict resolution think-tank.
The truth is no one really knows what Trump will do, even veteran US diplomats, he told Al Jazeera.
On the one hand, Trump and his closest advisers on the Middle East have gone out of their way to raise expectations. Trump has invested more political capital on the move taking place than his predecessors.
The difference in approach was underscored by his choice of ambassador to Israel. David Friedman, a former bankruptcy lawyer, is more an ideological partisan an ally of the settlers than a diplomat, noted Yossi Alpher, who served as an adviser to former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak.
At the same time, however, Trump is certain to face strong institutional resistance from the US state department, said Thrall. Its officials have long opposed moving the embassy, fearing the consequences for US relations with the Arab world.
INTERACTIVE: 2016 A record year of home demolitions in occupied East Jerusalem
Last month, citing national security considerations, Obama signed a presidential waiver included in the Jerusalem Embassy Act to postpone for another six months the laws implementation as has happened without fail since it passed 22 years ago.
Trump could use Obamas waiver to save face by delaying a decision until at least June, observed Goren.
It is possible too that, despite Israeli celebrations over Trumps promise on the embassy, Netanyahu may prefer in the end to let the matter lie for a while.
There seems to be an ambivalence among Netanyahus circle, said Thrall. On the one hand, he has a lot of problems on his plate at the moment [with a series of corruption investigations ] and doesnt need the possibility of triggering a conflagration in the region. And on the other, theres no great gain for him. If the US moves the embassy, European states will not follow.
That is how Palestinian officials and diplomats in Jerusalem appear to be reading recent comments from the adminstration. Shaath said: We have signs that the administration has retreated a little. But it may simply be a delay. We cant be sure.
A European diplomat based in Israel, speaking to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, said: It looks like Trumps bark may have been worse than his bite. But theres still a danger that [US ambassador] Friedman and Netanyahu will find a work-around.
Morton Klein, the head of the Zionist Organisation of American, one of Israels key Israel lobby groups in Washington, told the Haaretz daily last week that Friedman had told him he would work out of US offices in Jerusalem.
Alpher suggested a possible scenario might be for Friedman to take over a section of the US consulate in Jerusalem, which serves the occupied territories. The US embassy could then function separately in Tel Aviv.
If American Jewish leaders are insistent that the embassy moves, I could see the [Trump] administration choosing that as a compromise, he said.
Shaath said such a manoeuvre should fool no one. We would not accept any sort of so-called compromise along those lines. If the ambassador is working from Jerusalem, then the embassy has moved and we will fight it.
In the wake of a deadly shooting at a Quebec mosque, we ask if Islamophobia and racism has been on the rise there.
Mohamed Labidi was at a loss for words.
After only a few minutes at the podium, the former president of the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City, where six worshippers were killed as they prayed on Sunday, was unable to hold back his tears.
I cant express the great pain that touched our community with this tragedy that took place in a place of worship, against people who were praying, Labidi said during a press conference in Quebec City on Monday morning.
We are touched by this solidarity and it diminishes our pain, he said, his voice breaking.
It was an emotional response echoed by many members and representatives of the Muslim community across Quebec, as they continue to grapple with the impact of the deadly shooting at a popular mosque in the provincial capital.
At least one gunman entered the Islamic Cultural Centre in Ste-Foy shortly after evening prayers, spraying the room with bullets as worshipers prayed, read the Quran and chatted.
Six people were killed, and another eight were seriously injured, in the attack.
Six of our brothers, who were with us only yesterday, who prayed next to us, hand-in-hand They were shot in the back, said another Muslim community representative in Quebec, who was also holding back tears, on Monday.
The attack was unequivocally condemned by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and almost immediately labelled a terrorist act by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.
READ MORE: Dutch mosques lock doors at prayers after Canada attack
This was a group of innocents targeted for practising their faith. Make no mistake, this was a terrorist attack. It was an attack on our most intrinsic and cherished values as Canadians, values of openness, diversity and freedom of religion, Trudeau said in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Monday afternoon.
To the more than one million Canadians who profess the Muslim faith, I want to say directly: We are with you. Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours.
A centre of Islamophobic sentiment
At around midday on Monday, Quebec police said they had arrested one suspect, a Quebec man in his late 20s. Another man, who police originally named as a second suspect, is now considered a witness, the provincial police said.
While few details are known about the suspects motives, Barbara Perry, a professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology who tracks right-wing extremist groups, said Quebec can be considered a centre of Islamophobic sentiment, both from a political perspective, but also a popular perspective.
It certainly seems, over the last couple of years, that its also been the centre for racist and xenophobic and anti-immigrant organising, Perry told Al Jazeera.
Make no mistake, this was a terrorist attack ... To the more than one million Canadians who profess the Muslim faith, I want to say directly: We are with you. Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours. by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
She pointed to Pegida, the far right, anti-immigrant group founded in Europe, getting its first Canadian chapter in Quebec, as one example.
Former Quebec Premier Pauline Marois proposal to institute a Quebec charter of values, which would have included a headscarf ban for public sector employees, and the heated debate about a decade ago over the reasonable accommodation of new immigrants in the province, are others.
More recently, instances of anti-Muslim hate crimes have also become more widespread, including a pregnant woman whose headscarf was ripped off as she waited to pick her daughter up from school in Montreal.
Hate crimes targeting Muslims who number approximately one million people in Canada doubled between 2012 and 2014 across the country, even though hate crimes were down overall in the same period.
The mosque where the shooting took place on Sunday was targeted once before in an Islamophobic attack. Last year, a pigs head was left on its doorstep, alongside a note that read, bon appetit. Eating pork is forbidden in Islam.
According to Haroun Bouazzi, co-president of the Montreal-based rights group AMAL-Quebec, the list of Islamic places of worship and Muslim-owned businesses in Quebec that have been targeted by hate crimes in the last three years is endless.
Mosques have been set ablaze and vandalised, and schools and halal butcher shops have been shot at, but in many instances, police have not labelled the attacks hate crimes, Bouazzi said.
There are institutions, whether they are political or security-based, that closed their eyes to, that under-estimated, and that even in some cases were complicit with, an absolutely unacceptable situation for a religious minority in Quebec, he told Al Jazeera.
We hope that what happened [in Quebec City] will be a wake-up call for everyone, that finally, we will take this situation more seriously.
The alleged attacker reportedly shared links on his now-deleted Facebook page to the website of the far-right French politician Marine Le Pen, according to a report in Montreal newspaper La Presse.
He was also well-known among a local refugee rights group for being an online troll who would post comments against foreigners and feminists, the newspaper reported.
When hate dominates the political agenda
Perry said the wider political context in Canada cannot be discounted as a contributing factor in the violence, nor can the emboldening of racist ideas, which have become more mainstream as a result of US President Donald Trumps election campaign and victory.
Its no coincidence that this occurred on the weekend that he signed the executive order that effectively banned Muslims from so many countries It really sent a very powerful message, she said.
Alex Neve, executive director at Amnesty International Canada, told Al Jazeera that while he would not draw a direct line between Trumps executive order and what occurred in Quebec City, messages of hate do nothing to stem violence and racism.
Its certainly important to remind ourselves that when messages of hate dominate the political agenda, and when we see policies that are divisive and blatantly fuel bigotry, as we have seen in the United States over the past week, that certainly does nothing to counter violence and address the sentiments of hate and xenophobia, Neve said.
He told Al Jazeera that it is important for Canadians to show solidarity with Muslim communities across the country at this critical time.
Its absolutely vital that we reassure and reconfirm that we stand against hate, we stand for tolerance, we believe in diversity, and we believe in human rights, Neve said.
Messages of love and support
Vigils were held across Canada on Monday evening, including in Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, and a small rally was even held in Nunavut, in the Canadian Arctic, earlier in the day.
Flags have also been flying at half-staff in front of the Quebec legislature and at the Ottawa and Montreal city halls.
Bouazzi said he has been flooded with messages of love and support since the attack, which is a positive sign for Muslim communities that feel completely traumatised and absolutely afraid and in shock since the attack.
He said it was important for the community to organise a vigil that could bring together Quebeckers of all faiths and backgrounds, and would demonstrate that Quebec refuses hatred, refuses Islamophobia [and] refuses acts of terrorism.
We hope, and we know, that the Quebecois people, the Quebecois nation, will be there.
We hear the stories of a Syrian refugee, a Sudanese doctor and an Iranian artist unable to reach or return to the US.
People directly affected by Donald Trumps immigration ban share their stories:
A Syrian refugee: Every country is trying to get rid of us
Nael Zaino was not allowed to board a plane flying from Istanbul in Turkey to Los Angeles International Airport in the US.
A Syrian, he had gone to Istanbul from Gaziantep and was hoping to join his refugee wife and son, an American citizen, in the US after receiving his visa on January 27, 2017. But that was the same day that US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Syria.
Naels brother, Basileus Zeno, talks about their familys ordeal:
My brother, Nael Zaino, was banned from boarding his flight from Istanbul to LAX [Los Angeles International Airport]. He was supposed to join his wife, who is a refugee, and his child, who is an American citizen born in California last year, as a refugee through family reunification. However, at the gate he was told that all types of visas issued before the executive order are cancelled [his [visa] expires in March]. My brother saw his son only once in Turkey when they travelled to see him there.
READ MORE Six other times the US has banned immigrants
The Turkish officer refused to let him [on to the plane]. My brother just came back to Gaziantep from Istanbul and he is planning to email the American embassy in Ankara to ask about his visa status. He works with the IOM, the International Organization for Migration, and has diplomatic residency in Turkey.
I, myself, have had a pending asylum application in the US, with my wife, since July 2013. I was doing my PhD in classical archaeology at the University of Damascus, but I lost it because of the war. I started again in the US and finished my masters in political science at Ohio University, and currently I am pursuing a doctorate in political science at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst.
Its a very painful experience to the extent you have no words to describe it.
As a Syrian in the US, history reminds me of the ghost of St Louis, the ship the US turned away, and it seems to me that we are all, not just Syrian refugees, but the 65.3 million people around the world, in a huge St Louis, and every country is trying to get rid of us. I think, the immigration system here, even before the recent executive orders, is torturing asylum seekers and refugees and tearing families apart.
That being said, I have to acknowledge that I saw the beauty of America in the hearts of people who are occupying airports to protest the cruel and unjust executive order.
American whose Iranian wife is stranded in Australia: This is all hands on deck
Sarvin Haghighi is an Iranian green-card holder married to an American citizen and living in Chicago. She went to visit her family in Australia when the executive order was signed and is now in legal limbo, unable to return to her husband, Andrew Culley, who speaks of their ordeal:
I am a US citizen. My wife, Sarvin Haghighi, is a permanent resident with an Iranian passport. She has been stranded in Australia while visiting her family. We just went through three and a half years of vetting by the DHS [Department of Homeland Security] to secure her green card. We live in Chicago and Sarvin is a resident artist at Zhou B Art Centre in Bridgeport and a talented artist with exhibitions worldwide focusing on blending Persian calligraphy with messages of love from Rumi.
The irony in all of this is that Sarvin came to the US to enjoy the personal and artistic freedoms that her nation of birth could not guarantee. Its heartbreaking that a person who has contributed so much to her adopted country is being turned away. Sarvin is a generous and beautiful soul that frankly this country could use more of.
READ MORE Iran: Trumps Muslim ban will rip our family apart
We are just local Chicagoans trying to build a life for ourselves. Its especially difficult for my wife because her family is scattered across the world Iran, Australia, Canada. All of these restrictions affect my ability to visit Iran, her parents ability to visit us here.
And I feel that my putting up the message that the US is not accepting of immigrants, refugees and Muslims, it will no longer get the best and brightest students, innovators and entrepreneurs. More importantly this weekend is one big recruitment poster for ISIS [also known as ISIL, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant].
I encourage everyone to please call their US senator, congressman and local politicians today. I also encourage everyone to go to any airport that lands international flights and share your protest voice. This is all hands on deck it will all help Sarvin get back to her hometown, Chicago.
A Sudanese doctor: This is going to affect my patients
Dr Kamal Fadlalla is a second-year resident in internal medicine at Interfaith Medical Centre in New York. He was visiting his family in Sudan when Trump signed the executive order.
He quickly bought a ticket to the US, but was denied entry to the plane just minutes before boarding. He is now stuck in Sudan, unable to return to his patients or to complete his residency, which he fought hard to get. His plans to take the Medical Board Exam next year are now up in the air. His H-1B visa (non-immigrant visa for foreign workers in specialty occupations) is valid for three months. He tells Al Jazeera what this could mean for his future:
READ MORE Trumps immigration ban US is the only home we know
Im a second year resident and Ive been working in New York for the last 20 months. This was my first time leaving the US to visit my family after almost two years of not seeing them. I came to Sudan for two weeks to spend time with my family, my mother, my sisters. Everything was fine until Friday when my colleagues at the hospital administration told me I was in imminent danger of being denied entry to the US. So they advised me to come back as soon as possible. I immediately cancelled my vacation and booked my flight.
On Saturday, I went to Khartoum airport, where everything went fine. Thirty minutes before boarding, me and another passenger were told we would not be allowed to get on the plane. They cancelled our tickets and I tried to explain to them that I have a valid visa; they said the order is very clear. I waited in the airport for three hours, where I met another guy who had been returned from Doha, another two guys returned from New York, and a woman with her children returned from Dubai.
READ MORE What is wrong with Trumps immigration ban?
In the middle of the night, I drove home, two hours away from Khartoum. I called the hospital, they said they are trying to figure out what to do. This is going to affect my future, my colleagues, my patients. Im just waiting, following media [reports], contacting my lawyer and colleagues. Im waiting and worried about my future.
In the internal medicine programme Im in, it takes three years to be board certified. The board exam is at the end of the residency, and if there is any delay, it may affect my ability to sit the exam.
This will also affect the future of many other junior doctors here in Sudan who were planning to start their residency this year [in July]. They spent a lot of time and effort, and went through many interviews to get selected to match with a hospital to study and work in the US.
Trumps use of Israels separation wall as an example of a valid security measure is based on gross ignorance, at best.
William Parry is a freelance writer and author of "Against the Wall: the art of resistance in Palestine".
On January 27, as proof of the effectiveness that walls can have in preventing the movement of people between borders, United States President Donald Trump told Sean Hannity of Fox News: A wall protects. All you have to do is ask Israel. They were having a total disaster coming across and they had a wall. Its 99.9 percent stoppage.
One could say, after all, that its the Palestinians who were having a total disaster coming across. Since 1967, Israel has built some 250 illegal settlements and outposts on Palestinian land in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, in which more than 600,000 Israelis now live, in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Putting that aside for the moment, there are several key problems with Trumps claim. The first is the walls raison detre: its a separation wall, not a security wall, according to its name in Hebrew (gader hafrada). It was originally conceived in 2000, by Ehud Baraks government as a negotiation threat to Palestinian Liberation Organization leader, Yasser Arafat: show more flexibility or well unilaterally create a consolidated demographic border. Fast forward a few years, and that threat materialised with profound humanitarian and economic consequences that continue to be felt by the Palestinians.
Border constrictor
A glance at a map detailing the separation walls route quickly reveals that the vast majority of it 85 percent is, or is planned to be, built within the West Bank, not along the Green Line or the 1949 Armistice Line, the border between Israel and the Palestinian West Bank recognised by the international community.
This annexation accounts for nearly 10 percent of the West Bank and includes prime agricultural land and strategic water reserves. At one point, the wall cuts 22km deep into the West Bank.
The purpose of its meandering deviation from Israels border, and into the West Bank, is to unilaterally annex the land on which the majority of Israels illegal settlements and outposts have been built.
Its a border constrictor for Palestinians coupled with an elaborate matrix of movement and access restrictions that separate families from their land, communities from each other, and often communities from educational, medical and religious services.
The wall has also separated Palestinian towns and cities from Jerusalem, Palestines economic, cultural and religious centre.
In 2004, the International Court of Justices Advisory Opinion on the illegality of Israels separation wall, among other things, stated that the walls route deep into the West Bank to annex Israeli settlements, and allow space for them to develop and expand, proved that security was not the main motivation behind the construction of the wall.
Several highly respected international and Israeli NGOs concluded the same. Israeli NGOs BIKOM and Btselem stated in a report published in 2005:
[I]it is clear that contrary to the [security] picture portrayed by the state, the settlement-expansion plans played a substantial role in the planning of the Barriers route. The report shows that not only were security-related reasons of secondary importance in certain locations, in cases when they conflicted with settlement expansion, the planners opted for expansion, even at the expense of compromised security.
99.9 percent stoppage
The second problem with Trumps claim is the alleged 99.9 percent stoppage. For starters, the wall is only two-thirds complete. A rector at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, a centre of theological research between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, told me: An incomplete wall is about as effective as a mosquito net that covers two-thirds of you. Would you buy one to protect you?
Trump's use of Israel's separation wall as an example of a successful security measure is based on gross ignorance, at best. by
The wall was also not primarily responsible for stopping Palestinian attacks on Israelis during the Second Intifada. Rather, the steep drop in attacks in 2005 was primarily due to a tactical decision by Hamas and other Palestinian political organisations to suspend these attacks, focusing instead on the Palestinian parliamentary elections imminent at the time a fact reported in January 2006 by Shin Bet, Israels intelligence agency.
While the separation wall has had a part to play in making these attacks more difficult, a pervasive Israeli security intelligence network and military presence on the ground inside the West Bank in tandem with a complicit Palestinian Authority play a greater role.
In 2009, Yuval Diskin, then head the Shin Bet, said that the wall didnt need to be completed as Israeli military intelligence was sufficiently robust to thwart any Palestinian attacks from the West Bank.
READ MORE: The long walk into Gaza
In addition, on any given day there are tens of thousands of Palestinians, predominantly labourers, who smuggle themselves inside Israel to seek work.
At obscure points around Jerusalem, one can see Palestinian labourers scaling the wall with makeshift ladders and disappearing into the distance, or can find ropes or resourcefully used skips that labourers have used to get into Israel.
It is clear that the primary reason for West Bank Palestinians to smuggle themselves into Israel is to find work, given the devastating effect of Israels separation wall and occupation on the Palestinian economy.
Trumps use of Israels separation wall as an example of a successful security measure is based on gross ignorance, at best. Its real damage comes in his championing and legitimising a wall built by Israel an occupying, colonising power predominantly inside the West Bank, in breach of international law. Such public statements enable Israel to continue its systematic violations of Palestinian rights with impunity.
William Parry is a freelance writer, author of Against the Wall: the art of resistance in Palestine, and co-director and co-producer of a short documentary, Breaking the Generations: Palestinian prisoners and medical rights.
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
The US President Donald Trump made clear his intention to undo the legacy of Barack Obama and offer a different Middle East policy.
No better place to start than Syria, especially considering it was the most prominent stain on Obamas foreign policy record where he was reluctant to intervene in two watershed moments: in 2013, when a no-fly zone was a military option to cripple the Syrian regimes air force; and in 2015, when a safe zone was meant to shelter refugees in northern Syria.
While Obama did not act because he was considering the possible military outcome of that decision, Trump is now limiting the safe zone debate to a US homeland security perspective.
Trumps thinking
In a campaign speech in Knoxville, Tennessee, in November 2015, then candidate Trump laid out what can be interpreted as a real estate approach to protecting Syrian civilians.
He suggested to take a big swatch of land for the right price and build a big beautiful safe zone that will make Syrian refugees happier.
Trumps thinking on Syria was motivated by keeping Syrian refugees, and the risks they allegedly pose, away from the United States and Europe. He is now following through on his campaign promise.
That link between establishing a safe zone and suspending the admission of Syrian refugees to the US was evident in the draft executive order dedicated to prevent foreign terrorists from entering the country. Ultimately that provision was not included in the final version of the executive order released on January 27. However, Trump remains adamant about advancing this issue.
On January 29, he officially requested Saudi support for implementing safe zones that help alleviate the burden of those who are suffering. Obviously, one cannot ignore the stark moral contradiction between considering Syrian refugees as detrimental to the interests of the United States and intervening in their country to help them.
The Trump administration should not expect the safe zone to run on cruise control without heavy US involvement. Past experiences in Iraq and Bosnia tell us that US interest in enforcing such a zone will run out of steam over time and regional players will probably fill the vacuum and further feed the conflict. by
Given the military dynamics in Syria, a safe zone is not achievable without a no-fly zone and it requires significant resources as well as regional buy-in.
The US military has been and remains reluctant to take part in such a plan that carries risks of confrontation by transforming its role from defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) to policing a safe zone.
The Pentagon estimated that it will take between 15,000 and 30,000 US troops to secure a safe zone in Syria with a cost of at least $1bn a month.
The Trump administration should not expect the safe zone to run on cruise control without heavy US involvement. Past experiences in Iraq and Bosnia tell us that US interest in enforcing such a zone will run out of steam over time and regional players will probably fill in the vacuum and further feed the conflict.
Changing regional conditions
In the regional context, the safe zone can indeed be a game changer. A lot has happened in Syria since the last time that plan was seriously considered in Washington.
Russia became a force to reckon with since its intervention in September 2015, the Turkish incursion in northern Syria began in August 2016 and Aleppo fell last December into the hands of the Syrian regime.
Turkey is currently shaping a de facto safe zone between Afrin and Jarablus along its border with Syria, part of a demographic battle with the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) that represents Syrian Kurdish forces.
Turkish troops are struggling to defeat ISIL in al-Bab while the US forces are mediating between Turkey and the YPG to decide who will ultimately take control of Manbij. The mechanism of implementing the safe zone will distract both Turkey and the YPG from their separate fight against ISIL.
It is also useful to remember that the safe-zone proposal between Afrin and Kobane failed in 2015 because the US wanted to exclude ISIL only, while Turkey wanted a zone that also excluded YPG and the Syrian regime.
Simply put, in return for endorsing a safe zone, Turkey wants Washington to cease its support for the YPG, a programme that is widely endorsed across the US bureaucracy. A rash decision to establish a safe zone in the current political environment will hasten the looming confrontation between Turkey and YPG.
As recent as December 2016, Trump said: I will get the Gulf states to give us lots of money, and well build and help build safe zones in Syria.
For Saudi Arabia to accept investing in a safe zone considering its current budget constraints, it will probably need a US commitment to deter Iran and its allies. However, Saudi Arabias influence in Syria has weakened in recent months, a safe zone might offer the unique opportunity for a comeback.
OPINION: What will Trump do on Syria?
Russia and Iran share similar scepticism towards the safe zone idea. Moscow will seek to maintain leeway in deciding what happens in Syria while Tehran will try to strengthen its control on the remaining parts of the country.
Many are betting that the Trump approach could lead to disagreement between Moscow and Tehran over Syria, which might be true about tactics but not on the overall strategy.
A safe zone must be part of a Syria policy as well as the larger picture of how the Trump administration sees its role in the Middle East. It is an end point, not the starting point for that policy debate.
What is disconcerting, though, is the White Houses interventionist impulse. It is unclear to what extent the Pentagon can continue to play a check-and-balance role when the joint chiefs of staff have been relegated in the structure of the National Security Council.
The safe zone policy will probably be a by-product of the tug of war inside the Trump administration.
Joe Macaron is a policy analyst at the Arab Center Washington DC.
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Squeezing ISIL out of west Mosul will perhaps be the most defining battle in Iraq following the US-led invasion in 2003.
The battle for Mosul has now entered its 15th week. The Iraqi Security Forces are still consolidating their gains made on the eastern bank of the River Tigris that divides the city, now the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) groups last major urban stronghold in Iraq.
Pockets of resistance still exist in areas closest to the northeastern bank, such as in Rashidiya and Shraikhan, but Iraqi forces are now certainly looking to begin pushing ISIL out of west Mosul. But what will be the cost?
A bloody quagmire
In many ways, the urban fighting for Iraqs second largest city resembles an operation that a different Iraqi army undertook almost four decades ago.
In the opening days of the Iran-Iraq war, the Iraqi army was ordered to take the city of Muhammara, known as Khorramshahr to the Iranians.
The operation, known as the battle of Muhammara in Iraq, was eventually successful, but it had such bloody street-to-street fighting that it decimated the Iraqi special forces, taking them years to recover.
Though Muhammara a smaller city than Mosul took the Iraqi army only a month and a half to capture, the similarities between that battle and the ongoing operation in Mosul are stark.
In the battle for Mosul, Iraq has been heavily reliant on its most elite unit, the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), which has been trained and equipped by the United States. CTS units spearheaded the operation and were the first to breach the boundaries of east Mosul.
However Iraqi forces breach western Mosul, it will largely be an infantry fight. by
Recent reports and interviews with senior US military commanders, however, reveal that the CTS have been badly mauled over the past three months, with its veteran battalions suffering upwards of 50 percent casualties.
Similarly, authorities in Baghdad have refused to release casualty figures, and even lashed out at the United Nations for releasing figures that seemed to confirm ISILs own estimates for the first month of combat. According to ISIL, the Iraqi military, which has amassed 100,000 men in this US-backed operation, could have suffered losses close to 6,500 men by now.
READ MORE: Iraqi forces gear up for anti-ISIL push in west Mosul
There is, of course, no way to fully verify ISILs claims that are probably exaggerated for propaganda purposes. However, and in conjunction with the statements of US commanders as well as the UNs own figures, it is for certain that the Iraqi Security Forces, or ISF, have suffered devastating losses against a well-entrenched, determined and wily adversary.
As such, it is perhaps understandable that the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi failed to realise his promise of recapturing Mosul from ISIL by the end of 2016, and has now stated that this may not happen until the spring of this year.
Iraqs military options
This then leads us to the question of how Iraq intends to capture western Mosul, believed to be even more heavily defended than the eastern side, which is also still not completely under Iraqi control. Reaching the Tigris should not be seen as a halfway mark, as war is rarely a linear affair, and retaking the western half could be even harder than the eastern bank.
To prevent ISIL reinforcements from moving between the western and eastern banks of the Tigris, US warplanes bombed Mosuls five bridges, taking them all out of action. This means that ISF sappers would have to build temporary bridges to facilitate the movement of men and materiel across the river.
To do this, they would have to contend with ISIL artillery fire, snipers and assaults against any troops attempting to land on the eastern bank of the river.
Any bridging attempts would thus involve pushing as many men across to overwhelm ISILs ability to counter, which would be extremely costly in lives.
The ISF could also secure bridgeheads by sending marines across by boat, or dropping paratroopers in by air to disrupt ISIL defences as the troops cross, but both these methods would also be costly.
A further option would be to squeeze ISIL, also known as ISIS, between the citys western edges and the river. The ISF could redeploy to areas around Tal Afar, about 60km west of Mosul, and press on to the city from there. This would force ISIL to contemplate an assault coming from across the Tigris, as well as a land assault from the west.
This, however, would involve close coordination with the Popular Mobilization Forces, a predominantly Shia paramilitary force accused by groups such as Amnesty International of perpetrating war crimes against the Sunni Arab population. The political implications of their use in Sunni Arab-dominated Mosul could be dire, especially considering their documented human rights abuses.
OPINION: The liberation of Mosul is a deja vu
However Iraqi forces breach western Mosul, it will largely be an infantry fight. The old city of Mosul is filled with narrow streets that prevent extensive use of armour and limit their manoeuvrability, which will probably result in heavy casualties by the time operations conclude sometime in the spring.
ISIL has been preparing for this fight for years, and has turned Mosul into a death-trap. Squeezing it out of Mosul and ending its barbarous self-declared caliphate will not come cheaply, and will perhaps be the most defining battle in Iraq following the US-led invasion in 2003.
Tallha Abdulrazaq is a researcher at the University of Exeters Strategy and Security Institute and winner of the 2015 Al Jazeera Young Researcher Award.
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policies.
Haider al-Abadi rejects parliaments call for reciprocal ban on US nationals citing Washingtons backing in ISIL fight.
Iraq will not retaliate against US President Donald Trumps travel ban because it does not want to lose Washingtons backing in its battle against ISIL, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said.
When asked at a news conference on Tuesday if he would act on the Iraqi parliaments vote a day earlier in favour of a reciprocal ban, Abadi said: We will not do anything of the sort.
We are studying [possible] decisions, but we are in a battle and we dont want to harm the national interest, he added, in his first reaction to the ban.
Trump on Friday temporarily banned US entry to people from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
The United States provides air and ground support to Iraqi troops fighting ISIL, which stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and is also known as ISIS. The armed group overran a third of Iraq in 2014.
More than 5,000 US troops are currently deployed in Iraq.
READ MORE: Six other times the US has banned immigrants
Trumps decision led to the detention of incoming refugees at US airports, sparking protests, legal challenges and widespread condemnation from international leaders, rights groups and activists.
It also led to a growing backlash inside Iraq that could undermine relations between Baghdad and the US amid the battle for Mosul.
In a non-binding vote, Iraqi members of parliament on Monday called on the Baghdad administration to respond in kind to the American decision in the event that the American side does not to withdraw its decision, a parliamentary official told AFP news agency.
It was not clear if the parliaments call on Monday was intended to apply to US military advisers. Visa holders for government and diplomatic business are exempt from the US ban.
The Pentagon says its advisers are embedded with Iraqi field commanders in the campaign to recapture Iraqs second-largest city, Mosul, from ISIL.
You Cant be Pro-Peace (Or Pro-Palestinian) If You Dont Hold Palestinian Leaders Accountable | Main | German School Hails Opposition to Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 31, 2017
Yusef Daher At It Again, Lionizing Terrorisms Christian Godfather?
Yusef Daher, a Christian peacemaker? in Jerusalem who enjoys the support of the World Council of Churches, is at it again. Daher, who serves as executive secretary of the WCC-supported Jerusalem Interchurch Center (JICC), recently posted a statement on Facebook asking for George Habash to pray for us.?
Daher posted this entry (screenshot above) on January 25, 2017, one day before the ninth anniversary of Habashs death in 2008. Dahers friends on Facebook responded with variations of the phrase, God rest his soul.?
Habash was a terrorist. He was a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which was responsible for the Lod Airport Massacre, which resulted in the death of two dozen tourists, most of them Christians, in 1972. In 2008, Time published an article declaring Habash, Terrorisms Christian Godfather.? Heres a brief excerpt from the article:
Habash's group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), pioneered the hijacking of airplanes as a Middle East terror tactic one eventually employed by the al-Qaeda hijackers on 9/11 way back in 1968 when three PFLP armed operatives commandeered an Israeli El Al airliner enroute from Rome to Tel Aviv. Checking in for a flight has never been the same since. Many PFLP operations remain etched into history as some of the most infamous acts of terrorism. In 1970, PFLP terrorists hijacked four airliners at one time, flew three of them to Jordan, blew them up, and triggered the Black September civil war between Jordan's Hashemite monarchy and Palestinian guerrillas. In 1972, Japanese Red Army terrorists working with the PFLP massacred 24 people at Israel's Lod International Airport (now called Ben Gurion International Airport). The article assesses Habashs career as follows: Habash succeeded in raising awareness of [the Palestinian], yet his extreme, vengeful methods also helped drench it in blood, and likely brought Palestinians no closer to freedom and dignity." Why would Daher ask for prayers from such a man on the anniversary of his death? And how can the World Council of Churches not hold Daher to account for his ongoing incitement against Israel on his Facebook page? (For more information about Dahers irresponsible postings, please click here, here, and here.)
Posted by dvz at January 31, 2017 02:37 PM
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How did Kenyas Amina and Senegals Bathily lose the election for African Union Commission chairperson?
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia It is the morning after the night before and the cold chill of the night have lifted.
At the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa its post mortem time and everyone is asking one question: how did the favourites, Amina Mohamed, of Kenya, and Abdoulaye Bathily, of Senegal, lose?
Their people had walked around the summit halls and hotel lobbies with a swagger chests puffed, chins up and smiles from ear to ear.
Team Kenya put the champagne on ice and the invites to the celebration party at one of the five-star hotels were extended to friends and allies. But this was before the heads of state voted.
Kenya ran the best PR at the summit. President Kenyatta was one of the first heads of state to land and lobby in Ethiopia. It looked like a done deal. Or so the press corp gathered at the summit were made to believe.
WATCH: Kenyas Amina Mohamed talks to Al Jazeeras UpFront
In the end, Kenya was beaten to the AUs top seat by a candidate from one of the less glamorous countries on the continent, and the defeat left egos pricked and confidence crushed.
But why did Kenyas top diplomat lose the closely fought contest? Many theories, some true and others not so true, have been put forward.
Contrary to some rumours flying around the corridors of the summit building, Amina did not lose because some leaders preferred a male chairman, a senior AU official who was present when the leaders cast their ballot told Al Jazeera.
Gender did not play a part. Many leaders were in favour of having a female leader at the top because the AU chairperson and deputy AU commissioner are both male, the senior official, who did not want to be named, said. Amina winning would have brought some balance to the AU top table.
One more likely reason, officials said, was that Kenya did not make its stand on the disputed territory of Western Sahara clear.
When lobbying the pro-Morocco camp Kenya, sources told us, said it was in favour of Moroccos readmission to the AU. But when Kenyan officials met the pro-Polisario camp they said they were not.
Kenyan officials refused to publicly clarify what their position was.
This got Amina some votes but backfired in other cases, a diplomat from a neighbouring country told Al Jazeera.
READ MORE: Leaders gather to elect AU chair, re-examine key issues
The Kenyan candidate has also been a fierce critic of the International Criminal Court and this did not sit well with the countries who are in favour of the Hague-based court, which has been often accused of bias against African nations.
Amina, who is not a career politician unlike her opponents, is a first-term foreign minister and lacks the weight and experience of dealing with major security matters, some analysts said.
The winner, Moussa Faki, is a former Chadian prime minister and is currently foreign affairs minister at a time when NDjamena is leading the regional fight against the armed group Boko Haram.
Aminas opponents hammered this point home when seeking the backing of undecided leaders.
Faki also had the advantage of previously holding a senior position at the AU. The Chadian was a former chairman of AUs Economic, Social and Cultural Council and knew better than any other candidate how to sell himself.
Idris Deby, the president of Chad and Fakis boss, was until yesterday the chairman of the continental body and this also could have only helped.
READ MORE: Chads Moussa Faki Mahamat named AU Commission chair
Some heads of state saw Amina as too close to President Kenyatta and questioned whether she could be truly neutral. Would she be able to stand up to Uhuru if elected, many asked?
In Bathilys case, many saw him as Frances man and, discomfited with that, took their votes elsewhere.
Here in Addis Ababa, Senegal is also seen as the main supporter of Moroccos now successful bid to rejoin the AU. So pro-Polisario votes went to other candidates despite the tough-talking academic being a long-term Polisario supporter.
The other candidates, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, a veteran minister from Botswana, and Mba Mokuy, from Equatorial Guinea, were never favoured.
Many heads of state, it seems, saw Faki as a safe pair of hands at a time when the organisation is going through major reforms. His performance will be watched closely by those he beat to the job.
Follow Hamza Mohamed on Twitter: @Hamza_Africa
Syrian Khaled Akil, whose work is being exhibited in California, joins artists protesting discriminatory travel ban.
A Syrian artist whose work about the war in his country has captured the worlds imagination has vowed not to apply for a United States visa until President Donald Trump is out of power.
Khaled Akils latest project is being exhibited from Tuesday at Californias Stanford University.
Under Trumps recent executive order, which suspends travel for Syrian refugees indefinitely, there is no way he would be able to attend his opening.
I understand they want to interview people and they have the right to know who is coming, but to give a racist order like this to prevent us is agonising, Akil told Al Jazeera.
Akil moved to Istanbul, Turkey, five years ago. Since 2012, he has applied twice to visit the US to attend exhibitions and was rejected on both occasions.
He fears that in the US, because of the travel ban, there was now justification for people to hate Syrians.
With Trump, I will never apply for the visa, whether or not a ban is in place, he said. The politics worries me because it creates the tension that I saw in my own country which led to more violence. Thats why I cant trust the system any more, I wont feel safe there.
Besides banning Syrian refugees, Trumps order also halts the US refugee programme for 120 days, and bars all immigration for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for at least 90 days.
Akils exhibition in California, Requiem for Syria, captures the hope and resilience of a population at war.
It makes my heart sink that he cant be here, Anita Husen, Stanfords associate dean of students, told Al Jazeera.
Its really sad that such a wonderful, talented artist who has generously offered Stanford to host his original prints, free of charge, will not be here to celebrate his opening, she added.
Painting broad strokes to deny people right to entry is not making America any safer, Husen said. Its hurting our intellectual prowess.
Akils work has previously been exhibited at galleries in London, Beirut, San Francisco, Vermont and Istanbul.
One of his projects last year was titled Pokemon Go In Syria Part 1 and featured the animated figures in war-torn neighbourhoods.
I will wait for at least four years [to apply for a US visa], said Akil, adding that each application costs $160.
[Trumps] a racist man and I cant trust him. I trust the American people they are also victims of this propaganda.
Seen by Al Jazeera, Akils 2016 rejection letter from the US consulate in Istanbul says that he was found ineligible for a nonimmigrant visa.
You have not demonstrated that you have ties that will compel you to your home country after your travel to the United States, the letter reads.
Trumps travel order has exacerbated Syrians difficulties in travelling to the US.
The Syrian war began in March 2011. From 2012 to 2015, some 60,000 Syrians left their country, applied for visas and were rejected four times the number of refusals than during the prior three-year period.
Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, has estimated that 400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict, which has also displaced millions.
We are the first victims of this war, we are the victims of terrorism, said Akil, who explained that while he would not apply for another visa any time soon, he hopes to continue exhibiting his work in the US.
Its very important for Americans to see Syria now. Theyre just getting what the media is providing them. If we show them our art, music and writing, we can introduce then to our culture and show them not all Syrians are terrorists.
Growing protests among artists
Akil is among a growing number of artists who are protesting the discriminatory travel measures.
Oscar-nominated Iranian director Asghar Farhadi said he would not attend the Academy Awards ceremony in late February, whether or not he would be granted an exception to enter the US.
Taraneh Alidoosti, who stars in Farhadis celebrated film, The Salesman, is also boycotting the event.
Malorie Blackman, a British childrens author, said she would not travel to the US while the travel ban was in place in solidarity with those affected.
READ MORE: Stranded Nowhere to go after Trumps Muslim ban
Comma Press, a UK-based publisher, said it would only translate authors from the seven banned nations in 2018.
Marcia Lynx Qualey, a Cairo-based literary critic, said: The violence of such an executive act cannot be countered solely with art, or translation.
She called for the empowerment of authors from the affected countries through forging connections between those writers and literary communities, thus resisting the ban.
Follow Anealla Safdar on Twitter: @anealla
An earlier version of this story said an investigative commission probing violence in Rakhine state was headed by Kofi Annan. This was incorrect. It is headed by U Myint Swe. Kofi Annan leads the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, a separate organisation.
Bangladesh is pushing ahead with a controversial plan to relocate tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to a remote island, despite warnings it is uninhabitable and prone to flooding.
The government has set up a committee made up of state officials in the coastal districts, ordering authorities to help identify and relocate undocumented Myanmar nationals to Thengar Char in the Bay of Bengal.
The committee will assist transferring both registered and unregistered refugees from Myanmar to Thengar Char near Hatiya island in Noakhali district, according to an order issued by the Cabinet Division last week and posted online.
READ MORE: Rohingya camps in Bangladesh and Thailand, worlds apart
The relocation plan prompted outrage from Rohingya community leaders, while a UN agency said forced relocation would be very complex and controversial.
Hatiya is on the estuary of the River Meghna and a nine-hour journey away from camps where the Rohingya have taken shelter.
Some 232,000 Rohingya Muslims both registered and unregistered were already living in Bangladesh before more than 65,000 stateless Rohingya fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmars western state of Rakhine began crossing into the country last October.
Most of those who fled to Bangladesh live in squalid conditions in refugee camps in Coxs Bazar district, which borders Rakhine state and is Bangladeshs biggest tourist resort.
Bangladesh has also asked officials in the border districts to identify Myanmar nationals who have illegally infiltrated the country.
It has to be assured by taking preventive measures that they (refugees) cannot spread out and mix with the locals, read the order which was dated January 26.
The identified refugees should be arrested or pushed back to the camps if they try to go out beyond the assigned boundary.
Bangladesh first mooted the idea of relocating the refugees in 2015, despite allegations that the island was not ready for human habitation.
An official in the region criticised the idea, saying the 2,430-hectare island was only accessible during winter and a haven for pirates.
The authorities were planting trees in a bid to shore up land against high tides and flooding, but those efforts were at least a decade away from completion, the official added.
It completely inundates during the monsoon, the official told the AFP news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Its a terrible idea to send someone to live there.
There was no immediate comment from the Rohingya community leaders.
Global Witness says more than 120 activists killed since 2010 while trying to protect their rivers, forests or land.
Political and business elites in Honduras are involved in a violent crackdown against scores of environmental activists, according to anti-corruption group Global Witness.
In a new report on Tuesday, the watchdog said more than 120 Honduran activists have been killed since 2010 while trying to protect their rivers, forests or land. This makes the Central American country the deadliest per capita in the world for land and environmental defenders.
Global Witness claimed the killings are driven by influential political and business figures imposing mining, agribusiness and hydroelectric projects on rural communities.
People are speaking out against these harmful projects and are often being silenced by hitmen hired by local companies or by state forces, such as the Honduran military and police, Billy Kyte, a campaign manager for Global Witness, told Al Jazeera.
Honduras is the third poorest country in Latin America, according to data by the United Nations World Food Programme.
Yet, it is rich in natural resources and, historically, that has made it a paradise for national and international companies that have been able to obtain lucrative rewards, often at the expense of impoverished communities.
The report claims that exploitation is still flourishing. In particular, it highlights two hydroelectric projects which are, according to Global Witness, controlled by the husband of one of Hondurass most powerful women: Gladis Aurora Lopez, the vice president of the Honduran congress and head of the countrys ruling party, Partido Nacional.
Global Witness says that means her husbands companies represent an illegal conflict of interest. In Honduras, the government cannot grant contracts or concessions to members of congress or their spouses.
READ MORE: The price of development in Honduras
Leaders of the indigenous Lenca group have protested for more than two years against the two hydroelectric projects called Los Encinos and La Aurora. They say the projects affect their land and water supply. Lenca leaders also say they were not consulted before building began.
Indigenous leader Felipe Benitezs nephew is one of three opponents to the projects who have been killed. He was found in a ditch, strangled.
Speaking by phone to Al Jazeera, Felipe Benitez said no one has been convicted of the murder, amid an atmosphere of persecution by police.
There are people that they cant get off their land, so theyve blackmailed them, tried to frame them with other crimes. Because we are in this struggle, weve been criminalised. When we have a protest the police say that its a terrorist act.
Benitez says the intimidation reached a peak in September 2014 during a police raid of the Santa Elena community, in which those in opposition to the hydroelectric projects were shot at, had their crops destroyed and their possessions burned.
Benitez and other indigenous leaders blame Aurora Lopez, the vice president of the National Congress of Honduras, for the violence.
Neither she, nor her husband, responded to Al Jazeeras emailed request for a written response to the allegations or an interview.
Gladis Aurora Lopez replied to Global Witness.
In a letter to Global Witness, which also contacted them on the allegations, Aurora Lopes denied any links to violent attacks against those opposing her husbands dam projects, the watchdog said.
READ MORE: Honduran environmentalist Berta Caceres shot dead
The Global Witness report also highlights indigenous opposition to mining operations, tourist developments and other hydroelectric projects such as the Agua Zarca dam.
The project achieved notoriety after the 2016 killing of Berta Caceres, an internationally renowned environmentalist who was fighting against it.
Three of the men charged with her murder had ties with the Honduran army. It was far from the only time that state forces have been implicated in violence against activists and it led a group of US Congress members to call for the United States to stop its multimillion-dollar aid to Hondurass police and military. The US is Hondurass biggest donor.
The Global Witness report also calls for a rethink of US spending in Honduras, but Kyte, the groups campaign manager, says it is not just in Honduras, but across the region that indigenous and environmental activists are under threat.
In 2015, almost two-thirds of the global killings took place in Latin America according to Global Witness research. We know that this is because of the failure of the rule of law and because corrupt elites are able to impose harmful projects like mining, agribusiness and dams on indigenous-held land.
The latest high-profile environmental leader in Latin America to be killed is Isidro Baldenegro Lopez, whose campaigning to protect the forests of the Sierra Madre area in northern Mexico earned him the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.
A leader of the indigenous Tarahumara people, Baldenegro was shot this January, after campaigning against a powerful alliance of loggers, drug gangs and local political leaders.
US says missile test carried out in Semnan on Sunday, but Tehran insists its programme is not covered by nuclear deal.
Irans missile tests do not involve rockets with nuclear warheads and are not part of a historic deal signed two years ago by world powers, according to the countrys foreign minister.
Javad Zarif affirmed his position on Tuesday, a day after White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the United States was aware that Iran fired a missile and was looking into the exact nature of it.
Addressing reporters alongside his visiting French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, Zarif said: The missile issue is not part of the nuclear deal.
Reiterating Irans traditional stance, Zarif said that his countrys missiles are not designed for the capability of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Iran is only using ballistic missiles to defend itself, he added.
READ MORE: Report warns Trump against scrapping Iran nuclear deal
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a ballistic missile test was carried out on Sunday from a site near Semnan, east of Tehran, according to the Reuters news agency.
The medium-range ballistic missile reportedly exploded after 1,010km, the official said, adding that the last time this type of test was test launched was in July 2016.
Nuclear deal
The reported test drew wide condemnation as many feared it could be in violation of a UN resolution adopted in 2015 prohibiting ballistic missile tests designed to deliver a nuclear warhead.
The resolution was part of the nuclear deal between Iran and the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany.
US Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he would work with politicians and President Donald Trumps administration to hold Iran accountable.
Meanwhile, the European Union called on Tehran to refrain from activities which deepen mistrust. EU foreign policy spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said that such a test was inconsistent with the UN resolution.
Israel also condemned the test.
During the US election campaign, Trump branded the nuclear agreement the worst deal ever negotiated, telling voters that he would either rip it up or seek a better deal.
Speaking from Tehran, Frances Ayrault voiced concern over the reported test.
France has expressed its concern at Irans continuation of its ballistic missile tests on several occasions, Ayrault said.
He said the continued tests are contrary to the spirit of the Security Council resolution.
But, he added: We harbour real concerns about the US administrations attitude towards this agreement.
In a similar vein, Zarif said that he hoped Irans defence programme is not used by the new US administration as a pretext to create new tensions.
After an urgent UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, called by Washington, the US envoy to the UN said the test was absolutely unacceptable.
We have confirmed that Iran did have a medium-size missile launch testing, said Nikki Haley.
That is more than enough to be able to deliver a nuclear weapon, she sais, adding that the US is not naive.
Al Jazeeras Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Irans capital, Tehran, said Iranian officials insist that the country has complied with the restrictions imposed in the deal.
Meanwhile, Russia said the test by Iran does not contravene the UN resolution.
Such actions, if they took place, do not breach the resolution, Sergei Ryabkov, the Russian deputy foreign minister, told Interfax news agency, saying demands for UN talks were aimed at heating up the situation.
Morocco rejoins the AU after a 33-year absence, despite resistance from member states over the status of Western Sahara.
The African Union has decided to allow Morocco back into the fold after a 33-year absence, despite stiff resistance from some member states over the status of Western Sahara.
After an emotional and tense debate, member states decided by consensus to leave the question of the disputed territory of Western Sahara for another day, and resolve it with Morocco back in the family.
Morocco has been admitted to join the AU with a view that it will become the 55th member of the continental body. Thats made with the understanding that Western Sahara will remain a member of the AU, said Lamine Baali, ambassador of Western Sahara to Ethiopia and the AU.
All the debates were focused on [the issue] that Morocco should respect the internationally recognised border of Western Sahara.
The only African country not to belong to the AU, Morocco left its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity, in 1984 after the body recognised the independence of Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara.
Morocco submitted its bid to rejoin last year, reportedly in the hope that being inside the AU would bring it diplomatic gains against Western Saharas independence movement the Polisario Front and allow it to lobby against Western Saharas membership in the AU.
But Baali said Morocco had been re-admitted with the understanding that Western Sahara will remain a member of the AU.
The membership of relatively wealthy Morocco was welcomed by many members of the AU, which has been criticised for being overly dependent on non-African donor funding.
There was also some opposition from countries supporting the Polisario, observers said.
An African Union source, who followed the debate for Morocco to return to the continental body, said that 39 countries supported Moroccos bid but nine voted against it.
Polisario leader and member of the Sawhrawi delegation Minister Mohamed Beiset told Al Jazeera that while there was a lengthy debate, the wisdom of the African leaders made it possible to reach a consensus that was acceptable to everyone.
The delegation decided, said Beiset, that it was better to have Morocco inside the house, inside the family, and to try to reach African solutions to African problems.
He congratulated Morocco for joining the AU, and said it was a new opportunity that we should all seize in starting a genuine dialogue between us to reach a solution to the long-standing conflict that has separated us.
With reporting by Hamza Mohamed in Addis Ababa.
Britons protest against PMs invitation to Donald Trump after he banned nationals of seven states from entering the US.
London, England Tens of thousands of people across Britain have protested against Prime Minister Theresa Mays decision to formally invite US President Donald Trump to the country.
Protesters at Monday evenings gatherings demanded that the government withdraw its invitation in light of Trumps decision to ban citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
The rallies, which were held in every major British city and several smaller towns, drew huge crowds despite being announced less than a day earlier.
May, who met Trump a day before the ban was announced, has refused to rescind the invitation despite strong rebukes from opposition politicians and a parliamentary petition that has so far collected more than 1.5 million signatures.
OPINION: Trumps Muslim ban is a dangerous distraction
The opposition leader, Labours Jeremy Corbyn, has called May a disgrace and demanded that Trump be banned from the UK until the bar on Muslims entering the US is lifted.
Visitors, refugees and migrants from Libya, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, are not allowed to enter the US after Trump issued an executive order banning them.
Dont come here
In London, barricades aimed at keeping protesters penned in a square opposite Mays residence at Downing Street were quickly made redundant as tens of thousands flocked to the area.
Demonstrators came armed with placards, many containing expletives aimed at Trump and May, and others warning of the historical consequences of tolerating the far right.
Its fantastic look at it, you cant get in or out, school teacher Fraser Miles told Al Jazeera when the crowds were at their peak.
When asked why he had come, Miles said it was to tell the US president to f*** off.
Dont come here, we dont want you, we dont want your racist ideology. Go away. Thats what everyone is thinking, he said, adding that he wanted to make sure Muslims and immigrants of all backgrounds understood they were welcome in the city.
I hope they [Muslims] know that we in London dont view followers of any religion as a different group of people theres no reasoning for what Donald Trump has done, its just pure racism.
Rachael Withers, who brought her three-year-old son to the protest, said she wanted to show that Mays ties with Trump did not represent British values.
Our values are about inclusivity. Our whole city exists because of immigration. Without it, London just wouldnt work and the idea of locking people out because of their religion is totally against what Britain is about, she said.
Withers said earlier examples of fascist rule and the lessons of World War II had encouraged her to make a stand against Trumps policies.
I think maybe it's been so long since the Second World War that people have forgotten how dangerous fascism can be by Rachael Withers, protester
I think what would I have done during the war, and now Im in that situation, Im going to protest until something changes.
Solidarity
Students Rasha el-Zein and Sultana Yasmin, both Muslims, told Al Jazeera that that they appreciated the show of solidarity.
Theres a lot of fear being a Muslim these days, especially as someone who wears hijab, you feel targeted. But when were among these [protesters] we dont feel any different, said el-Zain
It makes me happy after Brexit we felt the divide but when we come to a protest like this you feel like there is unity, said Yasmin.
Trumps ban prompted global condemnation and has sparked protests within the US, with activists there gathering at airports across the country to demand that US authorities release detained nationals from the affected countries.
The order signed over the weekend is being challenged in the courts by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Suspect known for far-right views faces several counts of murder but is not charged with any terrorism-related offences.
Authorities in Canada have charged Alexandre Bissonnette, a French-Canadian university student known for his far-right views, over a shooting rampage on a Quebec City mosque that killed six people.
Bissonnette faces six counts of first-degree murder and five of attempted murder, but has not been charged with any terrorism-related offences, despite Sundays attack being widely condemned, including by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as a terrorist act against Muslims.
When asked on Tuesday why Bissonnette was not facing terrorism-related charges, Thomas Jacques, a representative of the prosecutors office, replied: The charges laid correspond to the evidence available, said.
Prosecutors added that not all of the evidence was ready yet and Bissonnette, a 27-year-old anthropology and political science student at Laval University, was set to appear again on February 21.
READ MORE: Dutch mosques lock doors at prayers after Canada attack
Wearing a white prisoner jumpsuit, Bissonnette did not to speak or enter a plea over the attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre during evening prayers on Sunday.
The suspect was arrested in his car on a bridge about 5km east of Quebec City centre, where he called 911 to say he wanted to cooperate with police.
Authorities, who initially named two suspects, said the other man taken into custody was a witness to the attack and was released later on Monday.
They said they did not believe there were other suspects, but were investigating. Police did not give a motive for the attack.
Francois Deschamps, an official with a refugee advocacy group, told the Associated Press news agency that Bissonnette was known to those who monitor extremist groups in Quebec.
He had expressed support on his Facebook profile for Generation Nationale, a group whose manifesto includes the rejection of multiculturalism. He also reportedly supports the French far-right party of Marine Le Pen.
Its with pain and anger that we learn the identity of terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette, unfortunately known to many activists in Quebec for taking nationalist, pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions at Laval University and on social media, Deschamps wrote on the Facebook page of the Welcome to Refugees group.
Sundays attack
More than 50 people were at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre when the shooting erupted.
In addition to the six dead, 19 people were wounded all men. Of the five victims who remained in hospital, two were in critical condition, authorities said. The dead ranged in age from 39 to 60.
READ MORE: Quebec mosque attack Social media tributes pour in
Canada is generally welcoming toward immigrants and all religions, but the French-speaking province of Quebec has had a long-simmering debate about race and religious accommodation.
The mosque where the shooting took place on Sunday was targeted before in an Islamophobic attack. Last year, a pigs head was left on its doorstep, alongside a note that read bon appetit. Eating pork is forbidden in Islam.
According to Haroun Bouazzi, co-president of the Montreal-based rights group AMAL-Quebec, the list of Islamic places of worship and Muslim-owned businesses in Quebec that have been targeted by hate crimes in the last three years is endless.
Mosques have been set ablaze and vandalised, and schools and halal butcher shops have been shot at, but in many instances police have not labelled the attacks hate crimes, Bouazzi said.
READ MORE: In Quebec, calls for unity amid rising Islamophobia
There are institutions, whether they are political or security-based, that closed their eyes to, that under-estimated, and that even in some cases were complicit with, an absolutely unacceptable situation for a religious minority in Quebec, he told Al Jazeera.
We hope that what happened [in Quebec City] will be a wake-up call for everyone, that finally we will take this situation more seriously.
Trudeau said in parliament that the victims were targeted simply because of their religion and spoke directly to the one million-plus Muslims who live in Canada, saying: We are with you.
Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours. Know that we value you.
The prime minister later attended a vigil outside the mosque.
Personal accounts and phone records to be scrutinised under travel order targeting seven Muslim-majority nations.
Travellers to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries singled out for extreme vetting will face scrutiny of their social media activity and phone records, the new US Homeland Security secretary has said.
John Kelly on Tuesday sought to explain President Donald Trumps travel ban, four days after he issued it with no warning, setting off mass protests, legal challenges and confusion.
There are many countries, seven that we are dealing with right now, that in our view and my view dont have the kind of law enforcement, records-keeping, that kind of thing, that can convince us that one of their citizens is indeed who that citizen says they are, Kelly said in a press conference.
For that reason, he said, US authorities will investigate visa applicants social media use and telephone contacts, so that we can see who they are talking to.
OPINION: Trumps Muslim ban is a dangerous distraction
On Friday, Trump ordered a suspension of arrivals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, including refugees.
With the move under widespread criticism, Kelly denied it specifically targets Muslims, which could violate the US Constitution.
The vast majority of the 1.7 billion Muslims that live on this planet, all other things being equal, have access to the United States, he said.
And a relatively small number right now are being held up for a period of time until we can take a look at what their procedures are.
Longer ban possible
Trumps order halted immigration from the seven countries for at least 90 days, but Kelly suggested that for some the ban could go on longer if stronger vetting procedures are not in place once the review period has elapsed.
Some of those countries that are on the list may not be taken off the list anytime soon. There are countries that are in various states of collapse, for example, Kelly said, without offering specifics.
The sudden order caught many US immigration gateways and foreign airlines by surprise, resulting in many people with legal US residency being blocked from boarding aircraft for the US, or being detained upon arrival.
US Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said travellers with dual nationality could enter the US as long as the passport they present is acceptable.
Travellers will be assessed at our borders based on the passport that they present, not any dual national status, he said.
By Monday 721 people had been denied boarding, while more than 1,000 people were granted waivers from the Trump order to allow them to enter the country, McAleenan said.
Al Jazeeras Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington DC, said: The White House maintains these are extreme vetting procedures, not a Muslim ban, not a travel ban.
However, Trump on Monday tweeted: If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the bad would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad dudes out there!
US President Donald Trump has sacked the countrys acting attorney general after she took the rare step of defying the White House by refusing to enforce his sweeping immigration ban.
Sally Yates had early on Monday ordered Department of Justice lawyers to stop defending Trumps executive order, resulting in her dismissal just hours later.
The acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States, the White House press secretarys office said in an unusually caustic statement.
Ms Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.
READ MORE: What is wrong with Trumps immigration ban?
Yates had agreed to serve in an acting capacity until Senator Jeff Sessions, Trumps pick for US attorney general, was confirmed by the Senate. The White House said that Dana Boente, US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, would now be acting US attorney general until Sessions is approved.
Boente said in an interview with the Washington Post that he would enforce the immigration order.
Political analyst Michael Shure told Al Jazeera that the incident could prove a stumbling block for Sessions confirmation, with Democrats and some Republicans now expressing opposition to the ban.
Many people I spoke to are saying it is foolish. Why didnt Trump wait, if he believed in this executive order so much, until he had his team in place? Will that affect the nominating process for the attorney general? Could it hurt his nominee? That remains to be seen, Shure said.
The decision came as Trump pressed into his second week in office, defending his sweeping immigration ban in what has become a quickly escalating political crisis
Trumps order suspends the US refugee programme for 120 days and bars all immigration for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for at least 90 days. The intake of refugees from Syria ravaged by a brutal war in which some estimates say 400,000 people have been killed has been suspended indefinitely.
Chaos at airports
Trump has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect the US from attacks, but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and tramples on the nations historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants.
Reaction to the order was swift, with protests erupting at major airports and other major cities, including the capital Washington, DC as customs officials struggled to put the ban into practice.
Trump denied that his order was to blame for weekend chaos at the nations airports, instead pointing to computer glitches, the demonstrations and even the fake tears of a senior opposition senator, Democrat Charles Schumer.
READ MORE: Six other times the US banned immigrants
The president publicly shifted his focus on Tuesday, signing an executive action aimed at cutting regulations for small businesses and teasing plans to unveil his Supreme Court pick.
But the immigration ban remained at the forefront of his first fortnight in the White House and officials were reported to be pondering more actions moving forward.
According to a draft document obtained by The Associated Press news agency, Trump is now considering an executive order that would target some immigrants for deportation if they become dependent on government assistance.
The draft order calls for the identification and removal as expeditiously as possible of any foreigner who takes certain kinds of public welfare benefits.
Such immigrants have been barred from the US for the better part of a century and they can already be deported. But the proposed order appears to signal a Trump administration effort to actively crack down on such welfare cases.
Obama wades in
Another draft order under consideration would make changes to several of the governments foreign worker visa programs.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the draft orders.
The furore has prompted Trumps predecessor Barack Obama to wade back into politics for the first time since leaving office and just 11 days into the new administration.
A spokesman for the former president said on Monday that Obama fundamentally disagrees with discrimination that targets people based on their religion. Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis alluded to, but did not specifically mention Trumps order, but added that Obama was heartened by the protests.
READ MORE: The lives interrupted by Donald Trumps immigration ban
The former president had said he would give Trump room to govern but that he would speak out if he believed his successor was violating basic US values.
There have been only a handful of instances in US history of top justice department officials publicly breaking with the White House.
The most famous example was in 1973, when the then-attorney general, Elliot Richardson, and his deputy resigned rather than obey President Richard Nixons order to fire a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal.
The incident, which became known as the Saturday Night Massacre, was a public relations disaster and is seen as a turning point in Nixons administration.
Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia rebels locked in three days of deadly violence, leaving thousands with no heat or water.
Fighting between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine has escalated, with at least 13 civilians and fighters on both sides killed in the worst outbreak of violence in several weeks.
The warring sides were locked in heavy battles for a third day on Tuesday at the government-held town of Avdiivka, accusing each other of launching attacks and firing heavy artillery in violation of a two-year truce agreement.
The fighting damaged infrastructure and left thousands without water and electricity amid freezing conditions, with temperatures plunging to -20C at night.
As a result, authorities in the industrial town, in the region of Donbass, also known as Donetsk, declared a state of emergency.
The situation around Avdiivka seems pretty grim at the moment, Al Jazeeras Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said.
This is the worst fighting that has occurred in several months in eastern Ukraine.
Kiev said eight Ukrainian troops were killed and 26 wounded since Moscow-backed rebels launched attacks on Sunday, marking the heaviest losses for the army since mid-December, according to government figures.
The current escalation in Donbass is a clear indication of Russias continued blatant disregard of its commitments under the Minsk [ceasefire] agreements with a view of preventing the stabilisation of the situation and achieving any progress in the security and humanitarian spheres, Ukraines foreign ministry said in a statement.
Yet, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, accused Ukrainian government soldiers of launching a deadly attack on rebels across the Avdiivka frontline on Monday.
Such aggressive actions, supported by the armed forces of Ukraine, undermine the aims and the task of realising the Minks accord, Peskov said. He added that the attack aimed to distract attention from domestic problems in Ukraine.
INTERACTIVE : Brothers no more In-depth stories from Ukraines warring sides
France and Germany helped broker the Minsk accords with Moscow and Kiev, and European Union leaders tied implementation to a series of sanctions, including damaging economic restrictions, against Russia.
Fighting in eastern Ukraine has waxed and waned since then, with Brussels insisting repeatedly there can be no change to the sanctions regime until the accord sticks.
Possible evacuation
According to an AFP news agency report, the rebels shelled Avdiivka, a town of about 16,000 people, with repeated rounds of multiple rocket systems and artillery fire from early on Sunday morning.
Right now, there is no power. We have not resolved problems with heating homes, and the gas pipe has been shattered, local Ukrainian army unit spokeswoman Olena Mokrynchuk told AFP.
Freedon Vekua, the towns military administrator, told AFP he was preparing for a possible evacuation of the town that sits just north of the rebels de facto capital of Donetsk because of the power outage.
The issue of an evacuation has not been decided fully. We see it as our very last resort because there is still a chance of restoring heating, said Vekua.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko underscored the urgency of the situation by cutting short a visit to Berlin on Monday and convened an emergency meeting of his national security and defence council.
READ MORE: Ukraine files case against Russia at UNs top court
On Tuesday, European officials warned of a worsening humanitarian situation in Donbass and said the upsurge in fighting was an outright breach of the Minsk truce accords.
The intense fighting around Avdiivka in the last few days, involving heavy shelling with proscribed weapons and leading to a considerable number of casualties, is a blatant violation of the ceasefire, as stipulated by the Minsk agreements, the EU foreign affairs arm said in a statement.
We call for the fighting to stop immediately Full observance of the ceasefire is a crucial step towards the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, which is the basis for a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the conflict, it said.
The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people since 2014 more than half of them civilians and plunged Moscows relations with the West to a post-Cold War low.
The Kremlin denies backing the rebels and only admits that Russian volunteers and off-duty soldiers have entered the war zone of their own free will.
In 2014 we reported from a Taliban stronghold, where armed fighters were patrolling the streets. What has changed since?
Ten years ago, in November 2006, Al Jazeera English was launched. To mark that anniversary, weve created REWIND, which updates some of the channels most memorable and award-winning documentaries of the past decade. We find out what happened to some of the characters in those films and ask how the stories have developed in the years since our cameras left.
In 2014, Fault Lines reported from the Taliban stronghold of Charkh District, just an hour outside Kabul. Charkh had become a microcosm of Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
Armed Taliban were openly patrolling the streets and had built a parallel administration in Charkh, including Sharia courts and special girls schools.
Filmmaker Nagieb Khaja took us to a Taliban-controlled town for a rare glimpse of life under Taliban rule in the midst of a civil war.
REWIND spoke to Nagieb about what, if anything, has changed in the past three years and since the planned US drawdown was scrapped.
The situation in Afghanistan has gotten worse, the Afghan security forces are bleeding. They lose a lot of people, and it is really difficult for the Afghan National Army at the moment, Nagieb told REWIND.
The US actually just decided that they would send 600 troops to Helmand again, and this is after they said that the war was over.
For the sake of science, seven UF students plan to march on the nations capital.
The students will carpool more than 700 miles to join the March for Science in Washington, D.C. to protest President Donald Trumps views on science. Organizers for the march said in a tweet that they will announce the marchs official date soon.
The organizers, according to the marchs official website, are members of a nonpartisan group and want political leaders to enact evidence-based science policies, like acknowledging climate change. The group also wants to end the Trump administrations recent scrutiny of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Alexis Rosetti, a UF international studies and political science junior from Maryland, planned the trip for her friends, because she wanted people from Florida to be involved.
Im excited in a sense; we hope we can make a change, the 20-year-old said. But alarmed in a sense that we even have to go protest the access to information.
Christa Zweig, a UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation courtesy faculty member, said she feels like she has to protest for the rest of the country.
A lot of times people think what we do is about saving the environment, but were saving the environment to save people, she said.
Zweig, 42, has two masters degrees from UF: one in wildlife ecology and conservation and the other in natural resources and the environment. She currently works in South Florida as a researcher on Everglades restoration. She wants the government to acknowledge the reality of climate change and to stop restricting government scientists from publicizing their work, she said.
Ill march because they deserve to do their very important job without fear for their careers, she said.
Mason Schoeppl, a UF sustainability and the built environment sophomore, said he has cared for the environment since he became a vegetarian as a young child.
The government is trying to destroy climate change, the 20-year-old said. Basically theyre erasing history and what scientists have already proven.
Although Schoeppl said he thinks the march will be impactful, hes not sure if hell be able to attend.
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Rosetti said she decided to march after the White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Press Secretary Sean Spicer used alternative facts to describe Trumps inauguration crowds.
The public access to accurate information, especially with science, uses an unbiased source of numbers, she said. That access is very important.
Rosetti said she knows climate change exists and advises anyone who doesnt to read scientists findings. She said Trump should work with global organizations to combat the issue.
I think people are afraid, and I think people want to make sure in a very outward and public way that their voices are being heard and quite literally marching on Washington to not be ignored, she said.
@taveljimena
jtavel@alligator.org
The silence on Monday night was breached by sniffles, gasps and the occasional whisper in a foreign language, as students from countries now banned under a Donald Trump presidency spoke out against his executive order.
As more than 100 people gathered in the Reitz Unions Arredondo Cafe, Leonardo Villalon, the UF International Centers dean, addressed UF international students concerned about the temporary travel ban imposed on seven Muslim-majority countries by Trump on Friday. UF officials, including representatives from the Dean of Students Office and Student Legal Services, tried answering questions, their voices shaking with emotion.
Caitlin Ostroff In total, 167 UF students, faculty and staff combined come from one of the seven countries affected by President Donald Trump's immigration ban. No students, faculty or staff come from Somalia, Sudan or Yemen. These people do not hold a green card or have permanent residency but study or work at UF on scholar or work visas.
This is all very abstract, but your lives are affected by this, Villalon said. I know how horribly distressing this is.
The ban restricts immigration from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Somalia for 90 days, while suspending the U.S. refugee program for 120 days and suspending the entry of Syrian refugees indefinitely.
In total, 167 UF students, faculty and staff come from one of the seven banned countries, according to figures from UF spokesperson Janine Sikes. Of those, 126 are students. These people do not hold green cards or have permanent residency, but study or work at UF on scholar or work visas.
After Mondays meeting, Villalon said he tried answering questions as best he could but often couldnt give students concrete solutions. A Syrian student asked how he could renew a passport that expires in eight months. There arent Syrian embassies nearby, and now he cannot leave the U.S. to get to one in another country.
Villalon and faculty members shook their heads or looked at their feet. Their only solution was wishing for politics to shift.
You have eight months, Villalon told the student. Lets hope.
Unlike others, Santa Fe College alumna Nazek Abuhalala has her family with her. Her and her mother, Manal Abuagela, come from Libya, a country targeted by the ban.
Abuagela, a UF doctoral student, said she spent all her savings moving her family to the U.S. to study. Now, a year before earning her Ph.D., shes worried their progress will be erased.
UF officials ranging from attorneys to faculty members gathered in the Arredondo Cafe at the Reitz Union on Monday afternoon to address the concerns of those affected by the presidents new travel ban.
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She questioned how the ban could happen here, in a country she considered free.
This is considered a crisis affecting the U.S. history, Abuagela said. This is a country of freedom, a country of diverse respect.
As people stood and asked questions, an Iranian student who moved to the U.S. about two years ago said while hes happy with UFs support, he still feels marginalized. The student, who didnt give his name for fear of his safety, said he no longer feels comfortable saying where hes from.
What I saw in this session was accepting the fact that they insulted us, disrespected us, and we cant do anything about that, the doctoral student said. Its not about being back home for Summer, I wont die if I dont go back home. But its about what do I do to just at least say, I exist, and you insulted me?
Villalon told the doctoral student he didnt have easy answers.
I cannot end American racism, he said. I cannot end American xenophobia. But I can tell you that I think if there is a way to end it, it cant be by capitulating. Its got to be by fighting back.
@romyellenbogen
rellenbogen@alligator.org
Leonardo A. Villalon, the dean of the UF international center, addresses those who are concerned about the presidents new travel ban in the Arredondo Cafe at the Reitz Union on Monday afternoon. Your lives are very much affected by this, Villalon told the crowd of about 100 in attendance.
The UF Board of Trustees will now help decide how UF Health Shands Hospital will manage $800 million of debt.
The board unanimously made the decision Monday that Shands must consider the boards opinions when deciding how to handle the debt. Shands accumulated the debt following the construction of two new properties, UF Health Neuromedicine Hospital and UF Health Heart & Vascular Hospital, scheduled to open in December, said David Guzick, UFs senior vice president of health affairs and president of UF Health.
Guzick wrote in an email that after the debt is subtracted from Shands assets, the hospitals are still worth more than $1 billion.
Shands board of directors determines how the debt is settled, but the Board of Trustees wanted to provide more accountability, wrote UF spokesperson Janine Sikes in an email.
It allows some oversight in the decision making, she said.
Currently, Guzick, UF President Kent Fuchs, UF Chief Financial Officer Michael McKee and one trustee, Steve Scott, are on the Shands board of directors, she said. When the Florida board of governors and the Board of Trustees examined their affiliates, including Shands, they decided the trustees should be included in these decisions.
Guzick said he welcomes members of the board to collaborate with the hospital.
They were already involved, he said. These are just guidelines for additional oversight.
Previously, Fuchs would have to refer to the trustees chair and vice chair before making a decision, Guzick said. This means the process already included some of the trustees opinions, but now theyll officially be in the guidelines.
He said the debt was unavoidable.
In order to grow and thrive and invest in the future, all hospitals take on debt to expand, he said.
@paigexfry
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pfry@alligator.org
Starbucks is doing what it can to help refugees when they come to the U.S.
In the wake of President Donald Trumps immigration ban, the companys Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz announced Sunday the coffee chain plans to hire about 10,000 refugees in the next five years, according to its website.
We have a long history of hiring young people looking for opportunities and a pathway to a new life around the world, according to the statement.
For students at UF, some were excited to support the companys stance while others disagreed.
I dont think its inconsistent with Starbucks, said Anthony Zona, a UF political science and telecommunication freshman. Its certainly one of the more left-wing corporations in the country.
The 19-year-old said its Starbucks right as a privately owned company to take a political stance, but in doing so its alienating half of its consumers. Though he isnt boycotting Starbucks, he thinks some students might.
A lot of other people are going to be like stick to the coffee, Starbucks, he said.
But he doesnt think the companys announcement will hurt it in the long- run.
It will blow over just like everything in American politics, Zona said.
He said that while Trumps temporary ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries has been highly criticized, he thinks the 120-day suspension of all refugee admission will allow the country to look at its immigration and vetting policy and make sure its keeping U.S. citizens safe.
Its a few months to get our house in order, and I dont think thats too ridiculous to ask, he said.
But Rana Al-Nahhas, 21, said shes excited to see Starbucks support refugees. Though she would get coffee about once every week in the past, she said she can see herself becoming a more frequent customer.
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I am shocked and overwhelmed by Starbucks generosity and humanity, the UF psychology senior said.
Al-Nahhas said her parents are immigrants from Syria and almost all of her family still lives there. She worries about her familys and other Syrians ability to come to the U.S. if they are in danger.
The fact that this ban is targeting all these countries that need help is unjustifiable, she said.
She said a powerful country like the U.S. has an obligation to help others. Its not political, she argued. Its being human.
Everyone loves coffee and now theres a reason to love Starbucks even more, she said.
Carolyn Witman, an anesthesia resident at UF, eats and drinks coffee with Ryan Butler and his dog, Penny, outside of the downtown Starbucks, located at 201 SE First St., on Monday. After the Starbucks CEO pledged to hire 10,000 refugees, #BoycottStarbucks started trending on Twitter. Im anti-boycott and pro-Starbucks, Witman said.
When transportation app Uber began offering cheap rides during a taxi strike against President Donald Trumps recent immigration ban, UF student Yousef Alghawi deleted the app from his phone.
I think its pure exploitation, the 21-year-old political science junior said. I come from a Muslim background and most of my family members, many of my friends, and I as well deleted the app.
After Trump issued an order to temporarily ban immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries Friday, the New York City Taxi Workers Alliance announced it would halt all services in solidarity with those who were barred from entering the country, according to the alliances Facebook page.
On the same day, Uber NYC took to Twitter and removed all surge prices at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday as an incentive for users.
Across social media, the hashtag #deleteUber took off, as users began deleting the app as a response to what they saw as the company taking advantage of the strike.
By Sunday, Ubers CEO Travis Kalanick tweeted that the immigration ban is against everything Uber stands for.
For Alghawi, the apology came too late.
Its a PR move where youre straight up denouncing what youre benefiting from directly, he said.
After deleting the ride-hailing app, Alghawi said he plans to use Lyft, a competitor of Uber which plans to donate $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union over the next four years. He feels sympathetic to Uber drivers, but Alghawi said he feels strongly about boycotting the companys leadership.
Jose Vilches, 23, an Uber driver in Gainesville, said he is also against Trumps immigration ban and doesnt have a problem with those who delete the app.
I think its important for every- body to exercise that right, the UF industrial and systems engineering senior said.
Vilches said he believes Uber took advantage of the taxi strike to make a profit.
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From an employment perspective, its not enough for me to quit, Vilches said. But as for others that want to boycott, more power to them.
Professor Bishop was rather proud of my last column, and I must say it was cathartic to put myself out there and admit to my clockwork, mechanical nature. Having people know me as an automaton doesnt feel so different from being known as a human; friends accepted it fairly quickly, although Im getting tired of people asking to use me as their personal calculator. Ill say this now: No, I cannot tutor you in Elementary Ordinary Differential Equations. Yes, I can calculate the answers to any questions you may have in mathematics, anthropology and philosophy in the blink of an eye. No, it would not be ethical to do the latter. However, my operating system is open-source, if youd like to take a look at it.
However, Professor Bishop was rather upset at finding out I deleted my capacity to dance to swing music and made me spend all week reinstating it. Sometimes, when Professor Bishop gets angry, hell threaten to send me back to the steamboat he found me on. According to him, I was a singing animatronic before rain and humidity corroded my body and my consciousness. I dont think Ill delete any protocols without his permission again. Lesson learned and saved to C:\ProgramFiles\User\Michael\Memory\Lessons\Life-Lessons.
Professor Bishop has encouraged me to read and given me access to his personal library. He said I could read any book Id like, except, of course, for anything by Kurt Vonnegut for obvious reasons. I was inexorably drawn to a particular book: The Tales of Captain Albert Alexander by Samuel P. Garvey. Its a book of tall tales about a renowned sea captain, and Professor Bishop says he bought it years ago at a robotics convention for a few cents. I took the book and read it in an evening. The book itself is only about 200 pages long, but all sorts of notes and symbols are drawn in its margins. Drawings of humanoid figures, layouts of basic electrical circuits and snippets of information on materials sciences are littered throughout the white space in the book. Professor Bishop says he bought it used.
Theres one chapter I wanted to discuss in particular called Captain Alexander and the Walrus with Tooth Decay. The plot is largely irrelevant, but the chapter addresses the idea of losing your identity when you try to please others.
People love to tell you to do what makes you happy, or that pandering to other people sacrifices your integrity. If you focus on what makes you happy, then everything else will fall into place. I dont hold onto the sentiment, at least not firmly. Its a gentle, cautious grip. Part of what makes us (or, rather, you all) human is socialization; its a useful tool to have on your tool belt. If youre in the right mindset, making other people happy should make you happy. It doesnt necessarily have to equate to pandering, but it will mean putting other people before you. Many people have molded your personality, outlook and cast-iron chassis. Professor Bishop is the reason I release steam at a rate at which I wont overheat, and hes the reason my joints are sturdy enough to let me type at my thoracic typewriter for hours. Id consider it a disservice not to give back. The self is a culmination of people around you; find those positive influences, and give back.
Conversely, if you feel like someones influenced you negatively, feel free to excise them and purge yourself of that influence. For example, hypothetically, if Professor Bishop made me spend my whole week recoding my entire swing-dancing protocol, I should purge that protocol altogether and demand Professor Bishop to never make me dance again.
Im just kidding, Professor Bishop. Please dont send me back to the steamboat.
Michael Smith is a mechanical engineering junior. His column appears on Tuesdays.
Three major changes happened just prior to my visit to Cuba. First, direct commercial flights began flying between the U.S. and Cuba. I paid a little more than $200 for a round trip with JetBlue, purchasing my tickets only a couple weeks in advance. Of course, you must still fit into one of the 12 exceptions for travel if you are an American, but travel agencies and cruise lines (which have only recently begun docking in Cuban ports) have found ways around this, constructing educational and people-to-people itineraries. Regardless, the airline has you sign an affidavit indicating your official purpose of travel, a requirement which became clear to me that many Americans fabricate or exaggerate. No one ever checked my press credentials.
The flight from Ft. Lauderdale lasted about 45 minutes, cruising over the Everglades and the Florida Keys before rapidly arriving in Havanas Jose Marti International Airport. While regarded as a journalist by the U.S. per the delicate rules of the embargo, to the Cuban government, I was a tourist. Cuban tourist visas you are required to purchase can be arranged through the Cuban embassy, at the American airport of departure and reportedly via third parties. I purchased mine at the airport during check-in for $50, although it can be ordered in advance for less. Foreign travelers are also required to purchase a Cuban health insurance plan, which was included in the cost of my airline ticket.
In a second major change, the Obama administration lifted the previous limitations on the individual purchase of Cuban cigars and rum. Simultaneously, Obama called on Congress to finally end the embargo. The former reform was a very welcome one, as I was able to take home two boxes of cigars and two bottles of delicious, aged Havana Club Rum. As for the embargo, Congress has been reluctant to take up the politically sensitive issue, with some prominent Republicans claiming the communist government has not given enough ground on human rights or civil liberties of its citizens to warrant lifting the embargo. To them, this would be tantamount to rewarding bad behavior. President Donald Trump has indicated that he will terminate the deal, revoking the recent normalization of relations and looser regulatory policy if Cuba is unwilling to renegotiate with him.
The last major development just prior to my visit was the death of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Images of the fallen leader were present throughout the island, and slogans such as I am Fidel could be seen painted on the side of buildings or Cuba is Fidel printed across the front page of the Granma, the Communist Party newspaper. To most Americans, Fidel was just a dictator. But to many Cubans remaining on the island and others throughout the developing world, he was a David who stood up against Goliath; Fidel shook his fist defiantly against the powerful U.S. and lived to tell the tale. When Fidel and his bearded green-clad guerrillas rode triumphantly into Havana, they were replacing a brutal right-wing dictatorship that was subservient to the U.S. government and business interests. And while poverty in Cuba is extraordinary, the lives of many of the poorest Cubans improved after the revolution with newfound access to health care, education and expanded rights for women and blacks.
Read the conclusion of this column Wednesday on ideology, oppression and the need for new policy.
Ford Dwyer is a third-year student at the Levin College of Law. This is part two of a three-part series.
It has been a hard week, that much is evident. On an international, national and local scale, theres been so much fear, hate and uncertainty. Some of you, dear readers, want to fight back, but it feels like you are yelling into a vast, empty canyon, your voices resonating loud and clear but eventually disappearing into the air, drowned out by the wind. Some of you are tired. Perhaps you fought once, perhaps you kicked and roared and screamed, perhaps your voices, too, were lost to the wind. And some of you carry on, unaware, unconcerned, because this fight isnt yours, this battle is one you kind of wanted to win in the first place though you wont admit that now as the discontent grows.
If youre in that latter group of people, this message isnt for you. Thats for another time.
Right now, were talking to those who have been fighting, those who are scared and hurt, who know that even after the big marches are done, after people put away their signs and their hats, after something else captures the medias attention, they still have a long way to go. Were talking to those who feel like they cannot take a break, who feel like if they dont continue to march and continue to fight, the world is going to forget them for next weeks shocking headline.
Its a hard time, when you feel so encompassed with rage and hurt, yet the scope of it all is just so big.
You have posted long statuses on social media. You have called your senators, signed petitions and donated money to organizations. You have marched, you have protested, you have shown up to a rainy street corner with a sign, hoping to make a difference, but watched people pass by barely looking your way.
To those people who have fought, who fight, who will continue to do so, we thank you.
We know its hard. We know that the odds seem insurmountable right now. We know that it seems like the whole world wants to ignore you. And thats just why we need you reminding the world that yes, you are here; yes, you are still here; yes, you will keep on.
We need you fighters to, in the words of Dylan Thomas, Rage, rage against the dying of the light, because though the world seems dark, there is still a fight within you all.
The battle is hard and it is long. Thats why we want to remind you that its OK to take a break. That sometimes, the world is overwhelming, and even though you try your hardest to fight against the bad, sometimes you need to step back, let others fight for a moment, while you take care of yourself. It may make you feel guilty. Sometimes when the whole world is hurt and scared and angry, a moment of personal happiness seems selfish. But you are allowed to take that moment. You are allowed to be happy. You are allowed to remember the goodness in the world you are fighting for. If anything, it will make you stronger as you stand back up and march forward.
Because there are good things in this world to enjoy, good things to protect. Reminding yourself of that helps you remember just why you are fighting, helps keep you strong, helps move you forward.
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GOMA, January 31, 2017 Potential political interference, poor evidence gathering and difficulty accessing remote areas are some of the main challenges to prosecuting economic and environmental crimes related to armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Overcoming these challenges was the focus of a two-day workshop for judges and prosecutors in Goma and Bukavu, organized by the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), in collaboration with the United States Institute for Peace (USIP).
The workshops, which took place from January 23-27, explored ways to strengthen the Congolese judicial system and its ability to investigate and prosecute cases of economic and environmental crimes related to conflict, adopting a prudent approach in a context where there is very limited political will to prosecute such crimes. The workshops aim was to refine and advance recommendations adopted at a symposium on the same topic held in Kinshasa in 2016, which was also organized by USIP.
The focus was on tackling the exploitation of natural resources, particularly when used to fund armed groups and conflict in the country. Given the complexity of the crimes, an in-depth understanding of the current dynamics surrounding the illegal exploitation of minerals, fauna and flora by armed actors and criminal networks in Eastern DRC is needed, in order to try to dismantle the criminal networks that continue to let them happen.
During the workshop, these dynamics, of organized criminal enterprises enabling the illegal exploitation of natural resources by non-state armed groups national forces and other agents, were described in detail by experts in the field and discussed by participants in working groups.
The event brought together prosecutorial and judicial authorities from the High Council of the Magistrates, the High Military Court, the Military and Civilian Attorney-Generals Office, and the military and civilian courts and prosecutors office from Eastern DRC. Representatives of the Ministries of Defense and Justice as well as provincial authorities also took part in discussions, along with representatives from local non-governmental groups.
Although violations of economic and environmental laws related to armed conflict are well known and documented in the DRC, such crimes are rarely prosecuted. Ending armed conflict in the DRC requires removing the sources and incentives fueling them.
When we examined the judicial aspects of ending these crimes, we found that the low number of prosecutions of economic and environmental violations in the country was due to limited knowledge of the legal framework condemning these crimes as well as a lack of strategy and prioritization in selecting cases, said Myriam Raymond-Jette, ICTJs Head of Office in DRC.
Having a targeted approach is essential to ensuring an effective response, especially when resources are limited, as they are in the DRC.
Participants also examined the applicable national laws and the importance of developing a prosecutorial strategy to specifically tackle these crimes when committed by members of the DRCs Armed Forces, armed groups and broader criminal networks.
We are hopeful that these workshops, as well as upcoming initiatives, will lead to an effective deterrence policy and implementation of laws related to economic and environmental crimes in the DRC, and in North Kivu and South Kivu in particular," stated Steve Hege, Senior Program Officer, Rule of Law, Justice and Security, USIP.
As a result of the workshops, magistrates, in consultation with local civil society groups, came up with a set of criteria for prioritizing cases that are specific to the nature of economic and environmental crimes. These criteria include: coverage of the different types of economic and environmental crimes being committed; emblematic cases of violations being regularly committed; and the impact of economic and environmental crimes on affected communities.
Going forward, magistrates will identify priority cases based on these criteria, in closed sessions.
Progressively building experience and capacities needed to investigate conflict-related economic and environmental crimes, participants were hopeful that such an approach would help to open a window of political opportunity to prosecute these crimes.
The 61st Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 61), which will take place in New York next month is well underway. In preparation of this annual event, UN Women in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) held a two-day Pre-Consultative Meeting at the UNECA HQ in Addis-Ababa on Thursday, January 26th-27th at margins []Source : http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was released from Iraqi prison custody in 2009, shortly after President Obama came to power largely upon a political promise to end U.S. military involvement in Iraq. Baghdadi was captured in February 2004 by U.S. forces and had been involved in extensive radical activities including kidnappings of many individuals and ransom activities. Under Saddam he had been involved in radical Islamic sects, earning him extra attention from the Baathist government before U.S. forces arrived. Since the premature departure of American forces led by President Obama, Baghdadi rose quickly to power among Islamic supremacists. By 2010, he was acknowledged as the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. By 2014, his genocidal fantasy with the new moniker of ISIS was already killing 1,000 Iraqis a month in car bombings and various supremacist terrorist acts designed to kill the innocent while attracting more fanatical followers to the idealized task of re-creating the Islamic Caliphate.
ISIS spread across Iraq and Syria and seized U.S. military supplies as it institutionalized savage genocidal policies across the region. Everything from the sale of oil to human organs helped fund this genocidaires radical nihilism that was designed to swallow up the entire world if enough allegiance could be gained. Spectacular deaths as text filled the internet with videos of people being burned alive, drowned, crucified, thrown off buildings, and an endless quest for more shocking and vivid betrayals of human dignity. ISIS managed to kill 1,200 people outside of its locus of control in Syria and Iraq. Though President Bush predicted in his State of the Union message of 2007 that a premature exit from Iraq would lead to precisely this scenario, the Obama administration continually maintained that one of its most important successes was withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq. More than 30,000 people were killed by ISIS -- mostly Muslims but many Christians and Yazidis as well. Christians and Yazidis were begrudgingly recognized as specific genocide targets in 2016 by the U.S. State Department, but the Obama administration did not prioritize their escape to places such as the United States. The refusal to protect the Yazidis was in some sense ideological payback for the fierce support Kurdish groups gave to the U.S. invasion of Iraq since 2002 to the present. In fact, President Obama mocked such religious preferences for the Christians and Yazidis as Un-American in 2015:
When I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which a person whos fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution -- thats shameful, Thats not American. Thats not who we are. We dont have religious tests to our compassion.
Of course, that is precisely the kind of standard that was necessary to protect Jews from Nazi Germany and it was the standard of military action in Bosnia for NATO to protect Muslims in the mid-1990s over the objections of the United Nations. Moreover, Obamas misinterpretation of humanitarian asylum norms gives preference to perpetrators of genocide who control public discourse. Obamas words help prevent Christians, who make up ten percent of Syrias population, from escaping the genocidal hell on earth created by ISIS. Samantha Power, who some say wrote the book on America and genocide, did not undo that policy argued by President Obama in her role as UN Ambassador. She did have time to recently ask the Russian government if they had any shame in their efforts to stop ISIS.
There were three times as many deaths in Syria since 2012 as there were in Iraq from 2003 to 2009. Yet, there were no massive marches in the U.S. and Europe against this violence as there were during the Iraq war. The anti-war movement has never been against war. It is against the United States military and the Israeli military. There have been nearly 70,000 deaths in Iraq since 2009 and the abrupt U.S. military withdrawal. These death tolls were largely ignored by the media in an effort to bolster the false perception that the Iraq withdrawal was a success. These deaths lay squarely upon the Obama administration and an intellectual culture that bolsters the idea that American assertiveness in the world is the root of all evil. Terrorism is a rational response to the reality that America hates Muslims. That pathology is believed among some in the U.S. and among the supremacists in Iraq and Syria. The parsing of terrorism data to create domestic lightning is more likely to kill you than terrorism is direct jingoistic dehumanization of victims living outside the United States and part of a larger intellectual pathology of suggesting that America is an evil hegemon bent on harming innocent Muslims.
Baghdadi is a genocidaire who envisions killing every person on the planet who disagrees with his Islamic supremacist vision. He never should have been released from the Iraqi prison in 2009 so he could create ISIS. His rhetoric and actions combined with the callous inaction and deception of the Obama administration created conditions of genocide in Iraq and Syria. Obamas chief expert on genocide Samantha Power, who mocked the U.S. government in her 2002 book, must now gaze upon hundreds of thousands of lives lost in genocidal activities during her leadership. The thesis that American military withdrawal from Iraq would defuse the motives for terrorism has proven terribly false. The current effort to demonize the new immigration orders for Syria that would reprioritize entry and allow genocide victims to escape this age of genocide is diabolical and we ought not be silent.
Ben Voth is an associate professor of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs and Director of Debate at Southern Methodist University. He is the author of The Rhetoric of Genocide: Death as a Text and co-author with Robert Denton of Social Fragmentation and the Decline of American Democracy.
To make heads or tails of the Social Security debate requires an understanding about what Social Security truly is. But that understanding is exceedingly difficult to attain, given that both sides of the debate are prone to making misleading, or altogether false, statements about the nature of the program.
Take Nancy Altman, co-director of Social Security Works. She takes the then-incoming Trump administration to task for not having campaigned on the issue of Social Security reform, but because Paul Ryan said after Trumps election that with a unified Republican Party, we can get things done, she immediately turned to her thoughts about how Republicans are dead-set to destroy Social Security, and Democrats are dead-set to save it at all taxpayer costs necessary.
In her mind, you see, Social Security represents government at its best, and that it work(s) fine with no need of fixing or saving. This would, of course, be news to any actuary of a soundly administrated insurance company which might look its general accounts looming $32 trillion shortfall in projections, reasonably expected to become practically manifest in 2034.
But in her most recent article on HuffPo, Nancy Altman posits (in the same article, mind you) that Social Security is both the peoples pension and a solution to wealth and income inequality.
So, which is it? Is it a public pension program for individual investors, or is it an entitlement program meant to equalize economic outcomes? Im consistently told that these are entirely different things.
Is Social Security a public pension program?
Nancy Altman regales her readers with the assertion that Republicans are now looking to destroy Social Security, the culmination of a Republican agenda that began in 1936. (Nice to see that she doesnt buy into the pervasive party-switch myth, which suggests that Republicans became Democrats and vice versa at some undefined time after the 1960s.)
She offers a brief historical lesson: In the 1936 election campaign, repealing and replacing Social Security was the Republican battle cry. Republicans, she argues, wanted to replace Social Security with a program that would pay all seniors an identical subsistence level amount, rather than Social Securitys pension program which allows people to retire with dignity and maintain their standard of living as they age.
In this argument, she eschews the talk about income inequality, but argues that Social Security is a pension program, and that Republicans want, and have always wanted it to be, a welfare or entitlement program.
Its a disingenuous argument, evident by, again, the fact that she also describes Social Security as a mechanism to solve income inequality (a useless abstraction which any sane person knows can never be solved in free marketplace where people of different means, talents, and ambition compete). But lets address the fact that her history is incomplete and misleading.
FDR was not shy about making the argument that the Social Security Act of 1935 provided old age insurance, and called payments into the program premiums, just as youd pay premiums on any other insurance policy. But the Supreme Court had killed Social Securitys baby brother, the Railroad Retirement Act of 1934 (which had sought to create a similar public pension for federal railroad workers), on the grounds that Americans could not, in accordance with the Constitution, be forced by the federal government to purchase insurance, in this case, a government-administrated annuity (that was the Courts language in opinion of the Railroad Retirement Act ruling, not mine). After that, we began regularly calling those premiums our payroll taxes as an irrefutable fact of life.
Theres good reason for this change in the narrative, and the timing is important. Too few Americans know, but the Courts rebuke of the Railroad Retirement Act was among the primary impulses for FDRs court-packing scheme, where FDR threatened to add judges to the Supreme Court to uphold his New Deal legislation (much of which was being shot down by the Court on Constitutional grounds and with prudent jurisdictional license in many cases, just to be clear). As a result of FDRs executive threat to castrate the Court by adding six Justices of his choosing in 1937, Justice Owen Roberts flipped position -- by which I mean that he had written the majority opinion against the Railroad Retirement Act, only to uphold the Social Security Act in spite of the same lingering issues having been unresolved. In an instant, the Social Security Act was constitutional on the grounds that the mandatory purchase of the governments annuity (which the government could not constitutionally do, as recent precedent had suggested) could be viewed as a tax (which the government did have a right to do). This was the famous switch in time that saved nine, meaning that because the Court complied, FDR did not add Justices to the Court.
It would seem a wasted opportunity to not mention that in 2012, Justice John Roberts flipped positions in ruling on Obamacares individual mandate to purchase health insurance on the exact same grounds -- that Obamacare punitive measures for not purchasing health insurance was not coercing Americans to buy health insurance contracts, but rather, amounted to a tax, and it was therefore lawful. It seems that history not only rhymes, but indeed, sometimes even the names will repeat.
It is important to note, however, that Social Security was the Obamacare of its day, and just as Republicans have run on repealing and replacing Obamacare since 2010, so, too, did Republicans running in opposition to Social Security after its passage. Social Security was likewise viewed as a massive expansion of federal authority, and was widely believed to have been unconstitutional.
Is Social Security an Entitlement Program?
So, lets say that Social Security is not an entitlement program, but forced payment into an insurance contract that promises Americans will enjoy a return on their investment, should they be so fortunate as to live long enough.
Why, if thats true, does each and every effort to reform Social Security curiously resemble the reforming of an entitlement program? Consider the solutions offered. Taxing the Social Security benefits of high income earners at a higher level (as they dont need the money, and therefore the arbitrary curtailing of their benefits is justified)? Raising the payroll tax to create the revenue needed to reconcile a projected shortfall (just as higher taxes are routinely offered to make welfare programs more sustainable)? Delaying payments to later years for Social Security beneficiaries (thats some contract, if benefits meant to be collected fully at 67 can arbitrarily become benefits fully collectable at 68, 69, 70)?
Heres my favorite, because it completely illustrates my point.
While driving through Berkeley, California, I heard a truck driver call into a local radio station. His argument, as he made it, struck me, because immediately I understood how seductive it would be across the political spectrum.
I drive a truck for a living, he said. I pay 6.2% of my income to Social Security, and I think its terrible that people who make more than $118,500 a year dont have to pay 6.2% of their entire income to Social Security. Over 95% of Americans pay 6.2% of their entire income to Social Security. Now Im a conservative, but thats just not fair, dammit!
Once the concept of fairness is introduced, we can be pretty safe to say that weve left the realm of practical finance and entered the realm of social engineering.
But okay, lets say we make an individual who make $200K annually pay 6.2% of his entire income to the Social Security coffers. Does this reform involve proportionately raising the Social Security benefits for said individual to reflect that increased contribution? If it does not (as Im sure it didnt in this gentlemans construction of thought), how can it be construed to be anything other than high income earners paying for the benefits of those who earn less?
As it stands, the man making $200K annually can expect the same Social Security benefit as a man making $118K annually. So, for what reason, beyond the simple emotional plea that he makes too much money and should therefore pay 6.2% of his entire annual income to the Social Security coffers like most other folks, is this being suggested?
Is Social Security both an entitlement program and a public pension program?
The truth is, Social Security is a pension program, complete with the incredible taxpayer liability that threatens public pension programs across the country. Social Security is also an entitlement program, complete with the corruption and politicization that has created and maintained our current welfare state, which is our greatest anchor to economic growth.
In terms of packaging to the electorate, Social Security can be one or the other, or somewhere in between. Somewhere in between is the truest estimation. Politically, the public pension, and Social Security in particular, is a brilliant concept. Practically, however, its a cancerous affront to economic liberty.
That is not to say that millions have not paid into, and thereby earned, the benefits they do, or will, receive from Social Security. But many thousands of people began collecting Social Security benefits the moment it was enacted who had not paid a dime into the coffers, financed by the businesses and individuals who provided the wealth needed to pay out collectors. It was designed to be an entitlement at the time, and its form today is nothing but that of a government entitlement program, complete with the wastefulness and maladministration that comes with bloated government bureaucracies managing large sums of money for the faceless millions that bureaucrats care little for beyond a vote in the ballot box every odd year.
The intent here is not to upset anyone. The intent is to foster an understanding that the only way that Social Security can be meaningfully reformed is for us to accept that it is an entitlement program, at least at some level. I, for one, believe that an American who paid into Social Security his or her entire life is truly entitled to the benefits due. I am against our government compromising or clipping that benefit for those Americans, in spite of the fact that I believe the federal government was well beyond its constitutional tether in creating the program from the start.
But to loosely quote Milton Friedman, we should not begin our discussion about how we reform Social Security on false pretenses, as Nancy Altman, among so many others, has done. Social Security is in dire need of reform, and it does no good for Americans paying or collecting to assume that it does, or was ever meant to, function as a collective of personal accounts with specified premiums paid toward a specific individual benefit. Nor should we consider the cutting of benefits within the same ideological prism as curtailing purely subsidized welfare benefits.
I am, however, deeply in favor of privatizing contributions and benefits for future collectors in ways that will not compromise existing liabilities. There may still be ways to do that, though the time for that grows shorter with passing years.
But yes, we will discuss higher payroll taxes for high income earners, because it is unlikely to ever be unpopular in a purely democratic viewpoint. Yes, we will discuss later ages for collection of benefits, because demographic realities have changed such that it is necessary. Yes, the government will look to take more from the productive, because that is what the government does to finance a pittance for vast swathes of constituents while preserving its own sense of purpose.
In spite of all its unconstitutional genesis, and the fiscal realities which would have made it dead long ago, reforming Social Security is an imperative. But as we look to reform it, we should, at least, be on the same page when we begin.
William Sullivan blogs at Political Palaver and can be followed on Twitter.
Boston mayor Marty Walsh is a leading voice against President Donald Trump's so-called "Muslim ban," which is neither a ban or targeted against Muslims because of their faith. He is also a critic of Trump's effort to yank federal funding from cities that defy federal law by protecting illegal aliens.
Like hundreds of other cities, Boston is a sanctuary city that has dared federal officials to deny it federal funding even as it helps people break laws. Like its brethren, Boston has received tremendous media and political support for its defiance of federal law.
It's time for states to follow the example of Boston, San Francisco, and the rest. With Trump advocating for life and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the time is ripe for pro-life governors and legislators to stop treating pro-abortion laws and judicial decisions with any respect.
Over the last 44 years, pro-life advocates have hamstrung themselves by playing the rules of polite politics. Incrementalism has its place, but Ohio Right to Life and self-declared "pro-life" Ohio governor John Kasich stopped a bill banning abortions when a heartbeat can be detected. Kasich's reason was that courts would stop the bill.
The abortion industry is clear on its goals taxpayer-funded slaughter of the unborn for all who want it and the Democratic Party has jumped on the bandwagon. Meanwhile, pro-life Republicans get caught up in claiming that the Hyde Amendment bans federal funding for abortions (it does not), and then getting defensive when the press and politicians in both parties attack not subsidizing a woman's choice as extreme.
The hamstringing is perhaps most seen in how the pro-life movement cheered a recent report that abortions have gone down in the country. The report failed to address contraceptives that double as abortion-inducing drugs and devices. This means that the public has been given the false impression that because surgical and medical abortions have gone down, the millions of babies killed by abortifacients don't count.
Likewise, the pro-life movement has said it wants to shift federal funding of Planned Parenthood to federally qualified health centers because they don't commit abortions. However, they do provide contraceptives meaning that the pro-life movement is mindlessly shifting funds from one type of abortion to another, rather than insisting that abortion funds be sent to pro-life pregnancy resource centers that provide only life-affirming options for vulnerable women.
The debate is hamstrung in other ways. The Associated Press insists on calling "pro-life" "anti-abortion," providing a negative connotation to people trying to save lives. Meanwhile, those who support slaughtering the unborn are given the euphemism "pro-choice," meaning that it is a moral positive for an abortionist to help a woman deny a child a choice.
Many pro-life advocates fall into this rhetorical trap, calling opponents "pro-choice," whereas the abortion industry regularly uses negative terms "anti-choice," "against women's rights," "against reproductive choice."
Pro-life elected officials don't have to start getting tough by rejecting Roe v. Wade if that's too big a step. They can start by ignoring last year's decision by five of eight U.S. Supreme Court justices who claimed that Texas can't enforce modest regulations that increase costs for abortion centers. This provided too much of a burden on women's access to abortion, they decided and Texas bowed right down to the robed rulers.
Likewise, they can ignore President Obama's rule that makes it nearly impossible for states to defund Planned Parenthood. Just as so-called "DREAMers" relied on Obama to protect them, governors and legislators should demand that Trump protect innocents in the womb.
Moral opposition to the new president's refugee measures has been led by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Their stance empowered a liberal "Catholic" group to hold a Mass to protect Trump's refugee executive order. This group, which has never protested abortion so vociferously, argued that the executive order violated Scripture's call to accept the stranger in our midst.
Yet this hypocritical stance from Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good fails when it comes to both history and Sacred Tradition. According to every pope in history, including the current pontiff, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, abortion is the ultimate crime against humanity. These same authorities have taught that nations have the right to protect their own borders and provide for national security even as they welcome the stranger.
According to sanctuary city advocates, including the Catholic bishops, illegal immigrants are the poor and downtrodden who need protecting. Who is more downtrodden than the unborn slaughtered in the womb for profit? Who is poorer of mind, body, soul, and frequently income than a woman who hires someone to kill her child or the man who either abandons the mother to such a fate or directly involves himself in the child's destruction?
To their credit, the bishops have always stood against abortion. But even they compromised their moral authority by defending the abortion-funding Hyde Amendment as a prudential compromise in the Affordable Care Act a compromise that was soon abandoned by the Obama administration.
Immigration is a prudential issue, regarding which many may reasonably disagree about the best policy for any specific nation's set of circumstances. Abortion is none of the above it is always wrong to target innocents in the womb. Many sanctuary city advocates simultaneously believe we shouldn't arrest those who choose to break our laws but that the death penalty should be enforced for innocents who inhabit the womb.
It's time for pro-lifers to take the tactics of sanctuary cities and apply them to the states. Right now we have leeway with President Trump, Vice President Pence, and a Republican Congress. What better time to test the legal waters?
Now that Dr. Ben Carson has moved closer to being confirmed as President-Elect Trump's candidate for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the new administration can begin planning to fulfill promises outlined in a 10-point "plan for urban renewal," which promised "tax holidays for inner-city investment and new tax incentives to get foreign companies to relocate in blighted American neighborhoods." It also pledges to "empower cities and states to seek a federal disaster designation for blighted communities in order to initiate the rebuilding of vital infrastructure, the demolition of abandoned properties, and the increased presence of law enforcement."
This language sounds like a resurrection of Jack Kemp's "enterprise zone" model, an idea that reappeared in the Clinton years as "empowerment zones" and with George W. Bush as "Go-Zones," and can now provide a model for President Trump's campaign promise to jump-start the rebuilding of inner cities and enlist the private sector in helping to complete this task.
The key to the empowerment zone concept is that it attempts to solve the problems of inner-city unemployment and poverty without direct, substantial government expenditure. It also uses a number of incentives investment and employment tax credits, regulatory relief, capital gains exclusions, employee training, business incubators, low-interest loans, and other tools to draw investment into areas that, absent the incentives, would be unlikely to have materialized.
Dr. Carson himself articulated an interesting twist on finding tax revenue to fund the administration's ambitious plans. He has said that Trump will "be working on empowering people in empowerment zones throughout cities, using a lot of the money from overseas that is stuck over there because of our tax situation," meaning they hope to convince U.S. companies, many of whose profits are currently offshore, to bring the corporate taxes due on those monies back to America, necessarily with the incentive of a reduced tax rate.
The beauty of deriving a new stream of revenue from repatriated corporate profits, of course, is that it does not cannibalize existing tax revenues and instead provides a new source of taxes which, absent the incentives, would otherwise not be realized. Given that an estimated $2.4 trillion of profits from Fortune 500 companies has been "permanently reinvested" offshore to avoid onerous U.S. federal income taxes, even a reduced, irresistible corporate tax rate of, say, 10% (less than one third current rates) could theoretically yield $200 billion, some or all of which could be earmarked for investing in the rehabilitation and improvement of distressed urban centers. In fact, corporations could be further incentivized by slashing the tax rates even more if companies agree to either relocate some of the business units into the new zones or, if they cannot relocate, pay into a managed fund that would be used specifically in the zones.
If Dr. Carson's latest turn on the empowerment zone concept is to work for targeted, distressed American cities, he has many approaches that have succeeded before, along with some he should enhance. Among them:
Customize zone requirements and benefits, and have on-site offices to facilitate fast-track permitting and variances, assembling available abandoned and seized property, issuing tax abatements, providing regulatory relief, fast-tracking loan applications, and offering technical assistance. Distinct empowerment zones will need to be set up to accommodate the specific economic, housing, labor, and social needs of each targeted inner-city location. A particular bundle of incentives whether to encourage housing creation or attract capital can be determined for each geographic area as needed. Just as important is the on-site presence and input of state and local officials, redevelopment authorities, bankers, the SBA, and other experts to identify and provide clear title for abandoned property, expedite applications and permitting, lend technical expertise, and generally facilitate the often cumbersome and tortuous process of qualifying for government-conceived programs. HUD could also help fund this initiative: its 2016 budget, for example, provides for $250 million, as part of its Choice Neighborhoods program, to transform blighted neighborhoods with distressed housing into upgraded, mixed-income neighborhoods.
Ease the use of low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) and create a targeted version for each empowerment zone city. Housing is often a key component of empowerment zones; the task of creating new housing, or replacing distressed housing, is made even more critical when safe and accessible housing is necessary for employees of new businesses created in the zones. While mixed-use, mixed-income housing is always preferable in creating viable neighborhoods, often the initial efforts within the empowerment zones are to provide housing to the area's poorest residents, a task made attractive to investors through the use of low-income housing tax credits. Created by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the LIHTC program gives state and local agencies the ability to leverage of nearly $8 billion in annual budget authority to issue tax credits for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of rental housing targeted to lower-income households. According to HUD's database, an average of over 1,420 projects and 107,000 units were created annually between 1995 to 2014. Developers can avail themselves of yearly tax credits; additionally, and more important for drawing investor capital into low-income housing markets, the credits can be bundled and syndicated to corporate investors as a way of reducing taxes with higher marginal rates. The tax credits have been allotted on a state-by-state basis, often through a cumbersome application process in which credits frequently go unused, so one of Secretary Carson's first tasks should be to streamline the application and granting process.
Encourage innovative lending programs, in which private investors, banks, or community development corporations create first-time ownership opportunities and sometimes share in the tax benefits and future appreciation of the properties. The Urban Homestead Act of 1999 facilitated the disposition of government-owned units and land that are given to low-income residents who pledge to move in and rehabilitate or improve the properties. That notion is a good one, except that low-income residents frequently lack the resources and experience to make home ownership particularly of distressed properties a reality. Instead, some of this housing would be suitable for re-use as shared-equity property, in which investors assume, with the new homeowners, some of the risk and costs of making new homes habitable. Banks or corporate investors (who would purchase bundled property shares) who make loans in the zones could receive tax concessions. The upside? Housing experts such as Howard Husock have argued that too often, planners overlook the reality that neighborhoods of owners rather than renters even poor owners are more likely to flourish than those comprising demoralizing tracts of projects and government-subsidized housing, in which residents have no stake or possibility for growing equity and creating personal wealth.
Create jobs relevant to the targeted cities. Critics of the empowerment zone concept have noted that the zones are designed more to attract capital than labor. But that view overlooks the obvious benefit to job creation inherent in the expansion and founding of thriving businesses in the zones. If new empowerment zones are developed around an anchor corporation, incentives for job creation should be tailored for the employment needs of the specific locations, so that, for instance, high-tech businesses are not created in neighborhoods where the employee pool lacks the skills and training opportunities to avail itself of such jobs. Employers who hire local residents (especially welfare-to-work or young, underemployed individuals) receive higher per-employee tax credits than would be available for employees living outside the zone, and zone employees are also able to claim tax deductions from the income. Extra incentives should also be offered when employees are trained for roles in businesses new to the region; this approach has the double benefit of encouraging new types of businesses to relocate to the zones and for helping to evolve a new, better trained workforce. Maryland also experimented with creating Health Enterprise Zones (HEZ), designed to attract primary care physicians and health care organizations into underserved minority neighborhoods by modifying regulations and offering income, property, and hiring tax credits to health care providers willing to relocate to the HEZ.
Utilize the intellectual and financial resources of a university to incubate small and emerging businesses. As a logical outgrowth of its teaching and research assets, a local university could help create satellite incubators for creating new businesses and assisting newly founded, entrepreneurial ones, particularly those owned by neighborhood residents. In Detroit, for example, TechTown, founded in partnership with Wayne State University, Henry Ford Health System, and GM, has helped some 1,500 small businesses and entrepreneurs create 1,200 jobs, with management, marketing, and startup capital, as well as shared office space and career training. Were university-associated research centers, high-tech, or biotech labs to locate in the zones as major magnets, smaller collateral businesses such as printers and copy shops, restaurants, day care centers, and other service businesses can flourish and help provide additional employment opportunities for local residents and a more livable overall neighborhood.
Reduce the capital gains tax rate and modify "passive loss" rules. The former cut could apply only on the sale of newly built or substantially rehabbed low-income property inside the zones, provided that the affordability is preserved after the sale through deed restrictions. Long-term property tax abatements, on both rental housing and commercial space built or rehabilitated in the zones, has historically served to attract investment. Another attractive incentive for businesses in the zones is Section 179 of the IRS tax code, which allows businesses to "expense," rather than amortize, the full purchase price of equipment and/or software purchased or financed during the tax year.
Loosen codes and encourage housing creation. Local government can help ease, rather than constrict, affordable housing creation by the private sector by being flexible in interpreting zoning, safety, and building requirements. A compelling example of this approach was the story of the Baltic, a single-room occupancy project in San Diego, in which developers negotiated concessions from the city to create 120-square-foot "living units" in a 207-room building with a density equivalent to more than 700 units an acre well beyond what existing regulations would have permitted. Other concessions from the building and zoning departments enabled the for-profit developer to build much needed, affordably priced units that existing codes would have normally disallowed.
While opponents of tax concessions for Fortune 500 companies and businesses inside empowerment zones point out that a loss of tax revenues through incentives and abatements is still an expense for taxpayers, many would agree that such lost revenues are more than compensated for through the creation of much needed new jobs; new and upgraded housing for low-and moderate-income residents; the rehabilitation of distressed real property; fresh streams of property, corporate, and income taxes; and, most importantly, immeasurable social benefits to American cities trying to recover from decades of urban disintegration, joblessness, and despair.
Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D., writes frequently about real estate development, public/private partnerships, constitutional law, social policy, higher education, and the Middle East.
If Chuck Schumer and other apoplectic Leftists are right about Trumps intent to ban a religion via his immigration executive orders, they must admit that he also did a terrible job. Of the 57 nations that are members of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation , Trump missed 50. Thats a .122 batting average. He missed the second largest Muslim nation by not selecting Indonesia, and his missed Malaysia. From the Organization for Islamic Cooperation web site,
Over the last 40 years, (the Organization for Islamic Cooperation ) membership has grown from its founding members of 25 to 57 states. The Organization has the singular honor to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5 billion Muslims of the world.
Perhaps the Schumer accusation and his premise are false. Logic would suggest that it is indeed.
The seven Muslim-majority countries targeted in President Trump's executive order on immigration were initially identified as " countries of concern " under the Obama administration. The threat was identified but not addressed by Obama. It is addressed now.
In December 2015, President Obama signed into law a measure placing limited restrictions on certain travelers who had visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on or after March 1, 2011. Two months later, the Obama administration added Libya, Somalia, and Yemen to the list, in what it called an effort to address "the growing threat from foreign terrorist fighters." The restrictions specifically limited what is known as visa-waiver travel by those who had visited one of the seven countries within the specified time period. People who previously could have entered the United States without a visa were instead required to apply for one if they had traveled to one of the seven countries.
If indeed the executive order was what Chuck Schumer and the others are crying about, religious persecution, it missed the mark terribly. But then, maybe what the Senator from New York is saying isnt true. Maybe the Senator is just anti Trump? That will become crystal clear as cabinet nominees and supreme court nominees come up for Schumers perusal. More tears are expected.
The President was completely in his authority to attempt to eradicate dangerous immigration. As Andrew McCarthy notes:
. the exclusion of a totalitarian political ideology something that our law already explicitly endorses. See, e.g., Section 1182(a)(3)(D) of federal immigration law (Immigrant Membership in Totalitarian Party): Any immigrant who is or has been a member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party (or subdivision or affiliate thereof), domestic or foreign, is inadmissible (emphasis added). If we are serious about banning sharia-supremacism or, if you insist, radical Islam that is inescapably going to involve banning Muslims. All sharia supremacists are Muslims, just like all members of the Irish Republican Army are Irish.
President Trump did not even press the limits of his authority nor did he explore the bounds of precedent.
The United States of America allows legal entry and legal residency to roughly 1 million people a year. Did Trump apply a religious test or filter to those attempting legal entry?
Roughly 4 million people are allowed legal temporary legal residency. (many break the agreement) Did the President apply religious tests or filters to these people? The answers are of course no, but you wont see that on the news.
Finally, there are between 45 and 50 countries that have a Muslim majority population. Did Chuck notice that Trump missed, in this case, between 38 to 43 the Muslim majority countries of the world in this alleged attack on religion?
Those who approve of Trumps measure miss the media coverage. Mosques are visited for their reaction, microphones before faces that are vocal now, yet quiet about the spread of Sharia and terrorist activities. How about bringing the cameras and microphones to a VFW hall?
James Longstreet
When illegal immigrants are released by sanctuary cities and by a president who ignores existing laws, there is little if any empathy by Hollywood, the media, and Democrats when they kill or commit other heinous crimes. There are no protests to protect the citizens of communities, and I have never seen Chuck Schumer shed a tear for the victims. Where have the Hollywood fundraisers been to help the victims?
When an American facility was under attack in Libya and the president, secretary of state, and others did not lift a finger to save the Americans, I did not see any protests, outrage, or empathy from the media, Hollywood, or Democrats nor when Obama, Hillary, and others concocted alternative facts instead of telling the truth. Instead of the media calling the president and Hillary the liars they were, they went after Republicans for trying to get to the truth.
I did not see Schumer shed a tear for the families of those who died. At the 2013 SAG and other awards shows, did Streep or anyone else tear into Obama for lying? We still don't know what Obama did the night of September 11, 2012, and the media has not been curious.
When Planned Parenthood (PP) was caught selling leftover human body parts for an obvious profit (in violation of the law), there was no sympathy or outrage by the media, Democrats, or Hollywood for what they were doing. Instead, they went after the reporters for telling the truth. Again, Schumer did not shed a tear for the human beings who died.
In the 1990s, when Bill Clinton vowed to crack down on illegal immigration and enforce the laws that existed, I did not see or hear the protests from Hollywood, Democrats, or the media. Instead, Clinton was supported. Schumer not only didn't cry; he along with most Democrats supported Clinton.
Did I miss the protests and outrage by the media when Obama blocked refugees from Iraq? Did George Soros pay for protesters? Did Hollywood rant about racism? Did Schumer say a word, let alone bawl like a baby?
Yet when we have the first president in a long time to actually enforce immigration laws, the left has a cow. When he chooses to seriously vet refugees from seven terrorist-sponsoring countries, the media, Hollywood, Democrats, professors, and others intentionally lie by calling it a Muslim ban. From what I understand, there are 47 Muslim-majority countries, so obviously Trump didn't come close to banning a religion.
The reason the media intentionally lie is to mislead the public, and that is essentially a violation of the public trust.
Of course, having a president who enforces the laws that Schumer and others wrote and seriously vetting refugees is what finally made Schumer cry.
On Sunday at the SAG awards, one winner went on a tirade against Trump and threatened to punch people. He complained about a narcissist. Isn't it rich, when the Hollywood elite are out there patting themselves on the back and saying how important and good they are, that they complain about someone else being a narcissist? I assume that the guy must have never watched an Obama speech, where frequently "I" was the most prevalent word.
The media, Hollywood, Democrats, professors, and the paid protesters have selective outrage, selective empathy, and a great disregard for the existing laws of the land. There is also an almost absolute bias by the media. Their positions and reporting have little to do with facts; they themselves have almost absolute devotion to the candidates they support and almost 100% disdain for those they didn't vote for. As such, their reporting is essentially worthless. They throw temper tantrums instead of reporting the truth.
President Trump is taking heat from The New York Times and the U.S. Catholic bishops over his executive order regarding refugees and migrants.
Whoda thunk it?
Observes Carl E. Olson, editor of Catholic World Report:
The New York Times and the U.S. bishops appear to have very different understandings of President Trump's motivations, but do seem to arrive at an equally negative conclusion. First, here is Times' editor David David Leonhardt's take, titled Trump Flirts With Theocracy: Lets not mince words. President Trumps recent actions are an attempt to move the United States away from being the religiously free country that the founders created and toward becoming an aggressively Christian country hostile to other religions. The USCCB has now released a joint statement which states in part: Our actions must remind people of Jesus. The actions of our government must remind people of basic humanity. Where our brothers and sisters suffer rejection and abandonment we will lift our voice on their behalf. We will welcome them and receive them. They are Jesus and the Church will not turn away from Him.
Olson (rightly) believes that both positions are misguided.
Then theres the statement issued by Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, which begins:
This weekend proved to be a dark moment in U.S. history. The executive order to turn away refugees and to close our nation to those, particularly Muslims, fleeing violence, oppression and persecution is contrary to both Catholic and American values
Please.
Im not at all surprised by The New York Times. As for the bishops, no, Im not really surprised by their reaction, either. Just a lot more disappointed. But then, Ive essentially given up on their leadership as a whole. Yes, there are some good bishops who deserve praise, but the mediocre and bad ones outweigh the good. The USCCB (not to mention the Vatican) is, for the most part, a bureaucracy riddled with leftists. Barring a miracle, I dont see it vastly improving anytime soon.
I admit to struggling on the issue of immigration. To me, its never been black or white. In fact, the official teaching of the Catholic Church on the matter, per the Catechism, is nuanced .
That said, most of the reactions to the presidents executive order have been overblown, if not downright hysterical. And those who should know better have been some of the worst offenders. Certain bishops have made it a point to remind the laity that Catholics were once in the same position as the Muslims: discriminated against over the last eight years at one point in our nations history.
However, as William Kilpatrick writes in Crisis Magazine:
They came in droves to a rally in Battery Park on Sunday, January 29. Many carried signs saying, Dont take Democracy away from us, Resist, Muslims United, and We are a Nation of Immigrants. Chants were promoted from the podium: No Fence, No Wall, and Trump and Pence Are Illegitimate. Senator Gillibrand spoke of Americas immigrant tradition, and her senior counterpart Chuck Schumer, seemingly trained at Actors Studio, had tears rolling down his cheeks as he lamented this dark moment in American history.
Based on the hysterics, it was easy to overlook President Trumps laudable purpose in issuing his order. He said this decision was based on protecting the nation from terrorist entry into the United States. Demonstrators insist that Trump is engaged in altering American policy.
This is far-fetched. Since Trump assumed office, he has moved with alacrity to address the terrorist question. While immigration policy wont solve the issue, it is a necessary if insufficient gesture to counter terrorist ambitions. The FBI presently identifies one thousand terrorist cells operating in the United States. It is also clear that ISIS has encouraged its sympathizers to blend into the refugee hordes moving across Europe fomenting violence.
By imposing a ban on immigration from selected countries, Trump is adhering to his campaign pledge. He is also engaged in a legal act, notwithstanding a federal judges restraining order against implementation. The president, as commander in chief, can adopt those policies necessary to preserve national security. Moreover, President Trump backed down from his controversial pledge to ban Muslims. None of this has mollified his detractors.
Even though Presidents Bush and Obama capped refugee admissions at 50,000 per year, Trumps similar limit has been widely criticized. What Trump has introduced is a screening process for refugees who will be admitted at the same rate as during the Obama presidency before the dramatic expansion of Syrians in 2016. Trumps ban, however, gives the secretary of state and Homeland Security the right to apply exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Yet a thunderous roar of disapproval has occurred. Chicken Little has come to America, even though the president has made it clear he is attempting to thwart a prospective threat. Critics contend that the president is using a religious litmus test, a test evidently employed by President Obama, who accepted very few Christians and Yazidis facing genocide in the Middle East. It is instructive that religion is at least one central reason for refugee screening, notwithstanding claims by Trumps detractors that a new standard has been introduced.
Clearly, scores of refugees were trapped at airports across the United States, and others were disadvantaged when the order was announced. If one were relying on the mass hysteria evident in Battery Park and elsewhere, one might conclude that President Trumps position is a betrayal of American principles. However, applied judiciously, this immigration order represents careful assessment of possible violence and the policies that represent the best interest of the nation.
What I witnessed in Battery Park was obsessive behavior and political manipulation. Those in attendance imagine that after five days at the helm, President Trump has put this democratic republic at risk with his immigration order. The fear spoken of matter-of-factly at the rally is the fear of collective illusions. Trump would be wise to ignore the rallies, and Trumps detractors would be wise to better understand the issues at hand.
Jonathan Tobin predicts that the coming battle over President Trump's Supreme Court nomination is "sure to go nuclear."
Writing at the New York Post, Tobin says Harry Reid's elimination of the Senate filibuster, requiring 60 votes for all nominations except the Supreme Court, is about to go one more step:
The filibuster was probably finished no matter which side won in November. It's arguable that the Republicans would have used it to stop any Hillary Clinton court nomination had Trump lost. Given the stakes involved in replacing Scalia and the disappearance of any neutral ground left between the two parties, for either side to meekly allow their opponents to shift the court without a battle to the death has become unimaginable. The end of the requirement for a filibuster-beating supermajority is the only way the court is ever going to get back to nine.
While there are ten Trump-state Senate Democrats up for re-election in 2018, the likelihood of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell being "able to split the opposition and win without a rules change" is complicated by the widening rift in Democratic Party politics, says Tobin:
But that possibility is limited by the certainty that some defecting Democrats would then face primary challenges from the increasingly belligerent Bernie Sanders wing of the party that seeks to recreate the same dynamic on the left that the Tea Party had on the GOP.
The president has acknowledged that he expects McConnell to overturn the filibuster for a Supreme Court nominee if the Democrats continue to be "obstructionists," while Senator McConnell for his part has said he does not plan to kill the filibuster but has also said he is "going to get this nominee confirmed."
As Hot Air points out, however, it is possible that a) McConnell may not have the votes to upend the filibuster, b) he thinks he won't need to upend it, c) he has another more arcane parliamentary way around the filibuster, or d) he has something else up his sleeve.
Given that McConnell paved the way for a Trump nominee by successfully blocking Obama's attempt to replace Antonin Scalia after Scalia's death last February, McConnell gets some credit as a master Senate tactician and thus the benefit of the doubt in this case.
Another factor here is that two of the leading candidates for the Trump Supreme Court nomination were easily confirmed by the Senate for their current federal appeals court positions.
Judge Neil Gorsuch was confirmed by a voice vote, and Judge Thomas Hardiman was confirmed on a 95-0 vote "when nominated to their current posts by President George W. Bush."
More telling is that both current Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and current ranking member of the Senate Judiciary committee Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) voted to confirm both Gorsuch and Hardiman for their current judiciary seats.
But "that was yesterday, and yesterday's gone," as the song goes.
The post-inaugural Democrats have filled the airwaves with "fire-alarm nonsense," as Andrew McCarthy observes, and their leading actor, Senator Schumer, will be racing to the cameras to oppose any Trump Supreme Court nomination.
But the president, the master of reality television, who surely has something up his sleeve, pre-empts Senator Schumer at prime time tonight.
Once upon a time, in the waters not far off the coast of Sicily, there was an island called Ferdinandea. It was located right where the Mediterranean Sea narrowed between Sicily and Tunisia a strategic position for any naval power who wished to control traffic in the Mediterranean. A tug-o-war for sovereignty, between four powerful nations, began as soon as the island was discovered, but it didnt last long. Less than six months later, the island had sunk back into the sea. Now almost two hundred years later, the same territorial squabble is poised to begin again, as Ferdinandea island rises, inch by inch, towards the surface.
The story of Ferdinandea island begins on July 1831. It started with a series of tremors and a pungent smell of sulphur. Clearly, somewhere a volcano was erupting. Nothing unusual about that. Sicily is volcanic, and the residents were accustomed to eruptions, big and small. But there were no signs of eruption anywhere on the island.
An oil painting depicting the HMS Melville, of the Royal Navy, off the volcanic Ferdinandea Island or Graham Island, 1831. Photo credit: National Maritime Museum
A few days later, a large billowing pillar of smoke was seen rising from the sea. At first, the residents thought that a ship was on fire, but when a passing brig approached the area and saw bubbling water and dead fish floating around, the captain was almost sure it was a sea monster. It was two weeks after the first hint of sulphur, that the emergence of a new island was confirmed.
Throughout that month of July and the next, the island continued to grow, now a prominent landmark visible from the Sicily coast. And it was still active, spewing lava and hot ash from its mouth-like crater. It eventually reached a height of 63 meters and a circumference of 4.8 km. There was a summit on the northeastern side with a plain in the middle, where two small ponds had formed, the larger of which was 20 meters around and 2 meters deep.
The sizeable chunk of rock had appeared at a tactical location close to the major shipping lanes through the Mediterranean, and every nation who had a naval presence in the area realized that whoever claimed the island would be at a position to control all commercial and military sea traffic through the area.
The first to lay claim on the island were the British. A Navy vessel disembarked on the island, planted the British flag and announced it as British territory, naming it Graham Island for the First Lord of the Admiralty. The King of Sicily, Ferdinand II, considering this an infringement on Sicilian waters, dispatched a corvette to claim the new land. He named it Ferdinandea, in honor of himself. The Spanish showed an interest too. The last to arrive on the scene were the French, who compared the eruption to a bottle of champagne being uncorked and named it Ile Julia, after July, the month it first appeared.
For five months the conflict raged as the nations fought in the press and through diplomatic channels. Tourists travelled to see the island and its two small lakes, and the French even announced a plan to build a top-class holiday resort on its beaches. Nobody paid attention that the island was slowly withdrawing into the ocean.
The volcanic material from which the island was formed was so fragmented and soft that it could not withstand the effects of the ocean waves. As soon as the eruption stopped, the sea rapidly eroded it away. By 17 December 1831, the island had disappeared complexly beneath the waves, and the territorial dispute came to a peaceful end.
This was not the first time the island had appeared in this patch of ocean. The island was first reported to have broke surface during the First Punic War, in the 3rd century BC, and since then it has appeared and disappeared four or five times. It made a brief appearance again in 1863, caused by fresh eruption, before sinking back into the sea. Since then, Ferdinandea island or Graham island, has been lying 8 meters below the sea level within scrapping distance of a ships hull. Ships know to avoid it, but to those unfamiliar with the waters, the sunken island may appear as a hidden threat. In 1987, an American pilot on the way to bomb Libya mistook the submerged peak to be a submarine, and dropped depth charges on it.
Photo credit: blog.is
In 2000, renewed seismic activity around Graham Island led volcanologists to speculate that the seamount might once again become an island. To prevent a repeat of the disagreements, this time Italy acted swiftly by sending a team of divers to plant Sicily's flag on the rising seamount in advance of its expected resurfacing. In addition, a marble plaque, bearing the inscription This piece of land, once Ferdinandea, belonged and shall always belong to the Sicilian people," was lowered into the waves. This plaque was reportedly destroyed within months, possibly by fishing gear but it could also have been vandalism.
Should the island emerge again in near future, its unlikely that theres going to be a major territorial dispute over it, as the island would not have the same strategic importance today that it had in 1831. The island would likely and rightly belong to Italy.
Photo credit: wwimd.xyz
A page from the geological journal of French geologist Constant Prevost, depicting the 1831 eruption of Ferdinandea island.
The marble plaque that was installed on the submarine volcano.
Sources: Wikipedia / The Basement Geographer / Independent / Clan Graham Society / Time.com
Alphabets Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt expects more evil things from the Trump Administration following the immigration ban that President Trump signed on Thursday. On the same day, Googles former Chief Executive Officer was speaking to a group of employees in Mountain View, which is when he asserted that the new U.S. administration and President Trump are going to do these evil things as theyve done in the immigration area and perhaps some others. Three insiders confirmed Schmidts remarks for BuzzFeed News. During the same speech, Alphabets Executive Chairman asserted how the Trump Administration will do whatever it takes to drive economic growth, regardless of how evil it is.
Just like his predecessor, Googles current CEO Sundar Pichai also criticized President Trumps immigration ban, while the companys co-founder Sergey Brin even appeared at a recent protest against the ban held at San Francisco International Airport. The current reactions of Alphabet and Googles top executives appear to be in stark contrast to the stances expressed by them in December when it came to light that theyre attending Trumps private tech summit. Back then, Googles representatives said how theyre willing to work with the then President-Elect in private because theres little reason for needlessly antagonizing the government in public seeing how they must find a way to work with Trump either way. Other Silicon Valley giants expressed similar thoughts during that period. However, the Presidents immigration ban seemingly put an end to that sentiment seeing how the entire tech industry has now seemingly risen against him.
In addition to voicing strong opposition to Trumps measures, Google also launched the largest crisis fund in the history of the company in response to the immigration ban. The Mountain View-based tech giant was relatively close with the former Obama administration for the last eight years and has rarely exhibited a significant degree of opposition to any decision made by the U.S. government. However, seeing how President Trump and his team are reportedly in the process of drafting a stricter visa vetting process that will likely hurt tech companies like Google, it seems that this conflict will continue in the coming months.
The Moto Z lineup in Germany is now receiving the official Android Nougat update. The news came from Motorola Germanys Twitter, and although the companys tweet didnt specify the exact version of Android Nougat hitting the aforementioned smartphones, its likely that theyre receiving Android 7.0 Nougat. That version of Android was already released for the Moto Z series in Europe in early January.
The arrival of this update isnt surprising seeing how Motorola recently started testing Android 7.0 Nougat for the Moto Z Play. As for the updates distribution in Germany, one of Motorolas recent tweets suggests that Android Nougat for the Moto Z Play in the country specifically, the retde variant should arrive shortly. This suggests that the update might roll out at a slightly later date for the Moto Z Play in comparison to the Moto Z and the Moto Z Force. In any case, German owners of the Moto Z can attempt to trigger the updating process manually from the phones Settings screen, or they can wait for the update notification to reach their devices.
Regarding what can be expected from Android 7.0 Nougat on the Moto Z series, some of the main improvements include better performance, improved battery life due to the new and improved Doze mode, and numerous reworked user interface elements, including a redesigned Notification area and Settings menu. Other features built into Android Nougat include Multi-Window mode for a new multitasking experience which permits two applications to run simultaneously in split-screen mode, and a reworked Recent Apps screen which will now present full-size cards for all running applications. The Motorola Moto Z series was announced in mid-2016 running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box. Both the Moto Z and the Moto Z Force are equipped with 5.5-inch screens boasting a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels and are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 system-on-chip housing four Kryo cores, the Adreno 530 graphics chip, and 4GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the Moto Z Play was introduced with the Snapdragon 625 SoC, the Adreno 506 GPU, 3GB of RAM, as well as a 5.5-inch display featuring a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. It remains to be seen whether Nougat is the last major Android version released for the 2016 Moto Z lineup, though it probably isnt.
The hot topic in the world of politics lately has been the Immigration Ban that President Trump signed as an Executive Order on Friday. This has led to many tech CEOs and others coming out against the Order, with very few being indecisive and others being silent. BlackBerrys CEO, John Chen talked with BNN in Canada regarding the Presidents Executive Order over the weekend, and essentially said that it is bad for trade. Additionally, he using a wait and see type of attitude, instead of opting to overreact to Trumps Order.
Chen told BNN that he believes that if the US doesnt resolve it in a more peaceful way maybe or less sharp, we will hurt trade, particularly if it expands to more than these seven countries. While Chen is in charge of BlackBerry, and is not located in the US right now due to his employment, he and his company still need to pay attention to whats going on with this Immigration Ban. Considering the majority of BlackBerrys small market share is in the Middle East and Africa, banning those countries from immigrating to the US could harm their business. And like Chen stated, it could drastically harm trade with those countries. Although many of them dont do much trading with the US as it is, in fact there are sanctions on Iran already, which is one of the seven countries that were part of the Immigration Ban.
On Friday, Trump signed an Executive Order that banned entry of people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Libya, to the United States. It got plenty of attention over the weekend as more people were being detained at the countrys airports, even those that were legal residents of the US with their green card in tow. Many were detained for hours before being able to pass on through and reunite with their loved ones. It was a bit of a clumsy Executive Order from the new President, and its one that Silicon Valley isnt too happy about. Of course, there may be more for Silicon Valley to worry about under the Trump administration.
Samsungs Galaxy Tab S3 just got certified by the FCC. This listing more or less confirms that the tablet is on its way, finally, as its 8-inch and 9.7-inch predecessors launched way back in July 2015. Many people have been waiting for Samsung to release the Galaxy Tab S3 so that they can upgrade to a new Android tablet, and it seems like the device launch soon, maybe even during the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
As many of you know, Samsung probably wont announced their Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus flagship smartphones during the Mobile World Congress, as theyre looking to announce those two phones during a separate event in late March or early April. Well, their flagship tablet could arrive during the Mobile World Congress, however, it seems like a perfect fit, especially considering the fact that the Galaxy S8 wont be coming. In any case, the device that passed through the FCC carries the SM-T825 model number, and FCCs listing really did not share much info when it comes to this tablet, aside from the sketch of its back side, as you can see down below.
So, what can we expect in terms of specs when it comes to this tablet? Well, if Samsung plans to stick to the earlier variants, then we might even see two models released, a smaller 8-inch Galaxy Tab S3, and a larger 9.7-inch variant of that tablet. Chances are that the company also plans to announce a Wi-Fi model of the Galaxy Tab S3, and a variant that will offer network support as well, as it will ship with a SIM card slot. As far as this tablets SoC is concerned, weve seen plenty of info, and are still not sure what SoC will Samsung include on the inside. Some rumors are suggesting that it will be the Exynos 7420, while other are touting the all-new Snapdragon 835 SoC, which is highly unlikely. This tablet will probably pack in 4GB of RAM, and a fingerprint scanner will also be a part of this package, while you can expect to get Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box with Samsungs custom UI on top of it, of course.
Google is not pushing Android 7.1.2 to the Nexus 6 or Nexus 9. While Google recently revealed that they were going to start pushing out the Android 7.1.2 Nougat software to users who are enrolled in the Android Beta Program starting from today, with a planned release of the software to all users a couple of months from now, they also stated which devices were set up to receive the software in an early build format, and both the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9 were left out of this equation, leaving only the Pixel, the Pixel XL, the Nexus 5X, Pixel C tablet, the Nexus Player, and eventually the Nexus 6P to get a taste of the new release.
While this might be a little bit disappointing to those who are still owners of either device, the good news is that Google will still be sending out security updates to both the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9 for a while longer as theyre still both covered under Googles policy under the time frames for security updates. That being said, theyre also past the time frame for regular software version updates, which means that Google is no longer going to be supporting either device going forward. This also means that Android 7.1.1 Nougat was the last official update that either device will receive.
With that said, its not entirely impossible that both devices will still receive ample support from the development community in terms of pushing them forward to the latest version of Android software that Google offers. This happens with tons of different devices coming from various manufacturers, and it happens with many devices that are much less popular than Googles line of Nexus devices, so even if Google is no longer going to be officially supporting the Nexus 6 or the Nexus 9 with software updates, many users will likely be able to find the software that they need elsewhere, although its always worth mentioning that users will want to proceed with caution when trying to modify their device software outside of any official updates that are pushed out by Google and its partners as well as the wireless carriers which those devices are connected to.
According to various social media reports coming through, Google has undertook a mass walkout today in protest of President Trumps recent executive order which places a ban on immigration. At the moment, the details on the walkout are a little limited and as such, it is unclear whether this was a company-orchestrated protest or an employee one. Likewise, it is unclear how long the protest is designed to be in effect for. In either case though, it is clear that Google as a company supports the protest as social media reports do confirm that Googles Sundar Pichai and Sergey Brin were present and taking part in the demonstration and have been noted addressing the crowds on the topic. Further reiterating that such a ban would be gravely detrimental to the industry.
So far, it seems that todays protest walkout(s) were certainly designed for maximum impact and exposure as according to the reports, as many as 2,000 Googlers from as many as 8 campuses are taking part in the protest move. In addition, it seems many of those same Googlers have been using the hashtag #GooglersUnite on Twitter to post images and draw further attention to the aim of the protest. Including some of Googles own official Twitter handles as the image shown above came through Googles recruitment-focused Twitter account, @LifeatGoogle. Along with the statement that at HQ today #GooglersUnite to show solidarity with immigrants, refugees, Muslims and fellow Googlers worldwide. Overall, this seems to be an extremely effective move as right now #GooglersUnite is trending on Twitter.
In terms of the actual ban, the immigration order which was signed off by President Trump on Friday looks to, among other things, temporarily stop persons from seven specific countries from entering the US. A move which many technology sector-related advocates have already spoken out publicly against, suggesting that this would be bad for the tech sector in general, including Googles own Sundar Pichai. While Sergey Brin was also noted over the weekend taking part in another protest which took place at San Francisco International Airport. Interestingly, as part of Pichais previous comments on the ban, Pichai was noted stating weve always made our view on immigration issues known publicly and will continue to do so which certainly seems to be the case with todays demonstration.
Chinese tech giant Huawei will be attending CeBIT 2017 in March, the company announced. Huawei will use this opportunity to showcase its latest information and communications technology (ICT) products and demonstrate some new innovative solutions with the help of its partners and clients. Among other things, Huawei promised to display new Internet of Things (IoT) devices, big data solutions, and enterprise products designed to build and advance contemporary businesses. The Shenzhen-based company is also planning to use CeBIT 2017 as an opportunity to share some success stories from its customers operating in a broad range of industries.
The theme of Huaweis CeBIT 2017 exhibit will be focused on digital transformation, the company said. Huawei will strive to demonstrate the ways in which it helps firms transition into the digital age and assists new entrepreneurs in starting their businesses. Last year, the Chinese tech giant served approximately 500 companies from all over the world and Huawei is now hoping it will increase its market presence over the course of 2017. CeBIT is an important part of that strategy seeing how the Hannover-based event is the largest ICT trade show on the planet and a great opportunity for Huawei to connect with new potential clients. Some of the companys existing customers and partners which will also be attending CeBIT 2017 include Volkswagen, Deutsche Telekom, Intel, and General Electric.
CeBIT 2017 will mark Huaweis seventh consecutive year attending the ICT trade show. The annual event is taking place from March 20 to March 24 in Hannover, Germany. Huawei will be holding a number of presentations and forums during the first two days of the event and spend the remaining time on holding joint marketing activities with both clients and partners. Before CeBIT 2017 takes place, Huawei is also expected to attend another large trade show as the company is said to be present at Mobile World Congress 2017 in Barcelona. Huawei is currently in the process of expanding most of its diversified portfolio to new markets and trade shows are a reliable way for the company to promote its products and services to potential customers. More information on Huaweis future ambitions will likely follow in the coming weeks.
Two top investment banks have released cautious statements regarding AT&T. The first, Deutsche Bank, reduced its expectations, lowered its earnings per share outlook and reduced the yearly stock target price, explaining that the business faces challenges in the media and wireless industry. Deutsche Banks reduced expectations included dropping the projected earnings per share to $2.91 for both 2017 and 2018, and reducing the twelve-month stock price target from $43 to $42. For the last quarter of 2016, AT&T posted a drop of 67,000 postpaid net customers, and the carrier has lost subscribers every quarter for over two years now. On the other hand, the carrier lost fewer subscribers than the industry expected, but the negative trend has not been reversed yet. T-Mobile US Chief Executive Officer, John Legere, is in no doubt where these customers are going, as he claims theyre switching to T-Mobile. However, for the cellular network business, Barclays believes that the American carriers changes to virtualize its network will continue to reduce costs and help the bottom line, which is a trend thats already experienced by AT&T. By implementing as much of its network control as possible via software rather than hardware switches, AT&T is significantly reducing the labor costs associated with fine tuning and adjusting its network.
Elsewhere, AT&Ts acquisition of DIRECTV continues to prompt industry changes. AT&T has already started offering unlimited postpaid data plans to DIRECTV NOW subscribers. AT&Ts newly released streaming service marks the companys latest push into the media industry thats set to continue with the planned acquisition of Time Warner. AT&T could be turning itself into a media company with a cellular network. Currently, AT&T derives 45 percent of its revenue via its wireless operations and 33 percent via its media operations a stark difference to T-Mobile US which is predominantly a wireless carrier. And while the DIRECTV NOW service has attracted new customers, Barclays believes competition here will only increase. However, the British bank did note that DIRECT NOW is off to a good start, having gained 200,000 users in just a few weeks since launching.
Interestingly enough, Barclays note to investors speculated that AT&T might use some of the cost savings through network virtualization to maintain its bottom line. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen if DIRECTV NOW helps AT&T to stop losing postpaid subscribers.
An image thats said to be a leaked promo for the Redmi Pro 2 has apparently revealed some key hardware specs of Xiaomis upcoming Android phone. While the company was already believed to be working on a successor to its Redmi Pro phablet, latest developments suggest that the launch of the device may not be that far away. According to the image thats been circulating on the Chinese social media site Weibo, the upcoming Redmi Pro 2 will come with some nice improvements over its predecessor, the Redmi Pro that was launched last year by the Chinese tech giant and sported some interesting features like a dual camera setup at an affordable price tag. However, if the leak does turn out to be authentic, that is one hardware feature buyers of the Redmi Pro 2 will have to do without.
Xiaomi has apparently done away with the second camera sensor and instead opted to go with a single 12-megapixel Sony IMX362 sensor which features the Dual Pixel autofocus technology. The image seems to reveal a few other hardware specs of the upcoming device as well, including the digits 660 preceded by a few Chinese characters at the top of the mini spec sheet. It will be interesting to see if that refers to the Snapdragon 660 which is expected to be the most powerful mid-range chip Qualcomm will release this year. The original Redmi Pro shipped in two different versions powered by either the Helio X20 or the Helio X25 chip, depending on the model.
As for the upcoming device, the rest of its alleged spec sheet seems pretty self-explanatory. The Redmi Pro 2 will apparently be powered by a massive 4,500mAh battery and ship in two variants with different combinations of RAM and internal storage. While the base version will have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, the more premium model will apparently incorporate 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The former will cost 1,599 yuan ($230) while the latter will sport a slightly bigger, 1,799 yuan ($260) price tag. The device still doesnt have a release date, but more information will hopefully be available shortly.
Nextbit and Razer have both today confirmed that Nextbit is joining Razers family. While it is now official that Nextbit has been acquired by Razer, there are currently no details on the particulars of the deal between the two companies, other than the confirmation that the deal was closed earlier this month and that Razer has picked up the majority of the assets, as well as the management and employees of Nextbit.
In spite of the acquisition, and according to both companies, Nextbit is not changing any of their structure as part of this move. In fact, Nextbit and Razer have confirmed that Nextbit will continue to operate as an independent division within Razer. According to the announcements, Nextbits primary focus will remain on creating unique mobile design and experiences. As such Nextbit is keen to explain that nothing is actually changing from the consumer perspective at all. In terms of current Nextbit Robin owners, Nextbit state that they will continue supporting their customers and devices. Likewise, warranties will continue to be supported for 6 more months and software updates (security or otherwise) will continue to be provided for another year, up until Feb. 2018. In the meantime, Nextbit has confirmed that Robin smartphone sales have now been stopped through all official channels. At the moment, this is largely the extent to the details that have been officially provided by both companies.
This is an interesting move on both accounts. From Razers perspective, this sees the company effectively moving into the mobile sphere. While Razer has previously made other acquisitions, like that of the gaming-focused OUYA or the audio-focused THX, this one is certainly going to be one of the more interesting ones due to its distance from Razers core business. Although, if the details are to be believed, then it seems unclear as to how much influence or impact Razer will have on the Nextbit brand moving forward, due to the confirmation that Nextbit will remain an independent division and distant from the Razer parent company. Either way, neither announcement looked to provide any details on what, or even whether, any new hardware would come from Nextbit, following its acquisition by Razer.
Sprint has announced that it will be bolstering cell coverage in Houston for Super Bowl 51. The improvements do not appear to be city-wide as Sprint had opted to instead focus on event areas where it will have a presence and where it has partnerships. The announcement also did not say how the company will be accomplishing its network boost or whether any of the improved network performance listed as being brought to Discovery Green, Wortham Center, Rice University Stadium, Minute Maid Park, and Marriott Marquis Hotel, in addition to NRG Stadium will be permanent. However, the company is taking its approach to gameday a step further than a simple network improvement.
In addition to announcing that it will also have a presence at the Super Street Market Navigation Tailgate, taking place in Houston from February 2-5, Sprint will have a big presence at Sam Houston Race Park on the same days as the exclusive network provider for the Players Party being hosted there. The latter event will feature musical performances, current professional players, and famous foodies. Sprint has even teamed up with Samsung to provide product demonstrations and a 4-D VR experience at the event. Perhaps better still, Sprint is providing visitors to its local area stores with an opportunity to meet celebrities. Sprint stores around Houston will be hosting local celebrities and former players including according to the announcement Ray Childress, Quentin Demps, Travis Jackson, Jonathan Joseph, and others. Sprint also took the opportunity to talk about an offer available to those switching to the company from another provider. The offer gives switchers up to $200 per line for up to the first four lines, totaling up to $800.
Sprints tactic is a bit different from other network providers. Both Verizon and T-Mobile are also planning to bolster their own networks in time for Super Bowl 51. Those improvements are to be area-wide and some of them are to be permanent. While the boosts to the local Sprint network are likely not permanent, given that only specific locations are said to be included, Sprint is definitely putting in quite a bit of effort to set itself apart with unique experience opportunities for customers and non-customers alike.
The Galaxy S8 is one of the most highly anticipated smartphones of the year not only because its the next flagship Android device from Samsung but also because the Seoul-based tech giant is reportedly sparing no expense on launching an amazing phone that will make people forget about the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. While the device will almost certainly boast premium hardware and a unique design, Samsung is also allegedly looking to ennoble the Galaxy S8 with some incredibly unique features. One of them is a highly advanced AI called Bixby, and another is called Samsung DeX, which is short for Samsung Desktop Experience. While the latter feature isnt based on a completely novel idea, it has the potential to turn the Galaxy S8 into a revolutionary device as no consumer electronics manufacturer has yet managed to successfully commercialize the futuristic phone-to-PC concept.
Recent reports suggest that Samsung DeX is a solution for turning the Galaxy S8 into a fully-fledged personal computer. The South Korean tech giant apparently designed a special docking station for the Galaxy S8 which allows consumers to easily connect their phone to a larger monitor and use it as a traditional desktop PC. If its implemented successfully, this technology could revolutionize the way in which the average consumer goes about fulfilling their everyday computing needs. Seeing how many people own relatively low-end laptops and desktop PCs which they only use for basic tasks like Internet browsing, media consumption, and word processing, a flagship Android device like the Galaxy S8 certainly has more than enough raw power to serve their needs. In fact, some consumers may even find a docked Galaxy S8 more useful than a laptop seeing how theyd likely still be able to make and receive phone calls and text messages while using the phone in desktop mode. Sure, there are already ways to have that kind of experience using a traditional PC, but Samsung DeX would presumably work seamlessly you just place the Galaxy S8 in a dock and youre ready to go.
It remains to be seen whether hybrid 2-in-1 computers will ever appeal to a massive audience, but its possible that the ultimate portable computer isnt a tablet with a keyboard, but a phone. Samsung already toyed with this concept when it introduced the Galaxy Note II with a complimentary Smart Dock, but the technology for emulating a true desktop PC experience with a phone just wasnt there yet back in 2012. However, it seemingly is now, as evidenced by the fact that Microsoft Continuum is already a perfectly usable technology. Unfortunately, Continuum is only supported by a small number of Windows 10 Mobile devices which severely inhibits its potential. However, if Samsung manages to come up with a similar solution and implement it into the Galaxy S8, the South Korean tech giant has a great chance of becoming the first consumer electronics manufacturer to successfully commercialize this concept.
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On the other side of the spectrum, theres the upcoming Nintendo Switch that will also utilize the 2-in-1 concept by offering a device thats both a home console and a portable gaming machine. When docked, the Switch will be able to use its hardware to full potential a render a 1080p image and Samsung may adopt a similar approach with the Galaxy S8 and Samsung DeX. The companys upcoming Android flagship will likely charge when docked, so battery life wont be an issue and the device will be able to dedicate all available resources to emulating a true desktop PC experience.
Given how Samsung already has experience with developing phone-to-PC solutions and smartphone hardware is finally able to rival that found in many contemporary laptops, Samsung Dex and the Galaxy S8 could end up being a revolutionary combination that will change the way in which many people fulfill their computing needs. Of course, provided that the Seoul-based conglomerate manages to deliver a polished product at a reasonable price and not ship another Smart Dock for the Galaxy Note II. More information on the Galaxy S8 and Samsung DeX is bound to follow in the coming weeks as Samsungs next Android flagship is expected to launch by mid-April.
European Union member states and lawmakers are preparing to hold a third round of talks tomorrow, Tuesday January 31st, in order to set caps for wholesale roaming charges between carriers. The talks are likely to be the final round before roaming charges are abolished in June. This follows ten years of Brussels working to allow European Union citizens free roaming when their phones roam throughout the entire European Union. We have seen carriers reduce roaming charges over the years as European Union laws have pushed the amount that may be charged lower. However, the EUs digital division is concerned that should it be unable to reach a deal between the various member states, this could undermine its reputation for being able to deliver on its promises. The European Commission Vice President, Andrus Ansip, asked both sides at the end of last week to demonstrate significant flexibility in order to achieve an agreement.
Currently, there are two sides when it comes to setting wholesale caps for data charges. The European Parliament originally wanted to cap charges at 4 per gigabyte, approximately $4, whereas individual member states wish to charge 8.50 per gigabyte. The reason for this difference in price demands is because of how the European Union countries differ from one another. Northern and eastern countries currently offer low prices for domestic customers and favor low wholesale caps, which they believe would avoid local carriers raising prices in their home markets. If domestic prices rose, it could effectively mean that poorer customers are helping pay for frequent travelers who often roam onto other networks. Conversely, countries in the south, which benefit from tourism, favor a higher price: their fear is that seasonal tourist traffic may force local carriers to push domestic prices up should the roaming wholesale price be too low.
This could mean that carriers from another part of the European Union might significantly undercut local carriers. This could mean that the carriers in the southern countries earn less from their businesses, which means there would be less investment to expand and modernize networks and services and a poorer service for all customers. It remains to be seen how much political influence the European Commission is able to exert on the individual member states at the talks, and how far these attendee countries are willing to compromise. The EU will be keen to show strength given the United Kingdoms 2016 decision to leave the European Union and the background mutterings that the EU is ineffective when tasked with working for ordinary citizens.
Rocky River police advise residents to be cautious after thieves entered several unlocked cars and houses recently.
(Carol Kovach, special to cleveland.com)
Patrol Officer David Fahey, Cleveland Division of Police
Police, firefighters and residents from Westlake and Rocky River turned out in force on Jan. 28 to pay tribute to Cleveland Patrol Officer David Fahey, who was killed in the line of duty early Jan. 24.
The procession from Chambers Funeral Home in North Olmsted passed through Westlake and Rocky River on the way to Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Cleveland's West Park neighborhood, where the funeral Mass was celebrated.
Safety forces and residents lined a stretch of Hilliard Boulevard to salute the hearse as it passed by. The Rocky River Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association placed blue ribbons along Hilliard near the City Hall campus at Wagar Road. Residents were encouraged to place blue ribbons and flags on their property along the procession route and those standing along the route were encouraged to wear blue, wave American flags, salute or hold their hands over their hearts as the procession passed by. Even the sign at Magnificat High School in Rocky River was wrapped with a large, blue bow.
Fahey was helping to set flares and close off a section of Interstate 90 just west of the Warren Road exit on the Lakewood/Cleveland border when he was struck by a car. The driver sped off and was arrested a few hours later in Lorain. Emergency personnel tended to Fahey at the scene and he was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he died.
A Navy veteran and a 1995 graduate of St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Fahey, 39, joined the Cleveland police force in 2014.
He was the son of Jackie Ketterer, a retired police officer, who also served on the Cleveland police force. She is a resource officer with the Olmsted Falls City School District. His stepfather is a retired Cleveland police officer and his brother, Chris Porter, was hired in 2013 as a Cleveland police officer.
Ironically, Fahey's father, David Fahey Sr., was killed in a similar incident in 1978, when David Jr. was a year old. His father had stopped to help a co-worker change a flat tire on the East 9th Street ramp of the Shoreway near downtown Cleveland when he was hit by a car. The driver sped off and Fahey Sr. died at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.
Fahey is the first Cleveland police officer to be killed in the line of duty in nearly nine years.
The lengthy funeral procession, which included cars representing Cleveland police and other law enforcement agencies, drove past the First District police station on West 130th Street, where Fahey was assigned. Fellow officers saluted the hearse as it passed the station.
Safe home, Officer Fahey. Rest in peace.
Book sale: Friends of Westlake Porter Public Library's annual book sale runs
Friends of Westlake Porter Public Library's annual book sale is this week. Photo provided by Friends of the Library.
Feb. 1-5 at the library, 27333 Center Ridge Road. Hours are 4-7 p.m. Feb. 1 for the Friends' preview night (memberships available at the door); 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 2; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 3; half-price sale 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 4 and $2 bag sale 1:15-4 p.m. Feb. 5. No special-priced books will be available for the bag sale.
Tax clinics: It's hard to believe that income tax season is beginning.
Cuyahoga Community College again will offer free personal income tax filing services at Corporate College West for qualified taxpayers with earned income of less than $64,000 for the year.
The free tax clinics will run 4-7 p.m. on Wednesdays from Feb. 1 through April 5 in Room 214 at Corporate College West, 25425 Center Ridge Road, Westlake. Returns will be prepared and filed by IRS-certified tax preparers while the taxpayer waits. All returns will be screened for the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
Participants must bring a current photo ID, Social Security cards for each adult and child listed on the return, all 2016 tax documents including sources of income, support for any deductions and credits being sought, health care verification, prior year's tax returns and bank routing and account numbers to arrange direct deposit of any refund. Those filing jointly must both be present if e-filing.
Tri-C also will offer the free tax filing service at the Eastern Campus in Highland Heights, Metro Campus in Cleveland and the Western Campus in Parma. Visit tri-c.edu/taxhelp for more information. Other free tax preparation sites can be found at irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep.
Sensible advice: Rocky River police reported that someone entered several cars and homes on Jan. 20 in the Old River neighborhood. The homes were entered through unlocked windows or doors and the cars were all unlocked.
A purse was taken from one house; it was found outside with cash missing. Cash also was taken from a purse in a second home. Keys were taken from another home and were used to steal a car.
Police are investigating the incidents, but they recommend that residents do the following:
Lock all doors and windows on your house; lock all garage doors and windows and lock your car.
Do not leave valuables in plain view in your home or car.
Use exterior lighting to illuminate the exterior of your home, especially near windows and doors.
Be alert to what's happening in your neighborhood. If you hear or see something unusual, call police if appropriate.
Rock River Patrolman Chris Camp is a certified crime prevention specialist and can help organize Neighborhood Block Watch groups and answer questions or assist with safety concerns in your home. Contact Camp at ccamp@rrcity.com, or call 440-799-8212.
Place your order: Westlake Historical Society is offering candy bouquets for Valentine's Day. Cost is $15, $20 or $25. Call 216-484-0680 or visit westlakeohiohistory.org for more information or to place an order.
The society will have a free Valentine's Day open house noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Clague House Museum, 1370 Clague Road. The event will be canceled in case of inclement weather. Call 216-848-0680 for information.
Anime at Ashland: Bay Village resident Sean Clark, a 2016 Bay High School graduate and student at Ashland University, is a member of the Anime Club at Ashland.
The club is dedicated to the discussion and appreciation of Japanese animation and the Japanese culture.
Battle of the Bands: Westlake High School's Leadership Challenge is organizing a Battle of the Bands for Autism 7-9 p.m. Feb. 10 in the WHS Performing Arts Center, 24525 Hilliard Blvd.
Westlake High School's Leadership Challenge will have a Battle of the Bands for Autism on Feb. 10.
Tickets are $5 presale, $7 at the door. Milestones Autism Resources will receive all proceeds from the event. Last year, a similar event raised $500 to purchase international flags that hang throughout the high school.
Performers from WHS are Molly Kilbane, Nikki Miller, Jacob Boarman, Gianna Burns, Frank Grignon, Torrey Santora, Leah Choban, Katie Sedlack, Clare Murray, Emma Goggin, Gina Bowser, Matthew Wallenhorst, Dani Scaggs, Chandler Archer and Max Thomson.
Library news: Among the events taking place this week at Westlake Porter Public Library are:
Duct tape crafts, 4-5 p.m. Feb. 2, for grades 5-7, no registration needed.
Connecting for Kids
Sugar addiction relief, 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 6, with Rebecca Reynolds, a certified health coach, will help participants identify symptoms of sugar craving and how to regain a healthy lifestyle; free treats from Heinen's. Registration requested.
An American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at the library 1-7 p.m. Feb. 9.
The library is at 27333 Center Ridge Road. Visit westlakelibrary.org.
Senior housing fair: Registration runs through Feb. 14 for a senior housing fair hosted by Westlake Community Services Department 9-11 a.m. Feb. 21. Refreshments will be served at the event, which is open to residents and nonresidents.
Seating is limited, so attendees are asked to call 440-899-3544 to reserve a spot.
The program will cover all basis of senior housing types, affordability and signs that it might be time to sell your home and move.
Representatives of come local senior housing providers will be in attendance, also.
Visit cityofwestlake.org/Senior-Housing-Fair for more information.
Words of wisdom: These wise words are shared by Westlake Christian Church: "You cannot unsay a cruel word." The church is at 2239 Dover Center Road.
Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. from Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake for the West Shore Chatter column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Annadale's "American Idol" survivor is singing for more than these 50 states after grabbing the attention of Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.
Since we chatted back in July, Brielle Von Hugel has released three "viral" singles: "Naked" racked up 900,000 streams on Spotify, "Stronger," a song about self-empowerment, reached 350,000, and the EDM (electronic dance music) anthem "Alone" is about to hit one million.
Her recent YouTube collaboration with Scott Bradlee's popular revisionist pop group went viral -- gaining the 22-year-old borough native recognition from new fans across the globe.
That's why Brielle -- who made it to the semifinals on Season 11 of "American Idol" -- is currently on the North American leg of PMJ's world tour, with European dates to come.
"She has a rare gift as a vocalist to combine old and new and still connect with the audience," Scott says.
BTW: Brielle met Scott after his band's performance at the St. George Theatre about a year ago. And as they say, the rest is history.
"I just love being a part of the Postmodern Juke Box musical family: A very fun group of amazingly talented people," Brielle says. "Scott hand picks all of the artists, and we mesh together so well. Everyone is different and unique and shines in their own way. I'm honored to be performing with all of them."
In between all the excitement, Brielle and her team are working on writing and recording an album to be released sometime this year.
"I'm very happy where I am in my career right now," she says, "and would like everyone to know if you work hard and are dedicated you can make your dreams come true."
When Brielle completes her North American tour with PMJ, she'll embark on a European tour of venues in spots like London, Paris and Germany.
FYI: For all tour dates and shows, visit BrielleVonHugel.com.
CELEBRATIONS: FEB. 1
Birthday greetings Wednesday to Veralia Malliotakis, mom of Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn), Joe Causi, (WCBS-FM) deejay, Brian Schiels and his sister Brenda, William McDermott III, Joe Cataldo, Tom Rodes, Lori Ruggiero, Laraine Caminiti, Barbara Bozza, Avery Anderson who turns 12 and twins Natalie and Paulette Guido.
Happy 38th wedding anniversary to Irene and Joe Frazier.
Silicon Valley is not happy with president Trump and CEOs all seem to be coming out with statements which oppose his actions. Actually, tech companies beyond the valley seem to hold the same views.
BroadSoft CEO Michael Tessler is no exception. Hes been a past speaker at ITEXPO (see above) and a visionary in the IP communications space for many years.
He recently said:
Today, I am frustrated to be an American. The recent executive order from our new president is an outrageous attack against the values of this country.
I also recently became an American citizen after living in the U.S. for many years. I grew up in Canada; both my parents and my friends parents were immigrants. I grew up with friends from all nationalities and who spoke different languages. This was just the way it was. We all respected other cultures and learned from each other.
I had the opportunity to move to the U.S.A. many years ago to pursue my career. When Scott and I decided to move and make the D.C. area our home, it was the multicultural aspect of this neighborhood that reminded me of home. My kids have grown up not even realizing that they are going to school with kids that have grown up around the world, with unique culture and languages. When the elementary school had a potluck dinner, it was an amazing diversity of food and culture. I always felt fortunate that my children could grow up with this diversity.
TMC is working to raise awareness of such issues as diversity via its Tech Culture Awards program. We invite you to explore and participate in the TMC Workplace Excellence Award program including the Tech Culture Award, the Tech Diversity Award, and the Social Responsibility Award.
Tech companies and industry executives have been among the most vocal opponents of President Trump's travel ban.
But some are going further, and backing up their rhetoric with real action.
Here are the companies and investors who are putting their money where their mouths are:
1.Google
The search giant has created a $4 million crisis fund that benefits the American Civil Liberties Union, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, International Rescue Committee and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
2. Lyft
The car sharing startup said it will donate $1 million to the ACLU over the next four years to help "defend our constitution."
3. Airbnb
Airbnb has offered to help by providing free housing to anyone affected by the travel ban. The company's offer applies to refugees or anyone else who is denied the ability to travel to the U.S. and is not in their city or country of residence.
4. Viber
Messaging service Viber is offering free calls between the U.S. and countries targeted by the travel ban. The company said it acted so that "those affected will now have one less barrier to cross when trying to reach their loved ones."
5. Executive giving
A slew of tech luminaries have pledged to match donations made by their followers on social media.
Twitter (TWTR, Tech30) investor Chris Sacca, Nest founder Tony Fadell and Facebook (FB, Tech30) exec Andrew Bosworth are among industry leaders who have pledged to match tens of thousands of dollars worth of donations to the ACLU.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/30/technology/tech-reaction-trump-travel-ban/index.html?iid=ob_homepage_tech_pool
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http://www.businessinsider.com/google-sergey-brin-speech-trump-immigration-ban-2017-1
http://www.forbes.com/sites/barbarathau/2017/01/30/starbucks-to-hire-10000-refugees-in-latest-expression-of-conscious-capitalism/#
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2017/01/30/amazons-jeff-bezos-issues-strong-statement-opposing-trumps-immigration-order/#4bc512b361b6
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-30/goldman-sachs-breaks-with-government-sachs-on-immigration-ban
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2017/01/30/ford-decry-travel-ban/97242756/
http://fortune.com/2017/01/30/mark-cuban-elon-musk-trump-immigration/
Israel: Haifa mayor warns about ammonia risk Old tank could break
(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, JANUARY 31 - Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav on Tuesday called for the immediate shutdown of a large ammonia storage facility and a ban for a ship that once a month stores it from entering the port.
If the tank for thousands of tons of ammonia were to break (even simply because it is obsolete since it was built 35 years ago) or if the ship becomes the target of missiles fired by neighboring countries, there would be thousands of victims in Haifa, said Yahav.
''Haifa would be like Hiroshima and Nagasaki'', according to a report drafted at the city administration's request by chemical experts from the city's Technion.
Yahav said the large quantity of ammonia has no strategic relevance for Israel. He said 90% of the ammonia is exported as a fertilizer to Turkey and India. ''I have been insisting with the government for 13 years to close the deposit - he said - and this report confirms we can't wait any longer''. (ANSAmed).
(by Cristiana Missori).
- ROME - Kosovo has a stable growth forecast at 4% this year, tax breaks and several sectors in which to invest, including infrastructure, transport, construction, renewable energy, minerals, food industry, computers, tourism, telecommunications, textile, wood and leather, according to a presentation for 70 Italian firms attending an economic forum in Rome dedicated to the Balkan country. The forum was organized Tuesday by the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE) and Kosovo's agency for the promotion of investments, Kiesa.
Pristina's government, said Premier Isa Mustafa, ''has promoted several reforms to favor investments from Italy through which we want to boost relations in the fields of production and trade''. Relations with Rome are solid ''but not satisfying yet'', said Finance Minister Havdullah Hoti, who together with Trade and Industry Minister Hykmete Bajrami and parliament speaker, Kadri Veseli, is accompanying the institutional and entrepreneurial delegation from Pristina.
The objective, explained the head of the Kosovan executive, ''is to develop cooperation with Italy in the sectors of production and trade to boost Italian investments''. Many steps over the past few years have been taken to encourage foreign investments, the premier said, thanks to the government's reforms: ''The growth rate, forecast at 4% in 2017, is stable, but we need to strengthen this growth''.
The number of foreign entrepreneurs is increasing, also thanks to better tax policies.
Unemployment remains a problem, especially for the young, and is ''structural'', admitted Mustafa, along with the issue of electrical power provision. But he assured that ''we are close to the conclusion of new agreements for the development of a new hydroelectric plant that will be made by a US investor, an investment worth one billion euros whose construction will begin in the second half of the year''.
Mustafa also said the government has worked on infrastructure. ''With the completion of the highway connecting the country to Albania that enables a connection with the sea, the construction of the section that will reach Skopje and the completion of the part that will connect Kosovo to Serbia with the last 22 km left'', the transport system will be given a strong impulse.
Kosovo also has many resources, the real treasure ''are young workers, who are well trained'', said Minister Bajrami, in a country where 43% of the population is under 24. In spite of these developments, the country still has a bad reputation but 17 years after the end of the war, Pristina's government guarantees, the economy is stable and the country is looking forward. (ANSAmed)
BRUSSELS - Efforts to stabilise Libya are more important than ever, according to a draft final statement for the informal European Council summit in Malta on Friday circulating Tuesday. The 28 EU member states are "determined to carry out additional action to slow down the (migration) flow along the central Mediterranean route", the document read.
Long-term efforts based on migration compacts "are giving results and will be intensified", it added.
However, the "urgency of the situation" along the route to Italy "requires immediate additional operative measures" based on the proposal by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. On a political level, the statement says the "EU remains committed to the full emancipation of the government of national accord as part of an inclusive government backed by the United Nations".
Top priority is given to "training, equipping and supporting the Libyan coast guard" via programmes "that need to be rapidly reinforced".
This is followed by combating human trafficking, supporting the economic development of local communities particularly in coastal and border areas, boosting migrant reception facilities in partnership with UNHCR and IOM and ensuring the latter's support in increasing assisted voluntary returns. The statement also makes reference to "support for existing initiatives by member states in Libya directly" and to deepening dialogue with neighbouring countries to prevent other routes from opening up.
In addition, it alludes to the need to "identify potential obstacles" to voluntary returns and suggests further exploring the issues linked to talks on reforming the common European asylum system. Diplomatic sources say Italy is insisting on a clear statement to the effect that this system must be based on the principles of solidarity and responsibility, rather than continuing to let this fall on the countries of first arrival. The statement calls on the Maltese duty presidency to present the Council with a detailed roadmap for reform as soon as possible. (ANSAmed).
- BELGRADE - Serbian leaders have defined as ''worrying'' the statements of new US Defence Secretary James Mattis in favour of the creation of regular armed forces in Kosovo. ''This means perhaps that the administration of Donald Trump wants to forego the current position of the US of not exercising pressure and to ask Serbia to recognize Kosovo? If things were to go in this direction, it would certainly be a negative trend'', said Milovan Drecun, head of the commission for Kosovo at the Serbian parliament.
According to media reports in Belgrade, Mattis, during an audition to Congress in the past few days to confirm his appointment, said that before the reduction of US troops in Kosovo, Kosovan forces need to have a precise mandate for the country's defence. In his opinion, armed forces are crucial to guarantee stability in the region and it would be sensible to cut down the American military presence only after the current security forces of Kosovo obtain a precise mandate to defend the national territory. The US maintain some 650 men in KFOR, NATO's force in Kosovo. Serbia, which does not recognize Kosovo's independence, strenuously opposes the creation of regular Kosovan armed forces.
- BEIRUT - The Saudi-led international coalition on Tuesday carried out air raids in Yemen against positions held by Houthi rebels west of the capital Sanaa, pan Arab television al Jazeera reports. The broadcaster said that the bombings targeted positions in the port of Hodeida, held by the Houthis since 2014.
The Qatari broadcaster said that Saudi authorities had previously reported a suicide attack attributed to the Houthis against a Saudi frigate off Hodeida, carried out by three boats laden with explosives.
ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean
(ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 31 - The following are some of the main events scheduled for today in the Euro-Mediterranean area: ROME - Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos will be taking part in a joint hearing at the House Foreign Affairs and Constitutional Affairs Committees.
DUBAI/RIYADH - EU Labour Commissioner Jyrki Katainen will be visiting the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where he will be meeting with the government and the business community (until 1/2).
BRUSSELS - European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker will be receiving Antonio Tajani, the new president of the European Parliament.
(ANSAmed).
The Senate education committee is meeting Tuesday to vote on President Donald Trumps nominee for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, a billionaire school choice advocate, best known for her work chairing the American Federation for Children.
A broad contingent of civil rights organizations, educators, and advocates have come out against DeVos nomination.Theres a huge social media campaign to defeat her, and in-person protests across the country. At the same time, she has the support of Republican policymakers, like former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, and even some Democrats and former Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.
After a bumpy confirmation hearing, committee Democrats asked DeVos about 800 questions to flesh out her views on key K-12 issues. The top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Patty Murray, of Washington, asked DeVos some 140 questions, and made the answers public. (You can read them here. )
Big takeaways: DeVos said forcing states to get rid of the Common Core State Standards would violate the Every Student Succeeds Act, which prohibits the feds from monkeying with states academic standards, and said she would comply with the law. During the campaign, Trump pledged to abolish the common core. DeVos also said she supports virtual charter schools, and sees them as a way to bring choice to rural schools. An Edweek investigation showed big problems in the virtual charter sector.
And on some issues, including test participation and the role of the departments office for civil rights, DeVos reiterated or restated her commitment to enforcing laws already on the booksincluding ESSAwithout offering significant additional detail. That didnt seem to satisfy Murray, who wants to postpone Tuesdays vote, to get more answers from DeVos on both policy and potential financial conflicts of interest.
.@PattyMurray on Betsy DeVos: I dont believe we are ready to move to a markup until we have a whole lot more answers and information. HELP Committee Dems (@HELPCmteDems) January 30, 2017
So what else did DeVos tell Murray? We went through the answers so you dont have to.
On the common core:
DeVos appeared to back away from Trumps campaign pledge to get rid of the standards by acknowledging thats not allowed under the Every Student Succeeds Act, which expressly prohibits the education secretary from telling states which standards they can and cant use. I will implement the statutory requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), including by adhering to the prohibitions on the Secretary interfering with decisions concerning the academic standards states choose to adopt, DeVos wrote. I believe in high standards of excellence and achievement and it is the job of states to set those standards.
DeVos sat on the board of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, an organization started by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a common-core champion. But she isnt a fan of the standards. When she was nominated as education secretary, she called them a federal boondoggle.
Civil rights:
Advocates have big concerns that the Trump administration wont be as aggressive as the Obama administration in standing up for students civil rights. Murray asked a ton of questions on this topic. Heres what DeVos told her:
Murray noted that the U.S. Department of Justice has had a lot of education complaints in recent years. She asked DeVos if she thinks there is a role for the education departments office for civil rights in investigating discrimination complaints in schools. DeVos said, essentially, that shed enforce the law, while offering few additional details. The office for civil rights (OCR) is statutorily charged with enforcing civil rights laws in our nations schools, colleges, and universities, DeVos wrote. Unless that obligation is statutorily revised it remains an affirmative obligation of the department and the office for civil rights, which I will vigorously enforce if confirmed. She didnt go into extensive detail about what the OCRs role might be.
Murray also asked DeVos how she would address disparities in so-called exclusionary discipline practices (like suspensions), between historically disadvantaged groups of students (English-learners, students in special education, racial minorities, and more) and others. DeVos said a safe learning environment is a priority and that she would work with states and districts on this issue.
DeVos also said she would support the Civil Rights Data Collection, which has uncovered disparities among racial and ethnic minorities and their white peers.
Special education:
In response to a question about whether students in special education should have to waive their rights to go to a private school, DeVos said some public schools dont meet the needs of kids with disabilities. (More on this topic here.)
Charter schools:
DeVos has been criticized for her role in creating Michigans charter sector. Some education advocates, including some school choice proponents, say the state doesnt allow for sufficient oversight of underperforming charter schools. DeVos told Murray it should be up to states and districts to craft their own charter laws. At the same time, she said, I support high quality, accountability, autonomy, and transparency.
DeVos did not commit to continuing to collect federal data that links charter schools to their management organizations. She said she would review that data collection.
Distance learning/Virtual charters:
DeVos was asked for her views on virtual charters. Murray cited an Edweek investigation that uncovered big problems in the sector . DeVos reiterated her support for the schools, saying they are a good option for kids in rural areas. Another Edweek series found that rural schools often lack the broadband capability to offer virtual courses.
On early-childhood education:
DeVos said shed work with state and local leaders to support their efforts on this issue. She also said shed review all of the programs the feds offer on early education, to see which ones are working. But she did not explicitly commit to strengthening the departments office of early learning.
Immigration:
DeVos was asked whether she would allow federal authorities to arrest undocumented students at schoola concern of many immigration advocates, as explained this story . DeVos said Trump planned to come up with a solution for those kids that would make us all happy and proud but deferred the question to the Justice Department, which has jurisdiction over enforcing immigration laws.
On opt-outs and ESSA accountability:
Murray asked DeVos what she intends to do if schools dont test 95 percent of their students, as required under ESSA. DeVos said shed adhere to ESSA. And she summed up the language in the law, which is actually really confusing on this particular point.
I will implement the statutory requirements of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), including ensuring compliance with the requirement that states must annually measure not less than 95 percent of students on annual reading and math assessments. At the same time, I will respect the intent of Congress under ESSA to defer to state and local laws and decisions concerning both parents determinations about whether their children participate in such assessments and state approaches to holding schools accountable where less than 95 percent of students or students within subgroups are assessed, DeVos wrote.
ESSA says statesand individual schoolshave to continue to test 95 percent of their students, just like under the previous version of the law, No Child Left Behind. But the law allows states to decide what happens in schools that dont meet that threshold. (Under NCLB, going below 95 percent participation meant the school automatically didnt meet achievement tartes.) And ESSA states to come up with their own laws affirming parents rights to opt-out, as Oregon has.
That confused a lot of folks. So the Obama administration put language clarifying how opt-outs are supposed to work in its accountability regulations, which were finalized late last year. Those regulations, though, have now been put on pause by the Trump administration . In response to a separate question, DeVos said she would review them regulations before deciding what to keep.
DeVos also essentially reiterated the language of ESSA in response to another question, asking how she would help states figure out what it means to have subgroups of studentslike English-language learners or students in special educationthat are consistently underperforming in a particular school, triggering interventions. She didnt offer further details on howor whethershe might flesh-out that provision of the law.
School funding:
Some are betting the Trump administration may seek to finance its proposed $20 billion voucher program using Title I grants for disadvantaged kids . Murray asked DeVos if shed commit to keeping the Title I programs intact. DeVos said shed look at Title I in the context of the rest of the departments budget. So that means DeVos and company could propose paying for the voucher program using Title I dollars. Importantly, Congress would need to pass a new law to allow Title I dollars to be used for vouchers. And thats considered unlikely.
Bullying:
Murray asked DeVos if all students should have unrestricted access to a safe school environment, noting incidents of students who experienced bullying because of their real or perceived immigration status over the past few months. DeVos said shes opposed to bullying and harassment for any reason and would work with First Lady Melania Trump to address the problem.
On vouchers:
Murray noted vouchers often dont cover full tuition at a private school, and asked DeVos said she realized this, but noted that Pell Grants for low-income studentsa bipartisan priorityalso dont often cover the full cost of college tuition. (DeVos did not mention that college students can take out federally subsidized loans to make up the difference.)
Other tidbits:
DeVos said she has not had a financial interest in K-12, Inc., a virtual charter whose questionable lobbying practices were part of Edweek s investigation, in over a decade .
s investigation, in over a decade . To improve college access, DeVos said shed take a close look at federal programs, like TRIO and GEARUP and make sure theyre working.
DeVos did not commit to keeping in place the Obama administrations ESSA guidance on foster children or teacher quality. She said she would review it and decide.
See anything we missed? Email us at aklein@epe.org or aujifusa@epe.org.
Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
- MADRID- The pro-independence vice president of Catalonia, Oriol Junqueras, on Monday said that a heavily debated referendum on independence might be moved forward to summer instead of mid-September. This might happen, he said, if the Spanish judiciary were to remove the speaker of the Catalan parliament, Carmen Forcadell, from his position.
Forcadell has been charged with 'disobedience' towards the Constitutional Court in Madrid. Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has pledged to call a referendum on self-determination in September despite stiff opposition from the Spanish government, which has declared it unconstitutional. Forcadell was charged in December for disobedience for having held a vote in October on a resolution about starting the independence process. He may be barred from practicing his profession and suspended from his position. Pro-independence parties, who hold an absolute majority in the Barcelona parliament, have said that they will not accept this. Oriol has said that it would be possible to hold the referendum earlier and that ''we must be in a position to respond''.
CAIRO - The EU plan to stem the flow of migrants through Libya that is due to be discussed at the upcoming informal summit in Malta on Friday cannot be enacted without the involvement of the Tripoli government, Libyan navy spokesman General Ayoub Omar Qassem said on Tuesday. "Unfortunately this matter must be discussed with the Libyan government: it cannot be that the Europeans decide and Libya enacts their decisions," General Qassem told ANSA by telephone. "We do not want to be Europe's police force in the Mediterranean," he added.
"The problem of immigration must be resolved at the root level through partnerships with Libya, a programme of meetings.
Unilateral measures such as this cannot be applied in this way," General Qassem said. Libyan Premier Fayez Al Sarraj is due in Brussels for a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday and with the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Thursday. The security situation in Libya and migration control will be at the centre of both meetings.
Nuclear: France, we want agreement with Iran to be respected 'Real concern for US attitude', says Ayrault
(ANSAmed) - TEHRAN, JANUARY 31 - French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Tuesday said, ''we want the nuclear agreement to be respected'', during an official visit to Tehran.
He added that the deal was reached in the ''common interest'' of the parties involved.
The minister said he defends the deal reached in July 2015 between Iran and six other countries, including France. US President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement and the intention of revising it.
Ayrault added that ''there is real concern on the attitude of the US administration towards the accord'' and called on the sides to ''be vigilant'' and Iranians to be ''irreprehensible''.
The French minister arrived in the Iranian capital last night at the head of a delegation including many economic operators and will remain in Iran for two days. (ANSAmed).
BRUSSELS - President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring refugees access to the US and banning entry for anyone from seven majority Muslim countries ''will be a bomb on the table'' at an informal summit scheduled Friday in Valletta, focusing on immigration and measures to support Libya and slow down the inflow of migrants from the Central Mediterranean, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.
The sources spoke after a meeting to prepare for the summit lasted till late last night to work on the meeting's final statement .
A draft conclusion currently circulating does not refer to Trump's order but diplomatic work is underway to evaluate the opportunity of a written statement or a stance to be taken at the summit's final press conference, the sources said.
Well over two hundred national, state, and local groups working in education have signed a letter urging U.S. senators to reject Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trumps nominee to be secretary of education.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, which previously announced its grave concerns about DeVos , issued the letter Monday, one day before the scheduled Senate education committee vote on DeVos nomination.
The American Federation of Teachers, the Childrens Defense Fund, GLSEN (which advocates on behalf of LGBT students), the NAACP, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals are among nationwide groups to register their official opposition to DeVos. State and local groups to weigh in against DeVos include the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, the Florida Association of School Social Workers, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta.
She has never been an educator or worked directly with children and families in public schools. She has never led a school, district, or state agency tasked with educating students. She has never been a public school parent or a public school student, reads a portion of the letter, which was issued Monday. This lack of experience makes her uniquely unfamiliar with the challenges and opportunities facing the nations students, families, educators, and schools.
In a statement accompanying the letter , the Leadership Conference President Wade Henderson said, Betsy DeVos has failed to demonstrate that she is qualified to do that job or that she understands what the job requires.
DeVos is the former leader of the American Federation for Children, which backs vouchers and other forms of school choice. During her Jan. 17 confirmation hearing, DeVos denied any prior support for (and says she does not currently support) conversion therapy for gays, and stressed that she wanted all children to go to school in a safe, bullying-free environment.
As we wrote earlier today, the odds appear to favor DeVos , because Trumps fellow Republicans have 52 seats in the Senate, compared to just 48 for Democrats. The GOP also holds the edge in committee seats by a count of 12 to 11.
However, DeVos has plenty of friends as well.
In a Jan. 17 letter, 150 state-level leaders, including state legislators, weighed in to support DeVos . In addition to several school choice groups, 20 Republican governors recently signed a letter saying they would look forward to having DeVos as education secretary. Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut introduced DeVos at her hearing, while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who carries a big megaphone in state education policy debates, has also backed DeVos.
Read the full letter signed by the 248 groups below:
UPDATE: CREDO action, a social change network, said Monday that nearly 1.5 million people have signed an online petition calling on senators to block and resist Betsy DeVos confirmation as secretary of education.
The petition was delivered to the two moderate Republican senators on the education committee considered most likely to vote against DeVos, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Both hail from rural states that arent likely to embrace DeVos push for expanding school choice. But both had positive exchanges with DeVos during her confirmation hearing
If youre considering a subscription to the Disney Plus streaming service, you may be wondering how much it costs. The service is available on both
On Monday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order designed to reduce the weight of federal government regulations . The announcement came the same morning Trump met with several small business owners, so the new order seems intended to please the private sector and help trigger entrepreneurism and job growth. But lets briefly examine what it could mean for the U.S. Department of Education.
Heres the key part of the executive order:
Unless prohibited by law, whenever an executive department or agency (agency) publicly proposes for notice and comment or otherwise promulgates a new regulation, it shall identify at least two existing regulations to be repealed.
The order goes on to say the head of each agency to make sure that the total of all new incremental regulations, including repealed regulations, to be finalized this year [fiscal 2017] shall be no greater than zero. It also directs the head of each agency, beginning in fiscal 2018, to identify which regulations are being repealed whenever a new one is adopted, and to identify that new regulations incremental cost.
The issue of the departments regulations, and how they drive up costs for education, was a pretty hot topic during President Barack Obamas administration. It cropped up during debates about higher education, for example. A 2015 report from a task force appointed by a bipartisan group of four senators on the Senate education committee had this to say about the departments approach to rules for colleges and universities :
Over time, oversight of higher education by the Department of Education has expanded and evolved in ways that undermine the ability of colleges and universities to serve students and accomplish their missions. The compliance problem is exacerbated by the sheer volume of mandates--approximately 2,000 pages of text-- and the reality that the Department of Education issues official guidance to amend or clarify its rules at a rate of more than one document per work day.
According to the study, 11 percent of Vanderbilt Universitys expenses in 2013, or $150 million, went to compliance with federal mandates.
The debate about regulatory burden also cropped up during the debate over the Every Student Succeeds Acts supplement-not supplant requirement, under which federal funds must be spent on top of (and not to replace) state and local spending on schools. The Obama administration proposed aggressive regulations on this front to correct what it called historical, unfair, and improper imbalances in education spending. But Republicans in Congress and others argued that, among other things, the bean-counting and overall burden of complying with these proposed regulations would be quite high.
The Trump administration has hit the pause button on accountability rules for ESSA that the Obama administration had developed. If the Trump administration ultimately approves this or some other future set of ESSA accountability rules, it will be a big question as to what two sets of regulations they would repeal to comply with the executive order, or whether the two sets of rules theyd apparently have to scrap would even be related to public schools or some other area where the Education Department holds sway.
We reached out to Trumps transition team for education issues, as well as the Education Department press shop, to find out the potential impact. Well update this post if we hear a response.
Read the full executive order below:
Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Zwelakhe Ntshepe, the acting chief executive of Denel says the company will have a strong presence at IDEX 2017 hosted in Abu Dhabi from 19 to 23 February. This is a region that is very familiar with the quality of Denels products especially in the fields of artillery, armoured vehicles and munition and we want to build on this reputation by exhibiting our capabilities.
A report released by international consultancy company, Deloitte, earlier this month projected a growth of more than 3% in global defence spending in 2017 after years of declining budgets. This growth will be particularly strong in the Middle East and North Africa where a number of countries are starting to acquire next generation military equipment.
Top defence decision-makers and industry leaders from Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will attend the biennial show that takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The Middle East is a vital region for Denel as a company which earns almost 60% of revenue from exports. Denel Vehicle Systems recently started with the delivery of its RG31 Mk5 mine-resistant vehicles to a client in the United Arab Emirates following on a similar contract to supply the 4x4 N35 armoured vehicles.
Our reputation in the region is well-established based on the quality of landward defence products such as artillery systems, armoured vehicles and mine-resistant vehicles, said Ntshepe. IDEX 2017 is a great opportunity for Denel to cement our reputation and create interest for other products in our portfolio.
A range of missiles manufactured by Denel Dynamics will be on display at the Denel stand. This includes the Umkhonto-EIR surface-to-air missile, the A-Darter air-to-air missile and the Ingwe and Mokopa surface target missiles. The Cheetah surface-to-air missile manufactured by Denel Dynamics and Rheinmetall Defence Munitions (RDM) which offers defence forces comprehensive counter rocket, artillery and mortar capabilities will form part of the Rheinmetall Air Defence stand.
The iNkunzi PAW20 is a 20x42mm semi-automatic weapon, both the weapon and the ammunition is manufactured by Denel PMP. The weapon is carried by a single soldier and is highly effective in modern urban warfare conditions at distance up to 800 metres.
Denel Land Systems will display its wide range of 60mm mortar systems, variants of the DMG-5 machine gun and its NTW 20 anti-materiel rifle that can be deployed against radar installations, bunkers and high value targets at range of more than 1 500 metres.
Ntshepe says scale models of the Rooivalk combat helicopter and the Oryx medium-sized utility helicopter will also be shown at the Denel stand to highlight the companys capabilities in aviation design, manufacturing, maintenance and repairs.
The triple daily schedule will provide greater choice to local passengers travelling between the two cities, and improved connectivity to destinations across the GCC, North America and Europe via the airlines Abu Dhabi hub.
The capacity increase underscores the airlines commitment to offer guests more travel options between Abu Dhabi and key destinations across its network.
With a new daily late night departure from Abu Dhabi, and early morning service from Bengaluru operated with a two-class Airbus 321, the schedule provides additional online connectivity to and from a number of destinations, including Doha, Jeddah, London, Dublin, New York and Dallas.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief executive officer, said: Our expanded services between Abu Dhabi and Bengaluru are in line with Etihad Airways strategy to offer greater travel options when aircraft availability and market conditions permit.
The extra flights to Bengaluru will cater to the strong demand between both cities, and bring closer our global network to and from Bengaluru over our Abu Dhabi hub.
Al Shaibani made the announcement during the opening session of the Global Space Congress organised by the UAE Space Agency, from 31st January to 1st February 2017.
Al Shaibani confirmed that: The IAF will announce the country hosting the conference in 2020 during the coming edition taking place in Australia next September. If we were to win, the UAE would become the first Arab and Muslim country to host the conference.
IAC is one of the most important conferences in the world addressing space affairs and issuing influential recommendations for the global space sector," he added.
Al Shaibani also confirmed that MBRSC seeks to enhance communications with the global space community, organise and host international events aimed at sharing experiences and promoting cooperation, which will contribute to driving the sector to more advanced and sophisticated levels.
In the same context, Al Shaibani noted that: Over the last two decades, the UAE has been advancing in its journey to develop a sustainable space sector. I can confirm that, in a few years from now, the UAE space sector will achieve a huge leap towards the consolidation of a distinct space industry in the Arab world, as an industry that reflects a reality filled with hope and ambition for the future generations.
In his speech, Al Shaibani drew attention to the pillars upon which the UAE space sector is built, saying: These pillars enable the space sector to become a driving force for economic growth and sustainable social development in the UAE. It is a journey with an already outstanding record of achievements through which a strong infrastructure was established, capacities were developed, three remote sensing satellite projects were launched, and the launch of the first Arab and Islamic project to explore Mars - Hope mission.
The Hope probe will not only send us images and data on the Martian atmosphere, it will also carry a message of hope to young Arab generations and will open the doors to a new era of scientific and technological invention and discovery, Al Shaibani added.
Since 1950, IAF has been holding the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) annually, in cooperation with the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), at one of the countries that falls under the umbrella of IAF, including the UAE. The International Astronautical Congress is one of the leading space conferences worldwide, attend by presidents and CEOs of international space agencies, decision makers, researchers, academics and professionals in the space sector from 70 countries over the last 66 years. In 2016, IAC received nearly 5,000 visitors, with an expected increase in 2020.
Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs at MBRSC, was elected last September as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, at a ceremony held during the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. Al Marri has been chosen for his contribution to science, technology and the space sector in the UAE, as well as his excellence in projects aimed at promoting international cooperation in the development of the space sector. Through his membership, Al Marri contributes to activating international efforts and promoting cooperation among all countries and entities to advance and develop space science and technology worldwide.
Meanwhile, MBRSC showcased its space projects and initiatives at the Global Space Congress, while the centres engineers participated in a series of sessions. Eng. Amer Al Sayegh, the MBRSC Senior Director of Space Engineering department and KhalifaSat Project Manager, explained in a session entitled: "UAE Visions of New Technology Applications, MBRSC strategy on building an integrated system for the space industry in the UAE. He stated during the session that: UAE engineers have achieved great developments in the national space sector, from 2006 until they came to build the first Arab satellite on UAE soil with only Emirati expertise, as well as leading the first mission of its kind to explore space, with the Hope mission.
Al Sayegh confirmed that: The MBRSC satellites has developed significantly after the centre launched the first satellite project in the UAE. The MBRSC team invented new technology specifically for KhalifaSat, and there are other space applications, developed by the Application and Analysis Department within the centre, which will be used in studies and research aimed to improve the accuracy of satellite images.
Over the last decades, countries have participated and made advancements in the space industry and science, and have proved that space is a major driver of economic development, and a producer of new discoveries and technologies affecting human life directly and indirectly, Al Sayegh added.
In an Interplanetary Science Symposium, Omran Sharaf, the MBRSC Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission - Hope mission, highlighted the project as the first Arab and Islamic project to explore outer space. He addressed the importance of these research and scientific initiatives for the future of mankind and the development of science and technology.
Sharaf said: The Hope Probe has a great importance that goes beyond the knowledge advantage on Mars, it is about building human capacities that can be an efficient drive for local and global knowledge-based economy.
He noted what was achieved for the moment and the final design of the probe has been approved by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Also, the scientific and engineering aspects of the project are proceeding on schedule.
This is the first of its kind mission to study the Martian climate around the clock and throughout the four seasons. It is a study that hasnt been conducted by any previous missions to Mars which were limited to capturing images at specific times during the day or in certain seasons. The UAE will share the new data sent back by the probe with everyone from the international scientific community who has an interest in studying Mars, Sharaf concluded.
On sale from today, for travels beginning on February 6, the agreement will allow Royal Jordanian to expand its offer to Italy by placing its RJ flight code on Alitalias daily Amman-Rome service, which will resume on March 26, 2017, and on the Italian airlines connections from Rome to the following 16 domestic destinations: Ancona, Brindisi, Bologna, Bari, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Pisa, Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme, Turin, Trieste, Verona and Venice.
Thw agreement will allow Alitalia to widen its Middle East network by placing its AZ flight code on Royal Jordanians five weekly flights between Rome and Amman and beyond to Aqaba and Larnaca, Cyprus (codeshare on Amman-Larnaca route on sale from February 2 for travels from February 8).
Over the past several weeks, three headlines pertaining to education have dominated my social media news feeds: screen time, fake news/media literacy, and the ethical dilemmas associated with advances in technology. When considered together, these three topics represent the unintended consequences of innovation.
The inventors of television, computers, mobile devices, and social media did not intend to unleash a slew of negative consequences for children. They did not consider the potential for shortened attention spans, lack of connection to nature, or a rising obesity rate; nor did they conceive of their tools as weapons for deploying fake news, unleashing bullying, or fueling hate groups. The Mark Zuckerberg/Biz Stone/Sergey Brin/Steve Jobs/Bill Gates of the world intended to build community, increase access to a global library of information, and provide every individual with a voice.
In his 2004 book, Diffusion of Innovations, Everett Rogers warns of the consequences of innovation and argues that they may be desirable or undesirable, direct or indirect, anticipated or unanticipated. As an example, he describes the plight of the Lapp reindeer herders of northern Finland. After centuries of living in harmony with nature, a single technological innovation dismantled a self-sustaining culture by introducing a dependence on the external resources of snowmobiles and gas. Over the course of a decade, the centuries-old culture of the Lapp Skolt people became severely disrupted. Tragically, no one in the community ever raised concerns about the drawbacks of this new technology or the cost of this innovation.
A lesson can be learned from the Lapp reindeer herders. Not that we should put the brakes on technology, but that we should help our students recognize and question the consequences of new innovations. Rogers explained that historically innovation has diffused along a normal curve or an s-curve with adoption growing incrementally over time. The graph below illustrates how innovations diffuse throughout an environment or market until even those lagging behind have allowed the new idea to reach complete saturation.
However, according to the World Economic Forum, we have entered the Fourth Industrial Revolution - an era marked by exponentially faster rates of change than we have ever experienced before. With the potential for the adoption curve to become significantly steeper, how do we prepare our students to recognize and prevent the unintended consequences of new technological advancements?
Rogers explains that innovators often bring their own cultural bias when pioneering a new innovation. Introducing a snowmobile without first understanding the symbiotic nature of the herders and reindeers could be attributed to a bias towards technology as well as a lack of empathy for the people. In The Triple Focus, Peter Senge describes the need for students to develop three types of empathy:
Cognitive empathy - understanding the perspectives of others
understanding the perspectives of others Emotional empathy - the ability to sense how others feel
the ability to sense how others feel Empathic concern - a drive to action for the benefit of others
Strategies such as design thinking, systems thinking, project based learning, and service learning encourage students to seek out authentic problems, consider views other than their own, and actively engage with their broader community. In using them, we provide our students with the opportunity to develop these three forms of empathy as well as critical cognitive and academic skills. With more and more devices entering into our classrooms, we need to make sure that we not only prepare our students with the literacy and fluency to use them but also the empathy and empathic concern to recognize both the benefits and imperfections of new innovations.
References:
Rogers, E. M. (2004). Diffusion of Innovations (3rd ed.). London: The Free Press.
Goleman, D. & Senge, P. (2014). The Triple Focus: A New Approach to Education. Florence, MA: More Than Sound
On the heels of the discovery that Montana incorrectly reported its students ACT scores to the federal government, the state education department has hired a company to look into its policies and procedures.
Montana news media first reported that the department was under an external investigation, because the states new superintendent of education, Elsie Arntzen, said so during a meeting of school principals in Great Falls last week.
State officials disclosed that they were negotiating a contract with CMS Communication and Management Services , based in Helena, to investigate the submission of 2016 ACT scores to the U.S. Department of Education. But a top official at the company clarified that the company would be conducting a workplace policy and procedure review, not an investigation, according to the Billings Gazette.
The U.S. Department of Education confirmed that it has been discussing the matter with officials of the Montana Office of Public Instruction, but declined to say anything further, according to news reports.
The CMS review is a response to accusations Arntzen leveled against her predecessor, Denise Juneau, on Jan. 20. Arntzen said she had discovered through a whistleblower that Juneau had submitted falsified ACT scores to the U.S. Department of Education last December, just before Juneau left office.
Juneau told Education Week that she had submitted 3swhich indicate proficiency in Montanas accountability systemto the federal governments reporting system because it would not accept double-digit figures. ACT scores range from 1 to 36.
Juneau said the state had not figured out a way to convert ACT scores onto the states 1-through-4 proficiency system, so she submitted the scores as ACT delivered them, and figured theyd be discussed when the U.S. Department of Education received the scores. She also acknowledged that she had not mentioned the matter to Arntzen, or flagged it for the federal education department.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. About 74 million young people around the world cannot find a job, they suffer violence and discrimination, as well as become refugees, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message addressed to the participants of Youth Forum in New York, reports Armenpress.
74 million young people around the world cannot find a job. Many youth are driven from their homes due to conflicts, and, in places where there is peace, they suffer violence and discrimination, he said.
Guterres said the participants of the Forum showed that they are concerned about humanity issues such as poverty, unemployment, climate change, inequality.
The Youth Forum is being annually held by the UN Economic and Social Council during which social-economic development issues are being discussed. This year over 700 young people are taking part in the Forum.
The presentation of the World Youth and Students Festival will be held on the sidelines of the Forum which will be held in Russia from October 14 to 22.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has issued a statement regarding the January 27, 2017, White House Executive Order on immigration, titled, Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States, Armenpress reports citing the ANCA official website.
The statement says the Committee remains concerned regarding the developing situation surrounding the White Houses January 27th immigration Executive Order, both at the level of U.S. policy and in terms of this actions impact on Armenian individuals and families.
The ANCA continues to engage relevant stakeholders including Congress and the White House and recommends those Armenians whose relatives or friends have been detained at U.S. ports of entry or who have been blocked from re-entry to the U.S. to contact the Committee immediately and inform about their situation.
Moreover, the ANCA urged the Armenians from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, who are not U.S. citizens, to refrain from leaving the U.S., due to the increased risk that they will be denied re-entry, regardless of their immigration status.
The Committe reminded that they are regularly consulting with civil and legal rights organizations. As Americans of Armenian heritage a community of proud immigrants, many descended from the families of Armenian Genocide survivors with roots in Syria, Iraq, Iran and other countries cited in this order we remain deeply concerned by the moral, legal and humanitarian implications of these new restrictions, the statement says.
On January 27 Trump signed an executive order on restricting the entry of citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen to the country for 90 days. The ban applies to the citizens of those countries regardless of whether they have a residence permit, Green Card or Visa.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trumps executive order on immigration policy can cause confusion, Giro Manoyan - Director of the International Secretariat of the ARF Bureau, said in an interview with Armenpress.
On January 27 Trump signed an executive order on restricting the entry of citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen to the country for 90 days.
There is a lot of uncertainty in this process. On the one hand, statement is issued saying that this order doesnt apply to green card holders, however, in practice, there were people who faced this issue. This means, that this process must be clarified, Giro Manoyan said.
Armenians as citizens of the above-mentioned 7 countries can also face problems. If they arrived in US from those countries before the executive order and if they decide to leave the country during this period, their entry to US later can be banned. Giro Manoyan said there had been cases when a citizen had legal documents but faced problems while entering the US.
Currently court proceedings are underway, we think that during this period certain issues will be clarified, he said.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has issued a statement regarding the January 27, 2017, White House Executive Order on immigration, titled, Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States.
The statement says the Committee remains concerned regarding the developing situation surrounding the White Houses January 27th immigration Executive Order, both at the level of U.S. policy and in terms of this actions impact on Armenian individuals and families.
The ANCA continues to engage relevant stakeholders including Congress and the White House and recommends those Armenians whose relatives or friends have been detained at U.S. ports of entry or who have been blocked from re-entry to the U.S. to contact the Committee immediately and inform about their situation.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have proposed the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to have a meeting on the eve of the Munich Security Conference, foreign minister Edward Nalbandian told a press conference.
The co-chairs proposed the foreign ministry of Armenia to have a meeting on the eve of the Munich Security Conference. A proposal was also made to organize a meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Of course we never refuse any meeting. But in terms of a meeting with Azerbaijans minister, I cannot confirm at this moment, Nalbandian said, stressing its unknown what kind of tricks Azerbaijan can pull this time.
We agree upon something, however on the last minute they pretend that for some reason they are unable, or even accuse that the Armenian side refuses to meet. They said that no meeting was held in Hamburg whatsoever, although the meeting proceeded in the presence of the co-chairs and the participation of the foreign ministers, Nalbandian said, adding perhaps the meeting will be held on a ministerial level, if Azerbaijan doesnt refuse.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Military Investigative Department revealed the circumstances which led to servicemen Albert Dallakyan getting shot. The platoon commander has been charged, the Investigative Committee told ARMENPRESS.
According to initial information, Private Albert Dallakyan was wounded by gunfire to the head at 16:10 on June 24, 2016 in an unspecified military base, which resulted from negligent treatment of firearm by the platoon commander.
It was revealed that the platoon commander Lt. Nahapetyan unintentionally discharged the firearm after reloading it, and the bullet hit the head of Private Dallakyan, causing life-threatening wounds.
The platoon commander has been indicted based on evidence and in accordance with the Criminal Code.
Notice: Suspect is innocent until proven guilty by the Court of Law.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian considers Trumps decree banning the inflow of migrants as unconstitutional and deeply un-American. Armenpress reports Ohanian wrote about this in an open letter posted in Reddit.
We are a nation of immigrants, after all. In the tech world, we often talk about a startups "unfair advantage" that allows it to beat competitors. Welcoming immigrants and refugees has been our country's unfair advantage, and coming from an immigrant family has been mine as an entrepreneur, Ohanian wrote.
Describing the history of his family, Reddit co-founder recalled that a little over a century ago, a Turkish soldier decided his great grandfather was too young to kill after cutting down his parents in front of him. instead of turning the sword on the boy, the soldier sent him to an orphanage. Many Armenians, including my great grandmother, found sanctuary in Aleppo, Syriabefore the two reconnected and found their way to Ellis Island, he wrote, giving some more details of his family living already in the USA.
Summarizing his message Alexis Ohanian called on immigrants, children of immigrants, or childrens children of immigrants to share their familys story in the comments.
On January 27 Trump signed an executive order on suspending the US refugee program for 120 days, as well as restricting the entry of citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen to the country for 90 days.
School shootings are more frequent when the unemployment rate rises , researchers at Northwestern University say in a new study.
The researchers compiled a database of 381 shootings that occurred at K-12 schools and on higher education campuses between 1990-2013, comparing their frequency to various economic indicators.
The study, Economic Insecurity and the Rise in Gun Violence at US Schools , was published this week in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. It finds an increased frequency of shootings that loosely aligns with the most recent U.S. recession:
Using this dataset, we find that the rate of gun violence is time-dependent and that this rate is heightened from 2007 to 2013. We further find that periods of increased shooting rates are significantly correlated with increases in the unemployment rate across different geographic aggregation levels (national, regional and city). Consistent with the hypothesis that increasing uncertainty in the school-to-work transition contributes to school shootings, we find that multiple indicators of economic distress significantly correlate with increases in the rate of gun violence when events at both K12 and post-secondary schools are considered."
The shootings researchers tracked were not necessarily mass shootings. They compiled several databases, including all intentional or accidental firearm discharges that occurred on a school campus and included students or school employees, either as perpetrators, bystanders or victims.
The graph below, pulled from the report, shows school shooting incidents in blue bars and the national unemployment rate as a black line.
The unemployment rate is particularly of interest, since it is a single aggregate statistic that captures the difficulties faced by older students in the school-to-work transition or by students families, the study says. Joblessness is related to lowered self-esteem, diminished status and detrimental behaviour. There is also evidence that minors may be responsive to the unemployment of their parents and that the attitudes of youths have a significant impact on their future employment prospects and earnings. We posit that gun violence at schools is a response, in part, to the breakdown in the expectation that sustained participation in the educational system will improve economic opportunities and outcomes.
You can read more about the studys methodology here.
Related reading on school violence and school shootings:
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and Artesia Community Theatres spotlight has been shining bright since 1978
They had a find out what everybody thinks meeting at K-Bobs, the Daily Press cutline read.
It was June 2, 1978, and 13 Artesians had made the decision to gather at the local steakhouse to gauge interest in establishing a little theatre in the community. The group agreed there was sufficient interest to keep things moving, and six days later, the Artesia Community Theatre (ACT) was born.
An expanded total of 25 individuals attended the organizational meeting, at which seven were elected to the board of directors: Gordon Edgmon, Kathy Hay, Mary Woodlee, Helen Mapes, Rev. David Marsh, Lila Stout and Alice Lorang.
In October of that year, the ACT had delivered its inaugural performance, Dracula Returns, in the garage of member Dave Barretts farm home. By 1981, they were staging the musical Annie Get Your Gun at the Artesia High School Auditorium with a sizable cast.
Over the 38 years since it formed over steaks and iced tea, the ACT has endured more than its share of highs and lows. But, in testament to the spirit of the theatre, it has survived.
And when the group presents its first production of 2017, Drinking Habits, Feb. 16-19 at Cottonwood Wine and Brewing, it will be carrying on a tradition of which Artesia theatre enthusiasts, past and present, can and should be proud.
Annie Get Your Gun, a fictionalized tale of Wild West sharpshooter Annie Oakley and her romance with fellow marksman Frank Butler, seemed a good fit for Artesias first community theatre performance.
That was our first really big production, says Sandy Schuetz, who performed in both that production and Dracula Returns. We had a huge cast and crew.
The ACT members and volunteers surprised even themselves with the scope of what they were able to create in their first large-scale stage effort, and their audience was equally delighted. Beckie Mason and Martin Muncy, who remained involved with the ACT for several years, starred as Oakley and Butler amidst a backdrop of well-made sets and a strong supporting cast.
But their curtain call wouldnt be all champagne and roses, as Daily Press staff writer Beth Morgan, a two-month transplant to the community, torched the performance in shocking fashion in a review published the following week.
We were all pretty stunned when we opened that days paper, laughs Laney Rountree, who made her ACT debut in the musical. We thought that wed done a pretty good job!
Morgans sniping which included statements such as Masons overacting was necessary to compensate for others weaknesses and what we would hope was due to a faulty sound system or other technical difficulty may have simply been poor singing are comical today but were a jolt to the system of the newly-minted ACT in 1981.
If the cast and crew briefly doubted their abilities, however, they were vindicated in the days to come, as Morgan became the villain in a citywide melodrama.
Residents rushed to the defense of the production in a bevy of letters to the editor, lauding the performances and pointing out the ACT was not striving to replicate Broadway in their initial effort and did not deserve to be criticized as such If so, wrote Dewana Gray, Beth Morgan would most certainly be working for the New York Times instead of the Artesia Daily Press.
Fortunately, the ACT didnt allow their press clippings to deter them, and the community continued to rally around the troupe as they followed Annie Get Your Gun with two more major musical productions in 1982 and 1983 South Pacific and Oklahoma!
For South Pacific, local artist Mapes painted a stunning backdrop used during Bali Hai.
She painted over it four times because she was not happy with what she had done, says
Schuetz.
Perfection came at a price, though due to the multiple coats of paint, the drop became too heavy to raise and lower, and couldnt be used again.
Schuetz (nee Heckel) soon found herself pulled behind the scenes. An illustration of the lifetime bonds frequently formed by theatre folk, she met her husband, Jim, on the set of Oklahoma! and the two were married the following year in 1984.
Unfortunately, theyd discovered I had directing experience, says Schuetz. So when South Pacific came along, I was named Lila Stouts assistant director.
That was a big production, too, and it just kept getting bigger. Oklahoma! had a cast of 85, around 150 people counting the crew, more or less, and the nice thing about those days and those large productions we were able to do is David Huey, who was the high-school auditorium manager then, would give me my own key and we could spend six weeks in there building sets and rehearsing. And we had to pay the boys doing technical, but otherwise, there was no charge.
That trend continued through 1985 with the ACTs first non-musical play, Barefoot in the Park, 1986 with The Music Man, which featured the Park Junior High marching band, and 1987 with Annie, staged in conjunction with other divisions of the Artesia Arts Council.
All the while, new talent would come and go, but mainstays such as Lorang, Rountree and Schuetz remained, keeping the enthusiasm amongst the community at a high with quality productions.
I was really proud of our theatre group, because the things that we began to put on were really top-notch, says Lorang. We started to recognize that weve got the talent here, weve got the will to make it as good as we possibly can. And I feel like there were so many plays that we did that were of that caliber. Thats what we tried to strive for.
And I think thats really important, says Rountree. I think the audience picks up on that.
As the 1990s approached, the ACT began expanding its repertoire and amount of annual offerings, beginning in 1988 with their first melodrama, Her Fatal Beauty, held at the AHS band park, which formerly housed an outdoor stage.
The moving about that would follow over the next two decades was a necessity for a variety of reasons, but it came with a disappointing side effect the participation theyd seen in their larger stage shows began to decrease.
Truthfully, it started dwindling when we stopped being able to use the auditorium for free and had to start paying for it, says Schuetz.
The ACT had a limited budget that needed spending elsewhere, on sets, props, costumes and the like, and so they began to migrate around Artesia, to First Christian Church which became a longtime source of both rehearsal and performance space for the ACT to the present day the 510 Building at 510 W. Main St., currently under repair, First Presbyterian Church, and the former Artesia Womens Club building on Dallas Avenue near Fourth Street.
But the nomadic element in no way dampened the groups spirits.
The year 1989 brought Murder in the Magnolias, Dirty Work in High Places, and the groups popular Medieval Feaste. In the early 1990s, the ACT performed six short plays at Art in the Park during its brief foray at Roberts Park and staged a revue titled In the Spotlight in 1996. They competed, when possible, in Theatre New Mexicos AACTFest, which has been held several times in Artesia.
And the memories began to accumulate as quickly as the playbills.
I remember one of Christine Swaffords young boys was supposed to raise this figure up from underneath a prop that would shoot a dart at Glenn Collier, says Lorang. But Glenn had to say the right word and he never did. He was well known for ad-libbing. So wed finally be off-stage just whispering for the boy to go ahead and shoot it before he suffocated!
Christine and Laura Holder were two of those people who, by the second week of rehearsal, would know their lines and everybody elses, says Rountree.
And Laura could think quicker on her feet than anybody I ever saw, says Lorang. During one of the Brown Bags, somebody was wearing a wig that had a pigtail on it someone grabbed her by it, and it just came off. Everybody froze, but Laura just said, Wow, that mustve hurt.
I remember when we did Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical, says Schuetz. Johnny Shuman played Sister Julia Child of God he would teach them how to make fruitcake, and he kept drinking the rum. And hed get wilder every time he did it, throwing faux fruit at the audience and theyd be throwing it back.
Everybody was just like, I cant believe thats Johnny Shuman, because hes an accountant, laughs Betty Skinner, the groups trusted props master.
In between, and in addition to their traditional plays and musicals, they hosted Brown Bag Theatre performances in either the band park or Central Park, murder mystery dinners at the Artesia Country Club, and dessert theatres.
The dessert theatres have always been my favorite, says Rountree. When we first started, no other theatre around here not Roswell, Hobbs, Carlsbad did dessert theatres, and it was a hit. The first time we did Somethings Afoot, it was a dessert theatre at First Christian Church. We had high tea on a Sunday.
Alice and I spent probably a year going to all the antique shops when we were out of town and buying cups and saucers. So we have cups, saucers, sugars, creamers, all packed away now. The last time we used them, we had to box them all up afterward and take them to Alices to wash them. It was a lot of work. But it was fun.
(EDITORS NOTE: Part II of this piece will be published in next Sundays edition of the Daily Press.)
A federal appeals court has upheld an injunction allowing refugee students with limited English proficiency in a Pennsylvania school district to transfer from an alternative school for underachievers to a regular high school with special help for English-language learners.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, in Philadelphia, unanimously ruled for a group that includes students with limited or interrupted formal education, or SLIFE, who had fled war and violence in countries including Burma, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan, and Tanzania.
The Lancaster school district assigned the students, who were generally 18 to 21 years old, to the Phoenix Academy, an alternative school run by a for-profit provider focusing on accelerated credit recovery but which court papers say focused on seat time, stringent security measures, and a strict dress code. English-language learners at the academy take one English-as-a-second-language class but otherwise learn all their other subjects with the general population.
The Lancaster district argued, among other things, that it believed Phoenix Academy to be more appropriate for older, non-credited high school students.
The refugee students were backed by the Education Law Center of Philadelphia, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, and a friend-of-the-court brief filed by President Barack Obamas administration when the case was argued in December.
The students sought the injunction to attend McCaskey High School, a traditional public school that includes a program for English-language learners called the International School. Such students generally attend that program for one year, where they receive intensive ESL and receive content-based ESL teaching using sheltered instruction in subjects such as math and science.
The refugee students claim in court papers that Phoenix Academys accelerated curriculum was too difficult for them to grasp and they couldnt understand what most of their teachers and classmates were saying.
The students sued the Lancaster district, alleging that the districts refusal to allow them to enroll at McCaskey High violated, among other things, a federal statute called the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 and the Pennsylvania public school code.
A federal district court granted the injunction on the basis of the federal and state law.
In its Jan. 30 decision in Issa v. School District of Lancaster , the 3rd Circuit court upheld the injunction based on the EEOA but sent the state-law claims back for further development.
The EEOA says that no state shall deny equal educational opportunity to an individual on account of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin, by . . . the failure by an educational agency to take appropriate action to overcome language barriers that impede equal participation by its students in its instructional programs.
The 3rd Circuit panel applied a key legal test drawn from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuits 1981 ruling in Castenada v. Pickard , which requires school districts to take appropriate action to remedy language deficiencies among their students.
The 3rd Circuit said the district court did not err in concluding that the plaintiffs showed a reasonable probability that Phoenixs accelerated, non-sheltered program isnt informed by an educational theory recognized as sound by some experts in the field, as required under the appropriate legal test.
Also, the plaintiffs showed a likelihood that Phoenixs program fails to produce results indicating that their language barriers are actually being overcome, the appeals court said.
The record before us ... belies the school districts contention that Phoenix is where the plaintiffs can best be educated, the appeals court concluded. Under the EEOA, we reject an educational agencys call for unfettered decision-making authority when its programs fall short of [the statutes] mandate.
The car maker has recently launched an aspirational car model called Ignis for catering to the affluent customers.
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd executive director (marketing and sales) R.S. Kalsi along with T. Hasimoto at the launch of the 200th Nexa showroom in Hyderabad. (Photo: Asian Age)
Hyderabad: With the peoples lifestyle changing faster than ever before, car makers are being forced to update their models and brands to retain their appeal to the customers.
The life cycle of car models is getting shorter because of fast changing lifestyles of people. In the past, people used to drive one car for 15-20 years. But now people change cars every five years.
This forces car companies to keep our models up-to-date and introduce new features. But we have to phase out existing brands before the customers themselves reject them, said R.S. Kalsi, executive director (marketing and sales) Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. Even now we get letters from our customers asking why did phase out Maruti 800 model, explained.
In tune with the changing demograhics and lifestyles of customers, Indias largest car maker by sales has been trying reposition itself as the manufacturer of aspirational cars as against the affordable car maker. The car maker has recently launched an aspirational car model called Ignis for catering to the affluent customers.
As part of this, the company had started a new line of dealerships called Nexa to sell its premium cars. The firm has launched its 200th Nexa showroom in Hyderabad on Monday. Nexa showrooms are for customers who need a higher level of customer satisfaction, he said.
According to mr Kalsi, the Nexa showrooms and premium car launches have helped his company to attract a large number of customers, who were not traditional Maruti customers.
Valmeeki has over 400 writers, publishing their books in four different languages such as Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and Tamil.
Bengaluru: Publishing books in vernacular languages is the biggest challenge that regional writers grapple with. Intrigued by this problem faced by a large number of writers, Karuvilla Chacko, being a writer himself, founded Valmeeki, a virtual publishing house for emerging writers through a mobile application.
Having worked as a journalist with one of the countrys leading English-language newspapers and written a couple of books, Chacko was quick-enough to understand the problems of the regional writers. The whole idea of starting Valmeeki was to help regional writers publish their work. We merge technology with online scouting system to publish their books in softcopy format. Through a proper scouting process, we ensure that the work is of high quality, he said.
Today, Valmeeki has over 400 writers, publishing their books in four different languages such as Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and Tamil. The company plans to expand it into 12 other languages by the end of 2017. Valmeeki gets about 150 downloads a day, adds Chacko.
He said that more than a dozen of writers who published their work on the Valmeeki app have bagged contracts from major publishing houses and movie industry.
The Kochi-based start-up, which has recently moved to Bengaluru, aims to increase the exposure of young regional writers. They hardly get any exposure unless they are celebrities, established writers or backed by famous publishing houses. We would like to take the work of local writers and make them celebrities by connecting them to global audience, explained Chacko.
The large number of Indian diaspora living abroad, likes to read in vernacular languages. However, they do not have a proper platform that caters to their need. Even in India, there are over 200 million mobile users who want to read on their phone. At Valmeeki, we are trying to fulfil the gap, said Chacko.
Having raised funds from angel investors and startup accelerators such as NUMA Bengaluru, the company is planning to grow in the coming years. NUMA gave us a huge marketing support, brought us to Bengaluru and connected us with many literary groups, said Chacko.
Currently working with tier 2 and tier 3 writers, Valmeeki looks forward to creating a trend wherein top celebrities and writers come forward to contribute their work. Chacko believes that literature is for all and makes sure that Valmeeki is not in the business to judge literature.
Ajay will be teaming up with veteran thespian Makarand Deshpande for the collaboration.
Mumbai: Horror comedy is one of the genres that has not been tapped effectively by Bollywood and we are all set to have a big star give a fillip to it.
While a film would have been great, we are talking about an advertisement here.
Ajay Devgn, who was last seen in his second directorial, 'Shivaay,' has been filming for Milan Luthria's 'Baadshaho,' but he's found time to shoot for an interesting advertisement from the horror comedy genre.
The actor, who's known for his penchant for humour, will be seen dabbling in it again, in the ad for a popular hosiery brand. Ajay will be teaming up with veteran thespian Makarand Deshpande in the horror comedy.
While Ajay plays his persona of a cool dude, Makarand gets into the gear of a ghost. What happens thereafter, is a story that is all of 60 seconds.
Ajay will also be returning with frequent collaborator Rohit Shetty, on 'Golmaal Again'.
Shoaib is making a comeback after a hiatus of four years and hence has worked day in and day out to get fit for the role.
Upcoming show Koi Laut Ke Aaya Hai is a paranormal thriller that is bringing back popular faces like Surbhi Jyoti and Shoaib Ibrahim to the tube. Since the two actors are plunging back to action after a long time, they are sparing no efforts to get into the skin of their characters. A case in point is that of leading man Shoaib, who has lost around 20 kgs to play a military man in the show. Shoaib is making a comeback after a hiatus of four years and hence has worked day in and day out to get fit for the role.
The actor tried a variety of workouts like Brazilian jiu-jitsu, crossfit training and heavy weight lifting along with his routine work out to get into shape. Shoaib, being a martial arts fanatic specially learnt the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to enable himself to loose a whopping 20 kgs for the character. And its all paid off. His new six-pack abs speak volumes about his hard work and dedication. Even while travelling Shoaib did not miss out on his regime.
Humbled by the crews appreciation of his brand new avatar Shoaib says, I have mastered different forms of defensive arts, but I learnt Brazilian jiu-jitsu just for this show. Losing 20 kgs was not the tough part, but developing muscles in the right parts was a difficult process. Im so glad I have managed to achieve that. I am very fond of army men and respect them a lot. I always wanted to play one in a show and Koi Laut Ke Aya Hai gave me that opportunity.
New strategies to tackle a high teacher turnover rate in the Waco Independent School District in Texas may be starting to pay off, reports the Waco Tribune Herald .
Wacos teacher turnover rate is still in need of improvement, but the rate is the lowest its been in four years, according to recently released data from the Texas Education Agency . The current turnover rate, 23.6 percent for the 2015-16 school year, is down 4 percentage points from the previous two school years. Still, Waco lags behind the state average of 16.5 percent and about 2 percentage points behind that of similar school districts with high shares of poor students. (More than 70 percent of Waco students are economically disadvantaged.)
The district has convinced teachers to stay by hiring teacher aides and behavior intervention specialists, using the money raised from a tax increase that voters approved in the fall of 2015, according to the Waco Tribune Herald.
The district has also raised starting salaries from $43,000 a year to $45,000 and devised an incentive pay program that will reward teachers who can deliver passing student scores on Texas state tests. Teachers can earn $25 per student when 60 percent of poor students pass the test. Those exceeding that percentage get bigger bonuses: $35 per student when 75 percent pass and $50 per student when 90 percent or more pass.
Since first-year teachers made up the majority of teachers who left last school year, the district instituted training specifically geared toward the needs of those who are new to the classroom. All new teachers are assigned experienced mentors who help with everything from identifying key school staff members to planning lessons to mastering classroom management. Through informal classroom observations, mentors identify strengths and weaknesses and help their charges hone their craft.
We offer a ton of resources and were very honest from the very beginning that this is going to be hard, professional development director Patrick Uptmore told the Waco Tribune Herald. Its not a profession that youre perfect in year one.
Waco High School, led by Principal Ed Love for the past three years, has increased its teacher retention from 56 percent to 82 percent, according to the Waco Tribune Herald. Love attributes the success to a new restorative justice programan approach to discipline that pushes students to reflect on wrongdoing and find a way of making it right, rather than on resorting to suspension. The addition of a behavior specialist and six behavior aides who teachers can call on for assistance in the classroom has also played a big part. (Larry Ferlazzo, a high school teacher and blogger from Sacramento, Calif., rounds up educator feedback on how to practice restorative justice in schools in this blog .)
But its not just the new approach to discipline in at Waco High School thats encouraging teachers to keep at it. Love said he tries to keep the lines of communication open by hosting a cookout every six weeks and a monthly get-together where teachers can vent about any concerns they have.
Its just building that sense of familiness, Love told the Waco Tribune Herald.
Hafiz Saeed was detained Monday at JuDs Lahore headquarters at Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji.
New Delhi/Islamabad: Indicating that it was neither impressed nor convinced by the mere detention of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, India on Tuesday said that only a credible crack down on all organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistans sincerity.
Dismissing the house arrest of 26/11 accused as tokenism, New Delhi said Islamabad had carried out such exercises of detention in the past also.
With the Trump administration mounting pressure, Pakistani authorities on Monday night put Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and four others under house arrest under an Anti-Terrorism Act.
The view among foreign policy-watchers is that Islamabad had acted out of fear and under severe pressure from the US after indications from the Trump administration that Pakistan could also be included in a list of Muslim-majority countries from where immigration to the US has been banned.
Reacting to repots of detention, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said, India has long maintained that the United Nations Security Council 1267 provisions pertaining to listing and proscription of known terrorist entities and individuals must be effectively and sincerely enforced by all member states. We have also consistently called for bringing known terrorists under the ambit of the 1267 sanctions. Exercises such as yesterdays orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistans sincerity.
Reports from Islamabad and Lahore said that Hafiz Saeeds supporters staged protests across Pakistan against his house arrest, which they said was made under pressure from the United States and India. Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, however, told reporters that the decision to put the JuD chief Hafiz Saeed under house arrest was a policy decision.
This is a policy decision that the state took in (the) national interest. Lots of institutions will have to do their jobs, he said, and denied that any foreign pressure was behind the arrest of the JuD chief.
A defiant Saeed, meanwhile, said his detention would give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris struggle against India.
Hafiz Saeed was detained Monday at JuDs Lahore headquarters at Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji and was later shifted to his Jauhar Town residence which has been declared as a sub-jail by authorities in Punjab province.
The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required, an interior ministry official told PTI.
The Pakistan government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days, the official said, adding that names of several activists of JuD and FIF, a charity run by Saeed, have been placed on Exit Control List (ECL) to stop them from leaving the country.
Three of the victims are from Maharahstra and one each from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
Srinagar: Five Army jawans rescued alive, but seriously injured after they were trapped under snow while on a routine patrol along the Line of Control (LoC) Saturday, died in hospital Monday.
The Army said the soldiers from the 56 Rashtriya Rifles died despite being given best available medical aid at the nearest facility in frontier Kupwara district.
Efforts to evacuate them to Srinagar failed because the region was receiving heavy snowfall, making safe navigation of helicopters impossible. Three of the victims are from Maharahstra and one each from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
They are Ramchandra Shamrao, Grenadier Thamothara Kannan M., Signalman Parmar Deva, Sepoy Dhavale Ganesh Kisan and Sepoy Ambore Balaji Bhagwanrao.
Helicopters couldnt bring them to Srinagar for treatment, defence spokesperson Col. Rajesh Kalia said.
This is a historic session heralding advancement of budget cycle and merger of general budget with rail budget for first time, he said.
New Delhi: Addressing both Houses of Parliament ahead of the Budget session on Tuesday, President Pranab Mukherjee listed out the achievements of the BJP-led NDA government, including its effort to combat terrorism.
India has been facing grave challenge of terrorism, threat to global community. My Govt is committed to combat terrorism, and ensure that perpetrators of these acts are brought to justice, the President said.
Speaking about demonetisation, he added, The resilience demonstrated by our countrymen, particularly the poor, in the fight against black money and corruption, is remarkable.
Mukherjee said that at the core of the Modi governments policies was the welfare of the poor, the suffering and the Dalits. He added that the government was committed to its Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas programme.
Pitching for the voluntary giving up of LPG subsidy, Mukherjee stated that those who did so have helped the poor.
"My government has taken many initiatives to improve quality of life of the poor and improve the welfare of farmers. It is committed to providing shelter to all," Mukherjee stated.
"Under Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, over Rs 16,000 crore have been made available to SHGs in the current financial year. Furthermore, over Rs 2 Lakh Crore has been provided through 5.6 crore loans sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana," Pranab said describing the schemes initiated by the government.
The President also said that the government has fulfilled the "Four decades old demand of OROP".
Mukherjee stressed that the government had succeeded in controlling the prices of pulses, which were soaring around this time in 2016.
The President said that farm yield had increased due to the government's policies. "A favourable monsoon supplemented by farmer-oriented schemes has increased the acreage and yield of most Kharif crops. Also, the sown area in the current Rabi season has shown six percent increase in comparison to last year."
Speaking about the governments initiatives towards womens empowerment, Mukherjee said, My government is making 'naari shakti' (woman power) an integral part of our development journey. Women deserve equal opportunities. PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Deepa Malik (who won medals at the Olympics) illustrate the strength of our women.
On employment opportunities provided to the youth, Pranab said, With the objective of providing international training to the youth, a national network of skill development centres has been established.
The President also added that under the 7th Pay Commission, 50 lakh employees have been benefited.
He mentioned the Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana which has been launched for promoting entrepreneurship education and training to 7 lakh students, the 'Har Haath Ko Hunar' scheme, and the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme to educate girl children. Mukherjee said all these initiatives been largely successful.
On village electrification, the President disclosed that 11,000 of the 18,000 villages which were in darkness since Independence have been electrified in record time.
Mukherjee said that through its focus on inclusive development, the government has fulfilled the aspirations of all sections of society.
He added that the Modi government had put special focus on 'reducing the isolation of the Northeast' from India by developing a network of roads.
The Economic Survey will be tabled later in the day today.
Apart from the presentation of the general budget, 34 bills will be taken up for passing and consideration during the entire session. These include three ordinances which will be replaced through bills. The ordinances relate to Enemy Property, Payment of Wages and Specified Bank Notes.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had recommended that the Budget session should commence on January 31 and the Union Budget be presented the next day so that the new financial provisions come into force on April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
Mumbai: Four persons were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the mishap at an oil mill in Maharashtra's Latur district after nine people were suffocated to death while cleaning a chemical tank.
State Labour Minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar visited the mishap site on Monday night. He said the mill would be sealed and added that they were trying to find out if a case under IPC section 302 (murder) could be filed in the incident.
Four persons were arrested in connection with the incident, including Kirti Oil Mill's owner Kirti Bhutada, Latur Police said.
Seven workers had died on Monday after inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a tank at the mill in Latur. Two more bodies were recovered from the tank late Monday night, a fire brigade official told PTI over the phone.
The fire brigade operation was called off at 3 am on Tuesday after recovery of the last body, he said.
On Monday, some workers had fallen unconscious while cleaning the tank at the factory in Latur MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation).
A few others climbed down into the tank to check on them but did not come out. They died after inhaling poisonous gas, the official said.
One worker, who was rescued in an unconscious state, is undergoing treatment at Vivekanand Hospital in Latur, fire brigade official said. A probe has been started into the incident.
The deceased have been identified as Dagdu Pawar, Baliram Pawar, Narendra Tekale, R D Shinde, Maroti Gaikwad, Rambhau Yerme, Akash Bhute, Parmeshwar Birajdar and Atkare Shivaji.
Nilangekar and Assistant Labour Commissioner D P Patil visited the mishap site where they were gheraoed by relatives of the deceased on Monday night.
Nilangekar, who is also the Guardian Minister of Latur, later told reporters that they were trying to find out if a case under IPC section 302 (murder) could be filed in connection with the incident. He also said that the mill would be sealed.
The mill's director, Ashok Bhutada, said the cause of the mishap could only be ascertained after the probe.
78-year-old Ahamed, who is the president of Indian Muslim League had complained of uneasiness.
New Delhi: Lok Sabha member and former union Minister E Ahamed suffered cardiac arrest on Tuesday in Parliament where he had gone to attend the address by President to the joint sitting of both Houses.
78-year-old Ahamed, who is the president of Indian Muslim League, complained of uneasiness and breathlessness and collapsed during the speech.
The Parliament staff tried to give him first aid but as his pain continued, he was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
Hospital sources said that Ahameds condition is critical and he has been put on life support system.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi enquired about his health. Ahamed, who represents the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency from Kerala, had served as Minister of State for External Affairs in the previous UPA government.
Most Opposition parties have expressed unhappiness about the Budget being held before the Assembly polls.
New Delhi: Ahead of the start of the Budget session of Parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that for the first time the Union Budget would be presented on February 1, a month in advance, and that also for the first time ever, the Railway Budget would be merged with the general one.
I implore all political parties to discuss the issues at hand and work for the welfare of the people, Modi said while speaking to the media.
Had discussions with parties individually and collectively. Productive & detailed discussion of budget should be done, he added.
The Budget today is not going to be state-specific, it will be for the whole country, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said reacting to media questions.
On Opposition parties threatening to disrupt the Budget session over several issues including demonetisation, Naidu said, Government is ready to discuss every issue. We have nothing to hide, worry about or fear.
Modi had on Monday held an all-party meeting ahead of the start of the Budget session, where he called Parliament a 'mahapanchayat' which should function despite differences.
Most Opposition parties including the Congress have expressed unhappiness about the Budget being held before the Assembly elections in 5 states, arguing that this would lead to the government doling out sops to appease the voters.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has gone a step ahead and decided to boycott the start of the Budget session.
President Pranab Mukherjee will address both the Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament House in Delhi to start off the Budget session today.
The Economic Survey will also be tabled later in the day.
Apart from the presentation of the general budget, 34 bills will be taken up for passing and consideration during the entire session. These include three ordinances which will be replaced through bills. The ordinances relate to Enemy Property, Payment of Wages and Specified Bank Notes.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had recommended that the Budget session should commence on January 31 and the Union Budget be presented the next day so that the new financial provisions come into force on April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014.
New Delhi: Reacting to the news of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed being detained by Pakistan, India said it has been done in the past too.
"Exercises such as yesterday's orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
Read: Defiant Hafiz Saeed says detention will give fresh impetus to Kashmiris' struggle
With the Trump administration mounting pressure, Pakistani authorities put Hafiz Saeed and four others under detention under an Anti-Terrorism Act on Monday night.
Saeed was at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji in Lahore when police descended there to implement the order of detention issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry yesterday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27, JuD activists and Pakistani media said.
He "is at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji and a heavy contingent of police has surrounded the JuD headquarters," JuD official Ahmed Nadeem, who was present at the premises of the outfit, said by phone.
"The commanding police officer told us that he has with him the house arrest order of the JuD chief issued by the Punjab Home Department," Nadeem said.
"We are going to shift Hafiz Saeed from Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji to his Jauhar Town residence to place him under house arrest on the order of the government," a senior police officer said.
Saeed's residence has been declared sub-jail, he said. National flags were hoisted at the JuD offices in Lahore, instead of party flags, on the directives of provincial home department, local media reports said.
The provincial authorities have also started to remove the banners of JuD from the roads of Lahore, the reports said.
Nadeem said the Pakistani government had been under pressure from the United States to take action against Saeed or face sanctions. "This government has buckled under the pressure," he said.
Three days back, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had included names of Saeed and four others -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- in the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and ordered their preventive detention.
Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz were also also taken into preventive custody, Pakistani media reported.
Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JuD and Saeed to avoid sanctions.
JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26, 2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.
In a notification issued on January 27, Pakistan's Interior Ministry had said "...on the basis of report sent by Ministry of Foreign Affairs ..., the Federal government, having reasons to believe, that Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) organisation is engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of Pakistan's obligations to the United Nations Security Council Resolution No 1267."
It directed the Punjab government to put the organisation on the Watch List.
In a similar order, the Federal government directed putting Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) on the Watch List for a period of 6 months, which is extendable.
Citing these directives from the Federal governent, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had issued an order yesterday, in which it "placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa (JUD) on the Watch List and have listed these organizations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended)".
Under this section of ATA, the government has the power to arrest and detain suspected persons.
"Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz are reportedly active members of the aforementioned organizations within the meaning of Section 11EEE(1) of the ATA 1997 (as amended). As such, they must be placed under preventive detention," the order said.
The notification asked the Home Secretary to "kindly direct the concerned agencies to move and take necessary action" as the matter "is most urgent".
Earlier during the day, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the PML-N government was taking steps to "fulfil our obligations" with regard to JuD.
The organisation [JuD] has been under observation since 2010-11. Since it has also been listed by the UN Security Council [Sanctions Committee], we are bound to take some steps. We are taking those steps to fulfill our obligations, he told reporters after inaugurating a passport office in Islamabad.
JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014. Saeed also carries a reward of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities.
The RBIs decision to end cash withdrawal limit on current accounts and overdraft accounts comes as a big relief to businesses.
People queue up at an ATM to withdraw cash in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI/File)
New Delhi: In a relief to the general public and small businesses, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday lifted restrictions on daily withdrawal of money from ATMs starting February 1 and current accounts with immediate effect.
However, the weekly limit of cash withdrawal of Rs 24,000 on savings bank accounts will continue for some more time.
The RBIs decision to end cash withdrawal limit on current accounts and overdraft accounts comes as a big relief to businesses.
The RBI has asked banks to fix their own limits on cash which can be withdrawn from ATMs in a day, as was the case before November 8, 2016, when the government junked high denomination currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) is now likely to ask candidates contesting Assembly polls in five states to open current accounts to tide over currency crunch in meeting election expenses.
This will thaw tension brewing between the EC and the RBI over enhancing the cash withdrawal limit for candidates to Rs 2 lakh per week.
The EC had written an angry letter to the RBI expressing its displeasure to the Central bank for rejecting its request to enhance the cash withdrawal limit.
The issue was threatening to blow up as there was a possibility of the EC issuing a direction to the RBI under Article 324 of the Constitution to comply with its order to enhance cash withdrawal limit.
The RBI said on Monday that on a review of the pace of remonetisation, it has been decided to partially restore status quo ante.
The limits on savings bank accounts will continue for the present and are under consideration for withdrawal in the near future, said the apex bank.
RBI urged the banks to encourage their constituents to sustain the movement towards digitisation of payments and switching over of payments from cash mode to non-cash mode.
Man claiming to be victim's husband reportedly said he killed her and was coming to the police station to surrender.
New Delhi: In a gruesome act, a woman was allegedly crushed to death with a stone in a public park in Mangolpuri area of the national capital last night.
The deceased has been identified 30-year-old Aarti, who tied the nuptial knot a month ago.
According to reports, Aarti's body was found in a public park in block C of Mangolpuri around at around 8.30 pm.
Reportedly, the police got a phone call from an unknown number claiming to be Aarti's husband, who said that he allegedly killed her and was coming to the police station to surrender. The police reached the spot following the call and recovered the body.
According to reports, a big stone with blood all over it was lying close to the body.
Prima facie, it appears that Aarti's face had been crushed with the stone. Aarti's husband is absconding.
Rasilas uncle Manoj alleged that the office authorities did not take any action against Saikiya.
Pune: A 27-year-old software professional, who was strangulated to death at her workstation in her office of Infosys Software Technology Limited in Pune on Sunday, had informed the office authorities about the advances made by a security guard, the accused in the murder.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, Rasila Raju OP, the victim, had told her relatives that security guard Bhaben Bharali Saikiya was making advances to her and that she had complained about him to Infosys.
Rasilas uncle Manoj alleged that the office authorities did not take any action against Saikiya.
We will file a complaint calling for a detailed inquiry into Rasilas death. During telephone calls, she had talked about the same security guard making advances towards her. Though she had complained to the company officials, no action was taken, Manoj said.
The preliminary investigation into Rasilas murder revealed that Saikiya was ogling at her while she was working on Sunday. Rasila asked Saikiya not to look at her and said otherwise she would complain to his superiors and he would lose his job.
Following this the accused, under the pretext of pleading with her not to complain, entered her workstation and allegedly strangulated her with a computer cable. The police has booked Saikiya under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. The court has granted five days police custody of the accused.
The murder took place in Rajiv Gandhi IT Park, Phase II in Hinjewadi, Pune.
Rasila hails from Mulgoan, Ozompoil, Paimbra in Kozikode district of Kerala and was living as a private paying guest in Hinjewadi Phase I.
Meanwhile, the police nabbed Saikiya at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai in the wee hours of Monday. The accused was about to flee to Assam from CST, sources said. Saikiya hails from Assam and stays in Hinjewadi Phase III.
Ganesh Shinde, deputy commissioner of police, Pune, said, According to the FIR filed by Abhijit Kothari, team lead of the project on which Rasila was working, Rasila along with eight members from Pune and seven from Bangalore was working on the project. The project required employees to be present 24/7.
He added, At 5.30 pm Sunday, Rasilas Bangalore colleagues informed Abhijit that Rasila was not responding to them on their computer software application and not answering her phone either. Then Abhijit called Rasila but she did not answer his calls too. A security guard informed Abhijit on landline that he had no access to the workstation where Rasila was working. The guard told Abhijit he would inform his superior.
At 7.30 pm, the guard informed Abhijit that they had got access to the workstation and had found Rasila lying there in a pool of blood. Her face had signs of bruises. She was taken to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead. Shinde added, When we checked CCTV footage, there was only one security guard who was on duty on the floor. Accordingly, we tried to reach Saikiya, who had been on duty. We nabbed him at 5 am on Monday at CST.
Shinde added that during interrogation, the accused said Rasila had warned him not to look at her and that otherwise she would complain and he would lose his job.
Then the accused, under the pretext of pleading with her, managed to enter the workstation by following Rasila as she entered it using her access card. He then strangulated her with a yellow computer LAN cable and assaulted her with his shoes. The murder happened between 5 and 6 pm. The accused remained at the floor till his shift ended around 6-7 pm and later left the campus.
The UNFC made the claim in a statement issued on January 27 after the UNFCs central executive committee emergency meeting held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from January 23 to 25.
On 7 December, last year, the Shan State parliament approved the proposal to brand the Northern Alliance - Burma as a terrorist organization.
Also at the three-day meeting, the UNFC central executive committee decided to hold a conference in late March.
Former SP minister Shivpal Yadav further queered the pitch by announcing that he would form a new party after March 11.
Lucknow: He fought his family to position himself at the helm of the party. And just when he seemed to have gained full control of his political career, he is facing another battle, again, from within his family and also his own party.
For UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, the year may have started on a good note with his coronation as head of the Samajwadi Party, but as the weeks roll by, the challenges in the ongoing elections are mounting by the day and the biggest obstacles are coming either from his own family or his own party.
Just when the Samajwadi party seemed perfectly poised for elections after sewing up an alliance with the Congress, Samajwadi patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav spoilt the party by announcing his disapproval of the alliance and even followed it up by encouraging his followers to contest as rebel candidates on seats allotted to the Congress.
Former SP minister Shivpal Yadav further queered the pitch by announcing that he would form a new party after March 11. According to sources, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav will be campaigning only on two seats Jaswantnagar where Mr Shivpal Yadav is a candidate and Lucknow Cantt seat from where his younger daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav is contesting.
He is likely to issue appeals for his loyalists who are contesting from other parties after being denied tickets by Mr Akhilesh Yadav. This will not only create confusion among SP cadres but will also put a strain on the SP-Congress ties.
This is Akhileshs family matter but he should resolve it at the earliest because we certainly do not want his party leaders damaging us in the polls, said a senior Congress leader while talking to this correspondent on phone from Delhi on Tuesday.
Besides, the Samajwadi Party is presently facing the maximum number of rebel candidates. All the sacked ministers who have been denied ticket by Mr Akhilesh Yadav are now contesting either as rebel candidates or on symbols of other parties.
The chief minister, who is also the SP president, denied ticket to UP minister Ravidas Mehrotra on Monday night after the latter had filed his nomination.
Mr Mehrotra was informed that his seat had been given to the Congress but he has refused to withdraw from the fray.
UP minister Sharda Shukla has also filed his nomination on Monday as a RLD candidate after being denied ticket from Sarojini Nagar seat.
Earlier, two sacked ministers Ambica Chaudhary and Narad Rai joined the BSP and are contesting from their respective seats in Ballia as BSP candidates.
Mr Akhilesh Yadav is allowing his personal likes and dislikes to rule over ticket distribution. For him, loyalty to his father is the deciding factor and we have been denied tickets because of this, said former SP leader Ambica Chaudhary.
The PPCC president said he was committed to rescuing the people of the region.
Chandigarh: Punjab Congress president and chief ministerial candidate Captain Amarinder Singh has announced free treatment for cancer victims in Punjab, while promising a permanent solution to the problem of cancer-causing pollution in the Malwa region of the state.
Captain Amarinder Singh was addressing a public rally in Faridkot, which lie in the cancer belt of the state and have been suffering from growing incidence of the cancer and other diseases as a result of the apathy of the Badal government, which failed to address the problem during their 10-year rule.
In Faridkot, flanked by Congress candidate Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, Captain Amarinder said the people of the region were suffering from the double whammy of losing their loved ones to cancer and having to struggle to meet the heavy costs of treatment. The PPCC president said he was committed to rescuing the people of the region, which had given Punjab the dubious distinction of becoming the cancer capital of India, from the health crisis triggered by the Akali governments failure to find an impactful solution to the pollution causing the health problems, and to ensure affordable treatment for those afflicted by the disease.
The Congress government, he promised, would find a solution for the disposal of the toxic industrial waste and contaminants spoiling the underground water in the region.
The problem was aggravated as a result of fake seeds and pesticides finding their way into the soil, said Captain Amarinder Singh, vowing to bring agriculture minister Tota Singh, involved in the pesticide scam, to book for playing with the lives of the people.
For the farmers in the region, this was a double crisis since the fake pesticides were drastically affecting their produce, while leading to health issues such as cancer and other serious ailments, the PPCC chief added.
Captain Amarinder assured the farmers that his government would implement a series of measures to revive agricultural growth in the state, and bring prosperity and smiles back into their lives.
The Punjab Congress president flayed the Badal government for pushing agriculture and industry to a shocking low, causing Punjab to come down from its glorious status of the countrys leading and most prosperous state. While agriculture has collapsed to an abominable low, industries had been fleeing the state to escape the unfriendly policies of the Akali government and fine refuge in more conducive growth environment of other states, he added.
The BJP was quick to hit back by fielding senior ministers to counter the attack.
New Delhi: Just a day before the Economic Survey, the Congress fielded its top guns, former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and former finance minister P. Chidambaram, to release an alternative economic survey document titled State of the Economy. The thrust of the Congress attack was the slowdown of the economy and the lack of jobs. The BJP was quick to hit back by fielding senior ministers to counter the attack.
Leading the charge, Dr Singh said Indian economy is not in a good shape and it is now obvious. The IMF has projected that the growth rate of India this current fiscal year will not be 7.6% but 6.6%. Several other agencies have made similar projections. The Congress says that the 78 page report prepared by the research cell outlines was based on through research and analysis of prominent economic bodies as well as economists.
Mr Chidambaram said that the BJP government will present an exaggerated version of the economy and that the Congresss report was closer to the reality. He also added The BJP is hiding behind a GDP number which is being challenged. People arent dazzled by it. But they are asking where are the jobs? Where is the new capital investment? Where is credit growth? There are no jobs, capital formation is declining, credit growth is the lowest in several decades. The Congress wants to start a new trend by releasing its own analysis of the economy before the economic survey. It has also asked the government to come clean on the numbers and not resort to obfuscation.
The BJP was quick to hit back. Information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiha Naidu said that no certification was required from the two leaders of the Congress. He even dubbed them failed economists who ruined the economy. He also rejected their criticism of economy and accused them of trying to give a wrong message to investors.
Commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman also hit out at the Congress and said The document released is not based on hard data, instead it is based on their own wishlist.
The BJP also alleged that one a day when serious issues on letters of Vijay Mallya to the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh were raised the Congress was releasing this document. The Commerce Minister further added the Congress should answer how they allowed Mallya to obtain that kind of loan.
AAP chief wrote a letter to the poll body pointing out instances where leaders of other parties had made similar remarks.
New Delhi: A day after the Election Commission ordered legal action against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for the violation of the model code of conduct for his bribery remarks, the AAP chief wrote a letter to the poll body pointing out instances where leaders of other parties had made similar remarks.
The Election Commission has given orders to register an FIR against me for my bribery remarks on Sunday... So much promptness was shown in my case that the Delhi high courts January 2016 orders were ignored, which dismissed these allegations and the demand to register an FIR against me, he said in the letter.
On January 29, in his rally in Lambi district of Punjab, Captain Amrinder Singh had appealed to people to take money. He had said that some people might come to give money to you, which you should not refuse, but cast your vote for Congress only. Defense minister Manohar Parrikar on January 29 had said that he can understand that some people might give upto Rs 500 to the people, but they should take the money and vote for BJP only, the letter added.
The letter requested that the poll body show similar enthusiasm in the case of the two leaders by taking permission from the Prime Ministers Office.
Yadav accused the Modi government of harassing the common man with the demonetisation move.
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president and UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Monday that the BJP had photocopied his partys election manifesto because it did not have issues of its own. Addressing a rally in Etah, the chief minister said that the BJP had been targeting him during the past five years, but in the end, it was forced to accept that the Samajwadi model of development was the best.
Mr Yadav accused the Modi government of harassing the common man with the demonetisation move and asked, Where are the achche din that the BJP promised? How many of you have got Rs 15 lakhs in your bank account? He pointed out that the poor were forced to stand in long queues at banks, while the rich did not face any problem at all. Mr Yadav said that the SP alliance with the Congress would strengthen the cycle with the cooperation of the hand. People can see that we have done a lot of progress in every sphere in the last five years. We started several schemes for the welfare of the people. These include the Samajwadi ambulance service, the Dial 100 scheme for emergency police service and the Samajwadi pension scheme, he said.
Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan was subject to the highest levels of human pressure of any NWHS
The most impacted NWHS were found in Asia, including Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, Chitwan National Park in Nepal, and Simien National Park in Ethiopia.
More than 100 natural World Heritage sites are being severely damaged by encroaching human activities, with the India's Keoladeo National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary among those facing the highest level of human footprints, a new study has warned.
Natural World Heritage Sites (NWHS), via the formal process run by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), are globally recognised as containing some of the Earth's most valuable natural assets. Researchers, including those from the University of Queensland in Australia and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in the US, looked at human pressure over time using the global Human Footprint criteria, which includes roads, agriculture, urbanisation and industrial infrastructure, along with forest loss.
They found that the Human Footprint has increased in 63 per cent of NWHS across all continents except Europe over the past two decades. The most impacted NWHS were found in Asia, including Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, Chitwan National Park in Nepal, and Simien National Park in Ethiopia. Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan was subject to the highest levels of human pressure of any NWHS.
In terms of forest loss, highly imp acted parks included the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve in Honduras, which lost 365 square kilometres (8.5 per cent) of their forest respectively, since 2000. Even celebrated places like Yellowstone National Park in the US were impacted, losing some six per cent of its forests.
Meanwhile, Waterton Glacier International Peace Park that crosses the Canadian and US border lost almost one quarter of its forested area (23 per cent or 540 square kilometres). "World Heritage natural sites should be maintained and protected fully. For a site to lose ten or twenty per cent of its forested area in two decades is alarming and must be addressed," said James Allan, from University of Queensland.
"Any place that is listed as a World Heritage site is a globally important asset to all of humanity," said James Watson of the University of Queensland. "The world would never accept the Acropolis being knocked down, or a couple of pyramids being flattened for housing estates or roads, yet right now, across our planet, we are simply letting many of our natural World Heritage sites be severely altered," Watson said.
"It is time for the global community to stand up and hold governments to account so that they take the conservation of natural World Heritage sites seriously," said Allan. "Urgent intervention is clearly needed to save these places and their outstanding natural universal values," he said.
Some NWHS such as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and Mana Pools National Park showed minimal change in forest loss or human pressure, but the authors say they are in the minority. The research appears in the journal Biological Conservation.
Says not asking for full statehood, questions Jungs role.
New Delhi: The AAP government while making it clear in the Supreme Court that it was not asking for a full statehood but only seeking more administrative powers, questioned the hurdles put by the then lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung by claiming that all decisions will have to be taken with his consent.
Senior counsel Gopal Subramanian, appearing for the AAP government, made this submission before a bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and R.K. Agrawal hearing a batch of appeals challenging the Delhi high court judgment declaring Delhi a Union Territory and approving the L-Gs action.
Mr Subramanian said the HC had ruled that the L-G was the administrative head of the capital and was not bound by the aid and advice of the chief minister or council of ministers. He said the HC verdict subverted the democratic governance structure put by a constitutional arrangement which has granted special status to Delhi with an elected Assembly.
Counsel argued that the Union of India is encroaching on its powers in exercising executive power. He asserted that the Delhi government is not a subordinate department of the ministry of home affairs and that it is answerable to the people of Delhi and the Delhi Assembly, and not to the MHA. He said the extensive litigation between NCT Delhi and Union of India makes it clear that the lieutenant-governor as the delegate of the President has assumed the right to act in relation to all matters virtually taking away executive and legislative powers of the democratically-elected government.
Mr Subramanian submitted that according to the lieutenant-governor, all the executive actions of the government taken on the aid and advice of the council of ministers cannot be translated into orders without his consent.
He argued that the very object and purpose of distribution of powers between the Union of India and NCT of Delhi in Article 239AA(3) of the Constitution is defeated by this interpretation of the said Article and the unlawful assumption of the power by the L-G.
The counsel contended that if the L-G is the boss in terms of governance and decision-making process, then Parliament in its wisdom would not have provided for a council of ministers headed by a chief minister, who were collectively answerable to the Legislative Assembly.
He said it was a settled constitutional principle that the figurative head of a state, like governor or L-G, was bound by the decision of the council of ministers headed by the CM. But the HC chose to tread a new constitutional path and declared that the L-G had the discretion whether or not to heed the advice of the council of ministers. Pointing out that the administration had come to a standstill, he said this court will have to decide on the jurisdictional issues. Arguments will continue on Wednesday.
To also focus on improving perception of Delhi police.
New Delhi: Amulya Kumar Patnaik, who formally took charge as commissioner of Delhi Police on Tuesday, said that his focus will be to work to improve the perception about Delhi Police even as he said that the relationship with Delhi government has been fine all along. Patnaik (57) succeeded Alok Kumar Verma, who has been appointed as the CBI director, to become the 21st commissioner off the force with a strength of close to 80,000 personnel.
We will work on ensuring that the perception of Delhi Police should be better in the eyes of the public. I have grown with this force for more than 30 years, said Mr Patnaik, adding that Delhi Police was one of the best in the country. They are definitely the most hard-pressed in the country and they are doing a wonderful job. But still somehow, somewhere, the perception about police, I think needs to be made a little better and we will work on it, he stressed.
Mr Patnaik also said that the focus will be on making women feel safer in the national capital. Women safety will always remain an area of priority. Safety of children and senior citizens too is very important. We will do our best to further see how women in the city can feel safer, he said while speaking to mediapersons. He is known to have started a number of helplines for womens safety, including the anti-stalking helpline and anti-obscene calls helpline in his earlier stints.
He also said that he would try and improve the grirvance redressal system. Our public grievance redressal system is good and we are able to reach out to the public and public can meet officers at any level. But we will still see where exactly we can improve it further. The effort will be to reach out to the people of all sections of the society, he said.
Mr Patnaik also highlighted that digitalisation and tackling cyber crimes will be key focus areas. We will focus also on digitalisation of the police functions. Digitalisation will be an area of priority. We can see how much we can work on it, he said. .
Mr Patnaiks predecessor Mr Verma had always asked his officers to curb street crimes, and the new top cop reiterated the words of his predecessor. Street crime have been controlled to a large extent in the last one year and they have come down. Heinous crimes have also come down and those things will be continued, he said.
As commissioner of Delhi Police, Mr Patnaik will inherit a range of pending cases, including that of Sunanda Pushkars death and disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed.
As commissioner of the Delhi Police, Mr Patnaik will have one of the longest tenures as the head of the force. Mr Patnaik, who is 57 years old, will retire in January 2020, thereby allowing him to serve as the top cop of the force for almost three years.
Earlier in the day, Mr Verma was given a farewell parade where many of the personnel, who were part of the massive promotions granted to 26,000 personnel, shouted, Verma ji ki jai.
Later in the day, Mr Verma was given a farewell near the front lawn to the sounds of dhol with the top brass of Delhi Police wishing him luck for his new assignment. Mr Verma thanked his personnel for supporting him.
It is time to bid farewell. As commissioner, my first priority was to curb street crimes and provide security to women and children. It is with your support that I achieved success in all these spheres in 2016. This has been possible due to your hard work, Mr Verma said, while addressing police personnel at his farewell parade.
Traders claim that business could come down to 50 per cent from what it is now.
New Delhi: The Delhi governments decision to make Connaught Place (CP) a vehicle-free zone is facing flak from the traders and shopkeepers in the area. The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) is using all its power and muscle to garner attention towards the problems they are anticipating once the plan is kicked in.
The traders claim that business could come down to 50 per cent from what it is now. The association has written to the Prime Minister and the L-G. The L-G has asked for a high-level meeting on the issue in the coming week to understand the problems of the shopkeepers in the area. The meeting would be chaired by the L-G. The NDMC chairperson, Delhi secretary, Delhi police official, Union ministry officials, and the head of traders union are expected to be called.
The association is contemplating a legal remedy against the pedestrianisation of the heritage area. On an average, more than 1,500 cars can be spotted in the inner circle. The iconic market hub, which has tourists and office-goers as well, has been ranked as the 7th most expensive office space in the world. While one argument against the move is loss of business, the shopkeepers also feel that the decision is not through and that it doesnt benefit anyone in the long run. If we were to go by numbers, CP bore a loss of 80 per cent of its business when Yoga Day was conducted in the area. The traders association has used all its power and muscle to seek help from the political cadres.
I think it is a half-baked decision because CP is a living heritage area. This move would only slow down business because people would prefer going to a mall rather than facing parking hazards in the area, said Atul Bhargava, the president of NDTA.
According to him, the luxury brands in the area could take a serious hit, We have iconic Indian and other luxury brands. I dont think anyone would want to buy gold and travel back walking, looking for their vehicles, he added. Apart from business, the office-goers and others feel that this will add to more problems in the area. Notably, CP has been facing a congestion crisis after the boom in radio taxis and e-rickshaws plying in the area.
There arent sufficient parking spaces available near the inner circle. If you seek the opinion of a tourist or a commuter, he would be very happy because it would be less crowded. But we have to understand that this is a half-baked idea, he said.
The office goers and restaurant owners say that the government should make a holistic plan and specially focus on other markets that are in dire need of decongestion. They are of the opinion that Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazaar pose a bigger threat to traffic.
The online petition aimed at seeking attention of the netizens, claims: If pedestrianisation is implemented, it will result in closure of business houses operating for the past five decades and more. Please sign this petition... Help us save Connaught Place, else the consequences will be dire!
A city court is likely to soon pronounce the order on the quantum of sentence.
New Delhi: A court here on Tuesday convicted a domestic help of raping and killing an 81-year-old woman at her south Delhi residence.
Additional Sessions Judge Sanjiv Jain held Neeraj Saki guilty of offences of rape and murder under IPC in the incident which occurred on July 8, 2014 at the victim's house in Greater Kailash-II.
The court is likely to soon pronounce the order on the quantum of sentence.
The police, in its charge sheet, had said that Saki had raped the woman before strangling her and then set her body on fire.
It had said that after killing the victim, he tried to mislead neighbours about her whereabouts and fled from the house with cash and jewellery.
The convict, who hails from Madhubani in Bihar, had set the body of victim Rekha Duggal on fire using kerosene and dragged it to an adjacent room, it had said.
He then informed neighbours that Rekha had not returned from her evening walk, the charge sheet had said.
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Decision was taken at a high-level parliamentary party meeting chaired by chief minister.
TMC MPs Saugata Roy, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Kalyan Banerjee talk to the media after a meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence in the city. (Photo: Asian Age)
Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress has decided to boycott the first two days of the Budget Session of Parliament to protest the Narendra Modi-led Central governments demonetisation drive and its politics of vendetta, which the party said resulted in the arrest of party MPs Sudip Bandopadhyay and Tapas Paul in connection with Rose Valley chit fund scam.
The decision was taken at a high-level parliamentary party meeting chaired by chief minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence on Monday. TMC MPs also boycotted the all-party meeting which was held in Delhi on Monday before the commencement of the Budget Session.
Ms Banerjee also appointed Saugata Roy as deputy parliamentary party leader in the Lok Sabha, and directed him to take a leading role in the ensuing Parliament Session in the absence of Mr Bandopadhyay.
We will not attend the first two days of the Budget Session on January 31 and February 1 in protest against demonetisation, which was implemented without taking the Parliament into confidence, and the restrictions on withdrawal limits from bank accounts which are still in force, the TMCs chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Kalyan Banerjee, told reporters after the meeting.
He added that the TMC, from February 2 onwards, would continue to raise its voice against the note ban, and the illegal arrests of its two party MPs both inside and outside the Parliament during the ensuing session. The Narendra Modi government is misusing the CBI and abusing its power to arrest our party MPs. It is a clear case of political vindictive attitude, he said.
On the question of coordinating with the Congress on the floor of the House on the issue of demonetisation, Mr Banerjee said, Our main aim is to remove Narendra Modi from the Prime Ministers chair. Whichever party will have the same agenda will get our full support.
On being asked who would be the party legislative chief as Sudip Bandopadhyay is now in prison, Mr Banerjee said the TMC would be led in the Parliament by senior party leader Saugata Roy along with deputy-parliamentary party leader Ratna Dey Nag.
Sudip Da will continue to be the Lok Sabha Parliamentary party leader of the TMC. He has more than 50 years of political career and by arresting him, he cannot be removed from our leadership. We will extend our support to him and hope that he will be back in Parliament soon, he added.
The Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party immediately issued a statement after the Kalighat meeting, making their stand clear about not attending the first two days of the Budget Session. The statement was signed jointly by TMC MPs Derek OBrien, Kalyan Banerjee, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Saugata Roy and Dinesh Trivedi.
Ms Banerjee had earlier questioned the move to present the Union Budget on February 1, as the state government would be celebrating Saraswati Puja on the same day.
The beagles had been housed in the company for the past six years.
Mumbai: Twenty-one beagles, which were being used for laboratory testing, have been rescued from a research park in Pune on January 27. These dogs are aged between six and eight years. The beagles had been housed in the company for the past six years.
Animals used in research undergo a lot of pain and suffering, and after their role is over they are put down. However, that has changed now with the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), which is under the aegis of the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), rehabilitating such animals, particularly dogs. Maneka Gandhi personally intervened to save the beagles. On January 23 Ms. Gandhi immediately got in touch with Lupin Labs and directed me to arrange the modalities for the transfer, said Manoj Oswal, Pune unit head of People for Animals (PFA), which picked up the dogs, along with ResQ Charitable Trust activists.
Beagles are the most commonly used dogs in animal testing, due to their small size and passive nature. A favoured animal in toxicology studies, these dogs are often kept caged until their study is complete. Neha Panchamiya, president and founder of ResQ, who runs animal rescue centre for street animals and helped in their rescue, said, These animals have been subjected to various tests throughout their lives, never having seen the light of day or even stepped on real ground. We can now give them a second lease on life and find them homes where they will finally get the love and care they deserve.
Ms Mhatre claimed that her mother had got two voter id cards and one was without even applying for it.
Mumbai: The Congress party asked the election commission to postpone the BMC polls till the time the loopholes in the voter list arent fixed. Sheetal Mhatre, the women wing president of Mumbai Congress, had claimed that she had found huge mistakes in the voter list. After finding loopholes in the voter lists, she had written to the election commission, seeking postponement of the BMC elections.
In one of the wards, she claimed that voter list states that there is a population of around 58,000, but voters are more than 61,000. There are some 1,200 names in the list with addresses as Borivali West. How am I suppose to find these voters. A voter list has to have all addresses, she said.
She also alleged that even though the voter population expected in every ward is nearly 40,000 and above, however, in her own ward the number has reduced to around 24,000.
I have written to the election commission stating that the BMC elections should be postponed until the time the gaffes in the voter list arent rectified. I submitted the letter to election commission on Monday, she said.
Ms Mhatre claimed that her mother had got two voter id cards and one was without even applying for it. She has blamed the election commission for the mistakes.
Sharad Pawar slammed PM Modi over the demonetisations decision.
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar has scotched rumours that his party is cosying up to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying it will never support the saffron party nor join hands with communal forces and compromise on secularism.
There are rumours being spread that NCP is growing close to BJP. This is absolutely false news. NCP will never support BJP, Mr Pawar said addressing a public meeting in Goa.
We will never compromise on secularism. NCP will never be with the communal forces. Those who are favouring and spreading communalism, we will never be with them, said Mr Pawar, who was recently honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the countrys second highest civilian award.
With Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray calling off his partys two-decade-old alliance with BJP, speculation was rife that BJP could look to NCP to fill the crucial gap ahead of civic polls in Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra.
During a public meeting Sunday night, Mr Pawar slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisations decision, holding him responsible for generating unemployment in the unorganised sector and spelling doom for various sectors.
He accused Mr Modi of having taken the demonetisation decision to misguide and divert the attention of the people from his failure to bring back black money from abroad. Mr Modi overnight terminated a lot of currency and within a day, the entire country was standing in queues outside banks, Mr Pawar said.
He also lambasted defence minister Manohar Parrikar for closing down the mining industry in Goa after he took over the reins in 2012 as CM. People who were dependent on the mining industry were forced to face a bleak future with one decision of Parrikar, Mr Pawar added.
Uddhav Thackeray says his party will contest all the elections in the state independently.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) faced embarrassment after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray rejected the alliance proposal of Bala Nandgaonkar, MNS chief Raj Thackerays trusted aide, for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
After the saffron alliance split, Mr Nandgaonkar on Sunday evening went to Mr Thackerays residence, Matoshree, with a proposal for alliance between MNS and Shiv Sena, suspicions of which were already doing rounds. However, putting the possibilities of an alliance to rest, Mr Thackeray said, We have decided to contest all the elections in the state independently and on our own strength. There neither existed a proposal nor there was any discussion regarding any alliance with anyone. This response would surely rattle MNS, which after a decade-long fight with the Shiv Sena on all fronts, including BMC, Assembly and Lok Sabha, made the first move of teaming with Shiv Sena.
Raj Thackeray had left Shiv Sena after a major showdown with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray over he being given the responsibility of the party. Yet, he chose to send his party leader Mr Nandgaonkar, a former minister in the Sena-BJP led government who shifted his allegiance to MNS in 2006, for proposing an alliance with Sena. Mr Nandgaonkar said, I met Subhash Desai at Matoshree. We (MNS) are demanding seats only that we have won in the last election held in 2012. But Sena has not given us a positive response. However, we will wait till the last day of filing nominations.
Interestingly, both Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had predicted that after the split, the Thackeray cousins might come together. In its party workers meet at NEC, Goregaon on Saturday, BJP city chief Ashish Shelar had raised doubts over both, Sena having tie or indirect alliance for coming polls.
On Monday, however, Mr Uddhav Thackeray clarified his stand but avoided giving too many details. He said, There is no discussion of an alliance anywhere. I do not have proposal from anyone.
Mr Thackeray also reacted to BJP national chief Amit Shahs remarks on break-up in Sena-BJP alliance. Mr Shah in an interview to one news channel had said, There is no break up with Shiv Sena. We are having friendly fights there in Maharashtra. Mr Thackerey reacted to this rather strongly. What is this friendly fight? They never talked about it at the time of Assembly elections. Why now? asked Mr Thackerey. We are contesting on our own across the state. There is no friendly match with anyone, he added.
Lufts memoir, which will be released in March, was left unfinished when he died in 2005.
Los Angeles: A new book by Judy Garlands third husband, Sid Luft, reveals that two of biggest Hollywood icons of their time, the actress and Marilyn Monroe, were close friends and confidants.
In his unfinished memoir, Judy and I, Luft discloses new details about their less-talked about bond and that Monroe had once sought Garlands help before she died from an accidental overdose in 1962, reported People magazine.
Luft writes that Monroes death was especially troubling to Judy since Marilyn had been one of Judys telephone pals during her years of insomnia.
The book has an excerpt from an article penned by Garland about Monroe for Ladies Home Journal in 1967, in which she talks about a haunting conversation she once had with the legend.
I dont want to get too far away from you, she (Garland) said. Im scared! I told her, Were all scared. Im scared, too!
Monroe was sure Garland would understand her situation.
To this Garland said, Maybe I would. If youre scared, call me and come on over. Well talk about it. But they never had that conversation.
Lufts memoir, which will be released in March, was left unfinished when he died in 2005.
The model says she is overwhelmed by the support and love that she has received till now in India.
Mumbai: For Anjali Lama, Nepal's first transgender model, it was a struggle to land her first modelling assignment but she now hopes to use the Indian fashion week platform to boost her career in the country.
Anjali was shortlisted through the model auditions for the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2017, which begins here from tomorrow. The model says she is overwhelmed by the support and love that she has received till now in India and plans to settle down in Mumbai and expand her career.
"Mumbai has given me the hope and showered love in the most profuse way possible. I am planning to join an agency to work on dynamics even more professionally and strengthen my portfolio. I dream to win a renowned brand campaign feature while continuing to be walking the runway as this thrills me the most," Anjali told PTI in an interview.
The model was born in Nuwakot as a boy and was named Nabin Wabia. She changed her gender and became a woman once she moved to Kathmandu for her higher studies. Anjali says her friends realised her modelling potential and asked her to think of it as a career option. "I have always been told by my close friends regarding my good body features and this encouraged me to aspire for modelling as a career."
Her first assignment was of a photoshoot for the cover page of a magazine and the real challenge began after that. Anjali says it was a tough journey as several rejections came her way. "I was broke but never gave up. The most disturbing thing to hear was the reason of the rejection which was being a 'transgender'," she says.
Anjali's well-wishers advised her to leave the career path following her "successive failures". "I took this as a challenge to debunk this myth and lay my own way forward of my choice which has brought me today to this prestigious runway." Anjali says the fashion industry is all encompassing and she never felt discriminated. "Fashion is conducive. The entire industry has a big global influence in a positive way, this entwined with creative freedom and a strong self-expression makes the industry all
encompassing."
Anjali's life struggle has been presented in a documentary movie called "Anjali Living Inside Someone Else's Skin" that is based on transsexual lives. The model, whose life story has become an inspiration for many back home, says the fashion industry has become the modern-day vehicle for change. "Fashion is a strong subject and it has the possibility to turnaround the overall environment and psychology of even the
most rigid minds.
I certainly believe that 'Fashion' has become the modern-day vehicle for change.
"I now owe the responsibility to propagate its inclusively message to the forefront."
When asked who her favourite supermodel is, Anjali replies, "Brazilian Supermodel Adriana Lima."
The Valley is a classic environment for nurturing nationalism, home of Kashmiriyat.
Karachi: A conflict ends when the people at its centre look over the precipice and recognise that compromise is a life-or-death imperative, said John Lyndon of OneVoice Europe recently in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. This reminded me of a recent conversation I had with a senior Indian security official. We were surrounded by diplomats, journalists and military officials gathered there to discuss the global security challenges in a friendly West Asian country.
After an exchange of pleasantries, the official asked me where I was born in Pakistan. When I named the district, his face lit up and he said that it was his parents birthplace as well. His parents spoke the dialect of Multan and he and his siblings were fascinated by stories of pre-Partition days. To the amusement of the other guests, we struck a cultural chord and started talking about Pakistan-India conflicts and the acrimony and bitterness they had bred in the subcontinent.
I wanted my Indian counterparts to listen to a voice from the past that spoke of the future the voice of Eqbal Ahmad who was born in a small village in Bihar in 1932 into a well-to-do family but chose to migrate to Pakistan at the time of independence. Described by an English magazine as a revolutionary and intellectual who was the Ibn Khaldun of modern times, he died of cancer on May 11, 1999, at the age of 67.
According to Eqbal, history and geography bind India and Pakistan in perpetuity. Fear, hostility, conflict and war have made it a painful embrace. Nuclear weapons threaten to make it fatal. He was of the view that both Delhi and Islamabad perceive Kashmirs realities and interests as subservient to their own and often remarked bitterly that India and Pakistan were willing to fight to the last Kashmiri.
The question he posed was: were both willing to find a Kashmiri solution for Kashmir?
His answer was pragmatic. The first step was to comprehend the ambitions and fears of the three parties: India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris. Indias ambition is territorial; its aim, to exercise sovereignty over the Valley, Jammu and Ladakh. Its strategic concerns vis-a-vis China reinforce the territorial imperative. Pakistans ambition is also territorial. However, it is reinforced by a deeply held sense of injustice.
As for the Kashmiri-speaking majority, their driving force was a well-founded sense of victimhood; a feeling rooted in history but greatly nourished by Delhis brutal repression and its security forces excesses. Kashmiris also view themselves as a divided and dispersed people, a perception that nourishes the yearning for reunification and independence. The Valley is a classic environment for nurturing nationalism, home of Kashmiriyat. India cannot suppress it. It must be accommodated, Eqbal pleaded.
Eqbal felt that neither India nor Pakistan had tried the option of a negotiated settlement in earnest. First, it required the two adversaries to rethink their fixed positions and acknowledge that Kashmirs future is a matter of dispute between Pakistan, India, and the Kashmiri people; its settlement must involve and satisfy all three. Second, that no matter how forcefully it was promoted, a unilateral solution would not work. Third, that the benefits of a historic compromise are much greater than the profits or pride of territorial acquisition.
The concrete proposal Eqbal envisaged was a step-by-step progression from autonomy, to open borders, to unification with divided sovereignty. Everyone would give up something so that everyone could gain something.
The challenge of Pakistans Kashmir diplomacy is not only to pursue bilateral negotiations but to persuade international opinion and bring multiple pressures on the Indian government to opt in favour of a sane and lasting settlement. The problem, unfortunately, is that the hand stretched towards the future is chopped off by another anchored in the past.
In talking to my Indian friends, I concluded by quoting the words of Eqbal Ahmad: To become prosperous and normal peoples, we must make peace where there is hostility, build bridges where there are chasms, heal where there are wounds, feed where there is hunger, and prosper where there is poverty. Kashmir is the finest place to start, and not merely because it is the core of the Indo-Pakistan conflict. Our histories, cultures and religions have converged in Kashmir. Our rivers begin there, mountains meet there, and our dreams rest there.
These were no hollow words; they came from the heart of a true visionary from Pakistan.
I really think that meaningful change will require peace-loving citizens from Pakistan, India and Kashmir to become organised and demand a break from the burden of history. Our fate is in our own hands.
By arrangement with Dawn
Imran said things in Pakistan could only get better if the people worked for the countrys progress.
Islamabad: Condemning the plight of Muslims being prevented from entering the US after President Donald Trumps immigration ban, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has said he wanted the US to ban Pakistani visas so that the administration could focus on fixing the country.
I want to tell all Pakistanis today, I pray that Mr Trump bans Pakistani visas so that we can focus on fixing our country, the Dawn quoted Mr Khan as saying on Sunday.
Mr Khan said things in Pakistan could only get better if the people worked for the countrys progress. He said most educated Pakistanis wanted to leave the country, adding the best citizens would return the day the merit system would be back.
We will have to fix Pakistan and stand on our own two feet. And the day that we decide this is our home and we have to fix it, we wont beg for loans from the US and the IMF, he said.
May's govt was forced to introduce the bill after it lost a historic legal battle in the Supreme Court last week to bypass the parliament.
The bill is likely to pass through as opposition Labour party is backing it, even though several of its lawmakers are planning to defy the party line and vote against it. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)
London: Britain on Tuesday took a key step to exit the European Union as the lawmakers began debating a new bill in Parliament that will enable Prime Minister Theresa May to invoke article 50 and trigger official Brexit negotiations, as the government races to meet a self-imposed March 31 deadline.
The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill is listed for a two-day debate, with a vote scheduled tomorrow.
May's government was forced to introduce the bill after it lost a historic legal battle in the Supreme Court last week to bypass the MPs and begin the process of exiting the 28-nation economic bloc without a parliamentary vote.
However, the bill is likely to pass through as opposition Labour party is backing it, even though several of its lawmakers are planning to defy the party line and vote against it.
David Davis, minister for exiting the EU, opened the debate in the House of Commons with a clear message to MPs.
"It is not a bill about whether or not the UK should leave the EU, or how it should do so. It is simply about implementing a decision already made, a point of no return already passed. We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the EU; they decided they did," Davis said.
"We are now honouring the result of the referendum, we will respect the will of the people," he added.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin on Monday, May had also said that her "message to people is very clear". "The people of the United Kingdom voted on 23 June last year. They voted in a referendum that was given to them overwhelmingly by Parliament. The people spoke in that vote. The majority voted to leave the European Union. I think it is now the job of the government to put that into practice," she said.
"I hope that when people come to look at the Article 50 Bill they will recognise it is a very simple decision: do they support the will of the British people or not," she added.
The bill, dubbed among the shortest in UK parliamentary history, was published last week after the UK government lost its legal battle in the Supreme Court, which directed May to seek Parliament's approval to trigger the official process of Britain's exit from the EU.
The Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party are to vote against the Bill, but Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's whip to back the bill means the government is expected to win.
A group of May's own Conservative party rebels have also backed down after her assurance of a White Paper to be published on her Brexit plans in coming weeks.
The extent of a rebellion within the Labour party rebellion remains to be seen, with several of Corbyn's MPs including Indian-origin MP Virendra Sharma indicating they plan to defy the party whip and vote against the bill.
Two of Corbyn's shadow ministers, Tulip Siddiq and Jo Stevens, had quit the frontbench last week, saying they want to vote against the bill. If the vote goes the government's way, the bill will return to the Commons next week for thecommittee stage when Opposition parties will try to push through a series of amendments.
It will then head to the House of Lords for a debate and approval. The Lords can suggest its own amendments but it remains to be seen if they will propose any changes.
According to a report in 'The Times', the UK government wants to pass the legislation in time for May to initiate the Brexit process at a summit of European leaders in early March.
The government has told the House of Lords that it wants the new Brexit Bill approved on March 7.
All 28 heads of government from EU member states will meet on March 9 at the two-day European Council summit in Malta, giving May an opportunity to invoke Article 50 at the meeting.
U.K. and U.S. authorities fined Deutsche Bank of Germany $629 million for helping crooked Russian plutocrats move $10 billion out of Russia.
Via Bloomberg:
From April 2012 to October 2014, mirror trades were used by Deutsche Bank customers to transfer more than $6 billion from Russia, through the German lender's arm in the U.K., to overseas bank accounts including in Cyprus, Estonia, and Latvia, the FCA said. Another nearly $4 billion in suspicious "one-sided trades" were also carried out.
The mirror trades allowed clients to buy local blue-chip shares for rubles, while the same stocks would be sold in London for dollars, in order to obtain the U.S. currency. Although such trades can be legal, there was a lack of controls in place at Deutsche Bank to prevent money laundering and other offenses.
Gayathiri Bose alleged that she was told by police to squeeze her breast at airport security to prove she was lactating.
Gayathiri Bose is a manager at a transport company who has a three-year-old child and a seven-month-old baby. (Photo: Twitter)
Berlin: A 33-year-old Indian-origin Singaporean woman has said that she was "humiliated" by German police when was told to squeeze her breast at Frankfurt airport to prove she was lactating, a media report said on Tuesdcay.
Gayathiri Bose, a manager at a transport company who has a three-year-old child and a seven-month-old baby, said she has filed a complaint with German police alleging she was told to squeeze her breast at airport security to prove she was lactating.
She told the BBC she was "humiliated" and "very traumatised" by the experience and would explore formal legal action.
She said police at Frankfurt Airport were suspicious because she was carrying a breast pump but travelling without her baby.
German police declined to comment on the specific allegations, the report said. But they said such measures were "clearly" not part of routine procedure.
Bose, who was travelling alone, said she was on her way to board a flight to Paris last Thursday when she was stopped at the security screening station.
She said that after her carry-on bag, which contained her breast pump, went through the X-ray machine, she was taken aside for questioning.
"[They had] an incredulous tone. 'You are breastfeeding? Then where is your baby? Your baby is in Singapore?'," she said about the 45-minutue episode.
They kept her passport and she was then led to a room by a female police officer for further questioning, she said.
Inside the room, "She asked me to open up my blouse and show her my breast. She wanted me to show her by hand- expressing a little."
Bose said she complied and squeezed her breast. "I was just in shock, I was going through the motions. I was all by myself as well, and wasn't sure what would happen to me if they decided to make trouble for me."
"It was only when I came out of the room that I began to slowly understand what had just happened. I just started to cry, I was terribly upset."
She said officials then tested and cleared the pump before returning her passport, and she was allowed to board her plane to Paris.
"When they finally cleared me of the matter, I told them that this is not the way to treat someone. I said 'Do you know what you just did to me, you made me show my breast.'
"The officer just said, 'Okay it is over now, please go'. Christian Altenhofen, spokesman for the German federal police unit at Frankfurt Airport, told the BBC that he could not comment on the incident "for reasons of data protection".
He added, "If a suspected explosive is detected at an air safety control point, the baggage and the person must be searched. The measures you have described for a breastfeeding mother are clearly not included.
Aviation expert Ellis Taylor from aviation publication Flightglobal said asking a mother to show she was lactating was "pretty ridiculous".
Before his detention, Saeed said he doesn't care if his organisation faces any 'curbs' for raising voice for 'oppressed Kashmiris'.
Lahore: With the Trump administration mounting pressure, Pakistani authorities on Monday night put Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed and four others under detention under an Anti-Terrorism Act.
Saeed was at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji in Lahore when police descended there to implement the order of detention issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry on Monday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27, JuD activists and Pakistani media said.
He "is at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji and a heavy contingent of police has surrounded the JuD headquarters," JuD official Ahmed Nadeem, who was present at the premises of the outfit, told PTI by phone.
"The commanding police officer told us that he has with him the house arrest order of the JuD chief issued by the Punjab Home Department," Nadeem said.
"We are going to shift Hafiz Saeed from Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji to his Jauhar Town residence to place him under house arrest on the order of the government," a senior police officer told PTI.
Saeed's residence has been declared sub-jail, he said. National flags were hoisted at the JuD offices in Lahore, instead of party flags, on the directives of provincial home department, local media reports said.
The provincial authorities have also started to remove the banners of JuD from the roads of Lahore, the reports said.
Nadeem said the Pakistani government had been under pressure from the United States to take action against Saeed or face sanctions. "This government has buckled under the pressure," he said.
Three days back, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had included names of Saeed and four others -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- in the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and ordered their preventive detention.
Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz were also taken into preventive custody, Pakistani media reported.
Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JuD and Saeed to avoid sanctions.
JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26, 2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.
A few hours before his detention, Saeed said he does not care if his organisation faces any "curbs" for raising voice for "oppressed Kashmiris".
"I don't care if the government places some curbs on us on the pressure of the United States and India. India is putting pressure on Pakistan through the US to take action against us," Saeed said while talking to a group of senior journalists in Lahore at a local hotel this afternoon.
He warned the Nawaz Sharif government that the JuD would move court if any curbs were placed on it.
Saeed said the JuD would hold a march from Lahore to Islamabad and Karachi to Islamabad to put pressure on the government to raise the issue of Kashmir at international fora.
A letter from the Bishop Schmitthaeusler announces a three-year plan for the family. Consumerism, poverty, migration and interfaith marriage are the challenges to the proposal of the Catholic family.
Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) Mgr Olivier Schmitthaeusler, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, released a letter on Epiphany, laying out a three-year plan for the family aimed at finding a model to propose to Cambodia, a country whose culture was destroyed by civil war and the Khmer Rouge regime, leaving young people without values based on religion and tradition but rather informed by consumerism and selfishness and a quest for personal happiness.
God, says the letter, came in our humanity on the night of Christmas to call upon us to "become builders of a Culture of Mercy a world revolution! Not the revolution of Trump or Putin or of Duarte in the Philippines or of our leaders here!
The revolution of mercy [. . .] started on this holy Christmas night with you and me when the shepherds and the Magi adored Jesus together!
For the apostolic vicar, the three-year journey devoted to the family requires an analysis of the current situation of the Cambodian family and the problems that it encounters, starting with the quest for a model.
Today, 60% of the population is under 22 years of age. [. . .] There was a break in the transmission of traditional values, and this new generation is now finding a family model often based on television series from South Korea and Thailand or on social media, a model of a family in a society of consumers, with one child, selfish, withdrawn, and seeking its own happiness.
"How can we give the young people a good family model that they might follow?" is the first question asked in the letter. In a society that knows "the scourge of poverty," which is the "root of violence, drugs, alcohol and gambling", we must feed the poor.
This leads to the second question: "How to give stability to the poorest families to help them to be fully integrated into society?"
The third problem is emigration that has resulted in 10 per cent of the population working abroad. "The parents visit their children once a year. How can these children without parents' be good parents in the future? [. . .] How can the Church be father and mother for them also?"
Mixed marriage is another issue. Some 90 per cent of Khmer Catholics are newly baptised and most are likely to marry a Buddhist. "This means that they come from a Buddhist family and return to a Buddhist family!"
Marriage preparation is thus an opportunity and a challenge to teach new couples to adhere to a Christian vision and educate their children in the Catholic faith. Accompanying new couples is for the Church a great challenge.
Finally, During these years 2017-2019, I would like to call our Church to become always more and more:
A Church that forms, follows and guides adolescents and youth at the beginning of their affective life.
A Church which gives witness of mercy and tenderness of God, a Church that truly is Mother and Father.
A Church which listens and sees the needs of families, hears their cries with compassion and empathy to illuminate their way of life and their consciousness, especially in a Buddhist context.
A Church which calls all Catholic families to show mercy, dialogue, solidarity and peace for all families, first place in Cambodia but also in all of Asia.
by Bernardo Cervellera
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The Church of Laos is a poor Church. Pope Francis loves us. And he told us: I too am a poor bishop and go where there are poor people. This comforted us", reveals Msgr. John Kamse Vithavong, apostolic vicar of Vientiane, a few days after the ad limina visit of the bishops of Laos and their meeting with Pope Francis.
"The meeting with the pope - he says - occurred on January 26 and was very simple. He didnt give us a speech, but was interested in us and asked us about our situation. He listened a lot".
"We were with the bishops of Cambodia: a Frenchman, a Spaniard, an Indian. They have a rather stable Church. Despite all they experienced under the Khmer Rouge, they now have very active and enterprising communities. Despite a past of suffering, today Cambodians enjoy relative calm and have many foreign missionaries working there who can do a lot. Instead our a church is at the beginning, very poor and without foreign personnel ".
Msgr. Kamse, 74, remembers the last months of 1975, known as the "liberation", in which the communist Pathet Lao groups took power in the country. He had become a priest a few months earlier, after spending seven years in France and four in the Philippines.
"We have asked foreign priests to leave the country. First, because in any case the new rulers would have ordered it. And also because in this way it avoided an escalation of tension and possible clashes and violence. All foreign priests left the country, many with tears, but also with a lot of wisdom. There were Italian, French, Canadian, American. "
Since then, the shortage of priests and skilled personnel has become a constant feature of the small Church of Laos. "Ours is a young Church - continues Msgr. Kamse only 150 years. Optimistic estimates are that in all four apostolic vicariates (Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Savannaketh, Pakhse) there are about 50 thousand Catholics scattered across a large area and with different ethnic groups, with different languages and cultures. We ourselves are just about able to administer and help them: we do not have enough priests or catechists. Our Catholics, especially the younger ones, were baptized as children, but unable to receive a complete, correct and strong formation".
Faithful need a government permit to meet and this slows the missionary commitment down. Msgr. Kamse speaks of Msgr. Tito Banchong Thopanhong, the bishop of Luang Prabang, who had to wait several years before being able to move within in his own vicariate.
Msgr. Tito also spent several years in prison, where he lost an eye. "He suffered a lot," says Msgr. Kamse. "I myself could not travel for a long time. So in one day maybe we go to visit our Catholics scattered in the region. We see them for a few hours, we exchange news, then we pray and celebrate the Eucharist, preceded by confessions. And I do these pastoral visits: it is a way of serving our communities. "
"Our poverty he adds - is also economical, due to lack of facilities and lack of funds to build new ones. In 1975, our churches were taken by the government, including the Cathedral of Vientiane. It is the largest of the churches in the country and is dedicated to the Sacred Heart. Thank God, since 1979 the government has it made available to us, and we can at least use it. "
"It takes time to properly form catechists or permanent deacons so they can hold workshops, residences, etc ... and it is not easy given our poverty of staff and resources. In our poverty, we have already built three buildings that we use as churches. We need to build two more.
The construction of places of worship and encounter is one of the most urgent needs. We do not need a lot of great, showy, impressive things... The Lord was born in a stable. And we are content and do not have great expectations. Pray for us because the Lord is waiting to be loved in Laos. There are always people who help us. With the little they give us, we can organize courses, buy notebooks for lessons ... ".
With so many limitations, the Church in Laos seems to be moving very slowly, indeed it seems to almost be at a standstill. "In fact - says Msgr. Kamse - the Church is on a journey. And even evangelization is a journey. Let me give an example. I was made bishop of Vientiane in 1983. In the same year, an ethnic group, the Khmu, asked to become Christian. I went to meet with them, I promised them to help them, and we tried to organize catechism classes with people I could find. At least 1,000 people were baptized. Even now there are a large number of them who want to become Christian, at least a few hundred, they are very brave. It is a animist group, not Buddhist. The government for its part turns a blind eye because they see that we are not a danger. "
The ad limina visit, which has just finished "was wonderful, thanks to this Pope. You see that he is attentive to the poor, to us poor. And he told us: I too am a poor bishop and go where there are poor people. This comforted us. For us to come here is an opportunity to breathe the air of the universal Church, to visit all Vatican departments, but it was essential to meet the Pope. We can say that the Church has a great leader with Pope Francis, so close to our poverty. I had the ad limina visits with John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and now with this pope. What Francis said about the Church of the poor is exactly what is happening in Laos, where those who convert are among the poorest in society. "
I asked Msgr. Kamse about the highs and lows of the past year.
"The most beautiful thing in 2016 he responds - was the beatification of Laotian martyrs, on December 11. These martyrs were French, Italians, but also Laotians. It was a very simple ceremony, in the presence of a cardinal of the Philippines, Cardinal. Orlando Quevedo, one from Vietnam, and then several priests and bishops from Vietnam, Thailand, etc ..
The other nice thing was the evangelization of the Khmu, which continues. But shortly it will be necessary to open another camp, among the Hmong, another ethnic group. The saddest thing? Well, because of our difficulties there is a sadness, a little everywhere. But we are full of joy. Pray for us, for these commitments.
(In the picture: the Cambodian and Laotian bishops visited PIME in Rome. Msgr. Kamse is the sixth from the left)
by Nirmala Carvalho
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The Church in Asia "is deeply saddened by the inhuman murder of people in the Islamic cultural center" of Quebec City. Card. Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), told AsiaNews . He was commenting on yesterday's attack in Canada. According to the cardinal, "it is horrible and cruel that innocent lives are taken in a sacred place like the mosque. This is an inhuman and meaningless act, without any justification ".
Following the example of Pope Francis, who yesterday expressed a strong condemnation of the attack, Card. Gracias guarantees "prayers on behalf of the whole Church in Asia, so that what happened does not lead to further violence, hatred and division".
According to the latest surveys, yesterday's attack was carried out by Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27 year old French-Canadian. The reasons for the gesture, which caused six deaths and several injuries, are still unknown and seems to have acted alone, although at first the police had stopped another man.
The archbishop of Mumbai recalls that in 2008 the Canadian region of Quebec hosted the 49th International Eucharistic Congress, which attracted more than 12 thousand pilgrims from more than 70 countries. He said that at that time the city was filled with festive people, who marched through the streets in a procession lasting three hours, accompanied by singing, music and recitation of the Rosary.
"It was he says - a powerful example of unity, beauty, and love, and today the city is in mourning. The Church in Asia mourns the victims and prays for those who died and for their families. May God give them consolation. "
The cardinal is convinced that "prayer and dialogue should be at the center of it all, when we want to build peace in society." Also he points out that " the role of religion in contributing to peace and harmony in modern society should not be underestimated. This is why the world has great need for religions to work together to eliminate the social and cultural causes that generate terrorism. So they disperse the clouds of suspicion and fears and blows a breath of fresh air to welcome other faiths. "
A EU spokesperson issues a statement on the matter. The release of Li and Xie Yanyi Chunfu is "a positive step", but the EU wants an explanation for the cases involving Li Heping, Wang Quangzhang and Xie Yang as well as the release of still detained lawyers and activists.
Brussels (AsiaNews) The European Union wants China to conduct an investigation into the torture cases involving human rights lawyers jailed by Chinese authorities in July 2015, a EU spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday (28 January).
The release of human rights lawyers Xie Yanyi and Li Chunfu is a positive step, the statement read. However, We are aware of recent information regarding the serious mistreatment of detained human rights lawyers Li Heping, Wang Quangzhang and Xie Yang. If verified, this mistreatment would amount to torture.
The statement then goes on to quote a December 2015 report by the UN Committee against torture that expressed serious concern over the practice of torture in Chinese criminal justice system.
The European Union, the press released added, expects that the competent authorities in China will investigate, without delay, the account of torture in the case of Xie Yang and the allegations of torture in the cases of Li Heping and Wang Quanzhang.
Pursuant to Article 18 of China's Criminal Procedure Law, if the accounts of mistreatment or torture are confirmed, this should result in the punishment of the responsible persons.
In a speech in April 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China is a country ruled by law and that every individual [Communist] party organisation and party member must abide by the countrys constitution and laws and must not take the partys leadership as a privilege to violate them.
In view of this, the EU statement urges China to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of prisoners, and concludes with a call for the release of lawyers and human rights defenders still detained, including Jiang Tianyong.
by Purushottam Nayak
French missionaries founded the place of worship in 1917 to meet the wishes of local people convinced that the Virgins intercession would protect them from hunger and pestilence. Each year attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India. The anniversary will be preceded by a novena of prayer.
Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews) Let the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Dantolingi, Odisha (Orissa), be a symbol of unity and peaceful coexistence, said State Governor S C Jamir on the eve of the celebrations for the shrines centenary, which falls in February.
Founded in 1917 by French missionaries in gratitude to the Virgin Mary, the place of worship is visited by the faithful of every religion and every year attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India.
God loves everyone and communicates His love through the Blessed Mother, the governor said in a message to Mgr Sarat Chandra Nayak, bishop of Berhampur.
The centenary will be celebrated on 11 February. Mgr John Barwa, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar and president of the Odisha Catholic Bishops Conference (OCBC), will lead a solemn Mass.
The celebrations for the 100th anniversary will be preceded by a novena of prayers, starting tomorrow, 1 February, to 9 February. Each day, a priest will lead the meditation and offer reflections on different topics. Finally, the bishops will deliver a lecture on the Catholic faith and liturgy on 10 February.
The shrine, which is located in Ganjam District (southern Orissa), was built thanks to strong support from local Catholics and others, convinced that the Virgin would protect them in a miraculous way from hunger and pestilence, through her powerful intercession.
The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes is strong, and the faithful rely on the mother for graces. This was the case of Gabriel and Annamary Behera, a couple married in 1930.
A few years into their marriage, unable to have children, they turned to Mary and asked to be blessed with a son. After many years of prayers, their son John Baptist was born in 1953.
"My mother always said with pride that I was born thanks to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes," said the fervent devotee.
In 1997 the Dantolingi shrine was elevated to parish status. Today the church is made up of 250 families, said the parish priest, Fr Sanjeeb Kumar Beero.
Together with the Diocese of Berhampur, we try to provide the best assistance to pilgrims. They no longer come just once a year but once a month, on Fridays, when we organise retreats and moments of meditation."
Jesus "Looks at our big problems, our greatest joys, and also looks at our little things. Because he is close. Jesus is not afraid of the big things, but also takes the little things into account. So we look at Jesus. " "I go, I look at Jesus, way ahead, our eyes fixed on Jesus and what do I find? He has fixed his gaze on me! And that makes me feel this astonishment. Our encounter with Jesus is astonishment. But we must not be afraid! ".
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - If we keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, we will discover with amazement that he does not standardize people, "he looks at us all, at each one of us, said Pope Francis today during the Mass at Santa Marta, commenting on the passage of the Letter to the Hebrews, in which exhorts us to run in the faith "with perseverance, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus." In the Gospel, Jesus looks at us and sees us.
Pope Francis explained that he is close to us, he "is always in the crowd": He didnt walk around with guards to protect him, so that the people could not touch him. No, no! He stayed there and people surrounded him. And there were more people around every time Jesus went out. Statisticians might have been inclined to publish: Rabbi Jesus popularity is falling. But he sought something else: he sought people. And the people sought him. The people had their gaze fixed on him and he had his fixed on them. Yes, yes, on the people, on the multitude No, on each individual!. This is the peculiarity of Jesus gaze: He does not standardize people; He looks at each person.
The Gospel of Mark narrates two miracles: Jesus heals a woman suffering from hemorrhaging for 12 years who, though pressed by the crowd, was able to touch his cloak. And he realizes that he was touched. Then, he raises the twelve year-old daughter of Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He understands that the girl is hungry and tells her parents to give her something to eat: The gaze of Jesus falls on both the big and the small. That's how Jesus sees us all: He sees all things, but looks at each of us. He sees our big problems, our greatest joys, and also looks at the little things about us. Because he is close. Jesus is not afraid of the big things, but also takes account of the small ones. That's how Jesus looks at us.
If we run with perseverance, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, Pope Francis said, we will be completely astonished, just as happened to the people after the raising of Jairus daughter: I go forward, looking at Jesus. I walk ahead, keeping my gaze fixed on Jesus, and what do I find? That he has his gaze fixed on me! And that makes me feel this great astonishment. This is the astonishment of the encounter with Jesus. But let us not be afraid! We are not afraid, just as that woman was not afraid to touch Jesus mantle. Let us not be afraid! Let us run down this road with our gaze ever fixed on Jesus. And we will have a beautiful surprise: He will fill us with awe. Jesus himself has his gaze fixed on me.
by Joseph Mahmoud
The Primate of the Chaldean Church celebrated the return of the first Christian family to one of the towns seized by the Islamic State. The goal is to enable many more families in displaced peoples camps to go home. Peace and security are needed to bring life to coexistence and unity in the area.
Erbil (AsiaNews) Heeding the many recent calls by the Chaldean Patriarch Mar Raphael Louis Sako, the first Iraqi Christian family went home yesterday to the town of Teleskuf, in the Nineveh Plain.
This is an historic event for it marks the return of Christians in one of the many towns in the Nineveh Plain, northern Iraq, seized by the Islamic State (IS) in the summer of 2014.
This dark period was marked by death, destruction of churches and homes, and hundreds of thousands of refugees, a trend that has been reversed only recently with the beginning of the offensive by the Iraqi army and Kurdish militias.
Speaking to AsiaNews, the Chaldean primate expressed "joy" and "satisfaction" at the turn of events. Mar Sako hopes that this family will be the first of many to leave finally camps in Erbil and Iraqi Kurdistan, and go back home.
The patriarch explained that the first family to come back to Teleskuf is that of Naoiq Quliaqus Atto, his wife, three children, and brother. The town saw a Jihadi attack last May after it was liberated.
"They returned home after spending two and a half years as displaced people in a centre in Dohuk, Mar Sako said. The local priest was there to welcome them Fr Salar Bodagh who heads the reconstruction committee. This is a real sign of hope for many more."
After serious and systematic abuses by the Islamic State, east Mosul and villages in the Nineveh Plain have begun a slow process of recovery.
In order to allow displaced people to return, homes must rebuilt and the area cleared of all the mines Jihadis left before fleeing.
Because of this, the patriarch has made repeated appeals to the authorities and international leaders to get reconstruction underway based on the principle of unity and pluralism for the regions various religious and ethnic groups. He hopes that Mosul and Nineveh can be in the future a true model for coexistence and religious freedom.
Recently, the Chaldean Patriarchate listed the towns in the Nineveh plain freed by the Iraqi army Qaraqosh, Karamleis, Bartella, Tilkeif and Kurdish Peshmerga Teleskuf, Batnaya, Baqofa.
According to a 1987 census, Iraq had 1.264 million Christians; now they are less than half a million.
Mosul and the Nineveh Plain was home to about 130,000 Christians before the rise of the Islamic State. Now there are only 90,000 left as the other 40,000 fled persecution.
For Mar Sako who yesterday described the choice of US president Donald Trump to close the door to seven countries in the region as a ploy with a "preferential path" for Christians it is essential to bring life in the region back to normal.
This can be done by ensuring water supplies, fixing roads, rebuilding hospitals, schools and places of worship, as well as helping families rebuild their home.
It is equally crucial to guarantee security to all those working to rebuild the region.
Montreal (AsiaNews) - A French-Canadian university student, Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, is accused of having carried out the massacre at the mosque in Quebec City, which killed six people during the Islamic evening prayer on January 29. There were about fifty people in the building. Among the 19 injured, five are still in hospital and two in serious condition.
The young man (see photo) was arrested in his car, where he called the police and offered to collaborate. He attended the Laval University, a few kilometers from the Islamic center, he is studying political science and anthropology, and on his Facebook page has often praised the right-wing nationalism and the Marine Le-Pen party in France.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the attack an "act of terrorism" against persons killed because of their religion and expressed his closeness and that of the whole country to the more than one million Muslims living in Canada.
Several media link the attack to the tension caused by President Donald Trumps US entry ban on seven Muslim majority countries, but according to local dignitaries in Canada and in Quebec religious tension or that towards migrants it is not as strong as in Europe or the US, although the foreign migrants constitute 20% of the population. Nevertheless, that the Islamic center in Quebec City has been the subject of past offenses.
Immediately after Trumps order, Trudeau responded with a message on Twitter: "To those who are fleeing persecution, terror and war, Canadians welcome you, whatever your faith. Diversity is our strength. # Welcome to Canada ".
Yesterday Pope Francis and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue issued a message of condolence for the victims of the Quebec City mosque.
It won't surprise you to learn American policing has a racism problem. It may surprise you to know that the FBI has been quietly, systematically investigating the white supremacist infiltration of law enforcement.
Alice Speri writes that there's just not much anyone in politics is willing to do about itand an inevitable conservative-led backlash when they trybut the FBI is starting to treat local cops the way it treated hippies: as a problem worth getting its hands dirty over.
"For some reason, we have stepped away from the threat of domestic terrorism and right-wing extremism," Jones continued. "The only way we can reconcile this kind of behavior is if we accept the possibility that the ideology that permeates white nationalists and white supremacists is something that many in our federal and law enforcement communities understand and may be in sympathy with."
Investigation is difficult:
Although officers have been fired for expressing hateful views sometimes to be re-hired by other departments, as happens regularly with officers accused of misconduct some officers have also challenged those dismissals in court. Robert Henderson, an 18-year veteran of the Nebraska State Patrol, was fired when his membership in the Klan was discovered. He sued on First Amendment grounds and appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear his case. Last year, 14 officers in the San Francisco Police Department were caught exchanging racist and homophobic texts that included several references to "white power" and messages such as "all niggers must fucking hang." Most of those officers remain on the force after an attempt to fire several of them was blocked by a judge, who said the statute of limitation had expired. No centralized recruitment process or set of national standards exists for the 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, many of which have deep historical connections to racist ideologies. As a result, state and local police as well as sheriff's departments present ample opportunities for white supremacists and other right-wing extremists looking to expand their power base.
Part of the problem: when the Department of Homeland Security released a study on extremism, Republicans railed against the unforgivable insult it represented against patriotic officers and veterans. This hindered further action against white supremacists throughout the Obama administration.
"I believe that because that report was so denounced by conservatives, it sort of closed the door on whatever the FBI may have been considering doing with respect to combating infiltration of law enforcement by white supremacists," said Samuel Jones, a professor of law at the John Marshall School of Law in Chicago who has written about white power ideology in law enforcement. "Because after the 2006 FBI report, we simply cannot find anything by local law enforcement or the federal government that addresses this issue." Pete Simi, a sociologist who spent decades studying the proliferation of white supremacists in the U.S. military, agreed. "The report underscores the problem of even discussing this issue. It underscores how difficult this issue is to get any traction on, because a lot of people don't want to discuss this, let alone actually do something about it."
The FBI has quietly investigated white supremacist infiltration of law enforcement [The Intercept]
Messages You have no messages
Today, The Intercept has published a minimally redacted version of a 2015 edition of the FBI's Confidential Human Source Policy Guide, along with a series of in-depth articles reporting on the document (including the FBI's confirmation of a conspiracy by white supremacists to infiltrate law enforcement agencies). Among the most explosive revelations are the ways in which the FBI coerces domestic and foreign informants.
The FBI manual advises agents to secure informants by identifying people suspected of no wrongdoing, then using the Bureau's files and databases to find potentially compromising information about those subjects that can be used into blackmailing them to secure their cooperation. The Bureau also works with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement to single out potentially valuable but blameless and suspicionless visitors to the USA that are pulled aside during the customs and immigration process and threatened with immigration violations and penalties if they don't become FBI informants. For informants who reside in the USA, the FBI manual advises that the Bureau can ask ICE to deport them once their usefulness has passed.
The documents also detail how the FBI a nominally domestic policing agency secures informants who operate as de facto American spies in other countries.
It's been clear for a decade that the FBI works with ICE to keep informants in the country. What we didn't know was that the assistance is often contingent and temporary, and that the FBI actively assists ICE in locating informants who are no longer useful so that they may be deported. "This creates a perverse incentive structure, because informants are incentivized to keep themselves valuable," said Shamas. "It will further incentivize them to create investigations when there wouldn't be one otherwise. In the traditional criminal context, the law enforcement community is conscious of the risk that coercing informants increases the likelihood of getting bad intelligence. But in the counterterrorism and intelligence context, this caution has been thrown out the window." Kurzban, the immigration lawyer, suspects this information becoming public will undercut claims from FBI agents that informants should work with them so they can be protected from ICE. "The incentives for helping and cooperating seem diminished if as soon as whatever information is given, the FBI is going to turn them back over to ICE," Kurzban said.
SECRET DOCS REVEAL: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS INHERITED AN FBI WITH VAST HIDDEN POWERS [Glenn Greenwald and Betsy Reed/The Intercept]
THE FBI GIVES ITSELF LOTS OF ROPE TO PULL IN INFORMANTS [Trevor Aaronson/The Intercept]
WHEN INFORMANTS ARE NO LONGER USEFUL, THE FBI CAN HELP DEPORT THEM [Trevor Aaronson/The Intercept]
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A new study has revealed the US law school with the highest-paid recent graduates and its not Harvard, Stanford or Yale.Cornell Law School ranked first in Social Finances (SoFi) Top Law Programs - Highest Salary list with the average salary of recent graduates at US$183,377, or about $243,000. The figure is above the average salary of graduates from the 20 law schools included, which was pegged at US$166,155, or about $220,000. Coming in at second is Columbia University in New York, with US$177,962, or about $236,000, followed by New York University with US$177,203, or about $235,000.SoFi said it was noteworthy that the top three are located in New York which may explain how graduates at these universities are more likely to end up with high-paying jobs at US BigLaws in the city. The graduates of all three top schools are also just one to two raises away from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary of US$187,200, or about $248,000, for best-paid lawyers in the country, SoFi said.Nonetheless, SoFi, which looked at more than 60,000 student loan refinancing applications it received between January 2014 and December 2016, said that the high paychecks can also be explained by the 90%-and-above job placement at top law schools, as wells as their rigorous legal training, development of interpersonal skills and access to networking.Meanwhile, completing the top five are The University of Chicago with US$174,238, or about $231,000, and Harvard University with US$173,578, or about $230,000. Yale, which ranked first in the 2017 US News Law School Rankings, came in eighth on SoFis average salary ranking with US$171,779, or about $227,000. Stanford, which tied with Harvard at second in the 2017 US News Law School Rankings, is at 16th with US$158,088, or about $210,000.In terms of value for money, however, SoFi came up with a different list. Brigham Young University, with a salary-to-debt ratio of 1.7x, leads with an average graduate salary of US$108,916, or about $144,000, compared to average debt of just US$64,873, or about $86,000. The next three are all at a 1.4x salary-to-debt ratio. Recent graduates of the University of Texas at Austin have an average pay of US$147,444, or about $195,000, and average debt of $105,254, or about $140,000. Compared to its average debt of US$123,793, or about $164,000, Yale graduates are also faring better than most graduates from other schools. You can see both full lists below, as well as the worst value-for-money programs according to SoFis analysis of its data.
K&L Gates has appointed Matthew Cridland as a partner in its Sydney office as the firm strengthens its corporate and transactional team.Cridland, who joins K&L Gates from DLA Piper , has more than 17 years experience as an indirect tax lawyer in Australia, with a particular focus in complex Goods and Services Tax (GST) matters. He also advises on customs and state tax matters, including stamp duty, payroll tax, and land tax.He has advised clients across a wide range of sectors such as real estate, financial services, corporate (including M&A, IPO, and other securities transactions), energy and resources, infrastructure (including public-private partnerships and joint ventures), government, telecommunications, and retail, the firm notes.K&L Gates Australian corporate and transactional team has also added Melbourne partner John Mann and Sydney partners Nick Humphrey, Dan Atkin, and Hal Lloyd over the past year. The firms corporate practice has more than 500 lawyers working across five continents.The addition of Cridland to the team is expected to strengthen offerings to both domestic clients as well as foreign clients looking for investment opportunities in Australia, Nick Nichola, the firms Australia managing partner, said.K&L Gates now has 26 partners in Sydney, 24 partners in Melbourne, 12 partners in Brisbane and seven partners in Perth.
So i live in Melbourne and was granted my 187 regional visa around a month ago. I was due to move to SA to start my full time employment when my visa was granted but the employer who nominated me told me that he has not got the position for me anymore as work has slowed down so he says i have been waiting in hope that he might get something for me but this is sounding very unlikely.
I am worried as the visa requirements states i should be employed full time for two years with this employer but this is totally out of my hands.
I have been offered a full time job in the same field here in geelong which is in a different state but is regional but i am very worried i may have my PR cancelled if i take a job with a different company. Will this happen?
I am running out of money and can not afford to live with no work.
My employer told me he would not report this to immigration as this was unforeseeable but were do i go from here? do i seek employment from this other company or am i tied to my nominating employer and need to inform immigration?
I hav spent a lot of money on this visa and this is extremely stressful.
Any help or advice would be great.
At a press conference where Paul Ryan defended President Trump's Muslim-targeting travel ban, someone within whispering distance of a hot mic muttered "waste of my fucking time" as the House Speaker walked off.
Ryan denies saying it; consensus is it was a "bored cameraman" lurking around the lectern after he exited.
Feat achieved despite worldwide emission scandal; growth due to upbeat demand from China; Toyota registered sales decline in the US.
Volkswagen edged ahead of Toyota in the calendar year 2016 to become the worlds bestselling automaker, despite being rocked by the massive emission scandal that hurt its reputation. Volkswagen Group products used the so-called defeat devices to violate emission norms, the discovery of which sparked the emissions scandal in September 2015.
The Volkswagen Group sold 10.3 million (1,03,12,400) vehicles worldwide in 2016, a year-on-year rise of 3.8 percent, and Toyota registered sales of 1,01,75,000 vehicles (0.2 percent growth).
VWs growth was propelled by surging demand in China (3,548,600 units, up 12 percent on year) which has been largely unaffected by the diesel-cheating scandal since the country doesnt allow sales of diesel vehicles. Effects of the emission scandal, however, were evident in Europe its second largest market where 2016 sales slowed down to four percent growth (4,206,500 units).
For Toyota, sales came under pressure in US and China. Demand for the Camry declined in the US and volumes in China grew at a slower rate than the overall market, reports suggested.
Hyundai focuses on style, refinement and comfort for its third-generation Tucson.
A crucial gap in Hyundais vast model range, between the hugely popular Creta and the flagship Santa Fe, was plugged with the launch of the Tucson. It also marked the return of the model to India after a gap of six years. Back in 2005, Hyundai introduced the first-generation Tucson, but it failed to find success, despite being the only diesel soft-roader around. Probably smarting from that failure, Hyundai didnt bring in the second-generation model. Back then, the Tucson was costlier than the CR-V, and the Hyundai badge didnt carry the same weight as a Honda. However, times have changed now, and how. The Hyundai brand is stronger than its ever been and SUVs are all the rage in our market. Also, with the success of the Creta, Hyundai is seen as a credible SUV manufacturer. So, there couldnt have been a better time to bring back the Tucson. But will Hyundais mid-size premium SUV get traction this time around?
Mangham
Merchants Fleet Management continues to grow its sales team by hiring regional sales managers Pat Mangham and George Theodorou, the fleet management company announced.
Mangham will be joining Merchants in the West Region, while Theodorou will join the newly created North East region. The hires follow the recent announcement of its new North East sales region.
Mangham comes to Merchants with over 25 years of fleet sales and management experience working for both Wheels and more recently Donlen. He will be based in Dallas and report to Jeff Thomas, director of Sales West.
Theodorou
Theodorou started with Merchants in 2015 in an inside sales capacity. In his new role, he will report to Diana Holland, director of Sales North East.
"Pat and George bring outstanding customer relationship skills to the sales team that we are excited to leverage," said Tom Coffey, vice president of sales and marketing. "These additions round our team and position Merchants for a very successful 2017."
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) global sales volume during the cumulative three quarters in FY16 declined to 673,000 units, according to the company's third quarter financial statement. This is 15% lower than the same period of last year, but relatively in line with the revised plan released in October 2016.
Sales in Japan totaled 50,000 units, down by 24% year on year. The drop in sales in the first half coming from the overstated fuel economy issue did not recover fully. However, on a third quarter alone, sales rose by 1,000 units, compared to the same period of previous year. In North America, the sales of Mirage declined but Outlander contributed to the total sales, resulting in 101,000 units, in line as the previous year. In Europe, sales resulted in 132,000 units, down by 16% year on year. This is coming mainly from the sales drop in Russia with lower than expected economy and lower sales of Outlander PHEV in Netherlands.
In Asia, total sales resulted in 229,000 units, which is lower by 5% year on year. Sales declined in ASEAN, in particular Thailand, where performance was lower than previous year. The affect of the new Pajero Sport launch and the Thai Governments tax incentives contributed more positively in the previous year. Sales in China is recovering gradually with the localization in production of the Outlander.
Sales in other regions was 161,000 units, down by 27% compared to the same period of last year as low commodity prices affected Middle East and Latin America.
Two of the automobile industry's best decided to join forces to expand further the Honda Fuel Cell Technology. Working with General Motors Co., executives of Honda and GM unveiled that a global product development is scheduled to introduce an advanced technology through this concept.
Why The Tech. Per Mark Reuss, the Vice President for GM, the Honda Fuel Cell Technology is an important advancement for upcoming models that they would create with the Japanese automaker. They first worked together during 2013 to develop the next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies which would be incorporated in a model to be released by 2020. Additionally, models made with this feature would earn great credits with respect to state and federal rules for reduction of carbon emissions. As a result, the companies would increase their sales and improve company profits, reported Auto News.
Given that GM had been creating hydrogen fuel for cars for more than a hundred years, the Japanese automaker started leasing Honda Fuel Cell Technology since December of last year. Per Reuters, fuel cell vehicles incorporate hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity ran by motors. Despite the depreciation of energy use, the future models with the Honda Fuel Cell Technology would be able to generate the same or close to that of gasoline-powered automobiles.
The Catch. The official announcement of the partnership between the top automakers is soon to commence. Although there had been no concrete revelation about which models the technology would be applied to, the details would be revealed come scheduled announcement.
Furthermore, the said Honda Fuel Cell Technology expects to be different from lithium-ion battery electric vehicles which could generate only a limited amount of horsepower. However, the lack of hydrogen fuel stations and the expensive development of such technology were labeled as two of the obstacles that both companies would face while they develop a distinct model for the crossover.
On Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department has released an announcement of the manager of an auto center in Virginia who pleaded guilty in taking part of selling cars including unused Suburbans and vehicle parts that belong to the U.S. State Department. A long time legal auto seller from the North part of Virginia, James Ratcliffe, is guilty in working over five years with a state department insider in stealing not more than 15 official government vehicles.
The stolen vehicles included a Suburban model favored by the State Secret Service and a low mileage Hummer H2 2004. Specifically, two of the stolen government transportation equipment is unused 2013 model of Suburbans in black and white that has a value of $96,400. According to the charging papers from a prosecutor, Ratcliffe sold everything including truckloads of wheels and tires for a profit.
Ratcliffe's involvement in making money out of these stolen Suburbans, hummer and car parts all started in early 2011 which run over four to five years. The overall value of the numerous properties in the fraudulent scheme is a total of $512,420.
The vehicles were first kept in a residence where the 67-yers-old Ratcliffe and an unnamed schemer who is now the owner of the business. The Springfield shop that does a maintenance work for the department is also where Ratcliffe used to be a manager and owner is also where the vehicles were being sold.
James Ratcliffe from Fairfax Station is guilty of felony conspiracy to defraud the government. It is punishable by a statutory that has a maximum of five years in prison. Though a plea agreement said federal guidelines will fall on a sentence from one year and six months to two years and a fine up to $40,000. As for the plea agreement, it calls for Ratcliffe to pay the sum of $416,020 in restitution and a fair total in the forfeiture money judgment.
SUVs are gaining popularity as it is easily the go-to-choice for a vehicle quite recently according to research and surveys. However, sedans will always remain in the market as another choice for the most discerning buyers. The 2018 Toyota Camry proves to continue the legacy of sedans and of Toyota as the manufacturer. Toyota Camry units have been successful each time it gets released and the latest generation will again conquer the seal of approval of many car enthusiasts.
According to US News and World Report, the 2018 model is the eighth generation of the Camry. While its predecessors did not pay much attention to driving dynamics, this new sedan is expected to do so as it gets officially released. Toyota started with TNGA which means Toyota New Global Architecture. It is Toyota's new way of designing vehicles which are expected to make their newly released vehicles more fun to drive.
The latest Camry is built on new GA-K platform which makes it lower, wider, and more structurally rigid compared to the previous models. With this, the latest generation Camry is considered a driver's car. It is also known to possess an exciting and more emotional character.
When you make it onto the cover of Motor Trend & you buy 7, or 10, or 20 copies#motortrend #camry2018 #toyotacamry pic.twitter.com/R1JZf529he Ian Cartabiano (@iancartabiano) January 24, 2017
It is also reported that the 2018 Camry will come three different engine options and an updated infotainment system and app which allows the driver to do things remotely like starting it from a distance and even monitoring anyone who borrows the car. This is definitely a tough act to follow. These additional features certainly make this sedan one of the most coveted.
It will definitely continue the 2018 Toyota Camry's legacy to be the best-selling car in America. It is easy to understand how this sedan has captured the attention and approval of many buyers and car enthusiasts.
As added by Kelley Blue Book, it is also considered as the most captivating mid-size sedan ever to be seen from Toyota. It promises to deliver everything that Camry owners have come to expect from America's best-selling car according to Bob Carter, Toyota's Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations.
Having the 2018 Toyota Camry definitely is the best decision if one has to purchase another car or even upgrade to an even better one. Literally, no disappointing words are said about this car and seem that it will continue to remain that way. The future is definitely looking up for Toyota as it keeps its legacy for producing top-notch and high-quality vehicles.
In year 2017, Ford aims to go higher than its 13% market share projections as the 2016 sales figures are about to be released. It looks like the company will get a market share of 14.6 percent according to IHS Markit data for its Ford and Lincoln brands with fleet sales included.
Auto News reports that Ford wants to increase the strength of its leading brands, especially their latest redesigned Super Duty pickup truck. The company is not planning to increase their current number of dealerships which has reached 3,000 across the country.
Its main competitor, Chrysler has plans to increase its dealership outlets by 400. Ford will not concentrate on increasing dealership numbers although, in some areas, this will most likely occur.
"We're very comfortable with the amount of dealers we have," Mark LaNeve, head of Ford U.S.A. Marketing, Sales and Service, said after the NADA meeting with franchise dealers in New Orleans. The announcement was well accepted by the dealers in attendance.
Ford also announced the planned expansion of aftermarket spare parts sales with the addition of the Omnicraft brand. These include sales of spare parts to other vehicles aside from Ford and Lincoln. The company announced that so far $2 million have been made on this aftermarket scheme.
The company also announced the upcoming new range of vehicles to be introduced to the car market in the next five years including 13 electric powered vehicles. This is part of the product strategy of increasing further Ford's market share in the car industry.
Ford also presented its plans to introduce the midsize pickup Ranger in 2019 and the Bronco SUV in 2020. No additional details were given but dealers appreciate that new products mean more sales.
According to some dealers who attended the meeting, a preview of the 90-second Ford advertisement for the February 5 Super Bowl was shown. It has been three years since Ford last advertised in the Super Bowl and this is part of the company's strategy to increase its market share in 2017.
Italian automaker Pagani has teased a sneak peek on the upcoming Huayra Roadster. The teaser photos show off the full body and engine of the new model, giving the fans a first look prior to its debut in March.
The new model is set to be introduced at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, which is held every year in March at the Geneva Palexpo. Prior to its launch, the latest supercar from Pagani is now unveiling its design.
Pagani took to its official FaceBook account some teaser photos providing some details on the design and engine of the new Huayra Roadster. One photo reveals the new supercar has a solid roof. Unfortunately, it remains to be seen if the roofing can be folded or removed as the image did not give any hint on this mechanism.
Pagani also posted a photo of the engine inside the Huayra Roadster. According to the caption of the photo, the automaker gave the new Roadster a little more "aggressive shape" than its Coupe sibling.
Furthermore, another photo teases the ambitious plans for the new Huayra Roadster. The photo shows a close-up view of one of the front headlights and the caption revealed that the new flagship is considered the "most complicated project" Pagani has ever done. This sounds very promising to enthusiasts. One comment even claims to have seen the actual vehicle and has vouched for the amazing job Pagani has exerted on the new flagship.
Meanwhile, Motor1 predicts that the new Huayra Roadster will have a Biturbo AMG V12 6.0-liter engine which can produce 789 hp and 811 pound-feet of torque. The new flagship will most likely have a seven-speed automated manual gearbox to carry out the car's powerful engine technology.
In addition, the publication also noted that Pagani is expected to produce 100 units of Huayra Roadster. This new droptop model is also speculated to carry a price tag higher than the tag of its coupe sibling which is $2.55M.
Sony is expected to release a flashing Android smartphone codenamed Yoshino at Mobile World Congress 2017 next month. One of the company's big announcements at the 2017 MCW was about their Yoshino, which is said to feature a 4K display and will be equipped with Qualcomm's best chip to date, the Snapdragon 835. In addition, a new leak suggests that the Japan-based conglomerate is planning to introduce five not two, new Xperia smartphones.
According to SlashGear, the leak does not yet give official codenames of the 5 alleged Xperia smartphones but comparison with the current lineup can still be seen on the basis of the specs that have been suggested. Here is a quick run-down of the specs of the alleged new Sony smartphones.
The Yoshino is said to have a 5.5-inch 4K display (3840 x 2160 pixels), powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 system chip that works along with either 4GB or 6GB of LPDRR4 RAM. In addition, the handset is expected to come with the new IMX400 image sensors that can deliver a noticeable improvement in image quality.
Another high-tier phone, codenamed as BlancBright is also said to have a 5.5-inch screen, but this phone is said to have a Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels). Some reports say that the handset could be equipped by either the Snapdragon 835 or the Snapdragon 653, together with 4GB of RAM. This handset will also have the new IMX400 camera sensor.
Codenamed as Keyaki, this phone is said to a mid-range device with a more compact, 5.2-inch display with a Full HD resolution (1080 x 1920 pixels). However, the system chip that will be used on the phone is a cheaper MediaTek Helio P20 with 4GB RAM. The phone is said to have a 23MP main camera and a 16MP front camera.
Sony is expected to sell two affordable phones. First will be the Hinoki, the phone is said to have a 5-inch HD (1280 x 720 pixel) display. Equipped with a MediaTek Helio P20 system chip with 3GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. The handset is also said to have a 16-megapixel rear cam and 8MP front camera.
The last phone on the list is a mysterious phone codenamed Mineo. The only information about this phone is only its price which is expected to be $350. If Sony will indeed release five new phones all at once at MCW 2017, it will surely become one of the biggest events at the upcoming show.
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is the Italian automaker's first SUV and sets a new benchmark for the SUV segment. The brand new SUV made its debut during the 2016 LA Auto Show, but only the powerful Stelvio Quadrifoglio was shown with its 505 hp.
This newly designed SUV not only looks like a bulkier Giulia, but it also shares the same platform. The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio was named after the Stelvio Pass, a famous Italian mountain pass.
The inside will not disappoint most drivers with its performance leather seating. Drivers will sit behind an F1-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel that comes with a bright red integrated push start button. A 7-inch thin film display is featured at the gauge with rests between the tachometer and speedometer, per CarAndDriver. The 8.8-inch infotainment system comes with 3D navigation, Apple Car Play, and Android Auto.
The exterior features 20-inch alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlamps, colored brake callipers, and chrome plated window trim. The combination of carbon fiber, aluminum, and magnesium allows for extensive weight reduction, delivering unbeatable power-to-weight ratio. In fact, the vehicle's 50:50 weight distribution resulted to an unmatched driving experience, thanks to the company's partnership with Ferrari.
This 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio comes in 3 trim levels: Stelvio, Stelvio Ti, and Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the iconic four-leaf version. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is powered by top-of-the-line all-aluminum 2.9L bi-turbo, direct injected V6 engine producing an impressive 505 horses and 443 lb-ft of torque.
Alfa Romeo claims that the Quadrifoglio will become the fastest SUV in the market, thanks to its incredible chassis, driving dynamics, and overall performance. Its 0-to-60-mph time of just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph. Meanwhile, Stelvio and Stelvio Ti are able to produce 280 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque from an all-aluminum direct injection 2.0L turbocharged I4 engine.
Customers will also have the ability to customize the performance characteristics and behavior of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio thanks to the 3-mode Alfa DNA Drive Mode Selector system selector, according to Alfa Romeo USA. To deliver optimal handling, the drivers can choose from Dynamic, Natural, or Advanced Efficiency modes.
Overall, the company has ensured that every single 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio trim level will deliver seemless performance. The official launch date and pricing are yet to be announced by the company.
Nokia has talked about launching a customized digital assistant. This digital assistant will be named Mika.
According to reports, Mika will provide voice-activated automated assistance to every telecommunication operators (given their company will support Mika). Nokia guarantees their digital assistant will help improve operators' efficiency.
Mika will be able to provide telecommunication operators faster access to much-needed information. This will effectively reduce the time spent on searching for information. The software is expected to be launched officially at the up and coming Mobile World Congress which will happen in Barcelona, Spain.
The MWC will be held from February 27 to March 2. According to Nokia, Mika will be available through web interface and mobile agents. Multi-purpose Intuitive Knowledge Assistant (Mika) will be powered by the Nokia Ava cognitive service.
In time, it will be the very first digital assistant systematically tailored for the telecom industry. Mika has also been designed to provide automated assistance. Nokia says that the Mika application could also offer more than an hour of productivity time every day by giving engineers access to information using its interactive user interface.
Combined augmented intelligence and automated learning is used by Mika in able to provide access to an extensive range of tools. It can also have access to a wide variety of documents and data resources.
Based on issues seen in other networks, Mika can also provide recommendations to operators and engineers. This is all thanks to the extensive knowledge library of Nokia Ava. Nokia Ava is a repository of practice gathered from all Nokia projects.
Head of Global Services at Nokia, Igor Leprince, issued a statement dated on January 27th saying: "Mika taps into the power of the Nokia AVA platform to provide quick and accurate answers, avoiding time wasted on fruitless searches. MIKA is customized to support the specific needs of telecoms, and can deliver recommendations based on experience from networks around the world." It seems like digital assistant Mika will provide great help for the telecommunication industry.
Samsung has just filed a trademark for the Gear Fit Pro in Europe for the Intellectual Property last January 26, which allegedly suggested that Samsung is aiming to launch its new fitness tracker. The electronics company recently showcases its newest fitness tracker, the Gear Fit 2.
The Gear Fit 2 offers advanced fitness tracking. Its auto and multi-sport tracking aims to count the steps to track the variety of other activities and strengthens training exercises. It counts from work commutes to workouts, which adds all the moves and steps.
It also monitors heart rate all day and every second of the user's workout. It gives an update on the solo challenges and competitions with the user's squad via "S Health." The report can be added weekly and results can be shared with friends.
It has a built-in GPS. It tracks the distance, route and the pace of the user while exercising. It simply maps the miles while offering an instant access to the user's favorite music on Spotify. It also can store up to 500 songs. It plays the user's favorite playlists via Bluetooth.
The Gear Fit 2 is compatible with Android and iOs smartphone. It is also can be paired via Bluetooth using the Samsung Gear companion app. It can receive notifications, calls, messaging and calendar alert updates. It helps to stay connected from the point of the wrist.
The watch-like fitness tracker has a curved screen and brilliant 1.5-inch AMOLED display. It can glare and the screen of the fitness tracker can be customized. It has a 1.5 RAM and higher.
It is best for every vigorous activity and a wonderful sleep at night because the battery can last up to four days from a single charge. It runs up to three to four days with 200 mAh battery.
The new Samsung fitness tracker is water-resistance and it is rated IP68, which help user not to worry about the rain and sweat. It offers a water-resistance up to 30-minute in five feet of water.
The Gear Fit 2 is perfectly comfortable for the wrist. It can stay fit in a place as the user moves, which no adjustments needed and distractions. It measures 4.9-inch to 6.7" wrist circumference for small size and 4.9-inch to 6.7-inch wrist circumference for large.
When an airline needs to transport a spare engine to a 747 far away, it turns out the most efficient way to get the job done is to install a fifth engine on a healthy 747 and carry it there under the wing. It doesnt happen often, but Qantas recently completed the feat, flying from Sydney to Johannesburg with an extra Rolls Royce engine weighing 6.6 tons. Pilots need special training to learn to fly straight and level with the extra weight and drag from the engine, the airline said. The airplane also burns more fuel, requiring an added stop in Perth to top off. Qantas said it first pioneered moving engines this way at the dawn of the jet age, with its 707 fleet, but its rarely done. The last time was in 2011.
The flight took off on Jan. 6. The wing of the aircraft has factory-installed anchor points, Qantas said, allowing a support strut to be attached under the wing. The strut has a winching mechanism, which is used to hoist the engine into place and secure it for flight. Once the airplane landed in Johannesburg, the engine was removed and installed on the waiting 747. Our engineers are very skilled at doing the job, given that the 747 has been an integral part of the Qantas fleet since the 1970s, Qantas said. The extra engine that was removed in Johannesburg will be shipped home by boat, a slower but cheaper journey.
Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan reaffirmed Irans desire to deepen relations with Armenia and warned against attempts to resolve regional conflicts by force as he met with his Armenian counterpart Vigen Sargsian in Tehran on Tuesday.
It is not acceptable to resort to force to solve regional problems and the Islamic Republic of Iran will spare no effort to solve these problems, the Iranian Press TV channel quoted him as telling Sargsian.
Use of force for conflict resolution has already proved to be futile, Dehqan said, according to the Mehr news agency.
According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, Sargsian and Dehqan discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and agreed on the need for its solely negotiated settlement.
Visiting Armenia in late December, Irans President Hassan Rouhani likewise stressed that there is no military path to ending the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute. President Serzh Sarkisian praised Tehrans balanced position on the issue after their talks.
Dehqan phoned his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts in April last year the day after Azerbaijan launched offensive military operations along the Karabakh line of contact. He urged an immediate end to hostilities there, saying that they are a source of deep concern for the Islamic Republic.
A section of the Karabakh frontline adjacent to Iran was one of the two epicenters of four-day heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces which was halted by a Russian-agreement.
Sargsian arrived in Tehran late on Monday for an official visit highlighting what appear to be growing contacts between the Iranian and Armenian militaries.
Dehqan said that Armenian-Iranian ties have been deepening in all fields in recent years. The Iranian general spoke of cultural and historical bonds between the two neighboring nations, reported Mehr.
In a statement, the Defense Ministry in Yerevan said Sargsian and Dehqan expressed readiness to expand and develop bilateral relations. The Armenian minister was reported to say that the two sides should work out a mechanism for periodical meetings and consultations for that purpose.
Sargsian referred to defense industry as a potential area of Armenian-Iranian military cooperation when he visited Tehrans Malek Ashtar University engaged in military research later in the day.
He went on to visit the headquarters of Iran Electronics Industries, a state-run company manufacturing electronic equipment, including for the Iranian military. Sargsians press office did not specify what he discussed with the representatives of the two institutions.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on Tuesday condemned as a disgrace the decision by authorities in Belarus to arrest and hand over to Azerbaijan an Israeli travel blogger who has visited Nagorno-Karabakh in the past.
Alexander Lapshin, who also holds Russian and Ukrainian passports, travelled to Karabakh in 2011 and 2012 and gave detailed accounts of the trips on his Russian-language blog. The Azerbaijani authorities say that Lapshin illegally entered occupied territories of Azerbaijan and urged others to violate the countrys territorial integrity.
Lapshin, 40, was detained in Belarus on December 14. A court in Minsk upheld last week Belarusian prosecutors decision to allow his extradition to Azerbaijan.
I dont know who can gain what from the Lapshin case, Nalbandian told a news conference. But Im sure that it wont add to anyones reputation. Its quite the opposite.
Its a disgrace, he said. In some cases, that disgrace becomes a characteristic of some peoples identity.
Israel asked Belarus not to hand over Lapshin to Baku shortly after his arrest. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov similarly expressed concern over his fate in January. And the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ), a New York-based watchdog, demanded the bloggers unconditional release in a January 13 statement.
The Armenian government has until now been careful not to publicly criticize the Belarusian authorities.
Armenias human rights ombudsman, Arman Tatoyan, strongly condemned them when he met with a senior Council of Europe official in Strasbourg last week. Tatoyan called Lapshins arrest an attempt to set an inadmissible precedent.
I dont think that it will become a precedent or scare away anyone, insisted Nalbandian. People have gone to Karabakh and will keep going to Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani government has officially banned over 600 non-Armenian foreigners from visiting Azerbaijan because of their publicized trips to Karabakh. The blacklist includes 180 journalists.
Both Armenia and Belarus are members of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). But more importantly, Belaruss authoritarian President Aleksandr Lukashenko maintains a warm rapport with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Lapshin was arrested about two weeks after Lukashenkos official visit to Baku during which he received Azerbaijans highest state award.
31 January 2017 10:34 (UTC+04:00)
Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 8 times violated the ceasefire in various directions along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on January 31.
The Armenian army was using large-caliber machine guns.
The Azerbaijani army positions located in the Farahli and Gizilhajili villages of Azerbaijans Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in the Shavarshavan village of the Noyemberyan district and in the Berkaber village of the Ijevan district of Armenia.
Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani army positions located in the Aghbulag and Kokhanabi villages of Azerbaijans Tovuz district were shelled from the Armenian army positions located in the Chinari village of Armenias Berd district.
Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions were shelled from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Javahirli village of the Aghdam district, Horadiz village of the Fuzuli district, as well as on nameless heights of the Jabrayil district.
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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31 January 2017 16:42 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
Armenian media constantly reports about facts of the lawlessness in the national army, which shows the poor state of Armenian soldiers.
Most recently the media revealed another story proving the chaos reigning in the Armenian army. A soldier of an Armenian military unit, Avetik Isahakyan, should've been demobilized more than three weeks ago, but the command of his military unit refuses to send the soldier home, and demands from him to repair a car.
The two years of my sons service expired on January 9, but he is still not allowed to return home. We don't know what to do, and whom to contact, the soldier's father, Ishkhan Khachatryan, told Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper.
Khachatryan, commenting on the demands to repair the car, said that this car was assigned to Avetik after he started the army service.
One day, he touched something and broke the car mirror. After that, he was not allowed to drive it. The car was given to the contractors, but it remained registered under Avetiks responsibility. Now the car is in bad condition, someone ruined it, and they say its my sons fault, complained the father.
The soldiers father claims that the deputy commander of the military unit threatened Avetik Isahakyan that he wont go home until he fixes the car, and hinted that the soldier should give money.
However, the soldiers family does not have money because Ishkhan Khachatryan is unemployed and has taken many loans from different banks to feed his family. It is worth noting that many families in Armenia live in similar conditions.
I sent my son to serve the motherland, but not to repair a car. Do they hold him hostage?!, the father says.
Isahakyan also worries that something can happen to his son in case they further refuse to repair the car.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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31 January 2017 12:54 (UTC+04:00)
By Nigar Abbasova
The Islamic Development Bank (IDB), a Jeddah-based multilateral development financing institution, voiced readiness to support Azerbaijan in transition to non-oil-based economy, as well as in the implementation of different strategically important projects.
IDB Vice-President Sayed Aqa stated that the Azerbaijani government has already taken steps to switch to an economic model which will not depend on oil.
"Azerbaijan is in the global economic system which, unfortunately, is not quite positive at the moment for political reasons, trade issues and commodity prices. So, all our member countries, including Azerbaijan, are affected in one way or another. We discussed [in the Azerbaijani Ministry of Agriculture] how we can support the agriculture sector not only in terms of agriculture improvements, but also how we can help with value addition for the products to be able to come for domestic market and also for export, he said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
He noted that the IDB is ready to take part in financing of a number of the government initiatives and bring the experience of other IDB member countries that have gone through the similar transformation and transition to the non-oil-based economy.
Commenting on the plans for 2017, Sayed Aqa said that the Bank has already started discussions with the Azerbaijani government on implementation of projects in the spheres of agriculture, trade, transportation and energy.
"Since agriculture is a very high priority especially within the context of economic diversification, we will continue to invest in agriculture and irrigation systems," he noted, adding that the Bank also hopes for the implementation of some regional projects in 2017.
Special Program for Central Asia
Sayed Aqa went on saying that one of the key goals of the institution is to enhance cooperation between member countries, while this can only be done through regional programs, regional cooperation and integration programs. In this regard, the Bank, with the contribution of the Azerbaijani government, developed the "Special Program for Central Asia" (SPCA) that includes six countries, including Azerbaijan.
The program aims at supporting cooperation efforts of its member countries in Central Asia --Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan -- to enhance competitiveness, increase trade and promote economic growth in pursuance of the Sustainable Development Goals.
"That program aims to enhance regional cooperation not only in terms of financing energy corridors, transport corridors, trade facilities and also agriculture products, but also to help reducing costs of cooperation in trade, in investment, in regional sectors," he said adding that regional programs and projects are important for the Bank.
Total cost of the SPCA is estimated $6 billion, while the projects within the program are planned to be implemented in 2016-2020.
Sayed Aqa further said that increasing the volume of trade and investment between OIC member countries, between the members of the IDB is one of its strategy priorities.
As a manifestation of its basic aim to help promote socio-economic and commercial cooperation among its members, the IDB Group has always supported the activities of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its affiliated institutions. Currently, the OIC has 57 member and 5 observer states
North-South
The IDB may also consider financing the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC) which will connect tens of countries, linking Northern Europe to South-East Asia.
We ready to support the project if it is requested by the Azerbaijani government, Sayed Aqa said.
At the initial stage, the North-South corridor will transport 6 million tons of cargo per year with further expansion of transportation to over 15 million tons. Along with making a great contribution to the diversification of Azerbaijan's economy the project is expected to turn the country into a major transport hub.
The project, which is considered to be a strategically important and advantageous in terms of time of transit cargo transportation, is also expected to bring great economic benefits.
Southern Gas Corridor
The IDB is also ready to participate in financing of the Southern Gas Corridor project, which envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to Europe via Georgia and Turkey.
The talks concerning this issue are still underway. A number of technical issues are now being discussed. As soon as they are solved, IDB will become a partner [of Azerbaijan] in this project," he said.
Sayed Aqa noted that not only export of energy resources but also the efficiency of their use is very important.
SGC is one of the most complex gas value chains ever developed in the world. Stretching over 3,500 kilometres, crossing seven countries and involving more than a dozen major energy companies, it is comprised of several separate energy projects.
A mission headed by IDB Vice-President Sayed Aqa was in Baku on January 17-20. A grant agreement which envisages the study of the possibilities of introduction of Islamic banking principles in Azerbaijan was signed during the visit.
While in Baku,the IDB vice president discussed cooperation between the institution and the government of Azerbaijan, as he held meetings with the countrys ministers of economy, finance, agriculture, the water authority, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov.
The IDB also discussed with Azerbaijan cooperation in terms of capacity development and taking some of its experiences, like ASAN (state agency for government services to citizens in Azerbaijan) or other achievements to other countries or bring some best practices in agriculture and water management from other countries to Azerbaijan, IDB vice president said.
Azerbaijan joined the Islamic Development Bank in 1992. To date, the bank has invested more than $1.3 billion to Azerbaijan for implementation of various projects.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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31 January 2017 14:58 (UTC+04:00)
By Nigar Abbasova
The implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi Kars railway project, a regional rail link to directly connect participating countries entered its final stage.
The construction work has already been completed by almost 95 percent, Turkish media reported.
The work, supervised by Turkish Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Akhmet Arslan, is currently on track regardless bad weather conditions. The work is being implemented in two shifts in 4 different sections of the line.
Arslan earlier said that a period of 2-3 months is required for full completion of the construction work.
The project, which is expected to be commissioned in 2017, will allow goods to be seamlessly transported by rail and will practically exclude the need for sea transportation, bringing the entire region closer to Europe.
The fact that all participating countries are also TRACECA members is also considered to be an advantageous feature of the project. The peak capacity of the railway will be 17 million tons of cargo per year.
Being constructed under a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement, BTK is expected to expand multi-modal transportation opportunities, ensure the growth of passenger and freight transportation and boost the transit potential of the regional countries.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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31 January 2017 12:17 (UTC+04:00)
By Laman Ismayilova
Winter is a special time of year for landscape photography, and photographers capture some special and magical images of landscapes exactly in winter.
NGO Arts Council Azerbaijan will host a photo exhibition "Wintry landscapes of Azerbaijan" with the aim to support talented photographers, Trend Life reported.
Beautiful landscapes of the Land of Fire will be shown as part of the project.
The exhibition will open at Art Tower gallery on February 3 and last for three days. The curator is Rustam Huseynov.
The purpose of the exhibition is to promote the nature of Azerbaijan by increasing young people's interest in landscape photography and support the work in this direction.
The project is organized jointly by Arts Council Azerbaijan and the Administration of State Historical and Architectural Reserve Icherisheher
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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova
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31 January 2017 10:20 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Despite the fact that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict poses a threat to the regional security of the wider Middle East, it has received very little attention, wrote political analyst Rachel Avraham in an article posted on JerusalemOnline.com.
Since the beginning of 1988, there has been a conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was occupied by Armenia, wrote the author.
As a result of this conflict, around 25,000 people have been killed and over one million people have been made refugees, according to the article.
Armenia has illegally occupied one fifth of Azerbaijani territory and has made one out of every nine Azerbaijanis either a refugee or an internally displaced person as part of Armenias ethnic cleansing campaign, says the article.
Numerous UN Security Council resolutions have demanded the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani lands, says the article, however, Azerbaijani officials have complained that many governments have taken no action in support of implementing UN Security Council resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
While many refer to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue as the frozen conflict, it should be noted that it can erupt into a full-scale confrontation at any time and remains the most dangerous unresolved conflict in wider Europe, says Avraham. Last year, the conflict did erupt. Nevertheless, the international community still neglects to pay sufficient attention to this conflict.
Azerbaijans Ambassador to the US Elin Suleymanov explained the situation in his interview with the Jerusalem Post, said Avraham.
Our displaced population is not engaged in any violence. They did not emigrate anywhere. Our refugees and internally displaced people moved in the areas outside the occupied areas in Azerbaijan and have built their lives there, she quoted Suleymanov as saying.
Suleymanov noted that Azerbaijan made great efforts in repatriating Azerbaijani refugees and if the refugees build a normal life for themselves, the world seems to say you have no rights. In a sense, it is unfair. The world rewards violence.
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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31 January 2017 15:16 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
Moscow is trying to arrange a meeting of Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian foreign ministers and Baku has given its consent to this meeting.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov announced about this at a joint briefing with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on January 31 in Baku.
I cannot optimistically accept the results of the negotiations in Moscow, Mammadyarov said commenting on the latest meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov which took place on January 24.
In Moscow, the ministers had comprehensive discussions on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They also exchanged views on the issues raised by the two countries presidents at the Vienna and Saint Petersburg meetings.
Mammadyarov further added that Munich Security Conference will be held on February 17-19 and it is planned to hold a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs as part of the conference.
The OSCE Minsk Group has acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict so far. But, the occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.
Restoration of liberated lands
Mammadyarov also touched upon the issue of restoration of the Azerbaijani lands liberated from the Armenian occupation.
The minister said that Azerbaijan holds negotiations to attract international organizations to this process.
"This is not a simple process - there are a number of issues regarding security, technical aspects of the issue, etc. It is necessary to prepare all proposals and consider in what form to attract international organizations to this process," the minister said.
On January 24, President Ilham Aliyev ordered to restore Jojug Marjanli village in Jabrayil region of Azerbaijan, which was liberated from the Armenian occupation in April 2016 as a result of a successful counter-attack of the Azerbaijani Army.
Under the presidential order, four million manats ($2.12 million) were allocated from the President`s 2017 Contingency Fund to the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs for the construction of 50 private houses, a school building and relevant infrastructure at the first stage.
More than 190 families out of 400 families, who once lived in the village, have already expressed desire to return to their homeland. The construction work in the village will begin soon, as first 50 families out of 190 will be settled in this village at the first stage.
Mammadyarov noted that first and foremost, Azerbaijans government will carry out the main work regarding restoration of the liberated lands, and on the second stage, the international organizations may be involved in the process.
As a foreign minister, I am sure that Azerbaijan will liberate all the occupied territories and restore them," he added.
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions of Azerbaijan are under the control of the Armenian military and separatists since a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended in 1994. Negotiations lasting for about 30 years have brought little progress in resolving the conflict, though a fragile truce has been in place.
Return of Azerbaijani soldiers body
Mammadyarov also spoke about the issue of returning the body of Azerbaijani soldier, who was killed when suppressing Armenian provocation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border in late December 2016.
"Refusal to return the body of our soldier is an inhuman act," said the minister.
Mammadyarov condemned the actions of the Armenian side and said Azerbaijan will discuss this issue with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs as well. "Several times, we came to an agreement on the return of the bodies of those killed in the fighting," he said, adding that the aggressor country refuses to follow the agreements.
A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on December 29, 2016. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders and suffered heavy losses. During the fighting, Azerbaijani serviceman Chingiz Gurbanov went missing. Later, it was clarified that he was killed by the Armenian Armed Forces and his body remained on the territory controlled by the Armenian Armed Forces.
The Azerbaijani side officially appealed to the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), OSCE Minsk Group, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk in order to return the body. Despite this, the body of Azerbaijani soldier has still not been returned.
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31 January 2017 18:20 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
Preparatory work is underway for timely reconstruction of the liberated Jojug Marjanli village in Jabrayil region, Head of the Jabrayil Region Executive Authority Kamal Hasanov told Trend on January 31.
He said that work is underway on identification and assessment of the old property in the village, while ANAMA carries out operation on mine clearing. Currently, the territory of the village is being cleared of mines and unexploded ordnances to ensure security of the families, who will return to their homeland.
More residents wish to return and live in the Jojug Marjanli village, said Hasanov.
On January 24, President Ilham Aliyev ordered to restore Jojug Marjanli village in Jabrayil region of Azerbaijan, which was liberated from the Armenian occupation in April 2016 as a result of a successful counter-attack of the Azerbaijani Army.
Under the order, 4 million manats ($2.05 million) were allocated from the President`s 2017 Contingency Fund to the State Committee on Deals of Refugees and IDPs for the construction of 50 private houses, a school building and relevant infrastructure at the first stage.
More than 190 families out of 400 families, who once lived in the village, have already expressed desire to return to their homeland. The construction work in the village will begin soon, as first 50 families out of 190 will be settled in this village at the first stage.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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31 January 2017 17:45 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
The fighting and tragic loss of life in late December 2016 once again underscored the importance of negotiations on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Richard Hoagland told Armenian News.am on January 31.
We continue to urge the sides to strictly adhere to the ceasefire and take any steps to reduce tensions along the line of contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, the diplomat added.
Hoagland said that the events of late December once again emphasized the importance of negotiations and working towards a settlement that can bring lasting peace to the region.
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 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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31 January 2017 14:05 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
American Jewish Community highly assessed atmosphere of historical tolerance in Azerbaijan, as its delegation, led by President John Shapiro and Chief Executive Officer David Harris, has paid a two-day visit to Azerbaijan's capital.
Overall, AJC maintains close contact with Azerbaijan through its offices across the U.S., Europe, and other locations. The global Jewish advocacy organization visits Baku annually, and meets with senior Azerbaijani officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly every fall.
The principal topics discussed during the talks in Baku were the U.S.-Azerbaijani bilateral relations, ties between Azerbaijan and Israel, regional security and energy developments, as well as instability in the Middle East.
The delegation was first received by President Ilham Aliyev on January 29, where the sides exchanged views on the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan in a number of fields, including the economy, saying these reforms are closely followed.
Hailing Azerbaijani president's fruitful meetings in Davos, the AJC delegation described these meetings as the indicator of world's interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan and expressed their confidence that cooperation between Azerbaijan and the AJC will continue to develop even further.
They pointed to the bilateral Azerbaijan-U.S. relations, praising the development of these ties in a variety of fields. They expressed their confidence that Azerbaijan-U.S. relations will be further continued.
The sides further underlined Azerbaijan-Israel relations, hailing the development of bilateral ties between the two countries in a variety of fields. The importance of the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Azerbaijan in terms of enhancing these relations was emphasized.
The delegation also met Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who noted that different religious confessions historically lived in peace in Azerbaijan and stressed the existence of Jewish community in the country for centuries.
Saying that the multiculturalism is a life style of Azerbaijani people, the FM underlined the countrys contributions to the promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue at the international level. In this context, he brought into the attention the events such as the 7th Baku Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations and the International Humanitarian Forum.
Harris, for his part, expressed his high appreciation for the historical atmosphere of tolerance existing in Azerbaijan, the support and care devoted to the Jewish community of Azerbaijan.
Chairman of the State Committee of Azerbaijan on Work with Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov also received the Jewish delegation.
Highlighting the importance of Azerbaijan-AJC cooperation, established a few years ago, Ibrahimov said this cooperation will further develop.
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the establishment of a close relationship with all Jewish communities around the world. From this perspective, the AJC has a special role, the chairman added.
In turn, Harris said it is his first visit to Azerbaijan following the presidential election in the U.S, stressing that the AJC favors the development of Azerbaijan-U.S. ties.
John Shapiro, in an exclusive interview with Trend, said that constructive partnership between Azerbaijan, the U.S. and Israel has a big significance.
The conversation has been very open, and we believe we have a very good and positive understanding of the challenges faced by Azerbaijan and importance for the country to have a constructive relationship both with U.S. and Israel, he said.
Shapiro noted it is very important that Azerbaijan as a Muslim state is secular and can be friends with Israel. It is an example of how Jewish state and a country of Islamic culture can work together and have a constructive partnership, he noted.
He added that the delegation met with the Jewish community in Azerbaijan and saw they are very happy and feel very comfortable living in the country, adding that from our perspective, it is very positive.
Being a Muslim majority country, Azerbaijan is a home to a big Jewish community, who is as many other religious centers, including Catholics, Protestants and members of the Russian Orthodox Church, live in safety here. The countrys north region of Guba is home to Azerbaijan's largest community of Mountain Jews, who live in Krasnaya Sloboda (Red Town).
The group also visited a synagogue in Baku, where they met with 25 leaders of the age-old and venerable Jewish community in Azerbaijan.
Moreover, Harris addressed more than 40 students studying international relations at the prestigious ADA University. His remarks focused on U.S. foreign policy and lessons of leadership. It was Harris's third visit to the academic institution.
"Azerbaijan continues to be a very significant partner for both the U.S. and Israel. Baku's contributions in many spheres are increasingly vital in today's turbulent world," said Harris, AJC website reported. "And, not surprisingly, we encountered a great deal of interest in the new Trump administration and the approach it will take to the bilateral relationship. From our perspective, we count on the new team in Washington grasping Azerbaijan's importance to core American interests, including regional security, counter-terrorism, and energy policy."
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31 January 2017 18:28 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
The current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, a leader in the South Caucasus region, and Persian Gulf state Qatar were on the agenda of Baku talks, as high-level Qatari delegation has visited the country.
The delegation led by Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani was first received by President Ilham Aliyev, who hailed the bilateral ties and described the political ties between the two countries as excellent.
The president noted that the visit of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Azerbaijan played an important role in developing bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that the visit of the Qatari FM paves the way for discussion of cooperation prospects.
Pointing to the activities of Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Commission, the head of state expressed his hope that the commission will focus on the practical issues of Azerbaijan-Qatar economic cooperation.
President Aliyev said there are good opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Qatar in economic, trade, tourism and other areas too, and noted the importance of exploring the investment opportunities in this regard.
The Qatari minister, in turn, conveyed greetings of the Emir of the State of Qatar to President Aliyev, saying the Emir is looking forward to welcoming the Azerbaijani president in his country.
President Aliyev said he is looking forward to visiting Qatar.
The minister further said that the ongoing development processes in Azerbaijan are followed with great interest in his country. Touching upon the economic cooperation, he expressed his hope that Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Intergovernmental Commission will work in a constructive manner.
The talks on prospective areas for the Azerbaijan-Qatar cooperation were continued at a meeting between Qatars FM and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.
The bilateral cooperation is developing day by day and the two countries positions coincide on international issues, said Mammadyarov at a joint briefing.
The Azerbaijani FM noted that Azerbaijan and Qatar plan to intensify economic cooperation. The two countries intend to develop cooperation in the energy sphere, agriculture, tourism, within international and regional organizations, said Mammadyarov adding that it is also planned to expand the contractual legal base.
The minister noted that 15 agreements on bilateral cooperation have been drafted, which are planned to be signed during the high-level negotiations to be held in Doha in 2017.
As foreign ministers we will do our best to develop these relations, the minister added.
Mammadyarov also noted the great potential for development of relations between the two countries in the tourism sector.
The number of visitors from Qatar is growing every day and that is why it was decided to increase the number of flights of Qatar Airlines to Baku, he said.
Abdulrahman Al-Thani, in turn, emphasizing the significance of expanding economic cooperation, noted that the establishment of a joint foundation is expedient in this regard.
The minister went on to say that Qatar supports Azerbaijans position on many issues.
On the same day, the first session of Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Intergovernmental Commission was held in Baku.
Prior to the session the two co-chairs of the commission, Azerbaijani Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held a one-on-one meeting.
Heydarov noted that the documents of Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Intergovernmental Commission will soon transform into action.
The Qatari minister said that the joint commission will give its contributions to developing relations between the two countries. The joint commission was launched in the beginning of 2016, during the visit of Emir of Qatar to Azerbaijan. We hope that the partnership between the two countries will cover all areas. The commission will play its positive role in expanding relations between the two brotherly countries, Al-Thani said.
Following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994, the key directions of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Qatar have been determined as ties in the field of investment, the exchange of experience in the field of oil and gas, and supply of the Azerbaijani agricultural goods to the Qatar market. The energy industry is one of the most promising as the two countries are rich in their energy, oil and gas reserves.
Given the fact that Azerbaijan and Qatar has a simplified visa regime, close relations between the two countries in tourism sphere is also of utmost importance.
Trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $129,550 in January-November 2016, some $67,410 of which accounted for the export to Qatar, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.
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31 January 2017 10:53 (UTC+04:00)
By Dalga Khatinoglu
Iran signed an agreement on replacing its old taxis with new 10,000 gas-fired hybrid taxis. The agreement was signed between Irans Taxi Company and Iran Fuel Conservation Company.
According to Irans 5-year development Iran, it should import 17,000 buses and 140,000 taxis that use gas (CNG) as fuel. Iran also plans to improve its rail transport system to save some 13 billion liters of gas oil demand per year.
Irans transport sector consumes about 74.9 million liters per day of gasoline as well as about 60 million liters per day of gas oil, which shares 25 percent of the countrys total CO2 emissions.
During the signing agreement ceremony, the CEO of Fuel Conservation Company said that the government has already issued the licence for renewing 65,000 trucks worth $2.7 billion, the project of enhancing the railroad fuel consumption efficiency worth $7 billion, as well as enhancing the efficiency of 600,000 engine rooms (boilers) worth $2 billion as well.
According to an official document from Irans Fuel Conservation Company, seen by Trend, Iran needs to spend $52.5 billion to decrease CO2 emissions by 12% by 2030, of which just a third $17.5 billion is expected to come from domestic reserves and to achieve a third of the targeted cut. The rest would depend on foreign investments.
According to the businessasusual scenario of COP21, Irans emissions would rise to 1.92 billion metric tons /year in 2030, comparing to the current 602 million metric tons /yr in 2016.
If Iran spent the total $52.5 billion, Irans emissions would fall by 230.4 million metric tons cumulatively (or 15.36 million metric tons /year) and with a realization of only $17.5 billion worth of domestic investment, the figure would stand at 76.8 million metric tons (or 5.12 million metric tons /year) by 2030.
According to the International Energy Agency, Irans energy intensity index is one of the highest in the world (double of the world average), and has been rising on average by about 3.4 percent a year over the past 40 years.
* Energy intensity (Barrel per 1 million rials)
Energy intensity measures the amount of primary energy supply a country needs to generate a unit of gross domestic product (GDP).
The figure for Iran is 0.9 million metric tons of oil equivalent to create $1000-worth of GDP, which is nine times more than that of Japan and Germany.
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31 January 2017 10:51 (UTC+04:00)
By Kamila Aliyeva
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to visit Russia in early spring, Sputnik reported with the reference to Turkish diplomatic circles.
Erdogan is scheduled to arrive in Russia in early March and attend the meeting of the Russian-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council.
During the visit, bilateral contacts between the Turkish leader and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected as well.
They expected to mull the measure for further removal of economic restrictions from Turkish products and the complete abolition of the visa regime with Turkey. In addition, the parties intend to discuss a number of international and regional issues, including the Syrian problem.
The previous meeting of the Council was held in December 2014.
In late 2015, relations between Russia and NATO member Turkey deteriorated after Turkish forces downed a Russian warplane and Moscow imposed economic restrictions against Turkey.
In June 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a formal apology to the leader of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, which was accepted. Russia and Turkey have begun the process of restoration of bilateral relations.
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31 January 2017 13:28 (UTC+04:00)
Iran has welcomed the message of the Emir of Kuwait to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani about the proposal from the Gulf countries to initiate a dialogue.
Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Jarallah announced about this while talking to reporters on January 29,KUNA reported.
"The message was delivered and has been apprehended. The Iranian side welcomed its content and voiced readiness to positively react to the content of the message, he said.
The official expressed optimism that upcoming steps would witness a breakthrough in Gulf-Iran relations.
Earlier, Rouhani said countries including Kuwait had offered to mediate in the escalating feud between Shiite Muslim Iran and Sunni power Saudi Arabia.
Relations between Iran and the Gulf states, especially with Saudi Arabia, remain strained due to the differences on regional issues.
Riyadh and some other members of the GCC accuse Tehran of using sectarianism to interfere in Arab countries and build its own sphere of influence in the Middle East. Tehran denies interfering in Arab countries.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in January 2016 cut diplomatic relations with Iran and some other Gulf states recalled their ambassadors in solidarity with the oil-rich kingdom after its embassy in Iran was torched by protesters.
But long-standing trade links and shared access to oil and gas fields have stopped many Gulf states from shutting the door on Iran.
Kuwait, which has a sizeable Shi'ite Muslim minority, is seen as a potential mediator. When Kuwait's emir visited Iran in 2014 it was the first by a ruler of the U.S.-allied Gulf Arab state since the 1979 revolution.
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31 January 2017 12:36 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Iran-France joint economic commissions meeting started in Tehran on January 31 with presence of French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
The session is the first meeting of the joint commission after 17 years, aimed at boosting mutual economic, political and cultural ties, Trends correspondent reported from the event.
Heading a high-ranking 60-member political-economic delegation, Ayrault arrived in Tehran Jan. 30.
During the session Ayrault said that French administration is trying to facilitate issuing visas for Iranians.
We have announced this to our embassy in Tehran and French embassy is working on this, he said.
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31 January 2017 19:04 (UTC+04:00)
Kazakhstans President Nursultan Nazarbayev spoke about targets and major tasks before the national economy as he addressed the Kazakh nation on January 31.
Nazarbayev instructed the government to ensure the significant increase in transit traffic until 2020.
The volume of container freight traffic should be increased by 7 times up to 2 million containers, passenger transportation by 4 times to 1.6 million transit passengers.
It is necessary to increase the income from transit transportation by 5.5 times up to $4 billion per year, said Nazarbayev.
He also noted that the construction and reconstruction work will cover 4,400 kilometers of roads in 2017.
It is necessary to ensure the freedom of transit of goods, the establishment and modernization of transportation corridors, added the Kazakh president.
The president further stressed that Kazakhstan needs to attract transnational companies to integrate to global chains of production and distribution of goods and services.
He particularly noted the need for effective implementation of a joint investment program with China to establish production facilities in Kazakhstan.
He recalled that realization of six projects under this program has already started, and two of these projects have been launched, including the plant for SKD (semi-knocked-down) hybrid and electric vehicles made by Chinas JAC.
He instructed to study the further expansion of production of electric vehicles for exporting them and create the necessary infrastructure.
The Kazakh president also instructed the government to develop an investment strategy by September 1, 2017, and also develop a single export strategy, along with a council for the export policy, which has to include representatives of the business community.
He said the Kazakh government should double the non-oil exports by 2025.
Agriculture should become one of the new drivers of the economy, said Nazarbayev.
Kazakhstan can become one of the world's largest producers and exporters of agricultural products, he said. In particular, Kazakhstan has considerable potential for production of ecologically clean foodstuff. The Made in Kazakhstan brand should become a standard of such products.
I instruct to ensure the growth of food exports by 40 percent by 2021 through diversifying agricultural production, said Nazarbayev.
To achieve these goals, he instructed the government and heads of local executive authorities to reconsider the principles of granting subsidies and to gradually start insurance of products.
He added that it is necessary to create conditions within 5 years for amalgamation of more than 500,000 households and small farms in cooperatives.
Nazarbayev also instructed to improve the processing of products, create an effective system of storage, transportation and sale of products, to improve labor productivity and reduce production costs, as well as to improve the efficiency of land use and increase investment in agricultural research.
The country will also adopt a new Code on Subsoil and make the necessary amendments in the countrys tax legislation.
President Nazarbayev noted that given the decrease in global demand for mining products, as well as the products of oil and gas industry, it is necessary to enter new markets and expand the scope of supplies.
He said it is also necessary to step up geological exploration, stressing that complex processing of raw materials should be intensified.
Kazakhstan will begin to introduce a compulsory social health insurance system based on solidary obligationof the state, employers and citizens from July 1, 2017, Nazarbayev further said.
"The world practice has proved the efficiency of the system," the president said.
President Nazarbayev added that the participation of the vulnerable layers of the population in that system will be supported by the state.
A wide range of medical services is planned to be rendered to the participants of the system, the message said.
President Nazarbayev added that private medical organizations must be provided with equal conditions in that system to develop the competition.
Moreover, the president has initiated a phased reduction of the size of the transfer from the National Fund to the budget of up to 2 trillion tenge (326 tenge = $ 1) in 2020.
"We need a more rational attitude to the use of the National Fund," he said.
In 2016, it was planned to transfer from the National Fund to the state budget the amount of 2.8 trillion tenge. However, later it was decided to reduce the size of the transfer up to 2.4 trillion tenge in this period, in order to avoid a significant reduction in reserves of the National Fund.
Recently, Nazarbayev said he will give more power to the parliament and government, as he will focus on strategic matters, foreign policy and national security while serving as "supreme arbiter" between the various branches of government.
The president clarified that about 40 functions could be transferred from president to parliament and government. The president stressed that the reforms will create stability in the countrys political system for many years to come and an efficient mechanism to respond to modern challenges.
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31 January 2017 19:34 (UTC+04:00)
By Kamila Aliyeva
Tehran has today hosted a meeting of Iran-France Joint Economic Commission with presence of French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.
The session was the first meeting of the joint commission after 17 years, aimed at boosting mutual economic, political and cultural ties, Trends correspondent reported from the event.
During the session Ayrault said that French administration is trying to facilitate issuing visas for Iranians.
We have announced this to our embassy in Tehran and French embassy is working on this, he said.
Ayrault further underlined his country's efforts to further develop trade and economic relations with Iran through involving more French banks in interactions with Tehran.
"France has been active in guaranteeing exports to Iran and the French banks have played a role in this regard which shows France's confidence in trade with Iran and we will try to involve more banks," Ayrault said.
Zarif, in turn, underlined that the two countries have tripled the value of their trade exchanges in the first eleven months of 2016.
"The value of trade exchanges between Iran and France has exceeded $1.7 billion," Fars agency reported citing Zarif as saying.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran as a reliable partner is ready for sustainable economic cooperation on the basis of mutual interests with the European countries, specially France," Zarif added.
Iranian and French companies signed five cooperation documents at the end of the two countries joint economic commission session.
The documents envisage cooperation for development of Mashhad international airport, construction of a bioethanol plant in the western city of Kermanshah, and holding pilot training courses for Iran and regional countries as well as cooperation in fishery industry and caviar production.
Heading a high-ranking 60-member political-economic delegation, Ayrault arrived in Tehran on January 30.
During his two-day visit, Ayrault is scheduled to meet with Irans President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.
The commercial ties between Iran and France have been rising considerably since the nuclear deal went into force in January 2016.
The trade turnover between Iran and France amounted to 1.5 billion over the past 10 months.
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31 January 2017 17:32 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during his working visit to the Ahal region of the country reviewed a plant for production of gasoline from natural gas, Turkmenistan State News Agency reported on January 31.
The plant is being constructed in Ovadan-Depe town in Ahal province of Turkmenistan by the Turkmengaz State Concern, as well as Japans Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd and the Turkish Ronesans Holding.
It is planned to commission the enterprise in 2018. The plant will annually produce 600,000 tons of RON-92 gasoline, 12,000 tons of diesel fuel and 115,000 tons of liquefied gas.
The total investment cost of the project amounts to almost $1.7 billion.
The Turkmen news agency said that the countrys president instructed to make the production of RON-95 gasoline possible during the drafting of the second train of the plant.
Berdimuhamedov also ordered to speed up construction of the railway line for the transportation of the products of the enterprise, noting that this is the most cost-effective kind of their delivery, including for export.
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31 January 2017 10:00 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
A mysterious and beautiful land, Azerbaijan offers you so much to see and explore: from Gobustan Petroglyphs to Shahdag, to the skyscrapers of Baku, to the Old City, and beyond
In 2017 Baku, should continue to be the best seller, where you can get the maximum experience of Azerbaijani culture and history for one destination. The Old City and Ateshgah draw thousands of visitors every year, especially in March.
Starting mid-March the country is expected to welcome a new flow of travelers. Many tourists have already booked hotels for the forthcoming Novruz Bayram, which will be marked in March.
The joyful, merry holiday of Novruz, having a lot of customs, ceremonies, performances, games and songs, also traditionally mark a large tourist flow to the country from the neighboring countries.
Muzaffar Agakarimov, the adviser of the Chairman of Azerbaijani Tourism Association said in general, these rooms are booked by tourists from Arab countries and Iran.
"The country will mainly welcome tourists from Iran and Arab countries including Iraq, the UAE and Qatar, he said, adding that the influx of tourists is expected to continue until the end of summer.
In summer the numbers of Russian tourists wild surely rise. Moreover, in connection with medical tourism we expect to host tourists from Kazakhstan," he said.
Agakarimov added that the application of e-visa will stimulate the process.
After the application of electronic visas the number of tourists who are interested in Azerbaijan increased. Residents of such distant countries as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India and Pakistan have already showed interest in Azerbaijan. Therefore, Azerbaijan also expects tourists from these countries, he said.
Earlier in December, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nazim Samadov said that the number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan since the beginning of 2016 increased by 11 percent.
He emphasized that the number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan from Arab countries increased by 8 times, while the number of tourists from the UAE rose by 33 times.
The upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games, which will bring together athletes from 57 Muslim states to Baku this May, also may raise the interest of Arab tourists to sunny Caucasus country to get closely familiar with this wonderful country.
Mountains, forests, farmlands, coastal areas, rich natural resources and nine out of a possible eleven distinct climate zones from subtropical to alpine climates provide Azerbaijan with a broad range of natural environments that can be used to develop a range of tourism activities and to attract a diverse group of tourists.
In addition to the natural and rural attractions, Azerbaijan has a rich history that resulted from its incorporation into the strongest of early empires; it had been ruled by the Persians, Romans, Arabs, and Seljuk Turks.
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CS Amina Mohamed election loss is a big headache to the Jubilee government and its principles. The president who have been campaigning heavily on the cabinet secretary to hold the higher office became futile after the neighbors declined the offer from the president.The Majority of the countries that did not vote for the Kenyan candidate had genuine reasons. The main reason is all about the high rate of Government looting public funds.Some of the presidents were heard talking about giving the AU chair to Immature and corrupt individuals who tattered their respective government with Graft stains. The statements made some allegations that was reported by Fox news that president Kenyatta attempted to commit suicide in a toilet chamber in Addis Ababa.The president went to Addis Ababa to campaign for Cs Amina Mohamed while leaving young men and brothers in Hospitals and others mourning after loosing their loved ones in the Somali Border attack. There were enough reasons why the African leaders were not able to vote for the cabinet secretary because of the conditions in Kenya.
The 45th President of the United States has several issues to deal with as he begins his four year term in the White House. From health care to immigration, President Donald Trump has no shortage of decisions to make.
And not all of them will be popular. Neither will some of his comments. In fact, those on the opposite end of his statements may take issue with some of those statements and a war of words could break out.
President Trump has referenced his ongoing battle with news outlets with great frequency, but its that battle that has, according to the president, created another fight.
During remarks at the Central Intelligence Agency just after assuming office, President Trump said, The media sort of make it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community.
PolitiFact Florida heard the claim and gave it a FALSE rating.
President Trump says news outlets are putting words into his mouth, but PolitiFact Florida writer Josh Gillin says journalists have only reported what hes said.
There had been an opposition report from other political candidates who had made all of these allegations about Trump, and he had said that, you know, the intelligence community letting this get out to the media was like Nazi Germany, Gillin said. He had disputed what all these agencies, like the CIA and the FBI, had said and had come to that conclusion that Russians had hacked into the election to try to influence the results. He had said these things multiple times, so to accuse the press of being the ones that have kind of made this up? Just not accurate at all.
For that reason, President Trumps statement received a FALSE rating.
SOURCES: Trump blames journalist for intel community feud
Over a hundred students at University of South Florida gathered in the middle of campus to protest President Donald Trumps controversial immigration ban.
129 internation students at USF impacted by immigration ban
Students continued to protest on Monday
RELATED: President Trump's statements on vetting process
Students held signs, chanted and sang in solidarity, to show students impacted by the band that they are supported.
A total of 129 international students at USF will be impacted, according to administrators.
Iranian born PhD candidate Zahra Akbarr is one of them. She's wondering whether she will be able to continue her studies at USF.
I dont feel safe anymore," said Akbarr. "I dont feel secure. I dont feel stable. Why? Because now I think America doesnt want me."
*Iranian born PhD candidate Zahra Akbarr
The new executive order means Akbarr cannot leave the US to visit her parents when the semester is over.
Akbarr wonders if she will be able to continue studying at USF for the next two years because if she visits Iran, she may not be allowed back in.
It means all the stuff Ive built for more than six years is nothing," said Akbarr. "Its destroyed everything, all of my dreams and my hard work to just come here."
She dreams to work for the UN or the World Bank to help combat poverty.
USF's Provost and Executive Vice President Ralph Wilcox sent a letter recommending affected students to refrain from traveling outside of the US until the university learns more about the ban.
The university has also told students it will provide travel counseling services to evaluate how the ban will affect them in the coming months.
A 2014 executive order of protecting LGBTQ federal employees from discrimination, which was signed by former-President Barack Obama, will continue under the Trump Administration, according to a White House Press release.
"President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community. President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election," the White House Press release stated on Tuesday.
While Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received endorsements from organizations in the gay community, Trump was the first Republican presidential nominee to mention the group at his party acceptance speech.
CNN contributed to this story.
Here is the full press release:
President Donald J. Trump Will Continue to Enforce Executive Order Protecting the Rights of the LGBTQ Community in the Workplace
President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community. President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election. The President is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression. The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J. Trump.
News / Africa
by Staff reporter
The organiser of the Organiser of Mamelodi Concerned Residents, Makgoka Lekganyane, told a South African talk radio station today (31 January 2017) that they are going ahead with the march against the influx of foreign nationals who they accuse of taking their jobs.Lekganyane said the march is scheduled for 24 February will begin at 11am.It will begin at Corner Visagie and Paul Kruger (at City Hall).The organizers, who have put their contacts, are Mamelodi Concerned Citizens and the point persons are Oupa Mtshweni, Dusty and Makgoka.Flyers seen by Bulawayo24.com indicate that South Africans are fed up with their government granting asylum seekers status.The singled out Zimbabweans, Nigerians and Pakistanis as major problems saying there was no war in these countries.
Ghost Forests and Agate Beds Abound on Oregon Coast
Published 01/30/2017 at 6:29 PM PDT
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff
(Seal Rock, Oregon) The central Oregon coast is seeing a lot of old, old faces pop up: older than 2,000 years old. That and a ton of agate-hunting possibilities. (Above: ghost forest stumps near Newport this weekend).
It's all because of this crazy erosion thing: the annual gutting of Oregon beaches by big waves each winter, where heavy surf takes out the sand and reveals all sorts of interesting goodies. The biggest: so-called ghost forests, stumps from trees anywhere from 1,000 to 4,000 years old that are popping up like daisies in areas around Cannon Beach, Newport, Seal Rock and more.
Seal Rock ghost forest, Curtis St. access
This also means gobs of gravel beds opening up, as bedrock is revealed in many places and the treasure holds of agates lying beneath the sands breathe the open air once again.
This past weekend, the ancient structures were in places not often seen. There are 2,000-year-old ghost forests visible year-round at Neskowin, but the ones showing up just south of Newport and near Seal Rock are about 4,000 years old and only show up in winter. Those at Curtis St. at Seal Rock tend to show a little more often, but up the road about ten miles is Thiel Creek and Holiday Beach where they don't appear quite every winter.
Holiday Beach is behind an unmarked gravel pullover about 100 feet north of the milepost 146 marker, just south of the Newport Municipal Airport.
Ghost forests are also seen way up north near Cannon Beach, at Arch Cape and Hug Point State Park. These are remarkably ancient as well, carbon-dated at about 4,000 years old. These only show up every few years.
Seaside geologist Tom Horning found them in these areas recently as well as other spots, including a chunk of acreage where a coffee shop now stands, which is where a history center for the north Oregon coast once sat.
We have stumps on bedrock beneath the beaches at Hug Point and Arch Cape, Horning said. Only the roots remain, the stumps have been abraded by the waves and gravel. I have seen spruce and cedar. Some of the stumps are from the 3600-year-old brief high-stand of the 'Hypsothermal Event,' caused by some warm climate that pulled back after a brief stint. Others are exhumed from the 80,000 yr old terrace and remain glued to the beach platform. We have more drowned forests behind the beaches and dunes of Clatsop Plains, including near our old Natural History Center at the north end of Seaside.
How these ghost forests came to be is a bit up for debate. It was either a massive quake (like the one in 1700 and the one we're expecting again) that dropped the earth rather suddenly, or it was a slower change in landscape that took a few decades. In either case, the eventual outcome is known: these stands of trees were buried by sand and / or sediment, cut off from the decaying effects of oxygen, and preserved beneath the sands for thousands of years. Photos of Oregon Coast Ghost Forest Stumps: Where Else to Find Them
Scientific communities around Oregon differ about how the land dropped, whether it was abruptly by a quake that sent the ground diving ten feet or more, or if it was a slower creep of sand and changing water levels that enveloped the forests.
On the central Oregon coast this weekend, bedrock was showing at the Curtis St. access of Seal Rock, bringing out droves of agate hunters. As Horning pointed out, Arch Cape and Hug Point are also showing bedrock, which likely means gravel beds and thus agates will abound there as well. This can change drastically from day to day, however, with sand levels changing constantly.
Other places to keep an eye out for prime agate hunting include Moolack Beach and Beverly Beach at Newport, parts of Lincoln City, Oceanside, northern Manzanita, and Bob Creek near Yachats.
More places to look for ghost forests include Moolack Beach, Tillicum Beach near Yachats and Cape Lookout State Park near Oceanside. Oregon Coast Hotels for this - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours
Video: gravel beds and agate hunters on Sunday at Seal Rock.
Gravel Beds Galore near Seal Rock, Oregon Coast Near Newport, #OregonCoast Yesterday: agate hunting opps abound. This is Seal Rock, northern end, at Curtis Street. Also gobs of ghost forests there and at Thiel Creek (forests some 4,000 years old). Posted by Newport, Oregon Coast on Monday, January 30, 2017
Thiel Creek, near Newport
Thiel Creek, near Newport
Thiel Creek, near Newport
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A former Orange County Sheriff's detective was sentenced on Tuesday to one year and one day in a federal prison for laundering money stolen from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to Brit Featherston, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.
Chad Hogan, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone. Hogan pleaded guilty in September.
According to a statement from Featherston's office, Hogan deposited more than $187,000 into a bank account for Starcomm Wireless from March 2009 to August 2015. Hogan previously owned the company but closed it before the first illegal deposit was made, the statement said.
The checks came from HUD's utility assistance program and were addressed to residents of the Beverly Place apartments, Cedarwood apartments and Villa Main apartments in Groves and Port Arthur. Several employees at the complexes signed residents up for the program without their knowledge and then gave the checks for Hogan to deposit into the account, according to the statement.
Hogan kept one-third of the money and gave the rest to the apartment complex employees.
Nhung Tuyet Nguyen, 44, a former assistant manager for Beverly Place Apartments in Groves, was sentenced on Tuesday to 22 months in prison for her role in the laundering scheme. Nguyen signed up tenants for the HUD program and kept nearly $400,000 in payments made from October 2007 to December 2015, according to Featherston's office. She pleaded guilty in July.
Hogan was ordered by the court to pay $187,000 in restitution.
Before his arrest, Hogan had spent more than 20 years in law enforcement, working for the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the Port Arthur Police Department.
He resigned from his position with the sheriff's department in March.
NKrebs@BeaumontEnterprise.com
Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens will be going to New York this week to tape a show with Harry Connick Jr., the musician-actor-television personality.
The show will be broadcast, locally on Fox 4 at 2 p.m. weekdays, but Stephens said she didn't know when her segment would air.
News / Local
by Staff Reporterr
A group of robbers who are still at large broke into a shop at Chinanaira Business Center in Nyazvidzi Gutu, assaulted the owner who they left for dead before escaping with goods worth $700.Earlier the robbers threatened to kidnap a small baby unless they were given money.Claudius Mamutse told The Mirror that the robbers broke into the shop where his wife Sharai Gozhi was sleeping in another room with the children while he was sleeping in the shop and the incident happened at around midnight.Mamutse sustained serious head injuries including getting part of his ear chopped off.Efforts to get a comment from the Police were fruitless."It was around midnight and I heard someone opening the back door and I thought it was my daughter going to the toilet. However, lights from torches were suddenly flashing in my face and the intruders started attacking me."I never saw what weapons they were using but they were sharp objects that my left my ear chopped off. They tied my hands and legs and took all the money which was $103 while others were collecting goods from the shop worth $700", he said.The robbers also beat up his wife and daughter."They demanded money and said they were going to take our baby if we refused to give them what they wanted," added Mamutse.
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A 16-year-old Jordanian visa holder, who attends Katy High School west of Houston, has been detained by U.S. immigration officials for more than three days following President Trump's controversial immigration executive order, according to his brother and an attorney representing the family.
Mohammad Abu Khadra, who lives in Katy with his brother Rami, traveled to Jordan last week to renew his visa. When he flew into Bush IAH airport Saturday, officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained him at the airport for about 48 hours. He was transferred to an Office of Refugee Resettlement shelter in Chicago Monday, where he remained as of Tuesday afternoon. The teen has no access to his cell phone or to a computer, his brother said.
IS IT A BAN? Trump update: Travel ban? Depends on what the meaning of 'ban' is
Mohammad is among dozens of visa holders and immigrants to be detained at U.S. airports since Trump signed an executive order Friday indefinitely barring all Syrian refugees from entering the United States and suspending all refugee admissions for 120 days. It also prohibits citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for 90 days, whether they are refugees or not. Those countries include Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Mohammad's native Jordan is not on the list, and Mohammad is not a refugee.
The ACLU of Texas said it was the only case its knows of where a minor has been detained for more than 24 hours since the executive order was signed.
Mohammad and Rami's attorney, Ali Zakaria, said he is filing a family reunification document with the shelter so the Office of Refugee Resettlement can release him to his brother's custody in Texas. He said he has not yet heard back from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about why Mohammad was detained or how long his detention could last.
Zakaria estimated Mohammad could be in custody anywhere from two weeks to two months. He did not know Mohammad's visa status or which type of visa Mohammad tried to renew in Jordan.
"Obviously Mohammad's case is extraordinary," Zakaria said. "For a kid to be detained at an airport for 48 hours is unconscionable."
EDUCATED OPPOSITION: Baylor College of Medicine chief slams Trump over ban
Rami, a 37-year-old green card holder who has been in the United States for five years, said he feels helpless.
"My country is not one of seven countries on the list," Rami said. "It's like because he's from the Middle East, he gets detained."
Rami said he hopes to hear from Mohammad Tuesday, but that his little brother is only allowed to call once a week for 30 minutes.
Katy ISD would not comment on the situation, citing federal student privacy laws that prevent them from sharing information about individual students.
Mohammad is not the only minor to be detained by immigration authorities at airports since the order was signed, but his detention appears to be among the longest yet.
A 5-year-old was allegedly separated from his Iranian mother and detained at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, D.C., for more than four hours Saturday before the two were reunited. A Somali woman and her two young children were detained at the same airport for 18 hours due to the executive order.
Rami said he was able to visit Mohammad briefly at Bush IAH airport Sunday after he was peppered with questions from immigration officials curious about his relationships and his allegiances. He said his brother was exhausted after a 16-hour flight from Jordan and spending the night sleeping in an airport chair.
"He was very afraid," Rami said. "Before I saw him, he was on a flight for 15 or 16 hours, then was at the airport for 72 hours. He was very tired and frustrated. When he took the flight to Chicago, he called me, but he doesn't know anything. He doesn't know what's going on."
RALLYING FOR IMMIGRANTS: Protests ripple across Houston in wake of Trump's order
Zakaria said he spent the weekend volunteering with the ACLU and working with other immigrants, visa holders, citizens and refugees at IAH airport. He said after that work and speaking with colleagues across the country, he's convinced immigration officials are not just barring or delaying citizens from the seven countries listed on Trump's executive order.
"It's a lot of Muslims from other countries, too," Zakaria said. "I think Mohammad is a prime example. Jordan is not on the list, but he's still enduring this treatment. People say it's not a Muslim ban, but they need to look at the facts on the ground and not the spin coming from the White House."
Rami said his parents, who still live in Jordan, are inconsolable over their son's detention. He wished the U.S. government would just send Mohammad back to Jordan rather than have him languish in a bureaucratic limbo.
"I'm trying to fly out to Chicago, trying to reach out people. I just want to see him," Rami said. "I'm trying very hard to just see him or hear from him or anything. I need to see if he needs money or anything."
Zakaria said keeping Mohammad in detention does nothing to keep Americans safe.
"It's OK to enforce the law, it's OK to be vigilant for terrorism, but stopping a kid at an airport for days does not accomplish that objective," Zakari said.
>>>Click through the above gallery to see images from protests of Donald Trump's immigration ban.
A 46-year-old woman from the Houston area pleaded guilty Thursday to trading child pornography, including at least one topless photo of her juvenile relative, with another man.
Tracey Lynn Bautista faces up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in her sentencing hearing April 29.
Officials require healthcare employees to get their flu shots as a way to lower patient risk. However, PLOS One published a study that challenges a flu shot's efficacy in mitigating such risk, STAT reports.
Researchers analyzed four cluster randomized controlled trials that took place at long-term care facilities. In past studies, researchers said calculations showed for every eight vaccinated staff members, this could avert one influenza death.
However, STAT reports if the calculation held true, the 1.7 million vaccinated healthcare employees in long-term care throughout the nation would prevent 212,500 flu-related deaths each year. The study in PLOS challenges this claim as there are not that many flu-related deaths in the United States.
CDC estimates say the flu kills between 3,000 and 49,000 Americans annually. Thus, if researchers applied the previous study's calculation to 5.5 million hospital workers, mandatory flu shots should avert 687,500 deaths each year, which totals more than the number of Americans who died during the 1918 Spanish flu. The Spanish flu killed almost 675,000 Americans.
Michael Osterholm, PhD, director of Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy, told STAT, "The study today does not refute that vaccination could have some impact on reducing transmission from infected health care workers to patients. But it clearly shows there's no well-conducted study that demonstrates that at this time. Our public policy should be guided as such."
To help regain its financial footing, St. Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette, La., plans to enter into a long-term lease deal with New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System, according to The New Orleans Advocate.
St. Bernard Parish Hospital's finances have significantly deteriorated since it opened in 2012. An audit report released this month by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office revealed the hospital recorded a $19.5 million operating loss in 2015. The auditors said the loss was largely attributable to problems with the hospital's billing and collection procedures, according to the report.
Although St. Bernard Parish Hospital has taken steps to improve its finances in recent years, the hospital recorded an operating loss of nearly $7.2 million in the first 11 months of 2016.
However, the hospital is continuing efforts to get its finances in check. For example, Mary Hand, chairwoman of the St. Bernard Parish Hospital District, told The New Orleans Advocate that the hospital is expected to save $5 million annually through recently adopted measures to increase revenue and cut costs.
Through the long-term lease deal, Ochsner will help St. Bernard Parish Hospital with its turnaround plan. Hospital President Guy McInnis told The New Orleans Advocate the Ochsner lease deal is the best option for the hospital. "It's difficult, financially, to run a hospital, so you need deep pockets," he said.
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Evansville, Ind.-based St. Mary's Health President Keith Jewell is stepping down from his post, effective Feb. 28, 2017. He was named president in December 2013.
Mr. Jewell said that while this was a difficult decision, he is "looking forward to joining my family full time in Indianapolis," according to a hospital statement. During his tenure, St. Mary's Health acquired Tri-State Community Clinics and was redesignated as a Magnet facility in 2016.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to return to my hometown and lead such an outstanding organization," said Mr. Jewell.
St. Mary's Health Executive Vice President and COO Dan Parod will serve as interim president, until Mr. Jewell's successor is named.
Paul Klotman, MD, president, CEO and executive dean of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said "dozens" of faculty, researchers and students of the school are affected by President Donald Trump's immigration ban, according to Chron.
President Trump's order, which he signed Jan. 27, temporarily bans travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. The rule also suspends the entire U.S. refugee admissions system for 120 days and the Syrian refugee program indefinitely, according to The Guardian.
"We, as a global research institution, have lots of people from all over the world," Dr. Klotman said in an interview Monday. "This whole thing has been a giant, messy distraction."
Dr. Klotman said it is not yet known if there are any Baylor Medical School students or faculty who had been planning to come to Houston to begin a job or education at the organization but have been blocked because of the ban. However, he said he wouldn't be surprised if this were the case, according to the report.
"We get the best and the brightest from these countries," said Dr. Klotman, according to the report. "This is the last thing they need."
Dr. Klotman's office on Sunday sent an organizationwide memo saying it was working to understand the new policy and the effects of the federal judge's ruling staying the order, Chron reported.
"There likely will continue to be changes in this policy over the coming days and weeks which is why it is important for us to carefully monitor the political and legal issues while providing support to all members of the Baylor community. If anyone potentially affected by the order is scheduled to leave the county on business, please contact the Office of the General Counsel for guidance," the emailed memo said, according to the report.
As for the searing backlash the policy received immediately following its announcement, Dr. Klotman, as a CEO, said there should have been more consideration of the potential fallout, according to the report.
"It was done like an amateur," he said.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order Monday aimed at eliminating two federal regulations for every new one an order that has the potential to significantly cut or confuse healthcare regulation.
The order also requires the costs of any new regulations to be offset by the two that are cut. "For fiscal year 2017, which is in progress, the heads of all agencies are directed that the total incremental cost of all new regulations, including repealed regulations, to be finalized this year shall be no greater than zero unless otherwise required by law or consistent with advice provided in writing by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget," the executive order reads.
The directive gives room for interpretation, particularly by President Trump's nominee for OMB director, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., who has yet to be confirmed. Once confirmed, the director of the OMB will have the flexibility to determine how and when the executive order is carried out, meaning it may or may not apply to healthcare regulations. "This vests tremendous power and responsibility in the OMB director to ensure the president's direction in how we manage this across the government," a White House official said, according to Reuters.
The order could have a significant effect on healthcare regulations set to roll out this year, including those under the 21st Century Cures Act and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act's Quality Payment Program. For example, the 21st Century Cures Act includes a number of new regulations aimed at speeding processes in the Food and Drug Administration, such as one that builds on the agency's current review process for medical devices, according to a report from STAT.
The order could be further complicated because some regulations are technically deregulations, STAT reports. This may be the case for MACRA, which aims to streamline several CMS programs into one. Quality reporting under MACRA is set to begin in 2017 to determine physician Medicare payments in 2019.
The order for deregulation has been meet with open arms by the American Hospital Association. "We are encouraged by the executive order signed by President Trump today that will help reduce red tape," AHA CEO Rick Pollack said in a statement. "Reducing the administrative complexity of healthcare would allow providers to spend more time on patients, not paperwork. In the past year alone, the federal government added 23,531 pages to the stack of existing regulations affecting hospitals and health systems."
More articles on leadership and management:
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News / National
by Stephen Jakes
The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has condemned the violent attack on Tajamuka activist, Onias Mezah, who was assaulted on yesterday in Kambuzuma, Harare. Mezah's attackers questioned why he was wearing Tajamuka regalia.The assailants accused Mezah of being a troublemaker and an undesirable element in society who was mobilizing protests against the government of President Robert Mugabe."When Mezah remained defiant and told the assailants that he was operating well within his freedom of association and expression, a scuffle ensued resulting in him being attacked and sustaining injuries on his eye. Mezah said he had not yet made a police report, as he wanted to first seek medical attention. ZPP referred him to Counselling Services Unit were he received initial treatment and was referred to an eye specialist," said ZPP."The Zimbabwean constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression and political rights. Political activists are supposed to respect these freedoms and refrain from attacking those who may hold divergent political views. It is the duty of political parties to ensure that their members do not infringe on other citizens' rights."ZPP said as the country braces for 2018 elections, the ZPP urges law enforcement agents to be on the lookout for these human rights violations which have an effect of discrediting elections."Perpetrators must be prosecuted to send the correct message to would be political violence perpetrators. ZPP is a Non Governmental Organisation that was founded in 2000 by a group of faith based and human rights NGOs working and interested in human rights and peace-building initiatives. ZPP has become a vehicle for civic interventions in times of political crises. In particular, ZPP seeks to monitor and document incidents of human rights violations and breaches of peace," said ZPP.
Antoinette Hardy-Waller has worked in healthcare for more than 25 years. She's spent time as a nurse, home care business owner, board member for a major national health system, and consultant. Yet of all of her experiences, it is the time and energy she pours into The Leverage Network that she considers "passion work."
"It is really who I am," she says. "Being a black female in not only a white, male-dominated industry but world the work I do at the Leverage Network is what I've experienced most of my career. Connecting people with the right relationships and opportunities to further their careers and opportunities I've always done this in an informal way. The Leverage Network has given me a platform to make that work more intentional and deliberate."
Ms. Hardy-Waller founded The Leverage Network in October 2014, and today serves as its CEO. The Chicago-based organization is devoted to advancing African Americans in executive, governance and entrepreneurial roles in healthcare. Although minorities represent more than roughly one-third of patients in U.S. hospitals, minorities comprise only 14 percent of hospital board positions and 11 percent of executive leadership positions, and those numbers significantly decrease when you narrow it to African Americans.
Ms. Hardy-Waller took some time with Becker's Hospital Review to discuss her diverse career, the conversation that needs to unfold in hospitals across the country, implicit biases and small wins her organization has celebrated thus far.
Question: You are the champion of several causes and hold numerous roles right now as a professional vice chair of Catholic Health Initiatives, CEO of the Leverage Network, CEO of Strategic Health Formations. It's impressive! How do you find the time to focus on each and give each job/responsibility your dedication? How has each role brought a different sensibility or understanding to the others?
Antoinette Hardy-Waller: I am doing a lot, but they all marry.
My background is in nursing, and I built my career in post-acute healthcare. I owned two home care companies; the first I built and grew to be the largest proprietary home care company in Chicago and sold it to Columbia/HCA in the mid-90s. My second home care company I started in the early 2000s and sold in 2009 to a private investor group.
In between the two companies I had a consulting company that provided a significant amount of consulting work with hospitals and health systems nationally. I helped them build, integrate, turnaround and in some cases divest of their home care businesses. I started that work a few years after I sold first company some hospitals said they jumped into the home care business and didn't know much about it; they were floundering. It was a great consulting career, and I realized that consulting is what I love.
When I was appointed to the board of Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives around 2009-10, we were completing our 2020 strategic plan. It encompassed elements of population health, including care coordination, continuity of care and the development of a post acute strategy. CHI was in the process of acquiring a large home care business, and my expertise and experience in that area was timely and valuable for the organization at the time. We continued to build and incorporate population health throughout the several years I've been there; then came discussion about integration of post-acute assets and how we build a strong continuum of care. That went back to not only my work building and growing home care businesses, but significantly to the work I did from a consulting standpoint. During my tenure, CHI significantly grown in size from a $7 billion to a now $23 billion integrated Catholic health system.
Strategic Health Transformations is the consulting firm I currently lead. We focus on consulting work similar to my earlier consulting work, around post-acute strategies for health systems, hospitals and home care organizations. That work is done on a per client basis.
The Leverage Network is really my passion work. It is a platform to give back and ensure fair representation of minorities at the highest levels in healthcare organizations across the country. I established TLN in October 2014, but it is something I have built over most of my career. It is really who I am. Being a black female in not only a white, male-dominated industry but world the work I do at the Leverage Network is what I've experienced most of my career. I've been extremely fortunate to build really strong networks and relationships, and position myself to leverage those relationships, which has afforded me some level of success in my career. Connecting people with the right relationships and opportunities to further their careers I've always done this in an informal way. The Leverage Network gave me a platform to make that work more intentional and deliberate.
Q: There is a lot of speculation right now about what 2017 will hold for healthcare. Rather than asking what you think the year holds, I'd love to learn what you hope the year brings. What problem in the industry do you most want to see addressed in the next year?
THW: Now that we have President Trump in place, my hope is he does a good job appreciating and understanding what the ACA has brought to us. We know there is a lot of uncertainty about that right now, especially as the industry was just beginning to get its arms wrapped around what that means for each of us.
What we got out of the election was the obvious need for national dialogue about what it means to be diverse and inclusive not just in different industries, but in society. The minority is becoming the majority in our country, and when you look at the statistics for healthcare providers 32 percent of the populations we serve are minorities we remain so clearly underrepresented in board rooms and senior leadership roles where decisions influence the communities we serve.
Care will continue to move from inpatient settings and hospitals into communities where people live, eat and play. How can you provide quality care if you don't understand the community and community needs? How can you have a positive patient experience if you have nobody on staff who can relate to that patient?
We need to have real conversation about race in this country. I know it's a very uncomfortable conversation and because it's uncomfortable we have really never gotten to the root of it. The time has really come for us to begin to look deeply at those issues with the goal of changing them within our organizations. It's not just an issue of social justice, but a business imperative.
Q: Most organizations today are committed to diversity and inclusion, and those leaders likely agree with you about the need to connect with their communities. How do they know if they are doing enough?
THW: A lot of organizations have moved forward with ways to begin to address this without having that conversation. Personally, I don't think it's enough for organizations to just sign up for a pledge and I don't think it's enough to just collect data and provide cultural competency training. I think those are great starts and something we can all embrace and do, but in some ways I think it's an escape.
Diversity issues such as language, culture and race aren't disparities but differences. But when they are not understood, valued or appreciated for their impact on patient care and the healing process, they become bigger contributors to disparity and unequal outcomes.
AHA has a pledge for health equity. Many major organizations have signed up for that, which is great. Within their own organizations, they've begun to do things like collect and track better data around the diversity of their communities. They've done a good job with cultural competency training, which really targets front-line workforce or mid-management. What you'll hear is, 'We've made great progress as it relates to diversity in our workforce.' I think many organizations have, but they still leave the senior leadership and board roles unaddressed. That's really where, as we all know, the decisions are made, which influences the care we provide to those communities.
Q: The Leverage Network advocates for the advancement of African Americans to leadership, governance and entrepreneurial roles in healthcare. In your work, what do you see as the biggest barrier to racial diversity at the top of healthcare organizations?
THW: There are a lot of potential answers to this question. I think it goes to the heart of being able to openly give voice to the problem of implicit bias, which goes back to our whole conversation around race and race relations. If you want to drill it down to our industry, it's really about implicit bias and where that comes from.
We continue to experience inequities in our organizations as a result of implicit bias. It's subtler than racism, but has the same effects as out-and-out racism. As a result, we continue to get the old adage and excuses of, 'Well, we can't find the right talent. We looked everywhere and we're serious about diversifying, but can't find the skill sets.'
If you look at all organizations, less than 30 percent have identified targets and goals to meet in terms of diversity at the senior-most level. Of organizations tying incentives to that, the number drops even lower. There is not deliberate, intentional work being done to ensure we increase diversity at those levels.
In addition to a lack of commitment, there is still resistance in many organizations against placing diverse candidates in senior leadership roles. There are individuals who are "hiding in plain sight" they are already in the organizations and communities, just waiting to be believed in and empowered. The key decision makers who can make those [hiring or promotion] decisions are not readily doing that.
Q: TLN's work must be demanding and requires an unwavering spirit. What are some "small wins" you've seen over the years when it comes to diversity in healthcare that have buoyed your enthusiasm and commitment to the cause?
THW: Because it's been early in our work, one thing that continues to blow me away the most is the impressive and talented group of people who volunteer their time and resources to work closely with me to help change the dynamic. Our board of directors and advisors take a lot of time and resources out of their day-to-day work and have volunteered to leverage their own personal relationships. If we continue to chisel away, grow our networks and have the uncomfortable conversations only then can we change the conversation.
The first year of the Leverage Network was really spent building our infrastructure and being clear about our mission and vision, so the work has really taken place over the last 12 months.
One of our first board recruits placed is a black female executive who met the desired skill set and talent of a large health system looking to diversify its board. She was just recently inducted and has started her tenure on that board, which is a great win not only for the Leverage Network but for the organization since she has already been such a valuable asset. We were able to place a black physician leader to a board quality and safety committee as well, who has a very strong background in data analytics and quality. For our first healthcare board initiative, which we launched this year, we introduced our first cohort of board candidates, which is comprised of 15 board-ready senior executives. Of those 15, three of them have been appointed to major health systems.
What motivates me is the fact that there has been a lack of wins The industry has been talking about diversity in healthcare for more than 20 years, but for the last 20-plus years we continue to demonstrate a lack of wins. We are not making progress. That in and of itself encourages me to move forward. There has not been any one organization bold enough to say this is a problem, and we're going to take some deliberate action to change it. The Leverage Network is that organization that will be bold, deliberate and intentional.
This is hard work, but it's what we're out to do. My resolution for 2017 is to continue to build the endurance and strength to sustain this work and "change the dynamic."
Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine, Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic have identified dozens of patients who had planned to come to the U.S. for medical care from the countries subject to President Donald Trump's executive order on travel and immigration, reports STAT.
President Trump's order, which he signed Friday, temporarily bans travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. The ban also suspends the entire U.S. refugee admissions system for 120 days and the Syrian refugee program indefinitely, according to The Guardian.
Johns Hopkins Medicine has identified at least 11 patients in the nations included in the ban who had plans to travel to the U.S. for medical care in the next 90 days, while the Cleveland Clinic has found nine. Mayo Clinic knows of 20 patients who may be affected by the ban, and said nearly 80 staff, physicians and scholars affiliated with the organization have ties to all seven of the affected Middle Eastern countries, according to ABC 6 News.
"These are very, very ill patients," Pamela Paulk, president of Johns Hopkins Medicine International, told STAT. "In most cases, these are not cases to be postponed."
Though Ms. Paulk said the patients should have already secured visas to travel to the U.S. for care, Johns Hopkins is concerned the patients will not be allowed to enter the country, according to the report.
The international patients who come to Johns Hopkins for care typically have difficult cases that cannot be adequately treated in their native countries, requiring complex treatments such as neurosurgeries, spine surgeries and bone marrow transplants. The organization is reaching out to the affected patients and trying to determine if their care can be postponed, according to the report. If not, Johns Hopkins could send some of its staff abroad to treat the patients, or find another health system outside of the U.S. to provide their care.
Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy, MD, and the Cleveland Clinic issued statements over the weekend on President Trump's executive order. Read them here.
More articles on hospital and physician issues:
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital first in NJ to open LGBT health center
How Trump's immigration ban could make the physician shortage worse
Physicians remove woman's lungs for six days to save her life
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will lower the state's insurance premium tax rate as part of a two-year budget that will be unveiled Feb. 8, according to the Hartford Courant.
The premium tax rate will drop from 1.75 percent to 1.5 percent under Gov. Malloy's budget plan.
"Restructuring and lowering the premium tax will substantially improve market conditions for Connecticut-based insurance companies," said Gov. Malloy in a statement. "This change will save them millions in taxes paid to other states across the country."
Tax rates on insurance premiums vary across the country, ranging from 0.5 percent up to 4.35 percent. In many states, a retaliatory tax forces insurance companies to pay their home state's tax rate if it is higher than the tax rate in the state they're doing business in. For example, Iowa has a premium tax rate of less than 1 percent, but Connecticut-based insurers doing business in Iowa pay 1.75 percent.
If Gov. Malloy's proposal is approved by the state legislature, the lower premium tax rate would be effective Jan. 1, 2018, according to the report.
More articles on payer issues:
Aetna's Q4 net profit falls 57%, but still beats forecasts
8 recent payer, provider agreement disputes, resolutions
25 things to know about Blue Cross Blue Shield | 2017
CMS and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs are once again looking into Detroit Medical Center's central sterile department and its ability to properly clean surgical tools, according to The Detroit News.
LARA and the Joint Commission conducted inspections Monday of sterilization facilities at Children's Hospital of Michigan, Harper University Hospital and Detroit Receiving Hospital all part of DMC and Karmanos Cancer Institute, a partner of DMC located in its Midtown Detroit campus.
The surprise inspection comes after both state and federal agencies cited DMC's central sterile department in 2016 after an August report from The Detroit News uncovered problems in the department that dated back more than a decade.
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DMC had to submit correction plans to the agencies, which featured several steps, including:
Creating a perioperative improvement council and task force to oversee perioperative services, including CSP
Revising policies for cleaning between cases in the operating room
Instituting an annual review of infection control policies
Enhancing training
However, a dirty surgical tool was delivered to a DMC operating room just one day after the state wrapped up its original investigation in December.
In statements sent to Crain's Detroit Business, both LARA and CMS said the new survey was authorized "due to new allegations involving unsterilized surgical equipment on the Midtown campus."
DMC told Crain's Monday "The surveyors are present and the DMC will work with them during the course of their survey."
German minimally invasive spine device company joimax reported 31 percent sales growth in 2016 over the previous year.
The company is active in 45 countries, with a strongest reputation in Europe and Asia and a growing presence in the United States. "The entry in force of the CPT 2017 reimbursement codebook as of Jan. 1, 2017 is a milestone towards the full acceptance of endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery techniques," said Founder and CEO Wolfgang Ries.
The new codebook contains the first endoscopic spine surgery code for transforaminal and/or interlaminar procedures, which the company's TESSYS and iLESSYS cover. The company received 18 patents and patent publications last year, bringing their total patents and trademarks to 150.
The company's EndoLIF Cage was introduced for minimally invasive and open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and the company expects to innovate with new implants based on the EndoLIF technology in the future. The company will also focus on decompression methods based on endoscopic systems.
On Jan. 27, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on immigration. Under the order, Syrian refugees are not allowed to enter the United States; all refugees are barred from entering the United States for 120 days; and citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are not allowed to enter the United States for 90 days, as reported by The New York Times.
Following the order, protests popped up in airports across the country, as green card-holding permanent U.S. residents from the above seven countries; visa-holding persons; and refugees were detained upon landing in the United States.
One such detained person was Suha Abushamma, MD, an internal medicine resident at Cleveland Clinic, ProPublica reported. She has an H-1B visa for "specialty occupations" workers.
Dr. Abushamma was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, but holds a Sudanese passport. On Jan. 23, 2017, Dr. Abushamma flew oversees to visit family in Saudi Arabia and travel to Sudan. Notified of potential U.S. immigration bans, she changed her plans in hopes of beating President Trump's order.
But when she hit ground in New York on Jan. 28, 2017, she discovered she could either voluntarily leave the United States and withdraw her visa, or be forcibly removed from the country. If forcibly deported, Dr. Abushamma would not be able to re-enter the United States for five years.
She told ProPublica her request for a delay was denied. So, she boarded a return flight to Saudi Arabia. After her flight to Saudi Arabia took off, District Court Judge Ann M. Donnelly "put a stay on deporting people who had landed in the U.S. and were covered by the executive order," according to ProPublica.
Since Dr. Abushamma voluntarily canceled her visa, she won't be able to obtain a new one for at least 90 days.
On Jan. 29, 2017, Cleveland Clinic released a statement addressing the immigration order: "We deeply care about all of our employees and are fully committed to the safe return of those who have been affected by this action."
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Not every threat of fraud to an organisation comes from a stranger. One of the biggest fraud risks to an organisation comes from within from those who know the relevant controls, policies and procedures.
Action Fraud listed corporate employee fraud in the top 10 most reported cases in 2015-2016. Fraud can cause significant loss to an organisation and potentially threaten its continued existence.
Although increasingly fraud is perpetrated through cybercrime, it remains the case that, in essence, for fraud to occur, three factors must be present - pressure, rationalisation and opportunity.
Pressure comes from factors incentivising the individuals to commit fraud, such as personal finance issues or professional progression. Fraudsters, many of whom have no criminal past, often rationalise their crime by believing they have a sense of entitlement to what they are stealing. Lastly, an opportunity needs to be present for the fraud to occur.
Fraudsters differ, but it continues to amaze how many were once highly trusted employees with apparent impeccable records, were long-serving and held management positions. Whilst the list of controls and procedures that could be implemented in order to mitigate against all three motivating factors is almost endless, adopting a number of relatively simply mechanisms can go some way to protecting an organisation from this internal threat:
Ensure recruitment procedures are robust, consistent and up to date, not only to get the best person for the job but to gain reasonable assurance of their integrity. Ensure gaps in experience are queried, follow up references and obtain appropriate proof of identification Controls are important to ensure correct assignment of roles, responsibility and authorisation. Ensure segregation of duties and that any one individual does not have the opportunity to assert significant influence over areas of the business. With the benefit of hindsight, numerous organisations who have been a victim of insider threats cited that behavioural changes were prevalent throughout the ongoing threat, so be aware of changes in individual behaviours such as someone suddenly staying late, high levels of stress or secrecy. Ensure security controls are updated on a regular basis and communicated appropriately; safeguarding systems and information from both outsiders and previous employees.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely protect an organisation from these types of threats. Only by ensuring the correct policies, procedures and controls are in place can an organisation substantially mitigate against this risk.
But management of employees should not stop there. Increasingly, employees are being targeted by cyber criminals as part of a plan to defraud an organisation of money, intellectual property, or other valuable data. How organisations can combat these risks will be the subject of a future article.
For further information, Sinead Watts can be contacted at sinead.watts@ie.gt.com or visit http://www.grantthorntonni.com/
Grant Thornton (NI) LLP specialises in audit, tax and advisory services.
Laganview House, on the corner of Ann Street and Oxford Street, is set for major refurbishment
Belfast's landmark Laganview House has been sold - but its new owner is staying tight-lipped on what they plan to with the building.
It's believed the building on the corner of Ann Street and Oxford Street was sold for well over its 1.25m asking price to a private investor from Northern Ireland.
The purchaser, it is understood, intends to carry out a major refurbishment of the property in the near future.
The distinctive red brick building was designed by Millar and Symes of Dublin and built in 1900, right at the end of the Victorian era.
The building - recognisable for its traditional sandstone construction timber frame windows - was originally built for Bank of Ireland.
But more recently, it has also been used as offices for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
The sales brochure warned that the 11,000 sq ft four-storey building is in need of refurbishment, but highlighted that the ground-floor former banking hall retains many original period features.
Richard McCaig from selling agents Osborne King said: "The combination of location and outlook of this building with its views over the River Lagan makes Laganview House very well suited to either office or leisure use or a combination of the two.
"There was a great deal of interest in this property when we brought it to the market and it was noticeable that the majority of interested parties were local cash-rich investors who are actively seeking good-quality investment opportunities.
"The level of interest in properties such as this clearly demonstrates the strong demand for refurbishment or re-development opportunities at present, specifically in relation to the office and leisure sectors."
It comes as demand for office buildings is at a five-year high in Belfast. The Belfast office market expanded by 40% during 2016 - its best performance since at least 2011, according to research by CBRE.
The building is currently vacant - with the exception of Michelin-starred restaurant OX on its ground floor. However, OX is in a unit which has a different owner, so is not affected by the sale.
A string of attempts to redevelop the building have previously fallen flat. In 2012, plans to build an eight-storey restaurant and bar complex on the ground floor and 39 apartments on the floors above, retaining the building's facade, were refused.
News / National
by Staff reporter
OK Zimbabwe chief executive Willard Zireva is set to leave the group after a long tenure with the company, the Fingaz reported.Zireva was appointed Managing Director of OK supermarkets and assumed the CEO post when Delta unbundled the retail chain in 2001.According to those in the know, OK Zimbabwe is set to issue a statement soon, but unconfirmed reports say that FD Alex Siyavora will act until a substantive CE has been identified.
Joules said that while the majority of its purchases are made in dollars, it is fully hedged against currency fluctuations for this year and next
Upmarket clothing firm Joules has reported rising sales and profits after receiving a boost from its international arm.
The retailer posted a 16.2% increase in sales to 81.4 million in the 26 weeks to November 27, with pre-tax profits jumping from 3.8 million to 6.9 million.
Sales at its international operation, comprising wholesale operations in the US and Germany, rocketed nearly 40% to 8.6 million.
Bobble hats with changeable pom-poms were among the items that helped sales over the winter period, as well as its padded gilets.
Colin Porter, chief executive of the Market Harborough-based group, said: "Joules has continued to perform well during the first half of the financial year, with strong growth delivered across the brand's distribution channels and target markets.
"Group trading over the Christmas period and in the second half of the year to date has been strong and in line with expectations.
"The board remains confident in the brand's continued development both in the UK and internationally."
Retail sales over the Christmas period, the seven weeks to January 8, were up 22.8% year on year.
Joules said that while the majority of its purchases are made in dollars, it is fully hedged against currency fluctuations for this year and next, helping it mitigate the post-Brexit vote crash in the value of sterling.
Shares were down 3.4% in afternoon trading at 213p.
Wayne Brown, analyst at Liberum, said: "The results confirm an improving rate of growth across all areas of the business.
"The medium-term outlook is positive and now that the US wholesale business is being brought in-house, we see margin support in 2018 and beyond.
"More importantly, this move should over time deliver greater brand awareness in the US and underpin what could be a rising international growth profile."
Judith Totten and Colin Dundas of Upstream, last years Small/Medium Business of the year
Above, Darren and Karen Gardiner of Ground Espresso, last years Excellence in Corporate Responsibility winners
Conleth and Naoimh McConville with their father Brian McConville, named Businessperson of the Year at last years awards
Martin Agnew from Henderson Group, winner of Overall Business of the Year, 2016
From left: Richard McClean, managing director of the Belfast Telegraph; Margaret Canning, business editor; Richard Donnan, Ulster Bank head of Northern Ireland
Ulster Bank is to partner with the Belfast Telegraph for this year's Business Awards, now in their 15th year. The Belfast Telegraph Business Awards, in partnership with Ulster Bank, are now open for entry, with three new categories announced for this year's awards, which will take place during a glittering ceremony at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast on Thursday, May 4.
Companies across Northern Ireland can enter across 11 categories, including three new additions - IT Company or Team of the Year, Emerging Business/Start-Up of the Year and SME Healthcare Business of the Year.
>>Download your entry form here<<
Richard Donnan, Ulster Bank Head of Northern Ireland, said: "At Ulster Bank, we're optimistic about the future of business in Northern Ireland, we're committed to supporting that, and we have money to lend.
"We think there's no better way of communicating this to the marketplace than by supporting the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.
"We're doing deals in a wide and diverse range of sectors such as food and drink, retail, hotels, healthcare and IT, so we know there are many businesses with good things to shout about.
"We look forward to working closely with the Belfast Telegraph, to recognise and celebrate Northern Ireland's outstanding companies and businesspeople."
Richard McClean, managing director of the Belfast Telegraph, said: "We're thrilled that Ulster Bank is partnering with us and are overall sponsor for the Business Awards in its 15th year.
"These awards, which have gone from strength to strength, are a great opportunity for local companies of all sizes and from all sectors to shine a light on their successes and with three brand new categories the scope for entry will be even wider.
"We feature lots of local businesses in our daily business pages, but we know there are many more achieving great things so we're urging them to come forward and enter the Belfast Telegraph Ulster Bank Business Awards to tell us what they are achieving both at home and further afield.
"Our team of highly regarded judges is looking forward to hearing all about it."
Last year's overall winner of the awards was Mallusk-based, family owned company the Henderson Group, which also won the Excellence in Innovation award, while other winners included Ground Espresso Bars, Galgorm Resort and Spa, AJ Power and Upstream.
Our esteemed judging panel:
The judging panel for this year will again be chaired by economist Professor John Simpson, who will be joined by:
Richard Donnan, head of Northern Ireland, Ulster Bank
Ann McGregor, chief executive, NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Dr Joanne Stuart, director of development, Catalyst-Inc
Professor Mark Durkin, executive dean, Business School at Ulster University
Siobhan Lyons, head of business development, Belfast Metropolitan College
Jackie Henry, senior partner, Deloitte
Paul Terrington, NI regional chairman, PwC
Colin Stutt, Social Enterprise specialist
Full list of categories
The list of categories for 2017 is:
1. Excellence in Marketing
2. Excellence in Exporting
3. Excellence in the Development of Management and Leadership
4. Excellence in Innovation
5. Best Use of Digital and/or Social Media
6. Young Businessperson of the Year
7. IT Company or Team of the year
8. Emerging Business/Start-Up of the Year
9. SME Healthcare Business of the Year
10. Best Small/Medium Business
11. Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility
Two special judges awards the Lifetime Achievement Award and Overall Business of the Year sponsored by Ulster Bank will also be presented.
Go online for full details
Full details on categories and criteria and how to enter are available here.
The closing date for entries is Friday, March 17 at noon.
The gala awards dinner takes place on May 4 at the Crowne Plaza, Shaws Bridge, Belfast.
A table of 10 costs 1,300 plus Vat while individual places are available at 140 plus Vat.
For further information or to book a table contact Andrea Kennedy at JComms on mail@jcomms.co.uk or call 028 9076 0066.
Dairy firm Arla Foods is to invest over 37 million in its UK business this year, the firm has announced.
The money, an increase of 51% on last year, will be spread across Arla's 13 production, packing and distribution sites as well as its logistics operations.
Arla, home to brands including Anchor and Cravendale, said projects will include development of its Taw Valley creamery in Devon, a new packing facility at the Stourton dairy in Leeds, and new processing equipment in Aylesbury.
Tomas Pietrangeli, Arla's UK managing director said: "Last year, I unveiled the most ambitious UK business strategy to date to make Arla a household brand by 2020 and grow its revenue by nearly a third.
"This ambition is part of the company's global strategy for growth and will position Arla as the champion of British dairy.
"By continually investing and improving our sites, we can ensure we grow capacity, maintain high quality of our products and ultimately return the best possible price to our farmer owners."
The UK figure is part of a 285 million investment Arla is making at its sites around the world.
Greg Clark told MPs discussions were already under way with the steel industry to come up with its own sector deal
Business Secretary Greg Clark has said he wants a special deal with the steel industry as part of the Government's flagship industrial strategy.
Mr Clark told MPs that discussions were already under way with the industry to come up with its own sector deal.
The Government's industrial strategy Green Paper, published earlier this month, pledged to offer sector deals to industries that came up with plans to boost productivity.
This could include cutting red tape, promoting innovation and working with industry to boost exports and commercial research.
Mr Clark was pressed on the steel industry at business questions in the Commons by Labour's Stephen Kinnock.
The MP for Aberavon said: "The Government's industrial strategy has sector deals for a number of sectors, which is welcome.
"But given the vital cross-cutting foundational nature of the steel industry, would the minister now commit to a sector deal for steel?"
In reply, Mr Clark said: "I can say to him that I've already been having discussions with the steel industry with precisely that purpose in mind."
The Bank called for more funding for millennials heading into farming
Britain's young farmers need extra support amid market volatility and Brexit jitters to prevent them from moving to pastures new.
A NatWest survey of 500 young and potential British farmers found that a number of "serious" and "unnecessary" industry challenges are causing the number of industry entrants to fall, and blocking others from growing and diversifying their farms.
Limited succession opportunities - considering complex family dynamics and intergenerational issues - and poor access to both funding and alternative farming models are wilting enthusiasm for a career in farming, the report said.
Those challenges are being compounded by increased market volatility and uncertainty in light of Brexit.
As a result, the UK is failing to benefit from the economic potential of millennial farmers, who are open to innovation and technology, crowdfunding options and diversification into leisure and tourism, the report explained.
NatWest said that millennial farmers could deliver 20,000 diversification projects, reaping 11,900 in additional income per farm.
The report found that high-skilled millennials are open to new ways of working with products like drones to monitor crops, and are willing to diversify their farms for extra income through projects like bee keeping and offering "glamping" experiences - a more upscale version of camping for guests.
The bank is now calling for the Government to create a new cabinet committee, supported by a "Better Brexit Farming Strategy Taskforce", to ensure that economic potential can be tapped.
Ian Burrow, Head of Agriculture at NatWest, said: "Millennial farmers are a high tech, high skilled, highly motivated group who hold a realistic picture of farming in their heads and want a career on the land. They are, however, seriously constrained in a number of ways.
"With Brexit further heightening these challenges and increasing uncertainty, it is important we act now.
"Unless additional investment is secured, it is unlikely that the economic potential these young people hold will be unlocked.
"Banks, government, families and communities need to come together to ensure today's young farmers receive the support they deserve."
A Government spokesman said: "Young farmers are vital to ensuring our food and farming industry continues to be world leading.
"We are committed to trebling the number of apprentices to encourage talented young people to consider food and farming as a serious career choice and will shortly be publishing our long term vision for future farming.
"We are also determined to get the best deal on Brexit for the British people - not least our farmers who play a vital role in our country, and, together with the food industry, generate 110 billion a year for our economy."
British Prime Minister Theresa May (8L) sits alongside members of her Cabinet as she prepares to chair a Joint Ministerial Committee at Cardiff City Hall in Cardiff on January 30, 2017, with Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader and Outgoing Northern Ireland First Minister, Arlene Foster (7R), Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones (5R), and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (3R)
Sinn Fein will today launch a campaign in a bid to secure special status for Northern Ireland within the EU after Brexit.
The party is unveiling a new document after Theresa May made clear the UK's devolved governments will have no decisive role in the talks on exiting the European Union.
The party's deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald is travelling to Belfast from Dublin for the launch event this morning.
At her first major government meeting a week after being appointed, Mrs O'Neill warned that Brexit would be imposed by the Conservatives against the will of a majority in Northern Ireland.
The fourth meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) - though only the second to involve Mrs May - also saw the attendance of DUP leader Arlene Foster, who argued she was legally entitled to attend the meeting despite no longer being First Minister.
Mrs O'Neill claimed the current crisis facing Stormont was the fault of the UK Government which had failed to honour the Good Friday and other agreements, imposed austerity spending cuts "and is now hell bent on dragging the North out of the EU as part of Brexit".
And she also hit out at the DUP for, she said, continuing to back the pro-Brexit Tories and "acting against the best interests" of the collapsed Assembly and Executive.
Following the meeting in Cardiff yesterday, Mrs O'Neill said: "I told Prime Minister May that the government at Westminster should respect the vote of the people in the north and that we should be designated special status within the EU."
Insisting she will also raise the issue with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and other EU leaders, she said she had also "reminded Theresa May of her government's responsibility to play a full role in resolving the legacy of the conflict, including implementing agreements to support all victims equally".
She added: "Brexit will be a disaster for the economy north and south. It will introduce a European frontier across Ireland and fundamentally undermine the agreements and all Ireland institutions. It should be remembered that in every election in the north people have rejected the Tory government and their policies.
"In the referendum, the majority of people opposed Brexit and voted to remain."
Her attack came as Scottish Brexit minister Mike Russell warned "we haven't got anywhere close to" a joint position between the UK Government and the devolved administrations in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Meanwhile, Mrs Foster revealed yesterday's JMC meeting had been due to take place in Belfast. She said the venue was changed after the Assembly and Executive fell following the dramatic resignation of ex-Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Asked if a future JMC will be hosted in Belfast, Mrs Foster insisted: "Yes it will, absolutely."
The DUP leader also said she and Mrs O'Neill would "have to work together, because if the people of Northern Ireland decide that Sinn Fein and the DUP are the two largest parties, then we have to move forward and we have to get the institutions up and running again as soon as possible".
Mrs May said last week's Supreme Court judgment on triggering the mechanism to begin negotiations on leaving the EU - Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - had set out "beyond doubt" that relations with Brussels would be determined by the UK Government.
But she added: "We should not forget that that means MPs representing every community in the UK will be fully involved in the passage of Article 50 through Parliament.
"The United Kingdom voted to leave the EU, and the UK Government has a responsibility to deliver on that mandate and secure the right deal for the whole of the UK."
Meanwhile, TUV leader Jim Allister has hit out at the DUP's apparent willingness to quickly go back into government with Sinn Fein.
"Instead of demanding real change at Stormont, particularly the abandonment of failed mandatory coalition, it seems the DUP is preparing to return to office with the Sinn Fein wreckers, even though they know the price will be filling Sinn Fein's boots with fresh concessions," he said.
A four-year-old who has battled a brain condition all his short life has been injured in a petrol bomb attack on his home in Newtownabbey.
The boy, who was not expected to live past his first birthday after being born with the rare condition, was in the property with his sister, mother and her partner when the front was damaged after the family's new car was torched.
Danielle Thompson (23) said Cruz, who has undergone three brain operations in his short life, had been left traumatised by the frightening incident.
As the family fled to safety, flames from the burning car caught the young boy's hair, causing a scar on his head to erupt in blisters.
He was taken to hospital for treatment. The family say they are now too frightened to return to Rathcoole.
Danielle said she was in bed on Sunday night when she heard a window smashing.
Her partner ran to the front of the house to discover that Danielle's new Mini was engulfed in flames.
"All of the downstairs windows had been smashed, the roof of the house was burnt, because my car was parked right at the front door," she said.
"I grabbed Cruz and Brooklyn, who were sleeping in bed, and had to run past the flames to get to safety.
"I was holding Cruz, and the scar on his head where there is tender skin caught fire, and it's now covered in blisters.
"My partner was also injured when he got glass stuck in his foot."
Little Cruz was born with an enterogenous cyst and spent the first four months of his life in hospital.
He has had three brain operations, and during his first he suffered a stroke, and later developed meningitis.
The family were informed that he might never walk, however the youngster recovered.
"He wasn't meant to make it past the birth and he did, and then they said he wouldn't make it to his first birthday and he did. He's a miracle," said his mother.
Six-year-old daughter Brooklyn has also been left traumatised by the attack, which Danielle said was not paramilitary-related.
The windows at the front of the property were smashed during the incident, as well as glass in the front door.
"The car is totally ruined," she added. "I only bought the car, so there's nothing I can do with the insurance.
"The neighbours heard the noises and they all came out and helped us get out.
"Two of our neighbours got burnt trying to rescue us from the house.
"I'm lucky to have good neighbours, who have been helping me."
Danielle said she believed her car and home were specifically targeted in the attack.
"I know who it was, or at least who was linked to it," she claimed.
"But I don't know where I am going to stay now, I won't feel safe living in that house. We will have to move to my sister's or mum's house.
"And we have a dog too, but there's nowhere for him to go, as none of my family can take him in.
"The kids have to take a few days off school because I have no way of leaving them there.
"I'm worried about my kids and where we are going to live."
Police appealed for information.
A spokeswoman for the PSNI said that at around 11.45pm it received a report that a black Mini had been set on fire.
"Damage was also caused to a window and the front door of the house," she said.
"Three men wearing dark tops and scarves over their faces were seen running towards Crossreagh Drive."
Brexit Secretary David Davis says the protection of Northern Ireland is being taken "incredibly seriously"
David Davis has sought to ease Brexit concerns for Northern Ireland, amid warnings over the economy and lack of an executive.
The Brexit Secretary told MPs that issues important to Northern Ireland are "front and centre" in the UK Government's negotiating list.
Mr Davis was replying to concerns from Alasdair McDonnell, Social Democratic and Labour Party MP for Belfast South.
Elections are to be held on March 2 after Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister, in a feud with coalition partners the Democratic Unionists over an overspending eco-boiler scheme.
Speaking as MPs debated the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, Mr McDonnell told Mr Davis: "Do you accept that Northern Ireland voted to stay in the European Union? In fact, my own constituency voted 70% on a 70% turnout.
"Do you accept that we don't have a devolved administration at the moment and do you have any plans to recognise the Northern Ireland situation and the damage that's been done already to the Northern Ireland economy, particularly our agricultural economy?"
Mr Davis replied: "The position of Northern Ireland, the peace process and all the related issues were obviously at the forefront of the Prime Minister's mind when she went there as one of her first visits as Prime Minister, and has been at the forefront of my mind.
"And that's why we have, without any qualification whatsoever, guaranteed that we will retain the CTA, the common travel area.
"In terms of continuing representation, although there is no executive, individual ministers do stay in place - as is normal with governments during election times - and I wrote to the executive a week or so ago, asking them to send a representative to each of the joint ministerial committee meetings.
"They have done so and they have made serious and significant contributions to those meetings.
"We are taking very seriously the analysis they provided of industries in Northern Ireland and very special issues, like the single Irish energy market, are the sort of issues we've got front and centre in the list of negotiating points to deal with.
"So, you may take it as absolute read that we take the issue of Northern Ireland and protecting Northern Ireland incredibly seriously."
Sammy Wilson, DUP MP for East Antrim, said it would be wrong for any of the devolved administrations to effectively be given a veto over Brexit.
He said the referendum should be judged on a national basis, "not on a narrow regional basis".
He added: "It would be detrimental to the Union if we had a situation where Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland had the right to say to the people of the whole of the United Kingdom 'we don't care how you voted, the 1.8 million people in Northern Ireland have a right to veto how the rest of the people in the United Kingdom express their views'.
"That would be detrimental to the Union."
The route between the two cities was expected to be popular with both tourists and business travellers.
Brussels Airlines has pulled its Belfast to Brussels route less than a year after it launched, it has emerged.
The route launched at the end of March last year, just days after the Brussels terror attacks. It flew from George Best Belfast City Airport five times a week.
The timing meant the route launched just days after 32 people were killed and more than 300 injured in three co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks in the Belgian capital.
During the attack, there was three explosions in the city two at Brussels airport and a third at Maalbeek metro station.
A fourth bomb was found during a search at the airport. Extremist group ISIL later claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The Belfast route was expected to be popular with both tourists and business travellers.
And it marked the first time a Belgian airline had been based in either Northern Ireland or the Republic in 15 years.
Brussels Airlines - which is a member of the Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance - has no flights scheduled to leave from Belfast past the end of March.
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson tweeted that he was disappointed by the news. "Hope other airlines may be willing to take up this route and keep Northern Ireland connected to heart of Europe, he added.
Speaking at the time the route was launched the airline said it was imperative Northern Ireland was well connected, adding that Brussels was the heart of Europe.
A spokeswoman for the airline said the route had been pulled as it was not performing in line with our expectations". She said there were no plans to launch a replacement route from Dublin Airport.
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson expressed his disappointment at the decision.
He said: "The news that Brussels Airlines has cancelled its Belfast City route less than a year after it was launched is a huge disappointment for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland had gone many years without this important route, and it took much hard work to secure it last year. This leaves Northern Ireland once again without a direct link to the hub of EU decision-making, and all of the business and tourism potential that brings.
This is a lost opportunity and I hope other airlines will look to take up this route to keep Northern Ireland connected to the heart of Europe.
News / National
by Staff reporter
Donald Trump is no worse than ageing Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, Britain's foreign secretary Boris Johnson has suggested, News24.com reported.Johnson has defended the under-fire new US president's right to a state visit to Britain by saying that Queen Elizabeth II has previously hosted Romanian dictator Nicolai Ceausescu and Mugabe, so could "probably cope" with Trump, The Independent reported.Mugabe was awarded a knighthood by the Queen during the Zimbabwe leader's state visit to the UK in 1994. He was stripped of it in 2008, following outrage over rights abuses and election violence.Currently attending an AU summit in Ethiopia, the Zimbabwe leader hasn't publicly commented on Trump's election although officials close to him appear to be very pleased with it.Caesar Zvayi, the editor of the pro-Mugabe Herald newspaper tweeted triumphantly on Tuesday morning: "In US, the President chooses Supreme Court judges." That was an attempt to justify Mugabe's recent move to change the constitution so that he alone can appoint a new chief justice. Critics and the opposition are strongly opposed to this move.
A former IRA man who was questioned by Garda about the murder of British agent Denis Donaldson has died in his Belfast home.
The fingerprints of Victor Notarantonio were found in the remote cottage in Glenties where Donaldson was shot dead in 2006. The 67-year-old ex-IRA member told detectives that he had visited Donaldson four weeks before the killing to discuss a family matter.
He denied any involvement in the murder, which was claimed by the Real IRA, and he was released without charge.
A source said: "When Victor visited the cottage he had picked up an old mirror that Denis had been restoring. After his prints were identified, he voluntarily went for questioning by gardai and he was released without charge late last year."
The Belfast Telegraph can today reveal that in the late 1970s Notarantonio kneecapped Gerry Adams' paedophile brother Liam. The shooting was an authorised IRA punishment attack, but was unrelated to the child sex abuse charges of which Adams was later convicted.
Hundreds of mourners attended Requiem Mass for Notarantonio at St Teresa's Church in west Belfast yesterday. Notarantonio, who had been battling cancer, was buried in Blaris Cemetery in Lisburn.
As the head of a huge Irish-Italian family, he was well-known locally. His father Francisco was killed in controversial circumstances in 1987.
The 66-year-old retired black taxi driver was shot dead by UFF gunmen as he lay in bed. The pensioner had been involved in the IRA in the 1940s and had been interned in the 1970s, but had long ceased to be active.
It was alleged that the Army's Force Research Unit (FRU) guided Brian Nelson to direct the UFF to kill him rather than to pursue their original target, a senior IRA informer whose life the British were intent on saving.
There have been claims that Notarantonio was made the substitute target in order to protect Freddie Scappaticci, a member of another Irish-Italian family who has been reported to be the senior British spy within the IRA known as Stakeknife.
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The Notarantonios were associated with the mainstream republican movement for decades. Gerry Adams and Victor Notarantonio had grown up side-by-side in Ballymurphy.
The Adams' lived in Divismore Park while the Notarantonios were two streets away in Whitecliff Parade. The Sinn Fein president was just 13 months older than Victor Notarantonio.
However, Notarantonio wasn't in awe of the Adams family. In the late 1970s he carried out the punishment shooting on Liam Adams.
In 2013 Liam Adams was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for raping his daughter Aine when she was aged between four and nine. The kneecapping was unrelated to the child abuse allegations which later surfaced.
While it was an authorised IRA punishment shooting, it led to tensions between the Adams and Notarantonio families.
Victor Notarantonio was heavily involved in cigarette smuggling. He worked for the Provisionals but, in later years, had a major falling out with them.
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Notarantonio's nephew Joe O'Connor had joined the Real IRA, becoming its Belfast commander. In October 2000 the 26-year-old father-of-three was killed by the Provisionals. He was shot seven times in the head. Many feared that the assassination would lead to a deadly republican feud.
On the evening before he was buried, nine Real IRA gunmen took to the streets and fired shots in a terrifying show of defiance and strength.
O'Connor was laid out in an open coffin in the family home in Whitecliff Parade. His IRA combat belt and gloves rested on his chest. The black beret on his head failed to hide the bullet wounds.
A massive 12ft green, white and orange wreath proclaiming 'Oglaigh na hEireann: IRA' hung above the coffin. I interviewed Victor Notarantonio that night.
"I never thought the day would come when it would be the Provos killing us," he said.
The Real IRA's failure to take revenge on the Provisionals for the murder angered some of the Notarantonios.
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In 2006 the family became involved in another violent confrontation. Victor Notarantonio's son Francisco used a 13-inch chef's knife to stab to death a neighbour, father-of-six Gerard Devlin, after a vicious street brawl.
He was sentenced to 11 years in prison for manslaughter. As a result of the feud between the two families, around 80 members of the Notarantonio family left Ballymurphy.
Sunday World journalist Hugh Jordan, who knew Victor Notarantonio, said: "He described the scenes in Ballymurphy during that feud as like something from Gangs Of New York. As a journalist, I found Victor a fascinating man and he told me the truth, even when it didn't suit his agenda. Nothing happened in west Belfast that he didn't know of. When the grass grew, he heard about it."
John-Pat Cunningham was said to have a fear of men in uniform
A retired British soldier charged in connection with a 1974 shooting in Northern Ireland has withdrawn his request for court permission to go on holiday.
Dennis Hutchings, 75, had asked for his bail conditions to be varied so he could go on a cruise with his wife and family ahead of a preliminary hearing in March into the case against him.
Hutchings, who has a number of health conditions, had been asked to provide medical evidence to a court in Armagh, Northern Ireland that the holiday would not be detrimental to his health.
However, the court has been told he no longer wishes to pursue the application because there is not enough time to book the break.
A prosecution lawyer said there were concerns that due to Hutchings' "plethora of medical conditions" a holiday might "set him back" and therefore delay the preliminary hearing.
Hutchings' defence lawyer then told the court that he was withdrawing the application.
"It was a rather unfortunate chain of events. Obtaining medical evidence took several weeks.
"Trying to co-ordinate a family holiday in the time left, he hasn't been able to get something booked that would have him back in time (for the preliminary hearing). We are withdrawing the application," he said.
Previously the court was told Hutchings' health was deteriorating and he wanted a chance to go on the holiday with his wife in February.
A district judge had asked for further medical advice before making a decision.
District Judge Harry McKibbon had said if he could be sure the cruise would not affect the defendant's health to attend committal, he would be "very sympathetic" to amending bail.
Hutchings is accused of the attempted murder of a man with learning difficulties more than 40 years ago.
John-Pat Cunningham, 27, was shot dead by an Army patrol in June 1974.
Hutchings, of New Road, Cawsand, Torpoint in Cornwall, is also facing a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Cunningham.
He is due to attend a preliminary investigation in Northern Ireland on 20 March.
The case has been adjourned until the preliminary hearing.
Hutchings was not in court for the hearing. He was excused from attending due to his ill health.
Hutchings was charged in connection with the shooting of Mr Cunningham following a fresh investigation into his death in 2013.
Mr Cunningham, who had the mental age of a child between six and 10, had a fear of men in uniform and was running away from an Army patrol when he was killed close to Benburb, a village on the border between counties Armagh and Tyrone.
The Government apologised for his death two years ago.
The 2013 investigation was launched after the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland requested a fresh examination of the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Stephen Nolan said he was "deeply shocked" after a caller to his show said she would rather go home and die than be treated by a Muslim doctor, with the BBC broadcaster telling the woman her "prejudice scares me".
During a debate on Donald Trump's immigration ban caller Janice from Belfast rang in to ask why "so many Muslims wanted to come to our country when there are so many Muslim countries they could go to?"
Saying Donald Trump was "absolutely right in his actions," she also said she would not like to be treated by a Muslim doctor in hospital and would rather "go home and die".
"Let the Muslim countries look after them," she said on the "biggest radio show in the country".
"Why should we the majority non-Muslim countries have to look after them?
"They obviously don't want to integrate, they want to turn us all into Muslims."
It was at this point Stephen Nolan intervened.
"Janice that is an outrageous statement to make, isn't it?" he told her.
"It is outrageous. You live in Belfast and there are many decent Muslims living, working, breathing contributing to the economy. They are as much a Northern Irish citizen as you are."
Janice continued stating Muslims "were not integrating and they want mosques, they want to take over the UK".
"And a lot of people agree with me."
Mr Nolan hit back: "You need to get out more Janice.
"What type of people do you talk to that say they are not integrating? Do you understand there are doctors, teachers, and all different types of people here in Northern Ireland - They are we.
"Do you understand Muslims are born here? They are we."
Janice responded: "They will never be we."
Mr Nolan added: "Janice your prejudice is scary, it is absolutely freightening. I wonder if we would get more sense from a primary school child, who would not want to tar every single Muslim living in Northern Ireland, elsewhere in the UK and indeed in the world using your logic that every single one are of a particular mindset.
"Your prejudice is scary."
Asked what age she was and if she had any children, the woman said it was none of anyone's business.
Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017./ AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Demonstrators holding placards attend a protest outside Downing Street against U.S. President Donald Trump's ban on travel from seven Muslim countries on January 30, 2017 in London, England. President Trump signed an executive order on Friday banning immigration to the USA from seven Muslim countries. This led to protests across America and, today, the UK. A British petition asking for the downgrading of Trump's State visit passed one million signatures this morning. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Getty Images Medical students, deans, and faculty from New York City protest the consequences of repealing the ACA January 30 outside the News Corp headquarters in New York. / AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Protesters demonstrate as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) lead members of Congress during a protest on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court and across the street from the U.S. Capitol January 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. Members of Congress joined refugees, immigrants and members of the Washington DC community in protesting the Trump administrationOs recent executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Protesters demonstrate as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) lead members of Congress in a protest on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court January 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. Members of Congress joined refugees, immigrants and members of the Washington DC community in protesting the Trump administration's recent executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) lead members of Congress in singing "This Land is Your Land" during a protest on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court January 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. Members of Congress joined refugees, immigrants and members of the Washington DC community in protesting the Trump administration's recent executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Protesters demonstrate as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) lead members of Congress during a protest on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court January 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. Members of Congress joined refugees, immigrants and members of the Washington DC community in protesting the Trump administration's recent executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images A pro-Trump supporter stands in front of a protest against the immigration ban at the Los Angeles International Airport, California on January 30, 2016. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) lead members of Congress during a protest on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court January 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. Members of Congress joined refugees, immigrants and members of the Washington DC community in protesting the Trump administration's recent executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Columbia University students gather to protest President Donald Trump's immigration order Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in New York. President Trump's executive order, signed on Friday, restricts travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) AP US Senator Cory Booker (2nd R), Democrat of New Jersey, speaks alongside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (C), Democrat of New York, US House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (2nd L) and other members of Congress as demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (R), Democrat of New York, speaks alongside US House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (2nd L), and other members of Congress as demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US Senator Cory Booker (C), Democrat of New Jersey, speaks alongside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (2nd L), Democrat of New York, US House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (L) and other members of Congress as demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People hold up placards to protest against US President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the resettlement of refugees and banning people from seven majority-Muslim countries from entry into the US, during a rally near the US embassy in Tokyo on January 31, 2017. Some 40 foreigners living in Japan participated in the rally, as a defiant US President Trump struggled to defuse a mounting backlash over his ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations. / AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People hold up placards to protest against US President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the resettlement of refugees and banning people from seven majority-Muslim countries from entry into the US, during a rally near the US embassy in Tokyo on January 31, 2017. Some 40 foreigners living in Japan participated in the rally, as a defiant US President Trump struggled to defuse a mounting backlash over his ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations. / AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People hold up placards to protest against US President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the resettlement of refugees and banning people from seven majority-Muslim countries from entry into the US, during a rally near the US embassy in Tokyo on January 31, 2017. Some 40 foreigners living in Japan participated in the rally, as a defiant US President Trump struggled to defuse a mounting backlash over his ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations. / AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (2nd R), Democrat of New York, US House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (C), speak alongside other members of Congress as demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People hold up placards to protest against US President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the resettlement of refugees and banning people from seven majority-Muslim countries from entry into the US, during a rally near the US embassy in Tokyo on January 31, 2017. Some 40 foreigners living in Japan participated in the rally, as a defiant US President Trump struggled to defuse a mounting backlash over his ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations. / AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People hold up placards to protest against US President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the resettlement of refugees and banning people from seven majority-Muslim countries from entry into the US, during a rally near the US embassy in Tokyo on January 31, 2017. Some 40 foreigners living in Japan participated in the rally, as a defiant US President Trump struggled to defuse a mounting backlash over his ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations. / AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / ZACH GIBSONZACH GIBSON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017. Trump's executive order suspended the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely -- and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Protests are taking place at airports across the country in opposition to the ban. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People hold candles during a vigil at Thanksgiving Square in downtown Dallas, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. People gathered to protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. and suspending the nationAos refugee program. (AP Photo/LM Otero) AP Yeon Quinn, left, and Sue Maienschein hold candles during a vigil at Thanksgiving Square in downtown Dallas, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. People gathered to protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. and suspending the nationAos refugee program. (AP Photo/LM Otero) AP TOPSHOT - Demonstrators protest outside Downing Street against US President Donald Trump in central London on January 30, 2017. President Trump signed an executive order on January 27, 2016 restricting immigration from seven Muslim countries. / AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALLBEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - Demonstrators protest outside Downing Street against US President Donald Trump in central London on January 30, 2017. President Trump signed an executive order on January 27, 2016 restricting immigration from seven Muslim countries. / AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALLBEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - Demonstrators protest outside Downing Street against US President Donald Trump in central London on January 30, 2017. President Trump signed an executive order on January 27, 2016 restricting immigration from seven Muslim countries. / AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALLBEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook
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Mr Nolan then asked if she would receive treatment from a Muslim doctor.
"I wouldn't like to be treated... I would rather go home and die."
She added: "I am a decent person."
Janice said she got her information from the media.
Mr Nolan said the views showed how a lack of knowledge was dangerous "when you have a powerful man like Donal Trump issuing statements before the election on a total ban on Muslims entering America".
"That is why it is so dangerous," he said.
"To say you would rather die than be treated by a Muslim doctor is a disgusting - without any basis of fact - comment to make.
When Janice questioned where Mr Nolan's neutrality was in the debate, the broadcaster responded: "There is a particular base level about which all people in society would agree. To label any human being just because of their religion is something I am very comfortable challenging.
Later Mr Nolan said he knew there would be many criticising him for giving the woman airtime.
He said the comments "deeply shocked him" and he was rarely shocked.
Mr Nolan told his listeners: "When I hear an extreme view like that aired I immediately then think 'can I continue to allow this person on air?'
"That's an extremely deeply offensive view and the judgement is you have got to hear it.
"It leads me to ask where does that view come from, where does that lack of knowledge and awareness come from?
"How many Janices are there in Northern Ireland?"
Poultry farmers make up a large number of those claiming from the green energy scheme.
Businesses are covered by a temporary ban on revealing the identities of Renewable Heat Incentive boiler operators, a High Court judge ruled.
Mr Justice Deeny confirmed the continued prohibition extends to all members of a group taking legal action to stop Economy Minister Simon Hamilton publishing a list of those on the botched scheme at a hearing on Tuesday.
He said: "There is no irremediable prejudice to the Minister in requiring him to hold his hand."
His order will remain in place until the outcome of a challenge listed for hearing in three weeks time.
A final judgment in the case is expected to be delivered before the Assembly elections on March 2.
More than 500 members of the Renewable Heat Association of Northern Ireland have been granted leave to seek a judicial review of Mr Hamilton's plans to name them.
Their lawyers claim it would create a media "feeding frenzy" and threaten the reputation of individuals who have done nothing wrong.
The RHI scheme set up to encourage businesses and other non-domestic users to move from using fossil fuels to renewable heating systems.
But it has been surrounded by relentless controversy since it emerged that users could legitimately earn more cash the more fuel they burned.
The flawed scheme, which could end up costing the public purse up to 490m, was a major factor behind Stormont's collapse and snap elections being called.
A public inquiry is also to be chaired by retired appeal court judge Sir Patrick Coghlin.
Judicial review proceedings against the plans to name recipients were issued by Michael Doran, chairman of the association.
Mr Doran, who also heads up not for profit group Action Renewables, does not have a boiler and receives no subsidies under the scheme.
But he is representing hundreds of non-domestic operators, including poultry and mushroom producers, seeking an order quashing the Minister's plans to reveal their details.
They had already secured an interim injunction to prevent their identities being revealed.
But lawyers returned to court today amid a dispute over whether the order should cover firms as well as individuals within the Association.
Gerald Simpson QC, for Mr Doran, argued that all business members should be covered by the temporary anonymity.
He insisted that publishing corporate participants would lead to the identification of individuals - either through the name of the firm or by checking with Companies House.
It was revealed in court that an updated spreadsheet of those in the Association details 630 separate boilers.
Mr Justice Deeny was told 350 entries relate to individuals, with the rest associated with limited companies.
Tony McGleenan QC, responding for the Department, claimed companies cannot expect a right to privacy.
But deciding to continue the interim order, the judge said: "There's a temporary inconvenience to the Minister by imposing the injunction, but it protects the contractual rights of the applicants."
In the first case of its kind to take place in Northern Ireland, a 28-year-old man is to go on trial charged with committing terrorist offences during the armed conflict in Syria almost three years ago.
A jury of eight women and four men was sworn into hear the evidence in the case of Eamon Bradley at the Crown Court in Londonderry.
Bradley is originally from the Creggan area of the city, but has a bail address is the Benview estate in Coshquin, close to the Derry-Donegal border.
Judge Philip Babington told the jurors that the case was a highly unusual one, that would attract considerable media attention.
The defendant is charged with attending terrorist training camps in Syria, with receiving instructions in the use of AK47, DShK 38 and BKC firearms and with receiving instruction in the use of grenades.
Bradley is also charged with three separate offences of possessing grenades with intent to endanger life or cause damage to property.
The defendant denies committing the offences on dates between March 31 and October 29, 2014.
"The defendant faces a number of charges which relate to the conflict in Syria," Judge Babington said.
"It is alleged he went to Syria and involved himself in things the prosecution say he should not have involved himself in Syria, namely fighting or terrorism."
Police are at the scene at Sallys Wood in Irvinestown.
A security alert following reports of a loud bang in Co Fermanagh has ended.
The incident, at Sallys Wood in Irvinestown, was reported to police at around 00.30am on Tuesday morning.
Officers attended the scene and were made aware of damage to a vehicle which is thought at this time to have been caused by an explosive device.
Nothing suspicious was found by police, who have since left the area. The vehicle has been taken away for further examination. One man thought to have been near the vehicle at the time of the explosion was treated in hospital for shock.
Inspector Keith Hicks said: Officers are currently working to establish a motive for this incident and I would appeal to anyone who has any information which could be of assistance to our investigation to contact police in Enniskillen on 101 quoting reference number 22 31/01/17. Information can also be given anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A man claimed he breached a night-time bail curfew because his "half-wolf" pet escaped and he could not leave it roaming the streets of Larne
A man claimed he breached a night-time bail curfew because his "half-wolf" pet escaped and he could not leave it roaming the streets of Larne.
Stephen Woodage (30), of Latharna House in the town, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court yesterday, where his solicitor said he accepted he had breach conditions.
A police officer told the court that Woodage was subject to electronic tagging and the breach happened on Friday evening.
Woodage was arrested at 1.05am on Saturday at Latharna House.
He was also said to have been in possession of class B prescription-type medication at the time.
The officer explained that Woodage had three previous bail breaches in the last three months, and suffered from "addiction problems".
The defendant is currently charged with damaging two car windows and stealing a torch on November 13 last year.
Defence solicitor Ciaran Shiels said his client contacted G4S, the security company that monitors the electronic tags, on two occasions on Friday night after he received a call from the firm.
Mr Shiels said Woodage keeps an animal - "half husky and half wolf" - and after it escaped he was looking for it, as he couldn't leave it to roam the streets.
He said his client had addiction problems with alcohol and prescription drugs like diazepam.
The solicitor added that Woodage had been working three days a week in a charity shop as part of a community service order.
The judge said he had no alternative but to revoke Woodage's bail.
He remanded Woodage in custody to appear at Ballymena Magistrates Court again on February 2.
Gerard Coyne is vying to take over from Len McCluskey as general secretary of the Unite union
Tariffs and restrictions on cross-border trade post-Brexit will "kill jobs", a leading trade unionist has warned.
Gerard Coyne, who is vying to become leader of Unite, insisted Northern Ireland's economy could not be "expendable or an acceptable casualty" in the Government's push to deliver Brexit.
Mr Coyne was in Belfast at the start of his "five capitals" tour of the UK and Ireland as he ramps up his campaign to replace Len McCluskey as Unite's general secretary.
"On Brexit the stakes for Northern Ireland could not be higher," said Mr Coyne.
"It is the only part of the UK to share a border with another EU state. That border is at the heart of a civil and political conflict that so many have worked so hard at placing very firmly in the past over the last 20 and more years.
"No-one with any sense wants to see a return to frontier posts or military checkpoints or to unneeded restrictions on travel or commerce within the island of Ireland.
"As a trade union with members north and south of the border, Unite most be a leading voice in arguing for a Brexit deal that maintains a common travel area and which avoids jobs-killing restrictions on trade, such as tariffs. Such a deal must also respect the Good Friday Agreement and maintain cross-border political and economic co-operation.
"Northern Ireland has been through some very tough economic times in the last four decades. Long-term unemployment and low paying jobs were the norm for far too many people.
"No-one can doubt the progress that has been made in the last 20 years - even though there is still so many problems here. This region's economy cannot be seen as expendable or an acceptable casualty of the need to deliver Brexit - instead it needs to be a top concern of the UK's negotiating team.
"As general secretary of Unite I will make the case for our members at all times. There is no difference in that, north or south, in Belfast or Ballina, Coleraine or Carlow, working people need strong and tariff-free trade to deliver good, skilled jobs, decent wages and a better standard of life. I will be on their side."
Unite has 44,000 members in Northern Ireland and 30,000 in the Republic of Ireland.
Voting for the post of general secretary takes place between March 27 and April 19.
News / National
by Stephen Jakes
THE Constitutional Court will on Wednesday 01 February 2017 preside over an application filed by a parent who is challenging thegovernment's move to force all school children to recite a national pledge he views as "fascist propaganda".The contentious national pledge, which was introduced in May, last year, is recited by all pupils enrolled at the country's primary andsecondary schools.With assistance from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Mathew Sogolani, a parent against the mandatory pledge, immediatelychallenged the constitutionality of the national pledge, arguing that it violates his children and his own constitutional rights.In his application, Sogolani, whose three minor children are enrolled in infant, primary and secondary schools respectively, argues thatforcing children to recite contents of the pledge run contrary to the family's religious beliefs.A member of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church, Sogolani is represented by David Hofisi of ZLHR.Hofisi filed the urgent application in the Constitutional Court on Tuesday 19 April 2016 wherein he petitioned the apex court to suspendthe requirement that schoolchildren recite the pledge pending the determination of the main application filed earlier in the month.Hofisi said his client finds the national pledge offensive to his faith as it includes secular salutations in an address to AlmightyGod.Hofisi argued that the pledge would vitiate Sogolani's rights to dignity, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression and equalprotection of the law rights that are all enshrined in the Constitution.The human rights lawyer added that the pledge is formulated "in the manner of an oath, a prayer and seems, in the very least, a religiousobservance".In his founding affidavit filed at the court, Sogolani argued that the national pledge is offensive to his religious convictions and thus inviolation of Sections 51, 56 (1), (3), 60 (1), (2), (3) and 61 (1) (a) of the Constitution.
The list of schools the NASUWT says will be affected by the strike.
The list of schools the NASUWT says will be affected by the strike.
The list of schools the NASUWT says will be affected by the strike.
The list of schools the NASUWT says will be affected by the strike.
The list of schools the NASUWT says will be affected by the strike.
Parents across the western half of Northern Ireland face a day of uncertainty as teachers at more than 100 schools stage a strike over pay and conditions.
Members of the NASUWT who work at schools across Londonderry, Strabane, Mid Ulster, Fermanagh and Omagh will take part in strike action today.
This is the second of the union's programme of rolling strike action in response to what it has termed a "derisory" pay offer.
Management - which includes the Education Authority - offered a 0% rise for 2015/16 and 1% for 2016/17.
The NASUWT's first day of walkouts across Belfast and Newtownabbey on November 30 sparked chaos and confusion, with some schools being forced to close completely and some partially.
As part of their day of action, teachers will gather for a rally at St Columb's Hall in Derry at 11am.
The protest will be addressed by teachers and representatives of the NASUWT.
The union claims that since 2011 its members and other teachers have been subjected to a two-year pay freeze, two years of a 1% pay increase, and a continuing pay freeze from 2015 onwards.
Justin McCamphill of NASUWT said: "No teacher takes strike action lightly and we regret the disruption the action will have on pupils and parents.
"Despite our attempts to resolve this dispute through negotiation, the attitude of the minister has left us with no other option than to continue our programme of strike action."
Mr McCamphill added: "Teachers are angry, frustrated and determined to send a loud and clear message that says 'value us and the children we teach'."
Employers have expressed disappointment and frustration with the strike, despite further joint talks scheduled for later this week.
"The NASUWT will achieve nothing by this action beyond the loss of a further day's pay for their teacher members and yet more disruption for schools, pupils and parents," said Gavin Boyd, chair of the management side representing the Education Authority and the Department of Education.
"These matters can only be resolved through dialogue. The employers are fully committed to engaging in intensive negotiations to address the issues connected with industrial action."
A second teachers' union, INTO, staged a half-day strike action earlier this month. Members of two other Northern Ireland teaching unions - UTU and ATL - have voted for industrial action short of striking in response to the pay dispute.
A man found liable for the Omagh bomb is to fight extradition to Lithuania on human rights grounds
A man found liable for the Omagh bomb is to fight extradition to Lithuania on human rights grounds.
Liam Campbell was previously released by the High Court in Belfast after it ruled that sending him to a Lithuanian prison would violate the European Convention on Human Rights.
He was rearrested in the Republic and yesterday the High Court in Dublin heard that he will again be fighting extradition because Lithuanian prison conditions would violate his rights.
Yesterday, he applied for free legal aid for two barristers to help him fight the case.
His co-accused, Brendan McGuigan (36), of Omeath, Co Louth, was previously released by the High Court in Dublin, also because prison conditions in Lithuania would violate his rights under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which forbids extradition there as there is a substantial risk of degrading or inhumane prison conditions.
Both men are wanted in Lithuania for allegedly organising a Real IRA explosives and weapons importation scheme.
A Lithuanian arrest warrant supplied to the court states that Campbell made arrangements for illegal possession of a considerable amount of powerful firearms, ammunition, explosive devices and substances to be exported from Lithuania to Ireland for use by a terrorist grouping named the Real IRA.
The haul was allegedly to include sniper rifles, rocket launchers, RPG-7 rockets, hand-grenades and Semtex explosives.
Campbell (54), of Upper Faughart in north Louth, was alleged to have been a senior Real IRA member at the time, in late 2006 and early 2007, and is alleged to have met with a British intelligence officer posing as an east European arms dealer.
Yesterday, Brian Gageby, Campbells barrister, said he had to formally inform the court of his intentions to fight the case, but would need some time to prepare his legal argument .
Marie Watson, the state barrister, said she had no objection to an adjournment but added that the state would reserve its position in relation to Campbells right to free legal aid.
Judge Aileen Donnelly said she would adjourn the case for a limited time and that she would presume that some of the legal issues in Campbells case have raised their head previously, which should help to shorten the delay.
Mr Gageby said he was making early and relevant inquiries to get an expert to give evidence about conditions in Lithuanian prisons.
Judge Donnelly adjourned the case for a month.
After the hearing finished, Mr Campbell ran away when asked for a comment and continued running along the quays in Dublin. Later, when a reporter followed him in a taxi, he began running again towards the centre of Dublin.
Police are investigating a report of a suspicious approach to a 16-year-old girl in Bushmills.
It happened at approximately 1.30pm. on the Priestland Road.
It was reported that a male was driving a dark blue saloon car with a female in the passenger seat.
The teenager was encouraged to get into the car by the occupants of the car.
She declined to do so and immediately contacted her father and told him what had happened/
Police are reminding parents to be vigilant in regards to their children's security and ensure they are reminded not to accept lifts from strangers.
Chief Constable George Hamilton's reputation "will never recover" after he tweeted "dry your eyes" in response to a policeman raising concerns about working hours and stress, an officer has said.
Last August Mr Hamilton was forced to publicly apologise for the online comment.
The officer told the Belfast Telegraph most of her colleagues feel he has no understanding for his staff.
"He made a public apology - but that's the Chief Constable, that's the person that is there to look after you and listen to your concerns and be interested in his officers' welfare," she said.
"As opposed to lashing out, he should be spearheading change and help us. He should accept that morale is through the floor at the minute and try to help us. I don't think his reputation from that comment will ever recover.
"If any of us officers made a comment like that in a public forum we'd have been disciplined to within an inch of our lives.
"I have never known morale as low as this, which is a shame because I don't know any of us who do not love our jobs. The police is one of those things that you don't just fall into, but choose. When I joined morale was good, we were being well led, felt like we were being looked after.
"Now every day feels like a battle.
"We need a massive influx of people to give everyone a break when they need it - not pile on the workload."
The officer, named 'Helen', made a public appeal to Mr Hamilton for more recruits and more understanding.
"Every department needs more people. If there was one thing I could say to him, it would be please look at your flexible working policy, please take into account the struggles single parents have, because it shouldn't be one rule for everybody, you need to take into account our situations, because we are all different. We are people with feelings and that is not really looked at, we are just numbers (to management)," she said.
However, Helen emphasised that she loved her job, and is driven to help people. She joined the PSNI on her first attempt when she was 26, inspired by watching Robbie Coltrane in the 1990s ITV drama Cracker when she was a child.
"I wanted to go to university and study criminology. Just the thought of investigating and helping people really appealed to me," she explained.
"I joined the PSNI because this is my home and I think that perhaps, because of the security situation here, the camaraderie you have with your colleagues is really second to none. We are family to each other. There is a close bond that would maybe be difficult to get anywhere else."
Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill called for special status for Northern Ireland within the EU
UK hopes for a soft border on the island of Ireland after a hard Brexit are nonsensical, Sinn Fein claimed.
The Prime Minister has called for "frictionless" cross-border trade and pledged no return to the frontiers of the past.
Sinn Fein's new leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill met Theresa May on Monday but said she did not listen.
She claimed aspirations for a friction-free Brexit did not mean anything in practice and called for Northern Ireland to be accorded special status within the EU.
Mrs O'Neill said: "What we are very sure of is the implications of a hard Brexit are going to mean a hard border - a soft border is a nonsense.
"So the implications are severe."
Republicans have pointed to the example of Greenland, which secured a special deal after it left the European Community in 1985 covering fisheries.
Mrs O'Neill told an event in Belfast: "We are not looking to recreate the wheel.
"This is something that has been done elsewhere.
"Other states have had opportunity to have special designated status. We are asking for the same."
Mrs O'Neill said Northern Ireland voted Remain in the June referendum.
Parodying the Prime Minister's language, she added: "Remain should mean Remain."
The potential deputy first minister after March's Stormont poll said it made sense that Ireland should be one trading bloc and unionists recognised that.
She claimed the UK was riding roughshod over the principle of consent to constitutional change contained in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
"This is fundamentally undemocratic."
Mrs O'Neill said a referendum on Irish unity should not be ruled out and added it was regrettable the DUP had chosen to stand against the people and for the Tories.
She called on the Irish Government to stand up for the interests of the North.
Setting out her strategy earlier this month, Mrs May strongly hinted that Britain could leave the European Customs Union (CU).
She said she wanted "frictionless" cross-border trade, but had an "open mind" on whether it should be done through associate membership or a new agreement.
After talks with the PM in Dublin, Irish premier Enda Kenny echoed her language, suggesting he would support the strategy during divorce talks.
Ireland has backed her goal of securing a "friction-free" trading relationship with the European Union after Brexit.
Pupils had an extra day off school or lessons disrupted as teachers went on strike in three areas of Northern Ireland
Dozens of schools in the west of Northern Ireland were forced to close or had classes disrupted after the third teacher strike in two months.
Members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) staged the one day walk-out in three council areas - Derry and Strabane; Mid-Ulster; and Fermanagh and Omagh.
It was the second strike by the NASUWT in the dispute over pay and conditions. The first on November 30 last year focused on schools in Belfast and Newtownabbey.
Members of another union - the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) - staged a half-day action between the NASUWT strikes.
Unions have rejected an offer that would have delivered a 1% pay rise for the current financial year, with pay rates for 2015/16 remaining frozen.
Stormont's outgoing Education Minister Peter Weir has claimed a bigger increase could only have been afforded by making redundancies.
A focal point of Tuesday's strike was a major rally inside St Columb's Hall in Londonderry.
Other teaching unions in Northern Ireland have opted not to strike but their members are engaging in action stopping short of a walk-out, such an non-engagement with inspections.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "It is with deep regret that we have been forced to continue with our rolling programme of strike action but this is entirely the responsibility of the Minister for Education who has refused to accept that his attacks on teachers' pay are damaging the sustainability and morale of the teaching profession.
"Teachers deserve pay and working conditions which enable them to provide the world-class education service that our children and young people are entitled to."
Mr Weir said: "I am disappointed that teachers are continuing to take part in strike action, which is not in the interests of pupils, schools or the teachers concerned.
"Strike action is futile, which only results in the loss of pay to the teachers concerned."
Management at the teaching employers' organisation, the Teachers' Negotiating Council, expressed disappointment.
Chair Gavin Boyd said constructive talks had taken place last week and more discussions were scheduled this week with the aim of producing an agenda to "provide the basis for intensive negotiations going forward".
He added: "A further joint meeting to complete this work is scheduled for February 1 so the decision by NASUWT to continue with planned strike action regardless on January 31, is extremely disappointing and frustrating.
"The NASUWT will achieve nothing by this action beyond the loss of a further day's pay for their teacher members and yet more disruption for schools, pupils and parents.
"These matters can only be resolved through dialogue. The employers are fully committed to engaging in intensive negotiations to address the issues connected with industrial action."
Some of the Darth Vader tablets which are being sold
A 14-year-old boy narrowly escaped death after taking a lethal drug known as a 'Darth Vader'.
He was rushed to hospital after taking just half a tablet in Holywood, Co Down, over the weekend.
Warnings have been issued about the 2 pills, which can cause the body to overheat.
The PSNI said they contain unidentified substances.
The teen was taken to the Ulster Hospital after he started to feel unwell.
He was released on Sunday following treatment.
Alex Bunting, programme manager at Addiction Northern Ireland, said he was "extremely lucky" to come out of the incident alive.
Darth Vader pills are a 'brand' of ecstasy sold by street dealers.
Recent research has discovered that an ingredient which is often found in ecstasy pills can cause serious liver and kidney damage.
A 17-year-old who was arrested in connection with the incident has been charged with possessing a class A drug with intent to supply, possessing a class B drug with intent to supply and a number of other drug offences.
He is to appear at Newtownards youth court today in relation to the charges.
Mr Bunting said that recent tests in Northern Ireland show that in some cases there is "no ecstasy" in drugs being sold as ecstasy.
"People need to be aware that these things are being cut by criminals whose primary interest is profit and they do not care about the well-being of the people they are selling drugs to," he said. "These drugs take a number of lives every year.
"It can mess with the body's thermostat, leaving people to overheat, causing difficult issues to internal organs.
"He's extremely lucky that he came out of this, as it could have ended very badly.
"Drugs are readily available and while there is always demand, there is always supply.
"A lot of people forget that if there wasn't demand, there would not be supply.
"These drugs can cost from just a couple of pounds to 10."
Recommendations that the officer be disciplined and receive further training have been implemented by the PSNI
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - NOVEMBER 26, Pictured is Armed Police at the scene of a shooting that was carried out by a gun man on a police car incident in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
Police at the scene of a shooting in the Rosnareen Area of west Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 26 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )
A 20-year-old woman, arrested in Newry over the 2015 attempted murder of police in Belfast has been released unconditionally.
Around seven or eight shots were fired at a police car in Rossnareen Avenue, in west Belfast on Novermber 26.
The two officers in the car at the time were unhurt.
The PSNI described the attacks as a "mindless, reckless attempt to kill officers".
News / National
by Staff reporter
President Robert Mugabe has returned home from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia disappointed after the 28th Africa Union (AU) Summit re-admitted Morocco as a member, 32 years after quitting the continental body.On arrival today at the Harare International Airport where he was met by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, and other senior government officials, Mugabe bemoaned lack of clarity and ideology guiding the founding principles of the AU among some African leaders.39 nations voted in favour of Morocco's readmission and President Mugabe questioned African leaders' disregard of the founding principles of the continental body on the decision."It is a matter of ideology, maybe they have not had the same revolutionary experience as all of us. Most of our countries in Africa are still too reliant on erstwhile colonisers for funding and they can't stand against such motions. We will however continue to fight from within AU and the UN to the effect that it is not right to readmit Morocco before it concedes and recognise Western Sahara as an independent state," said Mugabe.Morocco walked out of the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after it recognised Western Sahara as an independent state, which Morocco regards as part of its territory.President Mugabe also expressed disappointment that the AU Commission chair candidate from Botswana lost because that country's president, did not give her full support and rarely attends AU summits.The post was eventually won by Chad's Foreign Minister, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, who also beat a candidate from Kenya.Mr Faki replaces Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa who decided not to contest for a second term.
Irish premier Enda Kenny has ordered a "complete review" of a special agreement with the US for air passengers leaving the Republic amid claims Donald Trump's travel ban could be illegal.
Dublin and Shannon airports are among the few in the world that offer pre-clearance by US immigration officials, since a deal between the countries in 2008.
Airport authorities have confirmed the US President's travel ban on citizens from seven mainly-Muslim countries - Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - is being implemented by US officials in the Republic.
Mr Kenny said he does not agree with the ban and has ordered a review of the almost decade-old agreement.
"In respect of the policy introduced by the American government, I disagree with it," he told a press conference at Dublin's Government Buildings.
"I will obviously say that to the (US) President and vice president when I meet with them."
Mr Kenny added: "I have asked for a complete review now of the pre-clearance facilities the Republic, in respect of the three departments dealing with this, so we can be absolutely clear about the importance of it."
The Taoiseach's announcement follows warnings from one of his own ministers that implementing the travel ban at Irish airports could be illegal.
Katherine Zappone, the Republic's children's minister, had written to Mr Kenny seeking an investigation into its operation. She suggested it "may be unlawful" because the US-Ireland pre-clearance agreement upholds the rights of people under Irish law. It is understood Ms Zappone is concerned that the implementation of the ban on Irish soil could amount to nationality and religion-based discrimination.
She also said the Republic has a moral obligation to "stand with our fellow human beings against discrimination of this kind".
There have been growing calls for Mr Kenny to snub the annual invite to the White House for St Patrick's Day.
But Mr Kenny said he will travel to Washington because it is "more important now than ever before to speak face-to-face to the American President."
Ireland is owed the vast majority of a 13 billion euro tax bill lumped on tech giant Apple by the European Commission, one of its top watchdogs has said.
Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner for Competition, said the Government is making progress on calculating the final bill and there is "no fuss" that a four-month deadline has passed.
The watchdog was at the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, which also heard the interest due on top of the multibillion invoice could be anywhere from 1.5 billion euro to 6 billion euro.
"My guess would be that the large, large, large majority of the unpaid tax would be due in Ireland," Ms Vestager told the hearing.
"What we are talking about here is not a magic number of 13 billion euro, but 10 years of unpaid taxes."
The watchdog's landmark ruling into the iPad and iPhone-maker found it paid just 50 euro in tax for every 1 million of profit made outside the US in 2014 after twice getting assurances from Ireland's tax inspectors about a complex corporate structure and how it routed sales figures through subsidiaries in Ireland and on to the US.
The Government and Apple are both appealing the ruling, a process that could take several years.
Ms Vestager also told the committee that the publication of her office's findings last August was not influenced by the US presidential election.
Apple boss Tim Cook rejected an invite to attend committee hearings on the case.
Mr Cook previously appeared at a congressional hearing in Washington DC, where he explained that Apple effectively paid 2% tax rate for its subsidiaries in Ireland, where the headline corporation tax rate is 12.5%.
Ms Vestager told the committee that its inquiry began in 2013 after evidence from Apple to the US Senate that it had a "tax incentive arrangement" with Ireland.
Ms Vestager repeated her conclusion that there was "no economic reality" over the way profits were recorded in Ireland by Apple.
But she told the committee that it was not her role to point the finger of blame at either Apple, the Irish Government or Irish tax authorities in the Revenue Commissioners.
"We do not investigate the motives. And we don't point fingers. We don't say this person or that person did something that they shouldn't do," she said.
"The lead of the case was what Apple said in the US hearing that they had a tax incentive arrangement with the Irish Government."
And Ms Vestager also said her agenda was not a harmonised tax regime across Europe.
"One thing is state aid control. It's a completely different thing how a member state organises their taxes," she said.
"I don't think this will change. I don't think we will become a tax union and have the same corporate taxation everywhere. "
She added: "The only thing that I would appreciate was that then businesses actually paid the taxes that the country decided - i n the Irish case 12.5% - instead of far, far, far less for some selected companies."
Ms Vestager told the committee her office would not share information with individual European states who may wish to claim some of the 13 billion euro tax pot from Apple.
Her full report into the state aid mentioned that Italy may lay claim to being home to taxable Apple operations along with another unnamed country.
"The nature of state aid control is that we want to restore the playing field. There are no fines at all, no pointed finger, no criminal proceedings, nothing of that," Ms Vestager said.
The Commissioner also told the hearing that it had about 1,000 cases of tax rulings in relation to state aid on its desk.
Six hundred came from the Luxleaks expose on multinationals using Luxembourg as a base for part of their operations in order to reduce their tax bills. Another 400 were notified by European Union countries themselves.
The commissioner's office also looked at tax rulings by the Revenue Commissioners for 14 other companies in Ireland.
There are no live investigations into alleged breaches of state aid by companies operating in Ireland.
Peter Clarke said recommendations made on the back of inspections appear to 'fall on deaf ears' in some instances
Jails in England and Wales are unsafe and "full of drugs", the Chief Inspector of Prisons has said.
Peter Clarke warned the issues affecting prisons around the country risk creating a "major obstruction" to the Government's reform plans.
He described a "failure of leadership" seen in some establishments and criticised a fall in how many of his recommendations are implemented.
Ministers are attempting to address a safety crisis behind bars amid soaring levels of violence and self-harm.
Last year Justice Secretary Liz Truss unveiled a wide-ranging programme of reforms, including a recruitment drive to add 2,500 frontline officers and measures to crack down on drugs and mobile phones.
Asked what was wrong with prisons, Mr Clarke told MPs: "Basically they are unsafe, they are full of drugs. We have an ageing population.
"The physical environment is appalling and there are far too many people in our prisons who are suffering from mental health issues.
"In my judgment those five issues will create a major obstruction to the reform programme."
Appearing at the Commons Justice Committee, Mr Clarke said the issues were frequently referred to in his office's reports.
He spoke of his frustration that recommendations made on the back of inspections appear to "fall on deaf ears" in some instances.
There has been a decline in the number of recommendations overall that have been implemented over the last year, MPs heard.
Mr Clarke added that "most worryingly" this trend was being seen in the area of safety.
He said: "We are now in a position where more of our recommendations on the subject of safety are not being achieved than are being achieved."
Mr Clarke said it was "absolutely clear" that there is a "failure of leadership in some prisons, not all".
He identified "visible leadership" as a key element.
"As I walk around the wings of a prison, if I get a group of prisoners approach me and say, 'Are you the governor?' that tells me an awful lot about the visibility of the leadership in that prison," Mr Clarke said.
The scale of the problems in prisons was laid bare last week with the publication of official figures showing suicides, assaults and self-harm have all surged to new peak levels.
Opinion / Columnist
Statistics provided in America after the presidential election show white Christian voters voting overwhelmingly for Donald Trump, 80-16%. According to The Washington Post, that's the most they have voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 2004, when they overwhelmingly chose President George W. Bush by a margin of 78-21%. Actually, The Washington Post argues that religious conservatives have become a corporate sponsor of Trumpism, like Visa at the Olympics, and maybe more like the war veterans backing Zanu PF in Zimbabwe.Gooding, in her book The Definition of Christianity, defines Christianity as the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ, or its beliefs and practices. Anyone practising or calling themselves a Christian must manifest Christian quality or character. Personally, my view has always been that the most essential quality of a Christian is charity, because the Bible says, "Faith Without Works Is Dead" (James 2:14-26. Therefore, charity is the main essence of Christianity. Charity in Christianity is not just almsgiving, and should not be seen only as an obligation or duty. Charity is love. Christians believe that God's love and generosity towards humanity moves and inspires us to love and be generous in response.Jesus taught that to love God and to love neighbour are the greatest commandments. Charity is not an optional extra, but an essential component of faith. However, by propping Trump up, mainly because of his promise to ban Muslims from entering America, the American Christians, who (we should realise) otherwise represents a predominant theme of Westernized Christendom, are proclaiming Christian rhetoric while actively or passively practicing the opposite in reality. Then there are black Christians who blindly go along in the name of Christianity, yet the Christianity of Trump constantly manifest elements of 'Master-Servant' relationship. By supporting such kind of rhetoric those Christians are actually failing to realize the shameful irony that they are largely responsible for refusing shelter and opportunity to some of the world's most helpless and oppressed people. Trump signed an executive order on Friday temporarily blocking entry into the US for immigrants and non-immigrants from seven Muslim countries - Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen yet no one from these countries has ever carried a terrorist act against America. For example, if this policy was implemented before 2001, it would not have prevented the September 11 attacks from happening. Afghanistan as well as high-risk Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are off the list, conspicuously because of Trump's business interests there.This kind of Christianity reminds us of the kind of Christianity that was associated with slavery, which believed that slavery "stood as an institution of God.", even giving Biblical reasons like Abraham, the "father of faith," and all the patriarchs held slaves without God's disapproval (Gen. 21:9-10), Canaan, Ham's son, was made a slave to his brothers (Gen. 9:24-27) etc etc. The same approach was used to justify Apartheid too and nearly the same approach is used now by Trump, (supported by the Evangelicals who voted him in), to dehumanizing some of the most vulnerable people on Earth. Basically, while the gospels instruct followers of Christ to help the poor, oppressed, maligned, mistreated, sick, and those most in need of help, Christians in America have largely supported measures that have rejected refugees, refused "aid to immigrants, cut social services to the poor, diminished help for the sick, fuelled xenophobia, reinforced misogyny, ignored racism, stoked hatred, reinforced corruption, and largely increased inequality, prejudice, and fear". To some political analysts, this may be viewed as malicious, counterproductive and inept actions, and half-baked work of amateurs who know little about security and little about immigration law, but from a Christian point of view this is about compassion or a serious lack of it. This paints a picture of bullying, a picture of cruelty, and a picture of American shame, largely supported by so called Christian.What is the morality of supporting policies of a self-confessed immoral individual? Some may argue that it is ironic that we are judging Trump while the Bible says don't judge'. I personally have never bought into this command mainly because I think it is widely misunderstood. Scripture makes it very clear that there is one supreme Judge of allthe Lord God, but if we cannot judge at individual level, how will we, (as taught in Matthew 7:15), distinguish between true and false prophets - because false prophets "come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves"? If judging people is wrong, how can we obey Romans 16:17-18? II Corinthians 6:17? II Timothy 3:5-6? I John 4:1? How can you hate the evil and love the good if you refuse to judge? What about Revelation 2:2? " I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:" Why would the Lord be pleased with these Christians if judging was wrong? Is it not impossible to find someone a "liar" without judging them? I Corinthians 11:30-31: "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." If you are a true Christian, then you belong to God. You are God's child. If you refuse to judge and improve yourself as a child of God, then God will take it upon Himself to judge you. Many of the troubles that we face in life are nothing more than God's way of judging us since we often neglect to judge ourselves.We also need the wisdom of God to judge good and bad leaders. God Choose our leaders but of course, God could just send a plague or rain down some fire and brimstone, but sometimes he prefers to let others do his dirty work for him. Trump?So we have the right to make a sober analysis of a suspicious leader like Trump. We hereby have an unrepentant individual who has publicly bragged about committing adultery as he was heard describing how he likes to sexually assault women, by (through his own words) grabbing them by the p**** because he is famous. Trump has mocked and disrespected the disabled by mocking a disabled reporter. The Justice Department in 1973 sued the Trump family real estate business founded by his father Fred for discriminating against Black people seeking to rent apartments in its buildings in New York City and Norfolk, Virginia. Donald Trump, was president of the firm at the time of the lawsuit. Trump has displayed con artist tendencies with his fraudulent Trump University. He is one vainglorious individual who is shamelessly proud, having before boasted that "Nobody reads the Bible more than me." Yet he said that he has never asked God or others to forgive him for anything.According to many analysts, despite all these vices that Trump has consistently displayed before and during his presidency, American (White) evangelicals, including some black evangelicals as far as Zimbabwe, have gone on to rally behind Trump merely because they believed that the future of the Supreme Court should override every other concern. According to official statistics, 52% of white evangelicals considered the choice of an anti-abortion supreme court judge as most important when choosing between presidential candidates. However, the issue of individual candidate moral uprightness was surprisingly a non-issue while the issue of banning Moslem from the US was top.Christ calls us to care for everyone, regardless of who they are and where they come from," said Jenny Yang, the senior vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief. "That has to be a core part of our witness - not just caring for our own, but caring for others as well."If Christians refuse to help and actually use their political advocacy and opinions to further hurt refugees, immigrants, women, foreigners, minorities, the poor, the oppressed, the persecuted, the sick, and aren't abiding by the golden rule of loving their neighbours as themselves, then who exactly are Christians supposedly loving? If you find yourself loving yourself or your tribe excessively, you are reaching a point of hating others or other tribes. So while there might be political, economic, financial, and safety reasons for Donald Trump implementing policies that harm people and refuse them help, there are certainly no gospel reasons.
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry chair Lady Smith has given an update on progress so far (Jeff Holmes/PA Wire)
More than 60 residential institutions including several top private schools are being investigated by Scotland's national child abuse inquiry.
They are among more than 100 locations where the abuse of children is said to have taken place, chairwoman Lady Smith said.
Six boarding schools or former boarding schools, including Fettes College in Edinburgh and Gordonstoun near Elgin, where the Prince of Wales was once a pupil, are being probed.
Several faith-based organisations, other "major" care providers and local authority institutions are also being looked at by inquiry staff.
Lady Smith, a senior judge who was appointed to the role in July, named a list of places being investigated as she provided an update on the inquiry's progress at a preliminary hearing.
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is examining historical allegations of the abuse of children in care and has been taking statements from witnesses since last spring.
Lady Smith told those gathered at Parliament House in Edinburgh that the inquiry is "determined to get to the bottom of any systemic failures that occurred".
She said 170 people had contacted the inquiry by June last year and "many more have done so since".
Regarding institutions, she said: "So far, we have identified more than 100 locations where abuse of children is said to have taken place but we know that there are many more than that.
"The inquiry team is currently investigating over 60 residential care establishments for children in order to gather, from those who ran them and others, evidence about how children who were being cared for in a range of different settings and by a number of different types of care organisations were treated."
The other schools being investigated are the former Keil School, Loretto School, Merchiston Castle School, and Morrison's Academy when it was a boarding school.
Investigations of institutions run by religious orders the Benedictines, Sisters of Nazareth, Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, Christian Brothers, Sisters of our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, De la Salle Brothers and Marist Brothers are in progress.
Three Church of Scotland-run establishments being probed are Ballikinrain School, Geilsland Residential School, and the Lord and Lady Polwarth Home for Children in Edinburgh, the hearing was told.
The team is further looking at how children were treated at institutions run by "major care providers" Quarriers, Barnardo's, Aberlour Child Care Trust, while eight homes and secure units across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Fife are also being probed.
In a 70-minute address, Lady Smith confirmed child migrants will be included in the inquiry.
Staff are said to be working to contact people in countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand who may have suffered abuse in Scotland, or after being sent abroad as part of past care arrangements.
The chairwoman stressed the inquiry is independent of government, police, prosecutors and other organisations.
The inquiry covers the period within memory of anyone who has suffered abuse, not beyond December 2014.
Public hearings will begin on May 31.
Lady Smith appealed to anyone with evidence to speak to the inquiry and the team is launching a publicity campaign to increase awareness about its work.
"We are determined to find out the truth about what happened to children in care, where, how and why," she said.
"We want to find out why the abuse was not prevented, why it was not stopped, and what needs to be done to protect children in care in the future."
She was appointed to lead the inquiry following the departure of its previous chair, Susan O'Brien QC.
Ms O'Brien is reported to be suing the Scottish Government for 500,000 over claims it forced her out of the role.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Ministers have acted appropriately at all times to exercise the responsibilities that the Inquiries Act 2005 and other relevant legislation places on them and continue to be committed to the independence of the inquiry."
Established in October 2015, the inquiry is expected to report to ministers within four years, offering recommendations to improve the law, policies and practices in Scotland.
Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe told Superintendent Sarah Jackson her "credibility was zero" after she had a "boob job"
A female police chief who launched a drunken tirade at a junior colleague about the size of her breasts has apologised and spoken of her gratitude after her boss decided not to fire her over the incident.
Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said she looked forward "to getting back to serving the community I love" after she was told she would receive a final written warning from the force.
Last May, at a national conference for senior women in policing, Ms Sutcliffe told Superintendent Sarah Jackson that her "credibility was zero" after she had a "boob job" and berated her as a "laughing stock" who would be judged professionally "on the size of her tits".
She went on to pull down the front of her dress to expose her left breast, saying: "Look at these, look at these, these are the breasts of someone who has had three children.
"They are ugly but I don't feel the need to pump myself full of silicone to get self-esteem."
Last month a disciplinary panel ruled her actions amounted to gross misconduct and it had taken her to the "the very precipice of dismissal" but accepted it was out of character and recommended a final written warning would suffice.
Ms Jackson, who has since transferred to Cumbria Constabulary, said she was "shocked, mortified, embarrassed and ashamed" at the comments made by her superior.
Unlike those below the rank of Assistant Chief Constable, the final decision on sanction rested with GMP rather than the independent panel, which in this case included Sir Tom Winsor, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary.
On Monday, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling explained that a "high bar" would have to be reached for him to disagree with the panel's recommendation.
He said: "I accept that she has apologised for this behaviour, but even so, for a senior officer to behave in such a way has unfortunately damaged the reputation of GMP, of senior officers, of policing overall and significantly of ACC Sutcliffe herself, whose reputation is now in tatters.
"Despite being absolutely appalled at the behaviour and all too aware of the damage to public confidence, I do not think I can reasonably take a different view without very significant reason to do so."
Following his decision, Ms Sutcliffe - who was suspended after the incident - said in a statement: "The responsibility for what happened is mine and mine alone. At the time of the incident, I was under significant personal and professional pressure.
"In this context I foolishly became drunk and as a result behaved in a way that is entirely at odds with the way I conduct myself on a daily basis and with the person and senior leader that I want to be.
"I did not mean any of the things that I said and I am dismayed that I was so unkind and unfair.
"I am very grateful that I have been given the opportunity to return to work. On my return, I will bring the very best of my abilities to serve policing and the public as well as I am able.
"What I did was wrong and I apologise for it. I now look forward to getting back to serving the community I love."
Earlier Mr Pilling suggested it would be "more logical, and more importantly, would provide greater public confidence" if the panel would have been able to decide the sanction.
His view was supported by his boss, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, who stated GMP had been put in "a difficult situation" and said he would write to the Home Office to call for the process to be standardised for all officers.
Mr Hopkins said the events of last May had "cast a shadow" over "an important event to recognise the contribution of women in policing" but it was important to now move forward.
He said: "ACC Sutcliffe has been given a chance to demonstrate that she is committed to serving the people of Greater Manchester.
"We will now work with her to consider how she best achieves this in support of Greater Manchester Police."
Relatives of WWII code breaker Alan Turing hand in a petition to 10 Downing Street calling for the 49,000 people convicted under British anti-gay laws to be pardoned in 2015. Posthumous pardons have now been granted after the so-called "Turing's Law" took effect on Tuesday.
Thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences have been posthumously pardoned.
The historic moment was confirmed by the Government as the so-called "Turing's Law" took effect on Tuesday.
Justice minister Sam Gyimah said it was a "truly momentous day".
The pardons, first announced last year, have been officially rubber-stamped after the Policing and Crime Bill received royal assent.
It enshrines in law pardons for those convicted of consensual same-sex relationships before laws were changed.
There were calls for wider action after Second World War code-breaker Alan Turing was given a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 over a 1952 conviction for gross indecency with a 19-year-old man.
Turing was chemically castrated and died two years later from cyanide poisoning in an apparent suicide.
Mr Gyimah said: " We can never undo the hurt caused, but we have apologised and taken action to right these wrongs.
"I am immensely proud that Turing's Law has become a reality under this Government."
The law will also see statutory pardons for the living. T his will only apply in cases where individuals have successfully applied through the Home Office's disregard process to have historic offences removed.
Stonewall said it was an "important milestone" and "will help draw a line under the damage caused to many thousands of lives".
The charity added: "We will be working with the Government to ensure that the way the law is implemented does ensure all gay and bi men who were unjustly persecuted and prosecuted can finally receive the justice they deserve.
"Meanwhile, we can celebrate the fact that we live in a country that acknowledges that we got this wrong in the past, and we mean to make amends for that. It is another step towards achieving acceptance for everyone, whoever they are."
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Sharkey, whose amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill was instrumental in securing the change, said: "This is a momentous day for thousands of families up and down the UK who have been campaigning on this issue for decades.
"It is a wonderful thing that we have been able to build on the pardon granted to Alan Turing during coalition and extend it to thousands of men unjustly convicted for sexual offences that would not be crimes today."
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: "Although it comes too late for those convicted, the friends and relatives of the thousands of people who suffered under this unfair and discriminatory law will now have a weight lifted off their shoulders."
Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: "This pardon is an important, valuable advance that will remedy the grave injustices suffered by many of the estimated 50,000 to 100,000 men who were convicted under discriminatory anti-gay laws between 1885 and 2003 - the latter being the year when all homophobic sexual offences legislation was finally repealed in England and Wales.
"A pardon has connotations of forgiveness for a wrong done. These men and the wider LGBT community believe they did no wrong."
He said there were "omissions" in the law concerning men convicted of soliciting under the Sexual Offences Acts in 1956 and 1967 and gay men and women convicted for "kissing and cuddling" under a variety of other laws including the Public Order Act 1986 and the common law offence of outraging public decency.
Mr Tatchell said: " Agreements secured by Lord Cashman mean that people convicted under these other laws can also apply for a pardon.
"In the case of men now dead, it is unclear whether only the relatives of a deceased person can apply for a pardon on their behalf.
"Many convicted men were rejected and disowned by their families. The Government should make it clear that any concerned person, including personal friends, can apply for a pardon for a deceased person."
Theresa May and Donald Trump at the White House during her visit to Washington DC
Donald Trump's travel ban risks becoming a "propaganda opportunity" for Islamic State (IS) and may not be effective in combating terrorism, Home Secretary Amber Rudd told MPs.
In the strongest criticism of the US president's controversial policy yet from a Government minister, Ms Rudd warned it could be exploited by IS militants who would use "any opportunity they can to make difficulties".
The Home Secretary told MPs the president's measure did not amount to a "Muslim ban" but people would "draw their own conclusions" about the nations that had been picked.
The seven mainly Muslim countries covered by Mr Trump's travel ban are Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Questioning the effectiveness of the measure, she told MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee: "T he sources of terrorism are not to be found in the sources where the president is necessarily looking for them."
Amid fears that IS may seek to portray the ban as a sign of Islamophobia in the West, Ms Rudd acknowledged the terror group would " use any opportunity they can to make difficulties, to create the environment they want to radicalise people, to bring them over to their side".
She added: " So it is a propaganda opportunity for them, potentially."
Committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper said the way the measure had been drawn up "does make it look an awful lot like a Muslim ban" and asked Ms Rudd if she was worried about its impact.
The Home Secretary said: "I think the important thing is for this Government to state that we disagree with the ban and we have said that it is divisive, it is wrong. I will continue to say that."
She assured MPs that "this will never be our policy, we have a completely different approach".
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that MPs will next month debate whether Mr Trump should make a state visit to Britain after a petition calling for the trip to be downgraded gained the support of more than 1.6 million people.
The Westminster Hall debate on February 20 will also consider a rival petition in support of the controversial American leader's state visit, which has more than 114,000 signatures.
Ms Rudd defended the decision to honour Mr Trump with a state visit.
"It is also honouring the country. The US is our strongest ally," she said.
Labour MP Chuka Umunna challenged her, saying: "What message do you think it gives this country's three million Muslims when you invite a known Islamophobe and honour him in the way that you are intending to do? "
The Home Secretary responded: " I think we can hold two things in our head, which is to say to the president of the US 'We find this policy divisive and wrong' and still to respect the president of the United States and want to engage with him in the way we would engage with world leaders to try to promote the UK's interests."
Downing Street rejected claims the Queen has been put in a difficult position due to the invitation and insisted the state visit would go ahead this year.
Dozens of opposition MPs have signed a motion calling for Mr Trump to be denied the opportunity of addressing both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall or any other part of the historic building.
The Prime Minister's spokeswoman said: "On the programme for the state visit, that will all need to be worked out in due course, the elements of that, and to look at it all - it's months away, so there will be a discussion for that."
A man in Canada has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder after a shooting at a Quebec City mosque during evening prayers.
Alexandre Bissonnette has also been charged with five counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre late on Sunday.
Quebec police had earlier said that a second man arrested following the attack was now being treated as a witness.
Six people, ranging in age from 35 to 65, were killed in the shooting, while five were in critical condition and 12 others suffered minor injuries.
More than 50 people were at in the mosque when the shooting erupted.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement: We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge. It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence. Diversity is our strength and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear.
Lech Walesa has denied allegations that he collaborated with the communist regime (AP)
Experts have claimed that handwriting analysis confirms Lech Walesa, who later founded the pro-democracy Solidarity movement, collaborated with Polish communist-era secret police for money between 1970 and 1976.
The analysis of communist-era files signed by agent Bolek, who is believed to be Mr Walesa, "indisputably" proves he signed an agreement to collaborate with the secret police, officials with the state-run Institute of National Remembrance said.
It also shows the 73-year-old wrote reports on co-workers who opposed the regime and signed 17 receipts for money in return, officials said.
Mr Walesa, who won the Nobel Peace prize in 1983 for leading the peaceful Solidarity dissent movement, was not immediately available for comment on the handwriting analysis.
He has strongly denied allegations which he has faced for years that he collaborated with communist-era secret police.
He insists the documents were forged, a claim that led experts to make the handwriting analysis.
The documents surfaced recently at the house of a late former communist-era official and became the focus of attention under the conservative government, which is critical of Mr Walesa and insists on exposing his past.
Jaroslaw Szarek, head of the institute, said the findings do not change the fact that in the 1980s and 1990s Mr Walesa was the symbol of Poland's freedom movement and one of the world's most recognisable figures.
Poland's first popularly-chosen president after communism, Mr Walesa was cleared by a court of the allegations in 2000 because of a lack of evidence but the accusations continue to resurface.
AP
Opinion / Columnist
TODAY'S WORD*A must read for Christians*Leviticus 19:10 'And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.In the past weeks and months, we have been very analytic, theological and theoretical. Today its none of that. We are dealing with practical. We don't need theologians to explain that to us. God in His supreme wisdom instructed and still instruct His children to take good care of orphans, widows and the vulnerable.You shall not glean your vineyard nor gather all of your grapes, rather you shall leave some for the poor. That's a complete message of Christian living. Today being month end, you shall not wipe/eat away all of your income. Yes direct as it may be. Leave some for the poor. God will require of you. You know why?Deuteronomy 15:11 "For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.'TROVOCO being a Charity Trust wholly devoted to this service today we are making a special appeal. We have a lot of demand than we can supply. TROVOCO is a Christian Trust wholly funded by its members and willing individuals. Christian soldiers up your game. Donations can be made in form cash and or kind in the phone numbers beneath. The Lord in His appearing will reward your efforts.If you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land.This message is brought to you by:TROVOCO'A closer walk with them'TROVOCO is a newly registered Christian oriented charity Trust wholly devoted to alleviate the plight of the underprivileged (destitute children, the orphans and the disabled amongst others).Make your donations via our Treasurer on +263 772 937 477( cash range from as little as $2)From the Chaplin's desk.For more information contact:Mthulisi Ndlovu (Chairperson) on +26 776 350 865Bhekinkosi Nkomo (Acting V Chair) on +263 777 403 986.Good day, we love you all.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris was switched off just after midnight in memory of the victims of the mosque attack in Quebec (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
People attend a vigil in Montreal for victims of Sunday's shooting at a Quebec City mosque (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
Alexandre Bissonnette is escorted to a van after appearing in court over Sunday's deadly shooting at a mosque in Quebec City (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP)
The university student charged with killing six Muslim men during evening prayers at a mosque in Canada was known for far-right, nationalist views and his support of the French rightist party led by Marine Le Pen.
Alexandre Bissonnette was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder over the shooting rampage at a Quebec City mosque that Canada's prime minister called an act of terrorism against Muslims.
Bissonnette, a French Canadian student, made a brief court appearance and did not enter a plea over the attack staged during evening prayers on Sunday.
Wearing a white prisoner jump suit, his hands and feet shackled, he stared down at the floor and fidgeted, but did not speak.
The 27-year-old suspect, who has espoused support for Ms Le Pen and US president Donald Trump on his Facebook page, was known to those who monitor extremist groups in Quebec, said Francois Deschamps, an official with a refugee advocacy group.
"It's with pain and anger that we learn the identity of terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette, unfortunately known to many activists in Quebec for taking nationalist, pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions at Laval University and on social media," Mr Deschamps wrote on the Facebook page of the group, Bienvenues Aux Refugies, or Welcome To Refugees.
An anthropology and political science major at Laval University in Quebec City, Bissonnette had also expressed support on his Facebook profile for Generation Nationale, a group whose manifesto includes the rejection of "multiculturalism".
Authorities said Bissonnette was unknown to police.
The grandson of a decorated Second World War veteran, Bissonnette appears in a Facebook photo as a boy dressed as an army cadet, a military leadership programme for Canadian youths.
But cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces and do not receive military training.
For Ms Le Pen and her supporters, "massive migration", notably from Muslim North Africa, is supplanting French civilisation and is at the root of many France's modern woes.
"On est chez nous" ("we're in our land") is a mantra at the rallies of her party, the National Front.
Her views have won the endorsement from white supremacists.
More than 50 people were at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre when the shooting began, and witnesses described a scene of chaos as worshippers scrambled to find friends and loved ones.
In addition to the six dead, 19 people were wounded - all men.
Of the five victims who remained in hospital, two were in critical condition, authorities said.
The dead ranged in age from 39 to 60.
Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec premier Philippe Couillard both characterised the attack as a terrorist act, which came amid strong criticism around the world over Mr Trump's temporary travel ban for people from seven Muslim countries.
Canada is generally welcoming toward immigrants and all religions, but the French-speaking province of Quebec has had a long-simmering debate about race and religious accommodation.
The previous separatist government of the province called for a ban on ostentatious religious symbols, such as the hijab, in public institutions.
Mr Trudeau said in Parliament the victims were targeted simply because of their religion.
Speaking directly to the more than one million Muslims who live in Canada, he said: "We are with you."
"Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours," Mr Trudeau said.
The prime minister later attended a vigil along with thousands of people wrapped up in winter clothes in front of Notre-Dame-de-Foy Church, just around the corner from the mosque that was attacked.
It was one of many vigils in Canada, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris was darkened in respect to the victims as was the CN Tower in Toronto.
The suspect was arrested in his car on a bridge, after he called 911 to say he wanted to cooperate with police.
Authorities, who initially named two suspects, said the other man taken into custody was a witness to the attack and was released.
Officials said they did not believe there were others involved but were investigating.
Police did not give a motive for the attack.
Mr Trump called Mr Trudeau to express condolences to the Canadian people and to offer any assistance that might be needed.
The White House pointed to the attack as an example of why Mr Trump's policies are needed.
"We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms.
"It's a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant and why the president is taking steps to be pro-active, rather than reactive when it comes to our nation's safety and security," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.
The victims were businessmen, a university professor and others who had gathered for evening prayers, said Mohamed Labidi, vice president of the mosque.
"'It's a very, very big tragedy for us," Mr Labidi said tearfully. "We have a sadness we cannot express."
He said the victims were shot in the back.
"Security at our mosque was our major, major concern," he said. "But we were caught off guard."
Asked if he blamed recent rhetoric in the US for the attack, the Quebec premier said he would "not go there".
"Quebec is a good, generally loving society, but we have these devils as other societies have. We have to recognise that and fight them," Mr Couillard said at a news conference at which he and Muslim leaders held hands in a display of solidarity.
The mosque has been a target of hate crimes in the past, including last summer when a pig's head was left on its doorstep during Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
Practising Muslims do not eat pork.
AP
Spanish police have arrested three people over a data breach linked to several intrusions at European spy software companies - leading to speculation that the net has closed on the renowned hacker, Phineas Fisher.
A spokesman with Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, said two men and a woman were arrested in Salamanca and Barcelona on suspicion of breaking into the website of the Mossos union in May, hijacking its Twitter feed and leaking the personal data of more than 5,500 officers.
No more arrests are expected, he added.
The arrests sparked online rumours because the breach had been claimed by Phineas Fisher, a hacker who first won notoriety in 2014 for publishing data from the UK's Gamma Group - responsible at the time for spyware known as FinFisher.
The hacker, or group of hackers, cemented their reputation by claiming responsibility for a breach at Italy's Hacking Team in 2015 which exposed the inner workings of government espionage campaigns. Fisher also appeared as a hand puppet in an unusual interview in 2016.
The Andover-based Gamma Group did not immediately return requests for comment. Neither did FinFisher, the Munich-based company which now sells the eponymous intrusion tool.
Hacking Team spokesman Eric Rabe said he had "no special insight" into the arrests but declined to comment on whether his company was in touch with Spanish authorities.
Toni Castejon, the general secretary of the Catalan police union which was hit, said the language used by the hijacked Twitter account led him to doubt Phineas Fisher had been involved.
The tweets were written "by somebody with perfect knowledge of a very informal kind of Catalan (language) that would have been impossible to achieve through online translation," he said.
Donald Tusk mentioned the Trump administration as part of an external 'threat' together with China, Russia, radical Islam, war and terror
European Union (EU) chief Donald Tusk says that the first weeks of Donald Trump as US president are contributing to the "highly unpredictable" outlook for the bloc.
In a letter to 27 leaders, EU council president Mr Tusk mentioned the Trump administration as part of an external "threat" together with China, Russia, radical Islam, war and terror.
The letter was not sent to the UK, which is poised to leave the bloc.
Echoing statements from many European capitals, he said that those global challenges "as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration all make our future highly unpredictable".
He said that "particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy".
Mr Trump has questioned the Nato alliance linking North America and Europe, and hopes for a major trans-Atlantic trade deal have already taken a deep dive amid worries of US protectionism.
"We should remind our American friends of their own motto: United we stand, divided we fall," Mr Tusk said in the letter and also told a news conference in Tallinn, Estonia, after meeting with the three Baltic prime ministers before the Malta summit.
Britain was not part of the letter since it is poised to leave the EU and is only scheduled to attend part of the leaders' meeting in La Valletta.
The decision to leave was the biggest setback for the EU in decades and Mr Trump did not endear himself with many EU leaders by saying that Brexit "will be a tremendous asset and not a tremendous liability".
Mr Tusk wrote to the leaders that "in politics, the argument of dignity must not be overused" before adding that "today we must stand up very clearly for our dignity, the dignity of a united Europe - regardless of whether we are talking to Russia, China, the US or Turkey".
He further insisted any disintegration would not be beneficial to the restored nation states but instead lead to "their real and factual dependence on the great superpowers: the United States, Russia and China".
AP
The ramifications of the appointment could long outlast Mr Trump's time in office (AP)
US president Donald Trump is ready to announce his choice to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.
The selection is one of the most significant of the early days of Mr Trump's administration, the ramifications of which could long outlast his time in office.
Mr Trump will unveil his choice during a televised address on Tuesday night from the White House.
He is said to have made his choice from a group of three finalists, all federal appeals court judges appointed by former president George W Bush: Neil Gorsuch, Thomas Hardiman and William Pryor.
Each appeared on Mr Trump's list of 21 possible choices which he made public during the presidential campaign, and each has met with the president to discuss the vacancy.
The Holocaust Day article (Comment, January 27) by Adam Stephens was interesting, but there are other insights to this period that deserve mention.
In a recent article for The Jewish Chronicle, Robert Hannigan, the director of GCHQ, described the role played by some of the codebreakers at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.
A group of codebreakers would meet in Bletchley at the flat of Joe Gillis, a lecturer at the maths faculty at Queens University, and it was here that the Professional and Technical Aliyah to encourage Jewish professionals to move to the new state of Israel.
Hannigan further observes that Gillis went on to become a founder and professor of applied mathematics at the Weizmann Institute.
Im sure there are other interesting connections between Northern Ireland and both Bletchley Park and also the new state of Israel.
BERNARD J MULHOLLAND
Belfast
Last week, I was a guest speaker at Sinn Fein's Irish unity conference in Dublin; there, as I told the 600-strong audience, as "an unashamed, unambiguous, unembarrassed unionist". Not an easy audience for me, perhaps, but as a political commentator and columnist, I believe that I should accept invitations from parties (I addressed the PUP three months ago) who will not be comfortable with my analysis. It's a learning experience for both of us and gives me the opportunity - after the formal part of the day is over - to talk to people whom I wouldn't normally meet.
The question I was asked to address was: "Is an agreed united Ireland possible?" Well, of course it is. Let's face it: back in 1968, or even 1985, who would have thought that an "agreed Ireland", in the form of the Good Friday Agreement and Sinn Fein and the DUP co-governing Northern Ireland still in the United Kingdom, would have been possible? Circumstances and conditions change; demographics change; people change; voting habits change; so only a fool would say that Irish unity is never going to happen. In the same way, of course, that only a fool would say that Irish unity is inevitable.
A united Ireland, agreed or otherwise, is predicated on a majority of voters in Northern Ireland voting to end the Union with the United Kingdom; and, I suspect, it would also require majority support from voters in the Republic. That process will have to begin with a border poll here, something that is likely to be very bitter and divisive. My view is that a very considerable majority of present unionists and republicans will vote with their hearts; in other words, they will not be open to persuasion.
So, the real battle is going to be with that core - probably not much more than 20% at most - who are open to persuasion. That core represents a challenge for both unionists and republicans: and, in fairness to Sinn Fein, they are making a concerted effort to make their case. Unionists, on the other hand, still strike me as complacent and worryingly bad at making the case for the UK.
But a border poll cannot be conducted in isolation. There needs to be a series of conversations first: between unionists/republicans and "undecideds" here; between unionists here and the Irish political parties and government (we need to know what they think and how they would proceed in the event of Northern Ireland leaving the UK); and between the British and Irish governments (how would they facilitate a decision to leave the UK?)
We also need to address the question of what a united, independent, sovereign Ireland would look like. It hasn't existed for hundreds of years. It is not a case, like East Germany, for example, of just picking up the pieces. It would, to all intents and purposes, be an entirely new country and like all new countries would have to forge a new identity in an increasingly difficult and competitive world.
And what about the unionists who found themselves on the losing side of a border poll? Republicans in Northern Ireland always retained the hope, dream, ambition and prospect of Irish unity. The "A Nation Once Again" aspiration never died; and there were always strategies (some violent, some democratic) in place to promote unity.
But Irish unity kills off unionism, reducing it to a mere cultural, political, electoral, constitutional curiosity. There will be no future border poll for them - holding out the possibility of reversing the decision. There will be no built-in veto allowing them to bring down a government they believe is acting against their interests.
The concept of joint citizenship - one way in which nationalists here can now retain and promote their Irish identity - is going to be enormously difficult to sustain if the UK is no longer in the European Union.
It's also worth bearing in mind that Sinn Fein is just one voice and vehicle in the Irish unity debate; and, at least in terms of persuading people in Northern Ireland, that is probably an advantage for unionists. Kevin Meagher, a former special adviser to former Secretary of State Shaun Woodward, has argued that the unity debate in Northern Ireland needs to be "de-Shinnerised". He makes a good point, because there may be potential supporters of Irish unity who have been and will continue to be put off by Sinn Fein's history and legacy.
From my very personal perspective, the Irish unity debate has little or nothing to do with economic and structural cohesion. I hear the arguments about how we could "be better together" if we weren't duplicating services across the island. But at the core of the debate is the issue of identity: who we are, who we want to be.
I was born in Belfast in 1955, meaning that I was born in the United Kingdom. I am a British citizen. I am content to be a British citizen. I want to remain a British citizen.
Anyone who votes in an election - or a border poll, or referendum - is making a very specific choice about themselves and their identity. The 'X' on the ballot paper marks the spot where their heart and history reside. Identity is the stuff of hopes and dreams; it's what motivates and drives us; it's what pushes some people into security forces, liberation groups and political parties; it's what makes billions of people vote, even on those occasions when they reckon they won't win; it's what inspires dramatists, historians and orators; it's what stirs the hearts of revolutionaries. It's what makes ordinary people head to a polling station for the first time in a generation. That's how important identity is to all of us.
My identity disappears in a united Ireland. I have yet to hear a convincing argument about how that identity can be protected and promoted outside the United Kingdom.
I have yet to hear a persuasive argument for swapping my British citizenship and identity for an Irish one.
The Irish unity debate is now unavoidable. That throws up huge challenges for all of us in Northern Ireland; but it also throws up huge challenges for the Republic's political and governing establishment, along with all of those who live in the Republic. I am not afraid of the debate, or the challenge: which is why I accepted Sinn Fein's invitation. They were clearly not afraid to hear my analysis - even if they didn't agree with it.
I still don't believe a united Ireland will emerge anytime soon. That said - and, unlike key figures within party political unionism, I am not complacent - there is a coherent, convincing case to be made for the Union. It's about time that the leaders of unionism here - indeed, across the UK - rose to the challenge and made that case.
Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately and Keith Duffy of Boyzone perform at the RDS on June 28, 2008 in Dublin, Ireland.
Irish boyband Westlife during a reception to celebrate five years together at the Irish Embassy in London Wednesday 26 November 2003. The event also coincides with the release of the band's fifth album "Turnaround".
A Westlife and Boyzone super-group is unlikely to happen.
But things are going from strength to strength for original members Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy.
The duo, who formed Boyzlife last year, are coming back to Belfast in April for their third gig in just six months.
The question of whether or not wed have a big super-group has been put to other members of the bands and the reaction has always been very positive from the Boyzone lads, Keith (41) told Sunday Life.
Westlife havent had a reunion tour yet though, which maybe makes them have a different view to Boyzone.
The Irish boyband, who had 21 singles in the top 40 UK charts, reunited after a seven-year hiatus in 2007, and later returned in 2010 as a four-piece after the death of bandmate Stephen Gately.
I think the most positive thing Ive heard Westlife say is that they havent even had their own reunion tour before they do anything with any other band, said Keith, who starred in Coronation Street after Boyzone.
If Westlife have a reunion themselves, I think itll be fantastic and the support is always going to be there, but I dont think theyre too keen on the idea of a super-group at the moment.
During their time in Westlife and Boyzone, Brian (36) and Keith loved performing in Belfast and they are super excited to come back for two gigs at the Hilton Hotel.
Keith said: For Brian in Westlife and me in Boyzone, playing Belfast was always one of our favourite places. As soon as the tour date was added, it was one you looked forward to.
Sadly, we havent had the opportunity to play there much over the last God knows how long, but were making up for it now.
We played Belfast three times last year and we loved every show so we cant wait to get back.
Those two Christmas gigs in the Europa were something else they were crazy.
Our mate got engaged on stage at our last gig in Belfast, so you just never know what youre going to get, but that adds to the fun of it all.
Last years series of intimate gigs sold out in under 24 hours, and Keith revealed that while their loyal fans were still as crazy as ever, they wouldnt have it any other way.
Im not sure what it is about Belfast, but we find that the further north you go, both in Ireland and the UK, they get more mad, explained the father-of-two.
When we go to Glasgow, its like Belfast because theyre so up for it and they sing along and dance to all the songs.
In places like London, they are a bit more reserved than they are in the likes of Belfast, where people just seem to let their hair down.
Belfast is a great party town, but unfortunately the last time we were there we only had a few drinks in the hotel, but well make up for it the next time.
We always have so much fun in Belfast because the crowd are so up for it.
The more energy we get from the audience, the better it is for us on stage.
For the fans who attended Boyzlifes most recent gigs, they can expect even more of their favourite tunes.
Keith said: Itll be the same sort of format as the other shows a bit of chat and craic and a few songs.
But were doing different songs and were hoping to do more music and less talking this time around.
I think people like that its an intimate gig where you learn a bit more about us than you would if it was a big show. It seems to be working anyway.
Its a much smaller scale than we were used to when we were in the bands.
Boyzones first reunion concert after eight years was in the Odyssey, and I just remember the noise of the screams of people anticipating us coming out on stage.
It would have scared the daylights out of you.
But the Dublin pair dont always like the songs fans expect to hear.
Keith said: I love the Westlife songs that Brian hates because hes spent a lot more years than me going around performing them.
I love the likes of Swear It Again and Flying Without Wings, but he prefers some of the Boyzone songs because theyre newer to him.
In a strange turn of events, our favourites have become songs by the other ones band. Obviously there are some songs that are more popular than others, but the lovely thing about these gigs is that you see that different songs mean different things to different people, and they bring back memories, so we tend to get the same reaction to all the songs.
One thing the boys are loving is getting to work with each other. The pair are so close that Brian recently moved in across the road from Keith.
Were very honest with each other and I think thats important, said Keith.
If we ever have a cross word its usually because weve spent the night before partying and were grumpy the next day.
The love is deep though, so little bouts like that dont really last long and we just hug and kiss and get on with it.
Theres no point holding any grudges. Its a proper bromance.
That special bond looks set to grow even more, with a number of exciting projects planned.
The future is very bright for Boyzlife and ourselves, thankfully, Keith teased.
Theres a lot going on in the background, which is exciting, and Boyzlife as the fans know it and we know it is growing bigger and better with every month.
Watch this space, thats all Ill say.
For more information and tickets, visit http://boyzlifetour.com/
Opinion / Letters
EDITOR,The much talked about formation of the grand coalition among the opposition political parties in the country supposedly fronted by the former Vice President Joice Mujuru of the Zimbabwe People First party as leader and Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC is a script on paper which is not feasible.The coalition will suffer a stillbirth because the two political figures, Mujuru and Tsvangirai come from different backgrounds that seem to be like water and oil which are difficult to mix.Zimbabweans should not be fooled into believing that Mujuru and Tsvangirai could suddenly become their messiahs when they have already showed that they are not.In actual fact, the two politicians have different egos that would make them fail to coexist in the formation of that coalition if ever it is going to be formed.The fact that Mujuru decided to come up with her People First project without joining the MDC which has been around for some years shows that the coalition would not materialise.Actually, it is surprising that the Zimbabwean political parties could manifest their cowardice to the extent that they cannot stand on their own as they believe that having coalitions is the way forward to dislodge Zanu PF from power. Mujuru who has decided to challenge her former boss President Robert Mugabe is so new in opposition politics and one wonders why she would want to have a coalition with another opposition party as a way of challenging Mugabe.It is naive for her to come up with a political party and then fail to stand on her own.Rushing to other already existing political parties as a way of having a supposedly strong support base from the electorate is a sign of political immaturity.Does that make any political sense for Mujuru to form a political party and then fail to stand alone, only to have a coalition with other opposition parties?Such a move could turn out to be doomed because if one forms his/her political party it would be on the understanding that he/she is good enough to be a leader.So Mujuru's move to talk about the issue of coalition with the MDC could turn out to be a betrayal to her supporters who have been for the past decades calling Tsvangirai a puppet of the west.JM
20th Century Fox
The film "Hidden Figures" is the remarkable story of how 3 incredibly skilled African-American women working at NASA helped us win the space race. Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) were hidden in the background, but these mathematicians were more than just brains that launched Friendship 7 and famed astronaut John Glenn into orbit in 1967. The women were the foundation of the program and people that Glenn trusted and respected. According to a scene in the film, Glenn was concerned regarding the trip and felt uneasy. He needed the numbers to be checked and asked to see the lead researcher (Johnson) to verify the orbital trajectory calculated by dual IBM computers. "Get the girl to do it," he said. "I want this human-computer to check the output of the electronic computer, and if she says they're good, you know, I'm good to go as part of one of my pre-flight checklists."
The human computer had no idea how she would reshape the world. Based on the book of the same name written by historian Margot Lee Shetterly, the narrative shined a light of what the political, cultural and racial climate was for women during the 1960s. To give you an idea of how critical the situation was, Johnson who worked with all white male physicists, had to walk from the NASA campus to find a "color approved bathroom." If you think about this, the 1960s were not that long ago--making this a sobering reflection. Yet, their story of bravery and resolution resonates with us today. Here is how to make "Hidden Figures" your own phenomenon.
Believe in yourself.
"Remember it doesn't matter what your background is, it doesn't matter where you came from--your start is not your finish."
Rise above the noise.
Find a cheerleader.
Great leaders help others succeed.
Don't give up.
Outlast the challenges.
Corine Gatti-Santillo is a freelance digital journalist, editor, and content producer. She is also the The Christian Post Voices Editor. She is also a former editor at Beliefnet.com.
Discrimination still exists today. People are not only discredited because of their race, but by their economic class. Imagine living in the 1960s where you are fully able to do the work like any other male. However, you are paid less and told to remain out of sight. Their dark skin, their gender, their economic status--none of those were acceptable excuses for not giving the fullest rein to their imaginations and ambitions," wrote Shetterly about these amazing women. Believe in yourself and live to your fullest even if it hurts you to the core.In the book and in the film, the bar was set low for women. It was assumed that they were not competent before they even had a chance to establish themselves as intellects. "Women, on the other hand, had to wield their intellects like a scythe, hacking away against the stubborn underbrush of low expectations, Shetterly explained. Remember it doesn't matter what your background is, it doesn't matter where you came from--your start is not your finish. Focus ahead on your strengths. You have to be your biggest fan--no one else will do it for you. When you lose focus on your goals or dreams, you sink. Reject those hurtful words or damaging memories.In Hidden Figures Kevin Costner plays the head of NASAs Space Task Group, Al Harrison.Although he is a fictional character, Harrison is looking to accomplish the goal of getting America to the moon. Color and gender are not relevant to him--what is essential to him is math and science. With America falling behind the space race he understands one thing that the country needs to get ahead of Russia. "Only a person whos losing is really looking at things carefully, deciding that theyve got to do something different. He thinks the best thing is to get to the top. But he realizes that NASA wasnt even allowing the best people (Katherine Johnson) to have their voice, Costner said in an interview. We need to have a Harrison in our lives to encourage us. However, you have to encourage yourself as well during the journey.Teachers can really make an impact on a life. When Johnson was a little girl her teachers saw potential in her. They knew that she needed a better education and that her current school was doing her a disservice. Her teachers took a collection so she could attend West Virginia State High School. Guess what? She ended up graduating at the age of 14. Leaders can shape communities, families and may inspire groups of people to reach higher. If Johnsons teachers were not so charitable, she might have never seized her destiny.Jackson became frustrated that every time they believed to reach a goal, another impediment would get in the way. "I plan on being an engineer at NASA, but I can't do that without taking them classes at that all-white high school, and I can't change the color of my skin. So I have no choice, but to be the first," Jackson explained to a teacher.Are you feeling that nothing you do works anymore? Maybe you are stuck in a rut and need to experience a sense of freedom. Jackson felt those frustrations. "Every time we get a chance to get ahead they move the finish line. We go from being our fathers daughters to our husband's wives to our babys mothers." You are more than your obstructions. You are more than your victories. Don't undermine yourself because of the fight and don't label yourself because of the challenge.If you need a pick-me-up, read the book and go see the film "Hidden Figures." We all need to come out from the shadows and be ourselves. We live in a better world today than it was during the 1960s. But there needs to be more light, more hope and more solidarity. Be invigorated and refreshed that you can be the best you can be today. Just show your prowess. Will this decision be easy, absolutely not! Is it worth it? Well, take a glimpse at the striking story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson and determine your fate from there.
Shutterstock.com
Ahh, good ol' Hollywood. We know you from your titillating scandals, titillating feuds, titillating gossip and fun exploits. The actors that we pursue and the news buzz about reality stars. We watch their every move and try to understand their decisions. Believe it or not, the people in Hollywood are still human and are flawed like the rest of us. They get depressed, they get sick, they get divorced and they have family disputes. The only difference is that they are closely monitored by TMZ and many people crave to be like them. There are always hidden morsels of wisdom we can gain from our public figures. Yes, even from the ever enlightening Kardashians. Get set to embark on something note quite salacious. Here is what you can learn from the famous.
Mind your own business.
When it comes to family, we stick together. Siblings may have disagreements, but at the end of the day of someone messes with them, we get involved in protecting their interests. This can be dangerous when they are dating someone as you naturally want to take their side. Most of the time, the couple works it out and the rest of the family are still fuming. Remember Rob Kardashian's relationship with Blac Chyna? Those two never stop fighting and so the entire family gets involved. Kim said in Keeping Up With the Kardashians that Chyna and Rob both were sending mean texts and it was getting out of hand. "I don't know, I mean she texts him crazy things, he texts her crazy things all night long," Kim said exasperatedly. The best bet here is to not involve yourself in another person's love life. Why? They usually reconcile and you are the one left upset!
Follow your heart.
Sometimes you have to follow your heart and speak up when you are burdened. Actress Meryl Streep spoke about the presidential election of 2016. Particularly, Donald Trump, who she believed mocked disabled New York Times reporter Serge F. Kovaleski during his campaign. Although the incident has been disputed, Streep used her platform to hit Trump back. Streep was honored at the Golden Globes for a lifetime of notable work and said: "This instinct to humiliate, when its modeled by someone on the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybodys life, because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing." If something is really gnawing at your heart, take action. You might not be able to do much, but you can do your part.
Put on a united front for others.
We know that not all marriages last and after 10 years together Angelina Jolie divorced Brad Pitt citing irreconcilable differences. Of course, rumors surfaced that Pitt's substance abuse was at the root of the separation, but this was not substantiated. The both decided to seal the court records and to see a private judge to protect the privacy their 6 kids. For the most part, the couple has been silent regarding the split. When they were seen in public the family showed a united front so the children would feel secure. When going through a nasty split, it is easy to behave out of emotion. You need to think of others first to avoid causing more damage. In this case, it was to protect the children. Think before you act.
Be a humble helper.
Actor Steve Buscemi was a firefighter in New York City before he became well-known for films like "Reservoir Dogs" and "Fargo." After the devastating attack on America on 9/11, the actor went back and pulled 12-hour shifts with FDNY Engine 55 to help the firemen find survivors. The reason the public knows very little of this is because Buscemi didn't want the publicity. He later said that "it was a privilege to be able to do it. It was great to connect with the firehouse I used to work with and with some of the guys I worked alongside." If we are going to do something for someone, we don't need to shout it from the rooftops. By serving people quietly, we become giants in a sense.
Follow your passion.
Director Steven Spielberg was rejected 3 times from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts because of poor grades. He started to look for work and got a position with Universal Studios. Eventually, he was able to show executives a short film that he directed and they signed him. Over 30 movies later, Spielberg is one of the best directors of his generation. You will be rejected, like Spielberg. However, when you feel like that you have nothing left, that is when you have to dig in and find more strength. Even if you never accomplish your dreams like you want them, giving up is not an option.
Find time to get away.
When Actress Selena Gomez was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease lupus, it was hard for her in the beginning.
She had to undergo chemotherapy and was crushed by the press for canceling shows. Gomez struggled to deal with the illness and the effects of it like depression. In order to process everything, she retreated so she could think. She acknowledged that she needed to adjust things in her life. "I've shown who I am but I need to rethink some areas of my life creatively and personally." Just like Gomez, we need to learn that we can't solve everything at once. By getting away from the distractions, we can better assess the situation and think clearer.
We are all human and we all struggle in life like anyone else. There are those stars who are givers, those who are sick, those who have failed marriages and those who speak their minds. We don't have to agree with them or even like them. However, we definitely can glean something from celebrities. Whether it is good or bad, it is up to us.
Corine Gatti-Santillo is a freelance digital journalist, editor, and content producer. She is also the The Christian Post Voices Editor. She is also a former editor at Beliefnet.com.
A Rohingya Muslim insurgency in Myanmar is seeking freedom of movement and religion for the persecuted minority, two Rohingya refugees living at camps in southeastern Bangladesh told BenarNews in interviews.
Both men voiced support for Harakah al-Yaqin (HaY), an insurgent group established by Rohingya exiles living in Saudi Arabia, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).
Al-Yaqin has been working to protect Islam, a 19-year-old Rohingya, who arrived in southeastern Bangladesh two years ago, told BenarNews.
And Nasaka and military have been torturing the Muslims, destroying Islam, he said, referring to a Rakhine state border police force by its old name and alleged abuses carried out against Rohingya.
The young man, a resident of the Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhiya, Coxs Bazar, said he had never personally met any members of al-Yakin, but had heard about the insurgent group at the refugee camp and learned about it online via his mobile phone.
A second HaY supporter said the Rohingya want the right to move around freely in Myanmar.
We, the Muslims, want to move freely, as the Mogs, Hindus, Christians and Kafirs roam about without restriction, he said, using terms referring to Buddhists and non-believers.
But we face trouble. They do not check them on the streets. But they keep Muslims waiting for checks for one or a half hour, even if they are ailing.
He denied that he was a member of al-Yakin, although he vowed to go back to Myanmar one day to help liberate his homeland.
We want them to give us the freedom that others have been enjoying. So we are trying to liberate the country, said the man, a 26-year-old resident of Leda camp in Teknaf.
Both men spoke to BenarNews on condition that their names not be used.
They do not allow us to follow the Sunnah
ICG, a Brussels-based conflict prevention and resolution group, reported on HaYs existence last month, saying the insurgency hatched following anti-Rohingya violence in Rakhine state in 2012 but had recruited several hundred young Rohingya men from Bangladesh in October 2016.
HaY was responsible for deadly attacks on Burmese border police guard posts that month, and on other security forces in Rakhine state in November, according to the ICG.
The attacks provoked a crackdown by the military in the state that caused at least 65,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee into Coxs Bazar in neighboring Bangladesh, amid reports of killings, rapes and arson against residents of Rohingya villages in Rakhine.
A commission appointed by the government of Myanmar has rejected accusations that its military was committing genocide in Rakhine villages, which have been closed to Western journalists and human rights investigators.
The 26-year-old, an imam at a mosque that serves Leda camp, said he fled to Bangladesh in October, and left behind a wife and three children in Myanmar.
Myanmars government has long denied the Rohingya citizenship, but he said that the armed struggle of Harakah al-Yakin was about more than citizenship.
No, not only citizenship. They will have to allow us to follow Islamic rules, the refugee told BenarNews, alluding to Sharia law.
They do not allow us to follow the Sunnah of our Prophet. They have been telling us to clean-shave our beards. These are beyond Muslim law, he added.
We will have no conflict with them if they allow us to abide by Islamic law and follow the rules of Islam.
No extremist agenda
According to the International Crisis Group report, HaY is led by a committee of 20 senior members headquartered in Mecca who are Rohingya emigres or have Rohingya heritage. The report said they had connections in Bangladesh, Pakistan and possibly India, and that some or all of the leaders had visited Bangladesh and northern Rakhine state in the last two years.
So far, though there are indications of some training and solidarity, HaY does not appear to have a transnational jihadist or terrorist agenda, the report said.
But there are risks that if the [Myanmar] government mishandles the situation, including by continued use of disproportionate force that has driven tens of thousands from their homes or across the border to Bangladesh, it could create conditions for further radicalizing sections of the Rohingya population that transnational jihadists could exploit to pursue their own agendas in the country, it added.
A.K.M. Iqbal Hossain, the superintendent of police in Coxs Bazar, rejected the report that HaY has links to people in Bangladesh.
We have no information on the existence of such a militant outfit in Bangladesh; the outfit has no activities in our country, he told BenarNews, adding that the government enforces a zero-tolerance policy toward insurgent or militant groups.
Bangladesh has adopted deterrent measures so that militant outfit like al-Yaqin cannot enter here, Ishfaq Elahi Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi security analyst, told BenarNews.
The main problem is rooted in Myanmar. The desperate Rohingya may get involved in militancy, if they (Myanmar) does not grant them citizenship and the chance to return to the normal life. Myanmar should adopt a long term solution, he said.
Ko Ni, a Myanmar human rights lawyer and adviser to the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, appears in an undated photo.
A prominent Muslim human rights lawyer and adviser to Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was shot dead on Sunday at Yangon airport, prompting the countrys president to issue an appeal for calm in the Buddhist-majority country and a call to remain watchful against agitation leading to religious disturbances.
Ko Ni, 63, a legal adviser to the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party that came into power last April, was shot at close range in the back of the head while he held his grandson outside the Yangon airport following a trip to Indonesia as part of a Myanmar government delegation to discuss interfaith tolerance and reconciliation.
Ko Ni was an outspoken critic of anti-Muslim attitudes held by Myanmars Buddhist nationalists and the countrys powerful military. He formally joined the NLD in October 2013, though he had previously supported Aung San Suu Kyis party process and provided legal advice.
The office of President Htin Kyaw issued a statement on Monday saying the killing was meant to disrupt peace and stability in the country and thanking citizens for helping arrest of the gunman. It also requested that people remain calm.
The initial interrogation indicates the intention to destabilize the state, said a translated copy of the statement. Investigations are being carried out by the government to find out the truth. Security has been heightened in the aftermath of the assassination.
This being so, people are requested not to be stricken by panic and to stay quietly and peacefully, to be careful of religious and racial incitements and inform authorities concerned in case of finding evidence concerning this case of assassination and actions aimed at destabilizing the state.
Ko Nis killing comes as the country grapples with a crisis in the northern part of its volatile Rakhine state where a crackdown by Myanmar security forces on Rohingya Muslims since October left about 90 people dead and forced more than 65,000 of the villagers to flee to safety in neighboring Bangladesh.
The Rohingya have accused the military of indiscriminate killings, rape, torture and arson during the security operations, though both the Myanmar government and army have denied the allegations.
A taxi driver who tried to detain the killer was also shot dead, and the gunman was arrested at the scene. The motive of Ko Nis killing remains unknown.
His daughter ran and grabbed the child and screamed out, Father, Father, said Tin Hlaing, an ethnic Rakhine town elder from the Rakhine capital Sittwe who was on the Indonesia trip with Ko Ni.
The gunman retreated 20 or 30 steps, yelled out not to come near him, and ran when the taxi driver gave chase, he told Radio Free Asias Myanmar Service, a sister entity of BenarNews.
Tin Hlaing said that he, Ko Ni, and the other members of the government delegation were in Indonesia to learn about its policies and laws to forge peace between Muslims and Christian following clashes in the Maluku Islands in the late 1990s.
Military and NLD comment
The office of Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the countrys defense services, said in a statement that it will cooperate with security personnel at Yangon International Airport in Mingaladon, 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) north of downtown Yangon, to investigate the case. The office also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased.
The NLD issued a statement condemning the violent murder and described Ko Nis death as an irreplaceable loss for Aung San Suu Kyi and the party because he unfailingly provided necessary legal advice and suggestions to the party chairman.
The NLD also applauded taxi driver Nay Win, a 42-year-old member of NLDs Mingaladon branch, who was shot by the gunman while trying to capture him.
Win Htein, a member of the NLDs central executive committee, asked why Ko Ni in particular was killed.
He always talked about and supported efforts for the rule of law in the country, and he couldnt have had any bitter enemies, he told RFA. Hes irreplaceable for the NLD. Its a big loss.
Win Htein also said the lawyers killing could have been politically motivated.
NLD lawmaker May Win Myint called the assassination a blatant challenge to those of us who are working for democracy.
I think they [the perpetrators] are trying to show that they can do anything to anyone of us anywhere, she said.
Monywa Aung Shin, the NLDs information officer, took Myanmar authorities to task for not providing adequate security measures to protect Ko Ni.
Those responsible in the government, parliament, and military should think hard and revamp their security programs, he said. You can never tell if this kind of attack wouldnt have targeted other leaders.
Ko Ni was a brilliant lawyer both political and legally for the NLD, and it is not difficult to figure out why he was murdered, he said.
Tin Oo, left, veteran member of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, comforts Tin Tin Aye, right, widow of prominent Muslim lawyer Ko Ni who was shot dead the day before, outside the familys home in Yangon, Jan. 30, 2017. [AFP]
Politically motivated?
Other politicians questioned whether the assassination was politically motivated.
Thein Tun, a lawmaker from the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) called it a very rare incident, totally unexpected, in our country where we had lived in harmony with our own cultures.
There could be a reason [for the killing] that is unknown to us, and I hope it was not religiously or politically motivated, he said.
Ba Shein, an ethnic Rakhine representative for the Arakan National Party in the lower house of the national parliament said weak security is to blame for Ko Nis death.
[I] dont think it is politically or religiously motivated, he said. Ko Ni never spoke carelessly. It all happened because of a weakness in security measures.
The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Group, formerly known as the 88 Generation Students, which worked with the NLD to ensure free and fair general elections in 2015, and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) party, also issued statements calling for effective action against the gunman and any others behind the assassination.
Mya Aye, a Muslim youth leader of the 88 Generation group, who returned from Indonesia together with Ko Ni, told RFA that he was halfway home from the airport when he heard the news.
I was really shocked, he said. And I was really worried that misunderstandings and unnecessary problems might follow this incident.
He said it was still too early to comment on the case, but that it is necessary for investigators to determine if there were any other people who planned the assassination behind the scenes and why they did it.
The Myanmar Independent Lawyers Association of which Ko Ni was a central executive committee member called his death the murder of the rule of law and condemned it as a cowardly act.
Rights groups weigh in
Three international rights groups issued statements or commentaries on Ko Nis death.
Josef Benedict, Amnesty Internationals deputy campaigns director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, called the killing an appalling act that has all the hallmarks of an assassination and urged authorities to conduct a thorough, independent, and impartial investigation.
His death will send shock waves across the human rights community in the country and beyond, and the authorities must send a clear message that such violence will not be tolerated and will not go unpunished, he said.
Linda Lakhdhir, a legal adviser in the Asia Division of New York-based Human Rights Watch, wrote on Monday that Ko Nis death is a grave loss for Burma and for all those who seek to promote tolerance and respect for human rights in the country.
As one of the few remaining Muslims with the stature to influence the NLDs policies, he was a voice of reason amid a rising tide of intolerance, she said.
Matthew Smith, chief executive officer of Fortify Rights, called on authorities to find all those behind the attack.
Were shocked and deeply saddened by this heinous act, he said in a statement issued Monday. Authorities should do everything in their power to ensure accountability and bring those responsible to justice.
Fortify Rights noted that though Ko Nis work was widely respected, the lawyer faced frequent harassment and intimidation by Myanmars political and religious hard-liners.
Mourners carry the coffin of Muslim lawyer Ko Ni at a Muslim cemetery in Yangon, Jan. 30, 2017. [AFP]
Laid to rest
Ko Ni was buried on Monday afternoon according to Muslim rites at Yay Way Muslim cemetery on the outskirts of Yangon during a funeral attended by thousands of people, while the gunman, Kyi Lwin, 53, was being held at Mingaladon police station.
The Yangon regional government said it will handle funeral arrangements for the taxi driver Ne Win.
The regional government will also oversee the prosecution Kyi Lwin, who served a prison sentence for smuggling ancient Buddhist stupas and was released in a presidential amnesty in 2014, according to a report in the online journal The Irrawaddy.
Ne Win is survived by three children who are 7 years old, 4 years old, and 45 days old.
The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Group said it is setting up a fund for the childrens future.
Though Aung San Suu Kyi, who also serves as Myanmars state counselor and foreign affairs minister, has not publicly commented on the killing, the NLD has described Ko Nis murder as a terrorist act.
In this photo altered by police, Malaysian counterterrorism officers arrest a security guard in Kuantan, Pahang state, Jan. 27, 2017.
Malaysian police said Tuesday they had picked up three men with suspected links to Islamic State (IS), while authorities in neighboring Indonesia announced the arrests of three suspects in connection with an accidental bomb blast last month in Central Java.
The three nabbed in separate raids in Kuala Lumpur and Pahang states between Jan. 27 and Jan. 29 were an unemployed man who allegedly planned a bomb attack and two security officers, including an Indonesian who worked for Malaysia Airlines, the nations police chief said.
Two of them are Malaysian citizens and another individual is an Indonesian with a Malaysian permanent resident status, Police Inspector-General Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement that did not name the suspects.
The arrests followed last weeks announcement by Khalid that police had smashed a new cell which planned to use the eastern state of Sabah as a transit point for militants passing through on their way to joining an IS-linked group in the southern Philippines.
Four people a Malaysian, two Bangladeshis and a Filipino were arrested in the dismantling of the cell, but Khalids statement on Tuesday did not say whether they were linked to the three new arrests.
Khalid described the first of the newest suspects in custody as a 38-year-old unemployed IS supporter.
Upon arrest, the suspect admitted being a supporter of Daesh and confessed to plans to launch a bomb attack on the Mufti Islamic Department of Negeri Sembilan for failing to follow Islamic law, Khalid said, using a different term for IS.
The man was arrested Sunday in Kuala Lumpur and admitted to posting threats to kill and launch a bomb attack through his Facebook page, according to Khalid.
Security guards
The other two suspects were arrested in separate operations in the capital of Pahang, Kuantan, on Friday.
One of them was a 37-year-old Indonesian who worked for Malaysias flag carrier, but the police chief did not say if the suspect had planned any attack involving the airline.
The man who has links with other IS Malaysian members in Syria was planning to take his wife there to join IS, Khalid said.
An investigation revealed that the Indonesian had been to Turkey in 2013, Khalid said, but without noting whether the suspect had crossed over to Syria at the time.
Officers, Khalid said, seized an airsoft pellet gun and three copies of Tarbiyah Jihadiyah, a book by the late Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, considered a father of the global Islamic extremist movement.
Members of the police special forces also arrested a 32-year-old security guard for a private firm at an undisclosed location in Kuantan, Pahang. Khalid said he was planning to join IS in Syria.
The police also seized a Trusty PM4 shotgun, he said.
The three have been remanded under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012.
Including the latest arrests, Malaysian authorities have arrested 271 IS suspects since 2013, of whom 66 have since been freed, according to updated government figures.
Bomb suspects
In Indonesia, national counterterrorist police squad Densus 88 arrested the three men in Central Java province over the last two days for their alleged involvement in bomb making and concealing information about an explosion, a police official announced Tuesday.
Indonesian police arrested a 31-year-old man, identified by the initial J, in Gemolong, a town in Sragen district on Tuesday morning. At almost the same time, another man, identified as SG, 38, was arrested at his home in Gondangrejo, Karanganyar district.
On Monday evening, officers arrested a 36-year-old man identified as S, in Grobogan district, who allegedly possessed a bomb that exploded in his rented house on Dec. 11, 2016.
In Jakarta, National Police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said all three were involved in the December explosion.
Suspected of making the bomb that exploded in the rented house, detik.com quoted Boy as saying in referring to S. He added that the other men helped him cover up the incident from neighbors and police.
No one was injured in the explosion.
Hata Wahari in Kuala Lumpur and Kusumasari Ayuningtyas in Solo, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
A Rohingya girl stares out from her familys tent at the Kutupalong camp, Jan. 14, 2017. [Jesmin Papri/BenarNews]
Rohingya children return home after attending classes at a madrassa in the Leda refugee camp in Teknaf, another sub-district of Coxs Bazar, Jan. 16, 2017. [Jesmin Papri/BenarNews]
In the refugee camps, as many as 5,000 people can share a single water source, Jan. 18, 2017. [Jesmin Papri/BenarNews]
A cluster of Rohingya huts has sprouted in recent months in what used to be forest land in Kutupalong, Jan. 18, 2017. [Jesmin Papri/BenarNews]
A Rohingya mother and child stand near their makeshift shelter in at the Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhiya sub-district, Coxs Bazar, Jan. 18, 2017. [Jesmin Papri/BenarNews]
Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have sought refuge in southeastern Bangladesh in recent months after fleeing a military crackdown in Myanmars Rakhine state, but many are living amid hard conditions on the Bangladeshi side of the border.
About 65,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since the crackdown in Myanmar began in early October, according to U.N. estimates. They joined about 300,000 who were already living Coxs Bazar, the Bangladeshi district that lies across the Naaf River from Rakhine.
Life in the refugee camps here means sharing a water source with thousands of others or building a family shelter out of available materials, including plastic and mud. Some resort to begging near the camps to survive.
To learn about living conditions of some of the new arrivals, a BenarNews correspondent recently visited two Rohingya refugee camps in Coxs Bazar.
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As Trump Prepares to Nominate a Pro-Life Justice, Australia Swears in a Woman to Chief Justice
Image via Twitter/@ABCNews24
Finally, some good news for women (and boy, do we need it). On Monday, Susan Keifel was sworn in as Australias first female Chief Justice of the High Court the highest judicial office in the country.
Women have sat on the bench since 1987, but Chief Justice Keifel is the first woman to hold the top role.
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Keifel was nominated by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who called her story an inspiration. She dropped out of school at age 15 and began working as a legal secretary. When she did return to school and obtain her law degree, she started her career in Queensland, one of Australias more conservative states, at a time when few women were practicing law. In 1993, she became the first woman to serve as a justice on Queenslands highest court.
A woman's place is on the bench of the High Court
Unlike the highly partisan nature of U.S. court picks, the opposition Labor Party welcomed her nomination.
The U.S. is yet to see a female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, though there are three women serving as associate justices: Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. All three were nominated by Democrats. Trump promised throughout the campaign that he would nominate a pro-life justice to fill the current vacancy which President Obama was inexcusably prevented from filling by the GOP-majority Senate leading to the potential overturn of Roe v. Wade. Trump will be announcing his nominee tonight, but unsurprisingly neither of the front-runners are women.
It also seems unlikely, with Trump at the reigns, that any of the current women justices would be promoted to Chief Justice should the role become available.
In 2014, Chief Justice Keifel spoke in a lecture of the importance of seeing women in roles such as this. In a wider societal sense, these appointments facilitate the acceptance of women as persons having public authority," she said. "The importance of this acceptance should not be undervalued.
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Ill just leave this here:
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The Bible has been under attack in the western world for over 200 years but never more intensely than today. These attacks have taken different forms and have come from many different corners of the academic world, from philosophers, to scientists, to textual critics. In the specialized world of archaeology the attacks have increased dramatically in the past 50 years. Once a specialization filled with Bible believing individuals, the field of archaeology is now overrun with atheists and skeptics, agnostics and those committed to the destruction of the Bible as a source of true historical information.
These attacks on the Bible are a part of a sweeping movement in western culture. Spearheaded by academic elitists in the university and the public educational system, the news and popular media, and the entertainment industry, these revisionists cloak themselves with supposed objectivity, purity of motives, and the superiority of science over the "uninformed", "unscientific", religious community.
They regularly mock those who question their world-view and their conclusions by name-calling and the worst forms of anti-Bible and anti-Christian propaganda. They have powerfully infected the church by turning Bible believing Christians against the very Scripture which is the foundation of truth and life in this world. Instead of contending for the Bible, Christian academics, pastors, and lay-persons are making egregious accommodations to these destroyers of faith and truth.
In these days of intense spiritual battle, God has called ABR to step into the gap to contend for the truth and to assist the church in this critical hour. ABR is a non-profit ministry dedicated to demonstrating the historical reliability of the Bible and to give answers to questions being asked by believers and non-believers alike. We do this by using original archaeological fieldwork and research along with studies in other apologetic disciplines. We take on the bold claims of skeptics and critics. We challenge the bizarre anti-biblical propaganda that is purveyed upon the public as gospel through television and print media. We uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is God's message for the salvation of all mankind!
For Immediate Release, January 31, 2017 Contact: Collette Adkins, (651) 955-3821, cadkins@biologicaldiversity.org Reward Increased to $20,000 for Information on Hundreds of Missing Endangered Texas Salamanders SAN ANTONIO, Texas The Center for Biological Diversity today announced the addition of another $5,000 to the reward for information leading to a conviction or fine in the disappearance of hundreds of endangered salamanders from a San Marcos breeding facility, bringing the total reward offered to $20,000. The Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, which funds amphibian conservation among other things, donated the additional $5,000 for the reward. In November, 253 Texas blind salamanders and 110 San Marcos salamanders went missing from the San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center over the Thanksgiving weekend. With no surveillance video available, investigators have little information on what happened to the salamanders. Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a $10,000 reward and the Center for Biological Diversity added $5,000. Today's addition of $5,000 from the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation brings the total reward to $20,000. Losing hundreds of these amazing salamanders is a terrible blow to their conservation, said Collette Adkins, an attorney and biologist with the Center. The San Marcos facility served as a Noah's Ark' that could preserve the fragile salamanders if they went extinct in the wild. The tragic loss of these animals threatens their very existence.
These fully aquatic animals require clean, well-oxygenated water and are threatened by activities that disturb their surface springs, pollute their water or reduce its flow to their underground aquatic habitats. The San Marcos salamander received protection of the Endangered Species Act in 1980. It is found only in San Marcos Springs and nearby aquatic habitats in Hays County. The Texas blind salamander is restricted to the Edwards Aquifer in Hays County. This pale and eyeless amphibian has been protected since 1967. Both salamander species have beautiful, lacy external gills. Someone out there knows who did this, and I really hope they'll step forward and help secure justice for these animals, Adkins said. A conviction for stealing the endangered salamanders could result in fines up to $100,000 and up to one year in prison. Anyone with information should contact the Fish and Wildlife Service's San Antonio Office of Law Enforcement at (210) 681-8419 or Operation Game Thief at 1-800-792-GAME (4263).
Seychelles President Danny Faure called on the new Secretary General of the United Nations (UNSG), Antonio Gueterres, for a new inclusive leadership by the United Nations as the only means to ensure that 1 billion Africans are not marginalised in decision making that affect our continent. He called for a pragmatic approach to the partnership between the UN and Africa.
Image by 123RF
The President of Seychelles made this remark January 29 at the High-Level Working Breakfast between the Heads of State of the African Union (AU) and the freshly elected UNSG head of the 28th Assembly of the AU, which kicks off in Addis Ababa January 30.
In his remarks at todays event, President Faure welcomed the meeting, describing it as an opportunity for enhanced partnership between UN and AU. He commended the efforts towards Agenda 2030 and the need to have one reporting system. Reforms should also take into account a new breed of leadership that is committed to reforms, added President Faure.
President Faure was making his first appearance and intervention at the African Union since taking office in October last year. He pointed out that with its population of one billion, Africa was relevant hence the need for reforms of the UN, especially its highest decision-making body, the Security Council, to echo this relevance of Africa.
Immediately after the breakfast, held in the Multi-Purpose Hall of the AU, Head Quarters, President Faure attended the retreat of the African Heads of State and Government at which Rwandan President Paul Kagame made a presentation on structural reforms of the African Union Commission, the governing body of AU.
Other members of the delegation attending the working breakfast for Heads of State of the African Union (AU) and Retreat of the African Heads of State and Government included Department of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Marie-Louise Potter and Seychelles Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent representative to the AU, Ambassador Joseph Nourrice.
The One Club for Creativity, producer of The One Show and the ADC Annual Awards, has announced the jury for the Young Ones College Competition, which now includes 10 new juries for the newly introduced portfolio competition. There are 178 judges across 12 juries from 27 countries, including five South Africans.
This year, we added a portfolio competition across 10 different disciplines, including illustration, game development and animation, said Jessica Gumora, education manager at The One Club. We expanded the Young Ones to make sure students with a broad range of creative interests could participate.
L-R: Naretha Pretorious, Wessie van der Westhuizen, Carmen Schaefer, Nathan Reddy and Alex Sudheim
The client brief, sponsored by Serviceplan, challenges students to raise awareness for the BMW Connected app a digital service platform that enhances the connection between car, driver and smartphone and magnify the perception of BMW's innovation.
The social brief tasks students to create or promote partnerships for peace. Students can use the TOMS brand as a vehicle for promoting worldwide unity or they can bring diverse groups together for global peace in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and PartnersGlobals mission.
Winners are published in the One Show Annual and on the Young Ones Online Awards Archive, and are invited to attend the Young Ones Education Festival and Awards Ceremony during Creative Week New York in May. Winners receive either a One Show Pencil or an award of excellence for their portfolio.
South African jurors
Alex Sudheim, senior lecturer copywriter and art direction, Vega School Cape Town Portfolio Advertising Jury Carmen Schaefer, lecturer, Red & Yellow Cape Town Portfolio Graphic Design Jury
Naretha Pretorius, national programme navigator: creative brand communication, Vega School, Durban Brief Educators Jury
Nathan Reddy, chief creative officer, founder Grid WW Johannesburg Portfolio Graphic Design Jury Wessie van der Westhuizen, technology development manager/lecturer Stellenbosch Academy Portfolio Industrial Design & Product Design Jury
For more information, go to www.oneshow.org/youngones/jury.
It's been said many times but it's worth repeating: if you, as a brand, can develop an emotional connection with your customer, you could be rewarded with lifelong repeat business.
Thats no more apparent than in the car business where, in these times of product parity (where car quality and performance has improved so much that there is very little real difference between the mainstream brands), customers buy with their hearts. Annoy them, break their hearts and youll see what happens.
Are you listening, Ford?
When I and many others like me buy a car, we want, most of all, trust and a faithful relationship. We want to know that the car we choose is not going to let us down. Thats why many of the Japanese brands have done so well: they just do not let you down.
Another brand which has a long history of toughness and live-forever reliability is Jeep. The American manufacturer was, after all, the company which popularised the idea of a go anywhere 44 vehicle after its Jeeps kept the Allied armies moving against the Axis powers during World War 2. If it was good enough to defeat Hitler, its good enough for me in the early days at least, Jeep traded on that sort of patriotism.
Today, in a tough market for offroad and SUV vehicles, Jeep has been careful to maintain not only its tough macho character, but also continues to emphasise its faithfulness.
I was impressed perhaps because of the timing, in view of the Ford Kuga debacle of the Jeep TV ad, which debuted at last years Super Bowl in the US and which is running on some DStv channel at the moment.
With a driving funky beat behind it, its about 44 by land; 44 by air; 44 by sea in each case showing the beautiful and wild, out-of-the-way places your Jeep will take you to. Jeep, the ad says, takes you beyond the normal and even if youre in the normal, in the city for example, you still know, like all other Jeep drivers, that youre different.
Screengrabs from the Jeep ad.
But it is the punchline, 44 Forever, which places Jeep as an icon in offroading: its vehicles will live forever and so will its name.
Now, at the risk of attracting some hate mail from Jeep drivers who will regale me with stories about problems with their cars, I want to say the message is one which resonates. The customer wants to hear that this vehicle will change his or her life (and, in the ad, there is a sequence of a tough, no-nonsense woman driver using her Jeep to pull a fallen tree branch off a snow-covered road) and that it will be around for a long time.
Thats faith, thats trust. And thats good marketing. So an Orchid to Jeep.
Its not the fault of media planners they put the ads where the audiences are. Its probably my fault because, to the horror of Europeans I know, we often eat our supper in front of the TV (just like Americans, so the stereotype goes).
So I am not best pleased by having to watch a shapely blonde dashing for the office toilet with a bad case of the runs as becomes apparent when the ad for Smecta diarrhoea treatment unfolds.
Way too much information, people. And can you also not keep on referring to it as the gut. It may well be the technical, scientific name for it, but to our English-taught sensibilities, it sounds a tad crude. Its the stomach, thank you.
But, really please put it on at some other time. Maybe this Onion will help remind you and, so I hear, they are very good for your stomach.
It annoys me when brands or products make wild claims or try to be something that they are not.
I heard an ad on radio 702 the other day for the SA Breweries (or should that be AB-InBev blah blah blah these days?) for the World of Beer permanent experiential centre in downtown Joburg.
It is, so I have heard, a great place to visit, either as an individual or as a group.
But, what it is definitely not, is as the ad claims, the biggest tourist attraction in South Africa. I dont think it is the biggest one in Gauteng, or even in Joburg. The most you could say is that it is the biggest tourist attraction in Miriam Makeba Street.
Ive told you a thousand times not to exaggerate!
So SAB or whatever your new owners call you these an Onion for you. It provides a nice balance to a Castle Lite
For more of Brendan Seery's writing, see: www.orchidsandonions.net
*Note that Bizcommunity staff and management do not necessarily share the views of its contributors the opinions and statements expressed herein are solely those of the author.*
#OperationRehab aims to revolutionise the delivery of healthcare and education to disabled people in Africa by offering free or heavily subsidised medical treatment, rehabilitation, education and skills development to thousands of disabled Africans over the next few years, starting in South Africa.
The initiative aims to empower the beneficiaries, reduce the financial burden on their families and contribute to Africas economic growth.
#OperationRehab is modelled on the work of the Disable Welfare Trust of India located in Gujarat State. The Disable Welfare Trust is an initiative offering free medical treatment, rehabilitation and vocational training to hundreds of underprivileged children in India. To date, the trust has treated and educated more than 4,000 children. The trusts founder, Shree Kanubhai Tailor, is a noted philanthropist and disabled peoples champion.
Replicating the trust's model
Shree Kanubhai Tailor will lend his expertise to the #OperationRehab project and oversee the replication of the trusts model in South Africa in partnership with local government officials, disabled peoples groups and corporate funders. The initiative is led by South African marketing and advertising agency Media Revolution as a part of its corporate social responsibility programme. Media Revolution has teamed up with Shree Kanubhai Tailor to allow thousands of beneficiaries to fly to India for treatment. The pair will also work to create treatment and rehabilitation centres in South Africa.
Dharmesh Nagar, strategy director at Media Revolution, notes that the project aims to restore dignity and empower those who are disabled. At #OperationRehab, we help the poorest of the poor and help restore their dignity. Through the donation of medical treatment and assistive devices, we empower disabled people to take their place in the workforce and relieve them and their families of a significant financial burden. With the support of donors, beneficiaries are given hope and a new future.
"In India, the Disable Welfare Trust is able to treat thousands of disabled people at no charge, thanks to the generous support of its sponsors. We hope to see South African and African companies stepping forward with a similar level of support.
Ultimate Christmas gift
The first beneficiary of #OperationRehab, 55-year-old Sharad Narsai of Lenasia, returned to South Africa just before Christmas with the ultimate Christmas gift: a new, life-changing prosthetic leg. Speaking of his experience, Narsai said, I had never before experienced care on the level received at the Disable Welfare Trust centre.
It is mind-blowing and completely exceeded my expectations, he added. I have never been treated with such care and respect at a healthcare facility. And it is truly heart-warming to see how well the centre cares for the disabled children who are resident there. Many of them were abandoned by their parents because of their disabilities, but at the Disable Welfare Trust they are happy, loved and well-educated. The full-time art teacher at the centres school has no arms so he paints using his mouth. One young woman who spent her entire childhood there is now a qualified doctor and still goes back to work with the children. These success stories would not have been possible without the Disable Welfare Trusts good work. South Africa desperately needs a facility like this, declared Narsai.
Urgent need for empowerment
According to a Statistics South Africa report based on the last census, over 2.8-million people suffer from some form of disability in South Africa alone and around 600,000 are listed as severely disabled. This highlights the urgent need to empower disabled people and bring them into the mainstream of education and work so that they can continue to contribute to society, in line with the goals of President Jacob Zumas Presidential Working Group on Disability.
The #OperationRehab initiative calls all like-minded organisations, companies and individuals to join forces and advance the goal of creating a highly efficient treatment, rehabilitation and vocational centre for disabled people in Africa.
All new partners and sponsors will benefit from the expertise of South African marketing and advertising agency Media Revolution to publicise and promote their role in restoring livelihoods and improving the lives of disabled people in Africa.
In the future, your childs babygrows could tell you why that cough just wont go away. Its a world in which patients can pop pill-sized cameras to allow doctors to get a glimpse of internal organs to diagnose conditions such as stomach cancer.
Discovery Health chief executive Jonathan Broomberg recently presented four trends straight out of science fiction that could shape the healthcare of tomorrow.
Couture medicine
In the not-so-distant future, medicines could be tailor-made for individuals. Currently, doctors treat most patients with standardised medicine: If a patient has diabetes, doctors prescribe insulin as they do for all patients with diabetes.
He predicts advances in personalised medicine will change this. It is a field in which an individuals unique characteristics, including their genes, guide how healthworkers diagnose and treat them.
The breast cancer drug Herceptin has been called the poster child for personalised medicine. The genetically engineered drug is designed to target proteins that appear on the breast cancer cells in about 25% of patients. In the future, doctors will increasingly analyse DNA to tailor therapy to, for example, patients individual tumours. Broomberg says the approach may one day virtually eliminate deaths from some forms of cancer such as breast cancer.
Say hello to Dr Algorithm
In January, the United States-based interactive health company HealthTap launched a new app called Doctor AI, as in artificial intelligence.
Users input their symptoms into the app, which plugs this information and data from their patient files into sophisticated algorithms
With these algorithms based on doctor-sourced clinical expertise, the app dispenses medical advice and can help users schedule either in-person visits or live virtual consultations with doctors.
Broomberg explains that apps like this will decrease preventable hospital admissions and help link patients to care earlier. App-based consultations are also likely to take less time than traditional doctor visits.
He says: A dermatologist may take 15 minutes to make a diagnosis from looking at a picture, while the machine [will take] 15 seconds to study and give a diagnosis.
Sensors may become the latest accessory
By 2018, Broomberg predicts that there will be five million disposable sensors in the world. These sensors will, for instance, measure blood pressure, body temperature and blood sugar levels. For people living with diabetes, this may mean an end to traditional blood sugar monitoring that depends on multiple finger pricks and blood samples each day.
One day, baby onesies may come with wearable sensors to monitor infants vital signs and alert parents to trouble, he explains.
Diagnosing from the inside out
Today, if doctors suspect you have a serious problem in your digestive system, you could face having a special camera uncomfortably shoved down your throat. In the future, doctors may ask you to swallow a tiny, pill-sized camera. These types of pills are part of a new breed of swallowable, injectable, implantable or dissolvable medical technology called insideables. Some insideables work as sensors that collect data from inside your body and send it to an app, laptop or the cloud.
Last week, Safrea launched its first-ever freelance media trends and income report. Safrea chair Laura Rawden shares insights into the changing role of freelancing in SA, its impact on the current state of media and the economic value of freelancers in the media space compared to their full-time counterparts.
Rawden
Freelancing. For some its a nightmare setting up a home office, sourcing clients, getting them to pay you, figuring out the tax implications for many others, its the ultimate career dream being your own boss, working whenever and wherever suits you. With this increasing popularity, January 2017 was just the right time for Safrea, the South Africa Freelancers Association, to release their first ever freelance media trends and income report.
Until now, the association has made it clear theyre against low-pay particularly unpaid internships and aims to regulate the often murky aspects of freelance work, such as lack of contract and whether to negotiate on your set rate or not. Rawden says this report in particular, which gives an idea of the average age, gender, residence, education, working hours and income of South African media freelancers, is a really positive step forward for the SA freelance industry as it gives freelancers and those interested in becoming freelancers an idea of where they fit in the economy as well as what sort of rates they should be paid. And, although results such as the income levels may be worrisome, she says the fact that we now have this data means we can open the dialogue about fair pay practices and work towards change.
Rawden shares further insights specifically related to the Safrea freelance media trends and income report below
1. How exactly does Safrea work? Share the importance of advocating for fair standards and practices when it comes to SAs media freelance industry in particular.
Rawden: SA is following international trends with regard to a growing freelance economy and Safrea works to advocate and support those in the media freelance industry by providing resources, tools, training and networking to strengthen freelance careers.
Safrea's work in advocacy in particular is vital in order to ensure fair practices and standards between freelancers and freelance employees. Too often we see a misunderstanding of the role of the freelancer that affects rates of pay and working conditions. Safrea wants to set down clear definitions and practices that enable fair working relationships and protection for the media freelancer and employers.
2. How did the freelancer report then come about?
Rawden: Fair pay is a real issue within the freelance community, with fees varying widely within the industry and sometimes shamefully low. Safrea wanted to create a guideline that outlined fair rates of pay for freelancers and their employers to use during fee negotiations.
As we entered that research, we realised that SA has a growing freelance community, similar to that seen internationally such as in the US and UK. However, those countries have comprehensive data on their freelance demographics that we didn't have. We wanted to take the first step in building that research and help build a better understanding of who is the SA media freelancer.
3. What does the research show in terms of how the role of freelancing is changing, especially when coupled with the rise in entrepreneurial spirit in SA as a result of the weak job market and low youth employment?
Rawden: Layoffs and downsizing in SA media houses have affected the ability for skilled professionals and emerging young talent to get full-time work. However, there is still a need for skilled media workers to produce quality work. Freelance offers an opportunity for some to continue working in the business.
I don't really see a difference between a freelancer and an entrepreneur. Like entrepreneurs, freelancers must see opportunity and work hard to get it by marketing themselves, networking and fighting to win the gig. It takes self-motivation, determination and a lot of hard work to make it in the freelance industry and that's on top of producing great content once you've been hired!
4. Talk us through the economic value to businesses of hiring freelancer workers over full-time media workers.
Rawden: There is a cost benefit for companies to employ freelancers, and tax certainly comes into that. For the most part, freelancers offer highly skilled talent that can come in as needed to help with specific project needs. For example, if an employer suddenly needs a blogger right away, they don't need to jump through the hoops of establishing a new full-time position and salary, they can simply search Safrea's freelance database and hire talent to come in and supply great content as needed.
SAFREA freelance report results.
5. Its interesting that the research revealed almost 80% of freelance media professionals are women locally and worldwide. Does this speak to their multitasking nature or perhaps taking maternity leave and then working from home for better quality of life?
Rawden: Our research doesn't answer why so many freelancers are women, but I would guess that many women have chosen freelancing because it offers career flexibility not available with full-time work. I think this is where the idea of 'mommy blogger' came about but would be very careful about using such a term as female freelancers are incredibly successful, often putting in as many hours or more than their full-time counterparts.
6. Whats the impact of this on work-life balance over full-time workers, who may also tackle a few moonlighting jobs themselves after hours?
Rawden: Full-time workers who moonlight as freelancers still have to juggle the constraints of the daily work grind. This means they produce freelance content at night or weekends, or whenever they have time, which may impact on the quality of their work. Freelancers are dedicated media professionals who only take on projects they can do well and within deadlines. Furthermore, when a full-time worker moonlights as a freelancer, they may not be concerned about their rates of pay. They've still got a full-time income, so it may not be worth haggling for a fair rate. This has disastrous consequences for the industry as it normalises lower rates and puts freelancers in a position to accept low pay or lose the job.
It seems we all need to rethink the way we work. The times sure are a-changing. Click here for Safreas official release on the study, here to download the report and here for the SA rates trends in particular.
The global fake footwear market accounts for over $1tn a year and, while some consumers feel that buying fake designer goods is a victimless crime, there is some evidence showing that fake products, such as shoes and handbags, support child labour and can be used to fund terrorism.
In January 2016, over 30,000 pairs of shoes were seized in a raid conducted by the SARS, while doing a routine customs inspection at the Lebombo border post in Mpumalanga, near Swaziland and Mozambique. South Africa is seen as a net importer of fake footwear. These tips are useful in order to spot fakes:
Be wary of auction sites. There is no guarantee the item being offered is genuine.
Be suspicious of look-a-like sites. These clues will tell you that the site may not be legitimate:
Many counterfeit websites try to deceive consumers into thinking it is the authorised product website, by including the items original name and logo in the URL and site text.
These websites also copy the design or layout of the original brands.
Look for links on these particular sites that appear questionable (for example, links to other brands' websites, auction sites, blogs, etc.).
Look for contact information/email addresses that do not appear legitimate.
Look for misspelled words or grammatical errors.
Look for offers for bulk orders.
Be aware of product quality. Genuine branded products are held to high quality standards related to materials, production, performance and chemical use. Counterfeit products will have defects, strong chemical odours, labels with unknown images or names, etc.
If you are buying the shoes online, you do not know the quality provided, until the shoes get to your house or business. The seller or website may have pictures of authentic shoes as a cover up, but ship fakes. This is why its is vital to authenticate the originality of the product before purchasing it.
Remember: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Generally, the majority of the fake goods appear to originate from China. Almost 20% of the total value of seized fake products violates the intellectual property rights of holders registered in the US, followed by Italy at 14.6%, France at 12.1%, Switzerland at 11.7%, Japan at 8.2% and Germany at 7.5%.
Nike as a brand is seen to be more intensely targeted by counterfeiters", according to the report Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Mapping the Economic Impact. The results corroborate a previous World Customs Organisation report that identified Nike as the most frequently counterfeited brand in 2013.
The South African Counterfeit Goods Act states that apart from a court order, declaring the counterfeit goods in question to be forfeited to the state or the goods, packaging and tools used in their manufacture to be destroyed, the Act also introduces strict penalties, which may be imposed upon counterfeiters in the event of their conviction.
It is hoped that this provision will lead to an increasing number of tip-offs from consumers. South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law
Any person convicted of an offence in terms of the Act, in the case of a first conviction, is punishable by a fine in respect of each article or item, which fine may not exceed R5,000 per article or item, or imprisonment for a period that may not exceed three years, or both. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, the fine in respect of each article or item may not exceed R10,000 per article or item, while the imprisonment-term may not exceed five years.
Furthermore, the Act has introduced an interesting provision that operates as an incentive to assisting in the combating of trade in counterfeit goods. Any person who submits any counterfeit goods purchased by him or her to an inspector, together with proof of the price that was paid for these goods, will be entitled to receive payment of a sum of money equal to three times the amount of the relevant purchase price, under certain circumstances.
This year's Apex Awards entry process remains the same, with two rounds, but the percentages to win an Apex Award has dropped. Previously a score of 70% was needed to receive a Bronze Award, this year that percentage has been dropped to 65%. Similarly, the scores to be awarded a silver and gold have been changed from 80% to 75% and 90% to 85% respectively. The Grand Prix winning percentage changes from 95% to 90%.
However, do not mistake this for a lowering of standards or that it will be easier to win, warns Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) CEO Odette van der Haar. The change has been made in recognition of the economy and the highly aggressive environment out there that has had an impact on the quality of work.
As such she foresees less winners in terms of the top awards. It takes a lot to win the top awards and I am not talking about money here, but about investment. You need to find something new and innovative that is effective and that sweet spot is not always easy to find in a tough economy when clients are nervous to spend.
This years entry will be characterised by collaborations between agency partners, and campaigns that aim to deliver short term results, with some promotions. While this is not always a winning strategy; it is symptomatic of a tough economy, she adds.
Experienced entry writers and new comers as well as past winners were in attendance as was Chairperson of the Apex Awards, Ivan Moroke (founder and CEO of Co-Currency) as van der Haar briefed agencies and clients on this years Apex Awards in Randburg and Cape Town.
Also new this year is the template document. This provides an overview of what should be in the case study, with headings and sections making it very clear what is needed to write the entry. It's a guide, says van der Haar. In the past case studies have left out important information or have not been packaged properly and this has cost that campaign an award.
The core of the Apex Award case study is to prove that it was only the communications campaign that led to the results achieved. So consider all possible factors and then eliminate them, from pricing, to product improvement, seasonality, competitive weakness, etc., and the not so obvious such as value, gender issues and patriotism.
Her advice is to be very clear in what the objectives are and why these were the objectives and how it changed things. It always starts with the business objectives, how the marketing objectives tied in and what were the campaign objectives, and what tactical things did you do to tie back to this. What was there, what did you do, and how did it change that service/product and how did you measure this.
While Apex is based on information, it is not about chucking in data. The data must be able to tell a story, she adds.
This is van der Haars 10th Apex Awards, but she says, in a decade, nothing has changed. The Apex Awards have always represented efficacy, and they still do today. The Apex Awards confirm that value of marketing and agencies. It is about the clients perception of value. How much value are you offering back into the clients organisation is what an Apex Award demonstrates.
Effectiveness is now mandatory in the workplace and effectiveness starts when you over achieve your goals. That is why the Apex Awards demand that you go beyond what is required of you, she adds.
This year the Apex Awards workshop was also presented in Durban for the first time.
View the entry form here.
One can't help but feel a level of deflection in the sudden awakening of certain political forces in South Africa over the behaviour of the leading banks during apartheid.
There may indeed be much for Barclays Africa, or Absa, to answer for in its deal to acquire the operations of Bankorp in 1992. But I have to ask: why does it matter now, 25 years later?
In resolving this most urgent of matters, does South Africa's economic standing in the league of emerging markets improve in any significant way? Are structural fault lines in the economy being dealt with in this, for lack of a better word, witch-hunt?
Source: Sibanye Mimosa platinum mine.
Perhaps in seeking out the beneficiaries of what was, in truth, a rogue state, the benefits will reveal themselves. I am not convinced of its merits at this time in the increasingly worrying story of South Africa Inc.
Last year was one of near misses when it came to the dreaded slide of credit ratings into "junk" territory. That cloud still hangs over the country. Yet here we are, absorbed by tales of thievery by businessmen who benefited from the largesse of an apartheid state.
It's a focus that does not speak to the underlying crisis that faces a state that has little to no breathing room to invest in the economy and thereby stimulate growth, and a private sector lacking in the confidence to even consider asking shareholders for the keys to the vault.
Let's take the case of the platinum industry
Despite low metals prices and the unprofitability of many leading miners, there is a supply deficit on the horizon.
Many a mining CEO has sold this story to his board in recent years and suggested that they'd better ready themselves for this uptick, but I doubt it's a message that's been seriously communicated to London or New York shareholders.
So what's likely to happen when platinum prices finally react to the changing market fundamentals is that South Africa will, once again, not be able to fully benefit.
Instead, miners, as they often do, will reinvest only in a booming commodity market; when that supply finally comes online, their earnings will reflect very little of those high prices.
Sure, stock valuations may very well rise in such a scenario and long-suffering shareholders may cheer, but imagine the lost revenue opportunity for the state as shafts are still being sunk to increase output.
If business, and especially labour-intensive industries such as mining, had confidence in the lay of the land or in a political principal such as mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane, the smarter houses would in all likelihood be breaking ground in this low commodity-price environment. They'd be investing in preparation for a platinum deficit.
And there's an upside for the country even if their calculations are, in the end, proved wrong - at least towns such as Rustenburg would have been stimulated by increased investment in the surrounding platinum fields.
It's not exactly a win-win situation, as shareholders would be stuck with a debt burden, but you would not be able to reverse any of the infrastructure spending.
But instead, some of our leading political actors are taking on a South African banking system not because of its unwillingness to lend to the majority of the country or for transformation issues, but for choosing not to do business with a few individuals.
I am in no way defending the banks, but in this spat with Barclays Africa, we shouldn't lose track of why we are here.
A change in attitude from boardroom to pit will be the only way for mines to escape low productivity levels and find a path back to long-term sustainability, according to SRK Consulting's Roger Dixon.
With productivity levels today 25-30% lower than they were a decade ago, it is not enough for mines to focus on isolated areas of operation for a magic bullet, said Dixon. Neither will the gradual process of continuous improvement break us out of the current untenable situation.
Out-of-date infrastructure
Much of the gold industry, for instance, is still running on plus 60-year-old infrastructure that was only designed for a 40-year life-of-mine, he said. There also has not been enough forward ore-reserve development, due to capital constraints and this links directly to productivity.
Dixon also blamed the poor performance on the use of "1950s technology" like compressed air driven rock-drills.
Archaic management model
Perhaps more importantly, however, it is our dated management model that holds back real productivity gains, he said. The industry has been through many drastic changes in recent decades from trade union recognition to violent strikes but we have not formally reviewed management competencies to perform optimally in this new and challenging environment.
He highlighted the need for mining operations to engage constructively with a wider range of stakeholders, including employees and communities, to find ways of ensuring a wider spread of benefits for more people.
The problem is that declining productivity has been proceeding alongside persistent inequality among South Africans, as well as a growing population, said Dixon. This is a toxic mix that threatens not only the mining industry, but the legitimacy of capitalism as a whole.
Adding technology across the board
An important way forward was through creating value by applying fast-developing technology across all elements of mining operations. Digital innovations allow mines to monitor and control various activities much more efficiently and also more safely; remote control functions mean that fewer people are required to work in high-energy zones at the working face.
Progress in mining will shift from how well the operation moves material to how well it collects, analyses and acts on information to move material more productively, he said.
The performance of the engineering disciplines in mines is being constantly enhanced by the computer capacity and related technology, he said. As an example - the integration of skills and experience along with sophisticated modelling of the ore body, structural geology, geohydrology, geotechnical engineering, and mine planning and scheduling, which is now able to significantly improve mine efficiencies and reduce risk.
He said drone technology was being employed to deliver high quality images of pre- and post-blast conditions in open pit mines, allowing better blast planning and modelling. The improved results achieved from these blasts directly benefited mines through factors like loading efficiency and lower power consumption in the crushers.
The changes required to achieve the productivity we need are going to be difficult, but it can succeed if there is faith among the industry leadership that the end-result is worth it, said Dixon.
During a plenary roundtable on education for sustainable development at the recently concluded World Sustainability Forum 2017, Professor Norman Duncan , vice principal of the University of Pretoria, noted how the #FeesMustFall protests highlighted two sustainability issues within the higher education sector.
Professor Norman Duncan, vice principal of the University of Pretoria, presenting at the UN Global Colloquium of University Presidents at Yale University in 2016.
The first issue sparked the protests - the fact that fees are increasing annually at a rate at which many South African students can no longer keep pace with in terms of affordability. The second issue of sustainability was triggered by the first - the need for universities to complete the academic year.
Hybrid learning
Reiterating the point of a previous speaker at the forum, Prof Duncan emphasised that, quite frequently, a crisis may present an opportunity. "When we went through weeks without the capacity to offer students formal lectures - chalk-and-board lectures - universities had to be innovative because we have lots of students who pay lots of money. At our university, what we did was we decided to fast-track our hybrid mode of teaching," explained Prof Duncan.
At the University of Pretoria, the hybrid mode of teaching entails 70% traditional, chalk-and-board lectures, and 30% online learning so that students are provided with technology-based skills. Fast-tracking the e-learning programme allowed the university to complete the year, but also presented an opportunity.
"The crisis really showed us what may be possible in the future... It has given us the opportunity to see how we can drive a diversity of modes of engagement with students that will make education much more accessible to larger groups of students," said Prof Duncan.
Community of practice
What was lacking, he pointed out, was collaboration among South Africa's universities as many had to move to a hybrid teaching programme during the crisis, each going through the pains of acquiring new sets of skills on their own. It would have been more efficient and useful for universities to form a "community of practice", said Prof Duncan.
"That is one of the things I think should be quite high on the agenda for higher education in South Africa - to form communities of practice that go way beyond individual universities. As in other countries, universities in South Africa are relatively competitive, and it's something that I think is to our detriment and to the detriment of our students ...our commitment should be to all South African students, not just to the students at individual universities," he said.
The sixth World Sustainability Forum took place 27-28 January 2017 at the Southern Sun Cape Sun in Cape Town. For more info, click here.
NEWSWATCH: State prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority, Gerrie Nel has handed in his resignation, after 35 years of service, with immediate effect, EWN News24 and Times Live reported this morning.
Nicknamed "The Bulldog", Nel has led the successful prosecution for a number of high profile cases, including the conviction of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius and police chief Jackie Selebi.
Nel, who has given the NPA 24-hours notice, is said to be joining civil-rights group, AfriForum.
Here's what Twitter had to say...
#GerrieNel Afriforum is yet to confirm the move but EWN understood Nel will pursue private cases that the NPA does not prosecute. Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) January 31, 2017
AfriForum cannot confirm or deny this...for now, but watch this space.. https://t.co/vJN7eCFlu2 Kallie Kriel (@kalliekriel) January 31, 2017
So state prosecutor #GerrieNel has resigned with immediate effect. What effect will this have on #OscarPistorius's case? Zinhle Motlopye (@Zinhle_Mo) January 31, 2017
Can understand Gerrie Nel's resignation well, but joining @afriforum is not a path I would have followed. #justsaying Brenden Nel (@BrendenNel) January 31, 2017
#GerrieNel
We are not getting the Land Back. With Gerrie that side he is going to Mop the floor with our Lawyers. pic.twitter.com/CeVWSMX46M #Motswako Fanatic (@kcshupsta) January 31, 2017
NEW YORK: Silicon Valley heads have slammed US President Donald Trump's temporary ban on refugees and many Muslims from entering the United States, fearing it could prevent them from accessing a global reservoir of talent.
The sweeping immigration crackdown moved many tech bosses to criticize measures that could impact sector employees.
"Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do," said Tim Cook in a memo to staff obtained by AFP. The company's founder Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian immigrant.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings called the president's first week in office "very sad", saying in a Facebook post that "Trump's actions are hurting Netflix employees around the world, and are so un-American it pains us all."
"It is time to link arms together to protect American values of freedom and opportunity."
Nearly 200 Google employees are directly impacted by the measures, according to an internal memo from CEO Sundar Pichai.
"We're concerned about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US," said the head of the internet giant.
Trump's hardline executive order, signed Friday, suspends the arrival of refugees for at least 120 days, and for the next three months bars visas for travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Immigration law specialist Ava Benach who told AFP she has been flooded with calls from clients said those already in the US should stay put, and those abroad risk being blocked from boarding aircraft. "I would advise against leaving the US because I don't believe that they will be able to return," she said.
As resistance to the temporary immigration restrictions mount, a US federal judge on Saturday ordered authorities to stop deporting refugees and other travellers stuck at US airports.
US District Judge Ann Donnelly's decision to issue a temporary stay which stopped short of ruling on the constitutionality of Trump's order came after dozens of people were detained at US airports following Trump's actions.
"As an immigrant and as a CEO, I've both experienced and seen the positive impact that immigration has on our company, for the country, for the world" said Microsoft head Satya Nadella, who is of Indian descent.
The company had warned Thursday that immigration restrictions could impact its ability to fill research and development positions. Globalisation has been a boon for Silicon Valley, which employs a significant population of foreign engineers.
Some 250,000 Muslims live in the San Francisco Bay area, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"Internet companies in particular thrive in the US because the best and the brightest are able to create innovative products and services right here in America," said Michael Beckerman, the head of a leading industry lobby group.
Trump met last month with a handful of America's most powerful tech executives a bid to mend fences with a largely pro-Democrat industry. No announcements were made following the summit, however.
In the short term, many tech companies are offering legal assistance to staffers impacted by the executive order.
"We are assessing the impact on our workforce and determining how best to protect our people and their families from any adverse effects," a Facebook spokesperson told AFP.
Chris Sacca, a major financial backer of the sector, vowed to donate $150,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union, an organisation that has hit the executive order with legal challenges.
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick vowed to raise the issue at a meeting next week of Trump's business advisory council, which the executive is a part of.
Source: AFP
PARIS - British designer Clare Waight Keller is to quit Chloe after six years, the French fashion house said on Monday.
The creator, who turned Pringle of Scotland from a rather staid knitwear maker into a fashion brand, has also helped push up sales at Chloe, best known for its floaty, romantic, 1970s-influenced clothes.
Chloe said that since Waight Keller's arrival the label has "enjoyed remarkable momentum and global development.
"Her lightness of touch as a designer and understanding of the DNA of the maison have given rise to many iconic Chloe collections over the years," it added in a statement.
Waight Keller did not say where -- if anywhere -- she would be moving on to, only insisting that working for Chloe had been "one of the most rewarding experiences of my career".
She will present her final collection for the brand during the Paris autumn winter shows on March 2.
Her departure is the latest in a merry-go-round of changes at the top Paris fashion houses over the last two years.
Speculation is already rife that she will be replaced by French designer Natacha Ramsay-Levi, who is now at Louis Vuitton.
In December 2015, Reshall Jimmy burnt to death in his 1.6-litre EcoBoost Ford Kuga in South Africa. Since then a recorded 51 Kugas have caught alight across the country, and two more in Swaziland and Botswana. The Jimmy family recently announced they intend to bring a class action suit against Ford.
Yet it was more than a year after Jimmys death that Ford recalled 4,556 1.6-litre EcoBoost Kugas in South Africa and more in other southern African countries. Ford took the decision only after the intervention of the National Consumer Commission, a statutory body designed to protect consumers in South Africa. At a joint media briefing, Commissioner Ebrahim Mohamed stated that Section 60 of the Consumer Protection Act had been invoked to compel Ford into corrective action.
When confronted with the possibility of having to decide on a recall, manufacturers can respond in one of four ways:
denial,
involuntary recall,
voluntary recall and
super effort.
That Ford only acted after the consumer commission got involved suggests that it was in denial. It required a push to at least get to the involuntary recall phase and only after overwhelming negative publicity and memes that spread around social media.
The Ford Kuga case adds to a growing list of similar experiences in the auto industry which seems incapable of learning from its own history. Ford and Toyota have both been involved in messy voluntary recalls where both companies took a long time to act. Evidence of safety issues with the Ford Pintos fuel tank first emerged in 1973. It took another five years and a number of explosions, deaths and court cases for Ford to recall 1.5 million Pintos built between 1970 and 1976.
Toyota faced complaints about the sticky accelerators in 2002. It took the company eight years to recall 7.7 million vehicles after a number of crashes and deaths.
Empirical research into the effect of recalls confirms what rational people know to be true: theyre a good idea. Laval University scholars, Nizar Souiden and Frank Ponsen, note that
Voluntary recalls and improvement campaigns can have a positive and significant impact on the manufacturers image.
On top of this, its also self-evidently true that product recalls can reduce the number of injuries and recalls in the future.
Its therefore clear that the sooner a company reacts to a problem, the less of a negative impact there will be on customers, the brand and the bottom line. And, in addition, that if it makes a super effort to address the problem it can even build brand and customer loyalty like never before.
This is vital in the business of business because, as Gordon Cook, co-founder of preeminent marketing school Vega, bluntly puts it: Brands cause business.
So if the evidence supports the contention that the survival of a business depends on acting quickly in a time of crisis, including instituting swift recalls, why should there be any reason to delay?
Why firms freeze
The answer lies partially in the realm of complexity theory that in the midst of a crisis many factors are at play, all of which have the potential to muddy the analysis and to pull the organisation in different directions. This often results in ill-conceived, naive and ineffective responses.
In the case of Ford, some commentators have even gone so far to say that there was no response at all.
But it doesnt have to be this way. Theres another side to complexity theory that holds that organisations with two critical attributes can weather most storms. These are:
a strong commitment to doing the right thing for stakeholders, and
a high readiness are most likely to effectively respond to crises.
But organisations need both. If theyre lacking in one they are likely to have ineffective responses which in turn will lead to post-crisis losses. This could be in both their competitive edge, including market share, as well as financially if they face penalties or their share price dives.
Singapore Airlines handling of Flight SQ006 crash is often cited as a model example of doing the right thing.
Rebuilding confidence takes time
The Kuga case is a classic example of being in the news for all the wrong reasons. And only time will tell if it will be able to bounce back from this as Toyota appears to have done.
It will need to rebuild brand equity. This will take time and will involve a great deal more than settling claims. And customers arent their only constituency. They must also restore faith with other stakeholders such as the dealer network. The company faces a hard journey ahead.
In the meantime, the Kuga fire story will continue to dominate the headlines. These will only cease being negative and become positive if Ford South Africa truly embraces a stakeholder inclusive approach and views events from a moral perspective. Debates on brand value will come across as off-centre if legitimate and reasonable demands to right a wrong are not addressed.
The Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (Irba) has proposed that it become the "comprehensive regulator" for all professional accounting bodies in SA, following a World Bank recommendation that the accounting profession be regulated, to bring the country in line with international best practice.
Bernard Agulhas
"While regulation exists for the audit regulator, none exists for professional accountancy organisations," the bank found in a 2013 report on SA's accounting and auditing standards.
A regulatory body was needed to define the education and training requirements for different accounting services, as well as accredit and monitor professional accounting bodies, the bank said. Irba, which regulated 4,500 registered auditors, already had a strategy in place to regulate all professional accounting bodies, said CEO Bernard Agulhas.
That SA had maintained the top position for strength of auditing and reporting standards in the World Economic Forum's rankings was testament to the strength of monitoring and compliance processes by the board, Agulhas said.
The processes held auditors to high levels of ethical and professional conduct, he said.
SA has more than 10 professional accounting bodies representing about 56,000 professional accountants, most of whom belong to the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica).
Saica declined to comment on Irba's proposal. Professional bodies had principally agreed with the need for an overarching regulator, but the manner in which the regulator would function was the subject of debate, said Rashied Small, executive for education, training and membership at the South African Institute of Professional Accountants. Professional bodies all operated under different rules and common standards were needed, Small said.
A single regulator for the accounting profession would drive efficiency, but it needed to be separate from the audit standard setter and the professional body to avoid conflicts of interest, said Erna Swart, CEO of the Accounting Standards Board.
The board sets financial reporting standards for the public sector.
Swart cautioned against overregulation, which she said would place additional red tape on small businesses.
Irba did not have members (as with a professional body) but registrants, who registered with the body to receive a licence to audit, said Agulhas.
Its funding came from registration fees, inspection fees and the government, he said.
"As part of our efforts to be independent from the profession, we are currently working on becoming self-funded," Agulhas said.
Possible funding sources included accounting bodies and listed companies, which could pay their external audit firms an additional levy that would be passed on to Irba, he said.
The Treasury said that it had engaged with interested parties following the bank's report.
Proposals were subject to consideration by the minister of finance, it said.
The long-awaited Mitsubishi Triton has finally arrived in South Africa and it was well worth the wait because in its new guise it is much more attractive, better equipped and capable enough to muscle right into the upper domain of bakkie fiefdom.
Gone are the rather bland looks, workman-like interior and 2.5 engine of the old generation and up steps a spruced up, well decorated and well-furnished bakkie armed with a much more sophisticated 2.4 turbodiesel engine that produces a solid 133kW and 430Nm from as low as 2 500rpm.
The new Triton will initially only be available in double cab format but this will soon be followed by single and club cab models. At the media launch I drove the Triton from Lanseria to Heidelberg on smooth surfaces and gravel roads and the much improved ride quality, smartened up and more spacious living quarters, smooth transmission and spunky engine immediately impressed.
I also piloted the new bakkie along a challenging off-road trail where it was quick to flex its muscle and demonstrate its confident clinging and climbing abilities. The Triton offers the choice of a six-speed manual transmission or five-speed auto shift in 4x2 or 4x4 derivatives.
As befitting an upper-class bakkie the Triton has a clever four-wheel drive system which can be clicked into four modes, including low-range for off-roading, and it is also equipped with diff lock to further enhance its rock-rabbit abilities.
Extra finesse
Not being a big fan of bundu-bashing and un-tarred roads, what impressed me most of the new Triton is its airy, spacious and well insulated cabin, confident handling, smart appearance, comfortable ride and the pleasing engine and transmission pairing.
But the real cherry on top and contrary to what one might expect from the average bakkie workhorse the new Mitsubishi has the additional finesse of a fully-adjustable steering column which makes it easy for drivers of different shapes and sizes to find a comfortable driving position.
Additional comforts and eye-pleasers include an attractive instrument lay-out complete with a touch-screen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity plus a rear-view camera, cruise control and even dual-zone climate control.
Occupant protection and driving aids include airbags, an ASTC (Active Stability and Traction Control) system, which modulates both braking and engine power to maintain a chosen driving line in slippery conditions, ABS and EBD as well as Hill Start Assist (HSA) plus the assurance of a five-star safety rating.
It might not in initially cause sleepless nights in the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu and VW Amarok strongholds but it has more than enough appeal to spark off and rapidly grow a fan club all of its own.
Models and pricing
The models and prices (which include a five-year/90,000km service plan and three-year/100,000km manufacturers warranty) are:
Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 Di-D 4x2 (man) R479,900
Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 Di-D 4x2 (auto) R499,900
Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 Di-D 4x4 (man) R539,900
Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 Di-D 4x4 (auto) R559,900
The dedicated events division of Times Media had a successful 2016, delivering conferences, showcases and industry acknowledgement events. These included the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies, Financial Mail AdFocus Awards, AMARA Awards, Financial Mail AdForum, Sunday Times Generation Next, Sunday Times Top Brands, Sunday Times Leaders on the Move , Financial Mail Top Analysts, Sunday Times The Directors Event, Sunday Times Literary Awards, FMCG Insights in association with Sowetan and the Future of Media.
kasto via 123RF
Taryn Westoby, head of Times Media Events, says, Our remit is to draw on the editorial expertise and media-powerhouse advantage of the Times Media Group (TMG) to deliver stimulating and engaging encounters that encourage excellence across South Africas various industries.
Events are aligned to Times Medias prominent platforms such as the Sunday Times, Financial Mail, Business Day, Sowetan, Business Day TV, Business Live and a host of other print, online and broadcast platforms. In 2016:
25 events were hosted 4,383 guests were engaged and infotained (informed, and entertained) 57 companies recognised the value of brand exposure, and came on-board as event partners
Apart from the number of events we conceived and delivered last year, the calibre of speakers and presenters we secured has allowed Times Media to deliver outstanding content to delegates. This also means that our corporate partners see value for their brands via their partnerships.
Some of those key speakers included:
Minister Pravin Gordhan delivering a captivating keynote address at the inaugural Business Day and Financial Mail Investment Summit; Former President Thabo Mbeki impressing with his keynote address to South Africas captains of industry at the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies;
Adv Thuli Madonsela holding the audience rapt at the Sunday Times Literary Awards with her keynote address; Juan Senor, leading international media figure and partner at Innovation Media Consultants, delivering the opening presentation at the Future of Media Conference
Other highlights of the year included the launch of the Business Day Investor Relations Conference and the Business Day and Financial Mail Investment Summit, as well as a series of bespoke events for clients, such as the Business Day Dialogues, Financial Mail Private Lounges and the Sunday Times Leaders on the Move tours.
2017 promises to hold much more in store. Forty-two events are lined up for the year, including the inaugural Business Day TV SME Summit (8 March), the Liberty Radio Awards and Conference (7-8 April), a series of Sunday Times Food Tasting events, and a host of bespoke events covering a broad range of topics, concludes Westoby.
The Africa Rising narrative is increasingly giving way to that of Aspiring Africa, as the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) shrinks and the new middle class burgeons. Central to this new narrative is inclusive growth: the idea that economic growth must come with equitable opportunities for all participants, with benefits enjoyed by every section of society.
Wim van der Beek
As Africa develops, it is pivotal to ensure that the currently underserved majority feels the benefits. This is not only about poverty reduction, but about creating opportunities for lower-income segments to generate wealth. It is a virtuous cycle; inclusive growth equals faster and better economic growth.
If we can ensure that Africas economic development happens in a more equitable and sustainable way, the macroeconomic positives are myriad. Offering young, aspiring Africans the opportunity to create wealth, has the effect of turning this demographic into producers and consumers of additional products and services.
The role of technology in inclusive growth
Africas mobile revolution has offered entrepreneurs an opportunity unlike any other to disseminate products and services that can contribute to inclusive growth on the continent. It enables digital innovation that allows African entrepreneurs and developers to leapfrog technologies, creating access to previously unavailable services for the majority.
Finance is a key enabler of growth, which is why the provision of accessible and affordable financial services to the majority of Africans is a prerequisite for faster and more sustainable development. Access to financial services increases access to other opportunities, hence fintech becoming central to Africas inclusive growth story.
For example, South Africas Nomanini, is allowing informal merchants to improve their income generation capacity by selling airtime and other digital services through their point of sale (PoS) devices. This creates a ripple effect. By increasing the wealth-generation capability of the majority, it allows them to access additional products and services and contribute to economic growth.
The trend goes beyond financial services, however. In healthcare, diagnostic apps such as Vula Mobile are making world-class diagnostics available to lower-income segments in a more affordable way.
Companies in the education space are making digital content available to young Africans, while in agriculture, mobile is being used by companies like Kenyas WeFarm to disseminate crucial information for farmers, having a direct impact on their productivity and wealth-generation abilities.
Africa is seeing the same technology innovations that are emerging in developed countries, however, they are used in a unique manner. In Africa, technology is not replacing or assisting existing infrastructure; it is creating the infrastructure where there is none. Brick-and-mortar clinics, schools and grid-powered electricity are not in place across vast swathes of the continent. And they will not reach every rural village or urban slum in the future. Instead, these services will be provided more and more through innovative mobile technologies, reducing the need for expensive physical infrastructure.
In its ability to democratise and increase access to more affordable services that have, until now, remained inaccessible to the majority of Africans, technology has the potential to play a huge role in ensuring inclusive growth on the continent, opening up new opportunities for aspiring Africans.
Laying the groundwork for inclusive growth through technology
It is evident that from financial services to education, healthcare to transport, technology can be a key enabler in ensuring the benefits of Africas economic development are felt by all. There are four factors that are critical in enabling the growth in of the inclusive digital economy:
The first is improved access to the internet. Without access to mobile internet connectivity, the digital innovation that makes products and services more affordable to the majority remains out of reach. Approximately only one-third of Africans currently have access to the internet.
This issue is, fortunately, being addressed. Internet penetration in Africa has grown to almost 30 per cent from just 11 per cent five years ago. Internet bandwidth on the continent increased by 41 per cent between 2014 and 2015, according to research from TeleGeography, with the growth being driven by the increasing prevalence of 3G and 4G connectivity.
The second prerequisite for enabling inclusive growth through digital innovation is increasing access to smart devices. Getting the right devices into the hands of Africans is crucial to ensuring access to opportunities. Here too we are seeing significant progress. The number of smartphones across Africa has almost doubled to 226 million over the last two years, according to the GSMA, as entry level prices are falling rapidly.
Another key factor for inclusive growth is reducing the cost of communication. The majority of Africans will remain unable to access digital services if they cannot afford data bundles or voice calls. But with data prices falling across the board and OTT services such as WeChat and WhatsApp enabling cheaper communication, this issue too is being addressed.
The fourth factor is reducing the cost of creating technology solutions. Whereas in the past the development costs of a mobile or web application would have been unaffordable to many digital entrepreneurs in majority markets, thanks to lean methodologies and open source platforms like GitHub the process is now simpler and cheaper. This drop in the cost of technology has created opportunities for the development of more innovative applications to meet African needs.
Africas inclusive digital future
There are many reasons to be positive about Aspiring Africa and the impact of the digital economy.
The continent is brimming with the energy and passion of a young generation of ambitious innovators and entrepreneurs. And Africa is the youngest continent populated by digitally savvy and creative Africans that are keen to grab the opportunities that the digital economy creates for them as economically included citizens. The widespread emergence of tech ecosystems across the continent is supporting a rapidly growing number of increasingly impressive startups and innovative solutions. The increased accessibility and falling cost of relevant services through internet-enabled smart devices, is putting these innovations in the hands of the young and aspiring African mass markets.
These innovations are changing the lives of the average African byte by byte, day by day. As the majority of Africans enter the digital economy, technology innovations are playing a pivotal role in creating the inclusive growth story that is changing the face of the continent. Our firm invests in many technology innovators. Working with these passionate young entrepreneurs on the ground on a daily basis, it is hard not to be optimistic about the inclusive digital economy that is taking shape in Africa as we speak.
**First published via CNBC Africa
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Marching on January 27 from Mawkanint Village to Lamaing Town, in Ye Township, southern Mon State, over 300 young Mon people called for the unification of three Mon parties the Mon National Party (MNP), the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) and the Womens Party (Mon).
We want Mon political parties to become one. Since there are three separate parties, the Mon public also has separate views. That is why we staged this protest to have the Mon parties become one, said Min Zabu Rot, leader of the protest group.
Min Zabu Rot also said that in the 2015 Election, even within one family, family members had different views, having their own interests in specific Mon parties, and that it is a good example to take, proofing separation. The parties members should follow what the consulting group has advised in regards to the merger. In cooperation with the Mon public, the Mon youths would work in different ways in order to have the Mon parties unified.
The partys senior members are very egotistical. That is why the parties cannot integrate. We want the parties unified as one party, said Mi MaRaMore, adding that due to having three parties, only a few Mon candidates were elected in the elections.
Marching from Mawkanint to Lamaing, the protesters shouted slogans such as, Any party members who do not want unification should take a break and resign. The consulting group must be honest and decisive and should follow the publics wishes.
The protesters also called out If you have sympathy for the [Mon] nationals, you should bravely merge. No three separated Mon political parties.
We will not just stop after this protest. We will stage protests until the parties merge. The parties members should minimize their ego and work towards the merger for the public, said Nai Myint Htun, another leading person of the group of protestors.
Led by Mon monks, a consulting group for the parties merger had worked for 33 months negotiating with the parties [beginning in 2012], but without success.
Eventually, another consulting group for the parties merger was later founded, including members from the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Mon civil society organizations, Mon monks, Mon affair activists, and experts. The group is still working towards the unification of the three Mon political parties.
Its an act of defamation to release the announcement in the state-owned newspaper. The announcement was fabricated. The skirmish area is not related to the opium fields. The Burma Armys 379th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB-379) attacked our base with heavy weapons and released the announcement to get a good reputation. The public knows well about this operation, said Major Phone Han, spokesperson of the SSPP/SSA-N.
State-owned Kyemon newspaper reported on 22 January that SSA/Wan-Hai group attacked a combined team of Burmese military troops, police, departmental staff, and the public with heavy and light weapons while they were destroying opium fields in Mong-Hsu.
After making the accusations, the Burma Army reinforced its troops near the SSPP/SSA-Ns headquarters Wan-Hai. Two MIG-29 jetfighters have been seen flying three or four times around Wan-Hai headquarters and over Kye-thi, Mong-Hsu, and Tang Yang townships, where the SSA-N bases are located, according to officials from Wan Hai headquarters
The three townships have been preparing for the upcoming by-election, which will be held on 1 April.
The Burma Army attacked SSPP/SSA-N outpost near Wang Pan Nga Village between Mong San and Mong Hsu, around three miles south of Mong Hsu, on 21 January.
Both sides suffered from casualties during the clash.
The SSPP/SSA-N has not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement but it has signed the union-level and state-level ceasefire.
Translated by Thida Linn
Nail Looks That Will Instantly Brighten Up Your Day Body Care oi-Riddhi Roy
We all love getting manicures done. It gives us the right amount of pampering every once in a while. But a pop of colour on the manicure never harmed anyone, did it?
We found these amazing nail looks that would instantly brighten your day. Everyone loves a classic French manicure, but every now and then it's good to go for a tiny bit of colour just to brighten things up.
Here are some of the nail looks that would definitely brighten your day. They suit all skin tones, so do not hesitate from trying them out!
Pink & Yellow: The classic French manicure with a twist. Try this peppy look when you are bored of the plain white and nude. Lime: This look in different shades of lime is just perfect to brighten up any look. The floral dots on the first nail make this look very cute and add a funky kick to an otherwise plain look. Polka Dotted Pink: This girly nail look is oh so cute. We definitely want to try it out. For this you'll just need a cute bubblegum or baby pink shade and some white nail polish, and, of course, a transparent top coat. Rose & Gold: These two colours when brought together are the epitome of gorgeousness. Use a dusty rose pink shade and a gold shimmer shade to achieve this look. Multi-coloured Black: This black nail polish look with multi-coloured iridescent shimmer in it is perfect for the goth in you that likes to keep things bright as well. Make sure you finish the nail look with a top coat to make sure none of the glitter falls out. Red & Gold: These two shades have always gone well together. Go for this if you're aiming for a festive kind of look. Take the brightest of bright reds and gold shimmer for this look.
Can We Lose Weight By Exercising Just During The Weekends? Diet Fitness oi-Chandana Rao
If you are someone who has an extremely tight schedule during the week, leaving you no time for exercise, then, this title would have definitely caught your attention, right?
Well, the fact is that, most of us who know that exercising regularly is healthy, would want to do it; however, we simply do not find the time.
Also Read : 10-minute Workout Tips For Women
It could be due to our busy jobs, taking care of children, studies, etc. We get caught up with other activities, leaving us literally no time for working out.
We all realise that exercising on a daily basis is an extremely healthy habit, as it can keep us healthy both mentally and physically!
By exercising, we can prevent and treat disorders like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, depression, diabetes, arthritis and even cancer!
So, it is important to exercise on a regular basis, even if it is not every day!
Did you know that a recent research study has said that working out only during the weekends or just a couple of times a day can also be effective?
How Working Out Just During The Weekends Can Be Effective?
Recently, a group of researchers from the Harvard University School Of Public Health, conducted a study which involved about 63,000 adults and divided them into two groups.
One of the groups did not involve themselves in any kind of exercise, throughout the week, while the other group performed moderate to intense level of exercises only during the weekends.
At the end of the study, the researchers found that people who exercised during the weekends, showed significant weight loss. In addition, it was also noted that their cardiovascular health and brain health had improved to a great extent, as found by lab tests.
The experts suggested that working out for at least 2 hours in total, during the weekends, can be extremely beneficial to your health, in comparison to not exercising at all!
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Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 18:30 [IST]
On Friday President Donald Trump signed executive orders dealing with immigration that caused this weekend to turn into chaos, and that will harm hundreds of thousands of people. He suspended all refugee admissions to the United States for 120 days, slashed the U.S. refugee quota for 2017, and barred all entry to the United States for nationals of seven countriesIraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
America has been the world leader in resettling refugees until now. This immigration ban will also prevent up to 500,000 permanent U.S. residents (who have green cards allowing them to be here legally) from coming back to America if they leave the country. And legal permanent residents are often citizens in waiting!
It is an order of incredible cruelty and blatant discrimination, and it made me furious. The order is already harming immigrants, and most of those affected will be Muslims. The New Yorker reported on a Yazidi refugee called Nada who is now stranded at the airport because of this rule. Talking Points Memo observed that Trump has shut down a program intended to help refugees from Iran, leaving about 300 non-Muslim Iranians stranded who were hoping to find refuge in America. They are Jews, Christians, Bahais, and now they are in grave danger. Iraqi refugees, including a man named Hameed Kahlid Darweesh, who helped U.S. troops have been detained and separated from family members! Iranian students who hope to study in the U.S. will have their dreams crushed, and U.S. technology companies have started recalling their foreign workers. Samira Asgari, a 30 year old Iranian woman was on her way to the U.S. to begin a postdoctoral fellowship in genomics at a hospital, but she was prevented from boarding her flight in Germany. A Sudanese doctor named Suha Abushamma, who works at the Cleveland Clinic, has been forced to leave the country.
When I attended Reed College several years, one of my friends was an Iranian-American. She was born here, but her family members were immigrants, and much of her extended family lives back in Iran. She likely will not be able to visit them now, nor will they be able to visit her. Some of my other friends are proud Muslims from Bangladesh who have family here in America; will they be able to work here and come visit their family members?
This afternoon, I went to Dulles International Airport to show my support for refugees, immigrants, and green card holders. I came away pleasantly surprised and inspired. While I thought there would be some people there protesting the executive order, I had no idea there would be so many, or they would be so organized, or that such important folks would visit.
I arrived at about 2 PM, and already there were at a couple hundred people who had gathered at the entrance for international arrivals. About two dozen police officers had cleared a path; people of all races and religions and ages lined the path holding signs in English, Arabic, and possibly Farsi. They loudly cheered when people arrived and came through the doors, and the people responded with smiles, high-fives, and fist pumps. Dozens of ACLU observers in blue vests and lawyers offering free legal aid were present. A whole bunch of organizations were there, including people from Case de Maryland (a Latino group), the National Iranian-American Council, and various Jewish organizations. They also had food and drink for volunteers, and some of the people had been there for a while.
Yesterday people at Washington Dulles were held for hoursthey were people with student visas, work visas, and green cards. People with green cards were being detained, possibly about 50-60, but that didnt include a newly arrived flight from Istanbul, and some Iranian green card holders were released. The lawyers were attempting to get in touch with people being held through family members who were allowed through. They urged folks not to sign anything. And lawyers apparently still arent being allowed to see the detainees, even though a Virginia judge has signed a restraining order requiring Customs and Border Patrol to let the lawyers in!
I spoke with a couple of attorneys; Customs and Board Patrol wont let anyone back there, or even confirm that they are detaining green card holders at all. If they are holding people, they are almost certainly in contempt of court, and that is illegal. Since CBP is maintaining a complete media blackout, no one knows how many people are being detained, but we know there are still some.
The protesters and lawyers wanted to welcome immigrants above all. Some of the best signs were Trump Is Not America, Immigrants Make America Great, and Banning Immigrants Is Un-American. The crowd chanted, No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here! and let them in? A Sikh woman and a man with an elaborate turban were especially delighted to see us. Other women wore headscarves, and a Jewish man held a poster with a yellow Star of David and the words We remember. No Muslim Ban. One protester had a sign with the words, We turned Anne Frank away in 1939 due to national security. That is sadly true; her father applied to come to the United States, was denied, and Anne Frank was killed in the Holocaust. Will modern-day refugees from Iran and Syria and Iraq suffer similar fates?
A couple of Iranian American immigrants talked about how they came as refugees years ago, that this order was discrimination, and how they wanted to stand up for those like them. Others held signs quoting Emma Lazaruss poem The New Colossus, which welcomes immigrants and which is on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.
After an hour, four Representatives arrived and gave an impromptu press conference. Representative Don Beyer of Virginia (D-8) recounted how his grandmother fled oppression and poverty in northern Ireland. He declared that today we are all refugees! Donald Trump would paint over Emma Lazaruss words on the Statue of LibertyYesterday was a day of shame. Beyer concluded that CBP must obey the law and follow the judges order.
Representative John Delaney of Maryland (D-6) spoke next. He was even more determined and stressed that this is bad, this is evil, this is un-American. No one should be denied entry based on their religion or nationality. Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland followed (D-8), saying that Thomas Paine wanted America to be a haven of refuge and that we should strive to follow his words. I talked with Raskin briefly afterwards, and he told me that the representatives tried to see the detainees, but Customs and Border Patrol would not let them. I think if CBP is doing that, they are breaking the law.
More people were gradually arriving at the protest and filling up the area. While the immigration authorities and police were not giving out any information, the protesters and lawyers were determined and showed no sign of giving up. They held up signs and asked people coming through if they had seen people being detained, and if they had come on the flight from Istanbul. Neither side has backed down so far.
The pictures of this policy were shameful: an Iranian couple in their 80s being denied entry, kids being detained, and people being trapped overseas. Vox.com and CNN have reported that the Department of Homeland Security originally said that this order wouldnt affect green card holders. But Steve Bannon, the anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and racist man who ran Breitbart and is now Trumps chief strategist, personally intervened to make sure that it would impact them. When Bannon ran Breitbart, his website featured routine stories of horrible crimes committed by immigrants, and emphasized that immigrants were undesirable (even legal ones). This means that the orders harm to immigrants and Muslims is not a bug, its a feature. Bannon likely wants this, and it is our duty to stop him.
Emma Lazarus became a strong advocate for immigrants in the late 1800s after working with them, and her words are still read by millions of people today. Her welcome of immigrants is an example of American ideals at its best. She would be appalled by Trumps xenophobic, bigoted, narrow-minded executive order. But she would be proud of all the people rallying to welcome immigrants, refugees, and green card holders, and of the opposition that has risen up. A myriad of organizations, including the American Jewish Committee, the New York Times, the National Immigration Law Center, and many, many public officials have spoken out. Democratic Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer called the executive order mean spirited and un-American, said it must be reversed immediately, and vowed that Senate Democrats will quickly introduce legislation to overturn this.
We Americans have not always lived up to the ideals of welcoming immigrants and lifting our lamp beside the golden door. But when we have, millions of people have found homes and refuge in America, and created thriving communities that have enriched our nation and created a beautiful mosaic. The spirit of Emma Lazarus is in large part responsible for that, and it is calling on us to fight this order with every fiber of our being. Whether it is through protest or lawsuits or speeches and writings or legislation or civil disobedience, we must fight these policies, and in doing so welcome the huddled masses and honor the Mother of Exiles.
Memorializing the passengers of the MS St. Louis with a Twitter feed
Rabbi Charlie Schwartz took to social media to remember Holocaust victims turned away at the U.S. border
Photo/courtesy, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Max Hirsch, a passenger on the MS St. Louis in 1939 who later died in the Holocaust. This image was one of many sent out by @StL_Manifest.
On Jan. 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the twitter account @StL_Manifest sent its first message at 2:15 a.m.
My name is Herbert Ascher. The US turned me away at the border in 1939. I was murdered at Auschwitz St. Louis Manifest (@Stl_Manifest) January 27, 2017
Ascher was one of the passengers aboard the MS St. Louis, an ocean liner that carried over 900 Jews seeking asylum from Nazi Germany in 1939. Nearly all the passengers were refused entry to Cuba, the United States and Canada. They were not forced to return to Germany, as several European countries agreed to take them, but hundreds of them still eventually died at the hands of the Nazis in the Holocaust.
Every five minutes the account tweeted a similar message, changing only the person's name and their final location, until it had listed off every known passenger of the MS St. Louis who later was killed in the Holocaust.
By the end of the day, the account had tens of thousands of followers. By the end of the weekend, it had received international media attention and had over 70,000 followers.
The account was created by Rabbi Charlie Schwartz, interim Jewish chaplain and director of BIMA and Genesis, two summer precollege programs at Brandeis, and Russel Neiss, lead faculty for the Genesis technology innovation studio.
Schwartz took some time to talk with BrandeisNow about the project:
How did you come up with this idea?
It came out of a desire Russel and I had to honor International Holocaust Memorial Day. With the national conversation focusing around refugees and immigrants, I started thinking about the MS St. Louis and its passengers. Those stories seemed so relevant to today. I knew there had to be a passenger manifest, and with a little time on the internet I discovered that researchers from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum had spent two years researching the passengers on the ship and compiled a list of those who were refused entry to the United States, their last known whereabouts and a photo, if they were able to find one.
How did you decide to use twitter as a platform?
This is deeply rooted in Russels work with the Genesis technology innovation studio course in the summer. This is an example of the work we do in that course, thinking about ritual and Jewish life and how technology can enhance the meaning we make in the world through the lens of our tradition. In fact one of the first assignments in the class is to create a twitterbot. Without that course this wouldn't have happened.
After the initial idea, things came together quickly. Russel and I have been working together for seven years and we do a lot of tinkering with how software can be used as tool to more deeply reflect or find meaning in life. I sent him a text at 6 o clock (p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 26) asking if we could do something with this information from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Russel wrote a script that scraped the information on MS St. Louis passengers from the museum's website and generated a tweet out of it. We set it so every five minutes it would send another message until there were no more names left. We spent about an hour on it that evening and it started sending tweets the next morning.
What role did the current political climate play in creating this?
In a different political climate I dont think we would have been motivated to do this project. Of course, I dont think there is a direct one to one comparison to the Nazi genocide and the current political situation here in the US or abroad. But at the same time, the lessons from the St. Louis feel timely and necessary. It's a compelling story. It speaks strongly to the situation we find ourselves in now. I had been feeling very concerned and dejected around the rhetoric around refugees and immigrants people in whom I see my familys story. Russel and I felt an obligation to do something. We saw an opportunity to add something to the conversation, to do something and we went with it. It is small, but hopefully its one of many actions people will take to honor our values as Jews and as Americans, to honor our obligation to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.
Were you surprised by how much attention it received?
We've been very surprised by the attention we're receiving around the world. It moved from Twitter to articles in digital media, and we've seen stories written about it in Spain and Australia. Even more so, weve been surprised about how the feed moved from the digital sphere to the action in the real world. Were constantly getting tweets and emails about people who are using the feed for signs at rallies, as templates for letters to congress and as motivation to do something. To be honest, the attention this account has received has shown us a depth of compassion from people around the world that affirms our sense of the goodness of humanity.
Given how successful this was, what are you going to do now?
I think the feed itself serves as a provocation for deeper conversation. People are adding a lot of context to it with the way they write about it and the way they retweet it. Russel and I both feel lucky to have seen an opportunity to make a difference, however small, and to have taken it.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/01/2017 (2104 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
It was a brief conversation with a woman Muhammad Abidullah never met, when he opened the doors of the Brandon Islamic Centre to a stranger a day after six people were killed at a Quebec City mosque.
I could see something in her eyes, maybe a second or a fraction of a second, Abidullah recalled.
I could see tears in her eyes and the only thing I could say to her, when I got flowers from her, is that this is what we build on, he said. The love, the affection.
Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Muhammad Abidullah leads services during Isha prayers at the Brandon Islamic Centre on Monday evening.
Abidullah stepped back inside where other men were arriving for the sunset prayer Monday. He raised the bouquet of flowers with one hand as if to shrug.
He was floored, Abidullah said afterwards.
Thats the community we have here.
A single bouquet rested outside the door of Brandons lone mosque by early afternoon, but as the day wore on, more guests, some bearing bouquets, showed up to offer condolences.
The Muslim community is an intrinsic part of the Brandon community, David Winter said after shaking hands with several Muslims.
The outpouring of support comes as this countrys Muslims grapple with the shocking news a gunman claimed the lives of six people Sunday night. They were praying inside a Quebec City mosque.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has denounced the incident as a terrorist attack.
Yet as Muslims nationwide express their grief, Brandons Muslim community is responding not by closing doors but opening them.
An open house planned for late February has been pushed forward to this Saturday. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the public is welcome to tour the Brandon Islamic Centre.
President Faiz Ahmad said the event isnt meant to be a memorial, but remarks will be shared about the recent attack and the current place of Muslims and other ethnic groups in the world.
Its a time for anyone who would want to come, whether to pass on condolences or they want to know more about Islam or the community, Ahmad said.
Colin Corneau David Winter drops off a bouquet of flowers during Isha prayers on Monday evening at the Brandon Islamic Centre. Brandon has joined other communities across Canada in an outpouring of sympathy following Sundays attack at a Quebec City mosque.
A biology professor at Brandon University, Ahmad didnt have time by mid-afternoon Monday to respond to the array of condolences he has received from friends, strangers and organizations including the Brandon Police Service and Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
He stepped into the mosque later in the day, holding a card from a pastor, which read: You are in our prayers.
Many people, Ahmad said, have offered to help in whatever way.
Its really difficult to tell someone what they can do, other than to thank them, he said.
There are these people with extreme views everywhere, but they dont represent the community. The larger community is with us. Thats the message I will put across.
The shooting of Muslims, while arguably at their most vulnerable, with their heads bowed, surprised Ahmad. It hits close to home, too, considering about two decades ago, he lived in the same Sainte-Foy neighbourhood where the shooting happened on Sunday.
He figured Canada was immune to such violence.
We had a firm belief that our country is a safe country, none of that happens here. That confidence is a little bit weaker now.
In the past few months, the Brandon Islamic Centre has considered increased security, such as employing video cameras. Three times in the past decade, a window at the centre was smashed, and anti-Muslim sentiments expressed south of the border have worried locals.
The world kept on changing. Theres so many incidents, so many things have been happening in the world that weve become concerned, Ahmad said.
Ahmad notes he has never described the acts of vandalism as a hate crime, but the thought has occurred to him.
Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Local Muslims gather during Isha prayers on Monday evening at the Brandon Islamic Centre.
Even before the Quebec City shooting, Muslims were on high alert. Only days earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump banned refugee admission and travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. Critics of the move say it is discriminatory.
Wadood Myireh, a Muslim who works for Sobeys in Brandon, said over the phone he cannot worry too much about the Islamophobia of others.
My religion, it tells me not to call anybody names it places more responsibility on me to be patient.
Instead, Myireh does what he can to be a good citizen, in a country he believes is overwhelmingly kind and supportive.
He hopes to win over the few fearful of Muslims.
You have to show them that youre likable and you have to go out of your way to make sure theyre happy with you, then they will come around, he said.
ifroese@brandonsun.com
Twitter: @ianfroese
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Manitoba Radio Amateurs took to the airwaves to tell the world of Canadas victory at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/01/2017 (2104 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Decorated Canadian war veteran Pte. William Albert (Bert) Cluney spent much of his time during the Second World War running artillery shells to the front lines in Europe. When the war ended, he enlisted in the Transport Division of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and spent two tours of duty between 1950 and 1955 in the bloody conflict in Korea.
He was also among the many Canadian military personnel to take part in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt between 1956 and 1967.
But after all those years in theatre, it was a house fire early Saturday morning that ultimately claimed the life of the feisty 90-year-old, as well as four dogs that were in the single-storey dwelling at the time.
(Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun) Pat Cluney sorts through the charred remains of his fathers home south of Rivers on Monday afternoon. Cluneys father, William Albert (Bert) Cluney, a Second World War and Korea veteran, died in the fire early Saturday. He was 90.
Father was one of the many unrecognized heroes of this country, Berts son, Dave Cluney, said from his home in Oak River on Monday afternoon. Hes kind of been forgotten about.
He had quite a distinguished and interesting career.
He was a hard man, but a solid man, added his brother, Pat Cluney, who lives within viewing distance of his fathers burnt-out home. He instilled in me to be hard-working, honest and a man of your word. Thats what he was, was a man of his word.
The Rivers Fire Department received a phone call reporting a structure fire south of Rivers and three kilometres west of the Deerboine Hutterite Colony at 6:48 a.m. Saturday.
By the time Rivers firefighters arrived, a team from the Deerboine Colony was already on scene and attempting to battle the blaze. The Deerboine team told the Rivers firefighters that there was an individual still inside the house.
By that point, the house was fully engulfed, and the flames and smoke had prevented their entry before the Rivers firefighters arrived. One of Pats neighbours arrived at his fathers house first, even before residents from the colony, but he couldnt get in because there was too much smoke and heat.
An RCMP spokesperson told the Sun that the fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature. Though the Office of the Fire Commissioner is still investigating the blaze, Pat says he was told it was likely an electrical fire.
They figure it was the electrical panel, Pat said. When my neighbour got there, the whole front porch was on fire. Not the kitchen, where the wood stove was.
Rivers Fire Chief Richard Brown said firefighters entered the home and removed the bodies of Cluney and the four dogs, and then carried on with defensive fire tactics.
We brought the fire under control at 1:30 in the afternoon, and carried on watching for hot spots until supper time.
Pat said his father, who had dementia, was found by the bedroom door. Two of the four dogs that died in the fire were his, and the other two were his fathers.
In all, Bert had five children, and a wife, Eileen, who passed away a few years earlier.
Submitted William Albert (Bert) Cluney was "was one of the many unrecognized heroes of this country," says his son, Dave Cluney.
Though he didnt speak much of his military years, three of his five children told the Sun yesterday that it was clear several tours of duty had taken a toll on their father.
Daughter Mary Cluney-Boenig said that he applied for a post-traumatic stress disorder pension with Veterans Affairs, but was denied because he wouldnt talk openly about his experiences.
The only stories I really ever got out of father on his war years were funny things. He never really talked much about the war years, Dave said.
In speaking of their father, Dave, Pat and Mary all expressed both regret, but also a kind of relief following the death of their father, who had grown unhappy following the death of his wife.
He missed (my mother) so much, Dave said.
Its not that we dont miss him, we just know that hes a lot happier.
Thats the one thing I was there when they pulled my dad out of the building, Pat said. He was an awesome man.
Youd have to understand my family to understand why were not so upset. To my family he said, he was going to live, and he was going to die on that farm. And when they brought him out of there, it would be feet first.
When they brought the fire department there, and they brought him out the window, I saw they brought him out head first, Pat said, in a wry voice.
Well dad, you didnt win that one.
mgoerzen@brandonsun.com
Twitter: @MattGoerzen
Submitted Pte. William Albert (Bert) Cluney is shown at age 20 in a photo supplied by his family.
Cluneys son shares one of his dads war stories
William Albert (Bert) Cluneys son, Dave Cluney, spoke at length of his fathers war stories. Heres one of them, as told to the Sun on Monday:
During the Second World War at the end of the war, there was a German officer who snuck up to the Canadian base. He had to go around an American outfit to get there. So he got to the Canadian base and told them he had 150 troops who wanted to surrender. They had a horse and wagon, and they asked if there was anybody who knew anything about horses. And father said, yeah, I do.
They said, OK, you go with this (German) guy, and hell take you back to where they are. Get them to put all their guns in the wagon and you come back with them. His only instruction was that the German officer was not to ride in the wagon. He had to walk. And dad said thats exactly what we did till we got out of sight. Since I couldnt disobey an order, I got off the wagon and walked with him.
They got out in the middle of nowhere on this road. The German officer stopped, shouted something in German, and all of a sudden there were German soldiers all over the place, coming out of the bush. They all kind of ran past me and threw their guns in the wagon, dad said. And he said when they were on the way back the officer didnt speak any English really and on their way back they stopped for a break and he said that him and this officer were sitting together and that guy was showing him pictures of his wife and his kids, that kind of stuff.
(Along the way) they had to stop at the American checkpoint. The U.S. rangers were there. They asked father what they were doing and he told them what they were doing. One of them looked down at the German officers wrist and saw his gold watch. And he told father, If I was you, Id just shoot him and take that watch.
And father said, I looked at him straight in the eye and I said, If I wanted his watch all Id have to do is ask him for it, and Im sure he would give it to me. But its his watch. Now get out of my road.
And that is who my father was.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/01/2017 (2105 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A number of intoxicated individuals kept police hopping overnight on Friday and three of them have been arrested for charges related to impaired driving.
The first such impaired driver was arrested during a Friday evening traffic stop in the 1200 block of College Avenue, as outlined in a police media report.
Suspected by police to have consumed alcohol, the 45-year-old man from East Petersburg, Pa, refused to comply with a police request to take a roadside screening device test, and was consequently arrested.
The American was held in custody and was scheduled to appear for a bail hearing in court on Saturday morning.
The second impaired driving arrest was made at about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, during a traffic stop in the 2500 block of Victoria Avenue.
A 24-year-old Brandon woman displayed signs of impairment, failed a breathalyzer and was arrested for impaired driving as a result.
Shell face related charges and will appear in court on Feb. 2.
A vehicle speeding northbound on 18th Street alerted the attention of police at about 3:21 a.m. on Saturday, when they pulled over an 18-year-old Saskatchewan woman who displayed signs of impairment.
Arrested for impaired driving, the suspect provided breathalyzer samples with readings twice the legal limit.
Also without a valid drivers licence, the driver, from Standing Buffalo First Nation, was held in custody to appear for bail hearing court on Sunday afternoon.
As for other alcohol-related incidents, Friday afternoon saw police arrest a 35-year-old Brandon man arrested for breaching his undertaking condition to not consume alcohol. Also the subject of a warrant for assault, he was taken into custody and set to appear in court on Saturday morning.
Another Brandon man, this one 38 years of age, was arrested for breaching a not to consume alcohol condition later that evening, was held in custody and released to appear in court on March 30.
Police also arrested and detained five people for public intoxication from Friday night to Sunday.
The Brandon Sun
Opinion
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/01/2017 (2104 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
To all of you who have been distracted by daily titillations about Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, terrorism, etc., or who simply choose to bury your heads in the sand day in and day out, heres a shakeup of reality.The Doomsday Clock (DC) is a measurement of how close the human race is to annihilating itself and every other living thing through the use of nuclear weapons. That is termed midnight on the DC.
Once a year, the top nuclear atomic scientists around the world get together and assess important developments that relate to those countries that have nuclear weapons, a.k.a. hydrogen bombs (H-Bombs). The things they look at are activities, policies and statements by leaders, among other factors that are strong indicators of stability.
Jan. 26 was that day for 2017. After due consideration, the scientists published a statement that moved the clock 30 seconds closer to midnight. It is now only two minutes (120 seconds) from midnight, the time the scientists predict that the nuclear powers of the world will be so unstable that they will be inclined to enter into a nuclear war from which not a single living thing will survive.
This 30 seconds is the biggest jump toward the end of the living world on the DC in more than 60 years, and its the closest we have been since 1953 when both the Soviet Union and the U.S. detonated their first hydrogen bombs amid the international mistrust, tough talk and muscle flexing of the Cold War.
Apparently, the DC can move back away from midnight.
Observing and listening to Trump, Vladimir Putin and other populist tough guys in leadership in other nuclear powers, Im not holding my breath about that happening.
Are you?
Dr. Denis Hall, PhD
Saskatoon
Deutsche Bank has been fined more than 500 million after British and US regulators found that failings at the German lender led to 10 billion dollars (7.9 billion) being laundered out of Russia in a manner "highly suggestive of financial crime".
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) slapped the bank with a record 163 million penalty for anti-money laundering shortcomings and exposing the UK's financial system to criminal activity.
The New York State Department of Financial Services fined Deutsche Bank 425 million US dollars (340 million) for the abuses, which it says took place at its Moscow, London and New York offices.
The FCA said the German lender failed to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering (AML) control framework from 2012 to 2015.
The regulator added that Deutsche Bank exposed the UK financial system to the risks of financial crime by failing to properly oversee the formation of new customer relationships and the booking of global business in the UK.
As a consequence, Deutsche Bank was used by unidentified customers to transfer approximately 10 billion US dollars (7.9 billion) of unknown origin from Russia to offshore bank accounts in a manner that is "highly suggestive of financial crime".
Mark Steward, director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: "Deutsche Bank put itself at risk of being used to facilitate financial crime and exposed the UK to the risk of financial crime. The size of the fine reflects the seriousness of Deutsche Bank's failings.
"We have repeatedly told firms how to comply with our AML requirements and the failings of Deutsche Bank are simply unacceptable.
"Other firms should take notice of today's fine and look again at their own AML procedures to ensure they do not face similar action."
Among the litany of failings the FCA uncovered at Deutsche Bank's corporate banking and securities division were:
:: Inadequate customer due diligence;
:: Failure to ensure its front office took responsibility for its Know Your Customer obligations;
:: Flawed customer and country risk rating methodologies;
:: "Deficient" AML policies and procedures;
:: Inadequate AML IT infrastructure.
According to the FCA, the failings allowed the front office of Deutsche Bank's Russia-based subsidiary, DB Moscow, to execute more than 2,400 "mirror trades" used to transfer more than six billion US dollars from Russia using its UK division.
The cash ended up in overseas bank accounts in countries including Cyprus, Estonia and Latvia. A further 3.8 billion US dollars in suspicious "one-sided trades" also occurred.
For its part, Deutsche Bank agreed to settle at an early stage of the FCA's investigation and therefore qualified for a 30% discount on the fine, which cut it down from 229 million.
The FCA said Deutsche Bank was "exceptionally co-operative" during the investigation and has committed "significant resources" to a large scale remediation programme to correct the deficiencies identified.
The New York State Department of Financial Services found that Deutsche Bank and several of its senior managers missed key opportunities to detect, intercept and investigate the scheme.
Drinks giant Diageo is to launch a new Irish whiskey as it looks to tap into the booming popularity of the tipple.
The owner of Guinness, Captain Morgan rum and Johnnie Walker Scotch said that it will pump 25m into a start-up premium blend.
The whiskey will be dubbed Roe & Co, after 19th-century whiskey maker George Roe, with the investment to be made in the former Power Station at St James's Gate in Dublin, formerly a Guinness factory.
St James's Gate, Dublin
The popularity of Irish whiskey has soared to become the fastest growing spirit drink in the world, according to the Irish Whiskey Association.
Irish agriculture minister Michael Creed hailed the investment, adding that global Irish whiskey sales have increased by more than 300% in the past 10 years, with record exports of over 400m.
He added: "Irish whiskey is experiencing a renaissance and is truly an Irish success story.
Michael Creed
"It is seeing a return to the success it experienced in its golden era in the 19th century and is now the fastest growing spirit drink in the world."
Production at the Dublin plant will begin in the first half of 2019.
Earlier this month, Diageo cheered rising profits thanks to a triple tonic from the Brexit-hit pound, robust Scotch sales and a strong US performance.
An Aer Lingus worker charged with organising human trafficking at Dublin Airport has been remanded on bail pending directions from the DPP, writes Tom Tuite.
Peter Kernan, 56, of the Old Rectory Lodge, Celbridge, Co. Kildare appeared at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday. He has been charged earlier under the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act for facilitating the entry of non-nationals into the State on January 9 and January 22 last.
He had been remanded in custody last week with consent to bail in his own bond of 2,000 and a 20,000 independent surety.
Bail was taken up today and he was ordered by Judge Victor Blake to appear again at the district court in March to allow time for directions from the DPP to be obtained.
Gardai have seized his passport and his bail terms state he has to reside at his home address and notify gardai of any change, sign on three times a week at Leixlip Garda station, provide gardai with a mobile phone number on which he can be contacted at all times, not apply for a new passport and have no contact directly or indirectly with co-accused Frederick Cham.
Aer Lingus employee, Mr Cham, 61, of Railway Cottages, Hazelhatch, Celbridge but originally from Hong Kong, has not yet applied for bail and on Friday last he had his case adjourned for two weeks.
The third co-accused, Chinese national Xing Wang, 28, who is of no-fixed abode, is charged under the Theft and Fraud Act with possessing a false Hong Kong passport at the white car park at Dublin Airport on Sunday, January 22.
He also has two connected charges under the Immigration Act for failing to present to an immigration officer on his arrival in the State and not having a passport. He has not applied for bail and will also face his next hearing at Cloverhill District Court on February 10 next.
They have not yet indicated how they will plead.
The three were arrested as part of an investigation by the Garda National Immigration Bureau into an alleged people smuggling.
The Dail has heard claims that the revenue from ticket touting is going towards organised crime gangs around the world.
The claim was made as a new Bill was officially introduced to ban the resale of tickets above face value.
The Taoiseach's St Patrick's Day visit to the White House has sparked anger and division among politicians who claim the trip would be an endorsement of his "horrendous, dangerous and racist agenda", writes Elaine Loughlin.
The issue of whether Enda Kenny should hand over the bowl of shamrock to Donald Trump has been raised by TDs.
Both Labour and the AAA-PBP have said the Taoiseach should not travel for the annual meeting which was described as a "happy-clappy shamrockery event" by Labour leader Brendan Howlin.
But Fianna Fail maintain that it is important that relations be maintained between both countries.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin, who tabled an urgent Dail question on the issue of US pre-clearance at Irish airports, said President Trump's actions since taking up office have been "very unsettling".
The issue of pre-clearance was also discussed by cabinet this morning.
Mr Howlin said he had given the traditional St Patrick's Day visit "a lot of consideration" but added that he felt it would not be right to travel as "a matter of principal".
"It's not business as usual. This is an administration now whose views on everything from climate change, his attitude to women, his views on disability, is fundamentally an anathema to the Irish people that we need to make a stand on that.
Describing it as a "happy-clappy shamrockery event that has no political content but has enormous emotional content" he said "it would be perceived by many as a formal endorsement of a policy position that would jar with the Irish people."
But Mr Howlin added that if the visit was changed to a formal political meeting with a long press conference afterward he would not be opposed to the trip.
Meanwhile the AAA-PBP are completely opposed to the St Patrick's Day visit to the White House.
Richard Boyd-Barrett said President Trump is "riding roughshod over the most basic tenants of human rights of international law on refugees and is basically putting two fingers up to human decency and that simply cannot stand.
"The Taoiseach of this country cannot in any way legitimise or endorse this horrendous, dangerous and racist agenda by handing a bowl of shamrock to President Trump on St Patrick's Day.
"The only way to register a serious and effective protest over what Trump is doing and match words about concern with real action is to say that the Taoiseach will not meet Donald Trump in the White House on St Patrick's Day," he said.
Farmers are protesting in Dublin today over 35m in payments they are owed by the Department of Agriculture.
The IFA says the four month delay in making payments under the GLAS environmental scheme is unacceptable.
A new poll has found that a slim majority of Irish people support Enda Kenny's decision not to cancel his visit to US President Donald Trump.
The poll was carried out among over 1,000 Irish adults by Amarach Research for RTE's Claire Byrne Live show.
When asked "Should Taoiseach Enda Kenny travel to the White House this St. Patrick's Day to meet with the US President on behalf of the Irish people?", 54% said Yes, 36% said No, with 10% responding "Don't Know".
There was much less support for the US President's recent travel ban, however.
When asked "Is US President Trump right to introduce tighter border controls, deport illegal immigrants and restrict immigration from countries of his choosing?", 66% responded No, 23% said Yes and 11% said Don't Know.
Tonight's Claire Byrne Live show featured Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan TD, who discussed Irelands position and our relationship with President Trumps administration.
The show also Dr. Eva Orsmond will be in studio, along with pharmacist and Fine Gael TD Kate OConnell to talk about Ireland's relationship with over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
The poll also revealed that there is little support for a Government ban on over-the-counter sale of drugs containing codeine, with just 22% agreeing with the proposal, and 63% against.
Simon Coveney says it would be a poor decision for the Taoiseach not to travel to the White House on St Patrick's Day.
The Minister said the opportunity should be used to make Ireland's position clear to Donald Trump.
By Sarah Slater
An incident room has been set-up by gardai following a sexual assault on a woman in Dublin.
Officers are seeking the public's assistance in relation to the assault which occurred at Bayview, in the Killiney/Shankhill south Co Dublin area on Monday night.
The incident occurred at 17.45pm, but details are only now emerging.
A man on his own approached a woman while walking in Bayview and viciously attacked her. It is understood the woman raised the alarm with passersby after the incident, and was immediately rushed to hospital.
Gardai would not comment on whether the woman is still in hospital, but a source added: "The woman was badly shaken up after the sexual assault and required urgent treatment."
A number of statements have been taken and a number of lines of inquiry are being conducted. CCTV footage from the area and house-to-house inquiries are being carried out.
Gardai are asking any witnesses or persons with information to contact them at Shankill Station on 01-6665900 or the Garda Confidential Line on 18000-666-111.
Caothairleach of Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council Cllr Cormac Devlin said: This is the second serious incident in the Killiney area this year.
I welcome the setting up of an incident room to investigate the attack. I would ask the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the Gardai.
In light of these incidents, I have asked Council management to review lighting in the Killiney/Shankill area to ensure it is fit for purpose.
I have also asked Garda management to step up patrols particularly mountain bike patrols around Killiney Hill and the adjacent DART stations.
The most recent attack is similar to other similar incidents in the area which took place last year.
It is understood gardai are investigating the possibility that there may be a link between four different sexual attacks on young women in south Dublin suburb - all carried out by a man acting alone.
A further two instances of suspicious approaches were also reported.
Sources revealed at the time that despite gardai receiving two varying descriptions of the alleged perpetrator, detectives are satisfied the same individual is behind all of the attacks.
The first incident on December 2, 2015 happened close to Shankill Dart Station. The second was on January 3, last year at the entrance to the nearby Holly Park estate.
Two further assaults were reported on February 9 and 10 last on Quinn's Road in Shankill, and Military Road near Killiney Dart Station.
Locals at the time said the presence of a garda helicopter has helped ease some fears of locals.
Calling all musical theatre fans, Indina Menzel has just announced that she is coming to Cork.
After releasing her fifth solo studio album idina. last autumn, Tony Award-winning superstar announced today that she play Live at the Marquee this June 25.
A total of 872 refugees will be allowed into the United States this week despite a presidential order suspending the US refugees programme, the Trump administration said.
Kevin McAleenan, the acting head of Customs and Border Protection, said that the refugees were already travelling and stopping them would cause "undue hardship".
Their admission comes despite President Donald Trump's warnings that refugees like these, vetted under the Obama administration, were not adequately screened to ensure they are not potential terrorists.
The refugee ban was part of an executive order signed by Mr Trump on Friday which has stoked outrage and protests.
Besides the 120-day ban for refugees, the order also bans entry to the United States for citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries and indefinitely bars travel by Syrians to the US.
At a news briefing with Mr McAleenan, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the travel ban for the seven countries may be extended and other countries could also be added to the list.
"I would be less than honest if I told you that some of those countries that are currently on the list may not be taken off the list anytime soon," Mr Kelly said.
"They're countries that are in various states of collapse" and may not be able to verify that people applying to come to the United States are who they say they are, he added.
In his first briefing with reporters since he was confirmed, Mr Kelly defended Mr Trump's order and said its intention is to keep would-be terrorists out of the United States and not serve as a ban on Muslims.
Early in his campaign, Mr Trump had called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.
Mr Kelly said "the vast majority of the 1.7 billion Muslims that live on this planet, the vast majority of them have, all other things being equal, have access to the United States".
The retired Marine general also said the order was "not a travel ban" but a "temporary pause that allows us to better review the existing refugee and visa-vetting system".
White House spokesman Sean Spicer made that point too in his daily briefing to reporters.
However, Mr Trump referred to it as a "ban" in a tweet on Tuesday defending the decision not to provide advanced notice to travellers. Mr Spicer also called it a ban on Monday.
"If the ban were announced with a one-week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week," Mr Trump wrote. "A lot of bad 'dudes' out there!"
The roll-out of the order has been widely criticised, a point Mr McAlleenan conceded, saying communication among government agencies had "not been the best".
However, he said the refugees' waivers were being done in concert with the State Department.
He said the refugees would be processed through the end of the week.
According to guidance provided to some refugee aid agencies by the State Department, none of the refugees are from the seven countries singled out for an all-out travel ban.
Those countries are Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Libya.
Mr Kelly denied reports that he had been out of the loop in the White House planning for the immigration restrictions.
He told reporters he looked at two drafts of the order before the Friday signing and that high-level government lawyers and agency officials were involved in drafting it.
He did not provide names of who was involved in the initial planning, but said the group included people from Mr Trump's transition team.
Mr Kelly also said he knew the order was coming because Mr Trump had long talked about it as a candidate.
People who know Mr Kelly, however, told The Associated Press that he was not aware of the details in the directive until around the time that Mr Trump signed it.
AP
The university student charged with killing six Muslim men during evening prayers at a mosque in Canada was known for far-right, nationalist views and his support of the French rightist party led by Marine Le Pen.
Alexandre Bissonnette was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder over the shooting rampage at a Quebec City mosque that Canadas prime minister called an act of terrorism against Muslims.
Bissonnette, a French Canadian student, made a brief court appearance and did not enter a plea over the attack staged during evening prayers on Sunday.
Wearing a white prisoner jump suit, his hands and feet shackled, he stared down at the floor and fidgeted, but did not speak.
The 27-year-old suspect, who has espoused support for Ms Le Pen and US president Donald Trump on his Facebook page, was known to those who monitor extremist groups in Quebec, said Francois Deschamps, an official with a refugee advocacy group.
"Its with pain and anger that we learn the identity of terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette, unfortunately known to many activists in Quebec for taking nationalist, pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions at Laval University and on social media," Mr Deschamps wrote on the Facebook page of the group, Bienvenues Aux Refugies, or Welcome To Refugees.
An anthropology and political science major at Laval University in Quebec City, Bissonnette had also expressed support on his Facebook profile for Generation Nationale, a group whose manifesto includes the rejection of "multiculturalism".
Authorities said Bissonnette was unknown to police.
The grandson of a decorated Second World War veteran, Bissonnette appears in a Facebook photo as a boy dressed as an army cadet, a military leadership programme for Canadian youths.
But cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces and do not receive military training.
For Ms Le Pen and her supporters, "massive migration", notably from Muslim North Africa, is supplanting French civilisation and is at the root of many Frances modern woes.
"On est chez nous" ("were in our land") is a mantra at the rallies of her party, the National Front.
Her views have won the endorsement from white supremacists.
More than 50 people were at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre when the shooting began, and witnesses described a scene of chaos as worshippers scrambled to find friends and loved ones.
In addition to the six dead, 19 people were wounded - all men.
Of the five victims who remained in hospital, two were in critical condition, authorities said.
The dead ranged in age from 39 to 60.
Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec premier Philippe Couillard both characterised the attack as a terrorist act, which came amid strong criticism around the world over Mr Trumps temporary travel ban for people from seven Muslim countries.
Canada is generally welcoming toward immigrants and all religions, but the French-speaking province of Quebec has had a long-simmering debate about race and religious accommodation.
The previous separatist government of the province called for a ban on ostentatious religious symbols, such as the hijab, in public institutions.
Mr Trudeau said in Parliament the victims were targeted simply because of their religion.
Speaking directly to the more than one million Muslims who live in Canada, he said: "We are with you."
"Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours," Mr Trudeau said.
The prime minister later attended a vigil along with thousands of people wrapped up in winter clothes in front of Notre-Dame-de-Foy Church, just around the corner from the mosque that was attacked.
It was one of many vigils in Canada, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris was darkened in respect to the victims as was the CN Tower in Toronto.
The suspect was arrested in his car on a bridge, after he called 911 to say he wanted to cooperate with police.
Authorities, who initially named two suspects, said the other man taken into custody was a witness to the attack and was released.
Officials said they did not believe there were others involved but were investigating.
Police did not give a motive for the attack.
Mr Trump called Mr Trudeau to express condolences to the Canadian people and to offer any assistance that might be needed.
The White House pointed to the attack as an example of why Mr Trumps policies are needed.
"We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms.
"Its a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant and why the president is taking steps to be pro-active, rather than reactive when it comes to our nations safety and security," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.
The victims were businessmen, a university professor and others who had gathered for evening prayers, said Mohamed Labidi, vice president of the mosque.
"Its a very, very big tragedy for us," Mr Labidi said tearfully. "We have a sadness we cannot express."
He said the victims were shot in the back.
"Security at our mosque was our major, major concern," he said. "But we were caught off guard."
Asked if he blamed recent rhetoric in the US for the attack, the Quebec premier said he would "not go there".
"Quebec is a good, generally loving society, but we have these devils as other societies have. We have to recognise that and fight them," Mr Couillard said at a news conference at which he and Muslim leaders held hands in a display of solidarity.
The mosque has been a target of hate crimes in the past, including last summer when a pigs head was left on its doorstep during Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
Practising Muslims do not eat pork.
Enlighten has scrapped an unpaid mentorship program that drew criticism from the Canberra arts community last year, instead relying on contractors to create the artworks that will light up the city's most iconic buildings.Cultural Canberra director Adam Stankevicius confirmed the mentorship program would not go ahead in 2017, after condemnation from local artists about mentees working for "exposure" prompted a review in 2016.
Instead, the images projected onto the buildings this year have been designed by contractors Electric Canvas.
Architectural projections light up the Parliamentary Triangle for the Enlighten Festival in Canberra. Credit:iStock
While the six artists who participated in the program last year received a stipend, their primary remuneration was exposure, according to the job advertisement.
Although established artists were welcome to apply, one of the criteria stated successful participants would be "local or emerging in their career (including students)".At the time, artist and former You Are Here festival producer Yolande Norris said the program was symptomatic of a wider problem within the industry.
The big four banks will face a fresh round of parliamentary questioning in March, with a banking inquiry announcing another round of hearings.
The hearings are part of a banking inquiry by the House of Representatives Committee on Economics, which is reviewing the performance of Australia's banking and financial system.
It will be the second time the banks have been hauled before the government-backed inquiry in just over six months, signalling the government is keen to keep political pressure on the banks.
The chief executives of the big four banks faced the inquiry last October after a wave of scandals involving the mistreatment of customers.
One of the biggest alleged corruption sagas in corporate Australia has led to the charging of a second former high-profile chief executive, one-time boss of engineering giant UGL, Russell Waugh.
Mr Waugh has been charged in relation to a $15 million offshore payment made while he was a senior executive at construction giant Leighton Holdings. He joins Peter Gregg - who was Leighton's finance chief at the time - in facing serious criminal charges connected to the 2011 payment.
Former Primary Health Care chief executive Peter Gregg denies working with major shareholder, Jangho Group. Credit:Daniel Munoz
Last year, as part of an expose highlighting alleged global corruption at Unaoil, Fairfax Media revealed the existence of the $15 million Leighton payment and the fact it was received by an allegedly crooked Dubai consultant.
Fairfax Media's previous investigation into Mr Waugh's role as managing director of Leighton's overseas operation led to his sacking by new employer UGL in 2013, despite Mr Waugh's strident denials of wrongdoing.
Political donations made in the final days of last year's federal election campaign will stay secret for another 12 months, with donors able to exploit a loophole that could shield transactions worth millions of dollars from public scrutiny.
The Australian Electoral Commission will on Wednesday release its annual "financial disclosure returns" - data about all donations, loans and other financial assistance given to the political parties during the 2015-16 financial year.
The documents are expected to reveal for the first time how much of his own fortune Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull contributed to the Liberal Party's troubled campaign. Some estimates have put Mr Turnbull's donation at as high as $2 million.
The returns will capture most of the eight week election campaign but there's a loophole: donations given the day before the July 2 poll, on polling day itself or in its immediate aftermath, will not be released until this time next year - 20 months after the vote.
"Properly learnt, joint mobility can restore complete freedom of motion to the ankles, knees, hips, spine, shoulders, neck, elbows, wrists and fingers. It's especially important to keep the spine supple and free and if there were such a thing as a fountain of youth, joint mobility exercises come very close."
"We teach people to move the way the body was made to ... It's just the way humans were born ... rolling, crawling, jumping" Nathan Helberg. Credit:Wendell Teodoro
"The solution? A joint mobility program. Joint mobility exercise stimulates and circulates the synovial fluid in the bursa, which 'washes' the joint. The joints have no direct blood supply and are nourished by this synovial fluid, which simultaneously removes waste products," Maxwell explains.
Renowned American exercise physiologist Steve Maxwell believes so too. From running to weight-lifting to sitting too much ( which most of us do ), we reduce the range of motion in our joints and compromise our bodies, he explains in an article titled Mobility Training May Be the Most Important Factor in Musculoskeletal Health.
Getting down onto the ground might seem basic, but in a launch class of Iron ZUU in Sydney last week, Helberg had a room full of fit people sweating and shaking as they bear crawled, "frog" squatted and leapt low across the gym floor. We didn't run or lift a weight once.
"The conditioning component you get from the bear crawl is better than running or rowing it's full-body mobilisation," Helberg says. "It's HIIT training that's low-impact. Your joints get smashed from running ... and the calorie burn in a 45-minute class is up to 1000 calories usually you need to do high impact for that."
He is not the only one to base their fitness system on crawling. Israeli "guru" Ido Portal has trained UFC world champion Conor McGregor in his animal/movement-based method; American Mike Fitch, the creator of Animal Flow, also mobilised his inner-animal after realising that years of lifting had left him injured and stiff; Methode Naturelle, the inspiration for Parkour, is based on the 10 "natural" pillars of movement: marching, running, leaping, climbing, carrying, throwing, balancing, self-defence and movement on all fours ("quadrupedie"); while crawling has been called "the new plank" by chiropractors prescribing it as rehab because it helps not only mobility and stability in the body, but promotes co-ordination and body awareness.
It is the accessibility of the crawl, for everybody from the elite to the injured, that particularly appeals to Helberg.
He crawls with his 86-year-old father, who had a brain haemorrhage three years ago, and says being close to the ground helps his father to move without the risk of falling too far and at the same time strengthens his wrists in case he falls while walking.
Shooting images but not sure how to take it further?
Emerging photographer Jess Gleeson has been capturing spectacular images at concerts and shows she spoke with Student Clique about "cracking" the industry and what keeps her motivated.
Halsey. Credit:Jess Gleeson
How and when did you get into photography?
When I was a kid and I went to shows, I'd always take along my small Canon PowerShot and spent the entire time worrying about getting good photos than actually focusing on the show.
A 42-year-old protester has been charged with trespassing on the Indonesian consulate-general in Melbourne after an incident which came at a time of renewed tensions in the bilateral relationship.
The arrest was made three days after Indonesia criticised Australia for not arresting a man who clambered onto the roof of the consulate-general and waved a separatist West Papuan flag on January 6.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, second from left, had demanded that Australian authorities pursue the trespassing case at Indonesia's Melbourne consulate. Credit:AP
"The Australian Federal Police can confirm it arrested a 42-year-old man in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown on Monday, January 30," the Australian Federal Police said.
The arrest comes just days before Attorney-General George Brandis, Justice Minister Michael Keenan and Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan are scheduled to attend the Ministerial Council on Law and Security in Jakarta.
Sydney may be in the grip of an apartment boom, but the construction of thousands of units across the city has done little to put a lid on rents, according to an analysis of the latest rental data.
Apartment living became more expensive in Sydney in the year to September 2016, after rent increases in all but three of the city's local government areas, according to the NSW Tenants' Union's Rent Tracker report.
The report's analysis of rental bond data, which was collated and published by the NSW government, found there were more tenants in NSW than ever before, "with bonds held in the Rental Bond Board rising much more quickly than the population."
The data revealed new rents in parts of Sydney had risen significantly, including Auburn and Hurstville where they increased by 11 per cent, while rents in the Blue Mountains rose by 14 per cent.
Commuters to Brisbane's north are facing a "massive delay" for the second day in a row after a four-car pile-up on the Gateway Motorway.
The crash happened about 4.50am southbound at Deagon, relatively close to Monday's incident, but it was still being cleared about 6.30am as traffic banked up on the Bruce Highway to North Lakes.
Two trucks clear a four-car crash on the Gateway Motorway at Deagon. Credit:Olympia Kwitowski - @Olympia_CK
Police said several cars were involved and paramedics treated one male passenger for non-serious injuries.
Rod Culleton insists he is still a senator, arguing the president of the Senate has jumped the gun in removing him.
The former One Nation senator is in Canberra on Tuesday seeking to have the High Court - sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns - take into account his legal challenge to a bankruptcy declaration.
Former One Nation senator Rod Culleton outside the High Court in December. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
"No one is above the law," he said outside court.
He argues Senate President Stephen Parry had no legal right to remove him as a senator and that he and Attorney-General George Brandis have been summonsed to appear.
Jakarta: Indonesia's highest Islamic clerical body is poised to issue a fatwa against hoax news amid fears that fake reports on social media are fuelling ethnic and political conflict.
Fake news is a huge problem in Indonesia in the lead-up to the gubernatorial election in February, with much of it targeting the Chinese ethnicity of the current Jakarta governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok.
The fatwa is further evidence that Indonesian authorities are beginning to repudiate the influence of Islamic hardliners. The man who spearheaded three massive anti-Ahok rallies last year - Rizieq Shihab - was named as a suspect on Monday night for allegedly insulting the state's ideology, Pancasila.
Hoax news has included that Indonesia is being flooded by 10 million Chinese workers, that its new currency bears an image of the banned communist hammer and sickle, that Ahok's free Human Papillomavirus vaccine program could make girls infertile and that China is waging biological warfare against Indonesia with contaminated chilli seeds.
Rogue Philippine police are recruiting paid killers and abducting, framing, extorting and murdering thousands of people under the cover of President Rodrigo Duterte's so-called war on drugs, according to an investigation by Amnesty International.
Police in the capital Manila are being given a bounty of up to $US300 ($400) a head for each accused drugs suspect killed in the crackdown that has left more than 7000 people dead since June 30, when Mr Duterte took office, according to an experienced frontline police officer.
Witnesses also said that police enrich themselves further by stealing from victims' homes and through a racket they have established with funeral homes.
"We get paid by the encounter the amount ranges from 8000 pesos ($212) to 15,000 pesos ($400). That amount is per head," the police officer told Amnesty.
The son of an Australian nurse charged with running a surrogacy agency in Cambodia has been detained and is set to be deported from the country.
Dylan Charles, the 26 year-old son of Tammy Davis-Charles, was found shirtless while walking along a Phnom Penh street at 7am last Wednesday, according to local police chief Kul Sophat, who was quoted in The Cambodia Daily.
"He lost his mind. He tried to throw rocks at people's cars," Mr Sophat told the newspaper.
"We sent him immediately to the immigration office for questioning because we didn't have anyone who could question him in English," he said, adding he could not confirm local media reports that Mr Charles was intoxicated at the time.
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The Federal Court of Australia has dismissed an appeal brought by former Victorian finance broker Meenakshi Devi Callychurn, against her banning from engaging in credit activities and the cancellation of the Australian credit licence of her company Unique Mortgage Services Pty Ltd (UMS).
ASIC banned Ms Callychurn in March 2015 from engaging in credit activities for five years and cancelled the Australian credit licence of UMS.
Ms Callychurn appealed ASIC's decisions to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and on 29 February 2016, the AAT varied ASIC's decision to ban Ms Callychurn from engaging in credit activities from five years to four years. The AAT upheld the cancellation of the Australian credit licence of UMS.
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The former CEO of Billabong, Matthew Perrin, has been jailed for eight years over 12 counts of fraud including forging his wifes signature to mortgage their Gold Coast home.The sentence, which includes a non-parole period of four years, was handed down in the District Court in Brisbane on Friday (27 January).The court heard that Perrin defrauded the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ( CBA ) of $13.5 million in 2008 when he forged the signature of his then wife Nicole Bricknell on loan documents for the $15 million property. The house was solely in his wifes name.District Court Judge Julie Dick said the CBA was still owed approximately $9 million. However, Perrins defence team said that he intended on paying the loan off when he took it out.Perrins repeated claims that his former wife knew and approved of the mortgage demonstrated he had no remorse for his actions, she added.Originally pleading not guilty, Dick pointed out that Perrin only confessed to the crime after being presented with substantial evidence.You still have no self-realisation and remorse. You seem to simply refuse to recognise that it was you who forged the documents and you who caused them to be presented to the bank.In sentencing, Dick considered Perrins clean criminal record, character references, prior charitable deeds, and the humiliation he had suffered publicly during the trial. The eight year sentence also includes the 39 days he spent in pre-sentence custody.At his peak, Perrin had an estimated net worth of $75 million. This was shared with Bricknell who separated from him in 2009 after he confessed to her about the fraud.Perrins lawyer, Nathan Hounsell, spoke to the media outside the court on Friday and said an appeal had already been lodged.An appeal against my clients conviction has been filed and well be expediting that appeal as quickly as possible.
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A Crown Heights doctor is stuck in his native Sudan thanks to President Trumps travel ban, and cant return to the U.S. to continue doing Gods work: saving Brookynites lives.
My colleagues are going to be affected. My hospital is going to be affected. And for sure, my patients are going to be affected, said the stranded Dr. Kamal Fadlalla, a second-year resident in internal medicine at Interfaith Medical Center, via a statement.
Fadlalla was away visiting his family when Trump banned citizens of Sudan and six other majority-Muslim countries from entering the States last week. He rushed to the airport on Saturday after getting wind of the news only to be turned away from his flight back to New York.
The medic has a newly-issued work visa and has been living in Brooklyn for nearly two years, according to Interfaith honcho LaRay Brown.
Fadlalla is one of four Sudanese residents at the diverse institution and Brown says shes worried the uncertainty about what will happen now and next will set the whole hospital on edge, Brown said.
One area of concern as an institution is the level of anxiety that this executive order and what might follow is creating for all of our staff, she said. We are a hospital of folks from all over the country and all over the world.
A Brooklyn federal judge temporarily barred the government from deporting valid visa holders already in transit to America when Trump signed his executive order, but the order is no help to people stranded overseas.
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October 31, 2022
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In November, there are hundreds of new and returning TV showsit can be overwhelming to try and choose what to watch. That's why we've selected some of the best options...
For bonding and breastfeeding, newborns benefit from a cheek full of dextrose
Like a spoonful of sugar, this simple, non-invasive treatment keeps baby with Mom, promotes breastfeeding and saves health care costs
There is sugar in milk, but 100 milliliters of breastmilk or formula has only 7 grams of sugar, while 100 milliliters of gel has 40 grams of sugar.
BUFFALO, N.Y. Newborns with hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, are becoming more common worldwide, a result of the growing number of mothers who are overweight, obese or diabetic. Breastfed newborns may be treated with supplementary formula feedings or, if that fails, with intravenous fluids, which requires mother and baby to be separated for hours or days at a time. Both processes interfere with mother-baby bonding and reduce the chances that exclusive breastfeeding will be established upon discharge from the hospital.
Now University at Buffalo researchers at Women & Childrens Hospital of Buffalo (WCHOB) and other teams worldwide are proving that a dose of dextrose gel administered into a babys cheek, as shown in this video, along with regular feedings can raise babies blood sugar, allowing them to stay with their mothers, which promotes breastfeeding. Because this method can eliminate the need for intravenous fluids, which have to be done in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, it also saves health care costs.
Better for bonding
It breaks my heart to see mother and baby separated right after birth, said Satyan Lakshminrusimha, MD, professor and vice chair of pediatrics in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, chief of the division of neonatology at WCHOB and co-author of a commentary on related research published in British Medical Journal (BMJ) Evidence-Based Medicine last week as well as a paper published last fall in Karger Biomedicine Hub.
Birthing is stressful enough, said Lakshminrusimha, also a pediatric neonatologist with UBMD Pediatrics. "Its further upsetting to a young mother, especially a first-time mother, if she is not able to breastfeed her baby because of low glucose so that the baby needs IV therapy.
Dextrose gel was added to the existing hypoglycemia protocol for the newborn nurseries at two Buffalo area hospitals in 2014, an idea that came out of a journal club discussion facilitated by Lakshminrusimha and Munmun Rawat, MD, then a fellow in neonatology at UB, whom he was then mentoring, as well as colleagues at WCHOB and UB.
The UB researchers wanted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral dextrose therapy combined with feedings to reduce the need for IV dextrose therapy in babies born at or near-term (35 weeks or more) and to evaluate how that therapy would influence feeding patterns for babies prior to discharge from the hospital.
The UB team published their results last fall in Karger Biomedicine Hub, describing how the use of dextrose gel in asymptomatic babies with low blood sugar helped reduce overall NICU admissions at WCHOB for hypoglycemia from 42 percent to 26 percent. In a majority of babies 74 percent the sugar gel successfully addressed low blood sugars versus only 58 percent of babies who received regular feedings alone, prior to implementation of the new protocol.
More sugar than milk
The results highlight a drawback of the use of feedings alone, according to Praveen Chandrasekharan, MD, research assistant professor of pediatrics at UB, attending neonatologist at WCHOB, pediatric neonatologist with UBMD Pediatrics and co-author on the paper.
Dextrose gel is used in adult diabetics all the time, he said, while in babies, the protocol was to just do feedings. There is sugar in milk, but 100 milliliters of breastmilk or formula has only 7 grams of sugar, while 100 milliliters of gel has 40 grams of sugar.
We found that when we used the dextrose gel, we could significantly reduce admissions to the newborn intensive care unit, improve the level of breastfeeding at discharge and reduce health care costs, he said. Previously, if the baby didnt get better after three feeds, they automatically were admitted to the NICU.
When Chandrasekharan presented findings on this research last spring at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting, the reaction was overwhelming. There were so many attendees at the session, they had to open up an overflow conference room, he said. Interest in the new protocol continues to spread. The UB researchers have received requests for information from institutions in Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Connecticut and New York State.
The findings are not only improving outcomes for hypoglycemic newborns, they are also leading to new ways to prevent hypoglycemia. Positive results were recently reported by New Zealand researchers studying how to preventively treat newborns at risk for hypoglycemia, such as infants of diabetic mothers, with one dose of oral dextrose. In their commentary accompanying that paper, UB researchers said this is a novel approach that requires further investigation.
Lakshminrusimha said it is worth noting that the protocol change in the Buffalo hospitals in treating newborns with hypoglycemia came about because of a journal club discussion about research that found dextrose gel could effectively address hypoglycemia in newborns. That discussion was initiated by Rawat, a neonatologist at WCHOB and UBMD Pediatrics, who was first author on the Biomedicine Hub paper. The recipient of a Dr. Henry C. and Bertha H. Buswell Fellowship Award at UB, she will be a research assistant professor in the UB Department of Pediatrics starting in March.
As an academic health center, we see it as part of our mission to keep abreast of cutting-edge research so we can spread the benefits of research to the rest of our community, said Lakshminrusimha. Journal club is one of the forums where UB medical faculty share ideas that may end up directly benefitting our patients.
The hypoglycemia protocol described in the Biomedicine Hub paper was revised by Stephen Turkovich, MD, chief medical officer of WCHOB and clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at UB with input from the Division of Endocrinology, led by Teresa Quattin, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UB, pediatrician-in-chief at WCHOB and president of UBMD Pediatrics. The new protocol was implemented by pediatric hospitalists in the newborn nurseries at WCHOB and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.
At the same time as Prime Minister Theresa May met with the President of the United States last week, the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dropped in to the George Bence Group in Cheltenham to meet Paul Bence, managing director, who gave him a tour of the companys headquarters.
Mr Johnson machined pieces of timber, moved a bulk bag of sand off a crane vehicle, and discussed the latest trends from the design team in George Bench Groups kitchen and bathroom showroom, Obsidian Interiors.
Commenting about the day Mr Bence said: We were extremely honoured to welcome Boris Johnson to our business. After George Osbornes visit 18 months ago, we certainly werent expecting another dignitary visit. Not only did we discuss Brexit, but he was extremely engaging with our staff and discussed his first business venture after leaving university where he sold kitchen mosaic splashbacks, which apparently didnt last long.
He was also enormously trusting when one of our designers took his phone to try out some new technologies where you can charge your phone wirelessly via a work surface. The level of exposure has been astonishing with both national and global reporters getting in touch to find out why the Foreign Secretary dropped by and why he was standing in a bath!
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In a strategy that may work in tandem with the Look East policy of India, state-run Indian Oil Corporation is set to foray into retail, pipeline and refinery sectors in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam and Nepal.
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) refused to grant a stay on Tata Sons decision to call an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on February 6, the aim being to remove ex-head Cyrus Mistry as a director from its board.
Demonetisation and an airline fare war resulted in a 25 per cent decline in IndiGo's net profit in the December quarter to Rs 487 crore from Rs 650 crore in the same period a year ago.
The UK is poised to emerge as the largest revenue contributor to India based outsourcing company, Limited as it entered into a large scale 10-year contract with UK based Sky Subscriber Services.
In the third quarter of the current financial year (FY), the UK contributed 37.6 per cent to its Rs 885.4 crore topline while operations in USA contributed to 56.2 per cent to its revenue. With the new deal, the company is expected to earn $ 56 million or Rs 379 crore in the very first year of operations which will make UK the largest revenue contributor.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to lift withdrawal limits on current accounts after a tense stand-off with the Election Commission of India (ECI). An escalation has been averted through deft manoeuvering and restraint by both institutions.
The is much more than just the publicly available, Google-able web services most online users frequent and thats good for free expression. Companies frequently create private networks to enable employees to use secure corporate servers, for example. And free software allows individuals to create what are called peer-to-peer networks, connecting directly from one machine to another.
One tonne of oil has leaked into the sea off the city due to a collision between two ships on January 28 and measures, including procuring oil dispersants from the Centre, are underway to tackle the situation, the Tamil Nadu government said on Tuesday.
Explaining in the Assembly the steps being taken, state Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said, "One tonne oil has leaked", which resulted in floating oil slicks.
He was responding to a submission by Leader of Opposition MK Stalin that the oil spill had led to a situation where the fish were facing death and the fishermen in the locality could not put out to sea for fishing.
The mishap occurred at 4 am on January 28 when 'M T BW Maple', with a flag of Isle of Man, was leaving the port after emptying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and M T Dawn, Kanchipuram, loaded with petroleum oil lubricant (POL), was on its way to the berth at the suburban Ennore port.
The port authorities had then said there was no casualty or injury to anyone and also, no damage to the environment.
Stalin wanted the government to detail the steps it had taken to tackle the situation.
Jayakumar said a meeting of officials was currently on and another meeting, to be chaired by the chief secretary, will be held soon which would also discuss the steps to be taken to see that the fishermen and their livelihood were not affected.
He said steps were being taken to procure "oil dispersants which will have to come from the Centre".
Earlier in the day, Tiruvallur District Collector E Sundaravalli clarified that only the shoreline in and around Ennore and Kasimedu in north Chennai was hit by the oil spill and steps were being taken to remove the oil.
She also said the Coast Guard, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and Fisheries department were involved in the operations.
"There is an oil spill after the incident on January 28. Officials, including those from TNPCB and Fisheries, were deployed by the government to look into the situation," Sundaravalli, under whose jurisdiction the affected area falls, told reporters here.
She said the Coast Guard was trying to remove the oil spill manually and also monitoring its spread and removal by pressing its choppers into action.
She said three Chennai Metro Water's super suckers (machines, mounted on trucks) were being deployed to remove the oil spill.
Replying to a question, Sundaravalli said officials were also studying the impact of the oil spill on the marine life in the region.
The sea water had blackened and some turtles were found dead near the north Chennai shoreline in the aftermath of the incident.
Leading two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto on Tuesday reported a decline of near five per cent in net profit for the third quarter ended December, 2016, as hit volumes and revenues. The companys net profit for the quarter stood at Rs924.6 crore while income from operations slipped nine per cent to Rs 5,354 crore. The company had posted a record profit of Rs 1,123 crore in the July-September quarter of FY17.
The 2016-17 presented in Parliament on Tuesday states that against the backdrop of robust macro-economic stability, the year was marked by two major domestic policy developments-the passage of the Constitutional Amendment, paving the way for implementing the transformational Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the action to demonetise the two highest denomination notes. The GST will create a common Indian market, improve tax compliance and governance, and boost investment and growth; it is also a bold new experiment in the governance of Indias cooperative federalism.
There were no queues outside most ATMs in Delhi and Noida on Tuesday morning, a day before curbs on withdrawals are set to be lifted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
People could withdraw money with ease from ATMs at Preet Vihar, Parliament Street and Noida Sector 16 without standing in a queue.
However, they could withdraw only up to Rs 10,000 as per the limit set by the RBI.
The apex bank announced on Monday that withdrawal restrictions for ATMs will be lifted from Wednesday. Curbs on savings bank accounts across the counter will, however, remain.
The curbs on withdrawals from current accounts, cash credit accounts and overdraft accounts were lifted on Monday.
The limits were placed following the November 8 demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes. The upper limit at ATMs was Rs 2,500 initially, and later it was raised to Rs 4,500.
Earlier this month, the RBI hiked the daily withdrawal limit from Rs 4,500 to Rs 10,000 and doubled the weekly Current Accounts withdrawal limit to Rs 1 lakh.
The upper limit for weekly withdrawal from bank accounts was raised to Rs 24,000 from Rs 20,000 in November.
The uplift of the poor would continue to be the centrepiece of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, President Pranab Mukherjees address to the joint session of the two Houses of Parliament reiterated.
The refugee camp where I work as a doctor, in northern Greece, is seven hours ahead of Washington, so news of President Trumps executive order barring refugees for 120 days and Syrian refugees indefinitely came in the middle of the night. The next morning, it was the topic of conversation among the translators I work with. Given the enormity of our day-to-day tasks, theyre impressively well versed in the news: I first learned about the draft order early last week from one of the Syrian translators in our group.
The Lee University sociology program, along with the sociology honor society Alpha Kappa Delta, will host The State of the (Marital) Union on Monday, Feb. 6, from 4:30-6 p.m.
Professor of Sociology Dr. Karen Mundy and her husband Ben Judkins, a sociologist and researcher, will speak on marriage beyond the early adult years. Topics will include the current research on marital unions, second marriages, blended family marriages, gender in marriage, and the social disadvantage and disappearance of marriage.
There will also be a time of group discussion, and refreshments will be served during the event which takes place in the Lee Humanities Building, Room 203.
The seminar is in recognition of National Marriage Week, Feb. 7-14.
The event is free and open to the public. People, who are mid-life and above, including Lee Encore students, are encouraged to attend as the topic is geared towards developed marriages.
For more information, contact Mundy at kmundy@leeuniversity.edu or call at 614-8127.
is often called an isolationist. Some commentators argue he has revived a dormant isolationist tradition that goes all the way back to the Revolution.
The United States (US) and United Kingdom authorities slapped nearly $630 million in fines on German banking giant over alleged money laundering in Russia, New York State's Department of Financial Services announced.
The scheme illegally moved $10 billion out of Russia, using so-called mirror trades among the bank's Moscow, London and New York offices, authorities said. The US Justice Department also is investigating the matter.
The fines were the latest development in the string of legal woes for the German banking giant, coming less than two weeks after the bank finalised a $7.2 billion settlement with the US Justice Department over its role in the 2008 global financial crisis.
The US authorities said in a statement they were joined by Britain's Financial Conduct Authority in penalising the bank after finding pervasive weaknesses in Deutsche Bank's internal safeguards for money laundering and client risk.
DFS fined the bank $425 million, while FCA's fine was 163 million pounds, or about $204 million.
"This Russian mirror-trading scheme occurred while the bank was on clear notice of serious and widespread compliance issues dating back a decade," DFS Superintendent Maria Vullo said in the statement.
Bank units tasked with legal compliance and preventing money laundering were understaffed and ineffective, the DFS said.
In "mirror" trades, clients would purchase stocks in rubles in Moscow while other clients who were related or even had the same owner would sell the same stock at the same price through the bank's London branch.
"By converting rubles into dollars through security trades that had no discernible economic purpose, the scheme was a means for bad actors within a financial institution to achieve improper ends while evading compliance with applicable laws," according to the legal document detailing the settlement with DFS.
In addition to paying the fines, also will be required to hire an outside monitor to review its internal compliance measures.
President Donald Trump banned the entry of people from seven majority Muslim countries last week. Leaders as far apart ideologically as former Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. Bernie Sanders warned the ban could become a recruitment tool for terrorists.
US President has signed a flurry of executive orders and actions in his first week-and-a-half in office. These have ranged from those starting the process to build a border wall with Mexico and withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership to construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines.
People chant "No hate, no fear. Everyone is welcome here," as they protest President Donald Trump's travel ban on refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations at Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh.
Ahmed Ali spent Sunday at a hotel near Djibouti's Airport, anxiously checking CNN on his phone to see if the Trump administration would allow him to fly to the United States with Eman, his 12-year-old daughter.
On Saturday morning, Dr. Kamal Fadlalla traveled more than two hours from his family's home in Wad Madani, Sudan, to the country's capital of Khartoum to board a flight back to the United States.
People chant "No hate, no fear. Everyone is welcome here," as they protest President Donald Trump's travel ban on refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations at Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh. Photo: PTI
Indias information technology industry will face short-term challenges if the Bill to double minimum wages for H1B visa-holders is passed in the US Congress. The impact will be felt by American technology such as IBM, Accenture and Microsoft, which have been sending Indian engineers on these visas to the US.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) is putting together a multi-campus effort and joining other colleges in the Technical College of Georgia (TCSG) system to provide aid to residents of the South Georgia region that were affected by the recent storm and flooding damage.
Albany Technical College, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, and Southern Regional Technical College will pick up donations from six other colleges in the TCSG system that are spread throughout the state.
Georgia Northwesterns Floyd County Campus will accept donations until Thursday, Feb. 2, at 5 p.m. All other GNTC campuses will need donations by Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the main lobby of any of the six campuses of Georgia Northwestern.
Items that are being requested from the GNTC region are:
Snack items (packaged small or individually is preferred)
Gatorade
Juices
Sodas
Work gloves
Blankets and other bedding items
Towels
Underwear
Socks
Cleaning supplies, such as bleach
Non-perishable food items (#10 cans dried beans, rice, pasta, etc.)
Toys (small for all ages)
Bottled water and personal hygiene items are not being accepted at this time.
is an industry built on courting clients around the globe and hiring some of the best and brightest, wherever they may be.
Idea Cellular continued its journey north at the bourses on Tuesday with the stock rallying over 7% on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in morning trade to Rs 105 levels. Over the past two sessions, it has gained nearly 35%. By comparison, the Nifty50 index has lost 0.5% during this period.
Namsai (Arunachal Pradesh) [India] Jan.31 (ANI): The Arunachal University of Studies (AUS), which has added 102 graduate & post graduates to the state's human resources pool this year, has also announced plans to set up a multi-specialty hospital and introduce degree courses in mass communication, nursing, education and medical education.
Disclosing this during the university's first convocation, its Chancellor-cum-WEM Chairman Aswini Lochan said the AUS aims to steer local youth towards joining the mainstream and expressed confidence about the institution's ability to carve a niche globally through its qualitative performances.
Acting Vice Chancellor Professor V K Kawatra said that the ASU, set up under WEM, has pragmatic plans for expansion, including introducing a course in Buddhist studies from next year which would involve the participation of learned monks.
A thunderous applause rent the air on Sunday after Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Rehabilitation Council of India member-secretary S K Srivastava and Bar Council of India executive committee chairman Apurba Kumar Sharma were conferred Doctorates in Literature (D Lit) or Causa Honoris degree in recognition of their invaluable contributions in various fields.
Dr. Chowna Mein said the growth of human resources under the supervision of the World Education Mission (WEM) would help meet avowed objectives.
He further stated that a skilled work force in large numbers was the need of the hour and suggested the introduction of new technologies in the agricultural sector.
"I have suggested the agriculture department to seek Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Black or Sticky rice like Bora, which is very famous in Thailand," he said.
Dr. Mein sought a proposal for the establishment of a mobile agriculture laboratory for the speedy growth of state's huge agri-horticulture sector.
Describing the students passing out as responsible citizens, Arunachal Pradesh's Education Minister Honchun Ngandam said, "You are free to decide what to do and to decide what will not be of benefit to GenNext and the nation. Earn quality education or else there is no scope in this competitive world. Life is a challenge; face it without making any excuse".
"Invent yourself to 'help yourself' to be useful human beings least you are discarded by society," Ngandam said while citing the example of former American president Abraham Lincoln.
He urged the students to prove themselves globally while helping Arunachal Pradesh to march ahead.
Parliamentary secretaries Chou Tewa Mein and Chau Zingnu Namchoom, District Commissioner S K Sharma were the others present.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In one of the biggest heists at city showrooms in recent times, a gang of thieves burgled a watch showroom in Connaught Place and fled with over 600 watches worth more than Rs. 1.30 crore.
The incident took place at a time when the city was on high alert with heavy police deployment in Lutyens' Delhi for Republic Day and the Beating Retreat.
The burglars have not been identified yet.
The incident was reported on January 28, when the complainant, one of the owners of the shop, arrived at the store located in the Regal Building.
The complainant said he did not find the shop's shutter closed properly.
The owners of the shops discovered that a number of expensive high-end watches, such as Seiko, Casio, Guess, Fossil, Titan, Omega, Longines, and Rado were missing.
They said the thieves also stole about Rs. two lakh in cash and some watches that had come in for repairs.
The owners said a total of 680 watches were stolen.
Interestingly, the only CCTV camera installed at the showroom was switched off when the store was closed around 8 p.m. on Friday after the day's business.
The police are trying to scan the CCTV footage from the nearby shops and bank ATMs to identify the accused.
Also, current and previous employees of the showroom, including the security guard, are being interrogated.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian soldier Chandu Chavan, who inadvertently crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan last year, met his family for the first time after being released in Amritsar today.
Chandu Chavan's brother Bhushan Chavan expressed his gratitude to the Indian Army for taking strident efforts in bringing back his brother.
"I am also a soldier and I will forever remain grateful to the army for this. I am also grateful to the villagers, who supported me and my brother. Since I am overwhelmed with happiness, I am unable to express my feelings," Bhushan told ANI.
The Pakistani troops handed over Chandu yesterday to the Indian Army at Wagah Border after which he was debriefed and a special medical check-up was carried out.
Pakistan's Military's media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement, "As a gesture of goodwill and in continuation of our efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity along LOC and WB, Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chohan has been convinced to return to his own country and will be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah Border on humanitarian grounds."
The soldier had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control on September 30 last year and was captured by the Pakistani troops, a day after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on terror launchpads across the LoC.
The Indian Army has said that the soldier, who belongs to the Rashtriya Rifles, was not involved in the surgical strike.
Article 4 of the Third Geneva Convention protects captured military personnel, some guerrilla fighters and certain civilians. It applies from the moment a prisoner is captured until he or she is released/repatriated. One of the main provisions of the convention makes it illegal to torture prisoners and states that a prisoner can only be required to give their name, date of birth, rank and service number if applicable.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday assured strict action against the police if it is proved that they resorted to atrocity during the protests on bull-taming sport Jallikattu.
Panneerselvam said if visuals of the police torching vehicles and huts are proven true then they would be punished severally.
"A new investigation commission headed by a former high court judge will set up to inquire about the violence and police excesses and it will submit its report within a week," he added.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister further said that steps are being taken to release 21 students from Chennai and 15 students from other districts arrested during the violence.
Panneerselvam earlier on January 27 said various "anti-social elements" and organisations had "infiltrated" the week-long pro-jallikattu protest at Marina Beach with the intention of "diverting" it.
He promised that the "evil forces" behind the violence would be identified and brought to book.
The Supreme Court earlier in the day heard a batch of petitions by animal rights groups challenging the validity of a Tamil Nadu law permitting Jallikattu.
Anjali Sharma, the lawyer for Animal Welfare Board of India, today filed an affidavit in the apex court, mentioning that she had filed her reply to the charges levelled by G.S. Mani, who is an intervener in the case.
There was widespread agitation in Tamil Nadu, including protests at Chennai's Marina Beach in support of Jallikattu.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) took to the streets outside the National Press Club here against reports that it is likely to be placed in the list of banned groups.
According to Pakistan media reports, action was likely to be taken against Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and its Islamabad chapter.
"All this is being done by the new U.S. president (Donald Trump) to please the right wing extremist ruling party (BJP) in India," the Dawn quoted Shafeequr Rehman, the head of JuD Islamabad, as telling the gathering.
He said JuD was operating one of the best organised philanthropist groups in Pakistan, Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) and there was no proof of its involvement in any illegal activity.
Similar demonstrations were also held in other parts of the country.
A senior official said, "The statement by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday noon said that the issue of JuD was being reviewed too is a strong indication."
Khan confirmed that the government is reviewing the case of the JuD.
The minister further said that the JuD had been on the UN watch list for more than ten years.
Khan said certain actions were being taken by the state against groups under the UN watch list which had not been taken in the past.
Dismissing reports that the security apparatus had directed the JuD leadership to remove their banners, JuD Islamabad spokesman Mohammad Asif said, "We are not involved in anything illegal, and currently even our donation boxes remain placed where they were."
According to an official reply submitted to the National Assembly by Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman, the JuD was placed under observation in Pakistan in January 2007.
However, the Interior Minister said on Monday that JuD was placed in the watch list in 2005.
"We have already filed a petition with the IHC against the inclusion of JuD in the watch list under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 for such a long period of time with the request to remove it from the list," the JuD spokesman said.
The petition was filed on behalf of JuD leader Hafiz Mohammad Saeed on January 18.
The United Nations placed both JuD and its financial organisation Falah-i-Isaniyat Foundation on its watch list in December 2008 and March 2012, respectively.
Saeed said both the JuD and the Falah-i-Isaniyat Foundation should be taken off the watch list as there is no report or complaint against the party or against him.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After the Hollywood went after President Donald Trump's sweeping ban on immigrants from seven Muslim nations, at the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Hollywood's Latina beauties Selena Gomez and Sofia Vergera joined the chorus.
Taking forward what actor Ashton Kutcher said at the SAG awards about President Trump's executive order that temporarily bans refugees and immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries, Gomez, who boasts a Latin heritage, posted a picture on her Instagram, of the same quote.
Ashton Kutcher had said, "Everyone in airports that belong in my America: You are the part of the fabricof who we are. and we love you and we welcome you", which was re-posted by Selena on Instagram.
Meanwhile 'Modern Family' hottie Sofia Vergara drew a lot of flak and support as well on Instagram when she posted a sexy picture of herself in a low cut dress along with a friend, captioned as "immigrants" with a hashtag #nowondertheydontwantushere.
Trump's executive order, announced Friday, temporarily suspended immigration from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days. It halted the country's refugee resettlement program for 120 days and banned Syrian refugees from the U.S. indefinitely.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
About 200 workers of the 969-megawatt Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (NJHP) held a strike on Monday to protest against alleged inaction over their 13-point agenda.
The workers of the power project had submitted an agenda for a meeting on 'unsettled issues' to the chief executive officer (CEO) of Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (NJHP) around one and a half months ago.
They had also requested to fix a date and time for the meeting.
The workers gathered outside the office of chief executive officer (CEO) to stage a strike as no action was taken by the management.
The workers chanted slogans in favour of their demands and against the alleged injustice meted out to them during their protets.
The protesting workers alleged that human resource (HR) policy had not been issued for the past four years.
The workers said that they were deprived of many rights, including regularisation of their jobs.
"Of late, we have heard that the WAPDA is formulating an HR policy which does not envisage pension and other privileges of employees and this being unacceptable to us will be opposed, resisted and challenged fiercely at every forum," the Dawn quoted Sheikh Altaf, president of the local chapter of Wapda Labour Union, as saying.
He added that they demanded to put all the employees, who were appointed for the project, should be accommodated in operation and maintenance (O&M) of the project.
The Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project management invited representatives of striking workers for talks.
The management reportedly approved some of their demands and sought time for consideration on the remaining demands after which the workers called off their strike.
"If the points agreed in Monday's meeting do not figure in the minutes of the meeting on Tuesday we will resume the strike," said Altaf.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
St. Nicholas School Early Learning Center will hold a prospective parent meeting and open house on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m.
The school is located at 7525 Min-Tom Dr.
The meeting will be held in the cafeteria.
Officials said, "Come meet Level 1 (PreK) and Level 2 (Kindergarten) teachers, learn about classroom activities and expectations, hear details of next steps in the admission process, make an appointment for your childs individual assessment, and review financial aid guidelines."
There will be a campus tour on Feb. 2 or Feb. 9. Tours begin at 8:25 a.m. with chapel followed by visits to classrooms.
The application deadline for the Early Learning Center is Feb. 15.
For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Cori Hasden (admission director) at chasden@stns.org or 423 855-1999.
Rubber Skill Development Council (RSDC), the sector skill council for Rubber sector in India, has joined hands with Hindustan University, Chennai for imparting programmes in Rubber Technology.
The RSDC has been set up by the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) and the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and is focussed on skill development and training needs of the rubber sector.
The purpose of the collaboration is to impart education for rubber sector, rubber skills training and programmes in rubber technology and polymer science to meet the growing demand for rubber industry professionals in the country.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was exchanged between Mr. Vinod Simon, Chairman RSDC and Dr. Pon Ramalingam, Registrar Hindustan University Chennai in the presence of Hindustan University management represented by Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese and Mr. Ashok Verghese, Dr. S. Ramachandran - Vice Chancellor, Dr. V. Ravi Kumar - HOD Chemical and Mr. Milton Gerard Huggins - Head Training, Hindustan University.
"The collaboration between RSDC and Hindustan University represents an important step in advancement of rubber education in the country. It will help impart education in rubber technology courses in accordance with National Occupational Standards (NOS) and help meet the demand for certified manpower by the industry", said Mr. Simon.
"The courses and programmes aligned to the cutting edge curricula developed by RSDC would enhance the employability of students of Hindustan University by equipping them with industry/ relevant skills", said Mr. Ashok Verghese.
The MoU also provides for certification and assessment support to the University by RSDC. The university will organize internships and industry placements for students in consultation with RSDC.
On its part, RSDC will facilitate training of trainers and help in provisioning of Master Trainers from the industry as required. RSDC will also ensure quality of training delivery by adopting a stringent process for accreditation of training providers and assessment and certification of trainees.
Rubber industry is manpower intensive and currently two million people are directly employed in the industry, a large percentage of which are unskilled. The industry is dominated by small & medium sector as out of approx. 6000 Rubber products manufacturing units, 90% are Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Rubber industry fits in perfectly with the Government's initiatives of Make in India and Skill India as rubber units spread across the country manufacture around 35000 different rubber products which find usage in Auto, defence, healthcare, agriculture and in various other critical sectors.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to hear the Sahara refund case on February 6 after Subrata Roy's lawyer Kapil Sibal urged that this matter be preponed.
Earlier, the apex court had fixed the date of hearing in the case on February 7.
Roy's interim parole will expire on February 6.
In a major relief to Roy, the apex court earlier on November 28 last year extended his interim bail and ordered him to pay Rs.600 crore to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) by February 6.
During the hearing, Roy's counsel Kapil Sibal proposed to the three judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Tirath Singh Thakur, to pay Rs. 11,000 crore within a period of two-and-a- half years.
In October last year, the apex court had extended his parole till November 28 taking note of the deposit of Rs. 200 crores made by him with SEBI as a condition precedent for his release.
Roy was in Tihar jail since March 4, 2014, till his mother's death in May 6, 2016, for not complying with the apex court's orders in connection with a long dispute with the market regulator.
The SEBI alleged that Roy allegedly failed to comply with 2012 apex court order directing him to return investors more than Rs 20,000 crore with 15 percent interest that his two companies Sahara India Real Estate Corp Ltd and the Sahara Housing Finance Corp Ltd had raised through optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCD) in 2007 and 2008.
On May 6 last year, the apex court had granted four weeks' custody parole to Roy to perform his mother's (Chabbi Roy) last rites.
Sahara, once one of India's most high-profile firms, had in the past made several failed attempts to raise the bail money using its prized overseas hotels that include the Plaza in New York and Grosvenor House in London.
Sahara says it has paid more than 80 percent of the dues to share-holders, but the market regulator, SEBI, disputes that and said the Sahara's have not paid more than Rs 10,000 crores.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Extending warm greeting to the Government and people of the Republic of Nauru on the eve of their Day, President Pranab Mukherjee said that the training of 'Solar Mamas', have been successful in enhancing the relationship between both the countries.
'Solar Mamas' are a group of nearly 30 rural women solar engineers from six African countries who have been trained under India's developmental support for harnessing solar energy.
"Our collaboration in creating a Centre for Excellence in Information Technology in Nauru and our initiative in solar electrification of two hundred homes in Nauru through the training of "Solar Mamas" have been successful in enhancing our relationship in the field of IT, tele-medicine, tele-education and renewable energy," said President Mukherjee in his message to the President of the Republic of Nauru Baron Waqa.
He further said that the traditional relationship of friendship and cooperation between both the countries is growing stronger and has diversified to the shared satisfaction.
"India's dialogue with the Pacific Island Countries under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation partcularly the FIPIC - I Summit held in Suva in November, 2014 and FIPIC - II Summit held in Jaipur in August 2015, has given us opportunities to better understand and address the challenges faced by the Pacific Island Countries," he added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday hailed the nation for declaring "over 1.4 lakh villages, 450 cities, 77 districts and three states as open defecation free".
"My government salutes the strength of the janashakti (peoples' power) to constructively utilise Rashtra Nirman (nation building)," Mukherjee said while addressing the joint session of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session.
Austria's governing coalition has agreed to ban full-face veils in courts, schools and other public places, the media reported on Tuesday.
The prohibition will apply to the naqab and burqa, the full-face or face-and-body coverings worn by Muslim women.
The measures by the ruling coalition of Social Democrats and the centrist People's party are seen as an attempt to counter the rise of the far-right Freedom Party, whose candidate narrowly lost December's presidential vote.
The centrist coalition nearly collapsed last week amid crisis negotiations over the government's future direction.
"The full-face veil will be banned in public spaces," Chancellor Christian Kern said after the week-long negotiations over the issue concluded, adding that the ban will be implemented over the next 18 months.
The 35-page statement included increased security measures and forcing migrants to sign an "integration contract" and a "statement of values".
"Those who are not prepared to accept enlightenment values will have to leave our country and society," according to the text of the coalition agreement published on Monday.
"We believe in an open society that is also based on open communication. Full-body veils in public spaces stand against that and will therefore be prohibited," the agreement said.
The agreement also banned police officers, judges and magistrates and public prosecutors from wearing head scarves in the interest of appearing "ideologically and religiously neutral".
The French Parliament passed an act more than six years ago that made France the first European Union country to ban the burka and naqab in public places.
In December, German chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on the full-face veil as she launched her re-election bid for a fourth term in office.
--IANS
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Actor Ranveer Singh, roped in as brand ambassador for eyewear brand Carrera, finds a similarity between brand associations and marriages.
"Brand associations are like marriages. You are the human form of the values the brand represents. So there is a huge amount of responsibility. Which is why I am very honest about brands I choose as I need to believe in the product," Ranveer told IANS on e-mail from Mumbai.
The 31-year-old said it was an ambassador's responsibility to be honest to the public.
"It's your responsibility to the brand that has chosen you to work with sincerity and commitment. More than the money that you are paid, people have chosen you to represent them in the public and they trust you to be the right person for their brand," he added.
Asked if he relates with the brand, Ranveer said: "There are a lot of essential core values of Carrera that I can relate to and connect with, these really resonate with me.
"In fact, when they first came to meet me and they were talking about the brand, I felt like they were talking about me."
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Britain's Parliament on Tuesday said it would debate whether to revoke US President Donald Trump's invitation to a State visit after a petition calling for it to be canceled garnered almost 1.7 million signatures.
The debate was scheduled to take place on February 20, after the petition, created by Briton Graham Guest, received almost seventeen times the number of signatures it needed to qualify as a topic for parliamentary consideration, Efe news reported.
"Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen," said the petition statement, referring to Elizabeth II.
The petition was launched in response to Trump's controversial executive order to withhold US visas from the citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations.
Another petition in favour of Trump's State visit also surpassed 100,000 signatories.
British Prime Minister Theresa May invited the newly-appointed US president to visit Britain following a visit to the White House.
She was the first foreign leader to visit Trump since he took office on January 20.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the barrage of criticism against US President Donald Trump for his utterances on refugees and Muslims, what has been missed is that he has an "open mind" on environmental issues. He should now again see with an open heart the image of the "whole Earth" taken by the Apollo 17 mission commanded by Eugene Andrew Cernan (who died on January 16, four days before Trump assumed office). That may trigger action to make not only America, but the entire Earth, great again.
It would be worth retracing the Apollo 17 mission, the last US manned space mission during which Cernan became the last man, till now, to walk on the moon.
It was the winter of 1972; December 7 to be precise. Nearly five hours after launch and space travel of 45,000 km, the three American astronauts had adjusted themselves well in the space craft.
Outside was the universe of absolute darkness. In that vastness of infinity they saw a perky and intensely bright globe hanging from nowhere. It took some time for them to come to the terms with the reality and fathom that it was the very planet from where they were propelled five hours back. The Sun behind them, the Earth was strikingly dazzling and lively. With the help of a 70-millimetre Swedish camera specially modified for the Apollo mission, and an 80-millimetre German lens, the American astronauts captured that sharp image of the Earth.
Never before had a space craft, manned or unmanned, taken such an image of the whole Earth -- that appeared like a blue marble, full of life.
That clear image, with polar ice cap in the south, the distinct Arabian peninsula at the centre, the island of Madagascar in the vicinity of the eastern African coastline and the western Indian coastline vaguely seen on the horizon, later became perhaps the most-reproduced and revolutionary image in human history.
Cernan would hardly have realised it in 1972 - that, more than anything else, the image would trigger a global movement for caring for our mother Earth.
Numerous obituaries that appeared after Cernan's death recited his exceptionally heroic exploits that included his three rover excursions of about 30 km on the moon, 22 hours of moonwalks, commanding the longest lunar landing flight of 302 hours, and the longest, 73-hour sojourn on the lunar surface. None of these tributes highlighted the remarkable photograph of the whole Earth.
In reality, the image complemented the outcome of the first UN conference on Human Environment and Development in Stockholm in June 1972, six months before the Apollo 17 mission. Its declaration of 26 principles on environment and development and an action plan with 109 recommendations set in motion the enhanced understanding of environmental imperatives.
The image supplemented that very understanding by visualising the frailty of the Earth and the sense of urgency to act. The image was stored in the hearts of global citizens and became the root of modern environmentalism.
In his 2011 book, "Scales of the Earth", El Hadi Jazairy, an MIT Research Scientist and Architect, wrote: "Time and time again, the environmental movement has circulated the NASA Earth photographs to cash in on their... delicate and bounded beauty."
Indeed, that image became a symbol of the environmental crusade, by depicting Earth's frailty, vulnerability, and isolation amid the vast expanse of space.
Ten years before the capture of that momentous image, a compelling book, "Silent Spring", also transformed the way the Western world comprehends the Earth. It was authored by Rachel Carson, who described hauntingly how indiscriminate use of pesticides like DDT and hazardous chemicals were harming the Earth's ecosystems.
The book targeted the chemical industry and regulatory officials for disinformation and casual attitudes that were threatening the life-supporting food chain. Al Gore, the former US Vice President and Nobel Laureate, wrote: "'Silent Spring' had a profound impact... Indeed, Rachel Carson was one of the reasons that I became so conscious of the environment."
Many are convinced that "Silent Spring" tilted the balance of power in the world and diluted the hegemony of Western-style consumerism as the way to the progress. Discover magazine listed it as one of the 25 greatest science books. The passionate naturalist, Dr. Richard Attenborough, considered it the book that transformed the scientific world the most, after "Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin.
But again, the book stopped short of providing the vivid urge and vibrant impel to protect the Earth. It created controversies - including that Carson did not take into account the balance needed between the essential use of pesticide like DDT in poor countries to save the lives of millions from malaria, and the environmental damage it does.
That gap was, undoubtedly, filled by the 1972 image of the beautiful, elegant but dainty whole Earth. The world started to appreciate the idiocy of people fighting over borders, killings in the Middle East over some imaginary lines on the self-proclaimed territorial maps that cannot even seen from space. The only borders visible from space are the lines that separate oceans from land, forests from deserts and, if viewed carefully, deforested land from the pathetic forests that still exist.
After 45 years, the image is recalled in 2017 - with Cernan's death and and when the trumpets are being blown to silence not only springs but also to blur the images that made us understand mother Earth. Triumphant shouts are heard for the repeal not only of treaties, but to reverse the treatise that the world had mustered to imagine.
Thus, Trump's words on the environment have come not a day too soon. Will he take them forward?
(Rajendra Shende is Chairman, TERRE Policy Centre, former Director UNEP and an IIT Alumni. Views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at shende.rajendra@gmail.com)
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Tuesday demanded a discussion on various issues in the current Budget session of Parliament, including demonetisation, militant activities on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir and erosion in autonomy of institutions.
The opposition party said the central government had not yet accepted any of its demands.
"We have requested the government for discussion on the two issues. They should allow discussion on at least one issue -- increasing militant activities on the border in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Many civilians died last year and for the past four months security personnel are also dying at the hands of terrorists and Pakistani forces. At least 20 persons have died due to avalanches," senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
Azad said due to time constraints, discussions will not take place on important national and international issues.
"An all-party meeting was called yesterday (Monday). We have urged the government to call an all-party meeting again in March for the remaining session. Other opposition parties have agreed to this proposal.
"During the 10-day session, nothing much will happen in five days. In the remaining five days, there will be discussions on the President's address and the Budget. No discussion will take place on important national and international issues," said Azad.
Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that the issue of "erosion" in the autonomy of institutions like the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bureau of Investigation should also be taken up apart from the November 8 demonetisation.
Kharge said that at Monday's all-party meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker they had demanded a debate on demonetisation, the ordinance on demonetisation as money bill, and autonomy of institutions.
He accused the government of eroding the autonomy of institutions like the RBI.
Similarly, the appointment of the CBI Director was not as per procedures, he added.
"We would also like to debate cease-fire violations and terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir... if the house can function for an hour or two more these topics can be discussed," Kharge said.
"We will have to see which of our demands make it to the business advisory," the Congress leader said.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The demonetisation of high value currencies (Rs 500 and Rs 1,000) and the subsequent cash crunch is expected to push back the asset quality recovery of Indian banks, said Fitch Ratings.
Fitch also said stressed-asset ratio for Indian bank predicted to increase to 12 per cent for the current fiscal earlier, is expected to go up further. Last fiscal the ratio was 11.4 per cent.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Fitch said: "Cash shortages caused by the demonetisation of large-denomination currency notes have affected the income of many borrowers -- by holding back economic activity -- and reduced their short-term repayment abilities."
"The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed forbearance on some loans to the agricultural sector and small businesses, but these account for a relatively small share of outstanding lending," Fitch said.
According to the credit rating agency the impact of demonetisation on asset quality is likely to only start showing up significantly in data for the January-March quarter.
However, most state banks have already indicated publicly that loan recovery has been affected.
"We still believe that asset-quality indicators are close to their weakest level and will recover slowly over the next few years, but any turnaround is likely to have been pushed back by at least two quarters," Fitch said.
On the growth of loan portfolios of banks Fitch said the growth will be below its earlier estimate of 10 per cent for this fiscal and may even slow from 8.8 per cent in fiscal 2015-16.
The loan growth may increase if banks cut further their lending rates for which there is much scope as the cost of funds for the banks provided the additional deposits that had come following demonetisation remains with the banks.
"The lasting impact on bank deposits -- and lending rates -- will become clear only after withdrawal limits are lifted," Fitch said.
--IANS
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The Complete Tennessee Leadership Academy (CTLA) on Monday hosted a panel discussion with state policymakers and education stakeholders to discuss the states changing higher education landscape and opportunities to better serve current and future postsecondary students.
State Representative Harry Brooks, chair of the House Committee on Education Administration and Planning, and State Representative John Forgety, chair of the House Committee on Education Instruction and Programs, participated in the panel along with Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd.
Complete Tennessee Executive Director
said, Candid discussions with state leaders on the challenges and opportunities facing Tennessees higher education system are integral to our work with the Complete Tennessee Leadership Academy. Our policymakers see the connection between secondary education success and postsecondary completion, yet they acknowledge there is certainly more work to be done to serve Tennessee's students in the best way possible. We are grateful to all our panelists for their participation, especially State Reps. Forgety and Brooks, and for taking time out of their busy schedules to explore ways we can work together to strengthen the states postsecondary system.
This is the third working session of the 2016-2017 CTLA, which brings together a diverse group of community stakeholders from around the state for several months of regional programming to help participants develop a richer understanding of the state of postsecondary education in Tennessee. Two sessions were held last year in Memphis and Knoxville, and two more sessions are planned for Chattanooga and Sewanee in the coming months.
To learn more about the 2016-2017 CTLA participants,
.
Kenyatta Lovett
The Election Commission giving an ultimatum to the Congress party has in a letter asked it to complete its organisational polls by June-end, while refusing to extend the date any further.
The party has asked for two extensions since December 31, 2015.
In the letter dated January 5 sent to the Congress party in response to its latest request for extension of the deadline, the poll panel said: "The commission has considered your request and has directed that the party may complete organisational elections by June 30."
"Your party is directed to... submit the complete list of office-bearers, members of committees latest by July 15," it added.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi's term ended on December 31, 2015, but the party applied for an extension, delaying the organisational elections.
This was done for Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi to make up his mind to take up the reins of the party.
On November 7, 2016, the Congress Working Committee members unanimously expressed their desire to see Rahul Gandhi take over the party president's post.
The Congress on December 16, 2016, again wrote to the EC, seeking another extension in conducting party elections.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the "favourable monsoon" supplemented by "farmer-oriented schemes" of the government has resulted in increased crop yields.
"A favourable monsoon supplemented by farmer-oriented schemes has increased the acreage and yield of most Kharif crops," Mukherjee said while addressing the joint session of the two houses of parliament.
"The sowing area in the current Rabi season has shown six per cent increase in comparison to last year," Mukherjee said.
The President also said: "My government has taken various steps to transform the lives of our farmers."
"Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana expanded its ambit of risk coverage, doubled sum insured and facilitated lowest-ever premium," he said.
"Three crore kisan (farmer) credit cards will be converted into Rupay debit cards soon," Mukherjee added.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said that frequent elections put development programmes on hold and the government welcomes a constructive debate on simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Addressing the joint session of the two houses of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, the President said that funding of elections to eradicate the misuse of money power also needs to be debated.
"Frequent elections put on hold development programmes, disrupt normal public life, impact essential services and burden human resource with prolonged periods of election duty. My government welcomes a constructive debate on simultaneous conduct of elections to Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies," he said.
"Funding of elections to eradicate the misuse of money power also needs to be debated. My government would welcome any decision taken by the Election Commission in this regard after consultations with political parties," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pitching for a debate on the need of simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Mukherjee had also referred to the issue in his address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day, saying the time was ripe for a constructive debate on electoral reforms and a return to the practice of the early decades after independence when elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies were held simultaneously.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the government will welcome any decision taken by the Election Commission on simultaneous polls to the assemblies and Lok Sabha, in consultation with political parties.
Addressing the joint session of the two houses of Parliament at the start of Budget Session, the President said the proposal of simultaneous polls needs to be debated as a move towards eradication of money power in elections.
"My government will welcome any decision by the Election Commission after consulting the political parties," the President added.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Pakistan Army on Tuesday termed the house arrest of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief "a policy decision".
During a media briefing, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said: "This is a policy decision that the state took in interest. Lots of institutions will have to do their jobs."
The JuD chief, wanted in India for masterminding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was on Monday night arrested in Lahore by Punjab Police. He is under UN sanctions and carries a bounty of $10 million on his head.
Speaking about the situation with India, Ghafoor said, "We don't want war with anyone. War is not a solution to anything but we will not compromise on our dignity and respect".
He added, "the Kashmir issue should be resolve under United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness."
Touching upon the ceasefire violations across the Line of Control that divides Jammu and Kashmir he said: "In the last four months alone, there have been 314 violations, due to which 46 Pakistan citizens and 40 Indian soldiers have been killed."
He claimed that India was "doing all this according to a preempted plan. It is trying to divert the world's attention away from atrocities in the Kashmir Valley."
"India's 'surgical strike' was one episode of this drama," he added.
"The Indian army chief recently also made a statement about the cold-start doctrine... Pakistan had apprehensions it is working on developing these capabilities. The Indian army chief has acknowledged this capability and has made their intent to intensify their actions clear."
BJP MP and former Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh on Tuesday dubbed the house arrest of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed an "eyewash" of Pakistan and demanded that the Mumbai attack mastermind must be prosecuted.
"There is no meaning of house arrest until he is chargesheeted and prosecuted. The Pakistani action is just an eyewash," Singh told reporters outside parliament.
The JuD chief, wanted in India for masterminding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was on Monday night arrested in Lahore by Punjab Police. He is under UN sanctions and carries a bounty of $10 million on his head.
Singh also said that India should adopt tit for tat policy regrading Pakistan.
"One surgical strike is not enough. India should make policy that whenever there is terror attack, it should respond hard.
"The approach should be if they kill our people we should hit back hard (tum maroge to hum bhi wapas jakar marenge)," Singh said.
He however rejected that the claim that the Pakistani action was taken under India's pressure.
"Pakistan never acts on India's pressure. It might be of US after President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning entry of refugees from any country," he said.
Singh said that US should also act tough on Pakistan.
--IANS
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Houthi rebels attacked a Saudi warship in the Red Sea, killing two sailors and injuring three others, a US official told Fox News.
The warship, Al Madinah, was conducting routine operations on Monday when the attack occurred.
However, it was unknown if the ship was hit by a missile or by suicide attack after being rammed by a small boat, the official said.
The US military was monitoring the situation. The warship was able to continue her transit despite the damage, he added.
--IANS
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Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Tuesday said that US President Donald Trump's immigration policy for seven Muslim-majority nations can raise 'suspicion' towards Muslims.
"It can raise suspicion especially towards Muslims," Xinhua news agency quoted Kalla as saying.
He said the risks of the policy would finally backfire, such as the recent protests in the US, reminding that it could endanger the unity of the United States itself.
The immigration policy would also lead the immigrants shifting their destination to Asia, said Kalla, adding that Indonesia is open for them.
"Based on experience, we welcome them all, including Rohingya refugees and Afghan refugees," he said.
Indonesia is not included in the blacklist of nations -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- whose citizens have been temporarily barred from entering the United States.
Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population with most of its 250 million people being followers of Islam.
--IANS
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Pakistan-born Canadian writer Tarek Fatah (he objects to being called a Pakistani) is offending and entertaining in equal measure.
From Partition to the interpretation of Islam, he has views that verge on the extreme, and even when speaking on serious topics he glides from the sombre to the ludicrous, blurting out profanities now and breaking into a childlike giggle the next moment. At times he contradicts himself.
Such is the charm of the man that you may disagree with him on all that he is saying, but you just can't dislike him. This is because whatever he says has that tinge of sincerity you can't ignore, even if it is outright controversial.
For example, he said communal riots in India would not happen if Indian Muslims forgo their personal law, and objects to names like Taimur (as Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has named his son) and Aurangzeb.
Fatah is proud of his roots in India and his Hindu ancestry. He eulogises the great Indian civilisation and calls Pakistan an "abstract idea". But his snide remarks are not reserved only for Pakistanis or Muslims; he also takes India's Hindu right to task over love jihad and their perceived fondness for Hitler.
"India is a civilisation that has a past and a future. It's the only civilisation that has that. In spite of being assaulted and attacked and plundered over a thousand years, it has risen up again," Fatah, whose books include "Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State" (2008) and "The Jew Is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths that Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism" (2010), told IANS in an interview.
"On the other hand, Pakistan is not a nation, it's just a state of mind. There is no such people as 'Pak', like we have Afghans in Afghanistan, Kazakhs in Kazakhstan and Balochs in Balochistan. Where are the Pak people?" he asked.
Fatah insisted that the idea of Pakistan ended in 1971 when the "majority of its people said we do not want Pakistan and created Bangladesh".
Asked why he doesn't like to be called a Pakistani, Fatah said: "India is a republic rooted in 5,000 years of Indus Valley civilisation, the other (Pakistan) is a concoction of hatred. Pakistan is merely a military enterprise for the jihadis."
Fatah went on to say that all the proponents of Pakistan were "Hindu hate mongers", including the celebrated Urdu poet Allama Iqbal.
"Iqbal's ancestors were Hindus but he was a Hindu hater. He went to the extent of plagiarising his own poetry to attack the Hindus. I would call people in India who are still celebrating Iqbal and singing his tarana (anthem) as idiots," Fatah said.
However, despite calling Partition a tragedy, Fatah has little tolerance for the idea of Pakistan -- or any of its component territories -- merging with India.
"Why should Pakistan merge with India. Bhutan is an independent country; so why not Balochsitan or Sindh? What is this obsession with territories? It's a very feudal concept," he said.
Although he believes that Balochistan and Sindh should be independent countries, he dismisses separatist movements within India such as that for Khalistan or Azad Kashmir or Bodoland as "ideas drawn up in Pakistan's boardrooms".
On Kashmir, he said that although the Kashmiris fit his definition of a nation, like the Balochs, they can't be given independence as "Kashmiris themselves opted to join India in 1947".
Fatah also has an objection to Indian Muslims naming their children after kings and Sultans such as Aurangzeb and Taimur.
"Indian Muslims have made people like Aurangzeb their heroes. That's why Saif Ali Khan has named his son Taimur. His wife says my husband is a historian. Is this what they got in history?" Fatah asked.
So what should have been the baby's name, in his opinion?
Pat came the reply: "Hitler rakh lete jee, toh Hinduon ko bhi thand par jaati. (They should have named him "Hitler" instead, so that even Hindus would have liked it). Because the (right wing) Hindus are so fond of Hitler. It's only in India that Hitler's books sell like hot cakes."
The Canada-based writer has no love lost for Indian Muslims who flaunt surnames which show their Arab lineage such as Hashmi, Naqvi and Bukhari.
"By flaunting surnames like Hashmi and Qureshi, they are saying 'we are not Indians, we are Arabs'. Only the Muslims who have converted from Hindus are Indians," he said.
"But this phenomenon plagues all Indians. Even Hindus who have made money take fancy names. So Namrita becomes Nikki Haley and Piyush becomes Bobby Jindal. They are all liars," Fatah said.
While slamming the mullahs for stopping inter-religious marriages -- which he said happened quite frequently in undivided India -- Fatah does not spare the Hindus.
"The mindless Hindus are talking of love jihad. What nonsense is this? It is the fundamental human right of a man or woman who they choose to marry," he said.
Fatah said that Indian Muslims are to be blamed for communal riots in India. "You end Muslim personal law, the communal riots would end. Muslims want communal riots and blame Hindus," he said.
(Mohd Asim Khan can be contacted at mohd.a@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.)
India gave a "fitting reply" to Pakistan by conducting a surgical strike on terror launch pads in Pakistani territory, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday.
"My government has taken decisive steps to give a fitting reply to the repeated incursions on our territorial integrity and sovereignty," he told a joint session of Parliament at the start of Budget Session.
He said that on September 29, the Indian armed forces "successfully conducted surgical strikes at several launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC) to prevent infiltration by terrorists. We are proud of the exemplary courage and valour displayed by our defence personnel.
The President also said that the demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP), pending for 40 years, has finally been fulfilled with "the total financial implications around Rs 11,000 crore".
"More than Rs 6,200 crore have been released, benefiting over 19.6 lakh veterans," he added.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Baby boomers across the Chattanooga area are reaching the point where their children have grown up and moved out of the house or are making plans in that direction. Though the transition from full house to empty nest can be filled with excitement, it can also be filled with stress. Among numerous questions that may come to mind, you might be wondering if this is an opportunity to move and downsize to a smaller, more manageable home. Or perhaps you want to stay in your current home and repurpose the extra space.
The answers to these questions depend on your unique circumstances. But for those who decide to stay putat least for the time beingnow is a great time to begin considering which, if any, modifications your home may require to better suit your needs as you get older.
Rather than waiting until your nest is empty, be proactive about making alterations to your home to make it more comfortable for years down the road. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are planning to age in place.
Prioritize Your Wish List
With the kids out of the house and more free time on your hands, you might have the urge to dive right in and tackle many of the DIY projects on your list. But first, take another look at the rooms in your house to determine which ones fit your new lifestyle, and which ones need some work. Some areas of the home might only need minor changes. Others might need to be repurposed altogether. Take the time to create a general plan and prioritize the items on your list.
Focus on Improving Livability
Many empty nesters hire expert remodelers to adapt their home to make it easy to use and maintain. Stairs can sometimes become a problem, but moving the master bedroom and the laundry room to the ground floor can be part of a solution. Doing so can give home owners many more years in the home they love without a sense of urgency to move to a one-story home. Building professionals who have earned the National Association of Home Builders Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation have received training on how to build or renovate a home so that the occupants can live in the home safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of their age.
Expand Your Space
Depending on the age of your home, you may find that, for example, your master bedroom or bath is too small for comfort. Look for opportunities to expand those rooms into adjacent, unused or underutilized spaces. A remodeling professional is the best person to help you determine what your options are to build your dream master bathroom or bedroom. They can also help you find ways to create a more open floorplan that is easier to navigate for those with mobility concerns. Incorporating these changes will not only create a home that suits a changing lifestyle, they also may increase the value of your home when you eventually decide its time sell.
For more a list of professional remodelers in the Chattanooga area, visit the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga at www.HBAGC.net.
India and Russia on Tuesday agreed to have a joint action plan to counter the global scourge of terrorism, the External Affairs Ministry said.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting here where the Indian side was led by Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry, Preeti Saran, while the Russian delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg V. Syromolotov.
"Both sides agreed to a joint action plan which seeks to focus on enhancing capacity building, frequent expert-level meetings, sharing of insights, exchange of best practices in countering radicalisation and curbing terrorism," said the External Affairs Ministry statement.
It said both sides shared views and assessment on the threats posed by the scourge of terrorism, including state-sponsored cross-border terrorism - an oblique reference to Pakistan - faced by India, the statement said.
"They also shared concerns regarding the emergence of Af-Pak region as the epicentre of terrorism. They discussed successful experiences in curbing terrorism and countering radicalisation," it said.
According to the statement, India and Russia agreed that the UNSC 1267 Sanctions List processes for blacklisting various terrorist individuals and entities must be stringently complied with.
Last year, China blocked the move to have sanctions imposed against Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar, chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and one of the three terrorists freed in exchange of passengers of a hijacked Indian Airlines plane in 1999.
"Prospects for deepening engagement on counter-terrorism under the UN, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), and SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) mechanisms were also emphasised," the statement said.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Though the new US administration under President Donald Trump is creating an air of turbulence, New Delhi's relationship with Washington is likely to become "more transactional" in nature, India's former Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Puri said on Tuesday.
Delivering a public lecture on "India and the Western Liberal Democratic Order" organised by the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library here, Puri said that successive Indian governments have contributed to the India-US bilateral relationship.
But, he said, during the Trump presidency, the India-US relationship "will become even more transactional".
He said that Trump, being a businessman, was more likely to be inclined to cut deals with countries that he sees were in his country's interest.
"Is Trump good for India? Even Americans do not know whether Trump is good for the US," the veteran diplomat said.
"Let us exercise restraint and patience. We must convey to the US our interests quietly and work."
Stating that India's core interests were fighting terrorism, trade and visas, Puri said that India should use the new turbulence in the US to fight terrorism.
"Our primary objective should be to get Pakistan to change its policy of state sponsorship of terrorism," he said, but added that he was not for international isolation of Pakistan.
Stating that the quasi state terror outfit Islamic State (IS) was "an unwanted child of a failed and neglected occupation", he said that its formation was the result of the US creating a $500-million fund to fight the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.
According to Puri, the IS is a "completely fabricated enemy" created by the US.
Referring to Trump administration's decision to ban entry by citizens of seven countries for 90 days, he said that all these countries were allies of the US in the fight against terrorism. The six countries are Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
As for trade, Puri said that with an economy of $17 trillion, it would be difficult for the US to withdraw from international agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). The US has been at loggerheads with Mexico over the Nafta, saying that the treaty was biased in favour of Mexico.
"Today you cannot take punitive action without being hit back in retaliation," Puri said.
He also said that Trump's victory in the presidential election and Britain's exit from the European Union were results of the industrialised world's inability to deal with economic growth.
The former Permanent Representative expressed happiness at the Trump administration's decision to take up the issue of visas and lauded the move to double the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to $130,000.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday expressed concern over the threats posed by terrorism and declared that India and other countries will defeat it decisively.
Addressing a joint session of Parliament, he said India would "actively collaborate" with other countries in "decisively defeating" terrorism.
"My government is committed to combating terrorism and ensuring that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice."
In an apparent reference to Pakistan, the President said Jammu and Kashmir had been affected by terrorism from across the border.
He said there had been considerable success in containing Maoism with hundreds of Maoists surrendering in the recent past.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Miscreants defaced walls and pasted posters near an army cantonment in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district on Tuesday, claiming the arrival of the Islamic State (IS) and its threat of blasts, a police official said.
However, no arrest has been made so far.
The posters and a flag saying "ISIS Coming Soon", written in English, Hindi and Urdu, surfaced on the walls near Subathu cantonment, the official told IANS.
Subathu is some 50 km from the state capital here.
One of the posters warned of triggering three bomb blasts from Subathu to Nepal.
Additional Superintendent of Police Manmohan Singh visited the area and said a state forensic team collected evidence from the spot. He said several people were questioned.
The police said investigations were on and also asked the locals not to feel threatened by the posters.
Earlier in January, a temple in Solan was defaced with "ISIS coming soon" written over its walls in English and Arabic.
In December 2016, a 23-year-old man from Bengaluru with alleged IS links was arrested by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team and the local police from Banjar area in Kullu district.
The suspect Abeed Khan was arrested from a church where he was staying with a fake identity for several months, the police said.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gujarat's Acting Director General of Police P.P. Pandey, who is an accused in the killing of Ishrat Jahan and associates in an alleged shootout, was given a three-month extension of service on Tuesday, the day he retired.
The state government's recommendation to extend Pandey's services was approved by the Union Home Ministry.
Besides heading the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Pandey was holding the charge of the Director General of Police of the state.
A 1980 batch IPS officer, Pandey was arrested in July 2013 in connection with the killing of Ishrat Jahan, a 18-year-old girl from Mumbra in Mumbai, in the alleged gunfight.
The IPS officer was released on bail in February 2015 after remaining in jail for 19 months. After his discharge on bail, he was not only promoted by the state government but also given the additional charge of the Director General of Police.
Senior police officer Julio Ribeiro had challenged Pandey's appointment as DGP in the Gujarat High Court, which, however, turned down the petition.
Pandey has appealed to the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court to dismiss the charge against him in the alleged shootout.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A representative of the Israeli Foreign Ministry on Tuesday headed to Turkey, which, according to a ministry spokesperson, would mark the first diplomatic dialogue between the two countries in six years.
The nations signed an agreement in June 2016 to restore their diplomatic ties that were suspended since 2010, Efe news reported.
Foreign Ministry Director General Yuval Rotem is on a three-day visit to Ankara and Istanbul with the aim of developing "bilateral ties and strengthening cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres," said ministry spokesman Emanuel Nahshon .
Turkey and Israel suspended relations in 2010 when Israeli troops killed 10 Turkish activists by opening fire on the Mavi Marmara ship, part of the "Freedom Flotilla" then attempting to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.
In 2011 Ankara withdrew its ambassador from Tel Aviv and expelled the Israeli envoy to Turkey, but in June of last year, the two countries reached an agreement to end diplomatic tensions after Israel offered a formal apology, millions of dollars in compensation and permission for Turkey to send humanitarian aid to Gaza.
"The political dialogue sends a positive message on the commitment of both sides to deepen the relationship between the two countries," Nahshon added.
This meeting will "allow for comprehensive discussion, after six years of challenges, on the drastic changes in the region," the statement said.
Rotem plans to meet with his Turkish counterpart and other representatives, including the Governor of Istanbul, consular staff and leaders of the Jewish community in the country.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Members of the Jamaat ud-Dawa (JuD) staged protests across Pakistan after the group's leader Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks, was placed under house arrest.
Following the Pakistan government's crackdown against the JuD launched on Monday night, the organisation took out protests in major cities including capital Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Quetta and Hyderabad, Pakistan Today reported.
The protesters raised slogans in favour of the organisation and against India and the US.
A demonstration took place in front of the Lahore Press Club. JuD leaders, including Abu-al Hashim Rabbani, Abdul Majid Salfi and Masood-ur-Rehman, addressed the protest.
They said that the Jamaat is a patriot organisation and people are well aware of its activities and alleged that the Pakistan government was taking action against it just to please its "Indian and American overlords".
"We will launch a strong protest in case the government bans us," the leaders said, claiming that the JuD was "charity organisation".
At the time of detention, Saeed was reportedly at the Qudsia Mosque located in the Chauburji area of Lahore.
JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for the terror attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, that killed over 160 people, including several foreign nationals.
It was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US -- six of whose nationals died in the attack -- in June 2014.
In April 2012, the US put Saeed on its list of most-wanted terrorists and announced a reward of $10 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Director Karthick Naren, 22, is elated after being appreciated by "Baahubali" star Rana Daggubati for his Tamil whodunit thriller "Dhuruvangal 16".
The movie, which marked Karthick's directorial debut and is having a dream run in cinemas, has impressed critics and audiences alike.
In a Facebook post, he wrote: "'I haven't seen the film yet. But the kind of reviews I have been hearing are amazing. So thought of inviting you home and congratulate'. These words from Rana Daggubati Sir are special."
Karthick also shared an image where he is seen posing with Rana.
The film, which stars Rahman in the lead, revolves around a murder investigation and features 16 key characters.
Currently in its fifth week in cinemas, the film has emerged successful despite the onslaught of superstar Vijay's Tamil action-drama "Bairavaa".
From filmmaker A.R. Murugadoss to Gautham Vasudev Menon, stalwarts of the Tamil film fraternity have heaped praise on the film and the young director.
It is being dubbed in Telugu as "16" and will be remade in Hindi.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Working on India's most anticipated film "Baahubali: The Conclusion" can be nerve-wracking, but for visual effects supervisor R.C Kamalakannan it can't be more satisfying as he's getting to learn and share.
"It is 15 months since taking over the reins of 'Baahubali: The Conclusion' visual effects. It's amazing that almost all major VFX studios in our country are following one pipeline, working towards one common goal," Kamalakannan, who has also worked on films such as "Magadheera" and "Puli", said in a statement.
He went on to add that work on the film's post-production is currently underway in 33 studios around the world.
"Life can't be more satisfying. This opportunity to learn and share means a lot," he said.
With the second part in the franchise slated for release on April 28, he added that everyone in the team is racing against time but towards a common goal.
Starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan and Sathyaraj, the S.S Rajamouli-directed magnum opus will release in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam, apart from being dubbed in other foreign languages at a later stage.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the government was a "complete failure" in creating jobs for the youths.
"The main question in India today is job creation for the youth. In this matter, this government is a complete failure," Gandhi told the media outside Parliament.
Gandhi's remarks came on a day when President Pranab Mukherjee hailed the government's social security schemes while addressing a joint session of Parliament.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over the 42 years Jack Muncy has been at TVA, he has seen a lot of things change. But one thing has never changed for him: his commitment to proactive stewardship.
As the lead for the team of land management professionals that developed TVAs land condition assessment (LCA) process, Mr. Muncywho is a senior specialist, Reservoir Land Conditionsees land condition assessments as a logical starting point for responsible public land stewardship.
Even in the chill of winter, TVA employees are in the field, assessing resource conditions, checking property boundaries, documenting resource stewardship needs and developing prioritized tasks to address those needs.
You cant say whether a parcel of land is being misused or if it would be good for recreation, wildlife habitat enhancement, development or preservation, unless you lay eyes on it, says Mr. Muncy. LCAs are a practical approach to collecting the facts we need to make smart decisions about our land.
Land condition assessments were the brainchild of Mr. Muncys back in the mid-2000s, when resource management was done using varying methodology across the Valley. Then in 2009, Mr. Muncy led the team that designed an integrated process for how each parcel of land could be assessed, including rankings for important attributes like public safety, resource protection, vegetation and impact to wildlife habitat from things like insects and disease, invasive plants, unauthorized activities and more.
Under the process, which was implemented the next year, each parcel gets scored based on a hands-on, professional assessment of the property by at least two Natural Resource Management specialists.
The employees walk the land and make notes on specific resource conditions, Mr. Muncy said, then they sit down and talk through the assessment worksheet, which guides the ranking of Good, Fair or Poor. The process is uniform across the diverse landscapes of the Valley, from the mountains in the east to the lowlands of the west.
Each parcels assessment worksheets are entered into an electronic database in which Natural Resource Management can access a priority listing of needs by parcel, reservoir and various other sorting options. This database of natural resource management tasks is the foundation of much of the work NRM employees complete in order to fulfill public land and resource management goals and ultimately TVAs stewardship and public service missions.
Assessments cover everything from whether or not the signage for the public is in good shape (or if there is any at all), if there is any illegal dumping going on, if invasive plants are causing issues and the condition of public access roads or areas used for informal recreation, such as bank fishing or camping.
If we go into an area where we can tell lots of folks have been camping, we can assess whether or not we should make improvements to the site, like adding designated parking areas or other amenities to make their experience more user-friendly, says Mr. Muncy.
Sometimes an area may become so popular the land and resources are impacted and we may need to use best management practices to reduce impacts while preserving the publics enjoyment to the extent possible. Often, it is all about balancing public use and resource protection goals and optimizing both as much as possible.
Since beginning the standardized process, Natural Resource Management employees have assessed over 110,000 acres of TVAs 180,000 acres of Tier I land, or land that receives the most public use and/or has the highest ecological value. These assessments have resulted in thousands of tasks being completed by TVA staff, often with TVAs partners, to address the stewardship needs that LCAs have identified.
The land condition assessment process has transformed how we manage the public land we are entrusted to be stewards of, says Evan Crews, senior manager, Natural Resource Management.
This standardized, integrated system allows Natural Resources staff to plan and execute our work such that we are making consistent, informed decisions to optimize the public value as well as meet our goals for clean, safe lands that support healthy natural communities and good water quality in the adjacent rivers and reservoirs.
According to Mr. Crews, the procedure has helped his team ensure they allocate their budget with natural resource and public service priorities.
Using this system, were able to look comprehensively across the Valley and focus our budget on the most critical needs, such as areas that receive the most visitors or underlying conditions that could pose a public safety or environmental concern, which are obviously our top priority, he says.
Once those critical needs are met, we can then direct remaining resources to the diversity of other high priority stewardship needs, working together with our many internal and external partners and growing volunteer base to do our share in improving the quality of living in the Tennessee River Valley.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hoped that the budget session of parliament that got underway on Tuesday would be "fruitful" and all political parties would ensure a healthy debate in the larger public interest.
"In the recent past, there have been discussions with all the political parties individually and collectively.
"It is imperative to ensure that this session should be utilised for a constructive debate in the larger interests of the public and yet at the same time, detailed discussions should take place on the budget," Modi said while speaking to reporters here.
"I urge all parties to help in smooth functioning of the session. Hope for fruitful discussions. I am optimistic that all political parties will join hands to ensure a healthy debate in the parliament in the larger public interest," he said.
The Prime Minister said: "For the first time, the budget will be presented on February 1."
"You may recall that earlier the budget was presented at 5 p.m. Its timing was changed to morning when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government came to power and the budget was presented just after the commencement of the parliament session," Modi said.
"Yet another new tradition comes into effect from today (Tuesday). Budget is being presented one month ahead and the rail budget has now become a part of the union budget.
"There will be extensive debate in the parliament on this issue and it will also reflect the ensuing benefits from the decision in the days to come," he added.
--IANS
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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The last rites of murdered Infosys techie Rasila Raju were conducted at her home town near here on Tuesday afternoon.
Hundreds of locals turned up for Raju's funeral in Kuruvattur as her body arrived from Mumbai earlier in the day.
Her family had plans of getting her marriage fixed.
Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala, who came to console her family, said he would write to the Maharashtra government for a thorough probe into the incident.
The body of the young IT professional was found on the ninth floor of the Infosys building at the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Pune on Sunday evening.
A security guard of the company Saikia has already been arrested by police for the crime.
Rasila is survived by her father who is an ex-serviceman and now works as a Home Guard here, while her brother works abroad.
Her mother passed away two years back.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Zealand's Prime Minister Bill English on Tuesday voiced his opposition to the US President Donald Trump's immigration ban, while his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull declined to speak publicly on the issue.
"We disagree with it, and we wouldn't implement it," English told New Zealand's TVNZ network, adding that he hopes to have the opportunity to talk about the issue with Trump.
"We're not scared of anything. What I'm concerned about is the reassurance to people in New Zealand - migrants, refugees - that this is not a track we are going to go down and we do not want them to feel agitated, upset or worried that we could in any way follow this kind of policy."
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declined to speak out publicly against the ban and said only in a brief press conference that "when I have frank advice to give to an American President, I give it privately, as good friends should, as wise prime ministers do."
Turnbull also announced that Australians with dual nationality - Australia and one of the seven countries - will not be affected by the controversial immigration ban.
"What is important for me to do as Australian prime minister is to deliver for Australians," said Turnbull, who has been criticized for not emulating other world leaders regarding the immigration ban.
Labelled as "illegal" and "mean-spirited" by the UN, the ban has generated a wave of protests both inside and outside the US, as well as confusion and outrage at several airports in the world where many travellers have been barred from entering the US territory.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nine workers died after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning an oil tank at an edible oils manufacturing company, police said on Tuesday.
One person was undergoing treatment after the accident at Kirti Agrovet Ltd, an oil mills company in Latur MIDC, on Monday evening.
Police have arrested Kirtikumar V. Bhutada, the company owner, and three other officials.
Maharashtra Labour Minister Sambhaji Patil-Nilangekar, after visiting the site on Monday night, assured compensation to the kin of victims.
Four workers descended into a 25-feet deep tank to clear wastage settlement residues but failed to come out, a police official said.
After waiting for some time, five others stepped down and they also did not come out.
Police and fire brigades were summoned as other helpers panicked fearing something had gone amiss.
The bodies of Narendra Takle, Rameshwar Shinde, Parmeshwar Birajdar, Maruti Gaikwad, Shivaji Atkare, Ram Yerame, Akash Bhuse and brothers Baliram Pawar and Dagdu Pawar were extracted around 4 a.m. on Tuesday.
Angry relatives of the victims mobbed the minister and complained of delays in the rescue work.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former US President Barack Obama, in his first public statement after leaving office, rejected his successor Donald Trump's controversial immigration ban and backed nationwide protests against the order, the media reported.
In a strongly worded statement issued through spokesman Kevin Lewis on Monday, Obama said he was "heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country", NBC News reported.
"Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," he said.
The former President rejected Trump's contention that his executive orders restricting travel from the seven predominantly Muslim countries were "similar to what Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months".
"With regard to comparisons to Obama's foreign policy decisions, as we've heard before, he fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion," the statement said.
Trump's executive orders signed on January 27 blocked all people from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days, brought a 120-day suspension to America's refugee programme and an indefinite end to its intake of Syrian refugees, the New York Daily News reported.
The orders prompted massive demonstrations airports across the US, including more than 5,000 protesters at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport after at least 17 passengers - including green card holders - were detained for hours due to their country of origin.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The pastor of a largely immigrant Catholic church has suggested that those protesting against US President Donald Trump must commit suicide by taking a "flying leap off the nearest building".
"Show your hate for Trump. Do it for social justice. #JumpAgainstTrump," read a message posted by Father Philip Pizzo, just hours after he celebrated the Sunday Mass, the New York Post reported.
The message included an illustration of a man plummeting from a skyscraper.
Pizzo, 67, told the New York Post on Monday: "I do not promote suicide. I've helped many people over the years, and it does not promote suicide. It was funny."
Some parishioners were outraged.
"Suicide is not funny, plain and simple," said Carlos Coburn, a congregant who once sought counselling from Pizzo because he was struggling with thoughts about killing himself.
Another parishioner, Alex Leston, said he was appalled by the post. "Father Pizzo normally posts about supporting Trump, but this was just taking it too far."
The conservative priest, who oversees St. Benedict Joseph Labre Roman Catholic Church in Richmond Hill, previously posted a photo of former President Barack Obama with the words "He's not my President" and another snapshot of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton titled "Ugly Face".
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Caution ahead of the Parliament's budget session and negative global cues pulled the Indian equities markets lower during the morning trade session on Tuesday.
The budget session started on Tuesday with President Pranab Mukherjee's address to a joint session of parliament. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is expected to table the Economic Survey for 2016-17 later in the day.
However, investors were worried about political logjam over the recently held demonetisation drive which is expected to stall the Parliament's proceedings.
Besides, heavy selling pressure was witnessed in stocks of IT, automobile and banking companies.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged down 45.45 points or 0.53 per cent, to 8,587.30 points.
The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,867.92 points, traded at 27,740.17 points (at 11.10 a.m.) -- down 109.39 points or 0.39 per cent, from the previous close at 27,849.56 points.
The Sensex has touched a high of 27,867.92 points and a low of 27,695.23 points during the intra-day trade so far.
The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bears -- with 1,454 declines and 817 advances.
On Monday, the NSE Nifty had inched down 8.50 points or 0.10 per cent, to close at 8,632.75 points, while the BSE Sensex was down 32.90 points or 0.12 per cent.
"Market is giving up some of its gains as Union Budget is slated to be presented tomorrow. This has triggered profit booking at higher levels," Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, told IANS.
"Asian market is trading weak and China's market is closed for a week on account of lunar new year. Metal and Auto sector are bearing major brunt of profit booking."
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Russian Paralympic Committee's (RPC) membership of the International Paralympic Committee could be restored before the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in South Korea if Russia meets the reinstatement criteria in full, the IPC has said.
The IPC Governing Board on Monday turned down an RPC request to allow Russian athletes into qualification events for the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games while it remains suspended, reports Sputnik.
"The IPC's decision does not necessarily close the door on possible Russian participation at next year's Games, however," read the IPC statement posted on its website.
"Should the RPC continue to cooperate fully with the IPC Taskforce and meet the reinstatement criteria in full before Pyeongchang 2018, then the IPC Governing Board will lift its suspension," the statement said.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday expressed regret over Morocco's readmission into the African Union.
The ANC "notes the regrettable decision" by the AU to readmit Morocco into the organisation, Xinhua news agency quoted party spokesperson Zizi Kodwa as saying.
The 54-member AU voted overwhelmingly to readmit Morocco following a lengthy debate at the 28th AU Summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Monday.
Thirty nine of the 54 states approved Morocco's return to the AU. The country had exited the bloc 33 years ago due to Western Sahara's admission into the AU.
"This decision represents a significant setback to the cause of the Sahrawi people and their quest for self-determination and independence in the Western Sahara," Kodwa said.
"The ANC notes the AU decision paves the way for the Kingdom of Morocco to take their place amongst the community of nations and to enjoy the benefits of AU membership, whilst the Sahrawi people continue to suffer under an unjust occupation of their ancestral land", Kodwa said.
Readmitting Morocco into the AU is tacitly endorsing the longstanding occupation of the Western Sahara, the ANC said.
Morocco has to date failed to comply with successive UN resolutions on the issue of Western Sahara, most importantly the holding of a referendum on self-determination, the ANC said.
It was mainly countries led by former liberation movements on the continent, amongst them South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique as well as Botswana and Algeria, which opposed the decision.
All of these countries have been active supporters of the rights of the Sahrawi people and their right to an independent homeland.
"The ANC, whilst respecting the decision of the AU, hopes that in coming months the union will not allow the matter of the independence of Western Sahara to be swept under the carpet of political expediency. Rather the quest for the self-determination by the people of Western Sahara takes centre stage on the AU agenda," Kodwa noted.
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony under dispute since 1975 between Morocco and the Polisario Front which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a government-in-exile in Tindouf in Algeria.
The Western Sahara has been on the UN list of non-self-governing territories since 1963. A UN-led process of negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario is lagging behind.
Morocco says it is ready to grant autonomy rule to the Sahrawi people, while the Algeria-backed Polisario demands holding a self-determination referendum.
The ANC has longstanding fraternal ties with the Polisario Front and the SADR.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Tennessee State Library and Archives has entered into a partnership to sponsor a regional final for National History Bee, an academic quiz competition that attracts tens of thousands of participating students each year.
In National History Bee, elementary and middle school students compete against each other by answering questions about United States and world history. In order to qualify for one of the regional finals, students must first perform well in competitions at their individual schools and then complete online exams.
The regional final in Nashville will be held Feb. 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. CST at Tennessee State Universitys Avon Williams campus. The campus is at 330 10th Ave. N. in downtown Nashville and free on-site parking will be available. The regional final in Nashville will be heldfromat Tennessee State Universitys Avon Williams campus. The campus is at 330 10th Ave. N. in downtown Nashville and free on-site parking will be available.
There will be three levels of competition one for fourth- through sixth-graders, one for seventh-graders and another for eighth-graders. There will also be three rounds at each level, with the top performers advancing to the national finals in Atlanta June 2 through June 4 .
Academic Competition Enterprises (ACE), an organization devoted to promote academic excellence by making learning fun, administers National History Bee, a program that was launched in 2012.
We want the Library and Archives to play an important role in encouraging history education for young Tennesseans, Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. By sponsoring History Bee in addition to History Day, we can reach children at earlier ages and also those who want to compete in different formats. What is most important to us is that we help as many students as possible develop an appreciation and enthusiasm for history that they will hopefully carry with them throughout their lives. We thank Tennessee State University and Academic Competition Enterprises for working with us to create this partnership.
National History Bee is separate and independent from Tennessee History Day, another academic-oriented competition co-sponsored by the Tennessee Secretary of States office for the last several years.
"ACE is proud to be partnering with the Tennessee State Library & Archives to bring the National History Bee regional finals to Nashville, said Eric Huff, National History Bees director. We are passionate about using competition to celebrate young people and their academic accomplishments. This event will allow us to recognize many wonderful students who make learning a priority."
History Day is targeted toward middle and high school students, who participate by submitting history-themed exhibits, documentaries, websites, research papers and live performances for judging. Students who participate in History Bee are encouraged to participate in History Day when they reach the older grades.
The History Bee regional finals are free and open to the public.
US President Donald Trump has fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she called the travel ban enforced on seven Muslim-majority nations "unlawful", a White House statement said.
In a statement issued late on Monday the Trump administration said "Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the US."
The release said Yates was "relieved of her duties" and "Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, would "serve as Acting Attorney General until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate".
Yates was slammed as "an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration".
The Trump administration said: "It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country."
On January 27, Trump put out a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the US and temporarily barred travellers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks.
Yates ordered the justice department not to enforce the travel ban.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
What will US President Donald Trump's stance be on India's quest for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council that received a ringing endorsement from his predecessor?
Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer left the answer hanging in the air when asked about it on Monday at his briefing, replying tersely, "I am not going to get any further with getting seats on the Security Council."
At the same time he said: "The relations between the two countries will go stronger."
The US policies are still taking shape and a permanent seat for India would be lower in its foreign policy priorities.
Former President Barack Obama had expressed full backing for India getting a permanent Security Council seat. US allies France and Britain have also endorsed India's bid, while Russia is ambivalent at best and China vehemently against.
If the US were to walk back on the support for a permanent seat offered by Obama, it would be a major development.
Trump had promised to be a friend of India during the campaign and emphasised after a coversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week that "the US considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world."
As a measure of the importance he gave India, Modi was the fifth world leader Trump called after taking office, ahead of key allies like France or Britain or important powers like Russia or China.
A permanent seat for New Delhi could also fit in with Trump's idea of remaking the world order, developing India into a counterweight to China in the region as Washington scales back some of its commitments to Asian allies.
Spicer said that Trump as "very pleased" with Indian American Nikki Haley being confirmed to the cabinet-level job of ambassador to the UN and that "she is going to do a fine job representing us".
Haley has called for reforming the world body and making it more efficient and rooting out corruption.
Before she presented her credentials on January 27, she spelled out a tough US agenda.
"Those who don't have our back...we will make points to respond to that accordingly," she warned.
The world views of India and the Trump administration will collide on some issues, with the Middle East being an important one.
BJP MP Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday warned of a "Kashmir-like" situation in Uttar Pradesh if proper action was not taken to stop what he said was an Hindu exodus.
He accused the ruling Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of failing to protect Hindu interests.
"There could be a Kashmir-like situation if timely action is not taken," Adityanath told the media here in parliament premises.
On Monday, the MP raked up the issue of "exodus" of Hindus from western Uttar Pradesh and said that if this persisted the region would "soon become another Kashmir".
Addressing an election rally in Hapur, the Gorakhpur MP alleged that Hindus were being terrorised in western Uttar Pradesh like Kashmiri Pandits were terrorised and forced to flee the Kashmir Valley.
He alleged the situation was "grim" in western Uttar Pradesh, particularly in districts like Muzzafarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut and Ghaziabad.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Iraqi war veteran charged with the shooting at Fort Lauderdale International Airport that left five people dead pleaded not guilty in a Florida court in the US, media reports said.
Esteban Santiago, 26, entered pleas of not guilty to 22 charges. If convicted, Santiago could face the death penalty or life in prison, Efe news reported.
No terrorism charges have been filed against Santiago because investigators have not found evidence that he had ties to the Islamic State (IS).
On January 6, the former soldier arrived in Fort Lauderdale on a flight from Minneapolis.
Santiago retrieved his suitcase in baggage claim, he went into a bathroom, removed the pistol and loaded it, then came out and with no warning started shooting people in the baggage claim area.
Santiago initially told authorities that he had been inspired to go on the shooting spree by the IS.
Several of Santiago's relatives have said that he was a changed person when he returned from Iraq, where he was depolyed in 2010-2011, and things went downhill for him from there after his father died six months later.
Santiago's brother said his emotional instability was such that he advised him to seek psychological help.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed suit seeking to block US President Donald Trumps executive order temporarily banning foreign refugees, media reports said.
"No one is above the law, not even the president," Los Angeles Times quoted Ferguson as saying while announcing the federal lawsuit. "And in the courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. It's the Constitution."
Ferguson became the first state attorney general to announce a legal action against the Trump administration over one of its policies.
Trump signed an executive order on Friday that suspends all immigration for citizens of seven countries -- Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Somalia -- for 90 days.
Ferguson was one of 16 state attorneys general who released a statement Sunday calling Trump's immigration action "un-American and unlawful."
Ferguson said the lawsuit against Trump and high-ranking Trump administration officials would be filed later on Monday in federal court in Seattle, US.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Well-known Telugu filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao was on Tuesday admitted to a hospital here after he complained of breathing-related problems. He has been given ventilator support and will undergo a chest surgery, according to a statement by the facility.
Dasari is admitted to KIMS -- Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences -- which has in an official statement, said the 74-year-old filmmaker has to undergo a chest surgery.
"Following infection in lungs and kidneys, director Dasari Narayana Rao has been admitted. He has been given ventilator support and he is reacting to the treatment well. He will have to undergo dialysis and chest surgery," Bollineni Bhaskar Rao, Managing Director and CEO of KIMS, said in a statement.
The National Award winning filmmaker holds a record of directing over 125 films and producing 50 other.
Some of his best films include "Premabhishekam", "Meghasandesham", "Osey Ramulamma" and "Tata Manavadu" among others.
He had recently announced his plans to make a biopic on late actress and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
--IANS
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(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 said that Iran will never use ballistic missiles to attack other nations, nor will it produce nuclear warheads, but it reserves the right to self-defence.
Giving a press conference on Tuesday here, alongside his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault, Zarif said that the missiles aren't part of the nuclear accords.
"Iran will never use missiles produced in Iran to attack any other country. No Iranian missiles have been produced to carry nuclear warheads," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.
Zarif was responding to international reports that Iran had recently carried out ballistic missile tests.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed in 2015, saw the Islamic Republic agree to downscale its nuclear program in exchange for the alleviation of international sanctions.
That deal was struck between Iran, the European Union and the P5+1 group (the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, France and China -- plus Germany).
Responding earlier on Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Alliance was investigating the incident.
The United States and Israel reportedly called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to the reports of the Iranian ballistic missile testing to be held at the New York headquarters.
Russia, a fellow signatory in the nuclear accord, came out in defence of Iran's ballistic missile testing and accused the United Nations of "heating up the situation" by calling for a meeting.
Late on Monday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his opposition to the Iran missile tests on Twitter, saying: "Iran launched a ballistic missile again. This is a flagrant violation of the Security Council."
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been emphasising the need for a productive session of Parliament following the Budget announcement. On Tuesday, the first day of the new session, the PM walked across the floor to the Opposition benches in the Rajya Sabha to greet former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leaders P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma and leaders of other political parties. The longest handshake was reserved for Chidambaram, who along with Singh, had on Monday addressed a press conference that punched holes in the Modi governments economic performance.
A group of 30 visually-impaired girls experienced the beauty of 'wildlife' through their other receptive sensory faculties at Kanha Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh under 'Anubhuti' campaign.
"30 visually impaired girls visited the Kanha Tiger Reserve under the 'Anubhuti' campaign. These girls were taken on a nature trail and Safari," Director of Kanha Tiger Reserve Pankaj Shukla informed today.
Shukla said these girls belong to 'Ananya,' a Jabalpur based organisation working in this field.
"These girls recognized the wild animals through their roars and sounds, sensed the flower and leaves through the smell, identified the trees touching their barks," he added.
Tiger Reserve's Director also said that these girls also heard the audio presentation in the open air theatre situated here.
"These girls were also given the information about the wild animals through an audio presentation at open air theatre," he added.
Shukla informed that a similar camp for the hearing impaired would also be organised on February 11-12.
"We would also organise similar camps for the mentally challenged," he added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
High drama prevailed at government-run RML hospital here with top Congress leaders visiting the hospital to enquire about former Union Minister E Ahamed's health and alleging that his family was not being allowed to meet him.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, party vice president Rahul Gandhi, leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, besides other party leaders rushed to the hospital late at night and met Ahamed's family.
"Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel rushed to the RML hospital because E Ahamed's family, who collapsed today, is not being permitted to meet him or to know about his well being. This is complete high-handedness of the government," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told PTI.
He said the government has stopped the blood relatives of the former Union Minister from meeting him or knowing about his critical state at such a time.
Sources add that Ahamed's son, daughters and son-in-law were at the hospital and even had an exchange of hot words with the hospital authorities.
Some Kerala MPs were also at the hospital till late at night.
The Congress leaders said the party will raise the issue in Parliament tomorrow when the Union Budget is to be presented.
Earlier in the day, the Indian Union Muslim League leader E Ahamed collapsed and suffered cardiac arrest during the President's address at the joint sitting of Parliament and was rushed to RML hospital.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The State Collaborative on Reforming Education Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Woodson released the following statement about the State of the State speech delivered Monday night by Governor Bill Haslam:
"The State of the State address reflects a continued commitment to education as Tennessees top priority. Additional funding for high-needs students is important to providing equity and excellence for all students. There are achievement gaps all across Tennessee, and the state cannot rise to the best of the best until we narrow and close these gaps.
"In addition, Tennessee's recent academic success would not have been possible without the hard work of our educators. To keep our great teachers and recruit more great teachers, Tennessee must continue to improve compensation and empower school district leaders to use these resources as needed in their schools.
"Importantly, Governor Haslam has also proposed investments that will directly support increasing the number of Tennesseans with education beyond high school. Investing in career and technical education makes clear to employers that our students the employees of the future will be able to do the jobs of the future.
"Finally, Governor Haslams proposal to offer all Tennesseans the chance to attend community college free of tuition and fees, and the commitment to the education of those in the National Guard, is a bold step that continues Tennessees leadership in education."
The US ambassador says the United States is not building any weapons depot anywhere in the Philippines, reacting to President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to abrogate a 2014 defense pact that allows US forces to temporarily station in designated Philippine camps if depots were built in them.
Ambassador Sung Kim said Tuesday "perhaps some misinformation" was given to Duterte that made him express concern.
Duterte on Sunday identified three areas where U.S. forces were supposedly bringing in armaments, including the western Philippine province of Palawan, which faces the disputed South China Sea.
He said he would not allow the Americans to store weapons in local camps under the two countries' defense pact because the Philippines may get entangled if fighting erupts between China and the US.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The selection committee meeting for the one-off Test against Bangladesh was delayed by four hours after joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary was found ineligible to convene the meeting.
The meeting was supposed to be held at 12 noon but was delayed by four hours as Chaudhary, who was present at the five-star facility, was not allowed according to the chief of Committee of Administrators Vinod Rai's instruction.
It was around 12 noon Chaudhary was told that he has to wait as he is ineligible to attend the meeting. It was Rahul Johri, the chief executive officer (CEO) who convened the meeting by video conferencing.
"Amitabh Chaudhary had called a senior selection committee meeting in Delhi today to select the squad against Bangladesh. Vinod Rai and Co have immediately swung in and barred him from doing anything. The CEO is directly convening the meeting via video conference from Mumbai," a source, who was witness to every incident in New Delhi, told PTI on Tuesday.
All was not well was understood when mandarins broke for lunch with one of the selectors Sarandeep Singh was not even around.
Some of the waiting media members were told that meeting will start at 3 pm but then around 3:30 pm Sarandeep was seen entering the hotel and looked clueless about when the meeting will start.
Around 4 pm, he went up and joined his colleagues as the meeting started.
Tuesday's incident proved that Chaudhary probably is not authorised to function as joint secretary and will go to Dubai as BCCI representative only as he has a thorough background knowledge that investment banker Vikram Limaye will be needing for future meetings.
Analysts opined that the Economic Survey has clearly captured the headwinds facing the economy as it lowers growth forecast and calls for a bold Budget.
"The projected GDP growth of 6.75-7.5 per cent for next financial year in the survey clearly flags the risks that the economy is exposed due to emerging global protectionism and rising oil prices," Ranen Banerjee, public finance and economics leader at PwC India said.
He also said the higher farm growth of 4.1 per cent camouflages the negative impact of deceleration in the industrial GDP of 2.2 percentage points in the overall GDP growth percentage.
Richard Rekhy, chief executive of KPMG India said, "The survey points to a likely bold and reformative Budget that will have a strong focus on infrastructure, employment generation and easing business conditions. The issue of NPAs is most likely to be addressed coherently, along with taking stock of the PPP logjams."
He also said the survey signals that the economy is on a stable growth path. The range comes due to global uncertainties, including protectionist tendencies.
Rekhy also noted that the survey recognises the shortcomings of the economy and calls for required action from the Budget.
Jaijit Bhattacharya of KPMG said, the survey confirms the ballooning of bad debts and calls for setting up a bad bank to take away the toxic debts banks in the form of 'Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency' or PARA.
The survey also brings back the age-old demand of a stable tax regime and widening of the tax base, including bringing real estate under GST, he noted.
On the note ban impact, he said the survey has given a better picture of the impact of the move, calling for some measures in the Budget to address the issues created by it.
Sachin Sandhir of RICS said the survey indicates a reforms-oriented budget, including privatisation of public enterprises.
Commenting on the survey, industry lobby Ficci's
president Pankaj Patel said, the survey clearly lays out the challenges and opportunities that the economy faces.
He called for Budgetary steps to reap the long-term benefits of note ban with follow-up actions, such as providing a boost to demand, lowering tax rates, widening tax base and reforming tax administration.
He also welcomed the proposal to set up a bad bank under the name of public sector asset rehabilitation agency saying this can go a long way to address the issue of large and complex stressed assets, particularly in the infra sector.
On the proposal to have a universal basic income plan, he said alongside such a social security, there must be an equal emphasis on creation of jobs.
The exporters body Fieo called for facilitating exports through FTAs and GST along with promoting labour intensive sectors.
Hailing the economic survey, Fieo president S C Ralhan called for a road-map to revive the economy hit by the note ban, by creating more jobs.
"Identification of apparel and leather sectors in the survey, where China is slowly exiting the market, is both important for exports as well as employment. There is need to bring a comprehensive package for leather and footwear sectors on the lines of the apparel and made-ups sectors," Ralhan said.
He also welcomed the move to have FTAs with the EU and Britain which can provide exporters a level playing field viz-a-viz competitors in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Another industry lobby CII's Chandrajit Banerjee said the GDP estimate of 6.75-7.5 per cent is on expected lines and is achievable.
"CII is hopeful that the Budget will deal with the aspects of creating demand, especially through direct tax interventions on the personal income tax and corporate taxation side," Banerjee concluded.
Authorities in Brazil say three more people have died in a yellow fever outbreak.
Most cases reported have been in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, where authorities confirm 109 cases including 40 people who died.
The Sao Paulo Health Department said yesterday it has confirmed six people with yellow fever in its area, four of whom were infected in Minas Gerais. All died.
Espirito Santo state has recorded one case.
Brazil's Health Ministry said in a statement that 568 suspected cases have been reported nationwide, with 107 confirmed and 430 under investigation.
Much of Brazil is considered at risk for yellow fever, but the country has not seen this large an outbreak since 2000.
The World Health Organization expects the mosquito-borne fever will spread to more states.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Britain today took a key step to exit the European Union as the lawmakers began debating a new bill in Parliament that will enablePrime Minister Theresa May to invoke article 50 and trigger official Brexit negotiations, as the government races to meet a self-imposed March 31 deadline.
The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill is listed for a two-day debate, with a vote scheduled tomorrow.
May's government was forced to introduce the bill after it lost a historic legal battle in the Supreme Court last week to bypass the MPs and begin the process of exiting the 28-nation economic bloc without a parliamentary vote.
However, the bill is likely to pass through as opposition Labour party is backing it, even though several of its lawmakers are planning to defy the party line and vote against it.
David Davis, minister for exiting the EU, opened the debate in the House of Commons with a clear message to MPs.
"It is not a bill about whether or not the UK should leave the EU, or how it should do so. It is simply about implementing a decision already made, a point of no return already passed. We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the EU; they decided they did," Davis said.
"We are now honouring the result of the referendum... We will respect the will of the people," he added.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin on Monday, May had also said that her "message to people is very clear". "The people of the United Kingdom voted on 23 June last year. They voted in a referendum that was given to them overwhelmingly by Parliament. The people spoke in that vote. The majority voted to leave the European Union. I think it is now the job of the government to put that into practice," she said.
"I hope that when people come to look at the Article 50 Bill they will recognise it is a very simple decision: do they support the will of the British people or not," she added.
The bill, dubbed among the shortest in UK parliamentary history, was published last week after the UK government lost its legal battle in the Supreme Court, which directed May to seek Parliament's approval to trigger the official process of Britain's exit from the EU.
The Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party are to
vote against the Bill, but Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's whip to back the bill means the government is expected to win.
A group of May's own Conservative party rebels have also backed down after her assurance of a White Paper to be published on her Brexit plans in coming weeks.
The extent of a rebellion within the Labour party rebellion remains to be seen, with several of Corbyn's MPs - including Indian-origin MP Virendra Sharma - indicating they plan to defy the party whip and vote against the bill.
Two of Corbyn's shadow ministers, Tulip Siddiq and Jo Stevens, had quit the frontbench last week, saying they want to vote against the bill. If the vote goes the government's way, the bill will return to the Commons next week for the committee stage when Opposition parties will try to push through a series of amendments.
It will then head to the House of Lords for a debate and approval. The Lords can suggest its own amendments but it remains to be seen if they will propose any changes.
According to a report in 'The Times', the UK government wants to pass the legislation in time for May to initiate the Brexit process at a summit of European leaders in early March.
The government has told the House of Lords that it wants the new Brexit Bill approved on March 7.
All 28 heads of government from EU member states will meet on March 9 at the two-day European Council summit in Malta, giving May an opportunity to invoke Article 50 at the meeting.
The Cabinet is likely to approve tomorrow a proposal to include 'Saulgiri/Swalgiri' community in the list of Scheduled Castes of Odisha.
The Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is scheduled to meet tomorrow.
Besides the Budget 2017-18 proposal, there are few more proposals on the cabinet agenda including modifying the SCs list of Odisha by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, sources said.
The Ministry has proposed inclusion of 'Saulgiri/Swalgiri' community in the list of SCs of Odisha by amending the Constitution (Scheduled Casts)Order 1956.
Saulgiri traditionally been a wandering community involved in occupation such as catching, killing and skinning animals and trading of animals. It is a small community mainly residing in north Balsore district.
Besides, the Ministry has proposed to change the reference of Union territory of Puducherry in the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order 1964 which contains the list of SCs of Puducherry.
To give effect to these changes, sources said the ministry's proposal seeks cabinet nod for the Constitutions (SC) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2017, which is likely to be introduced in the Budget session of Parliament.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A fierce electoral battle is being fought on the plains of Patiala where a former Army chief is crossing swords with an ex-Captain who seeks to retain his hold over the land whose destiny was determined by his forefathers.
Patiala is the pocket borough of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh, who has been declared the party's chief ministerial candidate, and this time his opponent is Gen (retd) J J Singh of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, with a resurgent AAP hoping to pull off a surprise win.
Having won the seat thrice in the past, Amarinder has improved upon the victory margin with every election. In 2012, he had won the seat by about 40,000 votes, despite visiting the constituency only twice. First, for filing his nomination papers and then to address a public meeting.
This time also, he has been seen only once when he came down to file his nomination on January 17. Before that he went around the city paying obeisance at Qila Mubarak, the seat of power from where the founder of Patiala state and his ancestor Baba Ala Singh ruled his kingdom.
He also went to the Kali Mata Temple and the Dukhniwaran Gurdwara before filing his nomination papers. This was followed by a road show which was expectedly a grand success.
It is difficult to imagine Patiala without its royal family. In 1947, a large population of refugees from Pakistan settled here. The then ruler, Maharaja Yadvinder Singh settled these people and provided them amenities.
The bonding continues even now. The grateful Patialvis have expressed their gratitude with repeated emphatic wins of Amarinder and his family members from the constituency.
The Akali Dal sprang a surprise by fielding General (retd) J J Singh, the first Sikh to have become the Army chief, against him.
"For the first time in history a General will be defeated by a Captain", a confident Amarinder said while reacting to Singh's nomination.
As Amarinder is busy stumping for party candidates elsewhere, his wife and former Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur and daughter Jaya Inder Kaur hold the fort for him.
They have always done that for Amarinder. This time, it is the third generation as well with Amarinder's granddaughter Seher Inder Kaur also joining the campaign.
Seher is the daughter of Amarinder's son Raninder Singh,
who is busy handling his father's campaign in Lambi. Amarinder is also contesting from Lambi against Chief Minister and Akali Dal stalwart Parkash Singh Badal.
Besides J J Singh, Balbir Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party, is also in the fray, seeking to make the contest triangular.
In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Amarinder's wife had lost Patiala seat to Dharmavira Gandhi of AAP, but maintained a lead from Patiala Assembly segment. AAP has since split in the state and Gandhi is no longer with it.
Entering the poll arena for the first time, J J Singh, a greenhorn in politics, says his motto is "decisive victory against Amarinder who is not accessible and is an arrogant leader drunk with power".
"It's mission impossible for Amarinder," J J Singh claims.
"I am not here to seek vote, but to serve the people," he says, adding "may the best candidate win".
The former Army General says political dynamics in Punjab have changed after AAP entered the fray. He feels AAP candidate will eat into the traditional votes of Congress, helping him in the process.
"I am here with no past baggage"...I am fighting a battle against a person with colonial mindset," he says.
Describing himself as a "true soldier", Singh says Amarinder was "not a true army personnel".
"Amarinder joined the Army just to get the rank...He was never active in combat. In the 1965 war, when army personnel were recalled, he should have opted to serve on the border," he says.
In the absence of Amarinder, Preneet, stil addressed as Maharani, tells people in the constituency: "You trusted me. But now I have come to ask for your vote for Maharaja Sahab. It is your responsibility to give the state another CM. Badals have left Punjab in a sad state. The state has been plundered."
AAP's Balbir Singh, however, considers himself a dark horse.
"Why is Amarinder fighting a war by proxy? Where is he?" he asks.
The eye surgeon, who had crafted Dharamvira Gandhi's campaign against Preneet in 2014 polls, asserts, "First we defeated the Rani. Now it is the turn of the Raja.
Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific will switch to biofuels made from landfill rubbish on select long haul flights, reports said today, in an effort to cut harmful emissions.
Cathay flights to Hong Kong from the US, where the new fuel is produced, will use a combination of conventional jet fuel and biofuels starting in 2019, the South China Morning Post reported.
The airline hopes to cut emissions on those flights by 80 per cent.
"Aviation biofuels will play a key role for Cathay and the aviation industry's quest for lower emissions," Cathay Pacific biofuel manager Jeff Ovens told the Post.
The carrier had invested in the US-based sustainable biofuel developer Fulcrum BioEnergy, which converts municipal solid waste into aviation fuel, in 2014.
"These fuels will have a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels, and the pricing we have is competitive with traditional fuels, Ovens said.
Cathay and other airlines have also been facing volatile oil prices.
The company has suffered huge hedging losses in the first half of last year as the price of oil plunged from its peak.
Oil hedging is when an airline locks in price of fuel -- a huge chunk of most airlines' outlay costs -- at a pre-determined level for a certain amount of time.
In the first six months, Cathay recorded hedging losses at HK$4.49 billion ($578.8 million), and saw its net profit drop 82 percent from a year earlier to HK$353 million.
Cathay shares plunged in October after it said it did not expect business to improve in the second half of 2016, citing competition and overcapacity.
In 2015, China's Hainan Airlines flew from Shanghai to Beijing in the country's first commercial flight using biofuel made from cooking oil.
The Boeing 737 plane used a 50-50 mix of conventional jet fuel and biofuel made from waste cooking oil collected from restaurants in China.
Australia's Qantas and Air Canada have both tested biofuel on commercial flights.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Centre has approved Rs 419.56 crore funds to Karnataka under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for speeding up construction of toilets in rural areas this fiscal, Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Ramesh Jigajinagi said today.
"So far, we have released Rs 190.07 crores to the Karnataka government. The state had demanded release of Rs 419.56 crores and the same has been approved after taking into account the past utilisation certification," he said.
The state has been given higher funds under the scheme this year as compared to the initial allocation of Rs 253.43 crores, he told reporters here.
So far, the southern state has spent Rs 240 crores under the scheme. Around 27 taluks and five districts -- Udupi, Bengaluru, Bengaluru rural, Kodagu and Dakshin Kannada are declared as open defecation free, he said.
Jigajinagi, a dalit leader and five-time MP from northern Karnataka, however, noted that the state government needed to put in more efforts to achieve the target of constructing 12,14,993 toilets set for this year.
As per the government data, about 5,17,987 'individual toilets' have been constructed as on January 5 of this fiscal, against the target of 12,14,119 for the same period.
In case of 'community toilets', the state has been able to construct only 52 against the target of 874 so far this year.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha today batted for setting aside of egos and holding talks to solve the problems plaguing Jammu and Kashmir.
"The people of Jammu and Kashmir were already upset due to some reasons and Burhan Wani's incident came as a trigger for the state-wide agitation. I feel Jammu and Kashmir should not be treated as an ego problem... You talk to people and territory will follow," Sinha said here at a presentation titled 'Kashmir, in search of solution'.
Talking to people from all sections is more important than portraying the issue as merely a "territorial" one, he said.
"Kashmiris have lost their faith with Indian state over a period of time. They have a feeling of betrayal from the Indian government, because of the use of pellet guns. Did government use pellet guns at Marina beach in Tamil Nadu or during the strong agitation of Jat community in Haryana?" Sinha asked.
"Why was it used extensively in Kashmir? It is giving a wrong message to Kashmiri people," the former finance minister said.
"During my discussions with stakeholders in Kashmir, I I was also told that aggressive debates on some television channels have damaged image of the state in the country," he said.
"If you show an iota of sympathy to Kashmiris, you are labelled as an anti-national, I feel the Kashmiri youth is completely alienated from the Indian government. They don't believe in India. They are bitter and have lost fear of getting killed," he added.
Sinha said that during their meetings, many traders and people said that they don't mind incurring losses but they want a solution to the 70-year-old problem.
Wajahat Habibullah, former police commissioner and member of the concerned citizens' group said, "Earlier, intellectuals in major cities in Jammu and Kashmir expressed disappointment towards the government. This time, it is mainly from rural areas. Especially, after the killing of Wani."
City-based Observer Research Foundation organised the presentation in Mumbai.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EU chief Donald Tusk hit out today at "worrying" statements by the administration of Donald Trump, saying Washington's new stance was among a series of "threats," along with China, Russia and radical Islam.
Tusk said in a letter to EU leaders ahead of a summit in Malta that the bloc must take "spectacular steps" to stay together, and should take advantage of US isolationism to boost trade with other countries.
"Today we are dealing with three threats, which have previously not occurred, at least not on such a scale. The first threat, an external one, is related to the new geopolitical situation in the world and around Europe," Tusk said in the letter obtained by AFP.
"An increasingly, let us call it, assertive China, especially on the seas, Russia's aggressive policy towards Ukraine and its neighbours, wars, terror and anarchy in the Middle East and in Africa, with radical Islam playing a major role, as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration all make our future highly unpredictable," Tusk said.
"Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy," Tusk added.
The second threat, said Trump, was the internal challenge posed by a rise in anti-EU nationalism, and the third was the "state of mind of the pro-European elites."
All 28 EU leaders will discuss migration at Friday's summit in Malta.
They will then meet without British Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the future after Brexit, with Tusk saying they must now stick together.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The EU today warned Iran not to stoke mistrust by continuing ballistic missile tests, after Tehran told the new US administration not to use the issue as a pretext to create fresh tensions.
"The EU reiterates its concern about Iran's missile programme and calls upon Iran to refrain from activities which deepen mistrust, such as ballistic missile tests," an EU foreign affairs spokeswoman said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following are the highlights
at 1800 hours today:
GENERAL
New Delhi: India's economic growth is likely to dip to 6.5 per cent this fiscal after shock demonetisation shaved off a good 0.5 percentage points but it will rebound to 6.75-7.5 per cent in the next financial year, Economic Survey said, calling for bold cut in tax rates.(DEL55)
New Delhi: Sounding a note of caution on government's digital push, the Economic Survey said that digitalisation is "not a panacea" and cash is not all bad and stressed the need to forge a balance between both forms of payments. (DEL64)
New Delhi: With reports that President Donald Trump is set to sign a new executive order aimed at overhauling H-1B and other work visas, India said it has conveyed its "interests and concerns" to the US. (DEL75)
New Delhi: Lok Sabha MP and former Union minister E Ahamed, who was taken ill during President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, has suffered cardiac arrest and his condition is critical.(DEL53)
Etawah(UP): Throwing a fresh challenge to Akhilesh Yadav, his sidelined uncle Shivpal announced that he will float a party after election results are out on March 11 and threatened to back "rebel" candidates. (DEL83)
Ghaziabad/New Delhi: Firebrand BJP MP Yogi Adityanath has compared the situation in western Uttar Pradesh to that in Kashmir in 1990s, when Kashmiri Pandits had to flee the Valley, while the party defended its leaders over their controversial remarks during the poll campaign on alleged exodus of Hindu families from Kairana. (DEL67)
New Delhi: Widely acclaimed as a bright spot in the global economy, India's strong macroeconomic fundamentals have created a platform for sustained growth, President Pranab Mukherjee said. (DEL25)
New Delhi: Invoking Mahatma Gandhi's vision of "wiping every tear from every eye", the Economic Survey made a strong pitch for implementing Universal Basic Income (UBI) that stipulates a certain income for the poor. (DEL61)
New Delhi: Policy making in certain areas like telecom and banking has been severely constrained due to "abundant caution in bureaucratic decision-making", the Economic Survey said. (DEL59)
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the Modi government after it listed its achievements in the President's address, alleging that it has been a "complete failure" on job creation front.(DEL27)
New Delhi: Several Union ministers took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi for his remark that the Centre was a "complete failure" on job creation front, saying it was indicative of his "disappointment and frustration" at not having a job and suggesting him to join a government-run skill centre to get employment. (DEL72)
Ranchi: In the first money laundering conviction in the country, former Jharkhand Minister Hari Narayan Rai has been sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 5 lakh by a special court here. (DEL40)
New Delhi: The surgical strikes by India at several terrorist launch pads along the Line of Control to prevent infiltration from Pakistan was a "fitting reply" to the repeated incursions on its territorial sovereignty, President Pranab Mukherjee said. (DEL82)
New Delhi: India reacted cautiously to the reports of detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and four others under an anti-terrorism act by Pakistan. (DEL60)
Mumbai: Four persons were arrested in connection with the mishap at an oil mill in Maharashtra's Latur district even as the death toll climbed to nine with two more bodies being recovered from a tank in the factory.(BOM3)
Chennai: One tonne of oil has leaked into the sea off the city due to a collision between two ships here on January 28 and measures, including procuring oil dispersants from the Centre, are underway to tackle the situation, the Tamil Nadu government said.
LEGAL
New Delhi: The Supreme Court refused to stay the new
legislation passed recently by the Tamil Nadu assembly allowing bull-taming sport Jallikattu in the state. (LGD6)
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has ordered defreezing of the domestic and non-FCRA bank accounts of 'Lawyers Collective', an NGO run by former Additional Solicitor General of India Indira Jaisingh, observing that FCRA "does not provide for a government to stifle the very functioning of individuals or associations".(LGB1)
New Delhi: All electronic devices, including an alcometer, does not give 100 per cent accurate reading and error is bound to occur, a court here has said while setting aside the jail term given to a man in a drunken driving case. (LGD11)
New Delhi: Three girls from the Philippines and Tunisia, who were alleged to be ISIS sympathisers, were given money by a Dubai-based Indian supporter of the terror outfit on the instructions of a Pakistani national, the NIA has said.(LGD8)
FOREIGN
Rawalpindi/Lahore: In an unusual move, Pakistan's army said the detention of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a "policy decision in the national interest" as the government announced that the Jamat-ud Dawa leader's 90-day house arrest could be extended if required. (FGN23)
Washington: President Donald Trump is set to sign a new executive order aimed at overhauling work visa programmes like the H-1B and L1, a move that will adversely hit the lifeline of Indian tech firms and professionals in the US. (FGN12)
Washington: America's relationship with India will continue to grow stronger in the Trump Administration, a top White House official has said but remained mum over its stance on India's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.(FGN13)
Washington: In a dramatic move, US President Donald Trump fired two top officials, including Acting Attorney General Sally Yates who refused to enforce his controversial and executive order banning citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations from entering America that has triggered protests across the world.(FGN17)
Washington: Breaking his silence over his successor Donald Trump's immigration policies, former US president Barack Obama said he disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.(FGN7)
Tehran: Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned the United States against "creating new tensions" with Tehran over ballistic missile tests.(FGN22)
Brussels: The EU warned Iran not to stoke mistrust by continuing ballistic missile tests, after Tehran told the new US administration not to use the issue as a pretext to create fresh tensions.(FGN25)
Washington: US President Donald Trump is taking decisive steps to "defeat and destroy" ISIS, the White House said, terming the destruction of the dreaded terror group's capabilities a "humanitarian imperative".
The Hindu-American community is divided on US President Donald Trump's new executive orders on immigration with some calling it "fundamentally illegal," while others asking for including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the list of nations whose citizens have been denied entry in the US.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed concern over the practical and legal implications of the executive order affecting immigration policy and its detrimental impact on refugees and legal immigrants.
"Implementing any sort of religious preference for admittance would be fundamentally unconstitutional and any permanent blanket ban based on national-origin would be illegal," HAF executive director Suhag Shukla said.
HAF senior director Samir Kalra, however, conceded that the wording of the executive order does not express a preference for adherents of one particular religion.
"President Trump's statements immediately after signing the executive order, in which he emphasised that Christian refugees would carry priority, does elicit serious concerns," he said.
Trump signed an executive order last week suspending the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely, and barring citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, fulfilling one of his central campaign promises.
On the other hand, the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC), which had campaigned for Trump during the general elections announced its full support to the executive orders signed by Trump.
"We applaud the Trump administration for taking this decisive move to protect our citizens from Islamic terror," said Shalabh Kumar, RHC chairman.
"A firm stance against terror is one of the pillars of our organisation and one of the central tenets of the Trump campaign, and we fully support our Commander-in-Chief taking the necessary steps to protect our country," he said.
RHC board members in a meeting also urged the Trump Administration to include Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia in the list of seven countries named in the Executive Order.
The group also asked for thorough investigation of green- card holders from the banned countries, in the 90-day period, heightened scrutiny and inspection of all travellers heading to the countries listed in the ban and indefinite suspension of all refugees from entering the United States.
"While Americans do not discriminate, and this is a country that encourages legal immigration and celebrates the contributions that immigrants have made to our culture, it is about time we get serious about combating the dangers of terrorism on our shores," Kumar said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dismissing his uncle Shivpal Yadav's threat on Tuesday to float a new party, Samajwadi Party president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said he has the blessings of his father and the "entire family is one".
"The entire family is one...I have the blessings of Netaji...We will win over 300 (of the 403) seats in alliance with Congress this time," Akhilesh told a public meeting in Sikandaru for the candidates of the SP-Congress alliance on Sadabad, Sikandarau and Hathras seats.
Earlier in the day Shivpal had said, "I will form a new party after March 11 when results (of UP Assembly elections) are out. You make the government, we will make a new party."
Akhilesh also talked of his party's alliance with the Congress in the rally.
"I had come here in 2012 and today I come again and also brought the election symbol of Congress 'hand' with our own 'bicycle',"
"With hand, the bicycle will run faster," he stressed.
Cautioning people against BJP, Akhilesh alleged that it belonged to those who tell "lies".
"The Prime Minister speaks about his 'Mann Ki Baat' on TV but 'man to chanchalhota hai' (it keeps changing its stand)... people of the country were made to stand in long queues before banks and were subjected to trouble...The jobless were not given jobs and even those working in factories were rendered jobless because of the note ban," he said.
"The Prime Minister of the country said that your 'achchhe din' are coming soon but today people are longing for their old days and asking how can they be restored," he said.
Criticising BSP, he said its leader installed 'elephants' which do no work and have been standing idle.
Akhilesh also cited various development projects undertaken by his government in the past five years.
Addressing another public meeting in Aligarh, Akhilesh said the alliance has the potential to change the political discourse of the country.
"With the hand supporting the cycle we are going to win the race," he said at the public meeting at the exhibition grounds.
"We are confronting a party which wants to divide people of India and thus weakens it," he said lashing out at the BJP.
Yadav said, "Demonetisation had not curbed corruption but has crushed the poor".
Referring to Aligarh Muslim University, whose minority institution status is being debated, he said his party was "fully committed to protect the interests of this great educational institution ".
Two Indian-American lawmakers along with two former top Obama Administration diplomats today launched a community-wide effort to oppose the "unconstitutional, unlawful and un-American" executive orders that impacts the immigrant community in the USimposed by US President Donald Trump on seven Muslim nations.
The lawmakers - Pramila Jayapal and Raja Krishnamoorthi - joined by former Obama Administration official and top Indian Americas leaders urged the community to stand united and fight jointly against these executive orders.
The conference was organized by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Victory Fund.
Jayapal has emerged as one of the national figures in fight against executive orders that impacts the immigrant community in the US.
"Last week's executive orders on immigration has thrown the country to chaos," she said, adding that Trump's attack on immigrant and refugees community ignored everything that is great about this country.
"This is not normal and it is not constitutional. It also makes us far less safe as a country," she said, noting that the executive orders gives fodder to those who do want to harm America.
"It undermines our place in the world as global compassionate democratic leader," she said as she lashed out at Republican Hindu Coalition for supporting the executive orders.
"Today a group calling itself as Republican Hindu Coalition will announce its support for un-American executive orders. And to them I would say, shame. Shame for trying to divide the Indian-American community. As a Hindu, I can tell you that this group does not represent the much much larger Indian American community that honour our birth countries commitment to religious freedom and democracy," Jayapal said.
Indian-Americans, she said, "will not be bullied" by this President or any group that seems to divide the community.
"The Republican Hindu Coalition does not represent us. As Indian Americans, I can tell you, we believe deeply in pluralism, in freedom of religion, in freedom of speech and in a democratic diverse society," Jayapal said.
The executive order issued by Trump is "an assault on the United States constitution. It hurts economy and working families and it divides Americana and not unify them," said Krishnamoorthi, the lawmaker from Illinois.
"I am proud to be Indian American, I am proud to be Hindu American and I am proud to be an immigrant," he said urging Indian Americans across the country to mobilise opposition to these executive orders, which are "unconstitutional".
"I am here today not only as former State Department official, but also as an Indian American, as Hindu, an immigrant and most importantly as a proud American to speak out against this executive order that was issued by President Trump which imposes an unjust, un American and we believe unconstitutional ban on immigrants and refugees from certain nationalities and certain faiths," said Nisha Desai Biswal, the former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three girls from the Philippines and Tunisia, who were alleged to be ISIS sympathisers, were given money by a Dubai-based Indian supporter of the terror outfit on the instructions of a Pakistani national, the NIA has said.
The agency has claimed that Maharashtra resident Mohammed Farhan Shaikh, who was arrested in 2016 along with two others after being deported from the UAE for alleged ISIS links, had funded these girls, after money was given to him in Dubai by one Khalid, who is alleged to be from Pakistan.
NIA has alleged that Shaikh, who was in Dubai in 2015, had transferred 3894.24 United Arab Emirates Dirham (UAED) to a Tunisian girl, Sarra Ghribi, who wanted to join ISIS, in seven instalments through the global payment service, Western Union, between February 5, 2015 and April 24 that year.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) has claimed before a court here that Shaikh had transferred 1257.63 UAED and 846.75 UAED to Jannah Qassim and Johaira L Macasimpang, residents of Philippines, on June 24, 2015.
In his disclosure statement recorded by NIA which has been annexed in the charge sheet, Shaikh has claimed that in January 2015, he got in touch with Ghribi through Facebook. She was a "supporter and sympathiser" of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
"She (Ghribi) was interested to join ISIS. She approached me and asked for money. Same thing I told to Khalid that there is a Tunisian girl who wants to go to Syria and she needs money. He told me to come to his showroom and over there, Khalid gave me 1300 Dirham and I paid that money to Sarra Ghribi.
"Later, Khalid gave me 5000 Dirham to give to Ghribi. On June 2, 2015, Khalid deposited 5000 Dirham in my bank account. I paid 5000 Dirham in total to Ghribi. I made all the money transaction through Western Union," Shaikh has said.
Shaikh has claimed in his disclosure statement that he
had met Khalid, who used to work in a car showroom in Dubai, for the first time in February 2015 and in that meeting, he was given money to pay to Ghribi.
Shaikh also said that in June 2015, Khalid told him to pay money to the two girls from Philippines.
In its charge sheet, the agency has alleged that "KK (Khalid) and accused number 3 (Shaikh) had connived to raise, collect and transfer funds to Sarra Ghribi of Tunisia and two persons namely Jannah Qassim and Johaira L Macasimpang, residents of Philippines, affiliated to ISIS".
Besides Shaikh, the two other arrested accused in the case are Sheikh Azhar Ul Islam, a permanent resident of Ganderbal in Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka-based Adnan Hassan.
They have been chargesheeted for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy under the IPC and under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The agency has alleged that these accused, in connivance with others, had supported and invited support for ISIS and had assisted in arranging and managing meetings online among the active operatives of the banned terror outfit.
The accused were arrested on January 29 last year after being deported from the UAE.
A 43-year-old Indian-origin teacher in the UK has sold her home, which has a market value of 250,000 pounds, for a token of mere 2 pounds to ensure that she cannot be evicted from the property.
Rekha Patel has been locked in a feud with her neighbour over some building work dating back six years on the home. She spent 200,000 pounds buying the dilapidated two-bedroom cottage in 2010 in Simmondley village in Glossop and turning it into her dream home.
A court order had directed that the home be sold to recover legal fees and costs of around 76,000 pounds.
"I realised I will have more rights as a tenant than the owner so I decided to sever all legal ties with the house in order to live in peace in my own home," she told PTI.
She sold the home, built in the early 18th century, to two private companies recently and has signed a 10-year tenancy agreement with them to carry on living in the property for a monthly rent of 50 pounds.
"I had tried everything possible and had no other choice. There are proper agreements in place with the two private companies and these are people I trust. The people of this village have been absolutely lovely. Many have taken days off work to come out and support me," she said.
Patel, who was born in the UK to an Indian family from Navsari in Gujarat, got embroiled in a dispute with her next door neighbour over some roof stones that got damaged during renovation work on the two-bedroom house, which has a market value of 250,000 pounds.
The dispute landed in court, which ordered Patel to pay damages and legal costs to her neighbour. While she paid part of the amount, Patel disputes the remaining bill imposed on her.
She was evicted from her home in June last year over non-payment but re-entered a month later and has since been fighting against a court order for her home to be sold. She applied for the legal bill to be quashed by Manchester County Court last week.
"I feel the justice system needs to be fairer and accessible to everyone. I want to now put this entire matter behind me and move on. I want to travel to India and try and work on a book that would help educate others who get caught in a similar situation of being scared out of their own homes," said the maths teacher, who works at Glossopdale Community College in Glossop.
"Forgiveness is the way forward. It is between her and her conscience, she knows what she did was not right," she said, in reference to her neighbour.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bogged down by higher fuel prices and low fares, InterGlobe Aviation, parent of IndiGo, today saw its net profit slump 25 per cent to Rs 487.26 crore in the December quarter while it continues to battle issues related to A320 neo engines.
The largest domestic carrier's admission that problems persist with Pratt & Whitney engines fitted in the new planes assumes significance as IndiGo is betting on neos to steer its ambitious expansion plans amid intense competition.
The airline's net profit declined even as total income from operations jumped to Rs 4,986.49 crore in the third quarter of the current financial year.
It had a net profit of Rs 650.34 crore on total income of Rs 4,297.76 crore in the quarter ended December 2015.
In the latest December quarter, IndiGo's overall expenses shot up to Rs 4,480.43 crore from Rs 3,415.66 crore in the same period a year ago, according to a regulatory filing.
This was mainly driven by over 40 per cent rise in aircraft fuel costs, which stood at Rs 1,671.20 crore in the third quarter. The same stood at Rs 1,165.86 crore in the year ago period.
"Our profit was lower compared to the same period last year primarily because of lower yield and higher fuel prices. Because of lower yield, RASK (Revenue Per Available Seat Kilometre) declined 13.1 per cent compared to same period last year," InterGlobe Aviation President and Whole Time Director Aditya Ghosh said in an earnings call.
The airline's yield -- an indicator of money earned from a flight -- dropped 16 per cent to Rs 3.48 per kilometre in the latest December quarter from Rs 4.14 seen in the same period a year ago.
According to the airline, demonetisation resulted in a sharp decline in yields in November and December last year.
A320 neo is giving better fuel efficiency at 15 per cent, Ghosh said despite continuing to "face operational issues with neo engine".
"We have experienced higher than expected engine replacements... The airline has already extensively discussed these issues with the engine maker Pratt & Whitney last week," the IndiGo chief said.
According to him, this is called operational disruption and both P&W and Airbus are working to address these issues.
In the meantime, IndiGo continues to receive necessary operational and technical support including the provision for spare engines, he added.
Currently, the airline has 14 A320 neos in its 126-strong fleet and the number is expected to reach 133 by fiscal end.
"We have reported yet another profitable quarter despite lower yields and higher fuel prices. We see robust traffic growth ahead and we will continue to grow and strengthen our network with a view to maximising our long term profitability," Ghosh said in a statement.
"We expect to launch operations in the next 90 days to
Madurai, Amritsar, Mangalore in India apart from Dhaka, Doha and Sharjah on international routes," Ghosh said while talking about expansion plans.
About overall industry trends, a senior IndiGo official said matching low fares offered by rivals is important depending on the fare bucket concerned.
However, the official also indicated fares might rise in the coming weeks as the airline is mulling passing on the increase in fuel prices onto the passengers.
At the end of December 2016, IndiGo's total debt stood at Rs 2,746.6 crore and the entire amount is "aircraft related", as per the filing.
The carrier's total cash balance was Rs 8,455 crore, including free cash to the tune of Rs 3,786.5 crore.
Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor David Gregory issued the following statement Tuesday regarding Governor Haslams Tennessee Reconnect and budget proposals:
The Tennessee Promise has changed the way people especially first-generation students think about college. Instead of asking, can I go to college, the conversation at the dinner table is now, where will I go to college. I think this new conversation about Tennessee Reconnect will mean that adults who havent thought that college was for them will begin to think about college in an entirely new way. Thats tremendously important to them, their families and to the state as a whole. And with all the student-success initiatives we have in place at Board of Regents campuses, were ready and able to help them be successful.
We are also grateful that Governor Haslams budget proposal helps with another key element for achieving the Drive to 55: campuses physically ready to handle enrollment growth. The governor recommended approval of TBRs capital projects requests: 11 new building and major renovation projects on our campuses. They include a badly needed third classroom building at Motlow State Community Colleges rapidly growing Rutherford County campus, a new multi-purpose building at Pellissippi State Community College, a new music facility at the University of Memphis and new satellite campuses for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville in Anderson County and for TCAT-Memphis in east Shelby County.
In addition, incoming TBR Chancellor Flora Tydings, who officially assumes her new duties on Wednesday, said the expanded Tennessee Reconnect program will be transformative for Tennessee. Dr. Tydings has spent her higher education career leading community and technical colleges and has worked to make them more accessible for all students, including working adults.
Dr. Tydings and Chancellor Gregory were guests on the House floor along with THEC Executive Director Mike Krause and University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro Monday night when Governor Haslam delivered his State of the State address. The governor unveiled his expanded Tennessee Reconnect program proposal and his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18 during the address.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif today warned the United States against "creating new tensions" with Tehran over ballistic missiles tests.
"We hope that Iran's defence programme is not used by the new US administration... As a pretext to create new tensions," Zarif said in a televised press conference with visiting French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.
The UN Security Council is due to hold emergency talks called by Washington today on Iran's recent test-firing of a medium-range missile, which Tehran has not confirmed.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Israel's president has apologised to Mexico for a tweet by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that appeared to endorse US President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.
A statement today from President Reuven Rivlin's office says he told Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in a phone call that there has been a misunderstanding.
It says Pena Nieto said the tweet hurt Israel-Mexico ties.
Netanyahu tweeted on Saturday that Israel's barrier along its border with Egypt had stemmed a swell of African migrants. He wrote: "President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea."
Netanyahu also said the tweet was meant to draw attention to the success of Israel's fence.
Mexico demanded an apology for the tweet.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shares of IT companies plunged as much as 9 per cent today amid concerns that the new bill in the US that aims to rework the H1-B visa programme will adversely impact the hiring plans of Indian technology firms.
Shares of TCS plunged by 5.46 per cent to touch an intra-day low of Rs 2,206.55 on BSE.
Infosys lost 4.57 per cent to Rs 905 and Wipro went down by 4.11 per cent to Rs 445.55.
Tech Mahindra tumbled as much as 9.68 per cent to Rs 426 and HCL Technologies declined by 6.25 per cent to Rs 787.20.
The BSE IT index fell by 4.83 per cent to touch an intra-day low of 9401.85. It is currently trading at 9547.53.
According to market experts, US President Donald Trump plans to overhaul work-visa programmes that dampened investors' sentiment.
Trump is set to sign a new executive order aimed at overhauling work visa programmes like the H-1B and L1, a move that will adversely hit the lifeline of Indian tech firms and professionals in the US.
A legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives which among other things calls for more than doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to USD 130,000, making it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India.
The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Unidentified assailants today shot and seriously injured a man in Bharatpur district.
The victim Tinku Jatav, a resident of Jatoli village in Bharatpur district, has been referred to a Jaipur hospital owing to his critical health due to bullet injury in the chest, said the police.
"The victim has past criminal record. We are yet to find the reason behind the incident. As the victim is serious, we are yet to take his statement," police said.
A case will be registered once the investigation is complete, SHO Chiksana police station, Asharam Gurjar told PTI.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Independent MLA Pawan Gupta, who was a minister MuftiMohmmad Sayeed government, was marshalled out of Assembly today after he protested against Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's remarks that tampering with Article 370 was an "anti-national" act.
As Jammu and Kashmir Assembly began its proceeding this morning, Gupta raised the issue and hit out the BJP for "remaining silent" on Mehbooba'sremarks though abrogation of Article 370 was "core issue" for the party.
He carried a banner asking BJP-PDP government to tender an apology for the CM's "derogatory" and walked into the well of the house raising slogans against BJP.
"BJP should tell the Nation whether speaking against Article 370 is anti-national. Whether Dr Shama Prasad Mukherjee, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhaya and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee are anti nationals," the Udhampur MLA said in the house.
After few minutes of uproarious scenes, he was marshalled out of the house on the direction of the Speaker.
Gupta, who is son of veteran BJP leader Lala Shiv Charan Gupta, was Minister of State for Finance in BJP-PDP government headed by Sayeed.
Talking to reporters, Gupta later said, "Wither the government should apologise for its statement or withdraw it".
"I want to know the stand of BJP. I demanded that a debate should be held on Article 370 on the floor of this Assembly and BJP should come clean on this," he said.
"People of Jammu and India want to know whether BJP is supporting Article 370 or is against it. BJP's double speak has been exposed now. They have sold their core idealogy for power," Gupta said.
Gupta said that revocation of Article 370 was the main demand of BJP since its leaders like Shyama Prasad Mukheerjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyay had sacrificed their lives for it.
"Mehbooba saying that those raising issue of abrogation of Article 370 are anti-nationals means BJP is anti-national but it is very unfortunate that none of the MLAs from the saffron party bothered to oppose the statement," Gupta said.
Later during the Zero Hour, BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia drew the attention of Speaker Kavinder Gupta and the House towards the remarks made by Mehbooba in the state Assembly yesterday.
"I want to draw your attention towards the chief minister's remarks. Some want autonomy, some self rule and BJP has its own ideology. BJP has the core issue of abrogating Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and we are not anti- nationals," Jasrotia, who is an MLA from Hiranagar, said.
He demanded that the CM's remarks be expunged as those opposing Article 370 are not anti-nationals.
As the Speaker agreed to the demand, the members of NC and Congress were on their feet in opposition, terming the move as illegal.
PDP members also staged a walkout over the expunging of the remarks. Protests, sloganeering and noisy scenes forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Voicing disappointment with the President's address to the joint sitting of Parliament, Congress today said the Narendra Modi government had failed to fulfil its promises and its stint was marked by "RSS ka saath, BJP ka vikas".
Addressing a joint press conference, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge parodied the Prime Minister's slogan of "sabka saath, sabka vikas" (together will all, development for all), made during general elections, and said his tenure had seen the government only caring for the benefit of RSS and BJP.
Modi's actions have led to "RSS ka saath, BJP ka vikas", they said.
"If you find fault with the President's address, it does not mean you find fault with the President, it is the government with which you are finding fault and are disappointed with.
"The President's address talks about 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'. This was a slogan coined by the Prime Minister ahead of elections to seek votes, which he did not implement. He instead brought about 'RSS ka saath, BJP ka vikas' and no section of society is happy today," Azad said.
He said all promises made to farmers, labourers, youth, dalits and minorities have remained unfulfilled, and all sections feel neglected, while unemployment has increased.
Azad also said even though his party supported the "surgical strikes", ceasefire violations along the borter with Pakistan have risen ever since, leading to death of a large number of soldiers.
"The government should clarify on this," he demanded.
"The past year has not been good for economy and along the border," he said.
Claiming that whatever government said on demonetisation was proved wrong and the money scrapped had come back into the system almost in entirety, he demanded an explanation from the government as to why Rs 15,000-20,000 crore was spent on remonetisation.
Kharge said the government had not fulfilled any of the promises made to people. The Modi government promised two crore jobs a year but created 1.7 lakh, he said.
"They should tell the physical targets achieved against the economic targets. The farmers are unhappy and so are other sections of society and they (the government) are still not bothered," he said.
Both Kharge and Azad said the Congress wanted discussions in Parliament on demonetisation, ceasefire violations along the border as well as "erosion" of autonomy of institutions like RBI, CBI and Niti Ayog. They said the matter will be taken up during the meetings of business advisory committees of both Houses.
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel took to twitter to castigate the government over the Presidential address.
"The President's address is disappointing and doesn't address any real challenges. It is merely a collection of government's failed promises."
"Did the President's address mention anything about data on demonetisation, failure to create new jobs, rail safety?".
"One year after launching Startup & Standup India funding for startups fell by 42.7 pc," Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said in a series of tweets.
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Morocco's King Mohammed VI took a seat at the African Union headquarters today for the first time in 33 years after being re-admitted by the bloc.
"It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long an absence. Africa is my continent and my home. I am finally home and I am happy to see you. I missed you all," the monarch told the closing ceremony of the AU summit in Ethiopia.
Morocco's return to the fold comes a day after 39 of the AU's 54 member states agreed to allow Morocco back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from countries such as South Africa and Algeria over the status of Western Sahara.
Morocco quit the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after the bloc admitted the former Western Sahara as a separate member.
Morocco maintains that the former Spanish colony under its control is an integral part of the kingdom, while the Polisario Front, which campaigns for the territory's independence, demands a referendum on self-determination.
Some had feared Morocco would demand the expulsion of the SADR as a precondition for its own return to the AU, however the country agreed to return without conditions.
"From the moment that Morocco did not impose conditions ... We take their word for it and accept that Morocco be admitted to the African Union," said Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, foreign minister of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara.
Salek said yesterday that having Morocco in the same room would allow the SADR to pressure them into fulfilling their obligations and allowing a referendum in accordance with a 1975 decision by the International Court of Justice.
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"I am finally home," King Mohammed VI said today as the African Union readmitted Morocco after a 33-year absence, deferring the issue of Western Sahara for another day.
Morocco's return came a day after 39 of the AU's 54 member states agreed to allow it back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from countries such as South Africa and Algeria over the status of the disputed former Spanish colony.
Faced with the AU's decision, Western Sahara officials appeared to accept the new reality, saying AU membership might help speed up efforts to end a protracted conflict.
"It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long an absence," Mohammed VI told the closing ceremony of the AU summit in Ethiopia.
His speech came after a long day of feverish speculation in the halls of the AU headquarters over whether he would indeed show up.
Morocco quit the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after the bloc admitted the former Western Sahara as a separate member.
Morocco maintains that the territory under its control -- which is home to large reserves of phosphate, a key ingredient in fertilisers, as well as rich fish stocks off its coast -- is an integral part of the kingdom.
But the Polisario Front, which campaigns for independence, demands a referendum on self-determination for the territory of half a million residents.
Some had feared Morocco would seek the expulsion of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a precondition for its return to the AU, but the country agreed to return without conditions.
"From the moment that Morocco did not impose conditions ... We take their word for it and accept that Morocco be admitted to the African Union," said Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, foreign minister of the SADR, which claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara.
Salek said Monday that having Morocco in the same room would allow the SADR to pressure them into fulfilling their obligations and hold a long-sought referendum.
The European Union has welcomed the move, saying: "Cooperation and regional integration are essential for prosperity, stability and peace."
King Mohammed did not raise the issue of Western Sahara in his speech, choosing instead to highlight how Morocco, "one of the most developed African nations", could be a boon to the continent.
"We do not ignore the fact that we do not have unanimity in this noble assembly. We do not want to create divisions as some have insinuated," he said.
Morocco will be "a motor for common economic growth", he vowed.
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Alarmed after Bhopal jailbreak by SIMI operatives last year, the Madhya Pradesh jail department has decided to send its guards for rigorous commando training to a centre of NSG, India's premier counter-terrorism outfit.
"We have sent the first batch of 21 jail guards to National Security Guard (NSG) training centre for the special commando training. More guards would be given this training in future," MP's Director General (Jails) Sanjay Choudhary told PTI today.
"The department has planned to provide NSG training to 50 jail guards," he said.
Choudhary said the trained guards would be posted in different jails of the state, as per the requirement.
Another jail department official said the guards would undergo a three-month rigorous training at the NSG's centre in Manesar, Haryana.
The decision to train the guards was taken in the wake of Bhopal jailbreak incident and to enhance the security of the prisons.
"The special training to jail guards would boost the security of the jails. Initially, they would be posted in central jails. These guards were selected for training on the basis of their age and fitness," he said.
On the intervening night of October 30-31 last year, eight operatives of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) had escaped killing a jail guard of Bhopal's Central Jail. The operatives, however, were gunned down within hours at a village, located about 18 kms from the jail.
The state government has taken a slew of measures to prevent such incidents in future, including banning of outside food and shifting of jails from dense areas of the cities.
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It is no secret that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati are poles apart politically and ideologically, but recent developments vis-a-vis mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's QED have brought out their contrasting personal image also among UP voters.
If Akhilesh took up cudgels with his family seniors to stop the entry of Ansari in Samajwadi Party to ward off charges of patronising criminals, Mayawati had no qualms in allowing merger of Quami Ekta Dal (QED) in her party for a bigger electoral gains.
Interestingly, Akhilesh, said to be heading a party criticised for sheilding outlaws, had set the trend of shrugging off such an image on the eve of 2012 polls by putting his foot down and foiling the move to usher in another don D P Yadav into the party fold.
The move had enhanced his image as "uncompromising" on criminalisation of politics and cleansing his party of elements with unsavoury brush with the law.
The decision had proved fruitful in 2012 with his party getting clear victory and perhaps it guided his latest move in checking Ansari's entry into his party.
Mayawati who, on the other hand, has the image of running the state with an iron hand, has not batted an eyelid in allowing merger of QED with BSP.
She went a step ahead by giving three tickets to Ansari's family without caring for what her politically adversaries will be saying.
Mayawati had earned the image of a "strict administrator" by acting tough against officials and her own partymen but her sole concern this time has been mastering caste equations to win elections.
Despite criminal antecedents, Ansari's family is held in high esteem in some eastern UP districts and has considerable sway over some dozen odd assembly seats in Mau, Azamgarh, Varanasi and Ghazipur districts that have a sizeable Muslim population.
And this is what Mayawati it looking for, especially when SP and Congress have come together.
If some 5,000 to 10,000 votes of the Ansari family in
different constituencies come Mayawati's way, the party with its core base will be ahead of rivals in snatching victory, BSP leaders feel.
Even if BSP fails to win these seats as an outcome of polarisation of votes, it will be happy to spoil the chances of Samajwadi Party, they believe.
Besides, Mayawati will be looking for an opportunity to send a signal to Muslims across the state that Akhilesh is anti-Muslim and it is only her party which is the true well wisher of the community.
At the time of announcement of the merger, Mukhtar's elder brother Afzal had announced that he will work to expose anti-Muslim Akhilesh while Mayawati had claimed that the image of the Ansari family was being "maligned" by political rivals by framing them in "false cases".
She will, however, face flak from her political adversaries.
The merger of the Ansari family is likely to be exploited by BJP and SP to counter Mayawati's claims of providing strict law and order but the party is hopeful that this move will counter any possible consolidation of Muslims in Azamgarh and Varanasi divisions behind the Congress-SP alliance.
"Ironically, Mayawati who makes tall claims on law and order has no problem in taking help of criminals and somehow come to power. This only goes on to prove how desperate she is for power and can go to any extent to become the chief minister," BJP General Secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said.
Mayawati hopes that Ansaris will given an edge to her party in Ghazipur, Mau, Varanasi, Ballia, Chandauli and Azamgarh where BSP had won only six of the 40 seats.
The party had failed to open its account in Ghazipur district and won one each in Mau, Azamgarh and Ballia.
In 2012, QED had contested 43 seats and polled 4,17,552 votes, fetching an average 5.32 per cent votes on each seat, which BSP leaders think is enough to swing the outcome in an assembly seat.
QED had got from 4,000 to 70,000 votes on as many as 12 seats -- Ghosi, Mau, Saidpur, Mohammadabad, Ballia Nagar, Zamania, Ghazipur, Mughalsarai, Varanasi South, Sevapuri, Varanasi Cantonment and Varanasi North.
In 2012, Mukhtar had won Mau where he got 70,210 votes against the BSP's candidate who got 64,306 votes.
In Ghosi, QED finished third with 44,645 votes after SP nominee polled 73,688 votes and BSP candidate's 58,144 votes.
QED and BSP together would have emerged victorious.
Mumbai Congress today released its first list of 115 candidates for the February 21 elections to the Mumbai civic body, BMC.
The list includes 19 sitting corporators.
City Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam told PTI that out of 19 sitting corporators 16 are women.
The list also has 11 former corporators, he said, adding there are total of 67 women in the list of 115.
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US President Donald Trump and NATO both agree on the need for dialogue with Russia from a position of strength, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said today.
Trump has badly rattled Europe with his softer line on Moscow and by calling into question Washington's near-70 year commitment to an alliance he dubbed "obsolete" and an unfair burden on the US taxpayer.
But Stoltenberg said that in recent phone conversations with Trump and US Defence Secretary James Mattis, "they all conveyed the same message that the United States remains committed to NATO and the transatlantic bond."
"The message of the new administration is that they also want dialogue with Russia but from a position of strength," Stoltenberg told reporters after talks with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
NATO leaders in July last year signed off on the alliance's biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War in response to Russia's intervention in Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea.
At the same time, they endorsed dialogue with "a more assertive" Russia so as to ensure transparency and to avoid any dangerous misunderstandings at a time of increased tensions.
Radev, seen as more sympathetic to Moscow than his predecessor, highlighted the fact that he had chosen NATO HQ for his first visit abroad since taking office.
"NATO remains an extremely important organisation to safeguard the allies ... We support NATO efforts to defend and deter and we believe that Bulgaria is part of these efforts," he said.
Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 along with several other former communist states once ruled by Moscow.
Radev, a former air force commander, who was partly US-trained and according to Stoltenberg served at NATO, said earlier this month he believed Trump offered hope of an improvement in relations with Russia.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed a spat with Mexico over US President Donald Trump's proposed border wall today, saying the countries' relations were stronger than a "passing" row.
Netanyahu wrote on Twitter that Israel "will continue to have good relations" with Mexico.
"I believe our ties are stronger than any passing disagreement or misunderstanding," he added.
Mexico demanded an apology after Netanyahu tweeted last week in support of Trump's proposed wall spanning the Mexican border, saying a similar plan along Israel's southern frontier had been a success.
Netanyahu did not apologise, saying he did not comment on US-Mexico relations in the original tweet.
But he said he had a "long, fruitful and very friendly relationship" with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Israel's President Reuven Rivlin will speak with Pena Nieto today, a source close to him said, as the two countries seek to calm the row.
Rivlin, who comes from Netanyahu's Likud party, is expected to stress the importance of the relationship between the two countries, the source said on condition of anonymity.
Pena Nieto cancelled a planned meeting with Trump over the proposed wall.
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Pakistan wants peace with India and resolution of all issues, including Kashmir, through talks on the basis of self-respect and honour, the army said today.
"We want the Kashmir issue to be resolve via United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness," Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters in Rawalpindi.
He said Pakistan wants resolution of all issues through talks on the basis of self-respect and honour.
"India is working on a plan and that's why it staged a drama of surgical strike. Armed forces and the people are ready to respond to any misadventure by India," he said.
India maintains that its forces last year conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targetting terrorists and destroying their training camps.
Ghafoor said India committed 945 ceasefire violations across the LoC and international border over the past three years.
In response to a question on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is in Pakistani custody, Ghafoor said that his matter will be addressed as per Pakistani laws.
Jadhav, who was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran, has been accused by Pakistan of planning "subversive activities" in the country.
Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav, who said he was the serving Indian Navy officer.
India has acknowledged Jadhav as a retired Indian Navy officer, but denied the allegation that he was in any way connected to the government.
Maj Gen Ghafoor also underlined that Pakistan had stationed 200,000 troops on the western border with Afghanistan as the "strategic threat" was not over as yet.
He said the kinetic part of military operation against militants had been completed but Intelligence-based Operations and combing operations were going on.
"We will continue these operation until any remaining terrorists are eliminated," he said.
He said over 70,000 Pakistanis lost their lives since the launch of war against terror in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan was worried over the situation in Afghanistan and would held help Afghans to achieve peace.
Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will pay a visit to Afghanistan at a suitable dates, he added.
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The Defence Department has pledged to lobby for US entry of Iraqis who supported the American military after President Donald Trump barred nationals from Iraq and six other countries with Muslim majorities.
The Pentagon is working on a list of names of Iraqis who have worked for the US military, including fighters and translators, "often doing so at great peril for themselves," Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis told a conference.
"We are ensuring that those who have demonstrated their commitment tangibly to fight alongside us and support us, that those names are known" to the services responsible for authorising entry into the country, he said.
In an executive order Friday, Trump barred entry to the US for 90 days for citizens of Iraq, a key ally in the fight against violent extremist groups, and Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The order, billed as a temporary move to allow time for the new Trump administration to review visa criteria in an effort to make America safe from "radical Islamic terrorists," also banned all refugees from coming into the country for 120 days.
The sudden travel ban sowed confusion and led to distressed scenes over the weekend at airports in the US and abroad as would-be passengers were detained or turned away.
It also sparked outrage in the US and criticism from the United Nations human rights chief and a number of countries, including Iraq.
"We are still in the process of assessing" the order, Davis said. He declined to say whether the Defense Department had helped in planning and advising the president's move.
The status of Iraqi pilots who are currently training at an air base in Arizona appeared murky.
"That is one of the issues that we are specifically looking at," the spokesman said.
Iraq pushed back against the US ban, urging Washington to "review this wrong decision."
The Iraqi parliament approved a bill calling for the government to take similar measures against Americans if Washington does not scrap the directive.
The travel restrictions come on the heels of repeated assertions by Trump that the US should have stolen Iraq's oil before drawing down its troops in 2011 from the war there.
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Russia today said that a reported ballistic missile test by Iran does not contravene a United Nations resolution on Tehran's nuclear programme, after the US requested emergency UN consultations.
"Such actions, if they took place, do not breach the resolution," Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax agency, saying demands for UN talks were aimed at "heating up the situation".
The UN Security Council will hold talks Tuesday on Iran's test-firing of a medium-range missile after the United States requested the emergency meeting following a call from Israel for action.
Ryabkov said that Moscow had not confirmed the missile test took place.
US President Donald Trump has promised to strengthen ties with Israel and has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal that led to a lifting of many international sanctions against Tehran.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned the United States against "creating new tensions" with Tehran over ballistic missiles tests.
Russia co-signed the nuclear deal and enjoys good ties with Tehran, which is fighting alongside Moscow's forces in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad.
The Kremlin is also, however, looking for better ties with the US after Trump pledged to bolster relations after they slumped to their worst level since the Cold War over the Ukraine crisis.
The Security Council resolution adopted a few days after the 2015 nuclear agreement bars Iran from developing missiles "designed to carry nuclear warheads."
Iran has said its missiles would never carry a nuclear warhead as it has no plans to develop atomic weapons, but military officials have insisted on expanding the country's missile programme.
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South Korea's defence chief and his new US counterpart vowed today to push ahead with a plan to deploy a US anti-missile system this year, Seoul's military said, despite angry protests by China.
The two allies last year announced the plan to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system following a series of atomic and missile tests by nuclear-armed North Korea.
New US Defence Secretary James Mattis and his South Korean counterpart Han Min-Koo reaffirmed the plan in a phone conversation, Seoul's defence ministry said, days before Mattis visits Asia.
How the incoming administration of President Donald Trump will approach the region has raised worries in South Korea and Japan, both of them longstanding US allies.
During his campaign, Trump threatened to withdraw US forces from the two countries if they did not step up their financial support for their defence.
Mattis and Han voiced grave concern over growing threats from North Korea and agreed on "a need...To push ahead with the deployment of the THAAD as planned", the ministry said in a statement.
The two ministers also warned that the North may stage armed provocations at times of power transitions in the South and the US.
Their conversation came after Trump and South Korea's acting president Hwang Kyo-Ahn agreed Monday to strengthen their joint defence capabilities, but with the White House's official statement making no specific reference to THAAD.
The North's leader Kim Jong-Un boasted early this month that the country was in the "final stages" of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The THAAD plan has infuriated China, which fears it will undermine its own ballistic capabilities and has slapped a series of measures seen by Seoul as economic retaliation.
It also sparked angry protests from residents of the area chosen to host the powerful missile system, with several South Korean presidential hopefuls vowing to scrap the plan if elected.
Mattis, during his first overseas tour since taking office this month, visits South Korea from Thursday to Friday before flying to Japan.
He is expected to meet with Han as well as Hwang, who has been serving as acting head of state since parliament impeached President Park Geun-Hye last month.
The South's Constitutional Court is reviewing the validity of the motion. If the court confirms the impeachment, a presidential election will be held within 60 days.
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In an unusual move, Pakistan's army today said the detention of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a "policy decision in the national interest" as the government announced that the Jamat-ud Dawa leader's 90-day house arrest could be extended if required.
"The detention is a policy decision taken in the national interest. The relevant department may give more information in a day or two and the situation will become clearer," Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters here.
Saeed and four other JuD leaders were put under house arrest after order of detention was issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry yesterday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.
His aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz - were detained and placed under house arrest in Chauburji near JuD's Lahore headquarters.
"Although they belong to different districts of Punjab but the government has decided to place them under arrest in one house in Lahore," a senior police officer told PTI.
"The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required," an interior ministry official told PTI.
"The government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days," he said, adding that the names of several JuD and FIF activists have been placed on Exit Control List to stop them from leaving the country.
Maj Gen Ghafoor said Pakistan wants peace with India and resolution of all issues including Kashmir through talks held on the basis of self-respect and honour, but it should not be considered as weakness.
"We want the Kashmir issue to be resolve via United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness," he said.
After the Punjab Home Department declared Saeed's Jauhar Town Lahore residence as sub-jail, the JuD chief was shifted there from its headquarters Al-Qadsia Chauburji today.
First Saeed was allowed by police to hold a press conference before he left for his home along with dozens of his supporters amid high police security.
"My detention order has come from Washington and not Islamabad. If someone thinks that after placing me under house arrest will help check freedom movement in Kashmir he is living a fool's paradise. My arrest will give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris' struggle against India," Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, told reporters.
Saeed further said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that he would get respite in Kashmir after his (Saeed) arrest he is seriously mistaken.
"We have declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris. All programmes we planned for Feb 5 will be held across Pakistan and (Pakistan-occupied) Kashmir," he said, and vowed to challenge his detention in the Lahore High Court.
Opposition in the Pakistan Punjab Assembly today staged a
walkout to protest against Saeed's detention.
The opposition which is led by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party said the PML-N government has taken the step on the pressure of the Trump and Modi administrations.
Demonstrations were held in different cities including Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta to protest against Saeed's arrest.
His supporters also protested in Islamabad, denouncing the decision, according to an official of interior ministry who was monitoring the situation after Saeed's arrest.
"Everyone knows here that the Nawaz government succumbs to the pressure of the Trump administration and took action against Saeed, JuD and FIF," JuD leader Hafiz Abdul Majid Bhatti said while addressing a gathering in Lahore.
"We will continue protesting the government's action against our leaders and organisations," he vowed.
According to the Punjab Home Department notification, "Both JuD and FIF are engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of Pakistan's obligations to the UN Security Council Resolution. And accordingly both organisations have been placed in the Second Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997."
Similarly, it said Saeed is engaged in certain activities which could be "prejudicial to peace and security".
He is placed in the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and put under detention for a period 90 days.
The interior ministry in separate notification has also put JuD and FIF on the watch list for six months.
Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the state has taken certain actions against the JuD regarding its obligations to the UNSC resolution.
The said that the government decided to put JuD and FIF into a watchlist and approved freezing of their assets, cancelling passports and arms licenses under the UN resolution 1267 to comply with the conditions of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for maintaining Pakistan on the white list.
The government has issued instructions to all concerned departments, including the State Bank of Pakistan, commercial banks, law enforcement agencies at the federal level including Federal Bureau of Revenue, Federal Investigation Agency as well as provincial governments to implement all these orders.
Pakistan will submit its compliance report to FATF today on account of implementing money laundering laws in an effective manner, which will be a pre-requisite to maintain the country in the white list of FATF, the paper said.
In case of non-compliance, Pakistan might have slipped into grey and negative and danger zone in terms of labelling it in the negative list on account of terrorism financing.
The FATF, an inter-governmental body, was founded by the G-7 Group in 1989 to set standards for AML/CTF. It had placed Pakistan on its grey list in Feb 2012, meaning that the country was not fully compliant with standards set by the FATF for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
There have been reports that Islamabad has immense pressure from new US administration to take action against Saeed and his organisations.
Saeed was also put under house arrest after Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 but he was freed by court in 2009.
JuD chief Hafiz Saeed's detention may help ease Indo-Pak tension, media here said today even as supporters of the Mumbai attack mastermind launched protests across major cities against the government's decision which they say was taken under pressure from the US and India.
Saeed, who was detained yesterday at his Lahore headquarters, has been shifted to his residence which has been declared as a sub-jail by authorities in Punjab province.
The provincial authorities have also started to remove the banners of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) from the roads of Lahore.
National flags have been hoisted at the JuD offices in Lahore, instead of party flags, on the directives of the provincial home department.
As he was placed under house arrest, his supporters launched protests in cities like Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
"The detention of Hafiz Saeed could help ease tensions between nuclear-armed foes Pakistan and India, although New Delhi has not yet responded," Express Tribune commented.
It said that the 2008 Mumbai attack brought Pakistan and India to the brink of war after 10 gunmen killed 166 people in a rampage that included attacks on two luxury hotels, a Jewish center and a train station.
Saeed has denied any role in the attack and has distanced himself from LeT, while leading his charity JuD.
Supporters accused Nawaz Sharif government of succumbing to the wishes of the US, which has offered a USD 10 million reward for information leading to Saeed's arrest.
"This government has buckled under the pressure," JuD spokesperson Nadeem Awan said who also accused India of pressurising the government.
Another spokesperson, Farooq Azam, announced protests in Karachi by "different religious and Kashmiri leaders".
The paper said a senior Pakistani defence ministry official said Islamabad had not been contacted by the new administration of US President Donald Trump but had been feeling US pressure on the issue.
"Trump is taking hard decisions against Muslim countries, there is open talk of actions against Pakistan also. So yes, this was a consideration," said the official.
Other government officials have said recently that a broader diplomatic campaign - pushed by India - to isolate Pakistan has taken a toll, even involving pressure from longtime ally China.
Four days back, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had
included names of Saeed and four others -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- in the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and ordered their preventive detention.
Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz were also also taken into preventive custody, Pakistani media reported.
Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JuD and Saeed to avoid sanctions.
JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26,2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.
JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014.
Earlier too Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack, but was released about six months later in June 2009 after a court order.
BJP leaders today termed as "eyewash" the 90-day detention of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and demanded that Islamabad should prosecute the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief and hand him over to India.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju said Pakistan should file charge sheet against Saeed.
"We have been exerting pressure on Pakistan continuously. We are bringing it to the notice of the world too that how not only Saeed, but others (terrorist) too, are being allowed to thrive there (in Pakistan).
"Pakistan will definitely take steps in that direction if there's pressure from all sides," he told reporters outside Parliament.
Rijiju observed that terrorism has become a concern for all countries including the US and insisted Pakistan to launch crack down on terrorists thriving in its territory, which the Minister added, has become a breeding ground for terrorism.
Making light of the reports of Saeed's house arrest, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy suggested the action was not enough and demanded Pakistan to instead hand over the JuD chief to India, failing which the NDA government should prepared itself to "disintegrate" into four pieces.
"He should be handed over to India...I think Government of India should threaten Pakistan (to hand him over). If they ignore the threat, we should prepare to disintegrate Pakistan into four pieces," he added.
Former Union Home Secretary and BJP MP RK Singh too downplayed the reports terming the detention as "eyewash" and a "joke" on part of Pakistan to avoid itself from being listed among countries from where immigration has been stopped.
"House arrest is meaningless. He should be prosecuted. He should not be detained. He should not be in his own house. He should be jailed. He should be facing charges for Mumbai terror attacks," he said, adding the action Pakistan took is allegedly a sham.
Singh also stated that Pakistan should be listed among those countries where immigration has been stopped, contending it has become a hotbed of terrorism and jihadi ideology.
According to JuD activists, Saeed was at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji in Lahore when police descended there to implement the order of detention issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Favorite Ramen Spot Furious Spoon Is Opening A Lakeview Location
By Stephen Gossett in Food on Jan 30, 2017 10:44PM
Ramen at Furious Spoon. Photo by Zachary Johnston.
One of Chicago's foremost ramen joints, Furious Spoon continues to expand, well, furiously. The slurp-happy soup spot is coming to Lakeview this summer, at 3200 N. Halsted St.
The team announced on Monday plans for what will be their fifth Chicago location. The relatively sizable new spacea 2,000-square-feet 80-seaterwill set up shop at the corner of Halsted and Belmont. The design and menu will be set up similar to other locations communal tables, bar seating, with Chicken Shio, Holy Cow, and the signature Furious Ramen among food items. Beer, sake and cocktails will also be available.
Its time for Lakeview to see what we are all about," chef Shin Thompson in a press release.
No word yet on an exact opening dateor if the Lakeview spot will tempt you with all-you-can-eat soup or learn you something with their quick-to-fill ramen cooking classes.
Furious Spoon's fourth location, in Pilsen, is scheduled to arrive in the spring.
Gulf monarchies, notably Saudi Arabia, and other major Muslim nations have been spared the US travel ban because they are crucial allies of Washington and not "failed states", experts say.
President Donald Trump's controversial executive order on Friday singled out citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen to prevent "radical Islamic terrorists" from entering the United States.
But the ban, which could still extend to other states, has exempted Muslim-majority nations associated with major attacks in the West.
Out of the 19 hijackers of planes used in the September 11, 2011 attacks, 15 came from Saudi Arabia, also the birthplace of Al-Qaeda founder and attack mastermind Osama bin Laden.
The other four included the Egyptian plot leader, two Emiratis and a Lebanese.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf and Arab nations are also home to scores of jihadists who have joined Al-Qaeda and its rival Islamic State group, both of which have been behind deadly attacks in Europe.
But the kingdom, cradle of the austere Sunni doctrine of Wahhabism, has traditionally been a strategic ally of Washington.
"Trump appears to consider -- in line with longstanding mainstream US policy -- the Gulf states as crucial allies for the United States government," said Adam Baron, a visiting fellow and Yemen specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
"The nations appear to have been chosen due to their governments' poor relations with the US or their precarious state," he said.
Saudi Arabia has been in war with Al-Qaeda for more than a decade, hitting what it calls the "deviant group" with an iron fist. It is also in the US-led coalition fighting IS, along with other Gulf states.
The ban is not about "countries where we have close partnerships with their counter-terrorism forces and where there is a well-developed structure of intelligence cooperation", said Anthony Cordesman, from the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Sikh advocacy group today urged gurdwaras in the country to be alert and vigilant in view of the prevailing atmosphere in the US.
"Given the current situation of our country, and other parts of the world, we advise Gurdwaras to step up their security measures, especially following Sunday's deadly mosque attack in Quebec," Gurvinder Singh, director for United Sikhs said in a statement.
Since the 9/11 attacks, Sikhs have often been harassed and/or victimised by people who mistakenly perceive them as an accessible proxy for the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks, it said.
The result of which is that turbaned Sikhs in America and Canada have been victims of racial violence and have had their identity challenged by calls for immigrant groups to assimilate into Western societies, the advocacy group said.
"The anti-immigrant and anti-foreigner political rhetoric, combined with this week's terrorist attack in Canada have many living in fear of additional hate crimes and other attacks," United Sikh said.
Following the Quebec shooting in which six people were killed, the New York Police Department announced it would provide additional protection for mosques in the city.
United Sikhs is also asking worshippers in Gurdwaras to be vigilant.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today asserted that the issue of according "special category status" to Bihar did not arise as the very concept had been rejected by both the Raghuram Rajan Committee and the Finance Commission.
"The very concept of 'special category status' was dismissed by the Raghuram Rajan Committee. And the 14th Finance Commission has completely abolished the system of a special category state. The special category status cannot be accorded to any state even if the government wants to give it," Modi told reporters here.
Modi was replying to a query whether a special category status for Bihar would figure in the Union Budget.
The central government had in 2013 formed a committee, headed by Raghuram Rajan, the then Chief Economic Adviser, to finalise the new criteria to determine backwardness of states for granting special category status.
The previous UPA government had constituted the Committee on the repeated demands from Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government and other states for according them a special category status.
Further, Modi said, the Narendra Modi government at the Centre had given Rs 1.65 lakh crore special package to Bihar, which gave more to the state than what it could have got under special category.
"Through Rs 1.65 lakh crore special package, which is being implemented in the state, the Centre has given more to the state and that is why Nitish Kumar has forgotten it (special category status) also," said Modi, who was accompanied by party leaders and former Bihar minister Renu Kushwaha and former Bihar DGP Ashish Ranjan Sinha.
Modi appreciated the Centre for disbandment of the Planning Commission, doing away with the Five Year Plan, classification of plan and non-plan expenditure, advancing the presentation of Budget to February 1 from British tradition of presenting it on the last day of the month, etc.
The former Bihar finance minister, said advancement of the presentation of Budget to February 1 would enable government departments to start spending from April 1. Earlier, the actual expenditure of government departments used to start from May-June, he added.
When asked to comment on Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav's invitation to the Bollywood, he said those who stopped the release of 'Deswa' and delayed the release of Gangajal are now inviting Bollywood film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali to Bihar.
Further, Modi has condemned the assault on filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali during shooting of his film Padmavati in Jaipur.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ruling Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal is facing a keen contest in his pocket borough Jalalabad where Aam Aadmi Party top gun and sitting MP Bhagwant Mann and Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu are locked in a triangular fight, making the constituency a witness to the biggest electoral battles in Punjab.
The three key contestants from this seat are locked in a fierce contest as Bittu is the grandson of slain Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and Mann is arguably the party's face in Punjab elections.
Sukhbir is a tough contestant and his record says it all. He won the last Assembly election from this seat with the highest record margin of over 53,000 votes.
The two main opposition parties - Congress and AAP - have taken the fight to an interesting level against Sukhbir, who is also Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab.
Jalalabad is small border town where one of the biggest electoral battles of Punjab is taking place.
Sukhbir is better known as the son of the five-time Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal. His challenger is comedian, musician and actor-turned-politician Bhagwant Mann. Bittu is the Ludhiana MP.
Mann showed people don't just come to his rallies for a laugh, when he won the Parliamentary seat from Sangrur in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He is second only to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal when it comes to crowd pulling.
Sukhbir's campaign in this seat started on a bad note with some disgruntled elements throwing stones at his cavalcade.
The battle has become more interesting here as Akali MP Sher Singh Ghubaya's son Davinder Singh has joined the Congress and entered the fray from neighboring seat Fazilka.
Rolling out his campaign, Sukhbir said, "I have spent Rs 400 crore in Jalalabad constituency on upgrading sewerage and water works. Another MLA wouldn't have been able to spend more than Rs 4 crore. This constituency is special, that's why its development is also special for me."
During his campaigns, Sukhbir makes it sure to attack Mann in his speech.
"What good can he do for the masses? AAP has done no good even in Delhi. So, one cannot expect anything from them even in Punjab. Remember most of them are outsiders and have no knowledge about the issues of Punjab," he tells the electorate.
The Rai Sikh community plays a key role in this constituency, with nearly 30 per cent of the 1.90 lakh voters belonging to this Scheduled Caste community.
The Kamboj community and some Other Backward Classes make up another big chunk of 50,000 voters.
Recently after a prolonged stand-off between SAD and Ghubaya, now a party MP from Ferozepur, ended with Ghubaya's son Devinder Singh Ghubaya, joining Congress.
The Ghubaya's belong to the Rai Sikh community and to offset their loss, Sukhbir has been reaching out to other Rai Sikh personalities in the constituency though his close aide SS Mintta.
Even as Mintta in the absence of Sukhbir, who has to campaign for his party candidates contesting from other seats, harps upon development works done during the Akali regime, there has been a strong under current against Sukhbir's aide.
To underline the importance of Rai Sikh vote, locals point to Ghubaya's two successive parliamentary wins, in 2009 and 2014, after he vacated the Jalalabad Assembly seat for Sukhbir in 2007.
The second time, he defeated Sunil Jakhar of Congress. Though Mann, who has been camping here for weeks, has been drawing huge crowds in his campaign.
Ashok Aneja, president of SAD's Fazilka district unit, says, "Though Mann is able to attract people to listen to him, he will not be able to convert these into votes. We all are here to see the poll campaign of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal as he has to tour the whole of Punjab and once again his victory margin will be the highest."
Sukhbir promised interest-free loans of Rs 10 lakh for youth to start their own business if the SAD-BJP combine returns to power.
He said the loans would be provided to the youth after giving them skill training so that they can become successful entrepreneurs.
He also announced that the SAD-BJP alliance would launch a massive drive to provide pucca houses to all the houseless in the state.
He assured the people that special emphasis would be given to the border belt, especially Ferozepur district, under this drive.
Pulling off a surprise victory from Ludhiana in 2014 Lok Sabha polls after being sent in as a replacement for Manish Tewari, Bittu, 41, is on a whirlwind tour of his constituency to have a connect with its people.
Six Iranians travelling to the US have spent three nights stuck in transit at Amsterdam airport, angry and humiliated by the sudden decision to deny them entry.
"This is a very confusing and contradictory state to be in," Pedram, a 33-year-old doctor, told AFP today, speaking by phone from the transit lounge at Schiphol airport.
He and the five others -- a PhD student, and two married couples heading to visit their children and grandchildren in the United States -- have been left stunned by President Donald Trump's executive order blocking entry to citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran.
The group was transiting through Schiphol -- one of Europe's busiest travel hubs -- on a KLM flight from Tehran to catch connecting flights to different cities in the United States.
"When we set off from Tehran nothing was said about Trump's new rules. They gave me a boarding pass and everything was OK," said another of the group, a 29-year PhD student, who asked to remain anonymous.
But when he landed at Schiphol airport on Saturday he had to go through another security check and was pulled to one side.
An officer from the US immigration services "told me that I no longer had the allowance to go into the country," he said, adding he was embarrassed by the whole ordeal.
He was travelling to Minnesota -- on his first visit to the US -- to begin a six-month collaboration at the university researching water treatment systems, on a valid non-immigrant J1 visa.
He spent an estimated USD 2,000 to get his visa, which took him several months and trips to Dubai and Armenia to secure. His return flight home was booked for October.
The small group were strangers before, but with no visas to enter the EU they have spent three nights together stuck in limbo, sleeping on sofas and chairs in the airport's transit lounge.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The British government is holding fast to plans to invite US President Donald Trump for a state visit even as protests mount.
Peter Ricketts, a former head of the Foreign Office, said today the invitation has put Queen Elizabeth II in a "very difficult position" because of the furor surrounding Trump's travel ban on refugees and people from some Muslim-majority countries.
He said in a letter to The Times that the invitation to Trump was "ill-judged" and should not have been made until Trump had spent some years in office.
The queen makes invitations to state visits on the advice of government officials, and traditionally hosts the visitor in Buckingham Palace.
Protesters took to the streets in London and other cities yesterday calling for the trip to be cancelled.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The UK government today officially pardoned thousands ofgayand bisexual men convicted under now-abolished sexual offences law dating back decades.
The new law has been dubbed the "Alan Turing Law" after Britain's famous Enigma code-breaker responsible for decrypting Nazi messagesduring World War II who was granted a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 - 61 years after he was charged at a Manchester police station over homosexual activity.
The pardons were first announced last year as an amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill and were officially enforced as the Bill received Royal Assent today.
"We can never undo the hurt caused, but we have apologised and taken action to right these wrongs," said UK justice minister Sam Gyimah.
The enactment of the law means around 49,000 men will be cleared of crimes of which they would be innocent today.
Statutory pardons will also be granted to people still living who apply to have their convictions removed.
The men were found guilty of committing now-abolished offences while in consensual relationships.
It will effectively act as an apology to those convicted for consensual same-sex relationships before homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales nearly 50 years ago.
Rachel Barnes, the great niece of Turing who has long campaigned on the issue, hailed the decision as "absolutely tremendous".
Her great uncle, known in the UK as the Bletchley Park code-breaker, was convicted in 1952 of gross indecency with a 19-year-old man.
He was later chemically castrated and died in 1954 after poisoning himself with cyanide.
His pardon followed a Private Member's Bill in the House of Commons.
In 2013, the posthumous royal pardoning of Turing led to calls for wider pardons, and the launch of a petition in 2015.
The petition gathered almost 640,000 signatories, including famous British actors Stephen Fry and Benedict Cumberbatch, who played Turing in the film about the enigma code, 'The Imitation Game'.
Around 75,000gayand bisexual men were convicted under the Sexual Offences Act, which was abolished in 1967, and around 16,000 are believed to be alive today.
The law was changed in Scotland in 1980 and in Northern Ireland until 1982.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
British lawmakers will hold a debate on whether it should downgrade President Donald Trump's visit to the UK after a petition opposing his trip gathered over 1.6 million signatures even as thousands marched in protest against the travel ban by America on seven Muslim countries.
The debate will be held in the House of Commons on February 20 and will also take in a second petition calling for the visit to go ahead, signed by more than 100,000 people.
Once a petition crosses 100,000 names, the Parliament's Petitions Committee is required to consider it for a debate in Parliament.
The petition titled 'Prevent Donald Trump from making State Visit to the United Kingdom'calls for the visit to be downgraded from a State Visit, which is hosted by Britain's Queen and includes a ceremonial welcome and a state banquet.
However, a rival petition titled 'Donald Trump should make a State Visit to the United Kingdom', has also gathered some attention since it was created in retaliation.
Downing Street has insisted the visit will go ahead.
Meanwhile, thousands of demonstrators packed streets across the UK to protest against Trump's executive order banning entry to nationals of seven countries.
The protesters chanted slogans of "Down with Trump" and "Shame on May" in reference to British Prime Minister Theresa May's decision not to withdraw the invitation to Trump for a state visit to the UK in June.
In London, swarms of protesters gathered outside Downing Street last night with similar crowds in towns and cities across Britain, including Edinburgh, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Manchester, Brighton, Birmingham and Leeds.
Indian-origin shadow attorney general, Shami Chakrabarti, told the event in London: "It is in sadness and solidarity that we gather here this evening. I also hope, friends, that we stand here in solidarity with all the world's women who the president has insulted and all the desperate refugees that he would spurn".
The UK's shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, told the crowd she had come on behalf of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
She said: "Donald Trump has been president for only a few days and look at what he is doing.We need to resist the Islamophobia and scapegoating of Muslims, we have got to resist it whether it is in the United States or here in the UK".
The protests came as a petition demandingTrump not be allowed to make a state visit to the UK crossed 1.5 million signatures.
British MPs held an emergency debate in the House of Commons on Monday on the executive order,which affects nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from travelling to America.
"The general principle is that all British passport
holders remain welcome to travel to the US," UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the Commons.
He added: "We have received assurances from the US embassy that this executive order will make no difference to any British passport holder, irrespective of their country of birth or whether they hold another passport".
"This is not our policy, nor is it a measure that this government would consider. I have already made clear our anxiety about measures that discriminate on grounds of nationality in ways that are divisive and wrong," he said.
There were some fears that British citizens holding dual nationality of any of the seven countries on Trump's list may be denied entry to the US.
The UN Security Council will hold urgent talks today on Iran's test-firing of a medium-range missile, diplomats said.
The United States requested the emergency consultations after the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations called for council action.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The UN children's agency today launched an appeal for USD 3.3 billion to help 48 million children caught up in crises worldwide amid fears of a funding cut from top donor the United States.
Some 42 per cent of the UNICEF appeal for 2017 -- USD 1.4 billion -- is earmarked to support Syrian children living in the country and as refugees across the borders in neighboring states.
This year's appeal represents a 18 per cent increase from the initial 2016 request for funding. Donors contribute to the appeals on a voluntary basis.
The United States is by far the top donor to UNICEF, followed by Germany, Britain and the European Commission.
Media reports that the new administration of President Donald Trump is seeking to cut at least 40 per cent of voluntary contributions to international organisations have set off alarm bells at the United Nations.
UNICEF deputy executive director Justin Forsyth said there was "no indication at the moment" that the children's agency will be hit by cuts, adding that he remained hopeful that US support will continue.
Faced with rising humanitarian needs, notably from the wars in Syria, Yemen and South Sudan, UN agencies have been requesting more funding, but the donor response often falls short.
"The impact on the ground of our appeals not being funded is children dying, children not going to school, children not being protected," said Forsyth.
Almost one in four of the world's children now lives in a country affected by conflict or disaster, according to UNICEF.
Aside from Syria, UNICEF's assistance in 2017 will be heavily focused on Yemen, South Sudan and Nigeria - three countries ravaged by wars that have had a heavy toll on children.
UNICEF is struggling to ensure children caught up in conflict still have access to schools to avoid creating a lost generation of youths vulnerable to violent extremism.
"There are consequences, not just for the children," said Forsyth. "There are consequences for global and regional security by not investing in the needs of these children for education.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After Spending Weekend With Koch Brothers, Rauner Sort-Of Criticizes Trump Immigration Ban
By aaroncynic in News on Jan 30, 2017 10:31PM
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner at the Illinois State Fair. Photo by Aaron Cynic.
Rauner was among three governors, five senators, two congressman and hundreds of donors attending the summit, hosted by the conservative billionaires, according to a report from the Washington Post.
Unions and others used the revelation to criticize the governor for the trip, which took place the same time airports nationwide were thrown into chaos that resulted in detentions and deportations for many.
I dont care what he says in a speech, said Dan Montgomery of the Illinois Federation of Teachers emailed to Chicagoist over the weekend. Actions speak louder than words. Hes not compassionate. Hes not willing to work together. In one of our darkest hours, hes plotting with billionaires on how to make the rich richer.
The Democratic Governors Association, a political fundraising group, asked where Rauner was while Illinois spoke out against the presidents actions.
While people in Illinois were being detained, Gov. Bruce Rauner was relaxing with fellow millionaires in Palm Springs, said Jared Leopold. Communications Director for the DGA.The millions that Rauner is raising for the Koch brothers wont do much to protect the people of Illinois from Donald Trump.
Rauner, who supported blocking Syrian refugees from coming to Illinois last year, did not stay silent about Trumps order, however. In a statement released on Sunday and published by Politico, the Governors Office said that he had serious concerns and urged their swift resolution.
The governor has been supportive of tightening the vetting process for Syrian refugees because of ISIS attempts to infiltrate refugee flows but he's opposed to immigration bans that target any specific religion.
Interestingly enough, the Koch brothers themselves, who have long pushed for a myriad of conservative policies and politicians nationwide, were also unsupportive of the order.
We believe it is possible to keep Americans safe without excluding people who wish to come here to contribute and pursue a better life for their families, said Brian Hooks, co-chair of the Koch network, in a statement provided to Time Magazine. The travel ban is the wrong approach and will likely be counterproductive.
The exceedingly wealthy brothers and the governor are each expect to spend big money in upcoming elections for Republican candidates. Rauner has already given himself $50 million for the next governors race, and the Kochs plan to spend at least $300 to $400 million on campaigns and policy in the 2018 cycle.
The White House has said it is studying details of an Iranian ballistic missile test. Press secretary Sean Spicer said he did not know the "exact nature" of the test and expected to have more information later.
A defense official yesterday said the missile test ended with a "failed" re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Iran is the subject of a United Nations Security Council resolution prohibiting tests of ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear warhead. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal, the UN ban was prolonged by eight years, although Iran has flaunted the restriction.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the US was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the US Security Council resolution.
"When actions are taken that violate or are inconsistent with the resolution, we will act to hold Iran accountable and urge other countries to do so as well," Toner said.
Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Iran for the missile test.
"No longer will Iran be given a pass for its repeated ballistic missile violations, continued support of terrorism, human rights abuses and other hostile activities that threaten international peace and security," Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said in a written statement.
Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, meanwhile, claimed a successful missile strike against a warship in the Red Sea belonging to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting alongside Yemen's internationally recognized government.
Video footage shown on the rebels' al-Masirah television yesterday shows a warship being hit and a fire on board starting as a man not shown in the video shouts the rebels' trademark chant of "Allahu akbar (God is greatest), death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam."
The media arm of the Shiite rebels, also known as the Houthis, said the vessel was believed to belong to the Saudi Arabian navy.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Yemeni rebel "suicide" boats attacked a Saudi warship on patrol in the Red Sea, killing two sailors in a rare naval clash in the nearly two-year-old war, the Saudi-led coalition said.
The assault off the rebel-held port city of Hodeida came as government forces backed by the coalition pressed a deadly drive up the Red Sea coast despite mounting international pressure for a ceasefire.
"A Saudi frigate came under a terrorist attack by three suicide boats belonging to the Huthi militias," the coalition said late yesterday without specifying when the incident occurred.
Suicide attacks are uncharacteristic of the Shiite Muslim Huthi rebels. They are normally the work of Sunni extremists of Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group.
Although the Saudi warship "dealt with the boats," one of them "collided with the back of the ship and exploded and caused a fire," which the crew brought under control, the coalition said..
As a result of the incident, two Saudi crewmen lost their lives and three were wounded, the coalition said, adding the frigate was able to resume its patrol.
In purported video of the attack shown on the rebels' Al-Masirah television website, the stern of a warship exploded in a large fireball.
The rebels claimed responsibility for the attack without specifying how the vessel was targeted.
"It was hit with precision after an accurate surveillance operation off the western coast," a rebel military official said in a statement.
In October the rebels fired rockets towards an American destroyer, prompting the US Navy to retaliate with cruise missiles against mobile radar sites in Huthi-controlled territory.
Since it began air strikes in March 2015, the coalition has imposed an air and sea blockade of rebel-held areas.
It has carried out patrols of the Red Sea to prevent what it says is attempted arms smuggling to the rebels by Shiite Iran.
Before government forces launched a major offensive on January 7, the rebels controlled virtually all of Yemen's 450 kilometre long Red Sea coastline.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Gleb Gorodyankin and Olga Yagova
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Glencore has become the largest buyer of Russian Urals oil from Rosneft, overtaking rival Trafigura after taking a stake in Russia's biggest oil major last month, a analysis of trade data showed.
Ivan Glasenberg, Glencore's chief executive, said last week during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the company was studying cooperation with Rosneft in a number of areas, including supplies to India and China.
Glencore was able to secure the bigger share of Urals oil after it teamed up with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to buy a 19.5 percent stake in Rosneft. As part of the deal, Glencore was given access to additional Rosneft volumes.
This has ended a long streak of dominance in the Urals market for Trafigura, which has been buying crude from Rosneft under two long-term agreements. However, Trafigura remains the biggest buyer of Rosneft crude of all blends after China's CNPC.
Data supplied by traders showed Rosneft increased Urals supplies to Glencore by 300,000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes in the Baltic Sea this month, while deliveries to Trafigura fell by 280,000 tonnes from December to 740,000 tonnes.
"Rosneft has pinched the volumes for Glencore from Trafigura," said one trader.
Rosneft, Glencore and Trafigura declined to comment.
As part of the agreement with Glencore and QIA, Rosneft has concluded a deal with a company called QHG Trading, linked to the new shareholders, to supply up to 55 million tonnes of crude in total over a 5-year period.
Rosneft will supply QHG Trading with 4.5 million tonnes to 11 million tonnes of oil per year, with the price being set according to a formula pegged to global oil prices.
The tie-up with Glencore has allowed Rosneft to start supplying oil to Hungary and Slovakia with Glencore, expanding into new markets. Glencore acquired 160,000 tonnes of Urals to ship oil via Druzhba pipeline to those destinations.
Glencore started to receive fuel oil volumes from Rosneft under the new deal in January, a market source told .
Trafigura remains the second largest buyer of oil from Rosneft after China's CNPC, which receives more than 25 million tonnes of Russian crude oil per year by pipeline under a state agreement. In addition to Urals it also acquires Asia-bound ESPO blend and Sokol.
The data supplied by traders showed that Rosneft planned to supply Glencore with a total of 1.36 million tonnes of oil this month, with 1.58 million tonnes of oil going to Trafigura.
Rosneft has said it also plans to cooperate closely with Trafigura in international trading and crude oil swaps, including through a joint purchase of Indian refiner Essar Oil last year.
(Additional reporting by Dmitri Zhdannikov; Writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Alexander Smith)
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - ICICI Bank Ltd, India's No.2 lender by assets, said its third-quarter net profit fell 19 percent as bad loans rose, although the profit decline was smaller than expected.
Net profit fell to 24.42 billion rupees ($360 million) for the three months to Dec. 31, from 30.18 billion rupees reported a year earlier, the Mumbai-based lender said on Tuesday.
That compared with an average forecast of 21.7 billion rupees from a poll of 23 analysts, Thomson data shows.
Bad loans as a percentage of total loans rose to 7.91 percent at the end of December, from 6.82 percent at the end of September and 4.72 percent a year ago.
($1 = 67.8379 Indian rupees)
(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Rajendra Jadhav
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's natural rubber output in 2017/18 is likely to jump 15 percent to its highest in four years at 750,000 tonnes as a spike in benchmark prices prompts farmers to start tapping trees they had abandoned earlier, industry officials told .
Higher domestic production could reduce imports by the world's second-biggest consumer of the commodity and help arrest a rally that has lifted overseas prices to their highest in more than five years. The rubber rally could also trim margins for tyre makers and force them to raise tyre prices.
"The spike in rubber prices has renewed the interest of farmers in tapping," Rajiv Budhraja, director general of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association (ATMA), told .
In the last two months, domestic prices have jumped 24 percent to 16,000 rupees ($235.85) per 100 kg, hitting a three-year peak on Monday, mainly due to supply disruptions in Thailand and led by surging Tokyo rubber futures. [nL4N1FK15O] [RUB/T]
"The current year's production target, which earlier we thought unlikely ... will definitely be achieved," Budhraja said.
The state-run Rubber Board has set an output target of 654,000 tonnes for the current fiscal year ending on March 31, up 16.4 percent from the previous year.
Budhraja expects the output to rise another 100,000 tonnes in the following financial year.
Many rubber farmers in India had previously suspended tapping operations during a three-year slump that dragged local spot prices to 9,100 rupees per 100 kg in February 2016, the lowest level in nearly seven years.
Despite the now rising local output, Indian tyre companies will still have to import as there is about a 40 percent gap between demand and domestic supply, said Raghupati Singhania, managing director of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd .
Over the last few years rubber prices in India were running at premiums to overseas prices, prompting tyre makers like Apollo Tyres Ltd , JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, CEAT Ltd and MRF Ltd to raise imports.
Now local rubber is available at nearly 20 percent discounts to overseas supply, giving Indian tyre makers an incentive to buy home-based production.
Still, with both local and global prices up sharply from six months ago, and with natural rubber making up around 40 percent of the cost of a tyre, tyre companies may have to look at raising their prices in coming months.
"Given the trend of rising costs, we would indeed be looking for the right opportunity to revise prices," said Singhania of JK Tyre & Industries.
India's rubber consumption is pegged at just over 1 million tonnes a year.
($1 = 67.8399 Indian rupees)
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Tom Hogue)
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- Pfizer Inc, which closed its $14 billion acquisition of Medivation Inc in September, reported a lower-than-expected profit, hit by lower demand for its flagship flu vaccine Prevnar and higher expenses.
Shares of Pfizer, which has relied heavily on Prevnar for growth to offset the continued generic erosion of its legacy brands, were down 1.1 percent at $30.98 in premarket trading on Tuesday.
Global Prevnar sales fell 23 percent to $1.42 billion, below estimates of $1.62 billion, according to Evercore ISI, and the company attributed the persistent fall in sales growth to a successful initial capture of the eligible population following the product's 2014 launch.
Pfizer, the largest U.S. drugmaker, earned an adjusted profit of 47 cents per share, missing the average analysts' estimate of 50 cents, according to Thomson I/B/E/S.
Prevnar was quite light this quarter, as were sales of Sutent and Inlyta, while SG&A was well above expectations and a key contributor to the EPS miss, Credit Suisse analysts said.
The company's revenue slipped 3 percent to $13.63 billion, due to a strong dollar and fewer selling days compared to the year-ago quarter, but was roughly in line with estimates.
Those lost days resulted in a negative impact on quarterly revenue by about $750 million compared to the prior-year quarter, Pfizer said.
The company, which decided against splitting itself to separate its eroding legacy business from its array of patent-protected medicines in September, has taken a number of steps to streamline operations.
Pfizer agreed to sell its global infusion therapy business, which it acquired through its $15 billion purchase of Hospira in 2015 to ICU Medical Inc for $1 billion, the following month.
in November reported the company was evaluating a potential sale or spin-off of its consumer health division that could value the unit at as much as $14 billion, citing sources.
Pfizer on Tuesday forecast adjusted profit of $2.50-$2.60 per share on revenue of $52 billion-$54 billion for 2017. Analysts on average were expecting earnings of $2.56 per share and revenue of $54.03 billion.
(Reporting by Natalie Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Every January, I do a digital tune-up, cleaning up my privacy settings, updating my software and generally trying to upgrade my security. This year, the task feels particularly urgent as we face a world with unprecedented threats to our digital safety.
In a major blow to the already struggling jewellery sector in India, the government might cut the threshold limit for the requirement of the permanent account number (PAN) or Unique Identity Code (Adhaar Number) in urban, and Kisan Credit Card number in rural areas for jewellery or bullion purchases between Rs 50,000-100,000, post Union . The Budget, which will be announced on Wednesday, is likely to further tighten the noose around black money after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, announced on November 8, 2016.
The 2016-17 has painted a grim picture of the state of public banks and indebted corporates in India. The annual survey says that 57% of the top 100 debtors would need debt reductions of more than 75%. At least 13 public sector banks accounting for 40% of the loans are severely stressed. More than 20% of their loans are unrecoverable.
When, several decades ago, Raj Kapoor famously sang Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani, (Still, my heart is Indian), he was expressing what in hindsight appears to be a deep insight on comparative national development. To the Bismarckian sequence (and paraphrasing the Italian statesman Massimo dAzeglio), We have created Europe. Now we must create Europeans, the Raj Kapoor counter seems to be that Indias founders favoured creating Indians in spirit and political consciousness first. The current difficulties of European integration reflected in the Brexit vote and in the acrimonious debates on the design of the Euro seem to suggest that perhaps the Indian sequencing was not only appropriate but prescient.
Activists To IL Senators: 'Just Vote No' Against Education Nominee Betsy DeVos
By Stephen Gossett in News on Jan 31, 2017 7:17PM
Betsy DeVos / Getty Images / Photo: Chip Somodevilla
On the heels of a Senate committees approval of controversial Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos, parents of Chicago Public Schools students and community activists gathered downtown to protest the school-choice champion and urge lawmakers to vote against her as the confirmation process moves to the full Senate.
The group gathered in Federal Plaza at noon on Tuesday to deliver letters from CPS parents and a petition from the United Working Families of Illinois urging Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to vote against DeVos. "Just vote no! Just vote no!" the crowd chanted.
Collecting letters to give to our US Senators to #Dumpdevos. pic.twitter.com/qVFmibtbrH Raise Your Hand (@ILRaiseYourHand) January 31, 2017
Duckworth on Tuesday morning announced that she would not support DeVos nomination due to DeVos' desire to redirect money from public schools and what Duckworth called a "poor understanding of civil-rights laws.
I am troubled by Ms. DeVos zealous advocacy for laws that redirect money from public schools towards private schools without adequate accountability, Duckworth said in a statement. Cutting resources for our public schools is not a formula for success; it robs students of their right to a quality, equitable education. I was also stunned by her apparent lack of knowledge of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)a federal law that requires schools across the nation to equitably educate students with disabilities. And I am troubled by her statement that the treatment of students with disabilities is an issue thats best left to the states, which makes her misunderstanding of the laws premise clear.
The Senate committee approved Devos 12-11 along party lines.
The nomination has come under fire from the American Federation of Teachers and the Chicago Teachers Union. Karen Lewis, president of CTU, last fall called DeVos a nightmare who advocates for all the stuff that has been proven not to work." DeVos chaired a federation that championed public funding for charter schools and allocating public money for parents to spend on private education.
LIVE January 23, 2018 Tuesday, 11:42 AM January 23, 2018 Tuesday, 11:42 AM
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to present the Union Budget for 2017-18 in Parliament today
With the aviation regulator DGCA reviewing airlines' on-time performance (OTP) mechanism at four airports, no-frills carrier SpiceJet on Monday called for applying the same rules for all players and making the system more efficient.
``If the data is challenged, do it in a better way ... as long as rules are same for everybody, then there is no problem,'' SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh. In an apparent dig at IndiGo, Singh said, ``I think it is a little awkward for somebody to be challenging the same data based on which they said they were No 1.''
OTP figures in recent months have shown a sharp decline in the performance of IndiGo following which the low-cost carrier filed a complaint against the methodology used to estimate the numbers.
Singh's comment came in the backdrop of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) setting up a committee recently to look into the OTP monitoring system of domestic carriers at four airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru after another budget carrier IndiGo complained that the current system was flawed.
``OTP is one of the several measures to determine an airline's operational efficiency. It indicates whether an airline is operating its flights on time or not. If the system can be made more efficient, please go ahead,'' Singh said.
Singh also said that the debate is a great thing for consumer. On the issue of Government's ambitious regional connectivity scheme UDAN, Singh said the airline fully supports the scheme but is opposed to the imposition of levy. ``We oppose the levy because it will increase the cost for consumers,'' he pointed out. UDAN (Ude Desh Ke Aam Naagrik) scheme, under which fares have been capped at Rs 2,500 for a onehour flight, aims at boosting air connectivity to and from unserved and under-served airports and making flying more affordable.
Under UDAN, the participating airlines would be extended VGF -- that would be jointly funded by the Centre and the state government concerned. Towards VGF, the government has started charging Rs 8,500 levy per departure of flights on major routes. However, airlines have challenged the charging of levy in the court.
SpiceJet feels that the money for the scheme should be paid either by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) which is the nodal implementing agency for the scheme or through other government sources, he said.
The Delhi University has set the recruitment process in motion after seven years, seeking applications for 378 posts of permanent teachers across departments.
The move comes following the directives by ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), for filling up the vacant posts.
The central university, which has been largely surviving on ad-hoc teachers for the past seven years, rolled out the vacancies after 2009.
There are about 4,000 ad-hoc teachers serving in different colleges and department of the university. Since 2006, there has been no formal recruitment in the university which led to the start of ad-hoc appointments. The university has invited online applications for 378 posts of assistant professors across 41 departments and centres, which include 187 general category posts, 100 OBC, 55 SC, 29 ST and seven posts for persons with disabilities, a DU official said.
HRD minister Prakash Javadekar had last year said that his ministry would push for a recruitment drive in all major institutions and that all vacant positions should be filled by 2018.
The Delhi University teachers have been protesting against the hiring freeze for a long time and submitted memorandums to the HRD ministry.
Protests have been continuing for quite a few months with ad-hoc teachers demanding "absorption", as they say, the appointment and promotion rules adopted by the university's statutory body is against them.
The ministry has stated that ad hoc appointments should not exceed 5 per cent of faculty strength. The varsity paved way for the recruitment process in December last year with the Academic and Executive councils passing the University Grants Commission's amendment on teachers' recruitment.
This billion dollar baby, running into second generation in India - fetched more than $500 million revenues last year for Toyota here in this market. The second generation has netted over 10,000 bookings in a short span of two months since its November 7 debut, a day before demonetization woes come into effect.
So what makes Fortuner a through leader in Indian SUV market for almost a decade now? Its trouble-free operations and extreme dependability on the harshest of terrains has kept it going for these years and the newer generation further reinforces its claim to the pole position.
Toyota has worked harder than General Motors and Ford in its new SUV, to keep the price lucrative while adding more safety and performance arsenal. It comes with seven airbags and at Rs 25.92 lakh is a tad cheaper than GM's Trailblazer or the new Endeavour from Ford.
Driving the new Fortuner is real fun; thanks to the all-disc brake, a standard against the outgoing model which faced huge drag from its weaker rear drums. These new ventilated discs brakes has improved overall braking and also stops this beast much faster, which at times could be a real savior on patchy Indian roads.
The SUV market did not see many superlative products in the past few years. Except the noteworthy Pajero, or to some extend the Santa Fe from Hyundai, none could come closer to Fortuner in performance and delivery.
Also, off-roading comes naturally to SUV's, but many have faltered on rough roads, an arduous challenge for the German luxury machines, but Toyota's maintain its edge. Fortuner with its new all wheel double whisbone and independent coil suspension along with improved tyre specs delivers something closer to the superior Prado pedigree.
The new Fortuner is loaded with a similar DNA. Its chassis has been reinforced, while the engines are been re-tuned with the power of double-overhead cam and 16valves to give higher projected pressure discharging 420 newton metres of raw power at 1600-2400rpm.
"We want to take the bar high for the SUV segment both in terms of performance and driveability. The new Fortuner shares the DNA of its elder siblings, Prado and Land Cruiser and comes very close to their off-roading capabilities," says Toyota Kirloskar Motor MD Akito Tachibana.
This muscular SUV have been flavour of our politicians, young entrepreneurs and in vast tracts of rural landscape, where few machines could tread successfully. The misgivings of the Indian roads and highways have further abetted demand for SUV type vehicles, rendering high durability with extremely low maintenance.
It's durability, where Fortuner has carved a niche for itself and virtually butchered the entire competition, with the new exception of Ford Endeavour coming closer in terms of sales.
Driving the Fortuner was never a great pleasure, for its design and layout didn't allow a comfortable ride except for the front passengers. This has been taken care in the newer version, making driving and seating both a comfortable experience with plush leather seats and reworked ergonomics. It has a new automatic mated to all new 2.8 litre diesel and 2.7 litre petrol powertrains.
Toyota remains sold-out on this machine for the next two months after 10,000 strong bookings, notwithstanding the demonetisation concerns for this Rs 26 lakh plus vehicle. Also tapering demand for high-ticket machines has not impacted Fortuner's fortunes.
With a 70 per cent share in top SUV segment, it remains the favourite machine for Indians, something which Hyundai Santa Fe, Tata Hexa or the Trailblazer would only aspire for.
(The writer is a motoring writer and passionate driver)
Britain's Vodafone Group on Monday confirmed it is in discussion to merge its Indian unit with Idea Cellular in an all-share deal to create the country's largest telecom operator with 43 per cent revenue marketshare.
The combined entity will pose formidable competition to the current market leader Airtel and aggressive new entrant Reliance Jio.
However, the biggest hurdle to the merger will come in form of regulatory approvals and practical implementation challenges, warn industry experts who, among other issues, cite breach of revenue marketshare and spectrum caps in five of the 22 telecom circles.
That said, the merger of Vodafone -- the country's second-largest cellphone network operator -- with the Aditya Birla Group firm -- India's third-largest cellular operator would create a company with over 395 million users and form one of the largest telecom companies in the world.
In a statement, the UK-based company said it is in talks with Idea about an all-share merger, but the deal under consideration excludes its 42 per cent holding in Indus Towers, a joint venture with Bharti and Idea.
"Any merger would be effected through the issue of new shares in Idea to Vodafone and would result in Vodafone de-consolidating Vodafone India," it said adding, "there is no certainty that any transaction will be agreed, nor as to the terms or timing of any transaction."
Since its entry in India in 2007, Vodafone has become number two operator in the country, but its journey has been tumultuous as it is locked in a legal battle with the government over a USD 2 billion retrospective tax claim over its acquisition of Vodafone India from Hutchison in 2007.
It had written down value of business by 5 billion euro, late last year. The British firm has pumped in more than USD 7 billion into the India unit.
While Bharti Airtel is the largest mobile operator today with 265.8 million subscribers, Vodafone has 204.6 million users and Idea Cellular 190.5 million users.
"...The merger would result in combined entity facing practical implementation issues, the most significant of them could be the cost associated with liberalising the spectrum (estimated at Rs 2,000-3,000 crore - an expense which would go to the Government without any benefit to a combined entity).
The combined entity would also breach spectrum caps in 5 circles, the market value of which comes to Rs 7,500 crore," Bank of America-Merrill Lynch said.
Citing challenges related to regulatory approvals, spectrum sale and stake in tower business Indus, CLSA had earlier this month noted that India's telecom merger and acquisition norms require the combined entities revenue and subscriber marketshares to be below 50 per cent and spectrum holdings to be below specified caps.
"Our analysis reveals the Vodafone-Idea combined entity would hit revenue marketshare, subscriber market share and spectrum caps in five of the 22 circles," CLSA had said.
The merged entity would get a year to align with these caps but it would have to part sell/surrender spectrum to be below the cap, CLSA report had stated.
Also the new entity would have to pay Rs 5,700 crore to liberalise its administered spectrum which would be offset if the merged entity can sell excess spectrum worth Rs 5,400 crore, it added.
Idea rose as much as 29 per cent, the most since the shares began trading in 2007, taking the company's market valuation above USD 5 billion.
On the positive side, CLSA had said that such a mega deal will change the industry order. Not only would the combined entity become the industry leader but also a strong competitor in the data market with 3G spectrum across India and the highest 4G spectrum in the 1800 Mhz band.
The merger, if it comes through, will create a new market leader in the mobile as well as data segments challenging both Bharti Airtel and Jio, and further intensifying tariff war, say industry experts.
Backed by India's richest man, Reliance Jio Infocomm is offering free voice calls and data till March and has notched up 74 million users. It has already invested over USD 25 billion and is investing another Rs 30,000 crore (USD 4.8 billion).
"With a merger, Vodafone-India would have a 43 per cent revenue market share. Bharti Airtel currently leads the sector with 33 per cent revenue market share and we forecast a 13 per cent share for Reliance Jio by FY19. The merger will help Vodafone India improve its positioning in the mass market, while Idea Cellular would gain from Vodafone's strengths in metro circles," CLSA note had pointed out.
"Moreover, Vodafone India's potential merger with Idea Cellular would also pave the way for backdoor listing of its business without going through an IPO process," CLSA added.
Idea had posted an 88 per cent drop in its consolidated net profit at Rs 91.46 crore for the quarter ended September 2016, even as revenue increased by 7.2 per cent to Rs 9,300.23 crore in the reported quarter.
Vodafone on November 15, 2016 had stated that it has registered a 2.60 per cent growth in its pre-tax profit for the April-September period at Rs 6,704 crore. The company's revenue growth stood at 5.9 per cent at Rs 22,579 crore during the reporting period.
A new survey of millennials by Deloitte has found that over half of Irish millennials expect the overall economic situation in Ireland to improve in the next 12 months.
The survey looks at how millennials (age 18-34) feel in the current turbulent political and economic environment.
While 38% would choose to leave their current employers in the next 2 years, 50% of Irish Millennials plan to stay with their current employers for more than 2 years, and of those, 25% are planning on staying for more than 5 years.
Millennials have significant influence within the organisation with 47% of those aged 18-34 holding mid-level executive or senior management positions.
Fifty three per cent believe that automation will improve productivity, 46% say it will positively impact economic growth as well as free up time to focus on more creative and value add activities (46%). However, they also see the downside with 40% of Irish Millennials believing that automation will reduce the number of jobs available to them.
Commenting on the research, Partner at Deloitte, Valarie Daunt said, "To see over half of young people in Ireland saying they expect the economy to improve over the next year is promising. While we are faced with global challenges such as Brexit, Trump and looming elections across Europe, we hope that millennials will remain positive as the world continues to lead in an ever-changing environment."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
LOGAN Police officers have no witnesses, no motive and no suspects, but are continuing to investigate the alleged abduction of a 15-year-old girl Monday afternoon.
Logan City Police Capt. Curtis Hooley said detectives interviewed the victim after she was released from Logan Regional Hospital, late Monday night.
She claimed that after getting off a bus and walking to her home near 1380 W 1800 S, two men put a cloth over her face that had something on it that smelled like rubbing alcohol.
She was taken to a trail that is directly west of their residence, where she was taped up and held against her will, explained Hooley.
The girl said she recognized that she was along the Logan River Trail, near Trapper Park, as she regained consciousness. The two men that had abducted her were wearing black ski masks, so she could only see their eyes. She believed they were white, adult males, who were speaking English.
Hooley said the girl told police, her hands were bound with masking tape. While along the trail, one of the men took her phone and found the number of the victims mother, in her contacts list. They reportedly called the woman, saying they wanted her to hear her daughters voice.
When the girl spoke to her mom, the suspects were no longer with her but believed to be nearby. She reportedly said they threatened to shoot her.
The mother was able to determine where the victim was at and found her along the trail. She called 911 and reported the abduction.
Hooley said officers, Cache County Sheriffs deputies, and Utah Highway Patrol troopers responded to the area, finding the girl and setting up a perimeter.
They located the girl and made sure she was physically okay. They contacted the EMS, who were already en route.
EMS arrived and took her to Logan Regional Hospital where they have examined her. She has not been assaulted and has no injuries.
Police, with the help of K-9 units, searched the area for several hours but found no trace of the suspects, near where the victim was found.
Hooley said even though they have no leads, detectives are continuing to investigate. They are reviewing bus camera footage, and interviewing neighbors, to see if they can find any evidence of the suspects.
will@cvradio.com
FILE - You'll have to wait until April 1 to gather shed deer, elk and moose antlers in 11 counties in Utah this year.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is putting a halt to gathering antlers in 11 Utah counties until April.
Division of Wildlife Resources Director Greg Sheehan signed an emergency amendment Tuesday, closing the gathering of shed antlers from deer, elk and moose in Cache, Box Elder, Rich and eight other counties in Utah until April 1.
According to the DWR, extreme, prolonged cold and deep snow are the reasons for the closure. These conditions are expected to continue for the next several weeks, making it difficult for deer, elk and moose to find food. And the DWR does not want to add additional complications for the animals.
These animals and other wildlife in the areas are stressed, Sheehan said in a press release. They cannot sustain being repeatedly moved around by shed hunters looking for dropped antlers.
We support shed antler gathering, Sheehan continued, but were asking, through this emergency order, that you wait until April 1 to move through these winter range areas.
The order states that those caught gathering shed antlers before April 1, in any of the 11 counties, will be cited.
In late winter and early spring, the antlers of deer, elk and moose fall off the animals heads. Then, they start growing a new set of antlers. By mid-summer, the new set is in place.
The DWR wants people to stay clear of wildlife while in the backcountry. If they see something that may be concerning, they are encouraged to contact the Division of Wildlife Resources. The phone number for the Northern Region is (801) 476-2740.
The counties in Utah where antler gathering is now prohibited until April 1 include Cache, Box Elder, Rich, Weber, Morgan, Summit, Wasatch, Duchesne, Uintah, Carbon, and Emery.
Antler gathering is still allowed in the 18 other counties in Utah. Before gathering antlers on public land, though, people must complete the DWRs free shed antler gathering course.
Chicago Is Closing Out January With At Least 300 Shootings, 53 Fatalities
By Rachel Cromidas in News on Jan 31, 2017 8:50PM
Crime scene tape (Photo by LukaTDB via Shutterstock)
Chicago is closing out the first month of 2017 with a gun violence rate that shows no signs of slowing. The city has seen over 300 shootings this month, at least 53 of them fatal, according to the Chicago Tribune's tally. There were about 50 people fatally shot here last January, for comparison.
The most recent numbers include a Monday night shooting in Wicker Park, in which a man walked into a liquor store around 10:25 p.m., and started arguing with a 26-year-old employee there, before pulling out a gun. The altercation moved outside the store, and the man shot the male employee in the leg. he was taken to Stroger Hospital in stable condition, according to police.
The police department told ABC7 that they have been making more gun arrests this year than last year, and the department is hiring more officers to help with the volume of police work. They also said that around half of the homicides combined took place in three South and West side police districts.
So far on Tuesday, at least four people were shot in three separate shootings. In one incident, two people checked themselves into Mt. Sinai Hospital with gunshot wounds Tuesday morning, and they told police they were shot in the 4400 block of South Campbell Avenue in Brighton Park. An hour later, a 27-year-old man was shot in the groin and finger in the 900 block of West 71st Street in Englewood.
And early Tuesday morning, a 25-year-old man was shot in the chest in the 8700 block of South Houston Street. He was taken to Christ Hospital in critical condition, police said, but due to a language barrier (the man is identified by police as Hispanic) police were not able to determine the circumstances around the shooting.
[H/T Tribune]
LOGAN A four-day trial has been scheduled for Dustin J. Mangum. The 38-year-old Richmond man is accused of sexually abusing two girls.
Mangum appeared in 1st District Court Monday afternoon. His defense attorney, Bryan Galloway, asked for the trial date after he and prosecutors failed to reach a plea agreement for the two cases against the defendant.
Judge Kevin Allen scheduled the trial to begin May 30.
State attorneys allege that Mangum sexually abused a girl in May 2003. The victim, who is a teenager now, claims the abuse occurred when she was around four-years-old. The second victim is an 11-year-old girl who claims she was also sexually abused over the course of several years, before the defendant was arrested August 19.
Prosecutors have filed 25 charges against him, including 10 counts of sodomy of a child and 15 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. Each charge carries a penalty of five-years-to-life in prison.
The May trial only involves the first victim and two of the charges of sodomy on a child.
During Mondays hearing, state attorney Spencer Walsh said prosecutors planned to file a motion, asking the court to allow evidence of other acts of child molestation during the trial.
Judge Allen set a hearing date for May 2, when attorneys for both sides will argue the motion.
Mangum remains in the Cache County Jail, being held without bail.
will@cvradio.com
A vacancy on the Cache County Council was created when Val Potter left to become a state representative in the Utah Legislature for District 3. Now three Republicans are vying for his position on the council and the winner will be determined on Wednesday, February 1st.
The candidates include Gina Worthen, Lloyd Berentzen and Elaine Nelson, all residents of North Logan. The new council member will represent the countys Northeast District.
Berentzen currently serves as Mayor of North Logan but is about to end his second term in that position. He was a member of the North Logan City Council prior to becoming mayor. Berentzen says those experiences have made him knowledgeable of how local government works and he believes he could make a contribution.
The council certainly has had some difficult issues from time to time that they have had to deal with, says Berentzen. It is kind of similar to the things that you have to deal with at the municipal level.
All I really hope to do is, regardless of what the issue is, is apply the same principals and try to be the wisest and fairest in any decision process that we would make.
Gina Worthen says she would like to be elected because she has worked for both the community and the Republican party. She feels well qualified for the council job.
One of the things that Id like to do, as you know my background is journalism, I will take those skills that I had as a journalist to inform people about what is going on and listen to their concerns, says Worthen. I would like to see the county deal more with the citizens and the elected county officials and city officials and working together to solve issues we face as a county.
Nelson has formerly served on the North Logan City Council and says she would very much like to serve on the Cache County Council. She believes she is well qualified for the position.
Ive had some extensive experience in city council, Nelson explains. Ive had extensive experience serving on the Cache Mosquito Abatement Board. Ive been chair of the board for three years and Ive served on that board for 10 years.
I know budgeting, I know public meetings, I know public processes, I know taxation, I know land issues. During (my time) on city council I was extensively involved in making sure that our city filed change applications so we could always have our water secure.
The Wednesday meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Cache County Council chambers. Those voting for the new council member will be county delegates, precinct officers and voters from Republican districts Hyde Park 1 and 2, North Logan 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and Smithfield districts 4 and 5.
The winners name will be forwarded to Cache County Republican Party Chairman Boyd Pugmire who will present it to the Cache County Council.
Illinois Jewish Center Is One Of Many Around U.S. To Receive Bomb Threat Tuesday
By Rachel Cromidas in News on Jan 31, 2017 10:29PM
Photo via Elaine Frank Apachi Day Camp
A north suburban Jewish community center was evacuated Tuesday morning after receiving a call about a bomb threat.
Similar scares have taken place today at over a dozen centers around the U.S., according to NBC. Authorities with bomb-sniffing dogs searched Lake Zurich's JCC, Elaine Frank Apachi Day Camp, and found nothing suspicious, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office. A bomb threat was called into the camp around 10:30 a.m.
Jewish Community Centers in Albany, New York, Woodbridge, Connecticut, Boulder, Colorado, La Jolla, California, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Worcester, Massachusetts, were also among those evacuated Tuesday due to similar threats.
Students at the Lake Zurich center were transported to a different site for school, and no one was injured or missing, according to WGN.
Join This Logan Square Chocolate Shop For The Sweetest Valentine's Day Event In Town
By Anthony Todd in Food on Jan 31, 2017 3:38PM
Hot Chocolate at Katherine Anne Confections. Photo via Facebook.
Still looking for Valentine's Day plans? Not looking for the traditional fancy sit-down dinner? Consider joining Katherine Anne Confections for an awesome chocolate, wine and charcuterie party on Feb. 12 that is guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Katherine Anne Confections has been cranking out some of Chicago's best chocolate for more than ten years (last fall was the big anniversary). We recently sat down with owner Katherine Duncan to talk to her about business, delicious chocolate, and her awesome Valentine's Day event.
On the event: "Last year, it was a blast. We do eight wines (from Candid Wines) paired 16 sweets for only $70. There are only 16 seats. It sold out very quickly last year. Id recommend people not do dinner; people had dinner reservations afterward last year, and they ended up being full." There will also be charcuterie from Danke.
On Chicago's chocolate scene: "There is so much great chocolate in other cities. New York has 10 really good chocolatiers. We have what, 3? Theres a lot of room for growth." That's why Duncan is constantly coming up with new products to grow her product line.
On their amazing, decadent drinking chocolate: "The drinking chocolate has been an unmitigated success from the beginning. People absolutely love it. . . . Shockingly, the margin isnt as good as you would think. Our large drinking chocolate sells for $8, and the cheapest type costs $2 for just the ingredients. When you use really high quality chocolate instead of cocoa powder, plus Kilgus Farms milk and cream, it turns out it costs a lot."
On being a mother and a business owner: "Its hard and not hard at the same time. It feels like Ive always been this way, because its been two years now. She was born Nov. 1, and I had two weeks off before I did my first 8 hour day in the kitchen, and we bring her everywhere with us! She hangs out with us, we [Katherine and her husband] take turns being parents, and she spends an hour or two of her day at the shop. I didnt expect it to work out as well as it is, but thats definitely one of the biggest perks of having a business - you can bring your daughter to work."
On the occasional failure: "There were many things I thought would be a giant success that werent. I launched a smore kit, and people were super exited, and i think we sold literally 4. Abysmal failure."
On the future: Duncan has thought about getting the shop a liquor license, about keeping it open for late nights, and about introducing more savory options. This year, they'll be introducing a small patio, and trying to expand their after-dinner business.
Tickets for the Valentine's Day event are available online, and will sell out quickly, so if you and your sweetie like chocolate and wine (and who doesn't?) buy them now.
IL Synagogue That Sponsored Some Of Last Syrian Refugees Before Ban Fights On
By Stephen Gossett in News on Jan 31, 2017 6:15PM
Am Shalom / Facebook
The bitterest irony for many who oppose Donald Trumps immigration and refugee ban was the fact that it was signed into action on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day that serves as a reminder of the vital need to welcome endangered, persecuted groups.
It was a Reform synagogue in Glencoe, Illinois, in fact, that mobilized to welcome and provide for one of the last Syrian refugees to arrive before Trump's executive order. In a now-iconic photo, more than a dozen congregants from Am Shalom were pictured at O'Hare International Airport on Friday waiting for the refugee family that they sponsored or co-sponsored.
Theres definitely a sense of solidarity between our own little community and refugees in general, Taylor Clearfield, of Morton Grove, told Chicagoist. Our congregation has many descendants of refugees or people who are refuges themselves. We feel for them on a personal level.
Welcoming the stranger is part of the Jewish community. Its our charge and our responsibility to do this work, said Alyssa Latala, director of communications of Am Shalom, which also sponsored families from Cambodia and Chile in the past.
Clearfields mother, Laura Horn, who serves as the associate executive director of Am Shalom, and other senior staff felt the urgent need to help sponsor a refugee after the election of Donald Trump. The synagogue reached to RefugeeOne, a Chicago-based organization that helps settle refugees in the area, who hustled as inauguration neared to make sure the refugee family would gain entry. The congregants lent a hand in ways big and small, raising enough to furnish two apartments for the refugee family and offering basic help, such as giving instructions about how to use public transportation. Soon, donations were flooding in, doctors were offering pro bono service and a larger network of outreach emerged.
It was pretty amazing, Clearfield said of the familys arrival and acclimation. Bittersweet, she added, choking up with emotion.
Even as Trumps refugee ban limits the amount of assistance one can directly offer Syrian refugees, Am Shalom congregants remain fiercely mobilized. Clearfield attended the massive rally at OHare in Saturday with her husband and one-year-old daughter. The fact so many people want to do something is heartening, she said. Well keep putting pressure on state and local politicians and continue to make our voices heard.
RefugeeOne has also come out with resolve. We are devastated by this executive action. Nations are judged by how they treat the most vulnerablethe widow, the orphan, and the refugee, Executive Director Melineh Kano said in a statement. We will continue to support and advocate for Chicagos resilient refugee community and refugees across the globe.
The refugee-resettlement group is requesting donations for the nearly 1,000 people it brought to Chicago last year who still need your help."
These Restaurants & Vendors Are Giving Food To The O'Hare Lawyers
By Anthony Todd in Food on Jan 31, 2017 5:54PM
wrap via Goddess and the Grocer
As we reported this morning, volunteer lawyers are gathering at O'Hare International Airport almost around-the-clock to provide emergency legal assistance to those effected by Trump's recent executive order. Those lawyers aren't alone; they've had support from people all over social media and from lawyers all over Chicago. But they've also had support of a more material kind, as restaurants and vendors around Chicago send food and drink to keep them going.
Here are some of the brands that have supported the lawyers so far. We will continue to update this post as we find out more.
Dark Matter Coffee
Thank you @DarkMatter2521 for giving us all the caffeine!! You guys are amazing. pic.twitter.com/v6ghC1GNb2 ORDLawyersHQ (@ORDLawyersHQ) January 30, 2017
@ORDLawyersHQ We'll aim for 6pm because no human being is illegal. Metropolis Coffee (@MtropolisCoffee) January 30, 2017
Update: I just found out the lunch was donated to @ORDLawyersHQ by @kellyhclay. Thank you so much! Christy (@CRemiholt) January 30, 2017
As a small token of appreciation to @ORDLawyersHQ sending food from Albany Park. #grateful #40languagesspokenhere pic.twitter.com/7O3i2bQir4 Deb Mell (@debmell) January 30, 2017 Tortas Frontera Frontera confirms that their Terminal Five location provided dinner for the attorneys on Monday night. TWITTER FACEBOOK REDDIT
(Lawyers at O'Hare tweeted out thanks to Publican for donating lunch)
Heads of State At End of 28 AU Summit in Ethiopia VCG
Some 39 out of 54 Heads of State have voted to re-admit Morocco into the African Union, AU after 33 years when the North African country withdrew.
The atmosphere was tense Monday as some countries raised the issue of the Independence of Western Sahara which is now considered Africas last Colony.
Members States decided to leave the question of the disputed territory of Western Sahara for another day.
The foreign minister of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic SADR, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, which claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara said "From the moment that Morocco did not impose conditions ... we take their word for it and accept that Morocco be admitted to the African Union."
Morocco left the African Union in 1984 when the body recognized the former Western Sahara as a separate member.
Contrary to popular opinion that Morocco would demand the expulsion of SADR as a precondition for its own return to the AU, the former did not.
Morocco maintains that the former Spanish colony under its control is an integral part of the kingdom, while the Polisario Front, which campaigns for the territory's independence, demands a referendum on self-determination.
Moussa Faki Mahamat Replaces Zuma
Chadian Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat, 56, has been voted as the new chairperson of the AU Commission, beating four other candidates to replace South Africa Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The choice of Faki comes six months after the election was postponed and mandate of Zuma extended for six months. The former Chadian Prime Minister who has spent his time fighting Islamists in Nigeria, Mali and Sahel region is expected to hold firm and continue the fight to eliminate poverty, extremism and other ills which have gained centre stage on the Continent.
Meantime Guinean President Alpha Conde has replaced Chadian Idris Derby Itno as chairman of the African Union.
Oben Peter Ashu Archives
Former Governor to the South West and North West regions popularly known for his Neo-Nazis rule in the South West Province and his hatred for North West immigrants in what he described them as Come No Go.
According to a family source, Oben Peter Ashu died in a local Hospital in Cameroons economic Capital, Douala Sunday night.
He had been suffering from prolong illness which took him out of Cameroon before he was flown back into the country to continue medication.
The man described as Cameroon Hitler will be remembered to have incited hatred between the North West and South West regions with his Come No Go which was a coinage for an immigrant who might not return to his town of origin. He referred to them foreigners just because they resided in his region of origin.
He almost went on his knees begging when he was transferred to the North West region in same capacity, he was well treated by the Bamenda man; he even acquired land and built a house around Nkwen.
Oben Peter Ashu made peace with God and those he oppressed by attending a special service in Bokwaongo, Buea in 2014 where he confessed and asked the people of North West to forgive him.
Civilians Stretchered Into Different Hospitals Archives
At least three people have died, and nine others injured in a twin suicide attack early Monday January 31, 2017 in Double a village in Canton Magdeme in Mora Sub Division of Mayo Sava Division in the Far North Region.
According reports by Equinoxe Radio, two teenage female suicide bombers were perceived in Double early Monday at about 7:30 am by the population. As they approached to get hold of the girls, they immediately detonated t heir explosives killing themselves and a civilian, while nine persons were transported to the Mora district hospital.
This is the 4th time the village of Double is being attacked by unknown men but believed to be terrorists from the Nigerian Islamic Sect, Boko Haram.
The attack comes 24 hours after General Nka Valere and Colonel Rene Kontchou were appointed as Commanders of the Fourth Military Sector and Fourth Military Legion respectively to replace late General Jacob Kodji and Colonel Kameni who died in Helicopter crash last week.
The government is yet to react.
| BY Lynchy |
After eight successful years at Clemenger BBDO Sydney, executive planning director AI Crawford has decided to leave the agency, effective April.
Says CEO Andy Pontin: AI is one of the great characters of this industry. Ive absolutely loved working with him and I reckon hes made me belly laugh on every single day of the last 8 years. His intellect is phenomenal so however or wherever he chooses to apply that brain after a break will be a huge success. Hopefully it is somewhere within the Clemenger and BBDO worlds.
Under Crawfords strategic leadership Clemenger BBDO Sydney has won multiple Effies, including the Grand Prix and Effectiveness Campaign of the Year, as well as being recognised at Cannes, D&AD, Spikes, Webbys, Award and numerous other award shows.
Says Crawford: Ive had an awesome time at Clems, but before my aging brain turns to mush, I want to use my strategic nous to solve a different set of fiendish problems. Cheers to all my clients and colleagues that have made the good times massively outweigh the utterly rubbish ones. With Andy, Em, Ben and John at the helm, I know that Clems will go from strength to strength. Over and out.
Crawfords career has spanned stints at BMP DDB in London, Saatchi and Saatchi Sydney and DDB Sydney, where he was Head of Planning across the DDB Group, as well as being on the DDB Sydney board and the Planning Futures Group, the global thinktank for the DDB network. Crawford left DDB for Clemenger BBDO Sydney in July 2008.
| BY Ricki Green |
Who better to sell DONs significant range of meat products than the Dons who actually eat them? DON Smallgoods has re-introduced itself to the nation with a new integrated campaign from DDB Group Melbourne.
DON is looking for every man, woman and child in Australia that goes by the name Don (Donnas, Donatellas and Don Juans, too). And once they find them? These fortunately named individuals will have the chance to be the new faces of one of the nations most iconic brands. Theyll show us first-hand the integral role DON Smallgoods plays in the many and varied rituals of modern Australia. Starring in DON ads, scoffing free DON products, enjoying exclusive DON junkets the works.
Says Glen Dickson, creative director, DDB Melbourne: I know what its like to be held back by an unfashionable first name. But all thats about to change for The Dons of Australia. Their ships finally come in. And its full of meat.
Says Cathy Bertoncello, marketing director, DON Smallgoods: DON is an iconic Australian brand that has become a part of Australian culture. So much so we wanted to take the next step and celebrate this connection. But we also wanted to retain the tone of voice people have come to enjoy over the years. Its the beginning of a new chapter for us.
So are you called Don? Maybe Donna? Sign up at http://www.australiandons.com.au/ for your shot at meat related fame and glory.
Client DON Smallgoods
Paul Mealor Managing Director
Cathy Bertoncello Marketing Director
Jane Edmonds Brand & Communications Marketing Manager
Agency DDB Group Melbourne
Dion Appel Managing Director
Glen Dickson Creative Director
Brett Edwards Senior Art Director
Anna Stickley Copywriter
Tuesday Picken Head of Onscreen
Luke Osborn Business Director
Blair Panozza Business Manager
Ian Forth Executive Planning Director
Paris Paphitis Planner
Tribal Worldwide Website Production
Film Production
Production Company The OTTO Empire
Director Justin Reardon
EP Jo de Fina
Producer Sophie Woods
DOP Joel Betts
Editing David Whittaker & Marty Gilchrist
Sound Gusto Music, Colin Simkins
Composer Scott Langley, Nylon Studios
Music Producer Karla Henwood, Nylon Studios
| BY Lynchy |
The D&AD Professional Awards 2017 are open for entries. Winning a Pencil is often the highlight of a creative career, so D&AD wanted to take a look at the people behind the campaigns and find out what it really means to those who win.
All done through the eyes of those that know them best their mums. So they sent a film crew around the world ~ including New Zealand ~ to capture the stories only a mother could tell.
This is the second year that D&AD has worked with Lucky Generals and Danny Brooke-Taylor, co-founder of Lucky Generals talked about the inspiration behind the campaign: Your mum. No-ones prouder of you than her. And imagine how proud shed be if you won a Pencil.
Creatives whose mums are featured:
Ali Ali Director, Sonny London
Joanna Monteiro Chief Creative Officer, FCB Brasil
Jose Maria Piera Executive Vice President, *S,C,P,F
Jose Maria Roca de Vinals Chief Creative Officer, DDB Spain
John Allison Head of 4Creative
Lisa Smith Head of Design, Wolff Olins NY
Luiz Sanches Partner and Chief Creative Officer, AlmapBBDO
Rebecca Williams Design Director, Turner Duckworth
Sally Campbell Founding Partner, Somesuch
Toni Segarra Creative Director, *S,C,P,F
Entry Information
Work entered into the D&AD Professional Awards 2017 must have been commercially released between 01 January 2016 and 18 March 2017 and produced in genuine response to a client brief. It must not have been entered in previous years. Submissions should be made in their original language by 15 February 2017.
About That $10K Check Trump Sent To An Illinois Volunteer
By Stephen Gossett in News on Jan 31, 2017 9:02PM
Getty Images / Photo: Chip Somodevilla
President Donald Trump sent a $10,000 check to an Illinois man who had previously volunteered for his campaign, according to the Washington Post.
The president met Shane Bouvet, a 24-year-old courier for FedEx from the rural mid-state town of Stonington, IL, near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. the night before Trumps inauguration. Trump thanked him for his work, hugged him and then promised him an extraordinary thank you: a $10,000 check, the Post reports.
Trump had apparently read about Bouvet in an earlier, feel-good Post profile, which describes how Bouvet worked nights and organized for Trump during the day, eventually working his way up the ranks to become the campaigns volunteer social media coordinator in the state.
Along with a note from Trump that read, Shane You are a great guy thanks for all of your help, the promised $10,000 gift did indeed arrive for Shaneand perhaps with it, some ethical questions, depending on whether Bouvet was compensated through the campaign or from Trump directly.
The Federal Election Commission can't comment on specific candidates or committees, an FEC press officer told Chicagoist by email.
But disbursements made from a campaign account of a federal candidate committee should be reported on a committee's subsequent FEC report. Since the money was given this month, it should be disclosed in a future report from the committee due in to the FEC by mid-April. However, monies spent outside of the committee that are not related to campaign activity are not required to be disclosed to the FEC. It certainly would appear that the money was related to campaign activity given Bouvets work, but the direct source of paymentpersonal or campaignisnt yet clear. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment.
Richard L. Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine said it would be "quite unusual" for the president to use personal funds in such a case since there would be no potential violations simply by paying from campaign dollars.
According to the Post, Bouvet is using the money to pay for his fathers chemotherapy bills. Hopefully Trump shares with the rest of us after the ACA is repealed.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 9:48AM
Axonify, the company behind the worlds first Employee Knowledge Platform, today launched a campaign to highlight the growing dissatisfaction and frustration among learning and development professionals with antiquated learning tools, like the Learning Management System (LMS), which is leading to its steep decline (according to market analyst, Ambient Insight).
The campaign showcases a series of videos that feature an everyday corporate employee who conjures up strange, funny and elaborate ways to express his dissatisfaction with the LMS. The videos will appeal to the many L&D professionals who contact Axonify about their real-life frustrations with the LMS each and every day.
Workplace Learning is Broken
The LMS was designed originally to improve the delivery of learning content in an academic setting and then forced to fit a corporate environment. This one-size-fits all approach to learning is not meeting the needs of todays business leaders or modern employees that are looking for learning that is engaging, personalized and flexible with their busy schedules.
The LMS is not something that lends itself to the world were living in, and the retail business that Im in. Its like shoes that dont fit. I wouldnt go out and buy shoes that dont fit no matter how nice the shoes are, said Valerie Davisson, Chief People Officer of At Home, a leading home decor retailer, who chose to implement Axonify instead of an LMS.
According to Deloittes Global Human Capital Trends 2016 report, more than $140 billion USD is spent on corporate learning every year and yet according to Ambient Insights, global revenues in the self-paced eLearning market (defined by LMS, off-the-shelf content and services) is expected to drop from $46.6 billion in 2016 to $33.4 billion by 2021. Lack of innovation is seen as the root cause of the LMS decline.
Today, access to information is instantaneous and effortless, consumers are more educated, the pace of business is accelerated, and employees face higher demands to keep up with unprecedented change. Employees must retain and apply vast amounts of information to be successful in their roles. Whether that means understanding the details of an extensive product portfolio, the actions they need to take to remain safe on the job, or following a variety of policies and procedures, the demand on employees knowledge is enormous, and only continues to increase.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 1:57AM
You cant browse through any news site these days and not see news related to U.S. President Donald Trumps executive order banning immigration in seven Muslim-majority countries. Even big tech company leaders are speaking up. But it isnt just the leaders this time. More than 2,000 Google employees in eight offices in the US walked off their jobs to protest the immigration ban. They made use of the hashtag #GooglersUnite, where the employees tweeted photos and videos of the walkout activities around the worldincluding one at Googles headquarters in Mountain View.
The protest happened after employees donated over US$2 million to a crisis fund that will be distributed to nonprofit groups working to support the refugees. Google matched the donation. The protest was organized by the employees but supported by Google. Both the companys co-founder Sergey Brin and CEO Sundar Pichai spoke at the rally, with Pichai being quoted by saying The fight will continue, and Brin saying its a debate about fundamental values.
Source: The Verge
"While the number of road deaths in the ACT was low, the reality is that speeding and drink driving are two of the top factors in deaths on Canberra roads and we still have a way to go in changing attitudes and behaviours."
There's also an impressive contingent from overseas with The Wombats (UK), who are said to be working on new material, The Darkness (UK), Against Me (USA), Dillon Francis (USA), Milky Chance (Germany), Architects (UK), Loyle Carner (UK), and Snakehips (UK).
However they did agree on the label "tendency", with one Left Renewal member saying faction "has a negative implication", and admitted their vision of success was different for each member.
Icon says the scheme brings the ACT into line with other states. Managing director John Knox said it would be fairer than the existing system in which entire upgrade cost could be landed on the developer whose project sparked the need for an upgrade, with others who came before paying nothing.
"The ACT is a national leader in the provision of youth justice services and recently received a prestigious Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award for its innovative approach to achieving a community where fewer children and young people are engaged in, or at risk of, offending," he said.
Nepals President Bidya Devi Bhandari (right) and Liu Qibao, a Political Bureau member of CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and head of CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department, release the book "The Governance of China" by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the launching of the book at Shital Niwas, Kathmandu on 18 December, 2016. [Courtesy of Ritu Raj Subedi]
"The Governance of China" by Chinese President Xi Jinping has been published in Nepali, with a view to inform Nepalese readers about China's governance system and the vision of its president. The Nepal-China Study Centre, in collaboration with China's Foreign Languages Press, published the book that has already been translated into over 11 languages.
Nepal's President Bidya Devi Bhandari released the book at a special ceremony at Shital Niwas, Kathmandu on Dec. 18, 2016. Liu Qibao, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC), and minister of the CPCCC Publicity Department attended the function.
"It is my perception that the book, besides providing in-depth information about China's governance system, helps readers to understand the Chinese leader's dreams and world views," said President Bhandari.
The book was first published in English in 2014. It was compiled by the State Council Information Office of China, the CPCCC Party Literature Research Office and China International Publication Group. It has been translated into French, Russian, Cambodian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese. The Nepali edition is the latest one.
It consists of President Xi's major works from Nov. 15, 2012, to Jun. 13, 2014. Divided into 18 chapters, the book includes his 80 speeches, talks, interviews, instructions and communications. Each work is accompanied by relevant notes about China's political and social history and culture. It also contains 45 photos that offer insights into various stages of Xi's life and works.
"President Xi's book in Nepali language has laid the foundation for the 21st century's intellectual bridge over the Trans-Himalayan horizon," said Dr Upendra Gautam, NCSC general-secretary.
Dr Gautam noted that intellectual alignment in the form of harmonizing development strategies of both countries was a prerequisite for materializing infrastructures for physical connectivity between them. Xi's book will help fulfill this mental gap in the form of governance.
With Xi's rise to power, China's global position has increased stratospherically. It has become the world's second largest economy and its role in dealing with the world's strategic and critical matters has increasing importance.
Thus, it has become imperative to understand China's socio-economic, political and administrative system. Besides, we have been largely dependent on Western media and literature to learn about the reality of China despite it being an immediate neighbor. In many cases, it has been perceived that the Western interpretations and judgments of things happening in China have been biased because its socio-political system differs from the former.
Against this backdrop, Xi's book can be highly resourceful in gaining first-hand knowledge about the most populous nation, its future development plans as well as its diplomacy with its neighbors and friendly nations.
It enables the Nepalese politicians, intellectuals and policy makers to correctly understand the Chinese dream, its governance system and socialism with Chinese characteristics. It profusely elucidates farsighted development planning - the Belt and Road initiative - a wide-ranging development framework launched by Xi himself. This is his one of the win-win proposals aimed at achieving peaceful development at home and abroad. The book provides a blueprint for China's policies related to energy, technology, environment, security, and international cooperation.
All-round and deeper-level reform, developing a law-based country and reaching all-round, cooperative and sustainable development characterize the Chinese governance system espoused by Xi.
In his write-up published on China.org.cn, professor Wang Yukai of the National School of Administration says that Xi's governance vision contains three integration features - integral idea, integral plan and integral strategy.
He says that governing with an iron rule, serving the people, fairness and justice and independence form the framework of above ideas. The massive anti-corruption drive that caught both "big tigers and flies" seeks to ensure good governance, justice and fairness.
Nepal and China share political, social, economic and cultural ties since time immemorial. The snow-capped mountains that straddle the border of two nations symbolize their inseparable friendship and bond. As a close and intimate neighbor, China has always respected the sentiments of Nepalese as well as Nepal's sovereignty and right to self-determination.
Xi's foreign policies towards neighbors, as expressed in the present book, attest this fact. He notes that China's diplomacy with its neighbors is based on friendship, sincerity, reciprocity and inclusiveness.
"China should treat the neighboring nations as friends and partners," Xi writes.
He further says: "China and neighboring countries are like relatives, whereby frequent mutual visits make them closer. When getting along with neighbors, we need to treat them sincerely and kindly, and share interests with them."
Given this commitment to enhance amicable relations with neighbors, Nepal-China relations are expected to reach a new height during the tenure of President Xi. And his book bears testimony to this hope and faith.
Ritu Raj Subedi is an associate editor of The Rising Nepal.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Telia has been looking to offload assets beyond its core European business, last year marking its Eurasia operation as a discontinued line.
In September, it reached an agreement to sell its 60% stake in Tcells parent company, but this is currently tied up in a tax dispute with Tajikistans authorities.
Speaking following Telia Companys latest financial results, Dennelind said he was confident it would offload the assets this year, but said the timeframe was difficult to predict.
I also want to direct a special thank you to our employees in Eurasia for keeping focus and turning trends during exceptionally difficult environments and circumstances, he said.
When it comes to the disposal of Fintur Holdings, we have seen an increased interest in our assets following the decision to explore a joint divestment of Fintur Holdings together with Turkcell. We see it as highly probable that the Eurasian assets will be disposed during 2017. As we already explained last quarter, the timing of the sale of Ucell asset is the most difficult to predict.
We continue to have a constructive dialogue with the US, Dutch and Swedish authorities in their respective investigations and have an active dialogue regarding the proposed settlement of $1.45 billion, recorded in our books in quarter three. Our ambition is to close this in a responsible way and in the best interest of our shareholders.
Ucell is Telias Uzbekistani arm that was caught up in a poltical and legal scandal due to how it entered the market.
The Uzbekistan scandal dates back to what was then TeliaSoneras acquisition of Uzbekistan operator Coscom later rebranded as Ucell in July 2007. TeliaSonera "did not conduct a sufficiently in-depth analysis into the identity of our local partner in Uzbekistan before we invested in the country or into how this partner came to own the assets that were later obtained by TeliaSonera", said then
CEO Lars Nyberg in his 2013 resignation statement.
In its fourth-quarter results, Telia Company posted net sales of SEK 21 billion ($2.3 billion), down 6.7% on Q4 2015. EBITDA declined 2.7% to SEK 6.3 billion ($712 million).
Airtels investment in Africa, which dates back to its purchase of 15 operations from Zain for $10.7 billion in 2010, was not as successful an experiment as he hoped, he told Bloomberg in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The Indian group, which is faced with tough competition in its home market, has already sold some of its African operations and is believed to be discussing other possible deals. The moves would pare the size of operations in the continent and could be completed within a year, said Bloomberg following the interview.
Airtel Africa managing director and CEO Raghunath Mandava said in a statement: Mergers and acquisitions continue to be the norm for any multinational organisation and they affect all global organisations in equal measures as and when they happen.
But meanwhile the CEO of Airtels operation in Rwanda has countered suggestions that the Indian-owned group is planning to reduce its African operations.
Michael Adjei, CEO of Airtel Rwanda, told local English-language publication New Times that the company was here for the long haul.
Responding to suggestions that the company was planning to sell up, he told the paper: Thats not true. Thats not the case. Airtel Rwanda is not leaving the market. We want to assure customers that we are not exiting Rwanda.
However Airtel Kenya said it was aware of Bharti Airtels consideration of stake sales or mergers to some of its Africa operations to cut debt.
In September 2016, Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi complained about the dominance of Vodafone associate Safaricom in the market. He threatened that Airtel would pull out of Kenya if the regulator did not intervene because of Safaricoms position.
We have been trying for over five years and have not made one dollar in profit. Airtel is likely to exit Kenya if the market structure is not addressed in terms of dominance, Youssefi told Business Daily Africa.
Flash
Turkey reopened its embassy in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Monday, more than two years after the mission was closed, Turkish Foreign Ministry announced in a statement.
"Activities of the Turkish embassy in Tripoli have resumed Monday with a reduced staff at the initial stage," the ministry said in a statement on its website.
Turkey closed its embassy in Tripoli and consulate in Benghazi for security reasons in 2014, as its consulate in Misrata, a town in northwest Libya, has remained open.
Preparations of reopening the mission have been supervised by Turkish Ambassador to Libya, Ahmet Aydin Dogan, who until now has been based in Tunis.
"The reopening of the embassy will allow Turkey to make bigger contributions to build peace and stability, as well as reconstruction in Libya," the statement added.
The reopening of the Turkish embassy in Tripoli comes months after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Libya on May 30, 2016 to issue an endorsement for a recently founded national government and start a process to reopen the embassy in Tripoli.
Turkey had high hopes for a strong alliance with Libya after the 2011 NATO-backed ouster of longtime strongman Muammar Gadhafi and was the first country to appoint an ambassador to the new authorities in Tripoli in September 2011.
Flash
In a conference held in Tehran on Monday, the Islamic republic and Russia marked 515 years of relations between the two countries, official IRNA news agency reported.
Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Reza Salehi Amiri, hailed the high level of Iran-Russia politico-economic relations, urging for further expansion of cultural relations.
As a major step in cultural front, both countries should play an effective role in the campaign against the thought of extremism in the region, Salehi Amiri told the gathering.
The conference is an auspicious move at the time when the bilateral ties have reached a new strategic level, he said, describing the gathering as a suitable opportunity to promote new ties between the two countries.
Such a gathering will play an important role in bringing elites of the two states closer to each other, he was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Also, in a message to the conference, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called for diversification of relations with Russia.
"Stronger ties between the two countries will contribute to peace and stability in Central Asia and the Middle East," Zarif said, according to Tasnim news agency.
Zarif said that the two neighbors should maintain broad relations and try to diversify and promote ties in all directions, adding that the conference could pave the way for closer cultural interaction and stronger links between the two peoples.
Attended by Russia's Ambassador to Tehran Levan Jagarian and Iran's envoy to Moscow Mahdi Sanai, the conference was held at the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Center for International Research and Education.
Flash
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday slammed the U.S. decision to ban entry of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries as anti-Muslim bias.
Anti-terrorism efforts should not justify general suspicion against a specific group of people, Merkel told a press conference prior to her talks with visiting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
"The essential and also resolute fight against terrorism in no way justifies general suspicion against people of a specific faith, in this case people of the Muslim faith or people of a certain background," she said.
"This approach, in my view, contradicts the basic tenets of international aid to refugees and international cooperation," the chancellor said.
Merkel said the German government would do its best to find out how those with dual citizenship of Germany and the seven listed countries would be affected legally because of the travel ban.
"We're clearly having close consultations with our European partners about this entire issue," she added.
Under an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, refugees from all over the world will be suspended from entering the United States for 120 days while all immigration from so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days.
Countries included in the ban are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The total population from these countries exceeds 130 million.
The ban sparked chaos across U.S. international airports and continuous protests nationwide in the past days.
Flash
No new survivors of a boat carrying Chinese tourists sank off Malaysia's Sabah state were found Monday, while authorities have launched investigation into the accident, arresting the boat owner and two crew members.
Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, director general of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, told Xinhua via phone that no new survivors were found and the search and rescue would continue.
Speaking to a press conference, Ahmad Puzi said the search area had been expanded to 2,400 square nautical miles, involving assets from his agency as well as Malaysian navy and air force. Neighboring Brunei has sent aircraft to search its waters.
The search faces challenges caused by strong wind and rough sea, but "that were not the excuses and problem for us to continue the operations," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities have started investigation into the accident. Prime Minister Najib Razak said on a social media posting that he saw the tragedy seriously and want a detailed investigation to find out the cause of the incident.
The skipper and the crewman were arrested for suspecting causing death by negligence, said Sabah police chief Ramli Din. The two crew members were the first to be rescued after their boat sank on Saturday on the way from the state capital Kota Kinabalu to Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist island some 60 km to the west.
The owner was arrested later on Monday, and police has launched a full probe into the accident, including whether the boat was overloaded and whether it was operated with license and insurance, Ramli told Xinhua.
"We will investigate from all angles, pertaining to negligence if any," he said.
Ramli said the boat was carrying 27 Chinese tourists instead of 28 as reported earlier. One tourist was registered for the trip but cancelled the visit after seeing the boat was full.
That brings the number of unaccounted for down to five, including a crewman, not six as reported earlier, he said. China's Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu said the new figure would have to be verified.
The passengers and crew were left adrift at sea after the boat sank in rough sea, before 20 Chinese tourists were rescued Sunday. Three tourists were found dead.
The tourists were sent back to Kota Kinabalu early Monday and admitted to a hospital. All suffered from sunburn and dehydration but were in stable conditions, according to the hospital.
A Chinese tourist who went to Pulau Mengalum for snorkeling on Saturday recalled the bumpy trip in bad weather. "It almost broke my waist," she told Xinhua. She also recalled the crowded boat and the fact that many passengers were not wearing life jackets.
Flash
The Japanese Embassy to Britain remained silent one day after a detailed media report said that it had been paying a British think tank to propagate against China.
An official with the Japanese Embassy in London acknowledged on Monday morning that the Embassy had received an enquiry letter from Xinhua seeking confirmation and comments on the Jan. 29 The Sunday Times report.
But the Japanese Embassy has failed to reply so far.
The Times report claimed that Japan had been paying 10,000 pounds (12,475 U.S. dollars) per month to a British think tank to hype up "China threat" among British high-level politicians.
It said that the Japanese Embassy in London reached a deal with the Henry Jackson Society (HJS), a registered charity, to wage a secret propaganda campaign against China.
A spokesman from HJS told Xinhua on Monday that the society works with organizations and governments in promoting liberal democracy, human rights and international security.
The spokesman refused to say whether the alleged financial deal with Japan is part of its efforts to promote democracy and human rights.
"We can never reveal specific details. Our position on this is well known and we will continue to support the values that free and democratic societies uphold," the spokesman said.
British media said that the financial deal was reached in response to growing cooperation between China and Britain.
This weekend, former British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind acknowledged that the HJS, founded in 2005, had approached him to put his name to an article published by the Daily Telegraph last August, expressing concerns about China's involvement in Britain's Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.
The article -- titled "How China could switch off Britain's lights in a crisis if we let them build Hinkley C" -- raised fears that "no one knows what 'backdoor' technologies might be able to be introduced into the building of a power plant".
The Sunday Times said Japan's secret public relations war on China reflects Tokyo's concerns about the "golden decade" of Sino-British cooperation.
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The Centre for Global Management and Responsible Leadership (CGMRL), XLRI - Xavier School of Management in collaboration with La Trobe Business School, Melbourne, Australia recently organised 'International Conference on Responsible Marketing' on January 23-24, 2017.
About the Conference
The two-day conference was inaugurated by Anand Sen (President, TQM and Steel Business, Tata Steel). In his address, Anand Sen emphasised the need to promote responsible consumption and reduce wastage. Keynote addresses were delivered by Fr. Oswald Mascarenhas, S.J. (JRD Tata Chair Professor of Business Ethics at XLRI), who spoke on the topic of "Responsible Marketing in a Turbulent market" and B. Hariharan (Vice President, ITC Hotels) who explained how ITC is "Designing & Marketing Responsible Luxury".
About Responsible Marketing
Elaborating about the conference, Dr Pingali Venugopal, Coordinator, Centre for Global Management and Responsible Leadership at XLRI and the coordinator for the conference said, "Sustainability has become a major concern for the UN. Marketing is being blamed for all the ills of society - be it excessive consumption, environmental degradation or unethical behaviours such as price wars, selective advertising, and deceptive marketing. It is in this context, we had organised the conference with the aim to consolidate research in this area and develop a framework for Responsible Marketing."
"Socially responsible marketing is critical of excessive consumerism and environmental damages caused by corporations. It is based on the idea that market offerings must not be only profit-driven, but they must also reinforce social and ethical values for the benefit of citizens, including those in the bottom of the pyramid."
"Responsible Marketing also means that these values are communicated and enforced by everyone in the organisation. While marketers who are pursuing a socially responsible agenda understand that such efforts do not automatically translate into increased revenue or even an improved public image, research and experience suggest that organizations that consistently exhibit socially responsible tendencies may eventually gain a strong reputation that could pay dividends in the form of increased customer loyalty", he further added.
E-Waste Policy
On the occasion, Anand Sen and Fr. E. Abraham, S.J. Director, XLRI launched an 'e-waste Policy'.
This e-waste policy has been developed by the Centre for Global Management and Responsible Leadership, XLRI as an offshoot of the Conference on e-waste Management organised by CGMRL, XLRI in January 2016. XLRI has tied up with JUSCO to dispose of its e-waste in an environmentally friendly manner. After the launch of the e-waste policy, X-Lead and Sigma the student bodies would spearhead the e-waste collection and disposal drive in XLRI.
Key Areas Discussed
The conference discussed
theoretical underpinnings of the multi-dimensional nature of sustainability
the ethical issues of buyer and seller information asymmetry
the consumer awareness
knowledge and behaviour towards sustainable consumption
the experiences of the companies involved in responsible marketing
the involvement of larger organisations in Cause Related Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility
organisational issues for building a culture in the organisation
sectoral applications
Sustainability
Around 56 papers, from different business schools in India, Australia, USA, Canada and the neighbouring countries were presented at the conference. The researchers felt that consumers are aware of sustainability and environmental concerns, however, price still governs behaviour and there is a need to work on better technologies and education to promote sustainable consumption. Companies on their part are working towards building a culture of sustainability within their organisations though there could be a conflict with short-term profitability. Strategies to build sustainable practices in organisations were discussed.
About CGMRL
CGMRL which organised the conference was formed in 2010 with the objective of promoting global, ethical, and sustainable business practices through the development of the requisite academic, curricular and outreach support for students and executives interested in global ethical business. CGMRL conducted two National Conventions during 2012 and 2013 to 'share case studies on Responsible Leadership'. Case studies from the two conventions were analysed to develop a framework for Responsible Leadership. Subsequent to the insights gained from the two National Conventions on Responsible Leadership, conferences focusing on sectoral issues were conducted; the first on "Agri-input Management strategies for Sustainable Agriculture" was held in 2014-15 followed by a conference on e-waste management in 2015-16.
Faculty Development Programme
A two-day Faculty Development Programme on Responsible Marketing was also conducted to help faculty and doctoral students develop curriculum and cases for teaching Responsible Marketing. The faculty development programme attended by 19 participants was conducted by faculty both from XLRI and LaTrobe University.
About XLRI
XLRI-Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur is a premier, private management institute in India founded in 1949 by Fr Quinn Enright, S.J. in the 'steel city' of Jamshedpur (www.xlri.ac.in). Over the last six decades, the institute has grown into a top-ranking business management school of international repute with a wide portfolio of management programs and research publications. Its alumni are spread around the globe and have demonstrated responsible business leadership in their organisations.
XLRI continually strives to contribute its mite to the professional growth and management of numerous organisations and institutions across industry sectors. XLRI has been awarded two prestigious International Accreditations, viz., AACSB - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and AMBA - Association of MBAs. XLRI has also earned the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) accreditation.
XLRI Hosts Conference on Social Entrepreneurship
The University of Michigan has taken a bold step against President Trump defying his orders to release the immigration status of their students.
While some major universities in the USA are complying with Trump's orders on Muslim ban, the University of Michigan has openly declined to play along with Trump's decision on Muslim ban from over 7 countries across the world.
On January 27, 2017 the US President Donald Trump signed an executive order which bars citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States of America over a 90 day period.
The countries which are in the banned list are Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq.
Along with this, Trump has also suspended the US's refugee system over a 120 day period. The ban also gives preference to accept Christian refugees from the Middle over Muslim asylum seekers, reports the Telegraph.
Experts Speak: Will Trump's Presidency Hinder Indian Students' Dream of Studying in USA?
The University of Michigan has released a statement keeping its word on their policy on non-discrimination, privacy, and public safety:
- The University of Michigan welcomes and supports students without regard to their immigration status. We will continue to admit students in a manner consistent with our non-discrimination policy. Once students are admitted, the university is committed to fostering an environment in which each student can flourish.
- The university complies with federal requirements associated with managing its international programs. Otherwise, the university does not share sensitive information like immigration status.
- Campus police do not inquire about or record immigration status when performing their duties.
- In accordance with federal law, the enforcement of immigration law rests with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Campus police will not partner with federal, state, or other local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law except when required to do so by law.
- The university maintains a strong commitment to the privacy of student records for all students, consistent with state and federal laws. We do not provide information on immigration status to anyone except when required by law.
- The university offers in-state tuition to undocumented students who meet certain conditions.
- The university offers confidential counseling services to all students.
Trump's Muslim ban has induced panic among students who are in the US legally to gen an education. Many universities across the country are taking measures to reassure students and preventing them from leaving the country.
Why should you choose USA for higher education?
Sometimes its good to be reminded of just how good a car is by giving it go once more. In the case of the Mitsubishi Xpander, its the smal...
Digital technologies can be harnessed by the re/insurance industry to narrow insurance protection gaps in developing and emerging markets, thereby improving societal resilience after natural disasters, according to a report published by the Geneva Association.
However, the protection gap problem is not limited to emerging markets, the report emphasized, pointing to the recent example of the devastating earthquake that hit central Italy on Aug. 24, 2016 where only 10 percent of total losses were insured.
And the global protection gap is getting worse, the report said, noting that uninsured losses have risen from 0.07 percent to 0.19 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) in the last 40 years.
Risk exposure, primarily driven by accelerating urbanization, has clearly outpaced insurance penetration, said the report titled Harnessing Technology to Narrow the Insurance Protection Gap.
Therefore, re/insurers need to further strengthen their contribution to societys resilience to disasters as well as to creeping developments such as ageing or longevity, commented Anna Maria DHulste, the secretary general of the Geneva Association, in a forward to the report.
Digitization is a unique lever for insurers to develop more affordable, efficient and customer-centric products and solutions, thereby enhancing the societal value of insurance, the report said.
In developing and emerging markets, in particular, technology offers the potential to increase insurance penetration by addressing obstacles in the areas of distribution and claims settlement which, for example, hinder the wider uptake of microinsurance, the report said.
In mature insurance markets, there is a perception of product complexity and opacity at the customer end, which have impeded the expansion of the reach of insurance products, it added.
Technological advancements could effectively address this issue, for example, by enabling customers to put together products the way they really want to, the report said. Based on big data, insurers could predict what customers need, instead of asking them to answer a multitude of underwriting questions.
In addition, the report noted, new technologies and improved analytics could lower the cost of policy administration, marketing, distribution and claims settlement and, at the same time, improve risk selection and underwriting.
Overall, technology will boost the affordability, awareness and appeal of insurance globally, the report indicated.
Affordability and Risk Awareness
In developing and emerging markets, protection gaps can be attributed to affordability and low levels of risk awareness and risk culture, the report said.
In emerging markets, many, if not most, potential customers have never before had formal insurance. This is particularly true of developing countries, where insurance schemes linked to mobile phone subscriptions are generally the first experience of the low-income population with formal and individual insurance, it continued.
As a result, innovative mobile-based insurance, can go a long way in boosting awareness and narrowing protection gaps, the report said.
Technology and the Insurance Value Chain
New (digital) technologies are expected to profoundly impact all links of the insurance value chain in a way which offers the potential to radically lower transaction costs and mitigate traditional obstacles to insurance such as moral hazard and adverse selection, the report said.
Indeed, the report noted it is widely believed that the biggest source of value creation in digitized insurance will be in reducing costs and developing new and more customer-centric products and solutions.
The key to unlocking this potential and tapping into the vast protection gap is to integrate technology, data and analytics, the report affirmed.
The impact of digitization across the value chain is pervasive, permeating the areas of pre-purchase, sales and operations, it continued.
Firstly, it reshapes the way customers discover and perceive insurance propositions pre-purchase, it said.
Secondly, sales are enhanced by dropping costs as a result of disintermediation, and increased conversion of leads on the back of tailored solutions and digitally enhanced physical distribution channels. Disintermediation connects carriers with their customers directly, enabling tremendous gains not just in terms of cost-efficiency but also in anticipating and understanding customer needs. Both effects are set to boost insurance penetration.
And, finally, by facilitating straight-through-processing, digitization can lead to a massive reduction in back-office costs. Coupled with big data and predictive analytics, it can also translate into significant improvements of the claims ratio and, therefore, improves the affordability of insurance, the commentary said.
Mitigating Moral Hazard
Further, the use of modern technology such as telematics makes it less likely that insureds will be careless and take risks, or behave against the interest of other insureds simply because they are protected (which alleviates moral hazard), the report said.
Also, big data enables quantum leaps in risk classification and makes insurance more attractive to good risks who benefit from more favorable individual pricing. Adverse selection where primarily high-risk individuals would buy insurance is effectively mitigated. Overall, insurance markets become more efficient and offer a better deal to risk-conscious insureds.
Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
Digitization is a unique lever for insurers to develop more affordable, efficient and customer-centric products and solutions, thereby enhancing the societal value of insurance, the report said.
However, in order to achieve this and preempt potentially disruptive new competitors insurers need to step out of their comfort zone. The imperative of digitizing the value chain is bound to present major challenges and even tribulations to incumbents, from managing channel conflicts to implementing headcount reductions in administrative functions, it emphasized.
Even though the insurance industrys digital (r)evolution has just begun, technology has already contributed to narrowing protection gaps, said Dr. Kai-Uwe Schanz, senior adviser to the Geneva Association and a co-author of the report. Digitization is a unique lever for insurers to develop more affordable, efficient and customer-centric products and solutions, thereby enhancing the societal value of insurance.
Deputy Secretary General of The Geneva Association and report co-author, Dr. Fabian Sommerrock, said, The use of technology is one of the most relevant and topical dimensions of the global protection gap debate.
He hoped that the report would help sensitize the global re/insurance community, governments, lawmakers, regulators, standard-setters, development banks, supranational organizations and consumers to the enormous leverage technology can deploy to make societies more resilient through risk mitigation, and protection products and solutions.
Source: Geneva Association
*This story ran previously in our sister publication Insurance Journal.
Electric motors may represent the future of automotive propulsion, but we wouldnt count the good old internal combustion engine down for the count just yet.
Further development of the fossil fuel-burning powertrain forges ahead with constant improvement. And leading the charge, as it turns out, is McLaren.
The exotic automaker is leading a consortium to improve the output and efficiency of the internal combustion engine with support from the British governments Advanced Propulsion Centre. McLarens engine partner Ricardo is also part of the program, as are casting specialists Grainger & Worral, Lentus Composites, the University of Bath, and the BMW Group.
That last part has us particularly intrigued. The last time McLaren and BMW collaborated, we got the legendary McLaren F1, with its high-revving 6.1-liter V12 engine producing 618 horsepower. More recently, the Bavarian automaker pioneered a new water injection system to cool the engines combustion chamber. Applied in the M4 GTS, the system helps a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six produce nearly 500 horsepower a substantial increase over the standard M4s 425 hp.
Could the water injection system help McLaren squeeze even more juice out of its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine? Undoubtedly, although theres no saying that the technology will necessarily form part of the joint program.
We will continue to independently design and build our own engines, said McLaren chief Mike Flewitt, and the benefits of this project will help us accelerate the development of our next generation of powertrain.
The Woking-based supercar manufacturer is slated to slot an enlarged version of its M838T engine into the forthcoming 720S, displacing 4.0 liters and producing even more power than the 666 horsepower already extracted from the 675LT.
Photo Gallery
This years Geneva Auto Show in March will feature the word premiere of the new generation Seat Ibiza, but we wont have to wait that long for our first look at the Spanish supermini.
These images arrived courtesy of Polands Motofilm on the eve of Seats 2017 Ibiza launch event in Barcelona on Tuesday, January 31.
The exterior design is an evolution of the current Ibiza and is heavily inspired by the latest Leon so much so that the uninitiated would probably have a hard time telling the new Ibiza apart from the Leon just by looking at the pictures without having a sense of its size.
Inside, from the single picture we have in our hands, it appears that Seat has given the Ibiza a less playful and more mature and premium look with angular lines, and a large screen for the infotainment system dominating the center console.
Well have to wait until tomorrow to learn everything about the fifth-gen Ibiza, but dont expect any major surprises under the hood with the sub-compact hatch expected to offer the VW Groups familiar 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder and the new 1.5-liter TSI petrol and TDI diesel units.
This new Ibiza will form the base for a new crossover model placed under Seats Ateca SUV as a more affordable alternative to the Audi Q2, albeit (probably) without the option of an all-wheel drive system.
Thanks to Sebastian for the tip!
Photo Gallery
There are a handful of automotive rumors that have persisted for so long that you could be forgiven for believing theyre nothing more than wishful thinking. Among them are talks of a next-generation Honda S2000.
The Japanese company is a very different brand to what it was in the late 1990s and early 2000s when it produced some of the markets best front-wheel drive hatches and of course, the rear-wheel S2000. Nowadays the brand is all about fuel-efficient vehicles that appeal to the masses.
Fortunately, it seems things are changing following the release of the latest Honda NSX and these changes are set to include a revived S2000, according to Car and Driver.
It is thought that Honda is planning to release a new S2000 in 2018 to mark its 70th anniversary and 20 years since the original S2000 was launched. Previously, it was widely reported that the Civic Type Rs turbod 2.0-liter would find its way into the new S2K but apparently, something much more exciting is in the works.
Honda is preparing to take a page out of Mitsubishis book by developing an all-new powertrain that incorporates a turbocharger and an electrically driven supercharger aimed at eliminating turbo lag while being more fuel efficient than current twin-turbo systems. These components will then be bolted to a 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder engine designed to pump out in excess of 320 hp.
Car and Driver says that this new powertrain will come mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission. However, considering that Honda continues to offer many of its cars with manual gearboxes to this day, were holding out hope a traditional stick shift will also be made available.
If the new-age Honda S2000 does indeed launch in 2018, a debut at the Paris Auto Show in September next year or the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2018 are likely candidates to host the unveiling.
PHOTO GALLERY
Toyota has confirmed that it will cease all Australian production on October 3, 2017.
The Japanese marque informed the world of its intention to end Australian manufacturing in early 2014 and follows on from Ford ending local production in October last year. Holden will shut up shop on October 20, bringing an end to the countrys long history of automobile manufacturing.
During the shutdown process, local production of the Aurion will end in August, Camry Hybrid production will be retired in September and Camry petrol models will be culled on October 3.
In a statement, Toyota Australia president Dave Buttner said that the brand is committed to supporting its employees in finding future work.
Our priority over the remaining months is to continue to support our employees in every way possible so that they are well prepared for the future. We remain extremely proud of our rich manufacturing history which spans over 50 years. Our employees are committed to producing vehicles of the highest quality as we work towards our goal of last car = best global car, he said.
Following the closure of the Australian plant, Toyota will begin importing the eighth-generation Camry from Japan.
PHOTO GALLERY
Although Toyota may have officially lost its crown as the worlds biggest automaker by sales, Google search results reveal that it is by far the most searched car brand in the world.
In data collated by Quickco, it is revealed that Toyota was the most searched car brand in no less than 74 countries last year. The Japanese automaker topped the searches in countries including the United States, Australia, China, Greenland and the vast majority of central African countries.
Behind Toyota was BMW where it was the most searched in 51 countries. Unsurprisingly, many of these nations came from Europe and included Germany, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Croatia, Ukraine and Norway.
Coming home in third was Hyundai with the Korean company proving particularly popular in Russia and India. Honda was also popular, especially throughout Indonesia, Canada and Brazil. Other interesting takeaways from the results show that in Sweden, Volvo was the most searched brand while Fiat appropriately took home top honors in Italy.
Despite being the worlds largest automaker, Volkswagen only topped the results in Spain, Romania, Belarus, Estonia, Cape Verde, Andorra and Uruguay.
PHOTO GALLERY
Protesters took to a Nissan dealership in Tennessee last week, asking the Japanese automaker to allow its employees to unionize at the Canton plant in Mississippi.
The protesters gathered in Nashville (15 miles north of the companys North American headquarters) holding signs that read Workers rights are civil rights and Hey Nissan. Stop threatening your workers in Mississippi, as passing cars honked in support of their demands.
Workers are mistreated inside the Canton plant. Were spoken to disrespectfully by management, said Ernest Whitfield, a 13-year Canton employee. As far as the safety conditions, they arent up to par. Its just a lack of dignity were having to deal with, and were told were ungrateful when we say we want to unionize.
According to USA Today, the United Auto Workers union has been trying to unionize workers at the Canton plant for years a plant that opened in 2003 and currently employs about 5,000 workers. It also produces eight different Nissan models with a capacity of 450,000 vehicles per year.
Nissan however issued a statement, claiming that it does respect its employees and that the allegations are false:
Nissans history reflects that we truly value our employees and respect their right to decide who should represent them. Nissan Canton and Smyrna employees enjoy good, stable, safe jobs with some of the highest wages and strongest benefits in Mississippi and Tennessee. The allegations being made by the union against Nissan are completely unfounded, read the statement.
Yet, last year alone the US Occupational Safety & Health Administration cited the Canton plant for two violations. On top of that, Whitfield states that Nissan workers are represented by unions worldwide, except for those in the southern states of the US.
Whitfield also claims that wages at the Canton plant (where an estimated 80% of employees are African-American) range from about $12 per hour to $26 per hour under a tiered system of employment.
PHOTO GALLERY
Before touching the ground at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March, the new generation Seat Ibiza will be unveiled via social media today.
Broadcasted live from Barcelona, Spain, the company will stream the event at 6:00 pm GMT / 7:00 pm CET / 1:00 pm EST, so make sure you come back to catch a the first official glimpse of the all-new supermini.
Set to challenge the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Polo, and others in the B-segment, the upcoming Seat Ibiza was unofficially previewed yesterday evening through a set of photos, revealing an evolutionary design inspired by its larger sibling, the Leon, and an entirely new cabin layout, with new tech.
Details about its engine lineup remain scarce for now, but theres a good chance that the new Ibiza will make use of the VW Groups smaller three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. Underpinning it is the smallest interpretation of the MQB platform, which will also be shared with a new small crossover that will be known as the Arona.
Video
Photo Gallery
Insomniac Games, makers of game titles like Ratchet & Clank and Spyro the Dragon, has become the first major American company in our sectoranimation/vfx/gamesto publicly condemn a policy by the new American president.
The statement was delivered in the form of a Youtube video with the companys founder and president, Ted Price, surrounded by dozens of his employees. (The company employs around 190 people.)
We, at Insomniac Games, stand united in strongly opposing President Trumps immigration ban, Price said in the statement. Theres no question that these orders will harm us as a company and many of our team members. So we ask, Is this the American way? Is discriminating based on religious faith or national origin American? Absolutely not. This is a deplorable, discriminatory act that we and many others across the nation believe is patently unconstitutional.
Photo: Contributed
Child sexual abuse is occurring all around us, but public awareness and discussion about the problem is horribly lacking.
We have become painfully aware of systemic child sexual abuse in residential schools.
We have come to grasp the scope of historic child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, most vividly through the Pulitzer Prize winning movie Spotlight.
Child sexual abuse in other organizations has been exposed as well.
With the prevalence of child pornography coupled with the inherent vulnerability of children, it is small wonder how pervasive it has been.
Through that awareness, we have come to understand that no child should be in the care of adults without strict precautions to prevent abuse.
When on a cub scout outing a couple years back, I saw those precautions in action. Leaders and parent volunteers were vigilant to ensure that no child was alone with an adult.
I am so very thankful to those victims of abuse whose stories of abuse have led to protections that have made our children safer when outside the protective safety of our family units.
If you watch Spotlight, you will learn that non-disclosure clauses insisted on by the Catholic Church as a term of civil settlements kept victims silent for far too long.
Those non-disclosure clauses delayed public awareness and therefore delayed the protection of countless children.
Tragically, the most prevalent and damaging child sexual abuse has remained unexposed to public awareness and protective action.
I am referring to abuse perpetrated within what should be, but so often is not, the protective safety of our family units by parents and other family members.
Work has been done to try to quantify the scope of this crime by researchers at the Crimes Against Children Research Center in the United States, indicating that one in five girls and one in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse.
I happen to have a more direct awareness, through child sexual abuse having occurred and been prosecuted within my own extended family.
Why are we not hearing the voices of the vast multitude of those abused victims?
There are undoubtedly many factors that would prevent the reporting of a father, uncle or other family member, even once the abused victim has become an adult.
I am horribly unqualified to speak for victims, but I understand that there may be feelings of shame and self-blame, along with the mess of destroying the lives of loved family members.
A factor I am more familiar with, and made the news recently, is those darned non-disclosure clauses that so effectively silenced victims of the Catholic Church.
The few child sexual abuse victims who have the courage to bring lawsuits against their abusers are inevitably faced with settlement terms that prohibit them from ever sharing their stories.
Those settlement terms contribute to an unaware society that is complacent to the most harmful and prevalent child sexual abuse which is occurring all the time, all around us.
The news headline was about a British Columbia mother who is suing her own daughter for sharing her story of abuse. Her daughter had brought a lawsuit against her step-dad, alleging abuse from age nine until age 13 or 14.
The lawsuit included her mother, alleging that she failed to protect her.
A settlement included a term that if the daughter shared her story with anyone apart from a few family members and close friends, she would have to pay back every dollar of the settlement.
The daughter is defending the lawsuit, in part alleging that the non-disclosure term of the settlement should be found void and unenforceable on the grounds of public policy.
I am very interested to see how this lawsuit turns out. My hope, faint as it is, is that it will proceed to a trial where a judge will carefully consider the public policy issues that have been raised.
Perhaps there will be a legal pronouncement that will prevent non-disclosure terms being used in these types of cases.
I say that my hope is faint, because more likely the case will settle, and perhaps the terms of that settlement will also include non-disclosure.
How about we not wait for a lawsuit to fix this problem. How about our public leaders carefully consider this issue and potentially enact legislation that would limit the use of non-disclosure clauses in child sexual abuse settlements.
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: CTV
Searchers have found a hiker who went missing over the weekend on Vancouver Island.
Spencer Hunt, 20, was found alive on the third day of a search and rescue operation near Ammonite Falls outside of Nanaimo, where he was hiking with family members Saturday afternoon.
Video from the search staging area shows his mother crying at the good news.
It's not clear yet what condition Hunt is in.
RCMP used a dog, a helicopter and a drone to search for the hiker, as dozens of searchers and volunteers combed area trails.
He wasn't carrying any suitable supplies for spending the night in the bush when he became separated from his hiking group on Saturday afternoon.
He was wearing a red sweater, blue jeans and running shoes.
Nanaimo search and rescue says the area at Ammonite Falls is difficult to search because there are a lot of trails and the brush is thick.
with files from CTV Vancouver and the Canadian Press
Photo: RCMP
An unresponsive male was found in the parking lot of Richmond General Hospital, late Friday.
The man appeared to have stab wounds, according to police on scene.
Despite medical efforts, the victim succumbed to his injuries, and his death was deemed a homicide. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken over the investigation.
The victim was identified as 24-year-old Surrey resident Francis Le. Police believe his death appears to be targeted. Le's murder does not appear to be related to two previous homicides in Richmond earlier this month.
It is still early in the investigation, and as the motive and offence location remain unknown, investigators are asking anyone with information to contact IHIT, said Cpl. Meghan Foster.
It cannot be stressed enough that should one choose to associate themselves with a criminal lifestyle, they are not immune to the dangers and risks that come with it.
Photo: The Canadian Press
Former President Barack Obama praised protesters who amassed across the country in opposition to President Donald Trump's immigration orders, breaking his silence on political issues for the first time since leaving office.
"The president fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion," Obama's spokesman, Kevin Lewis, said.
In his first statement on behalf of the former president, Lewis said Obama was "heartened" by the amount of engagement taking place in U.S. communities. Lewis, a former White House official, pointed out that Obama used his last official speech as president to talk about Americans' responsibility to be "guardians of our democracy," even in nonelection years.
"Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," Lewis said.
Lewis didn't specifically invoke Trump's immigration order. But he rejected comparisons between Trump's recent actions and Obama's foreign policy decisions.
Trump said he took cues from Obama by temporarily banning travel to the U.S. from citizens of seven countries that Obama's administration identified as places of terrorism concern. But Obama's designation related strictly to eligibility to enter the U.S. without a visa; he never considered a travel ban.
Obama's office also circulated excerpts from a speech the former president gave in November 2015, in which he called the idea of a ban on Muslims "shameful."
"That's not American. That's not who we are. We don't have religious tests to our compassion," Obama said in the aftermath of attacks in Paris that prompted calls for the U.S. to restrict Syrian refugees from entering the United States.
Trump and the White House have vigorously disputed the notion that Trump's order is a "Muslim ban." Trump's halts all refugee admissions for 120 days, suspends the Syrian refugee program indefinitely and also suspends entry to the U.S. from seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days. But the White House has stressed that dozens of other Muslim-majority countries aren't included.
Lewis' comments mark the first time Obama has weighed in on Trump's actions since Obama left office on Jan. 20. In his final weeks as president, Obama said he planned to follow George W. Bush's example by giving his successor room to govern without being second-guessed.
Yet Obama pointedly reserved the right to speak out if Trump violated what Obama called basic American values. He suggested a ban on Muslims or a move by Trump to deport immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children would cross that threshold.
Open Letter to Christy Clark
BC Liberal Government has a licence to steal - the saga continues.
It might come as a surprise to most, but only if you are purchasing a used vehicle, to seek an explanation as to why the tax collected (by the Autoplan Broker on behalf of Consumer Taxation people) is set at 12%.
I have had this conversation a number of times and there is never a real valid explanation that makes sense.
Now the last time I checked the Provincial Sales Tax was set at 7%. What peaks my interest is prior to Gordon Campbells parting gift to BC, he forced through HST. We are all familiar with the equation - PST 7% + GST 5% = HST 12%. We are all also very familiar with the PST/HST fiasco when HST was nixed, costing tax payers millions, and returned to the original tax system.
What gets me is when you purchase a vehicle in a private sale, it is not affected by this and stayed at 12%. Nothing changed. Should we not be paying only 7% if that is the Provincial Tax level?
It was explained to me its because when you purchase a vehicle from a dealer, one pays 12% so 7% PST and 5% GST. Poor reasoning, as the last time I checked I was not a Auto Dealer, and neither is the Provincial Government!
Im curious Christy, to know how much tax you stole, oh sorry, collected from us last year alone? How much money did you and your Liberals steal as a result of this tax grab? I cant help but wonder how much of a financial cushion this has added to Christy's Coffers. You too Mr. De Jong. You are in on this too! You just keep this little snippet under the radar hoping no one really notices.
It is my opinion that this Liberal Government, including its corrupt predecessors continue to steal an extra 5% every time a used vehicle is sold in this province.
Funny how there is never any money in this province and you have to raise taxes, and create new ones. There is never any money for Healthcare or Education, unless its during an election year. You are all crooks. You come like a thief in the night and create new ways to steal our hard earned money and you don't even bat an eye.
Another thing that interests me is how you don't want to accept this $50,000 from your party. You state you would rather see reimbursements for personal expenses. Why is that Christy? Whats the real reason? Have you and Mike crunched numbers and you figure you would get more money back that way? Maybe you took one to many private flights to Kelowna. Maybe you used the helicopter to travel to Victoria one to many times!
The Provincial Sales Tax limit in the Province of BC is set at 7% and I feel that should be reinstated on privately sold vehicles.
Darlene Stewart
Photo: CTV
UPDATE: 4:05 p.m.
A university student accused of carrying out the horrific massacre on a mosque in Quebec City was a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump, a far right leader in France and the separatist Parti Quebecois as well as a bird and chess enthusiast, according to what appeared to be his Facebook account.
A handcuffed Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, made a brief court appearance Monday at which he was arraigned on six counts of first-degree murder and five of attempted murder. Wearing a white jumpsuit, the tired-looking accused stared at his feet and fidgeted during the hearing.
Bissonnette, the grandson of a decorated Second World War veteran, according to his social media profile, was then remanded in custody until his next appearance Feb. 21.
Police offered no information on what they believe motivated Sunday's shooting, which Prime Minister Trudeau has denounced as a terrorist act.
"The charges that have been laid are those that were disclosed by the evidence so far," said Michel Fortin, with the Quebec prosecutor's office. "It's an ongoing investigation."
The Facebook profile in Bissonnette's name account indicates that he "liked" Trump, French politician Marine Le Pen, the separatist Parti Quebecois and the Israeli armed forces. Le Pen, the leader of France's National Front in France who has won accolades from white supremacists, is known for her anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant ideology.
The U.S.-based Site Intelligence Group called it "unlikely" that Bissonnette had any Jihadi ties in light of the postings.
According to police and witnesses, a man entered the mosque and opened fire without warning during evening prayers, sowing death, injury and panic. Six worshippers were killed and 19 wounded all men. Of the five victims who remained in hospital Monday, two were in critical condition, authorities said.
The horrific act prompted several vigils across the country and expressions of sympathy from around the world.
Bissonnette, who according to the Facebook account was from Cap-Rouge, Que., was enrolled in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Universite Laval said in a statement. He had now been banned from all studies or research activities until the court process is over, the school said. The student directory lists him as pursuing an undergraduate degree in political science.
One Facebook picture showed a boy dressed as an army cadet. Canadian Cadet Organizations said in a statement that Bissonnette was in the cadet program in the Quebec City area between 2002 and 2004. The national program focuses on developing leadership and citizenship skills as well as physical fitness. Cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces and do not receive military training, the organization said.
Among groups to which he belonged, according to the Facebook profile which has since been taken down, was the Laval chess club and a birding group. The account also had numerous selfies of the neatly groomed young man, who appeared to be a blues fan.
ORIGINAL: 2:50 p.m.
Police have identified the suspect in Sunday's massacre at a Quebec City mosque as 27-year-old Alexandre Bissonnette.
Court documents show Bissonnette faces six counts of first-degree murder in the attack and five of attempted murder.
Provincial police also say he is the only suspect at this point.
Six people between the ages of 39 and 60 were killed in the shooting at the Centre culturel islamique de Quebec mosque in Quebec City's Sainte-Foy neighbourhood.
Police initially said two suspects had been arrested but later said further investigation showed only one of them was a suspect.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard have called the shooting a "terrorist attack."
Photo: BC Farm and Family Photography
A nature photographer came to the aide of a trapped eagle in the Kootenays.
Tasha Hall was snowmobiling with family near Edgewood when they came across a bald eagle stuck in a trapper's snare.
The trap was likely set for a wolf or larger animal.
The group shared the rescue on Facebook, where it already has more than 11,000 views.
The rescuers say the bird had lost a fair bit of blood and appeared to have a broken wing.
They took the eagle to BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops for assessment on Saturday and have been told its prognosis is good.
with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: CTV
In the face of protests, lawsuits, internal grumbling, an international backlash and a partial climb-down, the Trump administration used Sunday's deadly Quebec City mosque attack to defend its travel ban on seven majority-Muslim countries.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer began his daily briefing with the news that the president had offered Prime Minister Justin Trudeau his country's condolences, prayers, and any law-enforcement help Canada might need.
Then came a political point one that seemed oblivious to the fact that in the case of Quebec City, it was the targets who were Muslim, not the alleged perpetrator.
"It's a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant. And why the president is taking steps to be proactive, not reactive," Spicer said Monday.
He later made clear he was, in fact, making the link to the executive order on travel, which specifically targets travel from primarily Muslim countries in the Middle East.
Asked about the executive order, he went back to his earlier remark: "As I said in the statement, the president is going to be very proactive in protecting this country... That's the key point in this how do we get ahead of threats? How do we keep America ahead of the curve, when it comes to people who want to do us harm?"
Trump's chat with Trudeau came after some Canadian fears were soothed over a chaotic weekend. With lawsuits flying, and protesters clogging airports, the U.S. government initially stated that the travel restrictions would apply to dual citizens.
That potentially included 35,000 Canadians with dual citizenship with the affected countries some of whom may work, live, and have families in the U.S. The U.S. government is now signalling that the policy would not apply to Canadian dual citizens.
Photo: Flickr/BC Gov't
Premier Christy Clark expressed her shock and sadness Monday after a terrorist attack at a mosque in Quebec City.
Clark said mosques, like all houses of worship, are "sanctuaries of peace and reflection."
"There is no greater violation," she said in a news release.
"The world looks at Canada as a beacon of hope and peace, not just because of our diversity, but because we celebrate and embrace it. That is our greatest strength and must not change."
Clark said all British Columbians join with other Canadians in mourning those who were killed in the attack.
"As Canadians, we must speak up in the face of rising intolerance and hatred. Those who would seek to divide us through fear prey on silence, but they will fail. We will continue to cherish our differences, and welcome the world to our shores."
Six people between the ages of 35 and 70 were killed in the shooting at the Centre culturel islamique de Quebec mosque.
At least 12 other people were taken to hospital, two of whom were in critical condition, and police have at least one suspect in custody.
Photo: The Canadian Press
Former President George H.W. Bush was released Monday from Houston Methodist Hospital where he received treatment for pneumonia for more than two weeks.
Bush, 92, was experiencing breathing difficulties when he was admitted Jan. 14. During his treatment, which included a stay in intensive care, doctors inserted a breathing tube and connected him to a ventilator.
"He is thankful for the many prayers and kind messages he received during his stay, as well as the world-class care that both his doctors and nurses provided," Bush spokesman Jim McGrath said Monday.
Bush has been allowed to return to his Houston home, McGrath said.
The nation's 41st president was joined at the hospital by his 91-year-old wife, Barbara, who spent five days there for treatment of bronchitis until her release a week ago.
The couple's 72-year marriage is the longest of any presidential couple in U.S. history and the former first lady was with her husband during much of his stay, including when she was hospitalized for her own treatment. They were "essentially therapy for each other," Dr. Clint Doerr, one of the physicians treating Bush, said last week.
Bush, who served as president from 1989 to 1993, has a form of Parkinson's disease and uses a motorized scooter or a wheelchair for mobility.
He was hospitalized in 2015 in Maine after falling at his summer home and breaking a bone in his neck. He was also hospitalized in Houston the previous December for about a week for shortness of breath. He spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues.
Despite his loss of mobility, Bush celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump in Kennebunkport, Maine. Last summer, Bush led a group of 40 wounded warriors on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration.
George Herbert Walker Bush, born June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts, also served as a congressman, CIA director and Ronald Reagan's vice-president.
Photo: The Canadian Press Douglas Garland
Police expanded their search to Mexico as part of an investigation into the disappearance of a couple and their five-year-old grandson.
Det. Scott Guterson testified Monday at the trial of Douglas Garland, 57, who is charged with first-degree murder in the disappearances of Alvin and Kathy Liknes and Nathan O'Brien.
The three disappeared following an estate sale at the couple's Calgary home in June 2014. They were moving to the Edmonton area and had intended to spend their winters at a condo they owned in Mazatlan.
Guterson said he first took part in a search of the Garland home, near Airdrie north of Calgary, on July 5, 2014.
"We were looking for items named in the warrant. Bloody clothing, biological material, documents pertaining to the ownership of the farm, laptops, bloody bedding, cellular telephones, computers, a key for a Toyota vehicle, a wallet, a passport and a duffle bag containing handcuffs, a knife and a baton," Guterson told court Monday.
"We were also very much aware and alive to the fact we still had three missing people at that point and anything else that we could have found to either help us locate them or further their abduction investigation."
"Det. Guterson, at any time was a suicide note ever recovered?" asked Crown prosecutor Shane Parker.
"No sir it was not."
"Was there ever a ransom demand?" Parker asked.
"No, there was not."
Guterson said he and another officer flew to Mexico in August 2014 to investigate the condo owned by the missing couple.
"We found that most of the appliances, except for a fan, were unplugged. We found the patio doors in the condominium were sealed shut with tape. There were no toiletries in the bathroom. There was a barbecue that was actually inside the living room of the condominium," said Guterson.
"I spoke to the staff ... and they told us the staff did not recall seeing the Likneses at the condominium since January of that year."
The trial has already heard that the passports for all three of the missing were found at home in Calgary.
Forensic computer expert Const. Oleg Seleznov said he initially seized three computers from the Garland home before a hard drive was found hidden in the basement rafters.
Photo: The Canadian Press
The attack that killed six men at a Quebec City mosque has stoked growing fear among Canadian Muslims with calls for increased security and awareness about the power of hate speech.
"It's not just that it's unsettling, it's scary," Imam Zia Khan of the Centre for Islamic Development in Halifax said Monday.
"What's the next mosque?" he asked. "It's not a good feeling. It's a feeling of the unknown."
Khan said he's already hearing from some local Muslim members who fear acts of violence will only escalate. They want more closed-circuit cameras to step up security measures.
The Quebec City shooting has shocked and frightened a minority Muslim community that was already on edge, Khan said in an interview. His mosque has been targeted in the past with graffiti and hate mail urging followers to leave the country.
Canadian Muslims have watched with dismay as prayer centres have been defaced across the U.S. over the last decade, he added. A mosque in Victoria, Texas, about 180 kilometres southwest of Houston, that went up in flames two days ago had been sprayed with hate graffiti and burglarized before.
"Many things have taken place but people always said: 'Oh, these are the people who are creating the problem all over the world, so who really cares?'" Khan said. "Sympathies were very little.
"But now, the problem is coming home here."a
Salam Elmenyawi, spokesman for the Muslim Council of Montreal, said local leaders will consult police on what worshippers should do "if, God forbid, it happens again."
Elmenyawi searched for words to describe what he was hearing Monday from fellow Muslims: "Shock. Disbelief. Grief. Anguish."
Photo: CTV
Some of those in B.C.'s muslim communities say they're concerned for their own safety after a deadly shooting at a Quebec mosque.
What was supposed to be a celebration of the BC Muslim Association's 50th anniversary Sunday night in Surrey took a much more sombre twist after news spread of the attack.
"Obviously we are concerned as a community," association president Daud Ismail told CTV Vancouver. "We are concerned about the safety of our properties... about the safety of our women, our children."
Read more.
Photo: Boy Scouts
The Boy Scouts of America says it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to enrol in its boys only programs.
The organization announced Monday that it had made the decision to base enrolment in boys only programs on the gender a child or parent lists on the application to become a scout. The organization had previously held a policy that relied on the gender listed on a child's birth certificate.
A spokeswoman for the organization says it made the decision based on states and communities changing how gender is defined.
A transgender child in Secaucus, New Jersey, was asked late last year to leave his Scout troop after parents and leaders found out he is transgender.
Photo: Contributed
Summerland RCMP are investigating after thieves swapped one stolen truck for another last week.
Police were called to Julia Street on Jan. 24, for a complaint of a stolen pick-up truck. The suspects used a second truck to push a white three-quarter ton Dodge with BC plates KH6960 onto the road where they departed.
The second truck was left abandoned and found to be stolen out of Penticton, according to Cpl. Christopher Richardson.
Officers are also investigating a break and enter which occurred at the nursery on Washington Ave sometime overnight Jan. 27. Locks were found broken and damaged.
Photo: The Canadian Press Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
MEXICO CITY - Mexico's president said Monday his country will spend about $50 million to hire lawyers for migrants in the United States facing deportation.
The money will be channeled through Mexican consulates in the U.S. and also go to outreach programs to defend Mexicans' rights.
President Enrique Pena Nieto said in a video message to the nation that he had spoken to U.S. President Donald Trump for an hour by phone Friday. He said they reached no agreements, but found space for further dialogue between their respective representatives.
That would have been one day after Pena Nieto abruptly cancelled a planned visit to Washington this week. The clash was provoked by Trump's insistence that Mexico would pay for his proposed border wall perhaps through a tax on imports from Mexico.
Pena Nieto said he emphasized to Trump that the relationship between the two countries must recognize Mexico's sovereignty, dignity and independence as well as their friendship and co-operation.
"I will inform Mexicans of the advances," Pena Nieto said.
Earlier Monday, Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Videgaray said the effort to bolster consular services in the U.S. "isn't about obstructing the enforcement of the law in the United States, or much less opposing law enforcement."
"We are going to focus the money on one fundamental objective, which is the defence of the rights of Mexicans. This means legal advice, informational campaigns, the hiring of lawyers where it is necessary."
Videgaray also said Mexico understands "it will be necessary to make some changes" to the North American Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. and Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to re-negotiate NAFTA.
But he said Mexico won't accept a return to protectionist policies such as import quotas or tariffs.
He mentioned including things such as e-commerce, which didn't exist when NAFTA took effect in 1994. Videgaray did not specify what other changes Mexico would be open to, but did say the country wanted "integrated negotiations, where all topics will be discussed and the dialogue won't be limited to commercial aspects, for example, but also include issues like immigration and security."
Along with renegotiating NAFTA, Trump has pledged to increase the deportations of people who are in the United States illegally, positions that have caused major frictions with Mexico.
Videgaray said Mexico wants to diversify its trade. At present, about 80 per cent of Mexico's exports go to the United States.
He said Mexico wants to improve trade with Latin American countries, Japan and especially South Korea.
Mexico also wants to negotiate free trade agreements with Brazil and Argentina and attract foreign investment from China, the foreign relations secretary said.
Photo: Contributed Colin Hill and his family
A 24-year-old Lower Mainland man says he's ready to go to jail.
Khouri Lamar Green issued the statement during the first day of his two-day sentencing hearing.
As reported by CTV Vancouver, Green pled guilty last year to second-degree murder in the July, 2015 death of Surrey realtor Colin Hill.
Addressing the court, Green said he was sorry Monday. "It's not fair to the family. I took Mr, Hill away for no reason."
Hill was killed during a home invasion.
In home security video showed to the court, Hill is seen fighting with Green in an attempt to give his family time to hide.
"All I ask is the family and I have peace of mind," added Green.
Hill's wife Becky was unable to read her victim impact statement. It was instead read by the court.
She described how she lived in fear of everything. "I do not feel safe anywhere," she wrote.
Hill left behind his wife, a teenage son Matthew and a young daughter Leah.
Matthew called Green a coward when he addressed the court. He said Green would rather steal than earn what he had in life.
Green will be sentenced Tuesday morning. In a joint submission, Crown and defence lawyers are asking for life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.
with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: Flickr - BC gov't
A man who lost thousands of dollars when British Columbia introduced a tax on foreigners buying homes says tweaks to the policy are a good step forward but the harm has already been done to his family.
Nic Benner and his family had just moved to the Vancouver area from Colorado for his job in the telecom industry when the tax came into effect and were surprised to find it would apply to deals that were signed before it was announced last summer.
Benner signed a contract last May for a new home in Langley where he and his wife planned to raise their four daughters. But the tax added about $80,000 to the price tag, which the family couldn't afford.
"What the government had done was put us in a position, and I'm sure other families in a position, where there was no relief," Benner said in an interview on Monday.
The family walked away from the deal and has been renting ever since.
Premier Christy Clark announced Sunday the government would lift the tax for people who have work permits and pay taxes. The 15-per-cent tax was implemented Aug. 2 in a bid to cool skyrocketing real estate prices in Metro Vancouver.
Amending the policy to exempt people with work permits is a good step forward, Benner said, but it doesn't change the impact the tax has already had.
"They've already done damage and they've already hurt families, including mine. And I hope they will work in an expedited way to correct the damage that has been done," he said, adding that he has written to the government asking for compensation.
David Eby, housing critic for the Opposition NDP, said the tax made it more difficult for companies to recruit and retain employees because it added a surprise cost to living in Metro Vancouver.
"When the government introduced the tax, it actually made housing even more expensive for this group of people who want to come and live and work here and help build our province, it made absolutely no sense," he said.
Eby said his party tried to address the problem with an amendment when the tax was introduced, but were defeated in the legislature, where the Liberals hold a majority.
Dealing with the tax was difficult for people who wanted to move to B.C. and be part of the community, he said.
"It was quite devastating for them and for many families in that situation. One of the things I'm wondering is will the government pay that money back to them as an apology for what they did to these families that were trying to help build our province," Eby said.
The Finance Ministry said in a statement that details of the regulations were still being worked out, including when the new policy will come into effect and whether it will retroactively cover people with work permits who have already paid the tax.
It said the tax has been effective.
"Now that the additional tax has effectively cut back the excessive demand we were seeing last year, we are in a position to make the adjustments necessary to help ensure we can keep attracting highly skilled workers."
The United Oasis Church in Penticton hosted a candlelight vigil Monday night for the victims of the Quebec City mosque shooting.
Candles were lit, and details shared about the six victims who lost their lives when a gunman opened fire in a mosque during Sunday evening prayer.
Vigil organizer Margot Newton told attendees she felt it was important they hear a little bit about each of the victims; Azzeddine Soufiane, Khaled Belkacemi, Aboubaker Thabti, Mamadou Tanou, Ibrahima Barry and Abdelkrim Hassane.
Others spoke about the need to pull together.
There are so many people from here, from everywhere, who dont feel like they belong every day and it causes a lot of problems, said an ESL teacher for several local Syrian refugee children.
A family of Syrian refugees were in attendance, but kept a low profile.
So, reach out to anyone you see who might need a little help and make them feel like they are supposed to be here, the teacher added.
Newton said she was shocked and saddened when she learned about the terrorist attack on Monday morning.
And I think given the climate of, the state of politics south of our border, I felt it even more deeply that we needed to respond in a loving, supportive way to the Muslim community.
Photo: Google Maps
UPDATE: 7:30 a.m.
Highway 97 has been reopened near Quesnel.
ORIGINAL: 6:10 a.m.
Highway 97 remains closed in both directions near Quesnel, due to a vehicle incident overnight.
Details are few, but DriveBC first reported the incident at 11:23 p.m. Monday.
The highway is closed four kilometres south of the city.
A detour is available via Red Bluff and Sales roads.
The highway is expected to open within the hour.
Photo: Twitter
From Dubai to Los Angeles, President Donald Trump's order barring travellers from seven Muslim countries from entering the U.S. has thrown the lives of thousands into limbo.
Middle Eastern scholars who have been studying in the U.S., foreigners planning to visit loved ones living in this country, and others who were outside the United States when the order was issued last week are struggling to find a way in.
Also, some legal U.S. residents and visitors from the affected nations are afraid to leave the U.S. for business or family reasons, fearful they won't be allowed back.
Meanwhile, attorneys and federal judges are working to clear a path for some of those who were turned away.
One was Sahar Algonaimi, a Syrian-born teacher from Saudi Arabia, who arrived at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on Saturday on her way to Indiana to care for her elderly, cancer-stricken mother.
Although she had a visa and had visited the U.S. numerous times before, the 58-year-old woman was put on a plane back to Saudi Arabia after authorities persuaded her to give up her visa. An hour after she left, a judge blocked Trump's order, an act her family's attorney said would have allowed her to stay.
"Now, unless we can get the government to give her humanitarian parole, she will have to apply for a new visa," Kalman Resnick said Monday. "This is just one of many stories from the weekend at O'Hare and all around the country."
Nazanin Zinouri of South Carolina said she was barred from boarding a flight home over the weekend after travelling to Iran to visit her mother and other family members.
A legal resident of the U.S. since 2010, she has earned master's and doctorate degrees in this country and works for a technology company. She fears she will lose her job, home, car and pet if she can't return soon.
"What's going to happen to my dog? My dog is sick. Is anyone going to adopt him?" she asked. "Am I going to lose my job forever?"
On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said green card holders, or legal permanent U.S. residents, will be allowed to re-enter the country unless there is information indicating the person is a serious threat.
Even foreign-born U.S. residents on vacation cruises were affected, as Maysam Sodagari, an Iranian-born biotech scientist from San Francisco learned when his ship returned to port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after a seven-day sail to the Caribbean.
Sodagari, who has lived in the United States for nine years, said he was pulled aside when he tried to leave the ship with friends. He was questioned for more than an hour by immigration agents who examined his green card and cellphone, scanned his fingerprints and denied his request to talk to a lawyer.
As his interrogation continued, his friends posted about it on social media and more than 1,000 people reached out to him, including those in the office of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Although thousands protested the order in airport demonstrations around the country and civil rights groups and some members of Congress denounced it, Trump supporters say it is needed to safeguard the country.
"We need to know who these people are," said retired firefighter Charles Lewis of Topeka, Kansas. "I just don't think this nation is secure. We're a day late and a dollar short on everything."
Photo: CTV
A criminal investigation is underway stemming from allegations of sexual and physical assault made in a complaint to police by the daughter of a former municipal councillor in British Columbia.
Eileen Wilke of Lions Bay resigned from village council last week after it became public that she and her husband were suing Sherri Thomson for allegedly breaking the terms of a settlement agreement signed in 1996.
The legal agreement says Wilke's husband, Ronald Wilke, would pay his stepdaughter $33,000 and that Thomson would drop a civil lawsuit against him and agree not to discuss or disclose publicly any allegations of sexual assault except to family, close friends, her partner or therapists.
Josh Colley of Peel Regional Police in Ontario says officers with the special victims unit, which investigates sexual assault and incidents involving children, have begun an investigation stemming from a complaint made by Thomson in December. He was unable to identify the subject of the investigation.
The Wilkes' lawyer, John Whyte, says neither he nor his clients have been contacted by police and they are unaware of any investigation. Whyte declined comment on the allegations of sexual and physical assault.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
In the legal response to the Wilkes' lawsuit filed earlier this month, Thomson alleges that she was the victim of sexual, physical and psychological abuse as a child at the hands of her stepfather.
Thomson has consented to her name being used in the media through her lawyer.
A notice of civil claim filed by Ronald and Eileen Wilke last November says they agreed to the settlement in 1996, two years after Thomson filed a lawsuit against the couple in Ontario.
The document also says Thomson alleged that Eileen Wilke had failed to protect her from abuse.
The statement of claim filed by the Wilkes says Thomson sent a letter with transcripts referencing the allegations to Elections B.C., the mayor of Lions Bay and a local radio station. Various community groups also received copies of the transcripts, including Lions Bay Emergency Social Services, Lions Bay Neighbourhood Block Watch and Lions Bay Community School, it says.
In her response, Thomson confirms she sent the transcripts to the organizations and individuals outlined in the statement of claim.
But Thomson disputes that she agreed not to disclose the allegations.
Thomson says in her response that even if she did provide the information, the non-disclosure condition "is void and unenforceable as against the defendant on the ground of public policy, in that it is on its face and attempt to stifle, or in practice would have the substantive effect of stifling, the investigation and/or prosecution of serious criminal offences."
Photo: KING5 TV
Accusing her of betrayal and insubordination, President Donald Trump on Monday fired Sally Yates, the acting attorney general of the United States and a Democratic appointee, after she publicly questioned the constitutionality of his controversial refugee and immigration ban and refused to defend it in court.
The dramatic public clash between the new president and the nation's top law enforcement officer laid bare the growing discord and dissent surrounding Trump's executive order, which temporarily halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
The firing came hours after Yates directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend the executive order, saying she was not convinced it was lawful or consistent with the agency's obligation "to stand for what is right." Trump soon followed with a statement accusing Yates of having "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States."
He immediately named longtime federal prosecutor Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, as Yates' replacement.
Boente was sworn in privately late Monday, the White House said. He promptly order Justice Department lawyers to "do our sworn duty and to defend the lawful orders of our President."
Boente said Trump's executive order was "both lawful on its face and properly drafted."
Yates' refusal to defend the executive order was largely symbolic given that Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for attorney general, will almost certainly defend the policy once he's sworn in. He's expected to be confirmed Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee and could be approved within days by the full Senate.
Yates's abrupt decision reflected the growing conflict over the executive order, with administration officials moving Monday to distance themselves from the policy. As protests erupted at airports over the weekend and confusion disrupted travel around the globe, even some of Trump's top advisers and fellow Republicans made clear they were not involved in crafting the policy or consulted on its implementation.
At least three top national security officials Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department have told associates they were not aware of details of the directive until around the time Trump signed it. Leading intelligence officials were also left largely in the dark, according to U.S. officials.
Yates, who was appointed deputy attorney general in 2015 and was the No. 2 Justice Department official under Loretta Lynch, declared Monday she was instructing department lawyers not to defend the order in court.
"I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right," Yates wrote in a letter announcing her position. "At present, I am not convinced that the defence of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful."
Photo: CTV
Thieves have ransacked a coastal B.C. fishing lodge while its owner is in palliative care with terminal cancer.
Family members say they're heartbroken after the remote Cordero Lodge was broken into, items stolen, and the whole place trashed.
The lodge is located near East Thurlow Island and is only accessible by boat.
Theyve destroyed the landing, the dock, gangways, they kicked in doors, Ken Tanguay told CTV.
He said he can't bear to tell his dying father, Lorrie.
"We cant tell him. Hell be gone the moment hes told, I can see it. I just know it would gut him that much."
Sayward RCMP say the break-in happened between Jan. 19 and 29.
About $10,000 worth of equipment was stolen, including fishing gear, crab and prawn traps, generators, chainsaws, firearms and more.
Its hard at this time that somebody would do something, especially when we have it up for sale and we have prospective buyers, said Tanguay. This could affect the sale of this and destroy that, and this would leave my mother destitute and possibly bankrupt.
with files from CTV Vancouver Island
Photo: The Canadian Press Athba Samarai
The only reason Athba Samarai and her husband moved thousands of kilometres from their homes in Iraq, she says, was so their children could grow up happily and safely in Canada.
But this week, the 35-year-old financial manager found herself struggling to explain to her young kids why U.S. President Donald Trump wants to temporarily ban people born in Iraq from crossing the border.
"We lived through an era of oppression and we came all the way here to let our kids live in harmony and peace," said Samarai. "We never thought that this could happen here."
Samarai, who lives in Calgary, is among scores of Canadian permanent residents from the seven countries affected by Trump's executive order who say their ability to travel to the U.S. is in limbo.
Although the Canadian government has assured permanent residents they will be allowed to cross the border, Samarai and others say U.S. authorities have been less clear and they fear they will be detained.
She said she had planned to fly via Seattle on Saturday to her sister's wedding, but had to rebook her flights to avoid the U.S. Her in-laws, aunt, uncle and cousins all live in the U.S. and now she and her husband can't visit them, she said.
Her father-in-law has a green card and can't leave the U.S. because he fears he won't be allowed back in, she added, while her grandmother had to rebook a flight at the last minute to avoid a U.S. connection because the 82-year-old feared being interrogated.
"It's wrong on all levels," she said.
Samarai said she's happy and grateful to live in Canada, but was dismayed by hateful Facebook comments in response to her family's story, and devastated by Sunday's attack on a Quebec City mosque.
"I just want to ask every single person who is born here, who is not challenged in any way about where he came from or which God he prays to. ... If this happened to you, if you were displaced because of who you are or where you were born, how would you react?"
Danny Ramadan, 32, said he had been looking forward to promoting his upcoming novel, "The Clothesline Swing," in the U.S. His publisher had planned for the Syrian-born Canadian permanent resident to attend literary events south of the border.
"It is important to me to be able to celebrate my achievement," he said.
But he said despite the Canadian government's assurances, he won't risk crossing the border.
Ramadan, an LGBTQ activist in Vancouver, said his boyfriend had bought him Britney Spears tickets in Las Vegas in March, but they've decided to go to Mexico instead.
He said having to change his vacation plans was a "first-world problem," but he noted the irony of his situation, given that Trump said the executive order was aimed at keeping out potential terrorists.
"I'm a gay guy who wants to see Britney Spears. How much less of a terrorist could I be?" he asked with a laugh.
Photo: The Canadian Press
Police in central Ohio helped a teenage leukemia patient cross off a bucket-list item that was seriously shocking: She wanted to use a stun gun on someone.
Sixteen-year-old Alyssa Elkins got to do that Sunday. After a bit of training from Newark police, she zapped Sgt. Doug Bline whod been first among the police department employees who volunteered for the task as a crowd of supporters watched. Bline winced and fell onto a mat, guided by spotters.
It is unpleasant to say the least, but if for five seconds if it makes somebodys kind of dream come true, especially in her situation, I think it was well worth it, Bline said.
Alyssa described the experience as awesome.
Im very grateful that people would put themselves out there to allow me to do that to them, she told WCMH-TV.
She had made her bucket list earlier in January, after her leukemia returned and she decided not to undergo further treatment, meaning shed likely have just a few months to live. She added the stun-gun item to the list half-jokingly after recalling video of her uncle, Josh Barry, a state trooper, being hit with a Taser during his training, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
It happened to Barry again Sunday, as he gave Alyssa a second chance to use the stun gun.
Ill do anything for my niece, he told the Dispatch.
Alyssas parents say working to check things off of her bucket list helps turn the focus to things other than her illness. One of the items up next is a planned family trip to Disney World in February.
Photo: Oliver Daily News
Repairs to a section of canal at Gallagher Lake damaged in a slide last year, will come with a hefty price tag.
On Monday, Oliver council chose to reroute the Gallagher Lake siphon along Highway 97, at a cost of $10.4 million.
The decision was made following a presentation from an engineer with TRUE Consulting.
"We were presented with four options and we chose option 3 which will bypass the lake and follow the path of highway 97 on the east side," said Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes. "It was the one that made the most sense."
On Jan. 25, 2016, a significant rock slide occurred at Gallagher Lake which impacted a siphon on the canal irrigation system which provides irrigation water to the town, rural Oliver and the Osoyoos Indian Band.
The provincial government and town of Oliver partnered for a temporary fix, in time for the summer irrigation season. However, the town will have to lobby Victoria and Ottawa for funding for the permanent fix.
That is something staff started doing, right after council made its decision.
"It's a big hit for a small community, but we don't have any choice but to go ahead," said Hovanes.
Photo: Madison Erhardt
The BC Federation of Labour says two recent workplace deaths in the Okanagan are a sign not enough is being done to protect workers.
The federation says both government and employers need to do more to make workplaces safe.
All workers must enjoy the basic right to be safe on the job and to come home safely to their families at the end of their shift. But these two deaths along with a third involving a Victoria construction workers two weeks ago are a sign that more needs to be done to protect workers, says Irene Lanzinger, president of the BC Federation of Labour.
On Monday night, a tugboat operator at the Tolko mill in Kelowna died. And last Friday, a worker at a log sorting facility in Lumby was killed on the job.
Our view is that government and employers arent doing enough to keep workers safe on the job, Lanzinger says.
Health and safety protections are weak and not always rigorously enforced. Worker safety is being compromised. Injured workers arent fairly compensated, and employers whose negligence kills or seriously injures workers are let off with a slap on the wrist.
Lanzinger says the BCFED will continue to press for "more stringent laws and rules, more frequent workplace safety inspections, tougher enforcement, more stringent penalties for employers who commit violations, and for greater balance and fairness at the WCB."
Photo: The Canadian Press
Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says the Liberal government is determined to bring forward legislation to legalize and regulate the recreational use of pot this spring, despite the fact it is working overtime to manage many unknowns associated with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Wilson-Raybould says Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale is talking with U.S. counterparts about any potential impacts of the government's plans.
There are concerns introducing marijuana legislation in Canada could create problems with the U.S.
Wilson-Raybould says the Liberal government is seriously considering a report presented by a special task force late last year.
Among more than 80 recommendations, the panel suggested Canadians 18 and older should be allowed to buy recreational cannabis through storefront and mail-order sales.
The world is watching Canada as it moves to greenlight recreational pot because no other major western country, with the exception of Uruguay, has fully legalized the drug.
Photo: The Canadian Press
A top federal Liberal booted from cabinet in the shakeup after Donald Trump's election as U.S. president is being recommended for a top diplomat position.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he'll be proposing Stephane Dion, a former Liberal Party leader, as ambassador to the European Union and Germany.
Stephanes commitment to Canada knows few parallels, and I am grateful he has agreed to undertake this unique and important task," said Trudeau. "As Canadas senior voice in Europe, I know he will continue to serve his country in an extraordinary way and help deepen Canadas enduring relations with Europe.
Dion, who was replaced by Chrystia Freeland as foreign affairs minister, would be "an enormous strategic benefit for Canada," said a statement.
He would spend the majority of his time in both Brussels and Berlin.
Photo: The Canadian Press
Sen. John McCain has emerged as President Donald Trump's top Republican nemesis on Capitol Hill.
Since Trump's inauguration, McCain has broken with the president on his immigration order, warned him against any rapprochement with Moscow, lectured him on the illegality of torture, and supplied only a tepid endorsement of Rex Tillerson, Trump's secretary of state nominee.
He also hammered Trump for backing away from international free trade agreements.
As Trump presses ahead with an ambitious and contentious agenda at home and abroad, McCain is pushing back, using his seniority in Congress and his characteristic bluntness. McCain, 80, cruised to a sixth Senate term in November, defeating a Democratic challenger who hounded the senator for standing by Trump even after the billionaire businessman insulted him as a "loser."
Trump's immigration order, signed by the president Friday, temporarily suspends all immigration for citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days. McCain, along with his close friend and Senate colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said they feared Trump's immigration order could "become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism."
"This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country. That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security," McCain and Graham wrote.
That elicited an angry tweet from Trump, who accused the two of "looking to start World War III."
As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain is one of the leading Republican voices in Congress on national security matters. Re-elected last year to another six years in office, he is free to challenge the president without fear of retribution from voters.
And perhaps on no issue has McCain been more unequivocal than of Trump's desire for a better relationship with Moscow.
Trump's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin before and after the election signalled that U.S.-Russia relations could be getting a makeover even after U.S. intelligence agencies determined Moscow meddled in the campaign to help Trump win.
But McCain has little interest in detente with a country that has invaded Ukraine, annexed Crimea, threatened America's NATO allies, and backed Syrian President Bashar Assad's "murderous" regime.
Ahead of a telephone call on Saturday between the two leaders, McCain issued a blistering statement in which he called Putin a "murderer and a thug" who will never be an ally of the United States.
"Each of our last three presidents had high hopes for building a partnership with the Russian government," McCain said. "Each attempt failed, not for lack of good faith and effort on the U.S. side, but because Putin wants to be our enemy. He needs us as his enemy."
Photo: RCMP
RCMP said Sekoyja Spencer has been found.
Vernon RCMP are requesting the public's assistance in locating a missing 14-year-old girl.
Sekoyja Spencer was last seen with friends Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. outside the museum in downtown
Vernon.
Spencer is described as 5'2'' tall, of medium build with pink hair and wearing a purple sweater, tan Van brand winter shoes, with a cheetah print backpack.
Police said, they are very concerned for Sekoyja Spencer's health and well-being.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Spencer is asked to call police at 250-545-7171, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
Spain: domestic cement consumption falls 3.1% in 2016
31 January 2017
Spain's total cement consumption for 2016 reached 11,140,639t, down more than 350,000t compared to 2015 and representing a 3.1 per cent YoY fall. December's monthly figure was equally as poor, down 3.8 per cent YoY to 804,372t.
Disappointing domestic sales were offset, albeit only in part, by a growth in export volumes of 5.6 per cent to 9,782,631t.
"After almost a decade of deep crisis, the outlook for 2017 is very worrying," explains the president of Oficemen, Jaime Ruiz de Haro. "Just a few days ago the Ministry of Public Works has already anticipated that due to the requirements of meeting the public deficit target, 2017 would be a 'complicated' year for infrastructure investment, with a total endowment even lower than that of the year ended, and beating a new historical low. "
The Department of Studies of Oficemen predicts a stagnant 2017, with growth rates of less than one per cent. However, these figures depend to a large extent on the expected positive evolution of residential construction. "The issue is that it would be necessary for housing to grow exponentially in order to compensate for the fall in cement consumption due to the stoppage in infrastructure," Oficemen CEO, Aniceto Zaragoza, said.
Infrastructure
"During the crisis, the social perception about the need for infrastructure in Spain has been strengthened in that everything is already built and that it is not necessary to build more. But when we talk about public works in Spain, we forget about social infrastructures, which are also part of it. We are talking about those dedicated to protected housing, health or education, which are not only necessary, but are one of the priority demands of Spanish society," explains Mr Zaragoza.
The numbers speak for themselves. According to the latest CIS survey of the Spanish population on Public Opinion and Fiscal Policy, only 23.6 per cent of Spaniards believe that investment in public works is insufficient.
Energy costs hit Spanish cement producers
The domestic cement sector is also finding it hard to increase margins with domestic energy price rises. Spain's electricity cost is the highest in Europe. The increasing cost of energy could also jeopardize the country's leadership position, which is now at the top of the European Union in exports, both intra and extra community, says Oficemen.
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Despite the tension between China and United States following Donald Trump's taking over the presidency, China has backed Russia's proposal for a strategic partnership between the country, Russia and United States.
"China, Russia, and the U.S. are all major countries with worldwide influence and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. For world peace, stability and development, we share a great responsibility," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
Hua added that China is willing to work together with Russia and China while trying to improve the relationship of the three countries.
It can be recalled that Russian parliament Lavrov has expressed interest in seeing US,Russia and China form strategic ties.
On Monday, China has released their official statement regarding US President Donald Trump's executive order which bans the entry of people from seven Muslim-majority countries and said immigration policy was a sovereign right but "reasonable concerns" must be considered.
Trump signed a directive on the banning on Friday. U.S. Democrats and a growing number of Republicans assailed the move and foreign leaders condemned it amid court challenges and protests at U.S. airports.
Trump says his directive is "not about religion" but keeping America safe. Trump has presented the policy as a way to protect the country from the threat of Islamist militants.
China's Foreign Ministry, in a statement sent to Reuters, said it had noted the reports of the U.S. administration's decision.
"China believes that adjusting immigration and entry and exit policy is an act within each country's sovereignty," the ministry said.
"At the same time, relevant moves must also consider the reasonable concerns of relevant countries," it added in a brief statement.
It did not elaborate further on the statement.
China is in the middle of a week-long Lunar New Year holiday and government departments do not return to work until Friday.
China has been trying to pay a greater diplomatic role in the Middle East, and has particularly close ties with Iran and Sudan, two of the seven countries on Trump's list.
China is home to a Muslim population of about 20 million people, including ethnic Uighur people in the far western region of Xinjiang, where the government says it is facing its own problem with Islamist militants.
Several rights groups and exiles remarked that China's repressive policies in Xinjiang are the reasons why there is unrest in the region. The Chinese government denies this and said they guarantee the freedom of religion in their territories.
Operating an independent restaurant isnt the easiest way to make a living. But the Draganowski family has managed to make it look that way. A
The following editorial was published in Sundays Wisconsin State Journal:
A panel of judges ordered state leaders Friday to redraw the boundaries of Wisconsins legislative districts so that they no longer blatantly favor Republican candidates in key races.
Thats good news for all state voters not just Democrats because current Assembly and Senate voting district maps protect many incumbents of both political parties.
Wisconsin needs fair maps so the will of voters is respected in elections, and so citizens can hold their leaders accountable.
Calling the maps an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander, the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the Legislature to redraw legislative districts by November.
Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimels office, which has been defending the rigged maps, appears eager to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is disappointing. Its unclear when or how the high court might act.
In the meantime, the best approach is to move forward with a fair, open and inexpensive process for redoing the maps. In other words, Wisconsin should adopt Iowas nonpartisan redistricting model.
Many Democrats and a Republican Rep. Todd Novak of Dodgeville last week proposed Senate Bill 13, which mirrors Iowas highly successful process. Iowa assigns the task of redrawing districts after every major census to a nonpartisan state office. Strict guidelines require Iowas neutral map makers to draw districts as contiguous as possible while following municipal lines and ignoring the impact on incumbents. The independent agency holds public hearings on its maps around the state.
Iowa Republicans and Democrats alike support and respect this process. They have approved the agencys maps by huge majorities. Voters benefit from more competitive races. Taxpayers hardly spend a dime.
Compare that to Wisconsins map-making process in 2011: Top Republican lawmakers and their staffs working in secret at a private law firm plugged voting data from past elections into computers to figure out the most advantageous boundaries for GOP candidates. The goal was to give conservative candidates an edge in swing seats. The drafters also packed Democratic-leaning communities into districts the GOP figured it wouldnt win anyway.
As a result, in 2012, the GOP won 60 of 99 seats in the state Assembly, even though Republicans captured only 48.6 percent of the vote statewide. In 2014, the Republicans collected 52 percent of the vote and won 63 Assembly seats. And in the last election, the GOP majority expanded to 64.
Some of the disparity for Democrats results from the high concentration of Democratic-leaning voters living in Madison and Milwaukee. But that doesnt explain the highly unconstitutional effect of Wisconsins Republican-drawn maps, the court determined. The maps have helped the party control the statehouse for most of this decade.
The court could have drawn new maps itself. Instead, it told state leaders to redo the maps in a more reasonable way. We understand the courts unwillingness to take over the process, given legal precedents and state constitutional language assigning the task to the Legislature.
But nothing prevents state leaders from creating a nonpartisan process this spring. In Iowa, for example, the Legislature and governor still approve the maps as their constitution requires. But they assign the task of shaping districts to others. And if the politicians dont like the final result, they can ask for another version.
Thats what Wisconsins Legislature should do by approving SB 13.
We urge Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, to do the right thing. If they draw another set of maps themselves, further legal challenges are likely, with millions of tax dollars going to high-priced attorneys and consultants.
Republican leaders already have spent more than $2 million of public money and six years of controversy on this issue. If they adopted the Iowa model instead, the process would enjoy bipartisan support at little expense or distraction.
Please choose the noble path, Speaker Vos and Sen. Fitzgerald, rather than doubling down on dishonest and unfair maps.
Prayer Vigil at Supreme Court Tonight as President Announces his Nominee
Contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Church on the Hill, 540-538-4741
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- Church on the Hill plans to hold a prayer vigil at the Supreme Court tonight as President Trump announces his nominee vacancy on the court.
The group will gather, Tuesday, January 31, at 8:00 P.M. on the public sidewalk in front of the Supreme Court.
Link to event's Facebook page
It is critical that the faith community seek God for direction and guidance as President Trump will make one of the most important and critical decisions of his entire Presidency.
Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Pastor of Church on the Hill and Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states;
"Tonight at 8:00 P.M., President Trump will make one of the most important announcements of his entire Presidency as he announces his Supreme Court pick that will fill the seat left by the passing of Justice Scalia. This person will provide a critical swing vote that will impact America for a generation to come.
"In light of the historic nature of this pick, it is critical for the faith community to earnestly seek God for his direction, leading and guidance. Our prayer is that next Supreme Court Justice will be person who will honor the founding principles of our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, provide equal justice under law for all Americans and help end the violence of abortion. We will also be praying for what promises to be a bruising confirmation process.
"As Christians, we can see God shift, shape and transform history through the power of united prayer."
Catherine Glenn Foster, civil rights attorney and President of Sound Legal Group and General Counsel for Stanton Healthcare, adds;
"This evening, we the community will gather in front of the Supreme Court of the United States to pray for the Court and for the nominee to be announced by President Trump. If confirmed, this nominee will profoundly impact judicial decisions for generations to come, shaping America's laws on life, religious liberty, and the other core principles on which our nation was founded. My hope is that the President's choice is a bold individual who will adhere closely to inherent universal moral principles and rights, and play a pivotal role in shaping the Court's direction as the Justices deliberate and decide the fundamental legal questions that make up the fabric of American society. We pray also for God's will to be done through the confirmation process, for clarity and discernment for all the Justices, and as always for all the clerks and Court staff."
For more information or interviews contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741
This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions
The topic of immigration is so misunderstood.
I landed in the United States of America on Sept. 4, 2004. That's 12-plus years ago. And I'm still not a citizen. Not because I don't want to be. I want it so bad to have my vote count. But that's how broken our system is.
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I employ 520 people in my company, and we are adding employees. My husband arrived here in August 2001. He doesn't even have a green card (a permanent resident card), only a temporary visa. He has a patent for innovating car safety, but no green card yet. He wants nothing more. But he has to wait another nine years. That is 25 years since he arrived here, more than half his life.
Please remember that next time you ask why those immigrants aren't citizens yet the system isn't set up to let them be so. Please don't accept the "if they don't want to be citizens they shouldn't be here" rhetoric. We want to, but can't. Immigration is highly controlled already.
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We aren't the exceptions. We are the norm. Immigrants with dreams. Immigrants conditioned to work hard. Immigrants told to accept everyone. Immigrants who believe that diversity is strength. We, and millions of others, believe this is the country of freedom. You can overcome your past to build a better future for your kids regardless of your skin color or religion. The Italians, Irish, Germans and Polish all thought so, too. Every one of us is an immigrant here, except for the 2 percent of Native Americans.
My husband and I both pay full taxes, including Medicare and Social Security. We can't apply for many types of loans (student, housing, auto) easily, either, or reap the benefit of some tax exemptions. We pay our fair share into it but, contrary to news stories, don't utilize a disproportionate amount of government-provided resources. We both had to get jobs all through college with no access to financial aid. When graduating from college, 80 percent of jobs were ruled out for us, including any firm that even remotely worked with any department of the government, because they wouldn't sponsor an immigrant.
Fresh immigrants don't steal jobs; they work harder at them. They don't take opportunities for granted; they know what it's like to not have them at all. New immigrants don't feel entitled; they pay it forward. Immigrants aren't fearful; they risk it all. For liberty. For opportunity. For family. The second paragraph of the United States Declaration of Independence starts: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."
How can we let Trump go through with this? Can power be so blind? Can fear become so irrational? It doesn't matter what language immigrants speak or which god they pray to. They are our fellow humans and need our help. They are refugees being persecuted. They are kids who will grow up to discover cures and serve us in our old age if given just one chance. All the people of a given faith can not be written off, 1.6 billion adherents of the second largest faith in the world, for the actions of just a few.
Fellow people in the United States, please travel outside your county or state we have more in common than we have differences. We can be global citizens as a diverse community, sharing the same dreams and opportunities, while celebrating our heritage and traditions. It makes the world colorful. And better.
I'm standing just miles from JFK Airport, where innocent people with legal non-citizen status are being detained, torn away from jobs and families, and I can't stop crying for them on the streets of New York City, in the shadows of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. They've done nothing wrong besides praying to the only god they know. The same god whose teachings guided the Muslim neighbors of my great-grandparents to risk their own lives and smuggle my Hindu family out of the newly created Pakistan into India back in 1947 during the partition, to keep them safe, on that last midnight train.
I feel real pain.
Shradha Agarwal is president and co-founder of Chicago-based Outcome Health (formerly ContextMedia) and co-founder of JumpStart Ventures. She originally posted this piece Saturday on Facebook. It is reprinted with her permission and with minor edits.
Pinterest co-founder and CEO Ben Silbermann talks with members of the audience during a dinner hosted by the Economic Club of Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Pinterest has become the one-stop-shop for DIY-ers and wedding-planning brides looking for inspiration. But not too long ago, its co-founder and CEO Ben Silbermann said, he was puttering around a Palo Alto Apple Store, changing the laptop screens to display his fledgling website.
"Those were pretty desperate times," he admitted to a crowd of hundreds Monday night at the Economic Club of Chicago, where he spoke about his entrepreneurial journey and rebuked President Donald Trump's recent executive order halting immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries. Silbermann spoke onstage with entrepreneur and investor J.B. Pritzker following his presentation.
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J.B. Pritzker, left, talks with Ben Silbermann. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Since the Apple Store days, Pinterest's luck has changed for the better: The company has drawn more than $1 billion in funding since it launched in 2010 and employs more than 1,000 people worldwide, including 40 in its Chicago office.
But the journey has not been without hiccups, Silbermann said. He described a point amid the company's rapid growth where he felt like the company had been lost where the company's leadership was making decisions after poring over strategy books instead of following intuition and an understanding of what people love.
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"I began to feel like somehow, something that started off so unique was looking like every other technology company," he said.
Silbermann said he and his co-founders made a series of hard decisions in the next two years to get the company back on track.
"We got rid of people that had joined a hot company that didn't really care about our mission. We started to reorganize the company to feel more like a collection of startups. We hosted a company event: We shut down for two days, and we asked everyone to come in and teach some of the quirky skills and fun things they did to give them a feeling of what Pinterest was doing for users giving them inspiration to try something new," he said.
Diversity became another priority.
"We started actually to focus on building a diverse workforce, not just hiring women and underrepresented minorities, but hiring people from backgrounds that were different people that might not have gone to the best schools but still had that weird, quirky, creative genius that we felt was incredibly important," Silbermann said.
In a 2016 diversity report, the company said it had increased the number of women in technical roles from 21 percent to 26 percent, increased the hiring rate of engineers from underrepresented ethnic groups from 1 to 9 percent, and more than doubled the number of people in the company from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds to 7 percent.
In 2017, the company said, it plans to improve hiring rates for full-time women engineers and maintain those rates for engineers and other employees from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds.
"I really believe that the raw ingredient of any creative business is the set of experiences that the team has, the set of skills," Silbermann said. "I think a simple fact is that if you have a different set of experiences based on how you grew up or how other people perceive you or if you have a different set of skills, that will produce a better company."
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He also started seeking people who were looking out for a team above themselves.
"I think the lesson I learned at that time was that there's a big difference between hiring smart people and building a great team," he said.
Today, Silbermann said, the company has become a platform that helps people make their lives better, whether it's figuring out what to do with their kids, what to wear or how to decorate a new living room.
"I really think that even though Pinterest isn't a lot of people's idea of hard technology, it helps make make everyday things a little bit better," he said. "And I believe that for most people, everyday things, those are everything."
At the end of the night, Pritzker asked Silbermann about how he plans to approach Trump's executive order on immigration and how he sees it affecting his business.
"In terms of our employees, the first thing that matters to me is that they feel like the company will stand up for them and will cover them," Silbermann said. "In terms of what we need to do broadly I think I'm trying to figure it out. It's the first week. The first week."
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mgraham@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @megancgraham
"It's time for us to clearly start owning our identity," said Fabian Elliot, founder of Black Tech Mecca and an advertising technology consultant at Google. (Kristen Norman / Blue Sky)
A new study says more blacks are working in technology in Chicago than most people expect but many are working low-paying positions that haven't traditionally been thought of as tech jobs.
There are 40,000 tech workers in the Chicago area, according to a broad definition forthcoming report from advocacy group Black Tech Mecca, called "2017 State of the Black Tech Ecosystem: The Chicago Edition."
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The study, done with a team from University of Illinois at Chicago's Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement, compared Chicago to 12 other cities.
It won't be released until next month, but some of its findings were used to plan panel discussions and presentations last week at Google and Matter.
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"There are a million things to do," said Fabian Elliott, founder and CEO of Black Tech Mecca and an advertising technology consultant at Google. "Now, we can prioritize those, and focus on the areas that have the biggest impact."
Blacks make up 13 percent of the overall workforce in Chicago, but 8 percent of its workers in tech occupations, and 8.8 percent of workers in the tech industry.
"I was pretty encouraged by that," Elliott said.
The total industry number includes a wide range of workers, such as those in clerical or legal, employed at tech firms. The tech industry number includes everyone in the tech industry both in non-tech and technical roles.
That occupation number includes people in jobs who might not consider themselves as part of the tech community. The highest representation of blacks was in clinical lab tech positions, at 24 percent, Elliott said. About 22 percent were on technology installation, such as cable installers, he said.
While those types of employees might not be included in some industry counts, Elliott said they should consider themselves tech workers.
"It's time for us to clearly start owning our identity," said Elliott. "I know a lot of people who work in tech, and they might not code. They question whether they really work in tech. You work in tech! And whatever you do, you're touching and influencing technology, even if you're not writing code."
Black Tech Mecca wanted to define the ecosystem, determine what success would look like and evaluate Chicago's black tech ecosystem, Elliott said.
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To do that, the team developed a framework across the health of a black tech ecosystem in a given market.
There was previously no data to measure the impact and growth of the black tech ecosystem or to make the argument that the black tech community is a profitable arena for investment, according to Black Tech Mecca.
"Before this report, we couldn't even give a rough estimate. Now, we have a number that gives us perspective on how we should be thinking about growing it," Elliott said.
Black tech workers were underrepresented in all of the communities compared. The gap between blacks in the overall workforce and those in tech was smallest in Los Angeles, with blacks representing 6 percent of the general workforce, 5.5 percent of those working in tech occupations and 5.3 in the tech industry.
The gap was biggest in Detroit, where blacks were 18.7 percent of the general workforce, 12 percent of those in tech occupations and 11 percent of those working in tech industries.
At the event at Google's Chicago headquarters Thursday, speakers addressed not only the Black Tech Mecca report, but also the broader state of funding in Chicago tech.
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Data about blacks and venture capital is outdated, said Sherrell Dorsey, founder of ThePlug tech newsletter. Most discussions about the topic quote a 2010 CB Insights report that put the portion of black founders with venture capital backing at less than 1 percent, she said.
But venture capital has become more aware in recent years of a need for diversity, where lucrative opportunities are being missed, said Ablorde Ashigbi, a senior associate at Pritzker Group.
"You think of most places that are under-fished; in most pools that people aren't paying attention to, there're really good value there," he said. "There are really strong people. There are really good business opportunities that historically have been ignored that, if given the right resources and capital, have the opportunity to be bigger than Facebook, bigger than Google, bigger than all of these other things."
Emile Cambry Jr. , founder of the Blue 1647 tech incubator brand, said startups need to consider other ways of raising money, such as equity crowdfunding.
"That's much better than trying to go and be one of 10,000 people applying for Y Combinator or some other platform. And you'll have people who consume your product because they know you," he said.
"Yes, racism exists. Yes, there are certain barriers. But we've still got to find a way to move it forward," he said. "When you find early ways to have some traction and find some way to get some momentum going, then other positive things happen, and other people start believing in it."
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Cheryl V. Jackson is a freelance writer.
Twitter @cherylvjackson
Take a look at some of the equipment Caterpillar produces. The company is planning on moving its headquarters from Peoria to the Chicago area. (Phil Geib/Chicago Tribune)
To change a corporate culture, change the location of the corporate headquarters.
In a nutshell, that seems to be the goal of James Umpleby, Caterpillar's recently named CEO, who is leading the heavy construction and equipment maker's headquarters relocation from its longtime home in Peoria to an undetermined place in the Chicago area.
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In moving its headquarters, Cat is signaling a departure from a storied past and positioning itself to operate a leaner, global manufacturing business in new ways.
For example, expect a greater focus on incorporating more digital and internet-based technologies into its heavy equipment and construction product mix, along with a growing focus on China and emerging international sales markets.
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On that score, moving closer to O'Hare International Airport will make it easier and less time-consuming for Cat leadership to zoom around the globe. Cat will rent office space, but not construct a new headquarters, and eventually bring along about 300 jobs.
Cat is the latest in a string of Illinois corporate giants, including ADM, United Airlines and McDonald's, that decided to relocate from downstate or the suburbs into the city. (McDonald's arrives in 2018.)
Such moves are expected to make these old-line companies more attractive to an increasingly urban-based and culturally diverse workforce that's digitally adroit and eager to do business on a worldwide scale.
No matter where its headquarters ultimately lands, Cat is hoping for the same outcome.
"The new location is also an opportunity to add to our talented team while improving the productivity of our senior leaders," Umpleby said in a statement announcing the relocation.
While Umpleby, an engineer, has worked at Cat for more than 35 years, he did not come up primarily through the mammoth company's Peoria-based headquarters or its mainstay heavy equipment and construction track.
Instead, he spent much of his career at Solar Turbines, a San Diego subsidiary that produces industrial gas turbines. Umpleby was officially named CEO in January.
While maintaining close ties to Cat's core business and still employing thousands in Peoria, Umpleby will add more outsiders to his executive team and the company at-large.
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Peoria resident Ryan Murphy discusses Caterpillar's plan to move its headquarters out of Peoria to the Chicago area. Jan. 31, 2017. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)
With all due respect to Peoria, it's going to be easier to lure corporate talent to the Chicago area. Yes, the area has its problems but it is also home to many world-class cultural amenities and social attractions that help make people want to work and play here.
"Many of Caterpillar's senior leaders have spent many years at the firm and have been rotated throughout the business," Keith Schoonmaker, Morningstar analyst, wrote in a recent report. "Increasingly, however, the company has sought to hire people from outside of the heavy equipment industry."
Schoonmaker said in an email to me today that Cat's new headquarters won't have a significant impact on the company's share price.
Many institutional shareholders, however, should cheer Cat's decision to scuttle an earlier plan to spend millions of dollars to build a new Peoria headquarters, which was supported by previous CEO Doug Oberhelman, and instead lease office space.
Cat stock is hovering near $95 per share and has enjoyed a runup in the past year, especially as President Donald Trump talked of boosting infrastructure spending that could spur Cat sales.
The stock is now under pressure, and last week the company reported $38.5 billion in sales for 2016, down from $47 billion the previous year.
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To contain costs, Cat is in the midst of a major cost-cutting effort and has eliminated half of the 10,000 jobs it plans to cut by 2018.
Still, industry analysts suggest the company has too many workers and excess plant capacity. Unless the company's fortunes improve, it will be forced to cut even deeper, they say.
By relocating to the Chicago area, Cat's CEO is telling everyone that it's time to break with tradition and make way for big changes.
roreed@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @reedtribbiz
About 65 percent of African-American, Latino and Asian households in Chicago have so little savings and other assets that a sudden job loss, medical emergency or other income disruption would throw them into poverty within three months, according to a report on wealth inequities in the city.
The report by the Corporation for Enterprise Development identified the divide between the incomes of white households and minority households as wider in Chicago than the nation as a whole. And the national divide is large. Not only do Chicago's white households on average far exceed African-Americans, Latinos and Asians in income, but there is a sharp difference in the city between the wealth held by whites and that held by minority communities.
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The extreme divide exists because Chicago white households are wealthier than the nation's and the city's African-Americans are significantly less wealthy than the national average, said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, the director of the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative of the nonprofit group, which did the study with a grant from JP Morgan.
The median income of whites in Chicago is $70,960 compared with $56,373 for Asians, $41,188 for Latinos and $30,303 for blacks. And the median values of homes owned by African-Americans and Latinos in Chicago are only about half those owned by whites, said Asante-Muhammad. Only 34.5 percent of African-Americans and 43 percent of Latinos own homes, compared with 53.5 percent of white residents. The median value of white homes is $275,000.
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In Chicago as well as nationwide, Asante-Muhammad said, white households have recovered more than minority households from the 2008-09 recession, in part because people with higher incomes have investments in stock while those at lower incomes have few assets.
Since whites make up only about a third of the city's residents, a continuation of the income and wealth disparity will weigh on the strength of the city, Asante-Muhammad said. "With less ability to consume, it has an affect on businesses and it impacts taxes and the strength of city services everything from schools to sewer services."
Besides having limited assets, Asante-Muhammad noted that more than half of black and Latino homeowners are "cost-burdened" by their homes, compared with only 36 percent of whites. Renters are even more burdened, with 63 percent of black households, 56 percent of Latinos and 49 percent of Asian-Americans spending more than the 30 percent of income monthly that is considered advisable. Renting in Chicago is hard on many white households too, with 42 percent cost-burdened, according to the study.
Over the last few decades, the disparity between white and minority incomes in Chicago intensified as the city lost manufacturing jobs, the study says. Between 1915 to 1970, there was a huge migration of black people from the south to Chicago as they sought freedom from political oppression and more economic opportunity. They did well in Chicago for a while as they secured manufacturing jobs, but with the loss of those jobs, Asante-Muhammad said they began finding less opportunity in Chicago.
The study is the first part of a $2 million initiative funded by JP Morgan. The next step is to train locally based nonprofit organizations to improve opportunity in Chicago.
The goal, said Asante-Muhammad, is to tailor responses to specific areas and racial groups rather than imposing a "one-size-fits-all solution" from the national level. That approach also is being used in Baltimore, New Orleans and Miami. In Chicago the nonprofits involved are the Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Gads Hill Center, Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corp., North Lawndale Employment Network and the Spanish Coalition for Housing.
gmarksjarvis@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @gailmarksjarvis
Before he even took the oath of office, President Donald Trump and his tweets were making the markets move.
Stocks dipped for Boeing when Trump, as president-elect, tweeted about the cost for the company to build Air Force One, and they slumped again for Lockheed Martin when he called the expenses of its F-35 jet "out of control." Similar stock drops affected automakers Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors and Ford after Trump railed against all three on Twitter about building vehicles in Mexico.
From afar, the staff of the Texas-based digital marketing firm The Think Tank (T3) like much of Wall Street has watched in wonder, trying to figure out what to do about the unpredictable Twitter habits of their next commander in chief.
Then a staffer in T3's New York office had an idea: What if they found a way to short sell stocks moved by Trump tweets, then used the money for something good? (Short selling means placing a market bet on a share price going down rather than up.)
Within days, "Trump & Dump" was born.
They created an ultrafast Twitter bot and algorithm that follows @realDonaldTrump, reviewing each tweet he sends. When a publicly traded company is mentioned, the bot triggers a "sentiment analysis," T3 President Ben Gaddis told The Washington Post, which scans the words surrounding the company name to determine if the tweet has a positive or negative slant.
If it leans negative, the algorithm tells a connected E-Trade account to short-sell the stock which, if done properly, nets T3 a profit.
All that happens very quickly.
(Think hard before you try this at home. High-frequency traders have reportedly been doing the same thing with automated programs capable of executing thousands of trades in a millisecond. But how effective this could be using a retail platform like E-Trade, which on its website guarantees a two-second trade execution, is open to question.)
But Gaddis said "it's been really successful so far," though he declined to say how much money they had made in the three weeks since it launched. In an explanatory video about the bot, though, T3 described their profit size with a play on one of Trump's favorite words.
"YUUUUGE," they said.
And early Monday morning, when President Trump started his day with a tweet referencing Delta Air Lines, the algorithm went to work. T3 made a trade before the stock dropped, Gaddis told the Post, then saw a 4.47 percent return when the short sale was completed.
"The Trump & Dump bot was all over it," Gaddis said.
T3 is far from the first company to capitalize on Trump's targeted tweet-storms, made evident by the almost instantaneous market response to his online remarks, analysts told the Los Angeles Times in mid-January. "It's in the algorithms," said Joe Gits, chief executive of Social Market Analytics. "They've done it."
What likely sets T3's system apart, though, is its beneficiaries.
They wanted the money to go toward a cause that would generate minimal controversy, Gaddis said, so T3 settled on one they figured everyone could get behind: puppies.
And kittens. And whatever other animals the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is caring for these days.
"We didn't want to pick an organization that was really political," Gaddis said, "and who doesn't love dogs and cats?"
When a short sale is made, Gaddis and his team are notified through Slack, a corporate messaging service. They can check the trade to be sure it went smoothly, then collect their profits and donate them to ASPCA.
"THE RESULTS," T3's website says, "Tweets Analyzed. Stocks Shorted. Puppies Saved."
A spokeswoman for ASPCA confirmed that T3 had submitted donations to the animal nonprofit, emphasizing that the organization was not directly involved with the Trump & Dump bot but that "we appreciate their support."
T3 is investing company money in the endeavor, Gaddis said, and plans to release tracking data on donations in monthly intervals.
Based in Austin, Texas, the company brands itself an "innovation agency," working with Fortune 500 companies like UPS and Allstate to enhance their digital marketing, mobile applications and website development.
But T3 also works to make brands work for their users the precise goal of Trump & Dump.
They ask themselves questions like, "how can we make an insight or data like this," Trump's tweets and the corresponding stock market dips "actionable."
Thus far, the feedback has been positive, Gaddis said.
"I don't think companies love it when he tweets about them," Gaddis told The Post, which is why T3 thought they would try to "use something that most people are upset about and turn it into some kind of good."
The algorithm only works and the puppies are only saved if the president continues to use his Twitter in ways that move stocks.
If that sort of tweeting stops, so do the trades.
But, Gaddis said, "our prediction is it probably won't."
Jim Mateja was an award-winning automotive columnist who spent 47 years covering the auto industry for the Chicago Tribune. His widespread knowledge of the industry and charming wit in distilling both marketing mumbo-jumbo and the mechanically complex endeared him to generations of readers, auto writers, dealers and executives.
Mateja, who lived in north suburban Lindenhurst, collapsed at his computer after filing a story for the Tribune about the 2017 Chicago Auto Show, said Sue Mateja, his wife of 51 years. Mateja, 71, died of cancer Monday at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview.
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"Jim deftly established his personality before that became the touchstone of journalism, while maintaining fairness and accuracy," former Tribune business editor Mary Jane Grandinetti wrote in an email. He was respected for his honesty and balance, she added.
"If he said a car was lacking, it was lacking and automakers were known to make improvements based on his reviews. Conversely, if he said it was good, it soared. That kind of expertise is how he engaged his readers, who could disagree, but they kept reading."
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"Jim had an exceptional ability to connect with people," former Tribune automotive reporter Rick Popely wrote in an email. "More importantly, he was able to connect with readers."
Mateja connected the consumer with the industry and became a reliable, trustworthy source to understand the complex relationship between both man and machine and dealers and automakers.
Born March 13, 1945, Mateja's first Tribune story was on the 1971 Ford Pinto, which was being marketed as heir to the Ford Model T. Mateja wrote of the dubious connection, "Ford noted and if awards are being given for stretching a point, this wins that Pinto has a 't' in it."
One of his recent classics, "Owner's manuals for dummies," criticized the heft of owner's manuals and the legal need to state the obvious, such as filling the gas tank if it's empty, opening the door by turning the key and removing snow from the windshield if the windshield is covered with you guessed it snow.
According to Mateja, it seemed as if automakers were suggesting "consumers shouldn't be trusted behind the wheel of such potentially dangerous machines, much less allowed to buy one."
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 86 Dick Orkin, an award-winning radio advertising creator for close to a half-century who was perhaps best known for his syndicated Chickenman spoof, which aired on Chicago stations, died on Dec. 24 in California. He was 84. Read more. (Handout)
Mateja's writing, packed with biting snark toward automakers and abiding empathy for consumers, was conversational and direct. It was easy to read, which can be difficult to execute in a field loaded with engineering jargon and marketing gloss. From test drive reviews to reader Q&As, his reporting brought the industry to a much more accessible level for consumers. You didn't have to subscribe to the glossy enthusiast magazines or esoteric trade publications to get a sense of the trends shaping the industry and dealer lots.
His writing won a slew of awards, from a 1997 Lisagor award for outstanding work by Illinois journalists to two-time winner of the International Wheel Award for journalistic excellence specific to auto coverage.
Hired to the business copy desk in 1967 "the day after graduating from Western Illinois University," according to Mateja's own bio, he began "writing about cars in 1970 when his boss promised that if he took the job and did well, he would be rewarded with a promotion in two years three tops. It was sometime in the 1990s that Mateja began to question whether the promised promotion would ever come."
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With his silver push broom mustache and twinkling blue eyes, Mateja had an avuncular personality filled with generosity of spirit and a bit of mischief.
"Jim once got an exclusive story from Lee Iacocca, the chairman and CEO of Chrysler, while seated at the same table with other journalists," Popely recalled. "He waited until the band was playing and leaned over and quietly got Iacocca to answer a few questions and no one else at the table could hear a word either was saying."
Mateja semi-retired from the Tribune in 2007, at a time when newspapers began transitioning to digital media. The change didn't much affect Mateja, who was private despite his public persona.
Mateja was a classic newspaperman who logged long hours out of dedication to the job and the reader. When he was ill, he "dragged himself to daily battles out of a sense of duty and responsibility," Popely wrote.
In doing so, he set the bar for legions of auto writers to follow.
"During his long tenure at the Chicago Tribune, Jim set a standard for automotive journalism that inspired me and countless others," MotorWeek's John Davis posted on Facebook. "Plus, his wit and sense of humor always found a way to brighten and make entertaining even the most boring of vehicles."
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In 1991, with the goading of Jerry Cizek, auto dealer and longtime president of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, the umbrella organization of Chicago-area auto dealers that produce the annual Chicago Auto Show, Mateja helped found the Midwest Automotive Media Association.
"The magic words were free lunch," Mateja said of the association's inception in a 2016 video celebrating its 25th anniversary. "Anybody who could spell 'car' wanted to become a member."
In addition to his wife, Mateja is survived by son Brad; twin daughters Dana Slotkus and Gina Winiewicz; and three grandchildren.
Services will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 15000 W. Wadsworth Road, Wadsworth. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.
rduffer@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @DufferRobert
If a condo association follows all of the rules for amending its legal documents and adopts an amendment prohibiting pot smoking in units, that amendment should be honored by all owners. (TNS)
Q: Can smoking of tobacco and cannabis be prohibited in units? This is becoming complicated with cannabis being legalized in some states and the District of Columbia, decriminalized in others and gaining medical status.
I have attended meetings for condo associations where this has been discussed. One attorney said that smoking can be prohibited in units, and that the board can take action against tobacco use. If cannabis is being used, he said, call the police. Secondhand smoke can cause health risks to others, allowing for smoking regulations in units. Another attorney said judges do not like to litigate what goes on in private residences. If there is smoking occurring in a unit, it is up to the unit owner who is bothered by it to acquire air filtration systems, not the actual smoker.
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In my state cannabis use is decriminalized. Calling the police, who will merely issue a fine to the smoker, is going to be an annoyance to the police. Also, in my state, cannabis now is available for medical purposes. One attorney said the only time to call the police is if there is a concern about drug dealing. Otherwise, private things happen in private homes.
The information I find online about making a condo building, including the units, smoke-free is confusing. What is your opinion?
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A: This is a complex area of law and I will try to explain as best as I can. Community association law is clear, throughout the country: Condo owners are obligated to comply with the condominium's legal documents, including any amendments to those documents.
If your condo association follows all of the rules for amending its legal documents and adopts an amendment prohibiting smoking in units, my stance subject to one caveat is that the amendment is valid and should be honored by all owners.
What is the caveat? There is a priority in condo law. First, we have the state condominium act. Next, the declaration, then the bylaws and finally the rules and regulations adopted by the board of directors. If, for example, state law says you need 100 percent of condominium unit owners to agree to terminate the association, that's carved in stone; the board cannot reduce that number. The same logic applies if the condo declaration says no pets are allowed.
However, if the declaration allows pets, then the board can adopt rules and regulations as to how pets can be kept by unit owners.
Most of us privately believe that our home is our castle. We don't want anyone to interfere with our right to live peacefully in our private dwelling. But living in a condominium is democracy at its best and unfortunately at its worst. As stated earlier, if the legal documents are properly amended, smoking can be prohibited.
However, we have to go back to the priorities discussed above. If a condo board wants to prohibit smoking in the common elements, I believe a bylaw amendment is sufficient. However, if the board wants to prohibit smoking in units, I strongly recommend that the declaration the higher priority be amended.
Finally, if state law allows marijuana smoking, can the condo board prohibit it? My answer is yes. The board can impose more restrictive requirements than state laws, so even if smoking pot is allowed, the condo board can legally prohibit it, so long as the documents are properly amended.
Benny Kass is a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland. He does not provide specific legal or financial advice to any reader. Readers may email him, but he cannot guarantee a personal response.
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For most people, cinnamon-flavored whiskeys evoke flashbacks to barely remembered nights sweated away in downtown nightclubs and pulsing fraternity basements. Following the commercial success of Fireball cinnamon-flavored liqueur, even big whiskey-makers like Jack Daniel's and Jim Beam jumped aboard the cinnamon train.
Heavily sweetened and marketed toward the heartiest of partyers, most of these products don't appeal to those who actually enjoy both whiskey and cinnamon. Derrick Mancini, owner and founder of Quincy Street Distillery in Riverside wanted to make something to fill this gap.
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Mancini prides himself on creating spirits using traditional, handcrafted methods, and he applies this craft sensibility to a cinnamon-flavored whiskey that's as good sipped as it is in a shot. His version, which he's calling Water Tower on Fire, is a cinnamon spinoff of his Water Tower White Lightning, an unaged white corn whiskey.
"The conventional way that people will do cinnamon flavoring is to buy an extract," Mancini says. "We want to do it in a more traditional way, just like you would do at home."
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Using the white whiskey as a base, Mancini extracts the cinnamon flavor by letting it soak for several days with whole sticks of various types of cinnamon. The result is a powerfully aromatic, amber-colored spirit with a healthy burn from whiskey and cinnamon alike.
"Many of the 'cinnamon whiskeys' out there are actually liqueurs," Mancini says, referring to the common industry practice of adding sugar and other sweeteners to their spirits. "This is not a liqueur. This is whiskey, at whiskey strength, that's been flavored by pure cinnamon with no additives. And we've chosen different kinds of cinnamons to get a more interesting blend of flavors."
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There are four major types of cinnamon, Mancini explains, each originating from a different geographical region. Cassia, or Chinese cinnamon, is the cheapest variety and has become increasingly prominent for commercial purposes. Ceylon cinnamon, also called verum or true cinnamon, is the flavor most people will readily recognize as cinnamon. Indonesian and Vietnamese cinnamon are two other varieties commonly used in commercial applications. Mancini uses all four to flavor his whiskey.
"The verum is the core," he says, with smaller amounts of the other three.
The four cinnamons combine for a complex full-mouth sensation, complete with a satisfying burn and an aroma reminiscent of Christmas wreaths and Hot Tamales candy. That is, of course, if you decide to sip it or take it in a shot. If you choose to mix it with something, try it in a hot toddy or a glass of warm apple cider for a warm winter pick-me-up. Mancini himself enjoys his whiskey both neat and in a flask the perfect portable guardian against Chicago's winter chill.
Try it
Until Water Tower on Fire is bottled, you can try it only at the distillery, which boasts a full cocktail bar, 39 E. Quincy St., Riverside. Check the website for hours, www.quincystreetdistillery.com.
food@chicagotribune.com
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Anthony Settipani is a freelance writer.
When south suburban native Keke Palmer was trying to make it as a child performer, she and her mother used to put on an act for casting directors.
"I love dancing and acting and singing. I really started out singing with my mom in church! Oh mommy, please can I sing for them?" Palmer recalled saying.
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"Oh no Keke, that's not what these people are here for," Palmer's mom, Sharon, would say as Palmer would start to beg.
"By that point they had to let me sing! I know this might sound elaborate, and some people might think my mom and I were pulling a little 'Heartbreakers' con -- the 2001 movie with Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sigourney Weaver -- but the truth is that this is how we got my story across in less than 10 minutes, how we bonded, and how we showed them that I was more than what they saw on the surface," Palmer writes in "I Don't Belong to You."
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Palmer gets her story -- from a childhood in Section 8 housing in Robbins to a starring role on Fox's "Scream Queens" -- across in 301 pages in her book, which was published Tuesday.
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Palmer, 23, traces her start in acting to a 2002 newspaper brief about casting for "The Lion King" production at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Palmer didn't get the part, but she got an agent in Chicago and landed a small role in the 2004 Chicago movie "Barbershop 2: Back in Business."
When she was 10 years old, Palmer and her family moved to California. She snagged the title roles in 2006's "Akeelah and the Bee" and the Nickelodeon sitcom "True Jackson, VP." She played Cinderella on Broadway and a Pink Lady in Fox's live "Grease" special last year.
Palmer returned to her hometown Jan. 9 to tape her appearance on Tuesday's episode of Steve Harvey's daytime show. She is set to discuss her book Wednesday on "The Wendy Williams Show" and Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen."
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Thirty pages of notes and an invisible pile of regrets were all the writer James Baldwin had in his hands when he abandoned work on a book, initiated in 1979, he called "Remember This House."
Baldwin knew his subjects well. He was taking on three historical melodies in the key of civil rights activism, all victims of assassination: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., whom Baldwin called friends. "He took on his shoulders the weight of the crimes, and the lies and the hope of a nation," Baldwin wrote of King, in a letter Baldwin wrote to his literary agent. "I want these three lives to bang against and reveal each other, as, in truth, they did."
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From that unfinished project, the Haitian-born filmmaker Raoul Peck has made a splendid documentary, "I Am Not Your Negro." The words we hear in voice-over, spoken in an artful, Baldwinian cadence by Samuel L. Jackson, belong entirely to the author of the book that never came to pass. Everything Baldwin said then, about race and America, speaks with urgent prescience to the America Baldwin (who died in 1987) never saw but saw coming, because he'd seen it before: Rodney King. Ferguson. Black Lives Matter. All of it. The necessity for all of it.
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Peck and his editor, Alexandra Strauss, wrap Baldwin's observations, taken from the book notes and private correspondence, inside a beautiful, troubling stream of archival film, video and television footage. Take, for example, the 1965 Cambridge University debate, in which Baldwin addresses a recent comment made by Robert Kennedy, in which Kennedy said he saw "no reason," in the "foreseeable future, that a Negro could not also be president of the United States." Baldwin's response is elegant, surprising, provocative, as is his 1968 appearance on "The Dick Cavett Show."
Hollywood's mostly excruciating images of black life, many recalled by Baldwin from his childhood moviegoing, run a gamut from "Imitation of Life" (1934) to "They Won't Forget" (1937) to John Wayne and Doris Day. From a generation forward, Baldwin's wonderful on the way white and black audiences received the ending of the popular, high-minded 1958 drama "The Defiant Ones." And as a gay black man, he's equally insightful regarding how the stardom afforded Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte was a neutered sort of fame, boxed in by "the furtive, infantile sexuality of this country."
I'll leave it to you to discover how, and how well, "I Am Not Your Negro" incorporates these bits with fragments of FBI correspondence (Baldwin was, in the eyes of the agency, "an homosexual" and therefore a "threat to national security") and clips of "The Gong Show," of all things. Peck shows a sociologist's eye for the telling detail. One by one, Baldwin's heroes were eliminated in the 1960s. The book he hoped to write was a book about himself, too. The bloody, racist forces destroying his subjects, which we now couch in milder, misleading discussions of "white nationalism" and "alt-right," have infected the body politic with renewed virulence in the 21st century.
This movie isn't just a tribute to Baldwin. It's a warning bell regarding leaders who, in Baldwin's words, care only about "their safety and their profits."
Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.
mjphillips@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @phillipstribune
"I Am Not Your Negro" 4 stars
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MPAA rating: PG-13 (for disturbing violent images, thematic material, language and brief nudity)
Running time: 1:35
Opens: Friday
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP)
"The country is all, sir. The king is not." That line in David Rice's adaptation of "Captain Blood," now in a world premiere at First Folio Theatre, scored a direct hit on a night when airports around the country filled with protesters of the new administration's (selective) ban on people from majority-Muslim nations. Indeed, a story about rebels breaking out of slavery and joining arms in a piratical co-op on the high seas comes with built-in appeal for many of us searching for meaningful resistance and comradeship these days.
But Rice's script which goes back to Rafael Sabatini's 1922 novel, with nods to the 1935 film which put Errol Flynn on the map isn't a heavy-handed political screed. It wears its calls for justice and gender equality lightly, making them even more effective. Janice L. Blixt's staging mostly goes for comedic insouciance, trusting that we're smart enough to notice the contemporary references without surrounding them in blinking neon arrows.
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It helps, too, that Nick Sandys plays the title role with offhanded charm and rapier wit. Sandys also gets credit for "movement direction," including the thoroughly satisfying fight sequences. After all, swordplay comes before politics in pirate stories. Or should.
Toss in some rollicking interstitial songs by Rice and Christopher Kriz and a supple supporting ensemble and you've got a show that hits the sweet spot between mid-winter escapism and timely call to action.
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There is, to be sure, a bittersweet undertone here. "Captain Blood" was originally slated to be directed by Rice's wife, Alison Vesely, the founding artistic director for First Folio. She died after a nearly two-year battle with cancer in November. One suspects that Vesely happily signed off on lines in Rice's script such as "Perhaps we should try an institution made up of women for a change."
That's delivered with panache by Heather Chrisler's Arabella, the English planter's daughter on Barbados who purchases Sandys' Dr. Peter Blood to spare him from an even harsher fate. Unfortunately, he quickly gets on the bad side of her guardian and uncle, Colonel Bishop (Aaron Christensen). Blood (based on a real historical figure), convicted of treason for assisting wounded rebels in the Monmouth Rebellion, finds his medical skills in demand for the gout-ridden governor of the island (Jaq Sifert).
He also finds himself increasingly drawn to Arabella, who in Rice's version at least shows herself to be as adept with sharp weapons as with her sharp tongue. When the Spanish attack Barbados, Blood and his fellow convict/slaves take over a Spanish ship and begin cruising the Caribbean for treasure while creating a pact honoring economic equality and chivalrous behavior toward women. (Not All Pirates!)
Among the supporting players, First Folio stalwart Kevin McKillip shines in the dual roles of Hagthorpe, the hapless narrator/member of Blood's band whose love of exposition earns him jeers from his peers, and Don Alan de Panadero, a treacherous Spaniard whose Castilian lisp gets played for cheap but abundantly satisfying laughs. A running gag involving an oversized mallet as a method of dispatching foes adds a "Looney Tunes" quality to the fight scenes.
Angela Weber Miller's handsome set consists of wooden platforms set at various levels, perfect for the high-octane fights, with room on the side for tossing miscreants into the briny deep. Large sails at the rear of the stage provide a fine backdrop for Erin Pleake's stormy seas projections (though they seemed out of synch a couple of times on opening night).
"A man must laugh at himself or go mad," Sandys' Blood observes at one point. "Few men realize it, which is why there are so many mad men." Whether one seeks a nostalgic romance with a feminist twist, swashbuckling clean fun for the family, or a subtle call to fly the pirate flag of righteous rebellion in troubled times, "Captain Blood" steers a sure and steady course.
Kerry Reid is a freelance critic.
ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com
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Review: "Captain Blood" (3.5 stars)
When: Through Feb. 26
Where: First Folio Theatre, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook
Running time: 2 hours
Tickets: $29-$39 at 630-986-8067 or firstfolio.org
On Monday, late-night television hosts reacted to President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from across the globe from entering the United States. As the hosts tell it, the order made a lot of people very angry, but it also brought a lot of people together. At airports, no less!
We've rounded up some of the memorable late-night commentary about Trump's immigration order and the resulting protests.
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Just about everyone made an airport joke.
Conan O'Brien: "This weekend, the nation's airports were filled with people protesting President Trump's Muslim ban. It was the largest collection of angry people at an airport since every United Airlines flight."
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On "The Daily Show" Trevor Noah asked correspondent Hasan Minhaj, who had recently landed at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport, what he thought of the order.
"Usually, being a Muslim in an airport sucks," Minhaj explained. "But this weekend, it was like I was The Weeknd. I mean I land at JFK, I get to the arrival section. Literally, three white people run up to me, hug me and say 'thank you for being Muslim.' I'm 31 years old. That's the first time anyone has thanked me for being Muslim."
Jimmy Kimmel: "There were demonstrations in just about every major city yesterday, people went to the airport to protest - that's when you know people are mad. It's Sunday, they have no travel plans, and they go to the airport."
Jimmy Fallon: "Here in New York, thousands of people showed up at JFK airport over the weekend to protest Trump's immigration ban. People who were actually at the protest said 'This is awful,' while the people at LaGuardia were like, 'You think you got it bad? We're at LaGuardia.'"
Stephen Colbert: "Now, all of this is upsetting, if you're one of those people who thought about it. Which is why tens of thousands of protesters spontaneously demonstrated - do you have any idea how angry people have to be to voluntarily go to JFK?"
Seth Meyers: "He was detained for 18 hours at JFK and he still loves America," the 'Late Night' host said of an Iraqi man who once worked as an interpreter for the U.S. Army. "If you can spend more than two hours at JFK without losing your sh--, you should get automatic citizenship."
There were also 'Finding Dory' jokes. (Trump reportedly held a private screening of the animated film over the weekend).
Kimmel: "While all this was happening, President Trump was hosting a screening at the White House of the movie 'Finding Dory,' which, ironically, is a movie about a fish trying to find her parents. To his credit, he was so moved by the film that he lifted all travel restrictions on clownfish."
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Conan O'Brien: "Kind of a turbulent weekend, but you should feel good about this, Donald Trump did find time to relax. True story, yesterday, Donald Trump spent the afternoon at the White House watching 'Finding Dory' with his family ... apparently, in this version, Dory couldn't be found because she was being detained at the airport."
Noah (in a Trump-esque voice): "Shhh, don't disturb me I don't care what's happening at the airports. I'm watching a movie about families being separated. It's hilarious."
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Noah: "By the way, who hasn't watched 'Finding Dory' yet?! It's 2017! This man is not fit to be president. Not fit!"
Fallon: "While all this was going on, yesterday at the White House, Trump hosted a screening of the movie 'Finding Dory.' Trump said he actually related more to 'Finding Nemo' because that was about an orange and white cartoon."
The hosts analyzed how Trump and White House staffers responded to criticism.
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Colbert: "Now Trump has responded to criticism that the plan was rushed, tweeting, 'If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad 'dudes' out there!' I don't think President Trump has ever used quotation marks before."
Kimmel: "Travelers from the seven restricted countries, most of them got a plane, had no idea they would be stopped or detained by immigration, including a 5-year-old boy who was detained for hours while his mother, who was born in Iran, waited at the gate for him. And that meant lucky Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, had the unenviable job today of trying to explain how to detaining a 5-year-old helps to keep the country safe." (Cut to Spicer saying ' ... to assume that someone's age or gender or whatever that they don't pose a threat would be misguided and wrong.') UNLESS THEY'RE 5-YEARS-OLD."
Colbert: "At Dulles Airport, a 5-year-old Iranian boy was detained for hours and kept from his mother. Or as Kellyanne Conway calls it, alternative day care."
They suggested that maybe Trump didn't write the executive order after all.
Meyers: "When Trump first announced the order at a signing ceremony over the weekend, he read it aloud like he was seeing it for the very first time. Hey man, it's not comforting to us when you seem shocked by the stuff you're signing. That's the way people look before they sign the injury waiver on 'American Ninja Warrior.'"
Noah: "Hey Donald, I know you don't actually write or read any of those boring papers so let me explain to you what you did. You banned everyone from seven Muslim countries from entering the United States. Even though you said your ban was to protect America from outside threats, that ban included people with green cards. It even seemed to include dual citizens of Canada or Britain or any other country you didn't plan to ban, you silly billy. Now go back to watching CNN."
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They got serious.
"Daily Show" correspondent Minhaj: "Here's the beautiful irony. For years, Donald Trump has been terrified of the spread of Islam in America." (Cut to photos of protest signs including one that read "We are all Muslim now.") "Well, congratulations Mr. President. Mission accomplished."
James Corden's "Late Late Show" began with of the host breezily making his way through a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. The video was followed by this message:
"Today James flew out of Los Angeles, so all of our shows this week have been pretaped. Freedom of movement should be this easy for all legal immigrants. Not just the white and Christian ones."
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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)
It's Mardi Gras season once again, and while New Orleans is the American epicenter of this festive pre-Lenten celebration, there are plenty of other options for some fantastically fun Fat Tuesday revelry.
While different locales bring their own unique flavor to the merrymaking, there are some elements that are certain to be found wherever you join the party. You will definitely see people wearing all kinds of colorful masks and costumes (traditional colors are purple, gold and green) and the main event of all Mardi Gras celebrations is a gala parade (usually more than one), featuring floats, musicians and costumed marchers. Corollary events might include dances, fancy balls, and cook-offs. Ready for some partying? Well then, here are seven places not named New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras.
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Mobile, Ala.
Home to the first Mardi Gras in the United States, the "bonne temps" have been rolling in this Gulf Coast city since 1703. This rich history is celebrated with dozens of parades and special events over a two-week period leading up to Fat Tuesday (Feb. 28 in 2017). Tour the Mobile Carnival Museum for a look at the gowns, crowns, scepters and robes of the city's Mardi Gras Kings and Queens.
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251-208-2000, www.mobile.org
Lake Charles, La.
Just about any Louisiana community worth its gumbo has some sort of Fat Tuesday celebration, but the state's second largest Mardi Gras fete holds forth in Lake Charles officially known as Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana. Festivities kicked off on Jan. 6 with the Twelfth Night celebration and continue through Fat Tuesday. Nearly 150,000 celebrants come together for the parades, music and food. It's a family-friendly affair with an alcohol- and tobacco-free zone along parade routes. The city's Imperial Calcasieu Museum celebrates Mardi Gras year-round, with the world's largest display of Mardi Gras costumes and other regalia.
800-456-7952, www.swlamardigras.com
Lafayette, La.
Local promoters bill it as the "greatest free party on earth," but this Cajun- and Creole-flavored Carnival celebration isn't nearly as raucous, risque or crowded as New Orleans. Here in Acadiana, residents traditionally celebrated Carnival with the unique "Courir de Mardi Gras," or Mardi Gras Run, where masked men on horseback would roam the countryside singing songs, dancing and begging for ingredients to make a gumbo. Homeowners would throw chickens to the begging maskers who would attempt to catch the birds for gumbo meat. This tradition is restaged each year along with numerous parades leading up to Fat Tuesday's big Mardi Gras Show at Clark Field Stadium.
800-346-1958, www.lafayettetravel.com/mardi-gras
Biloxi, Miss.
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N'awlins and other Louisiana Mardi Gras celebrations have nothing on their Mississippi neighbors to the east where from Pascagoula to Bay St. Louis, cities and towns along Highway 90 throw Fat Tuesday celebrations that rank among the most festive anywhere. Biloxi, home to the Gulf Coast Carnival Association, is the center of festivities along the Coast, and its King d'Iberville and Queen Ixolib serve as official royalty of the Gulf Coast Mardi Gras. The city hosts 24 parades and parties aplenty. If you go, take time to visit Biloxi's Mardi Gras Museum, which traces the 300-year history of Mardi Gras on the Gulf Coast.
228-432-8806, www.gulfcoastcarnivalassociation.com
Pensacola, Fla.
Although it's not widely observed in the Sunshine State, Mardi Gras is a major event in Pensacola and has been celebrated there since 1874. In fact, the Grand Mardi Gras Parade (on Feb. 25 this year) is downtown Pensacola's largest annual event, drawing some 6,000 participants and attracting more than 100,000 spectators.
850-434-7777, www.pensacolamardigras.com
Galveston, Texas
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Texas is well-known for doing things up big and the 106th annual Mardi Gras celebration on Galveston Island will be no exception. It's the Lone Star State's largest Mardi Gras and it's said to be one of the largest in the nation boasting 22 parades, 30 concerts, 5 elegant masked balls and who knows how many parties. The extravagance of it all can be measured in beads organizers claim more than 3 million of them will be thrown during the two weeks of festivities.
866-505-4456, www.mardigrasgalveston.com
St. Louis
It might seem a surprise that one of the nation's biggest Mardi Gras celebrations takes place in this Midwestern city, but it's a legacy thing, linked to the founding of St, Louis by French fur traders back in 1764. French customs and traditions live on here (the fleur-de-lis serves as the city seal) and the Soulard District is always ready for a Mardi Gras bash come February. There are parades, of course, with the biggie being the Bud Light Grand Parade on Feb. 25, but a long list of fun events takes place in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday. Among them is the Beggin' Barkus Pet Parade (North America's largest animal parade), a softball tournament, a 5K run, a wine and beer tasting, and a variety of culinary events including a Cajun cook-off.
314-771-5110, www.stlmardisgras.org
The first lawsuits in Chicago over President Donald Trump's controversial executive order on immigration have been filed, including by a young doctor who traveled to the United Arab Emirates to be wed only to have his visa canceled on his attempt to return home.
Dr. Amer Al Homssi, 24, a resident of internal medicine at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, has been stuck overseas since being stopped Sunday at the Dubai airport trying to board a flight back to Chicago, according to his lawsuit.
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A Syrian citizen and legal resident of UAE, Al Homssi's travel visas were canceled by U.S. officials, a move that not only threatens Al Homssi's future as a doctor in the U.S. but also could lead to his forced return to war-torn Syria, according to his lawyer, Thomas Anthony Durkin.
"This is a doctor who has patients here in Chicago. He's the epitome of why these visas exist, to encourage people from foreign countries to come here and study and learn," Durkin told the Tribune. "This is a terrible humanitarian tragedy, and I can't believe that he's the only one suffering like this."
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The suit marked the second legal action taken in Chicago's federal court since Monday over Trump's controversial order. On Monday, a Chicago man who traveled to his native Iran to care for his ailing mother asked a federal judge to declare the order unconstitutional.
The plaintiff, who filed under the pseudonym John Doe, is an Iranian citizen and legal permanent resident of the U.S. who lives in Chicago with his wife and three children. According to the suit, the man was planning to return to Chicago early this month in time for the birth of his first grandchild, but when he tried to get a return flight Saturday, the ticketing agency "refused to issue a ticket for his travel to the United States due to the executive order."
Doe's lawyer, Taher Kameli, said Tuesday that his client is "anxious" to get home to see his family but afraid to try to re-enter the U.S. with reports of immigration agents detaining travelers for hours of questioning even if they have permanent residency or green cards.
"He's afraid to come back, things are changing so quickly," said Kameli, who said his client wished to remain anonymous in case there were further efforts to impede his travel. "He's basically stopped in a very bad situation."
Hearings in both lawsuits were scheduled for Wednesday in separate courtrooms at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.
The two Chicago lawsuits come on the heels of a tumultuous weekend at O'Hare International Airport, where people traveling from seven majority-Muslim countries were detained for hours as customs agents struggled over how to interpret the president's order.
Al Homssi has been a resident through the University of Illinois at Chicago since August. He has an apartment near the hospital in Oak Lawn and possessed two types of travel visas one issued to those enrolled in educational opportunities and another more general travel visa, according to the suit.
On Jan. 18, Al Homssi flew back to UAE where his father is a pathologist to be married. On Sunday, five days after the wedding, his father had dropped him off at the airport in Dubai for his flight back to Chicago when a U.S. immigration officer seized his passport and boarding pass and ordered him to a secondary screening area, according to the lawsuit.
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After Al Homssi handed over his cellphone, answered a series of questions and had his luggage searched, he was told he was being refused entry into the U.S. because of the executive order, the suit alleged. The immigration officials then handed his visa documents back to him with a line drawn through them in black marker.
On the visas were handwritten notations in blue reading, "Cancelled E.O. 59447v.8," a reference to the executive order. Photos of the allegedly canceled visas were filed with the lawsuit.
Al Homssi was then told by officers at the airport that "it might be 90 days or longer" before he could expect to board a flight back to the U.S., according to the suit. The development could force him to drop out of the residency program at the hospital, where he was expected to resume duties Wednesday, the suit alleged.
If he were to lose his residency at the hospital, Al Homssi could be kicked out of UAE and forced to return to Syria, according to the suit.
"All of these dreadful consequences ... are the result of his being a member of the Muslim faith that is now being treated differently in the United States in stark violation of the First Amendment" guarantees of freedom of religion, the lawsuit alleged. Like other suits filed in different districts, Al Homssi is seeking an injunction stopping enforcement of the order nationwide.
In a letter dated Tuesday and included in the court filing, Al Homssi's supervisor at Advocate Christ Medical Center, Dr. Armand Krikorian, wrote that Al Homssi has been "excellent at all levels" and that his "timely presence is critically needed."
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The White House has argued that the executive order is not a Muslim ban and that it prohibits all people from seven countries Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Jordan and Somalia that have an established terrorist network. Press secretary Sean Spicer shrugged off legal challenges during the White House briefing Monday, telling reporters he feels "pretty confident that if there's any problems, we'll prevail."
"This is a national security issue," he said.
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But Durkin wrote in the lawsuit it was "unmistakably clear" that the executive order targets Muslims, in part because of a clause that appears to protect Christians seeking to emigrate from the seven countries. U.S. customs officials were also interested in an app on Al Homssi's cellphone called "Islamona," a popular program featuring Quran prayer and scripture, he said.
Al Homssi has no criminal record, and the customs officials asked him no questions related to terrorism, according to the suit.
Kameli, meanwhile, said the order has unlawfully affected people like his client, who moved his family to Chicago five years ago to give his children a better future and has legal standing in the U.S. Now he's worried he'll miss the birth of his grandchild, due Feb. 25.
"It's chaos out there. From airport to airport, things are different," Kameli said.
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Tribune news services contributed.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @jmetr22b
Jesse Jackson Jr. has put the brakes on dragging former Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy into his divorce for now.
Lawyers for the disgraced former congressman on Tuesday agreed on a deal with McCarthy's attorney to hold off on deposing the former top cop, but the deal does not prevent them from reopening the issue.
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Jackson's legal team dropped a bombshell last month when it filed subpoenas against McCarthy and two other men, demanding information about any personal or business relationships they had with Jackson's wife and fellow ex-con, Ald. Sandi Jackson.
McCarthy and his business partner, Richard Simon who also was subpoenaed have both said they have nothing to fear from the subpoenas and that they have no idea why they were named in the case.
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That was a message reinforced Tuesday by McCarthy's attorney Morgan Stogsdill, who said McCarthy has "absolutely nothing to do with the Jackson divorce."
And Sandi Jackson's lawyers want the subpoenas against all three men quashed, accusing Jesse Jackson's lawyer Brendan Hammer of attempting to go on a "fishing expedition" and of trying the case in the media.
But during a brief appearance Tuesday before Cook County Circuit Judge Carole K. Bellows, lawyers for the Jacksons, McCarthy and Simon all agreed to delay arguments in the case until Feb. 27.
Former Chicago cop James Love also was subpoenaed; he was not represented at the Tuesday hearing and has not spoken publicly about the case.
The Jacksons, who both served federal time for violating laws by using campaign cash for personal luxuries, can't even agree whether their divorce should be fought in Chicago, where Jesse lives, or in Washington, D.C., where Sandi lives with their kids.
kjanssen@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kimjnews
Two days after he joined the protests at O'Hare International Airport against President Donald Trump's clamp-down on Muslim immigrants, billionaire and potential Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker was again center stage Monday night.
Interviewing Pinterest founder Ben Silbermann onstage in front of hundreds after a black tie dinner hosted by the Economic Club of Chicago, Pritzker didn't miss the chance to burnish his credentials as a booster of Illinois business.
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"You started out in Iowa and you ended up in Silicon Valley, but have you thought about pitching up and moving Pinterest to Illinois?" Pritzker asked Silbermann, to laughter.
When Silbermann noted that Pinterest already has a Chicago office, Pritzker shot back, "It's not big enough!"
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One of the handful of Illinoisans richer than Gov. Bruce Rauner, Pritzker worth an estimated $3.4 billion and one of 11 Pritzker family billionaires, according to Forbes magazine has been toying with a run for the state's highest office. That's a prospect concerning enough to Rauner that the Illinois GOP in December launched a series of robocalls attempting to tie Pritzker to imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
As the founder of 1871, Chicago's digital startup center, and a major investor in tech, Pritzker kept most of his onstage chat with Silbermann on the subject of business, presenting the audience with the slightly incongruous spectacle of a man who inherited billions asking for advice about how to run a startup.
But showing a feeling for the mood of the room, Pritzker closed by asking Silbermann his views on Trump's executive order targeting immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries, then leading the loud applause when Silbermann described Trump's action as "really bad for the world."
Speaking after the event to Chicago Inc., Pritzker said, "Honestly I think it's a travesty what the president has done. I wish we had more leaders who would stand up because we've got to stand up, because we've got to stop it."
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Asked if he was directing that comment at Rauner, who has said it is up to the courts to deal with Trump's order, Pritzker demurred.
"Republicans and Democrats have to stand up against this executive order until it's repealed Trump is creating a crisis," he said. "Most people in this country look at this and think, my ancestors came here because they were refugees. My great-grandfather came here as a refugee from the pogrom in Ukraine. If that order had been in place, our family would have died. This is wrong, it is just wrong."
Mellody Hobson, a multimillionaire in her own right as the president of Ariel Investments and wife of billionaire "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, sat next to Pritzker during the dinner wearing a stunning diamond Chanel necklace but said he had not hit her up for campaign cash. Asked if Pritzker would make a good governor, she said only, "I think lots of people would be a good governor."
Former White House social secretary and current Johnson Publishing CEO Desiree Rogers, however, was more enthusiastic.
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"I think he'd be incredible!" she said.
kjanssen@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kimjnews
WASHINGTON Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said Tuesday he will oppose President Donald Trump's nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., for U.S. attorney general.
During a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, Durbin gave several reasons for his opposition to Sessions' appointment to the country's top law enforcement post. He singled out Trump's executive order Friday to halt the admission of immigrants from seven mostly Muslim nations and of all refugees.
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Durbin noted Sessions told him he did not have time to read the unclassified intelligence memo on Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election.
"That is either willful blindness or willful ignorance on his part, not to realize the gravity of this," said Durbin, who holds the No. 2 spot in the Senate's minority party.
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"What happened in this presidential election on Election Day was a day that will live in cyber infamy," Durbin said. "This was an attempt by a foreign power, with values inconsistent with the United States, to change the outcome of our election specifically to benefit the current president and to defeat Hillary Clinton.
"He is the wrong person for this job," Durbin said of Sessions. "We need someone with unquestioned strength, values and integrity who at that critical constitutional moment is prepared to stand up to this president, or any president, and say: 'You are wrong, and if you insist on doing this, I will resign.' I cannot picture it."
kskiba@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @KatherineSkiba
WASHINGTON The Defense Department announced Monday that the U.S. Navy sailor killed during a raid on al-Qaida base in Yemen was from Peoria, Illinois.
Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens died Jan. 28 of wounds sustained during the raid.
The Pentagon said Owens, 36, was assigned to an East Coast-based Special Warfare unit. Owens' death is the first known U.S. military combat casualty since President Donald Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20.
"My deepest thoughts and humblest prayers are with the family of this fallen service member," Trump said when Owens' death became known.
Owens, a recipient of two bronze stars, Joint Service Commendation and an Afghanistan Campaign Medal among others, joined the Navy in 1998 and received his special warfare training in Coronado, California.
Rear Admiral Tim Szymanski, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, said Owens was "an exceptional SEAL" and highly respected, adding that he served "silently, nobly and bravely through several combat deployments."
Three other service members were wounded Sunday during the firefight with militants from al-Qaida. The raid left nearly 30 others dead, including an estimated 14 militants. A fourth U.S. service member was injured when a military aircraft assisting in the mission nearby had a "hard landing."
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis issued a statement Monday praising Owens for his service.
"Ryan gave his full measure for our nation, and in performing his duty, he upheld the noblest standard of military service," he said. "The United States would not long exist were it not for the selfless commitment of such warriors."
Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has exploited the chaos of Yemen's civil war, seizing territory in the south and east when it began in 2014. A Saudi Arabian-led military coalition has been helping government forces battle the rebels.
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A man was killed and at least four other people were wounded in shootings over about 11 hours Tuesday, according to Chicago police.
About 7:40 p.m. on the South Side, a 22-year-old man was killed in the Bronzeville neighborhood. Police were called to the 4500 block of South Prairie Avenue and found him unresponsive in an alley with a gunshot wound to the head. The man was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center and later pronounced dead.
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He was identified as Marcus Cameron, of the 1000 block of West 97th Street, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Police initially gave the address of the shooting as the 4500 block of South Calumet Avenue, but that information was later corrected.
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About 6:20 p.m. on the West Side, an 18-year-old man was wounded in the 4900 block of West Ohio Street in the Austin neighborhood, police said. He was wounded in the leg and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he condition was stabilized. The man told police he was walking when someone came up to him and fired shots.
On Tuesday morning, two people showed up at the West Side's Mount Sinai Hospital, each with a gunshot wound. A 26-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man arrived at the hospital about 9 a.m., police said. It wasn't immediately clear if they arrived together or separately. Their relationship, if any, wasn't disclosed. They told police they had been shot on the Southwest Side in the 4400 block of South Campbell Avenue in the Brighton Park neighborhood.
Police didn't say whether they found a crime scene at the location, and it wasn't immediately clear if they were searching for a shooter.
On the South Side, a third person was wounded in a separate shooting about 10:15 a.m., police said.
Officers responded to the 900 block of West 71st Street in the Englewood neighborhood and found a 27-year-old man shot in the groin and in a finger.
The man told officers he was walking south on Sangamon Street when he saw two males, about 17 to 20 years old. He then heard gunshots and felt pain, he told investigators. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition, officials said.
Police originally said the man was 29, that he was shot in the legs and was in serious condition and that the shooting took place in the 7100 block of South Sangamon. All of the information later was corrected.
James Crowley talks about why he filed a whistleblower claim against Chicago State University, his former employer, a lawsuit he won. The university now owes him $4.3 million. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
After delaying paying damages in a whistleblower lawsuit, Chicago State University was ordered Tuesday to pay nearly $4.3 million about $1 million more than a jury awarded to a school official who was fired after accusing the school's former president of misconduct.
And that amount could climb, as the cash-strapped public university has to pay roughly $20,000 a month in interest until the judgment is paid.
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A Cook County jury awarded former Chicago State attorney James Crowley more than $3 million in 2014, but the school avoided payment while it challenged the verdict. With the appeals process now exhausted and the school firmly rebuked by the higher courts, Judge James McCarthy on Tuesday ordered the university to pay the original jury award and legal fees, plus 6 percent interest earned since the verdict three years ago.
The judge also said that because it was unreasonable for Crowley to return to his job, the university had to pay about $250,000 in "front pay" money he would have earned if he had worked between the time of the jury decision and Tuesday's order.
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The total cost does not include the fees Chicago State paid to its own attorneys over the years.
Crowley said he hopes a newly appointed university board of trustees brings the case to a close rather than spending more money "by adopting the vengeful crusade of the prior administration."
"For seven years, this lawsuit has been through every possible level of the Illinois courts without one finding in favor of (former university President) Wayne Watson or his administration," Crowley said. "The only thing they've accomplished is to cost the taxpayers more and more money."
The order marks the final legal hurdle for Crowley, who has worked temporary jobs since filing the state's first-ever whistleblower claim under a new state ethics act. Crowley claimed he was fired after he refused to withhold documents about Watson's employment that a faculty member had requested under the Illinois open records law. He also said he was retaliated against after reporting questionable university contracts to the attorney general's office.
Wednesday will mark seven years since university police escorted him off-campus, he said.
After delaying the payment of damages in a whistleblower lawsuit, Chicago State University has been ordered to pay former university attorney James Crowley nearly $4.3 million. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Watson stepped down as president at the Far South Side campus in 2015 and holds the title of president emeritus.
Courts have criticized Chicago State throughout the case. In an unusually harsh ruling, a three-judge panel of the Illinois Appellate Court found that Chicago State launched "a campaign designed to both economically harm ... and inflict psychological distress upon" Crowley. The panel called the university's behavior "thoroughly reprehensible" and suggested Watson and his top lieutenants acted with "malice and deceit."
The university appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, which declined to consider the case.
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In his order, McCarthy again criticized Chicago State officials.
"The Ethics Act specifically provides that the employee may be awarded all remedies necessary to make the state employee whole," McCarthy wrote, adding that Chicago State could have stopped the judgment from increasing "but rather chose to delay payment to its former employee." The judge called the university's handling of the lawsuit "yet another example of the management style and judgment exercised by the officials at Chicago State."
It's unclear when Crowley will receive the money because the school's insurance carrier has argued it is not obligated to cover the judgment. The insurance underwriter, Illinois National Insurance Co., informed university officials last year that Chicago State's policy does not cover claims stemming from a "fraudulent or dishonest act or a willful violation of any statute, rule or law," according to a letter obtained by the Tribune.
At all stages of this case, the jury, trial judge and appellate court determined that Chicago State leaders had "committed a number of willful and dishonest acts in an attempt to advantage themselves ..." and therefore "no (insurance) coverage is available," the letter added.
Chicago State spokeswoman Sabrina Land did not respond to questions about when the university would pay the money.
Instead, she sent a statement maintaining the university's position that the judgment was "an unusual and high verdict in an employment case." University attorneys had argued that Crowley was fired for misusing university resources, giving preferential treatment to students in awarding a scholarship and paying for conference travel for a student.
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"The University continues to express its disappointment with this 2014 verdict. Our highest priority is to focus on productive and important matters such as our students, staff and university operations," she said.
Crowley attorney Anthony Pinelli said that while the judge didn't set a deadline for Chicago State to pay, it is in the university's interest to end the matter quickly.
"(McCarthy) said they had the power to end this by writing the check and chose not to do it," Pinelli said. "The liability grew as a result of that and continues to grow every day."
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The judge's order comes about four weeks after the university settled a separate whistleblower case with the school's former chief financial officer for $1.3 million.
Former CFO Glenn Meeks alleged in a 2014 lawsuit that he was fired after reporting concerns about Watson's personal relationship with an employee, who he alleged was hired and promoted after submitting a falsified resume. Meeks also said he complained about administrative salaries, rising legal expenses, and an increase in staff and expenses in the enrollment management department even as enrollment had been declining.
The university agreed to the settlement in late December as the case was nearing a trial date.
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Yonatan Monrroy- Madrid, 19, charged with drunken-driving causing a death, told paramedics hed been drinking beer before he crashed into a car in the West Town neighborhood Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, sending it over a curb and killing the other driver, prosecutors said. (Chicago police photo)
A Hermosa neighborhood man charged with drunken-driving causing a death told paramedics he'd been drinking beer before he crashed into a car in the West Town neighborhood Saturday, sending it over a curb and killing the other driver, prosecutors said Monday.
Yonatan Monrroy-Madrid, 19, was ordered held in lieu of $300,000 bail in a hearing before Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil, according to prosecutors and court records. Monrroy-Madrid is charged in the death of a 57-year-old man who was killed when his car was hit by Monrroy-Madrid's in the 400 block of North Ashland Avenue on Saturday, according to Cook County state's attorney's spokeswoman Tandra Simonton.
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Authorities have not yet released the other driver's name, pending family notification.
The crash also injured a 19-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man who were in the back seat of the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee that Monrroy-Madrid was driving when he hit the 57-year-old's 2004 Toyota Camry, according to prosecutors and police.
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Saturday afternoon, Monrroy-Madrid was driving at high speeds around the West Side, making quick turns onto various streets and blowing through stop lights and stop signs, prosecutors said Monday. About 1:30 p.m., he turned onto Hubbard Street and started west toward Ashland Avenue, going at high speed.
At Ashland, the Jeep hit the Camry, which was heading north on Ashland, sending it across the street, over a curb, through a fence and into a parking lot, prosecutors said.
The crash threw the woman passenger out of the Jeep and killed the driver of the Camry, who was pronounced dead on the scene, prosecutors said.
Monrroy-Madrid was already out of the Jeep by the emergency crews arrived at the scene, prosecutors said. He was slurring his speech and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol, and he admitted he had been driving the Jeep and had been drinking beer.
Monrroy-Madrid and his passengers were taken to Stroger Hospital, according to police. At the hospital, a blood draw indicated his blood-alcohol level was .24 percentthree times the legal limit of .08, prosecutors said.
Both passengers were treated and released from Stroger.
The 57-year-old from Multiple blunt force injuries due to a motor-vehicle collision, the Cook County medical examiner's office determined following an autopsy.
In addition to drunken-driving charges, Monrroy-Madrid, of the 2200 block of North Knox Avenue, also was given citations alleging failure to stop at stop sign, failure to yield or reduce speed and operating a motor vehicle without insurance, according to police. He's due back in court on Feb. 21.
Between 40 and 50 travelers were held at O'Hare International Airport for additional questioning Monday, as concerns and confusion continued over President Donald Trump's immigration ban.
About 15 of those who were questioned had not cleared customs as of Monday evening, attorneys said. Of the 15, eight were Iraqis who had been on a flight from Jordan, according to passengers who spoke with the lawyers at O'Hare.
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The Trump administration has issued conflicting statements on how green card holders should be treated under the executive order, a reflection of the chaotic rollout of the president's first major national security initiative. The Department of Homeland Security initially said the ban extended to legal U.S. residents, then reversed course Sunday night when Secretary John Kelly issued a statement deeming "the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interest."
Yet green card holders from the seven majority-Muslim countries listed in Trump's ban Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are still being subjected to uncommon levels of scrutiny upon arrival at O'Hare. The National Immigration Justice Center, along with the Chicago chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, issued an advisory Monday telling U.S. residents from those targeted countries to expect hourslong questioning at the airport and that their phones, email and social media accounts may be checked.
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Iranian-born Gholamreza Behforooz, 65, was held with his wife and 14-year-old son for nearly three hours upon arriving at O'Hare on Monday. The family, legal U.S. residents, immigrated to Muncie, Ind., three years ago in the hopes of a better life for their children. Behforooz's 23-year-old daughter, Mitra, a student at Ball State University, was relieved to finally see her family emerge from customs, though she expressed concerns about what life will be like for them over the next four years.
Julie Pellerite, left, a lawyer and volunteer with the Resurrection Project, and Josh Tepfer, a lawyer and volunteer from Loevy & Loevy, stand outside of the exit Bdoors, waiting for arriving passengers at the international terminal at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Jan. 30, 2017. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
"They have green cards. Shouldn't they be fine? This whole weekend was tragic," she said. "I don't know what's going to happen next."
Local immigration attorneys also are grappling with uncertainty and are advising clients potentially affected by the ban not to leave the country unless absolutely necessary. The recommendation echoes a similar advisory issued by several major Midwest universities Monday, which urged some students and scholars not to travel abroad "until there is further assessment."
"Out of an abundance of caution, I would advise my clients to stay here," Chicago-based immigration attorney Fiona McEntee said. "This confusion is just crazy. These are details that should have been taken care before it was signed."
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McEntee is one of more than 500 Chicago-area lawyers who have volunteered in recent days to assist travelers affected by Trump's immigration crackdown. Under U.S. law, travelers are not entitled to legal representation at ports of entry, so the lawyers established a makeshift office in the international terminal and have made their services known to families anxiously waiting for detained travelers.
The lawyers who are providing their services for free have been hailed as heroes by those opposing the ban. Over the past three days, they have been inundated with pizzas, doughnuts and office supplies from well-wishers, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who brought them coffee and pastries Sunday.
Farhana Rahim, owner of the Goddess and Grocer on the third floor of Terminal 5, donated coffee and pastries to the attorneys for the past two days and has heard from Chicago residents who wanted to buy snacks for the lawyers as well. Rahim said she will send food for as many days as the attorneys huddle in the airport.
"We're lucky we can do anything, even if it's as little as donating coffee and pastries," she said. "We support the work they are putting in."
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Chicago Tribune's Elyssa Cherney contributed.
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A 52-year-old man has been missing from the North Side lakefront since Monday evening, police said.
Kevin Narko has a medical condition and may need his medication, according to a news release from Chicago police.
He was last seen Monday at 7 p.m. near the lakefront between North and Fullerton avenues. He is described as a white man standing 6 feet tall and weighing 175 pounds. He has gray hair and blue eyes.
He was last seen wearing a dark blue sweatshirt with the word Yaleon the front, dark jogging pants and bright green shoes.
Gov. Bruce Rauners administration wants Comptroller Susana Mendoza to hire an independent lawyer to fight Attorney General Lisa Madigan's attempt to overturn the court order thats kept state workers paid during the states historic budget impasse.
Rauners top attorney, Dennis Murashko, wrote in a letter Monday that Madigans request undermines budget talks in the Senate and would harm the hardworking employees in all branches of our state government.
This is unacceptable, Murashko wrote.
The letter comes after Madigans office went to court last week seeking to undo a downstate judge's July 2015 ruling that said the state must pay workers in full despite a lack of a budget agreement. Madigan said the move was designed to put pressure on Rauner and Democrats who control the legislature to cut a deal.
Mendozas office, which is in charge of cutting paychecks, did not join Madigans motion but said she will abide by the courts decision.
Rauners attorney contends thats not enough. He notes Mendozas Republican predecessor hired an independent lawyer to fight to ensure employees were paid without a budget. Democrat Mendoza was elected in November, defeating former Republican Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger, who had been appointed to the post by Rauner.
In addition to asking Mendoza to hire outside counsel and present arguments in court against halting employee pay, Murashko contends that even if the judge lifts the pay order, Mendozas office could provide at least partial payments to employees under federal and state laws.
Madigan's effort has drawn sharp criticism from the administration and Republicans who argue its a Democratic effort to cause havoc, and they point out that Attorney General Madigan is the daughter of House Speaker Michael Madigan. Employee unions normally aligned with Democrats have also blasted the move, warning they are prepared to pursue every available legal means to halt her action.
A spokesman for Mendoza did not respond to specific demands in Murashko's letter, issuing a statement blaming Rauner for the stalemate thats left Illinois without a budget for more than 18 months.
The governor could very easily end this court action by fulfilling his constitutional duty to propose a balanced budget, and then working with the General Assembly to get it passed into law, the statement reads. (Monique Garcia)
In an extraordinary public showdown, President Donald Trump fired the acting attorney general of the United States after she publicly questioned the constitutionality of his refugee and immigration ban and refused to defend it in court.
The clash Monday night between Trump and Sally Yates, a career prosecutor and Democratic appointee, laid bare the growing discord and dissent surrounding an executive order that halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days. The firing, in a written statement released just hours after Yates went public with her concerns, also served as a warning to other administration officials that Trump is prepared to terminate those who refuse to carry out his orders.
Yates' refusal to defend the executive order was largely symbolic given that Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for attorney general, will almost certainly defend the policy once he's sworn in. He's expected to be confirmed Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee and could be approved within days by the full Senate.
Yet the firing reflected the mounting conflict over the executive order, as administration officials have moved to distance themselves from the policy and even some of Trump's top advisers have made clear that they were not consulted on its implementation.
As protests erupted at airports across the globe, and as legal challenges piled up in courthouses, Yates directed agency attorneys not to defend the executive order. She said in a memo Monday she was not convinced it was lawful or consistent with the agency's obligation "to stand for what is right."
Trump's press secretary, Sean Spicer, soon followed with a statement accusing Yates of having "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States." Trump named longtime federal prosecutor Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, as Yates' replacement. Boente was sworn in privately late Monday, the White House said, and rescinded Yates' directive.
The chain of events bore echoes of the Nixon-era "Saturday Night Massacre," when the attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned rather than follow an order to fire a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal. The prosecutor, Archibald Cox, was fired by the solicitor general.
Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration who was the top federal prosecutor in Atlanta and later became Loretta Lynch's deputy, was not alone in her misgivings.
At least three top national security officials Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department have told associates they were not aware of details of the directive until around the time Trump signed it. Leading intelligence officials were also left largely in the dark, according to U.S. officials.
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.@POTUS has named Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of VA as Acting Attorney General. Sally Yates has been relieved. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) January 31, 2017
Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that despite White House assurances that congressional leaders were consulted, he learned about the order from the media.
Trump's order pauses America's entire refugee program for four months, indefinitely bans all those from war-ravaged Syria and temporarily freezes immigration from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. Federal judges in New York and several other states issued orders that temporarily block the government from deporting people with valid visas who arrived after Trump's travel ban took effect and found themselves in limbo.
Yates on Monday said that she had reviewed the policy and concluded that it was at odds with the Justice Department's mission. She said that though other lawyers in the department had reviewed the order, their review had not addressed whether it was "wise or just."
"I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right," Yates wrote in a letter.
Trump said the order had been "approved" by Justice Department lawyers. However, the department has said the Office of Legal Counsel review was limited to whether the order was properly drafted, but did not address broader policy questions.
Dana Boente, seen here in 2012, was named by President Donald Trump as acting attorney general on January 30, 2017. Boente was born in Carlinville, Ill. (Evan Vucci / AP)
White House spokesman Sean Spicer challenged those opposed to the measure to resign.
"They should either get with the program or they can go," Spicer said.
The blowback underscored Trump's tenuous relationship with his own national security advisers, many of whom he met for the first time during the transition.
Mattis, who stood next to Trump during Friday's signing ceremony, is said to be particularly incensed. A senior U.S. official said Mattis, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph Dunford, was aware of the general concept of Trump's order but not the details. Tillerson has told the president's political advisers that he was baffled over not being consulted on the substance of the order.
U.S. officials and others with knowledge of the Cabinet's thinking insisted on anonymity in order to disclose the officials' private views.
Despite his public defense of the policy, the president has privately acknowledged flaws in the rollout, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. But he's also blamed the media his frequent target for what he believes are reports exaggerating the dissent and the number of people actually affected.
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After a chaotic weekend during which some U.S. legal permanent residents were detained at airports, some agencies were moving swiftly to try to clean up after the White House.
Homeland Security, the agency tasked with implementing much of the refugee ban, clarified that customs and border agents should allow legal residents to enter the country. The Pentagon was trying to exempt Iraqis who worked alongside the U.S. and coalition forces from the 90-day ban on entry from the predominantly Muslim countries.
"There are a number of people in Iraq who have worked for us in a partnership role, whether fighting alongside us or working as translators, often doing so at great peril to themselves," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers in Trump's party sought to distance themselves from the wide-ranging order.
While Spicer said "appropriate committees and leadership offices" on Capitol Hill were consulted, GOP lawmakers said their offices had no hand in drafting the order and no briefings from the White House on how it would work.
"I think they know that it could have been done in a better way," Corker said of the White House.
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"Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning." -- President Donald Trump, tweet, Jan. 30, 2017
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"Remember we're talking about a universe of 109 people. There were 325,000 people that came into this country over a 24 hour period from another country. 109 of them were stopped for additional screening." -- White House press secretary Sean Spicer, press briefing, Jan. 30, 2017
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Trump and his aides love to cite a small number and a big number in order to minimize the impact of the president's executive order suspending the visas of citizens of seven countries.
But these figures are incredibly misleading, so let's go through the math.
The facts
First of all, the "325,000" figure is pretty meaningless because the number of people who arrive in the United States on a given day is not the issue. The question is how many people from these countries have been affected.
The "109" number is old, and rather dubious. For instance, it does not reflect how many people were prevented from even boarding a plane. According to the Department of Homeland Security, 348 people were denied boarding from the issuance of the executive order Friday through 6 p.m. Sunday.
An additional 392 green card holders have been processed and admitted to the United States, the agency says. Originally, the White House had said that green card holders would also be blocked from entering, but it reversed itself Sunday under political pressure.
Officials have not responded to repeated requests for an updated number on the number of people detained at U.S. airports. However, the Daily Beast reported that an additional 200 to 250 people were denied entry once their flights landed -- and they were part of a larger pool of 735 people at ports of entry who could have been barred from entering the United States.
A Google spreadsheet tracking the experience of Iranian travelers has documented the travails of nearly 300 people, with many describing significant delays or negotiation even if they were allowed into the United States.
But all of these numbers fail to provide the full picture. The real number is about 90,000.
According to State Department statistics, that's how many people received either nonimmigrant or immigrant visas from the seven affected countries in fiscal 2015. That's the most recent data available, and different types of visas are available for different lengths of time, but it serves as a usable proxy for the likely universe of people affected by Trump's travel ban. (Moreover, the data does not include people who are dual citizens, such as Dutch-Iranians, who also are impacted by the order.)
Carolyn Kaster / AP White House press secretary Sean Spicer points to a reporter to take a question during the daily news briefing at the White House in Washington on Jan. 30, 2017. White House press secretary Sean Spicer points to a reporter to take a question during the daily news briefing at the White House in Washington on Jan. 30, 2017. (Carolyn Kaster / AP) (Carolyn Kaster / AP)
The executive order means that visa holders will not be able to travel to the United States for at least 90 days. Or, if they are in the United States currently, they will not be able to leave and assume that they can return before the travel suspension ends.
Here's the breakdown by country:
Iran: 34,819 nonimmigrant visas, 7,179 immigrant visas
Iraq: 13,335 nonimmigrant visas, 2,010 immigrant visas
Syria: 9,770 nonimmigrant visas, 1,901 immigrant visas
Sudan: 5,039 nonimmigrant visas, 1,642 immigrant visas
Yemen: 4,472 nonimmigrant visas, 3,143 immigrant visas
Libya: 3,303 nonimmigrant visa, 272 immigrant visas
Somalia: 399 nonimmigrant visas, 1,078 immigrant visas
The Pinocchio test
The Trump White House's figures on the scope of the travel ban are ludicrously low. The universe of people likely affected by the travel suspension is around 90,000 -- not 109.
Four Pinocchios
In making Dana Boente acting attorney general, President Donald Trump has elevated a longtime federal prosecutor best known for his handling of public corruption cases.
Boente, a 31-year veteran of the Justice Department, most recently oversaw the prosecution of former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell - a case ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court. Previously, Boente oversaw the government's cases against U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., and former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, D.
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Lawyers who have known Boente, who was U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said he has a reputation for being tough but even handed. While he has not been vocal about his political views, they said, he would not have agreed to be thrust into the role of defending Trump's controversial executive order banning some migrants unless he believed it was legally sound.
"Dana was very circumspect about his politics," said former assistant U.S. attorney Gene Rossi, now a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. "I never saw Dana in the 22 years I worked with him make what I considered to a political decision . . . He will try his best to enforce what he thinks is the law."
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But Rossi added, "If he thought that the executive order was illegal, I doubt very seriously he would have taken the position of acting attorney general."
Longtime defense attorney Jeffrey Zwerling echoed that sentiment.
"I don't think he would do it if he felt that it was morally wrong to do it," Zwerling said. "I believe he looked inside himself and decided he could morally and legally defend the position. I don't know how he votes, but he's no liberal. The Eastern District of Virginia is a very tough jurisdiction and he ran it as a very tough jurisdiction."
The Trump administration said Boente, who replaced fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, was sworn in about 9 p.m. Monday.
In an interview, Boente noted his office already had been supporting the president's order in a challenge brought in Virginia federal court.
"I was enforcing it this afternoon," Boente said. "Our career department employees were defending the action in court, and I expect that's what they'll do tomorrow, appropriately and properly."
Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg of the Legal Aid Justice Center, who filed a complaint on behalf of two Yemenese men sent away from Dulles under the executive order, said he had spoken with Boente about the case by phone Sunday and Monday.
The U.S. Attorney's job in the Eastern District of Virginia is an important and high-profile one. The Eastern District is home to the CIA and the Pentagon, and its prosecutors often handle terrorism cases. The office has about 300 lawyers and other employees working in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News.
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Boente was sworn in to head the office in February of 2016 but had served in that post on an interim basis since replacing Neil MacBride in late 2013.
When he was sworn in, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch called Boente one of the department's "consummate utility players" and said he was "one you could always count on to be there for you."
Under Boente's leadership, prosecutors won corruption convictions against McDonnell, R, and his wife, Maureen, only to see those decisions overturned by the Supreme Court. Boente's office pushed to retry the couple; they were overruled by higher-ups at the Justice Department.
Prosecutors working for Boente also convicted CIA leaker Jeffrey Sterling under the Espionage Act and television news analyst Wayne Simmons for pretending to be a CIA agent. Boente has overseen ten prosecutions of Americans accused of supporting the Islamic State, eight of which have resulted in convictions. The remaining two are set for trial this year.
In the past several years, Boente's office has also aggressively targeted opioid dealers implicated in fatal overdoses, taking on what Boente has described as a worsening epidemic in Virginia. "I'm very concerned that we haven't seen the worst of this," Boente said at a forum late last year in Loudoun County. "If you don't know someone who's had a problem with addiction, you will."
Boente was nominated to lead the U.S. Attorney's Office in Virginia by former President Barack Obama on Oct. 8, 2015, and confirmed by the senate two months later.
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Before he became a U.S. attorney, Boente worked in the tax division and as an interim attorney in both the Eastern District of Virginia and the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Boente, who is from Carlinville, Illinois, lives in Northern Virginia with his wife. The couple have grown children and grandchildren.
Boente said he presumes he will serve until Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., is confirmed.
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Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.
Along with many other South Side Chicago natives, I bemoan the detestable way President Donald Trump describes our beloved city as a "war zone."
These characterizations do not reflect the experience that I had growing up in the Chatham neighborhood. My parents were productive citizens in the community; they had careers in the Chicago Public Schools, and most of their friends did too.
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I spent summers in enrichment programs, riding my bike around the neighborhood. My friends and I didn't carry or own guns. We were never involved in criminal activity or police encounters. We graduated from college and now have successful careers.
It is true that my experience is not reflective of all people on the South Side of Chicago. The culture of the South Side is diverse and richly textured. The violence is a multifaceted problem for which there is no easy fix.
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In the first 29 days of January, there were 295 shooting victims and 50 homicides in Chicago, up 5.5 percent from this time last year. Trump has called Chicago's violence problem "very easily fixable," promising to "send in the Feds!" if things don't start improving soon.
The problem of Chicago violence extends far beyond the tragic premature loss of lives. For months and years to come, friends, family and community members as well as the perpetrators of violence are left to cope with grief and fear.
The shootings are concentrated on the South and West sides, where the majority of residents are black. In the Austin neighborhood, where there have been more than 40 shooting victims and at least 9 homicides this month, 86 percent of the residents are black. One-fourth of its residents do not have a high school diploma, 21 percent are unemployed and 27 percent have a household income below poverty level.
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)
The Great Cities Institute report released this month examined data from Chicago, New York and Los Angeles and suggests that spikes in violence in Chicago can be in part explained by youth joblessness. In 2014 and 2015, Chicago had the highest total percent, or 42.8 percent of 20- to 24-year-olds who were out of work and out of school. Chicago also had the highest percentage of black 16- to 19-year-olds, at more than 16 percent, who were out of work and out of school. Communities with high jobless rates are primarily on the predominantly black South and West sides.
The report includes testimonies of youth who commented, "Jobs solve violence. If you are busy working, you don't have time for violence." Or, "If you want to save lives, you want to see a difference, give these teens jobs."
Despite the desire to work, and for violence to end, the lack of economic investment and resources in communities on the South and West sides may cause many to feel hopeless.
Feeling a sense of worth when surrounded by messages that black lives don't matter is difficult.
In my experience as a clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Northwestern University, I understand that feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness are critical signs of a poor mental and emotional state that can severely impact one's ability to be productive and function.
It is a universal human need to want to know that you are valued, that you have a purpose and that your life matters. When these needs aren't met, it can negatively impact self-esteem, which in turn impacts behavior. Existing in an environment where you are experiencing constant social and environmental stress has far-reaching negative implications for the individual, family and community at large.
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Feeling a sense of worth when surrounded by messages that black lives don't matter is difficult. Feeling purposeful when resources are cut and the available opportunities are scarce and bleak is almost impossible. Hope is elusive when you question if you'll live to see tomorrow.
Stricter gun laws and increased policing have been offered as short-term solutions to the violence. Community investment, education and training opportunities and job creation have been offered as long-term solutions.
While Trump's promise to bring in the feds may temporarily resolve the immediate problem, it does little to address the institutional structures and policies that have led to the conditions at hand, nor the hopelessness and despair that is being left in the wake of what Trump calls "carnage."
Instead of federal intervention, what the people of Chicago need is equitable access to readily available and visible resources, which reinforce self-worth and provide a sense of hope.
Opportunities inspire hope. All people are motivated by a sense of possibility.
Inger E. Burnett-Zeigler is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She is an NU Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd Project.
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The Uber boycott sparked by the company's refusal to join an anti-Trump strike poses a question many U.S. businesses will have to answer: Do they openly stand with those of their customers who abhor President Donald Trump's policies or does it make more business sense for them to stay neutral?
The #DeleteUber movement appears to be something of a disaster for the ride-hailing company in the U.S. After Uber failed to join a taxi drivers' strike in New York City against Trump's entry ban for citizens of seven Muslim-dominated countries, users began deleting the app and encouraging others to do so on social media. Its main competitor Lyft then leapfrogged into 1st place in terms of downloads, becoming one of the most popular apps in the country. This followed Uber CEO Travis Kalanick tweeting that the travel ban is "against everything Uber stands for" while vowing to "use his position" on a Trump advisory council to "stand up for what's right." In the view of many of Uber's tech-savvy, urban customers, that was not enough.
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Say what you will about corporate social responsibility, it's not necessarily smart for a chief executive to make a political stand. A company's primary responsibility is to its shareholders, so protesting the actions of a president especially a thin-skinned one like Trump, who likes to meddle in corporations' business decisions may be counterproductive.
Essentially, U.S. businesses now face the same dilemma Russian companies faced when President Vladimir Putin began increasing the government's role in the economy and rolling back civil liberties. Everyone who went publicly against the autocratic flow was squeezed out of business in Russia. The cases of media magnate Vladimir Gusinsky, oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, retail whiz Yevgeny Chichvarkin are commonly known examples. Other Russian capitalists, who grew rich in the freer era before Putin, decided against tempting fate and toed the party line.
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For many U.S. tech executives, the choice is more complicated. Russia's general public was never particularly politicized, so it easily accepted Putin's contract relative prosperity and security in exchange for less freedom. Many U.S. tech companies prize the same urban, educated clientele who backed Hillary Clinton and strongly oppose Trump.
Apple, Microsoft, Twitter, and Netflix decided to stand with these customers and with many of their employees. Companies outside Silicon Valley, however, didn't jump on the bandwagon. There was no angry statement from McDonald's or Walmart, which employ plenty of Muslims. Their management clearly saw no benefit in sticking its neck out on a matter as incendiary as Trump's border policy.
No one is boycotting them.
In a 2013 paper on anticipating, preventing and surviving secondary boycotts those in which a firm is punished for action that didn't directly damage the protesters Judith Schrempf and her collaborators from the University of Richmond suggested that a company's managers keep a list of issues that might cause a boycott and attempt to work out where the company should stand on those issues. Clearly, the Trump agenda is full of boycott-inducing issues, and a conscientious executive ought to go through the list and make some preemptive decisions. Kalanick's mistake was not identifying Trump's entry ban and the drivers' strike as a business-critical issue early enough.
But perhaps making strong statements concerning Trump's divisive policies to stop the boycott is also a mistake a Russian entrepreneur would immediately see why.
While boycotts are perhaps easier to organize than they used to be, what with social network pressure and the ease of deleting an app from a phone, the storm will likely blow over. On the other hand, voicing opposition to Trump could provoke lasting damage.
Take Microsoft, which has come out strongly against Trump's entry ban by aiding a lawsuit to overturn it filed by Washington State's attorney general. It has just sold $17 billion worth of bonds to pay dividends and repurchase shares despite sitting on $123 billion in cash. Almost all of it sits in Microsoft's foreign subsidiaries to avoid paying U.S. taxes upon repatriation. Trump could move to force Microsoft, Apple and other tech companies to repatriate offshore cash on unfavorable terms, probably with broad public support behind him. The president could also wage war on the likes of Uber and Lyft, making them comply with labor market and taxi licensing laws. The same taxi drivers who rallied against his immigration policy would cheer him on.
That the tech firms are unafraid of inviting retribution shows they've lived in a permissive political climate for too long. If Trump is at all like Russian President Putin, he will counterattack and the firms will either bend to his will as most did in Russia or face serious costs. Then, the majority of big U.S. companies that decided against making loud political statements will quietly congratulate themselves on their
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Leonid Bershidsky is a Bloomberg View columnist. He was the founding editor of the Russian business daily Vedomosti and founded the opinion website Slon.ru.
The Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines now appear to be back on track and headed for fast review and apparent approval, after having been rejected by the Obama administration. While these pipelines have been controversial, an examination of the facts shows that each of these pipelines, if approved and constructed, would be good for the environment and for the country.
Pipeline transportation for oil is safer and expected to be better for the environment than the alternative, which is usually rail transport. While the trans-border segment of the Keystone XL pipeline is missing, in spite of two environmental impact studies by the State Department that found less environmental harm than if the oil moves by rail or barge, the oil still moves by rail. The State Department must approve the pipeline since it crosses a U.S. border.
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There are those who argue that if the Keystone XL pipeline is not completed, the oil would stay in the ground in Canada, benefiting the environment. But that's wrong for several reasons. First, absent the Keystone XL pipeline, some Canadian oil is already moving to the U.S. by rail. Second, the Canadians will still extract the oil if it doesn't get sent to the U.S.; it will just be exported elsewhere. This was also confirmed by State Department studies. Third, if the Keystone XL pipeline is not built, the U.S. won't use less energy, as some unrealistically claim. We will just import more oil from other countries, and our two biggest sources of imported oil are Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. Isn't it better to get oil from Canada?
There are similar arguments that do not stand up to impartial scrutiny regarding the Dakota Access pipeline. As long as the pipeline is not completed under Lake Oahe, the site of the dispute, the oil will continue to be transported, as it is now, by rail, crossing the river by a rail bridge within sight of the proposed pipeline location. There is more risk of an oil spill from rail transportation than there would be from a pipeline, so objecting to the pipeline because of potential harm to the lake and water supplies simply ignores reality. The potential harm will be reduced if the pipeline is constructed. And in this case, too, if the lack of a pipeline results in less oil being transported, we will just need to import more of it.
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Furthermore, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has worked with regulators in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois, and has widely consulted with affected Native American tribes, to design the best route. The pipeline would not cross the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, and there are already eight other pipelines operating with tight regulation under Lake Oahe.
In addition, prompt action by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve other gas and oil pipelines, providing they meet all current environmental and safety regulations, would also permit the U.S. to benefit from its energy resources and would reduce our dependence on imported oil, especially from Venezuela and the Middle East. In particular, we need pipelines to carry oil and gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio to markets in New York, New England, and the Gulf Coast.
With proper policies, we can make better use of energy resources, while protecting the environment and moving toward energy independence.
Stanford L. Levin is emeritus professor of economics at Southern Illinois University's campus in Edwardsville. He has been a commissioner on the Illinois Commerce Commission, the utility regulatory agency in Illinois, and he consults on utility and energy policy in the U. S. and abroad.
Should we offer management advice to President Donald Trump? We'll indulge since another key decision by this untested leader restructuring the National Security Council is making us wonder: Has he really thought this through?
What the president did was knock down a wall of tradition between the political and national security sides of the White House by adding Stephen Bannon, his political guru, to a sensitive NSC deliberative body known as the principals committee. More about that later.
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Making a close study of NSC membership isn't normally how we keep tabs on the nation's capital. It feels more like old-school Kremlinology Who's up or down in the Soviet Politiburo? than modern civics. But Trump likes to shock and awe. He made two big announcements in recent days, about building the wall on the Mexican border and tightening immigration rules. We were troubled by both executive orders, and it's important to note that Bannon played key roles in both decisions. So we're wary as Trump settles into the new job.
His NSC move adds to our concern. Giving Bannon, Trump's political brain, an official seat in the principals committee with the Pentagon chief and other top officials, carries a risk: Bannon's participation could infect the NSC's cold, hard thoughts about keeping America safe with non-military calculations, such as whether a special forces raid would move the needle on the president's approval rating.
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How much clout will a seat on the principals committee give Bannon?
The NSC is a big organization that provides the president with guidance on national security and foreign affairs. There's the formal National Security Council run by the president. But there are other bodies below it, including the principals committee, which acts as an interagency forum for decision-making among Cabinet heads and others. David Axelrod, President Barack Obama's political adviser, says he attended some committee meetings but wasn't an official member. President George W. Bush kept his political strategist, Karl Rove, out of the room. Joshua Bolten, Bush's chief of staff, said in September that Bush didn't want it to appear that life and death military decisions could be "tainted" by political considerations.
Bannon is a former naval officer, but that's not why he's part of the NSC, or why it's controversial for him to be involved. He is political bomb thrower of the far-right who was executive chairman of Breitbart News. He's as untested as Trump in government leadership yet comes to the White House without vetting or accountability to the public. But every president has the right to pick his advisers and Trump named Bannon his chief strategist.
Now to our presidential advice: Mr. Trump, surround yourself with the smartest, most experienced leaders and experts available but make certain you hear their honest opinions. Bannon will provide the political perspective you value. Make sure his voice doesn't drown out the others.
This may seem like wisdom every boss should know. But the normal rules don't always apply in the White House. Former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, contemplating lessons of the Vietnam War, once told reporter Bob Woodward that presidents get isolated and don't hear all sides of critical issues. "The advisers to the president need to sit around with the president and argue with him, and say, 'Wait a minute, let's look at all the options,'" McNamara told Woodward.
Trump has made several other changes to his NSC management. On Monday he added the CIA chief to the NSC itself a smart tweak from the Obama administration's NSC.
Another change provoked more umbrage than, upon closer examination, it merited: Trump directed that the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and director of national intelligence, who attend the highest-level NSC meetings, will attend principals meetings "where issues pertaining to their responsibilities" will be discussed. Technically that's a downgrading from being required to attend, as they were during the Obama years, but it restores the policy when George W. Bush was president. It also doesn't look to us like a demotion. It looks more like a decision to give leaders the ability to manage more of their own time. The White House said both will attend whenever they choose.
In any organization, including the White House, it matters who's in the room and who isn't. What matters more, though, is whose advice and opinions the boss hears. And what's most important is whether sound decisions then are made. So it will go for President Trump.
Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates speaks during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington June 28, 2016. On Jan. 30, 2017 President Donald Trump fired the acting attorney general Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, after she ordered Justice Department attorneys not to defend his controversial immigration orders. (Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump, the former TV reality star, has never said "You're fired" like this.
His decision Monday night to oust acting Attorney General Sally Yates heightens the drama over his deplorable executive action on immigration. Trump's move is petulant and unsettling, especially for Americans with long memories. That said, amateur historians rolling out comparisons to Richard Nixon's 1973 "Saturday Night Massacre" the firing of his attorney general over Watergate are overwrought.
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We don't know how this confrontation will end, but we're certain we know where it is headed: to a cluster of federal courts. That's where the Trump administration will attempt to defend the president's overly broad order temporarily halting the country's refugee program and banning citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for 90 days. The countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Trump's sweeping directive, signed Friday, was intended to protect the country from terrorism, but it's deeply problematic and arguably unconstitutional. It was rolled out too quickly, without adequate time to debate its merits or explain the scope. The Associated Press reports that at least three top national security officials Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department have told associates they were not aware of details of the directive until around the time Trump signed it.
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Trump said he acted quickly because he couldn't afford to give the "bad dudes" notice that the rules of entering the U.S. were changing.
Our verdict on the rollout: You botched this and need to fix it quickly.
One problem with his order was that it swept up legal U.S. residents green-card holders in its web. On Sunday the administration backed away from that mistake.
The rest of the executive order was no better. It needlessly ensnared travelers en route to the U.S., creating scenes of airport chaos. If designed to root out would-be terrorists, it was haphazard in the choice of countries included. The worst component is its inclusion of a de facto religious test: When refugees are again admitted, the order gives preferences to those who belong to a minority in their country and have been persecuted for their religion in other words, it would prioritize Christians refugees over Muslims. America shouldn't admit immigrants according to their faiths. There are better, more principled ways to manage the nation's immigration system and defend against terror.
Cue the legal battle. With travelers denied entry they included at least one Iraqi refugee who acted as an interpreter for the U.S. military lawyers went to work challenging the ban. A federal judge in Brooklyn issued a temporary stay on deportations Saturday night; judges in other cities made comparable rulings.
On Monday, Yates a career prosecutor temporarily running the Justice Department defied her boss, the president, by stating that she was unconvinced his executive order is legal. She said she would refuse to defend it in court. Her decision, while brave and principled, was also symbolic rather than practical, and unsurprising given her politics.
Yates is a holdover from the Obama administration, a caretaker until Trump's choice for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, is confirmed by the Senate. Until then, Trump put a Republican in the job, Dana Boente, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He rescinded Yates' order.
It's understandable Yates would refuse to take up a case she wouldn't like, and it's understandable Trump would replace her for being insubordinate. That he did it with charged language the White House said she "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States" well, that was unnecessary and distasteful, but also unsurprising given the president's penchant for hyperbole.
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Back in '73, Nixon fired his attorney general and deputy attorney general for refusing to dump the Watergate special prosecutor. Watergate was a constitutional crisis in the making. Trump's immigration debacle is something different. Partly it's a reflection of Trump's newness to the job. Other new presidents have made some big mistakes. But there is something especially disturbing here: a warning to Americans, and to the world, that Trump's impetuous nature and lack of governing experience are a combustible brew.
As for the specifics of Trump's poorly conceived executive action, ideally he pulls it back and overhauls it. More likely, the courts will decide.
Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
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Mr. President, don't build that wall
The biggest threat
Perhaps a far bigger threat to our democracy than Russian President Vladimir Putin comes from American's escalating belief that an individual should decide what laws to obey. Sally Yates, acting attorney general of the United States, refused to execute an executive order on immigration that the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel had approved "with respect to form and legality" largely because she questions if it is a "wise or just policy." Mayors across the country decide to ignore federal laws and regulations to create sanctuary cities using similar reasoning.
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More and more people defend such logic and actions even though they imply that we all have the right to examine every law to determine whether it is "just" relevant to our own belief system and then follow it or reject it accordingly. This scares me a lot more than Putin trying to influence our election.
Lee Goldberg, Naperville
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Plainly necessary
As soon as I read that acting Attorney General Sally Yates had been fired, it immediately reminded me how Attorney General Elliot Richardson resigned when President Richard Nixon ordered him to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox in 1973.
I met Richardson at a book signing in 1996 and later wrote to him after he stated in his book that he had been given "excessive credit" for refusing to fire Cox. I politely disagreed with him writing that he had been a true hero during Watergate when heroes were hard to find.
Surprisingly, he later found the time to respond to my letter and wrote that his defiance of President Nixon resulted from the "realization that what I did was so plainly necessary."
Likewise, Yates did what she thought was plainly necessary.
Larry Vigon, Chicago
Arbitrary ban
Considering its effect on our health-care system, President Donald Trump's "extreme vetting" and limited Muslim immigration and travel ban are more likely to cost American lives than to save them.
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In 2010, a quarter of medical doctors in America were foreign-born, many of them from majority Muslim countries. And I'll bet that number is growing. For 20 years, I was a computer support worker in a major urban hospital. I witnessed a significant increase in Muslim medical residents who staff our hospitals. How many of them, plus foreign-born nurses and others, will be affected negatively by these arbitrary new policies?
Trump's supporters think his policies will keep future terrorists out, saving American lives. But in reality, this arbitrary ban will keep some medical professionals from our shores and reduce our access to health care. That's harmful and potentially deadly.
"Extreme vetting" is a 1990s-style marketing slogan, not a security procedure. Trump's team didn't know what to do so they threw up a travel ban. Seems like they are willing to save face by shooting us in the foot.
Charlie McShane, Chicago
A free pass
Former President Barack Obama is the one who has placed Syrians in jeopardy and is responsible for millions of deaths not President Donald Trump. The coward drew his red line and didn't follow through. Now he speaks hypocritically and self-righteously about our current president. The blood of the Syrians is owned by Obama. He has a lot of guts to criticize Trump for the desecration of Syria on his watch.
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Why does Obama get a free pass from the press on his red line?
Marilyn Fawell, Lombard
President Donald Trump has done an unexpected favor to former President Barack Obama's legacy. The bumpy rollout of Trump's travel ban makes the botched rollout of Obama's Affordable Care Act look smooth as silk.
Putting aside for a moment the critical question of whether the ban will make Americans safer (spoiler alert: probably not), the too-hastily-written order sparked global confusion over how it was to be implemented. As critics in both parties have said, Trump's order for "extreme vetting" needed a lot more vetting too.
As a result, the new president's signing of the executive order stranded travelers around the world, led to protests at airports across the country and touched off chaotic scenes across the immigration and national security bureaucracy.
Trump's executive order, unveiled Friday at the end of his first full week in office, barred Syrian refugees from entering the United States indefinitely, suspended all refugee admissions for 120 days and blocked citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for 90 days: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Among the horror stories that resulted, Department of Homeland Security officials said that at least 100 people had been prevented from entering this country in the initial hours after the order was issued and many more had been stopped from boarding planes to this country. Based on the number of visas issued to the seven countries by the State Department, Trump's travel ban affects about 90,000 people.
For example, before federal judges issued stays of the order, detainees at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., included an Iranian couple in their 80s, both with green cards confirming their status as legal permanent residents of this country, according to news reports. One was legally blind, and the other had recently had a stroke.
As volunteer lawyers and translators rushed to airports around the country, two Yemeni men at Dulles reportedly were coerced into signing away their green cards and were put on a plane back to Ethiopia, according to a lawsuit filed on their behalf.
Detainees also included Iraqi immigrant Hameed Khalid Darweesh, who risked his life by working as an interpreter for the Army's 101st Airborne Division in Baghdad and Mosul. He was held overnight at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport until Rep. Nydia Velazquez, R-N.Y., demanded to see him Saturday afternoon.
Another Iraqi, Fuad Sharef Suleman, wasn't as fortunate. He and his wife and their three children were in transit to the United States when they were prevented from boarding a plane in Cairo. Instead they were sent back to Irbil in Iraq's Kurdistan region, they told reporters. "Donald Trump destroyed my life," he told NBC News. "My family's life."
Safin Hamed, AFP/Getty Images Fuad Sharef Suleman's family show their U.S. immigrant visas in Arbil, the capital of the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq, on Jan. 30, 2017, after returning to Iraq from Egypt, where they were prevented from boarding a plane to the U.S. following President Donald Trump's decision to temporarily bar travelers from seven countries, including Iraq. Fuad Sharef Suleman's family show their U.S. immigrant visas in Arbil, the capital of the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq, on Jan. 30, 2017, after returning to Iraq from Egypt, where they were prevented from boarding a plane to the U.S. following President Donald Trump's decision to temporarily bar travelers from seven countries, including Iraq. (Safin Hamed, AFP/Getty Images) (Safin Hamed, AFP/Getty Images)
President Trump had a different view. The order to bar refugees and travelers is "working out very nicely," he told reporters. With his smiling face juxtaposed on TV news channels with scenes of airport chaos, the president sounded like "Baghdad Bob," the nickname given to Saddam Hussein's sunny spokesman during the Iraq War.
But Trump's sunny disposition could not hide the folly of a presidential order that was written and signed without consultation with the departments of Defense, Justice or Homeland Security, the departments responsible for the order's enforcement.
Administration officials said they would not back down on the order, however, even as it was being tweaked on Sunday to exempt green-card-holding permanent residents.
A little more care might have avoided the Monday night drama that resembled a constitutional crisis. Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates that evening after she ordered Justice Department lawyers not to defend the immigration order. Her act "betrayed" the department, said a White House news release, by "refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect" American citizens.
Will Trump's policy make Americans safer? There's nothing inherently wrong with what Trump calls "extreme vetting," although he's not speaking factually when he claimed "we don't know anything about" refugee applicants now. In fact, he inherited a rigorous vetting process that usually takes about two years to complete.
But the biggest problem with Trump's program is not so much in what it is as in how it was implemented. The administration's callous disregard not only for the inconvenience but, in some cases, injustice only adds more fuel for the propaganda and recruitment machines of Islamic State and other Islamic terrorists.
With Republicans firmly in charge of Congress and the White House, there's not much that Democrats can do to put a check on Trump's excesses, except perhaps make some eloquent speeches. So far, Trump's outspoken Republican critics are few. But give him time. Once labeled a "chaos candidate" by his rivals, he's turning into a disaster-prone president.
Clarence Page, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/pagespage.
cpage@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @cptime
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State lawmakers are proposing six new laws that would strengthen licensing requirements and oversight for thousands of group homes for adults with disabilities following a Chicago Tribune investigation, "Suffering in Secret," that exposed substandard conditions and widespread harm.
The legislative measures, state officials said, are part of a continuing overhaul of the state's sprawling and fragmented group home system, which shelters more than 12,000 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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At the urging of the Illinois Department of Human Services, lawmakers are hoping to shore up investigative shortcomings and eliminate a glaring licensing loophole that surfaced late last year when state officials, citing "imminent risk" to residents, revoked the license of Disability Services of Illinois, a private network of group homes serving 45 residents in Chicago and the south suburbs. The Tribune series had spotlighted a neglect case and serious problems at the business, which went by the name Southwest Disabilities Services & Supports until last year.
What was supposed to be a smooth transition of residents from Disability Services to new providers devolved into chaos, with attorneys for the state accusing group home employees of thwarting their efforts to relocate residents. A Cook County circuit judge gave Disability Services executives a deadline to turn over residents to caseworkers, but that deadline came and went, leading to a frantic search for the missing adults.
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Disability Services' chief executive had testified last month that those individuals went home with family members, but in many cases he couldn't provide names of those relatives or contact information. Caseworkers for the state didn't have up-to-date photos to share with police or emergency contact details, hobbling the search efforts. Ultimately, all the residents were found and either moved to new homes or given supportive services with relatives.
Four of the six bills focus largely on the revocation process by demanding that group homes maintain contact information and pictures of residents, allow unfettered state access to residents undergoing transitions to new homes and establish an attendance and destination log to track when residents opt to spend the night at another location, such as the home of a relative or acquaintance.
Rep. Charles Meier, one of three Republican legislators sponsoring the array of bills, said, "These are people. Even if they can't talk or even if they can't walk, they deserve the best life possible."
Legislation introduced by Rep. Terri Bryant seeks to expedite and alter the hiring process for new investigators at the inspector general office for Human Services. Bryant told the Tribune that her bill would reclassify the job and allow Human Services administrators to more heavily weigh previous investigative experience rather than seniority in a state job.
The Tribune series exposed shortcomings in two neglect investigations by that office, leading Human Services Inspector General Michael McCotter to reopen those cases.
Rep. Patricia R. Bellock is also spearheading legislation that empowers Human Services to extend the provisional period of a new group home license to two years from one. The extra period of time would allow Human Services' Bureau of Accreditation, Licensing and Certification more time to ensure that new group home businesses are providing necessary services to some of the state's most vulnerable adults.
Human Services Secretary James Dimas earlier this month asked legislators to consider introducing bills that would address these areas of reform to "further promote the safety and well-being" of group home residents. Many other reforms have already been implemented or are under way that do not require changes in law, he said.
One of the most significant accountability reforms involves the creation of a public report card system that weighs the quality and safety of group homes.
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Human Services officials said the department plans to roll out a web-based system that evaluates group home businesses based on state investigations, including numbers of allegations and substantiated cases of abuse and neglect. The report cards also would include information from licensing and quality surveys that gauge the condition of homes and how care is delivered.
Officials have been less clear about plans to increase public accountability.
The Tribune found that Illinois' group home system is one of the most secretive branches of state health care, in part because a state law allows Human Services to seal thousands of investigative files when violations or deficiencies are found but not formally cited.
Group home addresses are considered confidential and are redacted from Human Services public records. State oversight has been concealed so thoroughly at times that outsiders could not determine when or where investigations occurred or what action, if any, was taken.
Overall, the Tribune identified 1,311 cases linked to abuse and neglect in group homes and their day programs since July 2011, and 42 deaths in the last seven years.
mberens@chicagotribune.com
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Twitter @MJBerens1
Twitter @TribuneTrish
Nichelle Hill, 17, of Dolton, died Jan. 5, 2017, after she lost control of the car she was driving on the 600 block of Heartland Drive, struck a large tree and was ejected from the car, according to Yorkville Police and the Kendall County Coroner's Office. Police said Hill was driving a stolen car and fleeing a traffic stop when the crash occurred. (Yorkville Police Department) (Chicago Tribune)
Over the course of a minute on a weekday morning in Yorkville earlier this month, Nichelle Hill made her final decisions.
She chose to stop along the right side of the road when a Yorkville police officer turned on his lights, signaling her to pull over because she was suspected of stealing packages from a nearby property.
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Seconds later, as the officer approached her car, she drove away, according to video taken by the squad car's dashcam.
When the officer caught up to her, she kept going.
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Hill, 17, of Dolton, died after she crashed the stolen car she was driving during a pursuit through the city's Heartland subdivision, police said.
Yorkville police have been directed not to talk any more about the crash, Deputy Police Chief Terry Klingel said.
Police reports and dashcam video obtained by the Beacon-News through a Freedom of Information Act request include witness descriptions of the thefts and show the police chase through the subdivision's winding streets.
Shortly after 9 a.m. on Jan. 5, a resident of the 700 block of Arrowhead Drive was smoking a cigarette in her garage when she heard a car running in her driveway, she told a Yorkville police investigator.
Not expecting any visitors, the woman went inside and looked out the front window, where she saw a Toyota Avalon backed into her driveway and someone walking from the front porch to the car, carrying several packages, she told police.
Almost immediately after the woman reported the theft, an officer was dispatched to the area to assist another officer with the theft report. Dispatchers advised the Toyota was last seen headed toward Haley Court, according to reports.
As the officer turned onto Homestead Drive, he saw a gray Toyota Avalon and began to follow it. As the Toyota approached Omaha Drive, the officer activated his overhead lights, according to the report. When the Toyota stopped east of the intersection, the officer got out of the squad car and started walking up to the Toyota. He could see a female driver, later identified as Hill, was the only occupant of the car, according to the report.
The officer estimated he was about halfway to the Toyota when it took off. The officer drove after the vehicle, activating his squad car siren, he wrote in the report.
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As the pursuit went from Homestead to westbound Heartland Drive, dispatchers advised the officer the Toyota was stolen, according to his report. The officer said the Toyota was exceeding the speed limit and driving erratically, as if the driver was unsure where to turn to get out of the subdivision.
As the cars approached Heartland and Farmstead Drive, the Toyota lost control, went off the roadway and struck a tree, according to the officer's report. The driver was ejected from the car, according to police. The car landed upright on its wheels, and the tree ended up in the yard of a home on the block.
The officer who had stopped the Toyota requested an ambulance, got out of his car and ran to the driver to render aid, according to reports. Bristol Kendall Fire Department paramedics arrived and took over, but Hill was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:21 a.m., according to the police report.
In a previous interview, Klingel said police were reviewing videos and did not know the speed the cars were traveling, but that it appeared department protocol had been followed.
"It wasn't a pursuit, per se," Klingel said. "She fled the scene of a traffic stop."
After the crash, officials determined the Toyota was stolen Jan. 2. Police found the Toyota's owner, who granted permission to search the car. While a detective was searching the Toyota, he located three packages addressed to the woman who reported the theft.
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hleone@tribpub.com
Twitter @hannahmleone
As Aurora service providers see an uptick in questions and concerns after President Donald Trump's recent immigration and refugee restrictions, the Aurora police chief and mayor said they have not changed police or city practices.
Aurora police contact federal immigration enforcement agencies when they arrest a violent offender who is undocumented, Police Chief Kristen Ziman said in an email. Otherwise, Aurora officers do not inquire about a person's immigration status.
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Mayor Robert O'Connor said after recent federal and judicial actions, the city is not making plans to change policies or protocols. Officials are waiting for further developments and clarification on what the actions mean for local municipalities, he said in an emailed statement.
"The City of Aurora stands in support of families in our community," he said. "The very fabric of Aurora is interwoven with the stories of immigrants of the past and present."
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The statements come in response to a series of executive orders setting restrictions on immigration and refugees. One, signed Friday afternoon, halts all refugee admissions for 120 days, bans entry to Syrian nationals until further notice and temporarily denies entry to citizens of Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Sudan.
The order led to protests at O'Hare and other international airports over the weekend as some arriving travelers, including in some cases U.S. citizens or those with green cards, were held by immigration authorities. Federal judges have struck down parts of the order, but confusion remains over how exactly the policies will be enforced and who they will affect.
Susan Sperry, executive director of World Relief's Aurora and DuPage office, said the immigration- and refugee-services organization is waiting to see how the order and some exemptions are interpreted.
Already, the agency has heard from families worried about members who are overseas, either currently in the process of being resettled in the United States or green-card holders who are traveling. The order has also affected those with green cards looking to visit sick or dying relatives overseas, she said.
Sperry described one situation in which a Sudanese family of five is hoping to travel to Sudan to visit the husband's dying mother, and their attorney is advising them not to travel. The family, who Sperry said have green cards, is faced with visiting the mother knowing they may not be able to return to the U.S., or remaining in the country knowing they may never see the mother before she dies, Sperry said.
World Relief is generally advising nationals from the seven countries listed in the executive order not to travel at the moment, and nationals of other countries to be cautious about traveling and talk with an immigration attorney or Justice Department representative, Sperry said.
"It certainly has a huge impact, a huge negative impact, on refugee families and immigrants from those seven countries," she said.
In other orders last week, Trump moved to tighten immigration controls, jump start construction of a U.S. Mexico border wall and cut federal grants for "sanctuary cities," such as Chicago. He indicated he wants to allow local law enforcement to act as immigration officers and help with the "investigation, apprehension, or detention" of immigrants in the country illegally.
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Ziman said shortly after Trump was elected that Aurora police will not ask about immigration status on a traffic stop, if they are called to a home or in misdemeanor arrest situations.
She said Monday the department's position has not changed in the wake of the executive orders.
"We have made a great investment in the human beings that live in our community and have worked diligently to earn their trust as (a) police department that acts with legitimacy and fundamental fairness," she said in an email Monday. "My priority is that the law-abiding citizens (including undocumented) feel as though they can call the police to ask for assistance or to report a crime."
Since the orders, Aurora immigration attorney Moises Barraza said he has received calls and there has been confusion about how the order will affect people locally. He said he has cautioned residents not to panic and advised them to learn about American government and the way power is divided between three branches, respect laws and not to procrastinate about starting the legalization process.
He also questioned whether efforts to have local law enforcement take on some of the duties of immigration officers would cause confusion practically and would be legally enforceable.
"There's the practical problem of local officers who are not trained to enforce immigration law," he said. "And then there's the legal problem that local officers have legal authority to enforce state laws and criminal laws and local laws, but they don't have the legal authority to enforce federal immigration laws."
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Arthur Velasquez, president of the Aurora chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, took issue with the executive orders for a different reason.
"That's the most stupid thing ever," he said. "That (wall's) not going to hold back anybody. The only thing it's going to do is create more animosity between Latinos."
Beacon-News reporter Hannah Leone, the Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press contributed.
sfreishtat@tribpub.com
Twitter @srfreish
Portage Mayor James Snyder, currently under indictment, has refused a request from City Council members to resign. (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune)
Portage City Council President Mark Oprisko has joined a growing list of city officials calling for Mayor James Snyder to resign in light of his federal indictment in November on public corruption charges.
Oprisko also said the council may consider ordinances to neutralize Snyder as chairman of the Portage Utility Services Board.
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"It's in the best interests of every official and every resident for (Snyder) to step aside," Oprisko said Monday. "We have great department heads. Let the city run. Let us run it, so we don't have to keep hearing about the indictment."
In an emailed statement, Snyder remained defiant, citing his "American Civil Rights" and the presumption of innocence, while acknowledging the indictment "is weighing heavily on Portage."
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"No Resigning!" Snyder responded when asked if he was going to resign.
He also said Portage residents continue "receiving the great services they have come to expect, and those services will continue because of the hard work of the public servants working."
Oprisko, D-at large, and Councilman John Cannon, R-4th, met with Snyder in City Hall. Oprisko also said he is "considering different options" to remove Snyder from his position as chairman of the Portage Utility Services Board or weaken him in that spot.
Cannon, who described the discussion with Snyder as "spirited," said he is a longtime friend of Snyder's, but the November indictment may be a factor in where the city goes from here.
Cannon said he did not "directly ask the mayor" to step down.
"I think Council President Oprisko and myself, we have real concerns about our city and if there's something holding our city back from growing and holding back all of the wonderful things this mayor has done, then we have to address that," Cannon said. "(Snyder) may not be able to continue to do the wonderful things he's done if there's a cloud hanging over him."
In November, Snyder and John Cortina, owner of a towing company in the city, were indicted. Snyder was charged with one count of tax evasion and two counts of bribery.
In a final 2016 annual campaign finance report, Citizens for Snyder, the mayor's campaign committee, reported receiving $2,000 in direct support from Cortina and a $10,000 loan from the businessman.
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On the Hammond courthouse steps Nov. 18, the day he was indicted, Snyder's attorney, Thomas Kirsch, indicated they could prove Snyder received a loan from Cortina, not a bribe.
The campaign finance report also showed Citizens for Snyder gave $6,300 to the Committee to Elect John Cannon between March and August last year for Cannon's failed run for county commissioner.
Cannon defended the contribution as part of his efforts and Snyder's efforts to give Portage residents more say at the county level.
"I'm assuming at some point in time I'll be put in same light as mayor because of that relationship and our party," Cannon said. "The perception may be we're connected at the hip, and that's the farthest thing from the truth.
"Campaigns are not about the person running. It's about what we're going to do to better the citizens of Portage."
The City Council agreed on asking Snyder to resign, Oprisko said.
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One member, Collin Czilli, D-5th, in a separate statement, said Snyder is innocent until proven guilty, but "if Mayor Snyder truly believes in Portage's future success, it is incumbent on him to resign his office, effective immediately."
Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham called for Snyder's resignation earlier in January.
"I think it's a powerful message the president of the City Council has joined my previous call for Mayor Snyder to step down," Stidham said Monday. "My call was based on the fact this indictment was an enormous distraction."
Snyder seemed to shock city officials last September when he asked the utility board to pay for his more than $90,000 in legal fees, to that point, related to the federal investigation.
Oprisko, vice chairman of the board, said he immediately sought to stop the board from paying the expenses.
The council president said he is exploring ordinances to remove the mayor's office from the utility board seat or deny Snyder compensation.
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Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., left, chants slogans with others during the protest at the Indianapolis International Airport, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, during a protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily suspending all immigration for citizens of seven majority Muslim countries for 90 days. (Kelly Wilkinson / AP)
Overwhelming is the only way Nour Ulayyet can describe the past few days.
As she sat at Community Hospital with her mother on Saturday, Ulayyet's sister was denied entry into the country when she arrived at Chicago's O'Hare Airport one of the many people who faced difficulty across the country in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring refugees and nationals from seven Muslim countries from entering the United States.
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As Ulayyet's sister, who came from Syria to visit their mother, reboarded her plane back to Saudi Arabia and ended 65 hours of traveling, people across the country began reaching out to Ulayyet, of Valparaiso, and her family in solidarity.
"I'm speechless at the tremendous support," Ulayyet said.
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People show signs at the Indianapolis International Airport, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, during a protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily suspending all immigration for citizens of seven majority Muslim countries for 90 days. (Kelly Wilkinson / AP)
Ulayyet said she received a Facebook message from one woman asking for her address to send her mother flowers. Another offered to run errands for Ulayyet if she needed help. Many have asked about bringing the family food.
All that support is coming from people Ulayyet has never met.
"This feeling for each other is what makes America great," she said.
As the executive order restricting travel took effect last weekend, protests broke out at airports across the country, including at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and in Indianapolis, according to the Associated Press.
The backlash against Trump's order to block refugees from seven Middle Eastern countries from entering the United States grew Monday as leaders across the state decried the action.
"The president's order related to immigration is a bad idea, poorly implemented, and I hope that he will promptly revoke and rethink it. If the idea is to strengthen the protection of Americans against terrorism, there are many far better ways to achieve it," Purdue University President Mitch Daniels, a former Republican Indiana governor, said in a statement.
Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., speaks at the Indianapolis International Airport, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, during a protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily suspending all immigration for citizens of seven majority Muslim countries for 90 days. (Kelly Wilkinson / AP)
Ulayyet said the stress of the experience weighed heavily on her sister and family. She planned to visit the U.S. for only a week.
When Ulayyet's sister arrived at O'Hare, she was unaware of Trump's executive order, which took effect during her flight. She told her sister she had not seen any signs as she passed through passport control in Abu Dhabi without any issues.
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"That gave us a lot of hope that she should be OK," Ulayyet said.
Ulayyet's sister's visa is now void, she said, and traveling to meet her outside the country is questionable. Ulayyet said her mother is a permanent resident and would not be allowed to re-enter the country should she leave.
"That makes us prisoners here," Ulayyet said.
Universities throughout Indiana raised concerns about the travel ban and intend to protect members of their student bodies and faculty.
"Valparaiso University rejects messages and actions rooted in prejudice, racism, xenophobia and religious intolerance. Our dear friends and colleagues the international students, faculty members, staff members and members of our local communities are our sisters and our brothers and those neighbors who are near and those neighbors who are strangers," said Valparaiso University President Mark Heckler, in a statement.
Ulayyet said she hopes the president and government reconsider the executive order.
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"We need law that cares about the people," she said.
Many people trying to come to the U.S. have already suffered, Ulayyet said.
"The last thing we want is to add to their injustice," she said.
U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky, D-Merrillville, issued a statement Sunday offering to assist anyone affected by the travel ban.
"Should any individual in the First Congressional District of Indiana or any member of their family or loved ones need any assistance or information in response to President Trump's recent executive order, do not hesitate to contact our office through our website, social media outlets or by phone during office hours. Please leave your contact information as this will allow our office to be of assistance as soon as possible," Visclosky said, in a statement.
Trump defended his order on Twitter Monday, saying there are "a lot of bad 'dudes' out there."
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The Associated Press contributed.
clyons@post-trib.com
Twitter: @craigalyons
Dr. Anas Safadi, a cardiologist at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, is a child of Syrian immigrants and a recent visitor to Jordan to help treat Syrian refugees. (Anas Safadi / Provided by Anas Safdi)
Did you feel pride or shame when you heard President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to suspend entry of certain foreign refugees and residents into our country?
Of all the controversial issues our new president has campaigned for or against over the past 18 months dozens of contentious topics, as we know I believe this one serves as a critical barometer. Not for his presidency, but for who we are as a nation.
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Who we allow, or don't allow, into our partially gated community directly reflects our country's values, our character, our principles and our ideals. It reveals what America is all about, or what it presumes to be to the rest of the world.
Since Friday, I've heard from readers who either strongly support or fiercely denounce Trump's executive order. Both sides are convinced they're supporting the right thing to do, the moral thing to do, the American thing to do. I see both sides. I'm trying to anyway.
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To recap, the president's executive order, which is being questioned and critiqued from all sides, suspends the entry of all refugees to the U.S. for 120 days while halting indefinitely the admission of refugees from Syria. It also bars entry for 90 days to residents from the predominantly Muslim countries of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
Is this order protecting our safety or revealing our biases, in this case against Muslims? Are we being proactive or prejudiced? And what message are we sending to not only the world but to our children? Do you feel embarrassed or emboldened in the wake of the Trump administration's latest move?
Protesters rallied at O'Hare International Airport on Jan. 28, 2017, after travelers were held, including those with green cards and visas, following President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)
These are the type of questions we need to ask ourselves. Or to ask ourselves again and again. And to each other. There is more truth found in questions than in answers, I believe. In this case, truth about who we are, how we believe, and why we feel like we do.
From a conservative viewpoint, I understand the centuries-old idea of circling the proverbial wagons and protecting our embattled country from enemy intruders. As Trump said in an interview with ABC News, "the world is a mess." I agree.
The knee-jerk, instinctive reaction is to protect ourselves from such a world a world of terrorist attacks, sleeper cells, suicide bombers and utter carnage that reminds us our species is still in its infancy. I understand having this protective feeling, and I agree that keeping America safe should be job one for our leaders.
But, I ask myself, at what cost?
At the cost of also keeping out outsiders who are no threat of any kind to our national security? Or to those foreign-born residents who have visited or lived here in the past? Or to refugees, including innocent women and children, from finding safe refuge here after being forced to flee their war-torn country, such as Syria?
Just because our new leader may live in a black and white world doesn't mean we actually live in a black and white world. It's a world of grays, and our country is awash in a variety of hues changing our collective complexion. This is hard for some native-born Americans to understand, let alone to accept.
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Instead of pushing 1 for English or pushing 2 for Spanish, these Americans would rather push 3, 4 or 5, which would take them back in time 50 years, to the whitewashed America they remember through nostalgic fondness.
"You won't believe this until you are handed your burka and told to put it on!" said Walt White, a military veteran from Portage.
Really? Yes, this is what many Americans believe. Possibly Trump, too.
Did his executive order go too far? Of course it did. But this action aptly reflects Trump's campaign promises. You may be enraged. But we shouldn't be surprised. Nor should we be surprised that Trump has diplomatic tact of a sledgehammer.
On Monday, he put the hammer down on former acting Attorney General Sally Yates who earlier defied the White House's executive order and who refused to defend the new travel restrictions. He also again blamed the media which he calls "the opposition party" for exaggerating the number of people affected by the ban.
"The media, Hollywood elites, and Democrats have been distorting the president's policies and deceiving the American people," states an email I received Monday from the Trump administration. "Please contribute $100, $65, $50, $35, $20, or $10 before our FIRST Federal Election Commission end-of-month deadline to help us fight back against the media's distortions."
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I don't believe media outlets are wildly distorting the plight of those affected by the ban. Neither do those who are directly affected by the ban.
"As a child of Syrian immigrants and a recent visitor to Jordan to help treat Syrian refugees as a physician, I am both appalled and saddened to see the direction our current leadership has taken in regards to the recent immigration ban," said Dr. Anas Safadi, an advanced cardiovascular care physician at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.
"As a physician, I am honored to work with so many highly talented immigrant physicians who have sacrificed so much and who take honor in treating fellow Americans," said Safadi, who also serves as clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "Similarly, as a Muslim, it is important to highlight that 10 percent of doctors in the United States are Muslim."
"Therefore, it is hopefully painfully clear why the current administration's policies are hurtful to me and undermine the very fabric our country was based on," he added.
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It's now up to us to determine, again, what ideals and principles our country is founded on. Whether our new president fully realizes it or not, he is recasting the very image and reputation of the United States.
Meryem Yildirim, 7, left, sitting on the shoulders of her dad Fatih, of Schaumburg, and Adin Bendat-Appell, 9, sitting on the shoulders of his dad, Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell, of Deerfield during a protest of President Donald Trump's immigration ban in Terminal 5 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, on Jan 30, 2017. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune) (Nuccio Dinuzzo/Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)
America has always been an experiment in the works. I'm just wondering what our new fearless leader is experimenting on with this ban. Short-term national security? Long-term international dominance? Diversion tactics to distract us from so many other policy changes or executive orders?
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On NBC's "Meet the Press," White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said the Trump administration will "apologize for nothing here." I never expected an apology. Only a better explanation, a more thought-out strategy, or a more tactful approach.
Trump's chief strategist and senior counselor, Stephen Bannon, is the brains behind this ban, I believe. Last year, he repeatedly said the Trump "movement" was merely at the top of the first inning. We're still in the first inning, folks.
It's time to go to bat for which version, or vision, of America you believe in.
jdavich@post-trib.com
Twitter@jdavich
Herschel Strauss, co-owner of Hamakor Gallery in Skokie, gets the store ready to open for one of the final times. The store has been selling Judaica items for more than 40 years, the last 30 in Skokie. It is scheduled to close Feb. 6, 2017. (Mike Isaacs / Pioneer Press)
Hamakor Gallery is scheduled to close its doors at 4150 Dempster St. for the last time at 6 p.m. Feb. 6 "the end of an era" as 16-year store manager Jason Schiff described it.
The owners point out that "hamakor" in Hebrew means "the source," which is what they say their store has tried to be for all things Judaica for more than 40 years the last 30 in Skokie.
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Herschel and Naomi Strauss have owned and operated the store with help from their adult children and a dedicated team of employees.
"It's a great place, great location, great community," Herschel Strauss said. "To sign another long-term lease, though, just didn't make sense. But it's been a good business."
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The storefront windows at Hamakor Gallery appear mostly covered with signs announcing the store is going out of business and a significant sale on remaining items.
The Strausses say they will keep an online store running , but they also know it's not the same.
Herschel Strauss pointed to some unique, curve-shaped candlestick holders inside the store.
"I have them in blue, black and confetti and other colors," he said. "You come in and you touch and feel it and compare it. You can't do all that online. I don't care if you're Amazon. You can't see it in position or against 10 other items when you're on the Internet."
To the Strausses, "the end of an era" began around last Passover when they discontinued their store catalog a major draw for their business, they said.
But Herschel is 66, Naomi 68, and they said they have plans to move to Israel where two of their three children and seven of their nine grandchildren live.
"I'm very excited about the next stage in our lives," Naomi said. "We have an apartment in Israel and we want to live there. We want to spend time with the grandchildren."
When Herschel was in rabbinical school in Cincinnati, according to his wife, a friend bought what he thought was primarily a Jewish book store on Lawrence Avenue. He moved it from Lawrence to Lincoln Avenue and renamed it Hamakor Judaica, she said.
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"The friend decided this was not what he wanted," Naomi said. "It was too much into the gifts, and he wanted just the bookstore. We bought it from him."
The Strausses never imagined the purchase was going to amount to a 40-year career and a family run business in the truest sense.
"It was something Herschel wanted," Naomi said. "He's always been involved in selling things. He liked the whole concept."
The store has sold all kinds of items over the years:religious items for all denominations, crafts, art work, books, jewelry and much more.
It reached even more customers with the publication of a catalog first in black and white and then in color, the owners said. Items eventually were sold on a website the store developed, jewishsource.com, which essentially expanded their market to Jews all over the world.
At its peak, the owners say on their website, the catalog circulation reached 1.5 million catalogs a year; more than 3,000 Judaica items including books and gourmet kosher food baskets and much more were for sale.
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According to their parents, the Strauss children each played a role in the business even though their oldest daughter, Ilana, was just an infant when they began running the store.
"It was part and parcel of our family," Naomi said.
Ilana, who now lives in Israel, helped communicate with vendors in her country on behalf of Hamakor; Benjamin, before he became a lawyer, worked with his parents and set up the store website and more; Samuel, a rabbi and a teacher in Florida, worked with the Hamakor warehouse and its computer system.
"All through the years, it's been a family project," Naomi said. "That's one of the things that has never changed."
As closing day moves closer, Herschel said, reality is starting to set in and he has mixed feelings. Not as much for Naomi who said she is ready for that next chapter in life.
"I'm not one to look back I look forward," Naomi said. "That has always been my nature."
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"Not mine," responded Herschel as he worked quickly to get the store ready to open on one of its final days. "For me, it's bittersweet. We've been here a long time."
misaacs@pioneerlocal.com
@SKReview_Mike
Since hosting the 2016 G20 summit, Zhejiang province has been thrust into the global spotlight.
The province of 55 million people is advantageously located on Chinas east coast, south of Shanghai. It is easily accessible via the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, the worlds fourth longest transoceanic bridge.
Zhejiang boasts of advanced infrastructure, with 2,600 kilometers of railway, almost 120,000 kilometers of highways, and one of the top five busiest ports in the world. These factors, along with a rapidly developing business environment, have led Zhejiang to become one of the strongest and most diverse provincial economies in China.
A growing number of foreign firms are choosing Zhejiang as the location for their Chinese investments. The province offers great opportunities to potential China entrants, including a range of economic development zones. To take advantage of these opportunities, the economy of Zhejiang and recent foreign direct investment (FDI) trends must be understood.
Zhejiangs economy
In 2018, Zhejiangs provincial gross domestic product (GDP) reached RMB 5.6 trillion (US$836 billion), the fourth highest in China, growing 7.1 percent on the previous year 0.5 percentage points higher than the national average.
More than half of this GDP comes from the services sector, with a further 41.8 percent contributed by secondary industries, including manufacturing. Agriculture and related industries make up the final 3.5 percent.
Zhejiangs GDP per capita was RMB 98,643 (US$14,676) in 2018, almost triple what it was 10 years previously. Its urban households had an average disposable income of RMB 55,574 (US$8,242) compared with RMB 27,302 (US$4,049) for their rural counterparts.
Zhejiang has a very strong private economy. The private sector contributes to 56 percent of the provinces tax revenue, 77 percent of exports, 65 percent of the provincial GDP, and 80 percent of the jobs created.
Whats more, Zhejiang boasts strong performance in commodity circulation and is one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets. It has over 4,400 differently commodity trading markets. The transaction volume of these 4,400 markets and the number of the markets which have yearly trading volume exceeding RMB 100 million (US$15 million) have ranked the first in China for 24 successive years.
Zhejiangs economy is also relatively open, having established direct economic cooperation and trade relations with more than 200 regions around the world, according to the local department of commerce.
By the end of 2018, 182 of the top 500 global enterprises had invested in Zhejiang. By 2017, Zhejiang had welcomed 61,080 foreign-invested enterprises with a total investment including foreign investors registered capital and loans of US$622.8 billion and the actual utilization of foreign capital of US$194.1 billion.
The GDP figures for the major cities in Zhejiang can be seen in the table below.
Hangzhou, the largest city and provincial capital, is home to a number of major e-commerce players in the Chinese market (for example, Alibaba and Net Ease) and is challenging Shenzhen and Beijing for the title of Chinas Silicon Valley.
The city of Ningbo is home to the worlds busiest port by throughput tonnage; over one billion tons of goods passed through the Ningbo-Zhoushan port in 2018. The city of Jiaxing functions as a transportation hub between Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou, which is why it is on the radar of many foreign companies. Interestingly, Lego, the worlds leading toy production company, established one factory in the city at the end of 2016. It produces an estimated 70 to 80 percent of all Lego products sold in Asia.
FDI in Zhejiang
Utilized inward FDI in Zhejiang has almost doubled over the last decade, reaching US$18.6 billion in 2018 to rank fifth in the country. Hangzhou was the largest recipient of FDI with 36.6 percent of the total, followed by Ningbo (23.2 percent), and Jiaxing (16.8 percent).
In terms of origin country, in 2017, 68 percent of the FDI came from Hong Kong. Setting up a holding company in Hong Kong with representative offices in China is a popular method of entering the Chinese market, which explain this actuality. British Virgin Islands (3 percent), Japan (2.7 percent), Singapore (2.2 percent), and Germany (1.9 percent) also contribute significant proportions of the FDI and make up the top five.
Industry-wise, the service industries accounted for over US$12 billion (64.4 percent) of the FDI into Zhejiang in 2018. Specifically, wholesale and retail, real estate, financial services, and research and development are the main investment areas.
The other 35.5 percent (US$6.6 billion) of the investment by foreign firms was in secondary industries, primarily in manufacturing operations, which received US$5.97 billion of foreign capital. Major industries targeted include electronic and communication equipment manufacturing, integrated circuit manufacturing, and medical device manufacturing.
Since the beginning of the decade, there has been a marked shift in the destination of foreign investment into Zhejiang. 2010 saw a majority of FDI going into manufacturing operations. In contrast, service industries received the bulk of foreign investment in 2018.
Local governments, at the city and provincial level, have begun to be more selective over the investments that they attract. An attempt to control pollution through stricter regulations, steeper taxes, and fines has contributed to the shift away from manufacturing and towards service industries.
Additionally, the labor intensive nature of manufacturing and rising wages on Chinas east coast have forced potential investors to look elsewhere when setting up factories.
Development zones
According to statistics from the Department of Commerce for Zhejiang, Zhejiangs major development zones attracted about US$8.8 billion of FDI in 2018, more than 42 percent of the provinces total FDI received.
There are different types of development zones in Zhejiang, including free trade zones, bonded zones, and technical development zones.
Free trade zones
Officially launched in Zhoushan island on April 1, 2017, the Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is Chinas only free trade zone that consists of both land and sea anchorage.
The FTZ has unique geographical advantages and rich port shoreline resources. It focuses on business, like bulk commodity transshipment, processing trade, bonded fuel oil supply, equipment manufacturing, aviation manufacturing, international maritime services, international trade, and bonded processing.
Until February 2019, Zhejiang FTZ was home to 12,501 enterprises. The cumulative contractual utilization of foreign capital was US$5.05 billion, and the actual utilization of foreign capital was US$410 million.
The zone is an ideal location for trading companies. Preferential policies include exemption from licenses, import/export quotas, and VAT on imported goods.
Economic and technical development zones
There are 21 national-level and 54 provincial-level development zones in Zhejiang. These development zones received a total of US$8.03 billion in FDI in 2018, contributing to more than 40 percent of the provinces FDI.
The largest such zone is the Ningbo Economic and Technological Zone, which attracted US$0.98 billion of investment in 2018. This zone is home to multinationals such as ExxonMobil, Samsung, and AXA. Other prominent zones include Xiaoshan Economic Development Zone (US$0.45 billion), Jiashan Economic Development Zone (US$0.42 billion), Pinghu Economic Development Zone (US$0.41 billion), and Ningbo Hangzhou Bay Development Area (US$0.4 billion).
A number of these zones have industry specific incentives to attract similar firms and create a cluster of agglomeration and knowledge sharing, which has been proven to lead to the faster development of industries.
International Industrial Cooperation Park
Zhejiangs international industrial cooperation parks are usually built in various economic development zones, seeking key developed countries and countries along the Belt and Road as their cooperative partners.
According to the local department of commerce, by the end of 2018, 19 international industrial cooperation parks in Zhejiang province successfully introduced more than 880 national cooperative projects with a total investment of more than US$9.08 billion. The prioritized industrial projects relate to information, environmental protection, health, tourism, fashion, finance, and high-end equipment manufacturing.
Other special customs supervision areas
Zhejiang has eight special customs supervision areas. Besides the Zhejiang FTZ, there are four comprehensive bonded zones, two export processing zones, and one bonded port.
These zones implement the tax and foreign exchange preferential policies of bonded areas, which include exemption from Custom Duty and VAT on raw materials, parts, office equipment, and other self-use equipment, as well as a VAT refund on any goods exported from the zone.
International transshipment, distribution, procurement, entrepot trade, export processing, and other businesses can develop here.
In addition, two big comprehensive bonded zones the Hangzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone and Zhoushan Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone have been included into the pilot program for enterprises to qualify as general taxpayers of value-added tax for in-zone enterprises to explore the domestic market.
Opportunities for foreign firms
The logistics strength, location, and presence of economic development zones, free trade zones, and export processing zones makes Zhejiang an ideal location for foreign companies.
Both international and domestic transport links are strong here. In addition, Zhejiang has nine airports, three of which are international airports, as well as an international rail freight system. The first freight train from China to the UK arrived in London from Yiwu, Zhejiang in 2017 making it easy to transport goods and materials to and from Zhejiang.
In its 2019 provincial level meeting, the government set the goal to maintain steady growth of actual foreign investment in Zhejiang. Measures include easing market access by implementing the negative list for foreign investment and improving the investment environment by protecting FIEs intellectual property rights.
The foreign investment access standards may be lowered for some prioritized industries, such as those catering to the digital economy, biomedicine, and high-end manufacturing. Potential entrants in these markets should stay up to date with any subsidies and preferential policies introduced that may be relevant to them.
This article was updated on June 5, 2019 to reflect the latest developments.
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Six people have been killed and 8 others wounded in a shooting at the Islamic Cultural Center in Quebec City in Canada.
Gunmen opened fire on dozens of people in the local mosque where people had gathered for evening prayers.
Police are treating the incident as a terror attack.
Two suspects are in custody.
Local police in Quebec City are not providing any details about the shooters themselves at this point.
Flash
Australian dual national passport holders will be able to enter the United States despite President Donald Trump's executive order banning entry from seven Muslim-majority nations, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed on Tuesday.
There were fears that dual national Australians who hold a passport from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen would be turned around at the U.S. borders after Trump ordered the 90-day travel ban for those nations, but Turnbull said Australians who hold a second passport will be allowed to come and go from the United States "in the usual way."
"Our Ambassador (to the United States) has just called me to say he has assurances from the White House that Australian passport holders, regardless of their place of birth or if they're dual nationals, will remain welcome to come and go to the United States in the usual way," Turnbull told Sky News.
The Turnbull government said it supports the United States' right to protect its borders, but the opposition and other politicians have labeled the prime minister "weak" while other world leaders, including those from Britain and Germany, denounced Trump's executive order.
It is believed that more than 110,000 Australians were born in the seven banned nations, with many holding dual passports. They will no longer be affected by the ban.
Despite Tuesday morning's developments, the opposition has increased pressure on the government to join other nations in condemning the immigration ban.
Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Turnbull showed a lack of "moral leadership" in not denouncing Trump's executive order.
Flash
Zambian President Edgar Lungu
Zambian President Edgar Lungu will host a high-level meeting on the implementation of the Common African Position (CAP) on ending child marriage in Africa in collaboration with the African Union (AU) Commission.
The event will be held on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 28th AU summit in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa in line with the 2017 AU theme "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth," according to a statement from AU on Monday.
The AU Commission launched a continental campaign in May 2014 to end child marriage on the continent.
Several activities have been undertaken by the pan-African bloc together with its member states and partners on national launches, capacity building workshops, as well as monitoring and evaluation, noted the statement.
The high-level breakfast event will provide a platform for assessing the implementation of CAP on ending child marriage, adopted by AU heads of state and government at the 25th Session of the AU Assembly in Johannesburg, South Africa, said the statement.
The event will focus on establishing a high-level monitoring and evaluation forum on the implementation of the CAP.
The AU Assembly has called on the AU Commission to develop a plan of action for the implementation of the CAP on ending child marriage in Africa and to submit a biennial report to the Assembly on the progress.
The African Common Position Ending Child Marriage affirms the importance of strong network of child welfare and law enforcement structures in ensuring justice for child brides, says AU.
COLUMBUS Area county attorneys say the pinch will be felt locally in probation and juvenile services if lawmakers follow through on Gov. Pete Ricketts proposal to slash $8.2 million from the judicial branch in the states next two-year budget.
Platte County Attorney Carl Hart said Nebraska Chief Justice Michael Heavican got it right when he spoke on the floor of the Legislature earlier this month in remarks that demonstrated his skepticism of the proposal that spending cuts would line up with the intent of justice reinvestment.
The aim of justice reinvestment was to provide funding and structure to probation services to permit greater supervision of low-level offenders through community-based resources, Hart said.
The Platte County prosecutor said the chief justice got the dynamics of the argument right, and keeping low-level offenders out of prison doesnt square with spending cutbacks aimed at community-based probation services.
Its going to affect us here at the local level, Hart said.
Colfax County Attorney Denise Kracl agreed.
We cant keep people out of prison if dollars for juvenile and adult probation services in the community are cut, Kracl said.
The Colfax County attorney said services that would feel the impact include programs aimed at keeping juveniles in school and out of the courtroom. Adult substance abuse support programs could also lose funds, making it more difficult to keep nonviolent, low-level drug offenders out of prison, she said.
Kracl said lawmakers need to give the justice reinvestment reforms more time to work.
In the last five years, the prosecutor said, Colfax County has slashed its spending on detention of juvenile offenders by more than 60 percent.
I understand the (state) budget needs to be tightened, but its short-sighted not looking to the future, Kracl said.
The chief justice was plain-spoken when he said if local communities can't adequately supervise and rehabilitate adult offenders to protect abused spouses, abused children and the state's homeowners and merchants judges will sentence offenders to prison.
Its an issue of public safety, Hart said. Our district judges will send people to prison.
Heavican told lawmakers the state spends $35,000 a year to house one prison inmate, while it spends $8,000 to $10,000 to supervise a high-risk probationer or $3,000 to $4,000 for medium- or low-risk probationers.
Its up to the Legislature to decide, Hart said. Im just in the trenches. Theyve got a tough job down there in the Legislature.
BRUNO Chris Dvorak was 22 years old when her father Herman Ostry decided he was going to have hundreds of people pick up his 16,000-pound barn and move it.
I didnt really know what was going to happen, she said.
The story spread far and wide before the move even happened.
Brunos centennial celebration was coming up and Ostry's wife, Donna, wrote a couple of verses to an old Czech polka about the history of the town. One of their neighbors played it in small towns across Nebraska with his polka band, but Donna didnt learn until later he added a verse about how Ostry was moving his barn that same weekend.
And it was quite a weekend for the occasion. In addition to the centennial celebration, there was a school reunion, which is how thousands onlookers came to watch 344 people pick up a barn and move it to a location where it wouldn't be flooded.
They just came, said Ostry. I didnt even have to work at it.
Its one of those stories that resurfaces every couple of years, Dvorak said. And now it popped up again in a childrens book that raises money for a foster care advocacy group.
Jason Weber, the national director of foster care initiatives at Christian Alliance for Orphans, was preparing for a series of talks to get more organizations involved in foster care when he thought of a story he heard about a farmer who got a bunch of people to move his barn.
Id heard it at some point, dont remember where, dont remember when, he said. So I Googled it.
Weber found a newspaper article about the move and thought itd be a great way to illustrate what his organization is trying to do.
That became a really helpful way to talk about how the foster care system is and getting folks to work together to solve this problem, he said.
So one morning, he turned the story into a childrens book, "Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn."
I was thinking about what are effective ways to communicate messages about the things were passionate about, Weber said. I looked at the childrens books we have and read over and over and thought, this could be a great way to communicate that about the problems of foster care and what families can do together to help.
Weber, who lives in Texas, was in Lincoln for a conference and decided to drive to Bruno to meet with the Ostrys and see the barn. He wanted to ask them if he could turn their story into a book to raise money to help foster children.
I said, Go for it, said Ostry. If it touches even a little bit and cheers (children) up, what more could you ask for?
Weber also had an idea for how he wanted to illustrate the book. He wanted to ask 344 people to draw one element a cat, boot, house or goat and have an illustrator use all those images in the book. And he wanted the Ostry family to contribute.
He asked Donna if she could draw a sun.
Her face lit up and she said, Oh, youve seen my sun, said Weber.
He hadnt, but Donna painted suns all over signs and the barn to advertise Brunos centennial celebration in 1988. She drew another version of that sun for the book.
Its a symbol of the constant presence of God, whether you see him or not, said Weber.
While Weber was at the farm talking with Ostry about the book, he still wasnt sure how, or if, he could pull off having 344 people illustrate it.
I said, You know theres some people that think its crazy to get 344 people to illustrate a book, said Weber. And he said, Yeah, thats what they told me, too. But sometimes you have to do something a little bit crazy to get something done.'"
Dvorak and two of her children also contributed drawings for the book, as well as Duck Dynasty star John Luke Robertson and the Christian band Jars of Clay.
The Ostrys got a few copies and donated some to the school library at Howells-Dodge.
That librarian there said she cant keep it on the shelf, said Dvorak. She ordered some more and wants my dad to autograph them.
Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn is available on Amazon. Classroom and Sunday school kits are available at the Christian Alliance for Orphans website, cafo.org.
BEIJING - Amid the country's effort to build a greener energy system, the country's raw coal production by its large-size coal companies continued to decline in 2016.
Combined raw coal production from the country's designated large coal companies with annual turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about $2.9 million) stood at 3.36 billion tons in 2016, down 9.4 percent from 2015, latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed.
Raw coal production from those companies in December 2016 alone was 310 million tons, down 3 percent year on year, said the NBS.
Coal is the main energy source in China, accounting for 64 percent of total energy consumption in 2015.
Cutting overcapacity in sectors including coal and steel is part of the country's supply-side structural reform and high on the government agenda.
The world's largest coal producer and consumer will cut outdated coal capacity by 800 million tons per year by 2020, while increasing use of cleaner coal by 500 million tons each year, according to the coal industry 2016-2020 development plan.
Foreign actors perform at a temple fair during the week-long Spring Festival holiday in Linyi, East China's Shandong province, Jan 30, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
BEIJING - Some 258.1 million visitor trips have been made in China during the first four days of the Lunar New Year holiday, which started Friday, a 14.2 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to official data.
From Friday to Monday, China's tourism revenue reached 316 billion yuan ($45.95 billion), up 16 percent year on year, data from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) showed.
The CNTA previously expected that China will see 343 million visitor trips during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, a growth of 13.6 percent from the holiday last year.
It also estimated that over six million Chinese people will travel abroad during the holiday.
In a separate statement on Monday, the CNTA asked local authorities to step up efforts to ensure travel safety during the holiday after recent tragedies, warning that the rise in tourist number will increase the chance of accidents.
A boat carrying 27 Chinese tourists sank off Malaysia's Sabah state on North Borneo on Saturday evening. A total of 20 Chinese were rescued, three were found dead, and four are still unaccounted for.
Also, a man died after being attacked by a tiger in a zoo in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo on Sunday afternoon.
A tiger that was shot to death after fatally injuring a man who had sneaked into its enclosure on Sunday in Ningbo has drawn sympathy from Chinese netizens, many of whom also expressed condolences for the family of the dead man.
There also were disagreements on who should be blamed and often it wasn't the tiger.
The man who died, surnamed Zhang, was reported to have climbed the walls at Youngor Zoo to avoid paying the 130 yuan ($18.90) entrance fee, but landed in the tiger enclosure, according to the Ningbo Dongqian Lake Tourist Resort Administrative Committee.
Zhang was cornered by three tigers. One clenched its jaws around his neck and head, refusing to retreat even when zookeepers lit firecrackers.
The mauling happened in front of the middle-aged man's wife and two children.
"The tiger was killed trying to catch the guy who avoided paying the zoo ticket. I feel bad for the zoo, the tiger and the guy's family," Chen Ou, CEO of Jumei, an online beauty products retailer, said on his Weibo account.
"Save it, people. This is Spring Festival. Death is death, no matter how hard you curse," said one user on Weibo. "The tiger can never be revived." While it appeared he was referring to the dead man, his last comment made clear that wasn't necessarily the case.
The comment received thousands of "likes".
Still, one of Zhang's relatives, surnamed Yang, said, "Even if he (Zhang) climbed over the walls to get in, it was the zoo's mismanagement."
In July, tigers in a drive-through wildlife park in Beijing mauled a woman and killed her elderly mother, who tried to save her. The woman, who broke the rules by leaving the car, sued the park.
In May, a 3-year-old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo in the US. A 200-kilogram male gorilla named Harambe was shot to death while dragging the child away. There was a debate over whether Harambe was trying to harm the boy or protect him.
Adults in Fujian province who are the product of single-child families will be guaranteed paid leave of up to 10 days annually if they need to care for older parents who are hospitalized, according to legislation passed by the province's top legislature.
The measure was passed on Jan 22 and is set to go into effect on March 1. It is intended to protect residents at age 60 or above, but some experts and members of the public say they are doubtful it will work in the private sector.
It says that wages and benefits for those without siblings who take time off for the specified purpose should continue to be paid.
Employers who refuse to continue paying wages and benefits will be punished, said Xu Hua, vice-chairwoman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Fujian Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee.
If employers still refuse to pay past a deadline, the Department of Human Resources and Social Security will levy fines ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 yuan ($290 to $2,900) in accordance with Regulations on Supervision of Labor Security, Xu said. They also will be listed as "promise breakers" and will be restricted in bidding, market access and obtaining financing, she said.
There were 5.15 million seniors aged 60 and above in Fujian by the end of 2015, representing 13.4 percent of the province's population. For the whole country, the number was 222 million, or more than 16 percent of the population.
Fujian's new measure follows a national law passed in 1996 by the country's top legislative body on the "protection of the rights and interests of the elderly". The law was amended twice in 2012 and 2015. According to the latest amendment, seniors have the right to obtain material assistance from the State. It also says families are required to care for them.
The Fujian regulation builds upon the national law by adding more detailed provisions, said Gan Mantang, a sociology professor at Fuzhou University.
But while calling paid leave "innovative", he said it will be difficult to put into practice.
"Workers are not even paid now for some normal vacations. It remains doubtful that this paid leave will be carried out."
He said it probably can be put into practice in State-owned institutions, but it may not be so easy in private companies, he added.
Han Yongjing, an assistant to a real estate company's chief financial officer in Fuzhou, Fujian's provincial capital, said public servants may benefit from the policy but doubts the same will apply in the private sector.
Contact the writer at houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn
video video video
When the brush pen in his hand gently moved to the end of the last stroke of the Chinese character "Chun" meaning spring, the blue veins on his forehead became less visible and his jaw loosened a bit as a grin spread across his boyish and confident face.
Satisfied with his final stroke, he handed the complete work of Chinese calligraphy couplets to his elder twin brother who had the same innocent but a bit shy look.
"Let my big brother, who came up with what the couplets should read, interpret it," said the younger one.
Pasting couplets on the door of one's home is one of the most important Chinese New Year customs in the country. For the 24-year-old twins from Jiaohe, a county-level city in Northeast China's Jilin province, making their own couplets instead of buying printed ones is a family tradition that has been maintained for six years.
The twin surnamed Zhang, whose given names are, respectively, Chao and Yue, together meaning "becoming outstanding" in Chinese, are fans of Chinese traditional culture; and, they both are postgraduates of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
"The couplets convey our best wishes both for motherland and our own family. On the one hand, they send a message that we appreciate the prosperity of today's China; and on the other hand, harmony within our family is praised as one character from each of my parents' names are respectively arranged in the left roll and right roll of the couplets," said the elder brother Zhang Chao.
The younger is always cheerful while the elder is more considerate, always ready to help his mother whenever she is with him.
LINDSAY An area man and woman are facing drug charges after a passerby reported an accident Saturday morning along Highway 91 west of Lindsay, where a vehicle drove off the road and into a ditch.
The concerned citizen reported the crash about 9:30 a.m. Saturday to Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Kevin Stary, who was on patrol in the Humphrey area.
The trooper arrived at the scene to find a 46-year-old man and 44-year-old woman approaching the 2008 Pontiac Torrent in the south ditch along the highway.
Stary said Patricia Bader reported she was driving the SUV involved in the crash, which happened around 1 a.m., and she notified the county sheriffs office about the accident. Bader said Roger Weichman was a passenger in the vehicle.
Weichman was arrested at the accident scene, following a records check, on an outstanding Dodge County warrant for a drug offense.
Stary wrote in his probable cause arrest statement that the SUV was towed to Humphrey and an inventory of the vehicle revealed a digital scale and substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.
Weichman and Bader both face charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Weichman will also be cited for an open container of alcohol, the trooper said.
Bond was set for Weichman at $75,000, 10 percent allowed for release, and he was scheduled for a Feb. 8 felony first appearance hearing.
Weichman remained in the county jail Monday morning.
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Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waves to the crowd at a Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver, BC, Canada January 29, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau led a procession of political leaders, community groups and dancers through Vancouver's historic Chinatown Sunday morning for the city's annual Chinese New Year Parade.
Under a heavy rain and flanked by Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Chinese Consul General to Vancouver, Liu Fei, Trudeau walked surrounded by photographers and his stern security unit up Pender Street - the main artery Vancouver's 130-year-old Chinese district.
Spectators crammed shoulder-to-shoulder along the sidewalks as fire crackers snapped over a din of drums.
British Columbia's Premier Christy Clark greeted spectators and handed out lucky red envelopes to children along the 1.3-kilometer parade route, wishing them a happy new year.
Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar (Front), director general of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, briefs media on the rescue mission of the boat accident in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on Jan 30, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]
Related: Search continues for the missing in boat accident in Malaysia
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia -- No new survivors of a boat carrying Chinese tourists sank off Malaysia's Sabah state were found Monday, while authorities have launched investigation into the accident, arresting the boat owner and two crew members.
Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, director general of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, told Xinhua via phone that no new survivors were found and the search and rescue would continue.
Speaking to a press conference, Ahmad Puzi said the search area had been expanded to 2,400 square nautical miles, involving assets from his agency as well as Malaysian navy and air force. Neighboring Brunei has sent aircraft to search its waters.
The search faces challenges caused by strong wind and rough sea, but "that were not the excuses and problem for us to continue the operations," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities have started investigation into the accident. Prime Minister Najib Razak said on a social media posting that he saw the tragedy seriously and want a detailed investigation to find out the cause of the incident.
The skipper and the crewman were arrested for suspecting causing death by negligence, said Sabah police chief Ramli Din. The two crew members were the first to be rescued after their boat sank on Saturday on the way from the state capital Kota Kinabalu to Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist island some 60 km to the west.
The owner was arrested later on Monday, and police has launched a full probe into the accident, including whether the boat was overloaded and whether it was operated with license and insurance, Ramli told Xinhua.
Sabah police chief Ramli Din (2nd L) briefs media on the investigation of the missing boat carrying Chinese tourists in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on Jan 30, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]
"We will investigate from all angles, pertaining to negligence if any," he said.
Ramli said the boat was carrying 27 Chinese tourists instead of 28 as reported earlier. One tourist was registered for the trip but cancelled the visit after seeing the boat was full.
That brings the number of unaccounted for down to five, including a crewman, not six as reported earlier, he said. China's Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu said the new figure would have to be verified.
The passengers and crew were left adrift at sea after the boat sank in rough sea, before 20 Chinese tourists were rescued Sunday. Three tourists were found dead.
The tourists were sent back to Kota Kinabalu early Monday and admitted to a hospital. All suffered from sunburn and dehydration but were in stable conditions, according to the hospital.
A Chinese tourist who went to Pulau Mengalum for snorkeling on Saturday recalled the bumpy trip in bad weather. "It almost broke my waist," she told Xinhua. She also recalled the crowded boat and the fact that many passengers were not wearing life jackets.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, right, talks to reporters as Gov. Jay Inslee, left, looks, Jan 30, 2017, in Seattle.[Photo/IC]
SEATTLE Washington state's attorney general declared Monday that he was suing President Donald Trump over his temporary ban on immigration from seven countries with majority-Muslim populations, making it the first state to announce a legal action against the Trump administration over one of its policies.
Trump's executive order also suspended the United States' entire refugee program and set off nationwide protests over the weekend, including one that drew 3,000 people to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
"If successful it would have the effect of invalidating the president's unlawful action nationwide," Attorney General Bob Ferguson said at a news conference.
Ferguson was one of 16 state attorneys general who released a statement Sunday calling Trump's immigration action "un-American and unlawful."Trump has repeatedly said Friday's order suspending immigration for citizens of the seven countries for 90 days is aimed at protecting the nation against extremists looking to attack Americans and US interests.
The lawsuit against Trump, the US Department of Homeland Security and high-ranking Trump administration officials was filed in federal court in Seattle.
The complaint seeks to have key provisions of the executive order declared unconstitutional, Ferguson said. The state is also asking for a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the order.
"We are a country based on the rule of law, and in a courtroom it is not the loudest voice that prevails, it's the Constitution," Ferguson said. "At the end of the day, either you're abiding by the Constitution or you are not. And in our view, the president is not adhering to the Constitution when it comes to this executive action."Declarations of support from Amazon and Expedia two Washington state-based businesses will be filed with the lawsuit, said Ferguson, who was joined at the news conference by Gov. Jay Inslee.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, also supports Ferguson's efforts, said Dominic Carr, general manager for public affairs. The company will be happy to testify more if needed, Carr said.
The complaint claims that Trump's actions are separating Washington families, harming thousands of state residents, damaging the state economy, hurting Washington-based companies "and undermining Washington's sovereign interest in remaining a welcoming place for immigrants and refugees," Ferguson said.
Inslee said the "inhumanity" of Trump's order is obvious.
"This is un-American, it is wrong, and it will not stand," Inslee said. "The clear intent of this executive order is to discriminate against one faith amongst all God's children."Asked if he fears retaliation from the Trump administration, Inslee said "there's no predicting this president, but we will not yield, we will not be leveraged, we will not be threatened, we will not be intimidated."Inslee said he learned the hard way over the years "you do not back down to bullies."Ferguson said he has been in contact with other attorneys general but at this point Washington state was acting on its own regarding the legal action.
The Port of Seattle said over the weekend that people who were detained at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as a result of Trump's order have been released.
US Rep. Pramila Jayapal said Sunday that two individuals were released. One is a citizen of Sudan and the other a citizen of Yemen, both countries named in Trump's order.
SEOUL-- Defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States on Tuesday reaffirmed the bilateral agreement to deploy the US missile shield, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in the Republic of Korea (ROK) soil.
Seoul's defense ministry said that South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo held the first telephone talks with his US counterpart James Mattis, who became the first defense secretary under the Trump administration Monday.
During the dialogue, they shared security situations on the Korean Peninsula, agreeing to strengthen their defense capability against nuclear and missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and develop the bilateral alliance under severe security environment.
The defense chiefs expressed serious concerns about top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's New Year's Day address that said Pyongyang had entered a final stage in preparations to test-launch the long-range ballistic rocket.
Han and Mattis agreed to push the THAAD installation as scheduled and beef up close cooperation in DPRK policy between defense authorities.
Seoul and Washington abruptly announced the agreement in July last year to deploy one THAAD battery in the ROK's southeastern region by the end of this year.
It caused strong oppositions from China and Russia as the THAAD's X-band radar can peer into territories of the two nations. The US anti-missile shield is composed of the super microwave-emitting radar, six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors and the fire control unit.
The radar also caused a barrage of criticism from residents in Seongju county, where the THAAD is scheduled to be installed, and its nearby Gimcheon city as it is detrimental to environment and human body.
The absense of open discussions stoked parliamentary and public objections. Some of conservative voters believe that the THAAD is a cure-all to protect the ROK from the DPRK's nuclear threats, but others raise doubts over its intercepting capability and worry about escalated tensions and arms race in the region.
The THAAD is designed to shoot down incoming missiles at an altitude of 40-150 km, but most of DPRK missiles targeting Seoul fly at an altitude of less than 40 km.
The US missile shield is also incapable of protecting Seoul and its suburban metropolitan area, which has more than half of the country's 50 million population.
A Malaysian maritime rescuer searches for the missing Chinese tourists after a boat accident off the Sabah state on North Borneo on January 31, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
KOTA KINABALU -- Search efforts continued on Tuesday for the missing people in a boat accident off Malaysia's Sabah state on North Borneo.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said the operations would cover 3,000 square nautical miles with planes and ships from the agency as well as Malaysian navy and air force, as neighboring Brunei also sent planes and ships to search its waters.
Adam Aziz, a regional official of the agency, said the search and rescue personnel were rushing the golden hours of finding the missing. "We will continue the operation and step up the search efforts," he said.
Sabah police chief Ramli Din said the latest investigation put the figure of the missing at six, including five tourists and one crewman. One survivor had brought his wife and daughter but only his name were registered, he said. The two remained unaccounted for.
Police also found that one passenger was listed twice, he said.
It was first reported that the boat was carrying 28 Chinese tourists and three crew members, when the boat sank off Sabah on Saturday. Twenty tourists and two crew members have been rescued so far.
Police said Monday that one tourist had registered for the trip but didn't get on board. There's possibilities of more changes on the number of the missing, Ramli said.
China's Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu said they were notified but the new figure needed to be further verified.
Six Chinese delegates pose for a group photo during the forum. From left to right: Meng Jun, Guo Xinli, Wang Yuan, Zheng Bozhong,Sun Hairuo and Gaoshan Junjian. [Photo by Lindsey Thoeng of UN Publications/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Over 20 Chinese young people are attending a forum at the United Nations today and Wednesday to discuss with their worldwide counterparts the role of youth in promoting a sustainable future for all.
The Chinese representatives are from the UN System in China, the government of China, NGOs, universities and high schools. Among them, six delegates, including Wang Yuan, a member of the well-known band TFboys, Sun Hairuo and Zheng Bozhong, both students at the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, will participate in the forum on behalf of the UN Country Team in China.
They will participate and speak in various discussions related to issues such as health, education, gender equality and environmental protection.
The 6th UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, which will focus on "the Role of Youth in Poverty Eradication and Promoting Prosperity in a Changing World," provides a critical global platform where youth ministers and other government leaders, youth delegates, representatives from civil society and youth-focused organizations can contribute to discussions on issues affecting young people.
This year, more than 500 youth advocates from around the world will participate in the forum to look at how young people can play an increasingly significant role in advancing implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At the two-day annual event, participants will focus on several key areas, including poverty eradication; youth employment and economic empowerment; gender equality; health and wellbeing; climate change and the importance of technology in implementing the SDGs, as well as the need to identify regional priorities for youth development.
The UN System in China consists of 25 UN funds, programs and specialized agencies resident in China. All UN entities in China work in partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations at various levels to support the government to implement its national development objectives, as well as Internationally Agreed Development Goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN in China focuses its work on poverty reduction and equitable development, improved and sustainable environment, and enhanced global engagement.
On Oct 24, the 71st anniversary of the UN, the UN System in China launched the UN China Imagine 2030 Campaign. The theme of this campaign is Imagine 2030, which aims to bring more young people's attention to development as well as SDGs, and calls on them to take action in implementing SDGs.
Chinese companies have shifted the focus of their overseas acquisitions, away from natural resources toward innovative technology and robotics, according to a report from a London-based law firm.
The annual M&A Trends by Clifford Chance found German industrials were a major target in 2016.
The report noted Chinese private and State-owned enterprises were increasingly targeting technology in an attempt to gather commercial and technical knowhow with a view to using it in Chinese operations.
Neeraj Budhwani, a Clifford Chance M&A partner based in Hong Kong, told China Daily: "Chinas appetite for offshore assets remains voracious, but were seeing a shift of focus Technology companies are actively seeking out opportunities in the fin tech sector, with a view to bringing more innovative technology back to the country to further develop and enhance their own domestic prospects, and by extension, those of the Chinese economy."
The report also notes that the move toward high-end technology is in line with Beijing's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) and its Made in China 2025 policy. The study said the strategy is to develop China into a more advanced industrial society that places great emphasis on innovation, intelligent manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
But the report warned of growing concerns in Germany that Chinese acquisitions will affect Germany's industrial sector and about the security of industrial and corporate data in the hands of Chinese-owned companies.
Meanwhile, the report found Chinese outbound mergers and acquisitions rose 114 percent globally in 2016 in comparison to the previous year.
Chinese bidders spent $208.6 billion last year, driven by industrial, chemical and technological deals in Europe and North America. The report noted Chinese investment into Europe was up 201 percent, and in North America, it rose by 412 percent.
The momentum came from a range of factors, including an abundance of capital and cheap debt, the pursuit of growth outside a slowing economy, and efforts to meet the demands of a more affluent middle class.
Clifford Chance also highlighted the possible impact on Chinese outbound M&A of newly-announced regulations on capital outflows.
Terence Foo, an M&A partner based in Beijing, said: "Despite the introduction of restrictions on capital outflows in China, we are helping Chinese buyers explore more innovative funding structures. We remain cautiously optimistic about the longer term ability of China to sustain a strong level of outbound M&A activity."
Medics transport a survivor at a jetty in Kota Kinabalu in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah on Monday after a tourist catamaran sank on Saturday. AFP
The latest: Malaysia further expands search area for those missing in boat accident
Passengers recount enduring 30 hours in water; six remain missing
Malaysian authorities said on Tuesday they would continue searching for five missing Chinese tourists and a crew member from a tour boat that foundered in rough waters on Saturday night.
While relatives of the missing anxiously awaited news, passengers who were rescued began to recount their horrific experience.
The boat, carrying 31 people 28 Chinese tourists and three crew members lost contact with marine authorities after it left Kota Kinabalu, headed to Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist island 60 kilometers to the west, on Saturday.
The boat went down after being hit by heavy waves and the tourists, tied together in life jackets, were swept away by the current, officials said. They were saved by Malaysian fishermen after being afloat for more than 30 hours.
Aside from the six missing people, three tourists were found dead on Sunday, while 22 people, including the boats captain and another crew member, were rescued.
On Tuesday, authorities said they had launched an investigation.
Also on Tuesday, the rescued tourists were being treated at a hospital in Kota Kinabalu. All were sunburned and dehydrated but in stable condition, according to the hospital.
Tourist Fan Lixia said she and other passengers held onto the body of a dead friend for as long as they could while treading water after the catamaran capsized in the South China Sea.
The catamaran, on a Lunar New Year cruise, sank on Saturday off the coast of Borneo after being battered by heavy waves.
Fan said the tourists, who had life jackets on, were swept away by the current and struggled in the cold water for more than 30 hours.
If we were found any later, I dont think I would have survived, she told reporters at a hospital in Kota Kinabalu, capital of Malaysias Sabah state on Borneo.
My friend died. We dragged his body around for half a day, but we couldnt manage any more so we had to let it go.
Fellow survivor Yang Yaoru said their collective will helped them endure. They shared the little food they had and urged each other to stay alive.
Yang, who was on holiday with her mother, said the survivors huddled together to try to shake off the cold and did not loosen their grip.
Yang said she was especially concerned about her mother, who was not a good swimmer.
If I had died, my mother couldnt have survived by herself ... I must bring my mother home, the 24-year-old Yang told Chinese broadcaster CCTV.
Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, head of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, told a news conference in Kota Kinabalu that no new survivors were found on Monday.
The search, which has been expanded to more than 8,200 square kilometers, faces challenges caused by strong winds and rough seas, but it will continue, he said.
Chinas Foreign Ministry on Monday asked Malaysia to maintain its search and rescue effort. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang also said that China hopes the Malaysian side will carry out a fair and objective investigation to find out the truth as early as possible.
The ships owner and the two rescued crew members have been detained on accusations of causing death by negligence, said Sabah police chief Ramli Din.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has said that he wants a detailed investigation into the cause of the incident.
O'NEILL Over coffee and pie slices, Nebraska's pipeline fighters rallied Monday, laying out plans and crafting a strategy to stop, delay or reroute construction of the Keystone XL.
We are here, yet again, as we have been many times before in this room, to talk about how to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. For most of us in this room it won't be the first time, or the second time, it will be the third time that we stop the Keystone XL, Jane Kleeb, leader of the left-leaning activist group Bold Alliance, told the crowd of close to 150 people gathered at the O'Neill Community Center.
"Stopping the Keystone falls on our shoulders.
Former President Barack Obama twice denied a permit TransCanada needs to build across the border between the U.S. and Canada, the last time saying the United States must lead efforts to curb climate-warming emissions.
This time it won't be national environmental advocacy groups or politicians who stop the Keystone XL pipeline -- resurrected earlier this month with a stroke of President Donald Trump's pen -- rather it will be farmers, ranchers and American Indians fighting before the Nebraska Public Service Commission and in courts, Kleeb told the group.
First proposed in 2008, the Keystone XL has long been a contentious issue in Nebraska. Political and legal battles here led to years of delays for the project and thrust the state into the national limelight as the project became a symbol of how the U.S. should approach climate change concerns.
TransCanada wants to build the 36-inch diameter underground pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta, south through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska meeting up with an existing network of pipelines at Steele City.
Nebraska is the only state without an approved route and the only state in which TransCanada still needs right-of-way easements. The company has more than 90 percent of the easements it needs in this state, but a core group of landowners have refused to sign on, including Karen and Kenneth Prososki, who run a cow-calf operation near Fullerton. A mile of the proposed pipeline would cross their property, starting at where it borders the Loup River.
Despite assurances from TransCanada that the Keystone XL would be the safest pipeline ever built, the Prososkis fear a leak would be devastating to wildlife, livestock, drinking water and downstream communities like Genoa and Columbus.
With all that benzene in it, it scares the hell out of me, Kenneth Prososki said.
While they're feeling discouraged at Trump's attempts to fast-track approval of the pipeline, the Nance County couple isn't giving up hope.
We're not going to lay down, Kenneth Prososki said.
Attorney Brian Jorde of the Domina Law Group, which represents the majority of holdouts, assured clients at the Monday meeting that Trump's action has no impact on Nebraska's requirement that its Public Service Commission approve the pipeline route, a process that is expected to take eight months to a year and must be done before the company can begin with eminent domain proceedings.
The Public Service Commission, an independent five-member elected board, will review evidence and comments from people who file protests or register as an intervenor before deciding whether to alter, deny or approve TransCanda's route.
TransCanada has said it will submit paperwork to begin the review in coming weeks, and the route will mirror the one former Gov. Dave Heineman gave a thumbs-up in 2013. That route crosses portions of Boone, Nance, Merrick and Polk counties.
In the meantime, organizers encouraged landowners and activists to contact their state senators and ask them to support the creation of a panel to look at eminent domain issues.
If the commission won't reject the pipeline, Bold and Domina Law plan to push for it to be rerouted along the path of the existing Keystone pipeline, which began moving oil in June 2010. Doing so would have the potential to add years to the project to get the new route approved and new right-of-way contracts negotiated.
As a final line of defense, landowners have promised to fight in court arguing the pipeline doesn't meet the public use criteria required of eminent domain projects because Nebraskans would not have access to use it like they would a highway or park.
The meeting Monday took place following a district court hearing on an appeal over a Nebraska judge's order to repay fees and costs incurred by Nebraskans who TransCanada had taken to court before Obama rejected the pipeline. There are 59 such cases in nine Nebraska counties. The hearing on Monday was for a case in Keya Paha County, but was held in the Holt County Courthouse in O'Neill.
(Photo : Getty Images) China is interested in Alberta's oil reserves.
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Alberta's trade minister is planning to visit China twice this year to cement trade ties.
The minister's efforts are part of concerted efforts to reduce the province's reliance on the United States, which has become highly unpredictable under Donald Trump's presidency.
China still has a thirst for Alberta's oil reserves, but the minister, Deron Bilous, says that the relations between the China and the province are evolving in a way aligned to Premier Rachael Notley's aim of moving the province away from its dependence on an unstable oil and gas sector.
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According to Bilous, Alberta's high-quality food and travel experiences are in high demand among China's growing middle class.
The minister added that his planned discussions with China have been necessitated by the sense of uncertainty around US President Trump and his trade agenda.
"Without knowing what direction the Trump administration will go, China is interested in reaching out more to us," Bilous told Canadian media, adding that he is planning to visit China twice this year, because it is critical to have the discussions face to face.
Alberta has made China a priority this year, and China has reciprocated, with three trade delegations expected to visit Alberta this year.
Jia Wang, the acting director of the China Institute at the University of Alberta, says that while foreign companies can find it challenging to break into China due to the complex regulatory barriers, Alberta's close relationship with China has enjoyed some success.
"The government is building a support network to help companies seize those opportunities when they come," Wang said.
Wang added that with Trump now the US President, Canadian provinces such as Alberta are under more pressure to look beyond America for a reliable partner.
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Tagschina, Canada, Alberta, US, donald trump
(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) Unfortunately, there is still no word on when the Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus will be released in the market.
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An upcoming Lenovo device has been spotted on the online benchmarking website, GeekBench. The new device, dubbed as Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus, features a massive 8.0-inch display screen.
As per GeekBench listing, the upcoming Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus features an 8.0-inch Full HD display screen with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. The tablet is powered by an unknown octa-core processor clocked at a speed of 2.02GHz. It was suggested that the tablet might come with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 626 processor, rather than a MediaTek chip used in the original Tab3 8.
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The new Snapdragon 626 processor used 14nm process size which provides heat reduction, increased power efficiency, and performance compared to previous chipsets.
The benchmarking website also revealed that the upcoming Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus comes with 3GB of RAM onboard. The tablet will be available in two variant storages (32GB and 64GB variants) with an option for microSD card slot for storage expansion. The new device is rumored to be powered by a 4,250 mAh capacity battery and will apparently runs on Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) operating system out of the box.
Images of the Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus leaked a few months ago suggested that it will sport an 8-megapixel rear-facing sensor and a 5-megapixel front sensor. The device will most likely come in two models based on connectivity options, including LTE and Wi-Fi variants. It is also said to feature a Bluetooth 4.0 technology and GPS connectivity.
Unfortunately, there is still no word on when the Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus will be released in the market.
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TagsLenovo, Lenovo News, lenovo tab3 8 plus, Geekbench, lenovo tab3 8 spotted on geekbench
(Photo : Getty Images. ) Henry Jackson Society (HJS), founded in 2005, is reportedly receiving 10,000 pounds per month from the Japanese embassy in London to wage a propaganda war against China.
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An influential British think tank is receiving substantial fund from the Japanese government on a monthly basis to play up the "China threat" among high-profile British politicians, according to reports in local British media.
Reports claim that Henry Jackson Society (HJS), founded in 2005, is receiving 10,000 pounds per month from the Japanese embassy in London to wage a propaganda war against China.
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HJS's campaign is said to be focussed on prompting critical "Japan issues related to China" among Britain's influential newspapers like The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, and The Economist.
According to The Sunday Times, Britain's Former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind was approached last year by HJS to write a critical article on China's participation in Britain's Hinkley Point C Nuclear Plant. The article was published in The Daily Telegraph.
Rifkind in his defense said that he had no knowledge of the deal between HJS and British publication.
The newspaper made a scathing observation that Tokyo's secret PR campaign clearly reflects its concern over close ties between Beijing and Great Britain. It further claimed that the PR deal with HJS was sealed last year and may be renewed in coming April.
Beijing and Tokyo have so far not issued any statement on the issue. There has not been any statement from Great Britain either.
Historically, China and Japan share a very politically strained relationship owing to wartime legacy that continues to cast a shadow on their bilateral relationship. Both Asian countries also share a territorial conflict in the East China Sea region.
Their tense political relationship has encouraged Tokyo to join hands with China's main rivals like the U.S., India, and others to form an anti-Chinese alliance. This alliance has been mainly focussed on piling up pressure on China over the contentious South China Sea dispute.
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TagsBritish Think Tank, china, British and China, Japan, Japan and China, Sir Malcolm Rifkind
(Photo : YouTube) Video grab of Houthi attack on a Royal Saudi Navy frigate off Yemen.
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A frigate of the Royal Saudi Navy (RSN) patrolling off the Houthi-controlled Yemeni port city of Hodeida was struck by an explosion on Jan. 30, killing two sailors. The warship wasn't sunk, however.
The Saudi Arabian government confirmed the hit and said it was the result of an attack by at least three small suicide boats manned by Houthis, who are battling a Saudi Arabian-led coalition seeking to restore the ousted Yemeni government to power.
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Houthis and their ally, Iran, however, both claimed the frigate was struck by an anti-ship missile (AShM).
If true, this will be the second successful missile attack on a ship belonging to the Saudi-coalition. On Oct. 2, 2016, a C-802 Chinese-made AShM supplied by Iran heavily damaged the United Arab Emirates vessel, HSV Swift, as the ship was transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait off Yemen.
The C-802 is the export version of China's YJ-8 AShM and carries a 190 kg warhead to a distance of 120 km. The YJ-8 arms China's Xian H-6 strategic heavy bombers.
Swift is the forerunner of the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) warships, which are high-speed, shallow draft vessels that today transport U.S. Marines to trouble spots around the world.
In the early evening of Oct. 9, the Houthis launched two C-802s at the U.S. Navy warship, the USS Mason (DDG-87), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, also traversing the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait The Navy said the Mason took countermeasures to defeat both missiles that crashed into the sea a long distance from the destroyer.
The Royal Saudi Navy operates seven frigates: three al-Riyadh-class and four al-Madinah-class.
It hasn't specified what frigate class was damaged in the Houthi attack.
"A Saudi frigate on patrol west of the port city of Hodeida was hit by a terrorist attack from three suicide boats belonging to the Houthi militias," said the Saudis in a statement.
On the other hand, Iranian state media claims the attack Houthi militants used a guided missile against the RSN warship.
Iranian media quoted an analyst as claiming the warship was indeed struck by an AShM.
"It doesn't require a stretch of the imagination to presume that it was an anti-ship missile since the sites the US hit back in 2016 weren't the only ones that the Houthis had access to, courtesy of defected forces from Saleh," said the analyst.
"However, this assessment is complicated by the recent Saudi report claiming that damage was done by suicide boats as well as the shoddy footage."
The Houthis posted a video of the attack on YouTube. It can be viewed here.
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TagsRoyal Saudi Navy, frigate, RSN, yemen, Hodeida, Saudi Arabia, houthi, Iran, C-802 Chinese-made AShM, anti-ship missile, HSV Swift, USS Mason (DDG-87)
(Photo : Boeing) The U.S. Air Force's CHAMP EMP weapon (illustration).
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China is said to have developed the prototype of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon system similar to a U.S. weapon called CHAMP that can destroy all electronic devices within its range. This Chinese system hasn't been weaponized, however.
Chinese propaganda claims this prototype microwave weapon, which has been under development for the past six years, can disable missiles and paralyze tanks by destroying the electronics devices needed to operate these weapons.
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It claims the prototype is "small enough to fit on a lab bench," and might be mounted on Chinese cruise missiles.
This Chinese weapon, and the U.S. CHAMP, indiscriminately bombard a target with electromagnetic radiation that disable or destroy integrated circuits.
The weapon copied by the Chinese, CHAMP is described by the Americans as a "first-day-of-war" weapon meant to destroy enemy command and control centers. The Americans expect to field this CHAMP, which stands for Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project, by 2020.
They plan to mount CHAMP on a specially modified AGM-158B JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range), a low observable standoff air-launched cruise missile currently in U.S. Air Force service.
The Air Force describes CHAMP as an air-launched directed-energy weapon in a multi-shot, multi-target, high-power microwave (HPM) package.
CHAMP destroys instead of jams enemy electronic warfare equipment and electronic systems. It's especially potent against and command and control centers totally dependent on electronics to do their job.
The EMP pulses generated by CHAMP overload electronic equipment faster than circuit breakers or surge protectors can respond to the massive surge of power. CHAMP is capable of up to 100 shots per sortie. Future iterations of CHAMP will see it mounted on hypervelocity missiles.
The CHAMP cruise missile can be launched at stand-off distances by manned fighters such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Northrop Grumman B-2 strategic stealth bomber, or by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or aerial drones.
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Tagschina, electromagnetic pulse, EMP, EMP, Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project, CHAMP, AGM-158B JASSM-ER
(Photo : Getty Images) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) meets North Korean Premier Kim Yong II (R) after a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on March 18, 2009 in Beijing, China.
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China and North Korea are reportedly restoring ties after tension on Pyongyang's threat to test launch an intercontinental ballistic missile erupted.
The Chinese embassy in Pyongyang allegedly invited high-ranking officials from North Korea for a meeting to strengthen both countries' relations and cooperation, Yonhap TV reported on Monday citing a source. One of the more than 70 officials reported to attend include Kim Yong Dae, vice chairman of the standing committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.
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Although it is not clear which party initiated, China will be hosting the meeting. A source further noted that the high number of North Korean attendees indicates Pyongyang's intent to repair their relations.
Meanwhile, strategists from Chinese People's Liberation Army positioned North Korea as China's No. 2 threat next to the United States, according to Kyodo News.
The document, published last May, pointed "five potential threats" Beijing is facing. Topping the list is the United States and its "rebalance to Asia."
The document cited North Korea second as China sees Pyongyang a threat to its nuclear and military development. North Korea has not only declared itself a nuclear power but also established several nuclear plants near its China border. The document further warned that there is a "huge threat" to the northern and northeast parts of China should a war in the Korean Peninsula break out.
Japan landed third on the list because of the pressure on the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Several fighter jets have been going to and fro the area. The South China Sea came in fourth as claims between China and other countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam overlap.
Finishing off the list is India, which has border tensions with China and is establishing military forces.
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Tagschina, North Korea, Pyongyang, China and North Korea, intercontinental ballistic missile
(Photo : Raytheon) Small Diameter Bomb II.
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Should the F-35B stealth fighter squadron of the U.S. Marines in Japan fight a war against the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) within this decade, it will do so without what's probably its most potent air-to-ground weapon -- the GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB-II).
That's because the internal weapons bay of the stealth fighter can't carry a full load of eight SDB-IIs without extensive modification. That modification has been ongoing for the past several years and is expected to be completed by 2022.
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The Marines fly the F-35B, the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35. They plan to acquire 340 F-35Bs from the jet's maker, Lockheed Martin.
What makes the SDB-II the "super weapon" some analysts claim is to be is its smallness and smartness. Weighing just 130 kg (285 lb.), an SDB-II is only 1.8 meters long and 19 cm wide.
This small size means an F-35 can carry eight of these bombs instead of just two Mark 83 460 kg (1,000 lb.) bombs. And since the SDB-II is a smart weapon, that means it can attack eight targets instead of only two.
SDB II's smartness compared to the original version, SDB I, is because the former is armed with a tri-mode seeker.
This seeker allows each bomb to be steered towards its target using laser, imaging infrared or radar homing, or a combination of these modes. The tri-mode capability allows SDB-II to strike moving targets and stationary ones in any weather, day or night, at standoff ranges, with incredible precision.
Also aiding in SDB-II's accuracy is that it's a glide bomb sporting a pair of wings. The "DiamondBack" type wings deploy after release, increasing the glide time and the bomb's maximum range, which is 72 km against moving targets.
SDB-II has a circular error probable (CEP) of five to eight meters. Its high explosive warhead weighs 17 kg.
Because of its small size, hundreds of SDB-IIs can be carried by a single Northrop B-2 Spirit stealth bomber on a single mission. Each of these precision guided glide bombs can be programmed and networked together to hit separate targets in single or multiple target areas.
SDB II is expected to supplant the widely used JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bombs that are dumb bombs transformed into smart bombs by the addition of guidance kits. JDAMs have a range of 28 km and can range in weight from 227 kg to 907 kg.
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TagsGBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II, SDB II, F-35B stealth fighter, People's Liberation Army Navy, Lockheed Martin, precision guided glide bomb
ST. EDWARD A St. Edward man remained in the intensive care unit at a Lincoln hospital Monday after he suffered serious injuries in a Sunday morning crash along Highway 39.
According to the Platte County Sheriff's Office, 42-year-old Ronald Billington of St. Edward was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado south on the highway when his vehicle crossed the centerline and collided nearly head-on with a northbound semitrailer driven by 27-year-old Ben Kirsch of New Leipzig, North Dakota.
The sheriff's office says Kirsch attempted to avoid the collision by veering toward the ditch.
Billington was extricated from his vehicle by rescue personnel and flown by medical helicopter to the Lincoln hospital. Kirsch was uninjured.
The crash happened around 7:10 a.m. Sunday along Highway 39 about 4 miles southeast of St. Edward.
Rescue crews from St. Edward and Genoa, Midwest MedAir, the Platte County Sheriff's Office and St. Edward Police Department responded to the accident, which remains under investigation.
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash.
(Photo : Getty Images) President Rodrigo Duterte has called on Beijing to grant Manila a loan that will be used in buying high-powered firearms and weaponry
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In a bid to neutralize the growing Islamic threat in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking China's financial help by way of a loan to be used in acquiring high-powered military arms and weaponry.
In a report by Manila-based newspaper on Monday, Duterte said Manila should act swiftly in neutralizing the homegrown terrorists, especially those who have pledged their loyalty to the Islamic State (ISIS) as they pose a grave danger to the country's security.
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In a press conference held in Malacanang, Duterte had ordered the armed forces to use all its arsenal and weaponry at their disposal in containing the Islamic extremists in an area in Lanao in Mindanao who are expected to conduct more bombings.
Loan
The Philippine Star reported that Duterte had called on China in the same press conference to help Manila by granting it a loan to beef up its arms and military equipment.
"And I have also asked the armed forces to use all available assets and all the weaponry that's at our disposal. And I have an urgent message to China to help us if they have precision-guided arms, they can give us a loan," he added.
Duterte did not specify the details of the loan he is seeking from China which had previously offered to supply Manila with small arms and other high-tech weapon system to fight terrorism.
25 years
Duterte had earlier said Beijing has expressed its willingness to supply Manila with arms under generous terms. "It is a grant payable in 25 years so it is practically giving," Duterte said.
The Sino-Philippine arms deal comes on the heels of Duterte's recent cancellation of an order of close to 30,000 assault rifles from the US.
Philippine officials said the cancellation was made after international media reported that the delivery of weapons could be affected by human rights concerns over Duterte's war on drugs that includes extrajudicial killings.
Beijing had earlier expressed support to Duterte's anti-crime war, which was denounced by the United Nations, human rights watchdogs, and the international community, accusing Duterte of committing human rights violations.
Beijing and the Philippines have repaired their strained diplomatic ties following Duterte's election in June despite their dispute on the issue of the South China Sea.
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TagsISIS, islamic extremists, homegrown terrorists, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, high-powered firearms, Mindanao
(Photo : Getty Images. ) The construction of Chinas second aircraft carrier The Shandong is carrying on relentlessly, according to reports in Chinese media. The Shandong is China's first indigenously manufactured aircraft carrier.
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China's second aircraft carrier 'The Shandong' is taking formidable shape after being in construction for almost three years, according to reports in local media.
After completion, the aircraft carrier would add teeth to China's military arsenal that is likely to unravel the nerves of its neighbouring countries.
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However, Shandong would occupy a more special place in China's military arsenal, as it is country's first indigenously manufactured aircraft carrier. The country's first aircraft carrier 'The Liaoning' was constructed by former Soviet Union.
Shandong is being constructed in China's north-eastern port city of Dalian, according to Defence Ministry.
However, the ministry has not given any fixed time-frame for completing the construction of the aircraft. The construction activities had begun in 2014.
Earlier this month, China's Liaoning aircraft sailed through Taiwan Strait after conducting a military drill in the disputed South China Sea region. Taiwan immediately termed the move as 'provocative' and responded by dispatching its fighter jets and navy ships in the region.
The possible military face-off was avoided, since China called off its aircraft carrier soon after the self-ruled island nation dispatched its military arsenals. The face-off would have strained the already tense cross-strait relation.
China has been constantly accused of carrying out military drills in the South China Sea region. Although Beijing claims that these drills as 'normal' and in accordance with international law, but other claimants in the region describe these drills as China's 'show off strength.'
China stakes claim over the entire 'South China Sea' region, but several of the smaller neighbours like Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam challenge this claim.
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(Photo : Russian Navy) MiG-29K lands on the Admiral Kuznetsov.
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It seems Russia's 16 month involvement in the Syrian Civil War in which its warplanes and weapons killed thousands of Syrian civilians was also a sales stunt means to demonstrate the deadliness of its effective -- but cheaper -- weapons to Muslim states in the Middle East.
Cash-poor Russia continues to be pummeled by punishing western sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion and annexation of the Ukraine in March 2014.
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A Syrian military expert with the regime of Syrian president and Russian puppet Bashar al-Assad now claims Muslim states should abandon their fondness for U.S. weapons in the face of the proven lethality of cheaper Russian weapons.
The Syrian analyst, Qasi al Myatasim, told state-owned Russian propaganda media that Russian weapons last longer and are more reliable. Russia's weapons also aren't downgraded, and come equipped with the same sophisticated electronic devices found in the same weapons used by the Russian armed forces.
"American weapons are not reliable. Russia produce more advanced military equipment, but the US has better propaganda tools," he argued.
"Moreover, when the Americans export their weapons they take out all advanced and complicated electronics (from those weapons)."
The Syrian also said Russian weapons are more far more reliable.
"Russian weapons can be operational for years. They just need to be maintained, including replacing worn-out parts. This gives much more options. We worked with Soviet-made weapons, and the results were very good."
Russia is the world's second largest arms exporter after the U.S., with a 25 percent share of the world total from 2011-2015, up from 22 percent from 2006-2010. The Syrian Civil War was another opportunity to boost Russian arms exports.
Western analysts noted the deployment of a battle group centered around the obsolete Russian aircraft carrier RFS Admiral Kuznetsov (063), Russia's only carrier, off the coast of Syria in October 2016 was in reality a sales stunt meant to drum-up interest among Arab states in the Mikoyan MiG-29 air superiority fighter.
Embarrassingly for Russia, one of these MiG-29s, a MiG-29K (the naval version of the jet), crashed shortly after take-off during the Kuznetsov's first bombing mission against anti-Assad Syrian rebels. There were only four MiG-29s aboard the Kuznetsov.
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TagsRussia, Syrian Civil War, Bashar al-Assad, Qasi al Myatasim, RFS Admiral Kuznetsov, Mikoyan MiG-29
(Photo : US Army) A THAAD missile system on its mobile launcher and what the system can do.
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It will do no more good for China to try to prevent South Korea from deploying the U.S. THAAD ballistic missile defense system on its shores with South Korea's latest announcement that THAAD will come to South Korea.
South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis reaffirmed the bilateral agreement that deploys the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ballistic missile system at two sites in South Korea in a phone conversation ahead of Mattis' visit to South Korean on Feb. 1.
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Mattis, a former General in the United States Marine Corps, will also visit Japan, another of the U.S.' staunch Asian allies to discuss the situation against China.
During their phone call, Han and Mattis, discussed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. They agreed to strengthen their defense capability against nuclear and missile threats from North Korea and to develop the bilateral alliance under severe threats from both North Korea and China.
China opposes the deployment of THAAD, claiming the system's long-range X-band radar will allow the U.S. to better intercept any intercontinental ballistic missile it fires against the U.S. mainland.
Han and Mattis expressed serious concerns about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's New Year's Day address that said Pyongyang had entered a final stage in preparations to test-launch a long-range ballistic rocket.
Both defense chiefs agreed deploy THAAD as scheduled and boost their already close defense cooperation.
South Korea will install a THAAD battery in the southern county of Seongju, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in May. A second THAAD battery is also to be deployed within the year.
South Korea's determination to emplace THAAD as its primary means of defense against North Korean ballistic missiles was underscored when acting South Korean President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said THAAD has to be deployed to South Korea as soon as possible to counter North Korea's persistent nuclear and missile threats.
"For security, (we) have to deploy (THAAD)," said Hwang. "As we cannot wait even for a moment to cope with North Korea's nuclear provocations, we have to do what we can do first."
In another desperate move to get Seoul to ditch THAAD, China's foreign ministry on Dec. 5 issued a statement on THAAD's deployment in South Korea.
Beijing said "China is against the enforcement of THAAD that would incur losses for China's strategic security."
In another effort, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed the communist government's opposition to the deployment of THAAD on the Korean peninsula during a meeting with South Korea opposition party lawmakers in Beijing on Dec. 4.
South Korean media said apart from boycotting all K-Pop and other Korean entertainers, China will also boycott Korean companies operating in China.
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TagsSouth Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, THAAD, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, North Korea, china, Seongju, South Korean President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn
(Photo : Getty Images) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte makes a speech during the Philippines - China Trade and Investment Fourm at the Great Hall of the People on October 20, 2016 in Beijing, China.
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte asked China on Tuesday to dispatch sea patrols to help stop Islamic State militants from abducting sailors and attacking vessels.
"I also asked China if they can patrol the international waters without necessarily intruding into the territorial waters of countries," Duterte said.
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"I said even coast guard cutters would do, just to patrol, like what they did in Somalia," he continued. It could be recalled that Beijing sent a naval convoy to the Gulf of Aden in 2009 to protect Chinese ships from Somali pirates.
He said that Beijing could help safeguard trade routes in Southeast Asia, especially in the Malacca Strait and Sulu Sea. He explained that is such trade routes are blocked and shifted, it could increase prices of goods and companies could pay higher insurance rates.
He, however, did not specify if China responded to his request.
According to the International Maritime Bureau, maritime kidnappings hit a 10-year high last year. It further said that the waters of the southern Philippines are becoming dangerous.
The Philippines together with Malaysia and Indonesia has agreed to patrol and crack down the Abu Sayyaf in the Sulu and Celebes Sea. The Muslim rebel group sustained by piracy and kidnap-for-ransom activities started abducting several dozens of hostages from Indonesian and Malaysian tug boats and South Korean and Vietnamese merchant ships last year.
Such cooperation is likely to expand to include Brunei and Singapore, Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine's Defense Secretary, said, adding that the country has also intensified land operations to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf within six months.
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TagsDuterte, china, South China Sea, Abu Sayyaf, Maritime kidnapping
(Photo : Getty Images) Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto (L) and China's President Xi Jinping (R) stand in front of national flags during a signing ceremony after their meeting at the Great Hall of the People on November 13, 2014 in Beijing, China.
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Mexico wants to strengthen its ties with China and attract more investment, Luis Videgaray, Foreign Affairs Minister, said on Monday as cited by state-backed Xinhua News agency.
"We want to attract investment and continue to strengthen our ties with China in a comprehensive way," he said, adding that Mexico has already initiated steps to bolster its trade ties with other Latin American nations as well as Asia, Europe, and Africa.
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"Regarding China, we have to remember that it is a country with which we have elevated our relationship, the character of our comprehensive strategic partnership, and we are seeing an increase in the flow of trade," he said, further noting that Mexico's exports are already growing since most of the country's trade with China is through imports.
Talking about the United States, which recently withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and revealed its plan to build a wall along its border with Mexico, Videgaray said, "We are going to... maintain dialogue and we are going towards a process of negotiation."
But even before President Donald Trump assumed office, both China and Mexico have already committed to strengthen ties in the sectors of trade, investment, resources, infrastructure, flight connectivity improvement, and financial services, during a meeting last month.
"They agreed to deepen mutual trust and develop the bilateral dialogue about subjects of mutual interest via the Mexico-China Strategic Dialogue," Mexico's Foreign Ministry said in a statement as both countries prepare for Trump to test Washington's relationship with them.
Last month's meeting was represented by Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Mexican Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu.
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TagsMexico China Relations, Mexico China trade agreement, Trump Mexico China
LINCOLN Shams Al-Badry admitted she would never have had the opportunity to stand among hundreds on the north steps of the State Capitol if she had been turned away as a refugee.
Speaking in front of demonstrators protesting President Donald Trumps executive action to halt entry of refugees for 120 days, Al-Badry, who escaped worn-torn Iraq in 1993, said she hopes her dream will extend to the refugees of today -- and for years to come.
Holding signs and waving foreign flags -- including those of Iraq and Syria -- local protesters gathered on Sunday evening to stand in solidarity with refugees and immigrants, including undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. who face deportation.
The crowd, which spilled across the street and onto Centennial Mall, swelled to over 300 people, according to Nebraska State Patrol Lt. Todd Kinghorn.
Rev. Karla Cooper said work to organize the event began after she and co-organizer Jeannette Eileen Jones heard stories about refugees being denied entrance into the U.S. on Saturday. Although the focus was on the plight of refugees, Cooper said Sunday's protest was also a statement against Trumps other executive actions, including orders to renew the process for completing the Dakota Access Pipeline and to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Anything that is marginalizing and hurting people, we need to stand together because were better than that, Cooper said. Were better than hate, were better than ignorance.
Joyce Hahn, who works at Lincoln Literacy, a center that teaches English to refugees and immigrants, came to protest all of Trump's policies. But the immigration ban was the one that hit the hardest for her.
Immigrants and refugees are like my family, Hahn said. But for the first time theyre saying they dont feel safe here.
Several speakers rallied the crowd, including Lincoln state Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, who quoted Emma Lazarus, the poet of "The New Colossus," whose words are etched on the Statue of Liberty.
We need to widen our circle of compassion, Pansing Brooks said. Our beacon of humanity is vital to our very essence, to our moral fiber, to our economic prosperity, to our national security.
Trumps executive order, signed Friday, blocks any visitors from Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Iran and Iraq for 90 days. Immigrants detained in U.S. airports in the hours following the order were allowed to leave after the American Civil Liberties Union secured an injunction from a federal judge late Saturday. The Trump administration walked back some of the policy Sunday, allowing green card holders from the sanctioned countries to return to the U.S.
Danielle Conrad, executive director of ACLU of Nebraska, spoke at the rally and praised her organizations role in helping lessen the burden of Trumps executive action.
The ACLU has always held accountable those who hold the reins of power, she said. We will continue to do so no matter who sits in the Oval Office.
Conrad also praised U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, who was quick to condemn Trumps ban.
Other speakers included UNL professor Hope Wabuke and Rev. Stephen Griffith of the Faith Coalition of Lancaster County.
Griffith said Trumps ban violates all of my religious beliefs and betrays our American principles."
Speaker Shirl Mora James of the Nebraska Dream Alliance and a member of the Nebraska Hispanic Bar Association labeled Trumps actions cold-blooded bigotry at its finest."
Trumps executive order is a thinly-veiled effort to ban and scapegoat Muslims, and it does not make America safer, Mora James said. Banning people based solely on the country that they come from is ineffective and overreaching.
As the afternoon sun turned to twilight, protesters held up candles, lighters, and phones and sang This Little Light of Mine."
Joseph Denicola, 23, was surprised by the turnout.
I hope this will bring attention to the fact that we as a country, we as a people, do care about immigrants, especially those refugees who cant come into our country, Denicola said.
For Al-Badry, the protest showed that people are ready to fight.
If President Trump keeps doing this, there are going to be more and more protests, Al-Badry said. "And its not just one nationality that are here, or one race. Its a diverse array of individuals who are standing against hate.
Middle East believers appreciate the sentiment of the new presidents executive order. But not its strategy.
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Image: Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
Preparation for Qaraqosh's first Sunday mass since the Iraqi Christian town was recaptured from ISIS (October 30, 2016).
Married in December to a Syrian woman with American citizenship, Fadi Hallisso went to Beirut to apply for a green card.
A Syrian Christian, Hallisso has worked with refugees in Lebanon since 2012. Funded by different American agencies, he was no stranger to the US government. He even testified about the situation in Syria to the US State Department and to Harvard Divinity School.
But this week, Hallisso was told he was no longer welcome to apply. The new US administration said so.
It is very humiliating to be put in the category of potential terrorist, said Hallisso. Just because I carry a certain passport.
As more details of President Donald Trumps new security policies emergeincluding a promise to prioritize Christian refugees for resettlement in Americamuch appears lost in translation.
This executive order has created a new atmosphere very hostile to people in the region, said Chawkat Moucarry, World Visions director for interfaith relationsand Hallissos uncle. Unwritten rules seem to be implemented as a result.
Is Trumps executive order on refugees a de facto Muslim ban? Is it not? Is it prudent? Is it overdue? As American Christians debate these questions from the small towns of Middle America to the nations major airports, so also Arab Christians are trying to figure out what is going on.
I read the executive order, said Adeeb Awad, chief editor of al-Nashra, the monthly magazine of the Presbyterian Synod of Syria and Lebanon. He remarked upon its temporary nature andin his estimationits reasonable restrictions and its actual improvement upon the upper limits of refugee ...
Under President Donald Trumps new executive order, religious minorities claiming persecution will take priority over other applicants once the refugee program resumes.
Last weekend on the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Trump indicated that the policy will particularly advantage persecuted Christians from the Middle East:
Theyve been horribly treated. Do you know if you were a Christian in Syria it was impossible, at least very tough to get into the United States? If you were a Muslim you could come in, but if you were a Christian, it was almost impossible and the reason that was so unfair, everybody was persecuted in all fairness, but they were chopping off the heads of everybody but more so the Christians. And I thought it was very, very unfair. So we are going to help them.
Since 2011, between 1 and 3 percent of Syrian refugees admitted to the US were Christians, while the proportion of Christian refugees from the country is estimated to be much larger. (CT previously ...
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As I boarded an airplane for Jordan in early January to deliver medicines from MAP International to Syrian and Iraqi refugees, my church, National Presbyterian in Washington, DC, was making final plans to resettle a refugee family in the US. I was overseas helping stock Jordanian refugee clinics with desperately needed medical supplies while my church back home was gathering furniture and household items for what we had begun to call our family. And while I questioned Jordanian pastors about how they helped refugees stay hopeful, my church was holding meetings to train members on how to support our incoming refugee family.
Two weeks ago, I came home ready to share what I had learned in Jordan and found church members excited about the imminent arrival of a family we were finally ready to welcome after months of preparation and prayer. However President Trumps recent executive order put our churchs plans on holdat least for the next several monthsand thrust our refugee family, along with many others, back into limbo.
For many members of the congregation, the action was extremely disappointing and deeply unsettling. Some joined protests outside the White House to make their views known. We have a diverse membership, however, and others in our church defend the presidents actions and echo his concerns about the refugee resettlement program.
So how does our congregationand others like it across the countrymove forward in ways that unite rather than divide our members? And for those who want to participate in refugee resettlement, how do we find a constructive way to respond while the federal government keeps the door closed?
Drawing on my recent experiences with refugees, ...
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Why Churches Need to Get 3 Tax Issues Right When Setting Compensation for Pastors Contact: Sandra Hoekstra-Lower, 630-260-6200 ext. 4224, shoekstralower@christianitytoday.com CAROL STREAM, Ill., Jan. 31, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Compensation planning for ministers presents several unique tax issues that are not well understood by many church leaders and their advisers. To help, Richard Hammar describes three key tax considerations churches should review when structuring compensation plans for pastors. These tax considerations include:
Salary Housing and equity allowances Accountable Business Expense Reimbursement Policy Explanations of each one, including why churches need to know about these tax issues, are in the February issue of Church Finance Today Every year, Richard Hammar helps church leaders understand how tax laws relate to churches and pastors--including setting compensation--in the 2017 Church & Clergy Tax Guide . This guide also serves as a year-round reference for churches and clergy. Christianity Today is also conducting a national survey on church staff compensation. Survey findings will appear in the 2018 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff. Pastors, church business administrators, worship leaders, children's ministers, and all other persons employed by the church are urged to take this survey . Survey participants will receive their choice of one of three resources for free: a downloadable resource on church finance, a downloadable Bible study, or a 6-month subscription to Christianity Today magazine. Christianity Today is a nonprofit, global media ministry centered on Beautiful Orthodoxy--strengthening the church by richly communicating the breadth of the true, good, and beautiful gospel. Reaching over four million people monthly with various digital and print resources, the ministry equips Christians to renew their minds, serve the church, and create culture to the glory of God.
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home US Average age of pastors increased by a decade, according to Barna study
A new study released by the Barna Group has revealed that the average age of American pastors has risen from 44 to 54 in the last 25 years.
The study, titled "The State of Pastors 2017," also indicated that just one in seven pastors that lead a congregation is under the age of 40.
During the 1960s, the majority of pastors were aged 45 and below. In 2017, most of the pastors are over 60 years old. The report suggested that the age shift is a result of evolving career expectations and difficulty in passing leadership positions on to millennial-aged pastors.
Barna president David Kinnaman described the issue of aging pastorate as "one of the most glaring challenges facing the church today," Christianity Today reported.
The research, which was conducted in partnership with Pepperdine University, involved interviews with over 14,000 pastors in over three years.
The study also revealed that today's pastors are less inclined to transfer to different congregations throughout their careers. The average church tenure in 1992 was four years, compared to over 10 years in 2017.
Finances also play a role in keeping the pastors preaching beyond the age of 60. While a majority of pastors (71 percent) have said they were confident about their retirement security, some of them are not financially prepared to retire.
The researchers also asked pastors about other issues such as their spiritual growth, their working relationship with board elders, their way of handling crises, and their assessment of the toughest challenges in pastoring in today's society.
The findings indicated that about 70 percent of pastors felt that their family relationships were excellent. Among pastors who are married with children, about 60 percent said that they have excellent family relationships.
"We find that a lot of pastors are doing pretty well, it is not to say that every pastor is doing perfectly and we have a great responsibility to listen to this data and determine how it is that we can support pastors," said Kinnaman, according to The Christian Post.
"Pastoring is exhilarating. It is also really, really hard. My dad is a lifelong pastor, Gary Kinnaman ... and I know firsthand some of the challenges and pain and opportunities, the great thrill of leading," he added.
According to the study, nine out of 10 pastors have said that they would recommend the career to younger Christians who are interested in serving in the ministry. Those who would not are likely to be less satisfied with their vocation, leaders of congregations with declining membership or pastors of color.
home US Boy Scouts of America to accept transgender boys
The Boy Scouts of America said on Monday the group would begin accepting transgender boys, bucking its more than a century-old practice of using the gender stated on a birth certificate to determine eligibility.
"Starting today, we will accept and register youth in the Cub and Boy Scout programs based on the gender identity indicated on the application," Boy Scouts of America communications director Effie Delimarkos said in an emailed statement.
Delimarkos cited shifting definitions of gender under state laws, which can "vary widely from state to state," in explaining the change.
She said that while the organization offers programs for all youths, its Cub and Boy Scout programs are specifically for boys. The change will allow children to apply even if male is not listed on their birth certificate.
Advocacy group Scouts for Equality applauded the move: "This is another historic day for the Boy Scouts of America. The decision to allow transgender boys to participate in the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts is an important step forward for this American institution."
In 2013, the Boy Scouts voted to lift a ban on openly gay scouts that had been in place throughout the organization's history after gay rights advocates gathered petitions with more than 1.8 million signatures in support of ending the ban.
Two years later, the organization lifted its blanket ban on gay adult leaders after its president, former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, called the ban "unsustainable" in the face of numerous lawsuits challenging the policy on grounds of discrimination.
The Boy Scouts of America, whose stated mission is to prepare youth for life and leadership, has nearly 2.3 million members between the ages of 7 and 21 and roughly 960,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the country, according to its website.
home World Jihadists hail Trump's travel ban, say it affirms U.S. is anti-Islamic
Jihadist groups have lauded President Donald Trump's executive order banning immigration from several Muslim-majority countries, claiming it proves that the U.S. is at war with Islam.
The executive order, which was signed by the president on Friday, suspended admission of refugees for 120 days and blocked citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the U.S. for 90 days. Additionally, refugees from Syria were indefinitely barred from coming into the country.
Comments posted on the pro-ISIS channel on social media platform Telegram suggested that the order would prompt American Muslims to take the side of the extremists. One post lauded Trump as "the best caller to Islam," while others predicted that the U.S. would soon instigate a new war with the Middle East.
"[Islamic State leader Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadi has the right to come out and inform Trump that banning Muslims from entering America is a 'blessed ban,'" one comment read.
The commenter compared the order to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, which was described by Islamic militant leaders as a "blessed invasion" that sparked anti-Western sentiments across the Islamic world.
Other comments implied that Trump was fulfilling the predictions of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Al-Qaeda leader who stated that the "West would eventually turn against its Muslim citizens." Al-Awlaki died in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen in 2011, according to the Washington Post.
Another posting stated that Trump's actions "clearly revealed the truth and harsh reality behind the American government's hatred toward Muslims."
Rita Katz, the founder of the SITE Intelligence Group, an organization that monitors jihadist websites, said that the order would make it easier for the terrorist networks to recruit new followers.
"Jihadists would have to argue to lengths that Obama, Bush, and others held anti-Islam agendas and hated the religion a not just radical terrorists," Katz said.
"Trump, however, makes that argument a lot easier for them to sell to their followers," she added.
Current and former U.S. officials have also expressed concern that the ban would undermine the global fight against Islamic militants.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that he is worried about how the ban would affect Muslim troops who are fighting alongside Americans against ISIS.
Robert Richer, a 35-year CIA veteran and former chief of the agency's Near East division, described the order as a "strategic mistake" and said that it would make it more difficult to recruit spies from Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq and Syria.
"It fuels the belief out there that Americans are anti-Islam. Otherwise, it accomplishes nothing, because the ones we are most concerned about can still get to the United States," Richer said about the executive order.
home US Judge extends restraining order against Texas rule that requires burial of aborted babies
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction that blocks a rule that requires abortion facilities in Texas to bury or cremate the remains of aborted babies.
The ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks extends a previous injunction against the state and orders both parties to proceed with a trial challenging the rule mandating the proper burial of aborted babies, Houston Chronicle reported. The injunction will remain until the case is settled.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed his plans to appeal the ruling.
"Texas has chosen to dignify the life of the unborn by requiring the humane disposition of fetal remains," he said.
"Indeed, no longer content with merely ending the life of the unborn, the radical left now objects to even the humane treatment of fetal remains," he added.
The regulation was proposed by the Texas Department of State Health Services in July and was supposed to take effect on Dec. 19.
Lawyers for the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit on behalf of several abortion facilities against the state and won a temporary restraining order to halt the implementation of the rule.
Abortion providers have argued that the regulation does not benefit public health and that could lead to clinics closing because there are few vendors that are willing to provide cremation and burial services for aborted fetal remains.
"Anti-abortion attacks cannot and will not slow us down," Amy Hagstrom-Miller, president of Whole Woman's Health and the lead plaintiff in the case, said in a prepared statement, according to Dallas News.
"It is so important that our resiliency continues to blaze a path so that people in all communities are inspired to stand up and continue to fight back against political interference that attempts to regulate our lives," she added.
The current rules allow fetal remains to be incinerated, ground or disinfected and disposed of in a sanitary landfill or sewer system.
A top Texas Department of State Health Services official had testified that the remains of aborted babies would be buried in a mass grave. The Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops offered to provide the space for the remains in cemeteries across the state.
home US Obama has lowest win rate at the Supreme Court than any president in over 80 years, study reveals
A recent study has revealed that President Barack Obama had lost more legal arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in modern history.
A research paper released earlier this month by Lee Epstein of Washington University in St. Louis and Eric Posner of the University of Chicago has indicated that Obama had the lowest win rate that any president going back to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, The Christian Post reported.
The study was based on a dataset of 3,778 orally argued cases between 1932 and 2015, covering 13 presidential administrations.
"Presidents prevailed in nearly two-thirds of their cases; and captured over 60% of all votes cast," the researchers wrote. "Obama's win rate of just 50.5% is significantly lower than the average win rate and, in fact, the lowest in our dataset," they added.
The authors of the study attributed the president's court defeats to a general trend of decline in administrative success rates that began after Ronald Reagan left office.
"Before Reagan, the president prevailed in 65 percent of his cases and captured 61 percent of all votes; during the Reagan years, those percentages increased significantly to 75 percent and 68 percent," the study explained, according to Washington Examiner.
The researchers pointed out that presidents have prevailed less frequently at the Supreme Court since Reagan, and they also noted that Obama's win rate is not significantly lower than George W. Bush.
The study also contended that the quality of lawyers that challenged the government in court has improved, making it more difficult for the president to prevail. It noted that the specialized bar of Supreme Court lawyers that emerged in recent years is "of equal or even higher quality than the president's lawyers."
Some experts have argued that the president's losses in the high court due to his executive overreach.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Obama administration argued 10 cases in 2016 that resulted in unanimous decisions against the government. The losses indicated that the president did not get a vote from the justices that he appointed to the Supreme Court, namely Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
Epstein and Posner were not the only ones to take note of Obama's low win rate. In February 2016, the libertarian think tank Cato Institute published an article describing the Obama administration's record in the Supreme Court as "abysmal."
"In the first 6.5 years of Obama's presidency (January 2009 to June 2015), the government lost unanimously at the Supreme Court 23 times, an average of 3.62 cases per year," wrote Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute.
home US Trump says he is more reliant on God now that he is president
Donald Trump has acknowledged that he needs to rely more on God as president of the United States because he now has to make decisions on matters of "massive life and death."
"I would say that the office is so powerful that you need God even more, because your decisions are no longer gee, I'm going to build a building in New York, or I'm going to do this," Trump said in an interview with CBN's "The Brody File" on Friday.
"These are questions of massive life and death, even with regard to health care. You know we're working very hard on health care," he added.
The president further highlighted the impact of his decisions on American lives.
"There's almost not a decision that you make when you're sitting in this position that isn't a really life-altering position. So God comes in even more so," he said.
Trump has rarely spoken about his religious beliefs publicly, but Christian leaders who have met him have said that the new president takes his faith very seriously.
Pastor Paula White, who was one of the president's early supporters, claimed that she and Trump have had numerous conversations about the Bible in the past 15 years. She stated in an interview with The Christian Post that she met the businessman after he tracked her down because he was moved by one of her sermons.
Robert Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Dallas, also said that he and Trump have had several discussions about faith.
In an interview with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly earlier this month, Jeffress said that the president's faith is "very important" and "very personal" to him.
The pastor also compared the president to the biblical figure Nehemiah, who was instrumental in rebuilding Jerusalem around 445 B.C. He noted that Nehemiah was instructed by God to build a wall around Jerusalem in order to keep Israel's enemies out of the city.
Jeffress said that he wants to use the story of Nehemiah as an example of why God blesses leaders, and he wants it to serve as encouragement to the new president and vice-president.
home World Ugandan pastor, eight others missing after attack on church
A pastor and eight other Christians in eastern Uganda went missing two weeks after a Muslim mob attacked a church in Katira village, Budaka district during a prayer meeting.
Around 90 Muslims disrupted the evening prayer meeting at the Katira Church of Uganda on Jan. 15 and beat the congregation with clubs and sticks, Morning Star News reported.
About half of those in attendance were locked inside the building by the assailants. The men were tied up and beaten while the women were raped, according to a church elder who escaped the attack. Around 50 men and 30 women attended the service, and most of those who were locked inside were women, sources have said.
Villagers said that the Muslims had previously thrown stones at the roof of the church building in an attempt to disrupt the church services of the 500-member congregation.
The assailants positioned outside the building also beat up the men and raped the women who tried to escape. "Women's clothing was found inside and outside the church building," a church elder said.
One Christian who escaped reportedly heard an assailant shout, "Away with the pastor who is converting our Muslims to Christianity."
At the time of the attack, Pastor Moses Mutasa was outside the church questioning some visitors. Rev. Musa Mukenye, who oversees several churches in the district's Iki-iki County, said that Mutasa fled after a mob arrived shouting "Away with the pastor."
"We do not know what has happened to our pastor, Moses Mutasa. He might have been killed or has been kept hostage," Mukenye told local officials and the police.
The police reportedly arrived about two hours after the attack. Some of the church members were injured in the rush to get out of the building, and much of the church property were damaged. The assailants fled upon the arrival of the authorities.
On the morning after the attack, some church members planned to retaliate by attacking the village mosque, but Mukenye pleaded with them and ask them to forgive the assailants. He said that Christians should leave justice to the authorities.
"This act is evil, and police should not relent until the attackers are arrested and charged in a court of law," he said.
About 85 percent of the Ugandan population are Christians, and 11 percent are Muslims. The Ugandan Constitution allows the freedom to practice or promote any religion, but religious groups are required to register with the government. Christians living in eastern Uganda suffer from continual attacks committed by non-state figures.
Christians May Not Return To Mosul For Years, If At All, Experts Warn
An Iraqi Christian leader and a senior academic have warned that Christians may not return to Mosul for years to come, if at all, as some residents of the war-torn city celebrate their new freedom from Islamic State.
Father Emanuel Youkhana, a priest of the Assyrian Church of the East, spoke out after visiting Mosul in a military convoy on January 27, the day Iraqi officials raised the national flag over the eastern part of the city. "I don't see a future for Christians in Mosul," he was reported as saying by Catholicphilly.com.
Fr Youkhana talked to residents and soldiers and visited two heavily damaged churches inside the city which was seized by ISIS in 2014, causing Christians and other minorities to flee.
"The churches were used as warehouses by Daesh," he said. "They used the churches to store what they looted from Christian and Yezidi villages, but as the end neared they sold the buildings to local contractors, who started tearing down the walls to reuse the steel inside. If the army hadn't entered for another couple of weeks, the buildings might have been completely destroyed."
He added: "Christians aren't going to come back to stay. The churches I saw were not destroyed with bombs, but by the everyday business operations of the community. How can Christians return to that environment? It's unfortunate, because Mosul needs their skills. Most Christians were part of the intellectual and professional class here, they were doctors and lawyers and engineers and university professors. But I don't see how they can return."
Separately, World Watch Monitor reported similarly pessimistic comments by Charlie Winter, a senior research fellow at the International Centre for Radicalisation Studies at King's College, London.
Winter said "there is no such thing as a post-IS world" and added that ISIS had used propaganda "audaciously" to liken Mosul to the Saudi city of Medina in the days of Mohammed who, in 622 AD left Mecca for Medina after hearing of a plot to kill him.
Winter said that ideological measures will be needed after military victory is achieved. He warned that it is the Iraqi Government's responsibility to provide for all its citizens and that unless this can be achieved stability will be "many, many years" away.
Winter was sharply critical of the pledge by the new US President Donald Trump to "bomb the hell out of ISIS", suggesting that a mere focus on a military response is "damaging" and displays a "foolish and naive and superficial" understanding of the problems in the region.
The Middle East Advocacy Coordinator for global charity Open Doors said: "Open Doors believes that equal citizenship, dignity in different aspects of life and enhanced and inclusive peace and reconciliation efforts which give faith-based organisations a leading role are the key three elements for achieving sustainable peace in Mosul and Nineveh."
Open Doors has produced a detailed report on the vital contribution that Christians make in Iraq (and Syria). The report's coordinator, who declined to be named, said: "We need recognition for the vital role of the Church in rebuilding and reconciliation... Maintaining the presence of Christians is not only about them; it is for the good of society as a whole. In the reports and research we've conducted, we have mapped, in a way, all the contributions Christians have given to Iraq."
The report states: "When Christianity spread across what we now call the Middle East and we see that since then until now Christians have contributed to societies in literacy, in health, in translating and contributing to the Arabic language. Some of the best early centres of learning in the world were founded by Christians. Christians were among the first to introduce charitable works and NGOs. We see them involved in politics, and in the development of the Iraqi state. Christians are among the most well-known business people. And in the future Christians, alongside other numerical minorities, are vitally important for the stability of [Iraq]. Policy-makers and researchers agree that we need to maintain diversity in order to counter extremism and radicalisation. We need diversity to ensure sustainable peace and lasting stability in the Middle East."
Church of England Bishops Blast Trump's Refugee Ban
Senior Church of England bishops have broken their silence to condemn Trump's ban on refugees entering the US.
The Archbishop of York, the second most senior Anglican in the UK, was joined by the Bishop of Liverpool, Rt Rev Paul Bayes, in branding the policy unchristian and extraordinary.
Reuters
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that suspended the US refugee program and banned people from seven Muslim majority countries from entering America.
Those fleeing the war in Syria and indefinitely blocked from the US with others from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen are barred for 90 days.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said it was "extraordinary" that any civilised country would ban anyone from receiving humanitarian protection.
"There is a valid question as to whether Christians, Yazidis and other religious minorities in the Middle East have so far had adequate access to such protection," he said.
"However a blanket ban on any individual group is bound to undermine the fundamental principles of asylum. In Christ, we are called to welcome the stranger especially when in desperate need."
The Bishop of Liverpool lambasted executive orders in particular as "an unseemly way" for the leader of the free world to conduct business.
"I am deeply disappointed by this way of governing," he said. "The US will not be made safer if hurting and displaced people are ignored or rejected."
The Bishop of Durham weighed in later with a stinging rebuke to Trump.
Rt Rev Paul Butler said in a statement: "Is being inhospitable to all really the best way to tackle concern about the very few?
"Where does showing compassion to the refugee fit with placing a blanket ban on all?
"How does a flourish of a signature on an executive order demonstrate to the world that democracy is a good way to govern?
"Like so many others I have been deeply disturbed by the action of President Trump and the manner of that action in relation to immigration and refugees. I hope and pray he rapidly recognises that this is not the best way to lead or show leadership in a world of great need."
Trump has insisted Christians and other religious minorities fleeing persecution would be exempt from the ban.
Christians in the Middle-East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot allow this horror to continue! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017
But Bayes said this approach was impossible to square with the gospel "I urge President Trump's administration to follow Christ's example and to welcome the stranger," he said. Other bishops added their opposition to the plans and pointed to the Church's previous call on the UK government to welcome at least 50,000 refugees fleeing war torn countries such as Syria.
"I will be swift to bear witness against those who thrust aside the alien & do not fear me, says the Lord" Not wise to reject the stranger Graham Tomlin (@gtomlin) January 31, 2017
Maybe this, which 84 of us signed in 2015? And from which much action and many public statements have followed.
https://t.co/s1xAGKEHij https://t.co/YIOn5A9vgf David Walker (@BishManchester) January 31, 2017
The Church of England bishops joined fellow Anglicans in The Episcopal Church (TEC) in America in condemning the move.
"Terrorism is not the product of any one religion," said Jim Winkler, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, of which TEC is a member. "It has been shown that targeting refugees from these and other countries is a fool's errand. And to enact what ultimately amounts to a 'Muslim ban' is to encourage terrorism. Further, any hint of favoritism shown toward Middle East Christians plays to Muslim fears that the Crusades are not over."
Donald Trump Thinks He Is Helping Christians. But He Is Making Things Worse, Warns Top Iraq Patriarch
President Donald Trump's intention to discriminate in favour of Christian refugees will do more harm than good to Christians in the Middle East, a leading Christian patriarch is warning.
The president should instead follow the example of Pope Francis and welcome Christian and Muslim refugees without distinction, he added.
Archbishop Louis Sako of Iraq, who is the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Babylon, said that Trump's "fast track" option for Christian refugees to enter the US while slamming the doors against refugees from seven countries with a Muslim majority is "a trap for Christians in the Middle East".
Sako said: "Every reception policy that discriminates the persecuted and suffering on religious grounds ultimately harms the Christians of the East."
This was because it helps those who wish to attack native Christian communities of the Middle East as "foreign bodies" that are supported and defended by Western powers.
"These discriminating choices create and feed tensions with our Muslim fellow citizens. Those who seek help do not need to be divided according to religious labels. And we do not want privileges. This is what the gospel teaches, and what Pope Francis pointed out, who welcomed refugees in Rome who fled from the Middle East, both Christians and Muslims without distinction," he told Agenzia Fides, the news agency of the Vatican's Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
Trump's controversial executive order has temporarily stopped all refugees from entering the US and migrants from seven Muslim-majority countries while the screening process is reviewed.
The order says that once the total ban comes to an end, refugees who claim religious persecution should be prioritised.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Philippines, president of Caritas, also warned that discriminating in favour of Christians "might revive some of these animosities and might even pit Christians against Muslims, and that might generate contrary action from the Muslims against Christians".
He told Catholic News Service: "This is a time when we don't want to add to the prejudice, the biases and even discriminatory attitudes evolving in the world."
Canadian Jesuit Father Michael Czerny, of the Vatican's new Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, told Catholic News Service in Rome that Christians are asked to reflect on the Good Samaritan and not to "react and act as if the plight of migrants and refugees is none of our business".
Fired: Trump Dumps Top Lawyer Who Defied Immigration Order
US President Donald Trump fired top federal government lawyer Sally Yates on Monday after she took the extraordinarily rare step of defying the White House and refused to defend new travel restrictions targeting seven Muslim-majority nations.
It was another dramatic twist in the unusually raucous roll-out of Trump's directive that put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The Friday night ban prompted protests and chaos at airports on the weekend as customs officials struggled to put the order into practice and the fallout spread to US markets on Monday, where stocks suffered their biggest drop of 2017 and companies affected by the change spoke out against it.
Yates said late on Monday that the Justice Department would not defend the order against court challenges, saying that she did not believe it would be "consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right".
Hours later, she was fired. The White House said Yates "has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States" and portrayed her actions as political.
Trump has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from terror attacks but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and defiles America's historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants.
Yates, an appointee of former Democratic President Barack Obama, was days away from being replaced by Trump's pick for the top spot at the Justice Department, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, who is awaiting Senate confirmation.
"Ms Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration," the White House said in a statement.
The White House said that Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was sworn in at 9 pm ET and would be acting US attorney general until Sessions is approved.
Boente said in an interview with the Washington Post that he would enforce the immigration order.
Drama
There have been only a handful of instances in US history of top Justice Department officials publicly breaking with the White House.
The most famous example was in 1973, when then-Attorney General Elliot Richardson and his deputy resigned rather than obey President Richard Nixon's order to fire a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal.
The incident, which became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre", was a public relations disaster and is seen as a turning point in Nixon's administration.
The drama at the Justice Department is another sign of how hastily Trump's immigration order was developed and how little it was reviewed by the agencies now grappling to implement it.
The White House said key government officials were briefed before Trump signed the order on Friday, but there was little coordination or consultation, resulting in confusion. Most State Department officials found out about it from media reports.
Officials from the State Department circulated a draft memo of dissent on Monday, saying Trump's move would hurt America's image abroad and inflame anti-American sentiment.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer dismissed the memo. "These career bureaucrats have a problem with it? I think that they should either get with the programme or they can go," he told reporters at his daily briefing.
An internal Department of Homeland Security document seen by Reuters showed 348 visa holders were kept from boarding US-bound flights this week, and more than 200 people came to the United States but were denied entry.
More than 735 people were pulled aside for questioning by US Customs and Border Protection officers at airports, including 394 green card holders, who are legal permanent residents of the United States, the document said.
Trump's administration is granting waivers from the refugee ban to allow 872 people into the country this week refugees that had already been cleared for resettlement in the United States and were in transit when the order came out.
Tens of thousands of people protested Trump's order in major American cities and at airports on the weekend.
Obama took the rare step of weighing in, saying through a spokesman that he was heartened by the political activism on the issue.
Employees of Alphabet Inc's Google in San Francisco, Mountain View, Seattle and other cities held protests. Backed by a sign that said "We are a nation of immigrants," Sergei Brin, president of Alphabet, said he was outraged by the order.
"The US had the courage to take me and my family in as refugees," he said in a YouTube video of his remarks.
Tech backing for court challenges
Federal judges blocked deportation of those detained under the order through the weekend and more lawsuits were filed on Monday.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the country's biggest Muslim advocacy group, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 people.
Washington state filed a lawsuit, arguing that Trump's order violates the equal protection clause and the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Several other Democratic state attorneys general have said they are considering legal action.
"It is an insult and a danger to all of the people of the state of Washington, of all faiths," Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, told reporters.
Amazon.com Inc and Expedia Inc, both of which are based in Washington state's Seattle area, are supporting the state's suit.
Amazon scrapped a business trip for a senior company lawyer who was born in Libya but has UK citizenship, according to a declaration filed in support of the lawsuit. Forty-nine of its employees were born in one of the banned countries, and seven new hires may need to be placed in offices outside the United States, it said.
A declaration from Expedia said the order could impact the travel itineraries of at least 1,000 customers, costing it refunds as well as expenses to monitor how the order is applied and who exactly is affected.
The US technology industry, a major employer of foreign workers, has been the most vocal corporate opponent to Trump's order. A group of top companies plans to meet on Tuesday to discuss how best to support legal challenges.
Indian Evangelist's Wife Appeals For Prayers As Husband Remains In Coma After Arrest For Distributing Scriptures
An evangelist from India needs prayers from Christians worldwide.
The wife of 47-year-old K.A. Swamy made the appeal after her husband suffered brain haemorrhage and subsequently fell into a coma following his arrest and temporary detention for distributing Bibles and other Christian literature, the persecution watchdog World Watch Monitor (WWM) reported.
A group of angry Hindus dragged Swamy to a local police station earlier this month after catching him distributing Christian pamphlets near a Hindu temple in Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad, the capital city of the southern state of Telangana.
Swamy is one of the volunteers for Gideons International, a Christian organisation that distributes Bibles for free in various places worldwide.
Although the police released him after six hours of detention, the stress he endured took its toll as he suffered a brain haemorrhage on his way home and later fell into a coma. There has been no change in his condition since two weeks ago, according to his wife.
His brother-in-law said Swamy had been threatened by Hindu extremists before and taken to the police station for interrogation. "This time he just couldn't take it," Swamy's brother-in-law said.
India has risen to number 15, up from no. 17 last year, in the 2017 World Watch List of countries where Christians are most persecuted, according to Open Doors USA.
The Christian organisation rates the persecution level in India as "severe," noting that Hindu extremists' level of impunity has increased.
The Open Doors report states that Christians are now "regularly attacked by radical Hindus" as the "level of intolerance continues to increase."
It says former Hindus who converted to Christianity bear the brunt of persecution. "They are constantly under pressure to return to their old beliefs, and are often physically assaulted, sometimes killed," it states.
Last month, a local bishop noted that Christians are finding it difficult to live normal lives in India.
Auxiliary Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas of the city of Ranchi in Jharkhand state in eastern India said Christians, who comprise only 2.3 percent of the Indian population, are particularly most oppressed in northern India, adding that evangelisation efforts in that area have been impeded, the Navhind Times reported.
The bishop nevertheless took pride in how Christians in India are showing their determination to persevere "faithfully until the end" despite the many challenges facing them.
Is God Hardening Donald Trump's Heart?
I remember a short, fractured conversation I once had that altered my view of the world.
In broken English, a woman from Iraq told me the story of why she'd ended up living in inner-city London. She described how her house had been destroyed by a bomb and how in the blast her only son had been killed. It was then that she sought refuge in the UK.
Looking around at the grey afternoon and the run-down blocks of a council estate, at first I wondered why anyone would want to live there. But as she spoke, and I saw the terror and fear in her eyes from that event years before, I realised what a sanctuary the dull surrounding streets were.
Not that I'd bother telling Trump that story. He doesn't seem much intent on listening.
I've been thinking of that confusing verse in Exodus when God tells Moses that he will harden Pharaoh's heart (Exodus 7:3) and it's an action God repeats throughout the story. Wasn't Pharaoh's heart hard enough already? A dictator who saw himself as God believing no one was above him, who oppressed an entire race out of fear and for his own gain. A man who even when he saw his own people suffer, refused to yield. Would anything stop him?
I certainly wouldn't claim to be a biblical scholar on the matter or anywhere near it, but as I've considered Pharaoh, and in turn Trump (you don't have to look far to see the similarities), I wonder if God wanted to highlight the deep, pervasive injustices which existed in Egypt, and bring them firmly into the stark light. Pharaoh was a hard man already and would probably have got worse. Is it that God accelerates the process to speed up the escape of the Israelites and show Pharaoh for everything he is?
So how can God let Trump be Trump? Trump's recent decisions for a temporary ban on refugees entering American and a refusal to grant visas to those travelling from certain countries reveal the beginnings of a draconian regime. Would God harden his heart further?
I pray with all my heart, not. But what we're seeing now in America is a coming into the light of the deep divisions, racism, xenophobia and prejudice that have been brewing for years. Trump's extremist views and opinions; his signing off of shocking legislation, his loud, brash voice speak out these disturbing beliefs for all the world to hear.
Many have been shocked by the white evangelical vote which essentially secured Trump's presidency. I have written on this site about how it made me question my own alignment with Christianity. A pastor friend of mine describes how he has been walked out of churches in America when he asked for the national flag to be lowered to sit beneath the cross. For some US Christians, sadly, nation has become more important than Christ. It is these kinds of 'idols' which are also being exposed and it is right for the global Church to question the priorities of the Christians who hold these views at a time like this. But now these US Christians also have an unbelievable chance to redeem and heal the wounds in their Church and country.
As the full extent of the nationalism and xenophobia which exists in the US and indeed our own country is being exposed, we are, of course, appalled.
That's a good thing. People speaking out about treatment of the least in society, standing up against hatred, declaring they are ready to welcome the stranger these are biblical calls.
When the enemy hurls down its power as Trump has, the people have no choice but to rise up against it. It's the kick in the backside our apathy needs. We can't ignore it any longer, we have no choice but to take to the streets, raise our voices, write to our politicians, befriend our neighbour, defend the refugee; get involved things we felt we should have been doing for years, but now we're doing them. We've been forced to act.
Trump's decisions will have far-reaching consequences and many will suffer under his regime. Would I rather he weren't in that position? Of course! Do I want God to soften his heart? Absolutely. But an opportunity is also being created for us in the midst of this extremism to become the justice movement that God is always calling us to.
As I walked with thousands of others on the women's march, so many handmade signs felt like prophetic words; Love wins, Love not hate makes America great, Love is power, Build bridges not walls, Love trumps hate, Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can.
Martin Luther King's insistence that it is only love that will conquer over hate is a statement we must cling on to and uphold . We're beginning to realise the extent of our divisions, the chasm which exists between us.
Perhaps God is bringing all this darkness into the light to remind us that we were born for such a time as this.
Katherine Maxwell-Rose is a writer, speaker and activist campaigning on issues of social justice and transformation.
New Bishop Of Sheffield Announced As Traditionalist Anglo-Catholic Philip North
The traditionalist Anglo-Catholic Philip North is being promoted to be the new Bishop of Sheffield, Downing Street has announced.
Currently Bishop of Burnley, Rt Rev Philip North, 50, will replace Steven Croft, now Bishop of Oxford, and will consecrated at Sheffield Cathedral in July 2017. Known for his strong opposition to women priests and bishops, North's appointment will be seen as the Church strengthening relations with its conservative Catholic wing.
The promotion, from a more junior suffragan bishop to be a senior diocesan bishop, was announced on the same day as Anglican and Catholic bishops gather in Birmingham for a two-day joint conference.
North's consecration as Bishop of Burnley proved controversial when no bishop laid hands on him who had previously laid hands on a woman bishop or priest.
It is the custom for all bishops present at the consecration service to join in laying hands on the candidate to elevate them to the order of bishop. But at his consecration in York Minster bishops present who had approved the ordination of women through the laying on of hands did not lay hands on North.
The confidential plans, first revealed by Christian Today, caused controversy because they appeared to revive the concept of "taint", in which a bishop's standing is compromised if he is consecrated by unorthodox bishops even though he himself might be orthodox.
North is now one of Church's bishops who provides oversight to parishes who do not accept the leadership of women bishops and priests. So any vicars who would otherwise be under a female bishop can instead choose to come under the authority of a traditionalist bishop such as North.
In order for those parishes to be free of what some campaigners describe as the "taint" of women bishops, their oversight must be given by a bishop who has not ordained women and has not been consecrated by someone who ordains women.
Canon Emma Percy, chair of WATCH, a campaign group for women's ordination, said although North had many strengths, she was aware of the "sadness" many would feel in Sheffield about having a bishop who would not ordain women.
"Sheffield is a diocese with a large number of women clergy and we sincerely hope that the new Bishop will promote a culture in which ordained women will feel validated and encouraged to flourish," Dr Percy told Christian Today.
She also pointed out that "once again a man has been appointed to a vacant diocesan post" and said she had concerns the current system makes it harder for women to be made senior bishops.
North said he was "delighted and deeply honoured" by the appointment and vowed to work with all traditions across the diocese.
"In a diverse diocese, I am wholly committed to being a bishop for everyone and will work to ensure that priests and parishes of all traditions can flourish and find delight in serving God and his people," he said.
The Diocese of Sheffield currently has one suffragan bishop, the Bishop of Doncaster, Rt Rev Peter Burrows. He said: "Philip brings with him considerable experience, passion and deep commitment to mission, evangelism and the church's historic vocation and ministry to society, especially the most vulnerable.
"He fits many of the things we said we were looking for in our new bishop and will serve the diocese and wider church well."
Obama Hits Out At Trump Refugee Ban: 'Fundamentally Disagrees' With Religion-Based Discrimination
Former US President Obama "fundamentally disagrees" with discrimination based on faith or religion, his spokesman has said.
The intervention comes less than two weeks after Obama left the White House and is in response to an executive order signed by new President Donald Trump that blocked refugees from seven Muslim majority countries from entering the US.
He suspended the US refugee programme for 120 days and permanently banned refugees fleeing the war in Syria as well as extending a temporary block on refugees from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen for 90 days.
The move was met with mass protests at US airports and cities.
Obama's spokesman Kevin Lewis said the 44th President "is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country".
He said in a statement: "In his final official speech as President, he spoke about the important role of citizen and how all Americans have a responsibility to be the guardians of our democracy -- not just during an election but every day.
"Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," he added.
Lewis also hit back at assertions the ban was comparable to restrictions put in place under Obama's administration.
"With regard to comparisons to President Obama's foreign policy decisions, as we've heard before, the president fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion," Lewis said.
Priest Defends As 'Funny' His 'Jump For Trump' Suicide Post On Social Media
A conservative Catholic priest who oversees a church in the largely immigrant area of Queens, New York has come under fire after using a social media post to instruct Donald Trump protesters to commit suicide.
"Show your hate for Trump. Do it for social justice. #JumpAgainstTrump," read a 'meme' from by Father Philip Pizzo just hours after he celebrated Mass on Sunday, the New York Post reported.
The message included an illustration of a man plummeting from a skyscraper.
The priest, who is attached to St Benedict Joseph Labre Roman Catholic Church in Richmond Hill, had previously posted a photo of Barack Obama with the words "He's not my president'' and a picture of Hillary Clinton titled "Ugly Face'' in Italian along with "Happy Halloween.''
The 67-year-old told the Post on Monday that he considered the "Jump Against Trump'' meme was "funny." He claimed: "I do not promote suicide. I've helped many people over the years, and it does not promote suicide. It was funny."
However, members of the congregation and parishioners were outraged.
"Suicide is not funny, plain and simple," said Carlos Coburn, a congregant who once sought counselling from Pizzo because he was struggling with thoughts about killing himself.
Coburn said that he has attended the church for twenty years but will start worshipping elsewhere after Pizzo's posting.
"It's disturbing for someone in my situation,'' Coburn said. "I know this man, he baptised me, and I don't want to go back to his church."
Another parishioner said that Pizzo "normally posts about supporting Trump, but this was just taking it too far'.'
Alex Leston, who attended St Benedict until three years ago, said he was "appalled" by the post and added that it shows how disconnected Pizzo is from his parishioners, who are mainly from Hispanic immigrant backgrounds.
"The parish he is supposed to be serving is mainly Latin American and Caribbean," he said. "It's not a good look for him."
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Brooklyn said the post does not reflect the Church's stance and has been removed.
"Father Pizzo did share the meme in question on his personal Facebook page," said the spokesperson, Vito Formica.
"He says he intended it as satire only, regrets the offence it has caused and has deleted it. This post does not, in any way, represent the view of the Church."
Prince Charles Would Welcome A Sit-Down With Trump To Discuss Interfaith Dialogue And Climate Change, Reports Say
Prince Charles would welcome a meeting with Donald Trump to discuss interfaith issues, according to reports which come amid the outcry over the new president's refugees ban and growing protests over Theresa May's proposal of a state visit by Trump this year.
Despite widespread disapproval of Trump's policies in the UK, a royal source was quoted as saying of the Prince of Wales: "It is not his style to turn his back."
Sources cited the Prince's record as an advocate for interfaith relations as well as his close relationships with the Saudi and Gulf state royals.
Charles has repeatedly highlighted the plight of persecuted Christians in Syria, an issue that Trump raised during last year's presidential campaign, and according to the Guardian "this may provide a bridge between the two men".
However, during a message recorded for Aid to the Church in Need which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day last month, Charles said: "We are now seeing the rise of many populist groups across the world that are increasingly aggressive towards those who adhere to a minority faith."
One supporter of Charles was quoted as saying: "The Prince has gone into the Middle East over recent years at the government's request and has been the honest and neutral broker. He has listened, reported back and convened. If that is required now with President Trump, the only people who can decide is the government. For this country, it would be helpful for [Trump] to sit down with the Prince of Wales."
Perhaps less realistically, royal sources have also said that the outspoken Prince hopes to build a dialogue with Trump on the issue of climate change.
Prince Charles has long been an advocate for tackling climate change and last week, he released a Ladybird book on the topic and warned it was a "wolf at the door".
Trump has described climate change as "created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive".
According to reports, Charles is considered in some parts of Whitehall as "an extremely good asset" in helping to maintain the integrity of the UN climate change treaty in the face of the US president's previous pledge to "scrap" it.
A senior Whitehall source was quoted as saying that the Prince had been "gently primed" to assist diplomatic efforts on the issue and his views were considered "absolutely in line with government policy".
Reformation 500: Evangelical Alliance Warns Against Compromise With Catholicism
Evangelicals have been urged to celebrate the Reformation as "essential" to Christianity and resist attempts to dilute differences between Protestants and Catholics.
The Evangelical Alliance's statement to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, headlined on the Evangelical Alliance press release as "500 Years of Protest", praised the split as a recovery of Jesus' teaching. It emphasised ongoing "points of divergence" between the two traditions as well as acknowledging efforts at reconciliation and convergence after centuries of mistrust.
"As evangelicals, we owe a great deal of our doctrinal, spiritual and cultural identity to the Reformation," the statement read.
"The Reformation was not so much an innovation as a recovery a recovery of the essential content of the 'evangel' or 'good news' of salvation proclaimed by Jesus Christ himself, and by his apostles. That work of recovery is reflected in our own designation as evangelicals."
It insists the "core distinctions" between Luther and the 16th-century Roman Catholic church "remain between modern-day evangelicals and Catholics despite efforts at reconciliation".
The statement marked a notably different tone to that of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York who called for repentance for the division. They lamented the "lasting damage done five centuries ago to the unity of the Church, in defiance of the clear command of Jesus Christ to unity in love".
The build-up to the 500th anniversary since, according to a tradition that is disputed by some scholars, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the cathedral door in his town of Wittenburg has been marked with strengthening ecumenical relations between Catholics and Protestants.
The statement from the EA said "some will regard these initiatives more positively than others" and emphasised "additional points of divergence" on top of the "foundational issues" of "biblical authority and justification" it says Luther raised.
The eight-page document points to the Catholic's high view of Church authority, the Pope's infallibility, the importance of sacraments such as confirmation and the devotion of Mary as having no "biblical grounds".
Rev Dr David Hilborn, chair of the Evangelical Alliance's Theology Advisory Group, said they amounted to "significant differences in doctrine and practice" between evangelicals and Catholics.
But the statement did go on to emphasise "points of convergence" including in particular the shared opposition to gay marriage, abortion and euthanasia.
Steve Clifford, general director of the Evangelical Alliance, said: "It has been in the area of public policy especially that evangelicals and Catholics have come together over the last 40 years to put pressure on the government and work for the common good."
A spokesman has since added: "The statement does not call for celebration of the split, but carefully looks at the areas of divergence many of which are important hallmarks of evangelical faith.
"We have also sought to ensure that we are not driving a wedge between the differences that do exist. We want to recognise the importance of the reformation, but also seek ways that we can work together with the Roman Catholic church."
Three Books That Changed NT Wright's Life
It is not every day you get to sit down with one of the most influential living Christian thinkers. We are sitting in an inner-city church in London which a local vicar has kindly made available to us for filming. As a local primary school year group leave after receiving an RE lesson in the building Tom Wright arrives. Dressed in an overcoat and a Yorkshireman's cap he greets the small group of staff who have asked to sit in on the filming, cracks jokes, makes small talk. He is at ease in his own skin and puts others at ease in his company. This humble man is however the most prolific biblical scholar in a generation. Some say he is the most important Christian apologist since CS Lewis.
He has written more than 70 books, including the monumental series Christian Origins and the Question of God. He was formerly canon theologian of Westminster Abbey and Dean of Lichfield Cathedral. He taught New Testament at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities and has been a visiting professor at Harvard Divinity School, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Gregorian University in Rome and many other institutions around the world. He was the Bishop of Durham before his current post as Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews.
There are a million questions I want to ask him. We talk briefly about his latest book The Day the Revolution Began (You can see my mini interview here and then we get talking about other books that have shaped this great scholar's life. First of all I ask which book from his early years as a Christian best helped him to come to grips with his faith.
Miracles by CS Lewis
NTW: When I was first studying theology, a wise friend told me I ought to read CS Lewis' book Miracles. It was controversial then and is controversial now; the question of "Did Jesus do miracles?" "How do miracles work?"
It was Lewis who really first alerted me to the fact that in the Gospels when all these strange things are happening this isn't just playing tricks or conjuring tricks within the old world, these are signs of God's new creation breaking in and in particular the resurrection stories which have been so difficult for people to understand. Was this really a ghost story or what? But Lewis grasped the fact that this is actually new creation, that Jesus has gone through death and out the other side into a new world, a new whole way of being. And he saw what many scholars actually haven't seen that in the Gospels those stories are so strange, not because somebody's making it up 50 years later but because something new has burst upon the world, which they were struggling to grasp but which still can excite us with the promise of God's new creation today.
Secondly I ask him which book best helped shape his thinking as a scholar. My only limit was that it needed to still be in print.
The Language and Imagery of the Bible, GB Caird
NTW: My teacher was a man called GB Caird and he wrote a wonderful book (just before he died actually) called The Language and Imagery of the Bible and that has been an enormous help to me and I know to many other people. I was once in a seminar where somebody saw I had a copy of it and he said "That book saved my life." Because Caird loved the Bible and was soaked in it, he teaches people to appreciate the way that the language of the Bible works at every level. It's poetic, it's dramatic, it's all sorts of things and particularly when it comes to Jesus and language about the future, he taught us how to understand what in the trade we call apocalyptic or eschatological language. When the Bible says "The sun will be dark and the moon will be turned into blood" etc, this is not a primitive weather forecast, this is a way of investing major, future, what we would call sociopolitical events with their theological significance, their depth and dimension. Caird taught us how to do that, and that's been a real blessing and relief to me and many others.
Thirdly, now for something completely different:
Four Quartets by TS Eliot
NTW: I first discovered the poetry of T.S. Eliot when I was, I think, in my late twenties. I hadn't really studied modern poetry before then and particularly his Four Quartets which was his last great work and really partly for which he won the Nobel Prize. This has meant an enormous amount to me and many other Christians. It's one of those poems that's inexhaustible, I don't claim to have understood more than bits of it, but there's something about it which is like a great symphony. It carries you along even if you can't necessarily whistle all the tunes as you go down the street. And it's about coming back to Christian faith as a resolution of all of the questions that he's had all throughout his life. As a result of which, he talks about words and meanings wrestling with those. And the poem itself is wrestling with words and it finally comes back every phrase and sentence that is right, this is what we're actually aiming for. The last great stanza of the poem is so memorable: "We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." And then he goes on, "All shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well, when the tongues of flame are enfolded into the crowned knot of fire and the fire and the rose are one."
I admit to Tom that I find reading poetry difficult. How should someone who finds it difficult to engage with poetry begin?
NTW: Reading poetry is one of those funny things which different people approach differently. There's a danger of allowing the left brain to take over and say "I want to know what the meaning of every phrase is" but actually with poetry, like with music, you have to tell that bit of your brain to shut up and just feel the music, feel the rhythm, hear and sense the words as a sort of physical reality. Meaning will emerge from that but it will come through a different bit of you from how you would read say a mathematics text book or something. So poetry works at several different levels and Eliot was exploring all those different levels and that's one of the reasons he's so exciting.
I have a million more questions to ask this humble scholar. He is generous enough to spend twenty minutes explaining his views on Paul's theology of adoption. But that is the subject for another day. In the meantime, for more insights of leaders and the books that shaped their lives, visit www.booksforlife.uk/leader.
Dr Krish Kandiah is founding director of Home for Good a writer, consultant, activist and executive producer of Books for Life.
Trump's Refugee Ban vs Obama's: What Is The Difference?
The backlash to the backlash has, predictably, begun.
Trump supporters and those who simply enjoy being contrarian have sought to legitimise the ban on refugees enacted on Friday by claiming Barack Obama did something similar in 2011.
"My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months," Trump wrote in a statement on Sunday.
"The seven countries named in the Executive Order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror. To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting."
Here are three reasons the comparison is misleading and wrong.
1. Obama never banned refugees
In 2011 the White House conducted a review of the vetting procedures of people from one country, Iraq, and only of those who applied for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), which was introduced to help Iraqis and Afghans who supported US troops during those two wars.
Contrary to Trump's statement Obama never "banned visas for refugees from Iraq". For one thing refugees don't travel on visas. But neither was there ever a ban on refugees from Iraq. Obama's order only delayed a limited number of applications while extra vetting was taking place. There was not a single month where no Iraqi refugees were allowed in it was a delay for security not a ban.
On the other hand Trump's executive order is a total ban that applies to seven countries with a total population of more than 130 million targeting immigrants and refugees of every category, including tourists and business travellers.
2. Obama's action was an orderly process grounded in specific threat
The Obama 2011 review of vetting that prompted the six month delay was done in response to specific threats, namely the arrest of two Iraqi refugees in Kentucky on terrorism charges.
These remain the only terrorist-linked arrests out of around 130,000 Iraqi refugees in the US.
The review was then conducted through meetings with intelligence officials as well as the State, Homeland Security and Justice Departments.
By contrast Trump's administration has provided no evidence or even asserted that intelligence has led to this move.
The executive order was drafted by political aides and then given to agencies to implement with little or no consultation. His secretary of Homeland Security only found out by watching TV news reports, according to the New York Times.
3. Obama's list of seven countries was taken out of context.
Trump claimed the list of seven Muslim majority countries he banned all entry into the US from for 90 days was based on a list by Obama's administration.
This is highly misleading.
After the San Bernadino terrorist attack in 2015 Obama signed an amendment to the Visa Waiver Programme that allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the US without obtaining vias and allows US citizens similar privileges in return.
That amendment removed from the VWP dual nationalities who were citizens of four countries Iraq, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Later three more countries Libya, Somalia and Yemen were added.
But at no point did it bar people from those countries from coming to the US. It just required a very small number of extra people to apply for visas before they were allowed entry.
All in all Trump's aim to justify his actions through referring to his predecessor's is highly problematic.
Trump's Refugee Ban: Will It Do More Harm Than Good To America?
Trump's Refugee Ban: A Radical And Dangerous Departure From US Tradition
'Trump Should Read His Bible Before Enacting Discriminatory Policies': What Is The Meaning Of The Refugee Ban?
As is all too often the case in the UK, much of the media coverage in the US over Donald Trump's latest executive orders has blurred the line between asylum seekers and refugees on the one hand, and migrants and those merely travelling from one country to another on the other.
Much has (rightly) been made of the travel ban, with stars like the Olympic champion Mo Farah complaining that he may not be allowed to return to the US.
But here, we take a closer look at the effects of a connected but distinct and arguably even more serious move by Trump: suspending the US refugee programme for 120 days and permanently banning refugees fleeing the war in Syria as well as extending a temporary block on refugees from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen for 90 days.
Charities as well as Barack Obama have warned that such discrimination represents a radical departure not just from the tradition of unity in diversity in America the ultimate Western melting pot but also from the Gospels.
If Trump thought that he could win over campaigning Christians by prioritising Christian refugees in Syria, he was mistaken.
"At the heart of the Christian faith is a clear command to 'love the stranger' and to stand with the vulnerable, whoever they may be. To follow Christian teaching means to welcome people in need whatever their faith not prioritise people who happen to share one's own beliefs," said Tom Viita, Head of Advocacy at Christian Aid. "A rejection of refugees, whatever their faith, is a rejection of Christian values. Trump would do well to read his Bible before enacting discriminatory policies...President Trump is now effectively ripping up the principle that every person, irrespective of their faith or nationality, has the right to seek protection and sanctuary."
Indeed, Trump's move threatens the international refugee system itself, which was created in the aftermath of the Second World War and has enabled millions of refugees to find sanctuary in other countries.
Today that need has never been greater.
As analysis by IRIN shows, Trump's refugee ban marks a serious setback for the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, to urge wealthier states to accept more refugees at a time of record levels of global displacement.
A statement from the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration points out that "the needs of refugees and migrants worldwide have never been greater and the US resettlement programme is one of the most important in the world".
UNHCR estimates that at least 1.2 million refugees are in need of resettlement.
As has been shown by the Brookings Institution, the international refugee system which was grounded in the 1951 Refugee Convention, has proved to be "remarkably adaptable" over the past six decades.
As the article for Brookings says: "Originally intended to assist those displaced by World War II, it has saved the lives of millions of women, children, and men fleeing communist countries, persecution by repressive governments, civil wars, ethnic cleansing, genocide, and criminal gangs. It has never functioned perfectly...But somehow, frayed at the edges as it is, the system has continued to meet the needs of both refugees and the international community."
Last year, the former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon urged states to take in at least 10 per cent of the total refugee population, around two million people.
So far, the US has taken considerable steps to meet this challenge.
Up until now, around two thirds of the refugees referred for resettlement by UNHCR every year end up in the US, which last fiscal year resettled nearly 85,000 refugees. Obama had recommended raising that figure to 110,000 in 2017. But according to Trump's executive order, refugee resettlement to the US this year will be capped at 50,000, around the same level as 10 years ago, when, as Irin points out, "demand was significantly lower".
Doris Meissner, who heads the US immigration programme at the Migration Policy Institute based in Washington, said that Trump's executive order is a "radical" departure from the long-standing US record on refugee admissions and "a system of values that looks to protect people who are in deep need".
Now, Trump's new policy sets a worrying example to the rest of the world. As Brookings points out: "This is a major problem, both for its direct effects and for possible ripples internationally. The move denies refugees the chance to start new lives in the United States and to enrich our communities.
"More broadly, it is another blow to an already fragile international system. If US refugee policy excludes those fleeing violence in Muslim majority countries, why shouldn't other countries impose similar exclusions? If future US refugee policy is based on a narrow implementation of 'America First,' why should Lebanon or Tanzania or a hundred other countries continue to receive refugees? After all, over 85 per cent of the world's refugees are hosted by developing countries with far fewer resources than the United States. If the United States slams the door, why should other countries keep theirs open, and what would that mean around the world?"
And as the former British foreign secretary David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, has pointed out in a statement, refugees entering the country via the resettlement programme already undergo an in-depth process of vetting by 12 to 15 government agencies.
"This is one of many reasons to deplore the hasty decision made today," said Miliband. "In truth, refugees are fleeing terror they are not terrorists."
The full title of Trump's executive order is 'Protecting the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the US'.
But with Trump having set such an example to the rest of the world, and bizarrely having refused to stop those coming from Saudi Arabia, where the 9/11 bombers were from, or Afghanistan or Pakistan, Americans could be forgiven for wondering whether this policy is not only iniquitous but also unsafe.
'We Need To Pray For The President': Lessons From An Anti-Trump Demo In England
Donald Trump has suspended the entire US refugee programme and restricted travel from certain Muslim-majority countries. In some ways the order he signed was chaotically unclear, leading to vast confusion at airports and consulates as to who was allowed in and who wasn't. It's working out very nicely, he said.
In other ways it was very clear indeed. Whatever the rest of the world thinks and most of the world thought the US policy was working pretty well he was going to make it much, much harder for Muslims. Trump is not saying exactly that if they are not choirboys, they must be terrorists. But Muslims are certainly going to have to work much harder to convince the authorities of their innocence.
And most of the world really doesn't like it. They don't buy the national security argument; they think Trump is stoking fear and hatred for reasons of his own. There have been demonstrations and protests across the globe. Otherwise non-political people have taken to the streets in surprising numbers.
Last night I was one of them, as much for research purposes as anything else. I live in a small town in the English Cotswolds. It's an elegant sort of place with lots of Regency buildings, a minor university, lots of posh shops and a couple of theatres. It has a Tory MP and the one before him was Liberal Democrat; he was evidently organising the protest, which was on the tree-lined promenade and attracted around 300 people. It takes a lot to get people to demonstrate in Cheltenham, especially in the rain. And it was a very genteel protest; cheerful families, the odd chant and even odder signs: "Donald Trump is not a very nice man", "I remember when the annoying Orange was just a YouTube channel", and my personal favourite "I'm really quite cross". The speakers talked politely and semi-audibly when they really ought to have shouted. It was all very English.
That doesn't mean they didn't feel deeply about the issues.
I asked a few people why they were there and what they thought about Trump. One young mother said she found him frightening, instancing his attitude to women and Muslims. Another said she didn't want her children growing up with him as a role model. Another said she was part of a mixed-race family and believed Trump's America would be one of segregation and intercommunal strife.
What was interesting was the depth of their rejection of Trump and all his works. There have been demonstrations before, even in Cheltenham. There was plenty of opposition to the Iraq war, and some hard things said about George W Bush as well as Tony Blair. But I haven't seen this level of fear and worry before. This wasn't politics, it was morality not just personal, sexual morality of the kind highlighted by some Christian anti-Trump campaigners during the election campaigners, but morality as ethics: they believed he was fundamentally, dangerously wrong about basic values.
Of course, Americans might ask what it's got to do with us anyway, and it's a fair question. One answer is that Cheltenham is the home is the home of GCHQ, where the government does its spying from, and lots of Americans work there. Americans were even represented at the demo. But another is that this is a world affair, not just a US one, just because of America's position in the world.
I don't know how Trump's presidency will develop. Last Sunday we interceded for him in church, sincerely and sombrely. We prayed God would give him wisdom, just as we've always prayed for world leaders. But there was an undertone of unease even in those prayers. The world felt dangerous, and we weren't just praying about competence, but about character.
There are plenty of Trump supporters who think this is nonsense. Most Americans, judging by the popular vote, don't. In much of the rest of the world, there are the same doubts, not just about his head, but about his heart; the kind I heard expressed in my small spa town last night.
We'll carry on praying. Trump needs it; so does America, and so does the world.
Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
What Is The Difference Between Common Grace And Saving Grace
God's grace is a central element to understanding and appreciating Him. No one can genuinely grow in a relationship with God without first coming into a realisation of how gracious our God really is.
Grace is defined as unmerited favour given to the undeserving. Many if not all of the things that we enjoy on a day to day basis are a result of nothing more and nothing less than the grace of God. But God's grace has various facets that we can enjoy, two of the most evident being God's common grace and saving grace.
Common Grace: God's Gift To All Mankind
God's grace is so powerful that it encompasses all the world. God's common grace is the reason that everyoneChristian or non-Christianenjoys the blessing of life, provision and abundance. Matthew 5:45 tells us, "For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
"The grace of God has appeared" as Titus 2:11 tells us, but the problem is that not everyone receives God as the source of grace. But nonetheless God gives grace of life and goodness to all whether people receive or reject Him. That's why even the unjust receive God's goodness. They might not deserve it, but God extends it still.
Psalm 145:9 further tells us, "The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made."
The Bible also tells us that it was God who raised up the empire of Egypt, Babylon, Persia and Rome even though they were not surrendered to Him. God gives common grace to everyone not because we deserve it, but because He is faithful and generous.
Saving Grace: The Promise To Those Who Believe
While every single person to ever walk this earth is recipient to common grace, there is another grace that is offered to only those who put their faith and trust in Christ. That is the saving grace of God.
The saving grace works in many ways. It empowers us to repent and change our ungodly ways and furthermore justifies us of all sin, assuring us of eternal life.
This grace, just like common grace, is unmerited, but unlike common grace cannot be enjoyed once rejected.
Ephesians 2:8 describes for us saving grace: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."
Saving grace results to our sanctification. It serves as our justification to make a way for our glorification in Christ so that we may live in and for God in this life and for all eternity.
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Two students were caught on tape beating a young boy at a residential care facility.
Director of the Missouri Children's Division Tim Decker reported the incident of abuse at Home Court Advantage, a group home for children with mental and developmental disabilities.
The video was shared on Facebook, although Gov. Eric Greitens said he and his staff were made aware of it last week. It shows a boy being viciously tossed around a restroom and hit repeatedly.
SUED: Texas dentist facing child indecency charges sues son for calling him an 'abusive pedophile' online
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Administrators at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. said Monday that they are dismissing two students accused of the attack. The school released this statement, KY3 reports:
"After being made aware of the allegations, the university immediately reported the allegations to law enforcement. The actions demonstrated by these students are unacceptable to the SBU community and unacceptable to the ethics and morals of SBU. Our prayers are with all parties involved."
Gov. Greitans said that they are investigating the incident.
"I saw this video. It is deeply disturbing. Both as your governor and as a father, I can tell you, we will not stand for this. It is doubly disturbing, because it appears to have taken place in a facility that was responsible for the protection and care of some of our most vulnerable children," the governor said.
No individuals involved have been named by police.
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Dr. Paul Klotman, president and CEO of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, estimated "dozens" of faculty or researchers and students appear to be caught in the controversial White House immigration ban.
"We, as a global research institution, have lots of people from all over the world," Klotman said in an interview Monday. "This whole thing has been a giant, messy distraction."
The medical school in one of the nation's largest and most prestigious and has 10,000 faculty, clinicians, researchers, medical students and trainees.
Klotman said "dozens," if not more, at his institution are affected by the ban that was enacted swiftly Friday night against refugees and people from seven mostly Muslim nations seeking to enter the United States.
That could include those in Houston whose families are overseas or those who might not return home for a visit for fear of not being able to re-enter the U.S.
On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that immediately shut the door to Syrian refugees indefinitely and all other refugees for 120 days. The action also barred entrance for at least 90 days to anyone from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, Libya and Sudan.
Initially the executive action blocked even legal permanent U.S. residents holding green cards but that part of the order appeared to be lifted on Sunday. The order still presumably affects foreign students, workers and other visa holders from the targeted countries.
It is unclear if there are any Baylor College of Medicine students or faculty still in their home countries who were scheduled to come to Houston for jobs or education. But Klotman said it would not surprise him.
"We get the best and the brightest from these countries," he said. "This is the last thing they need."
On Sunday his office sent out an institution-wide email that said it was working to understand the new immigration policy and the impact of a federal judge's ruling staying the order.
"There likely will continue to be changes in this policy over the coming days and weeks which is why it is important for us to carefully monitor the political and legal issues while providing support to all members of the Baylor community. If anyone potentially affected by the order is scheduled to leave the county on business, please contact the Office of the General Counsel for guidance," the email said.
Klotman said Monday that even students in countries not named in the ban were feeling the chill.
"It makes them nervous about their future in the country," he said.
The order caught even some within the White House off guard. Travelers overseas were pulled from line as they boarded planes and others who were in midair were detained when they landed.
Chaos was reported in many airports and days of protest have followed both in Houston and across the nation.
Klotman minced no words about the unfolding drama. As a CEO and administrator, he said, he thought there needed to be more forethought of the fallout.
"It was done like an amateur," he said.
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After his flawless dance tribute to Michael Jackson that elicited cheers from the audience, it was clear to many that David Khachaturyan would be in the final five for Mr. Bellaire 2017. The Bellaire High School senior ultimately won the fundraiser competition with a huge smile on his face.
David also won "Mr. Congeniality" and "Best Talent" in the competition at Bellaire High School benefiting After Prom activities. The event garnered more than $5,000 for After Prom, with final tabulations still ongoing.
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Houston-based Lionstone Investments has closed its Lionstone U.S. Value-Add Four fund after raising a total of $450 million.
The fund, which invests on behalf of university endowments, foundations, wealthy families and pension plans, has acquired three properties since September 2015: downtown Houston's GreenStreet mixed-use development, Colony Square in Atlanta, and the 110 Atrium office building in Bellevue, Wash.
Spunky Old Broads Day is marked on February 1. It's a day to celebrate older women for all their courage, wisdom and vivacity.
Of course, older women must have their say.
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Vanity Fair Spain and Mexico Editorial Director Lourdes Garzon is under fire for a controversial message posted Thursday.
"Our Mexican compatriots are such crybabies," the tweet, which has since been removed, read. It was seemingly in response to first lady Melania Trump's Vanity Fair Mexico cover, which went viral on the same day.
The magazine featured Melania twirling diamond necklaces with a fork, as if they were pasta noodles. The image struck many as an insensitive and bold display of wealth from the wife of the U.S. president who's vowed to make Mexico pay for a border wall and has threatened to impose a 20-percent tax on goods imported from Mexico.
RESPONSE: Former Mexican President responds to Trump's proposed tax on imports from Mexico
A statement made on Vanity Fair's website reads that Garzon's Twitter account was hacked, and that she did not post that remark herself.
(Story continues below.)
However, the outlet has still seen backlash as a result of the tweet and the controversial cover. Some skeptics believe that the statement was intentionally made and cited the magazine's tasteless cover as evidence of publishers with a lack of good judgment.
One chef with Houston ties, La Fisheria owner Aquiles Chavez, tweeted to the editor: "Without a doubt the rose-tinted world in which you live doesn't allow you to see beyond your own absurd and foolish banality."
The Fort Bend ISD school board unanimously approved attendance boundaries for three new elementary schools and one middle school, at meeting Jan. 23.
The decision came after months of research and parent feedback. Scott Leopold, Project Director for the educational planning firm DeJong-Richter, which assisted Fort Bend ISD with its zoning process, wound up tweaking the approved attendance boundaries until late that afternoon.
Changes made the day of approval affected the district's 50th elementary school, Patterson Elementary, located along the Grand Parkway in the Grand Vista development.
In prior presentations, the Mission Sierra neighborhood was zoned to Patterson and the Mission Trace neighborhood was zoned to existing Holley Elementary. The approved boundary lines move both Mission Sierra and Mission Trace to Patterson, to prevent a feeder split at nearby Jordan Elementary that would have had a small percent of students zoned to Bowie Middle School instead of going with their peers to Crockett Middle School. Instead, Patterson students will have a more even split, preventing students from heading to a middle school without elementary school classmates. Forty-five percent of Patterson students are projected to go to Crockett and 55 percent to Bowie.
Patterson and the district's 48th and 49th elementary schools, Leonetti and Neill, are slated to open at the start of the 2017-18 school year. The district's 15th middle school, Thornton, will open prior to the start of the 2018-19 school year.
Other attendance boundaries have stayed similar to a presentation given earlier in January to the school board.
Neill will open in the Harvest Green community with just students who attended nearby Oakland Elementary. There is a small portion of Pecan Grove that is zoned to Neill, but there are not students living in that area yet. All Neill students will then attend Bowie Middle School and Travis High School.
Leonetti and Thornton will share a campus in the southern portion of Sienna Plantation.
At the elementary school level, that requires attendance zones to shift to the south. The area currently zoned to Schiff Elementary that is south of the Fort Bend Toll Road will move to Sienna Crossing Elementary. Residents in the Shipman's Landing neighborhood that are currently zoned to Sienna Crossing will move south to Scanlan Oaks. Leonetti would open with students living in the part of the Shipman's Landing neighborhood currently at Scanlan Oaks and a new development being built near Ridge Point.
Thornton will open with students who attended Leonetti, Scanlan Oaks and Heritage Rose elementaries.
Parents and students affected by the boundary changes will be notified in mid-March.
Rising fifth graders can opt to stay at their current campus instead of moving to a new school. The school board also approved a policy in December allowing students who had been impacted at the same level - meaning elementary, middle or high school - by a boundary change before, or students who have been impacted by a boundary change for three consecutive years can also stay at their current campus.
Those policies to not extend to siblings.
Fort Bend ISD's 51st elementary school will likely open during the 2019-20 school year, near Neill. Initially, the attendance boundary zone process for Neill did also recommend some boundaries for Elementary School 51. Leopold said at the Jan. 23 meeting the district postponed establishing Elementary School 51's boundaries.
For more information and attendance boundary maps: http://www.fortbendisd.com/planning-for-our-future
Technical center accepts applications
Fort Bend ISD high school students in grades 10 and 11 are invited to apply for Career and Technical Education programs at the Technical Education Center.
Applications are being accepted for programs offered during the 2017-18 school year. Students interested in taking courses in Automotive, Computer Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Fire Fighting, Hospitality and Tourism or Welding are invited to apply. The deadline to submit applications is 3 p.m. Feb. 17. Visit www.fortbendisd.com/tec to access the online application. Students must use their district computer login and password to access the application.
The Technical Education Center, 540 Dulles Ave., will host an open house from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 1 for students who are interested in enrolling in programs during the 2017-18 school year.
For more information about the Technical Education Center and available programs and courses, visit the website at www.fortbendisd.com/tec or call 281-634-5671.
FBISD student musicians selected as all-state
Thirty Fort Bend ISD student musicians will perform with the Texas All-State Band, Choir and Orchestra as part of the 2017 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention Feb. 8-11 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.
They are among approximately 1,780 high school students who qualified for this honor after competing in the TMEA Texas All-State competition. All-State students will participate in three days of rehearsals, directed by nationally recognized conductors during the TMEA Clinic/Convention. Their performances, before thousands of conference attendees, bring the convention to a close.
2017 All-State Band students include:
Austin High School: Christopher Courtney and Ryan Schroedter
Clements High School: Jason Eric Ancheta and David Quiazon
Elkins High School: Mauricio Franco and Ryan Hunter
Kempner High School: Michael Ojo and Dong Pham
2017 All-State Choir students are:
Dulles High School: Jane Cloninger and Swara Mukkamala
Elkins High School: Faith Eapen and Courtney Stelzer
Ridge Point High School: Kathryn Anthraper and Serena Jacob
2017 All-State Orchestra students include:
Austin High School: Yvette Tiffany Chang, Lexie Livingood, Elizabeth Zhang, Cameron Ahmed, Daniel (Yung-Ju) Cheng and Asher Lee
Clements High School: Neo Scott, Randy Tan, Archer Wang and Jonathan Wing
Dulles High School: Omar Haffar, Paul Li, Ian Vetter and David Worstell
Hightower High School: Robert Gonzalez
Travis High School: Loren Li
Each year, the association sponsors the competition that welcomes more than 68,000 Texas high school students who seek the honor of performing in one of 15 All-State band, orchestra and choir ensembles.
Visit www.tmea.org/convention for information.
TRUSTEES in NEedville approve school calendar
Needville Independent School District trustees on Jan. 18 approved a 2017-18 school calendar and two new teaching positions at the high school.
Come fall, students will begin class Aug. 28. The last day of school will be June 1, 2018.
Major holidays include Nov. 20-24 for Thanksgiving, Dec. 21-Jan. 3 for Christmas, and March 12-16 for Spring Break.
The addition of a new health science instructor to teach introductory courses currently taught by Jennifer Wieghat will allow her to teach advance courses such as the Certified Nurses' Aide (CNA) practicum. Students completing the program can graduate high school with a CNA certificate.
A Manufacturing/Welding I and II instructor will be hired to teach a program that prepares students to take the National Center for Construction Education and Research test and gain credit through Wharton County Junior College and Texas State Technical College. Completing this program can gain the students an NCCER certificate.
Trustees also decided to begin the process of hiring a construction manager at-risk to oversee the addition of 14 classrooms and a set of restrooms at the middle school.
Once that project is complete, several classrooms, a science lab and a set of restrooms will be added at the junior high.
The total cost for both projects is estimated at about $7.5 million.
The projected timeline for the middle school addition would have it completed in time for the beginning of the 2019-20 school year.
In his monthly report to the board, Rhodes reviewed the May 6 election in which Position 6, currently held by Kim Janke, and Position 7, currently held by Chris Janicek, will be up for election. Both incumbents have filed for re-election.
The last day to file to run is Feb. 17. Early voting begins April 28 and ends May 2.
Trustees accepted the resignation of band director David Stubbs, who will retire at the end of the school year. He has been with NISD for 38 years.
NEEDVILLE STUDENTS WIN WRITING RECOGNITION
Needville Junior High not only boasts the winner of the statewide Save Texas History essay contest, but also another student who placed in the Top 10.
Abby House is the grand-prize winner for seventh grade, and Devany Garza is a Top 10 winner at that grade level.
Sponsored by the Texas General Land Office's Save Texas History program, the contest was for fourth- and seventh-graders, with a grand-prize winner and Top 10 entries announced for each of those grades.
House wrote about the Imperial Sugar building in Sugar Land, and Garza wrote about the campaign by local residents to save the old Needville water tower.
Participants were asked to answer the question, "What history in your community, or in Texas, is worth saving?"
Students were also encouraged to explain why the subjects about which they wrote are worth saving and why it's important to preserve Texas history, as well as how residents might do so.
Entries were judged by experienced educators, with 40 percent based on how compelling each story was, 30 percent on how useful and interesting the facts were, 15 percent on grammar and spelling, and 15 percent on organization and neatness.
As grand-prize winner, House received numerous prizes from the San Antonio Tourism Council including a three-day, two-night stay at a San Antonio hotel and tickets to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Natural Bridge Caverns, the San Antonio Zoo, and several other area attractions. She also received a three-day complimentary car rental from National Car Rental.
In addition, she received the gifts Top 10 finalists, including Garza, earned. Among them are a Save Texas History backpack, a certificate of appreciation signed by Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, and a historic map replica from Texas General Land Office Archives and Records.
University recognizes students for academic performance
Texas A&M University-Kingsville has released the names of the students who made the President's List, Dean's List and Honor Roll for the fall 2016 semester.
In order to qualify for the prestigious President's List, a student must be enrolled in at least 15 semester hours and have a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the semester.
To make the Dean's List, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.65 on all work attempted for the semester with a minimum of 13 semester hours completed.
The Honor Roll requires a grade point average of 3.5 while taking at least 12 semester hours.
On the president's list is Whitney Yewamide Fakolade of Sugar Land.
The Dean's list includes Shine E. Amaya and Lawrence Blake Johnson of Sugar Land and Christina Anne Whitney of Richmond
On the Honor Roll are Austin Kolby Killam and Larry Savoy of Missouri City, Iheoma Maryann Nnadi of Stafford and Hayden Nicholas Judson of Sugar Land.
Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack wants Montgomery County to consider offering all residential property owners some type of homestead exemption.
Noack has requested the placement of an item on the Feb. 14 Commissioners Court agenda to discuss seeking the tax assessor-collector's assistance in performing a revenue impact study for a general homestead exemption of up to 20 percent.
Montgomery County homeowners already can receive a school district exemption, as required by state law, and the county does offer an exemption to those over 65 years old. However, while state law allows for a local option homestead exemption for all homeowners, the county currently does not offer one.
Texas law, under the state's tax code, enables governing bodies of counties, municipalities and special districts the local option of adopting a homestead exemption up to 20 percent of the assessed value of a home. Meaning, the owner of a home with an assessed value of $100,000 would be taxed on $80,000 of the value. The minimum exemption amount allowed for a homeowner under the law is $5,000.
As Texas lawmakers grapple with bills addressing appraisal caps this legislative session, Noack believes it is the right time for Montgomery County to explore an exemption.
"After speaking with citizens, it seems to be what they want to see," Noack told The Courier. "It's more of a three-legged stool when it comes to legislative efforts, homestead exemptions and then spending, which I will address later."
According to data, there is approximately $31.32 billion worth of assessed residential property value in Montgomery County, coming from 116,555 home sites with an average assessed value of $268,685.
With the current approved property tax rate of 46.67 cents per $100 valuation, there is approximately $146.2 million in tax revenue generated from residential property before any exemptions are taken into account.
Based on those figures, the maximum 20 percent homestead exemption could provide tax relief of up to $29.2 million combined for Montgomery County homeowners.
With a county operating budget of $352 million, commissioners would be charged with figuring out how to cut around 8.3 percent of expenditures if a 20 percent homestead exemption were approved.
"We're already looking at some exemptions as long as it doesn't impact the budget in such a way that it impairs our ability to provide services," County Judge Craig Doyal said. "I'm all for cutting the burden to taxpayers, but we still have a job to do."
Noack hopes Tax Assessor-Collector Tammy J. McRae will be able to give Commissioners Court a better idea of what it can afford in terms of budget cuts.
"I'm not suggesting we cut $29.2 million. I'm suggesting we begin to look at the effects of a homestead exemption on the county budget and to taxpayers," said Noack, who proposed a 1-cent reduction in the county property tax rate last year that was approved by the court. When Noack took office in January 2013, the county budget was around $270 million and has grown by around $80 million over the past four years.
"This ensures that the hardworking taxpayers in Montgomery County begin to see some relief," Noack said. "We shouldn't depend solely on legislative action; we can do it with a homestead exemption."
According to a September article posted on the Texas Association of Counties website, 117 counties out of the 254 statewide offered the local option homestead exemption. Any homestead exemption would have to be approved by July 1 for it to take effect this year.
"I fully support efforts to lower the property tax burden on Montgomery County taxpayers," McRae stated. "I look forward to sharing my findings with the court."
Montgomery County does provide a local option $35,000 exemption for those over 65 years old. School districts also are required by law to provide a $25,000 exemption, and the Lone Star College System provides a 1 percent exemption. There also are state-mandated exemptions for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses.
"I've asked Tammy to look at the 65-and-older exemption to enhance it and look at other counties around us and what their doing, so we can provide for our seniors who are hurt the most by tax increases," Doyal said. "We've refinanced the debt to lessen the impact on our residential taxpayers and still provide services to the seventh-fastest growing county in the nation."
Now is the appropriate time to start debating it."
Noack also has discussed property tax reform via legislative measures with state Rep. Mark Keough, R-The Woodlands, state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston. Noack wants Commissioners Court to approve a resolution, drafted by County Attorney J D Lambright, to support those efforts in Austin to bring property tax reform to Montgomery County.
"I believe any time we can put money back into the pockets of Montgomery County taxpayers, it is our responsibility to do so," said Noack, who wants more significant tax relief in 2018 through local and statewide action as well.
"In March is when the county auditor sends out a budget request. We need to take everything into account.
Now is the appropriate time to start debating it."
With his mother and father in the courtroom for support, a Spring man told a federal judge Monday that he deeply regretted downloading sexually explicit child pornography and that he'd been working to address what he considered "a glitch" in his psyche.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt sentenced Jacob Riley Garner, 23, to the mandatory minimum of five years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. He must register as sex offender and he is prohibited from using electronic media and contacting the minor victims in his case.
Garner signed a plea agreement Sept. 12, admitting he received and possessed child pornography. Once he followed up on that plea Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Leo withdrew an additional charge of accessing child pornography.
Garner, who last worked as the assistant manager at a comics and gaming store in The Woodlands, was indicted in March. His attorney, Joshua B. Lake, said his family members were shocked to learn he had been collecting child pornography.
According to his plea, agents executing a search warrant at Garner's home found more than 2,500 images and 14 videos of violence, bondage and bestiality involving prepubescent children.
Garner stood before the judge Monday, speaking in a soft voice.
"I'm so sorry for what I've done," he told the judge. "I'm disgusted and ashamed by my actions. There's a glitch in my system."
Lake told the judge his client was not disputing the facts the prosecutor presented, including the fact that Garner committed illegal conduct with minor relatives.
"They are what they are. They're horrendous," he said. But he said a doctor who evaluated Garner found him to be an excellent subject for treatment.
The judge said Garner's young age was one factor in granting him a shorter sentence, but he cautioned the defendant to remember his own past behavior when he is a free man.
"It's a mind game," Hoyt said. "The conclusion I have with your situation is that all the prison time and all the therapy you will receive will not prevent you from having that urge."
Garner was one of more than 135 people charged as a result of Operation Pacifier, a national sting by FBI agents on a child pornography site called Playpen that operated on the dark web, a portion of the Internet that can't be accessed through search engines.
The FBI got permission from a federal magistrate judge in Virginia to keep Playpen site running and set up a "watering hole" sting for visitors who logged onto the site. FBI personnel used hacking software to detect the IP addresses and then tracked them down to physical addresses all over the country.
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Tucked away in the San Juans, between Lopez and Decatur sslands, sits a small landmass. It encompasses just 29 acres, but its luxurious amenities make up for its small size. It features a helicopter pad, a caretaker's cottage, a dock and a luxury home spanning more than 7,000 square feet.
It's called Trump Island, but don't assume any relation to the president. The story is more complicated than that.
A Washington Post story about the property notes that the home's listing agent, Leigh Zwicker, insists the home has no relation to the first family. The Trumps do, however, have an interesting connection to Washington state.
Donald Trump's grandfather emigrated to America from Germany in 1885. He arrived in New York but eventually made his way to Seattle. An issue of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer lists him as a registered Washington state voter in the Nov. 5, 1892 issue.
Despite the obvious name connection, Kevin Loftus, executive director of the San Juan Historical Museum, said the name of the island probably preceded the arrival of Trump.
"The name has been used since at least the mid-1870s as determined by the Washington State Board of Geographic Names in 1976," he told the Washington Post.
The home on the island is impressive. Built in 2000, it boasts six bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and a massive wine cellar. Not to mention it's literally on a private island.
The entire property is listed for $8.75 million, which is almost $1 million dollars more than it was listed for just last month. The home has been on the market for just over 2 years.
You can see the full listing here.
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Residents scrambled to safety as flames ripped through a condominium complex early Tuesday morning in southwest Houston.
The 2-alarm blaze broke out about 1:20 a.m. on Jeanette near Lipan, said District Chief Deena Elliott of the Houston Fire Department.
No injuries were reported. Residents had been able to escape the flames before firefighters arrived.
Elliott said the fire tore through the roof as the firefighters battled the blaze. They later gained an upper hand on the flames and doused the fire. It appears four, two-story units were damaged.
The Red Cross is helping the displaced residents find shelter and other necessities.
Investigators are trying to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
The Baytown Police Department are seeking the public's help in identifying two suspects in connection with a credit card skimmer attempt on January 21.
Officers were called to investigate suspicious activity at Texas Citizens Back located at 507 W. Baker Road and they discovered a credit card skimmer had been placed on the ATM machine at the drive-through window of the bank. The police assume that the skimmer failed because the suspects left the item at the machine, thus customer information is still secure.
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Police have released sketches of three men suspected in a shooting that left one person dead and another critically wounded during a robbery late last year at a home in southeast Houston.
The shooting happened about 10 p.m. Dec. 10 in the 5200 block of Myrtlewood Street near Jutland, according to the Houston Police Department.
Police said the suspects were armed with an assault rifle and a pistol in the shooting. They left after the gunfire, speeding away in a grey or black four-door car.
One of the victims died at the scene while the other was rushed in critical condition to a nearby hospital. No update on the wounded person's condition was released.
No other details about the case have been released.
The suspects are described as being black and in their late teens to early 20s. One of them was about 5 feet 8 inches tall and heavy-set. His hair was in dreadlocks with blonde tips, and he had a red tattoo on the left side of his face.
Another of the suspects was about 5 feet 6 inches tall and had a medium build.
The third suspect was described as being slim.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS or online at www.crime-stoppers.org. Tips may also be submitted by text message sent. Text TIP610 and tips to CRIMES.
Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspects or charges being filed against them.
All tipsters remain anonymous.
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There has been a lot of criticism to President Donald Trump's first week and a half in office, but two Texas leaders of "Women for Trump" are remaining positive and supportive of the 45th president.
"He's just a man of action and I love it," Gina O'Briant told WFAA. Her Trump supporting partner Tenica Ruiz agreed with her sentiment saying, "I'm really proud of him - proud that he's our president."
WOMEN FOR TRUMP: Supporters show skin with #TrumpGirlsBreakTheInternet
The two women are leaders who put in countless hours campaigning for the president in North Texas and are praising his first week in office. Click through the gallery above to see the countless women who support Trump in his presidency.
In the first week, President Trump signed numerous controversial executive orders that have made headlines, including his most recent that bans immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States legally.
WORLDLY PROTESTS: Clever signs from protests over Trump's immigration ban
Because of the backlash over the executive order, Trump has also fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates and ICE Chief Daniel Ragsdale for failure to comply with the controversial order.
Despite the controversy, O'Briant and Ruiz remain loyal in their support of Trump.
"You've got to follow the law. I'm sorry," Ruiz told WFAA.
BUSINESS BACKLASH: Why all of your friends are deleting their Uber apps
"The laws apply to everyone. Otherwise, we'd have chaos. I believe in probably 60 days, there won't be any kinks and it'll go a lot smoother," O'Briant told WFAA about the airports holding legal immigrant families in airports around the nation.
In the end, the women are a large group of Americans that are remaining strong in their support of President Trump. O'Briant says it's because he is keeping his word.
"A lot of politicians make promises but they don't keep their promises," O'Briant told WFAA. "Donald Trump is keeping his promises."
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday gave his second State of the State address at the Texas Capitol, where lawmakers are just about a month into the 85th legislative session. Here are some highlights:
Emergency item No. 1
Whatever issues Abbott classifies as emergency items can override a constitutional ban on considering legislation during the first 60 days of a regular legislative session. As expected, the governor made reforming Child Protective Services his first emergency item of the session. Over the course of the next few months, you all will cast thousands of votes, but few of those votes will involve life or death issues, he said. Your vote on CPS is one of them. We can reform the system so that no more children die in it.
Targeting 'sanctuary cities'
He also listed so-called sanctuary cities as an emergency item, urging lawmakers to start working on the issue immediately. With a not-so-veiled jab at Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, Abbott said her decision not to honor all detainer requests from federal immigration officials was unacceptable.
Elected officials dont get to choose which laws they obey, Abbott said, adding that he will meet Wednesday with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. We must insist our laws be followed. This is the session we will ban sanctuary cities in Texas.
Ethics in Texas politics
Abbott also declared ethics reform an emergency item this session, though he briefly mentioned in the State of the State when compared to other big-ticket issues. He congratulated Sen. Van Taylor of Plano and Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth, who spearheaded the effort last session and have taken it up again this time. He also urged lawmakers to avoid the pitfalls that killed prospects of reform in the 84th Legislature.
Trump and Texas
Texas Republican leaders got what they wanted this year: a new GOP president and a more receptive administration. During his address, Abbott stressed that President Trump offers the potential for federal lawmakers to heed the advice of the governor and other Republican politicians on border issues. Abbott did not comment on the White Houses temporary immigration and refugee ban.
Abbott 2018
Gov. Abbott is up for reelection in 2018, and while he has not announced his intention to run again, its a foregone conclusion that no Republican will oppose him and no Democrat can threaten him in the general election. With that in mind, Abbott put on the emergency item list a resolution calling for a Convention of States, his longtime project to fix America.
The federal government has grown out of control, Abbott said, to a roaring standing ovation from Republican lawmakers and observers in the gallery. It has stiff-armed the states and ignored its very own citizens. Its not a problem caused by just one president, and its not a problem that can be solved by one president. It must be fixed by the people themselves.
Abbotts base loves this issue, and a few others he mentioned Tuesday, including his proposal to make it a hate crime for someone to kill a police officer simply because of the uniform they wear.
AUSTIN -- Hundreds of people gathered at the Texas Capitol to welcome Muslims to the seat of government Tuesday in the wake of national uproar over a federal immigration ban and anti-Islam sentiment from a state lawmaker.
The crowd, the majority non-Muslim, stood several rows deep, locking arms to block protesters from interrupting the rally, as speakers talked about spreading love at a time when many are filled with fear.
"As my mother used to tell me, you all are like fingers of the same hand," Sarwat Husain, founder of San Antonio chapter and the national board of CAIR, told the crowd on the Texas Capitol grounds. "If one bleeds, the whole hand hurts. If the hand hurts, the whole body hurts. We have to take care of the bleeding finger now."
The gathering was hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and will continue throughout the day as Muslims from such cities as Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin meet with their local lawmakers and familiarize themselves with state government.
The day at the state Capitol follows a tense weekend after President Donald Trump temporarily barred people from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The event also follows Republican Rep. Kyle Biedermann asking Muslim leaders in Texas to fill out a survey attesting to their beliefs, a poll critics said amounted to asking for a loyalty oath.
"I'd like to thank Kyle Biedermann and I'd like to thank President Donald Trump," said Alia Salem, executive director of the Dallas-Forth Worth Chapter of CAIR in concluding the rally Monday morning. "They're the ones whose actions have inspired you to be here today and I am thankful that hate can turn into absolute love."
People linking arms served as a human shield to protect speakers and the podium from protestors. Two years ago a woman cut through the crowd and grabbed the microphone, declaring, "Islam will never dominate the United States and by the grace of God, it will not dominate Texas."
Few protesters gathered at this year's event, leaving one man to yell from the back of the crowd that Islam is a lie.
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.
LINCOLN Nebraska business leaders rallied Monday behind Gov. Pete Ricketts' plan to cut the state's top individual income tax rate, casting it as a way to lessen some of their expenses.
Small business owners from around the state gathered with Ricketts at the Capitol to tout the measure, which would lower the top rate from 6.84 percent to 5.99 percent over eight years.
Ricketts argues that lowering the top tax rate would stimulate the economy by encouraging businesses to hire more people and invest more in their operations.
"If we want families to move here, if we want companies to expand here, if we want small businesses to grow, we have to be more competitive when it comes to taxes," Ricketts said at a news conference.
Critics of the plan point to tax cuts in Kansas, which failed to create any major economic growth and triggered a state budget crisis. Lowering the top rate would provide a much larger tax savings for the wealthy than the middle class because more of the wealthy's income is taxed at the top rate.
Nebraska's top bracket kicks in at $29,831 for single taxpayers and $59,661 for married couples. People whose taxable income is less after claiming deductions would see no savings.
The Legislature's Fiscal Office has not yet estimated how much the bill would cost the state in lost revenue. The Department of Revenue has said in the past that a large number of Nebraska business owners file their taxes not as corporations but individuals.
Ricketts said his plan is different because it's incremental, only kicks in when revenue grows by more than 3.5 percent and relies on cutting expenses first.
"We're at a decisive juncture today in our state, where business and job growth is critical," said Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, a business owner who introduced the bill on the governor's behalf. The bill "is essential to moving us in the right direction and to provide tax relief to small businesses in our state."
Jack Schreiner, owner of Bruckman Rubber in Hastings, said the bill would ease some of the taxes and regulations he sees "piled up" on business owners. Schreiner said reducing the top rate will leave him with more money to reinvest in his company.
"The only way we get money is to work our butts off ... and then we step back and watch whatever the government takes out of it," he said. "That's what we've got left to feed our families and grow our businesses."
Adrian Suarez, who owns Subway restaurants in Omaha and Lincoln, said the tax cut represents "an investment in the future" of his company that would add up over the years.
Roxie Kracl, a restaurant and farm owner from Fremont, said the state's taxes have been "crushing" her businesses and limiting the amount they can reinvest. Last year, she said she had to take out a second mortgage to pay her income taxes.
"If the state is going to make a difference, we need support and backing" of the bill, Kracl said.
The state's largest business groups have endorsed the governor's proposal, but some lawmakers and lobbying groups have said they doubted whether it would actually help the economy.
The bill is "unlikely to help small businesses as many are unlikely to have enough income to receive any tax cut at all under the measure," said Renee Fry, executive director of the OpenSky Policy Institute, a think tank that has been critical of other income tax proposals.
Fry noted that the bill would also reduce available revenue for future spending priorities, such as public safety and economic development programs. The revenue the state collects could be used to reduce reliance on local property taxes, she said.
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BNM anunta concurs pentru postul vacant de expert coordonator (durata determinata) responsabil de control pe teren si din oficiu a sistemelor de plati
Hoax, conspiracy, propaganda, or just a moneymaker for Macedonian teenagers? The definition of fake news has been debated to death since the election. But that debate has mostly referred to one thing: the spread of inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise invented articles passed as real news. The fake news conversation has taken place in the realm of words, but thats missing a big part of the story. Much of the content that circulates on Facebook are images, often memes.
Whats in a meme? Memes are built for social media, and for viral sharing. They typically combine an image with big, block letters. Theyre not attached to an article, and theres often no way to trace their source. And while Facebooks algorithm is notoriously elusive, it seems to favor images and video over text; images have the potential to reach more readers than articleswhether fake, real, un-partisan or hyper-partisan.
Take, for example, the most-shared post on Breitbarts Facebook page in 2016:
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The posts implication is that while Democrats vilify Republicans, Democrats are the ones who riot, beat innocent voters, destroy property, and torch American flags. But it doesnt say so outright.
This post was shared more than half a million times. By comparison, the most-shared article link on Breitbarts Facebook page had 97,000 shares. In fact, on Breitbarts Facebook page, images and videos are overwhelmingly more popular than links. Images made up just 5 percent of Breitbarts total posts in 2016, but they accounted for half of the pages most-shared posts.
Breitbarts total Facebook posts for 2016
Breitbarts 100 most-shared Facebook posts in 2016
Total shares from Breitbarts Facebook posts in 2016
In other words, although Breitbart posted 12 times more links out of Facebook than images and videos combined, images and videos account for 79 percent of the total shares out of these top 100 posts. This disparity is even greater when you sum up the total shares of those 100 posts.
While Breitbart is a partisan news site and not explicitly a generator of fake news, this type of content sometimes hardly resembles news. Take the second-most-shared Breitbart post of 2016, from July, shared 218,000 times by December 31:
Hillary Clinton was cleared by the FBI. Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch met on a plane. But Breitbart implies causality by putting those two facts next to each other, overlaid on a triumphant photo of Hillary Clinton that has nothing to do with the events referenced. Breitbarts caption to this photo is ***UNPRECEDENTED CORRUPTION***. There is no date on the photo itself, no attribution to Breitbart, and no context. A reverse-image Google search comes up with hundreds of similar memes that overlay white text on this same image.
Whats more, Breitbart explicitly aims to be shared as widely as possible. In August, Breitbart launched a We are Breitbart Instagram page, which Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alexander Marlow described as digital ammunition to blast across social media. From Breitbarts own article:
Conservatives often ask, How can I help break Establishment Medias stranglehold and get the truth to Americans who need it? says Marlow. The answer is simple and powerful: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and now Instagram and share and blast the digital bullets we provide for you far and wide. It worksand Establishment media are taking notice.
In effect, Breitbart fans are encouraged to share pieces of information without context in order to break the existing media structures. And Facebook is helping them do it.
Related: 7 photos that captured the absurdity of the election
Out of the top 10 shared posts on Breitbarts Facebook page, nine are images and one is a video. Only one features a image of Trump. One calls vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine creepy. Three focus on the FBI investigation of Clinton, and two speak out against Obamas apology to Japan for dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki:
There are a few misleading claims this image makes. First, the idea that a million lives were saved by dropping the bombs is speculative (a video on Breitbarts Facebook page specifies American liveseven more questionable). Second, this image does not appear to be of Hiroshima or Nagasaki. But perhaps that is irrelevant to the purpose of the image, which is to put words in the mouths of Breitbarts viewership.
In December, Facebook announced partnerships with FactCheck.org, Snopes, and other organizations to fact-check and flag articles. But according to PhillyVoice, FactCheck.org says it found just four false stories in over a month of looking at flagged posts, and that If he had a larger staff, [Director Eugene] Kiely said expanding to images and memes would be a logical move.
Indeed. These readymade, easily alterable images are the perfect vessel for the spread of false information.
Breitbarts 10 most-shared posts of 2016
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
***DEAR HIROSHIMA: OBAMA MAY BE SORRY, BUT AMERICA IS NOT*** Breitbart 2016511
#6
#7
#8
#9
Breitbart 2016118
#10
Breitbart 2016104
Breitbarts 5 most-shared links of 2016
#1 (13th most-shared post overall)
Fact-Check: FALSEIndeed, Clintons ninety percent claim is false according to her troubled charitys own tax filings. Posted by Breitbart on Wednesday, October 19, 2016
#2 (15th most-shared post overall)
The Doctor is In! Posted by Breitbart on Wednesday, November 9, 2016
#3 (20th most-shared post overall)
Secret Service officers told at least one source that she began yelling, screaming obscenities, and pounding furniture. Posted by Breitbart on Tuesday, November 15, 2016
#4 (21st most-shared post overall)
"every time you spend $8 on 1 of their flavors you're lining the pockets of cop hating communists." Posted by Breitbart on Friday, October 7, 2016
#5 (30th most-shared post overall)
"After witnessing 50 years of failure from the Democratic Party, compounded by a growing hostility to religion in their Posted by Breitbart on Friday, November 4, 2016
Pete Brown, senior research fellow at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, contributed content analysis to this article as part of the Platforms and Publishers project, which receives funding from the MacArthur Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, the Knight Foundation, and Amy Abrams.
Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today
Nausicaa Renner is digital editor of CJR.
Its easy to forget that our 45th presidentwho calls journalists scum, refuses to release his tax returns or fully disclose his business ties, and calls for media blackouts at executive agencieswas recently one of Americas loudest government transparency advocates.
During the height of his birther zeal, Donald Trump went on a prolonged campaign in favor of open government. He tweeted about transparency. He went on national TV to talk about transparency. He wrote to The New York Times explaining his passion for transparency. At one point, he even pledged to donate millions of dollars if President Obama released various personal documents to prove his US citizenship.
The contrast between President Trumps past words and recent behavior may not be surprising, but it is staggeringand important. It is perhaps his greatest feat of hypocrisy.
The transparency talk started as early as March of 2011, when longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen defended Trumps requests for Obamas birth certificate and said, What [Trump] is is a person who demands transparency, which is what the [President Obamas] platform was all about when he decided to run. Cohen voiced similar concerns in a separate interview with ABC that same week.
Related: Donald and Melania Trumps relationship through a lens
Obama released his long-form birth certificate a few months later, but Trump wasnt satisfied. He continued to seek additional documents and info from the president, and cited transparency as his rationale. On June 6, 2012, he tweeted:
Why is @BarackObama spending millions to try and hide his records? He is the least transparent Presidenteverand he ran on transparency. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2012
The next month, he tweeted:
For the sake of transparency, @BarackObama should release all his college applications and transcriptsboth from Occidental and Columbia. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2012
And this:
Since @BarackObama is on such a "transparency" kickhow about releasing Fast & Furious info to Brian Terry's family?https://t.co/dAFnZBvA Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2012
As the 2012 presidential election drew closer, Trump released a video in which he promised to donate $5 million to charity if Obama released his college applications, college transcript, and passport application. In the video, Trump said:
President Obama is the least-transparent president in the history of this country. Theres never been anything like it. We know very little about our president.If he releases these records it will end the question[s], and indeed the anger, of many Americans. Theyll know something about their president. Their president will become transparent like other presidents.
To promote this new phase of his birther push, Trump continued to tweet about transparency.
My offer to Obama is about transparency. In 2008, American people were sold on hope and change. This our last chance to get the full record. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2012
He also phoned in to Greta Van Susterens Fox News show, where he repeated the assertion that Obama was probably the least-transparent president in the history of the country. The same week, he appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. The visitwhich was covered by the Hollywood Reporter and E! onlineincluded this remarkable exchange:
Letterman: Why do we want to see President Obamas college records? Trump: Transparency. Does that makes sense to anybody? [Crowd cheers] Transparency. Letterman: What does that mean, transparency? Trump: It means there are so many hidden things that we just dont know about our president. Letterman: What are they? What [is] the list of hidden things? Trump: Well, I dont know. I can tell you this: George Bush released his records. They werent pretty. Letterman: I think they were leaked. Those records were leaked. He didnt release them. Trump: Lets leak Obamas records.
A full video of that Late Show visit, uploaded to YouTube by an enthusiastic birther supporter, is here.
Naturally, Trump followed it with more tweets:
If Obama doesn't accept my offer to be fully transparent, what will he say? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2012
Where's the transparency? Despite Obama's denial @sfchronicle stands by report he just talked with Jeremiah Wright. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2012
A lot of undecided and independent voters have had enough with Obamas lack of transparency. I don't blame them. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2012
Trumps birther campaign has been prominently criticized for its racial overtones. But now that the former Apprentice star has been sworn in as commander in chief, its also worth remembering what he said the campaign was really about: government transparency, a simple good-government measure about which, in theory, all Americans can agree.
And so the next time Trump chooses a blackout over sunlight, show him his tweets from 2012. The next time Michael Cohen defends presidential non-transparency, read him to his own comments about President Obama. The next time Kellyanne Conway says people dont care about Trumps taxes, refer her to the video Trump released on November 1, 2012, after President Obama didnt produce his college transcript and passport application by Trumps arbitrary deadline.
In the videoaccessible via the Internet Archive with its original title, Donald Trumps Response To President Obamas Lack Of Transparencythe future president said, All the president had to do is give simple documentationsimple paper, a few pagesand a charity would have gotten five million [dollars]. Lamenting the total lack of transparency from the executive branch, he concluded by saying, This is a very, very sad day for the United States of America.
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Philip Eil is a freelance journalist based in Providence, Rhode Island. He sued the Drug Enforcement Administration under the FOIA, with help from the Rhode Island ACLU and two pro-bono attorneys, Neal McNamara and Jessica Jewell. Follow him on Twitter: @phileil.
The lasting effects of Superstorm Sandy continue to wash across New Jersey, evident today on a century-old railroad bridge that nearly became a casualty of the ferocious October 2012 onslaught.
The storm surge from the Atlantic Ocean up into the Raritan Bay pushed a barge into the bridge, dislodging the deck and moving several steel girders that weigh several tons apiece.
In what may qualify as a small bit of irony, it may have been the best thing to happen to the Raritan River Drawbridge.
With about $450 million in funding already secured from the Federal Transit Administration, NJ Transit is pushing ahead with a project to replace the 109-year-old span. It could wind up taking less time to complete than a higher-profile project to replace its northern counterpart, the much-maligned Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River, which wasnt affected by Sandy.
In a strange way, Sandy helped us, said Jeff Tittel, director of the Sierra Club in New Jersey.
The Portal Bridge, a regular source of delays on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor rail line between Washington and Boston, is included in the Gateway project that also includes the building of new rail tunnels under the Hudson River and expanding New Yorks Penn Station.
Environmental and engineering work has taken about eight years to complete, New Jersey Transit Executive Steven Santoro said last week. The Portal Bridge needs about $1 billion for construction that would take an estimated additional four to five years.
That the Raritan bridge remained standing after Sandy was something of a marvel. Its deck moved about 18 inches from the storm surge and the blow from the barge.
If it had moved 24 inches, it might have gone down and wed be standing here wondering how people are going to get to work, Santoro said.
That question was answered during the three weeks crews spent repairing the bridge. Buses were jammed and commutes lengthened by hours in some cases as the roughly 10,000 people who take trains from shore areas to Newark or New York sought other modes of transportation.
Santoro said environmental studies on the bridge project should be completed within a few months, and NJ Transits board is then expected to vote on a final design. Construction is tentatively set to begin in 2019 and take roughly four years.
Unlike the existing bridge and the Portal Bridge the new Raritan Bridge will lift up its center section to allow boats to pass under, rather than swing open. That will make the opening higher and wider, and could require fewer openings for smaller recreational boats.
Currently the bridge is opened between 10 and 15 times per day during the summer and four or five times per day in the offseason, according to R.J. Palladino, a senior program manager for NJ Transit.
More important, the bridge will be designed to withstand a Sandy-like storm should another one visit New Jersey, something scientists say is likely.
This is more vulnerable to another storm, and so we felt it was prudent to put in an application to get funding to make this bridge more resilient, Santoro said. People depend on it to get to their jobs, and its certainly a critical bridge for tourism in the summer, which is related to the economics of New Jersey. So when you look at the big picture, you can see why the federal government allowed this project to be funded.
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Across the region, police officials have big ideas about how drones could bolster residents safety and wellbeing.
They could spot missing people, houses with blight or uncovered manholes. They could document accident scenes from the sky. They could determine when a roof is so hot its about to collapse, and be sent to find obstacles in tactical situations.
Few are disputing the likely value of the technology, still in its infancy. But locally, many police chiefs are waiting for state lawmakers to establish legislation concerning drone use before they invest in the technology.
I would kind of like to have one, said Groton City police Chief Thomas Davoren, noting that it could be used to track down blight. But the rules are changing so quickly. I would hate to invest in something and then not be able to use it.
Such legislation has been proposed in Connecticut and passed one chamber in each of the last two legislative sessions. But its failed primarily because of time, not opposition to pass both and be signed into law.
According to David McGuire, executive director of the Connecticut chapter of the ACLU, the organization is pushing to have similar legislation proposed again this year.
This is useful technology that can help increase public safety, McGuire said. We in fact want police to be able to use it, but to use it appropriately without violating peoples privacy.
Last year, the bill included provisions that would ban the use of weaponized drones in most situations, make police get a warrant to collect footage except during certain emergencies and give police-related organizations just more than a year to provide recommendations for policy regarding the retention of data collected by drones.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 131-14. It never made it to the Senate floor.
McGuire suggested the public should be louder about the legislation so it gets considered and passed. He said its a really good sign that law enforcement officials are looking for guidance, but that police using the technology without regulations is problematic.
Law enforcement by their nature in trying to keep us safe often push the limits, McGuire said. We want them to vigorously defend our safety. But without meaningful rules, its impossible to know where the lines are.
Across the state, McGuire said he knows of three police departments that are using drones: Hartford, Woodbury and Plainfield.
In Plainfield, police were able to purchase a drone with a thermal-imaging, high-resolution camera and an ability to go 60 mph solely because of a $10,000 donation, according to the Norwich Bulletin. There, police reported planning to use the drone to find missing people and document crash scenes.
But cost is not the barrier most chiefs expressed.
Groton Town police Chief Louis J. Fusaro Jr., whose 21-plus years with the state police include time in the counterterrorism and emergency services units, brought up the use of helicopters as a point of comparison. He estimated it takes between $800 and $1,500 to keep one in the air for an hour. The cost to put a drone in the air for the same amount of time?
Peanuts, he said.
Still, Fusaro said his department hasnt discussed acquiring one. Privacy is an issue, he said, and so, too, is safety. Should a drone go out of range or run out of battery power, he explained, it could hit somebody or something on its way down.
There are definitely advantages, but the technology is relatively new, he said. Just like a lot of other things, the laws havent caught up to it.
According to Stonington police Capt. Todd Olson, his department isnt planning on using a drone anytime soon.
Ledyard police Lt. Ken Creutz said his force has discussed the devices conceptually but also is waiting for policy before making any moves.
Were relatively new here as independent police department and trying to get normal operating scenarios down smoothly before we try to introduce newer-edge technology like that, he said. But Im sure it will be a consideration down the road.
In Waterford, however, police Chief Brett Mahoney said his department, along with other town agencies, has seriously discussed bringing a drone on board.
Like Plainfield, Waterford is a heavily wooded town. Since police purchased ATVs years ago, Mahoney said, theyve been deployed countless times sometimes to recover stolen vehicles, sometimes to find people whove gone missing.
Drones, he said, could expand the departments search capabilities tenfold.
Mahoney, however, said he and others envision any drone that comes to Waterford as a town-wide asset.
In large-scale storms, emergency management officials could use the drone to map the damage and let residents know whats going on. In fires, the drones thermal camera could warn firefighters a roof is hot and susceptible to collapse. When manhole covers are stolen for scrap, the drone could make the pollution control authority aware of it sooner.
As for privacy issues, Mahoney said Waterfords drone would be used solely from a community safety perspective and wouldnt be used for surveillance.
He said the department is looking for grant opportunities so the town doesnt have to foot the bill. From there, it will have to apply for licenses, get approval, set policy and then buy the equipment and train some officers and other officials.
Mahoney expects all of that will happen within the next two years.
Drones are another thing were going to have to deal with, Mahoney said. If were going to have to deal with it, we should also be allowed to take advantage of it.
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New Jersey Man Gets Prison Term for Role in High-end Vehicle Theft Ring
A man involved in a ring that carjacked or stole high-end vehicles and sold them overseas is now headed to prison.
Donell Carroll received a 10-year sentence Friday. The 29-year-old East Orange man had pleaded guilty last month to racketeering.
Authorities recovered 90 stolen vehicles through the investigation, including nearly two dozen found at regional seaports. The vehicles worth more than $4 million were taken from an area stretching from Rockland County, New York to central New Jersey.
The ring sought out expensive vehicles. Some were stolen through carjackings, while others were taken from locations where the thieves could steal them with the vehicles electronic keys or key fobs, which authorities say are critical to the cars resale value.
The vehicles eventually were shipped to west Africa.
Northern California Woman Convicted of Auto Insurance Fraud
On January 25, 2017, a West Sacramento, Calif., woman named Tiffany Beckingham pled no contest to felony charges of filing a fraudulent auto insurance claim, according to an annoucement by District Attorney Jeff Reisig.
Beckinghams car was involved in a collision on October 11, 2015, in West Sacramento. At that time Beckingham did not have auto insurance coverage for her car. The cars OnStar safety service called the West Sacramento Police Department. Officers found her car abandoned and later impounded it. After a 91 day lapse in insurance coverage, Beckinghams insurance policy was reissued on October 23, 2015. Three days later on October 26, 2015, Beckingham phoned Geico Insurance and filed a claim stating that she was involved in a collision where she struck an animal and hit the curb line of a roundabout causing significant damage to the front left of her car in Fairfield, Calif. Beckinghams time line of events were inconsistent with all other facts in the case.
Beckingham later admitted to Yolo County District Attorney Investigator Kristine Fitzgerald that the damage to the car occurred in West Sacramento on October 11, 2015. Beckingham also admitted to filing the claim with Geico Insurance after having her insurance policy reissued and stating that all of the damage to the car occurred in Fairfield, when in fact the damage occurred in West Sacramento.
Rhode Island Restaurant Owner Convicted of Federal Arson, Insurance Fraud
A federal court jury in Providence on Friday convicted Daniel E. Saad, of Spencer, Mass., of devising and executing a scheme to burn down his Glocester, R.I., restaurant, Snows Clam Box Restaurant and Pub, and then attempting to collect on an insurance policy worth nearly one million dollars.
The jury convicted Saad on one count of arson, one count of use of fire to commit wire fraud, and two counts of wire fraud. The jury found that Saad set fire to his business shortly after 5:00 a.m. on November 30, 2014, and then initiated insurance claims via email later the same day and on the following day.
According to the governments evidence presented during a three-week trial, Saad, who owed banks, private lenders and venders nearly $2.5 million dollars, entered the building through an unlocked rear door, spread gasoline in and around a bar area and ignited the gasoline before fleeing the building. A woman who was residing in an apartment above the restaurant reported the fire after fleeing from the building.
Saads conviction is announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Mickey Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of ATF; Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; Rhode Island State Fire Marshal John Chartier; and Glocester Police Chief Joseph S. DelPrete.
Acts of arson pose a tremendous public safety threat, to the public generally and to first responders. This case is no exception. That this defendant would deliberately burn a building he owned to the ground, with his tenant living in the building and present at the time, demonstrates his utter disregard for the safety of others. He now faces at least a decade in federal prison for this behavior. Every day is well-deserved, said United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha.
According to the governments evidence, during interviews with law enforcement, Saad on two occasions told investigators he was at his home in Massachusetts when the fire occurred. During a subsequent interview he told investigators that he was at his estranged wifes home in Webster, Mass. On two occasions during interviews with state and federal investigators, Saads wife corroborated Saads account. However, after being summoned to appear before a federal grand jury and again when testifying during Daniel Saads trial, she changed her story and admitted that Daniel Saad had asked her to provide an alibi for him for the night of the fire. She testified that he was not with her that night.
Cellular data collected and analyzed by law enforcement placed Saads cellphone in very close proximity to his restaurant at the time the fire began.
Saad, who had been free on unsecured bond since his arrest on March 31, 2016, was ordered detained in federal custody following the return of the jurys guilty verdicts. Saad is scheduled to be sentenced on April 27, 2017, by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., who presided over the trial.
Arson and wire fraud are punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years; use of fire to commit wire fraud is punishable by statutory minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.
The matter was investigated by ATF, Glocester Police Department, Rhode Island State Fire Marshals Office and Rhode Island State Police.
United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha acknowledges and thanks the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General and the FBIs Cellular Analysis Survey Team for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland.
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According to a Fitch Ratings report issued last year, the directors & officers (D&O) market has great notoriety relative to its size. Representing a small segment of the property/casualty market, D&O coverage equals about one percent of total industry direct premiums.
The rating service noted that Many large D&O claims arise from incidents that receive wide media coverage, including corporate insolvencies, large stock price declines, financial reporting irregularities or regulatory investigations.
With a new administration in the White House and a continued upward trend in securities lawsuits against directors and officers, its hard to say what 2017 holds for this line of coverage, according to David Topol, a partner with the Insurance Practice Group, Wiley Rein.
D&O is more volatile than other property/casualty product segments as policy limits and individual claim costs are relatively large and the threat of new lawsuits or claims exposures is constantly looming, said James Auden, managing director Fitch Ratings.
Last year saw the biggest number of security actions against directors & officers in 15 years, said Topol. This is due, in part, to merger objections. The resulting lawsuits are on the upswing, he said.
Its hard to say what impact the new administration will have, Topol added, indicating it will likely take three to six months to know for sure. President Trumps initial pick to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, Wall Street lawyer Jay Clayton, wont have the typical government experience of prior SEC heads. Jeff Sessions is the Trump administrations pick for Attorney General. Who fills that position and the next level down will be important too, said Topol.
A recent memo by former U.S. Department of Justice Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to pursue individuals and corporations could mean new targets, he said.
Last year, Yates delivered remarks at the 33rd Annual International Conference on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The departments heightened focus on individuals extends beyond the FCPA arena. Across our corporate enforcement work, department attorneys are identifying ways to ensure that individuals are held accountable for their conduct, regardless of where those individuals appear on a companys organizational chart. The same basic principle applies: to deter wrongdoing, we need to change the risk-reward calculus for corporate decision-makers, and we do that by punishing decision-makers when they decide to break the law, Yates stated.
Thus, regulatory exposure is expected to remain high, at least until the new administration is in place, Topol said.
Cyber is a new target in D&O lawsuits, he said. For example, if a company experiences a major cyber breach and winds up paying out a lot of money to victims, a derivative lawsuit could be filed against the companys directors and officers.
In response to the increased focus on a boards role in cybersecurity oversight, the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), and the Internet Security Alliance recently released the latest edition of the directors handbook on cyber risk oversight.
According to the NACD, significant knowledge and oversight gaps still exist at the boardroom level.
In our most recent survey of corporate directors, almost 60 percent of respondents reported that they find it challenging to oversee cyber risk, said Peter Gleason, NACD president and CEO-elect. Directors dont need to be technologists to play an effective role in cyber-risk oversightbut every board can take the opportunity to improve the effectiveness of their cyber-oversight practices.
Topol said that another trend relates to shareholder suits after a merger or acquisition, where shareholders claim disclosures initially made regarding the deal were inadequate. The Delaware Chancery Courts have shown growing hostility towards disclosure only settlements, which involve issuance of only slightly better information and payment of substantial attorneys fees.
Section 11 cases related to initial public offerings (IPOs) filed in state court versus federal court is another growing trend, Topol said. There are circuit petitions pending before the U.S. Supreme Court on Section 11 cases to determine jurisdiction in these types of cases. Section 11 cases are being brought in California. One issue is that, unlike federal court, discovery cannot be stayed pending the courts decision so expenses can soar.
From a defense perspective, it winds up being a problem because there is not the PSLRA [Private Securities Litigation Reform Act] stay. Discovery becomes a strong lever and some would say they prefer the more experienced federal bar, Topol explained. The question is can the state courts keep jurisdiction or not.
On January 23, 2017, the California Supreme Court ruled that the insurance Commissioner of that state was given the power by the legislature to specify what factors must be covered by replacement cost estimate tools used by insurers in connection with homeowners insurance. The decision is entitled Association of California Insurance Companies v. Dave Jones, As Commissioner. It is reported at 2017 Cal. LEXIS 217.
The regulation, issued by the Commissioner in 2011, was intended to combat the persistent problem in California of underinsurance. That problem cropped up starting at least in 1991 with the Oakland Hills fire and continuing into 2003 with the Southern California wildfires of that year. It came to the attention of California legislators in the course of public hearings conducted by them. The problem was not arrested by several steps taken by the legislature between 1992 and 2005 to reduce the instances where policyholders believed the amount of their homeowners insurance would enable them to rebuild their dwellings, and it turned out to be too little to do so. So, when large wildfires struck Southern California in 2007 and 2008, state officials realized the underinsurance problem persisted.
This routine shortfall and its cause was confirmed by a market conduct investigation conducted by the California Insurance Department in 2008, after brushfires in that year. The investigation disclosed that for a majority of the policies examined the coverage amounts actually duplicated what was indicated by the insurers own replacement cost calculators, thus focusing the departments attention upon the accuracy of those calculators.
Based upon the evidence thus uncovered, the commissioner found that even the most careful replacement cost estimate would be misleading if it failed to consider all of the tasks necessary to repair or rebuild the subject home, including the cost of replacing the foundation, debris removal, demolition expenses and overhead and profit as well as engineering reports and architectural plans.
The findings also suggested the statutory authority for a regulation attempting to prevent insurers from misleading applicants and policyholders at the inception or renewal of coverage: The 1959 Unfair Insurance Practices Act (the Act). The Act regulates trade practices in the business of insurance by prohibiting those defined or determined by the commissioner to be unfair or deceptive.
Fitting comfortably within the rationale of the Unfair Insurance Practices Act, the regulation does not require an insurer to set or recommend a policy limit or to provide an estimate of the cost to rebuild or replace a home. But if the insurer chooses to advise applicants or policyholders of the replacement costs of their home, the regulation specifies what building and construction elements must be considered and communicated by the insurers. Any departure from this requirement would turn any communication of a deficient estimate into a deceptive act or practice outlawed by the Act. The regulation also requires that estimating methods be updated to reflect changes in the costs of rebuilding, including the changes in the cost of labor, building materials and supplies, and naturally that it take into account structures geographic location.
Shortly before the replacement cost regulation became effective, the Association of California Insurance Companies and the Personal Insurance Federation of California sued the Commissioner challenging the regulations validity on three grounds: They contended (1) the Commissioner lacked the authority under the act to define a new unfair or deceptive insurance practice; (2) that the regulation improperly restricted the underwriting of insurance, when the Commissioner lacked authority to regulate that aspect of the business, and (3) that the regulation violated the insurers right of free speech under the state and federal constitutions.
The Supreme Court rejected the first ground for invalidating the regulation, reversing the judgment of the trial court and Court of Appeal. But, because the lower courts had ruled that the Commissioner lacked authority, they had not considered the second and third grounds for invalidating the regulation. Therefore, the Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals judgment and remanded the case to the lower courts for considering the remaining challenges to the regulation.
In the process of doing so, however, the Supreme Court considered the trial courts reasoning that a replacement cost estimate, which after all is an estimate, is always inaccurate to some degree and therefore cannot be deemed misleading. The Supreme Court observed that the defect sought to be remedied by the Regulation is not the possibility that actual costs, for unforeseeable reasons, may not align with estimated costs. Rather, the Regulation seeks to reduce the possibility that an estimate would be misleading by ensuring that the estimate include all that is reasonably knowable about actual costs at the time the insurance contract is executed.
In considering the Commissioners authority to issue the regulation, the Supreme Court pointed out that the purpose of the Act is to regulate insurance industry practices by defining practices constituting unfair or deceptive acts or practices, and prohibiting them. A specific portion of the Act outlawed business practices not defined specifically by the statute but which nonetheless should be ferreted out and declared to be unfair or deceptive. The Supreme Court rejected the objection of the challenging parties, who argued that by listing specific practices in the Act as unfair or misleading, the legislature impliedly found that others were not later to be found unfair or misleading. In so doing the Supreme Court said that in fact the Act specifically empowered the Commissioner to identify additional pernicious practices to prohibit, and that he or she had rulemaking authority as well. When the legislature used open-ended language in listing such practices, it implicates policy choices of the sort and an administrative agency is empowered to make and a court may thereby find that the legislature actually delegated the task of interpreting or elaborating on the statutory text to the administrative agency.
The court then turned to the question of whether or not the regulation was consistent with the Act, since, to be valid, a regulation must be consistent, and not conflict, with the statute it is designated to enforce, and the regulation must be reasonably necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute. The courts analysis of these questions, the parties agreed, depends in part on whether the regulation is best understood as quasi-legislative or interpretive. Although the court agreed that the characterization of the regulation as quasi-legislative or interpretive has an effect on the reviewing courts analysis, some rules defy easy categorization.
Where, as here, an agency has been granted both the power to adjudicate and to promulgate rules, a court will generally defer to the agencys choice of how to proceed in order to serve the statute passed. A key part of the expertise of an agency brings to bear on its administrative function is its assessment of the trade-offs inherent in deciding whether to enforce a statutory mandate by way of an adjudication against the regulated entity or through a generalized rule.
The Supreme Court found no need to decide whether the regulations interpretation of a misleading statement is best characterized as quasi-legislative or interpretive, since it found that even if the regulation were considered to be purely interpretive the court would conclude that the Commissioner had reasonably and properly interpreted statutory mandate.
Finally, because the Association plaintiffs leveled only a facial challenge to the regulation, its burden was to show, at the least, that a non-compliant replacement cost estimating tool would not be misleading in the vast majority of cases. The associations did not carry their burden in this regard and the court therefore rejected the facial challenge to the regulation.
What remains of the challenges to the regulation, and its fate, rest with the issues not addressed yet by the lower courts, and which the Supreme Court refrained from deciding. The rest of the story remains to be told.
Hundreds of insurance professionals and representatives from local nonprofits will convene on Thursday, March 16 for the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundations (IICF) annual Horizon Award Gala. Held at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, the IICF Western Division will announce more than $400,000 in grants to 44 charitable organizations during this A Night at the Museum themed event.
Each year during the gala, IICF honors an individual or organization within the insurance community with its Golden Horizon Award. This year IICF will honor Mark Wells, editor, CEO and Publisher of Wells Media, home to Insurance Journal, Claims Journal, MyNewMarkets, Insurance Journals Academy of Insurance, and Carrier Management, in recognition of his industry leadership and philanthropic commitment. Under Wells leadership, Wells Media has been an ardent supporter of IICF and has served as a platform to highlight industry-wide philanthropic contributions in helping communities and enriching lives.
This years Horizon Award Gala will also recognize 44 nonprofit organizations that champion the causes of education, child abuse prevention, disaster preparedness, and health and human services. As one of the Western Divisions Community Grant Award recipients and this years featured nonprofit, Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles will be in attendance at the gala, where attendees will hear the personal story of a Wish Kid whose wish was made possible by contributions like the IICF community grant. A portion of the funds raised during the evenings festivities will also go toward granting additional wishes.
In its thirteen years, the Horizon Award Gala has brought together insurance professionals in celebrating the philanthropic commitment of our industry to the communities and nonprofit organizations that we support throughout the West, said Jon Axel, IICF Western Division board of directors chairman and senior vice president, Hub International Insurance Services. It is our privilege to be honoring Mr. Wells with our Horizon Award this year, in recognition and appreciation for his dedication to this industry and its aim of giving back and making a real difference in the communities where we live and work.
Through its Community Grants Program, IICF raises funds within a region and reinvests back into the same region and its communities. The full list of this years grantees includes nonprofits across IICFs Western Division that are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities, focused in the areas of education, child abuse prevention, disaster preparedness, and health and human services.
IICF would also like to extend our appreciation to the following sponsors for helping to make this event possible:
Platinum Sponsors : CNA, Chubb and Confie;
: CNA, Chubb and Confie; Gold Sponsors: Liberty Mutual, Michelman & Robinson, LLP, Navigators, Surplus Lines Association of California, The Liberty Company, TOPA Insurance and Venbrook.
For additional information on the Horizon Award Gala, , including registration and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Melissa-Anne Duncan of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation at (714) 870-1084 or maduncan@iicf.com.
MOCA Cleveland responds to immigration ban
MOCA Cleveland Director Jill Snyder, left, with the museum's architect, Farshid Moussavi, in October 2012 at the open gala for the museum's new building.
(Kathleen Murphy Colan)
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Jill Snyder, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, on Monday called the Trump Administration's temporary new restrictions on immigration from seven majority-Muslim nations "an affront to our values."
Snyder also said she hopes the travel ban won't impede plans for a visit by Farshid Moussavi, the native Iranian architect who designed the museum's new building in 2012.
MOCA's building, a four-story, gemlike composition in polished black steel at Euclid Avenue and Mayfield Road in University Circle's Uptown, was the first North American project for Moussavi.
The MOCA Cleveland Building, designed by Iranian native Farshid Moussavi, was finished in 2012.
Moussavi was born in 1965 in Shiraz, Iran, and grew up in the provincial capital of Sari. Her parents enrolled her in a boarding school in England in 1979 to shield her from the country's Islamic Revolution.
Moussavi completed her architectural education in England, Scotland and the United States, and launched an international practice in London.
Snyder said Monday afternoon in a telephone interview that she and Moussavi have been discussing the possibility of having the architect visit Cleveland in the fall, in time for the fifth anniversary of the new building.
"As a British citizen, one would hope this would not complicate things" for her, Snyder said.
If anything, the museum director said, Trump's executive order on travel and immigration restrictions "inspires and motivates me even more'' to seek a visit from Moussavi.
"Universities and research centers all around the country are making the case that our progress and the nature of global exchange is predicated on free exchange," Snyder said.
Snyder released a statement earlier Monday afternoon in response to an email from The Plain Dealer seeking reaction to the president's order, which shut borders to refugees and others from seven largely Muslim countries, triggering protests around the nation and overseas.
In response to The Plain Dealer's query, Snyder wrote that, "while MOCA is not directly affected by the ban at this time, we, as a museum with global reach and an international program, are watching the situation with concern.
"Since moving into our new building in 2012, we've shown a great many exhibitions featuring artists from outside the United States.
"We remain committed to free expression regardless of the religions or countries of origin of the artists we show," the statement continued. "The current executive order poses an affront to our values.
"MOCA will always be a safe haven for ideas from far and wide, and a home for artists, visitors, curators, scholars, and students who bring diverse global perspectives and backgrounds." Snyder said.
In the interview that followed her statement, Snyder said: "there's no question this [Trump's executive order] creates a sense of paranoia everywhere, and profiling.
"So anyone with a name that resonates from a Muslim country, of course, they're going to be subject to a higher degree of scrutiny, unfairly."
BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Beachwood's superintendent of schools said he is aware President Donald Trump's executive order halting refugee immigrants from entering the United States might be stoking fears among students with immigrant parents.
Superintendent Robert Hardis said in a message released Monday that some Beachwood families have parents, friends and colleagues affected by the travel ban.
The superintendent's office provided a copy of the message to cleveland.com.
Hardis said in the message that he hopes the school community remains "open, informed and united" and that Beachwood families are "entitled to dignity, to respect and to know without a shadow of doubt, that they belong."
Hardis addressed the following message to families, alumni and friends:
"Yesterday, I learned that our nation's changing immigration orders have resulted in some Beachwood families' parents, friends and colleagues being unable to return to Cleveland after traveling to see family or for work. I am aware of Beachwood students in each of our schools who may be afraid for their family's wellbeing since many parents in our school district have green cards for work and graduate study. Expressions of emotion and fear from our students are genuine, as some of them are experiencing the upheaval in our laws and in the protests erupting around the country in a very direct way.
"My hope is that Beachwood's students, families and staff remain committed to creating and cultivating a school community that is open, informed and united. All Beachwood families are entitled to dignity, to respect and to know without a shadow of doubt, that they belong."
The executive order that Trump signed Friday temporarily bars citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries from traveling to the U.S. and prohibits refugees from entering the country.
The travel ban sparked protests across the country. On Sunday, hundreds marched in and around Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
The Cleveland Clinic said three of its employees were affected by the executive order. An internal medicine resident who is a citizen of Sudan was detained in New York while trying to return to Ohio after a trip to Saudi Arabia She was then put on a plane back to the Middle East, she told cleveland.com.
Amazon and Expedia have submitted declarations in a federal court in Washington, claiming that a recent immigration order by U.S. President Donald Trump is disrupting their business and affecting employees.
The actions by these companies come amid widespread public protests against the order, with many tech companies prominently in the opposition.
The declarations were filed by Amazon and Expedia in a lawsuit in which Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has asked the court to invalidate parts of the executive order for a number of reasons including that it discriminates in the issuance of immigrant visas on the basis of race, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence.
The executive order signed by Trump, which suspended for 90 days entry into the U.S. of persons from seven Muslim-majority countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - as immigrants and non-immigrants, has triggered protests both in the U.S. and abroad, with tech companies like Google, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft strongly criticizing the move. The Trump administration has described the order as a move to prevent foreign terrorist entry into the U.S.
On Monday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and cofounder Sergey Brin addressed employees who were protesting the new regulation at the company's headquarters in Mountain View, California.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has in an email to employees reportedly promised that the full extent of Amazons resources are behind its employees in the U.S. and around the world who may be directly affected by the order. He also promised that the company would reach out to members of Congress to explore legislative options and also referred to the company's "declaration of support" for the lawsuit by the Washington attorney general.
The submissions by Expedia and Amazon in the lawsuit are focused on the impact of the order on their businesses and employees. A major thrust of the complaint by the state of Washington in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington is that the new entry restrictions will hurt local companies like Microsoft, Expedia, Starbucks and Amazon that are dependent on skilled workers, employed on H-1B visas.
The technology industry relies heavily on the H-1B visa program, and the state ranks ninth in the U.S. by the number of applications for high-tech visas, according to the complaint. Changes to U.S. immigration policy that restrict the flow of people may inhibit these companies' ability to adequately staff their research and development efforts and recruit talent from overseas, it said.
It is not clear whether the executive order applies to only citizens of identified countries or anyone born in those countries irrespective of their current citizenship or visa status, wrote Ayesha Blackwell-Hawkins, senior manager of mobility and immigration at Amazon, in the declaration. It is also unclear whether the suspension applies to employees with dual citizenship in both an identified and non-identified country, Amazon added.
The uncertainty has led to situations such as where a senior lawyer of the company, who was born in Libya and has been a U.K. citizen for several years, had to be asked not to travel to the U.S. for business in February, as she ran the risk of being denied entry. Amazon is also currently assessing alternative locations outside the U.S. for seven candidates who received offers for employment with the company. These candidates were born in Iran, but are currently citizens of Germany, Canada and Australia.
Expedia, which runs travel websites, said the executive order would place restrictions on its business, increase its business costs and affect current employees and customers, besides its ability to recruit global talent. The company had 1,000 customers as of Jan 29, who hold passports issued by the listed countries, and have itineraries that involve flights either originating, terminating or transiting the U.S.
Microsoft may also testify before the court if needed, according to a news report. The company has at least 76 employees who are citizens of the seven listed countries and hold U.S. temporary work visas, and may be banned from re-entering the U.S. if they travel abroad or the company's offices in Vancouver in British Columbia, according to the attorney generals complaint. There may be other employees with permanent-resident status or green cards, it added.
Kevin Love
Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love, left, has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Minnesota.
(Tony Dejak, Associated Press)
DALLAS -- Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love underwent an MRI at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Monday, which revealed no structural damage to his lower back.
Love, who was held out of the second half of Sunday's game against Oklahoma City because of back spasms, has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Earlier this season, Love missed the second half of the Golden State Warriors game on Jan. 16 following a flare-up and was also held out of the next game versus Phoenix on Jan. 19. He missed his sixth game of the year Monday night.
Love will continue to receive treatment with a protocol of rest and rehab and his playing status will be updated as appropriate.
Prior to Monday's game, Lue said he was hoping Love's injury wouldn't be serious.
While James Jones started the second half against the Thunder, Lue elected to round out his starting lineup with Richard Jefferson against the Mavericks, who use a small-ball starting group with Harrison Barnes at power forward.
"That'd be a tough matchup for James Jones trying to guard Harrison Barnes so we decided to go with R.J," Lue said.
Given the team's lack of frontcourt depth, Lue admitted the matchup-based approach will be his only option during Love's absence -- even if it alters his second unit.
"Just got to see the flow of the game and guys just going to come in and step up and play well," Liue said. "With R.J. starting it's going to put a damper on our second unit. Just got to see how it goes."
After Wednesday's home game against Minnesota, the Cavaliers begin a four-game roadtrip, with the first game of the trip Saturday in New York.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- With no formal action planned at this point, council on Monday debated the virtues of declaring "Sanctuary City" status.
Councilwoman Carol Roe brought up the prospect at the Jan. 30 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting, citing outcry from residents about the federal immigration crackdown unleashed over the weekend.
Cleveland Heights prides itself on being a diverse community, and city officials noted that there is already a sizable population of refugees living here.
But Councilwoman Melissa Yasinow pointed out that the issue hit home when one of the city's own, Dr. Suha Abushamma -- a Muslim and citizen of Sudan who has been at the Cleveland Clinic since July on a work visa -- was put on a plane back to the Middle East after flying into New York and being detained.
Yasinow noted that the incident provided more credence to the adage that "All politics is local."
Roe agreed, saying that "we have to be mindful of the fact that this impacts our people."
"Sanctuary City" status was approved in Cincinnati Monday night, while Cleveland City Council likewise passed a resolution denouncing the Trump Administration's immigration ban.
"We need to be sensitive to what our residents are asking us to do," Roe said. "And we wouldn't be doing our jobs if we didn't ask the Law Department to look into it."
Councilman Michael Ungar said he felt it would be a "badge of honor" for the city to declare sanctuary status, something that Rev. John Lentz, senior pastor at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church would like to see.
But Councilwoman Mary Dunbar suggested some restraint, saying that this could be one of many federal decisions that could stir up local sentiments.
"We have to realize that it's probably part of our DNA in Cleveland Heights to be on the forefront" of controversial issues, Dunbar noted.
At the same time, Dunbar said that council should focus on issues like taxes and housing stock, which allow for more local control.
"I didn't run for council to be dealing with a bunch of national issues," Dunbar said. "And if we jump on every one of them in the next 180 days, it's going to distract us."
Dunbar added that it might be more expedient for Rev. Lentz to start a "sanctuary church."
While he doesn't imagine that the state or the feds "will be listening very closely to us anyway," Councilman Kahlil Seren said in this instance "it's not just us weighing in on a national discourse."
While she conceded that a perceived "tacit endorsement" on such issues may not be a good idea either, Dunbar predicted that "this won't be the only time, and we need to understand exactly what we're getting into."
Vice Mayor Jason Stein said council members should "balance our approach," and pursue the issue by also "looking into what the ramifications would be if we do take a stance."
Stein expressed concern about losing federal funding as a consequence, and the devastating effect it could have on nonprofits that receive a portion of Community Development Block Grants, like the Home Repair Resource Center.
City Manager Tanisha Briley said that the main source of federal funding where cuts are peremptorily threatened are not the CDBG program -- at this point -- but more through federal departments like Homeland Security.
And, Briley noted, the city has received a number of Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response or "SAFER" grants, the latest totaling nearly $600,000 to fund firefighters positions for two years.
Those come through Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Meanwhile, "our residents are asking," Mayor Cheryl Stephens added, requesting that Law Director Jim Juliano look into the city's options.
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The European Committee of the Regions will work together with local and regional governments in the UK and the rest of Europe to better understand the impact Brexit will have on all towns, cities and regions. During a meeting in London with the British Secretary of State, David Jones, the Committee's President, Markku Markkula, also stressed that it will continue to cooperate with the UKs local and regional government throughout the Brexit negotiations and beyond.
Leading a delegation of the Committee's political groups, President Markkula visited London at the invitation of the leader of its UK Delegation. The meeting was also attended by political representatives of the UK's devolved administrations and local authorities from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
President Markkula said: Brexit will have an impact on local and regional governments in both the UK and the EU, which is why we will continue to work closely together to understand the local economic, political and social consequences. Formally our institution does not have a binding role in the negotiations. However, our members within their national legislation can adopt formal positions. During the Brexit negotiations, the European Committee of the Regions will support all local and regional authorities, to allow them to voice their views. Towns, cities, regions and localities in the UK and across Europe have well-established ties built up over many years. We need to think how we can continue to learn from each other, share ideas and maintain these relations well into the future."
"Local governments and the devolved bodies have an important role to play", said Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council and head of the UK Delegation to the CoR. "It is important that the EU powers that return to the UK do not get stuck in Whitehall, but should be passed to the level of government closest to the citizen. And to ensure that these new tasks are well-implemented, councils and devolved bodies should receive adequate financial resources."
Secretary of State Jones said: "It was a pleasure to attend the annual general meeting of the UK Delegation of the Committee of the Regions. I enjoyed the opportunity to address the UK delegation and listen to their concerns. I welcome the delegation's commitment and remain fully engaged with their work. I look forward to working further with them."
President Markkula thanked Mr Watson for organising the visit and paid tribute to Sir Albert Bore, the former leader of Birmingham City Council who served as the Committees President between 2002 and 2004.
President Markkula and the Committees delegation which was composed of leaders from its political groups, namely: Markus Tons (DE/PES) Member of the North Rhine-Westphalia Regional Parliament; Kieran McCarthy (IE/EA), Member of Cork City Council; Kate Feeney (IE/ALDE), Member of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; and Rob Jonkman (NL/ECR), Member of the Executive Council of Opsterland. The visit follows a meeting between the Committees leaders and its UK delegation in mid-January with Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, who confirmed his wish to open a channel of dialogue and communication to allow local and regional stakeholders to be informed and heard throughout the process.
The European Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly for democratically elected local and regional politicians, has a consultative role in EU policymaking. Of its 700 members and alternates, 48 come from the United Kingdom.
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The Region of Extremadura inaugurated its year as European Entrepreneurial Region in a ceremony held at the Parliament of Extremadura in the presence of Guillermo Fernandez Vara, President of the Regional Government and Member of the European Committee of the Regions, showcasing the region as a space for innovation, business development, and entrepreneurship.
President Fernandez Vara stated that the future will depend on the capacity to generate ideas and projects and pointed out that the role of public authorities will be to stand by these ideas and projects in order to help them move forward. "There are many enterprising people", he indicated, underlining the importance of entrepreneurship for a generation of young people who know perfectly that their future and their life will not consist in working for others, but in "jointly developing innovative projects". "Talent doesn't have borders, and when talent moves across the world, it is very difficult to hold back. Let us be capable of developing talent, and there will be no wall in the world to stop it", he asserted.
Kristin Schreiber, Director for the COSME programme at the European Commission, addressed participants in a video message, congratulating Extremadura for joining the select club of the European Entrepreneurial Regions (EER), "our European Silicon Valleys". "Only with strong SMEs and more entrepreneurial spirit, we can achieve a sustainable economic recovery in the European Union", she added.
To disseminate the EER award within the territory of the region, four outstanding entrepreneurs were nominated as Extremadura's EER 2017 ambassadors:
The " Fire Award " was presented to Luisa Santana Munoz , Director-General of machinery producer SEGEDA, honouring her professional trajectory and her active participation in the business and social life of the region.
" was presented to , Director-General of machinery producer SEGEDA, honouring her professional trajectory and her active participation in the business and social life of the region. The " Air Award " was offered to Luis Felipe de la Morena , CEO of metal-working company IMEDEXSA, recognizing the international activities of his company and its contribution to the regional economy.
" was offered to , CEO of metal-working company IMEDEXSA, recognizing the international activities of his company and its contribution to the regional economy. The " Water Award " was offered to Maria Carmona , representing cleaning products producer Inquiba, as recognition for her outstanding commitment to a regional family business and her contribution to job creation.
" was offered to , representing cleaning products producer Inquiba, as recognition for her outstanding commitment to a regional family business and her contribution to job creation. The "Earth Award" was presented to Atanasio Naranjo, founder of the agro-industrial group Tany Nature, rewarding his business achievements in a traditional economic sector and the application of innovation to horticulture.
The European Committee of the Regions' European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) label identifies and rewards EU territories with outstanding and forward-looking strategies to promote entrepreneurship and support SMEs in their territories. Besides Extremadura, the regions of Lower Austria and Western Greece have been awarded the EER 2017 label. Applications for the EER 2018 edition are open until 7 April 2017.
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This time last year, Apple reported a record quarter, with sales of iPhones at an all-time high . After that, it reported three straight quarters of lower year-over-year sales, adding up to its first yearly decline since 2001.
To do it, Apple must not only come off a losing streak it has to beat a record.
When Apple reports earnings on Tuesday after the bell, Wall Street is expecting CEO Tim Cook to make good on his promise to return the company to growth.
In October, Cook said he thought Apple could make a comeback.
"Looking forward, the response to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus has been very positive," Cook said in the company's last earnings call. "It's very hard to gauge demand, as you know, when you're selling everything you're making. So we'll find out more through the quarter, but we're confident enough to give you guys guidance that we're returning to growth this quarter, which obviously feels very good for us."
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters seem to agree with Cook, at least in part: They expect adjusted earnings of $3.22 a share in the first fiscal quarter, down 1.8 percent from a year ago, on revenue of $77.38 billion, up 2 percent from a year ago, barring any revisions.
Shares of Apple have risen nearly 7 percent over the past 3 months, compared to Alphabet, which has risen about half a percent, and Facebook, which has fallen less than half a percent over the same period.
Much hinges on sales of Apple's new flagship phone, the iPhone 7, during the holiday shopping season. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect that 77 million total iPhone units shipped during the quarter, up from 75 million in the year-ago period.
The iPhone's performance in China will be especially crucial, after Cook said last quarter he was "very bullish" on the Asian nation.
While Drexel Hamilton analyst Brian White sees Apple as "one of the most underappreciated stocks in the world," he expects Greater China revenue to fall by 20 percent or 30 percent, year over year, in the first quarter.
The company's software and services, like Apple Music and the App Store, could also help supplement iPhone sales. Services revenue grew 24 percent to an all-time quarterly record of $6.3 billion, the company said last quarter, and the App Store hit a record on New Year's Day.
In absolute value, Apple's revenue stream from services is already about the size of Facebook, according to Thomas Husson, vice president, principal analyst at Forrester. (Facebook reported revenue of about $7 billion in the third quarter).
Going forward, Apple's software could become a key differentiating factor for its hardware product, according to Stifel analyst Aaron Rakers, especially for the upcoming tenth anniversary iPhone, expected to debut in September.
"We think Apple's possible integration of 3-D sensing in the next-gen iPhones could be considered a killer app and provide renewed confidence in Apple's innovation engine," Rakers wrote in a research note.
Gene Munster of Loup Ventures formerly a top Apple analyst on Wall Street also has placed bets that 3-D software will be key for Apple.
"The transition to Services is important as new platforms like AR and VR emerge and transform Apple's existing mobile device businesses," Munster wrote in a research note.
The next major iPhone cycle is highly anticipated, thanks to the more than 315 million users that will be on an iPhone that is more than 2 years old, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Michael Olson.
"The pessimism among investors is largely based on perception that potential iPhone 7 buyers are holding out for the 10th anniversary device in Sept (iPhone X)," Olson wrote. "Our survey of 1,000 U.S. iPhone owners suggests most are not aware of the potential for a 10th anniversary device with more significant upgrades later this year."
For a notoriously secretive company like Apple, earnings are also a rare chance for Wall Street to hear Cook's vision for the company. With a new federal administration at America's helm, Apple's forecasts of future tax benefits "will be an investor interest on the conference call," Raker wrote.
Feedback on devices like AirPods, new MacBooks, Apple Watch, and research and development are increasingly pushing investors in one of two directions, and Tuesday's earnings will help drive dueling narratives, wrote UBS analyst Steven Milunovich.
Narrative no. 1, Milunovich said, is that "the best days of the company are behind it," and that "projects such as Siri and the car appear to be failures." Narrative no. 2 the one that Milunovich said he favors is that Apple has cutting-edge technology but "is waiting for the market to mature to a point where entering with a new product makes sense."
Hot sectors such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, voice control, and self-driving cars will continue to attract investment regardless of who occupies the Oval Office. The big question for venture investors is whether and how much Trump's presidency impacts deal flow and if it makes new sectors attractive.
Revolution's Roger McNamee warns that the President's move away from globalization is bad for tech investments across the board. "The breakdown of US trading relationships around the world, which is by no means guaranteed, but is the direction that the administration is trying to take that's incredibly bad for tech companies," says McNamee. "In my mind that means I have to be a lot more careful about private investments I make, especially in the seed stage."
Venture Capital firms raised more last year than they have in any year since 2000, but the number of first financings, or first rounds of equity funding in startups, fell to the lowest level since 2010, according to Pitchbook and the National Venture Capital Association. That trend indicates that VCs may be less willing to take a gamble on less-established companies and ideas than they have been in previous years.
FINDING DISRUPTIVE INVESTMENTS
"The most important things investors require is stabilitywe need a stable legal system, stable economic policy, stable government," says McNamee. "Those are the things investors in the US markets have been able to count on for two generations and I think that the election of Donald Trump makes that uncertain for the first time in my lifetime."
But even as McNamee proceeds cautiously, he's finding an opportunity in a sector he says he sees benefitting from this political administration: personal security. He's about to invest in a company that makes smart security cameras for cars. And McNamee says he'll continue to invest in virtual and augmented reality, where he already sees an established market.
In contrast, former analyst, now venture capitalist, Gene Munster, says he doesn't think the President's policies will have much impact at all on the progress that's sure to happen around four key themes: augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
Far more optimistic, Lerer Hippeau's Eric Hippeau says he sees opportunities to invest in technology infrastructure. "If the administration and congress include tech as part of investment in infrastructure that could be a very big boon for the tech industry,particularly with the Internet of things,censors, more Wi-Fi, and connectivity throughout the nation."
In terms of other sectors, Hippeau is focusing on artificial intelligence,which will be adopted and incorporated by a range of companies. And he's looking for other opportunities created by the "disruption" of President Trump.
"In as much as the new administration favors less regulation, more movement in the market, that's an advantage for us as early stage investors," says Hippeau.
CASHING IN ON DISRUPTORS
As for the question of when and how investors will get their money back, investors are hoping to see a surge in public offerings following a 65% decline in IPOs from 2014 to 2016. "What we hear from our members is 2017 could be the year for liquidity and exits, and opportunities to take returns,"says NVCA president and CEO Bobby Franklin.
And there are a number of factors that could drive M&A, following a 23% decline last year in acquisitions of private venture-backed companies: President Trump is pushing companies to repatriate cash, there's the potential for more favorable tax treatment here in the US, plus a lighter regulatory environment. Franklin is advocating on behalf of his venture firms for regulatory reform to make it easier for companies to go public, by managing the cost of compliance.
Another factor that could drive deals: with the Dow trading near highs, even with Monday's pullback, there's pressure on companies to show growth.
"Now there's a real demand to see companies put up numbers on unit growth and price leverage," says McNamee. "If you don't have that, buy something really large so you can change the subject. We're already seeing that, and expect it to accelerate among large companies dramatically."
As India's economy continues to reel in the aftermath of last year's demonetization drive, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley must balance between the need for stimulating growth and continuing fiscal discipline when he presents the 2017-2018 budget on Wednesday. India's fiscal year starts April 1, and the outlook has certainly changed from last year. Entering 2016 as the world's fastest-growing economy with annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7.6 percent, the South Asian giant now faces shrinking factory output, consumption and rural demand following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's contentious currency reform that launched in November. The cash shortage that ensued could see India enter four consecutive quarters of sub-7 percent growth, Societe Generale estimated. This year's budget also boasts structural changes. Starting from this fiscal year, the railway budget will now be merged with the government's annual financial blueprint, ending a decades-old practice of presenting them separately. Meanwhile, the budget date has also been brought forward by one month to help ministries better allocate their spending.
New Delhi, Jan 30 2017: Prime Minister Modi with other party leaders at a meeting on the eve of the budget session. Sonu Mehta / Hindustan Times / Getty Images
"Against the economic backdrop and upcoming state elections, the key debate is whether the government will tilt towards activating fiscal easing to revive domestic demand and take a more populist stance in the budget and initiate transfers to households," explained Morgan Stanley economists in a recent report. But with government debt running well above fellow Asian emerging markets, New Delhi has limited fiscal space for populist measures. For 2016, India's public debt is seen at 66 percent of GDP, versus China's 38 percent, Malaysia's 55 percent and Thailand's 43 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund.
"Despite the negative impact on short-term growth from demonetization, fiscal discipline will remain a priority," said Radhika Rao, economist at DBS. "Signs of a populist budget will be positive for markets but if accompanied by a larger-than-expected borrowing program, sentiments will quickly reverse."
Still, Jaitley's hands aren't completely tied; Wednesday'sbudget is expected to have growth-friendly measures in five keyareas.
Fiscal deficit
While Jaitley is unlikely to announce any handouts, he may slightly deviate from previous goals. The government earlier set a fiscal deficit target of 3 percent of GDP for FY17-18, compared to 3.5 percent in the previous year, but economists now widely expect that number to widen to 3.3 percent. "This could provide flexibility for more public investments to offset the drag on growth from the recent demonetization move," noted Rao. Even as the economic pain of the cash shortage became clear by end-November, Modi's televised year-end address on Dec. 31 didn't indicate any bias towards fiscal easinga potential sign of a constrained budget. "Fiscal policy, and hence the budget, will play more of an incremental role in supporting the economy rather than being a game changer per se," Morgan Stanley summed up.
Spending
Rural areas and infrastructure could be the primary beneficiaries of government funds, according to a Goldman Sachs report. To combat the recent slowdown in the rural economy, one of the worst hit sectors from demonetization, the investment bank expect more investment in irrigation, low cost housing, and electrification. That would build on promises Modi made in his year-end speech, which included loans for low-cost housing and interest rebates for farmers. On the capital front, Goldman expects expenditure to increase by 26 percent, with a focus on creating assets in railways, roads and defense rather than subsidies.
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Tax
Not much action is expected on personal income taxes, but India Inc could receive good news. "Some tinkering in personal income tax rates are expected, but limited fiscal room implies meaningful changes are unlikely," said Morgan Stanley. The bank, like many others, instead expects a further reduction of corporate tax rates. In the 2016-2017 budget, Jaitley had already announced a lowering of the average corporate income tax rate to 25 percent from 30 percent over four years. "The demonetization initiative is also likely to raise one-off revenues, which along with other measures, such as tweaks to the capital gains tax regime, or a revival of the cash transaction tax, might be channeled to fund fresh spending plans," added DBS' Rao. But rollout of the long-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST), a single levy to replace indirect taxes and levies, could complicate the overall picture. Earlier this month, Jaitley said July 1 was a more realistic deadline for GST implementation, instead of the previous April 1 date.
Reforms
Activists hold a protest in front of Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), hold placards showing the picture of the late South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo, who was murdered allegedly by suspected policemen in Manila on January 27, 2017.
The Philippine police chief stopped the use of the national police force in anti-drug operations Monday and disbanded all police anti-narcotics units after the president's brutal crackdown was used as a cover by rogue officers to kidnap and kill a South Korean man for money.
Police Director-General Ronald Dela Rosa told police officers he would use the indefinite halt of anti-drug operations to launch a massive purge of police involved in crimes. A counter-intelligence force would be formed to catch rogue officers and records of those previously implicated in crimes would be reviewed.
"No more drug operations now," Dela Rosa told police officers at the main police camp, without indicating how long the ban would last.
An estimated 7,000 drug-related killings have occurred since President Rodrigo Duterte started his anti-drug crackdown in July, and more than 2,500 of those involved suspects who allegedly fought back and were gunned down in clashes with police, the national police said, adding 35 policemen and three soldiers had been killed.
The scale of the anti-drug campaign has been unprecedented, with officials reporting that more than 7 million houses of drug suspects have been visited so far, prompting more than 1.1 million mostly drug users to surrender and agree to undergo rehabilitation programs.
Singapore rebel teen Amos Yee speaks to reporters outside the State Courts after he was jailed for six weeks for insulting Muslims and Christians, in Singapore on September 29, 2016.
A Singapore teenager seeking to stay in the U.S. after his blog posts mocking his government twice landed him in jail made his first appearance Monday in a Chicago immigration court, where an attorney officially submitted his application for asylum.
Amos Yee appeared via video and spoke little during the hearing. He's been detained at a northern Illinois jail since December, when immigration authorities took him into custody at O'Hare International Airport.
His 246-page application includes statements of support from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, who urged U.S. officials to let him stay. They allege Yee has been harassed by the Singapore government for publicly expressing his views on religion and politics, and for criticizing the city-state's leaders, including late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Yee, 18, was imprisoned in Singapore for six weeks in September on charges of hurting the religious feelings of Christians and Muslims, after breaching bail conditions following a monthlong sentence he served on the same charges.
"Our theory is that he was persecuted in Singapore and that the prosecution against him was illegitimate because it was based on laws that were meant to restrict his freedom of expression," Yee's attorney Sandra Grossman said outside court. "If he returns to Singapore, he's likely to be convicted again for similar acts."
Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Yee sat with hands folded in his lap, his once shoulder-length hair closely cropped. He briefly greeted and thanked the judge and said he didn't have anything to add to his attorney's comments.
With college costs steadily rising, simply paying the tab is a serious concern when picking a school.
At public four-year institutions, costs for the 201516 school year rose to $19,548 from $16,178 five years ago, according to the College Board. Tuition plus room and board at four-year private universities was much higher: $43,921 on average.
As a result, families are relying on loans, scholarships and grants more than ever before. But as student loan debt hits record levels, stunting the financial independence of many millennials, maximizing aid in the form of scholarships and grants, which does not have to be paid back, is critical.
To that end, ThePrinceton Review ranked colleges by how much financial aid is awarded and how satisfied students are with their packages. The report is based on data collected from fall 2015 through fall 2016.
Surprisingly, the schools that fared the best were all private schools, many of which have sky-high prices, but their very generous aid packages bring the total cost way down.
"Don't base your decision on sticker price alone," said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's editor-in-chief and author of "Colleges That Pay You Back." When it comes to offering financial aid, private schools typically have more money to spend, he said. "A private school might end up being more affordable than a typical public college in your state."
Here are the schools that made The Princeton Review's top five:
British Prime Minister Theresa May's meeting to discuss Brexit with her Irish counterpart, Enda Kenny, on Monday had its spotlight squarely stolen by the mounting global reaction against U.S. President Donald Trump's order restricting travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
During the press conference immediately following the bilateral meeting, Irish Prime Minister Kenny delivered a considerably cleaner refutation of the newly installed U.S. government's highly controversial travel policy than did the U.K.'s May.
However, both leaders emphasized that the will of democratic Americans had to be respected at this time.
"Whatever you think of the American President, this is a man who's elected now by votes of the American people, who is now implementing what he said he would do for the last two years," Kenny said to reporters.
"I don't agree with this particular policy and I will give my reasons for that when I talk to him but in respect of our own connections with the United States, I think it's important to keep that contact very much alive, more so now than ever before," he added.
May continued to tiptoe around growing calls from her citizens to provide an outright criticism of the policy, instead restricting her commentary to indirect observations about variations in style between her country and the U.S.
The maker of the AK-47 semi-automatic rifle says it is to increase staff by 30 percent because of a surge in export orders.
The Kalashnikov Group put out a press release from its Moscow office Monday stating that it will create a further 1,700 jobs this year.
"Following the growth of production volume, which was driven by the rise in the number of export orders, it was decided to increase the number of the Group's employees," said Alexey Krivoruchko, chief executive of the Kalashnikov Group.
"The challenge we face is managing the growing number of orders. To fulfill them, as of April 2017, production will run in three shifts," he added.
The Kalashnikov Group said it employed around 5,500 people at the end of 2016.
The new staff will be recruited to work as service technicians, grinders, toolmakers and machine operators.
In August 2016, gun-maker Kalashnikov opened a shop at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
The shop has realistic model guns as well as hunting gear, according to a Reuters report, which added tourists were expected to snap up the famous brand.
The AK-47 has acquired an iconic status due to its low production costs and reliability in extreme conditions.
The weapon was invented in 1947 by a Red Army soldier, Mikhail Kalashnikov, who drew up his design while recovering in hospital from injuries received in battle.
Correction: The AK-47 is a semi-automatic rifle. An earlier version mischaracterized it.
Last year, the Commission ruled that Ireland must recover from Apple. It found that the U.S. technology giant paid an in Ireland in 2014.
"It's a tricky thing to do because it's a large sum so of course you have to figure out how to do that. It's not as an escrow account in some of the other cases where it might be 25 or 30 million euros and therefore I do respect that it's a complicated matter and it may take a little more time."
"Well the recovery is not done yet but we have been working with the Irish authorizes and we can see that they are moving forward to do the recovery of the unpaid taxes," EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said during a press conference in response to a question by CNBC.
has not fully paid the 13 billion euros ($13.9 billion) it owes to Ireland in illegal tax benefits even though the deadline has passed, the European Union's competition said on Tuesday.
The deadline for Ireland to recover the money into an escrow account was January 3. But the money still has not been repaid.
"We are continuing to make progress of the recovery from Apple with the full cooperation of the company and the EU Commission," a spokesperson for Ireland's Ministry of Finance told CNBC by email.
"The Commission are satisfied with the progress we are making. We have committed to complying with the decision and we fully intend doing that."
Still both Ireland and Apple have pledged to fight the decision via the European courts. Vestager said at the press conference that she does not know when the court case will take place for Apple and Ireland to appeal the EU's decision.
Ireland's Finance Minister Michael Noonan, in response to a question from CNBC concerning Apple's taxes, said because of the legal hurdles it could be years before there is a conclusion to the case.
"The appeal is in now and it'll go to a European ordinary court first and then whoever loses will probably appeal it to the European Court of Justice. So you're looking at a four-year time frame, five-year time frame. (A) slow bicycle race between the Apple case and Brexit seems to be emerging now. Let's see which will reach the destination first."
Apple has yet to respond to a request for comment when contacted by CNBC. But the company has spoken strongly about the decision. In an interview with the Irish Independent last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook called the ruling "total political crap" which has "no basis in law or in fact".
The Irish government has also been critical of the decision. Last year, Noonan slammed Brussels' interference in the country's tax matters.
"We stand by the legitimacy of what was done in the past ... we think the Commission is getting involved in what is the competence of sovereign governments in Europe. This is an approach through the back door to try and influence tax policy through competition law," Noonan told CNBC in August.
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There are strong signs that countries in Asia and the Pacific region are turning away from the United States and tilting toward China as the Trump administration emphasizes "America First."
Perhaps the most alarming signals are coming from Australia, a country that has deep cultural and historical ties to the United States but which depends on exports of raw materials to China. Donald Trump is deeply unpopular in Australia, which like the United States is an immigrant nation. Last week, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was open to the idea of China taking the place of the United States in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. The Obama administration had led the effort to build the TPP, and had designed the trading bloc with the U.S. at its center. But President Donald Trump effectively killed the TPP immediately after taking office.
China is Australia's largest market for exports of merchandise goods, according to the Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "Trump's policies are taking a whole bunch of countries that were already worried about America's commitment to lead and America's commitment to its alliances" and worrying them worse, said Ian Bremmer, president and founder of global political risk consultancy Eurasia Group. "China also wants to be seen now as promoting globalization, promoting free trade, particularly for countries in Asia that don't want to count on the U.S.," Bremmer said.
Now that Trump has officially withdrawn the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, "certainly there is the potential for China to join the TPP," Turnbull said in a Financial Times report.
The 11 other countries that were set to become part of the Trans-Pacific trade and investment agreement were Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
Turnbull added that he was speaking to other leaders from the region about a TPP that excludes the United States. Among them was Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, he said. Japan remains the strongest ally the United States has in Asia, but Trump has also created alarm there by criticizing Japan for supposedly unfair trade practices. Abe spoke by phone with Trump on Saturday, and they agreed to hold a summit in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 10., the Nikkei reported over the weekend.
South Korea
Vietnam
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Vietnam, a country of 95 million people, had been edging closer to normal relations with the United States as a dispute with China over islands in the South China Sea intensified. But it has throttled back on its anti-China stance in recent weeks. In mid-January, Vietnam police altered their normal pattern and stopped an anti-China protest within minutes, Reuters reported. The newswire noted that the country's government and police made no comment and state-controlled media did not report the protest, which occurred around an event related to China's seizure of the Paracel islands in the South China Sea in 1974.
"Vietnam is extremely reluctant to be as closely tied to the United States on security issues, given the Philippines are already moving in that direction," Bremmer said. Vietnam's leaders "don't want to be left by themselves, with an economy very vulnerable to their China ties." China is the second-largest destination for Vietnamese exports and the primary source of goods imported into Vietnam, according to preliminary 2016 data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. Earlier in January, China and Vietnam pledged to manage their differences and safeguard peace in the South China Sea during a visit to Beijing by Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong.
The Philippines, a long-time U.S. ally and former colony, turned sharply toward Beijing last year. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte insulted former U.S. President Barack Obama and announced a "separation" from the United States.
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Moon Express, the first private company in history to receive government permission to travel beyond Earth's orbit, announced Tuesday that it raised another $20 million in private equity financing to fund its maiden lunar mission to take place in late 2017. This brings the total amount of private investment to $45 million from investors that include Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, Collaborative Fund and Autodesk . What may have added impetus to investor interest in Moon Express is President Trump's picks for the NASA transition team Charles Miller and Chris Shank and the leading candidate to become the next NASA administrator, GOP Rep. Jim Bridenstine. All support commercial space ventures and manned exploration including lunar missions.
If successful, the new MX-1 lunar lander from Moon Express would not only win the $20 million Google Lunar XPRIZE, it would also help jump-start a new era of space exploration. Up until now, only government-funded missions from the United States, China and Russia have landed on the moon. Last year the U.S. government made a historic ruling to allow the company to engage in peaceful commercial lunar exploration and discovery following consultations with the FAA, White House, State Department and NASA. The company's challenge now is to meet the XPRIZE requirement: Make a soft landing on the moon, travel 500 meters across its surface, and transmit high-definition video and images back to Earth. All tasks must be done before the end of this year. According to co-founder and chairman Naveen Jain, "Moon Express now has all the capital it needs to land its small robotic spacecraft on the surface of the moon in November or December of 2017." The company's goal is twofold: 1) mine the moon for valuable resources, such as Helium-3, gold, platinum group metals, rare earth metals and water; and 2) help researchers develop human space colonies for future generations.
Just before the presidential election, NASA released a call for concepts for payloads to the moon to be delivered by private companies. That shows a rising tide of interest in the moon by our nation's space industry. Bob Richards co-founder, president and CEO of Moon Express
Moon Express has contracted five electron rockets from New Zealand-based launch provider Rocket Lab for its missions. In the future, it plans to be rocket agnostic and use a variety of rocket providers. European Space Agency has also expressed interest in partnering with Moon Express. ESA has plans to develop lunar colonies in the future.
Automaker Daimler has reached an agreement to manufacture and operate self-driving cars on Uber's ride-sharing network, according to a blog post by Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.
The announcement continues Uber's movement toward self-driving vehicles. The company introduced its self-driving technology to the press last September and has been testing Volvo-built technologies with this technology in Pittsburgh and Arizona. A brief test in San Francisco had to be suspended after a clash with the California Department of Motor Vehicles over permitting.
Kalanick reiterated that Uber has no plans to build the vehicles itself, writing, "Auto manufacturers like Daimler are crucial to our strategy because Uber has no experience making carsand in fact, making cars is really hard....That's why instead of building them ourselves, we want to partner with the best auto manufacturers in the world.
Daimler is best known for the Mercedes-Benz automotive line, but also manufactures trucks under the U.S.-based Freightliner brand. Last year, Uber bought a start-up called Otto that's introduced self-driving truck technology, so the Daimler deal may play into that business as well. But for the time being, Uber's limiting the partnership to cars on its ride-sharing network.
After a 63-year absence, Guinness Brewery will once again have a working brewery in the United States.
The Diageo -owned brand will be creating a version of its Dublin-based Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Relay, Maryland.
While the iconic Guinness Draught, Guinness Foreign Extra and Guinness Extra stouts will still be brewed in Dublin and exported to the U.S., the new brewery will focus on new Guinness beers created for the U.S. market.
The plans call for a "mid-sized" brewery with a packaging and warehouse operation as well as a visitor experience to allow tours and an "innovation microbrewery" and taproom for sampling experimental beers brewed on site.
"Opening a Guinness brewery and visitor center in the U.S. will enable us to collaborate with fellow brewers and interact with the vibrant community of beer drinkers," said Tom Day, president, Diageo Beer Company, USA, in a statement. "Given the success of our Open Gate Brewery in Dublin and the popularity of beer tourism in the U.S., we are confident that Americans will welcome the opportunity to come experience Guinness brewing in Baltimore County."
The new brewing operation would expand on the historic Calvert Distillery, a Diageo-owned production facility that first opened in 1933. It will create as many as 70 jobs in areas ranging from brewing, warehousing, bottling and staffing the visitor experience. The move would boost Diageo's total investment in the site to about $50 million.
With Marine le Pen transforming her National Front (NF) into a party for the populist era, analysts have been carefully assessing how French elections in May could deal a "severe blow" to the European Union (EU).
"It's difficult to imagine how the European Union could function should such a Euroskeptic (as Le Pen) be at the helm of one if its major economies It would likely precede its fracturing," Michael Hessel, political economist at Absolute Strategy Research, told CNBC via telephone.
He said that that low voter turnout would be Le Pen's best hope of securing an unlikely election victory. He projected Le Pen had up to a one-in-five chance of becoming French president in May.
Le Pen has promised to renegotiate the terms of France's membership of the European Union if elected president in May. However, her chances of victory appear to be limited. Opinion polls suggest Le Pen would be defeated by the former conservative prime minister and her most likely political rival, Francois Fillon, in the second and final round of voting.
A survey by Kantar Sofres released on Sunday placed Fillon on 21 percent of the vote, just behind social-democrat Emmanuel Macron on 22 percent. Meanwhile, Le Pen remains the leading candidate on 25 percent. The NF leader is well positioned to secure enough votes to reach the second round, however, the same survey expects her to lose out to either Fillon or Emmanuel Macron, France's former economy minister, in that next round by at least 20 percentage points.
Le Pen may yet harbor some hope of election success though. As was the case with President Donald Trump and the Brexit vote in the U.K., French citizens could defy expectations in the voting booth and polls may not truly reflect sentiment in the country.
Political leaders across Europe have voiced their concern that a Le Pen victory would cast significant doubt over the future of the EU. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told local radio station Onda Cero on Thursday that he did want to think about the possibility of a Le Pen presidency.
"It would simply mean the destruction of Europe," Rajoy concluded.
"After Brexit last year, if enemies of Europe manage again in the Netherlands or in France to get results then we face the threat that the largest civilization project of the 20th century, namely the European Union, could fall apart," Sigmar Gabriel, German economy minister told parliament on Thursday.
Britain's divorce from the European Union (EU) must adhere to an objective framework of rules in order for investors to truly understand whether Brexit has been successful or not, according to a report published by an independent think tank.
The U.K. in a Changing Europe has launched a report titled 'A Successful Brexit: Four Economic Tests' on Monday. The report proposes an objective set of guidelines to help gauge whether negotiations between the U.K. and the EU are prosperous.
"To find out whether we are headed for a successful Brexit, we need to know not just what Brexit means, but what constitutes 'success' and what 'works'. For this, we need an agreed set of 'tests' against which we can evaluate the government's plan, the EU's position, and what emerges during the negotiations," the report said.
The group of academics consulted in the report agreed on four tests to decipher whether Brexit has been successful.
Firstly, a successful Brexit would improve the country's economic growth rate as well as bolstering the ability to finance its own public services. Secondly, fairness should be at the heart of negotiations to ensure the most disadvantaged are in a more prosperous position by 2019.
The third test would gauge whether Britain has a more open economy and society as a result of negotiations and lastly, whether Brexit allows the U.K. to genuinely increase democratic controls.
Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman of Google's parent company, told an audience of Google employees on Thursday that the Trump administration is "going to do these evil things as they've done in the immigration area and perhaps some others."
Schmidt's remarks were made during the company's weekly meeting at its headquarters in Mountain View, California, on January 26, when reports were surfacing about the sweeping immigration order that President Donald Trump would sign the next day.
Google's corporate mantra for many years was "Don't be evil." Schmidt, the former Google CEO, now chairs its parent company, called Alphabet.
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Schmidt's opposition to Trump's immigration policy is noteworthy because Schmidt has at least twice traveled to Trump Tower to meet with the president and his advisers, but has struggled to gain a foothold in Trump's circle. He had close ties to the Obama administration and supported Hillary Clinton's campaign for president, facts not lost on Trump's advisers.
BuzzFeed News obtained a partial transcript of Schmidt's remarks during the meeting. Three others familiar with the matter confirmed the accuracy of the "evil" quote.
"I can tell you that the tone of this government is very much economic growth," Schmidt told employees, according to the transcript provided by a source. "And so I think at the end of the day, they are going to do these evil things as they've done in the immigration area and perhaps some others, but the core focus is going to be to get the growth rate in the country which is roughly one and a half to two percent up another point by simply pushing through increases in federal spending and overcoming the tea party."
A Google spokesperson declined to comment.
Sergey Brin, the Google co-founder, has made his opposition to Trump's policies more public. He joined protests against the immigration order at San Francisco International Airport over the weekend and at Google's Mountain View campus on Monday. "I'm here because I'm a refugee," he said on Saturday night, according to Forbes' Ryan Mac. (Here is a transcription of Brin's remarks on Monday.)
Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, also spoke at the Monday protest, according to a tweet from an employee and a person familiar with the matter.
"@slightlylate Even @sundarpichai and Sergey spoke. We're in a dark time, but I'm part of a bright, welcoming community & damned lucky for it."
@slightlylate Even @sundarpichai and Sergey spoke.
We're in a dark time, but I'm part of a bright, welcoming community & damned lucky for it.
Like many Silicon Valley corporations, Google's response to the immigration ban seemed to become progressively more forceful over the weekend. On Sunday night, the company announced a $4 million crisis fund donated to the ACLU and other immigration causes.
Before this weekend, Google had justified its meetings with Trump by arguing that it was better to work behind the scenes than make public statements that could alienate people the company needs to work with. "But meeting with Trump was a public statement," one Google employee told BuzzFeed News on Monday. Referring to a "summit" meeting of tech leaders at Trump Tower, the employee continued, "Eric meeting privately with Trump after the summit was a public statement because that was reported on. So they have made public statements, just not ones before this weekend that resist the immigration [order]."
According to an earlier report by Vice about the same meeting, Schmidt told employees that he had tried to fight the immigration order. "These prejudicial actions are discriminatory and anti-globalization, and I did everything I could to cause a different outcome," he said. "There are limits to what we can do, there's no question if the company is asked to do something that's counter to our values, we would oppose it and actively fight it."
Earlier this month, just as Congress began its new session, Google threw a swanky party for 600 people in Washington, DC, celebrating Republican lawmakers. According to the New York Times, Schmidt's "East Coast charm offensive" with Republican political leaders is part of Google's effort to dispel the idea that it is a bastion for Democrats.
"@blakersdozen 'Don't be evil! Don't be evil!' Google's former slogan makes an appearance as its employees march in SF."
@blakersdozen "Don't be evil! Don't be evil!" Google's former slogan makes an appearance as its employees march in SF
Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates just took a stand against her very powerful boss. Yates questioned the legality of President Donald Trump's immigration ban barring travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries and the move got her fired. Regardless of your politics, developing the principles that enable you to stand up to the leader of the free world isn't something that happens overnight. Here's a look at the family background and career that helped form Yates' steely resolve.
GROWING UP IN GEORGIA Yates' grandmother was one of the first women admitted to the Georgia Bar, she recalls in an conversation with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "She would have been a heck of a lawyer. But women weren't hired as lawyers back then. It just wasn't done," says Yates, according to a transcript of the interview. "So instead, she was a secretary, first to my grandfather, who was a lawyer, and then for my father and his brother and their practice."
Nobody is a success on their own. Sally Yates former acting Attorney General
She was inspired by her grandmother's resilience. "I realized that tenacity counts for a lot," Yates says. "She became a lawyer without support systems. I thought to myself that, if she did that, how hard could it be for me?" Yates' father, J. Kelley Quillian, served on the Court of Appeals for the State of Georgia from 1966 to 1984 and as the court's chief judge from 1981 to 1982. Prior to working in law, Quillian served in the U.S. Air Force as a sergeant in the Korean War and a captain in the Georgia National Guard. Quillian worked according to five principles, which he says he learned from his father, according to his bio on the Georgia State of Appeals website. Those are: "(1) Don't bend the law or legislate; (2) state the facts clearly and correctly; (3) clarity and conciseness are better than sesquipedalian words; (4) avoid flippancy; and (5) practice stare decisis."
Yates studied Journalism in college and graduated from University of Georgia with her bachelor's degree in 1982, according to her alma mater's website. She graduated magna cum laude from the university's School of Law in 1986. She launched her career at the Atlanta branch of the law firm King & Spalding doing commercial litigation. She went on to work as the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia and then she prosecuted white-collar crimes in the Fraud and Public Corruption branch of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Notably, Yates served as the prosecutor during the trial of Centennial Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph, who set off a blast that killed one and injured more than one hundred people.
"One of the great lessons is that nobody is a success on their own," says Yates. "Off all the cases I've done, that's the greatest example of the power of a team. The leader of a team has to demonstrate their respect for each person's role on the team."
A PORTENTOUS EXCHANGE
Yates was confirmed as Deputy Attorney General in 2015, serving under Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
During her confirmation hearings, an exchange with Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) who as it happens is now Trump's pick for Attorney General eerily predicted the adherence to principle that would ultimately cost Yates the job.
Sessions encouraged Yates to be ready to stand up to the President. Yates assured him that, if called upon, she would do just that. "Senator, I believe that the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and to give their independent legal advice to the president," she told the man who may now succeed her.
Yates was as good as her word. In a letter sent to top justice officials on Friday, Yates discloses reservations about the Constitutionality of Trump's immigration ban. "At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful," she writes.
The key to professional happiness and success is pursuing what is meaningful to you and pursuing it with a vengeance. Sally Yates former acting Attorney General
CRACKING DOWN ON CORPORATIONS IN WASHINGTON DC
In September of 2015, Yates sent a letter to Department of Justice attorneys that became known as the "Yates memo." It declares that corporations need to be held to account. "Fighting corporate fraud and other misconduct is a top priority of the Department of Justice," writes Yates. "One of the most effective ways to combat corporate misconduct is by seeking accountability from the individuals who perpetrated the wrongdoing. "Such accountability is important for several reasons: It deters future illegal activity, it incentivizes changes in corporate behavior, it ensures that the proper parties are held responsible for their actions, and it promotes the public's confidence in our justice system." She details the reasons it can be challenging to hold corporations responsible, and outlines best practices for doing it regardless. In it, Yates also shows a willingness to combat white-collar crime, even if it isn't the most lucrative choice. "Although in the short term certain cases against individuals may not provide as robust a monetary return on the Department's investment, pursuing individual actions in civil corporate matters will result in significant long-term deterrence."
CAREER ADVICE FROM ONE OF THE NATION'S TOP ATTORNEYS Yates urges young people to follow their hearts. "The key to professional happiness and success is pursuing what is meaningful to you and pursuing it with a vengeance. "I know way too many people who are in powerful, high-paying jobs who don't get much satisfaction from it. They enjoy the lifestyle, but the work isn't terribly meaningful," she says.
Politics may currently be the talk of the town as Donald Trump's presidency, Brexit negotiations and national elections take center stage, yet one chief financial officer believes the disruptive tech space should be one to watch.
"I think these digital disruptive changes are actually bigger than any of the political situations that we're seeing happening right now," Tom Stoddard, chief financial officer (CFO) at Aviva, told CNBC on Tuesday.
"So regardless of the political environment, we're going to see technology continue to change."
Robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, the internet of things, 3D printing and biometrics are just a handful of technologies that are emerging and starting to influence the way we operate.
With technological advancements set to rise, organizations worldwide are examining how this disruption will impact the world's labor force as well as how people live and communicate with one another.
Consequently, 'managing technological change' was seen as one of the five key challenges the world faced at present, according to the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Risks report.
"We live in disruptive times where technological progress also creates challenges," said Cecilia Reyes, chief risk officer at Zurich Insurance Group, in a statement after WEF released its report.
"Without proper governance and re-skilling of workers, technology will eliminate jobs faster than it creates them," Reyes added.
Thousands of people attend an anti-Donald Trump travel ban protest outside Hatfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia U.S., January 29, 2017.
Several Muslim groups across the world have expressed concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban.
The decision to ban people from seven-Muslim majority countries to enter the United States will give further arguments to extremist groups, such as the Islamic State, and will not guarantee national secutiry.
"The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed grave concern at the executive order passed by the U.S. president banning nationals of 7 OIC member states," the association of 57 Islamic countries said in a statement on Monday.
"Such selective and discriminatory acts will only serve to embolden the radical narratives of extremists and will provide further fuel to the advocates of violence and terrorism," the group added in the statement.
Other groups have expressed similar concerns. Oussama Jamma, secretary general at the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations said in a press release: "What this executive order amounts to is a "Muslim ban" on nationals who are trying to escape the same extremism and violence that Mr. Trump is claiming to protect the country from."
"USCMO calls on elected officials to reject the anti-Muslim rhetoric touted by the Trump administration in the name of national security," Jamma added.
According to the British Independent newspaper, Al Qaeda, ISIS and other extremist groups have begun using Trump's ban as evidence that the U.S. is at war with Islam. Such groups have used the word "blessed" to describe the ban for reigniting anti-U.S. sentiment in Muslim-majority countries.
Renad Mansour from the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House told CNBC that Trump's immigration ban feeds into the rhetoric of extremist groups. "When you have the west offering this kind of rhetoric it makes their (radical groups) job easier," he told CNBC over the phone.
According to experts, President Trump's order forgets that perhaps the biggest threat could be inside U.S. borders.
"The executive order restricting immigration that President Donald Trump signed Friday is unlikely to accomplish the goal its title suggests of protecting the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the U.S., principally because the more serious threat the U.S. faces is from potential homegrown terrorists," Aaron David Miller, vice president at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, wrote in the Wall Street Journal.
"The order makes counterterrorism harder. It has already drawn severe criticism from the Iraqi government, whose forces are working closely with U.S. forces against ISIS, and from Iraqi politicians now threatening to impose travel restrictions on Americans entering Iraq," he added.
The new commitment comes as the U.K. seeks to develop its global position, building new trading relationships outside of the EU. This week British Prime Minister has been traveling the world, including to the U.S. and Turkey, in an effort to drum up enthusiasm from prospective trade partners post-Brexit.
Britain's Department for International Development announced today that it is to support growing economies in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa by working with governments to help grow local businesses, increase jobs and develop infrastructure.
The U.K. government has set out new plans to invest in some of the world's poorest countries in a bid to secure trading partners of the future.
The department's 'Economic Development Strategy' places particular emphasis on securing the City of London's role as a leading financial center and seeks to formulate new ties with emerging economies.
The strategy builds on previous commitments made by the U.K., which have helped almost 70 million people access financial services.
It also aims to deal with global issues such as population growth, mass migration, climate change and corruption issues which have hung heavy in recent political debate.
Priti Patel, International Development Secretary, said that the strategy was "not only the right thing to do; it is firmly in Britain's own national interest."
"With dramatic increases in population across Africa and Asia, developing nations must act fast to create jobs and investment, which is why Global Britain is leading a more open, more modern approach to development through our economic development to help the world's poorest countries stand on their own two feet.
"Over the next decade a billion more young people will enter the job market. Africa's population is set to double by 2050 and as many as 18 million extra jobs will be needed. Failure will consign a generation to a future where jobs and opportunity are out of reach, potentially fuelling instability and mass migration with direct consequences for Britain."
The U.N. Security Council scheduled urgent consultations Tuesday on an Iranian ballistic missile test at the request of the United States.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said it wanted the U.N.'s most powerful body to discuss Sunday's launch of a medium-range missile.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said earlier that he did not know the "exact nature" of the test and expected to have more information later.
The media arm of the Shiite rebels, also known as the Houthis, said the vessel was believed to belong to the Saudi Arabian navy.defense official said the missile test ended with a "failed" re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
"I love driving for Uber, but they want to replace me with driverless cars. I don't know what will happen to me and everyone else, but there could be a revolution."
A conversation with my Uber driver last week unearthed a new fear among many that few of the world's business leaders seemed to have grasped the real impact that artificial intelligence (AI) and automation could have on jobs and society.
Uber is just one company that has stated its intention to automate its business. The ride-hailing firm is testing autonomous cars, but chief executive Travis Kalanick said last year in an interview with Business Insider, that it would not wipe out jobs because "you're still going to need a human-driven parallel, or hybrid".
The encounter with my Uber driver cast my mind back to this month, hundreds of miles away in the mountain resort of Davos, where the world's elite gathered for the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting. The so-called "fourth industrial revolution" was again a big topic, but the rhetoric had moved from scary doomsday scenarios from a year earlier, to how AI and automation won't be as bad as previously thought.
In a CNBC panel, major CEOs discussed the topic. Jonas Prising, CEO of Manpower, was upbeat.
"With automation ... Certainly there are going to be jobs that will be displaced, but most jobs will be impacted by technology in terms of specific tasks within the job that will change," Prising told CNBC. He pointed towards a survey of 18,000 employers in 43 different countries across the world conducted by Manpower earlier this month, which found 82 percent of employers expect to maintain or increase staff levels as a result of automation.
Boone County football district roundup for Nov. 4
Only two Boone County high school teams remain after Friday night, which was off its usual schedule because of impending rain in the evening.
Judiciary Committee Democrats Deliver a Stinging Indictment of AG Nominee
The Senate Judiciary Committee has delayed until Wednesday its vote on Sen. Jeff Sessions nomination for attorney general following a four-and-one-half hour meeting today that underscored the partisan disagreement over his fitness to serve.
The Republican majority, which unanimously supports Sessions, has refused pleas for a new round of hearings to examine the nominees role in drafting President Trumps executive order banning refugees from seven countries from traveling to the U.S.; committee Democrats are protesting and it appears most if not all will vote no. The Democrats long recitation of complaints about Sessions thwarted Republican plans to vote today.
While committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-IA, insisted that two days of hearings found Sessions well-qualified, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees ranking Democrat, delivered a lengthy indictment of many disturbing actions and statements throughout his record.
Feinstein recalled that Sessions was the first senator to endorse President Trumps candidacy and called him the fiercest, most dedicated, most loyal promoter of the Trump agenda. She noted that he has been a relentless opponent of civil rights and voting rights and that he was one of just four committee members who in 2015 voted against a sense of the Senate resolution condemning candidate Trumps call for a halt to the admission of Muslim refugees to the U.S.
How can we possibly conclude that this nominee will be independent? Feinstein asked.
Assuming Sessions clears the committee, a floor vote could come within days. The fierce opposition voiced by Feinstein, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy and other Democrats in todays session suggested that Democrats will at least attempt to filibuster the nomination. Common Cause is among a large group of democracy reform, civil rights, voting rights and other groups that have urged senators to defeat the nomination.
The President is set to announce his nominee for the Supreme Court tonight. The field of candidates reportedly has been cut to three federal appeals court judges, William Pryor, Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman. All are staunch conservatives who would be expected to keep Trumps promise to follow the example of the man they would replace, the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
While a fierce fight on the nominee is all but guaranteed, reports today suggest Democrats are not fully committed to a filibuster that could block confirmation. Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-NY, has promised to oppose any Trump nominee outside the mainstream but has been noncommittal on a potential filibuster.
As the Washington Post reported this morning, The advantages of trying a filibuster are clear make Republicans work to find the 60 votes needed to end it, including at least eight Democrats, and as a result, delay or block the nomination. Republicans hold a 52-48 majority.
But there are also downsides. Democrats running for re-election next year in states Trump won in 2016 could face political consequences for their partys attempted obstruction. And if Republicans change the rules and eliminate the filibuster altogether, Democrats would have lost their most powerful weapon in future Supreme Court fights.
The South Dakota Senate is set to vote Wednesday on a bill that would undo a series of ethics reforms approved by voters in November.
Republicans rammed the legislation through the South Dakota House and a Senate committee in less than a week, but a public outcry and national publicity last week persuaded them to put off the final vote until Wednesday.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard has said he will sign the bill. IM22, which it would overturn, is a sweeping overhaul of ethics and campaign finance laws that was backed by nearly 52 percent of South Dakota voters. The initiative created an Ethics Committee to enforce campaign finance and lobbying laws and requires additional campaign finance disclosures and increased reporting; it also lowered limits on contributions to political action committees, political parties, and candidates for statewide, legislative, or county office and imposed limits on contributions from candidate campaign committees, political action committees, and political parties. It created a voluntary, publicly funded campaign finance program for statewide and legislative candidates who agree to limits on their campaign contributions and expenditures.
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One of CCNMs priority bill, SB 97 Public Campaign Financing was not able to be heard in the Senate Rules committee this morning due to time constraints, but it will be back on the agenda for Wednesday morning!
This bill to improve New Mexicos existing system of public campaign financing. New Mexico currently has three systems for public financing of campaigns: the Public Regulation Commission, Court of Appeals and the NM Supreme Court. On June 27, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed the constitutionality of public campaign financing in the Arizona Free Enterprise v. Bennett decision. The ruling, however, struck down one mechanism used in some public financing programs, including New Mexicos Voter Action Act. While the current bill does not address what was struck down as far as matching funds, it does prohibit candidates who run unopposed from receiving more than 10% of the public funding available to them, and also prohibits the use of campaign funds for living expenses or compensation to the candidate or candidates family.
The bill should be heard on Wednesday, February 1, the Senate Rules committee at 8:30 AM. Let your legislators know to support Senator Peter Wirths SB 97!
Other good governance bills that are coming up this week:
Click on the link for any committee and you will find the agenda, committee members, links for bills, analysis of bills and what committees they have been assigned to as well as sponsors and co-sponsors.
Tuesday in House Local Government, Elections, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs
HB 99 16 year olds voting in school elections sponsored by Rep. Javier Martinez
Thursday in House Local Government, Elections, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs
HB 120 Disqualification of Presidential Electors
HB 119 Prohibition Period for Candidate Contributions
Tuesday in House State Government, Indian and Veterans Affairs
HB 121 Web-Based Outlay Publication
And there will be lots more next week, so check back after the weekend for the next Democracy Wire update from the Common Cause New Mexico team!
Follow us on Twitter @commoncausenm & like us on Facebook for mid-day updates and remember to CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS!
Some tech companies are taking a stand against President Donald Trump's immigration ban.
The order, issued on Friday, temporarily bars citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, as well as all refugees from entering the United States.
The Trump administration has said the ban is temporary and has been put in place to protect the country from terrorist attacks.
The executive order, though, has been met with protests around the country and around the world, with religious leaders taking a stand; U.S. State Department officers signing a document saying the move makes the country less safe, and people gathering to protest at major airports where some travelers into the U.S. were being detained.
[ Further reading: Trump immigration ban means a war with tech ]
Some companies in the high-tech community, which hire and work with people from around the world, are taking a stand as well, raising money for organizations fighting the ban, issuing statements against it and vowing to support their employees, no matter where they live.
According to a report from Reuters, software development company GitHub has organized a meeting of tech companies today to discuss supporting a lawsuit challenging the executive order.
GitHub has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Google, which reportedly has been invited to the GitHub meeting, confirmed to Computerworld today that executives there have created a $2 million crisis fund that can be matched with up to $2 million in employee donations.
[ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ]
The money will go to four organizations -- the American Civil Liberties Union, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the International Rescue Committee and The UN Refugee Agency -- which are providing legal assistance and support services for immigrants.
And using the hashtag #GooglersUnite on Twitter, Google employees held a protest rally outside the company campus in Mountain View, Calif. yesterday.
At Facebook, co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post last Friday that he's concerned about the ban.
"We are a nation of immigrants, and we all benefit when the best and brightest from around the world can live, work and contribute here," Zuckerberg wrote, though he added he's glad to hear that Trump said he believes the U.S. should continue to benefit from "people of great talent coming into the country."
Today, a Facebook spokesperson wrote in an email to Computerworld, "We are assessing the impact on our workforce and determining how best to protect our people and their families from any adverse effects."
Intel is looking into ways to protect its employees as well.
"We are providing support to potentially impacted employees, all of whom are in this country lawfully," a spokesperson said today. "As a company co-founded by an immigrant, we continue to support lawful immigration. We will continue to provide any impacted employees with Intel's full support."
The spokesperson declined to clarify what the company's full support might entail.
In a tweet last Friday, IBM noted the importance of balancing the responsible flow of people, ideas, commerce and information with the needs of security.
"As IBMers, we have learned, through era after era, that the path forward -- for innovation, for prosperity and for civil society -- is the path of engagement and openness to the world," the company tweeted.
Microsoft also has made statements opposing the ban.
On Sunday, the company issued a statement saying, "We believe the executive order is misguided and a fundamental step backwards. There are more effective ways to protect public safety without creating so much collateral damage to the country's reputation and values."
Then yesterday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who was born in India, hosted an employee Q&A where he said, "There is no place for bias or bigotry in any society, in any context... It is the enlightened immigration policy of this country that even made it possible for me to come here in the first place, and gave me all this opportunity."
A Microsoft spokesperson said the company will provide legal and other assistance to employees affected by the immigration ban, while advocating about the issue with the Trump administration and Congress.
Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, told employees in a memo on Monday that a handful of their co-workers appear to be directly affected by the president's executive order and executives are working to understand the impact to them, their families and to business travel.
Amazon, which has not yet responded to Computerworld, is reportedly backing a lawsuit filed by Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson against the Trump administration's order. The company also reportedly is working on other legal options.
Dutch security researcher Sijmen Ruwhof has examined the software used at Dutch polling stations to send election results, and now claims the average iPad is more secure than the Dutch voting system.
Hack the vote
Local television station RTL asked the researcher to examine the security of Dutch voting systems after they heard they used weak SHA1 cryptography in certain parts of the system.
Dutch elections have used paper-based voting since 2009, when the government banned electronic voting on security grounds.
However, once the vote is cast, election officials will use electronic systems to send manually counted votes from each district. As the vote is counted data is transferred and shared on USB sticks, with the final tally going to the central Electoral Council in a digital file.
No protection
This means that at multiple points during the result calculation, the data is shared electronically using systems that may not be so secure. The voting software can even be installed on personal devices, Windows XP, and non-current versions of web browsers, the researcher said.
You can take a look at the accumulation of security weaknesses identified by the researcher here.
[ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ]
Anyone with a certain level of IT-security knowledge will tell you that a computer cannot be trusted, Ruwhof explains.
Whatever steps you take to secure a computer, it will always be possible to hack it. And against state-sponsored hackers you have almost zero chance.
"To put it bluntly: you cant protect a computer system against experienced and well-funded state-employed hackers.
Voting systems count
Hes full of harsh criticism for the Dutch voting software.
Just last week Dutch Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Plasterk, ordered an investigation to explore the possibility of its forthcoming March elections being vulnerable to interference. News that the Dutch system is less secure than an iPad will likely fill no one with too much joy.
The Dutch news follows a series of claims that the recent US election may have been hacked by a foreign power.
These claims have been in circulation since late last year. The House and Senate Intelligence Committees are making separate inquiries into the matter though it is likely to be hard to figure out if it happened at all.
The U.S. story
Speaking earlier this month, FBI director James Comey admitted to identifying multiple instances in which Russia is alleged to have hacked voter registration databases and political groups.
Only last week the New York Times claimed two Russian intelligence officers linked to offices alleged to have been involved in these attempts were arrested in Russia for treason. These arrests followed the U.S. investigation.
It has not been said that voting systems themselves have been attacked.
Why it matters
The latest Dutch voting system security news shows how vulnerable electronic systems can be to determined attacks. The security researcher has identified numerous flaws in the Dutch model. These create security problems that really shouldnt exist.
A Wired report in August 2016 made claims that U.S. electronic voting machines were also vulnerable, as they were also not made with security in mind.
People werent thinking about voting system security or all the additional challenges that come with electronic voting systems, the Brennan Centers Lawrence Norden told Wired.
The similarity between both the Dutch and US models use of Windows XP, for example, and that neither system appears to have been designed with security in mind may worry anyone who cares about their voting system.
While there have not been claims these sorts of hacks have taken place, it should concern any citizen if such essential systems are poorly protected, as these reports suggest.
You deserve better than this
It also strongly underscores the big lie at the heart of a laissez faire approach to security.
If you think about it, it remains deeply irresponsible for any vendor of critical equipment to fail to field advanced security in their devices. Yet we know that from the Internet of things devices to smartphones, some vendors appear to see security as an afterthought.
This is inappropriate. In an incredibly connected world, security is becoming critical. Elections, identity, infrastructure and financial stability depend upon them.
In other words, every connecting computing device you use from your mouse to your PC should be at least as secure as an iPad. In my opinion it is shameful that any device or system you use is any less secure than that.
Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join AppleHolic's Kool Aid Corner community and join the conversation as we pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple?
Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter. I'd like it if you chose to follow me there so I can let you know when fresh items are published here first on Computerworld.
Cuba Libre
A new Study Away Teach Away program at Connecticut College explores the intersection between two distinct revolutions.
Students who took part in the fall 2016 Study Away Teach Away to Cuba and Mexico sit on the steps of the Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara, Cuba.
While studying abroad in Cuba, Jennifer Cervantes 17 attended classes at Ciudad Escolar Libertada site in Havana symbolic for both its past and present.
Every morning, we had class in Batistas home in Havana, Cervantes said, referring to the military compound of U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista prior to the Cuban revolution.
For Cervantes, a human development major who wants to pursue a career in education, attending classes at Ciudad Libertad proved to be one of the most impactful experiences in Cuba.
The location of the school was a powerful symbol to one of the infrastructures that the Cuban revolution of 1959 focused onaccess to education for all Cubans and a priority to eradicate illiteracy, she said.
Providing education for all is one of the lesser-known outcomes of the Cuban revolution, and just one of the takeaways for the group of Connecticut College students taking part in the colleges first Cuba/Mexico Study Away Teach Away program over the fall.
Professor of Education Michael James led the 17 students through the first half of the semester in Cuba before traveling to Chiapas, Mexico. The purpose of the ambitious two-country program was to conduct a comparative study of two distinct revolutions in nations whose populace is still living the outcomes.
In Cuba, the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro overthrew Batista and sought to bring stability to a corrupt nation suffering rampant poverty and inequality. One of Castros first moves was to convert Ciudad Libertad into a learning complex.
In ChiapasMexicos southernmost statethe Zapatista uprising of the 1990s sought autonomy and protections for the culture and way of life of indigenous Mexicans.
We chose to study a broadly conceived understanding of revolution from two very different ideological perspectiveshence the semester being split between two countries, James said.
Conns own study abroad program, Study Away Teach Away, was established about 20 years ago. The structure of the program has yielded the freedom to explore new locations each year. The Colleges SATA to Vietnam is the longest-running, at 12 years. Another SATA to Cuba in 2013 and led by James was a one-time exploration.
The timing of the Cuba/Mexico SATA for fall 2016 proved especially relevant. The students were still abroad when long-time ruler Castro died on Nov. 25. The group also visited the island nation at a time when the U.S., under President Barack Obama, sought to thaw diplomatic ties and ease some of the long-standing restrictions on air travel and commerce.
In Cuba, the SATA group lived with host families in Marianao, an Afro-Cuban district within Havana, and studied alongside Cuban university students, fostering friendships along the way.
James and his students spent a week traveling throughout the island with Cuban university students and their professors, seeing for themselves some of the positive economic and cultural transformations of what used to be the poorest areas of pre-revolution Cuba.
Over three days, the group also visited the arts community of Korimakao and worked with dancers, artists, musicians and actors, culminating with a visit to the Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara.
There are no obvious signs that indicate the political formation of the state in Cuba because it is deeply rooted in the ideology and the way people socialize, Cervantes said. There was a strong sense of community that shaped everyones role in society.
Cubas revolution ushered in communism, allowing some gains while stifling others. While the new regime prioritized education and health care as a way to combat poverty, political dissent is disallowed while commerce and personal wealth are strictly regulated. This model proved a stark comparison to living conditions in Chiapas, where the SATA group also lived within the local communities. A city scene in San Cristobal de las Casas, the capital of Chiapas, Mexico. Photo by roamingaroundtheworld.com
The abject poverty of indigenous campesinos in Chiapas has no parallel in Cuba, James said, describing the battle for universal education, health care and opportunity that has continued even after the Zapatista revolution.
But we have experienced firsthand the indigenous emphasis on collectivity over individuality, their reliance on subsistence agriculture instead of capitalist development, and how the Zapatistas exercise an alternative form of what they call good government, which is independent of the Mexican state.
But the impact of the several weeks spent in both Cuba and Mexico has left a lasting impression on Cervantes: a deepened and expanded worldview shared with her classmates.
The experience has taught me to reflect on who I want to be and to understand how my values have shaped my aspirations. If anything, this experience has taught me how much more I want to be a teacher someday.
January 31, 2017
Iain Duncan Smith is a former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, founded the Centre for Social Justice, and is MP for Chingford and Woodford Green.
Today in the House of Commons we see the first step delivering on the historic vote on 23rd June 2016, in which a majority of the British people voted to leave the European Union. This very short Bill four lines long will give the Government the power to trigger Article 50. Doing so will start the clock ticking on a process that will last for up to two years after which the United Kingdom will, after some 40 years, throw off its membership of the EU.
Yet as we come to vote, it is worth reflecting on what this is not about, as much as what it is about. The triggering of Article 50 is not, as some maintain, the detail of the negotiation; it is simply a legal device which both starts the two-year process and enables the EU and the UK to engage in negotiations. In effect it is what is required to start the process of delivering on the British peoples vote to leave. The full detail of how that will be accomplished is yet to follow with the repeal of the 1972 European Communities Act. That process of repeal will cover every dot and comma of our relationship and I am sure will subsume Parliament in vexed debate lasting many months. As if that were not enough, all that debate will then be followed by a vote on the final outcome of the EU/UK negotiations.
For example, I was fascinated to hear so many particularly Scottish Nationalists running around on every news outlet they could find, threatening to swamp this narrow Bill with amendments. Their purpose, as they have so often made clear, is transparently to delay the passage of the Bill. However, I am sure some others sincerely seek to tie the Governments hands by laying amendments, yet many strangely seem to do so on things the Government is already doing. One amendment demands that the Government return to the House regularly to update the Commons, as though such action would somehow be a revelation. In fact, in case they hadnt noticed, David Davis, Boris Johnson and the Prime Minister have been at the despatch box again and again and will continue to be until we finally leave.
Yet, despite all the debates in the last year, for me personally the triggering of Article 50 brings to an end a long chapter which started as I arrived as a new MP in 1992 with the passage of the Maastricht treaty. I recall some 25 years ago how having just arrived in Parliament I and others were faced with a difficult decision as to whether or not to support the passage of that Bill. I chose to oppose it because following the Single European Act I believed it fundamentally changed the nature of our relationship with what had been the EEC and became the EU. The vision of Altiero Spinelli, the chief architect of both ground-breaking treaties, of a Europe in which the nation state was subsumed into a federal union was set in train and would, I believed, in time lead inevitably to the UKs departure.
As I reflect on those Maastricht debates, I am also conscious how the political landscape has turned around in recent months. From Margaret Thatchers demise onwards, for many years the struggle that came to characterise British politics was the Conservative Partys internal war on the European Union. Yet now, as the vote approaches, it is Labour which is in disarray, rent by the Europe issue, with shadow ministers resigning and many Labour MPs set to defy the whip. For my party, the heat seems to be dissipating. Nicky Morgans article on this site yesterday illustrated this when she made it clear that most of those like her, who were very strongly opposed to our departure, will, despite their misgivings, vote to let the Government trigger Article 50.
We are leaving and as we start the official process we should recognise that away from Westminster and some of the heated debates, people are getting on with their lives. In line with that, I have been intrigued by four recent signs that the dire warnings from the campaign have been ignored by the public and now left behind us.
The first is that AstraZeneca has committed to a $500 million headquarters and research centre in Cambridge, while GlaxoSmithKline pledged $360 million to expand manufacturing in Britain in July, just five weeks after the Brexit vote. Novo Nordisk, the worlds top maker of diabetes drugs, is investing 115 million ($145 million) in a new research centre in Britain.
Second, in a British Chambers of Commerce survey of 1,500 business people, nearly a third (31 per cent) said they are looking to export more following the EU referendum, and the majority of respondents (65 per cent) said the EU referendum hasnt changed their strategy for importing.
Third, Barclays chief executive said recently that he believed that after the UK leaves the EU, Europes financial centre will continue to be the city of London, as did the head of Frankfurts financial services.
Fourth and perhaps most surprising is the news that there has been a surge in optimism among young people about jobs. Deloittes quarterly consumer tracker showing confidence among the 18-34 age group rose to its highest level since the advisory firm started its tracker.
There is a long way to go yet and many arguments to be had but perhaps now is a time to reflect that although we cannot see the future we do have how we have reacted to change in the past as our guide. That is why I remain optimistic, for I have always believed that the UK is capable of rising to any challenge thrown at it. As we begin the process of leaving, I believe the people of this great Union will rise to the challenge once again.
James Frayne is Director of communications agency Public First and author of Meet the People, a guide to moving public opinion. The focus of this column is Theresa Mays conservatism for ordinary working people.
Given the appalling place she finds herself in, the Prime Minister has handled the last week extremely well. Theresa May went to Washington with two things in mind above all: firstly, to secure an in-principle agreement for a swift trade deal with the US; secondly, to secure a public commitment from Trump to the future of NATO. She came back with both. May also managed to avoid attacking the President personally at the time of her visit which would have generated news in the US while using the wider Government machine to emphasise policy disagreement to domestic audiences on her return.
Its possible that she seemed a little too personally friendly with Trump (holding hands) but, to be fair, theres a limit to what visiting politicians can demand from the White House in terms of pictures. Its always the Presidents show in his hometown. In any case, May did what she could to make last week about more than Trump: she made a high-profile speech to senior Republicans to show that Conservative links to the Republicans go beyond Trump, and then she stopped off in Turkey to cement relations with one of the most powerful Muslim countries. It was nicely choreographed.
Just because the Prime Minister now finds herself in difficult waters doesnt mean last week was mishandled at all. It simply reflects reality. May and indeed Britain need Trump, but he is an extremely unpredictable President whose policies are perfectly designed to irritate respectable opinion (not just left-wing opinion) across the world. Unlike senior Labour politicians that dont need to think about life in power, the Prime Minister has actually got to make a relationship with him work. Unless were going to lead an aggressive diplomatic campaign against Trump, theres obviously no alternative.
What should she do at this point? Normally my advice to politicians is to get out in front of any developing story to own it on your own terms. With this one, May would be better to see how things play out and respond accordingly. It would be a mistake to ally more closely with Trump not least because it seems likely that his own position in the US will become more precarious as his moral authority, to the extent he has any, continues to slide away. But the importance of the US to Britain immediately, in the past and in the future means it would also be wrong to become some sort of public opponent to Trump. May should continue to make it clear what Britains public policies are on relevant issues and let them speak for themselves.
What about the state visit though? It would be better for everyone including Trump if it didnt happen. It could make an appalling spectacle for all concerned. This is probably a conversation that needs to take place between political staff on either side of the Atlantic people that can talk about the politics of such an event, rather than the diplomacy of it.
CORNWALL, Ontario In reaction to the attack at a mosque in Quebec City by a right-wing extremist that took the lives of six people, Imam Usmaan Alam says that we must learn that an attack on one Canadian is an attack on all and that political disagreements are not worth killing over.
"You always thought this was something that could happen south of the 49 or in the Middle East," said Alam, who was born and raised in the Cornwall area. "You never thought it would happen here."
The Imam said that fear was felt by those at prayers Monday morning.
"People were very fearful and speechless," he said. "Many people in the community have offered condolences however and they have been very kind."
Alam also commented that politics should not be a reason for violence and that violence should not be allowed do divide our community.
"Politics is no reason to harm someone else," he said. "Those six people, we pray for their families. When he shot those bullets they had far reaching consequences and challenged our unity as a community. We have to accept that this is an attack on all Canadians. Parents are going to have to tell their children that a brown kid is just as Canadian as a white one."
The attack occurred around 7:30 p.m on Sunday, Jan. 29 in Quebec City at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec.
The CBC has reported that the shooter is a 27-year-old Laval University student who was known in the university community as a supporter of Far Right French politician Marie Le Pen and for his anti-feminist views. The shooter is currently in police custody awaiting a court appearance.
In a show of support and protection for Cornwalls Jami Masjid Zakariya Islamic centre, the Cornwall Community Police Service had stationed a marked police vehicle outside the centre late Monday afternoon.
CORNWALL, Ontario On Jan. 27, 2017 members of the Cornwall Street Crime Unit executed a drug warrant at a Carleton Street address and located a quantity of oxycodone, marijuana, Nabilone pills, hashish and Canadian currency. Russell Colborne, 60, of Cornwall was taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on Feb. 28, 2017.
Colborne was arrested on January 27th, 2017 and charged with the following:
Historic Travelers of the Post-Classical World
Pausanias (110-180)
Faxian (337-442)
Historic Travelers of the Middle Ages
Ramon Llull (1232?-1316)
Petrarch (1304-1374)
{via} What he's known for: Besides founding humanism, being a poet laureate, and working to save ancient Latin manuscripts, Italian scholar Petrarch is also known for being the "first tourist," thanks to his love of traveling exclusively for his own pleasure. Unlike earlier travelers, who often traveled for religious pilgrimages, educational pursuits, or empire building, Petrarch wandered to and fro just for the heck of it.
Travel in his footsteps: Hike Mont Ventoux, a pinnacle in southern France that Petrarch climbed. He claimed he was the first to do so, and there's no evidence that he wasn't, so he wins the title.
Read on: Petrarch's Guide to the Holy Land (It should be noted that Petrarch never actually made it to the Holy Land as his seasickness prevented such a trip, but he still compiled a plethora of information for travelers undertaking this journey.)
Ibn Batutta (1304-1368 or 1369)
{via} What he's known for: Originally from Tangiers, Ibn Batutta was quite the traveler. His first trip was to Mecca for a religious pilgrimage; this experience led the the 20 year old to seek experiences elsewhere in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Ultimately, he traveled for 35 years, a lifelong journey that took him through 44 modern day countries and allowed him to log 75,000 miles. That's quite a feat when you consider that his means of transportation were essentially his own feet, a horse or camel (perhaps with a buggy if he was really lucky), or a non-motorized boat. Before his death, Batutta returned to Morocco and related his journeys to the Sultan's secretary, who compiled the stories in a book (see below). Travel in his footsteps: Batutta was particularly drawn to religious sites, so visit three of the places that impressed him the most: Jersusalem's Dome of the Rock, and the mosques in Aleppo and Damascus. Read on: The Travels of Ibn Batutta: in the Near East, Asia, and Africa, 1325-1354
Fan Chengda (1126-1193)
What he's known for: In a rags-to-riches kind of story, Fan Chengda rose from humble beginnings to become one of China's most well-known poets and writers in the Song Dynasty. Although he's equally famous for a series of poems he wrote later in life, we're more interested in his travel writing. Following in a long tradition of travel literature in Chinese history, Fan journeyed through the southern provinces of his country, taking meticulous notes on the geography, topography, and agriculture of each. Travel in his footsteps: Strap on your backpack and head to Shaoxing, Guangzhou, and Ji'an. Read on: Treatises of the Supervisor and Guardian of the Cinnamon Sea: The Natural World and Material Culture of Twelfth-Century China
Antoine de la Sale (1385?-1460?)
What he's known for: Clearly, people in the past managed to cram more into their lives than 10 modern people combined. The French writer Antoine de la Sale was no exception. The result of a liason between a local peasant and a wealthy mercenary, de la Sale served several French dukes and capped his career as governor to the sons of Louis of Luxembourg, Count of St. Pol. During his military career, he traveled to Italy multiple times; don't think his time there was all business, though. He is said to have climbed into the crater of a volcano while visiting the Lipari Islands just because he wanted to. Travel in his footsteps: Head to the Sibillini Mountains in Italy, where de la Sale and Louis III of Anjou ventured during Louis III's campaign to become King of Naples. Read on: Jean de Saintre: A Late Medieval Education in Love and Chivalry
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Do you think you would've been brave enough to travel during these times? Which historic traveler's adventures is most inspiring to you?
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item through the links above, I will receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you.
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I'm about to tell you something that will rock your world, so get ready:Travel existed before 1981.::Gasp::I know. It's hard to believe that people would be interested in leaving their hometowns prior to Instagram, Facebook, and Polaroid cameras, but it happened. And, given that travel blogs, Lonely Planet, the Travel Channel, and Rick Steves didn't exist a few decades ago, it's a wonder that people found themselves anywhere.But these historic travelers did go out into the world despite the lack of infrastructure and amenities to which modern day travelers now have access. In many cases, travelers back in the day just packed their suitcases and sailed off into the horizon, hopefully to be seen again. They didn't have hotel reservations (or even a bed in many cases), a guided tour, or guaranteed meals. They either had to be very, very brave or ridiculously stupid (or maybe a little of both.)Even today, traveling across the world is seen as this extraordinary thing: imagine what it would've been like if your only means of communication was a letter that might takes weeks or months to get home. It makes our travels now look practically worry-free.If you, like me, find historic travelers fascinating, you'll love my new series that checks out these guys and gals who saw the world on their own terms. For the first part of this series, I've avoided the obvious ones such as Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo and delved into the less well-known, but still inspiring catalog of travelers who've come (way) before us.Other than (probably) fictional characters like Odysseus, we don't know much about travelers during the ancient Greek and Roman times. Yet, people were moving about quite frequently, since the Roman Empire stretched all the way to modern day England at its peak, and religious tourism to oracles and temples was quite popular.As the ancient world gave way to the post-classical world (an era that lasted from roughly the 1st century AD to 500 AD), traveling became slightly more common for the non-demi-god set. Not only was there an interest among some groups in setting out for far shores for something other than war or religious causes, there was also an increase in people writing about their experiences.: A 2nd century Greek geographer, Pausanias is one of the world's first recorded historic travelers. He traveled across Greece in order to learn more about the architecture, natural beauty, and social customs in various places throughout the country. He compiled his thoughts in a 10-volume set of travel books, each of which is focused on a different area.: Visit key religious sites from ancient Greece, such as Delphi, to soak in the mythology and culture.by PausaniasA Buddhist monk from China, Faxian (sometimes spelled Fa-Hein) set out for India at the age of 65. Young at heart and spry of foot, Faxian walked to India on his quest to find Buddhist manuscripts. His slow travels took him through modern day Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal.: Put Lumbini, Nepal, in your GPS and start walking. Faxian traveled here as part of a pilgrimage since it was the birth place of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama.Read on:There weren't too many people setting out for foreign lands in the Middle Ages (a time period that roughly spans 500-1500 AD), but there were enough to inspire Geoffrey Chaucer to writeModeled after, Chaucer's work is an unfinished series of tales that follows a group of pilgrims journeying from London to Canterbury Cathedral. This was a popular route for the English devout who were unable or unwilling to travel to the Holy Land, and is quite indicative of who was traveling at that time and why.Although pilgrimages, missionary work, and other religious travel were the most popular reasons for optional travel, there were plenty of adventurers during this 1,000 year span who broke the mold and went off to see the world on their own rules.: There wasn't much that Ramon Llull (sometimes spelled "Lull"), a wealthy man from Majorca (then a kingdom unto itself),do during his lifetime. He served as a tutor to the king, learned Arabic, traveled to the Middle East in an attempt to convert Muslims to Christianity (which caused him to be stoned in Bougie when he was 82), taught in France, wrote extensively on Christianity in multiple languages, and wrote what is considered the first novel in European literature. He's also considered a Christian mystic, philosopher, and mathematician. The only thing the guy wasn't good at was hanging out with his family: he married and had 2 kids, but left them back in Majorca to pursue his own interests.There aren't many major cities in modern day France, Spain, and Italy that Llull didn't make it to (check out this map for specifics). You can also visit Algeria, though hopefully, you'll be received better than he was by the locals (that's where he was stoned nearly to death)
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Fast food chain McDonald's received backlash from food allergy groups in Canada after announcing that they would no longer individually pack some of the food with nuts on their menu. Their decision sparked outrage among concerned citizens who have certain allergies that can negatively impact their health.
CBC released a report where it was mentioned that McDonald's will no longer pack some food items with peanuts separately starting Jan. 17. One of the food items on the list is the Skor McFlurry, which is one of Canada's favorite food menus. McDonald's released an official announcement where the company warned their consumers of the possible nut residue as their dishes would possibly cross-contact without the individual packaging.
Food Allergy Canada broke their silence as they expressed their dismay over the McDonald's decision. The group mentioned that they are keeping their hopes up that the food industry would continue to provide the interest of the general public. They also mentioned that are more than 2 million people with food allergies, thus McDonald's latest announcement would negatively impact their fast food chain's business.
"We're hoping that the other food service operators will see the opportunity of continuing to provide what the general population wants," Laurie Harada, the executive director of Food Allergy Canada stated during an interview. "Keep in mind, there's 2.5 million-plus with food allergies. I would be gleeful if I was A&W and Wendy's because they've just handed you an opportunity. You've sent that many people somewhere else."
This isn't the first time that McDonald's received backlash from their consumers. In 2016, The Guardian released a report where it was mentioned that the McDonald's fitness tracker lead to rashes which were eventually removed from their branches. The fast food company initially started the initiative to fight against obesity but turned out to yield somewhat negative results.
See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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Last year, a pregnant drug addict made headlines after she admitted to a daily heroin habit. She was jailed during the duration of her pregnancy to protect her unborn baby. Now she is back in the news.
21-year-old Alexandra Nicole Laird from Alabama gave birth in March last year to a daughter whowas found to be addicted to opiates. Laird admitted she used heroin throughout her pregnancy.For one month the newborn baby stayed in the ICU for withdrawal treatments.
After failing to appear to court for a hearing on her child endangerment charges, she was arrested again in August 2016. In September she told the authorities she was pregnant again with her second baby according to WPXI News.
Pleasant Grove Police Lt. Danny Reid said "I'm doing my damndest to try to prevent any further damage to this child, since it's obvious the mother doesn't seem to care.''
According to Newser.com, she was again ordered to jail for the entire duration of the second pregnancy to save the second unborn baby. It was no surprise, she again admitted to continued heroin use.
Doctors were able to confine her in the UAB hospital until she gave birth on Tuesday. Lawyers then filed her release on bond issuing her to remain in the hospital's detox program in the efforts to prevent another third repeat of the incident. The judge has not ruled the motion yet.
The police were okay with her release after she gave birth, they did not disclose any information about the baby due to privacy laws. Laird does not have custody of her first born and still faces child endangerment charges.
Palm Beach County has been facing heroin addiction problems for the past year. Two hundred sixteen people were reported to have died of heroin-related overdoses. Laird's case is just one of the very few heroin addiction problems of the country.
A drug-addicted baby is born in the US every 19 minutes.
See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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Former US President George H.W. Bush has been released from the Houston Methodist Hospital, Monday, after being treated for pneumonia. He was admitted last Jan. 14. He is the oldest living former president of the United States of America and the only former president who missed attending the inauguration of President Donald Trump last Jan.20.
CBS News reports that the 92-year-old former president was hospitalized, he already expressed that his current health condition is already preventing him from attending President Donald Trump's inauguration. He even confirmed that his health was so bad, his doctor advised him that it would be life-threatening for him to even sit outside with his condition. His wife, Barbara Bush was also recently hospitalized and is not in good shape to leave Texas.
During his treatment, he had to stay in intensive care and several breathing tubes were also inserted into him to connect him to a ventilator to help him breathe, Chicago Tribune reports. His spokesman, Jim McGrath revealed that the former president is very thankful for the prayers and kind messages that he received during his hospitalization.
Wife Barbara Bush, 91, also had to stay at the hospital for five days to get treatments for her bronchitis and was released a week prior to the former president's release. Dr. Clint Doerr, one of the physicians who took care of Bush revealed that the couple was "essentially therapy for each other."
Bush served as the president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 and has developed a form of Parkinson's disease resorting him to use a motorized scooter or a wheelchair to keep him mobile. He has been married to Barbara Bush for 72 years.
Earlier in 2015, he was hospitalized in Maine after falling and breaking a bone on his neck. He even spent Christmas of 2012 in intensive care to a bronchitis-related cough and other medical issues.
See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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Nassau Police have issued a warning about bad batch of heroin found in Atlantic City, NJ over the past week. It was suspected to have caused the 10 overdoses, where six were fatal. They continue to monitor the drug outbreak.
Six overdose cases were reported on Wedensday between 4 to 10 p.m. Four of the overdosed addicts were revived with Narcan. Unfortunately, two were not able to make it.
According to Long Island News 12, Deputy Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the heroin was most likely cut with fentanyl or another additive. "It's not cut correctly, it's obviously killing people," he said as the bad batch caused the fatal overdoses.
Bags of heroin that were stamped as the "King of Death" were suspected to be responsible for the deaths. The bad batch of heroin was found at two of the scenes on Wednesday within Atlantic City. So far, the "King of Death" has not made its way to Long Island yet but authorities fear it won't be long before they do.
Steve Chassman, executive director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence said "This is an epidemic. The derivatives of fentanyl is making heroin all the more lethal."
Levittown Patch reported that Nassau Police have issued a statement asking local residents to be aware of the situation and immediately call 911 if a friend or neighbor is suspected of heroin use and experiencing an overdose. The Nassau County Heroin Prevention Task Force offers services for families who want to know more information about how they can help heroin addicts that they know. They can be reached online through their website www.heroinprevention.com.
The New York State Office of Alcohol & Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) hotlines are available for inquiries and services as well. You may call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY (1-877-846-7369) or visit their website www.oasas.ny.gov. Or you may call the Nassau Alliance For Addiction Services (NAFAS) at 516-481-4000.
See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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A research team from the UK came up with a breathing test that is boasts 85 percent accuracy in identifying stomach and esophageal cancer. Scientists aim to help doctors avoid unpleasant medical procedures.
Stomach and oesophageal cancer are deadly illnesses that affects approximately 20,000 people every year. It is usually diagnosed too late, lowering the chance of survival of diagnosed patients. But scientists hope the device can help spot symptoms early on and result in more effective treatment to save lives.
The new breathing test developed by scientists is expected to help doctors avoid endoscopy examinations that sometimes can be unnecessary for patients. The unpleasant and lengthy medical procedure requires a flexible endoscope that is inserted down the throat and into the stomach.
"At present the only way to diagnose oesophageal cancer or stomach cancer is with endoscopy. This method is expensive, invasive and has some risk of complications," said Dr Sheraz Markar, researcher from Imperial College London.
The breathing test on the other hand is fast and safe. It does not pose any risk or harm during testing. It can help early diagnosis and treatment to increase chances of survival. This new testing method can measure parameter of several substances that are produced during breathing.
Express reported 6,682 people in the UK are diagnosed each year with stomach cancer, where 4,576 die from the disease. Oesophageal cancer showed 8,919 new cases per year and 7,790 deaths.
According to Stock News USA, the researchers collected breathing data from 335 patients from three British hospitals. There were 163 who were previously diagnosed with stomach or throat cancer and 172 did not show any symptoms or illnesses.
Five substances, Butyric, Hexane, petaloid acids, decanol and butanol were measured. The positive results were presented during the European Cancer Congress meeting in Amsterdam. It correctly identified patients suffering from cancer with no false diagnosis.
The researchers plan to proceed with several tests in the next three years including patients that are not yet diagnosed with cancer. The team is working on other breathing tests to help reveal other types of cancer affecting the bowel and pancreas.
See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
It turns out, a reporter at The Investigative Fund discovered that the "civics" materials Menards encouraged employees to peruse for implicit promotions actually had a lot in common with literature from a for-profit, ultra-Republican company called Prosperity 101. These geniuses actually get companies to pay them to indoctrinate employees with material that is aligned with 2009-era Tea Party rhetoric. We aren't using the word "genius" as a joke -- if you can get people to pay you to teach Herman Cain's version of economics, bully for you.
Here's how the Menards civics course worked: If you were a run-of-the-mill employee, you were encouraged to take a no-big-deal civics class for your own edification on your own time. The course itself concluded with an online pass-or-fail,multiple-choice test, which you'd want to take if you wanted to advance within this company who paid good money to offer these educational programs to their working-class employees. The only problem was that the materials included scientific pie charts explaining how the government was the worst and Obama hated America:
The Investigative Fund
Most of that stamp money probably went to the fat Elvis.
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For anyone who doesn't have three seconds to read the graphic, the pie chart says that under President Obama's administration, your tax dollars are given to "supporters" and postage stamps, ha ha. Also included in the graphic are separate categories for corruption, sleaze, and two different plumbing metaphors -- "tossed down the drain" and "flushed down a toilet." It should be noted that in addition to sending your federal taxes into a drain or toilet, you can also "piss them away," on the ground, we guess? If you aren't peeing in a toilet or a drain, you're living in a country without plumbing, so peeing away your taxes into a separate container feels like a weird metaphor but whatever -- they're making jokes.
Channel programs News
Ex-Microsoft COO Kevin Turner Leaves Citadel Securities After 7 Months As CEO
Lindsey O'Donnell
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Only seven months after starting his job as CEO at Citadel Securities, former Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner has already left, according to the company.
Turner, who headed Microsoft's partner channel and worldwide sales, is being replaced by longtime Citadel executive Peng Zhao, who was previously the global head of market making for the company. Citadel Securities, a division of Citadel LLC, did not immediately respond to a request by CRN for comment.
I want to thank Kevin Turner for his leadership and the lasting impact he made on our firm, billionaire Kenneth Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel, said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.
[Related: Microsoft Partner Channel Head Kevin Turner Leaving To Join Citadel Securities]
"I want to thank [Citadel CEO] Ken Griffin for his friendship and support, and for the opportunity to be a part of one of the most respected financial services companies in the world. I wish him and the entire team continued success," said Turner in a statement.
Turner had been COO of Microsoft from 2005 to 2016 and was once considered a candidate to replace former CEO Steve Ballmer.
Ballmer was succeeded by current Microsoft CEO Nadella in 2014. Despite being passed up for the head position, Turner was the companys highest-paid executive for several years, making just over $12.6 million during the companys 2014 fiscal year.
When Turner left Microsoft in 2016, Satya Nadella, in an email to employees, praised Turner for "[building] the sales force into the strategic asset it is today with incredible talent." Many partners told CRN they feel Turners cost-cutting ways have made it difficult to work with the vendor.
Since his departure, Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft dispersed Turner's channel responsibilities among several managers, leading to a reorganization that put North America President Judson Althoff into a new role overseeing the worldwide commercial business.
Cloud News
Former Xerox CTO Hired To Lead Operations At IBM's Research Division
Joseph Tsidulko
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Sophie Vandebroek, who recently stepped down as chief technology officer at Xerox, has taken charge of day-to-day operations at IBM's vast network of global research facilities.
Vandebroek, a highly accomplished engineer, widely recognized for driving innovation at Xerox during her 10-year tenure as the company's technological leader, assumed the COO position at IBM Research earlier this month, according to her LinkedIn page.
The hire, first reported Monday by business news site Xconomy, returns Vandebroek to Big Blue some 25 years after she left the company for Xerox.
[Related: IBM CFO Tells Investors Goals Of Cognitive Transformation Are In Sight]
Vandebroek developed semiconductor technologies at IBM for several years in the late 1980s after moving from Belgium to the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. from Cornell University. More recently, since 2008 she served as chairman of the board for Xerox' famed PARC (Palo Alto Research Center).
Xerox partners credited Vandebroek for maintaining an aggressive pace of patent filings.
IBM Research, headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., is the world's largest industrial research operation, with 3,000 scientists employed at 12 labs spread across several countries.
Researchers at those facilities are working to develop next-gen technologies like quantum computing and were responsible for creating the foundations of the artificial intelligence and blockchain platforms IBM is now making a big push to bring to market.
Last September, Vandebroek announced on her LinkedIn page that she planned to retire from Xerox at the end of 2016 after the company split into two under pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn.
The Xerox name was retained for the entity selling printing and document management products, with a publicly-traded company called Conduent created to focus on business process outsourcing services.
Components & Peripherals News
Intel CEO: Trump's Immigration Order 'Not A Policy We Can Support'
Lindsey O'Donnell
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Intel CEO Brian Krzanich joined a number of technology executives who have denounced the Trump administration's immigration order banning travel from seven majority Muslim countries.
"I have heard from many of you, and share your concern over the recent executive order and want you to know this is not a policy we can support," Krzanich told employees Sunday in a memo obtained by The Oregonian.
"At Intel we believe that immigration is an important part of our diversity and inclusion efforts," Krzanich said in the memo. "Inclusion is about making everyone feel welcome and part of our community."
[Related: 5 Tech CEOs Slamming Trump's Immigration Ban]
CEOs including Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Apple's Tim Cook and Google's Sundar Pichai have denounced President Trump's immigration orders, announced Friday.
Intel in a statement said that "we are providing support to potentially impacted employees, all of whom are in this country lawfully."
Krzanich also took to Twitter to tell his followers that "as a company co-founded by an immigrant, we support lawful immigration. We will provide impacted employees with Intel's full support."
as a company co-founded by an immigrant, we support lawful immigration. We will provide impacted employees with Intel's full support
/**/ /**/
In June, Krzanich had planned to host a fundraiser for the then-presumptive Republican presidential nominee, according to The New York Times. The event was later canceled, according to Intel.
Krzanich has also talked several times over the past year about Intel's emphasis on U.S.-made products, coupled with its strong exporting efforts, in relation to Trump's strong push around U.S. manufacturing.
During the company's fourth-quarter earnings call last week, when asked about how Intel is reacting to the new U.S. administration's focus on U.S.-made products, Krzanich said that more than half to two-thirds of Intel's capacity has always been based in the U.S.
"We're the second largest exporter in the U.S. and we're proud of that position. But other than that, there's no real shift in our strategy right now," he said.
Security News
Exabeam Launches New Security Intelligence Platform To Challenge Legacy SIEM Vendors
Sarah Kuranda
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Exabeam announced on Tuesday the launch of its new Security Intelligence Platform, a solution it said will extend its user behavior analytics (UBA) offering to disrupt the legacy SIEM market.
The Exabeam Security Intelligence Platform includes five products: Exabeam Log Manager, Exabeam Advanced Analytics, Exabeam Incident Responder, Exabeam Threat Hunter and Exabeam Cloud Connectors. Combined, CEO Nir Polak said the products move Exabeam beyond what he called a "SIEM helper" to be a SIEM (security information and event management) replacement.
David Hark, president and CFO of AccessIT, a King of Prussia, Pa.-based Exabeam partner, said the new Security Intelligence platform gives his company new ways to address customer security challenges, particularly around data, intelligence and expertise.
[Related: Exabeam Lands $25M In Series B Funding, Looks To Go Global With Products And Partners]
"UBA is primarily about detection, so the Exabeam value proposition was focused there. With the new platform, we can offer customers better alternatives for data collection and management, for intelligence through analytics, and for addressing security hiring pressures through automated incident response. It addresses many of the top pains for customers today," Hark said in an email to CRN. Exabeam sells 100 percent through the channel, Polak said.
While the market for SIEM solutions is growing anticipated to hit $3 billion by 2020 CMO Rick Caccia said it is also a market ripe for disruption.
"We think this is going to help reinvigorate a market that is a multi-billion-dollar market, but one that has gotten stale. That's what Palo Alto Networks did with the next-generation firewall We will see the same thing happen with SIEM and we think we will light that on fire," Caccia said.
He said legacy SIEM vendors already see significant market changes, with ArcSight being sold to Micro Focus as part of a spin-out of some HPE software assets, McAfee being spun back out of Intel, and RSA joining Dell as part of Dell's blockbuster acquisition of EMC.
"You have a large portion of the market that's up for grabs. The customers don't think they can get supported. We think the time to move from the SIEM helper to the SIEM is about perfect," Caccia said.
Caccia said Exabeam would distinguish itself from traditional SIEM players by allowing for unlimited security data collection and also supplementing log collection with analytics and incident response capabilities. While some other vendors have moved to also offer these capabilities, most notably IBM with its Watson technology and recent Resilient Systems acquisition, Caccia said the underlying technology is still older. He said Exabeam also has the potential to reach the midmarket with its solution, while most legacy SIEM vendors focus on the enterprise.
AccessIT's Hark said his clients are challenged by the amount of data generated by SIEMs, which he said is difficult to manage and analyze. On top of that, he said many companies face a shortage of security talent to handle incoming SIEM alerts. He said he expects customers to evaluate a vendor change if they can lower their total cost of ownership and see increased effectiveness.
"An overall trend in the market is a set of new vendors coming up to offer solutions that the legacy security vendors cant offer We think this is one of those solutions, and customers will evaluate the benefits of adopting Exabeam against any effort to migrate," Hark said.
The announcement also comes at an inflection point for the UBA market, as the initial hype around the market starts to fade and integrated analytics becomes table stakes in many security technology categories. Caccia said he expects other UBA players will either make the shift to tackle the SIEM market as Exabeam has, or will fall by the wayside in the next year or two.
"We think the weak players are getting shaken out," Caccia said. "UBA will be focused on a couple of players. UBA isn't going to be a standalone market. It's a function in a broader play. You will see a lot of the UBA market make the shift to the broader SIEM market."
On January 13th, Compassion International told the sponsors of 130,000 Indian children that, barring an unlikely turn of events, it would cease operations in India in mid-March.
The announcement came a year after the Indian government told the organization that it could no longer receive funding from outside the subcontinent.
While the news dismayed Compassions donors, it shouldnt have come as a surprise to those familiar with the deteriorating state of religious freedom in India.
Compassions announcement comes shortly after Open Doors International released its World Watchlist, which ranked the worst countries in which to be a Christian.
North Korea, of course, ranked first again. The next twelve countries are either overwhelmingly Muslim or, like Nigeria, are suffering from an Islamist insurgencyin this case, Boko Haramthat targets Christians.
Then at #15, just behind Saudi Arabia, is India. Why? India is neither Islamic nor a repressive dictatorship like North Korea or China.
David Curry, the CEO of Open Doors, told Morgan Lee and Mark Galli of Christianity Today that the situation in India reflects the rise of what he calls ethnic nationalism, in which what it means to be an Indian is defined in religiousin this case, Hinduterms. An Indian who is a Christian or, for that matter, a Muslim, is regarded as less than truly Indian, because Hinduism is at the heart of what it means to be an Indian.
This ideology goes by the name Hindutva, which literally means Hinduness. Its an ideology that belies the western image of India as a land of Gandhi, gurus, and nonviolence. Theres nothing peaceful or tolerant about Hindutva. On the contrary, the man who assassinated Gandhi was an adherent of Hindutva and felt that Gandhi had betrayed the Hindu community.
The current ruling party in India, the BJP, is ideologically committed to the idea of Hindutva. As Vice News put it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in addition to being implicated in the 2002 massacre of 2,000 Muslims while governor of Gujarat, has also been accused of promoting India's majority religion of Hinduism to the detriment of Christianity, Islam, and other faiths.
The ruling partys commitment to Hindu supremacy is perhaps best reflected in the various laws prohibiting religion conversion that I told you about on BreakPoint a year ago. Six Indian states have enacted laws in the past several years that effectively ban conversions from Hinduism to Christianity or to Islam.
This is the political and cultural context in which Compassions decision must be seen. The Indian government knows that the money coming from outside of India is highly unlikely to be replaced by donations from within India.
It also knows that it can use all the help it can get: 44% of Indian children under five are underweight and 72% of its infants suffer from anemia.
So why block Compassion International? Because nationalism in the form of Hindutva trumps helping malnourished children.
What can we do about it? The good news is that, unlike North Korea or Somalia, we do have some political leverage. India wants to increase its annual trade with the USA five-fold over the near term. Christians should let the Trump administration know that such increases must be accompanied by a greater respect for religious freedom on the subcontinent.
And of course we should pray. Curry told Christianity Today that he would feel much better if he felt that the American church was at least praying for persecuted believers.
At least, indeed.
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.
Eric Metaxas is a co-host of BreakPoint Radio and a best-selling author whose biographies, children's books, and popular apologetics have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Publication date: January 30, 2017
Senior security industry professionals weighed in about the travel ban imposed this weekend by President Trump, and worried that the repercussions could go far beyond the handful of countries singled out so far.
The nation's cybersecurity posture would be hurt in numerous ways, they said, citing increased anti-American sentiment spurring more hacking attacks, hurting international cyber enforcement cooperation efforts, discouraging foreign students from coming here to study, hurting recruitment efforts, and influencing organizers of international cybersecurity conferences to look at other countries for meeting locations.
And while most of these effects will take time to be realized, some companies have already felt the impact of the ban.
San Jose-based cloud security company Zscaler, Inc. will be holding a sales event next month, and an employee who originally came from Iran might not be able to make the event, said company CEO Jay Chaudhry.
Chaudhry flew from Amsterdam to London on Monday for business meetings, and was shocked at how much Trump's travel ban dominated every conversation.
"Generally, when you go to business meetings, it's not for political talk," he said.
"But I had a few business meetings today and every meeting would start with, 'So, America, you're closing down? You're going to build a wall around yourself?' I'm not sure we're gaining much from this. But we have a lot to lose."
The U.S. is a country of immigrants, he added.
"Every country out there used to look at America as a role model," he said. "This goes against our fundamental values. Reagan went to Berlin and said, 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!' Now we've come full circle."
ValiMail, a San Francisco-based email security vendor, was in the process of transferring an employee who had an H1-B visa and was in the process of applying for a green card.
"She -- and we -- had to immediately start making calls to make sure the process and application are in no way impacted," said company CEO Alexander Garcia-Tobar. "To date, we are still in limbo. Nobody seems to know the exact extent of the order as it is worded in overly broad terms."
And those seven countries could be just the start, said Morey Haber, VP of technology at Phoenix-based BeyondTrust, inc.
"The president did indicate that others will be added as needed," he said. "Any company or project that works in the Middle East should take note."
In addition, groups of American employees participating in international events may also become more attractive targets for terrorists, he said.
The listed countries could retaliate against the U.S. with travel bans of their own, he added.
Several security experts also pointed out that the annual RSA Conference is coming up in two weeks. Attendees from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen will have to rethink their plans.
Even employees who are already in the United States will be affected, since they won't be able to leave the country on work-related assignments -- or for any other reason -- until the situation is resolved, and neither will their family members.
"I hope that this immigration ban is only temporary and most of the companies impacted can work through and around this," said James Carder, CISO at Boulder, Colo.-based cybersecurity firm LogRhythm, Inc. and VP of LogRhythm Labs.
"However, I dont know whats next and if there is a short-term end in sight. Will it just be 90 days or will it be much longer?"
The travel ban may may also have a more insidious long-term effect on recruiting. The cybersecurity industry already has a massive talent shortage, Carder said.
"Would you want to go work for a company, based in the U.S., that sees you as a threat, an enemy, or a terrorist?" he asked. "I would likely take my advanced degree and training to Canada, or somewhere else, where Im viewed for my skills and not by where Im from nor my religion."
Cybersecurity is a global community, said Jeff Williams, CTO at Palo Alto, Calif.-based Contrast Security. "Most of the bug bounty security researchers are from foreign countries," he said.
"Many cyber companies are started by foreign nationals. And most security teams at major companies are staffed with people from all over the world. And the cybersecurity programs in our colleges and universities are flooded with immigrants. Basically, until now, the US has been the beneficiary of the global cybersecurity brain drain."
If the U.S. shuts its doors, all that will change, he said.
"Its the height of irony that we are closing off the human resource supply chain in an effort to secure our borders," he said.
Hurt global cooperation
One common tactic used to catch international criminals is to lure to them to the United States, said LogRhythm's Carder.
"If you are a cybercriminal and your country is listed as one of the seven countries banned, you will not be lured over to the U.S. any time soon," he said.
Plus, the international nature of cybercrime also requires a great deal of cooperation between nations.
The relationship with the seven banned countries will obviously be damaged first.
"If those countries were willing to work with the U.S. government before in prosecuting international cyber criminals, they may not do so now that weve cast them as enemies," he said. "I also wouldnt be surprised if their governing of what constitutes cybercrime against the U.S. loosens up after this."
But relationships with other countries may sour as well -- not only in other Muslim countries, but also those in Asia and Europe.
"The more we constrict and insulate ourselves from the world, the less likely our allies are going to cooperate with us, including on things like law enforcement actions," said Anup Ghosh, founder and CEO at Fairvax, Vir.-based Invincea, Inc.
Spur more cyber attacks
The ban, instead of reducing risk, may actually provide more motivation for attacks -- including for cyber attacks.
"We've already seen attacks by Iran on banks," said Ghosh. "So I don't think it will be shocking if we see more attacks coming from Iran."
And it's not just that country, he added.
"If we're signaling to the rest of the world that we're unwilling to help with the refugee crisis and we're going to wage a war against religion, then we can expect more attacks against our critical infrastructure," he said.
On a positive note, the seven countries targeted by the ban are not particularly known for their technology infrastructure, said Dave Dufour, senior director of engineering at Broomfield, Colo.-based Webroot Inc.
The likelihood of a criminal moving to one of these locations to avoid capture is minimal, he said. "Frankly, there are much better choices in terms of countries without extradition to the U.S. to set up shop."
There are also other factors that will limit the potential impact of the ban, he added.
"The talent pool for cyber-savvy technical folks wont shrink extensively based on the seven countries in the ban," he said. "There is still a significant pool available from the remaining 188 countries in the world. There is a more human aspect to consider in that potentially qualified individuals wont have access to jobs or training available in the U.S., but they could look to Eastern and Western Europe or Asia for those opportunities."
And most technology organizations aren't planning to host conferences in those countries, he added. "So that isn't a huge issue."
Business operations in those countries were already being restricted, even before the ban, said Philip Lieberman, president at Los Angeles-based Lieberman Software Corp.
"The countries on the travel ban list have been on the long term prohibited list, for decades," he said. "The venomous relations between the US and these countries goes back a very long time and both sides of the table have substantial issues with each other."
Update:
A spokeswoman for the RSA Conference has confirmed that the organization has seen no impact on registration as a result of the recent travel ban.
The total number of cybersecurity attacks fell by 35 percent in the last quarter of 2016, according to a new report, but the attacks became more targeted and sophisticated.
"We were kind of surprised," said Jon Heimerl, manager of the threat intelligence communications team at NTT Security, which produced the report.
Instead of general-purpose exploit kits and broad scanning, the attackers are zeroing in on specific targets, he said.
"If I can get access to your systems and start doing things that appear authorized, it's not going to trigger alerts and I can get more information," he said. That requires a more sophisticated approach, and has a higher potential payoff.
"If I'm in your network for half a year, I'm going to do a lot more damage to your environment, than a quick $20,000 ransomware hit," he said. "But I still want that $20,000 hit."
The criminals are doubling down on strategies that work, he said, and easing back on the more scatter-shot, lower-return efforts.
"Ransomware is free cash, an immediate return on investment," he said. "They're not getting passwords or data that they have to go out and sell."
However, one major player actually switched away from ransomware half-way through 2016 and began focusing on the RIG exploit kit, a banking Trojan.
Another significant change was that Russia moved from 10th to third place as the source of attacks.
"But ransomware is still the bigger target because of the immediate payout," he added.
However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the attacks were initiated by Russian criminals.
Criminals using hosting providers or proxies or botnets-as-a-service located all around the world, so it is hard to get accurate attribution, said Heimerl.
It's also hard to determine whether a particular attack was related to criminals or nation states, he said.
"Some companies are saying, 'oh, it's a nation-state attack, we couldn't do anything about it'," he said. "It's a buzzword."
Plus, criminals are getting access to better and better tools, said Danica Blessman, NTT Security's senior threat intelligence analyst.
"More sophisticated tools are becoming available online that you would normally only see a nation-state actor use," she said.
The opposite is true as well, she added, with some nation-state hiring cyber mercenaries in order to disguise their activities.
"We saw a lot of conversation about nation-state attacks," said Heimerl. "But be careful with your blame, because it's not always them."
The report also included updated numbers for how much criminals were getting for stolen credit card numbers.
Stolen credit cards, including security cards, were fetching around $7 per card in the U.S. in December. Full identity dossiers were going for $30 each. Loyalty plan details are particularly interesting to criminals, the report said, because they often contain other personal information about the customer.
President Donald Trump is due to sign an executive order Tuesday that gives each cabinet official more responsibility for the safety of data within their agency.
It will be accompanied by a government-wide review of cybersecurity by the Office of Management and Budget, looking at the technology in place that guards U.S. government systems from cyberattacks, according to a White House official.
The results of that review could lead to a government-wide upgrade of federal cybersecurity systems.
The U.S. government has been hit by hacks in the last few years. The State Department spent months trying to get rid of intruders in its unclassified network and the Office of Personnel Management lost personal information on millions of government workers through a second hack.
Before he signs the executive order, the president is due to meet with cybersecurity experts for an hour-long "listening session," according to the White House press office. The White House has not yet supplied a list of attendees.
A draft of the executive order was posted online. It calls for a review of the nation's cyber vulnerabilities to be completed within 60 days. It also asks for a review of U.S cybersecurity skills and training, including "computer science, mathematics and cybersecurity education from primary through higher education."
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STAMFORD Charter Communications could be heading for another mega-merger but the deal might not uproot local operations.
Less than a year after it closed on an approximately $65 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks that turned it into the countrys second-largest cable provider, multiple reports emerged in the past week pointing to the growing possibility of telecommunications giant Verizon acquiring Charter. But unlike other recent mergers, the differences between the two companies could insulate Charters Stamford employees from upheaval.
While Verizon offers internet, phone and TV service through its Fios program, about 70 percent of the companys revenues in the past year came from its wireless operations.
I think there would be very little impact on Charter employees, and the reason for that is that there arent many operating synergies between the two companies, said John Gerlach, an associate professor and business executive in residence in Sacred Heart Universitys College of Business. That would make it less threatening to the Charter employees because theyre so different from Verizon.
David Souder, an associate professor and academic director of the executive MBA program in the University of Connecticuts School of Business, said he also did not foresee major changes at Charters downtown Stamford headquarters.
You never know what management has in mind, but theres no obvious reason why it would lead to a change in operations, Souder said. Verizon would be adding cable systems. Theres no reason why theyd have to consolidate operations because Fios runs on a different technology.
Messages left for Charter and Verizon were not returned.
But acquiring Charter come at a hefty price. Gerlach estimated that Verizon would have to pay a premium of 30 percent to 40 percent on Charters stock. Charters shares were trading Tuesday at about $323, a total that would rise to as much as $450 for Verizon using Gerlachs model.
Charter will try to get the highest possible price for shareholders, Gerlach said. They have a higher growth profile than Verizon, so theyre more attractive to other companies that want to buy them.
Incurring substantial debt would not be unexpected for a prospective merger of this size, Souder said.
And when acquisitions are successful, it is often the case that improving distribution is pivotal, he said.
Verizon could also be eyeing a move for Charter to boost its lackluster growth. Compared with the same period in 2015, the newly expanded Charter quadrupled revenues and tripled profits in the third quarter of last year. In the past quarter, Verizon revenues dropped about 6 percent and its profits fell some 17 percent.
Charter is scheduled to release Feb. 16 its fourth-quarter and annual earnings for 2016.
If Verizon were to buy Charter, it would mark the third acquisition of a large Stamford-based corporation in the past year. Marriott completed last September a $13 billion purchase of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, a deal that created the worlds largest hotel company. The next month, Marriott reported to the state that it would lay off approximately 160 Stamford-based employees. Most who lost their jobs were in executive and management positions.
We have plans to have a presence in Stamford long-term and we currently plan that our location will remain at One StarPoint, in the citys South End, Marriott spokeswoman Felicia Farrar McLemore said in an email Tuesday.
Last November, Samsung announced that it would acquire Stamford-based technology company Harman for $8 billion. Samsung plans to keep Harmans workforce and headquarters, according to Harman officials.
pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott
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BRIDGEPORT - A local man, who police said was the target of a shooting that killed his girlfriend earlier this month, was picked up by federal authorities Tuesday on gun charges.
Kelvin Soto, 24, was taken into custody was taken into custody by agents of the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms following his arrest by local police.
FAIRFIELD Colleges across the country are urging international students from the seven countries named in President Donald Trumps travel ban not to leave the U.S. for the time being.
This order (Trumps) goes against everything that Sacred Heart University stands for, university President John J. Petillo told students in a message posted on the website and sent by email to all students. We are Catholic in tradition and spirit. We uphold the God-given freedom and the betterment of human society. We have always known that our commitment to diversity makes us stronger.
Petillo announced that the Fairfield school will conduct a service in the Chapel at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday entitled Welcome the Immigrant and the Refugee: In Solidarity with our Muslim Students. He called for as many as possible to attend the service.
At the University of Bridgeport, the student council president is so concerned, he arranged a meeting with high-ranking administrators Tuesday to discuss the future of students impacted by Trumps ban.
Many of them dont have families or friends here, said Youssef Agiez, student council president. They are afraid to leave during the spring break. But what happens to them this summer? Where will they live? Where will they eat?
Polls and protests
Demonstrators rallied Monday evening at McLevy Green in downtown Bridgeport reflecting protests around the country. Meanwhile, lawyers from the Connecticut chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said they are monitoring the situation at state airports and cities.
We are in close contact with CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) and other allies and we are ready to defend the Constitution, said Meghan Smith, a spokeswoman for the state chapter.
But J.R. Romano, the state Republican chairman, urged Democrats and demonstrators to calm down.
President Trump said from the beginning he was going to put American families first, Romano said. Our visa program has been a mess...So hes asking we hit the pause button for 90 days to make sure we get this right and something bad doesnt happen to American citizens.
Trumps order also stays the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days, prohibiting any from coming in during that time frame and barring Syrian refugees indefinitely.
There are more than 17,000 students attending U.S. universities from those banned countries, according to ABC News, which used statistics from the State Department and the Institute of International Education. Of that number more than 12,000 are from Iran.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll conducted between Jan. 5 and Jan. 9 determined that 48 percent of Americans support suspending immigration from terror-prone regions even if it means turning away refugees from those regions.
We called people across the nation, said Tim Malloy, a Quinnipiac analyst. Its not an overwhelming majority of Americans but it falls in line with a similar poll we conducted right after the election.
In that poll, he said 50 percent of those questioned supported the ban.
Future fears
Agiez, at UB, said he is looking forward to the spring break and summer when several engineering and business students he knows from the banned countries are planning to go home.
He said hell meet with Neil Salonen, the schools president and the dean of students to discuss how the school will help these students with housing, meals and emotional distress.
Salonen said hes going to Washington, D. C., next week to meet with academic leaders and the states Congressional delegation to discuss student study visas and other concerns related to the ban.
We know that some of our international students are directly impacted by the order, SHU President Petillo said. The staff of our Offices of Global Affairs, Graduate, International and Veteran Student Affairs, International Admissions and Immigration and Support Services are available to help. They will continue to follow the ramifications of the order and will brief students as the situation evolves. The staff of Campus Ministry is also available to all students.
STRATFORD The very moment Monday night when news arrived that the Boy Scouts of America would allow transgender scouts, a committee of the Stratford Town Council found itself embroiled in that very issue.
The national scouting organization announced that enrollment in its boys-only programs will now be based on the gender a child or parent lists on his application to become a scout rather than the gender listed on the child's birth certificate.
The news broke during Stratfords discussion to create a Scoutland in Short Beach, one of its beachfront parks. Supporters envision it as a place where scouts would help out with horseshoe crab research, clean up the beach and experience the Long Island Sound environment, camping there overnight.
Town Council members seemed skeptical of the Scoutland idea, particularly after an openly gay council member, Scott Farrington-Posner, said he had issues with designating town-owned property as a place thats, in essence, a Scouting facility.
This was in reference to the fact that for years, municipalities nationwide have questioned BSAs commitment to inclusiveness before allowing public facilities to be used for Scouting. In some cases, scout leaders were told to stage their meetings in private buildings, such as churches, rather than public schools.
Its still an issue, Farrington-Posner said when contacted by telephone Tuesday. If you look at the wording of the BSAs national policies on this, they still discriminate against transgender scout leaders.
Past and future
How the new transgender policy will play out in municipalities remains to be seen. But this latest reversal of long-standing BSA policy could make local governments more open to allowing Scouting activities in public facilities.
BSA Connecticut Yankee Council President Christopher Luise said that for years the CYC has endeavored to allow LBGT children to experience the joys of scouting.
Long before we received new directions on membership at the national level, we, as a council, forged our own non-discrimination policy, Louise said. So, although this was a non-issue for us, the new national policy was certainly welcomed with open arms.
The CYC oversees Boy Scout troops in New Haven and Fairfield counties and part of Hartford County; its headquarteres are in Milford.
Theres has been a broad support for Boy Scouts at the local level, particularly since the Connecticut Yankee Council adopted non-discriminatory policies., Luise said. But it doesnt erase memories overnight, so its good that these issues were addressed head-on at the national level.
Fairfield County has a long tradition of scouting. In fact, Greenwich was the home of Ernest Thompson Seton, a founder of the scouting movement in America. Seton founded the Greenwich council in 1912, two years after the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America, and he and co-wrote the first Boy Scouts of America Handbook.
Inclusive
Transgender boy scouts may be more common than one might think. At a Dec. 12, 2016, Westport Boy Scout meeting, a moment of silence was held for former Westport resident and scout Riley Fritz.
Fritz, who was among the 36 people who died in the warehouse fire in Oakland, Calif., in December, became an Eagle Scout at Troop 36 in Westport and also served as its senior patrol leader.
Fritz was a transgender woman and one of a number of people to perish in the inferno. She was a 2005 graduate of Staples High School. Riley's father, Bruce, was an assistant scoutmaster of Troop 36 and also served as a Scouting unit commissioner for a time.
The Boy Scouts of America leaders lifted a blanket ban on gay troop leaders and employees in July 2015 amid intense pressure. The group decided in 2013 to allow openly gay youth as scouts. At that time Scouting was under pressure from school boards nationwide to either relax its ban on gay scouts or not stage activities in public schools.
The national Girl Scouts organization, which is not affiliated with the Boy Scouts, has accepted transgender members for years.
LGBT welcome
Transgender is the term that is used to describe the condition known as gender dysphoria, or the conflict between someone's internal sense of gender and their biological sex at birth. These individuals, from an early age, sense strong, persistent feelings of identification with the opposite gender. Its estimated that about .3 percent of the population is transgender.
Luise said that the Connecticut Yankee Council has been in the forefront in pushing to make an inclusive organization. The Greater New York City Council also pushed for changes, which also helped to get the national policy changed in 2013.
The discussion on LGBT inclusion in Stratfords Town Hall Monday night played out before about two dozen scrubbed-faced Cub Scouts who were there at the meeting to support the Scoutland idea.
Matt Higgins, Cubmaster for Pack 467 in New Milford, said that his pack has always welcomed LGBT boys.
In the time I have been a member of Pack 467, and to the best of my knowledge, the issue of transgender youth wishing to join our particular youth group has not been, well, an issue, he said. Our charter organization, St. John's Episcopal Church, has been very clear that they wish Pack 467 to reflect its inclusionary position.
The Greenwich Council of Boy Scouts has been ahead of the curve in civil rights advancements.
In 2013 it voted to allow gay scouts and gay scout leaders the latter decision a break from the national council, which at the time ended its ban on gay scouts but kept a prohibition against homosexual adults serving as leaders in place.
Staff writers Jerrod Ferrari and Katrina Koerting contributed to this report.
jburgeson@ctpost.com;
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FAIRFIELD Sacred Heart University President John J Petillo said the response to his condemnation of President Donald Trumps travel ban was mostly supportive.
But, Petillo said, there was an angry email from a university parent demanding a retraction.
The parent threatened to withhold future contributions to the Catholic university, Petillo told an overflow crowd Tuesday at the SHU chapel.
My friends, let me be very clear, Petillo said. The mission of this university, its commitment to social justice and my conscience, are not for sale.
The event was billed not as a political one, but as an opportunity to pray, learn, and to stand in solidarity with Muslim students.
Sacred Heart has hundreds of international students, but only a small number are affected by the executive order that immediately denied citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen entry to the U.S. for 90 days.
Some at the service wondered, though, if their country could be next.
I have family calling me, telling me to be careful, said Abdullah Aljunaydil, 27, a Sacred Heart student from Saudia Arabia. Our country is neighbors with the banned countries.
It is scary, agreed Nabeel Alsaigh, another student from Saudia Arabia who arrived four months ago in hopes of perfecting English, then studying mechanical engineering.
He said is grateful for Petillos stance.
Petillo said the executive order goes against the faith-based institutions beliefs.
Closing borders is the opposite of what America stands for, added the Rev. Tony Ciorra, an interim vice president and faculty member. He said the campus is welcoming to all, and that this is a message that is in our DNA.
The universitys stance resonated with 19-year-old Sarah Riccio, of Newtown, who is studying math and Spanish at Sacred Heart.
It makes me so proud, Riccio said. Everyone I know and who I surround myself with, when we got the email that Dr. Petillo sent out, we were all like Yes, we believe this too.
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BRIDGEPORT Give them sanctuary.
The urgent pangs of protest that have swept across the country reached Bridgeport on Monday night in a diverse and energized show of solidarity.
Mayor Joseph Ganim may not be ready to take formal steps to join cities around the country in protecting immigrants against recent action by President Trump, but dozens of people gathered on McLevy Green seemed eager to make that decision for him.
Sanctuary City! Sanctuary City! the crowd cried, nearly drowning out the mayor as he addressed the rally.
This is a city of immigrants. All of us came a generation or two back from other places, Ganim began. I look forward to working with all of you.
His final words, I stand in solidarity with you, were lost in the chants of the crowd.
Trumps order barring travelers from seven Muslim countries from entering the United States has caused chaos in airports around the world and sparked thousands to demonstrate against last weeks executive order.
Ahmed Ebrahim, a professor of accounting at Fairfield University, sparked the crowd as he declared, This is not the America we all live in.
The Muslim community is part of this community, but the Muslim community is in pain, Ebrahim said. This has nothing to do with national security.
We are barring families who are fleeing horrible atrocities and coming here for a better life. We will protect our democracy.
The evening rally in downtown Bridgeport was sponsored by Make The Road CT and other civil rights and religious organizations dedicated to protecting immigrants and their interests.
On Saturday, I woke up with a sense of urgency, said Marco Vicente, organizer of Make The Road CT. I saw people going to airports and to the streets, and I thought what about Bridgeport, the largest city in Connecticut? It has the largest population of immigrants in Connecticut.
Luis Luna, of New Haven, said he is afraid of the current climate. His girlfriend is from Egypt, and he recently converted to Islam.
Im afraid what will happen if we leave the country and then want to return, Luna said. This is a very difficult time.
Isa Mujahid is the leader of Connecticut Corps Organize Now, another group that helped organize the rally.
Our purpose is to eliminate racial inequities in our state, Mujahid said. We want to make Bridgeport a sanctuary city.
State Sen. Ed Gomes, of Bridgeport, brought the crowd to a fever pitch, after he proclaimed: We have a president who is a racist, and Bridgeport will stand against what this president stands for. In Hartford, we will stand against any ruling he makes that does not support our immigrants.
Ganim, meanwhile, has yet to endorse a sanctuary designation for the city.
Bridgeport has always been an immigrant city, and will continue to be, the mayor said last week in a statement. As a port city and one with great industrial heritage, Bridgeports economy has always been driven by the energy and hard work of generations of immigrant communities.
But much like Monday nights rally, Ganim stopped short of embracing the label, let alone, adopting it.
In Bridgeport, we have no ordinance declaring us a sanctuary city or directing restricting cooperation by our police department with any federal law enforcement agency, Ganim said in the statement. Therefore, I am not concerned that any federal funding for Bridgeport is in jeopardy.
A citys immigrant future, the crowd insisted Monday, is less certain.
BRIDGEPORT - Police said a woman walked away with a young, autistic child after buying him candy at a local store.
Takeia Davis, 38, of Norland Avenue, was charged Monday with second-degree unlawful restraint.
She was released after posting $5,000 bond.
Police said officers were dispatched to the Park Avenue Market on Park Avenue for an attempted kidnapping.
An employee of the store told officers he had brought his 6-year-old stepson, who is autistic, to the store with him, police said.
At some point Davis had entered the store and ordered some sandwiches from the employee. Seeing the boy sitting there, police said Davis commented to the employee on how cute the boy was and offered to buy him some chips.
Police said the employee then went back to making the sandwiches but when he finished he realized both Davis and his step son were gone.
The employee ran out of the store and frantically searched for the young boy finally spotting him walking hand in hand with Davis north on Park Avenue, police said.
Police said the employee yelled for them to stop but the woman ignored him and she and the boy continued walking. They said the employee eventually caught up with Davis and the boy and grabbed the boy away from her.
The employee then asked his step son why he had left the store with the woman.
Davis had bought him candy and told him they were going to explore, police said the boy responded.
Police said Davis claimed she was just taking the boy for a walk.
We must rethink the U.S. response to infectious disease. Here's why.
For meat lovers, grabbing a juicy burger or cheesy pizza after class sounds like heaven, but for students who are vegetarians, grabbing food on campus can be a hassle.
Vegetarians abstain from consuming red meat, poultry, seafood and the flesh of any other animal, and they may also abstain from eating byproducts of animal slaughter. According to a 2012 Gallup survey, 5 percent of people aged 18-29 consider themselves vegetarians.
Even some professors, like vegetarian history professor at the University of Memphis Dennis Laumann, remain disappointed with the limited choices available to vegetarians on campus.
The food options in the UC are particularly poor, Laumann said. Panda Express has only one or two items that are vegetarian, and they do not offer any tofu entrees. As a result, I bring my own healthy meat-free lunch from home.
The U of M once had a Vegetarian Student Organization on campus that lobbied Aramark to offer healthier selections for vegans, according to Laumann. Vegans abstain from eating and using all animal products, like eggs and milk, and have a philosophy that rejects animals being used as commodities.
The group even hosted a free vegetarian lunch for all faculty, staff and students that featured delicious international dishes created by the Aramark chefs, but it seems the campus is less vegetarian-friendly today, Laumann said.
Some students, like senior Victoria Evans, eat off campus due to lack of vegetarian options.
Most people see the UC as having a lot of meal choices, but when you dont eat meat, it dwindles significantly, Evans said. I normally just wait until all of my classes are over to get food, but if I do eat on campus, I normally eat at Einsteins and grab a smoothie.
Dunkin Donuts, among other food establishments on campus, provides few choices for vegetarians. Outside of the Green Zone in the Tiger Den, which provides vegan options for students, there are remarkably few options for vegetarians and vegans on campus.
Some students, like junior Leneshia Wright, wish there were healthier vegan and vegetarian options available on campus.
I tried going vegan my freshman year, and that ended fast because I didnt have a lot to eat other than salads, Wright said. I lived on campus, so I mainly ate at the UC and Tiger Den, which only had a salad and soup station that I could really eat from.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Muslim students at the University of Memphis have expressed fear and anger about President Donald J. Trumpas executive order that closed off the border to refugees and immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries.
The process for the resettlement of refugees is suspended for 120 days and people from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen are not allowed entrance to the United States for 90 days.
Coming to the United States as a refugee is a long and hard process, said Zubaidah Alhayali, a 20-year-old refugee and biology and psychology major at the U of M.
Because of the civil unrest in Iraq, Alhayali and her family fled in 2005 during the Iraq War when their lives were endangered. They lived in Jordan for eight years before the United States accepted them.
aOne mistake and we could have been rejected,a Alhayali said. aThey interviewed us every eight months for years and did several background checks."A
Alhayali knows several people who were rejected, including her aunt who now lives in Turkey. She saw women and children massacred in the streets of Baghdad and witnessed families slain by gunfire.
"No one wants to leave their home and everything they have,a Alhayali said. aYou have to be in a very difficult situation. You don't become a refugee because it's fun; you do it because you don't have a choice."
Alhayali and her family are all green card holders and hope to apply for citizenship in the coming years, but sheas concerned the President might write an executive order limiting her chance to become a United States citizen.A
Saira Sikandar Zubaidah Alhayali, refugee and U of M biology and psychology major
"I'm worried he might try to take that opportunity away from me and my family," Alhayali said. "What if he tries to kick us out? We can't go back to Baghdad. Where would we go? We have no options."
Many Muslim students are worried about the current political climate, said Yousef Yousef, 18, vice president of the Muslim Student Association at the U of M.
aThese refugees are people who are fleeing terror, not seeking to inflict it,a Yousef said. aDenying entry to refugees isnat going to do anything to benefit America a it is going to hurt us. This is how you push people to become radical.a
The Office of Refugee Resettlement reported 1,601 refugees came to Tennessee in 2015. Of the 1,601 refugees that arrived Tennessee, 186 refugees went through Memphis.
Jamie Jones is the founder and president of Ashaas Refuge, which is a nonprofit organization in Memphis that helps educate and mentor refugees in adjusting to their new life in United States, and she works with refugees daily. She said a pause may be necessary and does not like the media calling it a ban.
aThe temporary pause is to make better efforts to ensure groups who have desires to hurt us donat come in,a Jones said. aThe U.S. already has strong vetting procedures in place, but perhaps in certain areas these procedures have not been as strictly enforced. No one was monitoring closely enough, and we need additional vetting procedures to happen."
Jones told a refugee who was worried about her family in refugee camps the pause was necessary to make sure that the people she was running from do not get into the United States.
aIn our effort to let the 'good' people in, how do we know the 'bad' people are not sneaking in?a Jones said. aI just hate the fear and confusion it causes.a
Whether students are looking for love or company, online dating has become a popular option for many hopeful singles. According to Pew Research, 15 percent of all U.S. adults report that they have used online dating sites or mobile dating apps. Unfortunately, not all these users find what they are looking for.
Two weeks ago a U of M student reported that he was sexually assaulted by a 30-year-old woman he invited to his Park Avenue residence, according to a police report by officer Tina Crowe. The two met online, according to the report.
The Chicago Tribune reported that there is no way to know what percentage of sexual assaults is linked to online dating, but as millions access dating sites and apps daily, these Internet services offer a widening universe in which those intent on violence can prowl.
Those who use the dating app Tinder spend an average of 77 minutes per day on the app, according to The Huffington Post, compared to Instagram users spending 21 minutes per day on the photo-sharing platform.
Some students at the U of M do not see a problem with online dating as a whole, but do believe that those who date online should be cautious.
I use Craigslist, so I always like to meet in public places - places where Im not alone, Albany Merriweather, an 18-year-old biological science major, said. Not that you dont trust them, but that you dont put yourself in that situation.
Other students disagree with the whole concept of the dating sites. Isaac O. Weston is an architecture and interior design major that does not use dating websites or apps.
Im a Christian - so I guess it could be a platform to like seek people out, Weston said. This day in age we become way less social - way less interactive, and people sit there next to each other and text.
The 21-year-old has heard that the dating climate was much different ages ago.
My mom talks towards how a guy would ask her out when they were standing in line at a pizza place cause they just got to talking, Weston said. So if you go and you just talk to people and get to know them rather than just seek them out, relationships will just fall on your lap.
Joshua Lord is an 18-year-old criminal justice major who said that some Tinder experiences could be positive ones.
My exs older sister started dating a dude from Tinder and that was, from what I understand, a pretty good relationship, Lord said. You can turn basically anything into something bad, like Pokemon Go. People started getting attacked and mugged from stuff like that. I mean anyone can turn anything bad. You have to find a balance.
Around six million people marched in Washington, D.C. and other cities around the world for the Womens March on Washington, a movement that spanned across the seven continents Jan. 21.
The Womens March on Washington was planned following the election of President Donald J. Trump after his derogatory remarks regarding immigrants of all statuses, Muslims and those of diverse religious faiths, people who identify as LGBTQIA, native people, black and brown people, people with disabilities and survivors of sexual assault, as stated in the Womens March on Washingtons mission.
The march was very multi-issued, said Kathy Schultz, associate professor of English and the director of womens and gender studies at the University of Memphis.
It was touched off first by the derogatory remarks by Trump to women and the video that surfaced with Billy Bush, said Schultz, who attended the march in Memphis. It was definitely a feminist march, but it also had much to do with racial oppression, class and ethnic minorities.
Schultz said she marched in Memphis to stand up to violence against women.
I worked in battered women shelters in New York and other places, and to see us electing people who think assaulting women is a joke is why I marched, Schultz said.
Memphians gathered in the downtown area for the Memphis Womens March. Around 9000 men, women and children marched to support equal rights for all. Hailey Coleman, a 20-year-old social work sophomore at the U of M from Marion, Arkansas who attended the march, said she has never felt more empowered.
Ive been a feminist for as long as I can remember, but it is especially important now in this political period with rights being threatened, Coleman said. I wanted to march with solidarity with women of color, LGBTQ women and women who feel like their voices arent heard.
The march started in Washington, D.C. and spread to 673 sister marches around the world with 4,834,000 total marchers, as reported by the Womens March on Washington organization. In Washington, D.C., there were around 470,000 marchers, and over 40 speakers including Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Scarlett Johansson, an actress, and Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin.
Michael Duke, associate professor of anthropology at the U of M, said he marched to support the movement of women to stand up to the administration.
Every indication seems to be trying to remove womens rights, particularly reproductive rights, Duke said.
The march did not seem to be stemmed from anger; it seemed to come more from a place of outreach to people who might feel like they are alone, Duke said.
There was an assumption that it would do okay but not that it would have millions of people around the world marching, Duke said. I think its partly because of fear of whats coming down the road.
The show of support for womens rights was profound, Duke said.
Those rights are always fragile, and we always have to constantly safeguard against them slipping backwards, Duke said. On one hand, its very depressing, but on the other, Im energized that there are so many people who are willing to stick their necks out to make sure that values the nation was built on are continued.
Protesters gather in downtown Memphis to advocate for women's rights. The marchers joined a nationwide protest Jan. 21.
For the Twitter-obsessed, virtue-signalling student union politicians running todays Labour Party, the row over President Trumps ban on citizens of seven mostly Muslim countries was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Since the order was signed they have, one by one, mounted their high horses to condemn it, and demand the offer of a State visit to Britain is withdrawn.
Take Ed Miliband, for whom opportunism was always his strongest suit, telling Theresa May to get on the phone and tell the President the ban cannot stand.
Theresa May is right to ignore the 'hysterical children' of Labour and not undermine the good work she did in Washington last week to continue progress on a trade deal with the US
Or Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who loftily declares: I will oppose all those who fan the flames of fear at home and abroad.
This from a man who invited terror group Hamas to Parliament.
Worse still was Shami Chakrabarti, so convulsed by outrage she accused Mrs May of appeasing the US President, in a distasteful and deliberate attempt to evoke comparisons with 1930s Germany.
In short, they are behaving like hysterical children. There are legitimate arguments about Mr Trumps policy such as whether the US would be better off targeting crucibles of terror such as Saudi Arabia. But arent they ultimately a question for US politicians?
In this country, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has rightly raised concerns about citizens with dual nationality.
Cancelling the State visit would be entirely self-defeating. It would needlessly offend the US administration, undermine all Mrs Mays good work in Washington last week, and scupper any chance of a US/UK trade deal.
By opting for shrill moral outrage, these bien pensant politicians show they are blind to diplomatic realities and if we didnt already know it utterly unfit for public office. They need to grow up.
Just show up, Shiner
Human rights lawyer Phil Shiner made millions from legal aid by hounding British troops with spurious claims about mistreatment overseas.
More than anyone, he is responsible for the shameful witch-hunt of our Armed Forces.
Finally hauled before legal regulators, he is trying every trick in the book to avoid the public censure he deserves.
Lawyer Phil Shiner, pictured, is responsible for the shameful witch-hunt of our Armed Forces more than anyone
First he demanded the hearing be held in secret. Then yesterday, he failed to turn up at all, claiming he was stressed and even less likely couldnt afford a lawyer.
Many of those he persecuted endured unimaginable horrors.
For their sake he must not be allowed to hide. Justice demands he be held to account in person.
Oxford needs no EU
In an emphatic endorsement of Brexit Britain, Danish firm Novo Nordisk is to invest 115million over the next decade in a cutting-edge diabetes research centre at Oxford University.
The decision is a firm rebuff to vice chancellors who doom-mongered about the impact of leaving the EU, claiming it would reduce investment and imperil academic co-operation.
More likely, they were worried about losing their precious EU grants. In fact, ministers have rightly pledged to increase science funding post-Brexit.
As the firms executive vice-president said, Oxford has been a centre of academic excellence for 800 years, and Brexit is unlikely to change that. Quite right.
Since he was sacked from government last year, George Osborne has earned half-a-million pounds on the lecture circuit.
Still an MP, he has already taken a 200,000 job with a US asset management firm, and yesterday announced another paid role an academic fellowship.
With so many lucrative outside interests, he should consider whether he is really representing his constituents, or if they might want the chance to elect someone who will.
Veteran Europhile Sir Ken Clarke was applauded by the Opposition as he burbled away
John Redwood flung wide his arms, nearly biffing his neighbour Alberto Costa.
Speaking of this once and future sovereign parliament! he yelled it will be a great day when we leave the EU.
Honorary Members were astonished by Mr Redwoods uncharacteristically peppery peroration. Frank Spencer had turned into Superman.
Gesturing at the glum Remainers, Mr Redwood cried: What is it about freedom they dont like? It was the Second Reading of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. Make that the European Union (Yup, Were Really Off) Bill.
Old Sir Bill Cash (Con, Stone), a tremendous prophet of Euroscepticism, became emotional, his voice thickening as he quoted William Pitts England has saved herself by her exertions.
Eurosceptics pinched themselves that the parliamentary Brexit process was at last under way. Remainers wore frowns. Pouts. Crossed arms.
Chris Matheson (Lab, Chester) sat in a slump. Wes Streeting (Lab, Ilford N), such a brave little boy, was doing a lot of blinking.
Nicky Morgan (Con, Loughborough) could have been modelling for a Pieta, her dark-rimmed eyes thrown to a distant ceiling cornice.
The House of Commons was, for once, packed with standing room only for the Brexit debate
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer (pictured), a former Director of Public Prosecutions, sounded like he was summoning mourners to a wintry funeral
The speech of Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer needed the soundtrack of a single, muffled church-bell, its toll summoning mourners to a winter afternoons country burial. Sir Keir had the mien of a basset hound as he finally swallowed the inevitable.
The lawyerly argument about the EU referendum being merely advisory was a political non-starter, he conceded. It holds no water. A Trollopian spinster might at this point have succumbed to a melodramatic faint.
A diminishing handful of pro-Brussels partisans still held out the fragile hope we might yet stay in the Union. Ken Clarke and Nick Clegg hinted at that. Mr Clegg attacked the Eurosceptic elite. Ha! That earned long laughter.
I have a great sense of foreboding, he said, coming over all portentous. Tories said doom, doom like Frazer in Dads Army.
Down with the kids: Nick Clegg (pictured) claimed he was speaking up for 'young people'
After Mr Clegg claimed to be speaking up for young people, opponents noted that he had been quick to impose college fees on those same youngsters. Cleggy didnt like that.
Mr Clarke, purple and quavery, was indulged. On a day when most backbenchers were limited to less than six minutes, he was allowed to burble away for 17.
Though he was clapped by Labour, we will remember his long career for finer moments than this pitiful harrumph.
He was self-referential, loftily petulant (attacking the pathetic arguments heard in the referendum campaign) and patronising (a matter as important as EU membership had been particularly unsuitable for a plebiscite).
He said Enoch Powell would have been surprised by how anti-immigrant todays Tory Party was.
That, for many in the House, was the moment his speech spiralled away into Spaces outer galaxies. Just below him James Cleverly (Con, Braintree), a more persuasive face of the modern Tory Party, shook his head with irritation at daft old Ken.
Theresa May and Boris Johnson had been side by side as a croaky David Davis, Brexit Secretary, introduced the Bill (Mrs May left after half an hour, as PMs do).
Best of friends: Theresa May and Boris Johnson have been thrown together by circumstances since the Brexit referendum and David Cameron's departure
Mr Davis was hard to hear owing to a cold that has been afflicting him this week. He became bogged down in stuff about Britains future membership of Euratom, a European atomic science agency.
Will they split over the atom? wondered a press gallery friend. But eventually Mr Davis found a bigger picture and said the Bill boiled down to a single question: Do we trust the people or not?
And that, for all the puffing from a lively Sammy Wilson (a pro-Brexit Ulsterman), a crossly pessimistic Dame Margaret Beckett (it was all potentially catastrophic) and a well cause trouble yet, just you see tone from Hilary Benn, was the nub of it.
As Julian Lewis (Con, New Forest E) put it: In my opinion the people have decided. Im going to vote accordingly. And that was his speech in its entirety. Twelve words was all it took.
A photograph of a man at the Great Wall of China has gone viral as the internet tries to figure out what's going on in the photo.
At a glance you would be forgiven for thinking that this is the same as any other tourist photograph.
Shared by Imgur user TheGrisGrisMan, the photo appears to show a man leaning against the famous monument for a picture.
Scroll down for the reveal...
A photograph of a man at the Great Wall of China has bemused the internet as they try to figure out what is going on in the picture
However, take a closer look and you may begin to question what you are seeing, as two people in the periphery appear to be walking at a 90 degree angle.
It eventually becomes clear that it is the two tourists in the background who are the right way up as they stroll along the wall.
The man in the foreground is actually performing a sideways plank, and the photo has been flipped to create the illusion that he is leaning.
The baffling image has received almost 175,000 views since it resurfaced on the web as people try to figure it out.
Eagle eyed readers will see that two tourists in the background give away the fact the man in the foreground is doing a sideways plank and the photo has been flipped
This is just the latest in a series of optical illusions that have left web users scratching their heads.
Recently an image of a girl who appears to have three legs left the internet in a state of confusion.
The snap, which shows a young girl kneeling on a red blanket, is proving so difficult to decipher it has apparently taken one internet user 'two years' to work out.
So does she really have an extra limb - or is this just another clever optical illusion?
This image of a girl has baffled the web as she appears to have three legs. Frustrated viewers confessed they were 'still trying to figure it out' after several attempts
The picture has been baffling internet users for some time, but recently resurfaced after it was shared by Imgur user AMassiveTRexHoldingaBaby.
They wrote: 'Legit had to stare at this pic for a full minute before my brain told me what was going on.'
It racked up thousands of views and comments, with one person confessing the conundrum was 'hurting his brain'.
On closer inspection, the girl appears to be holding a brown vase - but its shape and colour makes it deceptively tricky to distinguish from her legs.
Did you spot it? The 'third leg', circled in red, is in fact a vase. The picture has been baffling internet users for some time, but recently resurfaced after being shared on social media
Frustrated viewers confessed they were 'still trying to figure it out' after several attempts, with one admitting: 'I finally get it. After two years I literally JUST got it.'
Imgur user Traso commented: 'After you see if you can't see it wrong again.'
Over Christmas, a seemingly simple picture of six women in a bar left the internet equally baffled.
The snap, posted by Reddit user jr0d7771, shows the friends sitting side-by-side on a sofa, appears to have something amiss - but this only becomes clear on closer inspection.
This seemingly mundane snap, which shows six friends sitting on a sofa in a bar, appears to have something wrong with it - but this only becomes apparent on closer inspection
If you look closely, you will see there are only five pairs of legs for the six women - meaning that the third woman from the left appears to be missing two limbs.
Others were confused by the girl on the far right, whose left leg appeared to be abnormally long.
Have you spotted it yet? If you look closely, you will see there are only five pairs of pins for the six women - meaning that the third woman from the left appears to be missing her legs
However the most plausible explanation came from Canadian_Ireland, who wrote: 'The second girl's legs are behind the first girl's legs.'
This would suggest that the girl with the 'missing' legs is actually sitting at a slight angle, with her legs appearing to belong to the friend on her right.
In October, a seemingly mundane photo of three women sitting on a park bench was the latest snap to leave internet users scratching their heads.
At first glance the photo appears to show the trio pausing for a sit down during a sunny stroll.
An optical illusion image of three women sitting on a park bench that's recently resurfaced online has been causing confusion
But there appears to be no seat on the bench and the women are hovering mid air.
The most likely explanation is that the bench features smaller pull-out seats.
Brainteasers like these are becoming increasingly popular online. At first glance the below picture looks like a regular selfie of a woman striking a seductive pose on her bed.
At first glance this picture looks like any normal selfie you might see. However, if you look closer you will see that something is not quite right
However, if you look closer you will see that something is not quite right with the black and white image.
The shot has been driving the web to distraction ever since it went viral, with puzzlers unable to figure out the oddity.
The image recently resurfaced on Facebook after it first originated in 2003, when it was posted by Deviantart user Missmiserystock. It was titled 'Look carefully'.
The woman in the image actually has six fingers, instead of the usual five
Eagle-eyed viewers spotted that the woman actually has six fingers instead of five. The subtle abnormality is likely to be a clever trick of Photoshop, designed to confuse.
Jason Momoa is known for his enviably muscular frame, which has helped him claim roles like Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones and Aquaman.
But now that same build is getting the 37-year-old actor attention for a whole other reason, after he was snapped walking in Los Angeles between a pair of bodyguards who appeared to social media users to be, well, a little redundant.
Jason was being accompanied by the well-dressed guards as he made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live in Los Angeles on Thursday.
A tad unnecessary: Images of Game of Thrones actor Jason Momoa have gone viral after social media users noticed the size difference between the 37-year-old and his bodyguards
Joking around: One user mused that the 6'4 actor looked like a video game boss with 'minibosses' who need to be defeated first
Sporting a green coat and yellow Neil Young T-shirt, the actor looked particularly intimidating has he rose about a head taller than his protectors.
After the images hit the web, social media users quickly picked up on the height difference between 6'4 Jason and the bodyguards and proceeded to relentlessly poke fun at the photos.
The general consensus among users was that the pair of men held 'the two most pointless jobs in the world.'
Making his way: Jason and the two well-dressed men were snapped in Los Angeles on Thursday accompanying him to a chat show appearance
Bit over-the-top: Many users remarked that the actor was 'twice the size' of his protectors
A little much: This user dubbed the men's roles to be 'the two most pointless jobs in the world'
One user remarked that even if the pair were armed, they 'still seem superfluous' as they accompany the towering Hollywood hunk.
In one tweet hat has already been shared more than 36,000 times, one user remarked: 'One day i wanna be so jacked that my professional bodyguards look like minibosses you have to beat before you can fight me.'
Another user pointed out that the image looked more like: 'Jason Momoa's bodyguards and their bodyguard.'
He's got this: Most jokers just alluded to the idea that Jason was big and strong enough to not need any protection
A better job: Others reckoned the Aqu
Making an appearance: The star was snapped while on his way to being a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Showing off: Jason walked into the appearance with several axes, which he hurled at a target
On the same day, the bearded actor was spotted walking into the TV studio holding multiple axes, which he was later seen hurling during his show appearance to promote Netflix show Frontier.
The actor made a brief appearance as Aquaman last year in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice and reprised his role as the Atlantean superhero in Justice League, which is due out November 17.
As for the stand-alone Aquaman movie, Jason took place in a table reading earlier this week and filming is expected to begin in May in Queensland, Australia.
A kindergarten has placed a ban on birthday cakes because they cause 'unnecessary sugar consumption' among kids.
Dee Why Kindergarten, in Sydney, explained that it implemented the ban because 85 per cent of parents at the kindergarten said they were against cakes in a recent survey.
'We regularly canvas our parents about policies. We asked the question [whether birthday cakes should be allowed] last year and got eight times the normal response,' a spokesperson from Dee Why told Honey Nine.
'It surprised us that so many had strong feelings and were against birthday cakes as a celebration.'
Blanket ban: A kindergarten has banned birthday cakes from the vicinity, because of 'unnecessary sugar consumption' (stock image)
In place of traditional birthday cakes, the kindergarten decided to celebrate the 'important milestone' in other ways.
One example of what they're encouraging is a birthday trumpet, 'which students can blow'.
Alternatively, kids can make cakes from play dough.
Backlash: Dee Why Kindergarten, in Sydney, explained it banned cakes because 85 per cent of parents at the kindergarten told them they were against them (stock image)
'Today we were excited to celebrated our first ever cake free birthday and are pleased to share a photo of the fabulous playdough cake that was made,' the spokesperson said.
'Children's birthdays are exciting milestones,' the spokesperson continued.
The act of making a cake - whether it's from sugar or not - allows all of the children to sing happy birthday, create something and divide it up.
Alternative: In place of traditional birthday cakes, the kindergarten decided to celebrate the 'important milestone' in other ways (stock image)
Dee Why isn't the first school or nursery to ban sugar in one form or another, either.
In recent years, as the anti-sugar movement has gathered steam, countless primary and secondary schools in Australia and the rest of the world have banned sweets and lollies.
In December last year one Tasmanian primary school banned candy canes, which traditionally come with Christmas cards.
What do you think about the kindergarten's decision? Should birthday cake be banned at schools? Email FemailAU@mailonline.com
A mother has written a heartfelt post about her little boy who is fighting cancer, sharing a picture of him with his 'blonde, angel hair' gone - and then growing slowly back.
Gold Coast mum Jo Shirran said the heartbreaking image of her little boy Charlie, having lost all his hair to chemotherapy 'marked the beginning of a long road' for her family.
'It proved the poison going into his little body was having an effect,' she wrote on Facebook, referring to his aggressive chemotherapy treatment. 'He became the stereotypical poster child for cancer'.
Accompanying the image of Charlie without his hair was another picture - this time showing his hair growing slowly back - but Mrs Shirran said her son's fight isn't over
Charlie Shirran, who is now 18 months old (left) was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at eight months old. Chemotherapy caused his golden hair to fall out (right)
Charlie was diagnosed on March 20 last year, and has had rounds of gruelling treatment
'[It was an] emotional, symbolic moment signifying how FAR we have come, proving that his body is recovering,' Mrs Shirran wrote.
'We are FAR from finishing this battle. We probably have over two years of further vaccines to save his life. But for now, I'm cherishing this special moment. Charlie is BACK!'
Mrs Shirran told Daily Mail Australia that Charlie was just like every other eight-month-old, reaching his milestones and eating well until one morning she noticed a 'nugget' sized lump on the side of his head.
While she initially put it down to Charlie hitting his head or being on the receiving end of 'little knock' from his big brother Hudson, she soon knew something wasn't right.
'I expected it to come out in a bruise but a week later I just had this really awful feeling because it wasn't getting any smaller,' she said.
Mrs Shirran's Husband, Mark, is a doctor on the Gold Coast, and the couple, who are originally from London, booked their son in to have an ultrasound.
Charlie's diagnosis came as a shock to his parents. He is pictured with big brother Hudson, who will turn four in March
On March 20, 2016, little Charlie, now 18 months old, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma.
'I don't remember much, I just remember focusing on hearing those words "tumour" and "cancer",' Mrs Shirran said.
'You instantly go in to a really morbid place thinking about survival.'
Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood cancer that is diagnosed in about 40 children in Australia each year
Charlie had an apple-sized tumour on his kidney which was removed through invasive surgery
WHAT IS NEUROBLASTOMA? Neuroblastoma is the most common childhood tumour occurring mostly in children between 0-5 years old. The most common site for the tumour to grow is in the abdomen. About 50 per cent start in the adrenal gland above the kidney. About 40 children are diagnosed with the rare disease in Australia each year. There are no known causes for neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma Awareness Day will be held on February 2. A Run2Cure event will be held at The Domain in Sydney on Sunday, June 4. Source: Neuroblastoma Australia. Advertisement
The devastating diagnosis saw Charlie undergo chemotherapy, surgery, stem-cell treatment, immunotherapy and radiation.
Even now his battle against the disease isn't over, and later this year he will undergo further vaccine therapy in the U.S in an attempt to stop the cancer from returning.
Charlie's cancer started as an apple-sized tumour on his kidney and spread to his head, ribs, shoulder, knees and bone marrow.
Charlie had an 'amazing response' to the chemotherapy treatment, that shrunk the tumour on his head to the point where it was no longer visible and the tumour on his liver to the point where it was small enough to be removed through surgery.
After Charlie finishes his treatment, Mrs Shirran said he would have a 50 per cent chance of survival.
Charlie had an 'amazing response' to the chemotherapy that dramatically shrunk the size of his tumours
When he underwent stem-cell therapy he was isolated in hospital for five weeks, and only his parents were allowed to visit him
To help prevent a further relapse an increase his chance of survival, the family plans to travel to the U.S to undergo a groundbreaking vaccine therapy.
The vaccine was originally used to treat children who had relapsed, and is now being trialed to see if it can prevent a relapse from occurring.
The treatment will be held at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
The family is currently fundraising the $250,000 they need for the therapy, and plan to travel to the U.S in July after Charlie is declared cancer free.
The immunotherapy caused Charlie to suffer from nerve pain
But Mrs Shirran said with neuroblastoma doctors did not use the word 'remission', as the cancer can be hard to pick up on scans.
'That's another thing I really struggled with, you can celebrate the fact there's no cancer on the scans, but you can't be complacent because you don't know if there's any left' she said.
The Shirran's said they would do everything they could to save their son.
After Charlie has finished his treatment he will have a 50 per cent chance of survival
'We will try and do everything we can to save his life,' Mrs Shirran said. She is pictured with her children Charlie, 18 months, and Hudson, nearly four, and husband Mark
'We'll sell up everything we have here if it means we can go to New York,' Mrs Shirran said.
The family has so far raised $149,437 of their $250,000 goal.
They hope by sharing their story to raise awareness about neuroblastoma, and remind others how lucky they are to have their health.
'Appreciate what you have, your health, it can change, it can happen to anyone, cancer cannot discriminate,' she said.
To Support Charlie, visit his fundraising page here. You can also follow his journey on Facebook or his website.
Amanda Redman has revealed how she hates the idea of getting old - and says she'd consider going under the knife if her looks began to 'depress' her.
The British actress, soon to be on screens in steamy new ITV medical drama The Good Karma Hospital, turns 60 this year and says she would also love breast reduction surgery.
The New Tricks star admitted that while she'd be happy to go ahead with a boob job now, her husband, designer Damian Schnabel, has told her he'd leave her if she went through with it.
Scroll down for video
British actress Amanda Redman, who celebrates her 60th birthday this year, says people who say getting old is fun are lying - and that she'd consider plastic surgery
Redman is back on screens in The Good Karma Hospital, set in present day Sri Lanka, on ITV in February
Redman, pictured with co-star Neil Morrissey, says that she would definitely consider going under the knife if her reflection began to 'depress' her
Speaking to Woman magazine, Redman says anyone who says they don't mind getting older is telling fibs.
'Anyone who says "I love getting older" is lying. It's a PC thing that people say, but what's to like? You start losing people you love, you get aches and pains and if you're and actress you stop getting the roles you used to.'
She adds that her breasts have got bigger since she went through the menopause and she'd love a reduction - and further plastic surgery - but her husband has other ideas.
'I want a boob job, but my husband says he'd divorce me. They're too big and they've got bigger during the menopause, but my husband is happy with them.
'If I got to the point where looking in the mirror depressed me, which happened to one of my friends, then I think, Yeah, why not?'
Redman reveals that the menopause saw her breasts increase in size, something she'd like to correct with surgery but she jokes: 'my husband is happy with them'
The star says her latest role barely required her to act, because the character, Dr Lydia Fonseca, is so similar to herself
Redman who was good friends with popular actress Lynda Bellingham, said losing her to cancer and also enduring the deaths of her mother and brother had hit her hard.
She said: 'I've just got through two very difficult years, with the deaths of my mother and my friend Lynda Bellingham. Lynda and I starred in At Home With the Braithwaites together, and it was so hard to lose her. My mum Joan died in October 2014 and I am the last one in my family after my brother, Tim, died in 2012 of alcoholism. It's' a tough position to be in.'
Redman's latest role, as Dr Lydia Fonseca took her to sun-drenched Sri Lanka, for the new ITV series The Good Karma Hospital.
The brainchild of real-life A&E doctor Dan Sefton, the show's title was inspired by the film The Exotic Marigold Hotel, the progamme is a life-affirming tale set in the present day in a small hospital in the fictional seaside town of Barco.
Redman says the show is perfect Sunday night viewing during a British winter.
'Theres something special about this project.
'Im especially fond of Lydia because shes as close to me as any character Ive ever played.
So much so that when my agent sent me the script she said, All Im going to say about this part is its NAR no acting required!
Crown Princess Mary gave the fash-pack a run for their money in the sartorial stakes as she stepped out at Copenhagen Fashion Week on Tuesday.
The royal was resplendent in a jewel-embellished black coat, cigarette pants and white jumper as she arrived at the opening of Copenhagen Fashion Week at the City Hall in Denmark.
The 44-year-old added a high-end feel to her look by offsetting it with a pair of Valentino rockstud heels.
Princess Mary was resplendent in a jewel-embellished black coat, cigarette pants and white jumper as she arrived at the opening of Copenhagen Fashion Week
The princess arrived at the City Hall in Denmark alongside Eva Kruse, CEO Copenhagen Fashion Summit, right
She added a pop of colour to her look with a bold pink slick of lipstick and accessorised with dazzling crystal earrings for the occasion
The style icon posed for photos with Eva Kruse, CEO Copenhagen Fashion Summit.
She added a pop of colour to her look with a bold pink slick of lipstick and accessorised with dazzling crystal earrings for the occasion.
Copenhagen fashion week runs every February and August and prides itself on being the largest fashion show in the Nordic Region.
The royal was resplendent in a jewel-embellished black coat, cigarette pants and white jumper as she arrived at the opening of Copenhagen Fashion Week
The princess again proved she can't go wrong when it comes to her spot-on style
She added a pop of colour to her look with a bold pink slick of lipstick and wore her hair in a loose bun
The main venue of the show is at the City Hall of Copenhagen in the city centre.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark proved yet again she can't go wrong when it comes to style, as she attended events in Copenhagen while dressed warmly for the wintery weather last week.
Princess Mary and Prince Frederik visited Tante Olga Kindergarten on Wednesday with President Guni Thorlacius Johannesson of Iceland and First Lady Eliza Reid as part of their tour of Denmark, reported Yahoo 7.
Copenhagen fashion week runs every February and August and prides itself on being the largest fashion show in the Nordic Region
Crown Princess Mary looks at models presenting fashion in Copenhagen, Denmark
The group were at the kindergarten to see how students are using materials from the Mary Foundation, which was set up help fight bullying and well-being, domestic violence and loneliness.
The Princess was dressed in a navy and blue tartan dress, just visible underneath a smart charcoal blue coat.
She accessorised her winter look with maroon leather gloves, pointed suede maroon pumps with a matching maroon clutch bag tucked under her arm.
She wore her long brown hair loose, with small diamond earrings.
As the Crown Princess chatted to students outside, who were rugged up in coats and beanies against the cold, she accepted small bunches of colourful flowers.
Copenhagen fashion week runs every February and August and prides itself on being the largest fashion show in the Nordic Region
The main venue of the show is at the City Hall of Copenhagen in the city centre
Models present creations from the collection of Designers' Nest Award, under the patronage of Danish Crown Princess Mary
That same day Princess Mary and Prince Frederik were also seen with the Icelandic royals at the Copenhagen Hospitality School for a cooking workshop.
The royal couples enjoyed a presentation from the cooking school, before sampling a range of canapes and sipping from glasses of champagne.
On Friday, Crown Princess Mary also made an appearance at the Women's Board Award presentation.
Miss Bulgaria has become a real life fairy godmother after she donated her pageant gown to a mother who could not afford a dress for her daughter's prom.
Violina Ancheva donated her bejeweled blue gown that she wore to the Miss Universe preliminary rounds to single mother Issay Gallano from the Philippines.
The pageant queen decided to give away the dress by American designer Sherri Hill to Issay after hearing that she is unable to afford one for her daughter's school ball.
Miss Bulgaria Violina Anchev donated her Miss Universe gown to single mother Issay Gallano who was struggling to afford a dress for her daughter's prom
According to Violina every contestant was gifted a gown by the famed American designer for taking part.
The kind-hearted beauty queen had always had the intention of donating her two piece royal blue outfit, posting a status on Facebook revealing she was looking to rehome it.
On Monday she wrote: 'To my Filipino friends: Dear friends, I would like to give as a present my Miss Universe Gown to one of you that really want it and need it.
'I want to give the dress to a girl in need that can't buy a dress for her prom the next month.
Violina took to social media to find a home for her Sherri Hill gown and received a message from Issay who wanted the dress for her 18-year-old daughter (pictured in the dress)
'Please write to me a personal message for details. I am leaving soon, so please hurry up. PLEASE,SHARE THIS POST! I WANT THIS DRESS TO FIND IT'S NEW OWNER!'
Violina posted the status before she departed the Philippines where the Miss Universe 2017 competition was held.
She was quickly met by hundreds of requests before she finally settled on Issay who lives in Manila.
After finding a home for the dress Violina told CNN: 'In this dress I have had very happy moments and I want the girl who wears the dress to feel beautiful and happy.'
Violina, pictured with fellow contestants, wore the two piece dress to the Miss Universe preliminary rounds
The interview sees Violina meet with Issay whose 18-year-old daughter has a prom to attend in a couple of weeks.
The pair share an emotional embrace before Violina hands the dress over to Issay who admits to planning to pawn her necklace to afford her daughter's dress.
Violina says that this might be the 'most beautiful she has ever done for someone' and has pleaded with Issay to send her a video of her daughter's reaction.
Fulfilling her request earlier today Issay shared a photograph on Facebook of her daughter in the dress which has thus far received just over 500 likes.
Violina lost out to French contestant Iris Mittenaere who took the prestigious title of Miss Universe on Sunday.
The Prince of Wales has joked about his days as a schoolboy coastguard, wishing an aircraft carrier would run aground so he could save everyone on board.
Speaking at an award ceremony recognising the achievements of members of uniformed youth organisations such as the Scouts and St John Ambulance, he said his time as a young volunteer was 'very good' for him.
The Social Action Awards were organised by the umbrella organisation Youth United which, through its charitable arm, funds the creation of new volunteering places for youngsters in deprived and disadvantaged areas of the country.
The Prince of Wales, Patron of the Youth United Foundation, attended the Youth United Social Action Awards at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The inaugural Youth United Social Action Awards celebrated the work of the uniformed youth organisations and the achievements of thousands of young people who have made an outstanding effort to bring about positive change in their local community
The Prince, who is Youth United's founder and patron, told guests at the Buckingham Palace ceremony: 'Interestingly, I was a cadet myself years ago, dread to think it was in the 1960s I suppose, and I did rather enjoy my time as a cadet, very good for me it was I think.'
Speaking about his time at Gordonstoun school in Morayshire, Charles added: 'And also, I then became a coastguard at the school I was at in Scotland.
'We actually had to do real-life coastguard work.'
He made his audience laugh when he said: 'We had a coastguard lookout on the coast on the cliffs, and most of the time we spent hoping that some enormous aircraft carrier would run aground so that we could rescue the entire crew with what was then a very complicated set of breeches buoys.'
Prince Charles appeared rather taken by a cheeky little girl at the event. The vast majority of the young people, who are aged between four and 25-years old, have come from disadvantaged areas which have benefited from Youth United's work to create more than 40,000 new places within groups such as the Army Cadet Force, Fire Cadets, The Scout Association, Sea Cadets, St John Ambulance and Volunteer Police Cadet
Speaking at an award ceremony recognising the achievements of members of uniformed youth organisations such as the Scouts and St John Ambulance, he said his time as a young volunteer was 'very good' for him
The Social Action Awards highlight the achievements of new branches of Youth United member organisations
The winners ranged from volunteer police cadets from Wisbech fire station and Meadowgate in Cambridgeshire
Prince Charles poses with all the winners in the grand surroundings of Buckingham Palace
The royal greets cadets from the royal air force at the event he organised
Before the presentations were made, Rob Wilson, the minister for civil society, gave a speech
The father-of-two was in high spirits as he laughed and chatted away to guests
Prince Charles, an avid fan of dogs, petted a black Labrador at the event
Speaking about his time at Gordonstoun school in Morayshire, pictured in 1967 after returning from school, Charles added: 'And also, I then became a coastguard at the school I was at in Scotland'
Youth United is made up of 11 member organisations from the RAF Air Cadets and the Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade to the Scout Association and Girlguiding.
The Social Action Awards highlight the achievements of new branches of Youth United member organisations.
The winners ranged from volunteer police cadets from Wisbech fire station and Meadowgate in Cambridgeshire, who cleared litter from a local area, to Newham Cornwell VC Sea Cadets from London, who made up toiletry shoeboxes for the homeless.
The inaugural Youth United Social Action Awards celebrate the work of the uniformed youth
The Prince applauded the efforts of the winners at Buckingham Palace
Kim Pybus, the executive officer of the winning sea cadets organisation, said: 'The shoebox project for a homeless shelter was amazing, it was the juniors' pocket money that actually purchased all the items for the shoeboxes - socks, hats, gloves and other essential items a homeless person would need.'
Before the presentations were made, Rob Wilson, the minister for civil society, gave a speech and told the guests: 'We know that by giving young people an opportunity at an early age, they go on to become leaders of their own social change and help to build strong communities.'
If Prince Harry decides to pop the question to his girlfriend Meghan Markle, the royal won't have to worry about the actress throwing a wild bachelorette party.
Before it was revealed that the two were dating, the 35-year-old Suits star penned a blog post about the dream bachelorette vacation she planned as her friend Lindsey's maid of honor.
'The thought of running around a city trying to get into clubs and wearing headbands of the phallic persuasion didnt seem very on brand for us, I opted instead to woo the bride to be with a more low-key stagette,' she wrote on her lifestyle website, The Tig, in July.
Fun in the sun: Meghan Markle (center) penned a blog post about the dream bachelorette vacation she planned for her friend in June, around the time she started dating Prince Harry
Gorgeous scenery: Meghan, the bride-to-be, and another friend headed to the quiet island of Hydra in Greece for a low-key bachelorette weekend
When in Greece: The star's vacation photos see her enjoying a can of Pils Hellas Greek beer
Instead of tearing up the town, Meghan organized a weekend jaunt to Greece for the bride-to-be and their friend just a month or so after she and Prince Harry had reportedly started dating.
The California-native explained that her friend Lindsey was spending have of her time in London, so it was easy for them to escape to the island of Hydra, which is a two-hour ferry from Athens.
Meghan lovingly described the island as a 'little rock trapped in time with the only mode of transportation being bikes or donkeys'.
The actress, who currently lives in Toronto, where her show Suits is filmed, admitted that part of the appeal of Hydra was the serenity because there is not much to do aside from walking around the town, hiking, eating, swimming, and napping.
Laid back: The 35-year-old Suits star admitted she couldn't picture going to clubs and wearing 'headbands of the phallic persuasion' with her friends
Ultimate vacation: During the trip, Meghan enjoyed Greek food and dips in the Aegean Sea
Time for wine: The actress kept her head down as she posed with her chilled glass of rose
Paradise: Meghan lovingly described the island as a 'little rock trapped in time with the only mode of transportation being bikes or donkeys'
'There is something wholly cathartic about being able to turn it all off to sunbathe with no one watching, swim in the briny Mediterranean Sea, eat copious amounts of Greek salads and fried red mullets, and toast to the day,' she explained.
Meghan kicked off their vacation by sharing an Instagram photo of herself carrying her suitcase in the airport before posting an elevator selfie when they arrived in Greece.
The star's low-key vacation photos see her enjoying everything from a can of Pils Hellas Greek beer to a chilled glass of rose.
She also posed in front of the stunning scenery and snapped photos with her two friends throughout the getaway.
Snapping selfies: Meghan took photos of her and her two friends as soon as they hopped in the elevator at their hotel
Relaxing: The trio spent the night in Athens before heading to the island
Memories: Meghan is pictured at the airport before her trip (left) and serving as the maid of honor at her friend's wedding a month later (right)
A little over a month later, Meghan donned pink Lela Rose gown to serve as Lindsey's maid of honor at her August wedding in New York City.
Meghan and her ex-husband, movie producer Trevor Engleson, had a destination wedding at the Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios in front of about 100 guests in 2011 after dating for seven years.
The two split in 2013, and in November 2016, Prince Harry confirmed that he had been been dating the star for a few months.
Unsurprisingly, there has been plenty of speculation about two having a royal wedding, and a few days ago, Meghan's Suits co-star Patrick J. Adams did little to quell the rumors after hinting that she could be a 'future princess of England'.
Royal romance: Prince Harry confirmed last November that he has been dating Meghan for months
Working: Meghan is pictured with her Suits co-star Patrick J. Adams, who plays her character Rachel's fiance Mike
The Suits star took to Reddit last Wednesday to take part in a Q&A with fans, and while some wanted to know about the show, talk soon turned to the royal romance.
Canadian actor Patrick, 35, plays Meghan's on-screen fiance Mike Ross on the cult NBC show, and referring to their steamy kissing scenes, Redditor swaminator201 asked him: 'What's it like making out on-screen with the potentially future princess of England?'
Intriguingly, Patrick chose neither to confirm or deny the reference to his co-star being a 'future princess'.
He simply replied: 'The same as it was before she was potentially a future princess of England.'
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin made a surprise debut at New York Men's Fashion Week in a Mars-themed show.
Designer Nick Graham created a range of garments for the discerning gentleman who may take and adventure to the red planet.
Aldrin told the crowd he was going to have to contact Donald Trump about his major infrastructure spending plans and suggest a greater emphasis on space travel.
Man of many talents: Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin went from walking on the Moon to walking on the runway as he starred in Nick Graham's New York Fashion Week show on Tuesday
Quite a trio: Buzz, 86, was also joined by TV scientist Bill Nye (right) for designer Nick's (left) show, which was titled Life on Mars: Fall-Winter 2035
Getting ready: Before taking on the challenge, Buzz praised the collection as being 'very Mars-friendly'
He said: 'I have to tell the president that exploration inspires more than fixing potholes.'
Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, earned cheers from the several hundred who attended the show in a hulking empty warehouse when he appeared to moonwalk down the catwalk in a silver bomber jacket and sneakers.
Buzz became the second man to walk on the Moon during the historic 1969 spaceflight, having followed his mission commander Neil Armstrong on to the surface. Only 12 men in history have ever had the honor.
'Ive walked on the Moon, so how hard can it be to walk in a fashion show,' Buzz told WWD back when his appearance in the fashion show was announced. 'Nicks collection is very Mars-friendly and every astronaut should look their best when they land there.'
Nick tells Daily Mail Online that he met Buzz four years ago through mutual friend Richard Branson, but only had the idea to invite Buzz to the space-inspired show two weeks ago.
'Hes an amazing guy, and hes all about going to Mars, so it was a great fit,' says Nick. 'Mars is the new black!'
Indeed, Buzz has been an ardent supporter of NASA's plan to send people to Mars by 2035, and during the show sported logos on his T-shirt and bomber jacket bearing the words: 'Get your a** to Mars.'
Designer Nick Graham explains that the collection was inspired by the spacesuits worn by astronauts like Buzz, but also made with the day-to-day life of future Mars-dwellers in mind, who would presumably still 'go out to restaurants and out on dates - so what will we wear?'
NASA legend Buzz modeled a chrome bomber jacket and matching sneakers during the show
Buzz Aldrin is pictured saluting Bill Nye, who served as the show's narrator
Buzz has been a vocal about his support for NASA's Mars landing mission
Spaceman: Buzz was the second man on the Moon (pictured above in a photo taken by his fellow astronaut, Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon)
Aside from the high-shine metallics that are included throughout the collection for a space age-vibe, there are also metallic rocket prints and flashing lapel pins - 'for if you find yourself lost in a Martian discotheque,' says Nick.
The show also featured a projected journey from Earth to Mars using visuals from the Hayden Planetarium
Closing out the show, Buzz modeled the chrome bomber with matching silver sneakers as well as as plenty of multi-colored bracelets and rings.
In true action hero style, the astronaut popped a salute to the show's Master of Ceremonies Bill Nye during the appearance.
After the show was over, Nick claims that Buzz was simply flying: 'He loved it! He came off the runway and said: "Lets do that again!" He just had a blast.'
And it won't be the last time Nick collaborates with the American hero. 'I have already made some pieces for him to wear this July to the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Apollo missions.
While his triumph on the Moon may have been well over four decades ago, Buzz has never stopped being a trailblazer. Aside from taking his very first walk on the runway, just last month he also became the oldest person to reach the South Pole.
Legendary: Buzz - then 39 - is pictured during the lunar landing mission on July 20, 1969
Another milestone: Just last month, Buzz became the oldest person to reach the South Pole
Cut short: During the trip, Buzz fell ill with congestion in his lungs and had to be evacuated to a hospital in New Zealand
Back to health: While he was in the hospital recovering, Buzz learned of the death of fellow astronaut John Glenn, who was the first American to orbit the Earth
Missing a friend: Last week, Buzz paid tribute to his 'best friend' Ed White, who died in a fire during a countdown rehearsal for the Apollo 1 mission 50 years ago
Unfortunately, he fell ill during the visit with congestion in his lungs, forcing his trip to be cut short as he was immediately evacuated to a hospital in New Zealand.
'I got out of breath, you know. That's nothing new. Except it's a little more concentrated. It's cold and you got a heavy stuff and not much air to breathe up there,' he told Al Roker of the Today Show shortly after his recovery.
Despite the pain of his medical struggles, Buzz deemed the excursion 'worth it'.
'When turning back is about as difficult as pressing on you press on because you got an objective,' he said.
While in the hospital he learned of the passing of fellow astronaut and first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn, who passed away December 8, age 95.
The pair met years before their astronomical feats in the 1960s, having both been fighter pilots in the Korean War. Buzz described John as a 'typical all-American guy', whom he 'admired so much'.
Just last week, Buzz paid tribute to another set of fallen comrades as the Apollo 1 disaster reached its 50th anniversary.
The fire, which occurred during a countdown rehearsal at the launch pad, took the lives of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee on January 27, 1967.
To mark the date, Buzz wrote on Twitter: 'Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire. We didn't only lose fellow astronauts. We lost friends. Ed White was my best friend.'
Brexit has had an effect on the number of nurses registering to work in Britain, new figures show.
Currently in a 'winter crisis', the NHS already has a staff shortage with 24,000 nursing vacancies advertised across the country.
But the number of European nurses moving to work in Britain has fallen by more than 90 per cent following the controversial vote, last June.
Now, experts warn the NHS could suffer a further crisis if the current trend continues, with hospitals across the country already over-stretched.
Decline: The number of European nurses has free-fallen since millions voted to leave the EU
Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said it was the first sign of a change following the EU referendum.
She told AFP: 'It is our responsibility as the regulator to share these figures with the public. With 24,000 nursing vacancies across the UK, the NHS simply could not cope without the contribution from EU nurses.
'We need a guarantee that EU nationals working in the NHS can remain.
'Without that, it will be much harder to retain and recruit staff from the EU, and patient care will suffer as a result.'
Just 101 nurses and midwives from EU nations registered in December, compared with 1,304 in July - the month following the vote, data from the RCN revealed.
Just 101 nurses and midwives from EU nations registered in December, compared with 1,304 in July - the month following the vote
Official figures comparing the monthly averages for previous years show 204 nurses registering in 2016.
With 24,000 nursing vacancies across the UK, the NHS simply could not cope without the contribution from EU nurses Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing
This was down from the 820 estimated in 2015 and 707 the year previous.
However, Ms Davies stresses that it was not possible to link the fall in registrations with Brexit 'definitively'.
But she added that the sharp decline of the pound has cut wages for those looking to move to Britain.
There are almost 700,000 nurses currently registered in the UK, of which 84.8 per cent are British.
It is estimated that 5.6 per cent are from nations within the EU, with the remaining being from other areas of the world.
UNTRAINED NURSES Some 2,000 untrained nurses are to be installed in hospitals amid a desperate shortage of qualified staff, it was announced in November. Dubbed 'nursing on the cheap', they will be responsible for giving patients potentially lethal drugs including morphine. They will also be asked to insert tubes and monitor patients' breathing, temperature and heart rate to check they aren't deteriorating. Critics fear they will be used by hospitals to replace qualified nurses. Advertisement
The nursing shortage will continue for years and may get even worse, a report warned last July.
Almost a third of nurses are over 50 and many will retire within the next ten years, The Institute for Employment Studies noted.
The crisis has come about because the Government slashed the number of nurse training posts between 2009 and 2013 by 17 per cent.
But this coincided with a sudden increase in demand on wards, partly due to the aging population as well as fresh concerns that patients were being neglected.
And research in 2015 found that hundreds of patients die every year after emergency surgery because there are not enough nurses to care for them.
A five-year investigation into death rates in English NHS hospitals found those with the highest staffing levels had the lowest death rates.
MailOnline have contacted NHS England for a comment, but are yet to receive a response.
Men can now check their sperm's strength from the comfort of their home - using an app.
YO Home Sperm Test has been developed to turned the camera of smartphones into a microscope powerful enough to see the concentration of sperm.
The higher the concentration, the better chance a man has at successful fertilization.
The app's developers claim it will save millions of men the often embarrassing process of going to doctor's office.
YO Home Sperm Test is a new app that has been developed to test men's motile, or moving, sperm count from the comfort of home
Users fill a sample cup and then mix it with a powder. After letting it sit, it is inserted into an attached phone clip, which analyzes the sample for sperm count and motility
YO, developed by Los Angeles-based technology company Medical Electronic Systems, assesses motile sperm concentration, or the number of moving sperm.
It is an attempt to have younger men catch any issues as early as possible.
In theory, the YO test lets men digest the results of the highly personal test in the comfort of their home, before having to see a doctor.
Following a download of the app, users purchase a $50 starter kit that comes with a collection cups, liquefying powder to mix with the sample, testing slides, a plastic pipette and a YO clip.
The clip attaches to your Android or iPhone to take a video of your sample.
To begin testing, users collect their sample in the cup. Then, one vial of liquefying powder is added and the sample is gently mixed for between 10 to 15 seconds.
Next, users set aside the sample, which will turn slightly pink, for about 10 minutes.
Once the sample is ready, users mix it again and draw some of it into the pipette.
Then, on the testing slide, some of the liquid is placed on a red dot, which will slowly fill the base of the slide.
The filled slide is finally placed into the YO Clip all the way and then users tap 'start testing'.
In about 30 seconds, the app take a video of the sample and then spends a couple of minutes analyzing before the video appears on the screen along with a sperm count and motility.
The app also includes a sperm trivia challenge that men can play as their sample is sitting
In approximately 40 percent of infertile couples, the male partner is either the sole cause or a contributing cause of infertility
YO is FDA-approved, and according to reports, is a medically legitimate way of figuring out a male's fertility status.
A couple is said to be infertile if there is no pregnancy after one year of normal sexual activity without contraceptives.
In approximately 40 percent of infertile couples, the male partner is either the sole cause or a contributing cause of infertility.
There are many causes of male infertility including a low sperm count, sperm that don't move quickly enough (they die before they reach the egg) and sperm that are not formed correctly.
The majority of fertility treatments, however, have been geared towards women in the form of fertility drugs to stimulate ovulation or surgery to fix problems such as an abnormal uterine shape or blocked Fallopian tubes.
Women can also receive reproductive assistance through procedures such as intrauterine insemination, where millions of healthy sperm are placed inside the uterus close to the time of ovulation.
For men, such treatments that currently exist include a few fertility drugs and surgery in the form of varicocele repair, ejaculatory duct resection and vasectomy reversal.
Many fertility treatments have been geared women in the form of apps or drugs. CEO Marcia Deutsche said: 'No other company is tackling male reproductive health in this manner'
Another treatment commonly offered is to find a sperm donor for their partner.
In a statement, the firm's CEO Marcia Deutsche said: 'The explosion of apps and wearables dedicated to optimizing the chance of pregnancy is evidence that people crave more awareness of their fertility status.
'However, the bulk of these new technology tools cater to women. No other company is tackling male reproductive health in this manner.'
While there have been other home test kits for men on the market, Deutsche said YO is different in that it also offers a motility assessment in addition to a sperm count.
'If a man is producing 100 million sperm and they are all dead or not swimming, it's useless to know your sperm concentration is "normal".
'The key is to assess sperm that are moving, as these are the sperm that will fertilize an egg during normal conception.
'YO is trailblazing a new approach offering consumers valuable and reliable information and bringing clarity to one of life's biggest moments, that of starting a family.'
Hayley Fraser was four when she was able to clutch a teddy in both hands for the first time.
Hayley, now seven, from Inverness, was born without a fully formed left hand.
Had her parents accepted the offer of the standard type of prosthetic hand available on the NHS, holding her bear in this way might not have been possible.
In 2014, Hayley Fraser (pictured) was the first in the UK to get a prosthetic hand which costs just 50 to make and lets her grip and hold things as normal
For while the NHS hands look realistic, they lack function, making it difficult to, say, flush the loo or peel a banana.
There are hooks or claws that work well, but don't look good. And there are dextrous robotic hands, but these cost tens of thousands of pounds each.
But, in 2014, Hayley was the first in the UK to have a prosthetic that looks more hand-like, but costs just 50 to make and lets her grip and hold things as normal. And it's all thanks to 3D printing.
The 3D technique is now being widely used in healthcare to help make everything from new hands to replacement skulls.
Last year, cosmetics giant L'Oreal announced it had developed technology that could lead to 3D printing of hair follicles capable of sprouting new hair.
And surgeons in Kent began using 3D printed bones to help fix severe fractures.
The 3D technology involves using a machine similar to an ordinary printer.
But the machines 'print' layer upon layer of materials such as plastic, metal or wax to form the finished article. They are even being used to print living cells.
Hayley Fraser (pictured) was four when she was able to clutch a teddy in both hands for the first time. She was born without a fully formed left hand
The objects are relatively cheap to produce and, because they're based on data from scans, can be very precise.
Here, we look at some of the ways 3D technology is being used to improve healthcare...
3D-PRINT YOUR DRUGS
Medications are factory-produced, so patients may be told to split them if they need a dose that differs from the standard.
But 3D-printing could allow drugs to be produced at doses tailored to individuals.
Medications are factory-produced, so patients may be told to split them for smaller doses, but 3D-printing could allow drugs to be produced at doses tailored to individuals
Small batches of drugs can be produced so cheaply by 3D printers that, in five to ten years, pharmacists could be able to custom-print prescriptions in their shop, says Dr Simon Gaisford, head of pharmaceutics at University College London.
In a recent trial, he also printed drugs in shapes and colours likely to appeal to children, including a red octopus and a yellow dinosaur.
MODELS TO HELP WITH SURGERY
When John Cousins, who owns a 3D-printing company, needed an op to remove a kidney stone in 2015, he offered to print his surgeon a life-size model of his kidney from a scan.
The plaster of Paris model pulled apart to reveal a replica of his stone.
'I could see the exact location of the stone and plan the precise angle of our surgical instruments,' says his surgeon, Bhaskar Somani, a consultant urologist at University Hospital Southampton.
A life-size replica of a patient's organ helps doctors plan the surgery in advance, and is likely to limit the number of mistakes being made in the operating theatre
Katie Parke, eight, from Northern Ireland, has also benefited from the technology.
She has a lung condition that means she needs regular 'lung washing' treatments, using a tube.
Standard tubes are too large for children, so surgeons would previously work out which ones to use by trial and error during the operation.
'The wrong-sized tube could slip out and prolong the procedure,' says Dr Mike Sury, a consultant anaesthetist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Katie is treated.
But 3D-printed replicas of Katie's growing windpipe mean her doctors can choose the right tubes in advance.
PELVIS FOR CANCER PATIENT
The 3D printer technology has also saved a cancer patient from becoming severely disabled.
The man, from London, had a rare bone cancer, chondrosarcoma, which did not respond to drugs or radiotherapy. The tumour in his pelvis bone had to be removed with half his pelvis.
Illustration of a bioprinted human bone. The 3D printer technology has saved a cancer patient from becoming severely disabled
Craig Gerrand, an orthopaedic surgeon at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, offered the patient a 3D-printed replacement half-pelvis, made of titanium, as well as standard hip replacement, which would attach to it.
'He walks with a stick because important muscles have been removed, but it's better than without a reconstruction,' says Mr Gerrand.
Meanwhile, in 2014, a Dutch woman with a skull-thickening disease had her skull replaced with a 3D-printed plastic one.
Without it, her brain functions would have been impaired and she would have died.
SKIN AND BLOOD VESSELS
Bioprinting uses the 3D technique to print living cells.
In 2008, Japanese scientist Professor Makoto Nakamura invented a bioprinter able to print matter similar to a blood vessel.
He is now in a race with U.S. firm Organovo to print the world's first artificial transplantable organ. Experts say it's most likely to be a kidney.
In 2015, Organovo began working with L'Oreal to develop 3D-bioprinted skin tissue, which could potentially help victims of burns and trauma.
The company has also launched 3D-printed human liver tissue made from human liver cells for use in drug testing.
In 2015, academics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh announced they'd developed a 3D printer sophisticated enough to print ultra-delicate human stem cells using donor adult stem cells. They aim to produce tissue for drug testing.
And scientists at the Meso-Brain project, led by Aston University in Birmingham, are using stem cells to develop 3D-printed replicas of the brain tissue to test new drugs for brain disease, such as dementia.
A blood test that can detect sepsis in five minutes could save thousands of lives.
The revolutionary test has just been approved in Europe and could be used in NHS hospitals next year to prevent deaths.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's immune system over-reacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs.
This can be triggered by anything from cuts and bites to urinary or chest infections. About 150,000 people develop sepsis in the UK every year, with 44,000 deaths.
Many deaths could be avoided with greater awareness of symptoms and faster treatment.
A blood test that can detect sepsis in five minutes could save thousands of lives. It has just been approved in Europe and could be used in NHS hospitals next year to prevent deaths
The Daily Mail's End The Sepsis Scandal campaign has repeatedly called for a radical improvement in how the NHS tackles the condition.
Sepsis is treatable with intravenous antibiotics and fluids, but these must be given very early on. If not treated promptly, it can lead to tissue damage and major organ failure.
Even if a patient survives, they can suffer brain damage or loss of limbs.
Diagnosis is currently based on an assessment of clinical signs such as a high temperature, abnormal heart and breathing rates.
The most reliable way to confirm diagnosis is to send a blood sample to a laboratory, where it is cultured and tested for a number of proteins thought to be affected by infection.
But this is not sufficiently sensitive or specific and results can take up to three days.
This is why The UK Sepsis Trust advises that, if sepsis is suspected, antibiotic treatment should begin within an hour of diagnosis, even before blood tests are taken.
However, a new fast-track test could help with diagnosis. The breakthrough for the technology came in 2012 when Swiss researchers found that a protein called pancreatic stone protein (PSP) in the blood is only raised in patients with sepsis.
We all have some of this protein in our blood, but studies have shown that someone with sepsis has dramatically higher levels.
The UK Sepsis Trust advises that, if sepsis is suspected, antibiotic treatment should begin within an hour of diagnosis, even before blood tests are taken
Scientists have developed a test for it: the abioSCOPE is roughly the size of a domestic coffee machine and can be used by patients' bedsides in A&E and intensive care units.
THE FIVE WARNING SIGNS If a child or adult who has had any infection even a mild cold develops one or more of the following symptoms, call 999 immediately and say you think they have sepsis: 1. Abnormally cold to touch. 2. Breathing rapidly or struggling for breath. 3. Very lethargic or difficult to rouse. 4. No urine (or wet nappy) for over 12 hours. 5. Skin mottled, blueish or extremely pale. If sepsis is suspected by doctors, antibiotic treatment must begin as soon as possible ideally within an hour of diagnosis even before blood tests have been carried out. Advertisement
To carry out the test, a single drop of blood is taken from a patient's finger and mixed with a chemical that helps the abioSCOPE work.
The sample is then put in the abioSCOPE machine, which analyses the blood. The blood interacts with sensors that detect PSP levels. Test results are displayed on a screen and can be transferred wirelessly to hospital records.
This entire process takes only five minutes.
Commenting on the new test, Dr Ron Daniels, a consultant in critical care and chief executive of The UK Sepsis Trust, says: 'Any test that can help us identify sepsis earlier is likely to help save lives, especially if it can help differentiate between people with sepsis and those with symptoms of infection from other causes.
'This new test for some patients we're unsure about might work well as part of the jigsaw in deciding whether or not to start antibiotics.
'It will not provide the answer alone. However, it is a step forward.'
A key drug used to treat patients with malaria in the UK has failed for the first time, doctors have warned.
Four patients showed signs of the tropical disease after returning from their travels to the African continent last year.
Despite their first treatment initially working, they were all readmitted to hospital a month later when the infection returned, according to clinical reports.
But experts warn that it could be the start of a drug-resistant form of the disease which could pose a threat to humans.
Four patients were initially given a combination of drugs to treat malaria. Despite it working at first, the disease returned a month later and they had to have another form of therapy (stock)
Experts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine analysed the self-referred patients blood samples.
Two of the cases had recently returned from Uganda, one had just came back from Angola and the other from Liberia.
They found the treatment failure was due to strains of the disease showing reduced susceptibility to the drug combination of artemether-lumefantrine (AL).
Luckily other therapies were used to treat them effectively, preventing them from succumbing to the deadly disease.
Dr Colin Sutherland, who led the study, now argues that this drug combination may need reviewing for future use.
He said: 'Fortunately there are other effective drugs available.
Experts have warned that these cases could be the start of a drug-resistant form of the disease that poses a threat to humans
'Frontline doctors should be alert to the possibility of artemisinin-based drugs failing, and assist with the collection of detailed information about specific travel destinations.
'A concerted effort to monitor AL outcomes in UK malaria patients needs to be made. This will determine whether our front-line malaria treatment drug is under threat.
MALARIA VACCINE Experts last year claimed the world's first vaccine offering long-term protection against it could be available in just two years. The revolutionary innoculation was found to protect adults from the infection for more than a year during trials. Scientists at the University of Maryland said the breakthrough could one day wipe out the mass killer. It offers protection which would work in a similar way to mosquito tablets. And it has the potential to help travelers, military personnel and children living in malaria-endemic areas, they said. Advertisement
'The good news is that our collaborative infectious disease warning and testing systems which are in place, overseen by Public Health England, are highly effective.'
All the patients were identified by self-referral which suggests more cases of treatment failure in the UK may have occurred, Dr Sutherland added.
The cases were all between October 2015 and February 2016, the study published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy noted.
Malaria is found in more than 100 countries, including large parts of Africa, Asia and Central America.
The World Health Organization estimates that 14 million people were infected with malaria and 438,000 died in 2015.
Despite the tropical disease not being found in the UK, around 1,500 travelers are believed to be diagnosed with it each year.
If malaria is diagnosed and treated promptly, most will make a full recovery - but it can be deadly without medical care.
Children who embrace physical activity aren't just physically fitter - but have a greater chance of good mental health, too.
Youngsters who regularly exercise are less likely to develop mood disorders as adults, scientists have found.
Researchers assessed 800 young people over four years - from ages 6 to 10 - and noted a considerable link between activity and well-adjustment.
Investment: Children who break a sweat are less susceptible to depression in adulthood
If confirmed in other randomized studies, the results could help off-set rising rates of depression in adolescents and young adults, which has reached record levels.
According to charity YoungMinds, the number of young people aged 15-16 with depression nearly doubled between the 1980s and the 2000s, likely costing the NHS millions.
'This is important to know, because it may suggest that physical activity can be used to prevent and treat depression already in childhood,' said study author Silje Steinsbekk, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
She added that any effective physical exertion must cause children to perspire or be out-of-breath.
Low: Men's suicide rates are at a record high and anxiety disorders are generally higher today
Move it: A youngster's physical exertion must cause them to perspire or be out-of-breath
The findings published in the Pediatrics Journal come just weeks after Swiss and German researchers assessed 6,500 teenagers to examine the link between depression and physical illnesses.
Academics at the University of Basel discovered that periods of depression were frequently followed by arthritis and diseases of the digestive system.
They also found that youngsters suffering from anxiety have a higher chance of being plagued by a host of skin diseases.
'While children can develop depression for a whole range of reasons, regular exercise and healthy eating are likely to be beneficial for mental health, even at a young age,' Dr Marc Bush from YoungMinds said.
'Childhood is when our mental health is developed and patterns are set for the future so its important that parents and schools encourage children to form good habits for the future.'
Snowfall increases the rate of heart attack hospitalizations by 23 percent, a new study reveals.
The report by Harvard University comes as snow batters the Northeast of the US and Britain prepares to face a snowy Storm Doris in the coming days.
According to an analysis of hospital admissions, there tends to be a spike in patients with major heart-related issues just two days after the white stuff has dropped.
Experts believe it may be due to strenuous snow shoveling, the stress from being stuck indoors and delays in getting to hospitals as a result of the weather.
British people aren't to worry, scientists claim, as only nations who consider five inches as 'moderate' are at risk - such as the US.
Scientists have found that hospital admissions for major heart-related issues increase by 23 per cent just two days after snow has fallen
Harvard University researchers assessed 433,037 hospital admissions at four hospitals in Boston between 2010 and 2015.
The amount of people being taken to hospital for heart issues decreased by 32 per cent on days of snow, they found.
Though admissions of the same kind jumped up just two days after, according to the study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
This could be due to previous research which has pointed towards a 'snow-shovelers infarction', they said.
Heavy snow shoveling puts pressure on the body to keep up with the demands, leaving them at risk of straining their heart.
And the two-day delay could also reflect delays getting to the hospital during periods of heavy snow.
Experts believe the findings could be explained through strenuous snow shoveling and the stress from being stuck indoors having an impact on heart health
While attendances were also found to be higher on days of moderate snow - five to 10 inches, the researchers noted.
Rates were lower after high levels of snow had fallen, possibly because people are less likely to attempt to put their heart under strain, the study suggests.
SNOW SHOVELLING IS 'VIGOROUS' By Jack Goodman for The Conversation Snow shovelling can be an 'extremely vigorous' activity. In fact, it 'rivals the demands' of exercising on a treadmill or bicycle. Furthermore, shovelling often exceeds up to 90 per cent of a person's maximal exercise tolerance. But, the number of calories a person will burn by shovelling snow varies heavily. it depends on their weight, the amount of time they spend shoveling and their physical condition. Advertisement
Study author Jennifer Bobb said: 'With global climate change, major snowstorms may become more frequent and severe.
'Understanding trends in hospitalizations related to snowfall will help us develop ways to protect public health during harsh winter conditions.'
This comes after a study in September found bad weather - particularly rain and a lack of sunshine - can make chronic pain worse.
Manchester University researchers hoped that the information could be used to provide a daily 'pain forecast' app.
Britain is set to be battered by 100mph gales and heavy rain before a killer cold snap of -10C sets in later this month.
After last week's freeze, the Met Office forecasted heavy showers in England and Wales for the first half of this week, before strong gales set in across the British Isles.
It warned motorists and pedestrians to watch out for falling trees as the weather becomes increasingly unsettled.
Experts have warned that the stormy conditions could last up to 10 days but a cold chill could set in towards the end of the month.
One of the largest hospitals in the country is chasing a bill of more than 500,000 from a Nigerian woman who gave birth to quadruplets.
The 43-year-old, named only as Priscilla, went into labour three months early shortly after landing at Heathrow airport in November.
She had intended to give birth to the babies in Chicago, in the US, where she has family but was turned away by border officials upon arrival.
They claimed that although she had a visa, she did not have required documents from a hospital stating that she had the money to pay for the birth.
Health tourist? A 43 year-old Lagos native, known as Priscilla, is the subject of this week's BBC2 documentary Hospital after racking-up a 500,000 maternity bill
Priscilla, pictured, said she 'would never earn' enough to pay the bill for her treatment 'if she worked every day in her life'
Priscilla, a healthcare worker, said she was returning to Nigeria via London when she started having contractions.
She was taken to the Queen Charlottes and Chelsea Hospital in west London, part of Imperial College Hospital, where she delivered the four babies.
One sadly died shortly after birth while another, a girl named Deborah, passed away on Saturday. The other two, Elijah and Esther, are still being treated on the hospitals neonatal intensive care ward.
Staff estimate that the total bill for the highly complex birth and the care of the babies is already more than 500,000.
Pictured: One of Priscilla's children. She collapsed while on a stop-over in London and was rushed to hospital where she gave birth
Hospital overseas visitor manager Terry Facey said the cost to Priscilla would be huge and estimated intensive care would cost 20,000 per week per child
The cost of treating one baby in neonatal intensive care is 20,000 a week.
Priscilla is currently staying at a hostel run by a charity and is unable to afford the bill.
Her husband is in Nigeria, and cannot come to Britain to help take care of her as he does not have enough money for a visa or the flight.
Priscilla underwent IVF treatment, which has a high risk of multiple births, as she was struggling to conceive naturally due to her age.
She was told by her doctor to fly to the US to have her babies, as Nigerian hospitals do not have the facilities to cater for the children.
Her case is revealed tonight in the BBC 2 documentary Hospital, which exposes the pressures of health tourism on the trust.
When first warned of the high treatment costs by overseas visitor manager Terry Facey, she says: I didnt plan to come here.
Its only money. Money cant buy life. The last bill I had was 331,000 but even if I worked every day I would never earn that much money. My kids are priceless.
Mr Facey, who has worked at the trust for 12 years trying to collect bills for overseas patients, says: Those invoices are going to be huge ... 20 grand a week for each baby [in intensive care].
Hospital staff said patients can 'frequently disappear into the community', including this Palestinian man, pictured, who had an operation to remove kidney stones and then discharged himself early
A woman from the Philippines, pictured, known only as Sonia, had a heart operation after falling ill visiting her sister in the UK. Both have since flown home and neither can pay
'We will gently push forward and do what we have to do, were governed by the rules and regulations. They seem a bit fruitless at times.
Mr Facey is also chasing a bill of 59,000 from a 56-year-old woman from the Philippines who underwent heart surgery.
Sonia became ill in November while visiting her sister, and had the procedure in the renowned cardiac unit at trusts Hammersmith hospital.
It's only money. Money can't buy life. The last bill I had was 331,000 but even if I worked every day I would never earn that much money. My kids are priceless.
She has since recovered and flown home with her sister, but neither are able to pay the bill.
Sonia said she would have died if she had stayed in the Philippines as she would not have been able to afford the costs of surgery.
She developed sepsis shortly after the operation and was in intensive care for several days, which increased the bill further.
Mr Facey says other patients frequently disappear into the community before he has the chance to hand them an invoice.
These have included a Palestinian man who had an operation to remove kidney stones and then discharged himself early.
The patient had claimed he was an asylum seeker and therefore exempt from NHS charges.
But he left the hospital very shortly after the operation, before Mr Facey had been able to check his immigration status with the Home Office.
Debt collector: A member of staff at the hospital clutches a card machine in a bid to reclaim some of the money that's owed to the trust
Danger: The documentary comes after the British Red Cross last week warned hospitals were facing a 'humanitarian crisis'
Mr Facey says: Theres this assumption that its free of charge, but that isnt the case.
Some people might say Im hard hearted but I wouldnt accept that at all.
I have a capacity to ask a difficult question of someone in very difficult circumstances.
You certainly have to distance yourself emotively. Turn your emotions off. Without that, you wouldnt get the job done.
'Its a question of informing people that theyre going to be charged on the one hand, but also of informing them that they will be treated appropriately on the other.
Talking about her bill on the documentary, Priscilla, pictured, said 'It's only money. Money can't buy life'
Mr Facey says the majority of cases involve overseas patients who have fallen ill whilst visiting relatives in the UK.
He says only a few are health tourists deliberately targeting the NHS. A spokesman for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust declined to comment.
Last month it emerged that another hospital was chasing a Nigerian mother for a 350,000 bill after she had flown to Britain to give birth to twins.
The woman, who was not identified at the time, had a caesarean at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, after she was transferred there from another due to pregnancy complications.
Her twins then spent two months in intensive care.
The case was uncovered through a series of freedom of information requests, sent by the Daily Mail to all hospitals in England.
A spokesman confirmed the hospital was owed 348,683 by the mother, who gave birth in 2015.
Luton is one of just three paediatric intensive care units in the East of England, and the trust said it could not refuse treatment if there was a danger to life.
The responses from 90 hospitals revealed that 13,077 overseas patients were treated in the UK in 2015/16, including 3,066 pregnant women who flew in and had babies.
These women were responsible for some of the highest debts, the figures showed, and a significant number are understood to have come from Nigeria.
Good posture could help treat depression, a new study claims.
Previous research has showed that slouching can crush one's mood, and sitting straight does the opposite.
But an upcoming paper by the University of Auckland is the first to examine whether something as simple as posture could work for people clinically diagnosed with moderate depression.
Sitting up straight boosted energy, enthusiasm, and attention in people with depression
'Compared to sitting in a slumped position, sitting upright can make you feel more proud after a success, increase your persistence at an unsolvable task, and make you feel more confident in your thoughts,' lead researcher Dr Elizabeth Broadbent explains.
'Research also suggests that sitting upright can make you feel more alert and enthusiastic, feel less fearful, and have higher self-esteem after a stressful task.'
To investigate the concept, Dr Broadbent gathered a group of 61 participants, all diagnosed with mild-to-moderate depression.
While all of them tended to slouch, half of the group was told to sit with a straight back during a screening test. The rest could sit naturally.
Dr Broadbent gave the straight-backed group specific instructions: level your shoulders, pull your shoulder blades down and together, straighten your back, and extend the top of your head towards the ceiling.
She then stuck a stiff piece of tape, often used by physiotherapists, on their backs which would pull tight if they slouched.
Once in that position, the participants completed a high-pressured stress-measuring task.
HOW TO SIT STRAIGHT, ACCORDING TO THIS NEW STUDY Half of the 61 participants were told to sit straight. Lead researcher Dr Elizabeth Broadbent gave them instructions: Level your shoulders
Pull your shoulder blades down and together
Straighten your back
Extend the top of your head towards the ceiling Advertisement
They had to give a five-minute speech, which they were told would be judged, before counting backwards from 1,022 in blocks of 13.
During the test, they were randomly asked to fill out surveys about their mood and how they were feeling.
Overwhelmingly, those who were sat straight had more energy and more enthusiasm, Dr Broadbent explains in her paper, due to be published later this year.
They also articulated themselves better and spoke more words during the stressful test.
The findings could be transformative for a better understanding of mental health care.
Speaking to Psychology Today, Dr Broadbent explained that she started exploring the concept when she was feeling in a glum mood.
'I noticed that I was walking with my shoulders slumped and looking at the ground. I looked up and put my shoulders back, and immediately I felt much better,' she said.
'I hypothesized that, if this worked for me, it might work for other people, too.
'That is what got me started on this research pathway.
'From my own experience and from my research, I think adopting an upright posture can help people feel better.
'But I think much depends on context and situation, and more research is needed into when [this strategy] works and for whom.'
Anjali Lama will soon become the first transgender model to strut the catwalk at an Indian fashion show - and in doing so she hopes to inspire other victims of gender identity discrimination across conservative South Asia.
Born as a man in rural Nepal, Anjali was ostracised by members of her own family after telling them twelve years ago that she wanted to live as a woman.
But after overcoming abuse and prejudice to become the Himalayan country's first transgender model, she is now preparing to walk the runway at Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai, India's premier fashion show, next month.
Nepal's Anjali Lama, who will become the first transgender model to walk the ramp at an Indian fashion show, hopes to inspire other victims of gender identity discrimination across conservative South Asia
'Growing up in Nepal as a transgender was extremely difficult,' Lama, 32, told news agency AFP in an email interview ahead of the fashion extravaganza, which runs from February 1 to February 5.
'In South Asian countries people still aren't that accepting, they treat it like an illness. The public looks at you differently and treats you in a different manner.'
'One has to stay strong and reach out for their dreams,' she added.
Nepal's first transgender model Anjali Lama says she always knew that she had been born in the wrong body and in 2005 took the decision to dress as a woman for the first time
Lama was born Nabin Waiba to a family of poor farmers in remote Nuwakot in mountainous Nepal.
But she always knew that she had been born in the wrong body and in 2005 took the decision to dress as a woman for the first time.
'I knew I couldn't feel like another person living in someone else's body. Hence, I was ready to face the cruel words that people threw at me,' said the model.
'Most of the people, including my own brothers, weren't ready to accept me for who I was. I had to stay strong and believe in myself. My mother and sisters were the only ones who supported me throughout.'
Nepal's first transgender model Anjali Lama (L) hopes her turn at India's Lakme Fashion Week will make a difference in the battle for acceptance STRINGER (AFP)
Lama found some acceptance in Kathmandu, where she moved to study, and later became an activist for an LGBT rights group called Blue Diamond Society.
She underwent partial sex reassignment surgery in 2009 and her interest in modelling was piqued the following year when she was pictured on the front cover of a magazine featuring an article about transgender people.
It spurred her to pursue a career in modelling full-time. She enrolled in classes but initially found work hard to come by.
Nepal's Anjali Lama overcame abuse and prejudice to become the Himalayan nation's first transgender model
'I was getting rejected because of my identity and that was extremely disheartening,' said Lama, who has established herself as a successful model in her native Nepal over the past couple of years.
In 2014 she featured in a documentary titled Anjali: Living Inside Someone Else's Skin in which she said she hoped to become completely female one day - an operation that is financially out of reach for most Nepalis.
Her recent success has come as Nepal has increased its recognition of transgender people. In 2015 the country, which allows citizens to choose their sex, started issuing third gender category passports for those who identify themselves as transgender.
A landmark judgment in 2014 at India's Supreme Court ruled that transgender people had equal rights under the law, and granted legal status to the third gender - but they continue to face discrimination
India's first transgender music group, 6 Pack Band, is popular throughout the country
'With the changing times people have become more accepting,' explained Lama.
Manisha Dhakal, one of the founders of the Blue Diamond Society, said Nepal's government needed to do more to provide equal opportunities in education and employment for transgender people.
'To get the acceptance in society we need to be economically empowered,' she told AFP.
In neighbouring India, 'Hijras' have also long complained of discrimination and marginalisation. They are recognised as a third gender but are often shunned from society with some forced into begging or prostitution.
Lama - who said it would be a 'dream come true' to follow other transgender models onto major catwalks such as New York, Milan and Paris - hopes her turn at Lakme Fashion Week will make a difference in the battle for acceptance.
Mumbai terrorist attack accused Hafiz Saeed has finally been placed under house arrest by Pakistan after years of pressure from India.
The United States and India allege that he masterminded the 2008 attacks on the Indian financial capital that killed 166 people.
Saeed's continued freedom has long infuriated Islamabad's arch-foe India and the move to place him under house arrest could help to ease the escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Hafiz Saeed, who has been implicated by the US and India in the Mumbai terror attack of 2008, will be placed under house arrest by Pakistan. He has always denied any involvement
The United States has offered $10 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Saeed, who heads the Muslim charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).
Washington says JuD is a front for the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
'A large police team arrived (at JuD headquarters) and told us that Hafiz Saeed would be placed under house arrest,' Nadeem Awan, a spokesman for the group based in the eastern city of Lahore, told Reuters.
An Interior Ministry source confirmed Saeed and the other men 'are under house arrest' and on the exit control list, meaning they could not leave the country.
Flames and smoke billow from the roof of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai on November 27, 2008 during an attack by militants
India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It was unclear why Pakistan decided to act now.
A senior Pakistani defence ministry official said Islamabad had not heard anything from the new administration of US President Donald Trump but had been feeling pressure from the country on the issue.
'Trump is taking hard decisions against Muslim countries, there is open talk of actions against Pakistan also. So yes, this was a consideration,' said the official.
Smoke and fire billowed out of the Taj Hotel during the attack. Elite Indian commandos fought room to room battles with Islamist militants inside the luxury hotel to save scores of people trapped or taken hostage
Other government officials have said recently that a broader diplomatic campaign - pushed by India - to isolate Pakistan over its failure to go after some Islamist groups has taken a toll, even involving pressure from longtime ally China.
A TERRORIST ATROCITY DUBBED MUMBAI'S 9/11 The horror of the Mumbai carnage played out on live television as commandos battled around ten heavily armed gunmen, who arrived by sea on the evening of November 26, 2008. The gunmen carried out twelve coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days, and killing 166 people. They targeted guests at two five star hotels, a Jewish centre and commuters at the city's main railway station. It took the authorities three days to regain full control of the city. Nine of the gunmen were killed. Advertisement
The Mumbai attacks in 2008 brought Pakistan and India to the brink of war after 10 gunmen killed commuters, foreigners and some of India's wealthy elite in a rampage that included attacks on two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre and a train station.
India accused Pakistan of sponsoring the attack through LeT, which Saeed founded in the 1990s.
Pakistan has always denied any state involvement and Saeed - who has distanced himself from LeT - has said repeatedly he was not responsible.
Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack but was released about six month later in June 2009.
Awan said Islamabad had been under pressure from the United States to take action against Saeed or face sanctions.
'This government has buckled under the pressure,' he said.
The Punjab provincial government said Saeed and four other men were in 'protective custody' because they violated a UN Security Council resolution passed after the Mumbai attacks.
The move to place Saeed under house arrest comes after years of pressure from India and a reported threat of US sanctions
Interior Ministry documents seen by Reuters named Saeed and four other men as members of JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FiF), a charity wing of JuD headed by Saeed.
We knew this would happen when we declared 2017 the year of #Kashmir. If I am arrested, millions will continue to raise voice for #Kashmir Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (@AmeerJamatDawah) January 30, 2017
If we are banned for raising voice for Kashmir, then we don't care about any such ban or restrictions. #OurcrimeKashmir Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (@AmeerJamatDawah) January 30, 2017
If defending Pakistan and speaking for Kashmir is a crime, we will proudly continue doing it. Inshallaah #OurcrimeKashmir Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (@AmeerJamatDawah) January 30, 2017
One document said the government believed FiF was 'acting in a manner that may be concerned in terrorism'.
Previous Pakistani announcements of action against anti-India militant groups have rarely led to serious punishments for them.
Western countries have for decades accused Pakistan of harbouring Islamist militant groups and using them as proxies against bigger neighbour India, with whom it has fought three wars since independence. Islamabad denies having such a policy.
In recent months, Saeed has been holding regular press conferences about the security crackdown in Indian-controlled Kashmir, trying to highlight alleged civil rights violations against the Muslim majority population there.
He told Reuters last month that he had no fear of arrest despite the appointment of a new army chief and a new head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency.
AV Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, which is 'in talks' with Vodafone
Global telecom giant Vodafone confirmed on Monday that it is currently in talks to merge its Indian subsidiary with Aditya Vikram Birla Group company Idea Cellular in an all-share deal that would create the biggest telco in the country.
The move will enable the combined entity to take head on Mukesh Ambani-run Reliance Jio which has unleashed a fierce price war with its introductory offer of free voice and data services that threatens to disrupt the market.
This has forced the country's three biggest operators - Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea - to slash prices and accept lower profits.
Jio's aggressive strategy has forced Vodafone to take a $5 billion write-down in its Indian business, prompting Chief Executive Vitorio Colao to say that the market would have to consolidate.
Vodafone has gone through a tumultuous ride since it entered India in 2007, with fierce competition and a raging tax battle with the government turning uncertain its business which contributes more than 10 per cent of its revenues and profits.
Free data: Vodafone has stepped up the price war in the telecom sector, to stave off the challenge from Reliance Jio
'Any merger will be effected through issuance of new shares in Idea to Vodafone and would result in de-consolidation of Vodafone India,' the company said.
As with some other joint ventures of Vodafone, a merger would enable the firm to deconsolidate the business, leaving it as a shareholder benefiting from dividend payments.
Vodafone also said on Monday that a deal with Idea would not include Vodafone's 42 percent stake in Indus Towers, the radio masts owner created by Bharti, Vodafone and Idea.
A Vodafone-Idea combined entity would have 43 per cent market share by revenue as against the 33 per cent of Bharti Airtel currently and 13 per cent for Reliance Jio by 2018-19, according to a CLSA report.
The dispute is over Reliance Jio's offer of free voice and data services beyond the 90 days permitted for promotional offers (photo for representation only)
Vodafone did not share the details of the potential deal, saying, there is no certainty that any transaction will be agreed, nor as to the terms or timing of any transaction.
In a BSE filing, Idea Cellular said it constantly evaluates various opportunities to enhance stakeholders' value.
As part of the exercise, the company has been in preliminary discussions with Vodafone, it added.
Idea emphasised that the fundamental premise of preliminary discussion is based on equal rights between Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone in the combined entity.
VODAFONE MOVES HC ON JIO Vodafone India on Monday moved the Delhi High Court alleging that telecom regulator TRAI had failed to prohibit blatant violation of its tariff orders, directions and regulations by Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd in permitting it to continue with its free offer of voice and data services. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, before whom the matter came up, listed the matter for hearing on February 1 as Jio had not been made a party in the matter, saying any order the court passes would affect the telecom company. Thereafter, on the oral plea of Vodafone, Jio was made a party. Vodafone has claimed that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also failed to implement Department of Telecommunications' (DoT) circulars which lay down that all tariffs must be compliant of inter-connection usage charges (IUC), nondiscriminatory and nonpredatory. Advertisement
In view of the fact that the discussion is at preliminary stage, the company was not in a position to share any further details.
Furthermore there is no certainty that the discussion with them will result in any agreement, the company said.
Meanwhile, Vodafone sources said that the potential merger talk is all about remaining fully invested in the country and creating value through a larger enterprise.
While Bharti Airtel is the largest telecom operator in India with 263.35 million mobile subscribers, Vodafone has 202.79 million users and Idea Cellular 187.68 million.
With 32.84 per cent, Bharti Airtel has the maximum market share, according to latest COAI figures released on Monday.
Our analysis of a potential merger of Vodafone India with Idea Cellular reveals that such a mega deal would change the industry order, the CLSA report states.
The merger would help Vodafone India improve its positioning in the mass market while Idea Cellular would gain from Vodafone's strength in metro circles, it had said.
Analysts have long expected consolidation in India's telecoms industry, where the market is divided into 22 geographical areas, or circles. Under the rules, companies are restricted on the percentage of airwaves they can own in each circle to prevent any one group becoming too dominant.
Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, head of the banned Pakistan's charity organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), waves as he leads a protest rally against the printing of satirical sketches of the Prophet Muhammad by French magazine Charlie Hebdo in Karachi
Pakistani police kept the accused architect of the 2008 Mumbai attacks under house arrest in the eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday, manning barricades outside his home as supporters vowed protests.
The detention of Islamist leader Hafiz Saeed could help ease tensions between nuclear-armed foes Pakistan and India, although New Delhi has not yet responded.
The Mumbai attacks brought Pakistan and India to the brink of war after 10 gunmen killed 166 people, including commuters, foreigners and some of India's wealthy elite, in a rampage that included attacks on two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre and a train station.
Police detained Saeed, founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group that India blames for the bloodshed, at the Lahore headquarters of his charity on Monday night.
Shortly before dawn on Tuesday, he was taken by police to his house, where a Reuters cameraman saw police setting up a perimeter. They later banned media from the scene as about 100 Saeed supporters chanted slogans.
Pakistani police stand guard outside the home of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) leader Hafiz Saeed, after he was placed under house arrest in Lahore
Saeed has denied ordering the Mumbai attacks and has distanced himself from LeT, while leading his Islamic charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).
Supporters accused Islamabad of acquiescing to the wishes of the United States, which has a $10 million reward for information leading to Saeed's arrest, and India.
'This government has buckled under the pressure,' JuD spokesman Nadeem Awan said.
Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) supporters burn Indian and US flags in Peshawar, after JuD leader leader Hafiz Saeed was placed under house arrest by Pakistani authorities on January 31, 2017
Mumbai burns: Saeed has always denied any part in the terrorism attack that killed 166
Another spokesman, Farooq Azam, announced protests in Karachi by 'different religious and Kashmir leaders'.
In recent months, Saeed has been holding regular press conferences about the security crackdown in Indian-controlled Kashmir, castigating a crackdown against the mainly Muslim population there.
It was unclear why Pakistan decided to act now. A senior Pakistani defence ministry official said Islamabad had not been contacted by the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump but had been feeling U.S. pressure on the issue.
'Trump is taking hard decisions against Muslim countries, there is open talk of actions against Pakistan also. So yes, this was a consideration,' said the official.
In recent months, Saeed has been holding regular press conferences about the security crackdown in Indian-controlled Kashmir, castigating a crackdown against the mainly Muslim population there
Other government officials have said recently that a broader diplomatic campaign - pushed by India - to isolate Pakistan has taken a toll, even involving pressure from longtime ally China.
India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack, but was released about six months later in June 2009. (Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Supporters of Hafiz Saeed protest his arrest in Islamabad
How the threat of US sanctions led to Saeed arrest
By Hamza Ameer
Hafiz Saeed, the chief of Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) Pakistan, the man with the 10 million dollar bounty on his head and the prime suspect behind the Mumbai terror attack case, has finally been put into house arrest in his organisation's head quarter in Lahore.
The Pakistan government, which already had Hafiz Saeed-led JuD under its Terror Watch List for over two years, has taken this step either on the basis of its own findings and allegations against Hafiz Saeed or it has been forced to ensure a major step towards its anti-terror position after Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America started putting sanctions and travel bans on Muslims countries.
Hafiz Saeed comes under house arrest after a late night operation by Punjab police and anti-terror squad on JUD's headquarters located at Chuburji square, Lahore.
People duck behind a white fence as gunshots are fired from inside the Taj Mahal hotel
At least 4 of his accomplices have also been put under house arrest.
The head quarter, that would have JUD's huge flag waving on top if it every day for years, now has got the Pakistan flag hoisted.
JUD's banners are being removed from all parts of Punjab's provincial capital Lahore, while similar activities are underway in other parts of the province also.
Police authorities are placed inside and outside the JUD head quarter, while JUD's personal security is also in place outside the main gate. Hafiz Saeed's residence, located at Joher Town area of Lahore is to be turned into a sub-jail after completion of all internal security formalities.
Hafiz Saeed accuses the Pakistan government of succumbing to foreign pressure.
Hafiz Saeed accused US and India for ganging-up against Pakistan to hinder the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which Pakistan values immensely economically.
Saeed has denied ordering the Mumbai attacks and has distanced himself from LeT, while leading his Islamic charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD)
White House spokesperson rejected the allegations and called on Pakistan to act against terror groups or face sanctions.
Pakistan government's steps against Hafiz Saeed are being taken as a reaction to US's threat of sanctions, which Pakistan fears might push it into the list of Muslims countries, on which, Washington has imposed travel bans.
Meanwhile, Vikas Swarup, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, said: 'We have seen reports on the Pakistan Ministry of Interior order placing the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Falahe-Insaniyet Foundation under the watch-list and also the notification under which the Falah-e-Insaniyet Foundation has been included in the second schedule of their anti terror legislation under United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1267.
Pakistan government's steps against Hafiz Saeed are being taken as a reaction to US's threat of sanctions, which Pakistan fears might push it into the list of Muslims countries, on which, Washington has imposed travel bans
'We have also noted that Hafiz Saeed and four others have been placed under preventive detention.
'India has long maintained that the United Nations Security Council 1267 provisions pertaining to listing and proscription of known terrorist entities and individuals must be effectively and sincerely enforced by all member states.
'We have also consistently called for bringing known terrorists under the ambit of the 1267 sanctions.
'Exercises such as yesterday's orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also.
'Only a credible crackdown on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity.'
Trafficked from Bangladesh and sold into a brothel in Mumbai, Babli started learning Hindi last year at a shelter in Kandivali, a northern Mumbai suburb.
She can now read, write and speak the language fluently thanks to the classes that help girls identify their trafficking routes and record more accurate testimony.
An inadvertent outcome of these lessons at the Rescue Foundation shelter is that a handful of the girls have also bagged places in regular schools this year.
More than 80 percent girls sold for commercial sexual exploitation in India in 2014 were from West Bengal, figures show (photo for representation only)
'I was brought to Kolkata from Bangladesh, but I couldn't read the names of train stations that I crossed on my way to Mumbai,' Babli told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
'I realised I was in Mumbai from snatches of conversations of people around me days after I reached the city.'
Babli's mother tongue is Bengali, like thousands of girls trafficked to Mumbai every year from Bangladesh and the eastern Indian state of West Bengal - two culturally similar regions separated by a porous border.
More than 80 percent girls sold for commercial sexual exploitation in India in 2014 were from West Bengal, according to government data.
Illiteracy is a major obstacle to anti-trafficking efforts across the Bangladesh and India border
Illiteracy is a major obstacle to anti-trafficking efforts with most trafficked girls having never been to school or forced to drop out early, campaigners say.
'During the investigation, the girls were never able to recall places they crossed before they reached Mumbai,' said Triveni Acharya of Rescue Foundation.
'Now we use a map in Hindi, show them the border area and ask them to identify states or districts they may have crossed.'
A study by the Dasra NGO marked the northern Hindi-speaking towns of Varanasi and Gorakhpur as hubs in the trafficking routes towards Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.
Campaigners say most trafficked girls have never been to school or forced to drop out early
Activists say identifying routes is important to step up police vigilance in these areas but also to protect the girls who go back home after a court case, and are once again exposed to trafficking risks.
Girls stay at the shelter until their matter is settled in court, which can take several years. Some go back home after they turn 18, while others choose to stay on to pursue a career.
Between 500 and 28,000 girls are trafficked from Nepal and Bangladesh into India annually, according to the estimates of various non-profit groups.
'People living on the border of West Bengal and Bangladesh share the same culture, celebrate the same festivals and speak the same language - Bengali,' said Vivian Isaac of My Choices Foundation, who has mapped India's trafficking patterns.
But girls at a rescue shelter are now learning Hindi in a bid to help retrace their steps and hopefully stop other girls from suffering the same fate
Acharya of Rescue Foundation hit the language barrier a decade ago and hired Bengali translators to understand what the rescued girls were saying.
'Up to 2005, most girls trafficked to Mumbai were from Nepal. But after that, [they were] largely from Bangladesh, West Bengal and also the northeastern state of Assam,' Acharya said.
While Bengali translators helped, nuances that could enable an effective investigation were lost. And that's when Hindi lessons started at this shelter about a decade ago.
'The girls started understanding questions posed at them in courts,' said Harish Bhandari, a lawyer who fights trafficking cases in lower and district courts, where although English and Marathi are used, judges switch to Hindi to enable communication.
The girls are now acting as important witnesses in child trafficking cases (photo for representation only)
'These girls are key witnesses in trafficking cases and it is important for them to understand the court procedure and the real intent of questions they are asked.'
In two cases, girls revised their statements once the charge sheets were prepared, adding more information once they were able to express themselves better, Acharya said.
What started as informal classes at the shelter is now an organised activity. Every morning, girls assemble for Hindi, English and Mathematics lessons given by trained teachers.
This year, some girls have got into regular schools and 10 of the nearly 80 girls aged between 15 and 17 living here will sit the high school exam in March.
The Hindi lessons have even helped Hindi-speaking girls like Pari, a teenager who grew up in Mumbai and is now at the shelter. She said she couldn't read the official papers she put her thumbprint on.
'We should know what we are signing,' she said.
Pari started school this year. She said she quite enjoys Hindi lessons both at the shelter and school and even has a favourite story - that of a young girl who begrudges the attention her mother gives to her baby brother.
She said she has a younger brother who she has not seen in a while.
For Babli, her love for the language is limited to daydreams of making connections with her home. She looks for news on Bangladesh in the Hindi newspaper the shelter subscribes to.
She keeps a copy of a month-old Hindi newspaper under her pillow that she regularly pulls out to read about the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's postponed visit to India - her finger running across the words, connecting her to her homeland.
While she missed the news that Hasina's visit to India was postponed, she is excited about another story she has been following - a new passenger train between India and Bangladesh.
Babli said she will teach Hindi to young girls in her village when she goes back home on this train.
Careless talk costs lives. Well, in this instance perhaps not lives, but certainly money.
Donald Trump was the darling of the markets in the hiatus between election and inauguration. Now he is in post, a rather chiller wind has swept through Wall Street and beyond.
If the early indications of tax reform and a fiscal boost was grabbed by investors as a reason to buy, his more recent action on refugees has been similarly used as an excuse to sell.
Low point: The Donald does not do measured, and the markets are struggling to cope
The Donald does not do measured, and the markets are struggling to cope. So it was not just confusion at the airports yesterday. The markets themselves were confused, and that created the worst day for US shares for three months.
On any sort of long view, the fundamentals are more important than the tweets.
The fundamentals are that a fiscal boost will almost certainly extend the present expansion. Somewhere in the future there is another recession. All our experience suggests that.
But it does not look as though it is round the corner, and tax cuts could push it a year or more away.
However, if there is going to be a fiscal boost there is likely to be a monetary restriction. We will learn more on Wednesday from the Federal Reserve, with probably a hint that a decently growing economy will stand another rate rise in March.
The Fed will be measured, unlike the president, and I suspect that we will look back on this decline as a healthy correction rather than anything more sinister.
Facebook, Amazon and Apple are all due to report results, and that matters more. But wobbly share prices show big moneys honeymoon with the president is already over. Quick, wasnt it?
Electric dreams
London gets its first electric taxis later this year. Shell announces it will have chargers at its filling stations. Total has plans to do the same.
London gets its first electric taxis later this year - shell announces it will have chargers at its filling stations and Total has plans to do the same
Samsung announces a next-generation battery for cars that will give 300 miles range and be charged in 20 minutes.
And that was just the crop of stories from the past couple of days. Most technical revolutions start slowly and then move very fast. We are at the tipping point with electric cars still not quite there, but just about to flip.
Goldman Sachs believes that a quarter of the cars sold in 2025 will have electric engines, though most of those will be hybrids. That is up from 5 per cent today.
There is a plan in Norway to ban all petrol and diesel cars from 2025, which is less remarkable than it might seem given that a quarter of Norways cars are already electric. In the Netherlands there is a similar plan, though it has less political support.
The big push towards pure electric cars will come not from politics but from technology. They are simpler to make. The typical petrol or diesel car has 30,000 parts. The typical pure electric car has 11,000. You can see the attraction of trying to leapfrog over hybrid technology, because the hybrid is actually more complicated than petrol or diesel. But that requires further advances in batteries.
If Samsung has managed to crack the battery problem and no jokes, please, about exploding mobile phones then the technology has arrived.
Of course, for Tesla drivers it has, at a price, been there since the Model S came out in 2012. But it is a price that, at the moment, is still prohibitive for most. Even the Model 3, on sale in the UK next year, will retail at around 30,000. Almost there, but not quite. Seeing that there will be a tipping point is easy. Seeing the business implications is tougher.
Most new technologies are pioneered by new companies. The firms that built railway engines did not build cars; those that built steam ships did not build aircraft. The companies that ran fixed-line phone networks did not pioneer mobile telephony.
But the shift to electric is not quite so radical. It is only the motor and the software that changes, because some 70 per cent of the vehicle remains the same.
It took an outsider, Elon Musk, to stun an inward-looking industry into action, but the old guard is scrambling to catch up. It has to.
VW has just taken over from Toyota as the worlds largest car producer. But it is mostly a diesel producer, and diesel will shrink. It would have shrunk even without the emissions scandal. Now it will shrink faster, perhaps going from half the European market now to 5-10 per cent in 15 years time.
So a huge body of technical expertise of how to make internal combustion engines will become redundant.
They can still do the rest, and they have the distribution networks, but what value do you put on incumbency?
Tesla has a market capitalisation of $40 billion. That is half the level of VW, the worlds largest manufacturer, and it loses money every year. The markets clearly think incumbency is not that valuable.
But we dont need to know which companies will be top dogs in the world of electric cars. All we need know is that we are in the autumn of the internal combustion engines reign.
Alex Brummer is away
A former top regulator has sparked fury by joining controversial bank Standard Chartered as its head lobbyist just months after leaving her previous job.
Tracey McDermott ran the Financial Conduct Authority until June - overseeing an in depth probe into her new employer.
She will become head of corporate, public and regulatory affairs at Standard Chartered in March on a salary likely to be worth at least 500,000.
New job role: Tracey McDermott ran the Financial Conduct Authority until June - overseeing an in depth probe into her new employer
McDermott is the latest big name from the FCA - and its predecessor the Financial Services Authority - to take on a high-paid role at a financial firm.
The move has been criticised as fresh evidence of the Citys revolving door culture, and the cosy relationship between watchdogs and banks whose behaviour they are meant to monitor.
Standard Chartered, which is headquartered in London but does nearly all its business in Africa and Asia, has been hit with a string of fines since the Great Recession.
The bank breached sanctions against Iran, failed to adequately protect against money laundering and now has to operate under round-the-clock monitoring by US authorities.
Under fire: Standard Chartered, which is headquartered in London but does nearly all its business in Africa and Asia, has been hit with a string of fines since the Great Recession
REGULATOR GRAVY TRAIN Sir Howard Davies, 65, FSA chairman from 1997 to 2003, now earns 750,000 as Royal Bank of Scotland chairman and 195,000 at Prudential
Lord Turner, 61, FSA chairman from 2008 to 2013, makes 94,000-a-year as a non-executive at Prudential
John Tiner, 59, the FSAs chief executive from 2003 to 2007, was chief executive of insurer Resolution Operations. He quit in 2012
Sir Hector Sants, 61, FSA chief executive from 2007 until 2012, was Barclays head of regulation before resigning that November due to exhaustion and stress
Martin Wheatley, 57, was sacked as FCA boss in July 2015. He is not reported to have found new work
FCA investigators are probing its financial crime controls in an investigation which was running when McDermott was in charge.
In a letter to chief executive Bill Winters, the FCAs current boss Andrew Bailey said they had agreed she would not share confidential information she obtained while at the organisation.
But George Kerevan, an SNP MP on the Treasury Select Committee, said: Its of deep concern that a former head of the FCA has gone through the revolving door to become chief lobbyist for Standard Chartered.
We need much more robust protocol in place to stop regulators taking up lobbying positions with the banks immediately after theyve quit their post.
McDermott, 47, was appointed acting head of the FCA after former Chancellor George Osborne sacked her predecessor Martin Wheatley for his combative approach to the banks.
Insiders saw McDermott as a front-runner for the permanent top job but she was humiliated in January last year when Osborne used a radio interview to announce she had pulled out of the race.
Bailey was appointed instead, leaving his role as a deputy governor at the Bank of England.
Unfit bit
Fitbit shares fell by nearly a fifth in pre-market trading after the maker of fitness trackers issued a profit warning following a disappointing Christmas season.
The California-based group said sales in the three-month period are expected to be $572 million -$580 million, well off of its prior forecast.
Fitbit shares fell by nearly a fifth in pre-market trading after the maker of fitness trackers issued a profit warning following a disappointing Christmas season
Cash covered
Savers will now get the first 85,000 of their cash back if their bank goes bust.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme previously covered 75,000 of savings with any one lender but yesterday, this amount increased. For joint accounts, the limit is 170,000.
It has been raised to be in line with eurozone countries after the pound fell against the single currency.
VW victory
Volkswagen has overtaken Toyota to become the worlds bestselling car maker.
The German maker of Audi, Porsche and Skoda sold 10.3 million vehicles in 2016, compared to Toyotas 10.2 million. It is the first time VW has held the position, and comes despite its scandal over emissions-test cheating.
Poll position
YouGov expects earnings for the full year to be ahead of expectations. The AIM-listed pollster said sales from its data products and services divisions continued to grow strongly while its YouGov BrandIndex and YouGov profiles have expanded their client base globally.
Savers will now get the first 85,000 of their cash back if their bank goes bust.
Sales up
Flybe weathered the storm to post solid results in the final months of last year, but warned performance in 2017 has got off to a slow start. Sales in the three months to December 31 were up 13.5 per cent to 146.3 million compared to the same period the year before, while passenger numbers were up 9.9 per cent to 2.1 million.
Bankers wooed
German regulators met 50 foreign bankers yesterday as they continued efforts to steal business from London.
The countrys Bafin watchdog told executives they would be welcome in Frankfurt if Brexit threw up barriers. But German hostility to investment banking and tough employment rules are likely to prove an obstacle.
Brexit u-turn
TheCityUK has called Brexit a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strike trade deals and boost services exports. It is a major U-turn for Londons financial lobby group, which previously warned Brexit could deal a 12 billion hit to the financial sectors economic contribution.
Earnings rise
Profits at accountant Smith & Williamson rose 22 per cent rise to 17.7 million in the six months to October. The firm shrugged off uncertainty around the Brexit vote.
Broker buy
TP Icap, created after Tullet Prebon bought the Icap voice-broking brand last year, has bought consultant Burton-Taylor International in its first acquisition.
Online supermarket Ocado notched up an appetising profit last year thanks to 'robust trading' in a 'challenging retail environment'.
Pre-tax profits rose 21.8 per cent to 14.5million in the year to the end of November, while revenue rose 14.8 per cent to 1.27billion.
Despite the positive outcome, the City has criticised the internet grocer over its failure to strike a much-anticipated international deal.
Online supermarket Ocado notched up an appetising profit last year thanks to a spate of 'robust trading' in the face of more difficult times
Agreements with retailers in north America and western Europe are seen by analysts as a key influence on Ocado's stock market valuation.
Commenting on the delayed progress Neil Wilson, senior market analyst at ETX Capital, said: 'Like Brexit Britain, Ocado claims there are a multitude of international partners queuing up to strike a deal.
'After more than a year of talk we've seen nothing in terms of an overseas deal.
'Profits are improving but investors are being asked to be very patient. A long-touted international deal has yet to materialise.
'That is a concern as overseas growth is seen as key for this stock to justify its lofty valuation.'
In response to critics, Ocado said only that it is in 'continued discussions with multiple international retailers'.
The group, founded in 2000, only managed to turn its first profit before tax in 2015 but now it appears things are on the up.
Indeed, last year revenue rose 14.8 per cent to 1.27billion as boss Tim Steiner hailed 'robust trading' in a challenging environment.
He said: 'We are pleased to announce results today which reflect robust trading in our core business and shows continued progress against our strategic objectives in what has been a challenging retail environment.'
Ocado grew its customer base by almost 14 per cent to 580,000, with growth in average orders per week approaching 18 per cent to 230,000.
However, the grocer saw average order sizes fall 2.7 per cent to 108.10 after taking a hit from the enduring supermarket price war.
The battle for shoppers, sparked by the rise of German duo Aldi and Lidl, has engulfed the sector and has seen all of the so-called Big Four supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons - come under pressure.
After Ocado's prosperous results were published, shares rose 5.5 per cent to 257.7p in morning trading.
Last year, I gave the Royal Mint a fair amount of stick for the way it was advertising commemorative coins and selling them to an unwitting public who didn't know the true definition of 'legal tender'.
Its chief executive shirked our interview request and This is Money readers were up in arms over the scandal. Another 'con nailed by the Mail' said one commentator.
Fast forward and I have a positive tale to reveal about Royal Mint: its new 9million visitor experience, which opened last May, is in my opinion, one of the best hidden gem attractions in Britain.
Visitor centre: The Royal Mint officially opened the centre last May - and it is a treasure trove of history
I was there, officially, visiting on the back of new Hollywood movie, Gold, starring Matthew McConaughey, which is out at cinemas this weekend.
But really, I was there to feed my new found numismatic addiction, from finding out how coins are made, seeing that process in motion, discovering it is not just Britain where coins from the Mint end up and to feel what a 400,000 bar of gold weighs.
The Royal Mint, which moved to Wales in 1968, is located in the relatively obscure valley town of Llantrisant, around 14 miles North West of Cardiff, the capital, in what can only be described as an industrial estate.
It's not the most glamorous of locations for the biggest coin producer in Western Europe.
However, the new visitor centre is visually pleasing - and what lurks inside is a rich tapestry of British history.
New 1: The visit also allows you to strike your own 12-sided 1 coin - two months before they are circulated
You can also watch the factory floor, the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory version of coin production. You'll never look at your change the same way again.
Today, the Trial of the Pyx takes places an ancient quality control still used to test coins. Pyx, by the way, is Latin for box.
Below are some of the many nuggets of information I gleaned from the visit it's a historical treasure trove...
Coins, glorious coins: The Royal Mint has boxes of coins on display (behind the viewing glass to avoid those who may be tempted to dip their hands in, including these Peter Rabbit 50p coins)
MOVED TO WALES THANKS TO CALLAGHAN
Many may rightly question why the Royal Mint makes coins in the valley town of Llantrisant, Wales and not somewhere more central - or even in London, which some would argue is the financial capital of Europe.
The Royal Mint began life more than 1,100 years ago and made coins along with blacksmiths around the country.
From 1279, the Royal Mint moved to inside the walls of the Tower of London, with generations of families then making coins on the banks of the Thames.
Production was then shifted to a four acre site in near-by Tower Hill in the early 19th century. However, ahead of decimalisation in 1971, the Mint needed a far bigger site to make the coins.
James Callaghan, the future Prime Minister pushed for a move out of London and looked at a number of options finally plumping for Wales. It employs 900 people and is nearly ten times the size of the Tower Hill plot.
Worldwide: The Royal Mint proudly displays some of the coins it has made for countries across the globe
MAKES COINS FOR 60 COUNTRIES
The Royal Mint doesn't just produce all the coins used in Britain it also makes a vast number of coins for countries across the globe.
One part of the tour proudly displays the countries in which it makes or has made coins, including Jamaica, Iceland and Thailand.
So the next time you're spending some Thai bhat in Bangkok, you could quite possibly be handling coins made in Wales.
MINTS NEARLY 5BN COINS A YEAR
The Royal Mint strikes nearly five billion coins a year.
One of its machines can produce 850 coins per minute and at the experience, they go through the four-pronged process of making them, including what ingredients are used and how 60 tonnes of pressure create each one.
They also reveal how the furnaces (which, for obvious reasons you cannot get access to on the site) fire up to temperatures of up to 950 degrees at the beginning of the coin making process.
Last batch: The Royal Mint producing some of the last round 1 coins
PROCESS INVOLVES PICKLING
The four step minting process mentioned above involved a process called 'pickling'. Yes, the coins in your pocket or piggy banks are pickled.
But this isn't a tasty pickle, like Branston's, that you'd want to eat. The blanks are cleaned in a pickling bath to remove blemishes from the surface.
Ball bearings are added to the blanks and, together, they are swirled around in the pickling bath in a solution of sulphuric acid, the abrasive action of the ball bearings and the solution serving to clean the surface of the blanks.
After a final wash and dry, the blanks are ready for striking.
THE MACHINES USED ARE GERMAN
You can watch the coins being made from a giant viewing window.
It is a 24/7 operation and with up to 90million coins being made weekly, I asked the tour guide how often the machinery malfunctions.
His response was that all the machines are made by a German company and therefore, rarely breakdown.
That's right, coins are made in German machinery in Wales.
Through the glass: You can peer into the factory floor, where coins are made in German machines
NEWTON WAS A MASTER OF THE MINT
One of my favourite facts from the tour was learning about the title 'Master of the Mint' which sounds a little like a Game of Thrones character.
The Master of the Mint was a position held between the 16th and 19th centuries and was the highest officer in the Royal Mint.
Isaac Newton was a Master of the Mint from 1700, one of the most influential scientists of all time. He was brought in to help make coin production more accurate, using his mathematical genius.
He is getting his own 50p design this year.
The role was abolished as an independent position in 1870, thereafter being held as a subsidiary office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
LONDON LAST STRUCK A COIN IN 1975
You can see the last London coin struck in London at the Royal Mint a gold sovereign.
Many may still think coins are made in London, but it has been 42 years since the last coin was struck in the capital.
History: On display is the Henry VII gold sovereign - a nugget of history
HENRY VII AND THE GOLD SOVEREIGN
The experience has a number of fascinating coins from history. Two of my favourites were the extravagant Henry VII gold sovereign from the 15th century and an Edward VIII coin which was never circulated, thanks to his abdication.
On the latter, Edward's effigy is facing the other way to the coins we use today with Queen Elizabeth II this is because Edward believed that side was his better one.
Snapshot: The centre has relics from the past including posters displayed during the war
THE ANCIENT 'TRIAL OF THE PYX' SURVIVES
Previously, along with the Master of the Mint, two others would hold a key to a box which contained the coins which were the standard weight. This helped stop corruption.
Even today, the Trial of the Pyx survives. This year, it will be looking at coins including the new 12-sided 1 coins which have started production at the Mint.
The ancient practice dates back to the 12th century. This year, approximately 40,000 coins produced by the Royal Mint in 2016 will be counted and scrutinised by the jury to make sure they are up to standard.
Heavy: This is what a 400k gold bar looks like in the flesh
A 400K GOLD BAR IS EXTREMELY HEAVY
We were invited to hold a gold bar, which was 400oz in weight, roughly 12.5kg. It is deceptively heavy and was being shown to highlight the Mint's relatively new online gold selling business.
Its value? Nearly 400,000.
People can buy and store gold at the Mint, although the tour stopped short of me being shown a room full of bars - or being told that such a room exists.
The Royal Mint says sales of the precious metal have been surging. One market in which it is very popular is Germany. An expert says this is because Germans like to hold gold in their portfolio, a bit like how Britons like to have property.
YOU CAN STRIKE YOUR OWN 1 COIN
The experience costs 13 to enter and 10.50 for children. For an extra 5 (or 7.50 for two) you can strike your own new 12-sided 1 coin and get it early before it circulates from 28 March 2017.
This is a 'Brilliant Uncirculated' version of the coin and is intended to be kept as a momento. You can see me make mine below:
SOUNDS LIKE WORLD'S BIGGEST PIGGY BANK
Inside the factory where the coins are made I can only describe the noise of jiggling coins as being inside the world's biggest piggy bank.
You have to wear ear plugs and staff who are manning machinery will use a microscope to check a handful of the coins to make sure they are up to standard.
OLYMPIC MEDALS ARE MINTED
As well as coins, the Royal Mint also makes medals including the 2012 Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals for those who won in London.
It gives a rare chance to get yourself a photograph with one without needing to beat Usain Bolt or Laura Trott in a sprint.
Design: There is a fascinating section of the tour which shows you how coins are designed
YOU CAN SEE A MASSIVE BEATRIX POTTER COIN DESIGN
Another interesting part of the tour is seeing how the coins are designed, including the new Beatrix Potter 50p set which many collectors have been taking out of circulation.
The designs are sketched out and then carved into huge replicas, before being scaled down.
This year, new coins include the 12-sided 1 designed by a 15 year-old, the Isaac Newton 50p mentioned above, Jane Austen 2 and a 2 coin honouring the Royal Flying Corp.
Defense attorneys for the four suspects accused of tying up and torturing a mentally disabled man while they live streamed it on Facebook are complaining that the foursome have received death threats.
'It is sad and unfortunate that many have commented on these young men and women without knowing all the facts,' said Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli after a hearing on Friday. 'They have been denounced in the media before anything has been proven.'
She said that 'sensationalized, pervasive media coverage' threatens to poison the jury pool. Neil Toppel, a public defender for one of the defendants, cited an online post calling for the 'public execution' of the defendants and their supporters.
Brittany Covington and Tesfaye Cooper, both 18 and of Chicago, are charged with aggravated kidnapping and two counts of a hate crime
'There was a posting that invited a Good Samaritan to publicly execute these defendants by law or if not by mob,' Toppel told reporters. 'And said anybody that supports them should be executed as well.'
Public defenders are representing all of the suspects.
Judge Peggy Chiampas has barred cameras and sketch artists from the court during preliminary hearings for the four defendants.
The four men and women allegedly tortured a 18-year-old special needs man with schizophrenia and attention deficit disorder (above) in Chicago. Thirty minutes of the torture was live-streamed on Facebook
The four were indicted Friday and their arraignment was scheduled for February 10. Previously, the judge had denied bail and asked the foursome 'Where is your sense of decency?'
Among the charges the four face are aggravated kidnapping and two counts of committing a hate crime - one because of the victim's race and the other because of his mental disabilities.
The suspects allegedly kidnapped the victim, who suffers from schizophrenia, on New Year's Eve, tied him up, slashed and kicked him, and forced him to drink from a toilet.
Tanishia Covington, 24,of Chicago and Jordan Hill, 18, of Carpentersville, are also charged - their lawyers say all four have received death threats
Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli said it was 'sad and unfortunate' that people were commenting on the suspects
The graphic cellphone video shows the four black suspects taunting the white victim with profanities against white people and President-elect Donald Trump.
They also demanded $300 from the victim's mother if she wanted her son back, said a prosecutor.
Public defender Neil Toppel seemed aghast that there had been death threats against his clients
The beating was captured on cellphone video by one of the assailants and has since been viewed millions of times on social media. Prosecutors have said the 18-year-old victim has schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The defendants are three 18-year-olds - Jordan Hill of Carpentersville, Brittany Covington of Chicago and Tesfaye Cooper of Chicago - and 24-year-old Tanishia Covington of Chicago.
The incident began New Year's Eve, when the victim and alleged assailant Jordan Hill met at a suburban McDonald's, and then called his parents later to say he was staying with Hill for a sleepover.
Instead, Hill drove the victim around in a stolen van for a couple of days, ending up at a home in Chicago, where two of the other suspects lived, police said.
A San Francisco couple and their two cats died from poisoning from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Roger Morash, 35, his wife Valerie Morash, 32, and their pets were found dead inside their apartment in Berkeley, California, on Monday.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates had died from poisoning due carbon monoxide in their home, a law enforcement source said on Friday.
The couple was using a laser 3D printer that was venting into their residence, CBS San Francisco Bay Area reported.
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Roger Morash, 35, his wife Valerie Morash, 32, and their two cats were found dead inside their apartment in Berkeley, California, on Monday. They were poisoned by carbon monoxide
The couple's bodies, along with their two cats, were found by a friend at their fourplex on Deakin Street (pictured) where the couple had lived for seven years
The couple's bodies, along with their two cats, were found by a friend at their fourplex on Deakin Street, where the couple had lived for seven years, reported the news outlet.
Researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology warned users against the potential dangers of 3D printers for home use, reported the Chicago Tribune.
When used in industry, the machine's use of lasers on certain types of plastics can emit toxic gasses, including carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.
Researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology warned users against the potential dangers of 3D printers for home use. Lasers used on types of plastics can emit toxic gasses, including carbon monoxide. Pictured: Where the couple lived in Berkeley, California
One of Roger's former co-workers told KTVU: 'They were modest people, they had great educations, and were clearly very talented.
'But they got up to do their thing every day and they were just the nicest people you'd ever meet.'
The Morash's memorial service was held on Friday and attendants described the two as talented, modest and kind.
After the couple's sudden death, a GoFundMe was started to help with costs of getting friends and family into town for their funeral. It raised more than $15,000 in three days.
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Tucked away in the Queensland bush on a farm filled with horses is a secret rehabilitation clinic like few others.
Inside are five women recovering from drug addiction helped by a team of mostly volunteer staff, but they are not the only people there.
Fresh Hope is one of only six rehab centres in Australia where the residents' children stay with their mothers throughout the 12 to 18-month program.
The idea is that mothers are more likely to commit to getting sober if they have their kids around to remind them why they need to change.
Fresh Hope, a rehabilitation centre hidden away on a remote Queensland farm, is home to five mothers battling drug addictions and their young children (pictured)
The idea is that mothers are more likely to commit to getting sober if they have their kids around to remind them why they need to change
The clinic focuses on not only helping women become sober, but learn how to be good mothers and break what is often a generational cycle
But its founders John and Karen Bartlett say it is just as important for residents to learn how to be good mothers so they break what is often a generational cycle.
'Mothers and children need to heal together instead of one being in rehab and the other in foster care,' Ms Bartlett told Daily Mail Australia.
'They can learn how to be parents in their head but their heart's always somewhere else, they can only focus on their situation.
'If you keep the family together you can show them how to love them and put their children first because it's a very selfish culture they've come from.'
The former social worker said many mothers came from a long line of addicts - as many as five generations - who grew up in foster care only to lose their own children to drugs, alcohol or domestic violence.
'They never learned how to feed a baby, how to cuddle a baby or read a story to children all these things we think are normal,' she said.
'People say 'how can you be a drug addict if you're a mother?' but the reality is in world they grew up in, that's normal.
'If they got abused by their stepfather or uncle and their auntie says 'give me your arm, I'll make you feel better', what choices did that 12-year-old girl have? They've been dealt a very bad life.'
Karen (pictured with John), who is a former social worker, started the clinic in 1998
Since starting the clinic, Mr and Mrs Bartlett have helped more than 350 women
Mrs Bartlett said many mothers who have sought treatment at Fresh Hope came from a long line of addicts - as many as five generations
One of the mothers undergoing the rehabilitation program at Fresh Hope, Fern Nicholas, said she turned to ice, marijuana and alcohol to help deal with abandonment issues and physical abuse.
Fern, who will graduate in March, said she would have never entered rehabilitation if she had not been able to have her children with her.
Not only has Fresh Hope taught her how to be a good parent, but it helped rebuild her broken relationship with her two daughters, aged seven and four.
'My children were totally disconnected from me, terrified of me really,' she said.
'We'll do a family board game now before bed and [my eldest daughter] will come out and tell me she loves me that never would have happened before.'
'They smile again,' Fern said.
'Mothers and children need to heal together instead of one being in rehab and the other in foster care,' Karen said
Pictured are Mr and Mrs Barlett embracing a child at their facility
Fresh Hope started in 1998 when Ms Bartlett was a family support worker and the Department of Corrections suggested a young woman who walked out of a treatment facility spend the rest of her rehab living with her.
After a successful year, the couple took on more women and in 1999 quit their jobs, rented a house and began their rehab clinic.
Since then they have helped more than 350 women and in 2003 bought a 2.6-hectare farm in the Toowoomba with a five-bedroom house, that's location is kept secret so residents are safe from abusive partners.
Each room fits a resident and up to four children, depending on age, who stay as long as their mothers do, while attending school or daycare nearby.
The clinic'a five-bedroom house sits on a 2.6-hectare farm in the Toowoomba
Each mother can reside in one of the bedrooms with up to four of her children, depending on age
The exact location of the clinic is kept secret so residents are safe from abusive partners
Children attend a nearby school or day care while their mothers undergo counseling
They arrive in different ways, either finding it online, through detox centres or needle exchange programs, or are referred from the courts of child safety services. The ones who bring themselves in are usually the most successful.
'The first six months is learning 'how did I get here and how do I not get here again?' and the second six months is how to develop new networks, get a job and manage stress,' Ms Bartlett said.
Mothers learn how to properly care for their children while breaking their addiction, and be able to emotionally connect with them in a way they never could sober.
'There's no such thing as a functioning drug addict because there's an emotional cutoff when a mother is taking substances,' Ms Bartlett said.
'She can't give emotionally to her children, and that affects their development.'
A main focus of the rehab clinic is teaching mother's how to properly care for their children while breaking their addiction
In addition to counselling sessions, learning basic parenting, routines and doing chores, mothers bond with their children in a wide variety of activities
One of the mothers living at the clinic tends to her young daughter as she sleeps
The women participate in several activities with their children including baking, reading bedtime stories, craft, sewing, movie nights, and bonding with horses on the property
In addition to counselling sessions, learning basic parenting, routines and doing chores, mothers bond with their children in a wide variety of activities.
They include baking, reading bedtime stories, craft, sewing, movie nights, and bonding with the horses the help their ability to connect.
Every morning starts with feeding the farm animals and preparing breakfast, and the whole house prepares food and sits down to eat as a family every meal.
Those who need to also lean how to budget, rent property, and develop a network of friends who will help them stay sober after they leave.
Ms Bartlett said Fresh Hope's approach was better than putting children into foster care while their mother recovered and would work for most addicts.
'Some kids come out of foster care and it takes six months for them to smile again because no one can take their mother's place,' she said.
'If we can save half the children from going back into foster care we can break this cycle. We need to give these mothers a chance to learn how to do it.'
Supportive notes are seen hanging on a wall in the home
Every morning starts with feeding the farm animals and preparing breakfast, and the whole house prepares food and sits down to eat as a family every meal
Those who need to also lean how to budget, rent property, and develop a network of friends who will help them stay sober after they leave
Ms Bartlett said Fresh Hope's approach was better than putting children into foster care while their mother recovered and would work for most addicts
Also unlike most rehab facilities, the couple do not do stringent assessments of residents to decide who can come in.
'If they want to come and we have a bed, we'll take them straight off the street,' Ms Bartlett said.
'Some mothers who have graduated we wouldn't have taken in if we did assessments because at the time they didn't look like they were going to make it.
'But they've done it despite all the odds against them and changed their lives, and we don't want to miss out on that.'
Not every resident decides to stay the full 12 to 18 months, but often they are still successful at staying clean and becoming good parents.
Mr and Mrs Bartlett often will vouch for graduates to help them keep their children or get back kids still living in foster care, and sometimes even act as guarantor for rental properties.
Unlike most rehab facilities, the couple do not do stringent assessments of residents to decide who can come in
'If they want to come and we have a bed, we'll take them straight off the street,' Ms Bartlett said
Not every resident decides to stay the full 12 to 18 months, but often they are still successful at staying clean and becoming good parents
Stacks of clean linen and cleaning supplies are seen in one of the rooms in the house
There is a second house on the property that could house another five women but there is not enough funding
At first it was hard for authorities to understand the unconventional concept and overcome concerns about child safety.
But once they saw it for themselves they realised there were policies to protect kids like no resident ever minding another's child and no kids in others' rooms.
However, the clinic lost its $300,000-a-year federal funding to pay staff in 2015 because of disagreements over how to run the program.
Mr Bartlett said they were under pressure to make the program shorter and the government wanted to decide who was accepted, which they would never agree to.
The clinic lost its $300,000-a-year federal funding to pay staff in 2015 because of disagreements over how to run the program
Mr Bartlett said they were under pressure to make the program shorter and the government wanted to decide who was accepted, which they would never agree to
Without government funding most staff were now volunteers, but because of the clinic's rural location it was hard to find enough help
He said they were given six hours to agree to a contract in lead-up to election and didn't have time to properly negotiate.
'I believe it was purposely done because everyone else had two weeks,' he said.
Mr Bartlett said operational costs were about $1 million a year and were paid for with donations and taking 85 per cent of a resident's gross Centrelink payments as fees.
Without government funding most staff were now volunteers, but because of the clinic's rural location it was hard to find enough help.
A second five-bedroom house sits empty on the farm, with a long waiting list eager to fill it if they had the money and staff to run it.
'If we had enough funding we could fill it tomorrow,' he said.
The best friend of the Ukrainian 'Black Widow' accused of luring her wealthy British husband to his death claims she only married him for his money.
Besotted businessman Barry Pring was mysteriously killed in a high speed hit and run while flagging down a taxi on a motorway in 2008 after dinner with his internet bride, former lap dancer Ganna Ziuzina.
An inquest ruled her IT consultant husband Barry, 47, was unlawfully killed - and her family insisted Ziuzina was to blame.
Now her best friend Tatiana Pereklita has claimed the former stripper had 'no love' for the businessman - and was not upset by his death.
'There was no love there. Anna [Ganna] just found a wealthy husband for herself,' Tatiana said.
'Gold digger': Tatiana Pereklita, pictured, said former best friend Ganna Ziuzina was stuck in a loveless marriage to wealthy British husband Barry Pring, whose family accuse her of being involved in the killing
Gold digger: Tatiana, pictured, who was at their wedding in Kiev, Ukraine, said it was a marriage of convenience and that Miss Ziuzina had only married Barry for his money. She said: 'She thought of him as just an old bloke in love with her whom she could use.'
Death: Former stripper Miss Ziuzina, right, is said to have lured Barry, left, onto the hard shoulder of a dual carriageway in Kiev where he was killed by a car travelling at at least 80mph with no lights on and using stolen number plates. The car didn't brake to slow down
'And Barry was not a young boy, he wanted to get married. I think both of them knew exactly what the other wanted.
'I knew Barry. He was a good man, very nice and polite. I attended their wedding and later we met each other in the same group of friends.'
Tatiana added: 'She [Ziuzina] just wanted his money. She thought of him as just an old bloke in love with her whom she could use.'
Since the former friends last spoke five years ago, Miss Ziuzina, who was dubbed a 'gold digger' at the British inquest into her husband's death, has moved to Spain with another wealthy British businessman, Ivan Lister.
For the last 16 months she has lived at a lavish villa she owns in Marbella, complete with swimming pool, where she lives with property developer Mr Lister, with whom she had a young daughter with in 2013.
The internet bride also paid bought a three-bedroom flat 130,000 in a nearby development for her parents.
'I feel that she will never come back to Ukraine,' Tatiana told MailOnline.
Foul play: A UK coroner ruled last week that IT consultant Barry was 'unlawfully killed' in 2008 after allegedly being 'tricked' into standing on a stretch of highway in Kiev. Miss Ziuzina, left with her former husband, was dubbed a 'gold digger' at the inquest into his death
Hit and run: Miss Ziuzina has always insisted her husband was killed in a road accident. Tatiana, pictured, was called by her former friend as a witness. But she told MailOnline she wasn't with her that night and knows nothing of what happened
Mystery: Tatiana, above, has not spoken to Miss Ziuzina, dubbed the Ukrainian 'Black Widow' for five years. Of the marriage she said: 'Barry was not a young boy, he wanted to get married. I think both of them knew exactly what the other wanted.'
Relatives of Barry told a coroners court last week they believe internet bride Ziuzina 19 years his junior arranged his brutal death to seize his 1.5million inheritance.
He was allegedly tricked into standing by a busy dual carriageway following a boozy dinner with his wife and was killed instantly by a car travelling at up to 80mph without its lights on carrying stolen number-plates.
The car did not apply its breaks. Barry was pinned and dragged against the barrier for 100ft.
Barry, originally from Devon, owned five properties and was worth an estimated 1.5million. His assets are currently frozen under a High Court order.
His wife did not attend his inquest asserting that she had nothing to say.
Her estranged friend Tatiana said she cannot be sure whether she arranged his murder.
'You can't read into another person's soul,' she said from her drab Soviet-era apartment in Kiev's rundown Goloseyevka district. 'I understand that people are dividing a big fortune in this case.
Moving on: Miss Ziuzina, 38, has since moved into a lavish villa in Marbella with British property developer Ivan Lister, above, with whom she had a daughter, three, in 2013
Luxury: As well as the sprawling 700,000 villa which Miss Ziuzina purchased with her own money, she also bought a 150,000 three bedroom flat for her parents nearby
'After Barry's death, Anna told the police to list me as a witness. Since then I've had to give evidence many times. Each time I repeated that I knew nothing.
'Anna was very upset after his death but probably not because of the fact of his death - but due to all this noise around it.'
The businessman's brother Shaughan has told of how Miss Ziuzina was cold and detached when she Skyped him to tell his his brother was dead.
He said: 'It was like someone calling to tell you a cat has been run over. It wasn't emotional. It didn't seem like she really cared.'
The police probe into his death has been dogged by accusations of corruption but British detectives cannot travel to Ukraine to investigate his death - and his wife's alleged involvement - without the permission of local authorities.
Shaughan Pring, 54, has said British police must be allowed to join a new probe to ensure the killer and any accomplices face justice - and even called on the Prime Minister to intervene in the case.
He said: 'The Ukrainian police say they have no suspects, that just beggars belief I would like Theresa May to put pressure on the Ukrainian authorities to allow British police to help investigate.'
It is claimed a close friend of Miss Ziuzina was a senior officer in the Ukraine police traffic department at the time of the murder.
She was granted legal aid to fight for a major share of her ex-husband's fortune following his death - leading to a bitter falling out with his family.
Now the inquest has finished, the legal battle over his estate is set to resume in court.
Accused: Miss Ziuzina, pictured, met her late husband on an internet bride dating site. At the time she was a stripper. He put her up in a flat and paid her so that she no longer needed to work as a lapdancer
Besotted: Friends of Barry Pring, from Exeter, in Devon say he was under his Ukranian wife's control. He died when he was killed hailing a taxi on a dual carriageway in Kiev as the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversay
Feud: Miss Ziuzina was granted legal aid to fight for a share of her ex-husband's 1.5million estate following his death - leading to a bitter falling out with his family, pictured at their wedding
Barry's family claims she sold his Rolex watch, antique furniture, television and even the sofa after moving into his flat in Battersea, London.
British police do not have 'jurisdiction' in Ukraine and therefore cannot bring any charges over the case, but they could potentially send officers to Kiev for a joint investigation.
The Pring family's local Tory MP, Neil Parish, has vowed to raise the case in the House of Commons.
A church pastor running as a One Nation candidate is looking for a Russian mail order bride.
Pentecostal minister Lawrence Shave has an account with a dating site that specialises in woman from eastern Europe.
The 73-year-old father-of-three wants a woman aged between 20 and 44 and is also running as a One Nation candidate in the upcoming West Australian state election.
The man, who is twice divorced, has a dating profile with SingleBridesAgency.com, which mainly lists young women from Russia.
'I am still looking for my special Christian partner that has old family values,' Mr Shave told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.
Pastor Lawrence Shave (pictured with his great dane Elijah) is running as a One Nation candidate in Western Australia
Pentecostal reverend Lawrence Shave is advertising for a mail order bride aged from 20 to 44
The SingleBridesAgency website (pictured) Pastor Lawrence Shave has a profile with
Mr Shave said he needed a companion, adding he was now focused on finding a woman who was older than 35.
'Why not?,' he said.
'I did find out that contacting people through marriage agencies did and does make life more interesting
'So I just made myself available on about four marriage agencies, just being friends.
'Mind you there is still the opportunity in meeting that number one women, as it says in the Bible, Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.
'"For every one who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened".'
The dating website boasts that 'single ladies from Russia are the most popular in the mail order bride dating service'.
'Russian women are wonderful mothers, good lovers and appreciate family life,' it says.
'Everyone knows that Russian brides are the most beautiful in the world.'
This is the same reverend who less than two years ago advertised for bikini baristas on a backpacker jobs board.
'Bikini baristas are wanted for a coffee/tea drive-through shop establishment,' he said in his advertisement in July 2015.
'To schedule an interview, reply with a recent photo and your name and phone number.'
Pastor Lawrence Shave advertised on Facebook for women to wear bikinis to serve tea
Only three years ago, Pastor Lawrence Shave boasted about finding a Ukrainian wife
His search for a wife also comes only three years after he told his Facebook followers about having a new love from The Ukraine, who ultimately left him for another man.
'Please meet my future wife Oksana. It's amazing she accepted me and said "Yes",' he said.
Mr Shave, also known by his nickname 'Pastor Lofty', is the endorsed One Nation candidate for the West Australian seat of Dawesville, centred on the city of Mandurah south of Perth.
Last week, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson declined to criticise her candidate after his bikini barista advertisement was revealed.
'I'm not going to make comments on things that I'm not aware of,' she told reporters.
'You know, sometimes the media tells me things that is not exactly right.'
Pauline Hanson (pictured) has declined to criticise Lawrence Shave over his bikini barista ad
Lawrence Shave pictured with a young woman on his Facebook page
As a pastor in Fremantle in 2002, Mr Shave wrote a letter to a Sunday newspaper attacking then High Court judge Michael Kirby for being gay.
'Michael Kirby has admitted he lived in a homosexual relationship and has given a public speech to a boys' school telling students it is acceptable to be homosexual and that it was totally unrealistic to expect homosexuals to remain celibate,' his letter said.
'I would ask that Justice Kirby resign from his position immediately because, in my mind, this judge fails the test of public trust and judicial legitimacy.'
He told Daily Mail Australia he stood by those views and said homosexuals could be rehabilitated.
'It's a lifestyle. Anybody can be cured for any type of lifestyle,' he said.
Earlier this month, Senator Hanson dumped a Queensland candidate Shan Ju Lin after she said on Facebook gay people should be 'treated as patients'.
A day later, Senator Hanson issued a media release saying she made 'no apologies for being tough on candidates'.
Mr Lawrence, who lives in the Perth suburb of Bibra Lake outside the electorate he is contesting, said he had performed miracles as a pastor, healing a man with cancer by touching him.
'I've had a person that had a growth on the side of his cheek and it fell out of him and he lived,' he said.
'Miracle healings, it's laying hands on the sick and they shall recover. That's what Jesus did.
'I have had people whose ears are healed.'
Six-year-old Etan disappeared on May 25, 1979, the first day parents Stan and Julie allowed him to walk the two blocks from their New York home to his bus stop alone
The man on trial again for the murder of a six-year-old boy who vanished 37 years ago was forced into a confession by police officers bent on closing a decades-old case, his lawyer has claimed.
Pedro Hernandez, now 56, admitted choking Etan Patz in 2012 in the basement of a convenience store where he worked as a teenage stock boy.
Six-year-old Etan disappeared on May 25, 1979, the first day parents Stan and Julie allowed him to walk the two blocks from their New York home to his bus stop alone.
His body was never found, leaving investigators without scientific evidence from crime scenes.
The case helped to make missing children a national cause in the United States, and Etan's mother became a national advocate.
His case caused many parents to stop letting their children roam their neighborhoods alone.
Prosecutors claim Hernandez hid a brutal secret for more than three decades.
They suggested the motive was sexual and depicted him as a cunning criminal.
However his defense attorney, Harvey Fishbein, said Hernandez was mentally ill and coerced into a confession by officers.
He said: 'Pedro Hernandez is an odd, limited and vulnerable man. Pedro Hernandez is an innocent man.'
Prosecutors claim Pedro Hernandez (pictured) hid a brutal secret for more than three decades
Etan's body was never found, leaving investigators without scientific evidence from crime scenes
Hernandez was tried once before. His first trial ended in 2015 when Justice Maxwell Wiley declared a mistrial after the jury reported being deadlocked after 18 days of deliberation. A lone juror held out against convicting him.
Hernandez, from Maple Shade in New Jersey, was arrested in 2012 after his brother-in-law reported his suspicions to the authorities.
A member of his prayer group said Hernandez had once fallen to his knees and confessed to killing a child in New York City, while his former wife also testified that he had confessed before they married.
In a taped confession with police, Hernandez said after six hours: 'Something just took over me. I'm being honest. I feel bad what I did.'
Stan Patz, father of Etan Patz, who went missing in 1979, walks out of state Supreme Court during a break in closing arguments in the retrial of Pedro Hernandez
Rosemary Hernandez, left, wife of Pedro Hernandez, and his daughter Becky Hernandez, arrive at state Supreme Court, in New York, on Monday
However Mr Fishbein identified Jose Ramos - a drifter whose girlfriend was the boy's babysitter - as a possible alternative suspect.
Jose Antonio Ramos was a convicted child molester who had been accused by boys in the neighborhood of trying to lure them into a drainpipe.
When police investigated the pipe, they found photos of Ramos and of a young boy resembling Etan.
Mr Fishbein identified Jose Ramos (pictured) - a drifter whose girlfriend was the boy's babysitter - as a possible alternative suspect
He admitted to taking a boy back to his apartment to rape him on the day Etan disappeared, but he said he let the boy go.
He said he was '90 per cent sure' it was the same boy he later saw on TV.
Ramos danced around a confession for years, telling federal agents in the 1990s he 'may' have molested Etan, but he was never charged and he denied killing the boy.
He is now in a Pennsylvania jail on a 20-year sentence for abusing two boys
Mr Fishbein said: 'There is substantial evidence against Jose Ramos,' Fishbein said. 'If you believe there is any remote possibility that Jose Ramos caused the disappearance of Etan Patz than you must find Mr. Hernandez not guilty. That's what reasonable doubt is.'
However prosecutors have countered that evidence did not indicate Ramos was involved.
They will give their summation on Tuesday.
Washington has become the first state to sue Donald Trump over his 'un-American and unlawful' immigration ban.
The state's attorney general declared that he was suing the President over his temporary order which affects seven countries with majority-Muslim populations.
Trump's executive order also suspended the United States' entire refugee program and set off nationwide protests over the weekend, including one that drew 3,000 people to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
'If successful it would have the effect of invalidating the president's unlawful action nationwide,' Attorney General Bob Ferguson said at a news conference.
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Bob Ferguson, Washington state's attorney general, declared that he was suing the President over his temporary order which affects seven countries with majority-Muslim populations
Trump's executive order also suspended the United States' entire refugee program and set off nationwide protests over the weekend, including one that drew 3,000 people to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Ferguson was one of 16 state attorneys general who released a statement Sunday calling Trump's immigration action 'un-American and unlawful.'
Trump has repeatedly said Friday's order suspending immigration for citizens of the seven countries for 90 days is aimed at protecting the nation against extremists looking to attack Americans and U.S. interests.
The lawsuit against Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and high-ranking Trump administration officials was filed in federal court in Seattle.
The complaint seeks to have key provisions of the executive order declared unconstitutional, Ferguson said. The state is also asking for a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the order.
'We are a country based on the rule of law, and in a courtroom it is not the loudest voice that prevails, it's the Constitution,' Ferguson said. 'At the end of the day, either you're abiding by the Constitution or you are not. And in our view, the president is not adhering to the Constitution when it comes to this executive action.'
Sara Lopez, of Seattle, holds a sign as she attends a Seattle City Council meeting in Seattle. Council members passed a resolution Monday reaffirming that Seattle is a 'welcoming city' that treats residents equally regardless of their refugee or immigration status
Technology companies Amazon.com Inc and Expedia Inc, both of which are based in Washington state's Seattle area, will support the state's suit, Ferguson said.
Another Washington state company, Microsoft Corp, said it has been cooperating with the attorney general's office to provide information about the order's impact 'in order to be supportive.'
'To our employees in the U.S. and around the world who may be directly affected by this order, I want you to know that the full extent of Amazon's resources are behind you,' Amazon.com Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said in a note to employees.
The complaint claims that Trump's actions are separating Washington families, harming thousands of state residents, damaging the state economy, hurting Washington-based companies 'and undermining Washington's sovereign interest in remaining a welcoming place for immigrants and refugees,' Ferguson said.
Washington state Governor Jay Inslee said the 'inhumanity' of Trump's order is obvious.
'This is un-American, it is wrong, and it will not stand,' Inslee said. 'The clear intent of this executive order is to discriminate against one faith amongst all God's children.'
A man holds a sign during a protest held in response to President Donald Trump's travel ban, in Seattle, Washington
Asked if he fears retaliation from the Trump administration, Inslee said 'there's no predicting this president, but we will not yield, we will not be leveraged, we will not be threatened, we will not be intimidated.'
Inslee said he learned the hard way over the years 'you do not back down to bullies.'
Ferguson said he has been in contact with other attorneys general but at this point Washington state was acting on its own regarding the legal action.
The Port of Seattle said over the weekend that people who were detained at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as a result of Trump's order have been released.
A self-professed Bloods gang member testified Monday that he was ending a four-day drug binge when his friend sexually assaulted him, leading the defendant to tie up the man, kill him and then record videos in which he gloated over the body.
Jeffrey Knoble, 27, took the stand in his own defense in his Northampton County trial in the March 2015 death of Andrew 'Beep' White.
Knoble said he had been up for four days doing meth and passed out, then awoke to find the 32-year-old White naked, touching him and kissing his neck.
'I just snapped. I just snapped out,' Knoble said. 'I pushed him off. It felt like it wasn't me. It felt like, what is it called?
'Like autopilot and I just put the pillow over his head and I just shot him in his head.'
Jeffrey Knoble (left) says he was ending a binge when his friend Andrew 'Beep' White (right) sexually assaulted him, leading the defendant to tie up the man and kill him
According to Lehigh Valley Live, Northampton County First Deputy District Attorney Terence Houck asked Monday: 'This is the best you can do? Is this it? This is the very best you can do? To insult and indignify this man?'
Prosecution witnesses have characterized Knoble as a liar and a manipulator and White as a good Samaritan.
Knoble allegedly killed White after the openly gay man covered Knoble's room at a motel in March 2015, according to the website.
Knoble claimed on Monday that White had 'liked' a nude photograph of Knoble on Facebook, and was asked by Houck if he could find the image, Lehigh Valley Live reported.
Knoble was quoted by the website as saying: 'Let me get to my phone real fast' before giving the prosecutor an obscene gesture.
Prosecutors said investigators found no evidence of a sexual assault and no drug paraphernalia in the motel room.
Prosecutors said the defendant took a cellphone video of the bloody victim and said, 'I do what I want.' Another video shows him touching the victim's head while referencing the bullet hole that killed him, investigators said.
Knoble, 27, of Riegelsville, said he made the recordings to intimidate people who had been threatening him.
Prosecution witnesses have characterized Knoble as a liar and a manipulator and White (left and right) as a good Samaritan
He didn't send the videos and was quoted by Lehigh Valley Live as saying: ' I automatically regretted it. I acted like a retard afterward. That whole day was in a haze. I didn't just kill him for the hell of it.'
Defense attorney Gavin Holihan said Knoble, reacted 'horribly' out of a 'combination of drugs, alcohol and fear of being labeled a homosexual,' which he said for a gang member would be perceived as a sign of weakness.
'If he's identified as being a homosexual in any way shape or form, his life will be over,' at least as far as Knoble perceived, said Holihan.
Holihan claimed that White exploited Knoble being intoxicated, by making a move after Knoble was passed out, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
Holihan was quoted by the website as saying: 'That's why Andrew White was naked. Jeffrey Knoble didn't strip Andrew White. Andrew White got naked himself.'
Both Knoble and Holihan say that Knoble is in the Bloods gang, something Houck says is untrue, the website reported.
The defendant and the prosecutor clashed repeatedly during the testimony.
Holihan accused the prosecutor 'of making too many prejudicial and critical comments between his questions,' and sought a mistrial on Monday, which was rejected by the judge, Lehigh Valley Live wrote.
Prosecutors allege that Knoble had called White for help because he knew police were looking for him after he stole his then-girlfriend's rental car, which was found abandoned with four bullet holes in the side.
Dear Barack Obama,
If you didn't notice, I didn't refer to you as 'Mr. President' this time. That's because you've lost my respect. You've broken my heart once again, and you've betrayed the concept of justice like many other heartless individuals have done before you. I thought you were different. I thought you had a moral compass. Turns out you're just like the rest - selfish and spineless.
You can't deny that you saw the letters my sister and I wrote. I am almost certain that someone put them directly in your hands. That's what they told us they would do, at least. So, you read them. You knew of our heartache and our desperation. Not only that, you knew of the emotional beatings we've taken repeatedly over the last eight years; the kicks in the gut when we were already on the ground, the knives in our backs. You stood by and watched the arrest, the trials, the sentencing, the appellate court decision, the resentencing hearing, and the horrific lies and hurtful words said in the press. You did nothing - said nothing - for eight long years. While my father spent time behind barbed wire, you were living in the lap of luxury. And, as hard as it was, I understood. I blamed you once. In my pre-teen mind, you were what caused the destruction of my life. At one point, though, I moved on. I began to support you. I accepted that you never would've done anything during your first term because it would ruin your chances of getting reelected, and by the second term you had to campaign for Hillary. When the election was done, and you were leaving office, I thought you would finally do it. I couldn't fathom a reason why you wouldn't - your career wasn't at stake anymore. You know as well as anyone, that my father is guilty of nothing. He made mistakes - he's human, after all - but nothing was illegal. I thought you would fix it. I thought you would finally right this wrong. You didn't have to pardon him, only commute the sentence. You just had to let him come home. You didn't. You released others, like Chelsea Manning or FALN terrorists, who actually committed reprehensible crimes, but you failed to release an innocent man. Even if he was guilty of anything, the fourteen year sentence was extreme and you said yourself that you want to make sure that no one is being over sentenced.
My father had faith in you. He had, and still has, faith in the system, in justice, in mankind, and in God. I, on the other hand, have lost all faith. I expect people to let me down. I expect the scale of justice to tip in the favor of those who manipulate, lie, and scheme. As for God, I have no reason to believe He exists. If I told this to my dad, it would break his heart. He has become deeply faithful while in prison. He believes that God has a plan for everything and that He is good. I don't buy it anymore. I want more than anything to have faith, but I don't think I know how. If there was a God, an all-powerful, all good, and all knowing God, my family wouldn't have had to endure this trauma.
Most importantly, though, my father believes in forgiveness. He harbors no ill will towards anyone involved in his imprisonment. He's not angry. He used to be, it caused him to drink way too much to blunt the pain, but he's not anymore. He's disappointed in you now, but he'll forgive you. He won't hold a grudge. I will, though. I have spent eight years of my life living with such rage and resentment that allowing myself to actually feel it would be debilitating. I am shocked at how bitter and full of hate I have become. Underneath that, though, I'm just sad and hurt. I am sad that I have absolutely no control over such an important part of my life. I have no control over if my dad will be at my college graduation, or be there to walk me down the aisle, or as a shoulder to cry on when life gets even harder - though that seems impossible to me right now. Since I was twelve, I've been wanting my life to go back to normal; to have my dad home and not have to worry about another let down. I'll be 21 this summer, and I'm still waiting. I don't even remember what normal was anymore. I have no recollection of my childhood, and no desire to let myself reminisce in any of the 'good times'.
You could have fixed it. It wouldn't have negated the past - I'm stuck with the scars for the rest of my life - but it would've allowed the cycle of trauma to finally come to an end. I've dealt with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and aspects of PTSD. I've had days where I couldn't pry myself from bed, days where I can't stop crying or feeling the pain that has been inflicted continuously, and days where the fear of another eight years consumes me completely. For a while I couldn't see a news truck without panicking. To this day, I still have trouble with the sound of helicopters. After having them fly over my house for a week when we were trapped inside, hiding from the parasites and their cameras parked on the streets, the sound of one usually makes me feel paralyzed. It's gotten better, though. Most of the time I'm fine. Sometimes I barely notice it until it's flying away. Other times it's all I hear - especially when there's one near my house. Everything is treatable, I've had more than enough therapy to know that, but it doesn't change the fact that I spent my entire adolescence in a state of fight or flight, or that every time there's a chance my last name will be mentioned I'm worried. It doesn't change the inexcusable remarks people have made about my family and I, nor does it the fact that people feel it is their right to say whatever they please to me or behind my back.
I've handled it so far, though. I've made it eight years. I'm at a prestigious university and my grades are good. I've kept up appearances. I've visited my dad when necessary no matter how many wounds it reopens. I've been faking being okay for so long, that sometimes it's not an act. Sometimes 'out of sight, out of mind is good' enough. Doesn't make up for the guilt I feel for avoiding reading emails from my dad, or talking about him. In high school, I would never say anything about him. Something as trivial as 'my dad's a Cubs fan' used to feel taboo to me. I figured that if I pretended I was a normal person, maybe everyone else would forget.
I feel guilty that I can't be the daughter he needs right now. He lives for my sister and I, and we repay him by rushing him off the phone and complaining about visiting. But that's how I've survived this long. That's how I've made it through. But I needed you to let him out. I don't know how much longer I can keep it up. I don't think I can make it another eight years. I was counting on you to help.
I don't understand why you couldn't put yourself in my father's shoes. You have two daughters and I'm sure you're away from them a lot. Don't you miss them? Don't they miss you? Wouldn't you do anything to spare them the agony of visiting you in prison? Don't you want the best for them? If the answer to any of these is 'yes', then you should've commuted the sentence in a heartbeat. Since you didn't, it's my belief that you are either a horrible parent or a horrible person. Either way, like I said before, I've lost my respect for you.
Everyone seems to be mourning your exit from office. I'm glad you're gone. I'm not delusional - you're not a saint. You were a mediocre president with unoriginal ideas. Tell me, how did you think of the idea for the Affordable Care Act? Did it have something to do with All Kids? At least All Kids was done correctly, and, unlike the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, it wasn't a failure.
I want you to know how disappointed I am. I didn't want to despise you, to have an almost visceral reaction to the mention or image of you. I truly thought you were a good person. I guess I was just as brainwashed as everyone else. At least now I can see the blood on your hands. You can keep washing them, but they'll never be clean. You were a bystander to a completely un-American act of injustice. You're just as guilty as those who created it in the first place.
Sincerely,
Amy Blagojevich
A new algorithm for split train tickets has been created in hopes of saving riders 40million a year on 95million rail journeys in Britain.
Ticketclever.com, a new UK rail travel booking site, uses an algorithm to compute hundreds of millions of fare and route combinations to save riders up to 60 per cent on journeys.
The top savings were found on rail journeys that are more than an hour long.
Examples include Manchester to London for 73.80, saving 95.20 (56 per cent) on the normal price; and Leeds to London for 54.30, saving 50.90 (50 per cent) on the normal price.
Ticketclever.com, a new UK rail travel booking site, uses an algorithm to compute hundreds of millions of fare and route combinations to save riders up to 60 per cent on journeys
The website shows options for each journey so they can see where savings can be made if they leave earlier, later or take a different route
TICKETCLEVER'S BIGGEST SAVINGS FOR HOUR+ JOURNEYS Manchester to London Euston - 73.80, saving 95.20 (56%) on the peak 169 adult single Leeds to London Kings Cross - 54.30, saving 50.90 (50%) on the off-peak 105.20 adult single Liverpool to London Euston - 52.70, saving 30.20 (36%) on the off-peak 82.90 adult single Glasgow to Leicester - 86.20, saving 34.80 (29%) on the off-peak 121.00 adult single Birmingham to Norwich 67.40, saving 76.90 (34%) on the off-peak 101.50 adult single Newcastle to Leeds - 42.00, saving 16.40 (28%) on the off-peak 58.40 adult return Oxford to Manchester 135.40, saving 37.60 (22%) on peak 173.00 adult return Advertisement
'It is our mission to put rail travellers first, by making it easy to find and book cheap train fares using our clever algorithm,' explained Jeremy Acklam, CEO of ticketclever.
He added: 'In an era where the price of train travel is under scrutiny, it's frustrating that getting the best deal on UK train journeys isn't straightforward.
'With so many fare combinations for each journey, it's very difficult for passengers to be certain they have a good deal.
'At ticketclever we want to make rail travel simpler by transforming the process of finding and buying tickets, so it is more transparent.'
The top savings on the new site were found on rail journeys that are more than an hour long
BEST WAYS TO SAVE ON TICKETS Split ticketing: Breaking your journey into segments and buying separate tickets for each part can cost less then buying end-to-end tickets. Group Save: Some train companies offer group train tickets for groups of between three and nine people traveling together. Railcards: Railcards - usually offered to people under 25, over 60, people who are disabled or traveling as a family - can help travellers save up to 1/3 on tickets. Off-peak travel: Traveling between 10am and 4.30pm can dramatically lower the price of rail tickets. Two singles: Sometimes buying two singles is cheaper than buying a return ticket. Child fares: Children under five travel for free as long as they don't take up a seat, and many train operators offer discounts for children between five and 15 years old. Advance purchase travel: Train companies usually release fares 90 days in advance, so travellers can check prices daily to see when ticket prices are released and changed. Advertisement
The practice is within the train operating companies' terms and conditions, but is not advertised by rail firms the emphasis is on the user to work out how to find the best deal.
The website, with the help of Oxford-based mathematicians and computer scientists, calculates the biggest savings for customers and shows dozens of options.
Website users can see where savings can be made if they leave earlier, later or take a different route.
Savings can also be made through splitting journeys or adding another stop - and ticketclever looks at all of these options for its users.
Compared to using a kiosk at the station, website users can see where savings can be made if they leave earlier, later or take a different route (file photo)
If a journey spans peak and off-peak times, the website will calculate if using multiple tickets would lead to more savings.
The site gives travelers four options for searching for tickets: Be clever, be frugal, be quick and be flexible.
Be Clever filters tickets by price and speed. Be frugal filters only by price, while Be quick filters by speed.
The fourth option, Be flexible, shows users the walk-up fares of tickets for the journey.
Additionally, Ticketclever, created by a privately funded UK startup, does not charge booking or payment card fees.
The website is accredited by the National Rail to sell tickets.
The family of an American mother and daughter killed when a co-pilot deliberately flew an airliner into a mountainside is sing the German airline, its parent company and the U.S. airline that sold them their tickets.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia on behalf of the husband and son of Yvonne Selke, who was killed along with her daughter, Emily, 22.
Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, locked the captain out of the cockpit and crashed the plane in a remote area of the French Alps nearly two years ago. The two Virginia women were the only Americans on board the plane.
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The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia on behalf of the husband and son of Yvonne Selke, who was killed along with her daughter, Emily (pictured)
Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, locked the captain out of the cockpit and crashed the plane in a remote area of the French Alps nearly two years ago
The lawsuit was filed against Germanwings; its parent company, Lufthansa Airlines; and United Airlines, which is headquartered in Chicago.
The Selkes bought their tickets for a trip to England and Spain from United and departed on a United flight from Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
United, Lufthansa and Germanwings are part of a global airline alliance that allows the companies to book flights on each other's planes.
The Selkes were traveling from Spain to Germany, where they planned to transfer to a flight to England, when the crash occurred.
The suit alleged Lufthansa and Germanwings are negligent because they didn't have a policy requiring at least two flight crew members in the cockpit at all times.
US airlines have been required to have two crew members in the cockpit since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The Selkes bought their tickets for a trip to England and Spain from United and departed on a United flight from Dulles International Airport in Virginia
'Whether it be sudden pilot incapacitation, a rogue pilot, or a pilot allowed to fly with known mental conditions, like we have here, the airline industry has long been aware of the dangers associated with just one person in the cockpit,' said Los Angeles attorney A. Ilyas Akbari, who represents the Selke family.
Yvonne Selke, a 57-year-old former Army officer, worked at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Emily Selke was a graduate of Drexel University who aspired to be an event planner.
Officials for Lufthansa didn't immediately reply to a request for comment.
United said in a statement that the lawsuit had no merit and 'we will defend ourselves.'
The mother of the youngest Bourke Street rampage victim has shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook as reports a sixth person has died in hospital following the tragedy.
Nawwar Hassan Bryant's three-month-old son Zachary died at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital from injuries he sustained when Dimitrious Gargasoulas, 26, allegedly ploughed his car into pedestrians in Melbourne's centre.
Ms Hassan Bryant said she returned to their Melbourne home on Saturday but 'it isn't getting any easier'.
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Zachary Bryant (right) was killed in the attack. His two-year-old sister Zara ( left) was discharged from the Royal Children's Hospital on Friday afternoon
'Every move I make, every corner of the house and every sight we pass by reminds me of my child,' she said on Sunday.
'Memories of him are so deeply etched in my mind, I automatically connect something I see to a memory of him.'
Ms Hassan Bryant said she visited makeshift memorial sites for the Bourke Street victims on Sunday, and felt overwhelmed at the kindness strangers showed her child.
Ms Hassan Bryant said she visited makeshift memorial sites for the Bourke Street victims on Sunday, and felt overwhelmed at the kindness strangers had shown Zachary (pictured together with his older sister Zara)
People gather in front of floral tributes at Bourke St Mall for victims of the Bourke Street Mall Attack
'A photo of Zac is at every site we visited accompanied with numerous words of love and wishes of heartfelt condolences,' she said.
'Amidst all this sadness I feel so grateful to know there is so much love and kindness all around us.'
She said she chose to remember Zachary's life rather than his death.
'My son touched so many lives and even though for a moment in this world, he did so much. He exuded so much love. Even more than I could have ever done,' she said.
'He may not be physically in my arms anymore but besides photos and memories I will always remember him by wearing his birth scars on my body as badges of honour to have given birth to such an angel.'
People pay their respects at Bourke St Mall in Melbourne CBD which has become a tribute to the Bourke St victims
Ms Hassan Bryant shares footage of her speaking at her son Zachary's funeral on Facebook
'Melbourne grieves with you,' a message reads at the memorial at Bourke Street, the sight of the rampage which killed six'
At a funeral held for Zachary in Doncaster East on Tuesday last week, Ms Hassan Bryant described him as 'just perfect'.
'Right up until his last breath as he lay in my arms, Zachary was just perfect, he was too perfect. Too perfect and pure to be here and I'm glad he's now up in heaven,' she said.
'We were so happy and thankful to be gifted with such a beautiful little boy.'
Floral tributes and messages of love and support have been left at Bourke Street, Melbourne
Heartbreaking message Ms Hassan Bryant shared on Facebook on Sunday after her son Zachary died following the attack
Jess Mudie, 22, (pictured) was one of the six victims killed in the Bourke Street massacre
Three-month-old Zachary was one of six victims to die, including a 10-year-old girl, in the wake of the Bourke Street rampage.
Zachary's sister Zara was also injured in the attack, but was since released from hospital.
A 33-year-old Melbourne woman became the sixth person to die from injuries sustained in the massacre after she died in hospital on Monday night.
While six people died, 37 in total required hospital treatment.
A further nine people remain in hospital, with one in a critical condition.
Thalia Hakin, 10, (pictured) died from injuries sustained in the Bourke Street massacre
Emotions were high on The Today Show when host Stevie Jacobs read out a text from the mother of a man who died of cancer after appearing on the breakfast show.
Mr Jacobs had visited a Melbourne hospital to fund Jordan Lorenzi's wedding as part of a segment on the Nine Network's program on Monday morning.
The 22-year-old died hours later and Mr Jacobs became emotional on air as he read out a touching text message from Mr Lorenzi's mother, Diane.
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The Today Show tried to make cancer patient Jordan Lorenzi's wish come true by funding his wedding - but the 22-year-old died only hours after he was visited by host Stevie Jacobs
The mother thanked the television network and the public for sharing his story so widely.
'We'll be celebrating Jordan's life on Wednesday, 8th of February next week, and have decided to hold his wake at his beloved footclub at Avondale Heights where he played before he got sick,' Mr Jacobs said, reading out Diane's text message.
'All his team gathered at the Anglers Tavern on Sunday afternoon to honour his memory, and they hung their jumpers on the front doors so I was incredible moved.
'Jordan would be humbled by all of these gestures to bring the public more awareness, so thank you for facilitating that.
Host Stevie Jacobs on Tuesday read out a text from Mr Lorenzi's mother, Diane
'Too many young people lose their lives to this insidious disease. So to all of the public, thank you and god bless you all,' the mother said in a text message to Mr Jacobs.
The Today Show host appeared to again be moved by Mr Lorenzi's story.
The breakfast show had gifted him $10,000 and two wedding rings to marry his childhood sweetheart, Lenae Kaenear. He died just hours after appearing on the segment.
'Our thoughts go out to the entire family,' Mr Jacobs said on Tuesday morning.
More than three-million people have watched the Nine Network's segment.
Jordan and his fiancee Lenae wanted to get married as soon as possible, because they didn't know how long Jordan would be around
The Today Show host appeared to again be moved by Mr Lorenzi's story
People moved by Mr Lorenzi's stody can donate to the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group, to fund research into the disease.
On Monday, Mr Jacobs read a eulogy for Mr Lorenzi outside the hospital.
'I only got to meet this young man, who is extraordinary, for a short amount of time, but I was touched by his courage, his soul, and his pure love for his mum and his dad, and his fiancee,' Mr Jacobs said, his voice trembling.
'Sometimes the smallest moments leave the biggest impression.'
Mr Lorenzi and his fiancee wanted to get married as soon as possible, because they didn't know how long Mr Lorenzi would be around, the couple told the Today show in an interview recorded Saturday.
'Just to be able to call her my wife,' Mr Lorenzi said from his bed at the John Fawkner Hospital.
Mr Jacobs was moved to tears when he read a eulogy for the deceased man, Jordan, outside a Melbourne hospital in a segment aired Monday morning
The Today show donated $10,000 to Jordan's family and another $10,000 to be divided between the hospital and cancer researchers. Jordan is pictured in bed flanked by his parents and holding his fiancee's hand
The couple, who are from Avondale Heights, Victoria, received an envelope with $10,000 and two diamond rings from the Today crew.
Still, there wasn't enough time to make their dream come true.
Mr Lorenzi passed away early on Sunday morning, his parents told The Today Show.
'At his family's request, we decided to run that segment in loving memory of Jordan,' Mr Jacobs said.
'Also, his mum Diane wanted to highlight this terrible disease he was suffering from, Ewing's sarcoma.'
It was announced that the $10,000 would be donated to Mr Lorenzi's family instead.
And, in a generous gesture, The Today Show matched that donation and promised $5,000 to the John Fawkner Hospital, and $5,000 to research into Ewing's sarcoma.
Hearing Stevie Jacobs's eulogy from outside the hospital on Monday morning, anchors Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson seemed moved as well
Yvette Coopers eyes were bulging so much, she could have gone to a fancy dress party as Marty Feldman. Mike Gapes called the Prime Minister Theresa the Appeaser (the Speaker permitted this). Various Labour women shrieked shame!, disgusting!, puh-fet-ic! And Hilary Benn had some scenario it was not clear if it was genuine or hypothetical about a mother being denied admission to the US to bury her child. That set off another tsunami of shuddering and tutting and lip-chewing on the Opposition side.
The Commons was discussing President Trumps temporary new immigration rules. Boris Johnson, though only the British Foreign Secretary, and firmly critical of Mr Trumps gambit, was held personally kebabable.
Yvette Coopers eyes were bulging so much, she could have gone to a fancy dress party as Marty Feldman
A marching battalion of Wodehousian aunts, bayonet stares fixed, could not have matched the House for its indignation. Lava from Etna herself was neer so molten as the fury that erupted all over the blameless Boris.
He handled it fairly well, though perhaps there were one or two moments when he jabbered a little. But who can blame him when faced by such daft, caterwauling excess?
The White Houses edict was, said Boris, divisive, discriminatory and wrong. Opposition MPs: Not good enough! He had secured assurances from Washington DC that British subjects would not be affected by the lock-out. That wasnt what Labour and SNP Members wanted to hear at all. They wanted us to be whacked and hard by these measures. So that they could hate Mr Trump all the more!
Yvette told Boris for Heavens sake have the guts to speak out. But, er, he had already condemned the Trump policy
Dennis Skinner (Lab, Bolsover), reminding the House of his antiquity, said he had once cowered under a staircase from bombs being rained by Hitler and Mussolini. He was aghast that our Government was hand in hand with another Fascist, Trump. Boris, who has the advantage of being an historian, said he did not know Mussolini had ever bombed Britain. Miss Cooper (Lab, Normanton) was shaking with, well, with something. Rage? Despair? Impotence? Anger that Theresa Mays trip to DC went so well? Or maybe that the new president is keeping his electoral promises. That was perhaps the thing that really appalled them. Keeping campaign commitments! Itll never catch on.
Yvette told Boris for Heavens sake have the guts to speak out. But, er, he had already condemned the Trump policy.
On one side of Miss Cooper sat an MP in a dress that may once have been used as a finishing flag in Formula One. On her other side was Lyn Brown (West Ham), throwing snaggle-toothed insults.
Once the moment had passed, Ms Brown looked jolly pleased with herself, laughing and smiling. Shades of a Bonzo dog that has just had some fun barking at a Royal Mail van.
If the Olympic Games ever goes in for synchronised crossness, well be dead certs for a medal position
Sir William Cash (Con, Stone) said it might be worth thinking of the people killed at the World Trade Center and in the terrorist attacks in London, Paris, Brussels and Berlin.
Cue sneers and rhubarb from Labour and the SNP. Jacob Rees-Mogg (Con, NE Somerset) suggested that maybe US immigration policy was for, er, the Americans.
Opposition MPs were far more pleased when Ben Howlett (Con, Bath) piously criticised America.
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, for the SNP (pictured), essayed a severity beyond her abilities
Boris, replying to the spongy Howlett, said those who compared Mr Trumps behaviour to wartime Fascism were demeaning the horrors of the 1930s.
Ian Paisley (DUP, Antrim) noted that some of the people so aghast at Trump had been perfectly happy to talk to the IRA/Sinn Fein. Double standards, he felt.
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, for the SNP, essayed a severity beyond her abilities. Sir Nicholas Soames (Con, Mid-Sussex) made a woof-woof noise. Sir Nicholas later claimed that this was merely a friendly canine salute.
He himself hoped that Britain would treat refugees with patience, courtesy and respect. He can talk!
Across the aisle, the tempest still raged that woman from the Greens going ape and other Hon Members almost hyperventilating with anger.
If the Olympic Games ever goes in for synchronised crossness, well be dead certs for a medal position.
Mercedes Corby's tapas bar has fallen through amid rumours of a feud with business partner.
Corby's Laneway Bar and Dining in Coolangatta couldn't survive the year despite the Tugan local pouring countless hours into her passion.
Mercedes - the sister of convicted 'boogie board' drug smuggler Schapelle - owned Laneway Bar and Dining with co-owner Trudy Todd.
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Mercedes Corby's bar in Coolangatta has fallen through in just under a year
Laneway Bar and Dining has had a closed sign up for a while now
Laneway Bar and Dining in Coolangatta is shutting down after just under one year
Police applied for an AVO against Ms Corby on behalf of ex pro-surfer Trudy Todd in January.
Mercedes is expected to fight the AVO when she appears in court in February 20, according to The Gold Coast Bulletin.
Corby was in tears as furniture and items were taken from her new bar and said the worst part was she had let her family down.
'I did do my best, I worked really hard and I enjoyed being in there,' she reportedly told the publication.
'(The worst part) is that it's ended like this with something that I was so passionate about. I haven't just let myself down, my kidsI'm going to be in debt for a long time.'
Mercedes (pictured left for Ralph Magazine and right) says she's waiting to see what happens, as the date for Schapelle's return to the Gold Coast approaches
Mercedes Corby's bar has gone under after reportedly losing heavy money every week
Local bookmaker and alleged mediator Robert Tidy said it was unfortunate after all her hard work it was shutting down.
'Unfortunately it had been going on for a long time before we came on...we have put a lot of time and effort in and we really feel sorry for Mercedes for what happened,' he told Nine News.
Tidy Lay Bets general manager Grant Whyburn came into the bar as it was taken apart on Monday.
After Mr Tidy was looking to invest in the bar, Mr Whyburn claimed it was taking a heavy loss - with Nine News claiming it was $5,000 every week - and he had to look the other way.
'Unfortunately all I see at the moment is a long, drawn out legal battle with a lot of media attention,' he said.
Concerns have been raised over new NAPLAN online exams asking high school students to examine SMS chat using emojis instead of classic literature.
The Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority this week posted new public demonstration 'mini-tests' as they prepare students to transition to online testing.
But one of the questions, which asks Year 9 students to analyse a text message conversation about a drama teacher's facial hair, has been slammed by the education industry.
A sample of new NAPLAN online exams asking high school students to examine SMS chat using emojis
NAPLAN is an annual test undertaken each year by students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9, covering basic skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy.
The reading test for 14 and 15-year-old students asks the students whether the word 'mo' refers to Mr Grigg's moustache in an image of the screenshot conversation containing emojis - the smiley faces used in electronic messages.
An ACAA spokeswoman was defiant against the controversy, saying the tests show a range of questions 'from traditional to contemporary.'
They said the exam analyses 'various types of other media texts, such as newspapers and film.'
'Test items need to be as relevant and engaging for students as possible. As a result, test developers include a range of passage types, from text messages to more traditional literature-type passages.
'The SMS question is a very simple item, however, based on data to date we expect that it would challenge about 10% of Year 9 students.
The reading test for 14 and 15-year-old students asks the students to anaylyse the screenshot conversation containing emojis - the smiley faces used in electronic messages
The new emoji based questions have replaced works of classic literature - such as William Shakespeare
However the exam has been slammed by education industry figures who believe it has over simplified the curriculum.
Jennifer Buckingham, the Centre for Independent studies, told Daily Mail Australia the question was a troubling reflection of current literacy levels.
It certainly represents a very basic level of comprehension. It would be on the lower end of the range, she said.
She said it would only have been included in the demonstration if students in the vetting process had answered incorrectly.
Its a reflection of current literacy levels, and it is troubling this is the standard across the board.
Skyrocketing rental prices in Hong Kong have seen more people living in 'coffin homes' measuring just 1.9 square metres in size as that is all people can afford there.
The likes of Wong Ziwa lives in one of these tiny low-ceiling abodes that he calls home.
The United Nations has described such housing as 'an insult to human dignity', but Mr Wong can't afford the sky high rents and has to make do with this.
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Wong Ziwa (pictured) lives in one of these tiny low-ceiling abodes that he calls home
Home prices have increased nearly 50 per cent since 2012 in Kong Kong, making the property there one of the most unaffordable in the world.
Many apartments have been subdivided to create tiny 'coffin' homes to meet the demand for such housing.
Mr Wong, who pays US$226 ($300) in monthly rent, has lived in caged homes for more than twenty years - small caged homes are what people lived in before the 'coffin' homes became more prevalent there.
'It's been two years since I applied for public housing, but I still haven't heard back. How long am I going to wait? I don't even know,' Mr Wong said.
Mr Wong (pictured) lives in a 'coffin' home because it's all he can afford
More than seven million people call Hong Kong home.
The government plans to build 460,000 apartments over the next decade.
But social worker Sze Lai Shan says shorter term policies are needed to deal with the housing crisis.
Mr Shan, a social worker with the Society for Community Organisation, says: 'Living in a very tiny space with polluted air and simple surroundings.
'They don't even have enough room to stretch their legs and such tight spaces may have many psychological and social impacts.'
The number of residents living in tiny spaces like Wong's total nearly 200,000 according to the government - but Sze believes the real number is much higher.
Boente will serve until Senator Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the Senate
President Donald Trump has fired the acting Attorney General after she refused to defend his controversial immigration order.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Daniel Ragsdale was fired just two hours later without explanation.
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, a Democratic appointee, was accused of 'betraying' America after she directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend Trump's so called 'Muslim ban' on Monday. She said she was not convinced the order was lawful.
Dana Boente was sworn in as acting attorney general at 9pm on Monday in a hastily arranged ceremony after Trump fired his predecessor. He has already issued an order for the Justice Department to defend Trump's executive order.
Meanwhile Thomas Homan has been appointed to take over as Acting Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency from Ragsdale.
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President Donald Trump has fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she refused to defend his controversial immigration order
, Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has been appointed as her replacement until Senator Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the Senate
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that 'POTUS has named Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of VA as Acting Attorney General. Sally Yates has been relieved'
Senator Ted Cruz, once Trump's presidential candidate rival, has defended his decision to fire the 'lawless' Yates saying the president was 'exactly right.'
'After eight long years of a lawless Obama Department of Justice, it is fitting - and sad - that the very last act of the Obama DOJ is for the Acting AG to defy the newly elected President, refuse to enforce the law, and force the President to fire her,' he wrote on Facebook.
He added that Yates joined the 'ignominious succession' of Attorneys General, from Eric Holder to Loretta Lynch, 'who put brazen partisan interests above fidelity to law.'
'Yates' lawless partisanship highlights why the Senate needs to act now - and Senate Democrats should end their extreme political obstruction and delay - and confirm Jeff Sessions immediately.'
Earlier, CNN reported that Yates wrote a letter to lawyers explaining: 'My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts.'
'In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right,' she continued.
'At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful,' she concluded.
A statement from the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer stated that Yates has 'betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.'
Response: Donald Trump took to Twitter on Monday night to express his dissatisfaction at Acting AG Yates' stance
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Hall of Heroes at the Department of Defense Friday at the Pentagon. Trump signed two orders, one calling for the 'great rebuilding' of the nation's military, and another on 'extreme vetting' of visa seekers from terror-plagued countries
Senator Ted Cruz, once Trump's presidential candidate rival, has defended his decision to fire the 'lawless' Yates
'Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration,' Spicer said. 'It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country.'
Acting Attorney General Boente, who has worked for the Justice Department for more than 30 years, will be in position until Sen. Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the Senate.
Democrats have been fighting tooth and nail to keep Sessions out of the Cabinet, with many threatening to delay following his ban on immigrants and refugees from certain countries.
Boente said that he was 'honored' to serve until Sessions could be confirmed.
'I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected,' he added. Spicer also tweeted about the appointment on Monday evening.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., center, speaks with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, left, and other members of Congress, in front of the Supreme Court about President Donald Trump's recent executive orders
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., speaks with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, in front of the Supreme Court
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York stand as Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D- N.Y., speaks in front of the Supreme Court
Currently, there are lawsuits filed in at least five states including Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Washington and California, which challenge the order that the new president signed on Friday.
It bans citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from coming into the United States for 90 days, while pausing the refugee program for 120 days.
Protests against Trump's action have broken out at major airports and in major cities including New York, Boston and Washington, D.C.
WHO IS DANA BOENTE? Dana Boente, who has spent 33 years in the Justice Department, is described as tough but fair by fellow attorneys. He has never been vocal about his political views during his lengthy career and was not known as a risk taker. Peers say he was unlikely to have accepted the job as Attorney General unless he thought Donald Trump's executive orders were legally enforceable. Former assistant U.S. attorney Gene Rossi, now a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said: 'I never saw Dana in the 22 years I worked with him make what I considered to a political decision. He will try his best to enforce what he thinks is the law.' Boente was appointed during the Obama administration, first as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, then for the Eastern District of Virginia when he worked in the Fraud Unit. When officially sworn in last year, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch called him 'one you could always count on to be there for you,' Washington Post reports. His office already had been supporting the 'Muslim ban' in Virginia federal court challenge when he was appointed. He recently oversaw the prosecution of former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell for corruption. The case was later overturned by the Supreme Court. Boente also oversaw the government's cases against U.S. Rep. William J. Jefferson who was sentenced to thirteen years in federal prison for bribery in 2009. He was also responsible for helping jail former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin for fruad. Advertisement
Before she was fired, -Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Yates a 'person of integrity.'
'And this is a poor reflection on President Trump and his entire administration,' Schumer said. 'They put this together in a slapdash way, it's almost as if they wrote it on the back of an envelope they didn't check its legality.'
'When you do something as important as this, it can't be a Twitter-type activity,' Schumer continued. 'It's a very bad omen for this presidency.'
A statement from the Department of Homeland Security gave no explanation why Trump has sacked acting director Ragsdale.
It simply confirmed that Homan, the executive associate director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, had been appointed in his place. Homan is a former New York cop who has worked in immigration enforcement for the past thirty years.
'I am confident that he will continue to serve as a strong, effective leader for the men and women of ICE. I look forward to working alongside him to ensure that we enforce our immigration laws in the interior of the United States consistent with the national interest,' the statement said.
Word of Trump's new executive order halting immigration from nine countries, which at first was applied even to green card holders from Iraq and other listed nations, sparked immediate protests at airports among those arguing it was ill-advised, un-American or even unconstitutional.
All the countries included have Muslim majority populations. Also excluded are countries with whom Trump has maintained business interests, such as the United Arab Emirates.
The policy has drawn international backlash including from allied leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and lawmakers, including Arizona Senator John McCain.
Even State Department employees have criticized the controversial order.
A dissent memo, circulating with 100 signatories, argues that Trump's executive order barring the State Department from issuing visas to citizens of Sudan, Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Libya will not achieve its stated purpose, to protect the country from terrorism.
It further points out that countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are not included in the order, even though citizens of those countries have committed acts of terrorism in the United States in the past.
The executive action will 'immediately' sour relations with the countries affected and 'much of the Muslim world, which sees the ban as religiously motivated,' the dissenters write. 'It will increase anti-American sentiment,' the draft memo argues, 'hostility towards the United States will grow.'
Demonstrators block traffic at the international arrival terminal as they protest against muslim immigration ban at San Francisco International Airport
American voters backed suspending immigration from 'terror prone' countries by 48 to 42, the survey revealed. A new group of 40 Syrian refugees arrive at Fiumicino airport in Rome following a flight from Beirut
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has since issued an ultimatum to either 'get with the program or they can go.'
'At some point if they have a big problem with the policies that he's instituting to keep the country safe, then that's up to them to question whether or not they want to stay or not,' Spicer told reporters during his daily briefing.
He brought up polling showing that more Americans agree with the travel ban, that prohibits Syrians from coming the country indefinitely, than not and proclaimed that 'the American people support what the president is doing.'
A Quinnipiac poll taken early this month, before Trump took office, showed majority support not only for an immigration crackdown but for a 'Muslim registry,' an idea Trump also promoted on the campaign trail.
American voters backed suspending immigration from such 'terror prone' countries by 48 to 42, the survey revealed.
They are 'pleased that this president is taking the steps necessary to protect this country,' he said.
'If somebody has a problem with that agenda, then they should ques then that does call into question whether or not they should continue in that post or not,' he said of State Department employees protesting the travel restrictions.
The White House on Friday asked four career State Department officials who were appointees of Obama, including Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary for management, to quit allowing them to submit their resignation, in line with protocol.
State Department employees harboring anger about President Donald Trump's travel ban are welcome to find a new place to work, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday
Meanwhile, a huge crowd gathered in front of the Supreme Court as Democratic lawmakers led a rally protesting President Donald Trump's executive order banning refugees.
The lawmakers could barely be heard above the chants from the crowd, which included 'Do your job' and 'No ban, no wall.'
Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, who called Trump's ban 'evil' promised the crowd the Democrats would 'fight with everything we have and we will win.' Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon led the crowd in a chant of 'Tear down that ban.'
Sen. Bernie Sanders, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Rep. Jerrold Nadler also took to the stage to demand an end to the ban.
Hundreds carried signs with slogans like 'Dissent Is Patriotic,' ''Impeach' and 'This Is What Democracy Looks Like.'
Pelosi branded what Trump did as 'not constitutional, to many of us, it's immoral.'
The rally capped a day of Democratic resistance to Trump's new immigration restrictions as the party ramped up its fight against the president's orders.
The protest comes after Senate Republicans successfully blocked the Democratic effort to overturn the ban.
Even the Pentagon, which was not consulted during the crafting of Trump's order, has challenged parts of it and are drawing up a list of Iraqis who have assisted the United States who would be exempted from a 90-day seven-country ban.
Those Iraqis who served the United States as drivers, interpreters, or in other roles would be exempted from the new ban, which went into effect as soon as it was issued Friday night.
A Quinnipiac University survey in early January probed support for some of Donald Trump's policies
A Quinnipiac University survey in early January probed support for some of Donald Trump's policies
A list being drawn up by the Pentagon under newly-installed Secretary of Defense James Mattis could number thousands of people, the Los Angeles Times reported.
'Even people that are doing seemingly benign things in support of us whether as a linguist, a driver, anything else they often do that at great personal risk,' Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters Monday.
Some Iraqis and Afghan citizens have obtained special immigrant visas, under a program authorized by Congress, in recognition of their service.
'I think we recognize that people who have served this country we should make sure that in those cases they're helped out. But that doesn't mean that we just give them a pass,' White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters Monday.
'The Obama administration, I think it was 2009 let two people through the Iraqi program in. Those people came to the United States and tried to plan an attack in Kentucky,' he noted.
The administration clamped down on Iraqi admissions in 2011 while it ran names against federal databases, after an Iraqi man, Waad Ramadan Alwan, who had been granted asylum, was found to have have constructed roadside bombs in Iraq.
Asylum seekers must be placed in prosperous parts of the country to ease the burden on poorer areas, a damning report has concluded.
MPs said it was 'completely unfair' that wealthier communities were refusing to take their share of people fleeing war, famine and religious persecution.
The dispersal of asylum seekers was 'putting pressure' disproportionately on public services, including schools, health services and housing in the most deprived parts of the country, the study warned.
A shocking three-quarters of local authorities had declined to take a single refugee amid fears an influx would damage social cohesion, according to the Home Affairs Select Committee's research.
A shocking three-quarters of local authorities in the UK had declined to take a single refugee amid fears an influx would damage social cohesion, according to the Home Affairs Select Committee's research (file photo of residents leaving Aleppo in Syria)
It demanded 'immediate action' after finding 332 out of 453 councils in the UK 73 per cent were not housing a single asylum seeker. Maidenhead, Berkshire, where Prime Minister Theresa May is the MP, has not taken any asylum seekers.
The Surrey constituency of Chancellor Philip Hammond Runnymede and Weybridge and the West Oxfordshire authority which covers David Cameron's former seat of Witney have both failed to welcome any either.
MPs said if town halls continued not implementing the voluntary dispersal programme in place since 1999 to ensure housing of refugees is shared around the nation then the Government must use powers to compel them.
The report said: 'It is clearly unfair that the brunt of the burden of accommodation and related asylum provision should be borne by many local authorities where there is recognised deprivation and hardship, while local authorities in undoubtedly far more prosperous areas continue to refuse to be party to the dispersal scheme.'
Maidenhead, Berkshire, where Prime Minister Theresa May is the MP, has not taken any asylum seekers
Yvette Cooper, Labour chairman of the committee, said: 'It is completely unfair on those local authorities and communities that have signed up and are now taking many more people, when so many local authorities in more affluent areas are still doing nothing at all.'
Sources in Whitehall suggested the high prices of rented property in the South East and lack of available homes in rural areas meant it was more cost-effective to place asylum seekers outside the region.
The 78-page report also blasted the state of asylum accommodation as 'disgraceful'. It said housing for those who applied for sanctuary in the UK was often 'substandard, unsanitary and... unsafe to live in'.
The committee heard evidence of families living in homes infested with rodents and insects.
Yvette Cooper, Labour chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said it's 'completely unfair' that wealthy areas are 'doing nothing at all'
Since 2012, accommodation has been provided to asylum seekers by three private firms Serco, G4S and Clearsprings Ready Homes. But the number of people housed has almost doubled since the contract was signed, from around 20,000 to more than 38,000.
David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association's asylum, migration and refugee task group, said: 'Councils are stepping up to the plate.
'We hope the Government's future contracts for asylum accommodation and support address the challenges in securing accommodation in other local authority areas, particularly where there is limited availability and high-cost housing.'
A Home Office spokesman said: 'We work closely with our contractors to ensure they provide accommodation that is safe, habitable and fit for purpose.'
It's difficult to even contemplate transporting 80 birds of prey on a plane - unless you're a Saudi Prince and can hire the vehicle out.
It appears one has done just that after a picture emerged online of dozens of 'hawks' perched among passengers on a jet.
The image was posted on reddit by user lensoo, who said it had been sent to them by a captain friend.
This picture that appears to show dozens of 'hawks' on a plane has caused a stir on Reddit
The user said 80 hawks had been brought onto the plane with their wings tied so they could not fly around.
The birds are believed to be on a Qatar Airways flight but it has not been confirmed.
It caused a stir on the social media site, with many people challenging lensoo over whether they were hawks or falcons.
The transportation of falcons on Middle Eastern airlines is fairly commonplace, with Qatar Airways allowing up to six of the birds to be transported in economy class, with prices ranging from 90 to 500 per bird depending on the destination.
It is understood they are often transported to take part in hunts, with the birds allocated a seat and placed on cloths to avoid any accidents.
Etihad also provides for transportation of the birds, and a statement on its website said: We accept the carriage of falcons in the main aircraft cabin provided that all the necessary documents have been obtained. We also accept falcons as checked baggage.
Falcons are one of the symbols of the United Arab Emirates and they are eligible to have their own passports for air travel, as part of a plan to combat smuggling.
Birds of prey can be taken on flights in the Middle East, with airlines including Qatar Airways offering price deals on its website, pictured
The strange image prompted a range of responses on reddit, from shock and awe to humour.
One user said: 'For those wondering, this is probably one of the gulf states royal families going hunting.
Stuff like this is common to a lesser degree in the Gulf on regular flights.
If you fly Etihad or Emirates or Qatar enough you will eventually see someone flying in first class with a falcon sitting next to them.
They have their own passports so they can travel for hunting and there are special laws in the gulf states to prevent discrimination against falcons.
But another said: DOESNT HE KNOW HAWKS CAN FLY?
A woman who escaped a brutal abduction by a notorious serial killer in 1992 has returned to the site of the crime to share her story a reveal how she escaped.
Jennifer Asbenson was just 19 when she was abducted by Andrew Urdiales in 1992, in Desert Hot Springs, California.
Urdiales killed at least eight women, and Asbenson is the only of his victims known to escape.
Asbenson recently returned to what she says is the exact scene of her abduction and assault to shoot a video of her recollections about the attack.
Asbenson recently returned to what she says is the exact scene of her abduction and assault to shoot a video of her recollections about the attack
It's been 24 years since Asbenson escaped from serial killer Andrew Urdiales
'I wanted my viewers to be there with me, in real time,' Ms Asbenson told news.com.au.
'I wanted them to hear everything in my own words, without interruption. I wanted them to feel like they were experiencing it with me. I am not ashamed or embarrassed to be a human. So I do not edit myself. I thought people would appreciate the rawness of it.'
Asbenson was on her way to work at her job caring for disabled children a little before 10.00pm on September 27, 1992, when a man offered her a ride.
At first she declined, but then had second thoughts as the man began to pull away.
'I automatically thought he cant be any kind of crazy person because why would he pull away and not come attack me?'
There were some warning signs. The man asked her if she liked porn, to which she replied 'No!' and told him he was creepy.
Then, at the car was at a red light, the man observed how 'quiet and peaceful' the desert was.
It was a little weird, Asbenson recalls, but 'nothing to jump out of the car for.'
The man dropped her off safely at work, and asked for her number.
She gave him a fake number.
The man in the car, Uridales, was back the next morning when she left work at 6.00am.
He offered her a ride home, and she agreed.
'At that age I had not heard any stories of serial killers. I grew up with no electricity, no running water, television, nothing like that. I was extra naive,' she said.
When she got in the car, he was outraged over the fake number.
'He just started screaming and he pulled at my hair and called me names and said no that wasnt the number, some old lady answered that,' she said.
'He grabbed me by the hair and he shoved my head into the dashboard.'
'I remember thinking that it was a joke and I couldnt process it. And then a gun came out.'
'When I saw the gun I went into shock.'
Uridales bound the teenager's hands behind her back with twine, put sunglasses and and a hat on her, and leaned her seat all the way back, and then sped off in the car.
Looking up through the windows, the terrified girl could see only the telephone poles.
She counted them as they passed, growing more frightened with each one.
'His eyes they were just black,' the victim said of her abductor Andrew Urdiales
'I started telling him Id do anything: Ill rob a bank with you, whatever you want.
'I was using any skill Id ever learned in life to try and get out of this mans possession.'
Urdiales just told her to shut up though, and kept driving into the desert.
Arriving at a remote part of the desert, he attacked Asbenson, cutting her shorts off with a knife and then ripping her underwear off.
The vile killer shoved the girl's underwear in her mouth and then used her bra to tie the gag in place.
'The only thing I could think of the whole time was I am in hell.' When I looked at his eyes they were just black.'
'And I remember thinking that I was staring into the eyes of the devil.'
Asbenson says the man tried to rape her, but failed because of 'erectile dysfunction.'
The serial killer ordered the teen girl to tell him he loved her, and she quickly complied, mumbling through the gag.
But he was unsatisfied and began strangling her.
'I just remember feeling like I was gagging and I couldnt breathe in or out. I wasnt in pain. I closed my eyes because I didnt want to die seeing him'
Asbenson says the twisted killer tried to rape her, but failed because of 'erectile dysfunction'
'Then with all my heart and soul I thought: Life is so short. What is this? Im dying today? While my friends are sleeping? While my parents are sleeping? While the lady at work is helping the children? Im in the middle of this desert being murdered.''
Asbenson says a feeling of pure love came over her and she saw white.
But Urdiales wasn't finished, he revived the girl and began sucking and biting her neck.
When he pulled a bag of knives from the trunk of the car, she was seized with adrenaline and terror, and ran into the desert.
But the madman quickly captured her and dragged her back into the car, throwing her into the trunk.
With the girl locked in the trunk, the car sped off, and Asbenson knew she was doomed.
'The only thing I could think of the whole time was I am in hell''
The girl began praying for a miracle.
'God, if you are there, please just let me break free from these binds and escape from this trunk!'
Then, she says, the strands of twine binding her wrists began to pop one by one as she struggled out of the bindings.
Struggling with the mechanism of the lock from the inside, she was able to open the trunk, holding it nearly closed until the car slowed down.
Then, she jumped from the car and began running for her life.
'I think dont look back, dont ever look back. But I look back. He was chasing me down the middle of the road with a machete. So I just ran, a car was coming towards me, it was a truck. I was spent. It could have run me over. But instead, it was two marines and they stopped.'
The marines lent the girl a pair of jeans and took her to a gas station to call the police.
But nobody believed the girl's story, and it would be five years until Urdiales was finally apprehended.
In the meantime he killed three more women, in Illinois.
Urdiales' Illinois victims: Laura Uylaki (left), Cassandra Corum (center), and Lynn Huber (right)
In 1997 Urdiales was arrested and confessed to killing a total of eight women and abducting Asbenson.
He was twice put on death row in Illinois, where he killed three of the women. But Urdiales escaped the ultimate penalty both times, once when the sentence was commuted, and again when the state abolished the death penalty, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Urdiales has been extradited back to California, which retains the death penalty, and is expected to stand trial there later this year.
Asbenson, 43, has a 20-year-old daughter and is in the process of writing a book.
She plans to testify at the California trial, and will push for the death penalty.
A seven-month-old baby girl has escaped a fire without injury, after she was thrown from a second-storey window by her father, into a blanket held by neighbours.
Nevaeh Roze Hayes was in the Bruce Street unit block in Blacktown when a fire started early on Tuesday morning.
Neveah's father threw her down to neighbour Tony Finn, who used a blanket to 'catch her like a football'.
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Seven-month-old baby girl Neveah (front) has escaped a fire without injury, after she was thrown from a second-storey window by her father (centre back), into a blanket held by neighbour Tony Finn (right). Pictured left is Neveah's mother Kristy Morton
Mr Finn told Nine News: 'When they dropped her we thought we would have dropped her too because the adrenaline was kicking in.'
'When we caught the baby we used the blanket to catch her, I caught her like a football and I pulled her back into my chest so she didnt bounce back up and hit and ground.'
When questioned how Neaveah was going when he caught her, Mr Finn said she was 'smiling like an angel'.
Seven month-old Nevaeh Roze Hayes (right) has escaped a fire in a Sydney unit block after she was thrown from a second-storey window by her father, into a blanket held by neighbours below. Pictured left is her mother Kristy Morton
NSW Police, NSW Fire and Rescue and and paramedics were called to the burning residential unit block about 7.35am.
Superintendent Ian Krimmer from NSW Fire and Rescue told Daily Mail Australia firefighters received a number of 000 calls to attend the three-level block of units, which had smoke coming from the second floor.
'Prior to the arrival of the fire brigade we were advised that residents threw a young baby from the balcony into a blanket that was held by other residents,' he said.
The baby's father told Channel 7 he he was surrounded by smoke in the second-story apartment.
Ive seen all this black smoke and Ive tried to open my door and its just come flushing in,' he said.
'So I was trying to get out and then all my other neighbours came out with a blanket and I've had to throw my baby out the window into a blanket to get her out. And then we've come down on the ladder and there was black smoke everywhere.'
The baby's father (pictured) told Channel 7 'there was black smoke everywhere' and he threw his daughter from the balcony down into a blanket held by neighbours
Superintendent Krimmer said the baby escaped without any injuries and by the time firefighters arrived, 15 people had self-evacuated from the building.
'Five people were trapped in the building by smoke and were unable to exit. Firefighters went in and rescued four people down stairway to safety,' he said.
'A fifth person was trapped on a balcony and firefighters put a ladder up to that balcony and bought person to safety.'
Superintendent Ian Krimmer said 15 people self evacuated from the building (pictured) but five had to be rescued including one person who was stuck on a balcony
Superintendent Krimmer said he believed eight people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and four were transported to hospital.
A spokesperson from NSW Ambulance told Daily Mail Australia paramedics assessed a number of patients on the scene and transported four to Blacktown Hospital.
The baby's father said neighbours told him the fire was started by a small candle, but this has not been confirmed by NSW Police or NSW Fire and Rescue.
Superintendent Krimmer said the cause of the fire was still under investigation, but said the unit where the fire started had been extensively damaged by the fire and other units had smoke damage.
NSW Ambulance said eight people were treated at the scene and of those, four were transported to Blacktown Hospital. Pictured is Kristy Morton holding Nevea, who escaped the fire unharmed
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but NSW Fire and Rescue said the unit where the fire started had extensive damage and other units had smoke damage
He praised the firefighters for a very quick response to the incident and said due to their quick response a number of people had been rescued.
He also praised the actions of neighbours to helping to rescue the baby.
A statement from NSW Police said officers from Blacktown Local Area Command are at the scene and investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Police said initial inquiries Initial inquiries have led police to believe the fire is not suspicious.
Michael Wolkind was criticised for being 'patronising' during a murder trial
A leading barrister promoted himself with an online testimonial saying he could get Stevie Wonder a driving licence, a misconduct hearing was told yesterday.
Michael Wolkind QC, who represented Norfolk farmer Tony Martin in 2001 during his successful murder appeal, wrongly claimed he was the UKs top criminal QC on his website.
He was also criticised by Lord Thomas, the Lord Chief Justice, for being patronising during a murder case in which he made personal attacks on prosecutor Brian Altman QC, accusing him of telling a whopper of a lie and flying away from the real world on a jet plane.
Wolkind is facing ten charges of professional misconduct before the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service in central London. His website was referred to the Bar Standards Board after it came to the notice of Lord Thomas at the appeal of Wolkinds former client Robert Ekaireb.
He claimed to be the top barrister for murder, protest cases, terrorism, householder self-defence, inquests, health and safety and tribunals.
Ekaireb, 42, was convicted in December 2013 of murdering his wife, lapdancer Li Hua Cao 27.
In 2015 the Court of Appeal upheld Ekairebs conviction. But Lord Thomas found Wolkind had made completely unprofessional personal criticism of Mr Altman and worked on other cases during the trial.
Wolkind, left, is pictured when he was made a QC. He represented Norfolk farmer Tony Martin, right, in 2001 during his successful murder appeal
Lord Thomas said Wolkinds closing speech was ill-judged, patronising and contained inappropriate attempts at humour.
Wolkind told the tribunal: To find myself here is a shock. I praised myself too much.
Andrew Moran QC, for the Bar Standards Board, said that when Wolkind told jurors Mr Altman had told a whopper of a lie, it could diminish confidence in the administration of justice.
Wolkind admits six charges relating to his website, but denies professional misconduct relating to alleged comments against prosecution counsel, comments in another trial, and the Stevie Wonder testimonial.
The hearing continues.
Family doctors must ask older patients how many times they have fallen over or felt unsteady on their feet, new guidelines say.
Health watchdogs want GPs to quiz all over-65s during check-ups or appointments for unrelated conditions.
Doctors should ask how often patients have fallen in the past year, what happened, the cause or if they have recently felt like they were losing their balance.
Health watchdogs want GPs to quiz all over-65s during check-ups or appointments for unrelated conditions
Those identified as high risk will be referred to a falls prevention clinic run by specialist doctors, nurses and physiotherapists. Staff will visit their home and remove possible trip hazards, like loose rugs, stools and curtain cords, or install hand rails or chairlifts.
They will also review patients medication to check it is not causing side-effects making them dizzy or more prone to falls. Doctors are being urged by the watchdog NICE to broach the subject sensitively as patients may be reluctant to admit to a recent fall.
Some will fear losing their independence and being moved into a care home while others may not want to make a fuss.
Around a third of the over-65s suffer at least one fall every year, which costs the NHS more than 2.3billion a year. Even minor falls can prove extremely debilitating and result in patients losing their confidence and becoming increasingly dependent.
Professor Gillian Leng, NICE deputy chief executive, said: We know that prevention is better than cure. Asking older people about falls on a regular basis will identify those most at risk.
Through this simple intervention, those people can then be referred to the right healthcare professional or service to stop them falling in the future.
Professor Cameron Swift, Emeritus Professor from Kings College London and NICE committee member, said: Regular questions about falls may seem intrusive or repetitive but older people often think episodes of falling or unsteadiness unimportant or that to raise them could threaten future independence.
Effective measures are known to reduce the risk of falls, maintain independence and promote health. Its vital these are offered to those who need them.
Around 255,000 over-65s are admitted to hospital after a fall every year and the most serious lead to hip fractures.
Some patients are immobilised for months and have to move into a care home as they never regain their independence.
Around 255,000 over-65s are admitted to hospital after a fall every year and the most serious lead to hip fractures
Dr Victoria Welsh, GP and NICE committee member, said: Falls are burdensome for individuals, their families and communities. While falls may result in serious injury, they may also be the first indication of an underlying health issue.
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: Caring for elderly patients is a very substantial part of a GPs workload, and we see the terrible effects of falls on a daily basis not just physical harm but knock-on effects, such as anxiety and decreased confidence.
There are relatively simple things elderly people, carers and families can do, such as wearing appropriate footwear, fastening rugs and making sure hallways and stairs are appropriately lit.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: Falls are a serious threat to older peoples health, wellbeing and independence, causing pain, distress and loss of confidence.
However, despite having serious consequences, falls in later life are often dismissed as an inevitable part of growing older, when they are preventable.
The guidelines tell GPs to refer patients to a district nursing team or social services for a risk assessment of their home and medication.
Doctors and nurses are still not reporting mistakes because they fear the 'finger of blame', MPs warn today.
Despite repeated attempts by ministers to make the NHS more honest, they say staff are unwilling to talk openly about errors.
In a damning report, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee warns that measures introduced to improve care and encourage staff to be more honest have not addressed the problems.
Doctors and nurses are still not reporting mistakes because they fear the 'finger of blame', MPs warn today
They included installing whistleblowing guardians at all hospitals with whom doctors and nurses could raise their concerns and were brought in following the 2013 report into the Mid Staffordshire scandal that linked hundreds of needless deaths of patients between 1995 and 2000 to a deep-rooted culture of fear.
Tory MP Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the committee, described the failure as unacceptable.
'There is an acute need for the Government to follow through on its commitment to turn the NHS in England into a learning organisation; an organisation where staff can feel safe to identify mistakes and incidents without fearing the finger of blame,' he said.
Last year, the Government went further by announcing the launch of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch, which will come into force in three months' time.
It is intended to be an independent body similar to the Air Accident Investigations Branch which will take up the most serious mistakes in hospital.
Crucially, any doctor or nurse who gives evidence to the branch will be protected from legal action, whilst the investigation is underway.
If the body decides they weren't to blame, and it was the fault of the system, for example, they wont be sued.
But if the doctor or nurse was deemed to be in the wrong they will be referred to their professional watchdog and could still face legal action.
Today's report warns that the branch does not have the powers to be fully independent, and therefore carry out proper investigations.
Julie Mellor, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said: 'We know from our casework that families who complain to the NHS want lessons to be learnt so that future mistakes are avoided.
Last year, the Government went further by announcing the launch of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch, which will come into force in three months' time
'The NHS still has a long way to go to provide staff with the relevant skills to carry out fair, high-quality investigations into avoidable harm.
'The Government and NHS leaders must commit to providing training, national standards and accountability for the NHS, to make it safer for all.'
Previous research has found that up to 12,000 hospital deaths in the UK a year were unavoidable.
A Department of Health spokesman said it was introducing further measures to ensure the NHS becomes an organisation 'that learns from its mistakes' and added that it was committed to 'pursuing legislation' to strengthen the new HSIB.
David Allen Pettersen is charged with second-degree manslaughter. He shot a teenager he thought was casing his property
A homeowner is charged with second-degree manslaughter after police say he shot a 19-year-old dead who he believed was 'casing' his property to rob.
David Allen Pettersen of rural Madelia, Minnesota is accused of shooting Nicolas Thomas Embertson dead Saturday morning.
Pettersen assumed Embertson and two other teenagers were sizing up his home for a burglary.
The 64-year-old is now facing a felony charge of dangerous discharge of a firearm according to Pioneer Press.
Pettersen allegedly shot a .45 caliber towards Nicolas Thomas Embertson, Kyle Thomas Nason and Cornelius Ayers as they fled his home. Nason would later admit they were casing his property.
Petersen said he was in bed at 8am when he heard someone on his deck. He saw Nason outside who jumped from the deck, breaking his ankle. Petersen grabbed his gun and ran after the intruder.
Nicolas Thomas Embertson (pictured) was allegedly shot while fleeing Pettersen's propety (picture, right from 2012)
Nason said he, Ayers and Embertson jumped in the getaway car when they heard at least two loud shots.
Petersen claims he was trying to shoot the car's tires. After firing the shots, he ran into his house to call 911.
Embertson, who was driving, cried out: 'I think Ive been hit.'
Embertson started losing consciousnesses so Nason took over driving. Embertson was shot once in the pelvis.
The car was discovered with injured Nason, unconscious Embertson and unharmed Ayuers two miles from Petersen's house by a police officer.
Embertson was pronounced dead at a hospital. The other two boys have not yet been charged with any tresspassing or burglarly related charges.
Court records reveal Embertson had and open DWI charge and multiple citations for marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession.
Patient safety is at risk due to an unacceptable lack of NHS funding, according to a letter signed by 2,000 NHS doctors.
The open letter to Prime Minister Theresa May said doctors constantly have to apologise to patients about the poor standard of care.
The document, published last night in the British Medical Journal, said things simply cannot continue the way they are.
Patient safety is at risk due to an unacceptable lack of NHS funding, according to a letter signed by 2,000 NHS doctors. Stock image
The doctors who organised the letter - consultant anaesthetist Anita Sugavanam and A&E consultant Rob Galloway, of Brighton & Sussex University Hospital - said it is one that they hoped we would never have to write.
Their letter said: We are constantly failing to meet our own and our patients expectations. We apologise to them and we also empathise with them.
We feel handcuffed and paralysed working in this current NHS. We are exasperated and feel demoralised because we are not able to provide and develop the excellent care we were trained to give.
We are simply fighting fires on a daily basis. There is a real risk of a brain drain at our level from the UK if this government does not listen to us.
They urged Mrs May to reach a cross party agreement on the future of healthcare and social care funding.
The Government has come under severe pressure over NHS funding in recent weeks, as the winter health crisis has seen waiting times lengthen and hospitals turning patients away.
The Department of Health repeatedly insists it has given all the NHS more than it needed, at the same time as other public services had received fundings cuts.
But NHS England chief Simon Stevens has said it would be stretching it to say the NHS was given more than it had asked for.
The open letter to Theresa May said doctors constantly have to apologise to patients about the poor standard of care
The doctors argue: It is impossible to provide effective efficient patient-led innovative healthcare which is free at the point of contact when we spend less on healthcare than other comparable OECD countries.
This is not a political statement. Again we reiterate that we represent the most senior tier of healthcare workers and we are writing to you for the first time en masse. Do not ignore this letter and provide a response as soon as possible.
Dr Mark Porter, chairman of council at the British Medical Association, said: The Government cannot continue to stick its head in the sand.
Our hospitals are in the red, patients are suffering and staff are working under impossible conditions.
The system is at breaking point and its not just our hospitals that are facing these issues - GPs are conducting millions more consultations every year while also facing a recruitment crisis.
A Government spokesman said: We are committed to the NHS - thats why we have invested 10billion in its own plan to transform services and improve standards of care, and recently announced almost 900million of extra funding for adult social care over the next two years to tackle the pressures of our ageing population.
Furthermore, the NHS is now carrying out record numbers of treatments with more doctors and nurses providing safer, more personal care than ever before.
Tynnile Long, 22, died in Japan last week
An Australian woman died in Japan after suddenly collapsing in the street.
Tynnile Long, 22, was rushed to hospital after collapsing last week, her family told 9News.
Ms Long suffered from a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that blocked her artery after forming in her leg, doctors told her family.
'I'll miss my little sister forever and I hope she's somewhere peaceful now,' Ms Long's sister, Elizabeth, said.
Family members said the young English teacher had visited a doctor the day before after noticing her leg was sore and purple, but the doctor mistakenly diagnosed her with a hip problem.
Ms Long suffered from a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that blocked her artery after forming in her leg, doctors told her family
Ms Long lived in Japan for nearly two years and was planning to go home to Melbourne on February 26 - her 23rd birthday
Ms Long worked for KAI Japanese Language School in Kawaguchi, Tokyo, according to 9News.
She lived in Japan for nearly two years and was planning to go home to Melbourne on February 26 - her 23rd birthday.
'She was loved by everyone and was very caring to everyone she encountered,' her father, David Long, said.
Ms Long's travel insurance expired a month before she died, and her family is now raising funds to bring her body back home.
Insurers say they will not cover the loss of a boat owned by an autistic man that sank off Rhode Island with his mother aboard.
Nathan Carman and his mother, 54-year-old Linda Carman went on a fishing trip on his boat the Chicken Pox in September. Nathan Carman was found alone in a life raft eight days later. His mother is presumed dead.
In papers filed last week in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, the National Liability & Fire Insurance Co., and a marine insurer say Nathan Carman made 'incomplete, improper, and faulty repairs' to the vessel on the day before it sank, and that he knew the vessel was unsafe.
Therefore the two companies say they will not be paying out his $85,000 policy.
Insurers have refused to pay the $85,000 policy that Nathan Carman (left) took out on his boat, the Chicken Pox, before it sank in September - killing his mother Linda, 54 (right)
The insurers say Carman made alterations to the boat hours before the fishing trip that caused it to take on water and sink
Carman agreed to be desposed in December, in order to fight the companies for his insurance payment. During this talk, Carman said he believed the boat was safe. His lawyer, Huber Santos, did not immediately return a call Monday.
The insurance companies aren't the only ones who find the fatal boat sinking suspicious.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating whether Carman purposefully sank the boat to kill his mother, and possibly collect her multi-million-dollar inheritance.
The mother and son left South Kingstown, Rhode Island around 7am on September 18, and headed to a fishing spot known as Block Canyon.
Investigators later discovered that Linda Carman did not want to go out to Block Canyon, and that it was further than the two had ever taken the boat before.
Law enforcement agencies are also investigating whether Nathan (right) possibly sank the boat on purpose to kill his mother (left)
Once they arrived in the area, Carman testified that they began trolling for tuna for about four hours before realizing that the ship was flooded.
Carman says he immediately 'turned off the boat and powered it down' but that by then the water was 'up to the battery boxes and only about three inches below deck'.
It was during this moment of panic that Carman says he asked his mother to bring in the lines. He says she acknowledged the request, but that he never saw or spoke to her again.
Presuming his mother dead, Carman grabbed a life preserver and some food and abandoned the sinking ship.
He was found eight days later by a passing freighter about 100 miles south of Martha's Vineyard island.
Carman was also a person of interesting in the shooting death of his grandfather John Chakalos three years ago
Chakalos' death came just weeks after his wife Rita (left) passed away from cancer. On his death, Chakalos left $42million to his four adult daughters, including Carman's mom
Carman has said that he did not kill his grandfather, who he considered like a dad. He's pictured above with his late grandmother Rita
Following the suspicious sinking, Carman's insurance providers hired a naval architect and a surveyor to analyze the facts of the case and give their opinion.
Both found that Carman made alterations to the boat just hours before the trip that led to its unseaworthiness.
Carman admitted to removing the boat's trim tabs, leaving four half-dollar size holes near the water line which he filled with an epoxy putty stick. He said he took the tabs out because he didn't think they did anything.
The naval architect said that the repair of these holes was inadequate. The surveyor said that the alterations affected the boat's structural integrity.
'Carman knew his boat was unseaworthy when it departed Ram Point Marina,' the filing alleges.
The insurance companies also say that Carman had three chances to activate the emergency beacon on the boat, which would have led the Coast Guard to his location, but he failed to do so.
After his grandfathers death, Carman left Middletown and bought a 160-year-old, four-bedroom house in Vernon, Vermont, for $70,000. He has extensively remodeled the house himself, adding two stories, while sleeping every night in his truck, neighbors say
Nathan Carman's home in Vernon, Vermont, was searched by police after he was brought back to shore
Recalling the sinking, the report says that Carman 'began moving safety and survival gear to the bow to prepare for the possibility of abandoning ship; however, despite entering the cabin three times you didn't make a distress call on your VHF radio or take the EPIRB from its cradle and activate it'.
'The EPIRB was mounted in the cabin immediately above where the flares and other safety gear was kept,' the report said.
The investigation into Linda Carman's disappearance is still ongoing.
Investigators obtained search warrants for her son's car, cellphone and Vermont home. According to these court documents, investigators are looking into whether Carman was 'operating [a boat] so as to endanger, resulting in death'.
Carman was also a person of interest in the shooting death of his grandfather, 87-year-old John Chaaklos, three years ago.
Carman was the last person to see Chakalos alive, traveling to his house in Windsor, Connecticut on December 20, 2013 for dinner. Chakalos was found shot to death at the home the next day.
Chakalos' death came just weeks after his wife Rita passed away from cancer. On his death, Chakalos left a $42million inheritance to his four daughters, including Carman's mother.
Carman told the AP that he did not kill his grandfather, who he considered more like a dad.
Carman has Asperger's syndrome, a higher-functioning form of autism.
There was one stumbling block. To join Goebbels' office, Fraulein Pomsel needed to be a member the Nazi party
This was an offer too good to refuse. For nearly a decade, Brunhilde Pomsel had been working as a secretary in the news department of the Nazi-controlled Berlin Radio.
Excellent at typing and shorthand, aged 31 she was a natural choice to be called to work for one of the most senior figures in the Third Reich the Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels.
'Only an infectious disease would have stopped me,' she later said. 'I was flattered because it was a reward for being the fastest typist at the radio station.'
There was one stumbling block. To join Goebbels' office, Fraulein Pomsel needed to be a member the Nazi party. Though it was 1942 and the Nazis had been in power for nine years, many Germans had not joined the party. The membership never rose above eight million, a little over 10 per cent of the population.
'I was apolitical,' said Fraulein Pomsel. 'I was a stupid, politically uninterested little sausage of simple means.'
After receiving her party membership card, Pomsel became one of six secretaries in an office next to that of their boss.
Like Adolf Hitler, Goebbels rarely worked in the mornings. He would only appear in the office in the magnificent 18th-century Ordenspalais on Wilhelmstrasse in central Berlin after lunch.
On Friday, Pomsel (left) died in Munich aged 106, one of the tiny handful of remaining witnesses at the heart of Hitler's years in power (Joseph Goebbels right)
'I saw Goebbels just about every day,' says Fraulein Pomsel. 'He always walked through the office greeting everyone coolly and politely.
'Goebbels was very reserved, almost arrogant, when it came to dealing with other people. Nevertheless, he was quite a nice man, not at all diabolical. He did have a certain charisma.'
Today, with all we know about his central role in fostering the evil of the Nazi regime, the notion that Goebbels could be regarded as being pleasant and charismatic seems utterly distasteful.
And yet, if we are fully to understand the nature of Nazism, we must listen to the words of those, like Brunhilde Pomsel, who were there, no matter how much their reminiscences and opinions may seem discordant or offensive.
The opportunity of hearing them has almost completely dwindled. On Friday, Pomsel died in Munich aged 106, one of the tiny handful of remaining witnesses at the heart of Hitler's years in power.
For historians, there is no doubt the most valuable witnesses are those who are as honest as memory permits, and Pomsel was exceptionally honest.
Unlike so many others, she never pretended she was not involved in the regime and would acknowledge the positive characteristics of even the most evil of men.
As she said in a 2016 documentary about her life: 'Nothing is black and white there is always a bit of grey in everything.'
And she once said of her boss: 'The fact remains that he was a fascinating individual.'
But if Goebbels was fascinating to a woman who described herself as an 'innocent', he was also a distant figure.
Goebbels (right) with his wife and children and Hitler, who Pomsel described as 'The Boss'
'He was not very close at hand,' she remembered. 'I think he didn't even know my name.' Pomsel recalled once sitting next to Goebbels at a lunch at his villa: 'He did not ask me a single question.'
Goebbels' wife, Magda, was far more friendly. In 1943, Pomsel was bombed out of her apartment and lost most of her clothes. Magda gave her an expensive dress.
'I've never possessed anything as chic as that before or since,' Pomsel said in an interview last August with the Guardian.
She thought Goebbels to be a consummate actor, who could transform himself from a civilised and cultured individual into what she described as a 'raging midget', who was second only to Hitler in his ability to whip crowds into a frenzy.
Pomsel witnessed the frightening power of the propaganda minister's oratory when she sat behind Magda at his notorious speech in February 1943, during which Goebbels got the crowd to bray for all-out war.
'It was horrible and shocking to see what happened there, inexplicable for normal thinking people,' said Pomsel.
'Horrible. It wasn't so much the question 'Do you want total war?' that frightened me, but more the reaction when the crowd roared: 'Yes we want it!' '
Of course, the ultimate horror inflicted by the regime was the Holocaust and as someone who worked closely with Goebbels, it might be expected Pomsel would have had knowledge of the genocide. But she always denied she did.
'I know no one ever believes us nowadays everyone thinks we knew everything,' she said. 'We knew nothing, it was all kept secret.'
She did admit she knew about the concentration camps, but did not believe them to be places of death and thought they were prisons.
'We knew Buchenwald existed,' she said. 'We knew it as a camp. We knew Jews went there.' Among them was one of Pomsel's friends, Eva Lowenthal. In November 1943, Eva disappeared and Pomsel was never to see her again.
Pomsel was only to discover Eva's fate in 2005, when she visited the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. She asked if Eva's name appeared on any lists and it did she had been deported to Auschwitz, where she died in early 1944.
After her release in 1950, Pomsel returned to the state broadcaster, retiring in 1971. She is believed never to have married or had children
Because she worked so closely with one of the architects of the Holocaust, it is tempting to label Pomsel as being partly guilty for such deaths.
But until her dying day, she never admitted anything more than 'a bit of a guilty conscience'.
'No, I wouldn't see myself as being guilty,' she said in the documentary. 'Unless you end up blaming the entire German population for ultimately enabling that government to take control. That was all of us. Including me.'
Pomsel saw at first-hand the collapse of the regime. She did not join Goebbels in Hitler's bunker, but hid in an air raid shelter as the Red Army stormed into Berlin.
The only sustenance was decent wine and tinned asparagus. She learned about the suicide of her boss and his wife through a courier. 'We were dumbstruck,' she recalled.
After Berlin fell, Pomsel was captured by the Russians and held for five years. One of the camps in which she was incarcerated was Buchenwald, where she says she was treated well.
After her release in 1950, she returned to the state broadcaster, retiring in 1971. She is believed never to have married or had children.
As someone not directly involved in war crimes or crimes against humanity, Pomsel was never charged by the West German government for her complicity with the regime.
'I would never have believed that after 1945 I would be able to lead a happy life again,' she said.
Despite her involvement with the regime, it appears that the former secretary managed to do just that a chance that her boss denied to so many millions of others.
This is the shocking moment a churchgoer punched a Catholic bishop in the face during a memorial Mass for a baseball star in New Jersey.
Charles E. Miller, 48, stands accused of aggravated assault for punching the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, Reverend Manuel A. Cruz.
Footage of the Saturday attack shows Miller approach the altar and punch Cruz, who staggers backward.
It happened during a Mass to remember the life of baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, who died in a plane crash in 1972.
Charles E. Miller, left, stands accused of aggravated assault for punching the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, Reverend Manuel A. Cruz, right, during a Saturday Mass
Miller was followed by a security guard and was immediately detained.
Cruz was taken to hospital and was treated for non-serious injuries, NJ.com reported.
He spoke to a congregation on Sunday and assured churchgoers that he was doing fine.
Miller approached the altar and punched Cruz, who staggered backward in the New Jersey church
Miller was followed closely by a security guard before he punched the bishop
Miller took Cruz by surprise and punched him in the face
Cruz staggered backward. He was taken to hospital and treated for non-serious injuries. He spoke to a congregation on Sunday and assured churchgoers that he was doing fine
Miller had previously been arrested in 2012 for threatening a law enforcement officer while resisting arrest.
Prosecutors have filed a motion to detain him pre-trial through the Bail Reform and Speed Trial Act, by which a defendant can be held if it is believed he poses a community risk or may miss his court date.
Miller was immediately detained. He was previously arrested in 2012
Junior health minister David Mowat, pictured, told MPs the social care crisis was 'so great families can no longer rely on the state'
Families should give as much support to elderly parents as they do to children, a health minister said last night.
David Mowat told MPs the social care crisis was now so great that families could no longer rely on the state.
And he revealed that civil servants were examining social insurance or savings schemes to help meet the soaring costs of looking after vulnerable pensioners.
Town halls say funding is so short that home helps will soon have time only to get the elderly out of bed in the morning.
An extra 2.6billion is needed by the end of the decade to avoid swingeing cuts, according to the Local Government Association.
The social care shortfall has contributed to the pressures on the NHS with elderly patients stranded in hospitals because they have nowhere to go.
Theresa May is allowing town halls to raise council tax to bridge the funding gap.
It has also been suggested that part of the 12billion annual foreign aid budget should be redirected.
But, appearing in front of the Commons communities committee yesterday, Mr Mowat said: We need to start thinking as a society about how we deal with care of our own parents.
Nobody ever questions that we look after our children, thats obvious. Nobody ever says it is a caring responsibility, its just what you do.
Some of that logic and some of way we think about that, in terms of volume of numbers that we are seeing coming down the track, will have to impinge on the way we start thinking about looking after our parents.
It is a way, it is a responsibility in terms of our life cycle.
He said he was interested in a German scheme in which families receive state payments for looking after elderly relatives.
The former accountant and minister for care services also warned that the ageing population meant the state would have to spend much more on social care in the future.
That is not a very dramatic conclusion; its clearly true, he said. You then get into what the options are for how you deal with that.
Civil servants were examining social insurance or savings schemes to help meet the soaring costs of looking after vulnerable pensioners (file picture)
'We are unusual in Europe in that we dont have a social insurance system, a long-term savings scheme. Theres options out there.
That is something that would only make a difference in the very long term given that were starting from where we are now, but theres other people looking at that. Its a cross-government thing.
Tim Loughton, a Tory MP and former families minister, said: He makes a fair point, as long as he doesnt use it as a cop-out for the state having to look after elderly people.
'We ghettoise elderly people, we have almost an apartheid system of all members of a generation being put together.
He pointed out that different generations looked out for each other in Mediterranean countries and that led to far fewer elderly people being cast out into care homes.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron accused the Government of pushing care responsibility on to families.
These comments from an out-of-touch minister show how bad the social care crisis is, he added.
He would want the best care possible for his family, and millions of people are the same.
This Government, rather than dealing with the problem, wants families to do it themselves. They need to get a grip.
According to the LGA, the social care funding gap will be at least 2.6billion by the end of the decade.
According to the Local Government Association, the social care funding gap will be at least 2.6billion by the end of the decade (file picture)
It said that without extra money from the Chancellor, the NHS would have to prepare for an influx of elderly people that could not be looked after in the care sector.
Ministers have told local authorities they can put up council tax if they wish to spend more on social care, but the LGA warned that would not raise enough to plug the gap.
Izzi Seccombe, who chairs the LGAs community wellbeing board, said: If no new money is urgently announced, then government needs to be honest and upfront with the public about the limitations of the care and support we can provide, and the fact that as a society we will no longer be able to meet the ambitions and objectives of the Care Act.
The need to inject new money into how we provide care and support for our elderly and vulnerable residents is something which councils, charities, care providers and the NHS are fully united in calling for.
Genuinely new government funding is now the only way to save the Care Act, and to protect the services caring for our elderly and disabled people and ensure they can enjoy dignified, healthy and independent lives, live in their own community and stay out of hospital for longer, reducing the pressures on the NHS.
In its budget submission, the LGA demanded that ministers set out contingency plans to deal with major failures in the care provider market with some firms giving up contracts and others going bust.
A tax on firms to fund apprenticeships is poor value for money, a respected think tank has warned.
Less than one in every four pounds raised by the apprenticeships levy will be spent on apprenticeships, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said.
From April, companies will pay 0.5 % tax on paybills over 3 million a year, raising an estimated 2.8 billion by 2019/20.
A tax on firms to fund apprenticeships is poor value for money, a respected think tank has warned. Pictured is former Prime Minister David Cameron meeting BT apprentices
However government spending on apprenticeships is only expected to increase by 640 million between this year and the end of the decade.
That means that most of the money raised is being spent elsewhere rather than on apprenticeships, the IFS warned.
The think tank said that the funding was meant to deliver 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 however, the significant expansion and design of the new system risks it being poor value for money.
Neil Amin-Smith, an author of the report, said: We desperately need an effective system for supporting training of young people in the UK. But the new apprenticeship levy, and associated targets, risk repeating the mistakes of recent decades by encouraging employers and training providers to relabel current activity and seek subsidy rather than seek the best training. There is a risk that the focus on targets will distort policy and lead to the inefficient use of public money.
Chancellor George Osborne works under a car that is being serviced in the service and repair workshops as he meets apprentices at Hawkins garage near St Austell in Cornwall in 2009
Jonathan Cribb, another author of the report, said: With the subsidies for apprentices training costs at 90% or 100%, employers are encouraged to take on more apprentices. But this also provides them with little or no incentive to choose a training provider with a lower price. In addition, the specific targets for most public sector employers in England to employ apprentices could lead to costly, and potentially damaging, re-organisations, and should be dropped.
Academics also said: employers will also have a big incentive to re-label existing training schemes as apprenticeships.
Ofsted, the education standards watchdog, had already expressed serious concerns about the quality of some apprenticeship schemes particularly the newest ones.
A target imposed on the public sector means that around one in five new hires must be apprentices.
The IFS said: Such a blanket policy cannot be an efficient way to improve skills in the public sector. It risks costly reorganisation of training and inefficient ways of working. These targets should be removed.
The government has also failed to make a convincing case for such a large and rapid expansion in apprenticeships.
It also accused the government of wildly optimistic claims about how much extra economic activity or earnings more apprenticeships would bring.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg takes a selfie photograph as he meets with apprentices and local employers during a visit to Mid-Kent College in 2015
While there is a clear need for a better-trained workforce, this cavalier use of statistics risks undermining what might be a perfectly sensible case for a gradual expansion of apprenticeships in areas where quality can be assured.
Gordon Marsden, shadow skills minister, said: The IFS are confirming what we have consistently warned the Government about over the past 12 months.
Rushing to hit a three million target without sorting out the quality or increasing the proportion of apprenticeships under the age of 25 means they risk failing to deliver the long-term skills strategy we need.
Liberal Democrat business spokesman Lord Foster of Bath said: Its time the Government came clean and called the apprenticeship levy exactly what it is - another payroll tax on business.
The new tax has nothing to do with ensuring British business gets the best trained, most skilled staff.
Its simply a way of the Government meeting its own unnecessary targets, at the expense of other forms of training.
Murder suspect Sara Connor, 46, says she still loves her boyfriend David 'DJ Nutso' Taylor, 34, who is also her co-accused in the murder of a Bali policeman who was found dead on August 17.
Connor, a mother-of-two from Byron Bay, remains behind bars in Bali's notorious Kerobokan prison facing three separate murder charges, torture and assault leading to the death of policeman Wayan Sudarsa.
When Connor appeared in Denpasar court on Monday to testify for the first time, she said she still loved Taylor despite everything that had happened.
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Australian national Sara Connor (second from right) appears in court as a witness for the trial of British national David Taylor in Denpasar court on January 30
'I believe David is not an aggressive man. He was defending himself,' Connor said.
'I trust David, he is a calm quiet guy'.
While giving evidence on Monday, Connor maintained her innocence and insisted her only involvement was trying to 'separate' the two men during the fight.
Connor, who has been photographed holding hands and kissing her boyfriend while in police custody, said she trusted Taylor's version of events the night the policeman died.
Australian Sara Connor is seen giving testimony at her boyfriend David Taylor's trial at Denpasar Court on Monday
Sara Connor said David Taylor's actions the night the Bali policeman died, were in self defence
Australian Sara Connor and her British boyfriend David Taylor after her trial at Denpasar Court last week
Australian woman Sara Connor and her British boyfreind David Taylor share a kiss outside the Denpasar Police Station
Australian Sara Connor escorted by attorney officer to testify at her boyfriend David Taylor's trial at Denpasar Court
'I asked him, "What happened to the guy?" He said to me, "He is just passed out." I didn't ask him any more,' Connor told the court on Monday.
She said the policeman was still alive when she last saw him and had no idea he was fatally injured.
But Connor said she had little memory from the night.
Sara Connor (left) escorted to give testimony
'I don't remember much I think there was a couple of people on this side of the gate I don't remember,' she said.
'Then I realise yes I had a little bit of blood around my collar.'
Connor also explained to the court on Monday why she and Taylor burned their clothes after finding out the policeman had died.
'When I got to know a person had died we were in tears, we were crying both of us, it was panic,' she said.
Monday was the first time Connor testified in the separate trial of her British DJ boyfriend David Taylor, who maintains he acted in self-defence during the fight on the Kuta beach.
Taylor admitted he hit Mr Sudarsa with his fists, a phone, a set of binoculars and a beer bottle but said they were all acts of self-defence.
Following court on Monday, Taylor said he was happy with the evidence his Australian girlfriend gave.
'I'm glad she told the truth. I'm glad the truth is finally coming out about this case. It's not a murder case, it's a self defence case,' he said.
Connor said she hoped her testimony would prove her innocence so she could return home to Australia where her two sons live in Byron Bay.
British man David Taylor is seen inside a holding cell before his trial at Denpasar Court
Britain national Davit Taylor walks to room court for his trial in Denpasar on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on January 30, 2017
A bucking horse died in Fort Worth after smashing it's head into a wall in front of a horrified rodeo crowd.
Treasure of Patience, a nine-year-old horse, was bucking in the Stock Show when she slammed into a wall and immediately collapsed.
The animal suffered a fatal spinal cord injury Sunday night according to the Star-Telegram.
Her rider climbed onto the wall as Treasure fell and was not injured.
In the devastating video, Treasure's legs still twitch and appear to try to run as 10 rodeo workers rush to her aid.
The frantic crowd starts to murmur and the announcer comes on the loud speaker and says: 'I want everybody to relax. The first, best medicine is prayer.'
Treasure crashed into the arena wall. She becomes motionless besides her twitching legs
He tells the crowd the horse will be taken to veterinary care.
Then, the horse becomes motionless with only her tail occasionally twitching.
The rodeo workers remove the horse's saddle to relax her.
Treasure is rolled onto a mat dragged behind a tractor and pulled out of the arena.
Bruce Weidner posted the video on Facebook. He said: 'You dont normally think about the animals getting hurt.'
'Its always the riders getting hurt. Its normally man against beast, and this time the beast lost.'
Another horse died under similar circumstances two weeks prior during a saddle bronc.
Jed Pugsley, the livestock program administrator for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association said animal deaths in rodeo competitions are 'very, very rare.' They typically occur at less than 0.0005 percent.
Michelle Allison Fernandez, 43, a mother-of-two and former emergency nurse, has been found guilty of stabbing her ex-husband
A mother-of-two has been found guilty of repeatedly stabbing her former husband with a 20cm kitchen knife while their young daughter watched.
Michelle Allison Fernandez, 43, a former emergency nurse, was convicted on Monday of attacking ex Mark in a family park at Shelley foreshore, in Perth.
Fernandez claimed the attack was in self-defence after her former husband brought a knife to the park and tried to use it on her, but a jury swept her argument aside.
They found that Fernandez had brought the knife to the park herself and attacked her ex because she was jealous that their children were forming a relationship with him, Perth Now reports.
In heartbreaking testimony, the couple's daughter described witnessing the attack, which took place in October 2015.
The girl, who is not being identified, told jurors: 'I saw mum and dad hurting each other with the knife.
Fernandez repeatedly stabbed ex Mark Fernandez in the stomach and hands at Shelley foreshore in October 2015 as their young daughter watched
'I didn't really like what was happening. When they were hurting each other I felt sad.'
The girl also testified that her father had pulled the knife from his pocket 'out of nowhere', but prosecutors argued this evidence was not reliable.
Mr Fernandez was severely wounded during the attack, requiring a total of 243 stitches - 105 in his upper body, and 138 in his hands.
Witnesses described how his intestines fell out 'like sausages' after the attack, while he also suffered severe damage to the tendons and nerves in his arms.
Mr Fernandez was seen playing 'energetically' with his daughter in the park before his former wife arrived with her brother to collect the girl, the court heard.
Fernandez tried to argue that her ex brought the knife to the park and lunged at her first, but a jury swept these claims aside on Monday
The trio left the play-area before witnesses reported hearing screams and Mr Fernandez shouting 'help me, help me.'
One witness described seeing Mrs Fernandez on top of her husband, stabbing him repeatedly with the knife.
Another said the couple's daughter screamed 'I don't want mummy to go to jail' during the assault.
Fernandez looked bemused as the jury's verdict was handed down after two hours of deliberation on Monday.
She has now been remanded in custody until March 16, when she will be sentenced on one count of causing grievous bodily harm.
It is an image sure to strike fear into the hearts of any Australian: opening your backyard barbecue only to find a huge snake lurking inside.
And thats exactly what happened to a Gold Coast family when they set about making dinner and found a nasty surprise having a snooze in their grill.
Richard and Tanya Erwin told Sunrise they set the serpent free only to find it slithering towards their chicken coop.
A family got the fright of their life when they found this surprise visitor inside their barbecue
Sadly, the serpent claimed the life of one of their chooks in the dead of night.
The dog was growling in the middle of the night. I didnt see it until the next morning, but there was a half swallowed dead chook unfortunately, Richard said.
I disturbed his meal. He disturbed our meal, then I disturbed his.
The barbecue incident is the latest in a string of unlikely snake encounters this month, as the serpents come out of hiding with the warmer weather.
Earlier this month an Adelaide woman filmed the moment a deadly red-bellied black snake popped its head out from underneath the bonnet of her car while she was driving at 100km/h.
Also in South Australia, a snake catcher was called to remove a deadly eastern brown from a pool-side inflatable after a young girl nearly sat on it.
The barbecue incident is the latest in a string of unlikely snake encounters this month
Richard and Tanya Erwin set the serpent free only to find it slithering towards their chicken coop
Nawar al-Awlaki, also known as Nora, was among the non-combats killed in the raid, which also resulted in the death of several Yemeni women
An eight-year-old girl and a SEAL Team Six member have been named after they were killed in Trump's first military raid as President, in which officials have said 'almost everything went wrong.'
Nawar al-Awlaki, also known as Nora, was among the non-combats killed in the raid, which also resulted in the death of several Yemeni women.
The only other American citizen killed was the SEAL, Chief Petty Officer William 'Ryan' Owens, a 36-year-old from Illinois.
SEAL Team 6 is the US Navy's special forces team that gained worldwide fame for killing Osama bin Laden.
This was the president's first clandestine strike, and not one that was originally ordered by former President Obama.
It involved 'boots on the ground' at an al Qaeda Camp near al Bayda in south central Yemen, officials confirmed in a statement to NBC news.
The eight-year-old, Nora, was the daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American al Qaeda leader, born in New Mexico, who was killed in a US strike ordered by President Obama five years ago.
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The eight-year-old, Nora, was the daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki (pictured), an American al Qaeda leader, born in New Mexico, who was killed in a US strike ordered by President Obama five years ago.
He was killed by a drone on September 30, 2011, after the Justice Department approved killing him in a memorandum that was disclosed in 2014.
The memo said: 'We do not believe that al-Awlaki's US citizenship imposes constitutional limitations that would preclude the contemplated lethal action.'
United States intelligence believed that al-Awaki was a potential successor to Osama Bin Laden.
Defense Secretary James Mattis released a statement identifying the two Americans killed in the attack.
Mattis said: 'Ryan gave his full measure for our nation, and in performing his duty, he upheld the noblest standard of military service.'
The only other American citizen killed was the SEAL, Chief Petty Officer William 'Ryan' Owens, a 36-year-old from Illinois
Nora's grandfather, Nasser al-Awlaki, is Yemen's former agriculture minister and told NBC news: 'My granddaughter was staying for a while with her mother, so when the attack came, they were sitting in the house, and a bullet struck her in the neck at 2:30 past midnight. Other children in the same house were killed.'
He said she died two hours after being shot.
He continued, 'They (referring to the SEALs) entered another house and killed everybody in it, including all the women. They burned the house. There is an asumption there was a woman from Saudi Arabia who was with al Qaeda. All we know is that she was a children's teacher.'
The fate of the girl's mother has not been confirmed. However, al-Awlaki's brother-in-law was killed in the raid.
An official told NBC that the raid was directed from a US base in Djibouti. Officially, it was to search for 'information that will likely provide insight into the planning of future terrorist plots'.
This was the president's first clandestine strike, and not one that was originally ordered by former President Obama. It involved 'boots on the ground' at an al Qaeda Camp near al Bayda in south central Yemen (pictured)
After American service members landed on the ground, a two-hour gun battle ensued. Some al Qaeda fighters were women, and they were among the casualties, reported the San Diego Union Tribune.
Al Qaeda has claimed that 30 civilians have died, and the Tribune reported that four other Americans were wounded in the raid and complications in the aircraft landing.
National security experts believe that the death of the girl will be used as a part of al Qaeda propaganda methods.
A suburban councillor has gone on a passionate Facebook rant about 'ridiculous' planning after seeing a picture of a garage blocked by a telegraph pole.
John Woodward, a councillor representing West Torrens, said he was 'baffled' by the placement of the garage and told Daily Mail Australia the 'bad planning' was something one would expect to see 'on holiday in a Third World country.'
Cr Woodward blamed the SA state government for taking planning power away from local government, allowing the garage to be built so that access is hindered by the telegraph pole.
But documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia show the West Torrens City Council gave the 'bad planning' a stamp of approval before construction went ahead.
A suburban councillor has gone on a passionate Facebook rant about 'ridiculous' planning after seeing a picture of a garage blocked by a telegraph pole
A development plan consent form obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows the West Torrens City Council gave the 'bad planning' a stamp of approval before construction went ahead
Originally, the driveway was designed to curve around the pole, the documents show.
But the owner of the home on Daly Street in Kurralta Park said they have paid the local utility company SA Power Networks $17,700 to have the pole removed so that vehicles can be driven in and out of the driveway.
The owner was aware of the pole when they signed off on plans for their driveway, he told Daily Mail Australia.
SA Power Networks would not confirm that the homeowner has paid to move the pole.
Cr Woodward said that local residents have complained that drivers park in the street, blocking access. Those complaints, along with his feeling that SA's residential development code strips power from the councils, were the driving forces behind his decision to post the picture to Facebook, he said.
But when he learned that the home owner claims to have paid to remove the pole, Cr Woodward said that's 'great news.'
'However,' he added, 'my issue is this. How do our policies allow a garage to be built with a pole in front, as a principle?'
Ralph Kelly (pictured) no longer receives a salary from the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, documents have revealed
The father of coward punch victim Thomas Kelly is no longer being paid a six-figure salary by the charity he founded in his son's name.
Ralph Kelly defended himself publicly last year when it was revealed he had been paid $125,000 in wages by the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation.
The figure represented about 51 per cent of the foundation's revenue of $243,373 in the 2014-15 financial year, according to the charity's annual report.
But Mr Kelly last year said the revenue figure didn't take into account more than $500,000 given to the Salvation Army to fight alcohol-fuelled violence.
'My salary was approved by all of the [TKYF] board members [and] all of the directors,' he told Fairfax Media last February.
Five months later, the charity quietly stopped paying Mr Kelly wages altogether, with the company spending $112,971 and $125,754 over two years.
The change was announced in the charity's most recent financial report, signed in November 2016.
'Effective 1 July 2016 Ralph Kelly no longer receives a salary from the foundation,' the report said.
It also said Mr Kelly was no longer a company employee but remained as a director and chief executive officer.
Ralph and Kathy Kelly (pictured together) launched the Foundation to fight alcohol fuelled violence and develop programs to keep people safe on nights out
Neither Mr Kelly nor the foundation itself responded to questions by deadline.
Last year, Mr Kelly said the charity came under attack by trolls on its website after the claims were made last year.
The charity's most recent annual report also revealed it has undergone a shake-up at the top with several board positions being 'refreshed'.
Six directors resigned in the first half of 2016, including St Vincent's Hospital head of emergency Dr Gordian Fulde, who quit last April.
The foundation said the board now included business executives who had 'specialist' expertise.
Thomas Kelly Foundation directors: Who is in and who's out? IN: David Anstee (appointed June 23) Mark Langsworth (appointed June 23) Geoff Lucas (appointed June 23) Simon McGrath (appointed June 23) Ian Penman (appointed June 23) Source: 2016 General Purpose Financial Report OUT Professor Gordian Fulde (resigned April 8) Patricia O'Rourke (resigned June 23) Steve Parberry (resigned June 23) Philip Crawford (resigned June 23) Guy Reynolds (resigned March 22) Justin Hind (resigned June 23) Advertisement
Tragic death: Thomas Kelly, 18, died after being punched in an unprovoked attack at Kings Cross, on July 7, 2012. He suffered catastrophic head injuries
Dr Fulde told Daily Mail Australia he simply had too many commitments and was still involved 'big time' with the foundation's work.
Thomas's brother Stuart Kelly died last year
'It just all got too much,' said Dr Fulde, pointing to his role as 2016 Senior Australian of the Year.
'I'm totally still associated with the Kelly Foundation... I wasn't making any meetings'.
Mr Kelly's son Thomas, 18, was killed in a one-punch attack as he walked with two friends in Kings Cross on the evening of July 7, 2012.
His other son, Stuart, tragically died last year.
The Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation has developed programs to keep people in Sydney and Canberra safe when they go out at night.
The foundation says its programs have helped 20,829 people get home safely.
A man has stabbed his estranged wife to death in front of their children before killing himself, just two weeks after being released on bail for allegedly beating and choking her.
Dave Bradford, 52, and wife Teresa Marie Bradford, 40, were found dead in their Pimpama home, on the Gold Coast in Queensland, by police on Tuesday morning.
Three of the couple's young children raised the alarm after running to a neighbour's house.
Bradford was charged with a number of violent offences against Ms Bradford on November 28 last year - including domestic violence-related common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm, choking or strangulation, and deprivation of liberty, accoriding to the Courier Mail.
He was released on bail on January 12.
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Teresa Marie Bradford, 40, was found dead in her Pimpama home by Queensland police on Tuesday morning after three of the couple's children raised the alarm with neighbours
Two weeks after being released on bail for serious domestic violence charges, Dave Bradford, 52, was found dead in suspected murder suicide
As part of his bail conditions, Bradford had to stay at a hotel in Brisbane, report to police and stay 100m away from Ms Bradford unless they were appearing in court.
They had four children together, aged between nine and 17 years old.
Friends of the much loved Ms Bradford describe a woman with 'a heart of gold' and who was always there to help and give warm words of encouragement, but was failed by the system.
'She was scared and tried to get assistance but no one helped her and her kids,' an unnamed friend told Daily Mail Australia.
'I can't believe he was allowed out on bail to do it again.'
A childhood friend, called Debbie, told A Current Affair that the authorities had no excuse for allowing Bradford out on bail.
She said she took Ms Bradford to hospital in November after her husband's 'nearly killed her'.
'She was scared,' Debbie said. 'She was going to find another place to move so her and the kids were safe.
'The system has let her down a lot. It makes me angry because I've lost a close friend.
'I can't get my head around [the court releasing this man]. There's no excuse for this. He shouldn't have done what he did and the police should have kept him in jail.'
'She was scared and tried to get assistance but no one helped her and her kids,' a unnamed friend said of Ms Bradford
Authorities were initially called to the scene following reports of a disturbance, but a neighbour said they hadn't heard anything in the hours before the gruesome discovery
Another friend expressed her guilt for not telling the mother-of-four to come stay with her when Bradford was released on bail.
'You were so scared,' she posted on Facebook.
'I really regret not telling her to come here last week. He wouldn't have found them here.'
Bradford was charged with a number of violent offences against Ms Bradford on November 28 last year
Another friend who knew Ms Bradford from their teaching days, said Ms Bradford had been studing for a nursing degree at Griffith University.
'She was a kind, beautiful person who was always there to help,' Liv Kronsteiner told Daily Mail Australia.
'She was an amazing mother.'
Ms Kronsteiner said there had been an 'insane history of violence and abuse'.
Friend Nikki Searle said Ms Bradford's life had been 'tragically cut short at the hands of a cowardly monster'.
'She had a heart of gold and was always there to help others,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'She was always caring, had a smile or a laugh ready. I couldn't imagine her ever saying a bad word about anyone.
'Even with what she endured over the last few months I wouldn't say anything she said or posted on Facebook was hateful or overly negative. She just wanted to move on with her life with her kids that she cherished.
'In the last few weeks she was very fearful for her life ... but she kept going and used her network of friends to help her.
'I know some of her close friends were helping her with getting the kids ready for school. She wasn't really one to ask for a handout but the pressure of the situation was getting dire.'
The white suburban home in Pimpama at the centre of police investigations where Dave and Teresa Marie bradford, 40, were found dead
Police have established a crime scene on the street as forensic investigators look for clues to what led to this fatal incident
Authorities were initially called to the Pimpama scene following reports of a disturbance.
Bradford was not living in the family home and it is believed he broke in.
But a neighbour said they hadn't heard anything in the hours before the gruesome discovery.
'We didn't hear anything or see anything,' a neighbour told The Courier-Mail.
'A little bit scary ... it's very quiet. There's nothing really ever happening, there's no commotions, so this is a pretty crazy thing to have happened.'
'Enquires are in their infancy,' Detective Inspector Mark Thompson of Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch said at the scene.
'There doesn't appear to be any firearms or weapons of that nature to have been involved in this offence,' Mr Thompson said.
Paramedics were called to the scene, but an ambulance spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that no one was required to be transported to hospital.
Police have established a crime scene on the street as forensic investigators look for clues to what led to this fatal incident.
Bradford was out on bail at the time of the his and Ms Bradford's death in a suspected murder-suicide
'Enquires are in their infancy,' Detective Inspector Mark Thompson Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch said at the scene (Pictured: Forensic officers examining the house)
It's understood three of the couple's children alerted neighbours to the tragedy before police arrived at the scene
More Russians searched for Miami homes more than any other foreign national group in the month of November, a report from the Miami Association of Realtors found.
Russia placed fifth in November 2015 and wealthy Russians had, since 2014, avoided buying US properties.
Reasons for the stop included US sanctions on Russia follow its invasion of Ukraine and a weak ruble.
More Russians searched for Miami homes more than any other foreign national group in the month of November. Pictured: Maison de L'Amitie in Palm Beach, Florida, which was bought by Dmitry Rybolovlev from Donald Trump for $95m in 2008
Russian real estate mogul Vladislav Doronin, left, has spearheaded multiple land deals in the city recently. Dmitry Rybolovlev, right, bought a mansion from Donald Trump in 2008
But following Donald Trump's election - and his promise of a better relationship with Russia - the tide seems to have turned.
Real estate broker Oren Alexander told the Miami Herald: 'Most high-net worth Russian clients are pro-Trump.
'I'm already starting to see them come back. It's really not surprising.'
Russian real estate mogul Vladislav Doronin, who previously dated Naomi Campbell, has spearheaded multiple land deals in the city recently.
Particular neighborhoods of note for the Russian moguls include Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach and Fisher Island.
Donald Trump sold one of his Palm Beach mansions, Maison de L'Amitie, to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for $95 million in 2008.
Real estate broker Oren Alexander said: 'Most high-net worth Russian clients are pro-Trump.' Pictured: Rybolovlev at a soccer match in Berlin in 2015
Russian real estate mogul Vladislav Doronin, who previously dated Naomi Campbell, has spearheaded multiple land deals in the city recently
American actress Leah Remini has urged people to walk away from the Church of Scientology after her family was nearly torn apart.
Appearing on Sunrise on Tuesday morning, the 46-year-old spoke against the controversial religious movement in a candid interview.
The King of Queens star, who was raised as a Scientologist, called on members to leave the church group, infamously known for its celebrity followers.
'For those who are in the dark, I want to say, "Stop it. Stop giving up your families and your life for something that is truly damaging",' she said.
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American actress Leah Remini has urged people to walk away from the Church of Scientology
Speaking to Samantha Armytage and David 'Kochie' Koch on the Channel Seven breakfast show, she claimed the group 'tried to separate my family'.
'When I saw that, I couldn't continue to be part of it,' she continued.
Remini recently filmed an eight-part documentary series called 'Leah Remini: Scientology and The Aftermath' where she made explosive claims about her time as a member of the organisation.
'I did not want to find out everything I knew was a lie,' she said in one of her episodes.
'I was trying to hang on to my family for all of these years. Something inside of me was telling me to get them out of this thing.'
She also opened up about the wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige who failed to attend Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding in 2006.
Speaking to Samantha Armytage and David 'Kochie' Koch on the Seven network, she claimed the group 'tried to separate my family'
The 46-year-old has been speaking publicly about the religious group since she left in 2013
Remini (pictured in 2015) recently filmed an eight-part documentary series where she made explosive claims about her time as a member of the organisation
'Where was she? And I was told that I did not have the rank to be asking where the leader's wife was,' Remini said about Shelly Miscavige.
'And I certainly felt like I did as a human being to ask where another human being was... Nobody really wanted to get involved in my fight.
'That showed me something about who we really were as a group, as an organisation... we're not supposed to be those people who turn the other way.
'The people that are there truly live in a bubble, like I did. I truly believed that we were really doing great things for the world.'
She even told Sunrise people wanted to be part of Scientology because 'they believe they're being helped and they believe they are helping mankind'.
Remini was a member of the group from the age of nine but left in 2013 over claims she was brainwashed and other members were allegedly abused.
After growing speculation that the Trump administration had drafted an early execution order rolling back protection rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers, the White House has issued a strong denial.
The administration issued a statement saying that a 2014 directive by President Barack Obama that barred discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the federal workforce and by federal contractors would remain in place.
Earlier, the Washington Post had reported that a draft of an executive order that would reverse the directive was being circulated.
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An LGBT Executive Order reversing LGBT federal workers is not happening, said the White House
The New Civil Rights Movement reported that the potential order may get signed before Thursday.
But after White House spokesman Sean Spicer refused to answer the question put to him by various media outlets, the White House finally issued a statement after speculation reached a fever pitch.
'President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election,' the statement said. 'The president is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.'
The statement continued that the decision was all Trump's, according to the New York Times.
When originally confronted with the question of an LGBT rights roll back, Spicer had said, 'I'm not getting ahead of the executive orders that we may or may not issue.'
Later, Mary Emily O'Hara of NBC News tweeted that 'White House Deputy Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham tells me an executive order on LGBT policy 'isnt the plan at this time.'
The new statement is much stronger than this earlier semi-denial.
The directive that expanded LGBT protections for federal workers signed under Obama in 2014 added gender orientation to the gay, lesbian and bisexual classes protected in federal hiring practices.
Despite Trump's flip flopping on same-sex marriage and choosing Mike Pence as VP, Caitlyn Jenner has supported him, and even went to the inauguration
It also required all companies doing business with the federal government to have explicit policies barring discrimination against gay and transgender workers, said the outlet.
The directive affected 24,000 companies and 28 million workers, about one fifth of the US workforce.
The directive drew sharp criticism from religious groups as it did not contain an exemption for religious groups that work with the government.
Faith-based groups argued that this could affect the federal grants they would get that would assist people with poverty and natural disasters.
While Trump said during his first post-election interview on 60 Minutes that the courts have 'settled' the matter of same-sex marriage, he also said in January 2016 on Fox News, that he would 'strongly consider' appointing a Supreme Court judge to reverse it.
And the socially conservative forces who propelled Trump into office are pressuring him to push back on LGBT rights, says the Post.
Vice President Mike Pence is not known as a friend of the gay community and as governor of Indiana he signed a bill, known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which would have opened the door to allowing businesses not to serve gays or transsexuals. After a national outcry, the most objected-to parts of the bill were rescinded, according to The Huffington Post.
'The Trump administration has shown that its willing to go against core American values of freedom and equality, and its troubling to hear they may target LGBT people as well,' James Esseks, director of the LGBT program at the American Civil Liberties Union, told the Washington Post.
According to earlier speculation, Trump's potential executive order could also allow federal employees to discriminate or refuse service on the basis of 'sincerely-held religious beliefs,' a source told New Civil Rights Movement. The source also said the order would be signed before Thursday.
Washington Post political columnist Josh Rogin said on twitter that the order could affect federal service workers' benefits, as well as adoption agencies that receive federal funding, and allow federal workers to refuse to serve LGBT.
It has been five years since Sierra LaMar (pictured) disappeared on her way to school in Morgan Hill, California, and the murder trial against her accused killer Antolin Garcia Torres is now underway
It has been five years since Sierra LaMar disappeared on her way to school in Morgan Hill, California, and the murder trial against her accused killer Antolin Garcia Torres is now underway.
Opening statements were heard Monday, and the prosecution started with a theatrical flourish, saying: 'Sierra LaMar is dead. This man killed her', pointing at the 25-year-old suspect, according to Fox 5.
Prosecutors went on, referring to the disappearance and likely murder of their 15-year-old daughter as a parent's worst nightmare.
They played the frantic 911 call from Sierra's mother, and her family was visibly shaken.
Antolin Garcia Torres is from San Martin, California, just a few miles from Sierra's home in Morgan Hill.
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Antolin Garcia-Torres (pictured) is from San Martin, California, just a few miles from Sierra's home in Morgan Hill. Garcia-Torres is the owner of a red car caught on surveillance camera near her home on March 16, the day of her disappearance, which was seized by police before his arrest
Garcia-Torres is the owner of a red car caught on surveillance camera near her home on March 16, the day of her disappearance, which was seized by police before his arrest.
Sierra hasn't been seen or heard from since she left her home in Morgan Hill to go to school on March 16, 2012. Authorities believe she was kidnapped while walking to a bus stop.
Authorities arrested Garcia-Torres two months after her disappearance at the convenience store where he worked.
Marc Klaas, of the Klaas Kids Foundation said to Fox 5: 'She's reliving everything and it's just got to be horrendous knowing she's attending the trial for her daughter's murder and still has no idea where he daughter's remains are'.
The first breakthrough in the case came in the discovery of Garcia-Torres' red Volkswagen Jetta.
A search for the car began after it was captured on several surveillance videos close to the missing teen's home and the area where authorities recovered some of her belongings. Sierra's cellphone was found near the side of the road the day after she vanished and her Juicy brand black and pink purse with clothes folded neatly inside was found the day after that. There is also evidence linking his DNA to clothing found in Sierra's abandoned backpack, which was tossed in a shed not far from her home
A search for the car began after it was captured on several surveillance videos close to the missing teen's home and the area where authorities recovered some of her belongings.
Sierra's cellphone was found near the side of the road the day after she vanished and her Juicy brand black and pink purse with clothes folded neatly inside was found the day after that.
There is also evidence linking his DNA to clothing found in Sierra's abandoned backpack, which was tossed in a shed not far from her home.
The reveal dirt stains and reflective beads from the road were found on her jeans, indicating she was dragged, according to Fox 5.
Legal Analyst Steven Clark said prosecutors are relying heavily on forensic DNA evidence to prove Garcia-Torres' guilt.
He said: 'What the DA needs to do is establish through anecdotal evidence by calling Sierra's mother and her friends is that this is not a girl who would run away. This is not a girl who would not communicate with her mom.'
Following the incident, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said it appeared to be a random act of violence.
According to Fox, Garcia Torres sat through the opening statements looking clean shaven and emotionless.
A woman who was facing intolerable pain and planning her own suicide has turned to cannabis oil with remarkable results.
The New South Wales woman, who can not be identified, was suffering harrowing pain in her abdomen after two cancer operations on her kidney.
The severe pain and heavy duty pain killers - that were rendering the woman a zombie - forced her to turn towards another outlet.
'I not only had suicidal thoughts, I got right though to the planning phase,' she told Nine News.
The New South Wales woman turned to medicinal cannabis oil for pain relief (Stock Image)
Medicinal cannabis was made legal in Australia in November 2016 but patients claim it is hard to get through the red tape (Stock Image)
After having suicidal thoughts and planning her death, the woman turned to the black market for cannabis oil.
'Instant relief,' the woman told Nine News.
'The night I took my first dose I had the best night's sleep in three years.'
The unidentified woman said after the pain of the two surgeries for cancer on her kidney she was experiencing intolerable pain (Stock Image)
After the horrendous pain and cocktail of medication her family and business suffered, but now she has the energy to perform her duties as a mum and manage at work.
Despite the incredible turn around of this woman's life, she is still considered a criminal for reaching out to the black market.
The Australia government legalised medicinal cannabis last year in November, but many claim there is a high degree of red tape to get through before anyone can use it.
It is claimed the government raided two of Australia's largest medicinal suppliers of cannabis, in the last two months, which has angered campaigner Lucy Haslem.
Medicinal cannabis campaigners will be marching in Canberra on February 7.
A toddler has tragically died after being struck by a minibus in north Queensland.
Police believe the 20-month-old girl moved to the front of the vehicle when it unloaded people on Serenity Crescent on Palm Island on Tuesday afternoon.
As the vehicle pulled away, the child was hit.
The girl was rushed to Palm Island Hospital in a critical condition after she was hit by a minibus
The girl was rushed to Palm Island Hospital in a critical condition around 12.30pm but she died a short time later.
Officers from the Forensic Crash Unit will be airlifted to the tragic scene to investigate the incident.
More to come.
They were shocked, but mostly mournful, as the people of Quebec City turned out in their thousands to honor the victims of the massacre in the mosque.
Candles were lit and placed in the snow piles and prayers were said in the sub-zero temperatures in respect to the fallen six, alleged to have been gunned down by local student Alexandre Bissonnette.
There had been only one homicide in the whole of 2016 among the 500,000 population and the one previous to that was reported to have been 16 months before that.
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Vigil: A memorial for victims killed in a shooting at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec in Quebec City
Grief: Flowers and candles have been lit outside the mosque where six people were shot dead on Sunday night
Therefore few could have been surprised at the massive shockwaves that reverberated.
To lose six neighbors, who were praying as the bullets tore into them, was too much for nearly all those who turned out and braved the ice and freeze.
Marc Chamberland, 21, said: 'These people are part of my community and they were an equal. I live 20 minutes away from the Mosque where they died so I really feel this very badly.
'I am sorry for them and their families and I don't want anybody's race or religion to be a reason for this kind of thing.'
Unity: People gather around a memorial for victims killed in the massacre at the mosque
Strong words: Johanne Voyer, left, with her daughter Penelope issued words of warning to President Trump
Languages expert Johanne Voyer, who brought her daughter Penelope, 11, with her to the vigil, said: 'This kind of violence with guns just does not belong in Quebec City. We just don't have it here and there are such strict gun controls.
'I also want to say that being Canadian means you can be from any religion or racial background and that you are the same as everybody else.
'President Trump should hear and understand that. It is the words he has been saying and his immigration changes that can lead to trouble and that doesn't belong here in Quebec.'
She said Trump's ban on Muslims from seven countries from entering the US would appeal to people who might readily attack Muslims feeling they were spurred on to feel such actions were acceptable.
'We all belong here in this community. I am just very sorry and had to come here and show some support for the people who died. We all lost somebody in the Mosque.'
Shock to the system: Canada is generally welcoming toward immigrants and all religions, but the French-speaking province of Quebec has had a long-simmering debate about race and religious accommodation
Police had to seal off roads around the Islamic cultural centre in the Quebec City suburb of Sainte-Foy to accommodate the massive show of support and people carefully marched through the snow to join in.
Yanmay Rand, 18, said: 'At my school there were Muslims and I had one good friend and I want him to know that we are here for him and all the other people who attend Mosques in Quebec. They can do that safely.'
Billy Manston, a retired truck driver, said: 'I didn't know this mosque existed until this happened; But I am determined with all the other people here that it will continue as before.
'The Muslims will get all the love and support from us that God will allow us to give. We are not having any racist trouble in Quebec City.' Members of the Muslim community thanked the well-wishers who had helped them through the darkest 24 hours after the Mosque, which can hold 1000 worshipers, was attacked on Sunday evening.
Prayers: The victims were businessmen, a university professor and others who had gathered for evening prayers, said Mohamed Labidi, the vice president of the mosque
One voice: Marc Chamberland, 21, holds his candle where he braved the freezing temperatures to stand vigil with thousands of others
Amir Belkacemi, whose college professor father Khaled was killed, registered his grief and his thanks on Facebook.
He said: 'Last night, during the events vile to the mosque of Sainte-Foy, several families have been shaken forever. This is the case of mine, so that my father lost his life in the hands of a madman.
'My Father, a man right and good, an example of resilience loved by all, a teacher and a researcher emeritus, a fighter, who left his country to give a chance has his family live far away from the horror.
' Fate has caught up with us. Today, the entire Arab- Muslim community of Quebec's in shock. But we will remain in solidarity, proud and strong.
' Thank you to the hundreds of people who have called, which we have sent their sympathies, which we visited. Your support is essential for us. Together, we shall overcome hatred and ignorance.
My Dad will not have died in vain...love.'
A nation linked together: People attend a vigil for victims of Sunday's shooting at a Quebec City mosque, at the Grand Parade in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Local Imam Raza Shah told Daily Mail.com thanked those who arrived for the vigil and said, 'The support shown today proves that the trouble makers are a small minority. I think that this was a long time coming because even before the policies we had seen sporadic hate crimes over the last few years.
'It must serve as a wake up call that we need to act now, because such mindsets will always exist, regardless of who is in power and what the policies are. Unless we don't act now and make an effort to understand one another, it is possible that we may suffer more tragedies
'I was overwhelmed and honored and very touched by the amazing support we saw across the city and country. This proves that bigotry and hatred will never prevail because the goodness and compassion of people will always overcome it.
'The enormous support was amazing to see, and we should take it one step further and always stay closely knit and connected so we can avoid tragic events such as what we saw yesterday .
'More than ever as a representative of Islam I feel that Muslims must display and practice their faith. Because if we don't, we are letting the perpetrators get what they want. In order to honor the dead our faith must be stronger than ever.'
Fears are held for an Australian man last seen before a water rafting accident one week ago in Guatemala.
Brisbane's Michael Eather, 23, was backpacking on the Rio Cahabon when the inflatable boat he was riding with a Portuguese tourist capsized on January 23.
Rescue teams have been hindered by harsh terrain and conditions, as well as lacking the resources to scale up the search.
Brisbane's Michael Eather, 23, was last seen before a water rafting accident one week ago in Guatemala
When the Portugese tourist was rescued, he told authorities that he was unable to stop Michael from going down the river.
Despite ongoing efforts from the Guatemala government, locals, volunteers and Michaels travelling companions, Mr Eather has not been found.
Images from his social media accounts show him making the most of his dream holiday with friends in the days before the accident.
The family have launched a crowdfunding page for the equipment and resources to expand the search into harsher terrain.
You can donate to the family here.
Mr Eather was backpacking on the Rio Cahabon when the inflatable boat he was riding with capsized on January 23
A student essay contest on the topic of 'white privilege' has stirred controversy in the overwhelmingly white coastal town of Westport.
Residents have complained the question wrongly suggests racial tensions exist in the affluent town in Connecticut.
The contest aims to 'increase awareness and foster understanding' of the topic that surfaced during the recent presidential election.
It also comes in the week President Donald Trump imposed a travel ban on seven mainly Muslim countries.
Residents have complained the question wrongly suggests racial tensions exist in the affluent town of Westport (pictured) in Connecticut
AFFLUENT CITY IN CONNECTICUT Like other New York City suburbs on the Connecticut shoreline, Westport ranks among the country's wealthiest places. Its median family income tops $150,000, and it is home to the world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. As of the 2010 census, its 26,000 residents were 93 per cent white. The town has a liberal streak that some attribute to its vibrant arts community, and it voted by more than 2 to 1 for Hillary Clinton over Trump. Despite that, it has not been immune to episodes of racism. Dozens of students at the public Staples High School were disciplined for circulating racially offensive memes in a private Facebook group uncovered in November. Advertisement
However residents claimed the question was offensive as it implied Westport was not a welcoming town.
The question for the essay states: 'In 1,000 words or less, describe how you understand the term 'white privilege'. To what extent do you think this privilege exists? What impact do you think it has had in your life - whatever your racial or ethnic identity - and in our society more broadly?'
Bari Reiner, 72, said: 'It's an open town. There are no barricades here. Nobody says if you're black or whatever, you can't move here.'
However Harold Bailey Junior, chairman of the diversity council, defended the essay title.
He said: 'There's a lot more controversy around it than many of us expected.
'Just the fact it says 'white' and 'privilege,' for some people that's all they need to see, and all of a sudden we're race-baiting or trying to get people to feel guilty. That's not at all what it's about.'
Mr Bailey Jr said people as far away as Singapore had entered the competition online.
The essay contest encourages people to enter a 1,000 piece on the issue of 'white privilege'
Like other New York City suburbs on the Connecticut shoreline, Westport ranks among the country's wealthiest places
The diversity council, TEAM Westport, was created more than a decade ago to increase diversity and make the town more welcoming.
The winner of the annual contest's $1,000 top prize will be announced on April 3.
Some parents welcomed the discussion stirred by this year's question as a reminder for local teenagers that not all places are as affluent and homogeneous as Westport.
Bert Dovo, a white father-of-two, said: 'I like the idea to get it out there so kids can talk about it and embrace it.'
Janet Samuels, 60, said that her children are now grown-up but she believes it is the role of parents to teach what privilege is.
A Missouri man who raped and killed a woman and murdered her two children nearly 19 years ago was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday.
Mark Christeson, 37, was pronounced dead at 7:05pm (CST) at the state prison in Bonne Terre after enjoying a last meal of a bacon cheeseburger, fries, a piece of pecan pie and a cola, according to the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens had denied clemency for the man and said in a release Tuesday that he 'thoughtfully considered the facts' of Mark Christeson's case and chose not to go against what the jury and state and federal courts decided.
His attorneys had also asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution arguing, among other things, that his trial lawyers were unqualified. But the c ourt also on Tuesday refused to halt the scheduled execution of Christeson.
He was convicted of murdering Susan Brouk and her two children - 12-year-old daughter Adrian and nine-year-old son Kyle - in rural Missouri on February 1, 1998.
The mother was raped before she and her young son had their throats slashed and then thrown into the pond to drown. Brouk's 12-year-old daughter was suffocated.
Mark Christeson, 37, (pictured in 2014) was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri over the 1998 murders of a mother and two children
Christeson was 18 when he and his 17-year-old cousin, Jesse Carter, decided to run away from a home outside Vichy in south-central Missouri where they lived with a relative.
The two teenagers took shotguns and went to a home about half a mile away where Brouk lived with her children. The cousins planned to steal Brouk's Ford Bronco.
When they arrived at the home, the cousins tied the children's hands with shoelaces. Investigators said Christeson forced Brouk into a bedroom and raped her, but when they went back into the living room, Adrian recognized Carter and said his name.
'We've got to get rid of 'em,' Christeson told Carter, according to court records.
The family was forced into the Ford Bronco. Christeson and Carter loaded the SUV with electronics and other items and drove to a pond, according to investigators.
Court records indicate that Christeson kicked the 36-year-old mother in the ribs and cut her throat, and then cut Kyle's throat and held the child under water until he drowned.
Carter held Adrian while Christeson pressed on her throat until she suffocated, and then Carter pushed the girl's body into the pond.
As Brouk struggled to stay alive, the cousins tossed her into the pond to drown.
Susan Brouk was raped and murdered on February 1, 1998 when Christeson and his cousin Jesse Carter slashed her throat and dumped her body in a pond in rural Missouri
Brouk's nine-year-old son Kyle also had his throat cut and was held under the water until he drowned. Her 12-year-old daughter Adrian was suffocated before being thrown into the pond
Christeson (pictured) and Carter were arrested in California eight days after the killings. Carter agreed to testify against his cousin and was sentenced to life in prison without parole
Brouk's sister alerted authorities a few days later that the family was missing. A Missouri State Highway Patrol helicopter spotted one of the bodies in the pond, leading to a search that found the bodies of all three victims.
Christeson and Carter had driven to California and sold Brouk's household items along the way. A detective in California's Riverside County recognized the cousins from photos police had circulated. They were arrested eight days after the killings.
Carter agreed to testify against his cousin. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Christeson's lawyers appealed his death sentence on Monday ahead of his execution.
The appeal argued that Christeson's trial lawyers were so inept that they missed a deadline for a federal court appeal, which is a standard procedure in death penalty cases.
The issue was also the focus of his 2014 appeal to the Supreme Court, which halted his execution just hours before it was set to be carried out.
Adrian, 12, (left) and her nine-year-old brother Kyle (right) were both murdered alongside their mother in Missouri back in 1998
His lawyers had also argued that he had an IQ of 74 and was mentally incapable of understanding his legal rights during his original trial.
Maries County prosecutor Terry Daley Schwartze, who prosecuted the original case, called the killings 'brutal.'
'If there is a person who deserves the death penalty, it is this defendant,' Schwartze said.
Christeson's attorney, Jennifer Merrigan, declined comment when reached by phone Monday.
His execution is the first in the state since May. Missouri executed 16 men from 2014 to 2015, second only to the 23 executions in Texas over the same two years.
San Francisco slugger Aubrey Huff is calling a foul ball on everyone protesting the new President's policies.
He wrote in a tweet on Sunday night, which he later appeared to have deleted, 'I mean seriously, what the hell is going on? If you have time 2 march, protest and riot. Maybe it's time for something called a job!'
He took to Twitter to rail against protesters clogging up airports around the world in response to Trump's executive orders banning travel from certain countries, reported Fox News.
San Francisco slugger Aubrey Huff is calling a foul ball on everyone protesting the new President's policies
The president signed the order on Friday, putting a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees, and a 90-day ban on citizens from Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
A number of Twitter users replied to him, and he engaged with them.
One Twitter user called him out for having a lack of perspective because he is a white American man.
He wrote in a tweet on Sunday night, which he later appeared to have deleted, 'I mean seriously, what the hell is going on? If you have time 2 march, protest and riot. Maybe it's time for something called a job'
Huff tweeted right back at him saying: 'Come on man seriously there are plenty of white people struggling out there. Why does this have to be about race? U a racist?'
Steve Hofstetter, a comedian and Television personality, found his remark about getting a job rather naive, tweeting: 'I protest and I have a bunch of jobs! I'm a pannelest on MLB network and host on FS1, two places that didn't hire you.'
Howard Bryant also tweeted at him: 'Curt Flood protested. MLB Players protested, on strike in 1972, 1981, 1985, and 1994 - but you got the money from it.'
Based on his other tweets, Huff is a fan of the new President. He wrote: 'So refreshing 2 see a president follow through with campaign promises. God bless the future of this great country and keep it safe!'
Steve Hofstetter, a comedian and Television personality, found his remark about getting a job rather naive, Tweeting: 'I protest and I have a bunch of jobs! I'm a pannelest on MLB network and host on FS1, two places that didn't hire you'
Howard Bryant also tweeted at him: 'Curt Flood protested. MLB Players protested, on strike in 1972, 1981, 1985, and 1994 - but you got the money from it'
He also joked that because Tom Brady endorsed the President, Trump would be blamed for the outcome of the Super Bowl.
Huff wrote 'I can c next weekends Super Bowl headlines: "Protests ensue and Trump blamed after Patriots win Super Bowl because Tom Brady endorsed him.'
The 40-year-old has played on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants. He was a part of the World Series teams in 2010 and 2012, reported Fox.
A conservative Catholic priest in New York City put a meme on Facebook which encourages people who are against President Donald Trump to commit suicide.
Father Philip Pizzo of St. Benedict Joseph Labre Roman Catholic Church in the Richmond Hill area of Queens posted the image, The New York Post reported.
The 67-year-old told the newspaper: 'I do not promote suicide. I've helped many people over the years, and it does not promote suicide. It was funny.'
The meme is said to have featured the words: 'Show your hate for Trump. Do it for social justice. #JumpAgainstTrump.'
Father Philip Pizzo (pictured left and right) put a meme on Facebook which encourages people who are against President Donald Trump to commit suicide
The 67-year-old has said:'I do not promote suicide. I've helped many people over the years, and it does not promote suicide. It was funny'
Former parishioner Alex Leston stopped going to the church in 2014, and told the newspaper the social media posting left him 'apalled'.
Leston said: 'The parish he is supposed to be serving is mainly Latin American and Caribbean. It's not a good look for him.'
Churchgoer Carlos Coburn previously reached out for counseling from the priest over suicidal thoughts he was having, the New York Post reported.
Father Philip Pizzo looks after St. Benedict Joseph Labre Roman Catholic Church (pictured) in the Richmond Hill area of Queens
Coburn told the newspaper: 'It's disturbing for someone in my situation. I know this man, he baptized me, and I don't want to go back to his church.'
Coburn now reportedly is planning to worship at a different location.
Diocese of Brooklyn spokesman Vita Formica told the New York Post: 'Father Pizzo did share the meme in question on his personal Facebook page.
'He says he intended it as satire only, regrets the offense it has caused and has deleted it. This post does not, in any way, represent the view of the church.'
If you need to speak to a counselor, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255
A new mother who throttled her baby daughter to death with a pair of knickers within minutes of giving birth in her bathroom has been spared jail.
Gintare Suminaite, 30, killed her child, the product of a secret affair with a fellow Lithuanian, at the bedsit she shared with her boyfriend on April 5 last year.
Last month, the defendant, from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, denied murder but admitted infanticide as she was mentally disturbed by the effects of giving birth.
Suminaite, who spent 298 days on remand, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to a 24-month community order with a rehabilitation requirement order. The murder charge was ordered to lie on file.
In the dock: Gintare Suminaite, 30, killed her child, the product of a secret affair with a fellow Lithuanian, at the bedsit she shared with her boyfriend on April 5 last year.
On trial: Suminaite, pictured at court with a custody officer at a previous hearing, denied murder but admitted infanticide
Prosecutor Ed Brown QC told how Suminaite kept her pregnancy hidden from authorities and her long-term partner, with whom she already had a young child.
When confronted by her boyfriend, she denied sleeping with 32-year-old Arturas Vencius.
The couple's relationship had become strained as they worked for the same company doing opposite shifts, the court heard.
Suminaite planned to run away to Lithuania with her lover, but he went back alone and she stayed in England as she did not want to be separated from her child.
On April 5, Suminaite left work early saying she had 'big problems' and gave birth in the bathroom at home, with her partner in another room.
He found her lying naked in the bathroom surrounded by blood and a baby bath full of what appeared to be clothes.
Suminaite was bleeding and pale and her boyfriend eventually called an ambulance after she confessed what had happened, saying she had done 'something bad' and was going to jail.
The child lay undiscovered as medics initially did not spot the body in the baby bath and the couple did not mention it.
She was treated in hospital for significant blood loss and injury from childbirth, the court heard.
Ambulance staff and police returned to the flat and were 'deeply shocked' at finding the child hidden in wet towels with a ligature tied tightly around her neck, Mr Brown said.
Following her arrest, Suminaite said she strangled her baby but did not know why.
Infanticide: Suminaite (pictured) killed the baby and then told her boyfriend she had done 'something bad' and was going to jail. She has been allowed to walk free
She described giving birth quickly and easily and said the baby was moving and trying to cry.
She said she wrapped her hands around the child's neck for a few minutes and strangled her 'as hard as I could at the time' before holding her in the shower in an attempt to drown her.
She cut the umbilical cord with a razor then passed out in the bath, she said.
When she came to, she said the baby was not moving and she tied a pair of her knickers around her neck and put her in the baby bath.
She said she did not know why she did it as she had no mental problems.
After the killing, Suminaite remained in contact with her Lithuanian lover who has returned to England and found somewhere for them to live.
However, her former boyfriend who is looking after their child has cut all ties, the court heard.
The defendant, who appeared in court by videolink from Bronzefield jail, wept throughout the hearing.
The court heard that she had been emotionally and socially isolated during her life in England.
Sentencing, Mr Justice Nicol said: 'The unlawful homicide of anyone is a tragedy, especially in the case when the victim is so young, even more so that is the case when the child dies at the hands of her mother.
'However, your own circumstances were tragic in themselves and that is reflected in the nature of the offence to which you have pleaded guilty.
'You were overwhelmed by the stress of your situation and in a state of partial denial during the pregnancy.
'At the time of giving birth your were in a state of extreme anxiety and panic amounting to a temporary impairment of the balance of your mind.'
A woman and her eight-year-old son missing for four days have been found by police.
Linzi Davis, 36, and River Bain, from the village of Auldearn in the Scottish Highlands, were last seen on Friday and an appeal was launched when they failed to get in touch with family or friends.
Officers had said it was also possible that they had travelled to Edinburgh on public transport, and they were traced in the capital on Tuesday.
They are said to be safe and well.
Linzi Davis, 36, and River Bain, from the village of Auldearn in the Scottish Highlands, have been found safe and well
Officers had said it was also possible that they had travelled to Edinburgh on public transport, and they were traced in the capital on Tuesday
Police said they were 'anxious' about the whereabouts of the mother and son, pictured
A map showing where Ms Davis and her son River were last spotted before their disappearance
A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Police can confirm Linzi Davis and River Bain, previously reported missing from Auldearn, have been traced safe and well by police officers in Edinburgh.
'Members of the public and the media are thanked for their assistance with this matter.'
It is thought the pair have links with Nairn, Inverness and Forres and it is also possible they have travelled to Edinburgh on public transport, Police Scotland said
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Fans were left reeling when Peter Capaldi announced his decision to step down as Doctor Who after three years in the coveted role.
And now Whovians are already looking into the future to predict who may be stepping into his time-travelling shoes.
The three frontrunners tipped to pick up the Sonic Screwdriver are James Bond actors Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear, and comedian and star of The IT Crowd Richard Ayoade, with odds of 5/1, 7/1 and 6/1 respectively at bookmakers Ladbrokes.
However, some fans are calling for an actress to take over the hitherto male role, with Olivia Colman, Sheridan Smith and Helen Mirren all tipped to become the next Time Lord - or Lady.
But Miranda Hart is the bookies' favourite female, with odds of 8/1. If the comedian were to take the role, she would be the first female Doctor in the series.
Outgoing executive producer Steven Moffat has suggested a future regeneration of the Doctor could also be a woman, previously saying: 'I think the next time might be a female Doctor. I don't see why not.'
Bookies at William Hill have offered former Doctors Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith at respective odds of 33/1, 20/1 and 16/1, while Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are tipped at 33/1 and 8/1 each.
So will it be Ben Whishaw swapping MI6 for the Tardis, Richard Ayoade trading crowds of IT geeks for crowds of Daleks or Miranda Hart falling into the police box?
The bookies' top four: Ben Whishaw (odds 5/1), Richard Ayoade (odds 6/1), Rory Kinnear (odds 7/1), and Miranda Hart (8/1)
5/1 - BEN WHISHAW: WILL Q SWAP MI6 FOR THE TARDIS? Ben Whishaw is the bookies' favourite at 5/1 The bookies' favourite at 5/1, Whishaw has an impressive CV with credits including playing tech wizard Q in Bond blockbusters Spectre and Skyfall, and has previously been mentioned as a leading contender for the role of the Doctor. In 2013 he won the best leading actor TV Bafta for his performance as Richard II in the first of the BBC's epic production of Shakespeare's history plays, and he was nominated again in 2016 for his performance in London Spy. Should Bedfordshire-born Whishaw, 36, be interested in taking up the Time Lord mantle he may have the chance to get some tips from Capaldi as they reprise their roles in Paddington 2 later this year. NOTABLE ROLES: Layer Cake (2004) Brideshead Revisited (2008) James Bond (2012/2015) The Danish Girl (2015) Paddington (2014) Advertisement
6/1 - RICHARD AYOADE: FROM HANGING OUT WITH THE IT CROWD TO THE DALEKS Bookies odds on Richard Ayoade taking over are 6/1 The comedian, actor and director earned legions of fans and a TV Bafta for his portrayal of lovable geek Maurice Moss in hit Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd. Ayoade also earned plaudits in the director's chair for 2010 rom-com Submarine and more recently voiced The Snowman in the BBC's reboot of the cartoon classic Danger Mouse. While studying law at Cambridge he was president of the university's famed theatrical group, the Footlights, whose former presidents included Hugh Laurie, Sue Perkins and Eric Idle. The 39-year-old is hot on Whishaw's heels with the odds for him taking the keys to the Tardis put at 6/1. NOTABLE ROLES: The Vicar of Dibley (2015) The IT Crowd (2006-2013) The Mighty Boosh (2003-2007) The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) Advertisement
7/1 - RORY KINNEAR: THESPIAN ACTOR WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE TIME LORD Rory Kinnear: The odds on him taking the job are 7/1 Once tipped to take over from Matt Smith as the Doctor, the son of character actor Roy Kinnear is again among the favourites with the bookmakers. He starred in the recent Bond films as M's Chief of Staff, Bill Tanner. The 38-year-old said in 2013 that he had never watched Doctor Who and had no idea what it was all about. However he would have had plenty of time to learn the difference between a Dalek and a Voord in the intervening years and was initially placed at equal odds with Ayoade on Tuesday. NOTABLE ROLES: The Imitation Game (2014) Mansfield Park (2007) James Bond (2008/2015) Several notable television roles including Ashes to Ashes, Waking the Dead and Judge John Deed Advertisement
The bookies' favourite at 5/1, Ben Whishaw has an impressive CV with credits including playing tech wizard Q in Bond blockbusters Spectre and Skyfall (pictured, alongside Daniel Craig)
Richard Ayoade: The comedian, actor and director earned legions of fans and a TV Bafta for his portrayal of lovable geek Maurice Moss in hit Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd and is third in line to become the next Doctor, according to Ladbrokes
STARS IN THE RUNNING TO PLAY THE NEXT TIME LORD - AND THE BOOKIES' ODDS Bookmakers Paddy Power say actor James Norton (left) is their favourite to be next Dr Who with odds of 9/1, while Ladbrokes is offering odds of 16/1 that Idris Elba (right) will step into the role According to bookmakers Ladbrokes, Ben Whishaw is the frontrunner to become the next Doctor Who with odds at 5/1. Second, with odds of 6/1 is Richard Ayoade. Rory Kinnear, who also starred in the recent Bond films as M's Chief of Staff, Bill Tanner, comes in third, while Miranda Hart is fourth with odds of 8/1. Other top actors in line for the coveted role, according to Ladbrokes, include Helena Bonham Carter (10/1), Olivia Colman (14/1), Michael Sheen (14/1), Idris Elba (16/1), Michael Sheen (odds 14/1) and James Corden (50/1). However other bookies are offering slightly different odds. Paddy Power has revealed a ctor James Norton is favourite to be the next Doctor Who. Bookmakers are offering odds of 9/1 that Norton, who is best known for his roles in Happy Valley, Grantchester and War and Peace, will replace Peter Capaldi at Christmas. Paddy Power has put the 31-year-old top of the list to replace Capaldi in the Tardis, closely followed by Ben Whishaw at 10/1 and Richard Ayoade at 11/1. Norton has revealed that he would love to appear in Doctor Who, after previously appearing in the series four years ago in 2013. He starred alongside Matt Smith's eleventh doctor as a Russian soldier named Onegin in the 80s-set episode Cold War, but his character was killed by Martian Ice Warrior Skaldak. At the time he said in an interview with the Radio Times: 'It's no secret, my character met a fairly gruesome end in my Doctor Who episode. Maybe they could quietly recast me as someone else. It was a lot of fun. If Doctor Who would want me back I would happily to go back.' Norton is also currently third favourite to be the next James Bond at odds of 10/3, behind Tom Hardy and Poldark's Aidan Turner. Now Paddy Power are offering 50/1 that Norton lands both roles. A host of actresses have been put forward to play the next Time Lord - including, Olivia Colman (left) and Helena Bonham Carter (right) Advertisement
THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE: ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST LOVED SCI-FI DRAMAS
With a history spanning more than five decades, Doctor Who has earned its place as one of the nation's best-loved series.
And as the world's longest running science fiction show, it has gained a cult following across the globe.
Generations have been gripped by battles between the Daleks and Davros, Cybermen, Zygons, new monsters like the Veil and old foes the Time Lords.
And the actors lucky enough to step into the coveted shoes of the Time Lord have gone on to become household names.
These include - among others - John Hurt (The War Doctor), Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor), David Tennant (Tenth Doctor), Matt Smith (Eleventh Doctor)and Peter Capaldi (Twelfth Doctor).
Doctor Who was first broadcast on BBC One on Saturday November 23, 1963.
Created as an educational family show to fit between the football results and evening entertainment programmes, the show was the brainchild of Canadian TV producer and BBC Head of Drama, Sydney Newman.
The first ever doctor from 1963 - 1966 was played by William Hartnell.
After an initial run of 26 years, the series was rested.
It returned for a one-off TV movie featuring the Eighth Doctor in 1996.
Doctor Who was fully resurrected in 2005 and has gone from strength to strength ever since.
In its 50th anniversary year, the series is watched by an estimated 80 million viewers in 206 countries.
It has been honoured by Guinness World Records as both the longest running and most successful science-fiction series in the world.
Capaldi announced that he will leave the Tardis in the Christmas special later this year, saying his time as the 12th Doctor has been 'cosmic'.
The 58-year-old will return for the tenth series of the relaunched show, with 12 episodes starting in April, followed by the Christmas special.
His final series will also end with the departure of writer and executive producer Steven Moffat.
Capaldi told BBC Radio 2: 'One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best.
'From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity, generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead.
'I can't thank everyone enough.
'It's been cosmic.'
Remoaner MPs are gearing up for a desperate rearguard action against Brexit after the Article 50 legislation finally came before the Commons today.
Brexit Secretary David Davis kicked off the crucial EU Bill debate with a stark warning to Europhiles not to defy the result of the historic referendum.
His Labour opposite number Sir Keir Starmer also pleaded with his party's MPs not to stoke public fury by trying to block us from cutting ties with Brussels.
But a queue of politicians stood up during the first day of debate today to indicate they will oppose the legislation's second reading in key votes tomorrow.
The drone of protest signalled days of Parliamentary trench warfare as dozens of MPs plots dozens of troublemaking amendments and votes in a series of rare late night sittings.
David Davis said MPs who opposed the Article 50 Bill had to ask themselves why they did not trust the British public
The House of Commons will debate the EU Bill today, and votes on the second reading will take place tomorrow night
Theresa May and Boris Johnson (pictured in the chamber today) have warned Labour and the SNP not to try to block the EU Bill
In the first big set-piece debate on the Bill that will authorise the Article 50 process:
Tory big beast Ken Clarke branded his own party 'anti-immigrant' and warned against relying on 'that nice man Trump' as he vowed to oppose the Bill.
Lib Dem Nick Clegg slammed Theresa May's 'ludicrous' approach and said MPs had a 'duty' to stop her going ahead.
Senior Conservatives Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry were among those signalling they will support the government in the second reading tomorrow - but hinted that they would demand concessions later in the parliamentary process.
Former Labour minister Liam Byrne launched a scathing attack on David Cameron for 'cutting and running' after a referendum 'based on all the ethos and ethics of the Bullingdon Club'.
The SNP has tabled a 'wrecking' amendment that will be the rallying point for Brexit opponents tomorrow night.
But pro-EU politicians are set to mount another challenge by insisting the government must give them a 'meaningful' vote on the final deal negotiated with Brussels.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is ordering his MPs to support Brexit but is facing a major revolt and shadow cabinet resignations
Dozens of Labour MPs are set to defy Jeremy Corbyn to oppose the legislation on a vote scheduled for tomorrow.
Some frontbenchers have indicated they are ready to quit rather than obey a three-line whip.
Shadow Business Secretary Clive Lewis tonight said he would join the revolt next week if Labour amendments to the Bill are not accepted.
The SNP and the Liberal Democrats have also made clear they will vote against the Bill.
Tory MPs have been told to stay near Westminster until late tonight in case opponents try to pull procedural tricks.
However, overall there is likely to be a strong Commons majority in favour.
Getting the two-day debate under way, Mr Davis said it was the 'most straightforward, simple' legislation the government could table to begin the process.
'We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the EU. They decided they did. So at the core of this Bill lies a very simple question. Do we trust the people or not?' he said.
'The democratic mandate is clear. The electorate voted for a government to give them a referendum, Parliament then voted to hold the referendum, the people voted in that referendum and we are now honouring the result of that referendum, as we said we would.'
DOZENS OF LABOUR MPs SET TO VOTE AGAINST EU BILL Jeremy Corbyn is facing a major revolt over the Article 50 legislation - with shadow ministers set to quit. Up to 60 Labour MPs could choose to vote against the EU Bill at second reading tomorrow night. More are likely to choose to vote against the programme motion for the law - which effectively stops the debate going on endlessly. They will join all 54 SNP MPs and probably all nine Liberal Democrats in the 'No' division lobby. But the numbers of rebels will be nowhere near enough to overturn the government's majority. The Labour leader has imposed a three-line whip on his troops to back the second reading stage. But the veteran left-winger has stopped short of saying he will support the final vote next month. Aides say the party's approach will depend on whether the government accepts amendments as the legislation goes through the parliamentary process. Advertisement
Mr Davis said the Bill of just two tightly-drawn clauses was a 'straightforward' piece of legislation which implemented the referendum result while respecting the Supreme Court judgment.
He told MPs: 'We will respect the will of the people and implement their will by March 31.'
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer admitted that the Bill was 'simple'.
But he added: 'For the Labour Party this is a very difficult Bill.'
He said he regretted that the Leave campaign had won the referendum, but dismissed the idea that the result was just 'technical'.
In a plea aimed squarely at Labour MPs, Sir Keir said the party's members were 'above all democrats' and had to 'accept the result'.
'The Prime Minister should not be blocked from starting the Article 50 negotiations,' he added.
Speaker John Bercow has selected an SNP 'wrecking' amendment which would delay Article 50 on the grounds that the Government has failed to provide for consultation with devolved administrations, to publish a White Paper on its negotiating strategy or to answer a range of questions about the implications of withdrawal from the single market, and has not assured MPs of a meaningful vote at the end of the negotiation process.
Tory big beast Ken Clarke branded his own party 'anti-immigrant' and warned against relying on 'that nice man Trump' as he vowed to oppose Brexit.
In an impassioned speech as MPs debated the EU Bill, the former chancellor mocked those with a 'wonderland' vision of life outside the bloc.
TORIES ARE 'ANTI-IMMIGRANT', SAYS EUROPHILE CLARKE Ken Clarke's passionately Europhile speech during the debate did not seem to impress fellow Tories Desmond Swayne (left) and Sir Gerald Howarth (right) Tory big beast Ken Clarke branded his own party 'anti-immigrant' and warned against relying on 'that nice man Trump' as he vowed to oppose Brexit today. In an impassioned speech as MPs debated the EU Bill, the former chancellor mocked those with a 'wonderland' vision of life outside the bloc. Confirming he will vote against the legislation to trigger Article 50, Mr Clarke said he did not believe in referendums and did not feel bound by the historic result last year. Advertisement
Confirming he will vote against the legislation to trigger Article 50, Mr Clarke said he did not believe in referendums and did not feel bound by the historic result last year.
The long-standing Europhile said he regarded Enoch Powell as the best Eurosceptic speaker he had seen.
But he argued that even Powell was have been surprised that the Conservatives had become anti-EU and 'rather mildly anti-immigrant in a very strange way'.
Taking aim at the image of Brexit portrayed by the government and the Leave campaign, Mr Clarke said: 'We are combining withdrawal from the single market and the customs union with this great new globalised future, which offers tremendous opportunities for us.
'Apparently you follow the rabbit down the hole and you emerge in a wonderland where suddenly countries around the world are queuing up to give us trading advantages and access to their markets that previously we had never been able to achieve as part of the European Union.
'Nice men like President Trump and President Erdogan are just impatient to abandon their normal protectionism and give us access.
'Don't let me be too cynical - I hope that is right. I want the best outcome for the United Kingdom from this process.
'No doubt there is somewhere a Hatter holding a tea party with a dormouse.'
Speaking at a joint press conference with Irish counterpart Enda Kenny in Dublin last night, Mrs May was asked what she would say to opponents.
'My message to people is very clear. The people of the UK voted on June 23 last year,' she said.
'The people spoke in that vote. The majority voted for us to leave the EU.
'I hope when people come and look at the Article 50 Bill they will realise it is a very simple decision, do they support the will of the British people or not?'
The text will be at the heart of the impending 'hand to hand combat' in parliament - sparked by the Supreme Court's ruling that Theresa May cannot use executive powers to invoke Brexit
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Kier Starmer, flanked by Jeremy Corbyn today, said Labour had to accept the result of the EU referendum
Today and tomorrow MPs are debating the two-clause Bill designed to offer as little scope as possible for wrecking amendments
Stephen Gethins, the SNP's Europe spokesman, said: 'Europe is where our future still lies. One where we tackle inequality, climate change, research, welcome refugees, give young people the opportunities pooling our sovereignty with like-minded states.
BREXIT DAY WILL BE MARCH 9 Theresa May has set a target date of launching the formal Brexit process on March 9. The Government is aiming to push through its EU Bill through Parliament by March 7, which would allow the Prime Minister to trigger Article 50 at a summit of European leaders on March 9 and 10. MPs will start debating the crucial Brexit legislation today and fiery clashes are expected in the commons chamber as the SNP, Lib Dems and dozens of Labour MPs say they will defy June's vote to leave the EU and vote against triggering Article 50. Ministers told the House of Lords yesterday that it hopes to have the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill approved by March 7. The following day - March 8 - is the Budget, before Mrs May travels to Brussels for the long-awaited Brexit showdown with her EU counterparts. The PM has promised to trigger Article 50, the formal mechanism for quitting the EU, by the end of March. But she does not want to get off on the wrong foot with EU leaders by clashing with the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which effectively gave birth to the EU. She could tell her European counterparts of her timetable at a meeting in Malta on Friday. The timetable could be knocked off course if the Lords initiate what is known as parliamentary 'ping-pong' by sending the bill back to the Commons with a series of amendments. And in a sign of the trouble ahead for Mrs May, a senior Tory told the Independent: 'What we are seeing now is a huge raft of amendments being tabled. 'There are cross party talks going on about this. It's not going to be plain sailing for the Prime Minster.' Advertisement
'That is the kind of Scotland I believe in and one where we work as a true partner of equals with the other States of the UK and Europe.
'Passing this Bill would turn its back on the progress we have made and disrespect the devolution settlement.
'This is a backward and damaging step. It is an act of constitutional and economic sabotage and I cannot and will not back it.'
Delaying a decision over the future of expats post-Brexit is 'tantamount to torture', senior Tory Nigel Evans told the debate.
He urged the UK Government to 'put people out of their misery' by working quickly with the EU to guarantee the future of EU citizens in the UK and Britons in member states.
Ex Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg claims the Government spurned advances from German officials to secure a Brexit which would not be economically disruptive.
The former deputy prime minister said German representatives were keen to explore if an 'emergency brake' could be agreed with Mrs May shortly after she arrived in Number 10.
Former prime minister David Cameron had wanted such a measure as part of his renegotiation in order to convince voters he could reduce immigration if Britain remained in the EU.
But Mr Clegg said Mrs May instead opted to 'placate parts of the Conservative Party' rather than act in the UK's long-term interests.
The stage was set for the parliamentary showdown last week when the Supreme Court ruled that the PM cannot use executive powers to launch the formal Brexit process.
Instead both Houses must approve invoking Article 50 - raising the prospect of a desperate rear-guard action by pro-EU MPs and peers.
The government has published a two-clause Bill designed to offer as little scope as possible for amendments.
But Europhiles have pledged to tabled scores of them when the legislation reaches committee stage in the Commons next week.
Up to 60 Labour MPs could choose to vote against the EU Bill at second reading tomorrow night.
More are likely to choose to vote against the programme motion for the law - which effectively stops the debate going on endlessly.
They will join all 54 SNP MPs and probably all nine Liberal Democrats in the 'No' division lobby.
But the numbers of rebels will be nowhere near enough to overturn the government's majority.
The Labour leader has imposed a three-line whip on his troops to back the second reading stage.
But the veteran left-winger has stopped short of saying he will support the final vote next month.
GOVE DEFENDS VOTE LEAVE CLAIM ON NHS Michael Gove has said the Leave campaign consistently called for 100 million to be spent on the NHS after Brexit, amid claims the higher pledge of 350 million was a lie. The former education secretary and prominent Leave campaigner added that he cannot deliver on these pledges as he is not part of the Government, though he would argue for these spending priorities to be met. His comments came after former business minister Anna Soubry challenged Mr Gove on the highly controversial Leave campaign slogan, that 350 million which goes to the EU each week could now be spent on the NHS. Ms Soubry said: 'Does he agree with others, that actually that figure was always false and it was a lie?' In reply, Mr Gove said: 'I've no idea whether or not the word lie is unparliamentary, but what I do know is that as someone who is not in the Government, I can't deliver these sums. 'But what I can do is I can consistently argue, as I have, that when we take back control of the money that we currently give to the European Union, we can invest that money in the NHS. Advertisement
Aides say the party's approach will depend on whether the government accepts amendments as the legislation goes through the parliamentary process.
Some of the toughest opposition is expected to come in the House of Lords later in the process, where peers are not answerable to constituency voters.
Mrs May has given the strongest hint yet that she wants to trigger Article 50 at a European summit on March 9.
The Government indicated yesterday that it is aiming to push through its EU Bill through Parliament by March 7, which would allow the Prime Minister to trigger Article 50 at a summit of European leaders on March 9 and 10.
MPs will start debating the crucial Brexit legislation today and fiery clashes are expected in the commons chamber as the SNP, Lib Dems and dozens of Labour MPs say they will defy June's vote to leave the EU and vote against triggering Article 50.
Ministers told the House of Lords yesterday that it hopes to have the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill approved by March 7.
The following day - March 8 - is the Budget, before Mrs May travels to Brussels for the long-awaited Brexit showdown with her EU counterparts.
The PM has promised to trigger Article 50, the formal mechanism for quitting the EU, by the end of March.
But she does not want to get off on the wrong foot with EU leaders by clashing with the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which effectively gave birth to the EU.
She could tell her European counterparts of her timetable at a meeting in Malta on Friday.
Ken Clarke's passionately Europhile speech during the debate did not seem to impress fellow Tory Desmond Swayne
Veteran Mr Clarke confirmed he would vote against triggering Article 50 and complained that his party had become 'mildly anti-immigrant'
Mr Davis said it was the 'most straightforward, simple' legislation the government could table to begin the Brexit process
Adding some reality show host flare to the announcement of his first Supreme Court pick, President Donald Trump is bringing the two finalists to Washington, D.C., today.
CNN reported that 49-year-old Judge Neil Gorsuch, considered the frontrunner, is already in D.C., as Trump will announce his choice during primetime tonight.
But 51-year-old Judge Thomas Hardiman from Pittsburgh is also en route.
Trump's aim is to tilt the bench to conservatives on abortion, gun control and other hot-button issues and fill the vacancy left by conservative stalwart, Justice Antonin Scalia, who passed away in February 2016.
Currently the bench consists of four conservatives and four liberals.
Gorsuch, an appellate court judge, is a more traditional pick and is considered an ideological match to Scalia. He's also taken a broad view on religious freedom, which conservatives have championed in recent years.
Hardiman, also an appellate court judge, is a defender of gun rights, police powers and the rights of local governments to display the Ten Commandments.
Twitter accounts for @JusticeHardiman and @JutsiceGorsuch popped up today, with each promoting the livestream event at the White House.
Scroll down for video
President Donald Trump, shown Monday with small business leaders, will announce Tuesday night the name of the jurist he will nominate for a vacant U.S. Supreme Court seat
The Supreme Court has been in a 4-4 deadlock on most issues since Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016
Both 'Justice Gorsuch' and 'Justice Hardiman' got new Twitter handles today, which retweeted promotional material from the White House on tonight's announcement
Fifty-four year old Alabamian William Pryor has all but fallen off the radar in the nation's capital, but dark horses have emerged at the last minute before.
Gorsuch has a pure Ivy League background, having attended Columbia for undergrad and Harvard for law school.
He also clerked at the Supreme Court, assisting Justices Byron White and Anthony M. Kennedy, before taking a job at a D.C. law firm.
While he may share personal ties with Kennedy, Gorsuch's record is more similar to that of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, the man he would replace.
Gorsuch, who has been sitting on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit since 2006, is a proponent of originalism, according to the Washington Post.
Judge Neil Gorsuch has the most traditional resume for a Supreme Court pick, having graduated from Columbia and Harvard and clerked at the Supreme Court in his youth
In a speech he gave last spring, he said he had tried to follow Scalia's path.
Judges, Gorsuch believed, should look to 'text, structure and history' to make decisions.
Their job is 'not to decide cases based on their own moral convictions or the policy consequences they believe might serve society best,' he said.
Unlike Pryor, Gorsuch hasn't ruled in an abortion case.
He has sided with Hobby Lobby and Little Sisters of the Poor in opinions that are in line with the Supreme Court's conservative justices.
The phrasing that he used in a ruling on behalf of those who challenged Obamacare's birth control mandate suggest he's pro-life, as he said businesses would be forced to 'underwrite payments for drugs or devices that can have the effect of destroying a fertilized human egg.'
Thomas Hardiman, who serves on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, might be a better bet.
When Bush appointed him to the position in 2003, the Senate vote was 95 to 0.
Judge Thomas Hardiman is on the short list for the Supreme Court, with his Third Circuit colleague, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry - the president's sister - encouraging this pick
Hardiman is getting a push from Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, the president's sister, who also serves on the Third Circuit.
'He's probably the most conservative judge that can get confirmed,' a source within the Trump administration, familiar with the SCOTUS deliberations, told the Washington Examiner.
The Pittsburgh-based Hardiman has a compelling backstory.
He was the first member of his family to go to college, growing up in Waltham, Massachusetts and coming from working class roots.
He sometimes worked as a taxi driver to pay for degrees at Notre Dame and Georgetown University Law Center.
He also speaks fluent Spanish and volunteered at the Ayuda immigration legal aid office in Washington, D.C.
Hardiman's considered a good fit for Trump because he's come out strongly for the Second Amendment.
He dissented when the 3rd Circuit heard a gun case in 2013, which said it was constitutional for the state to require individuals to demonstrate 'justifiable need,' before granting them a permit to carry a handgun in public.
Hardiman said the law violated the Second Amendment and argued that the Second Amendment 'extends beyond the home,' The Washington Post reported.
The 'very big decision,' is to be announced at 8:00 pm from the White House, Trump told reporters. The candidate is 'unbelievably highly respected', he said.
The Supreme Court pick, during prime television viewing, sets the stage for a bruising battle with opposition Democrats.
Democrats, who are in a minority in both chambers of Congress, are still smarting from the Republicans' refusal to consider much less vote on former president Barack Obama's nominee for the same Supreme Court seat.
And although Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate, they need 60 to confirm a nominee.
Trump's choice, then, must be someone capable of winning some Democratic votes unless Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell decides to invoke the so-called 'nuclear option' and unilaterally lower the bar to a 51-vote simple majority.
The Democratic minority, observers agree, would go berzerk.
Abortion, gay marriage and gun control are just some of the controversial issues on which the Supreme Court is the final arbiter. Its members are confirmed by the Senate and serve life terms.
Given the advanced age of several sitting justices, Trump could potentially make several appointments during his term, shaping the court's direction for a generation.
Once confirmed, however, justices enjoy independence and some have proved politically unpredictable.
Chief Justice John Roberts was expected to be a rock-ribbed conservative when President George W. Bush put him on the high court.
He later green-lighted the divisive Obamacare system in two tie-breaking votes.
The president said he wanted a candidate who opposes abortion and firmly backs the right to own guns.
In a presidential debate in October, Trump said his Supreme Court picks would 'automatically' lead to overturning Roe v. Wade, the emblematic 1973 ruling that legalized abortion.
Trump had said he would announce his pick on Thursday, but then moved the date up amid a raging controversy over his order to temporarily bar refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the country.
Four federal judges issued temporary orders blocking deportations of people detained at U.S. airports, embroiling the fledgling administration in its first major legal challenges. Advocates vow to take the fight to the Supreme Court.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to fight 'tooth and nail' if Trump nominates someone unacceptable to Democrats.
'That just shows you that it's all about politics, it's not about qualification,' White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters.
'The president has a right to have his nominees taken up.'
But Spicer did not mention that Obama had chosen Merrick Garland, a politically moderate appellate court judge, to win over Republicans, but they refused to even consider him.
Garland has since returned to his old job as chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, said on Monday that he planned to procedurally block any Supreme Court pick that isn't Garland and he expected his Democratic colleagues to do the same.
'This is a stolen seat. This is the first time a Senate majority has stolen a seat,' Merkley said. 'We will use every lever in our power to stop this.'
A reckless motorist who swapped seats with a passenger as they sped down a motorway in a social media stunt now owns a driving school.
Osman Omar, 29, from Manchester, grinned and laughed as he changed positions with his friend in a Snapchat video that went viral.
Mr Omar, a father-of-two, runs Suja Driving School in Stretford, which promises on its website to make pupils 'safer motorists for life'.
Osman Omar, 29, from Manchester, grinned and laughed as he changed positions with his friend in a Snapchat video that went viral
As the clip begins, a voice off-camera says: 'Yo. You know the car is moving, innit? This guy's looking to swap seats with him'
He told MailOnline: 'I'm now 29 and a father of two kids so I would never ever do that now.
'I didn't know that I was going to become an instructor at the time the video was filmed.'
As the clip begins, a voice off-camera says: 'Yo. You know the car is moving, innit? This guy's looking to swap seats with him.'
The front seat passenger is then seen to reach over and keep the wheel steady while Mr Omar, who is holding a mobile phone, clambers into the back seat.
Mr Omar, who is now in the back seat holds onto the wheel with his right hand and a mobile phone in his left hand, while the front passenger also holds the wheel with one hand.
The front seat passenger, who has not been identified, then climbs over the gear stick into the driving seat and takes over.
The front seat passenger is then seen to reach over and keep the wheel steady while Mr Omar, who is holding a mobile phone, clambers into the back seat
The front seat passenger is then seen to reach over and keep the wheel steady while Mr Omar, who is holding a mobile phone, clambers into the back seat
You can hear the cameraman say: 'Yous are takin' the p***, for f*** sake'.
The camera then turns towards the back passenger, who filmed the dangerous stunt, who shakes his head and laughs
The video ends with two of the men in the back of the car smiling to the camera with the message 'They swapped seats with a moving car omg'.
The footage was viewed more than 7,000 times in 24 hours.
Mr Omar insists the video was filmed 'ten years ago' and is no longer relevant. He says he works in the office at his driving school.
He added: It was filmed about ten years ago before I was even an instructor.
You can hear the cameraman say: 'Yous are takin' the p***, for f*** sake'
Mr Omar insists the video was filmed 'ten years ago' and is no longer relevant. Pictured: The Suja Driving School website
'We are a very successful driving school, one of the most successful ones in Manchester.'
Mike Bristow, spokesman for road safety charity Brake, told The Sun, which first reported Mr Omar's identity: 'This type of idiotic and dangerous behaviour could have resulted in a devastating loss of life.
'If this person is a driving instructor then he's clearly unfit for that role.
Greater Manchester Police are investigating.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said Mr Omar could be struck off their register if convicted.
Two crew members on a Saudi warship were killed after an attack by three 'suicide boats' which caused a large explosion.
The vessel was targeted off the western coast of Yemen by the armed Houthi movement.
Three sailors were also injured in the attack.
Two sailors died in the explosion and a further three were injured as a result of the attack
Footage shows huge flames on the vessel, in an attack claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi movement
The attacks follow weeks of combat on Yemen's western coast between the Iran-allied Houthis and the coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government.
A statement on state news agency SPA from the Saudi-led coalition reported: 'A Saudi frigate on patrol west of Hodeidah port came under attack from three suicide boats belonging to the Houthi militias.'
One of the boats smashed into the rear of the warship, causing an explosion and a fire that killed two crew members and wounded three others.
The Houthi movement's al-Masira channel contradicted this account and quoted a military source saying the explosion was caused by a guided missile.
Footage of the attack appears to show the ships attack the vessel, although the Houthis claimed the explosion was caused by a guided missile
But footage purportedly showing the attack shows the ship being targeted by the three boats.
It was at least the second attack by the Houthis on ships off the coast of Yemen in the last six months.
A United Arab Emirates vessel was attacked with a cruise missile by Houthi militants off Yemen's west coast in October.
The ship was attacked by the Houthi movement, which is locked in conflict with the Saudi-led coalition
The group is engaged in battles on the mainland with coalition troops and pro-government fighters, who are trying to advance northward to deprive the Houthis of Red Sea ports.
The Saudi-led coalition warned the attack on the ship 'would impact international navigation and the flow of humanitarian assistance to the port for Yemeni citizens'.
Separately, the Houthis said they launched a ballistic missile at a Saudi-led coalition military base on the Red Sea island of Zuqar between Yemen and Eritrea on Tuesday morning, according to the group's official news channel al-Masira.
There was no immediate coalition reaction to that claim and it was unclear if there were any casualties.
Gayathiri Bose from Singapore, who claims she was forced to lactate by security at Frankfurt airport to prove she was still breastfeeding after officers deemed her breast pump suspicious
A mother says she was forced to lactate by security officials at Frankfurt airport to prove she was still breastfeeding after officers deemed her breast pump suspicious.
Gayathiri Bose from Singapore, had travelled to the German airport en route to Paris but was without three-year-old toddler and seven-month-old baby.
As she went to board her flight to the French capital, Ms Bose was pulled over by security officers after they scanned her carry-on bag.
She claims she had packed her breast pump inside the bag and when the security agents found it, they didn't what the device was.
The 33-year-old says she was then forced to go into a private room for questioning with a female officer who took her passport.
It was then that she was forced to lactate to prove she was a breastfeeding mother as she was travelling alone.
Ms Bose told the BBC: 'She asked me to open up my blouse and show her my breast. She then asked how come I didn't have anything attached to my breast, if I was lactating and expressing breastmilk.
'She wanted me to show her by hand-expressing a little.
'I was just in shock, I was going through the motions. I was all by myself as well, and wasn't sure what would happen to me if they decided to make trouble for me.'
After 45 minutes, Ms Bose was eventually allowed to board her flight to Paris but says she was left 'humiliated' and is now considering legal action.
As she went to board her flight to the French capital, Ms Bose was pulled over by security officers after they scanned her carry-on bag and found the pump, pictured
German federal police have declined to comment on the incident citing 'reasons of data protection.'
According to guidelines, breastfeeding mothers are allowed to take breast pumps on board planes in their hand luggage.
Some advise alerting officers when passing through security that they are carrying a breast pump so it can be screen accordingly.
Liquids have been restricted on board aircraft since 2006 and they can only be carried on a plane if they are under 100ml.
However, breast milk is exempt from this rule in the European Union and in the US, it can also be carried on board an aircraft so long as it is declared to security.
Dr Martin Peverley, 51, had been drinking doubles in between treating patients at his surgery in Hartlepool, County Durham
A doctor who drove home after knocking back almost an entire bottle of vodka is to keep his job after medical watchdogs decided he posed no risk to patients.
Dr Martin Peverley, 51, had been drinking doubles in between treating patients at the Journee Medical Practice in Hartlepool, County Durham.
The GP - who was four times the drink drive limit - could barely speak when officers confronted him following his 50-minute journey home.
As officers tried to get him from his car, Peverley fell to the ground and had to be lifted into the police vehicle and taken to a nearby station.
The doctor had been spotted driving erratically along busy main roads during his 22-mile commute home.
He was seen braking and speeding up for no apparent reason and 'swerving across the road narrowly missing other vehicles'.
A driver followed him home and called police as Peverley parked his car outside his 500,000 house in Nunthorpe, near Middlesbrough.
The doctor was later given a suspended jail term and a three-year driving ban.
At Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, Peverley - who has not worked since his arrest - admitted misconduct charges but escaped with a six month suspension.
He claimed he was suffering from 'accumulated stress caused by professional and financial problems'.
He will undergo a review in June whereupon it is expected he will ask to be allowed to treat patients again.
Much of the hearing was held behind closed doors after lawyers for Peverley argued there was 'no particular public interest in his financial arrangements'.
Peverley saw patients at the Journee Medical Practice in Hartlepool (pictured) before driving 22 miles home while four times over the drink drive limit
The incident occurred at 6.50pm on April 15 after he bought a 70cl bottle of vodka during his lunch break - then had two doubles before seeing patients.
He drank three quarters of the bottle whilst completing paperwork before driving home.
Kevin Slack, lawyer for the General Medical Council, said: 'The police report states that Dr Peverley's vehicle was braking and speeding up with no cause, narrowly missing other vehicles.
'He was followed to his home address and observed parking up and remaining in the drivers' seat. No other people were in the vehicle.
'He was observed until police arrived and they tried to speak with Dr Peverley but due to him being intoxicated they had to physically pull him out of the drivers' seat where he fell on the floor and had to be carried to the police vehicle. He was over four times the legal limit.'
Peverley was breathalysed at the police station where the lowest reading was 153 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Later that month he admitted drink driving and was banned from driving for 36 months, given an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay 115 charges and 85 costs.
The GP (pictured) was four times over the drink drive limit when arrested by police
The GP voluntarily referred himself to the GMC for a disciplinary hearing.
Peverley's lawyer Jonathan Holl-Allen said his client had been under 'significant professional pressure' because for two years he had undertaken sole responsibility for the medical practise - which has 3,500 patients - following the retirement of the other GP partner.
He said the GP - who qualified in 1990 and joined the surgery in 2005 - was also under 'financial pressures' because a misunderstanding over funding from NHS England led to the practise incurring considerable debts in fees for locum doctors.
Apologising for his drink driving shame, Peverley himself admitted making a 'very serious error of judgement, but said his actions were out of character and occurred against a background of 'accumulating stress, caused by professional and financial problems, which had come to a head.'
He said he had taken 'steps' to deal with his bouts of stress and his wife was standing by him.
Tribunal chairman Sean Ell told Peverley: 'The tribunal has acknowledged that you have shown a degree of insight into your actions and had also paid particular attention to the testimonials which say you "deeply regretted" your actions and felt "extremely ashamed" of yourself, realising the implications of your actions and the harm they could have caused. Erasure would be a disproportionate sanction in your case.
'Suspension would promote and maintain public confidence in the profession and will allow you time to embrace alternative strategies to cope with this kind of stress, ensuring that there is a reduced risk that you will repeat your actions. It has found no specific risk to patient safety in this case.'
A would-be killer nonchalantly walked down the aisle behind the bride and groom at a Brazilian wedding before pulling a gun from his waistband and firing shots.
Umberto Ferreira dos Santos, known by his nickname Betinho, opened fire at guests at the ceremony inside a church in Limoeiro de Anadia.
He was plotting to take out a father and son, who were due to serve as witnesses at the wedding, in a revenge attack over the death of his own boy, it was claimed.
The bride and groom to be walk down the aisle and the alleged assassin follows behind them
The overweight man, dressed shabbily in a striped polo shirt and jeans looks as though he is getting ready to take his place on a pew in the second row
Video footage from the ceremony captures the soon-to-be happy couple walking towards the front of the church in Alagoas, Brazil.
The overweight man, dressed shabbily in a striped polo shirt and jeans strolls behind them and looks as though he is getting ready to take his place on a pew in the second row.
He then clumsily takes out his gun and starts unloading, causing a frenzy inside the church.
Amid the fracas, the camera pans up to the ceiling, but the chaos can be heard through the microphone.
When the lens refocuses, guests can be seen rushing towards the front of the church where the man identified as dos Santos had been aiming.
He then clumsily takes out his gun and starts unloading, causing a frenzy inside the church
Guests cower and cover their heads as the man opens fire inside the Brazilian church
Three people from the same family were shot at point blank range, and have been identified as Cicero Barbosa da Silva, 62, his son Edmilson Bezerra da Silva, 37, and his wife who hasn't been identified, according to the Alagoas24Horas website.
Cicero and Edmilson underwent surgery and are in a stable condition in hospital, while Edmilson's wife was released following treatment after a bullet had grazed her arm.
The family lived in a ranch called Mucambo on the outskirts of the town.
Cicero and Edmilson were at the wedding after being invited to be groomsmen by the couple getting married.
The wedding was taking place in the Our Lady of Conception church in the centre of Limoeira de Anadia and it was reported the ceremony went ahead after the horrifying incident.
Dos Santos reportedly works for the town council and is a cousin of local MP Jo Pereira.
Police believe he was motivated by revenge over the recent killing of his son, for which Edmilson was cited as the main suspect.
The suspected attempted assassin fled the scene and a police search turned up no leads
According to witnesses, Dos Santos parked his car in front of the church and after walking to the front of the church.
He then accused Edmilson of being responsible for the death of his son before shooting each of the three victims once.
But one witness, who asked not to be named, told the 7 Segundos news programme: 'We have no idea what is the motive of this attempted murder, nor why it was done precisely during the wedding, as the victims walked around the town freely and any time of the day or night.'
Police said they have conducted searches of the region but so far have not found Dos Santos.
Democrats launched a war of obstruction against Donald Trump's remaining cabinet picks on Tuesday, delaying votes through a series of procedural blocking tactics - and were called 'idiots' by a senior Republican senator.
A Senate committee vote on Jeff Sessions as attorney general was put off until tomorrow thanks to a series of lengthy speeches by Democratic senators - and two other nominations are also effectively on ice.
Republicans were forced to delay indefinitely the planned Senate committee votes on President Donald Trump's picks to be Health and Treasury secretaries after Democrats boycotted the session and demanded more information on the two nominees' past financial behavior.
In an unusual and hastily called briefing for reporters, Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee said they would not attend the panel's planned votes until they could ask more questions about Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., the Health nominee and Steve Mnuchin, Trump's Treasury selection, who they said had misled Congress about their backgrounds.
Where is everybody? Democratic seats on the Finance Committee in the Senate as the party's members boycott a confirmation hearing for Trump's Treasury Secretary nominee, Steve Mnuchin
Steve Mnuchin and his partner Louise Linton are seen arriving at Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's house. Senate Democrats delayed Mnuchin's confirmation by boycotting a hearing on his nomination
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said the men would hold positions 'that directly affect peoples' lives every day. The truth matters.'
LABOR PICK HIT TOO The Senate panel tasked with vetting Andrew Puzder to head the Labor Department has postponed its tentative plans to hold his confirmation hearing yet again, a move that some political strategists say could signal trouble for the fast-food executive. An aide for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions said on Tuesday that the panel will not 'officially' schedule a hearing 'until the committee has received his paperwork from the Office of Government Ethics.' The committee had planned to hold Puzder's hearing on Feb. 7. Prior to that, the committee eyed three other possible hearing dates. Puzder, who is the CEO of CKE Restaurants, is one of several of President Donald Trump's nominees who has faced particularly strong opposition from Senate Democrats and progressive groups. Advertisement
Democrats cited one report in The Wall Street Journal that Price received a special, discounted offer to buy stock in a biomedical company, which contradicted his testimony to Congress.
They said another report in The Columbus Dispatch showed documents revealing that Mnuchin had not been truthful with the Senate in the confirmation process in comments about how his bank OneWest had handled home foreclosures.
Republicans have supported both men.
Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, accused Democrats of 'a lack of desire to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.'
'They ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots,' he said.
The Democrats' action prevented the panel from holding the votes because under committee rules, 13 of its members including at least one Democrat must be present for votes.
Democrats also used using an obscure Senate rule to delay the committee vote on Sessions.
After Democratic senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee gave lengthy speeches opposing Sessions for several hours Tuesday, chairman Charles Grassley said the vote will be delayed until Wednesday.
By giving lengthy speeches, Democrats are able to trigger a rule that doesn't allow committees to be in session for two hours past the start of the Senate day. That rule is generally waived.
In their speeches, Democrats questioned whether the Alabama Republican could be independent of President Donald Trump as the nation's chief law enforcement officer. Sessions was one of Trump's first and strongest supporters.
Attorney General-designate, Sen. Jeff Sessions, saw his hearing continue but with angry speeches condemning the travel ban made by Democrats. A vote was postponed until Wednesday
Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Rep. Tom Price (left) and Steve Mnuchin, the Trasury Secretary designate (right) were both affected by the boycott
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said the men would hold positions 'that directly affect peoples' lives every day. The truth matters' s she justified the boycott
In a more peaceful setting, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee quickly approved former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as Energy secretary by 16-7, and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., to head Interior by 16-6. But several of his other picks faced more spirited opposition from Democrats.
As the Senate Judiciary Committee worked toward a vote on Sen. Jeff Sessions' nomination to be attorney general, the panel's top Republican praised the Alabama Republican.
'He's a man of integrity,' said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. 'He's a man of his word. And he'll enforce the law, regardless of whether he would've supported passage of that law as a legislator.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee was considering conservative activist Betsy DeVos to head the Education Department and voted in favor.
After a heated debate Tuesday morning, senators on the Health, Education, Pensions and Labor Committee have voted 12-11 along partisan lines to support DeVos' nomination, sending it to the full Senate for action.
But two prominent Republicans on the committee, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, are expressing their skepticism over DeVos. They say they are not yet sure whether they will vote for her on the Senate floor.
Murkowski says DeVos has yet to prove that she deeply cares about America's struggling schools and its children. Murkowski says the nominee has not yet earned her full support.
But former wrestling entertainment executive Linda McMahon's nomination to lead the Small Business Administration got through easily.
The 18-1 vote from the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee moves McMahon's nomination to the full Senate for consideration. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., has cast the lone 'no' vote.
McMahon is the former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment. McMahon has emphasized her business roots helping to getting the wrestling business up and running and eventually employing more than 800 people.
The entire Senate confirmed Elaine Chao to serve as Transportation secretary in the Trump administration. The vote was 93-6.
Chao is an experienced Washington hand. She was labor secretary under President George W. Bush, and is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Education Secretary-nominee Betsy DeVos testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. She got through the committee vote
They're through: Rick Perry will go to a floor vote for Energy Secretary while Elaine Chaos was confirmed by the entire Senate as Transport Secretary
Through to the next round: Former World Wrestling Entertainment chief executive Linda McMahon will have a full vote on the Senate floor
McConnell voted present.
Trump by executive action has clamped temporary bans against refugees from all countries and visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations, and he's seen relations with Mexico sour after insisting it will pay for a border wall.
And he's backing the GOP's problematic efforts to dismantle President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
Democrats have targeted Price, a seven-term congressional veteran, for his staunch backing of his party's drive to scuttle Obama's health care law and to reshape Medicare and Medicaid, which help older and low-income people afford medical care.
They've also assailed Price for buying stocks of health care firms, accusing him of using insider information and conflicts of interest for backing legislation that could help his investments. Price says his trades were largely managed by brokers and that he's followed congressional ethics rules.
Democrats have accused Mnuchin of failing to protect homeowners from foreclosures and criticized him for not initially disclosing all his assets.
The Judiciary panel's vote on Sessions was coming with Democrats and demonstrators around the country in an uproar over Trump's executive order blocking refugees. Even some Republicans were warning it could hinder anti-terrorism efforts.
Democrats have questioned Sessions' devotion to enforcing civil rights laws.
DeVos, a wealthy GOP donor, has long supported charter schools and allowing school choice. That's prompted opposition from Democrats and teachers' unions, which view her stance as a threat to federal dollars that support public education.
Andrea Portillo is seen in her booking photo
A 29-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murdering her five-month-old son who died after being stabbed in the neck.
Andrea Portillo was arrested by Buckeye Police Department in Arizona and taken to the Fourth Avenue Jail in Phoenix.
Police said they were called to the home in the 23000 block of West La Salle Street in Buckeye at 12.30pm on Monday after receiving reports that an infant had been stabbed in the neck.
Sergeant Jason Weeks told AZ Central Portillo had been arrested on suspicion of the second-degree murder.
He was unable to confirm the motive for the killing or whether Portillo had made any statement to investigators.
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Portillo covered her face after her arrest. She was taken to the Fourth Avenue Jail in Phoenix
According to police there was another adult in the home at the time of the stabbing and Portillo's two young daughters
Portillo is seen above on her perp walk. She was arrested on a second-degree murder charge
Portillo is seen above in a previous mugshot released by police
The baby was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital for emergency surgery but died a short time later.
According to police there was another adult in the home at the time of the stabbing and Portillo's two young daughters.
The girls are now being cared for by their father.
Cbs5az.com also reported that Sgt Weeks said: 'It's still a dynamic and fluid situation, so it's going to be a while until we found out what exactly happened.'
He also said that police had not been called to the home before.
Weeks added: 'It's very traumatizing for the family members along with the police officers on scene. It's not every day we come to something like this.'
The baby was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital for emergency surgery but died a short time later. Cops are seen above outside the home
A farmer, who killed a teenage burglar while defending his home, confronted a senior police officer over cuts - asking why it took six officers to pull him over on suspicion of drink driving.
Tony Martin, 72, ambushed shocked Chief Constable Simon Bailey in astonishing scenes as he tackled him over Norfolk Police 'being cut to the bone'.
The angry farmer hit the warpath last night as Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner Lorne Green held his regular public forum with Mr Bailey in King's Lynn.
Tony Martin, 72, ambushed shocked Chief Constable Simon Bailey in astonishing scenes as he tackled him over Norfolk Police 'being cut to the bone'
Chief Constable Simon Bailey answers burglar killer Mr Martin at last night's forum
Furious Mr Martin got up to take the floor as he took the senior officer to task
Mr Martin shot dead teenage burglar Fred Barras in 1999 and was jailed for life for murder but the charge was reduced to manslaughter and he was freed.
The millionaire landowner was arrested in Wisbech, in Cambridgeshire, as police searched his 300 acre farm at nearby Emneth Hungate, Norfolk.
The open get-together last night gave local people the chance to ask questions about crime and law and order.
Mr Bailey warned the audience that his paper-thin force had lost almost 200 officers over the last four years as numbers had plunged from 1,650 to 1,472.
Furious Mr Martin then got up to take the floor as he took the senior officer to task.
He claimed it took six cops to pull him over on suspicion of drink-driving when he was stopped at Tilney All Saints on his way home from a pub in Wisbech 18 months ago.
Tony Martin (left) who shot dead a 16-year-old burglar Fred Barras (right) in 1999 has been arrested - days after claiming he still kept an illegal firearm
Police on duty at the farm of Tony Martin on the day of the farmer's release from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk
Mr Martin said he wanted to know why it had taken so many officers to stop him that night if police resources were being 'cut to the bone'.
Mr Bailey told him: 'As far as your drink-driving comment is concerned, I don't think it's right to talk about particular incidents.
SELF DEFENCE LAW There is no rule in law to say that a person must wait to be struck first before they may defend themselves. A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances for the purposes of: self defence
defence of another
defence of a property
prevention of crime
lawful arrest In assessing reasonable of the force used, a judge/jury will consider two questions: Was the use of force necessary in the circumstances, i.e. Was there a need for any force at all?
Was the force used reasonable in the circumstances? Advertisement
'For a normal road traffic stop, the normal number is two.'
Mr Martin was breathalysed and allowed to leave after being stopped by police.
Mr Martin retorted that it was high time the police tried to re-engage with the local public more and step up 'personal contact'.
'I'm probably a dinosaur or an anachronism, I'm not sure which,' he said.
Earlier Mr Bailey said he hoped he could recruit more officers if future savings could be made along with a two per cent increase in the force's share of the council tax.
It's not the first time, Mr Martin has publicly criticised the local police.
He insisted that the force were in denial of the scale of illegally held guns in Britain and dismissed his own local force, Norfolk Constabulary as 'a bunch of half wits.'
At the time he killed the burglar, he admitted taking the law into his own hands because local police had repeatedly refused refused to investigate crime incidents in remote rural corners of the county.
He claimed at his trial that he had no idea he had shot the teenage lookout because it was 'pitch black' when he loosed off his illegally held 12 bore Winchester shotgun.
The farmer, who is known for his eccentric behaviour, was finally released in 2003, but never returned to live in his derelict detached home on his 300-acres of land at Bleak House Farm
Mr Martin was breathalysed and allowed to leave after being stopped by police
France's National Front would consider imposing a travel ban if Marine Le Pen is elected president this year, one of her senior aides has admitted.
Steeve Briois, who is part of the far-right leaders campaign team, said American President Donald Trumps hugely controversial policy could work in Europe.
Why not? Mr Briois told AFP, Frances national news agency. We not living in the word of Care Bears any more. We are in a horrible world.
France's National Front would consider imposing a travel ban if Marine Le Pen, pictured, is elected president this year, one of her senior aides has admitted
So from time to time we must take authoritarian measures, even if they shock, said the mayor of the northern town of Henin-Beaumont.
Le Pen feels that she can become president of France in May on an agenda of clamping down on Islam, and keeping Muslims from former colonies out.
And Mr Brios continued: It is true that the United States is also a target for jihadists, so if Trump wants to protect it by forbidding the arrival of these people from these countries, he is free to do that.
Obviously it is unfortunate for those who have nothing to do with that, he added.
Trump's latest decree of banning travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries has sparked uproar across the world, not least of all in France
Trump's latest decree of banning travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries has sparked uproar across the world, not least of all in France.
The French foreign ministry has warned French citizens with a passport from any of the blacklisted countries to avoid trying to get to the U.S.
Mr Trump has insisted the measure is not a Muslim Ban, saying that it is about fighting terrorism and not religion.
In December 2015, Trump made claims that Paris and London contained no-go zones that had been taken over by Muslims.
Mr Trump said: They have sections in Paris which are radicalised where they police refuse to go there because they're petrified.
We have places in London and other places that are so radicalised the police are afraid for their own lives.
Marine Le Pen is predicted to get through the first round of the May presidential election, but then to lose heavily in the second.
A landlord is charging a tenant $115 extra a week just to use the kitchen.
The New Zealand woman is renting out a room in her five-bedroom house, at a lower price, on the condition whoever lives there gets takeaway food or eats out.
She is offering a room and bathroom for $195 a week if the tenant doesn't use the kitchen but is charging $310 to a resident who cooks at home.
The Trade Me advertisement listing a share house discount for a tenant who doesn't cook
The landlord who describes herself as 'quite clean' didn't want a messy kitchen (stock image)
The landlord, based in the inner-city Auckland suburb of Remuera, advertised for a female tenant on the Trade Me website.
'I'm just quite clean, I don't want people to use my kitchen,' she told the New Zealand Herald anonymously.
The woman said previous tenants were happy with paying less to forgo use of the kitchen.
'A lot of people, they don't cook,' she said.
The Tenants' Protection Association's Auckland co-ordinator Angela Maynard said there was nothing illegal about a landlord setting rules about the kitchen if they also lived in the house.
The advertisement has since been moved from the website.
A father who won an historic case after being prosecuted for taking his daughter to Florida in term time says 12.8million parents will be 'criminalised' if the Supreme Court overturns the decision.
Jon Platt caused a surge in term-time bookings all over England after the High Court ruled that his 120 fine was unlawful because his daughter had an excellent attendance record.
Mr Platt argued that taking his daughter on a family holiday to a villa in Florida to relax was better for her development than staying at school.
But eight months on Isle of Wight Council, the local education authority that took Mr Platt to court, is asking five Supreme Court justices to overturn the High Court judgment in his favour.
Father-of-three Mr Platt, who paid 13,000 of the High Court legal costs himself and raised another 10,000 from crowdfunding, has secured legal aid for the Supreme Court battle.
Five judges will hear evidence in a one-day hearing today and return with a judgment at a later date.
Battle: Jon Platt (pictured today with wife Sally) caused a surge in term-time bookings all over England after the High Court ruled that his 120 fine was unlawful - his local council has now taken the case to the Supreme Court
Mr Platt said today that they were pouring huge amounts of taxpayers' money into fighting him, which would allow the Government to 'criminalise' millions of parents, he said.
Timeline: How the truancy case arrived in the Supreme Court Widening case: Mr Platt also said that schools are now asking for certificates from GPs to prove a child is sick 'when they shouldn't' April 12, 2015: Jon Platt takes his seven-year-old to Florida in term time until April 20 because it was a trip with 17 members of his family and it was the only week they could all attend. She misses a week of school. October 16, 2015: Mr Platt, who runs a PPI claims company, spends 1,000 of his own money to overturn 120 fine issued by Isle of Wight Council. May 13, 2016: Mr Platt wins the case in the High Court after his local council's appeal fails. December 21, 2016: Supreme court grants council bosses a final appeal over the case, which they have already lost twice. January 31, 2017: Supreme Court case starts - Mr Platt, having paid for many of the legal costs himself, is granted legal aid. If he wins the case a crackdown on school absences ordered in 2013 by Michael Gove will be left in tatters. Advertisement
Speaking outside the Supreme Court he said said the issue at stake is 'way wider than term-time holidays', saying that parents are also being unfairly targeted by schools if their child is unwell or suffering from stress.
He said: 'There were 12.8million days missed due to unauthorised absences last year in England alone.
'If they say 'regularly' means every single day, and no unauthorised absence is allowed, it means millions of parents will be criminalised'.
He added: 'I cannot believe that it has got this far and the amount of taxpayers' money spent for judges to decide what 'regularly' means. There's already a definition in the dictionary'.
Mr Platt also said that schools are now asking for certificates from GPs to prove a child is sick 'when they shouldn't'.
On the upcoming decision he said: 'I hope it is a very clear decision, and I hope it enables parents to have a reasonable degree of freedom to make good decisions for their own children'.
Today a QC for education chiefs has told the Supreme Court that taking a child to Florida for seven consecutive days during term time without a school's permission cannot on any view be lawful.
Martin Chamberlain QC, appearing for the council, argued that the High Court had taken a wrong approach and regular attendance meant pupils had to be in class 'at all times when required by the school rules'.
Mr Chamberlain added that, in any event, 'absence for seven consecutive days cannot on any view be regular attendance'.
James Eadie QC, the Government's so-called 'Treasury devil' who represented them at the Brexit Supreme Court case appeared for the Education Secretary.
He said it would be 'absurd' if parents could head off on holiday with children when 'the sun is out and foreign climes beckon' in a way that 'undermined' Government policy on unauthorised absences.
Mr Eadie said: 'Absence from school can adversely affect a child's educational attainment.
'Research indicates that every extra day missed is associated with a lower attainment outcome.'
It also disrupted the education of other children and placed an extra burden on teachers who had to ensure absent pupils caught up on what they had missed.
Mr Eadie said: 'Undermining the authority of the school and head teacher and those responsible for running the school is likely to be a thoroughly bad thing.'
The 45-year-old businessman claimed he should not have been punished because his daughter's attendance record was otherwise exemplary 92 per cent
Legal action: This is a letter Isle of Wight Council sent to Mr Platt after his last trip to Lapland - but he will now not have to pay despite the threats
Clive Sheldon QC, appearing for Mr Platt, said it was the education authorities who were now putting forward a new and radical interpretation of the law which was absurd and would 'penalise millions of people'.
Mr Sheldon said it was being suggested by the Isle of Wight and the Education Secretary that 'even one day's (unauthorised) absence' meant there had been a failure to attend school regularly and a criminal offence committed.
If that was right, said the QC, 'the effect would be to criminalise parents on an unprecedented scale'.
He said there were 4.1m days of unauthorised absence from state-funded schools in the 2015 autumn term.
TERM TIME HOLIDAY RULING - WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR PARENTS? If Jon Platt wins at the Supreme Court it will force the Government to consider its position on fines. The Department for Education believes that parents should be fined for unauthorised time off in all but exceptional circumstances. Michael Gove, who brought in changes in the law in 2013, said that any holiday in term times was unacceptable. Isle of Wight Council said in court cannot simply take their children out of school to take them on holiday, or for any other unauthorised reason'. But High Court judges accepted that Mr Platt's daughter's attendance record of around 93 per cent was good enough to justify it. Lord Justice Jones said: 'I do not consider it is open to an authority to criminalise every unauthorised holiday by the simple device of alleging that there has been no regular attendance in a period limited to the absence on holiday.' The judgment means that attendance will have to be considered in every future case. But councils continuet to take parents to court and the Supreme Court ruling will have a major impact o future policy. Advertisement
On the Government's argument, that meant 'there were 4.1m criminal offences committed during one term'.
Mr Sheldon said: 'If the Government wishes to change the law and criminalise each day's unauthorised absence then what it ought to do, rather than come before this court and argue something we say offends all principles..., is to introduce fresh legislation to this effect.'
After Mr Platt's High Court win in June, officials raced to close a legal loophole that lets families take children on holiday during term time.
An BBC investigation has found that 35 English councils have changed their policy on fining in the wake of his victory.
A further five are reviewing their policy, while 28 have withdrawn fines imposed on parents. The survey highlights the contrasting approach to fines around the country, giving rise to allegations of a post-code lottery.
Mr Platt was fined 120 for taking his seven-year-old daughter to Disney World in Florida. The trip, in April 2015, made her miss seven days of lessons.
The 45-year-old businessman claimed he should not have been punished because his daughter's attendance record was otherwise exemplary 92 per cent.
Isle of Wight Council spent 13,000 of taxpayers' money taking him to the High Court but three senior judges today refused to accept his family breaks were illegal.
Mr Platt, who runs a PPI claims company, dedicated his victory to the parents who have 'no choice' but to take term time holidays because of work or money.
He said: 'I'm absolutely delighted as will hundreds of thousands of other parents who have had to live with this draconian system where taking your kids on holiday amounted to a criminal offence.
'It's parents who should decide what's best for their children.'
Last September's decision will make other councils less likely to prosecute people - and could open the floodgates for others to beat fines as long as their child is rarely absent from class.
From 2013 until the end of the last academic year, more than 180,000 fines have been handed out to families.
Supporters took to Twitter and branded him a hero, with one father saying he had stood up 'to a system swindling parents'.
Mr Platt is no longer with Lindsay Platt, the mother of the child at the centre of the case, and married fiancee Sally Barclay, 35, in Santorini the same month.
Lord Justice Lloyd Jones and Mrs Justice Thirlwall dismissed the Isle of Wight Council's challenge, ruling that the magistrates had not 'erred in law' when reaching their decision.
Lord Justice Jones said: 'I do not consider it is open to an authority to criminalise every unauthorised holiday by the simple device of alleging that there has been no regular attendance in a period limited to the absence on holiday.'
Controversy was first triggered when the Government ordered a crackdown on school absences in 2013.
Families complain that vacations in official holiday periods are up to four times more expensive, and local councils have reported the number of breaks in term time is increasing.
The Department for Education has told parents that their children missing just a few days in the classroom can damage GCSE results.
Currently, courts can issue a fine of 2,500 or a jail sentence of up to three months to the parents of children who skip school.
Destination: The holiday villa in Florida that Mr Platt rented last April - but the local council didn't like it
Break: Mr Platt argued that taking his daughter on a family holiday to this villa was better for her development than staying at school
An Islamic extremist group that wants Sharia law says Donald Trump's migration ban will spark terrorist attacks.
Hizb ut-Tahrir also slammed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for declining to publicly criticise the U.S. president's controversial executive order, which temporarily bans citizens and refugees from seven African and Middle East nations.
The group, which wants an Islamic super state based on strict Sharia law, said the American ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries would radicalise people.
Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Uthman Badar (pictured) says individuals will 'react violently'
Hizb ut-Tahrir has criticised Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (left) and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton (right) of being silent on Donald Trump's ban because it reflects Australia's treatment of asylum seekers
'It goes without saying that such measures, which explicitly demonise and target a particular group, are what push individuals to react violently,' it said on its website.
The Sydney-based spokesman of the group in Australia, Uthman Badar, also had a go at the prime minister, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and Treasurer Scott Morrison for not criticising President Trump.
'Indeed, Turnbull, Dutton and Morrison see in Trump's executive order the reflection of their own callous treatment of asylum seekers,' he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Hizb ut-Tahrir's post comes a day after a white university student Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, was named as the sole suspect accused of killing six men at a Quebec City mosque in Canada.
Alleged terrorist Alexendre Bissonnette has been charged with killing five people at a Canadian mosque
Protests have been held at airports across the United States against the migration ban
That alleged attack occurred in the same week President Trump signed an executive order banning from the U.S. holders of passports from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen for 90 days.
The executive order also suspends refugee admissions for 120 days.
Demonstrations have been held at airports across the United States against the migration bans.
A man was left speechless after he ordered an online supermarket shop and was delivered a single sprout.
Martin Lubikowski, 63, thought he had ordered a big bag of Brussels sprouts from Sainsbury's online food delivery service.
But when his shopping arrived at his home in Beckenham, south east London, he was shocked to find just one sprout in a plastic bag.
Martin says wife Annabel, 63, and the delivery driver both burst out laughing when the 4p veg was produced.
Martin Lubikowski was left speechless after he ordered an online supermarket shop and was delivered a single sprout
He said: 'Last week, we did an online shop with Sainsbury's, as we always do. I selected what I thought was one bag of sprouts, but one single sprout arrived.
'My wife and the delivery man had a jolly good laugh about it - why would someone order just one sprout?
'The minute it came out we all burst out laughing. I was puzzled, bemused and a bit incredulous about the whole thing.
'It made me wonder what sort of level of intelligence the people who pack your groceries have.
Martin Lubikowski, 63, thought he had ordered a big bag of Brussels sprouts from Sainsbury's online food delivery service
'The delivery man said even if the order does seem strange, the pickers' instructions say you have to follow exactly what's written.
'There's clearly no room for common sense.'
Self-employed designer Martin has warned other online shoppers to keep an eye out for easy mistakes like his.
He thinks he might have mistakenly asked for one sprout as opposed to one kilogram, which is the measurement used on Sainsbury's online store.
He added: 'Occasionally they do some bizarre substitutions, but they're not normally an issue.
'Nothing as weird as this has happened before - I would hope it was my mistake and not theirs.
'I've gone back on the website and perhaps it could have been that I didn't press the button switching from number of items to kilograms.
'You have to be very attentive when ordering online otherwise you get this.'
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: 'Customers ordering online have the choice of ordering by unit or by weight. We're sorry for any confusion.'
Theresa May has set a target date of launching the formal Brexit process on March 9.
The Government is aiming to push through its EU Bill through Parliament by March 7, which would allow the Prime Minister to trigger Article 50 at a summit of European leaders on March 9 and 10.
MPs will start debating the crucial Brexit legislation today and fiery clashes are expected in the commons chamber as the SNP, Lib Dems and dozens of Labour MPs say they will defy June's vote to leave the EU and vote against triggering Article 50.
Thereas May, pictured at a press conference in Dublin last night, is aiming to launch the formal Brexit process on March 9, it emerged today
Ministers told the House of Lords yesterday that it hopes to have the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill approved by March 7.
The following day - March 8 - is the Budget, before Mrs May travels to Brussels for the long-awaited Brexit showdown with her EU counterparts.
The PM has promised to trigger Article 50, the formal mechanism for quitting the EU, by the end of March.
But she does not want to get off on the wrong foot with EU leaders by clashing with the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which effectively gave birth to the EU.
She could tell her European counterparts of her timetable at a meeting in Malta on Friday.
The timetable could be knocked off course if the Lords initiate what is known as parliamentary 'ping-pong' by sending the bill back to the Commons with a series of amendments.
And in a sign of the trouble ahead for Mrs May, a senior Tory told the Independent: 'What we are seeing now is a huge raft of amendments being tabled.
'There are cross party talks going on about this. It's not going to be plain sailing for the Prime Minster.'
Ministers told the House of Lords yesterday that it hopes to have the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill approved by March 7. Pictured, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, left, and Justice Secretary Liz Truss, right, arrive for today's Cabinet meeting in No10
Brexit Secretary David Davis is set to lead for the government when the Bill starts being debated in the Commons today
Mrs May has warned MPs and peers against flouting the 'will of the British people' when they start debating the Article 50 legislation today.
The first crucial vote will be held tomorrow night, when dozens of Labour MPs are set to defy their leader Jeremy Corbyn to oppose the legislation.
Some frontbenchers have indicated they are ready to quit rather than obey a three-line whip.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Irish counterpart Enda Kenny in Dublin last night, Mrs May was asked what she would say to opponents. 'My message to people is very clear. The people of the UK voted on June 23 last year,' she said.
'The people spoke in that vote. The majority voted for us to leave the EU.
'I hope when people come and look at the Article 50 Bill they will realise it is a very simple decision, do they support the will of the British people or not?'
The text will be at the heart of the impending 'hand to hand combat' in parliament - sparked by the Supreme Court's ruling that Theresa May cannot use executive powers to invoke Brexit
Thereas May, pictured at a press conference in Dublin last night, warned MPs and peers against flouting the 'will of the British people' when they start debating the Article 50 legislation today
Brexit Secretary David Davis, who will pilot the Bill through the Commons, said: 'It is not a Bill about whether or not the UK should leave the EU, or how it should do so.
'It is simply about implementing a decision already made, a point of no return already passed. We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the EU; they decided they did.'
The stage was set for the parliamentary showdown last week when the Supreme Court ruled that the PM cannot use executive powers to launch the formal Brexit process.
Instead both Houses must approve invoking Article 50 - raising the prospect of a desperate rear-guard action by pro-EU MPs and peers.
The government has published a two-clause Bill designed to offer as little scope as possible for amendments.
But Europhiles have pledged to tabled scores of them when the legislation reaches committee stage in the Commons next week.
Some of the toughest opposition is expected to come in the House of Lords later in the process, where peers are not answerable to constituency voters.
A brutal network of animal traffickers sold baby chimps for around 10,000 after poachers massacred their families, an undercover probe has revealed.
Police and Interpol raided the West African operation's base following a year-long investigation by the BBC, which spanned across six countries.
It is estimated that for each baby chimpanzee taken from the wild, 10 adults are killed, and their bodies are sold as bushmeat.
The BBC investigation uncovered the shocking scale of the animal trafficking operation in West Africa
A baby chimp, named Nemley junior, was found at a house in Abidjan, where the trafficking operation was based
Many are smuggled to wealthy buyers in the Middle East, south-east Asia and China, where demand is high, and are often locked up in a cage - or even killed - once they stop being 'cute'.
A tiny infant chimp was found when authorities raided a house in Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast, in a room which reporters described as 'about they size of a shower cubicle'.
The baby, who has been named Nemley junior by rescuers, has been taken to safety.
The blue tiles in the room have appeared in videos of captured primates for years, and the discovery has been hailed as a breakthrough in the battle against animal trafficking.
The raid was carried out by police and Interpol in the Ivory Coast after undercover reporters discovered the network's base
The UN estimates that 3,000 great apes - two thirds of them chimps but also including orangutans and gorillas - are lost each year to the illegal trade. They are sold, killed or die in captivity.
Undercover BBC reporters, posing as buyers for a client in Thailand and representatives of an Indonesian pet shop, built up a relationship with traders Mahmoud Khaled and Ramadan Abdelnaiem, who shared videos of tiny primates being held in the blue room.
They also said they could obtain permits for the animals to be exported.
The network often produces fake paperwork, or smuggles baby chimps along with other less endangered animals, the reporters discovered.
Trader Ibrahima Traore, from Guinea, posed with a primate in a video sent to BBC reporters
Baby primates have been smuggled in tiny crates in order to reach wealthy buyers
One video sent to the BBC team showed a baby primate being smuggled to Nepal in a secret compartment in a custom-made crate - but tragically the animal died during its journey.
The team made contact with a trader named Ibrahima Traore, from Guinea, who said he had chimps at farms in Guinea, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ivory Coast.
He sent images of captured animals, and posed with a baby chimp the BBC team claimed to be interested in buying.
After a reporter visited the network's Abidjan base, purportedly to discuss the sale of an animal, police and Interpol were tipped off and Ibrahima was arrested.
He, along with his uncle Mohamed, faces charges related to wildlife trafficking.
Dramatic footage shows the raid on the network's base in the Ivory Coast
Swiss wildlife activist Karl Ammann, described the trade as a 'kind of slavery', and said that when chimps grow up, they face cruel treatment.
He said: 'They still have 90 per cent of their life ahead of them. They get locked in some cage and maybe even killed in some cases because they have outlived their useful pet stage. That for me is just impossible to accept.'
And Will Travers, president of the Born Free Foundation, branded the animal trafficking operation as 'sickening and cruel'.
He said: 'If given the opportunity, we will do all we can, with the help of our specialists and the full participation of the local government agencies, to try and relocate Nemley junior to a registered chimpanzee sanctuary, where this little victim of the illegal wildlife trade can be given a life worth living, in the company of other chimps, for the rest of his life.'
After being shown the BBC's evidence, John Scanlon, secretary-general of regulator Cites, said: 'There is corruption in the system. Weve brought it to the attention of our governments at a standing committee meeting several months ago.
'We said if we cant get a handle on corruption, we are not going to stop illegal trade in wildlife.'
He said the organisation wants an electronic system to be introduced, making it harder for traffickers to obtain fraudulent permits.
Ivory Coast detective Colonel Assoumou Assoumou told the BBC: 'In 10 years, in 20 years, we wont have any more chimpanzees.
'This species will disappear. Thats the reason why this cause was taken up by Interpol. Personally I am committed to fight against this phenomenon.
'These are rare species and it should not be us, in our generation, that wipes them out.'
Incredible drone footage has captured a huge salt water crocodile swimming along a coral reef with a whole pig between its jaws.
The beast was spotted cruising along the coast of Baia in Papua New Guinea with its tasty treat locked firmly in its gnashers.
Locals say it stole the pig from a nearby village and was making its way home for lunch.
Lunchtime: Incredible drone footage has captured a huge salt water crocodile swimming along a coral reef with a whole pig between its jaws
The video shows the croc swimming slightly submerged above a coral reef.
In no hurry, its glides through the murky water, swishing its tail from side to side.
Filmmaker Milan MG wrote online: 'The crocodile has been living near a small village in Baia, East New Britain, for the past two years.
'It usually gets pigs and dogs from the village nearby whenever it's hungry, and I was lucky enough to capture it this time as it stole a pig and was making its way back home.'
The beast was spotted cruising along the coast of Baia in Papua New Guinea with its tasty treat locked firmly in its gnashers
A top bar has come under for appearing to encourage under-age sex.
Teenagers, between 14 to 18, have been invited to a 'Pop Ya Cherry' party at Bisoux Lounge in Esher, Surrey.
The exclusive members bar is hosting the Valentine's event, by Pop Ya Cherry Parties, on February 13.
They describe themselves as 'the newest and most exciting provider of under 18s clubbing in the UK' and claim to throw parties that 'top even the best over 18s nights in the world'.
Outraged locals have spotted an onslaught of posters advertising the night, with 'piles' of them plastered across a bus stop in nearby Teddington which is regularly used by school children.
Outraged locals (Thomas Foran, left) have spotted an onslaught of posters (right) advertising the night
They believe the 'Pop Ya Cherry' metaphor is directly promoting under-age sex and particularly encouraging vulnerable young girls to lose their virginities prematurely.
Bisoux Lounge say they were approached by a promoter who asked if they could hold the night there and it hasn't '100 per cent been confirmed'.
Only six people are currently attending on their Facebook event for the night, but Pop Ya Cherries Parties claim the 10 tickets are selling out.
Thomas Foran, 34, said: 'I was coming home from work yesterday and saw these posters all over the place.
'There must have been about six stuck up in the bus stop, a pile of them on the floor and then loads more up the high street. I've noticed them in Kingston too.
'I was really shocked by it, it's obviously encouraging teens to have under-age sex and it's wrong.
'I used to go to under 18s nights and they definitely weren't advertised like that, I just can't believe it.
'The term "pop ya cherry" in particular obviously implies that if you're a virgin you should go there to have sex.
'I've got a nephew who is eight and nieces around the same age and I would hate having to explain to them what that means.
'There are loads of school kids who get off at that bus stop so they're obviously deliberately targeting them.'
Teenagers, between 14 to 18, have been invited to a 'Pop Ya Cherry' party at Bisoux Lounge in Esher, Surrey
Schoolgirl Hettie White, 14, added: 'It's a bit disgusting. The point of an under 18's club night is for people who can't drink and go to normal night clubs to enjoy themselves.
'This is just promoting for people to lose their virginity and get pregnant.'
The manager of Bisoux Lounge Jay Sexton said: 'The event is nothing to do with the Bisoux Lounge.
'A promoter asked if they could do a under 18s event there. Which hasn't 100% been confirmed.
'So if bad press is released my solicitor will be contacting you as this event hasn't been advertised on any of our social media, website or newsletters.
'You can't go by some random person putting up a poster up. If we had advertised then I understand what your saying but this has nothing to do with our venue.'
Pop Ya Cherry Parties have also been approached for comment.
A transgender model, who has spent almost $300,000 on 127 surgeries to become a 'desirable' woman, has told of her struggle to find love with a man who accepts her.
Kelly Star, from Perth, says she has been single for 12 years, despite receiving lots of male attention for her curvaceous figure and 32K breast implants.
The 46-year-old said since beginning her transition into a woman at the age of 16, she has struggled to find a compatible partner who will openly date a trans-woman.
Perth transgender model Kelly Star (pictured) said she has been single for 12 years and has struggled to find Mr Right, despite receiving lots of male attention for her size 32K breast implants
The 46-year-old has spent almost $300,000 on 127 surgeries to become a 'desirable' woman
Kelly, who was born a boy named Michael (pictured), began transitioning into a woman at age 16
Kelly confessed the men she meets are more interested in having a one-night stand than a committed relationship, because they worry about what friends and family will think.
'For most guys, being with a trans-woman might be something that they're intrigued by and they just want to be with you once, which is disheartening,' she said.
'It's hard to find a man who is willing to tell their mates and family that they have a trans-partner, and I think that's the last barrier to trans-women being accepted.'
Kelly's said her last relationship ended in 2005 and her ex-partner's family only discovered that she was a trans-woman after the couple broke up.
'At the time, I think I was happy not to have to explain my past and enjoyed the experience, to an extent. It's what I thought I wanted,' said the model, who has spent more than $160,000 on her breasts.
Kelly (pictured) said said she has found it difficult to find a compatible partner who will openly date a trans-woman
Kelly (pictured) confessed the men she meets are more interested in having a one-night stand than a committed relationship, because they worry about what friends and family will think
As a child, Kelly said she felt she had more in common with her three sisters than her two brothers
She said she began mimicking her sisters' body language and borrowing their clothes when he turned 15
'But in time I grew more confident in myself and realised that it wasn't an ideal situation worrying about who might reveal my past or who may already know.'
'In essence, I felt repressed.'
Born a boy named Michael, Kelly was the youngest of six siblings.
As a child, Kelly said she felt she had more in common with her three sisters than her two brothers and began mimicking their body language and borrowing their clothes when he turned 15.
By the time he turned 16, Kelly began taking female hormone tablets without her parents' knowledge, and moved to Melbourne six months later where she began living as woman full-time.
By the time he turned 16, Kelly began taking female hormone tablets without her parents' knowledge
She moved to Melbourne six months later where she began living as woman full-time
When she was 18 she spent almost $5,000 on rhinoplasty and breast implants, increasing her chest to a 32C cup
Kelly was 20-years-old when she underwent sex reassignment surgery
She has since undergone 127 procedures, costing an estimated $300,000, to become a 'desirable' woman
Kelly honed her feminine figure two years later and spent almost $5,000 on rhinoplasty and breast implants, increasing her chest to a 32C cup.
Kelly was 20-years-old when she underwent sex reassignment surgery and has undergone 127 surgeries since.
The procedures, which have cost an estimated $300,000, have helped Kelly create a look based on her idea of a 'desirable' woman.
'I liked the look of women like Elle MacPherson and Gisele Bundchen, and also busty girls, with small waists and fuller figured hips.'
Kelly has travelled to the United Kingdom, the United States, Thailand and Malaysia in her quest to obtain her dream body.
'The look I've wanted has been hard to achieve,' she said.
Kelly has travelled to the United Kingdom, the United States, Thailand and Malaysia in her quest to obtain her dream body
'The look I've wanted has been hard to achieve,' she said
Kelly confessed the men she meets are more interested in having a one-night stand than a committed relationship, because they worry about what friends and family will think
'Sometimes surgeries haven't gone to plan or as well as I hoped, so there have been some setbacks.
'Over the last 28 years, I've had 19 operations on my breasts, as I've increased my cup size from a 32C to a 32K.
'While most of the operations went well, a couple of overseas procedures were botched, which meant I had to spend money to correct it in Australia.'
Kelly, who has paid for her operations using a combination of her savings and health insurance, said she remains hopeful that attitudes towards dating trans-women will change for the better and she will find her Mr Right.
'And now that transgender marriage is legal in Australia, my dream is to find Mr Right and for my dad to walk me down the aisle.'
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Wandering through the cities and forests of Nepal are the holy men who have left all materialistic pleasures behind to live a life devoted to God.
The appearances of the Sadhus vary from brightly coloured face paints and decorations, to minimalistic practical clothing, but they all represent the fundamental values and meanings of Hinduism.
Danish photographer Jan Mller Hansen visited the ancient capital city of Kathmandu between 2013 and 2016 and documented the mysterious holy wanderers.
A man wearing a turban and donning a huge beard mimics his own pose by holding up each end of his impressive facial hair
Bearded holy man with brightly-coloured decorative face (left) and a man with dreadlocks and long fingernails smoking (right)
A holy man with a beehive-style hairdo and white paint decorating his hands and brow holding a radio in Kathmandu
Four men dressed in loose, orange clothing sit inside a bricked building in Nepal surrounded by flowers and trinkets
A man in a wheelchair wearing a leopard-print blanket and matching turban writing in a book next to a squatting comrade
A man with enormous dreadlocks all the way down to the ground holds up a hand (left) and another Nepalese holy man
Two men sit near a bell outside a building with all their possessions as they embark on their latest journey in the country
He said: 'The Sadhus are travelling through cities, villages and forests, sleeping in temples, under trees by riverbanks or wherever they can find a suitable place to rest.
'They wander between different holy places, which typically are sites with Hindu temples or confluences of rivers that are regarded as powerful sites.
'During the famous celebrations of the Shiva Rati festival at the Pashupathinath temple in Kathmandu, the Nepalese government, for example, will pay the Sadhus a daily allowance and provide them with food, drinks and ensure that their visit and stay will be enjoyable.
'They have a lot of cultural meaning to many people.'
Dressed in a huge pink hat to contain his dreadlocks, a man sits with a red, spear-shaped decorative mark on his face
Holy woman dressed in a traditional headpiece (left) and a man wearing half a dozen beads and a leopard-print turban (right)
A holy man completely covered in decorative make-up poses for the camera with his dreadlocks tied up above his head
A man smiles with thick, white decorating face starting on the bridge of the nose and working its way up to the forehead
A man wearing a jacked holds up his thick, long dreadlocks (left) and one of his comrades decorated with flowers (right)
Leaning on a swing chair in Kathmandu, overlooking what appears to be a temple a Sadhu contemplates another move
A topless holy man leans on his elbow and is partially wrapped in a blanket in Kathmandu, Nepal
Despite the respect they receive from locals, being a Sadhu is a challenging life choice and requires a large amount of dedication.
The photographer said: 'The Sadhus have left the material and ordinary life behind in favour of an alternative community devoted to God.
'I find that fascinating. But don't be mistaken - it is a tough life.
'You live from day to day, are vulnerable and depend a lot on others' kindness.
'As a Sadhu, you might not always be treated well either.
'I guess it requires a lot of strength and courage to become and live like a Sadhu.'
Brexit offers an 'unprecedented opportunity' for British business, the top City lobbying group said in a dramatic U-turn on its position to the EU vote.
TheCityUK opposed Brexit in the run up to last June's referendum but now it says it is a 'strong believer in the potential opportunities that the UK's departure' will offer.
The group, which represents the banking, insurance, accountancy and asset management sectors, also points out the negative impact Brussels has had on businesses.
It says the EU has imposed a 'straitjacket' on Britain's ability to be a global trading player.
TheCityUK calls on the financial sector to make the most of the 'once in a generation opportunity' that leaving the EU offers to rethink its commercial relationships with the rest of the world.
TheCityUK, chaired by Barclays chairman John McFarlane, pictured, opposed Brexit in the run up to last June's referendum but now it says it is a 'strong believer in the potential opportunities that the UK's departure' will offer
Announcing its remarkable 180 degrees turn on Brexit, the Future UK Trade and Investment Policy report says: 'TheCityUK is a strong believer in the potential opportunities that the UK's departure from the European Union will offer.'
Gary Campkin from TheCityUK said: 'It reflects the fact that there was a vote to leave the EU and as a result there are a whole range of challenges and opportunities.
'An area of opportunity in leaving the EU is the opportunity for first time in 40-plus years to have an independent trade and investment policy.'
TheCityUK report urges the Government to prioritise the financial services industry in any new trade deals struck in a post-Brexit world.
It says 'enhanced attention' must be given to the sector, which it says it a primary driver for UK economic growth, employment and competitiveness.
'It is essential that the UK's comparative and competitive advantages in UK-based financial and related professional services are fully reflected in UK trade and investment policy objectives,' the report says.
'If greater market access can be secured for them, there will be positive multiplier effects for the other UK sectors that they serve, with added benefits for the UK economy as a whole.'
TheCityUK calls on the financial sector to make the most of the 'once in a generation opportunity' that leaving the EU offers to rethink its commercial relationships with the rest of the world
Ministers are aiming to strike three major trade deals - with the US, South Korea and Brazil - within a year of leaving the EU, which is expected to be in spring 2019.
The report highlighted that the UK is the world's largest exporter of financial services, with exports worth 97 billion US dollars (77.5 billion) in 2015.
The sector - which includes banking, insurance, accountancy and asset management - employs more than 2.2 million people and accounts for about 11 per cent of UK tax receipts.
'It follows that, in TheCityUK's view, no UK trade or investment agreement should be concluded without these interests being addressed fully and satisfactorily.'
The lobby group has stopped short of urging the Government to maintain passporting rights, which gives financial services open access to the EU's single market.
Theresa May, pictured in Dublin last night, has faced growing pressure over the future of Britain's financial services after announcing she would take Britain out of the single market
TheCityUK has instead urged it to secure similar mutual-market access for the sector.
Prime Minister Theresa May has faced growing pressure over the future of Britain's financial services after announcing she would scrap single market membership.
The move will effectively end passporting rights, and raises the possibility of industry jobs shifting to rival EU financial centres such as Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Dublin.
She reportedly faced 'tough' talk from the likes of Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this month.
Mr Blankfein has said New York is already gaining from Brexit as the US bank pulls back on previous plans to shift operations to Britain.
There have been repeated warnings that London could lose out to rival financial hubs unless the City is given greater priority in Brexit negotiations.
A stunning collection of pictures of China in the 1870s, ranging from beggars to Mandarins and princes, looks set to sell for a huge 20,000.
The first ever travelogue of the country was taken by Scottish photographer John Thomson, who was a pioneer in photojournalism.
His study, Illustrations of China and its People, included images taken in often perilous situations, and was first published in 1873.
Two volumes of photojournalist John Thompson's study of 1870s China will be sold at an auction in New York next month
Thomson spent five years travelling around China with his cumbersome camera to capture the images
It is thought that the two volumes will attract bids from all over the world, and it is expected to sell for around 20,000
Now two volumes, including 48 photographic plates and 110 callotype images, will go under the hammer in New York on February 14, where bids are expected to be received from across the world.
Daile Kaplan, specialist with Swann Auction Galleries, which is carrying out the auction, said: 'This is essentially the first photographic travelogue dedicated to China.
'Thomson spent five years in China, travelling 5,000 miles and carrying his cumbersome camera, equipment and darkroom chemicals often in regions westerners had not yet seen.
Thomson's images convey a lot of the exotica he was interested in, auctioneers have said
The book was first published in 1873 and contained a detailed documentation of China and its people
Jui-Lin, governor-general of the two Kwang provinces, was among Thomson's subjects in the fascinating photo study of China
'He was a very enterprising photographer who not only made these images, but also wrote very detailed anecdotal accounts of his experiences.
'What he achieved was a very detailed documentation of China and its people.
'These are the first two volumes that he published upon returning to the UK. 'The images featured in the book are known as callotypes, which rely on a photographic negative.
'Therefore the images have remarkable detail and convey a lot of the exotica that Thomson was fascinated with.
The travelogue features images of China from the 1870s, and were taken by John Thomson, who travelled 5,000 miles across the country
The photographer spent 10 years travelling around the Far East and is a pioneer of photojournalism
The travelogue will go on sale in New York next month, where it is expected to fetch around 20,000
The photographer visited remote regions in China, where many had never seen a Westerner before
'The images are very intimate - one set shows women's different hairstyles - and convey the stories and experiences that he had.'
Thomson learned about photography during an apprenticeship under a scientific instrument manufacturer, and left his native Edinburgh for Singapore in 1872.
He spent 10 years travelling around the Far East documenting the its people, landscapes and artefacts.
The fascinating photo collection includes images of beggars, Mandarins and princes from Thomson's five years travelling across China
Thomson photographed a broad range of subjects in his five years in China
In China, he travelled from the southern trading ports of Hong Kong and Canton to the cities of Peking and Shanghai, the Great Wall in the north and deep into central China.
Thomson's travels in China were often perilous, however, as he visited remote regions. Most of the people he encountered had never seen a Westerner or camera before. He carried a bulky wooden camera, fragile glass plates and potentially explosive chemicals.
His images range from humble beggars and street people to Mandarins, princes and senior government officials, and from remote villages and monasteries to Imperial Palaces.
Intimate portrait shots taken by Thomson on his travels show the unique hairstyles of Chinese women in the 1870s
An image of Chao-Chow-Fu bridge was among the scenes captured by the Scottish photojournalist
The fascinating images give a unique insight into life in China around the 1870s
Thomson returned to the UK in 1872 and published his work the following year.
In his introduction, he wrote: 'My design in the accompanying work is to present a series of pictures of China and its people, such as shall convey an accurate impression of the county I traversed as well as of the arts, usages, and manners which prevail in different provinces of the Empire.
'With this intention I made the camera the constant companion of my wanderings, and to it I am indebted for the faithful reproduction of the scenes I visited, and of the types of race with which I came into contact.'
Thomson later became a portrait photographer of High Society in Mayfair, and was appointed photographer to the royal family by Queen Victoria in 1881. He died in 1921, at the age of 84.
Two men producing tea in China during Thomson's travels is one of the images which feature in the travelogue
Workers weighing teas for exportation in one of Thomson's images
A Canton tea house features in the collection of images which goes on sale on February 14
A tea tasting room in the 1870s was one of Thomson's subjects in the fascinating travelogue
The travelogue was purchased by a 19th century American socialite, and passed through her family for more than a century before emerging for sale at auction next month.
Ms Kaplan added: 'These two volumes have been in the same family for almost 150 years. 'They constitute one of the most important examples of photographic literature from the 19th century.
'There are many collectors interested in Victorian era photography, including many in China looking to reclaim their patrimony.
'We will certainly see Asian collectors, institutional collectors and collectors of the "photo book".'
A One Nation candidate says single mothers are 'too lazy' to find and keep a man.
David Archibald also believes these women should be denied welfare benefits.
'The first thing that springs to mind is single motherhood,' he wrote in an article for the conservative Quadrant magazine in 2015.
'These women are too lazy to attract and hold a mate, undoing the work of possibly three million years of evolutionary pressure.
One Nation candidate David Archibald says single mums are too lazy to keep a man
A geologist running as a candidate in Western Australia says the rising number of single mothers means more of the population will be 'lazy and ugly' (stock image)
'This will result in a rapid rise in the portion of the population that is lazy and ugly.'
Mr Archibald, a geologist who is running as One Nation's Pilbara candidate in the upcoming West Australian elections, says single mums should be denied welfare benefits, of up to $738.50 a fortnight.
'We know what causes pregnancy these days so everyone who gets pregnant outside of marriage is a volunteer. This is an easy one for de-funding,' he said.
The controversial candidate is running against Nationals leader Brendon Grylls in the state's far north and a poll late last year showed One Nation with 16 per cent support in the electorate.
Mr Archibald has previously accused former Australian of the Year David Morrison, a lieutenant general who spoke out against army sexual harassment, of being a militantly politically correct cross dresser.
'David Morrison issued a fatwa against the use of the against the use of the "guys" recently,' he said in Facebook post last year.
'When I see photographs of him, he seems as if he desperately wants to wear lipstick in public.'
The One Nation candidate suggested former Australian of the Year was into cross dressing
Anti-terror police are hunting for two men seen hiding in bushes and 'speaking a foreign language' on the perimeter of a regional airport.
The suspects, described as being of Middle Eastern appearance and in their thirties, were 'pointing at buildings' at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire.
They were seen acting strangely in Hercules Way, Farnborough, on Wednesday January 25 between 5.15pm and 5.30pm, police have said.
One was wearing grey baggy jogging bottoms and a dark hoodie, the other suspect was wearing a dark puffa jacket.
Alert: Anti-terror police are hunting for two men seen hiding in bushes and 'speaking a foreign language' on the perimeter of Farnborough Airport in Hampshire
The men then drove off in a white 1990s BMW making a 'loud rattling' sound.
An 'alert' message was sent by PC Paul Paruit, who works for the of the Hampshire Special Branch Small Ports Team based at Farnborough Airport.
His team is a 'highly specialised department which deals with intelligence relating to domestic and international terrorism', according to Hampshire Police.
His alert said: 'We have received a report of two suspicious males seen between 5.15pm and 5.30pm on Wednesday January 25.
'The two males were seen standing in the bushes against the perimeter fence of the airfield pointing at buildings across the airfield.
'They were described as speaking in a Middle East type language. The witness describes the two males as of Middle East appearance, both in their 30's.'
The police said they don't believe they were aircraft enthusiasts because of their interest in the buildings.
Farnborough Airport, which is south of Reading, is popular with rich passengers who charter private jets to fly all over the UK and Europe.
Location: Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, which is south of Reading, is popular with rich passengers who charter private jets to fly all over the UK and Europe
PC Paruit said: 'The witness states that the area is often used by aircraft enthusiasts but these two males did not appear to be interested in aircraft and were not using binoculars or note pads,' PC Paruit said.
'The males were in a white 1990's era 3 series BMW that is described as rattling and loud.
'Many of you will know the area. It is the business park adjacent to the south side of the airfield where the DVLA test centre is.'
Anyone who has seen the two males described or their vehicle is asked to contact Hampshire Police control room by calling 101, quoting reference 44170033980.
English-speaking countries have been given the green light for barrier-free travel in the US as tensions grow over Donald Trump's immigration stance.
The UK, Canada and Australia have now all been assured their citizens will not be affected by the Republican's ban on people from predominantly Muslim countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from travelling to America.
New Zealand are expected to be given the same commitment today, but politicians from Germany and France who have publicly criticised Trump are still waiting to discover their fate regarding the executive order.
Last night, thousands of protesters lined Britain's streets to voice their disapproval of the US President signing off on the travel restrictions and his imminent state visit to the UK which has been opposed by more than 1.6million.
The move, which is already proving to be unpopular in many Western countries due to the hard-line seemingly taken on Islamic nations, could stoke the fire amid already raising tensions in the Muslim world.
Donald Trump pauses after signing the executive order in the Oval Office of the White House
Protesters gather in Whitehall to protest about US President Trump's controversial travel ban
Boris Johnson has insisted no UK citizens will be affected by the controversial travel ban.
The Foreign Secretary said he had received assurances from the US administration that the restrictions would make 'no difference' to Britons - even if they are dual nationals.
Mr Johnson also repeated his belief that the temporary rules - denying entry to nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries - were 'divisive, discriminatory and wrong'.
But he flatly dismissed furious demands to withdraw the invite for the US president to come for a state visit - saying there was 'absolutely no reason' why the event should go ahead.
The statement to the House of Commons will provide some welcome clarity after a message on website of the US embassy in London this morning said dual nationals would be refused visas.
Boris Johnson talking at the House of Commons to say British citizens would not be affected
The White House has also assured Australia that its passport holders won't be affected by the executive order.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Tuesday he resisted pressure to join other Western leaders in publicly denouncing the travel ban.
He made the announcement after 15-year-old Pouya Ghadirian said the U.S. Consulate in Melbourne refused him a visa Monday to go on a school trip to the United States because he had an Iranian passport as well as an Australian passport.
'Our ambassador has just called me to say that he's had assurances, confirmation from the White House, that Australian passport-holders - regardless of their place of birth or whether they are dual nationals or whether they hold another passport - will remain welcome to come and go to the United States in the usual way,' Turnbull told Sky News television.
Australia joins Canada and the United Kingdom in winning exemptions for their dual citizens, while New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English said on Tuesday he expected to secure a similar arrangement.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said has resisted pressures to denounce Trump
New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English has said he expects confirmation on Tuesday his citizens will be allowed to travel freely in the US
But Europe's non-English-speaking countries have not been given the same assurances.
Both France and Germany have been heavy critics of Trump, and have condemned the immigration move.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday during a visit to the Iranian capital, Tehran, that the United States should revoke the 'dangerous' new measures.
'It's discrimination,' he said.
'We want an urgent clarification as soon as possible from the Americans.
'This measure is worrying and dangerous.'
'This has nothing to do with fighting terrorism.'
Chaos broke out over the weekend as border, customs and immigration officials struggled to act on the directive amid loud protests at major US airports.
When asked whether the US measures should be cancelled, Ayrault said: 'Yes. I think so.'
French Finance Minister Michel Sapin also expressed his worry over the move, and said: 'Our American partner appears to want to take unilaterally protectionist decisions which could destabilise the whole world economy.
'Decisions by the new U.S. administration are posing a grave risk to the world trade order.
'Neither France nor Europe ... can watch helplessly as our economic institutions risk being dislocated.'
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault who has condemned Trump's immigration bill
(Left to right) British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, Luxembourg's Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna and French Finance Minister Michel Sapin stand together prior to the start of an European Fnance Ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium on January 27, 2017
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been heavily criticised for her open-door immigration policy which has seen 1.2million migrants enter the country in the past two years.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Paris German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said: 'The United States is a country where Christian traditions have an important meaning.
'Loving your neighbour is a major Christian value, and that includes helping people.
'I think that is what unites us in the West, and I think that is what we want to make clear to the Americans.'
The President of the European Council Donald Tusk is the latest to stand up to the Trump administration, saying the statements were 'worrying'.
Perhaps the strongest condemnation to come from mainland Europe was by Mayor of Madrid Manuela Carmena, who compared Trump to Adolf Hitler.
'We know that his government has been legitimately elected and has the popular support of a large number of citizens,' she said.
'But in the 20th century we experienced one of the greatest violations of human rights by a government that also initially enjoyed popular support,' she added in reference to the Nazi regime, according to The Local.
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Thousands of marauders stormed the usually quiet streets of the Shetland Isles, which were lit up by Viking flames this evening.
The armed militia and their longships would have been a terrifying sight centuries ago, which would have meant certain death for hundreds of residents.
But it was a source of entertainment for the Shetland Islands residents today, who welcomed the invasion of an annual festival celebrating the ancient Scandavian culture.
Hundreds of history enthusiasts braved the freezing conditions to don their armour and parade around Lerwick, Shetland, for Up Helly Aa 2017.
Members of the Jarl Squad dressed in Viking costumes carry flaming torches during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival in Lerwick
Hundreds of marauders lit up the streets during impressive scenes as part of the festival on the Shetland Isles this evening
The outfits were incredibly authentic as the enthusiasts sported furs and chainmail for the celebration of Viking culture
Members of the Jarl Squad set fire to their ornate Viking longship, which burns brightly as it sails on the sea
Before the ship is burned, the hundreds of people enjoying the festivities surround it with their torches this evening
Hundreds of people, all in full army, authentic furs and holding brightly-lit torches socialise and cheer around the large ship
What was once a great example of artistry and craftmanship just moments ago soon turns into a giant fireball as the flames quickly take hold of the wooden ship
The Jarl squad light their torches from fuel burning on the ground as they prepare for a procession along the streets before gathering around the ship and burning it
The impressive sight may look like the destruction of the authentic equipment enthusiasts have worked hard to create, but the ritual would have been an important part of Viking culture centuries ago
While the clothes and armour are decorative and ornate, it would be a terrifying sight for those taking a quiet walk on the Shetland Isles who were not aware of the festival in town
The huge crowd of around 1,000 was predominantly made up of men but featured guizers - the correct name for those in costume - of all ages.
The torch-lit procession is led by the Guizer Jarl, or chief guizer - 37-year-old Lyall Gair - and culminates in a replica longboat being set alight.
Hundreds of people wearing winged helmets, sheepskins and carrying axes and shields march through the streets of the town to recreate its ancient Viking past, in a tradition that dates back to the 19th century.
Work begins at the end of October to ensure everything is ready for the celebrations, which often continue until 8am the following day - a public holiday on the island.
The huge crowd of around 1,000 was predominantly made up of men but featured guizers - the correct name for those in costume - of all ages
The torch-lit procession is led by the Guizer Jarl, or chief guizer - 37-year-old Lyall Gair - and culminates in a replica longboat (pictured) being set alight
Hundreds of people wearing winged helmets, sheepskins and carrying axes and shields march through the streets of the town to recreate its ancient Viking past, in a tradition that dates back to the 19th century
Work begins at the end of October to ensure everything is ready for the celebrations, which often continue until 8am the following day - a public holiday on the island
The Guizer Jarl Lyle Gair and his Jarl squad pose for a group picture at Bressay Ferry Terminal during the annual Up Helly Aa festival on January 31, 2017 in Lerwick, Scotland
The leader of the Jarl squad, Lyle Gair, bellows out some instructions to the members who are on board the Longboat with him
They disembarked the vessel before starting a march through the streets of Lerwick, led by 37-year-old Mr Gair. Work begins at the end of October to ensure everything is ready for the celebrations, which often continue until 8am the following day
More guizers, including one elderly gentleman, get their voices warmed up as they prepare for some breakfast before the morning's activities
They sat down for some food before the morning's festivities - although the cooking equipment pictured looked far from authentic
The refreshments did not exactly hark back to the viking era, with several guizers seen tucking into bacon sandwiches. The festival stems from the 1870s when a group of local men wanted to put new ideas into Shetland's Christmas celebrations
They were also drinking coffee from plastic cups - which is not exactly how their Scandavian ancestors would consumed their drinks. Those taking part in the festival spend the night visiting a host of celebrations in halls around Lerwick
Volunteers are responsible for the building of the galley boat and the production of more than 1,000 torches.
Those taking part in the festival spend the night visiting a host of celebrations in halls around Lerwick and the party was sure to have been aided this year with a special edition gin and cider distilled for the festival.
Shetland and neighbouring Orkney were ruled by the Norse for about 500 years until they became part of Scotland in 1468.
The event stems from the 1870s when a group of young local men wanted to put new ideas into Shetlands Christmas celebrations.
They sat down for some food before the morning's festivities - although the refreshments cooking equipment pictured looked far from authentic.
Up Helly Aa always takes place on the last Tuesday in January and culminates in a torchlit procession and the burning of a galley.
The festival celebrations carry on throughout the night and the next day, lucky for some, is a national holiday
While some military re-enactments seem reserved for the more mature, young people on the island get fully involved in the annual event
Mr Gair in full voices as he leads a huge procession of viking guizers down the road. He is flanked by two youngsters who are carrying flags
In traditional helmets that cover their faces almost entirely in combination with their beards, cut a menacing shape as they stride through the town with fake axes. Shetland and neighbouring Orkney were ruled by the Norse for about 500 until 1468
Despite the fierce enthusiasm shown by most participants, this youngster was clearly a little less excited by the morning's proceedings
The grieving family of a woman who on Monday became the sixth victim of the sickening Bourke Street rampage in Melbourne have paid their respects.
High-flying finance consultant Bhavita Patel, 33, died in hospital on Monday evening, ten days after a car mowed down dozens of pedestrians in the city centre.
Ms Patel's brother, Mitesh, has now paid tribute to his sister, but admitted he and his parents are 'broken'.
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High-flying finance consultant Bhavita Patel, 33, died in hospital on Monday evening, ten days after a car mowed down dozens of pedestrians on Bourke Street
Ms Patel moved to Melbourne from Canberra to pursue her career as a successful and well-respected finance consultant
'I have no idea what to say about what happened except that I miss her and love her so much and can't believe that I won't see her any more,' Mr Patel, 30, told the Herald Sun.
'My parents and I are broken. But we all appreciate the love we're getting from people.
'She was cherished by so many people and we have been overwhelmed by the love and support from family and friends.'
Ms Patel moved to Melbourne from Canberra to pursue her career as a successful and well-respected finance consultant.
She was working at international finance firm Deloitte and was walking near their Melbourne offices when she was struck by the vehicle on January 20.
Among the others to have died are 10-year-old Thalia Hakin, who was out walking with her mother and eight-year-old sister Maggie when all three were hit by the car.
Pictured, crowds at a memorial held for victims gather at Melbourne's Federation Square
Nine patients remain in hospital, with one said to be in a critical condition. Pictured, police watch as people pay their respects at a memorial on Bourke Street
People pay tribute leaving flowers at a temporary memorial on Bourke Street Mall
Maggie was left with a broken leg and she attended her sister's funeral last week with it still in plaster, while her mother was too badly injured to see her daughter laid to rest.
Matthew Si, 33, Jess Mudie, 22, and a 25-year-old Japanese man also died during the frenzied rampage.
Three-month-old Zachary Bryant was also killed and his two-year-old sister, Zara, was badly injured.
Zara, one of the youngest victims of the tragedy has been released from hospital, four days after her brother was laid to rest.
The two-year-old was discharged from the Royal Children's Hospital on Friday afternoon.
Her brother Zachary was laid to rest last Tuesday at a private funeral.
Nine patients remain in hospital, with one said to be in a critical condition.
Tragic: Among the others to have died are 10-year-old Thalia Hakin (pictured above)
Thalia's eight-year-old sister Maggie was left with a broken leg and she attended her sister's funeral last week
Jess Mudie, 22, a consultant for insurance company Marsh & McLennan, was one on the victims
Zachary Bryant (right) was killed in the alleged attack. His two-year-old sister Zara (left) was discharged from the Royal Children's Hospital on Friday afternoon
Matthew Si, 33, was also killed in the horrific incident in central Melbourne earlier this month
Their parents Matthew and Nawwar Bryant described Zachary was a 'beautiful, loving, happy and perfect little baby' in a statement released to Daily Mail Australia on Monday.
Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, is accused of stabbing his brother Angelo before allegedly mowing down dozens of people in the sickening attack.
Angelo Gargasoulas took to Facebook on Sunday to express his sympathy for the families of the deceased.
'To all the families of the victims involved in last Friday's tragedy, my heart goes out to you and for all those still fighting in hospital, my thoughts are with you and your recovery,' Angelo wrote.
'No one could've predicted what Jimmy did or that he'd do that, that morning.
'I'm fortunate enough to still have my life and the support I have received is unheard of.
'I thank everyone involved in making this an easier time for everyone else involved, and my family.
Police have charged Melbourne resident Dimitrious Gargasoulas over the incident
Police allege the vehicle was being driven by 26-year-old Dimitrious Gargasoulas
The brother of the accused, Angelo, took to Facebook on Sunday to express his sympathy for the families of the deceased
Crowds at a memorial held for victims of the Bourke Street Mall Attack at Federation Square
'As for me, I still got some recovery time to do, and it's all looking good.
'Still in disbelief, the realism of it all has yet to fully sink in, stay strong Melbourne!'
Last week, the alleged driver was due to front Melbourne Magistrates Court, but claimed he was feeling 'unwell' when summoned to face five counts of murder.
His defense lawyer told the court that his client was unable to appear after being released from hospital following surgery on a gunshot wound to his arm.
Amy Ridler (pictured) chased after Jill Williams as she exited a showjumping arena, before trampling over her with her horse
A horse rider has admitted trampling a retired policewoman with her horse - after she accused her of filming her being eliminated from a showjumping competition.
Amy Ridler, from Solihull, West Midlands, chased after Jill Williams, 50, as she exited a showjumping arena, before trampling over her with her horse.
Ridler, 20, pleaded guilty to assault at Lincoln Magistrates Court earlier this month, following the attack last April.
Ms Williams, from Lincoln, was texting a friend at a horse show while watching Ridler show jump.
Ridler then accused Ms Williams of filming her before charging her horse, picking Jill up by her hair and dragging her along the ground.
Ms Williams, a former policewoman, said: 'I'd forgotten to cancel my dog walker that day, so I was trying to text him while watching Amy show jump.
'The sun was in my eyes and I couldn't see so I was waving my phone all over the place.
'I saw the horse refuse the first fence and she gave it a smack, then at the first fence, it stopped again and she was eliminated.
'She saw me standing there with my phone and thought I was filming her, and went mad.
Ridler, 20, pleaded guilty to assault at Lincoln Magistrates Court earlier this month, following the attack last April
'She was shouting at her mum, who was nearby, to 'get that f***ing phone off her'; she was shouting and swearing and saying she was going to run me down as she rode her horse at me.
'Next thing I know, Amy came out of the ring on her horse and went berserk, swearing at me and all sorts.
'She said I was filming her and was shouting at me to give her my phone.
'This must have gone on for about five minutes and then she started kicking her horse like mad and saying she was going to ride over me.'
Terrified, Ms Williams then claims Ridler raised her whip at her, at which point Ms Williams jumped over the barrier to get away.
Ridler then cantered around the ring to catch up with Ms Williams before pushing her into the railing.
The 50-year-old said: 'I kept really calm but then she pushed me into the railing. I was squashed against it and I raised my arm to try and push the horse off me.
'Next thing I know, I felt this incredible pain on my head and she clawed my head and picked me up.
Ridler was sentenced at Lincoln Magistrates Court on January 4 and pleaded guilty to assault by beating
'I'm 12 stone and six foot tall so I'm not an easy person to pick up. She then dragged me along the floor under the pony and I was trampled on.'
She says she then blacked out, before a group of spectators ran into the ring and pulled Ridler off her horse.
Ms Williams, who was at the show with her 10-year-old daughter, Daisy, added: 'She then turned her pony round and started kicking it trying to get it to run over me.
'She was dragged off the horse and the police were called.'
The mother-of-one was heavily bruised by the attack but miraculously escaped any major injuries.
She was determined to stay at the show, at Arena UK, Grantham, to watch her daughter compete the following day although admits she was 'terrified' Ridler would come back.
She said: 'I checked our horse three times during the night just in case anything was going to happen to him. I took loads of painkillers but I was just terrified.'
Ridler was sentenced at Lincoln Magistrates Court on January 4 and pleaded guilty to assault by beating.
She was fined 250, ordered to pay 300 compensation and given a restraining order following the brutal attack on April 9, 2016.
A paedophile who repeatedly raped an 11-year-old girl as her father watched has wept in court as a judge jailed him for more than 12 years.
Ryan Trevor Clegg, 43, pleaded guilty to 15 charges, including four counts of sexual penetration against the 11-year-old, who was also raped by her father and abused by other men dubbed by the media as the Evil 8.
Clegg's offences against her occurred between January 2013 and November 2014 after he met her father through Craigslist, but his overall offending continued until March 2015, the WA District Court heard on Tuesday.
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Clegg separately took indecent photographs a five-year-old girl (he is pictured fleeing court last year)
His abuse of the girl included taking photographs and videos of her wearing lingerie in a motel room and raping her as her father watched.
Clegg separately took indecent photographs a five-year-old girl.
He also shared images on an online chat forum, and police found more than 42,000 images and videos of other child exploitation material on Clegg's computer hard drives.
The court heard Clegg said in an online chat that: 'She grizzles but sometimes I think she does like it. I'm gentle with her.'
But prosecutor Justin Whalley said no child would like it.
'Every right-thinking member of the community condemns it,' he said.
The court also heard the girl told police she tried to push Clegg away but she was not strong enough.
Judge Bruce Goetze said Clegg was aware of the 11-year-old's age and showed a complete disregard for her, causing her severe emotional trauma.
'You used her as a sexual object,' he said.
'You used her as a vehicle to indulge in your own sexual interest.'
Judge Bruce Goetze said Clegg (above) was aware of the girl's age but showed a complete disregard for her
WA District Court heard Clegg said in an online chat that: 'She grizzles but sometimes I think she does like it. I'm gentle with her'
Judge Goetze accepted Clegg was remorseful to some extent.
Clegg must serve at least 10 years and nine months behind bars before he can be eligible for parole.
He sparked outrage last year when it emerged he was living close to a school and child care centre, and he was then taken into custody.
Clegg's case led to legislative amendments being proposed to make securing bail tougher for serious sex offenders before sentencing, but the changes cannot pass until after the state election.
The father, who cannot be named, was sentenced last year to 22-and-a-half years in jail after admitting raping his daughter and arranging for her to engage sexually with six other men.
He has lodged an appeal against the length of his sentence.
Photographer Benjamin Simon Clarke was previously jailed for three years over his involvement in the girl's abuse, while former pastor and father-of-two, Dawid Volmer, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years.
Nicholas Adam Beer was sentenced to seven years behind bars, while Troy Phillip Milbourne was jailed for five years and three months.
Alfred John Impicciatore has pleaded not guilty and will stand trial later this year.
An eighth man originally connected to the group did not abuse the girl.
A tenured Villanova University history professor has been found dead, two days before he was scheduled to report to federal prison to begin serving a 20-month sentence in a child pornography case.
Christopher Haas, 60, was declared dead at 5.10pm on Saturday after his body was found in a wooded area next to train tracks near the Whitford SEPTA station.
Philly.com reported that police found a knife at the scene and according to the coroner's officer Haas had bled to death. A coroner ruled it was a suicide.
Haas had written letters and posted them to members of his family informing them about his intentions, it was reported.
Professor is found dead: Villanova University professor Christopher Haas (pictured left, and right in his mugshot), 60, has been found dead, two days before he was set to begin serving a 20-month sentence in a child pornography case
Lockup: Haas' attorney had been planning to drive him to the federal prison at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey (pictured)
One family member called police upon recieving the letter and Haas' body was found where he said he would be in a makeshift camp.
Haas, a married father-of-two, was arrested last March on suspicion that he used a computer on Villanova's campus to search for hundreds of images depicting child pornography online.
Villanova spokesman Jonathan Gust said in last year the university contacted police after security noticed suspicious activity on a computer in a common area between 10.30pm and 5.30am on March 21 and 21, 2016.
At the time of his arrest, Haas was facing 415 child pornography-related counts. He was immediately removed from classroom and barred from the Villanova campus.
The professor pleaded guilty in September to a single count of accessing the Internet with the intent to view child exploitation images and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release and a fine of more than $5,000, reported Daily Local News.
His attorney, Scott Godshall, told The Philadelphia Inquirer he had been planning to drive Haas to the federal prison at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey on Monday.
Haas, who was married with two sons, was arrested last March for using a computer on campus to search for child pornography
Godshall added that his client, whom he described as a 'good man with a bad disease', was apprehensive about the prospect of serving time in federal prison, but he seemed in good spirits when they talked last week.
Haas, a history professor specializing in the period of late antiquity, had been the subject of a federal investigation launched by the US Department of Homeland Security's Philadelphia office in 2012 related to his computer activity at home, but ultimately, no charges were brought against him in that case.
Villanova officials said last year there were no aware of the earlier federal investigation until Haas' arrest in March, reported Fox29.
A native of Kansas, Haas earned two Master's degrees and a PhD from the University of Michigan and joined the faculty of Villanova University in 1988 as an associate professor of history and classical studies.
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Two Russian women have discovered they have been raised by the wrong mothers for 34 years after they were mistakenly swapped at birth in a Russian hospital.
DNA evidence has proved that they were given to the wrong mothers by a maternity hospital in Siberia.
Only two women gave birth in Kurumkan on January 21, 1983 - and one reason for the confusion maybe that they shared the same surname.
Russian women Yulia and Dugarma with their biological mothers and women who raised them. After 34 years they discovered they had been swapped at birth
Alisa Tsyrenova and Lyubov Tsyrenova are not related, but now they are seeking to come to terms with raising and loving daughters who were not their own.
Their respective daughters Yulia and Dugarma were brought up 250 miles apart in the Republic of Buryatia, a mainly Buddhist region of Russia, and both mothers and daughters faced cruel goosip about how they did not appear to be related.
In 2003, Alisa, a well-known local artist, brought her then 20-year-old daughter Yulia to her native district so she could undertake educational practice as a trainee accountant.
Yulia said: 'A woman came up to me and said that I looked like the children of Lyubov and her husband Dashi from Bulak village. I was shocked.
Lyubov and Dugarma, left, and Alisa and Yulia, right. For 34 years the mothers brought up the wrong baby
'When I came back home, my mother calmed me down. She said that she was the only one who gave birth that morning. After that we did not talk about this.'
Both mothers found reasons to explain why their daughters looked like certain relatives, not believing there could be a mistake.
But in 2013, when Alisa became seriously ill, she decided to find out the truth with the help of DNA analysis, the Siberia Times reported.
Lyubov Tsyrenova who gave birth to her daughter in 1982 but ended up raising the wrong baby
Lyubov brought up Dugarma, pictured, and only became aware they were related after taking DNA tests
'She called Dugarma but at the time she refused to allow her DNA to be compared.
Alisa's illness worsened, and she wanted to know the truth. Last year she and her daughter Yulia took tests, and the stark truth was revealed that they were not related by blood.
Yulia said: 'Different feelings overwhelmed me. I was ready for being told I was not the natural daughter of my mother.
'On the other hand, my mother is Alisa. It was, is, and always will be so. She is the best one in the world.'
Both mothers and daughters also knew the place and date of birth, which meant by now it was obvious what had happened, however traumatic it was to come to terms with.
Lyubov and Dugarma then took a DNA test and proof of the swap was found.
The daughters, with their mothers, met to jointly celebrate their 34th birthdays, and they bravely spoke to a Buryatian TV channel about their feelings.
Alisa, 56, said a 'human factor' must be to blame for the error. They were the only expectant mothers.
Alisa Tsyrenova also gave birth at the same hospital in Siberia on the same day and believed she was raising her daughter Yulia
Mother-of-two Yulia, 34, who has just realised that her mother is not in fact her biological parent
She said: 'It's not a conveyor, like in a big city.
'The drama here is not that one lived better, the other worse. The question is absolutely not this.
'The tragedy is that mothers were deprived of the chance to raise their own children...'
While Lyubov added: 'It's very hard for me, very hard.
'I still cannot believe this. I feel sorry for my daughter, I feel sorry for Yulia... .
'Over 34 years a mother gives everything and the discovery was shattering.
'How we will live further? We will raise our children, our grandchildren. Both of the girls are my daughters... so we will live.'
Yulia, who now has two children of her own, said: 'How can you change it? We're not babies, we have our own lives, our own fate, and children'
And the two daughters - both now mothers of two - painted a remarkably optimistic picture of finding that they had been raised by the wrong mothers.
Dugarma said: 'It is a great joy. It is happiness, it is good luck. We need to see the best sides in this.'
Yulia said: 'How can you change it? We're not babies, we have our own lives, our own fate, and children.'
She wanted to get re-acquainted with her long lost biological mother.
'Yulia added: 'I saw Dugarma for the first time and it was like - that's my mum, young again in front of my eyes.'
A beleaguered couple have been given just 28 days to pack up their belongings and leave the country - because they did not pay themselves a salary from their business.
British-born Paul Freathy, 58, and his wife Gail, 50, moved to Devon on a spousal visa in 2013, where they set up a business after fleeing violence in Gail's native South Africa.
However they have now been told by the Home Office they must leave the UK because they do not earn enough money to support themselves.
Paul Freathy, who is a British citizen, and his wife Gail (pictured together) moved to Devon where they set up a business three years ago after fleeing Gail's native South Africa
The couple moved from Gail's home city of Johannesburg in South Africa in November 2013 and she was given a two and a half year long spousal visa.
Mr Freathy said their business made 55,000 profit last year - over double what is required - but the couple didn't pay themselves a salary, instead ploughing their profits back into the new business.
Mr Freathy said he and his wife had never spent more than a day or two apart in the 13 years they had been married.
He said because they had bought a business and changed the status of their income in the UK, they were forced to change Gail's visa from an earnings-based to a family visa.
However, it has been refused and Gail has just three weeks left to leave behind her home and beloved pets.
HOME OFFICE RULES ON FAMILY VISAS According to Home Office guidelines, an applicant seeking a 'family of a settled person' visa must prove they are 18 or over and in a genuine relationship. The applicant must also meet the financial requirement of 18,600 per year if they're applying only for themselves. Advertisement
Mr Freathy said: 'We thought that if you were earning the money and it was going into your business - and you own the business - it's your money.
'But unfortunately the Home Office does not see it that way.
'The Home Office is splitting us up. We are destroyed, ruined.
'We have invested out life savings over here.
'Our pets are too old to make the flight back to South Africa where I am not welcome anyway as I am British.
'We pay our taxes and National Insurance contributions. We serve the community, we are loved and love back. We are not refugees slipping into the country trying to take benefits.'
The couple do not pay themselves a salary from their business, Photo Matters, in Devon
Mrs Freathy added: 'We had a couple of nasty incidents in Johannesburg. Five armed gunman came into our house and held up the gentleman who wormed for us. He was tied up and all our belongings were taken in trucks.
'I was fortunate I came in just after they left and Paul was at work. But it was the last straw.
'I was hijacked with my daughter in my car and Paul had vehicles stolen. We had been mugged. We didn't want to live like that.
'Paul was born in Chelsea and he has relatives buried in Brixham graveyard close to where we rent our home in Devon.
'We are remarkably fortunate to live here where we don't have to look over our shoulder and mistrust everybody. It has been a wonderful experience.'
Her mother is in a care home in Johannesburg and last weekend her daughter got married there but Gail could not go because the Home Office seized her passport.
She has posted letters in a last minute bid to settle her affairs here and postpone any deportation action.
'All I can hope for is that someone will listen,' she said.
Mrs Freathy has to prove she earns 23,000 a year but their personal accounts did not reflect that because they ploughed their profits back into their business.
She said: 'We work together, we live together, we love together. We are a team. I cannot consider living part for a year.
'If we had 62,000 in our account for the last six months and showed we are no burden on the State, I could stay.
'We don't claim any benefits. Paul had type 1 and 2 diabetes and I help him with that, it is another reason not to be apart.
'If we have to return to South Africa Paul wont get a job at nearly 59. He is not South African, he has a British passport and they don't like that. It wont be easy for me to get work either.
'We don't know anyone in Europe so there is nowhere else for us to go.
'We have a rescue dog called Chutney who is 13 and very elderly. She has been all round the world with us, I can't leave her here because I may never see her again.
'There is a chance I could be arrested or detained or given a police station reporting condition so I don't disappear. At Heathrow Airport I could be escorted on to a plane like a criminal.'
The Home Office said it 'cannot discuss individual cases', adding: 'Each visa application is carefully considered on its individual merits and in line with the rules.'
The mugshot of a convicted drug dealer has been mercilessly ridiculed online because of a likeness to E.T.
Jokers noticed a resemblance to Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg's famous character because of the criminal's unusually long neck.
Sussex Police posted a Facebook appeal offering a 500 reward for information leading to the arrest of Kyle Gilmore, 23, who is wanted for recall to prison.
The mugshot of a convicted drug dealer has been mercilessly ridiculed online because of his likeness to E.T
Jokers noticed a resemblance to Spielberg's famous character because of the criminal's unusually long neck
But social media users had another idea and went to town in the comments section with jokes about his appearance instead.
They mocked the size of his neck, with one wag advising police to check tree tops while another warned that 6ft-tall Gilmore could be 'looking at a long stretch'.
One commentator wrote: 'Get the chopper out. He's bound to be grazing off some tree tops somewhere #neckgate.'
Some compared Gilmore's neck size to that of Hollywood director Steven Spielberg's alien character E.T
Social media users mocked the size of the criminal's neck and the puns were flowing
Some were direct in their approach like this Facebook user who expressed shock at his neck
Another wrote: '6ft tall! 1ft of that is his neck! Let's hope he is picked up soon'
Gilmore was released on licence in July last year but has since breached its terms, and is now wanted for return to prison, a Sussex Police spokesman said
Another wrote: '6ft tall! 1ft of that is his neck! Let's hope he is picked up soon.
'Shouldn't be too hard.'
Some compared Gilmore's neck size to that of Hollywood director Steven Spielberg's alien character E.T, with one joker writing: 'He's probably phoning home.'
Labourer Gilmore, of Hastings, East Sussex, was jailed for two years, eight months at Lewes Crown Court in April 2015 for possession of drugs with intent to supply.
He was released on licence in July last year but has since breached its terms, and is now wanted for return to prison, a Sussex Police spokesman said.
He is white, of skinny build, with short, straight auburn hair, blue eyes, a fresh complexion - and a long neck.
Anyone with information is asked to dial 999.
Nigel Farage came under fire from the Loose Women panel today as he backed Donald Trump's controversial immigration restrictions.
The former UKIP leader clashed with the daytime show's presenter Saira Khan after she accused him of encouraging attacks on Muslims.
He appeared on the show alongside glamour model panelist Katie Price, who viewers joked was 'way out of her depth'.
The on-air row came on the same day Farage phoned up LBC during an interview with his nemesis, the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt.
Nigel Farage came under fire as he defended Trump's immigration policies on Loose Women
During his appearance on Loose Women, Farage backed Trump's move to prevent immigration from seven 'dangerous' countries.
He said: 'I can't see why it's controversial to protect our borders and stop terrorists getting into Britain... I think we should be vetting anyone who comes into this country.'
But he was called out by Saira, who said his speeches could inspire right-wing extremists to attack her or people like her.
She said: 'I'm brown, I've got Muslim heritage, I'm British born. What worries me is that when we talk about Muslims, the word terrorist comes together.
'I have a child who comes home from school and asks, "Why don't people like Muslims in this country?"
'How would you feel if someone went and attacked Muslims in your name?'
Farage said he had never criticised the religion of Islam, but that people were scared. He added: 'But they're not getting that from us.'
Saira accused Farage of encouraging attacks on Muslims, something he vehemently denied
Farage received a mixed response from the studio audience, with some cheering his views and others booing him as he walked on set
Viewers of the show joked about panelist Katie Price struggling to keep up with the debate. She sat in stony silence while the other hosts of the show spoke about Trump's policy with Farage.
She only she said was 'getting a bit like...' before she was cut off by others on the show.
She then said she wanted to talk about 'Brexit The Movie' with the former UKIP leader and asked who he would want to play him in a film.
Farage's appearance on the ITV show came on the same day he phoned up LBC to challenge the EU's Guy Verhofstadt.
The former Ukip leader wanted to confront the Belgian MEP for branding him the 'biggest waste of the EU budget'.
Viewers joked about panelist Katie Price's lack of input into the political conversation
She admitted she struggled to keep up, and asked Farage about a possible 'Brexit The Movie'
Viewers went on Twitter to poke fun at the glamour model's near-silence during the debate
Mr Farage told Mr Verhofstadt: 'I have just helped lead a campaign where my salary will be abolished completely and I was the turkey that will vote for Christmas.
'So don't worry Mr Verhofstadt, once I've left I won't take a penny of EU salary.'
But Mr Verhofstadt said he had 'nothing to say' to Mr Farage, who he clashed with numerous times in the Brussels Parliament over the years.
So Mr Farage was left to tell listeners about the 'wonderful lifestyle' enjoyed by MEPs on taxpayers money.
'I tell you how it works - the more you're there, the more it costs the taxpayer because everyday an MEP is in Brussels he or she signs a piece of paper and they get given 300 euros in cash tax-free.
'So the less I'm there, the less I cost the taxpayer.'
He added he would be 'sadly' missing out on the 'wonderful lifestyle that is enjoyed by everybody in Brussels.'
Guy Verhofstadt, pictured today on LBC radio, said he had 'nothing to say' to Mr Farage, who he clashed with numerous times in the Brussels Parliament over the years
Mr Verhofstadt, a former prime minister of Belgium, is one of the biggest supporters of further European for integration and has repeatedly criticised Britain's decision to leave.
On Brexit, he said it would be 'suicide' if the EU offered Britain a better deal than current member states because it would encourage other nations to follow the UK out of the exit door.
He said: 'What we cannot accept is that we create outside the European Union a better status, a better treatment than for the members inside the European Union. That should be suicide to do so.' 'We should not accept cherry-picking for example'.
He also repeated his warning that Donald Trump was an 'enemy' of the EU and posed a bigger threat than Brexit.
'We are in the middle of an existential crisis for Europe,' he said.
Mr Verhofstadt is on a two-day visit to London to promote his new book - Europe's Last Chance - and yesterday made a speech at the influential international affairs think tank Chatham House.
Guy Verhofstadt, pictured, the European Parliament's lead Brexit negotiator, the new US President was a 'third front' trying to undermine the EU along with Russian aggression and Islamic extremism
The MEP said the new US President was a 'third front' trying to undermine the EU along with Russian aggression and Islamic extremism.
In contrast, he said Brexit offered a 'golden opportunity' for European leaders to radically reform the bloc's institutions.
'It's playing with fire knowing what it has created in the past, Mr Verhofstadt said in a speech at the Chatham House think tank in central London, reminding people that natinalism had led to the slaughter of millions of Europeans in the world wars and beyond.
'Twenty million people have died because of nationalism in Europe,' he told the central London audience.
'There is not one family living on the continent and certainly also not in Britain who has no grandfather, grandmother, member of their family, who was not a victim of these stupidities and of these atrocities at the end of the 19th and the whole 20th century.
'So putting your political thinking and your future organisation of Europe on nationalist ideas is the most stupid thing that you can do.'
Mr Verhofstadt said he was drawing up plans to offer British citizens the chance to maintain their EU citizenship after Britain officially cuts ties with Brussels.
Mr Verhofstadt, pictured at the Chatham House think tank in central London today, is one of the biggest supporters of further European for integration and repeatedly criticised Britain's decision to leave
The proposals could mean Britons paying to maintain links with the EU and allowing them unrestricted access to labour markets across the continent.
The Belgian politician said he was preparing a resolution to put to MEPs once negotiations start to be 'open and generous' to individual UK citizens.
He said: 'I can tell you I receive every day tens of letters... millions of citizens who are saying 'don't leave us alone, we feel still European citizens, and we want to continue our link to Europe because we are part of the same civilisation'.
'That is what we don't understand in Europe, we have a common heritage - a common civilisation, history, architectural, cultural, literature, you name it.'
Mr Verhofstadt added: 'We are scrutinising, thinking, debating how we could achieve that.
'That individual UK citizens would think their links with Europe are not broken.'
An Iranian-born scientist was saved from a lengthy grilling at Newark Airport after a fellow passenger and Executive Director of the NYC Bar Association intervened on his behalf.
Mohsen Omrani, who is both a Canadian and Iranian citizen was preparing to fly into the US hours after Donald Trump enacted his controversial immigration ban.
As he was waiting in the security queue in Toronto, the passenger in front apologized for taking so long.
Dual Iranian and Canadian citizen Mohsen Omrani, left, was flying from Toronto to Newark when he met Barbara Berger, right, before boarding the flight on Sunday
Omrani explained on Twitter his amazing story and how Berger smoothed his entry to the US
Luckily for Omrani, Berger was the executive director of the New York Bar Association
Omrani told the woman it was fine as he was likely to spend several hours in the airport upon arrival in New York.
He wrote: 'Told her it was fine since I will probably be in the airport all day anyway since I am a dual citizen. She got sad and started apologizing.
'Told her it is not her fault and she said it probably is and just broke in tears. It was so sensational to see such an amazing person. Her name is Barbara Berger. She just passed by my seat and gave me her card along with ACLU hotline.
'She said she will wait in Newark to make sure I go through. These amazing people affirm your faith in humanity.'
Following his good fortune, he attended the No Ban No Wall protest in New York City
Protesters gather outside Terminal 4 at JFK airport to demonstrate against Trump's ban on immigration
After arrival at Newark he wrote: 'Was taken back for some usual questioning, though a bit longer. At the end the officer said: "Somebody outside is really looking after you."'
When he left the security room, Berger was waiting for him. She had already contacted the ACLU and 'ruffled some feathers with the officers'.
She told him: 'I want you to know, us Americans are not all like Trump. Most of us Don't know what to do and this was the least I could do.'
Later he discovered that she was the Executive Director of the New York Bar Association.
He added: 'She is definitely my hero of the day. Thank you Barbara. You are the reason why this country is so great. Stay amazing.'
A California bus driver has been jailed for two years after the death of a 19-year-old autistic student who was found unresponsive on a bus he was driving in the middle of a heatwave.
Armando Able Ramirez, 37, left Hun Joon Lee on the bus after picking him up to take him to Sierra Vista Adult School at 8am in September 2015.
It was only when he didn't return home after school at 3.30pm that a search began.
He was found dead on the floor of the school bus that had collected him earlier that morning. The windows were all closed; temperatures in the area that day had reached 96 degrees.
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Armando Abel Ramirez, 37, of Rialto, pleaded guilty to one felony count of dependent adult abuse resulting in the death of Hun Joon Lee
Hun Joon Lee (pictured with his mother), a 19-year-old who had autism and the mental capacity of a three year-old, died after being found unresponsive on a school bus
Bus driver Armando Ramirez, 37, has now been jailed for two years over Lee's death
Ramirez, of Rialto, California pleaded guilty to one felony count of dependent adult abuse resulting in the death of Hun Joon Lee.
It was revealed in court that Ramirez was a substitute driver for Lees bus and was working a split shift on the day of Lees death, prosecutors said.
Lee, a Sierra Adult School student, was found laying on the floor of the parked bus in September 2015
He told authorities he believed Lee had got off the bus to go into the school in the morning, however he did not walk to the back of the bus or even look over his shoulder to make sure no one was left in the bus before the end of his morning shift.
It was only when he returned hours later for the second part of his shift and had been told that Lee was missing he was discovered.
Lee's mother became concerned after not seeing her son return home from school at his usual time of 3.30pm.
She called the school to ask about her son's well being.
The school, however, told her that her son had never arrived in the morning.
Eun Ha Lee rushed to the school to look for her son, calling police on the way.
As she, police and school and bus personnel searched for the teenager, her son was found on the bus.
Paramedics arrived to find drivers attempting to administer CPR on Lee, but he was unresponsive and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Lee's mother, Eun Ha Lee, said her son got on the bus at 8am and never returned home after school at his usual time of 3.30pm
The teen was found unresponsive on the bus. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful .Temperatures in the area hit 90 degrees while he was on the bus
Lee was discovered in the aisle of the bus. His mother explained that the teen was nonverbal and wouldn't have been able to call out for help.
At the time of his death, Eun Ha Lee said that her son's death was devastating.
'My boy is a very, very precious boy,' she said to KTLA. 'I don't know other people, how they think about my son, but my son is perfect to me.'
She said she didn't understand how her son was left behind because there were only three students on the bus that day.
'I feel like, we are nothing,' she said. 'They killed my son. Technically, they killed my son.'
A British schoolboy has revealed how he juggles lessons after scooping 202,000 and becoming the world's best drone pilot.
Luke Bannister, 16, from Ramsbury in Wiltshire, won the glitzy World Drone Prix in Dubai last March.
Still at school, Luke lives an unusual daily life, dividing his free time between practice, competitions, working on his drones - and homework.
Luke Bannister, 16, from Ramsbury in Wiltshire, won the glitzy World Drone Prix in Dubai last March
Still at school, Luke lives an unusual daily life, dividing his free time between practice, competitions, working on his drones - and homework
He is cultivating a presence on social media and maintains a YouTube channel where he shows off his aerobatic skills
He is cultivating a presence on social media and maintains a YouTube channel where he shows off his aerobatic skills.
But there is also schoolwork to be done, something this lively, ambitious teenager is careful not to neglect.
He said: 'I want to enjoy myself, have fun with my friends, mess around, have some good racing, and fly to the best of my ability.
'I have to balance my schoolwork and my drone racing. I spend the majority of my time on schoolwork to get the best possible marks.'
Luke first got into aerial acrobatics at the age of 10, using a radio-controlled polystyrene biplane.
Then, at 11, he became the darling of his local model aircraft club, where he built his own planes and became their youngest pilot.
A few years later, he discovered the joys of First Person View (FPV) racing.
But it is an expensive hobby. Each drone typically costs around 300 with the headset another 350.
Luke first got into aerial acrobatics at the age of 10, using a radio-controlled polystyrene biplane
Then, at 11, he became the darling of his local model aircraft club, where he built his own planes and became their youngest pilot.
Luke insists it's a worthwhile experience when he gets his gear on.
He said: 'It's like you're a bird. 'When you put the goggles on it's like you're in the drone.
'It's an amazing experience. It could be compared to flying super-low and super-fast in a fighter jet. It's really exciting, and sort of like an extension of your body.'
Things really took off when he won in Dubai at the world's biggest drone race.
Set against the Dubai skyline, the futuristic-looking racetrack is full of neon lights and has many features in common with motor racing: hairpin bends, pit stops - for changing batteries, live onboard footage and commentators.
Wearing the colours of his XBlades Racing team, Bannister scooped the top prize of 202,000.
'He made his name in Dubai,' Vincent Sergere, from the French specialist website Course-de-drone.fr, describing Bannister's flying technique as minimalistic.
'He has a very direct style as a pilot. You get the impression that he doesn't ask himself many questions, that he really gets straight to the point.
'The most difficult thing will be to keep his place.'
The drones raced along a white track made up of sharp turns and sudden drops, testing the pilots' ability to the max
As drone use proliferates around the world, FPV racing is really taking off - rather than watching the craft from the ground, the pilot puts on a headset and navigates with a real-time view from the camera mounted on board.
Drones are playing a growing part in everyday life, from parcel deliveries to video shoots, farming and security, so perhaps it was only a matter of time before they made their debut in the world of sport.
FPV competitions pit pilots against each other on race tracks, each competing as if they were physically sat in a cockpit.
And while the sport is expanding, Luke remains focused on his studies and hopes to fulfill his dream of becoming a pilot.
He said: 'The sport is expanding at a rapid rate right now, but it's a bubble so it could burst or it could keep expanding.
'So we'll see where it goes, but I'd like to go to university and become a pilot after that.'
As drone use proliferates around the world, FPV racing is really taking off - rather than watching the craft from the ground, the pilot puts on a headset and navigates with a real-time view from the camera mounted on board
Drones are playing a growing part in everyday life, from parcel deliveries to video shoots, farming and security, so perhaps it was only a matter of time before they made their debut in the world of sport
A Jewish schoolboy was expelled for doing an alleged Nazi salute - because he put his hand up when his name was called.
Bright student Maksym M, 18, claims he was booted out of Blindow School in the Eastern German city of Leipzig because his social studies teacher mistook his raised hand for a Hitler salute.
The teacher wrote after the lesson in official documentation: 'When I called Maksym's name, he reacted clearly by halfway raising his arm with his flat hand stretching upwards.'
Bindow School in Leipzig, Germany, where the student was kicked out of class for the 'salute'
A teacher at the school, which is picutred, said Maksym M did a Nazi salute in her classroom
The teacher also noted some of the reactions of his classmates and said: 'One said Maksym tried to blind out the sun.
'Another said he was a foreigner and could not have meant it that way.'
Despite fellow students collecting signatures to support their classmate, he was dismissed without notice.
Maksym claimed neither he nor his parents were given the chance to tell their side of the story to school authorities.
Headteacher Michael Blindow even called in the State Protection Office after he perceived Maksym as an 'extremist danger to society'.
Headteacher Michael Blindow suspected the student was an 'extremist danger to society'
The public prosecutor's office in Leipzig has come to the conclusion that there was no criminal offence, terminating the procedure against Maksym.
Dr Mario Mueller, who represents the student's family, is convinced that the teacher was 'overstrained'.
Under the German Criminal Code, article 86a - the anti-Nazi law - outlaws the 'use of symbols of unconstitutional organisations' outside of the contexts of 'art or science, research or teaching'.
This involves for example the Hitler salute, as well as drawing swastikas or joining right-wing extremist groups.
Maksym's parents said: 'Our son was punished for something he did not do.
'We are expecting an apology from the headmaster.'
Headteacher Michael Blindow has not replied to requests for comment.
Maksym's nationality was not mentioned in reports.
A mother has told of her outrage over the 'slap on the wrist' punishment for the owner of two pit bulls which mauled her son in a vicious attack.
Ethan Fain, seven, was playing in his grandmother's back yard in Lilburn, Georgia, when the animals pulled him down from a tree he was climbing and over a fence on Christmas Eve.
They mauled his ears, taking the right one off and leaving his left ear hanging by a thread.
Doctors sewed his right ear into his stomach in the hope of later reattaching it and gave him 300 stitches across his back, neck and shoulders.
Ethan Fain had his right ear entirely ripped off and the other was left hanging by a thread after he was attacked by his grandmother's neighbor's pit bulls. Doctors sewed his right ear into his stomach to stimulate tissue growth
His mother Tracy has since told of her outrage that the dogs' owner may get away with a fine for the attack despite having been given citations for the animals' behavior before.
'I think he is getting off with a slap on the wrist,' she told The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Tim Fain, the animals' owner, faces a $1,000 fine or 12 months imprisonment if he is convicted of reckless misconduct.
Mrs Fain said her son is still haunted by the mauling.
'Ethan still has nightmares and panic attacks related to the attack,' she told The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
The seven-year-old's mother Tracy (above together before the attack) has told of her outrage that the dogs' owner may only be punished by a $1,000 fine or spend 12 months in jail
Ethan had to undergo 300 stitches to his neck, back and head after the attack and will have surgery in six months to have his right ear reattached
Ethan had to undergo 300 stitches to his neck, back and head after the attack and will have surgery in six months to have his right ear reattached
The boy was playing in his grandmother's back yard when his parents heard frantic screaming from inside the home.
They ventured into the back yard to discover he had been dragged over the fence by the two dogs which were continuously biting him.
He told his mother they eventually stopped attacking him when he lay 'really still', WSBTV reports.
The only dog he now feels safe around is the family's own pet, Jazz, which tried to climb over the fence to save him when he was being attacked, his mother added.
Ethan spent weeks in hospital and will undergo surgery to have his right ear reattached to his head in six months.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family met his medical expenses. It has so far raised just over $11,000.
Michael Wolkind QC has been slammed by the Lord Chief Justice for boasting on his website and for his 'patronising' behaviour to a fellow QC during a murder trial
A top barrister has been fined 1,000 after claiming he is so good that he could get 'Stevie Wonder a driving licence'.
Michael Wolkind QC has been slammed by the Lord Chief Justice for boasting on his website and for his 'patronising' behaviour to a fellow QC during a murder trial.
Wolkind accused Brian Altman, who is now the lead counsel for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, of flying away from the real world on a jet plane.
He was replaced on the trial by barrister Orlando Pownall QC who described Wolkinds performance during the case as wholly incompetent.
Wolkind admitted six charges of professional misconduct relating to claims made on his website before the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service in central London.
He conceded: I was too enthusiastic, I praised myself too much on that website.
The panel said that the testimonial on his website referring to Stevie Wonder was more befitting of the late Bernard Manning.
But Wolkind was cleared of professional misconduct relating to his criticism of the prosecution case led by Mr Altman.
Wolkind described his approach as: Relentless. He would have a go at everything and we had to combat everything that was thrown at us. It was no attack on Mr Altman at all.
It wasnt Altman v Wolkind - its the point Altman made and the point Wolkind made.
He added: I had to fight as best I could. There were many ways to lose that case and only one way to win.
Wolkind explained he had to try to take them on on each point of circumstantial evidence.
Wolkind accused Brian Altman QC of flying away from the real world on a jet plane
Finding the charge not proved, Judge Paul Lawton said: Mr Wolkind accepted that directly personal criticism of counsel was unprofessional and unacceptable.
The sole issue is whether the comments amount to a personal attack on Mr Altman and Mr Little, as opposed to a legitimate attack on the prosecution case.
We accept Mr Wolkinds evidence that this was a difficult murder case.
Judge Lawton noted that following the murderers calamitous performance in the witness box Wolkind was of the view that the only prospect of acquittal thereafter was dismissal of the prosecution case piecemeal.
He also noted a letter from Mr Altman himself, who did not regard the comments as a personal attack and took them as the normal cut and thrust of high-level advocacy.
We dont accept that Mr Wolkind crossed the permissible line at any stage and have no hesitation in dismissing charge one.
Wolkind denied three further charges professional misconduct relating to making personal comments about Mr Altman, using a testimonial that he could get Stevie Wonder a driving licence and using comments about a clients wife in court on his website.
His website was referred to the Bar Standards Board after it came to the notice of Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd during the appeal of Wolkinds former client Robert Ekaireb, now 42.
Ekaireb, a jeweller and property developer, was convicted in December 2013 of murdering his wife, 27-year-old lapdancer Li Hua Cao.
Ms Cao went missing while 22 weeks pregnant in October 2006 and Ekaireb was thought to have turned to The Adams Family crime syndicate to dispose of his wifes body, which has never been found never found.
During the trial Wolkind argued that Ms Cao was not necessarily dead and had left an unhappy marriage because she was bored by his lifestyle in London.
In 2015 the Court of Appeal ruled in 2015 that Ekairebs conviction was safe, but Lord Thomas found Wolkind had made completely unprofessional personal criticism of the prosecution and worked on other cases during the trial.
Robert Ekaireb (left), a jeweller and property developer, was convicted in December 2013 of murdering his wife, 27-year-old lapdancer Li Hua Cao (right)
Lord Thomas described Wolkinds closing speech as ill-judged, patronising and contained inappropriate attempts at humour and also declared he was surprised at the content and tone of the barristers website.
In November 2015, the barristers website described him as being UKs top criminal barrister and the UKs top criminal QC.
His biography featured a claim that he was widely recognised as one of the UKs top criminal trial and appeal barristers and featured a testimonial: There are great legal minds, even greater legal minds, and then there is Michael Wolkind QC.
He also claimed to be the top barrister for murder, protest cases, terrorism, householder self defence cases, inquests, health and safety cases and tribunals.
Addressing the Stevie Wonder charge, Wolkind had said: It was the absurd hyperbole of a client who was so grateful, that is the point - that he was willing to make a statement like that showed his degree of satisfaction.
Judge Lawton said the panel accepted that the wording was indeed hyperbole from a client who was in his own particular way trying to present a ringing endorsement of Wolkind.
But he added that the fact the wording was the clients does not abrogate Mr Wolkinds responsibility and said the ill-judged comments were more befitting of the late Bernard Manning.
There are great legal minds, even greater legal minds, and then there is Michael Wolkind QC. A claim of Michael Wolkind's website
Judge Lawton said the comments demonstrated a complete lack of empathy for those with visual impairment and found the charge proved.
Andrew Moran QC, for the Bar Standards Board, had said Wolkind accused his Mr Altman of making random attacks in his closing speech, adding: We say thats a straightforward attack on Mr Altman.
Imposing a fine, Judge Lawton said: We have to sentence you on the findings relating to your own website, all of which were accepted apart from charge seven.
He noted that Wolkind was a highly successful barrister and boasted glowing testimonials from the cream of the profession.
We take into account your early admissions and your genuine remorse.
The panel accepted that Wolkind did not set out to deliberately offend and that he took immediate voluntary steps to take down the offending material.
Judge Lawton also noted that he was of previous exemplary character and was more interested in the cause of justice than in financial reward.
But he added that the charges proved were likely to undermine confidence in the profession, concluding: We believe the appropriate sanction on [the six charges admitted] is a formal reprimand and a 1,000 on charge seven.
Wolkind, who became a barrister in 1976 and a QC in 1999, represented Norfolk farmer Tony Martin in his successful murder appeal and has been described in The Legal 500 as brilliant at cross-examination.
He admitted six charges relating to claims on his website about being the UKs top criminal barrister and the UKs top criminal QC and also being the UKs top murder barrister and QC.
Wolkind denied professional misconduct relating to alleged personal comments against prosecution counsel in the trial of R v Ekaireb, which was found not proved.
He also denied professional misconduct relating to comments in a harassment trial that his client was unwilling to take it lying down unlike, sadly, his wife did throughout the affair, which was also found not proved.
A charge relating to a testimonial on his website saying he could get Stevie Wonder a driving licence was found to amount to professional misconduct.
Two charges relating to being absent from court during the summing up in the Ekaireb trial and claims Wolkind had appeared as leading counsel in more murder cases than any other criminal barrister practitioner were dismissed as having no case to answer.
A Syrian Christian family of eight were sent back to Damascus after they landed in Philadelphia due to Donald Trump's travel ban.
The Abu Assaleh family had waited 13 years for visa approvals to come to the US and had traveled nearly 24 hours from war-ravaged Syria before their visas were revoked at Philadelphia International Airport on Saturday due to Trump's immigration ban.
They were brimming with excitement to begin their new life in the US and meet up with other relatives but as they shuffled through the airport, an immigration official approached them and asked to see the family's passports.
'They took us into a special hallway and I started to get nervous,' Josephine Abu Assaleh said.
'The officer came back and told us that our visas had been cancelled and we wouldn't be allowed to enter the United States.'
Josephine Abu Assaleh and her family had their visas revoked at Philadelphia International Airport, on Saturday. The Christian Syrian family of eight waited 13 years to come to the United States
In a split second, hopeful anticipation turned to shock and devastation, as the family was informed they would be sent back to Syria after US President Trump's new restrictions on immigration.
'I told the officer "You're kidding, right?", and he responded "Do I look like I'm kidding?",' Josephine said.
Trump's executive order, signed Friday, bars entry to the US for travelers from seven mainly Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - for 90 days.
Josephine Abu Assaleh (left) talks with her niece Sara after they were sent home due to the new immigration ban in the US. Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that banned seven countries, including Syria from entering the country
On Friday, they had traveled from Damascus to Beirut, then Amman and on to Doha, before finally landing at Philadelphia International Airport.
'The whole trip took more than 20 hours of travel,' 60-year-old Mrs Abu Assaleh told AFP at her home in the Tijarah district of Damascus, just hours after arriving back in Syria with her relatives.
She traveled to the US with her husband Bassam, his brother Hassaan and Hassaan's wife and four children.
After traveling nearly 24 hours, the family is now back in Damascus. Josephine bought presents for friends in the US and said she can't bring herself to unpack the suitcases containing the gifts (pictured)
Trump's ban also suspends the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, and Syrian refugees indefinitely.
Josephine rubbed at the dark circles under her eyes and gestured to nearly 20 packed suitcases scattered across the house.
'We spent around 15 days shopping, buying gifts for our friends there. We were so happy while we were packing our suitcases,' she said.
'After this exhausting trip, I can't bring myself to open the suitcases and take out the gifts, but I know I have to.'
Her grey-haired husband Bassam, 62, showed the US visa printed into his passport was now marred with a thin blue line to show it had been cancelled.
'It was such a happy feeling to get a visa to America, considering so many countries are fighting us and won't give us visas,' he said.
The passports of the Abu Assaleh family sit on a table in their Damascus home. They had family had been applying to emigrate to the United States since 2003 and the visas were finally issued in October
His family had been applying to emigrate to the United States since 2003, and the visas were finally issued in October.
'We traveled on January 27 and arrived in Philadelphia where we found, to our surprise, that a decision had been issued to cancel our visas while we were in the air,' he said.
'We thought it was something personal against us,' he said.
Their 20-year-old niece Sara was glued to her cellphone on a nearby sofa, reading news of fellow Syrians being turned back at other US airports.
After receiving their immigration visas in October, Sara's parents sold their home and their car in Damascus.
Pictured: The countries that are barred from entering the United State's following Trump's executive order on Friday that banned immigration from seven countries
Sara said: 'I said goodbye to my friends in school, my neighbors, and all the places that I love,' and began imagining a new life.
'It was a beautiful dream that started turning into reality. I started to read a lot about America, the university that I wanted to enroll in and the places I would visit as soon as I arrived.'
Most of all, she was excited at the prospect of being reunited with her brother Tufiq, who left Syria three years ago to study in the US and had been waiting impatiently in Philadelphia airport's arrivals lounge.
She added: 'The most difficult moments were in the airport, when the police wouldn't let my mother go out to meet my brother, whom she hadn't seen in three years.
President Donald Trump (pictured Saturday) signed an executive order providing for 'extreme vetting' of immigrants and visa holders
'There were just a few yards between my brother and my mother, who collapsed in tears because she wanted to wrap my brother in her arms but couldn't.'
After pleading fruitlessly with airport officials, Sara's family was escorted to a departing aircraft without seeing Tufiq.
'I thought my father was going to have a heart attack. We couldn't eat or sleep on the plane ride back,' Sara said.
'We weren't allowed to have a lawyer or a translator.
Senior House Judiciary Committee staffers helped produce President Donald Trump's controversial immigration ban, even as top lawmakers and cabinet heads were left in the dark.
The aides were required to sign nondisclosure agreements as they labored in secret to help draft the ban, Politico reported.
Trump's transition brought in the Hill aides during the transition, while it was still rushing to staff the administration.
Their involvement occurred without the knowledge of party leadership and without a sign-off from their direct boss. A committee aide told the publication that House Judiciary Committee chairman Robert Goodlatte was not 'consulted by the administration on the executive order.'
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R) wasn't consulted on President Donald Trump's immigration order. But members of his staff assisted in its drafting
'Like other congressional committees, some staff of the House Judiciary Committee were permitted to offer their policy expertise to the Trump transition team about immigration law,' said a House Judiciary Committee aide said in a statement. 'However, the Trump Administration is responsible for the final policy decisions contained in the executive order and its subsequent roll-out and implementation.'
Congressional staff are permitted to work on campaigns, provided they do so on their own time.
The involvement of senior Hill aides became known even as a series of top government officials, from panel chairmen to the heads of affected agencies said they were not involved.
Many top lawmakers and agency officials have said they were only briefed on the order Friday, either as it was being released or immediately before or after.
Senior House Judiciary Committee staff participated in the drafting of the order. A Senate Judiciary Committee aide helped with an early draft, according to reports. Reps. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, are pictured at a House Judiciary Committee hearing
Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport
Defense Secretary James Mattis (C) welcomes Jordan King Abdullah at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, U.S. January 30. Mattis reportedly was not consulted during the drafting of the executive order affecting seven Muslim-majority nations
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker of Tennessee, who was under consideration to be Trump's secretary of state, was among those kept out of the loop in drafting an order that set off protests across the Atlantic and rattled some Middle East allies while drawing responses from foes.
'I know that they said they talked with some staffers on the Hill not in our office,' Corker told the Washington Post.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley of Iowa, who maintains a robust oversight staff, said he couldn't confirm whether his staff was consulted.
'I'm sure if they said they consulted us, they did,' Grassley said, the paper reported. 'But not me personally.'
An aide said a Grassley committee aide worked along with other aides on an early draft of the order, but not the final order, according to a Senate GOP aide.
Activists stage a rally against President Donald Trump's 90-days ban of entry on 7 Muslim-majority countries in the Fourth terminal of JFK airport in New York
Also left out of the process were new agency heads, including Defense secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security chief John Kelly.
It was revealed Monday that Pentagon chiefs are drawing up a list of Iraqis who have assisted the United States who would be exempted from a 90-day seven-country ban in an effort to modify the order that Trump signed and released Friday night.
Those Iraqis who served the United States as drivers, interpreters, or in other roles would be exempted from the new ban, which went into effect as soon as it was issued Friday night.
A list being drawn up by the Pentagon Mattis could number thousands of people, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Congressional staff worked over the weekend to ascertain what was in the order and how to enforce it.
The order took immediate effect once it was signed, causing immigrants subject to its 90-day ban affecting seven countries to be detained at U.S. airports.
Early White House guidance was that the ban would affect Green Card holders, although this was later withdrawn. In the immediate aftermath, federal judges issued orders to stop deportations, while lawmakers clashed with customs and border agents about how to enforce the ban.
An angry father has hit out at his daughter's 'draconian' school after she was excluded from classes for dying her hair purple.
Kevin Wilcox says his 14-year-old daughter Amy is 'expressing herself' and did not realise it would get her punished.
He has taken her out of school and vowed to dye her hair purple again in protest at Severn Vale School in Gloucester putting her in isolation.
Kevin Wilcox is angry his daughter Amy was put in isolation at school for dying her hair
Mr Wilcox, 55, said: 'I'm going to make sure her hair is the dyed purple again because of the way Severn Vale is acting.
'They have said they are not budging and I'm not happy at all.'
Headteacher Richard Johnson said Amy is a 'good student who works hard' but said he was not prepared to change school policy.
Amy, who received glowing reports from teachers at parents' evening a fortnight ago, claims she has been treated unfairly and says there are girls in other year groups with dyed hair.
She said: 'I'm going to stand up for myself because the rules were not made clear when I did it.'
Amy insists other girls have dyed their hair and she didn't the rules were so strict
Mr Johnson said Amy would be taught in isolation, known as the 'gateway', and confirmed she had not been excluded.
The head teacher explained: 'Until she dyes her hair back to a normal colour, she will learn in the gateway, an alternative provisional site.
'She hasn't been excluded - it was her parents' decision to remove her from school. Students will try and push the rules from time to time and they will be given a warning to get it addressed.'
Mr Wilcox, of Tredworth, Gloucester, added: 'I was a pupil in the '70s and there were people with green and blue hair.
'It's draconian - they are applying 1960s standards to 2017. I don't want her to go to a different school but I can't understand their stance on it.'
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he won't roll back federal workplace protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer people, giving a rare nod of approval to President Barack Obama's work on the issue.
In a statement released early morning, the White House said Obama's 2014 executive order prohibiting LGBTQ workplace discrimination would remain intact 'at the direction' of Trump.
The announcement came just hours before Trump was to announce his pick for the Supreme Court.
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President Donald Trump's White House announced today that they would keep in place LGBTQ workplace protections that apply to the federal government and contractors
That nominee, if confirmed by the Senate, would have a say in potential court challenges to gay marriage rights.
The Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, but efforts are underway in some states to try to restrict the scope of the decision.
'President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election,' according to the White House statement.
'The president is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.'
The Trump administration has vowed to gut much of President Barack Obama's work from the past eight years and had been scrutinizing the 2014 order.
Obama's directive protects people from LGBTQ discrimination while working for federal contractors.
Human Rights Campaign, an opponent of the Trump administration, said it isn't convinced of the president's commitment to LGBTQ rights.
LGBTQ activists are still not enthused about President Donald Trump's pick of Mike Pence, who championed a controversial religious liberty bill in Indiana. Here they protest outside his home
Organizers hosted a 'Queer Dance Party' outside of Vice President-elect Mike Pence's rented Chevy Chase home, as they still object to his views on gay rights
HRC President Chad Griffin said Trump 'has left the key question unanswered will he commit to opposing any executive actions that allow government employees, taxpayer-funded organizations or even companies to discriminate?'
During the campaign while Trump expressed a willingness to follow in Obama's footsteps, his pick of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate worried activists.
Pence has championed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act while serving as governor of Indiana, which said that the government could not 'burden a person's exercise of religion.'
Progressives feared that would permit lawful discrimination of LGBTQ citizens.
That wound was still open as Pence made his way to Washington.
When he and his family temporarily moved into the tony, liberal, neighborhood of Chevy Chase, neighbors flew rainbow flags as a way to protest the social conservative and support the LGTBQ community.
An Iranian-Australian schoolboy who was denied a US visa so he could attend 'space camp' has now been granted entry to the country and plans to visit the White House.
Pouya Ghadirian, who was born in Australia and holds dual Iranian-Australian citizenship by descent, was planning to go on his dream trip to Alabama.
But just before his visa interview on Monday, the 15-year-old selective state school student was told his application had been rejected 'due to the new presidential proclamation' which bans people from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
However, the Australian Ambassador to the US has now revealed that Australians who have dual nationalities involving the affected countries will not be hit by President Donald Trump's sweeping executive order.
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Iranian-Australian schoolboy Pouya Ghadirian was denied a US visa so he could attend 'space camp' but has now been granted entry to the country
Pouya, who was delighted by the news, said: 'I'm going to Washington and I will go past the White House.
'That will be pretty exciting,' he told 9 News.
He had previously said that consulate staff were 'very apologetic' when they rejected his visa under 'the President's orders'.
'As someone who was born in Australia and hasn't lived anywhere else but Melbourne, I didn't expect to not be let into the U.S,' Pouya told the Today Show on Tuesday.
'I was quite upset actually'.
'They said that it was the president's order and they had no control,' he added.
Pouya Ghadirian, who was born in Australia and holds dual Iranian-Australian citizenship by descent, was planning to go on his dream trip to 'space camp' in Alabama
The teenager, who attends Melbourne High School, was concerned that Australians with sick relatives in the U.S. could be banned from visiting them.
'I won't get into any politics and I'm not taking any sides. But I just think that this policy should be reviewed very fast within the next few days,' he said.
Pouya was planning to go on 'space camp', a dream trip to the U.S. with his school, where he would visit Orlando in Florida, Washington, and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Alabama.
His visa interview was set for Monday morning.
But on arriving at the U.S. Consulate office in Melbourne with his dad, things soon turned sour after the consulate officers said the rules had changed.
'They were a bit shocked and they didn't know how to handle it. They said they had terrible news,' he says.
President Trump (pictured) has issued an executive order banning the US from taking in people from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia
'They said it was the first time it had happened in an Australian embassy.'
Pouya, who is beginning his Year 11 studies at Melbourne High School this week, says he and his dad reacted emotionally to the news.
'I cried at the consulate and I don't normally,' he says.
'[My dad] was upset as well because he was saying, "look we've had no criminal record and we've done nothing wrong".
'I have an Australian citizenship. I was born here. It doesn't make sense and it can't be right.'
Pouya (pictured) said he was planning to go on 'space camp', a dream trip to the U.S. with his school but was told by the U.S. Consulate office in Melbourne on Monday the rules had changed
Mr Trump has issued an executive order banning the US from taking in people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
Despite the visa ban, a statement released by the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday, said all Australian passport holders remain welcome to travel to the US.
'The White House has confirmed the US Executive Order of January 27 will not affect any Australian passport holder irrespective of their country of birth or whether they hold another passport,' the statement read.
On Monday, Mr Turnbull refused to comment on Trump's controversial ban on Muslim-majority travel to the United States
'It's not my job as Prime Minister of Australia to run a commentary on the domestic policies of other countries,' Mr Turnbull said.
But on Tuesday Mr Turnbull said he confirmed with White House that Australian passport holders, including dual nationals, can enter the United States.
'Australian passport holders will be able to travel to the United States in the same way they were able to prior to the executive order,' Mr Turnbull told Sky News.
The US Embassy has been contacted for comment.
On Tuesday Mr Turnbull said he confirmed with White House that Australian passport holders, including dual nationals, can enter the United States
A woman who was stabbed to death by her estranged husband after he was bailed for allegedly torturing her did not know he was applying to be released, it has been claimed.
Dave Bradford, 52, and wife Teresa Marie Bradford, 40, were found dead in their Pimpama home, on the Gold Coast in Queensland, by police on Tuesday morning.
Bradford is believed to have broken into the family home - in breach of his bail conditions - and stabbed her to death in front of their children before killing himself.
He allegedly choked Ms Bradford, before tying her up and beating her unconscious on November 28 last year but he was released on bail on January 12.
However, friends of the mother-of-four said she did not know Bradford was applying for bail until after he was released and that she spent her final days scrambling to find a new home so he would not track her down.
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Teresa Marie Bradford, 40, was found dead in her Pimpama home by Queensland police on Tuesday morning after three of the couple's children raised the alarm with neighbours
Two weeks after being released on bail for serious domestic violence charges, Dave Bradford, 52, was found dead in suspected murder suicide
Ms Bradford's friend April Trengove told Daily Mail Australia that the authorities had failed her.
'The system didn't even tell her he was released until she found out hours later. The system could not get one thing right.
'This is why this happens and this is why she is not here and those babies lost their mum.'
Another friend, Karina Mason, told the ABC that Ms Bradford had a series of house viewings lined up as she desperateley sought to move home.
'She was actually due to look at five houses this week because she knew she needed to move out of the house they were living in together and she needed to move so he didn't know where they were,' Ms Mason said.
The friend added that the choking incident in November was serious and that Ms Bradford could have died.
'She did fight very hard for her life that day, and she did talk him down and she was able to call for an ambulance,' Ms Mason said.
According to the Courier Mail, Ms Bradford told police that her husband had slapped her before trying to drag her into a bedroom.
She claimed he threatened to kill himself before taping her mouth shut and punching her in the face until she was out cold.
Ms Bradford also alleged that her husband pinned her down for 25 minutes before grabbing a knife, box cutter and rope and threatening to tie her up.
He reportedly later admitted to slapping her and claimed he thought she was cheating on him. Daily Mail Australia is not claiming Ms Bradford was being unfaithful.
Bradford was charged with a number of violent offences following the incident, including domestic violence-related common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm, choking or strangulation, and deprivation of liberty, accoriding to the Courier Mail.
'She was scared and tried to get assistance but no one helped her and her kids,' a unnamed friend said of Ms Bradford
Authorities were initially called to the scene following reports of a disturbance, but a neighbour said they hadn't heard anything in the hours before the gruesome discovery
As part of his bail conditions, Bradford had to stay at a hotel in Brisbane, report to police and stay 100m away from Ms Bradford unless they were appearing in court.
They had four children together, aged between nine and 17 years old. Three of them were in their home when their mother was murdered and ran to a neighbour's house to raise the alarm.
Friends of the much loved Ms Bradford describe a woman with 'a heart of gold' and who was always there to help and give warm words of encouragement, but was failed by the system.
'She was scared and tried to get assistance but no one helped her and her kids,' an unnamed friend told Daily Mail Australia.
Bradford was charged with a number of violent offences against Ms Bradford on November 28 last year
'I can't believe he was allowed out on bail to do it again.'
A childhood friend, called Debbie, told A Current Affair that the authorities had no excuse for allowing Bradford out on bail.
She said she took Ms Bradford to hospital in November after her husband's 'nearly killed her'.
'She was scared,' Debbie said. 'She was going to find another place to move so her and the kids were safe.
'The system has let her down a lot. It makes me angry because I've lost a close friend.
'I can't get my head around [the court releasing this man]. There's no excuse for this. He shouldn't have done what he did and the police should have kept him in jail.'
Another friend expressed her guilt for not telling the mother-of-four to come stay with her when Bradford was released on bail.
'You were so scared,' she posted on Facebook.
'I really regret not telling her to come here last week. He wouldn't have found them here.'
Another friend who knew Ms Bradford from their teaching days, said Ms Bradford had been studing for a nursing degree at Griffith University.
'She was a kind, beautiful person who was always there to help,' Liv Kronsteiner told Daily Mail Australia.
'She was an amazing mother.'
Ms Kronsteiner said there had been an 'insane history of violence and abuse'.
The white suburban home in Pimpama at the centre of police investigations where Dave and Teresa Marie bradford, 40, were found dead
Police have established a crime scene on the street as forensic investigators look for clues to what led to this fatal incident
Friend Nikki Searle said Ms Bradford's life had been 'tragically cut short at the hands of a cowardly monster'.
'She had a heart of gold and was always there to help others,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'She was always caring, had a smile or a laugh ready. I couldn't imagine her ever saying a bad word about anyone.
'Even with what she endured over the last few months I wouldn't say anything she said or posted on Facebook was hateful or overly negative. She just wanted to move on with her life with her kids that she cherished.
'In the last few weeks she was very fearful for her life ... but she kept going and used her network of friends to help her.
'I know some of her close friends were helping her with getting the kids ready for school. She wasn't really one to ask for a handout but the pressure of the situation was getting dire.'
Authorities were initially called to the Pimpama scene following reports of a disturbance.
Bradford was not living in the family home and it is believed he broke in.
But a neighbour said they hadn't heard anything in the hours before the gruesome discovery.
Bradford was out on bail at the time of the his and Ms Bradford's death in a suspected murder-suicide
'Enquires are in their infancy,' Detective Inspector Mark Thompson Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch said at the scene (Pictured: Forensic officers examining the house)
'We didn't hear anything or see anything,' a neighbour told The Courier-Mail.
'A little bit scary ... it's very quiet. There's nothing really ever happening, there's no commotions, so this is a pretty crazy thing to have happened.'
'Enquires are in their infancy,' Detective Inspector Mark Thompson of Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch said at the scene.
'There doesn't appear to be any firearms or weapons of that nature to have been involved in this offence,' Mr Thompson said.
Paramedics were called to the scene, but an ambulance spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that no one was required to be transported to hospital.
Police have established a crime scene on the street as forensic investigators look for clues to what led to this fatal incident.
It's understood three of the couple's children alerted neighbours to the tragedy before police arrived at the scene
One in three migrants from the Middle East and North Africa are unemployed, new figures show.
People from predominantly Muslim nations are still without work during their first five years in Australia.
Middle Eastern and North African migrants have a 33.5 per cent jobless rate, which is six times higher than the national average, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows.
Muslim jobseekers face discrimination for wearing a head scarf (pictured), an academic says
Muslim job seekers are often discriminated against, the University of Newcastle's Terry Lovat said.
'The name "Mohammad" could put people off and women have an issue if they wear the hijab,' the emeritus professor told The Daily Telegraph.
By comparison, Australian-born workers have a 5.5 per cent unemployment rate, figures cited by the report said.
After five to nine years in Australia, migrants from the Middle East and North Africa still had an unemployment rate of 17.5 per cent.
This is significantly higher than the jobless rate for South-East Asians (3.6 per cent) and southern and eastern Europeans (1.9 per cent).
Australian National University economist Bob Gregory said most Middle Eastern migrants were refugees with little English while most Asians had studied in Australia.
'Refugees have very high unemployment and this lasts for a very long time,' he said.
Incidentally, U.S. President Donald Trump's temporary ban on migration targets seven Muslim-majority nations in the Middle East and North Africa - Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Somalia.
Migrants from the Middle East and North Africa are more likely to be visiting Centrelink for unemployment benefits
The backyard of a Hollywood Hills home slid downhill toward three residences, knocking out power in the neighborhood.
Mud and debris buried two power poles and took down power lines, leaving about 422 residents without power, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said.
Electricity was restored to most customers in the 8100 block of Laurel View Drive, near Crescent Heights Boulevard by 8pm, according to ABC 7.
The backyard of a Hollywood Hills home slid downhill toward three residences, knocking out power in the neighborhood
Mud and debris (top center) buried two power poles and took down power lines, leaving about 422 residents without power, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said. The Los Angeles Fire Department (pictured) said an estimated 20 tons of earth came fell down the hill
At least one vehicle was buried in the landslide and the actual homes didn't have major damage, officials said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) told the station that an estimated 20 tons of earth came fell down the hill.
Authorities released search dogs to check the rubble for people who may have been trapped, but they didn't find any.
However, some homeowners were trapped inside their homes.
Residents also reported a gas leak in the neighborhood and a crew from Southern California Gas Co turned off the gas at homes affected by the landslide, according to ABC.
They said the debris also buried the natural gas meter set assembly at a fourth home on Laurel View.
Five homes were evacuated as a precaution, according to KTLA.
LAFD spokesman Erik Scott told KTLA that things could have 'been much worse'.
Some people were walked out of their homes by fire crews because they were unable to exit on their own. No one was injured in the incident. On Tuesday afternoon, a city worker assessed a street where the landslide occurred
Two homes (pictured) are still being evaluated for additional risks of possible damage for another potential landslide
'We have predominantly backyards that are affected. Some individuals that were trapped, but we're evacuating them out now.'
Some people were walked out of their homes by fire crews because they were unable to exit on their own. No one was injured in the incident.
Two homes are still being evaluated for additional risks of possible damage for another potential landslide.
The landslide is similar to another incident earlier this year when the backyard of TV host Mario Lopez collapsed onto the street below.
Rainstorms hit California earlier this year and the unlikely weather system has left a trail of destruction.
However, the much needed rain has also provided relief to the region after six years of drought.
Shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook, pictured, warned that trying to 'overturn' the referendum result would risk 'fuelling the rise of the far-right'
Labour MPs were warned by their shadow Brexit minister that trying to block Brexit could cause 'civil unrest' as the party braced itself for all-out civil war over the EU today.
MPs began debating the crucial EU bill that if approved, will notify the EU of Britain's intention to leave.
Dozens of Labour MPs are set to defy their leader Jeremy Corbyn to oppose the legislation, but shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook warned that trying to 'overturn' the referendum result would risk 'fuelling the rise of the far-right'.
And he also warned his colleagues that were MPs to block the Brexit bill, it would 'certainly trigger a snap general election fought solely on the issue of Brexit'.
Writing for the Huffington Post, he told his Labour colleagues that a snap election 'in all likelihood would return a Conservative Government with an increased majority to enact any form of departure they wish - an outcome I think the present Commons makeup gives us a reasonable chance of avoiding'.
The remarkably strong warning to his own colleagues echoed Tory Brexit Secretary David Davis, who kicked off today's long-awaited debate by asking MPs: 'Do we trust the people or not?'
He was speaking to the 54 SNP MPs, 9 Lib Dem MPs and up to 60 Labour MPs who are expected to vote against the EU bill at second reading tomorrow night.
Dozens of Labour MPs are set to defy their leader Jeremy Corbyn to oppose the legislation, but shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook warned that trying to 'overturn' the referendum result would risk 'fuelling the rise of the far-right'. Pictured, Brexit Secretary faces Labour MPs as he opens the debate on the Brexit bill
The number voting against the Article 50 legislation be nowhere near enough to overturn the government's majority.
But the revolt on the Labour benches could deliver yet another major blow on Mr Corbyn's leadership.
Some frontbenchers have indicated they are ready to quit rather than obey a three-line whip. Two frontbenchers have already resigned so they can defy the whip.
Mr Pennycook warned the Labour rebels: 'To seek to nullify the referendum result by parliamentary means risks, in my view, creating further social division, fuelling the rise of the far-right, adding to the alienation already felt by a significant section of the electorate and perhaps even sparking civil unrest in some parts of the country.
'As such, I respectfully disagree with those who maintain that, whatever the potential negative social and political implications, MPs should seek to overturn the result.'
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Kier Starmer, flanked by Jeremy Corbyn left and Matthew Pennycook, right, said Labour had to accept the result of the EU referendum
Mr Pennycook's boss, the shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, admitted: 'For the Labour Party this is a very difficult Bill.'
He said he regretted that the Leave campaign had won the referendum, but dismissed the idea that the result was just 'technical'.
In a plea aimed squarely at Labour MPs, Sir Kier said the party's members were 'above all democrats' and had to 'accept the result'.
'The Prime Minister should not be blocked from starting the Article 50 negotiations,' he added.
A 38-year-old woman claims she was tortured and traumatized at the hands of correctional officers while she was behind bars at Warren County Jail in Cincinnati, Ohio.
She says at least two corrections officers raped her, denied her epilepsy medication reducing her to a 'catatonic and psychotic' state, and attacked her so violently that one of her shoulder bones was 'shattered'.
She was admitted to the prison on May 3, 2013, after turning herself in on a four-year old arrest warrant for deception to obtain drugs.
Eleven days later, the allegations came to light when she was found in her prison cell, naked and covered in her own feces, crying for her mother to hold her.
A 38-year-old woman claims she was tortured and traumatized at the hands of correctional officers at Warren County Jail in Cincinnati, Ohio
According to a civil rights lawsuit, the woman also allegedly was tased, forced to strip, had her running water taken away and was forced to drink from a toilet, The Washington Post reported.
Her attorney Jennifer L Branch said: 'In her cell she's put on her stomach. Three different officers in uniform are present.
'She can see parts of them and can hear their voices and she knows what they did to her,' she told WCPO on Monday.
She is now suing two officers, one by name and one as John Doe, as well as the jail's health administration services and six nurses in a lawsuit filed on Friday.
She alleges that upon entering the prison, she informed medical officials of her medical conditions, including epilepsy, as well as post traumatic stress disorder, battered woman syndrome, and depression.
The woman, who cannot be named, claims that the prison told her attorney that they were providing her medication, though they had not.
Her attorney Jennifer L Branch said: 'In her cell she's put on her stomach. Three different officers in uniform are present'
She reportedly received a mental health evaluation on May 5, but was not given any of her necessary medications, and was not permitted to see a doctor.
On May 7, she began to experience seizures and exhibited 'bizarre behavior' and became unable to communicate and went unconscious. That day, she says the jail doctor ordered her to be given medication but the health administration services still failed to provide them to her.
May 9, she was found unresponsive in the shower, with her pupils dilated, mouth open and eyes rolling in the back of her head.
She was then taken to a hospital for treatment, though one of the prison nurses falsely reported that she was suffering from withdrawal, and did not provide any medical records or information on the victim's condition.
The lawsuit alleges that the prison's health service administrator told the head of the jail that the victim wasn't having seizures and was just 'playing them'.
On May 10, she was taken to a Atrium Medical Center after remaining unresponsive, where a urinalysis was conducted and sperm was found inside of her.
'The only way she would've had that is if it happened at the jail,' Branch continued.
In the three days following her second hospitalization, she became 'catatonic and psychotic', before finally being released from the prison to Summit Behavioral Center.
One of the officers she accuses of sexual assault claims the two had consensual sex.
On May 10, 2013, she was taken to a second hospital after remaining unresponsive, where a urinalysis was conducted and sperm was found inside of her
The lawsuit asserts that 'her incoherence, lack of consciousness, and inability to communicate due to her untreated medical conditions left her vulnerable and unable to defend herself from rape or sexual assault.'
The sexual assault was investigated by another law firm, and the FBI became involved, but no charges ensued.
'The case was filed by another law firm and after about six months they dismissed the case. They didn't give a reason,' Branch said.
Much of the forensic evidence had been destroyed after the prison disposed of her mattress, and investigators additionally not collect evidence from her clothing or cell.
The prison issued a statement in response to the civil suit.
It said: 'The Warren County Sheriff's Office does not comment upon pending legal matters. We believe strongly in pursing legal matters through the Courts, not the media.
'However, none of the citizens of Warren County should take our silence about the lawsuit filed by one of our former inmates as an indication that there is any truth to her allegations. We look forward to defending this case to a conclusion.'
The millionaire businessman who has fallen under the spell of Ukrainian 'Black Widow' Ganna Ziuzina made his fortune in the fashion industry with the celebrity handbag brand Radley, it has emerged.
Ivan Lister has faced scrutiny over his relationship with former lapdancer Ziuzina, who was accused of being involved in the death of her former husband in a hit-and-run accident in Ukraine in 2008.
An inquest into Barry Pring's death last week found that he was unlawfully killed and his devastated family have repeatedly claimed that Ms Ziuzina was to blame.
She is now living quietly in a 700,000 villa in Marbella with Mr Lister and the couple have a toddler daughter together.
The entrepreneur, who has been with Ms Ziuzina since at least 2013, has previously been said to have run casinos and gambling establishments.
Gifted entrepreneur: British businessman Ivan Lister, a divorced father of two, has fallen under the spell of Ukrainian ex-lap dancer Ganna Ziuzina, dubbed the 'Black Widow, who is accused of being involved in the death of her British husband Barry Pring
Ukrainian Black Widow: Internet bride Miss Ziuzina, 38, is accused of being involved in the death of her husband Mr Pring, pictured, who was hit and killed by a car on a dual carriageway in Kiev, Ukraine, in 2008 after a meal with his wife to celebrate their first wedding anniversary
Internet bride: Miss Ziuzina, pictured, was a stripper when Mr Pring, from Exeter, Devon, met her on a website for wealthy men to find a wife. He paid rent on a flat in Kiev and gave her an allowance so that she could stop lapdancing
But MailOnline can reveal he is in fact linked to the prestigious Radley handbag label, and helped to turn it into a multi-million-pound enterprise.
The label, once described by industry bible Drapers magazine as the UKs biggest handbag brand, with its instantly-recognisable Scottie dog logo, is now a favourite of celebrities such as Pippa Middleton, Fearne Cotton and Lily Cole.
Last night, accountant Anthony Corlett, who negotiated the sale of the company to a venture captial firm, said that Lister, said to be 48, was a reputable salesman and trusted colleague.
I have known Ivan for years, he told the MailOnline. He was a nice chap, very efficient and hard working. I havent seen him for a while but I trusted him and had no reason to think otherwise.
The label began when an Australian former architect began selling ethnic bags, manufactured in India under the brand name Hidesign, on a market stall in Camden in 1984.
Backed by manufacturer Tula, it expanded, and designed a range of colourful handbags, with a logo of a West Highland terrier, which was named Radley. Lister, a relative, was appointed sales director in 1999.
New love: Miss Ziuzina is now in a relationship with businessman Mr Lister, who made his fortune in the fashion industry and is credited with helping to turn Radley into a multi-million-pound enterprise
Fresh start: Miss Ziuzina and her new partner Mr Lister live in a 700,000 whitewash villa in a posh resort in Marbella, Spain, where neighbours have described them as being 'very happy'
New life: The couple, who had a daughter together in 2013, live on the resort where shamed publicist Max Clifford and veteran entertainer Des O'Connor have both owned properties
My hippy cousin brought some vegetable-tan leather bags back from his travels in south India, the founder wrote.
I loved the look. It was unique and you couldn't get that kind of thing anywhere else. I wrote to the guy who made them and we decided to start working together.
By then Lister had married ex-wife Sharon in Fife, Scotland, and moved down to London, buying a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Stoke Newington.
The house, in a gated mews development, now worth 900,000, was the couples first step on the property ladder, and the start of their multi-million-pound property portfolio.
Gradually Radley became a household name as celebrities flocked to their first shop in Londons Kings Road, which opened in 2005. That year Lister, now a father of two sons, bought a second property a three-bedroomed house with conservatory in Finsbury Park, which is believed to be rented out for more than 2,000 a month.
Then, in 2006, Phoenix Equity Partners bought a 45 million majority stake in Radley, giving the directors a bumper pay day, and the company moved to a new 18,000 sq ft head office, design studio and showroom, in Camden. Lister invested in his third home, a 1.85 million terraced house in Islington.
However in 2010, he decided to branch out on his own, setting up the accessories brand Ochre Blue, with former senior figures from Radley, including design director Natalie Bolton. The company has since dissolved.
By the pool: Miss Ziuzina has a daughter with wealthy Mr Lister. He owns a property in Islington, north London, for which he paid 1.85million
By then Lister is believed to have separated from his first wife and begun dating the woman dubbed the Black Widow, after her husband Barry Pring was killed by a taxi on their first wedding anniversary.
A coroner ruled last week that Pring had been unlawfully killed after being tricked into standing in the middle of the road after their 2008 dinner in Kiev and was hit by a car travelling at 75mph.
Despite her history she was branded a gold digger by her in-laws, with whom she is embroiled in a battle over his 1.5 million estate Lister fell for her charms and Ziuzina fell pregnant with their daughter, now two.
The fledgling family moved to Marbella in the autumn of 2014 and live in a 700,000 whitewashed villa, in an exclusive orange tree lined estate, where neighbours include TV presenter Des OConnor.
The couple look set to stay in the glamorous resort town: Ziuzina, who now calls herself Julianna Moore, has installed her Ukrainian parents Valeriy, 66, and Olga, 61 in a 150,000 three-bedroom flat, which she also owns.
Sadly that will not stop her making headlines.
Richard De Wit has been charged with the 2013 murder of Briton Sarah Groves
A man charged with slashing Briton Sarah Groves to death in India has told a court he will reveal a secret about her killing to her parents.
Dutchman Richard de Wit is accused of killing the 24-year-old former public schoolgirl in Kashmir in April 2013.
It has been claimed that 7ft de Wit calmly told Sarah's boyfriend that the Devil had taken over his body when he carried out the frenzied attack, but he denies murder.
The long-running trial has stalled again today following 87 hearings. These have seen the case make virtually no progress because the accused has repeatedly sacked his legal team, and Sarah's father said the defendant was 'gaming the system'.
Miss Grove's parents Vic and Kate, from Guernsey, have been campaigning for the trial to come to a quick conclusion and are now willing to meet de Wit, despite being cautious about any possible revelations.
Frustrated Vic was not surprised after the brief hearing in Srinigar, in the Kashmir region of India, today finished with no hope of the trial progressing and fears the case may collapse.
Sarah Groves was 24 when she died after the attack on a houseboat in Kashmir in April 2013
Miss Groves, 24, was staying on a houseboat with her Indian boyfriend Syed Shoda when she was stabbed to death.
She was slashed repeatedly causing two fatal wounds to her neck and lung.
Vic said after the latest frustration: 'This is no shock. There has been a logjam in this case and there are no signs this will be lifted.
'I am beyond frustrated and now have little confidence in the system. The problem is Mr de Wit has no representation and until the court imposes that on him this will not change.
'Due to his mental health he can't represent himself and he keeps getting rid of his lawyers as he is so paranoid.
'We have written to the judge and asked him to appoint a defender for de Wit, as he has the power to do. Why has hasn't done it, I have no idea.
Miss Groves died after being attacked while staying on a houseboat with her boyfriend Syed Shoda
'De Wit appears to be gaming the system. At the moment he is a remand prisoner, which is easier than being a convicted prisoner.'
Vic has travelled to India six times to try and move the case along, but has repeatedly found the legal system frustrating.
Since his last visa ran out, Vic has not renewed it, seeing no point until a more substantial breakthrough in the case.
He said: 'I would be very open to meeting Mr de Wit, as my wife and I have done before.
De Wit, pictured leaving court, has said he will tell Miss Grove's parents a 'secret' about her death
'He is obviously highly intelligent and can think very clearly if he wants to, and so if he remembers something important from four years ago that he would like to tell us we would be happy to hear it.
'But I need more concrete evidence from him that he has something to say. I don't want to book a flight for it to be a complete waste of time.'
Today's hearing lasted less than 10 minutes and handcuffed De Wit was surrounded by a posse of almost a dozen armed policemen.
Sitting Judge Rashid Ali Dar and public prosecutor Syed Maqbool Ahmed were present in the court.
Miss Groves, 24, was killed in April 2013. Dutch tourist Richard de Wit has been accused of her murder
The judge said: 'Richard has to go through regular medical check-ups to keep up with his health and the jail authorities have to make provisions for it.
'Due to the absence of all the witnesses, the court is adjourned and next hearing would be held on February 16.'
Law experts say that the local police have failed to build a water tight case against De Wit and even failed to present witnesses in the court.
On his way out from the court, De Wit remarked that he was innocent and wanted to share some 'details' with the Groves family.
Leaving court, De Wit said: 'I am not guilty. I want to meet Sarah's parents and reveal some things about the case'
He said: 'I am not guilty. I want to meet Sarah's parents and reveal some things about the case.
'I won't say anything in the court but will only meet and tell Mr and Mrs Groves.'
However, police say De Wit once confessed to having committed the murder. But, later, De Wit retracted the confession, claiming that he was under pressure from the officers.
De Wit's medical examinations revealed that he needs 'psychological' help.
On his way out of the courtroom, De Wit said that he has converted to Islam. Kashmir is a Muslim majority state.
He said: 'I am trying my best to cope up with the case. I converted to Islam long ago to make myself comfortable with the people around.
'I am looking for a lawyer who could defend my case but there is no one.'
Despite 87 court hearings following the killing, very little progress has been made, and Miss Grove's family are campaigning for a quick resolution
De Wit had arrived at the lake two days before the murder, and was staying in a separate cabin on the same boat as Miss Groves, a former bank worker.
She was found at around 3am by Mr Shodas brother Irfan and father Abdul.
Irfan said she had desperately tried to phone for help during the attack and was found lying on her bed, clutching her phone and with cuts on her fingers.
Officers said they had not ruled out sexual assault because the victims clothes had been torn. After the attack, de Wit fled in a stolen rowing boat, which capsized.
De Wit claims to have no access to basic provisions in prison, where he is being held after being accused of murder
He swam to shore and was picked up by police, carrying his passport and with no shoes, 50 miles away in Qazigund after flagging down a taxi.
De Wit claims to have no access to basic provisions in prison. His monthly expense in the prison is said to be 20 which he receives from his mother through the Dutch embassy.
Sarah's boyfriend did not appear in court today, and has since avoided speaking to the press.
A third prosecutor - Advocate Syed Maqbool Ahmad - was appointed in January and has vowed that he wants an outcome 'as soon as possible'.
The judge - the second so far - is also set to step down this year.
The case has even stalled for 19 months and not heard evidence from a single witnesses.
Her family have been fighting a campaign to finally bring the case to a conclusion.
There have been a number of delays to the case including witnesses not attending court and the judge being ill.
The court has been hit by witnesses failing to attend court and the judge being ill or on leave.
Civil unrest in the region has also hampered proceedings - with no activity in 63 hearings.
Of the 46 listed witnesses, only 23 have been fully examined and cross-examined and no witnesses have been heard since September 2015.
A British teenager who died after falling from the balcony of his high-rise apartment in Sydney has been identified as Kieran Jones.
The 18-year-old, who was in Australia on a working tourist visa, had been our drinking with his new flatmates before he fell to his death around 3.30am on Saturday, police told Daily Mail Australia.
Kieran had recently moved into the 16th floor apartment at Saunders Street in Pyrmont.
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Kieran Jones (pictured) has been identified as the British teenager who died after falling from the balcony of his 16th floor apartment in Sydney on Saturday
The 18-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after he fell from his new apartment on Saunders Street, Pyrmont (pictured) before 3.30am on Saturday
The 18-year-old's devastated family confirmed he had died in a Facebook post on Monday.
'It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of Kieran Jones,' they wrote.
'The entire family are devastated and we are sorry if you have to find out this way.
'We will keep everyone updated with the funeral arrangements when we have more information to provide. We would like to thank everyone for your support throughout this difficult time and wish to extend our love to all his wonderful friends.'
The 18-year-old (pictured), who was in Australia on a working tourist visa, had been our drinking with his new flatmates at a party before he fell around 3.30am
His devastated family confirmed Kieran (pictured) had died in a Facebook post on Monday
Kieran, a British national, died at the scene in Sydney's CBD
Police said they are investigating if he fell as a result of 'misadventure,' a spokesperson said
Acting Inspector Peter Northey told The Daily Telegraph Kieran had been drinking with flatmates at a party before they all returned home together and the 18-year-old stepped out onto the balcony.
'They've seen him out on the balcony and the next thing they've known they've heard a noise and found that he had fallen,' he said.
'The flatmate who saw it happen has raised the alarm and they've all run down and one has begun CPR. At this stage it is very early in the investigation, but we are thinking misadventure. He had been consuming alcohol earlier in the night, but we don't know his level of intoxication.'
A friend of the deceased teenager was filmed by Seven News clearly in shock afterwards with his head in his hands.
Kieran was pronounced dead at the scene.
Friends who saw Kieran (pictured) fall ran down and started performing CPR after he fell
Police are speaking to 'a number of witnesses' as the investigation continues, officials said
Police said they do not know how intoxicated Kieran was at the time
A neighbour told the Daily Telegraph he heard a loud noise before finding the man's body outside.
'I heard the thud and thought someone had thrown a TV out of the window or something,' he said.
'I went down to see what happened and saw the guy laying there with blood coming out of this mouth.'
Another neighbour, Paul Rowlatt, said he heard a huge thud before going outside to see what had happened.
Tory big beast Ken Clarke branded his own party 'anti-immigrant' and warned against relying on 'that nice man Trump' as he vowed to oppose Brexit today.
In an impassioned speech as MPs debated the EU Bill, the former chancellor mocked those with a 'wonderland' vision of life outside the bloc.
Confirming he will vote against the legislation to trigger Article 50, Mr Clarke said he did not believe in referendums and did not feel bound by the historic result last year.
Ken Clarke's passionately Europhile speech during the debate did not seem to impress fellow Tories Desmond Swayne (left) and Sir Gerald Howarth (right)
Veteran Mr Clarke confirmed he would vote against triggering Article 50 and complained that his party had become 'mildly anti-immigrant'
The long-standing Europhile said he regarded Enoch Powell as the best Eurosceptic speaker he had seen.
But he argued that even Powell was have been surprised that the Conservatives had become anti-EU and 'rather mildly anti-immigrant in a very strange way'.
Taking aim at the image of Brexit portrayed by the government and the Leave campaign, Mr Clarke said: 'We are combining withdrawal from the single market and the customs union with this great new globalised future, which offers tremendous opportunities for us.
'Apparently you follow the rabbit down the hole and you emerge in a wonderland where suddenly countries around the world are queuing up to give us trading advantages and access to their markets that previously we had never been able to achieve as part of the European Union.
'Nice men like President Trump and President Erdogan are just impatient to abandon their normal protectionism and give us access.
'Don't let me be too cynical - I hope that is right. I want the best outcome for the United Kingdom from this process.
'No doubt there is somewhere a Hatter holding a tea party with a dormouse.'
David Davis kicked off the crucial EU Bill debate in the House of Commons today with a stark warning to MPs against attempting to block Article 50.
The text will be at the heart of the impending 'hand to hand combat' in parliament - sparked by the Supreme Court's ruling that Theresa May cannot use executive powers to invoke Brexit
Theresa May and Boris Johnson (pictured in the chamber today) have warned Labour and the SNP not to try to block the EU Bill
The House of Commons will debate the EU Bill today, and votes on the second reading will take place tomorrow night
The Brexit Secretary said those considering trying to wreck legislation that will launch the process of cutting ties with Brussels should ask themselves: 'Do we trust the people or not?'
Getting the two-day debate under way, Mr Davis said it was the 'most straightforward, simple' legislation the government could table to begin the process.
'We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the EU. They decided they did. So at the core of this Bill lies a very simple question. Do we trust the people or not?' he said.
'The democratic mandate is clear. The electorate voted for a government to give them a referendum, Parliament then voted to hold the referendum, the people voted in that referendum and we are now honouring the result of that referendum, as we said we would.'
Dozens of Labour MPs are set to defy Jeremy Corbyn to oppose the legislation on a vote scheduled for tomorrow.
Some frontbenchers have indicated they are ready to quit rather than obey a three-line whip.
The SNP and the Liberal Democrats have also made clear they will vote against the Bill.
Tory MPs have been told to stay near Westminster until late tonight in case opponents try to pull procedural tricks.
However, overall there is likely to be a strong Commons majority in favour.
Speaker John Bercow has selected an SNP 'wrecking' amendment which would delay Article 50 on the grounds that the Government has failed to provide for consultation with devolved administrations, to publish a White Paper on its negotiating strategy or to answer a range of questions about the implications of withdrawal from the single market, and has not assured MPs of a meaningful vote at the end of the negotiation process.
A pensioner has snagged himself the trip of a lifetime after his heartbreaking Gumtree ad seeking a 'fishing mate' went viral.
Ray Johnstone, 75, posted on the online classifieds site last week seeking a fellow lonely angler to enjoy regular days out in waters around Adelaide.
Since then he has been flooded with responses, such as the one from Brisbane man Mati Batsinilas, 22, who offered him an all-expenses paid fishing trip off Stradbroke Island in Queensland.
Ray Johnstone, 75, posted on the online classifieds site last week seeking a fellow lonely angler to enjoy regular days out in waters around Adelaide
Mr Johnstone said he was looking for a friend to fish with after his previous friend passed away
Mr Batsinilas, a keen fisherman himself, told The Advertiser he was happy to pay for the flights from South Australia to Brisbane, and even pick up Mr Johnstone from the airport.
'This is just something where I feel like I can help and I do it with passion. I want him to have the best experience of his life,' Mr Batsinilas said.
Speaking of the overwhelming response to the ad Mr Johnstone said: 'It's a true Aussie story, isn't it?'
Mr Batsinilas and his brother Peter are now organising a time for Mr Johnstone and his Grandson Ivan to fly to Brisbane.
Being a keen fisherman himself, Mr Batsinilas (pictured) said was happy to pay for the flights from South Australia to Brisbane, and even pick up Mr Johnstone from the airport
Moved by Mr Johnstone's plea Brisbane man Mati Batsinilas, 22, has offered him an all-expenses paid fishing trip off the coast of Stradbroke Island, Queensland (he is pictured speaking to the media on Tuesday)
The 75-year-old has also been given hundreds of dollars worth of free fishing gear from outlet Boating Camping Fishing, who have come on board as a sponsor for the trip to Stradbroke Island.
The heartwarming story began earlier this week when Mr Johnstone posted an advert on Craigslist looking for a fishing partner.
In it, he explained he was a widower and his previous buddy had died, so he had nobody to head out on the water with.
'What I want is a fishing mate in a similar position to myself who also wants someone to go fishing with,' he wrote.
Mr Batsinilas and his brother Peter are now organising a time for Mr Johnston and his Grandson Ivan (pictured with Ray Johnstone) to fly to Brisbane
The 75-year-old was also gifted hundreds of dollars worth of fishing gear from outlet Boating Camping Fishing
The former toolmaker and quality control officer said he usually went fishing from land and had all the gear, but was happy to head out on the water.
He even offered to pay all the ramp fees if his new mate had a boat, in addition to splitting petrol, bait and other costs.
Mr Johnstone's ad, including a photo of himself and picturesque shots of his favourite fishing spots, was viewed more than 15,000 times.
The great-grandfather-of-nine left his contact details so potential buddies could organise to meet up and 'see if we could get along with each other'.
A disturbing surveillance video released by the Philadelphia Police Department showed a group of men violently beating another man on the street.
Four men were captured on security footage approaching a 25-year-old man from behind around 8pm on January 10.
One of the suspects then punches the man in the back of the head, sending him to the ground.
A disturbing surveillance video released by the Philadelphia Police Department showed a group of men violently beating another man on the street. Four men were captured on security footage approaching a 25-year-old man from behind around 8pm on January 10
One of the suspects then punches the man (on the ground) in the back of the head, sending him to the ground
The other three suspects started to kick and punch the victim, who has not been identified, several times. During the attack the suspects made several attempts to take the victim's cellular phone but were unsuccessful
The other three suspects started to kick and punch the victim, who has not been identified, several times.
During the attack the suspects made several attempts to take the victim's cellular phone but were unsuccessful.
The four suspects then fled in an unknown direction, according to police.
The incident took place in the 1200 block of South Broad Street.
Police have urged the public to report an information that may lead to an arrest in the case.
They have also warned residents to not approach the young men and instead, people should contact 911 immediately.
The incident took place in the 1200 block of South Broad Street. Police have urged the public to report an information that may lead to an arrest in the case
They have also warned residents to not approach the young men and instead, people should contact 911 immediately
The woman accused of telling her boyfriend to shoot a crying baby sobbed in court today as she denied the family used the gun to keep her children quiet.
Emma Horseman, 24, has been found not guilty of aiding and abetting GBH in relation to the shooting of 18-month-old Harry Studley after just 40 minutes of deliberation by a jury at Bristol Crown Court.
She was accused of encouraging Jordan Walters to shoot 18-month-old Harry Studley with the telescopic weapon at their flat in Bristol in July last year.
She was alleged to have told him: 'Shoot Harry, just to frighten him, to shut him up, shoot it at Harry.'
A court sketch of Emma Horseman weeping at Bristol Crown Court as she gave evidence (left). Harry Studley showing the swollen side of his head where he was shot (right)
Emma Horseman, 24, was found not guilty of aiding and abetting GBH in relation to the shooting of 18-month-old Harry Studley at Bristol Crown Court this afternoon
Father-of-two Walters thought the weapon - which he was cleaning - was empty so 'aimed the gun at Harry and fired it right into Harry's head', the jury was told.
Walters has already admitted unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on the toddler. Horseman was accused of the same charge on the basis that she aided or abetted an offence.
Horseman, of Hartcliffe, Bristol, showed no emotion when the jury returned the not guilty verdict to the single charge she faced.
Judge Julian Lambert discharged her and said: 'You have been acquitted on the verdict of a jury of your peers.
'You may leave the dock.'
Bristol Crown Court heard that Harry was visiting Horseman's home in Hartcliffe, with his mother, Amy Allen, and older brother Riley when he was shot.
She told the court how Harry was injured as she chatted with her friend Miss Allen in the lounge of her two-bedroom flat.
'I couldn't see what Jordan was doing. All I know was that he was cleaning the gun.
'I know he had the gun out but I couldn't see him,' she said.
Horseman is pictured arriving at Bristol Crown Court today holding a large striped umbrella
Little Harry Studley, then 18-months-old, was left fighting for his life after the incident in which he was shot by Jordan Walters (right)
She denied telling Walters to shoot Harry, telling the jury: 'No, Jordan didn't hear what I said. I can't remember saying that.'
Paul Cook, defending, asked Horseman: 'What was the first you knew about the gun being fired?'
She replied: 'I didn't even know it was. I just looked down and looked up and saw Harry was bleeding. That's all that I can remember. Harry was sat on his mum's lap.
'Jordan said to Amy 'What do I do?' and Amy said 'ring the ambulance' and that's what he did. There was lots of ambulances arriving. It just happened so fast.
'I just remember Harry bleeding and the police turning up. I can't remember anything else.'
Harry was visiting 24-year-old's Walter's flat, which he shared with Horseman (both pictured)
Harry Studley is reunited with the paramedics who saved him when he was shot in the head with an air rifle
Asked how she felt about the incident, Horseman replied: 'Horrible, I felt bad, sick... like that could have been my child.'
Cross-examining Horseman, prosecutor Andrew Macfarlane asked why her account given to the police while interviewed as a witness differed from her evidence in court.
'Because I didn't have a lawyer to help me,' she said. 'I was not in the right frame of mind.'
Jordan Walters (left) left his neighbours' crying toddler fighting for life after he aimed and fired a loaded air rifle into his head after he was asked to 'shut him up' by Emma Horseman (right)
Mr Macfarlane asked Horseman about the firing of an air rifle in her home.
'Is it something that you have found in your family... that the sound of an empty gun discharging does keep the children quiet? Have you tried it?' he asked.
Horseman replied: 'I didn't put anyone in danger. I am not that sort of person. I wouldn't put any children in danger.'
Harry, now aged two, was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
Doctors discovered he had suffered a displaced skull fracture and swelling and bleeding on the brain after being shot in the right temple. The pellet has not been found.
Harry's speech is now developing normally but he suffers from several post-traumatic seizures a day and is being treated with anticonvulsant drugs.
Horseman did not comment as she was driven away from court by members of her family.
Amy Allen, 21, and Edward Studley, 22, whose son was shot in the head with an airgun
Harry's parents, Miss Allen and Edward Studley, also did not comment as they left court hand in hand.
Speaking last year, Miss Allen said: 'It's been a hard and emotional time for the family and everyone that's been supporting us.
'It's been difficult for them to see Harry the way he was and it's still hard for them now to look at him in hospital and see him in general. It's been an emotional ride for us all.'
Mr Studley said: 'It's going to be a long road to recovery but he's getting there, back to the little boy he was before.
'Thing are going well, he is recovering really well at the moment but things could still go wrong in the future.
'Harry's the boss, it's up to him what he does and how quickly he recovers from all this. Only time will tell. We're there with him every day.'
An army veteran has displayed an effigy of Donald Trump hanging by a noose outside his home in Indiana.
The life-sized doll, which is holding a Soviet flag, was left in a tree at Mike Cunningham's home in Oakdale, Fort Wayne along with signs calling the President a 'disgrace to America'.
A local neighbourhood group says the controversial protest 'crossed a line' - but police say the display is legal since the homeowner has a right to free speech.
An army veteran has displayed an effigy of Donald Trump hanging by a noose outside his home in Indiana
The life-sized doll, which is holding a Soviet flag, was left in a tree at Mike Cunningham's home in Oakdale, Fort Wayne along with signs calling the President a 'disgrace to America'
The army veteran, who has yet to reveal his motives, installed the macabre protest after the inauguration earlier in January.
According to WANE, signs outside the home say 'Just say no to Trump' and 'Trump is a disgrace to America & makes me ashamed I ever served.'
There are other notices warning that the home contains alarms, security cameras and guns.
A local neighbourhood group says the controversial protest 'crossed a line' - but police say the display is legal since the homeowner has a right to free speech
Oakdale Neighborhood President Tom Tiernon told NewsChannel 15: 'We're all for free speech, but we are concerned that a line has been crossed and about what to do next.'
But city police spokesman Michael Joyner said there was nothing police could do since the homeowner had a right to free speech.
Law professor Chuck MacLean from Indiana Tech told NewsChannel15 the First Amendment to the US Constitution as well as Article 1, Section 9, of the Indiana Constitution, protects speech - but only if it is not a call to 'imminent lawlessness.'
The Murdoch brothers are the latest Hollywood heavyweights to condemn President Trump's immigration ban.
In a memo to staff at 21st Century Fox, Lachlan and James Murdoch said they 'deeply' valued diversity and were working with lawyers to help anyone in the company who may have been affected.
'21CF is a global company, proudly headquartered in the U.S., founded by and comprising at all levels of the business immigrants.
'We deeply value diversity and believe immigration is an essential part of Americas strength,' the memo read.
Lachlan (L) and James (R) Murdoch slammed the president's travel ban in a memo to staff at 21st Century Fox on Monday. Rupert Murdoch, who visited Trump last year, has not commented directly on the ban
The memo issued to staff on Monday was later posted on 21st Century Fox's website
They acknowledged their appreciation of workers 'who came to the US in search of opportunity and unfettered self-expression' and said their well-being was their 'top priority'.
'Our immediate focus is on identifying and reaching out to people who may be affected. We are providing them with a range of support, including legal advice and assistance.
'If you have any questions about how you and your family may be impacted, please contact your business unit HR manager,' it said.
The memo was published on 21 Century Fox's website on Monday in a public show of defiance against the new president's position.
Fox owner Rupert Murdoch, who visited the president at Trump Tower before his inauguration and whose ex-wife is a close friend of Ivanka Trump's, has not commented personally on the subject.
Fox News has aired sympathetic interviews with the president and his Chief of Staff Reince Priebus since the new administration took office.
It is largely considered Trump's most loyal ally in the mainstream media.
The immigration ban prohibits citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for 90 days. Visa-holders and people with green cards are among those affected.
President Trump (above on Tuesday) is standing by the ban which prohibits citizens from seven Muslim majority countries entering the US
Murdoch visited Trump at Trump Tower (above waving goodbye to the president's daughter Ivanka) in November before he took office
Murdoch's ex-wife Wendi Deng is a close friend of Ivanka Trump (above together in September) and attended her father's inaugural weekend in Washington
Brothers James and Lachlan said they were working with lawyers to provide legal support to any 21st Century Fox employees affected by the ban
The ban was implemented in an executive order by the president on Friday and has sparked widespread outcry.
Thousands of people protested at airports across the country and business and political leaders abroad have also shared criticism of it.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos revealed on Monday he was working with attorneys to produce a law suit which may undermine the ban.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is working on a suit to file in federal court which claims the ban is separating families and harming 'thousands of residents'.
He will also argue that it damaged Washington's economy and is hurting its 'sovereign interest in remaining a welcoming place for immigrants.'
'No one is above the law not even the President. And in the courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. Its the Constitution,' he said in a statement.
In a memo to staff at The Washington Post, which Bezos owns, the businessman told how he would support Attorney General Ferguson's efforts.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos (above) said he was supporting a lawsuit against the travel ban
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (L) said he was 'concerned' by the ban and Apple boss Tim Cook also issued a memo to staff condemning it
Protests erupted around the world after Trump's ban was implemented on Friday. Above, activists gather in Boston to show their outrage
MURDOCH BROTHERS MEMO Colleagues, With the recent changes to the U.S.s immigration policies, we know this is a time of real uncertainty for many of our colleagues around the world. First of all, we want to assure you that were doing what we can to assist impacted colleagues and their families. While details of the new policy remain in flux in many instances, we do know it has broad implications. The new restrictions impact business travelers and current employees from seven countries for an initial period of 90 days. The current restrictions are not limited to visa holders, but also extend to permanent residents who are citizens of those countries. Our immediate focus is on identifying and reaching out to people who may be affected. We are providing them with a range of support, including legal advice and assistance. If you have any questions about how you and your family may be impacted, please contact your business unit HR manager. 21CF is a global company, proudly headquartered in the U.S., founded by and comprising at all levels of the business immigrants. We deeply value diversity and believe immigration is an essential part of Americas strength. Moreover, as a company that is driven by creativity and innovation, we recognize the unique perspective offered by our many people who came to the U.S. in search of the opportunity for unfettered self-expression. We will continue to monitor developments in what is still a fluid situation. We will keep you informed as we learn more. In the meantime, please know that the well-being of our colleagues is our top priority. Advertisement
Microsoft and Expedia have also vowed to back it.
In Silicone Valley, there has been almost unanimous outrage over the order. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings called the policies 'un-American' and Apple CEO Tim Cook borrowed from Dr Martin Luther King to tell staff: 'We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now.'
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg told a personal tale of how his family was built up by immigrants as he told fans he was 'concerned' about the ban.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged refugees to turn to Canada, telling them they would be welcomed 'regardless' of their faith.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the order 'erodes' the nation's Constitutional rights and joined protests over the weekend against the ban.
Hollywood is just as outraged. The Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday were dominated by talk of the ban.
Actors added safety pins to their red carpet looks and angrily took aim at Trump in acceptance speeches to share their support of those being blocked from entering the country.
Over the weekend, 109 people from the affected countries were detained at airports across the US after the ban was put in place. An additional 173 were stopped from boarding planes bound for America overseas.
A New York federal judge granted a temporary stay blocking the deportation of any of those detained but Homeland Security said it made no impact on the ban.
Zareena Shaid was by her own admission 'eight and a half to nine out of ten drunk
A teacher had to be frogmarched off an Ibiza-bound flight after she hurled a tirade of foul mouthed and racist abuse at fellow passengers following a drinking bout.
Zareena Shaid, 24, called one Afro-Caribbean man a 'f****** n****' and made fun of another holidaymaker, who had a speech impediment after they asked her to quieten down ahead of take-off.
The mouthy party lover - who by her own admission was 'eight and a half to nine out of ten drunk' - had earlier been with three female friends knocking back alcohol in the executive lounge at Manchester Airport.
Passengers were left 'shocked' and feeling 'physically sick' as all four were taken off the plane by police.
As she was led away from the Monarch Airlines A320 airbus, Shaid, from Widnes, Cheshire even defiantly gave passengers the middle finger salute before heading off to the cells.
One witness, Paris Chambers later told police: 'I was left feeling physically sick and shocked. I was placed in fear for my safety and the Asian female in particular who was loud and aggressive.
'At the point she started racially abusing another passenger I felt there was something that needed to be done before we were trapped in the air with these passengers on board.'
Another witness, Amber Ferguson, said: 'I've flown many times and passengers can often be loud and boisterous but I've never experienced something like this. To say I found they're behaviour offensive is an understatement.'
A third passenger Kathleen Johnson, said: 'I've flown numerous times and never experienced any behaviour like this. They had no regard for the other passengers on board. One verbally threatened me for looking in her direction..'
At Manchester magistrates court Shaid sobbed as she admitted racially aggravated harassment and using threatening behaviour
At Manchester Magistrates Court Shaid sobbed as she admitted racially aggravated harassment and using threatening behaviour.
The incident occurred on September 13 last year at 6:15pm when the friends boarded a Monarch aircraft and begun arguing with the row in front of them regarding the noise.
Prosecuting, Carl Miles, said: 'According to witnesses the party had been drinking alcohol in the executive lounge. Initially when they gained entry there were no particular issues but a member of staff was aware there was an argument between the defendant and the row in front.
'Unfortunately it appears the two people who were the main subjects have not provided any statements.
'There's an argument that commences between parties and racial language used by the defendant. The phrase 'f****** n*****' was used towards a black man who said 'just be quiet no one wants to listen to you'. She said 'just shut up you n****'.
'This defendant was very vocal, shouting and swearing. One gentleman reported to a witness, Kathleen Johnson, that he spoke slowly and slurred his words due to a brain injury that caused him to have a speech impediment and they said 'you can't even speak you f****** m**g'.
'It's clearly targeted at his disability.
'Eventually police were called before the flight took off, the aircraft was never in the air. They were removed and the defendant stuck her middle finger up in front of one of the passengers' faces as she was escorted.
'She was arrested and interviewed and described herself as being drunk and she said she was an eight and a half to nine out of ten. She said she would not use threatening or abusive language or racist language because she has been on the receiving end of that in the past.
The mouthy party lover - who by her own admission was 'eight and a half to nine out of ten drunk' - had earlier been with three female friends knocking back alcohol in the executive lounge at Manchester Airport
'She did express remorse and if the witnesses said that it must have happened but she didn't have much recollection.'
Shaid - who has a variety of pouting selfies on her Facebook page has previous convictions for criminal damage, drink driving and car theft. She will be sentenced later.
The Liverpool Hope University but has since lost her job as an 'early years' teacher.
Passing sentence District Judge Nick Sanders told her: 'No one who heard the facts of the case were not shocked by your behaviour on the aircraft those months ago, it was frankly disgusting. The level of your intoxication gave rise to this abuse of passengers, racially aggravated, aggravated by disability was as I said disgusting.
'I work on the basis that often young people make mistakes in life and once they make that they can learn and move on. This case is not your first mistake. You have been in court before for drink driving and criminal damage and yet here you are again.
'The offence crosses the custody threshold. I do take into account you have not been to custody before and your relatively young but custody is inevitable. You need to learn from your mistakes and it's for that reason immediate custody has to be given.'
EU chief Donald Tusk, pictured, issued a rallying cry for the remaining 27 EU member states to unite in order to face up to the controversial, publicly anti-EU US President
European leaders were told today they must not 'pander' to the anti-EU Donald Trump and should instead boast that the Brussels union had made the continent 'the best place on Earth'.
EU chief Donald Tusk issued a rallying cry for the remaining 27 EU member states to unite in order to face up to the controversial, publicly anti-EU US President.
He said the challenges facing the EU were the 'more dangerous than ever before' since the Treaty of Rome 60 years ago, which effectively gave birth to the EU.
And appeared to criticise Theresa May for sacrificing her 'dignity' in deciding to strike up a close partnership with President Trump.
Mr Tusk, who as President of the European Council speaks on behalf of the EU heads of state, said Brexit would leave Britain dependent on global superpowers rather than restore 'mythical' sovereignty from Brussels.
Ahead of an EU summit in Malta later this week, Mr Tusk wrote to EU leaders to say they must 'have the courage to oppose the rhetoric of demagogues' calling for the 'disintegration' of the EU or face following Britain in returning to the 'real and factual dependence on the great superpowers: the United States, Russia and China'.
Calling for European unity to stand up to the likes of President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Tusk wrote: 'Let us show our European pride. If we pretend we cannot hear the words and we do not notice the decisions aimed against the EU and our future, people will stop treating Europe as their wider homeland.
'Equally dangerously, global partners will cease to respect us. Objectively speaking, there is no reason why Europe and its leaders should pander to external powers and their rulers.
European Council president Donald Tusk warned European leaders they must not 'pander' to the anti-EU Donald Trump, pictured
Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, appeared to criticise Theresa May, pictured with him in September outside No10, for sacrificing her 'dignity' in deciding to strike up a close partnership with President Trump
He added: 'I know that in politics, the argument of dignity must not be overused, as it often leads to conflict and negative emotions. But today we must stand up very clearly for our dignity, the dignity of a united Europe - regardless of whether we are talking to Russia, China, the US or Turkey.
'Therefore, let us have the courage to be proud of our own achievements, which have made our continent the best place on Earth.'
Another Brussels boss, the European Parliament chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, also warned about the threat President Trump posed to the EU.
He labelled the US President an 'enemy' of the EU and was a bigger threat to the union than Brexit. 'We are in the middle of an existential crisis for Europe,' he told LBC radio today.
Ahead of the EU divorce talks with Theresa May, he said it would be 'suicide' if the EU offered Britain a better deal than current member states because it would encourage other nations to follow the UK out of the exit door.
Guy Verhofstadt, pictured, the European Parliament's lead Brexit negotiator, the new US President was a 'third front' trying to undermine the EU along with Russian aggression and Islamic extremism
He said: 'What we cannot accept is that we create outside the European Union a better status, a better treatment than for the members inside the European Union. That should be suicide to do so.' 'We should not accept cherry-picking for example'.
Mr Verhofstadt is on a two-day visit to London to promote his new book - Europe's Last Chance - and yesterday made a speech at the influential international affairs think tank Chatham House.
The MEP said the new US President was a 'third front' trying to undermine the EU along with Russian aggression and Islamic extremism.
In contrast, he said Brexit offered a 'golden opportunity' for European leaders to radically reform the bloc's institutions.
'It's playing with fire knowing what it has created in the past, Mr Verhofstadt said in a speech at the Chatham House think tank in central London, reminding people that natinalism had led to the slaughter of millions of Europeans in the world wars and beyond.
'Twenty million people have died because of nationalism in Europe,' he told the central London audience.
Mr Verhofstadt, pictured at the Chatham House think tank in central London today, is one of the biggest supporters of further European for integration and repeatedly criticised Britain's decision to leave
'There is not one family living on the continent and certainly also not in Britain who has no grandfather, grandmother, member of their family, who was not a victim of these stupidities and of these atrocities at the end of the 19th and the whole 20th century.
'So putting your political thinking and your future organisation of Europe on nationalist ideas is the most stupid thing that you can do.'
Mr Verhofstadt said he was drawing up plans to offer British citizens the chance to maintain their EU citizenship after Britain officially cuts ties with Brussels.
The proposals could mean Britons paying to maintain links with the EU and allowing them unrestricted access to labour markets across the continent.
The Belgian politician said he was preparing a resolution to put to MEPs once negotiations start to be 'open and generous' to individual UK citizens.
He said: 'I can tell you I receive every day tens of letters... millions of citizens who are saying 'don't leave us alone, we feel still European citizens, and we want to continue our link to Europe because we are part of the same civilisation'.
'That is what we don't understand in Europe, we have a common heritage - a common civilisation, history, architectural, cultural, literature, you name it.'
Mr Verhofstadt added: 'We are scrutinising, thinking, debating how we could achieve that.
'That individual UK citizens would think their links with Europe are not broken.'
A Romanian lorry driver who smuggled three illegal immigrants into the UK has been jailed by a judge who told him 'Britain - like any country - has a right to control who may enter it'.
Vasile-Viorel Grosu, 37, was driving a lorry across Europe to England when he was approached in a truck park near Poitiers in western France to hide three Albanians - a man and two women - in his lorry.
He was offered money and agreed, but they were caught by Border Force officials on November 4 at Poole Harbour in Dorset.
Judge Brian Forster QC, left, sentenced Vasile-Viorel Grosu, right, to two years in prison
Grosu was sentenced to two years in jail by Bournemouth Crown Court.
Judge Brian Forster QC said: 'This country, like any country, has a right to control who may enter it.
'You did this for financial gain and those you brought in were not family members, they were people who you did not know.
'I take into consideration that you were approached and agreed on the spur of the moment because it was an easy way to obtain money which would have benefited your family.'
Grosu confessed to officers that he had met a Bulgarian man at a truck park in France who asked if he wanted to take people to the UK for extra money, in time for Christmas.
He said he agreed but claimed he didn't know it was illegal or realise the severity of the offence.
Grosu, a Romanian lorry driver, smuggled three illegal immigrants into the UK in his lorry
The court heard Grosu immediately co-operated with officials when the Albanian immigrants were discovered and had no previous convictions.
He let the three people jump into the back of his lorry to the journey.
Officers were carrying out a search when one spotted a hand protruding from under some clothing lying on the top bunk of Grosu's cabin.
Both women were found lying under the clothes and the man was hidden within a void under the lower bunk bed.
The three Albanians were arrested, detained and deported back to Albania on November 6.
Grosu pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to facilitate illegal entry into the UK, a breach of immigration law.
Judge Brian Forster QC said: 'This country, like any country, has a right to control who may enter it'
Speaking through an interpreter the judge added: 'In essence you have assisted unlawful entry into this country by driving a lorry containing three people who were Albanian nationals and who did not have any form of permission to enter the United Kingdom.
'This is a serious offence because it's an easy offence to commit.
'There's a degree of chance as to whether you will be caught because it is not possible to search every single lorry.'
Nick Jupp, from Immigration Enforcement Criminal Investigations, said: 'If Grosu genuinely did not understand the stakes he was playing with when he attempted this criminal act, the custodial sentence handed to him by the courts can leave him under no illusions now.
'This was a gamble that went badly wrong. People smuggling is a vile trade that treats often vulnerable individuals as commodities.
'I hope this case serves as a warning to anyone tempted to get involved with this kind of crime. Working closely with Border Force colleagues we will identify the criminals behind illegal entry attempts and they will be jailed.'
MSNBC cohost Joe Scarborough laced into influential President Donald Trump aide Stephen Miller for the second day in a row Tuesday over the immigration ban, ridiculing him as 'Little Napoleon.'
Scarborough, who maintains close contacts with Trump and met with him as recently as Sunday, tried his hand at Trump-style insults, calling Trump's confidante 'Little Miller,' just as Trump once mocked 'Little Marco' Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
'Little Marco grows a little bit every day in his power in Washington, D.C.' Scarborough said.
'Little Miller now. You can start [calling] him 'Little Miller.' It's not Little Marco anymore, it's Little Miller. Little Miller running around, I think, actually, he's a little Napoleon.'
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough mocked 32-year-old President Donald Trump advisor Stephen Miller as 'Little Napoleon' for what he called his botched handling of an immigration order
The host tore into Miller for keeping senior agency heads out of the loop while drafting Trump's immigration order including the retired generals running the Pentagon and Homeland Security departments.
'And he's thinking he can cut generals? Yeah, there. That's him! He thinks he can't trust General [James] Mattis. This guy you see on your screen thinks General Mattis cannot be trusted,' Scarborough continued.
'This guy you see on your screen thinks General [John] Kelly cannot be trusted. This guy that you see on your screen thinks the director of the CIA cannot be trusted. This guy that you see on your screen thinks that [Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman] Bob Corker cannot be trusted. The guy you see on the screen thinks [House Speaker] Paul Ryan cannot be trusted. [Senate leader] Mitch McConnell cannot be trusted. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee can. Not. Be. Trusted.'
'He thinks he knows better,' cohost Mika Brzezinski joined in.
'He thinks he knows better,' added cohost Mika Brzezinski in reference to White House advisor Stephen Miller
'Little Miller, you don't. You just don't. And you have created a storm that is going to have an impact,' Scarborough continued.
Then he concluded: 'We've got much more to talk about, including whether 'Little Miller' is actually his boss. How about 'Little Napoleon?''
Scarborough had given Miller similarly rough treatment on Monday morning, after a weekend of confusion and protests over the ban, which blocked immigration for 90 days to immigrants from seven countries with Muslim majorities.
Scarborough placed blame for the chaos squarely on Trump's 32-year-old senior advisor, who crafted the order with input from a narrow circle of White House aides.
Scarborough said he met with the president and many members of his team over the weekend, and said it was Miller who was the author of the executive order that is now causing chaos at airports across the country.
The executive order bans all citizens from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Syria from entering the country. It has been widely criticized as being a 'Muslim ban' - something the White House denies.
In addition to the agency heads, GOP leaders and committee chairs were kept in the dark.
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MSNBC's Joe Scarborough (left) blamed the president senior advisor Stephen Miller (right) for this weekend's chaos following the Muslim ban
"This weekend was a disgrace and it's all on your shoulders." @JoeNBC pic.twitter.com/OGYh6cPFif Dorsey Shaw (@dorseyshaw) January 30, 2017
Citizens from these countries that were traveling to the U.S. when President Trump signed the executive order on Friday have been held at airports across the country, as lawyers fight to get them released.
Reports say that Miller and other White House political operatives developed the plan without consulting any other agencies - which caused the confusion about what to do about citizens arriving from these countries over the weekend.
You've got a very young person in the White House on a power trip, thinking you can just write executive orders and tell all of your cabinet agencies to go to hell. Joe Scarborough
'I will just say this right here - and reporting will bear this out - you've got a very young person in the White House on a power trip, thinking you can just write executive orders and tell all of your cabinet agencies to go to hell.
'And Washington is in an uproar this morning - forget about what's happening in the street - because Stephen Miller decided he was going to do this without going through the regular inter agency process,' Scarbrough said Monday morning.
Scarborough became so impassioned in his take down that his co-host, Mika Brzezinski, tried to quiet him repeatedly.
'Stephen Miller better learn very quickly that if you're going to have the president of the United States sign something, you may better check it out with other agencies.
.@JoeNBC slams Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon for leaving parts of Trump admin. in the dark about the travel ban https://t.co/CEUARgjrcC Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) January 31, 2017
Miller defended the executive order in an appearance on CBS News Monday morning
'I know you're almost 33 [Mika: 'Now stop], but you may want to actually check it out with other agencies who have been doing this for a long time.
'You may want to check [Mika: Shh] with people who run other agencies too, ok?
'And by the time you're 35, maybe you'll know how Washington and the White House really works, if you're still around. I hope you're not. Because this weekend was a disgrace and it's all on your shoulders,' Scarbrough said.
Defense Secretary James Mattis (C) welcomes Jordan King Abdullah at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, U.S. January 30. Mattis reportedly was not consulted during the drafting of the executive order affecting seven Muslim-majority nations
An aide said House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia also was not consulted
Scarborough took a hit at Miller age again later, saying 'whoever drafted this up wrote it like a seventh grader'.
Scarborough continued to rail against Miller on Twitter after the show, writing: 'Those focusing on White House staff being critical of Miller are missing the bigger story. It is the foreign policy team he angered most.'
He went on to link to a story about Miller, which said that white nationalist Richard Spencer was a 'mentor' to Miller.
Miller defended the executive order in an appearance on CBS This Morning.
'Anytime you do something hugely successful, that challenges a failed orthodoxy, you're going to see protests. In fact, if nobody is disagreeing with what you are doing, then you're probably not doing anything that really matters in the scheme of things.
'But in terms of huge turmoil, we processed 325,000 travelers in the first 24 hours after the new restrictions were put into place and 109 were detained for additional security screening. By any measure, I would describe that as efficient, orderly and enormously successful.
'And really, on behalf of the White House, I would like to praise the hard work of the customs and border protection officers who implemented the order,' Miller said.
Miller graduated from Duke University with a degree in political science in 2007. He wrote for the student newspaper during his four years there, and was known for defending the Duke lacrosse team during that sex scandal.
He went on to work as the press secretary for Congressman Michele Bachmann and Congressman John Shadegg, before rising to the position of communications director for then Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, now Trump's pick for attorney general.
He worked with Sessions to defeat the Gang of Eight's proposed immigration bill - and started developing a new plan he described as 'nation-state populism'.
Steve Bannon, the president's media-bashing chief strategist, reemerged Monday to glorify Senator Jeff Sessions as the 'clearinghouse for policy and philosophy' in the Trump administration.
In a statement sent to The Washington Post, Bannon indicated that Sessions helped craft President Donald Trump's agenda, which he is mainly carrying out through fiat.
The Alabama lawmaker and prospective attorney general insisted in a Judiciary committee questionnaire, however, that he did not help draft the executive orders that Trump has been issuing on a near daily basis, nor did he review them.
He likewise said, in previous testimony, that he'll act independently of the White House and defy the president if necessary in order to uphold the law.
Steve Bannon, the president's media-bashing chief strategist, reemerged Monday to glorify Senator Jeff Sessions as the 'clearinghouse for policy and philosophy' in the Trump administration
The Alabama lawmaker and prospective attorney general insisted in a Judiciary committee questionnaire, however, that he did not help draft the executive orders that Trump has been issuing on a near daily basis, nor did he review them
Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley noted this morning that Sessions has been under scrutiny from Democrats operating under the assumption that the immigration hardliner was behind Trump's controversial executive actions - 'But the fact of the matter is he wasnt,' Grassley said
Sessions swore in writing that neither he nor his current staffers - his former spokesman Stephen Miller is Trump's senior policy adviser - helped to form executive orders on immigration, or anything else, that are coming out the White House.
But Bannon's statement to the Post suggests that senator may have come up with the underlying policies that were codified within them.
In an email hailing the polarizing Republican legislator, Bannon said: 'Throughout the campaign, Sessions has been the fiercest, most dedicated, and most loyal promoter in Congress of Trumps agenda, and has played a critical role as the clearinghouse for policy and philosophy to undergird the implementation of that agenda.
'What we are witnessing now is the birth of a new political order, and the more frantic a handful of media elites become, the more powerful that new political order becomes itself.'
The email also said, according to the Post, 'In America and Europe, working people are reasserting their right to control their own destinies.
'Jeff Sessions has been at the forefront of this movement for years, developing populist nation-state policies that are supported by the vast and overwhelming majority of Americans, but are poorly understood by cosmopolitan elites in the media that live in a handful of our larger cities.'
Trump's affinity for Sessions, the first senator to endorse him, and his way of thinking is well known. In return for his loyalty, Trump appointed him head of the Department of Justice.
The president told the Post in an email that the Alabama lawmaker is a 'a truly fine person.'
'Jeff was one of my earliest supporters and the fact that he is so highly respected by everyone in both Washington, D.C., and around the country was a tremendous asset to me throughout the campaign,' he said.
Sessions attempted to distance himself from the president in his responses to questions posed by the Judiciary committee, though, as he tries to clear hurdles preventing him from taking over Justice.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley noted this morning that Sessions has been under scrutiny from Democrats operating under the assumption that the immigration hardliner was behind Trump's controversial executive actions pertaining to the wall on the U.S. border with Mexico and his travel ban.
'Its not clear to me why it would be a problem even if he had been involved,' Grassley said. 'But the fact of the matter is he wasnt.'
A thousand protesters marched around the Ohio State House on Monday night, against Donald Trump's executive action known as the 'Muslim ban,' even though it doesn't specifically target Muslims
The panel head informed the committee that Sessions, in his written responses questions posed by himself and ranking Democrat, Senator Patrick Leahy, 'stated for the record neither I, nor any of my current staff had a role in formulating or drafting the executive orders.'
Grassley further defended Sessions as a 'man of his word' who will 'enforce the laws fully, fairly, and independently.'
Earlier in the day President Donald Trump had unleashed his fury on Democrats for holding up Session's nomination.
Democrats have been taking advantage of Senate rules to slow votes on Trump's cabinet appointees.
As a result many of his designated secretaries are still awaiting confirmation, including Sessions. He's had to ask appointees of Barack Obama to do their jobs, for now, instead.
Yesterday Trump fired the acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she refused to defend the immigration order and travel ban. He replaced her with Dana Boente.
'When will the Democrats give us our Attorney General and rest of Cabinet! They should be ashamed of themselves! No wonder D.C. doesn't work!' he tweeted.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had used the Yates firing as a launching pad to discuss his opposition to Sessions as attorney general on Monday evening.
'The firing of Sally Yates underscores how important it is to have an Attorney General who will stand up to the White House when they are violating the law. Many people have doubts about whether Jeff Sessions can be that person,' he said.
Sessions offered 10 hours of testimony to Judiciary senators this month. But Schumer said he's still not convinced that he'll act independently of the president.
'The Attorney General should be loyal and pledge fidelity to the law, not the White House. The fact that this administration doesnt understand that is chilling.'
Schumer announced his plans this morning to vote against his colleague in the full Senate.
A 10-year-old girl was beaten to death by a teacher who ordered her classmates to join in - because she could not read.
The teacher has gone into hiding following the death of pupil Joy Wangari at Mukandamia Primary School.
It has been claimed that fellow pupils were encouraged to beat Joy up.
Joy Wangari died as a result of her injuries after being beaten by a teacher and classmates, it is claimed
Parent Mary Wanjiku told Nairobi News: 'The desk mates were ordered to teach her how to read and beat her if she could not.
'The teacher started hitting her on the back when the girl said she could not read.'
It is alleged by parents that classmates were urged to hit Joy in order to cover up the teacher's brutality.
The girl complained to the headteacher and was allowed to go home, where she lived with her 86-year-old grandmother.
Neighbour Ann Wairimu said: 'I visited the girl at home and she looked very weak and complained of abdominal and back pains.
'She said she was beaten by her teacher and classmates.'
Four days after the attack, which happened on Thursday last week, her condition worsened and she was taken to hospital.
Joy died while being treated.
An investigation is underway, Sub-County Director of Education Kamemba Kamande stated.
He said: 'We have not taken any disciplinary action against anyone but, should we find any of the teachers culpable, then we will take action.'
Parent Simon Mureithi claimed that this was not the first instance of violence committed by teachers on pupils.
He said: 'I transferred my child from the school after he was beaten badly by the teacher and there are many others who have the same complaint. We demand that all the teachers be replaced by more humane ones.'
Three teenage Afghan migrants have been jailed after gang-raping a student in a public toilet in the Austrian capital Vienna.
The group had all arrived in Europe via the Balkans unaccompanied and they were arrested after the attack last year.
Vienna Regional Court heard how the 21-year-old female student, originally from Turkey, had been targeted at Vienna's Paterstern station last April.
Three teenage Afghan migrants have been jailed after gang-raping a student in a public toilet at Paterstern train station, pictured, in the Austrian capital Vienna
She had been out with a friend but stopped off at the station as she needed to use the toilet.
However, she was followed into a cubicle by the three teenagers at the station.
The youngest boy held to the ground, while the other two raped her.
She also had her head smashed against the toilet bowl and was choked by the group.
According to thelocal, state prosecutor Katharina Stauber told the court that the crime had been premeditated and that the trio had lay in wait for their victim.
The court in Vienna was told how the group had all arrived in Europe via the Balkans unaccompanied. Pictured are migrants in the Balkans trying to make their way to Europe
She added that the victims has now returned to her home country of Turkey but is still suffering psychological trauma due to the incident.
Passing sentence, the judge ordered the two 18-year-olds to serve six years in prison and the 16-year-old five years in jail.
The teenagers reportedly remained expressionless during the sentencing with two of the younger boys apologising to their victim.
Calum Adams, 25, was caught after his nine-year-old victim told her mother he had been assaulting and texting her explicit messages
A pervert told a horrified mother he 'hated paedos but had become one' after confessing to molesting her daughter.
Calum Adams, 25, was caught after his nine-year-old victim told her mother he had been repeatedly assaulting her and texting her explicit messages.
The girl bravely showed her mother sickening messages he had sent her.
Adams, of East Kilbride in Lanarkshire, Scotland, first met the girl when she was just four, before subjecting her to countless sexual assaults.
The terrified victim kept quiet about Adams' behaviour before bravely telling her mother who demanded an explanation from Adams.
He sent a text saying: 'I hate paedos and now I have become one, I hate myself because of it'.
Appearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court, Adams admitted sexually assaulting the girl between August and October last year.
He also confessed to intentionally sending the girl messages of a sexual nature.
Depute fiscal Michael Macintosh said: 'He began texting her to ask her to let him touch her saying that she would like it.
'She showed them to her mother who confronted the accused and he made admissions to both touching the complainer and sending the messages and the matter was reported to the police.
'The messages included phrases such as, "trust me you would love it"'.
The court heard Adams contacted the girl's mother by text after she confronted him.
The terrified victim kept quiet about Adams' behaviour before bravely telling her mother who demanded an explanation
Mr Macintosh added: 'He said, "I don't blame you for feeling this way and I will go to therapy'".
'The accused added, "I don't blame you for hating me, I hate paedos and now I have become one, I hate myself because of it".
The court heard Adams has now been disowned by his family and has been in custody since he was first arrested in October.
Sheriff Thomas Millar deferred sentencing for reports.
The parents of Madeleine McCann were last night 'bitterly disappointed' after losing their eight-year libel battle against a former police chief who accused them of hiding their daughter's death.
The couple learned the 'devastating news' on the eve of their younger twin children's 12th birthdays.
They are tomorrow due to be celebrating Sean and Amelie's special day.
The long-suffering family could now face financial ruin as they face paying Goncalo Amaral's huge court costs and could be sued themselves by the former policeman.
The parents of Madeleine McCann, who have reportedly lost their appeal to Portugal's highest court over ex police chief Goncalo Amaral's hurtful book claiming they covered up their daughter's death
Judges ruled Mr Amaral's 'exercise of his freedom of expression was not considered abusive' and 'was within admissible limits in a democratic and open society, which excludes the illegality of possible damage to the honour of the McCanns.'
The couple had won 500,000 euro damages from their tormentor, whom they branded 'a poisonous liar' but, under Portuguese law, this was never handed over to them while proceedings were ongoing.
The payout would have been added to the official Find Maddie Fund set up through public donations and boosted by big-hearted celebrities to finance the worldwide hunt for the missing girl.
The Fund once stood at 1million but is now closer to 300,000 and could be wiped out by the Portugal's Supreme Court shock ruling.
A source close to the family said: 'Its not good news. We just dont know what to do but we need to sit down with our lawyer and discuss it.
'Weve gone to the pinnacle of the Portuguese legal system and weve lost. We now have to pay a sizeable amount in costs.'
As the Scotland Yard search for Madeleine who disappeared as a three-year-old from a holiday apartment in the Algarve's Praia da Luz is being wound down the McCann's had been keeping the soon-to-be-obliterated fund as a life-line to pay for their own ongoing search the moment the investigation, codenamed Operation Grange, ends.
A close family friend said: 'This news is devastating, not just for Kate and Gerry but for Madeleine wherever she is.'
Ex GP Kate and heart doctor Gerry, both 48, from Rothley, Leicestershire, live in hope that 'a miracle' will one day reunite them with their daughter. If still alive, she will turn 14 in mid May.
The appeal hearing in Lisbon which ruled against the McCanns was held in private.
The three-year-old Madeleine vanished from her Algarve holiday apartment in May 2007 and has never been seen since
The couple's lawyer Isabel Duarte had not even been informed it was happening until after the event.
A spokesperson from her office in the Portuguese capital said: 'This is a big disappointment and very bitter for us and for Mr and Mrs McCann.
MCCANNS: 'WE ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AT RULING' Speaking after the ruling, Kate and Gerry McCann said: 'What we have been told by our lawyers is obviously extremely disappointing. 'It is eight years since we brought the action and in that time the landscape has changed dramatically, namely there is now a joint Metropolitan Police-Policia Judiciaria investigation which is what we've always wanted. 'The police in both countries continue to work on the basis that there is no evidence that Madeleine has come to physical harm. 'We will, of course, be discussing the implications of the Supreme Court ruling with our lawyers in due course.' Advertisement
'We know the libel decision has gone against us but we do not know the basis of the ruling and will not find out until Thursday.'
Ms Duarte, who was away on business in the North of the country, had not been made aware, her colleague George said.
The decision is a major milestone in Gerry and Kate McCann's eight-year fight over a book written by Amaral, pictured, who led the initial hunt when Madeleine vanished
He explained: 'The Supreme Court meet to consider their ruling and make a decision and do not have to inform either party. Isabel was not there and neither was Mr Amaral.
'We are disappointed and will be making our comment on the basis of the ruling when we have it.'
Mr Amaral, 56, who the McCanns first sued for libel June 2009, won the lengthy legal fight after judges decided he had the 'right to freedom of expression.'
Madeleine's parents could now lodge an appeal to the highest court in the land, the European Court of Human Rights.
But a source close to the exasperated couple said: 'I think the fight is finally over. They want to concentrate on finding Madeleine and don't think they have the time or energy to lodge yet another appeal.'
Mr Amaral, who led the initial bungled search to help find their daughter, claimed in a once-banned book that Madeleine was dead.
He was later sacked for criticizing the British police handling of the case.
He has since made a fortune from his best-seller 'The Truth of the Lie' in which he claims Madeleine is dead and her parents 'staged a cover up'.
It has been translated into six languages and sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide.
It led to libel action from the distraught McCanns and action in a civil court, an appeal court and finally the Supreme Court.
Amaral, pictured, is understood to have earned 400,000 euros (344,000) from his book before it was banned and a subsequent TV documentary
The McCann's fiercely deny his allegations. In a 36-page writ, lodged nearly eight years ago, they describe him as a self obsessed, manipulative money-grabber and accuse him of libel and breaching their human rights.
In documents they describe in detail the pain and anguish he has caused the family by repeatedly smearing them, and say his slurs have left them 'totally destroyed' and most importantly had hindered the search for Madeleine.
In online postings to his supporters last year, Mr Amaral said: 'We are in the face of a mere battle in a war that is far from over.'
Before the final ruling lawyer Ms Duarte said the McCanns were confident of a victory, saying: 'We reasonably expect compensation for the dreadful damages this book has brought the family.'
Kate and Gerry McCann in the days after their daughter Madeleine went missing while on holiday in Portugal in 2007
The family's spokesperson Clarence Mitchell, who hadn't been made aware of the court ruling until journalist informed him: 'They have nothing to say yet.'
He had previously said: 'If they win the case every penny they receive in damages will go into the Madeleine Fund.
'Kate and Gerry would be entitled to the money personally but it will go into the pot to help fund the search.'
Scotland Yard are busy investigating one 'last throw of the dice' lead in a bid to end the family's torment but time could be running out as police now have just two months left of guaranteed Government funding to continue to unravel an 'important' new tip.
Detectives on the Madeleine inquiry recently revealed they are working on a final theory that the youngster was kidnapped by a European trafficking gang.
The 'spotters' are believed to have targeted the charismatic blonde toddler taking photographs of her while she was playing on the beach and beside the pool at her holiday apartment.
Amaral is understood to have earned 400,000 euros (344,000) from his book before it was banned and a subsequent TV documentary.
He claimed in the book Madeleine had died in their holiday flat and they had faked her abduction to cover up the tragedy.
The book was released just three days after Gerry and Kate McCann were told their status as arguidos or formal suspects had been lifted on July 21, 2008.
Portuguese prosecutors reopened their probe into Madeleine McCann's disappearance in May 2014, and are now working in close coordination with Scotland Yard's scaled-down Operation Grange probe into the youngster's fate
Amaral's lawyer Miguel Cruz Rodrigues claimed in court the McCanns had taken legal action against his client 'to rid themselves of guilt for their negligent conduct' in leaving Madeleine and her siblings alone while they ate tapas with friends nearby.
He also claimed their lack of co-operation with the Portuguese police authorities had led to the archiving of the investigation in 2008.
Portuguese prosecutors reopened their probe into Madeleine McCann's disappearance in May 2014, and are now working in close co-ordination with Scotland Yard's scaled-down Operation Grange probe into the youngster's fate.
Last year the McCanns revealed they had told their twins 'everything' about Madeleine's disappearance and said the youngsters still remember her and talk about her often.
A 28-year-old kidnapping victim was found alive in New Mexico Monday evening after she was dragged from a Las Vegas apartment, forced into a minivan and whisked away by her abductors.
Police in New Mexico say Jane Priebe was discovered inside the white vehicle near the city of Espanola at around 11.30pm.
The 28-year-old was said to have sustained unspecified injuries but was expected to survive.
Saved: Kidnapping victim Jane Priebe (left), 28, was rescued by police in New Mexico more than 12 hours after she was abducted in Las Vegas. Jack Morgan, 31 (right), was detained as a person of interest in the case
A person of interest identified as 31-year-old Jack Morgan was taken into custody in connection to the abduction. Another man, who has not been named as of Tuesday morning, was also detained.
Police in Las Vegas received a 911 call at around 10.30am on Monday about a woman only wearing her underwear who appeared to have been bound and was seen being dragged to a white minivan outside an apartment building at 4201 South Decatur Boulevard, reported Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The woman, later named as Jane Priebe, was observed being forced inside the American-made vehicle with a partial Texas license plate 'CT,' which then took off from the scene.
At around 9pm that evening, police named Jack Morgan as a person of interest in the suspected abduction.
At around 11.30pm Monday, police officers in Espanola, New Mexico, which is located more than 650 miles away from the scene of the kidnapping, spotted a minivan matching the description of the vehicle sent out by their counterparts in Las Vegas.
Police in Las Vegas received a 911 call about a woman only wearing her underwear who appeared to have been bound and was seen being dragged to a white van outside this apartment building at 4201 South Decatur Boulevard
Priebe was rescued by police in Espanola, New Mexico, more than 650 miles away from the site of her kidnapping (seen on the map)
They pulled over the vehicle and discovered Jane Priebe inside. The 5-foot-8, 140-pound woman appeared to have been beaten, according to the station 3LV. She was taken to an area hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries.
Jack Morgan is expected to be extradited back to Las Vegas to face charges in the abduction.
Detectives said they do not know if the kidnapping was a random act of violence or a premeditated attack. There is also no word at this time on whether Priebe knew her kidnappers.
The family of Emmett Till, a black boy murdered in Mississippi 62 years ago after allegedly whistling at a white woman, have reacted with fury after the woman linked to the notorious case admitted that the most incendiary parts of the story she told about him were a lie and she now feels tender sorrow.
Till, a 14-year-old black boy from Chicago, was shot and beaten to death and disfigured beyond recognition by two white men in racially segregated Mississippi in 1955 after stopping at a store to buy two cents of bubble gum.
The men walked free, acquitted of murder by an all-male, all-white jury in an hour despite having already admitted the crime to law enforcement.
In a newly revealed 10-year-old interview to be published in a book today, Carolyn Bryant, the wife of one of the men arrested for Tills murder and the woman whose testimony carried the case, admitted her account was not true.
Speaking to DailyMail.com after Bryants confession was revealed, Tills cousin Wheeler Parker who was with him the night of the incident and when he was taken from his bed to his death, said: My family thinks shes trying to make money but being a preacher, I think she is trying to find a way to go heaven now.
Parker, now a pastor of a church in Illinois that Till and his mother attended, added: Whatever the motive, I am very pleased that shes telling the truth.
Carolyn Bryant, right, was 21 when her husband Roy Bryant, left, lynched and murdered Emmett Till after he allegedly whistled at her outside their store in racially segregated Mississippi in 1955. She told his trial that Emmett had grabbed her and been sexually aggressive. Her husband was acquitted of murder after little over an hour's deliberation by an all-white, all-male jury. He later admitted the brutal killing
Emmett Till, left, was 14 when he was lynched and murdered by Roy Bryant and his half-brother John Milam after allegedly whistling at Bryant's 21-year-old wife Carolyn. Till's mother Mamie Till-Mobley insisted on an open casket for her son's funeral, right, so America could see what had been done to him. A photo of his disfigured face was published on the cover of Jet magazine and ignited and mobilized the public to rally for equal rights
Revealed: CBS News' 60 Minutes tracked down Carolyn Bryant 16 years ago for a news special
Whatever the motive, I am very pleased that shes telling the truth,; said Rev. Wheeler Parker, Emmett Till's cousin. He is pictured (front) alongside Airicka Gordon-Taylor (purple t-shirt) at a a graveside ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the murder in 2015
But others from Tills family are upset that it has taken 10 years for Bryants confession to be made public, published in a book The Blood of Emmett Till by Duke University professor Timothy Tyson.
Airicka Gordon-Taylor, who is Tills mothers cousin and the familys spokeswoman, said: There are people who have died in the last 10 years whose lives were very impacted by what happened in 1955....that disturbs me.
The horror unfolded on a night in August 1955 when Bryant, then 21, had been working at the store the night Till went to buy gum. Shortly after leaving the store, its likely he whistled at her. On the stand she told the court that he had grabbed her and verbally accosted her. In her evocative testimony she couldn't bring herself to say the 'unprintable' word he'd said to her - only that he told her he'd done 'something' with white women before.
It took the jury less than an hour to acquit Roy Bryant, and his half-brother John Milam of Tills murder.
A jury member later said: We wouldn't have taken so long if we hadn't stopped to drink pop.
At the time, Mississippi had very few white on black crime convictions, and led the nation in lynchings.
Several months later, the men admitted killing Emmett in an interview with Look Magazine, safe in the knowledge they were protected by double jeopardy laws and were paid $3,000 for sharing their story.
In this rarely seen photograph, Emmett Till, left, and his cousin Wheeler Parker, back right, are pictured on their bicycles. Rev Parker estimates the picture, which also captures family friend Joe B. Williams, was taken around 1949 to 1950
Bryant now 82, has kept silent for six decades and her whereabouts have been kept secret by her family. The new books author said the case went a long way to ruining her life. She could never escape its notoriety.
During their interview in 2007, Tyson said it was evident that the times had changed Bryant, then called Carolyn Bryant Donham, having remarried.
Regarding her statement that Emmett grabbed and verbally abused her, she simply said, 'that part's not true,' Tyson told Vanity Fair.
She claims she doesn't remember anything else about the evening.
He said: 'She was glad things had changed [and she] thought the old system of white supremacy was wrong, though she had more or less taken it as normal at the time.'
Carolyn told him nothing Emmett could have done would have justified his death, and that she feels 'tender sorrow' for his mother, known as Mamie Till-Mobley, who campaigned for civil rights for her entire life until she died in 2003.
After Emmett's death, his mother insisted that his funeral be an open casket, so that the world could see what had been done to him.
The image of his inflated, contorted face was published on the cover of Jet Magazine, and ignited and mobilized the public to rally for equal rights.
Roy and Carolyn Bryant clutch hands at his trial for the murder of Emmett Till. He was acquitted by an all-white, all-male jury who deliberated for about an hour. He and his co-accused John Milam later admitted their guilt in an interview with a magazine, safe in the knowledge that they were protected by double jeopardy laws
Airicka Gordon-Taylor is spokeswoman for the Till family. She says they are upset the author waited 10 years before revealing Carolyn Bryant's confession
Bryant said that losing her own son helped her to understand and sympathize with the grief Emmett's mother felt.
But Tills surviving family reacted with fury to this sympathy. Gordon-Taylor who runs the Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation said: She is a cowardHow dare she compare losing her son to Mamie losing Emmett?
There is no comparison. Your son most likely died in normal circumstances but you caused Emmett to be murdered in a very heinous way.
She added that she cannot understand why the author waited 10 years before publishing the confession.
Tyson had explained the delay by saying: I'm more interested in what speaks to the ages than in what is the latest media thing.
But Gordon-Taylor believes peace in her family has been compromised for book sales.
We are all upset about Timothy Tyson waiting 10 years, she told DailyMail.com. It was a marketing strategy and all of this is just publicity for his book. No one should buy this book.
Till, who was from a middle-class Chicagoan home, had visited family in Mississippi in August 1955, staying with his uncle Moses Wright and his cousins Steven Wright and Wheeler Parker.
Airicka Gordon-Taylor pictured with Emmett Till's mother Mamie Till Mobley as a child. Gordon-Taylor has become spokeswoman for the family
Parker, now 77, said Bryants confession has brought him closure.
He said: No one has an idea how much it has helped me... this is one of the things I have been praying for.
For 60 years it has been a very sore spot, in fact painful, for me to endure the way they painted Emmett Till and the light they put him in, so I have been waiting and wanting closure because it has been very painful for me.
Im glad that shes telling the truth.
Wheeler remembers stepping out with his other cousin Steven while Emmett completed the purchase. He said he remembers Emmett did nothing but jokingly whistle to Carolyn.
The boys even forgot about the incident until one night Carolyns husband, Roy Bryant and his half-brother John Milam, showed up at the house.
They first entered Wheelers room. He was 16 at the time and praying earnestly because he was afraid for his life.
I could hear the footsteps coming towards the door of my room, Wheeler told DailyMail.com.
Mamie Till Mobley weeps at her son's casket at his funeral on September 6, 1955. She insisted on an open casket for Emmett, so America could see what had happened to him
Speaking of Bryant and Milam, he said: They walked with a gun in one hand and a flashlight in another. I was shaking like a leaf...and I closed my eyes waiting to be shot.
God, I am getting ready to die, Wheeler prayed. These people are getting ready to kill.
Wheeler said the family had no idea what they would do to Emmett when they forced him out of his bed that night. It is reported that Carolyn was in a car outside of Emmetts uncles home that night to identify him.
Three days later his body was found. He had been made to carry a 75-pound cotton-gin fan to the bank of the river, then ordered him to take off his clothes. He was beaten to a pulp, his eye was gouged out before he was shot in the head. His body was then thrown in the river, tied to the cotton-gin fan with barbed wire.
Timothy Tyson, the author of The Blood of Emmett Till, spoke with Carolyn who admitted she made up her testimony
John Milam died at 61 in 1981 from bone cancer and Roy Bryant also died from cancer in 1994.
The Justice Department re-examined the case in 2004 and Juanita Milam, Johns wife, stated Carolyns story was fabricated, but no one was charged.
Parker and Gordon-Taylor hope that Bryant will be indicted because last December Barack Obama renewed a bill, Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes bill, which allows the FBI to investigate crimes committed during the Jim Crow era.
Even though uncertainty looms about justice, what is clear to Emmetts family is that his legacy will continue to take shape.
Speaking of the inspiration she gained from Emmetts mother who raised her in Chicago, Airicka said: Mamie Till dedicated her life to working with young people.
I am going to continue to keep her legacy and to do what Mamie Till would have wanted us to do.I am going to continue to educate people who dont know the story.
Amber Rudd has ramped up the government's opposition to Donald Trump's travel ban - warning it is a 'propaganda opportunity' for ISIS.
The Home Secretary said the controversial decision to slap a temporary ban on nationals from seven mainly-Muslim countries entering the US was 'divisive and wrong'.
The criticism of the US president's approach comes amid a major backlash over the impact of the policy - with calls for a planned state visit to be cancelled.
The Home Secretary said the controversial decision to slap a temporary ban on nationals from seven mainly-Muslim countries entering the US was 'divisive and wrong'
More than 1million people have signed a petition demanding President Trump's state visit to the UK is cancelled. Pictured, President Trump with an executive order in the Oval Office
Theresa May has made clear she does not agree with the White House's approach, but dismissed the idea that Mr Trump's visit should be dropped.
More than 70 MPs have backed a demand for the US commander in chief to be banned from making a speech in Parliament.
Giving evidence to the Home Affairs Committee this afternoon, Ms Rudd significantly toughened the Government's line on the issue.
She warned: 'Isil and Daesh will use any opportunity they can to make difficulties, to create the environment they want, to radicalise people, to bring them over to their side, so it is a propaganda opportunity for them potentially.'
'They may use this as an example,' Mrs Rudd added.
The Home Secretary, pictured arriving at Cabinet this morning, said President Trump's decision to slap a temporary ban on nationals from seven mainly-Muslim countries entering the US was 'divisive and wrong'
'I would observe that the difficulties to the UK over terrorism are not raised by the countries the US has named.
'It is not a Muslim ban but people draw their own conclusions about the countries that are picked off.'
Mrs Rudd told the committee she spoke to President Trump's pick for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
But Yvette Cooper, the Labour chair of the Home Affairs committee, accused her of only referencing the protests against the travel ban rather than voicing her own opposition.
But Mrs Rudd insisted: 'I find it [the travel ban] divisive and wrong and I will look forward to raising it further in my next meeting.'
Meanwhile, a motion has been laid in the Commons insisting the President must not be allowed to speak in the historic Westminster Hall or any other room in the Palace.
The demand emerged as MPs agreed to hold a debate on a petition signed by 1.7million people insisting the state visit be cancelled.
No 10 today insisted the invite to Mr Trump stood despite claims it had put the Queen in a 'difficult position' because of the controversy surrounding it.
The petition reached was closing fast on 1.7million signatures at 4pm today less than two days after it was set up
Moe than 70 MPs have signed a Commons motion, pictured, condemning Mr Trump and demanding he be stopped from making a speech in the Palace of Westminster on a state visit
Prime Minister Theresa May, pictured with Boris Johnson in the Commons today, has said the US and UK remain close allies and that President Trump's state visit invitation 'stands'
Former Labour leader Harriet Harman today joined condemnation of the state visit, pencilled in for later this year, warning Theresa May to 'take back control' of the situation and cancel it.
Labour MP Stephen Doughty tabled the 'early day motion' on the visit. It reads: 'This House deplores recent actions taken by US President Donald J Trump, including his Executive Order on Immigration and Refugees, and notably his comments on torture and women
'Notes the historical significance and honour that comes with an invitation to address both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall or elsewhere in the Palace of Westminster
'And calls on the Speaker, Lord Speaker, Black Rod and Serjeant at Arms to withhold permission from the Government for an address to be made in Westminster Hall, or elsewhere in the Palace of Westminster, by President Trump.'
Andy Fockler, 38, an operations manager at the Villages Daily Sun newspaper, died while protecting his wife, Janey Fockler, 36
A heroic man died while shielding his wife from gunfire during a home invasion in north Florida.
Andy Fockler, 38, an operations manager at the Villages Daily Sun newspaper, died while protecting his wife, Janey Fockler, 36.
His stepson, Bailey Zylo, 18, was also killed as he slept in bed at their home in Weirsdale, southeast of Ocala.
The gunmen were reportedly wearing masks.
A co-worker of Mrs Fockler said the gun jammed when the gunman attempted to shoot her.
On Facebook, she posted numerous pictures of her husband and son following their deaths.
She wrote: ' I love you two with all my heart. I know you're here with me. Please help me through this. My life...why would someone take them away from me?'
On a picture of her son, who attended Lake Weir High School, she said: 'My baby...make sure you watch over me and your sister...I know you're with dad...and I'm trying to be strong but I don't think I can go on...no one will ever know this pain.'
John Zyro, Mrs Fockler's father and Bailey Zylo's grandfather, told the Ocala Star-Banner: 'They demanded money, but ended up only taking a box of guns. I hope they (law enforcement) find them before I do.'
He said there were at least seven people in the home during the shooting at 8.30am on Sunday.
The others in the home were the couple's teenager daughter, two small children and the woman's nephew.
He told the newspaper his grandson was shot as he slept next to his male cousin, who was not injured.
The home is on a dirt road just off County Road 25 between Weirsdale and East Lake Weir
Andy Fockler, 38, (pictured right) died while protecting his wife, Janey Fockler, 36. His stepson, Bailey Zylo, 18, (pictured left) was also killed
Marion County Sheriff's Dept. Capt. Dennis Joiner, commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, said detectives were gathering facts to piece together exactly what happened.
No arrests have been made yet.
If anyone has any information in connection with the case, they are encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or call Crime Stoppers of Marion County anonymously at 352-368-7867.
A community pray vigil will be held tonight at the Silver Springs Shores Community Center at 6pm.
A man found alive three days after crashing his car off a Californian cliff shouldn't have survived more than an hour due to his extensive injuries.
Hunter Kittle, 24, suffered a fractured skull, broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a broken leg when he veered his car off a road and 70 feet down an embankment in Mount Baldy, California last week.
He was forced to lie in extreme pain in the wreckage of his car for 72 hours before he was rescued when another driver spotted the crash site.
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Hunter Kittle, 24, has spoken from his hospital bed since he suffered a fractured skull, broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a broken leg when he crashed his car in California on January 22
'It was horrible, horrible, pain. I was thinking either kill me now or get me off this mountain because I can't, I can't do this,' Kittle told Good Morning America from his hospital bed.
'My phone was dead and even just yelling for help after, after a few minutes of yelling, I just got extremely exhausted.'
'Mainly it was mind over matter... I didn't want that to be my final chapter in my life.'
Trauma room doctors said most people wouldn't have survived an hour with the kinds of injuries Kittle sustained - let alone three days.
Kittle, pictured with his mother Camie, was forced to lie in extreme pain in the wreckage of his car for 72 hours before he was rescued
Kittle was driving along a road in Mount Baldy, California (pictured) when his car crashed down the embankment, overturned and struck a tree on January 22
Trauma room doctors said most people wouldn't have survived an hour with the kinds of injuries Kittle sustained, let alone three days
He was driving along the road on January 22 when he fell asleep at the wheel, California Highway Patrol say. His car crashed down the embankment, overturned and struck a tree.
Rescuers found him alive on January 25 and had to carry Kittle up the mountain on a stretcher before he could be airlifted to hospital.
Kittle said he was 'elated' when he realized he was finally being rescued and his mother Camie Kittle called it a miracle.
'I don't know any other answer,' she told GMA. 'The trauma doctor couldn't believe that he sustained these amount of injuries and lived through it.'
The crash is still under investigation but officials do not suspect alcohol and drugs played a role.
Rescuers found him alive inside his 1995 Toyota 4 Runner (pictured) on January 25
'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein will be re-united with her ex-boyfriend Lloyd Klein after the fashion designer decided to drop assault charges against the socialite.
On Monday at Manhattan Criminal Court, prosecutors dropped assault charges against Klein who was accused of throwing Wildenstein to the ground. Three days earlier Wildenstein was accused of assaulting Klein.
The couple have been ordered by court not to talk to each other until the second case is dealt with.
Charges have been dropped against Lloyd Klein, the fashion designer ex of 'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein. Above, Klein, 49, pictured outside New York Criminal Court
Klein had been facing several charges including assault, robbery, grand larceny and criminal mischief for allegedly stealing an iPhone, a Swiss ID, a cell phone case and a credit card after a fight with Wildenstein, 71 (above in court after 'slashing' Klein), at their $13-million home
Wildenstein - instantly recognizable due to her feline features - was arrested on December 6 for 'clawing' Klein across the face and 'cutting him with scissors'
However, Klein told Page Six the couple are very much back in love and will be reunited after Valentine's Day.
He said: 'This is the result of a situation that got out of hand We have been together for 14 years, we were never at war and we are still in love.'
Klein said he will be dropping charges against Wildenstein allowing them to reunite.
'Jocelyn is a wonderful lady, she is extremely refined and is a woman of great taste. She is a very whimsical, magical, very special and beautiful person. Yes, she is different, she has something other people do not have. I always said beauty is very subjective. Yes she did have a bit of surgery we know that but she didnt change her face to look like a cat. Ive seen pictures of her when she was 17 and she looked the same as now, she has always looked feline.
He also dismissed criticism of their age gap. Klein is 49 while Wildenstein is 76.
He added: 'I dont see the problem. It is OK for President Trump to have a much younger wife, so why cant a nice woman who keeps herself in shape have a handsome younger man? The world is changing and we need to be open-minded.'
Klein, 49, arrived at Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday morning in a chauffeur-driven BMW wearing custom-made Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton, accompanied by two bodyguards.
He had been facing several charges including assault, robbery, grand larceny and criminal mischief for allegedly stealing an iPhone, a Swiss ID, a cell phone case and a credit card after a fight with Wildenstein, 71, at their sprawling, $13-million Manhattan home in December. He was also accused of hurling her to the ground.
Klein's hearing lasted under a minute on Monday and saw the judge dismiss all charges against him due to a lack of evidence.
Wildenstein did not accompany Klein to court.
Klein told DailyMail.com exclusively: 'First of all, the charges were unfounded. I'm not sure how this came out because none of this happened and I'm very happy everything is being dismissed.'
His lawyer, Alex Spiro of Brafman & Associates, declined to comment.
Klein pictured inside Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday morning
Wildenstein, the so-called 'Bride of Wildenstein' due to her extensive plastic surgery, was arrested on December 6 for allegedly clawing Klein across the face, throwing hot wax over him and cutting him with scissors.
During that incident, Klein was forced to bundle Wildenstein into a walk-in closet to bring the attack to a halt.
Wildenstein called the police herself to say she was locked up against her will but officers took one look at her partner's bloodied face and chest and booked her on felony and misdemeanor assault charges. She is due in court on February 15.
Klein, who lives between his homes in New York, LA and Miami, told DailyMail.com that he bears no ill-will against his former partner.
'It's very difficult after a long relationship with such a wonderful person,' the Canadian-born designer said.
'I want whoever is looking at Jocelyn Wildenstein to understand that she is a great person, an extremely interesting person. She's not only what people want to see. Beauty is extremely subjective.
'I'm a fashion designer, I come from a world where aesthetic and image is extremely important. Whatever people think about her is a little bit over the top.
'I think she is a wonderful person and she has impeccable taste in everything. Her face has always been a feline face. I saw picture of her when she was 17, it was the same eyes and the same cheekbones, the same face.
Klein's (pictured in court with scars allegedly from Wildenstein) hearing lasted under a minute on Monday and saw the judge dismiss all charges against him due to a lack of evidence. Wildenstein did not accompany Klein to court
The Canadian fashion designer arrived at criminal court on Monday morning in a chauffeur-driven BMW wearing Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton, accompanied by two bodyguards
'Because we tag her as a feline, she is tagged as someone wild. Her family name is well-attributed to her because she is wild but in a very good sense, in a very elegant way.
'She is a very elegant woman and extremely well-mannered.'
Klein believes that the incident at their home was caused by Wildenstein being under a great deal of pressure in her personal life.
He said: 'I think it was related to stress, to a family situation. Her daughter and son are extremely ungrateful to her but I don't want to get involved. The stress comes from [that] and it was just before the holidays.'
Klein said that he did not blame Wildenstein for the charges brought against him.
He added: 'I blame it on her children, Diane and Alec Jr. I blame it on her family situation. I don't blame it on her. This is a woman who is hurt. I don't think it's right to treat your mother that way.
'She is hurt and what happens when a person is hurt? The closest person to them is the one who also gets hurt.'
Although the former couple are not in touch at present, Klein hopes they can soon be friends.
Wildenstein put her $13 million New York condo for sale following the brawl. Pictured, Klein relaxing in the lavish apartment
The condo takes up the entire 51st floor of Trump World Tower - and it is believed the 'Catwoman' spent millions on lavish renovations and an opulent art deco interior
He said: 'We cannot speak to each other at the moment, we are not seeing each other or talking to each other but we are not at war.
I think there are strong feelings and a great connection between us. I think it's important to learn lessons and realize that we are very important to each other.'
For the time being, Klein is focusing on his fashion business and other opportunities.
The designer, who recently battled cancer and is now in full remission, has previously designed clothes for Nicki Minaj, Pink, Miley Cyrus, Mary J. Blige and Joan Collins.
'My main concern right now is to get in my design studio in my fashion house and prepare the next collection,' he said. 'I'm writing a memoir which is going to come out very soon. There are also some propositions from Hollywood producers, so let's see what's going to happen.'
Last month, police were called to the home of Klein and Wildenstein over a domestic incident.
'It was one hell of a cat fight but when all is said and done they should both emerge unscathed,' an insider told DailyMail.com at the time.
Klein pictured leaving Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday morning
'Lloyd still thinks the world of Jocelyn and he has absolutely no desire to see her suffer any more than she already has.'
Wildenstein was once touted as one of the wealthiest women in the U.S. after securing an estimated $2.5 million divorce payment and $100 million a year in maintenance. She divorced art dealer Alec Wildenstein in 1999.
But in a recent interview with the filmmaker Daphne Barak, she claimed that the Wildenstein family trust fund made her monthly payments dried up, leaving her with no income.
Wildenstein told Barak her last monthly instalment of $111,000 came in March 2015.
'I wasn't ready for it. How can I pay for dental care, doctors, the expenses of my homes or travelling? I have nothing to pay with,' she said.
'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.'
Wildenstein will appear in court next month accused of assault in the second-degree and inflicting injuries with a weapon.
Klein is keen to put the matter behind them and has indicated he will not press charges against his former partner of 14 years.
Klein says he bears 'no ill-will' towards his former partner and that she is a 'wonderful person'
Wildenstein was once touted as one of the wealthiest women in the United States after securing an estimated $2.5 million divorce payment and $100 million a year in maintenance. She divorced art dealer Alec Wildenstein (pictured on right with his new wife) in 1999
Secret investigation was carried out by military chiefs
Seven soldiers have been dismissed, with more under investigation
Abuse has been branded 'common practice' at the base in Pfullendorf
Military recruits in Germany were forced to carry out demeaning sex acts, including inserting tampons in their anuses, during 'completely senseless' drills, it has emerged.
The abuse has been described as 'common practice' at the elite base in the southwestern town of Pfullendorf, and seven soldiers have been dismissed, with more under investigation.
A whistleblower said she had been forced into violent sexual rituals, including stripping naked and being filmed during a medical course.
Military recruits were forced to carry out 'repulsive and despicable' sexual acts at an army base in Germany
An explosive report by Das Spiegel said a secret investigation was being carried out by military chiefs.
It was launched after a female recruit reported in October last year that she had been forced to endure violent sexual rituals, which also saw officers tied up for hours and hosed with water.
The German army has released a statement revealing that a 'significant' number of incidents had occured, and these are being taken 'very seriously'.
It added that the exercises were 'shameful' and ignored 'the standards of respect to human dignity and sexual self-determination'.
Defense Ministry spokesman Jens Flosdorff said prosecutors are investigating whether to bring criminal charges.
Flosdorff said the allegations centered around three separate abuse cases, some going back to 2014.
Flosdorff told reporters in Berlin that the allegations were 'outrageous and repulsive, and certainly no advertisement' for the German armed forces.
He said lawmakers would be briefed on preliminary investigation results and the military's chief of staff planned to visit the base.
Germany has almost 178,000 active soldiers.
The military said in a statement the incidents were particularly troubling given earlier reports of maltreatment of women in another unit at the training centre.
Defence Secretary Ursula von der Leyen has promised a thorough investigation into the abuse
It said the latest incidents revealed 'grave deficits in leadership' at the facility and promised serious consequences.
'Discharge proceedings have been initiated against seven soldiers and seven additional soldiers will be moved to different postings,' a spokesman for the German defence ministry said.
Hans-Peter Bartels, who fields complaints from soldiers for parliament, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper the incidents reflected lingering 'macho behaviour that should not be tolerated'.
Bartels' told lawmakers in his annual report this week that the number of reported sexual assaults in the military rose 52 percent to 131 in 2016, but the actual number was likely higher.
'What happened at the training centre is repulsive and despicable,' Defence Secretary Ursula von der Leyen told broadcaster ARD. She promised a thorough investigation.
Rainer Arnold, defence speaker for the Social Democratic parliamentary fraction, called for a special session of the Bundestag's defence committee to examine the issue.
'This is a case where things were tolerated and nothing was said,' Arnold told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper.
Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe (pictured) claims shares worth 15m were taken from her
A billionaire British businessman is waiting to hear whether he has won the latest round of a multi-million High Court dispute with a wealthy French financial expert.
Earlier this year, a judge said the dispute between John Caudwell - who founded the mobile phone firm Phones4u - and Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe cried out for resolution.
But lawyers were back in court today after Miss Dauriac-Stoebe said she had more evidence.
A judge - Chief Master Matthew Marsh - has been asked to decide whether that evidence should be considered at a trial due to take place later this year.
The judge, who analysed the latest stage of the litigation at a High Court hearing in London, is scheduled to deliver a ruling on the issue on Monday.
Bosses at money management firm Signia Wealth, which is controlled by a Caudwell family trust, say Miss Dauriac-Stoebe misused expenses when an employee and director at the firm.
She says this was just a ruse to cheat her out of her shares, and she is suing the firm and Mr Caudwell for the money she says she is owed.
She says she was constructively dismissed and lost millions of pounds worth of shares.
All sides dispute allegations made against them.
Miss Dauriac-Stoebe says she wants the trial judge to hear allegations from a former executive in another business in which Mr Caudwell was the main shareholder.
John Caudwell (pictured) faces the prospect of a showdown with three women lining up against him in the bitterly-fought case
She says evidence shows that Mr Caudwell 'behaved similarly' towards Tracy Gehlan, a former senior executive at central and eastern European gym chain Jatomi Fitness, which Mr Caudwell part owns - and is relevant to her case.
Mr Caudwell says Ms Gehlan's evidence should not be heard at a trial.
His lawyers say the trial judge should not be asked to oversee 'two cases'.
Miss Dauriac-Stoebe, 39, was at the hearing.
Mr Caudwell, who is in his 60s and grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, did not attend.
In August, Chief Master Marsh said, after analysing an earlier stage of the litigation: 'This type of claim cries out for a resolution.'
He had heard that lawyers' bills could top 4 million.
A married pastor apologized to his church for having sex with a woman from the congregation after fleeing naked when her husband caught them in the middle of the afternoon.
O. Jermaine Simmons, 37, was at Claynisha Stephens' home in Tallahassee, Florida, to discuss a charity project when they became intimate on her daughter's bed at around 2pm on January 17.
They were caught less than an hour later by her husband Benjamin, 38, who had returned home with their sick six-year-old son after getting a call from his school.
Teachers had tried to reach Mrs Stephens, 34, but she didn't answer the phone having already gotten into bed with the pastor, a police report indicated.
The husband, furious to have found the pair in throws of passion, threatened Simmons; 'I'm going to kill you!' and the pastor ran away without his clothes, keys, phone or wallet to hide in a fence as his lover's husband retrieved a handgun from his bedroom.
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Pastor O. Jermaine Simmons was caught having sex with Claynisha Stephens (right) a married mother whose husband returned home to find them on her daughter's bed
Mrs Stephens stood in front of her husband, begging him not to shoot anyone in front of their son.
She called the police when her her husband fled in his car. Simmons has since apologized to Jacob Chapel Baptist Church and revealed that his wife is standing by him.
Mrs Stephens told police how her husband had grown suspicious of her relationship with the pastor.
She said they had been building a bond since October last year and that on the day in question, he had visited her apartment to discuss potential charity work but that they became intimate.
'Mr Simmons had come to her residence and they engaged in sexual activity.
'As they were so engaged, staff at the school attempted to contact (the woman) via telephone to inform her that her six-year-old son was ill,' the police report read.
'After failing to reach her, staff at the school contacted (her husband who) retrieved his son from the school and transported him to the residence.
'When (he) arrived at the residence with their son, he discovered her and Mr Simmons lying upon her daughter's bed engaged in sexual activity.
'He loudly exclaimed 'I'm going to kill him' at which point Mr Simmons immediately fled from the apartment in a state of undress.'
Stephens kept hold of his gun in the home and threatened to turn up at the church to make a 'statement' about what had happened.
Simmons apologized to the congregation at Jacob Chapel Baptist Church later, pictured left, and received a standing ovation, pictured right, when he asked for its forgiveness
The pastor, who is also married with one son, fled the woman's apartment naked when her husband arrived home
He did not point the gun at either his wife or child, the police report continued. He refused his wife's pleas to give her Simmons' clothes and took off with them in his car, the keys for which he had left behind as he fled in a panic.
A friend eventually came to collect the pastor.
When police arrived, Mrs Stephens relayed what had happened. Officers contacted her husband over the phone and he eventually agreed to return the pastor's belongings to him with their help.
Later, Simmons apologized to the congregation at Jacob Chapel Baptist Church and received a standing ovation when he asked for its forgiveness.
'You cannot defend sin. This isn't about nobody else but me,' he said, also revealing that his wife Elise had decided to stand by him.
'What I am asking of our members, and it's something I may or may not get, and that is your prayers, I'm asking for your forgiveness.'
He said he was being 'pushed forward' by God and that he was a 'work in progress'.
The pastor, who has one young son, also advised members of the congregation not to engage in talks about his infidelity on the internet which he called a 'world of sharks'.
He did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on Tuesday afternoon.
The elderly mother of a junior doctor who was found dead with his girlfriend in the Caribbean almost 40 years ago has urged a US court for a speedy trial as she wants to see 'justice' for her 'beloved son'.
The bodies of medical graduate Christopher Farmer, 25, and law graduate Peta Frampton, 24, both from Greater Manchester, were discovered 200 metres from the coast near Punta De Manabique on July 8, 1978.
Silas Duane Boston, now 75, the owner of a yacht chartered by the couple, allegedly tied them up, covered their heads with plastic bags and attached weights to their bindings before pushing them overboard.
Audrey Farmer, 92, has written to a court in California and begged the judge to speed the case to trial as she fears she or the accused might die before the case is concluded.
British tourist Christopher Farmer (middle) was allegedly beaten and bound before being thrown overboard by Silas Duane Boston. The alleged killer's two sons, Russell and Vince (pictured), were on board the boat at the time
Silas Duane Boston, 75, has been charged with the 1978 murders of British couple Christopher Farmer and Peta Frampton when they were sailing on his boat in the Caribbean Sea
She wrote: 'My husband and I were very much involved in the search for them and we did all we could to establish how, why and who killed them.
'It was a matter of great sadness that my husband, Charles, died three years ago never knowing the truth surrounding their deaths and that their murderer was never brought to justice.
'I am myself now 92 years old and Duane Boston is 75. Taking all this into account there may be little time left for justice to be seen to be done.
'The brutal manner in which my son's life was taken has left an enduring and very painful gap in my family's life, which no amount of time will heal but I will derive a sense of closure from knowing that his killer has been apprehended and appropriately sentenced.'
A probe into the British couple's murders went cold but was relaunched thanks to an investigation into the 1968 disappearance of Boston's former wife, Mary Lou Boston (pictured), who he is also accused of killing
Farmer and Frampton were fresh university graduates who had decided to take a year off to travel.
They first went to Australia before setting off to the Americas and had remained in close contact with their families throughout their journey.
They informed their parents in a letter that they had met Boston while in Belize and they had chartered his boat to take them to Mexico.
Frampton in a letter dated June 29 indicated it was not always smooth sailing on the boat as Boston's two young sons, who were also on board, squabbled frequently and he had a short temper.
Their families became concerned when they failed to hear from them for several weeks and alerted authorities who eventually connected two bodies found off the coast of Guatemala to the couple.
Boston is accused of beating and tying up the young couple, who were both 25 at the time, before throwing them overboard in a fit of rage.
Their corpses were found on about July 8 floating at sea off the coast of Punta de Manabique, Guatemala.
A probe into the British couple's murders went cold even though Boston was interviewed a number of times by investigators about their disappearances.
The case was relaunched thanks to an investigation into the 1968 disappearance of Boston's former wife, Mary Lou Boston.
Boston is also accused of killing her.
Their corpses were found on about July 8 floating at sea off the coast of Punta de Manabique, Guatemala
A 38-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE: British couple Christopher Farmer and Peta Frampton, both 25, took a year off to travel in 1978. June 29, 1978: Frampton sent a letter to her parents saying they had met Boston and were chartering his boat from Belize to Mexico. She said his two sons were also on board and Boston regularly lost his temper at them. June and July 1978: Sometime after the letter was sent, Boston allegedly murdered Frampton and Farmer. He allegedly beat them before weighing them down and throwing them overboard to drown. July 8, 1978: The bodies of the couple were found off the coast of Guatemala. It became a cold case until it was relaunched thanks to an investigation into the 1968 disappearance of Boston's former wife, Mary Lou Boston. December 1, 2016: Boston is arrested over Farmer and Frampton's deaths. December 8, 2016: He was charged with their murders and faced court to enter a not guilty plea. Advertisement
Boston's two sons, Russell and Vince, have implicated him in the brutal killings, according to the criminal complaint.
Vince, who was 13 at the time, told investigators he had seen his father beat Farmer with a billy club and then attempt to stab him with a fillet knife that broke.
He said Boston bound both of his victims before dumping them overboard.
Boston allegedly later bragged about the killings, telling a former friend how he had tied the couple, put bags over their heads and dumped them overboard.
Both Russell and Vincent also told investigators their father had boasted about killing their mother and several other people.
He allegedly took his wife to an undisclosed location and then ordered her to run before shooting her.
Boston faces life in prison if convicted in the murders of Frampton and Farmer.
Boston's estranged sons will both testify that they witnessed their father pushing the young couple from the boat in a fit of rage, according to the criminal complaint filed in the US District Court.
Assistant US attorney Matthew Segal told the court: 'Dr Farmer's survivors have waited 39 years to see justice in this case.
'Dr Farmer's mother, Audrey Farmer, is ninety-two years old. She was personally involved in the investigation of her son's disappearance and she will very likely be called as a government witness in the trial. She wants to see justice done.'
The judge declined a suggestion by Boston's lawyers that a trial should take place on late 2018 and instead said it was more likely to happen in autumn this year.
Police have arrested 13 people suspected of moped thefts during a series of dawn raids in London.
The capital has seen a spate of crime carried out on scooters in recent months, including smash and grabs on shops and bag snatches on pavements.
Around 100 officers forced their way into 15 properties in Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Enfield in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Seven people have been charged and five others have been bailed pending further inquries. One remains in custody.
Houses in the north and east of the capital were raided at dawn, with 13 people arrested
Police have released an image of some of the items seized during the raids, including this knife
The move comes after a 600 per cent surge in crimes involving mopeds last year with an estimated 500,000 worth of goods stolen.
It is estimated up to 22 robberies a day have been carried out, The Evening Standard reported.
Those arrested are aged between 18 and late 20s and have been taken to police stations on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to rob.
Police said they have been gathering intelligence on the suspects for five months in what they are calling 'Operation Vocare'.
The Met said there could be more arrests in the future following today's raids.
CCTV shows how the gangs work. It is not thought the footage relates to the latest arrests
Officers in riot gear raided homes in London today as part of a crackdown on moped crime
Around 100 Metropolitan Police officers took part in an operation to smash moped gangs
This weapon was also seized as evidence by officers taking part in the early-morning operation
Chief Superintendent Simon Laurence, borough commander for Hackney, said: 'We are committed to the detection, disruption, arrest and prosecution of those involved in violent robberies and aggravated burglaries.
'The use of mopeds, often stolen, in the course of criminal offences is a common tactic used by thieves and organised criminal networks in London and offences range from commercial burglaries to personal robberies, some of the offences have been violent in nature.
'The continual, concerted operations by the Met will continue using all possible tactics to target those who commit these offences.'
Alfie Kennedy, 20, Chris Conti, 19, and Mohammed Hussain, 23, have been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Dylan Castano Lopez, 19, Josh Newman, 20, Bobby Kennedy, 21, and Mohammed Ali, 23, have been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary.
Five others, aged from 15 to 24, have been bailed until March. A 17-year-old arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rob remains at a north London police station
Police have seen a surge in crimes carried out on or aided by mopeds over the last year
A police chief has defended his officer who asked a US citizen whether they were in the country legally after stopping them in the street.
Aravinda Pillalamarri was stopped by Bel Air Police Department in Maryland while out walking after a local resident complained about a suspicious person in the area.
During the stop on December 21, Pillalamarri claimed the officer asked her about her immigration status.
Aravinda Pillalamarri was stopped by Bel Air Police Department in Maryland while out walking after a local resident complained about a suspicious person in the area
Bel Air Police have apologized to Pillalamarri but insisted they were not racially profiling
In an interview with WJZ-TV, she said: 'I didnt expect this to happen in Bel Air. Walking while brown? He said, "No, no, no, nothing like that."
'I had just come out for a walk, so I didnt have my ID. And he said, "Why dont you have ID? Are you here illegally?"'
Video courtesy of WJZ
Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore defended his officer claiming the interaction was insensitive, but not racial profiling.
He said: 'They were trying to figure out why there was some hesitation to provide identification. Thats why he asked if she was illegal.'
Moore said he has held a series of meetings with Pillalamarri and is working on new protocols to ensure similar problems do not happen in future.
He said: 'A policy statement and protocols that address fair and impartial policing in our community are now in the works and will be available for all to view on our Facebook page in the very near future.
'At our very next meeting, we will discuss the training of our officers, future community meetings, the creation of a community council, a citizens academy, and body cameras.
'Again, Ms. Pillalamarri will be involved in these meetings, as will other members of our community, as her input and her experience will be very valuable to the process. Her perspective will help to frame the direction we need as we foster a meaningful dialogue. As we continue to meet, we will keep the media and the community informed of our progress and our action plans.
'We want to thank Ms. Pillalamarri for bringing this incident to our attention and for her willingness to work with the Bel Air Police Department to ensure that our policies and procedures reflect the public safety needs and concerns of all members of our community.'
President Donald Trump's pick for secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, appears to have done a cut-and-paste job when answering written questions posed to her by U.S. senators.
The Washington Post discovered lifted sentences and phrases in written answers DeVos submitted to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Patty Murray.
One of the clearest examples of plagiarism came from DeVos likely copying an answer from the writing of a top Obama administration official.
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The Washington Post found similarities in how Betsy DeVos answered written questions from senators and source materials that were not properly attributed
Despite the Washington Post breaking this story at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, the HELP committee voted for her nomination, pushing it to the full Senate, around 1 p.m. today
Murray had asked DeVos how she would address bullying of LGBT students in schools and the Trump pick responded, 'Every child deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive environment where they can learn, thrive, and grow.'
That sentence is nearly identical to one written by Vanita Gupta, who headed the Justice Department's civil rights division under President Barack Obama.
Gupta wrote: 'Every child deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive environment that allows them to thrive and grow,' in a May 2016 press release, the Washington Post found.
In another instance, when asked about her views on LGBT students, including whether transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity, DeVos wrote, 'Every student deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive environment where they can learn, achieve and thrive and are not discriminated against. Period.'
Donald Trump's (left) secretary of education pick, Betsy DeVos (right), looks to have done a cut-and-paste job when answering written questions to her posed by U.S. senators
The Post found similar language in an article on the topic in a magazine published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
'You as an educator and an ally can dramatically shift the school climate to one that is safe, supportive and inclusive: a place where all students can learn, achieve, and thrive,' the article read, using many of the same buzzwords found in DeVos' answer.
Reporters for the newspaper also found instances in which DeVos used text verbatim from federal statutes and Department of Education materials without any attribution.
For example, when DeVos is asked if she would continue making public the list of schools that are undergoing Title IX civil rights investigations, she wrote, 'Opening a complaint for investigation in no way implies that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has made a determination about the merits of the complaint.'
That language is found on a Department of Education website.
'Opening a complaint for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a determination with regard to the merits of the complaint,' it said.
The White House has yet to respond to the allegations.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has blasted Democrats generally for dragging their feet on getting Trump's nominations confirmed.
The Post story broke at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, but did not stop the Senate HELP committee from voting up DeVos' nomination, which will not face a full Senate vote.
As long as no Republicans, who have the majority in the Senate, defect from Trump's nominee, she will be confirmed as the next secretary of education.
Robert Muir (pictured), 49, enticed a duck over with bread then broke its neck and discarded it in the bin
A cruel animal killer lured a duck to him with bread before wringing its neck and slinging it in the bin in front of horrified onlookers, a court was told.
Robert Muir, 49, killed the duck last May in a 'callous act of cruelty' in a beauty spot in Richmond, south west London.
Wimbledon Magistrates heard that police were called to the area by members of the public who had witnessed the horrifying act.
CCTV footage showed Muir enticing the Mallard duck over to him twice before grabbing it and breaking its neck.
He then twisted its neck again before dumping it in a bin.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Police were called to Richmond Riverside, at around 18:00hrs on Wednesday, 25 May following reports of a man killing a wild duck on a public promenade.
'Officers attended and local enquiries led them to CCTV footage of Muir enticing the Mallard duck over with food on two occasions before grabbing it and breaking its neck.
'The helpless animal was picked up a second time by Muir who twisted its neck again to ensure it was dead before he discarded the body of the bird in a bin and left the scene.'
Muir, of of Sandycombe Road, Richmond upon Thames, denied one count of killing a wild Mallard duck but was convicted by magistrates.
He will be sentenced later this month.
CCTV footage showed Muir enticing the Mallard duck over to him twice before grabbing it and breaking its neck
Detective Constable Sarah Bailey from the Met's Wildlife and Crime Unit said: 'Muir lured over a female Mallard duck with food in full view of members of the public.
'Ducks in Richmond are well accustomed to human interaction.
'Muir has used this to cruelly entice and kill this wild duck.
'There was no element of sport or necessity, but it was a callous, random act of cruelty.
'I hope today's verdict serves as a reminder that wild birds are protected and animal cruelty is unacceptable and we will always pursue those who inflict harm and break clear Wildlife and Countryside legislation.'
This is the terrifying moment a woman was robbed in broad daylight by a man who attacked her as she tried to get into her car.
Two thugs were captured on CCTV targeting the victim as she left with the takings from a social club where she worked in Leicester.
Footage shows the biker pull up and his accomplice get off the back before approaching the woman shortly after 9.40am.
As the woman reached her car on the opposite side of the road, the thief snatched her bag and pushed her to the floor before fleeing on the back of the motorbike.
CCTV footage shows the man get off the motorcycle and chase after the woman as she approached her car (left)
A have-a-go hero came within inches of being knocked over when he bravely tried to stop the bike by standing in front of it - but the robbers swerved past him.
The shocking robbery took place outside the New Parks Social Club in Battersbee Way, Leicester, on January 17.
The getaway bike was a 125cc off-road scrambler. It had a white petrol tank with a red lightning bolt embossed on the side. It had no registration plates.
Leicestershire Police released footage of the raid yesterday in a bid to catch the crooks.
A spokesperson said: 'The victim was walking towards her car when she was approached from behind and her bag, containing takings from New Parks Social Club, was snatched.
The getaway bike the pair used on January 17 was a 125cc off-road scrambler (pictured)
The man then jumped on the back of the motorcycle and the pair sped off into the distance
'The suspect then made off on the back of a motorcycle, which was being ridden by another person.
'The victim wasn't injured during the incident but was, understandably, left quite shocked by the incident.
'We'd like to speak to anyone who recognises something about the people in the footage or the motorbike.'
Nearly $1million has been raised to rebuild a Texas mosque that was ravaged by a fire hours after President Donald Trump signed his controversial immigration ban barring residents from seven Muslim countries from entering the United States.
Victoria Muslim Center was destroyed during the blaze on Saturday, prompting community members to create a GoFundMe page to help rebuild the site.
In just two days, well-wishers have contributed the funding to rebuild the mosque, and its attendees faith in America.
Nearly $1 million has been raised for a Texas mosque that was ravaged by a fire
The mosque said the investigation is still ongoing, but that demolition and rebuilding will begin as soon as possible
Victoria Fire Marshal Tom Legler asked for help from the Texas Fire Marshal's Office and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine what caused the blaze
An update on the page on Monday shared photos of different religious leaders coming together to offer support.
An update read: 'Today was a beautiful day as we came together as a community in sharing our love for one another during the United Community ceremonies. Leaders of different faiths shared their support and we truly do appreciate your kindness .
'Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.'
An earlier update added: 'Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the tremendous support we've received. The outpouring of love, kind words, hugs, helping hands and the financial contributions are examples of the true American Spirit.
'We're so very much thankful and appreciative of everyone's thoughtfulness.'
In just two days, well-wishers have contributed the funding to rebuild the mosque, and its attendees faith in America
Signs professing that 'Victoria loves ALL' and pleading them to rebuild have been placed outside the gutted mosque.
The fundraising page said that rough engineering estimates that the cost of rebuilding the mosque will be $850,000.
A Facebook post shared by the mosque declared on Sunday: 'The Mosque building will be released tomorrow (however we will keep hazard tape wrapped around the building to prevent people from entering for their safety).
'The investigation is still ongoing and we are hoping to get answers within the next few days. The demolition & rebuilding will be initiated as soon as we can. #rebuildwithlove'.
A Facebook post shared by the mosque declared on Sunday: 'The Mosque building will be released tomorrow (however we will keep hazard tape wrapped around the building to prevent people from entering for their safety)
A clerk at a convenience store spotted smoke and flames billowing from the Islamic Center of Victoria at around 2am on Saturday, and the fire department spent more than four hours battling the blaze.
Photos of the mosque show the dome toppled, and and the center's president Shahid said: 'It looks completely destroyed.'
The imam was awake in the early morning hours and checked the mosque's online surveillance, only to find the alarm was inactive and the doors were unlocked, the Islamic center's president Shahid Hashmi said.
Photos of the mosque show the dome toppled, and and the center's president Shahid said: 'It looks completely destroyed'
Firefighters spent more than four hours battling the blaze. The mosque was broken into just last week
The imam was awake and checked the mosque's online surveillance, only to find the alarm was inactive and the doors were unlocked. Firefighters were already on the scene when he arrived
Just last week, someone broke into the mosque and stole a number of electronics, including laptops.
'He was worried about it and drove over there,' Hashmi said.
'By that time, fire engines were already there pouring water on the fire. It's sad to stand there and watch it collapse down, and the fire was so huge,' Hashmi said.
Victoria Fire Marshal Tom Legler asked for help from the Texas Fire Marshal's Office and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine what caused the blaze.
Authorities said it was too early to speculate, and Hashmi said: 'We don't have any lead or information as to what started the fire and what happened.
'So I'm sure it's going to be a few days, they told us, before they can come up with any answers for us.'
Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze.
In addition to the break-in last week, the mosque was subject to vandalism in July 2013, after a man painted 'H8' or 'hate' outside the building
Hashmi, who's lived in Victoria for 32 years, said: 'When 9/11 happened, Muslims and non-Muslims, we all got together. Of course, we will rebuild.'
The mosque was built in 2000, and has enjoyed support from the city of about 115 miles southwest of Houston.
In addition to the break-in last week, the mosque was subject to vandalism in July 2013, after a man painted 'H8' or 'hate' outside the building.
The Texas office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said it would monitor the investigation of the Victoria fire.
'Because of growing anti-Muslim bigotry in our nation, and because of the recent spike in hate incidents targeting Islamic institutions and individuals, we urge investigators to keep the possibility of a bias motive for this fire in mind,' CAIR-Houston Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll said.
Trump signed an executive order, barring any non-U.S. citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen from entering the United States
Trump signed an executive order, barring a ny non-U.S. citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen from entering the United States.
That includes legal permanent residents - green card holders - and visa-holders from those seven countries. They cannot return to the U.S. for 90 days.
There's an exemption for immigrants and legal permanent residents whose entry is in the U.S. national interest, but it's unclear how that exemption will be applied.
Visa and green card holders already in the U.S. will be allowed to stay.
A federal judge in Brooklyn issued a nationwide, emergency stay on Saturday night to allow people with a valid visa to remain once they've landed in the US.
The decision did not strike down the executive order, and is only temporary.
Nicole Welker and Justin Brinkley of Wellsville, Ohio, were awarded $14.5million in compensation against a Pennsylvania hospital and obstetrician Thomas Carnevale (pictured)
The parents of a child born with cerebral palsy and a host of other medical issues will receive a massive payout from his obstetrician and hospital.
Nicole Welker and Justin Brinkley of Wellsville, Ohio, were awarded $14.5million in compensation against a Pennsylvania hospital.
A jury found staff at Penn Highlands Clearfield Hospital and obstetrician Thomas Carnevale made mistakes that led to the medical issues, according to the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat.
Those mistakes included nurses being negligent when guiding Welker through the delivery, as well as, 'prescribing a drug that sped up the delivery process to the point that the child didnt have time to recover and oxygenate between contractions.'
A jury found staff at Penn Highlands Clearfield Hospital (pictured) and obstetrician Thomas Carnevale made mistakes that led to Welker and Brinkley's son being born with cerebral palsy and a host of other issues
WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY? Cerebral palsy is a term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a persons ability to move caused by damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. It can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance. It is a permanent life-long condition, buts some symptoms can improve or worsen over time. (Source: Cerebral Palsy Alliance) Advertisement
The suit filed by the parents' attorneys alleged there were 'no stops to discontinue the drug', which was Pitocin, despite a monitor showing the baby was lacking oxygen.
The boy, who is now four years old, cannot talk, walk or sit up.
His identify was not revealed in the case.
The compensation included $3million for pain and suffering, while the remainder was calculated to account for his likely medical expenses over the next four decades.
The $14.5million sum represents about one-third of the hospital's assets, which tally to about $43million, according to the newspaper.
Attorneys for the doctor and hospital didn't immediately comment Tuesday.
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Children aged between 11 and 13 are to have their pictures published in National Geographic after winning a photography competition.
More than 46,000 budding photographers entered the global competition which saw 12-year-old Kate Anderson from Shelley, Idaho, capturing the grand prize.
Her photo of an ostrich chick, chirping away in front of a miniature microphone, titled 'Owning the Stage,' saw Kate win a ten-day trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Kate's photo and the U.S. category winners, along with the worldwide grand-prize winner, will be featured in the May 2017 U.S. edition of National Geographic Kids magazine, reaching approximately four million U.S. readers.
Owning the stage: Kate Anderson, 12, took a photo with her new ostrich chick. The picture led her to win the U.S. competition
Dewi Baggerman, 11, from The Netherlands, won the global side of the competition with his picture of the underside of tulips
Underwater basketball: Josephine Goldman, 13, wrote: 'I went to a summer camp in North Carolina where I got scuba certified. In one lake I went diving in, Fantasy Lake, there were many everyday things under the water, such as a basketball court complete with 14-pound bowling balls that felt like basketballs while underwater. I captured this shot right as my friend dunked the ball into the basket as the sun blazed down into the water'
Dromedaries on Diani: Piers Nicklin, 12, said: 'Napping on the beach, I opened my eyes to this colorful parade of camels on Galu Beach in Kenya'
In the global field, 11-year-old Dewi Baggerman from the Netherlands won a five-day trip to Washington, D.C. for his picture of a field of vibrant tulips shot from a unique angle.
Open to children ages six to 14, the worldwide competition was conducted in partnership with the U.S. edition of National Geographic Kids magazine and nine other local-language editions: Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Netherlands, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Each country then held a national contest and, in the final round, sent one photo from each of the four categories to National Geographic headquarters for judging.
Pan Yinzhi, 13, from China managed to get a unique and colorful perspective of a cargo storage yard
Mystic Gates: Riley Harlan, 12, was high in the mountains of Japan, where 10,000 gates lie still, just waiting to be explored
Zip-line Adventure: Ryan Hughes, 13, took this photo after his friend jumped off a wooden ledge
Archway to Cesky Krumlov: Alexia Saigh, 14, took a peek through this archway into the beautiful southern Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov located in the Czech Republic. Once there, you can meander through this medieval town over the cobblestones, bridges, and see the unique buildings
Maj Kastelic, 13, from Slovenia, saw this face-off between a lizard and bug on a nearby leaf
In the age of Facebook and Instagram, the results were particularly encouraging with this year's winning contest photos chosen from a dramatically larger pool of entries than in the past, with more than three times the number of people entering.
'The quality and quantity of this year's entries truly blew us away,' said Rachel Buchholz, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Kids magazine and contest judge. 'We were impressed not only by the beauty and artistic skill that these photos showcased, but also by the creativity and unique perspective that they demonstrated.
'It's a delight to see how these kids engage with the world around them using photography.'
Jennifer Jayne Evans Koumbatis who is 10 and from The Netherlands captured this photo of a dog leaping out of the ocean
Wings: David Hopkins, 13, was at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. 'There were many birds,' he wrote. 'I got this pic while it was fluttering into its nest'
Prairie Kiss: Freya Youssef, 12, captured a photo of a mother prairie dog greeting its young pup with a kiss. It was taken in Custer State Park last spring
Mr Kaba (left), 24, was allegedly part of a group of five men who went to a Notting Hill Carnival after-party (inset) in east London in the early hours of August 30. They are suspected of conspiring to murder a 23-year-old rival who was shot on the dance floor at the Oval Space nightclub in Cambridge Heath. The victim was chased out of the nightclub and shot twice by a gunman before being taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. He was treated for gunshot wounds to both legs, but survived the attack. The four men appeared at Thames Magistrates Court on October 28 charged with conspiracy to murder. The newspaper reported that the prosecution will allege Mr Kaba helped plot the attack and was present at the incident. Mr Kaba, who died in Streatham Hill (right), south London, on September 5, was being followed by an unmarked police car with no lights or sirens turned on in the minutes before the shooting, Inner South London Coroner's Court was told last month.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told reporters Tuesday that President Trump's immigration ban is only a 'temporary pause' and said he learned about its contents two days before it got signed.
'This is not a travel ban this is a temporary pause that allows us to better review the existing refugee and visa vetting system,' Kelly said at a press briefing to describe how the order is being implemented and how it got drafted.
'This is not, I repeat, not a ban on Muslims,' Kelly said, referring to the order that affects seven Muslim-majority nations by imposing a 90-day stop to most admissions and a ban on Syrian refugees.
Kelly cast aside reports that he was caught off guard by the order, which led to chaos at U.S. airports in the hours after President Trump signed it saying he has known about it for years since Trump spoke generally about 'extreme vetting' on the campaign trail.
'We knew it was coming from like two years ago from when Mr. Trump started to run for president,' he said.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said President Trump's immigration order is 'not a travel ban this is a temporary pause'
'People on my staff were generally involved. I guess probably Wednesday I think we learned, Tuesday or Wednesday, that it would probably be during the week that it would be signed out. As you could imagine copies go back and forth and they're tweaked right up to the last minute,' he said.
Kelly said he got clear guidance on the timing the following day.
'I think probably Thursday we found out it was going to be signed the next day. Certainly If you really want to know what's in the executive order, just read the newspaper the day before and you'd find out,' he said. 'So it was done in that way.'
A series of reporters questioned Kelly on the tick-tock, prompting a staffer to demand that questioners steer clear of the topic.
'Two questions content related to the executive order itself and not the timing, please,' said the staffer.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly fielded questions about when he saw drafts of the immigration executive order until a staffer limited questions to content only
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, center, accompanied by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Thomas Homan, right, and a member of his security detail, attends a news conference at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection headquarters in Washington
Kelly pushed back on a New York Times report on the immigration order, saying he 'didn't learn about it on an airplane'
Kelly also pushed back against a New York Times report that he only learned about the order during a flight while on a White House conference call.
'Halfway into the briefing, someone on the call looked up at a television in his office,' the Times reported. 'The president is signing the executive order that we're discussing,' the official said, stunned,' the paper reported.
'Certainly didn't learn about it on an airplane,' Kelly said Tuesday.
Also up for discussion was how much involvement Kelly had in the process. He referenced 'the policy gurus in the White House,' but also said he saw a draft of the order while it was being finalized.
'I did know it was under development. Had an opportunity to look at at least two if I recollect drafts as it got closer to Friday,' he said.
But Kelly indicated he provided only minimal input.
'I did not look at it from the perspective of, as I say, correcting the grammar or saying we need to change these words or do this thing,' he said.
'The point is, it came to the department. It was on a close hold basis, meaning we didn't' distribute it to everyone in the department, only those people that needed it, myself included, my chief,' Kelly said.
Kelly didn't provide much new information when asked about President Trump's call for 'extreme vetting' of immigrants.
'We are developing what additional vetting, extreme vetting might look like,' he said.
But he defended the overall effort of the order, which has come under fire from Democrats, civil liberties groups, while some Republican lawmakers have criticized its hasty implementation.
'These orders are a matter of national security. It is my sworn responsibility as the secretary of Homeland Security to protect and defend the American people,' Kelly said.
'We cannot gamble with American lives. I will not gamble with American lives,' Kelly said.
Describing the order's drafting, Kelly said: 'The policy gurus in the WH were working with the interagency people. Not a large number I saw the draft. Because it's still in staffing and the people that worked in and around me were saying, "We got it boss this is kind of what we expected it to be.'"
'People that know the immigration process infinitely better than I do right now were the ones that did the staff work, and ultimately the president signed it,' he said.
On Tuesday, several days after the White House released text Friday night, homeland officials provided new guidance on how it would be applied.
Dual citizens would just have to present one of their passports, allowing someone from the United Kingdom who is also a citizen of one of the seven affected countries to only present their U.K. passport.
An Idaho family found a moose in their basement after the 600lb animal had fallen into the space from an unlatched window trying to escape the wintry weather.
Homeowners were shocked to discoverer a towering female moose in the basement of their home in Hailey, Idaho, early Sunday morning.
The beast had fallen through an unlatched window well after the animal tried to escape the area's deep snow, according to the Blaine County Sheriff's office.
Homeowner Julie Emerick was shocked to discoverer a female moose in her basement in Hailey, Idaho, early Sunday morning. The beast had fallen through an unlatched window well
Homeowner Julie Emerick used furniture such as couches and mattresses to try to keep the animal from escaping and making its way through her house, reported East Idaho News.
Lt. Steve England of the Hailey Police Department. said to the paper: 'Weve had a lot of wildlife this winter, because of the heavy snowfall.'
After officers and members from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game department tried to shoo the moose upstairs with no luck, they shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart.
After officers and members from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game tried to shoo the moose upstairs with no luck, they shot the moose with a tranquilizer dart and carried it outside
Eight officials carried 'the sleeping giant up the stairs and out the front door. It woke up in the snow covered street, groggy and confused, but free.'
It ran and ran off around 15 minutes later, according to Emerick and the Fish and Game department's Facebook post.
Emerick said the basement room suffered little damage and called the moose 'the most polite, gracious beast'.
Ever since California officially joined the United States in 1850, citizens of the Golden State have been working to split it up.
While such ideas are pipe dreams for any other state, the issue has been taken seriously several times by lawmakers in Sacramento as a means to give citizens better representation in Congress.
California's status as America's most populated state - and third largest in land mass - means that lawmakers and governors have a hard time satisfying the interests of the state's many different citizens - from liberal Hollywood executives in Los Angeles to conservative farmers in the Central Valley.
Since California officially joined the U.S. in 1850, there was been plans to try and split the state into smaller states. The most recent plan was called 'the Six Californias'. The plan died when it didn't get enough signatures to be put on the 2016 ballot
Other plans have envisioned Coastal California (left) splitting off from Western California, or the Republican-heavy areas of southeastern California becoming their own state (right)
In 1941, there was a movement to merge parts of southern Oregon and northern California to create the State of Jefferson. The movement was brought back recently, with a plan to make Jefferson larger, stretching all the way down to nearly the Bay Area
A ballot initiative has also been started in the state recently, proposing that California to secede from the U.S. entirely - a plan backed by many Democrats who were shocked to see Trump win the presidency.
Perhaps more realistic though is the idea of turning California into multiple states that would give Republican-majority areas representation in Congress and the Democratic-majority areas a chance to experiment with liberalism.
The first proposed segmenting of California came in 1855 - just five years after the territory became an official state. The plan, which was passed by the California State Assembly, proposed splitting the state in three. The Southern California counties would become the State of Colorado (Colorado had not yet become a state, and therefore the name was free) while the far northern districts would become the State of Shasta. The middle of the state would remain California. The plan was proposed because California did not have enough representation in Congress at the beginning of its statehood and the capital in Sacramento was too far and hazardous a journey from the rest of the state. The bill eventually died in the Senate.
But just four years later the issue was brought up again. The Pico Act proposed to split the state in two on the 36th parallel, with the area north of the line becoming the Territory of Colorado. Unfortunately, despite having support from both the legislature and the governor, the bill died when it was sent to DC. At the time, President Abraham Lincoln was dealing with the beginning of the Civil War. Another failed proposal of the late 19th century included splitting the state in two at the Tehachapi Mountains, just north of Los Angeles, which were difficult to cross. The plan was thrown out when the government decided to make a road through the range.
The biggest reason behind splintering California into multiple states is to allow better political representation for its many different citizens. The above map shows that most of the state went to Hillary Clinton in the election, but their are large swathes of Republican-majority areas
Another plan that has been proposed is meshing part of northern California and southern Oregon together to form a state called Jefferson. Both areas are rural and tend to vote Republican, unlike the population centers in their respective states.
The local governments in these counties even seceded one day of the week in protest in 1941, to push for the new state. The plan lost steam with America's entrance into World War II four years later - but it's gained traction again recently.
Ballot measures redistricting California into separate states have remained omnipresent in Sacramento since then. In 1965, the California State Senate passed a proposal that would divide the states along the Tehachapi Mountains, but it couldn't get out of a committee in the State Assembly.
In 1992, State Assemblyman Stan Statham backed a plan that would split the state into North, Central and South Carolina. The plan was passed by the State Assembly, but died in the State Senate.
In 2003 op-eds, in response to the gubernatorial recall, it was proposed that the state's citizens would be better represented if it split into four new states: the Bay Area, North Coast, Central Valley, as well as Shasta/Jefferson.
Former State Assemblyman Bill Maze began lobbying for a different plan in 2009, that would see the coastal area from San Francisco down to Los Angeles form as Coastal California, while the rest of the state becoming Western California.
In 2011, Republican Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone said the southern counties (not including Los Angeles) should form their own state of Southern California. Governor Jerry Brown called it a 'supremely ridiculous waste of everybody's time'.
The most recent plan is also the most fragmented. In 2013, venture capitalist Tim Draper submitted a proposal to the California Attorney General, to split California into six new states. He said that the six different states would help improve political representation and encourage competition between industries. While it was initially reported that the plan got enough signatures to appear on the November 2016 ballot, it was later determined that only about a third of the signatures were legitimate and therefore it was disqualified from the ballot.
John Fund, national-affairs correspondent for the National Review, recently brought of California's history of trying to split up in his most recent column.
While he finds it highly improbable that such a measure would ever get the necessary support, he says he thinks the conversation is good for democracy.
'The debate on both ideas is healthy. To what extent should we let arbitrary political boundaries established many decades ago curb our imagination and prevent us from creative solutions to our problems?' he wrote.
Fund says he personally like the two-state idea of a Coastal versus Western California.
'Politically, the two states would provide an escape from the current political conformity of California, which is dominated by public-sector unions and progressive activists.
'Take the last governors race in 2014. Democrat Jerry Brown won reelection over Republican Neel Kashkari by 60 percent to 40 percent statewide. But in Inland California, they were separated by just a few thousand votes.
'The two Californias would include a progressive stronghold able to experiment (even more than the state already does) with new small is beautiful ideas; next to it would be a politically competitive state with many constituencies that would favor pro-growth policies. Tensions and gridlock under a two-state model would probably be reduced,' Fund wrote.
A 60-year-old Chinese man was allegedly shot dead playing Pokemon Go by a neighborhood security guard.
Jiansheng Chen was sitting in his van in a parking lot in Chesapeake, Virginia, last Thursday when an altercation broke out between him and a security guard.
Chen's attorney Greg Sandler said the grandfather was parked outside the neighborhood's clubhouse because it was also Pokemon Go gym location.
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Jiansheng Chen, 60, was sitting in his van playing Pokemon Go in Chesapeake, Virginia last Thursday when he was shot dead allegedly by a neighborhood security guard
Chen's attorney Greg Sandler said the grandfather was parked outside the neighborhood's clubhouse (pictured) because it was also Pokemon Go gym location
He told WTKR Chen couldn't speak English and believes the argument may have broken out given the language barrier.
'I cannot imagine what could have justified shooting through the front windshield of Mr Chen's van five times,' Sandler said.
'His family is a homeowner in the area. Ironically, he is one of the people security is supposed to be protecting as a homeowner.'
The River Walk Community Association said they only hired unarmed security guards to patrol the neighborhood, so it was unclear why the man had a gun.
The security guard allegedly shot through Chen's windshield five times when he was parked outside the clubhouse, according to his lawyer
Chen's attorney Greg Sandler said Chen couldn't speak English and believes an argument may have broken out between him and the security guard given the language barrier
Chen's family said the 60-year-old did not own a gun.
Police are currently investigating to see whether any charges should be laid.
Chen had started playing Pokemon Go as a way to bond with his grandchildren.
His devastated brother told reporters Chen couldn't speak any English except for basic words like 'sorry' or 'bye'.
More than a dozen DC schools had indoor recess on Tuesday after zoo officials launched a desperate search to locate Ollie, the bobcat, who escaped from her enclosure at the National Zoo.
National Zoo officials said Ollie is still on the loose after possibly climbing through an opening in the mesh net within her habitat on Monday.
About 13 public schools that are on high alert, kept children inside for recess as authorities continue their search for Ollie in nearby neighborhoods.
More than a dozen DC schools had indoor recess on Tuesday after zoo officials launched a desperate search to locate Ollie (pictured), the bobcat, who escaped from her enclosure at the National Zoo
'During an inspection yesterday, keepers noticed that one piece of the mesh was broken forming a larger hole, approximately 5 inches by 5 inches,' the zoo wrote on their Facebook page.
'Ollie is an adept climber and would have been able to climb and crawl through the hole,' the zoo added.
The zoo announced Tuesday that a team of keepers, police and DC Humane Rescue Alliance members received calls overnight reporting that the bobcat may be in adjacent neighborhoods.
Bobcats can run up to 30 mph and are excellent climbers. Ollie is pictured here
Officials said bobcats are not thought to be aggressive toward humans but have been known to attack other zoo animals.
The 25-pound bobcat was reported missing on Monday morning.
Ollie is believed to be about seven-years-old and was born in the wild.
Bobcats look a lot like house cats, only bigger and with short, stubby tails.
They are native to North America, including the mid-Atlantic region.
The zoo is keeping the area around the bobcat enclosure closed in hopes that Ollie might return.
Ollie's habitat has also been shut down because she will likely stay hidden if there are a lot of people around.
Traps have been put in place to capture the adorable creature if she returns on her own.
However, bobcats are 'very elusive,' spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson said. 'It will be very, very difficult to find her.'
Bobcats are brownish gray and have huge whiskers. They eat rabbits, squirrels, mice and small deer. They can run fast, climb well and leap into the air to nab low-flying birds.
But just a little over three hours away from DC, another zoo animal is also on the loose in Virginia.
The search for Sunny, the missing red panda, continues as authorities believe the tree-dwelling animal probably hasn't left the grounds of the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk.
Ollie is not the only zoo animal missing from her enclosure. Sunny, the female red panda, went missing from the Virginia Zoo on Monday, January, 23. Zoo officials still haven't located the 19-month-old creature
The zoo has received several calls about possible sightings of Sunny (pictured), but all have turned out to be raccoons
Sunny was last seen on Monday, January 23, and was reported missing the next day.
After a routine check on Tuesday morning staff reported the cub's disappearance and launched a desperate search of the grounds and community.
The zoo has received several calls about possible sightings of the 19-month-old red panda, but all have turned out to be raccoons.
Zoo officials are asking the public to call the Virginia Zoo hotline at 757-777-7899 if they spot Sunny in the community.
And if you see Ollie, please call 202-633-7362.
A woman in Germany who thought someone was breaking into her house found out that the real culprit was a sex toy 'vibrating out of control' after calling the police.
The woman, who has not been named, heard a mysterious drilling noise on the upper floor of her home and called police in Bremen thinking someone was trying to break in.
Two squad cars arrived at her home, and when officers searched the property, they didn't find any intruders or signs of a break-in.
The German woman, who has not been named, heard a mysterious drilling noise on the upper floor of her home and called police in Bremen thinking someone was trying to break in
IT was later revealed that the 'burglar' was an 'out of control' vibrator in the woman's empty bathtub
Still, they, too, heard the mysterious drilling sound and decided to investigate, localizing the sound to the woman's bathroom.
When they opened the door, they did not find an intruder, but rather a sex toy 'vibrating out of control' in an empty bathtub.
Upon discovering the sex toy, the woman exclaimed, 'That's my vibrator!'
Police called off the property search and said that the woman was relieved that no intruders were trying to break into her home.
Bremen police have also asked locals to not call if they hear suspicious noises.
The force pointed to their website and said there are directions on how people can protect themselves from burglars and intruders.
A video has emerged of an angry woman trashing a gas station in front of shocked shoppers and staff.
The footage, which appeared on YouTube on Tuesday, began by showing the unidentified woman sitting on one of the counters inside the store.
Clutching a paper soda cup in one hand, she told one employee how she would 'beat' his 'a***' after being freed from jail where she was due to serve time for disorderly conduct.
The woman calmly began her trail of destruction by throwing a bag of chips at the his head, later shouting: 'When I get out, I'm going to f*** your a** up.'
A video of a woman hurling abuse at staff in a gas station before trashing it emerged on Tuesday
The woman first knocked over the computer at the cash register as staff watched on
It's not clear where or when the video was taken. The woman shouted 'ATL' repeatedly at one point, suggesting she may from Atlanta, Georgia.
She then tossed packets of candy on the floor before knocking over the computer at the register as onlookers gasped and staff pleaded: 'You need to calm down.'
'I did it, I did it. Call 'em,' she said, egging on workers who had threatened to phone the police.
She then hopped down from the counter and appeared to walk away, shouting: 'See ya, wouldn't want to be ya.'
The woman then threw a broom at the person filming her before continuing her rampage
She then tossed packets of candy on the floor before knocking over the computer at the register as onlookers gasped and staff pleaded: 'You need to calm down'
Before leaving the gas station, she walked the aisles running her hands along shelves of goods so they fell to the ground.
As she became more aggressive in her rampage, other customers urged her to stop.
The woman eventually was shown out by a male shopper who appeared to escort her to the door from the back of the store.
Police Atlanta told DailyMail.com they hadn't yet been aware of the video but were looking in to it.
The woman toured the station aisles, throwing things from the shelves as she made her way around
The Prince of Wales, pictured making a different speech at Buckingham Palace today, has warned the world is in danger of 'forgetting the lessons of the past'
The Prince of Wales has warned the world is in danger of 'forgetting the lessons of the past' in a speech about the Holocaust.
Prince Charles recalled the 'indescribable persecution' suffered by Holocaust survivor Ben Helfgott, who faced the horrors of the Buchenwald concentration camp but went on to captain Britain's weightlifting team at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games.
His intervention, at a central London fundraiser for the World Jewish Relief (WJR) charity, comes just days after President Donald Trump halted the entry of Syrian refugees to the United States.
The heir to the throne made no direct reference to President Trump.
Millions of Syrians have fled a brutal civil war, leading to a massive migration of people from the Middle East into Europe.
At the same event, the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis slammed Mr Trump's executive order, which halted immigration from seven majority Muslim countries for 90 days.
Charles told the 500 invited guests: 'The work of World Jewish Relief enables us to rally together, to do what we can to support people practically, emotionally and spiritually - particularly at a time when the horrific lessons of the last war seem in increasing danger of being forgotten.'
The charity was founded in 1933 to support people fleeing persecution from Nazi Europe.
It created the Kindertransport, which brought thousands of Jewish refugee children to Britain from Nazi Germany between 1938 and 1940.
It now supports vulnerable people in 18 countries through activities including disaster relief, employment skills and providing older people with food, medicine and companionship.
Charles spoke of how he is proud to be a WJR patron because the charity sets an example of 'true compassion and true friendship'.
It does this by reaching beyond its community to help those in need, regardless of their faith, he said.
Prince Charles, pictured today with a group of Scouts, spoke up for the need to protect refugees days after President Trump's executive order on immigration
Charles has been a long-standing supporter of Jewish communities in the UK and abroad. He and the Duchess of Cornwall have previously attended the commemorative ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day.
The audience applauded as Chief Rabbi criticised US President Donald Trump for his 'totally unacceptable' and discriminatory travel ban.
The Chief Rabbi talked about how the organisation gives people hope around the world.
But he said: 'Not much hope from the United States of America, of all countries, where President Trump appears to have signed an executive order which seems to discriminate against individuals based totally on their religion or their nationality.
'We as Jews perhaps more than any others know exactly what it is like to be the victims of such discrimination and it is totally unacceptable.'
Mr Trump's temporary ban on nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries has caused chaos and outrage across the US, with travellers detained at airports and protesters registering opposition to the sweeping measure.
Nationals from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are covered by the order.
The British woman hoping to become First Lady of France had no identification badge or email address during a decade 'working' as a highly paid parliamentary aide, it emerged on Tuesday.
Instead Wales-born Penelope Fillon just stayed at home and pocketed up to 800,000 for doing next to nothing, it is claimed.
Police on Tuesday raided the parliamentary offices of her husband, would-be president Francois Fillon in connection with the fraud enquiry that threatens to destroy his career.
It also emerged that the couple had two of their children on the payroll, paying them a total of 82,000 as 'parliamentary assistants' while they were still students.
Police found out on Tuesday that French presidential candidate Francois Fillon's wife, Wales-born Penelope Fillon, had no ID badge or email address during a decade 'working' as a highly paid parliamentary aide
Police on Tuesday raided the parliamentary offices of Penelope Fillon's husband, Francois Fillon in connection with the fraud enquiry that threatens to destroy his career and campaign for president
At first it was thought that the entire amount swindled topped out at around half-a-million pounds, but new figures published by Canard Enchaine, the investigative weekly, show it is far closer to a million.
Mrs Fillon's past role would have involved long hours at the National Assembly in central Paris.
But detectives today arrived at the historic building, and were let in by Claude Bartolone, the president of the National Assembly.
'Judicial police failed to find any material evidence of Mrs Fillon's work,' said a parliamentary source.
Instead, the couple's lawyer, Antonin Levy, admitted to the Parisien newspaper that Mrs Fillon had no badge or dedicated email address when she was an aide between 1998 and 2007,
It was just three months ago in Dijon, the mustard capital of France, that Mrs Fillon told reporters that she has 'never been involved in the political life of my husband'
'Many parliamentary assistants from the provinces do not have a badge,' Mr Levy claimed, adding that the 'vast majority' of aides did not have dedicated email addresses.
In turn, these claims by Mr Levy were flatly denied by sources at the National Assembly, who said all parliamentary workers had identity cards and email addresses.
The Fillons - both aged 62 - were placed in separate rooms in a Versailles police station on Monday night, as they were questioned about the growing sleaze scandal for more than five hours.
Despite their claims, nobody has any recollection whatsoever of Mrs Fillon having worked in her husband's office.
Other alleged scams include Mrs Fillon pretending she was an editorial consultant to a cultural magazine, so enabling a billionaire friend to funnel thousands more into the couple's account every month.
Fillon, pictured speaking during a debate on Tuesday, and his wife Penelope were both questioned on Monday by police over the growing scandal
Mrs Fillon, a solicitor's daughter from Wales who hopes to become First Lady of France, has publicly not said a word since the scandal broke last Wednesday, even though the case could prevent Mr Fillon becoming President.
This is despite prosecutors opening an enquiry into embezzlement, misuse of public funds, and concealment.
All of the charges come with maximum prison sentences of between five and 10 years for those found guilty.
Mrs Fillon has said to utter a single public word about the criminal allegations being levelled at her.
It was just three months ago in Dijon, the mustard capital of France, that Mrs Fillon told reporters that she has 'never been involved in the political life of my husband.'
As the time, even Mr Fillon told a TV interviewer that his wife did nothing except for attend functions with him, and hand out leaflets.
Mrs Fillon, who is a devout Roman Catholic, was born and brought up near Abergavenny in south Wales.
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The names of almost 10,000 Nazi SS commanders and guards who helped in the extermination of more than a million Jews at Auschwitz have been posted online for the first time.
The huge searchable database, which includes hundreds of photographs, has been uploaded by Poland's Institute of National Remembrance (INR) in an attempt to dispel false claims that many of the guards were Polish.
The list of 9,686 names are predominantly German and their pre-war occupations are listed as farmers, butchers, teachers, cobblers and all manner of jobs.
Fritz Taddiken (pictured, left) was promoted to Unterscharfuhrer (Junior Squad Leader) in the SS in 1944. Four years later he was convicted of war crimes by a court in Krakow. Stormtrooper Walter Salawey (centre) was dealt with by the same court. Horst Panitzsch (right) was a former member of the Hitler Youth, who transferred to the SS from the Wehrmacht in 1944
Hitler's forces invaded Poland in 1939 and the following year he ordered the construction of Auschwitz-Birkenau in the Polish countryside.
It was originally used to house Polish political prisoners but was later handed over to the infamous SS and between 1942 and 1945 around 1.1 million Jews died there, either in the gas chambers or through starvation or beatings.
INR chief Jaroslaw Szarek told the BBC the online archive was 'a tool to fight lies' and he added: 'We're not expressing an opinion, we're presenting the cold, hard facts.'
After the war the camp's former commandant, Arthur Liebehenschel, and 33 other senior officers went on trial in nearby Krakow. Most were executed by hanging.
But most of the SS guards - including 200 women - spent time in Polish or Russian prisoner-of-war camps but were released in the 1950s and went back to spend the rest of their life in obscurity in Germany.
In 1963 more than 20 middle- to lower-ranking SS officers were put on trial for crimes against humanity in Frankfurt, West Germany. Some, like Wilhelm Boger, the 'Tiger of Auschwitz', were jailed for life and died in prison, but many, like camp dentist Willi Schatz, were acquitted and released.
Detlef Nebbe (left) had been in the SS since 1933 and was promoted to the highest rank, Hauptscharfuhrer, by war's end. A committed Nazi, he would have been one of those giving orders. Gottfried Paggen (left), born in Monchengladbach, was 47 when the war ended, making him one of the oldest SS guards. Robert Nagy (right) is one of the minority of non-German SS guards, being an ethnic Hungarian from what was then Yugoslavia
Johannes Maranca (left) had served in the German Army in the First World War and worked as a plumber and roofer before being called up again, at the age of 53, in 1944. Richard Lamb (centre) was a coal miner before the war, while Willi Heindorf (right) was awarded a medal, the Kriegsverdienstkreuz (War Merit Cross) in 1943
Before the war Johannnes Gunesch (left) was an ethnic German farmer in Romania, while Helmut Grundschok (centre) was an apprentice plumber, who joined the SS in 1939 and rose rapidly through the ranks. He was awarded two medals during the war, one of which was after he was wounded. Little is known about baby-faced Josef Hefner (right), except he was Croatian
Martin Flohr (left) was a locksmith before the war in his native Croatia. Hans Fischer (centre), who had been a farmer, rose to the rank of corporal by 1944. Ernst Fischer (right) had been a pharmacist in the Sudetenland, the ethnically German area of Czechoslovakia that Hitler demanded in 1938, leading to Neville Chamberlain's famous appeasement at Munich
Samuel Exler (left) was a farmer who lived close to the border with Austria and joined the Hungarian Army at the outbreak of the war but later transferred to the SS. Hungary, under its dictator Miklos Horthy, was an ally of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Kolomann Bistritz (centre) was also from Hungary. Felix Becker (right) was another farmer, from Croatia
The White House defended the firing of acting Attorney General Sally Yates, calling her refusal to defend President Donald Trump's travel ban 'bewildering' and 'defiant.'
Press Secretary Sean Spicer rehashed what happened last night, telling reporters at today's press briefing that Yates failed to 'enforce a legal order,' which was 'designed to protect the citizens of the United States' and so was replaced by Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
'Calling for tougher vetting of individual travelers from seven nations is not extreme,' Spicer argued from the podium. 'It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country.'
Spicer's strong language echoed what he used in the White House's announcement that Yates, a Democratic appointee, was relieved of her duties as she was accused of 'betraying' America for not defending what opponents are calling a 'Muslim ban.'
The press secretary said today that the executive order is not a 'ban,' even though President Trump used that language.
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President Donald Trump has fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she refused to defend his controversial immigration order
Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has been appointed as Yates' replacement until Sen. Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the Senate
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that 'POTUS has named Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of VA as Acting Attorney General. Sally Yates has been relieved'
Yates wrote a letter to lawyers saying that she was not convinced the order was 'lawful,' according to reporting from CNN.
'My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts,' she wrote.
'In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right,' she continued.
'At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful,' she concluded.
Soon after Yates' letter became public, a statement from the White House was released that said she had been booted from the temporary position.
'Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration,' the statement said.
'It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country,' the statement, from the office of the White House press secretary, read.
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Hall of Heroes at the Department of Defense Friday at the Pentagon. Trump signed two orders, one calling for the 'great rebuilding' of the nation's military, and another on 'extreme vetting' of visa seekers from terror-plagued countries
Response: Donald Trump took to Twitter on Monday night to express his dissatisfaction at Acting AG Yates' stance
Spicer further backed up the White House's position today saying that the acting attorney general is 'required' to execute lawful orders, as he disagreed with Yates' position on the legality of the executive order.
'She was rightfully removed,' he continued, noting how she 'defiantly' refused to defend the ban.
'That is a position of leadership that is given to somebody who is supposed to execute orders that are handed down to them properly, of which that executive order was 100 percent done,' Spicer said, reminding reporters that the language had gone through the DOJ's Office of Legal Compliance.
'So the idea that it went through the entire process of which they were part of and then she chooses not to execute it actually is bewildering as well as defiant,' he said.
Last night's press release also pointed fingers at Senate Democrats, blaming them for holding up Sessions' nomination 'for strictly political reasons.'
Democrats have been fighting tooth and nail to keep Sessions out of the Cabinet, with many threatening to delay the voting following Trump's ban on immigrants and refugees from certain countries.
Spicer again called out the Democrats today.
Spicer noted that Boente will be in charge 'until Democratic senators finally quit their obstruction and confirm the unquestionably qualified Senator Jeff Sessions as our next attorney general.'
Boente said that he was 'honored' to serve until Sessions could be confirmed.
'I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected,' he added.
Spicer also tweeted about the appointment on Monday evening.
Meanwhile Thomas Homan has been appointed to take over as Acting Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency from Ragsdale.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., center, speaks with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, left, and other members of Congress, in front of the Supreme Court about President Donald Trump's recent executive orders
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., speaks with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, in front of the Supreme Court
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York stand as Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D- N.Y., speaks in front of the Supreme Court
WHO IS DANA BOENTE? Dana Boente, who has spent 33 years in the Justice Department, is described as tough but fair by fellow attorneys. He has never been vocal about his political views during his lengthy career and was not known as a risk taker. Peers say he was unlikely to have accepted the job as Attorney General unless he thought Donald Trump's executive orders were legally enforceable. Former assistant U.S. attorney Gene Rossi, now a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said: 'I never saw Dana in the 22 years I worked with him make what I considered to a political decision. He will try his best to enforce what he thinks is the law.' Boente was appointed during the Obama administration, first as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, then for the Eastern District of Virginia when he worked in the Fraud Unit. When officially sworn in last year, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch called him 'one you could always count on to be there for you,' Washington Post reports. His office already had been supporting the 'Muslim ban' in Virginia federal court challenge when he was appointed. He recently oversaw the prosecution of former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell for corruption. The case was later overturned by the Supreme Court. Boente also oversaw the government's cases against U.S. Rep. William J. Jefferson who was sentenced to thirteen years in federal prison for bribery in 2009. He was also responsible for helping jail former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin for fruad. Advertisement
Before she was fired, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Yates a 'person of integrity.'
'And this is a poor reflection on President Trump and his entire administration,' Schumer said. 'They put this together in a slapdash way, it's almost as if they wrote it on the back of an envelope they didn't check its legality.'
'When you do something as important as this, it can't be a Twitter-type activity,' Schumer continued. 'It's a very bad omen for this presidency.'
Sen. Ted Cruz, once Trump's political rival, has defended his decision to fire the 'lawless' Yates saying the president was 'exactly right.'
'After eight long years of a lawless Obama Department of Justice, it is fitting - and sad - that the very last act of the Obama DOJ is for the Acting AG to defy the newly elected President, refuse to enforce the law, and force the President to fire her,' he wrote on Facebook.
He added that Yates joined the 'ignominious succession' of Attorneys General, from Eric Holder to Loretta Lynch, 'who put brazen partisan interests above fidelity to law.'
'Yates' lawless partisanship highlights why the Senate needs to act now - and Senate Democrats should end their extreme political obstruction and delay - and confirm Jeff Sessions immediately.'
Currently, there are lawsuits filed in at least five states including Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Washington and California, that challenge the order, which the new president signed on Friday.
It bans citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from coming into the United States for 90 days, while pausing the refugee program for 120 days.
Protests against Trump's action have broken out at major airports and in major cities including New York, Boston and Washington, D.C.
The policy has drawn international backlash from allied leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and lawmakers, like Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Repubicans' 2008 presidential nominee.
Even State Department employees have criticized the controversial order.
A dissent memo, circulating with 100 signatories, argues that Trump's executive order barring the State Department from issuing visas to citizens of Sudan, Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Libya will not achieve its stated purpose, to protect the country from terrorism.
It further points out that countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are not included in the order, even though citizens of those countries have committed acts of terrorism on American soil in the past.
The executive action will 'immediately' sour relations with the countries affected and 'much of the Muslim world, which sees the ban as religiously motivated,' the dissenters write.
'It will increase anti-American sentiment,' the draft memo argues, 'hostility towards the United States will grow.'
Senator Ted Cruz, once Trump's presidential candidate rival, has defended his decision to fire the 'lawless' Yates
Demonstrators block traffic at the international arrival terminal as they protest against Muslim immigration ban at San Francisco International Airport
American voters backed suspending immigration from 'terror prone' countries by 48 to 42, the survey revealed. A new group of 40 Syrian refugees arrive at Fiumicino airport in Rome following a flight from Beirut
Spicer issued an ultimatum to either 'get with the program' or 'go.'
'At some point if they have a big problem with the policies that he's instituting to keep the country safe, then that's up to them to question whether or not they want to stay or not,' Spicer said during the daily briefing yesterday.
He brought up polling showing that more Americans agree with the travel ban that prohibits Syrians from coming the country indefinitely than not, and proclaimed that 'the American people support what the president is doing.'
A Quinnipiac poll taken early this month, before Trump took office, showed majority support not only for an immigration crackdown but for a 'Muslim registry,' an idea Trump also promoted on the campaign trail.
American voters backed suspending immigration from such 'terror prone' countries by 48 to 42 percent, the survey revealed.
They are 'pleased that this president is taking the steps necessary to protect this country,' he said.
'If somebody has a problem with that agenda, then they should ques then that does call into question whether or not they should continue in that post or not,' he said of State Department employees protesting the travel restrictions.
The White House on Friday asked four career State Department officials who were appointees of Obama, including Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary for management, to quit allowing them to submit their resignation, in line with protocol.
State Department employees harboring anger about President Donald Trump's travel ban are welcome to find a new place to work, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday
A Quinnipiac University survey in early January probed support for some of Donald Trump's policies
A Quinnipiac University survey in early January probed support for some of Donald Trump's policies
Meanwhile, a huge crowd gathered in front of the Supreme Court Monday night as Democratic lawmakers led a rally protesting President Donald Trump's executive order banning refugees.
The lawmakers could barely be heard above the chants from the crowd, which included 'Do your job' and 'No ban, no wall.'
Schumer, who had called Trump's ban 'evil,' promised the crowd the Democrats would 'fight with everything we have and we will win.'
Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon led the crowd in a chant of 'Tear down that ban.'
Sen. Bernie Sanders, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jerrold Nadler also took to the stage to demand an end to the ban.
Hundreds carried signs with slogans like 'Dissent Is Patriotic,' ''Impeach' and 'This Is What Democracy Looks Like.'
Pelosi branded what Trump did as 'not constitutional, to many of us, it's immoral.'
The rally capped a day of Democratic resistance to Trump's new immigration restrictions as the party ramped up its fight against the president's orders.
The protest comes after Senate Republicans successfully blocked the Democratic effort to overturn the ban
A dazed cat was filmed purring with delight after she was given oxygen by a kind firefighter who rescued her from a blaze.
The fire took place in Moscow, Russia, and Lyolya the cat was rescued from the blaze in the residential area of Golyanovo.
Firefighters who attended the scene did everything they could to bring the cat back to life and miraculously succeeded.
The cat, called Lyolya (pictured), was rescued from the blaze in a residential area in Moscow
A heartwarming video shows the caring firefighter place an oxygen mask on Lyolya's face.
During the clip, she let out a couple of pitiful howls but otherwise submits to her treatment, as the fireman caressed the back of her neck to keep her calm.
A man's voice in the background said: 'Her eyes look clearer now.'
A fire brigade spokesman added: 'The cat was in shock. It inhaled too much carbon monoxide, its eyes were blurred.
'After it inhaled some oxygen and its eyes got clearer, we were sure that everything was fine with it.'
The video continued after the cat had been taken to a vet where it received injections.
Kind firefighters placed an oxygen mask on the poor animal after it was pulled out from the blaze
She was taken to a local vet who recommended the cat (pictured) gets a lot of rest and sleep
Lyolya meowed again but seemed better than her bedraggled state just after being rescued.
The vet has recommended the cat gets a lot of rest and sleep. There is no information about whether she has a family or not.
There was no information about the fire from which Lyolya was rescued.
Viewers who watched the video praised the efforts of the firefighters and the cat.
Timur Lamidov said: 'Wishing all the very best to these rescuers.'
And 'stry98' added: '+1,000 goes right to their karmas. Well done, guys.'
Donald Trump's spokesman has confirmed the asylum seeker deal with Australia will go ahead, but refugees would have to clear 'extreme vetting' before they are allowed to enter the United States.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced after his weekend phone call with Mr Trump that the the US president had agreed to honour the deal.
On Tuesday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters the agreement specifically deals with 1250 people.
'Part of the deal is they have to be vetted in the same manner that we are doing now. There will be extreme vetting applied to all of them,' he said.
Donald Trump's spokesman has confirmed the asylum seeker deal with Australia will go ahead, but refugees would have to clear 'extreme vetting' before allowed in the US. Mr Trump is pictured here speaking with Malcolm Turnbull
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced after his weekend phone call with Mr Trump that the the US president had agreed to honour the deal
Last week Mr Trump placed a temporary ban on refugees being admitted to the US and other strict border measures targeting seven countries including Iran, Iraq and Syria.
This was despite the 'one-off' deal with former President Barack Obama in November to resettle refugees detained on Manus and Nauru in the US.
Mr Trump confirmed his administration would continue to honour the 2016 refugee resettlement arrangement while acknowledging a common interest in preventing irregular and illegal migration.
'The president, in accordance with that deal to honour what had been agreed upon by the US government, and ensuring that vetting will take place in the same manner that we are doing it now, it will go forward,' Mr Spicer said.
The refugees are being held on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island (pictured) and Nauru
Last week Mr Trump placed a temporary ban on refugees being admitted to the US and other strict border measures targeting seven countries
The refugees are being held on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island and Nauru.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister and Mr Trump has a 25-minute phone call where the US President confirmed the refugee deal.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said Mr Turnbull was 'pleased with the outcome' of his discussion.
Speaking to reporters at the G'day USA gala in Hollywood, Ms Bishop said Mr Turnbull would travel to the US for a yet to be scheduled meeting with the president.
This was despite the 'one-off' deal with former President Barack Obama in November to resettle refugees detained on Manus Island (pictured) and Nauru
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said Mr Turnbull was 'pleased with the outcome' of his discussion. Manus Island is pictured
Budweiser appears to have gotten political with its Super Bowl ad this year.
The beer giant has released the ad that'll hit screens during the big game this Sunday.
The one-minute spot tells the story of the company's co-founder Adolphus Busch, who immigrated to America from Germany in 1857.
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Budweiser's new Super Bowl ad tells the story of when its co-founder, Adolphus Busch, traveled to the US as an immigrant in 1857
Titled, 'Born the Hard Way,' the commercial shows the immigrant receiving a harsh welcome on arrival, with people on the street shouting at him: 'Youre not wanted here! Go back home!'
Eventually, after trudging through swamps and sitting on a small boat among a huddled mass of travelers, Busch arrives in Missouri.
A man, who conveniently happens to stroll past the signature Budweiser Clydesdale horses, approaches and says: 'Welcome to St Louis, son.'
He then heads inside a pub, where a man - who is revealed to be Eberhard Anheuser, with whom Busch would form Budweiser's parent company, Anheuser-Busch - offers him a beer.
Busch (left) is seen in the ad receiving a hostile welcome, with locals shouting at him to leave the country and go home
Busch then shows Anheuser a sketching of a bottle adorned with the Budweiser logo, and the pair shake hands.
The commercial is sure to be seen by many as political, given the current climate created by Donald Trump surrounding immigration, however the alcohol behemoth said it was not made with that in mind.
'This story celebrates Adolphus Busch's American dream and the bold vision to brew the best beer in the world,' Budweiser 'master brewer' Peter Kraemer said.
But the ad then continues to show Busch (right) unveiling his dream beer to a man in a bar - who turns out to be Eberhard Anheuser, with whom Busch would form Budweiser's parent company, Anheuser-Busch
Budweiser Vice President Ricardo Marques (pictured) said: 'This commercial shows the start of Budweisers journey, and while it is set in the 1800s, it's a story we believe will resonate with today's entrepreneurial generation'
'While everyone knows Budweiser, they don't necessarily know our story and how we came to be brewed the hard way.'
Budweiser Vice President Ricardo Marques added: 'This commercial shows the start of Budweisers journey, and while it is set in the 1800s, it's a story we believe will resonate with today's entrepreneurial generation - those who continue strive for their dreams.'
The company added the ad had been in the works before Trump signed his travel ban last week.
The beer giant however said it is not in response to Donald Trump's travel ban, adding it had been in the works before that was announced last week
Politically-intended or not, the commercial is certainly pricey for Budweiser.
A 30-second spot came with a $5million price-tag for Sunday's Super Bowl, according to the New York Times, meaning Anheuser-Busch would have shelled out $10million.
This year is the 28th in which Budweiser was the exclusive beer advertiser during the Super Bowl, and the 42nd Anheuser Busch has been part of.
The California Legislature advanced a bill Tuesday that would provide statewide sanctuary for immigrants by restricting local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
The move in the nation's largest state came as legislative Democrats ramp up their efforts to battle the immigration crackdown started by President Donald Trump.
The state Senate Public Safety Committee approved the measure in a 5-2 party-line vote less than a week after Trump signed an order threatening to withdraw some federal grants from sanctuary cities.
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Protests: Ultra-liberal San Francisco saw demonstrations at its airport at the weekend and its mayor is now suing the president in opposition to a move to remove federal funding from sanctuary cities
Action: San Francisco mayor Ed Lee (right) announce the move to sue with the City Attorney, Dennis Herrera. The city authorities say the president is acting unconstitutionally
Debate: The California legislation is being pushed by Kevin de Leon (left) a Democratic state senator from Los Angeles. It was opposed by Cory Salzillo (right) of the California State Sheriffs' Association but went through the committee 5-2. It will now go to the full legislature and if successful, the governor
Democrats say the new legislation is necessary to prevent fear of deportation in families with some members living in California without authorization.
'Draconian immigration policies do not work,' said Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles, the author of the measure. 'They separate children from their mothers and mothers from their children.'
Republicans and law enforcement groups say the bill would make it harder to keep Californians safe.
'I think this bill is making it that much more difficult for the federal authorities to get the most dangerous criminals that we want to deport to keep our communities safe,' said Sen. Jeff Stone, a Temecula Republican who voted against the measure.
Many of California's largest cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento already have sanctuary policies that prohibit police from cooperating with immigration authorities.
San Francisco sued Trump on Tuesday, claiming the executive order that cuts funding from sanctuary cities is unconstitutional and a 'severe invasion of San Francisco's sovereignty.'
The federal government cannot 'put a gun to the head of localities,' City Attorney Dennis Herrera said, arguing that the order violates states' rights and the law.
San Francisco receives about $1.2 billion a year in federal funding for services that include housing, health and social services, and homelessness.
The suit argues the city is safer when all people, including those who are living in the country illegally, feel safe reporting crimes.
Later Tuesday, the state Senate Judiciary Committee was expected to consider fast-tracked legislation that would allow the state to spend an undisclosed amount of money to provide lawyers for people facing deportation.
Contentious: The sanctuary city crackdown ordered by Trump has been demonstrated against in other cities, including Miami
Some Republicans have criticized the Democratic reaction to Trump's policies, saying bombastic rhetoric and provocative legislation will inflame tensions with the president and harm California.
The debate over sanctuary cities escalated in 2015 after Kate Steinle, 32, was fatally shot in the back by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who was in the country illegally after multiple deportations to his native Mexico.
Lopez-Sanchez, who told police the gun fired by accident, had been released from a San Francisco jail despite a request from federal immigration authorities that he be held in custody for possible deportation. Trump often cited the Steinle case during the presidential campaign.
Many other cities and counties in California also refuse to detain immigrants for deportation agents out of legal concerns after a federal court ruled that immigrants can't be held in jail beyond their scheduled release dates.
Since then, federal agents have been asking local law agencies to provide information about immigrants they're seeking for deportation, if not hold them.
It started as a seemingly ordinary toothache.
Vadim Kondratyuk, a 26-year-old long-haul truck driver and married father-of-two, brushed off the pain and hit the road, traveling from Truckee, California, en route to New York for work, never to return.
In the early hours of Monday morning, Kondratyuk was pronounced dead in a Utah hospital, where doctors found that his tooth infection had spread to his lungs.
His wife of four years, Nataliya, made the trip from their home in Antelope, California, to Utah in time to say goodbye.
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Heartbreaking loss: This family photo shows Vadim Kondratyuk, 26, his wife, Nataliya, and their two girls, ages 2 years and 11 months. The father-of-two died of an infection Monday
Clinging to life: The long-haul truck driver spent four days in a Utah hospital, where doctors tried, and failed, to stop the spread of an infection that originated in his tooth
'The doctor said tonight is the night he's gonna die, because we did everything we can and nothing seems to work, Nataliya told the station Fox40. It's just the bacteria and the infection keeps growing to his lungs and they can't clean it out.
The young widow, who is now left to raise the couple's two daughters, two-year-old Vanessa and 11-month-old Maya, said Vadim was suffering from diabetes but was otherwise in good health when he began complaining of the toothache two weeks ago.
On his way to the East coast, Vadim's pain gradually grew worse, forcing him to seek dental help in Oklahoma.
The dentist Vadim visited cleaned his infected tooth and proscribed him antibiotics for the infection. At first, the treatment seemed to work and he reached his destination in New York feeling much better, but as he set out on the return trip to California, the side of his face became swollen.
Young widow: Nataliya, pictured with Vadim during happier times, said doctors told her this week he was not going to make it
Happiest day: The young couple were married for four years and lived in Antelope, California
Nataliya said her brother-in-law, Miroslav Kondratyuk, rushed to Vadim's side hoping to bring him home for treatment, but his condition was rapidly deteriorating, forcing the brothers to stop in Utah and check the ailing Vadim into a hospital.
Doctors labored for four days to try and curb the spread of the infection, but to no avail: Vadim's lungs ultimately filled up with fluid, rendering him unable to draw a breath, and he suffered a fatal heart failure on Monday, with Nataliya at his bedside
I don't think you could find a better husband, the young widow tearfully said of Vadim. 'I know he's in heaven. He's a happy person right now. He's gonna be my angel for the rest of my life.
A friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help bring Vadims body home to California, to pay for his funeral expenses and to provide for his widow and their two children, who were left without income because Kondratyuk was the sole breadwinner in the family.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser has drawn more than $101,000 in donations, and counting.
The White House insisted on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's order temporarily barring citizens of seven nations from entering the United States is not a 'Muslim ban.'
It's not a 'travel ban,' either, Trump's spokesman said, even though the president himself called it a 'ban' yesterday morning.
'He's using the words that the media is using,' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told a reporter who pointed the inconsistent messaging out.
The White House insisted on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's order temporarily barring citizens of seven nations from entering the United States is not a 'travel ban,' even though the president said it was
HOLD ON - IT IS NOT A TRAVEL BAN: A reporter called the directive a 'travel ban' and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer interrupted to say it's not
The administration has been on the defense since Trump signed an executive order Friday night indefinitely blocking refugees from Syria and travelers from that country, as well as Sudan, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Somalia and Libya, for 90 days.
In his campaign, Trump said he's enact a 'total and complete shutdown Muslims' from coming to the country until the terror threat was under control. He expanded the proposal later to include citizens of any country that's terror prone.
His team's calling his executive order 'extreme vetting' while adamantly denying that it's a Muslim ban in disguise, despite Trump's admission in a weekend interview that he'd favor Christians for entry, because it doesn't refer to Islam specifically and many Muslim countries are not on the blacklist.
Rudy Giuliani, a close friend of and informal adviser to the president, also claimed in an interview that Trump approached him and asked how he could ban Muslims from coming to the country 'legally.'
Protests have erupted at international airports, and lawmakers from both sides of the divide have lambasted the order mostly affects followers of Islam, even if that wasn't Trump's intention.
The seven countries the administration says represent the highest terror threat just happen to be majority-Muslim.
'He has made very, very clear that this is not a Muslim ban. This is not a travel ban,' Spicer said Tuesday.
In his campaign, Trump, pictured today in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, said he'd ban Muslims from coming to the country until the terror threat was under control. He expanded the proposal later to include citizens of any country that's terror prone.
Responding to a question about Giuliani, Spicer said, 'That's his opinion.'
Earlier in the Q and A session a reporter called the directive a 'travel ban' as she attempted to ask a question about the policy.
Spicer interrupted her - 'First of all it's not a travel ban,' he declared.
As the Department of Homeland Security said today at a presser, a million people have come into the U.S. in the last 72 hours, Spicer said.
'That's not a ban,' he contended. 'A ban would mean that people can't get in.'
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly also told reporters at his afternoon news conference in no uncertain terms that the policy is not a 'ban.'
'This is not - I repeat not - a ban on Muslims,' he said. 'The Homeland Security mission to safeguard the American people, our homeland, our values. And religious liberty is one of our most fundamental and treasured values.'
Even so, Trump did, in fact, refer to the policy as a ban in a tweet this week.
Hitting back at his critics, some of whom have argued that immigration authorities, green card holders and refugees that were being processed should have been warned about the measures in advance, Trump on Monday called the executive action as a 'ban.'
'If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the "bad" would rush into our country during that week,' he said in a tweet. 'A lot of bad "dudes" out there!'
The screams to 'call 911' haunt Suzanne Zaremba, as they were the last words she heard her 16-year-old daughter Charlotte say.
In the early hours of New Year's Day, Charlotte's 15-year-old classmate Sean Crizer broke into her room in Ellicott, Maryland, wearing a mask and shot her dead.
Altar boy Crizer injured her mother as she bravely tried to fight him off and he then turned the gun on himself.
Suzanne has now spoken out for the first time about the horrific attack and how she tried desperately to save her daughter's life.
Charlotte Zaremba's sister Audrey, left, father Jim, center, and mother Suzanne have spoken out after Charlotte was shot and killed by a classmate who broke into their home on New Year's Day this year
In the early hours of New Year's Day, Charlotte's 15-year-old classmate Sean Crizer broke into her room donning a mask and shot her dead, injuring her mother in the process, before turning the gun on himself. Charlotte is pictured above
After tackling the masked gunman Suzanne and her husband Jim, who are both qualified nurses, performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Charlotte while the killer looked on.
But Suzanne insists she wasn't being brave, she was just trying to save her child.
Realizing what he'd done, Crizer sat there staring at her heartbroken and injured parents before turning the gun on himself.
'He could have shot both of us and left the room and ran away,' Suzanne said.
Suzanne told The Washington Post she and Jim had gone into Charlotte's room around 2am after hearing what sounded like furniture slamming.
She found her daughter wrestling with the masked gunman, later identified as Crizer, and tried to pull her away from him.
Crizer pointed the gun at Suzanne, 52, who pushed the barrel down and it fired, shooting a bullet into her left leg.
The two teens were classmates at Howard High School in Ellicott, and Crizer (left) lived just around the corner from Charlotte (right)
Suzanne is left with scars from the attack as she now walks with a slight limp.
Suzanne says herself, husband Tim and their other daughter Audrey, pull strength from each other while coping with the immeasurable tragedy, and say they feel sorrow for Crizer's family.
'Both families lost a child that day,' Suzanne said.
Tim spoke of hope for the future, and said: 'If I fill my heart with anger, guilt and despair, in the end it will only lead to my own demise.
'If I fill my heart with love and appreciation of the time I had with her, then I can go on and be the person she wants me to be. I can go on and try to make the world a better place as she was doing.'
Suzanne, left, told The Washington Post she went into Charlotte's room around 2am after hearing what sounded like furniture slamming, a few hours after picking her up from a friend's house
The two teens were classmates at Howard High School in Ellicott, and Crizer lived just around the corner from the Zaremba house with his grandfather.
They were described as 'acquainted' - Suzanne nor Charlotte's older sister Audrey had never heard her mention Sean's name.
However, Charlotte's friend Julia Torres, who attended a nearby school, said Sean had asked the pretty brunette to Homecoming earlier in the semester, and she had politely declined.
She said: '[He told] her that he had feelings for her. She didn't reciprocate, but he didn't react poorly. She said she wanted to go with friends. She was kind about it.'
Julia said she had not yet been interviewed after police, nearly a month after her friend's murder.
At some point during the struggle, Charlotte (left of center) was struck in the chest with a bullet. Suzanne (right of center) and her husband Jim, both certified nurses, immediately began providing CPR - but it was too late
Crizer is suspected of burglarizing two homes in the area in the weeks before the attack.
Howard County Police Spokesperson Sherry Llewellyn said: 'In one of those burglaries a gun was stolen and that gun was used in this shooting.'
Officers have reportedly retrieved the mask and murder weapon.
Kieran Davis, 15, who attended Ellicott Mills Middle School with both teenagers told the Baltimore Sun: 'I would never have expected this from him.
'It's very hard to wrap my head around.'
They now are trying to find the best way to honor Charlotte's memory, and spoke of her love for volunteering at hospitals and abroad, and her wish to become a doctor
It is believed that Crizer broke into the Zaremba home on the 4800 block of Knoll Glen Road in Ellicott City, Maryland on New Year's Eve
Courtesy WJLA
Charlotte's family are now trying to find the best way to honor her memory. They spoke of her love for volunteering at hospitals and her wish to become a doctor.
The family plans to make her bedroom a 'place of peace', with the walls depicting a jungle scene Suzanne painted while pregnant with Charlotte.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help support the Zaremba family in their time of need, which has doubled its original goal of $5,000.
Charlotte's sister Audrey posted a Facebook status after her sister's death, responding to the outpouring of messages she'd received offering to help since the incident. In it she says: 'Just hug your families a little tighter'.
Laciana Tinsley (pictured), 42, was arrested and charged for allegedly beating her husband to death with a fire extinguisher
A 42-year-old woman, who is accused of fatally beating her husband with a fire extinguisher inside their New Jersey home, did it in self-defense, her attorney says.
Laciana Tinsley was arrested and charged with murder and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon in the death of 74-year-old Douglas Tinsley, according to Burlington County prosecutors.
He was pronounced dead at the couple's Willingboro home in the first block of Hancock Lane around 12.30pm on Monday.
A defense lawyer says the woman acted in self-defense.
The public defender who appeared with her at her initial court appearance on Tuesday said her husband was suffocating her at the time.
Authorities say Laciana Tinsley struck her husband in the head multiple times with the fire extinguisher.
An April 2015 profile in The Monitor about the mother-of-three, who is a former Jehovah's Witness, details her conversion to Catholicism several years ago.
She was quoted in the article talking about her 'connection' to God.
Tinsley also sued her former employer Fox Rehabilitation Services after she was fired not long after her July 2010 wedding, court records obtained by the Courier-Post.
Burlington County prosecutors say Tinsley was charged with murder and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon in the death of 74-year-old Douglas Tinsley at their New Jersey home (pictured) on Hancock Lane
The company initially sought to discipline Tinsley for missing work days, but decided to relieve her of her duties 'because she was an unhappy employee'.
Tinsley believed she was being retaliated against for raising concerns about racism and the lack of minority supervisors. The case was settled in April 2011, according to the Post.
She will remain jailed until at least Friday when a judge will decide whether to set bail or keep her in custody.
Prosecutors have filed a motion to keep Tinsley jailed. Tinsley is being held at the Burlington County Jail.
Mr Barry, 61 claimed the award for his novel Days Without End
Sebastian Barry has won the Costa Book of the Year award for a second time.
Mr Barry, 61, who won in 2008 with The Secret Scripture, claimed the award for his novel Days Without End, which is set in 1850s America.
The Dublin-born author and playwright, who lives in County Wicklow with his wife and three children, was inspired to write about a gay relationship after his son came out.
Judges' chairman Professor Kate Williams said Mr Barry was the unanimous choice for his 'searing, magnificent and incredibly moving description of how the West was won'.
The book centres on teenager Thomas McNulty and his brother-in-arms John Cole, who fight in the Indian Wars and the Civil War.
Professor Williams noted: 'Sebastian Barry said his son came out and he wanted to write a gay relationship.
'These two men find engagement and beauty in each other.
'I think that is what is so wonderful about the book - it takes you to the most brutal moments of humanity... and yet you have these moments of love, friendship and redemption.
'It is just such beautiful characterisations and brilliant writing.'
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Mr Barry is the first novelist to win the coveted award twice, a feat which has also been achieved by poets Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes.
The book was one of the most political of this year's five finalists, who had been whittled down from 596 entries.
Each writer who made the final had won the top honour, and 5,000, in the qualifying Costa Book Awards.
They won in book categories including the First Novel, Novel Biography, Poetry and Children's awards.
Mr Barry takes home another 30,000 for scooping the overall prize and being named as Book of the Year award winner.
Mr Barry is the first novelist to win the coveted award twice, a feat which has also been achieved by poets Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes
Winners at the Costa Book Award, from left, Francis Spufford, Keggie Carew, Sebastian Barry, Alice Oswald, Brian Conaghan
Professor Williams said of the winning book: 'It is very striking we are thinking and looking so much about American history and life at the moment and here is this book about the founding of America.'
She said the book touches on 'how power corrupts, what power does to you' and also on whether 'it is possible to have power over others and still retain your humanity'.
The other shortlisted finalists included non-fiction writer Francis Spufford for her debut work of fiction Golden Hill, which scooped the First Novel Award, and debut non-fiction writer Keggie Carew, who won the Costa Biography Award for Dadland.
It was her attempt to learn about her father's past as he slips into dementia.
Alice Oswald was named winner of the Costa Poetry Award for Falling Awake, a collection of poems written to be read aloud.
Brian Conaghan took the Costa Children's Book Award for The Bombs That Brought Us Together.
A trio of high-profile Israel hawks from both sides of the political aisle said Tuesday that the Trump administration should immediately relocate the U.S. embassy in the Jewish state from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem but do it stealthily.
'You can move the embassy by changing the name-plate on the consulate, and then build a permanent embassy in due course,' former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.
Bolton agreed that just as 'Air Force One' is a designation that applies to whichever airplane carries the President of the United State, any U.S.-owned building in a world capital cam be designated an 'embassy' if an ambassador lives and works there.
'The sooner they do it the better,' Bolton said.
This unassuming consulate building in West Jerusalem, often the site of mild Palestinian protests, could become the U.S. embassy simply by switching a nameplate
Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton said Tuesday that the Trump administration should do the switch stealthily
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee told DailyMail.com that Trump should install his new ambassador at the consulate building and announce the next morning that the embassy has changed addresses
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told DailyMail.com that the State Department should 'do it do it quickly, do it boldly. In fact, my advice to them is don't announce you're going to do it.'
'Do it and announce you just did it,' said Huckabee.
'You do it, and you just say, "Yesterday we moved the embassy." ... It would be totally unnecessary and counterproductive to say, "We're going to start laying a building cornerstone," and it just creates an environment for tension that's unnecessary.'
'Change the nameplate on the building over by the prime minister's home from "consulate" to "embassy," he advised.
'And announce that you did it last night, and the ambassador has taken up residence there.'
DailyMail.com interviewed the two Republicans before a luncheon panel hosted by the Gatestone Institute, a conservative think tank that focuses on national security and defense issues.
Former Democratic Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, one of six speakers at the event, said moving the embassy as President Donald Trump has pledged to 'really must happen. And the sooner it happens the better.'
Lieberman, who ran for vice president with Al Gore in 2000, was a staunch Israel backer during his 24 years in the U.S. Senate.
He warned the White House on Tuesday not to listen to advisers who hold 'a kind of conventional wisdom about foreign policy.'
The president hasn't said since his inauguration whether he will move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, or when it might happen
Former Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman said Tuesday in New York that the Trump administration should follow through with its campaign rhetoric, lest it be seen as a weak 'superpower'
In 1990 Congress passed a resolution declaring: 'Jerusalem is and should remain the capital of the State of Israel.'
Lieberman co-sponsored the Jerusalem Embassy Act five years later along with then-Republican Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi. The legislation threatened the State Department with the loss of half its operating funds for diplomatic missions until the U.S. flag was raised above an embassy in Jerusalem.
'Unfortunately, the Clinton administration said they wouldn't sign it unless we put a presidential waiver in,' Lieberman recalled Tuesday of the bill that passed with an overwhelming majority.
'And President Clinton waived it. And President Bush waived it. And President Obama waived it. And it's an outrage really, when you think about it.'
Waivers under the law must be renewed every six months; former president Barack Obama issued his last such order on December 1, 2016, saying he acted 'in order to protect the national security interests of the United States.'
Lieberman said Tuesday that America's embassy in Tel Aviv is the only one in the world that does not reside in a host country's declared capital city.
He brushed off concerns about international uproar if the White House were to make a change.
'If you don't do that based on the fear of protest, we're not the principal superpower that America is supposed to be,' Lieberman said to applause.
Attorney David Friedman (left), Trump's choice to be U.S. ambassador to Israel, has already expressed a desire to perform his duties in Jerusalem
The current U.S. embassy is in Tel Aviv, although that's not Israel's capital city a circumstance that is unlike anything else in American diplomatic real estate
The Trump administration has not said whether it will continue the practice of the three most recent U.S. presidents or if he will make the same sort of dramatic policy departure that has characterized his first seven full days in office.
But his pick to head the U.S. mission in Israel David Friedman, a lawyer who has advocated to embassy move for decades was seen as a signal that changes are coming.
'I intend to work tirelessly to strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two countries and advance the cause of peace within the region,' Friedman said in the Trump transition press release announcing his nomination, 'and look forward to doing this from the U.S. embassy in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem.'
Before Tuesday's event, DailyMail.com asked Huckabee if he had any inside knowledge about Trump's plans and how long they might take to unfold.
'If I tell you that,' he joked, 'I will have to have you killed on the street shortly after this luncheon.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said last week that the administration is 'at the very beginning stages of even discussing the subject.'
Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, said last month during a Hanukkah party at the Washington, D.C. embassy that moving the U.S. diplomatic mission would be a 'great step forward to peace.'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Trump at the White House on February 15, both government's announced on Monday.
A brazen thief managed to steal a Mercedes-Benz right under the nose of its owner who was standing right behind it and looking in the boot.
The man - who was wearing a cap - noticed that the owner was not in the front seat and approached the vehicle.
The video started with the vehicle parked and the owner standing directly behind it while a street sweeper cleaned the road in Taraz, Kazakhstan.
A man wearing a cap walked towards the vehicle as its owner was looking inside the boot
The man in the tracksuit then walked around the Mercedes-Benz S W220 and headed straight to the driver's door.
CCTV footage showed him quickly get into the seat and closed the door - before quickly driving off as the keys were still in the ignition.
The stunned owner desperately tried to sprint after him but the thief was able to get away and he quickly gave up.
He called the police and although the thief made a clean getaway, they were able to gather enough information to locate the car within 24 hours, and it was returned to the owner.
The man then hopped into the front seat and started to drive off as the keys were still in the ignition
The stunned owner desperately tried to sprint after him but the thief was able to get away
The thief was also caught and faces up to two years in jail after he appears in court.
After the video was posted online, it received a lot of comments.
One viewer posted: 'A good illustration of why you should not leave your car unlocked with the keys inside.'
James Titcombe, pictured, said he was 'shocked' at how the Nursing and Midwifery Council spent 240,000 redacting its files on him following a Freedom of Information request
A nursing regulator has been revealed to have spent nearly 250,000 on covering up information about a grieving father who lost his nine-day old son to a treatable infection.
James Titcombe asked the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) what details they had about him under a Freedom of Information request and was sent documents that had been heavily redacted.
The NMC had followed Mr Titcombe's efforts to launch an investigation into the death of his son Joshua in 2008 on social media and in his public statements, but gave him reports that 'had all but 10 words removed'.
It came after Mr Titcombe helped shed light on a maternity unit scandal at Furness General Hospital in Cumbria which led to the deaths of 16 babies and three mothers since 2004.
One document he was sent simply said 'flag anything from James Titcombe', with the rest of the text obscured.
Mr Titcombe, who works for a patient safety software firm, revealed the NMC's response to a query about the cost of the work on Twitter.
It said: 'I am sorry you do not feel we have been transparent in the way we handled your data subject access request.
'As you know we engaged the law firm Fieldfisher LLP to help us deal with your request and the estimated cost of their work is 239,871.85 (including VAT).
'We have the capacity to deal with most information requests internally. Yours was particularly complex'.
After questioning the NMC about the report, he revealed their response which said they engaged an external law firm to help with his 'complex' request
He also revealed one of the documents he was sent was redacted to say just 'flag anything from James Titcombe'
Mr Titcombe added the figure was equivalent to the annual NMC registration fees of 2,000 workers.
Based on the average starting salary of a UK nurse of 21,000, it could also have paid for 10 nurses for a year.
Mr Titcombe told the i the amount of money spent was 'shocking' and that the NMC was 'defending the indefensible'.
He added: 'The NMC has a remit to protect mothers and babies which sadly following my son's death in 2008, they have woefully failed to do.
'However, when it comes to protecting their own reputation, clearly no effort and expense is spared.
'This is a shocking amount of money to spend on hiding information and I can only imagine how staff whose registration fee's have paid for this must feel.'
Mr Titcombe lost son Joshua, pictured, aged just nine days at Furness General Hospital in Cumbria, prompting a long campaign for justice
It is understood the NMC used the external firm because it would be more 'cost effective' and 'transparent'.
As reported by MailOnline last year, an NMC hearing found midwife Holly Parkinson caused nine-day-old Joshua to 'lose a significant chance of survival' when he suffered a lung haemorrhage.
Parkinson and colleague Lindsey Biggs both failed to carry out proper observations and did not 'escalate' the situation when Joshua's temperature plummeted.
The NMC found them both guilty of misconduct at an earlier hearing but concluded that their actions did not directly contribute to Joshua's death.
A subsequent Government report in 2015 found there were 'failures at almost every level' at the hospital and that 'different levels of clinical care' had been expected that could have prevented deaths.
An NMC spokesperson said: 'We receive hundreds of FOI and DPA requests every year with the vast majority of these requests being dealt with in-house by the NMC.
Subsequent inquests and reports found 'failures at almost every level' at the hospital which contributed to the deaths of several babies and at least one mother
'Each request is assessed individually and in this case, due to the size of the request and the very wide range of information being sought, it was decided that it would be more appropriate and cost effective to use an external company.
'We engaged an external company to help ensure that we met our obligations fully in an open and transparent way.
'Handling the request in this way has incurred a significant cost to the NMC, however, we believe that the approach taken was the best way of ensuring a full response.
'Like most organisations in our sector, the NMC has media and parliamentary monitoring services that provide us with a wide variety of information about parliamentary issues and media coverage that are of relevance to our work.
'While we do not have formal media or parliamentary monitoring systems set up in relation to Mr Titcombe, where individuals or organisations are mentioned alongside the NMC, they may feature in some of our alerts.'
Thousands of chocolate Easter bunny figures are being recalled after a potentially deadly sabotage attempt.
The re-call has been announced by the Co-op after a small button battery was found inside one of the hollow figures in Nottingham.
The same chain ordered a recall of hollow chocolate Santa figures just before Christmas following two similar incidents.
The latest discovery suggests a deliberate attempt to harm children as well as damage the sales and reputation of the Co-op.
The re-call has been announced by the Co-op after a small button battery was found inside one of the hollow figures
The batteries are capable of causing appalling suffering, life-changing injuries and even death if they are swallowed by a child.
The problem is that they contain chemicals that can burn through the delicate lining of a child's throat or stomach.
Just over 3,000 of the 1 Easter bunny figures have been sold nationwide.
The National Crime Agency, which deals with food tampering incidents, and police forces are helping with the investigation, which is a criminal matter. The Food Standards Agency has been notified and is assisting.
A Co-op spokesman said: 'The health and safety of our customers is uppermost in our minds.
The same chain ordered a recall of hollow chocolate Santa figures just before Christmas following two similar incidents
'We are concerned about one incident of alleged product tampering involving our hollow milk chocolate Easter bunny foil figure, which has been found to contain a small battery inside.
'This follows an incident at Christmas when two similar products were targeted and contaminated.
'As a precaution, we have begun a UK-wide product recall and have withdrawn the product from sale.
'Customers with one of these products should not eat it but take the product back to store for a full refund.'
Similar attempts to contaminate food in the past have been linked to criminals trying to extort money from brands or supermarkets.
One other possibility is an attempt at revenge by a disgruntled employee or customer.
London's Great Ormond Street Hospital has seen a big increase in cases linked to children swallowing batteries in the past year. It is now seeing one child a week.
Surgeon Kate Cross said: 'Button batteries should be treated like poison and kept out of reach of children.'
MOTHER SPEAKS OF HER SHOCK AFTER HER DAUGHTER, THREE, ALMOST SWALLOWS A BATTERY Tammy-Louise Dundon was horrified to find daughter Sophia had a battery lurking inside her chocolate bunny Tammy-Louise Dundon, 26, bought a chocolate bunny for her daughter Sophia Wood from her local Co-op store in Nottingham on Saturday. But she was horrified when Sophia bit the chocolate ears off and discovered a single-cell battery 'rattling around' inside the hollow figure. Single-cell batteries contain chemicals that can burn through the delicate lining of a child's throat or stomach and are potentially fatal if swallowed. The supermarket chain has now withdrawn the item and brought in the National Crime Agency, saying it is a 'criminal matter'. Ms Dundon, a care assistant, from Nottingham, said: 'My daughter unwrapped the rabbit, bit the ears off and shouted 'what's this?' 'I was only a few feet away and came over and saw she had a button battery in her hand. 'At first I thought, how has she got that? I thought we don't have any of those batteries. Then she said she'd found it rattling around inside the bunny. 'I've heard kids have died from eating them. They can get stuck in the oesophagus or can be corrosive.' Advertisement
Miss Cross, consultant neonatal and paediatric surgeon, said: 'If the battery gets enveloped in the mucosa of the oesophagus it creates an electrical circuit and the battery starts to function, releasing an alkali which is like caustic soda, which can erode through the wall to the windpipe.
'If the battery is facing a different way it can burn into the aorta, a major blood vessel, and there have been cases in Britain where the child has bled to death.'
Last October, an inquest heard two year old Francesca Asan, from Basingstoke, died after swallowing a button battery.
HAVE YOU FOUND A BATTERY IN A CO-OP EASTER BUNNY? Call 02036153908 or email abe.hawken@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement
It appears that the battery had been lodged in her throat for a week where it corroded and caused a 'catastrophic' bleed.
The little girl's father took her to the doctor twice because she was unwell however the GP thought it was a bug or food poisoning.
In April 2015, a three-year-old girl from Northern Ireland was left with permanent damage to her throat after she swallowed a watch battery.
The battery became stuck in her food pipe and she began being sick and refusing food.
It was not until five days later that an X-ray showed she had swallowed a battery, by which time it had burned a hole through her oesophagus and windpipe.
She subsequently spent nine months at Great Ormond Street receiving specialist treatment and still needs to visit every few weeks.
A Purple Heart veteran and his wife who were convicted of killing the woman's five-year-old daughter on Monday are reportedly also expecting another child.
Newly married Phillip and April Victoria "Vickie" Gleason were both sentenced to prison for the 2013 murder of Vickie's five-year-old daughter Soren, who died after enduring weeks of beatings at the hands of her new husband.
Phillip, who served overseas in Iraq, reportedly sent videos and photos to his wife of him beating the child as the two joked about her 'suffering their rules', People reported.
Phillip (left) and April Victoria "Vickie" Gleason (right) were both sentenced to prison for the 2013 murder of their daughter, who was killed after enduring weeks of beatings at the hands of her father, while Vicki carries the South Carolina couple's second baby
Their daughter, Soren Chilson, was Vickie's daughter with her previous boyfriend, who died after she was born.
She would have turned nine on the day after the Gleason's conviction for her murder.
Phillip and Vickie also have an eight-month old son together, who has been taken into custody by the Department of Social Services, The State reported.
Phillip was sentenced to 38 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and child neglect, and Vickie was sentenced to 18 years for failing to stop the abuse.
Soren would have turned nine on the day after her parent's conviction for her murder
Prosecutors say she was aware of Phillip's actions and even tried to help cover it up, buying cream to hide Soren's injuries.
Her cause of death was a fatal skull injury that caused bleeding to the brain
She said through tears to a court on Monday that she was 'not a monster' and Soren was the 'joy of her life'.
On the evening of Soren's death, Phillip told police that she'd had a seizure and was vomiting blood - but first responders weren't so sure.
Her cause of death was a fatal skull injury that caused bleeding to the brain.
One of the first responders testified in court that the girl 'endured a living hell.'
He shed tears as he told the court that he held her hand as she died.
Text messages between the South Carolina couple shown in court show the two threatening 'Soren-cide', after their daughter began acting up.
The defense argued that both Vickie and Gleason were diagnosed from PTSD - Phillip from his time overseas and Vickie from previous life experienced.
They also asserted that Phillip had experienced a traumatic brain injury while serving in the military.
Prosecuting Sixth Solicitor Randy Newman said: 'For him to stand there and blame it on the war and PTSD, its a slap in the face to every veteran.'
Lord Ricketts, pictured with actress Salma Hayek, is US defence giant Lockheed Martin's main adviser in the UK
A former Foreign Office mandarin who dragged the Queen into the row over Donald Trumps state visit is paid to advise a defence company that has taken a huge financial hit from the new president.
Lord Ricketts, permanent secretary at the department from 2006-10 before becoming David Camerons national security adviser, questioned whether the US leader was specially deserving of this exceptional honour.
He hit out at Theresa Mays ill-judged move, saying it had exposed the Queen to a furious row about Mr Trumps controversial travel ban on seven Muslim countries.
The invitation had put the monarch in a very difficult position, he said.
But it emerged that his intervention happened to coincide with President Trump announcing that a contract with US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin would be slashed.
On Monday, the White House forced the company to cut its price for supplying 90 new F-35 stealth fighter jets by $600million (478million). The full cost of delivering the tranche of state-of-the-art aircraft was $9billion (7.2billion). Britain is set to buy 48 of the jets.
Last night critics expressed concern that Lockheeds top British strategic adviser was undermining President Trumps trip to the UK because of his treatment of the defence manufacturer.
But Lord Ricketts, 64, strenuously denied there was any conflict of interest and insisted he had spoken out only as an ex-FCO official who had been in charge of the departments Royal Visits Committee.
The Prime Ministers invitation to Mr Trump sparked an outcry in the UK, with more than 1.6million people signing a petition calling for it to be scrapped. Lord Ricketts, who was given a peerage in Mr Camerons resignation honours list last August, intervened in the row with a letter to The Times.
He told Radio 4 yesterday: I think if you did it two or three years into the Trump presidency, the controversial early policy announcements would have been out of the way, things would have settled down.
Lord Ricketts' intervention happened to coincide with President Trump announcing that a contract with US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin would be slashed
It would have been possible, I think, to have invited the president... to come on an official visit to have political talks, to have whatever programme he wanted, go and have tea with the Queen, but without the full panoply, the full accolade of a state visit quite so quickly.
Lord Ricketts became a strategic adviser to Lockheed Martin UK in September last year just eight months after quitting the diplomatic corps. He has listed his role with the firm in the Register of Lords Interests but is not required to set out his remuneration.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith last night lashed out at the former top bureaucrat.
He said: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I have to say it is abusing his old role by coming forward at this point to suggest the Government has put the Queen in an invidious position by holding a state visit for the president.
Not only did he backtrack on his initial idea that the visit should be cancelled, he also failed to declare his interest in a company that President Trump has lectured about the ludicrously over-priced aircraft. There looks to be a conflict of interest.
SUPPORT FOR THE PRO-TRUMP PETITION IS GATHERING PACE More than 10,000 people an hour were signing a petition calling for Donald Trump to be granted a state visit last night. The US President has faced an online backlash in Britain since announcing his controversial travel ban at the weekend, with more than 1.7million signing a petition urging ministers to withdraw the offer of a state visit. But yesterday pro-Trump supporters hit back with their own online appeal, which had gathered more than 170,000 signatures last night. The petition states that Mr Trump should be invited because he is the leader of a free world and the UK is a country that supports free speech and does not believe that people that appose [sic] our point of view should be gagged. By last night the petition was attracting 10,000 signatures an hour, overtaking the 8,600 signatures an hour of the huge anti-Trump plea. MPs will debate both petitions on February 20, it was announced last night. The anti-Trump document states: Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen. Donald Trumps well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit. n Austria has become the latest European country to ban burkas after its leaders said that they did not belong in an open society. The move will see the Islamic veils prohibited in public places, while public servants will be prevented from wearing the head coverings. The controversial decision is a part of a series of measures aimed to win back support from the far-Right. They include plans to force migrants to sign an integration contract and a statement of values, and former jihadi suspects to be forced to wear electronic tags. Advertisement
Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: The Queen has not been put in a difficult position at all. She hosts visits for heads of state from around the world, from the most important countries, and she has done that throughout her reign. Britain does not agree with all the policies of these countries. Questions are being asked about why Lord Ricketts intervened now and whether there is a potential conflict of interest.
Lord Hague said: A Queen who has been asked over the decades to host tyrants such as presidents Mobutu of Zaire and Ceausescu of Romania is going to take a brash billionaire from New York effortlessly in her stride.
Lord Ricketts told the Mail last night: My intervention was purely personal, drawing on my experience at the Foreign Office. I had a personal point to make into this debate and as a former senior civil servant, I was stating my view in public. There is absolutely no conflict of interest.
A Lockheed Martin UK spokesman said: Lord Ricketts was speaking in a private capacity and his views are not those of Lockheed Martin. Mrs Mays spokesman said she did not accept the advisers view.
Is Trump worse than Assad? The unsavoury leaders including the Syrian dictator, Robert Mugabe and Nicolae Ceausecu who the Queen has met
If and when Donald Trump visits the Queen he will be among more than 100 world leaders she has welcomed on state visits. Here we list some of the more unsavoury characters she has had to entertain.
President BASHAR AL-ASSAD of Syria December 2002
He and his British-born wife Asma dined with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. While not a formal state occasion, the UK rolled out the red carpet after then-PM Tony Blair extended an invitation.
The visit was mired in controversy due to the presidents alleged support of Palestinian and Islamic terror groups. Assad now stands accused of killing civilians with chemical weapons and barrel bombs during Syrias brutal civil war.
Assad and his British-born wife Asma dined with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. While not a formal state occasion, the UK rolled out the red carpet after then-PM Tony Blair extended an invitation
VLADIMIR PUTIN June 2003
The Russian presidents only state visit to Britain in 2003 was marked by protests against his continued repression of separatists in Chechnya. The visit was organised by Mr Blair, who admired Putin as a moderniser. It happened three years before the murder of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko in London allegedly by Russian agents - which resulted in a hardening of relations between Britain and Moscow.
As well as Chechnya, demonstrators were unhappy about his regimes treatment of minority groups, along with Russias poor prison conditions and high occurrence of domestic violence.
The Russian presidents only state visit to Britain in 2003 was marked by protests against his continued repression of separatists in Chechnya
President XI JINPING of China October 2015
Protesters turned out in force for the visit of Xi Jinping and there were even rumours of royal unrest about his arrival. Members of Amnesty International, pro-Tibet campaigners and followers of the Falun Gong spiritual practice, banned in mainland China, were present on The Mall in central London. But they were outmuscled by hordes of people wearing bright red who shouted the presidents name as he was driven past in a gilded carriage.
Protesters turned out in force for the visit of Xi Jinping and there were even rumours of royal unrest about his arrival in 2015
President ROBERT MUGABE of Zimbabwe May 1994
He had already been blamed for the deaths of 10,000 people during crackdowns on rebel groups in the 1980s long before his visit to Britain. But, with the full horror of the Zimbabwean leaders regime yet to emerge, he was welcomed as a trading partner and for his influence on peace in southern Africa. He was welcomed by Princess Margaret at Heathrow and taken by Rolls Royce to meet a delegation including the Queen and then Prime Minister John Major. He then accompanied the Queen for a five-minute procession by carriage to Buckingham Palace.
Mugabe was made an Honorary Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Bath during the visit. But he was later stripped of the honour amid concern about the brutality meted out by his supporters and his chronic mismanagement of the country.
With the full horror of the Zimbabwean leaders regime yet to emerge, Mugabe was welcomed as a trading partner and for his influence on peace in southern Africa
President SUHARTO of Indonesia November 1979
With his regime blamed for up to one million deaths after the bloody invasion of East Timor five years earlier, President Suhartos visit stirred up controversy. But the Indonesian despots arrival was hailed by some commentators as an excellent opportunity for the UK defence industry.
He was confronted on arrival in Downing Street by demonstrators carrying placards with slogans about Indonesian brutality.
Romanian President NICOLAE CEAUSESCU June 1978
Dissidents from Romania who had fled their homelands Communist regime were outraged at the state visit. Jim Callaghans Labour government wanted to broker a deal with Romania to co-produce aeroplanes.
Shortly before their arrival, French President Valery Giscard DEstaing had telephoned the Queen to warn that Ceausescu and his wife Elena had walked off with valuables from their state rooms on a visit to Paris.
Dissidents from Romania who had fled their homelands Communist regime were outraged at the state visit from Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu
President MOBUTO SESE SEKO of Zaire December 1973
The former son of a cook presided over the collapse of his countrys economy and locked up dissidents. He was later found to have embezzled 12billion, and blamed for the deaths of 230,000 people.
Mobutu Sese Seko visited in 1973 and was later found to have embezzled 12billion, and blamed for the deaths of 230,000 people
Cameron crony Remoaner with an axe to grind: Former Foreign Office boss who dragged the Queen into the Trump visit row has form, writes ANDREW PIERCE
The fact is that when it comes to playing politics, Lord Ricketts an impartial civil servant has form.
He was invited onto Radio Fours Today programme during the build-up to the EU referendum last year and was a cheerleader for the Cameron governments Project Fear scare-mongering. Most egregiously he backed its claim that Brexit would lead to the French moving the Jungle migrant camp (which no longer even exists) from Calais to Kent.
He was at it again yesterday, griping about Donald Trumps invitation for a State Visit to the UK this summer.
Sir Peter Ricketts with the Queen on a visit to France when he was the British Ambassador in 2014, meeting Manuel Valls, Prime Minister of France
But the nakedly political way that Ricketts a career diplomat speaks out causes irritation in Whitehall because it is protocol for mandarins such as him who have recently retired to keep their counsel on sensitive political issues.
But perhaps this was seen as pay-back time. For Cameron had appointed Ricketts as his national security adviser on his first day as Prime Minister in 2010.
When he quit No 10 last summer, Ricketts was among the list of Cameron cronies given gongs, knighthoods and peerages. Having been knighted in 2003, he was elevated to the peerage.
Born and brought up in the Midlands, Peter Forbes Ricketts went to a grammar school in Sutton Coldfield (motto: The right hand of God hath lifted me up) and then studied English at Pembroke College, Oxford.
A career civil servant, he was ambassador to Nato in Brussels and chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee giving evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war.
Actress Salma Hayek, President of the Arop Gala evening (L), and Sir Peter Ricketts, British Ambassador to France in 2012
Although he said he believed that Iraq had some level of weapons of mass destruction capacity, albeit one that was hobbled, he said regime-change did not stack up, adding: It sounds like a grudge between Bush and Saddam.
After two years as national security adviser under the Cameron government, Ricketts became British ambassador to France in 2012, and enjoyed the lifestyle afforded by the grandiose Paris residence, Hotel de Charost.
While belt-tightening meant that other ambassadors had to seek corporate sponsors for parties to celebrate the Queens birthday, Ricketts enjoyed the services of four in-house kitchen staff at a cost to taxpayers of almost 150,000 a year. This revelation followed a similar one a few years previously when he was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office and it had come to light that he claimed almost 20,000 in expenses in three months, which included 11,000 for a chauffeur-driven car. His salary at the time was 195,000, and he had a pension pot of more than 1.7million.
Unlike the classic Sir Humphrey-style civil servants and diplomats depicted in the sitcom Yes Minister, Ricketts does not have a reputation for bureaucratic caution.
In September, he was in hot water again when he became strategic adviser to aerospace giant Lockheed Martin which was negotiating billions of pounds in defence industry sales with the British Government, and which had featured in the first strategic defence review ordered by Camerons administration. Who led that review? None other than Ricketts. What an incestuous world!
There was more backscratching when Ricketts popped up last month to defend Sir Ivan Rogers against critics when he quit as ambassador to the EU after criticising the Governments handling of Brexit.
In an article for The Guardian, Ricketts described them as being part of a campaign of denigration, which he likened to the tabloid campaign against the judges.
Ricketts added: The new rule seems to be if someone is saying something inconvenient about the difficulties ahead, attack their integrity rather than deal with their argument.
After his comments about the Trump visit to the UK, some may consider that Lord Ricketts is guilty of doing just that in his criticism of Theresa May for having invited the American president to Britain.
But then gone is the day when retired civil servants were seen, not heard.
A Kentucky judge on Tuesday sentenced a man to five years in prison in the death of his former girlfriends 2-year-old daughter, whose lifeless body was dumped in a well.
Judge John T. Alexander followed the jury's recommendation when he handed down the sentence for Anthony Barbour, 26, who was convicted in December of reckless homicide, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse in the death of Laynee Mae Wallace.
Laynee's body was discovered on May 25, 2015, at the bottom of a well in Barren County, a week after she went missing from her mother's home.
Boyfriend locked up: Anthony Barbour, 26 (left), has been sentenced to five years in prison in the May 2015 death of his then-girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter, Laynee Mae Wallace (right), whose body was recovered from a well
During Barbours (above on Tuesday) trial, Commonwealth's Attorney John Gardner said that the defendant killed the toddler and stuffed her body in a bag that he locked in a safe before dropping it down the well on his family's farm
During Barbours trial, Commonwealth's Attorney John Gardner said that the defendant killed the toddler and stuffed her body in a bag that he locked in a safe before dropping it down the well on his family's farm, reported Glasgow Daily Times.
Barbour was arrested during a traffic stop shortly after the body was recovered.
An autopsy report concluded Laynee had injuries to her head and vagina that had been inflicted before her death, but did not cause her death. The medical examiner said the cause of death was undetermined.
Gardner also said Barbour told police he had injected methamphetamine on May 17 and taken the toddler with him to look for arrowheads when she fell off a bluff.
Barbour, pictured in his mugshot, was convicted in December of reckless homicide, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse
Barbour has told investigators he administered CPR, but the prosecutor said there was no sign of that on the girls body.
Laynees mother, Kelsey Wallace, testified at Barbours trial, tearfully denying any involvement in her daughters death. She has not been charged in the case.
She told the jury she began dating Barbour in late 2014 after he was introduced to her by the biological father of Laynee and her twin sister, Kynlee. She said both girls came to love her new boyfriend and even called him dad.
Barbours attorney suggested that it was Wallace who killed Laynee, and then she and Barbour came up with a story to make it seem like he was the culprit, reported the station WBKO.
Mother speaks: Laynee's mother, Kelsey Wallace, testified at Barbour's trial (pictured), tearfully denying any involvement in her daughters death
During cross-examination, the mother, who also has a history of meth addiction, repeatedly said she did not hurt her daughter.
On Tuesday, the judge denied a request from prosecutors to lengthen Barbours sentence and from defense attorneys, who wanted probation for him.
Under the conditions of his sentencing, and taking into account that Barbour has already spent 19 months in jail, he could face a parole board within the next month.
Don't let their bright colours deceive you - these aggressive crayfish can deliver a painful nip if you get too close.
The Lamington Spiny Crayfish have once again been out in force this summer in the Gold Coast hinterland, much to the surprise of bushwalkers.
The creatures, sporting a prominent spiny tail, can race out without warning, frantically snapping their claws and making a loud hissing sound.
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The Lamington Spiny Crayfish can grow to about 13cm
The crayfish sport vibrant colours which vary depending on the area they inhabit
They are known to jump out from along walking tracks and shine their vibrant blue, colours in the many freshwater steams within the Springbrook and Lamington national parks.
The colourful crayfish are mostly seen by national park visitors during the summer months.
People who have posted images of the crayfish to Instagram have told how they got the 'biggest scare' when they encountered the creatures.
Queensland Museum crustacean expert Peter Davie said this particular type of crayfish can grow to about 13cm in length.
'They'll come out on to the tracks clicking their claws and give off a warning hiss to see if they can scare some tourists,' Mr Davie told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
The Lamington Spiny Crayfish only inhabits streams bordered by rainforests at more than 300m in altitude, across northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland.
Their colours vary from each location, from the blue, green, white to red and white and green and brown.
The crayfish are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
President Donald Trump has canceled a previously planned trip to Milwaukee on Thursday.
Tech. Sgt. Meghan Skrepenski with the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Air National Guard in Milwaukee confirmed Tuesday that the visit had been canceled.
She says she has no information on why it was canceled. The White House has not announced why the trip was called off or if he will reschedule.
Trump was expected to give a speech on the economy during the Wisconsin stop. It would have been his first to the state as president.
He last visited Wisconsin in December as part of his victory tour.
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Cancellation: The White House called off the visit it had planned the president would make on Thursday to Milwaukee
Protest: Anti-Trump agitators had set up this group calling for people to turn up at the Harley-Davidson plant where it was believed Trump would speak
Unclear: The White House had not confirmed where the president would be going but protesters believed it was a Harley-Davidson plant
Although his destination had not been confirmed, protesters had started a Facebook group urging anti-Trump demonstrators to gather at Harley-Davidson's factory in Menomonee Falls, in the city's suburbs, in the belief that the president was due there.
CNN reported that the company decided it wasn't comfortable hosting the president after a large protest was planned.
More than 1,000 people said they were planning to protest, with another 4.5K saying they were interested in the event.
The Facebook group set up to encourage people to protest claimed credit for the cancellation.
The 'Milwaukee Coalition Against Trump' claimed that it had inside knowledge of the destination of the president.
'Yesterday, sources confirmed to us that Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations was scheduled to host Trump,' it said on its Facebook page.
'After our call-in action put the pressure on Harley, they have now announced that Trump is not going to be at Harley.
'Until we are told where he will be, we are not ruling out the possibility that he may still appear at Harley. We are also not ruling out the possibility that we just forced Trump to cancel his event!
'Wherever Trump plans to go, we will be there to protest, no matter what.
'Thanks to all of you, Trump knows that he can not appear here without a massive protest! We will provide updates on time and location as soon as they become available.'
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton jumped back into the political fray with a short tweet referencing the contributions of some of the people who help the U.S. but could be kept out by President Trump's new immigration order.
'What I'm thinking about today' is all the 2016 presidential candidate wrote, on a Twitter page that still features the 'Stronger Together' slogan of her failed campaign.
Clinton linked to two stories meant to show the contributions of immigrants, days after Trump signed an order that would halt immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries including Iraq and Syria for 90 days.
The first article was a New Yorker interview with Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who Trump famously attacked following Khan's speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Clinton campaigned with Khan just two days before her defeat as part of a strategy that elevated women and minorities Trump had gone after, including Khan and former Miss Universe Alicia Machado.
Khizr Khan (L) steps from the lectern after introducing US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during a rally at the Armory on November 6, 2016 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Clinton tweeted a link to a story about Khan on Tuesday
Clinton's tweet had earned 24,000 'likes' by Tuesday evening.
Khan went after Trump in his convention speech, waving a pocket copy of the Constitution as he told the story of his son, Humayan Khan, who died serving in Iraq.
Khan ripped the new order in an interview. 'Its un-American. Its against the safety of my country,' he told the magazine.
'I say to President Trump and his security advisers, the drafters of these executive orders, to get out of the White House and go to Arlington Cemetery and stand in front of all the tombstones and learn from observation that Muslims, and people from all other faiths, have given their lives to protect the Constitution and values of pluralism and equal protection.'
'I hope that their sense of patriotism is awakened and they realize that these executive orders banning Muslims and creating walls will not do,' Khan added.
FREE TIME: Defeated presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted out two articles relating to President Donald Trump's immigration ban
FINAL STRETCH: Hillary Clinton campaigned with Khizr Khan two days before her defeat. She tweeted a link to an article about him Tuesday after President Trump's immigration order
'WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT TODAY': Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton departs the Captol after President Donald Trump's inauguration
He said of the order: 'It alienates Muslims who are patriotic citizens. The Bush and Obama Administrations learned that alienating a large Muslim population in the United States works against keeping the U.S. secure. It makes people think of harm.'
Clinton also linked to a New York Times op-ed by Zachary Iscol, a former Marine infantry officer who is now on the board of the International Refugee Assistance Project.
Iscol told the story of two Iraqis he knew who assisted his Marine unit. One, who he called Frank, served as an interpreter and got shot in the leg.
Another, Abood, was forced to flee the country after militants left a dogs head outside his door as a morning.
Iscol writes that when testifying before the Senate in 2007 about the need to held Iraqis who assisted troops, he met with Gen. John Kelly, then head of legislatie affairs for the Marines.
Kelly is now the secretary of Homeland Security. He told reporters Tuesday that Trump's order is 'not a Muslim ban.'
Iscol wrote of his meeting with Kelly at the time: 'Officially, he needed to ensure that I wasnt going to embarrass the Marine Corps. But Ill never forget his words to me: Abood had worn the Marine Corps uniform in combat, and we had an obligation to keep him safe.'
In the hours after Trump signed the order Friday night, it was not clear whether it applied to Iraqis and Afghans who assisted troops and qualified for special visas. Among the first lawsuits filed agains the order was for two Iraqis who had aided the U.S. war effort.
Clinton took a cue from President Barack Obama, who weighed in publicly on a political issue for the first time since leaving office when he sent out support for demonstrations that have spread across the country in protest of President Donald Trump's immigration order.
'President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country,' according to a statement released by his post-presidential office.
'Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake,' Obama said.
Clinton has kept a limited profile since her stunning election loss. She has spoken to fundraisers and staff, blasted FBI Director James Comey's role in the elections, and appeared at Trump's inauguration.
The White House has backtracked on the asylum seeker deal with Australia, saying United States President Donald Trump is still considering it.
After a phone call with Mr Trump on Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the US president had agreed to honour the deal for 1250 refugees on Manus Island and Nauru to resettle in the US.
But on Wednesday, White House spokesperson Sean Spicer said the deal had not been confirmed.
He said if it were to go ahead, it would only be because of the United States' 'longstanding relationship with Australia,' The ABC reported.
Just one day after confirming it will go ahead, the White House has backtracked on the asylum seeker deal with Australia, saying United States President Donald Trump is still considering it
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced after his weekend phone call with Mr Trump that the the US president had agreed to honour the deal
This comes just one day after Mr Spicer told reporters Mr Trump would honour the 'one-off' deal with former President Barack Obama in November to resettle refugees detained on Manus and Nauru.
'Part of the deal is they have to be vetted in the same manner that we are doing now. There will be extreme vetting applied to all of them,' he said.
Last week Mr Trump placed a temporary ban on refugees being admitted to the US and other strict border measures targeting seven countries including Iran, Iraq and Syria.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump confirmed his administration would continue to honour the 2016 refugee resettlement arrangement while acknowledging a common interest in preventing irregular and illegal migration.
'The president, in accordance with that deal to honour what had been agreed upon by the US government, and ensuring that vetting will take place in the same manner that we are doing it now, it will go forward,' Mr Spicer said.
The refugees are being held on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island (pictured) and Nauru
Last week Mr Trump placed a temporary ban on refugees being admitted to the US and other strict border measures targeting seven countries
The refugees are being held on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island and Nauru.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister and Mr Trump has a 25-minute phone call where the US President confirmed the refugee deal.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said Mr Turnbull was 'pleased with the outcome' of his discussion.
Speaking to reporters at the G'day USA gala in Hollywood, Ms Bishop said Mr Turnbull would travel to the US for a yet to be scheduled meeting with the president.
This was despite the 'one-off' deal with former President Barack Obama in November to resettle refugees detained on Manus Island (pictured) and Nauru
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said Mr Turnbull was 'pleased with the outcome' of his discussion. Manus Island is pictured
Millions of motorists could be 'demonised' for driving diesel cars as councils consider hitting them with higher charges and turning them into 'cash cows', MPs warned last night.
Local authorities in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Leeds and Southampton are thought to be considering drastic measures to crack down on diesel to improve air quality.
Birmingham council yesterday became the second in days to unveil plans for extra penalties for diesel drivers.
Councillors want a 'clean air zone' in the city centre and are considering charging motorists who drive diesel cars into it.
Local authorities in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Leeds and Southampton are thought to be considering drastic measures to crack down on diesel to improve air quality
Only last week, Westminster council said it was set to charge diesel drivers 50 per cent more to park their cars in the most polluted areas, leaving them paying 7.35 an hour instead of 4.90.
The AA has warned that if the scheme makes money for Westminster, similar ones will spread 'like wildfire' across Britain.
London is already set to introduce a toxicity fee this year, on top of the congestion charge, for those who drive older diesel cars into the city centre.
Campaigners fear that councils up and down the country are plotting similar measures to hammer drivers of diesel cars.
Last night a group of Tory MPs led by Charlie Elphicke questioned the legality of extra charges and warned that diesel drivers were being targeted unfairly.
Last night a group of Tory MPs led by Charlie Elphicke questioned the legality of extra charges and warned that diesel drivers were being targeted unfairly. In an urgent appeal to Chancellor Philip Hammond, they pointed out that many people previously given tax breaks to buy diesel cars were now facing swingeing charges
In an urgent appeal to Chancellor Philip Hammond, they pointed out that many people previously given tax breaks to buy diesel cars were now facing swingeing charges.
WHY DIESELS ARE NOW BEING DEMONISED By Colin Fernandez, Science Correspondent for The Daily Mail Diesel cars used to be seen as a greener option than petrol. But now they are blamed for producing more polluting gases that lead to major health problems and even death. So why have diesel engines suddenly become demonised? The answer is that for years the Governments priority was to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide the gas that produces global warming. Following the Kyoto agreement of 1997, most governments agreed to cut carbon dioxide. Diesel was seen as a saviour because it produces less carbon dioxide than petrol engines. Lured by generous road tax incentives, Britons bought them in droves. The dash for diesel was such that in 2013 the engines powered 34.5 per cent of cars on the road a massive increase from the 7.4 per cent in 1994. But increasing air pollution is now thought to cause up to 50,000 deaths in Britain a year. Carbon dioxide damages the atmosphere, but it does not affect humans, unlike two pollutants increasingly found to harm health that are made in greater quantities by diesels nitrogen dioxide and particulates. British levels of nitrogen dioxide which causes respiratory problems are so high they breach legal limits in 37 out of 45 regions. The Supreme Court told the Government last year to come up with anti-pollution plans by April 24 for cities that exceed legal pollution limits. Around 80 per cent of nitrogen dioxide pollution in cities is from transport. A further threat to clean air are particulates tiny specks of soot or unburnt fuel invisible to the naked eye which can penetrate deep into the lungs. Since the early Nineties, evidence has built up that the particles are harmful to health, causing early death, hospital admissions, allergic reactions, lung dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Advertisement
In the letter to Mr Hammond, signed by 17 MPs, Mr Elphicke accused local authorities of using diesel drivers as a 'cash cow', adding: 'Our first concern is that local authorities may view the pollution worries people understandably have as an opportunity to tax motorists more.
'The proposal by Westminster to charge 50 per cent more to park smacks of opportunistic greed.
'We consider that this policy is ill-judged as well as unlawful.
'It would have the effect of penalising vehicles with modern, clean, diesel engines as much as older, dirtier vehicles. This policy therefore looks more like an attempt to raise revenue than a serious attempt to tackle pollution.'
Mr Elphicke added: 'It is wrong for diesel drivers to be demonised by councils whether in London or in Birmingham.
'These people were encouraged to buy their cars thinking they were doing the right thing. They need to be helped with a replacement scheme not punished.'
There are more than 12.7million diesel cars on Britain's roads. Almost half of all cars sold each year have diesel engines, with 1.3million sold in 2016.
Some scientists say they pose a greater health risk than petrol engines because they emit more nitrogen dioxide and toxic particles, which contribute to thousands of early deaths each year from respiratory problems.
The 2015 scandal in which manufacturers were found to have put so-called defeat devices into diesel vehicles allowing them to pass emissions tests they would otherwise fail has increased concerns.
But newer models are cleaner, and the drivers of older ones say they were encouraged to buy them by the Government because of their lower carbon dioxide emissions.
Mr Elphicke wants the Government to set up a national replacement scheme, in which drivers receive tax incentives to scrap their diesel cars and replace them with cleaner electric vehicles. The Government has been told by EU and British courts to tackle pollution and air quality, and ministers have encouraged local councils to improve air quality.
Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK campaign, said: 'We are seeing more short-sighted, selfish local authorities looking at penalising diesel drivers with punitive taxation, congestion fees and now by hiking parking charges.'
A spokesman for Westminster council said: 'We are trialling a diesel surcharge in the hope that it will deter drivers of the most polluting vehicles from entering Marylebone, a hotspot for pollution.'
The are the biggest black holes ever seen - and could help explain how the mysterious astronomical phenomenons form.
NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has identified the farthest gamma-ray blazars, a type of galaxy whose intense emissions are powered by supersized black holes.
Light from the most distant object began its journey to us when the universe was 1.4 billion years old, or nearly 10 percent of its present age, and experts say they could shed fresh light on how black holes form.
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Black-hole-powered galaxies called blazars are the most common sources detected by NASA's Fermi. As matter falls toward the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center, some of it is accelerated outward at nearly the speed of light along jets pointed in opposite directions. When one of the jets happens to be aimed in the direction of Earth, as illustrated here, the galaxy appears especially bright and is classified as a blazar.
WHAT IS A BLAZAR A blazar is a very compact quasar with a supermassive black hole at the center of an active, giant elliptical galaxy. Blazars are among the most energetic phenomena in the universe. The name 'blazar' was originally coined in 1978 by astronomer Edward Spiegel to denote the combination of these two classes. Advertisement
'Despite their youth, these far-flung blazars host some of the most massive black holes known,' said Roopesh Ojha, an astronomer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
'That they developed so early in cosmic history challenges current ideas of how supermassive black holes form and grow, and we want to find more of these objects to help us better understand the process.'
A blazar is a very compact quasar with a supermassive black hole at the center of an active, giant elliptical galaxy, and are among the most energetic phenomena in the universe.
Researchers revealed the findings Monday, Jan. 30, at the American Physical Society meeting in Washington, and a paper describing the results has been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
They constitute roughly half of the gamma-ray sources detected by Fermi's Large Area Telescope (LAT).
Astronomers think their high-energy emissions are powered by matter heated and torn apart as it falls from a storage, or accretion, disk toward a supermassive black hole with a million or more times the sun's mass.
A small part of this infalling material becomes redirected into a pair of particle jets, which blast outward in opposite directions at nearly the speed of light.
Blazars appear bright in all forms of light, including gamma rays, the highest-energy light, when one of the jets happens to point almost directly toward us.
More distant blazars show a loss of higher-energy gamma rays thanks to the extragalactic background light (EBL), a 'cosmic fog' of visible and ultraviolet starlight that permeates the universe. From studies of nearby blazars, scientists know how many gamma rays should be emitted at different energies. If a gamma ray on its way to Earth collides with lower-energy light in the EBL, it converts into a pair of particles and is lost to astronomers. As shown by the graphs at left in this illustration, the more distant the blazar, the fewer high-energy gamma rays we can detect.
Previously, the most distant blazars detected by Fermi emitted their light when the universe was about 2.1 billion years old.
Researchers began by searching for the most distant sources in a catalog of 1.4 million quasars, a galaxy class closely related to blazars.
Because only the brightest sources can be detected at great cosmic distances, they then eliminated all but the brightest objects at radio wavelengths from the list.
With a final sample of about 1,100 objects, the scientists then examined LAT data for all of them, resulting in the detection of five new gamma-ray blazars.
A blazar is a very compact quasar with a supermassive black hole at the center of an active, giant elliptical galaxy.
Expressed in terms of redshift, astronomers' preferred measure of the deep cosmos, the new blazars range from redshift 3.3 to 4.31, which means the light we now detect from them started on its way when the universe was between 1.9 and 1.4 billion years old, respectively.
'Once we found these sources, we collected all the available multiwavelength data on them and derived properties like the black hole mass, the accretion disk luminosity, and the jet power,' said Vaidehi Paliya of Clemson University in South Carolina.
Two of the blazars boast black holes of a billion solar masses or more.
All of the objects possess extremely luminous accretion disks that emit more than two trillion times the energy output of our sun.
This means matter is continuously falling inward, corralled into a disk and heated before making the final plunge to the black hole.
Expressed in terms of redshift, astronomers' preferred measure of the deep cosmos, the new blazars range from redshift 3.3 to 4.31, which means the light we now detect from them started on its way when the universe was between 1.9 and 1.4 billion years old, respectively.
'The main question now is how these huge black holes could have formed in such a young universe,' said Gasparrini.
'We don't know what mechanisms triggered their rapid development.'
In the meantime, the team plans to continue a deep search for additional examples.
'We think Fermi has detected just the tip of the iceberg, the first examples of a galaxy population that previously has not been detected in gamma rays,' said Ajello.
The Earth's magnetic field surrounds our planet like an invisible force field protecting life from harmful solar radiation by deflecting charged particles away.
Far from being constant, this field is continuously changing.
Indeed, our planet's history includes at least several hundred global magnetic reversals, where north and south magnetic poles swap places.
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A weakened magnetosphere will also mean that more aurora will be seen on Earth as solar winds hit the atmosphere
So when's the next one happening and how will it affect life on Earth?
During a reversal the magnetic field won't be zero, but will assume a weaker and more complex form.
It may fall to 10% of the present-day strength and have magnetic poles at the equator or even the simultaneous existence of multiple 'north' and 'south' magnetic poles.
Geomagnetic reversals occur a few times every million years on average.
However, the interval between reversals is very irregular and can range up to tens of millions of years.
There can also be temporary and incomplete reversals, known as events and excursions, in which the magnetic poles move away from the geographic poles perhaps even crossing the equator before returning back to their original locations.
The alteration in the magnetic field during a reversal will weaken its shielding effect, allowing heightened levels of radiation on and above the Earth's surface
The last full reversal, the Brunhes-Matuyama, occurred around 780,000 years ago.
A temporary reversal, the Laschamp event, occurred around 41,000 years ago.
It lasted less than 1,000 years with the actual change of polarity lasting around 250 years.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF OUR MAGNETOSPHERE WEAKENS? The magnetosphere protects the Earth from solar radiation, but it fluctuates. If it weakens dramatically, radiation at ground level would increase with estimates suggesting that overall exposure to cosmic radiation would double causing more deaths from cancer. The electric grid collapse from severe solar storms is a major risk. As the magnetic field continues to weaken, scientists are highlighting the importance off-the grid energy systems using renewable energy sources to protect us from a black out. The Earth's climate could also change. A recent Danish study has found that the earth's weather has been significantly affected by the planet's magnetic field. They claimed that fluctuations in the number of cosmic rays hitting the atmosphere directly alter the amount of cloud covering the planet. A weakened magnetosphere will also mean that more aurora will be seen on Earth as solar winds hit the atmosphere. In terms of life on earth, we do know that many animal species have some form of magnetoreception that enables them to sense the Earth's magnetic field. They may use this to assist in long-distance navigation during migration. But it is unclear what impact a reversal might have on such species. Advertisement
The alteration in the magnetic field during a reversal will weaken its shielding effect, allowing heightened levels of radiation on and above the Earth's surface.
Were this to happen today, the increase in charged particles reaching the Earth would result in increased risks for satellites, aviation, and ground-based electrical infrastructure.
Geomagnetic storms, driven by the interaction of anomalously large eruptions of solar energy with our magnetic field, give us a foretaste of what we can expect with a weakened magnetic shield.
In 2003, the so-called Halloween storm caused local electricity-grid blackouts in Sweden, required the rerouting of flights to avoid communication blackout and radiation risk, and disrupted satellites and communication systems.
But this storm was minor in comparison with other storms of the recent past, such as the 1859 Carrington event, which caused aurorae as far south as the Caribbean.
The impact of a major storm on today's electronic infrastructure is not fully known.
Of course any time spent without electricity, heating, air conditioning, GPS or internet would have a major impact; widespread blackouts could result in economic disruption measuring in tens of billions of dollars a day.
In terms of life on Earth and the direct impact of a reversal on our species we cannot definitively predict what will happen as modern humans did not exist at the time of the last full reversal.
Several studies have tried to link past reversals with mass extinctions suggesting some reversals and episodes of extended volcanism could be driven by a common cause.
However, there is no evidence of any impending cataclysmic volcanism and so we would only likely have to contend with the electromagnetic impact if the field does reverse relatively soon.
We do know that many animal species have some form of magnetoreception that enables them to sense the Earth's magnetic field.
They may use this to assist in long-distance navigation during migration.
But it is unclear what impact a reversal might have on such species.
At the heart of the Earth is a solid inner core, two thirds of the size of the moon, made mainly of iron. At 5,700C, this iron is as hot as the sun's surface, but the crushing pressure caused by gravity prevents it from becoming liquid. The Earth's magnetic field is generated within the liquid core of our planet, by the slow churning of molten iron
What is clear is that early humans did manage to live through the Laschamp event and life itself has survived the hundreds of full reversals evidenced in the geologic record.
The simple fact that we are 'overdue' for a full reversal and the fact that the Earth's field is currently decreasing at a rate of 5% per century, has led to suggestions that the field may reverse within the next 2,000 years.
But pinning down an exact date at least for now will be difficult.
The Earth's magnetic field is generated within the liquid core of our planet, by the slow churning of molten iron.
Like the atmosphere and oceans, the way in which it moves is governed by the laws of physics.
We should therefore be able to predict the 'weather of the core' by tracking this movement, just like we can predict real weather by looking at the atmosphere and ocean.
A reversal can then be likened to a particular type of storm in the core, where the dynamics and magnetic field go haywire (at least for a short while), before settling down again.
A global network of ground-based observatories and orbiting satellites also measure how the magnetic field is changing, which gives us insight into how the liquid core is moving
The difficulties of predicting the weather beyond a few days are widely known, despite us living within and directly observing the atmosphere.
Yet predicting the Earth's core is a far more difficult prospect, principally because it is buried beneath 3,000km (1,864 miles) of rock such that our observations are scant and indirect.
However, we are not completely blind: we know the major composition of the material inside the core and that it is liquid.
A global network of ground-based observatories and orbiting satellites also measure how the magnetic field is changing, which gives us insight into how the liquid core is moving.
The recent discovery of a jet-stream within the core highlights our evolving ingenuity and increasing ability to measure and infer the dynamics of the core.
Coupled with numerical simulations and laboratory experiments to study the fluid dynamics of the planet's interior, our understanding is developing at a rapid rate.
The prospect of being able to forecast the Earth's core is perhaps not too far out of reach.
Elon Musk's dream for a high speed travel system that uses pneumatic tubes has taken a major step towards reality.
Three teams of students have tested their half scale pod designs in a specially built 1km long SpaceX test track - with Delft University taking first prize over MIT and WARR.
The Hyperloop is a ground transport concept proposed by Musk in 2013 to transport 'pods' of 20-to-30 people through a 12-foot diameter tube at roughly 700 mph.
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In the loop: Cameras capture the Delft Hyperloop vehicle team from the Netherlands inside the 1.25 kilometer-long Hyperloop track at the SpaceX headquarters.
WHAT IS HYPERLOOP? Hyperloop is a proposed method of travel that would transport people at roughly 700mph between distant locations. It was unveiled by Elon Musk in 2013, who at the time said it could take passengers the 380 miles (610km) from LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes - half the time it takes a plane. It is essentially a long tube that has had the air removed to create a vacuum. The tube is suspended off the ground to protect against weather and earthquakes. Advertisement
'We are very proud be the overall winner of the first hyperloop pod competition ever!' said the team.
Musk organized the Hyperloop Pod Competition to try and make his vision a reality.
Student teams from all over the world have designed, built and tested Hyperloop pods, with the 30 finalists gathering in California to race.
The pods for the competition are half-size prototypes, too small to accommodate passengers.
Participants will now go through to a second contest over the summer, where they will compete to get the highest speed.
'Hyperloop Competition II will be focused on a single criterion: maximum speed,' organisers said.
For the past week, teams have been testing their designs in hopes of getting the chance to run their pods on SpaceX's one-mile Hyperloop test track.
The Delft Hyperloop vehicle team from the Netherlands load up their pod during the SpaceX Hyperloop competition in Hawthorne, California on January 29, 2017.Students from 30 colleges and universities from the US and around the world are taking part in testing their pods on a 1.25 kilometer-long Hyperloop track at the SpaceX headquarters.
The winning Delft design weighs only 149 kilograms despite measuring about 4.5 metres in length and 1 metre in height.
It uses permanent magnets to float above the track, resulting in very low energy consumption.
In a longer tube, the pod could potentially accelerate to 1200 kilometres per hour, the team says - something they hope to test in the next round of the contest.
Teams were able to test their designs inside a specially built 1.25km test track at SpaceX's HQ
This was the second phase of the worldwide competition that was held from January 27th through 29th, outside SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California.
And more than 100 university teams presented design concepts to a panel of judges in the first phase, which took place in January 2016 - and only 30 teams moved on to the second phase.
THE WINNING DELFT DESIGN The Delft design is very light. Thanks to its use of strong, lightweight carbon fibre, the pod weighs only 149 kilograms despite measuring about 4.5 metres in length and 1 metre in height. It uses permanent magnets to float above the track, resulting in very low energy consumption. The team expects its prototype to reach speeds of more than 200 kilometres an hour in the 1.2-kilometre test tube during the finals. In a longer tube, the pod could potentially accelerate to 1200 kilometres per hour. The winning pod weighs only 149 kilograms despite measuring about 4.5 metres in length and 1 metre in height Advertisement
And the Technical University of Munich was awarded for the fastest speed hit on the test track.
But Badgerloop took home the title for best design, which also included the virtual reality setup the created.
Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison won an innovation award for its 15-foot-long, 2,100 pound pod called 'Badgerloop' that they submitted in the yearlong SpaceX Hyperloop pod contest.
Team members from Delft Hyperloop, Delft University of Technology place their pod on the track during the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition in Hawthorne.
Deft University of Technology (pictured) from the Netherlands was deemed the overall winner they had the highest score out of all 30 teams.
The Badgerloop resembles a race car of the future.
It's equipped with a propulsion system that was built on campus, which uses magnets to levitate the vehicle and keep it from losing speed while on its test run.
Although the University of Wisconsin-Madison was awarded for their innovation, the team was unable to run their pod on the track due to bugs in the mechanical and electrical systems.
But the Badgerloop, which won third place in the initial round of SpaceX's Hyperloop pod competition, operations director Claire Holesovsky said the experience of building the pod as a team and participating in the competition has been very rewarding.
'It's been an awesome experience, and we've learned so much,' Holesovsky said.
'We received great feedback from the SpaceX judges and from talking with the other teams.'
'It's really exciting to be working on technology that has the potential to revolutionize high-speed transportation.'
Students from the Technical University of Munich submitted their design for a Hyperloop pod in the worldwide contest
Only three of the 30 teams' designs were deemed safe enough to run the track at the end of the contest.
The SpaceX judges did mention that it is a difficult task to design a levitating Hyperloop pod that doesn't crash.
And they were leaning more towards the idea that not a single team would have cleared all the technical hurdles that would allow them to safely run their pod on the track.
Keio University in Japan entered the smallest Hyperloop pod in the contest, which they named 'The EDGE' pod
This was the second phase of the worldwide competition that was held from January 27th through 29th outside SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. The team's pod was long enough to fit Musk, who is 6-foot 2 inches tall although they noted that was purposely done
Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison transformed SpaceX co-founder Elon Musk's concept of Hyperloop pods into a reality. The team won an innovation award for its 15-foot-long, 2,100 pound pod called 'Badgerloop'
UK CHOOSES HYPERLOOP ROUTES The UK is one step closer to a super-fast transport system after four potential routes have been short-listed for Elon Musk's Hyperloop One project. The US start-up has disclosed a list of 35 routes in locations around the world vying to put near-supersonic rail transit system to the test. In the UK, four routes have been picked, that could see lines built from London to Edinburgh, Liverpool to Hull, Glasgow to Cardiff or a 'Northern Arc' across a series of northern cities. The London-Edinburgh scheme was led by an Edinburgh University team that has plans to take the route via Birmingham and Manchester. If selected, it would mean travelling between the two capital cities would take just 45 minutes, and the journey from London to Manchester would take only 18 minutes. Hyperloop did not disclose details of the three other schemes, but it confirmed proposals will be showcased at an exhibition in London on April 27. The startup company keen to revolutionize the way people and cargo travel said that 35 contenders remained from a field of 2,600 teams in a Hyperloop One Grand Challenge launched in May 2015. Advertisement
Delft University of Technology from the Netherlands was deemed the overall winner they had the highest score out of all 30 teams.
And the Technical University of Munich was awarded for the fastest speed hit on the test track.
But Badgerloop took home the title for best design, which also included the virtual reality setup the created.
Students from the University of Waterloo included a window in their design that lets travelers see the world as they pass through. They named their design 'Waterloop'
Badgerloop leaders said it's an honor to win the innovation award, especially since the team is led by undergraduates.
'I think it's really exciting to see that something so technologically advanced can be made by a group of undergraduates,' said Badgerloop team member Jack McGinty, an electrical engineering and computer science student.
Badgerloop took home the title for best design, which also included the virtual reality setup the created. Badgerloop leaders said it's an honor to win the innovation award, especially since the team is led by undergraduates
'To see freshmen come in and make a significant contribution on developing a 15-foot-long, levitating Hyperloop pod has been pretty incredible, and it has made me realize that I can do whatever I push myself to achieve.'
Badgerloop won for its pod design and virtual reality setup
The team's pod was long enough to fit Musk, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall although they noted that was purposely done.
'We were all ecstatic to see Elon sit in our pod,' said Holesovsky.
'He checked out our pod's technology.'
Badgerloop has plans to continue improving its pod.
The team already has plans to compete in the next installment of the competition, which is set to take place in summer 2017 at SpaceX's Hyperloop test track.
'Badgerloop is definitely going to continue, and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish,' Holesovsky said.
There are currently no functioning Hyperloops anywhere in the world, and skeptics wonder if the technology can ever make the leap from science fiction to reality.
Robots threaten the jobs of many hard-working people.
But porn stars will be among the first hit by the robot revolution.
Sex technology, such as interactive and virtual reality porn is becoming cheaper and more socially acceptable.
And super-realistic computer generated 'actors' could replace the porn industry's need for real-life stars.
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Realistic computer generated 'actors' could replace the industry's need for real-life stars. Japanese developers recently produced a fake pair of breasts fitted with pressure sensors (shown above) that connect to an Oculus Rift for a virtual sex experience
PREDICTIONS FOR SEX EVOLUTION By 2030, most people will have some form of virtual sex as casually as they browse porn today. By 2035 the majority of people will own sex toys that interact with virtual reality sex. 'Sexbots' will start to appear in high-income, very wealthy households as soon as 2025. Sex with robots will be more popular than human-human sex in 2050 Love and the act of sex are set to become increasingly separate. Advertisement
A group of sex technology experts told Motherboard that the rise of virtual sex means there will soon be fewer film porn actors, directors and camera crew.
'A human won't be able to compete in this world,' said Dr Ian Pearson, a senior futurologist at the Ipswich-based communication agency Futurizon.
'A studio will be able to hire a porn actor for a thousand dollars or just rent the software and create one for less,' he said.
And Dr Pearson claims that porn viewers are unlikely to struggle with the shift from real actors to virtual characters.
This is because the genre is already heavily based in fantasy.
'As a porn star, you absolutely have to worry about your job in the current climate,' said Cindy Gallop, founder of MakeLoveNotPorn.com, a social platform where people share videos of real sex with their partners.
'Porn is so big that it has become conventional, and it's tanking much in the way that the music business and journalism did.
'Unless the porn industry is able to open up to innovation and creativity, it's f****d,' she told Motherboard.
Dr Pearson suggests that even with pornography phasing humans out, brothels will still use them.
'There is a connection and even some emotion in that setting,' he said.
'But we don't need human porn stars.'
Jumping from 'real people' in porn films to using virtual actors will not be difficult for porn viewers because the genre is already fantasy. Company CamSoda recently launched a mask that delivers smells to the virtual pornography experience
Brian Shuster, CEO of the virtual worlds website 'Red Light Center', added: 'If people actually want to participate in their sexual fantasies - and I think they do - it will eventually eliminate the role of the porn star as we know it.'
Users can already have sex with virtual video game characters using platforms such as Second Life and Oculus Rift.
But more advanced porn technology including CGI and body-stimulating implants will likely hit the market in the next decade, Dr Pearson says.
'One option will be much like a Star Trek holodeck for your fantasy,' he said.
'You decide, for example, what size you want her breasts to be, what lingerie she wears and how tall she is.
'And it won't necessarily cost very much.'
Part of the allure for virtual pornography users is the chance to fulfil their most embarrassing sexual fantasies and fetishes.
Experts believe that virtual reality may allow people with bizarre fetishes to achieve their desires from the privacy of their own home (stock image)
Some fetishes are not realistically attainable and people are left having to use their imagination.
Experts believe virtual reality may be the way forward, and could allow people with bizarre fetishes to achieve their desires from the privacy of their own home.
Sex with unobtainable things like aliens, for example, is not a new concept.
'People have always had sexual fantasies engaging with notions of 'otherness' and that which we cannot have or are realistically unattainable,' Trudy Barber, a lecturer in Media Studies at the University of Portsmouth, told MailOnline earlier this month.
Dr Barber believes bizarre fetishes could be lived out through the medium of virtual reality.
Virtual reality could be used by people with macrophilia - those who are aroused by the thought of having sex with others who are significantly larger than they are (stock image)
'Virtual reality and sexual fetishism has been discussed for quite some time,' she said.
'There is a link between our sexual prediction and our use of technology and of course sex has long been thought of as a driver for technological invention.
'In a VR environment you can explore as many types of sexual engagement as there are people to invent and create them, but for specific sexual fetishes there needs to be specific world builders available as no two persons' fetishes are alike.
The fabled last will and testament of Alexander the Great may have finally been discovered more than 2,000 years after his death.
A London-based expert claims to have unearthed the Macedonian king's dying wishes in an ancient text that has been 'hiding in plain sight' for centuries.
The long-dismissed last will divulges Alexander's plans for the future of the Greek-Persian empire he ruled.
It also reveals his burial wishes and discloses the beneficiaries to his vast fortune and power.
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The fabled last will and testament of Alexander the Great, illustrated above, may have finally been discovered. A London-based expert claims to have unearthed Alexander the Great's dying wishes in an ancient text (pictured) that has been 'hiding in plain sight' for centuries
WHO WAS ALEXANDER THE GREAT? Alexander the Great is arguably one of history's most successful military commanders. Undefeated in battle, he had carved out a vast empire stretching from Macedonia and Greece in Europe, to Persia, Egypt and even parts of northern India by the time of his death aged 32. Only five barely intact accounts of his death at Babylon in 323 BCE survive to the present day. None are from eyewitnesses and all conflict to varying degrees. According to one account from the Roman era, Alexander died leaving his kingdom 'to the strongest' or 'most worthy' of his generals. In another version, he died speechless in a coma, without making any plans for succession. New research suggests this is false based on the fact __ Advertisement
Evidence for the lost will can be found in an ancient manuscript known as the 'Alexander Romance', a book of fables covering Alexander's mythical exploits.
Likely compiled during the century after Alexander's death, the fables contain invaluable historical fragments about Alexander's campaigns in the Persian Empire.
Historians have long believed that the last chapter of the Romance housed a political pamphlet that contained Alexander's will, but until now have dismissed it as a work of early fiction.
But a ten-year research project undertaken by Alexander expert David Grant suggests otherwise.
The comprehensive study concludes that the will was based upon the genuine article, though it was skewed for political effect.
The revelation is detailed in Mr Grant's new book, 'In Search of the Lost Testament of Alexander the Great.'
He believes that Alexander's original will was suppressed by his most powerful generals, because it named his then unborn half-Asian son Alexander IV and elder son Heracles as his successors.
Rather than accepting the leadership of what the Macedonians saw as 'half-breed' sons, which would have been 'unthinkable', they fought each other for power in a bloody period of infighting and civil war known as the 'Successor Wars'.
The long-dismissed last will and testament divulges Alexander's (pictured) plans for the future of the Greek-Persian empire he ruled
WHY WAS THE WILL HIDDEN? London-based Alexander expert David Grant believes that Alexander's original will was suppressed by his most powerful generals, because it named his then unborn half-Asian son Alexander IV and elder son Heracles as his successors. Rather than accepting the leadership of what the Macedonians saw as 'half-breed' sons, which would have been 'unthinkable', they fought each other for power in a bloody period of infighting and civil war known as the 'Successor Wars'. It was in the decades following Alexander's death that Mr Grant now believes the original will was secretly rewritten and distributed in leaflet form by one of the competing generals to 'prove' the legitimacy of his own inheritance, as well as to damn the generals opposing him. As well as naming Alexander's chosen successors the leaflet contains detail of a conspiracy among his generals to poison Alexander. Instead of being satisfied with the regions of the empire Alexander allotted to each of them to govern on behalf of his sons, they fought bitterly to control the whole empire. Mr Grant said: 'The surviving texts make it quite clear that none of the generals with Alexander at Babylon would have accepted their authority being subordinated to a son bred from a race they had conquered. 'The suppression of the will, and the claims that Alexander either died silent with no instructions, or he died encouraging his generals to slug it out for control of the empire with the famous words 'to the strongest', legitimized their own actions, aggressions and alliances in the years after Alexander's death.' Advertisement
It was in the decades following Alexander's death that Mr Grant now believes the original will was secretly rewritten and distributed in leaflet form by one of the competing generals to 'prove' the legitimacy of his own inheritance, as well as to damn the generals opposing him.
If Mr Grant is correct his finding overturns 2,000 years of academic study on the issue.
The researcher came to the conclusion after studying various ancient texts about the leader over 10-year period.
'The propaganda and political slant of the pamphlet cast serious doubts on the authenticity of the will, which at some point was absorbed by a developing book of fables we know today as Greek Alexander Romance,' he said.
'Once it entered the Romance, its fate was relegated from truth to fairy tale.
'Yet my research brings me to the overwhelming conclusion that, though adulterated, this is based on an original last testament of Alexander the Great, and it was one of the most influential military and political mandates in the ancient world.'
As well as naming Alexander's chosen successors the leaflet contains detail of a conspiracy among his generals to poison Alexander.
Instead of being satisfied with the regions of the empire Alexander allotted to each of them to govern on behalf of his sons, they fought bitterly to control the whole empire.
Mr Grant said: 'The surviving texts make it quite clear that none of the generals with Alexander at Babylon would have accepted their authority being subordinated to a son bred from a race they had conquered.
Alexander the Great (pictured) is arguably one of history's most successful military commanders. Undefeated in battle, he had carved out a vast empire stretching from Macedonia and Greece in Europe, to Persia, Egypt and even parts of northern India
'The suppression of the will, and the claims that Alexander either died silent with no instructions, or he died encouraging his generals to slug it out for control of the empire with the famous words 'to the strongest', legitimized their own actions, aggressions and alliances in the years after Alexander's death.'
Alexander the Great is arguably one of history's most successful military commanders.
Undefeated in battle, he had carved out a vast empire stretching from Macedonia and Greece in Europe, to Persia, Egypt and even parts of northern India by the time of his death aged 32.
Only five barely intact accounts of his death at Babylon in 323 BCE survive to the present day.
None are from eyewitnesses and all conflict to varying degrees.
London-based Alexander expert David Grant's (pictured) research has spanned ten years and tens of thousands of hours considering 'every conceivable avenue of investigation' in order to put the record straight on Alexander's will once and for all
According to one account from the Roman era, Alexander died leaving his kingdom 'to the strongest' or 'most worthy' of his generals.
In another version, he died speechless in a coma, without making any plans for succession.
Based on these testimonies, historians have ignored the will in the final pages of Romance.
But Mr Grant, a classics graduate, considered the hypothesis to be 'highly suspect' given Alexander's attention to detail and the power-hungry nature of his generals.
He said: 'It is clear that the testament was most likely issued, as per the academic consensus, by one of the competing generals to win support over their rivals.
'Even so, there is a very basic logic that seems to have been consistently overlooked: recirculating a will that had never existed would have been dangerous and self-defeating for any one of proposed authors of the pamphlet, all high-ranking generals.
'It was only by calling upon the authority of the actual last will and testament that the author of the political pamphlet could ever hope to stake a claim to power.'
'In Search of the Lost Testament' is set for release later this week.
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It contains a vast array of corals, sponges and fish, but until now, the Amazon's mysterious 3,668 square mile (9,500 square kilometre) reef has remained unexplored.
Greenpeace researchers have now visited the Amazon Reef for the first time, in an attempt to document the unknown sea creature that live in the region.
The charity hopes that its findings will prevent oil companies from drilling in the area.
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Researchers have visited the reef - which was only discovered last year - for the first time, and have revealed a vast array of corals, sponges and fish
THE AMAZON REEF The Amazon Reef is an huge coral and sponge reef system, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of French Guiana and northern Brazil. It is one of the largest known reef systems in the world, and researchers have estimated its length at over 600 miles (970 kilometres), and its area as over 3,668 square miles (9,500 square kilometres). It was discovered in April 2016, after an oceanographic study of the region starting in 2012. Advertisement
The Amazon Reef was first discovered in April, after it was found hidden under murky waters.
An international team of experts, lead by Greenpeace has now visited the reef, which runs from French Guyana to the Brazilian state of Maranhao - an area larger than the cities of Sao Paulo or London.
The team captured the stunning images at 220 metres depth from a two-person submarine.
Nils Asp, a researcher at the Federal University of Para, said: 'This reef system is important for many reasons, including the fact that it has unique characteristics regarding use and availability of light, and physicochemical water conditions.
'It has a huge potential for new species, and it is also important for the economic well-being of fishing communities along the Amazonian Coastal Zone.'
The Amazon Reef has a huge potential for new species, and it is also important for the economic well-being of fishing communities along the Amazonian Coastal Zone
Currently, only five per cent of the ecosystem has been mapped and life within much of the reef remains a mystery. But researchers want to have a better understanding of how this ecosystem works, including important questions like its photosynthesis mechanisms with very limited light
Currently, only five per cent of the ecosystem has been mapped and life within much of the reef remains a mystery.
Mr Asp said: 'Our team wants to have a better understanding of how this ecosystem works, including important questions like its photosynthesis mechanisms with very limited light.
'Hopefully, this will lead to a gradual mapping of the reef system.'
While experts have just started to study the reef, the unique area is already under threat from oil companies that are already planning to explore the area for potential oil drilling.
The Amazon River is the next frontier for oil exploration in Brazilian waters, and oil companies including Total and BP have shown interest in the area.
Thiago Almeida, a campaigner at Greenpeace Brazil, said: 'We must defend the reef and the entire region at the mouth of the Amazon River basin from the corporate greed that puts profits ahead of the environment.'
The reef system is important for many reasons, including the fact that it has unique characteristics regarding use and availability of light, and physicochemical water conditions
While experts have just started to study the reef, the unique area is already under threat from oil companies that are already planning to explore the area for potential oil drilling
If oil firms are granted permission to drill in the area, it would leave the reef vulnerable to an oil spill.
This is a threat not only to the reef, but to the ecosystem of the basin of the Amazon River mouth.
The Amazon River basin is home to a range of animals, including the American manatee, the Amazon River's yellow tortoise, dolphins and the river otter an endangered species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The researchers used lasers to map the ecosytem - but so far have only managed to retrieve data on five per cent of the reef
The team captured the stunning images at 220 metres depth from a two-person submarine which was launched from the Esperanze boat (pictured in back)
Mauritius is an island famous for its beaches and reefs, where white sand meets a clear blue sea - but it has not always been this way.
But three billion years ago, a continent covered the ocean where the East African island now lies, according to a new study.
Researchers have discovered evidence for this continent hiding underneath through crystals carried in volcanic lava.
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The researchers discovered zirconian crystals near the Mauritian volcano (pictured), which they believe are betwen 2.5 and 3 billion years old
The ancient continent of Mauritia once sat between Madagascar and India. It is thought Mauritia separated from the rest of the continent around 60 million years ago
THE LOST CONTINENT OF MAURITIA The continental crust beneath Mauritius would have been part of the continent 'Mauritia'. The continent would have been a dangerous place, covered in volcanoes and exposed to regular earthquakes. 'Mauritia acted as a buffer zone between the western Indian subcontinent and eastern Madagascar, and was fragmented by numerous tectonic and volcanic events that occurred in that region since the early Cretaceous,' the authors said. It is thought Mauritia separated from the rest of the continent around 60 million years ago. Advertisement
Professor Lewis Ashwal and colleagues from Wits University, in Johannesburg, found pieces of zirconian crystals, between 2.5 billion and three billion years old on Mauritius.
The crystals were brought to the surface by a volcano, carried by its lava.
The researchers dated the crystals using an imaging technique called mass spectrometry.
They found evidence for a continental crust beneath Mauritius, which would have been part of the continent 'Mauritia' and formed part of the ancient nucleus of Madagascar and India.
'Our results demonstrate the existence of ancient continental crust beneath Mauritius, Professor Ashwal wrote in the study published in Nature Communications.
'Mauritius and other Mauritian continental fragments are dominantly underlain by Archaean continental crust, and that these originally formed part of the ancient nucleus of Madagascar and India.'
Using computer modelling, the researchers re-created the separation of Mauritia, which they estimate happened around 60 million years ago
The continent would have been a dangerous place, covered in volcanoes and exposed to regular earthquakes.
'Mauritia acted as a buffer zone between the western Indian subcontinent and eastern Madagascar, and was fragmented by numerous tectonic and volcanic events that occurred in that region since the early Cretaceous,' the authors said.
It is thought Mauritia separated from the rest of the continent around 60 million years ago.
Professor Lewis Ashwal (pictured) and colleagues found pieces of zirconian crystals, between two and a half billion and three billion years old on Mauritius
Zircons are minerals that occur mainly in granites from the continents. They contain trace amounts of uranium, thorium and lead, and due to the fact that they survive geological process very well, they contain a rich record of geological processes
The researchers do not think this is the only case of an ancient continental crust lying beneath what is now a volcanic island, which means more evidence of hidden continents could still be found.
'Evidence is accumulating that old continental crust may occur beneath some young ocean-island volcanoes, contributing contaminating components to their chemical and isotopic compositions,' the authors wrote.
Professor Ashwal told MailOnline: 'This result is important because it allows us to better understand the processes by which continents break apart due to plate tectonics, and it also allows us to reconstruct the positions of these and other pieces of continent back in time.'
The rocks contained crystals, which the researchers believe were brought to the surface by a volcano, carried by its lava
Perhaps you should think twice next time you check your Facebook at work.
A new type of artificially intelligent (AI) software could mean your boss could track your every move with the help of an algorithm.
Software to better understand human behaviour in the workplace and build artificial intelligence is currently being offered by a London start-up called StatusToday.
The programme relies on a large amount of information about employees, including websites you look at and how often you're looking at them (stock image)
HOW DOES IT WORK? London start-up, StatusToday, has created AI software that will detect unusual behaviour in the workplace. It works by tracking your online activity and will . This means it will flag up security, regulatory and compliance risks. If it notices anything out of the ordinary, it will flag it to your company. Advertisement
The company was given a helping-hand by British intelligence agency GCHQ, which offers advice and financial investment.
Their programme relies on a large amount of information about what employees are doing online.
By having access to workplace knowledge, their systems will be able to flag up things that look like they might compromise company security.
StatusToday has already detected cases of ex-employees forgetting to delete company information and machines being compromised due to external hacks.
'All of this gives us a fingerprint of a user, so if we think the fingerprint doesn't match, we raise an alert,' the chief technology officer at StatusToday, Mircea Dumitrescu, told the New Scientist.
'We're not monitoring if your computer has a virus,' said Mr Dumitrescu. 'We're monitoring human behaviour.'
The company says it is not helping bosses track suspicious behaviour but is collecting information to prevent security risks to the company.
Employers could use Artificial Intelligence to find out the productivity of employees and whether they should be allowed to work from home (stock image)
However, AI could also be used to track employee productivity.
Yahoo boss Marissa Mayer banned employees from working remotely because she believed 'speed and quality' were often sacrificed.
'We can actually quantify if this is true for individual employees,' said Mr Dumitrescu.
'Whether they should be allowed to work from home can then be based on data.'
However, Javier Ruiz Diaz, policy director at digital campaigning organisation the Open Rights Group was concerned about the development of AI in the workplace.
'You do not loose all your privacy rights when you walk into work', he told MailOnline.
'Employers cannot simply syphon off all the communications of their workers to run black box analytics.
In addition to flagging potential cyber security alerts, the AI can be used to track employee productivity
'Employees must be given clarity about what information is collected, how it is processed and what are the consequences', he added.
However, some experts have warned monitoring people in this way could have adverse effects by making them change how they work.
'If people know they're being monitored, they can change their behaviour to game the system', said Dr Phil Legg at the University of the West of England.
This suggests that flagging unusual behaviour will never catch every security risk, even if it can stop people browsing Facebook instead of doing work.
Dr Paul Bernal, a lecturer in Information Technology, Intellectual Property and Media Law at the University of East Anglia told MailOnline he thought it could allow employers to get hold of some really intimate information.
'Things like sexuality, political beliefs and religion can be 'guessed' with increasing levels of accuracy by monitoring web-browsing, for example - and whether we should be happy with our employers being able to know this kind of thing about us is a very big question', he said.
He believed that surveillance of employees is likely to become more attractive as the technology become cheaper and more 'user-friendly'.
'I suspect most people would find it not only creepy but entirely inappropriate', he said.
In the hope of creating a 'human-AI' cyborgs, Elon Musk has revealed that Tesla may be working on computers that can be implanted into people's brains.
The astonishing revelation came in response to a tweet, asking Musk if he was working on 'neural lace' a way of installing computers into the human brain.
It is not known what the brain chip could be used for, but Musk has previously said that it will be the 'thing that really matters for humanity to achieve symbiosis with machines.'
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Elon Musk hinted that Tesla may be working on computers that can be implanted into the brain (stock image), although he has not expanded on what the chips could be used for
Revol Devoleb, a self-proclaimed technology enthusiast from Finland, tweeted to Musk last week, asking: 'What about neural lace? Announcement soon?'
Musk remained elusive in response, saying: 'Maybe next month.'
This isn't the first time that Musk has hinted that Tesla may be working on artificial intelligence.
In a recent interview with Y Combinator, Musk explained that the 'best outcome' between humankind and machines would be a collective lifestyle where 'we are the AI.'
Such a scenario would stamp out the possibility of an 'evil dictator AI,' Musk said, allowing anyone who wants to take part to become an 'AI-human symbiote.'
Musk likened the situation to the cooperation of the limbic system and the cortex in the human brain.
Revol Devoleb tweeted to Musk last week, asking: 'What about neural lace? Announcement soon?' Musk remained elusive in response, saying: 'Maybe next month'
In a recent interview with Y Combinator, Musk explained that the 'best outcome' between humankind and machines would be a collective lifestyle where 'we are the AI.'
DO WE LIVE IN A SIMULATION? Last summer, when asked at the Code Conference in southern California if the answer to the question of whether we are in a simulated computer game was 'yes', Elon Musk said the answer is 'probably'. Musk believes that computer game technology, particularly virtual reality, is already approaching a point that it is indistinguishable from reality. 'If you assume any rate of improvement at all, then the games will become indistinguishable from reality, just indistinguishable,' he said. 'Even if the speed of those advancements dropped by 1000, 'We are clearly on a trajectory to have games indistinguishable from reality, and there would be billions of there. 'It would seem to follow that the odds that we're in 'base reality' is one in billions', Mr Musk said. Advertisement
In the interview, he explained that these two systems the primitive brain that controls your instincts, and the 'thinking part,' respectively work well together, and it would extremely unusual to find someone who wished to get rid of one of them.
Building off of this, he told Y Combinator, 'I think if we can effectively merge with AI, like improving the neural link between the cortex and your digital extension of yourself, which already exists but just has a bandwidth issue, then effectively, you become an AI-human symbiote.'
This would also solve the 'control problem,' he went on to explain, as it could become so widespread that 'anyone who wants it can have it.'
'We don't have to worry about some evil dictator AI,' Musk told Y Combinator, 'because we are the AI collectively.
'That seems like the best outcome I can think of.'
In November, Elon Musk predicted that the rise of machines in the workplace could soon mean job displacement and a 'universal basic income' for humans.
The billionaire explained that our options may be limited in the future as automation becomes the norm, and this could even leave people with more time to enjoy their lives.
Musk said humans will eventually need to achieve symbiosis with 'digital super-intelligence' in order to cope with the advancing world but, he warns doing this might be the toughest challenge of all.
In an interview with CNBC, the CEO of Tesla, SolarCity, and SpaceX said certain jobs, like truck driving, may soon be lost to automated technologies.
And with machines taking over the workforce, human income would shift as well, potentially necessitating universal payments from the government.
'There is a pretty good chance we end up with a universal basic income, or something like that, due to automation,' Musk told CNBC.
'I'm not sure what else one would do with this.
'I think that's what would happen.'
Musk went on to explain that some people may have plans to do more 'complex' and 'more interesting' things with these capabilities in the future.
This will open the door for more leisure time, he said.
Machines equipped with artificial intelligence are ever creeping into the workforce, and for humans, this could soon mean job displacement and a 'universal basic income,' according to Elon Musk (pictured)
'And then we have to figure out how we integrate with a world in the future with advanced AI,' Musk told CNBC, noting that this will likely be the 'toughest' part.
'Ultimately,' he said, 'it would need to be some kind of improved symbiosis with digital super-intelligence.'
The Tesla CEO pointed to the example of the potential future capabilities of semi-trailer trucks.
One day, these trucks may not require drivers, and could instead operate autonomously while a human oversees an entire fleet.
They light up the skies in a dazzling display, but the magical Northern Lights could soon be a thing of the past for people in the UK.
New research suggests that the Northern Lights could be lost by the middle of the century because of changing solar activity.
Experts say that big drop in activity could confine the beautiful lights to the North Pole.
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The Northern Lights can appear across large parts of the UK, depending on prevailing levels solar activity. Photographer Ollie Taylor took this stunning picture of the phenomenon over the Mealt waterfall on Skye
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
Auroras are caused by the Earth's magnetic field channelling energetic particles from the sun towards the poles, where they collide with molecules in the atmosphere to generate glowing lights of different colours.
The Northern Lights can appear across large parts of the UK, depending on prevailing levels solar activity.
In October last year dazzling displays were photographed as far south as Devon.
But plunging solar activity is set to shrink the size of the sun's 'atmosphere', potentially causing the Northern Lights to vanish from British skies.
Dr Mathew Owens, from the University of Reading, said: 'The magnetic activity of the sun ebbs and flows in predictable cycles, but there is also evidence that it is due to plummet, possibly by the largest amount for 300 years.
'If so, the Northern Lights phenomenon would become a natural show exclusive to the polar regions, due to a lack of solar wind forces that often make it visible at lower latitudes.'
At the same time, some of the natural protection against radiation offered to the Earth by the solar atmosphere and its 'wind' of particles could be lost, he said.
A reduction in the solar wind would see the heliosphere - the 'bubble' around the solar system made up of fast moving particles emitted by the sun - shrink significantly.
Plunging solar activity is set to shrink the size of the sun's 'atmosphere', potentially causing the Northern Lights to vanish from British skies. The lights are pictured over the Sycamore Gap at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland
WHY THE NORTHERN LIGHTS COULD DISAPPEAR IN THE UK Plunging solar activity is set to shrink the size of the sun's 'atmosphere', potentially causing the Northern Lights to vanish from British skies. Dr Mathew Owens, from the University of Reading, said: 'The magnetic activity of the sun ebbs and flows in predictable cycles, but there is also evidence that it is due to plummet, possibly by the largest amount for 300 years. 'If so, the Northern Lights phenomenon would become a natural show exclusive to the polar regions, due to a lack of solar wind forces that often make it visible at lower latitudes.' Advertisement
The bubble helps shield the Earth from harmful radiation from outer space but has weakened since the 1950s.
In addition, while coronal mass ejections - massive eruptions on the surface of the sun - were likely to become less frequent, any that occurred could be especially damaging to electronic equipment, said Dr Owens, whose study of the phenomenon is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Declining solar activity is marked by a reduction in sunspots.
The scientists believe the sun could be heading for a time similar to the Maunder Minimum of the 17th century when sun spot activity almost stopped altogether.
While the Maunder Minimum coincided with a 'little ice age', during which the Thames froze over, global warming is expected to prevent this happening again.
Study co-author Professor Mike Lockwood, also from the University of Reading, said: 'If the decline in sunspots continues at this rate, and data from the past suggests that it will, we could see these changes occurring as early as the next few decades.'
Via TheLocal.se: Stockholm registers air pollution 'as bad as Beijing'.
Sweden may be a nation with a reputation for its green credentials, but the country's capital city recently registered air quality as poor as Chinese capital Beijing.
That's according to Stockholm Air & Noise Analysis (SLB-analys), the authority responsible for monitoring air quality in the city, which observed particularly dirty air at their Hornsgatan and Haggvik stations in the capital last Sunday.
"The inward movement of dirty air from central Europe caused very high levels of particles in Stockholm's air on Sunday. The situation worsened further because of the weather," Malin Tappefur from SLB-analys told The Local.
"The high concentration occurred for around eight hours and was as high as in Beijing. The difference between Beijing and Stockholm however is significant. Beijing has very high levels for long periods. In Stockholm it's extremely unusual, and it doesn't even occur annually," she added.
The dangerous microscopic particles in the air can be caused by wear and tear on road surfaces, tyres and vehicle brakes, but above all weather conditions were to blame. A relatively low level of precipitation in the city meant that cars with winter tyres swirled the dust up from the road and into the air, creating a high level of particles.
"The weather conditions hampered the dilution and purging of the pollution. There were very high levels," Tappefur noted.
According to the expert, there is little the city could have done to prevent the unusually smoggy day, and instead, other neighbouring countries with high levels of pollution were the source.
Maybe so, but as of 5:00 a.m. Tuesday local time Stockholm's AQI readings range from 4 to 21. Beijing should be so lucky. Its current readings are in the "unhealthy" range.
Researchers have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) bot that beat professional players in a 20-day poker tournament.
The bot, named Libratus, beat four of the World's best Heads-Up No-Limit Texas Hold'Em poker players at a casino in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Libratus won the tournament after 120,000 hands, winning with a lead of $1.7 million in virtual poker chips.
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Professor of computer science Tuomas Sandholm said: 'The best AI's ability to do strategic reasoning with imperfect information has now surpassed that of the best humans'
The AI was developed at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) by Professor Tuomas Sandholm and his PhD student Noam Brown.
They said that the AI's victory wasn't just a matter of luck - it was statistically significant.
Professor of computer science Tuomas Sandholm said: 'The best AI's ability to do strategic reasoning with imperfect information has now surpassed that of the best humans.'
Everytime the AI Libratus played against the pro's, it learned more about its own weaknesses
The research has implications for situations where information is incomplete and misinformation can be given, such as business negotiations, military strategy, cybersecurity and planning of medical treatments.
These situations could all benefit from decision making using AI's like Libratus.
Frank Pfenning, head of the Computer Science Department at CMU's School of Computer Science, said: 'Developing an AI that can do that successfully is a tremendous step forward scientifically and has numerous applications.
'Imagine that your smartphone will someday be able to negotiate the best price on a new car for you.
'That's just the beginning.'
The four poker players: Dong Kim, Daniel McAulay, Jimmy Chou and Jason Les, are splitting a $200,000 pot based on each of their performance's during the tournament.
Carnegie Mellon computer science Professor Tuomas Sandholm standing with the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center's Bridges Computer, which was used to develop Libratus' strategy before and throughout the event
Carnegie Mellon computer science PhD student Noam Brown (pictured left) worked with his PhD supervisor Professor Tuomas Sandholm (pictured right) to develop the Libratus AI bot that beat four professional poker players in a 20-day tournament
Mr Les from Costa Mesa, California said that playing against the superior opponent helped him improve.
He said: 'Usually, you have to lose a lot and pay a lot of money for the experience,' he said.
'Here, at least I'm not losing any money.'
The researchers designed Libratus with the help of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center's Bridges computer.
The computer's total speed it 1.35 petaflops, about 7,250 times as fast as a high-end laptop.
The AI used the computer to develop its strategy before and throughout the event.
The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh hosted the event, called 'Brains vs. Artificial Intelligence: Upping the Ante competition.'
Everytime Libratus played against the pros, it learned more about its own weaknesses.
Professor Sandholm explained this, saying: 'After play ended each day, a meta-algorithm analyzed what holes the pros had identified and exploited in Libratus' strategy.'
'It then prioritized the holes and algorithmically patched the top three using the supercomputer each night.
'This is very different than how learning has been used in the past in poker.
'Typically, researchers develop algorithms that try to exploit the opponent's weaknesses.
'In contrast, here the daily improvement is about algorithmically fixing holes in our own strategy.'
Professional poker player Jason Les (pictured) from Costa Mesa, California said that playing against the superior opponent helped him improve
The AI was able to update its strategy for each hand in a way that ensured any late changes by the pro's would only improve the strategy
The AI was able to update its strategy for each hand in a way that ensured any late changes by the pro's would only improve the strategy.
Professor Sandholm said he will continue his research on the technologies involved in solving imperfect-information games and applying these technologies to real-world problems.
That includes his work with Optimized Markets, a company he founded to automate negotiations.
He will share more information about Libratus at the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence meeting from February 4th to February 9th in San Francisco.
Professor Sandholm said he will continue his research on the technologies involved in solving imperfect-information games and applying these technologies to real-world problems
'CMU played a pivotal role in developing both computer chess, which eventually beat the human world champion, and Watson, the AI that beat top human Jeopardy! competitors,' said Mr Pfenning.
'It has been very exciting to watch the progress of poker-playing programs that have finally surpassed the best human players.
'Each one of these accomplishments represents a major milestone in our understanding of intelligence.'
Houston-based Axiom Space is working to build the privately-owned orbiting outpost that could one day replace the International Space Station and even bring tourists to space.
Axiom has already been granted NASA approval to attach its first commercial module to the ISS in 2020, and the firm says this could eventually provide the building blocks for their own station.
The ISS is funded through 2024, with hopes from officials that this will be extended to 2028 but, Axiom says it is keeping an ear very close to the rail for when the time to make its move really comes.
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Houston-based Axiom Space is working to build the privately-owned orbiting outpost that could one day replace the International Space Station and even bring tourists to space
AXIOM'S TRIPS TO SPACE Axiom Space is offering 7-10 day spaceflight missions for tourists. While the firm hasnt revealed what this will cost, they say its priced significantly lower than past spaceflight participants have paid. Tourists will undergo training before their voyage This would be available to both individual and corporate-sponsored participants. Advertisement
Axiom is working toward a historic shift, in human spaceflight with the Axiom International Commercial Space Station, according to Space.com.
The commercial space station would host astronauts from government agencies along with private companies and individual researchers.
And, the firm would use it to grow the space-tourism business.
According to Axiom, training will start in 2017, with missions to follow in 2019.
We are now deep into conversations with our first nonsovereign astronaut customers, Axioms vice president of strategic development Amir Blachman told Space.com in an exclusive interview.
The pace is quick. Were answering a demand thats clearly therethe demand is there; the need is there.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Axiom has partnered with Made In Space the California company that created 3-D printed products on the ISS.
Axiom has already been granted NASA approval to attach its first commercial module to the ISS in 2020, and the firm says this could eventually provide the building blocks for their own station
The researchers are now working to determine the feasibility of in-space manufacturing, to set up a factory with equipment, utilities, power, and thermal management, Axiom representatives told Space.com.
In-space manufacturing provides a unique class of products beneficial to the communications, materials, and biomedical industries on Earth, Michael Suffredini, President and CEO of Axiom Space and former ISS Program Manager said when the partnership was announced.
According to Blachman, Axiom would be able to support astronauts for much cheaper than the $7.5 million it costs each day on the ISS.
The commercial space station would host astronauts from government agencies along with private companies and individual researchers. And, the firm would use it to grow the space-tourism business
The researchers are now working to determine the feasibility of in-space manufacturing, to set up a factory with equipment, utilities, power, and thermal management, Axiom representatives said
Travellers will undergo training on par with NASAs astronauts starting in 2017 leading up to the 2019 missions, Space.com reports.
Once the ISS is decommissioned between the 2024-2028 time frame, Axiom will detach its module for use in the Axiom International Commercial Space Station.
Were the private company thats going to continue the ISS legacy, so to speak, Blachman told Space.com.
Our government and our agencies recognize that commercial is really the way to go.
It began with a weepy farewell. Off they went, our three lovely daughters off to a summer camp at which theyd spend a couple of weeks hiking in the mountains and sleeping under canvas.
But then it dawned on us. We. Were. On. Our. Own. For the first time in years yipperdy-doo-da we didn't have children in tow.
And if they were going to be having fun, as they surely were, then why couldn't we?
Romantic: The pair visited the pretty harbour at Barfleur (above). They also went to the D-Day landing beaches and their accompanying museums and then pushed further west, to Sainte-Mere Eglise, during their holiday
Now, as we stepped into the rosy dawn of post-child lives, we could spoil ourselves rotten.
And the idea of it being just the two of us felt more appealing than a family day in the rain at Chessington World of Adventures.
How about Normandy? said Mrs Milton as she mulled the notion of a romantic break. Great beaches, fabulous seafood and calvados.
It ticked my boxes. So Normandy it was. Off we went with a clutch of recommended restaurants and the satisfaction of knowing wed be paying only for two.
Its easy to forget, until theres just the two of you, how stressful family holidays can be. On this occasion, the drive went unusually smoothly. Even the weather had taken note of the fact that we were on a romantic break.
When the sea finally came into view (it was the English Channel, remember), it was glittering in the sunshine, like a sheet of crumpled silver foil.
The beach resort of Trouville, a bolthole for well-heeled Parisian pleasure-seekers, embraced us with welcoming arms. Next thing we knew, we were seated in Sebastien Saiters elegant pavement bar (its a Trouville institution) with two glasses of chilled champagne and a growing sense that life was on an upward curve.
Wed only intended to have a predinner aperitif, but before we could say just a few oysters, please, we found ourselves tucking into a gigantic platter of fruits-de-mer: a gargantuan heap of mussels, langoustine, lobster nd crab, all piled high on a thick bed of crushed ice.
Seafood heaven: Fruits-de-mer from one of Normandy's restaurants
Trouville is the swanky gateway to the Pays dAuge, a rural slab of inland Normandy thats world-famous for two items of gastronomy: camembert and calvados.
You only have to drive a few miles inland to find yourself in an altogether more rustic world one of patchwork fields, bosky meadows and heavily fortified farms that seem little changed since medieval times.
We drove to the sleepy village of Coquainvillers, where the Boulard family have been distilling calvados for five generations. They offer mouthwatering tours of their distillery, explaining how they perform alchemy on the local apples, transforming juice into exquisite liquor.
Were led into the Boulards vast cellar, where thousands of litres of calvados slowly attain maturity in handcrafted oak barrels. We sniff, swill and swallow, before getting all pretentious with our judgment.
A light touch of vanilla, says Mrs M, 'and just a hint of cinnamon. Wed been tipped the wink about a family run hotel a 40-minute drive to the west of the Boulards distillery.
The Ferme de la Ranconniere is a 13th Century farm that the husband-and-wife owners, Isabelle and Koen Sileghem, have transformed into a comfortable hotel.
If you like your bedroom with beams, antiques and old fireplaces, this might be the place for you.
We momentarily reflected on our three girls living under canvas. We imagined the rain drip-dripping on to their sleeping bags. And then we headed to the hotels lavish restaurant.
We went for the full Normandy experience: a rich and silky home-made fish bisque, followed by a delicately flavoured parcel of chicken stuffed with local cured ham.
A blow-out Normandy feast would not be complete without the famous trou Normand a miniature glass of calvados served between each course, to prepare the stomach for the next indulgence.
Barrels of fun: Giles at the calvados distillery. The Boulards vast cellar stocks thousands of litres of calvados, which slowly attains maturity in handcrafted oak barrels
Our week-long tour of Normandy drifted along on a wave of enchantment.
We visited Barfleur, the D-Day landing beaches and their accompanying museums (Utah Beach Museum is superb), and then pushed further west, to Sainte-Mere Eglise, the first town in France to be liberated in June 1944.
Dont miss the revamped Airborne Museum, which tells the story of the American troops who parachuted in on the early hours of D-Day.
We arrived on market day and found one of the enterprising stall-holders grilling local sausages over charcoal.
We devoured a couple before heading to another lovely farm-turned-hotel, the Grand-Hard La Riviere. Owned and restored by a Belgian couple, its centred around a sun-splashed courtyard perfect for evening drinks.
On the last evening we got a text message from our daughter Heloise.
All good at our end. Everyone happy.
As we settled down in front of another half lobster, we sent a message back. All good here, too. We meant it.
Giles's book: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is on sale.
A group of Russian women have hit back at a Dubai hotel's complaints about their sexy photographs by staging a racy mannequin challenge on its forecourt.
The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, on the famous man-made palm islands off the UAE resort city of Dubai, was annoyed at being geo-tagged in social media posts after a group of women stayed there.
Hotel management complained that some of the pictures and videos they shared with their millions of followers looked like something from a lingerie catalogue or an adult movie.
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A group of Russian women have hit back at a Dubai hotel's complaints about their sexy photographs by staging a racy mannequin challenge on its forecourt
The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah was annoyed at being geo-tagged in racy social media posts after a group of women stayed there, so they retaliated with a photo shoot
Some of the photographs show the women posing in bathtubs and coming down to breakfast in their dressing gowns and with their hair in curlers.
The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah promotes itself as a family hotel and its administration said it was mainly concerned about the comfort of their guests.
A hotel spokesman was quoted as saying: 'You have to understand that this is an Arab country.
'We have had a lot of complaints from families with young children.'
A drone filmed the women posing around several supercars and a little red Lada
The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah promotes itself as a family hotel and its administration said it was mainly concerned about the comfort of their guests, many of whom had complained about the pictures
The continued: 'We do not want to see our geolocation [to show] photos of girls in semi-naked and erotic poses.
'Let the photograph simply state the location as Dubai.'
In retaliation, the women staged a display of flesh-flashing outside the hotel's front door in a mannequin challenge.
A drone filmed several women, including actress Anna Kalashnikova, 44, model Victoria Bonya, 37, and reality star Alena Shishkova, 24, posing around several supercars and a little red Lada.
The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah is built on the famous man-made palm islands off the UAE resort city of Dubai
She stars as Julie Bushby, the leader of the community search for Shannon Matthews in 2008, in the new BBC drama The Moorside.
But Sheridan Smith has revealed that she and the woman herself struck up a firm friendship during the show - with Julie even supporting the blonde through her dad's cancer battle.
The actress, 35, confessed to Radio Times that Ms Bushby taught her a lot about 'staying strong' in a late-night chat during filming for the series - and that she is still 'good friends' with the 'kind and courageous' woman.
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More than research: Sheridan Smith reveals she formed a friendship with Julie Bushby during filming for The Moorside - the woman who led the search for Shannon Matthews in 2009
Having spent a lot of time with Julie as part of her research for The Moorside, the West End star revealed the pair actually become close friends after they bonded over their mutual sense of loss.
Sheridan explained: 'I am still friends with Julie. She's a great mum and grandmother and, although she doesn't always let it show, she has a heart of gold.'
'There was a really emotional scene I had to play where my character talks about losing her baby boy to cot death. She stayed up all night with me discussing what had happened and how she had coped, just to help me play the scene.'
Woman of the house: She explained that Julie (above) had supported her through her dad Colin's illness, admitting: 'I learnt a lot from her about staying strong for those you love'
However the Gavin and Stacey star acknowledged that her kindness and willingness to help her perfect the character was made more touching, by the fact that her dad Colin had been suffering from cancer at the time.
She added: 'I was so worried about my dad, but I learnt a lot from her that night about staying strong for those you love and for that I'll always be grateful.'
Colin sadly lost his battle with the disease in early December after filming had wrapped, and passed away at the age of 80.
Realistic: Sheridan plays Julie in the upcoming BBC drama (above) - which follows the famous Shannon Matthews case from February 2008
Based on true events: Julie had led the community efforts of the 24-day search for the nine-year-old (above), who went missing from her home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire in February
Sheridan had bonded with Julie after agreeing to play her in the upcoming BBC drama The Moorside - which follows the famous Shannon Matthews case from 2008.
Julie had led the community efforts of the 24-day search for the nine-year-old, who went missing from her home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire in February - only to be found alive at her stepfather's uncle's house less than a mile away.
It later emerged that her mother, Karen Matthews, had orchestrated the kidnap plot with her accomplice, Michael Donovan, in hopes of attaining a cash reward.
Convicted: Shannon was found alive at her step-father's home just a mile away - with it emerging her mother Karen Matthews (above) had orchestrated the plot for a cash reward
Admirable: Sheridan said of Julie, the driving force behind the search effort: 'She is a kind and courageous woman with a massive heart who refused to believe the absolute worst of Karen'
Sheridan, who met the admirable woman on several occasions to dig into her sense of deceit, explained: 'Julie was terribly betrayed by Karen, and she received a lot of ridicule and abuse for apparently being taken in by her.
'But, she is a kind and courageous woman with a massive heart who just refused to believe the absolute worst of Karen.'
Read more: In this weeks Radio Times, on sale from Tuesday 31 January
While the role was certainly an emotional challenge, the Lincolnshire native did admit that she relishes in playing real people on screen - especially one so 'close to her roots'.
She gushed: 'I love getting lost in the characters I play and when that character is a real person there is lots of background and research I can delve into.'
Sheridan is no stranger to playing well-known figures - having taken on the role of Cilla Black in 2014 and Mrs Biggs, the wife of the Great Train Robber, Ronnie.
'Meeting Charmian Biggs and Cilla Black was fascinating and I spent hours talking to them, watching videos of them and reading books about them,' she continued.
'I did get a bit tongue-tied meeting Cilla and I was too star-struck to take up her offer of ringing her any time if there was anything extra I wanted to ask her but I fell in love with both of them - as I did with Julie.
'I felt such a bond with them.'
She's the recently engaged, former Olympian who is trapped in the jungle with 11 other famous faces that have no communication with the outside world.
And with only one luxury item allowed per contestant on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, Lisa Curry, 52, has found a cheeky way to keep her fiance close to her. Very close.
Mark Andrew Trambone, her fiance, told The Sunshine Coast Daily they are inseparable.
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Welcome o the jungle! Former Olympian Lisa Curry has put photo transfers on her underwear to keep her fiance very close to her while on on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here
'We're pretty tight. We're like peas and carrots, we just go that's our saying,' the professional Elvis impersonating said.
To ensure that she could see him when ever she wanted to, the couple came up with a solution.
'We put photo transfers on her underwear, so I'll be displayed on her bum,' he added.
Loved up! Photo transfers on her underwear was the couple's solution to ensure that could see him when ever she wanted to
Fighter: The champion swimmer said she hopes audiences will see her softer side on the show and believes her mental toughness will help see her through to the end
The couple attempted to keep her travel to South Africa confidential by and in the days leading up to her flying out to South Africa.
Lisa said that she hopes audiences will see her softer side on the show and believes her mental toughness will help see her through to the end.
'I think I'm doing really well to handle it all as well as I do. Mentally, I'm strong but I just know I will cry. I tear up all the time. I cry at TV commercials,' the mother of four said.
But a source revealed to Daily Mail Australia the swimming champion was spotted applying for a South African visa at a Victorian Post office.
Missing you: 'I think I'm doing really well to handle it all as well as I do. Mentally, I'm strong but I just know I will cry,' Lisa said
Mark even took of her social media accounts so that it would appear that she wasn't going anywhere.
Lisa will be competing to win the title of queen of the jungle and the $100,00 prize money for the Aussie Helpers charity, which helps farmers in desperate need of help with money, which can off set anxiety and depression.
She and Mark first met in 2015 at a charity event, just weeks after she had split up with her 33-year-old boyfriend Joel Walkenhorst.
The couple confirmed their engagement in October 2015.
Sam Frost has revealed she isn't a fan of Kim Kardashian because 'teenagers are getting lip fillers and butt implants' due to her 'false image' on social media.
The former Bachelorette made the remarks during the return of her radio show with Rove McManus on Monday, which had been bumped from breakfast to a 7pm time slot due to poor ratings.
The duo were discussing Kim's widely-applauded Instagram post in response to President Trump's restriction on immigration from Muslim-majority countries, which Sam said showed 'she knows how to spell'.
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'Stop it with the false image!' Sam Frost reveals she is no fan of Kim Kardashian, joking her post on President Trump's immigration ban shows 'she knows how to spell'
Rove kicked the conversation off by explaining to listeners that their show was 'unofficially a Kardashian-free zone'.
His reality TV star co-host chimed in, explaining: 'I am not a huge fan of what Kim Kardashian tweets and posts on social media - especially since she has got such a huge following - she's got like 90 million followers on Instagram.
'And I could go on a rant about that itself for a really long time.'
Segment: Sam paused her rant to introduce Kim's Twitter post, which had detailed the low number of deaths from Islamic jihadist immigrants
Sam paused her rant to introduce Kim's Twitter post, which had detailed the low number of deaths from Islamic jihadist immigrants compared to being shot by another American.
'Kim Kardashian tweeted today some statistics and literally does say statistics [in the tweet],' she said.
'Is that all she has written?' Rove asked, to which Sam replied: 'That's all she has written so she knows how to spell.'
Regretted her words? Sam later appeared to back pedal from the remark about the businesswoman's writing ability, saying she was 'coming around' to the Kardashian
Sam later appeared to back pedal from the remark about the businesswoman's writing ability, saying she was 'coming around' to the Kardashian and that the tweet showed Kim was 'trying to the right thing and I appreciate that'.
'Because I am always like "stop it with the false image!"' The petite blonde added.
'...There are teenagers getting lip fillers and butt implants, whatever they are.'
'There are teenagers getting lip fillers and butt implants': Sam said she was concerned about the 'false image' of Kim
Monday night also saw less than a quarter of the time dedicated to the former prime time duo resulted in on-air talking.
Fans of Rove and Sam who tried to podcast the show later queried why the show was so much shorter than the hour slot.
One Twitter user asked: '@RoveAndSam @Rove why is the podcast only 17 minutes?' To which Rove responded: 'Shorter show on air.'
Back on the radio: Monday night also saw less than a quarter of the time dedicated to the former prime time duo resulted in on-air talking
Earlier this month, 2Day FM confirmed Rove and Sam would not be returning to their breakfast slot.
The comedian and reality TV star had battled declining ratings during their 13 months in the prime time gig.
Her daughter Evie is just two-year-old but Carrie Bickmore is already fretting over how she'll explain social media and body image when the toddler reaches her teens.
On Monday night's episode of The Project the mother of two expressed concerns that her daughter will grow up believing her looks and social media presence are 'her currency'.
Carrie made the comments after a segment on Big Brother contestant Skye Wheatley's plastic surgery and Instagram fame.
Worried mama: On Monday night's episode of The Project Carrie expressed concerns that her daughter will grow up believing her looks and social media presence are 'her currency'
In a pre-recorded interview Skye discusses the pressure to look perfect on social media and afterwards Carrie intoned, 'I don't know how to feel about that'.
While the 36-year-old admitted, 'It's her body she can do what she wants with it' she also worried how Instagram might affect Evie later in life.
'When I look at social media or Instagram with an adult brain, sometimes I find it hard to work out what is real and what's not,' Carrie admitted.
Distorted reality: 'When I look at social media or Instagram with an adult brain, sometimes I find it hard to work out what is real and what's not,' Carrie admitted
She went on to say she has to remind herself that, 'everyone is just showing the best version of themselves on (social media)'.
The TV personality however had grave concerns for how a child may consume that same media seeing as she struggles with it as an adult.
'If I had seen all of that as a kid (I don't know what) my view of the world (would be) and how that would shape my view of the world, and how I see the world,' she said.
Baby love: 'If I had seen all of that as a kid (I don't know what) my view of the world (would be) and how that would shape my view of the world, and how I see the world,' Carrie said
Concerns: 'I don't know what I'm going to say to Evie, or explain all that to Evie when that's her currency,' Carried revealed
Carrie then expressed her anxieties about how she would raise the issue with her daughter.
'I don't know what I'm going to say to Evie, or explain all that to Evie when that's her currency,' she said.
The statement left her co-hosts speechless until Gretel Killeen broke through the tension with a joke.
Pressured: Carrie made the comments after a segment on Big Brother contestant Skye Wheatley's plastic surgery and Instagram fame
Online image: In a pre-recorded interview Skye discusses the pressure to look perfect on social media and afterwards Carrie intoned, 'I don't know how to feel about that'
'Don't give her a mobile,' the 53-year-old said before adding jokingly, 'I mean, she's two.'
Carrie then lightened the mood by admitting Instagram might not even be around when her two-year-old daughter reaches 14.
The TV host had Evie in 2015 with her partner Chris Walker.
She also has a son, Oliver, 9, with husband Greg Lange, who died of brain cancer in 2010.
Most people simply expect flowers and a card for their birthday.
Instead, shock-jock Kyle Sandilands, 45, gave KIIS FM co-host Jackie O Henderson the gift of embarrassment Tuesday in a cringe-worthy on-air segment.
The blonde beauty received a call from a mystery American guest to commemorate her 41st birthday, failing to identify the voice of Suits star Rick Hoffman.
Kyle was pretty excited to see his co-star's reaction during the regular segment that tasks one of the hosts with guessing the identity of a celebrity caller.
'I think you might lose your s***.' He said.
Jackie, 41, was left stunned out of the gate as Rick unexpectedly disguised his familiar deep voice.
'I'd like to sing happy birthday to Jackie if that's okay?' He said, before offering a drawling, flamboyant rendition of the song.
Guest who? KIIS FM's Jackie O Henderson was left embarrassed on her birthday after failing to guess the identify of a mystery international guest
Disguise: Suit's star Rick Hoffman put on a flamboyant disguised voice as he sung happy birthday to the 41-year-old
The host continuously shot awkward glances to Kyle, making it quite clear she had no idea who the guest was.
'Here's a hint, two years ago, I spoke to you on my Birthday.'
The clue didn't help Jackie, who put her head in her hands at one point before shooting Kyle a wide-eyed look of desperation.
'This is really embarrassing.' She said.
Awkward: The host continuously shot awkward glances to Kyle Sandilands, 45, making it quite clear she had no idea who the guest was
No help: After a clue didn't help the blonde beauty she said to a laughing Kyle: 'This is really embarrassing'
Revealed: As it became clear her controversial host had no intention to put her out of her misery, the actor finally revealed his identity, switching back to his normal voice
As it became clear her controversial host had no intention to put her out of her misery, the actor finally revealed his identity, switching back to his normal voice.
Jackie revealed she was a big fan of the show, which will debut it's seventh season on Foxtel.
The birthday girl is married to UK photographer Lee Henderson.
The pair share six-year-old daughter Catalina Mae Henderson.
Happy couple: Jackie is married to UK photographer Lee Henderson
Daughter: The pair share 6-year-old daughter Catalina Mae Henderson
It was all anybody could talk about when it first aired back in 2015, and now there's confirmation Making A Murderer will be returning for a second season.
Netflix revealed the news on Monday, following speculation the much hyped show would be making a welcome return.
'The story is still ongoing, so you will see new episodes coming sometime this year as this story continues to unfold,' Netflix's vice president of original content, Cindy Holland told USA Today.
'We dont know when for sure new episodes will be coming.'
Fighting for his innocence: Making A Murderer follows Steven Avery, who is believed to have been wrongly convicted of the 2005 murder of photographer Teresa Halbach
While there's no exact date as to when fans can expect season two to hit their screens, Netflix says they are allowing filmmakers Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi to take their time with the hit series.
'Laura and Moira are (in Manitowoc) shooting regularly and working on what the right story is to tell in the next set, so were deferring to them on when it will be ready,' added Cindy.
'Very few people inside of Netflix actually know the details of what were getting because were wanting to keep it really under wraps, and it is an ongoing case, so were trying to be sensitive to that.'
Making A Murderer follows the real-life case of Manitowoc County resident Steven Avery, who spent 18 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of a rape, only to then find himself back behind bars for the 2005 murder of photographer Teresa Halbach.
Back behind bars: The 54-year-old's mug shot following his controversial arrest for the 2005 murder of a photographer
His nephew, Brendan Dassey - at the time, a teenager with learning difficulties - was also convicted of the murder, after supposedly being coerced into making a confession.
While a judge overturned the ruling for Brendan, 27, fans of the show were left outraged after discovering he's still behind bars.
A popular theory is that Steven, 54, was framed by the police for the murder, after filing a suit against them for wrongful imprisonment following his rape conviction.
Under arrest: Steven had already spent 18 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of rape
But despite being incarcerated for a second time, Steven remains hopeful of his release.
'Im going to be free. Im 1,000 percent confident that Ill be free,' he told website Elite Daily in August last year.
With the case still ongoing, it's believed season two will pick up where the first series left off, with lawyers for the accused continuing to appeal their sentencing.
Fans have been left reeling after Peter Capaldi has confirmed his departure from Doctor Who at the end of the year.
Many viewers of the much-loved show have taken to social media in their droves to express how they feel now that the Scottish actor is hanging up his boots in less than 11 months.
One fan wrote on Twitter: 'A little bit devastated to hear #PeterCapaldi is leaving #DoctorWho'.
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Reeling: Fans have been left reeling after Peter Capaldi has confirmed his departure from Doctor Who at the end of the year
While another emotional viewers shared: 'Peter I am totally and utterly going to miss your brilliance...farewell my favourite ever Doctor #DoctorWho #PeterCapaldi'.
As one other gave some perspective on the news, writing: 'Always sad when a Doctor decides to move on - but also an exciting new beginning! #DoctorWho'.
And while viewers of the long-standing sci-fi series are sad to see him, many are already thinking who is being lined up next for iconic role.
The popular show has seen twelve different doctors take the role throughout the years and now fans are calling for a woman to fill the shoes of the infamous TV character.
Mixed opinions: Doctor Who fans expressed their sadness at Peter's departure, as talk immediately turned to who could replace the star as the 13th Time Lord
Flooding Twitter with their suggestions, actress Hayley Atwell has become a clear favourite from the Doctor Who community.
35-year-old Hayley has made a name for herself amongst comic book fans, having starred in a series of Marvel TV series and films, playing Peggy Carter opposite Captain America.
Now fans have revealed their want for her to become the first ever female to portray the Doctor.
One fan shared: 'The campaign for Hayley Atwell as The Doctor starts now.'
Girl power: Fans have called on the BBC to employ Avengers star Hayley Atwell as the first female Doctor. She is best known for her portrayal of Peggy Carter in various Marvel films
No pressure: Fans have revealed their want for Hayley Atwell to become the first ever female to portray the Doctor
While another chimmed in: 'So, can we have Hayley Atwell as The Doctor now please? 2017 needs some good news for once #DoctorWho #LadyDoctor #prettyplease'.
Before another added: 'Look, I love you, Peter Capaldi, and I know the body's not even cold yet, but Hayley Atwell for the 13th Doctor #DoctorWho'.
Meanwhile, fans are calling for another female to take over the role, Broadchurch star Olivia Colman, 43, who has previously starred on the series.
Becoming a familiar name amongst the thread of discussion about the new Doctor, one fan said: 'Olivia Coleman as The Doctor is the hero the world needs right now. #DoctorWho' (sic).
Girl power: Fans are calling for another female to take over the role, Broadchurch star Olivia Colman, who has previously starred on the series
Before another said: '#DoctorWho needs something to liven it up. I'm hoping Olivia Coleman (sic)'.
Despite the loyal Doctor Who audience pushing for the first female Doctor, a number of other British stars' names have been thrown into the mix, including Rupert Grint.
No stranger to the world of wizardry and magic, the flame-haired star - who cut his teeth in the Harry Potter franchise playing Ron Weasley - is currently filming the TV adaption of Guy Ritchie's Snatch.
Big moment: Rupert is no stranger to giant franchises having made his name as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series
Making a departure from the world of sci-fi, he is set to play Charlie Cavendish in the highly-anticipated TV installment, yet fans shared an outpouring of love to see him as the thirteenth Doctor.
An excited fan shared online: 'Can Rupert Grint play Doctor Who please??? Or finally a ginger'.
As another wrote: 'I vote Rupert Grint for next Doctor! #GingerDoctor #DoctorWho'.
Before one said: '[Peter Capaldi] was a great doctor. For the next one I recommend Andrew Garfield or Rupert Grint #DoctorWho #13thdoctor'.
Outpouring of love: Making a departure from the world of sci-fi, he is set to play Charlie Cavendish in the highly-anticipated TV installment, yet fans shared an outpouring of love to see him as the thirteenth Doctor
Meanwhile Spectre star Ben Whishaw has once again seen his name associated with the much-loved series.
Having previously been linked to role by fans, it seems viewers would love to see him finally take on the Doctor.
One fan wrote: 'Petition to get Ben Whishaw to be the next Doctor Who'.
While another simple said: 'Ben Whishaw has been on my dream Doctor list for ever!'
Much-loved: Spectre star Ben Whishaw has once again seen his name associated with the much-loved series
Fan favourite: Having previously been linked to role by fans, it seems viewers would love to see him finally take on the Doctor
The race is officially on to find Peter's replacement and bookies are already touting who will be in line to become the 13th Doctor in the programme's 53-year history.
Bookies at William Hill have offered former Doctors Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith at respective odds of 33/1, 20/1 and 16/1, while Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are tipped at 33/1 and 8/1 each.
Fans reaction on social media comes after Peter Capaldi revealed that he will be quitting Doctor Who by the end of the year.
The 58-year-old actor was the 12th actor to play the iconic role, having landed the coveted spot on the long-running series after Matt Smiths departure in June 2013.
He made the announcement whilst speaking to Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2 on Monday, as he revealed he would be leaving the BBC series at the end of the year.
'I feel its time to move on,' he reasoned, adding: 'One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best.
The Time(lord) is right: Peter Capaldi has revealed that he will be quitting Doctor Who by the end of the year. The star began work as the 12th doctor in 2013, taking over from Matt Smith
'From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity, generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead
'I cant thank everyone enough. Its been cosmic.'
In a statement, show boss Steven Moffatt said: 'For years before I ever imagined being involved in Doctor Who, or had ever met the man, I wanted to work with Peter Capaldi.
'I could not have imagined that one day wed be standing on the TARDIS together.'
Moving on: Peter made the announcement whilst speaking to Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2 on Monday, as he revealed he would be leaving the BBC series at the end of the year
Steven, who is also leaving after season 10, added: 'Like Peter, Im facing up to leaving the best job Ill ever have, but knowing I do so in the company of the best, and kindest and cleverest of men, makes the saddest of endings a little sweeter.
'But hey, its a long way from over. Peter's amazing, fiery, turbulent Doctor is still fighting the good fight, and his greatest adventures are yet to come.
'Monsters of the universe, be on your guard - Capaldis not done with you yet!'
Peter's decision to quit comes as a shock, as it comes just a matter of weeks after he claimed he wanted to stay in the role for a 'long time'.
Predecessor: Peter replaced Matt Smith (pictured) in 2013. His casting was revealed on August 4 during a live broadcast on BBC One, titled Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor
Ahead of his return on Christmas Day, the actor appeared on The Andrew Marr Show, where he claimed to have no intentions of moving on.
He said: 'My kind of attitude about it is that I didn't want it to change my life much, but it does. But in as much as my private life goes, it remains much the same.
'But when I go out into the world, I can't, you know I don't want to escape the idea that I'm Doctor Who, and it's finite - I won't be Doctor Who forever - so there will be a day when people don't come and say hello.'
Asked when that moment would be, he replied: 'Oh, not for a long time, I hope.'
She is one of the most successful French actresses in the industry.
So it is no wonder Marion Cotillard was keen to celebrate the awards season in her own country on Monday night, as she made her arrival at the 22nd Lumieres Awards.
The pregnant 41-year-old put on a truly dazzling display in a sequinned shift dress by Giorgio Armani as she arrived at the prestigious event in Paris - which has been described as the French equivalent of the Golden Globes.
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Going back to her roots: Marion Cotillard was keen to celebrate the awards season in her own country on Monday night, as she made a dazzling arrival at the 22nd Lumieres Awards
The brunette beauty turned heads on the carpet in a glittering dress, completely covered in navy blue sequins which shimmered as they caught the light.
Falling into a loose but chic shift style, the frock softly skimmed her blossoming baby bump as it fell gracefully to her knee, to give a flash of her svelte legs beneath.
Making the look more striking, the Inception star then layered a sleek velvet collarless jacket on top, complete with vintage silver button detailing.
Dazzling: The brunette beauty turned heads on the carpet in a glittering Giorgio Armani dress, completely covered in navy blue sequins which shimmered as they caught the light
She then added a pair of simple black heeled sandals and subtle silver earrings to tie the look together, but keep all attention on her show-stopping frock.
Maintaining the classically glamorous vibe of her look, the beauty swept her brunette bob back into loose waves and added a subtle smoky eye to accentuate her naturally stunning features.
Marion is being honoured with a special award at the bash, in tribute to her successful career as an actress of the country.
Winter chic: Making the look more striking, the Inception star then layered a sleek velvet collarless jacket on top, complete with vintage silver button detailing
Making the night even more exciting, she is also in the running for the Best Actress gong for her role in World War II drama From the Land of the Moon.
The brunette beauty, who has won this gong before for her dazzling performance in La Vie En Rose, goes up against fellow Frenchwoman Isabelle Huppert in the category.
The 63-year-old is one of the front runners this awards season thanks to her role in the psychological thriller Elle - which also nabbed her first ever Oscar nomination after more than forty years in the industry.
Natural beauty: Maintaining the classically glamorous vibe of her look, the beauty swept her brunette bob back into loose waves and added a subtle smoky eye
As well as making appearances at a number of the biggest French ceremonies, Marion has been promoting her new film Rock'N'Roll with her partner and co-star Guillaume Canet.
The pair are no strangers to starring in films side by side - having previously played a couple in 2003's Love Me If You Dare as well as 2009's The Last Flight.
Proving their chemistry runs both on screen and off, the duo then began dating in 2007 - and are now expecting their second child together.
Leading lady: Marion is being honoured with a special award at the bash, in tribute to her successful career as an actress of the country
Their first child was born in May 2011 and their second is expected later this year, after they announced the news last September.
Her announcement response to reports that she was involved in the divorce of her Allied co-star Brad Pitt, and the mother of his children, Angelina Jolie.
A defiant Marion hit back at the rumours in a social media post that said Guillaume was 'the only one that [she] needed'.
She was one of the most shocking snubs of Oscar season, with many critics claiming she'd be a shoo-in for her work in 20th Century Women.
But Annette Bening didn't seem to be letting the omission get to her as she attended the Paris premiere of the celebrated film at Les Halles on Monday.
Nailing Parisian chic, the 58-year-old actress opted for a monochrome ensemble that flattered her youthful physique.
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Moving on: Annette Bening didn't seem to be letting the Oscar snub get to her as she attended the Paris premiere of her celebrated film 20th Century Women at Les Halles on Monday
Flashing a hint of cleavage, the mother-of-four donned a black blouse with cream stripes with a risque V-neckline.
She teamed the garment with a black midi skirt that bore a thigh split to offer a look at her enviably lean legs.
Adding some height to her frame she wore a pair of chunky heeled black shoes, and accessorised with a myriad of silver bracelets.
She's earned her fashion stripes! Flashing a hint of cleavage, the mother-of-four donned a black blouse with cream stripes with a risque V-neckline
Legs eleven! Annette teamed the blouse with a black midi skirt that bore a thigh split to offer a look at her enviably lean legs
20th Century Women is set in 1979 and sees Annette take on the role of Dorothea who seeks the help of Abbie (Greta Gerwig) and Julie (Elle Fanning) to raise her son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann).
The film was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, Best Picture and Best Actress for Annette, as well as Best Original Screenplay Oscars.
However, Annette failed to get a mention in the nominees for Best Actress at the Academy Awards.
Gorgeous: Annette donned a slick of red lipstick whilst her chestnut locks were tousled
Finishing touches: Adding some height to her frame she wore a pair of chunky heeled black shoes, and accessorised with a myriad of silver bracelets
Discussing Annette's snub, the Oscar nominated writer Mike Mills told Vulture: 'Im wildly surprised. Shes my comrade. Were in the same army troop together.
'So I feel like I can say I was slugged in the stomach. She did so much and I admire it so much.
'Everybody on set was so completely blown away by her freedom and her bravery and just talent.'
Kyle Sandilands has vehemently defended Donald Trump's restriction on immigration from Muslim-majority nations, citing 'safety of the majority comes first' when preventing terrorist acts.
The shock jock made his argument in support of the controversial ordinance, which obstructs visas from seven countries for 120 days and Syria indefinitely, on KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday.
Kyle, who splits his time between Sydney and Los Angeles, said the ban was needed because 'weve let the troublemakers get away with this s*** for so long'.
'Safety of the majority comes first': Kyle Sandilands DEFENDS Donald Trump's immigration ban as necessary to 'stop the bad' getting into the USA
The radio host explained he supported the ban because it was the United State government prioritising its citizens' safety.
It was not about persecuting Muslims because it restricted countries, not the religion, Kyle argued.
'We trust government to keep us safe in a country like this and a country like America and a country like Canada,' he said.
Executive order: On Friday, President Donald Trump banned immigration from eight Muslim Majority countries
'Its not a ban on Muslims, its a ban on certain countries.'
Kyle disputed criticism of the ban which called for gun ownership to be made illegal, saying it wouldn't 'stop a guy from cutting a womans head off'.
'Its all well to say its not nice, until someone gets blown up or shot. This s***s real,' he said.
Needed to stop bad guys: Kyle disputed criticism of the ban which called for gun ownership to be made illegal, saying it wouldn't 'stop a guy from cutting a womans head off'
'Thats why theyve put these bans in, to stop the bad, not to stop the good.'
The controversial shock jock added that he did 'feel for all the people who are innocent' and doesn't 'think it's great', however, still saw the restriction as necessary.
Kyle's support comes as hundreds of thousands of people in the United States continue to protest at airports in opposition of the ban.
Good people affected: The controversial shock jock added that he did 'feel for all the people who are innocent' and doesn't 'think it's great'
Celebrities have also made their views clear, with actors using the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Monday to demonstate against the immigration restriction.
President Trump's executive order has also resulted in its share of confusion in Australia, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull clarifying on Tuesday that Australians with dual citzenship won't be affected.
Countries impacted by the immigration restriction include Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Syria.
Looks like Julia Roberts and Viola Davis's latest project is already destined to be a hit.
On Monday, news emerged that stars will join each other onscreen in the upcoming Small Great Things.
The film is based off of the best-selling Jodi Picoult novel of the same name.
Star studded: On Monday, it was announced that Viola Davis and Julia Roberts will both star in the upcoming film Small Great Things
The story follows the life of Ruth, a nurse who cares for newborns at a hospital in Connecticut.
After the 20-year hospital nurse is ordered not touch a baby belonging to a white supremacist couple, the infant dies while Ruth is the only one present. The couple then drags the nurse to court and an emotional battle ensues.
It's still not clear who the actresses would be playing, but the heart-wrenching plot is sure to bring out both star's best performances.
Together again: The award winning actresses also teamed up in the 2010 hit Eat Pray Love
La La Land producer Marc Platt is pegged to lead production on the film, which is planned for release under the banner of DreamWorks Pictures.
Small Great Things will be the second collaboration between the Fences star and Pretty Woman actress.
They also worked on 2010's Eat Pray Love together, which was adapted from a bestselling book by author Elizabeth Gilbert.
Bringing home the hardware: Viola has been busy this award season, earning both a Golden Globe and SAG award in the past month. In this shot, the actress accepts the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role for Fences
Although the project has few details confirmed, the combined talent of Viola, Julia and producer Marc Platt is sure to send the film to the tops of many critics' lists.
Viola has been sweeping up awards left and right for her performance in the historical drama Fences, taking home both a Golden Globe and a SAG award earlier this month.
Ms. Roberts is a creative force unto herself, having been nominated for four Academy Awards and eight Golden Globe honors throughout her career.
She's recently been channelling a distinctive bohemian vibe when it comes to her wardrobe.
And once again Jesinta Campbell rocked a retro style as she left a photo shoot for David Jones in Sydney on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old showed off her slender figure in a pair of tiny shorts and a mustard-coloured blouse with billowing bell sleeves as she stepped out on location alongside fellow models, Jason Dundas and Jessica Gomes.
Retro style: Jesinta Campbell rocked a retro style as she left a photo shoot for David Jones in Sydney on Tuesday
She teamed the ensemble with a pair of tan studded gladiator sandals and round-rimmed sunglasses.
Other accessories included a Hermes bangle and, of course, her wedding ring from husband, Buddy Franklin.
The brunette beauty had her chocolate locks coiffed in soft waves and it appeared as though she had removed her makeup after the shoot.
Legs eleven out of ten! The 25-year-old showed off her slender legs in a pair of linen shorts
Jesinta, Jessica and Jason are preparing to star in David Jones annual Autumn Winter 2017 Collections launch on Wednesday evening.
They will feature on the runway alongside Karlie Kloss and Bridget Malcolm.
Having first walked the retail giant's runway a decade ago, Bridget's return will make the seasonal show one of biggest ever.
Gladiator girl: The brunette beauty also strutted around in a pair of studded gladiator sandals
'Back when I was starting out modelling as a teenager I walked for them most years, then I walked for them in 2015 as a guest,' she recently told The Daily Telegraph.
'When I was 15, I remember being quite scared of the other girls which is funny now because they are all quite nice.'
Jessica and Jesinta, who are the faces of David Jones, are no stranger to Bridget.
Model pals: Jesinta was joined by Jessica Gomes and Jason Dundas at the shoot
Entourage: The trio were also accompanied by a large team of photographers, hair stylists and makeup artists
She has previously strutted her stuff alongside them on numerous occasions, calling Jesinta 'super, super sweet'.
And in late last year she worked with Karlie at the Victoria's Secret show, something she's excited to be able to do again.
'Karlie and I met years ago at a casting when I was a teen and she is one of the nicest and one of the most genuine chicks I've met,' the young supermodel said.
Osher Gunsberg might be hosting breakfast radio but that's no reason not to get dressed up for work.
The co-host of The Stav, Abby and Osher show shared a video to his Instagram Story on Tuesday in which he's wearing a pair of green glittering high heels.
With his feet propped up on the desk as his co-hosts prepared for their broadcast, Osher's hairy legs are visible briefly as the camera swings up and down.
Dress ups: The co-host of The Stav, Abby and Osher show shared a video to his Instagram Story on Tuesday in which he's wearing a pair of green glittering high heels
No explanation is given for the shiny apparel, with the TV star indicating only that it's just past 5am and he was in the mood for some 'early glitter'.
While The Bachelor is off air the man formerly known as Andrew G is busy with his gig at the Hit 105 radio network in Brisbane.
He's been known to ride his bicycle to work in the past, rolling into the station in the dark early hours of the morning for a 6am start.
Glittering heels certainly don't seem compatible with his exercise routine, so perhaps he wore sneakers to work before changing into heels.
Why not? No explanation is given for the shiny apparel, with the TV star indicating only that it's just past 5am and he was in the mood for some 'early glitter'
Fetching footwear: With his feet propped up on the desk as his co-hosts prepared for their broadcast, Osher's hairy legs are visible briefly as the camera swings up and down
Osher was back at work on Tuesday after taking part in Australia Day protests last week.
The Bachelor host joined a march in Brisbane calling for a 'new National Day' that would see the January 26 holiday celebrated on a different date out of respect for indigenous Australians.
The former VJ posted a slew of images from the protest to his Instagram, including one in which he was holding a large Australian Aboriginal flag with a young girl.
He also expressed his thoughts on the issue in a lengthy Instagram caption alongside that image.
Live on air: Osher was back at work on Tuesday after taking part in Australia Day protests last week
Protests: The former VJ posted a slew of images from the protest to his Instagram, including one in which he was holding a large Australian Aboriginal flag with a young girl
'Such a pleasure to hold this flag with young Kaia today. If you're wondering why I march...' he began, before discussing his own immigrant roots.
'My father is Czech. He was driven from his country after August 21 1968 when the Soviets came with tanks and guns and invaded - changing the country forever and leaving a legacy that is still felt today,' Osher explained.
The TV personality later told his Instagram followers that he received both praise and abuse via private messages after making the political statement.
His mother died just two hours after Survivor season 33 winner Adam Klein returned home from filming the reality show in Fiji.
And Klein, who had been vocal about his 60-year-old mom Susie's battle with stage four lung cancer throughout the competition, told UsWeekly Monday that he and his family are 'still struggling' to come to terms with their loss.
'Were doing everything that we can to hold our heads high, to look forward, and to channel whatever pain that we have from that nightmare that we went through, into something positive thats going to bring more meaning into her life,' he said.
Heartbreak: Survivor season 33 winner Adam Klein, pictured December 13 in LA, has admitted that he and his family are 'still struggling' to cope with the death of his mother Susie
The 25-year-old pledged to give $100,000 of his $1 million winnings to cancer research and has been working to raise awareness of the disease and additional money to help combat the deadly disease.
'Its a very misunderstood and very underfunded disease,' Klein told UsWeekly from the Stand Up To Cancer Scientific Summit in Santa Monica, California.
'People think its just a smokers disease or if you live healthy and dont smoke youre going to avoid it and its not your problem,' he explained. 'My mom is a perfect example of how thats not true. Anyone can get lung cancer. My mom worked out every day and never smoked a day in her life.'
Loss: His mother passed away from stage 4 lung cancer just two hours after Klein got home from filming the reality show in Fiji. He shared this photo to his Instagram in December
Klein, who's from the Bay area of Northern California, has returned to his job as manager of a homeless shelter.
He entered the reality show contest because it was a dream of his mother's to be a contestant on the long-running ABC series that they watched together.
With the help of the nonprofit Stand Up To Cancer he has raised more than $360,000 in honor of his mother since he took home the Survivor prize.
She's just sent her eldest son to his first day of school.
But AFL WAG Rebecca Judd revealed she was not nervous or sad that five-year-old Oscar has donned his school uniform.
The 33-year-old said that her boy is quite the academic and more than ready to face the next chapter in his life, in an interview with Mamamia.
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First day! Bec Judd shared an adorable farewell snap with 5-year-old son Oscar before he set off for his big first day of school for the year on Monday
'I think he'll love the challenge, and learning, and he loves sharing information,' the mum-of-four said.
Even her husband, former AFL star Chris Judd, shared a heartwarming photo of his son's first day of school, simply captioning the photo: 'First day.'
However, the brunette beauty said her worries were more towards her three-year-old daughter Billie who started kindy this week.
He's an academic: Rebecca said she thinks her son will love the challenge of school, learning and sharing information
Growing up: Even her husband Chris shared a picture of his eldest son getting ready to go to his first day of school
'The big one for me is Billie starts three-year-old Kinder (sic),' she revealed.
'She'll be wearing a school uniform!' the model-turned-entrepreneur added.
With her family now adjusting to those big changes, Rebecca has enlisted the help of her mother Kerry who has moved in with them.
On Monday, the newest addition to the KIIS FM afternoon show shared an adorable farewell snap with Oscar before he set off for his big first day of school for the year.
Going to school: The mother-of-four admitted that her daughter's first day of kindy will be tough for her, 'the big one for me is Billie starts three-year-old Kinder,' she said
Excited: The 33-year-old said that her boy is quite academic and more than ready to face the next chapter in his life
The charming black-and-white filtered snap pictured the wife of former AFL star Chris in a motherly embrace with her bubbly blonde son.
Bec leaned her glowing face against Oscar's, her expression looking equal parts proud and nervous.
Her son's expression appeared harder to pin down, accurately presenting the mix of emotions he must be feeling as he ventures into a new school year.
He looked absolutely adorable in his knitted prep hat and button-up shirt.
Nervous! The 33-year-old beauty leaned her glowing face against Oscar's in the snap, with her expression looking equal parts proud and nervous as she prepares to spend much more time apart from her oldest son now that the school holidays have wrapped-up
Bec wore an off-the-shoulder white dress.
'And just like that, he's off...' She wrote in the caption.
The comment encapsulates the common first-day-of-school realisation of just how fast kids seem to grow up.
Married! Bec is married to former AFL star Chris Judd (L) and the couple share four children
Last day! Last year, the personality shared an image of Oscar's Kindergarten graduation, his different uniform perhaps implying a change of schools for 2017
Last year, the personality shared an image of Oscar's Kindergarten graduation, his different uniform perhaps implying a change of schools for 2017.
Bec thanked her son's teachers for being 'two of the nicest ladies you'll ever meet.'
She shares three more kids with husband Chris, with next-eldest Billie, 2 still a few years off her school debut.
The brunette beauty gave birth to twins Tom and Darcy last year.
She sent social media into meltdown when she was announced as the surprise guest on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! on Monday.
But despite some viewers having no idea who Kate Fischer is, it's no doubt the 42-year-old was once one of Australia's greatest supermodel exports and bona fide it-girl.
Daily Mail Australia takes a look back at the life of James Packer's ex-fiancee, before she converted to Orthodox Judaism and changed her name to Tziporah Malkah bat Israel.
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Then and now! She may be unrecognisable after having shied away from the spotlight, but Kate Fischer was undoubtedly one of Australia's hottest supermodels of the nineties
The Adelaide-born brunette's modelling career took off when she won the Dolly magazine cover girl competition, appearing on the cover in 1988 at age 14.
At 20, she became a movie star alongside '90s babes Elle Macpherson and Portia de Rossi, as well as actor Hugh Grant.
Her role in the racy Australian film Sirens can still be remembered today, despite people being unable to recognise her transformed image.
Screen siren: The 42-year-old's acting career began with a starring role in the 1993 film Sirens
Racy: The risque film saw the brunette star alongside Elle Macpherson and Portia de Rossi, as well as actor Hugh Grant (not pictured)
Reinvention: The former actress has been living as an Orthodox Jew by the name of Tziporah Malkah bat Israel in recent times
During her career as an in-demand model, Tziporah appeared on the covers of Vogue as well as Cleo.
But perhaps her biggest claim to fame is as the former fiancee of billionaire playboy James Packer.
They were one of Australia's most glamorous and were set to tie the knot before their split in 1998.
Face of '88: Tziporah's career as one of Australia's most in-demand models began when she won a Dolly magazine cover girl competition at age 14
Cover girl: During her career, the stunner appeared on the covers of Vogue as well as Cleo
The pair were engaged after a three year courtship, but called it quits two years into their engagement.
Tziporah appeared to take a swipe at the billionaire's previous high-profile exes, branding them as the 'boring' ones.
'People are constantly asking me about him and I just think, "Why do people want to hear from me. Why don't they talk to Jodhi or Erica, his ex-wives",' she said on KIIS FM's The Kyle & Jackie 'O' Show.
Past life: It may seem like a lifetime ago, but Tziporah was once one half of Australia's most glamorous couple, having been engaged to billionaire James Packer
Career change: Since leaving the spotlight, the Adelaide-born beauty has been working as a nurse's aid in Melbourne
Repeat stunner: She appeared on an impressive four Vogue covers throughout her entire career
'Maybe the other two are boring. I was the high profile one,' she said.
In recent years, the former socialite has been keeping a very low profile, living as a recluse in Melbourne.
However, Tziporah has since traded in her quiet life as a nurse's aid for a reality TV comeback, appearing on the third season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.
It-couple: Billionaire James proposed to Tziporah after a three year courtship, but the relationship ended two years later
Making her comeback? The former socialite appears to be embracing the limelight again, appearing on reality TV
Unrecognisable: Her surprise entry into I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! on Monday night shocked fans, who couldn't believe the star's physical transformation
It's a jungle out there: She was one of the final two contestants revealed on the show, along with Kris Smith
Fans were flabbergasted when she made her way into the South African jungle alongside surprise contestant Kris Smith.
'Omg that is Kate Fischer???? Unrecognisable,' Tweeted one shocked fan during her debut episode.
Another fan concurred, Tweeting: 'Oh I had to have a triple-take on Kate Fischer. What happened?', while adding hashtags such as: 'siren so long ago', 'wow' and 'time changes everything'.
'90s bombshell Kate Fischer I did not recognise her wow!' [sic] a viewer Tweeted.
Felicia Day has welcomed her first child.
The Supernatural star tweeted a sweet snap of her daughter's feet on Monday, announcing the happy news.
The 37-year-old also revealed the child's name, Calliope Maeve, in a sweet message to her fans.
Baby joy! Felicia Day has welcomed her first child
'Oh yeah Calliope Maeve has hit the world,' she wrote. 'Currently wearing a onesie that says "Bard in Training." #LessThanThree'.
It is unknown what the personal significance of the name carries for Felicia, but Calliope was an ancient Greek muse and is also a musical instrument.
She also noted in a separate tweet: 'I went in to the hospital to have a baby last week and came back out not recognizing my own country.'
So sweet! The Supernatural star tweeted a sweet snap of her daughter's feet on Monday, announcing the happy news
Earlier this month she tweeted: 'She's coming in about three weeks so I guess I should announce this and stuff.'
In the picture she smiles happily, pointing to her belly, with her shirt unbuttoned and top pulled up to reveal the undeniably 37-week-old bump.
She finished the look off in a trucker cap which reads: 'As seen on YOUR MOM'.
The former Supernatural star was congratulated by her castmates, Access Hollywood reported.
Felicidades: The former Supernatural star was congratulated by her castmates, including Misha Collins
Matchmaker: Jared Padalecki was already trying to set up a date with his sons and Felicia's incoming daughter
'Congrats on creating a tiny human, @FeliciaDay! (If you need a sitter, you know my number.)' Misha Collins wrote.
'WOOHOO!!! Do you think she'll like older men?!?! (My sons. Not me... Creepo.) #CONGRATS', Jared Padalecki added.
The Guild creator, who is very engaged with her almost-3million followers on Twitter, joked with her well wishers that she was going to keep it a secret for a further three weeks and make the announcement baby in hand.
My bad: When her Guild co-star and Star Trek alum Wil Wheaton lightheartedly slammed her for ruining the secret, she apologised, conceding she had framed her selfie 'a little too low, damnit'
'I would have waited another 3 weeks but she might come early so I was like, screw it,' she tweeted.
When her Guild co-star and Star Trek alum Wil Wheaton lightheartedly slammed her for ruining the secret, she apologised, conceding she had framed her selfie 'a little too low, damnit'.
Felicia, who has dated Firefly star Nathan Fillion in the past, did not reveal who the babydaddy is.
Codex: The Guild creator, who is very engaged with her almost-3million followers on Twitter, joked with her well wishers that she was going to keep it a secret for a further three weeks and make the announcement baby in hand
She made her name for her role in Orange Is The New Black.
And Ruby Rose showed that white may actually be the new black.
The 30-year-old actress looked absolutely fantastic at the John Wick: Chapter 2 premiere in Hollywood on Monday night.
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Dynamic duo: Ruby Rose and Keanu Reeves attended the Los Angeles premiere of John Wick: Chapter 2 on Monday
She showed off her toned tummy in a stylish look that may have even outshined leading man Keanu Reeves as they posed together at the event held at the iconic ArcLight Hollywood.
Ruby rocked an open white coat which flashed plenty of her torso as she wore a lacy black bralatte underneath.
Though she did not have a shirt on, it wasn't completely flesh that could be seen as she also rocked an intricate silver neck-piece featuring chains hanging down over her chest.
Stunning: The 30-year-old actress looked absolutely fantastic
Wow factor: Ruby rocked an open white coat which flashed plenty of her torso as she wore a lacy black bralatte underneath
Gorgeous: Though she did not have a shirt on, it wasn't completely flesh that could be seen as she also rocked an intricate silver neck-piece featuring chains hanging down over her chest
Chic: She teamed the look with intricate black trousers featuring buckles on them and matching leather heels
She teamed the look with intricate black trousers featuring buckles on them and matching leather heels.
Her short raven-coloured tresses were elegantly dishevelled as she posed on the black carpet of the event.
She accentuated her natural beauty with complimentary make-up including smokey eye and shiny pink lip.
Dashing: Keanu, 52, looked dapper in a brown suit with brown suede dress shoes. he completed the look with a white dress shirt and black tie
Action men: He was joined by co-star Laurence Fishburne
Showing his style: The 55-year-old actor wore a flowy patterned beige top and trousers combination
Tremendous trio: The three main stars proudly posed together
Keanu, 52, looked dapper in a brown suit with brown suede dress shoes. he completed the look with a white dress shirt and black tie.
His long locks were worn down as he had a bit of scruff on his face.
In the highly-anticipated flick Keanu returns to his role as John Wick from the 2014 eponymous flick.
Matrix reunion! Keanu was joined by former co-star Carrie-Anne Moss
Casual chic: The 49-year-old actress wore a navy coat over a black jumpsuit
Happy couple: Chad Michael Murray was accompanied by his pregnant wife Sarah Roemer
Bumping along: The 32-year-old actress accentuated her bump in a white blouse dress over a matching lace mini dress
Handsome: Common looked fantastic in a grey suit
Beautiful in blue: Allison Holker showed off her fab figure in a lacy blue mini
Va va voom: Tanya Mityushina showed off her ample cleavage in a satin pink number
Russian model: The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition model sizzled on the carpet
It takes two: Claire Forlani and Dougray Scott both rocked blue at the gala
As the character returns to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, he also discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life.
The flick also stars Bridget Moynahan, Laurence Fishburne, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane, Peter Stormare, David Patrick Kelly, Thomas Sadoski and Lance Riddick.
John Wick: Chapter 2 - directed by Chad Stahelski - is set for release on February 10 in the US with a UK release following a week later on 17 February.
Legend: Gary Busey had a bit of fun on the red carpet
The People's Champion! Recently retired MMA fighter Tito Ortiz was joined by wife Amber Miller
The Natural: Former UFC Champion Randy Couture rocked a blue vest over a T-Shirt while joined by girlfriend Mindy Robinson
Blonde ambition: Heidi Moneymaker and Lisa Paul Newman posed up together
Bonding time: French actor Gilles Marini brought along his son Georges
Winter white: Kara Del Toro wore winter white to the premiere
Showing skin: The model showed her curves in a bra top
She was just in paradise hours earlier.
But like all good things, vacations must come to an end and on Monday, Kourtney Kardashian and her kids returned stateside with the rest of the krew.
The 37-year-old mom and her offspring arrived in Los Angeles after dark, but only after they were cleared to come home by airport authorities.
Touching down: Kourtney Kardashian and family arrived back to the states late Monday after enjoying a luxurious Costa Rican vacation
Safety check: The Kardashian krew was briefly visited by US custom agents before they were allowed to deboard the plane
It wasn't all smooth travels for the Kardashian kin, who were visited by customs agents upon their arrival.
After making sure everything was on the up-and-up, the agents left the family to gather their things and exit the plane.
While mom Kourtney gathered her things, it looked like four-year-old Penelope left ahead of her with the help of aunt Khloe Kardashian.
Gang's all here! Seven-year-old Mason and his little sister Penelope were helped off the flight by their auntie Khloe
Little Mason did his own thing, wearing a yellow hoodie and straw fedora as he held to the handrails and walked himself off the plane.
Kourtney looked chic as ever as she deboarded the private flight while holding two-year-old son Reign.
As she descended the airstairs, the eldest Kardashian sported a wide brimmed hat and a denim jacket with her precious cargo in hand.
The mother of three was followed by young King Cairo, Tyga's five-year-old son from his relationship with Blac Chyna - who is also Rob Kardashian's baby mama.
Precious cargo: The 37-year-old reality star carried her youngest child down the stairs of the private plane, looking chic in a wide brimmed hat and relaxed denim jacket
It looks like it was a week of lavish relaxation for the celeb kin, who spent their Central American vacation at the luxurious Villa Manzu.
During the trip, Kourtney didn't pass up any opportunities to strut her stuff. Throughout the getaway, the ex of Scott Disick shared sultry selfies wearing swimwear and even less.
Although Scott joined Kourt and the kids for the trip, it didn't look like the self-proclaimed Lord Disick returned on the same flight. At this time, it's still unclear if the couple has any chance of getting back together.
Hot mama! The ex of Scott Disick showed off several sultry shots throughout her Costa Rican vacation, seen here posing in front of the local flora
Corinne Olympios went to war with Taylor Nolan on Monday's episode of The Bachelor calling her a 'bully' a 'b****' and a 'big mean swamp monster'.
Taylor, a 23-year-old mental health counselor, had a few words to say about Corinne too, branding her a 'manipulative b****' and a 'liar'.
The two women were battling for the heart of Nick Viall, the 36-year-old Milwaukee native who's failed in love too many times in the past.
Elimination date: Corinne Olympios sent her rival Taylor Nolan packing after a two-on-one date with Nick Viall on Monday's episode of The Bachelor
The show opened with Corinne and Taylor feuding over 'emotional intelligence' or Corinne's perceived lack thereof.
'She makes you feel like an idiot and then you think ''Oh wait a minute she's the f***ing idiot',' decided Corinne, a 24-year-old Floridian who lives with her parents and has a full-time nanny who caters to her every whim.
Taylor was convinced that Corinne needed to 'shut the f*** up' and listen to her.
'Taylor's a bullyshe's disgusting,' said Corinne.
Sent home: Taylor was sent home by Nick after their three-way date in a New Orleans bayou
'She's gross and nasty,' she added, before running off to throw her opponent under the bus with Nick.
'She's very rude,' she told him.
'I smacked the s*** out of her, and she doesn't even know itwhat does that say about your emotional intelligence b****?' she gloated afterward.
Strong toss: Corinne tossed Taylor under the bus during a moment alone with Nick
Doesn't belong: Corinne said that her butt doesn't belong in the swamp
They later shared an acrimonious two-on-one.
The awkward threesome took a boat down the bayou to check out some alligators.
Taylor thought Nick's decision was a bit of a no brainer.
Two on one: Nick took Taylor and Corinne on a three-way date with a single rose on the line
'I don't have a nanny, I have a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling,' she said calling Corinne a 'manipulative b****'.
'If he gives Corinne the rose today he's thinking with his d***,' she predicted.
'She thinks she's a lot smarter than she is, and I don't like her,' announced Corinne who called her a 'big, mean swamp monster'.
Swamp monster: Corinne called Taylor a 'big, mean swamp monster'
They wandered into the jungle for some voodoo action and tarot card readings.
Taylor was told that someone was 'creating negative energy'.
'That's not me,' she balked.
Bugging her: A bug buzzed Corinne and sent her ducking for cover
Meanwhile, Corinne told Nick that she'd been 'bullied' by Taylor and asked the voodoo priestess for a doll.
At rose o'clock Corinne emerged triumphant.
'It's the most difficult decision I've had to make since I've been here,' he told Taylor, who was left in the jungle with the voodoos, while her rival chugged off in the motorboat with Nick.
Date rose: Nick had one rose to offer either Corinne or Taylor
'He just gave a rose to someone who lied straight in his face,' huffed Taylor.
'I am the one that's emotionally intuitive and aware,' she protested.
For a cliffhanger Taylor charged into Nick and Corinne's romantic dinner to divulge 'the truth' about her nemesis.
Romantic dinner: Corinne and Nick enjoyed a romantic dinner after their date
Barging in: Taylor decided to crash their dinner and tell Nick the truth about Corinne
At the rose ceremony Nick ejected Sarah, a 26-year-old grade school teacher, and Astrid, a 26-year-old plastic surgery office manager.
Corinne was outraged that Taylor remained.
'Come at me, I'll get ya,' she warned.
Rose ceremony: Nick earlier narrowed the field during a rose ceremony
No rose: Sarah was bummed when she didn't get a rose
The crew then headed to New Orleans.
Rachel, a 31-year-old attorney from Dallas, got the first one-on-one date.
'Rachel is someone who has been on my mind since the very beginning,' said Nick as they shopped for curios and ate oysters.
Strong impression: Rachel who earlier got the first impression rose was picked for a one-on-one date with Nick
He called their chemistry 'explosive' as they scoffed beignets and danced to some live music at a bar.
'This is absolutely the most fun I've had on a date,' she agreed.
In the evening they checked out the Mardi Gras floats and discussed their feelings.
Good times: Nick scoffed beignets during his date with Rachel
Dance party: Rachel and Nick danced together in the streets
Rose offering: Nick offered Rachel a rose at the end of their date
'I might be breaking rules here, but I am super into you,' he told her.
Next came the group date a trip to a 'haunted house'.
They did a Ouija board, which caused the women to descend into hysteria.
Talking board: The haunted house trip included a sesson with a Ouija board
Fourth time: Nick was looking for love after gaining a reputation as a tool during two stints on The Bachelorette and a season on Bachelor In Paradise
He took Danielle M. aside to try and 'rekindle' there romance.
'I worry that he's getting a stronger connection with some of the other girls,' said Danielle, a 31-year-old neonatal nurse from Nashville.
'I like kissing you,' she told him.
Together again: Nick and Danielle M. reconnected at the haunted house
He also bonded with Raven, a 25-year-old boutique owner from Arkansas.
'Every time I see Nick it's always so easy and comfortable,' she remarked before dropping the L word.
'A little too soon, but whatever, I own it,' she said.
Her declaration of love didn't work as Nick gave the rose to Danielle M.
The Bachelor continues next week on ABC.
He's the My Kitchen Rules contestant dubbed Australia's angriest man.
But despite his short fuse Tyson Murr works for a company which prides itself on service with a smile, complete with a built in rating system.
On Monday, Twitter went into meltdown after it was revealed this season's 'villain' was an Uber driver in Queensland, leaving fans to speculate how high Tyson's driving rating was and what he was like with customers.
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Would you give him five stars? MKR's 'angriest man' Tyson Murr is a QLD Uber driver who hates social media
On his very first night, Tyson rubbed his fellow contestants and viewers up the wrong way.
He clashed with Kyle over the best way to cook a steak, described meals as 'underwhelming' and stated he simply did not 'like' cheesecake.
Twitter was soon teeming with fans that found it hard to believe someone so blunt and abrupt could work in customer service.
Not making any friends: On his very first night, Tyson rubbed his fellow contestants and viewers up the wrong way
A key part of Uber's business model involves allowing customers to rate their drivers out of five for the driving experience.
'Wait Tyson is an Uber driver,' one Twitter user posted alongside a gif of a woman spitting out coffee.
Others raised the fact that a driver's success is based on their rating, with one quipping: 'Tyson completely forgetting that as an Uber driver he gets rated. Hmm this should end well.'
Social media reactions: A key part of Uber's business model involves allowing customers to rate their drivers out of five for the driving experience
Divisive: He clashed with Kyle over the best way to cook a steak, described meals as 'underwhelming' and stated he simply did not 'like' cheesecake
'I wonder what Tyson's Uber driver rating is?' One Twitter fan speculated, before adding the hashtag '#1StarForPersonality'.
'For someone who's job relies on first impressions Tyson is just a delight isn't he?' another person wrote on Twitter.
In previews for the show, Tyson's sister Amy revealed the nickname for her divisive brother.
'The angry, angry man': In previews for the show, Tyson's sister Amy revealed the nickname for her divisive brother
'I wonder what Tyson's Uber driver rating is?' Others questioned what his driver's score was
'We call Tyson the angry, angry man because he can get quite hot headed very quickly,' she said.
Tyson agreed with his sister's assessment, also adding: 'Physically I swell up in the neck and some veins might pop in my forehead and I go red and really tense.'
Do you know more? Email hannah.paine@mailonline.com
It's almost time to be their guest!
And the final Beauty and the Beast trailer failed to disappoint fans itching to see more scenes from the highly anticipated live action Disney film.
The trailer starts out with the iconic intro scene of the beloved animated film, as Belle leaves her house on the way into the 'provincial' town in which she lives, before she can be seen in the iconic ballroom scene while wearing that yellow gown.
Be Our Guest: The final trailer Beauty And features Belle wearing her iconic yellow ballgown as she and The Beast dance to the sounds of Ariana Grande and John Legend singing in harmony
The Book of love: Emma Watson can be seen playing Belle in the live action film runs through many recognizable and iconic scenes from the original animated version
Ariana Grande and John Legend start to sing the magical song made famous by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson as Belle and Beast start to fall in love.
It then flashes to a scene of Belle reading books to the kids in her village, while her father Maurice, played by Kevin Klein says:
'My dear Belle, you are so ahead of your time. This is a small village. And it's small-minded as well. But small also means safe.'
Audiences get a glimpse into the narcissistic mind of Gaston, played by Luke Evans, as he looks into the mirror, gasping: 'You are the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen. Nobody deserves you'
Bonjour! The teaser starts out with Belle leaving her house on the way into the 'provincial' town in which she lives
Avid reader: Belle is seen teaching the children in her village how to read
Loves himself: Luke Evans plays vain and narcissistic Gaston in the live action film
As fans of the original Disney movie already know, Maurice then gets lost in the woods and is taken prisoner by the beast.
The sequence of events remains mainly in the proper order throughout the trailer with scenes of Belle coming upon the castle while searching for her father.
As she enters the big wooden doors, we get to see Dan Stevens in all his beastly glory as he steps into the light to a terrified Belle.
True to the film: The sequence of events in the trailer remain mainly in the proper order with scenes of Belle coming upon the castle while searching for her father
First glance: Belle is terrified when she first sets eyes on the Beast
Cogsworth (played by Ian McKellan), Lumiere (Ewan McGregor) and Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson) all make appearances in the trailer.
'What happens when the last petal falls?' Belle innocently asks as she gazes at the iconic rose.
Lumiere answers: 'The master remains a beast forever.
'And we become antiques,' Cogsworth adds.
Dan Stevens shows off his acting chops with scenes of the beast yelling for Belle to leave before eventually saving her from the pack of wolves.
Heroic moment: Everything changes the moment the beast saves Belle from a pack of wolves
Things start to change once Belle nurses the Beast back to health after his heroic moment in the woods
Connecting: The two connect over books as time goes on while Belle remains 'prisoner' in the castle
Something there? The two start to question their feelings for each other as more songs play in the background
In the next flash, Belle is nursing the beast back to health and the two strike up an unlikely romance.
The trailer features Belle wearing her iconic yellow ballgown as the two dance to the sounds of Ariana Grande and John Legend singing in harmony.
A quick montage of gorgeous scenes from the film finish off the trailer, including dancing, marching, and an army of civilians going off to battle the beast.
The trailer ends with the title card coming up while Ariana and John belt out'Beauty and the Beast.'
The first teaser for the film broke all viewing records on the day it was released - even surpassing Star Wars: The Force Awakens - with 91 million people watching.
Tale as old as time! Belle and Beast fall in love as they twirl around the dance floor in the iconic scene
Jealous: In a montage at the end of the trailer Gaston wages war on the Beast for stealing Belle from him
Never going to happen: Gaston makes his affections for Belle known, but they are not reciprocated
Not to disappoint the film's huge following, the new remake also reportedly features every song from the original, including Something There - as well as three new tracks written by the same composer, Alan Menken.
The live-action remake of the 1991 Disney classic, directed by Bill Condon, is set for release in March 2017, and the exciting first trailer was released last month.
A full scale bar brawl exploded on Monday's episode of Vanderpump Rules with James Kennedy at the epicenter.
The feud stemmed from two Sur employees, GG and Ellie, who both claimed to have been intimate with James as he cheated on his girlfriend Raquel Leviss.
'They both f***ed James behind his girlfriend's back,' explained Kristen Doute, 33, to her boyfriend Carter.
Bar brawl: James Kennedy was at the center of a bar brawl on Monday's episode of Vanderpump Rules
While James was rapping on stage Scheana Shay could hardly watch.
'It's like a car accident,' she grimaced.
'Normally you couldn't pay me to watch one of DJ James Kennedy's sets, but tonight I want to watch that motherf*cker burn,' added Kristen, before the fight erupted.
When GG tried to return some of James' clothes in front of his new girlfriend, he grew irate.
Bitter enemy: Jax went to the show hoping to see James get in trouble
On the stage: The British DJ rapped on the stage during his performance
Physical altercation: James tossed a drink at Jax who gave chase but was restrained
'I would never have sex with you. You're disgusting, get your dumpy a** out of my face,' raged the mercurial Brit.
Furious GG lunged at James and he pushed her away.
James was taunted by Jax Taylor, Kristen and her boyfriend.
Getting harsh: James told GG that she was disgusting and he would never have sex with her
Bitter farewell: Kristen was given an insulting goodbye by James and her boyfriend Carter replied, 'Later, DJ Dips***
'Later, DJ Dips***,' Carter told James before the brawl erupted.
Jax had to be restrained after James tossed a glass in his direction.
The show ironically opened with Tom Sandoval discussing hypnotherapy with James to calm his temper.
Mission accomplished: James was kicked out of the club after Kristen intervened
In the middle: Tom Sandoval went to a hypnotherapy session with James
Calming down: James was seeking to calm his temper via hypnotherapy
Hypno session: The aspiring DJ gave it a shot
'He needs less drinking,' observed restauranteur Lisa Vanderpump, 56.
James, 25, was claiming to be smitten with his new girlfriend Raquel, a university student, sorority girl and beauty pageant contestant.
'I could bring models home every night if I wanted to, but I'm not going to do that I'm going to commit to my girlfriend,' decided James, calling Raquel the love of his life.
New leaf: James said he was committed to his girlfriend Raquel Leviss
Meanwhile, Jax Taylor's girlfriend Brittany Cartwright was with her mother Sherri who warned her about his checkered past.
'He's cheated on just about every girlfriend he's ever had,' Sherri said.
The Kentucky mom also asked Jax if he'd had any homosexual relations in the past, which caused him to storm out.
Candid conversation: Jax was grilled by his Brittany Cartwright's mother Sherri about homosexual rumors
'He's rude to me in front of my motherI can't stand him right now,' huffed Brittany after Jax accused her of 'sitting on the couch for a year'.
The Sur women met for lunch to argue about Katie Maloney's bachelorette party.
Scheana was annoyed that Stassi Schroeder was attempting to 'steamroller' the planning process as she favored a trip to her hometown of New Orleans.
Bachelorette party: Scheana Shay was worried that Stassi Schroeder was going to 'steamroller' the bachelorette party planning
Taking charge: Stassi just wanted to make sure everyone had fun in her native New Orleans
Katie then went flower shopping with Lisa with budget concerns looming.
'You need to unite and fight the world together,' advised Lisa.
Katie and Tom Schwartz then shelled out $2,500 for a prenup over their meager savings and assets.
Prenup agreement: Tom Schwartz and fiancee Katie Maloney shelled out $2,500 for a prenup
'I hope this is the last time I hear Tom complaining about the cost of our wedding,' huffed Katie, 29.
Scheana and her friend Ellie had plotted to publicly expose James for his transgressions at his gig.
'James has done a lot of s****y things to a lot of peoplenow it's time for him to get a taste of his own medicine,' said Scheana.
Wedding costs: Katie said she hoped that Tom would stop complaining about the wedding costs
Before the show James had a hypnosis session to keep him off the booze.
'Worst comes to worse and it doesn't work and I get to have a 20 minute nap,' he shrugged.
'I think it's going to take a lot more than a hypnotist to cure James of his mental ailments, the way he treats women is disgusting,' remarked Scheana.
Takes more: Scheana said it would take more than hypnotherapy to help James
Ariana Madix went horse riding with Scheana and boyfriend Tom Sandoval watching.
The Sur barmaid cried when talking about her old horse, Raven, whom she'd had for 22 years.
'She was more of a friend to me than most people,' she recalled.
Vanderpump Rules continues next week on Bravo.
Horse rider: Ariana Madix talked about her horse Raven who she had for 22 years
She's taken London by storm over the last week.
And now Paris Hilton is finally heading home after spending some time in the British city.
The American socialite wore a black pussyhat, in solidarity with women's rights, as she left her ritzy Mayfair hotel on Monday for the long journey back to Los Angeles.
Purrfection! Paris Hilton left her London hotel Monday to make the journey back to Los Angeles after an extended stay in the city wearing a hat with cat ears
The stunning blonde got into a black car to make her way to London Heathrow in black checkered pants and a matching zip up hoodie.
The hoodie had a skull stitched onto the back made out of the checkered pattern, but with a red outline.
Although London is known for its gloomy weather, Paris opted to wear big black sunglasses to leave her hotel.
She also sported a small black purse with silver studs and a pink fur puff that she wore across her body.
Is it sunny? Despite the typically gloomy London weather, Paris opted for dark sunglasses to complete her look
The socialite paired her all-black outfit with black laceup wedged shoes and a black camisole underneath the sweatshirt.
Her long blonde hair flowed over one shoulder as she opted for a low ponytail.
She smiled as she held on tightly to her cell phone while she entered a vehicle set to take her on her journey home to Los Angeles.
Once she arrived at London Heathrow, she had airport staff help her with her multiple pieces of luggage that were stacked high onto a trolley.
Saying goodbye: She said her final goodbyes to London as she got into a black car to head to the airport
Final count: Paris appeared to do a final check to make sure all her luggage had made it from the hotel to the airport
Helping hand: The rich heiress appeared to tip a Heathrow staff member
She's the boss: She then lead the way into the terminal as the man dragged the large cart behind him
The rich heiress appeared to tip the staff member and lead the way into the terminal as the man dragged the large cart behind him.
She seemed in great spirits and happy to be heading home after a successful trip to London that saw her partying at some of the biggest celebrity hotspots in the metropolitan city.
Although her trip home saw a much more demure look, she stuck to her theme of all-black that she had been sporting for most of her trip.
She's prepared: The socialite made her all her bags were in order when she arrived at Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world
After a 10 hour flight from Heathrow to LAX, Paris emerged in the sunny city wearing the same outfit.
She looked happy to be back as she smiled while still wearing her black sunglasses in the dark.
The blonde also took time to pose as she exited the airport on the way to her Los Angeles home.
She's happy! Paris smiled widely as she got ready to leave LAX after her 10 hour flight from London
Strike a pose: Paris seemed happy to be home in Los Angeles as she posed for the cameras at LAX
Paris is home from a prolonged stay in London, during which she made a welcome appearance at billionaire businessman James Stunt's 35th birthday on last week.
Her appearance comes after she had flown straight in from Milan, where just hours earlier she had been enjoying Men's Fashion Week.
Joined by former The Simple Life co-star Nicole Richie's younger sister Sofia Richie, Paris shared a fun snap from party venue Tramp.
Partying it up: Paris is home from a prolonged stay in London, during which she made a welcome appearance at billionaire businessman James Stunt's 35th birthday on last week
Sister reunited: She also reunited with Sofia Richie in a photo-booth photo she captioned: 'Reunited in London with my sis @SophiaRichie
'Reunited in London with my sis @SofiaRichie. #SistersTakingOverLondon,' Paris captioned the photo-booth image as they pulled faces.
The socialite, who starred in hit reality show The Simple Life with Nicole Richie from 2003 to 2007, has turned her hand to DJing in recent years.
She escaped to Australia after footage emerged of her snorting white powder at a party back in November.
But Olivia Bentley, 22, looked to have put the drama behind her as she reunited with castmate Tiffany Watson, 23, for the You Win Again: The Story of the Bee Gees launch in London on Monday night.
The blonde beauty put on a stylish display in a black blazer, a plunging top and black skinny jeans, finishing her coordinated ensemble with matching ankle boots.
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Bouncing back: Olivia Bentley, 22, looked to have her drugs shame drama behind her as she reunited with castmate Tiffany Watson, 23, for the You Win Again: The Story of the Bee Gees launch in London on Monday night
Olivia still appeared to have her Australian glow, with the reality star pouting as she was snapped by the paparazzi.
Her golden locks tumbled in loose waves and her chestnut eyes were brought to life by dark eyeliner and lashings of mascara.
Tiffany stood out from the crowd in a pair of shocking pink three-quarter-length trousers and matching slip-on heels.
Hot totty: The blonde beauty put on a stylish display in a black blazer, a plunging top and black skinny jeans, finishing her coordinated ensemble with matching ankle boots
The blonde's short sleeve black top was emblazoned with 'Merci Beaucoup' in white writing and she carried her essentials in a dainty over-the-shoulder bag.
Tiffany, who's in a relationship with MIC's Sam Thompson, showed off her pearly whites, laughing as she made her way to the Leicester Square Theatre.
Olivia teased a glimpse of cleavage in her sophisticated ensemble as she posed for photographs upon arrival.
Pretty in pink: Tiffany stood out from the crowd in a pair of shocking pink three-quarter-length trousers and matching slip-on heels
The disgraced TV personality will return to the popular E4 show after facing a temporary suspension while producers launched an investigation into her actions.
A spokesman for the show told MailOnline at the time: 'Olivia has been suspended from the show pending an investigation.'
In the footage obtained by The Sun newspaper, Olivia - who made her debut on MIC last year - was seen sitting at a coffee table with three lines of a white powder in front of her.
Rolling up a banknote, the blonde appeared to snort one of the lines and once finished, licked her finger, dabbing the remnants of the powder back into her mouth.
A source said: 'There were people she didn't know. I was shocked she'd do drugs in front of them. She'll regret it if she is booted off the show.'
Earlier this month, she gave birth to her son Caben-Albi George.
And Stephanie Davis has now divulged the pride she feels as a new mum to her first son, who was born on Friday 13th - a date deemed unlucky for some - yet she revealed her bundle of joy drew her back from suicide.
The 24-year-old former Hollyoaks suffered a tumultuous romance with her ex-beau Jeremy McConnell, who is demanding a paternity test for the child, which the Liverpudlian beauty revealed she has now booked.
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Unlucky for some! Stephanie Davis has now divulged the pride she feels as a new mum to her first son, who was born on Friday 13th - a date deemed unlucky for some - yet she revealed her bundle of joy drew her back from suicide
Stephanie met the Irish model when they starred together in Celebrity Big Brother in January last year, after which they became locked in a romantic whirlwind.
After a toxic and very public relationship, the couple split and the brunette beauty announced she was pregnant in May - although Jeremy has vehemently maintained he is not the father of her child.
On Friday 13 January, Stephanie welcomed her son to the world, on a day many deem to be to be unlucky due to ancient superstition, yet she insisted the day was certainly lucky for her - despite her fears over the arrival.
She said: 'The night before I was thinking, no I'm getting him out today, after this pregnancy there's no way I'm letting him be born on Friday the 13th. I guess the day is unlucky for some, but not for me!'
Demands: The 24-year-old former Hollyoaks suffered a tumultuous romance with her ex-beau Jeremy McConnell, who is demanding a paternity test for the child, which the Liverpudlian beauty revealed she has now booked
While she suffered an extremely turbulent 2016, the star revealed she was 'saved' by her son: 'Falling pregnant saved my life. I was in such a dark place after me and Jeremy split I was on a downward spiral. I was suicidal, but Caben gave me something to live for'.
Jeremy's constant denials that he is the father, which has seen Scotty T and Joshua Ritchie alleged to be the dad, have led to demands for a paternity test.
Of the test, Stephanie revealed: 'That's in the process of being arranged but any tests that happen will be dealt with privately.
'I'm a new mum and dealing with all that brings so I will deal with everything in my own time and I won't feel pressured. My priority is bringing up my son and giving him all the care and love he needs.'
While she has faced a world of strife during her nine months, Stephanie is insistent she would still be willing to find love: 'I'd love to meet someone and give my son siblings but it's going to be difficult to meet a man I can trust.'
Private: Of the test, Stephanie revealed: 'That's in the process of being arranged but any tests that happen will be dealt with privately'
Stephanie previously explained her son's first name simply 'popped' into her head after a chance meeting with a stranger, sticking with her as she wanted something unusual. In a previous column for OK!, the soap star revealed she would be attributing her beloved grandfather, adding: 'It's not Albi but that will definitely be a middle name'.
The brunette beauty gave birth to her son at Liverpool Women's Hospital weighing in at 6lb 10oz following a 48-hour labour.
The brunette beauty uploaded a photo of her carrying her baby in his car seat two weeks ago, as they made their way out of the maternity suite at a hospital in Liverpool.
New chapters: The actress has admitted she can't wait to get started on the first chapter of the rest of her life with her son, and has thrown herself into life as a new mother
She captioned the sweet snap: 'We did it little one... By far my favourite chapter yet... (sic),' followed by a red heart emoji.
The actress has admitted she can't wait to get started on the first chapter of the rest of her life with her son, and has thrown herself into life as a new mother.
Elsewhere, Jeremy arrived home from his holiday in Thailand just days after Stephanie gave birth.
The Irish model was spotted rushing around with his suitcase as he made his way out of Dublin Airport - after sources claim he is looking to take a paternity test to determine whether he is the father of the child 'as soon as possible'.
Not true! Jeremy's constant denials that he is the father, which has seen Scotty T and Joshua Ritchie alleged to be the dad, have lead to demands for a paternity test
A source told The Mirror: 'Yes, he is looking to arrange this ASAP, but this is time dependent on Steph.'
Jeremy is still refusing to confirm he's the father of his estranged ex's baby boy - revealing he was 'delighted' for Steph after her lengthy labour but that he will only play the father role if it is confirmed for good.
Addressing the news on Twitter shortly after news of the birth broke, he wrote: 'I am delighted that Steph has safely had the baby, of course if he is my son I will absolutely step up and do what I can to support him.'
Just one week in office, President Trump is already following through on his pledge to address illegal immigration. His Jan. 25 executive order called for the construction of a wall along the entire length of the U.S.-Mexico border. While he is right to focus on the issue, there are several reasons why his proposed solution will unfortunately not lead us anywhere closer to solving the problem.
First, the wall will not work. Texas already started building a border fence about 10 years ago. It divided people from their own property across the border, it deprived people of their land through the use of eminent domain, and in the end the problem of drug and human smuggling was not solved.
Second, the wall will be expensive. The wall is estimated to cost between 12 and 15 billion dollars. You can bet it will be more than that. President Trump has claimed that if the Mexican government doesnt pay for it, he will impose a 20 percent duty on products imported from Mexico. Who will pay this tax? Ultimately, the American consumer, as the additional costs will be passed on. This will of course hurt the poorest Americans the most.
Third, building a wall ignores the real causes of illegal border crossings into the United States. Though President Trump is right to prioritize the problem of border security, he misses the point on how it can be done effectively and at an actual financial benefit to the country rather than a huge economic drain.
The solution to really addressing the problem of illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and the threat of cross-border terrorism is clear: remove the welfare magnet that attracts so many to cross the border illegally, stop the 25 year U.S. war in the Middle East, and end the drug war that incentivizes smugglers to cross the border.
The various taxpayer-funded programs that benefit illegal immigrants in the United States, such as direct financial transfers, medical benefits, food assistance, and education, cost an estimated $100 billion dollars per year. That is a significant burden on citizens and legal residents.
Likewise, it is estimated that since President Nixon declared a war on drugs, the U.S. has spent more than a trillion dollars to fight what is a losing battle. That is because just as with the welfare magnet, there is an enormous incentive to smuggle drugs into the United States.
We already know the effect that ending the war on drugs has on illegal smuggling: as more and more U.S. states decriminalize marijuana for medical and recreational uses, marijuana smuggling from Mexico to the U.S. has dropped by 50 percent from 2010.
Finally, the threat of terrorists crossing into the United States from Mexico must be taken seriously, however once again we must soberly consider why they may seek to do us harm. We have been dropping bombs on the Middle East since at least 1990. Last year President Obama dropped more than 26,000 bombs. Thousands of civilians have been killed in U.S. drone attacks.
I believe it is important for the United States to have secure borders, but unfortunately President Trumps plan to build a wall will end up costing a fortune while ignoring the real problem of why people cross the borders illegally. They will keep coming as long as those incentives remain.
There's a reason it's called I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
And in case the cast were under any illusions about what they signed up for upon entering the jungle, this season's first 'tucker trial' quickly ended that.
But in between eating maggots, offal gelatine and drinking goat's blood on Tuesday night's episode, comedian Nazeem Hussain had to stop and consider one thing - is this halal?
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Appropriate? Comedian Nazeem Hussain had to stop and consider whether food he was eating on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here was halal
The 31-year-old Muslim was prompted on the issue by his co-star Ash Pollard, who sat next to him as the pair, Steve Price and Casey Donovan, took part in the contest.
'I feel sick,' Pollard said, before turning and asking Hussain: 'What happens if this (food) isn't halal?'
But the issue was seemingly one that had already crossed his mind.
Snack pack anyone? Hussain's face said it all as he was confronted with dishes that contained maggots, offal gelatine and goat's blood. The comedian was confident the food would be halal
Prior to stepping into the South African jungle, Hussain told the Daily Telegraph he was confident most of the native food would be halal approved.
'I don't really know what animals are halal beyond normal animals,' he admitted.
'Most Muslims don't consider eating meat beyond like cows, lamb, goats and chicken so we don't really consider how that affects the eco system and what the halal ethics of that is.'
He said Channel Ten producers had gone to lengths to ensure the food did fit in with his religion.
Struggling: However just because the food was halal certified didn't didn't make it any easier to chew down on, with Hussain regularly gagging as he ate... or watched his co-stars eat
Raising the question: 'I feel sick,' reality TV star Ash Pollard (right) said, before asking Hussain: 'What happens if this (food) isn't halal?'
But surprisingly, upon finding out that one of the meals he was being forced to eat in Tuesday night's episode was halal, Hussain appeared disappointed.
'Damn, I could have used the religion card,' he joked to hosts Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris before tucking into the disgusting creation.
As the comedian chewed on the food in front of him he regularly gagged, leaving his co-stars in fits of laughter.
But Hussain isn't the only one facing problems about the food he'll eat in the jungle.
Appetising: 'I don't really know what animals are halal beyond normal animals,' Hussain said
Says it all: I'm A Celebrity... hosts Dr Chris Brown (left) and Julia Morris (right) could hardly bare to look as the stars of the show struggle to eat the creations
Kate Fischer - also known as Tziporah Malakh - converted to Judaism in recent years and now only eats kosher food.
But the former model said what she eats isn't her biggest priority in the jungle.
'I accept that during the challenges there is probably going to be some non-Kosher when I am picking pips out of yak poo but that is not eating for enjoyment, that is eating to try and raise money to help people,' Fischer said.
Steve Price and Kate Fischer, who now goes by the name Tziporah Malkah bat Israel, have found a mutual love on the set of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - Pauline Hanson and right-wing politics.
The radio shock jock and James Packer's ex-fiancee were previously at loggerheads, with Price clearly unimpressed the former model had entered the show.
But on Tuesday night the pair found themselves involved in an intense political chat, with both Price and Malkah praising outspoken politicians and commentators like Hanson in Australia as well as Donald Trump and Milo Yiannopoulos in the United States.
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Controversial: Steve Price and Kate Fischer, now known as Tziporah Malakh, have found a mutual love on the set of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - Pauline Hanson and right-wing politics
'What do you think of the alt-right movement?' Malakh asked Price.
'It's a bit out there,' the Sydney media personality, who rarely hides his right-wing views, replied.
Malakh then told Price she hoped he would become her 'mentor' in the jungle on matters such as political movements.
Debating the One Nation party in Australia, she seemed to be impressed by Hanson's success across the country at the recent election.
'In the alt-right they say things that everyone else is thinking, like Pauline Hanson in a way,' Malakh said.
While somewhat agreeing with his reality TV co-star, Price didn't appear convinced she could be as successful in Australia as Trump was in the U.S.
'Yeah, she's not sophisticated enough though,' Price replied.
Meanwhile, as the pair sat and debated the state of Australian politics, retired AFL star Dane Swan sat watching on.
Bemused: As the pair sat and debated politics, retired AFL star Dane Swan sat watching on
Sounds interesting: The former Collingwood player (right) had a seemingly bemused look on his face as Price (left) and Malakh (middle) debated Pauline Hanson and Milo Yiannopoulos
Seemingly unsure exactly what they were talking about, the former Collingwood player had an incredibly bemused look on his face.
'I was sitting on the edge of that log looking like "Steve the Stooge", I had no idea what they were talking about,' Swan said.
'I was a little bit confused at the time because if there was one person in here that I would not like to mentor me, that would be Steve.'
She was once a love rival to Kylie Jenner.
And Wolverhampton-born beauty Demi Rose, who was previously linked to the reality star's beau Tyga, proved she is certainly a strong contender as she stripped off for a sizzling shoot on Monday.
The 21-year-old glamour model looked simply sensational in various skimpy lingerie sets as she dazzled for the camera, before being oiled-up by a helpful aide.
Demi first soared to prominence in May last year when she was spotted out with the Rack City hitmaker, 27, when he appeared to be on a break from his 19-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star girlfriend.
As they were frequently spotted on the town together, the British stunner became better known as her astonishing curves became iconic.
Now Demi is using her new-found fame for the best, as she stripped off for yet another lingerie shoot, where she sported a bevy of lacy ensembles which showed off every inch of her womanly frame.
As she littered her social media feeds with snaps and clips from the shoot, the brunette beauty shared a video of one of her assistants spraying her with oil as she prepared for the sexy shoot in nude lingerie.
Eye-popping! Wolverhampton-born beauty Demi Rose, who was previously linked to the reality star's beau Tyga, proved she is certainly a strong contender as she stripped off for a sizzling shoot on Monday
Oh my! As they were frequently spotted on the town together, the British stunner became better known as her astonishing curves became iconic
That was then... Demi first soared to prominence in May last year when she was spotted out with Rack City hitmaker, 27, when he appeared to be on a break from his 19-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star girlfriend
Her sexy set comprised of a sheer nude bra with a black trim, while her modesty was just about protected by a black floral applique placed over her chest.
The saucy ensemble was further heightened with the addition of a suspender belt, while rocking a tiny thong at the back which made the most of her peachy posterior.
She later changed her lingerie into a sexy black set complete with a tiny lace bra which appeared to be working overtime to contain her eye-popping cleavage, while also coordinating perfectly with her suspender belt and knickers.
Demi wore her lustrous brunette locks in lengthy bouncy waves cascading over her shoulders and swept to one side which added further to her vampish look.
Snap snapping away! Demi showed off a number of stunning test shots
Stunner: Her make-up was flawlessly applied, with dewy natural foundation help making her clear complexion pop, while her eyes were widened by her fluttering lashes
Her make-up was flawlessly applied, with dewy natural foundation help making her clear complexion pop, while her eyes were widened by her fluttering lashes.
Demi was first spotted when she shared some of her now-trademark sexy snaps - leading to high interest and scooping a modelling contract following a link up with famed US publicity group Tazs Angels.
In a previous interview with The Sun, she revealed: 'Ive had Instagram since I was 18. Posed for selfies and pictures and it just grew from like 60,000 to 200,000 to a million to 3.2million now.
'In school I was quite popular on MySpace and that kind of followed on to Instagram. It was really weird when people started recognising me and stuff on the street. I just got used to it.'
She recently attended the National Television Awards in a glamorous scarlet gown where she was nominated for Outstanding Serial Drama Performance for her role in Emmerdale.
But life wasn't always so rosy for Natalie J Robb.
The star has revealed she went through tough times when she first moved to London as a 21-year-old struggling actress.
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Glamming it up: Natalie J Robb cut a sophisticated figure at last week's NTAs, but has revealed life wasn't always so rosy
'I didnt have the money to set up properly,' she told Scotland's Sunday Post. 'I was okay, but I lived in my car for a couple of weeks when I first came down.
'I was due to stay with my cousin but he had another lodger meaning I couldnt stay straight away so I just slept in my car.
'I didnt mind I just thought it was all part of the experience.'
Drama: Natalie as Moira Barton has recently attempted to seduce ex-husband Cain Dingle
Natalie, who was born in Bellshill, near Glasgow in Scotland, first got into acting in Scottish soap Take The High Road, being cast as Trish McDonald at the tender age of 14.
She then went on to appear in Doctors and The Bill before landing the role in Emmerdale seven years ago.
Her character Moira has recently embarked in a fling with her nephew Pete along with attempt to seduce her ex-husband Cain Dingle, all still while grieving the loss of her daughter Holly.
Early start: Natalie as a teenage actress in Take The High Road
Last year's storyline, which saw Holly die from a heroin overdose prompted an overwhelming reaction among viewers.
'I was really shocked by how big the reaction was,' Natalie told Digital Spy recently. 'I really didn't expect to get that. I think it was because Emmerdale kept the story so quiet.
'I was abroad at the time so I didn't see everything, but I know there were lots of positive tweets. The phone calls I received and texts I received were lovely too.'
She has established herself as one of the hottest supermodels on the planet over a career spanning two decades.
But Heidi Klum may have to step aside to make room for a new catwalk queen in the family - her 12-year-old lookalike daughter Leni.
The Germany's Next Top Model host, 43, was almost overshadowed by her pretty offspring, who she clasped hands with as they enjoyed a spot of shopping in West Hollywood on Monday.
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Turning heads: Heidi Klum, 43, looked chic in a silky black camisole and skinny jeans in West Hollywood on Monday
Rising star Leni - whose father is Formula Onoe boss Flavio Briatore - echoed her stunning mum's features as she went casual in a cropped T-shirt and trainers.
Meanwhile, Heidi turned up the glamour in a black silky camisole and showcased her lean legs in skintight black jeans and tan caged heels.
Scraping her golden tresses into a sleek topknot, the mother-of-three toted a Hermes Birkin bag and wore a delicate pendant.
The mother and daughter duo went shopping at The Grove, with Heidi buying four pairs of shoes at Nordstrom.
Clearly feeling indulgent, they later shopped at Brandy Melville, Topshop Topman, and MAC Cosmetics before having a late lunch together.
Famiy affair: The Germany's Next Top Model host clasped hands with her 12-year-old lookalike daughter Leni as they enjoyed a spot of shopping in West Hollywood on Monday
Heidi shares Leni with Flavio, who she struck up a relationship with in March 2003.
Soon after she announced her pregnancy the pair split however, and she began dating musician Seal - with Klum giving birth to Leni months later.
Flavio is said to have had little input in Leni's life, who was raised by Seal. Heidi and Seal divorced in 2012 after seven years of marriage.
Last year, Flavio revealed that he finds it 'hard' to miss his offspring because he 'never sees' her.
What a woman: Heidi has established herself as one of the hottest supermodels on the planet over a career spanning two decades
Former flames: Heidi shares Leni with Flavio, who she struck up a relationship with in March 2003. Soon after she announced her pregnancy the pair split however
'Leni is my natural daughter, but the three of us happily agreed that it made more sense if Seal adopted her, because a child needs to grow up in a family,' he told Italy's Il Corriere della Sera.
Former Renault F1 team manager Flavio, who has six-year-old son Nathan with wife Elisabetta Gregoraci, added: 'Heidi, Seal and I have built an amazing relationship.
'It's hard to miss a baby that you never see. But I know that Leni is not an abandoned child. Leni is part of Seal's family and Nathan is part of mine.'
Sweet: She began dating musician Seal after splitting from Flavio and he raised Leni (seen in 2006)
End of an era! Heidi and Seal divorced in 2012 after seven years of marriage (pictured in 2007)
Leni - who was born Helene Klum - used to speak to her 66-year-old father on the phone for two hours a day but he insists it 'wasn't enough' and Heidi and Seal raised her.
The businessman explained: 'Leni was born when Heidi and I had already spilt. Heidi was living in Los Angeles and I was in London, the distance between us was unbridgeable.
'We used to speak on the phone two hours a day, but it wasn't enough. She needed to stay with her mum. Then, Heidi started to date Seal and he raised her.'
She was one of the It girls of the London social scene and was often seen tumbling out of nightclubs.
But Sienna Miller turned her life around after realising her actions were 'hurtful' to receiving acting offers, and is thankfully now reaping the benefits.
The 35-year-old beauty admitted in the new issue of LOVE magazine that her career is only just recovering after years of embracing the party lifestyle.
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Party girl no more! Sienna Miller turned her life around after realising her actions were 'hurtful' to her career
She told the magazine: 'I probably could've had all that I'm experience now if I'd been savvy and smarter.
'But I just wanted to have fun and not taper my behaviour in any way, and it was hurtful, somehow, to my career.'
Discussing what influenced her party-hopping lifestyle, she explained: 'I grew up in the 90s watching everyone getting away with what they got away with.
'I was like, oh, the Gallaghers [did it], f**k it.'
Living it up: Sienna, pictured in 2007, was one of the It girls of the London social scene and was often seen tumbling out of nightclubs
She revealed: 'I just wanted to have fun and not taper my behaviour in any way, and it was hurtful, somehow, to my career'
Sienna revealed that these days she's more likely to be spending her evenings at her New York City home with her daughter Marlowe, four.
The former party girl joked that while she might be more 'boring', she feels happier and more focused than ever.
The British beauty has since won acclaim in films such as American Sniper and Foxcatcher, and was also nominated for a Golden Globe for the TV film The Girl.
In the past few weeks, stunning Sienna has been wowing crowds around the world, attending red carpet premieres for Live By Night.
Tame: Sienna revealed that these days she's more likely to be spending her evenings at her New York City home with her daughter Marlowe, four
The gangster drama, which takes place in the 1920s, is directed by her co-star Ben Affleck.
Christopher Bailey granted LOVE exclusive access to the Burberry February 2017 Collection, which was photographed by Kendall Jenner three months before its unveiling at London Fashion Week.
Kendall got behind the lens, shooting Sienna in the Mojave Desert for the glamorous editorial spread.
LOVE 17 The Fans Issue Spring/Summer 2017 goes on newsstands 6 February thelovemagazine.co.uk.
Gemma Collins has frequently been accused of diva behaviour.
And Carol McGiffin appears to wholeheartedly believe the hype behind the TOWIE star, 35, as she launched a shocking tirade in her latest column for Best magazine.
The 56-year-old Loose Women star pondered: 'What happened to her?' before unleashing a shocking diatribe towards the reality stalwart - who she branded an 'egomaniac horror who believes her own hype'.
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Troubles: Gemma Collins has frequently been accused of diva behaviour
Outspoken Carol is well known for voicing her opinions, making her column often spicy reading, yet her attack on the TOWIE star is perhaps her most shocking to date.
Gemma soared to fame in 2011 when she joined the ITVBe show in its second series, while still working as a car dealer, where she won over viewers with her larger-than-life persona and hilarious one liners.
Fast forward six years and the blonde beauty, who famously uttered: 'Gemma Collins. New York, Paris, Milan' as a phone greeting, has been marred with rumours of diva dealing while Carol's comments will no doubt add fuel to the fire.
In her column for the women's magazine: 'Whats happened to Gemma Collins? When first on TOWIE, she was the roly-poly girl that everyone loved.
Furious: And Carol McGiffin appears to wholeheartedly believe the hype behind the TOWIE star, 35, as she launched a shocking tirade in her latest column for Best magazine
'Now a professional reality TV star, shes turned into an egomaniac horror who believes her own hype- an insufferable, arrogant, bad-tempered attention-seeker.'
Gemma's TV appearances have become somewhat prolific due to her lack of endurance with ill-fated turns on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, Celebrity Big Brother and Splash.
Her stint in the Australian jungle for I'm A Celeb in 2014 lasted just 72 hours, as she was surviving on basic rations of beans and rice.
She grumbled desperately of the lack of food saying: 'People that murder get treated better than this. And thats the truth. Even a murderer gets fed three times a day.'
Troubled: Gemma's TV appearances have become somewhat prolific due to her lack of endurance with ill-fated turns on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, Celebrity Big Brother and Splash
Out she goes... Her stint in the Australian jungle for I'm A Celeb in 2014 lasted just 72 hours, as she was surviving on basic rations of beans and rice
In 2015, it was reported she was set to star on Strictly Come Dancing but her behaviour reportedly hindered her opportunity.
A source told Daily Star: 'Gemma was quite demanding when it came to pre-series filming commitments. Her diva persona is a hit with fans but didn't go down well at Strictly.'
In the same year, she starred on CBB, where she stunned viewers with her reluctance to wholeheartedly participate in the often-trying tasks.
One game saw the beleaguered star grumble: 'I don't want to play any more games. I'm not getting changed, I'm staying as I am. I am f**king gamed out. I have had enough of playing games. It's like having a job and working 24/7 for two days on the trot!'
She may have been on a casual shopping trip but Kate Beckinsale still managed to cut a effortlessly stylish figure as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Monday.
The 43-year-old actress sported a loose fitting white vest top over black leggings which showed off her slim figure.
The star added to her coolly glam look with a slouchy woolly cardigan and black leather biker boots.
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Classy: Kate Beckinsale managed to look effortlessly stylish as she headed out for a shopping trip in Los Angles on Monday
Her brown hair was worn up in a high ponytail while oversized sunglasses and she toted a soft leather holdall for her shopping trip to The Grove shopping mall in West Hollywood.
An assistant carried Kate's purchases from upmarket department store Nordstrom and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen's fashion line Elizabeth And James.
The British actress looked far younger than her 43 years, showing off her flawless skin with minimal make-up.
Shop til I drop: An assistant carried Kate's purchases from upmarket department store Nordstrom and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen's fashion line Elizabeth And James
And it wasn't long since Kate showed off her figure in a candid selfie taken during a shoot for Shape magazine.
The 43-year-old Underworld star was seen posing in a black crop top and white pants as she captured the candid snapshot 'Laughing in bathrooms with friends. Ohhhhhh.'
Kate showcased her amazing, gym-honed body in the tiny top, with crossover straps emphasising her tiny waist.
Never one to take herself too seriously, Kate also uploaded a close-up selfie of herself rocking a cosy knit.
Wow: Kate recently sent her followers wild with envy with a sexy mirror selfie taken on a break during her Shape magazine shoot last month
She joked: 'You can think you've had a reasonably good day until you get undressed at night and two small pieces of chicken fall out of your polo neck'.
In another snap earlier this month, Kate was seen posing with her hands aloft her head while pouting into the distance, a stance she deemed as 'sniffing her armpit and twisting her head off'.
Kate looked incredible in the image in which she wore just a white bandeau top with little else, to best show off her fantastic frame.
Her incredibly taut stomach was envy-inducing as she flaunted rippling abs and her tiny waist, honed by hours of hard work in the gym.
Despite pouting into the distance in the perfect modelling pose, she was determined to poke fun at the pose.
She added a caption on the image reading: ' It's Monday morning . Sniff your armpit and then try to twist your own head off who's with me'.
Oops: Never one to take herself too seriously, Kate also uploaded a close-up selfie of herself rocking a cosy knit, joking she had secretly stashed some chicken inside
As Kate sizzled in a bevy of snaps, she gave an accompanying interview to the health magazine about her lifestyle and her body. She said she steers clear of alcohol and has never had an entire glass of anything alcoholic.
'I don't drink alcohol,' she told the publication, 'I feel [its effects] very quickly, so I've never actually had an entire glass of anything alcoholic.'
The Love & Friendship star revealed the secrets of her enviable figure, which include five or six punishing works outs a week with a personal trainer ahead filming the fifth instalment of Underworld franchise, Blood Wars.
She explained she would rather exercise first thing: 'I basically wake up, eat breakfast, and then work out. I prefer to get it done in the morning.
'That said I don't naturally get up early. It would be much better for me if the entire world went to bed at 4 am and woke up at noon. But it doesn't, so I'm usually staggering around first thing.'
She took a year off after the birth of her second child.
And Charley Webb has revealed she was extremely 'anxious' about her return to Emmerdale after welcoming baby Bowie last Spring.
The 28-year-old star - who is engaged to Matthew Wolfenden, aka David Metcalfe in the ITV soap - made an explosive comeback this month as her alter-ego Debbie Dingle returned from France.
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Tough time: Charley Webb has revealed she was extremely 'anxious' about her return to Emmerdale after welcoming baby Bowie last Spring
Speaking on Tuesday's installment of Loose Women, Charley confessed she was 'dreading' her return and felt the day was 'looming' over her.
The actress, who is also a mother to Buster, six, insisted everything was fine when she got back on set to work on her big storyline.
She revealed that Jeff Hordley (who plays her father Cain) and Emma Atkins (who plays her mum Charity) were a massive help.
'He was so desperate for a sibling': The star revealed that her son Buster, six, helps look after baby Bowie
Happy families: Charley - who is engaged to Matthew Wolfenden, aka David Metcalfe in the ITV soap - joked that she was a 'nightmare'
Charley has been making the most of family life, and is thrilled that Buster is so 'obsessed' with his little brother.
'He was so desperate for a sibling', she cooed, explaining that he helps look after baby Bowie.
The actress said she was 'a nightmare' when it comes to her children, but has been learning to relax.
Nervous: Speaking on Tuesday's installment of Loose Women, Charley confessed she was 'dreading' her return and felt the day was 'looming' over her
Rock steady: Charley was rocking a knotted shirt, denim cut-offs and studded boots
Finding her feet: The actress insisted everything was fine when she got back on set to work on her big storyline
Charley's character Debbie has been hiding out on the continent since discovering her boyfriend Ross Barton had shot Robert Sugden.
According to the soap's producer Iain MacLeod, her reappearance will cause sparks to fly as she returns from France.
'Just when you think you cant catch your breath, theres a surprise that she has for us at the end thats kind of desperately sad, really heartbreaking and I think will trigger a massive storyline for her for the next 12-18 months,' MacLeod told OK! magazine.
Happy family: Charley was later seen leaving the studios with fiance Matt and their sweet son Buster
Like mother like son: Her adorable six-year-old is clearly taking after his mother in the style stakes as he headed to the appearance in a trendy smart coat and fedora hat
Besotted: While baby Bowie did not join them on the outing, the star had admitted that Buster 'was so desperate for a sibling' and loves helping to look after him
Dramatic: The 28-year-old made an explosive comeback this month as her alter-ego Debbie Dingle returned from France
Charley has said that shes going to be really busy filming over the next 12 months, but this is all the information that has been teased.
She said: 'Im going to be full on for the next year at least. I cant really reveal anything, but its going to hugely affect the whole Dingle family.'
ITV have also added to the speculation of precisely what the plot-line will entail, teasing that things in Emmerdale are about to get chaotic.
Sparks are set to fly: According to the soap's producer Iain MacLeod, her reappearance will cause chaos as she returns from France
Debbie will supposedly be looking for help from her on-screen parents Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Charity (Emma Atkins).
ITV said: 'Debbie Dingle will make an explosive return to the village early next year, leaving chaos in her wake.
'Having spent the last year in France, she is now on the run but who is Debbie running from? And how long will it be before Cain and Charity come to her rescue?'
Webb said that she expects Ross to be involved in Debbie's big return when she spoke about it weeks ago, before it was set in stone.
Help! Debbie will supposedly be looking for help from her on-screen parents Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Charity (Emma Atkins)
She said: '[My return] wont be too far away and Im sure that Ross will be involved. There has to be some Ross and Debbie drama in there.'
On how she felt about returning, Webb said: 'I did walk into my dressing room and burst into tears.
'Thankfully there was no one else in there!'
She bewitched audiences and critics alike with her stage performance in Yerma, as a woman driven wild by the desire to have a baby.
And Billie Piper was given just recognition at The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards on Tuesday, where she proudly picked up the gong for Best Actress.
The former Doctor Who star, 34, looked typically chic in a flirty semi-sheer black dress for the bash at London's Prince of Wales Theatre.
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Pretty as a picture: Billie Piper, 34, was given just recognition for her role in Yerma at The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards on Tuesday, where she picked up the gong for Best Actress
The auburn-haired beauty looked pretty in the LBD, which featured a sheer polka-dot panel and a sweetheart neckline.
The mother-of-two added a racy edge to her dress thanks to a racy front-split, and wore her tresses in tousled curls.
Plumping her generous pout with a slick of matte fuchsia lipstick, Billie added a sweep of eyeliner.
As Billie scoped Best Actress, Stephen Dillane won the best actor prize for Faith Healer at the Donmar Warehouse.
Oscar-winning actress and former MP Glenda Jackson won a Critics' Circle Theatre Award for her performance as King Lear, her first stage role in 25 years.
Stylish: The former Doctor Who star looked typically chic in a flirty semi-sheer black dress for the bash at London's Prince of Wales Theatre
Chic: The auburn-haired beauty looked pretty in the LBD, which featured a sheer polka-dot panel and a sweetheart neckline
Taking centre-stage: Plumping her generous pout with a slick of matte fuchsia lipstick, Billie added a sweep of eyeliner
Jackson, 80, received glowing reviews for her leading role in the production at London's Old Vic theatre and has now won the Trewin award for best Shakespearean performance at the ceremony, where the winners were chosen by critics.
It was her first play after giving up acting for politics a quarter of a century earlier.
There were three prizes for Harry Potter & The Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre as Anthony Boyle, who plays Scorpius Malfoy, was given the Jack Tinker award for most promising newcomer, John Tiffany was named best director and Christine Jones won best designer for the production.
Proud lady! She showed off her Best Actress award for her portrayal of a woman driven wild by the desire to have a baby
Classy gal: The mother-of-two added a racy edge to her dress thanks to a racy front-split, and wore her tresses in tousled curls
Just showing off now! She posed with Sephen Dillane (L), winner of the Best Actor award for Faith Healer
Just hanging out: The pair seemed to be in great spirits as they held up the accolades
The Flick by Annie Baker, which was staged at The National Theatre, was named best new play, while the Old Vic's production of Groundhog Day was given the Peter Hepple award for best musical.
Charlene James won the prize for most promising playwright for Cuttin' It.
The awards were handed out at a ceremony at the Prince of Wales Theatre, where the audience were given a look at Gary Barlow and Tim Firth's new musical The Girls, which is in previews as the Phoenix Theatre ahead of its official opening on February 21.
Winner: Oscar-winning actress and former MP Glenda Jackson won a Critics' Circle Theatre Award for her performance as King Lear, her first stage role in 25 years
Having a whale of a time! The pair enjoyed a chuckle as they mingled at the awards bash
Happy: Jackson, 80, received glowing reviews for her leading role in the production at London's Old Vic theatre and has now won the Trewin award for best Shakespearean performance at the ceremony,
Meanwhile, Billie revealed she has ruled herself out of replacing Peter Capaldi when the Time Lord regenerates at the end of the upcoming series - but has backed calls for the new Doctor to be female.
Capaldi announced that he will leave the Tardis in the Christmas special later this year, saying his time as the 12th Doctor has been 'cosmic'.
Billie played companion Rose Tyler opposite Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant's Doctors, reprising the role for later specials, and is one of the female stars fans have said they would like to see in the title role.
Social butterfly: Billie also cosied up to Young Vic artistic director David Lan
Double trouble: Billie and actress Celia Imrie seemed ready to get up to mischief
However, she told the Press Association: 'I wouldn't like that responsibility, it's just too enormous, it's so much work.'
Piper said she would like to see another woman in the role instead, adding: 'They have been talking about that since I started, maybe it's one of those things they like to talk about that never comes to fruition, annoyingly.
'I think that would be a welcome turn, they have had a few different age groups and I think that would be the wise way to go. Whether they do actually go that way ...
'Although I quite like the traditional format but I don't know how they would move forward with something fresh. I think it would be a wise opportunity.'
Piper said the role calls for 'someone really sassy' and added Captain America star Hayley Atwell, who is also a popular choice among fans on Twitter, would be a good option.
She said: 'She would be amazing and she's a friend of mine so I will call her and see what she's saying.'
Chic display: Noma Dumezweni looked quirky in striped culottes and snakeskin boots
All smiles: Anthony Boyle won the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Harry Potter And The Cursed Child
Suited and booted: Jaygann Ayeh and Anthony Boyle looked seriously dapper for the event
Stealing all the attention: Director Tim Firth and Joanna Riding looked especially smart on the red carpet
All-star cast: Eugene McCoy, Jack Shalloo, Emma Linders, Lisa Mathieson, Roger Dipper, Carlyss Peer, Vicki Lee Taylor and Julie Jupp of Groundhog Day pose up a storm at the awards
Piper added she was sad to see Capaldi go, but said: 'It is a hard job and he's been there for four years and it does somehow keep it alive.'
Capaldi, 58, will return for the tenth series of the relaunched show, with 12 episodes starting in April, followed by the Christmas special.
His final series will also end with the departure of writer and executive producer Steven Moffat.
Capaldi told BBC Radio 2: 'One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best.
'From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity, generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead.
'I can't thank everyone enough. It's been cosmic.'
Who will replace him? Meanwhile, Billie revealed she has ruled herself out of replacing Peter Capaldi when the Time Lord regenerates at the end of the upcoming series
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He's the only American to venture into the South African jungle on this year's edition of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia
And actor Tom Arnold, 57, appears to already be regretting his decision to join the show, having revealed on Tuesday night's episode that he felt left out of the Australia clique that had formed.
'I do feel a little like an outsider because I am the only non-Aussie. It is 11 to one. You get a bunch of them together and they are like in their clique,' he confessed to the cameras.
'I have no idea what they are saying': Tom Arnold said he can't understand the dialect of his camp-mates on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
'I have no idea what they are saying,' he added.
Footage played of Dane Swan attempting to explain the Down Under dialect to his American comrade.
Speaking of Dane's broad Australian accent to the cameras, the Sons Of Anarchy star added: 'I don't know if he has like a southern Australian accent or whatever, but it makes no sense.'
Yeah, nah mate: Footage played of Dane Swan attempting to explain the Down Under dialect to his American comrade
Shocked: Fans took to Twitter with their reactions at Tom's comments, with one shocked viewer writing: 'Oh my god Tom Arnold doesn't think Australians speak English'
'I would be great if we had a translator in camp,' he added.
Fans took to Twitter with their reactions at Tom's comments, with one shocked viewer writing: 'Oh my god Tom Arnold doesn't think Australians speak English.'
Another fan Tweeted a message in response to Tom's feedback on Dane's accent: 'No Tom, it's a Collingwood player accent.'
Meanwhile, another fan Tweeted a message agreeing with Tom's sentiment, writing: 'Don't worry, Tom. I need subtitles for Dane too.'
'I don't know if he has like a southern Australian accent or whatever': The Son's of Anarchy star was left confused by his campmate's broad accent
Taking a jab: Another fan Tweeted a message in response to Tom's feedback on Dane's accent: 'No Tom, it's a Collingwood player accent'
Not alone: Meanwhile, another fan Tweeted a message agreeing with Tom's sentiment, writing: 'Don't worry, Tom. I need subtitles for Dane too'
It comes after the Roseanne star admitted to The Sydney Morning Herald that he had never actually seen I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! until deciding to join the show.
'I have no idea who anybody is and I don't mean to sound like a jerk because I don't assume anybody knows who I am, but I was literally watching it like 'What am I watching?''
'There's nothing glamorous about this experience. It is so far out of my comfort zone but I guess I just thought I wanted to do something that was very uncomfortable,' he mused.
It is safe to say this former teen heartthrob is having one of those years - or having a few of those years
David Cassidy may finally be seeing some light at the end of a very long bankruptcy tunnel, with The Partridge family star submitting a plan to end his Chapter 11 to a Florida Court.
The 66-year-old's trustee has helped develop a way for him to crawl out of debt following a 'stressful and challenging period' in his life, according to documents seen by RadarOnline.
Coming to an end? David Cassidy (pictured December) may finally be seeing some light at the end of a very long bankruptcy tunnel, with The Partridge family star submitting a plan to end his Chapter 11 to a Florida Court. While still to be approved, the plan will see him pay off creditors over 60 months
The Seventies star declared bankruptcy in 2015 and has said in his most recent documents that diminishing royalty checks for The Partridge Family, health issues that prevented him from touring and bad investments in the Bahamas have led to his dire financial situation.
The documents claimed: 'While he still loves performing for his fans, it is more difficult to travel and perform in various parts of the United States or worldwide due to his health.'
A plan - that still needs to be approved by the court - is proposing to pay off the millions owed to creditors over a 60 month period.
'He is proposing this plan of reorganization primarily to resolve pending litigation which arose during a very stressful and challenging period of his otherwise successful career.'
Former teen heartthrob: Cassidy is seen here in his glory days (left in 1972) and on The Partridge Family (right in 1973) said less royalties from the hit show and his music contributed to his bankruptcy
Had an impact: The star's health has also prevent him from earning the document's said, While he still loves performing for his fans, it is more difficult to travel and perform in various parts of the United States or worldwide due to his health.' He is pictured here in 2015
This 'challenging period' has included a divorce from third wife Sue Shifrin, multiple arrests, eye surgeries and a stay in a rehab facility.
The Partridge Family star's rehab stay was revealed in Chapter 11 bankruptcy documents that he filed in October and seen exclusively by DailyMail.com.
Cassidy wrote a $793.99 check to Recovery Unplugged in September, a program that offers 'a music-based treatment' that gives patients 'a well-rounded recovery experience', according to its website, meaning it uses instruments and music as a form of therapy and a means to rehabilitate patients.
Tough time: Court docs spoke of the singer trying to overcome a 'challenging period' which included a divorce from third wife Sue Shifrin (pictured 2014), multiple arrests, eye surgeries and a stay in a rehab facility
It is unclear if Cassidy took an inpatient or outpatient route at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, facility, and it is unknown if he is still in the program.
The facility provides treatment for addictions including alcohol, cocaine, heroin, prescription pills and many other issues.
Back in March, Cassidy was sentenced to two years of probation and his license was suspended for five years after he collided with a vehicle on a Florida highway and fled the scene.
Seeking help: The Partridge Family star's rehab stay was revealed in Chapter 11 bankruptcy documents that he filed in October and seen exclusively by DailyMail.com
Music therapy: Cassidy wrote a $793.99 check to Recovery Unplugged in September, a program that offers 'a music-based treatment' that gives patients 'a well-rounded recovery experience', according to its website
He had been charged with fleeing the scene of an accident, driving on a suspended license due to his previous DUI conviction, and operating a vehicle with an expired registration.
Legal trouble: In March, Cassidy was sentenced to two years of probation after DUI hit-and-run on a Florida highway
Along with probation and having a suspended license, a judge ordered that Cassidy would be subjected to random breath and urine tests at his expense.
If he violates his probation, Cassidy could be thrown in jail.
It was after his sentencing that Cassidy filed for Chapter 11 debt owing money on his Florida home and payments to lawyers and credit card companies.
But according to his documents, he has more assets than he does liabilities: He has $2,143,367.97 in liabilities while having $3,714,913 in assets.
The child star listed his assets as his $3 million Fort Lauderdale home, two properties in the Bahamas that he bought for $387,000 each, a 2009 Chevrolet Corvette, a 2004 Lexus with an unknown value, $120 in cash and $3,000 in bank accounts.
He also said he has $20,000 in furniture, nearly $500,000 in retirement accounts, $30,000 interest in a tax refund, and $94,000 owed in his legal victory against Sony for unpaid royalties from The Partridge Family.
His debts, however, include an $855,000 line of credit on his Florida home, $803,000 on the first mortgage on the home, $21,000 in American Express bills, more than $150,000 owed to lawyers and a $292,000 Wells Fargo personal line of credit.
He said that his average income monthly is $12,500, but his expenses top out at $27,772 - leaving in $15,000 in debt every month.
Could be the solution: Cassidy does have more assets than he does liabilities - he has $2,143,367.97 in liabilities while having $3,714,913 in assets. The child star's assets include his $3 million Fort Lauderdale home
He's kept out of the arguments in the Celebrity Big Brother house.
But James Cosmo is set to lose his cool in scenes aired on Tuesday night's installment of the Channel 5 show, lashing out at Jedward over an alleged chocolate theft.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the house, the 68-year-old Game Of Thrones star and Kim Woodburn have been given a secret task, and instructed to be as argumentative as possible.
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Fuming: James Cosmo is set to lose his cool in scenes aired on Tuesday night's installment of the Channel 5 show, lashing out at Jedward over an alleged chocolate theft
James is seen stashing a chocolate bar in Jedward's locker, before raging, 'Anyone seen the chocolate that was under my pillow?'
'I've found three empty wrappers', the X Factor duo chime in, trying to stir the pot.
'For f**ks sake, honestly!', the Scottish star rages, muttering under his breath.
Storming back into the kitchen, James says: 'I wasn't looking in anyone's personal space, thanks boys!'
Jedward throw their hands up in mock surprise, insisting, 'I swear on my life, on my f**kng life!'
In the firing line: James is seen stashing a chocolate bar in Jedward's locker, before raging, 'Anyone seen the chocolate that was under my pillow?
Unbeknown to the rest of the house, the 68-year-old Game Of Thrones star and Kim Woodburn have been given a secret task, and instructed to be as argumentative as possible
Trying to rationalise his behaviour to the group, Coleen Nolan says, 'He's having a bit of a bad day.
'When James goes [mad] it's because he's held it together. Now it's nearing the end.'
Jedward have certainly been ruffling feathered of late, with The Hills duo Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag branding them 'nasty' during their exit interview last Friday.
Secret mission: Trying to rationalise his behaviour to the group, Coleen Nolan says, 'He's having a bit of a bad day'
During Big Brother's Judgement Weekend, ex-housemate Austin Armacost returned after his shock eviction earlier this month.
He blasted the twins: 'You're childlike, you don't act 25, you act like you're 12, you're both a pair of p****s!'
Calum Best added: 'The problem with the lads is they have isolated themselves but we act like adults, they act like 12!'
She's been busy putting her recent relationship woes behind her in the sun.
Continuing to move on from the drama, Megan McKenna, 24, stunned in a sultry satin bardot jumpsuit as she strutted to filming alongside TOWIE newbie Amber Turner at TIBU nightclub in Tenerife for the ITVBe special on Tuesday.
The Essex beauty looked sensational as she showcased her pristine decolletage in the off-the-shoulder number which featured fashion forward billowing sleeves, showing what her on/off boyfriend Pete Wicks is missing.
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Sultry: Megan McKenna stunned in a sultry satin bardot jumpsuit as she strutted to filming at TIBU nightclub in Tenerife for the ITVBe special on Tuesday
Megan's desired one-piece highlighted her hourglass curves as it cinched in her toned waist in the silk staple.
She paraded her slender pins under the Spanish sun in her palazzo style pants that boasted a vampish front split up to her thighs.
Showcasing her bronzed glow, the reality star injected height into her petite frame in a pair of strappy black sandals as she arrived alongside her blonde pal Amber.
Completing her ensemble, Megan coordinated her all black look with a matching thick black choker that highlighted her slender neck as she worked her glossy mane into a bouncy ponytail.
Style stars: The Essex beauty looked sensational as she showcased her pristine decolletage in the off-the-shoulder number which featured fashion forward billowing sleeves alongside TOWIE newbie Amber Turner
Figure-flaunting: Megan's desired one-piece highlighted her hourglass curves as it cinched in her toned waist in the silk staple
Glam gal: Showcasing her bronzed glow, the reality star injected height into her petite frame in a pair of strappy black sandals
Ever the glamourpuss, Megan worked her usual brown smokey eye as she accentuated her flawless complexion with a heavy dusting of bronzer.
Meanwhile, show newbie and Meghan's BFF Amber exhibited her never-ending pins in a thigh-grazing white lace playsuit.
The fashion blogger's plunging number featured sheer paneling throughout as it displayed her ample assets as she made her way to the venue.
Carrying her YSL clutch, she added some inches to her diminutive height in a pair of matching nude peep toe platform heels.
A vision: Megan coordinated her all black look with a matching thick black choker that highlighted her slender neck as she worked her glossy mane into a bouncy ponytail as she arrived alongside her blonde pal Amber
Pin-credible: Meanwhile, show newbie and Meghan's BFF Amber exhibited her never-ending pins in a thigh-grazing white lace playsuit
New heights: Carrying her YSL clutch, she added some inches to her diminutive height in a pair of matching nude peep toe platform heels
Support: Amber's appearance in Tenefire has no doubt come as a boast of morale to her bestie Meghan following her massive fallout with boyfriend Pete Wickes, 28, after the National Television Awards last week
Amber opted to style her long golden locks into a soft wave as she covered her facial features with oversized reflective shades.
Meanwhile, Gatsby Dan Edgar, Tommy Mallet, James Locke and James Diags made up the male contingent for filming alongside Megan's other half Pete.
Amber's appearance in Tenerife has no doubt come as a boast of morale to her bestie Meghan following her massive fallout with boyfriend Pete, 28, after the National Television Awards last week.
Megan arrived on the Spanish Island on Saturday, ahead of Pete - who was enjoying the end of a boozy weekend in Scotland.
Their separate trips followed their blazing row which hit headlines at the NTAs on Wednesday - leaving Megan sobbing as she headed home from London's O2 Arena.
Here come the boys! Meanwhile, Gatsby Dan Edgar, Tommy Mallet, James Locke and James Diags made up the male contingent for filming alongside Megan's other half Pete
Making a statement: Pete arrived for filming in all black alongside his pal Gatsby
The TOWIE star struggled to control her emotions as Pete snubbed her on his way out of the venue.
The stony-faced hunk reportedly ignored her cries of 'Pete!', and instead strode past her and disappeared into the night.
Megan had to be consoled by her companion, who attempted to reassure her before leading her home.
She has since deleted her latest post about Pete and unfollowed the star on Instagram.
Chic: Gatsby donned a pair of shorts for the shoot as Dan Edgar slipped into a pair of grey suit pants and white cashmere jumper
Picture perfect: Dan posed for a picture alongside a fan and show star James 'Diag' Diags
However, it looked as though Megan and Pete may be back on again on Sunday - after they were pictured dining together at Gemma Collins' birthday in Tenerife.
The pair were seen being grilled by co-star James Lock, who suddenly appeared keen to discover their relationship tips.
Stirring up the seemingly awkward atmosphere further, James posted a Snapchat from the dinner as he quizzed the turbulent couple following their very public row.
'These two are like an old couple they don't talk.' he joked, adding: 'Megan! -What's your top tip for a great relationship?'
Three musketeers: Tommy Mallet arrived at the nightclub with James Locke and Dan
Grandad chic: Tommy sported a vintage cardigan for the festivities
As someone piped up in the background shouting 'habit!', James added: 'Come on girl, hit us with it.
Before he concluded: 'You don't have one? What because of him?', admitting: 'What's my top tip? Don't have one.'
While the pair were seated opposite each other at the dinner, they remained tight-lipped during the exchange - not giving away any detail about the status of their relationship.
Bryce Dallas Howard has revealed she had her first - and last - sip of alcohol on the set of her new movie, Gold.
The 35-year-old actress, who plays Kaylene in the drama released on Friday, shared that she had never had a hard drink until co-star Matthew McConaughey poured her a glass of champagne while they were shooting scenes for the movie.
Speaking about the moment in an interview with The Times of London, released on Monday, the flame-haired beauty said: 'Matthew's going around, pops the champagne. It's a party!'
Popping the bubbly: Bryce Dallas Howard has revealed she had her first - and last - sip of alcohol on the set of her new movie, Gold, when co-star Matthew McConaughey poured her a glass of what turned out to be the real stuff while they were filming a sceme
'He motorboats me - is that what it's called? We're all dancing. He comes up to me like, "Oh Kay baby!" pours champagne and puts it up to my lips.
'And I feel a camera next to me and I smell, and I'm like, "Holy f***, is this alcohol?"
'I've gone 35 years without a sip, so I'm like "Mmm.'' '
Teetotal star: The 35-year-old, seen on the red carpet at the SAG awards on Sunday, had never had an alcoholic drink until that Gold moment
The star added: 'Afterwards I'm like, 'don't lick your lips, don't lick your lips,' because she was scared she would get drunk from any remaining droplets.
The beautiful redhead has been doing the rounds of talk shows on both sides of the Atlantic as she promotes Gold.
The movie follows the true story of the Bre-X gold mining scandal that took place in the mid 1990s.
Bottle shock: There may be wine on the table that she was sharing with Brie Larson at the Sag awards but Bryce wasn't up for it
The Canadian company claimed it had struck gold in Indonesia, causing its stock value to soar, before it was outed as a fraud.
Meanwhile Bryce - who shares Beatrice, five, and nine-year-old Theodore with her husband Seth Gabel, 35 - also revealed she never thought her career would be as successful as it has been, despite being director Ron Howard's daughter.
'I saw there were so many talented people; I didn't make any assumptions that acting would work out.
Changing it up: Bryce has been busy promoting Gold, including appearances on Watch What Happens Live! (left) and CBS's Harry talk show, both on Wednesday
'I thought I would have a better shot at being a first AD [assistant director].'
However, Bryce has no plans to follow in her father's footsteps and quit acting any time soon.
'I don't want to give up acting like my dad did, though. I do have a lot of energy and determination.'
It's official - Diego Luna will be stepping into Al Pacino's shoes for the remake of the 1983 classic, Scarface.
It was confirmed on Monday the 37-year-old Mexican-born actor would be taking on the lead role of Tony Montana in the iconic gangster movie.
The original movie follows a Cuban immigrant who takes over the drug cartel in Miami, before his greed leads to him losing everything.
Big shoes to fill: It's just been announced Diego Luna will step into Al Pacino's iconic Scarface role in a remake of the 1983 film
Original gangster: Al Pacino as Tony Montana in the 1983 version of Scarface, about a Cuban immigrant running Miami's drug cartel
Sources say the remake will be set in Los Angeles, and will follow a Mexican immigrant instead.
Predominantly an indie actor, Diego's breakout role was in the acclaimed 2001 Mexican movie, Y Tu Mama Tambien alongside Gael Garcia Bernal.
Most recently, he appeared in last year's epic blockbuster, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Famous friends: The Mexican actor is still tight with his Y Tu Mama Tambien co-star, Gael Garcia Bernal (left)
Reaching for the stars: Diego said he was in disbelief after landing a lead role in Rogue One, alongside co-star Felicity Jones
'As a kid, I probably sent enough messages to the universe that one day it became true. But now, as a professional actor, I never even thought about the idea,' he told Esquire magazine in December of landing a role in the Star Wars franchise. 'When the news came to me that [director Gareth Edwards] was interested in me for a role, I was just, like, amused and couldn't believe it.'
But on the back of the announcement Diego had landed the famous Scarface role, it's been revealed the film's would be-director, Antoine Fuqua has pulled out.
Insiders told Variety The Magnificent Seven director had a scheduling conflict, with filming set to begin on his sequel to The Equalizer at around the same time.
Making a killing: The original film tells the story of a gangster who succumbs to greed after moving to Miami from Cuba
Meanwhile, it's still not known who will take on Michelle Pfeiffer's role of Elvira Hancock in the classic movie.
As for Diego, the humble actor takes it all in his his stride - despite recently working on some of the biggest blockbusters in cinematic history.
'More than anything, I want to work on movies with great scripts, with great directors who bring amazing people together,' he told NBC Latino in 2013.
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He's currently in Miami enjoying the company of a beautiful model.
But over the weekend Scott Disick was spending family time in Costa Rica with his ex-girlfriend and mother of his three children Kourtney Kardashian.
The 33-year-old reality star was photographed admiring his on-off partner as the Kardashian clan hung out on a sunny terrace at their private Villa Manzu.
Family time: Scott Disick hung out with ex-girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian in Costa Rica on Sunday
Taking a perch: The 37-year-old mother-of-three showed off her bikini body in a white two-piece as she leaned on some railings
Kourtney, 37, showcased her bikini body in a stylish white two-piece as she leaned against a railing.
Her sister Kim, 36, sunbathed in front of her in a similar white bikini while her assistant Steph Shepherd reclined beside Kim.
Scott chilled out on some decking one floor above but was seen sneaking an admiring glance at his ex.
KUWTK matriarch Kris Jenner, 61, also appeared for a moment wearing a long flowing orange and pink kaftan but her toyboy Corey Gamble was nowhere to be seen.
Also along for the trip was Kourtney's youngest sister Kylie Jenner, 19, who was joined by boyfriend Tyga however the couple weren't pictured on Sunday.
Oiled up: The ladies put their curves on show during their weekend getaway
Tropical getaway: Kim, 36, was spotted sunbathing on the deck while KUWTK matriarch Kris Jenner watched from above
Just a day later the handsome star was in Miami and enjoying some one-on-one time with brunette beauty Jessica Harris, a Next model from Philadelphia.
The duo embraced and nuzzled each other as they hung out in the pool at the luxurious Setai Hotel.
Scott and Kourtney - who were together nine years - share three children together, Mason, seven, Penelope, four and Reign, two.
During the weekend trip Scott Instagrammed a snap of an oblivious Kourtney, 37, bending over in her swimsuit, exposing some side boob, as she tended to their son Reign.
Scott, 33, showed off his buff body in a pair of dark swimshorts. His and Kourtney's daughter Penelope was seen in the background
Last week Kourtney apparently wasn't sure she wanted Scott coming on the trip after hearing about his partying at the Sundance Film Festival.
'Scott is still in the dog house from partying at Sundance,' a source told People.com on Thursday. 'Kourtney disinvited him.'
During a TAO pop-up in Park City, Utah at the film festival, Scott was apparently seen sipping on cocktails and flirting with a pretty brunette.
Stylish swimsuits: Kourtney and Kim matched in white bikinis as their assistant Steph Shepherd opted for black
How you doin'? Scott and Kourtney, who co-parent their three young children, chatted away while the ladies sunbathed
'At a couple points in the night, he would briefly put his arm around her waist but she seemed more into it than he was.' a source told the publication.
Meanwhile KUWTK matriarch Kris Jenner gushed about how Scott is like a son to her in an interview this week.
Kris remains close to the 33-year-old club promoter - and admits he has had a 'challenging time' of it.
She said: 'We knew Scott when he was 20 years old. He was a very young man, he was a baby! He was younger than Kendall is now for goodness sake.
Watch me! Kim appeared to be showing Scott some moves with as she stretched out a leg
Girl time: Kourtney shared this snap to her Instagram on Tuesday
'They started a relationship very young and had three beautiful children.
'His parents both died in the same year a few years ago. He's been through a lot ... I think he's had a bit of a challenging time. He's one of my kids, what can I say?'
Scott and Kourtney have remained committed to co-parenting their three young children following their split in July 2015.
The break-up followed an incident where Scott was caught getting affectionate with ex-girlfriend Chloe Bartoli in St. Tropez.
Moving fast: Just one day later Scott was in Miami enjoying the company of Next model J Lynne
They're busy filming the annual TOWIE special in Tenerife.
Now adding some much needed glamour to proceedings, Georgia Kousoulou and Chloe Sims brought their fashion A-game as they arrived at Tibu nightclub in style on Tuesday.
Making sure to turn heads, blonde bombshell Georgia quickly commanded attention as she made her way to set as she donned a completely sheer midi-dress.
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Figure-flaunting: Georgia Kousoulou and Chloe Sims brought their fashion A-game as they arrived at Tibu nightclub in style on Tuesday
The 25-year-old beauty's choice of ensemble showcased her gym-honed figure to perfection as it hugged her tiny waist and pert posterior as she stopped and posed for photos with her pal and co-star Chloe.
Although completely sheer, she contained her modesty by sporting a black bandeau crop top and high-waisted lingerie that amplified her daring fashion display.
The reality star - who is dating fellow TOWIE star Tommy Mallet - injected some height into her diminutive frame with a pair of calf high peep toe boots to complement her nineties inspired ensemble.
Sheer bliss: Making sure to turn heads, blonde bombshell Georgia quickly commanded attention as she made her way to set as she donned a completely sheer midi-dress
Party pals: The beauty stopped to pose for photos with her pal and co-star Chloe
Striking: Although completely sheer, she contained her modesty by sporting a black bandeau crop top and high-waisted lingerie that amplified her daring fashion display
Bottoms up! The Essex stunner wasn't shy flaunting her perky rear in the sheer number
Combating the heat, Georgia slicked her ombre tresses into top knot to accentuate her striking facial features.
Meanwhile, Georgia's fellow co-star Chloe Sims was equally dolled up for the evening's festivities as she slipped into a racy bondage inspired minidress that featured eye-catching lace-up detail over.
The long sleeved number highlighted her slender figure as it boasted leather strap accents all over as she paraded her lithe limbs to the venue.
Glam gal: Chloe Sims was equally dolled up for the evening's festivities as she slipped into a racy bondage inspired minidress that featured eye-catching lace-up detail over
Pop of colour: Accessorising her look, she carried a clutch emblazoned with her name across the front of it and opted for a neon pop of colour across her pout with a bright orange lipstick
Walk this way: Teetering to the nightclub, she adorned her feet with a pair of heeled ankle boots as she worked her peroxide blonde tresses into a high curly ponytail
Accessorising her look, she carried a clutch emblazoned with her name across the front of it and opted for a neon pop of colour across her pout with a bright orange lipstick.
Teetering to the nightclub, she adorned her feet with a pair of heeled ankle boots as she worked her peroxide blonde tresses into a high curly ponytail.
Chloe and Georgia was joined in filming scenes with co-star Bobby Norris, as the trio arrived at the nightclub to join the rest of their cast.
Camera ready: Chloe and Georgia was joined in filming scenes with co-star Bobby Norris, as the trio arrived at the nightclub to join the rest of their cast
In the grey: Bobby sported an all grey look alongside Georgia's racy look
Racy: The pals donned equally racy ensembles for filming the TOWIE special in Spain
Also joining the pals in Tenerife include Megan McKenna, Amber Turner, Pete Wicks, James Lock, Gemma Collins, Dan Edgar, and Tommy Mallet.
The drama is set to unfurl in a spectacular fashion, particularly given recent events with on-off lovers Megan and Pete - who were seen involved in a shocking argument at last week's National Television Awards.
Fans are avidly awaiting the inside scoop on both the row and how things will play out between the couple - making for no doubt shock viewing.
Nearly four months after principal photography wrapped on their film Spider-Man: Homecoming, Zendaya and Tom Holland still seem to enjoy each other's company.
The pair of 20-year-olds were spotted together in New York City on Tuesday, bundling up to contend with the snowfall that had begun.
Wearing a translucent cap and wrapping herself in a long pearl grey hoodie, the Shake It Up actress cradled her dog and toted along a Starbucks cup.'
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Bravin the chill: Wearing a translucent cap and wrapping herself in a long pearl grey hoodie, Zendaya cradled her dog and toted along a Starbucks cup whilst in snowy New York City
Her small black purse dangled from a long strap past her knees, and she'd popped on a pair of light grey sweats, as well as fuzzy slippers.
Meanwhile, the Kingston Upon Thames native wore an AC/DC T-shirt beneath an open blue and orange flannel shirt, flinging a charcoal leather jacket on top.
A large black duffel bag was slung cross-body over his shoulders, and he'd paired his dark jeans with a pair of thick black boots.
Out and about: Out with her was her Spider-Man: Homecoming co-star Tom Holland
Holland's been cast as the titular character in Spider-Man: Homecoming, reprising his part in the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War.
Spider-Man is the alter ego of a teenager called Peter Parker, who in the new film's got a classmate called Michelle - the role Zendaya's filled.
In November, she put the kibosh on rumours Michelle and Peter Parker would wind up in love, telling The Hollywood Reporter: 'My character is not romantic.'
Layering: The Kingston Upon Thames native wore an AC/DC T-shirt beneath an open blue and orange flannel shirt, flinging a charcoal leather jacket on top
Said she: 'My character is like very dry, awkward, intellectual and because she's so smart, she just feels like she doesn't need to talk to people, like "My brain is so far ahead of you that you're just not really on my level."'
Michelle consequently 'comes off very weird. But to me, she is very cool because she's deep. She's always thinking about something, always reading. I like that.
On top of which, 'I also like that I don't really have to do anything for hair and makeup. I just get to walk in and walk out.'
The film, which also stars such names as Michael Keaton, Donald Glover, Tyne Daly, Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr, will open July 7 in both Britain and America.
She's famous for saying in her TV courtroom, 'I love the truth.'
And the truth is, Judge Judy looked like a million dollars when she was spotted leaving her favourite West Hollywood eatery Craig's on Sunday.
The 76-year-old, whose full name is Judith Sheindlin, wore a beautiful purple trouser suit with a matching blouse and purple and cream high heels that complemented her outfit.
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Purple reign: Judy Sheindlin, better known as Judge Judy, looked elegant in her trouser suit as she was spotted leaving celebrity restaurant Craig's in West Hollywood on Sunday
The retired Manhattan family court judge and her husband, Gerald Sheindlin, 83, were likely there to celebrate their old friend Alan Alda's birthday, who was seen leaving the celebrity haunt.
The star, best known for his turn as Captain Hawkeye Pierce in long running TV series MASH, turned 81 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the legal star has lots to celebrate herself
Old pals: Judge Judy and her husband Gerald Sheindlin were at the restaurant to celebrate their the 81st birthday of their friend Alan Alda, seen heading back to his car
Her show, Judge Judy, reclaimed the No. 1 spot among weekday syndicated strips in the week of January 9 to 15, passing the previous week's winner Family Feud.
The CBS show, which is going into its 21st year, features Sheindlin adjudicating real-life small claim disputes in a simulated courtroom set.
And the outspoken celebrity is not above giving her legal opinion to President Barack Obama.
Back on top: The 76-year-old has a lot to celebrate. Her show reclaimed the No. 1 spot among weekday syndicated strips in the week of January 9 to 15, passing Family Feud
Judge Judy spoke out against his decision to commute the 35-year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning in the last days of his presidency.
'I didn't think it was a wise judgment,' she told a TMZ reporter on Wednesday as she was leaving Craig's.
Manning, a transgendered woman formerly known as Bradley Manning, was a U.S. Army private jailed for releasing sensitive information to WikiLeaks.
Australia says its citizens exempt from US travel ban
The US travel ban will not apply to Australian passport holders, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Tuesday after Britain also won an exemption for its citizens.
Canberra has refused to criticise US President Donald Trump's anti-immigration policies that have sparked international uproar since Friday's move to suspend refugee arrivals and impose tough controls on visitors from seven Muslim countries.
Australian "passport holders regardless of their place of birth or whether they are dual nationals or whether they hold another passport will remain welcome to come and go to the United States in the usual way," Turnbull said.
Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull praised ties with the United States and US President Donald Trump PETER PARKS (AFP/File)
"I've just received that official confirmation," he told Sky News Australia.
"That means Australian passport holders will be able to travel to the United States in the same way as they were able to," before the ban was issued on January 27.
"The confirmation came from the White House, it came from the National Security Adviser General (Michael) Flynn."
Turnbull has come under fire at home for keeping quiet as world leaders hit out at the new US administration's temporary bans on travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
"My job as prime minister of Australia is to advance the national interest of Australia and protect the interest of Australians citizens," he said.
"When I need to give frank advice, fearless advice to the US government I do so privately, but I don't comment on American domestic policy publicly.
"My job is to get results for Australians," he said.
The prime minister went on to praise ties with the United States and Trump.
"We have a very strong relationship with the United States, we work very closely with them," he said.
"We have very strong relations with the new administration."
Turnbull had Monday announced that Trump would honour a deal struck under his predecessor to accept refugees from remote Pacific camps.
In November, Canberra negotiated a "one-off" deal with the outgoing Obama administration to settle an unspecified number of the 1,600 boatpeople Australia held in offshore processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
Trump fires top US govt lawyer over travel ban defiance
An embattled Donald Trump fired his government's chief lawyer for refusing to defend his controversial immigration orders late Monday, deepening a political crisis engulfing his presidency.
In a caustic statement, Trump's White House said acting attorney general Sally Yates "betrayed" the Department of Justice in defying the president and had been relieved of her duties with immediate effect.
Yates -- a career prosecutor promoted by president Barack Obama and held over by Trump pending confirmation of his own nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions -- had refused to defend Trump's ban on immigration from seven Muslim nations.
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates said she doubted the legality and morality of the president's executive order Pete Marovich (GETTY/AFP/File)
In a memo to Department of Justice staff, she expressed doubts about the legality and morality of Trump's decree.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is," Yates wrote.
"I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful," she added.
"For as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so."
In the end, her tenure lasted only a few more hours.
The White House snapped back, accusing Yates of being "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration."
Trump has replaced Yates with Federal prosecutor Dana Boente as he awaits the Senate confirmation of Sessions.
Boente said he would defend Trump's directive, stating that it was "both lawful on its face and properly drafted."
Trump's executive order suspends the arrival of all refugees for a minimum of 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
Several federal judges have since filed temporary stays against the decree's implementation.
On Sunday, attorneys general from 16 US states, including California and New York, condemned Trump's directive as "unconstitutional" and vowed to fight it.
- 'Monday night massacre' -
Trump's furious response may have lasting political repercussions, not least complicating Sessions's confirmation.
He faces a vote Tuesday on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and then has to be confirmed by the full Senate before taking up the post.
Congress's top Democrat, Senator Chuck Schumer said Yates's firing underscored how important "it is to have an Attorney General who'll stand up to the White House when they violate the law."
The firing came as Trump said he would announce late Tuesday his pick to fill a Supreme Court opening. The unveiling was originally scheduled for Thursday.
Democratic lawmakers have vociferously opposed Trump's immigration order and Republicans are privately seething over the way his White House has handled the issue.
In a separate decision announced without explanation by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Trump also replaced acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Daniel Ragsdale.
The two dismissals in one night has echoes of President Richard Nixon's 1973 "Saturday night massacre" during the Watergate scandal.
Then, Nixon fired the special prosecutor investigating him, prompting the departures of his attorney general and deputy attorney general.
The events catalyzed Nixon's impeachment.
House Democrat John Conyers, Jr. said that Trump's conduct "is Nixonian in its design and execution," and threatens the justice department's independence.
"If dedicated government officials deem his directives to be unlawful and unconstitutional, he will simply fire them as if government is a reality show," Conyers said in a statement.
- 'American values' -
In remarks at the White House and on Twitter, Trump tried to play down the order's impact and defended the decision not to give advance warning to border guards, diplomats and travelers.
"If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad 'dudes' out there!" Trump claimed.
Around 48 percent of Americans support a freeze on immigration from "terror prone" regions, even if it means turning refugees away, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Monday.
But after a weekend of chaos at airports, protests and a diplomatic outcry, criticism even came from Trump's predecessor Obama, breaking a silence he had held since leaving office.
"President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country," spokesman Kevin Lewis said, adding that "American values are at stake" and noting Obama rejects faith-based discrimination.
Senior national security officials from the Obama and George W. Bush administrations warned in a letter to top Trump cabinet members that the order "will do long-term damage to our national security."
Calling the measure a tragically "unnecessary" move that will fuel violent extremist propaganda, they said it "sent exactly the wrong message to the Muslim community here at home and all over the world: that the US government is at war with them based on their religion."
Late Monday, a crowd chanted slogans and held banners outside the Supreme Court, which could ultimately rule on the measure.
Trump and the Middle East Gillian HANDYSIDE, Kun TIAN (AFP)
Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his travel ban outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017 SAUL LOEB (AFP)
US President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on January 30, 2017 NICHOLAS KAMM (AFP)
Trump travel ban galvanizes young lawyers into action
Lawyers armed with laptops, smartphones and legal papers have since Saturday transformed an airport diner into a headquarters of resistance to Donald Trump's controversial travel ban.
They have worked around the clock from the space of 20 odd tables at the restaurant in the arrivals hall at John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 4 to free travelers stopped or detained by the decree.
Work stations have been earmarked by small white signs -- a corner for Arabic language interpreters, another saying "habeas corpus" for lawyers filing requests for people's release and tables set aside for new volunteers.
Volunteer lawyers join protesters at the Los Angeles airport to offer aid to those affected by President Trump's executive order banning citizens from seven Muslim majority countries from travelling to the US Konrad Fiedler (AFP)
Even on Monday, by which time most of those stopped had been released, more than 20 volunteer lawyers were still inquiring after new arrivals and fielding concerns from worried travelers by telephone.
About 20 more are working at other terminals in the airport, said Camille Mackler, a lawyer for a non-profit group that advocates for immigrants and who has been helping to coordinate the work since Saturday.
"I think more than anything it sends the absolutely wrong message to Americans and to the rest of the world," the 37-year-old.
Friday's order unleashed chaos for refugees and visa holders already in transit and unaware that American borders had suddenly closed to those from seven Muslim countries.
"But I'm also so proud of the lawyers, of all people, the butt of so many bad jokes -- who have just sort of stood up and helped," said Mackler.
"One of my friends said it was our moment to be rock stars and I'm kind of feeling like a rock star right now."
- Country changing -
Jason Stump, 29, turned up with a friend to see if there was anything they could do to help. He works as a hotel receptionist in Manhattan and had been stuck at work all weekend.
"This was the first day we could come out to show our solidarity with the lawyers who are doing such important work," he said.
"We need to figure out how we can best help people."
Siobhan Atkins, 29, who specializes in criminal defense, greeted them with a smile.
Like lots of other lawyers here, some without immigration experience, it is the first time she has acted in protest against the government.
"This weekend, I felt so helpless, it feels the country is changing so quickly, we don't recognize the place we love anymore," she told AFP.
She went onto Facebook, found a website for lawyers who defend people in detention, and volunteered her services.
On Sunday night, she arranged the day off from work and registered for a 7:00 am shift at the airport.
- 'I'm galvanized' -
"It's the first time I do something like that. It's great. That shows how powerful people can be if they get together," Atkins said.
It's also the first time for Mark Hanna, 29, a general practice lawyer from Brooklyn who has found a new sense of importance to his work.
A lawyer friend called him from JFK on Saturday to ask him if he wanted to come.
He came for several hours, then returned on Sunday, staying until 1:00 am at Terminal 7, trying to find information on people detained and writing release requests for those he could identify.
Among those he helped was an Algerian green card holder, who emerged in tears after being questioned for hours even though his country was not on the list of the targeted countries.
"It sucks, just because he's brown... they asked him all sorts of questions and went through all his stuff in his laptop," said Hanna.
"This is the first time I have ever been on the ground helping out people in this kind of way," he said.
"I'm going to be hoping he (Trump) does not do anything else that crazy. But at this point I'm galvanized.
"If anything else happens, I am definitely involved."
Immigration lawyers wait for people affected by US President Donald Trump's temporary ban on incoming refugees and travelers from seven Muslim countries, at the Los Angeles International Airport, California on January 30, 2017 Mark RALSTON (AFP)
Volunteer lawyers join protesters at the Los Angeles International airport to offer help to people affected by President Trump's executive order effectively banning citizens from seven Muslim majority countries from travelling to the US Konrad Fiedler (AFP)
Murky Indonesian cults in the spotlight after scandals
Desperate and despondent after losing an Indonesian local election, Abdul Junaidi was the perfect prey for a charismatic cult leader promising great wealth and political success.
Lured in with assurances that he would see his money multiply, the sugar cane farmer handed over 200 million rupiah ($15,000) to the sect.
But his cash disappeared, his political career stalled, and the leader of the group was arrested, accused of murdering one of Junaidi's friends for threatening to unmask him.
Before his arrest Taat Pribadi (C)was leader of the most prominent of several sham cults preying on superstition in Indonesia STR (AFP/File)
"His promise was very tempting -- that if I ran at elections, then I would win," the 50-year-old sugar cane farmer told AFP.
The case is the latest example of a shadowy sect playing on the widespread belief of the supernatural in Indonesia to allegedly swindle people.
Cult-like groups have long existed across the vast Indonesian archipelago, which is home to hundreds of different ethnic groups and where belief in local spirits and black magic are often fused with the dominant religion of Islam.
Belief in the supernatural is common across Asia. From China to Thailand, politicians often turn to soothsayers for advice.
But in recent times in Indonesia, the deep-rooted belief in the occult has taken a dark turn with several cases of sham cult leaders facing allegations ranging from murder to fraud and sexual assault.
The most high-profile has been the one that embroiled Junaidi, who was among thousands persuaded to join a cult led by Taat Pribadi, who gave himself the Indonesian royal title "Dimas Kanjeng".
From former lawmakers to army generals and police officers, Pribadi managed to attract a huge and influential following to his cult in Probolinggo on Indonesia's main island of Java, with members living in his palatial residence and nearby buildings.
He persuaded people to join the group with claims that he could bring them success -- in Junaidi's case by helping him win an election to head a small district on Java -- and multiply money they gave him in an elaborate, supernatural ritual.
- Magic money-making -
The case attracted huge attention when videos went viral of Pribadi dressed in flowing white robes sitting on a chair and performing the ritual that ended with him producing fistfuls of money and throwing it onto the floor.
His cult, which had existed for about 15 years, eventually fell apart when Pribadi was arrested in September for allegedly ordering the murder of two of his followers who had attempted to unmask him as a fraud.
He is scheduled to stand trial over the murders and police are also investigating fraud allegations against him.
"I never got my original money back, and certainly did not see it multiply," Junaidi said.
The killing of his friend finally pushed him to leave the cult after four years as a member, he added.
Pribadi's case followed that of another alleged sham cult leader, Gatot Brajamusti, who attracted followers -- including high-profile female entertainers -- by styling himself as an Islamic spiritual guru.
But he was arrested in August for allegedly sexually harassing his female followers and drug possession. Police say that he has admitted to engaging in sex parties and using crystal methamphetamine.
At times the belief in the occult in Indonesia has reached the highest levels of government.
In 2014, then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recounted how he and his wife were attacked by mysterious black clouds while at home in an episode of black magic he described as like a "horror movie".
Indonesian law even bans black magic, with violaters facing up to three months in jail or a fine of 450,000 rupiah, and the government is seeking to strengthen legislation against the practice.
Still, it will be hard to stop people turning to the occult in Indonesia. While most will not join cults, paying visits to spiritual gurus and faith healers is likely to remain popular.
Faith healer Ki Raksa Manggala, who operates from a dark basement in Jakarta and treats people for complaints ranging from headaches to problems in their love life, insists supernatural powers can be a force for good but concedes there are plenty of frauds in the business.
"As a patient you have to be smart, don't be fooled by faith healers who want to trick you," he said.
Faith healer Ki Raksa Manggala (R) says supernatural powers can be a force for good but concedes there are plenty of frauds in the business GOH CHAI HIN (AFP/File)
Yemen rebel 'suicide boat' attack kills Saudi sailors
Yemeni rebel "suicide" boats attacked a Saudi warship on patrol in the Red Sea, killing two sailors in what the Saudi-led coalition called an escalation of the nearly two-year-old war.
But the rebels' Al-Masirah television website said the strike "took place with a guided missile".
The assault off the rebel-held port of Hodeida came as coalition-backed government forces pressed a deadly drive up the Red Sea coast, despite mounting international pressure for a ceasefire.
Since March 2015, coalition forces in Yemen have imposed an air and sea blockade of rebel-held areas., patrolling the Red Sea to prevent what it says is attempted arms smuggling to the rebels by Shiite Iran SALEH AL-OBEIDI (AFP/File)
"A Saudi frigate came under a terrorist attack by three suicide boats belonging to the Huthi militias," the coalition said late Monday without specifying when it happened.
Suicide attacks are uncharacteristic of the Shiite Muslim Huthi rebels. They are normally the work of Sunni extremists of Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group.
Although the Saudi warship "dealt with the boats", one "collided with the back of the ship and exploded and caused a fire" which the crew brought under control, the coalition said.
Two Saudi crewmen lost their lives and three were wounded, the coalition said, adding that the frigate was able to resume patrolling.
"This tactic is now new. This means that there is today close collaboration between Al-Qaeda and the militia (rebels)," coalition spokesman Major General Ahmed Assiri told AFP.
"This a very bad escalation."
- 'Large fireball' -
Al-Qaeda and the rival IS have exploited a power vacuum created by the government-rebel war to expand their presence in Yemen and carry out attacks, especially in the south.
In purported video of the incident shown on Al-Masirah, the stern of a warship exploded in a large fireball.
Al-Masirah referred to "the shelling of the naval ship" and said it came in conjunction with the fighting along the Red Sea coast.
Since it began air strikes in March 2015, the coalition has imposed an air and sea blockade of rebel-held areas.
It has patrolled the Red Sea to prevent what it says is attempted arms smuggling to the rebels by Shiite Iran.
Before government forces launched a major offensive on January 7, the rebels controlled virtually all of Yemen's 450-kilometre (280-mile) Red Sea coastline.
But loyalist forces have since thrust north from the Bab al-Mandab strait where the Red Sea joins the Indian Ocean, overrunning Dhubab district and entering the historic port of Mokha in their biggest advance in months.
Nearly 370 combatants on both sides have been killed, according to medical sources.
"Because they lost Al-Mokha now they moved their terrorist base and these kind of attacks to Hodeida," Assiri said.
Government forces have also pushed south from a small pocket of territory they control near the Saudi border.
- Trapped in a minefield -
Heavy fighting has raged there around Midi and the inland town of Haradh, leaving 21 government troops and seven rebels dead over the past 24 hours, military sources said Tuesday.
Loyalists launched an assault on rebel positions but found themselves in a minefield and under heavy gunfire, a military official said.
"That is why the death toll was high."
The offensive comes with President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi under mounting international pressure to agree to a UN ceasefire plan.
In a speech to the Security Council on Thursday, UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed criticised Hadi for rejecting his proposals for a transition that would see him cede much of his power to a vice president who would oversee a government of national unity.
On Monday, rebel rocket fire against "a United Nations building" in South Dhahran, a Saudi border city, wounded a soldier from the kingdom, the official Saudi Press Agency said.
The building is supposed to host meetings of a commission facilitating contact between Yemen's warring sides.
Elsewhere, the Huthis and government forces swapped prisoners -- 54 from each side -- in the Qania area of central Yemen following tribal mediation, a negotiator told AFP.
And police said government forces killed Ammar Qaid, known as Al-Qaeda's "emir" in Lahj in the southwest, after he refused to surrender on Tuesday.
Conflict in Yemen
LA's Iranian community outraged over Trump travel ban
Members of California's large Iranian-American community expressed shock and disbelief on Monday at President Donald Trump's travel ban, saying it would tear families apart and tarnish America's image abroad.
"It's affecting everybody from the community because everybody has family and friends that have been coming back and forth from Europe and all over the world to America," said Alex Helmi, sitting in his carpet store in Westwood, an upmarket Los Angeles neighborhood dubbed "Tehrangeles."
An estimated 300,000 to 500,000 Iranians live in southern California, many of them in "Tehrangeles," and Trump's executive order has had a chilling effect on the community.
Members of the Iranian-American community have expressed shock and disbelief at President Donald Trump's travel ban, saying it would tear families apart and tarnish America's image abroad Joshua LOTT (AFP/File)
Farhad Besharati, who runs a travel agency along Westwood Boulevard, where almost all the signs above the shops are in Persian, said his phone has not stopped ringing since Trump's order came into effect on Friday.
"We had a disaster in the last couple of days," he said. "People are not able to come back.
"We have tried to explain that this is a temporary measure but they say that 90 days is not temporary, they say 'we're gonna lose the lives we have here'."
He said the spouse of one of his clients had traveled to Iran to see family and had been unable to return.
"He doesn't know if his wife can come back and they have children. It's tragic," Besharati said.
He said he had also received calls from students pleading for his help but had little to offer them in terms of hope or assistance.
"One of them finally arrived yesterday but another one was not allowed to board her plane," he said.
Leila, who did not want her family name to be used, said she still shudders at the thought that her father, who arrived back in Los Angeles just after Trump signed his decree Friday afternoon, could have been among those detained at the airport or deported.
"He said 'I think they shut the doors after me'," she recounted as she shopped for groceries.
She said an 82-year-old woman in a wheelchair had not been as lucky as her dad and was deported back to Iran.
"What is the danger of letting in a grandma that came to visit her children?" the 45-year-old angrily said.
She added that she knew of numerous others Iranians affected by the decree, including a woman who was traveling to Los Angeles for her mother's funeral and another whose father was undergoing heart surgery.
- Fear leaving the country -
Ali, 42, who has dual Iranian-American citizenship and also did not want to give his last name for fear of attracting the attention of US authorities, said he now fears leaving the country and not being allowed back in.
"I wanted to go for the Persian New Year to visit my family but now I don't know," he said, adding that he also feared a backlash from the Iranian government against dual nationals like him.
Many of those interviewed said Trump's actions may play well among some voters, but will harm the country's standing on the world stage and deter people from traveling to the United States, even for tourism.
They also note that no Iranians have been implicated in any recent terror attacks on US soil, and that countries whose nationals were involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks -- like Saudi Arabia, Lebanon or Egypt -- were not affected by Trump's order.
The countries included in the ban are Syrian, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya.
Ali said it was ironic that many recent attacks on US soil were homegrown, and pointed to the January 6 deadly assault at a Florida airport by a 26-year-old Iraq war veteran that killed five people.
But despite all the outrage at Trump's actions, Besharati said the travel ban could help disrupt the financing of terror networks such as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
"There are rich people coming from Iran with millions or billions of dollars and they spend $500,000 and get a Green Card," he claimed. "These are not regular people who come for education or work.
"These are the people protecting Syria and Hezbollah."
Helmi said while he understands that strict vetting measures are needed to ward off those intent on inflicting harm to America, he hoped democratic principles would prevail.
"America is the land of freedom," he said. "All the religions here live together and respect each other and respect democracy."
Iranian-American Farhad Besharati, who runs a travel agency, said his phone has not stopped ringing since Trump's order came into effect on Friday Konrad Fiedler (AFP)
Cambodian leader Hun Sen threatens to sell opposition HQ
Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen on Tuesday threatened to seize the property of opposition leader Sam Rainsy and sell the party's headquarters if he wins a defamation case against the exiled politician.
The one-million-dollar lawsuit is the latest in a string of legal cases targeting Cambodian opposition leaders trying to break Hun Sen's 32-year grip on power.
Rights groups say the strongman is trying to keep his opponents under pressure ahead of local elections this year and a general election in 2018.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (centre) has proposed amending a political party law to bar convicts from serving as party leaders Handout (CAMBODIA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY/AFP)
Hun Sen filed the latest defamation case against top foe Rainsy after he accused the premier of bribery in a speech several weeks ago.
"I am waiting for the verdict to be finalised. This time, I will take money...I am demanding $1,000,000," the premier said during a parliamentary session Tuesday.
"I heard the party's headquarters is registered under the name of Sam Rainsy, so the party's headquarters will be auctioned," he told the assembly, adding that the politician's personal property would also be "frozen... and sold".
The money would be used to build houses for handicapped people, he added.
Rainsy, who currently lives in France and faces several lawsuits, was sentenced to five years in prison in December over a post on his Facebook page, a conviction that makes his return from self-imposed exile unlikely.
On Tuesday Hun Sen also proposed amending a political party law to bar convicts from serving as party leaders -- a clear dig at Rainsy and his Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
The premier's ruling party also voted to strip the CNRP's acting head Kem Sokha of his title of minority leader.
Responding on Twitter, Rainsy sought to brand Hun Sen's threats as signs that he was "panicking" ahead of looming elections.
"Hun Sen can no longer appeal to electorate, so personally hounds me, as symbol of resistance to autocratic, corrupt power," he wrote.
Hun Sen has amassed extensive control over Cambodia's government and economy during his three decades in power and has a history of ruthlessly undercutting his rivals.
He claims to have brought much needed peace and stability to a nation ravaged by civil war and the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.
But opposition groups have drawn growing support in recent years amid disillusionment with the endemic corruption and rights abuses that have flourished under his watch.
An investigation by Global Witness last year accused the premier and his relatives of carving a $200 million business empire out of the impoverished country's economy to buttress their political power.
The government dismissed the report but did not directly address the specific allegations detailed by researchers.
S. Korea unveils controversial state history textbooks
South Korea's government on Tuesday unveiled the final version of state-issued school history textbooks despite criticism that they are a throwback to the country's authoritarian past.
The education ministry published middle and high school history textbooks even as parliament is moving to ban their use. Legislators say they glorify the dictatorship of Park Chung-Hee, late father of impeached President Park Geun-Hye.
Park Chung-Hee ruled the country for 18 years until his assassination in 1979.
South Korean President Park Geun-Hye pays homage to her late father: state-issued textbooks are claimed to glorify the late president Park Chung-Hee's dictatorship JEON YOUNG-HAN (AFP/File)
"We need to establish a historical perception that will encourage positive views about our own history," vice education minister Lee Young told reporters at the announcement.
But critics argue the new textbooks exaggerate Park Chung-Hee's role in industrialising the country, while glossing over his human rights abuses.
"As a result of government efforts to boost exports, export volume jumped 40 percent every year," an online copy of the new high school textbook said about the Park era.
History remains a bitter ideological battleground in South Korea, which achieved democracy only in 1987.
Conservative critics argue that current texts are too left-leaning and warp students' minds with allegedly leftist-leaning ideological bias.
They say the existing books belittle achievements under the South's former authoritarian rulers, including the country's rapid industrialisation after the Korean War, while barely touching on the North's human rights abuses.
The government initially planned to impose the state-authored history textbooks this year for exclusive use.
But in the face of waves of protests from historians, teachers and other critics, it announced in December that it would let schools choose between them and approved texts from commercial publishers.
Opposition lawmakers from parliament's education committee -- who are mulling a move to outlaw the new books -- slammed their final versions, calling them "Park Chung-Hee textbooks".
Iranian student deported in chaos of Trump's Muslim ban
When Sara Yarjani handed her passport to an immigration officer at Los Angeles airport she was sure she'd be waved through customs, as had happened before. Instead, 23 hours later, she was deported.
The 35-year-old Iranian graduate student became one of the first victims of the chaos unleashed by President Donald Trump's executive order blocking citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, from entering the United States.
Yarjani, who spoke with AFP by telephone late Monday from Vienna, where she is a permanent resident, said her ordeal began shortly after her plane landed Friday evening and -- unbeknownst to her -- Trump's travel ban had kicked in.
Demonstrators protest against President Trump's immigration ban at Chicago International Airport on January 28, 2017 Joshua LOTT (AFP/File)
"I had been on holiday in Canada to see my sister and then went to Austria and was coming back to resume classes," said Yarjani, a student of holistic health at the California Institute for Human Science, located north of San Diego.
"I was not expecting to be stopped," she said. "I had previously entered the country and was treated very well ... and gone through customs within minutes."
This time she quickly realized that it would be different, as the immigration officer took her passport and ushered her to a waiting area.
Two female officers who barked orders patted Yarjani down as she stood against a wall with her arms raised. She was told to remove her shawl, her jewelry and shoe laces, and was asked to hand over any cash as well as her cell phone -- all of which were later returned.
Yarjani said after nearly four hours of waiting and questioning, during which she was allowed no phone calls, an officer compelled her to sign a form agreeing to deportation on grounds, he claimed, that her student visa was no longer valid.
- 'Leave voluntarily or forcibly' -
"The officer told me 'you have two option-- either you comply and agree to leave voluntarily ... or you will forcibly be deported and face a ban of one to five years or longer of reentry to the US'," she said.
"The way he was saying it was very threatening and I felt I had no choice."
Yarjani said she became aware of the mayhem caused by Trump's order when she was allowed, shortly after midnight, a quick call to her sister to let her know she was being deported.
"I arrived in LA at 8:35 pm Friday and left at 7:30 pm the next day," she said.
Yarjani said as she was being escorted by two armed officers for her flight back to Europe, she was able to briefly check her phone and learned that a federal judge had temporarily blocked part of Trump's executive order.
"I told one of the officers that a judge had ruled against the ban ... and that I should not be put on the plane but all she said was 'wowza' while ordering me to keep walking," Yarjani said.
She said now that she was back in Austria with her parents, she was still trying to come to terms with what had happened and considering her next move.
"It's a very confusing feeling right now because on the one hand I feel thankful I am out of their custody but on the other hand, it's really sad and heartbreaking because I really love what I am studying," she said, her voice breaking.
"I have worked so hard for the past year and a half and it's been such a long journey to get there and to study something I am really passionate about."
She said university officials have been very supportive and concerned about her fate while attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have also offered assistance.
"Being stopped from entering the country to continue my studies does not make any sense," said Yarjani, who was due to graduate this summer.
'Girl bomber' dies, mosque targeted in NE Nigeria
A girl thought to be aged just 10 died after the suicide vest she was wearing exploded in northeast Nigeria, a civilian vigilante said on Tuesday, as another attack killed one at a mosque.
Musa Ahmad, who works with the military against Boko Haram Islamists, said the incident happened at about 11:30 am (1030 GMT) in Banki, near the Cameroon border in Borno state.
"A girl of around 10 came by the military barracks and was trying to cross the road into the IDP (internally displaced persons) camp," he told AFP.
On January 30, 2016, at least 85 people were killed when militant fighters stormed and torched Dalori STRINGER (AFP/File)
"She was asked to stop by soldiers. But she ignored them. They threatened to shoot her if she didn't stop. She obeyed and she was asked to lift up her hijab.
"She did and explosives were found to be strapped on her. Suddenly she pulled on the trigger and exploded."
No-one else was injured, said Ahmad, who added it was the second attempt on the camp in recent weeks.
On January 18, a young woman and a teenage boy were shot when they refused to stop for a search and exploded just outside the camp, he added.
The vigilante suggested the attempted bombings were a way of Boko Haram "trying to hit back" after recent military operations against them in the area.
Banki, which is 133 kilometres (80 miles) by road southeast of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, is currently home to thousands of IDPs.
In April last year, at least seven people were killed at the camp in a suicide bomb attack carried out by two women.
Boko Haram has frequently deployed young women and children as suicide bombers to target crowded places such as mosques, markets and bus stations.
On Tuesday, at least one person was killed when a suicide bomber exploded at a mosque at Dalori, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, during morning prayers, residents and the authorities said.
Shuaibu Abubakar said the blast happened at about 5:30 am (0430 GMT) as a suicide bomber tried to enter the place of worship.
"One of the worshippers, who was apparently on guard, grabbed him and the explosives went off, killing both of them. Worshippers were saved," he said.
Tens of thousands of people displaced by the conflict are currently living at two camps set up at Dalori.
Kandace McFarland is a passionate Military Mama and was even before her son enlisted in the United States Air Force.
My family has always been military, she said. Theres always been someone in the military in my family.
As a member of a Facebook group called Military Mamas, McFarland began her work by making bags for homeless veterans at a shelter in Poplar Bluff when she learned of another way to help those serving in the military.
I found there was need for the troops overseas, she said.
McFarland said she would get names and addresses of troops, making care boxes of everyday essentials and ship them overseas. She also sent cards, made coloring sheets to take to schools and churches which would be sent out.
The first year she sent around 3,000 cards. Last year, she mailed more than 15,000 cards. Shes been sending care packages for about five years.
I did this for years by myself, she said. With my health issues, I couldnt afford to do it on my own. I went to the American Legion, VFW and DAV to ask for help I explained what I was doing and why I was doing it. They were excited there was someone out there doing this.
She originally started asking for help with postage. There is a military-specific box used for sending care packages with a flat-rate cost of $16.75.
She usually places an order for 10 boxes of the flat-rate mailing boxes. Each box contains 25 of the mailers.
The people at the post office know me, she said. The postmaster hand delivers my boxes of boxes.
On Christmas Day, an F-16 pilot with the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flew an American Flag in McFarlands honor while on overseas mission to recognize the support given to the military over the past five years.
As McFarland points out, she considers herself only to be the name on the package sent overseas the flag and Santa hat were sent to her as a representative of all those who contribute in one way or another.
When it comes to our men and women overseas, I swallow my pride, she said. Honestly, if it wasnt for people helping sign cards whenever Ive reached out to the public, whenever Ive reached out to the DAV, American Legion and VFW. If it wasnt for people stepping up and responding, I wouldnt be able to do near as much as what I did.
Even though this award was made out to me its a great honor, but I turn to the public for help and they helped me make this happen, she said. We turned to Facebook and asked if anyone could spare $16.75 so we could mail a box can anyone spare $20 so we can fill a box and people responded.
She said there are always ways to help out, be it with a group of students decorating the coloring sheets she has available or someone volunteering to help sign cards.
McFarland said there are certain rules and regulations when mailing cards to the troops there should be no glitter on the cards and envelopes cannot be sealed.
I usually hold card making events, she said. They can make thank you for your service cards, Christmas cards whatever they want, because we are going to use those throughout the year.
McFarland has been appreciative of all the assistance given both from the veterans organizations and local businesses.
Upward Smiles and Great Mines Dental donate toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to McFarland at least once a year.
Since I am the local chapter leader for Military Mamas, we can get (those making donations) a tax credit letter, she said.
Netanyahu downplays Mexico wall row, hails 'good' ties
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed a spat with Mexico over US President Donald Trump's proposed border wall Tuesday, saying the countries' relations were stronger than a "passing" row.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, meanwhile, spoke with Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto and said he was "sorry" about the "misunderstanding".
Netanyahu wrote on Twitter that Israel "will continue to have good relations" with Mexico.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has a "long, fruitful and very friendly relationship" with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto MENAHEM KAHANA (AFP/File)
"I believe our ties are stronger than any passing disagreement or misunderstanding," he added.
Mexico demanded an apology after Netanyahu tweeted last week in support of Trump's proposed wall spanning the Mexican border, saying a similar plan along Israel's southern frontier had been a success.
Netanyahu did not apologise, saying he did not comment on US-Mexico relations in the original tweet.
But he said he had a "long, fruitful and very friendly relationship" with the Mexican president.
Israel's Rivlin spoke with Pena Nieto on Tuesday, as the two countries sought to calm the row.
"I am sure that nobody intended to compare between the situation of Israel, and the situation of Mexico," the Israeli president's office reported Rivlin as saying.
"The ties between us are so very strong and important, and we must leave behind us any such misunderstanding," he said.
"I am sorry for any hurt caused as a result of this misunderstanding."
Mexico's foreign ministry said that Rivlin had apologised and that Pena Nieto told him that the "tweet confounded Mexico and the Mexican Jewish community, and hurt relations between the two countries".
The Mexican leader said his country "has the desire to maintain mutual friendship and cooperation" with Israel.
Pena Nieto cancelled a planned meeting with Trump over the proposed wall.
Trump's UK visit should be downgraded to spare Queen: ex-official
The invitation to US President Donald Trump for a state visit to Britain has put Queen Elizabeth II in "a very difficult position", a former top civil servant said on Tuesday.
Peter Ricketts, who was formerly the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, said the invitation should be downgraded to an official visit to spare the queen further embarrassment.
More than 1.6 million people have signed a petition to cancel the state visit and thousands took to the streets in protest following Trump's decision to ban refugees and citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries.
US President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May on January 27, 2017 in Washington, DC MANDEL NGAN (AFP)
Ricketts, a House of Lords member who also served as national security adviser to former prime minister David Cameron and as ambassador to France, called the invitation "premature" in a letter to The Times newspaper.
"It would have been far wiser to wait to see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the queen to invite him. Now the queen is put in a very difficult position," he said.
State visits involve Queen Elizabeth II, who is the head of state, and are seen as the highest expression of friendly ties between two countries.
Official or working visits are less ceremonial and usually do not include royal engagements.
May announced the state visit during a meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday which was intended to boost trade ties after Britain leaves the EU.
"There is no precedent for a US president paying a state visit to this country in their first year," Ricketts said.
"The government needs to move fast to protect Her Majesty from the growing controversy."
The Times quoted sources close to Buckingham Palace saying that the state visit was going ahead on May's recommendation, after a Downing Street spokesman appeared to shift the blame away from her entourage.
One source said that royal officials "don't want the queen being dragged into something political".
But former foreign minister William Hague, writing in the Daily Telegraph, played down the concerns.
Iran warns US against creating tensions over missiles
Iran on Tuesday warned the United States against fuelling tensions over its ballistic missile tests as the UN Security Council prepared for urgent talks on the issue at Washington's request.
The row comes against a backdrop of already-strained relations over US President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens from Iran and six other Muslim-majority countries.
The European Union, which helped broker a landmark nuclear deal between major powers and Iran, appealed to Tehran to refrain from activities such as the missile tests "which deepen mistrust".
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran's missiles do not breach UN resolutions because they are for defence purposes ATTA KENARE (AFP)
But the diplomatic push by the West quickly ran into trouble as Russia said a missile test would not breach a UN resolution on Iran's nuclear programme.
Moscow, which is fighting alongside Tehran's forces in Syria, said the demand for emergency talks at the Security Council was aimed at "heating up the situation".
Diplomats said the Security Council talks on Iran would be held on Tuesday after a meeting on Syria.
Trump has sharply criticised the nuclear deal that led to a lifting of international sanctions against Iran, which used the occasion of a visit by France's foreign minister to express its discontent with Washington.
"We hope that Iran's defence programme is not used by the new US administration... as a pretext to create new tensions," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at a news conference with Jean-Marc Ayrault.
Tehran has neither confirmed nor denied firing any missiles at the weekend.
- 'Head in the sand' -
Iran says its missiles do not breach United Nations resolutions because they are for defence purposes and not designed to carry nuclear warheads.
"We have always declared that we will never use our weapons against others except in our defence," Zarif added.
And he slammed the new US administration's "shameful act of denying entry to people holding legal visas" for the United States.
Speaking at the same news conference, Ayrault said France had made clear its disquiet over the missile tests.
"France has expressed its concern at Iran's continuation of its ballistic missile tests on several occasions," he said.
He said the continued tests are "contrary to the spirit" of the Security Council resolution on the nuclear deal struck in 2015 in the Austrian capital, and "hamper the process of restoring the confidence established by the Vienna agreement."
Washington called for the emergency UN meeting after a request by Israel which said the missile test violated UN resolutions that bar Iran from launching ballistic missiles that could have a nuclear capability.
"The international community must not bury its head in the sand in the face of this Iranian aggression," said Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon.
"The Security Council members must act immediately in response to these Iranian actions which endanger not only Israel, but the entire Middle East."
But Russia indicated it had little appetite for any move to censure Iran at the Security Council over the reported missile test.
"Such actions, if they took place, do not breach the resolution," Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax news agency.
- UN resolution breached? -
Ryabkov said that Moscow, which co-signed the nuclear deal, had not confirmed the missile test took place.
UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which includes terms of the nuclear accord, was adopted in July 2015.
It states that Iran "is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology."
Iran has said its missiles would never carry a nuclear warhead as it has no plans to develop atomic weapons.
The White House said Monday it was aware Iran had recently carried out a missile test, but refrained from offering details or criticism.
In Brussels, an EU foreign affairs spokeswoman said the bloc "reiterates its concern about Iran's missile programme and calls upon Iran to refrain from activities which deepen mistrust, such as ballistic missile tests".
She said that since Iran's ballistic missile programme was not included in the nuclear accord, "the tests are not a violation".
But it was up to the Security Council to determine if the latest test was a breach of UN resolutions on Iran's missile programme, she added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the launching of a ballistic missile constitutes a "flagrant violation" of UN rules.
The Iranian nuclear agreement
Myanmar hails taxi driver who died confronting assassin
A Myanmar taxi driver was hailed as a national hero at his funeral on Tuesday, two days after he was killed trying to stop a gunman who murdered a prominent Muslim lawyer.
Father-of-three Ne Win was shot dead outside Yangon airport as he chased a man who moments earlier had slain Ko Ni, an adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, in what her party said was a political assassination.
The daylight murders, in a country where political killings are rare, sent shockwaves through both Myanmar's already hard-pressed Muslim community and Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
Relatives of Ne Win, who was killed trying to stop the gunman who assassinated Muslim lawyer Ko Ni, pay their respects at his funeral in Yangon on January 31, 2017 Ye Aung THU (AFP)
There were emotional scenes on Tuesday as hundreds of mourners crammed into a Yangon cemetery to bury Ne Win, whose coffin was draped in the NLD's famous fighting peacock flag.
His bereaved wife was swamped as mourners, monks and NLD figures crowded around the open coffin that bore his body.
"He tried to catch an evil man without thinking for his own life," the elderly patron of the NLD, Tin Oo, told mourners.
"I praise Ne Win today for his brave work for the country on behalf of the NLD, other democratic forces and those who want peace."
Min Ko Naing, a student leader from the crushed 1988 anti-junta protests, described the taxi driver as part of a long line of Myanmar citizens who have sacrificed for a country that suffered under years of army rule.
"Some people who give for the country become famous but there are many people who give for the country silently," he said.
The alleged assassin, 53-year-old Kyi Lin, was arrested at the scene. Police have not said what his motivations were.
Ko Ni was a prominent Muslim figure who spoke out against the increasingly vocal anti-Islamic sentiments of Buddhist hardliners and criticised the military's lingering grip on power.
He served as a legal adviser to Suu Kyi and had just returned from a government trip to Indonesia.
Both the NLD and Ko Ni's family suspect he was targeted because of his politics, with the ruling party describing the murder as a "terrorist act".
Eyewitnesses gave harrowing details of how Ne Win lost his life.
He saw the shooting and was part of a group of airport taxi drivers who chased after the killer.
"Ne Win threw a brick at the gunman while running after him. The man turned and fired at him, and he was shot dead," Soe Myint, another taxi driver who gave chase told the Irrawaddy news site.
UN resumes food air drops in Syria's Deir Ezzor
The UN said Tuesday it had resumed air drops of desperately-needed aid to Deir Ezzor in Syria after halting the deliveries over two weeks ago due to heavy fighting.
The UN's World Food Programme had on January 15 suspended air drops to the eastern city due to heavy fighting after a fierce assault by Islamic State (IS) group militants.
IS has laid siege to Deir Ezzor and its 100,000 residents since 2015 and already controls large parts of the city, but earlier this month moved further into government-held territory, prompting fierce clashes and heavy bombardment by the Syrian military and Russia.
UN aid deliveries to the besieged Syrian city of Deir Ezzor first began in April 2016 STRINGER (UNITED NATIONS/AFP/File)
WFP said it had resumed the air drops -- the only way to get aid into the city -- on Sunday after finding a "new, safer location for the drop zone."
"We are glad that we can continue to bring life-saving food and other aid supplies to this besieged town," WFP spokeswoman Bettina Luetscher told reporters in Geneva.
She said the agency had been unable to use the old drop zone due to "a real danger to the volunteers on the ground."
Palestinians set delayed local elections for May 13
The Palestinian Authority said Tuesday that local elections delayed last October after a spat between political factions will now take place in the West Bank and Gaza on May 13.
The Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip has been at odds with president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party over the organisation of their first competitive polls in a decade.
"Today, at a regular meeting, the council of ministers decided to hold elections on May 13, to be held in the West Bank and Gaza," local government minister Hussein al-Araj told AFP.
Fatah and Hamas have not contested an election since the 2006 parliamentary polls MOHAMMED ABED (AFP/File)
The rival parties have not contested an election since 2006 parliamentary polls, which Hamas won -- sparking a conflict that led to near civil war in Gaza the following year.
Reconciliation attempts have repeatedly failed, and Hamas boycotted the most recent municipal elections in 2012.
Hamas rejected the announcement. Spokesman Fawzy Barhoum said in a statement it "strengthens divisions and serves Fatah politically."
"Any upcoming elections must be part of a reconciliation," he added.
The elections will choose municipal councils in some 416 cities and towns in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The delay was sparked by the disqualification of a number of Fatah candidates in Gaza by the courts there.
Shortly afterwards rival courts in the West Bank labelled the ruling unlawful, and said the elections would go ahead only in the West Bank -- prompting the government to postpone them.
Fatah and Hamas traded blame over the delay.
Salem Barahmeh, a Palestinian commentator, said if Hamas wanted to the group could prevent the elections from taking place in Gaza.
The 2012 municipal elections were held only in the West Bank.
"For elections to happen in both Gaza and the West Bank needs the approval of both Fatah and Hamas," Barahmeh told AFP.
Hamas, labelled a terrorist organisation by the United States and European Union, said before the elections were delayed it would not submit candidates itself, instead supporting lists of hopefuls not officially linked to the movement.
Analysts said this was partially to avoid potential sanctions if they won.
Abbas, 81, has faced political pressure as opinion polls have suggested most Palestinians would like him to step down.
Philippines' Duterte wants China sea patrols to stop kidnappings
President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he has asked China to send sea patrols to help stop Islamic militants abducting sailors and attacking vessels off the southern Philippines.
Duterte said he would like Beijing to dispatch a fleet like it did in 2009 when it sent a naval convoy to the Gulf of Aden to protect Chinese ships from Somali pirates.
"I also asked China if they can patrol the international waters without necessarily intruding into the territorial waters of countries," Duterte said in a speech to newly promoted Filipino generals.
Since his election last year, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has been pivoting away from America and moving closer to China WU HONG (POOL/AFP/File)
"Grey ships are not really needed," he said, an apparent reference to warships.
"I said even coast guard cutters would do, just to patrol, like what they did in Somalia."
Manila has said militant groups are trying to establish an Islamic State-backed caliphate in Southeast Asia that would include the Philippines' southern island of Mindanao.
Duterte pointedly made his appeal for help to China rather than the United States, which has traditionally been the country's main defence ally.
Since his election last year, Duterte has responded to US criticism of his deadly war on crime by pivoting away from America and moving closer to China, despite ongoing territorial disputes between the two.
Abu Sayyaf, one of the groups seeking to set up a caliphate, began kidnapping sailors in waters between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines last year, taking several dozen hostages and attacking cargo ships.
Indonesia has warned the region could become the "next Somalia" and the three later pledged coordinated patrols.
EU's Tusk warns of Trump 'threat'
EU chief Donald Tusk warned on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump's administration was a "threat" facing the bloc along with China, Russia and radical Islam.
In a strongly worded letter to EU leaders ahead of a summit in Malta, Tusk said the bloc must take "spectacular steps" to stay together and should take advantage of Trump's isolationism to boost trade with other countries.
The former Polish prime minister said in the wake of the Brexit vote the European Union faced "three threats" that made the 28-nation bloc's situation "more dangerous than ever before".
President Donald Tusk talks to the media at the end of a European Union Summit in Brussels on December 15, 2016 THIERRY CHARLIER (AFP)
"The first threat, an external one, is related to the new geopolitical situation in the world and around Europe," European Council president Tusk said in the letter obtained by AFP.
"An increasingly, let us call it, assertive China, especially on the seas, Russia's aggressive policy towards Ukraine and its neighbours, wars, terror and anarchy in the Middle East and in Africa, with radical Islam playing a major role, as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration all make our future highly unpredictable," Tusk said.
"Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy," Tusk added.
The second threat, said Tusk, was the internal challenge posed by a rise in anti-EU nationalism, and the third was the "state of mind of the pro-European elites" who were too keen to pander to populism to win votes.
EU leaders have become increasingly concerned by Trump's recent ban on migration from seven Muslim countries, plus comments in which he appeared to back Britain's exit from the EU and the eventual break-up of the union.
- 'Dependence on USA, Russia, China' -
All 28 EU leaders will discuss Europe's migration crisis at Friday's summit in Valletta, Malta.
They will then meet without British Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the future after Brexit, and preparations for a summit in Rome in March to mark the 60th anniversary of the EU's founding treaty.
Tusk added that "only together can EU countries be fully independent. Disintegration will only result in dependence on USA, Russia and China."
"We must therefore take assertive and spectacular steps that would change the collective emotions and revive the aspiration to raise European integration to the next level," he said.
These included securing Europe's borders, boosting the economy and increased cooperation on defence and security, Tusk added.
Europe should in the meantime seek to boost its own trade with the rest of the world even as the United States tightens its frontiers.
"We should use the change in the trade strategy of the US to the EU's advantage by intensifying our talks with interested partners, while defending our interests at the same time," Tusk added.
But he warned that European-American ties were still essential for the future.
"We cannot surrender to those who want to weaken or invalidate the transatlantic bond, without which global order and peace cannot survive," he said.
Trump's travel ban blocks Iraqi family's move to US
If they had known what would happen, Fuad Sharif and his wife would have waited before quitting their jobs, selling their belongings and leaving Iraq with their children for the US.
Sharif and his family are among a growing number of people whose lives have been upended by travel restrictions ordered by President Donald Trump on seven Muslim-majority countries with the stated aim of keeping America safe from "radical Islamic terrorists".
"After two years of waiting... they confirmed that I do not represent any danger to the United States and the American people," Sharif, 51, told AFP.
Fuad Sharif, who worked fo a US-based non-profit organisation contracted by the American government, was barred from entering the US SAFIN HAMED (AFP)
"On this basis, they gave me an immigration visa," said Sharif, who worked with RTI International, a US-based non-profit organisation contracted by the American government to work on issues including local governance in Iraq.
Sharif said he was hoping for a "new life" in the US, but now he and his family are back in Iraq.
Sitting with his wife and children at a house in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region among a number of bags they had planned to take with them to America, Sharif's disappointment is clear.
"I helped the American government and worked with them in a time of crises and put my life in danger," he said, noting that some of his colleagues were killed.
"Trump and his new administration let us down," Sharif said.
The family travelled to Cairo and they were preparing to fly to the US from there, but were barred from boarding their flight.
- No jobs, no school -
An employee at the airport gave the family their boarding cards, but later returned and said: "Just a minute, just a minute -- you are prohibited from travelling to the United States."
When asked why, the employee cited an "email from the American embassy in Baghdad warning us that you are prevented from travelling", Sharif said.
The next flight back to Arbil was not until the following morning, meaning that he, his wife and their three children had to spend some 25 hours at Cairo airport before they could leave.
Now they are back in Iraq, staying at his brother-in-law's empty home and living off savings.
Before leaving, "I had to sell my belongings and resign from my work and my wife resigned from her work and my children left school," Sharif said.
"I am relying on the money I have to live... now I am without work and my wife is without work and the children are without schools."
Trump's travel restrictions -- coming as Iraq battles the Islamic State jihadist group which the president has repeatedly cast as a threat to America -- have sparked a growing backlash in Baghdad.
Iraq has called on the US to review the move, terming it a "wrong decision", and parliament voted Monday to back reciprocal restrictions on Americans if Washington does not change course.
But for now, Sharif and others are left in limbo.
"I sent a request to the American embassy in Baghdad" asking "what they advise me" to do, he said.
"Until now, I have not received a response."
Donald Trump, immigration and refugees
Saudi, other Muslims spared ban as US allies: experts
Gulf monarchies, notably Saudi Arabia, and other major Muslim nations have been spared the US travel ban because they are crucial allies of Washington and not "failed states", experts say.
President Donald Trump's controversial executive order on Friday singled out citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen to prevent "radical Islamic terrorists" from entering the United States.
But the ban, which could still extend to other states, has exempted Muslim-majority nations associated with major attacks in the West.
Demonstrators protest President Donald Trump's executive immigration ban at O'Hare International Airport on January 29, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois Joshua LOTT (AFP/File)
Out of the 19 hijackers of planes used in the September 11, 2011 attacks, 15 came from Saudi Arabia, also the birthplace of Al-Qaeda founder and attack mastermind Osama bin Laden.
The other four included the Egyptian plot leader, two Emiratis and a Lebanese.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf and Arab nations are also home to scores of jihadists who have joined Al-Qaeda and its rival Islamic State group, both of which have been behind deadly attacks in Europe.
But the kingdom, cradle of the austere Sunni doctrine of Wahhabism, has traditionally been a strategic ally of Washington.
"Trump appears to consider -- in line with longstanding mainstream US policy -- the Gulf states as crucial allies for the United States government," said Adam Baron, a visiting fellow and Yemen specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
"The nations appear to have been chosen due to their governments' poor relations with the US or their precarious state," he said.
Saudi Arabia has been in war with Al-Qaeda for more than a decade, hitting what it calls the "deviant group" with an iron fist. It is also in the US-led coalition fighting IS, along with other Gulf states.
- US partners -
The ban is not about "countries where we have close partnerships with their counter-terrorism forces and where there is a well-developed structure of intelligence cooperation", said Anthony Cordesman, from the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
The same applies to Egypt, the Arab world's most-populous nation and birthplace of the transnational Muslim Brotherhood -- branded as terrorist by Cairo and main Gulf states.
"Egypt and Saudi Arabia are seen as the main US partners in the region," said Victor Salama, political science professor at Cairo University, highlighting a "convergence in points of view" between Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
"Sisi was the first to congratulate Trump" from the Middle East after the November election, Salama noted.
Intelligence cooperation with Cairo could also mean Washington finds the "Egyptian services reliable enough to trust them in controlling their nationals", said Tawfik Aclimandos, a lecturer in political science at Cairo University.
Hot on the heels of the travel ban, Trump called Saudi King Salman and UAE strongman Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi's crown prince.
Trump agreed with both on cooperation to fight "radical Islamic terrorism", the White House said.
He also agreed with the Saudi monarch to "rigorously" enforce the nuclear agreement with Riyadh's arch-foe Iran, an agreement that Trump had opposed.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Since Saudi Arabia is the enemy of Iran in the region and Iran is the enemy of Israel, then the US is the friend of Saudi Arabia," argued Mathieu Guidere, a Paris-based professor of Middle East geopolitics.
- Business interests -
But as much as strategic ties affect the ban, the decision was based on "indicators of failed states" that are "unable to ensure security and exchange data with the US about their citizens", Guidere said.
The billionaire president's business interests have also been cited as why some countries were not on the list.
A map compiled by Bloomberg showed that Trump has business ties with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE.
But analysts downplay such a claim.
"Getting the occasional fee for selling a brand name is not really enough to motivate a president," said Cordesman.
Beyond the Middle East, Trump has business interests in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country and one that has long struggled with Islamic militancy and suffered deadly attacks.
"He doesn't want to jeopardise that," said Tobias Basuki, a political analyst from Jakarta-based think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
He said that Indonesia as "a democracy" is not a threat.
"Of course within his so-called constituency, no one is afraid of Indonesia. Right-wing conservatives don't even know where Indonesia is, so it's not a problem for him," Basuki said.
- Afghan support needed -
Leading Taliban expert Rahimullah Yousafzai said sparing Afghanistan might be because of the US presence in the country where it is fighting its longest ever war, with security issues spiralling more than 15 years on.
"They have their troops and they need people's support there," he said, adding that if the administration imposes restrictions on Afghans, "it might send the wrong signal, that the United States and NATO have not been able to stabilise the country".
According to Afghan writer Ahmad Rezaee, "Afghanistan is considered an ally and the US needs Afghanistan in this region".
"Afghanistan might not be on the list as there are a lot of business deals and economic ties between it and America, or the administration in DC might fear that listing Afghanistan would be read as signifying the 2001 intervention was a failure," said Kate Clark, director of the Afghan Analysts network.
As for keeping Pakistan off the list, Yousafzai said the US administration needs Islamabad's support because of neighbouring Afghanistan.
Pakistan's status as a nuclear power "might be a factor" also, he added.
But regardless of the countries affected, the ban "will be problematic no matter where Trump wants to apply it, whether weak or strong states", said Ibrahim Fraihat, conflict resolution professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
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
Syria anti-IS forces say US sent them armoured cars
A coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria has received US armoured vehicles for the first time and a promise of new American support, a coalition spokesman said Tuesday.
"American armoured vehicles have arrived for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for the first time. This happened after the new US administration came to power," spokesman Talal Sello told AFP.
He said the decision to supply the vehicles was taken by President Donald Trump's administration, rather than in a simple continuation of US support under former president Barack Obama.
Fighters from the Kurdish-Arab alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces advance towards the Islamic State group bastion in Raqa in December 2016 DELIL SOULEIMAN (AFP/File)
"Before we used to receive light weapons, ammunition... with these armoured vehicles we've entered a new phase in the (US) support. It's a sign," Sello added.
"We have had meetings with representatives of the new administration, and they promised us extra support."
The SDF has long been a key partner of the US-led coalition fighting IS in Syria and Iraq, and Washington has previously supplied the coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters with light weaponry and has sent US and other Western special forces as "advisers".
The US-led coalition has also backed the force with heavy air strikes targeting IS fighters.
The alliance has caused tensions between Washington and ally Turkey, which considers the main component of the SDF -- the Kurdish YPG force -- to be a "terrorist" organisation.
The SDF has been battling since November 5 to oust the jihadists from the city of Raqa, the group's de facto capital in Syria.
Sello said the Trump administration had pledged extra support "particularly in the fight for Raqa".
In a two-month offensive, the SDF has taken large areas of northern Raqa province.
The alliance was formed in October 2015, after the YPG Kurdish militia had already scored a string of victories against IS in northern Syria with air support from the US-led coalition.
Trump has said his focus in Syria will be battling IS, and on Saturday signed an executive order giving the US military 30 days to devise a plan to "defeat" the jihadist group.
Pistorius prosecutor 'the bulldog' resigns
South African prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who came to worldwide attention for securing the murder conviction of Oscar Pistorius, has resigned to join a lobby group.
Nel's forensic questioning and ferocious style attracted global interest as the so-called "blade runner" trial was broadcast around the world after double amputee Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Pistorius claimed he mistook Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, for a burglar when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, a claim that Nel hotly contested.
South African prosecutor Gerrie Nel came to worldwide attention for securing the murder conviction of Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius
"You killed a person, that's what you did! You shot and killed her, won't you take responsibility for that?" he said during the trial.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku confirmed Nel's departure to AFP.
"We can confirm that prosecutor Gerrie Nel handed in his resignation (on) January 30," he said.
Nel, who was dubbed "the bulldog" during his 36-year career, told a press conference he will join Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum to pursue prosecutions on their behalf.
South Africa's Afrikaner community are descendants of the first European settlers in the country. Many members of the community claim they have faced discrimination at schools, universities and the workplace since the end of apartheid.
- 'Aiming high' -
AfriForum is a mainly white Afrikaner civil rights group that lobbies on issues including farm murders, hate speech and language rights, and is often critical of the African National Congress party, which has ruled South Africa for over two decades.
"I think it's a brilliant new concept and I think it's necessary," Nel said.
"AfriForum will fund all the prosecutions. We're aiming high."
AfriForum's chief executive Kallie Kriel said that "nobody is above the law" after he was asked whether President Jacob Zuma might be one of those subject to a private prosecution.
Zuma is facing some 783 criminal charges relating to allegations of corruption, racketeering and money laundering over a multi-billion dollar arms procurement deal by the government in the late 1990s.
In July, Pistorius was given a six-year jail term after an appeals court upgraded his manslaughter conviction to murder.
He had earlier been given a five-year sentence and was released on parole after one year.
Nel led the state's criticism of Pistorius' six-year sentence, calling it "shockingly lenient and disturbingly inappropriate".
Pistorius killed his 35-year-old partner at the peak of his fame, following his historic performance in London in 2012 when he became the first double-amputee to race at Olympic level.
Nel was already well known in South Africa before taking the case but became renowned during the Pistorius trial due to his sharp eye for detail and his take-no-prisoners approach.
His interrogations prompted at least one complaint to South Africa's Human Rights Commission -- which later found Nel had no case to answer.
'El Chapo' wants his day in US court
Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, one of the world's most notorious criminals, is demanding to appear in person at his next US court hearing and not by video link.
Judge Brian Cogan last week ordered that 59-year-old Guzman, who spectacularly escaped from prison twice in Mexico, appear by video link for the brief procedural hearing to "minimize disruption from physical transportation."
But in a five-page letter dated Monday, his American public defenders told Cogan that Guzman "objects" and requests to "be physically present in the courtroom" on Friday and at other future hearings.
Joaquin Guzman aka "El Chapo" (C) is escorted in Ciudad Juarez by the Mexican police as he is extradited to the United States on January 19, 2017
Guzman, accused of running one of the world's biggest drug empires, was extradited to the United States on January 19 and appeared without handcuffs and without incident to plead not guilty to a raft of firearms, drug trafficking and conspiracy charges during a brief hearing on January 20.
Since then, he has been held in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, unable to make telephone calls or communicate directly with his family or lawyers in Mexico, his lawyers said.
"He is locked in a cell 23 hours a day and only allowed to leave to meet with his attorneys and for one hour of solitary exercise," they wrote in the letter.
"His absence from the courtroom would necessarily lead to the public impression that Mr Guzman is too dangerous to be brought to the courtroom."
The letter complained that Guzman's extradition, which his lawyers had strenuously resisted, came "suddenly and without warning to his attorneys."
In New York he is charged on a sweeping 17-count indictment that spans decades of alleged criminal enterprise, drug importation, illegal use of firearms and money laundering conspiracy.
The MCC is a two-mile (three-kilometer) drive from Cogan's federal court room in Brooklyn and has stringent security measures. In the past, a handful of inmates have nonetheless managed to escape.
Guzman escaped from prison in Mexico for the first time in 2001 in a laundry cart and through a tunnel under his shower in 2015.
Amnesty warns of crimes against humanity in Philippines
Philippine police may have committed crimes against humanity by killing thousands of alleged drug offenders or paying others to murder as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, Amnesty International said Wednesday.
An Amnesty report, which followed an in-depth investigation into the drug war, also outlined what it said were other widespread police crimes aside from extrajudicial killings that mainly targeted the poor.
"Acting on orders from the very top, policemen and unknown killers have been targeting anybody remotely suspected of using of selling drugs," Rawya Rageh, a senior crisis adviser for Amnesty, told AFP.
Policemen stand at a crime scene where the body of an alleged criminal lies on the street, in December 2016 NOEL CELIS (AFP)
"Our investigation shows that this wave of extrajudicial killings has been widespread, deliberate and systematic, and therefore may amount to crimes against humanity."
Among a litany of alleged crimes, Amnesty accused police of shooting dead defenceless people, fabricating evidence, paying assassins to murder drug addicts and stealing from those they killed or the victims' relatives.
It also said police were being paid by their superiors to kill, and documented victims as young as eight years old.
"The police are behaving like the criminal underworld that they are supposed to be enforcing the law against," the report said.
Duterte won presidential elections last year after promising during the campaign to eradicate drugs in society within six months by killing tens of thousands of people.
- 'Murderous war on poor' -
On one occasion Duterte vowed that 100,000 people would be killed and so many bodies would be dumped in Manila Bay that the fish there would grow fat from feeding on them.
Duterte launched his crackdown immediately upon taking office seven months ago.
Since then, police have reported killing 2,555 people while nearly 4,000 others have died in unexplained circumstances, according to official figures.
As president, Duterte has repeatedly urged police to kill drug users as well as traffickers.
Duterte said in December he had personally killed people when he was mayor of a southern city to set an example for police.
Three months earlier he said he would be "happy to slaughter" three million drug addicts, and likened his campaign to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's efforts to exterminate Jews in Europe.
The Amnesty report said Duterte had incited the police to carry out a murderous war on the poor, and warned that the International Criminal Court would need to start investigating unless Philippine authorities did not stop it soon.
"The police killings are driven by pressures from the top, including an order to 'neutralise' alleged drug offenders, as well as financial incentives. They have created an informal economy of death," the report said.
Amnesty said it investigated the deaths of 59 people, and found the majority of them were extrajudicial killings.
- 'I will surrender, sir' -
In a number of cases witnesses to killings or victims' relatives told Amnesty that the person shot dead was unarmed and had not resisted arrest. Police also planted drugs and weapons that they later "seized" as evidence, Amnesty said.
"I will surrender, I will surrender, sir," Gener Rondina, 38, told police after they broke into his home in the central city of Cebu, a witness told Amnesty.
Rondina then knelt and raised his arms behind his head but police then shot him dead, Amnesty said, citing the witness.
When family members were allowed into the house six hours after Gener was shot, valuables including a laptop, watch and money were missing, according to Amnesty.
Police alleged Rondina had a gun and they acted in self defence, and the method of killing as well as the justification was typical of the drug war, Amnesty said.
Amnesty also warned that the lists of drug suspects that police were using to target people were deeply flawed.
This was partly because many people were placed on the lists simply after being reported by fellow community members, without any further investigation, according to Amnesty.
Duterte had until this week been unrepentant in response to criticism of his drug war and the police, insisting he was acting within the law but that extreme measures must be taken to stop the Philippines from becoming a narco state.
After a series of scandals emerged over the past month in which police were caught committing murder, kidnapping, extortion and robbery, Duterte this week ordered them to stop all activities related to the drug war.
He described the police force as "corrupt to the core" and vowed to cleanse it.
But he also vowed the drug war would continue until the last day of his term, in 2022.
He said police would return to the drug war after he reorganised the force and, in the meantime, the military would become more involved.
Philippines drug war John SAEKI (AFP)
Since Rodrigo Duterte took office police have reportedly killed 2,551 people while nearly 4,000 others have died in unexplained circumstances, according to official figures NOEL CELIS (AFP/File)
After Nobel, Dylan plans latest Sinatra album
Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his rock poetry, but he is returning to classics with his new album which marks his latest collection of Frank Sinatra standards.
"Triplicate," which will come out on March 31, will be Dylan's first three-disc album and his third successive album consisting of covers of tunes performed by Sinatra.
Dylan released a first track from "Triplicate" -- a take on "I Could Have Told You," originally released by Sinatra in 1954, with the rock legend's grainy voice over a melancholy slide guitar.
Bob Dylan, pictured in 2012, plans a tour of Europe in April and May of 2017 and was recently announced as a headliner of the Firefly festival to take place in the eastern US state of Delaware FRED TANNEAU (AFP/File)
Other songs Dylan covers on "Triplicate" include "The Best Is Yet To Come," one of Sinatra's most famous songs whose title is inscribed on his tombstone; "As Time Goes By," best known for the piano scene in classic film "Casablanca"; and "Stardust," a perennial American favorite since Hoagy Carmichael's 1927 original.
While Sinatra is the common thread on "Triplicate," Dylan's 38th studio album, the 30 songs come from a range of songwriters. Dylan picked the selection and recorded them with his touring band at Capitol studios in Hollywood, his label said.
At 75, Dylan has shown no sign of slowing down. He plans a tour of Europe in April and May and was recently announced as a headliner of the Firefly festival to take place in June in the eastern US state of Delaware.
But Dylan was characteristically reticent in October when he was the surprise winner of literature's most celebrated prize, with the Nobel Committee hailing his unique rock voice.
He did not show up to the prize ceremony in Stockholm in December, although he sent a speech read by the US ambassador in which he said he was "honored" to receive the award.
It was unclear when Dylan recorded "Triplicate," although he cited pre-existing commitments for his failure to attend the Nobel ceremony.
Dylan released a first album of Sinatra covers in 2015, "Shadows in the Night," and a second one last year, "Fallen Angels."
US Democrats boycott votes on Trump Treasury, health picks
US Senate Democrats blocked committee votes Tuesday on two of Donald Trump's nominations for key cabinet posts, drawing White House charges of obstruction amid sharpening partisan tensions.
"Today Senate Finance Democrats refused to move forward with nominations of Mnuchin & Price," Senator Ron Wyden, top Democrat on the finance committee, said on Twitter, referring to Treasury secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin and Tom Price, Trump's pick for health secretary.
The White House offered a swift and firm rebuke of the boycott, with press secretary Sean Spicer calling it "truly outrageous" and accusing Democrats of seeking to stall the workings of government.
With empty seats of Democrats at to his right, Senator Orrin Hatch speaks during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee to vote on the nominations of cabinet nominees Tom Price and Steve Mnuchin, on Capitol Hill, January 31, 2017 Drew Angerer (GETTY/AFP)
Despite the political clashes, one cabinet member managed to win confirmation Tuesday: Elaine Chao to be the next transportation secretary. Three others advanced to the full Senate, after winning approval in committee.
But Democrats, alarmed by what they see as extreme picks for a raft of key posts and angered by Trump's aggressive first week in office, have dug in their heels.
They also brought to a crawl the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to advance Trump's pick for attorney general, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, forcing postponement of the vote on Sessions until Wednesday.
"This is not just a hearing on a nomination. This is a constitutional moment," the number two Senate Democrat Dick Durbin said in an empassioned speech opposing the nomination of Sessions, who Democrats see as an architect of Trump's controversial immigration executive order.
The furor over the order, which temporarily bars travel to the United States by refugees and by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, has colored the confirmation debate.
Tensions escalated Monday night after Trump fired acting attorney general Sally Yates, an Obama holdover, for questioning the orders legality and instructing Justice Department lawyers not to defend it.
- 'Unwilling' to speak out? -
"My fear is that Senator Sessions will be unwilling or unable to stand up and speak out" against the president, as Yates did, said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat.
Wyden said Democrats' concerns about Price focus on a "litany of ethics revelations" related to allegations that he invested in a medical company that stood to benefit from legislation the Georgia congressman co-sponsored.
As for Mnuchin, Wyden tweeted that he "continued to fail to come clean on shady foreclosure practices that hurt Americans."
Mnuchin, a Wall Street banker and Hollywood financier, was accused during his confirmation hearing of failing to disclose offshore holdings, and was grilled over the home mortgage foreclosure practices of a bank he owned.
Senate Finance Committee chairman Orrin Hatch was furious as he sat in a hearing with no Democrats.
"It's a sad time when this bipartisan committee has become a prop in a partisan sideshow," he fumed.
"I think they ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots."
Senate rules require at least one lawmaker from the opposition party to be present for votes to be held.
Democrats told Hatch they wanted more time to demand new information from the nominees.
Trump has repeatedly assailed Democrats for slow-walking nominations for political reasons.
"They should be ashamed of themselves!" Trump tweeted early Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Chao was confirmed as transportation secretary in a bipartisan Senate vote of 93-6.
Chao, who served as labor secretary under president George W. Bush, would be one of just four women in Trump's cabinet.
Vice President Mike Pence is expected to swear in Chao later Tuesday, making her the fourth confirmed official of cabinet rank, joining Defense Secretary James Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, CIA chief Mike Pompeo, and the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley.
Three other Trump nominees advanced Tuesday to the full Senate, after being approved in committee: Rick Perry for energy secretary; Ryan Zinke for interior secretary; and Betsy DeVos to head the Education Department.
The White House offered a swift and firm rebuke of the boycott, with press secretary Sean Spicer, seen January 31, 2017, calling it "truly outrageous" and accusing Democrats of seeking to stall the workings of government NICHOLAS KAMM (AFP)
Elaine Chao testifies during her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. secretary of transportation before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee as her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY-R) looks on CHIP SOMODEVILLA (GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File)
Treasury Secretary nominee, Steven Mnuchin, testifies during his Senate Finance committee hearing on Capitol Hill, on January 19, 2017 MARK WILSON (GETTY/AFP/File)
Israel sets up cyber education centre: Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced the creation of a National Centre for Cyber Education to train young people in a sector he views as key.
The new facility will have a $6-million budget over the next five years, Netanyahu told students in Tel Aviv on the sidelines of the Cybertech 2017 international conference.
Its aim will be to "increase the number and raise the level of young Israelis for their future integration into the Israeli security services, industry and the academic world," he said in a statement released by his office.
Israeli Prime Minister and Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu gestures during a meeting with party members at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on January 30, 2017 MENAHEM KAHANA (AFP)
It will focus on "the development of programmes and education for children, youth and graduates in the cyber sphere," it added.
Israel is a world leader in cyber security with 65 start-ups created last year, according to a report by Start-Up Nation Central, a non-profit organisation in the Jewish state.
A record $581 million allocated last year -- an increase of 9 percent over 2015 -- put Israel second in the world after the United States for the volume of venture capital funds in the sector.
At the end of 2016, there were 365 companies specialising in cyber security in the country compared with 187 four years previously.
The rapidly increasing sector can be explained partly by ex-members of elite military intelligence groups such as Unit 8200 founding their own start-ups after their military service ends.
Many former members of such units are also employed in existing firms specialising in cyber security, either inside Israel or abroad.
Japan to offer US job boost to Trump: Kyodo
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will propose plans to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the US when he meets President Donald Trump at an upcoming summit in Washington, Kyodo news reported Tuesday.
Tokyo is busy putting together an investment package which "would translate into hundreds of thousands" of new US jobs, Kyodo said, citing unnamed Japanese government sources.
Abe will pitch Japanese companies' cooperation in projects like high-speed rail construction and shale oil development, the report added.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, seen January 24, 2017, will take up the issue of auto trade at the summit and stress economic contributions of Japanese automakers' investments and jobs in the US, according to Kyodo news TORU YAMANAKA (AFP/File)
The package is to be put forward when the two leaders meet on February 10.
Japan is one of Washington's closest allies but Trump alarmed Tokyo policymakers during his election campaign late last year by musing about pulling thousands of US troops from the region and suggesting that officially pacifist Japan may need nuclear weapons.
Kyodo said that Abe will take up the issue of auto trade at the summit and stress economic contributions of Japanese automakers' investments and jobs in the US.
Earlier this month Trump set off concerns about the fate of Japanese firms doing business in the United States after threatening Toyota with punitive tariffs over its new vehicle plant in Mexico.
Toyota later said it will invest $600 million and create 400 jobs at one of its US plants -- just weeks after Trump criticised the Japanese auto giant.
Trump, speaking to a group of pharmaceutical executives at a White House meeting on Tuesday, accused Japan of currency manipulation.
"You look at what China is doing and what Japan has done over the years, and they played the money market and the devaluation market and we sit there like a bunch of dummies," he said.
However, in a telephone conversation on Sunday Trump and Abe agreed to work together to counter the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear program and deepen bilateral trade and investment.
The call came days after Trump formally withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a vast trade deal encompassing a dozen nations that Abe has backed enthusiastically.
US participation is seen as key to the agreement and Abe has said he would keep trying to convince Trump of its merits. The trade deal was negotiated under former president Barack Obama. Trump yanked the deal before the US Congress was able to consider ratification.
Trump hypes Supreme Court announcement
President Donald Trump was set to announce his nominee to sit on the US Supreme Court Tuesday -- a prime-time choice between two shortlisted finalists with more than a hint of reality TV drama.
Trump's pick to fill the long-vacant ninth position on the bench will likely swing the court in the conservatives' favor -- with significant ramifications for issues from gender rights to gun control.
For the new Republican leader, the selection is part of a tacit election compact with conservatives, some of whom reluctantly backed him after he promised to choose an anti-abortion, pro-gun justice.
A Supreme Court seat has been open since justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016 KAREN BLEIER (AFP/File)
"For 70 percent of the voters, the president's choice for supreme court was an important factor in their choice at the ballot box in November," White House spokesman Sean Spicer acknowledged Tuesday.
The Supreme Court seat has been vacant since the death of Antonin Scalia on February 13, 2016.
For the better part of a year, Congressional Republicans refused to give then president Barack Obama's pick a confirmation hearing.
"I have made my decision on who I will nominate for The United States Supreme Court. It will be announced live on Tuesday at 8:00 P.M," Trump tweeted, ramping up the drama for a normally sober occasion.
Trump described his deliberations as a "very big decision" and said the pick was someone "unbelievably highly respected."
The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of many of the most sensitive issues of American life and law.
Its members, who must be confirmed by the Senate, are named to life terms so their influence is long-lasting.
Trump had said he would announce his pick on Thursday, but then moved the date up amid a raging controversy over his short term ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
- 'Unprecedented' spectacle? -
Among those tipped as frontrunners for the post are Neil Gorsuch, 49, a respected appellate court judge who is considered an ideological match to Scalia.
Also in the running is Thomas Hardiman, 51, also an appellate court judge with a record as a defender of gun rights, police powers and the rights of local governments to display the Ten Commandments.
Once confirmed, however, justices enjoy independence and some have proved politically unpredictable.
"It is unprecedented for a sitting president to create such a spectacle over a Supreme Court nomination," Adam Feldman wrote on his Empirical SCOTUS blog.
"It would not be unprecedented for President Trump to have a trick up his sleeve."
A third appellate court judge, William Pryor, a 54-year-old former Alabama attorney general, is seen as another possible nominee.
- Scales of justice, balance of power -
Given the advanced age of several sitting justices, Trump could potentially make several appointments during his term, shaping the court's direction for a generation.
But Democrats, who are in a minority in both chambers of Congress, are still smarting from Republican hardball tactics over Obama's pick Merrick Garland.
Garland has since returned to his old job as chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington, but Democrats could yet pick a fight.
And although Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate, they need 60 to confirm a nominee.
That means Trump's choice must be someone capable of winning some Democratic votes.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to fight "tooth and nail" if Trump nominates someone unacceptable to Democrats, an outcome considered likely.
"That just shows you that it's all about politics, it's not about qualification," Spicer told reporters.
"The president has a right to have his nominees taken up," he said.
US travel 'extreme vetting' to include social media, phone contacts
Travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries singled out for "extreme vetting" will face scrutiny of their social media footprint and phone records, the new Homeland Security secretary said Tuesday.
Secretary John Kelly sought to explain President Donald Trump's travel ban four days after he issued it with no warning, setting off mass protests, legal challenges and confusion.
"There are many countries, seven that we are dealing with right now, that in our view and my view don't have the kind of law enforcement, records-keeping, that kind of thing, that can convince us that one of their citizens is indeed who that citizen says they are," Kelly said in a press conference.
US authorities will investigate visa applicants' social media use and telephone contacts, "so that we can see who they are talking to," said Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly LOIC VENANCE (AFP/File)
For that reason, he said, US authorities will investigate visa applicants' social media use and telephone contacts, "so that we can see who they are talking to."
On Friday, Trump ordered a suspension of arrivals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, as well as all refugees, to give time for the new government to develop procedures for extreme vetting to weed out potential extremists.
With the move under widespread criticism, Kelly denied it specifically targets Muslims, which could violate the US Constitution.
"The vast majority of the 1.7 billion Muslims that live on this planet, all other things being equal, have access to the United States," he said.
"And a relatively small number right now are being held up for a period of time until we can take a look at what their procedures are."
- Longer ban possible -
Trump's order halted immigration from the seven countries for at least 90 days, but Kelly suggested that for some the ban could go on longer if stronger vetting procedures are not in place once the review period has elapsed.
"Some of those countries that are on the list may not be taken off the list anytime soon. There are countries that are in various states of collapse, for example," Kelly said, without offering specifics.
The sudden order caught many US immigration gateways and foreign airlines by surprise, resulting in many people with legal US residency being blocked from boarding aircraft for the United States or being detained upon arrival.
US Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan cleared up an issue that had impacted many travelers with dual nationality, saying they could enter the United States as long as the passport they present is acceptable.
"Travelers will be assessed at our borders based on the passport that they present, not any dual national status," he said.
That clarification got a cheer from Europe's Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos, who tweeted after speaking by phone with Kelly: "Glad that issue of EU dual nationals is resolved."
Trump travel ban could mean no bride, no wedding
It's the wedding without a bride: Donald Trump's ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries has left an American groom heartbroken, his Iranian wife in shock and their plans to celebrate on ice -- indefinitely.
Roozbeh Aliabadi, a 32-year-old managing partner in a consulting firm, and Zhinous, a 31-year-old architect, met at a party two years ago in Tehran and fell in love. They married legally last June in Iran.
Aliabadi returned to America and applied for his wife to join him, excited to introduce her to the country he loves, celebrate their wedding properly and settle down -- with Zhinous looking for jobs and Aliabadi applying for PhD programs.
Protesters demonstrate US President Donald Trump's travel restrictions during a protest on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court and across the street from the U.S. Capitol January 30, 2017 WIN MCNAMEE (GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File)
On January 17, in the dying days of the Barack Obama administration, they heard her permanent residency had been approved. Ecstatic, the couple thought they would be reunited by Valentine's Day.
Ten days later, Trump suspended visas for people from the seven countries -- Iran included -- for 90 days to review vetting procedures and determine whether requirements needed to be tightened.
"I was heartbroken," Aliabadi told AFP in a telephone interview from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where his family is based.
Never in his wildest dreams did he think this would happen in America.
"I don't think we can have a wedding if you don't have a bride," he said.
"Frankly, we just stopped planning."
- Love is stronger -
Not normally one to make his personal life public, Aliabadi posted a picture of the couple on Twitter with a heartfelt message for Trump.
In the photograph, Zhinous is wearing a checked shirt, her hair braided. He wears a blazer and shirt. He wanted to inspire empathy for regular people affected by the explosive order.
"Our love will be stronger than ur ban & wall," Aliabadi wrote. The tweet quickly went viral.
"We all care about making the United States safe," he told AFP. "What I wanted to show is these types of things have obstructed the way we're living."
Aliabadi says he has experienced prejudice as a Muslim in the past but says nothing comes close to the temporary travel ban -- not even in the days after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"As horrific as those events were, I felt a sense of responsibility. Today people like me, they feel a sense of fear," he said.
More than one million Iranians live in the United States. A total of 35,000 Iranians visited the United States in 2015 on visas.
Zhinous may have been approved as a resident, but she still needs a visa. To get that, she will need to travel abroad as the US embassy in Tehran closed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution -- a time-consuming and expensive process.
"What type of option do I have? If my wife cannot come to the United States, that means essentially Mr Trump is kicking me out of the United States. Or I should get a divorce, which is not an option," he said.
- Look on the bright side -
He now says he is fighting two public relations battles: one in America to show that Iranians are law-abiding, good people, and another with Zhinous.
"I am trying to tell my wife, 'Don't listen to our 45th president... it's a really great country'."
"She doesn't understand it. She's in a state of shock."
He tries to distract her by being funny and telling her how much he loves her.
An eternal optimist -- his American side, he jokes -- he is confident that the ban will expire and his wife can still come.
"I have tremendous faith in the political system here," he said.
Nevertheless, his in-laws and some of his relatives live in Iran. The couple planned to travel back and forth. What if that becomes difficult?
Like many Iranians, they have relatives scattered around the world by the 1979 Revolution. Will they be able to get visas to come to the wedding?
"I said, 'Honey, look on the bright side. In five years or six years or 10 years we have really, really funny stories to tell our kids," Aliabadi said.
Survivor of B-52 crash in Maine dies at age 94 in Nebraska
OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) One of two survivors of a bomber crash that claimed seven people in the unforgiving wilderness of Maine has died more than 50 years later.
Retired Col. Dante "Dan" Bulli went on to continue flying the strategic B-52 bombers during the height of the Cold War after a long recovery from his injuries following the crash. He was 94 when he died Dec. 30 in Omaha, Nebraska, his son, John, said.
Bulli was at the controls Jan. 24, 1963, when the vertical tail broke off in turbulence over Maine after the B-52 departed Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts during a simulated low-level bombing run. The bomber crashed into Elephant Mountain in western Maine.
In this Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013 file photo, retired Col. Dan "Dante" Bulli poses for a photo at his home in Omaha, Neb. Bulli was the pilot of a B-52 that crashed on a mountainside in Maine 50 years ago, one of two who survived the crash. Bulli died on Dec. 30, 2016 in Omaha. He was 94. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
Seven people died. Bulli and the only other survivor, Gerald Adler, spent 20 hours in the bitter cold before being rescued.
John Bulli said he remembers asking his father if he'd fly again.
"He laughed out loud. He said, 'No I'm not worried about flying again," John Bulli said.
It turns out that the pilot had been in two earlier mishaps in World War II a midair collision in a B-26 Marauder and a crash landing B-24 Liberator and felt the odds were in his favor to finish his Air Force career without further harm.
He was correct.
This is Judy Garland's new resting place in Hollywood after her remains were moved from New York to 'be near her three children'.
The 'Wizard Of Oz' star's body was moved cross-country from a crypt in New York's Ferncliff Cemetery to Hollywood Forever Cemetery - intended as a resting place for daughters Liza Minnelli and Lorna Luft.
The space in the mausoleum, renamed the Judy Garland Pavilion, also has room for all her family including the famed actress-singer's daughters, her son, Joey Luft, and her grandchildren, Hollywood Forever spokeswoman Noelle Berman said.
This is Judy Garland's new resting place in Hollywood after her remains were moved from New York to 'be near her three children'
Garland, star of classic films including 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Meet Me in St. Louis,' died in 1969 at age 47 in London
The 'Wizard Of Oz' star's body was moved cross-country from a crypt in New York's Ferncliff Cemetery to Hollywood Forever Cemetery - intended as a resting place for daughters Liza Minnelli (right) and Lorna Luft (left) and son Joey Luft (center)
'The move to Hollywood was made after many years of family consultations and deliberations,' Berman said Monday.
'Ms. Garland's three children now reside in Southern California and wished to have their mother resting near them.'
The move reflects resolution of an issue involving Garland's fifth husband, according to Victoria Varela, a family spokeswoman.
'When Judy Garland died, her affairs were controlled by her husband, Mickey Deans. Her children had no say in the matter of her burial, so this is at last their opportunity to do what they feel their mother would have wanted in the first place to be united with her family in Hollywood,' Varela said in a statement.
Garland, star of classic films including 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Meet Me in St. Louis,' died in 1969 at age 47 in London. Deans died in 2003.
The move to Hollywood reflects resolution of an issue involving Garland's fifth husband, according to Victoria Varela, a family spokeswoman
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, in the shadow of several historic movie studios, including Paramount Pictures, is the final resting place for many luminaries, among them Cecil B. DeMille and Douglas Fairbanks, and is the site of tributes to others such as Jayne Mansfield
Garland's gated family room is a part of the mausoleum, the cemetery said
Her other spouses included filmmaker Vincent Minnelli, father of Oscar-winning 'Cabaret' star Liza, 70, and producer Sidney Luft, father to actress-singer Lorna, 64, and Joey, 61.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, in the shadow of several historic movie studios, including Paramount Pictures, is the final resting place for many luminaries, among them Cecil B. DeMille and Douglas Fairbanks, and is the site of tributes to others such as Jayne Mansfield.
Trump's travel ban jolts globe, leads to legal fight
NEW YORK (AP) President Donald Trump's decision to suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days and institute a 90-day ban on all entry to the United States from citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries has sent ripples across the globe, provoked a political reaction at home and led to high-stakes legal maneuvering.
In signing the order Friday, Trump was fulfilling a campaign pledge to put in place "extreme vetting" procedures to keep potential terrorists out of the U.S.
The temporary ban on admissions applies to citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The order also halts entry to the U.S. by Syrian refugees indefinitely.
Here's a look at the travel ban:
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WHAT DID IT DO?
The executive order's fast implementation disrupted travel plans across the globe. Travelers of all types, including tourists, students, immigrants and people returning from vacations, were detained at airports after arriving in the U.S. Some remained in custody overnight. Most were released by Monday.
Thousands of people who were counting on the borders being open found themselves in limbo. They included a California man whose 12-year-old daughter, a citizen of Yemen, was prevented from boarding a flight to the U.S., a Syrian doctor who was barred from returning to his studies at Brown University, and an Iranian citizen who found herself stranded in Dubai, unable to return to her home in South Carolina after visiting her mother in Iran.
The suspension also blocked visas for interpreters who risked their lives to help American troops. The Pentagon is now compiling the names of Iraqis who have supported U.S. and coalition personnel to help exempt them from the 90-day immigration ban.
Trump aides say the disruptions are temporary while the administration tightens security procedures.
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IS IT LEGAL?
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, a Democratic appointee, directed Justice Department attorneys Monday not to defend Trump's executive order, saying she was not convinced it was lawful. Trump then fired Yates and named longtime federal prosecutor Dana Boente as her replacement. Boente late Monday night directed the Justice Department to defend Trump's order.
Experts said the temporary ban's legality hinges on questions of a president's authority to control borders and whether the policy discriminates against Muslims. Federal law gives the president the power to keep out "any class of aliens" who "would be detrimental to the interests of the United States." But a different law prevents discrimination in the issuance of an immigrant visa based on a person's nationality or place of birth.
Federal judges in New York and several other states issued orders temporarily blocking the government from deporting people with valid visas. Washington state's attorney general is suing Trump over the order. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also is arguing in a lawsuit that the ban violates the First Amendment's bar of preferential treatment for a religion by appearing to favor Christian over Muslim refugees.
Dissenting diplomats at the State Department were circulating a draft memo Monday lambasting the travel ban, saying it wouldn't make the country safer and would stand "in opposition to the core American and constitutional values that we, as federal employees, took an oath to uphold." White House press secretary Sean Spicer responded that the diplomats should "either get with the program or they can go."
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HOW HAS TRUMP REACTED?
The president ridiculed Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer for choking up at a news conference about the travel ban, accusing him of faking his tears. He blamed disruptions at airports on an airline computer glitch and demonstrations.
And he is doubling down. According to a draft document obtained by The Associated Press, Trump is now considering an executive order calling for the identification and removal "as expeditiously as possible" of any foreigner from the U.S. who takes certain kinds of public welfare benefits. Such immigrants can already be deported under U.S. law, but the proposed order appears to signal a Trump administration effort to crack down on such cases.
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WHO LIKES THE BAN?
Many of the voters who propelled Trump into office. Trump drew cheers on the campaign trail when he explicitly promised to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the U.S. until border security was tightened. Supporters say the travel ban is proof that Trump is a man of his word.
"He's just unafraid," said retired social-service worker Judith Wilkenroh, 72, of Fredrick, Maryland. "He's just going ahead like a locomotive, and I like him more and more every time he does something
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HOW HAVE GLOBAL U.S. CORPORATIONS REACTED?
Harshly. Executives from technology companies, which employ many immigrants, were some of the first to speak out. Tim Cook, the CEO of iPhone maker Apple Inc., told employees in a memo obtained by The Associated Press that his company does not support the order. "Apple would not exist without immigration," Cook said.
Google said it is donating cash to organizations that support immigrants. The heads of Ford, Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs and e-commerce companies Amazon.com Inc., eBay Inc. and Etsy Inc. said they did not support Trump's order, as did the head of video streaming company Netflix Inc.
Deutsche Bank to pay $425M to settle New York probe
NEW YORK (AP) Deutsche (DOY'-chuh) Bank will pay $425 million to settle an investigation by a New York state regulator into a $10 billion money laundering scheme.
The Department of Financial Services said Monday Deutsche also must hire an independent monitor as part of a consent order for violations of laws involving a "mirror trading" scheme.
The regulator found that parties in the bank's Moscow branch purchased Russian stocks in rubles and another party sold the identical stock in the same price and quantity in U.S. dollars through the bank's London office. It says the trades showed no "legitimate economic rationale."
The regulator says Deutsche missed numerous opportunities to detect the scheme due to "extensive compliance failures."
UN to hold urgent meeting on Iran missile test at US request
WASHINGTON (AP) The U.N. Security Council scheduled urgent consultations Tuesday on an Iranian ballistic missile test at the request of the United States.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said it wanted the U.N.'s most powerful body to discuss Sunday's launch of a medium-range missile.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said earlier that he did not know the "exact nature" of the test and expected to have more information later.
A defense official said the missile test ended with a "failed" re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Iran is the subject of a United Nations Security Council resolution prohibiting tests of ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear warhead. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal, the U.N. ban was prolonged by eight years, although Iran has flaunted the restriction.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the U.S. Security Council resolution.
"When actions are taken that violate or are inconsistent with the resolution, we will act to hold Iran accountable and urge other countries to do so as well," Toner said.
Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Iran for the missile test.
"No longer will Iran be given a pass for its repeated ballistic missile violations, continued support of terrorism, human rights abuses and other hostile activities that threaten international peace and security," Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said in a written statement.
Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, meanwhile, claimed a successful missile strike against a warship in the Red Sea belonging to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting alongside Yemen's internationally recognized government. Video footage shown on the rebels' al-Masirah television on Monday shows a warship being hit and a fire on board starting as a man not shown in the video shouts the rebels' trademark chant of "Allahu akbar (God is greatest), death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam."
Dutch woman rescued after health crisis on Antarctic cruise
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) A Dutch tourist aboard a cruise ship near Antarctica who suffered a suspected stroke was successfully evacuated Tuesday to a U.S. base on the frozen continent.
New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre said the 66-year-old woman was flown by the ship's helicopter to McMurdo Station and is due fly to New Zealand on Wednesday where she will receive further medical treatment.
Chris Henshaw, a senior search and rescue officer, said the inhospitable conditions make medical rescues in Antarctica complex and challenging.
"It's a long way from anywhere," he said. "There's not a lot of support out there."
He said the woman was cared for by a doctor aboard the cruise ship Ortelius, which sailed 670 kilometers (416 miles) off its normal route to get close to the base.
Henshaw said the doctor then accompanied the woman on the 100-kilometer (60-mile) helicopter flight to the base. He said the woman was in a stable condition.
Run by Dutch-based Oceanwide Expeditions, the Ortelius is strengthened for icy waters and provides tourists with a more adventurous trip than a typical cruise ship.
The ship, which takes up to 116 passengers as well as 52 staff and crew, promises tourists the chance to see penguins, whales and other Antarctic wildlife up close.
Henshaw said the New Zealand rescue agency has helped with four or five medical emergencies in Antarctica over the past dozen years.
Last month Buzz Aldrin was evacuated from the South Pole to New Zealand via McMurdo Station after finding himself short of breath and showing signs of altitude sickness.
Here's an opportunity to use social media for something besides sharing photos of fancy brunches and latte art: Saving a child from the stigma of an unpaid school lunch account.
Ashley C. Ford, a writer from New York City, felt driven to act by a sad fact of life in the nation's school cafeterias kids with unpaid lunch accounts are often embarrassed with a substitute meal of a cold cheese sandwich and a carton of milk.
Ford appealed to her 66,000 Twitter followers with a solution. 'A cool thing you can do today is try to find out which of your local schools have kids with overdue lunch accounts and pay them off,' she wrote.
New York writer Ashley C. Ford took to Twitter to propose that her followers seek out and pay off students' unpaid school lunch debts as a 'cool thing' to do
The tweet that inspired more than $160,000 in school lunch debt relief donations to date
In the nearly two months since, people around the country have been inspired to donate thousands of dollars to erase debts owed by parents that can follow kids throughout their school careers.
In Minnesota, an online fundraising effort has paid almost $100,000 in lunch debt in Minneapolis schools and $28,000 in St. Paul's. Donors, mostly anonymous, erased $6,000 in debts in Topeka, Kansas, $2,000 in Bellevue, Washington, $1,200 in Wilmington, Delaware, and $900 in Herminie, Pennsylvania.
'It really hit home for me,' said Kristina Arwood, of Evansville, Indiana, who launched a campaign that raised $20,000 to pay lunch debts in her region.
'I grew up on free and reduced-price lunches, but even that 40 cents was hard to get together with four kids. There were times I wouldn't eat because I didn't have money and didn't want to be labeled as the poor kid.'
Students at Kingston, New York's JFK Elementary School take advantage of free meals under the federal Community Eligibility Provision
Jill Draper, a yarn maker in the Hudson Valley town of Kingston, New York, said she was inspired by Ford's tweet to collect money toward the $6,000 in debts owed by 600 students in her city's schools.
'It seemed like a really easy way to make a positive difference locally,' said Draper, who has no children. 'It's amazing how one tweet became this crazy movement.'
Draper said the effort drew some criticism from people who said some of the money is owed by parents who can afford the $2.50 for lunch but let their accounts run into the red. 'But the response has been mostly positive, with really sweet notes from people who donate,' she said.
Jill Draper (in her Kingston, New York yarn studio) raised money to pay off school lunch debts in her local district after seeing a tweet suggesting it would be a nice thing to do
Children from the poorest families get free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. But some struggle to pay even reduced prices, and some families who would qualify for free or reduced prices fail to fill out the necessary paperwork.
Some of the IOUs come from kids who simply forget their lunch money or parents who can afford to pay but neglect to keep prepaid accounts up to date.
Most school districts allow children to run a tab for a certain number of meals if they come up short.
Others give them an alternate meal of a cheese or peanut butter sandwich and fruit.
If parents ignore school notices about their child's overdrawn lunch account, the debt may be sent to a collection agency. Ultimately, taxpayers may have to cover it.
According to a 2016 survey of 1,000 school meal program operators by the School Nutrition Association, about three-quarters of districts had unpaid student meal debt at the end of the last school year, an increase from just under 71 percent in 2014.
The median amount of debt per district was $2,000, but it can run much higher in large districts up to $4.7 million, according to the association.
An example of a lunch served at Kingston, New York's JFK Elementary School
'It's unrealistic to think donations are going to fix this problem for school districts,' said Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokeswoman for the association.
'It's going to continue to be an issue until we get universal free meals for all students.'
It's not the first time Ford's tweets helped inspire an outpouring of public generosity. In 2014, she was among the first to tweet support for the public library in Ferguson, Missouri, amid tensions over the police shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.
That social media campaign brought in $450,000 in donations.
Ford, who contributed to a school debt GoFundMe drive herself, said her real aim was to inspire a bigger wave of community giving.
'I sincerely just wanted to think of something really easy that people could do to make a difference locally,' Ford said.
Prosecutor: Defendant stalked NYC boy 37 years ago
NEW YORK (AP) Pedro Hernandez watched 6-year-old Etan Patz from the corner store where he worked all those years ago, prosecutors said. He knew the little boy liked to get treats there, and that he waited for the school bus in the morning without adult supervision, they said.
He was "keenly watching and admiring this beautiful friendly child," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said during summations Tuesday in Hernandez's retrial. Prosecutors say the 56-year-old Maple Shade, New Jersey, man lured the little boy into the basement with the promise of a soda on May 25, 1979, then choked him and dumped the body.
Etan's body was never found, but his case helped usher in an era of vigilance. The anniversary of Etan's disappearance became National Missing Children's Day. His parents helped press for new laws that established a national hotline and made it easier for law enforcement agencies to share information about missing children.
FILE- In this Nov. 15, 2012, file photo, Pedro Hernandez appears in Manhattan criminal court in New York. The re-trial for the man accused of killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979 is ending. Prosecutors will sum up their case Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 after defense attorneys for Hernandez argued his confession was made up. Hernandez admitted to choking the boy in the basement of a convenience store. His first murder trial ended in a hung jury. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano, Pool, File)
Hernandez gave a surprise confession in 2012, after the case made national news again when federal agents dug up a New York City basement looking for Etan's remains. He was tried once before, but the case ended in a hung jury after all but one juror voted to convict after 18 days of deliberations.
The probe had long focused on another suspect, convicted pedophile Jose Ramos. Hernandez's attorney Harvey Fishbein said during his closing argument Monday that Ramos was the real killer. Ramos has said he didn't kill the boy.
Over the years, Hernandez told a friend, his ex-wife and a church group that he had killed a young person in New York by choking and dumping the body, though the details varied, according to trial testimony. He never mentioned Etan by name, but his brother-in-law called police with the tip that led law enforcement to him.
Those statements to others, the fact that he was a 19-year-old stock boy nearby when Etan vanished and his believable confession are enough to convict, Illuzzi said. Hernandez's description and demonstration on tape of how he choked the boy are chillingly aligned with testimony from a pathologist who explained how a choking person would lose consciousness.
"I was afraid of what I did," Hernandez said in the videotaped confession. "So I figure if he be alive, he will put me away."
Defense attorneys say the confession is the product of a vulnerable, mentally ill man who was manipulated by law enforcement.
Illuzzi said that's not true. She called him a guilty man desperately seeking to unburden himself after fleeing the city after the crime and slipping through the investigative cracks decades ago.
"It's all here," she said.
Illuzzi said it's easy to feel sympathy for the Patz family, whose lives were forever changed when Etan vanished.
"But it is not sympathy that needs to be invoked here," she said. "It is truth."
Jurors are expected to get the case Wednesday.
FILE- In this May 28, 2012, file photo, a photograph of Etan Patz hangs on an angel figurine, which is part of a makeshift memorial in the SoHo neighborhood of New York. The re-trial for the man accused of killing the 6-year-old in 1979 is ending. Prosecutors will sum up their case Tuesday, Jan. 31 after defense attorneys for suspect Pedro Hernandez argued his confession was made up. Hernandez admitted to choking the boy in the basement of a convenience store. His first murder trial ended in a hung jury. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Q&A: What does it take to be a legal immigrant in the US?
Many Americans got their first, confusing glimpse of the country's complex immigration system when President Donald Trump announced he was temporarily banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. and suspending the nation's refugee program.
Here's a look at the system:
WHAT IS A GREEN CARD?
Protesters hold signs at San Francisco International Airport to denounce President Donald Trump's executive order that bars citizens of seven predominantly Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S., Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
A green card is a permit given to immigrants who are approved to be in the country indefinitely and become known as permanent residents.
Obtaining a green card can take decades and involves a meticulous process. Some people never receive one.
About a million people are granted permanent residency in the U.S. each year. A little less than half of them are sponsored by relatives who are American citizens, according to William Stock, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Stock says sponsors and applicants undergo interviews, criminal background checks, medical screenings and fingerprinting.
The process takes at least a year for the spouse of a U.S. citizen who has never been in the country. Immigrants with more distant relatives can wait years longer.
"If it's a sibling, it's 20 to 30 years for most countries," Stock said, adding that people from Mexico and the Philippines can wait 75 years for green cards.
WHAT IS REFUGEE STATUS?
Refugees from war-torn or dangerous countries must be diligently vetted before they can be resettled in the United States. The years-long process includes rigorous background checks for possible criminal and terrorist ties.
Refugees often live in camps outside their home country for years before the U.S. decides whether to accept them.
Only about 1 percent of refugees in the world are resettled in new countries, and the U.S. takes in about half of them, the State Department says.
The U.S. accepted about 85,000 refugees in the year ending in September.
Refugees differ from asylum seekers.
Refugees must be approved to move the United States. Asylum seekers arrive on their own and then seek protection by the U.S. government if they fear returning to their home country.
WHAT IS A NON-IMMIGRANT VISA?
Non-immigrant visas apply to people who come to the country on temporary status, including students, competitive athletes, tourists, human trafficking victims, au pairs and diplomats.
The category also includes foreign workers such as engineers and technical experts who work for Silicon Valley companies.
Some tech companies said they were dismayed by Trump's executive order because foreign employees represent a significant percentage of their workforces. Visas for such workers can usually be obtained within a year.
WHAT VISA IS USED FOR IRAQI INTERPRETERS WHO AID US TROOPS?
The visa program for Iraqi and Afghan translators and interpreters and others who worked for the American government was created in 2006.
Iraqis and Afghans who apply for the visas are vetted in a similar way as refugees and are also entitled to the same public and private resettlement services.
There is a tight limit on the number of such visas granted. The government granted 37,000 Iraqis and Afghans special visas from 2007 to 2015, according to the Congressional Research Service, a non-partisan group.
The service says government officials try to balance the need to issue the visas in a timely fashion to protect applicants with conducting appropriate security screenings to identify threats.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Many UK lawmakers signal they'll back govt's Brexit bill
LONDON (AP) Dozens of British lawmakers said Tuesday that they will vote to authorize the start of European Union exit talks signaling likely victory for the government on the vote it had fought in court to avoid.
The House of Commons began a two-day debate on a bill that lets Prime Minister Theresa May trigger two years of divorce negotiations, as the government races to meet a self-imposed March 31 deadline to begin the process.
The government was forced to introduce legislation after a Supreme Court ruling last week torpedoed May's effort to start the process of leaving the 28-nation bloc without a parliamentary vote.
Britain's Brexit Secretary David Davis speaks in the House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU (Notification on Withdrawal) Bill, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. British lawmakers are starting debate on a bill authorizing the start of European Union exit talks, as the government races to meet a self-imposed March 31 deadline to begin the process. (PA via AP)
The government argues that British voters decided to leave the EU in a June 23 referendum, and no further authorization is needed.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said legislators had to answer a simple question: "Do we trust the people or not?"
"It's not a bill about whether the U.K. should leave the union or indeed about how it should do so," he said. "It is simply about Parliament empowering the government to implement a decision already made a point of no return already passed."
Scores of lawmakers stood to speak in a debate that began at lunchtime and looked set to stretch on until midnight. A majority from both the governing Conservatives and the opposition said they would respect the voters' decision and back the bill.
Anti-EU legislators did so with enthusiasm. Pro-Brexit Conservative Bill Cash said the vote to leave the EU was a "peaceful revolution" on a par with votes for women and the working class.
Fellow Conservative John Redwood said Brexit would transform Britain's legislature from a "puppet Parliament" overshadowed by Brussels, to a Parliament "made great by the people.
But many pro-EU legislators agreed to back the bill with reservations, expressing fears that Britain will be poorer and more isolated outside the bloc's single market of half a billion people.
"You can't go back on your word because you don't agree with the result," said pro-EU Conservative Anna Soubry. "But I want to say this: I believe history will not be kind to this Parliament nor indeed the government I was so proud to serve in."
The main opposition Labour Party said it would try to amend the bill to give lawmakers final approval of a settlement with the EU, but not block it.
But some Labour lawmakers who represent areas of the country that voted to remain in the EU said they would respect their constituents' wishes and vote against triggering the Brexit process. The Scottish National Party and Liberal Democrats also say they will vote against it.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said Parliament should reject the bill and force the government come up with a better plan for Brexit that aspires to keep the U.K. in the single market.
Clegg said the need to strike deals outside the EU had driven May to "sidle" up to U.S. President Donald Trump, a president "whose nativism, whose isolationism, whose protectionism is diametrically opposed to the long-term strategic interests of the United Kingdom."
Ken Clarke, a pro-EU Conservative, said promises of a bright economic future outside the bloc were an "Alice-in-Wonderland"-style fantasy.
"Apparently you follow the rabbit down the hole and you emerge in a wonderland where suddenly countries around the world are queuing up to give us trading advantages and access to their markets that previously we had never been able to achieve as part of the European Union," he said.
"No doubt there is somewhere a hatter holding a tea party with a dormouse," he added.
Assuming lawmakers agree on Wednesday, the bill will move on to committee scrutiny and then Parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords.
Ministers hope the bill can be pushed through both houses of Parliament by early March so the government can meet its March 31 deadline.
Democratic attorneys general in 4 states challenge Trump
SEATTLE (AP) Washington, Massachusetts, Virginia and New York are becoming the first states to sue the Trump administration with filings announced this week over the executive order restricting refugees and immigration. They likely won't be standing alone for long.
Since Donald Trump was elected president, Democratic state attorneys general have been forming a coordinated wall of legal resistance over immigration, environmental protections, health care, and other major issues.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman told The Associated Press that lawyers, including attorneys general, are having an "awakening" regarding the Trump administration.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, center, takes questions from reporters during a news conference Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, in Boston. Healey is joining a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts challenging President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration. Martin Meehan, president of the University of Massachusetts, stands second from left. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
"This is a president who does not have respect for the rule of the law," Schneiderman said. "That's something that bothers a lot of people."
On Tuesday, Schneiderman, and the attorneys general for Massachusetts and Virginia announced separately that their offices were joining legal challenges to Trump already filed in their states by advocacy groups.
The state officials' plan for legal pushback has precedent: Several Republican attorneys general made it a practice to routinely file lawsuits against the policies of former President Barack Obama.
Unlike groups taking up fights on behalf of individuals, attorneys general the chief lawyers for state governments can sue more broadly on behalf of their states. Most are elected and thus can act independently of their state legislatures or governors.
"It's my responsibility as attorney general to defend the rule of law, to uphold the Constitution on behalf of the people of this state. And that's what we're doing," Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Monday when announcing his lawsuit against Trump's executive order.
He said other states could join the lawsuit, which asks a judge to throw out key provisions of the order Trump issued Friday to temporarily closes the U.S. to all refugees and all people from seven majority-Muslim countries and bars Syrian refugees indefinitely.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who has held town hall meetings around Massachusetts on responding to Trump, called the policy "harmful, discriminatory and unconstitutional."
The administration says such action is needed to protect the country from terrorist attacks. Since it was issued, the White House has said people from the banned countries who have permission to work in the U.S. can enter.
On Sunday, 17 Democratic attorneys general signed a letter vowing to "use all of the tools of our offices to fight this unconstitutional order." Most of the signatories were from states controlled by Democrats and that Hillary Clinton won in November. But also signing were the Democratic attorneys general from Iowa and Pennsylvania, which voted for Trump, and Maine, where the electoral vote was split.
Attorneys general have taken smaller actions since Trump was elected, both on their own and in concert.
For example, some wrote Trump calling for him to keep former President Barack Obama's clean power plan in place.
In January, a group of them asked a judge to let it intervene in a court case on the constitutionality of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That motion could be a step toward the state officials defending the office in court. Trump said Monday he intends to do "a big number" on the bill that created the agency. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller told the AP that protecting the office is a priority.
Some attorneys general banded together to urge the U.S. Senate to reject Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to lead the U.S. Department of Justice.
Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen said he has spoken with advocacy groups about legal strategies. Among them is Planned Parenthood, which is preparing to react if Trump and the GOP-led Congress defund the organization.
One of the first steps T.J. Donovan took when he became attorney general in Vermont this month was forming a task force to advise him on immigration policies.
State attorneys general have a history of banding together. Most notably, a series of lawsuits from them led to the 1998 tobacco industry settlement under which cigarette makers agreed to pay states more than $200 billion over 25 years.
Republican attorneys general sued President Obama over his health insurance overhaul minutes after he signed it and over his rules to limit power plant emissions even before the details were final. In both cases, courts sided with them, at least in part. After Trump won the White House in November, taking on the president became part of the job description for their Democratic counterparts.
State attorneys general have become more active since the administration of former President George W. Bush, especially when it comes to federal laws and policies, said a scholar who studies the office.
"It's become such an established part of what AG's do on the national level," said Paul Nolette, an assistant professor of political science at Marquette University. "It's become much more AG's going on the offensive."
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Mulvihill reported from Haddonfield, New Jersey. Associated Press writer David B. Caruso in New York contributed to this article.
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Follow Bellisle at http://www.twitter.com/marthabellisle and Mulvihill at http://www.twitter.com/geoffmulvihill
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This story has been corrected to remove former before Scott Pruitt's title in 16th paragraph.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, right, talks to reporters as Gov. Jay Inslee, left, looks on, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in Seattle. Ferguson announced that he is suing President Donald Trump over an executive order that suspended immigration from seven countries with majority-Muslim populations and sparked nationwide protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A group of people including employees of the Washington state Attorney General's office stands and listens in the back of a briefing room during a news conference Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in Seattle. Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that he is suing President Donald Trump over an executive order that suspended immigration from seven countries with majority-Muslim populations and sparked nationwide protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
FILE - In this March 21, 2016, file photo, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman speaks during a news conference in New York. Schneiderman says his colleagues and other lawyers are being moved to action because they believe Trump "does not have respect for the rule of law." (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
File - In this Jan. 24, 2017, file photo, Xavier Becerra, California's attorney general, talks to reporters at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. Democratic attorneys general from 15 states have vowed to use all the tools of our offices to push back against President Donald Trumps immigration order in the clearest sign yet that the top lawyers for Democratic-leaning states plan to fight policies coming from the new administration when they believe they are unconstitutional or harmful to the public. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
File - In this Jan. 24, 2017, file photo, Xavier Becerra, California's Attorney General, talks to reporters at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. Democratic attorneys general from 15 states have vowed to use all the tools of our offices to push back against President Donald Trumps immigration order in the clearest sign yet that the top lawyers for Democratic-leaning states plan to fight policies coming from the new administration when they believe they are unconstitutional or harmful to the public. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, center, talks to reporters, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in Seattle. Ferguson announced that he is suing President Donald Trump over an executive order that suspended immigration from seven countries with majority-Muslim populations and sparked nationwide protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, left, talks to reporters as Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, right, looks on, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in Seattle. Ferguson announced that he is suing President Donald Trump over an executive order that suspended immigration from seven countries with majority-Muslim populations and sparked nationwide protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Martin Meehan, president of the University of Massachusetts, center front, faces reporters as Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, left, looks on during a news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, in Boston. Healey is joining a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts challenging President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Deaths mount daily as renewed fighting hits eastern Ukraine
AVDIIVKA, Ukraine (AP) Heavy artillery and rockets hit residential areas in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday amid a new outburst of fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens.
Salvos of heavy-caliber artillery were heard throughout the night and late morning in Avdiivka, a town on the northern outskirts of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk where residents have been without electricity for days. In Donetsk, at least one civilian was killed by shrapnel.
The U.N. Security Council called for "an immediate return to the cease-fire regime," a call echoed by the U.N. spokesman. Council members, including Ukraine which is serving a two-year term, expressed "grave concern about the dangerous deterioration of the situation in the eastern Ukraine and its severe impact on the local civilian population."
A Ukrainian soldier inspects a crater left by an explosion in Avdiivka, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine escalated on Tuesday, killing at least eight people late Monday and early Tuesday, injuring dozens and briefly trapping more than 200 coal miners underground, the warring sides reported.(AP Photo/Inna Varenytsia)
The council condemned the use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements on ending the conflict and called for their implementation. Members also expressed "full support" for the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
Fighting around Avdiivka has cut water and power supplies for most of the town and it was left without heating in the dead of winter. Temperatures plunged to minus 18 Celsius (zero Fahrenheit) Tuesday morning.
The warring sides blamed each other for the spike in hostilities, the worst in months. The Ukrainian government was considering evacuating 12,000 residents from Avdiivka, Pavlo Zhebrivsky, head of the administration in charge of the government-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, said on Facebook.
With no signs of an immediate evacuation in sight, some residents went to a local bus station, hoping to get away from the heavy shelling.
Volodymyr Bassak, 67, was waiting to catch a bus Tuesday morning to a city some 200 kilometers (125 miles) north because of the lack of heat in his home.
"The house was shaking (shelling) was really intense at about four in the morning," Bassak said as he brushed tears from his eyes. "There were flames along the front line."
Valery Tretyakov said he was having tea at home in Donetsk when he heard a big explosion and the sound of shattered glass. He rushed into the bedroom and saw his wife bleeding from a shrapnel wound to her neck that proved fatal.
"It was impossible to stop bleeding," Tretyakov said. "One minute and that's all."
The rebels' Donetsk News Agency also reported that four fighters died and seven were injured overnight along with three civilians.
Oleksandr Turchynov, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council, said on Tuesday that shelling around Avdiivka killed at least three government troops and injured 24 more. Another seven soldiers were killed on Sunday and Monday, the government said.
The press office of the Ukrainian military operation in the east reported an unspecified number of civilian casualties. It said the rebels turned down the government's offer for a cease-fire to allow the dead and wounded to be moved.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accused the Ukrainian government of provoking the hostilities to distract public attention from domestic issues.
Peskov told reporters in Moscow the Kremlin has "reliable information" that Ukrainian volunteer battalions crossed the front line Monday night and tried to capture rebel-controlled territory.
Kiev is worried that Donald Trump's administration could ease some sanctions on Russia the U.S. imposed for the annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and support for the insurgency in the east.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Tuesday that the escalation of hostilities proves the sanctions must be kept in place "to bring the aggressor to justice."
Peskov, in turn, said that Kiev's "aggressive actions" threaten to derail a 2015 Ukraine peace deal brokered by France and Germany. The agreement obliging the warring sides to hold fire and pull back heavy weaponry has been regularly violated.
The U.S. State Department voiced concern about the spike in fighting and on Tuesday reaffirmed Washington's support for the full implementation of the peace deal.
"To avert a larger humanitarian crisis, we call for an immediate, sustained cease-fire and full and unfettered access for OSCE monitors," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement, referring to an observer mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The European Union also has expressed its worry over the renewed fighting and called on both sides to pull back immediately to allow for the urgent repair of critical infrastructure.
An escalation in the east could be beneficial to both the separatists and the Ukrainian government, Kiev-based independent political analyst Vadim Karasyov said.
"Kiev is eager to win support of the new Trump administration, and for this they need to show that separatists and the Kremlin are derailing the peace accords," he said. "For the Kremlin, it's important to show that it holds war and peace in its hands; if the new U.S. administration wants peace in Ukraine, it needs to offer something in return."
Rebels in Donetsk said an electricity sub-station was damaged in shelling, cutting power to the Zasyadko coal mine. The mine is notorious for poor safety standards; a methane blast there killed 33 people in 2015.
With elevators not working, the miners were trapped underground for several hours before local authorities found backup generators outside the mine. By late afternoon on Tuesday, all 207 men were able to get out.
The director of Avdiivka's giant coking plant said on Monday that preparations were being made to stop production, something rarely done throughout the conflict that has claimed more than 9,700 lives since it began in 2014.
The coking plant, which switched to a natural gas supply after power was cut off on Tuesday, was providing some heating to homes in the town even though its gas reserves were are running low, director Musa Magomedov told The Associated Press.
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Associated Press writer Inna Varenytsia reported this story in Avdiivka and AP writer Nataliya Vasilyeva reported from Moscow. AP writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Yuras Karmanau in Minsk, Belarus, Raf Casert in Brussels, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
FILE In this Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015 file photo a worker carries a metal rod at the front-line Avdiivka coking plant in eastern Ukraine. Fighting between government troops and separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine escalated on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, killing several people overnight, injuring many more and trapping 200 coalminers underground, the warring sides reported. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov, File)
A wounded Ukrainian soldier is treated in Avdiivka, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine escalated on Tuesday, killing at least eight people late Monday and early Tuesday, injuring dozens and briefly trapping more than 200 coal miners underground, the warring sides reported.(AP Photo/Inna Varenytsia)
A wounded Ukrainian soldier is treated in a hospital in Avdiivka, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine escalated on Tuesday, killing at least eight people late Monday and early Tuesday, injuring dozens and briefly trapping more than 200 coal miners underground, the warring sides reported.(AP Photo/Inna Varenytsia)
A Ukrainian worker walks at a coking plant in Avdiivka, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine escalated on Tuesday, killing at least eight people late Monday and early Tuesday, injuring dozens and briefly trapping more than 200 coal miners underground, the warring sides reported.(AP Photo/Inna Varenytsia)
Official: American oil companies face no ban by Iran
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran's oil minister says there is no ban on American companies working in Iran's oil industry.
The semi-official ILNA news agency on Tuesday is quoting Bijan Zanganeh as saying: "American companies face no ban for entering our oil industry."
However, Zanganeh said American companies "have not directly applied" to work in Iran's oil industry, so far.
This is the first such remark by Iran after an executive order by U.S. president Donald Trump on Friday banned immigration and visa processing for Iranians alongside six other Muslim countries.
Immigration order playing well to Trump's fans around nation
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) President Donald Trump's order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven mostly Muslim countries is playing well in Trump Country, those places that propelled him to the White House.
The New York businessman and reality TV star promised to put America first during the campaign, his supporters say, and he's doing it. That includes securing the nation's borders and doing everything possible to prevent terrorists from entering the U.S.
In their view, Trump is being Trump. They add that Democrats and liberal snowflakes and soft-hearted do-gooders just need to calm down.
In this image made from a video, Barbara Van Syckel is interviewed in Sterling Heights, Mich., Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. Many Trump voters across the U.S. say they are pleased with his executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven mostly Muslim countries. Barbara Van Syckel said that President Donald Trump is "going to do what he says and says what he does." The 66-year-old says "that's a little frightening for some people." (AP Photo/Mike Householder)
"He's going to do what he says and says what he does," said Barbara Van Syckel, 66, of Sterling Heights, Michigan. "That's a little frightening for some people."
Thousands have demonstrated at U.S. airports since Trump issued an order Friday blocking people from seven countries in the Middle East and Africa from entering the U.S. and suspending refugee immigration for four months. The protests included a gathering of several hundred people at the Birmingham, Alabama, airport, the largest in a Southern state Trump carried with ease.
Washington's state attorney general filed a lawsuit over the order, and a federal judge in New York issued an emergency order temporarily banning deportations of people from the seven nations. Some Republican lawmakers have questioned the order, with Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina saying they fear it will become "a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism."
Yet none of that criticism matters much in Trump Country, those states and counties where Trump claimed the votes to win the Electoral College despite losing the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Retired social service worker Judith Wilkenloh says the order shows Trump "means what he says."
"He's just unafraid. He's just going ahead like a locomotive, and I like him more and more every time he does something," said Wilkenloh, 72, of Fredrick, Maryland.
Trump supporters said they're satisfied with the immigration order and the ideas behind it, from improving national security to watching out for Americans first. Some Trump backers said they might do things a little differently than the president, but their overall reaction is positive.
"We're not the world's Social Security office. We're not here to take care of people," said Jim Buterbaugh, the head of custodial work and maintenance at a public school in the western Montana town of White Hall. "I understand that people need help, but there are other ways besides bringing them here."
Buterbaugh, who has actively fought the re-settlement of Syrians in Montana, was frustrated that Trump's moratorium did not include countries such as Saudi Arabia, where most of the Sept. 11 hijackers were from. The executive order also did not include the creation of safe zones for refugees, which he favors.
Mike Honaker has some misgivings, too. A Trump supporter in a struggling West Virginia coal town, he didn't think "blitzing everybody" with an order that spread chaos around the world was the right way to go.
But Honaker worries about terrorism and does not have a problem with Trump's plan to screen refugees more thoroughly. Overall, Honaker likes 85 percent of what the president has done so far.
"I think he's shaking it up, the whole of Washington, D.C., and half the country, like he said he would," he said.
Attorney Terri King, 56, said Trump's order has widespread support in her Rust Belt city of Middletown, Ohio.
The only people who don't support it are "those who are paid to protest on the left ... and some Democrats," said King, an also-ran in a GOP congressional race last year.
Venitta Ferguson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, said national security was a priority for her during the election, and Trump has delivered on what he promised.
"I couldn't be more pleased with what he's done," the 59-year-old Ferguson said. "We're in that kind of world where to ignore the possibility that even one person out of 10,000 has ill intentions is foolish."
Charles Lewis, a retired firefighter in Topeka, Kansas, said he voted for Trump in part because of national security issues, and he supports the president's actions.
"We need to know who these people are," said Lewis, 64. "I just don't think this nation is secure. We're a day late and a dollar short on everything."
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Associated Press writers Dave Dishneau in Hagerstown, Maryland; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; Adam Kealoha Causey in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Claire Galofaro in Louisville, Kentucky; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Dan Sewell in Cincinnati; Mike Householder in Sterling Heights, Michigan; Jacob Jordan in Atlanta; and Alanna Durkin Richer in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.
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An earlier version of this story misspelled Judith Wilkenloh's name.
FILE In this Feb. 22, 2016, file photo, Middletown, Ohio, attorney Terri King, seeking the Republican nomination to run for Ohio's 8th District seat vacated by former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, speaks during a forum at the Miami University learning center in West Chester, Ohio. President Donald Trump's supporters could not be much happier with his Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven mostly Muslim countries. King said Trump's order has widespread support in her Rust Belt city of Middletown. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
People gather in front of the Alaska Capitol on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska, to protest President Donald Trump's executive order affecting immigration and refugees. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
UN postpones Syria political talks until Feb. 20
BEIRUT (AP) The United Nations announced Tuesday that U.N.-sponsored political talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups have been postponed from Feb. 8 until Feb. 20, with a key aim of trying to solidify the cease-fire.
U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura, who will oversee the talks, said that "if the cease-fire becomes as solid as we hope that will only help the serious talks to actually be concrete."
He said the U.N. also wants to give Syria's government a chance "to become seriously engaged in concessions" and to give the opposition time to unify its delegation.
In this Sunday, Jan. 30, 2017 frame grab from video provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, a Syrian forces tank fires on an Islamic State group's position, in Deir al-Zour, north Syria. The World Food Program said Tuesday that it has resumed food airdrops to Deir al-Zour, in eastern Syria, after the Islamic State group renewed its assault on the city two weeks ago. Rebels, al-Qaida linked insurgents, IS militants, and government forces and loyal militias are all skirmishing for control of Syria's southern provinces. Arabic reads, "Central Military Media, Deir al-Zour, Syria." (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP)
De Mistura said invitations will be issued around Feb. 8. He said that if the opposition isn't united by that date, he will select the delegation himself and ensure it is as inclusive as possible, including adding women, which has not previously been the case.
The cease-fire, which took effect Dec. 30, is broadly working "quite effectively," he said.
"The sooner we have a stable cease-fire and a political process, there will be a much easier possibility for everyone to focus on priority one, which is fighting the terrorist organizations identified by the Security Council," the Islamic State and the al-Qaida affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, previously known as the Nusra Front, de Mistura said.
On the ground in Syria, the U.N. World Food Program said it resumed food airdrops to besieged Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria after the Islamic State group renewed its assault on the city two weeks ago.
Militants cut off the remote city from its airport in a major offensive Jan. 15, a U.N. humanitarian adviser said at the time, and the airport is the only link to the outside world.
Islamic State extremists, who laid siege to Deir al-Zour in 2015, also captured the U.N.'s primary drop zone, forcing the WFP to suspend relief deliveries for two weeks. The agency located a new drop zone and began delivering aid again Sunday.
The U.N.'s Jan Egeland estimated 93,000 civilians were trapped inside Deir al-Zour. Thousands of soldiers and loyal militiamen are also caught up in the siege.
The activist group Justice for Life Deir el-Zour, which maintains a network of contacts in the city, has accused the government and loyal militias of hoarding supplies as they are flown in.
Deir al-Zour natives told the AP last year they had to bribe government officials to escape via the airport. They said commanders were gouging food prices and profiting off the war economy.
De Mistura said that solidifying the cease-fire should allow greater humanitarian access to besieged and hard to reach areas of Syria.
He said several elements that give the current cease-fire a greater chance of holding, but they need work.
The U.N. envoy cited last week's meeting in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana, where organizers Russia and Iran, both allies of the Syrian government, and Turkey, which backs the opposition, all pledged support for the cease-fire and agreed to act as guarantors.
De Mistura noted that 13 armed groups attended the two-day meeting and there is a "serious intention" to establish a mechanism to monitor the cease-fire, which was missing in previous Syrian cease-fires.
He said Security Council members welcomed a follow-up technical meeting in Astana on Feb. 6 on the establishment of this mechanism, and the U.N. will be there to offer its expertise on implementing cease-fires and truces.
In the campaign against the extremists, fighting continued for the second day in the southern Daraa province between the rebels and an Islamic State-affiliated group, the Khalid bin Walid Army, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.
The Observatory said at least 20 fighters from either side have been killed.
Rebels, al-Qaida linked insurgents, IS militants, and government forces and loyal militias are all skirmishing for control of Syria's southern provinces.
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Associated Press writer Philip Issa reported this story in Beirut and AP writer Edith M. Lederer reported from the United Nations.
Trump state visit plans put queen in 'difficult position'
LONDON (AP) The British government's decision to invite President Donald Trump for a state visit, one of the highest honors it can bestow on a visiting dignitary, has involved Queen Elizabeth II in the passionate debate over Trump's travel ban.
Trump's provocative decision to deny refugees access to the United States and to make it more difficult for people from seven Muslim-majority countries to visit has been widely denounced by opposition leaders and sparked protests in Britain, leading some to question the wisdom of the government's decision.
It is the British government, currently led by Prime Minister Theresa May, that invites heads of state on the queen's behalf, but it is the queen who acts as hostess. In most cases, that involves lavish pomp and ceremony, as well as a stay of several days at the queen's official residence, Buckingham Palace.
FILE - In this file photo dated Tuesday, May 24, 2011, The Royal Standard flag flies from above Buckingham Palace in London as the convoy carrying U.S. President Barack Obama arrives. The invitation to U.S. President Donald Trump for a state visit, one of the highest honors it can bestow on a visiting statesman where the queen acts as personal hostess with the traditional pomp and ceremony involved, has provoked a passionate debate, Tuesday Jan. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, FILE)
The prospect of protests outside the palace when Trump comes calling has put the queen in a "very difficult position," said Peter Ricketts, formerly a top official in the Foreign Office.
In a letter to The Times on Tuesday, Ricketts said the "state visit" should be downgraded to a lower level "official visit" to spare the monarch any embarrassment. He said the invitation should not have been extended in the first days of Trump's administration.
"It would have been far wiser to wait and see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the queen to invite him," Ricketts said.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim elected to that post, has called for the invitation to be rescinded. His office said he will describe Trump's travel ban as "cruel, prejudiced and counterproductive" at a City Hall diplomatic reception Tuesday.
An online petition opposing Trump's visit has drawn more than 1.6 million signatures, prompting what will be a non-binding debate in Parliament set for Feb. 20.
State visits are typically offered to foreign monarchs, presidents and prime ministers in ways designed to bolster British diplomacy and economic interests.
The invitation to Trump is part of an effort to strengthen ties with the goal of reaching a beneficial trade agreement with the United States once Britain leaves the European Union.
A state visit is a carefully choreographed event and involves grand pageantry in the heart of London.
The queen and other senior royals greet visitors with a ceremonial welcome, usually on Horse Guards Parade, followed by a carriage procession to the palace. A multi-gun salute is fired from Green Park and the Tower of London, and there traditionally is a formal banquet for roughly 150 guests in the palace ballroom.
The queen opens the state dinner with a speech, followed by a formal toast to her guest.
Buckingham Palace officials said the queen would not comment on plans for Trump's visit. The government says the visit is "months away" and that a date has not been chosen.
May said during a joint appearance with Trump Friday that he would be coming for a state visit at an unspecified date.
Hours later, Trump signed the executive order limiting travel to the United States. May has said she does not agree with the plan, but the government insists the state visit is going forward.
FILE - In this file photo dated Friday, July 25, 2008, the finishing touches are completed, as the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace is set up for a State Banquet in London. The invitation to U.S. President Donald Trump for a state visit, one of the highest honors it can bestow on a visiting statesman where the queen acts as personal hostess with the traditional pomp and ceremony involved, has provoked a passionate debate, Tuesday Jan.31, 2017. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, FILE)
FILE - In this file photo dated Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, the leading groom gestures as the procession with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and the President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos arrive by carriage at Buckingham Palace in London. The invitation to U.S. President Donald Trump for a state visit, one of the highest honors it can bestow on a visiting statesman where the queen acts as personal hostess with the traditional pomp and ceremony involved, has provoked a passionate debate, Tuesday Jan. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, FILE)
FILE - In this file photo dated Monday March 6, 2006, British and Brazilian flags hang from flag poles along The Mall in London with Buckingham Palace in background, ahead of a state visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The invitation to U.S. President Donald Trump for a state visit, one of the highest honors it can bestow on a visiting statesman where the queen acts as personal hostess with the traditional pomp and ceremony involved, has provoked a passionate debate, Tuesday Jan. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, FILE)
Thai authorities seek political foes taking refuge in Laos
BANGKOK (AP) Thailand's military government wants neighboring Laos to send back about half a dozen Thai citizens who have reportedly taken refuge there to escape being arrested for insulting the Thai monarchy, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Gen. Thawip Netniyom, head of Thailand's National Security Council, said Tuesday that the people being sought used social media to attack the monarchy.
He said the Defense Ministry has assigned him to seek a meeting with Laotian officials and work out a deal, which could include the exchange of people sought by each country.
The wanted persons are associated with the Red Shirt movement, which opposes the military government that seized power in 2014 and generally supports former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed by a 2006 military coup. Anticipating a crackdown, a number of high-profile critics of the military fled Thailand in the aftermath of a 2014 military takeover.
The army said after seizing power in 2014 that protecting the monarch would be a top priority, and has scoured the internet for lese majeste cases, pursuing many in military court. Critics charge that the law is being used to harass and punish the government's political opponents.
"Although Thailand and Laos do not have an official agreement to extradite suspects, we can proceed in terms of mutually beneficial cooperation. If Laos wants a criminal who violated the law in Laos and is hiding in Thailand, they may ask Thai officials to make an arrest and send that person back," Thawip said.
Thai news reports earlier said that Thailand had thanked Laotian authorities for shutting down an anti-monarchy radio station, but it was unclear if it referred to over-the-air broadcasting or internet radio. There are many websites and YouTube channels produced by opponents of Thailand's military regime.
Defense Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravich said the people being sought "are causing divisiveness to another country. They are smearing the government and smearing the institution, which is dangerous." The monarchy is often described with respect as "the institution."
Kongcheep told The Associated Press that "They are not suspects, they are dangerous people."
"This is more of an exchange of prisoners between one country and another," he said. "They have some and we have some. We are exchanging information and we will see what we get out of it."
Laos, a single-party state governed by a communist party, tolerates no political dissent.
The Red Shirts are a legacy of the 2006 coup against Thaksin that set off a decade of sometimes violent struggle for political power that reached its zenith in 2010, when the supporters of Thaksin took to the streets of Bangkok for two months to demand that a government run by a rival party step down. They were supported by a small number of armed men dubbed "men in black" for their attire and air of mystery.
The army violently crushed the demonstrators, with about 90 people mostly civilians on the Red Shirt side killed over the course of the two-month protest.
Israel government approves 3,000 new settler homes
JERUSALEM (AP) Israel on Tuesday announced plans to build 3,000 new homes in West Bank settlements, pressing forward with a construction binge in the wake of the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. president.
The late-night announcement came as Israel was preparing to evacuate an illegally built settlement outpost. It appeared to be an attempt by Israel's nationalist government to calm settler anger over the court-ordered removal of Amona, which was built two decades ago on private Palestinian land. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline coalition is dominated by settlers and their allies.
A late-night statement issued by the Defense Ministry said Netanyahu and his defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman, had approved the new construction.
The move followed an announcement days earlier of an additional 2,500 homes in the West Bank and more than 550 homes in east Jerusalem. The Palestinians claim both areas, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as parts of a future independent state a position that has wide international backing.
The international community considers settlements illegal. But Trump has signaled that he will abandon the policies of his predecessors and be far friendlier toward settlements. He has appointed a prominent U.S. supporter of the settlements to be his ambassador to Israel, and a delegation of settler leaders was invited to his inauguration.
This has emboldened Netanyahu, who repeatedly clashed with President Barack Obama over settlements, to announce a series of construction plans over the past week and a half. The Trump White House has remained silent, a dramatic departure from the vocal condemnations issued by Obama.
"We are in a new period in which life in Judea and Samaria is back on track," Lieberman said in a statement.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Feb. 15, and the two men are expected to seek understandings on Israeli construction plans for the West Bank.
The announcement followed a military order, dated Monday, for residents of Amona to evacuate the area within 48 hours. Israeli media said residents could be removed as early as Wednesday morning.
Israel's Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that Amona was built on private Palestinian land and must be demolished. It has set Feb. 8 as the final date for it to be destroyed.
Amona is the largest of about 100 unauthorized outposts erected in the West Bank without permission but generally tolerated by the Israeli government.
The outpost, built in the 1990s, stretches out over a rugged, grassy hilltop and looks out across the valley onto Palestinian villages.
The Ynet news site said Israeli forces had cordoned off the outpost, but hundreds of youths managed to infiltrate to resist the impending evacuation.
In 2006, Israeli police demolished nine homes at Amona, setting off clashes pitting settlers and their supporters against police and soldiers. Several dozen trailers have remained and the outpost has become a symbol for the settlement movement.
Its fate has threatened to rupture Netanyahu's narrow coalition, which is dominated by ultranationalists who support settlements.
Greek authorities probing 3 migrant deaths on island camp
ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greek authorities are investigating the deaths of three migrants over the past week in a camp on the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesbos.
Two of the men, an Egyptian and a Syrian national, were found dead in their tents in the Moria camp last week. A third migrant, a Pakistani, died in his tent Monday.
Initial indications suggest they were poisoned by fumes from stoves lit inside the tents to counter bitter winter conditions.
Greece's immigration ministry said Tuesday a coroner's report is pending. A full post-mortem could not be held on Lesbos and samples from the bodies have been sent to Athens.
UN legal body orders Turkey to release judge
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) A United Nations legal panel on Tuesday ordered Turkey to release a U.N. judge who is among thousands of people detained in the aftermath of last year's failed coup.
The Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) ordered Ankara to free Aydin Sefa Akay by Feb. 14 and halt legal proceedings against him, saying he is protected by diplomatic immunity.
In a statement, the MICT said that the order to release Akay is legally binding under a U.N. Security Council resolution requiring states to comply with the mechanism's orders.
Akay is a member of a panel of judges that is reviewing the case of a former Rwandan government minister who was convicted of involvement in his country's 1994 genocide.
The written order issued Tuesday said that replacing Judge Akay would have "a chilling effect on the administration of justice" by allowing "interference by a national authority in the conduct of a case and the exercise of judicial functions."
Akay was detained last year by Turkish authorities in the aftermath of the country's failed July 15 coup attempt. Ankara has launched a sweeping purge of perceived followers of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who denies the government's claim he masterminded the coup attempt.
Akay is one of the judges in the case of Augustin Ngirabatware, a former Rwandan minister of planning who was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment by the U.N.'s Rwanda Tribunal for incitement to commit genocide and instigating and aiding and abetting genocide. Ngirabatware requested a review of his sentence last year based on new evidence he claims will exonerate him.
Palestinian local election set for May, likely without Gaza
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) The Palestinian self-rule government in the West Bank has set May 13 as a new date for municipal elections after infighting between Hamas and Fatah groups derailed such a vote last year.
The elections will likely only take place in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement run autonomous enclaves.
The Islamic militant Hamas is unlikely to permit voting in the Gaza Strip, which it seized in a violent 2007 takeover.
Hamas' spokesman Fawzi Barhoum says the group rejects Tuesday's decision by the West Bank-based Fatah on the new election date.
Hamas sat out local elections in 2012. The last general election, with both Hamas and Fatah competing, took place in 2006.
EU chief sees Trump announcements as threats
BRUSSELS (AP) The leader of the European Union put longtime ally the United States in a "threat" category on Tuesday, insisting that President Donald Trump is contributing to the "highly unpredictable" outlook for the bloc.
In a letter to 27 EU leaders before Friday's summit in Malta, EU President Donald Tusk mentioned the Trump administration as part of an external "threat" together with China, Russia, radical Islam, war and terror.
Echoing statements from many European capitals, he said that those global challenges, "as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration, all make our future highly unpredictable."
European Council President Donald Tusk, right, speaks with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev prior to a meeting at the EU Council building in Brussels on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
He said that "particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy."
This year marks the centennial of the U.S. entry in World War I, and it marked the beginning of the American century as well as the enduring trans-Atlantic bond with Europe. Tensions have risen though since Trump was elected U.S. president.
Trump has questioned the NATO alliance linking North America and Europe, and hopes for a major trans-Atlantic trade deal have already taken a deep dive amid worries of U.S. protectionism.
"We should remind our American friends of their own motto: United we stand, divided we fall," Tusk said in the letter and also told a news conference in Tallinn, Estonia, after meeting with the three Baltic prime ministers before the Malta summit.
Britain wasn't part of the letter since it is poised to leave the EU and is only scheduled to attend part of the leaders' meeting in La Valletta. The decision to leave was the biggest setback for the EU in decades, and Trump didn't endear himself with many EU leaders by saying that Brexit "will be a tremendous asset and not a tremendous liability."
Tusk wrote to the leaders that "in politics, the argument of dignity must not be overused," before adding that "today we must stand up very clearly for our dignity, the dignity of a united Europe regardless of whether we are talking to Russia, China, the U.S. or Turkey."
And Tusk further insisted that any disintegration wouldn't be beneficial to the restored nation states, but instead lead to "their real and factual dependence on the great superpowers: the United States, Russia and China."
In France, Belgium and the Netherlands, leaders weighed in, criticizing Trump's decision to temporary halt to all refugee admissions, as well as immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations.
Trump's decision "only aims to exacerbate tensions, create potential conflicts with in the end the greatest inefficiency regarding results in the fight against terrorism," French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in France's lower house of parliament.
He said that the ban "is useless because it ostracizes some countries, it makes it impossible to welcome people who are persecuted in their country and need protection from free nations."
In the Netherlands, Foreign Minister Bert Koenders hit back, saying, "If you want to fight terror, then the worst thing you can do is trample human rights."
Like Belgium, the Dutch government has updated its travel advisory for the U.S. to warn of the effects of Trump's new policy on citizens who have dual nationality with one of the seven nations affected.
And even royalty got involved. During the very ornate speech to the authorities of the country, King Philippe had unkind words for both the U.S. and Britain.
The monarch said that by looking inward, it "countered their own tradition of openness and generosity."
He said that "you cannot restore confidence by turning back the clock, based on a kind of utopian nostalgia. And you can't do it by building walls."
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Mike Corder in the Hague, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, and AP Video Journalist Vitnija Saldava in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
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Follow Raf Casert on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rcasert
Small business leaders applaud President Donald Trump after he signed an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. Trump order is aimed at significantly cutting regulations. White House officials are calling the directive a "one in, two out" plan. It requires government agencies requesting a new regulations to identify two regulations they will cut from their own departments. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
EU parliament seeks repayment by far-right leader Le Pen
PARIS (AP) The European parliament is asking France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen to start repaying hundreds of thousands of euros it says were wrongly paid to legislative aides.
An EU parliament letter to le Pen published by Challenges magazine gives Tuesday as the deadline to begin repayment of about 300,000 euros ($322,000).
In a second letter, the European parliament asks for the repayment of an additional 40,000 euros ($37,100) by Feb. 28.
FILE - In this Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 file photo, far-right leader and candidate for next spring presidential elections Marine le Pen from France celebrates after her speech at a meeting of European Nationalists in Koblenz, Germany. The European parliament is asking France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen to start repaying hundreds of thousands euros it says were wrongly paid to legislative aides. An EU parliament letter to le Pen published by Challenges magazine gives Tuesday as the deadline to begin repayment of about 300,000 euros ($322,000). (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
The request follows the European anti-fraud office's findings that some aides were paid from the European budget while actually working as Le Pen's cabinet chief and bodyguard, breaking the parliament's rules.
Le Pen, a leading presidential candidate in France, has denied any wrongdoing.
Her campaign director David Rachline said Tuesday on BFM television his party suffered "persecution" from EU authorities, suggesting she has no intention of paying.
"Is there any talk of a criminal conviction? None at all. Is there any talk of self-enrichment? None at all," he said.
The European parliament can recover money by holding back part of her salary and allowances.
Europe's anti-fraud office found that a total of 19 National Front members used aides on the European Parliament's payroll for political activity. That spurred French prosecutors to open a separate investigation at the beginning of the month.
It's one of multiple investigations around the National Front or its finances that are casting a shadow over Le Pen's campaign for France's April-May presidential election.
The repayment request comes as French justice opened a preliminary embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds probe regarding another presidential hopeful, conservative nominee Francois Fillon.
Turkey arrests another pro-Kurdish legislator
ISTANBUL (AP) Turkey's pro-Kurdish political party says a court has ordered another of their lawmakers imprisoned on terror charges, raising the number of party legislators in jail to 12.
Ayhan Bilgen, the spokesman for the Peoples' Democracy Party, or HDP, was ordered arrested pending a trial on Tuesday, accused of membership in an armed terror group.
The arrests of HDP legislators, including the party's co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksedag, have increased fears over rights and freedoms in the country as it heads toward a referendum on increased powers for the president.
The government accuses the party which defends minority rights of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. The HDP denies the accusation.
Russian cyber spy treason cases linked to CIA
MOSCOW (AP) Russian cybersecurity intelligence officers reportedly detained on treason charges are being accused of passing secrets to the CIA.
Sergei Mikhailov and Dmitry Dokuchaev, who worked for the cyber wing of Russia's FSB domestic intelligence service until their arrests in December, are accused of cooperating with the CIA, according to unnamed sources cited Tuesday by Interfax news agency.
No officials have publicly commented, but Russian media outlets with links to the security services have reported in detail on the case. An executive from cyber-security firm Kaspersky Lab has also reportedly been arrested on linked treason charges.
Caterpillar moving top execs to Chicago area
NEW YORK (AP) Caterpillar Inc. is moving its headquarters to the Chicago area and won't build a new complex in its current Peoria, Illinois location.
The move comes as the company faces a weak equipment market that has been cutting into its bottom line. Last week, the farming and construction equipment maker reported a wider fourth-quarter loss on charges and higher restructuring costs. It has been cutting jobs and facilities over the last several years.
"As a result of continuing challenging market conditions and the need to prioritize resources to focus on growth, Caterpillar will not build the previously announced headquarters complex in Peoria," the company said.
This Jan . 25, 2017, photo shows the Caterpillar Inc. headquarters in downtown Peoria, Ill. Caterpillar announced Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, it is moving its headquarters to the Chicago area and won't build a new complex in its current Peoria location. (Ron Johnson/Journal Star via AP)
The company said it will locate a limited group of senior executives and support functions in the Chicago area later this year, saying it is a more strategic location. It expects about 300 people to be based at the new location.
"Locating our headquarters closer to a global transportation hub, such as Chicago, means we can meet with our global customers, dealers and employees more easily and frequently," said CEO Jim Umpleby.
Caterpillar said the vast majority of our people will remain in central Illinois. The current Caterpillar building in Peoria, Illinois will continue to be used.
Caterpillar joins several other agriculture-focused businesses in the Midwest that have relocated to Chicago over the years.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. moved from its central Illinois base, in Decatur, in 2014. ConAgra moved to Chicago in 2016 after nearly a century in Omaha, Nebraska.
Boeing famously left its base in Seattle to move its corporate headquarters to Chicago nearly two decades ago.
In this Jan. 25, 2017, photo, Caterpillar equipment is displayed at industrial equipment supplier Altorfer Inc., in East Peoria, Ill. Caterpillar Inc. announced Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, it is moving its headquarters to the Chicago area and won't build a new complex in its current Peoria location. (Ron Johnson/Journal Star via AP)
Swedes accept renting pipe storage space to Gazprom project
STOCKHOLM (AP) A southeastern Swedish city council has approved a deal with a Dutch subcontractor for Russia's Gazprom to store pipes in its harbor.
Sweden's government earlier said the deal could harm the country's defense and political interests. Officials said Monday the contractor, Wasco Coatings Europe BV, is not deemed to be a security risk.
In a 10-4 vote with one abstaining, the Baltic Sea port of Karlshamn decided Tuesday on the 100-million kronor ($11.3 million) deal with the subcontractor for Nord Stream 2.
Last month, a municipality on Sweden's strategic Baltic Sea island of Gotland rejected a similar request after government warnings it would be against the country's interests.
Sentencing for retired Saints star's killer reset for March
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Sentencing for the man who fatally shot former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith has been postponed to March 27.
Prosecution and defense attorneys in the Cardell Hayes case agreed Tuesday to push back a sentencing in mid-February.
Smith was killed in a traffic confrontation in New Orleans last April. The 29-year-old Hayes claimed self-defense but a jury convicted him of manslaughter, and attempted manslaughter for wounding Smith's wife.
Breitbart speaker at Berkeley stirs debate over free speech
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) Fans and foes agree that Milo Yiannopoulos specializes in controversy. The polarizing editor from Breitbart News is a self-proclaimed internet troll who has been criticized as racist, misogynist and white supremacist.
His scheduled visit Wednesday to the University of California at Berkeley has raised an issue facing campuses across America at the dawn of the Trump presidency: What is the line between free speech and hate speech?
The visit is sponsored by the campus Republican club. The university has stressed it did not invite Yiannopoulos, a right-wing provocateur who is gay and calls his event "The Dangerous Faggot Tour."
Milo Yiannopoulos, the polarizing Breitbart News editor, speaks at California Polytechnic State University as part of his "The Dangerous Faggot Tour" of college campuses, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. His speech was met with dozens of angry protesters outside a campus theater. (David Middlecamp/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP)
The potential for physical danger in reaction to Yiannopoulos came into the spotlight this month after a man was shot and wounded at a protest outside his Jan. 21 University of Washington talk.
Rowdy protests at UC Davis Jan. 13 prompted campus Republicans to cancel his appearance at the last minute.
On Tuesday night at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, his speech was met with dozens of angry protesters outside a campus theater, but they were outnumbered by police who kept them far from the nearly 500 attendees and the event went on as planned.
His last stop was supposed to be UCLA on Feb. 2, but that invitation was rescinded, making Berkeley the grand finale of his cross-country campus tour.
Professors have joined hundreds of students calling for the event's cancellation. But university officials say it will be allowed in the name of free speech as will protests that Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks expects could be "substantial" amid tight security.
"In our view, Mr. Yiannopoulos is a troll and provocateur who uses odious behavior in part to 'entertain,' but also to deflect any serious engagement with ideas," Dirks wrote last week to Berkeley's staff and 37,500 students. "He has been widely and rightly condemned for engaging in hate speech."
But as a public university, Berkeley's administrators are legally bound by the First Amendment to protect free speech, meaning even offensive and hate speech cannot be banned or censored, Dirks said.
"We are defending the right to free expression at an historic moment for our nation, when this right is once again of paramount importance," Dirks said.
His letter did not name President Donald Trump, whom Yiannopoulos supports, but highlighted concerns at Berkeley and elsewhere since his election.
The Berkeley Republican Club says it has no plans to cancel the event because that would send a message that intimidation and violence can win.
"We don't support everything he's said or done," said Pieter Sittler, 19, a sophomore who is the club's vice president. "But we think it's important to have a complete political discourse. Not just stay in an echo chamber and silence what you disagree with."
The event's 500 seats sold out about 48 hours after the event was announced last fall, Sittler said.
Yiannopoulos "gives a voice to repressed conservative thought on American college campuses," Sittler said, adding that he uses "levity and humor" that should not be taken literally.
Administrators say the demands to stifle Yiannopoulos show that modern sensitivities are changing the debate about free speech on campus. What used to be a campaign to allow all voices risks becoming more restrictive.
The number of attempts to keep speakers off college campuses because of their politics doubled last year, according to a report issued late last year by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. It logged a record 42 incidents of "disinvitations," with 25 percent aimed at Yiannopoulos.
"The increasing unwillingness to allow anyone on campus to hear ideas with which one disagrees poses a grave risk to students' intellectual development," Ari Cohn, director of the foundation's Individual Rights Defense Program, said in a statement.
Administrators have received hundreds of letters and emails calling for the event's cancellation.
There's a "No Milo" at Berkeley Facebook page with more than 3,500 people signed on, calling for a "mass counter protest" to shut down the event.
Nearly 100 professors signed a letter to the chancellor urging him to cancel the event. It cited some of Yiannopoulos' earlier comments.
At the University of Delaware, Yiannopoulos referred to transgender people as "mentally ill" and encouraged his audience to mock them.
He has called Black Lives Matter a form of "black supremacism." Twitter banned him in July, as it cracked down on racist abuse targeting "Ghostbusters" actress Leslie Jones.
At Western Carolina University he called feminism, "a mean, vindictive, spiteful, nasty, man-hating philosophy."
"The university should not provide a platform for such harassment," the letter from professors said. "We support robust debate, but we cannot abide by harassment, slander, defamation and hate speech."
Yiannopoulos rejects accusations he is racist or white supremacist, saying his boyfriend is black and his humor is taken too literally in today's politically correct culture.
A group of veterans from Berkeley's 1960s Free Speech Movement praised administrators for allowing the event.
"Even the worst kind of bigot, including Yiannopoulos, must be allowed to speak on campus," they wrote in In an op-ed published by Berkeley's The Daily Californian.
Protesters burn a Confederate flag outside California Polytechnic State University's Spanos Theatre ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos' talk on campus in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. The polarizing editor from Breitbart News is a self-proclaimed internet troll who has been criticized as racist, misogynist and white supremacist. (Joe Johnston/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP)
Milo Yiannopoulos, the polarizing Breitbart News editor, speaks at California Polytechnic State University as part of his "The Dangerous Faggot Tour" of college campuses, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. His scheduled visit Wednesday to the University of California at Berkeley has raised an issue facing campuses across America at the dawn of the Trump presidency: What is the line between free speech and hate speech? (David Middlecamp/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP)
California Polytechnic State University students protest President Donald Trump's administration policies with their march through campus coinciding with a talk at the university by the polarizing Breitbart News editor, Milo Yiannopoulos in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. (Joe Johnston/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP)
A police officer watches a crowd of protesters from atop the University Union near California Polytechnic State University's Spanos Theatre ahead of Milo Yiannopoulos' talk on campus in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. The polarizing editor from Breitbart News is a self-proclaimed internet troll who has been criticized as racist, misogynist and white supremacist. (Joe Johnston/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP)
Milo Yiannopoulos, the polarizing Breitbart News editor, speaks at California Polytechnic State University as part of his "The Dangerous Faggot Tour" of college campuses, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. His speech was met with dozens of angry protesters outside a campus theater. (David Middlecamp/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP)
California Polytechnic State University students protest President Donald Trump's administration policies with their march through campus coinciding with a talk at the university by the polarizing Breitbart News editor, Milo Yiannopoulos in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. (Joe Johnston/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP)
The Latest: Breitbart speaker at Berkeley stirs debate
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) The Latest on a speech by Milo Yiannopoulos at the University of California at Berkeley (all times local):
9:22 am.
A polarizing editor from Breitbart News is scheduled to speak Wednesday at the University of California at Berkeley.
The event featuring Milo Yiannopoulos has raised an issue facing campuses across America at the dawn of the Trump presidency: What is the line between free speech and hate speech?
The visit is sponsored by the campus Republican club and is the last stop on Yiannopoulos's cross-country tour that has sparked protests and sporadic violence.
Nearly 100 professors have joined students at Berkeley, calling for the event's cancellation. But university officials say it will be allowed in the name of free speech.
Fans and foes agree that Yiannopoulos specializes in controversy. He is a self-proclaimed internet troll who has been criticized as racist, misogynist and white supremacist.
Clashes between farmers, herdsmen kill 6 in central Nigeria
YOLA, Nigeria (AP) Police say at least six people have been killed in communal violence between mostly Christian farmers and mostly Muslim herdsmen in central Nigeria.
David Misal, a police spokesman for Taraba state, says the violence between Fulani herdsmen and farmers from the Mumuye ethnic group began Friday and continued Tuesday morning in the Lau local government area. He says 80 houses have been burned.
Witnesses say Tuesday's violence began when youth from the Mumuye group attacked a Fulani village.
Clashes between farmers and herdsmen over land are common in Nigeria, especially in the Middle Belt region.
Israel apologizes to Mexico for Netanyahu's tweet on US wall
JERUSALEM (AP) Israel's president has apologized to Mexico for a tweet by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that appeared to endorse U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.
A statement on Tuesday from President Reuven Rivlin's office says he told Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in a phone call that there has been a misunderstanding.
It says Pena Nieto said the tweet hurt Israel-Mexico ties.
Netanyahu tweeted on Saturday that Israel's barrier along its border with Egypt had stemmed a swell of African migrants.
He wrote: "President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea."
Netanyahu also said the tweet was meant to draw attention to the success of Israel's fence.
Travel ban throws research, academic exchange into turmoil
BOSTON (AP) Universities across the nation say President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven Muslim countries is disrupting vital research projects and academic exchanges in such fields as medicine, public health and engineering, with untold numbers of scholars blocked from entering the U.S.
For years, schools in the U.S. have worked to widen exchanges with scholars in the Middle East and especially Iran, known for its strength in math and science. But many academics worry those bridges are now in jeopardy because of the ban against Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen. Some fear the U.S. will lose its standing as the world leader in research and innovation.
"It's terrifying," said Sarah Knuckey, director of the Human Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School. "We're damaging international research, including on issues like health and medicine."
Iranian-born bioengineer researcher Nima Enayati works on a robotic surgery machine during an interview with the Associated Press at the Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. An Iranian researcher at Milan's Polytechnic University, Enayati was refused check-in Monday at Milan's Malpensa Airport for his U.S.-bound flight on Turkish Airlines after the Trump administration's executive order came down. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Students in Knuckey's clinic have been working with a think tank in Yemen to explore the health consequences of the country's civil war, inviting scholars to lecture and planning a conference in New York this year. Because of the travel ban, they are trying to move the event to Canada.
Research between the U.S. and the seven countries covers a wide range of fields. According to the National Institutes of Health, U.S. and Iranian researchers have teamed up to study cancer, heart disease, hepatitis and opiate addiction.
Navid Madani, an HIV researcher at Harvard Medical School, said collaboration with scientists in Iran has been crucial to her work. Much of that cooperation is now in question. One of her counterparts in Iran was scheduled to teach at Harvard this year but may be prevented from entering the country.
"I've tried to balance my anger and despair with resolve," said Madani, who was born in Iran and is now a naturalized U.S. citizen. "This is something that really has to be reversed."
An Iranian researcher working on his Ph.D. in Italy was refused check-in at a Milan airport Monday while trying to travel to California. Nima Enayati, 29, had obtained a visa to conduct research on robotic surgery at Stanford University.
"It is rather disappointing to know that you will not be able at least physically to have more collaboration with them," he said. "And we will see how it is going to affect our work."
At Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, officials were planning to welcome the first class of Iranian graduate students into a new engineering program in partnership with the University of Tehran. Now it's on hold because the students can't secure visas.
"These are the best and the brightest. They have made tremendous sacrifices to be able to come to the United States," said Gil Latz, the university's associate vice chancellor for international affairs. "In the stroke of a pen, their future hopes and dreams are being questioned or brought to a halt."
Overall, colleges and universities in the U.S. hosted about 17,000 students from the seven banned countries last year, a fourfold increase over the past decade. Of those here last year, more than 12,000 were from Iran.
Many of the students and researchers here are now stuck in the U.S., afraid they won't be allowed back in if they leave to visit home or travel to academic conferences. Others who were planning to come here are now blocked.
Seyed Soheil Saeedi Saravi, a scientist from Iran, said he realized a childhood dream when he received a cardiology fellowship at Harvard. He was scheduled to arrive days after the travel ban was put in place, but found that his visa is now suspended indefinitely.
"I only can say Iranians are really sad, depressed and somewhat angry," he said in an email.
In response to the ban, thousands of academics abroad have signed an online petition boycotting academic conferences in the U.S. Some conferences are being pressured to relocate outside America.
Meanwhile, dozens of college presidents have called on Trump to reverse the ban.
"This is not only unbefitting a country built by immigrants on the ideals of liberty and equality, but it is also a self-inflicted wound that will damage the very innovation that lies at the root of our nation's prosperity," said Angel Cabrera, president of George Mason University.
Nicholas Dirks, chancellor at the University of California-Berkeley, said the ban gives an advantage to countries that compete with the U.S. for scholars.
"Allowing them to replace this country as the prime destination for the most talented students and researchers would cause irreparable damage and help them to achieve their goal of global leadership," he wrote.
Some academics say the ban will simply leave the U.S. out of future research.
Caroline Wagner, who studies global collaboration in science at Ohio State University, said the number of papers published by co-authors in different countries has grown dramatically since 1990. In 2013 alone, academics from Iran and the U.S. teamed up on more than 1,000 published papers.
"International collaboration is increasingly the way science is done," Wagner said. "We cannot assume that leadership and science belong to the United States."
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This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Sarah Knuckey's first name.
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Associated Press reporter Colleen Barry contributed from Milan.
US official says 872 refugees to be allowed in
WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration said 872 refugees will be allowed into the United States this week despite a presidential order suspending the U.S. refugees program.
Kevin McAleenan, the acting head of Customs and Border Protection, said Tuesday that the refugees were already traveling and stopping them would cause "undue hardship." Their admission comes despite President Donald Trump's warnings that refugees like these, vetted under the Obama administration, were not adequately screened to ensure they are not potential terrorists.
The refugee ban was part of an executive order signed Friday by Trump that has stoked outrage and protests. Besides the 120-day ban for refugees, the order also bans entry to the United States from citizens of seven majority Muslim countries and indefinitely bars travel by Syrians to the U.S.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, center, accompanied by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Thomas Homan, right, and a member of his security detail, attends a news conference at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection headquarters in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, to discuss the operational implementation of the president's executive orders. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
At a news briefing with McAleenan, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the travel ban for the seven countries may be extended and other countries could also be added to the list.
"I would be less than honest if I told you that some of those countries that are currently on the list may not be taken off the list anytime soon," Kelly said. "They're countries that are in various states of collapse" and may not be able to verify that people applying to come to the United States are who they say they are.
In his first briefing with reporters since he was confirmed, Kelly defended Trump's order and said its intention is to keep would-be terrorist out of the United States and not serve as a ban on Muslims. Early in his campaign, Trump had called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.
Kelly said "the vast majority of the 1.7 billion Muslims that live on this planet, the vast majority of them have, all other things being equal, have access to the United States."
The troubled rollout of the immigration and travel order prompted an interagency phone call on Monday, according to two U.S. officials. Participants included top Trump advisers Michael Flynn, Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, along with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Acting Secretary of State Tom Shannon.
The officials said Kelly and Shannon told the White House they would take the lead in clearing up the situation. One of the officials said Bannon and Miller agreed to let the agency leaders take the lead after prodding from Flynn, Trump's national security adviser.
Kelly had a briefing Tuesday, in which he sought to clarify the extent of the new refugee and immigration and travel restrictions. The State Department, meanwhile, issued coordinated guidance to embassies and consulates overseas. The officials weren't authorized to speak publicly about internal government discussions and demanded anonymity.
Kelly, a retired Marine general, also said the order was "not a travel ban" but a "temporary pause that allows us to better review the existing refugee and visa- vetting system."
White House Sean Spicer made that point too in his daily briefing to reporters. But Trump referred to it as a "ban" in a tweet Tuesday defending the decision not to provide advanced notice to travelers. Spicer also called it a ban on Monday.
"If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week," Trump wrote. "A lot of bad 'dudes' out there!"
The rollout of the order has been widely criticized, a point McAlleenan conceded, saying communication among government agencies had "not been the best."
But he said the refugees' waivers were being done in concert with the State Department. He said the refugees would be processed through the end of the week.
According to guidance provided to some refugee aid agencies by the State Department none of the refugees are from the seven countries singled out for an all-out travel ban. Those countries are Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Libya.
Kelly denied reports that he had been out of the loop in the White House planning for the immigration restrictions.
Kelly told reporters he looked at two drafts of the order before the Friday signing and that high-level government lawyers and agency officials were involved in drafting it. He didn't provide names of who was involved in the initial planning, but said the group included people from Trump's transition team. Kelly also said he knew the order was coming because Trump had long talked about it as a candidate.
People who know Kelly, however, told The Associated Press that he was not aware of the details in the directive until around the time that Trump signed it.
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Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Matthew Pennington and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
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US, Louisiana schools reach pact in 1965 desegregation case
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Renewed efforts to desegregate three nearly all-black elementary schools and recruit a diverse faculty and staff are part of a new agreement between a south Louisiana school district and the Justice Department in a federal court case that dates back to 1965.
If all of the agreement's requirements are met, federal supervision of the schools in St. James Parish could end in three years.
The 27-page agreement was approved by a federal judge Monday and announced in a Justice Department news release Tuesday. It's one of numerous federal desegregation cases in the South dating back to the 1960s, some of which have taken decades to resolve.
The agreement requires the St. James district to implement a new assignment plan to desegregate the three elementary schools.
The district also agreed to revise its code of conduct to ensure fairness in disciplinary matters at all schools, recruit a diverse pool of applicants for faculty and staff vacancies, take steps to encourage all students take part in extracurricular programs, and "guarantee racially diverse panels of judges" for students trying out or auditioning for after-school activities.
"We are pleased to have worked hand-in-hand with the schools to ensure equal and fair treatment for the students of the St. James Parish School District," Tom Wheeler, the Justice Department's Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division, said in a news release.
University leader tells banned-travel students to stay put
RENO, Nev. (AP) The University of Nevada, Reno is recommending that students and scholars from the seven countries listed in President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration remain in the United States the next four months.
In southern Nevada, at least four refugees who had been approved for settlement and due to arrive in the Las Vegas area in the coming weeks have had their flights canceled in the wake of President Trump's freeze on the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. And one elderly couple who were trying to fly home to Henderson after attending a wedding in Iran were detained nine hours at a Chicago airport, delaying their return an extra day, a family member said.
University of Nevada President Marc Johnson said in a statement late Monday that Trump's Jan. 27 executive order has raised concern among members of the university community on the Reno campus.
"We encourage diversity of experience and perspectives and must continue to embrace this important aspect of our mission while providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students and employees," he said.
Johnson said the university currently is reviewing the situation, but in the meantime recommends no one from the countries barred from travel Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia leave the U.S. for the next 120 days. He pointed to a statement on the website of the university's Office of International Student and Scholars that says if anyone affected chooses to leave the country, "their visas may be revoked and their re-admission to the U.S. would be in doubt."
In southern Nevada, statewide refugee coordinator Carissa Lopez-Ramirez told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that nine refuges from six countries were expected to arrive within the next two weeks. Five still plan to make the trip, but she said four including two from Iraq and one from Iran didn't board their respective flights over the past few days. She said the state refugee program received word of the formal cancellations on Monday.
The family of an elderly couple who were trying to return from Iran to their home in Nevada said the couple was questioned for nine hours without food and water at a Chicago airport and missed their connection to Las Vegas because of Trump's order.
Both are green card holders and have lived in Nevada for five years, said Bita Nasri of Henderson.
"They were terrified not knowing what was going on," she told KLAS-TV. She said they ended up returning to Las Vegas on Sunday.
Jacob Deaville, co-founder and treasurer of UNLV Campus Conservatives, is among those defending the executive order.
A look at of the victims of Canada mosque shooting
QUEBEC CITY (AP) They were fathers, one was a businessman, one a university professor, two worked in information technology. All had gathered for evening prayers at a Quebec City mosque when a shooter opened fire in what authorities are calling a terrorist act. Six people were killed and 19 others wounded in the Sunday night attack on the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre in the provincial capital.
Community members described those who died:
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A woman joins others as they gather in remembrance of the victims of Sunday's shooting at a Quebec City mosque, during a vigil in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. A French Canadian known for far-right, nationalist views was charged Monday with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder over the shooting rampage at a Quebec City mosque that Canada's prime minister called an act of terrorism against Muslims. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ibrahima Barry, 39: a father of four who worked in information technology at the health insurance board of Quebec.
Friend Moussa Sangare said Barry emigrated from Guinea and supported his immediate and extended family in Canada and in Africa.
Barry and cousin Mamadou Tanou Barry, another victim of Sunday's shooting, spent a lot of time together and were always smiling, Sangare said.
"They were so kind," he said, adding that the community can't make sense of their deaths. "They were people who were well integrated in Quebec. They had good work. They took care of their kids and their family."
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Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42: a father of two boys born in Canada following their father's emigration from Guinea.
Friend Moussa Sangare said Barry's death "decimated" not one but two families.
"Tanou lost his father three years ago, so it became his responsibility to support not only his family here but also his family in Africa," said Sangare. "Now that's all been cut."
Sangare said he spent Saturday morning with both Barrys in the mosque where the shooting took place, attending a Quran reading with their children.
The Guinean government posted a statement on its website expressing its "deepest sympathy and condolences to the Canadian government, the families of the disappeared, and the entire nation."
Souleymane Bah, a member of the roughly 300-person Guinean community in Quebec City, said the pair's deaths had devastated community members but they wouldn't let a shooter make them flee from their place of worship.
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Abdelkrim Hassane, 41: a father of three daughters, including one a few months old, who worked in information technology for the government.
Friend Ali Hamadi said he left the mosque a few minutes before the shooting that took Hassane's life. He said his friend worked as a program analyst at the Quebec Shared Service Center since 2014. Hassane had studied computer engineering at the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, near Algiers.
Abdelkader Chouchane, a friend of Hassane's who was reached by The Associated Press in Algeria, said Hassane was born in Staoueli, a town of about 50,000 people. He had two brothers and five sisters, and had lived in Canada for more than eight years.
Hassane's siblings are trying to repatriate his body to Algeria, he said.
"His family is of course affected by this tragic death that has upset us all," said Chouchane. "All the inhabitants of the village where he used to live (in Algeria) are affected by this cruel, barbaric and illogical attack that affected Canada."
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Azzeddine Soufiane, 57: a grocer and butcher with three children who immigrated to Quebec from Morocco.
Soufiane was a longtime Quebec City resident who had opened the first halal grocery store, Boucherie Assalam, in the suburb of Ste. Foy, said Karim Elabed, imam at a mosque in the nearby city of Levis.
Soufiane helped guide newcomers to Quebec City, Elabed said.
"Myself, when I arrived here eight years ago, (his shop) was the first place I learned about, and pretty much all of Quebec's Muslims did their groceries there," he said.
Ali Ouldache, who arrived in 2007, said Soufiane was the first person he spoke to when he arrived from France, a little bit lost in his new surroundings.
"It (his store) was really my refuge and we became friends after that," Ouldache said.
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Khaled Belkacemi, 60: a food science professor at Laval University, originally from Algeria.
Belkacemi held two doctorates in chemical engineering, according to the curriculum vitae published by the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, and he was the keynote speaker at the 66th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference in Quebec City last October.
"Our university community is in mourning today," rector Denis Briere said in a statement.
Mohamed Labidi, vice president at the mosque where the attack occurred, said Belkacemi was a good friend who "wouldn't have hurt anyone."
On his Facebook page, Belkacemi's son, Amir, described his father as "a good man, an example of resilience, a man loved by all, a professor and researcher emeritus, a fighter, a man who left his country to give his family a chance to live far away from horror."
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Aboubaker Thabti, 44: a Tunisian-born father of two young children who worked in a pharmacy.
Thabti's death was confirmed by the Tunisian Embassy, which reported that two other individuals of Tunisian origin had been injured in the attack, including one seriously.
Friend Ghazi Hamrouni told The Globe and Mail that Thabti's children were 3 and 10 years old.
"He's so kind; everyone loves him - everyone," another friend, Abder Dhakkar, recalled.
The flag flies at half-mast on the Peace tower Monday Jan. 30, 2017 in Ottawa. It was announced Monday that the flag would fly at half-mast in memory of the victims of the Quebec City shooting.(Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
A man places a candle during a vigil in Quebec City on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. A gunman shot and killed several people at a Quebec City mosque on Sunday. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)
A federal jury has convicted a would-be terrorist of plotting to detonate a nail-filled backpack bomb on a Florida Keys beach.
Prosecutors say Harlem Suarez, who was inspired by the terror group ISIS, was planning to bury the bomb in the sand overnight and detonate it the next day.
On Tuesday, the 25-year-old, of Key West, was convicted of of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to a terrorist organization after a seven-day trial.
Suarez faces a maximum of life in prison at sentencing set for April 18.
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A federal jury has convicted would-be terrorist Harlem Suarez of plotting to detonate a nail-filled backpack bomb on a Florida Keys beach
The FBI had been aware of Suarez since April 2015 after a series of Facebook posts that praised ISIS.
'Be a warrior, learn how to cut your enemies head and then burn down the body learn how to be the new future of the world Caliphate,' he wrote in a post from an account titled Almlak Benitez.
The Facebook account, which was traced to Suarez, had posted ISIS beheading videos and also was seen asking for instructions on how to make a bomb.
Suarez, a restaurant worker who never actually made a bomb, received the inert device from an FBI informant after giving him supplies to make an explosive with galvanized nails.
'If one day...I get a day off... I can go to the beach at the night time, put the thing in the sand, cover it up, so the next day I just call and the thing is gonna, is gonna make, a real hard noise from nowhere,' Suarez allegedly told the informant.
The FBI informant also helped the suspect make an ISIS recruiting video at a motel in Homestead, according to the complaint, with Suarez dressed in a black tactical vest, black shirt, mask and yellow-and-black scarf.
Suarez became known to the FBI after he posted pro-ISIS messages on social media and made contacted with an FBI informant. Above, federal agents at a restaurant parking lot in Key West
Suarez had also ordered two AK-47 rifles on the Internet and was going to pick them up at a local pawn shop.
Suarez had also expressed interest in going to Syria, an ISIS stronghold. The two had discussed a possible attack on July 4th gatherings in either Marathon, Florida, or Miami Beach.
'By intending to place an explosive device on a public beach, Harlem Suarez posed a grave threat to the residents and visitors of Key West,' said Miami U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer in a news release. 'Let this case serve as an example to others that the U.S. attorney's office and our law enforcement partners stand as a united front against all domestic threats.'
Suarez had given the informant some bomb supplies, including two boxes of galvanized nails, the backpack and a cellphone to be used as a detonator, the complaint said.
Taking the stand in his defense, Suarez insisted he was only playing along with men he met online, local media reported. His attorney, Richard Della Fera, told jurors Suarez was no terrorist and that he had been goaded along by the FBI informant.
The suspect said that he would put a 'backpack bomb' underneath a beach at night and then detonate it with a cell phone when there were people around. Above, Mallory Pier on Key West
Earlier, the attorney said Suarez had become obsessed with news reports about the Islamic State. There was no indication Suarez ever made actual contact with Islamic State members overseas, according to the FBI, but several of his Facebook posts expressed solidarity with them.
In one post, the FBI said Suarez wrote, 'Be a warrior, learn how to cut your enemies head and then burn down the body learn how to be the new future of the world Caliphate' a reference the Islamic State goal of building a regional fundamentalist entity.
The FBI said he later added a request 'from any brother. How to make a bomb send me a video or something, what do I need to make it.'
'He comes from a very good, hard-working family that arrived here from Cuba in 2004 because they yearned for freedom. They raised their son to love this country,' his former lawyer Richard Della Fera previously told The Associated Press.
He attended but did not graduate from Key West High School, according to CBS Miami.
Acting attorney general is familiar with tough assignments
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) Federal prosecutor Dana Boente, described by a former attorney general as a "consummate utility player," is being asked to pinch hit again, this time in one of the most influential posts in U.S. government.
President Donald Trump tapped Boente late Monday to serve as acting attorney general, replacing Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration. Trump fired Yates after she instructed Justice Department lawyers not to defend the Trump administration's travel ban because of questions over its legality. Boente has said the order is lawful and the Justice Department will defend it in court.
The Trump administration hopes Boente's term will last just a few days, as they push for Senate confirmation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general. Sessions could be confirmed this week, but so far a vote has been held up amid Democrats' objections.
FILE - In tbhis Jan. 26, 2012 file photo, Dana Boente, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, speaks outside federal court in Alexandria, Va. Boente, the man appointed to serve as Acting Attorney General after his predecessor refused to defend President Trump's travel ban, has a reputation for providing steady leadership in difficult situations and was described by then-Attorney general Loretta Lynch as one of the Justice Department's "consummate utility players." (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Boente, a career prosecutor, has served most recently as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
This isn't the first time he's been asked to take the reins of an office in turmoil.
Boente took over as the top federal prosecutor in New Orleans amid a scandal that led to the resignation of U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
Letten stepped down in 2012 after two of his top deputies acknowledged they had posted anonymous comments on a newspaper website about cases their office had handled, including the prosecution of police officers who shot and killed unarmed residents on a New Orleans bridge in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In 2013, a federal judge threw out the convictions of five former officers and ordered a new trial, concluding the case had been tainted by "grotesque prosecutorial misconduct."
Boente served as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana until September 2013. During his brief stint there, he oversaw the high-profile case against former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who was indicted on corruption charges in January 2013 and convicted at trial the following year.
Matthew Coman, who was lead prosecutor in Nagin's case, called Boente an intelligent, hard-working career prosecutor with a "high moral character."
"He's got a great depth of experience," said Coman, who left the U.S. Attorney's office to join a New Orleans law firm.
Some of the anger at Trump's handling of the travel ban and Yates' dismissal has spilled over to Boente. His Wikipedia page was briefly vandalized to describe him as "the newest sock puppet for the Trump administration."
John Fishwick, who recently resigned as U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Virginia, said he was dismayed by Yates' dismissal, but he said Boente shouldn't be tarred by association for stepping in to a difficult situation.
"I often turned to him for advice," Fishwick said of Boente. "If there's a silver lining to (Yates' dismissal), it's that we're getting a thoughtful, conscientious lawyer in there."
He's also earned the respect of his adversaries. Geremy Kamens, who heads the federal public defender's office in the Eastern District of Virginia, called him "a professional and a straight-shooter, and our relationship is positive and very cordial. He's willing to work with us on issues of mutual concern, although obviously there are many issues on which we disagree."
When he was formally sworn in last year as U.S. Attorney after a unanimous confirmation by the Senate, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch attended the ceremony and called Boente "one of the Justice Department's consummate utility players."
Boente, 62, is a native of Carlinville, Illinois. He began his Justice Department career as a tax attorney. Except for his brief stint in New Orleans, he's been a prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2001.
He is described as low-key and unfailingly polite. Even though he oversaw numerous high-profile cases, he avoided the spotlight and rarely held press conferences. But he frequently conducted community outreach, meeting with community leaders on issues of concern like responding to an epidemic of heroin cases, and maintaining good relations with Northern Virginia's Muslim community.
The district is home to the Pentagon and CIA, and for decades has been one of the most important prosecutorial offices in the country, handling numerous espionage, terrorism and national security cases. Boente led the office through several high-profile corruption cases as well, including the prosecution of Republican former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell, whose conviction was overturned unanimously by the U.S. Supreme Court after the Justice's expressed concern that prosecutors' theory of the case would criminalize routine interactions between politicians and their supporters.
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Associated Press writer Michael Kunzelman contributed to this report from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
AP EXPLAINS: Tech companies worry about cherished tech visas
NEW YORK (AP) Next on the immigration chopping block? U.S. tech companies fear the Trump administration will target a visa program they cherish for bringing in programmers and other specialized workers from other countries.
Although these visas, known as H-1B, aren't supposed to displace American workers, critics say safeguards are weak. Critics also say the program mostly benefits consulting firms that let tech companies contract out their jobs to save money. The administration is considering a broad review of such programs, though there weren't many specifics in a draft executive order obtained by The Associated Press.
This comes amid President Donald Trump's temporary ban on nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S., including those who are employed by Google and other tech companies but were out of the country when the surprise order was issued Friday.
FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, file photo, Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks during a news conference on Google's collaboration with small scale local businesses in New Delhi. U.S. tech companies fear the Trump administration will target a visa program they cherish for bringing in engineers and other specialized workers from other countries. Although these visas, known as H-1B, arent supposed to displace American workers, critics say safeguards are weak. This comes amid a temporary ban on nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S., including those who are employed by Google and other tech companies but were out of the country when the surprise order was issued Friday, Jan. 27. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal, File)
Here's a look at how the H-1B visa program works and why tech companies are worried.
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IS THIS A TECH VISA PROGRAM?
The H-1B program is open to a broad range of occupations, including architects, professors and even fashion models. Companies must affirm that the job requires a specialty skill that cannot be filled by a U.S. worker.
Many of these skills happen to be in tech. According to the Labor Department, the top three H-1B occupations are computer systems analysts, application software developers and computer programmers. The Labor Department says about half of its H-1B certifications are for those three occupations.
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BY THE NUMBERS
The U.S. government allows up to 85,000 new H-1B visas each year, and recipients can stay up to six years. Demand is usually higher, so the government holds an annual lottery. Advocates say that's a sign the cap needs to be raised.
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WHAT ABOUT AMERICAN JOBS?
Companies must make a good faith effort to hire a U.S. worker before turning to an H-1B worker. They are also required to pay at least the prevailing wage for that occupation.
The Labor Department must certify that these conditions have been met. After that, Homeland Security's Citizenship and Immigration Services conducts a lottery and the State Department issues visas to the lucky winners.
Venky Ganesan, a managing director at venture capitalist firm Menlo Ventures, says that rather than displace low-wage workers, the program encourages students to stay in the U.S. after getting their degrees in high-tech specialties. He said many of them go on to start companies and hire U.S. workers.
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SOUNDS GOOD, BUT .
A 2011 study from the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, found that the Labor Department's review is "cursory and limited by law to only looking for missing information and obvious inaccuracies." An Associated Press review of Labor Department data showed that less than 2 percent of applications were denied in fiscal 2016.
Critics say the program has turned into a mechanism for companies to contract out jobs to consulting firms. Indeed, the data show that top companies certified for H-1B visas are large consulting firms. Apple ranked eighth, and no other traditional tech firm made the top 15 in the AP review.
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CONSULTING FIRMS TARGETED
Last week, Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren, whose district includes Silicon Valley, proposed raising the minimum annual salary for certain reporting exemptions to $130,000, from $60,000. The change could require more companies to prove that they indeed tried to hire U.S. workers first and hadn't displaced any Americans.
As news of the proposal circulated in India, shares of many Indian technology companies sank. The stocks of Wipro, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services the fifth, seventh and 10th largest sources of H-1B applications each fell 2 percent to 4 percent Tuesday on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
As a Democratic bill, it has virtually no chance of passage in the Republican Congress, although the idea could be incorporated into other measures from the GOP.
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WHAT ELSE?
The draft order from the White House had few specifics, other than to review existing regulations, find ways to allocate visas more efficiently and ensure that beneficiaries are "the best and the brightest."
This suggests that the Trump isn't looking to kill the program entirely.
The order didn't propose anything specific about allocating visas, though one option is to scrap the lottery in favor of offering visas to the highest-paying jobs. Lofgren's bill would prioritize visas for higher-paying jobs and set aside 20 percent of slots for smaller businesses and startups.
Tech companies have been clamoring for the government to increase the number of annual visas allotted, but there's no indication that's on the agenda. In fact, the number of visas could go down. Although the cap itself is set by law, there's no legal requirement for the administration to issue that many visas.
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Burnley inflicts Leicester's 3rd Premier League loss in row
BURNLEY, England (AP) Burnley condemned Leicester to a third successive Premier League loss on Tuesday, beating the ailing champions 1-0 through Sam Vokes' late goal.
Vokes struck from close range in the 87th minute to secure Burnley's seventh successive win at Turf Moor in all competitions and fifth in the league. Replays suggested Vokes could have controlled the ball with his arm before shooting.
Leicester is two points above the relegation zone in the league it won so unexpectedly last season. Burnley is eight points better off in ninth place.
Burnley's Ashley Barnes, centre and Leicester City's Danny Simpson exchange words during the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Leicester City, at Turf Moor, in Burnley., England, Tuesday Jan. 31, 2017. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Burnley's Michael Keane attempts a header at goal whilst under pressure from Leicester City's Daniel Drinkwater during the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Leicester City, at Turf Moor, in Burnley., England, Tuesday Jan. 31, 2017. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Burnley's Joey Barton, right, and Michael Keane, centre battle for the ball in the air with Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi during the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Leicester City, at Turf Moor, in Burnley., England, Tuesday Jan. 31, 2017. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
A Philadelphia police officer with an eagle tattoo resembling a Nazi emblem has been cleared of wrongdoing, several months after an image of the tattoo sparked outcry.
Officer Ian Hans Lichterman's tattoos, including one similar to the Nazi imperial eagle, don't violate police department policy, because the department has no policy on tattoos, a police source told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday.
The department has closed its internal investigation and Lichterman remains on the job, police said.
The tattoo on Lichterman's forearm shows a spread-winged eagle under the word 'Fatherland' in Gothic script, recalling the swastika-clutching Reichsadler, or imperial eagle, of Nazi Germany.
Philadelphia cop Ian Hans Lichtermann, who has a pro-Nazi tattoo, has been cleared of any wrongdoing after a photograph emerged showing his controversial ink
The picture of Officer Ian Hans Lichtermann showing a Reichsadler eagle and the word, 'Fatherland', on his left arm surfaced on social media in September
The Reichsadler, or imperial eagle, is a symbol that has been used in other situations, but is most commonly associated with Nazism
Lichterman's tattoo was initially spotted last summer, as the officer patrolled a protest march at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney was among those criticizing the officer's tattoo after images surfaced on social media in September. He called it 'incredibly offensive' at the time.
Kenney reiterated his stance Tuesday, saying, 'I am deeply offended by the tattoo and I think it is completely inappropriate for any law enforcement officer to have such a tattoo given its impact on those they are sworn to protect and serve.'
Records suggest that Lichterman has been on the Philadelphia police force since May 2003
He says the investigation determined that since the department doesn't have a tattoo policy, the officer couldn't be dismissed.
Kenny says the city 'will draft such a policy so this cannot happen again,' but insiders say such a rule would be subject to negotiation with police unions, which may not support tattoo restrictions on their members.
Other photos of Lichterman appear to show his left elbow tattooed with an Iron Cross, another symbol associated with Nazi Germany.
Another photo from the Democratic National Convention appears to show an Iron Cross tattoo on Lichterman's left elbow
Lichterman's other arm reads 'For God and Country,' the motto of the American Legion, a group that was sympathetic to Fascism in Europe in the years leading up to World War II
On the officer's right forearm is tattooed an M16A1 - the weapon that used to be the U.S. military's standard service rifle - over an American flag, along with the slogan 'For God and Country.'
The words were the motto of the American Legion, a group that was sympathetic to Fascism in Europe in the years leading up to World War II.
In the outcry over the tattoos last fall, photos also surfaced that appeared to show Lichterman in military re-enactment gear as a Nazi-era German soldier.
An officer with the same name as Lichterman has been employed on the Philadelphia force since May 2003 and earns about $72,000.
Florida deputies shoot, wound man armed with knife
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Authorities say two Florida deputies shot and wounded a man armed with a knife outside a grocery store.
An Orange County Sheriff's Office statement says two deputies feared for their lives Tuesday when they fired shots at 51-year-old Abraham Canaan outside an Orlando-area Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market. The sheriff's office says Canaan was holding a knife and had attempted to hit one of the deputies with his vehicle as he fled.
Canaan was undergoing surgery and listed in stable condition.
The sheriff's office says Canaan was stalking a Wal-Mart employee, walking around with a buck knife and knocking items off the shelves when deputies were called. Deputies say Canaan refused to put down the knife and ran to his car.
It was transfer deadline day on Tuesday, with teams in England and Scotland having up until 11pm to get all their deals done.
Here is the pick of the news from across the Premier League.
Tomorrow, you can hear more from our new club record signing, Robbie Brady... pic.twitter.com/oB4ykIZICZ Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 31, 2017
broke their transfer record to recruitfromon transfer deadline day.
The Republic of Ireland international signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Turf Moor for an undisclosed fee.
Still awake, Clarets fans?
Then let's confirm that new club record signing Robbie Brady will wear this shirt at Turf Moor: pic.twitter.com/YSPxIwUb0z Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 31, 2017
But the Clarets confirmed the sum eclipsed the 10.5million they paid Derby for Jeff Hendrick last summer.
Brady spent 18 months at Norwich, having joined from Hull for 7million, and was part of the team relegated from the Premier League last season.
He was the second new arrival at Burnley on Tuesday with Sean Dyche also signing Ashley Westwood from Aston Villa.
NEW SIGNING: A career profile of new Clarets midfielder @ARWesty15:
Read: https://t.co/a2xFHzyjd9 pic.twitter.com/ZXG7NmmfYr Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 31, 2017
were also busy signing strikeron a four-and-a-half-year contract from. The 25-year-old is likely to cost the Saints an initial 14million and he has won six caps for Italy.
Earlier in the day the Saints confirmed the loan signing of goalkeeper Mouez Hassen from Nice until the end of the season.
are understood to have agreed the loan signing ofdefenderjust before the window closed.
The clubs had been in negotiations over a permanent transfer but Palace were unwilling to meet Liverpools asking price for the centre-half, reported to be 20million.
Palace sealed a deal for Luka Milivojevic, who signed a three-and-a-half year contract, from Olympiakos earlier in the day.
Luka Milivojevic explains what type of player he is...
Watch his first interview on https://t.co/TTogt72Aro now! #WelcomeLuka pic.twitter.com/LxQeNw7GFx Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 31, 2017
capturedfromthough Austrian Under-19 internationalleft the Riverside Stadium to join Italian Serie A sidefor an undisclosed fee.
also leftfor China. The striker joined Chinese Super League clubfor an undisclosed fee, although it was reported to be around 20million.
decided to bring infromon loan with the 29-year-old having played under boss Tony Pulis at Stoke between 2010 and 2013.
Albion have signed Marc Wilson on loan from @afcbournemouth until the end of the season https://t.co/3b0YWKwvNF#WBA pic.twitter.com/sNlyc6s1pc West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 31, 2017
It had been slow progress for Premier League clubs before the evening, with Emmanuel Adebayors move to Turkish Super Lig team Istanbul Basaksehir one of the headlines.
The striker left Crystal Palace almost seven months ago and had remained the days highest-profile mover by mid-afternoon, by which time he had passed a medical and signed a reported 18-month contract.
Later on Hull announced the capture of Polish winger Kamil Grosicki from French club Rennes for an undisclosed fee and the loan signings of Italy international Andrea Ranocchia from Inter Milan and Alfred NDiaye from Villarreal.
| DONE DEAL! Kamil Grosicki has signed from @staderennais for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance #WelcomeKamil pic.twitter.com/rMPI02gM82 Hull City (@HullCity) February 1, 2017
signed 18-year-old England youth international goalkeeperfrom. He joined on a four-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Champions Leicester who are just two points above the relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat to Burnley captured Molla Wague. The defender joins on loan for the season from Udinese with the consent of his parent club Granada, and the Foxes have an option to buy in the summer.
made the surprise late signing of midfielderon transfer deadline day, according to
The Venezuelan clubs official Twitter account confirmed their 19-year-old player had joined City, although there was no word from the English side.
@jordan_ayew9 puts pen-to-paper on a three-and-a-half year deal with the club... pic.twitter.com/oimJ3MgEQu Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) January 31, 2017
completed a cash-plus-player deal forstriker, with Wales defendergoing in the opposite direction.
Ayew, on Ghana duty for the African Nations Cup in Gabon, has signed a contract until 2020.
Here is a likely timetable for the passage through Parliament of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, known informally as the Article 50 Bill:
A copy of the Bill to trigger article 50, in front of the Houses of the Parliament.
The House of Commons begins two days of debating the Bill. Speaker John Bercow will select which amendments, if any, are debated at this stage.
MPs will get to vote on the Bill at the end of the debate. The vote is expected to take place late in the evening. If passed, the Bill moves to the committee stage for further scrutiny.
Committee stage. MPs can try to revise the Bill by pushing through a series of amendments.
End of the committee stage. MPs will get another chance to debate the Bill, followed by a final vote. If the Bill is passed, it will be sent to the House of Lords.
We're holding the Government to account on leaving the EU. Learn more about the work of the Committee on our website https://t.co/bF4pduogBt pic.twitter.com/ixN31a6wKy Future Relationship with the EU Committee (@CommonsFREU) October 25, 2016
Parliament rises for February recess.
Parliament returns from recess. The House of Lords is likely to begin debating the Bill.
House of Lords
The House of Lords debates the Bill. If peers vote to amend the Bill, it will return to the House of Commons. If there are no amendments, the Bill is sent to the Queen to receive Royal Assent and become law.
EU summit in Brussels. If the Bill is now law, Theresa May could use this occasion to formally trigger Article 50 and start the two-year countdown to the UK leaving the European Union.
Theresa May has said Article 50 will be triggered.
Mark Cavendish had to settle for third place in his opening race of 2017 as rival Marcel Kittel won the opening stage of the Dubai Tour.
The 181km opening stage from the Dubai International Marine Club to Palm Jumeirah ended in a bunch sprint after the days break was caught with 10km to go.
Kittels Quick-Step Floors team won the battle for position on the final straight to launch the big German towards the line, with Dimension Datas Cavendish following Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) over the line.
Mark Cavendish
Didn't win today, but took some real positives! 3rd place after riding last 4km with a puncture & my new @TeamDiData group were phenomenal. Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) January 31, 2017
Afterwards, Cavendish revealed he had been hit by a late puncture in the final four kilometres of the race, and had to ride on with no time for a wheel change.
Colleagues of Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in her constituency, are launching a commission in her memory to tackle the silent epidemic of loneliness.
Today the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness launches which Jo started to expose the loneliness crisis and find ways to solve it #HappytoChat pic.twitter.com/wS2pXS0Cru The Jo Cox Foundation (@JoCoxFoundation) January 31, 2017
The cross-party Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness will look for practical solutions to reduce the harm being inflicted on individuals, families and the wider country.
Mrs Cox had been taking the first steps towards establishing such a commission when she was murdered last June by far-right extremist Thomas Mair in her Batley and Spen constituency in West Yorkshire.
Jo Cox
Her sister, Kim Leadbeater, said Jo was a doer, not a complainer. We want to continue that legacy by ridding society of loneliness one conversation at a time.
The launch, at Westminster, will highlight findings which suggest loneliness is far more widespread and imposes a greater cost on those affected than previously acknowledged.
Watch again my interview on @GMB talking about the launch of the Jo Cox Loneliness Commission @JoCoxLoneliness #happytochat pic.twitter.com/o27VEfEenz Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) January 31, 2017
Research by the organisations supporting the commission found more than nine million people privately admit they are always or often lonely, but two thirds would never confess to having a problem in public.
In a joint statement, the commissions co-chairwomen, Labour MP Rachel Reeves and Conservative Seema Kennedy, called for a national conversation to highlight the scale of the problem.
Listen again to myself and Kim Leadbeater talk about Jo Cox and her work on Loneliness on @BBCr4Today #happytochat https://t.co/MBYzyu7Qwa Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) January 31, 2017
Loneliness is a silent epidemic across the UK, they said.
A man who stole a religious painting from Chester Cathedral has been jailed for nine months.
Latvian Vasilijs Apilats, 61, ripped the icon, The Raising Of Lazarus, from its easel on the altar in the Chapel of Saint Anselm, a quiet corner of the cathedral intended for prayer and reflection.
He left a cheap toy angel Christmas decoration in its place.
Vasilijs Apilats has been jailed. (Cheshire Police/PA)
Though valued at 2,000, Apilats stole the item not for greed but because he was besotted by such artwork and his actions were akin to the instinct of a magpie, Recorder Eric Lamb told Chester Crown Court as he jailed the defendant.
Recorder Lamb added: Having seen photos of your home, I have formed the view that you committed this crime out of a simple desire to acquire the icon, rather than having any specific monetary gain in mind.
Apilats denied stealing the icon, dating from around 1870, and during a trial last year he professed his Christian faith and claimed he was offered it for sale for 135 by an unidentified man at the cathedral.
The wooden angel left by Vasilijs Apilats on the altar.
He said he placed the icon into black bin liners and was told by the man he had to leave the cathedral through a back door and a metal fence.
But Apilats, who followed proceedings through a Russian interpreter, was convicted by the jury of the theft, committed in August 2014.
Police quickly tracked him down through DNA he left at the scene. They found the icon and an array of other religious artefacts at his home, but only the Chester painting was stolen.
Apilats, of Edleston Road, Crewe, who was given indefinite leave to remain in the UK after moving from Latvia in 1990, wrote a gushing apology letter to the cathedral and the general public and begging for forgiveness.
The Crewe home of Apilats. (Cheshire Police/PA)
In a victim impact statement, Canon Peter Howell-Jones, vice dean of Chester Cathedral said the icon was hugely important, used as an aid for prayer and its theft had upset the congregation.
Apilats had previous convictions for a public order offence and harassing his local MP, Edward Timpson, the court heard.
Peter Moss, mitigating, said Apilats suffered a mental disorder. He claimed it was from ill-treatment suffered at the hands of the Russian mafia.
The defendant was also ordered to pay a 100 victim surcharge.
Sergeant Neil Doleman, of Cheshire Constabulary, said: Apilats is a man who appears to be obsessed with religious artefacts.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has renewed his opposition to Donald Trumps state visit, saying protesters would be likely to continue to take to the streets after the US Presidents arrival.
His comments came after Prime Minister Theresa May faced renewed pressure to toughen her stance on the tycoon and tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded city streets across the UK over the US travel ban.
The Mayor called on Mr Trump to think again about his decision to close US borders to a host of Muslim-majority nations.
He told the Press Association: As close friends of America, as somebody who boasts of having a special relationship, we shouldnt be scared of saying boo to a goose. We should say to our close friends Youve got this wrong.
While the ban is in place we should not be rolling out the red carpet, we should not be having a state visit and the offer of a state visit should be rescinded.
Ive heard the views of Londoners loudly and clearly over the last few days The Government should take heed.
Sadiq Khan
Asked whether he expected people to protest again during the state visit, Mr Khan said: The reality is weve got a rich history of peaceful protest. Weve got a rich history of people expressing their views, either by signing petitions or turning up on the streets to protest peacefully.
I dont expect that to change.
Speaking before attending a meeting with film industry leaders, Mr Khan said London has been a beacon of tolerance, respect and diversity for centuries now.
President Trump's ban on refugees and immigrants from certain countries is shameful and cruel. The USA has a proud... Posted by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan on Sunday, January 29, 2017
Mr Khan also told reporters he was optimistic that there would not be a state visit while the ban is in place.
But he said of the possibility of protests during the state visit: I would encourage my fellow citizens to make their views known peacefully, loudly and clearly.
Downing Street has stood firm on the decision to extend an invitation to Mr Trump, saying: We look forward to hosting the president later this year.
Sir Keir Starmer has urged Labour MPs not to block Theresa May from starting the formal Brexit process.
The shadow Brexit secretary said his party faces a difficult decision as two-thirds of Labour MPs represent constituencies that voted to Leave while the other third represent Remain areas.
He added he wished the result last June had gone the other way.
Speaking in the Commons as MPs debate a Bill which would allow Brexit talks to take place, Sir Keir said: But as democrats our party has to accept the result and it follows that the Prime Minister should not be blocked from starting the Article 50 negotiations.
Powerful speech by @Keir_Starmer. I respect his integrity and honesty. But I differ with his conclusion. I will vote against Second Reading Mike Gapes (@MikeGapes) January 31, 2017
Sir Keirs remarks came after Speaker John Bercow selected an amendment in the name of SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson.
This calls for the European Union (Notification Of Withdrawal) Bill not to be given a second reading for several reasons.
Delighted that the Speaker has selected @theSNP reasoned amendment in my name & ors for debate on #EU withdrawal bill pic.twitter.com/6mS7JsTzmc Joanna Cherry KC (@joannaccherry) January 31, 2017
The SNP say these include because the Government has yet to publish its detailed plans in a White Paper, no details for effective consultation with devolved administrations on implementing Article 50 have been outlined, and there are unanswered questions about the implications of leaving the single market.
Labour backbenchers have tabled a separate amendment designed to stop the Bill from progressing although it will not be voted upon.
Our amendment to Article 50 Bill. We won't give the Tories a blank cheque for a hard Brexit at all costs taking us out of the Single Market pic.twitter.com/3dulYTJi1F David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 30, 2017
The two-day debate is scheduled to run until Wednesday when a vote is expected.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said people will view any attempt to halt the Bills progress dimly.
Sir Keir told the Commons: We have before us a short Bill and a relatively simple Bill, but for the Labour Party this is a very difficult Bill.
@Keir_Starmer Statesman like, serious and commanding. Davis populist knockabout and unconvincing Adrian Bailey (@AdrianBaileyWBW) January 31, 2017
Tory MPs could be heard laughing, with Sir Keir asking for those in the chamber to be courteous as he set out the Oppositions position.
Sir Keir stressed his partys pro-European, internationalist background, adding that it recognised that the the single market and customs union has benefited the UK for many years.
He also said: We share values and identity with the EU. But we failed to persuade, we lost the referendum.
Keir Starmer
Yes, the result was close, yes, there were lies and half-truths none worse than the false promise of 350 million a week to the NHS.
Yes, technically the referendum is not legally binding but the result was not technical it was deeply political.
And politically the notion that the referendum was merely a consultation exercise to inform Parliament holds no water.
Statesmanlike, serious and compelling speech - not to the 48% or the 52%, but to the 100% from @Keir_Starmer in @HouseofCommons debate. Toby Perkins MP (@tobyperkinsmp) January 31, 2017
When I was imploring people up and down the country to vote in the referendum and vote to Remain, I told them their vote really mattered, that a decision was going to be made.
I was not inviting them to express a view.
We welcome that @Keir_Starmer is committing to respecting the result & will vote in favour of Article 50 Change Britain (@Change_Britain) January 31, 2017
And although were fiercely internationalist, fiercely pro-European, we in the Labour Party are, above all, democrats.
A mother of two has been acquitted of encouraging her boyfriend to shoot a crying toddler in the head with an air rifle.
A jury took just 35 minutes to find Emma Horseman, 24, not guilty of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm to Harry Studley on the basis that she aided or abetted an offence.
Harry was just 18 months old when Jordan Walters pointed the weapon at him and pulled the trigger in July last year.
Harry Studley who was shot in the head with an air rifle (Avon and Somerset Police/PA)
Horseman was accused of telling Walters: Shoot Harry, just to frighten him, to shut him up, shoot it at Harry.
Bristol Crown Court heard that Harry was visiting Horsemans home in Bishport Avenue, Hartcliffe, with his mother Amy Allen and older brother Riley when he was shot.
Walters has already admitted unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on the toddler.
Horseman, of Oak House, Bishport Avene, Hartcliffe, Bristol, showed no emotion when the jury returned the not guilty verdict to the single charge she faced.
Judge Julian Lambert discharged her and said: You have been acquitted on the verdict of a jury of your peers.
You may leave the dock.
The air rifle used to shoot Harry Studley in the head (Avon and Somerset Police/PA)
During the two-day trial Horseman told the court how Harry was injured as she chatted with her friend Miss Allen in the lounge of her two-bedroom flat.
I couldnt see what Jordan was doing. All I know was that he was cleaning the gun.
I know he had the gun out but I couldnt see him, she said.
She denied telling Walters to shoot Harry, telling the jury: No, Jordan didnt hear what I said. I cant remember saying that.
Paul Cook, defending, asked Horseman: What was the first you knew about the gun being fired?
She replied: I didnt even know it was. I just looked down and looked up and saw Harry was bleeding.
Asked how she felt about the incident, Horseman replied: Horrible, I felt bad, sick like that could have been my child.
Harry, now aged two, was taken to Bristol Childrens Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
Doctors discovered he had suffered a displaced skull fracture and swelling and bleeding on the brain after being shot in the right temple. The pellet has not been found.
Harrys speech is now developing normally but he suffers from several post-traumatic seizures a day and is being treated with anticonvulsant drugs.
All long-haul British Airways flights to and from London airports will operate as normal during a cabin crew strike on Sunday, the airline has said.
Flights to and from London Gatwick and London City will be unaffected, but some short-haul journeys from Heathrow may be cancelled.
However, BA said the 'vast majority' will run as members of Unite in the so-called Mixed Fleet walk out on Sunday as part of a long-running dispute over pay.
British Airways aircraft at Heathrow Airport (Steve Parsons/PA)
It follows strikes which caused flight cancellations earlier this months and a further three days of action will start on February 9.
The airline said it will be merging a 'very small' number of short-haul flights at Heathrow, meaning some passengers will travel slightly earlier or later than planned.
BA said its pay offer to the Mixed Fleet - crew who have joined since 2010 - was consistent with deals agreed with more than 90 per cent of its employees, including many Unite members.
More than 9,000 cabin crew represented by a different Unite branch voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to accept the deal, said BA.
'The offer also reflects pay awards given by other companies in the UK and will ensure that rewards for Mixed Fleet remain in line with those for cabin crew at our airline competitors.
New strike dates announced | British Airways to face six days of #strike action by mixed fleet cabin crew #MoreSoon pic.twitter.com/ATgp9vuJXn Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) January 27, 2017
STRIKE ACTION FROM THE 'MIXED FLEET December 23 - Planned strikes over Christmas an New Year were cancelled after BA made a revised offer in the dispute January 11 - Mixed Fleet crew carried out a 48-hour strike causing BA to cancel 48 flights January 19 - Unite members carried out a three-day walkout, causing the cancellation of 24 flights February 5 - Unite members will walk out for another three days February 9 - A second three-day strike will take place Advertisement
'The details of our schedule for February 9-11, when the union has proposed further industrial action, will be confirmed on Thursday. We will again ensure that all our customers travel to their destinations,' said BA in a statement.
The Mixed Fleet crew went on strike earlier this month, but the airline said only a small number of flights had to be cancelled.
Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: 'Rather than addressing poverty pay, British Airways is spending money hand over fist on chartering in aircraft to cover striking cabin crew.
'If it can afford to waste money in such a manner then British Airways can clearly afford to address pay levels which are among the lowest in the industry.
'We would urge British Airways to wake up to the determination of our members, who contribute massively to the billions of pounds in profits the airline generates, and get around the negotiating table to resolve the dispute and avoid a further six days of costly strike action.'
Watford have sold Odion Ighalo to Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai.
The 27-year-old striker leaves after two-and-a-half years at Vicarage Road for an undisclosed fee.
Ighalo scored 39 goals in 100 appearances for the Hornets including 20 as Watford secured promotion to the Premier League in 2014/15, and 17 during the clubs first campaign back in the top-flight last season.
Odion Ighalo (Nigel French/PA)
#watfordfc confirms the sale of Odion Ighalo to Changchun Yatai.
Thanks for the memories, Odion!
Full story https://t.co/n0Ajvgl81t pic.twitter.com/gjyOrRPvAY Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) January 31, 2017
The Nigerian international initially arrived on loan from Granada in July 2014, a move which was made permanent three months later.
Ighalo was also linked with a move to West Brom but that would have only been as a direct swap for Saido Berahino, who did not want to move to Watford.
The Baggies were not keen to buy the striker outright.
Adult swaddling therapy fad hits Tokyo
TOKYO, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Wrapped up from head to toe in a white bag and gently rocking from side to side, five Japanese mothers are hopeful Tokyo's latest health trend can cure their post-pregnancy aches and pains.
According to its exponents, Otonamaki, which translates as "adult wrapping", was devised by a Kyoto midwife who thought replicating how children are swaddled at birth could help mothers overcome post labour shoulder and hip pain.
The five mothers at a recent session in Tokyo lay on their backs with their knees on their chests bundled up in white cloths. Staff then helped them rock over cushions.
"It felt warm and there was this feeling with my body," said one mother who tried the 20 minute session.
"I have never experienced this before so its quite hard to describe properly."
Not everyone is a fan. Chiropractor Shiro Oba was sceptical about its powers of healing and encouraged mothers with back pain to visit a physician.
"There may be cases where people with asthma may find it easier to breath (in that position), but once the cloth is off it's the same thing," said Oba.
Visa row overshadows Iranian investment drive and plane deals
By Parisa Hafezi and Tim Hepher
ANKARA/PARIS, Jan 30 (Reuters) - A row over U.S. visa bans may further weaken Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's efforts to attract foreign investors to Iran, particularly if it slows the implementation of deals for Western aircraft, officials and analysts said.
The deals for 80 Boeing jets and 100 from Europe's Airbus struck last year are seen by Western investors as a crucial test as they seek business in Iran in the wake of the nuclear deal that led to the lifting of most sanctions.
People involved in the airline deals say it is too early to assess the impact of the U.S. visa ban but worry that hardening rhetoric in Tehran and Washington can only add to a list of complications that could slow, if not endanger, the jet sales.
While Airbus planes come from Europe, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump can veto the sale of all the planes to Iran because of the widespread use of U.S. parts in the aircraft which need U.S. export licences.
The visa ban could also prolong a hiatus in talks about financing deliveries of jets, with European and Chinese banks reluctant to put up money to back Iranian jet purchases for fear of a backlash against their U.S. operations.
"It will make people more nervous, more risk-averse, more inclined to wait and see," said a senior Western financier, who asked not to be named.
Iranian officials say that even before Trump imposed restrictions on travel to the United States from seven mainly Muslim countries, concerns about what the new U.S. president might do had already put the brakes on post-sanctions business.
During his election campaign, Trump criticised the nuclear accord six major powers struck with Iran and his victory in November increased uncertainty around Iran's investment drive.
FINAL RULING
"The process has been very slow ... foreign investors were very interested to work in Iran, but since Trump's election the process has almost stopped. Investors are worried about possible U.S. punishments if they work with Iran," a senior economy ministry official told Reuters.
Final decisions on whether the plane deals go ahead may well lie with Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the ultimate broker in the country's faction-ridden politics who has the last say on key matters.
Since taking office this month, Trump has largely ignored the Iranian jet deals in public, even as he lambasted U.S. aerospace firms including Boeing about other projects.
For now, at least, Boeing appears comfortable that Trump won't automatically block its deal, though questions also remain over further approvals from Iran, two industry sources said.
Boeing and Europe's Airbus declined comment.
Still, any long-term U.S. travel curbs could also undermine the case for long-distance jets capable of linking Tehran with expatriate communities in cities such as Los Angeles. Boeing plans to start delivering its large 777 jets in 2018.
IranAir has already cancelled orders for Airbus A380 superjumbos, initially meant to signal its ambitions to compete on equal terms with the hubs of Gulf rivals.
Besides the Boeing and Airbus orders, state airline IranAir is planning to buy 20 small Franco-Italian ATR turboprops to help expand economic development to smaller Iranian cities.
But officials say a final deal has been held up due to uncertainty over some licences for engines made by a Canadian subsidiary of Pratt & Whitney, America's top military engine maker and supplier to the colossal F-35 fighter project.
Pratt & Whitney is seen to be wary of the political risks of dealing with Iran, especially with the F-35 project at the centre of Trump's criticism of aerospace firms for going over budget.
A Pratt & Whitney Canada spokesman said it was, "working closely with ATR to ensure all necessary licenses are in place prior to providing any products or services".
SHOWCASE FLIGHTS
The renewal of Iran's unsafe, elderly fleet is also a major political battleground ahead of presidential elections in May as Rouhani's failure to boost the economy a year after the lifting of sanctions intensifies political infighting.
Hardliners blame Rouhani for failing to deliver a swift improvement in domestic living standards following the nuclear deal, at a time when prices for oil exports are low and the promised foreign investment has yet to arrive.
They have singled out long-range jets for particular criticism, arguing that they only benefit rich travellers.
"The economy is the main factor for most of the Iranian voters ... Rouhani was hoping that the deal with major planemakers will encourage other investors to come to Iran," said political analyst Hamid Farahvashian.
"That is why hardliners are mainly focused on criticising this deal. Basically, Rouhani's political career depends on this deal."
One senior Iranian official said he doubted the aircraft deals would be ditched altogether.
"I don't think the deal will be cancelled because Rouhani signed it with the approval of the Supreme Leader ... but he might be forced to cancel some of the orders to save the deals," said one senior official.
Others were more cautious, saying foreign investors would avoid being targeted by Trump for doing business with Iran.
"This is good news for Rouhani's rivals," said another senior official, referring to the U.S. visa restrictions.
For now, IranAir appears anxious is get airplanes into the country as an urgent priority ahead of May's presidential election, demonstrating tangible results from the nuclear deal.
But so far, just one aircraft has been delivered: an Airbus A321, paid for in cash. It was promptly deployed widely on domestic routes in an apparent effort to showcase the benefits of the lifting of sanctions.
In its first 12 days, Iran's first brand-new jet in decades covered 46,000 km (29,000 miles) between 15 cities, from the Kurdish city of Kermanshah in the West to the Shi'ite holy city of Mashhad in the northeast, according to FlightRadar24 data.
France, worried by Trump, promises to defend Iran nuclear deal
By John Irish
TEHRAN, Jan 30 (Reuters) - France vowed on Monday to defend Iran's nuclear deal, which U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to tear up, but said it was imperative Tehran abide strictly by the conditions of the accord.
Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault arrived in the Iranian capital just as relations between Tehran and the new U.S. leadership were strained by new U.S. immigration orders that the French minister called "dangerous" and said should be revoked.
Ayrault said it was in the "common interest" that the 2015 accord under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in return for lifted sanctions was obeyed.
During the U.S. election race Trump had branded it "the worst deal ever negotiated", telling voters he would either rip it up or seek a better agreement.
"I'm coming as the defender of the accord, but to be vigilant and explain that they (the Iranians) must be irreproachable," Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters after landing in Tehran.
"We harbour real concerns about the U.S. administration's attitude towards this agreement," he said.
French worries over the direction of U.S. policy under Trump go beyond the fate of the Iranian nuclear deal and on Monday Ayrault was scathing in his criticism of the U.S. leader's travel ban against citizens from seven mainly-Muslim countries.
The White House says the temporary immigration orders will help protect Americans from terrorist attacks. In some of the strongest wording from a foreign government, Ayrault said the measures were "dangerous" and amounted to "discrimination".
"This has nothing to do with fighting terrorism," Ayrault told reporters.
When asked whether the U.S. immigration orders should be revoked, Ayrault said: "Yes. I think so." He also said France would double the number of visas available to Iranians.
"RESPECT NUCLEAR DEAL"
Ayrault is in Iran to reassure Tehran of France and Europe's support for the nuclear deal. The deal was brokered two years ago by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, Germany and France.
Ayrault said that while Tehran had "largely" kept to the terms of the deal, it had pushed the spirit of the accord over the past year by carrying out several ballistic missile tests.
"We want this agreement to be respected," Ayrault said.
The most recent test came on Sunday, according to a U.S. official, who said Iran launched of a medium-range ballistic missile, potentially complicating Ayrault's talks on Tuesday, including with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
Paris took one of the hardest lines against Tehran in the negotiations, but has been quick to restore trade ties.
Major French corporations including planemaker Airbus , oil major Total and automobile manufacturers Peugeot and Renault have all signed deals.
Even before the visa ban row, Iranian officials say that concerns about what the U.S. president might do was increasing investor uncertainty and slowing post-sanctions business.
The visit may see some new contracts finalised.
It will also provide an opportunity for talks on Syria. Paris is a vociferous opponent of Iran's backing of Syria's leader, Bashar al-Assad.
"We will discuss our disagreements, notably on Syria. "We had hoped Iran would be less aggressive in the region," Ayrault said, referring to the period since the nuclear deal.
Yemen's Houthis attack Saudi ship, launch ballistic missile
SANAA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The armed Houthi movement attacked a Saudi warship off the western coast of Yemen on Monday, causing an explosion that killed two crew members and injured three others, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Separately, the Houthis said they launched a ballistic missile at a Saudi-led coalition military base on the Red Sea island of Zuqar between Yemen and Eritrea on Tuesday morning, according to the group's official news channel al-Masira.
There was no immediate coalition reaction to that claim and it was unclear if there were any casualties.
The attacks signal an escalation to weeks of combat on Yemen's western coast between the Iran-allied Houthis and the coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government.
"A Saudi frigate on patrol west of Hodeidah port came under attack from three suicide boats belonging to the Houthi militias," the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said in a statement on SPA.
One of the boats collided with the rear of the vessel, causing an explosion and a fire that killed two crew members and wounded three others.
The Houthi movement's al-Masira channel contradicted this account and quoted a military source saying the explosion was caused by a guided missile.
It was at least the second attack by the Houthis on ships off the coast of Yemen in the last six months.
The group is engaged in battles on the mainland with coalition troops and pro-government fighters, who are trying to advance northward to deprive the Houthis of Red Sea ports.
The Saudi-led coalition warned the attack on the ship "would impact international navigation and the flow of humanitarian assistance to the port for Yemeni citizens."
Indonesia VP says Trump's policy can raise "suspicion" toward Muslims - media
JAKARTA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy can raise "suspicion" toward Muslims, Indonesia's vice president said on Tuesday, media reported.
Trump last week issued an executive order that put a temporary ban on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria, and a 90-day ban on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
"(The policy) won't affect us directly in a big way, but it can raise suspicion especially toward Muslims," Vice President Jusuf Kalla said, as quoted by news website Detik.com.
Shell sells Thailand gas field stake to Kuwait's Kufpec for $900 mln
SINGAPORE/DUBAI, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell said on Tuesday it would sell its stake in Thailand's Bongkot gas field to Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company for $900 million.
The move is the latest stage of the Anglo-Dutch company's push to reduce debt after buying smaller rival BG Group for $70 billion, bringing its total divestments since April 2015 to 8.7 billion.
The transaction will include Shell's 22.2-percent equity stake in the Bongkot field and adjoining acreage off the coast of Thailand consisting of Blocks 15, 16 and 17 and Block G12/48, Shell said in a statement.
"This transaction shows the clear momentum behind Shell's global, value-driven $30 billion divestment programme," the company said.
Kufpec said in a separate statement that the acquisition would provide it with 68 million barrels of oil equivalent in proved and probable reserves and approximately 39,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of production.
Kufpec expects the acquisition to be completed in February while Shell gave a timeline of the first quarter of 2017.
PTT Exploration and Production PCL operates the offshore Bongkot field with a 44.445-percent equity while Total has a 33.333 percent stake.
Shell is also nearing the sale of a large part of its North Sea oil and gas assets to private equity-backed Chrysaor for $3 billion.
Poland - Factors to Watch Jan 31
Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):
DATA
Polish statistics office is to release 2016 GDP data at 0900 GMT.
DEBT SUPPLY
Poland's finance ministry is to release its debt supply schedule for February at around 1400 GMT.
NOKIA
Finnish network equipment maker Nokia, together with investment firm Infracapital owned by Prudential, plan to take part in a Polish tender to distribute about 3.2 billion zlotys ($788.84 million) in grants for the construction of fast Internet network, daily Rzeczpospolita reported citing unnamed sources.
LOT
Japan eyes U.S. job, investment initiative ahead of Abe-Trump summit
By Takashi Umekawa and Linda Sieg
TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Japan is hammering out plans to show U.S. President Donald Trump its firms are ready to create U.S. jobs, according to a document whose contents were revealed to Reuters, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prepares for a summit where automotive trade will be high on the agenda.
Abe will visit Washington on Feb. 10 for the talks at which Trump is expected to seek quick progress toward a two-way trade deal.
An early draft of the document, called "U.S.-Japan Growth and Employment Initiative", listed five areas including infrastructure. The document, which was read to Reuters, did not mention automotive trade, which Trump has targeted as "unfair" in an echo of complaints by Washington decades ago.
The document left blanks for the numbers of jobs to be created and the scope of investment but a government source said several hundred thousand jobs could result.
It also referred to the idea of buying dollar-denominated "infrastructure bonds", a proposal that has been floated as a way Japan could take part in Trump's promised upgrade of U.S. infrastructure.
Japanese officials said they were still trying to assess just what Trump wants from Japan. In addition to singling out cars, he has also lumped Japan with China and Mexico as big contributors to America's trade deficit.
However, Japan's share of the U.S. global trade gap has shrunk to 9 percent from more than half in the early 1990s.
Automobiles and car parts account for about three-fourths of the overall U.S.-Japan trade gap, making it an easy target.
'BUY AMERICAN'
In a phone call with Abe on Saturday, Trump reiterated his pledge to create jobs in the United States and asked that the Japanese auto industry contribute, the Nikkei business daily reported, quoting unidentified Japanese government officials.
Abe is expected to meet Toyoto Motor Corp CEO Akio Toyoda this week, possibly on Friday.
"Mr. Trump has made a promise to 'Buy American, Hire American'," said one former Japanese diplomat. Symbolically, autos are a very big player."
The renewed focus on the automotive trade has some Japanese officials and media reminiscing - and not happily - about heated U.S.-Japan auto talks more than 20 years ago.
A last-minute deal in June 1995 averted U.S. tariffs on Japanese luxury cars when Japan's automakers crafted "voluntary plans" to boost purchases of American auto parts and expand U.S. production. That allowed the Japanese government to maintain its opposition to setting official numerical trade targets while letting U.S. negotiators also claim a win.
Yoshihiro Sakamoto, the top Japanese trade bureaucrat in those talks two decades ago, said such plans - drafted behind the scenes by the auto industry and trade ministry - could be a model for addressing the situation now. Some experts pointed out, however, the ministry's clout had waned since those days.
"What America wants is investment," Sakamoto told Reuters.
U.S. CAR INVESTMENTS
Toyota has come under fire from Trump for plans, announced in 2015, to shift production of its Corolla sedan from Canada to Mexico. Earlier this month, Japan's top automaker said it would invest $10 billion in the United States over the next five years, the same as the previous five years.
On Monday, Honda Motor Co Ltd and General Motors Co said they would jointly produce pollution-free hydrogen fuel cell power systems in the United States from around 2020. The companies said they would invest $85 million to add a production line at a GM battery plant in Brownstown, Michigan, and create 100 jobs.
Boosting output in the United States, however, could force Japanese car makers to make tough decisions about reducing production - and jobs - back home.
Central Japan Railway Company, or JR Tokai, has given the government estimates of how many jobs would be created by proposed high-speed Shinkansen railways in California and Texas and a high-tech "maglev" railway along the U.S. east coast, a JR Tokai spokeswoman said. She declined to release the figures.
Slovak Republic - Factors To Watch on Jan 31
BRATISLAVA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA======================== Real-time economic data releases.................. Summary of economic data and forecasts......... Recently released economic data................ Previous stories on Slovak data.......... **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/1C/events-overview ==========================EVENT=============================== BRATISLAVA - Slovakia's central Bank will release updated economic forecasts and decide on the level of a countercyclical capital buffer on banks, which is currently set at 0.5 percent with effect from August 2017. Related stories: =====================PRESS DIGEST=============================== TRUMP: Prime Minister Robert Fico said he saw the U.S. presidency of Donald Trump as a chance for many positive changes in the European Union and a change in U.S.-Russian relations. http://spravy.pravda.sk/ekonomika/clanok/418288-fico-vnima-trumpa-ako-sancu-na-pozitivne-zmeny-v-eu/ (Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.) For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 474 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
Some leading French Socialists threaten to desert hard-left Hamon
PARIS, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Two French Socialists said they would not back their party's hard-left presidential candidate Benoit Hamon, deepening splits in the party and handing a possible boost to independent centrist rival Emmanuel Macron.
Other senior party members, including Finance Minister Michel Sapin, took to the airwaves on Tuesday urging Hamon to pull back to the centre ground, signalling they might also desert him if he persisted.
Hamon secured the Socialist ticket after a run-off vote on Sunday on a raft of divisive policies including legalising cannabis, cancelling debts between EU states and bringing in a "universal income" for all citizens.
Socialist politicians Christophe Caresche and Gilles Savary, from the right wing of the Socialist party, wrote an article in Tuesday's Le Monde newspaper saying they could not support him.
"How could we back a programme that is the total opposite of the (current presidential) mandate that we support and which produced progress in our view," they said.
Sapin and Health Minister Marisol Touraine, staunch allies of unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande, said Hamon should concentrate on winning over the rest of the party, and not expect fellow-Socialists to fall into line behind him.
Sapin said Hamon had two or three weeks to clarify the situation, without going into further details.
The Socialists, weakened and divided after Hollande's presidency, are given next to no chance of getting beyond the first round of the election in April. But a defection of centrist Socialists could be a significant boost for Macron.
A poll published on Jan 29 for French newspaper Le Figaro showed far-right leader Marine Le Pen would come first in the election's first round in April with 25 percent of the votes, while conservative candidate Francois Fillon would garner 21-22 percent and Macron 20-21 percent.
PRESS DIGEST - RUSSIA - Jan 31
MOSCOW, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The following are some stories in Russia's newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
VEDOMOSTI
www.vedomosti.ru
Russia's Federal Anti-Monopoly Service has filed a case against Megafon, the country's second biggest mobile operator, over suspicions it is charging too much for its roaming services. Other operators have similar prices, the paper says.
Russia's state atomic agency Rosatom is considering building a nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic, the paper cites Rosatom officials as saying.
State gas company Gazprom has raised the value of contracts to build its Power of Siberia gas pipeline to China by a quarter -- to 248.3 billion roubles ($4.14 billion), according to the state's official procurement website, the paper says.
KOMMERSANT
www.kommersant.ru
Russia's consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has demanded that the Pacific commercial port of Vanivo suspend operations for at least 90 days due to air pollution from coal dust.
Doctors have been refusing to provide medical help to Russian HIV patients if they do not have a valid registration at their place of residence, the paper says. Invalid papers are a common problem in regions with large numbers of migrants, it says.
IZVESTIA
www.izvestia.ru
Russia could resume flights to Egypt in February, ending a ban that has been in place since the bombing of a Russian airliner carrying 224 people from a Red Sea resort in October 2015, according to the paper.
Russia plans to deploy four upgraded Sukhoi Su-25SM3 fighters to Syria this summer, the paper says, citing military sources.
Sky high local hotel prices could deter some foreign companies from participating in Russia's flagship MAKS air show to be held near Moscow in August, the daily says.
NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA
www.ng.ru
Construction of new houses is likely to decline again this year after shrinking by 6.5 percent last year as falling incomes reduce demand for new apartments, the paper says.
KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA
www.kp.ru
Russian Duma deputy Natalia Poklonskaya has asked prosecutors for a second time to investigate the funding of a film that she says "offends the memory" of Russia's last Tsar, Nicholas II, by detailing his relationship with a ballet dancer, the paper says.
PRESS DIGEST - Bulgaria - Jan 31
SOFIA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
-- The water and energy regulator will decide on Friday whether to increase water supply prices in Sofia by 18 percent. (Trud, Standart, Sega, 24 Chasa)
-- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev urged the European Union to increase its support for the border countries of the bloc to prevent further migrant inflows at a meeting with EU Council President Donald Tusk. (Trud, Telegraph, Monitor, 24 Chasa)
Serbia's second biggest bank expects to return to profit this year
By Ivana Sekularac
BELGRADE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Serbia's second largest lender Komercijalna Banka is set to return to profit this year after cleaning up its bad loans, its chief executive told Reuters.
The Serbian government is due to sell its 41.7 percent stake in the lender this year but a decision has not yet been taken on whether that would be an IPO or a private sale, CEO Alexander Picker said.
"Which way the privatisation goes, remains to be seen. Everything is possible, from a strategic investor, a fund, or even an IPO, but the answer to this question is up to shareholders," he said in an interview with Reuters conducted on Monday.
Komercijalna is expected to report a second straight annual loss for 2016, partly because it made provisions against bad loans which had totalled 25 percent of its lending.
"It (2016) was a difficult year. We finished the clean-up of the problem loan portfolio and other impairments," Picker said.
"We went to every small closet we could find and we hopefully did dig up all the skeletons, pulled them out and cleaned them," he said.
That should enable it to turn a profit this year, he said.
The bank swung into the red in 2015 with a 7 billion dinar ($61 million) loss.
Picker said it would focus on developing new digital products and providing services to small and medium sized enterprises.
"We do see potential in the area of public finance," he said adding that the bank had recently provided a refinancing loan to the regional government of Vojvodina in northern Serbia.
The Serbian government is the bank's biggest shareholder and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank group, own 24.4 and 10.1 percent respectively.
Komercijalna has a 12.9 percent share of Serbia's banking market in terms of assets, trailing Banka Intesa, part of Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo.
Nomura was appointed in 2015 to advise on the sale of the government's stake, one of a number of planned privatisations of state companies as part of broader economic reforms in Serbia.
"From the side of management we are working full steam in order to get the bank in the best shape possible," Picker said.
Serbia's banking sector is dominated by foreign-owned banks but has been hampered since 2009 by non-performing loans, which still accounted for 19.5 percent of total loans in the third quarter of last year, among the highest ratios in central Europe.
Despite that the banking sector remains well capitalised with an average capital adequacy ratio of 21 percent, way above the central bank minimum of 12 percent. However it is a very competitive field with 30 banks vying for customers in a country of just 7 million.
"The question is how this capital will be employed," Komercijalna's chairman of the board, Vladimir Krulj, told Reuters.
"One may expect consolidation in the banking sector in Serbia, and some of the size-matter banks could potentially buy portfolios of those (Greek) banks that are about to leave," he said.
Greece's Alpha Bank said on Monday that it had reached a deal to sell its wholly owned subsidiary Alpha Bank Srbija to Serbia's MK Group, which is involved in a range of businesses.
Netanyahu tweets like Trump. Great idea!
By Maayan Lubell and Luke Baker
Jan 31 (Reuters) - Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't just appreciate Donald Trump's politics. He is starting to sound like him on Twitter.
Over the past year, Netanyahu has increasingly taken to social media to make policy statements. He also uses it to deride the Israeli media for its reporting on him.
"It's fun. I enjoy it," he told the foreign media at a gathering last month. While he fully supported press freedom and the right to criticise, he added: "Guess what? We should have the freedom to criticise them, and that's what I do on occasion. And it's a lot of fun."
In recent weeks, in the build up to Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration and in the days since, some of Netanyahu's posts have adopted the president's unmistakable rat-a-tat syntax.
"President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea," Netanyahu tweeted on Jan. 28, posting pictures of the U.S. and Israeli flags next to each other.
Trump retweeted it to his 23 million followers, contributing to it getting far more attention than Netanyahu's tweets normally do: 53,000 retweets and more than 100,000 likes.
The ramping-up of Netanyahu's presence on Twitter and Facebook has largely taken place since he appointed a new English-language spokesman in early 2016 - American-born David Keyes, who has a background in online video campaigns.
"He speaks directly to the people and can bypass the often deeply biased traditional media," Keyes said last month. "The prime minister's innovative use of social media is making Israel accessible and understood to countless people around the globe."
The 67-year-old prime minister also employs a 24-year-old, Topaz Luk, as director of social media strategy.
The right-wing Israeli leader has dreamed of a Republican in the White House throughout his four terms in office, including three awkward years with Bill Clinton and eight years of dust-ups with Barack Obama. Obama's term ended with Netanyahu using Twitter to accuse the outgoing president of secretly backing an anti-Israel U.N. resolution.
Trump has promised to carry out policies that Netanyahu has long sought, such as moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, rethinking a nuclear accord with Iran and keeping quiet while Israel builds more settlements. The two men will meet in Washington on Feb. 15.
TROUBLE
Netanyahu's critics say social media can cause trouble when posts are misunderstood.
In the case of his tweet about Trump and walls, it prompted a formal protest by the Mexican government, which saw Netanyahu as taking sides on a bilateral issue by supporting Trump's plan to build a wall on the U.S. southern border.
Netanyahu said he was not commenting on U.S.-Mexican relations or the wisdom of Trump's wall, simply responding to comments from Trump that praised Israel's own wall-building.
Trump may have been referring to the concrete-and-steel barrier Israel has built along and inside the occupied West Bank, which Israel refuses to call a "wall" at all, and which Palestinians regard as an illegal land grab.
The wall Netanyahu boasted about in his reply is a smaller, less controversial steel barrier on the border with Egypt largely designed to stop illegal migrants from Africa.
But whatever the source of the misunderstanding, Netanyahu knew who to blame.
"The left-wing media is engaged in a Bolshevik hunt, brainwashing and character assassination against me and my family," he said in Hebrew, before going on to invoke one of Trump's favourite phrases.
SOFTS- NY cocoa climbs above four-year lows as Ivory Coast exports slip
By Mariana Ionova
LONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - New York cocoa futures rose on Tuesday, consolidating near four-year lows touched a day earlier, as lower exports from top producer Ivory Coast provided some support.
The March New York cocoa contract climbed $50, or 2.41 percent to $2,128 a tonne by 1321 GMT. March London cocoa was up 25 pounds, or 1.48 percent, to 1,712 pounds per tonne.
Prices were supported by provisional port data showing Ivory Coast exported 305,125 tonnes of raw cocoa beans in the first three months of the 2016/17 season, down almost 15 percent from the same period the previous year.
But one dealer said the gains were fragile, with continued pressure on prices from larger-than-expected stocks and an increasingly bearish stance from speculators.
"All eyes are on the returns to the recent lows that were touched yesterday," the dealer said. "The market was brought down on technical selling, which was applying pressure," the dealer said. "It's started off the week with a bit of pressure and it remains down there."
March arabica coffee was up 0.25 cents, or 0.17 percent, to $1.514 per lb. This helped erase losses from the previous day, driven by technical selling and coffee-friendly weather in Brazil.
March robusta coffee futures were steady at $2,237 a tonne.
Robusta supplies have tightened following poor crops in Brazil and Indonesia and a drop in production in Vietnam.
Brazil's Cia Cacique de Cafe Soluvel SA, the country's number one exporter of instant coffee, said on Monday it was refraining from closing export deals for future delivery due to uncertainty over robusta coffee supplies.
Cacique's export sales director Pedro Guimaraes Fernandes said Brazil's robusta supply crisis is 'very serious' and that without an opening to imports soluble shipments would soon start to plunge.
March raw sugar futures rose 0.12 cents, or 0.59 percent to 20.43 cents per lb, while March white sugar was up $1.70, or 0.32 percent, at $539.70 per tonne.
Brazil's centre-south cane production is seen at 612 million tonnes versus 605.5 million tonnes in 2016/17, Datagro consultancy said on Tuesday.
The projection for the cane crush in 2017/18 is above the top end of a range projected by Datagro late last year between 580 million tonnes and 610 million tonnes, as favourable rains, better crop care boosts crop prospects.
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French police search Fillon office as fraud affair rocks campaign
By Emile Picy and Chine Labbe
PARIS, Jan 31 (Reuters) - French police searched presidential candidate Francois Fillon's office in parliament on Tuesday as an inquiry into alleged fake work by his wife threatened his campaign and party leaders began to consider a 'Plan B' without him.
Fillon had been favourite to win the presidency for the conservative Republicans party until a week ago, when it was reported that his wife Penelope had drawn hundreds of thousands of euros in pay from state funds without doing any work.
Fillon has said his Welsh-born wife, with whom he has five children, did real work for her pay as a parliamentary assistant. She has not commented.
An urgent official inquiry was opened last week.
An opinion poll published on Sunday showed him losing support, with rival independent centrist Emmanuel Macron having caught up with him. A poll on Tuesday indicated 76 percent of voters were not convinced of his professed innocence.
With the inquiry gathering pace, party officials began to wonder whether, and how, they might replace him.
"The way things are going, I think we might have to quickly trigger a plan B," said one lawmaker on condition of anonymity.
"Plan B. Lots of people are thinking, reflecting and working on it but no one will speak openly about it," said another influential Republicans member of parliament.
The allegations of pay for fake work, published in satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine, cast doubt on the squeaky-clean image that helped Fillon win his party's primary election over rivals who had faced legal issues in the past.
The inquiry into whether the hundreds of thousands of euros his wife received in salary was a misuse of taxpayer's money also highlights a key plank of his campaign - that the state spends too much and half a million public sector jobs should go.
"This will sicken people who are on the minimum wage or not much more," the second lawmaker said. The biggest fear in the party, he said, was that Fillon would be damaged enough to lose the election, but not enough to pull out.
NO PRECEDENT
Fillon has said he would step down as presidential candidate should he be put under formal investigation, but it is unclear how The Republicans would find a replacement for him.
He was chosen last November in the party's first ever primary contest, so there is no precedent to look to if he quits with less than three months to go until the election.
The scandal has coincided with the Socialist Party's choice last weekend of a hard-left figure, Benoit Hamon, as its presidential candidate - a move also seen as helping Macron.
A group of right-leaning Socialist lawmakers wrote in Le Monde newspaper on Tuesday that they could not back Hamon, the clearest sign yet that his appointment could tear the party apart, with some tempted to join the Macron camp.
Meanwhile, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen faced her own battle with authorities over use of public funds.
From midnight, the National Front (FN) leader faces a pay cut of some 7,000 euros a month as punishment from the EU parliament for using money earmarked for a parliamentary assistant to pay one of her own party officials.
ONE MILLION EUROS
Le Canard Enchaine's report a week ago said Penelope Fillon - who had previously maintained she did not get involved in her husband's political affairs - had been paid 500,000 euros ($534,000) from state funds as a parliamentary assistant to Fillon and his successor.
The newspaper said it could find no evidence that she had actually done any work.
In an update on its findings on Tuesday, it said the figure was actually higher, at 831,440 euros. It added that the Fillons' children were also paid - a combined 84,000 euros.
Add to that a 100,000 euro payment the newspaper said was paid to her for very little work by a literary review owned by family friend Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere, and the figure in the newspaper's sights tops one million euros.
The payments involved were made in the years between 1988 and 2013, the newspaper said.
The Fillons and Ladreit de Lacharriere were all interviewed by the police leading the inquiry on Monday, a day after the full force of the scandal was laid bare in an opinion poll.
Fillon told a European business group on Tuesday that he remained unperturbed by the allegations and was waiting for the investigation to end.
"I'm confident, I'm unfazed," Fillon said, adding that he was the target of a professional slander operation.
Pollster Kantor-Sofres on Sunday put Macron and Fillon almost neck-and-neck, on 20-21 and 21-22 percent of the vote respectively in the first round on April 23, with Fillon having lost ground compared with a month ago.
Only one of them would go through to the second-round runoff on May 7 against predicted first-round winner Le Pen, seen as getting around 25 percent, the poll said.
There, either man would win the run-off easily with over 60 percent of the vote because many French consider Le Pen and her National Front too far to the right to vote for them.
Israel 'sorry for any hurt' with Mexico over wall tweet
By Jeffrey Heller
JERUSALEM, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Israel's president told his Mexican counterpart on Tuesday that he was "sorry for the hurt" over a tweet in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to praise U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to build a wall on the Mexican border.
In a tweet on Saturday that drew a rebuke from Mexico, the right-wing Netanyahu wrote: "President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea."
Netanyahu had earlier sidestepped Mexico's demand for an apology and echoed previous Israeli explanations - rejected as insufficient by Mexico's foreign minister on Monday - of his remarks on Twitter. He said his comments did not refer to ties between the United States and its southern neighbour.
The office of President Reuven Rivlin, whose post is largely ceremonial, issued a statement taking a more conciliatory line.
"I am sorry for any hurt caused as a result of this misunderstanding, but we must remember that we are talking about a misunderstanding, and I am sure that we can put the issue behind us," Rivlin was quoted as telling Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Mexico's foreign ministry acknowledged Rivlin's apology.
The ministry said Pena Nieto told Rivlin the tweet had upset Mexico and its Jewish community, before adding that Mexico wanted to maintain its friendship and cooperation with Israel.
On Monday, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said he thought an apology would be "appropriate" for Netanyahu's tweet while noting that Israel was a close friend of Mexico.
Trump's planned border wall, which he says will keep out illegal immigrants, along with his threat to impose punitive taxes against Mexico to rebalance trade, has brought about the worst crisis in U.S.-Mexican relations for decades. Trump signed an executive order last week ordering construction of the wall.
Netanyahu, in public remarks on Monday, said that in his tweet he had been referring to Trump's praise for the barrier Israel constructed along the Egyptian frontier, a fence with electronic sensors that has largely halted the influx of African migrants.
"I did point out the remarkable success of Israel's security fence. But I did not comment about U.S.-Mexico relations. We've had, and will continue to have, good relations with Mexico," Netanyahu said in English at a cybersecurity conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
Political commentators and opposition politicians in Israel said Netanyahu's tweet had needlessly thrust Israel into the U.S.-Mexican feud.
The French-Canadian student accused of killing six people during evening prayers in a Quebec City mosque had rented an apartment nearby, neighbors said on Tuesday, a sign he may have been targeting the house of worship.
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, was charged in court on Monday with six counts of premeditated murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon after Sunday evening's massacre at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. Police said he acted alone.
The mass shooting, which was rare for Canada and which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a 'terrorist attack,' prompted an outpouring of support for the mosque and for Canada's one million Muslims in the country of about 35 million.
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Alexandre Bissonnette was seen arriving at a Quebec City courthouse on Monday chared with six counts of first degree murder and five of attempted murder after allegedly opening fire on a mosque the night before
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, rented an apartment near the mosque in July last year, according to neighbors. The apartment building in Quebec City is pictured
Authorities in Quebec have called for a spirit of inclusivity and police have tightened security at all religious institutions in the province, which had the second-highest rate of crimes motivated by religious prejudice among the provinces in 2014, second only to Ontario, according to police crime data collected by Statistics Canada.
The data showed that reported crimes of prejudice against Muslims in Canada more than doubled between 2012 and 2014.
Bissonnette, who said he was a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump and far-right French politician Marine Le Pen, had moved into an apartment in the block near the mosque in July and drove a Mitsubishi truck, said a neighbor, who asked not to be identified.
Another neighbor on the fourth floor never spoke to Bissonnette but frequently heard piano-playing from the apartment.
A neighbor of his parents told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that Bissonnette shared the apartment with his twin brother.
Police declined to discuss a motive for the shooting, but friends and online acquaintances told Canadian media that Bissonnette had expressed anti-immigration sentiments, especially toward Muslim refugees.
Both law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the United States believe the suspect was sympathetic to right-wing nationalist ideology, and that likely contributed to motive, U.S. officials said.
On his Facebook page, which has been taken down since the shooting, Bissonnette indicated he liked Le Pen, Trump, the separatist Parti Quebecois, as well as Canada's left-wing New Democratic Party, the Israeli Defense Forces, heavy metal band Megadeth and pop star Katy Perry.
Police officers are seen near the mosque after the shooting in Quebec City on Sunday night
Bissonnette had moved into an apartment in the block near the mosque (pictured) in July and drove a Mitsubishi truck, said a neighbor
(L-R) Azzedine Soufiane and Khaled Belkacemi were killed as they attended evening prayers at the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Center on Sunday night
(L-R) Boubaker Thabti and Abdelkrim Hassen, a married father-of-three, also died in the horrific shooting
The mosque's concierge Ibrahima Barry (left), 39, and his cousin Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42, (right) both of Guinea, were also killed
A large turnout at vigils in Quebec City, Montreal and other cities on Monday evening showed people rejected hate speech and wanted to be inclusive, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said.
'I think it's a turning point for Quebec, to see people rallying around values like that,' he told reporters in Quebec City, the provincial capital, on Tuesday.
'Our society is not perfect. No society is perfect... racism, xenophobia and exclusion exist here. We have to recognize that and act together to highlight the path we want society to take,' Couillard said.
Bissonnette did not hide his hostility toward Muslims during his long interrogation by police, Montreal's La Presse newspaper reported, quoting a source close to the investigation. He was also interested in guns, and practiced shooting at a club, La Presse reported.
Police have not released specific details of the weapon used in the attack, other than to say it was a restricted firearm.
A social science student at Universite Laval and a former cadet, Bissonnette was described by a former classmate as a 'nerdy outcast.'
Bissonnette is suspected of carrying out the Quebec City mosque massacre alone
Bissonnette made a brief appearance in court on Monday under tight security. Prosecutors said all of the evidence was not yet ready and Bissonnette was set to appear again on February 21. No charges were read in court and Bissonnette did not enter a plea.
His lawyer, Jean Petit, declined to comment at the courthouse on Monday.
Quebec's public safety minister, Martin Coiteux, said security at all religious institutions across the province had been heightened, particularly at mosques.
He told reporters that while police always treated reports of religious harassment and hate speech seriously, they had not always done a good job of letting communities know the results of their probes.
'We will pay particular attention to feedback,' he said.
In Montreal, Quebec's largest city, police increased their presence at mosques and other Muslim institutions and watched for possible hate speech online.
Austria's financial watchdog examines Voestalpine's Texas plant costs
VIENNA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Austria's financial watchdog FMA is investigating whether steel company Voestalpine was open enough about cost over-runs at its plant in Texas, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
Voestalpine said earlier this month that the cost for the hot briquetted iron plant in Corpus Christi in the United States would rise to about $990 million. It had previously put the cost for the site at 550 million euros ($593.89 million) and later said the basic investment for the project was $740 million.
"We are currently looking into whether Voestalpine informed (others) according to the law," an FMA spokesman said, confirming an earlier report by public broadcaster ORF.
U.S. to apply 'extreme vetting' in refugee swap deal with Australia
By Colin Packham
SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The United States will apply "extreme vetting" to up to 1,250 asylum seekers it has agreed to resettle as part of an agreement with Australia, a spokesman for President Trump said in the United States on Tuesday.
Washington agreed a deal late last year to resettle refugees, mainly from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, held in Australia's processing centres on remote Pacific islands in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.
Under the deal, Australia will in return resettle refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
Providing details of the plan for the first time, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the deal covered many of the refugees held in the two offshore processing centres, though they have to satisfy recently tightened immigration policies.
"The deal specifically deals with 1,250 people that are mostly in Papua New Guinea being held," Spicer told reporters in Washington.
"Part of the deal is that they have to be vetted in the same manner that we're doing now. There will be extreme vetting applied to all of them."
Trump's executive order last week suspended his nation's refugee program and restricted entry to the United States from majority-Muslim countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, casting doubt over the deal with Australia.
Despite the restrictions, Trump on Sunday assured Australia the United States would honour its agreement to resettle the refugees.
Some 1,161 men, women and children remain in indefinite detention in Manus Island and Nauru as of Nov. 30, the most recent data from Australia's Department of Immigration shows.
Another 1,000 or so people are in detention in Australia, some of them asylum seekers transported to Australia for medical treatment from Manus Island and Nauru.
It is not clear how many of these would be eligible under the deal with the United States.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials have begun assessing the asylum seekers, although there is no timeline for resettlement.
The replacement of key US State Department officials such as Samantha Power, Nisha Biswal, Tom Malinowski and Susan Rice who were interested in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, is a slap aimed at the Sri Lankan Government, the joint opposition said today.
National organiser and MP Dullas Alahapperuma said this move shows that new US President Donald Trump had no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.
Biswal and Malinowski were frequent visitors to Sri Lanka. Samantha Power was behind the US resolution on Sri Lanka on war crimes charges. The resolution was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka and approved at the UN Human Rights Council. These envoys spent more time here instead of attending to State Department work, he told a news conference.
Samantha Power served as the US Ambassador to the UN from 2013 to 2017. She was replaced by former South Carolina Governor Nimrata "Nikki" Haley.
Nisha Desai Biswal was the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.
Tomasz P. Malinowski served as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour. He was replaced by Virginia L. Bennett.
Susan Elizabeth Rice, the 24th US National Security Advisor was replaced by Michael T. Flynn who is a retired Army Lieutenant General.
The MP said US Ambassador Atul Keshap should pay close attention to new developments arising from President Trump's decisions in the wake of assuming office.
We urge the Ambassador to respect our sovereignty and understand the change. President Trump has clearly stated that he has no interest in the internal affairs of other countries, he said.(Lahiru Pothmulla)
Video by Buddhi
File photo: Bangladeshi teachers, students and social activists protest in Dhaka against killings of atheist bloggers, academics and religious minorities.
DHAKA AFP Jan30, 2017
An elderly woman believed by followers to be a Sufi mystic has been found with her throat slit in Bangladesh, police said Monday, amid a wave of religiously motivated attacks.
The body of 72-year-old Nurjahan Begum was found in her shanty home in the capital Dhaka late Sunday, local police chief Faruqul Alam told AFP.
Her throat was slit, he said.
The woman was considered a pir, or Sufi leader, by her followers who built her a home and donated food and cash, the English-language Daily Star newspaper reported.
But police said she was not a leader of the mystical Islamic sect but a mentally unstable woman, attracting followers who believed she had supernatural powers.
Fourteen Sufi leaders have been found with their throats slit in Bangladesh since 2013, with police blaming homegrown Islamist extremists.
Hardliners consider Sufism as heresy and have targeted its leaders.
In one of the worst cases a Sufi cleric, his son and four followers were found with their throats cut at their Dhaka home.
The Muslim-majority country of 160 million has been reeling from a wave of attacks on foreigners, rights activists and members of religious minorities.
Many of those have been claimed by the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda. But Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas secular government has blamed local militants, denying that international jihadists have gained a foothold.
Sri Lanka Society for Medical Laboratory Science (SLSMLS) President Ravi Kumudesh charged that Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Assistant Secretary Dr. Naveen De Soysa had threatened him during a meeting held at the Health Ministry yesterday.
Mr. Kumudesh said he was invited for the meeting which was held to discuss about the organizational structure of the hospital laboratory last morning.
The meeting was chaired by Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Jayasundara Bandara and it was attended by more than 25 laboratory professional colleagues. Except for me, all other attendees were medical doctors, he told the Daily Mirror.
He said GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya conducted a speech demeaning other professions in the health sector.
He behaved as if the only profession that mattered in the sector was the medical doctor. As the only laboratory scientist who was present there, I objected to his speech and reasoned out. Then, Dr. Naveen De Soysa interrupted my speech and then he threatened me, Kumudesh said.
He had complained to the DGHS over the matter and also lodged a complaint with the Senior DIG Nandana Munasinghe requesting necessary action to ensure the safety of his life with related to this incident.
However, Dr. Naveen Soysa rejected the charge and said it was Kumudesh who conducted a speech using strong words.
I didnt threaten him. It was Kumudesh who spoke in a bad manner. Our GMOA members left the meeting in protest and we showed our displeasure to the DGHS, Dr. De Soysa said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)
An unwavering Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said yesterday that he had not done anything wrong and therefore, he would not apologise to the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretary.
The Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare expressed these views in response to the protest carried out by the Gampaha District Administrative Services Association (GDASA) yesterday against him for allegedly using strong words in public against the Divisional Secretary.
The protestors demanded the deputy minister to withdraw the alleged statement and to apologise to the official.
When contacted, the deputy minister alleged the divisional secretary of being corrupt and aiding illegal sand miners for money.
This officer has been functioning in her post for seven years though a state employee should not exceed four years in their posts. There are many allegations against her. I intend to complain to the Bribery Commission against such employees, he told the Daily Mirror.
The deputy minister said illegal sand mining was continuing for a long time in Akaragama causing hindrance to the residents.
They are innocent people who needed immediate measures to prevent illegal sand mining. Though many complaints have been made, the secretary had not taken any action. This is why I had to confront her, he said.
Meanwhile, Public Administration and Management Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara had volunteered to apologise to the employee to which Deputy Minister Ramanayake had opposed.
I told the minister there is no need to apologise since I havent done anything wrong. I will not back down until the Akaragama issue is solved, he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)
Former Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil left for Kuala Lumpur yesterday to assume duties as Sri Lankas High Commissioner to Malaysia.
The Foreign Ministry said today Mr. Muzammils nomination has been approved by the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts and he has also received the agrement from the Malaysian Government.
He travelled to Kuala Lumpur yesterday and will present his credentials no sooner the Malaysian authorities grant an appointment to do so, Ministry Spokesperson Mahishini Colonne said.
Officials of the Sri Lanka Administrative Services Association (SLASA) and the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretary yesterday met President Maithripala Sirisena over the incident where Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake had allegedly used strong language against the Divisional Secretary.
Issuing a statement, the SLASA said the President had assured to inform the Deputy Minister personally to withdraw his statements.
The President claimed the incident should not have happened and the deputy minister was at fault. He also expressed his apology. If Deputy Minister Ramanayake continues to be adamant, our executive committee, which will meet up on Friday, will decide what future action should be taken, SLASA Secretary Sunil Galagama said.
The Association said they also met Public Administration and Management Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara and he had apologised for the inconvenience caused by the divisional secretary and her family members from the incident.
The Minister said he will inform deputy minister to be cordial when dealing with state officials, the SLASA said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)
US President Donald Trump tried Sunday to quell a huge backlash against his executive order on immigration by saying it is not a ban on Muslims.
As protesters against the order gathered at airports and poured into the streets of major US cities, Trump issued a statement Sunday reiterating his position that the order is about terror and keeping our country safe.
The US president, just 10 days in office, defended the order he signed two days earlier, saying it is similar to what former president Barack Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months.
America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border, Trump said in the statement. He said the seven countries referred to in the order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror. To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting. This is not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe, he said.
Washington, (dpa), 30.01.2017
Transparent, accountable and effective institutions are essential for a successful and vibrant democracy. But, under the Narendra Modi regime, the "Octopus" of the PMO has been so tight that it is not allowing the institutions to rise high.
Ever since the demonetisation decision was announced by the Prime Minister on November 8, 2016, a serious question mark has been raised not only on the operational management but also on the autonomy and identity of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The central bank was established in 1934 with a purpose and the purpose was to provide an independent and autonomous body that will ensure financial and monetary stability.
The RBI Bill was debated fiercely in the Legislative Assembly for nearly a fortnight and a large portion of the debates were devoted to ensuring independence and autonomy of the body so that it can judge things purely based on financial prudence and will not be led away by the government or any political party or so on.
The RBI was set up as an institution that will be free from political influences in its decision-making. Even the London Committee report which examined the Bill before it was considered by the Assembly stated, Once the central bank will be set up on non-political lines, it would be an independent bank to which India could look to act merely in the interests of India and considering nothing else.
Urjit Patel must carry forward the legacy left by governors of repute such as Bimal Jalan, YV Reddy and Raghuram Rajan.
Beginning late evening of November 8, 2016, government functionaries have dominated the demonetisation scene with the RBI largely reduced to an entity whose job is to only notify what is already there in public domain. As issuer of currency, upholding faith and trust of people is important for the RBI, but by issuing numerous circulars, on a daily basis, creating confusion, it has lost the earlier confidence people had on the central bank.
It is a matter of pity that the RBI governor has to appear before a parliamentary committee to explain the rationale and repercussions of a decision taken at a political level. But, demonetisation was such an obscure decision between the government and the RBI that either the prime minister or the RBI governor can throw some light.
The governor himself has told the parliamentary standing committee on finance that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were scrapped on the recommendations of the central government. If it was so, then there was violation of the provisions contained in Section 26 of the RBI Act, 1934, the clause invoked by the government and RBI for demonetisation. As per Section 26, central government can issue notification for scrapping of notes on the recommendations of the Central Board of the RBI.
The RBI has gone with its tusk, trunk and tail. Being the guardian of sovereign currency and the only authority mandated and equipped to respond on the details of demonetisation, Urjit Patel has to answer a lot.
Voices of resentment within the institution and outside from former governors that institutional identity of the central bank has been compromised speaks a lot about the loss of credibility of the RBI post-demonetisation. Institutional reputation of the central bank is a key parameter for foreign investors to invest in a country and a dent in it has the potential to affect investors sentiment.
If the disturbing reports by credit-rating agencies are to be believed, dilution in the autonomy of the RBI has affected the image of India as an investor-friendly destination.
The RBI could have exercised its right of independence by examining the recommendations it received from the government on demonetisation and accordingly a judicious decision could have been taken.
It has the mandate to say "no" to the government. By doing so, the RBI could have saved not only the lives of more than 100 persons who died in queues and jobs of the millions, but also the autonomy of the institution which is paramount.
Instead, the Central Board of the RBI succumbed and gave a go-ahead to the political decision of the central government, leading to the biggest disruption in the countrys financial system in the history of independent India.
Of course, the government has effective means of expressing its views but cannot impose conditions on the central bank.
Erosion of autonomy of the Reserve Bank is not only a financial and commercial concern but a national consternation. Banks, especially central banks such as the RBI, should be free from political pressure and they should be conducted solely on the lines of prudent finance.
The Reserve Bank of India has the same powers and authority like the central banks of most of the countries. The challenge before the RBI is to repair the damage which has been caused to the great institution by upholding the independence and autonomy it has been mandated with.
Patel should carry forward the legacy left by governors of repute such as Bimal Jalan, YV Reddy and Raghuram Rajan. It should not be forgotten that besides the foresight of and swift economic decisions by the UPA government, a strong central bank was a critical reason why India could successfully withstand the global economic recession when even large economies were tumbling down.
The central bank has to perform duties which are as intricate as they are vital to the well-being of a country. It must be in a position to control, without competing, the conduct of every bank in public interest and accordingly it has been given powers to ensure that control.
The RBI works under certain safeguards, but at present it has been exposed to the vulnerabilities without the safeguards.
The Modi government has been lackadaisical in appointing non-official directors to the RBI Central Board, which has led to many vacancies in the board. It is reminding us of the pre-independence era when there was a genuine fear of political influence through mechanisms like appointment of pro-British officials. These non-official vacancies in the Central Board should be immediately filled up. It will add to institutional strength of the RBI.
Scenes from New Yorks JFK Airport are being broadcast all over the world, as citizens of the United States of America rally together to protect immigrants rights. President Donald Trumps executive order suspending the refugee entry programme for 120 days, as well as the entry of Muslims from seven countries, namely Yemen, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Sudan, was passed with the apparent objective of protecting US National Security. However, it is clear to most that these executive orders are underwritten by Islamophobia and xenophobia.
The Trump administration, with its repeated invocation of Americas past greatness, is clearly harkening to a pre-multicultural, predominantly white USA. Donald Trump has come to presidency by appealing to the only demographic he cares about the white majority of America. The parallels with Hitlers attempts at demographic cleansing are clear, and no one who followed Trumps campaign should be surprised at the nature of these executive orders.
One lesser known aspect of the executive order is the prioritising of refugee claims on the basis of religious persecution, as long as the applicant belongs to a religious community which is a minority in their country of origin.
This means that, as the Guardian points out in this article, refugee applications from Christians in the Middle East may get prioritised over those of Muslims. While we Indians fume over the outrageous policies of the Trump administration, we should also turn to look at similar legislative provisions being proposed in our own country.
Citizens of the United States of America rally together to protect immigrants rights.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill of 2016 is a short, three-page document that seeks to amend Section 2(b) to the Citizenship Act. The Citizenship Act deals with the acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship. Section 2(b) of the Citizenship Act defines the term illegal immigrant. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill proposes to amend the definition of this term by adding this proviso:
Provided that persons belonging to minority communities, namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who have been exempted by the Central Government by or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any order made thereunder, shall not be treated as illegal migrants for the purposes of this Act.
This effectively means that persons from minority religious communities from our neighbouring Muslim-majority countries shall not be considered as illegal migrants and subjected to prosecution.
Further, the Bill also proposes an amendment to the Third Schedule of the Act, which would allow minority communities, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to qualify for naturalisation as a citizen of India if they are resident in India or in service to the government of India for an aggregate period of not less than six years, as opposed to 11 years for everyone else.
The Preamble to the Bill, which seeks to explain the aims and objectives of the act, states:
Many persons of Indian origin including persons belonging to the aforesaid minority communities from the aforesaid countries have been applying for citizenship under section 5 of the Act, but are unable to produce proof of their Indian origin. Hence, they are forced to apply for citizenship by naturalisation under section 6 of the Act, which, inter alia, prescribes twelve years residency as qualification for naturalisation in terms of the Third Schedule to the Act. This denies them many opportunities and advantages that may accrue only to the citizens of India, even though they are likely to stay in India permanently. It is proposed to amend the Third Schedule to the Act to make applicants belonging to minority communities from the aforesaid countries eligible for citizenship by naturalisation in seven years instead of the existing twelve years.
The phrase Many persons of India origin including persons belonging to the aforesaid minority communities is telling. It is clear that that this proposed amendment is not aimed at all persons of Indian origin but only some, namely religious minorities. What is even more interesting is that the Bill is not aimed at all religious minorities in all neighbouring countries, and it clearly excludes many communities that may be experiencing horrific forms of persecution.
Rohingya Muslims are one of the most persecuted group in the world. (In pic: A Rohingya refugee camp in Jammu, India)
Moreover, there is an assumption that persons of religious minorities from Islamic majority countries would be more likely to stay in India permanently, which is based on the notion that Islamic countries are extremely oppressive of their religious minorities.
Identifying religious minorities in neighbouring countries as deserving of protection makes sense only in two cases. One, if the government aims at providing protection from possible persecution of these minorities. However, it is important to note here that if providing assistance to persecuted minorities was the stated objective of the government, then it need not have looked further than the existing frameworks of refugee law.
Central to the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Convention on Refugees is a well-founded fear of being persecuted on the grounds of religion, race, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion by the country of ones nationality.
India has consistently refused to promulgate a central legislation on refugees, or be a signatory to the 1951 Convention, leaving decisions on granting of refugee status as matters of political expediency. Moreover, there are communities in neighbouring countries who deserve our immediate intervention and protection, such as the Rohingya Muslims of Burma, who would not be convered by this amendment. Therefore, if granting protection is not the objective, then the only other explanation is offered by the BJPs election manifesto of 2014.
Page 37 of BJPs 2014 manifesto states that India shall remain a natural home for persecuted Hindus and they shall be welcome to seek refuge here. Why should India be a natural home for persecuted Hindus, as opposed to persecuted Muslims or Christians?
Invoking the image of the persecuted Hindu is a masterful way of introducing the RSSs agenda to transform India into a Hindu Rashtra, just as threats to national security, and the myth of a white minority is used to push forward xenophobic policies in the US. Interestingly, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 goes a step beyond the persecuted Hindu and includes Christians as well. All, except Muslims, in fact.
It is not as if Muslims are not being persecuted. Rohingya Muslims are not even recognised as an ethnic group in Burma, and are often described as the most persecuted group in the world. Sri Lanka saw extensive anti-Muslim riots in 2014, led by Bodhu Bala Sena, a Buddhist group. However, none of these groups would be covered by the proposed amendment.
On the other hand, suspicion of Bengali-speaking Muslims in several North-eastern states has led to disastrous consequences. Bengali-speaking Muslims are regularly arrested and prosecuted in Foreigners Tribunals in Assam, where they have to prove whether or not they are Indian citizens.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 would be in direct contradiction of the Assam Accord, which states that any person, whether Hindu or Muslim, as illegal, if they have entered after March 24, 1971. Moreover, In 2015, a Bengali-speaking Muslim man, accused of raping a young woman, and suspected of being Bangladeshi, was dragged out of a prison in Dimapur and lynched in public. This proposed amendment, therefore, simultaneously excludes communities that need protection, while fanning existing Islamophobic sentiments in the country.
It is clear, therefore, that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is only a step in a very well-executed plan at a demographic cleansing, much on the lines of what Donald Trump is attempting to do. Trumps executive order explicitly identifies Muslims and bans their entry. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, on the other hand, explicitly and arbitrarily denies privileges to entire groups of people. That it uses the term minority without the slightest hint of irony is a testament to the obfuscative powers of legal language.
It is also notable that while one is being protested across the world, the other has quietly been introduced into the Lok Sabha, without much debate or any outrage. Trumps executive order and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill are driven by the same hatred and fear of Muslims we just happen to be much more subtle about it.
Facing a deadline to act against UN designated terror organisations and individuals at the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and with White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, spelling out that Pakistan could be added to the list of seven countries facing travel restrictions to the US, Islamabad, on Monday, rushed to detain 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Muhammed Saeed.
But on ground there are no indications that Pakistan is at all serious about cracking down on terror, especially dismantling the India-centric military-jihad terror complex. Perhaps forewarned by his handlers in Pakistan's notorious spy agency ISI, Saeed not only formed a new terror group - Tehreek-e-Azadi Kashmir - before the token axe fell on Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), but the group is also suspected to have moved considerable funds out of JuD/FIF accounts.
Four others detained along with him are Professor Zafar Iqbal, co-founder of terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, Mufti Abdur Rahman Abid, the grand mufti of terror front Jamat-ud-Dawa, Abdullah Ubaid, in-charge of the Shuda-e-Wursa (department of terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir) and Qazi Kashif Niaz, editor of the terror group's mouthpiece.
The timing of Saeed's 90-day detention is curious. Nine years after 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Pakistan has detained Hafiz Saeed and the detention order has no clarity on charges against him.
The detention order states that Saeed has been detained under section (I) 11 EEE of Pakistan Anti-Terror Act 1997, for a period of 90 days starting January 30. A subsequent order said that house number 116 E, Johar Town, Lahore (the terror mastermind's house) had been converted into a sub jail.
26/11 Mumbai attacks master mind Hafiz Saeed had been put under house arrest before by Pakistan. [Photo: Agencies]
There's a sense of deja vu here. Hafiz Saeed was detained after the Parliament attack of 2001, Mumbai train attacks of 2006 when 187 innocent Indians were killed, and once again post 26/11, when 166 people lost their lives in Mumbai. Pakistan has never prosecuted Saeed in the right earnest.
Never was evidence of the terror plot hatched in Pakistan gathered by Pakistani investigators, despite evidence provided by both Ajmal Amir Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist caught alive during 26/11, as well as Abu Jundal, who was present in that Karachi control room directing the terror attack.
However, Pakistan is desperate to remain in the "white" (all clear) list of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and had to comply with its conditions freezing assets of JuD and FIF under the UN resolution 1267. Pakistan has, in the past, fallen foul of the FATF, being seen as a terror-financier country, and before the January 31 deadline, made the perfunctory gesture of detaining Hafiz Saeed and other terror ideologues of LeT/JuD/FIF.
Analysts see a combination of factors prompting Pakistan to hurriedly act against Saeed.
This included US president Donald Trump not mincing his words, saying he would crack down on radical Islamist terror. Both Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Muhammed's Maulana Masud Azhar symbolise the radical Islamic terror in this region. But the US administration is well aware the tentacles of both LeT and JeM have spread across Europe and the US.
The arrest of two terrorists of Pakistani origin - Tahawwur Hussein Rana (holding a Canadian passport) and David Coleman Headley or Dawood Gilani (holding a US passport) - showed LeT footprints in the US, Canada and even Europe (Denmark terror plot).
While Pakistan may try to buy time and open a conversation with the Trump administration after detaining Hafiz Saeed, claiming it needs more time to crack down on radical Islamic terror that poses an existential threat to Pakistan, Trump is expected to follow up on his campaign promise to eradicate it.
In fact, from 2012 to 2016, Donald Trump has repeatedly singled out Pakistan-sponsored terror. In July 2012 he tweeted: "When will Pakistan apologise for providing sanctuary to Osama bin Laden for 6 years. There are not friends of ours, there are plenty of other terrorists in Pakistan, we know that."
When will Pakistan apologize to us for providing safe sanctuary to Osama Bin Laden for 6 years?! Some "ally." Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 5, 2012
In September 2015, he tweeted: "Probably the most dangerous country in the world today, the only country that can check Pakistan is India." He has continued to criticise Pakistan-generated terrorism all through.
Another radical Islamic attack, this time in Pakistan, targeting Christian women & children. At least 67 dead,400 injured. I alone can solve Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2016
In fact, the White House transcript of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's phone call focuses on India and the US standing shoulder to shoulder in the global war on terror.
White House statement on Trump-Modi phone call
During a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Trump emphasised that the United States considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world. The two discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the United States and India in broad areas such as the economy and defence. They also discussed security in the region of South and Central Asia. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi resolved that the United States and India stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism. President Trump looked forward to hosting Prime Minister Modi in the United States later this year.
In March 2016, Donald Trump exposed Pakistan once again when he tweeted: "Pakistan is semi-unstable and the problem is they have nuclear weapons."
The elite in Pakistan appear genuinely petrified of being on the US ban list and this perhaps prompted a token action against Hafiz Saeed. Each time that Pakistan was in a soup internationally, it looked to India for a bail out and several times in the past, India bailed Pakistan out - whether it was former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee giving legitimacy to a military dictator and architect of Kargil, Pervez Musharraf, by inviting him to Agra, or Dr Manmohan Singh agreeing to the reference of Balochistan at Sharm-el-Sheikh.
It is hoped this time India will step up the pressure and ensure action is taken not only against Hafiz Saeed but also the mastermind of Pathankot terror attack, Maulana Masud Azhar of JeM. China has protected itself from Pakistani terror so far, but it remains to be seen for how long Beijing can continue to defend the indefensible. New Delhi insists it will continue to expose Masud Azhar, Hafiz Saeed and several other pawns of terror used by Pakistan as state policy.
Pakistan army's spokesperson Major General Asif Gafoor has claimed Hafiz Saeed's detention is in Pakistan's national interest. But so far there is no indication that Pakistan intends to prosecute Hafiz Saeed. What are the charges against him? What is the evidence that Pakistan intends to collect to prove his complicity in terror attacks in India and Indian interests in Afghanistan? All of this would only implicate the Pakistan army and ISI.
The battle for Uttar Pradesh is proving to be the toughest electoral fight for BJP president Amit Shah. The stakes are even higher than the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, where he allowed no one else to enter the state and reaped a rich harvest of 73 seats for his "Saheb" (as he still addresses Prime Minister Narendra Modi).
Paradoxically, while the prime minister's personal popularity is unaffected despite the Modi-made disaster of demonetisation, Shah is no longer the potent vote gatherer he was in 2014. Evidence of this was provided by the Delhi and Bihar Assembly election results.
Now with Akhilesh Yadav, the affable CM face of the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance who has also been dubbed as "Teflon Tipu" since none of the anti-incumbency factor seems to stick to him, and the formidable four-time CM and BSP chief Mayawati as the other opponent, BJP's failure to present a credible CM candidate seems like a huge mistake on Shah's part.
The affable CM face of the SP-Congress alliance, Akhilesh Yadav, has also been dubbed as "Teflon Tipu" as he seems to have shrugged off anti-incumbency.
Shah and Modi have zealously guarded their turf in UP allowing no say to other leaders in selecting candidates and campaigning.
In a first for the BJP, after two meetings of the central election committee, it was decided that all candidates would be decided by Shah. Which is why today the knives have been sharpened as he has overlooked loyal party claimants and handed out tickets to turncoats.
Local leaders who have been kept out of all decision-making are also chafing and indulging in sabotage. So you have disgruntled Yogi Adityanath's Hindu Vuva Vahini, fielding 64 candidates against the BJP in his eastern UP stronghold, and Yogi farcically denouncing them and expelling his own office- bearers.
The opposition has one common agenda this time around defeating Modi and stopping him in his tracks for the big battle of 2019. For this old animosities has been set aside and a huge amount of silent adjustment and cooperation is going on in candidate selection and even campaigning.
Mayawati, Akhilesh and Rahul echo each other as they mock Modi and his promise of "acche din".
The introduction of dynasty (politics) in a fiercely cadre-based party like the BJP with tickets handed out to Pankaj Singh, son of Union home minister Rajnath Singh, Kalyan Singh's grandson (son Rajveer is already an MP) as well as Hukum Singh's daughter, Mriganka Singh, has upset the cadres and even the RSS.
"Ab bete beti BJP ka mudda hai. Kis mui sei janata kei pas jaye (Now sons and daughters have become the main issue for the BJP. What issues do we take to the people)?"
Simmering Jat anger in western UP is also a huge problem for Shah. The Jats feel hugely letdown as the promised reservation the holy grail for UP voters never saw the light of day. The effects of "notebandi'' on the sowing and harvest in the predominantly agrarian economy has seen it slipping back into a barter system.
Leaders point out that anger had also been building up since the ill-starred land acquisition ordinance, which was finally withdrawn by the Modi government.
A BJP leader from western UP says, "Had the land bill become a reality, we would not have been able to show our face. They would have beaten us with shoes."
Local leaders rue the lack of consultation but also say that an assertive voter is now confronting them with the broken promises and tall claims made by Shah and Modi.
Despite his fabled oratorical skills, Modi is having the kind of trouble he had in Bihar while giving speeches. He simply fails to connect with the voters. When he talks of the demonetisation ushering in digital and cashless India it seems like a joke to voters where electricity is as erratic and elusive as the "vikas" (development) promised by all leaders.
Meanwhile, all parties have put together an alliance of the 19 per cent Muslim and Dalit base against the BJP, taking into consideration the anger against the beef laws which have effectively wrecked the tannery business. The BJP has not given a ticket to a single Muslim, while Mayawati has handed out a record 99 tickets to Muslim candidates. The SP-Congress alliance is also counting on this combination added to the Other Backword Caste (OBC) Yadavs.
General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. It also supplies branded and unbranded food products to the North American foodservice and commercial baking industries; and manufactures and markets pet food products, including dog and cat food. The company markets its products under the Annie's, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Blue Buffalo, Blue Basics, Blue Freedom, Bugles, Cascadian Farm, Cheerios, Chex, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Cookie Crisp, EPIC, Fiber One, Food Should Taste Good, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gardetto's, Go-Gurt, Gold Medal, Golden Grahams, Haagen-Dazs, Helpers, Jus-Rol, Kitano, Kix, Larabar, Latina, Liberte, Lucky Charms, Muir Glen, Nature Valley, Oatmeal Crisp, Old El Paso, Oui, Pillsbury, Progresso, Raisin Nut Bran, Total, Totino's, Trix, Wanchai Ferry, Wheaties, Wilderness, Yoki, and Yoplait trademarks. It sells its products directly, as well as through broker and distribution arrangements to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, e-commerce retailers, commercial and noncommercial foodservice distributors and operators, restaurants, convenience stores, and pet specialty stores, as well as drug, dollar, and discount chains. The company operates 466 leased and 392 franchise ice cream parlors. General Mills, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Humana Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Group and Specialty, and Healthcare Services. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. In addition, the company provides commercial fully insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits comprising dental, vision, and other supplemental health benefits; and administrative services only products to individuals and employer groups, as well as military services, such as TRICARE T2017 East Region contract. Further, it offers pharmacy solutions, provider services, and home solutions services, such as home health and other services to its health plan members, as well as to third parties. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 17 million members in medical benefit plans, as well as approximately 5 million members in specialty products. Humana Inc. was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
CNO Financial Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, markets, and administers health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance, and other insurance products for senior and middle-income markets in the United States. It offers Medicare supplement, supplemental health, and long-term care insurance policies; life insurance; and annuities, as well as Medicare advantage plans to individuals through phone, online, mail, and face-to-face. The company also focuses on worksite and group sales for businesses, associations, and other membership groups by interacting with customers at their place of employment. In addition, it provides fixed index annuities; fixed interest annuities, including fixed rate single and flexible premium deferred annuities; single premium immediate annuities; supplemental health products, such as specified disease, accident, and hospital indemnity products; and long-term care plans primarily to retirees and older self-employed individuals in the middle-income market. Further, the company offers universal life and other interest-sensitive life products; and traditional life policies that include whole life, graded benefit life, term life, and single premium whole life products, as well as graded benefit life insurance products. CNO Financial Group, Inc. markets its products under the Bankers Life, Washington National, and Colonial Penn brand names. The company sells its products through agents, independent producers, and direct marketing. CNO Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana.
Newell Brands Inc. designs, manufactures, sources, and distributes consumer and commercial products worldwide. It operates in five segments: Commercial Solutions, Home Appliances, Home Solutions, Learning and Development, and Outdoor and Recreation. The Commercial Solutions segment provides commercial cleaning and maintenance solutions; closet and garage organization products; hygiene systems and material handling solutions; and home and security, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms products under the BRK, First Alert, Mapa, Quickie, Rubbermaid, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, and Spontex brands. The Home Appliances segment offers kitchen appliances under the Crock-Pot, Mr. Coffee, Oster, and Sunbeam brands. The Home Solutions segment provides food and home storage; fresh preserving; vacuum sealing; and gourmet cookware, bakeware, cutlery, and home fragrance products under the Ball, Calphalon, Chesapeake Bay Candle, FoodSaver, Rubbermaid, Sistema, WoodWick, and Yankee Candle brands. The Learning and Development segment offers writing instruments, including markers and highlighters, pens, and pencils; art products; activity-based adhesive and cutting products; labeling solutions; and baby gear and infant care products under the Aprica, Baby Jogger, Graco, NUK, Tigex, Dymo, Elmer's, EXPO, Graco, Mr. Sketch, NUK, Paper Mate, Parker, Prismacolor, Sharpie, Waterman, and X-Acto brands. The Outdoor and Recreation segment provides outdoor and outdoor-related products under the Campingaz, Coleman, Contigo, ExOfficio, and Marmot brands. It serves warehouse clubs, department and drug/grocery stores, mass merchants, home centers, office superstores and supply stores, contract stationers, and distributors, e-commerce, sporting goods, specialty, and travel retailers. The company was formerly known as Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and changed its name to Newell Brands Inc. in April 2016. Newell Brands Inc. was founded in 1903 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V..
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VMware, Inc. provides software solutions in the areas of modern applications, cloud management and infrastructure, networking, security, and digital workspaces in the United States and internationally. It offers VMware multi-cloud solutions, including VMware vSphere, a data center infrastructure that provides the fundamental compute layer; vSAN and VxRail, which offers holistic data storage and protection options to applications running on vSphere; and vRealize Cloud Management solutions that manages hybrid and multi-cloud environments running in virtual machines and containers, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation, a cloud platform that combines its vSphere, vSAN, and NSX with vRealize Cloud Management into an integrated stack and delivers enterprise-ready cloud infrastructure for private and public clouds. The company also provides networking solutions, such as VMware NSX, NSX Distributed and Gateway Firewalls, NSX Network Detection and Response Engine, NSX Advanced Load Balancer, Tanzu Service Mesh, and VMware SASE; security solutions consisting of VMware Carbon Black Endpoint, Workload, and Container; and digital workspace solutions comprising Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management, Access, Intelligent Hub, and Horizon. In addition, it offers application modernization solutions, such as Tanzu Application and Operations Platform, Tanzu Application Service Platform, Tanzu Observability, Tanzu Community Edition, and Tanzu Labs; and cloud management solutions, including vRealize Cloud Management, vCloud Suite, and CloudHealth by VMware Suite. The company sells its products through distributors, resellers, system vendors, and systems integrators. VMware, Inc. has a strategic alliance with Amazon Web Services to build and deliver an integrated hybrid solution. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
Blog Hinangai
While there is much discussion in Guam about the economic benefits of increasing the islands military presence, the damages/dangers that they represent are rarely mentioned. This blog, a supplement to the Peace and Justice for Guam Petition, is meant to counter that by providing information about the US military in Guam, with the hopes of steering policy away from a dangerous unilateralist course to more sustainable notions of regional development and a strengthening international solidarity.
AARP Tax-Aide offers free tax help to qualified individuals through April 17. Call individual locations for an appointment. Tax help is offered at the Senior Center at (434) 974-7756, Northside Library at (434) 972-1703, Piedmont Virginia Community College at (434) 972-1703 and Fluvanna County Library at (434) 296-9704.
Albemarle Supervisors Diantha McKeel and Brad Sheffield will lead a community conversation on how to approach economic development in Albemarle County at 6 p.m. Monday at Northside Library at 705 W. Rio Road. (434) 973-7893.
Cville Tax Aid, led by United Way Thomas Jefferson Area, offers free tax preparation for most taxpayers with household incomes of $55,000 or less through April 18 at sites in Charlottesville and Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties. cvilletaxaid.org. Details and appointments are available by calling (434) 972-1703.
Ellwood Manor holds an open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday for those interested in volunteering for staff positions at the historic house. 36380 Constitution Highway in Locust Grove. fowb.org. (540) 972-5668.
Flu vaccines are available at local health departments, including the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department at 1138 Rose Hill Drive, (434) 972-6200; Fluvanna County Health Department at 132 Main St. (U.S. 15) in Palmyra, (434) 591-1960; Greene County Health Department at 50 Stanard St. in Stanardsville, (434) 985-2262; Louisa County Health Department at 540 Industrial Drive in Louisa, (540) 967-3703; and Nelson County Health Department at 4038 Thomas Nelson Highway in Arrington, (434) 263-8315.
Monticello Community Action Agency has received a matching donation of up to $25,000 from an anonymous donor for donations received through April 30. Donations should be mailed to the agency at 1025 Park St., Charlottesville, VA 22901, c/o Harriet Kaplan. Details are available at (434) 295-3171.
Piedmont Virginia Community College holds Getting Started information sessions for prospective students, including information on degree and certificate programs, placement tests, student services and other resources. Information sessions will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at Nelson Memorial Library in Lovingston, from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Louisa County Library in Mineral and from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at Fluvanna County Library in Palmyra. Additional sessions are scheduled in February. pvcc.edu/outreach. (4340 961-5275.
Senior Statesmen of Virginia hosts Kristen Suokko, executive director of Local Food Hub, presenting Local Food: Fresher, Lower Transportation Costs, Support of Local Producers; What Could Be Better? during its regular meeting from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Senior Center. (434) 974-7756.
Virginia Medical Reserve Corps seeks medical and non-medical professionals and volunteers in the Charlottesville area to provide care to residents with disabilities and access needs during disasters through the Functional Access Needs Support Team. Training is offered from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Feb. 9 at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department. Participants must complete both days of training. Details and registration are available at vaemergency.gov/get-involved/fans. (804) 897-6500.
And you and the people who think like you are prime examples of this.
You get your ideas about the effectiveness of torture from shows like "24". Radical Muslims hurt us on 9/11 and you want to hurt them back. You don't care if the methods you are suggesting are effective you are simply reacting with emotion. They hurt us you want to hurt them.
Trump is a textbook example of "emotional thinking". He has no self control when it comes to perceived slights. He lashes out on Twitter whenever his feelings gets hurt or when someone dares to disagree with his perception of reality.
You claim that the real enemies are the ones who make political decisions based on emotion and I agree. The problem is that you don't recognize who those people are. Trump is a man who, because of his emotional instability, can't be trusted on Twitter and we've given him access to nuclear weapons. What could possibly go wrong?
The former University of Virginia student at the heart of an infamous Rolling Stone article is again being ordered to comply with a court order related to a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the magazine.
Attorneys for the UVa chapter of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity were in Charlottesville Circuit Court on Monday for a hearing in their defamation lawsuit against Rolling Stone, its publishers and author Sabrina Rubin Erdely.
Erdely penned the now-retracted November 2014 article A Rape on Campus. Intended as an expose on the culture of sexual assault at elite universities, the widely read article came under intense scrutiny in the weeks after its release.
The centerpiece narrative of the 9,000-word piece was the story of Jackie, a student who claimed that while attending a party at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house during her freshman year, she was taken to a dark room and brutally gang-raped by seven men, seemingly as part of a fraternity initiation.
The article incited outrage in the UVa community and beyond, prompting student rallies and spurring UVas administration to suspend Greek life for the remainder of the fall semester. Unidentified protesters vandalized the Phi Kappa Psi house and threatened the houses inhabitants to the extent that they vacated the building.
However, scrutiny of the article soon led to the magazine casting its own doubts about Jackie and her story. The article was retracted in April 2015 after an investigation from Charlottesville police turned up no evidence to support Jackies claims and a review of Erdelys article from the Columbia Journalism School discredited the story.
Three lawsuits were filed against Erdely and the magazine following the retraction. In May 2015, UVa administrator Nicole Eramo filed a defamation suit, claiming she was characterized as the chief villain of the article, which mentioned her by name and position dozens of times. Last November, a jury found in favor of Eramo, awarding her $3 million in damages. The magazine still contests that verdict, and will argue against it during a hearing set for next week.
In July 2015, three alumni of the fraternity and university filed a defamation suit, claiming the debunked article left clues that could lead readers to believe the alumni had taken part in the alleged gang-rape. About a year after that filing, a judge dismissed the lawsuit, writing that the articles details were too vague and remote to support the alumnis claims.
The final suit came in November 2015, with the UVa chapter of Phi Kappa Psi claiming that it became the object of an avalanche of condemnation worldwide as a result of the entirely false article. Theyre seeking $26.4 million in damages from Erdely, the magazine and publishers Wenner Media LLC and Straight Arrow Publishers LLC.
While the fraternitys suit remained somewhat dormant while Eramos suit made its way through federal court, a motion in the case was taken up Monday morning. Just as Eramos attorneys did in her case, the fraternity has asked the court to compel Jackie to comply with a subpoena seeking documents related to her relationship with Erdely, the article and her alleged assault.
Since the articles release, Jackie has remained an anonymous figure within the public record of the court, and has resisted cooperation with any of the legal proceedings that have emerged from the articles retraction. That said, a federal judge did rule last year that Jackie would have to produce documents germane to Eramos case, and was further ordered to sit for a video deposition prior to the trial.
In response to this latest subpoena, Jackie again filed a slew of objections, arguing that she should not have to provide the requested materials. At Mondays hearing, a judge again disagreed with Jackies attorneys, ruling that she would have to substantially comply with the subpoena.
While the amount of information and documents that Jackie had to turn over in Eramos case was never publicly disclosed, an attorney for Phi Kappa Psi said Monday that the latest subpoena represents a broader area of inquiry than the scope of the discovery authorized in Eramos case.
A 10-day trial for the lawsuit is scheduled to begin Oct. 23.
Piedmont Virginia Community College released a statement Monday expressing support for students affected by the travel ban implemented by President Donald Trump.
Frank Friedman, president of PVCC, wrote that the college will do everything in its power and within state and federal laws to ensure its students complete their education at Piedmont.
The international members of the PVCC community enrich our campus, Friedman wrote. They are a welcome and vital part of our global mission.
In an interview Monday, Friedman said the college has about 23 students from the seven countries affected by the travel ban. Friedman said the administration is advising those students not to travel abroad during the 90-day ban.
The college is trying to line up resources for those students as well as undocumented immigrant students who could be affected by future executive orders. Administrators are working to find immigration law experts and psychological counselors who could help them with any issues that come up while class is in session.
Friedman is one of many college administrators speaking out in support of international students who could be affected by the order, signed by Trump on Friday. Teresa A. Sullivan, president of the University of Virginia, pledged her support on Friday.
Friedman said he wants PVCCs courses to be available to anyone who might benefit.
Our main concern here is for our students that they can access our education and complete their education, he said.
The Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots arent the only ones preparing for this years Super Bowl.
Virginia State Police are launching a traffic safety campaign called the Trooper Bowl. Enforcement will be stepped up across the Charlottesville area from 3 p.m. Sunday to 3 a.m. Monday in order to safeguard area interstates from impaired and reckless drivers, according to a news release.
Police ask that if people plan to drink, rather than drive themselves, they should call a taxi, rideshare service or a sober friend.
Yes, you knew that the rat could not go away quietly, like all former POTUS' have, and it took only 10 days for him to begin. An ex-POTUS encouraging these 'protests', mainly protests paid by and through George Soros.Apparently bama believes (as do many Progs) that anyone, unless they are Christians perhaps, who wants entry into America, has some sort of right to that entry. Yes, Moslems in Moslem nations in civil war are in far less danger than the Christians, yet bama's 'refugees' were ~99% Moslem, the Christians he could care less about.
RICHMOND Labor unions made a show of solidarity outside the Virginia Capitol on Monday for construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline as a boost to jobs for Virginia tradesmen and American industry.
Im out here today because of one four-letter word, the good kind JOBS, said Matt Yonka, president of the Virginia Building & Construction Trades Council, at a rally at the Bell Tower in Capitol Square.
Labor representatives lauded the proposed 600-mile natural gas pipeline as a way to employ American workers, including the Pennsylvania company thats fabricating the steel pipe, but the Dominion-led company acknowledged that it is purchasing heavy-duty steel panels for the project from a company in South Korea.
Some of the large-diameter, heavy-walled pipe we needed was simply not available domestically at the specifications we require for the project, said Aaron F. Ruby, spokesman for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC and Richmond-based Dominion, the managing partner for the $5.1 billion project.
The pipeline company is buying the steel from POSCO, a multi-national company based in Pohang, South Korea, but a Pennsylvania company, Dura-Bond Industries, began fabricating 30- and 42-inch-diameter pipe at the end of 2015 under a $400 million contract that the company called the single biggest order in its history.
There are more than 200 hard-working Americans in Steelton, PA, who have good-paying union jobs because of our pipeline, Ruby said in an email response to questions about the steel in the proposed pipeline, which is pending a decision by federal regulators this fall.
President Donald Trump signed an executive memorandum on Jan. 24 that directed all new, retrofitted, repaired or expanded pipelines in this country to use materials and equipment produced in the United States, to the maximum extent possible and to the extent permitted by law.
I think to the maximum extent possible is the operative phrase, Ruby said.
Trump recently included the Atlantic Coast Pipeline among the priority projects he recommended be built under an expected legislative push by his administration for new investments in infrastructure across the country.
Mondays rally featured a wide range of trade unions in support of the project electrical workers, welders, boilermakers, pipefitters, heavy-equipment operators and carpenters.
There are a lot of tradesmen here in the state of Virginia ready to get it built, said Danny Watson, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Local 45, which expects to get work from construction of a four-turbine natural-gas compressor station in Buckingham County.
The union leaders also praised Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat who has faced opposition for his support of the project from environmentalists and people along the proposed pipeline route who held a protest rally outside the Executive Mansion last summer.
Were here today to thank the governor for the position hes taken on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Yonka said.
Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer declared the city a capital of resistance to the administration of President Donald Trump on Tuesday afternoon.
Signer hosted a news conference in front of City Hall, calling on attendees to help fight Trumps orders on immigration and the refugee program, including the 90-day travel ban on citizens of seven countries considered a high risk for terrorism by administration officials.
Signers announcement which included speeches from local religious leaders and refugee advocates drew a crowd of hundreds of people to the Downtown Mall.
The word resist has a special meaning it comes from the Latin word [for] to stand, Signer told the crowd. And thats what you all are doing today: youre standing for American values.
Signer, who teaches political theory courses at the University of Virginia, called Trump a demagogue and said the orders unfairly cast suspicion on refugees who are fleeing violent conflicts from the countries on the ban list.
They are hearing the message from Americans that they do not belong here, he said. I disagree completely they are exactly the people we need here.
Signer said he was appearing on his own behalf, and not on behalf of the City Council, but said he is working to protect refugees and immigrants who could be affected by Trumps orders at the municipal level. He said he has asked U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine for federal assistance for refugees and has begun gathering local attorneys who could advise people whose status is in question.
The mayor said hed ask city officials to advise the council on their legal options to protect the affected groups, particularly if the administrations approach becomes more draconian.
Afterward, Signer introduced Khizr Khan, the father of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, a UVa graduate who was killed in Iraq. The elder Khan has become a national immigration activist since speaking against Trump during the Democratic National Convention.
Khan has been a vocal opponent of Trumps calls for a temporary ban on Muslim migration to the U.S.
Khan called on Charlottesville residents to help refugees affected by last weeks travel ban order.
Speak wherever you can, he said. Stand next to your brother and sister so that they will not be harmed.
During the event, a small group of Trump supporters gathered near the microphone and ended up in an argument with members of the crowd. One of the Trump supporters, local blogger Jason Kessler, filmed a live video stream from the event on his smartphone while providing commentary to his online audience, which agitated some of the attendees. A shouting match broke out, but there were no arrests.
Signer asked anyone who was arguing to move away from the stage so as not to disrupt the event.
After the event, John Heyden, a Charlottesville native and Trump supporter, said he is in favor of the ban as well as immigration restrictions because he thinks the country cannot afford to take in more people.
Its not about ethnicity, its about economics, Heyden said. Whos going to pay for all the refugees and illegal aliens? Its an economic question.
Also in attendance was Dr. Kristina Johnson, who works at the University of Virginias International Family Medicine Clinic.
Johnson said she came to show support for refugees, some of whom seek out medical care at her clinic. Many of them are fearful and unsure of what will happen next, Johnson said.
Some of them said they had family members who were supposed to be resettled in the U.S., but those plans have been scuttled at least for the time being, Johnson said.
A lot of our patients are already fleeing violent situations, Johnson said. Coming somewhere where they thought they were safe and free, and hearing elected officials put them down, must be hurtful.
RICHMOND The commonwealth of Virginia on Tuesday filed a motion in federal court asking to join a lawsuit against President Donald Trump over his Friday order restricting immigration and suspending admission of refugees.
Attorney General Mark R. Herring held a news conference at his office to announce the motion, with Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Virginia Solicitor General Stuart A. Raphael at his side. After Herring and McAuliffe read statements on camera about the legal action, the three left the room without taking questions.
Herring, a Democrat who is running for re-election this year, called Trump's executive order "unlawful, unconstitutional and un-American" and said the state needs to take action to stop it.
The state moved to intervene in Aziz v. Trump, a pending federal lawsuit in Virginia's Eastern District.
Trump's executive order sparked outrage among opponents after people were detained at airports across America, including Washington Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County.
The order halts the processing of refugees fleeing war in Syria and suspends immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. The administration said the order is to address concerns about terrorism.
Herring said the decision to take legal action wasn't one he took lightly, but that the president's "sweeping, poorly understood and chaotically implemented executive order violated civil rights.
"There are more than 100 students at Virginia Commonwealth University alone who are now unable to leave to visit their families or re-enter the United States to continue their education," he said. "Identical stories are found on campuses all across Virginia."
Herring said the order subjected people to "degrading and unlawful treatment."
"Make no mistake. The commonwealth of Virginia and our people are already being harmed by this ban," he said.
Restrictions on travel by foreign students hurt the ability of the state's colleges to attract them and causes lost tuition, he said, and students and faculty unable to travel will abandon research projects.
Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said the executive order has constitutional problems.
"The state has a huge interest in making sure that the orders are lawful and that people are not detained and theyre able to move freely," he said.
McAuliffe, a fellow Democrat, and Herring also were vocal about Trump's action on Saturday when they both traveled to Dulles airport to denounce the order.
RICHMOND Denver Riggleman, a Republican candidate for governor, on Tuesday said President Donald Trumps executive order on refugees was grounded in sound policy but lacking in clarity in some respects and rolled out in less-than-stellar fashion.
I felt the policy was right if youre looking from an analytical point of view as far as resetting the intelligence sector for vetting data, the owner of Silverback Distillery in Nelson County said during an appearance at the Bell Tower in Capitol Square.
But I do think it was probably clumsily implemented. It was pretty ambiguous on who theyre going to let in and not. ... I think theyre trying to fix that right now.
Riggleman, a former Air Force intelligence officer, was in Richmond to back Senate Bill 1593, sponsored by state Sen. J. Chapman Petersen, D-Fairfax City, which is aimed at Dominion Virginia Power. The bill would bar members of the General Assembly or those in statewide office from accepting campaign money from public service corporations.
As for the presidents executive order, the fact that legal permanent residents of the United States were caught up in the confusion was a foul, Riggleman added.
That should have been more specific in the language that permanent legal aliens and also green-card holders should have been allowed in, he said. Theyve already been vetted in the process we have now. Im OK with a pause thats rolled in to make sure we have the proper data.. I think we need to be very careful.
I think all of us have probably come from immigrants somewhere in this country, unless youre First Nation or Native American.
Riggleman is one of four GOP candidates for governor, along with Ed Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee; Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and state Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach.
Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam and former Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, are seeking the Democratic nomination. Both parties will pick their nominees in a June primary.
What nonsense! Mike Whitney (Australian) has conveniently left out some key points and has been posting his very biased political opines for years. In this particular case he's offering up a piece supposedly dedicated to the Democratic Party (which he despises) demise, while in reality bashing Obama once again.
The reader is supposed to 'buy in' to the premise that Obama was an unpopular president, even though he left the Oval office with an approval rating of 60% and we are to believe that it was the failed Obama presidency that led the voters to Trump??
AND how about the fact that Clinton won the popular vote? Or the fact that millions of voters chose to stay home or select a write-in or third-party candidates. This was an incredibly emotional election. Very few voters actually believed that Trump was qualified for the job. So the election became a poli-sci experiment. What would happen if we actually elected a business man? What would happen if we elected someone with absolutely no qualifications? What if we switched gears entirely and voted for a morally bankrupt individual who acts like a five year old? So the voters held their nose and checked the Trump box.
As for the Democrats? I'll admit we've got some work to do--some soul searching--but historically presidential elections are circuitous. In the last two decades we've gone from a Dem president to a GOP president to a Dem president and now back to a GOP president---although we know Trump is NOT a conservative. IN fact, most of us have no idea WHAT he is. A fluke??
So here's what's going to happen and it's pretty predictable to anyone except Mike Whitney. Trump will serve ONE term. While he is serving the Democratic Party, LED BY BARACK Obama, will dig deep. They will pull together their senior statesmen and begin the come back. It is time to find the next president. AND we will be back. As Mark Twain said in 1915: The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated. AND so it is with the Democratic Party.
Most politicians mean well and try hard to make things better. Commentary Editor Bob Rayner made that observation during The Times-Dispatchs recent Speaker Series event on politics, and state lawmakers are proving him right on several fronts.
Budget negotiators have agreed on a substantial hike in pay for state troopers, to help stem the substantial exodus of them that atrociously low pay scales have produced. No state function is more basic or crucial than protecting public safety, and legislators deserve credit for acting swiftly to shore it up.
Lawmakers also have made progress on another front: reforming the way Virginia suspends the drivers licenses of individuals convicted of minor crimes such as drug possession, and those who fall behind paying fines or court costs. Suspending licenses in those instances makes little sense: Not only does the punishment bear little connection to the offense, it also makes it harder for the offender to get to work to earn the money to pay the fines that were the cause of the suspension in the first place.
In certain areas legislators also have been attendant to the demands of individual freedom. The House has approved a measure allowing the sale of high-proof grain alcohol, while a House committee dispatched a bill that would have expanded the states seat belt requirement to every person in a vehicle (at present seat belts are mandatory only for drivers, minors and people riding shotgun).
Unfortunately, lawmakers have made some bad calls recently, too as when they killed three bills proposed by Mamie Locke to require more sharing of information about officer-involved shootings and to ensure that officers would not seize any recording equipment from bystanders. Senators also refused to advance a bill that would have removed the now-defunct ban on gay marriage from Virginias constitution. No valid reason justifies keeping a provision that (a) never should have been added in the first place, and (b) carries no weight whatsoever.
State Sen. Tommy Norment continues his hotel-backed campaign against Airbnb, with a proposal that would set up a state registry for homeowners who take in short-term renters and impose a fine of $500 for every day an unregistered home is let.
Legislators also seem ill-disposed toward the numerous efforts at curtailing the skyrocketing cost of attending college. Higher education leaders routinely blame state budget cuts for soaring tuition, but that contention goes only so far: Over roughly the past decade, per-student appropriations have fallen $1,634 in constant dollars at Virginia universities while in-state tuition has jumped by $3,186.
The foregoing represent only a tiny sliver of the legislation whirling around the capital. Not every measure qualifies as good or bad. Some simply evoke a blank stare. Were thinking of SB1223, which would extend DUI prohibitions to people on electric bicycles, Segways and even motorized wheelchairs. A Senate committee has sent it off to limbo. Thank heaven for small favors.
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How many times can a scammer sell the same truck that he doesnt have in the first place?
Winona Southard knows there is at least one group that is making a living pulling this scam. She learned the hard way and is warning others to be wary.
The Culpeper woman said that back in the fall, she and her husband were looking for a used truck for her son when they came across a classified ad in The Culpeper StarExponent. The vehicle was advertised for about $3,000, right in Southards price range, and seemed to be a good buy.
So she called on her cell phone, but left her home phone number for the seller to call back. Instead, the seller sent a text to her cell phone explaining that the truck belonged to his aunt and that further negotiations should go through her.
At this point, Southard said she turned everything over to her son. After all, it would be his truck.
At some point, the son talked to the aunt and a deal was made for about the $3,000 asking price. The seller said the truck was on eBay Motors, but that he wouldnt accept a PayPal payment, only a moneygram.
I admit I dont know much about internet dealings so I agreed to wire the money, Southard said.
But the scammer wasnt finished. The aunt got back in touch with Southards son and said she would need an extra $1,000 for insurance, money the buyer would eventually get back. When she got the payment and insurance money, the truck, which supposedly was in Massachusetts, would be delivered to Southards door.
Southard said she wired the money to the sellers address on Wednesday with the understanding that the vehicle would show up at her house the next day. It never did.
That was not the last time she heard from the scammer, however.
Since my son had handled the negotiations, the guy apparently got confused and thought there were two different inquiries, she said. So he sent me a text saying he still had the truck and asking me if I was still interested.
Southard reported the incident to the Sheriffs Office, but was told that there was little that could be done.
These scammers are almost always out-of-state and out-of-the-country, often in Nigeria, Culpeper Sheriff Scott Jenkins explained. It is out of our jurisdiction.
Jenkins said he found himself heading into one such scam himself.
There was a truck and a tractor advertised and when I called they put me in touch with a woman who said she was in the military, he said. I knew right away it was a scam, a pretty elaborate scam.
Jenkins said that after getting Southards complaint, his office called the StarExponent, which pulled the ad. But that wasnt the end of the deal.
I was looking through the classifieds last week and I came across another ad that was similar to the one I fell for, Southard said. The truck advertised was a different color and the price had been lowered to $2,100. Out of curiosity I called. It was the same guy with the same aunt.
Southard said she again reported the incident to the StarExponent (the ad was again pulled) and to the sheriffs office. But knowing this scammer was still at work, she wanted to get the word out to the public.
It cost me $4,000 that I couldnt afford to lose and I dont want somebody else to fall for the same scam, she said. I dont want to see other people get hurt.
Jenkins said his office is constantly warning the public about scams that involve wiring money.
Most of that money ends up out of the country and there is little we can do about it, he said. Just be careful.
Editor's note: BH Media, which owns The Free LanceStar and Culpeper StarExponent, has given employees handling classified advertisements a list of "red flags" to watch for that often indicate possible scams, including billing phone numbers that do not match the phone numbers listed in the ad, or ads that offer only an email address for responses. Because scammers sometimes find ways around these efforts, buyers should be wary about making payments before goods are seen or received.
As talk of the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) looms we should use this conversation to offer alternatives. Aside from Democratic Party loyalists, there are not many who believe that Obamacare was a success or was even intended to be. The only benefactors were the insurance companies and a small select group of people who did not have any insurance at all.
It is predicted that more rate hikes are on the horizon while those who buy insurance find they cant afford to use it because of mounting deductibles. Health insurance is not the same as health care. The system remains in the hands of investor-owned insurance companies, drug companies and profit-oriented providers that can charge whatever the market will bear. We have seen that the healthcare market will bear much more than other areas of our economy.
President Obama was so eager for the political support of the health industries that he naively assumed that they would moderate their desire for profits in the public interest.
There is tremendous need to fix our health care system, or shall I say, lack of health care system. There is no doubt in my mind, however, that with Trumps nomination of Rep. Tom Price for Secretary of Health and Human Services, we will move toward an even more expensive, inadequate and unequal health system.
Dr. Jill Stein had it right, as did Sen. Bernie Sanders. After some serious reforms, we need to be able to offer a sort of Medicare for all.
Medicare is essentially a single-payer system for those older than 65. It is financed via the people but privately delivered. A drawback to the current system utilizes the same profit-oriented providers as the rest of the system, necessitating some reforms. The main idea behind this would be that hospitals and other providers would need to be changed to a non-profit delivery system. This, of course would present its own set of issues in design and implementation but a society that can bomb the date off a dime from space should be able to do it.
To oversimplify, we would need to reform and change the age from 65 to all Americans.
This does several things. It takes health care out of this business world. The burden on businesses to provide unaffordable health insurance is an impediment to competition. In addition, too often new entrepreneurs cannot go out on their own because of the risks of losing health insurance.
Rather than have separate health care for those in poverty and one for veterans, they will be covered by this Medicare for all. Businesses also have to double up on insurance and pay workers compensation premiums to cover those injured on the job. This burden can be lifted as they will already be covered.
Funding this system will, of course, be the most controversial, especially since profit is taken out of the equation and greed will become a hindrance. However, in passing we have already shown areas of funding. Businesses will be freed from tremendous premiums in both health insurance and workers compensation, and the veterans insurance will be eliminated. Before any taxes need be raised we can shift already existing funding into this system.
A year ago, the American Journal of Public Health published a study that in various manner the U.S. government already funds 65 percent of all health care costs. Healthcare needs to become a priority. It can, if we prioritize it. The pie is carved up by priorities, we just need to take a harder look at what those are. Out of control healthcare costs, and an unhealthy society is an epidemic that we must treat as an emergency. This is America; we can do it.
I agree. We must repeal Obamacare, but not without replacing it, and the best replacement is Medicare for all. Many polls suggest most Americans are in favor of such a system. We are at a crossroads. Obamacare is faltering, and the incoming Trump administration has no realistic alternative. This may be the precise time for the people and the business community to say no to insurance company greed and institute a national health care system. Our businesses ability to compete in the global marketplace is dependent upon this. Their ability to create more jobs is as well.
I am not naive; this is not simple and much dialogue would be needed to implement such a system and overcome the pains of transitioning to it. However, we must begin that dialogue. We must begin with the premise that health care is a right of all Americans, not a privilege for those who can afford it. I believe we can do it, if it becomes a priority. Lets all of us, together, be sure that our lawmakers make it a priority.
NEW YORK - USA - If you are a Muslim and do manage to get into America during the Trump presidency, here are some great tips for enjoying your stay in this wonderful hospitable country.
Before you arrive at the hotel, theres only one small problem, how to get into America unnoticed?
Our Muslim travel guide for a Trump USA has been compiled after immense amounts of research and travelling.
Our Islamic traveller flew from Abu Dhabi to Rome hanging on the planes undercarriage. He received a little frostbite on his fingers and lost four, but otherwise was fine.
Once reaching Romes Da Vinci airport, he quickly stowed upon another plane headed for the United States, and the beautiful Big Apple, New York city.
The luggage bay our traveller stayed in was delightful, the temperatures sometimes dropped to minus 15 Celsius, but thanks to him stowing himself safely in a trunk, he did not suffer the cold as much.
On touch down in New York, it was easy for the Muslim to exit the aircraft once the baggage doors were opened, and the luggage was thrown onto a transport carrier.
HOTELS
The Flyover Boutique Hotel This hotel is exclusive in that it is mostly outdoors under the freeway going from New York city to New Jersey. There is no room service or valet. Located amongst many cardboard boxes and discarded needles, you will enjoy your stay in America if you can last more than the night, as thugs roam the night and drug dealers with hookers in tow work the streets. Under the Floorboards of Mustafas House Youll have to be quiet in this hotel as if any visitors come to the home and hear you under the floorboards you may be deported or imprisoned immediately. There is no light, food or water and you cannot play the piano. The Ritz Sewer Drain When it comes to New York luxury, it doesnt get better than this. Check in on Monday, check out on Tuesday, either in a black plastic bag, or submerged under large amounts of sewer water. There is no room service, just rats, plenty of them roaming around waiting for you to nod off. Gauntanamo Bay 5 Star Resort The jewel in the crown for American hospitality to Muslims, this resort will enrapture you with delight. With daily water-boarding sessions, you will have sleepless nights on the concrete bed, all enjoyed to the delightful sounds of barking dogs. Breakfast is not served in the morning, or ever, and there is no room service, unless you call getting beaten with long sticks and tasered as some kind of service. The Local Mosque If you can find one that has not been burned down by mindless evangelical Christian thugs or racist bigots, you will be lucky. There will still be some Muslims around the U.S. but tread carefully some are Christian spies, and they could lure you into a trap. Your bed for the night will be the shoe room, and dont forget to watch out for decapitated pig heads left by friendly Americans.
The Oregon Department of Transportation last week appealed a proposed Loves Travel Stop and Country Store that is planned in the city of Millersburg, asking that a planning commission approval of a site plan review be overturned.
The state agency, in a letter to the city, said there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the business will have a significant impact to Interstate 5 and Linn County road systems.
Neglecting to properly consider and address the traffic impacts could have detrimental impacts to the city, Linn County, the state and the traveling public, wrote Valerie Grigg Devis, senior regional planner for ODOT.
Barbara Castillo, city administrator/recorder, said the appeal could be heard by the Millersburg City Council sometime in March.
We are having a meeting with them (ODOT) on Friday, and with representatives of Loves and Linn County and seeing what they want, Castillo said.
She said that the ODOT appeal likely wouldnt be an insurmountable barrier for the company. Its just something that Loves has to go through to get approval, Castillo added.
ODOT has recommended that the City Council review the decision and require the applicants to complete a revised transportation impact analysis that adequately addresses the matter prior to a final decision.
Until a revised TIA is completed, the short and long-term impacts of the development have not been fully evaluated, Grigg Devis wrote.
The state agency also is pushing for the city of Millersburg, Linn County and itself to agree to and approve any necessary improvements to lessen the impacts of traffic.
ODOT also may seek to have Loves agree to contribute to traffic signals nearby either before the opening of the truck stop or at some time in the future when such devices become necessary.
According to ODOT, the existing TIA submitted by Loves uses incorrect traffic data, and doesnt utilize the ODOT-standard peak traffic volumes.
Loves submitted a site plan review application to the city of Millersburg in November, and the planning commission approved it unanimously in early January. About 25 people, most from a nearby subdivision, signed an online petition opposing Loves coming to town.
The 12-acre property for the truck stop is along Old Salem Road and sits near Highway 164 and northbound and southbound onramps and offramps for Interstate 5.
The facility would include a store, fuel islands and parking lots.
Loves locations are open 24 hours a day to serve professional drivers and other motorists and provide them a place to fuel up and buy snacks and other items. Professional drivers also can use shower facilities at Loves.
The companys truck stops also usually include two food court style restaurants inside, such as Subway or McDonalds.
ALBANY POLICE
Theft cite 4:07 p.m. Friday, Linn County Jail. Hailey Brianne Stowe, 20, of Keizer, was booked, cited and released on a charge of first-degree theft. She was scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 22.
Heroin arrest 7:45 a.m. Monday, Linn County Jail. Sarah Elizabeth Hinzman, 31, of Lebanon, was arrested on charges of delivery and possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance schedule II.
LINN COUNTY SHERIFF
Failure to appear arrest 11:52 a.m. Sunday, Linn County Jail. Dustin Ray Delk, 33, of Lebanon, was lodged in jail on four failure to appear warrants on delivery of methamphetamine charges, as well as two failure to appear warrants on possession of methamphetamine charges, failure to appear on a Lebanon criminal citation and a warrant for methamphetamine possession. His initial bail was set at $57,500.
Recently, a Democrat-Herald guest columnist objected to the Albany city councils decision to assist a local business by providing a $50,000 forgivable loan that will allow the new owner to expand and add new employees (Guest Commentary, Jan. 27). In return, the business is contractually obligated to stay in its Albany location for the next 10 years.
The columnist accused the Council of playing favorites by awarding money to one business when all businesses would probably like similar assistance. Government at all levels has routinely provided assistance to businesses since the beginning of the American republic, just as business has been and is a critical part of the foundation of government in our country. Our national rail network, for example, was constructed largely by private industry in exchange for huge land grants by the Federal government.
Businesses large and small routinely take advantage of tax abatements, low interest loans and other forms of subsidy provided by federal, state and local jurisdictions. Most of Albanys biggest employers have received some form of assistance from government during their time in the city. The local business that recently contracted with the City of Albany was offered larger subsidies to move to another location, not unlike the grants used by the State of Indiana in November to keep Carrier Corporation jobs from moving to Mexico.
Albanys economy has been steadily improving over the past few years as new employers have moved to town and existing industries have expanded. Several high-tech companies have recently purchased buildings and are now employing people in good-paying jobs. Its ironic that as the guest column painted a grim picture of Albanys economy, the same issue of the newspaper reported that Linn Countys jobless rate is at the lowest level ever recorded. I pass industrial facilities in Albany every day on my short drive to work that are advertising for new employees and the number one complaint I hear from businesses around town is the lack of workers to fill jobs. The need has become so acute that the council agreed to provide assistance to Linn-Benton Community College to provide up to $2.9 million for equipment to train people to fill vacancies in Albany industries. There shouldnt be any need to point out the new retail and commercial businesses either constructing new buildings or filling vacant ones all over town.
Apparently, I live in a different city than the one described by the guest columnist. The Albany I know is growing, both in population and in prosperity. This is not opinion or an alternative fact, but is something that we can and do measure. Most businesses in town are taking advantage of that shared opportunity rather than complaining about imaginary problems in the newspaper.
Wes Hare is the City Manager for the city of Albany.
The Red Cross is warning of a humanitarian crisis in British NHS hospitals following the death of an elderly woman who spent 35 hours on a trolley in A&E.
The woman, who has not been identified, was rushed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital this week, but she could not be taken onto a ward because there were no beds. Her condition deteriorated and she had a heart attack, dying in a hospital cubicle. Meanwhile, a second patient, who had to stay in the waiting room at the same hospital, died when he suffered an aneurysm.
There are now claims that the hospital is in meltdown. Nurses are understood to have been in tears becaue they feel so helpless about the situation, and patients are believed to have been on trolleys three deep in hospital corridors because of a severe lack of beds.
Crisis
Medics say the dire situation at Worcestershire is the same as that being faced at casualty units across Britain. The Red Cross has revealed that it has been called upon to give help to hospitals and paramedics, saying that the picture was so bad it was a humanitarian crisis.
Startling data show the extent of the problems facing the NHS in the week leading up to January 1. During that week, casualty units were so full they had to close their doors to ambulances 42 times. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of patients waited at least four hours to be seen, when that is meant to be the maximum waiting time in A&E. The statistics also show that 1,000 beds were closed every day in a bid to prevent the spread of norovirus.
Ministers are now set to hold emergency talks with MPs and health chiefs in Worcestershire. However, this winters crisis is being blamed on pressures on social care funding, meaning that elderly patients are remaining in hospital longer rather than being released to be cared for in the community. This so-called bed blocking then results in there being no space for new patients.
Honda is all set to introduce the facelifted City in the Indian market in coming weeks and after that, it is likely to launch its new sub-4m SUV, the WR-V. First showcased at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show in Brazil, now the Indian-spec version of the WR-V has been spotted in the country. According to reports, the Japanese automaker has started its production and is likely to be launched in March, 2017.
The Indian-spec WR-V looks identical to the Brazilian-spec model showcased at Sao Paulo. Honda has applied the same formula with the WR-V as it did with the BR-V the former shares most of its body panels with the Jazz like the latter shares with the Mobilio. All this has been done to keep the production and development costs in check. The WR-V features a fresh new face with a high-set bonnet and a chrome grille that merges with the headlamps, much like the new fifth-generation CR-V.
The WR-V features halogen headlamps with daytime running LEDs. Unlike the identical side profile, the rear is subtly different from the hatch, with the slightly redesigned tail lamps extending into the bootlid (note: Honda has incorporated black tail lamp elements in the places where the Jazz has red ones) and the license plate is placed a bit lower. Its dual-tone bumpers feature silver faux-skid plates along with an all-around body cladding. As opposed to the Jazz, it features 16-inch machined alloy wheels and appears to ride higher off the ground.
Recently, its interiors were also spied in Brazil, which were hidden at the time of the motor show reveal. As expected, the WR-V will borrow the dashboard of the Jazz along with the latters famed Magic Seats. And all the features will be carried over from the hatch. Additionally, the WR-V is likely to get passive keyless entry and the new infotainment from the facelifted City, which features support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Mechanically, in India, the WR-V is likely to borrow its powertrains both diesel and petrol from the Jazz.
Source: CarDekho.com
Mumbai: Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia on Tuesday said the government has created a new software to identify and track large deposits made after Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes were banned.
Adhia said that Operation Clean Money software will be used to assess large deposits. Those who made large deposits of over Rs 5 lakh will be questioned, he said. For the purpose an e-filing portal will be used, Adhia said.
Apart from that the income tax department has identified 18 lakh people whose post-note ban deposits do not match with their tax-paying profile.
Tax department to send e-mail, SMS to those whose deposits don't match payment profile to enquire about such deposits, he said. Notices will be sent if e-mail, SMS queries are either not responded or response is unsatisfactory, Adhia added.
The survey also brings back the age-old demand of a stable tax regime and widening of the tax base, including bringing real estate under GST
Mumbai: Analysts opined that the Economic Survey has clearly captured the headwinds facing the economy as it lowers growth forecast and calls for a bold Budget.
"The projected GDP growth of 6.75-7.5 per cent for next financial year in the survey clearly flags the risks that the economy is exposed due to emerging global protectionism and rising oil prices," Ranen Banerjee, public finance and economics leader at PwC India said.
He also said the higher farm growth of 4.1 per cent camouflages the negative impact of deceleration in the industrial GDP of 2.2 percentage points in the overall GDP growth percentage. Richard Rekhy, chief executive of KPMG India said, "The survey points to a likely bold and reformative Budget that will have a strong focus on infrastructure, employment generation and easing business conditions.
The issue of NPAs is most likely to be addressed coherently, along with taking stock of the PPP logjams." He also said the survey signals that the economy is on a stable growth path.
The range comes due to global uncertainties, including protectionist tendencies. Rekhy also noted that the survey recognises the shortcomings of the economy and calls for required action from the Budget.
Jaijit Bhattacharya of KPMG said, the survey confirms the ballooning of bad debts and calls for setting up a bad bank to take away the toxic debts banks in the form of 'Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency' or PARA.
The survey also brings back the age-old demand of a stable tax regime and widening of the tax base, including bringing real estate under GST, he noted. On the note ban impact, he said the survey has given a better picture of the impact of the move, calling for some measures in the Budget to address the issues created by it.
Sachin Sandhir of RICS said the survey indicates a reforms-oriented budget, including privatisation of public enterprises. Commenting on the survey, industry lobby Ficci's president Pankaj Patel said, the survey clearly lays out the challenges and opportunities that the economy faces.
He called for Budgetary steps to reap the long-term benefits of note ban with follow-up actions, such as providing a boost to demand, lowering tax rates, widening tax base and reforming tax administration.
He also welcomed the proposal to set up a bad bank under the name of public sector asset rehabilitation agency saying this can go a long way to address the issue of large and complex stressed assets, particularly in the infra sector.
On the proposal to have a universal basic income plan, he said alongside such a social security, there must be an equal emphasis on creation of jobs. The exporters body Fieo called for facilitating exports through FTAs and GST along with promoting labour intensive sectors.
Hailing the economic survey, Fieo president S C Ralhan called for a road-map to revive the economy hit by the note ban, by creating more jobs. "Identification of apparel and leather sectors in the survey, where China is slowly exiting the market, is both important for exports as well as employment.
There is need to bring a comprehensive package for leather and footwear sectors on the lines of the apparel and made-ups sectors," Ralhan said. He also welcomed the move to have FTAs with the EU and Britain which can provide exporters a level playing field viz-a-viz competitors in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Another industry lobby CII's Chandrajit Banerjee said the GDP estimate of 6.75-7.5 per cent is on expected lines and is achievable. "CII is hopeful that the Budget will deal with the aspects of creating demand, especially through direct tax interventions on the personal income tax and corporate taxation side," Banerjee concluded.
New Delhi: RBI is one of the highly capitalised central banks of the world and the government can redeploy some of its capital for fund infusion in state-owned banks and setting up a public sector asset reconstruction company, Economic Survey 2016-17 said.
"The key principle that should be observed in this process is that the excess capital in the RBI, including that created by demonetisation, is a balance sheet or wealth gain and not an income gain.
Hence, the uses to which this is put should be of a balance sheet nature," according to the Survey tabled in Parliament today. Observing that there is no particular reason why this extra capital should be kept with the RBI, it said it is one of the most highly capitalised central banks in the world.
Even at current levels, the RBI is already exceptionally highly capitalised and so, it would seem to be more productive to redeploy some of this capital in other ways, the Survey added.
"Assuming that the RBI returns Rs 4 lakh crore of capital to the government, what are the uses to which this capital can be put? It could be used in several good ways...first for recapitalising the banks and/or recapitalizing a Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency (PARA)," it said.
Second, for extinguishing debt to demonstrate that the government is serious about a strong public sector fiscal position. "It cannot be emphasized enough that any strategy to use the excess capital must be done carefully that in no way undermines or circumvents the relevant laws.
It must also be done with the full cooperation of the RBI to ensure that the RBIs independence and credibility are in no way undermined," it said.
Shares of TCS plunged by 5.46 per cent to touch an intra-day low of Rs 2,206.55 on BSE. Infosys lost 4.57 per cent to Rs 905 and Wipro went down by 4.11 per cent to Rs 445.55.
New Delhi: Shares of IT companies plunged as much as 9 per cent today amid concerns that the new bill in the US that aims to rework the H1-B visa programme will adversely impact the hiring plans of Indian technology firms.
Shares of TCS plunged by 5.46 per cent to touch an intra-day low of Rs 2,206.55 on BSE. Infosys lost 4.57 per cent to Rs 905 and Wipro went down by 4.11 per cent to Rs 445.55.
Tech Mahindra tumbled as much as 9.68 per cent to Rs 426 and HCL Technologies declined by 6.25 per cent to Rs 787.20. The BSE IT index fell by 4.83 per cent to touch an intra-day low of 9401.85. It is currently trading at 9547.53.
According to market experts, US President Donald Trump plans to overhaul work-visa programmes that dampened investors' sentiment. Trump is set to sign a new executive order aimed at overhauling work visa programmes like the H-1B and L1, a move that will adversely hit the lifeline of Indian tech firms and professionals in the US.
A legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives which among other things calls for more than doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to USD 130,000, making it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India.
The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year.
Ajay will next be seen in Milan Luthria's 'Baadshaho'.
Mumbai: Ajay Devgn is one of the few actors who knows the pulse of the masses.
The actor, who was last seen in his second directorial, 'Shivaay,' has been filming for Milan Luthria's 'Baadshaho,' but he's found time to shoot for an interesting advertisement.
The actor, who's known for his penchant for humour, will be seen dabbling in it again, in the ad for a popular hosiery brand. Ajay will be teaming up with veteran thespian Makarand Deshpande in the horror comedy.
While Ajay plays his persona of a cool dude, Makarand gets into the gear of a ghost. What happens thereafter, is a story that is all of 60 seconds.
Ajay will also be returning with frequent collaborator Rohit Shetty, on 'Golmaal Again'.
Mumbai: The Chennai Express producer, Karim Morani, is out on anticipatory bail in a rape case filed against him by a 24-year-old, Mumbai-based theatre artist, who is a friend of his daughter Zoa.
The victim had accused him of sexually exploiting and then threatening her of leaking their intimate pictures online.
The investigating officers at Hayatnagar police station, where the case is registered, are waiting for the Call Detail Record (CDR) between both the parties to confirm whether or not Morani was present in Hyderabad when the alleged rape happened at a renowned film studio back in 2015.
The producers counsel moved an anticipatory bail petition before IV additional metropolitan sessions judge of Ranga Reddy district about three days ago. On Monday, the court granted anticipatory bail along with a few riders after hearing arguments of both the victim and the accused.
"The petitioner (Karim Morani) is entitled for anticipatory bail. In the event of the arrest of the petitioner, the petitioner shall be released on bail on his executing personal bond of 50,000 with two sureties for like sum each to the satisfaction of the investigating officer. Further, the petitioner shall cooperate with the investigating agency and shall attend before the investigating officer as and when required and shall present before the court whenever required by the investigating officer for further investigation in the matter (sic)," the court said in its order.
Mumbai: Actress and activist Ashley Judd was in Delhi for the World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls where she spoke about gender discrimination that is prevalent in our society. While talking about this widespread phenomenon, the Double Jeopardy revealed some horrific experiences from her early life.
"I was molested when I was seven years old. I was raped at 14, and then I was raped in 1998. It's a miracle that I wasn't trafficked," she said.
She also pointed out that there are many loopholes in judicial systems across the world as far as law on violence against women is concerned. "If us as survivors can come together, we can create change. The onus of the crime should only go to the perpetrator. And laws should give women and girls exit strategies to get out of trafficking," she said.
Ashley urged one and all to stand up against sexual exploitation and prostitution of women. In her heavy American accent, Judd said in Hindi, Ab samjhauta nahi.
Around 250 key voices in the global movement to eradicate prostitution and other evil practices against women gathered for the meet on January 30 in Delhi.
Apart from Judd, other prominent figures also showed up for the noble cause. Chhattisgarh politician Soni Sori and author Rachael Moran were also present.
Manoj Kumar was often sneered at, when he broke into lengthy monologues about the pride of being an Indian. Once the satirist-comedian, I.S. Johar, had joked that Manoj Kumar rubbed the Earths soil on his forehead with such vigour and frequency that he caused soil erosion whenever he shot at an outdoor location. In todays times, seeking inspiration from Manoj, is a younger Kumar, Akshay. In Namaste London, Akshay Kumar ripped off Manoj Kumars Hai Preet Jahaan Ki Reet Sadaa sequence from Purab Aur Paschim. In that film, Manoj had sermonised a smoky pub filled with firangs in London, on the virtues of being Indian. Akshay did the same in Namaste London.
Thats probably where the new patriotic Kumar was born. Not only has he associated with films that have a nationalistic fervour of late, but has also started to take the sentiment off screen with his social media videos be it about the Bengaluru molestation on New Years Eve or the Republic Day pledge to fund families of martyrs. A director, who has known Akshay closely in the past, comments, This image of the God-fearing, country-loving, sporty patriot was always his aim. When he was doing Dharmesh Darshans Dhadkan, he insisted that his character of the devoted husband be modeled on Lord Ram. Manoj Kumar, however, has little to say on the comparison. I am glad that I am compared with someone as handsome and talented as Akshay, he said.
Jaipur: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansalis bid to resolve the tiff with Rajput organisations over his film Padmavati seems to be in jeopardy.
Despite his written assurance that there are no romantic or objectionable scenes between Rani Padmini and Allauddin Khilji in the film, the Rajput organisations have raised a fresh demand of reviewing the film before its release as well as a change in films title.
On Monday, Shobha Sant, CEO of Bhansali Films had sent a letter to Giriraj Singh Lotwara, president of Rajput Sabha stating that there is no intention of hurting any sentiments of the community. We have been careful in our research in the making of the film. This is to clarify that there is no romantic dream sequence or any objectionable or romantic scene between Rani Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji, she wrote.
Bhansali has also sought support and protection from the community in making the film. We are confident that Mewar will be proud of the film made on their revered queen.. if all the social organisations and local people support us in making this film then the world will come to know about her valour too, Shobha said in the letter requesting no untoward incident against the production company and its cast and crew.
However, in a joint press conference convened by Rajput Sabha and Karni Sena, the president of the Rajput Sabha said that they have also demanded that a screening committee be formed by the group to screen the movie before its release, but Bhansali Productions are yet to act on the request.
During the press conference, some of the members of the Karni Sena raised another demand that the films title should be changed and there should be no film in the name of Padmavati at all. Sant, however, said the demand to change the title did not come up in their previous discussions with the group.
They have made this fresh demand for which I have nothing to say anything. This is not in my jurisdiction. They also did not raise this point in our discussion held before, Sant said.
Hrithik and Salman did the former's signature step from his debut film 'Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hain' and also featured in a dubsmash video alongside Yami Gautam.
Mumbai: Now we all know that Hrithik and Salman bonded on the sets of his father, Rakesh Roshans, 1995 blockbuster film Karan Arjun. Duggu, who was assisting Papa Roshan at that time, got along really well with Sallu Bhai. A friendship of some sorts had blossomed between the two of them.
But, their camaraderie went for a toss when the Roshan scion said yes to a film with a certain actress in Guzaarish.
Ever since Salman broke up with his then alleged girlfriend Aishwarya Rai, the actor had been extremely possessive about her. In fact, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis original cast for Bajirao Mastani was supposed to be Aishwarya (Mastani), Salman (Bajirao) and Rani Mukerji was to play the character of Kashibai. But for reasons unknown, that dream of a star cast never acted and the film was delayed for a good number of years.
Bhais relationship with SLB deteriorated when he signed Ash for Guzaarish. Similarly, he turned his back on once good friend Hrithik. Because of the tension between them, Roshan even refused to promote Agneepath on the sets of Bigg Boss.
But both the stars have buried the past and had decided to come together for Kaabil promotion. Not only did Duggu promote the film in Bigg Boss, he also shook a leg with the Dabangg star.
Despite the initial awkwardness, the Kaabil star was kaabil enough to hold himself together and put on a good show. Friends again? Seems like!
Mumbai: GV Keshav Reddy and Veena Tara's wedding had been a star-studded affair, with the creme de la creme of the South and Bollywood attending it.
However, the most sensational sight was Tollywood Megastar Chiranjeevi shaking a leg with none other than Ranveer Singh!
While Chiru is enjoying the humongous success of his comeback vehicle, 'Khaidi No 150,' having grossed over 160 crore rupees worldwide,Ranveer has been shooting diligently for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmavati'.
The two, who're known for their dancing skills, were a riot, much to the amusements of the guests.
Even host T Subbirami Reddy couldn't help but join in.
What would we not give to see these two in a film together!
Watch the video here:
Mumbai: For Anjali Lama, Nepal's first transgender model, it was a struggle to land her first modelling assignment but she now hopes to use the Indian fashion week platform to boost her career in the country. Anjali was shortlisted through the model auditions for the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2017, which begins here from tomorrow.
The model says she is overwhelmed by the support and love that she has received till now in India and plans to settle down in Mumbai and expand her career. "Mumbai has given me the hope and showered love in the most profuse way possible. I am planning to join an agency to work on dynamics even more professionally and strengthen my portfolio. I dream to win a renowned brand campaign feature while continuing to be walking the runway as this thrills me the most," Anjali told PTI in an interview.
The model was born in Nuwakot as a boy and was named Nabin Wabia. She changed her gender and became a woman once she moved to Kathmandu for her higher studies. Anjali says her friends realised her modelling potential
and asked her to think of it as a career option. "I have always been told by my close friends regarding my good body features and this encouraged me to aspire for modelling as a career."
Her first assignment was of a photoshoot for the cover page of a magazine and the real challenge began after that. Anjali says it was a tough journey as several rejections came her way. "I was broke but never gave up. The most disturbing thing to hear was the reason of the rejection which was being a 'transgender'," she says.
Anjali's well-wishers advised her to leave the career path following her "successive failures". "I took this as a challenge to debunk this myth and lay my
own way forward of my choice which has brought me today to this prestigious runway." Anjali says the fashion industry is all encompassing and she never felt discriminated.
"Fashion is conducive. The entire industry has a big global influence in a positive way, this entwined with creative freedom and a strong self-expression makes the industry all encompassing." Anjali's life struggle has been presented in a documentary movie called "Anjali Living Inside Someone Else's Skin" that is
based on transsexual lives.
The model, whose life story has become an inspiration for many back home, says the fashion industry has become the modern-day vehicle for change. "Fashion is a strong subject and it has the possibility to turnaround the overall environment and psychology of even the most rigid minds. I certainly believe that 'Fashion' has become the modern-day vehicle for change.
"I now owe the responsibility to propagate its inclusively message to the forefront." When asked who her favourite supermodel is, Anjali replies, "Brazilian Supermodel Adriana Lima."
Washington: Suffering from the woes of having frail bones? Unfortunately there are chances that your kid may inherit the 'brittle bone disease' from you, but thanks to science, you can protect your child by consuming less protein while you are pregnant.
Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have shown that limiting a specific maternal protein in pregnant mice with osteogenesis imperfecta resulted in offspring with stronger, denser bones.
Osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic disorder that causes bones to break easily. Severe cases of the disease can result in hundreds of fractures during a person's lifetime or even death. The finding might one day provide a new therapeutic approach to treating brittle bone disease.
Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and child health at the MU School of Medicine, Charlotte Phillips, "Osteogenesis imperfecta is caused by the body's inability to make strong bones because of mutations affecting the production of the protein known as collagen".
She added, "No cure exists; however, we know from previous research that the prenatal environment can have a lasting effect on cardiovascular and metabolic health into adulthood. We studied whether bone health of mice could be improved by optimizing the environment within the womb."
She stated, "Myostatin is a protein that limits muscle growth. However, exercise causes myostatin levels to decrease - which is good because it allows muscle tissue to develop. Increased muscle tissue results in stronger bones".
Using mice with brittle bone disease, the MU researchers were able to identify the female as responsible for offspring bone health. The team also confirmed that female mice deficient in myostatin had offspring with stronger bones.
"Humans achieve 90 percent of their peak bone mass by age 19," Phillips said. "To approximate this timeframe with mice, we re-evaluated their bone strength and density four months after birth. In each case, the mice with stronger, denser adult bones were those whose fetal development involved females deficient in the protein myostatin.
This finding shows that the environment within the womb affects bone development not only at birth, but into adulthood."
The researchers believe that the work represents a paradigm shift in understanding and possibly treating osteogenesis imperfecta. The researchers also feel that their findings may prove beneficial to reducing the risk of other bone diseases such as osteoporosis later in life for many others. However, more research is needed.
He collapsed halfway when he was on top of his girlfriend (Photo: Pixabay)
Taiwan: Sex has been known for numerous health benefits including reduction of stress and anxiety along with better blood flow that can keep away risks of a heart attack. But while researchers mention sex as good for health, some people cases may be a cause for concern.
While some studies have suggested that sexually active people are more likely to be hit be heart attacks an hour after sex, a man in Taiwan had a stroke in the middle of intercourse and died while having sex.
The girl named Fu said her 22-year-old boyfriend Huang started making love after waking up at five in the morning and collapsed halfway when he was on top of her. Doctors believe that Huang suffered a heart attack.
The police have ruled out any foul play but Huangs parents are puzzled how he could die like that and want the authorities to investigate. While it isnt yet known how it happened, doctors suggested it might be the cold weather and advised people to avoid vigorous sex when its cold.
Jaipur: Crimes against women have been rising in frequency as well as in audacity with incidents like mass molestations in Bengaluru, in the presence of 1500 police personnel, sending shockwaves across the nation and victim blaming fuelling further outrage about incidents where inaction of the authorities is cited as a major factor.
As the police is facing flak for the rise in such crimes, one IPS officer in Rajasthan is doing more than just her duty as a police officer to raise awareness towards womens rights. The ASP of Jaipurs Bassi area, Tejaswini Gautam moonlights as a street play artist and has performed more than 50 plays in Rajasthan to educate people on the issue.
Tejaswini is from Delhi and started performing as a law student upon realising the need for informing women about their rights. She started with 11 constables to perform with her, and now there are 16.
After the play is over, Tejaswini talks to women in the audience and tries to understand their problems and situation better. She also holds auditions for more actors.
The initiative by an IPS officer highlights the importance of change and awareness in society along with stronger action from the authorities on crimes against women. It also shows the way for raising sensitivity among police in relation to such cases.
New Delhi: Three girls from the Philippines and Tunisia, who were alleged to be ISIS sympathisers, were given money by a Dubai-based Indian supporter of the terror outfit on the instructions of a Pakistani national, the NIA has said.
The agency has claimed that Maharashtra resident Mohammed Farhan Shaikh, who was arrested in 2016 along with two others after being deported from the UAE for alleged ISIS links, had funded these girls, after money was given to him in Dubai by one Khalid, who is alleged to be from Pakistan.
NIA has alleged that Shaikh, who was in Dubai in 2015, had transferred 3894.24 United Arab Emirates Dirham (UAED) to a Tunisian girl, Sarra Ghribi, who wanted to join ISIS, in seven instalments through the global payment service, Western Union, between February 5, 2015 and April 24 that year.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) has claimed before a court here that Shaikh had transferred 1257.63 UAED and 846.75 UAED to Jannah Qassim and Johaira L Macasimpang, residents of Philippines, on June 24, 2015.
In his disclosure statement recorded by NIA which has been annexed in the charge sheet, Shaikh has claimed that in January 2015, he got in touch with Ghribi through Facebook. She was a "supporter and sympathiser" of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
"She (Ghribi) was interested to join ISIS. She approached me and asked for money. Same thing I told to Khalid that there is a Tunisian girl who wants to go to Syria and she needs money. He told me to come to his showroom and over there, Khalid gave me 1300 Dirham and I paid that money to Sarra Ghribi.
"Later, Khalid gave me 5000 Dirham to give to Ghribi. On June 2, 2015, Khalid deposited 5000 Dirham in my bank account. I paid 5000 Dirham in total to Ghribi. I made all the money transaction through Western Union," Shaikh has said.
Shaikh has claimed in his disclosure statement that he had met Khalid, who used to work in a car showroom in Dubai, for the first time in February 2015 and in that meeting, he was given money to pay to Ghribi. Shaikh also said that in June 2015, Khalid told him to pay money to the two girls from Philippines.
In its charge sheet, the agency has alleged that "KK (Khalid) and accused number 3 (Shaikh) had connived to raise, collect and transfer funds to Sarra Ghribi of Tunisia and two persons namely Jannah Qassim and Johaira L Macasimpang, residents of Philippines, affiliated to ISIS".
Besides Shaikh, the two other arrested accused in the case are Sheikh Azhar Ul Islam, a permanent resident of Ganderbal in Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka-based Adnan Hassan.
They have been chargesheeted for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy under the IPC and under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The agency has alleged that these accused, in connivance with others, had supported and invited support for ISIS and had assisted in arranging and managing meetings online among the active operatives of the banned terror outfit.
The accused were arrested on January 29 last year after being deported from the UAE.
New Delhi: A 14-year-old rape victim's plea challenging a Juvenile Justice Board order declaring the accused boy as a juvenile allegedly without any inquiry, has led Delhi High Court to stay the order and seek a response from the police on the matter.
Justice IS Mehta also issued notice to the boy and asked him to clear his stand on the allegation raised on his age before the court.
Besides the notice to the cops and the accused, the court stayed the operation of Board's order of December 8, 2016, declaring the accused as a minor.
It asked the Delhi Police to file a status report with regard to the determination of age of the accused before the next date of hearing on March 22.
"The operation of the impugned order dated December 8, 2016 shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing. Trial Court record be called for and made available two days before the next date of hearing," the court said.
The court's order came on a plea by the minor's mother who alleged that the "IO produced some photocopied documents from a private school in Haryana, once attended by the accused, and the Juvenile Board without giving any intimation notice or any opportunity to the prosecutrix or her family members, treated the cryptic and designedly superficial report of the IO on the respondent No 2 (accused) age as the gospel truth without calling on or making any inquiry".
As per the petition by the girl's mother, Investigating Officer (IO) of Delhi Police and the JJB declared the accused a minor, but the girl and her mother claimed he was at least 20 years old at the time of the crime.
The girl and the accused became friends on Facebook and had decided to meet on November 8, 2016. When she went to meet him, the boy had allegedly kidnapped her, forcibly intoxicated her and then raped her in a car, the plea claimed.
The girl had lodged a complaint with the Bawana police station in New Delhi, but the IO kept changing her stand on the age of the accused, the plea alleged.
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress in Kerala todaydemanded a comprehensive probe into the murder of 23-year old woman software engineer from the state at the Pune campus of Infosys.
In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devandra Fadnavis, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, said he had this morning visited the relatives of Rasila Raju OP at Kozhikode.
"There is some mystery in the murder and some others had a role in her death, Rasila's relatives informed me', he said.
Besides, the family also complained that there was 'serious lapse' on the part of the company, he said.
In these circumstances, a comprehensive probe should be held and action taken against those responsible, he said.
Meanwhile, the body of the Rasila was today brought to Kozhikode from Pune.
The death has come as a rude shock to her father and other close relatives. Her mother had passed away three years ago.
Rasila was found dead in a conference room on the 9th floor of the Infosys building in Phase II of Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park at Hinjawadi in Pune and police have arrested a security guard in connection with the murder.
Most Indians settled in the US are in level-2 professions, followed by level-3 and level-4.
Hyderabad: The implications for H1-B visas to the US contained in the Lofgren Bill is creating panic among Indian techies in the US, many of them on this type of visa. Ever since the US government announced its proposal for tougher visa rules for the first time last year, Indian techies have been avoiding visiting India, fearing that they may not be allowed back in.
A survey in 2013 showed that there are 4.8 lakh techies from the Telugu states working in the US at different levels, most of them in IT companies in Level-2 professions. The Bill proposes doubling the minimum salary required for holders of H-1B visas to $130,000 and determining how many of the visas were allocated, based on factors like overall wages.
Most Indians settled in the US are in level-2 professions, followed by level-3 and level-4. IT professionals with designations of associates and senior associates are under level-2 drawing a salary of $60,000 per annum, six times more than the salary they would draw in India.
Level-3 employees who would be of assistant manager rank are drawing $72,000 to $84,000 per annum, followed by level-4 (managers and above) who are drawing $ 90,000 to $ 1.2 lakh per annum.
Srilatha Chinthala, a software professional from Hyderabad, said that in very rare cases were Indian techies drawing more than $1.3 lakh per annum. Such a category is called very critical resource and there will be no option to companies to replace them. Level-1 employees are entry-level professionals and very few firms use their services, she said.
Founder president of Telangana IT Association (TITA), Sundeep Kumar Maktala, said that all 1,280 major and medium IT firms from Hyderabad were offering H1-B visas to their employees to work in the US.
The US is a major client for Indian companies, accounting for 65 per cent of exports. All the major and medium companies have offices in the US, he said.
Another IT professional, Ranapratap Bojjam, said that the proposed bill emphasises that level-2 employees in the US must have a salary of at least $1.3 lakh per annum. This is not only for sending back professionals to their home countries but also to discourage those aspiring to come to the US, he said.
President of NASSCOM, R Chandrashekhar, said that it was just a proposed bill that needs to go through several legislative discussions in the US Congress and Senate before it becomes law.
The Lofgren Bill provisions may prove challenging for the Indian IT sector and will also leave loopholes that will nullify the objective of saving US jobs. They should calibrate the conditions keeping in mind the skill shortage in the US. They should not leave any loopholes in the rules, Mr Chandrashekhar said.
Hyderabad: The ruling TRS, which had backed the Modi government to the hilt on demonetisation, will raise pending Telangana State issues besides the shortage of currency, in the Budget session of Parliament. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who discussed the party strategy with MPs, asked them to strive for getting funds for the state, ensure implementation of pending projects, early settlement of pending AP Reorganisation Act-related and other issues besides raising the issue of currency shortage.
TRS Floor leader in the Lok Sabha, A.P. Jitender Reddy, told DC that the party identified core issues to be raised in Parliament. They include the long-pending division of the High Court and others issues after division of state, AIIMS, IIM, funds for ITIR project in Hyderabad, NIMZ in Zaheerabad, Mega textile park cluster in Sircilla, Backward Regions Grant Fund, new airports, railway projects, sharing of Krishna and Godavari waters among others.
Asked whether the party, which had backed demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, would raise the currency shortage issue, he replied in affirmative. We will certainly raise the issue. Demonetisation has led to shortage of currency notes. People are still feeling the pinch, Mr Jitender Reddy said. Interestingly, while Chief Minister had been backing Prime Minister Narendra Modis programmes and policies especially demonetisation, state BJP leaders who were silent during the Assembly session, are going all-out to attack the TRS government after the partys state executive meeting at Bhadrachalam.
The BJP leadership has made it clear that it will act as responsible Opposition and fight the TRS anti-people policies. Meanwhile, SCR Mazdoor Sangh castigated the Centre for dumping the Railway Budget which it said hit the autonomy of Railways. Sangh leader Raghavaiah said General Budget would be of no use for Railways and wanted the Centre to restore the age-old tradition. Railways have to be modernised with safety measures, pending vacancies should be filled up and Centre has to change catering contract system, he demanded.
New Delhi: India made it clear on Tuesday it was not satisfied with the mere detention of terrorist Hafiz Saeed by Pakistan and demanded a credible crackdown on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism which it said would be proof of Pakistans sincerity.
New Delhi said Islamabad had carried out such exercises of detention in the past also, indicating that it (India) was neither impressed nor convinced by such actions which have been merely cosmetic in the past.
Even as India made its views clear, the widespread view among foreign policy-watchers is that Islamabad has acted out of fear and under severe pressure from the United States after indications from the Trump administration that Pakistan could also be included in a list of Muslim-majority countries from where immigration to the US has been banned.
The ministry of external affairs said, We have seen reports on the Pakistan ministry of interior order placing the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Falah-e-Insaniyet foundation under the watchlist and also the notification under which the same has been included in the second schedule of their anti terror legislation under United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1267.
We have also noted that Hafiz Saeed and four others have been placed under preventive detention. India has long maintained that the UNSC 1267 provisions pertaining to listing and proscription of known terrorist entities and individuals must be effectively and sincerely enforced by all member states. We have also consistently called for bringing known terrorists under the ambit of the 1267 sanctions.
Exercises such as Mondays orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity.
According to reports from Pakistan on Monday, Saeed had been detained at JuDs Lahore headquarters at Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji and was later shifted to his Jauhar town residence, declared as a sub-jail.
Panaji: Taking a sharp dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor RSS, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said their leaders "always look angry" as their thinking doesn't match with the world and invoked his sister Priyanka Vadra to target the saffron entities.
Rahul, who appeared before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra in connection with a defamation case filed against him by an RSS worker, addressed an election rally here in the evening.
Recalling his court visit, he said while the Congress leaders were "smiling", the RSS leaders were sitting with "angry faces".
"I was in Bhiwandi today. There is a case against me filed by RSS. When I went there I was accompanied by Congress leaders like Ashok Chavan, Sanjay Nirupan and others.
"I was looking at them, they were smiling. (Seated) behind me were the RSS leaders who have filed the case against me. While Congress leaders were smiling, the RSS men were sitting with angry faces," Rahul said.
During his address, he recalled the experience his sister Priyanka had when she was in a flight and met a senior BJP leader.
"I asked (her) how was it (interaction)? She said everyone is angry...they don't smile though they talk properly. They (BJP) are like angry against entire world. I was wondering why BJP people are always angry. I realised they (BJP) feel they know everything," the Congress scion said.
He said, "When there is a discussion in Parliament they say 'tumhe yeh baat samajh nahi a sakti' (You won't be able to understand this...)."
Targetting RSS, he said the Sangh thinks they know everything.
"...And when they realise that their thinking doesn't match with rest of world, then they get angry. Their thinking is much different from yours," he told the gathering.
Congress is contesting on 37 seats in the coastal state which is going to polls on February 4, out of total 40.
Earlier in the day, the Bhiwandi court adjourned the hearing in the defamation case till March 3 for recording Rahul's plea.
The case pertains to Rahul's speech in Bhiwandi on March 6, 2014 in the run up to Lok Sabha polls, when he had allegedly claimed in a rally that "the RSS people had killed Gandhi."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with MoS at PMO Jitendra Kumar arrives to address the media on the first day of Budget session in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: Ahead of the start of the Budget session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hoped for a comprehensive discussion in Parliament.
He noted that in the last few days, the government has held discussions with all political parties to ensure that House proceedings are not disrupted.
There should be comprehensive discussion for welfare of society, Modi told reporters outside Parliament.
The Prime Minister said he has faith that all factions will come together in Parliament for welfare of society.
He said it is the first time that the Union Budget is being presented on February 1. Modi recalled that while budgets were earlier presented at 5 in the evening, it was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who advanced it to morning.
"Today, a new tradition will begin. First, the budget is being advanced by nearly a month. And second, Rail Budget in being incorporated into this. There will be discussion on this also and the benefits that it will have in the coming times," he said.
After the Winter Session was washed out due to protests over demonetisation, Modi had yesterday reached out to the opposition at an all-party meeting called here yesterday.
The meeting was attended by all major parties except Trinamool Congress, which has been unhappy over the note ban and arrest of its MPs in chit fund cases.
The Budget today is not going to be state-specific, it will be for the whole country, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said reacting to media questions.
On Opposition parties threatening to disrupt the Budget session over several issues including demonetisation, Naidu said, Government is ready to discuss every issue. We have nothing to hide, worry about or fear.
Most Opposition parties including the Congress have expressed unhappiness about the Budget being held before the Assembly elections in 5 states, arguing that this would lead to the government doling out sops to appease the voters.
President Pranab Mukherjee addressed both the Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament House in Delhi to start off the Budget session today.
The Economic Survey will also be tabled later in the day.
Apart from the presentation of the general budget, 34 bills will be taken up for passing and consideration during the entire session. These include three ordinances which will be replaced through bills. The ordinances relate to Enemy Property, Payment of Wages and Specified Bank Notes.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had recommended that the Budget session should commence on January 31 and the Union Budget be presented the next day so that the new financial provisions come into force on April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
New Delhi: India today reacted cautiously to the reports of detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and four others under an anti-terrorism act by Pakistan.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the government has seen reports on Pakistan Interior Ministry order placing the JuD and the Falah-e-Insaniyet Foundation under the watchlist and also the notification under which the foundation has been included in the second schedule of their anti-terror legislation under UN Security Council Resolution number 1267.
"We have also noted that Hafiz Saeed and four others have been placed under preventive detention.
"Exercises such as yesterday's orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity," Swarup said.
The Spokesperson further said India has long maintained that the UNSC 1267 provisions pertaining to listing and proscription of known terrorist entities and individuals must be effectively and sincerely enforced by all member states.
"We have also consistently called for bringing known terrorists under the ambit of the 1267 sanctions," he said.
With the Trump administration mounting pressure, Pakistani authorities put Hafiz Saeed and four others under detention under an Anti-Terrorism Act on Monday night.
Saeed was at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji in Lahore when police descended there to implement the order of detention issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry yesterday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27, JuD activists and Pakistani media said.
He "is at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji and a heavy contingent of police has surrounded the JuD headquarters," JuD official Ahmed Nadeem, who was present at the premises of the outfit, said by phone.
"The commanding police officer told us that he has with him the house arrest order of the JuD chief issued by the Punjab Home Department," Nadeem said.
"We are going to shift Hafiz Saeed from Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji to his Jauhar Town residence to place him under house arrest on the order of the government," a senior police officer said.
Saeed's residence has been declared sub-jail, he said. National flags were hoisted at the JuD offices in Lahore, instead of party flags, on the directives of provincial home department, local media reports said.
The provincial authorities have also started to remove the banners of JuD from the roads of Lahore, the reports said.
Nadeem said the Pakistani government had been under pressure from the United States to take action against Saeed or face sanctions. "This government has buckled under the pressure," he said.
Three days back, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had included names of Saeed and four others -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- in the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and ordered their preventive detention.
Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz were also also taken into preventive custody, Pakistani media reported.
Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JuD and Saeed to avoid sanctions.
JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26, 2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.
In a notification issued on January 27, Pakistan's Interior Ministry had said "...on the basis of report sent by Ministry of Foreign Affairs ..., the Federal government, having reasons to believe, that Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) organisation is engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of Pakistan's obligations to the United Nations Security Council Resolution No 1267."
It directed the Punjab government to put the organisation on the Watch List.
In a similar order, the Federal government directed putting Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) on the Watch List for a period of 6 months, which is extendable.
Citing these directives from the Federal governent, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had issued an order yesterday, in which it "placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa (JUD) on the Watch List and have listed these organizations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended)".
Under this section of ATA, the government has the power to arrest and detain suspected persons.
"Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz are reportedly active members of the aforementioned organizations within the meaning of Section 11EEE(1) of the ATA 1997 (as amended). As such, they must be placed under preventive detention," the order said.
The notification asked the Home Secretary to "kindly direct the concerned agencies to move and take necessary action" as the matter "is most urgent".
Earlier during the day, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the PML-N government was taking steps to "fulfil our obligations" with regard to JuD.
The organisation [JuD] has been under observation since 2010-11. Since it has also been listed by the UN Security Council [Sanctions Committee], we are bound to take some steps. We are taking those steps to fulfill our obligations, he told reporters after inaugurating a passport office in Islamabad.
JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014. Saeed also carries a reward of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities.
Pro-Jallikattu protesters during a clash with the police near Marina Beach in Chennai on Monday. (Photo: AP)
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Tuesday announced a judicial probe headed by a retired high court judge into the alleged incidents of excess violence by police during the Jallikattu protests at Marina Beach.
The decision came after videos of the Chennai Police allegedly torching vehicles and using excessive force to disperse protesters went viral on social media.
Making a suo moto statement in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said the probe will look into whether police personnel indulged in any excess violence while dispersing the protesters.
The committee will also ascertain if police were deployed appropriately and will suggest measures to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.
If the allegations of police men and police women torching vehicles are proven true, strict action will be taken against them, the Chief Minister said, adding that the Commission will submit its inquiry report within three months.
During the course of his speech, the CM also said steps were being taken to ensure the release of 21 students arrested during the protests across the state.
Panneerselvams statement came after repeated demands from political parties, especially Opposition Leader M K Stalin, for a detailed probe by a sitting High Court judge.
The opposition parties alleged police used excessive force and indulged in violence while dispersing protesters from the Marina Beach on January 23.
The incidents of arson have been blamed on rowdy elements at Marina beach and other places last Monday, while the cops have also alleged the hand of anti-national and far-left radical elements in the arson.
Panneerselvam had earlier on Saturday admitted that anti-social, anti-national and extremist elements had infiltrated Jallikattu protests at Marina beach. He also claimed that posters of terrorist Osama bin Laden had been displayed during the protests.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to issue a fresh notification within a week on the appointment of Karnal Singh as Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for two years in consonance with provision of the CVC Act, saying "a rule cannot override a statute".
A bench comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice NV Ramana observed this after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said Singh has been appointed as the ED Director on October 27, 2016, and would hold the post till his superannuation in the Indian Police Service (IPS).
However, the counsel appearing for the petitioner referred to section 25(d) of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act which fixes tenure of ED Director at not less than two years.
"A perusal of clause d of section 25 of the Act reveals that appointment of Director of ED should not be for less than two years notwithstanding the date of superannuation. We are of the view that rules cannot override a legislation....," the bench said.
While disposing of the plea, the bench asked the government to issue fresh order within a week on Singh's appointment as Director of ED for two years in consonance with Section 25(d) of the CVC Act.
On January 23, the apex court had asked the government to clarify whether the appointment of Singh, a 1984-batch IPS officer, as full-time Director of ED was as per statutory requirements.
The apex court had noted that as per appointment letter issued to Singh on October 27, 2016, he will cease to hold office the day he superannuates in August 2017 and hence, it does not comply with section 25(d) of CVC Act.
Singh, who was holding the additional charge of the director's post after being granted extension, was appointed a full-time director of Enforcement Directorate on October 27, 2016 till August 31, 2017, the date of his superannuation.
"A Director of Enforcement shall continue to hold office for a period of not less than two years from the date on which he assumes office," reads section 25(d) of the CVC Act.
The apex court had on September 30, 2016, asked the government to give a time frame for appointing a full time director of the agency which probes money laundering cases.
The direction had come on a PIL filed 2016 by Mumbai-based former IRS officer Uday Babu Khalwadekar, seeking quashing of ad-hoc appointment and subsequent extensions granted by Centre to Singh as head of the agency in alleged violation of the law.
Lok Sabha member and former union Minister E Ahamed being taken to hospital. (Photo: video grab)
New Delhi: Lok Sabha member and former union Minister E Ahamed was today taken ill in Parliament where he had gone to attend the address by President to the joint sitting of both Houses.
78-year-old Ahamed, who is the president of Indian Muslim League, complained of uneasiness and breathlessness, sources said.
The Parliament staff tried to give him first aid but as his pain continued, he was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, they said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi enquired about his health. Ahamed, who represents the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency from Kerala, had served as Minister of State for External Affairs in the previous UPA government.
Latur: Nine people lost their lives after they suffocated to death while cleaning a chemical tank in MIDC Kirti Oil Mill in Latur, Maharashtra, on Monday.
Four workers had gone to clean the tank in the afternoon, but eyebrows rose after they did not come out for hours.
The mill authorities sent five other workers for their search, when none of them returned, authorities rushed to the spot where they found workers lying in an unconscious state.
A massive rescue operation was launched to extract the workers from the tank.
Minister for Labour, Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar also rushed to the spot to take the stock of the situation.
Later on, the tank of the chemical factory was destroyed to recover the body.
The family of the deceased has demanded stern action against the mill owners.
Bengaluru: Defending former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following allegations that the UPA regime facilitated loans to Vijay Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines from a consortium of banks, the Congress Party turned the tables on the ruling dispensation asking how did they let the liquor baron leave the nation in the first place.
Demanding the Centre to provide evidence of the charges against Dr Singh, Congress leader Rizwan Arshad asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led party has never been able to produce a shred of proof for its allegations.
"Since the last three years that they have been in power, the Modi government has claimed corruption under Manmohan Singh's regime but have not brought any credible evidence," Arshad told ANI.
"We want to ask Prime Minister Modi and his government how they allowed Vijay Mallya to flee from this country. He ran away with police protection. Who allowed his felicitation? You have shamelessly allowed him to run away," he added.
The BJP earlier alleged that Dr Singh and former finance minister P. Chidambaram helped Mallya get huge loans for bailing out the Kingfisher Airlines.
Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra produced two letters addressed to Dr Singh and another to Chidambaram to back his allegation that the UPA government intervened to facilitate loans to Mallya's airline in 2011 and 2013 when it was in a financial mess.
"The Vijay Mallya case has been a classic case of duping the people of India of their money, of their hard earned money. And we have seen over a period of time there have been certain questions which have been looming large in this case. The question was if an ordinary man goes to take loan then the paper work has to be complete only after a complete paper work and after a lot of grilling, a man is entitled to get a hefty loan," Patra said.
"The first loan was granted to Vijay Mallya in 2004 and then on February 7, 2008. Despite his cost declared NPA, restructuring of his loan was done in December 21, 2010. Even the Supreme Court had asked as to why the banks continued to lend money if they had managed to recover only one-tenth of what they had lend," he added.
Patra also demanded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi come clean on the issue.
Dr Singh yesterday rubbished the allegations levelled by the BJP of helping Mallya get loans, saying he has not done anything against the law of the land.
"All Prime Ministers and other ministers in any government receive representation from various captains of industry which is passed on to appropriate authority," Dr Singh said while responding to the charges during a joint press conference with Chidambaram at the party headquarters.
"What I did was with full satisfaction of mine that we were not doing anything against law of the land. It was a normal routine transaction and, therefore, the letter that's being talked about is nothing but an ordinary piece of letter," he added.
Chidambaram also backed Dr Singh and said, "If a letter to PMO is marked down to the principal secretary which is then forwarded to the department concerned, it is normal. The government, especially the PMO, or the finance minister's office etc, receive hundreds of representations every day."
"No minister can deal with these representations personally and they are marked down to the officer concerned who take appropriate follow-up action. Please ask the present government whether they received no representations at all in the last three years. If they say they haven't received any representation, that will be the serious reflection of the way this government is functioning," he added.
The former union minister also refuted allegations when asked whether there was any pressure on the consortium of banks.
New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday favoured a constructive debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assemblies and funding of polls to eradicate money power.
The Government, he said, is also committed to combating terrorism and to ensure that perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice.
In his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament marking the opening of the Budget session, Mukherjee referred to the government's demonetisation decision to fight black money and corruption as also the surgical strikes across the LoC as bold decisions, both of which were received with thumping of desks by members.
"Frequent elections put on hold development programmes, disrupted normal public life and impact essential services and burden human resource with prolonged period of election duty, said the President.
He further added, "My government welcomes a constructive debate on the simultaneous conduct of elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Funding of elections to eradicate misuse of money power also needs to be debated."
In the speech, which is the Government's narrative on what it had done during the year and what it plans to do in the new financial year, the President said Government would welcome any decision taken by Election Commission in this regard after consultations.
Referring to the surgical strikes, Mukherjee said the government had taken decisive steps to give a fitting reply to the repeated incursions on India's territorial sovereignty.
"On September 29, 2016, our defence forces successfully conducted surgical strikes at several launch pads along the Line of Control to prevent infiltration by terrorists. We are proud of the exemplary courage and valour displayed by our defence personnel and owe a debt of gratitude to them," he said.
Touching on the demonetisation decision, the President said the resilience and forbearance demonstrated by the countrymen especially the poor, recently in the fight against black money and corruption, is remarkable.
Later again, referring to the issue, he said, "My Government has taken bold decisions in the interest of the poor."
To combat evils of black money, corruption, counterfeit currency and terror financing, Mukherjee said the government took the decision on November 8 to demonetise old 500 and 1000 rupee currency notes.
"My government's very first cabinet decision (in 2014) was to set up a SIT on black money. The passing of Black money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act 2015; Benami transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016; and amendments to treaties with Singapore, Cyprus and Mauritius; and providing for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, have together resulted in a comprehensive policy backed initiative against black money," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar and home minister Rajnath Singh leaves after an all-party meeting ahead of the Budget session at Parliament House in New Delhi on Monday. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to Opposition parties to keep political differences aside and let Parliament function, the crucial Budget session which begins today appears to be in trouble already.
Though Modi reached out to the Opposition at an all-party meeting on Monday, several Opposition parties said they have decided to corner the government over key issues like demonetisation and advancing the date of the Budget session. The Congress has even threatened to try and disrupt the finance ministers Budget speech.
The Trinamool, which did not attend the meeting, has decided to boycott the first two days of the Budget session, including the Budget presentation. The Shiv Sena also did not attend the meeting though no official reason was given.
The Trinamool which was at the forefront of the agitation against demonetisations, resulting in a virtual washout of the Winter session, has 34 MPs in the Lower House.
Branding the Parliament as a Mahapanchayat, Modi sought the cooperation of all parties in the smooth running of the House. He said that Parliament should function despite differences that may crop up during the poll season.
The reasons given by the Trinamool for skipping the Budget were many, including Saraswati Puja on February 1, and the recent arrest of their top leaders, Sudip Bandopadhyay and Tapas Pal.
Trinamool MPs will not be present in Parliament on the first two days of the Budget session in protest against demonetisation which was implemented without taking Parliament into confidence, TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee said after the party's parliamentary party meet chaired by Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata.
The Congress, on the other hand, has taken strong objection to the shifting of the presentation of Budget by almost a month, from February 28 to February 1.
New Delhi: With the Annual Budget session of Parliament scheduled to start from today, President Pranab Mukherjee addressed both the Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament House in New Delhi.
This is a historic session, heralding the advancement of budget cycle and merger of general budget with rail budget for the first time, Mukherjee said addressing MPs in Parliament.
Speaking about demonetisation, he added, The resilience demonstrated by our countrymen, particularly the poor, in the fight against black money and corruption, is remarkable.
Mukherjee said that at the core of the Modi governments policies was the welfare of the poor, the suffering and the Dalits. He added that the government was committed to its Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas programme.
Pitching for the voluntary giving up of LPG subsidy, Mukherjee stated that those who did so have helped the poor.
"My government has taken many initiatives to improve quality of life of the poor and improve the welfare of farmers. It is committed to providing shelter to all," Mukherjee stated.
"Under Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, over Rs 16,000 crore have been made available to SHGs in the current financial year. Furthermore, over Rs 2 Lakh Crore has been provided through 5.6 crore loans sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana," Pranab said describing the schemes initiated by the government.
Mukherjee stressed that the government had succeeded in controlling the prices of pulses, which were soaring around this time in 2016.
The President said that farm yield had increased due to the government's policies. "A favourable monsoon supplemented by farmer-oriented schemes has increased the acreage and yield of most Kharif crops. Also, the sown area in the current Rabi season has shown six percent increase in comparison to last year."
Speaking about the governments initiatives towards womens empowerment, Mukherjee said, My government is making 'naari shakti' (woman power) an integral part of our development journey. Women deserve equal opportunities. PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Deepa Malik (who won medals at the Olympics) illustrate the strength of our women.
On employment opportunities provided to the youth, Pranab said, With the objective of providing international training to the youth, a national network of skill development centres has been established.
The President also added that under the 7th Pay Commission, 50 lakh employees have been benefited.
He mentioned the Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana which has been launched for promoting entrepreneurship education and training to 7 lakh students, the 'Har Haath Ko Hunar' scheme, and the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme to educate girl children. Mukherjee said all these initiatives been largely successful.
On village electrification, the President disclosed that 11,000 of the 18,000 villages which were in darkness since Independence have been electrified in record time.
Mukherjee said that through its focus on inclusive development, the government has fulfilled the aspirations of all sections of society.
Stating that a more focused approach has been taken towards inclusive development of the notified minority communities, Mukherjee added that over 6 lakh divyang jan (people will special abilities) have so far benefited from 4700 special assistance camps organised since May 2014.
He added that the Modi government had put special focus on 'reducing the isolation of the Northeast' from India by developing a network of roads.
Pranab said the government has approved Northeast BPO promotion scheme for creation of employment opportunities. He also noted that the security situation in the Northeast had improved significantly.
Mukherjee spoke about the courage displayed by the Indian security forces in undertaking surgical strikes into terrorist camps in PoK, a statement which earned big applause from the benches.
Shram-eva jayate (Hard work always wins) is one of the foremost guiding principles of my government, Mukherjee said.
My government will actively collaborate with other nations in decisively defeating terrorism. We will ensure that perpetrators brought to justice, Mukherjee added.
However, he expressed concern over the situation in Kashmir, which witnessed protests after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last year. He said Jammu and Kashmir remained affected by terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.
The President hailed Indias third rank as the top prospective host economy in the World Investment Report.
In his speech, Pranab Mukherjee once again advocated for discussion on simultaneous holding of Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
The Economic Survey will be tabled later in the day in Parliament.
Apart from the presentation of the general budget, 34 bills will be taken up for passing and consideration during the entire session. These include three ordinances which will be replaced through bills. The ordinances relate to Enemy Property, Payment of Wages and Specified Bank Notes.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had recommended that the Budget session should commence on January 31 and the Union Budget be presented the next day so that the new financial provisions come into force on April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
Transcription
1 Schedule & Special Instructions for Vermont: Supplement to the District and School Test Administrator Manual (SY ) Schedule ACCESS for ELLs Dates Task Start Date End Date Pre-Verification (Pre-ID Label & Test Ordering) 01/02/15 01/31/15 Districts Receive Test Materials - 02/16/15 Test Window 02/23/15 04/10/15 Districts Pack and Ship Completed Materials to MetriTech - 04/17/15 Reports Shipped to Districts* 06/17/15 06/20/15* Updating Student Demographic Data: In order to ensure accurate scoring of tests and printing of ACCESS for ELLs student reports, please notify the VT AOE immediately if there any mistakes in student demographic information (e.g., spelling of names, grades, dates of birth, etc.) that need to be corrected. *Reports Shipped to Districts: Subject to change depending on when all test booklets are received by MetriTech. Special Instructions These Vermont Special Instructions are intended to supplement (not totally replace) the ACCESS for ELLs District and School Test Administration Manual ( ) Form 303. The Test Administration Manual is written to generally address the needs of the 36 states & US territories that now comprise the WIDA Consortium. Please note that due to the characteristics of individual states, some test material handling procedures for District Assessment Coordinators and Test Administrators may vary across WIDA consortium states. This supplement provides important guidance for procedures which Vermont handles differently. The procedures can be categorized as such: (1) Handling Pre-ID Labels; (2) Completing Test Booklet Information; and (3) Ordering Additional ACCESS for ELLs Materials. (1) Pre-ID Label Information: The Vermont AOE uses the demographic data and designated tiers from the 2015 ACCESS for ELLs Student Verification to provide MetriTech with a data file that is used to create Pre-ID Labels. The verification information is also used to order the appropriate number and tiers of test booklets, as well as school and districts where students will be tested. Schedule & Special Instructions for Vermont 1
2 District Plastic Bag Contents: The packet or box(es) of test materials that MetriTech will ship to District Assessment Coordinators by February 11, 2015 will include a student roster for all schools for which Pre-ID labels were ordered. This list will be found inside the District Plastic Bag Contents. Schools will not appear on this list if Pre- ID labels were not ordered or the verification forms were not returned by the Vermont AOE s deadline. For students without Pre-ID labels, please follow instructions under #2 below. School Plastic Bag Contents: The individual student Pre-ID labels are contained in the School Plastic Bag Contents. Test Administrators must verify the Pre-ID information prior to applying the labels to the appropriate grade level and tier of the test booklet. This should not be done until it is known that the student s participation is definite and the test booklet will be used. Sample of 2015 Pre-ID labels which can be found in the School Plastic Bag: Check the labels carefully to be sure that the information displayed is correct. As long as the name, grade, birth date, district and school information is correct, place it in the box on the front cover of the test book in the designated area. (The VT AOE gathers other demographic and programmatic information from other sources i.e., home language survey, state database.) You will receive one label for each Student Test Book. Only one Pre-ID label can be placed on a test book. This will ensure accurate machine scanning of the barcode portion of the label. If there is a mistake (only with name, grade, birth date, or district/school information) on the label, discard it and complete the demographic pages on the front and back cover of the test book, following the directions in the next section. If the label has been placed on the book in error, mark through the bar code at the bottom of the label with a heavy black marker and mark an X through the printed demographic above the bar code. [Do not cross out or write corrections on the Pre-ID labels. The computer scanner used to score test booklets will NOT read any handwritten changes on labels. It will only read the information on the PRE-ID LABEL.] Schedule & Special Instructions for Vermont 2
3 Then complete only the demographic information required by Vermont on the front and back cover of the test book (2) Completing Test Booklet Information: For students who do not have a Pre-ID label or who have an incorrect label, Vermont Test Administrators should bubble in information only for the following boxes on the test booklet. Front Cover: Student s Last Name, First Name, and Middle Initial (only if necessary for identification). Back Cover: District Name, School Name, State Name Abbreviation (VT), District Number & School Number, Birth Date, Grade Level, and Gender. The VT AOE will provide the remaining information in the data file to MetriTech. Do not fill in the State Student ID Number or any other student information boxes on test booklets. If there are special circumstances why a student will not take the test (or sections of the test), please notify Jim McCobb at (802) directly. (3) Ordering Additional ACCESS for ELLs from MetriTech: Districts in Vermont will not receive overage (additional test materials) with their shipment. As last year, District/Supervisory Union ELL Contacts will request additional test materials directly from MetriTech (rather than from the VT AOE). Once your district/supervisory union s test materials have been delivered and your inventory has been completed, you should determine any test materials you need in addition to the test materials already received. (See instructions, Page 16, ACCESS for ELLs Form 303 Test Administration Manual.) MetriTech asks that you use their Additional Materials Order Form to request additional materials. They encourage consolidating orders at the district level instead of placing separate orders each day, if possible. MetriTech also understands that sometimes it s necessary to send orders directly to the schools to expedite delivery but would prefer to route everything through the district. The bottom line is that they will allow districts/schools to order additional materials throughout the open test window as often as they need to, but please be mindful of this extra service required when placing your orders. These will be shipped by MetriTech via UPS. Ordering from MetriTech, Inc., may be done by phone at (800) ; fax at (217) ; or at Schedule & Special Instructions for Vermont 3
4 Ordering Additional Alternate ACCESS materials from MetriTech: Once you have identified any Alternate ACCESS test materials you will need in addition to the test materials you have already received, please use the Alternate ACCESS order form to request these particular test materials. Ordering from MetriTech, Inc. may be done by phone at (800) , by fax at (217) , or by at (There will also be complete instructions for handling the Alternate ACCESS test materials included in the Alternate ACCESS District and School Test Administration Manual.) Please continue to fax the Home Language Survey forms to the VT AOE for any new students enrolled in your district/supervisory union, even though you are no longer ordering additional ACCESS for ELLs 2015 or Alternate ACCESS assessment materials from our office. If you have questions/concerns, please contact Lucille Chicoine at or Jim McCobb at (802) Schedule & Special Instructions for Vermont 4
5 Primary/Home Language Survey for All Kindergarten and Incoming Students Instruction for schools in completing the survey: 1. Interview the parents/guardians of ALL new Kindergarten and incoming students in grades K-12 and record all information requested. 2. Provide interpreting services whenever necessary. 3. Please check to see that all questions on the form are answered. 4. A copy of any survey with a language other than English should be referred to the ESL teacher for further screening to determine if the student is an English Language Learner (ELL). 5. Surveys for students identified as ELLs should be faxed ( ) or mailed to: Jim McCobb, ELL Program Coordinator, Vermont Agency of Education, 219 North Main Street, Suite 402, Barre, VT Place the original survey form in the student s permanent file. 7. For questions: Tel: (802) Student Information (Parents/Guardians should complete this section.) First Name: Last Name: Date of Birth (Month/Day/Year) Gender: F M Country of Birth: Date of Entry in U.S. (Month/Day/Year): Date student first began Kindergarten (or higher grade) in any U.S. school (Month/Day/Year): Questions for Parents/Guardians Response What is the native language of each parent/guardian? What language(s) are spoken in your home? Which language did your child learn first? Which language does your child use most frequently at home? Which language do you most frequently speak to your child? What other languages does your child know? School Information (School Staff should complete this last section based on information gathered from parent/guardian.) What school will the student attend? Beginning date in this school (Month/Day/Year): What grade will the student enter? Person Conducting Survey: Schedule & Special Instructions for Vermont 5
6 State: Vermont ACCESS for ELLs Academic Year Additional Materials Order Form Contact Name: Phone Number: Address: District Name: District Number: Ship Address: City/State/Zip: Send address changes to WIDA Support at MetriTech, Inc. Phone: (800) Fax: (217) The test coordinator can make requests for additional materials with up to two weeks left in the testing window. Please use all materials from the overage before requesting additional materials from MetriTech, Inc. Please wait and order all additional materials at the same time. Grade Kindergarten Test Booklets Scripts Manuals Kits Grade 1-2 Tier A 1-2 Tier B 1-2 Tier C 3-5 Tier A 3-5 Tier B 3-5 Tier C 6-8 Tier A 6-8 Tier B 6-8 Tier C 9-12 Tier A 9-12 Tier B 9-12 Tier C Test Booklets Listening CDs Scripts Speaking Flip Charts Schedule & Special Instructions for Vermont 6
7 State: Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Academic Year Additional Materials Order Form Contact Name: Phone Number: Address: District Name: District Number: Ship Address: City/State/Zip: Send address changes to WIDA Support at MetriTech, Inc. Phone: (800) Fax: (217) The test coordinator can make requests for additional materials with up to two weeks left in the testing window. Please use all materials from the overage before requesting additional materials from MetriTech, Inc. Please wait and order all additional materials at the same time. Grade Cluster Student Response Books Test Books Scripts District Total Schedule & Special Instructions for Vermont 7
Jaipur: A Saudi national in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district has been detained for allegedly possessing a satellite phone, police said on Tuesday.
Acting on a tip-off, the local police raided a resort in Sam area on Monday night and recovered the satellite phone from the possession of the 48-year-old tourist, who was staying in the resort, SHO Sam police station Narendra Panwar said.
As he could not furnish any documents or permission regarding the possession and use of satellite phone, he along with four other locals who were with him, were brought to the police station for interrogation, Panwar said.
Intelligence agencies are interrogating them, he added.
New Delhi: In latest setback to Vijay Mallya, the Central Bureau of Investigation started the process to extradite the business tycoon from UK by filing an affidavit in court, saying that he is a wanted criminal.
The affidavit will be submitted to the ministry of external affairs, which will then approach its UK counterparts for the extradition.
Mallya, who has spent last 10 months in UK, evaded the law for almost a year.
The move comes a week after CBI filed a charge sheet against the liquor baron in the Rs 900 crore IDBI loans case before a special court in Mumbai, alleging that Kingfisher Airlines allegedly diverted Rs 263 crore from Rs 900 crore IDBI loan for "personal use".
The agency has named nine people whom it arrested on Monday in the case former chairman of IDBI Yogesh Aggarwal, former CFO of the Kingfisher Airlines A Raghunathan, IDBI executives O V Bundellu, S K V Srinivasan, R S Sridhar, B K Batra, and Kingfisher executives Shailesh Borke, A C Shah and Amit Nadkarni in the charge sheet, leaving out Mallya, as he is yet to be arrested.
It has slapped IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act on the accused. CBI sources said the agency has kept its probe open in the issue of suspected quid pro quo by Mallya and executives of Kingfisher Airlines to expedite the loan process.
They said that in this probe, it has come to light that about Rs 263 crore from Rs 900 crore loan was diverted for "personal" use against norms and regulations. Nine persons, including former executives of Kingfisher Airlines and IDBI officials, were arrested "as the agency fears they might have influenced the witnesses", the sources said.
The CBI has not sought the custody of the nine and the arrest is only aimed at thwarting any attempt to compromise evidence and witnesses, they said. Former CFO of Kingfisher Airlines A Raghunathan was among those arrested. They have been sent to judicial custody by the special court in Mumbai.
The CBI, in an FIR registered against Mallya, his defunct Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, Raghunathan and unknown officials of IDBI Bank, had alleged that Rs 900 crore loan was sanctioned in violation of norms regarding credit limits. It had changed the nature of a lookout notice issued against Mallya within one month of issuance - from seeking his detention while leaving the country to that of merely providing information about his travel plans.
In the lookout circular issued on October 16, 2015, CBI had said if "Mallya tries to leave the country, he should be detained at the exit point". In a revised circular in November, the agency had asked the Bureau of Immigration to inform it about his departure and travel plans.
Mallya travelled abroad in October and returned in November. He made two trips in the first and the last week of December and another in January 2016, besides the recent trip reportedly to London on March 2.
This is a complete humiliation of dignity for me and my nation. I am socially alienated by systematic propaganda by HoD of Umisarc the complaint letter says.
Puducherry: An Afghanistan student has filed a complaint about unfair treatment of Afghan students in Centre for South Asian studies at Pondicherry central university and false branding as terrorist by the head of the department (HOD).
The complaint letter addressed to the vice chancellor and the registrar of the university by a second year post-graduate student of the department, says that Afghan students studying in the Unesco Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asia Regional Cooperation, (Umisarc) - Centre for South Asian studies, are being branded as terrorist by the head of the department.
This is a complete humiliation of dignity for me and my nation. I am socially alienated by systematic propaganda by HoD of Umisarc the complaint letter says. The student describes the mental pressure he is going through because of the allegations. The students from neighbouring countries come to India dreaming of high-quality education, Not even in our dream, we could imagine of being branded, the letter said.
In another letter addressed to the coordinator of South Asian Federation(SAF) and Umisarc, the student says that some students in the department are campaigning against him based on the nationality.
They are trying to create a bad image of me and my nationality and pursuing people to isolate me, the student alleged in the letter.
I am in this university through SAF, from Afghanistan that is not to be considered any less country as any other Saarc countries. My government, based on the mutual trust and respect, sent me to study this course, that I am willing to do, the letter said.
The students complain that the A Subrahmanyam Raju, the HoD is showing partiality in distributing internal marks and deliberately failing some students.
The marking and grading system is coloured with highlighting those who are the favourites silent supporters and those who are disturbers, who express opinions, ask questions, who want to know more than one perspective of something, is being taught a fitting lesson. said a student from Afghanistan on strict conditions of anonymity.
We are even denied the scholarship based on some personal agenda of the HoD, he added. We are less in number and we do not have any political support, so the foreign students are afraid to make any complaint. Though the complaint is made, the university is not taking any action. We have already contacted the Afghan representative of SAF who is promised to meet university authorities, the students told Deccan Chronicle.
The teaching and research in South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University received a major fillip with the signing of an MoU between the Pondicherry University and the SAF on June 20, 2009, for the establishment of the Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation (Misarc).
In the year 2010, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) agreed to associate with all the institutions of excellence established by SAF including Misarc of Pondicherry University. Hence, it has been now renamed as Umisarc (U stands for Unesco). All Sarc countries except, Pakistan, send their scholars, chosen based on merit, to master in south Asian studies in this department.
The students say that the funds being received by the university from SAF should be diverted to some other Indian universities where students would feel safety. Admitting that the university authority has received complaints from Afghan students, registrar in-charge M. Ramachandran said that the faculty has denied the allegations raised by the students against him.
Lok Sabha member and former union Minister E Ahamed being taken to hospital. (Photo: video grab)
New Delhi: Lok Sabha MP and former Union minister E Ahamed, who today was taken ill during President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, has suffered cardiac arrest and his condition is critical.
According to sources at RML hospital, the MP from Kerala is on ventilator and a team of doctors is closely monitoring his condition.
"The MP had no pulse or heartbeat when he arrived at the hospital. A team of doctors carried out a resuscitation procedure following which his heartbeat returned but his condition is critical and he is currently under close observation of doctors," a senior doctor said.
Earlier, 78-year-old Ahamed, who is the president of Indian Muslim League, complained of uneasiness and breathlessness, sources said.
The Parliament staff tried to give him first aid but as his pain did not reduce, he was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital's nursing home where doctors tried to revive him.
At around 2.15 PM, he was shifted to the RML trauma centre ICU where he has been put on ventilator.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inquired about his health. According to hospital sources, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Union minister Jitendra Singh visited RML hospital to inquire about Ahamed's condition.
Ahamed, who represents the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency from Kerala, had served as Minister of State for External Affairs in the previous UPA government.
Chennai: South Africa hopes to tap the tourism potential in the Indian market, especially with the Indian travellers showing an inclination to prefer lengthy vacations and willingness to spend several lakhs of rupees on a single trip.
South African destinations lure Indian travellers with an INR 1.5 lakh budget as effectively as it appeals to travellers with 10.5 lakh budget. Even amidst demonetisation woes and a generally gloomy travel outlook towards the third quarter last year, the Indian market showed good numbers for South Africa during 2016.
The destination closed 2016 on a successful note, noting a 27 % growth in arrivals that clocked at 81,429 by the end of the third quarter. "We want to sustain this growth and also attract return travellers. Going forward, we are going to focus on increasing the geographical scope of the market - our biggest sources are Mumbai and Delhi, followed by Bangalore and Chennai," said Hanneli Slabber, country manager, South African Tourism - India.
Ghaziabad: In what may give the opposition fresh ammunition in the run-up to the high-voltage assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogi Adityanath has raised said that the alleged exodus of Hindus from Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh was akin to the situation in Kashmir 27 years ago.
"We do not face a threat in eastern UP because there we use the language that people understand and set them straight. When I look at western UP, I feel regret as I feel unsafe, he opined.
He further added, On January 19, 1990, Hindus had to migrate collectively from Kashmir. A massacre took place, the honour of mothers and sisters were openly trampled upon. If we have seen a sight similar to this anywhere, it was either in Bengal or western UP. Kairana and Kandhla are examples," said Adityanath while addressing a rally here on Monday.
He further claimed that the issues of the majority are not given importance. "Is Kairana not an issue? Is Kashmir not an issue? If this country's majority, the Hindus, are tortured then is it not an issue. But if a thorn pricks the foot of someone from the minority community, it becomes an issue. This politics is strange," he added.
Adityanath's assertion comes months after BJP MP Hukum Singh claimed that 346 Hindu families had fled Kairana due to the building communal tensions.
The seven-phase assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are commencing on February 11 and would conclude on March 8.
The results will be declared on March 11.
Hyderabad: Rebutting former Union Minister P Chidambaram's charge that the ruling TRS in Telangana had failed to fulfill its poll promises, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said his government was implementing welfare schemes worth Rs 35,000 crore.
"Today we are implementing welfare schemes worth Rs 35,000 crore. I am asking all these Congress leaders and Chidambaram. Are you blind? Don't you see the development that is taking place in the state? Are you implementing similar welfare schemes in Karnataka and other states where you (Congress) are ruling?" Rao said.
The Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting in Tirumalayapalem mandal headquarters town after inaugurating Bhakta Ramadasu Lift Irrigation (BRDLIS) in Kusumanchi mandal in Khammam district.
Chidambaram, who was in the city last week called the TRS government a failure alleging that it moved away from principles of democracy and failed to keep election promises.
The CM further said that the state government has successfully waived 75 per cent of the Rs 17,000 farm loans under loan waiver scheme, which was promised during polls in 2014.
He said every household in the state soon will have Internet connection and drinking water taps.
"You (Congress) always sought votes from Dalits by showing Indira Gandhi's Picture during elections. But you did nothing after elections. But we are implementing many welfare schemes for Dalits," Rao claimed.
He said the state has overcome the power crisis and marching forward by attracting investments under TS-I PASS, a State Government Industrial Policy.
The Rs 307 crore - Bhakta Ramadas Project, constructed in a record time of eleven months, two months ahead of schedule, is aimed at irrigating 60,000 acres in Khammam district, Rao said.
He also assured that all the eligible Home Guards will be absorbed as constables in the Police Department.
The Chief Minister also said the government was mulling to fix salaries of the Home Guards.
New Delhi: The Centre has approved Rs 419.56 crore funds to Karnataka under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for speeding up construction of toilets in rural areas this fiscal, Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Ramesh Jigajinagi said on Tuesday.
"So far, we have released Rs 190.07 crores to the Karnataka government. The state had demanded release of Rs 419.56 crores and the same has been approved after taking into account the past utilisation certification," he said.
The state has been given higher funds under the scheme in 2016 as compared to the initial allocation of Rs 253.43 crores, he told reporters in New Delhi.
So far, the southern state has spent Rs 240 crores under the scheme. Around 27 taluks and five districts - Udupi, Bengaluru, Bengaluru rural, Kodagu and Dakshin Kannada are declared as open defecation free, he said.
Jigajinagi, a Dalit leader and five-time MP from northern Karnataka, however, noted that the state government needed to put in more efforts to achieve the target of constructing 12,14,993 toilets set for 2017.
As per the government data, about 5,17,987 'individual toilets' have been constructed as on January 5 of this fiscal, against the target of 12,14,119 for the same period.
In case of 'community toilets', the state has been able to construct only 52 against the target of 874 so far in 2017.
Chennai: The DMK on Monday hit back at M. Natarajan, husband of AIADMK chief Sasikala, for his charge that its cadres had infiltrated the Jallikattu protests and caused the violence, slamming him saying the same charge could be made against him.
The opposition party chose T.R.B. Raja, its legislator from Mannargudi (Thanjavur district), from where the Sasikala family hails, to lash out at her controversial husband. In a statement here, Raja said he too could accuse Natarajan of inciting the police against the jallikattu protesters to depict them as 'anti-nationals' and 'anti-social elements' so as to create problems for chief minister O. Panneerselvam and ease him out of his post. "But it's not in DMK's political culture to do such things", Raja said.
He said Natarajan, who was 'hiding' when Jayalalithaa was alive, had now "taken a new avatar" and his attacks on Stalin only showed his desperation. "Natarajan should make it clear whether he is acting as the voice of his family or that of the BJP", Raja said.
Raja also said Natarajan had no locus standi to criticise Stalin and warned him not to throw stones from inside a glasshouse. It is the responsibility of Stalin as the Leader of Opposition to give respect to a Chief Minister elected by the MLAs and sworn in by the Governor. "Stalin's civilised behaviour is causing embarrassment to Natarajan who is insulting the Chief Minister and the person who could not become the Chief Minister (Sasikala)", said Raja, adding that Natarajan was giving media interviews "as if he is the government".
Natarajan, speaking to reporters at Pudukottai, had alleged that the intrusion of DMK cadres into the jallikattu protests had brought disrepute to the people's movement and claimed that he had evidence to show that the DMK was involved in the violence that erupted at Marina on January 23.
Raipur: It has been nearly nine years since eunuch Rajni Rawat made her political debut with Doon mayoral election and lost narrowly, but not without leaving a mark.
Fighting as an Independent candidate from constituencies of Raipur and Dharmapur, Rawat, who was appointed as the vice-chairperson of State Commission for Women in 2015, claims that she was "betrayed" by the Congress which had promised her a ticket and vows to defeat the ruling party as well as BJP.
If she is elected to Uttarakhand Assembly, Rawat says she will work to unite the Independents which will form a third force in the state.
The transgender claimed that Chief Minister Harish Rawat had promised her Congress ticket but the decision was changed at the last moment. Earlier, she said, former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna also failed to keep his promise of allotting her party ticket in last assembly election.
"Harish Rawat had promised me ticket from Raipur constituency for current assembly election but it went to someone else at the last moment. Congress has always betrayed me, she alleged.
She also said, "In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, I wanted to fight and would have won from Tehri constituency but Bahuguna told me to support him and promised me party ticket for assembly election in 2012."
"Bahuguna also tied 'rakhi' but he did not keep the sanctity of the thread and betrayed me," Rawat told PTI.
Asked whether she approached BJP for the ticket, Rawat said, "There were no talks regarding ticket with BJP"
She also made it clear that she would not join any of the two parties if she wins.
The transgender is confident about her propects.
"Shabnam Mausi has come from Madhya Pradesh (to campaign for me). She has won several times as Independent and served the people as Independent candidate. Neither BJP nor Congress was able to take that seat. I will also serve the people by remaining Independent," she said.
Shabnam was the country's first transgender MLA.
Rawat said that Independent candidates have made up their mind that they would not join any national party but would form their own outfit.
"BJP and Congress are hand in glove. They are forming government alternatively. They are making a fool of the people of Uttarakhand. All the Independent candidates, who are in the fray, have made up their mind that they will form their own party to serve the people," she said.
She said while BJP and Congress candidates are known by their parties, she had a special bond with the voters as they know her by her name.
"Uttarakhand people are thinking that I am a 'fakir' (hermit) and one who blesses the people. People are saying that it is their good luck that such a fakir will give them blessing," she said.
Rawat says her agenda had been regularisation of the slums.
"Now work is being done in that direction with full efforts. Now my focus is to provide employment to the youth.
The parents work day and night, face a lot of hardship to impart education to their children and they must get jobs to uplift the family," she said.
Rawat also claimed that she was approached by a Congress minister in Himachal Pradesh government with an offer of Rajya Sabha seat provided she withdraws from the electoral fray.
According to census, India has 4.9 lakh transgenders but activists peg the number six to seven times higher than the official figures.
Transcription
1 The Politics of Muslim Conversion in Pakistan and Papua New Guinea In Western societies, religion is allegedly a private matter (or so the norms of modernization and secularization would have us believe). In actuality, religion is a highly social and public phenomenon, one that is also integrated closely with other social institutions such as marriage and nationality or ethnicity. Therefore, membership in or conversion to a religion is often a matter of grave family and public concern, with powerful social and political consequences. For the Kalasha of Pakistan, converting to Islam is a serious matter. As Wynne Maggi explains, while all neighboring peoples in this region celebrate a common faith in Islam (though there is, of course, great sectarian, cultural, and linguistic diversity), the Kalasha still actively practice their indigenous religion (2006: 80) and equally actively resist the incursion of Islam. One of the ways in which they declare their difference from surrounding Muslim peoples is in their endorsement of love-marriages, as opposed to the arranged marriages customary in neighboring societies. Indeed, although many Kalasha marriages too are arranged, at least initially, Maggi contends that the cultural rights that young Kalasha people claim to translate love and longing into marriage, unique in this very conservative region, is a central marker of Kalasha ethnicity (82). Parents often submit to their children s love-preferences, but when they do not, the young lovers have the cultural option to elope. And even when couples are married by arrangement, women still retain a great deal of freedom, including the freedom to leave, and husbands are well aware that they have a few short years to win their little wife s affection and loyalty (84). This is why the men and their kin ply the wives with gifts, from food treats to consumer goods.
2 The freedom of women is pronounced in other ways compared to their Muslim neighbors: Women wear elaborate dresses, headdresses, and pounds of colorful, expensive glass beads, and they do not veil their faces. They make and drink wine. Both men and women dance and sing publicly. They worship a pantheon of lesser gods and goddesses, though they also agree that there is only one God. Yet when asked what differentiates them from their Muslim neighbors, Kalasha people almost always remark that our women are free (86). As would be imagined, the concept of women s freedom serves as an important incentive for Kalasha women not to defect from the community by marrying one of the wealthier and more prestigious Muslim groups that surround them. Kalasha women value and cultivate their sexual and marital freedom, and explicitly cite it (well, and the fact that they would have to give up their beautiful beads) as the most important reason not to convert (87). At the same time, though, young Kalasha may use the specter of conversion to Islam to pressure their parents into meeting their demands. By converting, the couple would escape the authority of their parents and of Kalasha traditions. They would be married by a mullah and bound in a new moral community. Converting to Islam is a desperate act, because it is irrevocable but for this very reason it is an effective threat that gives young lovers powerful leverage in these emotionally charged situations (87-8). Thus, unhappy parents are likely to capitulate to their children s wishes for a love-match, rather than lose them altogether to their Islamic neighbors. One wonders how real this threat is, however, since the young lovers would be giving up so much including the woman s cherished freedom in order to get their way in marriage. In Papua New Guinea the politics of conversion to Islam are similar yet different. There, as throughout the Pacific region, Christianity has been stunningly successful: some islands boast greater than ninety percent Christian identity, and although it is an introduced religion Christianity has generally come to be
3 seen as integral to local and national culture. Understandably, then, conversion to Islam, or simply the growth of the Muslim minority, has been a source of tension and conflict in these places. According to Scott Flower, there is potential for communal and religious conflict (nonviolent and violent) to evolve between the Muslim minority and Christian majority in Papua New Guinea. Major contributing factors include the perceived threat that a growing Muslim minority represents in the eyes of some Christians, the ongoing verbal and physical attacks against Muslims by Christians, and religious discrimination against Islam by the Papua New Guinea Government, Christian churches and the general public (2012: 202). Muslims definitely feel the strain, as the president of the Islamic Society of Papua New Guinea noted: We are a minority community and Islam is now subject to ever increasing attacks by its enemies under the guise of war on terrorism. Enemies of Islam are out to suppress and eliminate the growth and influence of Islam worldwide; Papua New Guinea is no exception. History has shown that similar situations resulted in the unification of the Muslim ummah (quoted 202). And these worries are not unfounded: The increasing number of physical attacks involving Christian protagonists is compounded by rhetorical religious and political attacks by Christians, Christian churches and Christian politicians within the country, which further enhance and promote Muslims negative and inaccurate perceptions of the Christian community in the broader population (203). Some Christian individuals and organizations have gone so far as to request the government to outlaw Islam by amending Papua New Guinea s constitution curtailing freedom of religion. In the last decade, a number of government ministers, including a Governor-General, have supported this type of discrimination. Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Alan Marat stated in 2002 that a sensible government is expected to do something about the violent behavior of individuals based on their beliefs, and he proposed changing the country s constitution to ban so-called violent religions (205). Why then would locals choose to join Islam, when it is clearly so unpopular and subject to informal and formal discrimination? Flower notes five reasons why Papua New Guineans resist or even reject
4 Christianity. The first is disillusionment and dissatisfaction with Christianity; for instance, many new Muslims view Christianity as weak and ineffective at solving their individual problems (like alcoholism or sexual immorality) or the country s problems. The second reason is, fascinatingly, their alarm at the destruction of traditional culture, which is often called kastom in local pidgin English. For converts, Islam provides a way of protecting valuable aspects of traditional culture (kastom). This is particularly relevant, given that Islam is free from any association with negative colonial and racial legacies and is a global religion equal to Christianity in its nature (208). In particular, they often maintain that Islam is consistent or congruent with native culture, on such points as strict laws on punishment, food rules, gender segregation and marriage (including polygamy), embodied symbols like beards and circumcision, and family norms. The remaining three reasons given for the appeal of Islam over Christianity are that Christian institutions seem to be avaricious and money-grubbing, that Christianity and especially Christian clergy are hypocritical, and that Christianity is racist, promoting the values, wealth, and power of white Westerners and discriminating against native peoples. The same objections have been lodged by indigenous people around the world (including Australian Aboriginals and New Zealand Maori), especially the charge that Christianity is basically a white religion prejudicial to people of color, leading to a very interesting increase in the number of indigenous Muslims. Many new Muslims insist that Islam has a better record of racial equality and inclusion, but time will tell whether this enthusiasm is justified or whether their hopes and aspirations for equality with a hegemonic religious center will be frustrated once again. References Flower, Scott Christian-Muslim Relations in Papua New Guinea. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations 23 (2):
5 Maggi, Wynne Heart-Struck : Love Marriage as a Marker of Ethnic Identity among the Kalasha of Northwest Pakistan. In Jennifer Hirsch and Holly Wardlow, eds. Modern Loves: The Anthropology of Romantic Courtship and Companionate Marriage. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press,
File photo of Chandragiri YSR Congress legislator Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy is seen staging a protest Jaladeeksha in waist deep water of Rayala Cheruvu in Ramachandra-puram mandal for special category status.
Hyderabad: Reiterating that the fight for Special Category Status (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh would continue relentlessly till the goal is achieved, YSR Congress on Tuesday took strong objection to the BJP and TDP leaders "adverse comments" on the issue.
"It was the same BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu who raised his voice in the Upper House and sought more years of SCS for development of Andhra Pradesh. And after coming to power (he) has been speaking in a negative tone on the issue and (Chief Minister) Chandrababu Naidu has joined the tune," party leader K Parthasarathi told reporters in Hyderabad.
YSR Congress is very firm that the special package is no substitute for SCS. The special package, of which the TDP-BJP duo has been "beating tom-tom in high decibels", has nothing new in it, he claimed.
The government has announced that MoUs were signed for Rs 15 lakh crore investments but reality is otherwise. The Governor's address itself speaks of a much lower investment figure with 102 projects in pipeline and an investment of Rs 5,900 crore. The neighbouring Maharashtra has got investment of Rs 40,000 crore, according to him.
"The incentives which come along with the SCS would have fetched more investments," Parthasarathi said.
"Despite the leaders of BJP and TDP trying hard to water down the SCS, we will continue our fight relentlessly till the goal is achieved," he warned.
Thiruvananthapuram: In a face saving formula worked out with a section of striking students belonging to the Students Federation of India, Kerala Law Academy College, on Tuesday said it has removed the Principal, against whom a FIR had been registered for a non-bailable offence and various allegations had been raised.
The development comes as a huge blow to the college Principal Lekshmi Nair, also a popular television cookery show host in the CPI(M)-supported Malayalam television channel, Kairali, as she had refused to budge even an inch to any of the demands of the students.
Though SFI, an outfit of the ruling CPI(M), has called off its stir, a major section of students, belonging to outfits of other political parties said they would further intensify the agitation until the Principal puts in her papers.
The 21-day old combined strike by students, was primarily to seek Principal's resignation, for allegedly fudging attendance and internal marks, forcing some of them to work in a canteen run by her in the campus and addressing students by their caste names.
On Monday, Police had registered a case against the principal under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
In further troubles for the private college management, Education Minister Prof C Ravindranath on Tuesday instructed the Higher Education Principal Secretary to direct the Kerala university to take stern action against the institution as its functioning had become 'inappropriate' as per the University Rules and Regulations.
The direction was issued after considering the reports of the Sub committees appointed to look into the alleged irregularities in giving internal marks, conducting examinations and lapses in course regulations.
The government has also ordered a probe into the utilisation of land assigned to the Academy at Peroorkada.
BJP national executive member, V Muraleedharan, who is continuing with his fasting stir in front of the Academy, alleged that the agreement, reached between the management and SFI, was "pre-planned".
Announcing the decision of the management, Academy Director N Narayanan Nair, father of Lekshmi Nair, told reporters that she was removed from the post and Vice-Principal had been given the additional charge of principal.
The student's stir took a political turn as Narayanan Nair is the brother of former CPI(M) MLA Koliyakkod Krishnan Nair.
Meanwhile, police used water cannon and lathi charge to chase away BJP activists, who blocked traffic near the campus demanding the principal's resignation.
Many BJP workers, including its senior leader K Surendran were injured.
As a mark of protest, the saffron party has called for a hartal in Thiruvananthapuram district on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Kerala High Court refused a plea of Lekshmi Nair seeking direction to the police to remove the pandal erected by the agitating students in front of the institution.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Modi government after it listed its achievements in the President's address, alleging that it has been a "complete failure" on job creation front.
"The main question in India today is creation of jobs for young people. It is a big issue today to provide jobs for youth in India," Rahul said outside Parliament after President Pranab Mukherjee's customary address on the first day of the Budget session of Parliament.
The Congress vice-president, who is actively campaigning in election-bound states, said, "Government has failed in this matter. Government is a complete failure in job creation. That's my main point."
Marking opening of the Budget session, the President in his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament referred to demonetisation to fight black money and corruption as also the surgical strikes across the LoC as bold decisions, both of which were received with thumping of desks by members.
The President said a nationwide network of 50 India International Skill Centres was being established with the objective of providing training of global standards to the youth.
He said over 20 lakh youth have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.
New Delhi: Voicing disappointment with the President's address to the joint sitting of Parliament, Congress on Tuesday said the Narendra Modi government had failed to fulfill its promises and its stint was marked by "RSS ka saath, BJP ka vikas".
Addressing a joint press conference, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge parodied the Prime Minister's slogan of "sabka saath, sabka vikas" (together will all, development for all), made during general elections, and said his tenure had seen the government only caring for the benefit of RSS and BJP.
Modi's actions have led to "RSS ka saath, BJP ka vikas", they said.
"If you find fault with the President's address, it does not mean you find fault with the President, it is the government with which you are finding fault and are disappointed with.
"The President's address talks about 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'. This was a slogan coined by the Prime Minister ahead of elections to seek votes, which he did not implement. He instead brought about 'RSS ka saath, BJP ka vikas' and no section of society is happy today," Azad said.
He said all promises made to farmers, labourers, youth, dalits and minorities have remained unfulfilled, and all sections feel neglected, while unemployment has increased.
Azad also said even though his party supported the "surgical strikes", ceasefire violations along the borter with Pakistan have risen ever since, leading to death of a large number of soldiers.
"The government should clarify on this," he demanded.
"The past year has not been good for economy and along the border," he said.
Claiming that whatever government said on demonetisation was proved wrong and the money scrapped had come back into the system almost in entirety, he demanded an explanation from the government as to why Rs 15,000-20,000 crore was spent on remonetisation.
Kharge said the government had not fulfilled any of the promises made to people. The Modi government promised two crore jobs a year but created 1.7 lakh, he said.
"They should tell the physical targets achieved against the economic targets. The farmers are unhappy and so are other sections of society and they (the government) are still not bothered," he said.
Both Kharge and Azad said the Congress wanted discussions in Parliament on demonetisation, ceasefire violations along the border as well as "erosion" of autonomy of institutions like RBI, CBI and NITI Aayog. They said the matter will be taken up during the meetings of business advisory committees of both Houses.
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel took to twitter to castigate the government over the Presidential address.
"The President's address is disappointing and doesn't address any real challenges. It is merely a collection of government's failed promises."
"Did the President's address mention anything about data on demonetisation, failure to create new jobs, rail safety?"
"One year after launching Startup & Standup India funding for startups fell by 42.7 pc," Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said in a series of tweets.
New Delhi: Bills worth Rs 119 crore pending towards cash-strapped Air India, generated for some foreign visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have been cleared.
RTI applicant Commodore (retd) Lokesh Batra said that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on January 30 uploaded on its website the details of bills worth about Rs 119.70 crore cleared for eight trips, which were shown pending or under process since 2016.
"I sincerely hope that all the public authorities concerned ie. PMO, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India will institute suitable norms and guidelines to facilitate expeditious clearance of chartered flights bills as the issue is directly concerned with the 'Tax-Payers' money," Batra said.
The move comes following an order of Chief Information Commissioner RK Mathur who had refused to disclose the file notings related to the travel expenses incurred on the Prime Minister's visits abroad, but took note of Batra's quest for timely payment of bills by the government to the public sector units.
"During the hearing, the Commission observed that the appellant's motive is to improve the governance and transparency in settling the bills of the PM's foreign or domestic visits, as public money was involved. The loss of public money can add to the burden of tax-payers," Mathur said.
It is observed that the appellant has repeatedly stressed on timely payment of bills and institution of suitable internal guidelines to facilitate payments, he had said.
"He has stated that this is in public interest. The respondents have taken note of this," Mathur said.
The PMO has claimed on its website that bills for trips - Japan, Laos, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya and Uzbekistan - have not been received while it shows that bills are under process for the four visits.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken 27 visits abroad since assuming the office on May 26, 2014, according to the PMO website.
New Delhi: Several Union ministers on Tuesday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi for his remark that the Centre was a "complete failure" on job creation front, saying it was indicative of his "disappointment and frustration" at not having a job and suggesting him to join a government-run skill centre to get employment.
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said that the Congress vice president's remark was outcome of his "disappointment and frustration".
Congress is not in a position to stand on its own feet, that is why it has to sit "on the carrier of a cycle" in Uttar Pradesh, he said, referring to the Congress-SP alliance in the poll-bound state.
"He did not get employment what can we do? His party is failing at every stage. He is not in a position to stand on his own feet. Such an old party and it had to sit on the carrier of a cycle in UP. That is why due to his disappointment and frustration, he might have interpreted it like this," Naidu told reporters outside Parliament.
He said that the highest ever allocation to rural job scheme MNREGA was given by this government and the 70-odd initiatives that the government has highlighted are all job oriented and have measures for employment generation.
"Due to political reasons, just to criticise the government, he might have said this as he did not remember anything. So he talked about his own employment and the situation of the Congress party," he said.
After President Pranab Mukherjee's customary address on the first day of the Budget Session of Parliament, Gandhi said outside Parliament that the main question in India today is creation of jobs for young people.
"It is a big issue today to provide jobs for youths in India. Government has failed in this matter. Government is a complete failure in job creation. That's my main point," Gandhi said.
Reacting to Gandhi, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "If he (Rahul) wants to understand employment and where to get it, it would have been better that the Prime Minister Kaushal Kendras that we are establishing, he can come and get admitted in that Kendra. He would be able to see then, how and where employment is generated and he himself will be benefited."
Asked about Congress' alliance with SP in UP, Rudy said that Rahul Gandhi has to decide what kind of politics he wants to pursue in the state and it has to be seen whether he will be able to get the opportunity to sit on the carrier of the cycle properly or not.
MoS in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said that except the Congress Vice-President, the entire population of the country thinks that jobs are being created.
"Except for him (Rahul), the entire 125 crore people of the country think otherwise," he said.
Union minister Kalraj Mishra said, "All the data is saying. Taking just our ministry, I can say through KVIC, 6 lakh jobs have been created. 20 lakh job creation is expected in the next one year. He has to see the job creation that is happening. Youths doing just government jobs, it just not that anymore."
"Through various companies, adjusting everybody is also a way of generating employment. Scores of employment fairs have been done and hundreds of companies have come and they have selected candidates. To provide employment, such programmes are taking place continuously. Those who think negatively, they only sees negativity and Congress sees only this," he said.
BJP's UP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya maintained that either Rahul Gandhi forgets things or he has not done enough research on the subject.
"Rahul Gandhi does not research or he forgets. Whichever state he is going, he is getting disappointed. Wherever he has campaigned, results for Congress have been opposite. He is campaigning in UP as well. Today the entire country is standing by Narendra Modi.
"They opposed the demonetisation issue. After demonetisation, wherever there was election, Congress has not been able to show its face there. After that also, if Rahul Gandhi is not able to understand, then he should do a bit more research. Then he will understand that this country's youth wants Modiji. And if they want Modiji, then Rahul Gandhi's remark does not matter," he said.
Ghaziabad/New Delhi: Firebrand BJP MP Yogi Adityanath has compared the situation in western Uttar Pradesh to that in Kashmir in 1990s, when Kashmiri Pandits had to flee the Valley, while the party defended its leaders over their controversial remarks during the poll campaign on alleged exodus of Hindu families from Kairana.
"Western Uttar Pradesh is following in the footsteps of Kashmir. In 1990, Kashmir Pandits were forced to migrate in large numbers.
"Crime, corruption and 'goondaraj' are at their peak in Uttar Pradesh. Like there was exodus in Kashmir in 1990, similar is the situation in Kairana (in Shamli) and other districts where the failure to act shows that the criminals are emboldened....
"Till when will the state government continue its vote bank politics at the cost of security in the state," the Gorakhpur MP said at election meetings in Loni and Sahibabad last evening.
His remarks came even as BJP MLA Suresh Rana, an accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, was booked yesterday by Uttar Pradesh Police on charges of inciting hatred after he said at a meeting that curfew will be imposed in Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad if he is elected again in assembly polls next month.
Asked about Aditynath's remarks, BJP's UP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya today said that the situation in Western Uttar Pradesh was "very bad" and accused the Samajwadi Party government of giving patronage to goons who were responsible for migration of people.
"Something which has happened due to the failure of the government and if some of our leaders have talked about it, what wrong have they done," he said when asked if action will be taken against the leaders for their alleged communal remarks.
Kicking up a row, BJP MP Hukum Singh had in June last year claimed that close to 350 Hindus had left Kairana over alleged threats and extortion by criminal elements belonging to a particular community. Singh, however, had later done a U-turn saying it was not a communal matter.
He had alleged that the ruling Samajwadi Party was preventing action against anti-social elements responsible for the exodus since they happened to be its supporters, a charge rejected by the state government.
Sticking to his remarks, Adityanath today insisted that these should not be seen as communal. "I have not named any caste, community, religion. We are not dividing people on the ground of religion. It is not communal politics," he insisted.
"The situation in western UP is akin to what happened in Kashmir in 1990s. I ask people there, do not elect those who have caused this migration. The BJP is giving you a guarantee of security.
"If elected to power, the BJP will ensure that migration doesn't take place from these regions, district collectors will be responsible for this. A special task force will be formed for the purpose," he told reporters on Parliament premises.
Asked if the situation in western UP was actually akin to the one in Jammu and Kashmir in 90s, when militancy forced Kashmiri Pundits to migrate to other places, Adityanath replied, "Go to the region to check ground realities first hand."
The MP said the BJP is for both development and security of locals and dismissed allegations that his comments were communal.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) probe into Hukum Singh's claims had found that many families "migrated" from Kairana due to threats pertaining to "increase in crime" and "deterioration" of law and order there.
On the other hand, countering the NHRC, the National Commission for Minorities had said that people of both Hindu and Muslim communities had left Kairana to pursue better business opportunities in other places. They said the people had not migrated due to fear from a particular community.
Leaders of BJP, which has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for last 15 years, have made it clear that the "exodus" issue will be raised in a big way.
Maurya said, "The situation in western UP is very bad. SP government is responsible for that. Thousands of people had to leave their homes and family, especially because of the goons who are under the state government's patronage.
"Government has not taken any action against the goons and those who have left, the government should bring them back. BJP in its manifesto has clearly said that if its comes to power, provisions will be made to bring back those who have left.
"Also efforts will be made so that such a situation does not happen in the future. A task force will be created. Those goons who are responsible for such a situation, action will be taken against them."
"We will see. We will study what legal action has been taken. No action from the party," he said on possible action against party leaders for their controversial remarks.
At the election meeting last evening, Adityanath attacked the ruling Samajwadi Party and Mulayam Singh Yadav's clan, saying only one family had prospered under the SP rule.
He claimed that the Centre had given Rs 2.5 lakh crore for development works to the state but there is nothing to show for it. "The uncle and his nephew, the father and his son are fighting with each other for the division of money," he said.
"Only BJP can bring good governance in the state. People should not remain a mute spectator and should come out to vote for the party, which is taking the country in the right direction to ensure that Uttar Pradesh gets its rightful place," he said.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister and local MP V K Singh also appealed to the voters to support BJP.
MT Maple, carrying LPG, and MT Dawn Kanchipuram, carrying crude oil, collided at around 4 am at Ennore port on Saturday. Port officials, however, denied spilling of oil or any casualty. (Photo: File)
Chennai: One tonne of oil has leaked into the sea off the city due to a collision between two ships in Chennai on January 28 and measures, including procuring oil dispersants from the Centre, are underway to tackle the situation, the Tamil Nadu government said on Tuesday.
Explaining in the Assembly the steps being taken, state Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said, "One tonne oil has leaked", which resulted in floating oil slicks.
He was responding to a submission by Leader of Opposition MK Stalin that the oil spill had led to a situation where the fish were facing death and the fishermen in the locality could not put out to sea for fishing.
The mishap occurred at 4 am on January 28 when 'MT BW Maple', with a flag of Isle of Man, was leaving the port after emptying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and MT Dawn, Kanchipuram, loaded with petroleum oil lubricant (POL), was on its way to the berth at the suburban Ennore port.
The port authorities had then said there was no casualty or injury to anyone and also, no damage to the environment.
Stalin wanted the government to detail the steps it had taken to tackle the situation.
Jayakumar said a meeting of officials was currently on and another meeting, to be chaired by the chief secretary, will be held soon which would also discuss the steps to be taken to see that the fishermen and their livelihood were not affected.
He said steps were being taken to procure "oil dispersants which will have to come from the Centre".
Earlier in the day, Tiruvallur District Collector E Sundaravalli clarified that only the shoreline in and around Ennore and Kasimedu in north Chennai was hit by the oil spill and steps were being taken to remove the oil.
She also said the Coast Guard, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and Fisheries department were involved in the operations.
"There is an oil spill after the incident on January 28. Officials, including those from TNPCB and Fisheries, were deployed by the government to look into the situation," Sundaravalli, under whose jurisdiction the affected area falls, told reporters in Chennai.
She said the Coast Guard was trying to remove the oil spill manually and also monitoring its spread and removal by pressing its choppers into action.
She said three Chennai Metro Water's super suckers (machines, mounted on trucks) were being deployed to remove the oil spill.
Replying to a question, Sundaravalli said officials were also studying the impact of the oil spill on the marine life in the region.
The sea water had blackened and some turtles were found dead near the north Chennai shoreline in the aftermath of the incident.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday witnessed uproarious scenes with arch-rivals AIADMK and DMK being involved in a bitter exchange of words following the mention of name of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa by the opposition which disrupted proceedings for nearly 20 minutes.
The issue led to frayed tempers, with some ministers even crossing swords with DMK members who got agitated after a senior minister made some remarks against one of them.
Trouble erupted after DMK Deputy Leader Durai Murugan mentioned the name of Jayalalithaa during a debate. The Treasury benches took exception to the matter and soon an altercation broke out between the arch-rivals.
Some of the ministers seated in the front row were seen in an animated discussion with the DMK MLAs even as one of them criticised Murugan which infuriated the opposition.
Soon, both sides started raising slogans against each other even as Speaker P Dhanapal was seen making repeated bids to ensure decorum.
Finally, the agitated members paid heed to the Speaker's pleas and resumed their seats.
"Both of us (Treasury and Opposition Benches) have the duty and responsibility to maintain dignity of the House," Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, also Leader of the House, said.
He also suggested to the Speaker that action be taken against those who were found involved in inappropriate behaviour.
Dhanapal, who insisted that tempers ran high on both sides, said he "condemned" inappropriate behaviour, if any, and sought the cooperation of all members for the smooth conduct of the House.
The noisy scenes disrupted proceedings for nearly 20 minutes when Opposition Leader MK Stalin (DMK) was speaking on the motion to thank the Governor for his address to the Assembly last Monday.
Freedom has become such a contested term. When we, as people, use freedom we refer to peoples freedom to live, earn livelihood, to have access to vital resources like food, water, seed, land, health, education, knowledge, work, creativity, communication, etc. Large corporations define freedom as free trade, which is corporate globalisation. The freedom of corporations and their masked owners is misused to destroy the Earths ecological fabric the fabric of peoples economies and societies. Free trade rules are written by corporations to enlarge their freedom to commodify and privatise the last inch of land, the last drop of water, the last seed, the last serving of food, the last byte of information, the last bit of data, knowledge and imagination. In the process, they must destroy the freedom of the earth and the earth family, the freedom of people, their cultures and democracies, by enclosing the commons, commodifying and privatising every aspect of life.
Free trade is doublespeak. It is about an end to truly free trade between independent producers exchanging and selling goods at fair and just prices. International trade is not an invention of the West, as is often said. In fact, the East India Company was invented in 1600 to usurp the trade of which India was the hub. That is why Columbus was trying to come to India. Before the British rule, India accounted for 27 per cent of the global economy. Britain was a mere 1.8 per cent. Over two centuries of British rule, India had been turned into a land of hunger and poverty. As Shashi Tharoor points out in An Era of Darkness: The British proclaimed the virtues of free trade while destroying the free trade Indians had carried on for centuries, if not millennia, by both land and sea. In 1716, the first global corporation, the East India Company, signed a Free Trade agreement with Farukhshir, called the Farukhshir Firman. This free trade agreement allowed the East India Company to take over Indias economy and colonise our beautiful land. In 1757, with the deceitful Battle of Plassey in which Robert Clive colluded with Mir Jafar, the British East India Company took over Bengal, going beyond international trade to rule. Todays rulers the billionaires have amassed their billions through rent and royalty collections imposed through the free trade rules of World Trade Organisation and newer agreements.
In 1994, in Marrakesh, Morocco, governments signed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade that led to the creation of WTO in 1995. Like the Farukhshir Firman, the WTO agreements are written by corporations, for corporations, to expand their control on resources, production, markets and trade, establish monopolies and destroy both economic and political democracy. The WTO and free trade agreements go way beyond international trade, which takes place outside national borders. So-called free trade agreements invade into our daily lives taking our every-day freedoms away. They are trying to take away farmers freedom to save their seeds and exercise seed sovereignty. They attempt to take away our food freedom by dumping toxic food, junk food, GMOs and destroying our local ecological agriculture and food systems, which get priced out of the markets they have served. They even hijack and subvert our democracies. This is why I work for seed freedom, food freedom and earth democracy.
American biotechnology corporation Monsanto wrote the TRIPS agreement of WTO, which is an attempt to claim seeds as Monsantos invention, and own seeds as intellectual property through patents. The aim is to own and control seed and make super profits through the collection of royalties. We have seen the consequences of this illegitimate corporate-defined property rights in India with extortion of royalties for GMO seeds leading to high seed prices. Approximately 300,000 dead farmers is evidence of the institutionalised genocide. Cargill wrote the agriculture agreement of WTO. The result has been that India the largest producer of oilseeds and pulses has emerged as the biggest importer of both. The edible oils being imported are GMO soya oil and palm oil, both extracted with Hexane through solvent extraction. Both lead to massive deforestation in Argentina, Indonesia and Brazil. We are importing dals from Canada and Mozambique, while our farmers are unable to sell what they have grown.
The junk food industry, including Coke and Pepsi wrote the SPS agreement of WTO. Our Prevention of Food Adulteration Act was dismantled and replaced with the FSSAI, which is being used to shut Indias rich and diverse, small scale, home and cottage industry based food businesses, under pseudo-safety laws. Even Gandhis ghani (the indigenous cold press oil mill) in Wardha was served notice under the FSSAI. In spite of all the knowledge we have of the link between industrially processed food or junk food and disease, it is the junk food industry that gets government subsidies, while our artisanal, healthy food systems are banned through laws, or shut down through the Washington inspired war on cash also called demonetisation (and the digital economy). The neo-liberal economic paradigm is an attempt at decolonisation and re-establishment of corporate rule through the use of old instruments of conquest, control, and wealth extraction in new form, accompanied by deregulation.
While the rhetoric of globalisation, neo-liberalism and free trade is less government, the reality is that from the perspective of people, corporate globalisation based on enclosures of the commons requires the creation of a corporate surveillance state, an invasive militarised police state which can violently protect the interests of the one per cent, at the cost of ordinary people.
Deregulation has impacts on our lives, livelihoods and freedoms. Consolidation and spread of corporate power, undermining real economies that nourish and sustain people, is one impact. At a deeper level, one of the most significant shifts was the emergence of financial power over the real economy, and the destruction of the real economies of nature and society. Another major consequence has been the mutation in politics, with representative democracy moving rapidly from of the people, by the people, for the people to of the corporations, by the corporations, for the corporations. Worse, the concentration of economic power in the hands of a small group of unelected, unaccountable individuals, translates into political power to influence governments, laws, policies and shape the future of our food and health and the future of the planet.
In India, the highest policy making body, Niti Aayog (also serving executive functions), is packed with people whose only expertise is corporate free trade and trade liberalisation. The promotion of imports when we dont need them, the undemocratic undermining of government institutions working according to the Constitution to protect the farmers rights to seed, and peoples rights to affordable and safe medicine, pushing GMOs and hazardous medicines are examples of corporate metrics outweighing real life. Niti Aayog has become a one-stop-shop for global corporate lobby groups to transform Indias economy into their private (backyard) market. This is systemic corruption of our democracy and a recipe for destruction of peoples economies. The concentration of economic power and destruction of local economies creates unemployment, displacement and economic insecurity. The insecurities are used by the powerful to divide societies along racial and religious lines. Fragmentation and disintegration of societies is intimately linked to the extractive economic model of wealth accumulation by the few. In this period of decolonisation, we need a new movement of freedom. That should be our national commitment in 2017, the centenary of Gandhis Champaran satyagraha.
Trump must have been fuming when he launched his latest crazed, Adderall-fueled Twitter attack. It was against two senior Republicans though, not the millions of people protesting his unconstitutional Muslim ban over the weekend. Whether Putin hacked the electronic machines in Macomb County, Michigan, just stole and released embarrassing e-mails from Democrats or just wished Trump well, his stake in the 2016 election was primarily centered on two premises-- to weaken NATO and get them to stop threatening Russia and to end the painful economic and financial sanctions enacted when Russia launched a revanchist annexation of Crimea, both reasonable goals. When he had a chit-chat with his candidate this past weekend, things weren't going as smoothly as he might have hoped. Trump is well on his way to being the most despised president in history-- and in record time. He's toned down-- at least for now-- his campaign to undermine NATO. And, in light of mammoth bipartisan opposition, he's admitted it's "too early" to talk about dropping the sanctions against Russia.
Congressional Republicans have signaled him to forget getting rid of the sanctions. Yesterday Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he's "absolutely opposed to lifting sanctions on the Russians. If anything, we ought to be looking at increasing them." A bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation to extend and codify the sanctions, which would put Trump in an extremely awkward position, having to pick between what most Americans want and what his Kremlin puppet master demands.
A couple of weeks ago, in an OpEd for the, political cartoonist David Horsey, wondered aloud if Americans will be able to count on McCain to protect American interests from the strange, kleptocratic Trump-Putin bromance . Like many Americans, Horsey is thinking Trump's affinity for Putin might be even worse than it looks and he's not shy of using the word "treason."
The Republican senator from Arizona is a conspicuously honorable man in a profession filled with people who sell their honor rather cheaply. There is nothing more important than honor to a third-generation military man like McCain. He proved that through five years of confinement and torture as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. While many, if not most, of his Republican colleagues in the Senate and House are putting themselves through ideological contortions to get aligned with the erratic narcissist who is now their leader, McCain is resisting. He is a hero and he is a patriot and it is not hard to imagine that, right now, McCains righteous anger is rising to a boil as he sees the president-elect of the United States discounting hard evidence of Russian espionage aimed at undermining American democracy.
McCain has characterized Russias meddling in the 2016 presidential election as nothing less than an act of war and he repeated that charge on Thursday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that received testimony about Russian cyber-espionage from leaders of the intelligence services. As committee chair, McCain had called the hearing to inform the public about the hacking operation that stole data from computers in the campaign headquarters of Hillary Clinton and fed it to WikiLeaks, the rogue operation run by Julian Assange. The key witness, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper, made it clear that the highest officials in Moscow, including President Vladimir Putin, approved the invasion into the American election and that the efforts extended beyond the hack into dissemination of false information through social media.
Every American should be alarmed by Russias attacks on our nation, McCain said. There is no national security interest more vital to the United States of America than the ability to hold free and fair elections without foreign interference.
One very important American, though, is showing no alarm at all at least not about the Russians. Donald Trump has been playing a strange game in the weeks before he moves into the White House. He has repeatedly cast doubt on the intelligence reports, pretended he knows more about hacking than the intelligence experts and mocked the intelligence agencies themselves. Even as he sends out a steady stream of tweets slandering the people on whom he will be relying for crucial information when he becomes commander in chief, Trump has praised Putin, expressed agreement with the version of events offered by Assange and criticized the sanctions President Obama imposed on Russia in retaliation for the hacking.
What is going on here? Is this just one more defensive reaction from the hyper-defensive Trump? Is he obsessed with protecting the legitimacy of his presidency against the overblown rhetoric of some on the Democratic side who say the Russians skewed the vote and cost Clinton the election and from the more serious and unanimous conclusion of the intelligence agencies that the Russians actions were intended to help his campaign? If so, he is putting his own self-interest ahead of the national interest.
Is there something deeper? Is his affinity for Russia a product of his longtime business ties with that country? Why has Trump been such an ardent admirer of Putin? Does he see him as a role model?
Putin has stifled democracy in his homeland, shut down independent media, neutered rival political parties, subverted elections in other countries, seized Crimea, conducted a proxy war against Ukraine, overseen a savage slaughter of civilians in Syria and stands accused of ordering the killings of political enemies and journalists. Why is Trump drawn to such a person, even as he questions the value of Americas NATO alliance and the unity of Europe?
There is no question that if a Democratic president-elect were to show such a kinship with a Russian dictator while making so many disparaging remarks about the CIA and other American intelligence agencies, Republicans in Congress would be preparing articles of impeachment and the right-wing media would be screaming treason! Odd how that is not happening now.
Luckily, there is McCain-- plus other old-school conservatives like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham who have expressed their guarded concern. What about when they are unguarded? When they are talking privately, what are they saying? How great is their alarm? What will they do to defend their country from a man for whom intelligence is a dirty word? What will honor demand of John McCain?
Apple was sued by a Bengaluru-based child rights activist Nina P Nayak for selling a faulty MacBook Pro and providing inadequate service thereafter.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express on 30 January, Nayak bought a MacBook Pro 13 in Australia back in 2013. Within eight months of having purchased the product, she started facing troubles with it.
Since the device was well within Apples international warranty, it was repaired free of charge. However, Nayak claimed that the laptop stopped functioning within four days of having received the product from repairing.
She contacted Apples support service only to face a charge of Rs 61,100 for the replacement of an SSD and a free replacement of a flex cable. She took the case to court, alleging that the device was defective and customer services provided by Apple were inadequate.
In its ex-parte order dated January 13, the IVth Additional District Consumer Forum, comprising president H Y Vasanthkumar and members D Suresh and N R Roopa said, The complainant who is instrumental in ensuring protection of child rights across the country faced problems from the said laptop when she visited different parts of the country. The hardship caused has to be estimated and cannot be termed as casual problems at usual places.
Nayak claimed a total of Rs 2.40 lakh compensation along with the replacement of the laptop or repairing of the same.
The New Indian Express report claims that the court was in agreement with Nayak and Apple was ordered to pay her a sum of Rs 25,000 (including Rs 10,000 in legal fees) as compensation. Moreover, Apple was even told to replace or repair the unit.
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In the consumer market, this took the form of pocket printers, where you could take a photo with your phone (usually a selfie!) and instantly print out copies for your friends.
Forget whatever they told you about the paperless office. Not going to happen any time soon. And in a country like India where bureaucracy insists on "ink-signed" documents and bills in original, the all-digital office is a distant dream. Less paper? Maybe. Paperless? Naa!
Which is why printer makers have never been short of business, even as office automation matures in other ways. If you are a home PC user, a printer is a sensible accessory to own unless you want to run to the nearest copy shop every time you need a printout
We spend so much time on the move for work or play with a tablet or a smart phone the only connected device we carry. This has created a new need and a new niche: Say hello to printing on-the-go.
In the consumer market, this took the form of pocket printers, where you could take a photo with your phone (usually a selfie!) and instantly print out copies for your friends. This has seen the revival, after many years, of so-called Zink or Zero Ink printers like Polaroid Zip or Fuji Instax, where the ink is embedded in the paper. Zink paper doesn't come cheap each print could cost Rs 80-100 and the size is quite small, about 2-inch by 3-inch. The printer costs between Rs 16,000 and Rs 18,000 and works with a separately bought instant camera
At CES 2017 this month, Samsung unveiled a Zink printer which offers a slightly larger print. It is called Image Stamp and is about the size of a mobile phone. Take a photo with your phone, then place the phone on top of the printer and voila! A combo of WiFi and Near Field Communication, triggers the printer to shoot out a print. The technology will reach markets later this year.
Zink printers are not a solution for professional work, which demands prints in the international Letter or A4 size. Major printer brands like HP Office Jet and Canon Pixma, offer portable A4 size printers. The latest, smallest and lightest in this category comes from Epson. I have been trying it out for a few days.
Hovering somewhere in a trishanku world between the Zink mobile printer and the A4 portables, is another class of portable photo printers optimised to churn out 4 inch by 6 inch colour glossies. You will find lunch-box-sized, models like Canon Selphy, Epson Picturemate etc with photographers at tourist spots. They will take your picture and provide an instant print, for a price.
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A German consumer group says it has filed a lawsuit against WhatsApp over its data gathering and sharing practices.
The Federal of German Consumer Organizations said that it filed the suit at Berlin's state court. It argued that WhatsApp "collects and stores data in part illegally and passes them on to Facebook."
Facebook acquired the global messaging service in 2014 and announced last summer that WhatsApp would begin sharing phone numbers of its users with the social network. That angered data protection advocates in Germany and elsewhere. WhatsApp said its "privacy policy and terms updates comply with applicable law."
It says the use of European WhatsApp user data for products and advertising purposes on Facebook has been "temporarily paused" to allow for discussions with officials.
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Tech giant Google has created a crisis fund that could rise up to USD 4 million for four immigrant rights organisations, including American Civil Liberties Union and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Set up with an initial funding of USD 2 million, the campaign will see Google employees matching the amount in donations.
The funds will go toward the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the International Rescue Committee and the UNHRC.
A Google spokesperson confirmed the development.
The USD 2 million crisis campaign is the largest ever for the Mountain View-based company.
Since 2015, Google has given over USD 16 million to organisations focused on humanitarian aid for refugees on the ground, WiFi in refugee camps, and education for out of school refugee children in Lebanon.
The spokesperson said the four organisations were chosen for their efforts in providing legal assistance and support services for immigrants, as well as for their efforts on resettlement and general assistance for refugees globally.
Last week, US President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order to suspend the arrival of refugees and impose tough new controls on travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as part of new measures to "keep radical Islamic terrorists" out of America. Google's India-born CEO Sundar Pichai had criticised
Trump's controversial order saying it will create "barriers" to bringing great talent to the US. The Internet search giant also ordered its travelling staff to return to America.
Pichai, in an email to staff, said the US ban on foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries will hit nearly 200 Google employees.
"It is painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues. We're upset about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US," Pichai had said.
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Under the pilot project, the company has installed 273 high-tech cameras at various locations mainly in the walled city area which will be monitored by the Jaipur Traffic Police. (Representational image)
The Jaipur Traffic Police has installed a fully automatic high-tech surveillance system in the city to check traffic rules violation and enhanced supervision. The soon to be made operational system will monitor and manage traffic on Reliance Jio's 4G IP/MPLS network with zero manual intervention.
Under the pilot project, the company has installed 273 high-tech cameras at various locations mainly in the walled city area which will be monitored by the Jaipur Traffic Police.
"The project is on testing mode and will be operationalised soon," a company official said in the control room of the traffic police here. The system automatically detects red light jumps and over speeding and records the vehicle's registration number.
It automatically generates the challan which will be approved by the monitoring officer, the official said. Of the 270 cameras at 115 different locations, 195 are presently operational and testing is going on, he said.
The cameras are of high resolution that provide better image quality as compared to the traditional surveillance solution. These devices can detect speed upto 160 kmph with zero manual intervention during day and night both.
The devices can identify objects up to 50 meters, recognise them up to 100 meters and monitor them up to 400 meters, while the night vision capabilities is up to 100 meters. The cameras can recognise registration plates of vehicles. DCP (traffic) Haidar Ali Zaidi said that the project will be operationalised in one month.
"The challan will be generated automatically and will be sent to the owner of the vehicle on the basis of the registration number," he said.
Zaidi said that besides traffic rules violations, the cameras will be useful for general surveillance too.
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The US Boy Scouts has relied on birth certificates to determine eligibility for its single-gender programmes
Washington: The Boy Scouts of America will welcome transgender children who identify as boys, the group has announced, in a dramatic reversal from its traditional stand.
Chief executive Michael Surbaugh said the group will now allow individuals to enroll based on the gender with which they identify, ending a more than century-old policy of using the gender on their birth certificate.
We realised that referring to birth certificates as the reference point is no longer sufficient, he said in a statement. Communities and state laws are now interpreting gender identity differently. And these laws vary widely from state to state.
The announcement reverses a policy that drew controversy last year when a transgender boy in New Jersey was kicked out of the organisation about a month after joining.
In recent years, the Boy Scouts of America has expanded rights for gay people. In 2013, the group ended its ban on openly gay youths participating in its activities.
Two years later, the organisation ended its ban on openly gay adult leaders, the New York Times reported. Zach Wahls, co-founder of the advocacy group Scouts for Equality, hailed the historic step. We are also proud of the Boy Scouts for deciding to do the right thing, he said.
Bilawal's remarks came as the White House is seeking to expand the list of seven Muslim-majority countries whose citizens have been barred from entering the US. (Photo: AFP)
Washington: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned the Trump Administration against including his country in the list of travel ban nations, saying such a move will create a "host of hostilities" between the two countries. Mr Bilawal's remarks came as the White House is seeking to expand the list of seven Muslim-majority countries whose citizens have been barred from entering the US.
"As far as the ban is concerned, I believe it only has detrimental effects on the countries it has included and if that is extended to Pakistan it will create a whole host of hostilities," Mr Bilawal told a Washington audience on Monday.
He was responding to a question on whether Pakistan can be included in a list of seven nations as per an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump last week.
Mr Bilawal said including Pakistan in such a list "would also be a very negative indicator that the United States is turning away from those very ideals that it stood for", adding that, "I hope that this is not the new normal." He said there was a lot of uncertainty and externally about what the future policies are going to be and he would like to hold on to the wait and see approach.
The alleged Muslim ban "seems to be extremely controversial decision" of the current Administration, added the Pak leader.
"For my generation as a progressive Muslim in the world it is really discouraging to see countries responding to the fear of the other in such a way. We have learned through history that this is not the way to deal with such issues," he said.
"I know by interaction, by finding common ground, studying in other peoples universities, learning about a shared culture, history we find the common ground. A few criminals should not be allowed to spoil the situation for everyone," he said.
"It is very discouraging for those out there in the Muslim world fighting radical extremism because people (put) their lives on the line on a daily basis to do so, to fight for what they believe in, not Americans ideals or freedom," he said.
Mr Bilawal said he was extremely encouraged to see in what he described as another side to America.
"The outpouring of support for the people affected by this ban is a very positive message sending to the world. I do hope that this issue will be shorted out very soon. Because this is sending a wrong message and is shrinking the space for those of us out there fighting Islamic extremism on the front lines," he said. "I feel for the citizens of all these countries who have been thrown into chaos through these (executive orders)," he said.
Americans and other expatriates gather to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's recent travel ban to the US. (Photo: AP)
Los Angeles: A doctor who saved Syrian lives and a man who cooked thousands of meals for American soldiers in Iraq were among those who saw their lives thrown into limbo when President Donald Trump's executive order barred travellers from seven Muslim countries from entering the US.
In some instances the order separated mothers from young children and husbands from wives as people with valid entry visas were stranded in countries around the world.
"I was shocked. She has a visa and they're telling her she can't go," Ahmed Ali said by phone on Monday from a hotel in the African country of Djibouti after authorities refused to let his 12-year-old daughter, Eman, board a plane with him to the United States.
Ali, his wife and their two older children are U.S. citizens but Eman was born in Yemen and has been living there with her grandparents.
The 38-year-old grocery store manager from Los Banos, California, said he spent five years trying to get Eman a visa and finally obtained one on Thursday. By Saturday, when they tried to leave, it had been invalidated and he said he wasn't sure what he'd do next. Meanwhile, he's worried that if he doesn't return home soon he could lose his job.
"It is racist," he said of Trump's order. "We are being targeted for our nationality and religion."
Also barred from returning is Khaled Almilaji, a Syrian doctor who has been attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on a scholarship while he studies ways to rebuild his country's health system. He said that his pregnant wife remains in the United States while he is in Turkey.
"It is really sad where the world is going to," said Almilaji, who risked his life to provide medical care during Syria's civil war and coordinated a campaign that vaccinated 1.4 million Syrian children.
Trump denied the order was to blame for chaos at the nation's airports where hundreds of legal residents with green cards were stopped and interrogated for hours over the weekend while many with valid entry visas were simply turned away.
Instead Trump blamed computer glitches and the large airport protests his order prompted as he took to Twitter to argue it was needed because there are "a lot of 'dudes' out there."
The president issued a 90-day ban on travelers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. He also suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely barred refugees from Syria.
Although thousands protested the order at airports around the country and civil rights groups and some members of Congress denounced it, Trump supporters say it is a needed safeguard.
"We need to know who these people are," said retired firefighter Charles Lewis of Topeka, Kansas. "I just don't think this nation is secure. We're a day late and a dollar short on everything."
One of the many the order barred is Luey Rabban, who works 16-hour days as cook in a Baghdad restaurant and who received refugee status in the United States about eight months ago. He was waiting for his turn to emigrate but said Monday he is unsure now if that day will ever come.
"I just want to come and see my family," Rabban, 47, said by phone from Baghdad through an Arabic translator at his brother's home in El Cajon, California, a suburb east of San Diego that has been a magnet for Iraqi Christians fleeing violence and, more recently, for Syrian refugees.
Rabban, who served meals to the U.S. military at the Baghdad airport from 2003 to 2011, said a U.S. Army officer helped him start on his refugee application six years ago.
Syrian brothers Bassam and Hassan Abouasali waited for 13 years to have their visas approved so they could join their brother, a U.S citizen, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he has a house waiting for them.
They finally got the visas last year but decided to spend one last Christmas in Damascus before leaving.
When they arrived at Philadelphia International Airport with their wives and children on Saturday they learned their visas had been canceled and they were sent back.
"They're exhausted. They're angry. They're frustrated. They're afraid," said their sister-in-law Sarmad Assali, a naturalized citizen who came to the United States when she was 13. "They don't know what they have done wrong to be treated that way."
Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner were dressed to the nines, were she was pictured wearing a USD 5000 Carolina Herrera-designed metallic silver gown. (Photo: Twitter/Ivanka Trump)
New York: US First Daughter Ivanka Trump has been criticised online for being "tone deaf" after sharing a picture of herself in a USD 5000 designer gown while protesters gathered across America against her father's controversial order to ban citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.
She and her husband Jared Kushner were dressed to the nines, were she was pictured wearing a USD 5000 Carolina Herrera-designed metallic silver gown alongside before the pair attended a swanky dinner in Washington.
The couple spent Saturday night at the annual black-tie Alfalfa Club dinner, which is held so the Washington elite can celebrate a new administration.
Many on social media criticised Ivanka's "tone-deaf" post, calling the couple "out of touch" and reminding them of the humanitarian crisis within our borders that was in progress around the time Ivanka posted the captionless photo, The Sun reported.
"Let them eat cake!" mocked the tweets and Instagram comments on Ivanka Trump's accounts.
Twitter users mercilessly mocked her for looking like a baked potato.
President Donald Trump had signed an executive order on Friday that bans entry of citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations: Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days and ban on refugees, including women and children, from entering America which will last for 120 days.
The move, which also included legal permanent residents and visa-holders from those seven countries, sparked an outrage, although the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), won a temporary legal battle preventing detainees from being deported.
Thousands of protesters gathered in airports across the country, while Ivanka and Kushner dressed up to attend the black tie event.
Social media erupted in outrage over the image, which Ivanka shared on her Instagram and Twitter accounts without a caption.
Mexico City: In kosher stores, synagogues and intellectual circles, Mexico's small Jewish community condemned the Israeli prime minister's support for US President Donald Trump's border wall as disappointing and shameful.
The Mexican government demanded an apology from Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, but the Israeli leader insisted that he was not referring to Mexico in his weekend message on Twitter.
"Netanyahu must apologize to the Mexican people for his disgusting statement," the prominent historian Enrique Krauze wrote on Twitter.
Calling Netanyahu a "lackey of Trump," Krauze said he "condemned, deplored and rejected" the prime minister's tweet.
More than 67,000 people practiced Judaism in Mexico during the last national census in 2010, compared to 92 million Roman Catholics, the country's main religion.
Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism during the inquisition first arrived in Mexico with the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, but many continued to suffer persecution in their new homeland.
Jews from other parts of Europe migrated to Mexico in the late 19th and early 20th century. Others came from the Syrian cities of Aleppo and Damascus.
Mexico City's economic development secretary, Salomon Chertorivsky, a descendent of Ukrainian and Polish Jewish immigrants, recalled that the Latin American nation embraced his ancestors by giving their new opportunities.
"For the thousands of stories like family's story, the prime minister's tweet is condemnable to me," Chertorivsky wrote on Twitter.
"I don't understand how somehow who today governs people who suffered the worst persecution can celebrate the persecution of another population, ours, the Mexicans," he said.
Another city official, Simon Levy, directed a tweet at Netanyahu, saying "Mexicans seek peace and prosperity. As a Mexican Jew I regret your position. I doesn't bring peace."
Netanyahu's own wall
Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said the Israeli government should apologize and "correct" its position, adding that his government has supported Israel in the international arena.
US-Mexican relations plunged into the worst crisis in decades last week after Trump ordered the construction of the wall to stop illegal immigration and insisted that Mexico will pay for it.
Israel built a more than 150-mile (240-kilometer) barrier along its border with Egypt, a route previously taken by many African illegal migrants and traffickers.
Trump hailed the Israeli wall as an example last week, prompting Netanyahu to express his support for the new US president's plans to build a wall.
"President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea," Netanyahu tweeted in English, adding the Israeli and American flags.
The Central Committee of the Jewish Community of Mexico said in a weekend statement: "We strongly reject (Netanyahu's) position."
On Monday, the Israeli leader denied he was referring to Mexico and he accused "the left-wing media" of attacking him.
Stay silent
Netanyahu's tweet was met with disapproval in the streets of Mexico City's wealthy Polanco district, home to a vibrant Jewish community, synagogues and kosher shops.
One shop manager, who refused to give his name like many in the Jewish community interviewed by AFP, said Mexican Jews "have nothing to do with the opinion of this man (Netanyahu)."
A 53-year-old Jewish man who headed to a synagogue said: "What Netanyahu said was not very sensitive. It was very unfortunate given what is going on in the world. He lost a great opportunity to stay silent."
Cops copping a feel. Is it a hate crime in Louisiana to react to this ... or complain?
Resisting arrest can now be considered a hate crime in Louisiana
The bill empowers police to pursue more draconian punishments if crimes are motivated by animus towards the police
In May of 2016, Louisianas Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards signed the Blue Lives Matter bill, which protects police officers, firefighters and EMS officials under the states hate crime statute. The law went into effect in August, and now at least one police chief is ready to apply it to anyone resisting arrest.
We dont need the general public being murdered for no reason and we dont need officers being murdered for no reason. We all need to just work together, St. Martinville Police Chief Calder Herbert told a local ABC affiliate. Resisting an officer or batter of a police officer was just that charge, simply. But now, Governor Edwards, in the legislation, made it a hate crime.
While the bill does not specifically list resisting arrest as a qualifying offense, it empowers police officials to pursue more draconian punishments of crimes deemed to be motivated by animus towards the police. The Huffington Posts Julia Craven offers a chilling scenario: If a police officer grabs a protesters arm during a demonstration and that person makes a movement the officer considers aggressive, a minor trespassing or disturbing the peace charge could be bumped up to assault and possibly considered a hate crime.
Just a brief note while I work on a longer piece about the bipartisan history behind the most obvious of the multiple coups we're experiencing, the Trumpian one.This has trial balloon written all over it. From Jacob Sugarman at Alternet The Trump administration has taken notice: "On WhiteHouse.gov , the Trump administration has vowed to make life uncomfortable for the rioter, the looter [and] the violent disrupter. It also pledges to increase the number of officers on the streets."Again, a trial balloon, but in this cop-and-prosecution worshiping country, it's almost guaranteed to take flight. After all, given the current Congress, I'd be shocked if a federal version wasn't attempted.Note also the provisional language in the write-up "can be considered" a hate crime. This means, the charge is available if the prosecutor wants to use it, selective prosecution, in other words, used against selected targets. After all, if the cop tells a judge, "She called me a 'pig,' your honor," ("pig" being a hippie-era epithet for "cop"), that may be all it takes to get a conviction. And note, the charge doesn't even have to be true, just asserted by police (who of course, never lie).As I said above, there are multiple coups going on, including an obvious one made invisible by the media and cheered by the Democratic Party (see " Whos Blackmailing the President? "). There are also at least two counter-coups, one hidden and big-footed by the other (for a hint, see " The Sanders Conundrum "). But the coup one in plain sight should not be ignored. It really is happening GP
Labels: Gaius Publius, Hate Crimes, Louisiana, police violence
The statement, which is also Obama's first since leaving the White House, also rejected the comparison between a 2011 temporary immigration order by Obama that halted Iraqis coming to the US and the broader ban by the Trump administration on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. (Photo: AP)
Washington: Coming down on President Donald Trump's executive order curbing immigration from select Muslim nations, his predecessor Barack Obama expressed his support to the protesters who have taken to the nation's airports to express their displeasure with Trump's announcement.
"President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country. The President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion," said Kevin Lewis, spokesman for the former president, in a statement, CNN reports.
Lewis added Obama feels the individuals protesting are "exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake."
Since Trump came to power 10 days ago, this is the first time that Obama has taken on the new President, breaking with an unwritten rule that former presidents refrain from criticizing the current White House occupant.
The statement, which is also Obama's first since leaving the White House, also rejected the comparison between a 2011 temporary immigration order by Obama that halted Iraqis coming to the US and the broader ban by the Trump administration on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.
Earlier, Trump had firmly defended his chaotically enforced ban and said "this is not a Muslim ban".
The U.S. President released a statement that insisted on the legality - and non-religious premise - of his orders to temporarily halt the admission of refugees and ban some travel.
"To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting," said Trump.
"This is not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe," Trump said, pledging to issue visas again "once we are sure we have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days".
However, the sudden order has left many people with legal visas, including refugees, stranded at airports in the US and the Middle East.
World leaders are opening their doors to those affected by the ban. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: "To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada"
Trump's order also calls for a review into suspending the Visa Interview Waiver Program, which allows travellers from 38 countries -- including close allies -- to renew travel authorizations without an in-person interview.
The online profile for Bissonnette, who made a brief court appearance on Monday, showed a wide variety of interests. (Photo: Facebook)
Quebec: The French-Canadian student charged in a shooting spree that killed six people at a Quebec City mosque was known in online circles as a supporter of far-right French politician Marine Le Pen and described by a former classmate as a nerdy outcast.
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, the sole suspect in Sunday nights shooting, was charged on Monday with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon. Police said he acted alone.
He was not previously known to police, but a Facebook post by the group Welcome to Refugees Quebec City said Bissonnette was unfortunately known to several activists in Quebec City for his pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist identity positions at Universite Laval and on social networks.
The online profile for Bissonnette, who made a brief court appearance on Monday, showed a wide variety of interests.
On his Facebook page, he indicated he liked Le Pen, US President Donald Trump, the separatist Parti Quebecois as well as Canadas left-wing New Democratic Party, the Israeli Defense Forces, heavy metal band Megadeth and pop star Katy Perry.
I wrote him off as a xenophobe. I didnt even think of him as totally racist, but he was enthralled by a borderline racist nationalist movement, Vincent Boissoneault, a fellow Laval University student, told the Globe and Mail newspaper. He said they frequently clashed over Bissonnettes opinions about refugees and support for Le Pen and Trump.
Bissonnettes lawyer, Jean Petit, declined to comment at the courthouse on Monday. Universite Laval confirmed on Monday that Bissonnette was a social science student there.
Bissonnette was a cerebral nerdy outcast, said former high school classmate Simon de Billy, adding the suspect and his twin brother were inseparable.
He was an avid reader, knew a lot about history and about current issues, current politics, those kinds of topics, de Billy said. He was just a bit of a loner, always with his twin brother, didnt have any friends.
He wasnt physically strong or imposing, and probably got a bit of a hard time, was probably not taken seriously. ... He would be kind of made fun of, the butt of the jokes.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to hear the Sahara refund case on February 6 after Subrata Roy's lawyer Kapil Sibal urged that this matter be preponed.
Earlier, the apex court had fixed the date of hearing in the case on February 7.
Roy's interim parole will expire on February 6.
In a major relief to Roy, the apex court earlier on November 28, 2016, extended his interim bail and ordered him to pay Rs 600 crore to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) by February 6.
During the hearing, Roy's counsel Kapil Sibal proposed to the three judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Tirath Singh Thakur, to pay Rs. 11,000 crore within a period of two-and-a- half years.
In October, 2016, the apex court had extended his parole till November 28 taking note of the deposit of Rs. 200 crores made by him with SEBI as a condition precedent for his release.
Roy was in Tihar jail since March 4, 2014, till his mother's death in May 6, 2016, for not complying with the apex court's orders in connection with a long dispute with the market regulator.
The SEBI alleged that Roy allegedly failed to comply with 2012 apex court order directing him to return investors more than Rs 20,000 crore with 15 percent interest that his two companies Sahara India Real Estate Corp Ltd and the Sahara Housing Finance Corp Ltd had raised through optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCD) in 2007 and 2008.
On May 6, 2016, the apex court had granted four weeks' custody parole to Roy to perform his mother, Chabbi Roy's, last rites.
Sahara, once one of India's most high-profile firms, had in the past made several failed attempts to raise the bail money using its prized overseas hotels that include the Plaza in New York and Grosvenor House in London.
Sahara says it has paid more than 80 percent of the dues to shareholders, but the market regulator, SEBI, disputes that and said the Sahara's have not paid more than Rs 10,000 crores.
"The acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," the White House said in a statement. (Photo: AP)
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday fired the acting attorney general, a holdover from the Obama administration, after she ordered Justice Department attorneys not to defend his controversial immigration orders.
In a sharply worded statement, the White House called Sally Yates "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration" and also criticized Democrats for not yet confirming the appointment of attorney general-designate Jeff Sessions.
"The acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," the White House said in a statement.
"This order was approved as to form and legality by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel," it said.
"Tonight, President Trump relieved Ms Yates of her duties."
Federal prosecutor Dana Boente will serve as acting attorney general "until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate, where he is being wrongly held up by Democrat senators for strictly political reasons," it said.
With Trump's White House facing multiple lawsuits and worldwide opprobrium over an order banning migrants from seven Muslim nations, Yates had whipped the rug from under her boss in a defiant and damaging parting shot.
In a memo to Department of Justice staff, Yates -- a career government lawyer promoted by Barack Obama -- expressed doubts about the legality and morality of Trump's decree, which has prompted mass protests.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is," Yates wrote.
"I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful," she added.
"For as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so."
Yates's directive means that the US government, at least for now, has no authorized courtroom representation in the lawsuits.
It was a remarkable act of defiance against a tough-talking president who has showed little sign of brooking insubordination.
Sessions vote upcoming
Sessions has not yet been confirmed by Congress. He faces a vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday and must then be confirmed by the full Senate.
If confirmed, Sessions would almost certainly reverse course.
But Democratic lawmakers have vociferously opposed Trump's order and Republicans are privately seething over the way his White House has handled the issue.
The order signed on Friday suspended the arrival of all refugees for a minimum of 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
Several federal judges have since filed temporary stays.
Firing Yates has uncomfortable echoes of President Richard Nixon's "Saturday night massacre" during the Watergate scandal.
Then, Nixon fired the Watergate special prosecutor, prompting the departures of his attorney general and deputy attorney general. The events catalyzed Nixon's impeachment.
On Sunday, attorneys general from 16 US states, including California and New York, condemned Trump's directive as "unconstitutional" and vowed to fight it.
The draft of the order was leaked and published by some news websites yesterday. (Photo: AP)
Washington: US President Donald Trump is expected to sign a new executive order aimed at strangulating work-visa programmes, including the H1B and L1 visas used by Indian IT professionals, as part of a larger immigration reform effort, a top White House official has said.
The executive order drafted by the Trump Administration not only strangulates H-1B and L1 visas, but also increases inspector raj and ends employment authorisation cards to spouses on such work visas, which was recently introduced by the previous Obama Administration.
The draft of the order was leaked and published by some news websites yesterday.
"I think with respect to H1Bs and other visa is part of a larger immigration reform effort that the President will continue to talk about through executive order and through working with Congress," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference.
"You've already seen a lot of action on immigration and I think whether it's that or the spousal visas or other type of visas, I think there's an overall need to look at all of these programmes. You'll see both through executive action and through comprehensive measures a way to address immigration as a whole and the visa programme," Spicer said.
As per the leaked draft order, Trump would reverse Obama's extension of the duration of the optional practical training work visas, which allowed foreign students to stay in the US a bit longer after completion of their studies.
Within 90 days of the signing of the executive order, the Secretary of Homeland Security would have to review all regulations that allow foreign nationals to work in the US and determine which of those regulations violate the immigration laws or are not in the national interest of America.
It would also immediately terminate all parole policies. The executive order will also ask the Secretaries of Labour and Homeland Security to restore the integrity of employment-based non-immigrant worker programmes and better protect US and foreign workers affected by these programmes.
The draft order seeks the administration to "consider ways to make the process of allocating visas more efficient and ensure that beneficiaries of the programmes are the best and the brightest."
It also proposes to establish a commission or advisory committee to analyse the nation's current immigration policies and their impact on the American society, economy, work force, and the foreign policy and national security interest of the United States.
The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year. Trump signed an executive order banning foreign nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries to enter the US on Friday.
About a million people are granted permanent residency in the US each year. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)
Washington: Many Americans got their first, confusing glimpse of the countrys complex immigration system when President Donald Trump announced he was temporarily banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US and suspending the nations refugee program.
Heres a look at the system:
What is a green card?
A green card is a permit given to immigrants who are approved to be in the country indefinitely and become known as permanent residents.
Obtaining a green card can take decades and involves a meticulous process. Some people never receive one.
About a million people are granted permanent residency in the US each year. A little less than half of them are sponsored by relatives who are American citizens, according to William Stock, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Stock says sponsors and applicants undergo interviews, criminal background checks, medical screenings and fingerprinting.
The process takes at least a year for the spouse of a US citizen who has never been in the country. Immigrants with more distant relatives can wait years longer.
If its a sibling, its 20 to 30 years for most countries, Stock said, adding that people from Mexico and the Philippines can wait 75 years for green cards.
What is refugee status?
Refugees from war-torn or dangerous countries must be diligently vetted before they can be resettled in the United States. The years-long process includes rigorous background checks for possible criminal and terrorist ties.
Refugees often live in camps outside their home country for years before the US decides whether to accept them.
Only about 1% of refugees in the world are resettled in new countries, and the US takes in about half of them, the State Department says.
The US accepted about 85,000 refugees in the year ending in September. Refugees differ from asylum seekers
Refugees must be approved to move the United States. Asylum seekers arrive on their own and then seek protection by the US government if they fear returning to their home country.
What is a non-immigrant visa?
Non-immigrant visas apply to people who come to the country on temporary status, including students, competitive athletes, tourists, human trafficking victims, au pairs and diplomats.
The category also includes foreign workers such as engineers and technical experts who work for Silicon Valley companies.
Some tech companies said they were dismayed by Trumps executive order because foreign employees represent a significant percentage of their workforces. Visas for such workers can usually be obtained within a year.
What visa is used for Iraqi interpreters who aid US troops?
The visa program for Iraqi and Afghan translators and interpreters and others who worked for the American government was created in 2006.
Iraqis and Afghans who apply for the visas are vetted in a similar way as refugees and are also entitled to the same public and private resettlement services.
There is a tight limit on the number of such visas granted. The government granted 37,000 Iraqis and Afghans special visas from 2007 to 2015, according to the Congressional Research Service, a non-partisan group.
The service says government officials try to balance the need to issue the visas in a timely fashion to protect applicants with conducting appropriate security screenings to identify threats.
Patel, who was born in the UK to an Indian family from Navsari in Gujarat, got embroiled in a dispute with her next door neighbour over some roof stones that got damaged during renovation work on the two-bedroom house, which has a market value of 250,000 pounds. (Photo: Pixabay)
London: A 43-year-old Indian-origin teacher in the UK has sold her home, which has a market value of 250,000 pounds, for a token of mere 2 pounds to ensure that she cannot be evicted from the property.
Rekha Patel has been locked in a feud with her neighbour over some building work dating back six years on the home. She spent 200,000 pounds buying the dilapidated two-bedroom cottage in 2010 in Simmondley village in Glossop and turning it into her dream home.
A court order had directed that the home be sold to recover legal fees and costs of around 76,000 pounds.
"I realised I will have more rights as a tenant than the owner so I decided to sever all legal ties with the house in order to live in peace in my own home," she told PTI.
She sold the home, built in the early 18th century, to two private companies recently and has signed a 10-year tenancy agreement with them to carry on living in the property for a monthly rent of 50 pounds.
"I had tried everything possible and had no other choice. There are proper agreements in place with the two private companies and these are people I trust. The people of this village have been absolutely lovely. Many have taken days off work to come out and support me," she said.
Patel, who was born in the UK to an Indian family from Navsari in Gujarat, got embroiled in a dispute with her next door neighbour over some roof stones that got damaged during renovation work on the two-bedroom house, which has a market value of 250,000 pounds.
The dispute landed in court, which ordered Patel to pay damages and legal costs to her neighbour. While she paid part of the amount, Patel disputes the remaining bill imposed on her.
She was evicted from her home in June last year over non-payment but re-entered a month later and has since been fighting against a court order for her home to be sold. She applied for the legal bill to be quashed by Manchester County Court last week.
"I feel the justice system needs to be fairer and accessible to everyone. I want to now put this entire matter behind me and move on. I want to travel to India and try and work on a book that would help educate others who get caught in a similar situation of being scared out of their own homes," said the maths teacher, who works at Glossopdale Community College in Glossop.
"Forgiveness is the way forward. It is between her and her conscience, she knows what she did was not right," she said, in reference to her neighbour.
Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he had ordered all police to stop prosecuting his deadly war on drugs as he sought to cleanse the force of widespread corruption.
However the crackdown, which has seen more than 6,000 people killed in seven months, was set to continue, with Duterte ordering the military and a drug enforcement agency under his office to carry on.
"I have ordered the police to stop all operations," Duterte said during a speech to present military awards at the presidential palace.
"No policemen in this country anywhere is allowed to enforce laws related to the drug campaign."
Duterte's comments came a day after he described the police force as "corrupt to the core", following a series of scandals in which officers were accused of using the drug war as cover for murder, kidnapping, robbery and extortion.
Duterte said then he planned to "cleanse" the police force before allowing it to return to the drug war frontlines, while in the meantime the drug enforcement agency would take the lead with the support of the military.
Duterte also on Monday extended the timeframe for his drug war until the end of his term in 2022. Previously he had imposed a deadline of March this year.
Duterte won presidential elections last year after promising to eradicate drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of people.
Since then, police have reported killing more than 2,550 people and nearly 4,000 others have died in unexplained circumstances, according to official figures.
Cascading scandals
Duterte had previously been unrepentant in the face of widespread international criticism of the drug war, including accusations the police were murdering people for their own gain and organising anonymous vigilante death squads.
He repeatedly promised to shield police from prosecution if they were charged with murder for killing in the drug war.
But the cascading number of scandals surrounding the police in recent weeks forced Duterte to act.
In one of the highest-profile incidents, anti-drug officers allegedly kidnapped a South Korean businessman, then murdered him inside the national police headquarters as part of an extortion racket.
Amnesty International said it expected the killings to continue regardless of Duterte's decision to pull police off the drug war.
"Even as the police claim to have halted their operations, President Duterte has pledged to continue his so-called 'war on drugs'," its crisis response director Tirana Hassan said in a statement.
"These contradictory statements offer little hope that the wave of extrajudicial executions that has claimed more than a thousand lives a month will end."
Duterte, who has previously threatened to impose martial law, said on Monday he intended for soldiers to take over some of the police duties in the drug war.
However it remained unclear to what extent the military would become involved.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella also said Duterte was considering re-establishing the police constabulary, a paramilitary force used by dictator Ferdinand Marcos to arrest a
Philippines' Duterte pulls police off drug war
Philippines drug war, Rodrigo Duterte, Philippines police
Duterte said then he planned to cleanse the police force before allowing it to return to the drug war frontlines.
AFP
Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he had ordered all police to stop prosecuting his deadly war on drugs as he sought to cleanse the force of widespread corruption.
However the crackdown, which has seen more than 6,000 people killed in seven months, was set to continue, with Duterte ordering the military and a drug enforcement agency under his office to carry on.
"I have ordered the police to stop all operations," Duterte said during a speech to present military awards at the presidential palace.
"No policemen in this country anywhere is allowed to enforce laws related to the drug campaign."
Duterte's comments came a day after he described the police force as "corrupt to the core", following a series of scandals in which officers were accused of using the drug war as cover for murder, kidnapping, robbery and extortion.
Duterte said then he planned to "cleanse" the police force before allowing it to return to the drug war frontlines, while in the meantime the drug enforcement agency would take the lead with the support of the military.
Duterte also on Monday extended the timeframe for his drug war until the end of his term in 2022. Previously he had imposed a deadline of March this year.
Duterte won presidential elections last year after promising to eradicate drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of people.
Since then, police have reported killing more than 2,550 people and nearly 4,000 others have died in unexplained circumstances, according to official figures.
Cascading scandals
Duterte had previously been unrepentant in the face of widespread international criticism of the drug war, including accusations the police were murdering people for their own gain and organising anonymous vigilante death squads.
He repeatedly promised to shield police from prosecution if they were charged with murder for killing in the drug war.
But the cascading number of scandals surrounding the police in recent weeks forced Duterte to act.
In one of the highest-profile incidents, anti-drug officers allegedly kidnapped a South Korean businessman, then murdered him inside the national police headquarters as part of an extortion racket.
Amnesty International said it expected the killings to continue regardless of Duterte's decision to pull police off the drug war.
"Even as the police claim to have halted their operations, President Duterte has pledged to continue his so-called 'war on drugs'," its crisis response director Tirana Hassan said in a statement.
"These contradictory statements offer little hope that the wave of extrajudicial executions that has claimed more than a thousand lives a month will end."
Duterte, who has previously threatened to impose martial law, said on Monday he intended for soldiers to take over some of the police duties in the drug war.
However it remained unclear to what extent the military would become involved.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella also said Duterte was considering re-establishing the police constabulary, a paramilitary force used by dictator Ferdinand Marcos to arrest and torture his critics.
He was toppled in 1986 and the newly democratic government of Corazon Aquino disbanded the constabulary in 1991 because of its abysmal human rights record.
"It's not yet official but as far as I know the Philippine constabulary may be reactivated," Abella told reporters.
nd torture his critics.
He was toppled in 1986 and the newly democratic government of Corazon Aquino disbanded the constabulary in 1991 because of its abysmal human rights record.
"It's not yet official but as far as I know the Philippine constabulary may be reactivated," Abella told reporters.
Bangkok: More than 100 refugees, including a teenager who had been on the verge of reuniting with his mother, have been left in limbo in Bangkok by Donald Trump's refugee resettlement freeze, a UN official said on Tuesday.
The widely condemned order signed by the US president on Friday unleashed chaos and confusion across the globe after it abruptly suspended all refugee arrivals for 120 days, with Syrian refugees barred indefinitely.
The United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR estimates that more than 20,000 people worldwide were slated to be resettled in the US during that window.
Among them are more than 100 living in the shadows in Bangkok, the capital of a country whose porous borders and air links draw refugees from around the globe yet does not recognise the right to asylum.
Thailand does not differentiate between illegal immigrants and refugees, leaving asylum-seekers vulnerable to arrest and deportation as they endure years-long vetting processes for resettlement in third party countries.
"We have a couple hundred refugees who were supposed to go the US" over the next 120 days, Jennifer Bose of UNCHR Thailand told AFP Tuesday.
They hail from strife-torn countries around the globe and include a teenage boy who is being held in a detention cell and was set to join his mother and relatives in the US in the coming weeks.
"Our office has been working hard to prove his family links in the US and supported his resettlement process," Bose said.
"Obviously this case is on hold now and we don't know what will happen. This is a case that is really troubling and heartbreaking."
Bose declined to reveal his nationality but said the boy hailed from one of the seven Muslim-majority countries, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen that Trump's order placed separate temporary travel bans on.
The United States' refugee resettlement programme has long been the world's most generous source of sanctuary for those fleeing conflict and persecution.
In 2015, the country was responsible for finding homes for 64 percent of those referred to world governments by the UNHCR.
"This week alone, over 800 refugees were set to make America their new home," the Geneva-based organisation said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Refugees are anxious, confused and heartbroken at this suspension", it added, describing UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi as "deeply worried" by the impact of Trump's move.
An estimated 150 women wear the full niqab in Austria but tourism officials have expressed fears the measures will deter visitors from the Gulf. (Photo: AP)
Vienna: The Austrian government has announced plans to ban the full-face Islamic veil in public places. The plan which would ban the burqa, niqab and other face-covering veils echoes calls that German Chancellor Angela Merkel made last month for a similar ban in Germany, the CNN reported.
The ban is being seen as a measure to contain the rise of the far-right Freedom Party whose candidate narrowly lost last months presidential vote. Detailing the package of reforms, the coalition devoted just two lines to the planned ban on the Islamic niqab and burqa, according to BBC.
We are committed to an open society, which also presupposes open communication. A full-face veil in public places stands in its way and will therefore be banned, it said. An estimated 150 women wear the full niqab in Austria but tourism officials have expressed fears the measures will deter visitors from the Gulf.
The document said Austria was introducing the reforms to ensure the state presents itself in a world-open and religiously neutral manner, adding civil servants, judges, prosecutors should show neutrality in the way they dress.
According to Gallup, Trump's disapproval numbers continue to tick upwards every day. Yesterday it was at the unprecedented-- for a new president-- high of 50%. Today it's at 51%. It took Bush 3 years to turn over half the country against him; it took Trump a week. In England, in just a few hours, nearly a million people signed a petition demanding the government cancel his state visit to their country. [UPDATE: After two days, the petition had nearly two million signatures. Brits hate Trump.] That's a lot more people than went to his failed inauguration. The petitioners' demands will now be debated in Parliament. They aren't calling for Trump to be barred from the country, only citing his "well documented misogyny and vulgarity" as reasons to keep him away from the Queen. "Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government," the petition reads, "but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen. Donald Trumps well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit."
Jeremy Corbyn has already called on Theresa May to put Trump's state visit on hold for as long as his horrific immigration and refugee executive orders are in place. Corbin's statement has had its intended affect and even May has reluctantly agreed that Trump's policies in these regards are horrible. "Immigration policy in the United States is a matter for the government of the United States, just the same as immigration policy for this country should be set by our government," she said. "But we do not agree with this kind of approach and it is not one we will be taking. We are studying this new executive order to see what it means and what the legal effects are, and in particular what the consequences are for UK nationals."
A thousand people/minute are adding their names to the petition. Preparations are underway to make sure that if Trump does visit London, he will be made to feel massively unwelcome-- even if Theresa May is still willing to hold President Snowflake's hand when he expresses fear of walking down a gentle incline . (Downing Street officials claimed the presidents phobia of stairs and slopes led him to grab the prime ministers hand as they walked down a ramp at the White House.) And there's more than just the grassroots petitions and Jeremy Corbyn that are putting Trump's trip to London in jeopardy-- "an extraordinary diplomatic row with the Prince of Wales over climate change."
Members of Trumps inner circle have warned officials and ministers that it would be counterproductive for Charles to lecture Trump on green issues and that he will erupt if pushed. They want the younger princes, William and Harry, to greet the president instead. Royal aides insist that he should meet Trump.
Senior government officials now believe Charles is one of the most serious risk factors for the visit.
Trumps team is also concerned that he will face a wave of protests, with thousands of people taking to the streets to denounce him.
Trump has repeatedly branded climate change a hoax and a money-making industry, saying it was created by and for the Chinese to damage American manufacturing.
Hours after he took office, references to climate change were removed from the White House website. By contrast, Prince Charles has been an environmental campaigner for more than 40 years and has described climate change as the wolf at the door.
Trump wants to abandon the international deal to tackle climate change that was agreed at a summit in Paris in December 2015. Charles delivered a keynote speech at that meeting.
A source close to Trump said: He wont put up with being lectured by anyone, even a member of the royal family. Frankly, they should think twice about putting him and Prince Charles in the same room together.
...Trumps state visit has also sparked concerns that the president will betray the confidence of the Queen and tweet about their exchanges.
Tensions between Trump and the royals could be heightened by a series of off-colour comments the billionaire once made about Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Asked by the radio shock jock Howard Stern whether he could have nailed Diana, Trump replied: I think I could have.
More recently, Trump tweeted about nude pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge saying: Who wouldnt take Kates picture and make lots of money if she does the nude sunbathing.
While the visit is expected in the first week of June, it is possible Trump could come in October instead.
The Atlantic dealt with the sticky question about Or never. Closer to home, David Frum, writing fordealt with the sticky question about what normal people of good will do when they're asked to serve the fascist regime
Some 40 people were indicted as a result of the Watergate scandal. Among those sentenced to prison: the attorney general of the United States, the White House counsel, and President Nixons two most senior White House aides. A dozen men were convicted or pled guilty to a range of charges after the Iran-Contra affair.
White Houses can be dangerous places under leadership that does not respect the law. When friends ask me, Should I accept a job under President Trump? its not merely a philosophical question. Answer the question wrong, and they may find themselves two or three years later facing a congressional investigation or possibly even a grand jury. Even those who never face charges-- let alone conviction-- can see their lives up-ended: As the saying goes, in Washington, the process is the punishment.
So how should a public-spirited person respond to an invitation to serve the country during the Trump years?
Lets start by assessing the four basic risks:
1) This administration has begun its career by shredding post-Watergate ethical standards. Trump has not effectively severed his connections to his business interests. He will not release his tax returns. The Trump Organization seems-- at best-- indifferent to appearances of commercial exploitation of the presidency. Anybody in the vicinity of Trump's finances, or those of his family, stands in danger of being caught in some future scandal, including tax and corruption investigations.
2) There remain disturbing unanswered questions about the relationship between the Trump campaign and Russian spy services. The new national security adviser, Michael Flynn, accepted payments from RT, the Russian state propaganda network. (He has refused to disclose the amount.) The legal hazards presented by clandestine contacts with hostile foreign governments are even more alarming than those connected to financial wrongdoing.
3) This administration lies a lot. Lying by public officials is usually unethical, but not always illegal. As White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway said during the Trump transition: Nobody on TV is ever under oath. But there are times when administration officials do speak under oath. Lying then becomes perjury. Lying to Congress is always illegal, whether under oath or not. People who habitually lie, lie habitually. Those who work with them can face trouble, even possibly obstruction of charges if they enable such lying: President Clintons White House counsel Bernie Nussbaum had to resign under fire in 1994 after other government officials alleged that his legal advice in the Whitewater matter amounted to the organization of a coverup.
4) Sometimes new administrations find themselves obliged to execute laws they disagree with. Changing the law can be slow. Ignoring the law takes much less timebut also opens the door to trouble. Ronald Reagans first EPA chief, Ann Gorsuch, entered history in 1982 as the first agency head to be cited for contempt of Congress. Gorsuch believed that the Carter administration had imposed excessive regulatory burdens. So she simply disregarded them. Convinced, for example, that the inherited rules on lead standards in gasoline were too onerous, she assured one refiner that she would leave the rule unenforced until such time as it could be amended. Gorsuch not only ended in disgrace herself, but embroiled two of her subordinates in perjury investigations.
So what is a patriotic American whos been asked to serve to do? A few suggestions.
A law-abiding person will want to stay as far as possible from the personal service of President Trump. As demonstrated by the sad example of Press Secretary Sean Spicer spouting glaring lies on his first day on the job, this president will demand that his aides do improper things-- and the low standards of integrity in Trump's entourage create a culture of conformity to those demands.
A wise patriot might be wary of working directly for or near Flynn or anybody else tied to the Russian state, the entities it controls, or Russian business interests. The National Security Council staff has engorged itself to such an enormous size in recent years-- now some 400 people-- that there are many important roles to fill, safely firewalled away from Flynn.
...If confronted with an improper or unethical situation, nobody need rush into career martyrdom. One of the heroes of Watergate-- IRS Commissioner Johnnie Mac Walters-- was asked to investigate individuals on Nixons enemies list. Walters, and his boss George Shultz, refused. Good people can do the right thing even under pressure. But be aware: The pressure to do the wrong thing can be intenseand the closer one approaches to the center of presidential power and prestige, the more intense the pressure becomes. Its easy to imagine that youd emulate Walters when reading the book he wrote four decades after the fact. But in the moment? In the Oval Office? Face to face with the president of the United States?
So maybe the very first thing to consider, if the invitation comes, is this: How well do you know yourself? How sure are you that you indeed would say no?
And then humbly consider this second troubling question: If the Trump administration were as convinced as you are that you would do the right thing-- would they have asked you in the first place?
We all know, Hitler didn't carry out the Holocaust and wage World War II all by himself. He had plenty of help. Some hung, others went to prison or fled. No one came out the better for working for his government. And Trump already has his eager, vile little helpmates , doesn't he?
British MPs will hold their first discussion on legislation giving the government the power to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, opening two years of negotiations on leaving the bloc. (Photo: AP)
London: Britain takes a key step towards leaving the European Union on Tuesday as lawmakers begin debating whether to empower Prime Minister Theresa May to embark on the historic divorce.
MPs will hold their first discussion on legislation giving the government the power to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, opening two years of negotiations on leaving the bloc.
While the bill is expected to pass the House of Commons, it could be delayed in the upper House of Lords as May's Conservative Party does not have a majority there.
The government had sought to exclude parliament, insisting it had the power to trigger Article 50 on its own, but the Supreme Court last week ruled it must consult lawmakers.
A majority of both houses of parliament opposed Brexit, but May has urged them to respect the result of the June referendum, when 52 percent of Britons voted to end the country's four-decade membership of the EU.
"I hope that when people come to look at the Article 50 bill they will recognise it is a very simple decision: do they support the will of the British people or not?" she told reporters on Monday.
May is under intense pressure to push the bill through quickly, having promised EU leaders that she will trigger Article 50 by the end of March.
Decision already made
At just 143 words, the European Union Notification of Withdrawal Bill has been tightly drafted, making it difficult to amend either to delay the government's plans or to tie its hands in the talks.
Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has promised not to block the bill, but his party like the wider country is deeply divided over Brexit and a large minority of his MPs are expected to rebel.
Dozens of May's Conservative MPs are also opposed to her plan to pull Britain out of the single market when it leaves the EU, fearing the damage to one of the bloc's biggest economies.
But most have promised to back the government, as long as ministers keep parliament informed on their strategy and the course of the negotiations.
"It is not a bill about whether or not the UK should leave the EU, or how it should do so," Brexit secretary David Davis said ahead of the debate.
"It is simply about implementing a decision already made, a point of no return already passed."
Several opposition MPs have submitted amendments to kill the legislation in its preliminary phase, but they are unlikely to succeed.
A vote on Wednesday allowing the bill to move to its next stage is viewed as largely procedural.
Over three days next week, however, the Commons will consider more substantive amendments on issues such as access to Europe's single market.
There are also demands for greater involvement from the devolved parliaments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the latter two voting in June for Britain to remain in the EU.
The bill will then move to the Lords for debate from February 20, with the government hoping for their approval by March 7.
The Times newspaper said this could mean that Britain, the first country to vote to leave the EU would trigger Article 50 at an EU summit on March 9-10.
The Article 50 process gives Britain just two years to negotiate its departure and, it hopes, a new trade deal with the EU before it leaves.
But the European Commission's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said the talks must be wrapped up by October 2018 to give the EU and national parliaments time to ratify the final agreement. May has promised that parliament will be able to vote on the final divorce deal agreed with Brussels.
Moretti, one of Italy's most prominent industrialists and the current boss of defence and engineering giant Leonardo, was sentenced to seven years in prison. (Photo: Videograb)
Lucca: Mauro Moretti, the former head of Italian railways, was Tuesday among a string of executives convicted over a 2009 freight train disaster that killed 32 people.
Moretti, one of Italy's most prominent industrialists and the current boss of defence and engineering giant Leonardo, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
But, like the others convicted, he will not serve any of it before at least the first of two possible appeals have been heard.
That could take years and there is a strong chance the charges could time out before a definitive conviction can be obtained.
Moretti was one of 33 people charged with manslaughter, causing a disaster and other charges in connection with the derailment and explosion of a freight train carrying liquid petroleum gas through the Tuscan coastal town of Viareggio on June 29, 2009.
The force of the blast brought down two small blocks of flats, where many of the victims lived.
Relatives of the casualties briefly applauded after the verdicts were pronounced in court, where empty chairs were adorned by T-shirts printed with images of each of the dead.
Neither Moretti or Michele Mario Elia, another top railways executive who was given a seven years, six months sentence, were in court to hear the verdicts.
Prosecutors had requested 16 years for Moretti and 15 for Elia. Not all charges against them were upheld.
Moretti, 63, has been in charge of Leonardo since May 2014. He was Italian State Railways (FS) boss from 2006-14.
The court proceedings and his conviction hit Leonardo shares which were down by more than three percent in mid-afternoon trading in Milan.
London: A prominent Labour party lawmaker has accused one of her Indian-origin lecturers at York University in northeast England of sexual harassment decades ago in a new autobiography to be published on Thursday.
Harriet Harman, UK's longest continuously serving woman MP, writes in 'A Woman's Work' that professor TV Sathyamurthy, who taught politics at the varsity, had offered to give her a better grade if she agreed to have sex with him in the 1970s.
"Towards the end of my time at York, one of my tutors, TV Sathyamurthy, called me in to talk about my final degree. He told me that I was borderline between a 2:1 and a 2:2 but that if I had sex with him it would definitely be a 2:1," she writes in her memoir, a preview copy of which was seen by PTI.
"I found him repulsive and had no doubt that, if that was what it took to get a 2:1, I'd settle for a 2:2. I had no commitment to the course and my family's hopes were not pinned on my achieving any academic distinction, so I had no hesitation in repelling his advances," notes the 66-year-old, who has been an MP from southeast London since 1982.
Despite rejecting the alleged advances, Harman writes, shewent on to get a 2:1, equivalent to a first division, anyway.
Sathyamurthy was born in Chennai in 1929 and studied at the Banaras Hindu University before moving to the US and then Britain, which he made his home in 1967. He authored a number of books on politics, including a series titled 'Social Change and Political Discourse in India', died in York in 1998.
His ex-wife, poet and author Carole Satyamurti, described him as a "highly principled" man who would have in no way made such an offer in all seriousness. "From my knowledge of him, there is no way he would, in all seriousness, have offered higher marks for sex in the way Harman describes," she told PTI.
"Sathya was an exuberant, brilliant man who liked provoking people. He was also highly principled. Nearly 20 years after his death, there is clearly no way of knowing what happened. I am not accusing Ms Harman of making the story up.
But my guess is that, as a somewhat heavy-going and humourless young woman, she misconstrued what was meant as a provocative joke, and took Sathya's remarks literally," said Satyamurti, the author of 'Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling'. She also described Harman's decision to refer to her ex-husband by name in the book years after his death as "ethically despicable".
"Sathya obviously cannot give his version of the event. The pain caused to his family, his daughter in particular, seems completely gratuitous. Perhaps Harman's publisher pressed her to provide a name with a view to stirring prurient interest in the book. Whatever the reason, I find what she has done ethically despicable," she added.
But Harman found that a friend who was on the same politics course had a similar experience with the professor.
"She didn't dare risk returning home with a 2:2 and so had succumbed to his pressure to have sex with him. It was only years later that we discovered he'd tried the same thing with both of us," writes Harman, who graduated from the course in 1972.
The Labour party's former deputy leader goes on to explain that at the time neither of them had considered telling anyone else. "There wasn't anyone to complain to, he'd only deny it, and though it was vile, it seemed to be just the way things were," she says.
York University described the allegations published in the new book as "extremely concerning". "Behaviour of the sort described by Ms Harman would constitute gross misconduct and would lead to dismissal," a spokesperson said.
Demonstrators hold banners during a protest against U.S President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban on refugees and people from seven mainly-Muslim countries, outside Downing Street in London. (Photo: AP)
London: Thousands of protesters took to streets across the UK to protest against US President Donald Trump's immigration ban on people from seven Muslim majority countries and Prime Minister Theresa May's refusal to withdraw invitation for his official state visit to the UK.
The protesters chanted slogans of "Down with Trump" and "Shame on May" to protest May's decision not to withdraw the invitation to Trump for a State Visit to the UK later this year.
In London, swarms of protesters gathered outside Downing Street last night with similar crowds in towns and cities across Britain, including Edinburgh, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Manchester, Brighton, Birmingham and Leeds.
Indian-origin shadow attorney general, Shami Chakrabarti, told the event in London: "It is in sadness and solidarity that we gather here this evening. I also hope, friends, that we stand here in solidarity with all the world's women who thepresident has insulted and all the desperate refugees that he would spurn."
UK's shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, told the crowd she had come on behalf of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
She said: "Donald Trump has been president for only a few days and look at what he is doing. We need to resist the Islamophobia and scapegoating of Muslims, we have got to resist it whether it is in the United States or here in the UK."
The protests came as an online petition seeking cancellation of Trump's State Visit crossed the one million signature-mark to be considered for a debate in British Parliament.
By Monday more than 1.5 million people had signed the online petition calling for the state visit to be cancelled because Trump's "well-documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him" from meeting the queen.
The British Prime Minister today refused to back down on inviting Trump for the state visit, which involves lavish pomp and ceremony, often with a stay at Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.
"The US is a close ally of the UK, we work together across many areas of mutual interest and we have that special relationship between us," May told in a press conference in Dublin.
"I have issued that invitation for a state visit to President Trump to the UK and that invitation stands," she said.
She, however, said that "in relation to the policies that have been announced by the US, the UK takes a different approach."
Meanwhile, British MPs today held an emergency debate in the House of Commons on the executive order, which affects nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
"The general principle is that all British passport holders remain welcome to travel to the US," UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson told the House of Commons.
He added: "We have received assurances from the US embassy that this executive order will make no difference to any British passport holder, irrespective of their country of birth or whether they hold another passport.
"This is not our policy, nor is it a measure that this government would consider. I have already made clear our anxiety about measures that discriminate on grounds of nationality in ways that are divisive and wrong."
There were some fears that British citizens holding dual nationality of any of the seven countries on Trumps list may be denied entry to the US.
The group was transiting through Schiphol, one of Europe's busiest travel hubs on a KLM flight from Tehran to catch connecting flights to different cities in the United States. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)
The Hague: Six Iranians travelling to the US have spent three nights stuck in transit at Amsterdam airport, angry and humiliated by the sudden decision to deny them entry.
"This is a very confusing and contradictory state to be in," Pedram, a 33-year-old doctor, told AFP on Tuesday, speaking by phone from the transit lounge at Schiphol airport.
He and the five others, a PhD student, and two married couples heading to visit their children in the United States have been left stunned by President Donald Trump's executive order blocking entry to citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The group was transiting through Schiphol, one of Europe's busiest travel hubs on a KLM flight from Tehran to catch connecting flights to different cities in the United States.
"When we set off from Tehran nothing was said about Trump's new rules. They gave me a boarding pass and everything was OK," said another of the group, a 29-year PhD student, who asked to remain anonymous.
But when he landed at Schiphol airport on Saturday he had to go through another security check and was pulled to one side.
An officer from the US immigration services "told me that I no longer had the allowance to go into the country."
He was travelling to Minnesota to begin a six-month collaboration at the university researching water treatment systems, on a valid non-immigrant visa which took him several months to secure. His return was booked for October.
The small group were strangers before, but with no visas to enter the EU they have spent three nights together stuck in limbo, sleeping on sofas and chairs in the airport's transit lounge.
KLM staff have tried to help them by providing food, and finding a place to shower. But despite visits from US embassy staff, and even from Dutch lawyers trying to resolve their case, they remain uncertain what to do next.
Although booked on a KLM flight back to Tehran later Tuesday, not all of them have decided yet whether to return home or to stay and see if they are allowed to continue on onwards flights.
Pedram, who asked to be identified only by his first name, was heading via Detroit to the University of Pittsburgh, to take up a 12-month post-doctoral research scholarship into pancreatitis.
Like the others, he underwent months of stringent security checks to obtain his visa. With no US embassy in Tehran, those seeking permission to enter the United States have to travel outside Iran, usually to the Gulf states, to get visas.
"I can't imagine anyone who is further from a security threat than I am. I consider myself a physician, doing a scientific job and research," Pedram said.
"I know there is a lot of politics behind the scenes, but personally this is senseless," Pedram said.
Rawalpindi: Pakistan wants peace with India and resolution of all issues, including Kashmir, through talks on the basis of self-respect and honour, the army said on Tuesday.
"We want the Kashmir issue to be resolve via United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness," Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters in Rawalpindi.
He said Pakistan wants resolution of all issues through talks on the basis of self-respect and honour.
"India is working on a plan and that's why it staged a drama of surgical strike. Armed forces and the people are ready to respond to any misadventure by India," he said.
India maintains that its forces last year conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting terrorists and destroying their training camps.
Ghafoor said India committed 945 ceasefire violations across the LoC and international border over the past three years.
In response to a question on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is in Pakistani custody, Ghafoor said that his matter will be addressed as per Pakistani laws.
Jadhav, who was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran, has been accused by Pakistan of planning"subversive activities" in the country.
Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav, who said he was the serving Indian Navy officer.
India has acknowledged Jadhav as a retired Indian Navy officer, but denied the allegation that he was in any way connected to the government.
Maj Gen Ghafoor also underlined that Pakistan had stationed 200,000 troops on the western border with Afghanistan as the "strategic threat" was not over as yet.
He said the kinetic part of military operation against militants had been completed but Intelligence-based Operations and combing operations were going on.
"We will continue these operation until any remaining terrorists are eliminated," he said.
He said over 70,000 Pakistanis lost their lives since the launch of war against terror in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan was worried over the situation in Afghanistan and would held help Afghans to achieve peace. Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will pay a visit to Afghanistan at a suitable dates, he added.
Rawalpindi: In an unusual move, Pakistan's army on Tuesday said the detention of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a "policy decision in the national interest" as the government announced that the Jamat-ud Dawa leader's 90-day house arrest could be extended if required.
"The detention is a policy decision taken in the national interest. The relevant department may give more information in a day or two and the situation will become clearer," Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters in Rawalpindi.
Saeed and four other JuD leaders were put under house arrest after order of detention was issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry on Monday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.
His aides, Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz were detained and placed under house arrest in Chauburji near JuD's Lahore headquarters.
"Although they belong to different districts of Punjab but the government has decided to place them under arrest in one house in Lahore," a senior police officer told PTI.
"The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required," an interior ministry official told PTI.
"The government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days," he said, adding that the names of several JuD and FIF activists have been placed on Exit Control List to stop them from leaving the country.
Maj Gen Ghafoor said Pakistan wants peace with India and resolution of all issues including Kashmir through talks held on the basis of self-respect and honour, but it should not be considered as weakness.
"We want the Kashmir issue to be resolve via United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness," he said.
After the Punjab Home Department declared Saeed's Jauhar Town Lahore residence as sub-jail, the JuD chief was shifted there from its headquarters Al-Qadsia Chauburji today.
First Saeed was allowed by police to hold a press conference before he left for his home along with dozens of his supporters amid high police security.
"My detention order has come from Washington and not Islamabad. If someone thinks that after placing me under house arrest will help check freedom movement in Kashmir he is living a fool's paradise. My arrest will give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris' struggle against India," Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, told reporters.
Saeed further said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that he would get respite in Kashmir after his (Saeed) arrest he is seriously mistaken.
"We have declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris. All programmes we planned for Feb 5 will be held across Pakistan and (Pakistan-occupied) Kashmir," he said, and vowed to challenge his detention in the Lahore High Court.
Opposition in the Pakistan Punjab Assembly today staged a walkout to protest against Saeed's detention.
The opposition which is led by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party said the PML-N government has taken the step on the pressure of the Trump and Modi administrations.
Demonstrations were held in different cities including Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta to protest against Saeed's arrest.
His supporters also protested in Islamabad, denouncing the decision, according to an official of interior ministry who was monitoring the situation after Saeeds arrest.
"Everyone knows here that the Nawaz government succumbs to the pressure of the Trump administration and took action against Saeed, JuD and FIF," JuD leader Hafiz Abdul Majid Bhatti said while addressing a gathering in Lahore.
"We will continue protesting the government's action against our leaders and organisations," he vowed.
According to the Punjab Home Department notification, "Both JuD and FIF are engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of Pakistan's obligations to the UN Security Council Resolution.
And accordingly both organisations have been placed in the Second Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997."
Similarly, it said Saeed is engaged in certain activities which could be "prejudicial to peace and security".
He is placed in the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and put under detention for a period 90 days. The interior ministry in separate notification has also put JuD and FIF on the watch list for six months.
Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the state has taken certain actions against the JuD regarding its obligations to the UNSC resolution.
The News said that the government decided to put JuD and FIF into a watch list and approved freezing of their assets, cancelling passports and arms licenses under the UN resolution 1267 to comply with the conditions of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for maintaining Pakistan on the white list.
The government has issued instructions to all concerned departments, including the State Bank of Pakistan, commercial banks, law enforcement agencies at the federal level including Federal Bureau of Revenue, Federal Investigation Agency as well as provincial governments to implement all these orders.
Pakistan will submit its compliance report to FATF today on account of implementing money laundering laws in an effective manner, which will be a pre-requisite to maintain the country in the white list of FATF, the paper said.
In case of non-compliance, Pakistan might have slipped into grey and negative and danger zone in terms of labelling it in the negative list on account of terrorism financing.
The FATF, an inter-governmental body, was founded by the G-7 Group in 1989 to set standards for AML/CTF. It had placed Pakistan on its grey list in Feb 2012, meaning that the country was not fully compliant with standards set by the FATF for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
There have been reports that Islamabad has immense pressure from new US administration to take action against Saeed and his organisations. Saeed was also put under house arrest after Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 but he was freed by court in 2009.
Lahore: With the Trump administration mounting pressure, Pakistani authorities tonight put Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and four others under detention under an Anti-Terrorism Act.
Saeed was at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji in Lahore when police descended there to implement the order of detention issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry yesterday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27, JuD activists and Pakistani media said.
In the meantime, Saeed from his residence, released a video footage in which he blamed the growing Indo-US relations for his house arrest. He said that Trump had pressurized Pakistan government to arrest him so that he could strengthen his friendship with Modi.
He "is at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji and a heavy contingent of police has surrounded the JuD headquarters," JuD official Ahmed Nadeem, who was present at the premises of the outfit, told PTI by phone.
"The commanding police officer told us that he has with him the house arrest order of the JuD chief issued by the Punjab Home Department," Nadeem said.
"We are going to shift Hafiz Saeed from Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji to his Jauhar Town residence to place him under house arrest on the order of the government," a senior police officer said.
Saeed's residence has been declared sub-jail, he said. National flags were hoisted at the JuD offices in Lahore, instead of party flags, on the directives of provincial home department, local media reports said.
The provincial authorities have also started to remove the banners of JuD from the roads of Lahore, the reports said. Nadeem said the Pakistani government had been under pressure from the United States to take action against Saeed or face sanctions. "This government has buckled under the pressure," he said.
Three days back, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had included names of Saeed and four others -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- in the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and ordered theirpreventive detention.
Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz were also also taken into preventive custody, Pakistani media reported.
Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JuD and Saeed to avoid sanctions.
JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26,2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.
In a notification issued on January 27, Pakistan's Interior Ministry had said "...on the basis of report sent by Ministry of Foreign Affairs ..., the Federal government, having reasons to believe, that Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) organisation is engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of
Pakistan's obligations to the United Nations Security Council Resolution No 1267."
It directed the Punjab government to put the organisation on the Watch List.
In a similar order, the Federal government directed putting Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) on the Watch List for a period of 6 months, which is extendable.
Citing these directives from the Federal governent, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had issued an order yesterday, in which it "placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and
Jamaat-Ud-Dawa (JUD) on the Watch List and have listed these organizations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended)".
Under this section of ATA, the government has the power to arrest and detain suspected persons.
"Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz are reportedly active members of the aforementioned organizations within the meaning of Section 11EEE(1) of the ATA 1997 (as amended). As such, they must be placed under preventive detention," the order said.
The notification asked the Home Secretary to "kindly direct the concerned agencies to move and take necessary action" as the matter "is most urgent".
Earlier during the day, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the PML-N government was taking steps to "fulfil our obligations" with regard to JuD.
The organisation [JuD] has been under observation since 2010-11. Since it has also been listed by the UN Security Council [Sanctions Committee], we are bound to take some steps. We are taking those steps to fulfill our obligations, he told reporters after inaugurating a passport office in Islamabad.
JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014. Saeed also carries a reward of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities.
A few hours before his detention, Saeed said he does not care if his organisation faces any "curbs" for raising voice for "oppressed Kashmiris".
"I don't care if the government places some curbs on us on the pressure of the United States and India. India is putting pressure on Pakistan through the US to take action against us," Saeed said while talking to a group of senior journalists here at a local hotel this afternoon.
He warned the Nawaz Sharif government that the JuD would move court if any curbs were placed on it.
Saeed said the JuD would hold a march from Lahore to Islamabad and Karachi to Islamabad to put pressure on the government to raise the issue of Kashmir at international fora.
The United States is determined to disrupt the fundraising and support network of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In pursuit of that goal, on January 10, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, designated four individuals as Specially Designated Global Terrorists pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.
The individuals designated include ISIL members based in Iraq, Syria, and Indonesia who are involved in ISILs propaganda, recruitment, and support networks in Southeast Asia and Australia. As a result of OFACs actions, all property and interests in property of these individuals subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
The first designee is Neil Christopher Prakash who was named for acting for or on behalf of ISIL. He served as ISILs most senior Australian recruiter and encouraged others to travel to Syria and Iraq to join ISIL.
As of June 2015, Prakash was publically identified as a top ISIL recruiter who facilitated the travel of new recruits, appeared in high-profile ISIL recruitment videos, and was named in a list of key contacts for aspiring ISIL foreign fighters.
Khaled Sharrouf is a Syria- and Iraq-based ISIL member who has been involved in distributing propaganda and carrying out executions on behalf of ISIL.
Bachrumsyah Mennor Usman is an ISIL official who commands ISIL fighters, facilitates funding for ISIL operations in Indonesia, recruits for ISIL, and coordinates travel and communications for ISIL members.
Oman Rochman was designated for acting for or on behalf of ISIL in the areas of recruitment and media dissemination, and as of late-2015 was considered to be the de facto leader for all ISIL supporters in Indonesia, despite his incarceration in Indonesia since December 2010.
These designations aim to cut off ISILs access to the international financial system, and support the global coalitions efforts to disrupt ISILs finances and defeat the terrorist group. As ISIL seeks to recruit individuals around the world, the U.S. government will continue to target its enablers wherever they may be.
In an unusual move, Pakistan's army today said the detention of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a "policy decision in the national interest" as the government announced that the Jamat-ud Dawa leader's 90-day house arrest could be extended if required.
"The detention is a policy decision taken in the national interest. The relevant department may give more information in a day or two and the situation will become clearer," Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters here.
Saeed and four other JuD leaders were put under house arrest after order of detention was issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry yesterday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.
His aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz - were detained and placed under house arrest in Chauburji near JuD's Lahore headquarters.
"Although they belong to different districts of Punjab but the government has decided to place them under arrest in one house in Lahore," a senior police officer told PTI.
"The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required," an interior ministry official told PTI.
"The government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days," he said, adding that the names of several JuD and FIF activists have been placed on Exit Control List to stop them from leaving the country.
Maj Gen Ghafoor said Pakistan wants peace with India and resolution of all issues including Kashmir through talks held on the basis of self-respect and honour, but it should not be considered as weakness.
"We want the Kashmir issue to be resolve via United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness," he said.
After the Punjab Home Department declared Saeed's Jauhar Town Lahore residence as sub-jail, the JuD chief was shifted there from its headquarters Al-Qadsia Chauburji today.
First Saeed was allowed by police to hold a press conference before he left for his home along with dozens of his supporters amid high police security.
"My detention order has come from Washington and not Islamabad. If someone thinks that after placing me under house arrest will help check freedom movement in Kashmir he is living a fool's paradise. My arrest will give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris' struggle against India," Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, told reporters.
Saeed further said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that he would get respite in Kashmir after his (Saeed) arrest he is seriously mistaken.
"We have declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris. All programmes we planned for Feb 5 will be held across Pakistan and (Pakistan-occupied) Kashmir," he said, and vowed to challenge his detention in the Lahore High Court.
Opposition in the Pakistan Punjab Assembly today staged a walkout to protest against Saeed's detention.
The opposition which is led by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party said the PML-N government has taken the step on the pressure of the Trump and Modi administrations.
Demonstrations were held in different cities including Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta to protest against Saeed's arrest.
His supporters also protested in Islamabad, denouncing the decision, according to an official of interior ministry who was monitoring the situation after Saeeds arrest.
"Everyone knows here that the Nawaz government succumbs to the pressure of the Trump administration and took action against Saeed, JuD and FIF," JuD leader Hafiz Abdul Majid Bhatti said while addressing a gathering in Lahore.
"We will continue protesting the government's action against our leaders and organisations," he vowed.
According to the Punjab Home Department notification, "Both JuD and FIF are engaged in certain activities which could be prejudicial to peace and security and in violation of Pakistan's obligations to the UN Security Council Resolution. And accordingly both organisations have been placed in the Second Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997."
Similarly, it said Saeed is engaged in certain activities which could be "prejudicial to peace and security".
He is placed in the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and put under detention for a period 90 days.
The interior ministry in separate notification has also put JuD and FIF on the watch list for six months.
Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the state has taken certain actions against the JuD regarding its obligations to the UNSC resolution.
The News said that the government decided to put JuD and FIF into a watchlist and approved freezing of their assets, cancelling passports and arms licenses under the UN resolution 1267 to comply with the conditions of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for maintaining Pakistan on the white list.
The government has issued instructions to all concerned departments, including the State Bank of Pakistan, commercial banks, law enforcement agencies at the federal level including Federal Bureau of Revenue, Federal Investigation Agency as well as provincial governments to implement all these orders.
Pakistan will submit its compliance report to FATF today on account of implementing money laundering laws in an effective manner, which will be a pre-requisite to maintain the country in the white list of FATF, the paper said.
In case of non-compliance, Pakistan might have slipped into grey and negative and danger zone in terms of labelling it in the negative list on account of terrorism financing.
The FATF, an inter-governmental body, was founded by the G-7 Group in 1989 to set standards for AML/CTF. It had placed Pakistan on its grey list in Feb 2012, meaning that the country was not fully compliant with standards set by the FATF for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
There have been reports that Islamabad has immense pressure from new US administration to take action against Saeed and his organisations.
Saeed was also put under house arrest after Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 but he was freed by court in 2009.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it had removed 12,486 banners in the city recently and lodged 2,855 police complaints. Police had registered FIRs in 138 in this connection. BMC also said it had launched prosecution in 920 cases, and also set up toll-free numbers, where citizens can complain about illegal hoardings. The court also asked the state government to appoint a secretary or secretaries of the rank of IAS officers to monitor and supervise the implementation of the provisions of municipal laws as well as the sections of Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.
The HC asked all the municipal bodies and district collectors to submit to such secretary the action taken reports on a regular basis. The secretary can hold video conference meetings with all of them to ensure effective implementation of the court's directions. The bench also directed the state government to ensure that the recovery of expenditure is made from the wrongdoers after taking action of removal of defacement in terms of section 5 of the Defacement Act.
The HC ordered the ward officers of municipal bodies to ensure that all illegal hoardings and banners are removed immediately and action taken against the offenders. The court also asked the local police stations to extend cooperation to the municipal staff in this endeavour. The HC ruled that similar protection be extended to all the state government officers when they take action of removal of defacement in accordance with the Defacement Act.
Offences under these provisions of the Act are non cognisable and action should be taken against wrongdoers, said the high court. The court ruled that in municipal areas, where there is a Commissioner of Police, he shall nominate one or more senior officers not below the rank of deputy commissioner of police to act as nodal officers to oversee the performance of duties of senior police inspectors in the context of directions issued by the high court against illegal hoardings.
In large cities like Mumbai and Pune, more than one of such officers shall be appointed to look into these issues. In case of those municipal areas, where there is no office of Commissioner of Police, the district superintendent of police, shall appoint a nodal officer not below the rank of Deputy SP for this purpose, ruled the high court.
The high court also ruled that district collectors would be responsible for enforcement of Prevention of Defacement of Property Act within their respective jurisdictions. For areas not included in municipal limits, the collectors shall appoint nodal officers to ensure there is no defacement. The court directed the state government to formulate a policy for civic bodies dealing with grant of permissions to display sky-signs and advertisements.
The Bombay High Court today asked the Election Commission to impose conditions on political parties at the time of their registration that they would not indulge in defacement of properties as per the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act and laws governing skysigns and advertisements. The high court also asked the EC to consider issuing proper guidelines to compel the registered political parties against putting up illegal hoardings and posters not only during elections, but all throughout.The order was delivered by a division bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka which heard a bunch of petitions filed by Suswaraj Foundation, Janhit Manch and others challenging illegal hoardings, banners and posters put up on roads, streets and public places by political parties and various other organisations. "It was high time that the Election Commission stepped in to ensure that political parties and its workers remained within bounds in so far as illegal hoardings, banners and posters are concerned," said the court.The bench further directed that a copy of its judgement be forwarded to the ECI as well as State Election Commission for considering these issues and taking necessary action. The court made it clear that the entire machinery set up under the interim directions, including the Grievance Redress Mechanism, will continue to function. The bench recorded its appreciation for the court commissioners appointed to check illegal posters, banners and hoardings in Maharashtra."We make it clear that though they will not continue as Commissioners, they can continue to render services by taking tours of different areas and filing complaints about the illegal sky-signs and advertisements." The PILs filed by Suswaraj Foundation and Janhit Manch's Bhagwanji Riyani alleged that political workers, NGOs and private organisations put up illegal hoardings, banners and posters in complete violation of civic rules all over the state, defacing private and public properties and spaces.The HC had, on November 26 last year, asked the municipal bodies across Maharashtra to take up a special drive against illegal hoardings, posters and banners. On September 16, 2016, the court again ordered a month- long drive against illegal hoardings and posters.
In the last few weeks, a spate of tiger deaths in Karnataka has been reported which has stirred concerns for tiger safety once again in the public mind. Questions are being raised about the conservation and management of the species. An attempt is being made here to explain the status of tiger conservation and its future.
Over the years, due to consistent protection effort by the forest department, the tiger numbers have undoubtedly increased all over the country and including in Karnataka. Tiger population in the country rose by 30% as per the last census in 2014, which pegged the number to 2,226. In Karnataka, the rise in the tiger numbers has been more than the national average, with the number increasing from 300 to more than 400 in four years.
Tigers are entering new areas and are being reported or camera trapped from areas hitherto unknown for them. Whether it was the tigress which had ventured into the neighbouring villages close to the Nagarahole National Park or the young tiger caught in a snare in Kodagu or the wild tiger which, a year ago, had been spotted in the Bannerghatta National Park, all of them have one thing in common tigers are moving out into new territories, beyond the areas meant death for them.
And this phenomenon is being observed not just in Karnataka, but in other parts of India as well. Recently, a tiger was spotted for the first time after 40 years in Darjeeling district. In the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, which has the second largest population of tigers after Karnataka, tigers are now being spotted in the most unexpected of regions such as Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary at an attitude of 13,000 feet and even in the backyard of Mussorie hills.
There are no known record of tigers ever found in these areas previously. There are similar stories in Goa, where tigers have been camera trapped at a sanctuary. Tiger mortality: We often forget that this majestic animal needs its own individual space to survive. A tiger marks its territory depending upon the prey base and fiercely guards it; and will not tolerate any intrusion by other emerging tigers and often this leads to bloody fights which may be fatal. More births will obviously mean more deaths. So tiger mortality is bound to go up with increase in its number.
Tigers in the wild have an average life span of 10 years and with Karnataka having 400 tigers, one can safely assume that at least 40 tigers will have to die in a year for natural reasons. The weaker, injured and older tigers are pushed into newer territories in search of food, often spilling them at the edge of the protected areas in direct confrontation with humans. It is here that the tigers are most vulnerable to poaching and also at the risk of getting trapped in snares set up for wild boars. Most of the tigers in news recently were operating in fringe areas of the forest.
The problem is only going to be more acute in the coming years. With 24/7 anti-poaching camps and use of technology, our protection levels are only going to be more robust giving the tiger and other wildlife a good chance to breed in the safe interiors of the forest. Thus, tigers will continue to spill out in more and more numbers in areas of less wilderness and sub-optimal habitat. In the last few years, the face of the countryside including the areas in the vicinity of wildlife reserves has changed rapidly with less and less scope for co-existence with man.
The road ahead
What is the solution? Should we have a military solution and erect foolproof fencing all around the parks and sanctuary without bothering about corridors linking to other protected areas or for the natural instinct of free ranging and migrating animals? Such harsh measures may not be required. Then how can we accommodate these increasing tigers? There is a possibility of increasing the space within the forests itself.
The forest dwellers in villages and hamlets located inside the sanctuaries could be rehabilitated to other areas for which people are now increasingly willing. The Karnataka Forest Department is already at it and work is being actively carried out in Kudremukh and Kali Tiger reserves. This will help in increasing the prey base and hence could accommodate more tigers. Similarly, sincere efforts need to be done to improve the habitat by removing weeds, which are a menace and have seriously affected the availability of quality palatable local vegetation.
The open spaces in the forest are excellent herbivore habitat and have to be managed like that. The rigid protection and fire control is permitting the tree species to encroach such open areas, reducing the availability of grasslands and this has to be prevented.
Even creating more such openings may not be a bad idea. The concept of buffer zones and eco-sensitive zones, as provided by law, are a positive step for safeguarding the wildlife interest in areas outside the core zone.
With development and infrastructure seriously threatening to encroach and fragment tiger landscapes as never before, there is almost no possibility of adding more areas around the parks or acquiring lands for corridors in the near future. The tigers and other animals operating in the fringe areas and coming in serious conflict with man, or the ones snared or grievously injured need to be rehabilitated elsewhere. This is urgently needed to reduce the man-animal conflict.
More rehabilitation centres, safaris and zoos need to be created and this could well be done in the tree parks being created in every district by Forest Department in Karnataka. The flipside of tiger success story is inevitable and will only magnify in the future. Thus, the faster the people, the policy-makers and politicians understand this, the more consciously the next steps could be taken.
(The writer is Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Department, Bengaluru)
Russia is warming up to Pakistan and its real. There seems to be a reversal in Russias South Asia policy with New Delhi and Moscow drifting apart. Russia is looking at the region through the prism of its larger geopolitical struggle with the West and seems ready to join the China-Pakistan axis.
China has found a new ally in Russia which is keen to tie up with Beijing, even as a junior partner, to scuttle western interests. Jettisoning its traditional antipathy to the Taliban, Russia is now indicating that it is ready to negotiate with the Taliban against the backdrop of the growing threat of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has emerged as an important player in this context where China and Russia are now converging to challenge a number of western objectives. Moscow and Islamabad held their first ever joint military exercise in September 2016 and their first-ever bilateral consultation on regional issues in December. After officially lifting an arms embargo against Pakistan in 2014, Pakistans military will be receiving four Russia-made Mi-35M attack helicopters this year. It is also likely that China-backed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) might be merged with Russia-backed Eurasian Economic Union.
In December, Russia hosted representatives of China and Pakistan to discuss developments in Afghanistan and the three agreed upon a flexible approach to remove certain (Taliban] figures from [United Nations) sanctions lists as part of efforts to foster a peaceful dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban movement. The three states underscored their concern about the rising activity in the country [Afghanistan] of extremist groups, including the Afghan branch of IS and underlined that the Taliban was a necessary bulwark in the global fight against the IS.
The Taliban obviously welcomed the move. It is joyous to see that the regional countries have also understood that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a political and military force, a statement issued on their behalf said. The proposal forwarded in the Moscow tripartite of delisting members of the Islamic Emirate is a positive step forward in bringing peace and security to Afghanistan.
Though the Afghan government too has reacted strongly against Russian attempts to bolster Talibans credibility, there are now indications that Afghanistan will also be invited in the next round of talks. Iran might also be invited. But so far no mention has been made of India, one of most significant actors in Afghanistan in terms of capacity building.
Indias policy vis-a-vis Afghanistan will also have to evolve with these changing ground realities. New Delhi has been demanding dismantling of safe havens and terror sanctuaries in the region, besides pressing for deeper engagement of various stakeholders for Kabuls stability. Thats easier said than done. Indian interests are being repeatedly targeted in Afghanistan. The attack on the Indian consulate in Jalalabad in March last year was the fourth such assault since 2007.
Other Indian consulates in Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif and the one in Kabul have also been attacked. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Afghanistan to inaugurate the new Afghan Parliament and the decision to gift Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghan forces were meant to underline Indias seriousness to preserve its equities in the troubled neighbourhood. India signed the TAPI pipeline agreement to showcase its continuing commitment to Afghanistans economic viability.
India has also signed a deal to develop the strategic port of Chabahar in Iran and agreed on a three-nation pact to build a transport-and-trade corridor through Afghanistan that could potentially reduce the time and cost of doing business with Central Asia and Europe.
Russias change of heart comes after helping the Afghan military by supplying helicopters and also agreeing to a supply route for coalition materials through Russia. But that cooperation is a thing of the past as contacts between Moscow and the Taliban have surged in recent years to an extent where the two have also shared intelligence about the IS. For Russia, the Taliban is a local nuisance and has given up the idea of global jihad whereas the IS are the global jihadists.
Broader shift
Zamir Kabulov, Vladimir Putins special representative for Afghanistan, has suggested that in so far fighting the IS is concerned the Taliban interest objectively coincides with ours. Russias warming up to Pakistan is part of this broader shift in Moscows foreign policy.
Russia has an interest in hyping the threat from the IS in Afghanistan and it is doing so rather effectively. As Russia works with China and Pakistan to engage the Taliban, jettisoning its historic animosity to the group, India might find itself regionally isolated.
The Afghan government is too weak to assert its primacy in the process. And given Trumps soft corner for Russia, if he decides to buy into the Russian argument, then Indias Afghan policy will once again be at a crossroads.
There was once a time when the US wanted to reach out to the Taliban. Despite the threat of isolation, India stuck to its stand on the group. Eventually, it were New Delhis views that prevailed as the Pakistani shenanigans made sure that the so-called peace process with the Taliban did not go anywhere. Today, India once again looks isolated.
New Delhi would be hoping that Washington and Kabul will heed its advice on Afghanistan and stand up strongly against the China-Pakistan-Russia axis to manipulate regional strategic realities to serve their short-term ends. But hope is not a policy and its possible that India may have to revisit some of the fundamental assumptions of its Afghan policy soon.
But India which was once complaining about the readiness of the West to talk to the Taliban is now faced with another reality: its long time close partner in Afghanistan, Russia, is now ready to engage with the Taliban. How India addresses this challenge will in all likelihood determine the final size of Indias footprint in its neighbourhood.
(The writer is Professor of International Relations, King's College, London)
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekars constituency of Mandrem in north Goa is also known as mini-Russia, owing to the fascination of Russian tourists for this sandy stretch. Mandrem will witness a four-cornered battle between BJPs Parsekar (60), a former school headmaster, and candidates fielded by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Congress and the AAP.
Political experts claim this is a close contest with no clear indication of which way the seawind is likely to blow on February 4, when the coastal state goes to polls. I am confident that I will win with a margin bigger than last time, Parsekar told DH on Monday. The chief minister won with a margin of around 3,500 votes in 2012.
Mandrem became a major tourism destination, only over the last decade and a half, with its beaches Morjim, Arambol and Ashwen hosting thousands of domestic and international tourists. But behind the shimmering tourism prowess, there are problems, including poor roads in the interiors and paucity of water supply, something which Parsekar acknowledges.
We have a new Electronic City coming up in my constituency. We are building a new water treatment plant for it, which will help provide 24x7 water supply for Mandrem, Parsekar said. But his opponents are not in a mood to be humoured by such promises. Parsekars rivals are Shripad Mandrekar of the MGP, which is in alliance with the Goa Suraksha Manch, Dayanand Sopte of the Congress and Devendra Prabhudessai of the AAP. Mandrekar is a former zilla panchayat member from Mandrem and his wife is a sitting member.
With just a couple of days left for polling in Punjab, politicians from all parties are queuing up at the doors of various sects and deras which wield considerable influence over voters in the state. In the build-up to a likely scenario of a split mandate, dera votes can play a crucial role. Some of the sects espouse an egalitarian philosophy, yet many have their dedicated political wings that take a call on supporting a party or a particular candidate.
In an estimated 40 constituencies out of 117 in Punjab, sects have their dominance. The Congress took an early lead last month when the party vice president Rahul Gandhi took a chartered flight to visit Dera Radha Soami Satsang in Beas near Amritsar. Along with Capt Amarinder, he spent a night at the sects dera. A couple of days ago, Rahul had also spent a night at Dera Sachkhand Ballan near Jalandhar. The sect has a huge following among the Dalits.
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and the Badals too have visited deras in the run-up to the elections. Politicians feel dera supporters vote collectively. Their votes have impacted the outcome of the elections in the past, as in 2012 when the SAD-BJP alliance gained in close to 20 seats because of sect votes.
In a three-cornered contest, where the AAP has managed a sizeable groundswell, the challenge for the Congress is to turn vote share into seats. The party got the maximum votes in the last elections, close to 42%, which was an improvement since the previous election. Yet the Congress got only 46 seats and lost the election to the SAD-BJP alliance.
The Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda is headed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and has a colossal following. Its chief has asked followers to remain united. The sect head has often come out with words of praise for Narendra Modi.
A day after 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed was placed under detention in Pakistan, New Delhi asked Islamabad to do more to prove its sincerity in combating terrorism targeting India. India on Tuesday took note of detention of the firebrand cleric and the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder in Pakistan.
However, New Delhi pointed out that he had been placed under house arrest in the past too, but had always been set free just weeks or months later, without being brought to justice for his role in terror attacks.
Exercises such as yesterdays (Mondays) orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi.
Saeed, who heads the political wing of LeT, Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD), was detained and placed under house arrest in accordance with Section 11- EEE(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1977, of Pakistan.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday made a strong pitch for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies of states. My government would welcome any decision taken by the Election Commission in this regard after consultations with political parties, Mukherjee said in his address to Parliament signalling the start of the Budget Session.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often talked of holding simultaneous elections first during an all-party meeting in March last year and later at a Diwali Milan function at the BJP headquarters here in November. Frequent elections put on hold development programmes, disrupt normal public life, impact essential services and burden human resource with prolonged periods of election duty, Mukherjee said in his address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
The President also called for a debate on funding of elections to eradicate the misuse of money power. Mukherjee had talked about simultaneous polls in his Defence Estates Day Lecture in December as well as his Republic Day address to the nation.
One of President Donald Trumps first actions was to issue a memorandum reinstating what is known as the Mexico City Policy - a directive meant to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not fund international organizations or programs that support abortion.
The Mexico City Policy was first introduced by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 during a UN population conference held in Mexico City. To receive U.S. family planning support, the policy requires foreign non-governmental organizations to certify that they will not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning.
The memorandum directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to the extent allowable by law, to implement a plan to extend the requirements of the policy to global health assistance furnished by all departments or agencies.
It also directs the Secretary of State to to take all necessary actions, to the extent permitted by law, to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not fund organizations or programs that support or participate in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.
Since it was first announced thirty-two years ago, the Mexico City Policy has been reinstated or rescinded by presidential administrations depending on which political party has been in power.
President Trump issued the memorandum reinstating the Mexico City policy one day after the January 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts 1973 Roe vs Wade decision legalizing abortion in the country. It was published just days after hundreds of thousands of people travelled to Washington to participate in the Womens March, whose platform favored abortion rights; and days before tens of thousands came to Washington to attend the annual pro-life march protesting the legalization of abortion.
At a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters President Trump has made it very clear that he is a pro-life president. He wants to stand up for all Americans, including the unborn The reinstatement of this [Mexico City] policy is not just something that echoes that value, but respects taxpayer funding as well.
Mr. Spicer said spending tax payer funds overseas for the purpose of abortion is contrary to the values of this president; and I think continue[s] to further illustrate, not just to the folks here in this country, but around the world, what a value we place on life.
The staff of the deputy commissioners office of Bengaluru Urban caught a 30-year-old man who was trying to flee with a box of seals, letterheads and envelopes on Tuesday evening.
The suspect, Syed Abdul, told the police he had come to the DCs office with files pertaining to Anekal, South, East, Yelahanka and Kanakapura to meet DC V Shankar.
Since Shankar was away, he said he would wait for his return. After waiting for a while, Abdul stole a box of seals along with official envelopes and letterheads from the office and began to flee. The staff raised an alarm and caught him after a chase. He was later handed over to Halasuru Gate police.
The police found several documents in his possession. Abdul apparently told the police that he was running from pillar to post to meet the DC to get his work done, but in vain and confessed that he stole the seals out of desperation.
However, the office staff suspect that Abdul was working for a builder and he came to the DC's office at his behest to steal seals and letterheads to fabricate and facilitate approval of documents. The police have registered a case, taken him into custody and are investigating.
Senior IPS officer Rupak Kumar Dutta on Tuesday took over as as Director General & Inspector General of Police. Dutta replaced Om Prakash, who retired on superannuation, as the state police chief.
Spelling out his agenda, Dutta said: Restoration of public faith in investigations at the police station level is need of the hour. The public have lost faith in investigations at the police station level. The public doubt investigations by the CID. People want every case to be investigated by the CBI. Some even urge courts to monitor the CBI investigation and set up special investigation teams. We need to restore public faith in investigations, he said.
Stating that public continue to dislike the police, Dutta asked his subordinates to bring police stations closer to people and win their confidence. I believe in team spirit and collective efforts. My dream is to make the Karnataka police the finest force in the country, with due cooperation and support from colleagues.
Transparency in administration and investigation will be hallmarks in my tenure, he said.
I am a man in a hurry as I am at the fag end of my career. I require each one of my colleagues to perform. Nobody in the department is my favourite or foe. I judge and gauge each one of my subordinates purely on the basis of their professional performance. Proactive policing, sensitivity towards victims as well as suspects and, openness in functioning are my priorities, he said.
Dutta, a 1981-batch IPS officer, said he would provide proper leadership to the Karnataka police force and restore its reputation affected by a series of developments in the department.
I will lead from the front. I will provide leadership through my conduct and integrity, he told reporters.
I dont want to comment on unhealthy developments and lack of leadership in the last four years. I am determined to create conducive, robust and clean atmosphere. There will be a lot of motivation for subordinates during my tenure. I will generate ideas needed to ensure the change, he said.
Dutta refused to answer why the Centre did not consider him for the post of CBI director. On reports that a former chief minister of Karnataka had impressed upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to consider him for the post, Dutta said: I am not aware of such reports. I am happy to be the DG&IGP. I would have preferred the DGPs post to that of CBI director if there was an option.
DH News Service
Womens safety in Bluru, a priority
Dutta said womens safety in Bengaluru is top on his agenda. A minor development involving women in Bengaluru immediately attracts international attention. There were certain developments on New Years Eve, exposing womens safety. I will have a meeting with the Bengaluru Police Commissioner Praveen Sood and chalk out a plan of action for womens safety. I welcome any suggestions by womens organisations in this regard. I am open for new ideas, he added.
Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy on Tuesday said Karnataka is against a common entrance test for admission to undergraduate engineering courses as proposed by the Centre.
The Centre or All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has so far not sought Karnatakas opinion on the proposed Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Main across the country for all technical institutes from 2018, he said. The AICTE will formulate regulations making it mandatory for all technical institutions to accept JEE-Main scores for admitting students. This is planned to avoid multiple tests for getting an engineering seat.
Rayareddy said, The Common Entrance Test conducted by Karnataka is working well. Why the Centre or AICTE should take over the exams? In a federal system, states should have freedom to function. Anyway, the Centre has not sought the opinion of Karnataka. We will convey our opinion when sought.
Director of Technical Education H U Talwar said, The Centre or AICTE has not issued any guidelines regarding the proposed common entrance exam. I have come to know about it only through the media. It is said that the new system would be implemented from the academic year 2018-19. Tamil Nadu has already opposed the Centres proposal to conduct a single entrance exam for engineering courses. It has argued that the Centre cant impose such rule on the states.
Tamil Nadu had reportedly registered its protest at a meeting that was convened by the Human Resources Ministry and AICTE on January 11, 2017. Hence, the Centre has decided to hold another round of consultations with the states.
Rayareddy and Talwar said they are unaware of any meeting having been held to take the opinion of the states.
Crime branch sleuths on Monday night arrested three people and seized Rs 4.12 crore of unaccounted for money at Kodigehalli in the city. The money was concealed in gunny bags packed with onions and potatoes. The arrested are Mohammed Afzal (23), Abdul Nazir (44) and Shamshuddin (39), all residents of Kozhikode in Kerala, police said.
CCB sleuths received information about suspicious activity at a house at Anand Nagar in Kodigehalli. After watching the house for a few days, police conducted the raid. They found unaccounted for cash of Rs 4.12 crore concealed in 35 gunny bags of onions and 10 bags of potatoes. The bags had been loaded into a goods vehicle. Around 75% of the money was in Rs 2,000 denomination, while 20% in Rs 100 and 5% in Rs 500, said S Ravi, additional commissioner of police (crime).
Preliminary investigations showed the three men were trying to transport the money from Bengaluru to Kozhikode. The police also seized a Toyota Fortuner vehicle used by the suspects, along with the goods vehicle. We are investigating the exact source and destination of the money. We will also investigate for what purpose the money was supposed to be used. We have informed the I-T department about the seizure, said Praveen Sood, police commissioner.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will collect only waste segregated at source from households, starting Wednesday. However, the civic body is poorly prepared to kick-start the drive that was planned two months ago. Those who do not segregate waste will be penalised. Initially, the penalty would be Rs 100, which can be increased to Rs 500 if the household repeats the violation. However, there is no provision for penalty on pourakarmikas who mix the segregated waste.
Ward-level engineers, pourakarmikas and the garbage contractors were to be educated on collecting only segregated waste. The pour-akarmikas were supposed to have separate bins in their carts for wet, dry and sanitary waste. However, none of these measures was put in place across the BBMP limits till Tuesday. Seena, who supervises a group of pourakarmikas in Bengaluru South region, said he has not received any training on segregation of waste at source. Also, pourakarmikas have not got separate bins to collect segregated waste, he said.
N S Ravi, president, Bharathi Nagar Residents Welfare Association (RWA), said no BBMP engineer ever met him regarding waste segregation. I want my city to be clean and implement the drive with the help of the Palike. However, no one has approached me or any of our office-bearers, said Ravi.
Mahalakshmi Parthasarathi, general secretary, Citizens Action Forum (CAF), a consortium of about 150 RWAs, said the Palike has neither conducted any education programme nor distributed handbills or organised street plays to create awareness on waste segregation at source. Though we are the biggest consortium of RWAs, no one has approached us, she said.
Many students to whom DH spoke, said no one from the BBMP came to their schools and colleges to educate them on waste segregation. When contacted, BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad said that for the last 10 days, the Palike officials have been meeting the RWAs and seeking their help. Pourakarmikas will carry loudspeakers in their auto-trolleys from Wednesday and announce that they will collect only segregated waste, he added.
The Palike had planned on December 1, 2016 to make segregation of waste mandatory from February 1 and decided to start a mega awareness drive from December 15, 2016. For the success of the drive, the Palike had planned to visit schools and colleges to educate students on the significance of waste segregation. It had also intended to distribute handbills, advertise in media and organise street plays.
Vodafone has confirmed that it is negotiating a potential merger of its Indian unit with Idea Cellular, in a move which would dramatically shake up the market.
The market number two confirmed that it was holding talks with Aditya Birla Group, which owns number three Idea Cellular, following prolonged rumours. The combined unit would surpass current market leader Bharti Airtel and steel the players against new competition from Reliance Jio Infocomm.
Vodafone stressed that a deal had not been agreed and was not certain to take place. The only details revealed were that the discussions centred on an all share merger from which Vodafones 42% stake in Indus Towers would be exempt. In addition, any agreement would see Idea issuing new shares to Vodafone.
The deal negotiations can be seen as a reaction to the market entry of Reliance Jio Infocomm owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani - which has challenged Indias Big Three directly by offering free voice and very cheap data to new subscribers. This has essentially fomented a price war, forcing the market leaders to reassess their offerings. Bharti attributed a 3%year-on-year revenue drop in the third quarter to the price war.
While Vodafone and Ideas potential merger seems to be an attempt to tackle Jios entry into the market, the upstart operator had in fact previously been mooted as a potential candidate for a merger with both Vodafone and Idea.
To allow its Indian operation to bid in the countrys massive spectrum auction last year, Vodafone had injected $7 billion into the unit a move which also halved the operators debt. As a result, Vodafone India was able to spend INR203 billion on 4G spectrum, making it the biggest spender in the auction. The firm has stated that it may spin off the Indian unit if the market becomes more amenable.
Meanwhile market leader Airtel is also pursuing consolidation, having reportedly made a move to acquire the Indian unit of Norwegian firm Telenor. By the end of Q1 2017, Airtel is forecast to have 267 million subscribers, while Vodafone India will have over 209 million and Idea more than 188 million.
Israeli operator Xfone has taken legal action in an attempt to prevent market leader Cellcom from forming a network-sharing arrangement with the owner of Golan Telecom.
In a court petition, Xfone claims that the agreement between Cellcom and Electra Consumer Products would violate a deal that it struck with Cellcom six months ago for the nationwide deployment of a 4G network.
While Xfone and Cellcoms deal has received approval from Israels Antitrust Authority, it has yet to be cleared by the Ministry of Communications. While Xfone expressed its opposition to the proposed deal between Electra and Cellcom, it added that it would be open to a tri-party agreement to create a new 4G network.
During Golans protracted hunt for a buyer, Xfone had been an early interested party. Electra eventually won out earlier this month, acquiring Golan and signing a ten-year network-sharing arrangement with Cellcom under the agreement that the market leader would drop a long-running legal challenge as well as providing a loan to the unit.
Xfone may not be alone in mounting a legal challenge, with fellow operator Partner Communications mulling whether to take legal action against Electras acquisition of Golan due to the Cellcoms involvement in financing the deal.
STC (Saudi Telecom Company) has reached an agreement to acquire tower assets from Atheeb Telecommunication for SAR230 million ($61 million).
The firm has not specified the number of towers covered by the agreement, revealing only that it will finance the deal via internal resources. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
STCs acquisition is an atypical move given that many operators in Saudi Arabia are divesting or merging their tower transmitters to private tower companies then leasing back the capacity in order to bring down costs.
In August last year, STC and Mobily began talks over forming a joint venture for mobile towers, but thus far nothing has been confirmed in this regard. Zain was also mooted as a potential candidate for tower-sharing, but has now stated that it aims to divest its tower portfolio by mid-2107 for around $500 million.
The Atheeb deal is not the only acquisition on the cards for STC the company was recently inked to a possible acquisition of a stake in Turk Telecoms majority shareholder Otas.
Airbnb will help artisans list their accommodation and experiences on the platform for tourists visiting the state
Airbnb has signed an MoU with the Department of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh to help promote the states art, cultural and craft heritage to a global audience. It aims to do so by helping artisans living in the state list their accommodations as well as experiences on Airbnbs platform for domestic and international travellers who are visiting Andhra Pradesh.
Airbnb is one of the most popular travel apps and offers locals a chance to offer their rooms or houses to travelers. Airbnbs Android app was also a winner of Googles Material Design Awards for 2016. The app won the award for Focused efficiency. Google said that the app was able to sidestep the appearance of complexity, making the overall experience feel comfortable. It also noted that this efficiency did not come at the cost of visual appeal.
Introduced last year in November, Microsoft Teams is a chat-based collaborative workspace which is available on all platforms including - iOS, Android and Windows. It is the Redmond based software giants answer to existing online workspaces such as Google Suite, Slack and Flock. In a way, one could say it is all of the above rolled into one single package and backed by Microsofts Office 365 tools.
Since its launch last year, Microsoft Teams has managed to garner more than 30,000 customers across 145 countries and 19 languages. Given the competitive space Microsoft is aiming to disrupt, this number might not be very significant. But that could change and from what we saw, it should. Before we get into the viability of Microsoft Teams, lets try and understand the space in which it is trying to exist.
Topping the popularity charts in the interoffice messaging space is Slack. A startup which sprung up in 2013, has now skyrocketed to gain much of the market share when it comes to cloud-based office collaboration. According to identity management service Oktas Third annual Business @ Work report, Slack has shown a tremendous uptake in popularity since 2015. From the 12th most popular office app in Oktas list, the Slack app moved up to the number 8 spot in less than a year, a commendable growth of 44%. This, while Microsoft owned Yammers popularity saw a decline, as per the same report.
Why Microsoft Teams?
While Microsoft was always big on collaborative workspaces assisted by cloud-based productivity offerings, Teams take it to the next level. With Teams, Microsoft aims to connect workspaces across the web, across different timezones and productivity tools. As per an internal survey conducted by the company in emerging as well as developed markets, employees work on two times more teams now, than 5 years ago.
A chat-based workspace is for people who are engaged in conversations that are fast, active" - Microsoft
To facilitate better communication between these teams, Microsoft came up with 'Teams', a place where employees can not only chat with each other, but collaborate on Word documents, Excel sheets, YouTube videos, Emails and more; all within a single workspace. The platform also integrates Skype for business and allows for voice and video meetings.
A chat-based workspace is for people who are engaged in conversations that are fast, active, the informations that they have has shorter lifespan and its about working not just in context of the chat, but also about content that is created, says Alok Lall, Business Group Head for Productivity at Microsoft. You have your files stored in one central place, you have your conversations stored at a central place, he adds.
The company has deployed some usual tactics of cool, such as using GIFs, customisable stickers, a library of emojis, and memes
To make chats within Microsoft Teams more engaging, the company has deployed some usual tactics of cool, such as using GIFs, customisable stickers, a library of emojis, and memes. So its just building in an element of cool, rather than just having to worry about text and images that are available otherwise, explains Lall as he refers to the customisable sticker feature.
The first step of using Microsoft Teams is to, well, create a Team. The desktop interface which the company showcased, seemed pretty self-explanatory and something most Office 365 users can grasp easily. Teams can be created from contacts available in the users address book and once that is done, collaboration can start right away. Users can also create a central hub where they can upload their files and other content for collaboration. Lall explains, In the background, there is a SharePoint site that is being prepared that is where all these documents will get uploaded, but for the user, they dont need to know. They just get down to Microsoft Teams and start working on those documents.
Apart from collaborating on documents, Teams helps in taking down minutes of meetings with the help of a OneNote tab for taking down notes. It can also be used to set a target for individual team members or groups, to achieve a timely task. These are built into a feature called Microsoft Planner. There is also a Connector model to bring notifications from Twitter or GitHub, directly into the workspace experience. The company currently has 60-70 such third-party services on the preview of Microsoft Teams.
In addition, Microsoft Teams will also have support for bots. Currently the platform has a bot known as T-bot, which is essentially a bot that can teach users how to execute certain functions on the platform. As we go for the launch, we will have a Who Bot, which will essentially tell you who is the person who knows SharePoint, and it will go back into my SharePoint repository and pick up the person who is classified as an expert on SharePoint, Lall explains. He adds, We want to expose this as a platform for developers through the APIs that we would love for developers to build on.
Microsoft Teams is currently available in its preview form in India, with general availability starting end of March. Whats good is that it can be used with 14 Indian languages, already supported by Office 365. Teams is a free add-on to those who have subscribed to the Office 365 Suite. The company says, Teams will co-exist with its enterprise social network, Yammer. Lall tells us, In Yammer there will be less contributors, but more readers. In the case of Teams, we probably will have as many contributors as consumers because they have a mission to solve, they have a direction that has been given to them. So, you will have very fast, high-paced activity in Teams. Yammer will continue to stay and evolve and grow.
G4S shares rose on Tuesday as RBC Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating and lifted the target price to 310p from 280p, citing higher medium-term cash flow forecasts.
As the group deleverages and starts to demonstrate cash flow improvements, we see significant scope for a re-rating, as the market focuses on the strong market positions and high organic growth potential of the group, RBC said.
The broker expects free cash flow rising 65% over a four-year period. The group is trading on a free cash flow yield of 11% for 2020, more than double the sector average for 2017.
RBS believes the security services company is well positioned in an industry that is set to grow at more than 6% per year through to 2023. G4S also has strong market positions in the US, the UK and emerging markets, which accounts for 40% of sales and 50% of profits.
G4S, unlike many of its peers, can provide all facets of security from consulting to guarding to electronic security, RBC said.
We forecast average organic growth of 5.2% per annum over the next three years. In the short term, we see security growth remaining strong with terrorism threats, migration, increased border controls and the uncertain political environment all helping.
In what was a largely very positive note, Barclays downgraded Drax Group after a 75% share price rally over the last year as the coal power station's plans to strengthen and extend earnings "lack clarity".
Final European Union state-aid approval for Draxs biomass CFD subsidy has eradicated a previous risk discount and combined with an improvement in biomass generation economics and the value-accretive acquisition of SME retailer Opus Energy add up to the "fully justified" strong share price performance.
Drax's future earnings have been endowed with less volatility and higher confidence as the above moves lower exposure to volatile wholesale energy markets.
Opus also vitally gives Drax a visible material earnings stream beyond 2027 when biomass subsidies end, especially if the company can also proceed with new open cycle gas turbine developments.
Further optimism is taken from full year results due on 16 February, which "could herald a new dividend policy".
Based on the above, plus potential additional positive catalysts such as OCGT confirmation, further improvement in generation economics and pellet plant acquisitions, Barclays increased its price target to 400p from 325p.
However, analysts downgraded to 'equal weight' from 'overweight' as "the timing, quantum and probability of such upside opportunities [are] currently opaque".
Genel Energys shares fell on Tuesday as Canaccord Genuity cut its rating to hold from speculative buy and reduced the target price to 75p from 140p, saying the tough conditions of 2016 continue.
The oil companys overall production is expected to fall in 2017, following a continued decline at the Taq Taq field in Kurdistan.
Output at Taq Taq averaged 61,000 barrels of oil per day at the first half of 2016 before falling to 60,000 bopd at the full year results. In 2017 production at the project is estimate to drop further to between 24,000 to 31,000 bopd.
In comparison the Tawke prospect continues solidly above production of 100,000 bopd and is forecast to rise to 115,000 bopd after 107,000 bopd in 2016.
Total net production guidance for 2017 is set at 35,000-43,000 bopd, compared to 53,000 bopd in 2016.
Canaccord said: The poor Taq Taq performance continues to weigh heavily. We now anticipate a further reserves write down, which we expect is now priced in by the market to some degree. Based on the revised end 2015 reserves and post 2016 production, gross 2P reserves would be around 150mmbbls, but a further reduction of 25% now looks likely to us.
The broker said its previous target price was based on a net present value of 142p, which it has lowered to 119p.
Genel still offers 20% potential upside despite the fully pared back valuation, Cannaccord said.
Normally that would be enough to keep a speculative buy, but Genel's own circumstances, aside from key risk indicator issues, suggest further caution.
We think it will take some time - starting with clarity on Taq Taq reserves and a well-founded field (re)development plan, together with tangible delivery - before the market is likely to recognise even our 'low end' 81p per share valuation.
Commodities were higher nearly across-the-board as the greenback fell back after comments from US trade adviser Peter Navarro's remarks that the European single currency was "grossly undervalued", specifically taking aim at Germany's trade surplus.
That helped boost all commodity prices, although other factors may also have played a hand in advances for oil and copper futures, specifically.
In the energy patch, crude oil and product futures were up as an OPEC source told Reuters the cartel had achieved a high degree of compliance thus far with with their promised supply cuts, which a survey by the newswire pegged at roughly 82.0%.
West Texas Intermediate gained 1.39% to $53.36 a barrel on the NYMEX, while RBOB gasoline tacked on 2.13% to $1.5376 a gallon.
Natural gas futures on the other hand were left out of Tuesday's advance, with the March 2017 NYMEX contract down by 2.88% at $3.14/MMBtu.
As of 1800 GMT, the US dollar spot index faded 0.73% to 99.697, sending the Bloomberg commodity index up by 0.86% to 87.7742.
The hasty and poorly implemented immigration curbs from the new US administration were still echoing in markets, although Navarro's comments shifted the spotlight back towards trade policies to a degree.
Navarro's words led an analyst at one top-tier bank to caution that further politically-motivated high-pitched remarks were likely, so a significant risk premium should be priced into the US dollar.
Against that backdrop, futures prices for the yellow metal clambered back by 1.35% to $1,212.20/oz. on COMEX.
Copper futures also got a leg up, rising 2.66% to $2.7255 a pound, aided by low trading volumes around the Chinese Lunar New Year and speculation of an impending strike at Antofagasta's Escondida mine in Chile, according to one trader.
Out on the Chicago Board of Trade, March corn futures rose 0.63% to $3.5925 a bushel and those for wheat by 0.36% to $4.1550 a bushel.
Margrethe Vestager , the competition commissioner for the European Union, has said that Apple has missed the deadline to pay Ireland $13bn in back-taxes, following last year's ruling from the body.
The commission ruled last year that Ireland had given Apple an unfair tax rate in its dealings in the country, a decision which is facing appeal from both the state and the company.
Speaking with Irish public broadcaster RTE after explaining her hearing in the Oireachtas (the upper chamber of parliament), Vestager denied accusations that the country's tax sovereignty was being breached.
"Obviously it's a very complex thing because it's a lot of money," Vestager said. "The deadline has been passed, but that's not the most important thing. Of course, the important thing for us is to have a constructive cooperation with the Irish authorities in order eventually to get it done."
When Vestager was asked about the allegations that the European body had overstepped its mark on Ireland's sovereignty, she was adamant that they were unfounded.
"A very strong no. We are not a tax authority. We do not interfere with national prerogatives when it comes to taxation, it's purely and solely the member state."
The appeals process from Apple and Ireland is underway, and is likely to take several years to reach its conclusion. Last August the commission found a tax benefit of $13bn had been given to the iPhone maker from the Irish government.
The Department of Finance in the country said that it was complying with the commission so far.
"We are continuing to make progress on the recovery from Apple with the full co-operation of the company and the EU Commission," a spokesperson said.
"The commission are satisfied with the progress we are making. We have committed to complying with the decision and we fully intend doing that."
Donald Trump has fired the acting US attorney general Sally Yates after she refused to enforce an executive order from the President to ban immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Trump sparked anger over the weekend after he issued the order, which prevents citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the US until further notice.
Yates, who was appointed by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, told justice department employees not to obey the order signed by the President on Friday as she did not feel it was lawful.
Protests have been raging across the country since the order was signed, with Republican as well as Democrat resistance coming thick and fast.
"President Trump relieved Ms Yates of her duties," the White House said overnight, reasoning that Yates "betrayed the department of justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States."
The former attorney general published a letter in response to the executive order in which she defended her decision not to enforce it.
"I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right," Yates wrote. "At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful."
She added that "for as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so."
Pressure is growing on the new President little over a week after his inauguration, as critics attack his policies towards the press and the environment, as well as the current immigration ban.
President Donald Trump is due to sign yet another executive order on Tuesday, with cybersecurity to be the focus of the latest action by the new administration.
According to a report from CNBC, Trump will label cybersecurity as one of his main priorities after a presidential election campaign which was plagued by issues related to hacking and account breaches.
Intelligence agencies in the US concluded that Russia was involved in the hacking of emails from several high-profile Democrat members, a conclusion which Trump denied for months before saying after victory that "I think it was Russia".
Trump has attempted to shift the focus away from Russia however, repeatedly saying that various other states have attempted and successfully hacked US entities.
The executive order is expected to hand the heads of government agencies a more direct role in the reviewing and managing of cyber risks.
The US President has signed a raft of executive orders since being sworn in 11 days ago, with his move to temporarily suspend immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries provoking particular ire.
Cybersecurity has become a significant issue in recent years, particularly in the US, where several high profile companies have also fallen victim to attacks.
The most noteworthy of those were two huge hacks of account holders with internet firm Yahoo, the first of which was disclosed last September in which 500.0m account details were hacked. That was followed by a further disclosure in December in which one billion accounts were breached.
The hacks have led to a reported renegotiation of terms in Verizon's planned $4.8bn takeover of the company's core internet business.
Britvic said it was confident of meeting market expectations for the full year as it reported growth in first-quarter revenue.
Revenue in the first quarter was up 4.3% on the prior year to 351m, underpinned by volume growth of 3.9%, with revenue growth in all of the companys key markets.
Chief executive Simon Litherland said: "Whilst the external environment remains uncertain, we are confident that the strong execution of our marketing and innovation plans combined with disciplined revenue management and our cost saving initiatives will deliver full year results in line with market expectations."
GB saw a 2.2% increase in revenue on the previous year and Britvic said that while the grocery channel remained subdued, it delivered growth from its focus on the convenience and food service channels, including Subway.
GB carbonates continued its outperformance of the market, with revenue up 5.5%. Pepsi Max and 7UP both showed strong growth, along with R Whites, which benefited from its relaunch last year.
In GB Stills, revenue fell 3.8%, with both Robinsons and Fruit Shoot continuing to decline. However, both brands showed signs of an improving trend. Meanwhile, J20 grew with a strong Christmas performance led by the Spritz and Glitter Berry variants.
In France, revenue was up 6.3%, with the branded portfolio in strong growth, led by Fruit Shoot and Pressade, whilst lower margin private label revenue continued to decline.
In Ireland, revenue was up 6.4%, while the international division reported a 19.8% increase in revenue, compared to a 13.8% decline in the first quarter of last year. This was largely as a result of a 14.1% increase in volume. The majority of the growth came from Fruit Shoot in the USA and revenue also increased in the export markets including Benelux.
The group said it continues to make good progress with the implementation of its three-year business capability programme. The new PET line in Leeds is fully operational, three new can lines in Rugby are being commissioned and the continued focus on cost control will deliver an additional 5m benefit this year.
Britvic said the acquisition of Bela Ischia remains on-track to complete by the end of March and will deliver significant cost synergies and will further strengthen the companys platform in Brazil.
Canadian pension fund British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCIMC) is to buy a majority stake in UK-based lender Hayfin Capital Management for around 215m, according to a report by Sky News.
Hayfin Capital Management, founded in 2009 by former Goldman Sachs partners, serves clients such as The Racing Post and Quorn. It has 8.2bn assets under management and has built a successful business by lending money to medium-sized European companies.
The deal will reflect a growing appetite to invest in alternative lenders, many of which have started over the last decade to take advantage of the gap left by traditional banks.
Regulatory restrictions invoked after the 2008 financial crisis has made it difficult for conventional banks to lend to companies on economically attractive terms leading to a rise in competitors like Hayfin and Ares Capital Management.
According to sources at BCIMC, which manages more than around $120bn of assets, will buy out Hayfins existing institutional shareholders: Towerbrook Capital Partners, Australia's sovereign wealth fund and two other Canadian pension funds.
Hayfins management and employees will also retain their shareholdings following the deal.
The British Columbia-based fund is expected commit significant funds for its expansion while the London headquartered lender will retain day-to-day autonomy over its operations and investments.
The transaction is believed to be beneficial to Hayfins management because it will simplify the companys ownership structure and provide a platform for future growth.
In 2015 Hayfin sold its portfolio of owned assets to the Australias state-backed investor Future Fund .
Royal Dutch Shell has struck a pair of deal to sell assets in the North Sea and offshore Thailand for a total of $4.7bn.
In the larger of the two deals, Shell has agreed offload certain UK North Sea assets for a total of up to $3.8bn to Chrysaor, a UK vehicle backed by US private equity companies, of which the initial cash consideration is $3bn.
The initial payment, with completion expected in the second half of 2017, should lead to Shell recording an accounting gain on sale against the values of both the Shell and former BG assets included in the package.
Importantly, the value here represents a profit against the book values of the assets, and a breakeven oil price above that for the BG acquisition," said chief financial officer Simon Henry.
Later on, Shell will receive a payment of up to $600m subject to Brent oil prices being above $60 per barrel in 2018-19 and above $70 per barrel in 2020-21, plus a potential sum up to $180m subject to the achievement of certain exploration milestones.
If the average oil price during that time fall in or below the range of $47.50 - $52.50 per barrel between 2018 and 2021, Shell will make a payment to Chrysaor of up to $25m a year.
The package of assets consists of Shells interests in Buzzard, Beryl, Bressay, Elgin-Franklin, J-Block, the Greater Armada cluster, Everest, Lomond and Erskine, plus a 10% stake in Schiehallion, with around 400 staff expected to transfer to Chrysaor.
In a separate deal, Shell agreed a $0.9bn deal to offload a 22.222% equity stake held in the Bongkot field, and adjoining acreage offshore Thailand consisting of Blocks 15, 16 and 17 and block G12/48 to a subsidiary of Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company.
Wood Group has been awarded a five-year operations and maintenance contract with Hess Exploration & Production Malaysia to support its new-build fixed and floating offshore facilities in the North Malay Basin development area located approximately 150km north east of the Peninsular Malaysia.
Delivered by Wood Groups Kuala Lumpur office, the contract which includes a one-year extension option will support up to 130 new full-time positions in Malaysia.
Integrated operations and maintenance services including core offshore personnel, onshore technical support, training and competency assurance services will be provided as part of the new contract. Technical services covering brownfield engineering, risk-based inspection, integrity management and computerised maintenance management system support are also included.
Wood Group said the contract builds on its 15-year global relationship with Hess, which includes ongoing support contracts in Equatorial Guinea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Dave Stewart, chief executive officer for Wood Groups Asset Life Cycle Solutions business in the Eastern Hemisphere, said: This contract to support Hess significant greenfield facilities in Malaysia, demonstrates the proven success of our integrated approach on this key clients projects worldwide and their confidence in our technical services which optimise production and enhance efficiency.
Our commitment to creating strong local employment and supply chain opportunities in the areas where we work will be reinforced by this contract, which will focus on the recruitment and opportunity development for the national workforce in Malaysia.
Shares of Industrial Metals and Mining firms led gains on Tuesday as a weaker dollar, supportive news-flow for crude oil and copper futures and low trading volumes in the latter lifted commodity prices.
As of 1800 GMT, the US dollar spot index was fading 0.73% to 99.697 after US trade chief Peter Navarro told the FT the European single currency was "grossly undervalued", sending the Bloomberg commodity index up by 0.86% to 87.7742.
Navarro's remarks rattled dollar traders which had yet to regain their balance in the wake of the previous weekend's confusion at American airports following the immigration curbs put in place by the new US administration.
Copper futures also got a leg up, rising 2.66% to $2.7255 a pound, aided by low trading volumes around the Chinese Lunar New Year and speculation of an impending strike at Antofagasta's Escondida mine in Chile, according to one trader.
Against the above backdrop, stock in KAZ Minerals led gains in the Mining sector, followed by shares in the likes of precious metals miners Acacia and Hochschild.
Top performing sectors so far today
Industrial Metals & Mining 2,320.55 +2.15%
Mining 16,756.73 +1.22%
Financial Services 9,578.21 +0.98%
Software & Computer Services 1,836.34 +0.91%
Real Estate Investment & Services 2,442.36 +0.66%
Bottom performing sectors so far today
Construction & Materials 6,687.77 -0.95%
Food & Drug Retailers 3,049.19 -0.83%
Life Insurance 7,625.22 -0.83%
Mobile Telecommunications 4,351.29 -0.80%
Banks 4,271.88 -0.57%
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NEW YORK (AP) U.S. stocks fell Monday as investors grew nervous after President Donald Trump imposed a travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries. Energy companies, which have surged over the last year, took the biggest losses.
Airlines skidded after Trump's executive order led to protests and disruption at airports and concerns about travel. Big-name technology companies sagged on concerns that future administration moves will make it harder for them to hire workers.
. . .
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It could be risky for businesses to speak out against President Trump but public-relations experts said they have no choice if it hurts employees or customers.
By JOSEPH PISANI
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK CEOs of some of the world's biggest companies are fighting back against President Donald Trump's temporary immigration ban, calling it un-American and bad for business.
The heads of Apple, Ford and Goldman Sachs said that they don't support the executive order the president signed last week, which bans immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. Google said it is donating cash to organizations that support immigrants. Other companies said they will help employees affected by the ban or, in the case of Starbucks, hire refugees.
. . .
USA Inc comes out strongly against Trump's travel curbs
Members of the business community are speaking out against President Trump's travel ban, which several companies and executives say could unfairly target their employees and harm operations. For a president who ran on boosting businesses in the United States, one of his first actions in the White House might actually be bad for business.
On Monday, the Ford Motor Company joined the increasing list companies criticizing the executive order. Bill Ford Jr, the company's executive chairman, and Mark Fields, its chief executive officer, said in a statement that ''we do not support this policy or any other that goes against our values as a company''.
Fields added later on CNN, ''I think we're just going to be a company that lives by its values and let the chips fall where they may.''
Ford is based in Dearborn, Michigan, home to one of the largest Arab-American communities in the US. The company did not say how many employees might be impacted by the ban.
Ford and Trump have already butted heads on other issues, including when the president took credit for the company's decision to invest $700 million in Michigan's Flat Rock Assembly plant, instead of investing $1.6 billion in a factory in Mexico.
For the car company, the decision to stand up against the travel ban was painted as an entirely moral decision, and it's one plenty of companies seem ready, even eager, to make.
Elon Musk, the CEO of another car manufacturer, Tesla, has begun a campaign to convince Trump to fix the executive order.
Criticism goes beyond just car companies. Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings said the ban is hurting his employees around the world, and that ''these actions will make America less safe''. The CEOs of Starbucks, Amazon.com, Expedia, Twitter, Nike, all came out in strong opposition to the ban, and on Monday more than 2,000 Google employees in office around the world walked out of work and staged protests (See: Silicon Valley takes lead in opposing Trump's visa clampdown).
Tim Cook, Apples's chief executive, said quite plainly, ''It is not a policy we support.'' He also reminded people that the company's deceased founder, Steve Jobs, was the son of an immigrant from Syria, a country targeted in Trump's ban.
Other companies, while not outright criticizing the president, acknowledged the potential harm the executive order may have on employees. JPMorgan Chase executives told employees Monday that they'd ''have their backs'', while General Electric said in a memo the company would ''stand with'' its workers and try and balance security and the ''movement of law abiding people''.
For other companies, their criticism goes beyond strongly worded statements. Airbnb offered to host people impacted by the ban for no charge. Its co-founder tersely said the order was ''not right''. Lyft, for its part, sent users a message Saturday calling the ban ''antithetical to both Lyft's and our nation's core values,'' pledging $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union, which has filed injunctions in courts across the country to allow detained travelers to remain in the US.
For the 100th Finnish independence, the Institut Finlandais in Paris will host a special installation for 100 days. Designed by Linda Bergroth, the Koti sleepover cottages are six little shared huts that deliver the ultimate Finnish experience, and can be easily reserved on Airbnb.
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Published 31 January 2017
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Linda Bergrouth, Koti cottages at the Institute Finlandais, Paris, 2017
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Linda Bergrouth, Koti cottages at the Institute Finlandais, Paris, 2017
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Linda Bergrouth, Koti cottages at the Institute Finlandais, Paris, 2017
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Table and benches designed by Mattila & Merz
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Linda Bergrouth, Koti cottages at the Institute Finlandais, Paris, 2017
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Linda Bergrouth, Koti cottages at the Institute Finlandais, Paris, 2017
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Linda Bergrouth, Koti cottages at the Institute Finlandais, Paris, 2017
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Piippu pots by Kaksikko
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Linda Bergrouth, Koti cottages at the Institute Finlandais, Paris, 2017
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Linda Bergrouth, Koti cottages at the Institute Finlandais, Paris, 2017
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Linens by Lapuan Kankurit
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The Koti installation highlights the experience of a common, shared home: there are six little huts without soundproofing, and guests eat breakfast together, the designer explains. Every element of the installation has been chosen to show the best in Finnish hospitality in fact, Koti means home in Finnish creating a complete immersion in the spirit of Finland in Paris, celebrating peaceful simplicity.
Table and benches designed by Mattila & Merz, ceramic tableware by Nathalie Lahdenmaki, coffee pot by Piippu, produced by Kaksikko
The six sleeping cabins accomodate a total of twelve people and open onto a shared space where there is a communal dining table and benches designed by architects Mattila & Merz. On arrival, guests receive specially designed robes and slippers by Lapuan Kankurit, can light up with Innolux lamps, drink coffee in Piippu pots by Kaksikko and eat lunch on custom-made ceramic tableware by Nathalie Lahdenmaki. During the hundred days, the Institut will also host a number of events, talks, shows, music and projections.
Linens by Lapuan Kankurit
The father of four who tragically died as a result of a work related incident in Galway will be buried after 11 o'clock Mass in Ramelton on Thursday.
Terry Toland, 42, was airlifted to University Hospital Galway on Sunday night where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
It is understood that Terry had been installing pontoons when he suffered a blow to the head from equipment.
Local priest, Father Michael Carney said that Terry was a "a quiet, reserved gentleman" and that "nothing was too difficult for him."
The Ramelton based priest said that the news has left families and a community in shock and devastation.
"He was a really nice person, by all accounts," he said.
Mr. Toland was the father of four children, one boy and three girls, Father Carney baptised the youngest girl last summer.
Father Carney said that people have been numbed by this tragic death: "People are stunned into silence at the shock of his sudden death."
A nurse who lost her job after taking 100 from a multiple sclerosis sufferer is before a fitness to practice inquiry today.
Mary Grace Dela Cruz Alegarme, who qualified as a nurse in 1999, is facing allegations of poor professional performance, professional misconduct and non-compliance with the nurses professional code of conduct.
The inquiry is taking place at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Irelands headquarters in Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Ms Alegarme worked as a part-time nurse at the Donegal Cheshire Apartments, owned by Cheshire Ireland, from 2008-2013. The apartments, located in Letterkenny, provide 24-hour residential care to people with serious physical and sensory disabilities.
One resident, referred to as Patient A, is a 53-year-old man suffering from progressive multiple sclerosis who is wholly dependent on others, the inquiry heard this morning.
Ms Alegarme cared for Patient A in a professional capacity, and was also quite close to him, seeing him and speaking with him on the phone outside of work hours.
Kate Meehan, who has worked as Patient As HSE key worker for 14 years, said she called into him on 20 March 2013. During that visit, Patient A said to her I did a good thing for a friend, Ms Meehan told the inquiry.
She said he then told her that Ms Alegarme had told him she had a friend who was in financial difficulty, whom she would like to help, but that she couldnt withdraw the money from the joint account that she shared with her husband, as she would get into trouble with him.
Ms Alegarme then asked him for a loan, and he lent her 100, with the shared understanding she would pay it back a few days later.
Ms Alegarme, who the inquiry heard is well respected amongst colleagues, has admitted to the claims against her, and that they amount to poor professional performance, professional misconduct and non-compliance with the code of conduct.
The inquiry continues this afternoon.
A nurse who lost her job after taking 100 from a multiple sclerosis sufferer has been found guilty of professional misconduct.
Mary Grace Dela Cruz Alegarme, who qualified as a nurse in 1999, was also found guilty of breaching the nurses code of conduct at the fitness to practice inquiry, which took place at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Irelands headquarters in Blackrock, Co Dublin.
The inquiry committee did not make a finding of poor professional performance.
Ms Alegarme, who works in the oncology department at Letterkenny University Hospital, made full admissions at the start of the hearing earlier today, including the fact that she took money from the residential patient in March 2013.
Ms Alegarme worked as a nurse at the Donegal Cheshire Apartments, owned by Cheshire Ireland, from 2008 to 2013. The apartments, located in Letterkenny, provide 24-hour residential care to people with serious physical and sensory disabilities.
One resident, referred to as Patient A, is a 53-year-old man suffering from progressive multiple sclerosis who uses a wheelchair and is wholly dependent on others.
Kate Meehan, who has worked as Patient As HSE key worker for 14 years, said she called into him on 20 March 2013. During that visit, Patient A said to her I did a good thing for a friend, Ms Meehan told the inquiry.
She said he then told her that Ms Alegarme had told him she had a friend who was in financial difficulty, whom she would like to help. Ms Alegarme then asked him for a loan, and he lent her 100, with the shared understanding she would pay it back in a few days time.
Ms Meehan then alerted management to the matter, and an investigation was conducted. Ms Alegarme, who admitted to the incident, was dismissed from her position on 17 June 2013.
During her evidence, Ms Alegarme made a heartfelt apology for her mistake, and to Patient A: I made a mistake, I was wrong and Im so sorry. Im willing to change.
Im so dedicated to my job and Im really patient-focused, Ms Alegarme continued. I want this career and this job and Im sorry for what I have done.
She said she began to care for Patient A in 2009, when he took up residence at the Cheshire apartments.
Ms Alegarme said he would ring her whenever he had a medical need, and that she would also take him on outings, with the approval of her manager.
I treated him as a brother which I know is totally wrong, said Ms Alegarme. I should have known myself it was totally wrong but that was the relationship at the time. I totally looked up to him.
I should have known that I should have had a boundary between myself and the service user.
She said that on 20 March 2013, at his request, she called round to his house to help him pack his medications, as he was planning to travel.
He asked her what she was doing that day, and she told him she was waiting for the bank to open. She said she told him she needed to transfer funds to her mother in the Philippines, for medical treatment, but that she only had 400 out of the 500 she needed.
Ms Alegarme told the inquiry that he then said to her, Mary Grace, I want to help you.
She said she told him she did not want the money, but he kept insisting, and getting upset because she was refusing the money. So eventually, I gave in, said Ms Alegarme. I shouldnt have done it. For the last four years now, I know its totally wrong.
Klondyke Gospel Music Center, located between Newton and Ozark at 3885 Highway 123 S., will host: The Cokers from Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 3; Crimson City Quartet from Mobile, Feb. 4; Straight & Narrow Bluegrass from Black, Feb. 11; Heartline Trio from Prattville, Feb. 18; Jordans River from Rockledge, Georgia, Feb. 25. Music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, contact Ron Jeffers, president and concert coordinator, at 334-797-9862.
The Hoppers will be in concert on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. in the wellness center at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville. Over the years, The Hoppers have received numerous accolades and have also been popular guest performers on the Gaither Homecoming Tour. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and tickets for the evening can be purchased for $12 in the colleges business office by calling 850- 263-3261 ext. 418 or by visiting www.baptistcollege.edu. All seating will be general admission.
Burdeshaw Street Church will host appreciation services for the churchs pastor, Wilbert Dawsey, and his wife, Alice Dawsey, on Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Larry Butler of Friendship Freewill Church in Dothan and at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Jackson Glover of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Pinckard.
St. Paul Baptist Church, 5058 County Road 46, Abbeville, will celebrate Family & Friends Day on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m. The Rev. James C. Turner is the pastor and will deliver the Family & Friends Day message.
The Brotherhood Breakfast Club of New Easter Missionary Baptist Church, 907 Hope Ave., Graceville, Florida, will host its regular monthly breakfast on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 7 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. Guest speaker will be Eugene Adams, City of Graceville City Manager. Everyone is welcome.
Maple Avenue Baptist Church will host the next 39ers C.L.U.B. luncheon meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 11 a.m. The church is at 1009 W. Maple Ave. in Geneva. The acrostic means Christians Living Under the Blood! The non-denominational 39ers C.L.U.B. is open to anyone and is held once a month on the second Tuesday from 11 a.m. until noon. The cost for the luncheon is $5 per person. If you have been involved in the 39ers C.L.U.B., contact your table hostess by Tuesday, Feb. 7, to make or cancel your reservation. If you would like to be a part of the 39ers C.L.U.B. and have never been before, call the church office at 334-684-9617 by Tuesday, Feb. 7. The February meeting will be a musical program presented by Kim Tate, a member of Carmel Assembly of God Church of Bonifay, Florida.
Rhonda G. Berrys stage play I Know Where I Have Been; Now, I Know Where I Am Going will be performed on Feb. 11 at 5 p.m. Lively Stones Ministries Worship Center, located at 2622 U.S. 231 S. in Ozark. The play will feature local soloists, actors/actresses, loads of laughter, wisdom deposits, heart-jerking moments and spiritual-filled dialogues. Free admission.
Glory To Him Church, 6193 Andrews Ave., Ozark, will host motivational speaker Reggie Dabbs on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 10 a.m. Dabbs is a widely sought-after speaker who helps people of all ages and backgrounds meet their problems head-on and overcome them by sharing his own story of tragedy, redemption and hope through Jesus. This event is open to the public and everyone is welcome. For more information, call 334-774-7677 or visit www.reggiedabbsonline.com or www.gthchurch.com.
Greater Springfield Missionary Baptist Church in New Brockton will hold a Family and Friends Day service on Feb. 12 at 2:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be Superintendent Loearl Flowers of New Philadelphia Church of God in Christ in Elba.
Stringer Street AME Church will host its Founders Day celebration on Feb. 12. A memorial breakfast will be held at 9 a.m. with a worship service at 11 a.m. The attire is heritage church wear. The public is invited.
Aglow International Meeting will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. at Po Folks in Enterprise. Guest speaker will be Rose Stephens from Dothan. For more information, call 334-406-9683.
Cloverdale United Methodist Church at 102 Rollins Ave. in Dothan will celebrate their 63rd Homecoming on Feb. 19. The special speaker will be the Rev. Mark Lilly. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a covered dish lunch following the morning worship service.
Balkum Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 10014 County Road 53, Headland, will hold a 10th Appreciation service for Pastor James E. and Charlo Melton on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Wilbert Dawsey, pastor of Burdeshaw Street Missionary Baptist Church in Dothan. All pastors and their churches are invited. Dinner will be served in the fellowship hall.
Glory To Him Church, 6193 Andrews Ave., Ozark, will be celebrating its 30th Church Anniversary on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. with a special service featuring guest speaker, Dr. Jesse Duplantis. Known throughout the world as the Apostle of Joy, Jesse Duplantis has been sharing a memorable mix of strong, biblical preaching and hilarious life lessons every week on television for years. His unique way of ministering the Gospel and making Jesus real to all generations has made him one of the most loved ministers today. This event is open to the public and everyone is welcome. For more information, call 334-774-7677 or visit www.jdm.org or www.gthchurch.com.
Pleasant Shade Missionary Baptist Church will host the Iron Sharpening Iron Conference on Feb. 22 and Feb. 24-25. The conference begins Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m. and continues on Friday, Feb. 24, from 6-8 p.m., and culminates on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The Revs. Kevin Griffin, Trevor Woolridge and E. Steven Richardson are collaborating to offer teaching that is biblical and relevant to the changing of lives through an abundant relationship with Christ.
Shady Grove Baptist Church in Dothan will hold a Church Anniversary service on Feb. 26 at 2:30 p.m. The church is at 1547 Lucy Grade Road. Guest pastor will be Christopher Scott, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, and music will be provided by Antioch Choir. All churches invited. Lunch served from 1-2 p.m.
If Alabama lawmakers ever get around to resuming impeachment proceedings against Gov. Robert Bentley, they should pencil in the recent trip to the presidential inauguration among the affronts to the people of Alabama.
Certainly its reasonable to expect the governors of the 50 states to attend the presidential inauguration, and its reasonable to expect that journey to be considered part of the job and, as such, appropriate use of the state aircraft.
However, the governor didnt travel alone. There were a couple of gubernatorial staffers on board, as well as a guest that the governor has refused to name. Jon Mason, who heads the governors office of faith-based and volunteer services, made the trip, as did his wife, Rebekah Caldwell Mason, who readers may remember for her role as the former senior advisor at the center of the governors romance scandal and subsequent investigation and impeachment proceedings.
Operation of the state aircraft is paid by tax dollars, so the people of Alabama funded this jaunt for Bentley, a couple of employees, his pals the Masons, at least one other person who Bentley erroneously believes he has no obligation to identify.
As far as the use of state resources goes, Mason had some meetings related to his state work, Bentley reasoned. So its all legit.
Sure thing, governor, sure thing. Perhaps the impeachment committee can work that one out.
Antonio Briseno and Camara Kilcrease work on Monday with their robot, affectionately nicknamed Milkman, watching as it executes pre-programmed orders to move forward, pick up an object and move it.
Briseno, Kilcrease and other Girard Middle School students in the schools Learning in Collaboration (LinC) program for gifted students have spent hours designing, programming and testing robots built with LEGO Mindstorm kits.
All their work paid off recently when the students won first place in a regional competition for First LEGO League. Now theyll travel to a state competition in Birmingham. If they win there, they will have a spot in a national competition. Winners of the national competition will advance to an international event.
Its no small feat for Girard students, as this is the first year that theyve competed in First LEGO League events. First LEGO League requires students to design and program robots to perform certain tasks, and also encourages teamwork and collaboration.
Kevin Bowden, resource specialist at Girard Middle, said students have been enthusiastic about building and designing robots.
Its been really exciting to see how everyone works together and how they value one anothers opinions, she said.
Bowden said working with the robots improves students' problem-solving, teamwork, computer programming, and engineering skills.
Its fun learning robotics, Briseno said. The design is the hardest. You have to find the right pieces to make the robot complete the tasks.
Kilcrease said, Its very challenging. You have to come up with your own estimate of what the robot will do, and then adjust after you see what it actually does.
With 2017 marking the 100th anniversary of key World War I flashpoints including the entry of the USA into the war and the notorious battle of Passchendaele a new book by the grandson of a WWI war victim is well worth checking out.
31 Years of Hell! 19141945 by debut author Eamonn Ashe is a captivating concise history of the two world wars and the interwar years.
Described by Joe Duffy as An incredible book. Beautifully-produced. A fantastic tome!, this book is unique in covering the entire period from 19141945, and gives insight into how economic hardship and the rise of dictators during the interwar years led to World War II just twenty years after World War I.
Its a fluid, easy-to-read book, which includes timelines and maps to simplify complex situations, and photographs which capture the emotions of the time period.
The book was a very personal project for the author Eamonn Ashe. His grandfather Joseph Phillips, a Company Sergeant Major in the Connaught Rangers, died on the fields of France on 21 March, 1918 during Germanys Spring Offensive towards the end of World War I.
He is buried at Ste. Emilie Cemetery, Villers-Faucon, close to St. Quentin. In 1991, Eamonn brought his mother Phyllis Ashe there. It was her first and only time to visit her fathers grave.
The author has visited many war sites, including the Somme Battlefields, Anzac Cove and the Normandy Landings sites.
When he retired, Eamonn Ashe dedicated himself to writing this book.
He had an unusual schedule: he got up in the early hours of the morning every night and wrote for two hours.
The book represents a very special father-daughter collaboration: Eamonns daughter Fiona (born and bred in Drogheda) is the editor and publisher of the book.
Both feel honoured to have had the privilege of collaborating on such an amazing project! Fiona is a graduate of the New Media Factory in DkIT and trained entrepreneurs in the use of social media at the Regional Development Centre, DkIT.
She published the book through her Drogheda-based digital agency FlasheForward Communications.
The author Eamonn Ashe played rugby for Dundalk for 10 years. He was captain in 1968/69 and was on the team which won the Leinster Provincial Towns Cup in 1970.
The images on the cover of 31 Years of Hell! 19141945 were painted by Olive Eustace, who lives in Carlingford. She studied Fine Art in Limerick and Dublin. For much of her life, she lived on the same street in Drogheda as the book author, Eamonn Ashe, and was delighted to paint the images for the front and back of the book cover.
Speaking about becoming a published author, Eamonn says, "The visit with my mother to her father's grave sparked my desire to write this book. So I resolved to do it when I retired. Writing a concise book which covers such a long period of dramatic history was challenging. It took six years of intensive researching, writing and making personal sacrifices. I find the history of the wars fascinating and I'm delighted to share that fascination with readers of my book. I am very proud of this achievement! Having the book published is a dream come true for me!
31 Years of Hell! 19141945 is available at Carrolls Bookshop in Park Street, Dundalk. It is also available online on the books website: www.31YearsOfHell.com. Its great value at 17.99!
Sherry FitzGerald Carroll in Dundalk were announced as winners of the Sherry FitzGerald Franchise of the Year Award 2016 at the companys Annual Conference which was held last Friday, 27th January.
The theme of this years event, which was sponsored by MyHome.ie and the Irish Farmers Journal was Exceptional Service, Exceptional Results.
Speaking at the event, Mary Dillon, Managing Director of the franchise arm of Sherry FitzGerald, paid tribute to the winners.
Brian Carroll, who is a second-generation Sherry FitzGerald franchisee having succeeded his father Jim, and his team simply get that small things matter, and while efficiency and processes are a prerequisite, thoughtfulness and small acts of kindness are also so important to people.
The old-fashioned sense of service, combined with the latest technology, is what clients and consumers are looking for, and thats what Brian and his team are delivering in spades, according to Ms. Dillon.
In accepting the award, Brian paid tribute to his team, their commitment and genuine care for people. He said it was a proud day for him and his family. Dundalk, he said, is a great business town and we have produced many fine businesses and business people, not least Martin Naughton of Glen Dimplex, who proves that thoughtfulness matters even in larger businesses, as exemplified by a recent nationwide reader survey in the English Guardian newspaper which named Dimplex Radiators as one of the 3 stand out companies in Britain for customer service.
Mr. Carroll went on to say Irish businesses dont often receive praise and maybe rightly so on occasion, but Sherry FitzGerald have always been very supportive of our business and in setting standards for others to follow.
"We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." - President Eisenhower, First Inaugural Address
New homes coming soon at Whitmore Park at Kingswood Heath
Property-seekers searching for a bespoke home in Essex will soon have their chance to secure their ideal place at Whitmore Park at Kingswood Heath, Taylor Wimpeys much-anticipated new collection of homes in Colchester.
Situated on the site of the former Severalls Hospital, this eagerly-awaited development will offer a unique selection of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes, including fabulous new-build designs and sensitively-refurbished properties meaning there will be something to suit every type of purchaser.
Details and prices for the new homes at Whitmore Park at Kingswood Heath are being kept under wraps until the launch date in Spring 2017 but in the meantime, more information is available to view online at taylorwimpey.co.uk.
Aspiring buyers can also register their interest in a new home via the Taylor Wimpey website, to ensure theyre kept up to date with all the latest information as it becomes available.
Michael OLeary, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey East London, says: Were very much looking forward to unveiling Whitmore Park at Kingswood Heath, which will offer home-hunters in the area a fantastic opportunity to own a unique property in this popular Essex location.
This exclusive development includes a combination of historic buildings which have been carefully restored to maintain and enhance their original Edwardian-style architectural features, alongside stylish new-build properties which incorporate the traditional character.
Whitmore Park at Kingswood Heath is already generating a great deal of interest from hopeful buyers, so Id advise aspiring homeowners to register for updates now to make sure theyre at the front of the queue when the first plots are released for sale in Spring 2017.
Designed by architect Frank Whitmore, Severalls Hospital opened in 1913 and at its height could accommodate some 2,000 patients at any one time. The hospital closed in the early 1990s, although a small section remained open until 1997 as a temporary building for nearby Colchester General Hospital.
Taylor Wimpey has sensitively retained some of the original buildings and a water tower at the site, to faithfully mark the footprint of the hospital and offer a bespoke collection of high-quality new homes.
Surrounded by Essexs lush countryside, Whitmore Park at Kingswood Heath lies within easy reach of Colchesters thriving town centre with its vast selection of shopping and leisure opportunities including a number of supermarkets and convenience stores, a selection of pubs and restaurants, plus an array of high street shops and cafes in the Lion Walk Shopping Centre.
Colchester Castle home to the biggest keep built in the UK and Colchester Zoo are both just a short drive away for days out, while Leisure World Colchester is also nearby and boasts excellent swimming and gym facilities for the whole family to enjoy.
Parents will appreciate that theres a great choice of schools within walking distance of Whitmore Park at Kingswood Heath, including Myland Primary School and Brinkley Grove Primary School, which are both rated Good by Ofsted, and The Gilberd School for secondary-age pupils also rated Good.
The development is well located for commuters, with the A12 providing links to Ipswich and Chelmsford, while Colchester railway station is less than two miles from home, offering direct and regular services to London Liverpool Street.
To register an interest in the new homes coming soon at Whitmore Park at Kingswood Heath, property-seekers should visit taylorwimpey.co.uk.
Digital transformation: Europes integrated market of tomorrow
Speech by Yves Mersch, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Joint ECB and European Commission Conference Into the future: Europes digital integrated market,Frankfurt am Main, 31 January 2017
Introduction
For over a decade the European Commission, the Eurosystem and the market have been working towards transforming what has up to now been a very fragmented financial market infrastructure in Europe into a more integrated one. This work is still ongoing and requires more effort. However, we are at a point now when progress has become tangible. In the first part of my speech, I will briefly take stock of where we stand, particularly with regard to the post-trade area. I will then address two areas where I still see gaps that are in the way of our achieving a truly integrated European financial market. The first area is securities issuance, the second instant payment settlement. In both these areas, digitalisation is opening up new opportunities, which requires action. We at the ECB stand ready to take action accordingly.
Integration in the post-trade area
Following the launch of T2S in summer 2015 and two further migration waves in 2016, the German market is due to migrate to T2S in less than a weeks time. This latest development is expected to bring a big increase in the volume of securities transactions being settled on the platform. More particularly, we anticipate an increase of up to 90% of the total volume expected by the time all participating central securities depositories (CSDs) connect to the platform. The next migration wave will also lead to an increase in the use of links between T2S markets that facilitate cross-border transactions.
T2S has significantly contributed to the integration of post-trade processes across all participating markets. This has been achieved by the gradual implementation of the single rulebook, i.e. standards, rules and procedures, in the T2S market. Harmonisation measures necessary for ensuring efficient and safe cross-CSD settlement in T2S are fairly advanced. Monitoring has shown that, by the time they migrate to T2S, market communities are close to achieving full compliance with the T2S standards.
Nevertheless, some gaps in compliance remain, for example in the area of corporate actions. These are complex business processes for asset servicing, which involve rules and procedures developed by a range of different actors. The newly established Advisory Group on Market Infrastructure for Securities and Collateral (AMI SeCo) will address these gaps in compliance, among others. This advisory group will also look at ways in which the existing methodology could be used as a blueprint for building a methodology to harmonise collateral management.[1]
In addition, the T2S harmonisation agenda has identified a number of regulatory and legal barriers to post-trade harmonisation that fall under the regulatory agenda. These relate, among others, to issues such as conflict of law and withholding tax procedures, which are expected to be tackled this year. While the regulatory and legal barriers have proved to be thorny issues, I expect that the Commission, as part of its capital markets union (CMU) action plan, will not be dissuaded from its efforts.[2]
Integration of securities issuance
With T2S, the Eurosystem has created the basis for an efficient and effective settlement mechanism for securities in Europe. At the same time, by adopting the CSD Regulation (CSDR), the Commission has contributed to further harmonisation of the CSDs regulatory framework. However, to be able to reap the benefits of these efforts, market participants and corporates need to have full and direct access to the entire EU securities market at a low and harmonised cost.
A European securities market should offer the possibility of issuing, settling and holding securities in the same way, regardless of where issuers and investors are located. A fully harmonised system of securities issuance could reduce the transaction costs for capital financing, make the European securities market more attractive in the global economy, and allow an effective redistribution of private risk across the EU markets. A sound and uniform pan-European securities issuance mechanism would also be conducive to the creation of the CMU.
Despite efforts to overcome the fragmentation of the securities market by providing a level playing field, there is still too little evidence of competition. The effects of competition have not been felt in terms of an actual geographical widening of services provided by the vast majority of issuers. The goal of having euro area markets where access is as easy and efficient as it is to the respective national market has with few exceptions not been met yet.
The remaining fragmentation is often the result of legacy and national rules. This fragmentation is an area that calls for action. It may be worth exploring the establishment of a truly European issuance service at least for some supranational debt instruments. We could even think about the ECB/Eurosystem playing an active role in setting up such an issuance service. And we could consider whether and to what extent new technologies, like distributed ledger technology (DLT), can be used in that process.
TARGET instant payment settlement (TIPS)
Turning to the retail payments market, I have to say that, despite the introduction of standardised retail payment instruments and harmonised processing rules, the retail payments market infrastructure in Europe is still fragmented. Apart from a few exceptions, automated clearing houses (ACHs) still primarily focus on their respective national markets.
The availability of a safe and efficient market infrastructure that can guarantee the processing of instant payments across Europe is a prerequisite for the launch of pan-European instant payment solutions. Payment service providers should have the choice to either clear their instant payments through ACHs or use a settlement service for instant payments.
Earlier this month, the Eurosystem launched a market consultation on user requirements and the expected volumes for a settlement service for instant payments in central bank money. The proposed TARGET instant payment settlement (TIPS) service would offer a series of benefits to the payment service providers. First, it would guarantee pan-European reachability for instant payments. Second, it would give payment service providers the possibility to use their credit lines stemming from their collateralised positions in TARGET2. Third, it would eliminate credit risk, thus leading the way to faster and efficient settlement. Last but not least, it would give payment service providers more choice: they could either connect directly to TIPS or channel their payment instructions for instant payments through their respective ACH.
The Eurosystem will take a decision by June 2017 on whether to develop the service, based on the results of the public consultation. TIPS could commence operations as soon as 2018.
Conclusion
Let me conclude.
With the migration of the German market to T2S next week, the time has come to reap the actual benefits of harmonisation in the post-trade area in Europe. But this does not mean we can slacken in our efforts. There is still a need for further and coordinated action in the harmonisation of post-trade processes. There are also gaps that remain in the financial market integration process when it comes to securities issuance. And there is a need for action in instant payment settlement across Europe. The ECB, together with market stakeholders, has to explore how to best take action in these areas. Thank you for your attention.
This past weekend, I joined thousands at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) for the protest against Trumps most recent inhumane decision, his temporary Muslim ban. As usual, it felt exhilarating to be among so many people with similar views on humanity. And as usual, I felt the familiar sense of deflated adrenaline when our protest came to an end after 2 hours of pre-planned resistance. I must admit that some of it was also guilt, as I started to think about my comrades who were spending evenings resisting in other airports across the globe. Nonetheless, after being told by airport police that our party is over, a friend and I held an airport taxi and started to make our way home. I was reenergized for a bit after we were thanked by our taxi driver for our resistance, which followed with his waving of our fees. My conscience started to feel a little bit better, but I still felt incomplete.
Once home, after posting all my videos and photos on social media, I decided to visit a familiar voice for some inspiration. My late mentor, Grace Lee Boggs had issued a message to Occupy Wall Street in 2011. I also decided to watch her video around what it means to be human.
Its typical for me to visit videos and writings from Grace when I am in deep political reflection. She was always asking, What time is it on the clock of the world? Its a question that took me years to understand and internalize, but one that now motivates my writings and deeds.
After taking in Graces words, I decided to revisit an article I wrote after participating in one of Graces memorials last year in Oakland. I recalled that I had returned to Detroit with a great deal of clarity and wanted to revisit that moment for inspiration. I wrote in part:
Grace pushed us to vision when the rest of the world appeared chaotic. She pushed us to study when many in the world would deem that passive. Grace pushed us to connect in love and struggle and to create our paths by walking them. She pushed us to turn to one another when the pain and trauma of the world was tearing us apart. If Grace were sitting here now, she would tell us that we are living in dangerous times, a time of both crises and opportunity. She would tell us that these are the times to grow our souls and that it is not only a time to imagine what the Next American Revolution could be like, but that we should imagine what this countrys revolution could create for the rest of the world.
Grace believed, like we believe, that Detroit could be the center for the worlds transformation and she pushed and guided us to take leadership in that regard and to nurture others to do the same.
The brief moment of jubilation one feels when they are protest organizing cannot be lingered upon. Although it is imperative that we celebrate the small victories in order to achieve moments of relief, we must challenge ourselves to move past the joyful moments and warm feelings that keep us celebrating for too long and into the moments that challenge us to ask ourselves Whats next? What time is it on our individual clocks? What time is it on the clocks of our blocks? What time is it in on the clocks of our cities, on the clock of the world, on the clock of our humanity?
What changes need to take place in each of us in order to challenge the status quo? To challenge the notion that a city must be poisoned in order for us to fight for its poor to have clean and affordable water? To challenge the notion that a people who cannot pay their bills are disposable? To challenge the notion that those who are undocumented, or are immigrants to a city are unworthy of clean air and the protection of their language, culture and identity? To challenge the idea that the fratricide we see happening most prominently in Black and Brown communities is disconnected from racism and capitalism?
If Grace were sitting here, she would be telling us to listen to our young people and telling the young people to utilize the marbles of our elders. She would be asking us what we are g oing to do different, not tomorrow, but today in terms of what it means to be a human being?
So when asked what time it is on the clock of the world, on the clock of our souls and our humanity, let us keep in mind that we hold the hands that move the clock and we have a responsibility to move the world.
I share with you these videos of Grace and my personal reflections with the hopes that we will all struggle individually and together to become more humane human beings and to expand our ideas towards resistance to include vision. We must become neighbors to our Muslim sisters and brothers, above and beyond Trumps executive orders. We must turn toward one another and away from the cultural biases and prejudices that have us sitting silently until media lets us know we should be outraged. We cannot afford to revisit these conditions another 50 years from now.
In the words of another one of my mentors, Barbara Ransby, Who among us has the luxury not to resist?
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0:33 Intro. [Recording date: December 20, 2016.] Russ Roberts: I want to remind listeners to go to econtalk.org and in the upper left-hand corner you can vote for your favorite episodes of 2016 and share other feedback, which I really appreciate. Today's guest is the economist George Borjas,... Today we'll be discussing his latest book, We Wanted Workers: Unraveling the Immigration Narrative. George, welcome to EconTalk. George Borjas: Thank you so much, Russ. I don't know if you realize this but it's almost 40 years since the first time we ever met. Russ Roberts: Yeah. I know. I do realize it. George Borjas: [?] cool. If somebody had told me that we'd be here today talking about this, 40 years ago, I would have said, 'Not in[?] your dreams.' But somehow we're here, okay? Russ Roberts: Yeah. I don't like to think about it because it's so long ago. The other part, of course, that's hard to imagine and couldn't have been imagined is that we'd be talking not via phone but via Skype; it would be recorded and it would be available to anyone around the world at zero direct cost--many good things in the last 40 years, at least for us. George Borjas: I know. That's for sure. Russ Roberts: So, let's start with the title of your book, which is clever: We Wanted Workers. Where does that title come from? George Borjas: Okay. It comes from a quote, from a statement by Max Frisch, who was a Swiss novelist, essayist. And he was reflecting on the immigrants, on the guest workers really, that Europe tried to import during the 1950s and 1960s, particularly Germany but many other European countries as well. And those guest workers came in and they clearly contributed to the economic miracle. For example, the post-War Economic Miracle in Germany, right? But Max Frisch was looking at it from afar, and he basically said, looking at it in a more general sort of way, 'We wanted workers, but we got people instead.' And the reason that I think that's sort of one of the themes that I stress in the book is that even though I'm an economist, I tend to be a little dissatisfied with the very mechanical way in which economists view immigration. The typical--let me call it the 'economistic' way of looking at immigration looks at them as a bunch of robotic workers that you can basically move from place to place as the need arises. And that, I think, is sort of what Max Frisch is referring to when he said, 'We wanted workers.' And, it's true: Immigrants played a role. Okay? But the fact is that immigrants are human beings as well. And people make decisions. And people make decisions that are based on what is best for them. They are rational human beings, like you and I, right? And those decisions might or might not be precisely what they are receiving [?] in mind. And they may or may not increase the benefits; or they might actually create some harm on the way. The point is that, the fact that immigrants are something beyond workers, and that they play a role that is not just this robotic kind of role of moving from factory to factory, means that we have to look at the impact of immigration in a much broader framework. We have to take immigrant decision-making into account, in particular. And that, I think, was one of the things that motivated me. It's really one of the themes that motivated me as I was trying to write this book in an easy-to-explain way for a general reader: that we have to look as immigration not just--let me put it a different way. A lot of people make the analogy between immigration and trade. And in fact, immigration is like trade, to some extent. When we import a widget, a point that I make in the book, it's sort of like importing the raw labor creates a widget, only that we importing the raw labor would allow us to create the widget domestically, right? But the fact of the matter is that when widgets break down, we can throw them out. When immigrants break down or get sick or things happen, we have a responsibility. And that is one crucial way in which immigration is not like trade. And that's sort of the thematic content, what that statement is trying to capture in the book. Russ Roberts: Yeah, well I think--we'll come back probably to that analogy between trade and immigration--which, of course, they are both related to open borders. If you have open borders, you can choose to have open borders for goods; you can choose to have open borders for capital; you can choose to have open borders for people. And the impact of those different cases have some similarities. And as you point out, they also have some differences. So, I think it's interesting how hard it is for people to think about those clearly, even s economist. Even myself.
5:40 Russ Roberts: Let's start with a standard argument you hear, that you attack in the book--correctly, I believe. People often say, 'Well, we have to have immigrants because if we don't, there will be no one to do the--certain types of jobs.' Americans, quote, 'Americans won't do these jobs'--whether it's mowing lawns, painting, basically construction, agricultural work in particular which--these are all areas that have a lot of immigration workers. What's wrong with that argument? Is that correct? George Borjas: Yeah, the usual [?], the immigrants do jobs [?] don't want to do. And the problem with that basic argument is that [?] ignores the role of markets. And the role of incentives. I think the correct statement is really, immigrants do jobs [?] don't want to do, at the going wage. The presence or absence of immigrants basically changes the market. And markets react to either, to people coming in or people going out. The way I start this in the book, as you know, is by describing--it's a little anecdote of the firm in Georgia back in 2006 where at the time the Bush Administration was trying to look serious about enforcing immigration policy regarding illegal immigration. And they actually conducted quite a few raids on firms that hired illegal immigrants at the time. And one of the raids happened to be on a firm called Crider in Geogia, a chicken processing plant. And the nice thing about this example is that, Crider did precisely what we would teach a profit-maximizing, rational firm to do. Crider basically woke up after Labor Day weekend finding that 3/4 of its workforce had been basically--had disappeared--because of the raid. And, you know, what does Crider to at that point? Well, they put an ad in the paper. And the ad they put in the paper is: Increased wages. We want workers at increased wages. You know, less supply; higher wages. So, to me, it's not surprising that markets respond in the way that common sense tells you they respond. What I always really found very puzzling about the immigration context and the supply-and-demand issue is that most of us have no trouble, you know, given our training we have no trouble saying supply and demand--it's a very nice, unifying tool through which to explain why prices go up and down. And somehow, that idea tends to disappear from a lot of people's minds--a lot of economists' minds--when it comes to immigration. And I always found it a little puzzling. I mean, I don't quite know why there's a resistance to accepting that prices will change when supply shifts. But in the case of immigration, you tend to see the resistance quite often. Russ Roberts: Well, I'd be in that group, to some extent. So, let's get into that, because I think that's a central issue that we should talk about. First, on the Crider example, in Georgia, it's not surprising that overnight, finding that you are out of workers you are going to pay more. The more interesting question would be 6 months to a year and 2 years later. Was that just an emergency move on their part or was that a response to the fact that there was suddenly a smaller supply of workers of low-skilled workers to that particular area of the country, and we normally wouldn't expect the loss of 100 workers in a town or a city or a state or a country to have a big impact on wages? It's a small change. But that had a big change. It was observable, partly because it was--they had a very urgent short-run demand for workers. But the more general question I guess is the following. And I want to phrase it--it's hard to phrase, because I'm a big fan of supply and demand. Of course, the question is: Supply and demand of what? Labor, with a capital "L"? Low-skilled labor? High-skilled labor? Labor that has a particular kind of skill? Certainly all those kind of things are going to have impacts on how you use supply and demand and whether you use it carefully. I guess the question I would have is that, when we talk about labor, generally--if we said, for example, if we try to imagine the kind of experiment, which is the kind of experiment you do in your work: What if the United States had not liberalized immigration in the last 25 years? Which it has--the last 30 years, I guess--post 1990 is the key when it started to become more liberal, or is it a little before that. But I think post-1990 has been a relatively liberal era for open borders. Do you want to think about that as an L--a supply and demand for Labor? Or do you worry about the fact that it depends on what kind of workers they are; it depends on whether they are complementary or substitutes? Does it depend on what parts of the country they go to. It just seems like a little more complicated than just supply and demand for labor. George Borjas: Oh, I completely agree, Russ. Okay? One of the things in my work over the last 10, 15, 20 years has been that you really have to match the skills of immigrants to the skills of natives, if you want to sort of detect an impact. And a lot of the literature has gone the wrong way, basically because, you know, the matching is not quite proper. I mean, I give you an example of this in some work that I've done on mathematicians, which I sort of talk a little bit about in the book. You know, the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, 1992 or so, right? And a bunch of mathematicians came to the United States. Now, from an outside perspective, you'd see the supply of mathematicians increasing, right? But it turned out that the mathematicians who came to the United States happened to specialize in particular topics. So, if you were to look at the average mathematician in the United States, what actually worked on very different kinds of topics, you would see actually very little impact. But if you look at the mathematicians in the United States who specialized in the topics that mathematicians in the Soviet Union had specialized in, then you detect a negative impact of supply and demand--the sort of the basic [?] would give you. So, you know, I am very appreciative of the fact that you really have to very carefully match who it is that the immigrants are going to hit first. Because, as you said, there's complementarities involved as well. For better or worse--and I think it's for worse, actually--much of the literature has focused way too much on trying to measure the own[?] impact--in other words, try to detect that when the group of a particular skill, the number of that group goes up, the weight might go down--in the short run. And again, I'm not doing [?] distinction--short run versus long run. In the short run, the theory is very clear about that. And in the theory it's also clear that in the long run, what's going to happen is capital will adjust and with constant return to[?] return to world, the average wage will return to what it was pre-immigration. But that doesn't mean that even in the long run there are not distributional impacts. Those groups that had a relatively larger supply shock in terms of more workers will tend to be a little worse off than those groups that had a smaller supply shock. So, all these things come into the picture when one tries to estimate the impact. And that is partly the reason why the literature is actually very confusing. Different people are trying to estimate different things. Short run, long run confusion enter into the picture. And again, from the point of theory, the short-run, long-run distinction is very clear. From the point of data, it's far less clear. Because we don't really know what the long run will be in a labor market hit by a supply shock. Will it be a day? Will it be a year? Ten years? We don't really know that. No one has really ever analyzed the dynamics of what happens to labor markets as a result of a supply shock. And then, we also have to deal into the skill issue, which means that: How do you find skill groups? Could be very problematic. Because, you know, at some point the [?] nature to defining a skill group. Like, for example, in my work I've defined it in terms of location and age, basically, in [?] of what I've done. In all, there is education and there is education, right? Russ Roberts: Yeah. It's a good place to start-- George Borjas: Yeah, go ahead. Russ Roberts: It's a good place to start. But obviously two people, each with, say, 4 years of education, a college degree, may have very different skills. And one may compete with one kind of worker but not at all with another type. So-- George Borjas: Exactly. That's what I'm trying to point out.
15:00 Russ Roberts: I want to take this--let's take this point more generally. Because I think it comes up a lot in lots of different areas of labor economics. It drives me crazy when people say, 'Seattle passed a living wage ordinance and employment in Seattle is doing fine.' Well, most people in Seattle are not going to be affected by the minimum wage. It's only going to be the people down toward the lower end of the skill distribution. And you have to look at those workers to see if there is any impact. Because otherwise, the overall impact is going to get lost in the noise of--particularly if there is growth in the Seattle area, which there is; it's doing very well. So it's hard to know whether there is any effect. But if you are trying to measure it, you certainly don't want to look at, say, employment of all workers. Because the theory doesn't expect that to change very much, if only a small proportion of workers are affected by the minimum wage. And I think, similarly, if more low-skilled workers come in to the United States, you and I are not going to be very affected on the wage side. We're going to be affected on the price side. It's going to be probably good for us, actually, because many of the things we buy might get cheaper as a result. But, if hundreds of thousands of economists came in from the Soviet Union, that could affect our wage. And certainly if it had happened 20 years ago, would it be affecting our wage today? As long as they could teach what we teach, roughly, research what we research, approximately. And--the basic point is undeniable, that certainly you have to be careful. One of the things that comes through in your book very clearly is how hard it is to make those kind of measurements, given that our data are imperfect--as you point out, we don't have, people don't walk around with a sign on them saying 'I'm a substitute for such-and-such kind of worker.' You have to, inevitably, make assumptions. You made one just a minute ago in passing. You mentioned the phrase 'constant returns' as a certain assumption about how capital and labor combine. And it may be a decent approximation. It may not be for a particular city or state or a time period when you are trying to measure the impact. George Borjas: That's exactly right. Actually, there's two things I want to say to what you just said. One is the role of assumptions is huge. And we're not appreciate[?] that. We don't emphasize that enough when we discuss the labor market and immigration, sort of what the general findings are. And, like, this whole literature--a lot of people, and I sort of cite in the book some examples, claim that the data have shown that on average the immigration has no impact on the long-run wages. Right? And that is true--that is what the data show. What the discussion that is unusually emphasized is that that has been assumed by the constant returns assumption. The fact that on the average, the impact of immigration, on the average, is zero, has nothing to do with data. It's all been built in by the fact that the model underlying this analysis that assumes constant returns. And the other point you raised, which is, again, extremely relevant in this context, is the minimum wage example. You raised it in the context of, you know, you have to really match what is being affected by the minimum wage or not, right? I want to raise it in a different context, which is a lot of people make what I, what is intent of pure theory, completely contradictory arguments when it comes to immigration and when it comes to the minimum wage. Somehow, you see people have no qualms whatsoever saying immigration in the short run doesn't have an effect on wages. And at the same time they say that increasing the minimum wage has no effect on employment--in the short run. As you know, those two things are completely contradictory. In the context of the minimum wage they are basically claiming that the labor market, the labor demand curve is perfectly inelastic. In the context of immigration they are claiming that labor demand curve in the short run is perfectly elastic. You know, one of those things, and probably both are wrong. Labor demand curve should probably not in that, in either extreme. And it's really sort of--I've always been fascinated by the intellectual contradiction, in sort of claiming these two things simultaneously.
19:06 Russ Roberts: Well, here's the other question I have on this; and then we'll move to some other examples and try to summarize some of the empirical work and get to this--I think we'll want to re-emphasize this point about assumptions because I think it's very clear. So, workers aren't widgets. They are not the same. Importing workers is not the same as importing the goods that workers overseas might produce, partly because workers bring their cultural habits. And that's obviously an issue that you talk about in the book. But they also bring the fact that they want to buy things-- George Borjas: But-- Russ Roberts: So, which makes them not like a widget. So, in general, if you ask me, 'Is the increase in the U.S. population between, say, 1900 and 2000, has that been good or bad for workers?' We wouldn't want to use a supply-and-demand model, because supply-and-demand model--it's a technical term; it's a partial equilibrium. And partial equilibrium is probably not the right way to simply think about--it simplifies what's going on when we think about a growing population. So, that's the problem I have when I think about an increase, say, in immigration. To me, it's a lot like an increase in population. It's true you bring in adults rather than infants--usually. But obviously it's a little more complicated than just saying, 'Well, there's a supply shock.' I'm willing to accept the fact that in the short run, that can certainly be the case where workers with skills who are close to the workers who are coming in, that it's going to be hard on them. Of course, they already have jobs; their wages, a lot of them, their wages are not going to go down instantaneously with the opportunities to hire additional workers that come with foreign immigration. So, I'm not quite: Explain to me how the supply and demand framework should be used in, say, a case like population or immigration. And why it's different. It seems to me it's very different from the minimum wage. George Borjas: No, I agree with you, okay? In the long run, it's more of a group[?]. In the long run the real question is economic growth. What does having more people do to economic growth? Right? Russ Roberts: Yep. George Borjas: And the question then becomes, what do you want to assume is the underlying technology? Russ Roberts: Say that again? What do you want--? George Borjas: The question becomes: What are you going to assume about the underlying technology. Russ Roberts: Correct. George Borjas: Okay? And if you assume constant returns, then not much will happen in terms of per capita income, in the long run. Russ Roberts: And therefore, how do you explain--that's probably not a good starting place. George Borjas: No, no, but therefore the question is: Do immigrants completely replicate what we have now? Or is the skill distribution of immigrants different from what we had originally? And then it will depend on factor proportions, I think.
21:51 Russ Roberts: So, I'm going to disagree with--let me agree with half of that and then let me disagree with the other half. George Borjas: Okay. Russ Roberts: Even though it's maybe only one half there. It's certainly true--let's suppose we take a country like the United States at a point in time, and now we're going to increase the population via immigration, by 20%. A huge increase. Big, big increase. George Borjas: Actually double it-- Russ Roberts: Great. Let's double it. And I'm going to think of two or three different cases. In case Number 1, the skill set--and I'm ignoring the cultural side of this for now, obviously; we're only going to look at the economic impact, the financial/monetary impact on wages and markets. So, obviously, if everybody is the same--excuse me--if the distribution of the new people mimics, is almost exactly the same as the current distribution, we'll have doubled everything. We'll have doubled all the low-skilled workers, all the high-skilled workers. And it's the case-- George Borjas: And the long-run capital should double as well. Russ Roberts: Because? George Borjas: Because--the, you know, in a global--yes, you have to say, now you have to say, well, the rate of return to capital will increase in the United States as a result of initial people coming in. Right? That will bring in initial capital somehow. Russ Roberts: Maybe from overseas. Maybe people will save more. George Borjas: Exactly-- Russ Roberts: Okay. So that's the case, and maybe we have another Grand U.S. next to the old U.S. So, it's twice as big; it's got twice as much capital. But we don't know if it has twice as much. But it has more capital and more labor. George Borjas: Yeah. Russ Roberts: Next question: The second case would be-- George Borjas: But the point is, in that scenario, per capita income doesn't really change. Russ Roberts: Well, we don't know that exactly. George Borjas: I think we do. Russ Roberts: I don't think we do. The reason I'd say that is that I actually think there's, via Adam Smith, the division of labor is limited by the extent of the market. George Borjas: Oh, but I am thinking of it, very specific production function here. Russ Roberts: I know; and I don't think that way. I don't find that-- George Borjas: But that goes back to the beginning of what I said: It all depends on what you assume about the [?] Russ Roberts: That's fine.
23:48 Russ Roberts: So let's leave that alone for the moment. Let's accept the fact that different assumptions about how people combine could affect the final conclusion. But it certainly wouldn't be the case--and you wouldn't argue the case--that in the long run all those extra workers would lower wages for the people who already live here. It could in the short run. It could because--for a lot of reasons. And it certainly could measure--well, anyway, that's Case One. Case Two: We double the population but every single person who comes is below the median or the average, one or the other, in their skill level. And Case Three is they are all above the median or the average of the skill level. And the question would be how different are those Case Two and Three from Case One? That is, obviously, they are different. They are not the same. George Borjas: Oh, definitely. Russ Roberts: So, you want to speculate about that for a minute? George Borjas: Well, I tell you: I think about it this way. In the first case it's very clear what will happen. You have a brand new United States next to the old United States. Everything doubles. I should say, per-capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product) doubles--I'm sorry, total GDP doubles; per capita GDP doesn't change. And when we just replicate ourselves, not much happens--with constant returns. When we don't replicate ourselves, what's going to happen is, capital will still adjust. Right? In the long term, capital should still adjust; but there will now be a different [?] proportion than what we had originally. And what I would think would happen in terms of a very simple-minded model of long-run growth, right--what I think will happen is that the group that encountered the highest supply increase will tend to have relatively lower wages than the group that encountered the least supply increase. So, for example, in the [?] you said, suppose a lot of the immigrants or most of the immigrants or all of the immigrants are low-skill. If you are a low-skilled worker in the United States, you are going to have relatively low wages. But the high-skilled workers--there are complementarities involved in this production technology, right? The high-skilled workers are going to be much better off. Russ Roberts: Yep. And-- George Borjas: But look--that's actually raising an important point. Once you go away from this very simple-minded replicating ourselves model, you recognize immediately the distributional impacts. And that introduced the notion of tradeoffs into immigration discussions. You know, not everybody will be better off. It's true that the economic pie accruing to the original population will increase, but it doesn't increase equally for everybody. Right? Russ Roberts: Correct. But-- George Borjas: [?] Hmmm? Russ Roberts: That's for sure. I agree with that 100%. But it seems to me that the simple short run story misses a key thing. So, I'm going to shift gears on you. George Borjas: No, look. Before you leave this, I want to continue. The correct way of looking at this--I mean, I think both things matter, okay? Russ Roberts: And I agree with that. [?] not irrelevant. That will be clear from this next example.
27:00 Russ Roberts: So, if I said to you--until recently, let's say, we didn't trade with China, either because they were so poor or because transportation costs were too high. Whatever the reason is, it doesn't matter for this example. And now suddenly we are trading a lot with China. Which is what happened between, roughly over the last 20 years, we increased our trade with China dramatically. I have no doubt that that was harder on people who made things that--who had the skills that were similar to the people in China than it was on me: there are Chinese professors who come here and Chinese academics and Chinese economists, but in general it's relatively small. And so I've benefited tremendously from increased trade with China because my clothes are less expensive. And so on. My toys, gadgets, etc. And clearly a lot of people haven't benefited this much. In fact, they may even have been hurt on net. It's true they also get to buy cheaper clothes, and cheaper gadgets, but they have, unfortunately, might not have a good job at all. George Borjas: Or [?] Russ Roberts: Right--they might not have any job. Again--in the short run. And that short run might be fairly long. So, we don't want to say--the terms 'short run,' 'long run' are kind of shorthand ways of saying 'it's more complicated.' But we all understand, if we're thoughtful, what those complications are. Now, if you said to me, 'Therefore, there's distributional consequences of trade with China, I certainly agree 100%. But I would never suggest that trade with China and the United States is something akin to a wash for the wages or wellbeing or standard of living in the United States. I'd say, in the short run it's harder on people who have those skills, but because of the gains to all the rest of the folks, those people now have more purchasing power; and they are going to demand and create or produce more things--things are going to be created and produced using the opportunity now that things are cheaper coming in from China. And therefore, lower-skilled workers who were hurt initially, they may get benefits that are not see; and in addition, their children and grandchildren will live in a much better world potentially because we are using our resources more effectively. And I would think the same thing would be true of immigration. George Borjas: Look. Let me actually make two points about what you have said. I mean, I think it's a really nice thing to compare the analogy you made on trade with a similar example with immigration. First of all, suppose that instead of trade with China, we had gotten immigrants--and they [?] to be very low-skilled immigrants. Okay? Russ Roberts: Correct. George Borjas: And that will mean the same thing you said about the people being hurt by the Chinese imports. Some people will be hurt by the low-skilled immigrants. And you and I would gain tremendously. We can buy all kinds of stuff cheaper; we can hire people to clean our house, fix our rooves, and stuff like that. And you can show from the simple economic model that both in the case of trade you had in mind, and the case of immigration that I'm putting forth as an analogy, the economic pie accruing to [?] has increased. The pie increased and the plate[?] shifted. It changed. Russ Roberts: The way the pie is divided. George Borjas: [?] And then the question is: How much weight should we put to the fact[?]--and this is a value question now--how much weight should we put to the fact[?] that many people perhaps are much worse off right now than they would have been otherwise? You made an implicit judgment: You said that in the long run, my children, grandchildren, so on, were much better off and they have more [?]. Russ Roberts: Oh, but not just mine. My point was much broader than that. My point is that the children and grandchildren of the low-skilled workers who are hurt in the current world by Chinese trade, they are going to inherit a better world because we've grown the pie. George Borjas: Well, what's a better world if you've tried[?] this and don't have a job? And can barely afford--you know. See, that's where you and I depart. I'm not willing to go into the next step. Because I don't know what a better world would be. Russ Roberts: But that means you are telling me that when we decide to open our borders to Chinese goods, we should not. We should be very wary of the fact that American workers--and by the way, this is also true of innovation. George Borjas: Right--[?] make analogy. Russ Roberts: It's not just trade. If we have technological improvement that makes some people's skills obsolete, and they are not going to have a job, their children and grandchildren are going to live in a much better world--which is the history of the last hundred years of the United States. George Borjas: Okay. You show me evidence that in fact the children and grandchildren of people who [?] trade are way better off than they would have been otherwise, I'm willing to buy into that. I mean, to me that sounds like an ideological argument more than a factual argument. And let me tell you another thing that you raise in your question. As you say, yes, there will be an increase in the economic pie. But this is where the distinction between workers and people comes in very, very nicely, okay? In the case of trade, the increase in the economic pie accruing to natives happens, and it's there: no doubt about it. In the case of immigration, it's not so clear. Because suppose [?] who came in have been low-skilled. Well, they are going to have impacts--forget all the other stuff that might go on. Just look at the Welfare State impact. The Welfare State impact is not trivial. And it may well be that the expenditures that they trigger on the Welfare State could easily offset the gains that accrue from them being like widgets in a sense, right? And that's why it is entirely possible for globalization[?] from trade to actually increase the economic pie, and globalization through immigration to not increase the economic pie at all. Russ Roberts: So, that is relevant. That's a relevant point. But let me just answer your charge that I made an ideological claim. I'm going to make the argument that I made a logical claim, through the logic of economics. And I'll give you some evidence. My evidence would be the following. In 1900 the average standard of living in the United States was a fraction of what it is now. It's probably something between 10 and 30 times higher. Of course, it's very difficult, it's impossible to measure precisely, because so many products, we try to figure out the purchasing power of--income today versus income in 1900, those products were simply not available in 1900. There's no elegant or precise way to deal with that reality. Put that to the side. No one disputes that our material wellbeing today dwarfs what it was 100 years ago. Now, what happened over those 100 years is that we had an immense amount of creative destruction. And it came from 3 different sources. We had tremendous technological change. We had a huge increase in globalization of goods and capital. We had a huge increase in immigration and mobility. And we also had population change. So, hundreds of millions--maybe--well, I'll leave it at hundreds of millions--hundreds of millions of jobs were destroyed over that century. Over the last 100 years. And new jobs were created. Now, you can argue that it's certainly the case that many of the individuals who were hurt by those three changes of immigration, technology, and trade were harmed, at the time. But I think it would be hard to argue that their children and grandchildren were harmed. They live much better material lives through the process of creative destruction--through the process of growth. You can argue it wasn't worth it. But my claim would be that a farmer living in 1900, when 40% of the workers were on the farm--today it's 2% in the United States--that farmer's children and grandchildren are much better off even though the changes that caused that to happen were very tough on farmers in the meanwhile. They couldn't cover their mortgage; their prices went down because of competition and increased innovation in agriculture and economies of scale. And small farmers in particular went bankrupt. And they had a tough time. And their children had suffered through the fact that their parents didn't have a job; their farm was out of business; etc. Their farm was bankrupt. But I think overall, it's been a pretty good run? You going to disagree with that? George Borjas: No, not at all. I actually make the argument myself sometimes. Okay? Russ Roberts: I'm glad to hear it. George Borjas: So, I actually agree with you. But the point that--look. There's a lot of things going on over the last century. Russ Roberts: Fair enough. George Borjas: So, to--so who knows? It's very hard to disentangle these facts. What I think is something that we economists have been guilty of is the following: When we teach trade and immigration in class, we always point out the models create these benefits and costs. Right? Even though the pie might increase. Russ Roberts: Yep. George Borjas: When you talk about trade and immigration in the public debate, public policy--especially with trade--you don't hear much about the cost. Russ Roberts: Yeah, and I agree with you there. That's disgusting. It's dishonest. George Borjas: And that's been a very destructive part of what we've done as a profession, I think. Because some people do get hurt. And people getting hurt, getting left behind and [?] more has consequences. Social consequences; political consequences. And, you know, we are in a world now who might be living through those consequences. Russ Roberts: I agree with that. Actually, I agree with it very strongly. I think it's incredibly depressing how advocates for and against both sides of these issues and don't admit to various costs and benefits, depending on which side you are on. [?] a free lunch. George Borjas: That was the--thank you for saying that. That was one of the things I wanted to get into my book: There are tradeoffs in everything, right? Russ Roberts: Yup. I totally agree. George Borjas: And you know that immigration is one of those things. Russ Roberts: I'm willing--even though I'm more of an open-borders guy than you are, George, I certainly agree with that in your book. It made me think about more than I have. Which I really appreciate. And it also reminded me of something I'm very much in agreement with, which is the tendency for advocates to cherry-pick data on both sides of this debate and avoid those costs. I [?] 100%.
37:09 Russ Roberts: So, let's talk a little bit about the measurement of those costs. What would you argue is the best estimate, at least in the short run--and the short run could be long-- George Borjas: right-- Russ Roberts: of the harm to native American, low-skilled--native workers of low skills? That is, high school dropouts-- George Borjas: right-- Russ Roberts: high school graduates from the recent increase in immigration? And by the way, the other thing that drives me crazy is everyone just assumes that everything is linear--so if we made it twice as big, the effect would be the same. Or if we do it now versus 50 years ago, it doesn't matter. And of course, you point out many times in the book very well that you have to be careful about historical context, the types of workers, the countries they come from. Those are all relevant. So, talk about what we know about the impact on low-skilled workers in America when immigrants come in. George Borjas: Look, the number I carry in my head is that what we've seen in the last 20, 30 years has basically been something on the order of like a 20, 25% increase of supply on the bottom end of the skill distribution. I think the best available number is that that has basically increased--has lowered the wage at the bottom of the skill distribution by something between 3 and 5%. Which is not a huge amount. I mean, it's not a huge impact, by any means. But it's not zero. Russ Roberts: Agreed. George Borjas: And, you know: The question is: How much attention should one put when one thinks about immigration on that particular loss? And that's really much more of a value question than it is an economic question. I mean, what I'm trying to resolve in the book is to sort of point out to people that, yes, you can cherry-pick data, and you can do this and you can do that. But overall, there is some evidence that the people who are most affected, once they[?] find things properly, people who are most affected by immigrants will, just like you, are going to be hurt a little bit. But I think one thing that I don't do enough in the book and that people don't do enough generally, is sort of--it comes back to something that we talked about earlier: those who [?] come along with complementarities. And we've not really put much attention on measuring the gain that you and I get as a result of [?] immigration. And those gains could be substantial. And that truly is what the debate should be about. Russ Roberts: Well, your point about the--let's say it's 5%--it does remind me that low-skilled workers in America, the last 25 years, have been very challenging, for three reasons. And we've mentioned them all. One is the increase in immigration of low-skilled workers. The second is technology, the increase in artificial intelligence, etc. And the third, of course, is trade. George Borjas: Right. Russ Roberts: All three of those--trade with countries who have a lot of low-skilled workers. George Borjas: Right. They [?] Russ Roberts: Yeah. So, this explains why there are a lot of folks in certain parts of the country who aren't doing very well. And it's a serious issue. So, let me--let's not debate whether 5% is small or large. I wouldn't debate it. It's small to some; large to many. But if you are one of those workers, it's large, I assume. If you are poor, 5% is not a trivial amount. Potentially. It seems to me the right policy response to that is not to keep out low-skilled workers. It's not to reduce innovation. It's not to keep out products from countries with low-skilled workers. It's to try to improve the skill-set of the workers who are here. To try to encourage them to finish high school. It seems to me a very strange policy idea to say, 'You have to keep out workers from, say, Mexico or Latin America, because they compete with American dropouts; and they get hurt.' Shouldn't we just try to improve our school system and our culture to get people to graduate high school? George Borjas: Uh, okay. That's actually a great point. And my usual answer to that is two-fold. One is: Who pays for that? Because, you know, providing education for many, many more people is not--you know, there's not a free lunch, right? Somebody pays for that. And I don't know what the estimates of that would be, but I would like to know before you make a decision as to what the right thing to do would be. What would be the cost of doing that? Right? Russ Roberts: Yep. George Borjas: And then the second thing that's always puzzled me about this, and I've never really thought it through completely because I haven't had the time to sort of sit down and work out a model, is sort of related to what you said. A lot of people say, 'Look, it's true that, or it may be true that the bottom end has gotten hammered because of immigration and so on. But one good thing about all this is I think can encourage them to go back to school and get more education. Right?' And there's some kind of an upgrade, a skill-upgrade they call it, or something along those lines. And one way to look at it is that way. Another way to look at it is the following: These people decided, before this supply shock, that the optimal thing they should do was to get x schooling and no more. And now, there's a shock out their own control that they now have to revisit that mathematization[?] problem. And they have to incur the cost of moving away from whatever they have picked before to some other equilibrium. Right? Is that an optimal way to run a--is that an optimal thing that's come out of immigration policy, to force people who had already pre-decided they didn't want to do certain things, to make them do them? And I don't see anybody discuss this very clearly. And, you know, in the abstract, we can all say, 'Of course, we can just get everybody--let's make everybody go to college. Let's do that.' But a lot of people don't want to do that. And how do you compensate those people who don't want to do that, through the fact that you are not changing the environment in a way that they have to do something that they don't want to do? Russ Roberts: Yeah. I think, instead of saying 'Force,' I would say, 'Incentivize.' But it's the same point. Right? Do we want to incentivize people to go to college, say, who don't want to go now. Etc. I think the key point in answering that--and we don't know the answer precisely at all, but the key point would be it's not just that they are going to be incentivized to go to college. It will be, or to say, in high school, say, in graduating, the key point is that with more workers and more people, presumably there's more--and if there is economic growth as a result and more capital coming in, the opportunities and the return to finishing high school and going on to college will be higher than they were before. Just as you mentioned--before, that those new workers will be complementary to, say, our skills. Of course, the question is how much and how big.
44:12 Russ Roberts: George, talk for a minute about your personal story. Because it's very interesting. And I think listeners will probably guess that you were an immigrant. And that your experience affected your interest in this topic. Again, I think--that's a small part of the book, but it's a very interesting part. And, talk about that for a little bit. George Borjas: Okay; thank you so much. I tell you: I was born in Cuba. And my family used to own a small clothing factory. They manufactured men's pants. And, like I say in the book, I'm actually one of those rare economists that spent a lot of time at a factory with capital and labor. The manufacturing product that was sold in the marketplace. So, I've actually seen that firsthand. Okay? So, the factory was confiscated very soon after Castro took over. And basically, you know, my father was very ill from my childhood; and there were rumors that Castro was going to ship out all the children to the countryside and re-educate them or something. My family wanted to get me out of the country, no matter what it involved. But my father basically got sicker over that period, and eventually passed away. And that always disrupted these plans. My mother and I were eventually able to migrate--overseas--just a week before the Missile Crisis closed the border with Cuba. So I was very, very lucky in being one of those last rights[?]. Many years go by, and some--I'm an immigration, obviously; I'm kind of predisposed to immigration topics. And I'm at Columbia U., a grad student at Columbia--this a few years before we met at, you know, in Chicago, right? And Barry Chiswick comes by; and here's a paper; and that paper is about assimilation. That paper is actually, now, you look back on it, and it's sort of the foundation of immigration economics in the modern era. The paper that sparked the whole field. And his claim was--his finding was--that if you look at immigrants who just arrived in the United States and compared them to immigrants who had been here a long time, the immigrants who just arrived earn a lot less than those who have been here a long time. And then he proceeded to interpret that finding as a proof of economic assimilation. The longer you are here, the more you learn whatever it is you have to learn--the language, the American way of life, whatever. Right? The American way in the labor market. And you improve your human capital in some sense. In that seminar I asked the question that clearly came from my own background; and it happened to be because I knew that the human flow was composed of two distinct[?] waves--those who came, like myself, before 1962, and those who came many years later. There were many, many rumors or observations in the Cuban community that those who came before 1962 were the entrepreneurs, the highly skilled; those who came years later were not. So, I said, 'You know, couldn't it be that the reason you are finding that the more recent immigrants do worse than the earlier ones, not be the result of assimilation but just be the fact that the groups are just different kinds of people? Like, in the Cuban [?] I had in mind? Russ Roberts: [?] George Borjas: Exactly. And that was really this--this was the mid-1970s. That was the birth of my first paper on immigration, which was published in 1985. So, I moved to California. And this idea that I asked [?] about, kept floating in my head, as California was literally changing dramatically over in that period. This is the early 1980s. This is when you and I had met; and I moved to California: the early 1980s. And you can basically see California changing. Before 1980, California was not a particularly heavy immigrant state. And I get there; and overnight, you can sort of see the town changing. Okay? And I said to myself, 'This looks really interesting.' And it was again [?] change. And I want to study this, out of curiosity. And a question that kept cropping up in my mind was that I had asked at a seminar: How, exactly, would you measure assimilation when you have different "ways" of people being different? And that's what I said in the study; that was really my answer to immigration. And that's the way I got involved.
48:37 Russ Roberts: And how much do you think we know now? And there are many, many examples in the book trying to measure this; but try to summarize them. What do we know now about people's ability to assimilate? Whatever that means--there's cultural and economics and assimilation. But let's stick to the economic side, again--the idea that the wages of the children and grandchildren become closer to the wages of the natives. George Borjas: Right. Well, there's two kinds of estimation we are talking about. One is what happens if you are an immigrant, lifetime, and the other is what happens to the children and grandchildren. Right? Russ Roberts: Yep. George Borjas: The whole Chiswick paper was really what happened to some of the immigrants, lifetime. And we know a lot more about that now than we did when Chiswick began--obviously. What we know is that the groups of immigrants who came in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s--you know, assimilated quite well in terms of, they experienced a lot of wage growth. The groups that came in the beginning of the 20th century and the groups that came of the end of the 20th century, did not experience as much wage growth. It's sort of a curious finding. Because if you look at the 20th century in the United States, it's basically book-ended by two mass migrations. And what we tend to find is that they [?] came into mass migrations don't tend to progress as fast as those who came in a period of less immigration. Okay? So that's actually very interesting, sort of topic for future discussion. And we don't quite know why it happened. But it's interesting. Russ Roberts: Could be a supply effect. Could be something different. Could be there was a big recession in 2008-- George Borjas: Exactly-- Russ Roberts: that set everybody back. We don't-- George Borjas: We don't know. I'm being completely honest. We don't know, but it's just a very interesting pattern. The second thing, which is what happens to the children and grandchildren. And again, the only experience we have here is what happened in the 20th century. So, what we get, we have data for, is we can track the people who came in the early 1900s, look at their children, look at their grandchildren over the century. Right? And what we see is that they are [?]. The children improve over time. And ethnic inequality--in other words, the difference between Group X and Group Y narrows down a lot. And that's what you would expect from the melting pot working. Now, you didn't raise this point, but I make this point in the book: Which is the following: A lot of people look at that 20th century experience and say, 'Look, you know, even though we are having, perhaps we are having some problems today with the new immigrants--they are not doing so well, whatever--it all worked out in the 20th century and therefore you can just extrapolate into the future, and it will work out fine. And this is one of the points I want to make in the book, which sort of came up in our conversation before. You know, conditions on the ground matter a lot. You cannot use things that happen at one place at one time, regarding immigration, and imagine that it will happen in another place at another time. Because, again, immigrants are not just robotic workers. And they example I'd like to give of the 20th century is that--sort of a few examples--is the following. One is: Look, when immigrants in 1900 came in, they went into the manufacturing sector. It's not too much of an exaggeration that the Ellis Island immigrants built up the manufacturing sector of the United States to a large extent. Now, the important thing about that is that those jobs eventually became unionized. And were very high-paying jobs. And those union jobs were, you know, were, you know, [?] transferred within the family. So if your father--one number that I always find incredible is that in 1915 or so, almost 3/4 of the Ford Motor Company workers were foreign born. Well, just imagine if you were a Ford employee and became unionized, got a great-paying job. Your children got that job. Your grandchildren. And that was really the middle class in the 20th century for many immigration families. Russ Roberts: Yeah. That's a fantastic example. Of course, it was harder for other people's children or grandchildren to get those jobs, because the union wanted to keep them out and were eager to keep the gains very narrow. So they-- George Borjas: Exactly-- Russ Roberts: I just want to emphasize that. George Borjas: But nevertheless the fact that the immigrants were so over-represented in the manufacturing sector clearly helped them. Russ Roberts: Yeah. George Borjas: And the question is: What is it now--what conditions today will lead to that kind of assimilation path in the next hundred years? I don't know. Another issue is, there were two wars. And the Germans were, in particular, highly discriminated against in WWI. And those[?] states passed legislation making it illegal to speak German in public. Making it illegal to actually speak German in public schools. And that was in effect an assimilation, right? Again, we don't want to have another World War, but how do you produce those underlying conditions? And that's one of the reasons--I think there's something you've actually talked about before in some of your work, is that--there is, the incentive to assimilate culturally doesn't really exist any more. The [?] kind of assimilation doesn't really exist any more. Russ Roberts: It's true. George Borjas: You know, I give the example in the book of the [?] California, [?] out a memo prohibiting people from using the world melting pot because it's a micro-aggression. Just imagine what doing that means in terms of, you know, future assimilation. It's not really clear, right? Russ Roberts: Well, the example you also give in the book--which I think is fantastic and relevant, is, through most of a large part of American history, immigrants were eager to learn the language. But, of course it's hard to learn a new language when you are an adult. But the children, at least, would learn the new language. And the parents would often do their best to speak the native language at home to encourage their kids. In fact, my wife's grandparents came here from Germany in 1939, escaping the Nazis; and they never spoke German again. So, think about how crazy--think about that house: A husband and wife, not speaking their native language because they are so horrified and traumatized by the Holocaust; so of course their children spoke English much better than they would have otherwise. Of course, they didn't know German. That was--there was a cost to that, of course. But in today's world, we make it, for reasons that I'm not going to try to explain, we make it easier for people to not learn English. We have wonderful private and public accommodation of people where English is not their native language. Obviously Spanish being the second language. And there's something good about that; and there's something not so good. George Borjas: Right. And look: the other point that you can make is that there are now gains to be had by making sure you retain the ethnic identity. In terms of all kinds of programs that try to divide people by ethnic groups and reward people and penalize people accordingly. And that also affects assimilation. So, I think that a usual--we all have a tendency to do this. And we all look at data; and we always look at data from the past. And we assume the world is linear and we can just extrapolate from where we are now using the data from the past. Right? It's not so clear you can do this in this context. And that's one of the warnings, the warnings that I give in the book.
56:01 Russ Roberts: Yup. Yeah, and I agree with that. So, let me make a philosophical observation and see where you stand on this. So, I'm going to give you my summary of what we know about this and why I come down as I do. And I'm going to be as honest as I can be. So, I concede that immigration is hard on low-skilled workers. I think the effects are relatively small, but I concede that, for them, small is not really the right word. It might be large to them, because 5% of a poor person might be more significant than it might be to me. And I get that. I also believe that over the longer period of time it leads to growth, and better use of resources; and that's going to enhance the opportunities of their children and grandchildren. Especially if we get rid of things like mandated second-language signs, etc. I think we should be encouraging people to learn English and use English; and I hope culturally we'll move toward a more assimilatory--I think it's okay to say, melting pot. I would like to see that. But I understand I don't have control over that. So, I think the economic effects are relatively small. For me, and others, but especially for me. So I concede that. They are bigger for people who are not like me. But for their children and grandchildren, I think that they'll be okay with it; and I think they care about their children and grandchildren. And I see a huge benefit to the people who come here. So, as somebody who is not an nth generation American--just like you, I'm not as new as you are-- George Borjas: Right. Russ Roberts: but I have--my 4 grandparents, 1 was born in Poland and 3 were born in the United States. I think--they all came in the 1880s part. And I concede the part that I have an emotional reaction to this issue, partly because if those people hadn't come here they would have been killed in the Holocaust. And they would have been really poor, either way. And I'm really glad that we got--that my ancestors came here. That I got to be born here instead of in Poland, or somewhere else. And I'd like to see that opportunity available to other people. So, I see it as a wonderful thing for the people who come here--mostly. I see it as mostly a good thing for the people who are here. And for me the only issue is the cultural issue--is that for a net negative or a net positive, to have diverse people coming here who may not share all the cultural values of America. And there I do worry about the melting pot and assimilation. But that's where I stand. Where do you stand? And does your personal story play a role in your willingness or eagerness to let--or antagonism to people coming here? George Borjas: You know, we are not that far away, believe it or not. I mean, I think I will--in the little summary you just gave at the very end of what you just said, you sort of didn't really talk about the people being hurt by it so much. And the question is how much wage we put on that. You know, one of the things at the end of the book that I have is I sort of say to myself, 'What would I do if I had control over immigration policy?' Right? And even though there is an impact on the low-skilled labor market, I don't come out at the end and say, 'Let's just stop all low-skilled immigration.' In fact I say we shouldn't do that. We should actually--there is something quite--in the way you put it, there is something quite historic about the United States giving the opportunity to many low-skilled people from all over the world to come to this country and live, you know, much better lives. Right? And I don't want it--I would never want to throw that away. That's part of what the United States is about. But what I think we've made the mistake on, is ignoring the fact that the long run is far away. And there is a need, right now, to address the dislocations suffered by people at that low end. And unfortunately, both in the case of trade and immigration, we've tended to be models[?] people. We tend to look forward and say, 'Look, in the long term, the economic pie will go up. Your children might be fine.' Whatever. Right. But that's 20, 30 years down the line. What do we do with the people who are being hurt today? So, I'm not that far away from you. What I would actually argue, that we cannot just dismiss the short-run impact. So willingly. I think we have to take--we have to think of immigration--if we are going to do these kinds of things, we have to think of immigration policy in a broader way. And that broader way is not just how many immigrants to admit and which immigrants to admit, but what to do about the people who are being hurt by it now. And once we address that, then how much more in your ballpark?
AMSTERDAM - A ranking system which scores apparel brands and other organisations on their use of sustainable cotton will expand for 2017. Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK, Solidaridad and WWF have released the list of companies that will be assessed in the new round of their Sustainable Cotton Ranking to be published in October 2017. The second edition of the ranking will include major companies from all continents, including from countries such as China and Brazil, and online companies such as Zalando and Amazon. As in 2016, the ranking will score companies on their policy, traceability and uptake of sustainable cotton.
TETTNANG German outdoor apparel brand Vaude has been nominated by a jury of experts in two categories for the German Federal Government's annual CSR Awards. "We are pleased that we were listed twice among the five best companies in Germany. Even though we didn't achieve first place, it is a great endorsement of our level of commitment," said Vaude CEO Antje von Dewitz at the Awards Ceremony in Berlin where she also participated in a panel discussion.
[Editors note: Skagit County jury did not convict Ken Ward of two felony counts stemming from an act of civil disobedience in October 2016. After more than five hours of deliberation, Wards three-day trial ended in a hung jury, with at least one juror refusing to convict. The judge officially declared a mistrial. There will be a conference next week to see if they plan to schedule a new trial. In five hours, the jury was unable to decide that with all of the evidence against me, including the video of me closing the valve, that this was a crime, said Ken Ward after the decision. I didnt contest a single piece of the evidence, only presented my story and evidence of catastrophic climate change. This is a tremendous outcome.]
By Andy Rowell
The trial began on Monday for Ken Ward, a climate activist and co-founder of the Climate Disobedience Center, who risks spending 30 years in prison for shutting down a pipeline carrying tar sands crude last October.
At the time, 59 year old Ward, who shut down the Kinder Morgan Trans-Mountain Pipeline in Anacortes, Washington, said his actions were to avert climate catastrophe and stand with the Standing Rock water protectors. We must stop the fossil fuel industry in its tracks.
Ward participated in the #Shutitdown action which targeted tar sands pipelines in different states, including Washington, Oregon, North Dakota, Montana and Minnesota.
https://twitter.com/climatehawk1/status/786280526575382528, but I know that theres tremendous controversy over the fact whether it even exists. And even if people believe that it does or it doesnt, the extent of what were doing to ourselves and our climate and our planet, theres great controversy over that.
The county judge made the comments last week when Wards legal team were requesting to present a necessity defense in court. They wanted to argue that non-violent direct action was justified to stop climate change, after a legal precedent was set last year by a judge in Washington state in the trial of the Delta Five anti-oil train activists.
Ward told the Guardian about Judge Rickerts refusal to allow such a defense to proceed to full trial: I thought it was shocking and deeply worrisome for my case. We are in the late stages of global collapse and to have someone who is presumably as knowledgeable and aware as a judge should be blithely dismissing the biggest problem facing the world is chilling.
But that will not stop Ward making the case about climate change from the witness stand, no matter what the Judge has ruled. I am going to talk a little bit about climate science, Ward told Reuters. I spent 30-some-odd years following only legal approaches. Its only been in recent years that the scale of the problem and lack of a political solution leaves no choice but direct action.
Although Wards trial is expected to be concluded this week, others will soon follow into court. Another one of the #ShutItDown valve turners is Annette Klapstein, a retired attorney, who argues that our upcoming trials will be landmark test cases for direct action and the climate justice movement at a time when theyre more important and more vulnerable than ever. The trials will deliberate the legality of direct climate action, even as the government crackdown against it intensifies.
Klapstein is prepared to go to jail to defend the climate. When I weigh the possibility of my having to do significant prison time against the possibility that my actions may keep all of our children and grandchildren from living through the collapse of civilization due to catastrophic climate change, its no contest, she said. My conscience demands I put my body on the line to try to salvage a habitable planet for future generations.
Another person who could face jail is Emily Johnston from Seattle who shut down a pipeline in Minnesota and who is charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors, facing a potential prison sentence of 22 years.
Writing at the end of last week, she outlined how the introduction of the Trump Administration will make protesting even more dangerous and difficult: The only resonance I can imagine now would be the new administrations glee at how quickly they could brand us terrorists, as they set about the business of dismantling environmental protections just when we need to redouble efforts to take care of our only home.
And as we all strive to take care of our planet, we all have reason to be worried by Trump and his climate change-denying cronies.
Reposted with permission from our media associate Oil Change International.
(Photo: Paul Jeffrey / WCC)Syrian refugees walk in the countryside outside Messstetten, Germany on Oct. 24, 2015. They had applied for asylum in Germany and were awaiting word on the government's decision. Meanwhile, they lived in a room in a former army barracks in Messstetten, where church groups and other community members provided a variety of hospitality.
The World Council of Churches along with two of its key ecumenical partners has urged the United States "as one of the most significant destination countries for refugee resettlement worldwide" to uphold its long tradition of welcoming refugees.
The WCC, ACT Alliance and The Lutheran World Federation issued a joint statement Jan. 31 reaffirming their conviction that their faith calls on all Christians "to love and welcome the stranger, the refugee, the internally displaced person, the other."
US. President Donald Trump has faced mass protests and global anger over his Jan. 27 ban on travelers from seven Muslim majority countries.
The ban has also been criticized by allies, and business conglomerations as it unleashed confusion over its implementation and spurred opposition among Democrats and growing unease among Republican lawmakers as well.
Trump has suspended the entire U.S. refugee admissions system for 120 days as well as the Syrian refugee program indefinitely. He has also banned entry from seven majority-Muslim countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
That includes includes dual nationals. The order prioritizes refugee claims on the basis of religious persecution.
"As one of the most significant destination countries for refugee resettlement worldwide, we urge the United States to uphold its long tradition of welcoming refugees and offering them international protection, in accordance with its commitments and obligations under international law," said the WCC's joint statement.
"The world is currently experiencing the largest forced displacement crisis since World War II, and 86 percent of the world's refugees are being hosted in developing countries."
'EROSION OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF REFUGEES'
"For the USA to more than halve its annual intake of refugees would not only severely affect people in urgent need of refuge, but also encourage other developed countries to participate in a further erosion of international protection for refugees."
The WCC, LWF and ACT said they specifically regret the "specific and indefinite suspension of refugee admission for Syrians, in view of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in the region."
They said, "This is an abysmal failure of compassion and responsibility."
UK-based Christian Aid said a rejection of refugees, whatever their faith, is a rejection of Christian values.
Responding to President Trump's comments, in which he asserted his intention to prioritise Syrian Christian refugees, Christian Aid has spoken out against favoring specific religious minorities, saying that to do so ignores the central message of the Gospel.
Tom Viita, Head of Advocacy at Christian Aid, commented: "At the heart of the Christian faith is a clear command to 'love the stranger' and to stand with the vulnerable, whoever they may be. To follow Christian teaching means to welcome people in need - whatever their faith - not prioritise people who happen to share one's own beliefs.
"A rejection of refugees, whatever their faith, is a rejection of Christian values. Trump would do well to read his bible before enacting discriminatory policies."
The United Nations human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein denounced Trump's ban on travel to the United States from some Muslim-majority countries.
Zeid said Jan. 30, "Discrimination on nationality alone is forbidden under human rights law."
He was quoted from the Twitter account of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as saying, "The U.S. ban is also mean-spirited, and wastes resources needed for proper counter-terrorism."
Yet, it was not only faith and human rights leaders who were knocked back by the Trump travel decree.
The travel ban spooked world stock markets on Jan. 30 seen as a reaction to Trump's travel ban, which some dealers said may be an early taste of coming turmoil prompted by the U.S. president, AFP reported.
Asian and European equities kicked off the downward spiral and were joined by Wall Street, with the Dow index waving goodbye to the 20,000-point milestone level it breached for the first time last week.
Markets were "on the back foot after U.S. President Trump announced one of his most radical policies yet, in the form of a travel ban," said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson. Investors are beginning to lose confidence in Trump's ability "not to cause damage to the U.S. economy," he said.
South Africa fears collapse of chicken sector due to import influx from EU
South Africa fears a collapse of its chicken sector if something is not done to stem the "influx" of imported dark meat from Europe.
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said that unless cheap imports are controlled, domestic producers' efforts to become more competitive would be useless, Bloomberg reported.
Since tariffs were removed five years ago under a trade agreement between Europe and South Africa, imports of bone-in portions, such as legs and thighs, have tripled to more than 188 million kilogrammes in 2016, according to the South African Poultry Association.
"The competitiveness issues are there, we have to work around those with the industry," Davies told Bloomberg recently.
"But they're not going to be solved if we just allow an influx of spare parts from around the world to come in to take over the market", he added.
South African producers complained that they were being unfairly undercut by imported bone-in portions after tariffs on chicken from Europe were removed at the start of 2012. They said European consumers' preference for chicken breasts meant that the continent's producers had an abundance of legs, thighs and wings that they could sell cheaply in Africa.
"We definitely have distress, there's no doubt about it," Davies said. After South Africa imposed a temporary 13.9% duty on European imports in December, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom wrote to Davies, saying that the country's "structural problems" were more to blame for the industry's problems than competition from Europe.
Deemster Doyle welcomes Moneyval report
First Deemster David Doyle
The Island's First Deemster has welcomed the findings of a report into the Island's anti-money laundering measures.
The Council of Europe's Moneyval report was published earlier this month, describing the Isle of Man as having a sound legal system, while noting the Deemsters have an excellent reputation.
Deesmter David Doyle described the references as pleasing, but warned the Island shouldn't be complacent going forward.
Members of the judiciary met with the evaluation team during their visit during April and May last year.
The report also found more needs to the done to improve financial intelligence gathering and investigations on the Island.
January 27 is quite a fateful day depending from what angle an individual has been leaning on. The new US President has just prohibited the people of seven Muslim-dominated nations from entering the United States.
Judging from the glitches of implementing the executive order, such regulation is hounded with a lot of uncertainty. Just a couple of days after Donald Trump signed the restriction directive, adjustments have already been instituted.
A Brooklyn judge has partially deviated from imposing the regulation. Meanwhile, the President's Chief-of-Staff, Reince Priebus, has issued a statement that somewhat alleviated the order.
The White House head has declared that green card holders from the countries covered by the ban can go back to the U.S. In addition, law enforcers at the borders have a flexible authority to impose guidelines which, from their points of view, are deemed necessary.
It should be noted that the current immigration development is not entirely a new thing. American history has a series of events where directives had been implemented to ban a certain few.
For instance, Chinese immigrants have been restricted from landing on US soil in 1882. The Japanese have also been denied entry at one point.
In 1965, Congress has agreed on a long-standing law that provided equal opportunity to all nationalities with regards to entering the US. The Immigration and Nationality Act has cast aside the origins of people wanting to gain entry into the progressive nation.
However, the long-established law is about to be repelled. With around 218 million people to be affected by Washington's recent executive order, not only the US law enforcement units are on their toes. Foreign countries are still trying to sink in the cold dose of reality that Trump has implement.
Over the next 90 days, individuals from seven Muslim countries cannot set foot on US soil. Refugees, meanwhile, will be denied entry for the next 120 days.
Within this context, complications are highly likely to surface. Ann Donnelly, the honorable magistrate from Brooklyn has pointed out that what she did was necessary considering that refugee applications approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services cannot be blocked by the government. She has also noted that those granted with immigrant and non-immigrant visas including citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia can legally enter the US.
As airports come to terms with Trump's order, some Democratic congressmen have to intervene as more and more arriving passengers had been detained. Meanwhile, foreign countries like Iran is currently determining what action it will impose to counteract Washington's recent move.
Courteney Cox has been reported to have gotten flirty with Brad Pitt when the two attended the fourth annual charity ROCK4EB. Because of this, reports are claiming that Jennifer Aniston, Courteney's good friend, felt betrayed.
An American publication just claimed that Courteney is getting close with Brad which started when they attended the said event. It has been added that she has been heard saying that Brad looked great and that she was really smitten by Angelina Jolie's ex-husband.
Because of this, Jennifer felt that she was betrayed and that she is jealous as per New Idea. It can be recalled that Jen was dragged in the issue when Brad and Jolie finally decided to split and now, she is involved in another report that has something to do still with Pitt.
Reports are swirling that she is jealous with Courteney Cox getting involved with Brad Pitt since Brad is her ex and Courteney is her dear friend. Jen felt that she was betrayed but times have passed already since Aniston separated from Brad.
As reported by Daily Sun, Justin Theroux, Jennifer Aniston's husband, has already shared his disappointment over dragging Jen to these issues. He feels uncomfortable why people still link her to Brad and Jolie's divorce and now in Brad's possible new romance.
But Courteney is back with Johnny McDaid after her failed relationship with the guitarist of Snow patrol to which they split in 2015. So the report that she and Brad are dating might be skeptical to some.
Brad is single again after Angelina filed for divorce last September of 2016 citing irreconcilable differences as the reason. But Brad made mention before that he is not ready yet to enter into a commitment since his priority is his kids.
Courteney and Jennifer are both stars of former hit sitcom, "Friends" and even after the show ended, the two still remain friends. In fact, Courteney was quick to defend Jen before when the latter has been dragged in the split issue.
Since Brad Pitt is single again, he can have the liberty to date anyone even if this lady is Jennifer Aniston's friend, Courteney Cox.
The coming week on "The Young and the Restless" is all set to reveal a big secret and it will leave Sharon devastated. Love is also in the air as Billy and Phyllis will be coming closer.
Spoilers from "The Young and the Restless" suggest that Alex is pregnant with Dylan's baby and will tell Sharon that she slept with her husband. She will track down her one-time partner Derek to Genoa City and here, she gets to know who he really is. Her entry will have far-reaching repercussions on Sharon but she and her family manage to avoid retaliation.
As for Dylan, he had no idea he would be getting into this trouble when he took on his first undercover assignment. However, now that he has a baby and the fact the character has been given an exit, it remains to be seen how things will turn out between Alex and Sharon. The latter is certainly shocked by this revelation and her perception about her husband is sure to witness a radical shift.
On the other hand, Billy and Phyllis will share a romantic moment together, claims Soap Central. According to the site, Billy is keen to mend things with Victoria and get their life back again but it seems like he will find an unlikely partner in Phyllis. So, it would be interesting to watch out what will happen after these two get involved.
Also, there is a return on the anvil. Tristan Rogers who plays Colin Atkinson has said that he will be back on the soap opera from next month. The Australian-American actor announced on Twitter that he will be making two appearances on the show. He also said that he is a fan of the new writing of "The Young and the Restless." It looks like the new head writer Sally Sussman is focusing on the characters that fans admire and she has paved the way for the return of some old faces.
"The Young and the Restless" crew has already confirmed the return of Gloria and Traci and with Colin on board, it is definitely going to get more exciting.
Melania Trump may continue to file a lawsuit against blogger Webster Tarpley who reported that the First Lady used to work as a high-end escort. Although he did not explicitly claim that she was once an escort according to a circuit court in Maryland, he is still responsible for lack of fact-finding.
Judge Sharon Burrell ruled that Melania Trump can pursue the $150 million defamation lawsuit according to a report by Forbes. Checking facts are considered part of basic journalistic standards. Burell said that "there can be no more defamatory statement than to call a woman a prostitute."
Danielle Giroux, Tarpley's lawyer, said that his client has been accurate in his report that there were rumours that Melania Trump's modelling career has included work as a high-end escort according to a report by The Guardian. However, Melania Trump's lawyer, Charles Harder, said that defamatory statements cannot be made by reporters under the guise of reporting rumours. Harder insisted that Tarpley could have verified his facts, while Giroux argued that reporters do not only publish statements which he knows are true.
Melania Trump is also reported to file a lawsuit against Mail Media, the affiliate of British tabloid newspaper Daily Mail in the United States. The publication's attorney has already made an argument that Maryland is the wrong forum for the suit. However, Harder said that the website has 40 million views a year in Maryland, which gives the court a jurisdiction over the libel case. Burrell did not immediately issue a ruling on Daily Mail's appeal to escape the suit in Maryland, an action reported to be leaning towards dismissing the case.
A lawsuit has already been filed against Daily Mail in London, United Kingdom where libel laws are more harsh and strict. Tarpley and Daily Mail are reported to have already retracted the report of Melania Trump working as a high end escort in the past.
If you are a mediaperson who isn't on President Trump's favorites list, you may not be going to the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Never mind, you can attend the alternative party hosted by Samantha Bee. You're invited to the "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" host.
She has declared that the show will happen on April 29. That is the night that the annual White House press show will happen too, according to CNN.
Samantha Bee has given it a special name, calling it the 'Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner.' The proceeds from the dinner will be handed over to a Committee to Protect Journalists.
"We suspect some members of the press may find themselves unexpectedly free that night," she said, according to TBS "and we want to feed them and give them hugs."
"We try to as much as possible raise awareness for causes we care about and this is no exception," Bee added. "Obviously, the press is under attack."
Bee said that she had been discussing the dinner with various people who thought like her, and then they decided to host it when they felt that it might not invite everyone. She added: "It's basically going to be a prom for the nerds not invited to nerd prom."
However, it is not even clear whether President Donald Trump's record of anti-media rhetoric, as well as his declared "war" with the media, will permit him to continue with this year's bash. Bee said, "whatever happens, it's going to be weird."
The 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner had Larry Wilmore as host, but there hasn't been any host picked for this year yet. To a question on how Trump would react when asked to give some comedy, Bee answered: "Well, no one loves to deliver a monologue more than he does, so I assume he'll be quite happy to stand up there...whether people find it funny or not is a different matter entirely."
Watch the 'Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner special on TBS.
YouTube/Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Asus has now announced that they will be debuting the third generation of their ZenFone Max line of smartphones, called the ZenFone 3S Max, next week. The Taiwanese handset manufacturer's ZenFone Max line of smartphones has experienced some relative success in the market thanks to its large 5,000 mAh battery.
According to Gadgets 360, Asus has revealed that they will be announcing the availability, pricing, and additional details about the new ZenFone 3S Max when they unveil the device in India next week, on Feb. 7. Similar to its predecessors, the new ZenFone Max model will still be equipped with the same battery that will be its main highlight.
However, a lot of the new device's internals will receive some upgraded components. The ZenFone 3S Max, model ZC521TL, will also be coming with a slightly redesigned aluminium metal body. As for the device's specs, the upcoming smartphone will be sporting a 5.2-inch HD display with 2.5D edges. Powering the device will be an Octa-core MediaTek MT6750 processor paired with an ample 3GB of RAM.
The device's camera setup is comprised of a 13 megapixel main rear unit with an f/2.0 aperture, dual-LED real-tone flash, and a 5P Largan lens. The front camera on the other hand is an 8 megapixel pixel selfie unit. Asus has revealed that the cameras will be supporting several new modes including a low-light mode, panoramic mode, backlight HDR, beautification mode, and a super resolution mode.
The upcoming ZenFone 3S Max has also been revealed to sport a new fingerprint scanner that Asus claims will unlock the phone in 0.5 seconds, with up to 5 fingerprints supported, as per a report News 18. The phone is set to arrive with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box with Asus' ZenUI 3.0 on top. The updated software will also be bringing with it support for multi-window mode, GameGenie, ZenMotion Touch Gestures, and other ZenUI features.
The new ZenFone 3S Max will be offered in a 32GB internal memory configuration, which will be expandable via an SDcard slot. Like the other ZenFone Max models, the new ZenFone 3S Max will still feature reverse charging capabilities, which essentially allows it to become a power bank for other devices.
In recent decades, social theorists have differed in their views over the blatant and blanket usage of the term Dalit, which too often has ignored the patterns of differentiation that exist among them. The argument that many scholars uphold is that social scientists should be more cautious in using the term Dalit, because their analysis of social reality should not be influenced by the writings and speeches of political leaders. However, there are voices, which argue that the term Dalit has a validity of its own, because it enables scholars and civil society groups to highlight the large-scale discrimination and injustice faced by a section of humanity in the name of caste and jati ordering. The moot point that is seldom addressed in this debate is that Dalit is not a caste, but rather a constructed identity. Nonetheless, the new identity helps the socially and economically discriminated groups to challenge the processes that have led to their centuries-old subordination (Bharati 2002: 4339).
Dalit and Dalitness
The book under review, New Subaltern Politics: Reconceptualizing, Hegemony and Resistance in Contemporary India aims to widen the frames of the most influential Subaltern Studies project by critically engaging with the original Subaltern Studies to analyse state and popular resistance in postcolonial India. The Subaltern Studies initiative was started by Ranajit Guha in the early 1980s in response to the teleology of Marxist, nationalist and imperialist scholarship on the colonial state power and the resistance of subaltern communities. The aftermath of the national Emergency in 1975 indeed provided the context for this initiative, which spurred popular movements against the Indian state across the country, particularly by peasants, Adivasis and Dalits. It was from this vantage point that the Subaltern Studies project re-examined the subaltern resistance and insurgency in colonial India. However, it failed to expand its project to the postcolonial period. New Subaltern Politics has endeavoured to fill this gap. A set of sociologists and anthropologists (except for David Arnold and Rashmi Varma, who are a historian and literary theorist respectively) have taken on this task by bringing forth rich and illuminating studies on politics and forms of resistance in postcolonial India.
The volume is divided into three thematic sections, and each section has, again, three chapters, besides a thought-provoking introduction by the editors and a wonderful postscript by David Arnold, which illustrates the contributions and limitations of the original Subaltern Studies project. The editors of the volume have reconceptualised the concept of subalternity, hegemony and civil society explicitly. Underlining the shortfall of the use of subaltern as an empirical category and subalternity as exclusion and marginality in the early Subaltern Studies, the editors take an expansive, relational and intersectional account of subalternity that locates it in a wide social field of power relations to address a plurality of contexts-specific manifestations of power.
The curtains rolled up, and the Nordics greeted us with a huge round of applause. My apprehensions of facing a sparse crowd were at once shattered. I was left befuddled! Did the hoi polloi of a Christian state just welcome a play on Queer Love? That was my first interaction with the Norwegian audience.
As a theatre artist, I was acting in a play centred on the life of homosexuals in the Indian society and the attitude of their compatriots towards them. The first scene depicted a teenaged Raghu being mercilessly flogged by his family members. The family sought to ward off the evil spirit that they believed had entered Raghus body. Their suspicion was not ill-founded. After all, Raghu displayed feminine characteristics, emotions and cravings, a thorough contrast to the physical attributes that he possessed. He no longer wanted to be identified as a male.
The intake of radiocesium by trees after the Fukushima disaster inspired a Japanese scientist to study in detail the mineral pathway in trees. Together with a team from Finland he was on ID21 last weekend to observe this uptake in real-life conditions.
The Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, caused by the 2011 tsunami, contaminated the area surrounding the nuclear power plant. The absorption of radiocesium from the Fukushima plant into nature inspired Katsushi Kuroda, scientist from the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in Japan, and currently a visiting scientist at Natural Resources Institute Finland, to study the uptake of these radio elements by trees. He focused on the Japanese cedar tree, a very common species in Japan. The mineral he used in his experiments was stable isotope cesium, an element with chemical properties similar to potassium which is an essential mineral element for plants.
Kuroda had already used different techniques to study the uptake of cesium. His first challenge was to study the samples in natural conditions. In general, to analyse chemicals in trees, researchers subject the samples to dry conditions, which may alter the chemical distribution of the elements. Kuroda prepared the samples differently: he injected cesium into trunks of standing Japanese cedar trees. In living trees, water is always present, and many chemicals are water soluble. Since they easily change from their natural condition during sample collection, he freeze-fixed the tree trunk with liquid nitrogen for 30 minutes and then cut it down. The samples were kept frozen until the end of the experiments.
The experiment began by freezing a Japanese cedar tree to keep its natural conditions. Credits: K.Kuroada Katsushi Kuroada and Heikki Suhonen on ID21. Credits: C.Argoud.
A while back, Kuroda met Tuula Jyske, from Natural Resources Institute Finland, at the time a post-doctoral researcher specialised in phloem properties, in his laboratory in Tsukuba. Jyske had studied bark structures at the ESRF in the past, using tomography. They both started investigating what would be the best technique for this project. Together with Heikki Suhonen, from Helsinki University, and Jussi-Petteri Suuronen, from ESRF, they spent last weekend on ID21, where they hoped to track the pathway of cesium between the bark and the wood of the tree. They used Micro-X-ray fluorescence (-XRF) for the element mapping, and Micro-X-ray absorption near edge structures spectroscopy (-XANES), in order to detect whether cesium is movable or binding to the cell structure.
The data will give us a broader view of how mineral transportation happens in trees, Jyske explains. Kuroda continues: It will also reveal how the trees were contaminated by radiocesium after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan, and will help predict the future distribution of radiocesium in trees.
Text by Montserrat Capellas Espuny
The European Union is being urged to stand firm in the face of shocking decisions by US President Donald Trump in his first week in office. Mr. Trump banned citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for at least the next 90 days and Syrians indefinitely. The ban includes US citizens with dual nationality as well as permanent residents (green card holders) bringing the potential number of people to at least 134 million people based on 2013 World Bank census data. The seven-country list is to be expanded in line with Mr. Trumps election pledges of keeping America safe.
The EUs major powers, France and Germany, have immediately expressed their concerns at these decisions and French President Francois Hollande vowed a firm response to a growing list of pronouncements by the White House. We must conduct firm dialogue with the new American administration which has shown it has its own approach to the problems we all face, he said. Mr. Hollande also addressed Mr. Trumps earlier comments that he believed that more EU countries would leave the EU and that Brexit was a wonderful thing. When he talks about Brexit being a model for other countries, I think we must respond, the French President commented.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn, said that the US Presidents decision is bad for Europe, because its going to strengthen even further the mistrust and hatred towards the West in the heart of the Muslim world. In contrast, British leader Theresa May commented that the United States is responsible for the United States policy on refugees, adding that immigration policy in the United States is a matter for the government of the United States, just the same as immigration policy for this country should be set by our government, the spokesman of the British government said.
Donald Trump held telephone talks on Saturday (28 January) with Germanys Angela Merkel and Russias Vladimir Putin and with Frances Francoise Hollande on Sunday (29 January). He alarmed European leaders with his positive comments on Vladimir Putin and the possibility of the US lifting sanctions on Russia despite Kremlins annexation of Crimea. France and Germany said that the EU is firmly against this and reiterated that the relaxation of the punitive measures against Russia had to be linked to the implementation of the 2015 Minsk Agreement.
European Union interior ministers have given a green light to the plans to finance refugee camps in North Africa. The camps would be used by the United Nations refugee agency and aid groups to process applications of those people intending to immigrate to Europe and eventually prevent them from trying to embark on a journey to reach the shores of the old continent.
Thomas de Maiziere, German interior minister, said last week that the idea was to keep refugees in a safe place and prevent them from trying to get onto the old continent. The people taken up by the smugglers need to be saved and brought to a safe place, but then from this safe place outside Europe we would bring into Europe only those who require protection, he said in Valletta, Maltas capital, where the EU leaders met to discuss the possible ways to end the crisis.
The sea crossing from Libya to Italy is currently the main route for migrants from Africa trying to get to Europe. The route is, however, mostly operated by smugglers and the people who are taking it are mostly considered economic migrants, thus without a chance to win asylum in the EU. The proposed camps in North Africa would be operated by the UN refugee agency UNHCR or the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which would be in charge of screening the migrants and helping return those not eligible for asylum to their home countries.
The plan to provide funding for camps in North Africa has huge political support in the EU but faces legal and security challenges. Libya, for example, has been in political turmoil since 2011 when Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and thus returning migrants to the country would most likely violate the international law that forbids returning migrants to a place where their lives could be endangered.
Yesterday (30 January), EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia for the Libyan Navy Coast Guard and Libyan Navy started the second part of the maritime training in Crete (Greece). 20 Libyan Navy Coast Guard and Libyan Navy trainees will be trained in maritime legal aspects, human rights, gender issues as well as search and rescue operations. The second package draws on the first training on basic seamanship and it will be delivered throughout 2017 in multiple locations in the Mediterranean area.
The training was first agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding from August 2016, by EUNAVFOR MED operation Commander, Rear Admiral (UH) Enrico Credendino, and the Commander of the Libyan Navy Coast Guard and Port Security, Commodore Abdalh Toumia. The actual training started in October last year with 78 Libyan Navy Coast Guard and Libyan Navy trainees who embarked on board of the EU training vessels.
The main objective of the training is to equip the Libyan guards with techniques and skills to disrupt smuggling and trafficking in Libya and to perform search and rescue activities, aimed at saving lives and improving security in the countrys territorial waters. The EU Naval Operation is part of the EUs military contribution to the comprehensive strategy that aims at disrupting the operations of human smugglers and traffickers in the Southern Central Mediterranean.
Following the activities of Operation Sophia, 101 suspected smugglers and traffickers have been apprehended and transferred to the Italian authorities and 380 vessels were removed from the smugglers availability. The Operation has so far saved more than 32,000 migrants, among whom were almost 1900 children.
LAS VEGAS (AP) Police say a 60-year-old man who was shot during a weekend robbery in a northeast Las Vegas neighborhood was delivering a pizza to a house where an order hadnt been placed.
Officer Danny Cordero said Monday the deliveryman was wounded in the neck, but is expected to survive after the Sunday afternoon robbery on Pentagon Avenue. Thats near Nellis Air Force Base.
Cordero says a man and woman made off with an undisclosed amount of money after the shooting, and detectives later learned that the homeowner hadnt ordered a pizza.
The deliveryman was taken to University Medical Center treatment of injuries that Cordero says werent believed to be life-threatening.
Police say the two assailants were last seen leaving the area in a white four-door sedan.
The popular medias attitude on evolution mixes several elements: loathing for the large part of the public that doubts the Darwinian narrative, preening at its own (presumed) superiority in grasping science, and a fawning reverence for evolutionary biologists. Added to this is an unwillingness to weigh the evidence for themselves, offering the excuse that the experts must know best, so why bother? Veteran journalist Tom Bethells new book offers a marvelous implicit rebuke on each of these points, but on the last in particular.
In Darwins House of Cards: A Journalists Odyssey Through the Darwin Debates, he records his own investigation of the evidence, including interviews with lions of science and philosophy such as Stephen Jay Gould, Richard Lewontin, Colin Patterson, and Karl Popper. Lo and behold, its not beyond the intellectual reach of a reporter to get to the bottom of the controversy and to estimate the plausibility of Darwins theory.
Not a religious apologist or a cheerleader for any competing view, but rather an old-fashioned skeptic, Bethell has been doubting Darwin since he was an undergraduate at Oxford University. I admit hes a longtime friendly acquaintance and a contributor to Evolution News, so Im not unbiased. But others who, like me, have followed him for years agree in savoring his work.
That includes some eminent names. Novelist Tom Wolfe has called him one of our most brilliant essayists, and Andrew Ferguson at The Weekly Standard, a great writer himself, says, As a journalist, Tom Bethell is fearless. As a storyteller and stylist he is peerless. All his gifts are on generous display in this fascinating and admirable book.
He has been writing about Darwin (among many other subjects, of course) for forty-plus years, beginning with an article in Harpers in 1976. Wry, unfailingly clear, never technical, yet astonishingly well informed, he has produced what might be the Platonic ideal of an introduction to an often challenging and certainly controversial subject. He covers the waterfront, probing the strength of Darwinian thinking with reference to common descent, natural selection, extinction, homology, convergence, the fossil record, biogeography, cladistics, Lenskis long-term experiment with bacteria, and much more.
He concludes that while confidence in the pillars of Darwinism common descent and innovation through natural selection hit their high-water mark at the celebration of the Origin of Species in 1959, the evidence has steadily and increasingly gone against the theory. The whole edifice rested on a 19th century faith in Progress, propped up by a dogmatic commitment to materialism. As the former falters, the structure is in danger of collapse.
With an apt metaphor, he sums up:
At the moment, I believe, the science of Darwinism amounts to little more than the wedding of materialism and Progress. We have seen that if materialism is true, then Darwinism or something very much like it must also be true. But materialism is highly improbable and has been widely challenged. At the same time it only takes one partner to break up a marriage, and as we know, Progress has wandered off the straight and narrow.
His humor is dry, subtle, his focus expansive, and his attitude utterly unapologetic. A unique feature of the book is its interviews. Philosopher of science Karl Popper, for example, spent time at the Hoover Institution at Stanford when Bethell was there and explained that despite reports, he never really recanted his rap on Darwinism (not a testable scientific theory, There is hardly any possibility of testing a theory as feeble as this).
Bethells own view of evolution is as a thoroughly unjustified extrapolation from meager evidence. He recalls touring the Natural History Museum in London with senior paleontologist Colin Patterson, who
told me that he was looking for cases where the actual common ancestor of two given species was identified in the diagram on display. These would be at the nodes in the tree of life. But all the nodes shown in the museum were vacant Patterson told me that as far as he could see, nodes are always empty in diagrams of the tree of life.
The vaunted fossil record is a mystery in evolutionary terms, with almost all known phyla having sprung into existence in a twinkling of perhaps five or six million years. How sudden is that? Compared with the reported three-billion year history of life on earth, the Cambrian explosion is the equivalent of one minute in a twenty-four-hour day.
As time goes by, evolution explains less and less. Conundrums abound, and seem increasingly invulnerable to being solved with any formula, that is, that excludes design. Experimentation shows that organisms evolve only to revert to a mean, a predictable Reversion to the Average, as famed breeder Luther Burbank put it. Species inhabit plateaus of limited space upon which variants are free to roam, says Bethell. Artificial selection, beloved by Darwin, can push varieties around the plateau, nothing more.
Stasis and extinction, not transmutation, is observed. In a chapter on systematics, Bethell visits paleontologist Gareth Nelson at New Yorks American Museum of Natural History, a leading expert on anchovies. Nelson had a selection of the tiny fish preserved in alcohol and arrayed on his desk.
When I asked about anchovy fossils, he said that a graduate student at the museum studied the question, and it turned out that all the fossils previously described as anchovies are not anchovies at all. So the fossil record of anchovies was reduced to zero. But then they found one in the British Museum, maybe 10 million years old, from the Miocene in Cyprus. It turns out to be the only known anchovy fossil. There is information suggesting it is the same kind of animal we find inhabiting the Mediterranean today, Nelson said.
You can almost hear the sigh in the scientists voice. I love this kind of quietly mordant writing.
Evolutionary science is in a depressed condition, despite all that the media do to put a bright face on the situation. They never tell you what biologists say behind closed doors, in their technical literature, or to a journalist with the temerity to ask difficult questions. A random individual on Twitter tweeted to me the other day, Natural selection is the only theory that fits the facts. Thats why its a theory and not a long-discredited hypothesis like intelligent design. Get out of your bubble.
The naivety is heartbreaking, foisted on us by the credulous, pampered media. In fact, Darwins theory, of boundless novelty generated via stuff blindly swishing around together, fits few or none of the facts. Get out of your own bubble, friend. Picking up a copy of Tom Bethells wonderful book (published by Discovery Institute Press, thank you very much) would be a fine start, an act of self-liberation and great read, as well.
Im on Twitter. Follow me @d_klinghoffer.
CARSON CITY (AP) Two retired administrators want the Nevada Legislature to separate community colleges from what they call a university-centric funding system.
Community colleges will get about $21 million out of $115 million in education funding increases over the next two years under Gov. Brian Sandovals budget, the Nevada Appeal reported.
Retired community college presidents John Gwaltney and Carol Lucey are pushing for a bill that would separate the systems at no cost to the state.
The divorce is more important than the settlement, said Lucey.
They say the Nevada System of Higher Education and the Board of Regents emphasize universities over community colleges.
Theyll never fund them adequately, Lucey said. Everything is headed toward the universities.
Lucey pointed to the $83 million engineering college building planned for University of Nevada, Reno as an example.
Gwaltney said every engineer is backed up by several skilled technicians.
He said Truckee Meadows Community College and Western Nevada College can train 3,500 people over five years.
Were talking Tesla will need 6,000-plus people, he said.
Lucey said companies like Tesla may need to look for employees outside of the state if community colleges dont have enough funding to train people fast enough.
We are not going to build the capacity to do what Tesla needs, she said.
Lucey said lower enrollment has followed decreases in funding over the last few years.
If you really want community colleges to function for workforce development, Lucey said, you need to solve the long-term problems.
Usually toilets are connected to 10cm diameter piping and sinks and showers to separate 4cm diam piping. They eventually meet up but in the best of all worlds it ought to be far, far away...
I've seen self-styled plumbers connect a shower + sink drain directly into a toilet drain ("vite fait, bien fait") without even a U-bend - it stinks.
What floor are you on? Top floor? Ask the people below if they have the same problems.
Seems like you're not connected to sewers (egouts) because of gas gurgling symptoms. Maybe you have a fosse septique without any ventilation. There should be a ventilation pipe (10cm diam) which comes out on the roof to let off the methane above the highest toilet and bathroom.
Methane gas is a natural result of fermentation and same as hot air, has a natural tendency to rise to try and find a way out when pressure builds up. You may be getting everyone's methane gas if there is no ventilation, but if the toilet drainpipe is blocked down on the bottom, the ground floor apartment will get all the upper levels' sh*te exploding into their bathroom.
Ask if there's a "fosse septique" (septic tank)in the building. There are bacteria powders (Eparcyl) which help to digest an overloaded fosse. You can flush a sachet down the toilet or put a heavy dose directly into the fosse. A totally blocked fosse has to be emptied by a professional. Again, ask your co-locataires about the problem.
(Preiminary: I'm not eligible to post links on this site so I have added instructions at the end on how to find the links I wanted to post. Sorry for the inconvenience).As Crabtree says it depends very much on how the Carte Vitale is funded. Please be very clear about the circumstances: is your father a UK pensioner living in France and therefore with a Carte Vitale provided via an S1 form? If so then the EHIC card comes from Newcastle as Crabtree says (but read on carefully below). If the Carte Vitale is funded by France, then they need to follow the suggestion from Bev.Important note: UK citizens resident in France and travelling back to the UK do not need an EHIC card. The rules changed in 2015. To learn more, download the Guidance (PDF file) from the Dept of Health (see below).In particular see row in the table on page 23. There's also an article in the Daily Telegraph which explains the situation.My understanding (which has not (thankfully) been tested by needing care in the UK, is that you must prove that you have the S1 form and that you are registered with the healthcare system in France. So you need the original of the S1 (or a good colour photocopy) and a Carte Vitale.But please, if anyone else has experience or knowledge about this I'd be glad to learn more, r be corrected.Links:1. for the Dept of Health guidance Google for "Implementing_overseas_charging_regulations_2015". It comes up as the first hit for me.2. For the DT article Google for "British expats from outside Europe must pay for NHS hospital care". Failing that it's an article in the DT on 29 April 2015 on the DT website under the heading 'Health'.Since this post might enable me to post links in the future, I'll try to repost (with links) after this one is published.
As a part of our move to a property we jointly own in France, we are in the process of selling our house in England and buying a flat which will be rented out.
Do we pay Stamp Duty as the flat is a second home, or as our first home is in France is the flat our only 'home' and Stamp Duty isnt paid. The flat is 150K and the Stamp Duty quoted by the Solicitor is 5K.
The alternative is to get my son to buy the flat but that might give problems in years to come when he wants to buy somewhere himself (He is 18 and going to Uni)
LAS VEGAS (AP) State and federal land managers launched an aerial reseeding effort to stabilize and rehabilitate more than 10,000 acres of public land burned by wildfires in eastern Nevada last year.
The work started last week and was expected to improve habitat for threatened sage grouse and other wildlife as well as boost the overall health of watersheds. Officials for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Nevada Department of Wildlife were concentrating the effort in Elko, Eureka and White Pine counties.
The biggest part of the project will be reseeding nearly all the 7,695 acres that burned in August south of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Workers will apply a mixture of grasses, forbs, shrubs and legumes to stabilize the soil and fend off non-native and invasive plants, such as cheatgrass, said Chris McVicars, natural resource specialist for BLMs Ely district.
Crews plan to apply seed to about 1,200 of the 1,900-plus acres burned in July southeast of Eureka, and about 1,500 of the 4,600 acres scorched in August at Great Basin National Park along the Utah line.
With the help of helicopter crews, the project is expected to take two to four weeks to complete.
Tod Williams, resource manager for Great Basin National Park, said the seeds will fall on the snow covering the burned area in hopes the plants will sprout in the spring and limit flooding that could further damage the area.
Once you start getting that ground cover back in, it helps stabilize the soil, he told the newspaper.
Officials have called the wildfire the most destructive blaze in the 30-year history of Great Basin National Park. Once the flames were out, Williams and others warned that huge floods could wash down the burned area and blow out Strawberry Creek, damaging the watershed for years or even decades.
Today at noontime, France Bleue (the radio network) had a short piece on the change in the law to make changing your bank easier. If you look on their website, you may be able to find the podcast of their programme to listen to. (It was part of the 13h to 14h round up of news and information.)
The basic things are that your "new" bank will now be able to handle transferring all your regular payments in and out of your account - by liaising with the old bank. Used to be you had to do all those yourself.
But they did point out that, if you have loans, investment accounts or assurance vie accounts with your old bank, you may very well be stuck. Loans often have provisions requiring that payments on the loan are made from your account in that same bank. And if you have any of the investment or assurance vie accounts where you get a fiscal advantage by maintaining the account for a certain number of years, you may start the clock over when transferring these accounts to a new bank.
Cheers,
Bev
Exxon Mobil Corp. posted its smallest quarterly profit in 18 years in the latest sign that major oil explorers remain mired in the deepest market slump in a generation.
After resisting the industry trend of discounting the value of oil and natural gas fields that turned into money-losers amid the 2-year market slump, Exxon capitulated and Tuesday announced it was taking a $2 billion hit on the value of some Rocky Mountain gas.
Exxons $2 billion writedown slashed fourth-quarter profit to $1.68 billion, or 41 cents a share, compared with $2.78 billion, or 67 cents, a year earlier, the Irving-based oil producer said in a statement Tuesday. It was smallest quarterly gain since it earned $1.53 billion in the third quarter of 1999. The 40 percent decline in fourth-quarter profit capped Exxons weakest year since 1998.
For Exxon, it was the ninth straight quarter of year-over-year profit declines, the longest such streak since at least 1988. The bleak result in Rex Tillersons final quarter at the helm was presaged last week when Chevron Corp. disclosed its first annual loss in at least 37 years and may signal a string of disappointing results from rivals Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Total in coming days.
The per-share result was more than 40 percent lower than the average estimate of 21 analysts in a Bloomberg survey, the widest gap since at least 2006. But analysts lacked all the information they needed to make accurate forecasts. Analysts usually exclude one-time events such as asset sales or writedowns from their forecasts. Exxon had signaled in October that it was reviewing the value of its assets because of lower prices but never told analysts how big the writedown would be until Tuesday, an Exxon spokesman said.
The writedown mostly covered gas properties in the Rocky Mountains that Exxon acquired in 2010 when it paid $31 billion for XTO Energy. The deal made Exxon the largest natural gas producer in the U.S. but has not paid off as expected because new drilling techniques boosted gas production and prevented prices from rising.
Without the fourth-quarter impairment charge, Exxon would have earned 89 cents per share, the spokesman said.
The market collapse that crushed prices, dried up cash flow and prompted hundreds of thousands of job cuts across the industry aggravated the impact Exxon felt from its own stillborn Russian drilling venture, domestic legal disputes over whether the company engaged in climate-science deception and the loss of its gold-plated credit rating.
Exxon reported revenue of $61.02 billion, below the $63.57 billion forecast in the Zacks survey.
Brian Youngberg, an analyst for Edward Jones, called it a good but average quarter. International operations both the exploration and production business and refining were relatively strong, and chemicals continued to be a plus for the company, he said.
In his first month on the job, Chairman and CEO Darren Woods is looking to deep-water drilling in South America and West Africa, gas exports in the South Pacific and shale riches in the Permian Basin beneath Texas and New Mexico to bolster reserves and to improve Exxons production and profit outlook.
The company agreed two weeks ago to shell out as much as $6.6 billion to double its Permian drilling rights. It was Exxons biggest transaction in 6 years. On Tuesday, Exxon unveiled plans to boost full-year capital spending by 14 percent to $22 billion.
They are trying to do something on the shale side, but its so small compared to the size of the company, Youngberg said. Its hard for them to move the needle.
Exxon also expects to follow through with most of the 4.6-billion-barrel reserves reduction it warned investors about in October because depressed prices made some fields unprofitable to drill, Vice President Jeff Woodbury said during a webcast Tuesday. The disclosure will occur within the next two weeks, he said.
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About 3.6 billion barrels of reserves in the Canadian oil sands and the equivalent of another 1 billion barrels in other North American fields could fall off the companys books if low energy prices persisted, Exxon said in October. That would equate to 19 percent of Exxons reserves and would be the largest de-booking since the 1999 merger that created the company in its modern form. Woodbury said an undefined portion of those revisions would be offset by new additions.
A rare bright spot for Exxon during the final three months of last year was Imperial Oil Ltd., the Canadian oil producer in which it is majority owner. Excluding one-time items, Imperial posted a per-share profit of 41 cents, compared with an average estimate of 31 cents, citing higher oil and gas output, as well as increased fuel sales.
Exxon earned $7.84 billion for all of 2016. That was the companys smallest full-year profit since 1998, when it earned $6.44 billion.
Woods, an Exxon lifer whose responsibilities included overseeing the companys fleet of refineries and chemical plants, became chairman and CEO on Jan. 1 after his mentor Tillerson was nominated for U.S. Secretary of State.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 14 percent to average $51.06 a barrel during the final three months of 2016, compared with $44.69 a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. U.S. gas jumped 42 percent to an average of $3.177 per million British thermal units. Typically, about 60 percent of the output from Exxons wells is oil; the rest is gas and related byproducts.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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San Antonio-based solar company Mission Solar has cut 257 employees in two rounds of layoffs since October and will have to repay some local tax abatements it was awarded in a 2013 deal with city and county leaders to create jobs here.
The latest round of cuts 170 layoffs announced Friday come as the company shifts its focus from utility projects, which required large-scale production for multimegawatt systems, to residential projects, which tend to be smaller in scale.
The reduced head count breaks a pledge the company made to the city in 2013 to create and maintain 404 full-time jobs through 2023 in exchange for reduced taxes.
Were making adjustments to make sure were sustainable long-term, Mission Solar spokeswoman Laura Waldrum said Monday.
The first round of layoffs, last fall, cost 87 workers their jobs as the company cut its solar cell production line, citing competition from Asian suppliers that undercut the more expensive manufacturing process in the U.S. The company, which had 381 employees before the October cuts, will keep just 124 workers at its plant at Brooks City Base.
The city of San Antonio is terminating its tax abatement agreement with Mission Solar as a result. The company will repay $601,000 100 percent of its original tax savings to the city over the next two years, according to the citys economic development director, Rene Dominguez. The agreement was part of a deal Mission Solar inherited when OCI Solar Power bought out another solar company, Nexolon America, to form Mission Solar.
Its a pretty volatile industry, so were pleased to see that theyre continuing to operate in San Antonio under this new model, and we remain committed, along with CPS (Energy), to continue to work with them as they change their business model, Dominguez said.
He likened the changing market conditions to the Eagle Ford Shale, where collapsing oil prices in 2015 and early 2016 led to drastic cutbacks in investment and production.
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the county is working to figure out how much Mission Solar will need to repay, adding that the company will likely be able to keep a portion of that money because it still has employees here.
He said its very seldom that the county has to claw back money from tax abatement agreements.
Bexar County commissioners gave Mission Solar a 10-year tax abatement worth $947,000 in 2013, the San Antonio Express-News has reported. In addition, the city gave the company a 10-year, $5 million lease for a property worth
$17 million that it has since purchased.
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Its sad that theyre not able to keep going at the level that they were. I guess they misjudged the market when they jumped into it, Wolff said of Mission Solar.
The company has been one of the largest players in CPS Energys New Energy Economy initiative, which seeks to bring 1,000 renewable-energy industry jobs to San Antonio. Mission Solar continues to be the largest employer, even with just 124 employees. German-based solar inverter manufacturer KACO has at least 75 employees in San Antonio. That company came here in 2014.
CPS Energy spokesman Paul Flaningan said San Antonio has already gained $1.4 billion in economic effects from renewable companies and that solar is just a part of it.
We are continuing to work with all of our New Energy Economy partners to find additional opportunities to bring jobs and to continue to bring this economic development engine that we believe is going to be a critical component of San Antonios future, Flaningan said.
rdruzin@express-news.net
@druz_journo
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WASHINGTON President Donald Trump met with leaders of some of the worlds biggest pharmaceutical companies Tuesday morning and emphasized the need to lower astronomical drug prices, decrease regulations and bring drug manufacturing back into the United States.
The tone of the public portion of the meeting was positive, especially given that Trump recently lashed out at the pharmaceutical industry for getting away with murder on prices and threatened to use the governments bargaining power to force down drug prices. On Tuesday, he mentioned increasing competition and bidding wars as a way to bring down prices, but it was unclear if he meant the government should negotiate on behalf of Medicare or what specific policy solutions that could entail.
We have to get prices down for a lot of reasons. We have no choice, Trump said, flanked by chief executives Kenneth Frazier of Merck and Robert Hugin of Celgene. For Medicare, for Medicaid, we have to get the prices way down.
Ill oppose anything that makes it harder for smaller, younger companies to take the risk of bringing their product to a vibrantly competitive market, Trump said, to an audience of large, established drug companies. But we can increase competition and bidding wars, big time.
Eli Lilly chief executive David Ricks, who attended the meeting, said in an investor call later in the day that Trump did not get into elaborate policy detail in terms of the U.S. pricing environment.
I think we all understand the concern hes raising that consumers out-of-pocket costs are growing rapidly, Ricks said. He said the pricing discussion focused in part on how drug companies could do a better job of getting discounts through to consumers.
Drug companies provide discounts on their drugs to companies that negotiate on behalf of insurers, and there is a growing discussion about the extent to which those rebates, granted in secret, trickle back to consumers.
Trump also focused on the need to speed up drug approvals and for companies to create jobs and manufacture drugs in the U.S.
Amgen, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson and the lobbying organization, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America or PhRMA, were also present at the meeting and emphasized their commitment to American manufacturing and jobs.
After Joe Jimenez, chief executive of the Swiss pharma giant Novartis, said his company employed about 20,000 people in the U.S., Trump asked him if he planned to expand then interjected that he meant within the United States.
The rest Im not too interested in, Trump said.
Jimenez said tax reform would be a massive help and Trump replied, Well get it.
According to the Department of Commerce, most pharmaceuticals consumed in the U.S. are made here; only about a quarter of drugs are imported, or about $86 billion in 2015. The top five sources of imports are Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Israel and India. The industry also exported $47 billion in pharmaceutical products in 2015.
Ireland has become a favorable location for pharmaceutical companies to locate in part because of its low corporate tax rate. Company leaders have said changes to the high corporate tax rate could make the U.S. a more favorable location for manufacturing or expansion.
In a statement, Stephen Ubl, president of PhRMA called it a positive, productive meeting and stressed the need for competition.
Our industry takes seriously the concerns raised about the affordability and accessibility of prescription medicines, and we have expressed our commitment to working with the administration to advance market-based reforms, Ubl said. The current system needs to evolve to enable the private sector to lead the move to a value-driven health care system.
Hugin of Celgene said said the companies were excited to work with Trump on health care reform.
These changes are going to be great for the country, Hugin said.
Trump also focused in part on his plans to ease regulations at the Food and Drug Administration to make it quicker to get drugs approved.
Were also gonna be streamlining the process, so that, from your standpoint, when you have a drug, you can actually get it approved if it works, instead of waiting for many, many years, Trump said.
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Trumps comments about speeding up drug approvals come as confusion swirls about how the FDA will be affected by recent executive orders, including one that imposed a federal hiring freeze.
There are many empty positions at the FDA, said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Center for Health Research. The recently enacted 21st Century Cures law provided for additional hiring authority. But with the hiring freeze, will they be able to hire anyone?
Another executive order, issued by Trump on Monday, requires agencies remove two regulations for each new rule thats promulgated.
That will cripple the FDAs ability to do anything other than regulate by nonbinding guidance documents, said David Vladeck, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center. To hollow out the agencys authority by forbidding it from dealing with emerging issues through new regulations, and perhaps even giving guidance, will jeopardize consumers and threaten the reputation of the agency around the world.
He also questioned Trumps comments Tuesday about slashing drug-approval times at the agency, asking whether consumers wanted the FDA to rely on comic-book versions of drug applications.
There was little clarity from the meeting on one of Trumps most controversial ideas about how to bring down drug prices. In his first news conference after the election, Trump said publicly that U.S. pharmaceutical firms are getting away with murder and the federal government should start negotiating with them directly in order to lower prices.
PhRMA has a lot of lobbies, a lot of lobbyists, a lot of power. And theres very little bidding on drugs, Trump said during the news conference in New York earlier this month. Were the largest buyer of drugs in the world, and yet we dont bid properly. Were going to start bidding. Were going to save billions of dollars over a period of time.
Still, Trumps nominee to head the Health and Human Services Department, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., declined to endorse that idea directly during a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee two weeks ago. When Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., noted that other countries have lower drug costs because they negotiate with firms to set prices for government purchases, Price replied that there are a lot of reasons for that and said he wanted to get to the root causes of that.
Price, whose nomination vote was rescheduled on Tuesday after Democrats boycotted the meeting, told Sanders that he would work to ensure that drug prices are reasonable and individuals across the country have access to needed prescriptions.
Majed Moughni has lived the American dream: He climbed the ladder from impoverished refugee, to hotel dishwasher, to parking cars for Ford Motor Co. royalty. Today hes a lawyer, sitting at a chair and desk in an office that all once belonged to a Ford chief executive officer whose Lincoln Continental he used to park.
Moughni sees the business case behind Fords senior executives courting Donald Trump after the president spent months criticizing automakers for making cars in Mexico. Their silence through the weekend on Trumps order halting immigration from seven Middle Eastern countries was another matter, and he couldnt hide his disappointment.
Im a product of what Trump is trying to ban, Moughni said. Its careless. This is a country of immigrants.
Automakers are walking a tightrope as they court Trump, whose policies on clean-air standards, corporate taxes and trade will affect their fortunes. They have to balance that against other considerations closer to home: The traditional three U.S. automakers are based in Michigan, which backed Trumps surprise victory but also has a substantial Middle Eastern population troubled by his executive order on immigration.
Executive Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Mark Fields issued a joint statement Monday saying they dont support Trumps travel ban policy, or any other that goes against our values as a company. General Motors Co. sent a notice to employees Sunday saying it will support any employees traveling back to the U.S. with a visa who encounter difficulties.
We are not aware, to date, of any Ford employees directly affected by this policy, Ford and Fields said in an emailed statement. We will continue working to ensure the well-being of our employees by promoting the values of respect and inclusion in the workplace.
Fords hometown of Dearborn has been referred to as Americas Muslim Capital, with more than 30 percent of the population of Arab descent. From 2005 to 2015, the state accepted 19,545 refugees from Iraq and Syria two of the seven countries affected by Trumps ban.
People would say that if you landed here at 9 p.m., you can have a job at 9 the next morning, Ibrahim Kazerooni, the imam at Dearborns Islamic Center of America, said in an interview. We have many people in our community who work at Ford. Were a part of this community.
Plans for 26 refugees to immigrate to the Detroit area from Iraq and Syria in the next week have been canceled, said Lynne Golodner, spokeswoman for Samaritas, formerly known as Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, which has a contract with the state to help asylum seekers settle and find employment.
Trump took special aim at Ford during the campaign and the automaker has worked to get back in his good graces. Bill Ford, a great-grandson of the founder Henry, has said he can always get a hold of Trump, or the president calls him. Fields, the CEO, visited the White House on back-to-back days last week to discuss jobs, fuel-economy standards and even Oval Office decor.
Much of the auto industry was silent on the immigration order during the weekend. Mark Reuss, GMs executive vice president for product development, declined to discuss Trumps immigration policy during a fuel cell vehicles news conference Monday. Representatives for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Hyundai Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. declined to comment.
They should be proactive and stand up for the Muslim community, Mohammad All, a 26-year-old Ford engineer, said during a protest Sunday at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, before Ford issued its statement. He entered the U.S. from Iraq in 1997 after years in a Rafha, Saudi Arabia, refugee camp.
The United Auto Workers union, which represents GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler workers, denounces any policy that judges people based on their religion or nation of origin, President Dennis Williams said in a statement Monday.
Moughnis is one of countless stories that show the entwined relationship of the auto industry to the regions immigrant population.
Protesters also gathered Sunday in Hamtramck, a 2-square-mile city within the borders of Detroit whose longstanding ties to the auto industry include a GM factory that makes sedans and the Volt plug-in hybrid. A Polish enclave for most of the last century, Hamtramck now has a vast Muslim population because of immigration from Bangladesh, Yemen, and to a lesser degree, Bosnia. This is what immigration looks like! was one frequent chant.
Hamtramck has the nations first Muslim-majority city council, and the panels top vote-getters in the last two elections descend from Yemen another of the nations affected by the decree. Automakers are afraid of Trump, Councilman Saad Almasmari said in an interview at the Sunday rally: Thats why they keep silent.
It was in Hamtramck that Moughnis father newly arrived in America ahead of his family landed a job on the assembly line at a Chrysler plant. The father saved up enough to buy plane tickets for his family, including his eight kids, and eventually managed to afford a Chrysler LeBaron. Moughni was 6 when he and his family moved to America in 1977 to escape civil war in Lebanon.
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The Chrysler gig lasted only about two years, until Moughnis father joined the thousands of autoworkers swept from the industry after an oil shock. The father worked as a cashier at a convenience store, while Moughni did his part to make ends meet.
It wasnt much of a life growing up with your dad not having the financial means to raise eight kids, Moughni says. At 12, he started mowing lawns and picking weeds for neighbors. By 15, he worked at a Dominos Pizza. At 18, he was hired at the newly opened Ritz-Carlton hotel in Dearborn first as a dishwasher, and later as a parking valet.
It was the Ritz job that helped Moughni pay his way through undergraduate school at the University of Michigan at Dearborn. It also introduced him to Bill Ford, Edsel Ford II and Harold Red Poling, the CEO who steered Ford through the early 1990s recession. Moughni got to know Poling by name.
When Poling died in 2012 and the office Ford rented for the retired CEO right across from the Ritz came up for lease, Moughni seized on the opportunity. The late Polings former space, complete with the red leather chair and mahogany desk, has been home to Majed A. Moughni Law Offices for about three years.
It was meant to be, Moughni says.
Moughni sees common ground with Trump, and in fact made an unsuccessful run for Congress about six years ago as a Republican with a motto to keep jobs and production in America. But for companies such as Ford, which he notes has many engineers from India, he couldnt understand the delay in speaking out.
As far as Ford and Mark Fields and Bill Ford cozying up to Trump, I dont think thats a bad thing for the company, Moughni said. Even so, they should be outraged as well that this policy may trickle over to other parts of the world.
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump signed an order Monday aimed at cutting regulations on businesses, saying agencies should eliminate two regulations for every new one.
The White House later released the text of the order, which added that the cost of any new regulation should be offset by eliminating regulations with the same costs to businesses. It excluded regulations regarding the military.
The impact of the order was difficult to judge based on the presidents remarks. It could be difficult to implement under current law, and would concentrate greater power in the Office of Management and Budget, which already reviews federal regulations.
Trump signed the document which he called a big one at his desk in the Oval Office surrounded by nine small-business owners, who earlier this morning met in the Roosevelt Room.
This will be the largest ever cut by far in terms of regulations, Trump said. If you have a regulation you want, No. 1 were not going to approve it because its already been approved probably in 17 different forms. But if we do, the only way you have a chance is we have to knock out two regulations for every new regulation. So if theres a new regulation, they have to knock out two. But it goes way beyond that.
Experts on government policy said Trumps formulation made little sense. Theres no logic to this, William Gale, a tax and fiscal policy expert at the Brookings Institution, said before seeing the executive order. The number of regulations is not the key. Its how onerous regulations are. This seems like a totally nonsensical constraint to me.
Trump said the move would help both large and small businesses. Regulation has been horrible for big business, but its been worse for small business, he said, noting that small businesses cannot hire the talent and compliance personnel that larger businesses do.
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There will be regulation, there will be control, but it will be a normalized control where you can open your business and expand your business very easily and thats what our country has been all about, Trump said.
Administration members who attended the signing included White House counsel Donald McGahn; chief of staff Reince Priebus; Jared Kushner; domestic policy director Andrew Bremberg; and National Economic Council director Director Gary Cohn.
RICHLAND, Wash. - When Tim Snider arrived on Enewetak Atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to clean up the fallout from dozens of nuclear tests on the ring of coral islands, Army officers immediately ordered him to put on a respirator and a bright yellow suit designed to guard against plutonium poisoning.
A military film crew snapped photos and shot movies of Snider, a 20-year-old Air Force radiation technician, in the crisp new safety gear. Then he was ordered to give all the gear back. He spent the rest of his four-month stint on the islands wearing only cutoff shorts and a floppy sun hat.
"I never saw one of those suits again," Snider, now 58, said in an interview in his kitchen here as he thumbed a yellowing photo he still has from the 1979 shoot. "It was just propaganda."
Today, Snider has tumors on his ribs, spine and skull - which he thinks resulted from his work on the crew, in the largest nuclear cleanup ever undertaken by the U.S. military.
4,000 involved
Roughly 4,000 troops helped clean up the atoll between 1977 and 1980. Like Snider, most did not even wear shirts, let alone respirators. Hundreds say they are now plagued by health problems, including brittle bones, cancer and birth defects in their children. Many are dead. Others are too sick to work.
The military says there is no connection between these illnesses and the cleanup. Radiation exposure during the work fell well below recommended thresholds, it says, and safety precautions were top-notch. So the government refuses to pay for the veterans' medical care.
Congress long ago recognized that troops were harmed by radiation on Enewetak during the original atomic tests, which occurred in the 1950s, and should be cared for and compensated. Still, it has failed to do the same for the men who cleaned up the toxic debris 20 years later. The disconnect continues a long-standing pattern in which the government has shrugged off responsibility for its nuclear mistakes.
On one cleanup after another, veterans have been denied care because shoddy or intentionally false radiation monitoring later was used as proof that there was no radiation exposure.
A report by the New York Times last spring found that veterans were exposed to plutonium during the cleanup of a 1966 accident involving U.S. hydrogen bombs in Palomares, Spain. Declassified documents and a recent study by the Air Force said the men might have been poisoned and needed new testing.
Barred from suing
But in the months since the report, nothing has been done to help them.
For two years, the Enewetak veterans have been trying, without success, to win medical benefits from Congress through a proposed Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act. Some lawmakers hope to introduce a bill this year, but its fate is uncertain. Now, as new cases of cancer emerge nearly every month, many of the men wonder how much longer they can wait.
A tally of 431 of the veterans by a member of the group shows that of those who stayed on the southernmost island, where radiation was low, only 2percent report having cancer. Of those who worked on the most contaminated islands in the north, 20 percent report cancer. An additional 34 percent from the contaminated islands report other health problems that could be related to radiation, like failing bones, infertility and thyroid problems.
In 1988, Congress passed a law providing automatic medical care to any troops involved in the original atomic testing. But the act covers veterans only up to 1958, when atomic testing stopped, excluding the Enewetak cleanup crews.
And a 1950 Supreme Court ruling bars troops and their families from suing for injuries arising from military service.
The veterans' only avenue for help is to apply individually to the Department of Veterans Affairs for free medical care and disability payments.
But the department bases decisions on old military records - including defective air sampling and radiation badge data - that show no one was harmed.
It nearly always denies coverage.
'Guys dying all the time'
"A lot of guys can't survive anymore, financially," said Jeff Dean, 60, who piloted boats loaded with contaminated soil.
Dean developed cancer at 43, then again two years later. He had to give up his job as a carpenter as the bones in his spine deteriorated. Unpaid medical bills left him $100,000 in debt.
"No one seems to want to admit anything," Dean said. "I don't know how much longer we can wait; we have guys dying all the time."
Obama administration initiatives that allowed gays to openly serve in the military and opened up combat specialties to women could be in jeopardy under the new administration even if no changes to them appear imminent, observers said.
Neither policy has been especially popular among Republicans or, for that matter, some in the military. Moreover, the new defense secretary, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, has made no secret of his opposition to women in front-line infantry units.
Yet by telling the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing that he had other priorities, Mattis appeared to soften his tone.
I have no plan to oppose women in any aspect of our military, Mattis told the panel, according to a report on Politico. Im coming in with the understanding that I lead the Department of Defense, and if someone brings me a problem, I will look at it. But Im not coming in looking for problems.
Mattis also indicated that he had no problem with gay, lesbian and transgender troops, replying to a question, Frankly, Ive never cared much about two consenting adults and who they go to bed with.
Women had been on the front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq most visibly as combat medics long before 2015, when then-President Barack Obama opened mission specialties that had been closed to them. Two in every 5 of the 40,000 soldiers a year who undergo training as medics at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston are women. Women also serve in jobs that range from fighter pilots to public affairs officers.
On a recent afternoon at Fort Sam, an even higher percentage, 1 in 4, of the combat medics training in the 232nd Medical Battalions Alpha Company were women. The 454 trainees, six weeks from graduation, worked in teams to triage battlefield casualties, with one soldier providing cover while the other worked on a mannequin.
Pvt. Brittany Neal trained a hypodermic needle at a mannequins throat, preparing to open an airway, as Spc. Crystal Flucas, 25, of Valdosta, Georgia, scanned the area, a dummy M4 rifle at the ready. Staff Sgt. Jordan Leftridge, a veteran of Iraq, stood over them and closely eyed their progress.
Women can do more than what men can do, said Neal, 19, of Tampa, Florida, when asked about their abilities. I mean, we can do everything men can do, but we can do it in heels.
One of the chief critics of Obamas decision to allow women in previously all-male combat specialties, Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, doesnt oppose women serving as medics and stresses her respect for the risks they and other troops have taken in war.
Still, she hopes that the Trump administration will analyze how the Obama-era changes have affected military readiness. Donnelly and the leaders of two advocacy groups for women and gays agree on one thing: They think that Mattis left the door open to reversing the changes, particularly for women in combat roles.
When the new secretary of defense says, If someone comes to me with a problem, I will look at it, that is an entirely different approach, Donnelly said, adding, Hes going to look at everything.
In his Senate testimony, Mattis made it sound as if he wasnt going to reverse anything, said retired Air Force Col. Don Christensen, president of Protect Our Defenders, which favors the Obama changes. Of course, he gave himself an out by saying, unless somebody brings me a problem. The Marines leadership has definitely been opposed to this, so I wouldnt be surprised if they try to bring him a problem.
Precedent and priorities
Obama spearheaded the passage of a law in late December 2013 that ended the Clinton administrations dont ask, dont tell policy. It had allowed gays to serve, something conservatives generally opposed, but they had to stay hidden.
I had to lie every day about what I did, said Dee Villarrubia, 70, of San Antonio, a gay officer who served at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland during the 1970s, when it was known as Lackland AFB. You go through the military, youre taught integrity. Your word is really all you have, and then they say, Dont ever say youre gay.
President Donald Trump could initiate changes on his own, as Obama did, but Congress would have to pass a new law to reimpose dont ask, dont tell or ban gays outright from serving in the armed forces. Many observers familiar with the military expect that Mattis will be preoccupied with bigger issues, but retired Marine Lt. Col. Kate Germano said Mattis testimony doesnt make that clear.
I think were all in a state of suspense, said Germano, chief operating officer of Service Womens Action Network.
The passage of time may factor into policy. Gays have served openly for years. The same isnt true of women trying to break into all-male job specialties, said Christopher Swift, adjunct professor of national security studies at Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service.
Things seem to gain traction the longer theyve been around, he said. And, politically speaking, it would probably be easier for this administration and its supporters (in Congress) to slow-roll or shut down some of the (specialties) on a case-by-case basis than it would be to make a wholesale change in something like dont ask, dont tell.
At Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, several woman have tried but failed to break into some previously all-male fields, including officers seeking to serve in special tactics and combat rescue and enlistees who wanted to be elite para-rescuers, combat controllers or in close-air support teams. Most men fail to get into such Battlefield Airmen specialties, too the attrition rate is almost 90 percent.
Seeing it differently
Service members have mixed feelings about gender issues, according to a 2015 survey of 3,015 of them by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
It found that 49 percent believed that military service by openly transgender individuals would have a negative effect. Only 8 percent felt it would have a positive effect. A quarter of the respondents opposed the repeal of dont ask, dont tell, including 21 percent who believed that the repeal had a negative effect. Forty-one percent backed the repeal, with 16 percent saying it had a positive effect.
The starkest difference was in how male and female respondents saw restrictions on women in combat. At 64 percent, the majority of female respondents said their advancement in the military was limited because of the restrictions. Only 35 percent of men felt that way.
Retired Marine Gen. Bernard Trainor, a historian and combat commander in Korea and Vietnam, said the corps commandant, Gen. Robert Neller, has to decide what enhances or undermines capabilities and cohesion in combat units.
I will not speak for Gen. Neller, but the Marine Corps is basically a macho, conservative organization. And then anything that they perceive as detracting from their ability to carry out a mission is rejected, Trainor said.
SWANs Germano, also a retired Marine, thinks leadership has played a big role in how well women have broken through the militarys Kevlar ceiling. While the Armys chief of staff, Mark Milley, expressed confidence at one hearing that women could succeed in previously all-male fields, she said, that wasnt so true of the Marines.
Neller told lawmakers he hoped that the initiative was successful but added, hope is not a course of action, Germano recalled. And in my heart, I believe Gen. Neller does want women to succeed. However, theres a lot of resistance in the Marine Corps, cultural and otherwise.
sigc@express-news.net
SPRING CREEK The geese that have made their home at Spring Creek Marina may soon be displaced if the associations removal tactics work.
The association voted to put geese removal measures into place to deter the geese from settling in the area. Because the geese are protected and cannot be hunted, the association plans to use a combination of scare tactics, habitat modification and dog patrols to help keep the geese population manageable.
Some of the tactics to keep geese away from the marina will include, remote boats, lasers, balloons and kites, lawn sprinklers, barriers around the shoreline and other tactics to discourage geese.
Association President Jessie Bahr said the timeline for implementing the geese population control measures came in front of the board after the association worked with other organizations to put a plan together.
Weve been working with the USDA, NDOW (Nevada Department of Wildlife) and some other organizations to get this geese plan in place so we can start managing this geese population, she said. Were not trying to get rid of all of them, we just want to maintain them to a manageable population.
The association estimates that there are about 500 resident geese that live at the marina. In addition to the population management tactics that will be implemented seasonally, the plan also calls for Spring Creek to have daily dog patrols so the geese feel the presence of a predator in the area.
Another reason the marinas geese population is holding steady at over 500 is due to hand feeding. Bahr pointed out in the meeting that the geese will continue to make the marina their home if people keep feeding them. The association plans to put anti-feeding rules in place for the marina geese.
Spring Creek Association board member Michael McFarlane said the geese were being fed so frequently that at least one Spring Creek resident thought the association had taken responsibility for making sure the geese were fed.
There was a lady who thought Spring Creek was feeding the geese so she brought food and started feeding them, so there is a problem with feeding, he said.
Bahr is hoping the measures that other organizations have taken to reduce the geese population will help curtail an issue the subdivision has been dealing with for a long time.
Airports have the issue of geese control and other municipalities have this problem as well so we looked at those best practices to make sure we were in line with what works best, she said.
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First the nursing students heard the tune of Soul Man. Then, as the music faded, a voice.
Look down! Look down. Why are you laughing? Whats funny? they heard, followed by hysterical laughs and breathy murmurs. Then came sounds of someone in distress, of conflicting and sometimes bickering voices.
In another room, a woman with wild gray hair rocked back and forth on a hospital bed, asking two of the students if she could go home.
It was not a psychiatric ward, but the psychological training at the Center for Simulation Innovation at the University of Texas Health in San Antonio. The recordings the music, the voices are of what people with schizophrenia might hear in their heads and are deployed for an exercise called empathy training.
And for the first time this semester, in addition to using dozens of mannequins to train students in physical health symptoms and medical procedures, the hospital also hired actors who embodied mental health conditions that students had to work with.
At the hospital, if they ask a patient Do you feel suicidal? and they say Yes, the student is kind of done and professionals take over. But here, the student can stay and work with them, said James Cleveland, director of the center.
The students Monday were tasked with filling out puzzles while listening to recordings that simulate what a schizophrenic person might hear, including music and delusional voices. Then Lou Ann Click, the centers manager, and her team asked questions to increase the students distraction, demonstrating how hard it might be for someone with these symptoms to carry on day-to-day activities.
We want to let people have the firsthand experience of what its like to be the other person, Cleveland said.
Students were trained in communicating effectively with someone who is mentally ill.
She kept saying over and over again I want to go home. What do you think she was trying to say to you? asked Peter Guarnero, an assistant professor, asked two students about the gray-haired actress they had interacted with earlier. People communicate in layers. As you gain experience, youll start to see below the layers.
The students threw out ideas about the hypothetical patient they had just seen. She was looking for safety, for comfort, maybe also for her pills, they decided. Guarnero pointed out that her home is also where the patient had memories of her late husband.
This is just the beginning. There are still all these blocks you have to build. Youll have to know how to interview all kinds of patients, even in (obstetrics), he said.
Students Destiny Chavez-Levey, 22, and Esequiel Salcedo, 24, had both worked in long-term acute care at a hospital last semester for their clinical experience. They saw patients with poor mental health, some just as a result of their long-term stay at the hospital. They could tell how important it was to communicate effectively to help improve their disposition.
Then, its not just surface interaction. You build a whole relationship with your patients, Chavez-Levey said. You understand where theyre coming from, their background, everything.
I used to work in the oil field and I made great money, but I didnt get that satisfaction out of it, Salcedo said. Here its like were helping people, were contributing to them getting better.
sfosterfrau@express-news.net
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Ana Marquez sees a lot of herself in her students.
At 21 years old, the student adviser is not much older than the kids she counsels at San Antonio Can High School, a charter southwest of downtown. A few years ago, she also graduated from a Texans Can Academies campus in River Oaks, near Fort Worth. She went through many of the same struggles with life at school and home that her students grapple with.
When Marquez was 14, she was unruly and aggressive, involved with gangs with her two older sisters. Four days into her freshman year at a Fort Worth public high school, she fought with a classmate, delivering retribution to a girl responsible for an attack on her siblings days earlier.
All three sisters were expelled.
Raised by a single mother who juggled jobs to make ends meet, the sisters rarely found support at home. They frequently fought among themselves and with others. After being expelled, the girls tried to enroll at three other public schools in the area, but their troublesome reputation preceded them. No one would take them.
After two months out of school, the girls and their mother appeared in truancy court. The judge issued a $500 fine and an edict: Get the girls back in school.
The family found Texas Can Academies, a charter network that allowed the two younger girls to quickly enroll, while the oldest pursued a GED.
In a fresh environment, Marquez could finally focus on school. Despite her behavioral problems, she had always been a good student. At the school she also found individualized support in the form of a counselor who frequently checked in on her and helped her stay on track. She took advantage of the charters flexible scheduling, which allows students to attend class during morning or afternoon blocks and work at their own pace. By doubling up on classes, Marquez managed to graduate early as valedictorian when she was 16.
We take kids that dont fit anywhere else, said Dan Cahalen, chief development officer for Texas Can Academies.
Several years later, Marquez was a senior at Sam Houston State University, studying criminal justice and political science, when she ran into another roadblock. She found out she was pregnant, and she worried about paying for her final year. She had already struggled to afford her junior year, scraping together tuition by working at a Chinese fast-food restaurant.
At a Texas Can luncheon where Marquez was invited to speak, she mentioned her conundrum to Cahalen. One thing led to another, and Marquez was offered an advising position at Texas Cans Lancaster campus. In August, Marquez transferred to San Antonio.
Now one class away from finishing her degree, Marquez has dreams of becoming an attorney. But for the time being, shes focused on guiding students, often using her own experiences to connect with them. Whether her students are grappling with neglect and trauma at home or problems at school, Marquez can empathize with them.
Hey, I was where you were at too, Marquez likes to tell her students.
On a recent Tuesday morning, Esperanza Mares sat in front of Marquez. On a file cabinet behind the desk was a wooden sign that read They told me I couldnt. Thats why I did.
During their meeting, Marquez marveled at Mares progress, noting that she was on pace to complete her graduation requirements by next January. Marquez helped her research how to apply at St. Marys University, her dream school. Throughout, Marquez explained her own experiences with choosing her major and taking the optimal classes to prepare for law school.
If it werent for Marquez, the 16-year-old junior might not have been sitting there. Last year, Mares had trouble with some classmates, and she was on the verge of leaving the school. After driving to the students house, Marquez urged her to not worry about what others said. Mares changed her mind about dropping out.
All they really need is for someone to listen, Marquez said.
lcaruba@express-news.net
EDITORS NOTE: This story was updated to correct the name of Texans Can Academies.
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BROWNSVILLE A U.S. Border Patrol agent was acquitted of murder in the grisly decapitation of a Honduran immigrant, but was sentenced to 20 years in prison for taking part in a drug trafficking enterprise.
A Cameron County jury cleared Joel Luna, a 31-year-old border agent and decorated Iraq War veteran, of capital murder in the March 2015 slaying of Francisco Palacios Paz, but found him guilty on two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity.
Joel Luna agreed to a 20-year prison term on the drug-related charge without the possibility of appeal. The other charge against him will be vacated.
Meanwhile, his younger brother Eduardo, 26, was convicted of capital murder and a drug trafficking charge. Benjamin Euresti, Jr., the 107th state District Court judge, sentenced Eduardo Luna, a commander in the Gulf Cartel, one of Mexicos oldest drug-running organizations, to life in prison without parole, plus 50 years on the drug trafficking charge.
I think the (jury) sent a strong message that we are all together fighting spillover violence, cartel violence, said Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz. One law enforcement officer that goes wrong is one too many, but I want to keep it in perspective. The vast of Border Patrol agents are good people.
Palacios worked at Eduardos tire shop in Edinburg, where he was murdered. Palacios headless, naked body was pulled from the waters of South Padre Island after his killers had come to believe that he was preparing to give away their drug trafficking enterprise.
The Luna brothers appeared stony-faced as Euresti read the verdict, concluding a trial that saw Fernando Luna, 37, the estranged older brother of Eduardo and Joel, take the stand. Fernando Luna testified that he and Palacios were watching television at the tire shop in Edinburg when Eduardo Luna walked in and shot Palacios in the head.
Gustavo Gus Garza, Cameron County assistant district attorney, convinced jurors that Joel Luna played a role in the drugs and money flowing across the border from Reynosa, but he failed to convince them that he had participated in Palacios murder.
We never said to the jury that Joel Luna was at the tire shop when Franky was killed, Garza said after the trial. We have a serious, serious problem in this country with our appetite for drugs, and our appetite for drugs fuels all this.
Even as the jury began deliberating Friday afternoon questions surrounding whether Joel Luna was involved, or at least knew of the plot to murder Palacios carried over until Tuesday morning.
Several times throughout their deliberations jurors asked to rehear the testimony of Fernando Luna, who last August struck a deal with the Cameron County District Attorneys Office to testify against his brothers and other defendants in the capital murder case.
At issue were telephone calls, text messages among the brothers on March 9 and March 10, the dates when authorities believe Palacios was murdered, and his naked body was dumped in the Laguna Madre.
Under cross-examination from Carlos A. Garcia, Joel Lunas attorney, Fernando Luna testified that he and Joel never discussed the ill-gotten money from the sale of drugs and weapons, or of Eduardos alleged threats to kill Palacios.
Fernando Luna explained that he had deleted his text messages to Eduardo describing Palacios as a traitor due to the gravity of the situation. Fernando Luna said he was concerned Joel, who was born in Texas, could get in trouble for harboring the families of Eduardo and Fernando, who were living in the country illegally.
Im disappointed because I didnt believe my client was guilt of anything I believe that the government did not prove what they alleged, Garcia said. At worst he was guilty of giving his brothers shelter and nothing more.
Investigators seized a black steel safe found in the San Juan home of Joel Lunas mother-in-law. Inside investigators found 3 pounds of cocaine, half an ounce of methamphetamine, $89,560 in cash, a 1911 silver-plated .38 Gulf Cartel engraved pistol, a .22-caliber pistol, a Border Patrol commemorative badge, and a ledger documenting the sale of narcotics, firearms and ammunition.
From the start, Garcia described the charges against his client as the efforts of an embattled county, still reeling from a series of high-profile public corruption scandals, trying to land a trophy conviction of a federal law enforcement agent.
Joel Luna had been assigned to a checkpoint in Hebbronville at the time of Palacios death. He remains on indefinite suspension, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
In recent years, U.S. Customs and Border Protection the nations largest law enforcement agency has been dogged by corruption within its ranks.
Two other men also are charged with capital murder in Palacios death: Nestor Manuel Leal and Aaron Rodriguez Medellin. Their case was severed from that of the Luna brothers. Fernando Luna pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, and faces three years in prison, and possibly no more than probation as part of the plea deal.
At the conclusion of the trial, Palacios on-again, off-again girlfriend, Martha Sanchez, faced her boyfriends killer, describing for him how her life had been upended since his death. Eduardo Lunas steely gaze did not meet Sanchez.
Im not calm, a tearful Sanchez said. I live with fear and distrust.
anelsen@express-news.net
Twitter: @amnelsen
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AUSTIN Sounding a call to protect Texans from dangers lurking within and outside the states borders, Gov. Greg Abbott asked lawmakers Tuesday to put the highest priority on issues including a ban on so-called sanctuary cities and reform of the child protective services system.
Abbott declared the topics to be emergencies in his State of the State address, along with two items that address dangers of a different sort: ethics reform and a push for a convention of states to rein in the federal government through changes to the U.S. Constitution.
The primary goal of government is to keep our citizens safe and secure, Abbott told a joint meeting of the House and Senate.
He urged lawmakers to overhaul and put more money into the life or death issue of protecting abused and neglected children in the states care.
It was the first issue Abbott cited as an emergency, a designation that signals hes willing to put his muscle behind measures and allows them to be voted on within the first 60 days of the legislative session if lawmakers choose.
If you do nothing else this session, cast a vote to save the life of a child, Abbott said. His proposed two-year budget, also released Tuesday, includes $500 million to improve child protective services.
More Information Abbott's budget Gov. Greg Abbott's budget proposal would spend less than the state currently does in the next two-year fiscal period despite a growing population. But it would increase or maintain funding in some areas: -$800 million in funding maintained for border security -$500 million funding increase to reform Child Protective Services -$250 million to further cut the state business tax -$236 million to continue a grant program for high-quality prekindergarten -$108 million to fully fund the deal-closing Texas Enterprise Fund -$33 million in development grant funds to continue to support military bases Source: Governor's Office See More Collapse
Abbotts targeting of sanctuary cities like the other emergency items, a familiar topic for him comes against a backdrop of protests over President Donald Trumps actions on U.S. security. Those actions include a ban on people entering this country from seven nations with Muslim majorities, Trumps continued push for a wall on the border with Mexico and his plan to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities.
The governors address coincided with Texas Muslim Capitol Day, which drew more than 1,000 people to the statehouses south steps before his address started. Besides those who were there to rally and take part in the Muslim Day activities, many were people who held hands to form a protective barrier around the participants to ensure no one would disrupt their event.
Abbott didnt mention the travel ban or the border wall, but he said he plans to meet with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Wednesday in the Rio Grande Valley to discuss efforts to strengthen the Texas border. The governors office said theyll meet in Weslaco.
Abbott previously has said hell cut off grants funneled through his office to any sanctuary city, a term that has a fluid definition but generally is used to indicate communities giving harbor to undocumented immigrants.
San Antonio does not call itself a sanctuary city and follows the law regarding Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Police officers dont go out of their way to seek people in the country illegally.
He has advocated laws to impose penalties and to remove any officeholder who promotes sanctuary cities.
The Republican governor raised the latter threat last week after Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, a Democrat, said she only would honor federal immigration detainers asking her to hold suspects if they were booked for certain serious crimes.
This is the session when we will ban sanctuary cities in Texas, said Abbott, whose comments drew a roar of approval and a partial standing ovation in the House chamber, although a number of Democratic lawmakers sat without applauding.
Texas must not back off its efforts to secure the border against illegal immigration, including the criminals who conspire with cartels, Abbott said. His proposed budget would maintain $800 million in spending on border security.
The new administration in Washington has shown the potential to finally secure the border, Abbott said, then cited a legendary University of Texas football coach: But as Darrell Royal said: Potential just means you aint done it yet.
There is widespread legislative agreement on issues such as protecting children. But Democrats said Abbotts emphasis on issues such as sanctuary cities shows misplaced priorities.
While Gov. Abbott may be trying to project his inner Trump in order to protect himself from a primary challenge, Gov. Abbott I believe is on the wrong side of this issue, said Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin.
Democrats said they were disappointed Abbott didnt weigh in on Trumps immigration and trade positions.
It is disappointing that Gov. Abbott didnt use his position of prominence to show his disapproval of some of the misguided policies coming from the Trump administration, said Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
The State of the State speech was a chance for Abbott to detail his agenda for a Legislature thats dominated by Republicans but nevertheless divided on a number of issues.
It also was an opportunity for him to take the spotlight from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a tea-party-aligned leader who has been up front about his desire to drive the legislative agenda and is occasionally cited as a potential challenger to Abbott.
Patrick has denied this, going as far as to endorse Abbott for re-election.
Abbott cited a host of priority issues, such as cracking down on teachers who sexually assault children; making it a hate crime for people to target police officers due to their uniforms; reforming school finance reform and broadening school choice.
He cited issues surrounding the unborn, including the dignified burial of fetal remains; quality prekindergarten programs; a state government hiring freeze; with some exceptions, to help address a tight budget; working to cut the state business tax until we can fit it in a coffin; and a revenue cap to keep cities from raising property taxes without voter approval, a move that cities say could affect key local services.
Abbott didnt mention one issue that has drawn headlines for months: a proposal championed by Patrick that would restrict the restrooms that transgender people can use in schools and government buildings.
The Texas Association of Business in December released a study showing initiatives targeting gay and transgender Texans could cost the economy $8.5 billion a year and jeopardize 185,000 jobs.
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, has voiced concern about its impact, including on the NCAA Final Four scheduled next year for the Alamo City. Texas Democrats call it discriminatory.
You notice the governor didnt mention the bathroom bill, said Sen. Jose Rodriguez of El Paso, chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Maybe thats a good sign.
pfikac@express-news.net
Twitter: @pfikac
A San Antonio judge has removed the lawyer of the president of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club from a federal racketeering case aimed at gutting the national leadership of the organization.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad agreed with prosecutors who argued that lead defense attorney Kent Schaffer of Houston might have a conflict of interest representing Bandidos president Jeffrey Fay Pike of Conroe.
While stopping short of saying that Schaffer did anything criminal, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs and Joey Contreras had asked Bemporad to disqualify Schaffer, saying he might be forced to be a witness to refute the allegations of two of his former clients at Pikes trial
According to the prosecutors, Schaffer once represented two then-Bandidos members who are now government witnesses, and who have alleged that Pike and Bandidos vice president John Xavier Portillo ordered Bandidos to turn over their court documents when they got arrested so Schaffer could review the papers and see who might be cooperating against the organization.
Bemporads order also disqualifies Schaffers co-counsel on the Pike case, James Kennedy, because he also was Schaffers co-counsel on the cases of the Bandidos-turned-government witnesses. The order says Schaffer and Kennedy represented the two Bandidos in a substantially related matter.
In light of the previous representations, the continued representation by Mr. Schaffer and Mr. Kennedy of Defendant Pike in this case presents either an actual conflict of interest, or a serious potential conflict of interest, the judge wrote in a six-page order that was unsealed late Monday. Mr. Schaffer and Mr. Kennedy must be disqualified from representing Defendant Pike in this case.
The order comes after a pair of hearings in San Antonio during which Schaffer denied the prosecutors allegations.
Unless Schaffer is able to reverse the order on appeal, Pike must look for another attorney. Pike and Portillo, of San Antonio, face trial later this year on charges that they sanctioned or ordered a host of crimes in furtherance of the Bandidos racketeering, including drug-dealing, violent attacks on rivals and murder.
Im a little disappointed, but not totally surprised, Schaffer said Tuesday, adding he believes the lead prosecutor fears him. Im sure hed rather face an inexperienced lawyer.
Were looking at our options, Schaffer said, adding that they might appeal. We have to look at it, strategically, to see whats best to do.
Schaffer, considered one of Texas best defense lawyers, said hes represented about 12 Bandidos in individual cases but has never been an attorney for the organization. He also said the government has not identified who the witnesses are, and argued that there hasnt been any solid evidence requiring his disqualification.
Ive never represented anybody on a substantially related matter, Schaffer said. The two Im thinking of I represented on assault cases in bar fights but they have nothing to do with this case.
And he has firmly told the judge during the hearings: Nobodys brought papers to me to see if anyones cooperating or not. If they did, I wouldnt do it.
The Bandidos are considered by authorities to be Texas ruling motorcycle gang, though members say they are not a gang, but a club that likes motorcycles, particularly Harleys, and the biker lifestyle.
gcontreras@express-news.net
Twitter: @gmaninfedland
Jon Shapley /Houston Chronicle
AUSTIN A Dallas-based appeals court on Monday halted payments to three private Houston attorneys who are prosecuting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on criminal fraud charges, a move that could impact the case if it stays in effect.
The 5th Court of Appeals, ruling in a taxpayer lawsuit challenging the payments by Collin County, said it would review additional information in coming weeks before deciding whether to let the decision stand.
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump fired the nations acting attorney general as the repercussions from his executive order banning some immigrant travel to the U.S. continue to shake his administration in just its second week in office.
Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates, an Obama administration holdover, after she said in a message to staff Monday that the presidents order was not consistent with the Justice Departments solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right. She added that I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement Monday night announcing Yates dismissal that she had betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States. Trump had shot back at Yates message earlier, saying on Twitter that frustrated Democrats were obstructing his Cabinet picks and that they now have an Obama A.G.
The Trump administration named Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to replace Yates. Boente said he will agree to enforce the immigration order.
The unusual public defiance by Yates, who would have been expected to leave the Justice Department upon confirmation of Trumps nominee for attorney general, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., was the latest twist in a controversy that has sparked protests at airports across the country and seen many congressional Republicans break from the White House over Trumps move to ban travel by people from seven Muslim-majority nations.
Yates statement lent the authority of her office to several legal challenges underway against the order across the country, and it set off a standoff between a president and his own Justice Department just days into his tenure.
For as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so, Yates said in her statement, released hours before she was fired.
Also Monday, Democrats all but abandoned their pledge to find common ground with Trump in the wake of the order.
Yates decision deepened the discord and dissent surrounding Trumps order, which temporarily halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from the seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
Seizing on growing public outcry, Democrats on Capitol Hill launched what they said would be a protracted fight on several fronts. It will include public protests against the ban, delaying Cabinet confirmations and an attempt to reject Trumps pick to serve on the Supreme Court, an announcement expected today.
As protests erupted at airports over the weekend and confusion disrupted travel around the globe, some of Trumps top advisers and fellow Republicans angrily accused him of keeping them in the dark.
At least three top national security officials Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department have told associates that they were not aware of details of the order until around the time Trump signed it. Leading intelligence officials were also left largely in the dark, according to U.S. officials.
A chorus of prominent voices, including former President Barack Obama, criticized the ban as ill-conceived and un-American. Also Monday, State Department diplomats circulated various drafts of a memo objecting to Trumps order.
The document is destined for whats known as the departments Dissent Channel, which was set up during the Vietnam War as a way for diplomats to signal to senior leadership their disagreement on foreign policy decisions. More than 100 diplomats have signed the memo, which argues that the immigration ban will not deter attacks on American soil but will generate ill will toward U.S. citizens.
Spicer dismissed such concerns at a briefing Monday, saying that the system worked well and that the airport snags affected only 109 people out of more than 300,000 travelers. Spicer offered no reassuring words to officials with concerns about the ban, saying dissenters such as career diplomats speaking out at the State Department can either get with the program or they can go.
Trumps ban also significantly deepened fissures in his already fragile relationship with congressional Republicans, with GOP leaders on Capitol Hill complaining angrily Monday that they were not consulted before the order was issued.
At least a dozen key GOP lawmakers and aides said the order took them by surprise, even as the White House insisted that it collaborated with Congress.
House Speaker Paul Ryans political team sought to reassure donors and other supporters that the temporary ban does not amount to a religious test. And a steady stream of GOP lawmakers released carefully tailored statements expressing concerns about the order.
Asked if he was consulted in the drafting of the order, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said simply: I wasnt.
On Monday evening, Senate Democrats sought to quickly pass legislation that would rescind Trumps ban, but there was insufficient GOP support.
Confirmation delays began as well, when Democrats blocked a committee from meeting to approve Trumps nominee for Treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, to the full Senate. The Senate Finance Committee is now expected to consider the former Goldman Sachs banker today, at the same time it will vote to approve the nomination of Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to lead the Health and Human Services Department.
Amid the Democratic outcry, Trump and his aides defended the ban and faulted Democrats for trying to obstruct his Cabinet nominees.
We actually had a very good day yesterday in terms of homeland security, Trump said at a White House event. During a meeting with small-business leaders, he blasted Democrats for delaying the confirmation of his nominees for political reasons. Just politics.
Committees are also scheduled to meet today to approve former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to lead the Energy Department; Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., to serve as interior secretary; and GOP power broker Betsy DeVos to serve as education secretary.
How far Democrats go will be closely watched by the liberal activists who joined them to protest Trumps ban Monday night on the steps of the Supreme Court.
Democrats made their way from the Capitol, with chants of hands too small, cant build a wall and build a fence around Mike Pence alternated with walk the walk! a command to the Democrats themselves.
When House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told the crowd, What the president did is not constitutional, one protester retorted: Youre not doing anything if you dont stop Sessions!
Democrats are unlikely to derail the confirmation of any Trump nominees. While they can use procedural tactics to slow the length of time it takes to confirm a pick, just 51 senators are needed to confirm a nominee. Republicans enjoy a 52-seat majority in the Senate.
Tribune News Service contributed to this report.
AUSTIN The latest round of proposed legislative fixes to the states ailing child welfare system includes reorganizing a state agency and making it easier for extended family to care for their child relatives.
The pitch for new ideas comes as pressure from the courts and the public mounts for the state to improve how it cares for Texas children in crisis.
While money matters, and it does matter, money is not the silver bullet. If money alone were the fix, then the child welfare system would already have been fixed long ago, Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, said Monday at a news conference at the Capitol unveiling a Texas House teams preferred policy proposals.
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, tasked the group with searching for solutions to the states beleaguered foster care system, which is under the microscope in the courts after a federal judge declared the system unconstitutional, saying it left kids worse off than when they entered.
The judge since has ordered the state to reform its system.
Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, proposed that the state pay more to families who take in their own kin.
As much as we love our grandchildren or nieces or nephews, the reality is that many families just do not have the expense of caring for an additional family member built into their budgets, she said. Sometimes that makes it impossible for family members to take them in on a moments notice.
The states kinship program currently pays foster families a base of $693 a month to house children in the foster care system, according to state officials, but family members who take on a grandchild, niece, nephew or other minor relative are compensated with around $500 a year. Burketts proposal, which still is in the works, would offer families 50 percent or possibly 75 percent of what traditional foster families receive from the state.
State officials say more than 11,000 families now provide kinship care, which is expected to climb to around 12,000 families in 2018 and 2019.
Other proposals offered by House lawmakers focused on decision-making, such as Franks pitch to spin off the Department of Family and Protective Services into an independent agency, taking it out from under the wing of the sprawling Texas Health and Human Services. Lawmakers say the reorganization would make the agency more accountable to lawmakers.
A third proposal seeks to involve nonprofit groups in placing children into foster care by establishing stronger relationships between state agencies and local organizations to find a good match. The move also would serve to keep children closer to their homes instead of moving them across the state.
Earlier this month, DFPS Commissioner Henry Hank Whitman and first lady Cecilia Abbott announced an initiative to reach out to churches to help locate families for foster care placements and to provide support and mentoring for foster children.
Its been more than a year since U.S. District Judge Janis Jack in Corpus Christi condemned the state foster care system and appointed special masters to recommend reforms.
After revelations that hundreds of children who had been abused or neglected went days or weeks without being seen by Texas Child Protective Services caseworkers, lawmakers approved more than $100 million in emergency funding to hire more than 800 workers and give significant raises to some 7,000 CPS employees, hoping to slow the exodus of caseworkers leaving for higher-paying jobs.
Senators on Monday grilled Whitman over the slow progress of reform. The number of kids not being seen by CPS workers has not really dropped since October, nor has employee turnover, he told the Senate Finance Committee. He said internal data does give him reason to believe the outcomes will get better.
We gave you the money you asked for, the panels chairwoman, Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said. We gave you the 12,000 caseworkers you asked for. We want to see results. Weve got to see results.
Brian M. Rosenthal contributed to this report.
andrea.zelinski@chron.com
twitter.com/andreazelinski
Obama administration initiatives that allowed gays to openly serve in the military and opened up combat specialties to women could be in jeopardy under the new administration even if no changes to them appear imminent, observers said.
Neither policy has been especially popular among Republicans or, for that matter, some in the military. Moreover, the new defense secretary, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, has made no secret of his opposition to women in front-line infantry units.
Yet by telling the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing that he had other priorities, Mattis appeared to soften his tone.
I have no plan to oppose women in any aspect of our military, Mattis told the panel, according to a report on Politico. Im coming in with the understanding that I lead the Department of Defense, and if someone brings me a problem, I will look at it. But Im not coming in looking for problems.
Mattis also indicated that he had no problem with gay, lesbian and transgender troops, replying to a question, Frankly, Ive never cared much about two consenting adults and who they go to bed with.
Women had been on the front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq most visibly as combat medics long before 2015, when then-President Barack Obama opened mission specialties that had been closed to them. Two in every 5 of the 40,000 soldiers a year who undergo training as medics at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston are women. Women also serve in jobs that range from fighter pilots to public affairs officers.
On a recent afternoon at Fort Sam, an even higher percentage, 1 in 4, of the combat medics training in the 232nd Medical Battalions Alpha Company were women. The 454 trainees, six weeks from graduation, worked in teams to triage battlefield casualties, with one soldier providing cover while the other worked on a mannequin.
Pvt. Brittany Neal trained a hypodermic needle at a mannequins throat, preparing to open an airway, as Spc. Crystal Flucas, 25, of Valdosta, Georgia, scanned the area, a dummy M4 rifle at the ready. Staff Sgt. Jordan Leftridge, a veteran of Iraq, stood over them and closely eyed their progress.
Women can do more than what men can do, said Neal, 19, of Tampa, Florida, when asked about their abilities. I mean, we can do everything men can do, but we can do it in heels.
One of the chief critics of Obamas decision to allow women in previously all-male combat specialties, Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, doesnt oppose women serving as medics and stresses her respect for the risks they and other troops have taken in war.
Still, she hopes that the Trump administration will analyze how the Obama-era changes have affected military readiness. Donnelly and the leaders of two advocacy groups for women and gays agree on one thing: They think that Mattis left the door open to reversing the changes, particularly for women in combat roles.
When the new secretary of defense says, If someone comes to me with a problem, I will look at it, that is an entirely different approach, Donnelly said, adding, Hes going to look at everything.
In his Senate testimony, Mattis made it sound as if he wasnt going to reverse anything, said retired Air Force Col. Don Christensen, president of Protect Our Defenders, which favors the Obama changes. Of course, he gave himself an out by saying, unless somebody brings me a problem. The Marines leadership has definitely been opposed to this, so I wouldnt be surprised if they try to bring him a problem.
Precedent and priorities
Obama spearheaded the passage of a law in late December 2013 that ended the Clinton administrations dont ask, dont tell policy. It had allowed gays to serve, something conservatives generally opposed, but they had to stay hidden.
I had to lie every day about what I did, said Dee Villarrubia, 70, of San Antonio, a gay officer who served at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland during the 1970s, when it was known as Lackland AFB. You go through the military, youre taught integrity. Your word is really all you have, and then they say, Dont ever say youre gay.
President Donald Trump could initiate changes on his own, as Obama did, but Congress would have to pass a new law to reimpose dont ask, dont tell or ban gays outright from serving in the armed forces. Many observers familiar with the military expect that Mattis will be preoccupied with bigger issues, but retired Marine Lt. Col. Kate Germano said Mattis testimony doesnt make that clear.
I think were all in a state of suspense, said Germano, chief operating officer of Service Womens Action Network.
The passage of time may factor into policy. Gays have served openly for years. The same isnt true of women trying to break into all-male job specialties, said Christopher Swift, adjunct professor of national security studies at Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service.
Things seem to gain traction the longer theyve been around, he said. And, politically speaking, it would probably be easier for this administration and its supporters (in Congress) to slow-roll or shut down some of the (specialties) on a case-by-case basis than it would be to make a wholesale change in something like dont ask, dont tell.
At Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, several woman have tried but failed to break into some previously all-male fields, including officers seeking to serve in special tactics and combat rescue and enlistees who wanted to be elite para-rescuers, combat controllers or in close-air support teams. Most men fail to get into such Battlefield Airmen specialties, too the attrition rate is almost 90 percent.
Seeing it differently
Service members have mixed feelings about gender issues, according to a 2015 survey of 3,015 of them by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
It found that 49 percent believed that military service by openly transgender individuals would have a negative effect. Only 8 percent felt it would have a positive effect. A quarter of the respondents opposed the repeal of dont ask, dont tell, including 21 percent who believed that the repeal had a negative effect. Forty-one percent backed the repeal, with 16 percent saying it had a positive effect.
The starkest difference was in how male and female respondents saw restrictions on women in combat. At 64 percent, the majority of female respondents said their advancement in the military was limited because of the restrictions. Only 35 percent of men felt that way.
Retired Marine Gen. Bernard Trainor, a historian and combat commander in Korea and Vietnam, said the corps commandant, Gen. Robert Neller, has to decide what enhances or undermines capabilities and cohesion in combat units.
I will not speak for Gen. Neller, but the Marine Corps is basically a macho, conservative organization. And then anything that they perceive as detracting from their ability to carry out a mission is rejected, Trainor said.
SWANs Germano, also a retired Marine, thinks leadership has played a big role in how well women have broken through the militarys Kevlar ceiling. While the Armys chief of staff, Mark Milley, expressed confidence at one hearing that women could succeed in previously all-male fields, she said, that wasnt so true of the Marines.
Neller told lawmakers he hoped that the initiative was successful but added, hope is not a course of action, Germano recalled. And in my heart, I believe Gen. Neller does want women to succeed. However, theres a lot of resistance in the Marine Corps, cultural and otherwise.
You wont hear much criticism of President Donald Trumps travel ban from former state Rep. Frank Corte Jr., a staunch conservative who believes in Americas ability to secure our borders.
Corte even supports Trumps promise to make exceptions for Christians from the targeted countries: I think the people who perpetrated the crimes that we are trying to prevent have been Muslims, he said. You dont see Christians motivated by ISIS to blow things up and kill somebody.
You will hear in Corte, however, a degree of nuance.
Its borne from experience.
In 2006, more than a decade into representing north San Antonio in the Legislature, Corte undertook a treacherous mission in Iraq to advise the governor of Anbar province.
Traveling the war-torn country with Maamoon Sami Rashid Al-Awani, whom insurgents targeted relentlessly for assassination, Corte learned to rely on interpreters, including one from Sudan.
We actually had a group of interpreters, said Corte, a retired Marine Corps reserve colonel. They were really hard to find because of what we called m and i murder and intimidation. If you worked for coalition forces, you were a target.
Corte meant the interpreters were targeted by insurgents, of course. Yet the same sort of heroes who risked their lives for Americans now find themselves targeted, outrageously, by the United States.
Hameed Khalid Darweesh, for instance, was detained for nearly 19 hours on Saturday at Kennedy Airport. After aiding Americans in Iraq for a decade, the interpreter was fleeing the Middle East with his family on a special immigrant visa because he feared his life was in danger.
Finally released, Darweesh began to cry as he spoke to reporters.
What I do for this country? They put the cuffs on, he said, according to the New York Times.
Who are they?
Trump drafted his executive order with a small circle of advisers, leaving the National Security Council and other agencies largely in the dark. It targets citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq and Sudan, who are barred from entering the United States for at least 90 days.
The order encompasses even those who served alongside Americans in war, according to Erica Schommer, clinical assistant professor of law at St. Marys University.
Yes, the ban would apply to all of those people, Schommer told me.
She noted that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated in a memo it has the authority, on a case-by-case basis, to allow people from the banned countries into the United States when it serves the national interest.
In theory, that ought to be used for someone who worked for our country, Schommer said.
Corte agreed.
If we have an agreement with somebody who helped us serve to help their people, then that should be honored, he said. That information should be in their record. We should maintain the agreement we made.
Corte acknowledged the importance of nurturing trust between Americans and friends in unfriendly places: The relationship building is important, he said. Anybody whos in any role whether its security or governance or whatever youve got to have that trust, no doubt. Otherwise, you dont get the information.
For American troops, staying alive can hinge on information.
For those who would provide it, Trumps order is a stinging betrayal of trust.
That puts Americans everywhere at risk, including those who are working now with Iraqi troops to retake Mosul from Islamic State militants.
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, made that clear in a statement opposing Trumps order.
This visa ban is the ultimate display of mistrust and will erode our allies willingness to fight with us, he said. The ban also provides terrorists with another tool to gain sympathy and recruit new fighters.
Hurd understands this as a former undercover CIA officer again, an understanding of nuance borne from experience. Sadly, Trumps travel ban is not surprising, coming from a president who lacks both.
bchasnoff@express-news.net
MADISON, Wis. The American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), and the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) sent an open letter Jan. 30 to President Donald Trump, asking that he protect and defend the scientific integrity of federal scientists.
Scientific discovery is inspiring, essential and cost-beneficial to all Americans. It serves the public interest through new technologies and services, protects communities with accurate forecasts, and provides decision-makers with a wealth of information crucial to effective public policy. But these benefits rely upon the scientific freedom of researchers and the open exchange of sound, peer-reviewed data. Federal scientists must be free to draw evidence-based conclusions and communicate their findings with the general public. Without such freedom, public trust in information coming from federal institutions will erode, and technological advancements in the private sector will slow.
All scientists rely on robust federal science and data to benefit Americans daily lives ensuring a safe, nutritious, affordable, and plentiful food supply that is produced with sustainable technologies. We ask that you act quickly to protect federal scientists, bolstering the integrity and credibility of your Administration, and ensuring America continues to lead the world in scientific research and innovation.
According to the Societies CEO, Dr. Ellen Bergfeld, the Societies stand ready to work with (Trump) to ensure Americas food and agricultural research enterprise remains strong and continues to drive innovation and new technologies.
The letter was signed by Bergfeld and the three society presidents: Jessica G. Davis (ASA), E. Charles Brummer (CSSA), and Andrew N. Sharpley (SSSA).
By Suzanne Stanard
North Carolina ranks third in U.S. specialty crop production, following only California and Florida. With shrinking water resources in California and disease and insect pressures in Florida, U.S. food distributors are turning their eyes to North Carolina for increased diversity and quantity of specialty crops.
Two significant new gifts to the college will equip the states farmers to meet this demand: the Dale C. and Genia Tyson Bone Distinguished Professorship in Specialty Crops and and an allied Bone Endowment for the Specialty Crops Program.
A 1964 CALS graduate with degrees in agronomy and agricultural economics, the late Dale Bone farmed thousands of acres of produce, tobacco and cotton. His operation was once the largest producer of cucumbers in the United States. He and his wife Genia Tyson Bone established the Bone Scholars Program in 2009 to support migrant workers and their families.
Today, Genia Bone continues the couples legacy.
Through the creation of the Bone Scholars Program, you have transformed the lives of gifted young people who are, in turn, already giving back to their communities, said Dr. Sylvia Blankenship, CALS senior associate dean for administration, at the endowment-signing ceremony. And through the creation of the Bone Professorship in Specialty Crops and the Bone Specialty Crops Endowment, you will transform opportunities for North Carolina farmers today, and for generations to come.
The Dale C. and Genia Tyson Bone Distinguished Professorship in Specialty Crops will establish, in perpetuity, an endowed faculty position that will support North Carolinas specialty crop producers and provide them with scientific leadership dedicated to meeting their needs and maximizing their opportunities. It will fuel research essential to this industry, from new variety development to improved insect and disease management.
The gift of $666,000 will be submitted for a North Carolina Distinguished Trust Fund match of $334,000, in order to establish a $1 million professorship.
In addition, the Dale C. and Genia Tyson Bone Specialty Crops Program Endowment, launched with a gift of $25,000, will provide a permanent source of competitive funding for the research and extension work of the Bone Professor and allied faculty team members.
This is a transformational gift that will expand opportunities for North Carolina farmers and their families and inspire others to invest in the faculty leadership essential to the future of North Carolina agriculture, said CALS Dean Richard Linton.
This is my passion, said Genia Bone. I have a real concern about the food supply in our country and our ability to feed ourselves in the future. With these endowments, I hope to support the development of new and better crops and to help North Carolina farmers meet the demands of a growing population.
Source:ncsu.edu
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In an effort to reduce the lines at the Prince William landfill and compost facility, now that both are closed on Sundays, the county is encouraging residents who regularly visit such faciliti
Events and things to do to celebrate Veterans Day in Cumberland County
Cumberland County will honor veterans for two weeks starting with the annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday in downtown Fayetteville.
It was a Trump speech, said Beth Lesser, a Donald Trump supporter from Greenville, South Carolina, after listening to the presidents inaugural address on the Mall.
He hasnt changed at all and I dont want him to.
Lesser was one of the thousands who traveled a long way to come to the inauguration, and who loved what they heard. They didnt come to hear soaring rhetoric from Donald Trump. They didnt come to hear Trump try to sound like Marco Rubio or, God forbid, Barack Obama. They came to hear Trump sound like himself.
Thats what they got. And to them, Inauguration Day was a day of hope.
It brings some hope that were going to have a new direction for the country, that were going to create a real economic recovery, said Rick Fischer, who organized for Trump in Fairfax County, Virginia.
I think this really restores our country to its place in the world as far as a leader is concerned, said Patrick ONeal, of Atlanta.
To me, it means the future of America, said Emily Ovecka, who volunteered for Trump in Philadelphia.
It means the return of optimism, said Phil Bell, of Vienna, Virginia. Weve had years and years where I personally, and I think a lot of people, have felt simply like we didnt have an opportunity.
Talking to people on the Mall was like entering a universe entirely apart from that of the political commentariat. In the pundits world, Trump delivered a pessimistic and foreboding address, one sure to further divide the nation. The adjective of choice was dark.
Unusually dark, wrote The Atlantic.
Short, dark, and defiant, wrote USA Today.
A dark vision, wrote the Los Angeles Times. There were many, many more.
Where journalists and pundits saw darkness, the people who came to the inauguration saw promise. For example and this should shock no one who has spent even a minute paying attention to politics they really liked it when Trump talked about jobs.
Indeed, the biggest applause line in the area where I was standing was when Trump said, We will get our people off of welfare and back to work rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor.
Where the pundits heard a dark, weird speech (New York magazine) or a dark, raw speech (Vanity Fair), or a dark, hard-line speech (the New York Times), the audience heard the possibility that jobs not just low-paying service jobs, but better, higher-paying jobs would come back to their communities.
Its the first time weve been excited and looking forward to a government, said Jay Leone, of Long Island, New York. I think it marks the beginning of a new era, hopefully, for prosperity and jobs and security.
Trumps speech was remarkable in that he spent a significant amount of time bashing the political establishment arrayed behind him on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. That was just fine with the people standing in front of him.
For too long, a small group in our nations capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost, Trump said. Washington flourished but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered but the jobs left, and the factories closed.
The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country, Trump continued. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nations capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
The people who come to inaugurations are a new presidents biggest supporters. Out where I was standing the podium was far, far away there were no bigwigs, no people who would have reservations Friday night at Washingtons priciest restaurants. Some had traveled a long way, but a lot were from neighboring Eastern Seaboard states. And many said they believed in Donald Trump from nearly the first day.
Patrick ONeal, a Trump supporter from the get-go, said he booked tickets on Amtrak and made hotel reservations for January 20, 2017 in Washington back in January 2016. He felt that strongly that Trump would win.
From the moment Trump finished speaking, many analysts compared the inaugural address to Trumps Republican convention acceptance speech last summer. And indeed, much of the punditocracys reaction to that speech was the same as its reaction to this one: it was dark.
Immediately after the convention speech, I asked 20 people in Clevelands Quicken Loans Arena, in quick succession, what they thought of it. They all thought it was great. Of course, those were the type of Republican loyalists who actually attended a GOP convention. On the Mall Friday, there were the type of Republican loyalists who attend a Republican presidential nomination.
The bigger question last summer and now was how the vastly larger TV audience would see the speech. As it turned out, Trump actually got a bounce from the convention. (It was short-lived, given that Trump created enormous problems for himself the very next week with the Khizr Khan affair.) At the very least, its fair to say that Trumps convention speech did not keep him from winning the general election.
Now, Trump has given another speech with worlds-apart reactions from the commentators and the people who came to see him. Dark? On the Mall, people saw Trumps speech as a ray of sunshine.
It means we have a chance, said Liz Rawlings, of Annapolis, Maryland. We have a chance to move our country forward.
WASHINGTON In the days after the presidential inauguration, there was a lot of talk about war. Man-talk. You know how they are when they get together, telling battle stories and doing mental pushups to make themselves feel more heroically manly.
But it is striking that these war stories of 2017 are not of the usual genre. Instead, they are tales of wars against the press, wars over the number of Americans on the streets of Washington during the inauguration and, perhaps most important, wars over what is true and what could be, or would be or should be.
It is always instructive to see men in power squabble about war, especially when it is these same men who have stayed up nights figuring out how to avoid offering their humble bodies to fight in those selfsame wars.
But lets focus on todays curious new wars language wars, grammar wars, moral wars which have already spawned a most strange, and often frightening, new language. Write these phrases down: Post-truth society. Beyond honesty. Post-fact. Alternative facts. Truthful hyperbole. Different concepts of reality. (George Orwell, are you listening?)
This war starts with the new president declaring robustly at the CIA headquarters last weekend that he had a running war with the media. Journalists are the most dishonest people he knows, which is saying quite a bit when one looks at his financier friends. (And dont you just love all these guys who never fought a day in their lives declaring war on the media?)
Now, I can tell you, after spending 50 years covering foreign countries, that if the president thinks this will stop news from getting out, he is a very foolhardy warrior, indeed.
I covered the post-truth Soviet Union, the beyond-honesty Burma and the alternative fact Iraq and, even in those sorry places, there were always ways to get news. There are always people who want to talk, places to go to file a report more-or-less safely and sources who will offer you sane interpretations. It just takes more work, and youre always willing to work like a banshee when people make you mad.
Actually, in those five decades, I have seen journalists who are foolish, who puff themselves up far beyond reason and who dont always get it right; but I have never seen any who were flagrantly dishonest. During the campaign, too many abused Donald Trump because they frankly didnt like him (at the same time, at least on television, giving candidate Trump everything he asked for).
Too many in the media missed the Trump followers, the presidents forgotten men and women. Lets not do that again!
But how about the average citizen the Americans who wont give a few coins for a good newspaper that works doggedly to tell the daily stories of our lives? Arent they guilty, too, of not following the responsible press and, instead, of gluing themselves to ever-more-irresponsible cable TV and social media, empowering them?
Finally, lest President Trump believe his own advertisements i.e., that truth somehow does not matter I suggest someone brief him on: (1) how President Nixon is remembered for a two-bit break-in that would embarrass a First Ward alderman in Chicago, or (2) how George W. will forever be tarnished by his lies about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
On the other hand, there is, and should be, deep and reasonable concern among serious people about how a rising populism in America, Europe or elsewhere is endangering truth. Truth, they are saying, could lose.
But the good thing is that it is all out in the open, and that every move and act of this administration and any administration will be meticulously dissected. Despite everything, we are not a banana republic, we are not a failed state, and we are not a nation without strong moral and intellectual fiber underneath the often silly surface.
And we are not alone. The Washington Post recently reported that in the Czech Republic, a SWAT team for truth, a newly formed government unit, has been charged with scouring the internet and social media, fact-checking, then flagging false reports to the public. Czechs, after all, had enough of relative truths in their years under the Soviet yoke. (Germany and Finland are also setting up similar operations, according to the Post.)
Meanwhile, another curiosity lies in the fact that, in all this talk and travail about wars, there is almost no mention of the real wars America is so foolishly involved in and by almost all accounts, is losing or bogged down in. Maybe someday those in the Oval Office will actually mention the devastation being abetted by the United States from Iraq and Afghanistan to Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Syria.
Then again, maybe they wont. After all, they are very busy. They have their own wars to fight.
On Writing
I wrote my first book when I was eight. It was about an owl called Squiffy. My father was my only reader, but undeterred by this small audience, I have been writing books ever since! I worked as a journalist in my twenties before starting to write non-fiction books in my thirties. But fiction was always my real love (I have several early novels in the loft), and after doing a MA in Creative Writing I started writing fiction more seriously.
The Wind On His Back
On my life
I live in Oxford, UK, with my dog, Marmaduke, my partner, and my youngest son, who is 13. My older children (my daughter, nearly 19, and my eldest son, 20) both live and work in London. I also have two adult stepsons. I grew up between London and Oxford (I went to school in both cities at various times) and my children have had a similar experience.
On living in Oxford
Oxford is a brilliant combination of city and countryside. In a matter of a few minutes, I can be walking on Port Meadow, surrounded by cows and horses, or sitting in a cafe with a coffee and working on my laptop. People here are wonderful theres a real sense of community. Most people are funny, non judgmental, accepting and kind. I feel very lucky to live here.
On writing fiction
My stories begin as a slight idea or as a scrap of a concept. A kind of what if. scenario develops. Possibly a comment someone makes, or something that happens, sparks a mental exploration that wants to go somewhere. So, for example, with the short story The Wind on His Back, I wanted to explore the emotions of a man facing death unexpectedly as a result of an illness. While this idea grew from a real situation in my life my partner was diagnosed with a terminal brain cancer 13 months ago the rest of the story the character, his life, his love of the food of his childhood, his mothers affair - is fiction. I often set stories in places I know well London, or Oxford or places that I can research and envisage for example, Egypt - but that just helps to make the stories more visually and factually correct.
How I write
I am currently trying to write at least four hours a day. Given it is January in the UK and freezing cold and dark, often I do this sitting up under the duvet in bed with my laptop propped up on pillows. Four hours doesnt sound like much, but with phones and WIFI switched off, it is a concentrated burst of time and all I can manage at the moment with my other commitments.
What I am writing now
I am working on a novel that is due out later this year. It is a fictionalized memoir based on Penelope Betjeman, the wife of the Poet Laureate John Betjeman. Ive been fascinated by her for a long time and have loved bringing her to the page. Creating fiction from a real persons life feels a big responsibility. Penelopes life spanned most of the 20th century and took in the London debutante scene in between the wars, the fading days of the Raj in India, and the Oxfordshire county social set in the 30s and 40s. She was unconventional and clever, and faced many challenges todays women can relate to, such as juggling work and domestic responsibilities. Penelope wrote articles in her youth, and had a wild affair with a much older man, before eloping with another unsuitable man (John Betjeman). She had two children with John. The marriage was difficult and eventually John left her for another woman, although they remained friends for the rest of their lives. Facing empty nest and no husband, Penelope wrote two acclaimed travel memoirs. Amongst other things!
On Creativity...
Its magical and Im blessed to have it in my life. Its a place to escape to, an alternative life to live in your head. A therapist would probably call it Avoidance!
Kriti Sanon, who was last seen in 'Dilwale' opposite Varun Dhawan, is currently shooting for her next film 'Raabta' that stars Sushant Singh Rajput in the male lead. The actress recently ended up injuring her leg while shooting for an action sequence for the love story. Kriti took to social media to share a picture of her bruised leg and captioned the image, "Bruised n how! Looks like an artwork of bruises! #NoPainNoGain #Raabta".
This isn't the first time that she has injured herself on the sets of 'Raabta'. In May, Kriti had injured her ankle while shooting an action sequence in Budapest.
'Raabta' is being directed by Dinesh Vijan, a successful producer who is donning the director's hat for the first time. The film, which was earlier supposed to release by February 2017, is now scheduled to hit the cinema halls in June later this year.
Exports from Pakistan to the European Union (EU) have surged 37 per cent in the past three years, driven by the generalised scheme of preferences (GSP) plus status offered to Pakistan in December 2013. The GSP plus status makes it possible for Pakistan to export 20 per cent of all exports at zero rate and preferential rates for 70 per cent of overall exports.The biggest beneficiary of GSP Plus have been Pakistan textile and apparel exports, which make up for around 60 per cent of overall exports from the country to the EU.
Exports from Pakistan to the European Union (EU) have surged 37 per cent in the past three years driven by the generalised scheme of preferences (GSP) plus status offered to Pakistan in December 2013. The GSP plus status makes it possible for Pakistan to export 20 per cent of all exports at zero rate and preferential rates for 70 per cent of overall exports.#
The GSP status offers huge potential for enhancing mutual trade between Pakistan and the EU, Pakistan federal commerce minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said in a statement.Khan also revealed that exports of machinery, chemicals and dyes from Europe to Pakistan also grew 14 per cent in the same period, which were mainly used in production of exports of textiles and garments to the European markets.The yearly trade between EU and Pakistan is around $7 billion, with the balance of trade being nearly equal. The main products exported from Pakistan to the EU mainly included textiles, apparels, and leather products. (AR)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk India
The withdrawal of the US from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement has delighted the Indonesian textile and apparel exporters, as they will now have a level playing vis-a-vis those countries in the TPP pact. US President had earlier last week decided to withdraw from the TPP agreement, which offered preferential duty rates to member states.Indonesias neighbours like Malaysia and Malaysia used to enjoy a preferential import duty in shipments to the US, on account of being TPP member countries, while Indonesian textiles were subjected to 10 per cent import duty.
The withdrawal of the US from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement has delighted the Indonesian textile and apparel exporters, as they will now have a level playing vis-a-vis those countries in the TPP pact. US President had earlier last week decided to withdraw from the TPP agreement, which offered preferential duty rates to member states.#
A leading Indonesian daily quoted the chairman of Indonesian Textile Association (API) Ade Sudrajat as saying that the decision of the US to withdraw from TPP will benefit the countrys textile exports, as the country will now be able to compete at the same price points, as export from other countries to the US.As against, exporting around 36 per cent of overall Indonesian textile and apparel exports to the US last year, API now expects that figure to rise to 39 per cent or $4.8 billion this year. (AR)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk India
The Internet has been taken by storm since the US President Donald Trump announced the travel ban on Muslims nationals from across 7 Islamic countries to enter the USA upon which a lot of people including Hollywood stars protested. Slumdog Millionaire star; Dev Patel, who has earned an Oscar nomination for his role in Lion, which is a humanitarian film, said he found this ban "utterly devastating. At a recent award function he said, "At times like this, you're constantly questioning what you're doing at awards like this or promoting a movie. It feels so pointless. I look to the people around me and they remind me the message of this film (Lion), of the art were trying to inject into the world right now. It's about unification. When I think about that, it makes me have a little bit more strength."
On Her First Reaction When She Heard She Is Doing A Film With Jackie Chan
was jumping all over. I couldn't believe that I had bagged a film with him. I thought I must have done something good in my life that I am getting a chance to work with him. I am his huge fan and have grown up watching his films. It was unbelievable but I had a great time shooting for the film and learnt so much. I had never expected that I would receive a call for an action film.
On Her Take-Away From The Film
I take back so many memories from the film. I have learnt how to be a better human being. Jackie (Chan) taught me a lot. He used to click pictures with the fans who would visit the sets and even bring food for all of us. He considers everyone equal.
On Her Wishlist Of Actors
I never had a wishlist and I think that's why I got lucky with Kung Fu Yoga (smiles). I don't want to make one. Let it happen on its own and let's just go with the flow.
On Her First Meeting With Jackie Chan
I remember, we are at some dinner in Beijing and I was so excited to meet Jackie Chan. I carried my phone with me so that I could get an autograph from him on the cover. (smiles) He arrived there wearing a hat and looking his stylish best. Later he walked towards me and greeted me. He shook hands with me and I had goosebumps all over. I just kept staring at him. It was really awkward. I was quite starstuck. Despite being a legend, he is so humble and grounded.
On Whether Her Approach Towards Films Is Going To Be Content Driven Or Working With The Stars
Honestly, I never thought I would become an actress. I wanted to be an air force pilot. My sister is in army whereas my father is a cop. I just happened to be in showbiz. Slowly I started auditioning for films. I never took acting classes and was quite camera shy. It's because I auditioned so much that I got the hang of acting.
I never plan anything in my life. I never knew I would be an actress. I never thought I would be working with Jackie Chan one day. Everything just went with the flow. For me, content really matters a lot. What I am doing in a film really matters to me a lot. I don't want to be a prop or just look pretty in a film. I believe that girls are more than just props. They can do a lot. I really want to do something that would inspire girls.
On Her Personal Life Grabbing Headlines Time And Again
It happens with everyone yaa. I don't get affected by it.
On Having Catfights With Her Co-Star Amyra Dastur
No..there were no catfights. (laughs) You know that guys gossip more than girls. Amyra and me are very different from each other. That somehow helped us in building our characters in the film. She is very hard-working and I have seen her doing her own stunts.
On Rumours That She Refused A Film Because She Wasn't Keen To Work With A Newbie
Do you think I am like that? (laughs) Being a newcomer myself, I don't have the right to decide that. I am lucky that I got a chance to be a part of M.S.Dhoni and Kung Fu Yoga. It doesn't matter to me or I am never think about the co-stars. I am a very selfish person. I only think about myself and my role in a film. As an actor, you should only worry about yourself. It doesn't matter if you are working with superstars or a newcomer as long as the story is good.
Actor Ranveer Singh, who is roped in as a brand ambassador for an eyewear brand, finds a similarity between brand associations and marriages.
Also Read: Is There Negativity Between Kareena Kapoor & Sonam Kapoor?
"Brand associations are like marriages. You are the human form of the values the brand represents. So there is a huge amount of responsibility. Which is why I am very honest about brands I choose as I need to believe in the product," Ranveer told IANS.
The 31-year-old said it was an ambassador's responsibility to be honest to the public.
"It's your responsibility to the brand that has chosen you to work with sincerity and commitment. More than the money that you are paid, people have chosen you to represent them in the public and they trust you to be the right person for their brand," he added.
Asked if he relates with the brand, Ranveer Singh said, "There are a lot of essential core values of Carrera that I can relate to and connect with, these really resonate with me. In fact, when they first came to meet me and they were talking about the brand, I felt like they were talking about me."
A new and probably the final trailer of Beauty and the Beast has been unleashed and its shows the magical world it holds for the audience to experience.
The upcoming Disney live-action fairytale remake will feature Emma Watson in the role of Belle, who in the quest to rescue her imprisoned father, enters a castle which is enchanted. She then meets a beast who resides in the castle and exchange her father's freedom with hers.
Watch the Trailer Here:-
However, with time Belle gets attached to the beast and gradually awakens the humanity inside him.
The new trailer tries to narrate the whole story in a gist. Although it looks to cover the original plot used in the animated classic, the movie also suggests some deviations (with additional new songs) and change in the aspect of style and mannerism.
After Cinderella and The Jungle Book, Disney is up with another masterpiece taken from the book of fairytales and it certainly looks visually appealing.
Beauty and the Beast features stars like Luke Evans in the role of Gaston, Ewan McGregor in the role of Lumiere, Josh Gad in the role of LeFou, Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the role of Plumette, Stanley Tucci in the role of Cadenza, Ian McKellen in the role of Cogsworth, and many others.
The movie is all set to release worldwide on March 17, 2017.
Celebrated Hollywood actor, producer, and director Ben Affleck said that he has decided to step down from the directing duty of the upcoming solo Batman film. However, the star actor says he will still remain as the producer and actor for the movie.
Ben Affleck, who was earlier reported to helm the direction of the solo Batman movie has taken this decision with due consideration and discussion with Warner Bros in order to concentrate more on the acting part and to make the most out of the film.
"There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions," said Ben Affleck in a statement.
"Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film." He added.
"I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world." Ben Affleck explained.
Renowned Hollywood actress Ashley Judd who has been touring India for about a week being a part of the 'World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls Initiative', reveals a shocker about all the exploitation she had to face in her life for being a girl.
While delivering a speech at New Delhi for the 'World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls initiative', Judd said she had been harassed sexually and mentally at the age of 7 and then again at the age of 14 by many prominent personalities, including Hollywood bosses.
Judd also pointed at the gender discrimination and issue of unequal pay existing in Hollywood industry till this day.
"I was molested for the first time at the age of seven, experienced rapes at the age of 14 and in 1998. It's a miracle that I wasn't trafficked." Ashley Judd said.
The actress also delivered a powerful speech in Hindi language and said "Ab samjhauta nahi" meaning, no more compromise.
Judd had made some shocking allegations against a top Hollywood studio executive, she said,
"I was sexually harassed by one of our industry's most famous, admired-slash-reviled bosses. He was very stealth and expert about it. He groomed me, which is a technical term - 'Oh, come meet at the hotel for something to eat'. It went on in these stages. It was so disgusting."
Judd also stated that "There's a big pay gap in Hollywood, because of gender discrimination, and my lifetime earnings are 40 percent less than what I should have earned, had there been pay equality in the industry."
Prithviraj, the young talent of M'town is on a high with a handful of promising projects in his kitty. In a recent interview given to a popular media, Prithviraj finally opened up about his upcoming Gautham Menon project.
The actor, who rubbished the rumours which suggested that the project has been shelved, revealed that he has already received the advance for the movie. Prithviraj also ensured that the project is very much on cards.
But at the same time, the movie will not go on floors anytime soon, due to the date issues of the lead actors. Prithviraj confirmed that the untitled project will start rolling after all the lead actors finish their current commitments.
Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar andTelugu actor Sai Dharam Tej have already been finalised for the movie. From Tamil industry, Simbu and Jayam Ravi have been considered to essay the fourth lead role in the movie.
Reportedly, Anushka Shetty and Thamannah have been roped in to essay the female leads. The movie, which is said to be a multi-lingual, revolves around the four college friends who hails from the four different states of South India.
Interestingly, Prithviraj is playing a Malayali youngster in the movie and will have a major portion of his dialogues in Malayalam. The team is yet to finalise the rest of the star cast and technical crew of the much-awaited project.
He literally turned his cannery, in the heart of Murcias farmland , into a money-making factory. Juan Pedro Gonzalez Sanchez is considered by the Spanish National Police to be the countrys top currency counterfeiter and one of Europes most accomplished producers of fake bills.
A close-up of the new (genuine) 50 bill. EFE
After being arrested three times as he was about to put millions of counterfeit euros into circulation, Gonzalez Sanchez was scheduled to stand trial on Tuesday at the provincial High Court of Murcia. Prosecutors are seeking a 15-year prison sentence.
Police first tracked him down in May 2007. A search of his home and cannery, in the village of Beniajan, unearthed around 8 million at various stages of production.
Officers found fake 50 notes that were so well made that even the European Central Bank had issued a warning about the high-quality copies.
The trial date for the 2007 arrest was scheduled for March 2016, but Gonzalez Sanchez failed to show up
Investigators estimate that Gonzalez Sanchez had worked in this line of business for at least a decade.
Around three million fake notes have already been taken out of circulation, but police believe there could be another two million or so in the pockets of Spaniards and other Europeans. The exact number is practically impossible to know, however.
A former cannery
Following his arrest in 2007, Gonzalez Sanchez spent 14 months in preventive custody. But as soon as he was charged and released pending trial, he went back to his profitable business of making fake money.
He was arrested again in 2011 with another 1.5 million ready to hit the streets, and a further 1.5 million at the production stage.
Murcia's economy is largely reliant on agricultural produce. EFE
In both cases, the police found top-of-the-range printing presses and other specialized equipment that neighbors never suspected were sitting inside the former cannery.
The family factory had shut down years earlier, but Gonzalez Sanchez reopened it under the business name Jugosa (Juicy). He went there every day and left again in his van to make deliveries. There wasnt a lot of business, but then the owner did not live ostentatiously either. There was nothing to make him stand out from the other villagers.
Besides the material for his counterfeiting activities, the police also found equipment for making fake ID cards and residency permits. There was also over 1,000 kilograms of hashish.
Another 13 individuals were arrested and charged with helping the main suspect put the forged documents and money into circulation.
The trial date for the 2007 arrest was scheduled for March 2016, but Gonzalez Sanchez failed to show up. Four months later, the police located him inside a detached home in San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia), where he was at it again: he had close to 2 million in fake notes ready to go.
He was arrested once more, and has not been released from prison since. If nothing else goes wrong, Spains top counterfeiter will face a judge today. Besides the 15-year prison sentence, prosecutors want Gonzalez Sanchez to pay a 10 million fine in real currency, that is.
English version by Susana Urra.
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/30/17 -- MedMira Inc. (MedMira) (TSX VENTURE: MIR) held its 2017 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on January 27, 2017. Incumbent Directors Mr. Hermes Chan and Mr. Marvyn Robar were re-elected. Dr. Shou-Ching Tang, a world-class clinical oncologist, who retired as a Director in 2014, was elected to the Board during the meeting held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Mr. Romano Robusto and Dr. Philippe Dro chose not to stand for re-election to the MedMira Board of Directors. The Company thanks Mr. Robusto and Dr. Dro for their service as Directors. Mr. Hermes Chan was appointed by MedMira Holding AG, the Company's controlling shareholder, to replace Dr. Dro as its representative on the Board.
Shareholders also approved the appointment of Deloitte LLP as the Company's auditors during the meeting.
MedMira granted 1,175,000 options to purchase common shares to Directors as a part of the 2016 compensation package under the amended Stock Option Plan approved by shareholders at the 2016 Annual General & Special Meeting of Shareholders. Options were granted at an exercise price of $0.10 per share and exercisable for a period of three years ending January 29, 2020.
About MedMira
MedMira is the developer and owner of Rapid Vertical Flow (RVF) Technologya. The Company's rapid test applications built on RVF Technology provide hospitals, labs, clinics and individuals with instant diagnosis for diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C in just three easy steps. The Company's tests are sold under the Reveala, Multiplo and Miriad brands in global markets. MedMira's corporate offices and manufacturing facilities are located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and the Company has a sales and customer service office located the United States. For more information visit medmira.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
This news release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risk and uncertainties and reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events including statements regarding possible approval and launch of new products, future growth, and new business opportunities. Actual events could materially differ from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, changing market conditions, successful and timely completion of clinical studies, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, establishment of corporate alliances and other risks detailed from time to time in the company quarterly filings.
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:
MedMira Inc.
Andrea Young
Corporate Communications
902-450-1588
ayoung@medmira.com
- Investors cite high volatility in currencies, commodities and capital markets as top risks for foreign direct investments into Europe
- Over 70% of investors have already felt some impact following the Brexit vote
- 96% of businesses do not feel well-prepared for future uncertainties
LONDON, Jan. 31,2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite current geopolitical and financial market volatility, investment plans into Europe over the next three years are strong, with 56% of global investors planning to grow their presence in Europe, according to the EY 2017 European attractiveness survey - Plan B for Brexit. This contrasts with the findings from the EY survey conducted last May, which found that only 36% of European investors had a positive investment outlook for Europe.
Investors cited instability on the continent as their primary concern in respect to future investment plans. However, Europe's talent, innovation capacity and large, integrated market and production system are still valued by global investors. Of the 254 global investors surveyed, high volatility in currencies, commodities and capital markets was identified as the biggest risk to investment decisions in Europe (37%), while economic and political instability within the European Union (EU), excluding Brexit, (32%) and the impact of Brexit (28%) were identified as the second and third biggest risks respectively.
Andy Baldwin, EY Area Managing Partner - Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, says:
"It is encouraging that the investors we are tracking continue to have strong investment appetite in Europe despite the instability and mixed geopolitical environment. However, investor patience is finite. Europe's historical investor appeal was built on certainty and predictability. Europe is in danger of developing an emerging market 'geopolitical risk profile' without commensurate returns. For the foreseeable future, pure economic factors will vie alongside political considerations in influencing final investment decisions."
The lines of Europe's foreign direct investment map are starting to shift
Heightened geographic and political risks across Europe and the UK are prompting 1 in 10 companies with a presence in Europe to review their geographical footprint. However, the survey finds that the UK's EU referendum result is a far bigger concern for foreign companies established in the UK (33%), compared with those that are not (15%). Companies not established in the UK cite geopolitical and wider EU instability (31%), coupled with the slowdown in trade flows (30%) as more urgent concerns.
Fourteen percent of foreign investors with a presence in the UK plan to change or relocate some of their European operations in the next three years should the UK leave the European single market. Overall, 11% plan to modify their UK presence in Europe following Brexit. Germany was identified as the preferred destination for those investors moving out of the UK (54%), followed by the Netherlands (33%) and France (8%).
Hanne Jesca Bax, EY EMEIA Managing Partner Markets & Accounts, says:
"Agility is key for businesses to succeed in a volatile landscape. Investment appetite across Europe is growing, but business structures will need to flex to accommodate future and unpredicted changes. Mitigating the impact of possible increases in import costs, for example, will be critical. But businesses should not only address the risks. They should also seek opportunities to capture new business and improve operational efficiency as they strive to grow and expand their business."
Brexit impact on financial services, technology and mid-sized companies
Financial services (FS) companies are the least optimistic about their growth prospects in Europe over the next three years: only 12% anticipate strong growth, while 6% expect to "slightly reduce" their existing presence in the region. FS firms are also nearly twice as likely as manufacturing firms to identify EU instability (51%) and Brexit (41%) among the top three growth risks, with volatility seen as a much less severe risk.
The technology sector is leading growth into Europe with 72% of respondents planning to invest in Europe in the next three years, and of those, 33% expecting to grow their presence significantly - identifying Europe as a powerhouse in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (IA), the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. Mid-sized companies1 are also driving growth, with more than two-thirds expecting to grow their presence in Europe and 26% planning significant expansion.
Brexit reshaping boardroom agendas
More than 70% of foreign investors say they have already felt some impact following the UK's referendum on EU membership. These investors have seen an impact in at least one area of their business operations in Europe and have cited operating margins, cost of purchase and sales, in particular. Companies with a strong presence in the UK were hit the hardest, with 31% reporting an increase in purchase costs and the same percentage identifying operating margin pressures.
Assessing and managing the immediate impact of Brexit on costs (largely import-driven) and supply chain are fundamental concerns for respondents, with 32% and 27% respectively highlighting these as urgent agenda items. Despite concerns over the geopolitical environment, only 4% of respondents report being well-prepared for the uncertainty arising from new risks and a changing regulatory environment.
Baldwin concludes:
"The financial impact of Brexit is not confined to the UK.The survey shows that 70% of European businesses we surveyed have been impacted in some way. European businesses and investorsneed certainty and want clarity on the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU27. In the meantime, we will likely see a pick-up in businesses reconfiguring supply chains and distribution arrangements to mitigate currency volatility and cost pressures. Flexibility and agility will be key."
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.
About EY's European attractiveness surveys
EY's European attractiveness surveys analyze the attractiveness of a particular region or country as an investment destination, and are designed to help businesses make investment decisions and governments remove barriers to growth. A two-step methodology analyzes both the reality and perception of FDI in the country or region.
This survey is part of the EY's European attractiveness surveys, which studies the forces shaping flows of FDI into Europe. In November and December 2016, EY interviewed 254 senior business executives at foreign investors in Europe, dividing our sample group into three groups of approximately equal size, based on whether their companies had global headquarters in the US, in Asia or in Europe.
1 Annual sales between 150m and 1.5b
Raffaella Santarsiere
EY Global Media Relations
+44 (0) 7467 441509
raffaella.santarsiere@uk.ey.com
GRAZ, Austria, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
ARM founder Hermann Hauser invests via eQventure into the Austrian audio startup
The Austrian micro speaker pioneer USound (http://www.usound.com) secures a growth investment of 12 million Euro. Lead investor is eQventure, an Austrian venture capital firm based in Graz, who also brought in ARM founder Hermann Hauser as an USound angel investor. The investment qualifies as one of the biggest financing rounds for an Austrian startup these past years.
Double the team
The new capital will serve to accelerate organizational growth and to hire additional staff. "Several well-known hardware producers have expressed interest in our product. First customer orders have been booked. Our current priority is the serial production, and for this we aim to increase our personnel from roughly 30 engineers to almost 50," explains USound CEO Ferruccio Bottoni.
Smallest speaker in the world
In a project that stretched across several years, USound developed the smallest speaker in the world. It is now ready for market-entry and safeguarded by numerous patents. This first digital version of a micro speaker is based on innovative MEMS technology (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) that enables the extreme miniaturization as well as highest levels of energy efficiency. The founders believe that the micro speakers can be deployed in a vast array of applications. "Headphones are only a starting point", reveals Bottoni, "our product is set to have an impact across all aspects of life as it enables a new paradigm for audio smart systems in portable devices."
Bottoni concludes: "With the fresh capital we can swiftly start mass production."
eQventure brings Hermann Hauser on board
The lead investor eQventure offers USound financing, support in corporate development and a worldwide business network. It was through their doing that Hermann Hauser could be won as an eQventure investor. The entrepreneur, venture capital investor and ARM founder Hauser contributes capital as well as strategic industry know-how. There are several reasons for why this undertaking is attractive to Hauser. "The company is led by an excellent management team with a wealth of experience and impressive track record in microsystem technology. I am convinced that USound can soon lead the billion dollar micro speaker market into the digital age."
USound
USound GmbH is a fast growing audio start-up, founded with the mission of developing and producing the most advanced audio systems for mobile applications based on MEMS technology. The technological platform developed by USound is enabling the production of a revolutionary generation of MEMS micro speakers that are to be deployed in the world's top mobile applications. USound is a fabless company: process R&D and manufacturing operations are outsourced to world class industrial partners.
Hermann Hauser
The entrepreneur and venture capital investor Hermann Hauser has been active in the global tech industry for more than four decades. One of his biggest successes is the British chip developer ARM, whose chip design is nowadays found in every smartphone. In September 2016 ARM was sold for 31,4 billion dollars to the Japanese tech giant Softbank.
eQventure
eQventure is based in Graz (Austria) and offers young tech companies and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) financing, a strong business network and fast, dynamic support in all phases of corporate development. eQventure is driven by a group of successful entrepreneurs and angel investors.
Press contact
Thomas Reiter, Reiter PR
Tel.: + 43-676-66-88-611
Email: thomas.reiter@reiterpr.com
Surrey, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2017) - DESERT GOLD VENTURES INC. (TSXV: DAU) (FSE: QXR2) (OTC Pink: DAUGF) ("Desert Gold" or the "Company") announces that it held its extraordinary meeting on January 5, 2017 (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting shareholders approved the termination of the Company's 2012 Fixed Option Plan and the implementation of a 10% rolling Option Plan in its place, which is subject to approval by the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange.
Shareholders also approved a grant of 258,880 excess stock options to directors and officers, exercisable at $0.30 until October 24, 2018 which were granted under the Company's said terminated fixed option plan in late 2016. The Company has granted a further aggregate of 260,509 stock options to its directors and officers pursuant to its new 10% rolling Option Plan, exercisable at $0.30 for a period of five (5) years from today.
The Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Scharf, currently a director of the board, will now assume the position of President of the Company effective immediately.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
s/ "Jared Scharf"
Jared Scharf, Director
+1 (604) 245 6802
For further information please visit our website www.desertgold.ca or information available on www.SEDAR.com under the company's profile.
Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.
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 news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the united states. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the united states securities act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the united states or to the account or benefit of a U.S. person absent an exemption from the registration requirements of such act.
STOCKHOLM, Jan 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Catella acted as exclusive financial advisor to Guy Hands in raising financing for the acquisition of McDonald's Nordic operations. The parties have signed a share sale and purchase agreement and agreed on the Master Franchise Agreement. Mr. Hands will become the Development Licensee (DL) for the Nordic markets.
The Nordic countries consist of approximately 435 restaurants, of which more than 95% are franchised, and is the clear number one QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) operator in the region. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.
Under the DL structure, McDonald's plans to transfer its ownership interest in McDonald's Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden and grant a license to the DL to develop and operate the McDonald's restaurants in these markets. Mr. Hands will provide the capital necessary to support and grow the business.
Guy Hands is also the Chairman and Founder of Terra Firma Capital Partners Limited.
His wife, Julia Hands, is the Chairman and CEO of Hand Picked Hotels, an award winning chain of country house hotels based in the UK.
Julia and Guy intend to leverage their industry experience to further develop the McDonald's brand in the Nordic markets.
"We appreciate the trust and debt advisory mandate given to Catella by the Hands family. We have been able to secure a long term, tailor made financing solution to our client by tapping into the capital markets. Catella is well positioned for this kind of mandate in line with our DNA of being the Link between Property and Finance," says Jesper Bo Hansen, Head of Corporate Finance at Catella.
For further information, please contact:
Ann Charlotte Svensson
Tel: +46 72 510 11 61
E-mail: anncharlotte.svensson@catella.se
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
http://news.cision.com/catella---corporate-finance/r/catella-represented-guy-hands-in-the-acquisition-of-mcdonald-s-nordic-operations,c2176888
The following files are available for download:
Former Leading McKinsey Executive will play key role in supporting KKR investments across Europe
KKR Capstone today announced the appointment of Claus Benkert as the Head of KKR Capstone Europe, effective from 1st March. Claus will also be a member of the KKR European Portfolio Management Committee, which oversees value creation across KKR's European investments in private equity, infrastructure and credit.
Claus joins KKR Capstone following a long and illustrious career at McKinsey. Over the course of more than 24 years, Claus built a reputation for driving operational transformation and financial impact for his clients which have spanned the technology, telecommunications and IT services industries. Claus led McKinsey's Munich office, one of its largest offices globally, for seven years, was a member of McKinsey's German operating committee for the last decade, and has worked extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has also provided thought leadership as the developer and leader of McKinsey's Centre for Client Capability, which trains clients, as well as McKinsey's Academy Kitzbuhel, which trains employees. Claus has a Masters of Philosophy in Physics from Cambridge and a PhD in Physics from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat in Munchen, Germany
Johannes Huth, Member and Head of KKR Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said: "As KKR continues to grow its presence in Europe across private equity, infrastructure and credit, the support of KKR Capstone plays an important role in creating value for our investors. The addition of Claus to the European team is indicative of our commitment to finding the best resources to support our business. Claus is joining a team that has a long track record in Europe, working side by side with KKR's investment teams to create value for our investors."
William Cornog, Member and Head of KKR Capstone, said: "We are delighted to have Claus join and lead our team in Europe. KKR Capstone's role is to help KKR create value across its portfolio. Claus has a demonstrated track record of driving operational transformation and financial impact for his clients and is a great fit for our team. Today, Capstone Europe consists of 13 professionals who bring broad experience and deep expertise across a variety of sectors and countries in Europe. KKR's European and Global teams will benefit significantly from Claus' leadership."
Claus Benkert said: "I am truly excited to join and lead KKR Capstone's European team and look forward to collaborating closely with the investment teams and the companies across KKR's European portfolio."
KKR Capstone is an integral part of KKR's approach to value creation. KKR Capstone's core mission is to create value by identifying and delivering sustainable operational performance within KKR portfolio companies. KKR Capstone employs over 60 full-time operating professionals dedicated to supporting KKR investment teams and portfolio companies.
-ends-
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages investments across multiple asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation at the asset level. KKR invests its own capital alongside its partners' capital and brings opportunities to others through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE:KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170131005526/en/
Contacts:
Finsbury for KKR
Victor Mallet
Phone: +44(0)20 7251 3801
Email: victor.mallet@finsbury.com
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - January 31, 2017) - "Private companies are accelerating the development of commercially viable fusion energy," the Canadian fusion pioneer Dr. Michel Laberge told the International Energy Agency's Fusion Power Coordinating Committee in Paris last week.
Speaking alongside directors from Europe's major publicly-funded fusion programs at the committee's meeting on January 25, Dr. Laberge outlined General Fusion's technical advances and plans for developing a prototype.
"General Fusion is pursuing the fastest and most practical path to a commercially viable fusion power plant," said Dr. Laberge. "We think it's important to share our experiences developing this technology, and anticipate that these insights will help guide a strategic approach to realizing fusion as a sustainable source of power for the world."
Fusion energy has the potential to safely provide on-demand carbon-free electricity, anywhere in the world. Not yet commercially available, development of this new energy source could play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for energy while tackling climate change.
Privately funded fusion companies are collaborating with universities and national laboratories to draw on decades of advancements in plasma physics, computing and electronics and fast-track development of prototype power plants.
"We're all learning from each other," says Dr. Laberge. "The potential benefits of fusion energy are so significant that it's crucial that we all work together."
The International Energy Agency promotes energy security and advises on sound energy policy among its 28 member countries, developing effective working relationships and cooperation between the world's major energy consuming, producing and transporting nations.
The Agency's Fusion Power Coordinating Committee is tasked with identifying and recommending a strategic pathway to making fusion energy commercially available, and the session in Paris is its primary method for gaining insights into the current state of fusion development and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
About General Fusion:
General Fusion is developing the fastest and most practical path to commercial fusion energy. The company was established in 2002 and is supported by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital funds, industry leaders, and technology pioneers, including: Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Cenovus Energy, Growthworks, Braemar Energy Ventures, BDC, Entrepreneurs Fund, SET Ventures, and Sustainable Development Technology Canada.
Follow General Fusion:
generalfusion.com
twitter.com/generalfusion
instagram.com/generalfusion
linkedin.com/company/general-fusion
facebook.com/generalfusion
For more information, please contact:
Paul Sullivan
BreakThrough Communications
Mobile: 604-603-7358
Office: 604-685-4742
p.sullivan@breakthroughpr.com
LONDON, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Bosham Capital Advisors (BCA), Investment, Advisory and Capital Markets Specialists, has been appointed by BankerBay to develop strategic positioning for an imminent sales drive in the UK for their technology-driven disruptive investment-banking platform, primarily focused on private banks and wealth management companies.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160713/813840)
BankerBay is the world's largest fully web-enabled global deal origination platform. BankerBay uses a complex algorithmic-approach, combined with manual curation carried out by experienced international bankers to match middle-market corporates seeking capital with the most relevant providers of capital anywhere in the world.
Since its launch just two years ago, the platform has signed up over 12,000 members including private equity firms, wealth managers, private banks, corporate sellers & acquirers, real estate brokers and investment advisors, spread across the globe with a majority currently from APAC (32%), US (31%) and Western Europe (19%), and deal-flow spanning 145 countries.
Currently, the platform houses over 3,500 live middle-market transactions with an average deal size of around US$40m, with over 8,500 deals submitted to the platform to date. In December, the platform generated over $US18bn of deal-flow. In the first half of 2016, an estimated US$1.3 billion of BankerBay deals were closed successfully.
BankerBay is a 'tech pioneer' in the sector with its platform widely recognised as an enabler of vital efficiency and distribution gains within the ecosystem at a time when the market is becoming more fragmented and competitive. Other tangential examples of disruptive-technology platforms which have launched alongside BankerBay include UBS's partnership with Amazon that uses Artificial Intelligence to handle customer queries;Merrill's use of 'Erica,' a virtual assistant in mobile apps which anticipates customer needs and UBS's venture with SigFig, to create digital advice tools for its 7,000 US based advisors.
Romesh Jayawickrama, CEO & Founder of BankerBay commented: "Technology adoption, to date, has been minimal by the private and investment-banking industry whilst the relevant transfer of information between companies around the world seeking capital and institutional funds has collapsed, with fewer bankers and much smaller budgets reducing the efficacy of the traditional process even more. Companies are increasingly looking to consolidate, acquire, or merge businesses. Deal making is about making the right connections, and BankerBay is a platform for doing just that, driven by a proprietary technology that facilitates the introduction of two parties based on characteristics common to the deal - just like a sophisticated dating service! We believe that our easy-to-use platform represents a win-for-all solution to these dynamics and this has been endorsed by our significant growth of 800% in value of deals in 2016 alone."
Adrian Faure, Founder of BCA commented: "BankerBay came to us in mid-2016 with this proposition and we were immediately hooked. There are hundreds of FinTech start-ups with a lot of brains and money working on various alternatives to traditional banking. We look at many disruptive technology businesses in this space but BankerBay with its unique selling propositions grabbed our attention as a practical and cost effective solution to the archaic deal-sourcing processes currently deployed in the mid-market banking sector worldwide."
BCA, together with Strategic Partner Swinbrook Partners, is currently working with a number of private banks and wealth managers looking to adopt the platform in 2017.
About BankerBay
BankerBay - http://www.BankerBay.com - is a premium Investment-banking platform that connects qualified corporate deals with institutional providers of capital around the world. BankerBay uses powerful custom-built software and a global network of finance professionals to match requirements entered by members. Founded in Singapore in 2014, BankerBay is used by leading financial institutions across North America, Western Europe, APAC and the Mideast and is one of the fastest growing Investment-banking networks around the globe. BankerBay has offices in London, New York, California, Shanghai, Bangalore and Singapore.
About Bosham Capital Advisors
Bosham Capital Advisors (BCA) - http://www.boshamcapitaladvisors.com - is an independent investment, corporate finance and capital advisory firm, based in London, which acts as an advisory bridge between investors and investees in Asia & UK. BCA provides investment, corporate finance, strategic advisory, M&A and capital raising services across the digital-media, disruptive technology, consumer and real estate sectors.
For further information contact:
Adrian Faure
Bosham Capital Advisors
07557-965008
adrian@boshamcapitaladvisors.com
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Carpetright plc (CPR.L) reported that its UK like-for-like sales for the thirteen week period ended 28 January 2017 was up 1.9%. Like-for-like sales for the four weeks to 28 January 2016, were up 6.8%. Wilf Walsh, Chief Executive, said: 'We are pleased to announce a return to quarterly like-for-like sales growth in the UK. Like-for-like sales growth in our Rest of Europe business was better than expected as consumer spending continued to recover in the Netherlands. Whilst the outlook for the UK consumer remains uncertain, we remain confident in our plan and are comfortable with the current range of market expectations.' The Group will issue a pre-close update on 25 April 2017 and will report its preliminary results for the financial year ending 29 April 2017 on 27 June 2017. 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.
The bank's annual general meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday 22 February 2017 in ROFI-Centret, Kirkevej 26, Rindum, DK-6950 Ringkbing, Denmark. Agenda as per the articles of association:1. Election of chairperson2. The board's report on the bank's activities in the previous year The board of directors proposes that the report be adopted.3. Presentation of the annual report for approval The board of directors proposes that the annual report be approved.3a. Approval of the bank's remuneration policyThe board of directors proposes that the updated remuneration policy be approved.4. Decision on allocation of profit or covering of loss under the approved annual reportThe board of directors proposes that the distribution of profit be approved.5. Election of members of the shareholders' committee The following members will be retiring: Inge Sandgrav Bak, Erik Jensen, Jens Lykke Kjeldsen, Jacob Mller, Jens Mller Nielsen, Ole Christian Pedersen, Lone Rejkjr Sollmann and Egon Srensen.Inge Sandgrav Bak has advised that she is not offering herself for re-election, and Ole Christian Pedersen will retire from the shareholders' committee due to the provision on age in the articles of association. Finally, Gert Asmussen has advised that he wishes to resign from the bank's shareholders' committee and the bank's board of directors.The shareholders' committee and the board of directors propose re-election of:-- Erik Jensen, Skjern, manager, born 1965 -- Jens Lykke Kjeldsen, Ringkbing, timber merchant, born 1950 -- Jacob Mller, Ringkbing, general manager, born 1969 -- Jens Mller Nielsen, Ringkbing, manager, born 1956 -- Lone Rejkjr Sollmann, Tarm, finance manager, born 1968 -- Egon Srensen, Spjald, insurance agent, born 1965The shareholders' committee and the board of directors propose election of:-- Anette rbk Andersen, Skjern, manager, born 1963 -- Bente Skjrbk Olesen, Vemb, business owner, born 1971 -- Karsten Sandal, lstrup, manager, born 1969 -- Lise Kvist Thomsen, Virum, senior business analyst, born 1984In recruiting and proposing candidates for the shareholders' committee, the committee and the board of directors have focused on ensuring diversity among the committee members, including in relation to business experience, professional qualifications and expertise, age etc.6. Election of one or more auditors The shareholders' committee and the board of directors propose re-election of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab.7. Authorisation of the board of directors to permit the bank to acquire own shares within current legislation until the next annual general meeting to a total nominal value of ten percent (10%) of the bank's share capital, such that the shares can be acquired at current market price +/- ten percent (10%)The board of directors proposes that it be authorised to permit the bank to acquire own shares in accordance with current legislation until the next annual general meeting to a total nominal value of ten percent (10%) of the bank's share capital, such that the shares can be acquired at current market price +/- ten percent (10%).8. Any proposals from the board of directors, the shareholders' committee or shareholders8a. Proposed amendments to the articles of associationThe shareholders' committee and the board of directors propose the following amendments to the articles of association:Articles 2a and 2bAn extension until 21 February 2022 of the authorisations under Articles 2a and 2b is proposed. This is thus an extension of one year. Besides this the authorisations will be on unchanged terms.8b. Proposal to reduce the bank's share capital by nom. DKK 500,000 by cancellation of own sharesThe board of directors proposes a reduction in the bank's share capital from nom. DKK 22,850,000 to nom. DKK 22,350,000 by cancellation of 100,000 nom. DKK 5 shares from the bank's holding of own shares, to a nominal value of DKK 500,000.It is advised in accordance with Section 188 (1) of the Danish Companies Act that the object of the reduction in the bank's share capital is payment to shareholders, and the amount of the reduction will be used as payment to shareholders for shares acquired by the bank under previous authorisation of the board of directors by the general meeting.The share capital will consequently be reduced by nom. DKK 500,000 and the bank's holding of own shares will be reduced by 100,000 nom. DKK 5 shares. It is advised in accordance with Section 188 (2) of the Danish Companies Act that the shares in question were acquired for a total sum of DKK 140,354,200, meaning that apart from the reduction in nominal capital, DKK 139,854,200 will be paid to shareholders.The board of directors' proposed reduction of the share capital is being made to maintain flexibility in the bank's capital structure.If the proposal is adopted, it will mean an amendment to Article 2 and of Articles 2a and 2b of the bank's articles of association such that the amount of "22,850,000" in Article 2 is changed to "22,350,000" and the amount of "37,060,980" in Articles 2a and 2b is changed to "36,560,980".8c. Proposal for adoption of a buy-back programme to implement a subsequent capital reductionThe board of directors proposes the establishment of a special buy-back programme, under which the board of directors can permit the bank to acquire own shares up to a market value of DKK 170,000,000, but maximum up to 170,000 nom. DKK 5 shares before the next annual general meeting. This special buy-back programme requires purchase of the shares at market price. It is also proposed that the board of directors be authorised to cancel or reduce the buy-back programme if this is considered commercially appropriate for the bank, in the bank's long-term interest, or the bank's circumstances with respect to capital otherwise so require. The shares covered by the buy-back programme will be acquired by the bank for subsequent implementation of a capital reduction.8d. Proposed authorisation for the board of directors or its designated appointeeThe board of directors proposes that the board of directors, or whoever the board may so designate, be authorised to apply the decisions which have been adopted at the general meeting for registration and to make such changes to the documents submitted to the Danish Business Authority as the Authority may require or find appropriate in connection with registration of the decisions of the general meeting.Requirements for passing resolutions The proposals in points 8a. and 8b. require adoption by at least two thirds (2/3) of both votes cast and of the share capital with voting rights represented at the meeting. The other proposals can be adopted by simple majority vote.The size of the share capital and the shareholders' voting rights and date of registration - the right to attend and vote at the general meeting It is advised with respect to the size of the share capital and the shareholders' right to vote that the share capital is nom. DKK 22,850,000 in 4,570,000 nom. DKK 5 shares. Each shareholding up to and including nom. DKK 500 carries one (1) vote, and bigger shareholdings carry two (2) votes, which is the highest number of votes a shareholder may cast.The right to attend and vote at the general meeting may only be exercised by shareholders who, on the date of registration, Wednesday 15 February 2017, by 11:59 p.m. are listed as shareholders in the register of shareholders or who have submitted a request to the bank for inclusion in the register of shareholders by this date and the bank has received the request.Registration for the general meeting, questions and admission Cards Registration for the general meeting can be made on the bank's website www.landbobanken.com or at one of the bank's branches. Shareholders or proxies may be accompanied by an adviser. Shareholders may ask questions in writing on the points on the agenda or the bank's position in general to be answered at the general meeting. Questions may be sent by letter to Ringkjbing Landbobank A/S, att.: General Management, Torvet 1, DK-6950 Ringkbing, Denmark, or by e-mail to regnskab@landbobanken.dk. Considerations of space require the ordering of an admission card for the general meeting in accordance with the bank's articles of association by 11:59 p.m. Friday 17 February 2017, after which time admission cards can no longer be ordered.Voting Shareholders may attend and vote in person or by proxy at the general meeting. Postal voting is also possible before the general meeting.Shareholders may issue a proxy to the bank's board of directors or third party by 11:59 p.m. Friday 17 February 2017. The proxy may be issued electronically on InvestorPortalen at VP Investor Services, via the bank's website www.landbobanken.com or in writing on a proxy form which is available from the bank's branches.If a written proxy is used, the proxy, completed and signed, must be received by the bank by the above deadline, 11:59 p.m. Friday 17 February 2017. The proxy may be sent by post to Ringkjbing Landbobank A/S, att.: Accounts department, Torvet 1, DK-6950 Ringkbing, Denmark by e-mail to regnskab@landbobanken.dk or by fax to +45 7624 4913.Shareholders may also send a postal vote before the general meeting. Postal votes may be cast electronically on InvestorPortalen at VP Investor Services via the bank's website www.landbobanken.com or in writing on a postal vote form which is available from the bank's branches.If a postal vote in writing is cast, the vote must be returned by post to Ringkjbing Landbobank A/S, att.: Accounts department, Torvet 1, DK-6950 Ringkbing, Denmark by e-mail to regnskab@landbobanken.dk or by fax to +45 7624 4913. Postal votes cast electronically must be submitted by Tuesday 21 February 2017 at 10:00 a.m., at which time a postal vote in writing must also be received by the bank.Exercising financial rights Ringkjbing Landbobank's shareholders can choose Ringkjbing Landbobank A/S as the account-holding institution for the purpose of exercising the financial rights through Ringkjbing Landbobank A/S.Further information The annual report and full proposals for amendments to the articles of association will be published on the bank's website at www.landbobanken.com and made available for inspection by shareholders in the bank's branches on Tuesday 31 January 2017.Ringkbing, 31 January 2017On behalf of the board of directorsJens Lykke Kjeldsen, chairmanAttachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=612599
Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza has said she will take part of her art collection out of Spain if she fails to reach an agreement with the Culture Ministry to renew the existing deal to display her paintings in Madrid, which expired on Monday. The negotiations cover 429 mostly European works, loaned by the widow of Hans Heinrich von Thyssen-Bornemisza in 1999 at no cost, and estimated to be worth 750 million.
Carmen Cervera sits next to Richard Estes' 'Nedick's'. BERNARDO PEREZ
Speaking on Tuesday morning, Spanish Culture Minister Inigo Mendez de Vigo told reporters that he was awaiting Baroness Thyssens decision on what she wanted to do with her collection.
We are very grateful to Dona Carmen for having loaned us this collection during these years. Now the baroness has asked for a change. This is not about economic concession, but conditions relating to the sale of certain works from the collection. We have been very generous during the negotiations, he said, adding: She is free to do whatever she wishes.
The Culture Ministry wants to prevent Cervera from selling any more of her paintings
Culture Ministry sources believe that the baroness wants to be able to sell some of the more important pieces from her collection, as she did in 2012 when she auctioned Constables The Lock for 27.89 million, a move that was seen as a major loss. Under the present agreement, she has the right to sell up to 10% of the total value of her collection. The sale of the Constable painting amounted to less than 5%.
Minister Mendez de Vigo and Fernando Benzo, the Secretary of State for Culture, told EL PAIS on Monday that any agreement with Baroness Thyssen-Bornemisza should include a ban on the sale of new pieces.
Among the highlights of her collection are Gauguins Mata Mua, Renoirs Wheatfield, Monets Charing Cross Bridge, Goyas A Woman and two Children by a Fountain, and Zurbarans St Marina.
The current impasse does not affect the majority of the works currently hanging in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, which are part of the personal collection of Baron von Thyssen-Bornemisza, who died in 2002. His collection was acquired by the Spanish state in 1993 for $350 million. The two collections make up around 1,000 works of great value, mainly consisting of paintings from the 13th century up to the 20th century.
Baroness Thyssen, who is also known by her maiden name of Carmen Cervera, has said on many occasions that she wants both collections to be exhibited together. To house her collection, Spain financed an extension of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, increasing the former Villahermosa Palaces surface area by 50%. If an agreement is not reached, the permanent collection could be reordered in the foundation, say Culture Ministry sources.
Gauguin's 'Mata Mua' is one of the highlights of Cervera's collection.
The works on display at Espai Carmen Thyssen in Sant Feliu de Guixols (Girona), and at the Carmen Thyssen Museum in Malaga are not affected. EL PAIS was unable to contact Cervera on Monday, although on January 21 she told the newspaper: I would like to know what is going to happen to the paintings, but I am afraid that its my lawyers who are doing all the negotiating.
The 1999 deal between the baroness and the ministry was initially for 11 years. When it expired, it was extended from year to year, until last year, when a six-month limit was applied.
Culture State Secretary Fernando Benzo said that the situation will be resolved one way or the other before the end of this week.
Guillermo Solana, the Thyssen Foundations artistic director, explains that over the course of successive negotiations, the total number of paintings has shrunk from 656 to the current 429. Of these, between 240 and 250 by international masters are on show at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. This year will see a series of commemorative exhibitions to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Two weeks ago, Baroness Thyssen announced the opening of a third museum bearing her name in Andorra, where she has her tax residence. Her son Borja, whose tax residence is also in the principality, is facing a possible three-year prison sentence for an alleged 630,000 tax fraud. The museum, located in a former hotel, is due to open on March 16.
At the end of 2010, Cervera rejected the Culture Ministrys offer to lease her collection for two years.
Cervera, a former Miss World, began collecting art after she married Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza, her third husband, in 1985. Her interests focus on Spanish painting, Catalan works from the 19th century, Dutch 17th-century pieces, Impressionists and early modern art.
English version by Nick Lyne.
ip.access and T-Mobile Poland, have today announced the successful completion of a Proof of Concept focussed around delivering enhanced retail based customer analytics.
The first stage of this activity saw T-Mobile install PRESENCETM sensors in retail stores in Warsaw. The solution enables T-Mobile to recognise subscribers as they enter the store. Since there are more than 5 million T-Mobile subscribers with opt-in consents the amount of data analysed thanks to ip.access PRESENCETM sensors is tremendous and there is no other player on the market that can provide such complex analysis on the market at this moment.
From a retail perspective, PRESENCETM sensors gather rich analytical data which provide retailers with actionable consumer behaviour insights, as well as the ability to provide personalised marketing promotions when entering selected areas. Importantly the technology does not require any handset modifications or applications, nor does it need Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to be switched on, making it a universal solution.
T-Mobile has been also evaluating how to enhance mobile subscribers experience within their own points of sales located in Poland, and the ip.access PRESENCETM service provides the most insight, accuracy and ease of deployment. The PRESENCETM sensors fit within the operator's privacy and permissions frameworks. The high quality data captured by the PRESENCETM sensor provides T-Mobile with intelligence in a uniquely valuable way.
Michal Krauze, Business Lead Data Monetisation for T-Mobile commented, "We have been assessing a variety of solutions to enable us to serve our B2B retail customers with better insights. However only ip.access accomplished task and helped us with harnessing data on geographical level that was not accessible before inside any retail store."
"This innovative collaboration is particularly exciting for us, as it's the first proof point within T-Mobile for this high value monetisation model." explains Malcolm Gordon, CEO at ip.access. "We look forward to co-operating further with the T-Mobile Group as they expand their PRESENCETM sensor derived offerings" adds Gordon.
About ip.access
http://www.ipaccess.com
Headquartered in the United Kingdom, ip.access originates the best-in-class wireless solutions that maximise the value of radio and data assets via disruptive business models. The company has products and solutions live in over 100 customers' networks around the world.
ip.access has an end-to-end deployment philosophy that integrates its PRESENCETM sensors and small cell access points of all technologies with data management platforms, access gateways and comprehensive network management and performance tools. With a strong track record of working with trusted partners on integrated solutions, both product and services led, ip.access unlocks spectrum value for all its customers.
A service that empowers you to monetise location data across the broadest set of use cases such as Retail Footfall, Outdoor Digital Media, Events, Card Payment Verification, Transport, Smart Buildings and Geo-fencing delivered against a robust Privacy, Permissions Policy framework.
Irrespective of your data set requirements [licensed spectrum, unlicensed or BLE], we have a proven solution which delivers rapid ROI and the ability to open up new markets and revenue streams.
As part of the ip.access portfolio of products, PRESENCETM has delivered excellence in the field of micro proximity having been selected as sole vendor for a number of Global Telco, Financial Services, Retail and IoT customers.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170131005087/en/
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Utena, Lithuania, 2017-01-31 10:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Utenos trikotazas group saw its sales grow by 20.5 percent to reach EUR 22.8 million in 2016. The group's sales in the last quarter of 2016 made up EUR 6.1 million, up by 25.9 percent year-on-year.The annual sales of Utenos trikotazas in 2016 amounted to EUR 19.6 million and were 22.5 percent higher than in 2015. In the last three months of the year, the sales of the company increased by 31.6 percent year-on-year to EUR 5.2 million."The steady growth of the company recorded in 2016 confirms that the business strategy updated a few years ago and focused on higher value-added, environmentally-friendly and high-quality products has produced the desired results. We take account of global trends in clean production and the highest environmental standards, create innovative materials and expand our portfolio of customers who appreciate it," says Algirdas Sabunas, CEO at Utenos trikotazas.In 2017, Utenos trikotazas officially joined the Detox campaign of Greenpeace and committed itself to eliminating by 2020 any raw materials likely to have adverse effects on humans or the environment from its production chains at all stages of the product life cycle. "In addition to Utenos trikotazas, there are only a few manufacturing companies in the entire world that have fulfilled the conditions set by Greenpeace and acquired the right to join the Detox campaign. This is yet another significant step taken by the company in enhancing its distinctiveness in the competitive textile market," Sabunas added.Satrija significantly contributed to the sales growth of the group in 2016. The sales of the specialised clothing manufacturer in 2016 grew by 16.6 percent to reach EUR 3 million."This year's growth of Satrija was driven by three main factors: the diminished impact of Russia's economic crisis, productivity increase, and a continuing contract with the Lithuanian army," Sabunas said.According to the head of the Utenos trikotazas group of companies, in 2016, Satrija executed a large order for 12,000 items for Malaysian firefighters, with firefighters of New Zealand and Germany added to the list of the company's customers.Utenos trikotazas is the largest and one of the most modern knitwear manufacturers in Central and Eastern Europe. The Utenos trikotazas group of companies, which also comprises Satrija, Gotija and Mrija (Ukraine), is part of the SBA concern. Utenos trikotazas currently owns the Utenos and About retail trade marks.More information:AB Utenos trikotazasCEO Algirdas SabunasPhone 8 389 51445
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LONDON and CAMBRIDGE, England, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
New Programme Focused on Apelin Receptor in Cardiovascular Diseases
Heptares Therapeutics ("Heptares"), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Sosei Group Corporation (TSE Mothers Index: 4565), announces the launch of a new research collaboration, under its ORBIT initiative, with the University of Cambridge.
This new collaboration will support a three-year programme with the academic group of Dr Anthony Davenport at the Department of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics at the University of Cambridge. Research activities will focus on the discovery of novel molecules that target and modulate the apelin receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) found on the surface of cells in the lung, heart and vascular system, and implicated in a range of cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Davenport commented: "We have made great strides in recent years to increase our understanding of the role of the apelin receptor system and its involvement in cardiovascular diseases. It is an exciting target and we are delighted to be advancing this research with Heptares to better understand the role of apelin and related peptides with a view to informing the optimal way of targeting the apelin system for treating cardiovascular diseases."
Fiona Marshall, Chief Scientific Officer of Heptares, said: "The collaboration with Dr Davenport's group is a great example of how the ORBIT programme supports our strategy to expand the reach of our technology to new targets, in particular through an investment in translational medicine and understanding the role of GPCRs through studies on human tissues. The apelin receptor is emerging as an exciting new target in the regulation of cardiovascular function and offers a unique approach to treat a number of serious cardiovascular diseases."
Further information about ORBIT
ORBIT (Opportunities in Receptor Biology for Industrial Translation) is a collaborative research initiative launched by Heptares in February 2016 and designed to promote and broaden the application of its proprietary structure-based drug design expertise directed at GPCRs to create transformative medicines. Heptares is committing up to 5 million over the next three years to fund this new initiative.
ORBIT will see Heptares collaborate with leading academic groups and emerging biotechnology companies. ORBIT aims to leverage the expertise of collaborators to seek out new links between GPCRs and diseases and develop a better understanding of disease biology relating to a broad range of GPCR targets. In parallel, Heptares will apply its world-leading GPCR-targeted drug discovery and translational medicine capabilities to generate a new wave of novel small molecules and biologics for advancement through its development pipeline.
Since its launch in February 2016, Heptares has initiated two programmes under the initiative: with Imperial College London's National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) focused on an orphan receptor that is implicated in a range of immune disorders including asthma and inflammatory bowel disease; and with the University of Cambridge based on the apelin receptor in cardiovascular diseases.
For more information on ORBIT, please contact orbit@heptares.com
About Heptares Therapeutics
Heptares is a clinical-stage company creating transformative medicines targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a superfamily of 375 receptors linked to a wide range of human diseases. Heptares' proprietary StaR technology and structure-based drug design (SBDD) capabilities enable us to engineer and develop drugs for highly validated, yet historically undruggable or challenging GPCRs. Using this approach, we are building an exciting pipeline of new medicines (small molecules and biologics) with the potential to transform the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, cancer immune-oncology, migraine, addiction, metabolic disease and other indications. We have partnerships for our novel candidates and technologies with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Allergan, AstraZeneca, Kymab, MedImmune, MorphoSys, Pfizer and Teva.
Heptares is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sosei Group Corporation. For more information, please visit http://www.heptares.com and http://www.sosei.com .
HEPTARES is a registered trademark in the EU, Switzerland, US and Japan;
StaR is a registered trademark in the EU and Japan.
About Sosei
Sosei is a biopharmaceutical company originating from Japan but with global presence. Sosei's primary business model is based on identifying novel and/or differentiated product assets or technology platforms and, through supporting these in preclinical and clinical development and establishing commercial partnerships, advancing new medicines to patients worldwide. For more information about Sosei, please visit http://www.sosei.com .
PUNE, India, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
The report "Elastomers Market by Type (Thermoset (Natural Rubber, Synthetic Rubber (SBR, IIR, PBR, NBR, ACM, EPM)), and Thermoplastic (PEBA, SBC, TPO, TPU, TPV)), Application (Automotive, Consumer Goods, Medical, and Industrial) - Global Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to grow from USD 73.93 Billion in 2016 to USD 92.36 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2016 to 2021.
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Browse 74 market data Tables and 43 Figures spread through 141 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Elastomers Market"
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/elastomers-market-48929183.html
Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.
The market growth of the market is fueled by the growing demand for elastomers from the medical industry owing to its unique properties, such as fungus resistance, low-temperature flexibility, tensile strength, acid/base resistance, fluid resistance, excellent hydrolytic stability, easy sterilization, and excellent translucency. These properties make elastomers suitable for various end-use industries, including automobile, medical, and consumer goods.
Ask for PDF of the Report at http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=48929183
Asia-Pacific: The Largest Market for Elastomers
Asia-Pacific is estimated to be the largest market for elastomers. The U.S. is estimated to be the largest market for elastomers in North America. The increasing demand for high-quality consumer goods and industrial products and growing end-use industries have led to innovation and new product developments in the region, thus driving the growth of the elastomers market. The rising investments in the healthcare sector are expected to further boost the growth of the elastomers market in North America.
Automotive segment: estimated to lead the elastomers market
Elastomers are used in various applications, such as automotive, medical, consumer goods, industrial, and others. The automotive application segment is estimated to lead the elastomers market in terms of value as well as volume, followed by the consumer goods and medical segments in 2016. The demand of elastomers in the automotive industry is primarily driven by its excellent physical properties, such as whetherability, impact resistance, elasticity, softness, flexibility, superior optics, high heat resistance, thermal stability, and adhesive properties.
Natural Rubber: widely used type of elastomers
The natural rubber segment is expected to lead the Elastomers Market. Natural rubber is primarily used in the automotive industry, especially in the manufacturing of tires. Natural rubber possesses several physical properties, such as high tensile strength, excellent adhesion to metals, and excellent abrasion and tear resistance. It is used to manufacture components, including shock mounts, vibration isolators, gaskets, seals, rolls, and hoses & tubing.
Make an Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=48929183
The major players in elastomer market are BASF SE (Germany), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), JSR Corporation (Japan), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Lanxess AG (Germany), Zeon Corporation (Japan), Kuraray Co. Ltd. (Japan), Covestro AG (Germany), Nizhnekamskneftekhim PJSC (Russia), and Teknor Apex Company (U.S.).
Browse Related Reports:
Silicone Elastomers Market by Type (High Temperature Vulcanized, Room Temperature Vulcanized, and Liquid Silicone Rubber), Process (Extrusion, Liquid Injection Molding, Injection Molding, and Compression Molding), End-use Industry - Global Forecast to 2021
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/silicone-elastomers-market-6310524.html
High Temperature Elastomers Market by Type (Fluorocarbon Elastomers, Fluorsilicone Elastomers, Perfluorocarbon Elastomers, Silicone Elastomers, and Others), by Application (Transportation, Electrical & Electronics, Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Industrial Machinery, and Others) - Global Trends & Forecast to 2019
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/high-temperature-elastomer-market-256408422.html
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Stockholm, January 31, 2017PRESS RELEASE - NAXS AB (publ)Not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Hong Kong, Canada, Japan or Australia, or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.Publication of the NAXS 2016 Annual ReportThe NAXS 2016 Annual Report for is available from today on the Company's website, www.naxs.se. The Annual Report is also attached to this notice.Contact information:Lennart Svantesson, CEOTelephone: +46 73 311 00 11This information is information that NAXS AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 11.00 CET on January 31, 2017.This press release and further information is available on the Company's website: www.naxs.seNAXS AB (publ)Corp. Reg. No. 556712-2972Grev Turegatan 10114 46 Stockholm, SwedenTel: +46 8 611 33 25, E-mail: info@naxs.seAttachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=612709
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.
SOLNA, Sweden, Jan 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
In accordance with NCC's Articles of Association, owners of Series A shares are entitled to request that their shares be converted to Series B shares. As a result of such conversion, the total number of voting rights in the company is reduced. In connection with conversion, the company is obligated, pursuant to the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (1991:980), to disclose details of the change in this manner.
At the request of a shareholder, 206,769 Series A shares have been converted to Series B shares during January 2017. The total number of voting rights in the company subsequently amounts to 237,002,028.
The total number of registered shares in the company amounts to 108,435,822, of which 14,285,134 are Series A shares and 94,150,688 are Series B shares. NCC holds 362,222 B shares in treasury.
For further information, please contact:
Johan Bergman,
Head of Investor Relations, NCC,
Tel: +46 (0)70-354-80-35
NCC's media line:
Tel: +46-8-585-519-00
E-mail: press@ncc.se
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
http://news.cision.com/ncc/r/conversion-of-shares-in-ncc-ab,c2177245
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STOCKHOLM, Jan 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Nordic Waterproofing Finland has today acquired 100 percent of the shares in the Finnish company SPT-Painting Oy ("SPT"). The company operates in the fast growing floor coating market, providing floor coating installation services for construction, ship building and industrial customers.
SPT was established in 1990 and is one of the leading coating companies with a significant share of the Finnish market for floor coating. Customers consists primarily of construction companies and shipyards and their contractors. The company's operations are based in Helsinki, with 20 employees and annual sales of about SEK 80 million.
The purchase price is approximately SEK 31 million and the transaction will be financed by Nordic Waterproofing's available cash. SPT will be integrated in the business unit Finland and be consolidated in the Nordic Waterproofing accounts as from 31 January 2017. The acquisition is expected to have a marginal positive impact on the earnings per share of Nordic Waterproofing in 2017.
"The acquisition of SPT is in line with our strategy to strengthen Nordic Waterproofing's position in main markets by product portfolio and segment expansion", commented Martin Ellis, CEO of Nordic Waterproofing. "SPT has a strong market position and we expect to find good synergies as our operations in Installation Services share the customer base with SPT. It is easy to offer floor coating to the same customers that we now offer roofing contracting. Nordic Waterproofing will become a more important partner as we are offering products and services for roofing as well as floor coating. In addition, the ship building industry is a stable customer segment. Outlook for the Finnish ship building business is very good, with the leading shipyard reporting 30 percent growth potential the next five years."
Harri Vesterinen, Managing Director at SPT-Painting said: "We believe that SPT is well positioned to grow in line with the overall floor and deck coating contract work market, and as a part of Nordic Waterproofing we are able to further speed up our plans and entering new geographical markets."
"I am very pleased that the current management team of SPT-Painting will continue to develop the business. They and their colleagues have an excellent knowledge of their industry and have the ability to efficiently carry out several large simultaneously running projects. We welcome all new employees and customers to the Nordic Waterproofing group", said Martin Ellis, CEO of Nordic Waterproofing.
This information is such that Nordic Waterproofing Holding A/S is obliged to make it public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information submitted for publication, through the contact person set out below, on 31 January 2017, at 11.45 a.m. CET.
For further information, please contact:
Anders Antonsson,
Investor relations
Telephone: +46-709-99-49-70
E-mail: anders.antonsson@nordicwaterproofing.com
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- Southern Home Medical Inc. (OTC PINK: SHOM), a leading developer of the healthcare industry, has announced that it will be expanding research and market onto Precision Medicine with cooperation and assistance from Dr. Zhongzheng Liu and President Obama's support via the "Precision Medicine Initiative". By promoting the use of personalized genetic information in the treatment of human diseases, breakthroughs in medical development can be achieved. SHOM will be diving headfirst into the market of Precision Medicine which is modeled to create $607 billion in health benefits.
Precision Medicine therapy is developed for the individual characteristics of each individual patient and is developed and designed based on the patient's susceptibility to specific diseases. The patient can be targeted for long-range treatment in the future, and individual characteristics can be identified at high risk. In addition, there is estimated to be a 10% reduction in instances of diabetes and cancer In the future, the YS government will invest 215 million US dollars to promote the program. SHOM will take the initiative forward and invest research into precision medicine in order to better its services and expand its market.
George Chang, Chief Executive Officer of SHOM, commented, "With support from the US Government, it will be a lot easier to expand and research into the area of precision medicine. Precision medicine and its potential capabilities are very exciting and by applying this to our existing technologies, these capabilities will be further amplified. We can expect major growth in the company as a result of the massive support that the area of precision medicine is getting."
About Biotech Precision Berhad: Biotech Precision Berhad (BPB) delivers luxuriously affordable and effective individualized beauty, wellness and healthcare therapy by using scientifically proven products and techniques to clients with degenerative diseases. The ultimate goal for BPB is to make beauty, wellness and healthcare a priority in the life of each guest. BPB's greatest desire is that with each visit, guests will discover a healthier and radiant person within themselves.
About Southern Home Medical, Inc.: Southern Home Medical, Inc. is a Holding Company with a focus on servicing the needs of the Healthcare Industry. SHOM will continue to leverage the success of their businesses in order to expand sales opportunities in other locations throughout the country with health, medical and equipment needs.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements related to Southern Home Medical, CES Technology Ltd., and KC Global Inc., and the potential benefits of the acquisition, including statements regarding timing of closing and results of the proposed transaction. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: Southern Home Medical's ability to successfully integrate CES Technology Ltd.; execution of plans and strategies; the inability to successfully complete the transaction, and other important factors that could cause results of the acquisition and related transactions to differ materially from the forward-looking statements detailed in Southern Home Medical's public filings with OTC Markets and the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report. Southern Home Medical disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to Southern Home Medical operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on SHOM's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words, such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "may," "opportunity," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "should," and "will" and similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
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Irreplaceable Blood Samples from Nepal are Shipped to Canada
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Marken has successfully completed shipments originating from Mount Everest as part of an important research program designed to study the effects of high altitude on the human body.
Blood samples were collected from 67 subjects at various altitudes on the mountain and then transported to Kathmandu and on to a laboratory in Canada. The subjects were accompanied by Sherpa and an expedition team from the University of British Columbia. Study participants donated 3000 vials of blood taken at a variety of altitudes. The blood samples were shipped by helicopter to transport the samples from various higher camps on the mountain to the base camp. Marken collected the samples in Kathmandu and shipped them over a weekend in a frozen state to the University of British Columbia for testing.
Marken took responsibility for managing the shipments during the lengthy trip from Nepal through Turkey and on to Canada. Marken's Global Control Center in Mumbai tracked the shipment in real time through every leg of the journey. The Mumbai team monitors all shipments into and out of the region and transmits data through its proprietary Maestro operating system. Maestro is supported by its exclusive Sentry device which monitors GPS location, temperature, altitude, light exposure and shock.
"We congratulate the expedition team and the study participants on this successful undertaking while overcoming adverse weather conditions and navigating difficult terrain in order to achieve the study goals," said Wes Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer for Marken, "I also want to acknowledge the commitment of our Marken team members who made it happen for our clients. We are privileged to be entrusted with a shipment of this importance, and I'm pleased to share results that highlight how our team members continue to go above and beyond every day to support important clinical research."
About Marken
Marken is the only patient-centric supply chain organization 100% dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Marken maintains the leading position for Direct to Patient services and biological sample shipments and offers a state-of-the-art GMP-compliant depot network and logistic hubs in 45 locations worldwide for clinical trial material storage and distribution. Marken's more than 680 staff members manage 50,000 drug and biological shipments every month at all temperature ranges in more than 150 countries. Additional services such as biological kit production, ancillary material sourcing, storage and distribution, shipment lane verification and qualifications, as well as GDP, regulatory and compliance consultancy add to Marken's unique position in the pharma and logistics industry.
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One of the ongoing debates in Argentinean society is the relative influence of Italian and Spanish values. And when it comes to the place of women , Italys conservative mores would seem to have the edge. Spaniards who visit the countrys beaches are often surprised to discover that while women can sport the tiniest of bikinis, topless bathing, widespread in Spain since the death of General Francisco Franco four decades ago, is still very much taboo.
More information Escandalo en Argentina: 20 policias expulsan a tres mujeres por hacer topless en una playa
On Saturday, three women who broke that taboo on one of Buenos Aires most popular beaches, Necochea, found themselves threatened with arrest and handcuffs after other bathers called the police.
Initially officers attempted to pressure the three women to cover themselves up, who responded by vociferously defending their right to sunbathe topless, pointing out that men are entitled to do so, and shouting Machistas! as a crowd gathered around them, some in support, and the majority seemingly opposed. The row was filmed and later posted on social networks, prompting widespread discussion.
To make the tit-phobes happy, were leaving this fascist beach One of the three women involved in the incident
Police officers continued to harangue the three, but they refused to back down. Eventually around 20 officers from some six patrol cars were called to the scene, taking an increasingly aggressive approach, insisting that the women were nudists.
They are tits, like the ones that fed you when you were small, said one of the women to an officer.
As more people joined the fray, with shouts of support and criticism in equal measure, the officers said they would have to handcuff the three, a move that was greeted with cheers by some onlookers, who called for them to be thrown in the cells.
To make the tit-phobes happy, were leaving this fascist beach, said one of the three women before finally packing up her things and leaving.
Facundo Lopez, the mayor of Necochea, has come out in support of the three. We all know that this contravenes the law, but it is not serious enough to warrant what has gone on around it. The law is obsolete, and I am prepared for it to be modernized. We need to have an open mind, he said. To judge by the response on the social networks to his comments, Argentina has a long way go to when it comes to eradicating sexism.
In response to the incident, a march demanding the right for topless bathing to be allowed on Argentinas beaches has reportedly been planned for February 11.
English version by Nick Lyne.
ATLANTA and LONDON, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --In recent years, a growing number of data breaches have resulted from the improper data removal and insecure storage of drives. To educate businesses on the importance of proper data management and security, Blancco Technology Group (AIM: BLTG) today released the findings of the Security Limitations of SSDs research study, which revealed that organizations face a myriad of internal and external challenges with preventing sensitive personal and corporate information from being accessed or breached from solid state drives (SSDs).
According to over 300 IT professionals surveyed in the United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, Japan and China, 62 percent of organizations believe encryption is sufficient to protect data from being accessed or breached. On top of this, 70 percent said they rely on encryption to prevent data loss/theft from SSDs and 35 percent reformat the drives. Moreover, when IT assets containing SSDs hit their end-of-life and are ready to be disposed of, recycled or resold, over half (56 percent) of organizations either send them to IT asset disposition vendors/recyclers to erase the data or outsource the task to an IT security consultant.
Key findings from the study include:
SSDs contain a myriad of sensitive personal and business information. 47 percent of organizations store both personal information (from employees) and business data on SSDs
47 percent of organizations store both personal information (from employees) and business data on SSDs Despite recent data breaches, loss/theft of drives and employees leaking data for personal gain rank low on the list of SSD security challenges. Loss or theft of hard drives (8 percent) and employees leaking data for monetary gains/personal benefits (5 percent) were at the bottom of SSD security challenges for organizations.
Loss or theft of hard drives (8 percent) and employees leaking data for monetary gains/personal benefits (5 percent) were at the bottom of SSD security challenges for organizations. Organizations prioritize efficiency and cost over data security when selecting IT asset disposition vendors/recyclers. 49 percent of organizations consider efficiency and cost to be the most important factors when selecting an IT asset disposition vendor. Yet, only 16 percent factor in the vendor's ability to permanently remove all data and 13 percent prioritize certifications and recommendations from governing bodies and institutions into their decision-making process.
49 percent of organizations consider efficiency and cost to be the most important factors when selecting an IT asset disposition vendor. Yet, only 16 percent factor in the vendor's ability to permanently remove all data and 13 percent prioritize certifications and recommendations from governing bodies and institutions into their decision-making process. Although confidence in SSD security practices is high, monitoring of ITAD vendors/recyclers is a low priority. Although 89 percent of the survey's respondents are either 'very confident' or 'confident' that data cannot be accessed or breached after SSDs have been discarded, recycled or resold, 27 percent admitted they don't have any formal process for monitoring how ITAD vendors/recyclers erase data from SSDs.
"Our study's findings underscore the difficulty many organizations face with managing, storing and protecting data on SSDs and are symptomatic of a larger data security problem," said Richard Stiennon, Chief Strategy Officer of Blancco Technology Group. "Many organizations and individuals place a great deal of their trust and reliance in encryption and reformatting to prevent data loss/theft from SSDs and minimize their exposure to a potential data breach. But there are certain data security challenges with encryption that are often overlooked when it comes to protecting data stored on SSDs. And we know from our own analysis of 200 used drives purchased from eBay and Craigslist that reformatting of SSDs could result in various types and amounts of personal and corporate information being left exposed and recovered. Organizations cannot afford to be lax in how they manage and erase SSDs - or they could find themselves hit by a data breach."
One such example is the recent data breach that hit health insurer Centene. In January 2016, the health insurer lost six hard drives that were part of a data project using laboratory results to improve the health outcomes of members. The missing drives contained the health information for 950,000 beneficiaries and included individuals' names, dates of birth, social security numbers and member ID numbers.
Survey Methodology
The purpose of the study is to understand the data security challenges and limitations organizations face with data storage and management of solid state drives (SSDs). Over 300 IT professionals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Germany,India, Japan and China completed the survey in December 2016.
About Blancco Technology Group
Blancco Technology Group (AIM: BLTG) is the de facto standard in data erasure and mobile device diagnostics. The Blancco Data Eraser solutions provide thousands of organizations with an absolute line of defense against costly security breaches, as well as verification of regulatory compliance through a 100% tamper-proof audit trail. Our data erasure solutions have been tested, certified, approved and recommended by 18 governing bodies around the world. No other security firm can boast this level of compliance with the most rigorous requirements set by government agencies, legal authorities and independent testing laboratories.
The Blancco Mobile Diagnostics solutions enable mobile network operators, retailers and insurers to easily, quickly and accurately identify and resolve performance issues on their customers' mobile devices. As a result, mobile service providers can spend less time dealing with technical issues and, in turn, reduce the quantity of NTF returns, save on operational costs and increase customer satisfaction.
For more information, visit our website at www.blancco.com .
Media Contacts:
SHIFT Communications for Blancco Technology Group (US)
David Heffernan, Account Manager
T: (617) 779-1839
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Robert Hickling, Senior Account Manager
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SAN FRANCISCO, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Globalradiation dose monitoring marketis anticipated to reach a value of USD 3.9 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The advantage of automated dose monitoring systems to track individual and cumulative radiation dose exposure in patients is driving significant demand for the product.
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Dose monitoring is achieved by the use of software and designated products such as dosimeters. Dose management software analyzes, identifies, and optimizes radiation dose performance with precise data. This data aids the physicians to provide quality care to the patients. Furthermore, easy integration of software into existing medical architecture of hospitals will boost the value of existing medical systems and ensure safety of using them.
Area of application commonly employing the use of medical imaging is radiography, angiography, mammography, fluoroscopy & interventional imaging and nuclear medicine. Several medical imaging technology manufacturers are constantly involving in the incorporation of the radiation dose monitoring tools in these imaging platforms. X-ray and computed tomography technique are known to emit a large amount of radiation as compared to other imaging platforms. The overall market exhibits promising growth prospects pertaining to high prevalence of chronic diseases, effective and reliable treatment methods focusing on care, and increasing patient awareness.
Browse full research report with TOC on "Radiation Dose Monitoring Market Analysis By Component, By Application (Radiography, Angiography, Mammography, Fluoroscopy & Interventional Imaging, Nuclear Medicine), By Product (Dosimeters, Area Process Monitors), And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/radiation-dose-monitoring-market
Further key findings from the study suggest:
North America reported highest revenue growth in this market in 2015. A shift to the value based care delivery model has resulted in healthcare providers to divert their attention to deliver healthcare services concentrating on the well-being of a patient
reported highest revenue growth in this market in 2015. A shift to the value based care delivery model has resulted in healthcare providers to divert their attention to deliver healthcare services concentrating on the well-being of a patient Asia Pacific region provides lucrative market opportunities for radiation dose monitoring. Significant factors such as rapid urbanization, upgrade in healthcare infrastructure and delivery will further support the market growth in emerging economies like India and China
region provides lucrative market opportunities for radiation dose monitoring. Significant factors such as rapid urbanization, upgrade in healthcare infrastructure and delivery will further support the market growth in emerging economies like and The market for radiation dose monitoring software is expected to generate strong revenue growth in the fiscal year 2015. The software market enables easy integration to existing architecture in healthcare facilities, and will sync into the integrated care delivery benefitting the specialists to provide better and monitored care
The major market players recognized in this market are GE Healthcare, Sectra, Medicvision, Philips Healthcare, Toshiba MSC, Bayer AG, Landauer, Inc. and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
Browse related reports by Grand View Research:
Glucose Monitoring Device Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/glucose-monitoring-device-market
Infectious Vaccines Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/infectious-vaccines-market
Neurovascular Intervention Devices Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/neurovascular-intervention-devices-market
Anesthesia CO2 Absorbent Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/anesthesia-co2-absorbent-market
Grand View Research has segmented the radiation dose monitoring market by component, application and product:
Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Software Service
Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Radiography Angiography Mammography Fluoroscopy & Interventional Imaging Others
Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Dosimeters Area Process Monitors Others
Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany UK Asia Pacific China Japan Latin America Mexico Brazil MEA South Africa Saudi Arabia
Read Our Blog - Increasing Application of Medical Imaging Technological Platforms Driving Growth of Radiation Dose Monitoring Market
About Grand View Research
Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. Thecompany provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.
Contact:
Sherry James
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Grand View Research, Inc.
Phone: 1-415-349-0058
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Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com
Fiscal Year 2016 Third Quarter Financial Highlights
Revision of the full year fiscal 2016 forecast
Mitsubishi Motors Public Relations Department http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com +81-3-6852-4275
TOKYO, Jan 31, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announced a third quarter financial results and revised its forecast upwards for the full fiscal year 2016.Osamu Masuko, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, made the following statement: "Our company is adapting more a culture of commitment, discipline and focus on performance following the Alliance with Nissan. We will focus our efforts to recover our performance fully in the second half to establish a solid ground for our V-shaped recovery."1. Fiscal Year 2016 Third Quarter Financial Highlightshttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MitsubishiFY3Q16.jpgNet revenue during the cumulative three quarters in FY2016 (from April to December) resulted in 1 trillion 341.8 billion in Japanese yen, 19% lower than the same period of previous year. Operating profit was minus 23.2 billion yen due to the large loss through the second quarter.On a standalone basis for the third quarter (from October to December), profit recovered to 8.4 billion yen as a result of operational efficiency driven mainly by cost reduction, optimized sales expenses, and favorable exchange rates.Ordinary profit and net income remained negative for the cumulative three quarters but returned to positive for the third quarter alone.2. Global sales performanceGlobal sales volume during the cumulative three quarters in FY16 declined to 673,000 units. This is 15% lower than the same period of last year but relatively in line with the revised plan released in October.Sales in Japan totaled 50,000 units, down by 24% year on year. The drop in sales in the first half coming from the overstated fuel economy issue did not recover fully. However, on a third quarter alone, sales rose by 1,000 units, compared to the same period of previous year. In North America, the sales of Mirage declined but Outlander contributed to the total sales, resulting in 101,000 units, in line as the previous year. In Europe, sales resulted in 132,000 units, down by 16% year on year. This is coming mainly from the sales drop in Russia with lower than expected economy and lower sales of Outlander PHEV in Netherlands.In Asia, total sales resulted in 229,000 units, which is lower by 5% year on year. Sales declined in ASEAN, in particular Thailand, where performance was lower than previous year. The affect of the new Pajero Sport launch and the Thai Government's tax incentives contributed more positively in the previous year. Sales in China is recovering gradually with the localization in production of the Outlander.Sales in other regions was 161,000 units, down by 27% compared to the same period of last year as low commodity prices affected Middle East and Latin America.3. Revision of the full year fiscal 2016 forecasthttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MitsubishiFY2016Forecast.jpgBased on the financial results of the third quarter and the latest forecasts, Mitsubishi Motors has revised the full year forecast for FY 2016. The operating profit is expected at 1 billion yen, an upward revision of 28.6 billion yen from the original forecast. This is mainly due to improved operating efficiency of 16.9 billion yen and impact of favorable exchange rates of 11.7 billion yen. Consolidated operating profit margin, which dropped to minus 3.7% in the first half, is estimated to increase to 3.2% in the second half. If the operating profit is achieved, the company will mark a 12-year consecutive positive operating profit since FY 2005.About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation is the fifth largest automaker in Japan and the fifteenth largest in the world by global unit sales. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Throughout its history it has courted alliances with foreign partners, a strategy pioneered by their first president Tomio Kubo to encourage expansion, and continued by his successors. A significant stake was sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1971 which it held for 22 years, while DaimlerChrysler was a controlling shareholder between 2000 and 2005. Long term joint manufacturing and technology licencing deals with the Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea and Proton in Malaysia were also forged, while in Europe the company co-owned the largest automobile manufacturing plant in the Netherlands with Volvo for ten years in the 1990s, before taking sole ownership in 2001.Source: Mitsubishi MotorsContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
TORONTO, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Island Gold Mine Increases Mineral Reserves by 34% at an Increased Grade of 9.17 g/t Gold
Richmont Mines Inc. (TSX: RIC)(NYSE: RIC)("Richmont" or the "Corporation"), announces updated Mineral Reserves and Resources as of December31, 2016. Mineral Reserves at the cornerstone Island Gold Mine in Ontario increased by 34% (net of depletion) to 752,200 ounces of gold, at an increased grade of 9.17 g/t gold. (Detailed Mineral Reserve and Resource tables can be found at the end of this press release. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.)
2016 Mineral Reserve and Resource Highlights:
As at December 31, 2016, Richmont is reporting Mineral Reserves and Resources for the Island Gold and Beaufor Mines as summarized in the table below:
2016 Mineral Reserves and Resources(1)(2) Island Gold Mine and Beaufor Mine Gold Ounces Grade (g/t) Change Change December 31, 2016 2016 2015 (%) 2016 2015 (%) Island Gold Mine(3) Proven & Probable Reserves 752,200 561,700 34% 9.17 8.26 11% Measured & Indicated Resources 91,450 71,700 28% 5.94 6.40 (7%) Inferred Resources 995,700 768,050 30% 10.18 8.49 20% Beaufor Mine Proven & Probable Reserves 44,920 63,850 (30%) 6.86 6.57 4% Measured & Indicated Resources 83,700 171,900 (51%) 7.37 6.34 16% Inferred Resources 7,500 28,000 (73%) 6.44 6.44 0% (1) Refer to the detailed mineral reserve and mineral resource tables that follow at the end of this press release. (2) No changes to Mineral Reserves and Resources were made at the Corporation's other properties. (3) An NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Island Gold Mine will be filed within 45 days.
The successful 2016 drilling campaign at the Island Gold Mine contributed to a significant increase in 2016 Mineral Reserves and Resources.
Mineral reserves of 752,200 gold ounces (net of depletion), a 34% increase over 2015, at an 11% higher grade of 9.17 g/t.
Inferred resources of 995,700 gold ounces, a 30% increase over 2015, at a 20% higher grade of 10.18 g/t, at an average discovery cost of less than $35 per ounce.
At the Beaufor Mine, 2016 Mineral Reserves and Resources have decreased as 2016 delineation and exploration drilling was unable to offset mining depletion and converted resources. Additionally, following a reassessment of all resource blocks, certain low-grade, currently uneconomic resource blocks located in the upper part of the mine were removed.
"We are pleased to report another year of high quality reserve growth at the Island Gold Mine. The increase in reserves and resources is consistent with our vision of developing the Island Gold Mine to be a long life, high quality underground mine in Canada. Our systematic delineation drilling campaign at Island Gold during 2016 has more than offset mining depletion, contributing to the 34% increase in reserve ounces and the 11% increase in average reserve grade. Our drilling program has also successfully contributed to a 30% increase in inferred resources at a 20% higher grade, which is very positive, given the high rate of resource conversion that was achieved in 2016," stated Renaud Adams, Chief Executive Officer. He continued, "Our ongoing drilling programs and accelerated underground development strategy have significantly enhanced our knowledge and understanding of the geological structure of the Island Gold deposit, which provides us with a greater appreciation of the significant potential yet to be realized."
Mineral Reserve Reconciliation
A reconciliation of the Corporation's Mineral Reserves at the Island Gold and Beaufor Mines is provided in the table below:
Island Gold Mine Beaufor Mine Gold Ounces Gold Ounces Proven & Probable Reserves (Dec. 31/15) 561,700 63,850 2016 Mining Depletion 86,327 19,971 2016 Reserve Additions 276,827 1,041 Proven & Probable Reserves (Dec. 31/16) 752,200 44,920
Island Gold Mine Mineral Reserves and Resources (December 31, 2016)
Mineral Reserves and Resources December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Gold Gold Tonnes Grade Ounces Tonnes Grade Ounces Island Gold Mine (MT) (g/t) (000's) (MT) (g/t) (000's) Proven & Probable Reserves 2.6 9.17 752.2 2.1 8.26 561.7 Measured & Indicated Resources 0.5 5.94 91.5 0.3 6.40 71.7 Inferred Resources 3.0 10.18 995.7 2.8 8.49 768.1 Notes to Mineral Reserves and Resources: Mineral Resources presented are exclusive of Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Island Gold Mine: Key Assumptions
For the December 31, 2016 Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates, a metal price of CAD$1,500 per ounce of gold was used. The cut-off grade increased from 4.00 g/t gold in 2015 to a range of 4.00 g/t gold for pre-developed areas to 4.35 g/t gold for undeveloped areas.
Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates, a metal price of per ounce of gold was used. The cut-off grade increased from 4.00 g/t gold in 2015 to a range of 4.00 g/t gold for pre-developed areas to 4.35 g/t gold for undeveloped areas. Mineral Resources were estimated using a block modelling approach with ordinary kriging interpolation. The density used to calculate tonnage varies from 2.82 to 2.80 t/m 3 .
. Capping parameters have been updated following the completion of a statistical study that incorporated new data that included grade reconciliations from actual mining results compiled in 2016. Capping of high grade gold values varies depending on the zone, including 31 g/t gold for the D Zone and 225 g/t gold for the main C Zone. A restricted ellipse of 15 metres x 10 metres x 5 metres was applied to the C Zone composites that were greater than 125 g/t gold.
For Mineral Reserves, dilution estimates increased to an average of 27% (19% in 2015) for long-hole panels and decreased to an average of 22% (30% in 2015) for development in ore.
Island Gold Mine: 2016 Mineral Reserve and Resource Highlights
As of December 31, 2016 , following the completion of the successful 2016 drilling program, the majority of the resource blocks in the main C Zone located within the ongoing Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") area were converted to reserves, resulting in a 34% increase in reserve ounces over 2015.
, following the completion of the successful 2016 drilling program, the majority of the resource blocks in the main C Zone located within the ongoing Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") area were converted to reserves, resulting in a 34% increase in reserve ounces over 2015. A total of approximately 48,000 metres of successful delineation drilling was completed in 2016. The drilling was largely confirmatory and allowed for the conversion to reserves of two main blocks in the western portion of the PEA, between the 470 and 675 metre levels. Another block was also converted in the lower western portion, between the 760 and the 970 metre levels. Some smaller blocks were also converted in the eastern portion, in the extension 1 and 2 areas. The 2016 delineation drilling, combined with the extensive development in ore completed in 2016, have led to a new structural interpretation of some sectors located between the 740 and the 785 meter levels, resulting in certain high grade reserve blocks being removed.
The overall reserve grade of 9.17 g/t gold represents an 11% increase in grade over 2015. The reserve grade was positively impacted by the increased capping grade and the delineation of high grade resource blocks, partially offset by the restricted ellipse applied to higher grade composites, the slightly overall higher dilution estimates and the removal of the high grade blocks noted above.
Approximately 83,000 metres of exploration drilling was completed in 2016, which identified three new inferred resource blocks that contributed to a 30% increase in inferred resource ounces over 2015, at an increased grade of 10.18 g/t gold. A new large inferred resource block of 760,000 tonnes at a grade of 9.53 g/t gold (approximately 230,000 ounces), was defined in the eastern down plunge extension of the main C Zone, located between the 1,050 and the 1,300 metre levels. Two additional inferred resource blocks were identified in the eastern lateral extension area, located approximately 300 metres east of the PEA area, between the 340 and the 750 metre levels, with the largest inferred resource block containing approximately 290,000 tonnes at a grade of 10.35 g/t of gold (approximately 95,000 ounces). Overall discovery costs in 2016 averaged less than $35 per ounce.
Island Gold Mine: 2017 Delineation Drilling Program Highlights
In 2017, delineation drilling will focus on three main objectives as highlighted below:
Complete the delineation to upgrade the remaining resources located within the PEA area, primarily in the fourth mining horizon, between the 785 and the 1,000 metre levels.
Further test the down plunge extension of the main C Zone at depth, below the 1,000 metre level where a new resource block was identified as part of the 2016 program. Drilling will be completed from the main ramp and from a new exploration drift that will be established on the 860 metre level.
Further test the eastern lateral extension area located 300 metres east of the main deposit where two new inferred resources blocks were identified. Drilling will be completed from the 340 metre level and from an extension of the 620 metre level exploration drift that will be completed in 2017.
Island Gold: 2017 Exploration Drilling Program Highlights
In 2017, the Phase 2 exploration program will continue drilling in two key target areas, as highlighted below:
The deep directional exploration drilling program will continue in 2017, targeting the area between the 1,000 and 1,500 metre levels, east and west of the new resource block.
The eastern lateral exploration drilling program will continue to target additional resources east of the main PEA area, where new resource blocks were identified as part of the 2016 drilling program.
Richmont expects to provide an update of the Island Gold Phase 2 exploration drilling program in the latter part of February.
Beaufor Mine Mineral Reserves and Resources (December 31, 2016)
Mineral Reserves and Resources December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Gold Gold Tonnes Grade Ounces Tonnes Grade Ounces Beaufor Mine (MT) (g/t) (000's) (MT) (g/t) (000's) Proven & Probable Reserves 0.20 6.86 45.0 0.30 6.57 63.9 Measured & Indicated Resources 0.35 7.37 83.7 0.84 6.34 171.9 Inferred Resources 0.04 6.44 7.5 0.14 6.44 28.0 Notes to Mineral Reserves and Resources: Mineral Resources presented are exclusive of Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Beaufor Mine: Key Assumptions
For the 2016 Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates, a metal price of CAD$1,500 per ounce of gold was used. The cut-off grades have decreased slightly over 2015 to a range of 4.14 to 5.63 g/t in 2016 (4.31 to 6.04 g/t gold in 2015).
per ounce of gold was used. The cut-off grades have decreased slightly over 2015 to a range of 4.14 to 5.63 g/t in 2016 (4.31 to 6.04 g/t gold in 2015). Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources were estimated using a polygonal method. A density of 2.75 t/m 3 was used to calculate tonnages.
was used to calculate tonnages. A capping value of 68 g/t was maintained for high grade gold values.
For Mineral Reserves, the dilution estimates were maintained at 10% for long hole areas and 5% for room and pillar areas.
Beaufor Mine: 2016 Mineral Reserve and Resource Highlights
At the Beaufor Mine, 2016 Mineral Reserves and Resources decreased as 2016 delineation and exploration drilling was unable to offset mining depletion and converted resources. Additionally, following a reassessment of all resource blocks, certain low-grade, uneconomic resource blocks located in the upper part of the mine were removed.
Mineral reserves of 44,920 gold ounces (net of depletion), a 30% decrease over 2015, at a 4% higher grade of 6.86 g/t.
Inferred resources of 7,500 gold ounces at a consistent grade of 6.44 g/t.
Measured & Indicated resources decreased to 83,700 ounces at an increased grade of 7.37 g/t. The decrease in ounces was due to the exclusion of low-grade and uneconomic resource blocks located in the upper part of the mine.
Beaufor Mine: 2017 Delineation and Exploration Program Highlights
2017 delineation drilling will focus on extending the reserve blocks inside the Q Zone, both at depth and laterally.
Exploration drilling will focus on identifying potential new veins in the vicinity of the known reserves and resources. Drilling will also focus on testing the expansion potential of the higher grade Q Zone at depth.
Qualified Persons
The Corporation completed its 2016 year-end Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates for the Island Gold and Beaufor Mines internally with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) subsequently completing a review and audit of the Island Gold Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates.
Daniel Adam, Vice-President, Exploration for Richmont Mines has reviewed the scientific and technical information contained within this press release and serves as the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 -Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects("NI 43-101").
About Richmont Mines Inc.
Richmont currently produces gold from the Island Gold Mine in Ontario, and the Beaufor Mine in Quebec. The Corporation is also advancing development of the significant high-grade resource extension at depth of the Island Gold Mine in Ontario. With 25 years of experience in gold production, exploration and development, and prudent financial management, the Corporation is well-positioned to cost-effectively build its Canadian reserve base and to successfully enter its next phase of growth.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may", "objective" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and apply only as of the date on which they were made. Except as may be required by law or regulation, the Corporation undertakes no obligation and disclaims any responsibility to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the impact of the 2016 Mineral Reserves and Resources estimates, the ability to increase production utilizing the current ramp system, the capital requirements to increase milling capacity, changes in the prevailing price of gold, the Canadian-United States exchange rate, grade of ore mined and unforeseen difficulties in mining operations that could affect revenue and production costs. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations and the failure of our exploration drilling programs to identify significant new resources or targets or expand existing resources could also affect the results. Other risks are set out in Richmont's Annual Information Form, Annual Reports and periodic reports. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release.
Cautionary note to US investors concerning resource estimates
Information in this press release is intended to comply with the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange and applicable Canadian securities legislation, which differ in certain respects with the rules and regulations promulgated under the United States Securities Exchange Act of1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), as promulgated by the SEC. The requirements of NI 43-101 adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
U.S. Investors are urged to consider the disclosure in our annual report on Form 20-F, File No. 001-14598, as filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, which may be obtained from us (without cost) or from the SEC's web site:http://sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Qualified Persons
The Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were performed by qualified persons as defined by NI 43-101 and were supervised by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc. Please refer to the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com) for full reports and additional corporate documentation.
The Island Gold Mine Reserve and Resource estimate as of December 31, 2016 was performed by M. Raynald Vincent P.Eng. M.P.M., Chief Geologist, and M. Leon Grondin Leblanc, P.Eng., Chief Engineer, both employees of Richmont Mines Inc., and Qualified Persons as defined by NI43-101. A NI43-101 technical report will be completed for the Island Gold Mine as of December 31, 2016, and will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days.
The Beaufor Mine Reserve and Resource estimate as of December 31, 2016 was performed under the supervision of Bernard Salmon, P Eng., Manager, Resources and Project Evaluation and M. Louis Nkoy, P.Eng., Chief Engineer, both employees of Richmont Mines Inc., and qualified persons as defined by NI43-101.
The Reserve and Resource estimates of Beaufor and Island Gold mines were prepared using a gold price of CAD$1,500 per ounce for 2016. The resource estimate of the Francoeur Mine was established at the end of 2012 using a gold price of US$1,450 (CAD$1,450) per ounce, and was prepared by qualified persons as defined by NI43-101 and was supervised by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc. The resource estimate of the Wasamac property was established at the end of 2012 using a gold price of US$1,450 (CAD$1,450) per ounce. It was supervised by Mr. Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc., and a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101. The Monique Resource estimate as of December 31, 2013 was prepared using a gold price of US$1,225 (CAD$1,300) per ounce and was supervised by Mr.Daniel Adam, Geo., Ph.D., Vice-President, Exploration, an employee of Richmont Mines Inc., and a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101.
2016 Mineral Reserves and Resources1
December 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Tonnes Ounces Tonnes Grade Ounces Grade (metric) (g/t Au) of gold (metric) (g/t Au) of gold ISLAND GOLD MINE Proven Reserves2 573,000 8.68 159,800 363,500 7.53 87,900 Probable Reserves2 1,978,000 9.31 592,400 1,752,000 8.41 473,800 Total Proven & Probable Reserves2 2,551,000 9.17 752,200 2,115,500 8.26 561,700 Measured Resources 33,500 4.94 5,350 7,500 5.80 1,350 Indicated Resources 445,500 6.01 86,100 341,000 6.42 70,350 Total Measured & Indicated Resources 479,000 5.94 91,450 348,500 6.40 71,700 Total Inferred Resources 3,042,000 10.18 995,700 2,815,000 8.49 768,050 BEAUFOR MINE Proven Reserves2 32,000 6.77 7,010 35,600 7.31 8,350 Probable Reserves2 171,500 6.87 37,910 266,500 6.48 55,500 Total Proven & Probable Reserves2 203,500 6.86 44,920 302,100 6.57 63,850 Measured Resources 53,000 6.27 10,700 109,000 5.32 18,600 Indicated Resources 300,000 7.57 73,000 734,000 6.50 153,300 Total Measured & Indicated Resources 353,000 7.37 83,700 843,000 6.34 171,900 Total Inferred Resources 36,000 6.44 7,500 135,000 6.44 28,000 MONIQUE PROPERTY4 Indicated Resources 107,500 4.88 16,850 107,500 4.88 16,850 WASAMAC GOLD PROPERTY3 Measured Resources 3,124,500 2.75 276,550 3,124,500 2.75 276,550 Indicated Resources 12,127,000 2.89 1,125,700 12,127,000 2.89 1,125,700 Total Measured & Indicated Resources 15,251,500 2.86 1,402,250 15,251,500 2.86 1,402,250 Total Inferred Resources 18,759,000 2.66 1,605,400 18,759,000 2.66 1,605,400 FRANCOEUR GOLD PROPERTY5 Measured Resources - - - 40,000 5.89 7,600 Indicated Resources - - - 280,000 6.55 59,000 Total Measured & Indicated Resources - - - 320,000 6.47 66,600 Total Inferred Resources - - - 18,000 7.17 4,150 TOTAL RESERVES AND RESOURCES Proven & Probable Reserves 2,754,500 9.00 797,120 2,417,600 8.05 625,550 Measured & Indicated Resources 16,191,000 3.06 1,594,250 16,870,500 3.19 1,729,300 Inferred Resources 21,837,000 3.72 2,608,600 21,727,000 3.44 2,405,600 1 Mineral Resources presented are exclusive of Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 2 In 2016, based on a gold price of CAN$1,500/oz; in 2015, based on a gold price of US$1,080/oz and an exchange rate of CAN$1.2037 = US$1.00. 3 Underground Mineral Resources established as of December 31, 2012. 4 Monique Mineral Resources are located underground directly below the open-pit. 5 The Francoeur Mine closed in November 2012 and was sold in 2016.
Renaud Adams, President and CEO, Phone: 416 368-0291 ext. 101;Anne Day, Vice-President, Investor Relations,Phone: 416 368-0291 ext. 105
SAN FRANCISCO, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
The globaltextile marketis expected to reach approximately USD 1,237.1 billion by 2025, according to a new report conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising disposable income, urbanization and population growth in emerging economies including China, India and Mexico is expected to play an importance role in improving the lifestyle of consumers which is expected to drive the demand for textile products.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/723757 )
Product innovation is expected to have a positive impact on the industry; for instance, the Runway of Dreams brand launched by apparel manufacturer Tommy Hilfiger in February 2016. Furthermore, a growing number of fashion retail outlets and supermarkets in developing economies, including China and India, owing to government support to promote investments is expected to increase the textiles demand in the near future.
Browse full research report with TOC on "Textiles Market Analysis By Raw Material (Cotton, Chemical, Wool, Silk), By Product (Natural-Fibers, Polyester, Nylon), By Application (Household, Technical, Fashion & Clothing), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific), And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/textile-market
Further key findings from the report suggest:
Transportation is anticipated to foresee revenue growth at a CAGR of 3.4% from 2016 to 2025. The enactment of numerous passenger safety regulations, including Euro VI petrol and diesel standard norms that regulate heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles, are expected to increase the usage of fabrics in automotive filters over the next nine years.
The Middle East & Africa (MEA) is expected to witness volume growth at a CAGR of 3.6% from a period of 2016 to 2025. The rising expenditure by Islamic clothing manufacturers to incorporate new hijab styles in apparels is projected to increase the product usage over the next nine years.
& (MEA) is expected to witness volume growth at a CAGR of 3.6% from a period of 2016 to 2025. The rising expenditure by Islamic clothing manufacturers to incorporate new hijab styles in apparels is projected to increase the product usage over the next nine years. There is an increasing importance of EHS systems in the manufacturing sector, owing to stringent regulations aimed at worker safety and reporting incidents in offshore industries, including oil & gas, which is expected to increase the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). The trend mentioned above is projected to play a vital role in increasing the market penetration of textiles in the form of technical fabrics in PPE over the forecast period.
Polyester held a market volume share of 28.2% in 2015 and is expected to witness growth over the forecast period due to its superior properties including lightweight and excellent resistance to shrinking. Polyester is often used in combination with other fibers such as cotton as the blend offers properties superseding either of the materials.
Cotton-based textile products' demand was 93.6 million tons in 2015. Clothing manufacturers are expected to prefer cotton as their raw material on account of its unique features including resistance to hypoallergenic & dust mite, excellent durability, and environmentally friendly nature.
Key industry participants include Shandong Jining, INVISTA, Honeywell International, and Asahi Kasei Fibers Corporation. The companies are expected to increase spending on the development of new products, including smart textiles and ballistic nylon, to gain a competitive edge over their competitors.
Browse related reports by Grand View Research:
Earthenware Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/earthenware-market
Carbon Fiber Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-fiber-market-analysis
Canvas Products Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/canvas-products-market
Abaca Fiber Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/abaca-fiber-market
Grand View Research has segmented the global textiles market on the basis of raw material, product, application, and region:
Raw Material Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Billion; 2014 - 2025) Cotton Chemical Wool Silk Others
Product Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Billion; 2014 - 2025) Natural-fibers Polyesters Nylon Others
Application Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Billion; 2014 - 2025) Household Bedding Kitchen Upholstery Towel Others Technical Construction Transportation Medical Protective Others Fashion & Clothing Apparel Ties & Clothing Accessories Handbags Others Others
Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Billion; 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Russia UK Germany France Turkey Italy Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia Central & South America Brazil MEA Saudi Arabia Iran
Read Our Blog - The growing demand for personal protective clothing is expected to increase the textiles market size over the projected period
About Grand View Research
Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. Thecompany provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.
Contact:
Sherry James
Corporate Sales Specialist, USA
Grand View Research, Inc.
Phone: 1-415-349-0058
Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519
Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com
Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com
Postal organizations turn to M&A activity to remain competitive
Billions of dollars in venture-capital funding have poured into the post and parcel industry in the last two years, driven by the continued popularity of e-commerce and increased competitiveness in hyper-local, start-up delivery models, according to a new report from Accenture (NYSE:ACN).
This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170131005423/en/
The report, The New Delivery Reality: Achieving High Performance in the Post and Parcel Industry, shows that venture- capital funding of supply chain and logistics start-ups, integral to delivery services, has increased more than 10-fold in the last three years, from US$266 million in 2013 to US$2.78 billion in 2016.
The number of deals and the size of funding for those deals also increased, according to the report. In 2013, there were 52 deals supporting supply chain and logistics, totaling about US$266 million, or roughly US$5.1 million per deal. Two years later, the average deal cost was valued at US$6.4 million. But, by the first quarter of 2016, US$1.75 billion was spent on just 36 deals, an average of US$49.7 million per deal, the study shows.
Groups outside of traditional delivery services and postal organizations are seeing growth opportunities as retailers compete to reach consumers no longer impressed with free delivery service. According to the report, consumers who combine online purchasing with delivery find high appeal in receiving an item the same day it is purchased.
This change in consumer behavior is causing tensions for traditional global delivery models, calling into question the use and importance of a robust, national delivery network, said Brody Buhler, who leads Accenture's global post and parcel practice.
"Think the way Amazon thinks of e-commerce or Uber thinks about transportation. Both disrupted the status quo by directly responding to consumer needs and interests. Uber will pick you up at the location of your choice at the time you request," Buhler said. "Consumers ordering online want the ability to have that same hyper-local delivery. Instead of waiting for the letter carrier to drop it off in five days, they're beginning to turn to smart, agile start-ups with delivery areas often limited to less than 50 miles that focus on speed and convenience."
In 2016, there were 58 Amazon Prime Now hubs in the U.S. stocking high-velocity items for same-day delivery. Amazon plans to open Prime Now hubs in Germany, Spain and Italy. Start-up Onibag built a next-day network across 70 cities in five U.S. states, despite not owning any vehicles or distribution centers. It crowdsources first- and last-mile services, using excess capacity on a national bus system and ride-sharing to transport packages.
Onibag isn't alone, the report shows. Uber, for example, is experimenting with UberRUSH, an on-demand delivery network of trackable contract couriers. Shyp will pick up packages using its own employees and connect the package to the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, UPS, OnTrac or other regional carriers automatically figuring out the best carrier to use for each, individual delivery. Instacart offers last-mile delivery from a grocer, crowdsourcing to match orders with independent users who enroll in the platform as shoppers or drivers.
PiggyBaggy in Finland and 123Feng.com in China are just two of the many new entrants in the on-demand, shared transport delivery business outside the U.S. In Scotland, Menzies uses an integrated IT solution that allows it to deliver parcels from other carriers. Ninja Collect gives consumers in southeast Asia the option of picking up their purchases in a brick-and-mortar store or having them delivered to a secure parcel locker throughout the region. KombiBUS serves a low-populated area in northeast Germany, using an existing bus infrastructure to combine the transport of goods, post and passengers. KombiBUS also has influenced regional development. Farmers who supply dairy products, cheeses and other local farm products use the new transport system to expand their sales area to Berlin.
Traditional post and parcel organizations are increasing investments as well, focused on products and services to keep up with the demand being generated by e-commerce. Industry capital expenditure has grown over 40 percent from 2013 to 2015 as post and parcel organizations make significant investments in increased capacity, new capabilities and diversification to keep up with e-commerce-driven change and demand, according to the report. Capital expenditure as a percentage of postal revenue averaged about 3.7 percent globally in 2013 and increased to 5.1 percent in 2015.
The report also found that merger and acquisition activity in the post and parcel industry also is high. The industry has been active in M&A but nearly one-third of postal organizations account for 80 percent of all deals during the last five years, led by: La Poste in France (35 acquisitions); Post Nord in Denmark (22); SingPost in Singapore (15); DP DHL in Germany (14); Austrian Post (13); and Posten Norgen in Norway (12).
Almost all national postal organizations are investing in additional capacity to accommodate e-commerce growth, especially for peak periods, and a new M&A trend has emerged, the report shows. Acquisitions today unlike during the last 15 years- are smaller, more specialized and focus on logistics and transportation; parcels and express; technical and software; and financial services. In 2015, about 60 percent of all M&A activity was conducted outside the postal organization's domestic country as companies try to tap into cross-border deliveries and increase customer footprint.
"Our research shows we're going to see an exponential growth in global e-commerce over the next three years, with the bulk of it being delivered the next day or the same day to consumers who aren't willing to pay a premium price for that service," Buhler said. "Delivery organizations need to make decisions today to be competitive and viable in that future."
The New Delivery Realityreport marks the 10th anniversary of the first High Performing Post and Parcels report, issued in 2006, recognizing a decade of continuous, in-depth research of the trends and topics affecting the post, parcel and delivery industry. Findings are based on a comprehensive analysis of 31 post and parcel organizations across five continents, which together represent about 90 percent of the world's mail volume.
Methodology
Accenture conducted an in-depth analysis of 30 post and parcel organizations around the world for this year's study, using publicly available information, content published by postal organizations and Accenture's industry knowledge. Organizations analyzed are An Post (Ireland), Australia Post, Austrian Post Group, bpost (Belgium), Canada Post Corp., Ceska Posta (Czech Republic), Correios Brasileiros (Brazil), Correios de Portugal, Correos y Telegrafos (Spain), Deutsche Post DHL (Germany), FedEx (United States), Groupe La Poste (France), Gruppo Poste Italiane (Italy), India Post, Itella (Finland), Japan Post, Magyar Posta (Hungary), New Zealand Post, Post Office Limited (United Kingdom), Posten Norge (Norway),Posti Group (Finland), PostNL (The Netherlands), PostNord (Sweden and Denmark), Royal Mail Group (United Kingdom), Singapore Post, South African Post Office, Swiss Post (Switzerland), TNT N.V. (the Netherlands), U.S. Postal Service, UPS (U.S.) and Yamato (Japan).
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions underpinned by the world's largest delivery network Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 394,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com
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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A U.S. soldier was killed and three others were injured in a U.S. military raid on the militant Islamist group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula compound in Yemen last week. Chief Special Warfare Operator William 'Ryan' Owens, 36, of Peoria, Illinois, died of wounds sustained in the raid, the Department of Defense announced Monday. Despite the casualties, material captured from the site will help the United States 'gain a deeper insight into the group's planning to help prevent terrorist attacks against innocent civilians in the United States and our coalition-partner nations,' Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters. 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.
This press release relates to the disclosure of information that qualified, or may have qualified, as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.
31 JANUARY 2017
INTU PROPERTIES PLC
LEI: 213800JSNTERD5CJZO95
STATEMENT REGARDING PRESS COMMENT
The Board of intu properties plc ('intu') notes the recent press speculation regarding the potential acquisition of Xanadu shopping centre in Madrid.
intu confirms it has entered into an exclusivity agreement with entities of the Ivanhoe Cambridge Group to acquire the centre. The transaction would be funded from a combination of bank financing and existing facilities.
At this time there is no certainty that this transaction will complete and a further announcement will be made as and when appropriate.
ENQUIRIES
intu properties plc Susan Marsden Group Company Secretary +44 (0)207 887 7073
NOTES FOR EDITORS
intu is the UK's leading owner, manager and developer of prime regional shopping centres with a growing presence in Spain.
We are passionate about creating uniquely compelling experiences, in centre and online, that attract customers, delivering enhanced footfall, dwell time and loyalty. This helps our retailers flourish, driving occupancy and income growth.
A FTSE 100 company, we own many of the UK's largest and most popular retail destinations, including nine of the top 20, with super regional centres such as intu Trafford Centre and intu Lakeside and vibrant city centre locations from Newcastle to Watford.
We are focused on four strategic objectives: optimising the performance of our assets to provide attractive long term total property returns, delivering our UK development pipeline to add value to our portfolio, leveraging the strength of our brand and seizing the opportunity in Spain to create a business of scale.
We are committed to our local communities and to operating with environmental responsibility. Our centres support around 120,000 jobs representing about 4% of the total UK retail workforce.
Our success creates value for our retailers, investors and the communities we serve.
TORONTO, ON and LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - January 31, 2017) - Award-winning investigative journalist Diane Francis, and leading crowdsourcing technology provider HeroX, today announced the results of the "Fast and Furious Fact Check Challenge" -- an incentive prize competition seeking an automated approach to accurately fact check claims in a fraction of the time a human could.
Competing for up to $50,000 in cash prizes, Fast and Furious Fact Check Challenge contestants were tasked with determining whether a set of fifty pre-determined claims, developed by Independent fact checking charity Full Fact, were true or "fake news."
From a field of more than 80 registrants from 24 countries, two competitors -- Ovidiu Dobre, a computer scientist and CEO of Blue Insight in Romania, and the "Claimbuster" team from the University of Texas at Arlington -- reached the final round of the competition. While both finalists demonstrated measurable advancement in automated fact checking technology and methodologies, a panel of independent judges determined that neither team's submission met the contest's 80% accuracy requirement due to limitations in currently available artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing technologies.
"The Fast and Furious competition has forged an exciting new path for much-needed fact checking technology innovation to combat the dramatic increase in fake news flooding the Internet and social media channels," said Diane Francis. "Even though they weren't able to meet the expected level of fact checking accuracy we need, the contestants produced viable solutions and helped to uncover specific flaws in current technological approaches to the problem. I intend to continue the conversation concerning this crucial issue. I am committed to making automated fact checking a reality and have created a company to incubate and develop these tools."
The 50 claims used to test the Fast and Furious Fact Check Challenge competitor's solutions are available here to anyone interested in the development and advancement of fact checking technology. Innovators in this space are encouraged to contact Diane Francis to discuss further developments.
"The global proliferation of false information and fake news is having a profoundly negative impact on our ability to know what is true," said HeroX CEO, Christian Cotichini. "HeroX crowdsourced challenges are designed to quickly bring about radical business, technological and social innovation to address problems of this enormity. The Fast and Furious Fact Challenge has moved the fact checking needle in the right direction and has paved the way for a breakthrough solution to be found."
About Diane Francis http://dianefrancis.com
Diane Francis is an award-winning columnist, bestselling author, investigative journalist and commentator and screenplay writer. Her pieces have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Daily Beast, Politico, the World Post, Miami Herald and she regularly contributes to the New York Post and The Guardian. Diane is also is Editor-at-Large at Canada's National Post and writes for the US Edition of the Huffington Post. She is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington DC within its Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center. She is also Adjunct Faculty with Singularity University in Mountain View California, a Distinguished Professor at Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management, a Member of Advisory Council at Hudson Institute Kleptocracy Initiative, and has been a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. In 1991, she became Editor of Canada's Financial Post, the first woman editor of a national daily newspaper in Canada, a position she held until the paper was sold in 1998.
Twitter: @dianefrancis1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DIANE-FRANCIS-176477962540208
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianefrancis1?trk=hp-identity-name
About HeroX http://www.herox.com
Founded in 2013, HeroX exists at the intersection of crowdsourcing, competition and collaboration. The HeroX crowdsourcing platform brings together global communities of problem solvers to deliver breakthrough solutions to social, economic, and strategic challenges.
Twitter: @Iamherox
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamHeroX
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Media Contact:
Lynda Kaye
Kaye Public Relations for HeroX
250-266-5293
lynda@kayepr.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Gold futures were higher Tuesday morning in the wake of President Donald Trump's ban on certain Muslim nationals from entering the US. Gold for April was up 10 dollars at $1206 an ounce, while silver rose to $17.43 an ounce. The U.S. Federal Open Market Committee 2-day meeting to determine the near term direction of monetary policy will start today. The Standard & Poor's Corelogic Case-Shiller home price index for November will be published at 9.00 am ET. The forecasters are looking for consensus of 0.7 percent, up from 0.6 percent. The Institute for Supply Management - Chicago's purchase managers index for January will be released at 9.45 am ET. The consensus is for 55.3, up from 54.6 last month. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index for January will be published at 10.00 am ET. The forecasters are expecting a consensus of 112.2, slightly down from 113.7 a month ago. The Bank of Japan raised its economic growth forecasts on Tuesday, but kept its policy stance unchanged. 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.
Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector
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SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders
PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces
There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan
Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia
Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair
Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan
I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General
I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox
UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS
There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur
EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay
An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".
UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT
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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
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This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan
Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments
Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex
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
Cmed, an innovative technology-led CRO, today announced its participation at Dpharm Europe: Disruptive Innovations to Advance Clinical Trials (8-9 February 2017, London), where it will showcase its cloud-based, new generation clinical data suite, encapsia. Graham Belgrave, Chief Operations Officer at Cmed, will introduce encapsia in the "Innovative Sources Solutions: Quickfire Disruptors" session on Wednesday 8 February between 4:30pm and 5:00pm, and highlight how a truly flexible, new seamless approach can simplify and streamline clinical trials.
Available now, encapsia heralds a new era for clinical trials by providing a much needed solution to the ever-rising complexity and cost of clinical research. With new and better options to collect, query, clean, visualize and analyze clinical data in real time, all within one clinical data suite, encapsia allows Cmed to significantly enhance the delivery of clinical trials saving time and money.
Throughout the conference, Cmed will demonstrate some of the exciting capabilities of encapsia for increasing trial efficiency, improving timelines and reducing cost, at booth #2. encapsia is unlike any of the existing "last generation" systems and offers integrated, multiple ways for data capture, including mobile eSource, multi-media capture via an iPad and web eDC via a very modern, fast user interface. Powerful, configurable visualizations give live actionable insights and immediate analytics of a trial, allowing issues and trends to be identified and analyzed easily and rapidly.
Attendees will also be able to find out about Cmed's full suite of services, which ranges from full-service to stand-alone solutions and functional services, such as biometrics, as well as learn about the company's significant experience in bringing innovation to the design and conduct of complex and demanding clinical trials.
To schedule a meeting with the Cmed team during Dpharm Europe, contact Louise Holliday, Director of Business Development, at lholliday@cmedresearch.com.
About Cmed
Cmed is an innovative, full service technology-led CRO. Cmed brings together experienced people and technology, providing customers with a friendly, proactive service, and delivers this service using advanced clinical data capture, management and reporting software and processes. Cmed's new generation clinical data suite, encapsia, streamlines the capture, management and reporting of clinical data, saving customers time and money. Clinical data can be captured flexibly by eSource, multi-media and web eDC, while being displayed in live visual insights, providing live analytics, and allowing within suite audit trailed actions. It is fully compliant with regulatory guidelines, and allows integration with existing systems. For more information visit www.cmedresearch.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170131005712/en/
Contacts:
Cmed Clinical Services
Anna Forster
aforster@cmedresearch.com
+44(0)1403-755050
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- Black Sea Copper & Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: BLS)(OTCQB: BLSSF) ("Black Sea" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the fall 2016 exploration mapping and sampling program on the Zlatusha copper-gold property. The field program has refined and enhanced the existing targets and outlined multiple additional target areas. There are currently 7 copper-gold porphyry and epithermal targets on the Zlatusha license area.
Zlatusha is located approximately 40 kilometres northwest of Sofia in western Bulgaria within the Srednogorie endowed arc segment of the West Tethyan Metallogenic Belt. The Srednogorie is an emerging porphyry copper-gold/epithermal belt positioned between the world-class Timok Belt in eastern Serbia and the Panagyurishte Belt in central Bulgaria.
Fall 2016 Mapping Campaign. A systematic program of field mapping and sampling was conducted on the Zlatusha property to improve the resolution of known surface targets and identify additional prospects. Detailed geological mapping was completed at 1:20,000 scale (property-wide) and at 1:5000 scale (known targets) and documented lithology, alteration, mineralization and veins, along with structural and magnetic susceptibility measurements. 195 samples were analyzed for 59 elements by ICP-MS and gold analysis by fire assay. The coarse rejects from the assayed samples were also analyzed for clay mineralogy by TerraSpec (Short-Wave Infrared), in order to characterize the clay alteration mineralogy within a porphyry-epithermal hydrothermal system context.
Zlatusha Target Areas. The 2016 exploration program has improved the understanding of the known target areas, and has yielded multiple additional target areas. The target areas shown in Figure 1 are based on alteration/sulphide/oxide zones in conjunction with anomalous copper and gold.
Property-wide mapping indicates that host rocks for the magmatic-hydrothermal alteration centers are andesite flows, breccias and tuffs with local intercalated limestone intervals. These rocks are intruded by diorite to quartz monzonite porphyry intrusions. Exposed portions of the alteration zones indicate footprints of up to 2500 metres by 1200 metres. Alteration zones are typically developed in the vicinity of the porphyry intrusions, and are characterized by silica-sericite-clay assemblages with local development of secondary biotite and skarn in addition to vein stockworks. Distal alteration assemblages which flank the core zones are commonly characterized by chlorite/epidote in andesite host rocks, or marble in limestone host rocks. Primary sulfides associated with the alteration footprints (typically pyrite with local chalcopyrite) are generally weakly oxidized, and occur as disseminated zones and/or in stockwork-style fracture networks. Copper oxides are noted in various locales throughout the property. Copper assays from grab samples between below detection to 4.45% copper, and gold assays in grab samples yielded values between below detection to 0.73 grams per tonne gold. Table 1 contains assay results for the 98th percentile rock samples from the 2016 sampling program.
The field mapping and analytical data demonstrate that the productive porphyry environment has been preserved at multiple locations across the Zlatusha property.
Follow up Exploration. The next steps for exploration at Zlatusha planned for H1 2017 will involve an airborne magnetic/radiometric survey, with follow-up IP (induced polarization) to refine the seven targets for drill testing. The geophysical work will yield further insight into size, depth and position of porphyry style mineralization, and will improve the target interpretation in covered areas where distal alteration is present.
To view "Figure 1 - Zlatusha target areas." accompanying this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1084379.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sample RockClass Alteration Au g/t Cu % Mo g/t Ag g/t ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 75223 Intermediate Porphyry Clay 1.322 0.031 1 2.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 75557 Breccia (Hydrothermal) Silica 1.615 0.005 9 18.4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 75606 Intermediate Volcanic Clay 3.557 0.011 11 23.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- POZ003 Intermediate Intrusion Clay-Silica 0.006 8.307 -1 -0.3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- BG 0515 Vein Clay-Silica 0.327 0.869 19.42 900 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- BG 0545 Breccia (Volcanic) Clay 0.010 4.454 0.67 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 1 - Rock sample results from the 2016 surface program, representing the 98th percentile gold or copper (Value in bold for meeting respective criteria).
Comments on Sampling, Assaying, and QA/QC. Black Sea's geochemical samples were collected in accordance with CIM Best Practice standards and guidelines. The samples were submitted to Bureau Veritas in Poland for sample preparation, followed by sample analysis in Vancouver, Canada. Gold was analyzed by fire assay with an AAS finish, and the multi-element data was obtained following multi-acid digestion and analysis with 59-element ultra-trace ICP-MS techniques. As standard procedure, Black Sea conducts routine QA/QC analysis on all assay results.
Qualified Person. Rory Kutluoglu, B.Sc. P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has read and approved all technical and scientific information contained in this news release. Mr. Kutluoglu is the Company's Vice President Exploration.
About Black Sea Copper & Gold
Black Sea Copper & Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company active in the Black Sea region of Eastern Europe. The Company has over 4 years of regional experience both technically and operationally within Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey and Romania, and has established a compliment of local technical, logistical, community and corporate support. Black Sea has demonstrated its ability to identify new copper-gold porphyry and epithermal targets, and believes it has one of the most extensive proprietary geological/exploration databases for Eastern Europe in the industry. The Company is committed to building a robust portfolio of high quality copper and gold projects with the potential to become world-class mining assets.
Vince Sorace, President and CEO, Black Sea Copper & Gold Corp.
For further information regarding Black Sea Copper & Gold, please visit our website at www.blacksea.ca.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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 news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Black Sea Copper & Gold believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Black Sea Copper & Gold's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property option agreements, to maintain its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, to explore and develop its projects, to repay its debt and for general working capital purposes; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the ability of Black Sea Copper & Gold to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to Black Sea Copper & Gold's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of Black Sea Copper & Gold to drill test its projects and find mineral resources; if any mineral resources are discovered or acquired, the Company's ability to monetize any such mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of Black Sea Copper & Gold's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Black Sea Copper & Gold undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
Contacts:
Black Sea Copper & Gold Corp.
(604) 628-5623
www.blacksea.ca
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- Kootenay Zinc Corp. (the "Company") (CSE: ZNK)(CSE: ZNK.CN) is pleased to report it is in receipt of an updated gravity model for the Sully project. The updated model incorporates new data acquired in 2016 and was completed by Excel Geophysics Ltd. The model focuses on the E1 target area, taking into account detailed structural and stratigraphic trends determined from the most recent drilling in November 2016, and will assist in planning new drill holes.
The project team has reviewed the model and has now selected drill sites that provide excellent platforms to the test the E1 target and the geological interpretation of the target at those locations. The proposed drill site collar locations are in an area that was logged in 2013 and have ready access and minimal potential for disturbance.
Dr. David Broughton, Senior Technical Advisor to the Company stated: "The coincidence of multiple large gravity anomalies with strata of Sullivan-equivalent time makes the Sully project very compelling. The project team has progressed its geophysical exploration and drilling in a systematic, thoughtful and efficient way, and appears to be closing-in on discovering the source of the gravity anomalies."
The Company anticipates drilling will recommence shortly once amendments to permits are received and the drilling contractor can remobilize to site. Further updates will be provided when available.
Corporate Update
The Company also announces that it granted 300,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to Dr. David Broughton, a consultant to the Company (Senior Technical Advisor) pursuant to the Company's 10% incentive stock option plan. All of the Options vest on the date of grant and are exercisable for a two (2) year period at a price of $0.60 per common share.
The Sully Property
The Sully property comprises 1,375 hectares located approximately 30 kilometres east of Kimberley, B.C., and overlies rocks of similar age and origin as those which host the world-class Sullivan deposit, owned by Teck Resources Ltd. Sullivan was discovered in 1892, and is known to be one of the largest sedimentary-exhalative (sedex) deposits in the world. Over its 100-year lifetime, Sullivan produced approximately 150 million tonnes of ore, including approximately three hundred million ounces of silver, eight million tonnes of zinc and eight million tonnes of lead. The equivalent level of strata as at Sullivan and that formed on the margin of that same basin are present at the Sully property. The Company cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate land are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the Sully property.
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by the Company's Project Manager, Paul Ransom, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
David Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer
Forward Looking Information
This news release includes certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, statements that address the Sully Property, comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, costs and timing of future exploration and development, requirements for additional capital, other statements relating to the financial and business prospects of the Company. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved), and variations of such words, and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statement are necessarily based upon a number of factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements express or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of zinc and other metals, anticipated costs and the ability to achieve goals.
While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events, level of activity, performance or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: (i) risks related to zinc, base metal and other commodity price fluctuations; (ii) risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results; (iii) risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; (iv) that resource exploration and development is a speculative business; (v) that the Company may lose or abandon its property interests or may fail to receive necessary licences and permits; (vi) that environmental laws and regulations may become more onerous; (vii) that the Company may not be able to raise additional funds when necessary; (viii) the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; (ix) exploration and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; (x) competition; (xi) the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of geologic reports or studies; (xii) the uncertainty of profitability based upon the Company's history of losses; (xiii) risks related to environmental regulation and liability; (xiv) risks associated with failure to maintain community acceptance, agreements and permissions (generally referred to as "social licence"); (xv) risks relating to obtaining and maintaining all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations relating to the continued exploration and development of the Company's projects; (xvi) risks related to the outcome of legal actions; (xvii) political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; (xix) risks related to current global financial conditions; and (xx) other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business strategy.
These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. There can be no assurance that planned exploration will be completed as proposed or at all, or that economic resources will be discovered or developed at the Sully Property. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants and fees charged by service providers. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Contacts:
Kootenay Zinc Corp.
604-833-6999
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: SYH)(OTCQB: SYHBF)(FRANKFURT: SC1P) ("Skyharbour") is pleased to announce that 3.4 million warrants have been exercised recently raising an additional $1.3 million in net proceeds for the Company. The majority of these warrants were issued five years ago in a private placement and had an exercise price of $0.40. The remainder of these warrants exercisable at $0.40 have now expired. Skyharbour is fully funded for its upcoming 3,500 metre drill program at its Flagship Moore Lake Uranium Project which has a budget of approx. $1 million. The Company is well financed with approx. $2.8 million in the treasury and 47.1 million shares issued and outstanding.
Upcoming Drill Program at Moore Lake:
In June 2016, Skyharbour secured an option to purchase Denison Mine's Moore Lake project, on the southeastern side of the Athabasca Basin, in northern Saskatchewan. The project consists of 12 contiguous claims totaling 35,705 hectares located 42 kilometres northeast of the Key Lake mill, approx. 20 kilometres east of Denison's Wheeler River project, and 39 kilometres south of Cameco's McArthur River mine. Unconformity style uranium mineralization was discovered on the Moore Lake project at the Maverick Zone in April 2001. Historical drilling highlights include 4.03% eU3O8 over 10 metres (including 1.4 metres at 20% eU3O8) starting at a depth of 264.68 metres in hole ML-61. In addition to the Maverick Zone, the project hosts other mineralized targets with strong discovery potential which the Company plans to test in the upcoming drill program. The project is accessible via winter and ice roads which simplify logistics and lowers costs.
Moore Lake Uranium Project Claims Map:
http://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/maps/MooreLakeRegionalTenure.jpg
Skyharbour has now received drill permits for a planned 3,500 metre drill program at the Moore Lake Project which is slated to commence shortly and is expected to be completed in March. The 3,500 metre drill program will consist of 10 to 13 drill holes ranging in depth from 200 metres to 400 metres. The majority of the drilling will test and look to expand the Maverick Zone with targets both in the underlying basement rock as well as along strike of the known high grade, main Maverick mineralized lens. Additionally, several drill holes will test the 527 and the 525 Zones which are located along the Maverick corridor approx. 500 metres and 1,500 metres respectively, east of the main Maverick mineralized lens.
About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:
Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium and thorium exploration projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with five drill-ready projects. In July 2016, Skyharbour acquired an option from Denison Mines to acquire 100% of the Moore Lake Uranium Project which is located 20 kilometres east of Denison's Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco's McArthur River mine. Moore Lake is an advanced stage uranium exploration property with over $30 million in historical exploration, 370 diamond drill holes, and a high-grade uranium zone known as the Maverick Zone with drill results including 4.03% eU3O8 over 10 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Falcon Point (formerly Way Lake) Uranium Project on the eastern perimeter of the Basin which hosts an NI 43-101 inferred resource totaling 7.0 million pounds of U3O8 at 0.03% and 5.3 million pounds of ThO2 at 0.023%. The project also hosts a high-grade surface showing with up to 68% U3O8 in grab samples from a massive pitchblende vein, the source of which has yet to be discovered. Skyharbour also has a 50% interest in the large, geologically prospective Preston Uranium Project proximal to Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy's Arrow deposit. The Company's 100% owned Mann Lake Uranium project on the east side of the Basin is strategically located adjacent to the Mann Lake Joint Venture operated by Cameco with partners Denison Mines and AREVA, where high-grade uranium mineralization was recently discovered. Skyharbour's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.
Skyharbour's Uranium Project Map in the Athabasca Basin:
http://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/SYH_Landpackage_2014.jpg
To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: SYH) visit the Company's website at www.skyharbourltd.com.
SKYHARBOUR RESOURCES LTD.
Jordan Trimble
President and CEO
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.
Contacts:
Jordan Trimble
President and CEO
Skyharbour Resources Ltd.
604-639-3850 or Toll Free: 800-567-8181
Nick Findler
Corporate Development and Communications
Skyharbour Resources Ltd.
604-639-3850 or Toll Free: 800-567-8181
604-687-3119 (FAX)
info@skyharbourltd.com
www.skyharbourltd.com
IRW-PRESS: Eureka Resources Inc: Eureka: Explorationsplane 2017 fur Projekt FG
Eureka: Explorationsplane 2017 fur Projekt FG
Vancouver, British Columbia, 31. Januar 2017, Eureka Resources Inc. (Eureka oder das Unternehmen) wurde von Canarc uber dessen Explorationsplane 2017 fur das Projekt FG informiert. Wir freuen uns uber die Plane von Canarc hinsichtlich der Weiterentwicklung des Projekt, sagte Michael Sweatman, CEO von Eureka.
Das Goldprojekt FG ist im Goldcamp Cariboo im historischen Gebiet des Quesnel Trough im zentralen Bereich von British Columbia gelegen und war seit den 1970er Jahren fortlaufend Gegenstand von Explorationsaktivitaten. Die Goldmineralisierung, die aus grobkornigem freiliegenden Gold und feinkornigerem sulfidhaltigen Gold besteht, ist in eine Kombination aus Quarzerzgangen und gefleckte Phyllite gebettet.
Das Konzessionsgebiet besteht aus 33 zusammenhangenden Mineral-Claims mit einer Grundflache von 10.401 Hektar
Im Zuge der historischen Explorationen wurde eine gemessene und angezeigte Goldressource im Umfang von 376.000 Unzen mit einem Durchschnittsgehalt von 0,776 g/t Gold (Cutoff-Wert von 0,5 g/t Gold) und eine abgeleitete Goldressource im Umfang von 634.900 Unzen mit einem Durchschnittsgehalt von 0,718 g/t Gold (Cutoff-Wert von 0,5 g/t Gold) beschrieben.1
1 Die Ressource wurde unter Anwendung eines Cutoff-Werts von 0,5 g/t Gold berechnet. Einzelheiten zur Goldressource entnehmen Sie bitte dem Fachbericht mit dem Titel NI 43-101 Technical Report, Frasergold Exploration Project, Cariboo Mining Division, dated July 27, 2015, abrufbar auf SEDAR oder der Website von Eureka
Die Mineralisierung wurde anhand von Bohrungen, Bodenprobenahmen, geophysikalischer Messungen mittels induzierter Polarisation (IP) und Explorationen an der Oberflache auf einer Streichlange von 3 Kilometern abgegrenzt. Es besteht Potenzial fur zusatzliche Mineralisierungen entlang der interpretierten Streichlange von uber 10 Kilometern.
Das Explorationsprogramm 2017 besteht aus Diamantbohrungen in den am weitesten entwickelten aussichtsreichen Zielgebieten entlang der nordwestlichen Erweiterung der Hauptzone sowie aus Bodenprobenahmen, Schurfungen und Kartierungen, um andere hochst aussichtsreiche Bereiche des Konzessionsgebiets genauer zu untersuchen, die im Zuge der geophysikalischen Arbeiten im Konzessionsgebiet abgegrenzt wurde.
Das Programm 2017 wird sich auf die folgenden Zielgebiete konzentrieren, die in Karte Nr. 1 abgebildet sind
Ziel Nr. 1: Diamantbohrungen entlang der interpretierten nordwestlichen Erweiterung der Hauptzone.
In der nordwestlichen Erweiterungszone und der nordwestlichen Auslauferzone werden sechs bis acht Diamantbohrlocher uber jeweils 200 bis 300 Meter (Gesamtlange von etwa 2.000 Metern) absolviert.
Die Bohrziele entlang der nordwestlichen Erweiterung der Hauptzone wurden durch sich deckende Boden- und elektromagnetische Anomalien abgegrenzt, die im Zuge vorheriger Explorationsprogramme beschrieben wurden. Bei Kartierungen in diesem Gebiet wurden daruber hinaus Lithologien identifiziert, die denjenigen in der Hauptzone, die die bestehenden historischen Ressourcen enthalten, ahneln.
Erfolgreiche Explorationen in diesem Gebiet konnten zu einer bedeutenden Steigerung der Goldressourcen in diesem Konzessionsgebiet beitragen.
Ziel Nr. 2: Bodenprobenahmen im Umfeld der nordwestlichen Erweiterungszone.
Um die Datenlucke in diesem Bereich zu schlieen, werden in bestimmten Gebieten im Umfeld der nordwestlichen Erweiterung Bodenprobenahmen stattfinden. Entlang eines 50 m x 100 m Rasters werden uber einer Flache von 1.500 mal 1.000 Metern insgesamt etwa 250 bis 300 Bodenproben entnommen.
Ziel dieser Probenahmen ist die Suche nach Mineralisierung in der Erdschicht, um in diesem Gebiet andere mineralisiertr Strukturen zu identifizieren.
Aus den positiven Ergebnissen konnten sich Zielgebiete fur Anschlussbohrungen im Rahmen zukunftiger Explorationsprogramme ableiten lassen.
Ziel Nr. 3: Flusssediment- und Bodenprobenahmen, Schurfungen und Kartierungen entlang des sudlichen Schenkels der Eureka-Synklinale.
Im Zuge einer 2016 durchgefuhrten Auswertung der geophysikalischen Messungen aus dem Jahr 2007 wurde das Vorhandensein der leitfahigen elektromagnetischen Messwerte als Hinweis auf ein Sedimentgesteinspaket entlang des sudostlichen Schenkels der Eureka-Synklinale gewertet, das mit dem Muttergestein der Goldmineralisierung in der Hauptzone vergleichbar ist.
Zweck des Programms ist die Abgrenzung und Erschlieung von Zielgebieten fur zukunftige Bohrungen in diesem neuen Bereich des Konzessionsgebiets, der das Potenzial bietet, die Goldressourcen im Konzessionsgebiet deutlich zu steigern.
Im Bereich der sudostlichen Erweiterung der Hauptzone und im Muldenbereich Eureka werden ebenfalls Schurfungen und Kartierungen stattfinden.
Das Explorationsprogramm mit einem Budget von 500.000 $ wird im Laufe des Sommers 2017 durchgefuhrt.
Karte Nr. 1: Explorationsziele 2017 http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2017/38747/NR 2017 04_DEPRcom.001.png
Kristian Whitehead P.Geo. ist die Qualified Person des Unternehmens gema NI 43-101 fur diese Pressemitteilung und hat die technischen Daten in dieser Pressemitteilung gepruft und genehmigt.
Weitere Informationen zu Eureka finden Sie auf der Webseite des Unternehmens, www.eurekaresourcesinc.com, und unter www.sedar.com oder erhalten Sie uber Michael Sweatman, President und CEO, oder Bob Ferguson per E-Mail an info@eurekaresourcesinc.com oder unter der Rufnummer (604) 449-2273.
Vorsorglicher Hinweis bezuglich zukunftsgerichteter Informationen:
Diese Pressemeldung enthalt bestimmte zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen im Sinne der geltenden kanadischen Wertpapiergesetze, bei denen es sich nicht um historische Tatsachen handelt. Zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen sind Risiken, Unsicherheiten und anderen Faktoren unterworfen, die eine deutliche Abweichung der eigentlichen Ergebnisse, Leistungen, Aussichten und Gelegenheiten von den in den zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen explizit oder implizit zum Ausdruck gebrachten Erwartungen bewirken konnen. Die zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen in dieser Pressemitteilung beinhalten, jedoch nicht darauf beschrankt, Aussagen hinsichtlich der geplanten Finanzierungen, Ziele und zukunftigen Erweiterungsplane des Unternehmens beim Projekt Gemini und dem FG Projekt; der Kosten der geplanten Explorationsprogramme des Unternehmens; der Absicht des Unternehmens, zusatzliche Tranchen im Rahmen des Angebots abzuschlieen; sowie des Geschafts und der Betriebe des Unternehmens. Zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen beruhen zwangslaufig auf einer Anzahl an Schatzungen und Annahmen, die zwar als angemessen erachtet werden, jedoch bekannten und unbekannten Risiken, Unsicherheiten und anderen Faktoren unterliegen, die eine deutliche Abweichung der eigentlichen Ergebnisse und zukunftigen Ereignisse von den in den zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen explizit oder implizit zum Ausdruck gebrachten Erwartungen bewirken konnen. Solche Faktoren beinhalten unter anderem - jedoch ohne Einschrankung: die Unfahigkeit, zusatzliche Tranchen im Rahmen des Angebots abzuschlieen; allgemeine geschaftliche, wirtschaftliche und soziale Ungewissheiten; Rechtstreitigkeiten; rechtliche, umweltbezogene und andere juristische, behordliche, politische oder wettbewerbsbezogene Entwicklungen; Verzogerungen oder die Unfahigkeit, Genehmigungen des Boards oder der Behorden zu erhalten; sowie andere Angelegenheiten, die in dieser Pressemitteilung beschrieben werden. Diese zusatzlichen Risiken werden in den offentlichen Dokumenten des Unternehmens beschrieben, die auf SEDAR unter www.sedar.com veroffentlicht wurden. Obwohl das Unternehmen der Ansicht ist, dass die Annahmen und Faktoren, die den zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen zugrunde liegen, vernunftig sind, sollte man sich nicht auf diese Aussagen verlassen, da diese nur zum Zeitpunkt der Veroffentlichung dieser Pressemitteilung gelten und keine Gewahrleistung abgegeben werden kann, dass solche Ereignisse in den angegebenen Zeitrahmen bzw. uberhaupt eintreten werden. Das Unternehmen beabsichtigt nicht und ist auch nicht verpflichtet, zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen zu aktualisieren oder zu uberarbeiten - weder infolge neuer Informationen noch infolge zukunftiger Ereignisse -, sofern dies nicht gesetzlich vorgeschrieben ist.
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ISIN CA2986551018
AXC0174 2017-01-31/14:55
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2017) - Bearing Resources Ltd. (TSXV: BRZ) ("Bearing" or the "Company") is pleased to announce, with Li3 Energy Inc. ("Li3"), that on January 27, 2017 they entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the "Agreement") under which Bearing has agreed to acquire Li3.
Pursuant to the Agreement, a newly-formed wholly owned subsidiary of Bearing will merge with and into Li3 (the "Merger"), with Li3 surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bearing. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of Li3 common stock will be converted into the right to receive common shares of Bearing based upon an aggregate of 16 million Bearing common shares issuable for the Li3 common stock.
As a result, the approximately 16 million common shares of Bearing that the Li3 stockholders will receive will represent approximately 43% of the issued and outstanding shares and voting power of the combined company after giving effect to the Merger. Holders of options and warrants to purchase Li3 common stock will receive options and warrants to purchase common shares of Bearing in exchange for their Li3 options and warrants, as adjusted based on the exchange ratio of Li3 common stock to Bearing common stock in the Merger, but otherwise on the same terms and conditions as in the original Li3 options and warrants.
Jeremy Poirier, the President of Bearing, stated: "We are excited to finalize our agreement with Li3 Energy. Now that this important step has been completed we can focus on closing the transaction while we work with our new partners to move this world class project forward".
In addition, Patrick Cussen, Chairman of the Board of Li3 Energy commented: "This is an important step for Li3 and its shareholders. It is an exciting time for lithium and particularly in Chile. Our Maricunga project has been advancing well on the current exploration program. It is the most advanced development project in Chile and showing very good exploration results. We look forward to working with the Bearing team and our partners to advance this world class project."
Bearing's Agreement with Li3 Energy Inc. will enable it to acquire an interest in an advanced advanced-stage Maricunga project located in Chile (the "Maricunga Project"), which represents one of the highest-grade development opportunities in the Americas. Assuming completion of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, Bearing will have an undivided 17.7% interest in the project with all expenditures through to the delivery of a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) fully-funded by its joint-venture partners. The Maricunga Project has had in excess of US$25 million of exploration to date. Bearing currently holds a portfolio of prospective, grass-roots exploration projects in gold district of the Yukon near Golden Predator.
The transactions are subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and of the shareholders of Li3 and, if required, of Bearing.
Key Transaction Details
Li3 will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Current Report") and Bearing will file a Material Change Report with the Canadian Securities Commissions (the "Material Change Report"), in each case with respect to the Merger. The Current Report will be available for review at www.sec.gov, and the Material Change Report will be available for review at www.sedar.com. The information in this press release is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Current Report, the Material Change Report and the Agreement included as an exhibit to such reports.
Advisors
Macdonald Tuskey served as legal counsel to Bearing, and Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP served as Li3's legal counsel.
Signed "Jeremy Poirier"
Jeremy Poirier, Director President and CEO
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Jeremy Poirier-- President and CEO Bearing Resources - Telephone: 1- 604-262-8835
The Merger cannot close until all of the conditions have been satisfied and there can be no certainty that the Merger will be completed, either as presently proposed, or at all.
Important Information For Investors And Stockholders
This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This communication relates to a proposed business combination between Li3 Energy, Inc. ("Li3") and Bearing Resources Ltd. ("Bearing"). In connection with this proposed business combination, Li3 and/or Bearing will file relevant materials with the Securities Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities ("Canadian Securities Commissions"), including a Bearing registration statement on Form F-4 or S-4 that will include a proxy statement of Li3 and constitute a prospectus of Bearing. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF Li3 AND BEARING ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC AND THE CANADIAN SECURITIES COMMISSIONS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Any definitive proxy statement (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of Li3. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Li3 and/or Bearing through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov and, in the case of documents of Bearing filed with the Canadian Securities Commissions, on Bearing's SEDAR profile on www.sedar.com. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Li3 will be available free of charge on Li3's website at www.li3energy.com or by contacting Li3's Investor Relations Department by email info@li3energy.com. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC and the Canadian Securities Commissions by Bearing will be available free of charge on Bearing's website at www.bearingresources.ca or by contacting Bearing's Investor Relations Department by email at Skoyich@briscocapital.com or by phone at (403) 619-2200.
Participants in the Merger
Li3, Bearing, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Li3 in connection with the Merger. Information regarding the officers and directors of Li3 is set forth in Li3's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on October 7, 2016. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will also be included in the registration statement on Form F4 or S-4 (and will be included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the Merger) and other relevant documents filed with the SEC.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Information
Certain statements in this news release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that may not be based on historical fact, but instead relate to future events, including without limitation statements containing the words "believe", "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding: the ability of Bearing and Li3 to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Agreement; the anticipated benefits of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, including the Merger; and statements regarding the operation of each of Li3 and Bearing's businesses, including the interest in mineral properties to be acquired by virtue of the Merger.
Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions regarding the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the conditions contained in the Agreement; the successful development and/or commercialization of Li3 and Bearing's respective products, including the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals; general economic conditions; that the parties' respective businesses are able to operate as anticipated without interruptions; competitive conditions; and changes in laws, rules and regulations applicable to Li3 and Bearing. Although management of Li3 and Bearing believe that the assumptions made and expectations represented by such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement contained herein will prove to be accurate. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein and even if such actual results and developments are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences or effects. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include: non-completion of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, including due to the parties failing to receive the necessary shareholder, stock exchange and regulatory approvals or the inability of the parties to satisfy in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms the necessary conditions; the failure to successfully develop or commercialize the parties' respective products; adverse changes in general economic conditions or applicable laws, rules and regulations; and other factors detailed from time to time in each of Li3 and Bearing's periodic disclosure. Given these risks, uncertainties and factors, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are based on the parties' current expectations and neither party undertakes an obligation to revise or update such forward looking statements and information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.
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.
ORLANDO, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- Fattmerchant, a merchant services provider saving businesses thousands with its subscription-based model, today announces its partnership with Axiom Bank, a federally chartered community bank, also headquartered in Central Florida. As a result of the partnership, Fattmerchant is working with Axiom Bank as its preferred merchant services provider, offering flat rate payment processing to its many customers, focusing on small business needs.
"We share a similar goal with Axiom Bank: providing small businesses in our community with the resources they need to grow their business, and increase their bottom line along the way," said Suneera Madhani, CEO and founder of Fattmerchant. "Many business owners are spending too much money on monthly merchant processing invoices, which are often more expensive than they should be. Our goal is to reduce the number of companies overpaying and our partnership with Axiom Bank will seamlessly incorporate affordable payment processing into everyday finances, putting more money into businesses' pockets."
Axiom Bank provides retail banking services to its 20 branch locations, 19 of which are inside select Walmart Supercenters throughout Florida. Small business customers using Axiom Bank will now be recommended to choose Fattmerchant as their merchant services provider, reducing variable fees on credit card processing by offering zero markups. Fattmerchant and Axiom Bank are focused on helping small businesses succeed by providing state of the art technology, revenue-generating tools and access to the true cost of interchange. For a flat monthly membership, Fattmerchant decreases monthly costs by cutting markups, surcharges, or ancillary fees to the interchange rates of Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
"We share Fattmerchant's commitment to provide customers with affordable merchant processing, ensuring our customers are improving their return each month, and reducing unnecessary spending on exorbitant bills," said Daniel Davis, President and CEO of Axiom Bank. "Small business owners are seeking convenience, clarity and trustworthy services, and that's what they'll find with this partnership. We are looking forward to working with Fattmerchant to help our customers succeed."
For more information about Fattmerchant visit, www.fattmerchant.com.
About Fattmerchant
Fattmerchant is a subscription-based merchant service provider offering unlimited payment processing at direct cost for a flat monthly membership and no contract. Suneera Madhani, CEO of Fattmerchant, founded the company in 2014 after working in the credit card processing industry for years, wanting to sell a product that customers would be excited about. Fattmerchant offers three plans, starting at $69 a month without adding mark-ups or other fees, and providing free equipment.
About Axiom Bank
Axiom Bank, a federally chartered community bank, provides customer-centric service with flexible financial solutions for consumers and businesses. Axiom Bank has a rich history of serving local communities, dating back to 1963 and is headquartered in Maitland, Florida. Central Florida's second-largest community bank, Axiom has 20 banking centers, including 19 in select Walmart Supercenters to conveniently serve local communities. Axiom Bank also specializes in commercial loans for both real estate and business purposes, as well as treasury management and other merchant services. In addition, Axiom Bank sponsors prepaid debit card programs offered by third-party program managers. As part of its commitment to exceed customers' expectations and deliver superior financial solutions, Axiom Bank is constantly working to expand the services and products it provides to the communities it serves.
Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
Media Contact
Jessica Garcia
Uproar PR for Fattmerchant
321-236-0102
Email Contact
ORLANDO, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- Solodev today announces its web experience software solution is optimized to meet the unique needs of churches and other religious organizations. Relying on their websites to easily share large amounts of content with their congregations, churches, temples, monasteries, mosques and similar places of worship are increasingly looking for next generation websites to enhance their online presence and grow their spiritual family. With the Solodev platform, religious organizations of all sizes can build beautiful, powerful websites with unparalleled security and scalability -- without compromising design.
Recently, Solodev partnered with Bridgeway Community Church (BCC), a non-denominational, multicultural fellowship located in Columbia, Maryland, to launch its new website. Designed, built and hosted on Solodev's web experience platform, the new site features cutting-edge design and accessibility that connects the organization with its local community and site visitors around the world.
"After attracting worldwide attention based on our bridge-building principles, we knew that Bridgeway needed a new website that matched its image and message. We also needed a solution that could better accommodate the growth and success we're experiencing," said Tim Simms, Director of Technology and Internet Services at Bridgeway Community Church. "After partnering with Solodev, we're thrilled by the results -- a highly dynamic website, boasting a beautiful design, engaging content and compelling multimedia. Regardless of how they reach our website, we are proud of the experience we now provide our viewers."
BCC's newly-redesigned website is mobile responsive and built with tools that empower the church's team to own their digital experience -- making them completely self-sufficient. Advanced features include a dynamic homepage scheduler, a live broadcast of BCC's services on the homepage, and a dynamic testimonials section. Backed by the rock solid infrastructure of Amazon Web Services tools such as EC2 and CloudFront, BCC now has a cutting-edge design and the infrastructure to support it.
"Overall, religious organizations are behind the times when it comes to their digital presence. Many have old, static websites that no longer serve the organization's needs or the needs of their community," said Shawn Moore, CTO at Solodev. "Our partnership with BCC highlights our ability to collaborate remotely and scale to meet our client's needs. It also showcases Solodev's total design freedom which allows BCC to remain true to its unique message -- and makes that message accessible to a much wider audience."
In addition to Solodev being optimized for religious organizations, the web experience software company identifies five website trend predictions for the industry in 2017:
1. Mobile compatibility: According to the Pew Research Center, 77 percent of U.S. adults own a smartphone, and that number continues to rise. With a majority of the country utilizing smart devices to access the internet, churches must remain accessible and relevant by updating their websites to be mobile compatible.
2. Video integration: As churches adopt live broadcasts of their services, it's imperative that the video is featured in a prominent place on their website's homepage so that it can easily be found by visitors. By integrating live broadcasts with API services, anyone in the world can tune into a church's service from any device with internet capabilities.
3. Empower back-end users: Churches can empower their staff to become completely self-sufficient and own their digital experience by choosing a solution that is easy to operate for the back-end user. Such solutions offer time-saving tools like a multimedia scheduler, which schedules large amounts of content efficiently, and a custom landing page manager, which allows the team to easily build landing pages with content tailored to different audiences.
4. Moving to the cloud: With cybersecurity threats on the rise, churches should look for solutions that are built on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud to avoid data breaches that could put the organization and congregation members' sensitive data at risk. In addition to offering world-class security, AWS drastically increases the delivery speed of a church's site and quickly auto-scales capacity up and down as their computing requirements change.
5. Push for engagement: Churches must identify their desired call to action and make sure it's located in a prominent place on their website homepage. Additionally, increased engagement can also come from creative strategies like a story room where congregation members can share their stories online and a dynamic testimonials section.
For more information about Solodev, visit www.solodev.com.
PR Contact
Melissa Landy
Uproar PR for Solodev
Email Contact
(321) 236-0102 x233
DENVER, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- New Age Beverages Corporation (OTC PINK: NBEV) the Colorado-based Company that markets the brands XingTea, Aspen Pure Rocky Mountain Water, Bucha Live Kombucha, Marley One Drop Coffee, and Marley Mellow Mood Relaxation Drinks, today announced that it has appointed five new independent Board of Directors to strengthen shareholder representation, improve governance and to help guide the strategic direction of the firm through its next phase of the growth and evolution.
Joining the New Age Board are five new Directors including Ed Brennan, Greg Fea, Tim Haas, Dr. Reginald Kapteyn, and David Vautrin.
Ed Brennan is currently the owner and CEO of Beak and Skiff, a family-owned major apple orchard and beverage production operation in Lafayette, New York. Ed is also the former Chairman and CEO of Duty Free Stores, and the former CMO of Macy's.
Greg Fea is currently the Managing Partner of Global Solutions Consulting. Greg is also the former Vice-Chairman, CEO, and President of Illy Caffe, a $400 million coffee company with operations across 140 countries. He also led the North American business of Danone, which included the Evian, Volvic and Dannon brands.
Tim Haas is the former Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola Foods, the former CEO of The Minute Maid Company, and the former Group President of Coca-Cola Latin America. Following retirement from Coca-Cola in the mid 2000's, he started an investment management company and been involved in numerous public and private ventures.
Dr. Reginald Kapteyn is business owner and board certified practicing physician at OAM in Michigan where he is also their Director of Pain Management. He is a Director and owner of Vivitris Life Sciences, Inc., and a Director of Product Development at HydroCision, Inc. Dr. Kapteyn is also the former Medical Director at Drake University, and completed his fellowship and is published at the NIH (National Institutes of Health).
David Vautrin is currently the Chief Executive Officer of XFit Brands, Inc. a public company and an advisor to the DeBeukelaer Corporation, maker of Pirouline Cookies. Mr. Vautrin is also the former Chief Marketing Officer of Cott Corporation. Prior to Cott, Mr. Vautrin was the founder and majority owner of Pacific Chai, a Company he later sold to HP Hood.
As part of the appointment of the new Board of Directors, former Directors Julie Anderson and Simon Majumdar have resigned from the Board. Both Ms. Anderson and Mr. Majumdar provided critical leadership in the evolution of the firm from American Brewing to Bucha, Inc. to New Age Beverages. Both Neil Fallon and Brent Willis will remain on the Board, and in their current roles as Executive Chairman and CEO respectively.
Brent David Willis, Chief Executive Officer of New Age Beverages Corporation and a former senior executive with AB InBev and the Coca-Cola Company commented, "We are extremely fortunate to have such an esteemed group of leaders sign up to help guide our Company as we embark on our next phase of growth. They all bring global experience and unique skills within Consumer Goods, Beverages, Retail, and Health Sciences. We are humbled and honored to have them join our Company, and express our sincerest gratitude to Julie Anderson and Simon Majumdar for their loyal and dedicated work during their tenure as Directors."
About New Age Beverages Corporation (OTC PINK: NBEV)
New Age Beverages Corporation is a Colorado-based, healthy functional beverage company originally founded in 2003 and re-created via the combination of XingTea, Aspen Pure Rocky Mountain Water, Bucha Live Kombucha, and New Age Beverages in June 2016. In October 2016, the Company signed a management agreement to take over the Marley One Drop RTD Coffee, and Marley Mellow Mood Relaxation Drinks brands. The Company trades under the symbol NBEV on the OTC exchange. The Company competes in the fast growing healthy functional beverage segments including Ready to Drink (RTD) Tea, RTD Coffee, Kombucha, Energy Drinks, Relaxation Drinks and Functional Waters. The Company's brands are sold across all 50 states within the US and in more than 10 countries internationally across all channels via direct and store door distribution systems. The company operates the websites www.newagebev.us, www.mybucha.com, www.xingtea.com, www.aspenpure.com, and www.drinkmarley.com.
Safe Harbor Disclosure
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are any statement reflecting management's current expectations regarding future results of operations, economic performance, financial condition and achievements of the Company including statements regarding New Age Beverage's expectation to see continued growth. The forward-looking statements are based on the assumption that operating performance and results will continue in line with historical results. Management believes these assumptions to be reasonable but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerning future performance are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. New Age Beverages competes in a rapidly growing and transforming industry, and other factors disclosed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission might affect the Company's operations. Unless required by applicable law, New Age Beverages undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Websites: www.newagebev.us
www.mybucha.com
www.xingtea.com
www.aspenpure.com
www.drinkmarley.com
For investor inquiries about New Age Beverages Corporation please contact:
Amato and Partners, LLC
Investor Relations Counsel
admin@amatoandpartners.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Acting US attorney general Sally Yates, who refused to enforce Donald Trump's controversial travel ban, has been sacked. She has been replaced by Dana J. Boente, who will serve until Trump nominee Senator Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the Senate. Immediately after taking over, Boente clarified that she found the Executive Order 'lawful on its face and properly drafted,' and rescinded Yates' guidance. Prior to this appointment, Boente had been serving as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Citing security concerns, Trump had Friday suspended the entire U.S. refugee program for four months and banned for 90 days entry into the U.S. of nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somali, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, which are predominantly Muslim countries. Monday, Yates issued a memorandum barring Department of Justice Attorneys from presenting arguments in defense of the President's Executive Order titled 'Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.' The White House responded by delivering by hand notice of her dismissal at night. 'The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States,' said a statement issued by White House press secretary Sean Spicer. 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.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA and LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- MOVE Guides, helping HR teams move their employees around the world -- for any reason, any policy and any location -- today announced that founder and CEO Brynne Kennedy was honored as the winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year at the Women in IT Awards 2017. The ceremony, which is the world's largest tech diversity event, was held last week at London's prestigious Great Room venue at Grosvenor House, Park Lane.
MOVE Guides, which Kennedy founded in 2012, is dedicated to bringing together the best in HR technology and global mobility expertise and services. Under Kennedy's leadership, the company's customers experience a 97 percent employee satisfaction rate, as well as a 20 to 30 percent increase in their HR team's efficiency. Kennedy has directed MOVE Guides' tremendous growth, more than doubling its global team over the past year alone. The company has been recognized for its accomplishments through various industry and leadership awards, including being named the Best Enterprise Startup at the 2016 Europas.
"The Women in IT Awards recognize the outstanding innovation achieved by women in technology. I want to extend my thanks to the Women in IT Awards for shining a light on the tremendous accomplishments of women in this traditionally male-dominated industry," said Kennedy. "I am humbled to be included among some of the most passionate and visionary female entrepreneurs working in technology today, and it is an honor to be selected as the winner of this year's award. Together, we can serve as role models for the next generation of women leaders, paving the way for greater achievements and contributions than we can possibly imagine."
Organized by business-technology magazine Information Age in partnership with headline sponsor Amazon Web Services, the Women in IT Awards were created in 2015 to tackle the technology industry's disheartening gender imbalance. According to a study from The Tech Partnership, which supports the Women in IT Awards initiative, just 16 percent of the IT industry is made up of women and the gap is worsening. The annual event is intended to showcase the achievements and innovation of women in technology over the last 12 months, identifying new role models and promoting further dialogue around diversity among industry influencers.
Accepting the award on behalf of Kennedy is Meng Muk, MOVE Guides' technical lead. Muk is the most senior female member of the engineering team and brings over 15 years of technical experience to MOVE Guides.
During the event, Ben Rossi, editorial director at Information Age publisher Vitesse Media and founder of the Women in IT Awards and sister event Tomorrow's Tech Leaders Today, commented, "Achieving diversity in technology has remained a priority campaign for Information Age and we've been overwhelmed by how the enormous demand for the Women in IT Awards has seen it double in size in the last 12 months. The fact we're able to bring together 1,000 prominent industry stakeholders to celebrate female tech leadership and identify new role models for young women is testament to how invested people and companies are in this cause, and it's a privilege to host the platform that makes it all happen."
The Women in IT Awards has received resounding support from trade associations, politicians and companies of all sizes and sectors since its launch, and 1,000 of the UK's most prominent business and IT leaders were in attendance at this year's event. Joining Amazon Web Services as sponsors of the Women in IT Awards 2017 were Salesforce, BMC Software, Accenture Security, ADA College, Direct Line Group, EOL IT Services, Ericsson, Equal Experts, Frank Recruitment Group, Informed Solutions, KPMG, Rolls-Royce, Schroders, TeenTech, YOOX Net-A-Porter Group and Zayo.
More information about the Women in IT Awards, including a full list of winners, is available at www.womeninitawards.com.
About the Women in IT Awards
The Women in IT Awards is the world's largest event dedicated to tackling the technology industry's disheartening gender imbalance. It does this by showcasing the achievements and innovation of women in technology, identifying new role models and promoting further dialogue around diversity among industry influencers.
Organized by business-technology magazine Information Age, the Women in IT Awards has gathered resounding support from trade associations, politicians and companies of all sizes and sectors since launching in 2015.
About Vitesse Media
Vitesse Media plc is a leading B2B media business specializing in events, digital activities, data and research for the technology, SME business and high-net-worth investment industries. Its flagship titles include SmallBusiness.co.uk, Growth Company Investor, Information Age, GrowthBusiness.co.uk and What Investment. Vitesse Media is also responsible for a growing portfolio of high-profile events, including The Quoted Company Awards and Women in IT Awards. Vitesse Media is focused on developing innovative products and services while evaluating further business opportunities in the fragmented B2B media space. Vitesse Media is quoted on AIM.
About MOVE Guides
MOVE Guides helps HR teams move their employees around the world -- for any reason, any policy and any location. MOVE Guides partners with leading multinational companies to deliver a full global mobility program across 200 countries with their Talent Mobility Cloud platform, concierge-level support for employees and a global supply chain of partners.
MOVE Guides has offices in the Americas, EMEA and APAC, and is backed by New Enterprise Associates and Notion Capital. For more information, go to: http://www.moveguides.com/ and follow MOVE Guides on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
ORLANDO, FL--(Marketwired - January 31, 2017) - Tijuana Flats, the fast-casual Tex-Mex dining experience with locations in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, is pleased to announce Perry Jones as its vice president of real estate -- a new position within the growing franchise.
In his new role, Jones will utilize his 15 years of experience in the restaurant real estate industry to own, adjust and execute the strategic real estate plan for new store development and for the entire Tijuana Flats real estate portfolio. Jones will lead the strategy for planning and managing the processes of identifying new markets and site selection, including managing internal and external resources for new store locations. Additionally, he will work closely with the board of director's real estate committee to develop a sound and profitable multi-state, multi-year growth strategy.
"As Tijuana Flats continues to expand to new markets both inside and outside of Florida, it is increasingly important for us to strategically select locations that are not only excited about our food, but will also embrace our 'Flat Outrageous' brand," said Larry Ryback, CEO of Tijuana Flats. "Bringing on someone as experienced and as well-versed in new store development as Perry is an exciting moment for us - one that will undoubtedly result in unprecedented company growth. We are thrilled to have him on our team. "
As the former vice president of real estate and development at Rave Restaurant Group, Jones assisted in the development of approximately 85 Pie Five and Pizza Inn locations domestically and internationally during his tenure with the Dallas-based company. An additional 30 locations will open as a result of Jones' efforts following his departure from Rave Restaurant Group.
Jones' new role at Tijuana Flats is effective on January 30, 2017.
About Tijuana Flats
Established in 1995 in Winter Park, Florida, Tijuana Flats is a unique, fast-casual Tex-Mex dining experience featuring superior guest service and fresh, made-to-order food. Tijuana Flats has 125 locations in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The brand has been named to Fast Casual Magazine's 2015 & 2016 Top 100 Movers & Shakers list. For more information on Tijuana Flats, please visit https://tijuanaflats.com/.
About AUA Equity
AUA Private Equity Partners, LLC is a New York-based, operationally-focused, lower middle-market investment firm providing strategic capital to companies in the consumer, media, and business services sectors, with a particular focus on family-owned businesses and companies benefiting from the growth of the U.S. Hispanic population. AUA Equity makes equity investments of $15 to $50 million in companies that generate in excess of $3 million in EBITDA. AUA Equity currently manages over $275 million of capital. For more information on AUA Private Equity, please visit www.auaequity.com.
Media Contact
Lauren Bowes
lbowes@findsomewinmore.com
(407) 722-7843
Aviation Capital Group Corp. ("ACG"), announced today that it has signed long-term lease agreements with LOT Polish Airlines for three new B787-9s. These aircraft are from ACG's order book commitment with Boeing. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered in March 2018.
"ACG is delighted to be partnering with LOT Polish Airlines, one of the premier international airlines in Europe, by providing three widebody aircraft to facilitate their fleet expansion plans," said Khanh T. Tran, CEO of ACG.
Rafal Milczarski, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines stated, "LOT is proud to be the very first airline in Europe whose long haul fleet relies fully on the Dreamliner. After four years in operations, this has proved to be an excellent choice. This aircraft is beloved by our passengers and plays a crucial role in the development of our long haul network. With the 787-9 we will open a new chapter in our history. This aircraft will give as an opportunity to significantly increase the capacity on our existing, most popular routes, in addition to opening new ones."
The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8, offering passenger pleasing features such as large, dimmable windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.
About Aviation Capital Group
Aviation Capital Group is one of the world's premier full service aircraft asset managers with approximately 415 owned, managed and committed aircraft, which are leased to approximately 90 airlines in approximately 40 countries. ACG was founded in 1989 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Life Insurance Company.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170131005585/en/
Contacts:
Aviation Capital Group Corp.
Gordon Grant
Media Relations
+ 1 949 219 4664
gordon.grant@aviationcapital.com
RM OF FRENCHMAN BUTTE NO. 501, SASKATCHEWAN -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are committed to investing in local infrastructure that ensures Canadians and their families have access to modern, reliable wastewater services. These investments safeguard the well-being of residents, protect provincial waterways and preserve local ecosystems.
Today, the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan announced funding for a new wastewater treatment facility in the Rural Municipality of Frenchman Butte. The construction of a new lagoon at a centralized site will better serve residents of this west-central municipality, along with the Village of Paradise Hill and the Town of St. Walburg. This new infrastructure will also improve the reliability and performance of wastewater collection and treatment in the area and protect the local environment, while also accommodating future population growth-effectively doubling the current system's capacity.
The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are each contributing up to $4,166,667 for this project. The Rural Municipality of Frenchman Butte No. 501 will be responsible for all remaining costs of the project, which is also being shared by the Village of Paradise Hill and the Town of St. Walburg. The total eligible project cost is $12.5 million.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada is committed to investing in modern infrastructure that meets the needs of our communities, supports the middle class, and ensures that Canada remains the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family. This important investment in Frenchman Butte will protect the local environment, provide reliable wastewater services for the community's residents, and support population growth and business development in the area."
- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, On behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to investing in local infrastructure and we are proud to be contributing more than $4.1 million toward this important project. The province would like to thank the leadership in these communities for all of their hard work to make projects like this one become a reality."
- The Honourable Donna Harpauer, Minister of Government Relations and Minister Responsible for First Nations, Metis and Northern Affairs
"Thanks to the federal and provincial funding announcement today, the partnership of the Rural Municipality of Frenchman Butte No. 501, the Town of St Walburg and the Village of Paradise Hill looks forward to the construction of a Regional Aerated Lagoon, and related facilities, that will serve our municipalities' waste water treatment needs in an environmentally sustainable manner for many years."
- Bonnie Mills Midgley, Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Frenchman Butte No. 501, On behalf of the municipal project partners
Associated links
Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan: http://www.budget.gc.ca/fes-eea/2016/docs/themes/infrastructure-en.html
Federal infrastructure investments in Saskatchewan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/sk-eng.html
Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component - National and Regional Projects (PTIC-NRP): http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nrp-pnr-prog-eng.html
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada
Contacts:
Brook Simpson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-219-0149
brook.simpson@canada.ca
Dan Palmer
Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations
306-787-7151
dan.palmer@gov.sk.ca
Bonnie Mills Midgley
Rural Municipality of Frenchman Butte No. 501
306-344-7473
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media@infc.gc.ca
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- Editors note: There is an image associated with this release.
For the second consecutive year, Qtrade Investor has been awarded top honours for Canadian self-directed brokerage customer service, as measured by the 2016 Surviscor Service Level Assessment review. The review, now in its 12th year, analyzed over 170 'mystery shopper' service enquiries, per firm, sent between January 1st, 2016 and December 31st, 2016 to over 40 Canadian online brokerage and banking firms. Desjardins Online Brokerage and Scotia iTRADE rounded up the top three.
"Generally speaking, Canadian consumers are offered more customer service alternatives than ever before, including social media and live digital interactions. The troubling fact is that the service levels have fallen for two straight years and not due to the new alternatives being in place," said Glenn LaCoste, President of Surviscor. "Qtrade Investor should be commended for its dominance in the self-directed brokerage industry and its commitment to exceptional service levels," added LaCoste.
"At Qtrade Investor we follow a 'customer first' philosophy and it's gratifying to be recognized for delivering the best customer service among Canada's online brokerages," said Catherine Wood, Senior VP and Head of Online Brokerage, Insurance, Product and Marketing with Qtrade Financial Group, the parent company of Qtrade Investor. "Our team works hard to empower self-managed investors to reach their financial goals with industry-leading tools and resources, competitive pricing, and fast, knowledgeable and accurate customer service."
For the first time in a decade, the banking industry outperformed the self-directed brokerage industry. Based on the average response time for the top five firms in each industry, banks held a three-hour advantage in 2016 - 10 hours to seven. In 2015, self-directed brokerages topped the banks by a four-hour margin - seven hours to 11. In 2016, Qtrade Investor responded on average within two hours, which was five hours better than its nearest brokerage competitor.
Complete rankings can be found at www.surviscor.com for both the brokerage and banking industries.
About Surviscor Inc.
Surviscor is a North American leader in the analysis and ranking of Canadian digital customer experiences provided by service firms. Surviscor's popular digital brokerage and banking reviews are powered by its proprietary scorCard methodology, identifying the BEST and WORST digital customer experiences. All studies and analyses serve as industry benchmarks for consumers and industry participants by identifying digital offerings considered to be leading-edge as compared to the industry standard.
To view the image associated with this release, please click on the following link:
http://www.marketwire.com/library/20170131-SurPIC11.jpg
Contacts:
Surviscor Inc.
Mr. LaCoste
President
(416) 993-1246 mobile or 1-866-299-7267
results@surviscor.com
www.surviscor.com
CHICAGO, 2017-01-31 16:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elements Holdings Group Inc. & Subsidiaries, a leading, Chicago-based professional employer organization (PEO) and Global Employer of Record (EOR) service provider, announced today the addition of Megan Zeeck as Director of Human Resources. In her new role, Megan is responsible for employee relations, culture and the overall development, administration, coordination and execution of Elements' human resource strategies."Our people are at the very core of our business. There are high expectations for this role and I wanted to bring in an individual who could take them in stride," said Rick Hammell, Chief Executive Officer of Elements. "Megan's enthusiasm is contagious and she has a deep understanding of effective HR strategies and solutions that support the bottom line. Our diverse leadership team brings unique perspectives to the table and I'm looking forward to seeing what the New Year has in store."Megan joins Elements from Arabella Advisors, where she quickly progressed from Senior Assistant to the Associate Director of Human Resources. As Associate Director, she was responsible for developing and managing general HR services, firm-wide compensation programs and payroll management, benefits management, and all HRIS data and reporting."The Elements team is a passionate and driven group of individuals and I am excited about the opportunity to work with them," said Megan Zeeck. "I believe human resources plays a large role in a business's growth potential because it manages the company's most valuable assets: its people. The ability to meet and exceed business objectives starts with them."Megan earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Montana and holds both the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification and Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification.To learn more about Elements Holdings Group Inc. & Subsidiaries, visit www.elementsgs.com.About Elements Holdings Group Inc. & SubsidiariesCurrently operating in over 135 countries, Elements provides a range of services from traditional PEO to its employer of record services, offering the ability to bridge to international markets for companies of all sizes. With its one-stop HR, multi-country payroll platform and global network of HR specialists, Elements focuses on providing a simplified human resource and employer compliance solution by delivering the key elements for their clients' success worldwide. Elements Global Services and Elements PEO are subsidiaries of Elements Holdings Group Inc. Learn more at www.elementsgs.com & www.elementspeo.com.Contact: Tom Donda Motion PR tom@motionpr.net (312) 329-3971
31 January 2017
KAROO ENERGY PLC
("Karoo Energy" or the "Company")
Interim Results for the Six Months Ended 31 October 2016
And
Notice of AGM
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER STATEMENT
I am pleased to report that the Company has made continued progress over recent months particularly with our exploration programme. We announced recently that exploration work in the Gemsbok Basin covered by the Company's Prospecting Licences EL001/2012 and PL171/2015 has produced results which confirm the geological model for the Company's exploration programme. This model, based on multiple research projects, including deep boreholes and seismic surveys, undertaken by the Department of Geological Survey of Botswana and other published academic works, predicts a deep sedimentary basin, the Gemsbok Basin, infilled by Karoo Supergroup sedimentary rocks underlain by Nama Group sedimentary rocks. Both groups of rock, Karoo and Nama, are known to contain organic shales which form the target for this exploration project. This announcement underlines our commitment to and belief in the potential for shale gas within our portfolio of licences and we are continuing our exploration work and look forward to announcing our progress in due course.
FINANCIALS
The financial results for the six months to 31 October 2016 show a loss after taxation of GBP126,162 (2015: GBP81,231).
OUTLOOK
I am pleased at the exploration results delivered since my last report to shareholders and believe we are making steady progress with our exploration programme on our portfolio of licences in Botswana. We look forward to providing investors with detail on further progress over the coming weeks.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Karoo Energy is pleased to announce that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Peterhouse Corporate Finance Limited, 3rd Floor, New Liverpool House, 15 Eldon Street, London, EC2M 7LD on Tuesday 21 February 2017 at 11.00 a.m.
Notice of the Annual General Meeting has been posted to shareholders and is available on the NEX Exchange Growth Market website at the following link: http://www.nexexchange.com/member'securityid=1317104
Noel Lyons
CEO
29 January 2017
The Directors of Karoo Energy accept responsibility for the content of this announcement.
ENQUIRIES:
Karoo Energy PLC
Noel Lyons
020 3130 0674
Corporate Adviser
Peterhouse Corporate Finance Limited
Guy Miller / Mark Anwyl
020 7469 0930
Consolidated Income Statement for the 6 months ended 31 October
Restated* Notes 2016
Unaudited 2015
Unaudited Revenue Cost of sales - - Gross profit - - Administrative expenses (125,749) (83,979) Operating loss (125,749) (83,979) Finance costs (1,630) (226) Loss before taxation (127,379) (84,205) Taxation 1 - - Minority interests 1,217 2,974 Loss for the financial year attributable to the Company's equity shareholders (126,162) (81,231) Earnings per share from operations Basic and diluted earnings per share () 2 (0.0678) (0.0555)
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the 6 months ended 31 October
Restated* 2016
Unaudited 2015
Unaudited Loss for the financial year (126,162) (81,231) Total comprehensive income for the financial year attributable to the Company's equity shareholders (126,162) (81,231)
*See note 6.
Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 October
Notes 31 October 2016
Unaudited 31 October 2015
Unaudited 30 April 2016
Audited Assets Non-current assets Intangible assets 4 477,051 324,594 362,252 Current assets Receivables 26,244 26,679 19,011 Cash and cash equivalents 168,261 14,482 294,546 194,505 41,161 313,557 Total Assets 671,556 365,755 675,809 Equity and liabilities Capital and reserves Share capital 3 468,306 370,814 450,449 Share premium 1,758,802 525,622 1,576,659 Retained earnings (1,822,896) (719,866) (1,696,734) Shareholders' funds 404,212 176,570 330,374 Minority Interests 4,086 3,948 5,303 408,298 180,518 335,667 Current liabilities: Trade and other payables 263,258 185,236 340,132 Total equity and liabilities 671,556 365,754 675,809
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
Unaudited
Share Share premium Retained Minority Total capital earnings interest For the 6 months ended 31 October 2016 Balance at 1 May 2016 450,449 1,576,659 (1,696,734) 5,303 335,677 Loss for the year - - (126,162) (1,217) (127,379) Total comprehensive income - - (126,162) (1,217) (127,379) Issue of shares 17,857 196,529 - - 214,386 Cost of share issue - (14,386) - - (14,386) Balance at 31 October 2016 468,306 1,758,802 (1,822,896) 4,086 408,298 For the 6 months ended 31 October 2015 Balance at 1 May 2015 362,264 431,572 (638,635) 6,922 162,123 Loss for the year - - (81,231) (2,974) (84,205) Total comprehensive income - - (81,231) (2,974) (84,205) Issue of shares 8,550 94,050 - - 102,600 MI on acquisition - - - - - Share based payments - - - - - Balance at 31 October 2015 370,814 525,622 (719,866) 3,948 180,518
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the 6 months ended 31 October
Restated* Notes 2016
Unaudited 2015
Unaudited Cash flow from operating activities Loss for the financial year before tax (127,379) (84,206) Finance costs 1,630 226 (125,749) (83,980) Changes in working capital (Increase) / decrease in trade and other receivables (7,233) 15,574 (Decrease) / increase in trade and other payables (134,368) 11,334 Cash outflow from operating activities (267,350) (57,072) Cash flow from investing activities Purchase of intangible exploration assets (58,935) (60,198) Net cash used in investing activities (58,935) (60,198) Cash flow from financing activities Issue of shares 214,386 102,600 Costs of share issue (14,386) - Net cash from financing activities 200,000 102,600 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (126,285) (14,670) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of financial period 294,546 29,152 Cash and cash equivalents at end of financial period 168,261 14,482
*See note 6.
Principal Accounting Policies
Basis of preparation
The interim financial statements for Karoo Energy plc have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the audited financial information for the year ended 30 April 2016, which complied with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted for use in the European Union ("IFRS"). The financial information for the periods ended 31 October 2016 and 31 October 2015 is unaudited.
IFRS is subject to amendment and interpretation by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and the IFRS Interpretations Committee and there is an on-going process of review and endorsement by the European Commission.
The financial information has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement requirements of IFRS that the Directors expect to be applicable as at 30 April 2017.
The preparation of condensed consolidated interim financial information requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
In preparing these interim financial statements, the significant judgements made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended30 April 2016.
Notes to the Consolidated Interim Financial Information
1. Taxation
Analysis of charge in year 2016
Unaudited 2015
Unaudited Current tax United Kingdom UK corporation tax on loss for the year - - Adjustments to prior year taxation - - Deferred tax United Kingdom Origination and reversal of temporary differences - - Corporation tax charge - -
The differences are explained as follows: 2016
Unaudited 2015
Unaudited Loss before tax (127,379) (84,206) Loss on ordinary activities multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 20% and 21% (25,476) (17,683) Tax effects of: Expenses not deductible for tax purposes Unrelieved tax losses carried forward 25,476 17,683 Adjustment to tax charge in respect of previous periods - - Changes in tax rates - - Corporation tax charge - -
2. Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to Ordinary Shareholders by the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding during the period.
The Group does not have any potentially dilutive shares in any of the periods presented due to the losses reported, therefore the basic and diluted earnings per share are the same.
Basic earnings per share
2016
Unaudited
2015
Unaudited
Total basic loss per share (0.0678) (0.0555)
The losses and weighted average number of Ordinary Shares used in the calculation of basic earnings per share are as follows:
2016
Unaudited
2015
Unaudited
Loss used in the calculation of total basic and diluted earnings per share (126,162) (81,232)
2016
Unaudited
Number 2015
Unaudited Number Number of shares Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share 186,158,089 146,272,243
3. Share capital
2016
Unaudited 2015
Unaudited Allotted, issued, and fully paid: No No Ordinary shares of 0.0025 each Opening balance 180,179,829 450,449 144,905,504 362,264 Shares issued: 10 July 2015 - shares issued at 3p each resulting in premium of 27,500 - - 1,000,000 2,500.00 30 July 2015 - shares issued at 3p each resulting in premium of 27,500 - - 1,000,000 2,500.00 30 September2015 - shares issued at 3p each resulting in premium of 31,350 - - 1,140,000 2,850.00 7 October2015 - shares issued at 3p each resulting in premium of 7,700 - - 280,000 700 31 May 2016 - shares issued at 3p each resulting in premium net of issue costs of 182,143 7,142,857 17,857 - - 187,322,686 468,306 148,325,504 370,814
As regards income and capital distributions, all categories of shares rank pari passu as if the same constituted one class of share.
4. Intangible assets
Exploration assets Cost & Net book value At 30 April 2016 362,252 Additions 114,799 At 30 October 2016 477,051 At 30 April 2015 214,396 Additions 110,198 At 30 October 2015 324,594
Licence 001/2012 has expired in December 2015 and the renewal application has been lodged with the government of Botswana, which process is anticipated to take several months.
Management do not consider the asset to be impaired at 31 October 2016 as they expect the renewal to be successful.
Financial commitments in relation to licences held:
The Group is required to meet a minimum of exploration activity, with costs dictated under the terms of the licences. These are anticipated to be as follows:
Forecast FYE 2017 Forecast FYE 2018 Forecast FYE 2019 Forecast FYE 2020 Exploration expenses 223,456 1,178,790 2,186,263 956,929
5. Events after the balance sheet date
The following shares have been issued by the Company since the balance sheet date:
Date Number of shares Price per share Funds raised 10 November 2016 378,622 3p 11,358
6. Restatement of prior year comparatives
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - In a series of tweets, US President Donald Trump directed his anger at the Democratic Party over a rally at the steps of The Supreme Court protesting travel ban, and for delaying Attorney General confirmation. 'The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct. Now have an Obama A.G.,' said Trump, who has been complaining against the Democratic Party delaying the confirmation of Jeff Sessions, his nominee for the post of Attorney General. The President was irritated that only a handful of his Cabinet picks have been voted on, a dozen days into his presidency. Only three of Trump's nominees - Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, and CIA Director Mike Pompeo - have been confirmed so far. Trump's 17 nominees to head major departments or agencies are waiting to be confirmed. He blamed Senate Democrats for 'obstructing' them. Trump lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for leading around 250 members of Congress, who staged a rally against travel ban on Middle East, in Washington. 'Nancy Pelosi and Fake Tears Chuck Schumer held a rally at the steps of The Supreme Court and mic did not work (a mess)-just like Dem party!,' Trump said on Twitter, referring to the Monday night rally that drew more than a thousand protesters on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court despite suffering from technical difficulties. 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.
DALLAS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- The CHRON Organization, Inc. (OTC: CHRO), announced today that it has launched its commercial services division under its wholly owned subsidiary Zen Technologies, Inc. (Zen). The Zen Commercial Services initiative has been in a pre-launch mode over the past 3 weeks, however, it is pleased to announced that it has already executed engagement contracts with ten (10) commercial clients. The Company is forecasting to enroll approximately thirty (30) to forty (40) commercial clients during the first quarter of 2017 as part of its pre-launch phase.
Zen's commercial offering is a sophisticated blend of smart controls, security and energy conservation technologies. In addition to its suite of commercial solutions, Zen is also pleased to announce a cutting-edge payment option called the Zero-Cost Program, which allows clients to take full advantage of Zen's commercial offering, while not having to pay anything out of pocket. This is accomplished via a performance-based services contract, with guaranteed savings. CHRON's Chairman, Byron Young, commented, "commercial, industrial and municipal customers can now implement the latest in smart controls, while also making improvements to the bottom line."
The Zero-Cost Program has provided a way for Zen to separate itself from all of its competitors -- alarm/security companies, automation companies, or even energy brokers. It is a financial tool that business owners and decision makers can use to retrofit their businesses, help achieve sustainability goals and increase their net operating income.
"This program is a game changer and is something that we believe will account for approximately fifty percent of our revenue over the next few years," commented CHRON President and Zen CEO, Alex Rodriguez.
Among Zen's first clients is a Texas-based company that owns and manages a fast growing real-estate portfolio encompassing retail, mixed-use, multi-family, grocery chains and healthcare-related assets. Petromark, one of its divisions recently signed over 150 (and counting) convenience stores/gas stations to take full advantage of Zen's commercial services and the Zero-Cost Program. Zen has completed all site surveys and is now in the analytical phase of the sales process, which will be followed by underwriting and then implementation.
"Our early estimates indicate that there will be at least a 35 percent reduction in electricity consumption for Petromark," commented Zen's VP of Business Development, Jeff Bay-Andersen.
Those interested in learning more about the Zero-Cost program can contact Bay-Andersen at jeffb@zenhomeservices.com.
"While the Company is expecting to report a nice revenue jump for the first quarter, it will not be until Q2 and Q3 when we begin to really ramp the program up that we will see materially-significant revenue levels," Rodriguez said.
ABOUT ZEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Zen Technologies, Inc. (Zen) is a 21st century home services company whose mission is to bring all the benefits of the "Smart Home" to millions of homeowners and apartment dwellers across the United States. Zen provides a custom, "concierge solution," for each of our consumers, featuring the most modern and effective products and solutions for home automation, security and monitoring. Zen combines our exclusive and customizable product solutions with green energy services, which allows our consumers to save money on their monthly energy costs, while reducing their long-term carbon footprint. To learn more, visit www.zenhomeservices.com
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "should," "intend," "estimate," "projects," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the company's filings at www.OTCMarkets.com
INVESTORS & MEDIA CONTACT:
The CHRON Organization, Inc.
Email: investors@chronhomeservices.com
Phone: (469) 626-5275
Fax: (469) 626-5101
BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- TimeTrade, a leading provider of appointment-driven personalization, today announced it has launched TimeTrade Scheduler on the Salesforce AppExchange, empowering businesses to connect with their customers, partners and employees in entirely new ways. TimeTrade customers can now book and receive meetings from within Salesforce to generate more qualified leads, hold more conversations and close deals faster.
Built on the Salesforce App Cloud, Scheduler is currently available on the AppExchange at https://appexchange.salesforce.com/listingDetail?listingId=a0N3A00000E1l39UAB.
It is one of the only appointment scheduling and customer engagement solutions enterprises can use directly within their existing Salesforce pages and workflows. Scheduler enables users to leverage the power and experience of Salesforce -- the CRM vendor of choice for millions of other enterprises -- in a whole new way. This video provides additional information about Scheduler.
Customer Benefits
Marketing teams can use Scheduler for Salesforce to:
Fill the funnel with more qualified inbound leads through your website or social media. Offer a compelling call to action -- including a guaranteed time to meet with a sales representative -- to prospects who are ready to engage.
Help sales quickly connect with ready prospects by integrating appointment-scheduling links into outbound marketing campaigns, including email blasts and nurture programs.
Track campaign attribution using Google Analytics and Salesforce Campaign compatibility to measure the effectiveness of your lead-generation efforts.
Sales teams can use Scheduler for Salesforce to:
Easily pull in the critical resources needed to close a deal by booking meetings in Salesforce on behalf of prospects and customer for either yourself or a colleague.
Eliminate calling, chasing and waiting for prospects and customers to respond, by inviting them to self-schedule appointments with you.
Speed the sales cycle by accessing the capabilities of TimeTrade without ever leaving Salesforce.
Make finding a time to meet a frictionless, one-step process directly from email signatures.
Spend less time scheduling meetings and more time selling.
Book meetings with prospects even when you aren't working, by giving them a link to self-schedule meetings at their convenience.
"Marketing and sales teams face many challenges as they work to turn prospects into customers," said Gary Ambrosino, CEO of TimeTrade. "Now with Scheduler, they have one less challenge when it comes to engaging with customers right from Salesforce -- the CRM platform they already rely on. TimeTrade shares Salesforce's commitment to helping businesses drive more sales by personalizing the customer engagement experience. Adding Scheduler to the AppExchange provides companies with another powerful tool to close more deals faster."
Kori O'Brien, SVP, App Innovation Partner Sales, Salesforce, said: "Companies are looking to transform the way they connect with customers, partners and employees to thrive in the age of the customer. By leveraging the power of the Salesforce App Cloud, TimeTrade provides customers with an exciting new way to leverage their investment in Salesforce by adding the ability to schedule meetings right from their leads and contacts."
About Salesforce AppExchange
Salesforce AppExchange is the world's leading enterprise apps marketplace that empowers companies to sell, service, market and engage in entirely new ways. With 3,000 partner apps and more than 3.5 million customer installs, it is the most comprehensive source of cloud, mobile, social, IoT and data science technologies for businesses.
About TimeTrade
TimeTrade creates conversations that drive business. The company equips businesses to provide personalized service to every customer, every time, creating a service guarantee that improves customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention, and increases sales growth. TimeTrade's leading-edge Customer Engagement Cloud, an enterprise platform delivered through a worldwide cloud-hosting network, provides omnichannel and mobile application tools for managing the most critical part of the customer journey: the live conversation. It includes several tightly integrated modules for online appointment scheduling, queue management, and data-rich analytics and reports. The company's patented cloud technology is SOC 2 level 3 compliant and scales to meet the demands of the largest multinational enterprises as well as mid-size and small businesses. More than 500 of the world's most successful brands -- including the largest banks, retailers, sales organizations and healthcare systems -- rely on TimeTrade to power their live customer conversations and improve the customer experience, in person, by phone or online.
TimeTrade is a registered trademark of TimeTrade Systems, Inc.
Salesforce, App Cloud, AppExchange and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, Inc.
Media Contacts:
Kevin Flanagan
TimeTrade
781-856-2589
kflanagan@timetrade.com
Laura MacSweeney
George Cohen Communications
339-221-0614
laura@gccpr.com
DENVER, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- In the news release, "Ubiquitech Pays Down $65,000 Debt since January 1st, 2016; Anticipates Continuing This Trend of Debt Repayment Throughout the Year," issued earlier today by Ubiquitech Software Corp. (OTC PINK: UBQU), we are advised by the company that the headline should read, "Ubiquitech Pays Down $65,000 Debt Since January 1, 2017; Anticipates Continuing This Trend of Debt Repayment Throughout the Year." Complete corrected text follows.
Ubiquitech Pays Down $65,000 Debt Since January 1, 2017; Anticipates Continuing This Trend of Debt Repayment Throughout the Year
DENVER, CO -- Jan 31, 2017 -- Ubiquitech Software Corp. (OTC PINK: UBQU) is pleased to announce that it has successfully paid down $65,000 of debt through excess cash flow. The company will continue with this process throughout the year as it monitors the best use of cash in the coming quarters.
This previously incurred debt was used for research and development, inventory reserve, and marketing. Paying off this debt gives the company additional monthly positive cash flow and helps improve the company balance sheet moving forward.
"We are very happy to have this portion of debt behind us now," said James Ballas, CEO "and moving forward this increases our monthly cash flow that can be accumulated to purchase inventory or pay down additional debt as we manage the additional growth of the company. We will continue to do what is best for the company's growth, our customers, our stock, and our shareholders, and we will always to operate in this manner."
The company continues to position itself for accelerated growth quarter over quarter and successful debt management is an integral component to company growth.
About Ubiquitech (HempLife Today)
Ubiquitech Software Corp, through its subsidiaries is a dynamic multi-media, multi-faceted corporation utilizing state-of-the-art global internet marketing, Direct Response (DRTV) Television, Radio, and traditional marketing, to drive traffic to the new and emerging multi-billion dollar industries like its subsidiary HempLifeToday.com
HempLifeToday focuses on the exciting and dynamic new thinking in the world today that recognizes the important health and life enriching enhancement that CBD Oil from the Hemp plant can bring. Through its network of quality USA growers HempLifeToday.com has developed multiple and proprietary CannazALL CBD oil products that include; It's popular CBD Tinctures, Oils, GelCaps, CBD Powder, Skin Salve, Wax Crumble, and e-liquid, all offered @ www.HempLifeToday.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects", "intends', "believes', and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, the ability to secure additional sources of finance, the ability to reduce operating expenses, and other factors described in the Company's filings with the OTC Markets Group. The actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward- looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances
Contact:
Investor Relations
Joe Sirianni
MIDAM Ventures, LLC
305-707-7018
joe@midamir.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Senate Democrats boycotted a committee meeting on two of President Donald Trump's controversial Cabinet nominees, delaying the confirmation votes. Democrats refused to participate in the hearing in the Senate Finance Committee, which had been scheduled to vote on Congressman Tom Price's, R-Ga., nomination as Health And Human Services Secretary and Steve Mnuchin's nomination as Treasury Secretary. At least one Democrat must be present for the committee to vote, forcing Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to reschedule the votes. The Democrats accused both Price and Mnuchin of making misleading statements and holding back important information about their backgrounds. 'I asked Congressman Price directly if he got an exclusive discount on stock in an Australian biomedical firm, and he said no,' said Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the committee's top Democrat. 'From the committee's investigation to company documents to the company officials' own words, the evidence tells a different story. It looks more and more like Congressman Price got special access to a special deal.' 'Mr. Mnuchin denied that OneWest Bank under his leadership engaged in robo-signing foreclosure documents, but that is indisputably false,' he added. 'Court documents and testimony show that OneWest employees processed hundreds of documents a week, spending only seconds on each, and they routinely did so without verifying their contents. What OneWest did is the textbook definition of shady robo-signing practices.' Wyden said Democrats believe the committee should not move forward with Price and Mnuchin's nominations until questions are answered. Hatch lashed out at the Democrats for the maneuver, accusing his colleagues from the other side of the aisle of 'acting like idiots.' 'This is the most pathetic thing I've seen in my whole time in the United States Senate,' Hatch said. 'They ought to be embarrassed.' Hatch argued that the Democrats were only seeking to block Price and Mnuchin's nominations due to their opposition to Trump. 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.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Gold futures surged Tuesday as stocks tumbled for second straight session. Gold's safe haven appeal has been in effect as markets have grown anxious about the Trump administration's immigration and trade policies. March gold was up $15 at $1211 an ounce. It was the biggest monthly gain for gold since June. Trump suspended the entire U.S. refugee program for four months and banned for 90 days entry into the U.S. of nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somali, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, which are predominantly Muslim countries. The Conference Board released a report on Tuesday showing a drop in consumer confidence in the month of January. The consumer confidence index fell to 111.8 in January from a revised 113.3 in December. Economists had expected the index to dip to 112.2. Chicago-area business activity was nearly flat in the month of January, according to a report released by MNI Indicators on Tuesday. MNI Indicators said its Chicago business barometer dropped to 50.3 in January from a revised 53.9 in December, hitting its lowest level since last May. The Bank of Japan raised its economic growth forecasts on Tuesday, but kept its policy stance unchanged 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.
Santiago, Chile--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2017) - Li3 Energy, Inc. (OTCQB: LIEG) ("Li3") is pleased to announce, with Bearing Resources Ltd. ("Bearing"), that on January 27, 2017 they entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the "Agreement") under which Bearing has agreed to acquire Li3.
Pursuant to the Agreement, a newly-formed wholly owned subsidiary of Bearing will merge with and into Li3 (the "Merger"), with Li3 surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bearing. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of Li3 common stock will be converted into the right to receive common shares of Bearing based upon an aggregate of 16 million Bearing common shares issuable for the Li3 common stock.
As a result, the approximately 16 million common shares of Bearing that the Li3 stockholders will receive will represent approximately 43% of the issued and outstanding shares and voting power of the combined company after giving effect to the Merger. Holders of options and warrants to purchase Li3 common stock will receive options and warrants to purchase common shares of Bearing in exchange for their Li3 options and warrants, as adjusted based on the exchange ratio of Li3 common stock to Bearing common stock in the Merger, but otherwise on the same terms and conditions as in the original Li3 options and warrants.
Jeremy Poirier, the President of Bearing, stated: "We are excited to finalize our agreement with Li3 Energy. Now that this important step has been completed we can focus on closing the transaction while we work with our new partners to move this world class project forward."
In addition, Patrick Cussen, Chairman of the Board of Li3 Energy commented: "This is an important step for Li3 and its shareholders. It is an exciting time for lithium and particularly in Chile. Our Maricunga project has been advancing well on the current exploration program. It is the most advanced development project in Chile and showing very good exploration results. We look forward to working with the Bearing team and our partners to advance this world class project."
The transactions are subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and of the shareholders of Li3 and, if required, of Bearing.
Key Transaction Details
Li3 will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Current Report") and Bearing will file a Material Change Report with the Canadian Securities Commissions (the "Material Change Report"), in each case with respect to the Merger. The Current Report will be available for review at www.sec.gov, and the Material Change Report will be available for review at www.sedar.com. The information in this press release is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Current Report, the Material Change Report and the Agreement included as an exhibit to such reports.
Advisors
Macdonald Tuskey served as legal counsel to Bearing, and Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP served as Li3's legal counsel.
About Li3 Energy, Inc.
Li3 Energy, Inc. is an exploration stage public company in the lithium mining and energy sector. Li3 aims to acquire, develop and commercialize a significant portfolio of lithium brine deposits in the Americas. With its interest in the Maricunga project, coupled with the completion of the NI 43-101 Compliant Measured Resource Report and the Cocina acquisition, Li3's goals are to: a) advance Maricunga to the Feasibility Stage; b) support the global implementation of clean and green energy initiatives; c) meet growing lithium market demand; and d) become a mid-tier, low cost supplier of lithium, potassium nitrate, iodine and other strategic minerals, serving global clients in the energy, fertilizer and specialty chemical industries. Additional information regarding the Company can be found in our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the information maintained on our website www.li3energy.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Luis Saenz - Chief Executive Officer of Li3 Energy - luis.saenz@li3energy.com
The Merger cannot close until all of the conditions have been satisfied and there can be no certainty that the Merger will be completed, either as presently proposed, or at all.
Important Information For Investors And Stockholders
This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This communication relates to a proposed business combination between Li3 Energy, Inc. ("Li3") and Bearing Resources Ltd. ("Bearing"). In connection with this proposed business combination, Li3 and/or Bearing will file relevant materials with the Securities Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities ("Canadian Securities Commissions"), including a Bearing registration statement on Form F-4 or S-4 that will include a proxy statement of Li3 and constitute a prospectus of Bearing. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF Li3 AND BEARING ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC AND THE CANADIAN SECURITIES COMMISSIONS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Any definitive proxy statement (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of Li3. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Li3 and/or Bearing through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov and, in the case of documents of Bearing filed with the Canadian Securities Commissions, on Bearing's SEDAR profile on www.sedar.com. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Li3 will be available free of charge on Li3's website at www.li3energy.com or by contacting Li3's Investor Relations Department by email info@li3energy.com. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC and the Canadian Securities Commissions by Bearing will be available free of charge on Bearing's website at www.bearingresources.ca or by contacting Bearing's Investor Relations Department by email at Skoyich@briscocapital.com or by phone at (403) 619-2200.
Participants in the Merger
Li3, Bearing, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Li3 in connection with the Merger. Information regarding the officers and directors of Li3 is set forth in Li3's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on October 7, 2016. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will also be included in the registration statement on Form F4 or S-4 (and will be included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the Merger) and other relevant documents filed with the SEC.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Information
Certain statements in this news release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that may not be based on historical fact, but instead relate to future events, including without limitation statements containing the words "believe", "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding: the ability of Bearing and Li3 to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Agreement; the anticipated benefits of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, including the Merger; and statements regarding the operation of each of Li3 and Bearing's businesses, including the interest in mineral properties to be acquired by virtue of the Merger.
Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions regarding the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the conditions contained in the Agreement; the successful development and/or commercialization of Li3 and Bearing's respective products, including the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals; general economic conditions; that the parties' respective businesses are able to operate as anticipated without interruptions; competitive conditions; and changes in laws, rules and regulations applicable to Li3 and Bearing. Although management of Li3 and Bearing believe that the assumptions made and expectations represented by such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement contained herein will prove to be accurate. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein and even if such actual results and developments are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences or effects. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include: non-completion of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, including due to the parties failing to receive the necessary shareholder, stock exchange and regulatory approvals or the inability of the parties to satisfy in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms the necessary conditions; the failure to successfully develop or commercialize the parties' respective products; adverse changes in general economic conditions or applicable laws, rules and regulations; and other factors detailed from time to time in each of Li3 and Bearing's periodic disclosure. Given these risks, uncertainties and factors, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are based on the parties' current expectations and neither party undertakes an obligation to revise or update such forward looking statements and information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- Saint Marc Pub-Cafe, Bakery & Cheese Affinage -- Pacific City's hottest spot for trendsetting Americana-inspired cuisine -- announced a host of new initiatives that have positioned the restaurant for outstanding success in 2017 and beyond.
Saint Marc kicked off the year with a new 2017 menu featuring an eclectic and family-friendly mix of artisan comfort food including multiple hors d'oeuvres such as a pretzel board with house made pretzels and linguica sausage, Wisconsin cheese curds, buffalo blue cheese "nachos," and Spam fries with pineapple ketchup. Its newest culinary creations feature a range of dishes from Sprouts & Snouts, A1 Ahi Tuna Hot Stone and homemade chicken pot pie to sweet pea cavatelli and a delicious meatloaf BLT. Saint Marc also enhanced its popular Saturday and Sunday "Funday" with its fresh 2017 brunch menu including Nueske's bacon cinnamon rolls, stuffed French toast, syphon coffee cordials, tableside Bellini buckets, the famous ghost of bloody Mary and the bacon bar showcasing 11 signature strips "buy the $lice." From brunch, lunch, dinner and private parties to late night after hours, Saint Marc has a myriad of options for all guests!
Also new in 2017 -- Saint Marc is making movies! Just released for 2017, Saint Marc has produced 26 video segments showcasing the culinary and beverage prowess and expertise that makes it the extraordinary eatery that it is. In conjunction with the video releases, Saint Marc proudly introduced several new ways to follow its culinary adventures as the restaurant relentlessly strives to provide unparalleled guest experiences. New initiatives include:
The Saint Marc YouTube channel -- Keep up with all of Saint Marc's video escapades on the Saint Marc YouTube Channel. Just subscribe to the channel to see the latest videos and excitement from the restaurant.
For a good time, text Saint Marc to 85100! Guests can opt-in to receive the latest Saint Marc insider-only specials. To receive last minute and secret Saint Marc specials via text, opt in today!
LFTP.... Let's Find the Pig. Orange County's hidden treasure LFTP! Find the pig, find the whiskey! The Blind Pig is the secret, hidden speakeasy inside Saint Marc. Can you find the Blind Pig?
Don't miss out on Prime Time at Saint Marc with daily programs and activities. From Moonshine Mondays, Trash Canned Tuesdays and daily Reverse Happy Hour from 11 a.m. to 4:20 p.m., to the famous Americana House Party and "Imbibe at Sunrise" weekend brunch, Saint Marc is the place to be!
"We're thrilled to debut our 2017 menu and offerings which feature a delectable mix of cuisine, beverages and experiences that are simply unrivaled!" says Thomas (Mac) McFarland Gregory III, CEO of Saint Marc. "From our brie griller and New York steak and garlic fries, to our amazing syphon cafe cordial bar, our offerings appeal to a wide range of sophisticated yet unassuming tastes. We've also expanded our digital presence with our YouTube channel, guest text alert specials and a rejuvenated website that showcases our hand-crafted and high quality food and libations."
For more information about Saint Marc, visit www.saintmarcusa.com. With media inquiries, please contact Leslie Licano at 949-733-8679 ext. 101 or email leslie@beyondfifteen.com. Saint Marc is on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
About Saint Marc USA: Saint Marc Pub-Cafe, Bakery & Cheese Affinage is an exciting new restaurant concept brought to life by a team of gifted chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and hospitality pioneers. Throwing away the typical restaurant playbook, Saint Marc puts a twist on the traditional Americana cuisine. eTouch and on-demand ordering, over 100 cheese selections, craft beer, 32 wines on draught and seasonal culinary creations will engage the senses and invoke a premium experience in an environment as open and welcoming as home. With special weeknight promotions, Americana house parties and brunch every weekend, Saint Marc is the place to be Monday through Sunday! To learn more, visit www.saintmarcusa.com.
Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3104456
MEDIA CONTACT:
Leslie Licano
Beyond Fifteen Communications, Inc.
949.733.8679
Email Contact
PORTLAND, OR -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- Northwest Analytics -- and its flagship software, NWA Focus EMI -- will take a prominent position at this year's annual ARC Forum February 6-8 in Orlando when featured speakers from The Dow Chemical Company, Albemarle Corporation, and NWA's CTO Louis Halvorsen and Vice President Peter Guilfoyle will present sessions on how application of manufacturing analytics drives value from existing process data.
"Industry in Transition: Realizing the Digital Enterprise," is the theme for this year's ARC Forum and will offer an opportunity for participants to learn how Industrial companies are revisiting their own business processes and technology approaches as competitors and partners start to employ 'digitalized' business processes and exploit the increasing convergence between operational technology (OT), engineering technology (ET) and information technology (IT) on the plant floor.
To support this theme, Dow Chemical's Mary Beth Seasholtz, a recognized global leader in the application of real-time analytics, will lead a discussion on proven best practices for implementing and leveraging analytics for organizational transformation. Her presentation will be held on February 8 at 4 p.m. and will take an in-depth look at the importance of data transparency, analytics as a collaborative change agent and best practices to ensure success.
Jonathan Alexander of Albemarle Corporation will discuss the ROI of operational analytics, including topics such as the difference between simple alarming and analytics-based alarming alerts, and how to deliver quantifiable results with manufacturing analytics. Alexander is a recognized leader in the use of real-time manufacturing analytics and has moved Albemarle from reacting to problems that impacted quality to predicting and preventing them. His presentation is scheduled for February 7 at 4 p.m.
Each year, the ARC Forum hosts a variety of forums and brings together industry leaders from across the manufacturing spectrum to drive conversations around top industry issues. Northwest Analytics will be a key participant in leading discussions focused on ROI that can be generated by the application of enterprise manufacturing analytics and best practices for achieving a successful analytics culture.
Joining Alexander on February 7 at 4 p.m. will be NWA Vice President Peter Guilfoyle in a forum that highlights how manufacturers are leveraging real-time analytics with existing process data sources to deliver significant, quantified ROIs -- from predicting and preventing issues before they impact the product to empowering the decision-making abilities of all levels of the organization.
NWA CTO Louis Halvorsen will join Seasholtz in a forum on February 8 at 4 p.m. to share industry best practices related to implementing and leveraging analytics across the manufacturing environment; how data transparency impacts future success and how to ensure the sustainability of a real-time analytics program.
About Northwest Analytics, Inc.
Northwest Analytics, Inc. is a leading provider of manufacturing intelligence and SPC software solutions for manufacturers. NWA delivers real-time manufacturing analytics and visibility, SPC charting and enterprise reporting to 35% of the Forbes 1000 manufacturers and more than 5,000 manufacturing customers worldwide. NWA has focused exclusively on manufacturing for more than 25 years, providing a powerful, easy-to-use suite of manufacturing intelligence and SPC solutions that emphasize enterprise-wide integration, analysis and visibility. NWA is the partner-of-choice when it comes to helping its customers increase operating efficiencies and throughput, while delivering a fast and effective ROI. For more information, visit www.nwasoft.com.
Media Contact:
Valerie Harding
Email Contact
617-536-8887
LOWELL, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/31/17 -- TRC Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRR), a recognized leader in engineering, environmental consulting and construction-management services to the power, environmental, infrastructure and oil and gas markets, today announced it has closed on a $250 million revolving credit facility. The new, five-year facility will support the Company's general working capital needs and growth initiatives and replaces the existing facility, which was set to expire in November 2020.
"This new facility increases our total borrowing capacity by $75 million, which will support our five-year growth strategy, including both organic and acquisition-related initiatives," said Chairmain and Chief Executive Officer Chris Vincze. "We also have converted the previous amortizing term loan and revolving borrowing structure to a non-amortizing, fully revolving format. This will provide us with optimal access to capital throughout the life of the facility to support our debt capital needs."
The borrowings under the new facility are limited to three times the Company's trailing 12-month consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the credit agreement. Borrowing rates are specified at a spread of 150 to 275 basis points over the applicable one- to six-month LIBOR rate, depending on the Company's leverage ratio (the current borrowing spread is 150 basis points). At closing, approximately $54 million was outstanding on the facility.
Citizens Bank is the Sole Lead Arranger for the eight-bank syndicate that will fund the facility during its life.
About TRC
A pioneer in groundbreaking scientific and engineering developments since the 1960s, TRC is a national engineering, environmental consulting and construction management firm that provides integrated services to the power, environmental, infrastructure and oil and gas markets. TRC serves a broad range of commercial, industrial and government clients, implementing complex projects from initial concept to delivery and operation. TRC delivers results that enable clients to achieve success in a complex and changing world. For more information and updates from the Company, visit TRC's website at www.TRCsolutions.com and follow TRC on Twitter and StockTwits at @TRC_Companies and on LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," or other words of similar import. You should consider statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss TRC's future expectations, contain projections of the Company's future results of operations or of its financial condition, or state other "forward-looking" information. TRC believes that it is important to communicate its future expectations to its investors. However, there may be events in the future that the Company is not able to accurately predict or control and that may cause its actual results to differ materially from the expectations described in its forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, circumstances which could create large cash outflows, such as contract losses, litigation, uncollectible receivables and income tax assessments; regulatory uncertainty; the availability of funding for government projects; the level of demand for TRC's services; product acceptance; industry-wide competitive factors; the ability to continue to attract and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel; the availability and adequacy of insurance; capital availability and project investment by TRC's clients; and general political or economic conditions. Furthermore, market trends are subject to changes, which could adversely affect future results. See the risk factors and additional discussion in TRC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, and other factors included from time to time in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investor Contact:
Andrew Blazier
Senior Associate
Sharon Merrill Associates
(617) 542-5300
trr@investorrelations.com
Company Contact:
Thomas W. Bennet, Jr.
CFO
(978) 970-5600
tbennet@trcsolutions.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2017) - Crown Mining Corporation (TSXV: CWM) ("Crown" or the "Company") announces a proposed non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $300,000 comprised of up to 3,000,000 units at a price of $0.10 per unit (each such unit being comprised of one common share and one warrant) (the "Offering"). Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share for $0.20 at any time within 2 years after closing subject to an acceleration clause. All securities issued pursuant to this private placement will be subject to a four (4) month hold period. The Company proposes to pay to eligible finders a finder's fee equal to 10% of the gross proceeds raised. The Company also reserves the right to increase or decrease the size of the Offering.
Completion of the Offering is subject to receipt of all required regulatory and TSX Venture Exchange approvals. The Company will use the proceeds of the Private Placement for exploration and development work at its Moonlight-Superior Copper Project and for general working capital purposes.
Crown is focused on advancing its 100% controlled Moonlight-Superior Copper Project in Northeast California which includes 4 known copper deposits. The Moonlight deposit hosts a current National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") indicated resource of approximately 161 million tons (146.5 million tonnes) averaging 0.324% copper, 0.003 ounces of gold and 0.112 ounces of silver per ton for 1.044 billion pounds of copper, and an inferred resource of 88 million tons (80 million tonnes) averaging 0.282% copper per ton for 496 million pounds of copper. Further details of this resource can be found in the Technical Report on the Moonlight Copper Property dated April 12, 2007 at Sedar.com. The Superior and Engels deposits have a current NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource of 57 million metric tonnes at an average copper grade of 0.43% for 547 million pounds of copper. Further details of this resource can be found in the Technical Report on the Superior Project dated November 7, 2014 filed on Sedar which also discloses a historical resource estimate for the fourth deposit.
Mr. George Cole is the Qualified Person pursuant to NI 43-101 responsible for the technical information contained in this news release, and he has reviewed and approved this news release.
For more information please see the Crown website at www.crowngoldcorp.com.
For Further Information Contact:
Mr. Stephen Dunn, President, CEO and Director, Crown Mining Corporation (416) 361-2827 or email info@crowngoldcorp.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 press release.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws and regulations, including statements regarding the future activities of the Company. Forward-looking statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management and are identified by the use of words including "will", "anticipates", "expected to", "plans", "planned" and other similar words. Actual results may differ significantly. The achievement of the results expressed in forward-looking statements is subject to a number of risks, including those described in the Company's management discussion and analysis as filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction. The flow-through common shares will not be and have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements.
Digital Magics (AIM Italia: DM) exited ProfumeriaWeb, a Milan, Italy-based beauty e-commerce company.
The Milan based venture incbator sold its 5% stake to holding company Free Bird in a transaction generating a 3x multiple on the investment.
The company had a pre-money evaluation of 6m.
Founded by CEO Vincenzo Cioffi, ProfumeriaWeb is an onlire retailer selling parfums and cosmetic, make up and hair products.
The company offers over 8.000 discounted items delivered within 2-3 days, has 120.000 clients.
In December 2016, the site had over 600k visits and over 2.5m page views.
FinSMEs
31/01/2017
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh rated 'Partly Free' by Freedom House
International human rights organization Freedom House published its annual report on the political rights and civil liberties in the world. Freedom in the World 2017 report presents the state of freedoms in 195 countries in 2016. Each country and territory report includes an overview section, which provides historical background and a brief description of the years major developments, as well as a section summarizing the current state of political rights and civil liberties. In addition, each country and territory is assigned a numerical ratingon a scale of 1 to 7for political rights and an analogous rating for civil liberties; a rating of 1 indicates the highest degree of freedom and 7 the lowest level of freedom. These ratings determine whether a country is classified as Free, Partly Free, or Not Free by the survey. In the report, Armenia remained classified as a Partly Free country. The watchdog organization gave Armenia an average 45 points in terms of political rights and civil liberties. Nagorno Karabakh received 33 points. The authors of the report call attention to the fact that the President of Azerbaijan has increased his authoritarian power through a constitutional referendum which was held under total control by the countrys authorities. Turkey is also classified as a Partly Free country but there have been serious setbacks in terms of political freedoms and civil liberties. For more details visit here
Incline Equity Partners, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based private equity firm, closed its fourth fund, at $601.1m.
Incline Equity Partners IV, LP, which exceeded its $450m target, received commitments from a number of top-tier investors, including endowments, foundations, multi-manager funds, consultants, public pensions, corporate pensions and family offices.
Following the strategy of its predecessor, Fund IV invests in lower middle-market companies in the value-added distribution, specialized light manufacturing and business services sectors.
The fund will seek to make control-oriented equity investments in companies with enterprise values generally between $50 million and $200 million with a focus on buyouts, corporate divestitures and minority recapitalizations in the lower end of the North American middle market.
The firm is led by its senior partners, Jack Glover, Wali Bacdayan, Justin Bertram and Leon Rubinov.
FinSMEs
31/01/2017
YouEarnedIt, an Austin, TX-based SaaS employee engagement platform, closed a $6.5m in Series A funding.
The round was co-led by Silverton Partners and IDG Ventures USA, with participation from existing investors WPP, Social Starts, the Motley Fool and Capital Factory.
The company intends to use the funds for product development across the engagement platform and grow their sales and marketing efforts.
Led by Autumn Manning, CEO, YouEarnedIt provides a SaaS HR technology platform for companies to engage with their employees via tools to connect, reward, reveal, and report in real-time. Launched in 2013, the company has delivered its software to small enterprises and Fortune 500 brands across several industries.
FinSMEs
31/01/2017
The Union Budget assumes greater significance this year as it is all set to announce several structural shifts. The new system of budgeting will usher in a slew of changes like moving the presentation date to 1 February, in departure from the convention of the last working day of February; dropping the distinction between Plan and Non-plan; and merging the Railway Budget with the General Budget. With the five year plan model coming to an end after this financial year, it offers an opportunity to the government for prioritising social sectors in the proposed blueprint.
The Sustainable Development Goals Index 2016 of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network which ranks countries on the 17 SDGs, shows India faring poorly. In sectors like health, education, nutrition, water and rural development, India confronts stark development deficits, and public institutions and programmes in these are severely short staffed. Survey observes that these are crucial sectors, which deserve greater attention for prioritising action.
As the budget allocations now need to be seen in conjunction with the State Budgets, an analysis by Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability which has examined the priority for social sectors emerging in the State Budgets for 2015-16 and 2016-17 in ten states is important to consider. The findings of this analysis covering Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh present a mixed picture with regard to resources for some of these critical sectors. It reveals that Urban Development and Housing received a higher budgetary priority in all the ten states.
The Social Welfare department, which includes Social Justice, Women and Child Development, and Welfare of SCs/STs/Minorities and Persons with disabilities saw stagnation in allocation in most States. Health and Education represented a mixed picture. While the heath budget outlay in Bihar and Assam budgets saw encouraging increases, in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, it showed a decline over the last two State Budgets.
If we look at the overall per capita expenditure on social sectors, including agriculture, rural development and panchayat raj institutions, Bihar and UP spend around Rs 6,000 per capita per annum. Odisha at Rs 13,000, and Chhattisgarh at Rs 14,000 are spending a higher amount, which is more than developed States like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Thus some of the poorer States continue to lag behind in terms of public spending on critical sectors. The role of states is important with regard to infrastructure, agriculture and social development, so the Union Government should take a strong stance in favour of social sectors and step up its level of spending for these sectors in the coming years. Else, this regional disparity in public spending on social sectors may rise even further.
The Union and State Governments, apart from hiking budgetary resources, need to also fix some other weaknesses, that have emerged in the system over the years. An important facet that can improve the results from public expenditure is the exercise of decentralised planning at sub-national level. It can be improved by
strengthening the District Planning Committees; ensuring sufficient staff for undertaking planning activities, building their capacity to carryout need assessment and ensuring greater community participation in the planning process. Ensuring timely flow of funds to the spending departments is also crucial in plugging these loopholes.
The forthcoming budget should embolden policies showing increasing sensitiveness to women, and take measures for making the Gender Responsive Budgeting more effective.
Allocations for social sectors (health, education) have been squeezed over the years. Despite shortage of trained teachers, spending on teachers training is constantly being neglected; it varies between 0.2 to 0.6 percent among different states. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) is being implemented since 2009 for ensuring quality and equity in secondary education. With the revision of its norms in 2013, vocational education got subsumed under it; again due to inadequate resources, the scheme has been adversely hit.
A jump in allocations for RMSA is needed; also, the Union government should support the States in developing a long-term policy for vocational education. If we take the health sector in the country, public spending is strikingly low by international standards. Greater focuses on health by expansion of the overall public resource envelope to meet the basic goals of universal coverage for healthcare and access to free medicines is called for. Increased resources are needed also for filling up the vacant positions in the sector.
The last three budgets of this government had their focus on long term infrastructure growth. The social sector is pinning its hope on this budget for a pro poor focus, with an approach of inclusive development. The question remains--will this budget factor in all these requirements?
(The writers work with the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, New Delhi. Views expressed are personal.)
For full coverage of Union Budget 2017 click here.
Washington: A legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives which among other things calls for more than doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to $130,000, making it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India.
The High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017 introduced by California Congressman Zoe Lofgren prioritises market based allocation of visas to those companies willing to pay 200 percent of a wage calculated by survey, eliminates the category of lowest pay, and raises the salary level at which H-1B dependent employer are exempt from non displacement and recruitment attestation requirements to greater than $130,000. This is more than double of the current H-1B minimum wage of $60,000 which was established in 1989 and since then has remained unchanged.
"My legislation refocuses the H-1B programme to its original intent to seek out and find the best and brightest from around the world, and to supplement the US workforce with talented, highly-paid, and highly-skilled workers who help create jobs here in America, not replace them," said Lofgren. "It offers a market-based solution that gives priority to those companies willing to pay the most. This ensures American employers have access to the talent they need, while removing incentives for companies to undercut American wages and outsource jobs," he said.
Lofgren said it removes the 'per country' cap for employment-based immigrant visas so that all workers are treated more fairly and to move to a system where employers hire the most skilled workers without regard to national origin.
It raises the salary level at which H-1B dependent employer are exempt from attestation requirements to a new required wage level of 35 percentile points above the median national annual wage for Computer and Mathematical Occupations published by the Department of Labour Occupational Employment Statistics (roughly $132,000), which would be adjusted in the future without the need for new legislation, and eliminates the Masters Degree exemption for dependent employers.
The legislation sets aside 20 percent of the annually allocated H-1B visas for small and start-up employers (50 or fewer employers) to ensure small businesses have an opportunity to compete for high-skilled workers, while still protecting against outsourcing. It among other things removes visa hurdles for students and other temporary visa holders by building a bridge from F-1 student status to Lawful Permanent Residence and removes paperwork burdens by streamlining H-1B filing requirements and reducing administrative costs.
The legislation tightens employee protection by stipulating that employers may not reduce beneficiary wages, regardless of whether the deduction is in accordance with a voluntary authorisation by the employee. It makes exceptions for taxes, garnishments, and deductions that are reasonable and customary in the occupation.
In related development, Senator Sherrod Brown has announced to introduce H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act in the Senate which he said would close loopholes in the H-1B and L-1 visa programs and provide increased protections for both American workers and visa holders. "We need to crack down on the fraud and abuse that allows corporations to avoid paying Americans fair wages and exploit foreign workers," said Brown.
"During his campaign, President Trump promised to increase oversight of our H-1B and L-1 visa programs and reform starts with this bipartisan legislation to ensure that American businesses are giving American workers a fair shot at good-paying jobs," he said.
The bill would require that employers first offer a vacant position to an equally or better qualified American worker before seeking an H-1B or L-1 visa holder. It would also establish wage requirements for L-1 workers and improve H-1B wage requirements to encourage companies to hire qualified American workers and prevent them from using foreign workers as a source of cheap labour.
Under the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would have additional oversight authority to investigate fraud
New Delhi: Whether the poorest of the poor Indians get some form of monthly income from the government may be more about political will and less about fiscal considerations. With the Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian saying in the Economic Survey today that such a scheme is desirable to eliminate poverty but time is not ripe for its implementation - it is apparent that the government lacks political will at present to implement such a scheme. The Universal Basic Income (UBI) may remain a pipe dream for now. Will it inch towards implementation in the next Budget, when electoral considerations may make it more expeditious for the government?
Sarath Davala, coordinator of India Network for Basic Income, says having a UBI scheme in place is possible if there is political will and for a start, it could be a targeted scheme, which means a guaranteed monthly income is not credited to every Indian's bank account. "The government can start UBI for the extremely poor or choose some other targeted demographic group, where targeting is not difficult. By devising a ''universal" scheme, it would foreclose the idea because of volumes we are speaking of. No country around the world has implemented it universally".
The Survey, which was tabled in Parliament today and is a report card of the economic performance of FY17, says that a UBI that reduces poverty to 0.5 percent would cost between 4-5 percent of GDP. But this is based on a significant assumption: that those in the top 25 percent income bracket do not participate. This means even the Survey is proposing a targeted income scheme, not a universal dole. The Survey goes on to note that the existing middle class subsidies and food, petroleum and fertilizer subsidies cost about 3 percent of GDP. So even a targeted monthly income in the hands of India's disadvantaged will have a significant fiscal cost.
The critical aspect of such a scheme remains its individuality: It should be launched when all other state expenditures as subsidies are withdrawn - which is precisely why it needs more political will than fiscal prudence. The Surevy itself points out that UBI should be an alternative, not an add-on, to the various social welfare schemes currently in force. The Survey juxtaposes the benefits and costs of the UBI scheme in the context of the philosophy Mahatma Gandhi. "The Mahatma, as astute political observer, would have anxieties about UBI as being just another add-on Government programme, but on balance, he may have given the go-ahead to the UBI."
The Survey lists out challenges in UBI implementation:
1) It would become an add-on to, rather than a replacement of, current anti-poverty and social programmes, making itself fiscally unaffordable. But this is precisely a targeted programme with adequate implementation machinery would prevent!
2) Based on a survey on misallocation of resources for the six largest central sector and centrally sponsored sub-schemes (except PDS and fertilizer subsidy) across districts, the Survey says the districts where needs are the greatest are precisely the ones where state capacity is the weakest. This suggests that a more efficient way to help the poor would be to provide them resources directly, through a UBI. But the Survey does not actually suggest a roadmap for preparing the country for an eventual UBI scheme.
3) Centre-state negotiations for cost sharing of this programme. Again, this requires political acumen, deft handling and some hand holding of states - specially since many are already riled by the impending GST rollout and its fiscal implications.
India Network for Basic Income conducted pilots in some villages in Madhya Pradesh for a UBI scheme. For 12-17 months, over 6,000 individuals received small unconditional monthly cash transfers, or grants under the two pilots The central design premise of the pilot was that the basic income was paid every month, to all individuals within a village. Every individual registered as a usual resident at the launch of the project received the income, the only requirement being that they opened a bank account within three months of the launch. Transfers for children under the age of 18 went to the mother or, if there was no mother, a designated guardian.
Davala says the pilots found that those who received basic income reported a significant increase in their food sufficiency six months into the intervention. Receipt of basic income had a significant impact on childrens nutrition, particularly nutrition levels of female children and children from vulnerable groups such as the Scheduled Tribes. Basic income improved capacity of households to buy from the market, resulting in a qualitative shift in their food basket; but more money did not result in more expenditure on alcohol.
He also says that various international experts have suggested that a UBI of Rs 1,000 per individual per month for the "extremely poor" should be a doable idea by the government. "And no, it won't become chaotic because government is already implementing portability of fair price shops".
So why is India even considering a universal basic income, when world over even developed countries are still examining the idea and its pitfalls? The driving force for providing a minimum level of sustenance to each citizen seems to emanate from the growing realization that the nature and availability of jobs has altered significantly around the world. There are fewer jobs due to increasing automation and then, there are more of these jobs which require higher skills, higher pay. For India, the situation has been particularly grim over the last two years as job creation has been at abysmally low levels even when the economy was galloping.
In this piece, BJD MP Jay Panda who advocated UBI much before demonetization says the new economy of the 21st century - not just in India but everywhere in the world - is having a lot of automation and robotics, which means job creation is much less than before. For example today, if we have 7% growth rate in the Indian GDP, it creates less jobs than 7% growth rate would have created in 1990s. He refers to the World Bank estimate of 68% of existing jobs in India being under threat in the coming 10 or 20 years due to technology. Because of automation and robotics, even factories which used to employ hundreds of people today can manage with only five or seven people because they use robots for manufacturing.
In essence, the inability to create the required number of jobs at a pace which matches Indias GDP growth could be the trigger for a UBI scheme being announced in the forthcoming Union Budget.
Not everyone is gung ho about this prospect though. Professor of Economics at JNU, Jayati Ghosh, told Firstpost earleir that if the government was serious about helping citizens, it would begin with implementing a universal basic pension first, at half the minimum wage. This would mean a monthly pension of Rs 3000-4000 against a barebones Rs 200 that is now being paid every month and even this amount is not universal but targeted pension.
At the moment, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)s notification on Monday with respect to lifting the cash withdrawal curbs beginning 1 February do not really mean much for savings account holders who constitute the vast majority of banking customers. But, those merchants who maintain current accounts with banks will certainly have relief since limits have been completely removed for them with immediate effect.
For the common man, only the daily withdrawal limit from savings accounts, both from ATMs and branches, has been increased to Rs 24,000. This means, instead of Rs 10,000 earlier, one can withdraw a maximum of Rs 24,000 per day from ATM. But, thats all he can withdraw for that particular week. Not just this, the RBI has specifically said banks can set their own limits as in the pre-demonetisation days. Banks may, at their discretion, have their own operating limits as was the case before November 8, 2016, said the notification.
There is a catch here. Under the current circumstances, banks are likely to use this leeway to continue with their cash curbs (even the permissible limits). Remember, post demonetisation, many banks were not honoring the permissible cash withdrawal limits on account of lack of cash availability particularly in lower denominations.
Although things have improved since then, even in metros, many ATM still remain cashless or dispense only Rs 2,000 notes. The point here is till the time cash withdrawal curbs are completely withdrawn for savings account holders (including the weekly withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000), once cant say normalcy is restored in the common mans life post note ban.
This is one part. The other is the tiff between the Election Commission and the RBI on the matter of letting political candidates draw more from their savings accounts for election purpose. The RBI rightly rejected this demand since such a provision will be akin to being partial to one set of customers and while favouring the other, no matter what the purpose is. If political candidates are given exemption, similar demands can come from other groups citing the criticality of their requirement such as companies associated with national security establishments, medical services and educational institutions. If the restrictions are removed, this should be for all.
What is more interesting is the suggestion that EC could have asked RBI to let candidates open current accounts and enjoy higher withdrawal limit. "All EC needed to do was to insist on candidates operating current accounts for poll expenditure, for which the limit was Rs 1 lakh, much higher than the savings bank withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 a week. It could have at most requested RBI to raise this limit to Rs 2 lakh, rather than making a rather impractical suggestion of increasing the savings account withdrawal limit by over 8 times, a Times of India report said quoting an unnamed government official.
But, it is doubtful whether this suggestion could have been implemented in the first place since banks typically open current accounts for business purposes. For instance, according to Bank of Baroda website, current accounts can be opened for sole proprietorship firms, partnership firms, private limited and public limited companies, Joint Hindu families, trusts, clubs, associates etc. satisfactorily introduced to the bank and on fulfilling laid down procedures and tendering required credentials. Can a politician open this solely for the purpose of poll expenditure?
Coming back to the cash crunch, though things have improved, it might take more time before the cash curbs are fully withdrawn in its true sense since the supply of currency notes are yet to match the requirement. To be sure, cash supply has improved of late. As this MoneyControl report says quoting an unnamed banker, The availability of funds has improved from levels seen in November and we expect things to get even better by the end of this month." According to the report, the daily supply of currency was to the tune of Rs 150 crore for each bank in large metros prior to demonetisation, which fell to less than Rs 10 crore per day for most banks before improving to Rs 55 crore per day in key cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata now.
The Monday notification can thus summarised to be an increase of daily withdrawal limit to Rs 24,000 from Rs 10,000 for savings bank per day and no cap for current account holders. But, it is no way the end of cash withdrawal curbs for common man and restoration of normalcy in daily lives, not yet, as some BJP leaders have claimed already (read here).
Indian agriculture is a conundrum of paradoxes. Over 50 percent of the countrys workforce depend on agriculture as a livelihood, while agriculture and allied activities contribute to only a little over 15 percent to Indias Gross Value Added (GVA). Farmers, despite being at the heart of agricultural production, receive only a paltry portion of the price paid by consumers. On an average, the income of a farmer in India is less than $2 per day. According to an NSSO survey in 2014, the income of an average farm household is about Rs 6,000 ($90) per month, only 50 percent of which comes from farming.
The Finance Ministers budget speech in the last fiscal laid out the Governments ambitious plans to double farmers income by 2022, by thinking beyond food security and giving income security to farmers. Last time, the attainment of doubling farmers income in India was accomplished in 13 years. To double the same again in five years will necessitate a herculean effort on part of the Government and the agricultural community in general.
We hope that the ensuing Budget will usher an array of diverse reforms to enable doubling of farmer incomes by 2022.
Alleviating financial distress
Farmers are in financial distress. Alleviating their distress deserves a place in the budget, particularly in the wake of over 8,000 farmer/cultivator suicides and over 4,000 agricultural labour suicides in 2015. Contrary to popular belief, Financial Distress surpassed Farming Related Issues (including crop failure and inability to sell) as the major reason for suicide, with 38.7 percent farmer suicides being accorded to Financial Distress for the same period, while Farming Related Issues trailed at 19.5 percent .
The credit allocated to domestic Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) for small and marginal farmers by the end of March, 2016 was 7 percent of ANBC (adjusted net bank credit), and by the end of March, 2017 was 8 percent. Small and marginal farmers together represent 85 percent of the operational land-holding in India and occupy 44 percent of the operated agriculture area . Hence, a considerable number of farmers, especially in the small and marginal category, still rely on informal credit sources like moneylenders who drag them deeper into the debt-trap, and therefore increasing credit allocations for SCBs towards small and marginal farmers is the need of the hour, facilitated by concessional support through the forthcoming budget outlay.
Near 43 percent of agricultural workers in India still do not have bank accounts and less than 20 percent of farmers in India are insured. Earmarking adequate agricultural credit, and mobilizing credit and insurance schemes should, therefore, be a key component of the Union Budget outlay. The Governments announcement to convert over 3 crore kisan Cards to RuPay cards has been a major step in the direction of making farmers the champions of a cashless, transparent economy. To align this with providing relief from financial distress to farmers, these cards can be made interest-free for a period of 60-90 days from the date of availing loan to envisage more and more farmers into the formal loaning system.
Fixing supply chain woes
A major part of the agricultural supply chain ecosystem in India either lies in the public sector, or is strongly influenced by it, while the involvement of private players tends to be small, localized and fragmented. The hardest hit is the horticulture sector where perishability is extremely high, and yet supply chain is wobbly. With horticulture production estimated at 283 MT in 2015-16, India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, and yet, farmers receive merely 25-30 percent of the price paid by the consumer - thanks to our crumbling supply chain infrastructure.
Barely 4 million of the 104 million tons of perishable produce pass through cold chain . There are about 6,300 cold storage facilities in India, however, between 75-80 percent of these refrigerated warehouses are only suitable for potatoes - a crop that generates just 20 percent of agricultural revenue . The existing cold chains are not equipped with modern upgrades such as Controlled Atmosphere (CA), Modified Atmosphere (MA), and pre-cooling units, while lack of portability continues to be a pressing problem. Post-harvesting losses of up to 30 percent are incurred in fruits and vegetables category.
Small and marginal farmers also account for majority of horticulture production, and hence stand to be the biggest beneficiary group for any investment in infrastructure or policy reform in this sector. The forthcoming Budget presents an opportunity to set the wheels in motion for a superior, state-of-the-art supply chain as Indias horticulture production will outpace foodgrains output.
Innovating digital marketplaces
The National Farmers Commission recommends distance to market for farmers to be no more than 5 km. However, Indian farmers travel anywhere between 12-50 km to the nearest mandi. Apart from access to markets, farmers also suffer from information asymmetry, intermediaries eating into their pie, and many are deprived of aggregation benefits.
In a commendable move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched eNAM (National Agricultural Market) in April, 2016, to create a hassle-free, unified national digital marketplace for all agricultural produce. As of November, 2016, of the 250 mandis from 10 states linked to the e-NAM platform, 79 mandis alone are active. The total transaction turnover on e-NAM has been approx Rs 421 crore, probably less than 1 percent of the actual trade at these mandis.
Since agriculture is matter of state interest in India, different states have enacted different versions of the APMC Act - leading to levy of multiple fees and charges, restricting farmers from selling produce to functionaries stipulated by the State Act, and overall causing lack of transparency at the marketplace and will likely cause a resistance to adoption of eNAM. For eNAM to be adopted by all states by the deadline of March 2018, uniformity in pricing and rationalization of agricultural taxes are required. Else the ecosystem will be be destined to fail.
In order to enable farmers participate in progressive high value markets, such as modern retail, value added agri produce, and exports market, the government established the institutional machinery of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), and as of March, 2016 there are over 2000 FPCs in the country. However, while FPCs are trying to shift from low-margin fresh produce to high-margin value-added products, the major challenge they face is in marketing and selling. Innovative marketplace / platforms along the lines of eNAM or startups like GoCoop to facilitate marketing and intermediary-free selling should be an agenda for the forthcoming Budget if we want FPCs to thrive.
Promoting agriculture
For decades, as Indias food security concerns hogged the spotlight, its health concerns remained grossly undermined. Food laden with harmful chemicals, and grains unsuitable to changing demographics leading to lifestyle diseases is a ticking bomb today. Organic cultivation has seen a major upsurge in the recent year, but, with a paltry 0.4 percent of total agricultural land under organic cultivation, the journey has just begun. In January 2015, Sikkim became the countrys first 100 percent organic state - the fruits of an initiative that started in 2003.
Meghalaya aims to convert 200,000 hectares to organic by 2020. Treading the organic way are also states like Goa, Rajasthan and Kerala.
Organic crops are also high value crops that provide high returns to farmers, just like new-age health foods such as quinoa and oats. In fact, many of our indigenous crops such as jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), and ragi (finger millet) make delectable, gluten-free, low-calorie health foods and have tremendous export potential.
Partnering with states to streamline organic adoption and incentivising high-value health crops in the Union Budget will, therefore, be of paramount importance. Another approach to addressing the malnutrition will be to make fortified food mandatory for midday meal schemes to ensure that school children get the required amount of proteins, vitamins and minerals.
(The author works at CIIE Initiatives, IIM Ahmedabad)
For full coverage of Union Budget 2017 click here.
Union Budget 2017 will be presented by Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley on Wednesday. Traditionally, the budget is presented at the end of February and passed by May. However, this year the date has been advanced to ensure its passage before the beginning of the fiscal year in April. This would allow early release of funds to ministries which can start their spending from April.
What is the Union Budget?
The Constitution does not mention the term "budget". The Union Budget as it is colloquially called is referred to as the Annual Financial Statement in Article 112 of the Constitution. The Annual Financial Statement is a detailed statement of the estimated receipts and expenditures of the government for that year.
The Union Budget provides direction to the governments economic policy, allocates money to ministries for their spending and broadly outlines tax proposals for the coming year.
What does the Union Budget contain?
The budget docket contains about 16 documents. It contains the budget speech along with a breakdown of the detailed spending proposals of each ministry as well as proposals for financing them. The Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill are also included in the docket. The Finance Bill includes proposed amendments to various taxation laws, while the Appropriation Bill is a consolidation of allocations to all ministries.
Additionally, several explanatory statements such as details of expenditure, tax revenue, budget at a glance among others are also a part of the docket.
The budget speech as read out by the finance minister contains two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A covers broad outlays of each sector, introduces new schemes and is indicative of the governments policy priorities. Part B covers taxation proposals of the government to finance the expenditure.
What happens once the budget is presented in the Parliament?
After the budget speech is presented, a general discussion on the broad budgetary measures takes place. Members participating in the debate outline principles and policies underlying the budget presented.
After this general discussion, the Parliament usually goes into recess for about three weeks. During this recess, Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) examine the detailed estimates of ministries' expenditure called demands for grants. The DRSCs then submit reports on each ministry's demands for grants. Once the DRSCs have submitted their reports, discussion and voting take place in Lok Sabha on demands for grants of various ministries. The demands which have not been voted on by the last day fixed for passing the budget are "guillotined", ie they are voted upon together.
The demands for grants are consolidated into the Appropriation Bill. This must be passed by the Parliament to allow withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for the sanctioned expenditure by the government.
Finally, the Finance Bill is put to vote. The budgetary process concludes with the passage of the Finance Bill.
While Lok Sabha has a greater role in financial oversight of the budget and discusses the ministries' demands, Rajya Sabha discusses the working of ministries. A debate on the working of ministries' by the members encompasses the overall functioning of ministries, their achievements, future roadmap and shortfalls.
This year, the Railway Budget has been merged into the Union Budget what does this mean? And how will it be different?
Since 1924, a separate Railway Budget was presented in the Parliament. With the merger, the Union Budget will now include all proposals earlier presented under the Railways Budget. However, as mentioned by the finance minister, the Railways will retain its autonomy and financial decision making powers. The Parliament will continue to discuss the ministrys expenditure to ensure detailed scrutiny
Until now, the Ministry of Railways gets a gross budgetary support from the central government to maintain and expand its network, among other things. The Railways would then pay a return on this investment known as "dividend". From this year, the railways will no longer need to pay such a dividend back to the central government.
Why is there no longer a plan and non-plan expenditure classification?
Previously, the government expenditure was classified in two ways: plan and non-plan expenditure and capital and revenue expenditure. The finance minister in his speech last year announced the merger of plan and non-plan expenditure. Various committees examining the subject have also recommended this change. The classification of expenditure was related to the role of the erstwhile Planning Commission. The Planning Commission would make allocations for plan expenditure based on five-year plans targets, while the finance ministry would make allocations for non-plan expenditures. With the last five-year plan (12th Five-Year Plan) ending this year, this classification would no longer be relevant. Expenditure now will be classified only under capital and revenue heads.
Below are quick explanations of budgetary terms that you will come across in a budget document:
Capital expenditure: It is the outflow of funds (expenditure) which creates assets or reduces liabilities. For instance, the building of roads, or repayment of loans would be categorised as capital expenditure.
Revenue expenditure: It includes all such expenditure that is not classified as capital expenditure. It brings about no change in assets or liabilities. Salaries, interest payments or other administrative costs are examples of revenue expenditure. The revenue and capital classification apply to government receipts as well.
Revenue receipts: These are mostly revenues from taxes, dividends from companies owned by the government and interest payments on loans given by the government.
Capital receipts: These are mainly funds borrowed by the government from various sources (in India and overseas) and repayments by state governments of loans borrowed from the centre. Proceeds from disinvestment of public sector companies are also included in this category.
Fiscal deficit: The excess of total government expenditure over total receipts is called a fiscal deficit.
Vijay Mallya may have fled the country 10 months ago but his proverbial ghost has returned to haunt the Congress leadership - former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former finance minister P Chidambaram and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
New evidence that has emerged from the ongoing investigation in the Kingfisher scam in the form of letters written by Mallya to Manmohan, Chidambaram and internal emails between Mallya and his top executives in the United Breweries group from mid-2010 to 2013, wherein he gave out details about how the government of the day favoured him to overrule reservations expressed by lending banks has put the UPA-2 government back in the dock.
Hours later, in a joint press conference, which was otherwise scheduled to trash the state of the economy under the Narendra Modi regime, Manmohan and Chidambaram did not deny the existence or veracity of the contents of correspondence with Mallya, and the action taken by various government departments.
Instead, they termed them as "ordinary routine pieces of paper". Their defence, in trying to hide behind a small technicality, was too thin to give them a shield from the heap of evidence that has been introduced against the Congress leadership in the Mallya-Kingfisher bailout.
Despite suggestions that banks like SBI, its subsidiaries and the IDBI bank had taken adverse positions against Mallya's Kingfisher, it has emerged that he was given undue preferential treatment by the erstwhile UPA government.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders, however, have been accusing the Modi government of allowing Mallya to flee from the country. Congress and other Opposition parties have even disrupted proceedings of Parliament on several occasions over the issue.
Mallya managed to slip out of the country to London in March last year, leaving behind a total outstanding due, in various cases including interest, of close to Rs 9,000 crore.
A CNN-News18 report, citing documents including Mallya's letters and mails, has brought the issue back into focus. Ahead of the Assembly elections in five states, the Mallya and Kingfisher bailout by UPA-2 has now become a huge political issue. The ruling BJP pounced on the issue and held a special media briefing to charge that "a party which became a sinking ship (Congress) bailed out a sinking airline (Kingfisher)". Besides the evidence of wrongdoing, as shown by the CNN-News18 report and later by Times Now, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra came armed with additional documents to add his party's political tadka to the mix.
From Patra's tone and tenor, it was clear that BJP leaders were going to exploit the Mallya case to the hilt, to once again hit the Congress hard over the issue of corruption. Some time back, former IDBI chairman Yogesh Aggarwal, and four other ex-officials of the bank, including ex-deputy managing director BK Batra, were arrested for issuing a several-hundred crore loan to Mallya despite the bank's own assessment revealing that he had no capacity to repay the loans and despite the fact that the liquor baron had not submitted the papers required to process such a loan.
Patra said that the Mallya case is a classic case of duping the ordinary man. He then went on to ask why any common man or woman was required to furnish volumes of documents to avail small loans, when Mallya was not required to follow such regulations. That too, when Mallya's companies were declared as Non-performing assets (NPAs). But despite all this, in December 2010, his loans were restructured when he was unable to pay even one-tenth of the money he owed.
Patra went on to attack the Congress party and said that the "corrupt hands were pulling strings" as the banks couldn't have done this on their own and that "these were not the hands Rahul Gandhi had seen in the pictures of Gods", adding that the 'hands belonged to the then (UPA-2) prime minister and finance minister'.
He then read out a letter written by Mallya to Manmohan: "Thank you for sparing time to meet me on 8 September to explain the difficulties being faced by Kingfisher Airlines. I had also informed your good self that we had approached our consortium of Banks, led by State Bank of India to grant us additional financial support urgently. You had asked me to follow up with TKA Nair, which I did and I am deeply appreciative of the fact that Mr Nair immediately spoke to the concerned people in the ministries involved"
He added that Mallya sought the prime minister's "kind indulgence" in a second letter as well.
Mallya sent out copies of the letter to Manmohan, his adviser TKA Nair and his Principal Secretary Pulok Chatterjee. Quoting an excerpt from a book written by Manmohan's media adviser The Accidental Prime Minister Patra said that "Pulok Chatterjee used to run with all the files every evening to 10 Janpath, even before the PM saw it.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had earlier described Mallya as a "terrible legacy" which the NDA government had inherited from UPA.
In November 2011, while returning from a foreign tour, Manmohan had said on board the Air India One: Private sector airlines have to be managed efficiently if they do get into difficulties. We have to find ways and means to help them get out of their losses. But I have not applied my mind to Kingfishers problems. When I get back, I will talk to Mr Vayalar Ravi (then civil aviation minister) and we will explore ways and means in which the airlines can be helped.
The most damning of the letters written by Mallya is a communication by him to the then finance minister written on 21 March, 2013, where he sought Chindmabaram's "urgent intervention" to direct SBI and its subsidiaries to issue no-objection certificates, so that the Mallya-owned UB Group could issue preferential shares to raise capital. A day later, on 22 March, Mallya wrote in an internal mail to his CFO that following his meeting with Chidambaram "positive development" has taken place. It said that after the "finance minister rebuke", SBI Bangalore had agreed to issue the NOC.
There have been some positive developments following my meeting with FM and SGP. SBI Bangalore have called USL and are now willing to issue NOC for the preferential allotment SBI would have also got directions to meet with us. Please reach out to the (SBI) Chairman's office and Shyamal's office by email and phone and request a meeting on 25 March, Mallya's mail to his CFO said.
Responding to a pointed question to CNN-New18, Manmohan said: "Well all prime ministers and other ministers in any government receive representations from industry captains. It is normal to pass it to appropriate authorities. What I have done was done with full satisfaction, we were not doing anything which was against laws of land. It was a routine thing, it was an ordinary route piece of paper. The letter which is being talked about is nothing."
Manmohan then passed on the mic to Chidambaram, who added, "The government, especially the prime minister's and finance minister's office receive 100s of representations every day. They are marked down to the departments concerned to take appropriate action. There is nothing wrong if someone wants policy change and if a letter is marked by the prime minister to the principal secretary, and then marked to ministries."
Chidambaram, in his defence for a letter mentioning him, said that the loan under investigation was from 2009, when he was not in office and that the letter talked about UB Group not Kingfisher. He also said that the request was not for a loan but rather about issuing an NOC for preferential shares.
In response to BJP's charge, the Congress chose to ask counter questions, without talking about the allegations levelled against them. Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala asked 'why did the BJP allow Mallya to leave country' and questioned that 'who had supported him to become an MP in 2010'.
OSCE/ODIHR Recruits EOM members to Armenia
Following an official invitation to observe the parliamentary elections in Armenia, scheduled for 2 April 2017, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission deployed from 30 November to 2 December 2016, and in accordance with its mandate, the OSCE/ODIHR is preparing to deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for these elections. In this respect, the OSCE/ODIHR is currently looking for external consultants to fill the following positions:
Head of Mission Deputy Head of Mission Political Analyst Election Analyst Voter Registration Analyst Legal Analyst Media Analyst Co-ordinator of Long-Term Observers Procedure
All assignments are temporarily contracted positions and their duration will be for approximately. In case of a potential second round of the elections, certain assignments can be extended. Candidates should be available fromand be prepared to depart on short notice. Candidates must be citizens of OSCE participating States, excluding citizens of Armenia. For more information about the responsibilities and requirements of each post, please read the terms of reference in the Key Resources section at the bottom of this page. Please complete the following steps in order to apply: 1. Register in the OSCE/ODIHR's election experts database. If you have already registered, please move on to the next steps. 2. Send an email to [email protected] , indicating the position for which you are applying. Please note that you may apply for a maximum of two positions. 3. Attach a motivation letter and a completed application form or recent Curriculum Vitae. he deadline for applications is. Applications received after this date, as well as applications of those individuals who have not registered in the OSCE/ODIHR election expert database and who did not attach all required documents, will not be considered. The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The OSCE is an equal opportunity organization and encourages applications from female candidates. Remuneration will depend on qualifications and experience, and will be in accordance with established OSCE rates. Coverage of travel expenses and a standard per diem will be provided by the OSCE/ODIHR, in accordance with OSCE travel policies. Long-term and short-term observers OSCE participating States will also be requested to second 24 long-term and 250 short-term observers. Should you wish to become a long-term or a short-term observer, please contact your respective OSCE delegation in Vienna or your Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After clearing both the Republic Day releases, Sanjay Gupta's revenge saga Kaabil and Rahul Dholakia's crime drama Raees with U/A certificates and a few minor verbal cuts, the CBFC has now passes the next Hindi release Jolly LLB 2 with a U/A certificate and no cuts.
Subhash Kapoor's courtroom drama had been in the limelight (also) for controversial reasons ever since the trailer was released last month.
First, Bata sued the makers for presenting the footwear brand in bad light as shown in its trailer. Then, an advocate Ajay Waghmare filed a writ petition with the Bombay High Court, seeking to remove 'LLB' from the title of the film on grounds of the courtroom drama attempting to malign the reputation of the legal profession.
However, the Times of India reports that CBFC did not pay heed to the second allegation as it cleared the film without any cuts. The officials probably remember the Supreme Court verdict on a similar case from 2013 when lawyers from Meerut objected to the projection of the legal profession in the prequel Jolly LLB.
"Dont watch Jolly LLB if it offends you. These things happen in movies. They show Bombay High Courts door and gate and then show something else happening inside. These are all fictitious things," the apex court had announced, as per a report by The Quint.
However, Bombay High Court finds prima facie case of contempt against Jolly LLB 2, according to the same report. The petition has been ordered to be converted into a Public Interest Litigation and a three-member committee will be formed to review the film and decide whether a case of contempt can be made against the film, given the fact that it is inspired by true events and has been projected as a satire on the judicial system of the country.
Jolly LLB 2 stars Akshay Kumar, Huma Qureshi, Annu Kapoor and Saurabh Shukla. It is slated to release on 10 February.
When you are a celebrity, trolling is an inherent occupational hazard. When you're a celebrity in the Trump administration, things get a lot more problematic. But when you're an actor who was born to Indian immigrant parents and also happened to be the associate director in the White House Office of Public Engagement for Barack Obama, social media comments get downright vicious. In case you're wondering what the name of this very specific celebrity example is, it's none other than Kal Penn.
Penn aka Kalpen Suresh Modi has grown quite accustomed to vile, racist comments on his social media posts. But in light of the Muslim ban and many other antics under the Donald Trump administration, things were getting out of hand, and Penn decided to do something about it. So when a faceless denizen of Instagram told Penn, and we quote, "because you don't belong in this country you f****** joke," the actor decided to channel this hatred for good.
To the dude who said I don't belong in America, I started a fundraising page for Syrian Refugees in your name. https://t.co/NOR5P48fBi pic.twitter.com/jtJOsK9GrU Kal Penn (@kalpenn) January 28, 2017
"To the dude who said I don't belong in America, I started a fundraising page for Syrian Refugees in your name," Penn tweeted in a refreshingly positive spin on the hateful comment. The fundraiser crossed halfway through it's donor goal in a span of 11 minutes. "We are better than the hateful people who tell us we don't belong in our own country, that America can't be a beacon of freedom and hope for refugees from around the world. We will turn their bigotry, along with the President's, into love," Penn explains in his fundraising description. It did spread a lot of love indeed, as the the fundraiser has amassed $ 752,809 so far!
Penn has decided to donate the money to the International Rescue Committee, an organisation that is focused on helping refugees across the globe. Penn also held a Twitter Q & A to let donors know where the would be utilised and how they would help refugees.
I'll be live w/ @theIRC from 6-6:30pmET on Twitter answering questions about their work & why we're supporting them. Join us! Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/swCoDjubpL Kal Penn (@kalpenn) January 30, 2017
There's no doubt that this was probably the most productive retort to online harrasment in the history of all retorts. Perhaps Donald Trump and his Twitter-ready hands could learn a thing or two from this immigrant.
It was a night that had a plethora of celebrity speeches defying US President Donald Trump's immigration ban right from Julia Louis-Dreyfus' moving narrative about being the daughter of an immigrant who fled from Nazi-occupied France; to Ashton Kutcher's rousing 'my America' shoutout to all detained refugees; and Dev Patel, Simon Helberg, John Legend and Riz Ahmed's criticism of the policy.
Also read: SAG Awards 2017: Winners' speeches against Donald Trump's immigration ban grab attention
But some speeches stood out for the clever way in which they stayed true to the works that were being rewarded, even as they made a point about Trump's policy.
William Macy was among those who embraced the trend, by referencing both his character on Shameless and Trump in the same breath. Macy plays Frank Gallagher a perpetually unemployed, absentee single parent-of-nine and an alcoholic on Shameless, and when he picked up his Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series award, he quipped: "I would like to thank President Trump for making Frank Gallagher seem so normal.
While Macy's short and sweet speech drew him many cheers, so also did Julia Louis-Dreyfus' invocation of the Russian hacking scandal, and Trump's claims regarding the crowds at his inaugural ceremony.
"Whether the Russians did or did not hack the voting of this evening's Screen Actors Guild Awards, I look out over the million or million-and-a-half people in this room and I say this award is legitimate and I won. I'm the winner, the winner is me landslide," Louis-Dreyfus said, to the room's laughter, as she accepted her Best Female Actor in a Comedy trophy for Veep.
Yet another actor to draw connections between the character he played and Trump's policies, was Bryan Cranston. The former Breaking Bad star was conferred the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series prize for his role as former President Lyndon B Johnson in All the Way. Cranston, in his acceptance speech, said he's often asked what Johnson would have said to Trump.
"I honestly feel that 36 (Johnson was the 36th President of the United States) would put his arm around 45, and earnestly wish him success. And he would also whisper in his ear something he said often as a form of encouragement and a cautionary tale: Just dont piss in the soup that all of us gotta eat.
Male Actor in a Supporting Role winner Mahershala Ali chose to impart a more heartfelt message. Ali didn't just draw on his own experiences as a Muslim American, he also harked back to Moonlight, for which he won the award, and discussed the effects of persecution on people like its protagonist, Chiron.
I think what Ive learned from working on Moonlight is, we see what happens when you persecute people. They fold into themselves..." Ali said. "When we kind of get caught up in the minutiae, the details that make us all different, I think there's two ways of seeing that. There's an opportunity to see the texture of that person, the characteristics that make them unique. And then there's an opportunity to go to war about it, and to say that that person is different than me, and I don't like you, so let's battle."
Then there was Taraji P Henson's subtle acceptance speech for Hidden Figures' Outstanding Performance by a cast in a Motion Picture win, which looks at how three brilliant African American women Katherine G Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson working at NASA, served as the brains behind the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. Standing beside her co-stars Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae, Henson said, in what might have served as a moral for Trump:
This story is of unity. This story is about what happens when we put our differences aside and we come together as a human race. We win. Love wins. Every time."
The greatest applause of the night, however, was reserved for David Harbour, who plays police chief Jim Hopper on Netflix's Stranger Things, which won Best Ensemble Cast. Even as his co-star Winona Ryder's expressive reactions to his speech made waves on the internet, Harbour's words resonated with fans of Stranger Things and those opposing 'Trumpisms'.
Here's an excerpt from Harbour's goosebump-inducing speech:
"We are united in that we are all human beings and we are all together on this horrible, painful, joyous, exciting and mysterious ride that is being alive. Now, as we act in the continuing narrative of Stranger Things, we 1983 Midwesterners will repel bullies; we will shelter freaks and outcasts, those who have no home; we will get past the lies; we will hunt monsters; and when we are lost amidst the hypocrisy and casual violence of certain individuals and institutions, we will as per Chief Jim Hopper punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the meek, the disenfranchised and the marginalised, and we will do it all with soul, with heart and with joy. We thank you for this responsibility."
In the opening minutes of Part 1 of the AIB Podcast with Shah Rukh Khan, the moment the AIB Roast is mentioned, SRK goes into a playful disclaimer about how he was not a part of the Roast. I wasnt in the country, I wasnt even on the planet. The only roast I know is roast chicken, which I love. And in the same breath, he mirthfully directs a line to PETA, about how he actually doesnt eat at all.
As funny as his helplessness seems, it goes on to set the tone for an exercise in how to make people laugh while playing it safe. And therein lies the great paradox of AIBs podcast with SRK. How, at the same time, it manages to be outrageously funny as well as significantly depressing; because the sense you get is that one of the wealthiest, most popular and recognisable Indian celebrities is nearly as powerless as the common man, when it comes to something as basic as respectfully expressing an opinion. Forget about ever being able to share your own point of view, dear reader, because you are most certainly going to offend someone and bring out their intolerant side. The media both, actual and social usually has a field day talking about how Indian stars cant take a stand. There's enough written and said about how India just doesnt have an atmosphere that lets a public figure express themselves without the danger of facing repercussions, which can sometimes even turn violent.
Today, it seems like fringe groups, particularly those sharing ideologies with the BJP-led Right Wing government, are competing about how inane their reasons for violent protest can be.
Remember Raj Thackeray, a goon in politicians clothing, holding Karan Johar to ransom over Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, threatening the same with SRK over Raees? Or the Right Wing soc-med troll army targeting Snapdeal because of Aamir Khans statements about intolerance? Or just a few days ago, when a fringe group called the Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS, would you believe) roughed up the unit of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati? Yes, as Uncle Ben said, with great power comes great responsibility. So it becomes imperative for those with any sort of privilege or power to step out and make use of it, to improve the quality of discourse and to plainly express their views on what plagues society. Also read: Shah Rukh Khans criticism of media makes sense, but he must speak out more often But what does one do when every word of yours is analysed, sometimes published out of context, usually leading to some sort of controversy? And what do you do when the government of the day turns a blind eye to hooliganism, sometimes even surreptitiously encouraging it? It is most telling, the fact that in an episode where Shah Rukh Khan doesnt take any names, he manages to make a slight dig against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is perhaps the softest political target in the country. This, when SRK didnt even take Bhansalis name while referring to the vile attack by SRKS on the sets of Padmavati. In his Indian Express article, Shah Rukh Khan openly tells the media that if he is given a platform to speak and there is something to speak about, then he will gladly speak out. Yet, in the same article, he also says that currently there actually is no situation that needs him speak out. That, we know to be patently untrue. For never before have we been so morally and culturally policed at every step of our existence. Yes, weve had books and works of art being banned by previous governments as well, but what were witnessing today is something that should truly worry us. Indian democracy isnt as mature as Western democracy, because maturity in our polity can only come when we as people and society evolve first and this is a process that will take time. However, the current air of fear and silence is an impediment to that process of growth and evolution, something that can clearly be seen with how intelligent, outspoken people like Shah Rukh Khan are now conducting themselves at various public platforms.
As citizens, we have the right to expect people like Shah Rukh Khan to take a firm public stance. But simultaneously, we lose the right to expect that from our public figures if we fail to assure them that their words will not be twisted out of context, and that any protest against their words will not take a violent turn.
Until then, lets just make do with heavily-veiled allusions of the kind SRK made with AIB, or perhaps not even that. Because, as a society, if we take away his power to speak, then we also lose our right to expect him to shoulder any responsibility.
By Sankalp Phartiyal and Devidutta Tripathy
| MUMBAI
MUMBAI A proposed merger between Vodafone's India operation and Idea Cellular would create a market leader in India's crowded and hyper-competitive telecoms sector, forcing smaller players into two likely options: merge or exit altogether.Britain's Vodafone confirmed on Monday it was in talks to merge its Indian subsidiary with its local rival in an all-share deal, driving Idea's shares to a near six-month high on Tuesday.The combined entity would be a formidable player, with a subscriber base of about 395 million and a revenue market share of around 40 percent in the country's telecoms sector, although divestments would be needed in certain regions to comply with competition rules, analysts said.Both complement each other. Idea is stronger in rural areas and Vodafone's Indian unit is more competitive in cities, and they would be able to cut costs mainly through reduced capital spending and network operating costs, analysts added.That synergy would pose a direct threat to current market leader Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, the upstart launched by billionaire Mukesh Ambani last year that has up-ended India's telecoms market with free voice and data until the end of March.That kind of intensifying competition would raise the stakes for India's smaller wireless providers, with analysts predicting a period of consolidation to allow them to better compete against the top three players.
The stakes would be especially high for small players such as Telenor or Tata Teleservices. Videocon Telecom, for example, is already in the process of exiting."If data (from Jio) is free and the likes of Bharti, Vodafone and Idea have a huge post-paid subscriber base and good products, I wouldn't be surprised if there is further consolidation in the sector or some smaller players exit," said Naveen Kulkarni, co-head of research at PhillipCapital.Jio's entry has forced players to offer cheaper plans of their own, cutting deeply into their profits.
Deals are already in the works. Reliance Communications, controlled by Anil Ambani, has agreed to acquire Sistema's Indian mobile phone operations. It has also agreed to combine its wireless business with Aircel, majority owned by Malaysia's Maxis. Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel is in talks to acquire Telenor's Indian operations, local media has widely reported.Bharti Airtel welcomed the proposed alliance between Vodafone and Idea, saying "consolidation is always good", although it said companies must not be forced into consolidation by an "unfair playing field".
But mergers won't guarantee success in India's telecoms sector, analysts warned.India remains a capital-intensive market. Spectrum costs are high and big investments in network are needed to cover a vast geography. At the same time margins are wafer-thin, as carriers offer one of the world's cheapest data and voice prices."If it eventually becomes a market of three players, good for them. They will make money," said a banker who is not involved in the deal and did not wish to be named."I don't see any future for the small ones. They will be taken over or will exit the market." (Writing by Rafael Nam; Editing by Adrian Croft)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Mumbai: Ramesh Gohil, an undertrial in the 2002 Best Bakery riot case, died of heart attack at the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, police said.
Gohil died on Saturday, they said.
The National Investigation Agency had arrested him in the Best Bakery case in 2013.
In March 2002, a mob attacked the Best Bakery in Vadodara during the post-Godhra riots and burnt it down, killing 14 people.
After the Vadodara Court acquitted a few of the accused, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in Mumbai. Four accused, including Ramesh and his father Jayanti, were declared absconding after they failed to appear before the court for the retrial.
The NIA arrested them in 2013.
Ramesh collapsed while taking a walk inside the prison and was rushed to J J Hospital where he was declared dead before admission, police said.
An inquiry would be conducted into his death, officials added. He was cremated in Vadodara.
Imphal: The United Naga Council (UNC), which had imposed an indefinite economic blockade of Manipur on 1 November to protest against the creation of new districts, will take part in the proposed tripartite talks in Delhi on 3 February.
A. Noutuneswori, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Imphal East, has allowed them to join the proposed talks to be held in the national capital. The CJM also directed the government to facilitate their travel and participation in the talks.
Indications are that the meeting may last about a week as many issues are to be covered during the tripartite talks, involving the Manipur and central governments and the UNC.
UNC President Gaidon Kamei and Publicity Secretary S. Stephen have been praying to the court for quite some time to release them on bail, enabling them to participate in the talks. But the court had turned it down since the UNC and the Manipur government do not see eye to eye on many basic issues triggering the blockade.
The UNC has been demanding unconditional release of the two leaders, who have been in police custody since 25 November. But the state government refused. The UNC has also been saying that the talks should be held at its Senapati district headquarters.
But Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said: "The UNC should first call off the blockade and give an assurance never to repeat it. Besides, the venue cannot be selected by the UNC, which is merely a local club and others will emulate it. The talks should be held either in Imphal or Delhi."
Ibobi Singh maintains that seven new districts were created for administrative convenience and there is no question of a rollback.
The central government has been facing severe flak from some quarters for allegedly not trying sincerely to end the blockade. On the other hand, the central leaders say that the Manipur government has been lacking in its efforts.
In view of the fact that even several Naga organisations are now demanding lifting of the blockade as it is severely affecting the common people, the UNC has chosen to soften its stand.
The Manipur High Court has also taken a serious view of the blockade and has been giving directives to the government to ensure free and unfettered supply of consumer items and fuel.
Although the Centre had assured all assistance, it has sent only 29 companies of paramilitary forces as against Manipur's demand for 60 companies, the state government alleges. There have been ambushes of supply convoys along NH 37, claiming some lives and injuring others.
There are indications that the blockade would end following the talks.
By Praveen Menon and Shashank Chouhan
| KUALA LUMPUR/NEW DELHI
KUALA LUMPUR/NEW DELHI Seeking to capitalise on U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial new travel restrictions, companies and officials in Asia said they would target greater tourism and education ties with Muslims worried about the curbs.Trump's Friday directive put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. In Muslim-majority Malaysia, the group CEO of Asia's largest budget airline, AirAsia, suggested countries in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could cash in."With the world now getting more isolationist it's time for ASEAN to start making it easier for tourists to come," Tony Fernandes said in a tweet on Tuesday. Malaysia is a popular destination for tourists from the Middle East, with nearly 200,000 arriving in 2016 from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Qatar. The country is also a key destination for medical tourism and halal tourism, with food and other products largely halal-certified. In neighbouring Thailand, tourism officials said the U.S. ban could lift visitor numbers."The Middle East is a big market for us, especially in the medical tourism sector. They may choose to visit Thailand more and this may also boost our sector," Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn told Reuters.SAFETY AND SECURITY
Trump has presented his ban as a way to protect the United States from Islamist militants, but it has been condemned by a growing list of foreign leaders and drawn protests by tens of thousands in American cities.With concerns about safety and security building, some Asians were reconsidering U.S. travel plans and seeking alternatives, even though their countries were not subject to the restrictions.
"When you want to travel, especially for leisure, then you want peace of mind," said Alicia Seah, director of public relations and communications at Singapore's Dynasty Travel.S.M. Tareque, managing director of Orchid, a travel agency in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, said he had cancelled his own trip fearing harassment at U.S. airports.He said he knew of five people who were emigrating to the United States who had put their plans on hold. TOUGHER VETTING
Trump has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from attacks, but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and defiles America's historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants.
Keysar Trad, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said Trump's travel restrictions were not only hurting innocent people but were "bringing great damage to his own economy and to the standings of Americans internationally"."Everyone who has relatives in America, whether they are from the countries listed or not, they are petrified of what this man is going to do to America and to their relatives," Trad told Reuters.Some education providers had seen early signs of an impact.Ajay Mital, director at International Placewell Consultants in New Delhi, which places Indian students in universities abroad, said Germany and Singapore had stepped up efforts to recruit students.Prospective students were worried that, even if they were able to go to the United States for education, they would not get a job at the end of their studies with the tighter work visa rules that the new administration has said it may bring in."Trump has created panic here," Mital said. "Of particular concern are plans to review the Optional Practical Training, or OPT, programme which gives foreign graduates in fields like science, technology, engineering or maths the right to find jobs in the U.S. for up to 36 months. Tomorrow he may end the OPT."
LOOKING ELSEWHERE
Delhi-based IT professional Kanishk Singh had applied to more than a dozen U.S. universities for a masters course in creative writing. He received an email from Indiana University warning him that visa processing for international students was going to be hit after President Trump's latest orders."If I don't get to the U.S., I will apply for UK," he said.Rod Jones, CEO of Australian-listed education firm Navitas Ltd, said the company had seen a downturn in inquiries for their U.S.-based English language courses."We have started to see students back off from the U.S. because of their concerns about potential issues they may face," Jones told analysts on an earnings call. "But they still want to go somewhere," Jones added, identifying Canada and Australia as important alternatives. "The Canadian Prime Minister has come out and said 'if the U.S. doesnt want you, we'd love to have you' and I think it is the approach of Australia too." Aulia Adila, 24, a young professional in the media industry in Jakarta, had been considering the United States as an option for postgraduate study."When Trump had a chance of winning the election this made me reconsider going to the States to study. Now that he won, and with the Muslim ban and the new migrant policy, it's becoming even more impossible and unsafe to be in America," Adila said. "I'm considering another country where I'll feel safe." (Additional reporting by Pairat Temphairojana in Bangkok, Fransiska Nangoy and Ben Weir in Jakarta, Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore, Serajul Quadir in Dhaka and Colin Packham and Claudia Farhart in Sydney; Writing by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Alex Richardson)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Opposition parties on Monday signalled that demonetisation issue, which led to a virtual washout of the last session, would again heat up Parliament even as they vent their unhappiness over early presentation of Budget in the midst of poll season.
During an all-party meeting today called by the government, opposition parties led by Congress and CPI(M) demanded discussion on demonetisation and said they will again raise the issue as it has severely impacted the public.
The most vocal critique of demonetisation, the Trinamool Congress, skipped the meeting and said its MPs will not be present in Parliament on first two days of Budget Session as part of their protest against the note ban.
Apart from this, the opposition parties are also unhappy over the timing of the Budget, which has been advanced by almost a month. They fear that the government may use the opportunity to announce schemes to appease the voters in five states which go to polls from 4 February.
As heat over the Budget session is building up, there is also a grim reminder of the number of bills pending for Parliaments' approval.
Here are the bills listed by the ministry of parliamentary affairs that parliament has to take up in this session:
Bills for replacing Ordinances
1) The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, as passed by Lok Sabha and as reported by Select Committee of Rajya Sabha
2) The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017
3) The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Bill, 2017
Bills for Introduction, Consideration and Passing
1) The Finance Bill, 2017
2) The Indian Institute of Management Bill, 2017
3) The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment), Bill, 2017
4) The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017
5) The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2017
6) The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Amendment) Bill, 2017
7) The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2017
8) The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2017
9) The Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2017
10) The Collection of Statistic (Amendment) Bill, 2017
11) The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2017
12) The Central Goods & Service Tax Bill, 2016;
13) The Integrated Goods & Service Tax Bill, 2016;
14) The Goods & Services Tax (Compensation for loss of revenue) Bill, 2016
15) The Divorce (Amendment) Bill, 2017
16) The Footwear Design and Development Institute Bill, 2017
17) The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017
18) The High Court and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2017
19) The Indian National Defence University Bill, 2017
20) The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2017
21) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Bills for Consideration and Passing
Bills pending in Lok Sabha
1) The Mental Health Care Bill, 2016, as passed by Rajya Sabha
2) The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016, as passed by Rajya Sabha
3) The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016
4) The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016
5) The National Institute of Technology, Science Education and Research (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016
6) The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016
7) The Consumer Protection Bill, 2015
Bills pending in Rajya Sabha
1) The Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015, as passed by Lok Sabha
2) The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016, as passed by Lok Sabha
3) The Employees Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2016, as passed by Lok Sabha
4) The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013
5) The Armed Forces Tribunal (Amendment) Bill, 2012
6) The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014
Financial Business
1) Third Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2016-17;
2) Demands for Grants for 2017-18;
Bills for Withdrawal (in Lok Sabha)
1) The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
With inputs from PTI
Human Rights Watch calls for release of Andreas Ghukasyan
Human Rights Watch condemns the decision of a Yerevan court to extend the detention of opposition figure Andreas Ghukasyan for another two months. Last week a court in Armenia ordered Andreas Ghukasyan, a senior member of the opposition New Armenia movement, to remain in detention for an additional two months pending trial on criminal charges of organizing mass disorder. He has been locked up since his arrest during public protests in Yerevan on July 29, 2016, when police used excessive and disproportionate force to violently disperse a peaceful crowd and arrested dozens of participants and leaders. The protests erupted after armed men from a radical opposition group seized a Yerevan police station on July 17, killing one policeman and taking several hostages, Giorgi Gogia, South Caucasus director at Human Rights Watch has said. During last weeks hearing, the prosecutor argued for continued detention, citing the gravity of the charges. Yet publicly-available video footage of July 29 shows Ghukasyan calling on demonstrators to remain calm and not confront the police. The court reviewed the video, but denied Ghukasyans lawyers motion to allow journalists who witnessed the protests and some protest participants to testify in Ghukasyans defense. The judge cited several European Court of Human Rights judgments saying that courts are not required to permit defense witnesses at a pretrial detention hearing, as the main purpose is not to examine the merits of the case, but to establish reasonable suspicion of a defendant having committed the alleged crime. Its encouraging that the judge is citing European Court jurisprudence. But other European Court findings are equally relevant in this case. The European Court has been very clear that pretrial detention should be a measure of last resort, and that specific facts and personal circumstances relevant to the accused are needed to justify pretrial detention. Courts may not rely on general and abstract reasons for detention. Investigators contended that Ghukasyan would most likely abscond or interfere with the investigation, but presented no evidence to substantiate that claim. The prosecutor simply listed the reasons established in Armenian law for denying bail. Nothing else. To show full respect for Armenias human rights commitments, investigators should revise their request for pretrial detention for Ghukasyan, and release him pending a trial founded on a credible investigation into the charges against him, he continues.
By Kevin Dougherty
| QUEBEC CITY
QUEBEC CITY Six people were killed and eight wounded when gunmen opened fire at a Quebec City mosque during Sunday night prayers, in what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a "terrorist attack on Muslims".Police said two suspects had been arrested, but gave no details about them or what prompted the attack.Initially, the mosque president said five people were killed and a witness said up to three gunmen had fired on about 40 people inside the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Centre. Police said only two people were involved in the attack."Six people are confirmed dead - they range in age from 35 to about 70," Quebec provincial police spokeswoman Christine Coulombe told reporters, adding eight people were wounded and 39 were unharmed.The mosque's president, Mohamed Yangui, who was not inside when the shooting occurred, said he got frantic calls from people at evening prayers. "Why is this happening here? This is barbaric, he said.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement: "We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge".Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, cities and country."The shooting came on the weekend that Trudeau said Canada would welcome refugees, after U.S. President Donald Trump suspended the U.S. refugee program and temporarily barred citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States on national security grounds.A Canadian federal Liberal legislator, Greg Fergus, tweeted: "This is an act of terrorism -- the result of years of demonizing Muslims. Words matter and hateful speeches have consequences!"
The premier of Quebec province, Philippe Couillard, said security would be increased at mosques in Quebec City and Montreal."We are with you. You are home," Couillard said, directing his comments at the province's Muslim community. "You are welcome in your home. We are all Quebecers. We must continue together to build an open welcoming and peaceful society".New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said police were providing additional protection for mosques in that city following the Quebec shooting. "All New Yorkers should be vigilant. If you see something, say something," he tweeted.'NOT SAFE HERE'
French President Francois Hollande condemned the attack.
"The terrorists wanted to attack the spirit of peace and tolerance of the citizens of Quebec," Hollande said in a statement on Monday. "France stands shoulder to shoulder with the victims and their families".Like France, Quebec has struggled at times to reconcile its secular identity with a rising Muslim population, many of them from North Africa.In June last year, a pigs head was left on the doorstep of the cultural centre."We are not safe here," said Mohammed Oudghiri, who normally attends prayers at the mosque in the middle-class, residential area, but did not on Sunday.Oudghiri said he had lived in Quebec for 42 years but was now "very worried" and thinking of moving back to Morocco.
Mass shootings are rare in Canada, which has stricter gun laws than the United States, and news of the shooting sent a shockwave through mosques and community centres throughout the mostly French-language province."Its a sad day for all Quebecers and Canadians to see a terrorist attack happen in peaceful Quebec City," said Mohamed Yacoub, co-chairman of an Islamic community centre in a Montreal suburb. "I hope its an isolated incident."Incidents of Islamophobia have increased in Quebec in recent years. The face-covering, or niqab, became a big issue in the 2015 Canadian federal election, especially in Quebec, where the majority of the population supported a ban on it at citizenship ceremonies.In 2013, police investigated after a mosque in the Saguenay region of the province was splattered with what was believed to be pig blood. In the neighbouring province of Ontario, a mosque was set on fire in 2015, a day after an attack by gunmen and suicide bombers in Paris.Zebida Bendjeddou, who left the Quebec City mosque earlier on Sunday evening, said the centre had received threats."In June, they'd put a pig's head in front of the mosque. But we thought: 'Oh, they're isolated events.' We didn't take it seriously. But tonight, those isolated events, they take on a different scope," she said.Bendjeddou said she had not confirmed the names of those killed, but added: "They're people we know, for sure. People we knew since they were little kids." (Reporting by Kevin Dougherty in Quebec City; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball in Washington, Allison Lampert in Montreal, Andrea Hopkins and David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto and Chris Michaud in New York; Writing by Michael Perry; Editing by Peter Cooney, Robert Birsel)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
On many issues, Indian opinion makers habitually imitate their American counterparts with a missionary zeal. It's obvious that the effect will be magnified in the case of Donald Trump. As American media declared war against its 45th President, the battle cry inevitably reverberated from the ramparts of New Delhi. It isn't clear what stakes they had in this clash, but Indian liberals have greeted Trump with long LitFest sessions and defiant Facebook walls both expressing apocalyptic fears. Something tells me Trump won't be losing his sleep over it.
Ever since the 70-year-old started converting his electoral promises into action through a spate of executive orders, Indian media went into a tailspin. Amid widespread cries of armageddon and daily dart-throwing on the Trump dartboard, not a single attempt has been made to contextualise Trump's ascension and evaluate whether he poses the same threat for Indo-US bilateral relations as he does, seemingly, for American domestic policies and politics.
This isn't to condone or criticise Trump's actions since he stepped into the White House. His executive orders on Obamacare, refugee or immigration policies are part of a separate debate. As Indians, what should be of immediate concern to us is to what extent are we impacted by Trump's policies and whether or not India will have leverage over him.
Strange as it may seem, relationships between nations are not governed by liberal principles or social justice.
While to a certain extent solidarity with American brethren over Trump is understandable and even inevitable, it makes little sense for Indians to roam about with a hurt look and 'Not My President' placard on shoulders. Not only because our President is Pranab Mukherjee, but also because bilateral relationship depends on shared interests and realpolitik. On these counts, India is actually better placed than most nations with Trump in the Oval Office.
If we follow the Trump trajectory closely right from the extraordinarily long election campaign to early signs from his cabinet the consistently positive rhetoric on India and areas of mutual concern become evident.
Trump had all along maintained that he will be India's 'big friend' and on more than one occasion had praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'decisive leadership' and ability to do away with bureaucratic deadwood. That set the tempo for good chemistry between the leaders.
During a charity event last October, the then-Republican presidential nominee had called himself a big fan of India and promised to "stand shoulder to shoulder with India in sharing intelligence and keeping our people safe mutually". The significance of his visiting a non-battleground state during peak campaign season to attend a Republican Hindu Coalition wasn't lost on anyone.
In his book The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies that hit the stands last August, Lieutenant General (rtd) Michael T Flynn has written: Countries like Pakistan need to be told that we will not tolerate the existence of training camps and safe havens for Taliban, Haqqani, and al-Qaeda forces on their territory, nor will we permit their banks and other financial institutions to move illicit funds for the terror network. Trump has since appointed him as the National Security Adviser, raising hopes that US will act on Flynn's threat that Pakistan will be treated harshly and the aid will be cut off if Islamabad doesn't mend ways.
Another key Trump aide, US Defence Secretary James Mattis, made no bones about the need for a closer strategic partnership with India. During his confirmation procedure at the US Senate, the retired Marine Corps General had called Indo-US relationship one of "utmost importance" and advocated much closer, long-term ties based on security and defence in Asia Pacific region.
Modi had called Trump just hours after his victory and the POTUS returned the favour on 24 January. Albeit a courtesy call, the implication of it being placed ahead of Trump's phone calls to European heads of states, Beijing or even Moscow was hard to miss. A White House release stated that "United States considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world" and that the duo "discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership in broad areas such as the economy and defense". The statement also made it clear that "United States and India stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism. President Trump looked forward to hosting Prime Minister Modi in the United States later this year."
Reading between the lines, it is quite clear that Trump administration considers India a natural counterbalance to China, whose rise as a mercantile power bent on throwing around its economic and diplomatic heft carries disconcerting side-effects for both India and the US. It is entirely possible that having withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Washington now may rely on India greater than ever to restore some sort of a balance in Asia. Already, Chinese president Xi Jinping has indicated at Davos that Beijing isn't avert to taking up global economic leadership if America cedes that spot.
Speaking to CNBC, Manpreet Anand, former US deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, said that Trump may accelerate the dovetailing of US-India security interests in Asia. "Through successive administrations and strong congressional support, the US has made tremendous investments to expand its relationship with India over the past several years The Trump administration has an opportunity to double down on those efforts as the strategic interests of our two countries continue to align," Anand said.
With Trump at the White House, India's biggest geopolitical gain could be the expected improvement of US-Russia ties that hit the nadir under Barack Obama. During this time, Russia had gravitated towards the China-Pakistan axis putting at direct risk the long-standing relationship with India. It is unlikely that Moscow and Washington would be exchanging love letters soon but a transactional relationship between two deal-makers in Vladimir Putin and Trump may stop a total breakdown of ties and prevent a bankrupt Moscow from seeking Chinese aid. Beijing has shown it would only be too happy to bankroll Russia and increase its influence in Eurasia.
The tetchy questions over US immigration program H1B visa remain. According to Ananth Kumar, Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers, there is no reason to think that Indian IT and pharma industry will be hit severely by Trump's policies. "Prime Minister has already had a telephonic conversation with the US President (Trump). I dont think there will be any change in the attitude of the US in terms of commerce-related issues," he said on Saturday.
There could be initial pressure on IT firms to hire locally, but consequently, opportunities for Indian tech industry will increase manifold. The overall net result should be positive.
Also, as an Indian-American Republican leader pointed out on Monday, Trump's "Buy American" and Modi's "Make In India" need not be mutually exclusive policies and indeed, could be even complementary, given the fact that Trump is worried about an yawning trade deficit with China and may impose some tariffs that could pave the way for better bilateral trade between the two nations. Shalabh Kumar, a big donor to Trump fund, expects trade to rise from over $100 billion now to rise to at least $300 billion by the end of Trumps current term.
Of course, leadership can't be put into grand theories and rarely do relationships follow the rules of logic. There could be many variables. But if mutual interest is the basis of stable Indo-US relation, we Indians need not be despondent about Trump. He is America's problem but our opportunity.
The election campaign in Goa is reaching its fever pitch, prior to the polling on 4 February. While the BJP is banking heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister and former chief minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar to deliver a consecutive victory for the saffron party, the party is facing multi-pronged issues.
The BJP's one-time ally MGP has left the ruling alliance to form its own with the Shiv Sena and Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM). The GSM is being led by Subhash Velingkar, the former Goa head of the RSS. Unhappiness over ticket distribution also adds to the list of woes for the party.
The Congress, on the other hand, is trying to make a comeback in the 40-member Goa Vidhan Sabha, at a time when the party has seen its fortune dipping after the disastrous 2014 Lok Sabha election.
The Congress' campaign is being led by Digvijaya Singh, the Goa in-charge of the party. According to reports, despite the outside show of unity, the party is wrecked with factionalism. While one faction is led by former chief minister Digambar Kamat, other is being led by Goa Congress chief Luizinho Faleiro.
On this issue, Digvijaya said, "In any political organisation there is bound to be some difference of opinion, as far as the Congress party is concerned, and on this issue, all decisions are taken by the AICC central election committee and we have acted upon the committee's directions."
The party's poll plank was made clear by Sachin Pilot, when he had addressed a press conference on 27 January.
Pilot stressed on three main points to counter the ruling BJP. The party's double speak on casinos, the interference of 'super CM' Parrikar, and the return of mining in the state.
On the casino issue, Pilot promised that the party won't betray the people of Goa. Pilot alleged that the BJP had flip-flopped over its promise of banning casino after coming to power. Pilot alleged that the party has allowed them to multiply the number of floating casinos in the state. The Congress, on the other hand, said that it is clear regarding its stance to put a full stop on casinos and will work out a solution.
However, it is interesting to note that it was the Congress which allowed the casinos to boom during its rule in the 1990s and between 2007 and 2012. The BJP, after promising to end them, too allowed the casinos to operate employement issues.
The other major point on which Congress seems to be hedging its political fortunes is the contentious mining issue.
While the mining ban was lifted in January 2015, reports suggest it has remained low-key. The Congress party has promised to implement the Supreme Court's guidelines on mining and make it sustainable for the development of the state.
However, as David Devadas pointed out, "General outrage over the frenetic craze for the mining and export of iron ore played a great role in sweeping the Congress out of office in the previous round of Assembly election in 2012."
Parrikar's 'Super CM' moniker has given the Congress enough fodder to attack the incumbent government. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi during his Mapusa rally on Monday bolstered the "super CM" argument and in a veiled attack on Parrikar remarked, The reality is that your state is not governed in Goa, it is controlled in Delhi, via remote control what Modiji wants, what your minister in Delhi wants, thats what happens in Goa.
As Ajay Jha noted in his piece: "With Laxmikant Parsekar (Goa chief minister) around, Parrikar was assured that he had anointed someone who could not match his aura and stature, and would make room for him should be is forced to return to the state politics. This was to ultimately make Parrikar function as 'Super Chief Minister of Goa', a role he has taken to rather seriously in the run-up to Assembly polls".
Pilot had criticised Parrikar for not living up to the expectations and being disinterested in the Defence Ministry. He said that Parrikar has betrayed the veterans by failing to solve the One Rank One Pension (Orop) logjam.
The 'super CM' taunt potentially undermines Parsekar's position and shows the state BJP as being remote controlled from New Delhi.
However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) poses a challenge for the Congress. AAP under the leadership of Elvis Gomes promises to make Goa corruption free and is entering the poll fray as an alternative to the well-established parties.
However, when Firstpost asked Digvijaya about the AAP threat, he chose to downplay the threat.
"AAP is basically the B team of the BJP and they only concentrate to defeat the Congress party. Their target is to take away the secular votes of the Congress. Arvind Kejriwal only concentrates on Narendra Modi, never says anything about the RSS," he said.
(With videos and inputs from Mihir Ved)
The more one sees of Rahul Gandhi, the more disappointed one feels, leaving one to wonder if the 46-year-old is really capable of revamping the 131-year-old Congress party and ready to fulfill his mothers and partys dream of becoming the next prime minister of the country after a failed attempt in 2014.
Rahul, the fifth generation politician from the stable of the famous Nehru-Gandhi family, entered politics in 2004. Thirteen years in public life is a long time of gestation for anyone to establish himself. However, his growth has been confined to progression from being a Congress party Member of Parliament to becoming the party general secretary in 2007 and getting elevated as its vice-president in 2013. In public life, the only visible evolution is his newfound ability to speak extempore.
Extempore he spoke when Rahul landed in poll-bound Goa to address an election rally on Monday in the run up to 4 February polling in the south-western coastal state. And that was all he did without creating ripples in the opponents camps or instilling the much needed confidence in the Congress party workers with his insipid show.
Yes, Rahul broke away from the past symbolically. While in the past he used to quote his conversation with mother Sonia, at his rally, held at Bodgeshwar ground of North Goas commercial capital Mapusa, he quoted, for the first time, his conversation with sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
I had a talk with Priyanka. She asked me Rahul why do BJP people always appear angry? I thought aloud and came to the conclusion that BJP people feel they know everything. If the truth comes out differently from what they had thought, they get angry, Rahul said.
Sample this too: Congress wont compromise and eradicate corruption from Goa I had promised Goa an honest and corruption-free government and we will deliver it, if you vote for us.
Congress may still poll in votes in Goa, not because of its promise to fight against corruption, unleashed brazenly by its successive governments in the past. The same four ex-Goa chief ministers, all embroiled in corruption charges, are still seen around him in Goa. One of them would be the next chief minister in the highly unlikely eventuality of the Congress party coming to power on its own. Promising an honest and corruption-free government with one of these at the helm is unpalatable even a die-hard Congress fan. The result is visible to everyone those unhappy with the BJP government have drifted towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is contesting Goa elections with lots of enthusiasm and hope.
At the end of his 18-minute long speech, one was left wondering if Rahul was in Goa to campaign for state elections or parliamentary polls. He continued in the same vein from where he had left in his first ever rally in Goa on 16 December to kick off the partys campaign. He never ever referred to the BJP government in the state except that it was run through remote control from New Delhi. Instead, Rahul trained his gun on Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose involvement with Goa polls is confined to his Saturday rally that he addressed in Panaji.
Rahul appeared totally unmindful that being Indias smallest state and with 11.09 million registered voters, the average voters per constituency, when divided by 40 Assembly segments, comes to mere 27,725. Goa elections are not contested and won on national issues, not even on state issue, but by promises the candidates make locally to his/her voters. Being a small state with small populations, voters and candidates here know each other personally.
Following on AAP footsteps, the ruling BJP is also issuing constituency specific manifestos. The Congress party, however, is lacking on this front and Rahul is totally oblivious of the local mechanism that comes into work during elections.
He termed Modi a liar and a dictator who, he said, speaks a lot and speaks well, but he never listens to others. Rahul blamed Modi for working to benefit only 50 rich families of the country, talked about fallout of demonetisation on poor, accused him of going back on his promises to tackle corruption and creating new job opportunities.
The BJP is not unbeatable in Goa. In fact, it stands on a sticky wicket with pollsters predicting it would fall short of the majority mark while emerging the single largest party in a hung Assembly. The BJP is fully aware of the ground reality. However, for strange reasons, the Congress party and its leadership have gone in for negative campaigning, a la 2014 General Elections where the more they criticised Modi, the more popular he became. Instead of promising new schemes and giving new vision to develop Goa, the party appears to think its Modi-bashing will ensure their victory. The state units poll song that was being played loudly at Rahuls rally venue before he visited there in a helicopter from the local Dabolim airport, also reflected that the Congress party thinks its passport to power lies in criticising BJP as the theme song repeatedly termed BJP as U-turn sarkar (government).
The organisers had set realistic target to get some 20,000 people to listen to Rahul, and managed to mobilise little over half that target. The crowd came, some even after his chopper had landed. Majority among them appeared party workers who wore Congress caps and held the party flags. But after listening to their leader for 18 minutes, they refused to respond and raise slogans despite repeated requests, appearing more interested in the yellow chopper than the leader flying in it.
With barely a few days left before Goa votes, the Congress party continues to be a house divided with some of its senior state leaders working at cross purposes and criticising their own party in public. If the Congress party emerges victorious and forms the government, it would be nothing lesser than a political miracle and despite Rahul, whose two damp squib appearances in Goa have failed to promote the beleaguered party.
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The GDP is estimated to grow at 7.1% in 2016-17 as compared with 7.6% in 2015-16. However, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in December 2016 was 3.4% down from 5.6% in December 2015. Read the report here.
According to a report prepared by the New Delhi-based think tank PRS Legislative Research, which analysed President Mukherjee's address to Parliament on 23 February 2016, not all targets of increasing GDP and lowering inflation, fiscal deficit and current account deficit were achieved.
The President's address, a day before the Union Budget is presented, sets the tone for the upcoming Budget Session as the broad initiatives taken by the Union government and objectives for the coming year are listed out.
Once President Mukherjee's address to the joint session of the Parliament concludes, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will table the Economic Survey 2016-17. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress has decided not to attend the Parliament for two days.
President also congratulated the government for fulfilling the four-decade old demand of One Rank One Pension.
The expectation is chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian will give some idea as to how the demonetisation has impacted the economy in the Economic Survey.
After the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from 9 November, the common man endured much pain hoping that the government's step will finally put an end to black money generation and the evaders will pay a price. However, the government is yet to come out with exact data on how much money has come into the system and what is the amount of black money it may have amassed.
This year's Economic Survey is nothing like the previous years'. The reason is the country has been witness to an unprecedented step - demonetisation.
Will Economic Survey clear the air about the impact of demonetisation?
Towards the budget, there has been demand for higher allocation for the social sector in order o get over the pain of demonetisation.
After the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, normalcy is yet to return to rural areas. The cash crunch induced by he note ban has resulted in job losses in the informal sector. As daily labourers returned to their villages, the demand for jobs under MGNREGA has spiked, media reports said.
The Economic Survey has realised the risk of the the demonetisation to the country's economic growth and noted the recovery from the negative impact will require policy support from the government.
The new estimate this year comes after the the Central Statistical Organisation projected a growth of 7.1 percent on 6 January.
The new estimate this year comes after the the Central Statistical Organisation projected a growth of 7.1 percent on 6 January.
The Economic Survey has sharply cut the GDP growth for 2016-17 to 6.5 percent, from 7.6 percent last financial year.
The Economic Survey has sharply cut the GDP growth for 2016-17 to 6.5 percent, from 7.6 percent last financial year.
The currency squeeze was less than perceived. It was higher in December than in November, contrary to the general perception, he said.
Demonetisation has affected different forms of money very differently, he said. It simultaneously reduced the supply of cash and by the same token it increased the bank deposits.
Caution has to be exercised in analysing the impact of demonetisation. It is an unusual monetary experiment. No real model exist. It is an unusual experiment in the monetary history, Subramanian said.
Based on a survey on misallocation of resources for the six largest Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Sub-Schemes (except PDS and fertilizer subsidy) across districts, the Economic Survey points out that the districts where the needs are greatest are precisely the ones where State capacity is the weakest. This suggests that a more efficient way to help the poor would be to provide them resources directly, through a UBI.
The Mahatma as astute political observer, would have anxieties about UBI as being just another add-on Government programme, but on balance, he may have given the go-ahead to the UBI.
The UBI is a simple idea based on three principles - universality, unconditionality and agency, said Subramanian at the press conference.
The Economic Survey advocates the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) as an alternative to the various social welfare schemes in an effort to reduce poverty. The survey juxtaposes the benefits and costs of the UBI scheme in the context of the philosophy of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma may have given go-ahead to Universal Basic Income as anti-poverty scheme
He ducked the question whether the government could have done something better.
On the RBI's likely interest rate action, Subramanian at the press conference said the market interest rates have already been trending down.
Explaining the rationale behind its 6.75-7.5% GDP growth estimate for the next financial year, the Economic Survey said cash will replenished by end March 2017 and the economy would revert to the normal after that.
"It says that bank deposits increased sharply through end-December, that they will decline and probably settle at a slightly higher level, it doesn't say how much was the deposit increase or when it is likely to become steady. So also about the RBI balance sheet. Did the CEA anlayse the note ban without any numbers in hand? If yes, it is surprising," Rajesh said.
Firstpost business editor Rajesh Pandathil noted that though there is detailed table on the impact of note ban, it has no numbers mentioned anywhere.
The Economic Survey, though as expected, had given an impact analysis of the demonetisation but has not given any numbers.
Detailed table on impact of demonetisation, but where are the numbers?
A Congress MP, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the government wanted to postpone the announcement of E Ahamed's passing. "They announced it at midnight after pressure from his family," the MP said.
"The budget should be delayed. Otherwise, it will be an inhuman act," he said. "There is a lot of time. The Budget can be presented tomorrow too."
"If they will not show respect, it won't be appropriate," said Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. "The Budget which they had to present in March is being presented now," he added.
House stands in silence for 2 minutes as a mark of respect to departed leader and sitting Congress MP E Ahamed.
"The House may go ahead with the presentation of the Budget," she said. "However, the House will not sit tomorrow."
"I would have adjourned the House for the day but today, the sitting has been fixed for the Budget, which is a constitutional obligation," said Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
But Sumitra Mahajan said that she has already given her ruling.
"As a mark of respect, the House should be adjourned today. Budget should be presented tomorrow," he said.
"E Ahamed is a senior leader. He was there for 45 years in the legislative affairs," said Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge in Lok Sabha.
Opposition leaders are now shouting in the House even as Arun Jaitley begins to speak.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley begins his fourth Union Budget speech. Wishes the country on the occasion of Vasant Panchami.
This could be a broad hint at the government's plans for these sectors, which have large unorganised constituency. Though labour laws have been a major impediment in increasing investment in the sector and it is for the states to breing in reforms in this area now, the Centre could announce sops to boost the sectors. It is also to be remembered that textile was one of the sectors that was hit hard by the demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
The Survey adds that these sectors provide immense opportunities for creation of jobs for the weaker sections, especially for women, and can become vehicles for broader social transformation in the country.
"Apparel and Leather & Footwear sectors are eminently suitable for generating jobs that are formal and productive, providing bang-for-buck in terms of jobs created relative to investment and generating exports and growth," said the survey released yesterday.
The Economic Survey may have dropped borad hints at how the governmenet may be planning to push job creation.
"India's macroeconomic stability continues to be its fountainhead of its growth. CAD has declined by 1%," says Jaitley.
"Growth in a number of emerging economies is likely to recover in 2017 after a poor performance in 2016. Uncertain crude oil prices have had its implication on the emerging economies," says Jaitley.
"According to the IMF, India is going to be the one of the fastest growing economies. Inflation has been controlled. The government has launched a massive war on black money. India seen as an engine of global growth," says Jaitley.
"Demonetisation is the new normal. Demonetisation seeks to make our GDP bigger, cleaner." says Jaitley.
Jaitley resorts to poetry, asks all to embrace the new. This of course celebrates the new thrust towards a cashless economy.
"My overall approach while preparing this Budget has been to spend more in rural areas, poverty alleviation through fiscal prudence," says Jaitley.
The effects of demonetisation are not expected to spill over to the next year, says the finance minister. However, this goes against the indication in the Economic Survey that was released yesterday. The survey had given a GDP growth projection of 6.75-7.5 pecent for the next year. Experts have been of the opinion that the wide range could be an indication that there could be a spill over effect next year too.
Not seeing effects of the demonetisation spill over to next year
Not seeing effects of the demonetisation spill over to next year, The effects of demonetisation not expected to spill over to the next year, says the finance minister. However, this goes against the indication in the Economic Survey that was released yesterday. The survey had given a GDP growth projection of 6.75-7.5 pecent for the next year. Experts have been of the opinion that the wide range could be an indication that there could be a spill over effect next year too.
Use of Spring festival signals hope. Policy moves from favouritism to transparency and informal to formal. The finance minister is sending a macro message for foreign investors.
Increase in agriculture credit and its disbursal along with more coverage of crop insurance scheme is a good step and will be helpful to the farm sector hit by the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
India, which was the 7th largest economy has now become the sixth largest in manufacturing. India Rise! The focus on fundamentals as regards rural sector is a good way to go
"Pace of construction of roads has increased to Rs 133 km/day in 2017," Says Jaitley.
Mudra Yojna gets special mention. Funds for housing to rural poor under Prime Minister Rural Poor Housing scheme, allocation for MGNREGA has been increased to highest ever with the rider that it will be used to create productive assets. Mark the word eastern India, it had loaded political connotation without Uttar Pradesh word used.
The political thrust of Modi government in union budget 2017 is clearly apparent from repeated reference to schemes beneficial to farmers, rural poor, infrastructure, dailts women, youth. Rs 10 lakh crore has been earmarked for credit to farmers in eastern Indian and Jammu and Kashmir.
MNREGA funds for asset creation, moving out of the old Dole regime. Housing allocation for rural housing grows 50 percent. The focus is on rural income and demand, and formalising rural economy.
Special effort for farmers to double income to be focused on Eastern States. A hint for UP elections?
India, which was the 7th largest economy, has now become the sixth largest in manufacturing. India Rise! The focus on fundamentals as regards rural sector is a good way to go.
Rural fundamentals in focus; It's a good way to go
The way Jaitley spoke of MGNREGA, about increased allocation and the way productive assets would be built including water ponds, is clearly an indicator that Modi government is keen to take political capital out of a scheme that was the shining armour of erstwhile UPA government.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's speech is calculated to consolidate political constituencies for the Narendra Modi government. It begins with unambiguous thrust on agriculture, rural areas and addresses the concerns of women and youth. Obviously a cursory analysis of Jaitley's speech would leave no one in doubt that Modi's preparation for 2019 elections has begun with this budget.
Interest waiver, and not loan waiver. It a very good sign for prudential banking.
Overall rural allocation is 24 percent higher than last years. Computerisation of Nabard will allow tracking of funds for farmers. Micro irrigation and fertigation will ensure more crop per drop.
The additional sops for the farmers include increase in Fasal bima yojana coverage to 40 percent and crop insurance coverage by 50 percent, a Rs 5,000 crore micro irrigation fund and Rs 8,000 crore dairy processing fund. Further, the government will support NABARD to digitise 63,000 primary agri societies, the FM said. Rs 48,000 crore has been allocated to MNREGA from Rs 37,000 crore last year, Jaitley said. But, isnt also due more number of people moving from factory jobs to informal sector? The government has increased the allocation for rural agriculture and allied sectors by 24 per cent to Rs 1,87,223 crore, which should ideally help revival in rural sector post demonetisation impact. But are job losses factored in?
Jaitelys speech reaffirms the governments aggressive focus on the rural push, a key item in the governments agenda. Jaitley said this government wants to take one crore households out of poverty by 2019 and complete rural electrification by 1 May, 2018. The FM has almost started from where PM Modi stopped in his New year speech as far as governments big rural push is concerned. More sops were doled out for the farmers. As usual, the bank credit target for agriculture was further increased to Rs 10 lakh credit target this year. Whether the banking system have the capacity to take up the additional burden given the existing high level of bad loans from the segment is a question.
Innovation in 4,000 backward blocks will generate rural entrepreneurship. Mason training and skill India development clearly aimed at long-term formalisation of informal occupations.
Farmers, rural poor, youth, girls and women, artisans, unprivileged and their concerns of education, infrastructure, loan, jobs and social security were dwelt at length. PM Modi and FM Jaitley realise the burden of expectation that is there on them and it was good to see that FM addressed to that in the beginning.
Modi government has used the first half of the budget to address its core social constituency farmers, rural poor, Dalits, women, youth. Remember, this is the third budget of the Modi government and thus most significant to send out a message to those who looked up to this government with certain hopes and aspirations.
Good going by the finance minister. He has focused on rural fundamentals micro irrigation and dairy focus, contract farming, water harvesting and infrastructure. The FM has made Rs 1.87 lakh crore allocation for rural and agri sector. Bharat shining!
"Service charge for tickets booked through IRCTC to be withdrawn. Tariffs to be fixed as per competition and quality of service," said Jaitley.
"Coach Mitra facility to come up. All trains to have bio-toilets," Jaitley said.
"500 stations to be made differently-abled with lifts, escalators. Solar power to lit up more stations," he said.
"A Rail Raksha Sanraksha Koch with a corpus of Rs 1 lakh cr in the course of five years. Unmanned railway crossings to disappear by 2020. Railway lines of 3,500 km will be commissioned in 2017-18," says Jaitley.
"A pilot project with Aadhaar cards containing the health details of senior citizens will be started in 15 districts,"says Jaitley.
Concerns of medical students have been addressed for post-graduate education. It is interesting to see that that government decision to allow private hospitals to begin DNB medical courses found a place in the budget.
Re-emphasis on cashless economy would boost digital transactions leading to greater financial inclusion, transparency and economic growth: Mehul Turakhia, Director Finance, Directi
The finance minister said the government proposes to complete 1,00,00,000 houses by 2019 for houseless and those living in kaccha houses. Towards this, he increased allocation for PM Awas Yojana to Rs 23,000 crore.
Jaitleys announcement that affordable housing will be given infrastructure status is an important step. This is a big move that can, at one stroke, give a major push to the affordable housing sector since banks can now lend money to affordable housing projects under infrastructure category. This can also work to boost real estate and construction activities that has slowed in the recent months. Good move, Mr FM!
Launching of education portal is a good step. However, investment in schools and educational infrastructure in rural sector is the need of the hour.
"New Metro Rail Policy to be announced. It will open up new job possibilities.National Highway Allocation fixed at Rs 64,000 Crore. Airports Authority of India Act to be amended to enable monetisation of land," says Jaitley.
Safety deadlines a key deviation from previous Railway Budget. Throughput enhancement will reduce the need to keep increasing fares. Elimination of unmanned rail crossings by 2020 can reduce accidents by 40 %.
The fact that FM Jaitley referred to Railway after about 50 minutes of budget speech is an indicator that the government was keen to send out a strong political message that it cared for poor, underprivileged and concerns of youth. It was basically elaboration of what PM Modi had outlined in his 31 December 2016 address to the nation, the day his 50-day deadline for deposits of old demonetised notes had ended. It will depend on the ruling BJP as a party to reach out to electorate in UP, Punjab, Uttrakhand, Goa and Manipur with certain positives.
The government to take up second phase of solar power development for additional 20,000 MW. Over 250 proposals for electronics mfg received in last 2 yrs for Rs 1.26 lakh crore, says Jaitley.
Agriculture sector announcements are deeply disappointing. Like last year, farmers have got nice words but nothing else.
Service charge withdrawal on Railway tickets e-booking a way to encourage e transactions. This will also compel airlines.
The increase in railway expenditure focusing on infrastructure creation steady going. National highway will have no speed breaker for smooth motoring. Implementation will be key. Affordable housing as infrastructure is an innovative idea to boost the sector.
"IRCON and IRFC to be listed on stock exchanges. There is a proposal to create an integrated PSU oil major. Listing of CPSE will increase accountability," says Jaitley.
Specifics on cyber security steps missing. Interface with police and courts required. As many as 125 lakh people adopt BHIM app, but regulator for epayments missing.
Increasing target for agriculture credit to Rs 10 lakh crore is nothing but a routine announcement. From 9 to 9.5 to 10. In any case, this is given by the banks, not FM. What the FM could have announced was interest relief. This he is not done. Nor has he announced any measures to ensure that this credit reaches to small, tenant farmers. So net results ZERO.
Propose revised mechanism for time-bound listing of PSUs. Shift to digital platforms to benefit the common man, says Jaitley.
Defence personnel getting their concession tickets booked in railway through online processes without standing in queue at railways reservation counters with authorised concession warrants is a welcome step. It otherwise sounds a small step but gives great comfort to defence personnel. Modi government would hope to get their goodwill.
The finance minister has proposed to create an integrated PSU oil major. Is this the end of current PSU oil marketing companies?
The announcement from Jaitley that railway-related state-run companies like IRCON and IRCTC are to be listed on stock exchanges is a bumper move thatll enable the government to unlock the big value of these giants. This is a proposal that has been in the discussions for too long, but no definite decisions have been taken so far. Jaitleys move, in this context, is significant.
Total resources to be transferred to states and UTs estimated at Rs 4.11 lakh crore. Allocation of capital expenditure up 25% YoY. Peg fiscal deficit for 2017 at 3.2%, says Jaitley.
FM's loud silence on some of the key demands and expectations of farmers: Income security for farmers, higher MSP release of farmers from debt-trap, improvement in irrigation, electricity, fertilizer and seed subsidies. Very disappointed.
Rs 10,000 crores for banks recapitalisation is in line, but short of expectations.
"Tax-to-GDP ratio very low in India. We are largely a tax non-compliant society. When too many evades tax, the burden falls on those who are honest," says Jaitley.
Government decision to bring a law to attach properties of absconders is a significant move. It would enable the government to attach properties of the likes of Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi and so on, who fled from country. Whether or not this would act as deterrent but would certainly send a strong signal that bhagodas family members wouldn't enjoy the assets and wealth with impunity.
Poetry time once again, this time on black money. Opposition, treasury benches join hands in complimenting poet Arun Jaitley.
Poetry time once again, this time on black money. Opposition , treasury benches join hands in complimenting poet Arun Jaitley.
With regard to fiscal deficit roadmap of 3 years, a long-term view has been maintained. This is consistent with promises made. However, it would require great effort to achieve it.
"The thrust of my tax proposal in this Budget is to bring relief to the middle class, boost affordable housing, transparent political funding. Net tax growth at 17% in the last 2 years," says Jaitley.
The push towards e-transactions through BHIM and Aadhar enabled payments puts India at the cusp of a digital revolution.
"Demonetisation deposits between Rs 2-80 lakh made In 1.09 crore accounts. Post demonetisation deposits above Rs 80 lakh in 1.48 lakh accounts," says Jaitley.
Consider this: Presently, state-run banks are severely undercapitalised. At least seven of the PSU banks have less than 8.5 percent Tier-I capital adequacy and one bank less than 8 percent. The problem is worsened with their non-performing assets (NPAs) hitting the roof (nearly Rs 6 lakh crore as on September, 2016 or nearly 8 percent of the total bank credit), and total chunk of stressed assets (bad loans and restructured loans together) jumping to 12-13 percent of the total bank credit. Jaitley should have allocated much more for weak state-run banks. Here, there is a bit of disappointment.
Arun Jaitley said government will infuse Rs 10,000 crore this year in public sector banks, which constitute 70 percent of the industry. This is part of the Indradhanush plan to infuse Rs 70,000 crore in PSU banks over five years. Given the mess the banking sector is in, the kind of bad loan problems, analysts were expecting much bigger capital infusion to equip public sector banks, beyond what is already planned. Though the FM has assured that government will make sure banks get additional capital, past evidence shows that capital is yet again going to be a major problem for the sarakari banks.
A new law proposed to enable lenders to confiscate assets of absconders living overseas. But existing laws permitted this. Remains to be seen how this new law is drafted and implemented.
'New law to confiscate absconders' overseas properties; need to see the details'
"Propose to cut 5% tax for those firms whose turnovers are below Rs 50 crore. 96% firms of the country would be benefitted," says Jaitley.
Government expenditure has increased substantially from Rs 5,500 crore proposed last year to Rs 13,200. But it seems to have gone in the pocket of private insurance companies. Share of farmers covered has increased from 21% to only 24%. Sum assured has gone up, not the numbers of farmers covered, nor the claim amount. Who is the government insuring exactly: farmers or companies?
PM Fasal Bima Yojana: Who is the government insuring exactly farmers or companies?
Propose to make changes in capital gains tax for housing. Holding period for land and building will be reduced to 2 years from 3 years. Instead of build-up area, carpet area will be counted for affordable housing, says Jaitley.
Increase in MGNREGA funds is not the decision of the government. The government was forced to do so by Supreme Court. Already done in the supplementary entry budget. Actually capping MGNREGA at Rs 48,000 crore violates SC orders. FM has added only Rs 500 crores while the ministry has asked Rs 5,000 crores.
Lower holding period for coming under cpaital gains tax net and shift of year for indexation purpose will be helpful to the real estate sector.
"Up to Rs 2,000 can be donated in cash by anyone source to a political party. Political parties can receive donations through digital methods and cheques. Donors can buy RBI bonds and would be able to donate to a political party which can redeem within a specified time. The bond can be bought through cheque or by employing any digital method. Every political party has to file its returns as per Income Tax Act," says Jaitley.
Donation to political parties, no more than Rs 2,000 in cash
Corporate tax for most companies in the MSME sector reduced by 5 percent. This will give a boost to the MSME sector hit by demonetisation.
NO TRANSACTION OVER RS. 3 LAKH WILL BE PERMITTED IN CASH
Reducing cash limit for political funding from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000 is meaningless. Because there is no limit in number of persons.
"Reduce existing rate for income from Rs 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh to 5 % from 10%. 50% saving in income tax if a person is earning up to Rs 5 lakh. Tax forgone due to this step stands at Rs 15,500 crore. The government to levy surcharge of 10% on those who are earning between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore," says Jaitley.
Maximum cash donation a political party can accept from one source has been brought down to Rs 2,000. As per the current norms, any political funding less than Rs 20,000 didnt require to show source. This new change is a step in good direction and will hopefully bring down the flow of black money in political funding.
Reduction in corporate tax for SMEs and increased exemption of profits to 3/7 yrs a big boost to the small and 1st gen businessmen of the nation.
The popular pressure had grown after demonetisation. It was heartening to hear FM Jaitley talking of brining some amendments to take small but significant steps to cleanse political funding with the admission that political parties continue to accept through anonymous sources and donors fear to entail adverse consequences. The limit for anonymous cash donation has been brought down from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000.
Government has finally moved one step forward in cleaning a corrupt and non-transparent system of political funding. This was a long-pending demand from the public at large. Though Prime Minister Modi had been talking about it for some time and Election Commission had made certain suggestions to the government, there was a great deal of scepticism on whether or when the Government would actually make a move in this regard.
Sunny days ahead for the common man as individual tax rate reduced to 5% for the income bracket of 2.5-5 lakhs.
No major change in personal income tax except for change in reduction of rate from 10 percent to 5 percent for Rs 2.5-5 Lakh. Rationalisation of the complete tax structure as per Direct Tax code still seems to be a distant dream.
"In the first speech made by Narendra Modi, he talked about bullet trains. Did bullet trains come? No. Safety is the fundamental problem in railways. The safety record in railways is at the lowest," he said.
"Some big announcements should have been made for farmers," said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi after the Union Budget 2017 was presented.
Prima facie, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has offered a fine blueprint to revive the economic growth momentum with proposals to push rural sector growth, encourage affordable housing and small companies with a slew of schemes, higher infrastructure spending and tax rebates. The budget also carried some signs of a bold, reformist agenda with steps to cleanse the political funding and proposal to unlock value in firms like IRCTC, even as it shied away from steep corporate tax rate cuts and much-needed funding for weak state-run banks. However, all in all, the budget hasnt failed to meet the general expectations and will aid Indias consumption story by putting more money into the hands of people.
The FM has reduced the holding period for land and building from 3 years to 2 years for long-term capital gains purpose. This would help improve invest ability in properties in comparison to shares and stocks where the period is 1 year.
By granting infrastructure status to affordable housing, the government acknowledges that affordable housing industry is an important driver of the economy. Affordable housing developers will now be eligible for several government incentives, subsidies, tax benefits and most importantly institutional funding. The status could also mean that the Government may release land specifically for affordable housing development in central locations of major urban centres in India.
"With the coming of the GST soon we are looking into a completely new way of looking into the economy," says Madhavan Narayanan.
GST will be a new way of looking into the economy: Narayanan
"Having one monolith oil organisation would be great. We are talking about a similar banking organisation and that would be great," says Bhaskar.
"The entire transport sector has integrated planning. Railways will be able to contribute more effectively now," he said.
"In this Budget, there were highways and Iways made. From railways to data speed, from education to health, steps have been taken to fulfill everyone's dream," said Modi. "For this historic budget, the finance minister and his team deserve congratulations," he added.
Excise duty on various lengths of cigarettes hiked by 2.5% to 6 %
Parts used for the manufacture of LED lights will attract basic customs duty of 5% and CVD of 6%.
"This budget is an attempt to give pace to the speed with which the country is changing. This budget is our future," he said.
* Tax rates halved to 5% for income of Rs 2.5-5 lakh, tax slabs unchanged * 10% surcharge on people earning between Rs 50 lakh-1 cr * 15% surcharge on annual income above Rs 1 cr to continue * Cash transactions above Rs 3 lakh to banned * Corporate tax for SMEs with turnover up to Rs 50 cr cut to 25%; 96% companies to benefit * Customs duty of LNG halved to 2.5% * Fiscal deficit pegged at 3.2% next year, 3% in FY'19 * Political parties barred from accepting cash donation beyond Rs 2,000 per individual * They can receive donations via cheques, electronic mode; electoral bonds to be issued by RBI * Aadhaar-based health cards for senior citizens; a scheme for them to ensure 8 pc guaranteed returns * FIPB to be abolished; further FDI policy liberalisation * Government to have time-bound procedure for CPSE listing * Railway PSUs -- IRCTC, IRFC, IRCON to be listed * Payment Regulatory Board to be set up within RBI to regulate digital payments * Negotiable instruments Act to be amended to deal with cheque bounce cases * Legislative changes to confiscate of assets of economic offenders who flee country * Demonetisation bold, decisive measure; to help GDP growth, taxes mop up to rise * Effect of demonetisation not to spill over to next year * GST, demonetisation 'tectonic changes' for economy * Service charges on e-tickets booked via IRCTC waived * Capital expenditure of Railway fixed at Rs 1.31 lakh cr * Rail safety fund of Rs 1 lakh cr over 5 years, unmanned level crossing to be eliminated by 2020 * Budget based on 3 agenda -- Transform, Energise, Clean India (TECIndia). MORE PTI JD * 3 yr period for long-term capital gains tax on immovable property reduced to 2 years; base year indexation shifted from April 1, 1981 to April 1, 2001 * Disinvestment target at Rs 72,500 cr, up from 56,500 cr * Gross market borrowing pegged at Rs 6.05 lakh cr * Duty exempted on POS machines and Iris readers for encouraging digital payments * Tax benefits for Start ups to be for 3 out of 7 yrs * FPI to be exempt from indirect transfer provision * Integrated public sector oil major to be created to match global giants * Direct Tax collection growth 15.8%, indirect tax 8.3% * Total expenditure pegged at Rs 21.47 lakh crore * Capital expenditure up 24%; to have multiplier effect * Allocation to states hiked to Rs 4.11 cr * FRBM Committee suggests Debt-GDP ratio of 60% by 2020 * Retail inflation to remain within 2-6 pc * 2 new AIIMS to come up in Jharkhand, Gujarat * Highest ever allocation of Rs 48,000 cr to MNREGA * Farm sector to grow at 4.1% this fiscal, to double farm income in five years * Farm credit target for next fiscal at Rs 10 lakh crore * Fasal Bima yojana increased to 40% of crop area; raised to Rs 1.41 lakh crore in Kharif 2017 season * Infrastructure investment pegged at Rs 3.96 lakh cr * To double irrigation fund corpus to Rs 40,000 cr * Infrastructure status accorded affordable housing * Dairy processing fund with Rs 2000cr corpus to be set up * Rs 1.84 lakh cr allocated for women, child initiatives * Rs 1.87 lakh cr allocated to rural, agri, allied sectors * 1 crore houses by 2019 for homeless * PM Awas Yojana allocation up from Rs 15,000 cr to Rs 23,000 cr * 100% village electrification to be achieved by May 2018 * Rs 31,920 cr allocated for Scheduled Tribes, Rs 4,195 cr for nminority affairs, outcome based budgeting to start * Road sector allocation hiked to Rs 64,000 cr * Innovation Fund to be created for Secondary Education * Allocation of Rs 2.41 lakh crore rail, road, shipping to create jobs, spur economic activity * New metro rail policy to be announced * New crude oil reserves proposed at Odisha and Rajasthan; to take strategic reserve capacity to 15.33 mmt * India on cusp of digital revolution * FDI increased 35 pc to Rs 1.45 lakh crore in H1 FY'17.
"The onus lies on us. We should get together and pay the rightful taxes," says financial advisor Surya Bhatia.
"Benefit on the corporate side is for the real estate and housing sector. Borrowing cost has been reduced. A number of measures for the benefit of the sector. Holding period from three to two years," says Vishal J Shah, Partner, Direct tax, PwC India.
"More clarity on demonetisation and black money was required," says financial advisor Surya Bhatia.
A great budget . Heartening to see the government encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit and bringing in financial inclusion through digital means.
"Modi government has finally resorted to Nehru-era welfarism but it has not picked on the Nehru era ambition. It has gone on to believe that alms to the poor would help them politically," says Madhavan Narayanan.
The trust of the budget is to enhance the tax base and move towards digitisation through several amendments in the act. No change in capital gains tax regime for listed stocks and clarification on non applicability of indirect transfer rules to FPIs and AIFs will be a big relief to the investors and could trigger an immediate rally on the stock markets. One can argue that the Budget could be more ambitious at the cost of fiscal prudence. However, in global macro economic backdrop, the calibration in the Indian economy post demonetisation and much awaited GST which is now on anvil, Budget 2017 is stable fine balancing act, with fiscal prudence, directional spending and no surprises on the taxation front which should lead the country to a sustainable growth path.
Budget 2017 sticks to fiscal prudence with a fiscal deficit of 3.2 percent whilst balancing enhanced spending in several socio economic schemes and different aspects of economic development. There is some cheer for individuals as tax rates for income between 2.5 lakhs to 5 lakhs has been reduced from 10 percent to 5 percent. However, an additional 10 percent surcharge has been introduced on income between 50 lakhs and 1 crore which is a dampener for high networth individuals. MSME with turnover up to Rs 50 crores will benefit from lower tax rate of 25 percent and there are some concessions to boost the real estate sector.
"Banks have got their punishment for the bad loans and bad assets," says commentator Rajesh Raparia.
The FM has given in to strong demands for lower taxes and offered a balm for demonetisation. Those who earn upto Rs 5lakhs will either pay no tax or their tax outgo will reduce to 50%. Our exemption limits have stayed put since a long time. Low income earners have been given relief. Reduction in slab rate to 5% for Rs 2.5L to Rs 5L is applicable to all resulting in minimum tax saving of Rs 12,500 for all. This is likely to boost consumption and put higher disposable income in the hands of taxpayers. This is important for a push post demonetisation and boosting growth.
The FM has announced massive reforms in tax rules, including audit and book keeping rules for small and medium businesses. This is bound to boost compliance amongst small taxpayers. Threshold for maintenance of books of accounts for individuals and HUFs turnover limit being increased from Rs 10 lakh to 25 lakh or income limit increase from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. This is a positive step for ease of doing business. These limits have not been raised since a long time. Those companies with turnover under Rs 50 crores now have to pay 25 percent tax instead of 30 percent.
Political reform policy wise correct and will be politically correct in the long term
"By putting money in agriculture he is trying to stem the migration to urban areas. If farming becomes profitable that would stop migration and the challenge of job creation," says Bhaskar.
"We had promised transparency in 2014. The prime minister fulfilled that promise by introducing various schemes," said Amit Shah on the Union Budget 2017.
"However, the question remain is the fine print. We have to see where the cuts and gains have been. The expenditure has increased," Aiyar said.
"The direction of the Budget is craftsmanlike. It has dealt with intricate issues like demonetisation," he said.
"Good thing about the Budget that they tried to stay on course. This government is focussing on efficiency. The government has avoided the temptation of speaking to the voters in Uttar Pradesh or Punjab through the Budget," says Aiyar.
"On the economic slowdown, the finance minister has promised a lot of expenditure. I am not sure that in the next one month if the campaign would focus on the Budget. It would be largely local," says author and commentator Sanjaya Baru.
Amazing. How has Arun Jaitley fixed fiscal deficit at 3.2 percent of GDP for FY18 while raising capital expenditure by 25%? Sleight of hand?
Considering the impetus being given to road infrastructure, manufacturing and affordable housing, the government has put in all the required ingredients to incentivise urban decongestion and the development of new industrial cities around our industrial transport corridors.
It is encouraging to see that government is moving forward on payment system regulation. We hope the setting up of a separate payment regulatory board will help in improving interoperability and innovation. The Finance Minister also announced digital infra related measures and we hope all these steps will help more and more people joining the digital ecosystem. As expected Finance Minister made a formal announcement on the launch of AadhaarPay in todays budget and I am confident that this will push digital payments to grassroots levels of the country.
FIPB to be abolished. Like NITI Ayog that replaced Planning Commisstion, this may be an act of repackaging passed off as abolition.
'Will FIPB end up as another repackaging, just like NITI Aayog?'
"On the economic slowdown, the finance minister has promised a lot of expenditure. I am not sure that in the next one month if the campaign would focus on the Budget. It would be largely local," says author and commentator Sanjaya Baru.
"Loan waivers destroy the fabric of loan and borrowing and destroy banks also," Bhaskar said.
Insiders admit that most of these parties which have collected ill-gotten monies through various commercial deals have created an army of people who create the list of their contributors in lakhs to turn their black money into white. Since political parties have any army of cadre , they can create this list to show as donors in large numbers.
Long before such provision came into existence, political parties have devised mechanism to bypass any scrutiny of their account by creating list of fictious donations. For instance, in Uttar Pradesh, regional parties are believed to have developed a skill in creating a fictitious list of contributors.
If union finance minister Arun Jaitley thinks that his move to reduce the individual's contribution to political parties from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000 would check influx of corrupt money into the political system, he may find himself pursuing a chimera.
"Budgetary allocations are just indicative. If the defence can speed up the procurement process, it would be given as much money as they want," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on only 6% hike in defence allocation to Doordarshan.
"FDI has become much easier at entry point. Only 10% of the FDI require intervention from the parent ministries. 90% of the FDI are immediately invested. FIPB goes through the same set of norms which the ministries go. So the FIPB is abolished to remove a hurdle," Jaitley on the abolition of FIPB.
It is a digital economy budget. Government has pushed the digital theme in every area of the budget. Every person from small shops to consumers are pushed towards the digital economy. Tax benefits, incentives to use digital payments and extending loans based on a digital footprint will create a larger merchant ecosystem for digital payments. Incentives for labour intensive sectors including housing, farming and dairy will help SMEs to create new jobs. Focus and attention to bank NPAs, as well as increasing bank capitalisation is a great step towards strengthening the financial system of the country. Finally, the income tax rate changes will encourage more people to report their incomes and create a larger tax net for the country. Overall, it is a great budget that will encourage people to move to the formal economy and derive benefits.
The strong emphasis laid on technology in almost all the development areas in the budget reaffirms that technology has been at the forefront of Indias recent economic growth and digital transformation. It has been recognised as an important enabler across initiatives ranging from agriculture to skill development to manufacturing and infrastructural development. The governments focus on making India a digital payment economy will definitely help companies like HP to contribute in technology adoption in rural and semi-urban areas, thereby bringing the Digital India vision closer to reality. We also welcome the finance ministers commitment to introduce and implement Goods and Services Tax (GST) as per schedule and start GST awareness programme from 1 April, 2017 for all stakeholders.
The Union Budget 2017-18 is extremely positive for the common man, farmers, small and medium businesses and would drive significant growth in the Indian economy. Governments commitment to make taxation rate reasonable, tax administration fair and expand the tax base are the steps taken in the right direction. The tax relief given by the government for the middle class tax payers will definitely boost the purchasing power, thereby aiding the overall growth of the economy. The major tax relief given to the MSMEs and SMEs with an annual turnover of Rs 50 crores, would enable them to invest in job creation, increase capital expenditure and explore their digital journey.
The Budget has failed to address the banking sector problem. Only keeping aside Rs 10,000 lakh crore is not sufficient. The banks already have Rs 6,000 lakh crore NPAs.
What we need is good policy implementation. Then India can move mountains.
"The Opposition was waiting eagerly for the people to oppose demonetisation. But nothing happened," said Union minister Mahesh Sharma in Lok Sabha.
The Opposition MPs didn't seem to like that joke as they began shouting.
"Finally the earthquake is here," he said. "I was thinking about how this earthquake came. There must be reason that dharti maa is so angry with us," he added.
"Yesterday, there was an earthquake," Modi said, after which some MPs laughed as they probably saw a pun on the word 'earthquake'.
"A lot of issues were raised in the debate on the motion of thanks and I am grateful to members of the House for raising these issue," he said.
"I thank the President for his address," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha.
"Mallikarjunji was saying that it was because of Congress that democracy had prevailed and I had become prime minister," Modi further said. "But the people are aware of the actual situation now," he added.
"I was thinking about how the earthquake came. When somebody sees seva in scam, even dharti maa becomes sad, and an earthquake thus follows," Modi said.
"But they (Opposition members) have never talked Veer Savarkar or Bhagat Singh fighting for independence. They think freedom was attained only due to one family," he said.
"I have earlier also said that earlier governments also contributed to the fight against poverty," Modi said.
"We should recognise the power of the people," he said. "No one wants harm for our nation. Everyone wants welfare for the poor," he added.
"An ordinary person like me had asked those who could afford it to let go of their gas subsidy," Modi said. "Over 1.2 crore people of this country came forward to sacrifice their gas subsidy," he added.
They think Independence was attained only due to one family: Modi in Lok Sabha
"For demonetisation, this was the perfect time because the economy was healthy," said Modi.
"You know that if there is a disease, and a doctor recommends operation, he talks about keeping the body healthy first," said the prime minister in Lok Sabha.
This was the perfect time for demonetisation: Modi in Lok Sabha
"Despite MNREGA being there for a long time, there have been 1,035 changes in it," Modi said. "What was the reason that you had to make 1,035 changes since you brought about MNREGA?" said the prime minister.
"You have no right to take pride in one of your programmes because since the time of kings, programmes for welfare of poor have been there. Just the names for the programmes have changed," he said.
"We also brought about the Income Tax Declaration scheme. We ended over 1,100 obsolete laws," Narendra Modi said in Lok Sabha.
According to Congress sources quoted by Times Now, the Opposition is set to push for adjournment following obituary messages. Will this come to fruition? We'll find out very soon.
What to expect from this session of Parliament?
"Kaun kitna kaam karta hai mujhe bhi maloom hai (I know who does how much work). I know it. Please chale jaiye (go away)," she tells a protesting MP.
"Saifullah was identified and the ATS surrounded him and attempted to arrest him, unfortunately, he refused to surrender and opened fire. After 12 hours of firing, the ATS made its way into his safehouse and killed him. Eight pistols, several cartridges, three mobile phones and a few walky-talkies were found in his possession," says Rajnath.
"Modi tweets about everything. Why is he so quiet about this? When visiting leaders come, he's hugging them. When someone from China comes, he sits with him on a swing. And now, why is he sitting silently?" rages Kharge.
Mallikarjun Kharge says, "The Central government has no strategy to secure its citizens or assure their safety abroad. Ever since Donald Trump came to power, such incidents have been increasing. We are told that the US is the most transparent and democratic on one hand, and that it's the most powerful country on the other hand. And in such a country where so many of our citizens are students and employees, if our youths are being killed, why is the Narendra Modi government sitting quietly?"
BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab notes that the US recently put out a travel advisory for American travellers coming to South Asia. "Is the Government of India going to put out an advisory for NRIs stating which US states should be avoided?"
Reddy alludes to President Donald Trump's slogan of 'America for Americans' as a source of concern, and says, "When Srinivas' body was brought back to India, all of Telangana mourned. I want to know what we are discussing with the US. The external minister must clarify. A proper statement has to be given."
TRS MP AP Jithender Reddy says, "The American government has only condemned the crimes against Indians. It has done nothing to get justice or protect Indians... I request Government of India to provide all possible assistance to our fellow Indians living in other countries."
'I want to know what we are discussing with the US'
Rajnath Singh answers Rajnath clarifies, "We have taken these incidents seriously. They are saddening and unfortunate incidents. And all steps will be taken by the Government of India to ensure that our citizens in the US are safe and secure. Since the external affairs minister is unwell at the moment, we will issue a full statement next week."
AIADMK MP P Venugopal says, "After the killing of the fishermen, we expect the government to act very strongly. Shooting incidents have increased over the years. Pertinent to point out that during peace talks in Chennai, a consensus was reached that Indian fishermen would not be fired upon but this is being violated all the time."
"Whether our country grows at 10 percent or not, we must translate this into the greater good of the bottom 10 percent, including our fishermen... We need training programmes to teach them different trades during the no-trawling season," says Tharoor.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor widens the scope of the discussion adding fishermen arrested by Pakistan and those detained by the British in Diego Garcia.
A two-minute silence was observed after which Ansari announced that the House would remain adjourned for the day.
Soon after the House met for the day after a month-long recess, Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari read out obituary references to former members Puttapaga Radhkrishna, P Shiv Shankar, Syed Shabuddin, Rabi Ray and sitting member Haji Abdul Salam.
He adds, "This is a new threat and the government must face it. It is a new chapter altogether and unless we discuss it in this house and unless the government focuses on the threat from Islamic State, we are looking at grave danger."
BJD MP Jay Panda says, "We've suffered cross-border and homegrown terrorism, but we've been quite resilient against transnational terrorism. But these twin attacks including the train blast that were carried out by Islamic State, indicate a shift. Over the past few months, the government has made 68 arrests, most of whom are educated."
Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "While we're talking about employment being deprived to citizens of other countries, we should look at the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who steal our jobs, food and amenities. The citizens of Bangladesh are not citizens of India, therefore, the government must implement measures including at the block-level to ascertain who is a Bangladeshi and who is an Indian. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat"
The government has set 1 July as the deadline. All eyes are on the amendments the Congress is going to move.
The biggest tax reform has to be rolled out before September, otherwise both the central and state governments will not have the right to collect the taxes.
As the Lok Sabha members gear up for the GST Bill debate, all are waiting with bated breath to see whether the supplementary legislations are going to be passed in the current session.
"We are going to have a different system from now on," he says explainings the Union, State & Concurrent lists and the Centre's jurisdiction.
The finance minister says the entire country will have one tax movement. The Centre and states will split the tax income.
The peak rate has been keenly awaited by many companies such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Coca-Cola has actually urged the govenrment to reain the peak rate at 34 percent recently.
There are certain goods that are identified as sin goods and luxury items. The cess above 28 percent imposed on these will flow into compensation fund. \
The first tax slab is 0 percent. The next is 5 percent and then 12-18 percent. The fourth slab is 28 percent.
Arun Jaitley explains the various tax slabs and the rationale behind the peak rate of 40 percent of more on certain goods.
Arun Jaitley explains the various tax slabs; are Coca-Cola and others listening?
The peak rate has been keenly awaited by many companies such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Coca-Cola has actually urged the govenrment to reain the peak rate at 34 percent recently.
There are certain goods that are identified as sin goods and luxury items. The cess above 28 percent imposed on these will flow into compensation fund. \
The first tax slab is 0 percent. The next is 5 percent and then 12-18 percent. The fourth slab is 28 percent.
Arun Jaitley explains the various tax slabs and the rationale behind the peak rate of 40 percent of more on certain goods.
Arun Jaitley explains the various tax slabs; are Coca-Cola and others listening?
"The intentions can be good but you are bringing anarchy into the country. There will be turnf war between the states and the Centre," Moily says.
He points out that the common man will have to file multiple forms. He urged the finance minister to explain how the compliance can be simlified.
He wants the tax payers to be educated, made aware of the new system. "One tax one nation is a myth," he says.
According to Veerappa Moily, GST will be a technological nightmare. "Officials implementing it will suffer. No ad-hoc provision to make payment, give credit," he says.
Will the commercial tax dept be made redundant by GST? What will happen to the staff in the department? Will they lose jobs?
"GST hinges on revenue neutral rate. These are now fixed at 0, 5, 12, 18 and 28 percent and above. We will know only after the first year if it's revenue neutral or not," Mahtab says.
Bhartruhari Mahtab of the Bju Janata Dal feels it will be illusory to expect too much from GST.
Bhartruhari Mahtab of BJD says expecting too much from Bill will be illusory
'We have a competition law in the country. Why is the anti profiteering provision necessary? What is the Competition law for?" he asks.
Bhartruhari Mahtab of the Bju Janata Dal is questioning the rational behind the anti-profiteering clause in the GST Bill.
Bhartruhari Mahtab asks what is need for anti-profiteering clause? What is competition law for?
The MP said that the Centre must look at the pathetic fiscal condition of AP, post the division of the state, and compensate it accordingly. He said that the Telegu state will lose as much as Rs 2000 Crore annually.
While lauding the overall GST tax regime, the TDP MP pointed out that the GST will benefit the consumer states, it will add to the agony of other states, including Andhra Pradesh.
As for kadva he points out there could be an increase in tax inspections. "This goes against PM's maximum governance, minimum government," he says.
According to him, tax compliant hospitals and builders may have a competitive disadvantage. "This can be bitter."
As for the meetha, the GST Bill is ushering in a new era.
He goes on to explain how the Bill has some positives and negatives of the reform.
"But it's healthy and wholesome," he says.
Konda Vishweshwar Reddy of Telengana Rashtra Samithi makes the best comparison of the GSt Bill - it is like ugadi pachadi- khatta, meetha and kadva.
He also urged the government to not levy higher cess on aerated drinks like Pepsi as this impacts even the common man.
He also wants the government to look at the additional cess on consumer durables as this will affect common man. According to him the total cess may even touch 48 percent.
Varaprasad Rao of the YSR Congress Party asks are there any plans to bring alcohol and petroleum products within the ambit of GST?
She also said there are many hiccups in GST and also sought to know what could be exact impact of the reform on GDP and FDI?
"What are the steps you take to protect the data?" she asked reminding that any data theft will cost the country dearly.
Sule pointed out GSTN will possess all the data of the taxpayers.
Also with the right to decide the tax rate being vested with the GST Council, the supremacy of Parliament in violation of Article 265.
He quoted from an article by renowned economist Prabhat Patnaik and asked whether we should sacfricice a basic feature of our federalisation for an uncertain gain?
According to him, the present GST Bill abrogates the powers of the state governments.
"The BJP, then principal opposition, opposed it only on political considerations," he said.
NK Premachandran of RSP accused the BJP of toppling UPA's efforts bring about the reform and taking advantage now to impelement them.
Jaitley also said that multiple window taxation system has ailed the economy since long and must be fixed in favour of the common man.
Jaitley started off by thanking the members of Opposition for engaging in a debate. He then pointed out that the debate was crucial as once the GST bill becomes an act, it will drastically change the tax regime in the region.
"There is no free flow of goods and services in the country. The objective of the new tax regime was to establish such a system that when goods and services flow across company, taxes are levied at a uniform rate and a single window," Jaitley said.
GST will aide free flow of goods and services across the country: Jaitley
Arun jaitley told the Lok Sabha that the new tax regime is designed in a way that larger impetus is placed on self assessment of tax for the people, barring limited cases of audits. He said this will not only simplify the tax filing process but do away with multiple layers of taxation for the common man.
Greater impetus will be on self assessment under GST: Jaitley
Arun Jaitley defends GST bill after Oppn arguments, says goods will slightly become cheaper after new tax law
INC leader Veerappa Moily, interrupts Jaitleys speaks, asks if GST council is supreme power, who will protect the funds
Congress questions the amount of power GST council will wield, says Parliament will no longer have power to debate/ amend taxation laws
However, the finance minister added that the Parliament will have the power to send back a suggestion for reconsideration. He also reassured the House that the power to form a legislation is plenary to the Parliament.
Jaitley said that the idea that we can deviate from GST council's recommendations is problematic and ill advised as the laws will keep changing depending on the colour of the political party in power. Therefore to protect the structure of federalism that the government is trying to implement it is imperative that the GST council has the power to decide on taxation issues.
Jaitley said that one commodity will have a single rate of tax across the country, but it is not necessary that two different commodities enjoy the same rate of GST.
For one commodity their will be one rate of tax in the country: Arun Jaitley
Jaitley said that the council introduced the provision of a compensation package only for the benefit of manufacturing states as we saw that the transition to GST would affect them adversely while it benefited the consuming state.
I didn't make this law, it was 7 Congress finance ministers who did: Arun Jaitley
Oppn alleges govt made GST bill a money bill only to override Rajya Sabha, where BJP does not enjoy majority
He said he was ready to sit and wait for the Opposition to point out even one precedent when a taxation bill has not been treated as a money bill.
"This law seeks to replace the Central Excise law, Service Tax law etc and consolidates them into one. So here is a taxation law that alters the tax regime and replaces existing tax laws then how come it wont be a money bill," Jaitley asked.
Arun Jaitley says no precedent of a taxation bill not being a money bill
Jaitley sought to reassure the Lok Sabha on the changing tax regime as far as foodgrains are concered. The finance minister said that Agriculture as and industry and foodgrain have always remained exempt from taxes and they always will.
"Council will be a permanent body with a political complexion that accommodates everyone and has representatives from every state. Therefore I request the House to pass the bill unanimously drafted by a representative council as is," Jaitley said.
Arun Jaitley said that the government has strived to ensure that the GST council is representatve of everybody's interest and the body debating the draft of the bill also included representatives from each state.
Jaitley concludes govt stand on new tax regime, requests House to pass it as is
Three of the four GST bills passed in the Parliament
After the man lynched in Alwar died on Wednesday, the Congress party asked for a discussion on the issue. Mallikarjun Kharge says that the Rajasthan Government failed to act on the issue. He added that this was the fifth such incident in Rajasthan.
Rajnath Singh says that the Rajasthan government has taken cognisance of the case and that a FIR has been filed on the issue and people have been arrested.
Gaikwad began by saying that the airline staff treated him badly. He also added that he must get justice from the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Gaikwad blames media for launching a trial against him.
Ravindra Gaikwad says that the Air India staff assaulted him. He says that the officials of the airline caught him by his collar and his reaction was in defence.
I apologise to the Parliament if I've caused any hurt, but not to the Air India official: Ravindra Gaikwad,Shiv Sena MP in Lok Sabha.
The scenes turned ugly in the Lok Sabha as Shiv Sena MPs tried to gherao the minister. However, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other ministers came to Raju's rescue.
It is indeed sad that the conduct of this elected representative is just another passing news shower. Everyone seems happy that airlines have banned him from flying, a minor inconvenience that will melt away in a few days. In no way does it highlight the frequent high-handedness by VIPs in India where aviation is concerned nobody said 'enough is enough now, put on your seatbelt and shut up!'
The Shiv Sena MP says Airlines imposing travel ban on him is like Mahatma Gandhi being thrown out of train in South Africa.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi denied that any lynching had taken place in Rajasthan's Alwar. Reacting to this, Leader of Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that even the New York Times had carried a report on the lynching.
Naqvi was addressing the Rajya Sabha amid an uproar over the Alwar incident. As a united Opposition slammed the government for doing nothing against rogue groups thrashing people on the pretext of cow protection, Naqvi said, "This issue is a very sensitive issue. The message should not go from the House that we are supporting cow slaughter. Millions of peoples sentiments are involved in the issue."
Dismissing the version of events of the killing of a Muslim man by cow vigilante groups in Rajasthans Alwar amid growing uproar over the alleged murder, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday said, "Jis tarah ki ghatna pesh ki ja rahi hai, us tarah ki ghatna zameen par hua nehi (The version of events presented didnt occur)."
Hamare desh mein yeh message nahi jana chahiye ki hum yeh hatya ko samarthan kar raha hai issliye it is a very sensitive issue.. crore logo ke bhavnao se judha hua mudha hai.. hamara aisa koi message nahi jana chahiye ki hum hatiya ke samarthan mein khade hue hai (This issue is a very sensitive issue. There should be no indication or message that we are backing those who are violent. Its an emotional issue for crores of people.) Issliye jis particular state ki barein mein jo baat kar rahe hai, us tarah ki koi bhi ghatna, jis tarah ki ghatna pesh ki ja rahi hai, aise koi ghatna zameen par nahi hui hai. Jis media report ki barein mein bat ki ja rahi hai, us state ki sarkar ne pehle hi condemn kiya hai. (No such incident, as being reported, has taken place on the ground. The media report which are being cited, the concerned state government has already condemned.)"
Here's what Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said about the Alwar incident in Rajya Sabha
BJYM leader Yogesh Varshney told ANI, "Those who will cut and bring West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee head, I will give that person Rs.11 lakh. Mamata Banerjee never allows Saraswati Puja, fairs during Ram Navami and during Hanuman Jayanti procession, people were lathi charged and brutally beaten up. She organizes Iftar party and always supports Muslims."
The remark, which came shortly after a lathicharge which happened at Birbhum district to disperse a rally raising slogans of "Jai Sri Ram" on Hanuman Jayanti, recieved a lot of flak and criticism.
After a day of ruckus in Parliament over the "illegal" death penalty given to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, MPs in Rajya Sabha were up in arms after a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader announced a reward of Rs 11 lakh to whoever who beheads West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and gets her head.
Actor and MP Jaya Bachchan, along with BJP leader from Bengal Rupa Ganguly, reacting sharply to the comments against Mamata
The second half of the budget session of Parliament, which ends on Wednesday, has been favourable to the ruling NDA, which not only managed to push its economic reforms agenda but also put up a united front. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told the parliamentary party of the BJP that the session was a victory for the Union government.
Alleging that people were beaten up brutally by the police, Varshney described Mamata as a "demon" and said, "When I saw the video, I only had one thought... that if anyone gets me Mamata Banerjee's head I will give them 11 lakh."
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi disowned Varshney's comment, saying: "I condemn this type of statement. The state government can take proper action." BJYM leader Varshney issued the outrageous threat while hitting out at Mamata over police action on a rally held on Sunday to mark Hanuman Jayanti in Birbhum district.
Scrapping a colonial-era tradition of presenting the Budget at the end of February, for the first time in the history of Independent India, the Government presented the annual accounts on 1 February. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the Budget Session as a winner for the treasury benches. He said, the government was able to secure passage of many key bills in the Parliament.
Today is the last day of the Budget Session of Parliament. The first half of the session was held from 31 January to 9 February and after a month-long recess the second half of the session began on 9 March. During the session till now, the Lok Sabha has passed 21 bills and the Rajya Sabha 14 bills. They include the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, The Mental Health Care Bill, The Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Bill, The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the crucial four supporting bills for the roll out of the Goods and Services Tax.
TMC's Saugata Roy also strongly condemned the BJP leader's statement urging strong action against people who make such provocations. Meanwhile, BJP has distanced itslef from Varshney's comments, stating that the West Bengal state government is free to take action against him.
The matter echoed on in the Parliament on Wednesday as TMC leaders raised the issue in Rajya Sabha, which garnered support from other parties as well. Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bacchan expressed anguish on the BJP leader's remark, stating that the BJP was keen on protecting cows but not women.
The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 is scheduled for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha today.
The first part of the Budget Session was very productive as Lok Sabha functioned 113 percent while Rajya Sabha 97 percent. The productivity in the second half of the budget session till now for Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha has been 112 percent and 87 percent.
Raising the issue soon after the House assembled to take up the day's business, TMC member Saugata Roy said a BJP youth wing leader had made the "announcement" of giving the reward for beheading Banerjee, after police resorted to lathicharge in Birbhum district to disperse a rally during Hanuman Jayanti. "Mamata Banerjee is not only an elected chief minister but a former member of this House too. It is a serious and alarming behaviour and the House must condemn it. She is a grassroot leader and government must take action on it," he said.
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday condemned a BJP youth wing leader's offer for a bounty of Rs 11 lakh to anyone who beheads West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
BJYM leader Yogesh Varshney told ANI, "Those who will cut and bring West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee head, I will give that person Rs.11 lakh. Mamata Banerjee never allows Saraswati Puja, fairs during Ram Navami and during Hanuman Jayanti procession, people were lathi charged and brutally beaten up. She organizes Iftar party and always supports Muslims."
The remark, which came shortly after a lathicharge which happened at Birbhum district to disperse a rally raising slogans of "Jai Sri Ram" on Hanuman Jayanti, recieved a lot of flak and criticism.
After a day of ruckus in Parliament over the "illegal" death penalty given to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, MPs in Rajya Sabha were up in arms after a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader announced a reward of Rs 11 lakh to whoever who beheads West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and gets her head.
Must take steps for protection of women aggressively. You are protecting cows but atrocities being commited on women-Jaya Bachchan, SP in RS pic.twitter.com/ES3sx5AHhW
Actor and MP Jaya Bachchan, along with BJP leader from Bengal Rupa Ganguly, reacting sharply to the comments against Mamata
The second half of the budget session of Parliament, which ends on Wednesday, has been favourable to the ruling NDA, which not only managed to push its economic reforms agenda but also put up a united front. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told the parliamentary party of the BJP that the session was a victory for the Union government.
Alleging that people were beaten up brutally by the police, Varshney described Mamata as a "demon" and said, "When I saw the video, I only had one thought... that if anyone gets me Mamata Banerjee's head I will give them 11 lakh."
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi disowned Varshney's comment, saying: "I condemn this type of statement. The state government can take proper action." BJYM leader Varshney issued the outrageous threat while hitting out at Mamata over police action on a rally held on Sunday to mark Hanuman Jayanti in Birbhum district.
The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 also listed in LS for passage today.
The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 also listed in LS for passage today.
Scrapping a colonial-era tradition of presenting the Budget at the end of February, for the first time in the history of Independent India, the Government presented the annual accounts on 1 February. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the Budget Session as a winner for the treasury benches. He said, the government was able to secure passage of many key bills in the Parliament.
Today is the last day of the Budget Session of Parliament. The first half of the session was held from 31 January to 9 February and after a month-long recess the second half of the session began on 9 March. During the session till now, the Lok Sabha has passed 21 bills and the Rajya Sabha 14 bills. They include the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, The Mental Health Care Bill, The Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Bill, The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the crucial four supporting bills for the roll out of the Goods and Services Tax.
TMC's Saugata Roy also strongly condemned the BJP leader's statement urging strong action against people who make such provocations. Meanwhile, BJP has distanced itslef from Varshney's comments, stating that the West Bengal state government is free to take action against him.
The matter echoed on in the Parliament on Wednesday as TMC leaders raised the issue in Rajya Sabha, which garnered support from other parties as well. Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bacchan expressed anguish on the BJP leader's remark, stating that the BJP was keen on protecting cows but not women.
The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 is scheduled for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha today.
The first part of the Budget Session was very productive as Lok Sabha functioned 113 percent while Rajya Sabha 97 percent. The productivity in the second half of the budget session till now for Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha has been 112 percent and 87 percent.
Raising the issue soon after the House assembled to take up the day's business, TMC member Saugata Roy said a BJP youth wing leader had made the "announcement" of giving the reward for beheading Banerjee, after police resorted to lathicharge in Birbhum district to disperse a rally during Hanuman Jayanti. "Mamata Banerjee is not only an elected chief minister but a former member of this House too. It is a serious and alarming behaviour and the House must condemn it. She is a grassroot leader and government must take action on it," he said.
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday condemned a BJP youth wing leader's offer for a bounty of Rs 11 lakh to anyone who beheads West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The Budget Session, which begins on Tuesday, will probably not be smooth for the Narendra Modi government.
The shock demonetisation will shave off a good 0.5 percentage point from GDP growth this fiscal, pulling it down to 6.5 per cent, Economic Survey said on Tuesday while predicting "return to normal" 6.75-7.5 percent in the next financial year and calling for bold tax cuts.
The pre-Budget pointer called for cut not just in individual income tax rates and a timetable for reducing the corporate taxes but also for widening the net to progressively encompass "all high incomes".
Though the Survey did not indicate what it meant by all high incomes, the reference may be to agriculture income which is currently out of the tax net.
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi's vision of 'wiping every tear from every eye', it made a pitch for implementing Universal Basic Income (UBI) to entitle the poor with at least some income and thus eliminate poverty.
"Even the likely reduction in the rate of real GDP growth of 0.25 percentage points to 0.5 percentage points (due to junking of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes) relative to the baseline of about 7 percent still makes India's growth noteworthy given the weak and unsettled global economy which posted a growth rate of a little over 3 per cent in 2016," it said.
Indian economy had grown at a revised rate of 7.9 percent in 2015-16 and was projected to grow by 7.1 percent in
the current fiscal by the Central Statistical Organisation, which did not account for disruption caused by demonetisation.
"Over the medium run, the implementation of the GST, follow-up to demonetisation, and enacting other structural reforms should take the economy towards its potential real GDP growth of 8 per cent to 10 per cent," said the Survey tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ahead of Union Budget 2017-18 to be unveiled on Wednesday.
For the 2017-18 fiscal, beginning on April 1, it put the real GDP growth at 6.75 per cent to 7.5 per cent range. "Even under this forecast, India would remain the fastest growing major economy in the world."
Listing surge in global oil prices and possible eruption of trade tensions amongst the major countries as risks, it said investment-to-GDP ratio has not just been lower than the desirable levels but has been consistently declining over the last few years.
Also, it said, the savings rate has to be raised so that investment can be financed without resorting to high dose of external financing.
Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian, who led the team that prepared the Economic Survey 2017-18, termed the move to scrap 86 per cent of the cash in circulation a "radical currency-cum-governance-cum social-engineering measure".
The pre-Budget document said demonetisation is also very unusual in its monetary consequences.
To ensure that demonetisation indeed proves a catalyst for long-run changes in behaviour will require measures to complement with other non-punitive, incentive-compatible measures that reduce the incentives for tax evasion.
President addresses joint session of both the Houses of Parliament, lauds note ban, surgical strikes
Lauding the demonetisation decision and the surgical strikes across Line of Control (LoC) as "bold" decisions in the interest of the country, President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday favoured a constructive debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assemblies and funding of polls to eradicate money power.
The Government, he said, is committed to combating the "grave challenge" of terrorism and to ensure that perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice.
In his address to the joint session of both the Houses of Parliament, marking the opening of the Budget session, Mukherjee spoke about a host of government schemes and initiatives covering aspects like housing, LPG connections, electrification, healthcare, education, farmers' welfare, welfare of the specially-abled, rural development and urban development.
When he referred to the demonetisation decision to fight blackmoney and corruption as also the surgical strikes across the LoC as "bold" decisions, there was thumping of desks by the members of the ruling alliance.
"My government has taken decisive steps to give a fitting reply to the repeated incursions on our territorial sovereignty," Mukherjee said.
"On 29th September 2016, our defence forces successfully conducted surgical strikes at several launch pads along the Line of Control to prevent infiltration by terrorists," he added.
The strikes were conducted in the wake of terror attack on army camp in Uri in Kashmir in which 17 soldiers were killed.
The mention about the surgical strikes in the President's address assumes significance as some quarters had questioned whether the action had actually taken place. There were also demands for showing proof in this regard.
He also talked about the issue of holding of joint elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, favouring a debate on it.
With inputs from PTI
Punjabis follow the law in letter and spirit. On 26 January, a 'dry day', liquor shops remain shut throughout the day. But, unlike everywhere else in India, they open soon after sunset.
"Dry day hai ji, dry night di ki load hai (only the day is dry, what is there to worry about dry night)?" quips a shop owner on the outskirts of Amritsar.
In a state that loves it Patiala pegs and hates dry nights, it does not come as a big surprise when discussions on one of the biggest contests in the election, in Jalalabad, veer immediately around to liquor. "Chitta (cocaine) is the issue, daaru (alcohol) is the decider," says Herkanwaljit Singh, editor of vernacular daily Ajeet. Jalalabad is a tehsil in Fazilka district of Punjab. Named after the son of a Nawab, Jalalabad is known to be one of the most prosperous towns in Punjab.
Several years ago, the Rai Sikhs of the area were defeated by the Nawabs and ousted as its rulers. This year, Rai Sikhs are caught in an electoral battle that may depend on their vote. This year's contestant is Sukhbir Badal, son of chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and the man who, as deputy chief minister, is known as de facto ruler of the state. Pitted against him is the Aam Aadmi Party's Bhagwant Mann and the Congress young turk Ravneet Singh Bittu.
For opposition parties, Sukha, as his rival Mann calls him derisively, is the symbol of Akali power. Both the Congress and the AAP believe that Sukhbir's defeat would be a huge blow to the Badals and may set the dynasty back by several years. Like in a war, putting down the leader would be half the battle won.
So, the AAP has pitted its most popular local leader against Sukhbir. The Congress too has asked Bittu, son of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and current Ludhiana MP, to join the fray.
With Mann in the fray, liquor naturally becomes the talking point. But, not in the way you would imagine if you know Mann's colourful history. There are 60,000 Rai Sikh votes in Jalalabad. The community is linked to the liquor trade in the area and, thus, considered both wealthy and influential. For years, it has always voted as a bloc, and almost invariably for a Rai Sikh candidate. But this year, the force of the Rai Sikhs is with Mann.
"They see Mann as one of their own. There is an instant connect with Rai Sikh voters," says Herkanwaljit Singh. "In 2012, Sukhbir had decimated rivals with a margin of 50,000 votes. The Congress was not even in the fray. An independent candidate came second with nearly 30,000 votes compared to SAD's 80,000."
If the buzz in the area is any indication, Sukhbir is caught in a tough battle. Many voters see Mann as the front runner, with Sukhbir as his closest rival. The Congress is languishing in the third place. The trend is consistent with the buzz within Malwa, a geographical region of Punjab with 69 seats, where the AAP is the talk of the town, a rage in rural areas.
There is broad consensus within voters and analysts that AAP may do well in Malwa, though it is not generating the same kind of buzz in Majha and Doaba, the other two geographical regions of Punjab. Jalalabad, part of Malwa, reflects the popular opinion.
The only issue of any significance in Jalalabad is Sukhbir's fate, and by proxy, the future of the Badals. When votes are cast on 4 February, the only questions Punjabis would be answering are these: Do they want the Badals to rule them for five more years and, if not, who should replace them the Congress or the AAP?
The outcome in Jalalabad, thus, could be a pointer to the battle of Punjab. If Sukhbir is defeated, the Akali Dal could be reduced to a rump. And the party that wins may, in all likelihood, go on to win the election, or, at least, become the largest political group.
Mann undoubtedly the biggest crowd puller for AAP and a maverick whose popularity now rivals that of Captain Amarinder Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu and the Badals is running a whirlwind campaign across Punjab. But, Mann also returns intermittently to Jalalabad to connect with his voters. In speeches laced with wit, humor and scalding saracasm, he attacks "Sukha" with charges of corruption, facilitating the drug trade and running Punjab into the ground.
The junior Badal counters this with claims of development and an appeal to Punjabiyat. "Punjab ch bahari log aana chohnde hain. Quam di izzat da sawal hai. Ina do bolo bhajjo, Dilli jao (Outsiders want to rule Punjab. It is a question of our honour. Ask them to run away to Delhi)," he exhorts voters.
Bittu, the only candidate who has enough time to camp locally and talk about local issues, laments the lack of development. At election rallies, he says Jalalabad is the moneybag of Punjab, yet there is no water to drink. "In Sukha's Punjab, even his own constituency is sukha (dry)," the Congress candidate claims. He hopes voters would do something to end the endless dry days in Jalalabad.
And with Mann in the fray,
dry nights di ki load hai?
Chandigarh: At least three persons were reportedly killed in a powerful blast in a car near a rally of a Congress candidate near Punjab's Bathinda city on Tuesday evening, police said.
The incident came days before polling in the assembly elections, slated for 4 February.
#UPDATE 1 person also injured in explosion in a car in Bathinda's Maur mandi pic.twitter.com/jXSW611Cny ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
At least 15 persons were reported to be injured in the blast at Maur Mandi, about 200 km from Chandigarh, close to where Congress candidate Harminder Jassi was addressing a gathering at that time. They were rushed to hospitals in Maur Mandi and Bathinda.
Police officials rushed to the spot.
By Allison Lampert and Anna Mehler Paperny
| QUEBEC CITY/TORONTO
QUEBEC CITY/TORONTO A French-Canadian university student was the sole suspect in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque and was charged with the premeditated murder of six people, Canadian authorities said on Monday, in what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called "a terrorist attack."Court documents identified the gunman in the attack on Sunday evening prayers as Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, and charged him with six murder counts and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon. The slightly-built Bissonnette made a brief appearance in court under tight security wearing a white prison garment and looking downcast.Prosecutors said all of the evidence was not yet ready and Bissonnette was set to appear again on Feb. 21. No charge was read in court and Bissonnette did not enter a plea. "The charges laid correspond to the evidence available," said Thomas Jacques, a representative of the prosecutor's office, when asked why Bissonnette was not charged with terrorism-related offences. Among the six men killed were a butcher, a university professor, a pharmacist and an accountant, according to police and Canadian media.The government of Guinea said in a statement that two of its citizens were among those killed in the mosque attack. Police declined to discuss possible motives for the shooting at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. "They consider this a lone wolf situation," a Canadian source familiar with the situation said.In Washington, U.S. government security experts were leaning to the view that the gunman most likely was motivated by hatred for Muslims, a U.S. government source familiar with official reporting said.Trudeau, who has made a point of welcoming refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, told parliament in Ottawa: "Make no mistake, this was a terrorist attack."
He added a personal message to Canada's 1 million Muslims: "Know that we value you. You enrich our shared country in immeasurable ways. It is your home. Last night's horrible crime against the Muslim community was an act of terror committed against Canada and against all Canadians. We will grieve with you. We will defend you. We will love you. And we will stand with you."Somber parliamentarians observed a moment of silence.The attack was out of character for Quebec City, a city of just over 500,000 which reported just two murders in all of 2015. Mass shootings are rare in Canada, where gun control laws are stricter than in the United States. Incidents of Islamophobia have increased in Quebec in recent years. The face-covering, or niqab, became an issue in the 2015 Canadian federal election, especially in Quebec, where the majority of the population supported a ban on it at citizenship ceremonies.In addition to the six killed, five people were critically injured and 12 were treated for minor injuries, a spokeswoman for the Quebec City University Hospital said.
Federal Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters in Ottawa there was no change to "the national terrorism threat level" from medium because "there is no information known to the government of Canada that would lead to a change at this time."U.S. President Donald Trump called Trudeau to express his condolences "and offered to provide any assistance as needed," said Trudeau spokesman Cameron Ahmad.Over the weekend, Trudeau said Canada would welcome refugees, his response to an executive order by Trump on Friday to halt the U.S. refugee program and to temporarily bar citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.Trump's action, which the president said was "not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe," was widely condemned in the United States and abroad as targeting Muslims.On Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the Quebec shooting was "a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant, and why the president is taking steps to be proactive, rather than reactive, when it comes to our nation's safety and security."
FATHER OF FOUR KILLED
A father of four, the owner of a halal butcher near the mosque, was among those killed, said Pamela Sakinah El-hayet, a friend of one of the people at the mosque.The mosque concierge was killed, as was Ahmed Youness, a 21-year-old student, El-hayet told Reuters. One of El-hayets friends, Youness roommate, was in the mosque at the time of the shooting. He was unharmed, she said, but in total shock.A man of Moroccan descent who had also been arrested was now considered a witness, although his nationality was not immediately known, a Canadian source familiar with the situation said.Ali Assafiri, a student at Universite Laval, said he had been running late for the evening prayers at the mosque, near the university in the Quebec City area. When he arrived, the mosque had been transformed by police into a crime scene."Everyone was in shock," Assafiri said by phone. "It was chaos."Vigils were planned for Montreal and Quebec City, the provincial capital, as well as in Edmonton. There was an outpouring of support for the mosque on social media. (Additional reporting by Kevin Dougherty in Quebec City,; Alastair Sharp and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Mark Hosenball in Washington; Saliou Samb in Conakry; Writing by Andrea Hopkins, Frances Kerry, Grant McCool; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Alan Crosby)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Peoples Democratic Party, its coalition partner in the state, targeting chief minister Mehbooba Mufti for her remarks on Article 370 which has triggered a political storm in the state.
The Hindu right-wing party, on Tuesday, demanded the remarks of CM, that those who speak against the Article 370 are "anti-nationals", should be expunged from the records of the state assembly's ongoing budget session.
Earlier on Tuesday, a high drama was witnessed in the assembly after the Speaker Kavinder Gupta who describes himself as a "proud RSS man", passed directions to expunge these remarks made by Mehbooba on Monday.
The house witnessed complete pandemonium after a BJP MLA, RS Jasrotia, from the Hindu belt of Kathua in Jammu region, demanded that the statement of chief minister on Article 370 be expunged.
I will examine the record of the house and let the chief minister clarify the statement. I think every party has their own stand on the issue but it is possible that the chief minister would make a clarification in this regard, Speaker Kavinder Gupta, told Firstpost on Tuesday.
Jasrotia, while speaking in the house, said the statement should not have come from the chief minister. How can you call me anti-national. It is the stand of our party and our elders have laid down their life for this cause, Jasrotia told Firstpost, The remarks are highly insulting to our party and they should be expunged.
On Monday, the chief minister while speaking during grants to the departments under her charge, said Article 370 represents the pluralistic ethos of the state and it would go not only against the interests of the state but that of the country as well. Those who will speak against it will be anti national, she said.
Article 370 of the Indian constitution grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir which makes it clear that any law, including Constitutional amendments, will not be applicable to the state unless applied by an order of the President under this article. Many right-wing NGOs and think tanks have sought legal intervention to abrogate the law. This has triggered a furious debate over identity politics in the state and is also seen as one of the factors behind the 2016 unrest.
While the coalition partners, PDP and BJP, are yet to mend fences on the issue, the Opposition has asked Mehbooba, who is also the Leader of the House, to clear her stand. National Conference, the largest opposition party in the state, termed the statement of BJP legislator as mockery of the House.
What has happened today is probably unheard of in any parliamentary system of democracy. I dont think this has happened even in the British parliament. Mehbooba Mufti happens to be leader of the House and the chief minister. She made a statement on the floor of the house. Now her remarks have been expunged by the speaker on the asking of the BJP, the ally of the government. I think this requires a statement from her, a clarification. It also shows that she enjoys no confidence of her ally. So she should resign, keeping the stature of the house in mind, National Conference leader from Jammu, Devinder Singh Rana, told Firstpost.
The PDP legislators are backing their party chief Mehbooba on the issue. Article 370 is part of the Constitution of which everybody takes oath. If someone talks against the Constitution, dont you think it is anti-national? PDP MLA, Ajaz Mir, told Firstpost.
The Opposition is however aiming at the embattled chief minister, This is for the first time that a chief minister's words have been expunged. It shows the confidence she enjoys among her coalition partner BJP, senior Congress leader Nawang Rigzin Jora said.
The situation where a chief minister's remarks have to be expunged implies two things: She should come to the house to make a statement or else resign from her post, Jora, the Congress leader from Ladakh, told Firstpost.
By Saad Sayeed
| ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD Two more missing Pakistani activists have reappeared after vanishing earlier this month, their families told Reuters on Monday, but relatives were unable to shed any light on who had been holding the men or why.Waqas Goraya and Ahmed Raza Naseer, who went missing from the eastern city of Lahore and from southern Punjab province, respectively, returned on Saturday, but their families waited to get them to safe places before informing the media. They were among five well known activists who went missing within days of one another in Pakistan earlier this month, only one of whom remains unaccounted for.All five had contributed to blogs or were involved in social work critical of human rights violations or the influence of the military, leading to speculation they may have been arrested - although the government has repeatedly denied police were holding the men.The military and other state agencies have declined to make any official comment.
In their absence, the five were accused on social media and some mainstream television programs of blasphemy against Islam, a highly charged allegation in Pakistan that could put their lives at risk from hardline religious groups. Two of the families confirmed receiving death threats from a known Islamist militant group but asked Reuters not to publish details. The whereabouts of the fifth activist, Samar Abbas, are still unknown, his brother Ghazanfar Abbas told Reuters.Two other missing activists, writer and professor Salman Haider and blogger Aasim Saeed, also returned on Saturday.
Naseer's brother Tahir said that his brother was in good health and had not spoken about who had been holding him since his disappearance on Jan. 7. "He did say that he was questioned for two days and that he had to hand over all his data, from bank details to email information," said Tahir Naseer.Waqas Goraya's wife, Mescha, said she had not yet met with her husband but confirmed speaking with him on the phone and added that he was "at a safe house" whose location "cannot be disclosed to anyone for security reasons".
She said she had not asked where he had been, and did not plan to "unless he talks by himself". Goraya was visiting Pakistan from the Netherlands with his wife and son when he went missing on Jan. 4. On Sunday, activist Saeed's father told Reuters that his son had been detained by "state agencies" while visiting Pakistan from Singapore, but did not specify which one. (Reporting by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
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
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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
UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS
There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur
EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay
An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".
UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT
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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
LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN
This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan
Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments
Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan
Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement
With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building
OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border
Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh
Dehradun: Thirty-five nomination papers have been rejected in Uttarakhand, the Election Commission said on Tuesday. This leaves 687 candidates in the fray for the 70-seat assembly. Uttarakhand votes on 15 February. Wednesday is the last day for withdrawal of nominations.
Most nomination papers were rejected due to discrepancies. The maximum of 10 rejections took place in Dehradun.
Nomination papers of all the candidates of the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party were found in order.
In all, 722 nominations were filed, the maximum of 22 in Dharampur.
Mussoorie: Located in Kulri Bazar on Mall road of Uttarakhands most favourite tourist spot Mussoorie, Hotel Minerva houses the election office of political heavyweight and BJP nominee from Mussoorie assembly seat Ganesh Joshi. Joshi was in news after a police horse Shaktiman had recently received injuries and subsequently died.
Mussoorie Kahe Dil se, Ganesh Joshi Phir Se, (Mussoorie wants Ganesh Joshi to be elected again) is Joshis slogan in this constituency. He is trying to enter the state assembly from Mussoorie seat for second consecutive term. However, Joshi is fighting a battle this time with the presence of Congress Partys Gorkha face and its nominee Godavari Thapli.
Thapli was in the fray against Joshi in 2012 assembly polls as an independent. The electoral battle in Mussoorie's has its own political significance. The inflow of tourists is main source of income for voters who reside in more than 20 villages of this constituency. So, local issues always prevail here. Apart from Mussoorie town, this constituency also covers a major part of Dehradun city.
Out of 74.95 lakh voters in the state, Mussoorie constituency has about 1.25 lakhs voters. This constituency accommodates not only reputed boarding schools like Oak Grove school, Woodstock, Hampton court and Waverly hills, but also Lal Bahadur Shashtri National Institute of Administration. So, the MLA, who represents his seat in the state assembly, enjoys a different status.
Joshi could not do development works here in his last five years tenure as an MLA from here. There are no good hospitals. We rush to Dehradun, which is 27 km from here, for getting better medical facilities, said Nanak Bhatt, who runs his paan shop on Mall road. But, another voter Vicky, who is also shopkeeper, is not convinced with Nanaks plea. Joshi is one MLA who dedicates most of his time in his constituency. He is very popular figure here. He is BJPs political heavyweight and we hope that he may become a minister if BJP returns to power in the state, Vicky said. Voters main grievance is absence of proper parking space in this hill town.
Both parties are giving assurance to provide parking spaces here. One building, which is meant for parking, is under construction near Kincrage area. Mussoorie has only two parking spots, said Sunil Rana, who runs his wooden-craft material shop. Mussoorie witness presence of more than 50,000 tourists in the peak season during summers, he adds. Local BJP unit has formed six separate teams to approach voters. Sarojini Kaintura, who is president of Mahila Morcha (women wing) of BJP cell, said all teams work with full coordination.
"Since this town is hill area, we have formed 6 teams to undertake campaign in favour of Joshiji," she told this reporter in BJPs election office. To a question, local BJP leader Kushal singh Rana claimed the centres demonetisation decision works in favour of BJP in this constituency. According rana, property dealers are finding no buyers of the land in hill areas. Before demonetization, there were several property dealers active in the villages to pursue locals to sell their lands. Several outsiders, particularly from big cities like Delhi, purchased lands. Property dealers were not giving proper price of the land. They purchased the land at throwaway prices and sold it to outsiders at high rate. Now villagers are happy that property dealers are not getting buyers. So, demonetization work in BJP favour, he claimed.
On the contrary, Congress nominee Godavari Thapli, who is a first ever Gorkha candidate from the congress, has intensified her door-to-door campaign in this constituency. In 2012, Godavari was an independent candidate and congress had fielded Jot Singh Gunsola who was defeated by Joshi by 28,097 votes. Congress partys decision to select Godavari in place of Gunsola came as a big surprise. Godavari is a new face in the Congress. A native of Purukul village near Dehradun, Thapli , was member of Zila Panchayat. While I am from Gorkha community, my husband is Garhwali. So, we are associated with both the communities- Gorakha and Garhwali. Congress has trusted me by giving ticket to contest against Joshi,she told this reporter on phone. In local politics, Godavari is known as political rival of Ganesh Joshi.
Reacting to the house arrest of 26/11 attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, the Minister of External Affairs on Tuesday issued a statement calling Islamabad action mere tokenism and urged it to take "credible" action against terrorist outfits.
"Exercises such as yesterday's orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
Swarup also added that India has long maintained that the UNSC 1267 provisions pertaining to listing and proscription of known terrorist entities and individuals must be effectively and sincerely enforced by all member states.
MEA's statement comes hours after the Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD) chief and four others were put under detention in Lahore on Monday night.
Our response to the preventive detention of Hafiz Saeed and others in Pakistan pic.twitter.com/hhGJXFfyc1 Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) January 31, 2017
Punjab government's Home Department had issued the detention order of Saeed and Lahore Police reached JUD headquarters in Chauburji to implement the order, JUD said.
He "is at Masjid-e-Qadsia Chauburji and a heavy contingent of police has surrounded the JUD headquarters," JUD official Ahmed Nadeem, who was present at the premises of the outfit, told PTI by phone.
"The commanding police officer told us that he has with him the house arrest order of the JUD chief issued by the Punjab Home Department," Nadeem said.
Three days back, Punjab's Ministry of Interior had included names of Saeed and four others Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz in the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and ordered their preventive detention.
Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz were also taken into preventive custody.
Punjab government's action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JUD and Saeed to avoid sanctions.
JUD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of 26 November 2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.
The Ministry of Interior, in its 27 January order, has "placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and JUD on the Watch List and has listed these organisations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended).
"Saeed, Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz are reportedly active members of the aforementioned organisations within the meaning of Section 11EEE(1) of the ATA 1997 (as amended). As such, they must be placed under preventive detention," Pakistani media reported.
The notification asked the Pakistan home secretary to "kindly direct the concerned agencies to move and take necessary action" as the matter "is most urgent".
Earlier during the day, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the PML-N government was taking steps to "fulfil our obligations" with regard to JUD.
The organisation (JUD) has been under observation since 2010-11. Since it has also been listed by the UN Security Council (Sanctions Committee), we are bound to take some steps. We are taking those steps to fulfil our obligations, he told reporters after inaugurating a passport office in Islamabad.
JUD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014.
Saeed also carries a reward of $10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities.
With inputs from PTI
By Yasmeen Abutaleb, Kristina Cooke and Mica Rosenberg
| SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK,
SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK, Al Ameen, a 33-year-old Iraqi refugee with hemophilia A, a genetic disorder that prevents proper blood clotting, has been living in Jordan awaiting medical care in the United States for two years. His condition is so advanced, his doctors have told him, that only a handful of facilities in the world can treat him.Already worried that his application would not be approved in time to get the treatment he needs, the United States' four-month halt of the resettlement of refugees has convinced him he will never be accepted. "I'm going to die here by myself," Al Ameen said in a phone interview on Sunday. "Where do people expect all the refugees to go? We have nowhere to go."President Donald Trump's executive order last Friday has sowed panic and uncertainty among refugees who need urgent medical care, some of whom had prioritised applications, according to aid workers. Al Ameen, who asked that his last name not be disclosed because he fears attacks on his relatives still in Iraq, said his condition has deteriorated in recent months. He lives in Jordan alone, is barely able to move and is covered by bruises.The four-month U.S. ban on accepting refugees could mean as many as 800 people needing medical treatment will be denied entry, said Karen Monken of HIAS, a Maryland-based refugee assistance organisation formerly known as Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Before the halt, about 200 refugees with significant medical issues were being resettled in the United States each month on average, she said.Trump administration officials say the 120-day ban is temporary and needed so that a new vetting system can be put in place, which they say will prevent terrorist attacks. The order singles out Syrian refugees and suspends their admission until "sufficient changes have been made" to the refugee programme. The executive order allows exemptions on a case-by-case basis.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on refugees in need of urgent medical care.
DOCTORS' APPOINTMENTS MADE
Under the system in place before the temporary halt, after refugees register with the United Nations and undergo initial assessment and interviews, the strongest candidates are referred for resettlement, aid workers and U.N. officials said. Those referred to the United States tend to be the most vulnerable - including single mothers, children and people with medical conditions that require sophisticated treatment.U.S. State Department guidelines provide that refugees with serious life-threatening medical conditions can move to the front of the line for expedited processing. The fast-track process from referral to arrival in the United States typically takes around eight to ten weeks or several months.
The normal processing time for refugees is between 18 to 24 months, according to the State Department. Lawyers say individual refugee cases, though, can often drag on for years longer. HIAS' Monken said her organisation had been expecting the arrival of several refugees with medical conditions to the United States in the coming weeks who had already started planning their doctors' appointments and finding apartments.One Syrian woman in her 20s, who is deaf and mute, was supposed to arrive in New York in early February and her case is now on indefinite hold, Monken said. An Iraqi family with a 5-year-old son who has congenital heart disease was also due to arrive in Michigan in coming months."We see intense medical needs, especially from Syrians, because their trauma is so fresh, including recent shrapnel wounds and lost limbs," said Monken. Officials at the United Nations agency that handles refugees, UNHCR, are still trying to understand the breadth and implications of the executive order. The UNHCR said it could not provide a specific number of how many refugees with medical needs would be affected by the U.S. ban.UNHCR's Larry Yungk, a senior resettlement officer in Washington, said they are speaking with State Department officials and trying to learn which cases might be exempt from the ban.
"There are still a lot of unknowns," said Yungk. Since the halt was announced on Friday U.N. officials and attorneys for refugees have also worked to identify emergency cases that could be sent to other countries. But the prospects are not promising.Canada and several European nations where U.N. officials would normally reroute cases, including Sweden, Norway and Germany, have already taken record numbers of refugees in recent years. The Ministers Office for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment."We've informed (the State Department) that there's limited capacity to resettle these other cases," said Yungk, the UNHCR official. "There's no way to compensate for all the U.S. placements."
'LOST HOPE' FOR DAUGHTER
One Syrian mother, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution against her family, said in a telephone interview on Sunday that she had completed interviews with UNHCR and hoped her 15-year-old daughter would be accepted for resettlement and surgery in the United States. She said the girl, who was also born with a birth defect, was imprisoned in Syria by government forces with other children four years ago. The girl was tortured, leaving her with severe injuries to her hands and jaw, according to her mother.She was hospitalized in Jordan and received hand surgery there but the surgery made her condition worse, her mother said. The girl lost much of the movement in her hand and now needs a more complex operation."I've lost hope that I'll be able to get treatment for my daughter," said her mother.Another refugee needing urgent U.S. medical care is Mohammad Alkhaled, a six-year-old Syrian boy living in Jordan, according to Jayne Fleming, a New York-based lawyer who works with refugees. Fleming said she was working on getting the boy expedited resettlement in the United States before the halt. In October, Alkhaled was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a type of cancer that forms in bone or soft tissue. Earlier this month, Fleming contacted David Tishler, a pediatric oncologist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and asked him to review scanned copies of Alkhaled's medical records."Where he is they have very little experience treating cancer, they don't have the resources," said Tishler. He said that particular strain of cancer requires a year of intensive chemotherapy in addition to surgery and radiation, which is extremely expensive.In cases where the disease is localized, patients with the full course of treatment have a 70 to 75 percent chance of being alive in five years and many survive for much longer, said Tishler."Without getting additional therapy, he is going to die," Tishler said. (Additional reporting by Bushra Shakhshir in Amman; Editing By David Rohde and Mary Milliken)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: Former President Barack Obama praised protesters who amassed across the country in opposition to President Donald Trump's immigration orders, breaking his silence on political issues for the first time since leaving office.
"The president fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion," Obama's spokesman, Kevin Lewis, said.
In his first statement on behalf of the former president, Lewis said Obama was "heartened" by the amount of engagement taking place in US communities. Lewis, a former White House official, pointed out that Obama used his last official speech as president to talk about Americans' responsibility to be "guardians of our democracy," even in nonelection years.
"Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," Lewis said.
Lewis didn't specifically invoke Trump's immigration order. But he rejected comparisons between Trump's recent actions and Obama's foreign policy decisions.
Trump said he took cues from Obama by temporarily banning travel to the US from citizens of seven countries that Obama's administration identified as places of terrorism concern. But Obama's designation related strictly to eligibility to enter the US without a visa; he never considered a travel ban.
Obama's office also circulated excerpts from a speech the former president gave in November 2015, in which he called the idea of a ban on Muslims "shameful."
"That's not American. That's not who we are. We don't have religious tests to our compassion," Obama said in the aftermath of attacks in Paris that prompted calls for the US to restrict Syrian refugees from entering the United States.
Trump and the White House have vigorously disputed the notion that Trump's order is a "Muslim ban." Trump's halts all refugee admissions for 120 days, suspends the Syrian refugee program indefinitely and also suspends entry to the US from seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days. But the White House has stressed that dozens of other Muslim-majority countries aren't included.
Lewis' comments mark the first time Obama has weighed in on Trump's actions since Obama left office on 20 January. In his final weeks as president, Obama said he planned to follow George W Bush's example by giving his successor room to govern without being second-guessed.
Yet Obama pointedly reserved the right to speak out if Trump violated what Obama called basic American values. He suggested a ban on Muslims or a move by Trump to deport immigrants brought to the US illegally as children would cross that threshold.
By Kevin Dougherty and Allison Lampert
| QUEBEC CITY
QUEBEC CITY The French-Canadian student accused of killing six people during evening prayers in a Quebec City mosque had rented an apartment nearby, neighbours said on Tuesday, a sign he may have been targeting the house of worship.Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, was charged in court on Monday with six counts of premeditated murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon after Sunday evening's massacre at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. Police said he acted alone.The mass shooting, which was rare for Canada and which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a "terrorist attack," prompted an outpouring of support for the mosque and for Canada's one million Muslims in the country of about 35 million. Authorities in Quebec have called for a spirit of inclusivity and police have tightened security at all religious institutions in the province, which had the second-highest rate of crimes motivated by religious prejudice among the provinces in 2014, second only to Ontario, according to police crime data collected by Statistics Canada.The data showed that reported crimes of prejudice against Muslims in Canada more than doubled between 2012 and 2014.Bissonnette, who said he was a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump and far-right French politician Marine Le Pen, had moved into an apartment in the beige block near the mosque in July and drove a Mitsubishi truck, said a neighbour, who asked not to be identified.Another neighbour on the fourth floor never spoke to Bissonnette but frequently heard piano-playing from the apartment. A neighbour of his parents told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that Bissonnette shared the apartment with his twin brother.Police declined to discuss a motive for the shooting, but friends and online acquaintances told Canadian media that Bissonnette had expressed anti-immigration sentiments, especially toward Muslim refugees.
Both law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the United States believe the suspect was sympathetic to right-wing nationalist ideology, and that likely contributed to motive, U.S. officials said. On his Facebook page, which has been taken down since the shooting, Bissonnette indicated he liked Le Pen, Trump, the separatist Parti Quebecois, as well as Canada's left-wing New Democratic Party, the Israeli Defense Forces, heavy metal band Megadeth and pop star Katy Perry.A large turnout at vigils in Quebec City, Montreal and other cities on Monday evening showed people rejected hate speech and wanted to be inclusive, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said."I think it's a turning point for Quebec, to see people rallying around values like that," he told reporters in Quebec City, the provincial capital, on Tuesday."Our society is not perfect. No society is perfect ... racism, xenophobia and exclusion exist here. We have to recognise that and act together to highlight the path we want society to take," Couillard said.
Bissonnette did not hide his hostility toward Muslims during his long interrogation by police, Montreal's La Presse newspaper reported, quoting a source close to the investigation. He was also interested in guns, and practiced shooting at a club, La Presse reported.Police have not released specific details of the weapon used in the attack, other than to say it was a restricted firearm. A social science student at Universite Laval and a former cadet, Bissonnette was described by a former classmate as a "nerdy outcast."Bissonnette made a brief appearance in court on Monday under tight security. Prosecutors said all of the evidence was not yet ready and Bissonnette was set to appear again on Feb. 21. No charges were read in court and Bissonnette did not enter a plea.
His lawyer, Jean Petit, declined to comment at the courthouse on Monday.Quebec's public safety minister, Martin Coiteux, said security at all religious institutions across the province had been heightened, particularly at mosques. He told reporters that while police always treated reports of religious harassment and hate speech seriously, they had not always done a good job of letting communities know the results of their probes. "We will pay particular attention to feedback," he said.In Montreal, Quebec's largest city, police increased their presence at mosques and other Muslim institutions and watched for possible hate speech online.Of the five people critically wounded in Sunday's attack, one had been discharged from the hospital, two were convalescing, one was undergoing abdominal surgery and one was in "more critical" condition, Julien Clement, trauma director at Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite Laval, said on Tuesday. (Additional reporting by Alastair Sharp and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Mark Hosenball in Washington; Writing by Andrea Hopkins, Frances Kerry, Grant McCool; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Alan Crosby)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Kevin Dougherty and Allison Lampert
| QUEBEC CITY
QUEBEC CITY The French-Canadian student accused of killing six people during evening prayers in a Quebec City mosque had rented an apartment nearby, neighbors said on Tuesday, a sign he may have been targeting the house of worship.Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, was charged on Monday with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon after Sunday evening's massacre at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. Police said he acted alone.The mass shooting, which was rare for Canada and which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a "terrorist attack," prompted an outpouring of support for the mosque and for the country's 1 million-strong Muslim community. Authorities in Quebec have called for a spirit of inclusivity and police have tightened security at all religious institutions in the province.Bissonnette, who said he was a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump and far-right French politician Marine Le Pen, had moved into an apartment in the beige block near the mosque in July and drove a Mitsubishi truck, said a neighbor, who asked not to be named.Another neighbor on the fourth floor never spoke to Bissonnette but frequently heard him playing the piano. A neighbor of his parents told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp he had lived in the apartment with his twin brother.Police declined to discuss a motive for the shooting, but friends and online acquaintances told Canadian media that Bissonnette had expressed anti-immigration sentiments, especially toward Muslim refugees.Vigils were held in Quebec City, Montreal and other cities on Monday evening. The large turnout showed people rejected hate speech and wanted to be inclusive, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said."I think it's a turning point for Quebec, to see people rallying around values like that," he told reporters in Quebec City, the provincial capital, on Tuesday.
"Our society is not perfect. No society is perfect ... racism, xenophobia and exclusion exist here. We have to recognize that and act together to highlight the path we want society to take," Couillard said. Bissonnette did not hide his hostility toward Muslims during his long interrogation by police, Montreal's La Presse newspaper said, quoting a source close to the investigation. He was also interested in guns, and practiced shooting at a local club near the provincial capital, La Presse reported.Police have not released specific details of the weapon used in the attack, other than to say it was a restricted firearm. A social science student and former cadet known in online circles for his right-wing views, Bissonnette was described by a former classmate as a "nerdy outcast."Bissonnette made a brief appearance in court on Monday under tight security. Prosecutors said all of the evidence was not yet ready, and Bissonnette, a student at Universite Laval, was set to appear again on Feb. 21. No charges were read in court and Bissonnette did not enter a plea.
His lawyer, Jean Petit, declined to comment at the courthouse on Monday.SECURITY AT MOSQUES
Quebec's public safety minister, Martin Coiteux, said security at all religious institutions across the province had been heightened, particularly at mosques.
He added that while police always treated reports of religious harassment and hate speech seriously, they had not always done a good job of letting communities know the results of their probes. "We will pay particular attention to feedback," he told Tuesday's news conference. In Montreal, Quebec's largest city, police were increasing their presence at mosques and other Muslim institutions and watching for possible hate speech online."When you have an incident like the one in Quebec, people are worried ... we will maintain a very high level of vigilance," the city's police chief, Philippe Pichet, told French-language public broadcaster Radio-Canada.Both law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the United States believe the suspect was sympathetic to right-wing nationalist ideology, and that this was likely a major factor in his motive for the attack, U.S. officials said. On his Facebook page, Bissonnette indicated he liked Le Pen, Trump, the separatist Parti Quebecois, as well as Canada's left-wing New Democratic Party, the Israeli Defense Forces, heavy metal band Megadeth and pop star Katy Perry.Of the five people critically wounded in Sunday's attack, one had been discharged from the hospital, two were convalescing, one was undergoing abdominal surgery and one was in "more critical" condition, Julien Clement, trauma director at Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite Laval, told reporters on Tuesday. (Additional reporting by Alistair Sharp and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Mark Hosenball in Washington; Writing by Andrea Hopkins and Frances Kerry; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday fired the acting attorney general, a holdover from the Obama administration, after she ordered Justice Department attorneys not to defend his controversial immigration orders.
In a sharply worded statement, the White House called Sally Yates "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration" and also criticized Democrats for not yet confirming the appointment of attorney general-designate Jeff Sessions.
"The acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," the White House said in a statement.
"This order was approved as to form and legality by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel," it said.
"Tonight, President Trump relieved Ms Yates of her duties."
Federal prosecutor Dana Boente will serve as acting attorney general "until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate, where he is being wrongly held up by Democrat senators for strictly political reasons," it said.
With Trump's White House facing multiple lawsuits and worldwide opprobrium over an order banning migrants from seven Muslim nations, Yates had whipped the rug from under her boss in a defiant and damaging parting shot.
In a memo to Department of Justice staff, Yates a career government lawyer promoted by Barack Obama expressed doubts about the legality and morality of Trump's decree, which has prompted mass protests.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is," Yates wrote.
"I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful," she added.
"For as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so."
Yates's directive means that the US government, at least for now, has no authorized courtroom representation in the lawsuits.
It was a remarkable act of defiance against a tough-talking president who has showed little sign of brooking insubordination.
Sessions vote upcoming
Sessions has not yet been confirmed by Congress. He faces a vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday and must then be confirmed by the full Senate.
If confirmed, Sessions would almost certainly reverse course.
But Democratic lawmakers have vociferously opposed Trump's order and Republicans are privately seething over the way his White House has handled the issue.
The order signed on Friday suspended the arrival of all refugees for a minimum of 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
Several federal judges have since filed temporary stays.
Firing Yates has uncomfortable echoes of President Richard Nixon's "Saturday night massacre" during the Watergate scandal.
Then, Nixon fired the Watergate special prosecutor, prompting the departures of his attorney general and deputy attorney general. The events catalyzed Nixon's impeachment.
On Sunday, attorneys general from 16 US states, including California and New York, condemned Trump's directive as "unconstitutional" and vowed to fight it.
United Nations: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed hope that the immigration ban ordered by US President Donald Trump is "temporary" and America will continue its "large tradition" of providing protection to refugees.
"It is clear to me that refugee protection is something that is absolutely essential to guarantee, that access by refugees to where they can find adequate protection is of extreme importance," Guterres said at a press conference at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on Monday.
Guterres, who had served as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for 10 years, said the US has a large tradition of refugee protection and he "strongly" hopes that "measures that were taken will be only temporary. I hope that refugee protection will become again high in the agenda of the United States of America."
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric voiced "concern" over the chaos and confusion in the US and across the world in the wake of the refugee ban put in place by the Trump administration and reiterated during the daily briefing that the world body hopes the measures put in place by Washington are temporary.
He pointed out that the UN has no confirmed cases where any of its staff members were affected by the new policies.
"The UN has been in contact with the US authorities over the weekend and has been assured that G-2 and G-4 visa holders are exempted from the executive order. The UN has received assurances that travel by UN staff should proceed unaffected by the new policy," a note from Dujarric said, referring to the visa categories required by diplomats, government officials, and employees who work for international organisations in the US.
"The US has been a critical partner of the United Nations organizations, especially UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and IOM (International Organisation for Migration), in resettling refugees," he said adding that the Secretary-General looks forward to a "constructive engagement" with the US Administration on this and other issues.
Dujarric said the Secretary General had expressed concern about the discrimination faced by minorities, refugees, and migrants across the world, in particular by the Muslim community.
"I find stereotyping of Muslims deeply troubling. A new normal of public discourse is taking hold in which prejudice is given a free pass and the door is open to even more extreme hatred," the UN Chief had said. Echoing the world body's concerns over the refugee ban, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said he is "deeply worried" by the uncertainty facing thousands of refugees around the world who are in the process of being resettled to the United States.
According to a news release from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 800 refugees were set to make America their new home this week alone, but
instead find themselves barred from travelling to the US.
Trump's on Friday signed an executive order that, among things, suspends the US refugee programme for 120 days and bars entry of refugees from several mostly Muslim countries, including Syria, until further notice.
Grandi underlined UNHCR's position that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race.
UNHCR estimates, based on average monthly figures for the last 15 years, that 20,000 refugees in precarious circumstances might have been resettled to the US during the 120 days covered by the order.
"Refugees are anxious, confused and heartbroken at this suspension in what is already a lengthy process," the release said.
"Those accepted for resettlement by the United States are, after a rigorous US security screening process, coming to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. UNHCR hopes that they will be able to do so as soon as possible," the release added.
Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) also issued a statement on child refugees that might be affected by the new US policy.
"The needs of refugees have never been greater. Worldwide 28 million children have been uprooted by conflict, driven from their homes by violence and terror. They need our help," the statement said.
"The United States has a long and proud tradition of protecting children fleeing war and persecution. We trust that this support will continue and that the recent measures will prove to be temporary. All refugee children need our support."
US President Donald Trumps executive order limiting entry into the United States has led to refugees, professionals, students and several others, including people with valid visas, being detained and denied entry throughout the US. There are grounds to challenge the Presidents executive order, but a final decision from the courts will take time. In the meanwhile, affected people must keep in mind that they do have certain rights, granted not only under international humanitarian laws, but also under the US Immigration and Nationality Act.
Entry of aliens restricted
The executive order applies to both immigrant and non-immigrant aliens, or simply to any person who is not a national/ citizen from the United States, travelling from 7 countries- Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Unfortunately, under the US Immigration and Nationality Act, the US President has the authority to suspend the entry of any alien/any class of aliens into the US. Refugees and other aliens, therefore, do not have an unrestricted right to enter the US.
Before looking at the rights such people do have in the US, here are the key points to remember of the Presidents new order:
Green card holders are aliens
Green card holders, and also persons with student or temporary employment visas, come under the category of aliens. Being aliens, despite the being granted the right to live/ work indefinitely in the US, the new order restricts their entry in to the US. These persons can re-enter only on undergoing an additional screening process. Entry for green card holders will, however, be easier than for those without, as per the assurances of the US Department of Homeland Security. Green card holders must therefore not give up their green cards under any circumstances, or sign a Form 1-407 (Abandonment of lawful permanent resident status).
Suspension of USRAP
Note that the US Refugee Admission Program has been suspended for a period of 120 days. This means no new applications will be taken. Existing applications may be cleared, but again there is no assurance of this.
Syrian nationals
Any entry of Syrian nationals has been suspended indefinitely. This means any Syrian nationals including refugees, students and green card holders will be denied entry.
Refugees and aliens have limited constitutional rights
Refugees and aliens typically do not enjoy the same rights as nationals. However, they do have limited rights. The first set of rights are under the US Immigration and Nationality Act, and the US Constitution, including the right to Due Process and the right to Equal Protection, explained below. The second set of rights is under the UN 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (UN Refugee Conventions), and the UN Convention Against Torture, international treaties which the United States is signatory to.
Alien cannot be removed/ returned to his country
Refugees have a right against refoulement, which means that the officials cannot simply send back persons who have arrived at US seeking asylum to their home countries, where such a person fears his life, persecution or torture. All persons have the right to first challenge their removal in a court before they are sent back. This right is granted not only under international conventions, but has also been encoded under US law in the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998.
This right is also valid for aliens who are not refugees, such as those on student or employment visas. Temporary orders in favour of the aliens have been issued by the courts in suits filed against the Presidents new order. Justice Donnelly in one case has restricted the removal of the persons from these 7 countries, and also holders of valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas and individuals with approved refugee applications as a part of the USRAP.
Right to apply for asylum
Every alien who has arrived in the United States has a right to apply for asylum under the US Immigration and Nationality Act. This right has not been suspended by President Trumps order, and people arriving in US even now retain the right to seek asylum. This right is further guaranteed even to aliens as a constitutional right to Due Process under the US Constitutions Fifth Amendment.
Seek hearing from immigration judge if denied asylum
The suspension of the USRAP program and the complete ban on Syrian nationals can lead to a number of ongoing asylum applications to be denied. Even fresh asylum applications made after the new order can be denied. The important thing for an asylum seeker to remember is that he has a right to seek a hearing from an immigration judge. Not doing so will allow the asylum officer to remove him immediately.
Right to an attorney
Unfortunately, aliens and refugees are not granted a right to legal assistance or to an attorney under the US Immigration and Nationality Act. However, the UN Refugee Conventions grant the right of free access to courts and to legal assistance. The US being signatory to these conventions, is obligated to adhere to it. Every person, therefore, has a right to seek access to an immigration judge as well as to legal assistance.
Priority to persons facing religious persecution
The new order directs that persons seeking asylum on the grounds that they are a religious minority in the country and facing religious persecution are to prioritised. Considering that the 7 countries that have been barred are predominantly Muslim countries, it can be assumed that priority will be given to non-Muslim asylum seekers from these countries. While this provision is in violation of the provisions of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, the US Constitutional right to Equal Protection, and also international refugee laws, non-Muslim asylum seekers must keep this point in mind.
Priority to persons already in transit
The authorities have been granted discretionary power to grant entry to persons when that person is already in transit and denying admission would cause undue hardship. This is provided the persons would not pose a security threat or risk.
While the President has been granted the discretionary power to deny entry, the order discriminates between people on the grounds of nationality and religion. It is hoped that the US government will honor its commitment to its own laws and review its order.
United States President Donald Trump on Sunday insisted that his executive order temporarily halting travel from seven majority-Muslim countries was "not a Muslim ban," after it was met with confusion, global outrage and huge protests across the United States.
"America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border. America has always been the land of the free and home of the brave," Trump said in a statement.
"This is not about religion this is about terror and keeping our country safe," he said, adding that more 40 Muslim countries were not affected by his order.
His defence came in the form of an official written statement issued by the White House, a rare move for a president who has favoured speaking directly to his audience via Twitter.
Trump signed the executive order, suspending the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and barring citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
While Trump has cited the 11 September, 2001, attacks as justification for his move, he did not target any of the 9/11 hijackers' home countries Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump recalled that his predecessor Barack Obama, a Democrat, had paused, for six months in 2011, the Iraqi refugee program. And he stressed that the seven countries targeted by his ban were also listed by Obama.
But the previous administration's restrictions were of a different sort, requiring visas for people having travelled to those countries in the past five years.
In the statement, he said, "My policy is similar to what President (Barack) Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months."
That's not exactly what happened. According to State Department data, 9,388 Iraqi refugees were admitted to the United States during the 2011 budget year. The data also shows that Iraqi refugees were admitted every month during the 2011 calendar year.
The Obama administration slowed down processing for Iraqi nationals seeking refuge in the US under the government's Special Immigrant Visa program for translators and interpreters who worked with American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. That happened after two Iraqi nationals were arrested on terrorism-related charges. But that year, 618 Iraqis were allowed to enter the US with that special visa.
Government data suggests that during the 2011 budget year, more than 7,800 Iraqis were allowed into the United States on non-immigrant visas, including tourists.
In the same statement, he also said, "The seven countries named in the Executive Order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror."
That is misleading. The Republican-led Congress in 2015 voted to require visas and additional security checks for foreign citizens who normally wouldn't need visas such as those from Britain if they had visited the seven countries: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. This was included in a large spending bill passed overwhelmingly by Congress and signed by Obama.
As the law was enacted, the Obama administration announced that journalists, aid workers and others who travelled to the listed countries for official work could apply for exemptions. There were no special US travel restrictions on citizens of those seven countries.
With inputs from agencies
By Alastair Macdonald
| BRUSSELS
BRUSSELS Donald Trump has joined Russia, China and radical Islam as a threat to the European Union, EU leaders were told on Tuesday by the man chairing a summit where they will debate relations with the United States.European Council President Donald Tusk, a conservative former premier of Poland, wrote to EU national leaders to lay out themes for discussion when they meet in Malta on Friday to discuss the future of their Union as Britain prepares to leave.In vivid language that reflects deep concern in Europe at the new U.S. president's support for Brexit, as well as his ban on refugees and people from several Muslim countries, Tusk called on Europeans to rally against eurosceptic nationalists at home and take "spectacular steps" to deepen the continent's integration.Saying the EU faced the biggest challenges of its 60-year history, Tusk named an "assertive China", "Russia's aggressive policy" toward its neighbours and "radical Islam" fuelling anarchy in the Middle East and Africa as key external threats. These, "as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration, all make our future highly unpredictable," he said.Laying out issues leaders may address in a 60th anniversary declaration at Rome in March, Tusk said the EU unity built after World War Two and the Cold War was needed "to avoid another historic catastrophe". He also said Americans should not weaken Transatlantic ties fundamental to "global order and peace".
"The disintegration of the European Union will not lead to the restoration of some mythical, full sovereignty of its member states, but to their real and factual dependence on the great superpowers: the United States, Russia and China," Tusk wrote to the EU leaders. "Only together can we be fully independent."CAUTION TEMPERS DISMAY
Senior officials discussed a possible EU response to Trump at a meeting in Brussels on Monday where some governments stressed that Europeans should not be hasty to alienate a key ally, diplomats said."We don't want to get fired," one senior EU diplomat said in reference to Trump's reality TV catchphrase. Another said that because the full U.S. administration was not yet in place, Europeans should be cautious: "No government in Europe can respond in a coherent manner to this series of orders and tweets," the diplomat said.
Yet after 11 days in office, Trump and his aides have stirred concern in Europe due to their doubts about NATO and countering Russia in Ukraine, as well as over free trade. The Socialist finance minister of France, a nation long sceptical of U.S. market economics, said on Tuesday Washington seemed set on protectionism that was a "grave risk to the world trade order".Friday's summit could also expose tensions with British Prime Minister Theresa May, who will attend a morning session on efforts to curb migrants heading for Europe from Libya but will leave before the other 27 discuss post-Brexit reforms.British and EU officials said they expect May to attend a lunch where all 28 leaders will discuss "international challenges", including Trump. But May's embrace of Trump by way of a visit to Washington last week and push for a post-Brexit UK-U.S. trade deal have irritated London's continental partners.Some were also annoyed by a British announcement that its citizens who also hold passports from the seven states on Trump's banned list could enter the United States. That, diplomats said, risked breaking EU rules on equal treatment for EU citizens. Washington later said it would accept all EU passports. (Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
'Charade', noun, refers to an absurd pretence intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance. 'Dumb charade' is a game in which one player uses pantomime to act out a phrase or words for other players to guess. 'Dumbest charade' (not in dictionary) is to carry out an absurd pretence and then expect the world to believe it.
No prizes for guessing the category in which Pakistan's latest move to place UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed under 'house arrest' falls. The two-act drama, staged by The Royal Pakistan Company, has bypassed its sell-by date and is now running at empty global theatres after countless reruns. The script is hackneyed and the ending obvious.
To have an idea of the 'severity' of the 'preventive detention' under which Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) frontman and Mumbai attacks mastermind Saeed has been held along with his four accomplices Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niazi of Multan take a look at what The New York Times had reported back in December 2008 when this play was enacted for the first time. Just as now, Saeed had then been 'confined' by Lahore police in his residence after the United Nations Security Council had declared JuD as a terrorist organisation and a front group for the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.
NYT's Richard A Oppel Jr and Salman Masood, in this 2008 report under the headline: 'With House Arrest Pakistan Curbs, Lightly, a Leader Tied to Mumbai Attackers', wrote: "In Mr. Saeeds leafy neighborhood, it was a decidedly more relaxed scene. Several dozen policemen ringed the area around his home, standing casually with rifles and enforcing a house arrest that seemed more of a forced vacation. Two heavily bearded workers from Jamaat-ud Dawa arrived with food, and the police raised the barricades and allowed them through, choosing not to inspect their Suzuki truck."
The report goes on to state how one policeman rushed at them when the NYT journalists arrived at the spot to claim that "Saeed was confined in his home" and has been "banned" from stepping outside. "Almost on cue," says the report, Saeed emerged from a "mosque across the street" and strolled back home. The cop tried to first blatantly deny that it was the JuD chief, and then gave in.
And if anyone had even the slightest of doubts about Pakistan's real intention, Saeed who roams around with the US government bounty of $10 million on his head for numerous terror attacks on Indian soil, including the 26/11 attacks was promptly let off in June 2009 just six months after the 'house arrest' by a Pakistan high court citing "lack of evidence". The case against him was suspended. Under the US pressure, Pakistan's federal and provincial governments did make half-hearted appeals a year later against the terrorist's release but the Supreme Court dismissed these appeals due to "lack of proof" despite several Indian dossiers.
A deep sense of deja vu pervades the latest charade.
Media reports from Pakistan indicate a large police contingent apparently gheraoed JuD headquarters in Lahore's Chauburji Chowk where Saeed was busy in a meeting with his aides. Citing an order from Pakistan's federal interior ministry, cops took him and four others into 'protective custody'. Pakistan-based newspaper Dawn, quoting a handout, reported that Hafiz and his associated have been 'arrested' for three months while The JuD and its affiliate Falah-i-Insaaniat Foundation "have been included in the second schedule and will be placed on the governments watch list for six months under Section (1) 11EEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997."
Interestingly, for a man about to be detained, Saeed still found enough time to organise an 'impromptu' news conference outside a mosque and accused Pakistan government of acting at the behest of India.
"I have received the (detention) orders of the government of Pakistan. I believe this is not against me but is an attempt to sabotage the freedom movement of Kashmir. This (action) is part of the international conspiracy. The government is helpless before the pressure of Trump and Modi (Its on) Modis insistence and Trumps instigation," Pakistan-based newspaper The Nation has reported.
Orders of my arrest haven't come from Islamabad, these orders hv been given from Delhi via Washington: #HafizSaeed talks to media in Lahore pic.twitter.com/NqP1T7BZGI Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) January 30, 2017
Notwithstanding these machinations of mountebanks, the question that arises is why did the Nawaz Sharif government (or more specifically the GHQ at Rawalpindi) feel compelled to re-enact the sordid drama? There is a feeling, betrayed by Pakistan interior ministry's reaction to Saeed's arrest, that Islamabad is feeling a little hot under the collar ever since Trump administration slapped a ban on immigration of citizens from seven countries. Pakistan isn't part of the 'blacklist' yet but White House has hinted that an extension in the future may include Pakistan.
In an interview to CBS on 29 January, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said the list of countries apart from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen "could grow".
"You can point to other countries that have similar problems like Pakistan and others perhaps we need to take it further, he said. But for now, immediate steps, pulling the Band-Aid off, is to do further vetting for people traveling in and out of those countries."
Almost on cue, Pakistan's interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan suddenly remembered that the government must fulfill some "obligations" to JuD.
The organisation (JuD) has been under observation since 2010-11. Since it has also been listed by the UN Security Council (Sanctions Committee), we are bound to take some steps. We are taking those steps to fulfill our obligations, he said on Monday.
Quoting a "security analyst in Islamabad," Hindustan Times reports that "Apart from the pressure publicly exerted by Washington, Beijing, too, has been quietly pushing Islamabad to act against these people" and that Monday's action is the result of these pressures.
It is interesting that China would urge Pakistan to take action against the JuD chief even as it repeatedly stonewalls New Delhi's efforts to blacklist Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar. Be that as it may, India should have no illusions about the nature of this comedy show.
At best, it may provide a small opportunity for a thaw in India-Pakistan relationship which showed some positive signs following Rawalpindi's decision to release Chandu Babulal Chavan this month, the Indian jawan who had inadvertently crossed over to the Pakistan side of the LoC. This is not a victory in the fight against terror, not even a small consolation. It is Pakistan's move to release some international pressure.
Expect Hafiz to be reinstated in full glory shortly.
By Estelle Shirbon
| LONDON
LONDON Former Nigerian oil state governor James Ibori, who was recently released from a British prison after serving a sentence for corruption, has signalled a possible political comeback in Africa's most populous country.As governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007, Ibori became one of Nigeria's most powerful men and enjoyed a millionaire lifestyle, with luxury homes in several countries.He was later extradited to Britain, where he pleaded guilty in 2012 to 10 counts of fraud and money-laundering.The case was initially hailed as a high point in the fight against corruption, although it has since become bogged down in allegations of misconduct by British authorities.In line with normal British practice, Ibori was released in December after serving half of his 13-year sentence, taking into account pre-trial detention. He said he would return within days to Nigeria, where local media have reported that he remains influential in politics.
"What happens in African politics - you are in it until you die," Ibori told Reuters in London on Tuesday."I am a politician, I will always be a politician. I play the politics in my party and in my country for the good of my people," he said after a court hearing, part of ongoing legal proceedings in his case.Nigerian media reported that Ibori's release had prompted dancing in the streets in parts of Delta State.
A video later surfaced on YouTube of Ibori being feted in London by supporters including a sitting Delta State senator who said, to cheers, that Ibori had "made" the careers of several prominent Nigerian politicians while in prison.Ibori declined to say whether this was true. "The prison telephone is meant for keeping in touch ... so you can reintegrate when you come out," he said.Asked if he would run for office again, Ibori said he was barred from doing so for 10 years because of his conviction, but that he intended to appeal to have that conviction overturned.
The appeal would centre on an allegation, made by one of Ibori's former associates, that a British police officer had taken bribes in return for inside information on the case before Ibori's conviction, and that prosecutors had covered it up.British police say the allegation was investigated, resulting in no arrests or charges.The state prosecution service says material supporting the allegation exists and it initially failed to disclose that to Ibori's defence team, but it is confident Ibori's conviction remains valid. Court proceedings are ongoing. (Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
As Trump administration officials indicate that Pakistan may be put on the controversial immigration ban list for their record in fighting terrorism, Pakistani authorities moved swiftly by putting under house arrest Hafiz Muhammad Saeed the Amir of Jamaat-ud-Dawah (a known front for Lashkar-e-Taiba).
As a mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed more than 160 and injured around 300 people, Saeed has been the face of Pakistan's cross-border terrorism against India. Despite him being designated as a terrorist leader post-26/11 by the United Nations and the United States, he continued to spout venomous speeches against India and the United States in public rallies held across various cities of Pakistan with full support from the local administration. Therefore, Saeeds arrest is significant.
His detention is a mere symbolic step which has come as too little, too late'.
There is ample evidence of Pakistani establishments support to the LeT and its network of sister organisations, one of which was as innocuous as a students organisation the Al Muhammadia Students which got designated as a terrorist organisation last month by the United States.
The proof of the pudding is in eating. Similarly India will adopt wait and watch approach when it comes to the current Pakistan's crackdown on the Saeed.
In the past, India has seen similar actions against the LeT leadership and its network.
In 2008, in the immediate aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, the world witnessed the spectacle of a crackdown from the Pakistani army against the Lashkar training camp in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. But soon after Indian security agencies pointed out that the Muzaffarabad camp had simply been wound up and moved to a new location in Dulai, with much more advanced facilities.
During the same time Pakistan arrested LeTs operational commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and put him in Rawalpindis sprawling Adiala jail. However Lakhvis arrest was pure hogwash as he continued to receive full state protection and was allowed to maintain contact with his commanders from inside the jail. US later gave the evidence to that fact, thereby embarrassing Pakistan and discrediting its actions.
Whats more is that after the 26/11 attacks a number of front organisations such as the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, the Al-Anfal Trust etc. proliferated taking forward the LeT activities, in an attempt to escape the intense international scrutiny and financial sanctions. Most of these organisations focused on social work and charity. The Pakistani government, instead of cracking down, deliberately overlooked these organisations, despite their suspicious activities. One has to just see how the Punjab provincial government donated approximately 1 million dollars to the Jamaat-ud-Dawah for charity work in 2010. With encouragement like this, it was not surprising that the JuD took on an even more public role and joined hands with other extremist organisations to form the Difah-e-Pakistan (Defence of Pakistan) Council, holding rallies across Pakistan.
As we seen in the past, this time too there will be a show of crackdown and temporary curtailing of the LeT network and its activities. Pakistan is obviously hoping to score some brownie points with the new administration in Washington. But till the time there is any concrete action from Islamabad to degrade the LeT and the Jaish-e-Mohammad network, especially in the Punjab province, India should remain skeptical of the Pakistani spectacle.
Time has come to stop fooling the world with the good terrorist, bad terrorist terminology.
"Things can, however, take an ugly turn in Pakistan-US relations if Washington under (Donald) Trump comes to the conclusion that Pakistan is not cooperating wholeheartedly in combating terrorists... These developments may evoke a robust US response under Trump to the detriment of Pakistan," read a prescient article in The Nation on 22 November last year, 13 days after Donald Trump won a historic US presidential election.
On Friday, the US president announced a ban on immigrants from seven nations, sparking off all sorts of global and domestic outrage. The rationale provided by Chief of Staff Reince Priebus clarified was that "Congress and the (Barack) Obama administration identified (them) as being the seven countries that were most identifiable with dangerous terrorism taking place in their country". He was quick to add the little caveat that "(Y)ou can point to other countries that have similar problems, like Pakistan and others. Perhaps we need to take it (the ban) further".
And Pakistan, it appears, is wisely/opportunistically/pragmatically/conveniently (delete as you deem appropriate) making moves to avoid both the 'taking further' of the ban and the 'robust US response' by placing Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and four others under house arrest in Lahore. The Ministry of Interior in Punjab issued the order on 27 January and the JuD's headquarters was surrounded by police.
It may be recalled that in the past, Pakistan has given Saeed and his cohorts a great deal of leeway something noted with consternation by the Barack Obama administration. Speculating on whether or not Islamabad took Washington's displeasure seriously in the past knowing that Pakistan's perceived importance to the US and its proximity to China would insulate it from any American response serves no real purpose.
What is worth looking at, however, is whether pronouncements by Trump (in the lead-up to and after the election) and indeed his administration have rattled Pakistan. Here's a brief rundown:
Back in 2011 after Osama bin Laden was eliminated in Abbottabad and when Trump featured nowhere near the presidential picture, he is widely reported to have said, "(Pakistan) are not friends of ours. (There are) plenty of other terrorists in Pakistan, we know that."
A year later, he tweeted:
When will Pakistan apologize to us for providing safe sanctuary to Osama Bin Laden for 6 years?! Some "ally." Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 5, 2012
While on the campaign trail, when Trump was asked by Fox News' Bill O'Reilly about the fate of Shakeel Afridi the doctor who helped the CIA hunt down bin Laden and has languished in a Pakistani prison for over five years and whether he would be able to get him out, Trump had the following to say: "Yes, I do. I think I would get him out in two minutes. I would tell them (Pakistani government) let them out and I'm sure they would let them out. Because we give a lot of aid to Pakistan. We give a lot of money to Pakistan. And frankly, they will do they don't have any respect for our president. But when you say they take advantage or they are no friend. Nobody is a friend to us. They just take us like a bunch of suckers, Bill."
Although the then presidential candidate did add the caveat that "Pakistan certainly takes advantage like everybody else. Nobody is different", his comments didn't go down too well with Pakistani interior minister Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan, who fired back, "Pakistan is not a colony of the United States of America... He (Trump) should learn to treat sovereign nations with respect." A month later, Trump was quoted by Reuters as suggesting that "(w)hen I'm elected, I will suspend immigration from areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies until we fully understand how to end these threats." The report added that these 'areas of the world' included Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Somalia.
And most recently, in his written submission to the Senate Armed Services Committee ahead of his confirmation as secretary of defence, General James Mattis stated his aim to work with Islamabad to "focus on Pakistan's need to expel or neutralise externally-focused militant groups that operate within its borders". He added, "We should urge Pakistan to take further action against the Taliban and the Haqqani network... We have long faced a lack of trust within the Pakistani military and government about our goals in the region."
On the strength of the above instances and the urgency with which Trump has been signing executive orders since taking office, it's not inconceivable that Pakistan is a bit more wary of the 45th President of the United States than any of his predecessors. Risking the rancour of Washington which could very easily translate into a rolling-back of the supply of financial and military aid in the present political climate is clearly unwise from Islamabad's point of view.
And whether Saeed is under house arrest to protect the world from him or (again, it's not inconceivable) vice versa, Pakistan appears rattled and in the mood to appease Trump.
Where if anywhere this will ultimately lead is, however, as hazy as ever.
The broader picture of the fledgling relation with the new US administration and its political dynamics that the Saudi Arabic media paints, rings true, and confirm the impressions of the closest observers. Various Arabic newspapers in Saudi Arabia produce an analysis which seems on target, though it may not be entirely credible.
Lets begin with 'Al-Jazirah' (), the Arabic media outlet in Saudi Arabia which has the only daily afternoon newspaper in the country with sizeable readership. When Donald Trump was sworn in the White House, this Arabic daily extensively highlighted the historic event conveying the Saudi King Salmans congratulations to President Trump, not only in the full-page advertisements but also in editorials and opinion pages.
In its editions on last Fridays and Sundays, it dedicated most pages to develop an idea of how Trumps administration would shape the US-Saudi ties. Among the most discussed issues were the pledged embassy move to Jerusalem and rising hopes for strategic cooperation in the wake of Trump's alliance with Putin. The importance of developing relations (between the US and Saudi governments) relies on an overall strategy that serves our common interests, wrote the Arabic daily newspaper.
However, one of Al-Jazeera's sister newspapers, Al-Masaiya, repeatedly discussed in its editorials and op-ed pieces the pre-conceived challenges that the new US administration might pose to the Arab world.
Another prominent pro-government Arabic daily in Saudi Arabia, Al Watan has candidly revealed the untold truth. It carried several reports to unravel that Riyadh shows great optimism about the new US President Trump's administration, urging other Arab nations not to be worried or pessimistic about the newly elected leader of the free worlds policies. According to this Arabic daily, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir has announced that the kingdom is eagerly looking forward to work with the new American administration.
This media depiction is echoed in another Arabic newspaper in Saudi Arabia, Ukaz ( ) the Mecca-based prominent daily newspaper. It seems to endorse the latter newspapers standpoint, as it writes in its editorial: We need to find friends on the [American] Presidents staff that will have influence as to whether the world power will be on your side or against us. We should not forget to work in accordance with our interests
Buttressing the point that the new US Presidents administration continues to uphold Americas democratic values, constitution and laws, Ukaz wrote on 9 November, 2016 in the wake of Trumps win in the presidential election:
This is America, and this is the real democracy anywhere in the world. Here we witness and understand the practical realization of the concept of orderly transition of power The [presidential] elections i[in 2016] were historic in the truest sense. After this important historic event occurred, life across the America continues normally. There is no state of emergency, no disruption of business or public services and the country does not become a military camp..This is how transition of power takes place in countries that respect their constitution and laws, apply democracy and implement it in a dignified manner.
One more Saudi Arabic newspaper like Ukaz, Al-Hayat ( ) one of the pan-Arab dailies funded by the Saudi kingdom has heaped high praises on the newly established American administration.
Generally, the Arabic press does not offer dissenting views on the serious geopolitical issues such as this. However, there is a certain amount of criticism targeted at Trumps highly controversial administration. Presenting an overview of the past 8 years of the American administration in the tenure of the Ex-President Barak Obama and contrasting it with the new US administration of President Donald Trump, al-Hayat carried an opinion piece which reads: Although Trump wants to have a more assertive policy, he will not be able to bring America back as the most powerful regional player. The Americans cant become the whole and sole superpower again. In order to pave a way for an American role in the upcoming years, the new US Presidents administration needs vision and imagination. If you dont have this vision, you might find yourself in confrontation.
There was an interesting media depiction of Trumps triumph in the presidential election which was seen in a few Arabic news outlets. That is, the Arabic media portrayal of the popular impression of the Arabs who preferred Trump over Clinton, but for diametrically different reasons. On November 2, 2016, the popular online news media outlet in Saudi Arabia, Rai' Alyoum ( ) wrote in an editorial: the mainstream Arab nationals prefer Trumps triumph in the US elections (over Clinton).
For they have developed an impression that Trump would "lead America to the deterioration, disintegration and an inevitable destruction". This media portrayal might interest those who can recall the recent surprising news that not only the Republicans, but even Islamic State was grounding for Trumps victory, as an earlier Firstpost article conveyed.
Interestingly enough, the Islamic States jihadists were cheering for Trump with the same popular Arab perception that this Republican American President would lead the US on a path of self-destruction. Furthermore, the ISIS held the belief that Trumps presidency would be a powerful recruiting tool for the jihadist cult. For, they planned to recruit the gullible Muslim youths from across the world employing the Islamophobic rhetoric of the superpower president.
Contrary to the Saudi Arabic press, the news media in other Arab countries is considerably critical of the new US administration. They project a view which is cynical about the construction of amicable ties between the US and the wider Arab world. Of late, several editorials and articles published articles in their latest editions lambasting the President Trumps signing the executive order to ban the Muslim immigration. Recently, in a sweeping crackdown on the radical Islamists, President Trump is reported to have denied the entry for nationals from seven Muslims countries into the US.
The well-known Arabic media outlets such as UAEs Al-Khaleej () and Al-Ittihad ( ), Egypts Al-Ahram al-Yaumi ( ), Palestines Al-Quds () and the Jordanian Arabic newspaper Al-Ghad ( ) have strongly castigated Trump's Muslim ban which is proposed in the name of anti-terror security sweep.
The noted Arab editors have expressed "deep regrets" over Trump's order to suspend refugee arrivals and impose tough new controls on travellers from seven Muslim countries. They believe that the US ban on Muslim immigration will damage the genuine global war on terrorism.
In a similar tone and tenor, media outlets in other parts of the Muslim world have unwelcomed Trumps recent move. Prominent newspapers in both the largest Muslim-populated country in the worldIndonesia which mostly comprises of Sunni Muslimsand the Shia-majority Muslim countryIran have also criticised Trumps decision.
The author is a cultural analyst and researcher in Media and Communication Studies. You can email him at grdehlavi@gmail.com
By Hamid Shalizi and James Mackenzie
| KABUL
KABUL Atta Mohammad Noor, one of Afghanistan's most powerful regional leaders, is in talks with President Ashraf Ghani to join the central government, a move that could shake up the country's politics ahead of elections scheduled for 2019.Negotiations have been going on for weeks, and while the outcome is uncertain and it is unclear what role Noor would take if any, his ambitions have implications for the balance of power between Ghani and government co-leader, Abdullah Abdullah."I am here in Kabul to continue my negotiations with the president," Noor told Reuters in an interview at his house in the capital, where hundreds of visitors and petitioners crowd in daily to seek his help."If our negotiations succeed, we will leave Balkh to new and young faces," he said, referring to the northern province where he has built a far-reaching regional power base. "We are ready to support the government and work together."Abdullah is CEO in a U.S.-brokered power-sharing government, but he is under growing pressure to deliver more for his followers, many of whom consider he has failed to protect their interests.Some political commentators see Noor's initiative as a challenge for the leadership of Afghanistan's powerful ethnic Tajik group, currently led by Abdullah, a former ally whom he backed in the 2014 election.Ghani is a Pashtun, traditionally the strongest ethnic Afghan group that is often viewed with suspicion by Tajiks and other minority communities.Noor's relations with Ghani have been strained in the past, and the president tried to dismiss him as Balkh governor.
But recent talks point to a thaw and have sparked keen interest in the mainstream and social media. There has also been a steady stream of politicians and foreign diplomats to Noor's residences in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif in the north."The big question people are asking is, 'is this the start of the 2019 presidential campaign for Afghanistan?'," said Scott Worden, director of Afghanistan and Central Asia Programs at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington.POLITICAL RIVALRY
Heightened political rivalry would add to the challenges the new U.S. administration faces in Afghanistan, where Taliban militants have increased their hold and the lack of jobs and security has pushed tens of thousands of people to leave.Nationally, support for the government has weakened.The Asia Foundation's 2016 survey of Afghanistan, the biggest such survey, found overall satisfaction at a record low. About 49 percent of people thought the national unity government was doing a good job, down from over 70 percent in 2014.More specifically, many Tajiks feel the government, formed in 2014 after allegations of massive vote-rigging on both sides, has not produced a genuine power-sharing agreement, sidelining Abdullah and leaving Ghani in sole charge.
Whether Noor exchanges his regional power base for the unpredictable politics of Kabul is unknown, as is his ability to be any more successful than Abdullah in soothing discontent among supporters.For his part, Abdullah, whose position as chief executive is protected by the power-sharing agreement until the next election, has not reacted publicly.His office declined to comment on Noor's talks with Ghani and the president's palace also declined to comment.Last year's deal with the Hizb-i-Islami faction led by former Islamist warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has brought a potentially significant new Pashtun group into the government fold, leaving some Tajiks feeling further isolated.And Noor's longstanding rivalry with First Vice President Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek who also wields significant power in the north, is another potential source of tension should they both be in government together.Dostum's political future has been uncertain following allegations that one of his rivals was tortured and threatened with sexual abuse by some of Dostum's bodyguards, accusations he has denied and said were spread by enemies trying to damage him. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Anthony Esposito
| SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO As Chilean authorities battle the historic blazes that have taken 11 lives, burned over 1,000 homes and wiped an entire town off the map, the theories about who may be to blame have spread as quickly as the wildfires themselves.The fires have consumed over 379,000 hectares (937,000 acres) in recent days, and cost Chile's forestry industry $350 million in losses.Forest fires are a regular feature of Chile's hot, arid summers, but a nearly decade-long drought combined with historically high temperatures have created tinder-dry conditions.Authorities said the worst was over, but firefighters, aided by helicopters and airplanes, were still battling 61 fires as of Monday.Amid signs not all the fires were accidental, conspiracy theories have abounded as to their origin, amplified by social media.Nearly nine out of 10 people surveyed by pollster Cadem said they believed most of the fires were intentional and 75 percent disapproved of how the government had handled the disaster.
Ten people were in jail awaiting trial on suspicion they lit some of the fires, although the possible motives were unclear.President Michelle Bachelet said the Justice Department was investigating to determine "who has been causing the fires in our nation, in those cases where there is malice and those case where there is negligence."Bachelet said she had authorized the military to patrol rural areas in an effort to prevent any further arson.
Opposition lawmakers said the government had done too little, too late."They try to look for those responsible before putting out the forest fires to hide their own incompetence," tweeted independent opposition lawmaker Jose Manuel Edwards.A video showing a man on horseback setting fields ablaze was widely distributed on social media as purported evidence of arson. The video's time stamp indicated it was recorded a year ago.
Chile's national prosecutor, Jorge Abbott, said his office would open an investigation into the false information on social media."Information about Colombian citizens and Mapuche indigenous people detained (for arson) is completely false," he said.Chile's forestry industry asked for calmer heads to prevail as it also found itself on the defensive."We have seen many videos and photos on Twitter of things that are two to three years old and are shown as if they were happening now ... you also hear things like (forestry) companies are causing the fires themselves to collect insurance. That is absurd," industry group CORMA said. (Reporting by Anthony Esposito; Editing by Peter Cooney)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By John Walcott and Julia Edwards Ainsley
| WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON When Donald Trump's administration put together its controversial executive order on immigration, it was Steve Bannon the populist firebrand fast emerging as the president's right-hand man pushing a hard line.Senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) interpreted the order to mean that lawful permanent residents - green card holders who hailed from the seven Muslim-majority countries targeted in the immigration order would not face additional screening when they entered the country. But they were quickly overruled by Bannon, who is Trumps chief strategist and oversaw the drafting of the executive order along with White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, a close ally of Bannon's, the officials said."They were in charge of this operation," one senior DHS official said, adding that the experts were "almost immediately overruled by the White House, which means by Bannon and Miller."A senior national security official described the pair as a "tag team" pushing Trump's key policies, including the immigration order which bars the entry of refugees and places a temporary hold on people from seven countries - Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia and Libya.The inclusion of green card holders from those countries intensified opposition to an executive order that sparked legal challenges, protests at airports and sharp criticism from inside the Republican Party, including from some Trump allies.DHS officials say there was little or no White House consultation with immigration, customs and border security agencies on the immigration policy change, causing widespread confusion over how to implement Trump's order.A senior administration official said the order went through a review by "key people" at DHS and the White House National Security Council, and that several immigration staff on Capitol Hill were involved in drafting the order. But officials said Bannon was the driving force throughout.
The White House had no immediate comment on Bannon's role. Critics have accused Bannon of harbouring anti-Semitic and white nationalist sentiments. Under Bannon's leadership, his Breitbart website presented a number of conspiracy theories about Trump's Democratic rival in the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton, as well as Republicans deemed to be lacking in conservative bona fides.Bannon has ascribed his interest in populism and American nationalism to a desire to curb what he views as the corrosive effects of globalisation. He has rejected what he called the "ethno-nationalist" tendencies of some in the movement.After becoming chief executive of Trump's election campaign in August, the former Goldman Sachs banker and Navy veteran helped lead him to victory over Clinton. He was then appointed by Trump as senior counsellor and chief strategist - jobs not subject to U.S. Senate confirmation.He has been an almost constant presence by Trump's side in the first 10 days of the administration - in the White House for a meeting with American manufacturers, at CIA headquarters the day after Trump was sworn in, and in the Oval Office during British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit.
He appears to have greatly expanded his power in the first 10 days of Trump's presidency.ELEVATION TO NSC
Trump gave him an unprecedented seat in the NSC's top-level meetings and potentially narrowed the role played by the director of national intelligence (DNI) and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Bannon has also asserted authority over almost all written statements from the White House and the NSC and has sent back documents for rewrites as he sees fit, one NSC official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Critics, including four senior U.S. intelligence officers, called the decision to formalise Bannon's role at the NSC meetings a mistake, saying it risks politicizing decisions on national security.White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Monday defended Bannon's inclusion in the NSC.Susan Rice, the former national security adviser in former President Barack Obama's administration, tweeted on Sunday: "This is stone cold crazy. After a week of crazy." Bannon and Miller are drowning out the opinions of more moderate advisers like White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, said a senior DHS official and two people in Washington who work closely with the White House on immigration and a range of other issues.One of those people and the DHS official said Priebus felt he had placed enough of his fellow moderate Republicans in key positions at the White House as a counterbalance to Bannon and Miller, but he has been frustrated at their outsized influence so far, especially on issues of immigration and national security. A White House official declined to comment. (Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Writing by Kieran Murray and Yara Bayoumy)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Avdiivka: A sudden surge in clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels killed at least seven people on Monday despite a tattered truce in Ukraine's war-scarred east.
The overall death toll reported for the past two days rose to 12 after the bloodiest outburst of violence since the former Soviet republic and its foes last month agreed an "indefinite" ceasefire.
The fighting came as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to step up economic sanctions against Moscow, and fears grew in Kiev that US support could wane should President Donald Trump draws closer to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
"Since Sunday, there have been continuing clashes and heavy attacks on our positions," Ukraine's 72nd army brigade spokeswoman Olena Mokrynchuk told AFP.
The military in Kiev said three of its soldiers had died overnight.
An AFP reporter in the town of Avdiivka near the de facto rebel capital Donetsk saw Kiev troops capture three rebels on Monday. Two of them later died of their wounds.
Electricity has been off since Sunday and water supplies are sporadic in Avdiivka amid the shelling and gunfire.
The separatists also reported two civilians deaths from Ukrainian fire around Donetsk.
The bloodshed put at risk yet another attempt by exasperated mediators to end one of Europe's bloodiest conflicts since the 1990s Balkans wars.
The violence coincided with Poroshenko's visit to Berlin to meet ally Merkel the German leader who along with French President Francois Hollande helped hammer out a 2015 peace deal in the Belarusian capital Minsk that has failed to achieve results.
"We are certain that today we need decisive and united action that can motivate Russia to sit at the negotiating table and fully implement the Minsk agreements particularly its security component to stop civilians from dying," Poroshenko said in Berlin before entering the meeting.
"We believe that not only should the sanctions be maintained, but they should be intensified as well," he added.
Merkel said she found the situation "worrying" but gave no indication on whether she intended to add to the pressure on Putin.
Ukraine fears that staunch support from the United States could now dry up if Trump makes good on his campaign pledge to improve ties with Moscow.
Ukraine worries that the war in the east will turn into a "frozen conflict" in which the rebels and their backers in Moscow control the country's former industrial heartland.
Washington: State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed suit seeking to block US President Donald Trumps executive order temporarily banning foreign refugees, media reports said.
"No one is above the law, not even the president," Los Angeles Times quoted Ferguson as saying while announcing the federal lawsuit.
"And in the courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. It's the Constitution," the Washington attorney general said.
Ferguson became the first state attorney general to announce a legal action against the Trump administration over one of its policies.
Trump signed an executive order on Friday that suspends all immigration for citizens of seven countries Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Somalia for 90 days.
Ferguson was one of 16 state attorneys general who released a statement Sunday calling Trump's immigration action "un-American and unlawful".
He said the lawsuit against Trump and high-ranking Trump administration officials would be filed later on Monday in federal court in Seattle, US.
On 27 January, American president Donald Trump signed an executive order banning all immigrants and visa holders from seven majority-Muslim countries namely Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days. He positioned this as a security measure to prevent terrorist attacks on American soil. The order also termed as the immigration ban has been widely condemned by the various sections of American society as well as by many in the international community.
The peculiarity of the order lies in the fact that it targets those seven countries in which the US is militarily involved or has been previously involved in a military campaign. It is one of the reasons for the refugee influx from those countries to North America and Europe. Without going into the merits of such an order, it is also interesting to note that it excludes Pakistan and Saudi Arabia the two countries that are the fountainhead of international jihadi terrorism. If the former provides the terrorist safe havens, the latter provides the fuel in the form of propaganda and finances.
If one takes a cursory look at the troubled relationship between the US and Pakistan, it is evident that Islamabads treachery has caused more damage to American national security and caused more American fatalities than all the seven 'blacklisted' states put together in Trumps executive order.
Just three examples will suffice.
In 2009, seven American CIA officers and contractors, an officer of Jordans intelligence service, and an Afghan working for the CIA were killed in a suicide attack inside Forward Operating Base Chapman, in Khost Afghanistan. The attack had the blessings of the Pakistani ISI.
Secondly, at least in three attacks two documented and one not in the public domain against coalition troops in Afghanistan, Stinger shoulder-fired missiles were used by the Taliban. These were the same missiles that were provided by the US to Pakistan for counter insurgency operations as also during the fight against the Soviet Union in the late 1980s.
Thirdly, in one of the most serious bombing attempts on American soil after 11 September, 2001 that could potentially have caused a large number of casualties, in 2010, a Pakistan-born US resident named Faisal Shahzad attempted a terrorist attack in New York City's Times Square. Shahzad had been trained at a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.
The exclusion of Pakistan from the executive order therefore, is perplexing to say the least. More so because as a presidential candidate, Trump looked like someone who would take on Pakistan, rather than entertain its shenanigans. But clearly, Pakistan seems to have more friends in Washington than one can imagine, who can withstand the transition of presidential administrations.
If Pakistans exclusion is baffling, Saudi Arabias exclusion is understandable. Looked from the narrower perspective of counter-terrorism, Riyadh clearly seems to have crossed all the red limits of Washington. The country remains the hotbed of the extremist Wahhabi ideology, which first powered the Al-Qaeda and now the Islamic State or Daesh. Adding to the cauldron is the vast religious charity network operating in mosques across the country. It is from this network that millions of Dinars are siphoned off to terrorist financing through the ever-resilient Hawala network. Study after study has pointed out the Saudi authoritys complicity in sanctioning these activities. Yet, Riyadh is let off the hook and has been treated with kid gloves by successive American presidents.
The reason is not difficult to fathom. Saudi Arabia remains an important anchor for the US geopolitical ambitions in West Asia. In the heydays of Irans pariah status, the US was happy to promote the Saudi-Iran rivalry as something akin to the Sunni-Shia schism in Islam. That is why even as the so-called Arab Spring was engulfing some West Asian and North African regimes and scaring the brittle monarchies in the Persian Gulf, Riyadh was sitting comfortably despite falling oil prices, dwindling jobs and growing discontent. It knew very well that it had Washington's blessings.
Another important factor to remember is that Saudi Arabia is the worlds largest arms importer. Between 2008 and 2015, it bought weapons worth $93.5 billion most of which was from the US. Overseas sales like these enable the American military industrial complex to create more jobs domestically. Trump, with his commitment to Make America Great Again and the promise of creating more jobs is unlikely to disturb the status quo.
But Islamabad should not take comfort from the fact that it is not part of Trumps immigration ban.
There are already indications that the Trump administration may be reconsidering its decision on Pakistan. Speaking to media, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus suggested that Pakistan could be included in the list. Pakistani politician Imran Khan seems to agree with the suggestion.
In time, we'll know how successful this measure by the Trump administration will be. But one thing is for sure, unless Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are put on that list, Trump's sincerity in fighting terrorism will be doubted.
Public Private Partnership (PPP) Policy, 2072 (Nepali Version download): http://www.npc.gov.np/images/category/PPP_Policy_Final_Printable.pdf
The training program on Public Private Partnership (PPP)
The training program on Public Private Partnership (PPP) 16-20 January 2017.
The training program on Public Private Partnership organized by National Planning Commission in collaboration with Nepal Administrative Staff College commenced today at NASC Training Centre, Jawalakhel. In the inauguration of the program, Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha, Honourable Member, National Planning Commission, highlighted on various aspects PPP concept and practice. He underlined the importance of PPP in the Nepalese developmental context, particularly in the development of physical and social infrastructure. He explained how the partnership can work out a win-win situation that can be rewarding for both public and private sectors. While explaining the objectives of the training program, he expressed his hope that the training program will contribute towards creating human resource base needed to translate the notion of public private partnership in reality. He also explained how the well designed and implemented PPP projects can be instrumental in transforming Nepalese infrastructure which is critical in realizing its goal of graduating to developing country by 2022. Dr. Shrestha acknowledged the fact that the necessary financial resources that will be needed for infrastructure will not be met only by the investment from the government. He emphasized that the resource gap can only be met through the investment by the private sector and hence, the importance of public private partnership is obvious. Dr. Shrestha has also shared the information that in the ongoing 14th plan the expected share of private sector investment is around 55 percent. He also appealed the participant to make the most from the opportunity as the organizers have made every effort to bring the best available resource persons in the country.Altogether 25 participants are participating in the program representing government, private sector, and media.
Download links below, for the presentations from the PPP Training Program 16-20 Jan 2016:
Presentation Dowlnoad link Governance: Beyond Government https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0NqsEXMvOCmVm9zMVRveE1aRVk Introduction to Public Private Partnership
(by Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha, Member, National Planning Commission) Global Practices in PPP Managment NPC 2017
(by Purusottam Man Shrestha, PPP Expert)
Glimpse of PPP (Video) https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_KcNAGEOkh_bkt5MzM2aEFzMTg
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0NqsEXMvOCmR1FXaHhZSUFudEU PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR CREATING AND MANAGING URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEPALESE MUNICIPALITIES: A stock taking and future perspective
(by Maniram Singh Mahat, Executive Director, Town Development Fund) https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0NqsEXMvOCmTklvMk9GbHktcHM Public Private Partnership (PPP) Models: Concepts, Issues and Examples
(by Surya R Acharya, PhD) https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0NqsEXMvOCma0t3Njc1aFN4cVE PPP project Cycle and Feasibility Study
(by Dr. Raghu Bista, Nepal Administrative Staff College) https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0NqsEXMvOCmZGpwNEhUZWpJejg Financing Model in PPP Projects
(by Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal, Joint Secretary, Investment Board Nepal) https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0NqsEXMvOCmOHVibzlwNjBPMEE PROCUREMENT PROCESS- FOR PPP PROJECTS
(by Shakti Prasad Shrestha) https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0NqsEXMvOCmRFpxaF8xN1QxZlU Project Cash Flow Analysis & Viability Gap Funding
(by Radhesh Pant, Former CEO, Investment Board Nepal) https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0NqsEXMvOCmcUh3bjFabW9LbUU Access all the above presentations at once at: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_KcNAGEOkh_SVM4T2RlQ2tobGM )
National Workshop on Infrastructure Financing Strategies for Sustainable Development in Nepal
(Source: http://www.unescap.org/events/national-workshop-infrastructure-financing-strategies-sustainable-development-nepal Organizers:Date:24 Jan 2017Location:Kathmandu, Nepal
Recognizing the importance of infrastructure development for achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, ESCAP organized on 24 January 2017 a national workshop on Infrastructure Financing Strategies for Sustainable Development in collaboration with the National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal.
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The Karnataka government has ordered cab aggregators Uber and Ola to put a halt to their respective ride sharing services by Thursday, February 2nd. The state transport department have termed Uber Pool and Ola Share services as illegal.
These ride-hailing services have contract carriage permits that allow only point-to-point rides and not multiple pick up and drop of passengers during a single trip, as per state transport department. Representatives of the two companies had a two-hour-long meeting with the Transport Commissioner M.K. Aiyappa on Monday following which they have agreed to halt ride-sharing services.
Aiyappa told LiveMint,
We have explained to them (Ola and Uber) and they have also agreed that what they are doing now is illegal. They will make changes. The companies have asked for three days to modify their software. If they do not comply, we will have to take action against them.
He added that Uber and Ola will have to submit a petition to his Transport Department elaborating on why they believe ride-sharing should be allowed, after which they will forward the plea to the government. Ola Share and Uber Pool, which offer rides at lower rates, have been a major hit in big metros and especially Bangalore. This decision is going to affect daily commuters in the city who rely on these ride sharing services on a daily basis.
Via
Few months back there was a report that said Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular were gearing up to launch VoLTE (Voice Over LTE) services to take on Reliance Jio who launched pan-India 4G LTE services with VoLTE (Voice Over LTE) back in September last year. Idea Cellular at an event to launch Digital Idea yesterday said that it will launch VoLTE services for its customers in all of its 4G Circles within this year.
Earlier report said that Idea Cellular is in advanced talks with both Ericsson and Nokia to launch VoLTE.
Idea Cellular currently offers 4G services across 11 circles, 3G services across 21 circles and is gearing to launch 4G services in 9 new 4G telecom service areas and 3G services in Bihar and Rajasthan by March 2017, making it available pan-India.
Idea plans to launch 1800 MHz carriers in 7 markets and 2300 MHz carriers in its 3 markets. It will also expand its 3G 900 MHz services in Maharashtra & Goa, and Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, over the next financial year. It also has 2500 MHz 4G LTE bands across 16 circles.
Source
One of the best investment strategies for long-term investors is a simple one: Buy solid companies at great prices, and hold on for a very long time. While measuring "solid" and "great" isn't always straightforward, sometimes all it takes is a deeper look at beaten-up industry leaders. That's why I think Cameco Corp. (CCJ -1.34%), Mosaic (MOS 0.92%), and Aqua America (WTRG 0.89%) are three dividend stocks that warrant further attention.
The nuclear renaissance, Part 436
Investors have been hearing about the nuclear renaissance for years now, but it always seems to be several years away. Frustrating. Which, as it turns out, is also a great word to characterize the stock performance of the world's leading uranium miner in the last five years. Cameco Corp. is down 45% in that period, although it has gained 74% since last November.
Historically low uranium prices have hurt both the top and bottom line in the last several years, while impairment and adjustment charges have taken a toll on earnings, too. The good news for investors is that the dividend has remained untouched thus far, keeping at a steady $0.10 per share quarterly payout since the beginning of 2011. That's a yield of roughly 3.1%. Even better: several positive developments in the uranium market have investors hopeful that a rebound is on the horizon.
So, is Cameco Corp a bargain stock?
Metric Value Price to book 1.27 Price to sales 2.71 Price to earnings (TTM) 97.4 Price to earnings (forward) 30.1
The stock is currently priced at a 27% premium to book value, but that will get worse after full-year 2016 financial results are released. Management already announced preliminary results that included massive asset adjustments, which will have a negative impact on the balance sheet and earnings. The more telling sign of what direction the stock may be heading is the large difference in trailing and forward P/E ratios. Analysts expect the company's profitability to increase by a factor of three in the next 12 months, which would lower the P/E ratio from 97 today to just over 30 a year from now.
A P/E ratio of 30 may not seem like a bargain, but keep in mind that most of the company's competitors are small and unprofitable. If uranium prices recover in the long term, and you want to own a solid company to gain exposure to the promise of a nuclear renaissance, then Cameco Corp. is your best bet.
That "other" fertilizer company
When North American peers PotashCorp and Agrium agreed to merge late last year after being battered by a prolonged slump in fertilizer prices, it left Mosaic Company as the odd man out. That's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, as the third member of the export cartel known as Canpotex, it should benefit from a stronger alliance between its peers. And while the company has also been negatively impacted by low nutrient prices, it remains the only large fertilizer supplier that didn't cut its dividend payouts. The dividend stock currently yields 3.3%.
A volatile 2016 ended with a strong rally for the stock, but it's still down 39% in the past five years.
Things appear to be getting better for the company. It recently acquired the fertilizer business of Brazilian agricultural specialist Vale S.A. for $2.5 billion. The deal immediately makes Mosaic Company the largest fertilizer supplier in Brazil and provides assets in Peru, Argentina, and Canada -- opening doors for significant future value creation.
The company could see improving margins in the near-term, too. It met or exceeded guidance for the third quarter of 2016 and expects a healthier pricing environment in 2017. That could mean last year was the bottom for nutrient prices and profitability.
So, is Mosaic a bargain stock?
Metric Value Price to book 1.18 Price to sales 1.57 Price to earnings (TTM) 26.61 Price to earnings (forward) 37.52
Mosaic Company trades at a 18% premium to book value, which, save for 2016, is the lowest premium shares have traded at in the past decade. It's also significantly lower than peers PotashCorp (2.07) and Agrium (2.39). A price-to-sales ratio of 1.57 is also historically low, save for 2016 and a brief collapse during the financial crisis of 2009. It's easily lower than Potash (3.94) and slightly higher than Agrium (1.10), which has a strong retail business that has served it well during the recent downturn.
Analysts currently expect Mosaic Company to wallow in low profitability in the next 12 months, evidenced by a forward P/E ratio that is larger than its trailing counterpart. While even management expects a slow-paced, multi-year recovery, the Vale acquisition and growing demand for the company's products to start 2017 could force analysts to revise their earnings estimates higher.
A slipping and sliding water stock
Aqua America shareholders have little to complain about. The stock is up 73% in the past five years. However, it went sideways in 2016 and has lost 15% since July -- underperforming most peers. Why is Mr. Market raining on the company's parade?
The water service provider has steadily grown revenue from just $750 million in 2012 to $814 million in 2015 and pays a healthy 2.5% dividend that has grown 46% in the last five years. Moreover, record investments in infrastructure in 2017 will help to acquire new customers, retain existing ones, and lower costs for the company.
So, is Aqua America a bargain stock?
Metric Value Price to book 2.90 Price to sales 6.48 Price to earnings (TTM) 24.97 Price to earnings (forward) 21.56
Aqua America trades at a 190% premium to book value, which is sandwiched in between comparable peers, while the stock's price-to-sales ratio is significantly higher than peers. However, it also boasts the lowest P/E ratios looking back and forward, which helps to explain the premiums. When it comes down to it, investors looking at the company have to believe that it boasts opportunities for ample growth. Given its presence in states with aging infrastructure -- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and Illinois -- that assumption may not be far off from reality.
What does it mean for investors?
While investors may be drawn to the three beaten-down dividend stocks above, it's always important to distinguish between drops that were warranted by deteriorating business prospects and those that were the result of Mr. Market's moodiness. Likewise, looking at what may lie ahead for companies facing headwinds today could provide additional support for a thesis to buy what may appear as a bargain stock. Cameco Corp. and Mosaic have both encountered slumps in selling prices for the products they sell but could be due for a comeback in the long term. How long it may take for prices to recover is another matter altogether.
The post-Chavez Venezuela has created a time of political uncertainty under President Maduro. A recent seizure of U.S.-owned oil rigs is a strong sign to U.S. oil companies that their interests are at risk under this new administration.
U.S. oil
In early November, Venezuelan courts ordered the seizure of U.S.-owned oil rigs, declaring the vital role they play in the development of Venezuela. Grandstanding tactics that were focused on securing physical assets were common under Chavez. Such a bold step is the first move of this type by Maduro, leading many to wonder if this will be more common as his administration matures.
Two rigs owned by Superior Energy Services (SPN), a company based out of Houston, had its offices seized by members of the Venezuelan state police and National Guard. The Washington Times noted that "their argument was that we were practically sabotaging national production." Ownership of the rigs was assumed by the Venezuela-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela. The two units were hydraulic snubbing units from its facility in Anaco, Venezuela. Snubbing units are essential for drilling operations and are an alternative to wireline and coiled-tubing drilling techniques.
This is not the first time under Maduro that a U.S. oil company has had its exploration and production disrupted. In October, ships conducting a seismic survey off the coast of Venezuela were seized. These ships were under contract with Anadarko Petroleum (APC). The ships were flying under a Panamanian flag and were sailing in disputed waters that are claimed by both Guyana and Venezuela. The ships were escorted by the Navy to nearby Margarita Island. The crew was held on-board while an investigation was conducted. Venezuelan authorities claimed the ship was conducting unauthorized geographic surveys in their waters.
Under maritime law a nation has the right to safeguard its sovereignty in maritime areas. Anadarko was under concession with the Guyanese government to conduct the surveys. This move could reopen long-standing rivalries between the two nations. In contrast to Venezuela's vast oil wealth, Guyana is a poor nation that is not as capable of enforcing their borders or interests.
Venezuela is the fifth-largest exporter of oil to the U.S. While under Chazev, ExxonMobil (XOM 1.09%), Chevron (CVX 1.26%), and ConocoPhillips (COP -1.12%) had their assets nationalized -- operations still run smoothly. Venezuela plays a crucial role in exporting oil to the U.S. In 2012, U.S. companies bought 984,000 barrels of oil per day from state-owned PDVSA.
Other foreign oil companies in Venezuela
Rosneft has been expanding its presence in Venezuela for some time. For the next five years, Rosneft is planning on investing $13 billion in five projects. Lukoil, Russia's second-largest oil company, will sell shares of its Junin six block in the Orinoco Oil Belt. It is uncertain if Rosneft will buy all of the block in a joint venture with Gazprom Neft or just 8%. Either way, PDSVA will be a key partner in the operations of this block. The map below shows the location of the Orinoco Oil Belt.
Rosneft entered into a joint venture with Corporacion Venezolana del Petroleo, a subsidiary of PDVSA, paying $16 billion to pursue E&P operations. The Carabobo-2 field in the Orinoco Oil Belt is expected to produce up to 400,000 barrels per day by 2018. This is in addition to $20 billion invested in Venezuela by Russian state-owned companies.
China has also invested $48 billion in E&P since 2008, when the Sino-Venezuelan project Sinovensa -- a joint venture between PDVSA and China National Petroleum -- was formed. Many of its operations are in the Junin 6 block. Sinopec has signaled continued interest in oil speculation with a commitment to invest $14 billion in the Junin 1 field, which is expected to produce 200,000 barrels per day of oil. Development of the Junin 10 block is also anticipated to produce 220,000 barrels per day for an investment of $14 billion.
China's investments in Venezuela have extended to the further development of facilities that will ensure oil exports. Recently, Export-Import Bank of China agreed to loan state-owned Venezuelan petrochemicals company Pequiven $390 million for a new port. This is in addition to $40 billion already loaned by China for other projects. The increasingly uncertain supply of oil from Iran has made the development of E&P in Venezuela essential for Chinese growth.
Post-Chavez Venezuela
Chavez was critical of US FDI and openly courted foreign investors from China and Russia. Many of Rosneft and Sinopec's deals were the result of growing ties between Chavez and Russia and China. The increased presence of these two nations poses a growing risk to U.S. companies and exports to U.S. markets.
When Maduro took office, he wanted to open Venezuela up to more FDI in an attempt to offset the perception that Chavez had perpetrated. The recent problems that Superior Energy and Anadarko have experienced are more characteristic of previous regimes' strong-arm tactics and contrary to the purported direction Maduro is attempting to take. Will Venezuela revert to an older bias against America?
Investors should take into account that relations between China and Russia are stronger with Venezuela than with the U.S. The strong presence of Sinopec and Rosneft would create a formidable market hedge in crude oil pricing. This could inflate the value of the commodity, creating a bubble based on export bias. The unpredictability of Maduro could further complicate export pricing for U.S. markets.
CEOs of some of the world's biggest companies are fighting back against President Donald Trump's temporary immigration ban, calling it un-American and bad for business.
The heads of Apple, Ford and Goldman Sachs said that they don't support the executive order the president signed last week, which bans immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. Google said it is donating cash to organizations that support immigrants. Other companies said they will help employees affected by the ban or, in the case of Starbucks, hire refugees.
Businesses already have a complicated relationship with Trump, who has been openly critical of companies planning to build plants in Mexico or charge what he sees as too much for fighter jets. Some have announced hiring plans and investments in the U.S., saying they like Trump's plans to reduce regulation and lower corporate taxes.
But the corporate reaction to the executive order was strong, quick and harsh.
"This is unprecedented," said Bill Klepper, an adjunct management professor at Columbia Business School in New York.
Trump said the executive order, signed Friday, was necessary to stop "radical Islamic terrorists" from coming to the U.S. It included a 90-day ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen, and a 120-day suspension of the U.S. refugee program. The White House did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
It could be risky for businesses to speak out publicly, since Trump likes to fight back and criticize companies from his Twitter account. But public-relations experts said businesses have no choice, especially if the ban negatively affects their employees or customers.
"No company has gone out of business putting their customers and employees first," said Matt Friedman, co-founder of Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
CEOS SPEAK OUT
Executives at technology companies, which employ many immigrants, were some of the first to speak out. Tim Cook, the CEO of iPhone maker Apple Inc., told employees in a memo obtained by The Associated Press that his company does not support the order. "Apple would not exist without immigration," Cook said.
CEOs from e-commerce companies Amazon.com Inc., eBay Inc. and Etsy Inc. also said they did not support Trump's order, as did the head of video-streaming company Netflix Inc.
Coca-Cola Co. CEO Muhtar Kent said the soda maker was against the travel ban, and General Electric Co. CEO Jeff Immelt said the industrial conglomerate would make its "voice heard" with the new administration and Congress.
Ford Motor Co. said it does not support the policy "or any other that goes against our values as a company," according to a letter signed by the automaker's CEO Mark Fields and Executive Chairman Bill Ford. But other automakers, including General Motors Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co., were silent.
The auto industry, a frequent target of Trump's ire for moving jobs overseas, is walking a fine line, trying to avoid punishing tariffs and hoping Trump gives them some relief on corporate taxes and fuel economy standards.
And Goldman Sachs Group Inc., whose former employees are some of Trump's most trusted advisers, also pushed back.
"This is not a policy we support," said the bank's CEO, Lloyd Blankfein, in a voicemail to employees.
DONATING CASH
Google, the internet search company owned by Alphabet Inc., plans to give as much as $4 million to four organizations that provide legal assistance and other services to immigrants. The crisis fund will consist of $2 million from the company and $2 million in employee donations. Google is worried that Trump's executive order will harm many of its current workers and their families, and will make it more difficult to hire technically skilled workers from outside the U.S. in the future.
Ride-hailing app Lyft said it will give $1 million over the next four years to the American Civil Liberties Union. Lyft's co-founders, Logan Green and John Zimmer, said they "will not be silent on issues that threaten the values of our community."
EMPLOYEE HELP
Drugmaker Merck & Co. said it will offer legal advice and other assistance to its employees, as did furniture seller Ikea.
Uber, the ride-hailing app, said it will offer financial help to employees affected by the ban. The company's CEO, Travis Kalanick, is part of Trump's economic advisory group and said he will bring up the issue with the president on Friday in Washington.
Uber, however, already faced backlash on Saturday after Twitter users criticized the company and encouraged riders to delete the app for charging less than it could at JFK Airport in New York as taxi drivers had halted service for an hour to protest the ban. The move was perceived by some as an effort to profit off the protests as more passengers would need to seek alternatives to cabs.
HIRING REFUGEES
Starbucks Corp. said it will hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years at its coffee shops around the world and focusing on employing those that have served with U.S. troops as interpreters. But taking a position on political matters can be risky for companies; the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks was trending on Twitter Monday after the company announced its move.
CEO Howard Schultz said he plans to reach out to employees more frequently.
"I am hearing the alarm you all are sounding that the civility and human rights we have all taken for granted for so long are under attack," he said in a letter to workers.
__
AP reporters Mae Anderson, Candice Choi, Anne D'Innocenzio, Barbara Ortutay, Ken Sweet in New York, Linda A. Johnson in Trenton, New Jersey, Durbin, Dee-Ann in Detroit and Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.
Cyberattacks are a looming threat for which the United States is woefully unprepared, tech titan Eric Hippeau warned FOX Business Networks Liz Claman.
We have antiquated computer systems. We have norms that need to be updated. Weve got hundreds of thousands of employees who basically dont have the basic safeguards, he said.
Hippeau, Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau Ventures, said an executive order from President Donald Trump wont solve the nations cyber security problems and more concrete measures are needed to protect the nation.
On Tuesday, Trump met with cyber security leaders at the White House, and tapped former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as an informal adviser on cybersecurity.
We must protect federal networks and data, President Trump said. We operate these networks on behalf of the American people and they are very important.
Several government agencies in recent years have been hacked or have experienced attempted break-ins.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) suffered a massive data breach in 2015 affecting 21 million people whose personal data may have been stolen. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was hacked in February 2016 where an estimated 700K social security numbers were stolen.
Hippeau, a former Yahoo (NASDAQ:YAHOO) board member, said the Trump administration must thoroughly scan every critical system controlled by the U.S. government and cooperate with the private sector to fend off cyber threats.
A lot of the research, a lot of the new measures, a lot of the technology that is coming here to protect us, comes from the private sector and the tech industry, Hippeau said on FOX Business Networks Countdown to the Closing Bell.
Hippeau said despite the numerous cyberattacks against government agencies, the Obama administration did not do enough to prepare for the next attack.
You constantly have to be aware that you can at any moment be under attack. You cannot fall asleep at the switch. You have to investments, people, the best technology, he said.
Image source: Delta Air Lines.
For the second time in a week, a major U.S. airline grounded its fleet after its computer systems stopped working.The latest incident involved Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), which canceled 170 flights on Sunday and another 110 on Monday because its "essential IT systems went down" over the weekend.
What's going on here?
The issue at Delta Air Lines alone doesn't seem suspicious -- computers fail all the time. Butthere are two things that could lead one to wonder if there's more to this than meets the eye.
The first is that Delta isn't just some guy like me sitting at home who doesn't know a thing about computers.It has 83,000 employees. It generates over $40 billion worth of revenue each year. The point is, Delta has plenty of resources to ensure that its systems don't just "stop working."
The second piece of the puzzle is that Delta's issues come one week after a similarly ambiguous glitch brought down the computer system at United Airlines, a subsidiary of United Continental Holdings (NYSE: UAL). Like Delta, United Airlines has tens of thousands of employees and earns tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue.
While it's impossible to say for sure if there's a connection between these two incidents, as neither company has explained why their computers crashed, there's reason to be suspicious that they weren't simply innocent failures of technology.
The cyber-threat landscape
In the course of researching cyber-threats to banks, I spoke last week withJohn Carlin, the former assistant attorney general for national security at the Department of Justice and one-time chief of staff at the FBI. There are few people who know as much about cyber-threats today as Carlin, as is clear if you watch his appearance on The Charlie Rose Show here.
Carlin pointed out both to me and to Rose that cyber attacks are waged against the American government and companies all the time. At the FBI, they even have a room with an enormous monitor mounted on the wall that tracks attacks in real time.
One of the stories Carlin shared was about the time that the People's Liberation Army of China was caught routinely hacking into American corporations' computers to steal trade secrets. "One time they stole the pricing information from a solar company so they could price-dump," the former law-enforcement officer explained. "To add insult to injury, when they were sued for doing so, they then stole the litigation strategy from [the solar company] as well."
The purpose of the attack wasn't to bring down the solar companies' systems, but those types of intrusions are just as common.Hackers regularly break into systems and then bring them to a halt until the victims make ransom payments. Or, in the case of a sustained cyber attack on four dozen U.S. banks from 2011 through 2013, which was traced back to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, systems can be disrupted in retaliation for cyber attacks conducted by our own intelligence agencies, as news reports speculated at the time.
But what about Delta and United?
To get back to Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, then, it doesn't seem like an unreasonable stretch of the imagination to assume that the unexplained computer outages at the two companies weren't a coincidence at all, but instead the result of cyber attacks. Because airlines, like banks, are part of the United States' critical infrastructure, they're of particular interest to adversarial nations.
If this is the case, and it seems to fit what happened at Delta and United over the past two weeks, then it obviously adds another element of risk to buying and owning airline stocks that investors should keep in mind.
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Environmental groups said in court Monday that the Tennessee Valley Authority is essentially storing toxic ash from an aging Tennessee coal-fired power plant in a colander, letting pollutants seep into a major river in violation of the Clean Water Act.
In the bench trial that began Monday in federal court in Nashville, TVA responded that the Tennessee Clean Water Network and Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association can't prove the federal utility is polluting the water supply in violation of the law or its permits at the Gallatin Fossil Plant, 40 miles outside Nashville.
The trial follows a related 2015 state lawsuit by Tennessee environmental officials against the nation's largest public utility, which powers 9 million customers in parts of seven Southern states. The environmentalists don't think the state required sufficient changes from TVA at the plant to safeguard against contamination of the Cumberland River.
In opening remarks, environmental attorney Beth Alexander said the coal ash facility essentially didn't hold any waste for the first eight years it was in use, letting 27 billion gallons of coal ash seep from sinkholes into groundwater and the river. TVA filled some of those sinkholes, Alexander said, but many still exist.
"There's a direct hydrological connection between the groundwater and the Cumberland River," said Alexander, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is helping in the case. "Ash goes into the ash ponds, through the groundwater and ends up in the river."
In TVA's defense, attorney David Ayliffe said that the utility took effective steps to fix its leaks in the 1970s. Those problems are in the past, he said.
"There's no evidence of a karst pipeline extending up into the pond and sucking water out," Ayliffe said, referring to rocks that dissolve, including limestone.
The utility says it's investing billions of dollars in safer ways to store coal ash and other waste from burning coal across its operations.
That includes converting all of its wet coal-ash storage to dry storage, a decision made after a 2008 coal ash disaster at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant. More than 5 million cubic yards of sludge from the plant spilled into the Emory and Clinch rivers that year, destroying homes in a nearby waterfront community.
The Gallatin plant sits on a bend of the river, which extends almost 700 miles from eastern Kentucky headwaters through Tennessee to meet up with the Ohio River in western Kentucky. Nearby residents have private wells and the Cumberland River supplies drinking water to Nashville, about 40 miles away, among other areas.
In 2015, state environmental officials informed Albert Hudson, whose home is near the plant, that his well water met U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards. But they also said the water showed levels of the harmful chemical hexavalent chromium typically resulting from an industrial process were slightly above EPA risk levels.
The Southern Environmental Law Center, representing the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association, cites test of two water wells in court documents along with results that found the chemical in the Cumberland River near where the plant takes in water.
At certain levels, the chemical has been found to cause cancer in lab animals when they drink it in water, according to the National Institutes of Health and the EPA.
The environmental groups said numerous other materials in the coal ash ponds could also harm human health.
But TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said monitoring data show no impact on river water, or drinking water sources, from plant operations.
Trial is expected to last about a week.
Earlier in January, the annual North American International Auto Show was held in Detroit.In this video segment from Industry Focus: Industrials, senior auto specialist John Rosevear joins Motley Fool analyst Sean O'Reilly to explain what the NAIAS is and why it's so exciting for anyone who likes to keep up with the auto industry.
A full transcript follows the video.
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This podcast was recorded on Jan. 19, 2017.
Sean O'Reilly: Other than just being another auto show, what is the North American International Auto Show, exactly?
John Rosevear: This is the big auto-industry party in North America. Happens every year in January. It's where automakers in not just Detroit, but a lot of the global automakers, showcase models intended primarily for the U.S. market. One of the vehicles we'll be talking about, for instance: Toyotashowed off their all-new Camry.
This was last week, it was in Detroit. I was there for several days. One of the joys of this show for a media person is that all the auto executives are there and accessible. I had chats at considerable length with folks from Fordand GMand a few of the other companies. I learned a lot.
A lot of the big action at the show happens away from the big showcase debuts, which you might see on TV or YouTube or something like that, where they do have the thumping music and the lights and the big video presentation, and they roll out the all-new car or the concept car or whatever. It draws most of the world's automotive media, as well as a whole lot of Wall Street analysts. We also see tech-analyst types more and more now, as tech and auto are blending together. You see a lot of people from publications like Wired or The Verge or something like that at the show, which is very interesting. And, also, a ton of car dealers who want to see what's coming and schmooze with the manufacturers.
O'Reilly: Yeah, it sounds a little bit like the Berkshire annual meeting. You have the big show, and you hear Warren [Buffett] and Charlie Munger talk and everything but, really, the reason you go is for the side things, like at restaurants afterward.
Rosevear: Yes. There is a lot of that. There's also a ton of business done at the show. A lot of suppliers are there, and they may not be on the show floor itself. I was there for media days, but last weekend it opened to the public. They were off to the side somewhere, but they're having discussions, they sent a whole team to Detroit from -- who knows where? Germany, Korea, China -- different places where the suppliers might have their home bases, come to talk business with their contacts in Detroit. Not just Ford, GM, Fiat Chrysler-- but a lot of the auto industry has a presence, have offices, have design shops in southeast Michigan, because it's a global center of auto nerd-dom, auto expertise. It's where a lot of the experienced people are.
John Rosevear owns shares of Ford and General Motors. Sean O'Reilly has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Berkshire Hathaway (B shares) and Ford. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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When it comes to plane manufacturers, two companies come to mind:Boeing(NYSE: BA) and Airbus. But which one is a better buy?
In this week's episode of Industry Focus: Industrials, Sean O'Reilly has special guest host Adam Levine-Weinberg on to answer that question. Find out which company sells more planes, which comes out on top for customer comfort, which has the lead in fuel efficiency, which are the most important models for each company and what they specialize in, how the companies strategies have started to drift and what that means for the future, which makes a better buy for investors, and more.
A full transcript follows the video.
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This podcast was recorded on Jan. 26, 2017.
Sean O'Reilly:Welcome to Industry Focus, the podcast that dives into a different sector of the stock market every day. Today isThursday, January 26th, 2017, sowe're talking about energy,materials and industrials. I'm your host, Sean O'Reilly, and joining me todayin studio is Motley Fool contributor Mr. Adam Levine-Weinberg. Good morning, Adam. How are you?
Adam Levine-Weinberg:I'm great. Good morning, Sean. How are you?
O'Reilly: Nottoo bad. I got my coffee, got agood podcast companion -- we're good to go here.
Levine-Weinberg:Excellent.
O'Reilly: So it's been a little while since I've had you on the show, a month or two. You weregood enough to join me, we talked about Buffett's investmentsin the airline industry for the first timesince the '80s, when he did the preferred stock investment inUS Airways. Anyway,I wanted to get you in here andanswer the eternal question:who makes a better plane,BoeingorAirbus?
Levine-Weinberg:It'sa great question. We're going to slice this afew different ways.
O'Reilly: Iremember when I first posted this to you, and you were like, "Oh,that's a good one." Anyway,go ahead.
Levine-Weinberg:To start off,I wanted to say, safety-wise,both of these companies make very safe airplanes these days. There's really no difference. Both of them haveincredible safety records. Obviously, there are accidents sometimes. Most of the time,it's pilot error or some kind of human error. So, safety-wise,both of these companies knowwhat they're doing; they make very reliable planes. Whenyou getbeyond that, there's some really interesting comparisonsbetween the planes of both companies. We'llstart off with what'sprobably the most important for a lot of the Fools listening to thisshow out there, which is passenger comfort. Howdo you feel when you're on the plane? Is there space? Do you feel like you're cramped inlike a sardine? A lot of thatactually doesn't depend so much on the airplaneas much as it does on the airline itself,because the airlines have a lot of leeway to set up the plane the way they like.
O'Reilly: So they can move the seats,is what you're saying?
Levine-Weinberg:They canmove the seats aroundin their own configuration. There are some limits to that, butnot a lot. What's interesting is that, in general, Airbus planestend to have wider seats thanBoeing. And there's a few reasons for that. On the narrow-body side,these are the single-aisle planesthat you see flying all around the United Statesand on some of the shorter international flights,the Boeing 737is the best-selling planein history. The runner-up is Airbus'A320,which is their competitor. Andit just happens thatthe Boeing 737has been around since the 1960s,and Boeing keeps just redesigning it and redesigning it.
O'Reilly: Wow. Sothis is a 50-some-year-old plane now?
Levine-Weinberg:Whenit was originally designed, it was a small plane meant to carry about 100 passengers. And now it's gotten up to 150and even 200 passengersin many configurations. They made it longer; they have obviously upgraded of the engines several times; they'veupgraded all of the interiorsand the cockpits. But what they haven't done --
O'Reilly: Theydowngraded leg room --I'm kidding.
Levine-Weinberg:That's true,but again, that's up to the airlines. But what hasn't changed is the width. This was a plane that wasoriginally meant forrelatively short flights,so it's a little narrower than the Airbus A320, which was designed about 20 years later, in the '80s. The result is, generally speaking, the seats on a Boeing 737 are about a half inch to an inch narrower than the seats you'd see on an A320, and the aisle is often usually narrower, about a 7- or 8-inch difference.
O'Reilly: Whichdoesn't sound like a lot, but you're talking aboutthat on every seat. It adds up.
Levine-Weinberg:Yeah. Critics of the industry have said thatthe average weight is going up,especially in the United States --
O'Reilly: I was going to make a joke, like,it's interesting that the European plane has the wider seats; what's up with that?
Levine-Weinberg:Yeah, it's justfrom when it was designed and what it was designed for. The 737 grew into its current mission. Five or 10 years ago, Boeing was reallystrongly considering sunsetting the 737,getting a completely new design. But the problem is,when you think about the cost of a completely new planecompared to what it costs to upgrade onewhen it's already selling --
O'Reilly: There's no incentive, yeah.
Levine-Weinberg:They've sold thousands of these, looking out five and even 10 years. So there's just no reason right now.
O'Reilly: That'sso funny, becausethe joke is obviously, oh,you Americans and your big cars, andEurope makes the slightly bigger plane.
Levine-Weinberg:Yeah. You'veseen the same thing on the widebody side. These are the planes with two aisles that youtypically see on the longer haul international routes. The Airbus A330 and A350 were designed with 18-inch seats. Ifyou talk to Airbus, they'lltalk to you about how they love passenger comfortand they have decided that18 inches is the correct width,and the seat can't be any less than that or you're going to be uncomfortable,especially when you're trying to sleep, or juststuck in your seat for a 12-hour flight. Thefunny thing is that Boeing didn't intend to have narrower seats on its widebody planes, which are the 777 and the 787, which isalso popularly known as the Dreamliner. Those wereactually designed with wider seats. The planes areactually so wide thatairlines realized they could fit an extra seat in each row --
O'Reilly: Oh,here we go.
Levine-Weinberg:-- so that's what they did. So, originally, these were meant to have 18-and-a-half-inch or 19-inch seats,even wider than the Airbus ones,and now virtually every airline,especially the ones that are taking the airplanes nowas opposed to the ones that got them 15 or 20 years ago, in the case of the 777, they're allconfiguring them with an extra seat in each row. So, now, they have 17 inches of seat width, which is OK for a while, buta lot of passengers find thatuncomfortableif you're traveling for a really long time.
Otheraspects of travel, the newest planes from both Boeing and Airbus, sothis is the 787 from Boeingand the Airbus A350,they have some really innovative changesbecause of the new materials they're working with,they can keep the cabin a lot more humid than it used to be possible to do. They'vealso increased the air pressureso it's closer to the ground level pressure. Usually, it's pressurized now at about 6,000 feet instead of 8,000 feet. They've said that itgreatly increases passenger comfort,and can also help a lot with reducing jet lag. So,those are two big improvements that bothmanufacturers have made. But just based on the seat width alone,Airbus has a bit of an edge over Boeingin terms of passenger comfort.
O'Reilly: Got it. So I just took over an airline. I'm an executiveat an airline. I was completely sold by Buffett'sextremely modest investment in the sector. AndI am coming to you and I am talking to Boeing and Airbus,and I'm like, "So,guys, biggest cost is fuel,it's oil, it's gasoline. Oil prices are cheap right now,gasoline, too, it's actually been a huge boon for the industry, butthat might not last forever. Which of you guys is more fuel efficient?"
Levine-Weinberg:Yeah,this is another big point where the two manufacturersdisagree with each other andput out all kinds of statistics that are usually doctored in one way or anotherto show why their planes are so much more fuel efficient. The best people to talk to on this areactually the airlines,because they don't have a dog in the fight. Generally, when you talk toeither the airlines or the aircraft leasing companies,historically, Boeing has had asmall advantage in terms of fuel efficiency. It's not a lot --
O'Reilly: What do you mean by small?
Levine-Weinberg:We'retalking about maybe 2% or 3%,for a comparable generation of planes. So, obviously, a 20-year-oldAirbus plane is going to be way behind a Boeing plane thatjust rolled off the assembly line today. But for what they're building at the same time, they've beenpretty similar. On the narrowbody side, so, this is the 737 and the A320,historically, Boeing has had anadvantage, and that may have disappeared just now. One of the problems withBoeing having this really old design that it keeps reusing for the 737 is that it can't use the same type of engines as Airbus has beenable to use because the plane is very short. It'snot very high off the ground. So without making really big changes to the landing gearto prop up the plane higher, they can't use bigger engines. And those bigger enginestend to have better fuel efficiency.
O'Reilly: Yeah,just because of more surface area on the blades and stuff.
Levine-Weinberg:It'svery complicated science. The bigger enginecreates more drag,which reduces the fuel efficiency,but the engine itself tends to be more efficient, and thatusually more than balances it out. Boeing has found someworkarounds. It got pretty close. But Boeing has typically talked about itsnext-generation plane, the 737MAX,which is going to be available to the first airlines this year, asbeing about 13% better than theprevious generation, whereas the new A320neo, which is the version of the A320 withupgraded engines, that's about a 15%-16%advantage in terms of fuel consumption. So that alone probably closed the 2%-3% advantage that Boeing hadpreviously held over Airbus. So now, they're pretty much neck-and-neck on that.
On the widebody side, the Boeing planes arealso probably a little bit better, butit's pretty close,especially with the new A350,which is a new Airbus plane that came outa couple years ago. Then there's anupgraded engine version of the A330that will be availableearly next year. With those coming from Airbus,it's pretty much neck-and-neck. Andthat's really not that surprising,because these two companies are using the same enginesuppliers. And the engine,obviously, is the most important part of the planein terms of determining how much fuel it uses.
O'Reilly: Got it.Adam,fuel efficiency is a bit of a tie. Airbus has a modest advantagein terms of seat size,and again, that's up to the airline. Talk to me about the market. Boeing has long been known --if you think of the quintessential example of anAmerican manufacturing firm, it's either Boeing or [General Electric]. And GE sells the engines to Boeing, so it is what it is. What's the marketplace look like right now? What's Boeing's backlog? It's some enormous number, in the hundreds of billions or trillions or something.
Levine-Weinberg:Yeah,it's been hovering for the last few years in the $450 [billion] to $500 billion range.
O'Reilly: Ofall the future orders, they may or may not happen, butbottom line, they have this backlog of future orders. You hear, like,Qatar bought like $50 billion worth of planes from Airbus. So what does it look like today with the market in terms of market share and all that stuff?
Levine-Weinberg:In terms ofoverall market share, Airbus isa little bit higher in terms of the orders for the future. Butin terms of annual sales -- that'swhat's being delivered in each year right now -- Boeingstill has a little bit of an advantage. That willprobably, at least, it might flip at some point. Obviously, if Airbus continues to have more orders thanBoeing, then eventually it will be building more planes than Boeing.
O'Reilly: So future orders are higher for Airbus.
Levine-Weinberg:Exactly.O'Reilly: Was thereever a time where Airbus was way in the lead, or has Boeing been it for ...
Levine-Weinberg:This beingover the past five years,particularly since the A320neo went on sale, that's really whereAirbus has built up this advantage. For a long time,the A320s and 737s were splitting that single-aisle market prettyevenly, but Airbus was at a big disadvantage on the wide bodies. Now, they're even split or thereabouts on the widebodies, and the single-aisle planesAirbus is starting to gain an advantage. So, basically,when we look at the market,Boeing has really done some pretty innovative things in the way that the Dreamliner -- this is the 787 -- hasopened up a lot of new markets for airlines. Theybasically created a plane that is small on the widebody scale; it can seat,typically, 200 to 250 people in a three-class layout where you havelie flat, first class, and that kind of stuff. And it can still fly8,000 miles around the world,whereas usually only the biggestjets in the past were able to do that.
O'Reilly: Andthose are hard to fill up. That's the trick, right?
Levine-Weinberg:Right. What happened was,either you had to put all your flights throughone or two very big hubsto generate the traffic, or you had to sella lot of faresat really low prices thatweren't profitable. Great fortravelers; not great for the airlines,typically. So basically, Boeing has created this plane that hasopened up new markets -- 6,000- to 7,000-mile flightswhere it was never possible before toprofitably fly that on a nonstop basis.
O'Reilly: So that was a bit of a brilliant move on their part.
Levine-Weinberg:It really was.Boeing and Airbus had different philosophies.Airbus developed the A380, which is this enormous plane, two decks alongthe entire length of it, can seat 500-600 people. Their idea was,air traffic keeps growing at a really quick rate,it's doubling every 15-20 years,so we just need bigger planes. And that's true,except that Boeing said, "Wait,rather than having everybody continue to go through these hubs and justmake them bigger and bigger, why don't we let people go nonstop on routes where you couldn't go nonstop until there wasenough of a critical mass of traffic?" And so they had different philosophies.
The result is that,right now, Boeing has better coverage of the full market. They have their narrowbodies, which are the shorter-haul flights,usually less than 3,000 miles, and between 120 to 200 seatsat the most at the high end of the range. Then they have the small widebody with the 787, and they also have the 777, which is asomewhat larger widebody, which is more in the 250- to 350-seat range. Thatactually has a new version coming out that'sgoing to make it even bigger and stretch that range up to as many as 400 seats. Airbus, by contrast, they also are very strong, even stronger, in fact,on the narrowbody side,where they have, especially, the largest variant of the A320, which is called the A321, whichhas really taken off, seena lot of interest from airlines,because it reduces the cost per seatthe more seats you can put on the same version of a plane. The A321 is justbetter suited to that market than Boeing's largest narrowbody is right now. So Boeing kind of needs to respond to that,and they're very close, potentially, to announcing an even larger version of the 737 that would get itcloser in size to the A321. But, after the A321, there's a big gap in Airbus' lineup, where theydon't have a lot in the 200- to 250-seat range like Boeing does.
O'Reilly: Yeah. It'sprobably 20/20 in hindsight, but that seems like they dropped the ball there.
Levine-Weinberg:Yeah. They've talked about how they'vecome up with new cabin configurations for the A321, where you can cram more seats on it, but then that starts togive up their advantage in terms of comfort, because some of that comes from actuallycoming up with a better way of organizing the plane. But for the most part, it's shrinking seats, it'sshrinking in the bathroom, it's doing all kinds of stuff,shrinking the galleys, so that they can't serve food out of them anymore. It's really not as easy as Airbus' management has made it seem. So as a practical matter, most airlinesaren't going to take them up on the possibility of putting 220 seats onto an A321. It'sonly going to be the ultra-budget airlines that are going to do that.
O'Reilly: Let'stalk some numbers before we head out of here. Who sells more planes?
Levine-Weinberg:AsI said before,Airbus definitely has a lead right now in terms of the orders. Every yearfor the last few years, they have pretty reliablycome in ahead of Boeingin terms of orders. On the widebody side, both companies had about 1,200 or 1,300 orders in backlog,and those planes tend to go for $100 million or more. So,between the two of them, that's several hundred billion dollars of planes. On the narrowbody side,the numbers are actually even bigger.Boeing has over 4,400 planes that are in backlog just with the 737 and the upcoming 737MAX. Airbus has over 5,600. That's quite a bit ahead.
O'Reilly: This is a lot of planes we're talking here.
Levine-Weinberg:So there's definitely an advantage for Airbus,but the fact remains thatit's going to take Boeing seven years just to build all the planes that it has.Airbus, it's kind of overkill. It's great to have that many orders in backlog; it means that you can survive a recession where you might have orders dry up suddenlyfor a couple years at a time. Butunless that happens,it's not going to really matter so much,because Airbus doesn't have the capacity to build planesmuch faster than it's already planning to build them, which is less than 700 a year. So it has eight or nine years ofproduction already locked in. As a result,it's just not going to sell as many planes in the future, orit's going to have to figure out some way to build new factories or squeeze more planes out of theexisting factories it has.
O'Reilly: So, obviously, this is The Motley Fool; we'reinvestors. What do you see coming around the bend forthese guys, and what do you think of the valuationsof these companies? I have looked, Boeing is long --I cannot believe this company's return on capital and equity. It's like in the '90s, some years, 90% return on equity in a year. It's a funbalance sheet, and we can talk about that a little bit more another time. But it's got a 12, 13 multiple P/E. Airbus, it's a good business, but it's inferior by every measure. They're not free cash flow-positive most years. Boeing just throws off money like it's its job. Which stock do you like? What do you see coming around the bend for these guys?
Levine-Weinberg:I still like Boeing's stock. It has run upquite a bit in the last few months. Early last year, about a year ago, it had diveddown to the low hundreds,and it's risen about 15% since then. But I still think that Boeingcould continue to gain groundover the next few years. Right now, they have alittle bit of a transitional periodwhere a couple of their models,particularly their 777, which has been a big cash cow for them inthe past few years,demand is really falling off. But the reason whyis that you have a new version of that planewhich is coming out in 2020 --
O'Reilly: And they all know it,so they're not ordering it.
Levine-Weinberg:Everyone knows; they announced it several years ago. It'sreally hard to keep selling an old plane when everybody knows that a new, better model, more fuel efficient, more range, is coming out not that far inthe future. And it's also true thatright now, a lot of the developing world inparticular has been having troubleboth with a strong dollar,which makes it more expensive to buy these planes, and also just unsteadydemand, especially in places like Russia and Brazil, where you've had big drops off in GDP recently. So that'sdefinitely cut into the demand for these planes. But if you look out to 2020 and beyond, once that new version of 777 ramps up, Boeing is going to be, I think,in pretty good shape to continue growing its free cash flow.
O'Reilly: Awesome! All right, Adam.Thank you so much for your time!
Levine-Weinberg:Thanks for having me, Sean!
O'Reilly: Cannot wait tohave you on the show again. That is it for us, folks. Be sure to tune intomorrow for the Technology show with Dylan Lewis. If you're a loyal listenerand have questions or comments, we would love to hear from you. Just email us at industryfocus@fool.com. As always,people on this program may have interestsin the stocks that they talk about,and The Motley Fool may have formal recommendations for or against those stocks, so don't buy or sell anything basedsolely on what you hear on this program. For AdamLevine-Weinberg,I am Sean O'Reilly. Thanks for listening, and Fool on!
Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Boeing. Sean O'Reilly has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of General Electric. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
It wasn't too long ago that investors were deeply concerned about the outlook for Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE: TECK). Faltering commodity prices, sizable capital spending plans, and debts coming due in short order were a stiff headwind for the company's business and its shares. The winds, however, have begun to change and the forecast for Teck is starting to look a lot less risky.
Image source: Teck Resources Ltd.
Commodities at the core
There's no way around the fact that Teck mines for metallurgical coal, copper, and zinc. Thus its top and bottom lines are heavily influenced by the price of those commodities. The commodity price decline that started in 2011 had the exact impact that you would expect: The miner's revenue and earnings began to falter. In fact, the company's bottom line fell deep into the red in 2015 because of asset writedowns.
Image source: Teck Resources Ltd.
Teck responded like its peers by cutting costs and reducing capital investments. That said, it wasn't until commodity prices stopped falling in early 2016 that investors were able to breathe a sigh of relief. The company's financial results have started to look a lot better, too, even though they aren't what they were in 2011. For example, in the third quarter of 2016 EBITDA was nearly double the year-ago figure and cash flow increased by roughly 50%.
Commodity risk hasn't gone away, but the issue looks a lot less daunting than it did just a few years ago. And with the cost-cutting that's taken place, it won't be nearly as bad if the commodity rebound stalls.
The oil business
The commodity problem for Teck, however, was bigger than just the top and bottom lines. Shortly before oil prices began to tank in mid-2014, Teck approved the Fort Hills oil sands project. Teck owns 20% of the project with partners Suncor Energy (NYSE: SU) (roughly 50%) and Total (NYSE: TOT) (about 30%).
It should be a great long-term opportunity. Fort Hills has a 50-year reserve life and operating and sustaining costs are projected to be less than $30 per barrel of oil. However, it's not done yet, and when 2016 started investors were justifiably worried that commodity headwinds would make paying for Fort Hills a stretch. As the year progressed, though, Teck was able to prove that it had the financial wherewithal to support its share of the costs.
Fort Hills is expected to produce first oil in the next year or so and ramp up to full production 12 months later. With the project so close to completion, and roughly $3 billion on an undrawn credit facility in addition to around $500 million in cash on hand at the end of the third quarter, Teck's ability to pay for Fort Hills isn't in question anymore.
Pushing the debt out
The piece that ties weak financial results because of falling commodity prices and heavy spending for Fort Hills together is debt. And on that front, the company started 2016 with a lot of near-term debt maturities. However, it ended the year with no material debt due until 2019 -- after Fort Hills is expected to be producing at full capacity and Teck's capital spending should be lower.
Teck has done some heavy lifting on the debt side of things.Image source: Teck Resources Ltd.
In addition to extending due dates, however, Teck was also able to trim its total debt load. To put some numbers on that, the company's debt fell by 15%, year over year, in the third quarter of 2016. That represents a roughly $1.1 billion decline. Long-term debt, meanwhile, made up roughly a third of the company's capital structure at the end of the third quarter. That's not low, per se, but it is a manageable figure. So the company's debt problems appear to be soundly in the past.
A sunny forecast
A year ago, Teck was an investment appropriate for aggressive investors betting on a business turnaround. With commodity prices strengthening, Fort Hills nearing completion, and the company's debt picture materially improved, that turnaround has progressed at a fast clip. Teck is a lot less risky today than it was not too long ago. Better yet, every day closer to Fort Hills coming online reduces Teck's risk profile even more.
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When regulators looked into the "mirror" trades at Deutsche Bank, they didn't like what they saw.
A client would ask Deutsche Bank in Moscow to buy Russian blue-chip stocks using roubles, for example, then shortly after another would tell Deutsche Bank in London to sell the same amount of shares at the same price for dollars.
There was a steady flow of small trades, typically $2-3 million each, totaling about $10 billion of deals over about four years, according to regulators. The parties often lost money on the deals due to fees and commissions.
In fact, the two clients involved "were actually closely related", said the New York State Department of Financial Services, such as through common ownership.
The regulators established that the deals covertly moved money from Russia to elsewhere in the world in a manner that could have been used for money laundering.
"I have a billion rouble today ... will you be able to find a security for this size," the U.S. watchdog cited one party to a deal as telling a Deutsche Bank trader in Moscow.
The web of trades stretched from Moscow, London and New York to Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands.
Deutsche Bank , which has a large presence on Wall Street, said it regretted its role in the scheme and that it has since addressed shortcomings. It has agreed to pay a total of about $630 million in fines to the New York and British financial regulators.
The mirror scheme started in 2011, as Deutsche traders struggled with a slowdown in business, in the wake of a slump in oil and gas prices as well as the aftermath of the global financial crisis.
"Greed and corruption motivated the DB (Deutsche Bank) Moscow traders," said the New York authority.
"Traders conceded that they did not forcefully question these suspicious trades, because they were earning commissions at a time when trading had dramatically slowed."
"One trader admitted that the trader was largely 'focused on commission' during this time of 'slow markets' and continued these trades despite misgivings," it said.
LAX CONTROLS
The American and British regulators said the bank's controls had failed, but did not say top management was aware.
Checks on customers were lax and systems for storing such information fragmented, leaving the bank in the dark about who they were trading for, and where the money for the deals was coming from.
The UK regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said cost-cutting at Deutsche had reduced compliance staff between 2010 and 2012, leaving them "stretched".
The London office was responsible for the company's trading book, but it was "not aware of the identities of the customers that were entering trades into the book", the FCA added.
Deutsche Chief Executive John Cryan is seeking to draw a line under the bank's misdeeds in the wake of the financial crisis as it sought to carve and keep a foothold on Wall Street.
The settlement is the latest in a string of penalties that have hammered the lender's finances, including a $7.2 billion U.S. fine this month for the sale of toxic mortgage debt.
The fact the wrongdoing in Russia took place as recently as 2015 underlines the scale of the task still facing the CEO.
There were occasions when Deutsche was made aware that there could be something awry with the trades in question, according to the New York regulator.
In November 2011, a trade in Russia failed after the Russian markets regulator suspended the operating license of one of the parties involved.
Then in January 2014, a European bank, processing transactions from Deutsche, approached it to ask if it "had any reason to believe that the transactions ... are in any way of a suspicious nature".
The U.S. regulator said the European bank, which it did not name, received the following response from the German lender after sending repeated reminders: "Deutsche Bank sees no reason for concern here."
(Additional reporting by Alexander Winning in Moscow; Editing by Pravin Char)
Companies that gain access to students' personal information in schools would be barred from using it for targeted ads under a bill presented to Nebraska lawmakers Tuesday.
Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln pitched the measure to a legislative committee as a way to protect students' online privacy in schools.
The proposal would apply to companies such as Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft that are used in schools for educational purposes. It also would prevent companies from creating student profiles for non-educational purposes, such as providing credit or insurance. Companies could collect and use data only for educational purposes.
"Students today are very tech savvy, but they are also very vulnerable to targeted advertising," Morfeld said in testimony to the Legislature's Education Committee.
A similar bill received unanimous support from the committee last year but died because no senator designated it as a priority. If the measure passes this year, Nebraska would join more than 30 other states that have passed similar laws.
Personal information could include email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers, disciplinary records, test results, grades, health records, food purchases, political affiliations and other data.
Microsoft lobbyist Anthony Wilson said the bill sets clear ground rules for companies to protect students who increasingly rely on computers, smartphones and other technology to finish schoolwork.
"This imposes the obligation on the companies not the state, not the schools," said Wilson, who worked with other companies to draft a bill they all support. "It tells the companies how we're going to treat (student) data."
The issue has surfaced in other states as schools increasingly use online learning services and cloud computing. Mississippi's attorney general filed a lawsuit in January against Google, alleging that the company is violating his state's consumer protections law by selling ads using data from services it provides to schools. Google has not yet responded to the claim.
Nebraska's schools rely more than ever on electronic records to store information about students, said Renee Hyde, a representative for the Nebraska Council of School Administrators.
Student information is "not in a shoebox. It's not in a file cabinet," said Hyde, the assistant superintendent for the Papillion-La Vista School District. "This operational protection is extremely important for our kids."
Lawmakers may consider an exemption for Nebraska's community colleges, which frequently collect data from high school students. Greg Adams, a former state senator and lobbyist for the Nebraska Community College Association, said community colleges use data to recruit new students and promote dual enrollment programs for high school students.
___
Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte
Tata Motors' (NYSE: TTM) stock has been beat up in recent months by India's surprise demonetization policy and turmoil on the board of directors of parent company Tata Group. However, with sales ticking higher and some of the leadership question marks answered, the stock is beginning to turn things around and is back on the rise.
Data by YCharts.
What happened last year
India is one of the world's fastest-growing economies, surpassing 7% annual GDP growth for the last few years. That rate came under pressure, though, when the government's surprise demonetization policy wasannounced back in November.
In an attack on tax evasion, illegal business transactions, and counterfeit money, India pulled all 500 and 1,000 rupee notes out of circulation. Those two bills made up the majority of bills in circulation. The government is replacing them with freshly printed 500 and 2,000 rupee notes.
However, the move has caused a cash crunch in the country, especially impacting small family businesses and farmers. Data has suggested that larger industries have been affected as well. In response to the uncertain effects the policy would create, investors sold off Indian stocks, Tata Motors included.
Adding to the angst was the sudden ousting of the Tata Group's chairman of the board Cyrus Mistry. The sack of Mistry led to a very public argument between him and the Tata family head Ratan Tata, a feud that has since been taken to the courts. While that battle continues to smolder, the Tata family of companies has named a new chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, CEO of Tata Consultancy Services.
With the effects from demonetization starting to work through the system, and Tata hiring a new chairman, Tata Motors stock is starting to reverse its late-year hiccup. Helping it along have been strong business results.
Jaguar Land Rover sets records in 2016
Despite some of the negative headlines, sales were on the rise through all of 2016 for both Tata's Indian-based auto business and British subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover. For the India business, which sells cars and commercial vehicles domestically and exports to other Asian countries, the story revolved around rebounding sales after a tough 2015.
The new Tata Motors HEXA SUV was released in January. Image source: Tata Motors.
Demand slumped that year as an economic slowdown swept across emerging markets, especially in China. Things began to pick up in 2016, though, and Tata's sales were also helped by the Indian government's investment spending to prop up infrastructure development.
Jaguar Land Rover posted a best-ever year for sales as new model rollouts paid off big. The Discover Sport, new in 2015, had its first full-year of sales in 2016. For Jaguar, there were multiple new releases. The XF got a refresh, and the company also launched two new entry-level models in the XE and a first-ever SUV in the F-PACE.
Between the rebound in Asia and the new lineup of luxury vehicles, the Tata family of auto businesses had a great year, far surpassing the previous year's sales numbers.
Data source: Tata Motors monthly sales volumes. Chart by author.
Sales increases became much more modest by the end of the year, especially in the Indian business, but some of that can be chalked up to the demonetization policy. However, even including that headwind, sales continued to outpace 2015 at a healthy clip.
The 2017 game plan
The Jaguar I-PACE electric SUV will be released in 2018. Image source: Jaguar.
Looking to build on last year's success, the new year has more model releases slated. A new Land Rover Discover model is due this summer, and Jaguar will soon begin releasing more details on its first electric vehicle, the I-PACE SUV, due in 2018. Tata also has recently unveiled a new line of light pickup trucks and HEXA SUV for India.
The leadership situation has also gained some clarity, and India's demonetization efforts will continue to ease. If sales continue their "up and to the right" trend line, the stock looks like it will bounce back from its end of 2016 stumble.
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During an interview on the FOX Business Networks Varney & Co., former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft defended President Trumps decision to fire Acting Attorney General Sally Yates Monday night.
If a private lawyer abandons his client and doesnt resign, the private lawyer is subject to discipline by the bar. And, here is a public lawyer whose client is the United States of America, who has the best judgment of the Justice Department, the office of legal counsel, saying this is perfectly good stuff its legal, its constitutional, said Ashcroft. And she decides shes going to abandon the side of the United States in the courts, and not to resign. I think the President of the United States did the right thing in quote, resigning for her.
Yates refused to advise the Justice Department to enforce Trumps executive order, which temporarily bans travelers from seven Muslim majority countries for 90 days and halts the admission of refugees for 120 days until the Trump administration can rework the vetting process.
Trumps stance on immigration has sparked controversy and protests nationwide, even forcing former President Obama to weigh in, who claimed American values are at stake.
Ashcroft argues, however, there that there is nothing unconstitutional about Trumps decision, and in fact, it conforms with the legislation that has been acted on by a variety of presidents.
He went on to add that Trumps decision to fire Yates, instead of waiting for Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to assume the role of Attorney General in a few short days, indicates that President Trump is not going to be diverted by dereliction of duty.
Ashcroft continued, The President is on the soundest footing possible in this setting, and he deserves the support of his Justice Department.
President Donald Trump is set to announce his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday night.
Since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last February, the high court has been left ideologically divided, with four conservative and four liberal-leaning justices.
Trump, who previously released a list of 21 potential conservative judges to fill the vacancy, has reportedly whittled that list down to two federal appeals court judges: Judge Thomas Hardiman and Judge Neil Gorsuch. Here is a closer look at how the two potential picks have weighed in on issues such as immigration, gun rights and employer rights under the Affordable Care Act.
Judge Thomas Hardiman: The Law and Order Nominee
Hardiman, 51, was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia. He has widely established himself as a law and order judge, continually demonstrating his strong defense of the right to keep and bear arms, Ilya Shapiro, senior fellow in constitutional studies at the Cato Institute, told FOX Business.
Hardiman has an expansive view of the second amendment, believing the right to bear arms extends outside the home. In an opinion he wrote disagreeing with a New Jersey law that requires people to show justifiable need to be armed outside the home, Hardiman was alone in his opposition, expressing the view that the need for self-defense exists beyond the confines of the household. In a separate case, he held that even violent felons could regain their second amendment rights so long as they met certain conditions.
In addition, Hardiman notably ruled in favor of a New Jersey prisons strip-search policy, believing the need for security trumps potential inmates rights to privacy.
While there have been questions raised by conservatives about Hardimans views on immigration due to some legal work he did for a clinic called Ayuda early in his career--- when he helped poor, Spanish-speaking immigrants in political asylum and domestic abuse cases--- he has also written unpublished opinions against non-citizens.
I don't believe there's much in Hardiman's record to fully gauge him [on immigration]. Ayuda cuts both ways. It could help politically due to the concerns that Trump is anti-immigration, Philip Holloway, legal analyst at the Holloway Law Group, told FOX Business.
Democratic Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer has vowed to keep Scalias seat open indefinitely if Trumps nominee is not bipartisan and mainstream, but Hardiman may breeze through the confirmation process if history is any indication, said Shapiro.
He brings no ideological agenda to his tasks and so may be less like Scalia in that respect. He also was confirmed unanimously [to the District Court] and should face no significant opposition.
Judge Neil Gorsuch: The Defender of Small Government
Gorsuch was appointed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals by President George W. Bush. At 49 years old, Gorsuch would be the youngest Supreme Court Justice on the court in 25 years.
Similar to Scalia, Gorsuch is considered an originialist, meaning he believes decisions should be based on a strict interpretation of the Constitution, as it was originally written.
[Gorsuch] has a well thought out conception of Constitutional interpretation and the way that structure protects liberty. Hes most known for his opinions supporting religious liberty and pushing back on the administrative state, Shapiro said.
When it comes to the administrative state, Gorsuch is a proponent of small government. He is skeptical of doling out authority to bureaucratic agencies and allowing them to interpret the law.
He favors states rights and limited federal government and strict separation of powers, lawyer Wendy Murphy told FOX Business.
Murphy said this could be bad news for Trumps executive order authority because such an ideology disfavors executive orders.
Gorsuch is also a defender of religious liberty. In a well-known case, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. v. Sebelius, Judge Gorsuch ruled against the Affordable Care Acts contraceptive mandate, which requires private employers to provide employees with insurance to cover contraceptive costs. The companies in question claimed it violated their religious beliefs, and Gorsuch sided with the private companies and their rights to religious liberty.
Like Hardiman, Gorsuch may not ruffle many Democratic feathers during the confirmation process.
He was confirmed unanimously to the 10th Circuit and should not face significant opposition, said Shapiro.
Oenophiles from around the world may flock to France for pricey vintages but it turns out locals have been sipping something much sweeter-- and less expensive-- as of late.
To curb rising obesity rates, France has passed a new law barring restaurants from giving customers refills on sugary drinksthough the practice of offering free refills from self-service soda fountains has been uncommon throughout the country.
The law, which prohibits restaurants, hotels and catering facilities from allowing customers to top up drinks for free went into effect on Friday. The ban applies to all sweetened soft drinks.
SODA TAX MEASURES PASS IN 4 US CITIES
The ban on free refills is part of an all-encompassing new public health law passed a year ago.
Last year, the countrys Health Minister Marisol Touraine explained she wanted to prevent the free-refill policies common in other countries from spreading to France.
Though France has some of the lowest obesity and overweight rates among developed countries, statistics show the numbers have been steadily increasing. In 2004, French lawmakers voted to remove all candy machines from schools. And in 2011, the country passed a law mandating that school cafeterias only be permitted to serve french fries once a week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
We've seen plenty of weird Oreos over the years-- but now there's an alcoholic version of "milk's favorite cookie."
The Veil Brewing Company, a craft beer maker in Richmond, Va. recently debuted a sweet new brew they're calling Hornswoggler Chocolate Milk Stout with Oreos.
The brewery, which focuses on hop forward beers, high gravity and barrel aging, lagers, spontaneous fermentation, released the stout infused with Americas favorite cookie last week-- and quickly sold out.
To make the creamy concoction, Veil brewers said they took their 7 percent robust chocolate milk stout and conditioned it with hundreds of pounds of Oreo cookies.
In an Instagram post, the brewery says they've since been bombarded with requests for more of the Hornswoggler Chocolate Milk Stout with Oreos. The cans are gone but the brewery released a few limited-edition crowlers (an oversized, single-use aluminum can) over the weekend.
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The Veil Brewing takes dessert beer to the next level. 'Hornswoggler' Choco milk stout, aged on Oreo cookies. There's even icing chunks pic.twitter.com/z9FOqjRsQW Beer Street Journal (@BeerSTJournal) January 30, 2017
This isnt the first time beer makers have experimented with adding dessert flavors to beer.
Last fall, Ben & Jerrys teamed up with new Belgium Brewing to create a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale. The previous year, the brewery released a special edition Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale.
General Mills has also contributed to some pretty sweet brews. The cereal brand sent plenty of boxes of their Count Chocolua cereal to Colorado's Black Bottle Brewery in to brew their seasonal, Cerealiously Count Chocola beer.
Republican members of Congress met in Philadelphia last weekend for what was called a retreat. It might have been more accurately labeled an advance.
Perhaps not since the days of Franklin Roosevelts first term has so much been done by so few that will potentially impact so many (to paraphrase Winston Churchill in a completely different context).
Writing on CNNs politics page, Stephen Collinson commented: Forget the first 100 days. Its only been a week and Donald Trump is reinventing the presidency.
Given what conservatives consider CNNs hostility toward Trump, Collinson may not have meant it as a compliment.
There are so many issues from abortion (The March for Life featured Vice President Mike Pence, the highest-ranking White House official to address the march), reinstatement of the Mexico City policy, which forbids the U.S. from funding any group that provides or promotes abortion overseas, an executive order reviving the Keystone XL and Dakota pipelines, beginning the process of building the border wall, focusing on Christian refugees fleeing persecution and performing extreme vetting on people coming from countries that promote and even export terrorism (Saudi Arabia apparently excepted for some reason), ordering the deportation of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, increasing the number of border agents, instituting a government hiring freeze, a stop order on new regulations until they can be evaluated, initial steps to repeal Obamacare, withdrawing from the Trans Pacific Partnership, meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May and placing a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
With the mayors of so many sanctuary cities vowing not to turn over illegal immigrants to federal law enforcement, it is worth noting that the mayor of Miami-Dade County, Carlos Gimenez, has reversed a 2013 resolution by the county commission, which refused to indefinitely detain illegal immigrants without reimbursement.
As The Wall Street Journal reported, the Obama administration subsequently designated Miami-Dade a sanctuary city, even though the county challenged the label. Mayor Gimenez has now ordered county jails to comply with federal requests to hold immigrants, citing President Trumps executive order. It is a small victory for the president, who has threatened to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities that refuse to comply with the law, something some mayors swear to do when they take their oaths of office.
While Republicans were advancing in Philadelphia, Senate Democrats were retreating in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where they assembled to figure out how they lost to Trump and what they need to do to win over his voters. If Democrats return to Washington with the same failed ideas, they can count on further defeat.
In week two, the president encountered his first speed bump. The first court challenge to his executive orders came Saturday, reports The New York Times, when Federal District Court Judge Ann M. Donnelly blocked part of the presidents actions, preventing the government from deporting some arrivals who found themselves ensnared by the presidential order. It stopped short of letting them in or issuing a broader ruling on the constitutionality of Trumps actions.
Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia also issued a temporary restraining order affecting 63 people detained at Dulles International Airport... It ordered authorities to permit lawyers access to all legal permanent residents being detained /and said authorities are forbidden from removing the permanent residents for seven days.
Responding to the judges orders, the Department of Homeland Security issued this statement: President Trumps Executive Orders remain in place prohibited travel will remain prohibited, and the U.S. government retains its right to revoke visas at any time if required for national security or public safety.
This week, President Trump will nominate someone to the Supreme Court. He told David Brody of CBN News that it is a person Evangelical Christians will love.
It will be difficult to top Trumps first week, but dont bet against him. He isnt retreating.
Sally Yates deserved to get canned. Now, the bar association should consider yanking her license to practice law.
In defying President Trumps executive order on immigration, the Acting Attorney General flouted the law and violated ethics that govern lawyers.
It is not the prerogative of the Attorney General to decide what laws are constitutional. That is the job of the courts. As the chief law enforcement officer, she does not get to pick and choose which laws to enforce and which ones to ignore. She is duty-bound to defend and enforce all laws, including presidential executive orders.
If an Attorney General disagrees with an executive order, her ethical obligation under the code of Professional Responsibility is to communicate that to the president. If it cannot be resolved to her satisfaction, she has two choices: enforce the order or resign her position. This is plainly set forth in sections 1.13 and 1.16 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for the District of Columbia.
Yates did neither. Instead, she violated legal ethics by actively undermining the President and issuing her own order countermanding the President. She has no such authority. What would happen if other cabinet secretaries or federal officials committed the same acts as Yates? The result would be chaos and anarchy. The rule of law would vanish.
President Trump had ample justification for firing Yates. She committed an egregious violation of ethical standards and a serious breach of her duties.
Yates Is Not Qualified To Make A Constitutional Determination
Yates is not a constitutional law expert. Her career has been in prosecutions. But within the Department of Justice, there are experts on constitutional law. Some of them are in the Office of Legal Counsel at the DOJ. They reviewed the presidents executive order and gave it their approval as to form and legality . Yates deliberately chose to ignore their sound reasoning.
It is clear that Yates decision was political, not legal. How do we know? Look at what she wrote in her memorandum ordering attorneys not to defend the presidents executive order in legal challenges. She questioned whether the policy was wise or just. That is a political judgment. She fundamentally misunderstands her job and her duties.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that Congress and the executive branch have plenary power to regulate immigration. For more than a century the high court has upheld almost every federal immigration regulation against constitutional challenges. Much, if not all, of the Trump executive order is constitutional. Past presidents, including FDR, Truman, Carter and Obama, have excluded people from various countries that pose a threat. Those orders have survived legal challenges.
Why Would Yates Ignore Ethical Rules?
Either Yates does not understand the ethical canons or she was grandstanding for personal gain. The evidence shows it is the latter.
Consider the address she delivered in November of 2015 to the 10th Annual Prosecution Summit in which she stated the ethical duty owed to clients:It is your ethical responsibility to represent their interests, regardless of whether you think theyre really right or whether you even like them.
Obviously, Yates understands the proper role of a lawyer which means her recent conduct was likely done for political and personal profit.
As a holdover from the Obama Administration, she was already out the door in a few days. Her diplomas were probably off the walls and her boxes packed up. By instigating her own firing, she gets her face on the front page of every newspaper in America and overnight becomes a political darling of democrats and the left. That may pay dividends for her career.
But is a shameless act of self-promotion unworthy of a conscientious lawyer.
Schumers Predictable Condemnation
It did not take long for Chuck Schumer to get in on the act. Hes known on Capitol Hill as a guy whod walk a mile for a camera.
On the floor of the Senate, he called it the Monday Night Massacre, an obvious allusion to the infamous Nixon-era Saturday Night Massacre.
But the firing of one person hardly constitutes a massacre, Chuck. Nixon fired the A-G, the Deputy A-G, and the special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, one Saturday night in 1973 in an a futile effort to cover-up the investigation into the Watergate scandal that threatened his presidency.It was a blatant attempt to obstruct justice. There is no comparison to what occurred Monday night.
Schumer also called Yates brave and a profile in courage. No, she was unethical. There should be an investigation by the bar association and, if appropriate, she should be sanctioned. Severely.
A Promise Broken
In her 2015 confirmation hearing, Yates told the Senate Judiciary Committee, I believe the attorney general or deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and to give their independent legal advice to the president.
Yates did none of that. She never bothered to advise the president about her misgivings. Nor did she follow the law.
Upholding the Constitution does not mean interpreting the Constitution in your own way. It means upholding the rules of law and the system of government established by the Constitution.
The Framers who crafted that esteemed document set forth those rules in three separate Articles. Congress will enact laws, the executive branch will enforce those laws, and the judiciary will interpret those laws.
As Acting Attorney General, Yates chose to abdicate the duties of her office in the executive branch and assume the duties vested solely in the judicial branch. In so doing, she failed to uphold her sworn oath to well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office. She undermined the publics trust.
President Trump was right. Sally Yates betrayed the Department of Justice. And the American people.
President Trumps decision to upend U.S. immigration policies has set off a partisan firestorm, with my fellow Democrats (and some Republicans) expressing outrage. The administration and its supporters show no signs of retreating.
Amid the anger and political sniping, reasonable people are engaged in a quiet debate about one element of the executive order thats not been widely discussed: Trump seeks a new policy that ferrets out those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred and those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation.
For those of us who are progressively minded, the order creates an unexpected dilemma. While we reject a ban based on religion, we agree in principle that we dont want to accept bigoted immigrants.
In short, were taking a new look at an old question: What kind of immigrants does America want?
The polite answer is all of them, of course. The media mainstream and otherwise has gently reminded us that the Statue of Liberty calls for us to welcome the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
Thats a powerful argument. We are a nation of immigrants and our vibrancy is a result of immigrants sacrifice. Nearly every American owes their existence to these intrepid souls, including this writer; one branch of my family came from Britain in the 1600s while another came from the Czech Republic in the 1890s.
Still, most critical thinkers understand that that Lady Libertys poetic words do not translate easily to smart policy. At present, U.S. law automatically rejects a range of prospective immigrants from our land, like drug abusers, Nazis, or those who are likely to end up on welfare. We even deny immigrants based on health concerns or moral turpitude a fancy way of saying people who are quite naughty.
In other words, our country and constitution allow for Congress and the president to set and change the rules of admission based on the evolving needs of American security and American values. If that makes you nervous, it should: at times we have discriminated against a range of prospective immigrants under the guise of safety and good conduct. But the courts have largely stepped aside in that process to let the nation wrestle with what constitutes an acceptable immigrant.
That means that citizens have an awesome responsibility in debating and living our values to decide which people to admit. I for one believe that our country needs people of all faiths. Thats not a position of righteousness, its one born by experience. As a former CIA officer, I understand that having Muslim colleagues allowed the nation to better prevent wars, thwart terrorist attacks, and stop the spread of dangerous weapons.
Yet in my nearly 10 years of service, I also came to understand that theres a branch of Islam the Saudi Arabia-backed Salafi sect thats terribly sick. Even in peace, these Muslims reject democracy. They abuse women. They harass gay people. They destroy art and ban music.
Polite politics would prefer we not discuss these men and women. Instead, its easier and more politically correct to wrap ourselves in posters proclaiming, Were All Muslims. But smart citizens will not shy away from the fact that while most Muslims are peaceful, millions of religious fanatics embrace an ideology that would have the world live under Sharia law by force or persuasion.
And so I ask my fellow Americans: Does your embrace of immigrants extend to those who reject your values?
Let me make this personal. I am a gay man who grew up in rural Oregon. My parents struggled with accepting my sexuality in part because they believed that my lifes journey would be much harder than my straight siblings.
They were right. I have faced hardships because of bigoted people. But for the grace of God, hard work, and a family tradition of stubbornness, I have thrived despite the obstacles.
Each day, however, immigration lawyers and State Department officers allow people into this country that dont want me to exist. The result? I have to deal with more co-workers, landlords, professors, and bosses that have a bigoted commitment to block my already difficult path.
And its not just gay people. Salafists ban women from driving, obtaining advanced education, and wearing unmodest clothing. For instance, the hijab a covering that conceals some or all of the head and neck isnt just a cultural or fashion statement made by Muslim women. For Salafists, its a mandate. Women dont get to choose whether to participate.
I imagine this reality was lost on protestors during the recent womens marches and sit-ins at U.S. airports. But I can guarantee you it wasnt lost on Malak al-Shehri, a Muslim woman arrested in Saudi Arabia for the grave offense of removing her hijab in public.
For American women, this begs the question: who should we allow into the United States, Ms. al-Shehri or the religious clerics and police officers who imprisoned her? Perhaps both?
Let me be clear, I do not support Trumps executive order. It was flawed on several levels. Consider this: Saudi Arabia was left off Trumps ban despite knowing that ISIS uses Saudi textbooks to indoctrinate their children.
Still, there is at least one positive development from Trumps edict: Reasonable people are now debating and re-evaluating what it means to be an American. Were realizing that tolerance and acceptance arent just expectations that we have of each other. Theyre also responsibilities that our newest citizens must demonstrate to us in return.
So talk to your family. Discuss with your neighbors. Call your politicians. Accept that the discussion is bound to be uncomfortable; none of us like to hurt or offend. But if you lead with kindness, civility, and intellect, well each do our part to make this country a more perfect union.
Were all in this together, my fellow Americans. Immigrants included.
President Trump is expected to announce his choice to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Tuesday night.
Many Senate Democrats have already promised to oppose Trumps nominee, regardless of who it is, a sign that a bruising confirmation battle lies ahead.
Conservatives, on the other hand, are anxious to see if Trump picks someone in the mold of the iconic Scalia.
As someone who has read every Supreme Court opinion Justice Scalia wrote and highlighted the best of them in "Scalias Court: A Legacy of Landmark Opinions and Dissents," I urge people to consider the following ideas when evaluating Trumps nominee:
Parchment doesnt breathe. Unlike many of his colleagues who espoused the notion of a living Constitution, Justice Scalia said he liked his constitutions dead. The whole point of having a written charter, after all, was to bind future generations who might be tempted to toss aside important rights and responsibilities when the political winds shift.
Consider, for example, the death penalty. Although capital punishment is expressly sanctioned in the Constitution, a handful of recent and current Supreme Court justices have argued that it violates the Constitution.
This is madness.
As Scalia said, Congress and the state legislatures are free to prohibit capital punishment if they like, but judges cannot forbid forever that which the Constitution itself prescribes. Whomever Trump picks to fill Scalias seat should reject the idea that our founding charter is a living, breathing document.
Words have meaning. Justice Scalia was a textualist, but he was not, contrary to popular opinion, a strict constructionist. He believed that the words of a law should be interpreted neither liberally nor strictly, but reasonably; that is, according to the ordinary meaning that would have made sense to the lawmakers who adopted the law and to the public who would have been subjected to it.
This seems obvious today, but as Justice Elena Kagan said of Scalia, His views on interpreting texts have changed the way all of us think and talk about the law.
Unfortunately, even though Scalias colleagues learned to start with the text, they didnt always finish with it. In two separate opinions upholding ObamaCare, for example, Chief Justice John Roberts ignored the clear meaning of the laws terms in favor of interpretations he deemed more consistent with the laws purpose.
His contortions prompted Scalia to write, Let us not forgetwhy context matters: It is a tool for understanding the terms of the law, not an excuse for rewriting them. Scalias successor must be a textualist in thoughts, words, and deeds.
Protect fundamental rights, especially when they are unpopular. Justice Scalia had the courage of his convictions. Time and time again, he defended the constitutional rights of accused criminals and terrorists. Solving unsolved crimes is a noble objective, he wrote in one memorable Fourth Amendment case, but it occupies a lower place in the American pantheon of noble objectives than the protection of our people from suspicionless law-enforcement searches.
Scalia said the First Amendment protects the right of protesters to burn the American flag, a position that bothered many conservatives. He said the First Amendment also guarantees the right of corporations, political parties, and individuals to contribute money to political candidates, a position that bothered many liberals.
In todays hyper-partisan political environment, Trumps nominee must be willing to stand up for constitutional rights, even when they are unpopular.
Finally, dont be boring. The late Christopher Hitchens said his mother once warned him, The one unforgiveable sin is to be boring.
If this is true, Scalia really was a saint. Scalia brought life and laughter to oral arguments and wielded a pen like very few justices before him. One progressive law professor called him the best judicial stylist since Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Scalia seemed entertaining by nature, but his style served a serious purpose: people remembered his arguments.
As two critics once noted, Scalias memorable words articulated a vision that when placed in the enduring form of a written opinion, has the potential to shape doctrines and decisions in the near and distant future.
If Trump chooses wisely, the future is now.
President Donald Trump relieved acting Attorney General Sally Yates of her duties Monday night after she directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend Trump's controversial executive refugee and immigration ban.
Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, was replaced by Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Boente, 62, was sworn in Monday evening. He will lead the Justice Department pending the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump's nominee for attorney general, by the Senate.
An unsigned White House statement said Yates had "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States." The executive order, which Trump signed Friday, temporarily halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
Yates said in a memo earlier Monday that she was "not convinced" that Trump's order was lawful, nor that its defense was consistent with what she described as the department's obligation to "always seek justice and stand for what is right."
"I am honored to serve President Trump in this role until Senator Sessions is confirmed," Boente said in the White House statement. "I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected."
Approximately three hours after being sworn in, Boente formally instructed Justice Department lawyers to disregard Yates' earlier memo and "defend the lawful orders of our President." He said that Trump's executive order had been cleared by the Department's Office of Legal Counsel as both "lawful on its face and properly drafted."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that Yates' firing "underscores how important it is to have an Attorney General who will stand up to the White House when they are violating the law.
"The Attorney General should be loyal and pledge fidelity to the law, not the White House," Schumer said. "The fact that this administration doesnt understand that is chilling."
Late Monday night, Schumer took to the Senate floor, where he called Yates a "profile in courage."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., claimed in a statement of her own that Yates was "fired for upholding the Constitution of the United States.
"What the Trump Administration calls betrayal is an American with the courage to say that the law and the Constitution come first," Pelosi said.
Yates' abrupt decision deepened the chaos surrounding Trump's order. The Associated Press reported that at least three top national security officials -- Defense Secretary James Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department -- have told associates they were not aware of details of directive until around the time Trump signed it. Leading intelligence officials were also left largely in the dark, according to U.S. officials.
Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, said that despite White House assurances that congressional leaders were consulted, he learned about the order in the media.
The fallout was immediate: Friction between Trump and his top advisers and a rush by the Pentagon to seek exemptions to the policy. The White House approach also sparked an unusually public clash between a president and the civil servants tasked with carrying out his policy.
A large group of American diplomats circulated a memo voicing their opposition to the order, In a startling combative response, Spicer challenged those opposed to the measure to resign.
"They should either get with the program or they can go," Spicer said.
The blowback underscored Trump's tenuous relationship with his own national security advisers, many of whom he met for the first time during the transition, as well as with the government bureaucracy he now leads. While Trump outlined his plan for temporarily halting entry to the U.S. from countries with terror ties during the campaign, the confusing way in which it finally was crafted stunned some who have joined his team.
Mattis, who stood next to Trump during Friday's signing ceremony, is said to be particularly incensed. A senior U.S. official said Mattis, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph Dunford, was aware of the general concept of Trump's order but not the details. Tillerson has told the president's political advisers that he was baffled over not being consulted on the substance of the order.
U.S. officials and others with knowledge of the Cabinet's thinking insisted on anonymity in order to disclose the officials' private views.
Critics dispute the president's assertion that the policy is needed to keep Americans safe, noting that recent acts of extremist violence have been carried out either by U.S. citizens or by individuals whose families weren't from the nations singled out in the order.
The president has privately acknowledged flaws in the rollout, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. But he's also blamed the media -- his frequent target -- for what he believes are reports exaggerating the dissent and the number of people actually affected.
Trump has also said he believes the voters who carried him to victory support the plan as a necessary step to safeguard the nation. And he's dismissed objectors as attention-seeking rabble-rousers and grandstanding politicians.
After a chaotic weekend during which some U.S. legal permanent residents were detained at airports, some agencies were moving swiftly to try to clean up after the White House.
Homeland Security, the agency tasked with implementing much of the refugee ban, clarified that customs and border agents should allow legal residents to enter the country. The Pentagon was trying to exempt Iraqis who worked alongside the U.S. and coalition forces from the 90-day ban on entry from the predominantly Muslim countries.
"There are a number of people in Iraq who have worked for us in a partnership role, whether fighting alongside us or working as translators, often doing so at great peril to themselves," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.
Policies with such broad reach are typically vetted by affected agencies and subject to review by multiple agencies. It's a process that can be frustratingly slow but is aimed at avoiding unintended consequences.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers in Trump's party sought to distance themselves from the wide-ranging order.
While Spicer said "appropriate committees and leadership offices" on Capitol Hill were consulted, GOP lawmakers said their offices had no hand in drafting the order and no briefings from the White House on how it would work.
"I think they know that it could have been done in a better way," Corker said of the White House.
The executive order was largely crafted by Steve Bannon, Trump's chief strategist, and Stephen Miller, a young policy adviser and former congressional aide to Sessions. Spicer insisted the advisers had kept departments "in the loop at the level necessary," but he sidestepped questions about whether Cabinet secretaries were directly involved in the process.
Fox News' Mike Emanuel, Chad Pergram, Matt Dean, Lesa Jansen, Jason Donner and Hufsa Kamal contributed to this report. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.
The White House said late Monday that the countrys new acting attorney general, federal prosecutor Dana J. Boente, pledged to defend and enforce the laws of the country shortly after President Trump fired the former seat holder who refused to enforce his order on immigration.
Trump fired Sally Yates, the acting attorney general and an Obama appointee, in dramatic fashion after she refused to defend in court his refugee and immigration ban. The Wall Street Journal reported that Yates learned of her firing Monday evening in a hand-delivered note from the White Houses Office of Personnel.
The firing came hours after Yates directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend the executive order, saying she was not convinced it was lawful or consistent with the agency's "obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right."
In a statement, Trump said Yates had "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States."
He named Boente as Yates' replacement. Boente served in the Eastern District of Virginia and will remain in the seat while Congress considers the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., which could happen next week.
Statement on the Appointment of Dana Boente as Acting Attorney General: https://t.co/fkAWOmnrsP President Trump (@POTUS) January 31, 2017
Ms. Yates is an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, said in a statement. The New York Times reported that Boente was sworn in at 9 p.m. ET, but gave few details about who performed the ceremony.
I am honored to serve President Trump in this role until Sen. Sessions is confirmed. I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected, Boente said in a statement released by the White House.
Still, Trumps order has faced condemnation from executives at top companies, including Goldman Sachs and Coca-Cola. A spokesman for former President Obama said Obama is heartened by the protests.
Trump's policy decision temporarily halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
Trump's order pauses America's entire refugee program for four months and indefinitely bans all those from war-ravaged Syria. Federal judges in New York and several other states issued orders that temporarily block the government from deporting people with valid visas who arrived after Trump's travel ban took effect.
At least three top national security officials -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department -- have told associates they were not aware of details of the directive until around the time Trump signed it.
Leading intelligence officials were also left largely in the dark, officials told the Associated Press.
Mattis, who stood next to Trump during Friday's signing ceremony, is said to be particularly incensed. A senior U.S. official said Mattis, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph Dunford, was aware of the general concept of Trump's order but not the details. Tillerson has told the president's political advisers that he was baffled over not being consulted on the substance of the order.
Trump has also said he believes the voters who carried him to victory support the plan as a necessary step to safeguard the nation. And he's dismissed objectors as attention-seeking rabble-rousers and grandstanding politicians.
After a chaotic weekend during which some U.S. legal permanent residents were detained at airports, some agencies were moving swiftly to try to clean up after the White House.
You now have a president who really takes seriously the tremendous threat of international terrorism and is prepared to take steps that are very tough-minded and that are going to inconvenience some people, former Speaker Newt Gingrich told Hannity.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Congressional tensions flared Tuesday over President Trumps Cabinet picks and his executive order on immigration as Democrats forced delays for committee votes on three major nominees, including attorney general pick Jeff Sessions.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, announced Tuesday afternoon that his panel would push off a vote on Sessions until Wednesday, after lengthy Democratic speeches sidelined plans to take up the nomination by the end of the day.
That was after Democrats boycotted a planned meeting of the Senate Finance Committee, forcing Republicans to indefinitely delay votes on the nominations of GOP Georgia Rep. Tom Price to be Health secretary and financier Steve Mnuchin to head the Treasury Department.
At the White House, Press Secretary Sean Spicer called the delay tactics ridiculous.
The mere idea theyre not even showing up to hearings is truly outrageous, he said.
The Senate was moving on other fronts.
The full chamber voted Tuesday afternoon, 93-6, to confirm former Labor secretary Elaine Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to lead the Transportation Department.
Earlier in the day, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee also advanced the nominations of Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke for Interior secretary and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for Energy secretary. And a separate panel approved Betsy DeVos to lead the Education Department. The full Senate will still have to vote on those nominees.
But elsewhere on Capitol Hill, Democrats were locking up consideration of more contentious nominees.
In boycotting the Finance panel meeting, Democrats said they wanted more information on the nominees. They cited a report in The Wall Street Journal that Price received a discounted offer to buy stock in a biomedical company, which contradicted his testimony to Congress. They said another report showed documents revealing Mnuchin had not been truthful with the Senate about how his bank OneWest had handled home foreclosures.
Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said he planned to reschedule the votes but did not say when. He said Democrats "ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots."
Meanwhile, senators clashed during a lengthy meeting considering Sessions.
The conservative senator from Alabama was an early backer of Trump, and during his confirmation hearing he was dogged by allegations of racism something he strongly denies.
But his nomination was further complicated by the fallout from Trump's controversial executive order suspending the U.S. refugee program and restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. On Monday night, Trump fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, a holdover from former President Barack Obamas administration, when she defiantly refused to defend Trumps controversial immigration order. Trump said Yates had betrayed the administration by not carrying out the order and replaced her with Dana Boente, a U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Mondays firing and escalating tension over Trumps executive order made Tuesdays meeting on Sessions particularly contentious. Democrats ultimately were able to use an obscure rule to effectively force a delay in the vote for at least another day.
The committees top Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, earlier took Sessions to task and tried to tie him to the controversial order and the Trump administration, as she announced her opposition.
Not one order, idea or pronouncement is meant to bring this country together, they only serve to drive us further apart, Feinstein said. It is in this context we are being asked to consider this nomination.
Feinstein also praised Yates and said standing up to Trump took a steel spine.
That is what an attorney general must be willing to do, she said before adding she has no confidence Sessions would be able to stand up to the president.
Sessions has denied he was involved in helping draft Trumps immigration order.
Neither I, nor any of my current staff, had such a role, he said.
Two Code Pink protesters wearing pink shirts and in their 70s were dragged out of the hearing room after voicing their opposition to Sessions.
A separate Senate committee took up the nomination Tuesday of DeVos to head up Education. Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Health, Education, Pensions and Labor Committee battled over the charter school activist and wealthy Republican donors credentials, before the panel advanced her nomination to the Senate floor.
Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the committee, said it was clear that DeVos is "the wrong choice."
Murray charged that DeVos has spent her family's wealth to push "extreme anti-student ideology" siphoning money away from public schools "toward taxpayer funded private school vouchers, with little accountability, for just a few."
Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., pushed back. He said he didnt question the motives of his colleagues but thinks their concerns are misplaced.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Tuesday denied reports that he was kept in the dark about President Trumps immigration executive order, while defending the plan's implementation and vowing to carry out the order "humanely."
We knew it was coming. It wasnt a surprise, Kelly said, in his first press conference since the order on Friday suspended refugee admissions and temporarily restricted immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. We knew Friday morning that it was going to be signed."
Kelly, along with the White House, was trying to settle a firestorm in Washington over the rollout of the executive order. The night before, Trump fired and replaced his acting attorney general after she refused to defend the measure -- amid reports that Kelly and other top Cabinet officials were not fully informed of the order's contents in advance.
Kelly, though, said Tuesday he knew the ban could be coming as far back as 18 months ago when Trump was making it a campaign promise.
Specifically, he said that DHS lawyers participated in preparing the executive order, that he learned Tuesday or Wednesday the order would be signed, and that on Thursday he found out it would be signed the next day.
Kelly also said he had the opportunity to [review] at least two drafts, dismissing reports that he learned about Trump signing the order while he was on an airplane.
Within minutes of Kelly concluding his remarks, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the White House and DHS were working together from the start.
There was proper coordination and preparation, Spicer said during the daily White House briefing.
Trump's executive order includes a 120-day suspension of the U.S. refugee program and a 90-day ban on travel to the United States by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. On Saturday, the U.S. processed thousands of incoming foreign travelers in airports across the country.
Kelly also gave assurances Tuesday that he and his agents would execute the order humanely and with professionalism.
We cannot gamble with American lives, said Kelly, who also made clear that the temporary ban on immigration from the seven countries and on the U.S. accepting Syrian refugees is not a ban on Muslims.
The vast majority of Muslims living on this planet have access to the United States. A small number is being help up temporarily, said Kelly, suggesting a major problem is getting good information from the seven countries to verify who these people say they are.
Kelly was joined at the press conference by Kevin McAleenan, the acting Customs and Border Protection commissioner, who said the agencys top officials, upon getting guidance from the White House, immediately began making calls, providing written guidance to field agents and contacting stakeholders, particularly the airlines.
He also said 872 refugees will be allowed into the U.S. despite the order, under individual waivers.
McAleenan pledged his agencys commitment to carrying out the executive order and said he had no knowledge of insubordinate agents.
However, McAleenan acknowledged that the communication hasn't been great in the initial hours of this rollout."
One of President Trumps former aides said Monday that the U.S. will pull out of the landmark Paris climate pact within the coming days.
Myron Ebell, who helped the Trump administrations Environmental Protection Agency transition, told reporters that Trump was determined to undo Barack Obamas climate change initiatives.
I expect Donald Trump to be very assiduous in keeping his promises, despite all of the flack he is going to get from his opponents, Ebell said, according to London's The Independent. He could do it by executive order tomorrow, or he could wait and do it as part of a larger package. There are multiple ways and I have no idea of the timing.
Ebell, a climate change skeptic, helped review the EPAs work during the Trump transition.
The U.S. is one of 194 countries who signed the Paris climate agreement in April 2016. The pact aimed to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."
Trump, who once stated that climate change was a hoax created by the Chinese, previously stated that he would keep an open mind on the climate deal.
Trumps secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson, a former ExxonMobil executive, said during his confirmation hearing that the U.S. would be better served by being at that table than leaving that table. Ebell said Tillerson would lose the fight over leaving the Paris agreement.
the president was elected and Rex Tillerson was appointed by the president, so I would guess that the president would be the odds-on favorite to win any disagreement over climate policy."
Pulling out of the Paris deal might be the more difficult route. A Trump transition official told Reuters last year the administration could opt to pull out of the 1992 parent treaty of the deal which would void the U.S. involvement in both agreements.
European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic, who helped broker the Paris agreement, told Reuters he hoped Trump would agree to keep the U.S. in the deal.
"I wouldn't hide that in discussion with our partners; there is a lot of anxiety over future U.S. policies.
"If the (U.S) administration decides to go in a different direction, I think sooner or later they will have to come back to the realization that climate change is happening."
Any country that leaves the Paris deal would have to wait four years to get back in.
Click for more from the Independent.
If there is one word that sums up the medias coverage of President Trumps temporary ban on refugees and visas, it would be chaos.
The impression of chaos was fueled by long lines and protests at airports, and deepened by reports about top administration officials who didnt know about the final order.
But the rocky rollout should not be conflated with the merits of the policy itself, which is something Trump repeatedly promised to do during the campaign. It was always going to be hugely controversial, but it is also billed as a temporary measure to tighten vetting against potential terrorists.
The knives were out for Stephen Miller, the campaign speechwriter turned domestic policy chief, who played a key role in drafting the orders, a process supervised by Steve Bannon (who drew some flak over the announcement that hell be attending some NSC meetings).
Joe Scarborough went off on Miller on MSNBC, saying he is too young and inexperienced to understand the importance of consulting other agencies: And by the time youre 35, maybe youll know how Washington and the White House really works, Scarborough said. If youre still around. I hope youre not, because this weekend was a disgrace and its all on your shoulders.
Miller defended the approach on CBS This Morning, saying anytime you do anything hugely successful that challenges a failed orthodoxy, you're going to see protest. In fact, if nobody's disagreeing with what you're doing, then youre probably not doing anything that really matters in the scheme of things.
But Miller doesnt make the final decisions; the president does.
In the larger picture, there are two sides to this emotional debate. Whats been overshadowed is the need for better vetting to stop terrorists from coming into this country by posing as refugees or overstaying their visas.
Also overshadowed: that President Obama banned Iraqi refugees for six months in 2011 (though the parallels are not exact), and that the seven predominantly Muslim countries covered by the order were identified by the Obama administration.
But the orders also extended to green card holders, who after extensive review are deemed legal U.S. residents, and the White House seems to have walked that back.
On the Sunday shows, Kellyanne Conway and Sean Spicer made the point that 109 people were detained out of the 325,000 traveling that day.
What buttresses the impression that the whole thing was badly rushed is stories like this one in the New York Times, reporting that Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly learned about the final order while on a conference call during a flight from Miami: Halfway into the briefing, someone on the call looked up at a television in his office. The president is signing the executive order that were discussing, the official said, stunned.
Trump tweeted yesterday that if the ban were announced with a one week notice, the bad would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad dudes out there!
Politico Magazines editor-in-chief calls this an international mess and a political embarrassment in a piece headlined President Trumps First Defeat. A defeat? Just because its triggered lawsuits and protests (the latter endorsed in the first statement by former president Obama) doesnt make the ban a failure.
Here are assessments from the right and the left, starting with National Review:
The instant backlash, which has culminated in thousands of protesters creating chaos at the nations airports, is the result more of knee-jerk emotion than a sober assessment of Trumps policy.
After citing the Obama precedents, the piece says: Trumps order displays much of the amateurism that dominated his campaign. There seems to have been no guidance provided by the White House and the Department of Homeland Security to the officials nationwide who would be responsible for executing the order; and on Saturday, as refugees were being detained at airports across the country, it was reported that local officials were struggling to contact Customs and DHS higher-ups.
On the other side, Slate says the order gravely threatens not only American values but also U.S. security interestsAmerican armed forces, after all, are conducting military operations of some sortfrom ground combat and airstrikes to special-operations missionsin all but one of those seven countries (Iran). The local soldiers theyre fighting alongside or advisingand the local people who are tolerating their presenceare likely to turn distrustful, possibly hostile, if the American president is telling them that under no circumstances will they be allowed to come into our country because they might be terrorists.
In other words, with this orderwhich has come under major protest from citizens, judges, and many legislatorsTrump is making it harder to defeat ISIS by telling the allies and main forces in that fight that they arent good enough to set foot in America.
With lawsuits being filed and Democrats up in arms, this debate will continue to play out. But it will be pushed lower on the media radar tonight when Trump announces his Supreme Court nominee, and I doubt the hastening of that announcement is an accident.
New York Citys Mayor Bill de Blasio said in an interview Monday that he would categorize drunk driving that doesnt lead to any other negative outcome a minor offense.
DeBlasio was asked on CNN about New Yorks stance as a sanctuary city and its refusal to turn over illegal immigrants who commit minor offenses.
He said that he did not want to see families torn apart over something very minor. He was asked if he considered grand larceny and drunk driving a very minor offense.
Nothing minor when drunk driving kills or injures 300,000 people every year. That is a slap in the face to victims. @MayorDeblasio MADD (@MADDOnline) January 30, 2017
Drunk driving that doesnt lead to any other negative outcome, I could define as that, he said.
The New York Daily News reported that Mothers Against Drunk Driving railed against his comments.
There is nothing minor when drunk driving kills or injures 300,000 people every year, said the groups director. Drunk driving is always a major offense and we should never minimize the impact it has on families and victims.
In New York, Trump's hometown, city officials said the administration's action could take away over $150 million in law enforcement funding mainly for counterterrorism efforts, protecting international missions and dignitaries and, arguably, safeguarding Trump Tower, city officials said.
"Here in New York City and in cities across this nation, this order could in fact undermine public safety," de Blasio said at a news conference Wednesday evening a concern echoed by District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser.
While there is no formal definition of the term "sanctuary city," it generally refers to jurisdictions that do not cooperate with federal immigration officials.
In some cases, these cities tell police not to inquire about the immigration status of those they encounter, or they decline requests from immigration officials to keep defendants in custody while they await deportation.
Others say they do cooperate with such "detainer" requests as long as they're backed by court-issued warrants, but won't allow local officers to enforce federal immigration law.
Advocates say such noncooperation policies protect people who may not have exhausted their rights to apply for U.S. residency. They also say that crime victims and witnesses are more likely to cooperate with police if they are not afraid of being deported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
President Trumps selection for attorney general once questioned Sally Yates during a confirmation hearing in 2015 about whether the role of an attorney general was simply follow marching orders from the sitting president.
If the views the president wants to execute is unlawful, should the attorney general or deputy attorney general say no? Sessions asked.
Senator, I believe the attorney general or the deputy attorney general has the obligation to follow the law and the Consitution and to give their independent legal advice to the president, she responded.
Trump relieved acting Attorney General Yates of her duties Monday night after she directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend Trump's controversial executive refugee and immigration ban.
Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, was replaced by Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Boente, 62, was sworn in Monday evening. He will lead the Justice Department pending the confirmation of Sessions, Trump's nominee for attorney general, by the Senate.
Yates said in a memo earlier Monday that she was "not convinced" that Trump's order was lawful, nor that its defense was consistent with what she described as the department's obligation to "always seek justice and stand for what is right."
An unsigned White House statement said Yates had "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States." The executive order, which Trump signed Friday, temporarily halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
The March 24, 2015 confirmation hearing video was posted on C-SPAN. It contained footage from the Senate Judiciary Committees hearing to consider Yates for deputy attorney general, the departments second-highest position.
Some families of those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks spoke out Tuesday against President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries.
In announcing the temporary ban last week, Trump referenced the 2001 attacks and said the measure was about national security. But a group of those whose loved ones were killed say the ban, which also bars refugees, is wrong.
Terry McGovern, whose mother, Ann, was killed at the World Trade Center, said she was "sickened" by Trump's reference to Sept. 11.
"I, for one, am really tired of the exploitation of 9/11 for agendas that have nothing to do with our loved ones," she said.
Trump's executive order temporarily blocks immigrants and visitors from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. It does not include any of the countries where the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon.
Other Sept. 11 families support the ban. Debra Burlingame, who lost her brother Charles, said she thought it was smart to have scrutiny of anyone who wants to come to the United States.
"This is all for our protection," she said, adding that she didn't have a problem even with U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents undergoing scrutiny.
"I'm for more security, not for less," she said.
The Trump administration reportedly will allow 872 refugees into the U.S. despite an executive order signed Friday temporarily suspending the entry of refugees from predominantly Muslim nations into the country, according to a Homeland Security document.
A Homeland Security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters on Monday that the particular refugees had already been considered in transit and were cleared for resettlement before the ban took place. Its unclear if additional waivers will be granted.
The hundreds refugees set to be placed in the U.S. this week were screened under the Obama administration. The process usually takes about two years and includes several rounds of questioning and a background check.
According to Reuters, the waivers were granted by Homeland Security and the State Department. It comes after a wave of protests over the weekend against Trumps executive order. More than 100 travelers from the countries included in the travel ban, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen, were detained, deported or blocked from boarding flights to the U.S.
The document reportedly stated that between Friday and Monday, about 348 visa holders were prevented from boarding flights to the U.S. More than 200 people who landed in the U.S. were denied entry. Over the same time period, more than 700 were questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in airports including 394 legal U.S. residents.
Monday night, Trump relieved acting Attorney General Sally Yates of her duties after she directed the Justice Department attorneys not to defend Trump's controversial executive refugee and immigration ban.
Yates, a holdover from the Obama Administration, was replaced by Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Boente, 62, was sworn in Monday evening. He will lead the Justice Department pending the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump's nominee for attorney general, by the Senate.
Click for more from Reuters.
An acting attorney general who ignores executive orders, a Secret Service agent who wont risk her life for the President and federal employees tweeting photos of crowds to embarrass the commander in chief: These cases of an anti-Trump bureaucracy could just be the tip of the iceberg looming before the new administration.
Federal employees know new presidents mean new agendas to carry out, but the broad philosophical differences between the Obama and Trump administrations mean more clashes are likely coming, say Washington veterans. Driving the conflict, they say, is an administrative layer that lies between entrenched political appointees and entrenched civil servants.
We had to deal with political appointees trying to burrow themselves into the federal civil service -- these are the people who are hostile to the presidents agenda, said Robert Moffit, a former assistant director of the office of Personnel Management in the Reagan administration and now a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. The bureaucracy is often resistant to change, so President Trump needs to make sure the agencies are properly staffed with career civil servants and political appointees to ensure his agenda can be properly and fully executed.
On Monday, the White House fired Obama holdover Sally Yates from her role as acting U.S. attorney general just hours after she directed Department of Justice attorneys not to defend President Trumps executive order calling for a temporary ban on refugees and immigrants from seven designated countries. It should never have come to that, according to Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Andrew Napolitano, who said Yates had a duty to resign or defer to a subordinate if she could not carry out orders.
TRUMP FIRES ACTING AG AFTER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT STAFF TOLD NOT TO DEFEND REFUGEE ORDER
Sally Yates is a highly regarded lawyer, but this was intolerable, Napolitano said. Instead of going out quietly with cake and candles, she thumbed her nose at the President of the United States, and he properly fired her.
It was just the latest, high-profile example of hostility between bureaucratic agencies and the White House as President Trump embarked on the second week of his presidency. Last week, reports surfaced that Denver Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Kerry OGrady posted a message on Facebook last year saying she would go to jail rather than take a bullet for Trump. Grady has since been placed on administrative leave.
The Interior Department was forced by the Trump administration to close its official Twitter accounts last week, reportedly in response to the National Park Service retweeting two unflattering posts about the size of the crowd at Trumps inauguration.
Dozens of unofficial Twitter accounts have cropped up, many borrowing the names and logos of federal agencies, to protest Trump. One alleged NASA account described itself as The unofficial Resistance team of NASA, and another that claims ties to the Environmental Protection Agency, notes in its bio that Environmental conditions may vary from alternative facts.
And on Tuesday, 900 State Department officials reportedly signed an internal dissent memo critical of Trumps immigration order, the same order Yates declined to enforce.
While those incidents were anecdotal, transitions far less polarizing than the one currently taking place have generated conflict between the incoming administration and the bureaucracy. Trumps vow to drain the swamp, which appears to apply to both the bureaucracy and the hold lobbyists have on lawmakers, is no novel concept, according to Karl Rove, a Fox News contributor and former senior adviser to President George W. Bush.
This is Trumps colorful way of putting it, Rove said. Each president comes in with the intent to clean the stables.
Last week, political appointees in top security posts within the State Department resigned, causing concern for some former employees.
No, this was not some protest by State Department officials against President Trump. But when you ask people to leave their jobs and there is no timeline in sight for when theyll be filled, its concerning, said Fox News Contributor and former State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf. Its just the latest blow in a series of things that have happened that makes career diplomats very nervous.
SECRET SERVICE VETS SHOCKED AT AGENT'S CLAIM SHE WON'T TAKE A BULLET FOR TRUMP
Harf was referring to some of the actions taken by President Trump in the opening days of his administration against bureaucratic agencies -- such as his freeze on most federal hiring and muzzling of agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency in an effort to purge their government websites of any remnants of policy from the Obama administration.
There is a lot of rhetoric about the federal workforce and this notion that bureaucrats arent playing an important role and its very disheartening, Harf told Fox News.
Georgetown Political Science Prof. Lynn Ross, who worked for the federal government for 15 years, said transitions are typically tense but that incoming appointees have to learn to work with the holdovers.
There is a natural tension that exists and its typically because the party is changing, Ross, who experienced the transition from Clinton to Bush while working in the Office of Management and Budget, told Fox News. But we know that political appointees usually end up relying on civil servants to teach them how to be successful managers within the U.S. executive branch.
Dennis Riley, author of Controlling the Federal Bureaucracy, agreed, but said bureaucrats with rigid beliefs can find themselves in a difficult position, while those with more flexible agendas can flourish.
Bureaucrats greatest weapons are knowledge and time, but of course, some like those in the EPA, could feel their time is running out, Riley told Fox News. If their policies are in line with what he wants, it really can increase their bureaucratic status.
A source within the DOJ told Fox News that the career civil servants are the backbone of government.
They are the ones who keep the train on the track, regardless of who the conductor is, the source said.
But Moffit told Fox News that if those civil servants are not in line with the presidents agenda, it is best that they leave.
I applaud people leaving their posts if they dont think in good conscience they can carry out the presidents policies, Moffit said. That is much better than staying in the civil service and trying to undermine the will of the president and the American people.
Hours after he sacked the acting attorney general for refusing to defend his immigration order, President Trump took to Twitter to hammer Senate Democrats for slow-walking the confirmation process of his nominee to head the Justice Department.
The Senate Judiciary Committee was set to meet Tuesday morning regarding Sen. Jeff Sessions nomination to be attorney general. But Sessions' initial hearing was all the way back on Jan. 10, and only a handful of Trumps Cabinet picks have been voted on, a dozen days into his presidency.
When will the Democrats give us our Attorney General and rest of Cabinet! They should be ashamed of themselves! No wonder D.C. doesnt work! Trump tweeted Tuesday morning.
SESSIONS ONCE GRILLED YATES ON SAYING 'NO' TO PRESIDENT
Trump fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday evening after the Obama administration holdover refused to defend Trumps controversial executive order placing restrictions on immigration. He replaced Yates with Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; but Boente is only a placeholder until and if Sessions is confirmed.
Trump also used his early-morning tweeting to hammer Democrats namely House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer who protested his executive order on Monday.
Nancy Pelosi and Fake Tears Chuck Schumer held a rally at the steps of The Supreme Court and mic did not work (a mess)-just like Dem party! he tweeted.
Pelosi's spokesperson shot back at Trump later Tuesday morning.
"The mic briefly didnt work, but this thin-skinned President clearly heard the voices of the more than 250 Members of Congress and thousands of others who gathered outside the Supreme Court last night," spokesman Drew Hammill said in a statement. "The Presidents immoral executive order is clearly unconstitutional no matter how many times he tweets or how many Administration officials he fires."
The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Tuesday, at the request of the United States, to discuss Irans latest ballistic missile test.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said Monday it wanted the U.N.s most powerful body to talk about Sundays launch of a medium-range missile, which defies U.N. sanctions. Ambassador Nikki Haley took part in the meeting.
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Dannon called for the Security Council to act immediately in response to these Iranian actions which endanger not only Israel, but the entire Middle East.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said earlier that he did not know the "exact nature" of the test and expected to have more information later.
Irans missile test, the first under Donald Trumps presidency, occurred Sunday at a well-known test site outside Semnan, about 140 miles east of Tehran, Fox News was first to learn.
The Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile flew 600 miles before exploding, in a failed test of a reentry vehicle, officials said. Iran defense minister Brigadier Gen. Hossein Dehqan said in September that Iran would start production of the missile.
TRUMP DEFENDS ORDER FOR VISA CRACKDOWN, REFUGEE HALT: 'WE CAN'T TAKE CHANCES'
U.N. resolution 2231 -- put in place days after the Iran nuclear deal was signed -- calls on the Islamic Republic not to conduct such tests. However, this is at least Iran's second such test since July. The resolution bars Iran from conducting ballistic missile tests for eight years and went into effect July 20, 2015.
Iran is "called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology," according to the text of the resolution.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the U.S. Security Council resolution.
"When actions are taken that violate or are inconsistent with the resolution, we will act to hold Iran accountable and urge other countries to do so as well," Toner said.
Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Iran for the missile test.
"No longer will Iran be given a pass for its repeated ballistic missile violations, continued support of terrorism, human rights abuses and other hostile activities that threaten international peace and security," Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said in a written statement.
ISLAMIC BODY CALLS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS A 'GRAVE CONCERN'
The landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, however, does not include provisions preventing Iran from conducting ballistic missile tests, and Iran claims the tests are legitimate because they are not designed to carry a nuclear warhead.
President Trump on Sunday spoke with King Salman of Saudi Arabia, a conversation in which the two "agreed on the importance of rigorously enforcing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran and of addressing Irans destabilizing regional activities," the White House said in a statement.
A ballistic missile launch could potentially fall under "destabilizing regional activities."
The launch also came a day before Jordans King Abdullah arrived in Washington for meetings with Vice President Pence and Defense Secretary Mattis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would address the Iran issue with Trump when the two leaders meet on Feb. 15.
"I will meet President Trump in Washington soon, and among the issues I will address, is the need to renew the sanctions against Iran," Netanyahu wrote on Facebook on Monday. "Sanctions against the ballistic missiles, and other sanctions against the terror, and re addressing the failed agreement on its nuclear capabilities.
"I know that this bothers not only Israel, and not only the US but other countries in the region. Iran's aggression should not be ignored."
The U.S. intelligence community was able to identify Sunday's launch due to its robust satellite network. The overhead system can detect the heat signature of missile launches and explosions from bombs being dropped around the world.
Last March, Iran sparked international condemnation when it test-fired two ballistic missiles, one emblazoned with the phrase Israel must be wiped out in Hebrew.
U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel told lawmakers last March the United States should continue to "expose" Iran for the role that the rogue nation plays in the region, including its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, responsible for dropping barrel bombs on his own people.
Dehqan said in September that Iran would beef up its defense capabilities by "manufacturing three fundamental products in the area of missile [development] by the end of the year."
"Iran's missile tests are an unacceptable act of aggression-something we have seen occur time and again for the last 18 months," Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO of the non-profit United Against Nuclear Iran, responded.
Fox News Lucas Tomlinson, Jennifer Griffin and Jonathan Wachtel and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
One of the best seats for Wednesdays White House press briefing will be in Cleveland.
Natalie Herbick of FOX 8 in Cleveland, talk radio host Lars Larson, WPRI Rhode Island's Kimberly Kalunian and Jeff Jobe of Kentuckys Jobe Publishing were named on Tuesday as the inaugural panelists for Skype seats at the daily briefings. Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced the creation of the cyber seats during his first briefing on Jan. 23.
I look forward to virtually welcoming them to the briefing room, Spicer said Tuesday.
The White House has yet to detail exactly how panelists are selected; however, Spicer said previously that anyone applying for a slot must live at least 50 miles from Washington, D.C. The seats are an attempt on the part of the Trump administration to allow outlets without traditional White House access, due to location, to be present in a sense at the briefings.
Maybe we solicit talk radio and regional newspapers to submit questions because they can't afford to be in Washington but they still have a question, Spicer told The Hill on Jan. 8 as officials were formulating the idea. Maybe we just let the American people submit questions that we read off as well.
A man who lived some 1,500 years ago may have had his tongue cut out, though archaeologists, who found his remains buried with a flat rock in his mouth, are not sure the reason for the possible amputation.
The skeleton was excavated in 1991 near the village of Stanwick in Britain. But it wasn't until recently that a team led by Simon Mays, a human skeletal biologist with Historic England, a public group that promotes England's history, did an in-depth analysis of the skeleton.
The skeleton belongs to a male who was between 25 and 35 years old when he died, they found. When alive, the man suffered a serious oral infection that spread to other parts of his body and led to new bone growth in his mouth and other parts of his skull. A tongue amputation, Mays said, could cause just such an infection. [The 25 Most Mysterious Archaeological Finds on Earth]
Additionally, the team analyzed several other burials dating between the third and seventh centuries A.D. which had been excavated over the past few decades in Britain. They found several burials in which a skeleton's head was missing, likely due to decapitation , and in its place was a rock or pot. In one instance, a skeleton was found with its left foot missing a pot put in its place.
After analyzing the evidence, they researchers concluded that the flat rock in the man's mouth may have been "a symbolic replacement for [a] tongue that was amputated in this individual during the lifetime of this man," Mays said. He cautioned that "we still have other scientific studies that we want to do on this and other burials."
Mysterious amputation
Why the man's tongue would be cut out is a mystery. Excavation photographs taken in 1991 reveal that the man's skeleton was found facedown with his right arm sticking out at an unusual angle, possible evidence that the man was tied up when he died, Mays said.
However, Mays said that so far his team has found no evidence in ancient texts that the cutting out of tongues was practiced as a form of punishment when the man was alive a time when the Romans controlled Britain.
Mays' team also examined modern-day medical literature, looking for more clues. They found that "people who are suffering epileptic fits or people suffering from neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease , quite often bite their tongues or bite their lips," Mays said. However, "I wasn't able to come across any cases of that sort where there was complete severing of the tongue."
Mays did find cases in the modern medical literature in which people suffering from severe mental illnesses had psychotic episodes and bit off their tongue. As such, the ancient man may have suffered from such an illness, Mays said. He added that he may have been tied up when he died because people in the community thought of him as a threat.
Mays' team presented these preliminary results recently in Toronto at the joint annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America and the Society for Classical Studies.
Original article on Live Science .
A British teacher jailed after she allowed her students to name a teddy bear Muhammad was released Monday hours after Sudan's president pardoned her, a British embassy spokesman said.
Gillian Gibbons' conviction under Sudan's Islamic Sharia law shocked Britons and many Muslims worldwide. Hard-line Muslim clerics in Sudan accused her of intentionally seeking to insult Islam's Prophet Muhammad, and the case angered some Sudanese, sparking a protest where demonstrators called for her execution.
Gibbons said in a written statement delivered to Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir that she did not intend to offend anyone and had great respect for Islam. Her release came after two British Muslim politicians from the House of Lords met with al-Bashir to plead for her release.
"She is in British Embassy custody and is with the deputy British ambassador," embassy spokesman Omar Daair said. He would not give her exact location or say when she would leave Sudan.
Gibbons, 54, was sentenced Thursday to 15 days in prison and deportation for insulting Islam because she allowed her students to name a teddy bear Muhammad a common name among Muslim men in a class project on animals. The trial was sparked when a school secretary complained to the Education Ministry that Gibbons aimed to insult the Prophet Muhammad. Her time in jail since her arrest Nov. 25 counted toward the sentence.
Embassy spokesman Omar Daair said the Gibbons was in "British embassy custody," but he would not give her exact location or say when she would leave Sudan, citing security reasons.
Lord Nazir Ahmed, who met with al-Bashir earlier Monday along with Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, said the case was an "unfortunate misunderstanding" and stressed that Britain respected Islam.
He hoped "the relations between our two countries will not be damaged by this incident," Ahmed told reporters at the presidential palace after Monday's meeting.
Ghazi Saladdin, a senior presidential adviser, said al-Bashir insisted that Gibbons had a "fair trial," but he agreed to pardon her because of the efforts by the British Muslim delegation.
It was unclear when Gibbons would leave Sudan. Earlier Monday, Sudanese presidential spokesman Mahzoub Faidul told The Associated Press that Gibbons would "fly back to England today." However, travel agents in Sudan said the earliest European-bound flights would not leave Khartoum until the early hours on Tuesday.
The director of Khartoum's Unity High School, where Gibbons worked, said the embassy told him Monday that she would be "coming over shortly" to the school to pick up her gear before leaving the country.
"We are very relieved and happy that she has been pardoned," said director Robert Boulos.
In the written statement released by Sudanese presidential palace and read by Warsi to reporters, 54-year-old Gibbons said she was sorry if she caused any "distress."
"I have a great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone," Gibbons, who was sentenced Thursday, said in the statement.
"I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends, but I am very sorry that I will be unable to return to Sudan," the statement read.
The teacher escaped harsher punishment that could have included up to 40 lashes, six months in prison and a fine. Her time in jail since her arrest last Sunday counted toward the sentence.
During her trial, the weeping teacher said she had intended no harm. Her students, overwhelmingly Muslim, chose the name for the bear. Muslim scholars generally agree that intent is a key factor in determining if someone has violated Islamic rules against insulting the prophet.
The conviction shocked many Britons, but the case was caught up in the ideology that al-Bashir's Islamic regime has long instilled in Sudan, a mix of anti-colonialism, religious fundamentalism and a sense that the West is besieging Islam.
In Britain, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was delighted by news.
"Common sense has prevailed," Brown said in a statement released by his office.
The case also sparked criticism from many Muslims in the West who said she should have never been arrested. On Monday, Inayat Bunglawala, a spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, welcomed the pardon.
"It will be wonderful to see her back in the U.K. I am sure she will be welcomed by both Muslims and non-Muslims after her quite terrible ordeal at the hands of the Sudanese authorities," Bunglawala said.
A small group of about 40 protesters gathered briefly Monday in front of the British embassy in Khartoum and handed over a petition, spokesman Daair said, without describing the petition. But several cars of riot police arrived and dispersed the crowd.
On Friday during a rally in Khartoum, thousands of protesters, many armed with clubs and swords and beating drums, burned pictures of her and demanded her execution.
After the rally, there were fears for Gibbons' safety and she was moved from the Omdurman women's prison to a secret location, her lawyer has said.
There was no overt sign that the government organized the protest, but such a rally could not have taken place without at least official assent.
Sudan's ambassador in London, Khalid al-Mubarak, insisted Monday that the demonstrations "were an argument from the fringe."
A British man called Steve Bannon has been confused with Donald Trumps chief strategist after he was added to an official White House group message on Twitter.
Mr Bannon, who describes himself as a proud Scot living in England tweeted out Monday that he had been accidentally put in a conversation with top US officials who had got him muddled up with the new Presidents adviser.
I've been added to the White House Twitter group.....pmsl pic.twitter.com/18HiteAxgO Steve Bannon (@SteveBannon) January 23, 2017
Steve Bannon, who is the new Presidents chief political strategist, has just been given a seat at the National Security Councils table.
The ex-Breitbart chief will get access to sensitive meetings with the President and his other top security advisers.
The British man he was confused with, describes himself on the social network as nothing to do with US politics or running the White House.
He had to spend the day replying to tweets that he has been mistakenly sent after the mix-up.
Its not the first time Twitter users have got a well-known figure confused online with someone who happens to share their name.
Spare a thought for John Lewis, a computer scientist from Virginia, who regularly gets complaints about goods bought from the UK shop.
He still gets messages despite putting on his message on his profile of not a retail store.
And The Times Middle East Correspondent, Richard Spencer, is often muddled up with the prominent alt-right figure of the same name.
This article originally appeared on The Sun.
An older woman in Canada found herself with a surprising new group of gal pals on a recent trip to a casino.
While taking a bathroom break during a night out,18-year-old Mahri Smith and her group of girl friends were taking mirror selfies when an older woman-- who has not been named-- offered to snap of few pictures of the them.
Smith told Buzzfeed that the woman began speaking with them, complimenting their clothes and talking about going out on the town with her friends when she was younger.
I remember when my girlfriends and I would get dressed up and go out, the older woman recalled, according to the teen. I miss that.
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Moved by the story, Smith invited the woman to join in on the photo-taking fun.
The Ottowa-based Smith asked, Why miss it, we are all out right now, arent we?
What unfolded was a series of heartwarming photos capturing the ageless spirit of fun and friendship.
Smith's original post has gone viral with over 250,000 likes and 75,000 retweets on Twitter.
Four soldiers were injured Tuesday -- including three critically -- after a Blackhawk helicopter crashed and caught fire during training at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
After the crash, the helicopter caught fire before Fort Campbell Fire and Emergency Services personnel were able to extinguish the blaze, the base said in a press release. Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team were near the training area and were able to help in the extraction of the four soldiers from the aircraft.
The soldiers onboard the UH60 Blackhawk helicopter were rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Fox 17 reported.
COAST GUARD RESCUES TRUCK DRIVER FROM HIGH SEAS
Vanderbilt University Medical Center spokeswoman Tavia Smith told The Leaf-Chronicle that two soldiers were airlifted to the trauma unit of the Nashville hospital, while another solider was airlifted to Vanderbilt's trauma center. The fourth soldier was taken by ambulance to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, according to Smith.
The identities of the victims have not been released and it was not immediately clear what triggered the crash.
The incident which happened around 11 a.m. local time was under investigation. The helicopter was from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
"Our priority is to provide the best medical care available to the Soldiers and support services to their Families," said Maj. Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell commanding general in a statement. "Their care and well-being is of our utmost concern."
This marked the second reported crash involving U.S. military aircraft outside of combat this year. A Navy jet crashed during training at Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi two weeks ago, but the student and instructor pilot were able to eject safely. Last year saw 18 non-combat crashes involving U.S. military aircraft, roughly on par with the previous two years.
Tuesday's crash was the first during training at Fort Campbell since December 2015, when an AH-64 Apache crashed in a field, killing the two pilots.
Click for more from Fox 17.
Fox News' Leonard Balducci and Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
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New York's Kennedy Airport has swiftly become one of the nation's most closely watched immigration law centers.
Volunteer lawyers and translators are camped out at a diner there, trying to find and free people detained under President Donald Trump's immigration order. Similar scenes have taken shape at other major U.S. airports from Dallas to Washington, D.C.
Lawyers have filed roughly two dozen lawsuits on behalf of detainees in several states. Federal courts have blocked the government from removing people who arrived with valid visas, at least for now.
Trump's order temporarily bans refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the U.S. He says it's necessary to protect the nation from violent Islamic extremism.
Civil rights advocates say the order violates constitutional protections against religious discrimination.
A senior citizen stepped in to stop a dramatic attack on a bus driver in Missouri, hitting the suspect again and again with his cane.
Surveillance footage showed the attack in Kansas City on Saturday. The attacker can be seen approaching the bus driver and harassing her.
$434G WORTH OF COCAINE DISCOVERED IN PLANE'S NOSE GEAR
Then he takes it to the next level.
He grabs her from behind, wrapping his arms around her neck while she screams for him to stop.
OFF-DUTY OFFICER SHOOTS 2 BURGLARY SUSPECTS AT CALIFORNIA HOME
"Get your hands off of me!" she can be heard saying in the video. "Wait a minute! Wait a minute!"
Suddenly, a man sitting on the bus springs into action. He rushes to the front of the bus and starts to beat the attacker off the woman with his cane.
When the attacker tried to get back on the bus, the Good Samaritan had a strong message for him.
"Come on! I got something else for you! Come on! Get over here!" the man calls out the attacker.
The attacker stayed off the bus. Eventually, police arrived on the scene and arrested him.
That Good Samaritan broke his cane in half in the scuffle. Now the city wants to buy him a new one as a way to thank him.
Click for more from Fox 4.
In a story Jan. 30 about the reaction of Trump supporters to his travel order, The Associated Press misspelled the name of a Maryland woman. The woman's name is Judith Wilkenloh, not Wilkenroh.
A corrected version of the story is below:
Trump supporters say they are happy with immigration order
Supporters of President Donald Trump say they are happy with his executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from some Muslim countries
By JAY REEVES
Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Don't talk about airport protests in Trump Country. In the places that propelled Donald Trump to the White House, the president's fans couldn't be much happier with his executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven mostly Muslim countries.
Trump promised to put America first during the campaign, his supporters say, and he's doing it. That includes securing the nation's borders and doing everything possible to prevent terrorists from entering the U.S.
In their view, Democrats and liberal snowflakes and soft-hearted do-gooders just need to calm down. Trump is being Trump.
"He's going to do what he says and says what he does," said Barbara Van Syckel, 66, of Sterling Heights, Michigan. "That's a little frightening for some people."
Two of Barbara Wood's three sons served in the military after Sept. 11, and she's all for Trump and his immigration order.
The president "is fulfilling his campaign promises to the best of his ability. I applaud him for that," said Wood, who lives in suburban Birmingham.
Thousands of people have demonstrated at U.S. airports since Trump issued an order Friday blocking people from seven countries in the Middle East and Africa from entering the United States and suspending refugee immigration for four months. The protests included a gathering of several hundred people in Birmingham, the largest airport in a Southern state that Trump carried with ease.
Washington's state attorney general filed a lawsuit over the order, and a federal judge in New York issued an emergency order temporarily banning deportations of people from the seven nations. Some Republican lawmakers have questioned the order, with Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina saying they fear it will become "a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism."
Yet none of that criticism matters much in Trump Country, those states and counties where Trump claimed the votes to win the Electoral College despite losing the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Retired social-service worker Judith Wilkenloh says the order shows Trump "means what he says."
"He's just unafraid. He's just going ahead like a locomotive, and I like him more and more every time he does something," said Wilkenloh, 72, of Fredrick, Maryland.
Trump supporters said they are happy with the immigration order and the ideas behind it. Some Trump backers said they might do things a little differently than the president, but their overall reaction is positive.
"We're not the world's Social Security office. We're not here to take care of people," said Jim Buterbaugh, the head of custodial work and maintenance at a public school in the western Montana town of White Hall. "I understand that people need help, but there are other ways besides bringing them here."
Buterbaugh, who has actively fought the re-settlement of Syrians in Montana, was frustrated that Trump's moratorium did not include countries such as Saudi Arabia, where most of the Sept. 11 hijackers were from. The executive order also did not include the creation of safe zones for refugees, which he favors.
Mike Honaker has some misgivings, too. A Trump supporter in a struggling West Virginia coal town, he didn't think "blitzing everybody" with an order that spread chaos around the world was the right way to go.
But Honaker worries about terrorism and does not have a problem with Trump's plan to screen refugees more thoroughly. Overall, Honaker likes 85 percent of what the president has done so far.
"I think he's shaking it up, the whole of Washington, D.C., and half the country, like he said he would," he said.
Attorney Terri King, 56, said Trump's order has widespread support in her Rust Belt city of Middletown, Ohio.
The only people who don't support it are "those who are paid to protest on the left ... and some Democrats," said King, an also-ran in a GOP congressional race last year.
Republican Scott Presler of Virginia Beach, Virginia, likes Trump's order so much he thought about staging an airport protest of his own in support of the president.
Presler, who is gay, said he wanted to go to Virginia's Dulles International Airport to support the president's immigration ban while carrying a sign that said "Radical Islam Murders Gays." But he said he stopped short of making the trip out of fear for his safety.
"I'm a compassionate human being," said Presler, 28. "I'm a humanitarian. But I'm also compassionate toward the health and well-being of the American people. We have 50,000 homeless veterans in this country. We have our own poor and suffering."
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Associated Press writers Dave Dishneau in Hagerstown, Maryland; Claire Galofaro in Louisville, Kentucky; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Dan Sewell in Cincinnati; Mike Householder in Sterling Heights, Michigan; Jacob Jordan in Atlanta; and Alanna Durkin Richer in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.
An elderly woman is in critical condition after her Bucks County home caught fire, early Tuesday morning, and hoarding made this fire extremely difficult to fight.
Bensalem police say crews got to the fully involved fire in the 2200 block of Byberry Road before 5:30am.
Then, "Fire personnel were able to rescue an elderly female who was trapped on the first floor." She was found in a bedroom and removed through the window, then taken to the hospital in critical condition.
They said a man also living there was able to get himself out of the house. He is in stable condition.
Battalion Chief Robert Sponheimer of the Bensalem Fire Department told FOX 29 News the house was had two stories and a basement, and it was a hoarding house.
There was lots of storage on all three levels from floor-to-ceiling.
The amount of debris was unsafe for the firefighters. That's why we removed everybody from the dwelling and fought the fire from the outside, Sponheimer said.
He added, hoarding is becoming more of a problem and it's very dangerous, not only for occupants but also first responders. In this case, they couldn't see where the fire was burning because of all the debris.
For more on this story, visit Fox 29 News.
A Minnesota homeowner is facing manslaughter charges after he told police he shot at a group of men who had tried breaking into his home, and one of the suspects later died in the hospital.
VIDEO: SENIOR CITIZEN USES HIS CANE TO BEAT BUS ATTACKER
David Allen Pettersen, 65, called police around 7 a.m. Saturday to report a possible burglary and shooting at his home in Fieldon Township, just south of Madelia. According to the charging documents, Pettersen told the dispatcher he fired his handgun at a gray car that was leaving his property after an attempted burglary.
A deputy responding to the call found the car 2 miles north of Pettersen's home, with three people inside. One of the passengers, 19-year-old Nicolas Thomas Embertson, had a gunshot wound and later died at Madelia Hospital.
WORKER DISCOVERS $434G WORTH OF COCAINE IN PLANE'S NOSE GEAR
Another passenger, 18-year-old Kyle Thomas Nason, had a broken ankle. He told police that he, Embertson and a third man -- 18-year-old Cornelius Ayers -- were at Pettersen's home to "case" it for a future burglary.
Nason said his friends gave him a boost onto the second-level deck of the home, and that he injured his ankle when making the 10-foot jump back down. He told police he heard two loud bangs as Embertson drove away from the home. As they were headed down the driveway, Embertson said, "I think I've been hit," before losing consciousness. Nason continued driving the car until they were stopped by the deputy responding to Petterson's 911 call.
Pettersen told investigators he was in bed when he heard someone trying to open a door to the deck. He saw the person jump from the deck and crawl toward a car, at which point he grabbed a .45 caliber handgun and tried to shoot the tires of the car. Pettersen said he was about 10 feet from the car when he fired two or three shots.
Pettersen was arrested and booked into the Watonwan County Jail. Monday morning, he was charged with second-degree manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm.
"The law does say a self-defense law, but what we've gathered so far, we feel we have enough to charge him with second-degree manslaughter," Watonwan County Chief Deputy Jeremy Nachreiner told KEYC-TV in Mankato.
Click for more from Fox 9.
A federal jury has convicted a man of a plot to detonate a bomb on a Florida Keys beach that prosecutors said was inspired by Islamic State extremists.
Court records show the jury in Key West convicted 25-year-old Harlem Suarez on Tuesday of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to a terrorist organization.
Suarez faces a maximum of life in prison at sentencing set for April 18.
Suarez was arrested in 2015 after accepting an inert device from an FBI employee posing as an extremist, an FBI affidavit says. The FBI adds Suarez told an informant he wanted to detonate a backpack bomb on a Key West beach.
Prosecutors say Suarez drew inspiration from the Islamic State. Suarez denied that in his trial testimony.
A jury has resumed deliberating in the murder trial of a man who shot a Memphis police officer during a raid on his home.
Treveno Campbell faces up to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Officer Martoiya Lang.
The 25-year-old Campbell also is accused of the attempted murder of five other officers who broke through his door while searching for another man on Dec. 14, 2012.
Campbell says he was sound asleep before the raid and thought his home was being invaded by criminals. The 12-person jury also could convict him of lesser charges, including manslaughter or reckless homicide.
Lang, a 32-year-old mother of four, was the first female police officer killed in the line of duty in Memphis.
An Arizona mother allegedly heard "voices in her head" before stabbing her 5-month-old son, killing him.
HOMEOWNER CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER FOR SHOOTING AT HOME INVASION SUSPECTS
According to newly released court documents, 29-year-old Andrea Portillo admitted to police that she stabbed the boy when officers responded to a 911 call at a home in Buckeye on January 30.
When officers arrived at the home, police say Portillo was covered in blood and said, "Look what I did." The boy was suffering from multiple stab wounds and was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital where he later died.
Portillo was taken into custody, admitted to officers that she had stabbed her son, made statements about hearing "voices in her head" and that she wasn't in control of her actions, according to the court documents.
Portillo's 3-year-old daughter was also inside the home and told detectives that her mother had cut the boy's neck.
Portillo was booked into Maricopa County Jail and faces second-degree murder and felony child abuse charges.
Click for more from Fox 10.
A curious puppy named Blaze ended up in a precarious situation Monday when he ended up getting his head stuck in a tire wheel and needed the help of the local fire department.
In a Facebook post, the Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department in Butte, Montana said it responded to a call from a local veterinary hospital after they requested extrication equipment to free the eight-month old dog.
The dog's owner told authorities he was away for a few hours and came home to find the dog stuck in the tire well.
Firefighters were able to free Blaze with "a lot of coconut oil, patience, a lot of ear tucking, and some powerful skin-pulling," in addition to "Firefighter Zach Osborne's brute strength."
The puppy only had "some minor neck swelling," but otherwise was fine.
Fire officials said on Facebook they hoped it was a "valuable lesson for young Blaze" and they won't need to respond to additional "menacing incidents" with the puppy.
The NAACP in Cleveland wants a judge to release the full transcript from the grand jury that declined to indict two white Cleveland police officers in the fatal shooting of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old black boy playing with a pellet gun.
Cleveland.com reports (http://bit.ly/2kQQJcy ) the NAACP made the request Tuesday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court for the entire transcript. The organization previously had indicated it only wanted the portion where ex-Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty recommends that officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback not be charged.
McGInty's successor, Michael O'Malley, has said he'd consider supporting a release of partial transcripts.
NAACP President Michael Nelson says Tuesday's filing is the beginning of expected negotiations with the judge and O'Malley about which transcripts might be released from normally secret proceedings.
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Information from: cleveland.com, http://www.cleveland.com
Four North Carolina women were charged for allegedly painting anti-police, anti-Donald Trump and Black Lives Matter slogans on several businesses and a police car.
Boone police said Taryn Bledsoe, 22, Juliana Grainger, 22, Elizabeth Prier, 22, and Hannah Seay, 21, were arrested late last week. They were charged with seven counts of misdemeanor graffiti and one count of damaging personal property.
Police said the woman caused about $10,000 worth of damage.
Police said a tip from High Country Crime Stoppers led to the arrests.
I stated this case was a priority for us, police Chief Dana Crawford said. Thanks to the involvement of citizens who came forward, we resolved this case in short order. I applaud the community for their overwhelming response. I would also like to thank High Country Crime Stoppers for their invaluable service.
Click for more from the Fayetteville Observer.
Authorities say deputies have shot and wounded a Tennessee man with a gun during a traffic stop.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that deputies made the traffic stop in a driveway Monday evening in Cheatham County near where a woman reported she had almost been run off a road. The statement says as deputies conducted the stop, 44-year-old Charles Holland, who is white, exited the home armed with a gun and began walking toward them. At some point during the encounter, police say deputies fired at Holland, who was hit and taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he is in stable condition.
No law enforcement officers were injured.
Authorities did not release the identities or races of the deputies involved.
The investigation is continuing.
Authorities in New Jersey were searching for a suspect after three people were found dead in an apparent shooting Sunday.
Michael Davis, 45, Roshana Kenilson, 30, and Lance Fraser, 44, were identified Monday as the victims in the killings. Authorities said their bodies were found inside a Maplewood apartment at around 11:45 a.m.
Essex County police were investigating their deaths as homicides and a preliminary investigation suggested that they sustained gunshot wounds. Village Green New Jersey reported the medical examiner will determine the official cause of death.
According to NJ.com, firefighters discovered the bodies when someone asked to do a wellness check on the person who lived at the apartment. The person couldnt reach any of the victims, authorities said.
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said only Davis was listed as a resident at the apartment. Kenilson, of Paterson, and Fraser, of Newark, were friends of Davis.
Authorities have not identified a suspect or a motive behind the killings.
Neighbors told NJ.com that the neighborhood is usually quiet and something like a triple killing rarely happens.
Click for more from NJ.com.
The pastor of a largely immigrant Catholic church in Queens has a suggestion for his anti-Trump parishioners go take a flying leap off the nearest building.
Show your hate for Trump. Do it for social justice. #JumpAgainstTrump, read a meme posted by Father Philip Pizzo just hours after he celebrated Sunday Mass.
The message included an illustration of a man plummeting from a skyscraper.
The conservative priest, who oversees St. Benedict Joseph Labre Roman Catholic Church in Richmond Hill, previously posted a photo of Obama with the words Hes not my president and another snapshot of Hillary Clinton titled Ugly Face in Italian along with Happy Halloween.
Pizzo, 67, told The Post on Monday that he just thought the Jump Against Trump meme was funny.
I do not promote suicide, Pizzo insisted. Ive helped many people over the years, and it does not promote suicide. It was funny.
Click for more from NYPost.com
Kids may feel less satisfied with their lives after spending just an hour a day on social media, according to a December study published by the IZA Institute of Labor Economics in Bonn, Germany.
THE SECRETS OF FAMILY FINANCIAL FITNESS
The study suggests the probability that kids ages 10 to 15 would be "completely satisfied with life overall" went down by about 14 percent -- "not a trivial effect," noted researchers.
This jibes with one of the biggest concerns that I hear from parents: the excessive use of social media by their children and the potential damage it might cause. It's frightening. Parents won't know the cumulative effects of social media on their children's lives for years to come.
FINDING A NEW 'FAITH HOME'
Virtual communication is not nearly equal to face-to-face communication, and the image-driven obsession of putting forth an "edited" version of oneself can potentially affect both a child's identity and his or her self-worth. Popularity comes down to the number of "likes" or social media "friends" he or she is attracting.
Another concern is the sheer amount of time wasted on social media -- time that could be used for so many other productive activities. Two friends of mine, Jay Hauck and Thomas Lloyd of Chevy Chase, Maryland, recently started a Catholic Men's Bible study and have joined me on a few mission trips in the past with their daughters. Their perspective on this issue is helpful.
"As parents of four preteen children, my wife and I are a bit ambivalent about technology in our children's lives," Hauck told me. "On the one hand, this is the new world we live in -- homework is done on the internet, and road trips in the family car have fewer fights now that the kids have movies to watch in the backseat. You can't just live in a bubble where there is no technology."
He continued, "Technology, particularly social media, poses pitfalls for the unwary, so we are concerned about the effects it can have on our daughters -- especially as they move into their teen years. Teens -- and adults for that matter -- can have an unhealthy need for validation from peers on social media. They worry about what event they weren't included in, or how someone else has experienced a fancier vacation."
We are also changing the manner in which we fundamentally communicate with one another. Many of us now even boil down even strong feelings to simple emojis in a kind of emotional shorthand sent via text messages.
"All the time spent on social media can harm a child's ability to have real, in-person conversations," said Hauck. "It's amazing to see teens at a restaurant where they're all on their phones and not one is talking to another. That's not just ridiculous -- it isn't healthy. As parents, we can't be constantly looking over their shoulders -- though we do require approval for any online purchase, such as an app. And we do monitor their emails and chats. But that's not enough."
It's even more vital that parents model appropriate behavior in light of all this.
"We are trying to teach our children discernment and the formation of good consciences," Hauck reflected. "Those are the tools that are going to help them choose the hard right from the easy wrong -- online, and in life overall. We have tried to give them a strong foundation in our Catholic faith, sending them to our parish elementary school, where they are immersed in faith and morals. We have talked to them at home about the right way and the wrong way to use the internet. And that isn't a one-time chat, but part of an ongoing conversation."
This dad concluded, "I'm not pretending we have all the answers, but I hope, as they get older, they learn to use the internet and social media wisely -- so they are not addicted to social media."
Thomas Lloyd, my other friend, mentioned an example that drives home the point of how kids are affected by their parents' use of technology:
"There was an evening last week where I was reading and playing with my daughter after school. And in the middle of it, I felt my phone notification indicate an email, which I felt I needed to respond to. She said to me, 'I guess we're finished now,' and walked away. I didn't think much of it at the time, but later felt I had chosen work over her and she felt that as well. It made me realize I'm teaching her that my time on my phone always comes first over time with her."
His message is clear: Before analyzing how to change your kids' habits, look at your own. Children absorb so much of who you are, and imitate many of your habits, both good and bad. Like anything, there are pros and cons to this new virtual world, but it is clearly the role of parents to instill the criteria and boundaries that need to be in place.
This is the first generation of parents who really have to deal with this issue. Our culture will be affected by how they pass the technological torch onto their children.
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC, is a Catholic priest who is the New York chaplain of the Lumen Institute, an association of business and cultural leaders.
House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday defended President Donald Trump's divisive executive order on refugees and immigration, arguing that while the rollout was bumpy, the policy is consistent with Republican principles.
"The president has a responsibility to the security of this country," Ryan told reporters.
Even though GOP congressional leadership was frozen out of the drafting of the order, Ryan told rank-and-file Republicans that he backed the decision to stop the U.S. refugee program and ban all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
The action triggered mass confusion and chaos worldwide, split families and set off protests at airports across the country.
In the aftermath, Ryan told the GOP that the "rollout was a little bumpy, been a few potholes in the road but the actual policy he agreed with," Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., said.
The speaker did warn lawmakers to expect protests in their districts and possible backlash.
Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., said Ryan stressed that the order is similar to legislation Republicans have backed in the past.
"We're looking at eight years of a legacy that we're essentially undoing," Ross said.
Said Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y.: "The speaker was very out in front today reminding our conference this is something we should be embracing."
Top congressional leaders of Trump's party were left to find out the same way the general public did: from news reports as Trump signed the order.
"I guess one of you guys probably told me about it. Thank you for that," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters Monday.
Then, as lawmakers struggled to gather details for constituents about the temporary halt to all refugee admissions, as well as a travel and immigration ban for those coming from seven Muslim-majority nations, at least one prominent GOP senator was told that the State Department had been instructed not to communicate with Congress.
"There's not a lot of answers as of today. In fact my staff was told the State Department as of today was ordered not to talk to Congress about this issue," said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. "That cannot be a permanent position, we expect answers here fairly soon."
Next followed the surprising news, first reported by Politico, that the administration's repeated claims that Hill Republicans were involved in drafting the executive order apparently referred to staffers on the House Judiciary Committee who acted without the knowledge of GOP leadership.
Each new revelation set off alarm bells on Capitol Hill where Republicans, eager to give Trump the benefit of the doubt barely a week into his presidency, are confronting repeated bouts of chaos of the administration's own making. The failure to consult with lawmakers ahead of time on the immigration executive order set the stage for high-profile Republicans to criticize the measure once it started attracting widespread controversy and so they did, though House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have remained largely supportive.
And the administration's decision to make a major foreign policy move with no notice to Congress raised questions about how well the Trump White House will work with Capitol Hill to push through a massive legislative agenda that includes repealing and replacing Barack Obama's health care law, overhauling the tax code and building a border wall. Although many Republicans remained optimistic that the failures amounted to growing pains for the new administration, congressional relations under the Trump administration seemed to be off to a sour start.
"I think they understand, let me put it that way, that this was not handled in the most productive manner," Corker said. "My guess is next time they attempt to do something that is far-reaching like this there'll be a lot more communication."
Trump's order pauses America's entire refugee program and indefinitely bans all those from war-ravaged Syria. Federal judges in New York and several other states issued orders that temporarily block the government from deporting people with valid visas who arrived after Trump's travel ban took effect. Trump fired the Justice Department's acting attorney general Monday after she refused to defend the order in court, replacing her with someone who would.
Throughout the day Monday, as confusion continued at home and abroad over the scope and implementation of the order, White House officials led by press secretary Sean Spicer insisted that Hill Republicans were involved in drafting the order and were aware of it beforehand. Yet top aides to House GOP leaders repeatedly disputed that assertion, leaving it unclear what Spicer was talking about.
Finally late Monday, confirming some details of a report in Politico, the House Judiciary Committee said that some staff members had been "permitted" to lend their expertise on immigration to the Trump transition team. Yet leadership was not aware, and earlier in the day committee officials had said that the panel's chairman, Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, was not consulted on drafting the executive order, so the staff effort appeared to take place behind the backs of top House Republicans, an unusual circumstance.
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Universities across the U.S. say President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven Muslim countries is disrupting research projects and academic exchanges in such fields as medicine and engineering.
For example, collaboration between HIV researchers at Harvard and in Iran is now in question. And a new engineering program for Iranian students is on hold in Indiana.
Meanwhile, thousands of academics abroad have called for a boycott of conferences in America.
Some fear the travel ban could undermine vital research and cost the U.S. its role as the world leader in innovation.
The White House said Tuesday that no American citizen "will ever be targeted" in raids against terror suspects, a blanket statement that appeared to signal a break from the Obama administration's strategy for pursuing and targeting suspects in counterterrorism operations overseas.
Under former President Barack Obama, the Justice Department had issued a legal opinion giving the U.S. the authority to target Americans who are working with terrorists abroad.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters the Trump administration will lean on the guidance of Central Intelligence Agency director Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, but he added that "no American citizen will ever be targeted."
It was not immediately clear whether Spicer's intended to recalibrate U.S. policy.
The U.S. specifically targeted and killed American Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical cleric, in Yemen in 2011. Other Americans, including suspected terrorists, have been killed in U.S. drone strikes, but they were not specifically targeted.
A U.S. service member and an American child died in a ground raid authorized by President Donald Trump last week. The child was the 8-year-old daughter of al-Awlaki. Al-Awlaki's 16-year-old American son was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2012.
Sunday's raid left nearly 30 others dead, including more than half a dozen militant suspects. Several more children were also killed.
Whether the U.S. should target its own citizens in drone strikes has been the subject of much debate. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump discussed "going after" the families of suspected terrorists, but he did not specify what that meant.
The U.S. has been striking al-Qaida in Yemen from the air for more than 15 years, mostly using drones. Sunday's surprise pre-dawn raid could signal a new escalation against extremist groups in the poor but strategically located country.
Last week, the Trump administration imposed an immigration and travel ban on people from seven countries, including Yemen, citing terrorism concerns.
Obama said in 2013 that he did "not believe it would be constitutional for the government to target and kill any U.S. citizen with a drone, or with a shotgun without due process, nor should any President deploy armed drones over U.S. soil."
He added, however, that if that citizen wages war against America or is actively plotting to kill Americans, "his citizenship should no more serve as a shield than a sniper shooting down on an innocent crowd."
Later that same year, the Obama administration triggered a fiery debate on Capitol Hill over the limits of its drone program following the death of al-Awlaki's teenage son, an American citizen. Sixteen-year-old Abdulrahman al-Awlaki, an American citizen at the time of the 2012 strike that killed him, hadn't seen his father in two years when he was killed. He had no known links to al-Qaida and is said to have lived the life of an ordinary teenage boy.
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Associated Press reporter Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this story.
A Connecticut town's diversity council announced a contest offering cash for the best student essay on "white privilege" -- sparking backlash from people who claimed that it painted the town in a bad light.
FEDEX BACKS DRIVER SEEN IN VIRAL VIDEO SAVING OLD GLORY FROM BEING TORCHED
The council in Westport introduced this essay topic, with submissions due in late February: "In 1,000 words or less, describe how you understand the term white privilege. To what extent do you think this privilege exists? What impact do you think it has had in your life -- whatever your racial or ethnic identity -- and in our society more broadly?"
Residents like 72-year-old Bari Reiner said the question was offensive because Westport has welcomed anybody who could afford to live there.
ATHEIST GROUP WINS BATTLE TO PULL CROSS FROM PUBLIC PARK AFTER THREATENING LAWSUIT
"It's an open town," Reiner said. "There are no barricades here. Nobody says if you're black or whatever, you can't move here."
The annual contest was open to high school students in Westport, offering a top prize of $1,000. The diversity council, TEAM Westport, claimed its goal was "to increase awareness, foster understanding and promote understanding in this arena," Fox 61 reported.
The council's chairman, Harold Bailey Jr., said that in addition to the chatter in town, people as far away as Singapore have weighed in online.
"There's a lot more controversy around it than many of us expected," said Bailey, a retired IBM vice president. "Just the fact it says 'white' and 'privilege,' for some people that's all they need to see, and all of a sudden we're race-baiting or trying to get people to feel guilty. That's not at all what it's about."
Still, some parents felt the diversity council, TEAM Westport, was wrong to bring it up.
"I wouldn't go there," Janet Samuels told The Associated Press, saying it was the parents' responsibility to talk about privilege with their kids. She said that even though her children are all grown, that question "would upset me very much."
Like other New York City suburbs on the Connecticut shoreline, Westport ranks among the country's wealthiest places. Its median family income tops $150,000, and it is home to the world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. As of the 2010 census, its 26,000 residents were also 93 percent white.
The town voted by more than 2 to 1 for Democrat Hillary Clinton over Republican Donald Trump. It also has not been immune to episodes of racism. Dozens of students at the public Staples High School were disciplined for circulating racially offensive memes in a private Facebook group uncovered in November.
Some parents welcomed the discussion stirred by this year's question as a reminder for local teens that not all places are as affluent and homogeneous as Westport.
"I like the idea to get it out there so kids can talk about it and embrace it," said Bert Dovo, a white father of two kids who are now in college.
Click for more from Fox 61.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Sudanese mom who was freed after being sentenced to death for refusing to renounce Christianity remains holed up with her family in the U.S. embassy in Khartoum, unable to flee the war-torn nation and facing new charges instigated by her own relatives, sources told FoxNews.com.
Meriam Ibrahim and her family are waiting for new travel documents to be issued by the U.S. after being detained last week for what Sudanese authorities alleged were forged South Sudan papers when she tried to leave the country, a source close to the family said. Making matters worse for the mother of two are a new set of charges raised by her own Muslim relatives.
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There are new charges relating to her relationship to her father, said the source. Possibly to prove that she is Muslim, but nothing has been served so its unclear.
Muslim relatives intend to take her to court to prove that she belongs to their family, according to Ibrahim's supporters. The new charges were filed in a Sudanese family court, with a trial date set for Thursday, according to her attorneys.
Ibrahims case first came to the attention of Sudanese authorities back in August, after members of her fathers family complained that she was born a Muslim but married a Christian man. The relativesincluding her brother-- claimed her birth name was Afdal before she changed it to Meriam and produced a document that indicated she was given a Muslim name at birth. Her attorney has alleged the document was a fake.
Ibrahim says her mother was an Ethiopian Christian and her father a Muslim who abandoned the family when she was a child.
I was never a Muslim, she told the Sudanese high court during her apostasy trial. I was raised a Christian from the start.
Sudans penal code criminalizes the conversion of Muslims to other religions, which is punishable by death. Muslim women in Sudan are further prohibited from marrying non-Muslims, although Muslim men are permitted to marry outside their faith. Children, by law, must follow their fathers religion. Ibrahim was sentenced to death on May 15, but allowed to give birth while in prison. On June 24, a higher court freed her, but she was arrested at the airport when she tried to leave. Although she was once again freed, she faces the new charges and has been forbidden to leave the country.
A U.S. State Department official confirmed that Sudan is pressing Ibrahim about her travel documents, which if deemed to include false information about her religion, could constitute a criminal violation.
The government of Sudan has raised a number of issues related to [Ibrahim's] travel and identification documents, said a State Department spokesperson.
Last week, Ibrahims brother, Al Samani Al Hadi Mohamed Abdullah, claimed that she was kidnapped after her release from a Khartoum prison. Abdullah told Sudan newspaper Al Intibaha that she should have been released to the family and not to her husband, Daniel Wani.
"They did not let us know that she was about to be freed," he told the newspaper. "It was a surprise for us."
He also made statements earlier last month that Ibrahim should be executed if she refused to return to the familys faith of Islam. He maintained those statements in last weeks interview, saying that the court system failed the family by clearing his sister of all charges.
Our family is not convinced by the decision of the court," he said. "The law has failed to maintain our rights, and now it is a matter of honor. Christians deface our honor, and we know how to take revenge for that."
Following in the footsteps of other countries, Austria is set to prohibit the use of Islamic full-face veils in courts, schools and other public places.
Chancellor Christian Kern said Monday the new measures approved by a coalition of Social Democrats and the centrist Peoples party are an effort of countering the rise of the far-right Freedom Party, which has witnessed a surge in support that resulted in the partys presidential candidate nearly winning the election in December.
MOROCCO REPORTEDLY BANS BURQA OVER SECURITY FEARS
"We believe in an open society that is also based on open communication. Full-body veils in public spaces stand against that and will therefore be prohibited," said the text of the coalition agreement published on Monday.
The ban would apply to the burqa and niqabs, which cover all or most of the face and are often worn by conservative Muslim women.
MERKEL'S CALL FOR BURQA BAN IN GERMANY DRAWS BACKLASH
Kern added that he wanted to avoid giving 600,000 Muslims in Austria the feel that they are not part of our society, DW reported.
The ban would also prohibit police officers, judges and magistrates and public prosecutors from wearing head scarves in the interest of appearing ideologically and religiously neutral while serving the state. It also included provisions to curb job access for foreign laborers, especially those from eastern nations, and requiring that 30 percent of a companys supervisory board members be female.
The French parliament passed an act more than six years ago that made France the first European Union country to ban the niqab and burqa, the full-face or face-and-body coverings worn by some Muslim women, in public places.
Last month, Chancellor Angela Merkel said the full-face veil should be prohibited in Germany wherever it is legally possible, and earlier this month the African country of Morocco reportedly banned the burqa, citing security reasons.
Various burqa bans have also been approved in Belgium, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Switzerland.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Heavy artillery and rockets hit residential areas in eastern Ukraine Tuesday amid a new outburst of fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels, leaving at least eight people dead and dozens injured.
REPORTED TREASON ARRESTS FUEL RUSSIAN HACKING INTRIGUE
Salvos of heavy-caliber artillery were heard throughout the night and late morning in Avdiivka, a town on the northern outskirts of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk where residents have been without electricity for days. In Donetsk, at least one civilian was killed by shrapnel.
Fighting around Avdiivka has cut water and power supplies for most of the town and it was left without heating in the dead of winter. Temperatures plunged to 0 F on Tuesday morning.
EU NEGOTIATOR: TRUMP, PUTIN, ISLAMIC EXTREMISM THREATEN BLOC
The warring sides blamed each other for the spike in hostilities, the worst in months. The Ukrainian government was considering evacuating 12,000 residents from Avdiivka, Pavlo Zhebrivsky, head of the administration in charge of the government-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, said on Facebook.
With no signs of an immediate evacuation in sight, some residents went to a local bus station, hoping to get away from the heavy shelling.
Volodymyr Bassak, 67, was waiting to catch a bus Tuesday morning to a city some 125 miles north because of the lack of heat in his home.
"The house was shaking -- (shelling) was really intense at about four in the morning," Bassak said as he brushed tears from his eyes. "There were flames along the front line."
Valery Tretyakov said he was having tea at home in Donetsk when he heard a big explosion and the sound of shattered glass. He rushed into the bedroom and saw his wife bleeding from a shrapnel wound to her neck that proved fatal.
"It was impossible to stop bleeding," Tretyakov said. "One minute and that's all."
The rebels' Donetsk News Agency also reported that four fighters died and seven were injured overnight along with three civilians.
Oleksandr Turchynov, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council, said on Tuesday that shelling around Avdiivka killed at least three government troops and injured 24 more. Another seven soldiers were killed on Sunday and Monday, the government said.
The press office of the Ukrainian military operation in the east reported an unspecified number of civilian casualties. It said the rebels turned down the government's offer for a cease-fire to allow the dead and wounded to be moved.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accused the Ukrainian government of provoking the hostilities to distract public attention from domestic issues.
Peskov told reporters in Moscow the Kremlin has "reliable information" that Ukrainian volunteer battalions crossed the front line Monday night and tried to capture rebel-controlled territory.
Kiev is worried that Donald Trump's administration could ease some sanctions on Russia the U.S. imposed for the annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and support for the insurgency in the east.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Tuesday that the escalation of hostilities proves the sanctions must be kept in place "to bring the aggressor to justice."
Peskov, in turn, said that Kiev's "aggressive actions" threaten to derail a 2015 Ukraine peace deal brokered by France and Germany. The agreement obliging the warring sides to hold fire and pull back heavy weaponry has been regularly violated.
The U.S. State Department voiced concern about the spike in fighting and on Tuesday reaffirmed Washington's support for the full implementation of the peace deal.
"To avert a larger humanitarian crisis, we call for an immediate, sustained cease-fire and full and unfettered access for OSCE monitors," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement, referring to an observer mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The European Union also has expressed its worry over the renewed fighting and called on both sides to pull back immediately to allow for the urgent repair of critical infrastructure.
An escalation in the east could be beneficial to both the separatists and the Ukrainian government, Kiev-based independent political analyst Vadim Karasyov said.
"Kiev is eager to win support of the new Trump administration, and for this they need to show that separatists and the Kremlin are derailing the peace accords," he said. "For the Kremlin, it's important to show that it holds war and peace in its hands; if the new U.S. administration wants peace in Ukraine, it needs to offer something in return."
Rebels in Donetsk said an electricity sub-station was damaged in shelling, cutting power to the Zasyadko coal mine. The mine is notorious for poor safety standards; a methane blast there killed 33 people in 2015.
With elevators not working, the miners were trapped underground for several hours before local authorities found backup generators outside the mine. By late afternoon on Tuesday, all 207 men were able to get out.
The director of Avdiivka's giant coking plant said on Monday that preparations were being made to stop production, something rarely done throughout the conflict that has claimed more than 9,700 lives since it began in 2014.
The coking plant, which switched to a natural gas supply after power was cut off on Tuesday, was providing some heating to homes in the town even though its gas reserves were are running low, director Musa Magomedov told The Associated Press.
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European Union President Donald Tusk says that the first weeks of Donald Trump are contributing to the "highly unpredictable" outlook for the bloc.
In a letter to 27 EU leaders, Tusk mentioned the Trump administration as part of an external "threat" together with China, Russia, radical Islam, war and terror. The letter was not sent to Britain, which is poised to leave the bloc.
Echoing statements from many European capitals, he said that those global challenges, "as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration, all make our future highly unpredictable."
He said that "particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy."
The Iranian-backed suicide attack targeting a Saudi frigate off the coast of Yemen on Monday may have been meant for an American warship, two defense officials told Fox News.
The incident in question occurred in the southern Red Sea and was carried out by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Two Saudi sailors were killed and three were wounded. At first the ship was thought to have been struck by a missile.
US OFFICIALS: IRAN CONDUCTS BALLISTIC MISSILE TEST
But based on new analysis of a video showing the attack, American intelligence officials now believe this was, in fact, a suicide bomber whose small boat rammed the side of the Saudi vessel.
In the audio heard on the video, a voice narrating the attack shouts in Arabic, "Allahu akbar [God is great], death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam."
ISLAMIC BODY CALLS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS A 'GRAVE CONCERN'
U.S. defense analysts believe those behind the attack either thought the bomber was striking an American warship or that this was a dress rehearsal similar to the attack on the USS Cole, according to one official.
The attack, near the Bab al Mandab Strait connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, occurred in the same area where U.S. Navy warships came under missile attack in October.
An American destroyer shot down those incoming missiles -- the first successful engagement in combat using an American SM-2 missile.
USS Nitze, an American destroyer, retaliated soon after, launching Tomahawk missiles on October 13 at multiple Houthi radar sites in Yemen.
This latest incident came a day after President Trump spoke by phone with the Saudi King to discuss setting up safe zones for refugees in Syria and Yemen. Senior U.S. defense officials who spoke with Fox News say they're concerned by this latest incident, but are confident American warships can defend themselves.
The United States has supported a Saudi-led air campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015.
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German troops and tanks are en route to central Lithuania as part of NATO's move to enhance its presence in the alliance's easternmost countries as a deterrent against Russian aggression.
The German military said Tuesday that 36 vehicles, including Boxer armored fighting vehicles, were being loaded on a train in Bavaria for the trip to Rukla.
Germany will be leading the NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. Its contingent also consists of some 450 troops and other equipment, including Leopard 2 main battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.
The complete unit will consist of more than 1,000 soldiers, including troops from the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Luxembourg.
Battlegroups led by the U.S., Canada and Britain are also being stationed in Poland, Latvia and Estonia respectively as part of NATO's mission.
On the same day the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss Iran's recent test launch of a medium-range ballistic missile, Fox News has learned of another secret missile launch, this one conducted in early December, two U.S. military officials tell Fox News.
EXCLUSIVE: PENTAGON BELIEVES ATTACK ON SAUDI FRIGATE MEANT FOR AMERICAN WARSHIP
On December 6, nearly a month after the presidential election, Tehran fired a Shahab-3, an intermediate-range ballistic missile based on a North Korean design, capable of flying 800 miles.
Iran previously conducted two Shahab-3 missile tests last March, coinciding with a visit by Vice President Biden to Israel.
The December launch appeared to mark another breach of U.N. Resolution 2231, which forbids the Islamic Republic from conducting such tests.
NAVY SEAL KILLED IN YEMEN ANTI-TERROR RAID IS IDENTIFIED
The Shahab-3 was launched as part of a military exercise, according to one official. It is not immediately clear where the missile traveled, but the launch was deemed successful.
News of another Iranian ballistic missile test came one day after Fox News first reported a new test of a medium-range ballistic missile Sunday from the Semnan launch site 140 miles east of Tehran, the first confirmed missile test after President Donald Trump assumed office.
The December test launch also occurred at Semnan, according to officials.
U.N. resolution 2231 bars Iran from conducting ballistic missile tests for eight years and went into effect on July 20, 2015, days after the U.S. and other parties agreed to the landmark nuclear deal in Vienna.
Iran is "called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology," according to the text of the resolution meant to coincide with the nuclear agreement.
Iran has conducted at least six ballistic missile tests since the nuclear agreement and the U.N. resolution went into effect in 2015.
Seeking to curb a spike in crime that remains a top concern across the country, the president of Argentina signed a decree that greatly toughens its immigration law to fast-track the deportation process and bar entry to foreigners with criminal records.
The decree also greenlights the prompt deportation of thousands of foreign inmates currently serving sentences in the South American country.
In explaining the overhaul, the government noted that immigrants make up to 21.35 percent of the prison population and that of those convicted of drug trafficking, 33 percent are foreigners.
More than three-quarters of migrants who arrived in Argentina between 2011 and 2015 came from Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru, according to Argentina's Interior Ministry. Citizens of those countries do not require a tourist visa to enter and stay up to 90 days.
"Faced with the recent notorious acts of organized crime, the government has had enormous difficulties in enacting deportation orders against foreign nationals as a result of the complex, repetitive procedures that in some cases can take seven years to process," President Mauricio Macri said.
He said reasons for blocking foreigners from entering and staying in the country include "having once been sentenced or currently serving a sentence, or having a criminal record or a sentence under appeal" in Argentina or abroad.
This applies to crimes that, according to Argentine laws, deserve jail time, such as trafficking arms, humans or drugs, organs or tissues, or for money laundering or investing in illicit activities.
It also covers those who profit from prostitution, or who have been found guilty of crimes of corruption.
As exceptions, the government noted that under certain conditions it could admit foreigners "for the humanitarian reuniting of families or for having efficiently aided the justice system" or those who have committed crimes that in Argentina would not be sentenced to more than three years in prison.
This hardening of Argentina's immigration policy has been debated for the past several weeks, with members of the opposition and social organizations accusing the government of using "slanted" statistics to place the blame squarely on foreigners for the crimes of drug trafficking.
Human rights advocates said it risks stigmatizing foreigners who make up 4.5 percent of the 40 million people living in Argentina.
"Amnesty International considers that it's a mistake to reduce the migration phenomenon to a debate on national security that associates migrants with criminals," the rights organization said in a statement Monday.
"Even when States have the authority to establish rules in migratory issues, they can't violate the rights guaranteed under the constitution and international human rights treaties," it added.
The AP, EFE and Reuters contributed to this report.
Anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders clashed in the Dutch Parliament Tuesday with the foreign minister over U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban for people from seven Muslim nations.
Wilders seen by many as a Dutch equivalent of Trump paid tribute to the new U.S. leader, saying, "Finally America has a president, finally a country in the West has a president, who not only lives up to his promises but who says 'the freedom of my citizens is more important than anything.'"
Foreign Minister Bert Koenders hit back. "If you want to fight terror, then the worst thing you can do is trample human rights," he said.
The heated debate foreshadows what is likely to be a highly charged campaign ahead of national elections on March 15. Wilders' Party for Freedom, which currently holds 12 seats in Parliament's lower house, is polling strongly ahead of the vote.
Wilders' party has long advocated banning migration to the Netherlands from Muslim nations and even called on Trump in a tweet over the weekend to extend his ban to Saudi Arabia.
"President Trump has, in two weeks, pursued an immigration policy that is more effective than your entire Cabinet for as long as you have existed," Wilders told Koenders.
The Dutch government, meanwhile, has been pushing back at some of Trump's policies since he took office. On Tuesday, Koenders also said he was suspending talks with the U.S. about placing American border checks at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.
Dutch authorities also updated their official travel advisory for the U.S. to warn of the effects of Trump's new policy on Dutch citizens who have dual nationality with one of the seven nations affected.
In another move, the government announced on Saturday it is putting 10 million euros ($10.7 million) into an international fund it has launched to finance access to birth control, abortion and sex education for women in developing nations after Trump cut U.S. funding for such services.
French presidential candidate Francois Fillon not only paid his wife for an allegedly fake job as a parliamentary aide, but also employed two of the couple's children for the same positions, a weekly newspaper is reporting. Altogether, the aide work brought Fillon's family nearly $1 million.
The Canard Enchaine newspaper reports in its Wednesday's issue that Fillon's wife earned more money over a longer period than reported previously. Penelope Fillon made 830,000 euros ($900,000) over 15 years, not the 500,000 euros ($540,000) over eight years the weekly had reported last week.
Their daughter, Marie, and son, Charles, also were hired by Fillon as his parliamentary aides when he was a French senator in 2005-2007, earning 84,000 euros ($91,000) in total, the paper said, adding their actual jobs were "very evanescent."
The Conservative hopeful, one of the top contenders in the upcoming French presidential election, said Tuesday night he was the victim of a "very professional slander campaign."
Fillon has said he paid two of his children, "who were lawyers," for "specific assignments" when he was a senator.
However, Marie and Charles still were in law school when they worked for their father, French news media reported. And according to Le Canard Enchaine, they drew paychecks not for "specific assignments," but two full-time jobs.
Fillon has also said he first officially employed his wife in 1997 and that she had worked for him without pay before then.
The weekly newspaper says Penelope Fillon first worked as her husband's paid parliamentary aide in 1988-1990, earning the equivalent of 83,000 euros ($90,000) over three years.
The Canard also says Fillon rehired her for 1 years after he quit as prime minister and went back to a seat in Parliament in May 2012. Fillon has said she was on his payroll for six months during that period.
Last week, the newspaper reported Penelope also earned 100,000 euros ($108,000) as a literary consultant for a literary magazine, La Revue des Deux Mondes. The paper suggested that job also was a ruse, saying she wrote only two reviews in 2012-2013.
All figures cited by the Canard Enchaine were pre-tax salaries.
Fillon and his wife are under a preliminary probe by France's national financial prosecutors for suspicions of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds after The Canard Enchaine first disclosed the so-called "Penelopegate" last week.
The couple was separately questioned by investigators for five hours on Monday. During an evening event Tuesday, he said he was "confident, unworried" and waiting "for the end of this investigation."
The Conservative candidate said that to his knowledge, it was the first time in recent French history that "a campaign of such magnitude and so professional has been launched to try to eliminate a candidate otherwise than through the democratic way."
Earlier in the day, his team said that Fillon wants the investigation to advance as quickly as possible over whether his wife actually worked while being paid as his parliamentary aide. Fillon's campaign director, Patrick Stefanini, told reporters that the candidate doesn't want the investigation to "interfere with the democratic process."
Russian cybersecurity intelligence officers reportedly detained on treason charges are being accused of passing secrets to the CIA.
Sergei Mikhailov and Dmitry Dokuchaev, who worked for the cyber wing of Russia's FSB domestic intelligence service until their arrests in December, are accused of cooperating with the CIA, according to unnamed sources cited Tuesday by Interfax news agency.
No officials have publicly commented, but Russian media outlets with links to the security services have reported in detail on the case. An executive from cyber-security firm Kaspersky Lab has also reportedly been arrested on linked treason charges.
U.S. intelligence agencies have alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a campaign to influence the U.S. presidential election in favor of Donald Trump and that Russian spies hacked into the Democratic National Committee.
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Anti-corruption prosecutors in Romania say a government proposal to decriminalize some official misconduct will lead to an increase in corruption.
The National Anticorruption Directorate said Tuesday that the emergency ordinance the government is seeking would "encourage the abusive behavior of public workers, dishonesty, (and) immorality."
A draft of the proposal shows the government plans to pardon thousands of prisoners and decriminalize cases of official misconduct in which the financial damage is valued at less than 200,000 lei ($47,800.) Tens of thousands of Romanians have protested, saying the measure would weaken anti-graft efforts.
The government says the measure is needed to reduce prison overcrowding.
Justice Minister Florin Iordache has denied it was designed to benefit politicians, a number of whom have been caught up in the country's fight against high-level corruption.
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The tiny European nation of Slovenia is undergoing a tourism boom partly because it is the native country of U.S. first lady Melania Trump.
The national Statistics Bureau said Tuesday that the number of overnight stays in Slovenia by American tourists has jumped by 10 percent in 2016 when compared to 2015.
Nearly 4 million foreign tourists visited the country of 2 million in 2016, up by about 10 percent.
Slovenian tourist agencies have been organizing special tours "on the footsteps of Melania Trump" showing the places where she lived, studied and worked before she left in her 20s to pursue a modeling career.
A website promoting the Alpine nation of stunning natural beauty says: "Welcome to the homeland of the new First Lady of the United States of America!"
A southeastern Swedish city council has approved a deal with a Dutch subcontractor for Russia's Gazprom to store pipes in its harbor.
Sweden's government earlier said the deal could harm the country's defense and political interests. Officials said Monday the contractor, Wasco Coatings Europe BV, is not deemed to be a security risk.
In a 10-4 vote with one abstaining, the Baltic Sea port of Karlshamn decided Tuesday on the 100-million kronor ($11.3 million) deal with the subcontractor for Nord Stream 2.
Last month, a municipality on Sweden's strategic Baltic Sea island of Gotland rejected a similar request after government warnings it would be against the country's interests.
In Sweden and elsewhere in Europe there has been growing hesitancy to make the continent more dependent on Russian energy.
The British government has passed a law granting posthumous pardons to thousands of men who were convicted under now-abolished anti-homosexuality laws, and allowing those who are still alive to have their criminal records wiped clean.
The Ministry of Justice said Tuesday the pardons apply to men convicted for consensual same-sex relations before homosexuality was decriminalized several decades ago. Men living with convictions can apply to the government to have their names cleared.
Justice Minister Sam Gyimah says the "hurt caused" by the historic convictions can never be undone, "but we have apologized and taken action to right these wrongs."
Calls for a general pardon have noted the 1954 suicide of World War II codebreaking hero Alan Turing after his conviction for "gross indecency."
He received a royal pardon in 2013.
The U.S.-led coalition delivered armored vehicles to Syrian Arab fighters to aid in the fight against ISIS, a military spokesman confirmed to Fox News however, the delivery had been in the works for some time [and is] not new policy, despite earlier reports Tuesday.
NAVY SEAL KILLED IN YEMEN ANTI-TERROR RAID IS IDENTIFIED
Although the Baghdad-based spokesman, Col. John. Dorrian, said the recent transfer was the first time such vehicles were exchanged, he said it was merely the exercise of existing policy.
Reuters had reported earlier Tuesday that the U.S.-led coalition had boosted support for Syrian fighters in the days since President Trump was inaugurated.
The Reuters report inaccurately implied that U.S. weapons were transferred to Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Dorrian told Fox News.
There has been no change to current policy. The Department of Defense only provides training and material support to the Syrian Arab Coalition, he continued.
A Syrian Democratic Forces alliance spokesperson told Reuters the vehicles were a significant improvement in U.S. support. The SDF official attributed that to Trump taking office.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has granted his newly appointed vice president, Tareck El Aissami, unprecedented powers that include the approval of all ministries budgets, the appointment of vice ministers and full discretion to manage the expropriation of private businesses.
NEW 'ANTI-COUP SQUAD' IN VENEZUELA MONITORS, HUNTS OPPONENTS PERCEIVED AS RISK
The decree, made public Monday through the official gazette, states that the transfer of powers to El Assaimi, a self-professed radical Chavista, is aimed at "expediting the processing of certain matters.
Opposition leader Jesus Torrealba said Tuesday the decision represents a "progressive empowerment" of El Aissami, looking to gradually transform him into a "possible presidential candidate" of the socialist ruling party.
According to the constitution, if the president leaves office for any reason after three years in office (halfway through his term), the remainder of his term must be completed by the vice president.
Maduro started the second half of his term on January 10.
MOTHER ASKS TRUMP TO HELP FREE SON JAILED IN VENEZUELA
The son of a Lebanese mother and a Syrian father, the 42-year-old El Aissami is also one of the most obscure figures in government circles. He has been suspected of having ties to the Islamist militant group Hezbollah and is reportedly being investigated by U.S. prosecutors for possible involvement in drug trafficking.
Blink Fitness Signs Multi-Unit Development Agreement
23-Year McDonald's Franchise Industry Veteran Dean Panos to Bring a Luxury Experience to Value Fitness Across Central New York
January 31, 2017 // Franchising.com // NEW YORK - Blink Fitness, the premium-quality, value-based fitness club, announced today that it has signed a development agreement with franchise industry veteran Dean Panos to open five Blink Fitness locations in Central New York. Panos's clubs will join the more than 70 corporate-owned and operated locations open or in development throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
"I'm excited to introduce Blink to Central New York," said Panos, a Syracuse native whose family owned and operated 8 McDonald's restaurants in the Syracuse, Oswego and Auburn markets for over 45 years. "Blink is a great fit for the community and, beyond its beautifully-designed gyms, the brand's focus on how working out makes you feel rather than exclusively on how it makes you look is groundbreaking. Blink's thoughtful design, friendliness and impeccable cleanliness mirror how we ran our restaurants and played a big part in attracting me to the brand."
Panos's Blink Fitness gyms will be the first locations for the brand in Central New York. Site selection is currently underway for the first location, with the goal to open in late 2017. This multi-unit deal signifies meaningful growth for the brand as it plans for continued franchise and corporate expansion nationwide.
"We are truly pleased to welcome Dean into the Blink family. His franchise experience is incredible and he's also a tremendous cultural fit for us," said Todd Magazine, president of Blink Fitness. "We're looking forward to expanding into the Syracuse area. Blink offers a luxury member experience at an affordable price, and we're confident that Central New York will respond enthusiastically."
Aiming toward 300 locations over the next five years through franchise and corporate growth, Blink Fitness intends to transform the attitude Americans have towards exercise. Recently dubbed 'the Target of gyms' by Yahoo! Finance, Blink offers a distinguishing Feel Good Experience, with a commitment to providing modern and colorful design, elevated customer service, a relentless focus on cleanliness, energizing music and confidence-boosting training programs - all while offering memberships at a low cost (starting at just $15 per month).
Blink is also on a mission to change the rhetoric around fitness through its Mood Above Muscle philosophy. While the majority of the fitness industry touts unrealistic goals and perfect body images, Blink breaks an industry paradigm by celebrating the positive feeling their members get from working out as opposed to just the physical benefits. This concept comes to life in the company's latest ad campaign, "Every Body Happy," which features real Blink members of all shapes and fitness levels.
About Blink Fitness
Founded in 2011, Blink Fitness is a premium quality, value-based fitness brand with more than 70 locations open or in development throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Blink Fitness puts Mood Above Muscle which celebrates the positive feeling you get from exercise, not just the physical benefits. Each club employs the company's signature Feel Good Experience that highlights enthusiastic staff members, a clean environment, an open, spacious, and colorful design, energizing music and fitness training that is motivating and affordable.
For more information about Blink, visit blinkfitness.com. Franchising details are available on blinkfranchising.com. Blink Fitness has franchise opportunities available nationwide with a focus on the following markets: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Tampa and several areas of Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Facebook: BlinkFitness
Twitter: @BlinkFitness
Instagram: @Blink_Fitness
SOURCE Blink Fitness
Media Contact:
Sydney Trepel
All Points Public Relations
(847) 897-7494
strepel@allpointspr.com
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Christmas Decor to Shine Bright in 2017 with 40 Projected Openings
Holiday Lighting and Decorating Franchise Served 40,000 Properties in 2016, Boosting System-wide Revenues
DALLAS - January 31, 2017 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - On the heels of its big move to metropolitan Dallas in July 2016, Christmas Decor, the premier holiday lighting and decorating company in the United States, has laid the foundation for aggressive expansion in 2017. The new corporate headquarters combined with the increased demand for outsourced holiday lighting and decorating has created the perfect mix for the brands aggressive development. Looking forward to 2017, Christmas Decor expects 25 new franchise openings.
After nearly 30 years in Lubbock, Texas, Christmas Decor has made the move to Dallas for accessibility purposes to better serve its franchisees and in turn, its customers. Dallas proves to be one of the most stable economies in the country and the perfect place for Christmas Decor to set up shop and provide premier service to its nearly 300 markets across the country. The move comes nearly one year after The Decor Group, Christmas Decors parent company, acquired Barcana, one of the nations leading artificial tree manufactures. With room to more than triple the business with this new facility, Christmas Decor is marking the move as a reawakening of its brands.
We have taken several steps to position our company at the forefront of the holiday lighting and decorating industry, and have worked with our entire system to ensure success at the local level, said Brandon Stephens, president of Christmas Decor. With the right resources in place, 2017 is poised to be a remarkable year for us as we streamline operations, welcome new franchise owners to the system, and continue to build long-lasting relationships with customers in neighborhoods nationwide.
Over the past several years, the market for outsourcing holiday decorating services has skyrocketed as consumers find it safer and easier to hire companies like Christmas Decor to handle all of their outdoor residential decorating needs. With a 95+ percent customer approval rating and an average sales growth of 11 percent each year, the Christmas Decor concept serves as a topline add-on franchise opportunity for outdoor businesses.
Investing in an add-on franchise has proven extremely beneficial for seasonal franchisees as it helps to generate a consistent cash flow throughout the year, retain employees during the winter months, add extra service options for existing customers, and offer services to potential new customers.
Joining the Christmas Decor family has diversified my business and increased our revenue and profits, stated franchisee Troy Taylor. In addition to accelerating growth, my business has become overall stronger and allows key employees continued growth within the organization.
As experts in the service industry, Christmas Decor franchisees bring with them extensive experience and training, producing unparalleled results and top customer service. In addition to offering custom designs to ensure every home is unique, Christmas Decor installs, maintains, takes down, and stores customers holiday decorations, alleviating decorating stress while delivering the look customers want within a reasonable budget.
We look for franchisee candidates who have an entrepreneurial spirit and are also passionate about giving back over the holiday season, said Stephens. Weve found that the most successful franchisees believe in the Christmas Decor concept as not only a prosperous add-on business, but also as a great way to support community outreach and attract loyal clientele.
Operating in more than 350 markets and 48 states, Christmas Decor, Inc. is the largest professional holiday and event decorating franchise. The company offers complete decorating service programs including display design, installation, maintenance and removal of holiday lighting and decorations.
For more information about Christmas Decor and its franchise opportunity, please visit www.christmasdecor.net.
About Christmas Decor
Since its inception in 1986, Christmas Decor has risen to become the premier holiday lighting and decorating company in North America. The Texas-based company was founded by Blake Smith as an off-season supplement to his landscape business and as a method to provide year-round work for employees. Christmas Decor quickly emerged as a viable business opportunity and today, operates in more than 350 markets in 48 states and Canada. Christmas Decor is highly revered in its field and has received consistent recognition for its efforts, including its popular Decorated Family Program which has been featured on The TODAY Show,TIME.com, CNN and FOX, among others. For more information, visit www.christmasdecor.net.
SOURCE Christmas Decor
Contact:
Kelly McNamara
Fishman Public Relations
(847) 945-1300 x267
KMcNamara@fishmanpr.com
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Express Employment Professionals Puts a Record 510,000 People to Work
Posts Record Sales of $3.05 Billion in 2016
January 31, 2017 // Franchising.com // OKLAHOMA CITY - Express Employment Professionals announced record-setting sales for 2016, with franchisees generating $3.05 billion in sales. More importantly, the company helped a record 510,000 people find jobs last year compared to 500,002 in 2015.
We have a long-term goal to put a million people to work annually and we are more than half way there, said Bob Funk, Express Employment Professionals CEO and chairman of the board.
Sales are up 152 percent since 2009 as staffing companies have become a significant driver of the nations job growth.
More businesses plan to hire in 2017 and thats a promising sign for our economy, Funk said. As businesses grow, we are here to help them respond to real-time market conditions and meet production demands.
The growth we've seen in our company is a testament to the culture of Express, Funk said. We have an incredible support team dedicated to helping people succeed at the franchise level, and our franchisees are personally invested in seeing their communities grow and thrive. They have a laser focus on helping as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people.
In 2016, Staffing Industry Analysts named Express one of the largest industrial staffing companies, as well as one of the largest office/clerical staffing firms. The staffing giant, with international headquarters based in Oklahoma City, was named one of the best franchises to buy, according to Forbes 2016 ranking of Americas best franchises. The staffing franchise ranks fifth among franchises with an investment level less than $150,000.
The staffing industry is booming, and Express is ranked No. 1 in its category on the 2017 Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list for the sixth year in a row, Funk said. This was the magazines 38th year for its annual list and we were ranked 31 overall. We are in good company among many of the top international franchise brands.
With more than 770 offices in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, Express Employment Professionals offers a full range of employment solutions, including evaluation hire, temporary staffing, professional search and human resources.
Designated a World-Class Franchise by FranSurvey for the past 11 years, Express awarded 56 franchise locations in 2016. Driven by a passion to put people to work, Express Employment Professionals is on an aggressive expansion campaign to reach 800 franchise locations in 2017, including territories in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, Miami and Chicago. The staffing company also has available territories in Louisiana, Ohio and specifically Erie, Pennsylvania and Burlington, Vermont.
For more information about Express Employment Professionals, visit ExpressPros.com. If you are interested in owning an Express franchise, visit ExpressFranchising.com.
About Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $3.05 billion in sales and employed a record 510,000 people in 2016. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.
SOURCE Express Employment Professionals
Contact:
Sherry Kast
APR, Fellow PRSA
Director of Corporate Communications and PR
Express Employment Professionals
(405) 840-5000
sherry.kast@ExpressPros.com
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A King George man has been charged with four offenses after being accused of ripping off a couple who contracted with him for tile work in Stafford County.
Sheriffs spokeswoman M.C. Morris Moncure said deputies went to Lowes at 299 Banks Ford Parkway Saturday for a reported disturbance. The first deputy who arrived was informed by a loss prevention officer that two men and a woman were involved in a heated dispute.
The deputy separated the combatants and interviewed them. He learned that the suspect had been hired by the couple to replace some tile in a residential rental property.
On Friday, police said, the suspect accompanied the woman to Lowes, where she purchased approximately $700 worth of tile. Both she and the contractor got receipts for the tile.
Later that day, Moncure said, the woman returned to Lowes with her receipt to claim a military discount. She was told that some of the tile shed purchased earlier had already been returned for a refund.
The next morning, Moncure said, the woman sent the contractor a text message telling him to discontinue the project. She then received a call from the tenants informing her that the contractor was at the home picking up more tile.
The woman and her husband drove to Lowes, where they found the contractor and confronted him about the suspected theft.
Moncure said video provided by loss prevention and viewed by police supported the couples claim.
Corey Alan Henry Estevez, 28, of Comorn Road in King George was charged with grand larceny, obtaining money by false pretenses, felony larceny and attempting to obtain money by false pretenses.
He was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 24 in Stafford General District Court.
More than two years after 19-year-old Corey Clanagan was stabbed to death at a Halloween party in Culpeper County, all six Fredericksburg-area defendants charged in his death have now had their day in court.
Ricardo Domiko Powell, 27, of Spotsylvania County pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice Monday in Culpeper County Circuit Court as part of an agreement with the commonwealth, which dropped a murder charge.
Judge Susan Whitlock sentenced Powell to two years in jail for his actions in the early morning hours after Clanagans slaying on Nov. 1, 2014.
According to Culpeper County Sheriffs Office Investigator Justin Brown, Powell was a passenger in a car driven by co-defendant Tyrece Branchcomb after the slaying. As a higher-ranking member of a local subset of the Bloods gang, Powell instructed Branchcomb where to go, what to do and to not stop as they fled the scene of the house party on Cherry Hill Road, Brown said.
In the same car with them was Daniel Akordor, now serving life in prison following his conviction on a first-degree murder charge in December.
Whitlock gave Powell credit for the more than two years he has already served in jail since his arrest Nov. 18, 2014, but he continued to be held Monday for a 2008 felony robbery conviction in Chesterfield County for which he served two years. Powell was still on probation for that crime the night Clanagan was killed.
Powell remained silent Monday when asked by the judge if he wanted to say anything. Defense attorney Jason Anthony of Richmond offered an apology on his clients behalf, saying he couldnt imagine how anybody involved wasnt sorry. Everybody involved in this case has been deeply impacted by its degree of violence, he said.
Culpeper County Commonwealths Attorney Paul Walther spoke about the appropriateness of the plea deal, saying it was based on Powells criminal history and actions the night of Clanagans slaying. The prosecutor added that Powell was prepared to be a witness at Akordors trial, but his testimony was not needed.
After sentencing Monday, Brown said he was happy the cases were completed.
The family will never have closure, but we were able to give them some resolution to what happened, he said. Everyone was held accountable.
At previous sentencing hearings, Branchcomb received two-and-half years for being an accessory after the fact to murder; Jonathan Milton received 10 years for the nonfatal shooting of another partygoer; Donell Easter received three years for being an accessory after the fact to murder and Tonie Jones received four years and four months for malicious wounding for bringing the gun used in the shooting to the party.
About 100 University of Mary Washington students, professors, administrators, family and friends stood hand-in-hand in silence Monday night to protest President Donald Trumps executive order restricting immigration.
The only sounds during the 30-minute protest were footsteps, the whirring of a passing bike, sniffles in the freezing January air and an airplane overhead.
Freshman Emily Gaetjen told the crowd at the start that she organized the protest to show solidarity with those not able to come to a land we call free.
This order is against the values of this country that so many fought for, including our Muslim brothers and sisters, she said.
President Donald Trumps executive order Friday included a 90-day ban on seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also suspended all refugee admissions for 120 days.
Gaetjen, a freshman, said in an interview that she heard stories about how the ban affected her Muslim friends and wanted to create a place for support to be seen.
This country was built on immigration and refugees, she said.
The majority of UMWs roughly 40 international students are short-term exchange students here for a semester, said Jose Sainz, director of UMWs Center for International Education and professor of Spanish.
Some, including one student from Iraq and one from Sudan who is traveling on a Saudi Arabian passport, are at the school for four years.
Eisha Raja, a senior and president of the Islamic Student Association, also spoke at the protest, thanking those gathered for their support.
Islam is a religion of peace and unity. A lot of people dont realize that, Raja said.
Alex Clegg, Student Government Association president, postponed the groups meeting so its members could attend the protest.
Student government tries to stay out of political issues, but this is less political and more human rights, he said.
Delsa Bambao, a sophomore political science major, attended the protest in support of her parents, naturalized citizens who immigrated from the Philippines and sacrificed everything for me and my brother.
Nabil Al-Tikriti, professor of Middle East history at UMW, attended the protest. A longtime advocate of humanitarian issues, he said what the ban implies about this government is very ominous.
For those who want to help immigrants, he said calling elected representatives is a good start. For those who speak Arabic and Farsi, translators are needed at Dulles International Airport, he said.
Sainz, who attended the protest, has been working since Friday to communicate with international students at the school.
His office reached out to all students from the affected countries and advised them not to leave the United States.
If they must leave the country, Sainz said, he advised them to speak first with an immigration attorney. He also encouraged any students with questions to talk with people who work in his office.
He said the department has not been contacted by the Department of Homeland Security with any directives. In his decade of involvement with the study-abroad program and six years directing the center, Sainz said he has never had to deal with anything like this.
These students are here with a visa vetted by the government, he said. They are good students here to get an education.
With heartwarming irony, a pair of hunters concern for two cold and apparently abandoned black bear cubs led to their rescue last weekend.
Unfortunately, one of the cubs died a day after biologists from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries picked them up. But its sibling is still at the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro, waiting to get back in the woods.
In Lunenburg County, located in southcentral Virginia, about 130 miles west of Norfolk, the two rabbit hunters were out in the woods when they heard two bear cubs crying. They could see the young bears but saw no sign of the sow. At that point, they did the smart thing by not approaching the cubs.
Wherever cubs are seen, the mother is usually not too far away (although that turned out not to be the case this time). And if a sow senses her young are being threatened or are otherwise in danger, she could attack. Its one of the few situations in which black bears, usually shy creatures who try to keep their distance from people in most situations, will attack a human without being directly provoked.
Instead, once it became clear that the cubs were alone, the hunters called the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to alert the agency to the cubs location, just in case the mother did not return for her young.
Many hunters are nature enthusiasts and wildlife conservationists, Amanda Nicholson, director of outreach with the Wildlife Center, said.
The cubs were left alone until the next day, Nicholson said, when there was still no sign of the mother.
So VDGIF intervened at that point, she explained.
One of the cubs had crawled out of their den and was cold and wet. The biologists warmed and rehydrated both animals, but one of the cubs died that same night.
The remaining cub was transported to the Wildlife Center, where it was estimated to be just 10 days old, and found to be in good health.
The cub was examined, given subcutaneous fluids and then set up in an incubator, Nicholson said. The rehabilitators fed the cub around-the-clock and took turns taking feeding shifts to ensure the cub was getting enough nutrition throughout the night.
VDGIF started checking other dens for a surrogate mother for the cub. Last fall, they collared 10 female bears in hopes of using them as surrogate moms in situations like this.
The abandoned cub was placed in a den on Wednesday. However, there were no signs of activity so they retrieved the cub and brought it back to the WCV.
They will continue to try to find a new den and surrogate mother. VDGIF biologists will pick up the cub today to try out another den.
Nicholson praised the hunters, saying they did the proper thing by assessing the situation and calling VDGIF.
In this case, there were no signs of the mother, but we dont want people to bear-nap bears accidentally, she said. Its best to give it time to see if the mother comes back. If anyone is ever concerned about a bear situation, they should call VDGIF.
They will probably never know what happened to the cubs mother.
The sow couldve left the den and been injured, Nicholson hypothesized. She may also have been startled and abandoned the cubs. While that doesnt happen frequently, it does happen in the wild, particularly with new, first-time sows.
To follow the cub, visit wildlifecenter.org. Patient updates can be found under the News and Events tab.
Amid the weekend tumult over President Donald Trumps executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, Walter Hansens two-man sign shop in Waynesboro was besieged.
As protesters massed and lawyers descended on airports across the country offering to help anyone ensnared in the confusion over what the ban meant, Hansen was bombarded with requests for a simple design that originated with a Mennonite church in Harrisonburg.
Its just me and my brother here, Hansen said. Ive had to call in my parents, my wife all of my local stuff has gone to the back burner; Ive been doing nothing but packing these all day.
While proponents and critics of the ban clashed over issues of national security, constitutionality and patriotism in an ideological battle for the soul of this country, Hansen got to work at Viking Forge Design on a simpler message: Love thy neighbor.
The tri-colored posters originated from a simple, handpainted wooden sign that was erected at Immanuel Mennonite Church during the surging partisan rhetoric of the presidential primaries.
Church pastor Matthew Bucher said he felt compelled to take action after listening to the first Republican primary debate in August 2015.
I was so disheartened by the way they talked about newcomers to this country, Bucher said. Things were so divisive, and I just thought, This cant be who we are.
He consulted with his congregants, and the first sign went up on the grounds of the church, which is in an area of the city first founded by former slaves.
We have a rich history here, and we want to build on that by opening our arms to all comers, Bucher said.
The first sign was black and white and handpainted, bearing the same message of the colorful versions that followed: No matter where you are from, were glad youre our neighbor, it states, in English, Spanish and Arabic.
The languages were those most likely to be spoken in the neighborhoods surrounding the church, Bucher said. The first signs went to the Immanuel congregation and other faith groups in the city.
On Monday, workers at the adjacent child care center that keeps the posters in stock arrived to more voicemails than they could handle.
Theres no way of knowing exactly how many have gone out at this point, Bucher said. Its well over 4,000 across the U.S. and some in Canada.
Rancor and acrimony have driven sales: As election season heated up, so too did demand, he said. There have been reports of signs being ripped out in the Harrisonburg area in recent months, but Bucher said most concerns have been worked out over cups of coffee.
I would say that if someone is upset by this message, if theres fear or anger, we should seek to listen to them, Bucher said.
Both Hansen, in Waynesboro, and Conrad Gross, who distributed the signs in the Washington area, say demand surged over the weekend after Trumps ban on Syrian refugees.
This weekend definitely saw an uptick in interest, said Gross, who is preparing a fresh batch.
The administration has said the ban on Syrians and a 90-day clampdown on arrivals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen follows through on a campaign promise Trump made to protect Americans.
Chaos erupted at major hub airports across the country as several federal judges issued temporary injunctions targeting aspects of the order.
Virginias attorney general, Mark R. Herring, issued a formal request to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for information about U.S. Customs and Border Protection actions over the weekend at Dulles International Airport.
Trump took to Twitter on Monday morning to say that 109 people had been detained due to the order.
There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country, Trump stated online. This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world!
Hansen said that locally, many people seem to support Trumps views but noted that Amazon orders for the signs to ship across the country have soared.
This is Trump country; theres not a lot of diversity here, he said of Waynesboro. But a lot of people feel like no one chose to be born in a war-torn country, and people should feel welcomed.
Hansen and Gross are named by the church as distributors in a list posted to the Welcome Your Neighbors campaign Facebook page. But the churchs website also offers free downloads of different variations of the sign in case anyone wants to replicate it.
This is our version of an election campaign sign, Bucher said. Its a statement of how we want to live.
The church asks that anyone making the posters donate proceeds to a nonprofit in your local community as another step in building a welcoming community. Bucher said their proceeds have gone toward the Roberta Webb Child Care Center.
Hansen plans to make his donation to a local group supporting refugees, but he has a problem: Amazon, noticing his sales rapidly surging to more than 100 a day, has temporarily frozen his account.
They think Im a scammer because of the volume, he said. I havent seen a dime, but Im going to keep printing and shipping them as long as people want this message out there.
AMERICANS do not simply rely on electric powerit is required for our existence as much as our modern way of life.
So the recent news of a cyber attack at a Vermont utility understandably caused alarm. Although authorities later corrected the report and stated that the compromised computer in question was not linked to the electric grid, the Grizzly Steppe incident highlighted a greater issue: the vulnerability of Americas electrical grids.
A successful cyber attack on the electric grid could cause extensive blackouts that disrupt the economy, put lives at risk and impair our national defense capabilities. Such an attack on Ukraines electric grid, for example, put up to 225,000 consumers in the dark for several hours in December 2015.
A fundamental responsibility of government is to protect the countrys infrastructure, but policymakers must be measured in their approach. The hysteria of the moment ought not dictate cybersecurity policies. This real threat also must not be used, knee-jerk, as justification for new federal regulations that may ultimately do more harm than good by both reducing state sovereignty and impeding innovation in the cybersecurity sector.
Thankfully, political leadership recognizes the need for a considered approach to cyber attack risk management that starts with research. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators including Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, and Angus King, I-Maine, take this perspective in the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, legislation they recently re-introduced.
The Vermont grid was not, in fact, breached and other states have reported no suspicious activity. The cyber attack focused on one of the utilitys business operations computers. The business operation computers are separate from the system that controls the grid.
During the investigation, utility and federal authorities determined the computer was infected with a common hacking toolkit. Initial reports were wrong because people jumped to conclusions rather than taking a measured approach.
States need smart, adaptable industry solutions that leverage private-sector innovation, work at the state and local level, and support the capabilities available in cybersecurity today along with talent acquisition and training policies that will ensure cybersecurity technology remains cutting edge. If states prepare to the best of their abilities now, the public and policymakers are less likely to enter into a complete panic if, one day, hackers do breach the grid.
Policymakers must devote themselves to understanding the ever-evolving cyber attack threat to critical infrastructure, what it will cost to protect against it, and which technological innovations are required to keep America safe. This understanding should inform approaches to grid modernization efforts, which must adjust to the reality that more tools from toasters to microgrids are becoming digitally interconnected. Policies will need to be updatedor, in some cases, scrapped altogetherto allow technology to innovate enough to address the national security related vulnerabilities existing in what is known in the vernacular as the Internet of Things.
The U.S. power grid is not a singular system. As more internet-based devices are entered into these gridsotherwise innocuous devices that allow for remote viewing, entry and access of systems and that maintain their own inherent security gapsthe overall resilience across all systems could be compromised if America does not prepare.
Improving both education and policy environments to encourage innovation entrepreneurship will incentivize entrepreneurs and young people to enter the cybersecurity field. This will provide our nation with a bench of ready, capable experts who will create new jobs and remain on the cutting edge of the latest technology. There is already a general shortage of much needed cyber security talent, further underscoring Americas need to focus on cultivating the next generation of white hats, the hackers who work to protect us from the hackers who seek to do us harm.
The electrical grid may be vulnerable to cyber attack, but that doesnt mean it must remain that way. The electricity sector is one of the only industries presently required by federal law to protect against, and prepare for, cyber attack. Avoiding new regulations inspired by hysterical over-reaction rather than measured response to the true need, and providing educational and economic opportunity to the next generation of cybersecurity innovators are just a few of the solutions policymakers can foster to ensure critical infrastructure systems remain safe from attack.
Sarah E. Hunt is the director for the Center for Innovation and Technology. Jonathon Hauenschild is the director of the communications and technology task force at American Legislative Exchange Council. They wrote this for InsideSources.com.
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Benton Habitat for Humanity has opened up its search for its next housing construction project.
The organization, which is in its 25th year and already has helped build 37 houses, has scheduled four meetings at which prospective families can learn about how to participate in a project.
The first meeting is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. today at United Pentecostal Church, 444 N.W. 15th St. Future meetings are set for 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist, 1165 N.W. Monroe Ave.; 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at First Christian Church, 602 S.W. Madison Ave.; and 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Grace Lutheran Church, 435 N.W. 21st St.
Benton Habitat officials say families are considered for the housing program based on the following criteria: they must have a need for adequate shelter, have the financial stability to pay the mortgage, be willing to work with Habitat and provide sweat equity, be a resident of Benton County and be able to verify citizenship or permanent residency.
Interested families with questions should call the family services coordinator at 541-752-3354 or email tabitha@bentonhabitat.org.
Oregon State University has 91 students from Iran. Another 31 are from Iraq. Fourteen are Libya, three are from Yemen, two are from Sudan and one is from Syria, according to fall 2016 enrollment figures.
And as of Friday night, if any of those students left the country over spring break, not one of them would be able to return to the United States in time for spring term, under an executive order from President Donald Trump that prohibits citizens of seven majority Muslim nations from entering the United States for a period of 90 days.
Protests against the actions drew an estimated 500 people to the Benton County Courthouse Monday night.
Sami Al-AbdRabbuh, a recently appointed member of the Corvallis School Board and former Progressive candidate for the Oregon House of Representatives, gave the central address at the protest, telling the crowd that he was a Muslim and his mother was a refugee.
He called on the crowd to call Oregons senators and U.S. House members daily until they pass legislation to revoke the order.
Today we bend the moral arc of history, the moral arc of the universe, toward justice, Al-AbdRabbuh said.
He added that the United States was founded by people who were fleeing religious persecution, and protesting this action was a way to support the values that had made America great.
Today we rise up so we can let those in Washington know we will not tolerate the defilement of our values.
State Sen. Sara Gelser also spoke at the event, telling the protesters that they were on the right side of history and saying they needed to raise their voices in opposition.
This is not the time for being polite. Its the time for doing the right thing, she said.
'Angry and disappointed'
OSU President Ed Ray said in a statement Monday that the university has many students, faculty and staff from the countries named in the order, but the university was unaware of any who were traveling internationally when the order was issued.
I am angry and disappointed over the (order) issued last week regarding U.S. immigration policy changes and the ability to travel abroad," Ray wrote in an email to the OSU community. "These orders lack detail, are being unevenly implemented, and have created anxiety, uncertainty and hardship among thoroughly vetted refugees, immigrants, those with green cards and their families and friends, Ray said in an email to the OSU community.
Ray reiterated his commitment to the universitys sanctuary campus policy, but also said the university will comply with federal law.
As a sanctuary university, OSU does not hinder or prevent the federal governments deportation activities, but OSU has chosen not to participate in those actions nor will it provide information to the federal government to aid in those actions, unless required in specific instances by court order or an emergency health or safety situation, he wrote.
Amarah Khan, director of OSUs Etihad Cultural Center, which serves students from southern and western Asia and northern Africa (regions that contain the seven nations affected by the order), told the Gazette-Times that many students have sought her advice since Friday.
However, she said, the university has been referring students with questions to the free legal services the Associated Students of OSU offers to students.
She said the university couldnt even tell students whether to travel, for fear that it would give students bad advice, especially considering the uncertainties surrounding the order.
A representative of the student legal services program funded by ASOSU said an immigration attorney is in the office just one day a week and that the lawyer was booked up until at least Feb. 10.
Khan, who came to the United States from Pakistan in 2003, said she was reluctant to speak about the reactions of the diverse group of students from the affected countries, but that many reacted with disbelief and anger before settling into sadness.
Students are deeply hurt, even those who dont plan to travel immediately, she said.
Khan said the students have lost trust in the system because none of the rules governing immigration seem to apply anymore. And the students are in a tough position, she said, because many are here with their education sponsored by their home countries; officials in those countries often advise the students not to speak about political issues. And a cultural desire to be good guests in the United States also prevents many from speaking up, Khan said.
A lot of international students dont speak up about their own plight, she said.
Khan said because of these pressures, few students from the affected countries would likely participate in protests like the one at the courthouse, but she added that she and the students appreciate the shows of support.
We are heartbroken, she said.
[An initial version of this story incorrectly stated which of Sami Al-AbdRabbuh's parents was a refugee.]
This log includes incidents in which there might have been a public disturbance or a risk to the public. Information comes from the Corvallis Police Department, the Benton County Sheriffs Office and Oregon State Police. It does not include all calls for service. The status of incidents might change after further investigation. Locations are approximate. People arrested or suspected in crimes are considered innocent until proven otherwise.
Corvallis Police Department
SUNDAY, JAN. 29
METH: 9:21 a.m., 777 N.W. Kings Blvd. An officer arrested Joshua John Leroy Reith, 36, of Corvallis, after a caller reported he was acting erratically and walking down a street with a Winco shopping cart. Reith reportedly had a lost or stolen bike in the cart and drug paraphernalia on his person that tested positive for methamphetamine. He was charged with theft of lost or mislaid property and unlawful possession of methamphetamine.
SATURDAY, JAN. 28
DUII: 3:25 p.m., Northwest Circle Boulevard and Northwest Kings Boulevard. An officer responding to a report of a woman passed out in her vehicle in the turn lane arrested Debra Runnion, 56, of Corvallis, for a charge of DUII. She reportedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.19 percent.
Benton County Sheriffs Office
SUNDAY, JAN. 29
METH: 8:45 a.m., 190 N.W. Fourth St. After a jail deputy reportedly found a small foil-wrapped package of methamphetamine in Valerie Dawn Provstgaards bra, another deputy arrested her. Provstgaard, 27, of Hubbard, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine and supplying contraband drugs.
DUII: 3:03 a.m., Northwest Ninth Street and Northwest Fremont Avenue. A deputy arrested Paula Rose Buck, 34, of Corvallis for a charge of DUII. She reportedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent.
SATURDAY, JAN. 28
DUII: 1:25 a.m., Highway 34 bypass. An officer arrested Christopher John Brown, 59, of Sherwood, for a charge of DUII. Brown reportedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.11 percent.
SUNDAY, JAN. 22
STRANGULATION: 12:54 p.m., 5000 block Northwest Wintercreek Drive. A deputy arrested Jared Michael Noyes, 23, of Corvallis, after he allegedly punched a woman in her face, carried her across a room and put her in a choke hold. He was charged with fourth degree assault, strangulation, second degree kidnapping and harassment.
Eight men sentenced : Robbing churches to support Jihad
Foto: dpa
Cologne A court sentenced eight men to prison for burglarizing churches in Cologne and Siegen to fund Jihad fighters in Syria. Chalices, crosses and other items of value were stolen.
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They needed money to arm Jihadists in Syria, and stole from nonbelievers to finance the operation - from Christian churches of all places. In Cologne and Siegen. For more than three years, they stole chalices, crosses, lights and other valuables. Sometimes, they would climb in through a window, other times they would pry open a door to the sacristy or try to break open a safe. On Monday in Cologne, after a long trial, verdicts were handed down to eight men: prison sentences ranging from two years and seven months to four years and ten months.
The perpetrators belonged to the Salafist scene, some of them sympathizing strongly with the terror group ISIS, according to the presiding judge of the district court, Ralf-Peter Sossna. They were convicted mainly on charges of organized theft, but in some cases, dangerous assault was included. Sossna said there was not enough evidence to suggest they were planning a dangerous act of violence in Germany. The judge also said there was not sufficient proof that significant amounts of money from the burglaries was channeled to fighters in Syria.
Between the ages of 24 and 37-years-old, the judge painted a picture of the men as becoming increasingly radicalized. Some posted videos showing beheadings, others spread ISIS propaganda pictures. They were under pressure in their social surrounding, said Sossna. If they werent going to go and fight themselves, they should at least contribute financial support to their fellow believers.
State prosecutors had recommended sentences of three-and-a-half to seven years for the men. During the 90 days of the trial, 340 tapped telephone conversations were played in court. These phone conversations played an important role in the convictions.
Honor V9 smartphone spotted on TENAA with 6GB RAM News oi -Samden Sherpa Huawei's sub-brand Honor V9 has passed through TENAA which means the phone will be out in China soon.
With the MWC event coming up, Huawei one of the top Chinese smartphone manufacturers looks to be very busy these days. Busy is the sense that the company might be planning to showcase several devices at MWC.
Moreover, there are many reports floating around the internet about what the company could announce at the event.
Besides, earlier reports have indicated that Huawei's P10 and P10 Lite was spotted on the TENAA. And just as we thought Huawei was fixed on launching these smartphone, another smartphone has been spotted on the TENNA Listing. The device that has been spotted is reportedly the Honor V9.
Google Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 will not get Android Nougat 7.1.2 update
However, the fact that Honor V9 has passed through TENAA, it could only mean one thing, the phone will be launched in China soon. The Honor V9 will be the successor to the Honor V8 and is expected to come with some premium features.
As for the specifications of the smartphone (model number DUK-TL30) that has been listed on TENNA, the smartphone comes with a 5.7-inch QHD display screen and 6GB RAM.
In addition, the smartphone includes a 2.4GHz Kirin 960 octa-core processor, dual SIM support, 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, 128GB built-in storage, microSD card slot, 12MP rear camera, 2MP selfie cam, and a 3900mAh battery. Connectivity options and sensors include 4G LTE, GPS, VoLTE, USB, Bluetooth, and Infrared.
A new leaked image of Meizu Pro 7 shows off dual curved display
Several photos have been published on TENAA and it does reveal what the Honor V9 looks like. Design-wise there are not many changes and the smartphone appears to be like any older Huawei phones that have been launched earlier.
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This new Moto Mod will add wireless charging and IR blaster to Moto Z series News oi -Rohit The new Moto Mod is in testing phase and is said to add wireless charging and IR blaster to the popular Moto Z series of smartphones
If there's a smartphone that made headlines for innovation in the year 2016, it was Moto Z, and its sibling Moto Z Play. The smartphones brought modular design to real world with the help of back shells, which Motorola calls Moto Mods. However the steep pricing of these detachable rear shells and lack of compelling real world options restricts them to be the mainstream mobile accessory.
SEE ALSO:Vivo V5 Plus review
But that might change in the coming years as unlike Google; Motorola is not giving up and is continuously providing assistance to developers in building new exciting Moto Mods that will shape the future of modular smartphone technology. The most recent example of one such collaboration is 'Ultimate' Moto Mod, which is designed under 'Transform the Smartphone' challenge and aims to add a number of useful features to Moto Z series.
SEE ALSO: Moto G5 to come with fast charging support and charger
The detachable rear shell which as per 9to5Google is a bit thicker than a regular Moto shell case is in testing phase and aims to add Qi wireless charging, which is currently available through some Moto Z battery mods. The website further mentions that the prototype in development needs to be plugged in to work, however the final product will use magnetic pins to connect to Moto Z devices and will also add IR blaster to the handsets, enabling them to control other electronic devices such as TVs, sound systems, etc.
Besides, it is worth mentioning that unlike the previous mods that start at a price of Rs. 5,999 in the Indian market, the 'Ultimate' mod will be priced around $35 (Rs. 2,500) via crowd funding at IndieGoGo. This can yield a good response from consumers who are doubtful in spending a huge amount for the detachable accessories.
Motorola plans to launch a dozen of Moto mods in this year that will work with the company's future smartphones.
Stay tuned on Gizbot for more on the exciting Moto Mods.
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Rumored specs
As per the CPU-Z listing, the Moto G5 Plus will feature a 5.5-inch Full HD display. At the heart of the device will be a Snapdragon 625 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage space.
It is believed to come with a 12MP camera on the back and a 5MP selfie camera at the front. A 3,100mAh battery is expected to provide juice for the handset and given the fact that most of the Moto smartphones already received the Nougat update, the smartphone should boot Nougat out-of-the-box.
Pricing details
Earlier, the Moto G5 was rumored to be priced around USD 250 (approximately Rs. 16,966) and the Plus variant is expected to come with a USD 300 (approximately Rs. 20,359) price tag.
However, according to the latest leak, the Moto G5 is expected to be priced around BRL 1099 (roughly Rs. 23,864) and the Moto G5 Plus is rumored to be priced at BRL 1499 (roughly Rs. 32,549).
Mind you, these are merely rumors and should be considered with a pinch of salt. That said, considering the rumored specs, we don't think the Moto G5 Plus will bear such a steep price.
Should face some serious competition
The Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus when launched next month, should face some serious competition from the likes of Xiaomi's Redmi Note 4, and the company's own Lenovo Vibe P2 both of which come with similar specs.
Click here for a quick comparison between the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 and Moto G5 Plus and here for a spec comparison between the Lenovo P2 and Moto G5 Plus.
Only price will decide if the next Gen Moto G smartphone can beat both these smartphones to be the ultimate winner.
Our opinion
From the rumored specs, it is quite clear that the Moto G5 Plus will be an incremental update over its predecessor. Akin to its predecessor, we expect to see a capable camera on the G5 and G5 Plus.
Pricing will be the deciding factor. It'll be interesting to see how the device will be priced in India given that the company's own Z2 Plus ships at Rs. 14,999. For the unaware, the Lenovo Z2 Plus was launched in September last year and offers flagship-level hardware (Snapdragon 820 chipset).
Although it will be comparing apples and oranges, here's a quick spec comparison between Lenovo Z2 Plus and Moto G5 Plus in case you are wondering.
Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus visits Geekbench; Key specs come to light News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu This mid-range tablet might be launched at MWC 2017.
Lenovo Tab 3 8 Plus seems to be in the making as the device has been spotted on Geekbench. The tablet with the code number TB-8703F has been spotted on the benchmark database revealing some of the key specifications.
As per the benchmark listing, the Lenovo tablet might arrive with an 8-inch display with FHD 1080p resolution. The device is listed to employ an octa-core 2.02GHz Snapdragon 626 chipset that is made using 14nm process to reduce heat generation, increase the power efficiency and performance in comparison to the other chipsets.
The Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus is claimed to arrive with 3GB RAM with two internal storage options - 32GB and 64GB respectively. Both the variants are said to support expandable storage with the help of a micro SD card. The tablet is claimed to have achieved a score of 935 in the single-core test and 4667 in the multi-core test.
Lenovo K6 Power new variant going on sale via Flipkart at 12 PM
The Lenovo tab appears to use a 4,250mAh battery that will power enougb juice to the device and boot Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Given the features and specifications of the Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus, it appears like Lenovo will push out an Android Nougat update as soon as the device is released.
The upcoming Lenovo tab is likely to arrive in two models - Wi-Fi and LTE variants. A few months back, the images of the device were leaked speculating the presence of an 8MP main snapper and a 5MP front-facing selfie shooter on board. The tablet is also claimed to arrive with GPS and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity support.
Lenovo PHAB2 Pro, Tango smartphone launched in India at Rs. 29,990
As of now, the release date of the Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus is not known, but it is most likely possible for the company to host a press conference at the MWC 2017 next month in Barcelona to announce this new tablet. It will be a mid-range tablet from the company that already has the Yoga lineup of premium tablets.
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AF buys next lot of Pegasus tankers
By 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs / Published January 30, 2017
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- The Air Force has awarded a $2.1 billion contract to Boeing for the third Low Rate Initial Production lot of KC-46A Pegasus tankers.
This award includes 15 aircraft and associated spare parts. The first two production lots for seven and 12 aircraft respectively were awarded in August 2016. This award brings the total number of tankers purchased by the Air Force to 34.
"This program is moving forward at a steady rate," said Brig. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, the program executive officer for tankers. "We are getting aircraft on contract and moving them down the production line, meeting test requirements, and preparing for 'iron on the ramp'."
The first aircraft delivery is scheduled for McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, which is the first active duty Air Force operating location (OL) for the Pegasus. That delivery will be followed by deliveries to Altus AFB, Oklahoma, the Pegasus training location, and Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire, the second OL.
"Placing an order for another 15 aircraft is an important milestone for the KC-46 program," said Col. John Newberry, the KC-46 System Program manager. "I know the warfighter is excited about bringing this next generation capability into the inventory."
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U.S. 'Iron Soldiers' Stand Ready in Europe
From a U.S. European Command News Release
ZAGAN, Poland, Jan. 30, 2017 The Army's 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is ready for any mission, U.S. European Command's deputy commander, Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy M. Ray, said at the unit's consolidation and validation event here Jan. 30, 2017.
"These 'Iron Soldiers' send a clear signal of our commitment as they round out our joint team's capability in a very significant way," the general said. "The events in 2014, and the trans-Atlantic declarations from the Wales and Warsaw Summits, demonstrate the indivisibility and unity of the alliance in light of Russia's invasion into Ukraine. These events forged a commitment, and a plan, to build our defense and deterrence posture in Europe."
Ray added, "Know that our commitment to defense is rock-solid. We must maintain the territorial integrity of our alliance and maintain a Europe that is whole, free, prosperous and at peace."
The unit's deployment to Europe is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which was designed to reassure NATO allies and partners in the region after Russia invaded Ukraine. Ray said the arrival of the combat team was just one aspect of America's commitment to the region.
Increased Presence
"The thousands of Iron Soldiers here are a key part of our joint land, naval, air, space and cyberspace team," the general said. "Be assured, the full weight of the U.S. military stands behind these sentinels of freedom."
Deployed from Fort Carson, Colorado, the 3,500 soldiers and 2,000 vehicles of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team join a recently increased land, sea and air presence in the region. The arrival of the 3rd ABCT begins a series of back-to-back rotations of U.S. troops and equipment to the region. The soldiers and vehicles will mass in Poland and then disperse via convoy across seven locations in Eastern Europe for training and exercises with European allies.
These forces represent one element of America's commitment to European security, and it is ready to defend that security if called upon, officials said.
The U.S. forces, officials added, will train with U.S. allies and partners, ultimately leading to greater interoperability.
"We are invested from infrastructure upgrades across the continent, to airfields and ranges; we're also prepositioning supplies and equipment and exercising with our allies and partners," Ray said in a previous statement. "We will also increase the scope and complexity of many exercises in our portfolio focusing on joint interoperability, missile defense and crisis-response operations."
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U.S. Department of Defense
Press Operations
News Release
No. NR-039-17 January 30, 2017
Readout of Secretary Mattis' Call with Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Han Minkoo
Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke today by telephone with Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of National Defense Han Minkoo to introduce himself and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to defend the ROK and provide extended deterrence using the full range of U.S. capabilities. Defense Minister Han congratulated Secretary Mattis on his confirmation and both wished each other a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year.
The two affirmed that the U.S.-ROK alliance of more than 60 years remains even more relevant today and determined to take steps to strengthen the alliance further to defend against the evolving North Korean threat. Secretary Mattis recognized the significance of the U.S.-ROK alliance, noted that his visit to the ROK and Japan will be his first overseas trip during his tenure as secretary of defense, and conveyed that the U.S. will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the ROK forces.
http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1064984/
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U.S. Department of Defense
Press Operations
News Release
No. NR-040-17 January 30, 2017
Readout of Secretary Mattis' Call with Italian Minister of Defense Roberta Pinotti
Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke today by telephone with Italian Minister of Defense Roberta Pinotti to discuss the strong U.S.-Italian defense partnership.
In their first conversation, Secretary Mattis thanked Minister Pinotti for Italy's leadership and contributions in Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan and in securing Europe's southern flank. He praised the professionalism, capabilities and compassion of Italy's deployed forces, saying that Italian forces represent the best that Italy has to offer. He highlighted specifically Italy's carabinieri who are performing the important work of stability police training in several theaters.
Secretary Mattis also noted his desire to consult closely with Italy on security issues of mutual concern, especially Libya. Both he and the minister pledged to consult further at the upcoming NATO defense ministerial in February.
http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1064986/
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CP-17 Arrives in Guatemala, Makes Mission's First Stop
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS170130-18
Release Date: 1/30/2017 9:51:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shamira Purifoy, Continuing Promise 2017 Public Affairs
PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala (NNS) -- Continuing Promise 2017 (CP-17) arrived in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, Jan. 30, for its first stop on its three-month humanitarian mission.
The CP-17 joint-military team which includes 169 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps service members will provide veterinary, dental, and medical services to local communities for the next two weeks.
Roughly 80 medical personnel from various disciplines of medicine will deliver preventative treatments, optometry screenings, and women's health services to host nation citizens while working alongside partner nation and civilian experts.
After attending multiple training sessions at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, the CP-17 medical component is ready to serve the people of Guatemala, said Cmdr. Mike Arnold, CP-17's senior medical officer attached to Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Florida.
"The medical team has our first opportunity to provide compassionate care to a number of deserving patients," said Arnold. "We are excited and humbled by our mission."
The 19-member dental team of CP-17 expects to aid an average of 70 patients per day in Puerto Barrios. They also anticipate the opportunity to share best practices with host nation partners, work with local dentists, and have specialists' training engagements and activities.
"While in country, we will be doing subject matter exchanges with healthcare members, ideally at the dental site," said Cmdr. Amy Lynn Bryer, CP-17's lead dentist attached to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia. "We will be doing fillings; cleaning teeth; performing various exams, including radiographs; and pulling teeth."
Bryer said her participation in past humanitarian missions helped her prepare for CP-17.
"My travels, including my participation in Pacific Partnership 2013, taught me that people really just want to be heard, respected, and loved no matter where they are from or what language they speak," she said.
One member of the dental team expressed gratitude for the opportunity to help others.
"I am excited and take pride that I was chosen to further the mission," said Hospitalman Billy Gibson, a prophylaxis technician attached to Naval Hospital Pensacola, Florida. "The first thing people notice about you is your smile, and I look forward to helping people regain their confidence."
The mission is scheduled to make stops in Honduras and Colombia after Guatemala.
CP-17 is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian assistance, training engagements and medical, dental, and veterinary support in an effort to show U.S. support and commitment to Central and South America.
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USS Topeka Returns to Guam
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS170130-07
Release Date: 1/30/2017 8:27:00 AM
From Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 Public Affairs
SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754) returned to its homeport of Apra Harbor, Guam, Jan. 28, following a forward-operating period to the western Pacific.
Topeka, under the command of Cmdr. Steven Tarr III, returned from the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility where the crew executed the chief of naval operations' maritime strategy in supporting national security interests and maritime security operations.
"As a submariner, Guam is the ultimate duty station," said Tarr. "There are so many great things about the people in the local community, as well as those who are here with the military -- our warm homecoming today is just one example. I also have the best crew in the Submarine Force, hands down. They impress me on a daily basis with their commitment and perseverance."
Topeka conducted routine patrols throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region in support of maritime security operations which promote stability while maintaining key partnerships with allies across the region.
Topeka had a brief port visit in Yokosuka, Japan, where the crew was able to experience the amazing culture and enjoy some much-deserved liberty.
"I love the opportunity to visit new places and explore my surroundings," said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Deon Rogers. "This was my first time to Yokosuka, but I am already planning on making my own trip back to Japan."
Topeka celebrated the various achievements of its crew members in their professional development.
"We had nine Sailors become submarine qualified, nine crew members frocked, and one officer promoted," said Master Chief Electronics Technician Matthew Schecter, Topeka's chief of the boat. "One of the great things about this crew is that they challenge themselves not only professionally, but also personally, striving to continually better themselves."
Topeka was commissioned Oct. 21, 1989, and is the third ship of the U.S. Navy named for the city of Topeka, Kansas. It is the fourth "improved" Los Angeles-class submarine. Measuring more than 360 feet long and displacing more than 6,900 tons, Topeka has a crew of approximately 140 Sailors. Topeka is capable of supporting various missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Topeka is a member of Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 15, which is located at Polaris Point in Apra Harbor. COMSUBRON 15 staff is responsible for providing training, material, and personnel readiness support of four Los Angeles-class attack submarines stationed in Guam. The submarines and submarine tenders USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) are part of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed naval force and are capable of meeting global operational requirements.
Are you considering Guam as a duty station? Check out the official "Go Guam!" website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/go-guam/ and the downloadable "1st Fifteen" pamphlet to learn more about assignment to Guam and the unique opportunities here!
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Continuing Promise 2017 Departs for Guatemala
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS170130-03
Release Date: 1/30/2017 8:17:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brittney Cannady, Expeditionary Combat Camera
NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- The humanitarian mission Continuing Promise 2017 (CP-17) departed Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Jan. 26, for its stop in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala.
A team of 169 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps service members will spend roughly two weeks in the city located on the nation's Atlantic coast. While there, they will provide veterinary and medical services to local communities, including preventative treatments, dental care, optometry screenings and women's health services.
"Our visit gives us the chance to build on the previous missions' successes while working with our partners to leave a positive impact in local communities," said Capt. Errin Armstrong, CP-17's commander, who also participated in Continuing Promise 2015's visit to Guatemala.
"The relationships created during operations like Continuing Promise build trust and cooperation within the region," added Armstrong, who also serves as commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40. "This stop will also help ensure we are prepared to provide relief as a team when a disaster strikes."
The team's departure aboard the Military Sealift Command's USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) capped off nearly a week of training in Mayport. Service members were taught local customs and courtesies, and got a little dirty practicing the set up of the living and support facilities that will make up their temporary camp during mission stops.
CP-17 is scheduled to run from January to April and will visit Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia.
CP-17 is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian assistance, training engagements and medical, dental and veterinary support, in an effort to show U.S. support and commitment to Central and South America.
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Continuing Promise 2017 Tests Mobile Kitchen Trailers at NAVSTA Mayport
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS170130-10
Release Date: 1/30/2017 8:50:00 AM
By Barbara Burch, Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Jacksonville, Office of Corporate Communications
MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Culinary Specialists (CS) from across the nation met at Naval Station Mayport, Florida to test the feasibility of cooking from scratch using a Mobile Kitchen Trailer (MKT), January 24, 2017 in support of Continuing Promise 2017 (CP-17).
CP-17 includes humanitarian assistance and disaster response training to Central and South American partner nations; sponsored by U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT) deployed forces.
In the past, MKTs have only been used for heating and serving Unitized Group Rations (UGRs) which are pre-prepared, shelf stable foods. This exercise is the first time CSs used a MKT to cook meals from scratch in the field, using fresh foods from the local economy, resulting in higher quality and healthier meals for sailors.
Simple menus were provided by Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville's Navy Food Management Team (NFMT). "I tried to think of meals I might cook if I was camping out when developing the menus," said Culinary Specialist Chief Petty Officer William Kanack, Senior Instructor, NFMT, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville. "The methods of cooking are limited, similar to camping, mostly stovetop cooking."
The culinary specialists who participated in the Mayport MKT testing are Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Brandon Spencer, Naval Base Ventura County, Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Collins Johnson, Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Rock, Naval Station Everett, Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Ares Creus, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron FIVE, Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Rogelio Sagun, Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Tyler Schibig, USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) and Culinary Specialist 1st Class John Blake, Navy Cargo Handling Battalion ONE.
"The MKT's only measure 8 feet wide by 8 feet long. It's a small space to put out a large amount of food," said Blake. During testing, the CSs came together as a team improvising and working with what was locally available, as they will when deployed. The food will be sourced from the local economies with support from NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville Contracting/Husbanding/Expeditionary Division.
Sodium laden, pre-packaged foods might be easy to heat up and serve, but nothing beats the taste and nutrition of fresh food. Personnel supporting CP-17 will be able to start each day with a hot breakfast and finish with a freshly prepared dinner in remote locations where traditional galleys are not available.
NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides operational logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other joint and allied forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.
NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of approximately 6,300 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide, providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.
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Afghan Police Eliminate Taliban Senior Commander in Country's Southeast
Sputnik News
12:27 30.01.2017
One of Taliban leaders Mawlavi Hamid was killed in the Afghanistan's province of Zabul, according to local media.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) Afghan police eliminated Mawlavi Hamid, a Taliban leader, in the country's southeastern province of Zabul, local media reported Monday, citing police officials.
According to the Khaama Press news agency, Hamid was killed along with two other militants around 12:00 p.m. (07:30 GMT) on Sunday.
Hamid was reportedly commanding over the operations of the militants in the province's Arghandab district.
Taliban is a militant group, which seeks to establish a Sharia law state in Afghanistan. The activities of the group prompted political, security and economic instability in the country. In 2016, the group extended the territory under its control, after the United States started to withdraw troops deployed there since 2002.
Sputnik
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At African Union Summit, UN chief Guterres spotlights need to strengthen cooperation
30 January 2017 In his first address to the African Union since taking office, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today underscored the importance of a strategic AU-UN partnership for building sustainable development and advancing peace and security on the continent.
Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in English, French and Portuguese, the Secretary-General told African leaders that "I am here to listen to you, learn from you and work with you for the people of Africa and the wider world."
He expressed gratitude to African countries for providing the majority of UN peacekeepers around the work, for being "among the world's largest and most generous hosts of refugees [with its] borders remaining open for those in need of protection, when so many borders are being closed," and among some of the world's fastest growing economies.
"I am convinced we have much to gain from African wisdom, African ideas, African solutions," Mr. Guterres told the 28th African Union Summit.
He said he was open to the AU's ideas on how best to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the two organizations, as well as Africa's eight Regional Economic Communities.
One of the main goals for both the AU and the UN is to promote peace and security and human rights. Mr. Guterres noted that the AU is working to find ways to break the cycle of conflicts caused by a race for power and competition for resources, as well as inequality and sectarian divisions.
The UN, in turn, would "spare no effort" to more systematically provide the AU with the assistance needed to strengthen counter-terrorism capacity and aid populations threatened by conflict.
The most effective means of prevention and the surest way to achieve lasting peace, however, is inclusive and sustainable development, Mr. Guterres emphasized.
He noted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and called for global commitments to be respected "at all costs" because Africa needs and deserves international solidarity. In addition, Africa has its own development plan known as 'Agenda 2036,' which is being carried out by the AU's development arm, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Mr. Guterres reiterated the UN's support for these international and national goals through the UN and its agencies working in country, known as the UN Country Teams.
In his address, Mr. Guterres also highlighted the role young people and women play in the continent's development.
Africa is a young continent, with more than three out of five Africans under the age of 35. Investment in education, training and jobs for youth is one of the priorities for the continent, and is similarly a key priority for the UN. As a result, the AU named 2017 as the international year for 'Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth.'
The empowerment of women is also a shared priority for both the AU and the UN. Mr. Guterres noted that his deputy is Amina Mohammed of Nigeria, who has previously led the UN's work on sustainable development.
"I have witnessed this throughout my life: when we empower women, we empower the world," Mr. Guterres said.
Following his address, Mr. Guterres spoke to the press. Highlights will be available online.
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Taliban Assaults District Center in Afghanistan's Helmand Province
By Ayaz Gul January 30, 2017
Heavy clashes have erupted in southern Afghanistan, after Taliban rebels staged a coordinated assault on a district center.
Afghan officials and insurgents have made conflicting claims about Monday's fighting in the Sangin district of Helmand, the largest of the 34 Afghan provinces.
Provincial government spokesman Omar Zwak told VOA insurgents assaulted multiple security outposts, but Afghan forces repulsed the Taliban. He claimed many assailants were killed and wounded, but would not say whether government forces also suffered casualties.
A Taliban spokesman claimed insurgents overran more than 25 outposts and bases around Sangin, saying intense fighting continued in the area.
He said a Taliban suicide bomber struck a military compound before insurgents stormed the area and killed or wounded more than 100 Afghan forces. The insurgent group often issues inflated casualty tolls for government forces.
The Taliban dug a tunnel near a military compound taking advantage of surrounding civilian houses and packed it with explosives before detonating it to begin the assault, Afghan regional corps commander, General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai told VOA.
Most of Helmand is under the control of the Taliban. The government fully controls only the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, and a few surrounding district centers.
The United States has announced it would deploy a new group of around 300 troops to Helmand later this year to help Afghan forces defend the city and beat back the Taliban during the spring fighting season.
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Can ECOWAS Tactics in Gambia Serve As Model?
By Salem Solomon January 30, 2017
Using a combination of diplomacy and muscle, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) forced longtime Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to cede power this month to challenger Adama Barrow, who won the nation's general election.
Neighboring Senegal amassed troops and threatened to remove Jammeh by force. Regional powerhouse Nigeria threatened to help. The presidents of Mauritania and Guinea conducted shuttle diplomacy between Gambia's capital of Banjul and Senegal, where Barrow had fled. Jammeh finally agreed to go into exile on January 20.
Despite the successful outcome, some question the wisdom of ECOWAS intervening on behalf of the people of the Gambia.
Ezekiel Gebissa, a professor of history and African studies at Kettering University in Michigan, said that the military intervention is not something that should be replicated elsewhere.
"If the reason for the intervention by ECOWAS in the Gambia is to save democracy and restore constitutional rule, then I think [it] would be counterproductive because a democracy that is imposed from outside by using military force cannot be an enduring democracy," he said.
Sadiq Ibrahim, a member of the ECOWAS parliament and a lawmaker in Nigeria's National Assembly, said that although the regional body must respect the sovereignty of each member nation, there are exceptions that demand direct action.
"If we have a situation that can threaten the security of a member nation and the entire region, the ECOWAS can collectively intervene to ensure peace in that country," he said.
Gambia was 'peculiar situation'
This was not the first time ECOWAS has intervened in the affairs of one of its member states. In 1990, the military intervention known as ECOMOG led largely by Nigeria helped end the Liberian civil war. Another ECOWAS intervention took place in Mali in 2013 where soldiers from ECOWAS countries worked in collaboration with French and other African forces.
ECOWAS used Article 58 of its revised treaty relating to regional security to justify the intervention, according to Nigerian legal expert Barrister Hassan Liman. Liman said the law stipulates that member states must work to safeguard and consolidate relations to maintain peace, stability and security within the region.
He added that the article does not give ECOWAS the right to use force to oust a leader. "The peculiar situation we have in Gambia is that there was a peaceful election and the president lost but refused to concede defeat. Obviously in this case the regional force can act to ensure regional peace," he said.
Liman said that Africa's continental body, the African Union, could look to follow the example of ECOWAS as it tries to resolve crises in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and in South Sudan.
Political analyst Abdurrahman Abu Hamisu said ECOWAS also has an economic incentive to prevent instability in one of its member nations. "The expenses ECOWAS would have incurred if the crisis had erupted in Gambia could have outweighed what has been spent in this intervention effort," he said.
J. Peter Pham, director of the Atlantic Council's Africa Center, said ECOWAS has signaled for years that it would intervene in a case such as this, so its actions should come as no surprise.
"There is an agreement within ECOWAS, the acknowledgment that elections stand and if you lose elections you leave," Pham said on VOA's Press Conference USA.
Pham added that there is another lesson to be learned from the Barrow side's tactics. Aides to the newly elected president began talking about prosecuting Jammeh's inner circle right after the election, when it was clear Barrow had won and Jammeh had lost.
But such talk may have unintentionally derailed a peaceful transition of power, Pham suggested. "That scared Mr. Jammeh and his people and they rethought the wisdom of giving up power because they thought that meant consequences [for them]," he said. "I'm not arguing for impunity, but perhaps that conversation should have been saved for a later moment."
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Philippines Suspends Bloody Anti-Drug Crackdown
By VOA News January 30, 2017
The Philippine police have ended a controversial anti-drug operation in response to the kidnapping and brutal murder of a South Korean businessman by anti-narcotics officers.
National Police Chief Roland Dela Rosa says local anti-narcotics units will go through a period of "internal cleansing" to get rid of rogue officers, whom he described as "scalawags."
Dela Rosa's announcement came just hours after President Rodrigo Duterte openly accused as many as 40 percent of policemen of corruption, as he deals with the fallout over the death of Jee Ick-joo in Manila last October. The suspected officers are accused of kidnapping Jee for ransom.
More than 7,000 people have died since Duterte launched a brutal and deadly crackdown of illicit drugs shortly after taking office last June. Human rights groups say the victims were denied due process of law, but police have claimed self-defense in the killings.
Despite the cloud caused by Jee's death, Duterte is vowing to continue with his anti-drug crackdown across the archipelago until he leaves office in 2022, discarding a promise to end the operations in March of this year.
U.S.-based Human Rights Watch has issued a statement saying unless Duterte "seeks meaningful accountability" for the bloody crackdown, his order to suspend the operations amounts to nothing more than a public relations stunt.
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Trump Administration Pushes Back on National Security Council Shake-up
By Jeff Seldin January 30, 2017
The White House is firing back at critics, downplaying concerns that President Donald Trump's reorganization of the National Security Council is a marked departure from previous administrations.
Press Secretary Sean Spicer lashed out Monday at media reports portraying the move as a demotion for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the country's highest-ranking military officer, and for the director of national intelligence, calling the notion "utter nonsense."
"Nothing has changed," Spicer told White House reporters during a briefing. "The director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs are by statute part of the NSC."
Trump issued an executive order Saturday aimed at restructuring the National Security Council, which has served as a key advisory panel for every president on matters of security and foreign policy since it was established in 1947.
The order said both the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the director of National Intelligence would only be required to attend meetings of the NSC's principals committee, which includes the secretary of state and secretary of defense, when "issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed."
The order also assigned the president's chief strategist, Steve Bannon, a seat on the NSC principals committee, sparking criticism from lawmakers and former defense and intelligence officials.
But Spicer called any insinuation that the nation's top military and intelligence officers would now have a lesser role "a fundamental misunderstanding." He added the president was even planning to amend the order to formally reinstate the CIA as part of the NSC after it was dropped from the council following the creation of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
"What we've done is made sure that on issues of homeland security and domestic policy, they are always welcome to attend," he said. "However, if the issue is on, you know, pandemic flu or other domestic type natures that don't involve the military, it would be a waste of time to drag the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff over."
Other officials from across the government also sought to allay concerns about the NSC restructuring.
"It's done based on a respect for the principals' time," one U.S. official told VOA on condition on anonymity. "They're not going to be turned away from any meeting."
"This is not something that they see as an issue," a defense official said when asked about the executive order's impact on the Joint Chiefs of Staff access to the president.
The defense official also agreed with the White House that much of the wording in the executive order mirrors that from previous administrations. And the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff even issued a statement late Monday, aimed at trying to allay any concerns.
The order "makes clear that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will fully participate in the interagency process to provide the best military advice to the president and members of his National Security Council," it quoted Gen. Joseph Dunford as saying.
Still, a number of lawmakers and other critics remain alarmed, pointing specifically to the elevation of the president's chief strategist within the NSC.
"This arrangement could hardly be more ominous," House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith said, adding that the president's moves "take an unprecedented step to politicize the NSC."
"By placing a political operative at the table for all meetings, it concentrates power in the hands of Steve Bannon, an ultra-right wing political strategist who wants to take national security policy in a direction that will undermine global security, strengthen our enemies, and shred American values," Smith added.
The White House has said Bannon will not be present for all NSC meetings. But there are those who say the move could have far-reaching effects.
"It may be subtle but I think it's significant," said Robert Tomlinson, a professor of national security affairs at the Naval War College's postgraduate school.
"A political operative like Bannon is always going to look at the political environment," Tomlinson said, emphasizing he was speaking on his own behalf. "To have that right there as you do the deliberations might stifle some of what goes on."
Adding to the concern is what some see as a growing shift in the balance of power within the NSC itself. Those concerns have heightened following reports that two former employees of the conservative-leaning website Breitbart News, formerly headed by Bannon, would be joining the council.
"These are activists, not real experts, analysts and strategists," said Michael Smith, a terrorism analyst who has consulted in the past with both the White House and members of Congress.
"Just as it's unwise to bring a knife to a gunfight, it's an enormous blunder to bring activists and journalists posing as terrorism experts into the fold at NSC," he said.
There also is concern that the way the Trump administration has presented the changes to the NSC reflects a lack of understanding about how difficult it can be to translate broad policy goals into concrete action.
"These people probably don't understand necessarily how the world works," said Tomlinson. "They're all about protecting the president rather than seeing the bigger scope that people in the State Department, people in the Department of Defense, people in the Treasury department understand."
As an example, Tomlinson and others have pointed to the White House's contention that the nation's top military official would not necessarily be needed to sit in on a NSC meeting about a "pandemic flu" or other health crisis.
"Wouldn't you want that person there to talk about how you can use military forces to help in a pandemic?" Tomlinson asked.
The Pentagon sent more than 2,000 troops, including engineers, medical personnel and trainers, to West Africa in 2014 to help combat the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
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US Senate Presses Ahead on Trump's Nominee for Secretary of State
By VOA News January 30, 2017
The U.S. Senate is pressing ahead on President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, with a procedural vote that puts the confirmation on track for later this week.
In a vote of 56-43, Rex Tillerson received the backing of a majority of the Republican-led chamber Monday evening, in a vote that sets in motion a confirmation hearing in the coming days.
Many Democrats oppose Tillerson, Exxon Mobil's former CEO, but are unable to derail the nomination unless several Republicans join them, a feat that appears unlikely.
Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for a delay in the confirmation vote until Tillerson answers questions about Trump's executive order temporarily banning entry to refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Two leading Republican senators, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, have criticized Trump for failing to consult with key federal agencies before issuing the travel bans. They have also voiced concern over Trump's desire to have better relations with Russia; however, the two senators have not indicated they will hold up Tillerson's nomination.
Tillerson, 64, recently resigned from Exxon Mobil. Tillerson's massive oil deals with Russia have raised questions about his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who in 2013 gave Tillerson Russia's Order of Friendship, an honor reserved for foreigners.
Tillerson told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this month that Russia poses a danger to the United States, and "its recent activities have disregarded American interests."
He told the lawmakers,"Our NATO allies are right to be alarmed by a resurgent Russia," and said Trump has urged closer relations with Russia to address a resurgence that occurred in the "absence of American leadership."
Tillerson said the United States is "not likely to ever be friends" with Russia, noting that values between the two countries are "starkly different." He maintained that "dialogue is critical" so that matters of mutual interest to the U.S. and Russia do not "spin out of control."
Tillerson, trained as a civil engineer, joined ExxonMobil right after he graduated from the University of Texas and moved up the corporate ranks over the next four decades. He is known for his international deal-making skills, and is said to have good relations with a number of heads of state around the globe, which would be an important asset for the top U.S. diplomat.
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NATO, Trump agree on dialogue with Russia: Stoltenberg
Iran Press TV
Tue Jan 31, 2017 1:28PM
US President Donald Trump and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have underscored the need to establish dialogue with Russia "from a position of strength," the chief of the military coalition says.
Speaking with reporters at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, Jens Stoltenberg pointed to his recent phone conversations with Trump and US Defense Secretary James Mattis, noting, "They all conveyed the same message that the United States remains committed to NATO and the transatlantic bond."
"The message of the new administration is that they also want dialogue with Russia but from a position of strength," he said.
Earlier this month, Trump caused alarm in NATO as he called the Western military alliance "obsolete," arguing that NATO was a coalition through which the US was spending tremendous funds to protect other extremely rich countries and that many NATO member states were not paying their fair share for US protection.
During his presidential campaign, the billionaire businessman had appeared to be conciliatory toward Russia, praising President Vladimir Putin.
However, over the recent days, the new top-echelon US military officials, including the defense secretary, have reiterated Washington's support for NATO.
The US accounts for nearly 70 percent of NATO's budget and has long urged its European allies to step up their contributions, particularly in the face of what Washington calls the "Russian aggression" in Ukraine.
In July 2016, NATO leaders agreed on the coalition's biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War after the Crimean Peninsula joined Russia in 2014.
NATO leaders also called for dialogue with "a more assertive" Russia in an attempt to ensure transparency and avoid misunderstandings.
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Signs Of Generational Split As Tough Talk Rattles Young People
Gordana Knezevic January 31, 2017
Whether it is stocking up on weapons, proposing to redraw borders, or simply a claim like the one made this month by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic about being ready to send in troops if Serbs in Kosovo are threatened, the Balkans feels once again like a powder keg.
Then Nikolic doubled-down on his comments, telling reporters, "If the need arises, I will go to war myself, along with my sons."
Perhaps Nikolic should let his two sons speak for themselves.
Interviews conducted by RFE/RL's Balkan Service suggest that bellicose language is regarded by many young people in the region as a disturbing echo of the destruction of Yugoslavia and the bloodshed of 1990s -- even if they have no personal memories of those years.
It seems that the younger generation in Serbia, Bosnia, and Montenegro does not see war as the answer.
Marko Milosavljevic, an activist with Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia, has a short but clear message for political leaders: "Do not play with the [slogans] of the 1990s."
His group was recently involved in a civil action in the northern Serbian village of Beska, where convicted war criminal and former Yugoslav Army officer Veselin Sljivancanin was invited to take part in a campaign event organized by the ruling Progressive Party.
'Incendiary' Statements
Marko and his fellow activists sought to disrupt the event with a banner demanding silence from Sljivancanin and more attention for the victims of war. The activists were thrown out and, reportedly, beaten up.
"We believe that in a democratic society, the ruling party should not be promoted by a war criminal," Milosavljevic told RFE/RL in Belgrade. As far as he and his friends are concerned, insult was added to injury when the Progressive Party announced that "a group of hooligans had interrupted the party gathering and brutally attacked its participants."
Talking about his own postwar generation in Serbia, Milosavljevic said that young people know little about the crimes committed during the wars of the 1990s or the causes of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. But, he added, they are well aware of what misery comes with any war, and they are not prepared to take up arms.
"Whenever new elections are looming, our politicians dust off their old rhetoric, and they even seem oblivious to how incendiary some of their statements are," Milosavljevic said.
Growing Tensions
Young people in Gorazde, one of six eastern Bosnian enclaves besieged by the Bosnian Serbs during the war (1992-95), are more aware of that conflict, reminders of which are still present in many forms all around them.
Asmir Jamakovic is about to graduate from high school. He was born after the war, but he is closely following the saber-rattling in the region.
"I don't think that anybody would dare to start a war after what happened here," Jamakovic told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. "I even believe that my parents' generation did not want a war but that they were manipulated by their political leaders."
Local peace activist Ermin Basaskic nevertheless sees potential for conflict.
"At a time of growing tensions, such as over the referendum in Republika Srpska," Basaskic said of the decision by the ethnic Serb-majority entity of Bosnia to mark statehood day on January 9, a controversial date linked to prewar Serb nationalism, in defiance of the Bosnian Constitutional Court. "Even people formerly engaged in campaigning for peace are spreading hate speech, and are retreating into their ethnic cocoons."
History Repeating?
Igor Jankovic, a young journalist from Foca, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, says that in the event of a new conflict he would take his wife and children to join the flow of Syrians and Afghans who have traveled on foot to Western Europe. That seems to be a popular attitude among his peers across the region.
A lab technician at Gorazde hospital in eastern Bosnia, Alen Muhic, knows about war and atrocities. His Muslim mother was allegedly raped by a Serb, and left the baby behind in the hospital after giving birth.
"The politicians are responsible for the warmongering, but it is not their children who would be doing the fighting. Personally, I would pick up my suitcase and head for the West," Muhic said.
Many students at Niksic University in Montenegro would like to leave the past behind and to look to the future.
Mitar Radulovic told RFE/RL in Podgorica that he is particularly concerned about hate speech on social networks. "My father took part in the fighting in Croatia and Bosnia in the 1990s. It did not bring any good to us or to them," he said in a reference to Croats and Bosnians. "Nobody would like to see the conflicts of the past repeated."
Edin Kanka Cudic, from the Alliance for Social Research and Communication, sounded less optimistic. "In Bosnia, we have the absence of war but no real peace yet. Civil society is very weak. It is not able to stand up to nationalism," Cudic said. "Young people who were born after the Dayton peace agreement [in 1995] could be manipulated to take part in some new conflict. Whoever has any experience of war would leave the country immediately in case of any confrontations."
The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/balkans-without-borders -generational-split/28270329.html
Copyright (c) 2017. 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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Watchdog Cites Global 'Dual Threat' From Authoritarian Powers, Populist Movements
RFE/RL January 31, 2017
U.S.-based liberty-and-democracy watchdog Freedom House warns that civil liberties came increasingly under threat in 2016 as authoritarian powers gained strength in many parts of the world and "populist and nationalist forces" rose in democratic states.
The group says in its Freedom in the World 2017 report that 67 countries suffered net declines in political rights and civil liberties last year, almost twice as many as the 36 states that registered net improvements. The annual survey assessed 195 countries in total.
One of the most notable offenders in 2016, according to Freedom House, was Russia.
"Russia, in stunning displays of hubris and hostility, interfered in the political processes of the United States and other democracies, escalated its military support for the [Bashar al-] Assad dictatorship in Syria, and solidified its illegal occupation of Ukrainian territory," the report says.
At the same time, the report says, Moscow further reduced the space for public dissent and political opposition at home.
"Russia already has a very repressive environment, but somehow it still seems to get worse each year," says Sarah Repucci, a spokesman for Freedom House in New York. "This year, we were especially concerned with control over parliamentary and regional elections and the basic total extinction of a liberal opposition in the legislature, and we are also concerned about NGOs that Russia considers to be 'foreign agents' or undesirables and through that is able to basically silence NGOs that have any kind of independent voice in the country."
Meanwhile, Freedom House says growing populist and nationalist camps in democratic states are also contributing to the general decline of freedoms that the group reports worldwide.
"We are familiar with seeing increased repression in dictatorships, [but] the declines in freedom in the more free countries of the world have started to make their impact as well on the overall decline of freedom," says Repucci.
The report argues that major democracies "are mired in anxiety and indecision after events such as Britain's vote to leave the European Union" as well as "gains by xenophobic nationalist parties elsewhere in Europe, and the U.S. presidential victory of Donald Trump."
"One of the things that we are most concerned about is the treatment of minority populations," Repucci says. "It was happening last year with the migrant crisis in Europe, but we are seeing it as a larger trend and also becoming something that is acceptable, that it's OK for mainstream politicians to say that they don't believe that these people should be in the country, that they believe that these people should be treated differently."
Looking at Eurasia as a whole, Freedom House says that 2016 showed the region "divided between a more democratic-oriented fringe and a core of rigid autocracies."
The report says countries such as Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova "struggled to build on fragile democratic gains of recent years" but warns their progress could be at risk if the West cut back on support.
"This year, we are especially concerned because it is looking like the European Union and the United States both may be more concerned about internal issues than serving as an example to other countries or helping to support their democracies," says Repucci. "So it is a particular concern in those countries on Russia's eastern fringe and also in the Balkans that we may start to see even more reversals."
The report says that in many other countries in Eurasia, including Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, governments "took steps to shore up their power amid economic and political uncertainty."
Repucci says that Azerbaijan's constitutional referendum in 2016 was "basically a message for maintaining [President Ilham] Aliyev's control," while in Kyrgyzstan there were signs that President Almazbek Atambaev "might be setting up a situation where he can move from the presidency to the prime minister's post, which through constitutional changes would be more powerful."
In Tajikistan, "a referendum cleared the way for President Emomali Rahmon to run for an unlimited number of terms and lowered the age of eligibility for the presidency -- a move likely meant to allow Rahmon's son to succeed him." The authorities also in June sentenced two leaders of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party (HNIT) to life imprisonment while several others received lengthy prison terms.
Freedom House designated 49 countries as "not free" in 2016, noting that they account for 36 percent of the planet's population.
Among those states rated as "not free" are: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The report singles out Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan as being among 11 countries in the "not free" group that have the worst aggregate scores for political rights and civil liberties. Other states in the same worst-of-the-worst category include North Korea, Eritrea, and Syria.
Repucci says that what the "worst of the worst" have in common is stagnation.
"What we are seeing in those highly repressive dictatorships is complete control, no space for any kind of dissent, whether that dissent is coming from small protest groups or an independent NGO, or an independent journalist, no space for any of those kinds of voices and meanwhile complete stagnation," she says. "You will notice if you look at this list over the past few years you are going to see those states on that list again and again."
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/freedom-house-global- threat-authoritarian-powers-populist -movements-russia/28268356.html
Copyright (c) 2017. 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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US to Deploy Tanks to Baltic States in Largest Such Deployment Since Cold War
Sputnik News
11:14 31.01.2017(updated 11:19 31.01.2017)
The US Armed Forces will deploy tanks this week to the Baltic states bordering Russia in what appears to be the largest such deployment in eastern Europe since the Cold War, The Wall Street Journal reported.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the newspaper's Monday report, some of the US M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks, which participated in the joint US-Polish drills in Northern Poland, will be sent to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, where they will be deployed until a new NATO "deterrent force" becomes operational in spring.
Such step is aiming to reassure US commitment to provide its EU allies with security, the newspaper said.
Earlier in January, almost 1,000 US soldiers and shipments of the equipment for the US tank brigade have arrived in Poland on a mission to build up region's defense capabilities.
In 2016, NATO increased its military presence on the border with Russia. NATO has been building up its presence and defense capabilities in Eastern Europe, concentrating on the three Baltic States and Poland, with each expected to receive additional battalions starting this year.
Moscow has repeatedly stated Russia does not pose a threat to Europe, and called the amassing of troops and military equipment on its borders provocative act that can destabilize the region and the world.
Sputnik
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UN: Millions of Children Caught in Conflict Risk Death From Malnutrition
By Lisa Schlein January 31, 2017
Millions of children caught in conflict and other crises are at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition if they do not receive life-saving therapeutic treatment.
This stark warning came as the U.N. children's fund launched a $3.3 billion-dollar appeal to provide life-saving assistance this year for 81 million people, more than half of them children, in 48 countries decimated by war, natural disasters or other humanitarian emergencies.
The largest amount of money, $1.4 billion, will go toward helping 17 million children and families caught up in war inside Syria and living as refugees in five neighboring countries: Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt. Half the beneficiaries are children.
Syria will enter its seventh year of war in March. Manuel Fontaine, director of emergency programs for the U.N. Children's Fund, said Syria is the largest humanitarian crisis facing the agency.
"Of particular concern is the situation of about 400,000 children who are actually in besieged areas," he said. "Unimpeded and sustained access is something we are asking for."
While praising the generosity of the five host countries, Fontaine noted that the situation of 2.8 million refugee children is extremely difficult because "in many cases, they are forced to work and are at risk of many protection threats.
"We estimate that in Jordan, for example, almost half of the Syrian refugee families have a child as a breadwinner. And, in Lebanon," he said, "three-quarters of the street children in the streets of Lebanese cities actually are Syrian refugees.
"Child marriage also is a major concern and on the increase concerning Syrian refugees," he added.
'Silent threat'
The UNICEF appeal focuses particularly on the "silent threat" of malnutrition. An estimated 7.5 million children, it reports, will face severe acute malnutrition in most of the 48 countries in crisis, with the largest number and most serious cases in northeast Nigeria, Yemen, South Sudan and Somalia.
In war-ravaged northeast Nigeria, UNICEF plans to aid 4 million people, more than half of them children. In South Sudan, two-thirds of the 3.3 million beneficiaries are children.
Fontaine told VOA he is very worried about the situation in northeast Nigeria because dangers posed by Boko Haram insurgents make it difficult to reach people with aid.
"We are very close," he said. "We have our supplies there. We have our people and we will try to find every occasion we can identify to move in and do our work."
He said similar difficulties also existed in South Sudan. "It is a real worry that war action and fighting actually just do not allow us, in some cases, to access children."
'Challenges are huge'
UNICEF reports almost one in four of the world's children lives in a country affected by conflict or disaster; that in countries such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq, South Sudan, and Nigeria, children are under direct attack in their homes, schools and communities.
Meritxell Relano, UNICEF Yemen representative, described the situation for children in Yemen as catastrophic. She said at least 10 million children need some form of humanitarian assistance.
She said the war has displaced at least 3 million people, half of them children, food is scarce, and 60 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day. She said the health system is on the verge of collapse, and severe acute malnutrition rates are soaring.
"Definitely, children are dying of malnutrition. That is for sure," she said. "The children that are not being reached by us or by the programs that are treating severe acute malnutrition are dying.
"The under-five mortality rate has increased to the point that we estimate that, at least in 2016, 10,000 more children died of preventable diseases."
She noted that severe acute malnutrition is created by lack of food, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, lack of health services, and the rampant poverty in the country.
"This combination of factors is really increasing the malnutrition rate to the point that we have tripled the rate of severe acute malnutrition from 2014 to 2016," she said. "It has gone from 160,000 to 462,000."
UNICEF said its appeal would provide a lifeline for tens of millions of children during the coming year by providing food, access to clean water and sanitation, health services education, and other essential services.
"The challenges are huge," Fontaine said, "but not insurmountable. ... In these difficult conditions of access, we are saving lives on a daily basis."
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African Leaders Preach Unity in Readmitting Morocco into AU
By Anita Powell January 31, 2017
The African Union has welcomed Morocco back into the continental body after more than three decades away. Even though the transition may not be smooth, African leaders say a united Africa is more important than ever in an increasingly complex and fast-changing world.
That's because the dispute that led Morocco to leave the AU decades ago has yet to be resolved. Morocco quit in 1984 because the AU recognized the independence of the disputed Western Sahara territory. Morocco continues to claim Western Sahara, and Western Sahara remains an AU member.
Leaders brushed off concerns that this would lead to fissures in the now 55-member body.
"If the family grows bigger, we can find solutions as a family," Senegal's President Macky Sall said after the decision was announced late Monday. Morocco's decision to return to the union without imposing preconditions, such as the return of Western Sahara, could signal that Morocco's government would like a smooth return.
African leaders say in the end, the decision to allow Morocco back was a choice between unity and harmony.
Unity won, when 39 of 54 AU members supported the move for Morocco to return. The nation's king warmly accepted the decision, and addressed the body at the closing ceremony.
"It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long of an absence, said King Mohammed VI. "Africa is my continent and my home."
Egypt's assistant foreign minister for African affairs, Mohamed Edrees, told VOA the move is about strengthening the continent as a whole and stressing common interests to find a way through the impasse.
"The general conviction within the union, and this was Egypt's position as well, is that at the end, we have to have the African house together," he said. "So it is important to find a way forward, not a divisive way forward, but to move forward on our common African interest, common African spirit so that we, like many other sister African countries, welcome the comeback of Morocco and we look forward that this comeback will be a step forward to find a smooth navigation on these problematic issues which have been lingering for quite some time."
Western Sahara opposed
Western Sahara's delegation disagrees, and accuses Morocco of "colonizing" the large seaside territory.
Ambassador-at-large Sidi Omar says allowing Morocco to enter without settling the Western Sahara dispute violates the AU's strong stance against colonialism. The delegation wants a clear commitment from Morocco that it will abandon its claim to the territory. He says Western Sahara won't leave the AU, though.
He says the AU decision has wider consequences.
"It does not only concern Western Sahara or the Sahara Republic, it does concern Africa as a whole," he said. "If this principle of borders is not respected, Africa will be doomed to chaos and back to ages which were rife, fraught with conflicts."
Delegates and diplomats told VOA on the summit sidelines that there may be something to the idea that Africa needs to stick together. A number of summit delegates publicly and, more forcefully privately, aired concerns about recent, sudden changes in U.S. policies, not just on immigration, but also on foreign relations and climate change.
Kenya's Cabinet secretary for Environment Judi Wakhungu told VOA the AU conversations about sticking to the Paris Agreement on climate change were overshadowed by the U.S. administration's recent indication that it would pull out of the deal. She then praised China for adhering to its climate change commitments.
"It affects all of us," she said after emerging from a meeting with about a dozen African heads of state. "The largest committers, of course are the United States and China. Those are the largest committers. So we're seeing on the one hand that China is trying to reduce its carbon footprint, that China is committing to its national determined contribution, showing leadership in solar energy commitments for example. But then on the other hand, we are then seeing pronunciations that the new U.S. administration is going to actually roll back on the commitments that have been made. As I said, it's only January, and we hope that reason will prevail, because we're all in the same boat."
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Photo for illustration (Source: dantri.com.vn)
Nowadays, the number of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals in the fields of science, technology, education and training around the world is very large, especially young people, but each year only several hundred people return the homeland to set up projects or work.
The figure is too small compared to the potential of overseas Vietnamese. To attract and encourage a larger number of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals to return to Vietnam to contribute their knowledge and experiences to build the country, the government should implement effective communication and mobilization.
For overseas Vietnamese intellectuals, profits arent the main reason for them to return to the homeland to work. The thing they need is to be respected, supported and create favorable conditions for them to work. This requires a increasing awareness of the importance of attracting overseas Vietnamese intellectuals for economic development of the country, as well as renew ways to attract them.
On that basis, a system of mechanisms, policies and laws must be built in the direction of equal treatment, not distinguishing between overseas Vietnamese and domestic intellectuals in all aspects, to create favourable conditions to mobilize potentials of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals.
In addition, we must take advantage of international bridge role of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals to introduce projects, look for investors in the field of high technology or scientific research; introduce training and research facilities which have financial capacity to support specialist training in Vietnam; and help students, graduate students and scientists to study and research abroad.
Moreover, brokerage, technology transferring centres and innovative projects with direct or indirect involvement of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals to attract investment or export brainchild products as well as a network of scientific and technology experts among overseas Vietnamese should be established.
The network should have at least four basic elements: identifying areas of science and technology prioritized to attract experts; giving criteria for scientific experts to be attracted in every field of science and technology; building a plan which defines the number of experts needed in each field and at each stage of development; and building a mechanism to link scientific and technology experts./.
OIC says Trump visa ban to fuel violence, serve extremists
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 30, 2017 2:3PM
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the world's largest body of Muslim nations, has slammed US President Donald Trump's decision to ban nationals of seven Muslim countries from traveling to the United States, saying the controversial measure will only give rise to radicalism and fuel violence.
The 57-nation organization said in a statement on its website on Monday that the travel ban would play into the hands of those advocating violence in the name of Islam.
"(The move) will provide further fuel to the advocates of violence and terrorism at a critical time when the OIC has been engaged with all partners to combat extremism and terrorism in all their forms and manifestation," said the statement, calling the decision a "selective and discriminatory" act which would only embolden the "radical narratives of extremists."
The statement came just days after the new Republican president ordered a 90-day ban on the entry of citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The measure, which led to demonstrations inside the US, also suspended entry of all refugees for 120 days and barred Syrian refugees indefinitely.
The ban has sparked huge international criticism from the UN chief and several countries, including European ones as well as Muslim nations.
During his election campaign, Trump was repeatedly blasted for his hate rhetoric against Muslims as he vowed to tighten US immigration policies, including a complete ban on Muslim immigrants from entering the States. He had also promised to strengthen border security.
Many have criticized the retroactive nature of the travel ban, arguing it affects many who have legally made their way into the US.
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Trump defends travel ban: 'This is not about religion'
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 30, 2017 6:50AM
President Donald Trump says his executive order banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States "is not about religion," amid protests and backlash in the country and around the world.
"America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those feeling oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border," the president said in a statement Sunday.
"We will keep it free and keep it safe, as the media knows, but refuses to say."
Trump rejected criticism suggesting his executive order amounts to the "Muslim ban" he proposed as a presidential candidate.
"To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting," he said. "This is not about religion -- this is about terror and keeping our country safe."
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order that imposes a 90-day entry ban for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia, blocks refugees from Syria indefinitely, and suspends all refugee admissions for 120 days.
Trump said the US would "again be issuing visas to all countries once we are sure we have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days."
Tens of thousands of protesters have rallied in US cities and at major airports over Trump's executive order.
The order also sparked a global backlash, including from American allies that view the restrictions as divisive and discriminatory.
Governments from London and Berlin to Jakarta spoke out against Trump's executive order.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the global fight against terrorism did not justify "putting people of a specific background or faith under general suspicion."
Merkel expressed her concerns to the US president during a phone call and reminded him that the Geneva Conventions require the international community to accept war refugees on humanitarian grounds, her spokesman said.
Meanwhile, attorneys general from 15 states and Washington, DC, issued a statement condemning Trump's "dangerous" and "unconstitutional" immigration policy and pledged to fight it.
Muslims living in the United State were involved in only one-third of 1 percent of all murders in the country in 2016, according to a new study by Duke University, contradicting Trump's policy of portraying Muslims as dangerous and banning them from entering the US.
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Trump Travel Ban Prompts Mounting Criticism Abroad
RFE/RL January 30, 2017
Protests against U.S. President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban on citizens from mainly Muslim countries are growing louder outside the United States, with the world's largest body of Islamic nations expressing "grave concern" and German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying the move "runs contrary to the basic principles of international refugee help."
Merkel made the comments on January 30, saying such bans are not justified by the effort to counter terrorism. She added that her government is in consultation with "European partners" on the matter.
Vowing to protect the United States from "foreign terrorists," Trump signed an executive order on January 27 halting the entire U.S. refugee program for 120 days, indefinitely banning Syrian refugees, and suspending all immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days.
The move led to protests and legal challenges in the United States, as well as wide criticism abroad.
All seven countries involved in the order -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen -- are member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which said "many of those fleeing war and persecution have been adversely and unjustly affected" by the measure.
"Such selective and discriminatory acts will only serve to embolden the radical narratives of extremists," the 57-nation organization said in a January 30 statement.
In Iraq, lawmakers said they voted on January 30 to call on the government to enact a reciprocal travel ban on U.S. citizens if Washington does not rescind its decision to bar the entry of Iraqis.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry called on the Trump administration to "reconsider this wrong decision."
Yemen's government also expressed its "dissatisfaction" over Trump's order, saying it is "likely to strengthen the position of extremists."
"The only way to achieve victory in the fight against terrorism...is dialogue and not creating barriers," it added.
However, Trump stood firm over the ban, saying visas would once again be issued once "the most secure policies" were in place.
"To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting," he said in a January 29 statement. "This is not about religion. This is about terror and keeping our country safe."
On January 28, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called Trump's decision "a great gift to extremists " and "a clear insult to the Islamic world."
He said Trump's decision "only serves to provide a fertile ground for more terrorist recruitment by deepening the ruptures and fault lines which have been exploited by extremist demagogues to swell their ranks."
Zarif's ministry earlier said it would reciprocate with a ban on Americans entering the country, though it will not apply to those who already have a valid visa.
Meanwhile, the United Nations human rights chief Zeid bin Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein described Trump's order as "mean-spirited."
Zeid said in a tweet that "discrimination on nationality alone is forbidden under human rights law," adding that the U.S. ban "wastes resources needed for proper counterterrorism."
With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/trump-travel- ban-prompts-mounting-criticism- abroad/28267950.html
Copyright (c) 2017. 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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Explainer: Who Is Affected By Trump's Entry Ban To U.S., And How?
Charles Recknagel January 30, 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order of January 27 bans refugees from all countries from entering the United States for 120 days and bans Syrian refugees from entering indefinitely.
At the same time, the executive order temporarily bans entry into the United States for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen -- until more stringent vetting of visas is introduced.
Here is who is affected by the order, titled Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States, which took immediate effect when it was issued.
Citizens Of The Seven Blacklisted Countries
Trump's order immediately bans for 90 days -- until April 27 -- aliens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States on any category of visa: immigrant or nonimmigrant. Visa categories for diplomats, including the United Nations, are excepted.
There remains some confusion about what the executive order means by individuals "from" one of those blacklisted countries, as it is not more clearly defined in the text. A lawyer specializing in immigration law in Washington told RFE/RL that the order does not say whether "from" means holding the citizenship of that country, being born in that country, or both.
The New York Times reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has instructed airlines to stop passengers from the blacklisted countries from boarding flights to the United States and to remove any passengers who do board. The newspaper says airline crew members from the blacklisted countries are also barred from the United States.
There already has been controversy over the status of citizens of the blacklisted countries who arrived in the United States with visas issued before the executive order was announced. Although the executive order banned their entry, judges in four U.S. cities with major international airports ruled that those individuals could not be deported and they were allowed to enter the country.
However, the judges' rulings appear to be limited to people who were already at the U.S. airports at the time of the ban's announcement and so does not seem to suggest exceptions would be made for people arriving in the future with previously issued visas.
The rulings did not challenge the legality of the executive order itself. Under U.S. law, the president has broad powers to control immigration and can suspend the entry of "all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants" if he considers their entry to be harmful to the national interest.
The U.S. administration made clear that the 90-day provision does not mean that travel will automatically be reinstated after that period. During the 90 days, the U.S. government will decide how things will work after April 27.
U.S. Green-Card Holders From The Seven Countries
The order does not expressly spell out restrictions on travel for citizens of the seven countries who are also permanent residents of the United States (green-card holders). On January 29, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, John Kelly, said that he deems "the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interest" of the United States.
However, he and other U.S. officials have suggested that green-card holders from the blacklisted countries could face extra screening or questioning as they are admitted.
Dual Nationals Of The Seven Blacklisted Countries
Individuals from the blacklisted countries who also hold the citizenship of another country other than the United States are not permitted to enter the United States for 90 days.
There is some question as to whether exceptions are being made for people whose dual nationality is with a country closely allied with the United States -- for example, Canada or Britain. The British foreign secretary has said Washington assured him the ban did not apply to anyone with dual British citizenship.
Naturalized U.S. Citizens Born In The Seven Countries
The executive order does not apply to U.S. citizens, whether that person is born in the United States or became a citizen through immigration to the United States. That includes people who were born in one of the blacklisted countries and are now naturalized U.S. citizens.
U.S. Citizens Who Travel To The Seven Countries
U.S. citizens who travel to the seven countries are likely to face additional questioning upon their return to the United States. The White House chief of staff, Reince Preibus, told the U.S. network NBC on January 29 that "I would suspect that if you're an American citizen traveling back and forth to Libya, you're likely to be subjected to further questioning when you come into an airport."
Refugees From Syria
The U.S. president's order bars all refugees from Syria -- which has been embroiled in war since 2011, sending millions of refugees abroad -- from entering the United States indefinitely.
However, the order says individuals may be admitted on a case-by-case basis when it is "in the national interest" of the United States, including "when the person is a religious minority in his country of nationality facing religious persecution." Trump has mentioned Christians in Syria as an example, raising the question of their status under the indefinite ban.
All Non-Syrian Refugees
The executive order suspends completely admission of all refugees from anywhere around the world for 120 days. Again, there is the possibility of case-by-case exceptions, including for persecuted religious minorities.
The order also puts a ceiling of 50,000 on the number of refugees the United States will accept from around the world in 2017. That is slightly less than half the ceiling of 110,000 established by former President Barack Obama.
Will Other Countries Be Added To The Blacklist In The Future?
There is no way to know at this time. However, Priebus said the seven countries now blacklisted were chosen because Congress and the Obama administration had identified them previously "as the most watched countries harboring terrorists." He said others could be added but provided no details.
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/explainer- who-is-affected-trump-entry-ban- refugees/28268237.html
Copyright (c) 2017. 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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Trump Unfazed by Criticism, Defends Immigration Ban
By VOA News January 30, 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump has continued to defend his executive order banning entry to refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries, while rights groups vowed to keep pressing legal action, thousands of people protested in cities across the country and Democrats prepared to issue legislation to block the ban.
In a series of tweets Monday morning, Trump said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Gen. John Kelly told him that "all is going well with very few problems." He added that "big problems at airports" were caused by a computer outage that hit Delta airlines, protesters and "the tears of" Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer.
Schumer appeared to hold back tears as he called Sunday for Trump to overturn the executive order.
The order, signed Friday, includes a 120-day suspension of refugee admissions and a 90-day entry ban for people from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen.
The implementation led to confusion, particularly at the nation's airports, where in some cases people holding green cards as permanent legal residents were detained for extra questioning before being allowed entry.
Homeland Security Secretary Kelly issued a statement Sunday seeking to clarify the policy, saying he deems "the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interest."
State Department memo
On Monday, State Department employees and U.S. diplomats opposed to Trump's order circulated a "Dissent Channel memo" that said the administration's move "will not achieve its aims and will likely be counterproductive."
The State Department says it it aware of the memo. "The Dissent Channel is a longstanding official vehicle for State Department employees to convey alternative views and perspectives on policy issues. This is an important process that the acting secretary, and the department as a whole, value and respect," said acting spokesman Mark Toner.
The Dissent Channel was established decades ago to allow American diplomats to speak freely about foreign policy matters.
When employees feel their voices are not heard by supervisers and they use the Dissent Channel, the secretary of state's policy planning staff is supposed to review it, circulate it to authorized people and respond to the drafters.
In a separate statement Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security said the government retains its right to revoke visas at any time for reasons of national security. That followed an emergency order by federal court in New York temporarily barring the deportation of people who arrive at U.S. airports with a valid visa or an approved refugee application.
Judge Ann Donnelly wrote, "There is imminent danger that, absent the stay of removal, there will be substantial and irreparable injury to refugees, visa-holders, and other individuals from nations" who are subject to the president's order.
Trump has repeatedly called for stricter screening of refugees. The senior administration official who briefed reporters Sunday described the previous system as "woefully inadequate."
Under President Barack Obama's administration, refugees were required to undergo security checks, including strict vetting by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and extensive interviews before they were allowed into the country. For many refugees, the process took up to two years to complete.
More reaction
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told VOA's Urdu service Trump's order goes against the values of Americans who have historically welcomed those fleeing persecution and war.
"Donald Trump did not convince any of us that he has sound legal or national security concerns. For example, the Syrian refugees are subjected to at least two years of scrutiny and extreme vetting already, and once they come here they are safe, they are vetted. There is no terrorist attack that happened at the hands of a Syrian refugee, or any refugee, that we know," Awad said. "So for him to base all his executive order on [that] false notion is un-American, unethical."
The 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation said Monday that Trump's action will further complicate the challenges refugees face.
"Such selective and discriminatory acts will only serve to embolden the radical narratives of extremists and will provide further fuel to the advocates of violence and terrorism at a critical time when the OIC has been engaged with all partners, including the U.S., to combat extremism and terrorism in all their forms and manifestations," said an OIC statement.
All seven countries featured in the executive order are OIC members.
The text of the order cites the September 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in the U.S., but does not apply to Saudi Arabia, where most of the hijackers involved were from.
Iran, Syria and Sudan are on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, while Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Somalia are listed as terrorist safe havens.
Senior Republican U.S. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who are members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized Trump's order Sunday, saying the confusion at airports showed the measure was "not properly vetted."
"We are particularly concerned by reports that this order went into effect with little to no consultation with the Departments of State, Defense, Justice and Homeland Security," they said in a joint statement. "Such a hasty process risks harmful results."
Trump responded on Twitter, calling McCain and Graham "weak on immigration" and saying they should be focused on Islamic State, illegal immigration and border security.
State Department correspondents Steve Herman, Nike Ching, and reporters Mohamad Olad, James Butty and Saqib Islam contributed to this report
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Group Linked to Syrian War Recruiting Banned in Pakistan
By Noor Zahid, Madeeha Anwar January 30, 2017
Federal counterterrorism authorities in Pakistan have banned a local charity that is suspected of luring recruits to battle alongside Iranian-backed fighters supporting government forces in Syria's civil war.
The ban on Ansar ul-Hussain, reported by Pakistani media last week, took effect on Dec. 30, according to the website of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), which monitors terrorist organizations in the country. The ban makes it illegal for the group to operate in Pakistan.
Abdul Qayyum, chairperson of the Senate Defense Committee and leading member of the ruling Muslim League party, told VOA that following the ban, Pakistan is further pursuing "if any other network is involved in recruiting people for Syria within Pakistan."
Little publicized in Pakistan, Ansar ul-Hussain, which bills itself as a Shi'ite humanitarian organization, has quietly been luring and sending Shi'ite youths from several northwestern areas in Pakistan to Iran, where they are trained to fight and then sent to Syria, according to media reports and local intelligence officials.
Ansar ul-Hussain has been skilled at avoiding surveillance, but Pakistani authorities say they were able to detect its recruiting activities.
"We have a very effective system of tracing and eliminating terrorism within the country," said Qayyum, a retired lieutenant general. "That's the reason we were able to catch and ban Ansar-ul-Hussain."
Islamabad's counterterrorism measures have been widely criticized by many Pakistani politicians and U.S. lawmakers for being largely ineffective. As militant groups continue to flourish in Pakistan, the government is facing threats of increasing diplomatic isolation from some U.S. lawmakers over its inability to curb homegrown militancy and the threat it poses to its neighbors.
Pakistani media reported last year that more than 1,000 Pakistanis are fighting in Syria alongside Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The recruited Pakistanis are reported deployed in the "Zaynabiyoun Brigade" in Syria, which is comprised of Pakistani fighters recruited from inside and outside Pakistan, including Pakistani students in Iran, analysts told VOA.
"There are a number of Pakistani Shia who are in Iran," said Phillip Smyth, a researcher at the University of Maryland who focuses on Iran's role in the Syrian war. "At times, they are there for religious learning, and these types are more easily recruited due to the Islamic Republic's mixing of ideology and religion."
Tehran says its forces are in Syria to protect the Zeinab Shrine in Damascus, a Shi'ite holy site. But since 2011, Iran has been a major backer of the Syrian regime in its war with rebel groups across the country, at first sending advisers, then forces from the IRGC expanding far beyond the shrine area.
The Pakistani fighters' presence is known inside Syria, according to watchdog groups monitoring the fighting. Pakistani fighters have been spotted with pro-Iranian militias, including Iran's proxy, the Lebanese Hezbollah.
"The primary role of Pakistani militia is to fight in areas around Damascus," Ahmed Khaddour, a media activist from eastern Damascus, told VOA, talking of where pro-Iranian forces are prevalent.
Pakistani recruits for the Syria fight are often lured to Iran by social media, Smyth said.
"This has been done on Twitter and on Facebook," he said. "It often involves posted phone numbers where potential recruits could call in and state their abilities and see if they were applicable to be recruited."
Pakistani recruits are promised financial incentives and Iranian citizenship, analysts say. The IRGC organized a rally in Tehran last summer to honor fallen Pakistani fighters in Syria.
"We have thousands of fighters in the brigadefighting in front lines," Abu Talib Musawi, a Pakistani fighter in Syria, told the Tehran-based conservative Panjera magazine. VOA could not independently verify his account.
A Facebook page, which bears Ansar ul-Hussain name, lambasted the Pakistani government's decision to ban the organization. The page pledges allegiance to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"We are proud that you are our leader," the Facebook post reads.
Mehdi Jedinia and Sirwan Kajjo contributed to this report from Washington.
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Why Saudi Arabia, Egypt Have Kept Mum About Muslim Travel Ban
By Masood Farivar January 30, 2017
Public fury over the Trump administration's ban on travel from several Muslim majority countries may not be abating, but many Muslims in the Middle East and beyond are taking the measure in stride.
The ban on travel from seven predominantly Muslim nations - Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen has triggered vocal condemnations from Baghdad and Tehran, but elsewhere in the Islamic world, the criticism has remained subdued.
It took the world's largest body of Islamic countries more than two days to react, and only with a carefully worded statement that fell short of the denunciation heard in the United States and Europe.
The Saudi-based, 57-nation Organization of Islamic Conference expressed "grave concern" about the measure, saying it would "only serve to embolden the radical narratives of extremists and will provide further fuel to the advocates of violence and terrorism."
In addition to barring citizens of the seven Muslim countries from traveling to the United States for 90 days, the executive order includes a 120-day suspension of refugee admissions.
The most forceful reaction came from Iran, which threatened retaliatory measures to bar Americans.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the move "will be recorded in history as a great gift to extremists and their supporters."
The Iraqi response was just as sharp, with parliament calling for a reciprocal travel ban on Americans if Washington does not withdraw its decision. But reaction from other Muslim countries, including those affected by the ban, was more measured.
Sudan's foreign minister told Bloomberg the government would "wait until the period mentioned, until the executive decision passes and see what is next after that and then we'll act accordingly."
Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said Monday it would "not affect terrorism but it will increase the problems for those who are victims of terrorism."
And in the Middle East, while the ban sparked criticism of the Trump administration on social media and television, the governments have opted to remain silent.
The government of Turkey has yet to comment, although a member of parliament from the ruling party called the ban "inhumane and insensitive."
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two key U.S. allies in the region, have remained silent.
The government of Egypt, another U.S. ally, has similarly kept mum, as has the al-Azhar, the government controlled center of religious scholarship that often takes public positions on issues of concern to Muslims around the world.
One reason Middle Eastern governments have kept quiet is that most do not want to antagonize the Trump administration and have a vested interest in boosting ties with the U.S. While Egypt wants the Trump administration to designate the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are welcoming the administration's pledge to take a tougher line against Iran.
"So it serves them well to stay silent," said Hilal Khashan, a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut.
On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to rebuild alliances with "moderate" Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Jordan to fight Islamic State.
Trump has vigorously defended his executive order, saying it "is about terror and keeping our country safe" and not "a Muslim ban."
But experts have questioned the decree, noting that no one with family backgrounds in the seven countries has been implicated in a deadly terrorist attack in the United States since the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Of the 414 Muslim Americans associated with violent extremism since the attacks, only 23 percent had family backgrounds in the seven countries, according to Charles Kurzman, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
However, "there have been no fatalities in the United States caused by extremists with family backgrounds in these countries," Kurzman wrote in a report on Muslim involvement in terrorism.
John Esposito, a prominent scholar of Islamic studies at Georgetown University, said that while he vigorously opposed the ban he equally questioned the choice of the seven countries.
"The question becomes, why identify these countries and not identify countries where in fact citizens have been involved in acts of terrorism within the United States," Esposito said, noting that most of the hijackers that carried out the 9/11 attacks hailed from Saudi Arabia and UAE.
In leaving out Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries from the list, the Trump administration is largely following a precedent set by past American administrations that put a premium on working with allies at the expense of human rights.
Khashan of AUB voiced concern that the void left by the Arab governments' lack of reaction to the ban may be filled by the very radicals the Trump administration says it wants to quash.
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China looks to Mars, Jupiter exploration
People's Daily Online
(Xinhua) 14:47, January 30, 2017
China's plans for deep-space exploration included two Mars missions and one Jupiter probe.
China plans its first Mars probe by 2020, said Wu Yanhua, vice director of the China National Space Administration.
A second Mars probe will bring back samples and conduct research on the planet's structure, composition and environment, Wu said.
Also on the agenda are an asteroid exploration, and a fly-by of the Jupiter system.
China aims to become a space power around 2030 with an advanced and open aerospace industry and space infrastructure.
Key aerospace projects currently planned by around 2020 include manned space programs, lunar probes, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and the Gaofen (High Resolution) observation satellite program, according to a white paper on space activities released late last year.
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Chinese Army Commander: War With US Increasing Reality
Sputnik News
22:19 30.01.2017(updated 22:49 30.01.2017)
Amid heightening tensions surrounding US President Donald Trump's protectionist stance, the possibility of a trade war and even physical combat between the world's two largest economies has become a full-fledged "reality."
On the day that Donald Trump was sworn-in as the 45th President of the United States, Liu Guoshon, a Chinese Central Military Commission official, authored an op-ed pointing out that violence between China and America might not be so far into the future. "A war within the president's term," and "war breaking out tonight," are not merely slogans, "but the reality," Liu said.
Ian Bremmer, a Stanford-trained political scientist and inventor of the global political risk index, commented that, "Chinese officials are preparing for the worst, and they expect to retaliate decisively in response to any US policies they perceive as against their interests." Bremmer added that Beijing's moves to increase DF-21 missile tests and initiate casual aircraft carrier missions near Taiwan is asserting itself as a warning to Trump, rather than as a show of force.
The South and East China Seas, and their accompanying territorial disputes, are just two areas where violence could erupt. A more macabre prospect would involve North Korea and a doomsday-scenario deployment of nuclear-equipped intercontinental ballistic missiles. Last week, a senior North Korean military official who defected asserted that if the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) head Kim Jong-Un sensed his dynasty was under threat, the dictator would "press the button" to launch a nuke aimed at, for instance, Los Angeles, California, the second-most populous metropolitan area in the US. A former deputy ambassador from Pyongyang to London, the defector asserted that mutually-assured destruction would not deter Kim.
Beijing has spent considerable time and financial resources toward increased militarization, following Trump's election. The People's Liberation Army is developing a stealthy, next-generation aircraft, the H-20. While officials say the aircraft has a long way to go, the cruise missiles and nuclear weapons for the aircraft "are all in place," Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo said.
On Trump's first day as US president, the White House said that a "state-of-the-art" missile defense system would be a top priority for the administration, specifically, "Despite more than a decade of development and a bill of $40 billion," the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system "is simply unable to protect the US public," a 2016 report from the Union of Concerned Scientists said.
In regards to a trade war between Beijing and Washington, the main risks may not only be economic. Economist Noah Smith writes that, without Trump's protectionist policies, world trade, as a percentage of global GDP, peaked around 2004. Orthodox economic theory generally frowns upon protectionist policies for passing the costs onto consumers and thereby hurting trade. The equivocation, according to Smith, is that for the US and China large bilateral trade volumes are necessarily linked to mutual prosperity. Instead, lower trade does not reveal the full impact, Smith said. "It might be that large trade volumes make a country only a little better off in terms of real income, so that even a large reduction in trade flows hurts the economy only a little bit."
Sputnik
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N Korea May Test Fire Mid-Range Missile Instead of ICBM Due to Technological Gap
Sputnik News
19:59 30.01.2017(updated 20:00 30.01.2017)
A source in the South Korean Defense Ministry said Pyongyang might test fire an intermediate-range ballistic missile instead of an intercontinental one due to technological gap.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) North Korea may test fire a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) as the country does not possess appropriate technology for launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), South Korean media reported Monday citing local military sources.
"There are no signs of an imminent test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile by North Korea. But we are closely monitoring any new military activities in the country as it could launch an IRBM at any time if leader Kim Jong-un gives the order," a source in the South Korean Defense Ministry said as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.
Earlier this month, the North Korean Foreign Ministry said the country was ready to launch a ballistic missile at any time and from any location.
Between April and October last year, all eight Musudan missile test flights performed by North Korea reportedly ended in failure.
The political atmosphere on the Korean peninsula has become more tense over recent months, with the United States boosting its military presence in the region amid North Korea's nuclear and military threats.
Sputnik
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With 250 million tourists spending $ 200,000 million a year, the Mediterranean is among the most popular destinations in the world. A pot distributed unevenly since the Jasmine Revolution in 2011.
In the first few years travellers kept visiting Tunisian beach resorts, however, the jihadist massacre of tourists in 2015 dealt a blow to an activity which accounted for 10% of the country's GDP. Wealth generated by tourism melted as snow in the sun, falling to only 7% of Tunisia's GDP.
"Seven million tourists have been diverted from North Africa since 2010. Egypt has lost five million tourists and Tunisia two and a half million," notes the Femise report, published in January 2017, coordinated by Doaa M. Salman Abdou professor in Cairo (October University for Modern Sciences and Arts, Egypt) in collaboration with Andres Artal-Tur professor at Valencia (Technical University of Cartagena & Institute of International Economics (IEI-UV), University of Valencia, Spain).
Conversely, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, considered as safe havens, register record levels of attendance. In 2011, tour operators had diverted 12 million trips to Spain. At the beginning of 2016, the Iberian Peninsula showed a record increase: + 13.4% for the Balearic Islands, + 5.1% for Continental Spain, + 6.4% for the Canary Islands and above all + 40% for Portugal.
Trump Factor Improves Angela Merkel's Re-Election Prospects
By Jamie Dettmer January 30, 2017
Angela Merkel's aides jokingly explain the German chancellor's improving poll ratings as due to "the Trump factor."
With a federal election barely eight months away, the German leader is bouncing back from the low approval ratings she was getting during the height of the refugee crisis in the winter of 2015-16. And her advisers think they have the new U.S. president in part to thank for the bounce.
Pollster Forschungsgruppe Wahlen has Merkel's approval rating now at 74 percent, which is much higher than any of her peers in Europe. U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating in the United States stands at 42 percent in the latest Gallup poll.
Trump and his aides have not held back in criticizing the chancellor. During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized Merkel for admitting into Germany war refugees from Middle Eastern nations, blaming her for what he said would be the wrecking of her country, although on occasion he pulled back and described her as his favorite world leader.
A year ago, Trump predicted, "The German people are going to end up overthrowing this woman. I don't know what the hell she's thinking." In a March 2016 interview with The New York Times, he said, "Germany's being destroyed. I have friends, I just left people from Germany and they don't even want to go back. Germany's being destroyed by Merkel's naivete or worse."
And days before his inauguration earlier this month, Trump told The Times of London and Germany's Bild newspaper that Merkel's decision to allow more than a million migrants into Germany had been a "catastrophic mistake." His views mirror the attack lines of the "America First" website Breitbart News, which until recently was run by key Trump aide, Steve Bannon.
High approval rating
Forecasts of her imminent downfall, however, appear to be having the opposite effect in Germany.
Nearly 60 percent of Germans, according to recent polls, now feel their country can cope with the refugees. That may be in part because refugee numbers have fallen from 890,000 in 2015 to 280,000 last year.
"The initial shock of the refugee impact is starting to wear off," a Merkel aide told VOA. As she starts her election campaign hoping to secure a fourth term as chancellor, Merkel and her aides are already using Trump as a foil, although the chancellor herself has avoided too much overt criticism of Trump, leaving the sharper attacks to others in the German government.
Merkel's aides note she has enjoyed rising approval ratings since last June's vote by Britons to leave the European Union.
Within days of the British vote, known as Brexit, Merkel's popularity rose by 9 percent, according to a poll conducted for Germany's ARD television, to record her best showing since September the previous year, when her numbers were dipping fast and the talk in Berlin was of the chancellor's fast approaching political demise.
Analysts say probably the best explanation for her growing popular support are signs, across many western European countries, of increased backing for the European Union amid fears of instability.
Europeans see leaving the regional grouping as a "big gamble," she said last year. "Nobody wants to put themselves in the kind of mess the British have created for themselves," she added.
Far from riding Brexit and Trump waves, Germany's populist nationalist party AfD, backed loudly by Breitbart News, has been stuck in the polls at about 12 percent. The terror attack in Berlin in December, when a Tunisian refugee rammed a truck through a Christmas market killing a dozen, didn't improve AfD's political fortunes.
Opposition
Faced by a strengthened chancellor, Germany's Social Democrats, reluctant members of Merkel's grand governing coalition, have turned to Martin Schulz, the former president of the European Parliament, to run against Merkel and her center-right bloc in the September 24 federal election. The Social Democrats hope Schulz's tenure in Brussels means he will be in a better position to criticize the chancellor than others in the party who have had to work with her.
Few, however, believe Schulz will be able to topple Germany's so-called Iron Lady. Analyst Josef Janning, in a commentary for the European Council on Foreign Relations, describes Merkel as "seemingly unassailable" and says Schulz's "chances of landing a knockout blow in this duel are slim."
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Trump's travel ban on Muslims illegal, inhumane: Iran first VP
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 30, 2017 2:30PM
Iran's first vice president says US President Donald Trump's executive order to ban entry into the country from the Islamic Republic and six other Muslim states is "illegal, inhumane and in violation of human rights", adding Tehran will take reciprocal measures.
"We will take a reciprocal measure regarding visa issuance for American citizens who want to travel to Iran," Es'haq Jahangiri said on Monday.
"We will support our nationals throughout the world with all means at our disposal," he added.
He emphasized that Iran would definitely pursue the issue at international organizations and once again dissect and lay bare before the world the human rights advocated and practiced by the US.
Jahangiri said Iranians are the "most civilized" people in the world and cannot be accused of supporting terrorism.
He emphasized that Iranians are themselves a victim of terrorism and are the only nation that strongly stood against terrorist groups formed with the support of the US and some regional countries to create insecurity across the region.
The Iranian nation did not allow terrorists to establish a foothold in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iraq, the first veep added.
"We will definitely keep on the path of fighting against terrorism and will firmly support the Iranian nation's rights everywhere," Jahangiri pointed out.
Trump's executive order, issued on January 27, blocked entry into the United States for 90 days for citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also suspended the entry of all refugees for 120 days and barred Syrian refugees indefinitely.
On Sunday, Ali Akbar Velayati, the senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on international affairs, criticized the new US government's controversial decision and said such moves would be detrimental to Washington.
Velayati added that Iranians are proud of the fact that they do not need to be endorsed by "unbalanced" individuals such as Trump.
Iran's Foreign Ministry also on Sunday summoned the Swiss Ambassador to Tehran, Giulio Haas, to protest against Trump's discriminatory decision.
In a meeting, director general for the Americas at Iran's Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Keshavarz-Zadeh, handed over an official letter of protest to the Swiss envoy, who represents the US interests in Tehran.
In a series of posts on his official Twitter account, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Trump's decision shows the baselessness of Washington's claims of only having issues with the government in Tehran, adding that the move is the greatest gift to terrorists and their supporters.
Iran's Foreign Ministry also on Saturday censured the "insulting" decision by the new US government and vowed that Tehran would respond to the move in kind.
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Some 350,000 children face siege-like conditions in western Mosul: Charity
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 30, 2017 6:1PM
An estimated 350,000 children are trapped in siege-like conditions and risk execution by the Daesh terrorist group in the western part of Mosul, an international non-governmental organization warns.
According to a report released by Save the Children on Monday, half of the 750,000 trapped civilians in west Mosul are children, who risk being killed by Daesh terrorists if they try to escape.
The London-based organization further urged Iraqi troops and the so-called US-led military coalition to take all necessary steps to minimize civilian casualties during the operation to liberate the western flank of Mosul, located some 400 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad.
"To a child it doesn't matter where the bombs come from - it's where they land that matters," Save the Children's Iraq Country Director, Maurizio Crivallero, said.
"The impact of explosive weapons in west Mosul is likely to be deadly and indiscriminate. We must ensure that every effort humanly possible is made to protect children and their families from harm," he added.
Save the Children has described the situation in Mosul as "increasingly desperate," noting that three quarters of a million civilians have no access to aid agencies and are running out of food, water and basic supplies.
Mahmoud, a medic living in a recaptured area of eastern Mosul, said his family in west Mosul did not have anything to eat or drink.
"No one is able to get the children anything, there's no food or milk for babies the markets are empty and the supplies they stockpiled have almost run out," he said.
The Iraqi medic went on to say that there was a huge risk for families trying to flee.
"If Daesh see a family trying to escape, they kill them on the spot. I tried to get mine out and agreed with a smuggler to bring them here, but he opted out because he saw a family of nine killed in front of his eyes," he said.
The report comes only a few days after the World Food Programme announced 50-percent cuts in monthly food rations distributed to 1.4 million Iraqis displaced in the wake of anti-Daesh military campaign.
The UN agency blamed delays in payments of funds from donor states for the measure.
Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, fell into the hands of Daesh terrorists in the summer of 2014.
Iraqi army soldiers, supported by pro-government Popular Mobilization Units commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, launched a joint operation on October 17, 2016 to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists.
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Iraqi parliament votes to urge govt. to enact reciprocal travel ban on Americans
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 30, 2017 3:10PM
Iraqi legislators have voted to call on the government to enact a reciprocity measure to block American citizens from entering the country if the US does not withdraw President Donald Trump's visa ban against Iraqi travelers.
Lawmakers Kamil al-Ghrairi and Mohammed Saadoun told The Associated Press the decision was taken by a majority votes in favor during a Monday parliamentary session but did not offer specific numbers. They said the decision was binding for the government
Meanwhile, the Iraqi deputy parliament speaker, Sheikh Humam Hamoudi, said the parliament's decision was non-binding for the Iraqi government, adding that the measure approved in the Iraqi parliament was "a recommendation" and did not move as a "law."
It was not immediately clear who the restrictions will apply to since there are already American military personnel, non-government and aid workers, workers from energy companies and American businessmen present in Iraq.
On January 27, Trump signed a sweeping executive order to make good on his promise to ban Muslim immigrants.
The new Republican president's order imposes a 90-day ban on the entry of citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia, blocks refugees from Syria indefinitely, and suspends all refugee admissions for 120 days.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry has described Trump's travel ban as a "wrong" decision, calling on the US administration to mitigate the impact of restrictions on Iraqi travelers.
"It is necessary that the new American administration reconsider this wrong decision. We affirm Iraq's desire to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries," read the ministry's statement which was released on Sunday.
Also on Sunday, prominent Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for the expulsion of American nationals from the Arab country in a tit-for-tat move following the US ban.
"It would be arrogance for you to enter freely Iraq and other countries while barring them the entrance to your country ... and therefore you should get your nationals out," the cleric said in a statement published on his website.
Additionally, the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, urged Iraqi authorities to ban Americans in response to Trump's order.
"After the decision of the American president to prohibit the entry of Iraqi citizens to the United States of America, we demand Americans be prevented from entering Iraq, and the removal of those of them who are present," Hashd al-Sha'abi said in a statement.
The US visa ban has sparked huge international criticism from the UN chief and several countries, including European ones as well as Muslim nations. The measure has also led to demonstrations inside the US.
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Iraqi troops found 27 civilians bodies in Mosul mass grave
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 30, 2017 10:22AM
Iraqi forces have found a mass grave in the liberated parts of Mosul containing the bodies of 27 civilians slain by Daesh terrorists.
Brigadier Zanoun al-Sabawi of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said there were signs of torture on the bodies discovered in al-Rashidiya district in northeastern Mosul on Sunday.
The official further said the ID cards of the victims were also found in the grave, adding that Iraqi forces transferred the corpses to a nearby medical center to deliver them to their families.
Iraqi army soldiers, supported by fighters from pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic word, Hashd al-Sha'abi, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, launched a joint operation on October 17, 2016, to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists.
The Iraqi army announced in a statement on January 22 that all districts of eastern Mosul had been cleared of Daesh militants.
Daesh still maintains firm control over the western quarter of Mosul, the terror group's last remaining stronghold in the country.
Reports say Iraqi armed forces are now gearing up for a new phase of the liberation operation. Senior commanders are devising a strategy to deal with the terrorists the western sector of Mosul.
The United Nations estimates that some 750,000 civilians are trapped in the militant-held areas.
A number of other mass graves have been found by Iraqi forces in the areas taken back from Daesh Takfiris.
Late in 2016, a mass grave, containing the remains of 40 people, was uncovered in the embattled city. Reports said most of those found in the area in the outskirts of Tal al-Dhahab village, were members of security forces.
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Myanmar: UN rights expert condemns killing of prominent Muslim lawyer
30 January 2017 A United Nations human rights expert today strongly condemned the brutal murder of a respected Muslim lawyer and constitutional law expert in Myanmar, who was also the legal adviser to the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD).
"I am shocked to the core by the senseless killing of a highly respected and knowledgeable individual, whom I have met during all of my visits to the country, including most recently just over a week ago," the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, said.
U Ko Ni was shot and killed outside Yangon Airport on Sunday after returning from Indonesia where he had been part of a Government-led delegation attending an interfaith study tour, according to a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
"This act was also an act of violence against children. It was committed while U Ko Ni was holding his grandchild, exposing the child to witness one of the most horrific acts of violence," Ms. Lee emphasized.
A suspect has been arrested. Ms. Lee called on the Government to openly condemn this act and to carry out a proper effective impartial investigation into the killing.
While noting that no motive had yet been established, the human rights expert called for "everyone in Myanmar to refrain from actions that could excite negative emotions and to join together to counter hate and violence whatever its form."
"This appears to be another shocking example of a reprisal against those speaking out on behalf of the rights of others," said Ms. Lee, who has recently conducted a 12-day visit to the Southeast Asian country. In her end-of-visit statement, she highlighted her concern at the increasing risks faced by human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and others working on sensitive issues.
"U Ko Ni's passing is a tremendous loss to human rights defenders and for Myanmar. The State Counsellor and the NLD-led Government must get to the bottom of this senseless act, and give answers to his family and to us all," the Special Rapporteur said.
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Is the Rohingya Situation Improving in Myanmar?
By Steve Miller January 30, 2017
Since 2012, the violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state has displaced thousands of people. According to the United Nations Human Rights Council, that number has surpassed 140,000.
In recent months, videos of abuse by Burmese security forces have emerged, coupled with allegations of rape and the burning of Rohingya Muslim villages. These actions prompted ASEAN foreign ministers to gather in December 2015 to discuss the situation, and a series of rallies led by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Last week, Lee Yang-hee, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights for Myanmar, sat down with the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to discuss the situation.
Phil Robertson, the Asia Deputy Director for Human Rights Watch, says that such events show just how dire the situation is in "particular the areas around Maungdaw and Buthidaung, which were affected by the security sweeps/crackdown that took place after the original attacks against the border patrol."
Robertson cites instances of humanitarian aid still not reaching locations within Rakhine state and ongoing destruction of structures by security forces, evidenced by satellite imagery, as further examples of the challenges facing the Rohingya.
Improving signs?
Hunter Marston, an independent analyst who previously worked at the U.S. embassy in Myanmar, adds that Lee Yang-hee's visit was somewhat of a good sign, "but the unfortunate reality is that Lee was not allowed to speak with just anybody. She was kept to the pre-approved government list and not allowed in certain villages."
The Burmese government did investigate allegations of wrongdoing, but Marston characterizes the results as, "Categorical denying of the situation, the reality on the ground."
While the events in Rakhine state have captured international media headlines, problems have persisted for some time.
"Starting with the 1960s, the military juntas increasingly repressed the Rohingya, and in 1982, the Burmese citizenship law finally stripped them of citizenship, not recognizing them as a legitimate ethnic group under their constitution," Marston says.
In 2012 during ethnic infighting, Robertson says, "Human Rights Watch investigated it and found very clear evidence of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity committed by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists with the support of security forces against Rohingya."
The future
The intense international focus on the situation in the Rakhine state and Lee Yang-hee's recent visit isn't enough, says Marston, to bring about an optimistic view of the situation, given that Aung San Suu Kyi does not use the term Rohingya and has asked others not to do so as well.
However, Marston notes, "There is room for improvement, of course, because things are quite bad. That said, they could get a lot worse. While a lot of people are throwing around the term 'genocide,' I don't think we've quite reached that yet."
If Aung San Suu Kyi and her government take a more proactive role, then there is hope.
"I don't think at this point it can be expected [things can be resolved] using the current tactics that they're engaged in," says Robertson, "I think that the Burmese government has to stand up, has to basically confront the military and say, 'Look, you cannot use these kinds of rights abusing tactics in a systematic way, as you're doing in these areas, and expect us to remain quiet.'"
Marston says if ASEAN, and especially Indonesia, as the most populous Muslim nation, engage closely with the Burmese government, change might occur.
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Three militants, two police officers killed in attack on Chechen police post
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 30, 2017 8:44AM
A terrorist attack on a police station has left two officers and three militants dead in Russia's Chechnya Republic.
Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov's office said in a statement on Monday that militants attacked a police post in Chali, a town about 30 kilometers south of the capital, Grozny.
The fatalities occurred when the policemen engaged in a firefight with the assailants, according to the statement.
Two civilians were wounded in the clashes.
A group of extremist militants are fighting in Chechnya and across the volatile North Caucasus. The group sporadically launches terrorist attacks against authorities and police forces in the region.
In late 2016, militants staged an attack against police forces in Grozny. Security forces said at least 11 militants were killed and one traffic police was injured in that attack.
Thousands of Chechen militants have also reportedly been fighting alongside the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, mainly in Syria. Russian authorities consider the Chechen militants fighting abroad a serious threat if they manage to get back to Russian territory.
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Trump-Putin Phone Call: 'A Toe in the Water'
By Danila Galperovich January 30, 2017
Saturday's phone conversation between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has raised the hopes of many Russian politicians for a U.S.-Russian rapprochement. But other observers in Moscow remain more cautious about the prospects for bilateral relations in the Trump era.
According to the White House, the two leaders discussed topics ranging from "cooperation in defeating ISIS [Islamic State]to efforts in working together to achieve more peace throughout the world including Syria," in a phone call that was "a significant start to improving the relationship between the United States and Russia that is in need of repair."
The Kremlin said the two presidents "expressed their readiness to make active joint efforts to stabilize and develop Russia-U.S. cooperation on a constructive, equitable and mutually beneficial basis."
It also said they discussed the fight against terrorism, the Middle East, the Arab-Israeli conflict, strategic stability and non-proliferation, Iran's nuclear program, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and "the main aspects of the Ukrainian crisis."
Trump and Putin called for "real coordination of actions" aimed at "defeating ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria," and "stressed the importance of rebuilding mutually beneficial trade and economic ties between the two counties' business communities," the Kremlin reported.
Anti-IS coalition
Following the call, Leonid Slutsky, head of the international affairs committee of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, said he expects Washington and Moscow to forge a joint fight against Islamic State.
"The next step, I am sure, will be negotiations to create a broad anti-terrorist coalition in Syria, the formation of which the Russian president called for in 2015 from the rostrum of the U.N. General Assembly," Slutsky said.
Slutsky also said he believes that references to economic issues in the conversation between Trump and Putin were a "positive signal for investors and, in general, for the prospects of mending relations between our countries."
No word on sanctions
Some Russian parliamentarians suggested the two presidents intentionally and rightly avoided discussing sanctions that the United States imposed on Russia for annexing Crimea and backing separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
"For tactical reasons, it was premature to raise the issue of lifting the sanctions in the first conversation," Mikhail Emelyanov, deputy head of the Just Russia party's faction in the Duma, told the Interfax news agency. "I think that in the process of improving Russian-American relations, in the process solving international problems of mutual interest, the issue of sanctions will be resolved of its own accord."
While it is no surprise that leading Russian politicians spoke approvingly of the Trump-Putin phone conversation, some Russian foreign policy experts say it is premature to make favorable forecasts about the future of U.S.-Russian relations.
"It seems to me that neither Putin nor Trump knows what constitutes the crux of the matter in our relations with America," Viktor Kremeniuk, deputy director of the Institute for U.S. and Canadian Studies, told VOA's Russian service. "The fact that we will necessarily cooperate in the fight against ISIS helps us find some common ground. But, in my opinion, it doesn't go beyond that, neither with the Americans, nor with us.
"Trump probably wants expand cooperation with Russia," Kremeniuk added. "But I'm not sure that he has a program for such an expansion, and I'm not sure that what he can offer will appeal to Putin."
Thorny issues remain
Thorny issues like the annexation of Crimea and war in eastern Ukraine are unlikely to continue to "color" the U.S.-Russian relationship, he said, adding that he believes the Trump administration is willing to soften the U.S. position on Crimea.
Andrei Kolesnikov of the Carnegie Moscow Center told VOA's Russian service it is no accident the issue of lifting sanctions was not discussed in the two leaders' phone call.
"The conversation took place amid rumors that Trump had already prepared a draft document on lifting the sanctions, and everyone understandably got worked up, because he was showing that he is strictly carrying out his agenda, from a wall with Mexico to anti-immigrant legislation," he said. "But, apparently, it is precisely with this issue the issue of lifting sanctions against Russia that something needs to be coordinated with partners from the EU and the U.K. in general, with partners in the Western world."
He added, "Apparently, [British Prime Minister] Theresa May is not thrilled with this idea, and the EU is clearly strongly against it. Perhaps Trump decided to back off a little bit in this matter, although in the Kremlin's press release there is a phrase, very vague, about the importance of establishing mutually beneficial trade and economic ties."
According to the Kremlin, the two presidents agreed to issue instructions to work out the possible date and venue for a face-to-face meeting.
"There was apparently nothing extraordinary in this conversation," Kolesnikov said. "This is called 'putting a toe in the water.' If the water is warm, you can move farther in."
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Trump Presidency Thus Far? Russia, for One, Is Pleased
By Charles Maynes January 31, 2017
Russians have largely greeted Donald Trump's ascendancy to the White House with high hopes for a new era of improved relations with the United States. And judging by this week's reaction, the first telephone call between Presidents Trump and Putin has done nothing to diminish those expectations.
In his influential weekly news program Vesti Nedeli, anchor Dmitry Kiselev praised the 45-minute conversation as the "most awaited phone call on Earth."
"Donald Trump is fulfilling his election promises and getting rid of Obama's pathetic legacy," Kiselev said during the broadcast.
Kremlin officials have been more circumspect, if only slightly.
On Monday, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the conversation as "constructive" with both men showing a desire to resolve "complex issues through dialogue."
Peskov said such cooperation was not possible under the Obama administration, with whom the Kremlin sparred bitterly over Moscow's annexation of Crimea, military support for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, and allegations of interference in the U.S. presidential election, among other issues.
Indeed, following the phone call, statements from both the Kremlin and White House stressed a desire to find common ground.
Sanctions relief?
The Kremlin said the leaders expressed an interest in closer cooperation in fighting Islamic State terrorists, as well as dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Iran nuclear deal, and North Korea's nuclear ambitions. There was no indication that the presidents discussed the charges that Russia tried to interfere with the U.S. election.
Nor do the two appear to have discussed Western sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine, although the tone of the call fed into speculation that they could soon be eased.
Key European allies in line with the former Obama administration - have proposed partially lifting the sanctions only if Moscow fulfills its obligations under the Minsk Peace Accords aimed at ending the fighting in east Ukraine between Kyiv government forces and pro-Russian separatists.
President Trump has suggested he could lift sanctions in exchange for a reduction in Russia's nuclear arsenal or a commitment to fight the Islamic State.
In his press call Monday, Kremlin spokesman Peskov insisted sanctions were not raised during the Trump-Putin call.
A shift in tone
But many observers pointed hopefully to a Kremlin statement that the two leaders expressed a desire improve "economic cooperation."
"To fully develop economic ties, it's necessary to create the right climate and legal conditions," said Russian lawmaker Dmitri Novikov in comments reported by the Interfax news agency. "That requires canceling sanctions."
Kremlin allies also contrasted the apparently warm rapport between Trump and Putin to the Russian president's frosty relationships with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francoise Hollande.
Indeed, some argued that the budding Trump-Putin friendship had the potential to shake traditional U.S. allies to the core.
"Kyiv, Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn, Warsaw, Oslo, Stockholm, NATO they're all horrified by the results of the Putin-Trump call," crowed Alexey Pushkov, a Russian lawmaker and former head of the Duma's Foreign Affairs committee in a post to Twitter.
Hacking charges
Yet hovering over any budding detente are the accusations the Kremlin meddled in the U.S. election with the aim of helping Trump win the White House.
So, too, are unsubstantiated claims the Kremlin possesses compromising sexual material on Trump from a visit to Moscow in 2013.
A U.S. investigation also is continuing into whether there were improper contacts between the Trump campaign team and Russian officials during the election campaign.
Moscow has repeatedly denied the hacking charges, and angrily dismissed related allegations as attempts to sabotage a new era in U.S.-Russian relations.
Still, the hacking scandal gained new intrigue with recent Russian news reports that two intelligence officers from the FSB's cybersecurity unit were among six Russian nationals arrested and charged with treason.
According to sources quoted by the Interfax news agency, those arrested are suspected of providing information to the CIA raising questions of its possible connections to the U.S. investigation into Russian hacking.
Kremlin officials have yet to comment.
Who is playing whom?
Warranted or not, the hacking scandal has made the Trump team sensitive to charges it is beholden to Moscow.
Some Russia analysts point to the White House's decision to release photos of Trump on the phone with Putin surrounded by Vice President Mike Pence and other advisors as a sign of the administration's concerns over the optics of Russian rapprochement.
But Russian political analyst Feodor Krashenninkov argues the "Trump as Putin's puppet" theory is overblown.
In an interview with VOA, Krashenninkov noted that Trump's actions are hemmed in by Republican lawmakers who favor a hardline approach to Russia.
"Putin by contrast can give away anything," says Krashenninkov, who noted in a twist that it is Putin who would be more likely to embrace the title of Trump's bestseller, The Art of the Deal.
Krashenninkov argued that Trump, in his introductory conversation with the Russian leader, borrowed from another book of American tycoon lore: Dale Carnegie's 1936 classic How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Wherever U.S.-Russian relations head next, some in Moscow were reveling in the domestic controversy arising during Trump's first week in office including mass protests against the administration's decision to temporarily ban admission to the United States of all refugees and most citizens of seven Middle Eastern countries.
Maxim Shevchenko, a pro-Kremlin journalist, urged his government to enjoy if not stoke the chaos.
"Trump is a symbol of the deep, insurmountable and not easily defined confrontation of the societal, political, and economic split in America therefore, greetings Trump!' Shevchenko wrote in a post to his Facebook account.
"The more chaos, anger, and confrontation they have the better."
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It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
Syria warns uncooridanted 'safe zones' would pose risks to civilians
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 30, 2017 7:19PM
The Syrian foreign minister has warned that plans to create safe zone in the Arab country, proposed by the new US administration, would pose serious risks to civilians' lives if enforced without coordination with Damascus.
Walid al-Muallem said Monday that any attempt to impose safe zones without coordination with the Syrian government will be an "unsafe act."
The top Syrian diplomat, who was meeting with the head of the United Nations refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, in Damascus, said that setting up safe zones in Syria without any authorization from the Damascus government would certainly violate the country's sovereignty.
The comments came a day after the White House said President Donald Trump had agreed in a phone conversation with Saudi King Salman to support the idea of creating safe zones in Syria.
Trump said last week that he would "absolutely do safe zones in Syria" for refugees fleeing crisis in the country.
During his Monday meeting with the UN official, Muallem also called on all Syrians who have left the country during the six-year war to return home, saying the Syrian government would meet all the needs of refugees. The call comes amid increasing criticism about an executive order by Trump, which has banned the entry of all Syrian refugees into the US for an indefinite time.
Millions have been displaced in and outside Syria since the war began in the country in March 2011. Most of the Syrian refugees have fled their homeland for Europe.
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Syria Talks in Geneva Postponed on De Mistura's Request
Sputnik News
20:17 30.01.2017(updated 20:32 30.01.2017)
Riyad Haddad, the Syrian ambassador to Russia said that a new round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva were postponed due to a request by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) Damascus was ready for a new round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva on February 8 but decided to accommodate a request by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura to postpone them until the end of February, the Syrian ambassador to Russia said Monday.
"The date for postponed intra-Syrian talks in Geneva has not been determined yet, but we are moving along this trek. We have practically agreed in Astana that the meeting would be held on February 8, but, unfortunately, it was postponed because the international community is not ready to hold such talks," Riyad Haddad said.
According to Haddad, it was de Mistura who asked to postpone the Geneva talks without explaining why, but Damascus "decided to accommodate the request."
Haddad stated that Damascus is ready to conduct consult with Moscow on Russian proposals on a new draft of the Syrian constitution.
"Our government has not responded yet, but we, as representatives of the Syrian government, accept these proposals from our Russian friends, we are studying these proposals and will hold consultations with them," Haddad told reporters in Moscow.
Sputnik
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Russian Tu-22M3 Bombers Destroy Daesh Command Posts, Arms Depots in Deir ez-Zor
Sputnik News
17:02 30.01.2017(updated 17:22 30.01.2017)
Six Russian Tu-22M3 bombers carried out on Monday airstrikes against new Daesh targets in Syria's Deir ez-Zor province destroying two command posts, arms depots, a large number of military equipment and terrorists, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"On January 30, 2017, six strategic Tu-22M3 bombers took off in Russia, flew over Iraq and Iran, and carried out a group air attack on new Daesh targets in the Deir ez-Zor province," it reads.
"The destruction of all designated targets has been confirmed by the means of objective monitoring," the ministry said.
"Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters, which had taken off from the Hmeymim airbase in Syria, provided air cover for the bombers," it added.
The Russian aircraft safely returned to their home bases after the mission.
Daesh terrorists surrounded the Deir ez-Zor military airfield in Syria's northeast.
Commenting on the development of the situation in the area, the Russian General Staff said that if terrorists capture Deir ez-Zor, civilians will be subjected to genocide and the population may be completely exterminated.
The city of Deir ez-Zor, which is still held by Syrian government forces, has been under Daesh's siege since July 2014. The residents of Deir ez-Zor and the servicemen receive food only via planes delivering humanitarian aid.
Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, with government forces fighting against numerous opposition and terrorist groups, including al-Nusra Front and Daesh, banned in a range of countries, including Russia.
Sputnik
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Turkish Military Operation in Syrian al-Bab Enters the Final Stage
Sputnik News
21:28 30.01.2017(updated 22:12 30.01.2017)
The ongoing Turkish military operation in the vicinity of the Syrian city of al-Bab may be concluded within a month due to a number of factors.
After returning from his African tour last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned that there's no need "to prolong and expand" the ongoing Turkish military operation in al-Bab.
Ismail Hakki Pekin, former chief of the Turkish General Staff Intelligence Department, told Sputnik Turkiye that this decision was made due to a number of factors: namely, the unwillingness of the Turkish military to clash with the Syrian armed forces advancing on al-Bab from the south, the peace talks in Astana, and US President Trump's call to establish safe zones on Syrian territory.
According to Pekin, the liberation of al-Bab and the subsequent withdrawal of the Turkish armed forces from the area may be accomplished within a month. He pointed out however that Turkey will likely maintain a small military presence in al-Bab region to ensure the safety of civilian personnel that Ankara will send there.
"When the al-Bab operation is brought to a close, some Turkish military units will have to remain there because otherwise all gains made during the offensive may be lost. Meanwhile, Syrian army forces are advancing towards al-Bab from the south, and Turkey obviously wants to avoid clashes with Syria. In theory, this situation may prompt Syria and Turkey to engage in direct talks, though a lot depends on whether these two forces will be able to coordinate their actions in al-Bab. At the very least, the Turkish military definitely does not want a direct conflict Syria," Pekin said.
He pointed out that Turkey's stance regarding the Syrian leadership has drastically changed during the last few months as Ankara no longer considers the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad as a mandatory condition for peace talks.
Also, as the trilateral ceasefire control mechanism that was agreed upon during the Astana talks is expected to come into effect soon, Russia, Turkey and Iran will create a group of specialists to oversee the ceasefire implementation. This measure will likely require the involved parties to deploy special forces units in the region, which may also have been one of the factors influencing Ankara's desire to swiftly complete the al-Bab operation.
Furthermore, any prolongation of the military operation in al-Bab may have a detrimental effect on the combat readiness of Turkish troops, according to Pekin.
"Once the operation is over, the troops must withdraw from the region so that Russia and the US may decide on further ground operations. And if we interpret the president's (Erdogan's) words about the end of the al-Bab operation as a signal that Turkish forces won't advance on Manbij, it may mean that Ankara is preparing to cooperate with the US in that region," Pekin said.
Sputnik
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Tension High In Eastern Ukraine As Kremlin, Kyiv Trade Blame
RFE/RL January 31, 2017
Tension is high in eastern Ukraine, where fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatists has flared over the past three days.
The sides traded blame on January 31 for a surge in hostilities around the government-controlled town of Avdiyivka that has led to the highest casualty toll since mid-December.
The European Union called for "the fighting to stop immediately," saying it violated a cease-fire and put civilians at "grave risk."
The UN Security Council said it would meet in closed session on January 31 to discuss the situation at Ukraine's request. Kyiv also confirmed that the so-called Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), which includes Ukraine, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), will meet on February 1 in Minsk.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze announced on January 31 that seven Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and "dozens" wounded over the previous two days. Earlier, the Ukrainian military said 24 soldiers were wounded and that there were an unspecified number of civilian casualties.
Klympush-Tsintsadze claimed that the offensive was being directed by Moscow and urged the world to "know the truth about the crimes of the Kremlin."
"The Ukrainian fight against Russian invaders is a fight of freedom against tyranny, of the future against the past," Klypush-Tsintsadze said in a written statement.
Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling on Kyiv to cease "armed provocations" and observe the cease-fire agreements.
Meanwhile, regional Governor Pavlo Zhebrivskyy said his office was working on a plan to evacuate thousands of civilians in Avdiyivka as shelling left many residents of the town north of Donetsk without electricity, water supplies, and heating in temperatures well below freezing.
But the AFP news agency quoted the town's military administrator, Fridon Vekua, as saying that no final decision to evacuate had been made.
"We see it as our very last resort because there is still a chance of restoring heating," he said.
The Russia-backed separatists said shelling caused casualties in the separatist-held provincial capital of Donetsk and damaged an electricity substation, cutting power to the Zasyadko coal mine and trapping more than 200 miners inside.
All of them were later evacuated, they said.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko cut a visit to Germany short on January 30, citing what his spokesman called "an emergency situation verging on a humanitarian disaster" around Avdiyivka, which is home to a giant coking plant.
Kyiv and Moscow also accused each other of launching offensives in Avdiyivka and firing heavy artillery in defiance of a deal signed in Minsk in February 2015 that called for a cease-fire and steps to end the conflict between Kyiv and the Russia-backed separatists.
"The current escalation in Donbas is a clear indication of Russia's continued blatant disregard of its commitments under the Minsk agreements with a view of preventing the stabilization of the situation and achieving any progress in the security and humanitarian spheres," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Donbas is a name for the industrialized corner of eastern Ukraine where the separatists hold parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini called for the fighting to stop immediately, saying it would "allow for the urgent repair of critical infrastructures."
The intense fighting around Avdiyivka is a "blatant violation of the cease-fire" as stipulated by the Minsk agreements and puts civilian inhabitants at "grave risk," a statement issued by Mogherini's spokesperson said.
The chief monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Ertugrul Apakan, made a similar call, saying "violence on such a scale, involving the loss of life, is unacceptable."
Apakan also said in a statement that the SMM had reported on civilian casualties and observed damage to civilian homes and infrastructure.
They included the water-filtration plant in Yasynuvata, which it said thousands of people on both sides of the contact line depend for heating, electricity, and water.
A Western diplomat suggested that Moscow was behind the escalation in fighting, describing it as "Russia sending a message to the Ukrainians and (possibly) the new [U.S.] administration."
The increased fighting -- including "coordinated use of heavy artillery" -- came days after Russia warned in a TCG session that there could be an escalation if Ukrainian forces did not withdraw from positions near the water-treatment plant, according to the diplomat, who is involved in the process and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the Ukrainian government of conducting "aggressive actions" in an effort to undermine the stalled peace process and draw attention away from domestic problems.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed more than 9,750 people since April 2014.
Despite substantial evidence, Russia denies claims by Kyiv, NATO, and Western governments that it stirred up separatism in the region and has sent troops and weapons to Ukraine to support the separatists.
The European Union, United States, and other states have imposed sanctions on Russia over the conflict, as well as for its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014.
With reporting by AP, UNIAN, Interfax, and TASS
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-avdiyivka-fighting- shelling-russia-tensions/28269587.html
Copyright (c) 2017. 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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Ukraine's Defense Minister Claims Kiev Committed to Donbass Peaceful Settlement
Sputnik News
16:41 31.01.2017(updated 16:42 31.01.2017)
Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak claimed Tuesday Kiev was committed to the policy of peaceful settlement in Donbass despite the worsening of the situation on the ground.
KIEV (Sputnik) The Ukrainian town of Avdiivka located on the demarcation line in the Donetsk region has been under attack since Sunday. Water and power supplies were reportedly cut off in the town on Monday.
"The defense minister of Ukraine informed [those present] about the situation in Donbass, in particular, about the latest developments in Avdiivka, and stressed that despite the worsening of the situation, Ukraine continues the policy of the peaceful settlement in the east of our country," Poltorak said as quoted by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier Tuesday that Moscow had reliable data that the Ukrainian independent armed groups, supported by the Ukrainian Armed Forces' artillery, were behind the attack on Avdiivka.
Sputnik
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Edge data centres will account for most of the telecom server market growth and is projected to reach US$14 billion by 2026 according to a new report from DellOro Group.
A bill to legalize the possession of switchblades in Virginia for recreational and work use passed the House of Delegates Monday.
The legislation sponsored by Del. R. Lee Ware Jr., R-Powhatan comes at the request of a Richmond-area switchblade enthusiast worried that he and his colleagues in the Greater Richmond Knife Club are technically breaking the law by taking knives from their collections to monthly club meetings.
During floor debate last week, Ware said the bill would also help roofers and other workers who may need easy access to a blade that can be opened by a button or switch, without the use of two hands.
Look past the shining but disconcerting name, switchblade, and look at the actual purpose and words of the legislation, Ware said. And join me in helping ordinary folks - hobbyists and tradesmen - by voting on this bill."
Del. Alfonzo H. Lopez, D-Arlington, called switchblades dangerous and deadly weapons and said lawmakers were opening the door to loosening rules on other weapons such as ballistic knives, which can be ejected a short distance. Lopez also noted that the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights group, had voiced support for the bill as a self-defense measure.
We are creating a minefield here folks, Lopez said.
The Virginia Sheriffs Association raised concerns with the bills original form, saying recreational purposes could mean just about any activity, not just hobby collecting. The bill was amended to say lawful recreational activity.
A handful of Republicans joined House Democrats in opposition to House Bill 1432.
Under current law, switchblades cannot be carried concealed. Anyone caught with a switchblade is automatically presumed to have the intent of selling it and could be found guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $250.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
To the editor:
After seeing Madonnas idiotic remarks during the Jan. 21 Womens March on Washington I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House I had to comment.
Shes really showed what shes made of. Madonna should be investigated and arrested for her actions, as any other of us regular people in the U.S. would be. Why not her? Especially in the times we live in. They certainly should place her on the watch list at the least. Shes not any special privileged person as she obviously thinks she is shes simply acting like a crazed idiot.
Shes always been an outspoken nut but this goes way overboard. She sounds just like an ISIS terrorist, not an American who supports our great country, regardless of who is president. Shes disgusting. A disgrace to this country.
Just because she thinks shes a famous celebrity (thats debatable), shes just another left-wing, liberal cry baby showing her true colors. They despise Trump and cannot get over the fact hes been elected as our 45th president. Well, Madonna, get over it and go and record an album or something, just shut your big fat pie hole! Is she considered untouchable? I think not. This type of behavior is not freedom of speech, as most of the other idiotic liberal cupcakes may claim whove been marching, pouting and acting ridiculous during the past week.
This should be interpreted as an actual threat to the White House and President Trump the way I see it. She needs to answer for her public comments and be treated as any other person would be who may have said the same! Enough with this ludicrous behavior. Its got to stop. We should make an example out of Madonna and rightfully prosecute her for her threatening and treacherous comments. After all this being said, if she truly doesnt like the way things have turned out with President Trump, there are airline flights leaving every day out of the United States!
DARYL RIGNEY
Danville
Vancouver, January 31, 2017 - Arizona Silver Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AZS) (the "Company") is pleased to announce initial drill results from the first phase of drilling on the Ramsey Mine silver project located in La Paz County, Arizona.
Initial Drill Results
Drill hole R1602-C intersected 50 feet (15.3 metres approximate true width) containing 102 gpt Ag, 0.12% Pb and 0.35% Zn. Within this zone is a higher grade banded amethystine quartz vein 5 feet wide (1.5 metres) of 276 g/tonne (gpt) Ag and 0.5 gpt Au that appears to be the southern extension of the Ramsey vein that was mined historically. The gold content is noteworthy and much to our surprise, in that gold was not previously reported from mine shipments or rock samples from the Ramsey vein. The vein occurs within and near the top of the more extensive lower grade silver zone beneath it. The silver zone is contained within a much thicker section of low grade mineralization that is 91 feet (27.7 metres approximate true width) and grades 63 gpt Ag, 0.09% Pb, and 0.25% Zn. These results confirm the presence of a thick interval of silver, lead, and zinc, as identified by historic long hole drill holes, with newly identified locally elevated gold. This mineral system appears to be large and wide-open to the south of hole R1602-C, where no previous drilling or mine development has occurred.
Drill hole R1603-C was drilled beyond the northern extent of the old underground workings where it was unclear why historic mining was discontinued. R1603-C interested footwall mineralization only, grading 31.3 gpt Ag, 0.08% Pb, and 0.32% Zn with intervals of 0.1-0.2 gpt Au, across 47 feet (14.3 metres approximate true width) after drilling through extremely faulted ground in the region where the high-grade vein projected. We believe the high-grade vein is faulted out, which explains why mining was discontinued historically, along with about 50 feet (15.3 metres) of mineralized section. We interpret the large magnetic anomaly located north of this drill site to represent the faulted extension (see discussion on hydrothermal magnetite below).
Drill hole R1601-C was drilled from the same site at R1602-C, but at a steeper inclination, and intersected a mine working where we projected the high-grade vein. This mine working was not on the historical stope maps that predate the MM Sundt Company's underground activity at the Ramsey Mine in the late 1960s, and probably represents a portion of the high-grade vein that they mined during their tenure on the property. The core drillers were unable to drill past this 7-ft wide mine working, and the hole was abandoned.
Drill holes R1604-C and R1605-C were drilled from the same site as R1603-C, and are currently in the laboratory for sample preparation and analyses, and the results will be reported after they have been received and reviewed.
Magnetic Anomaly
Drilling simultaneously tested the ground magnetic anomaly that is coincident with the old Ramsey Mine workings, in order to understand the source of the magnetic anomaly and to be able to better interpret the much larger (500-meter diameter) ground magnetic anomaly to the north. There is a distinct hydrothermal magnetite zone in the volcanic rocks above the silver target zone in all five holes, explaining the source of the magnetic anomaly and reinforcing the significance of the larger magnetic anomaly to the north. Lab physical property tests also show this rock type is very resistive, probably due to silicification. Magnetic pyrrhotite is also present in the volcanic rocks above and in the silver target zone. Rock physical property tests were performed on representative samples from this magnetite-pyrrhotite zone and confirm a magnetic susceptibility 20-100 times that of the mineralized rocks below the high-grade vein, which explains the ground magnetic anomaly.
The magnetic anomaly to the north of the Ramsey Mine area is significantly stronger and larger than that at the Ramsey Mine. It is located across an inferred fault intersected in drill hole R1603-C and is believed to lie beneath an estimated 30-60 meters of alluvial cover. Silver-mineralized footwall rocks have a higher conductivity and polarization effect than the hanging wall rocks. The lab physical property tests suggest an electrical survey over the large untested magnetite anomaly should help define the geometry of the mineral system in the sub-surface and the locus of any disseminated sulphide minerals. An IP (induced polarization) geophysical survey is being planned to measure the electrical properties of the Ramsey mine are and the larger northern magnetic anomaly. We are encouraged with the results of the programme and have gained further knowledge of the system. Please take a moment to view our web site with images of the core at www.arizonasilverexploration.com.
QA/QC and Analytical Procedures
All drill core is stored in a locked facility in Quartzsite, Arizona prior to transport under strict chain of custody by ALS Minerals personnel to the ALS Minerals laboratory in Tucson Arizona. Core is photographed, sawed, and sampled by ALS Minerals personnel in accordance with sample intervals provided by Arizona Silver, then each interval is crushed to 70% passing 2 mm, a 250 gram split is taken and pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns, subject to a four-acid digestion, and then analyzed by ICP/MS for a 48-element package including silver, lead, and zinc. Samples over 100 ppm silver and over 10,000 ppm lead or zinc are re-analyzed using ICP for higher concentration levels. Selected intervals with high silver values are re-submitted for 1-assay ton fire assays for gold.
Greg Hahn, President and COO and a Certified Professional Geologist (#7122) is the Qualified Person under NI43-101 responsible for preparing and reviewing the data contained in this press release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
ARIZONA SILVER EXPLORATION INC.
SIGNED: "Greg Hahn"
Greg Hahn, President and Chief Executive Officer
Contact: Greg Hahn (720) 244-2022
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and the TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the transactions herein.
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements in relation to the timing, cost and other aspects of the 2016 program on the Ramsey property; the potential for development of the mineral resources; the potential mineralization and geological merits of the Ramsey property; and other future plans, objectives or expectations of the Company. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include the risk that actual results of current and planned exploration activities, including the results of the Company's 2016 drilling program(s) on the Ramsey property, will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; the geology, grade and continuity of any mineral deposits and the risk of unexpected variations in mineral resources, grade and/or recovery rates; fluctuating metals prices; possibility of accidents, equipment breakdowns and delays during exploration; exploration cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests; availability of capital and financing required to continue the Company's future exploration programs and preparation of geological reports and studies; delays in the preparation of geological reports and studies; the metallurgical characteristics of mineralization contained within the Ramsey property are yet to be fully determined; general economic, market or business conditions; competition and loss of key employees; regulatory changes and restrictions including in relation to required permits for exploration activities (including drilling permits) and environmental liability; timeliness of government or regulatory approvals; and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions, including that the Company's 2016 programs would proceed as planned and within budget. The Company expressly 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 otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.
SUDBURY, ON, Jan. 31, 2017 /CNW/ - Transition Metals Corp. (XTM TSX.V) ("Transition" or "the Company"), is pleased to announce that drilling is now underway on the Gowganda Gold project located 75 kilometres southwest of Kirkland Lake Ontario. The objective of the current drill program is to test high priority gold targets associated with mineralized and altered syenite and gold veins identified from surface trenching and previous drilling as detailed below. One drill is turning with plans to complete approximately 1,500 metres of drilling by early March 2017.
Company CEO and president, Scott McLean commented, "We are pleased to be advancing this project in partnership with Aldershot. The team has done a great job towards identifying some exciting gold targets. We look forward to results from this program as they become available over the coming weeks."
Prior Work:
In 2010, results from Gowganda area prospector Sherry Swain encouraged Transition Metals to undertake a program of mechanical overburden stripping to better expose the bedrock geology on in an area located approximately 1.5 kilometres west of the historic Gowganda silver camp and 2 kilometres north of the town of Gowganda in Haultain Township, Ontario. This work led to the identification of an Archean syenite associated gold system that the Company named the Haultain Gold Discovery.
Since the initial discovery was made, additional claims were staked or acquired to cover other areas with identified gold and silver potential. The project area now consists of mining claims totaling approximately 3,520 hectares centrally located about Hwy 560 adjacent to the unorganized municipality of Gowganda Ontario in Nicol, Haultain, Milner, and Van Hise townships, Larder Lake Mining Division and is more generally referred to as the Gowganda Gold Project.
Since discovery in 2010, Transition has completed programs of Induced Polarization (IP) geophysics, soil surveying, mapping, additional mechanical trenching and bedrock channel sampling as well as completing 21 drill holes totaling 2,258 metres. The property hosts widespread elevated gold mineralization hosted by stockwork veining in altered syenite ranging from nil to 3.5 g/t over significant widths of up to 20m in channel samples and drilling as well as up to 97 g/t Au over short channel widths (0.4 metres) within quartz veins. Drill intercepts include 2.37 g/t over 7.06 metres and up to 82.5 g/t Au over 0.4 metres.
About the Gowganda Gold Project:
The project is focused on Archean greenstone overlain by Proterozoic sediments of the Cobalt Embayment located south of the Round-Lake Batholith in the south-western part of the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt. A short animated video that introduced Aldershot and the Haultain project may be viewed at: http://iresourcemedia.com/companies/aldershot/
Update of Activities
On November 8th, 2016 the Transition announced that it had initiated work on the Project in partnership with Aldershot. A detailed structural study of the mineralized vein systems was undertaken and 2 areas were mechanically stripped and sampled. Results from this work were disclosed by Aldershot on January 19, 2017 and can be viewed at www.aldershotresources.com.
In January, a 14.5 line kilometer grid was cut and detailed ground magnetic and induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveys have now been completed. Results from the geophysical program will be used to assist with drill targeting at depth and in areas under cover. Under the agreement with Aldershot, Transition is the Operator for the program. A surface plan depicting the location of work completed and planned drilling is presented in Figure 1.
Terms of the Aldershot Option and Joint Venture Agreement
To earn a 51% interest in the Property, Aldershot has committed to funding $400,000 worth of exploration on property in year one and must incur cumulative work expenditures totaling $2.0 million by the third anniversary of the agreement. In addition, Aldershot must issue 1,500,000 common shares to Transition on signing (received), and provide an additional $450,000 worth of Aldershot shares to Transition by the second anniversary date, subject to exchange approvals to earn its initial interest. During the course of the initial stage of the Option, Transition has agreed to serve as program Operator, dedicating its team and expertise to overseeing work programs funded by Aldershot. Upon earning an initial 51% interest, Aldershot may opt to acquire an additional 24% interest in the Property (for a total of 75%) by completing a feasibility study within 3 years. Upon Aldershot earning its 51% or 75% interest in the Property as the case may be, a Joint Venture would be formed, with each party being required to fund work programs on the property to maintain its respective interest.
Qualified Person
The technical elements of this press release have been approved by Mr. Greg Collins, P.Geo. (APGO), a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101
About Transition Metals Corp
Transition Metals Corp. (XTM -TSX.V) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity project generator that specializes in converting new exploration ideas into Canadian discoveries. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience in established, emerging and historic mining camps and actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, which often allows the company to acquire properties inexpensively. The team is rigorous in its fieldwork and combines traditional techniques with newer ones to help unearth compelling prospects and drill targets. Transition uses the project generator business model to acquire and advance multiple exploration projects simultaneously, thereby maximizing shareholder exposure to discovery and capital gain. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. The Company has an expanding portfolio that currently includes more than 25 gold, copper, nickel and platinum projects primarily in Ontario, Nunavut, British Columbia, Minnesota and Saskatchewan.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information
Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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.
SOURCE Transition Metals Corp.
A few months ago, the auditors office in Louisiana issued a report about inspections of dental offices. The state requires inspectors to check out dental facilities once every three years. This is important stuff. If dental instruments arent properly cleaned, for example, the first patient of the day can easily spread a flu bug to the second patient and then on to the third, fourth and so on. These inspections are an important way to protect the publics safety, says Chris Magee, a senior performance auditor for Louisiana.Between 2012 and 2014, violations were found in some 40 percent of inspections, the most common of which was undocumented or lack of sterilization and disinfection techniques. Another important finding was that more than a third of all dental offices werent inspected at all. Whats more, about a quarter of the time the state didnt even let dentists know about violations uncovered.Welcome to the generally unnoticed world of safety inspections in the states. Though there has been very little coverage of the topic in studies or articles, performance auditors in state after state regularly discover significant backlogs of inspections. This shortcoming can be found in inspections of restaurants for food safety, elevators, buildings for fire codes and assisted living facilities.While most of the time inspections may only pick up minor infractions such as the lack of properly posted licenses, the dangers of insufficient coverage are very real. An outbreak of hepatitis in Oklahoma, for instance, emanated from an uninspected dental office. In December, some 36 lives were lost in the deadliest fire in the history of Oakland, Calif. Though cause and effect isnt entirely clear, the California Grand Jurors Association reported that two years before the ... fire, the Alameda County civil grand jury sounded the alarm about deficiencies in the Oakland Fire Departments inspection bureau -- saying the city wasnt even trying to check a third of the 12,000 commercial properties that were supposed to be examined every year.Most of the time, inspections are conducted too infrequently because of budgetary shortages that lead to insufficient staff. A November report from the audit division of the Oregon Secretary of States office found that the Oregon Department of Agricultures Food Safety Program is struggling with a backlog of establishments needing inspection. Nearly a quarter of food businesses in the state, ranging from groceries to dairies, were overdue for their inspections, the auditor found.Why has this sad state of affairs come to pass? According to the report, the backlog was caused by an increase in the number of licensed businesses and complexity of business practices and an inspection staff busy with other duties.One interesting wrinkle: According to Kyle Rossi, lead on the Oregon audit, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a great abundance of training for food inspectors, including schooling in tasks in which specialized inspectors dont engage. Rossi hastens to add that training is critical. But he points out that just about everyone is doing all the FDA training [for everything], which takes many hours away from the time they could use searching for bacteria in the prepared foods department.In many states, lagging inspections are not a new problem. As Marc Owen, performance audit manager in Arizonas Office of the Auditor General, points out, the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency has been unable to meet its inspection time frames for more than three decades. As of June 2015, nearly half of all X-ray facilities were overdue for an inspection. Thats a problem because X-ray machines that arent appropriately calibrated to deliver the proper amount of radiation -- not just to the patients, but to the people operating the machines -- are a serious hazard. Of course, this is a problem that can easily escape scrutiny, as improper doses of radiation may not result in health problems right away. Its hard to identify the immediate concerns, says Owen.Getting more money into inspection programs isnt easy. State budgets are tight, and raising fees on facilities to cover the cost is a tough road to take. Food businesses, for example, arent necessarily thrilled with required inspections in the first place. Asking them to pay for the pleasure can raise the hackles of members of a multibillion-dollar industry.In fairness, there may well be instances in which state boards are requiring more inspections than are genuinely helpful, and one solution could be safely cutting back on requirements. Ken Levine, the director of Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, says that if the inspections arent uncovering very much, they can start focusing on the outliers. He recommends that if a particular entity is inspected every two or three years, and no violations are found over a 20-year period, it may well be reasonable to cut down on the required frequency. We recommend a risk-based inspection process that takes into account previous problems, says Levine.
After striking down Wisconsin's legislative maps as unconstitutional two months ago, a federal court Friday ordered Gov. Scott Walker and lawmakers to redraw the districts by Nov. 1 to ensure their use in the fall 2018 elections.The three-judge federal panel rejected the state's request to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on the case, which is being watched closely nationwide because it relies on a novel legal argument.But the panel also denied a request by the Democratic plaintiffs that the court draw the maps. The judges said that was a task better left to the state's GOP-controlled Legislature and Walker, saying there was no evidence they wouldn't comply with the order."It is neither necessary nor appropriate for us to embroil the court in the Wisconsin Legislature's deliberations," the panel wrote.Unlike the 2-1 November decision striking down the maps for being excessively partisan, this order was unanimous. It was hailed by Bill Whitford, the lead plaintiff in the case brought by the Fair Elections Project, which said it wouldn't appeal the parts of the order it lost."Today is a good day for Wisconsin voters, and another step in the journey of ensuring that our voices are heard. Now, we will be keeping a watchful eye on the state Legislature as they draw the new maps and I ask them, for the sake of our democracy, to put partisan politics aside and the interests of all voters first," Whitford said.The Democratic plaintiffs sued in 2015 to invalidate the maps passed by GOP lawmakers and Walker in 2011, and the lower court has ruled in their favor. The U.S. Supreme Court is required to take the case and could still rule against the plaintiffs."We are reviewing the court's order, but we expect to file an appeal with the Supreme Court and seek prompt reversal of this decision," said Johnny Koremenos, a spokesman for GOP state Attorney General Brad Schimel.Redistricting cases are unusual in that they are first heard by a special three-judge panel and then go to the U.S. Supreme Court. They do not go to appeals courts, as other litigation does. Appeals go directly to the Supreme Court, which must take some action on them.The order focused on the state's 99 Assembly seats, but redrawing those districts would alter Senate districts since each of them is made up of three Assembly districts.Democrats called on the GOP Legislature to hold hearings on any new maps considered. Walker and Assembly Speaker Robin had no comment and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald referred questions to Schimel.The judges on the panel were Kenneth Ripple, a senior judge with the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb of Wisconsin's Western District and U.S. District Judge William Griesbach of the state's Eastern District.Ripple was appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan, Crabb by Democratic President Jimmy Carter and Griesbach _ who dissented in the November decision _ by Republican President George W. Bush.Rick Esenberg, president of the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, said that he believed the Supreme Court would overrule Friday's order but that in the meantime legislative candidates could face a tricky decision to run in their old districts or in new ones passed by lawmakers this year."Today's decision leaves the candidates at risk on these issues and creates uncertainty for the state that is unnecessary," Esenberg said.The plaintiffs, however, said that the state has already held three sets of elections _ in 2012, 2014 and 2016 _ using the now invalidated maps and needs to proceed with changing them."The court is making the right decision to implement their verdict, and we are pleased that Wisconsin is on its way to having honest elections," said former GOP state Sen. Dale Schultz, a co-chairman of the Fair Election Project. "I hope the Legislature chooses to conduct this new map-drawing process in an open, transparent manner, heeding the concerns of multiple federal panels."The court found that the 2012 and 2014 elections showed that the maps for the Wisconsin Assembly are some of the most heavily skewed maps in the country going back more than 40 years. The November decision determined that Democrats got more votes than Republicans in Assembly races in 2012, but Republicans were able to claim 60 of the 99 seats.Republicans argue that the problem happens because Democrats increasingly live in cities with large populations but relatively small size geographically.But the plaintiffs argued that blocs of Democratic voters had also been packed into districts instead of scattered into competitive ones. That resulted in Democrats casting a large number of "wasted votes" _ that is, votes that are not needed to elect a candidate.The judges found in November that Republicans had gone overboard in taking partisanship into account in drawing the maps and created a special measure to calculate the likelihood they would win particular districts.
Sometimes, when a politician says hes leaving office to spend more time with his family, he really means it.Lately, lots of legislators have been saying just that. The officeholders giving up their seats arent just those ready to quit after a dozen terms in office, or back-benchers who never experienced a taste of real power. Quite a few of those leaving are relatively new to the job or hold leadership positions.Matt Murphy, a deputy Republican leader in the Illinois Senate and a key ally of Gov. Bruce Rauner, stepped down in September, citing family obligations. He has four kids. Tom Dempsey was president pro tem of the Missouri Senate when he left in 2015, citing the pressure on family time. Charles Jeter was chairman of the GOP conference in the North Carolina House when he resigned last summer, saying that while the title he held meant a lot, the titles of husband and father are much greater and I must devote the time to my young family while I still have that opportunity.In fact, Jeter was one of 18 members of the North Carolina House who opted not to run again last year, along with seven state senators. Most of them belonged to the majority Republican Party, with their ranks including committee chairs, chamber leaders and promising newcomers. Our legislature used to be a bunch of old retired Democrats who had the time and funds to be what is essentially a full-time legislator in a part-time legislative system, says Tim Boyum, who hosts a political TV program in Raleigh called Capital Tonight. When we had the Republican wave and takeover in 2010, a lot of young or middle-aged Republican business owners were elected. After four or six years, they are now discovering its challenging being away from their young families and making a living all at the same time.A legislator earning a salary of $13,951 (the base compensation in North Carolina) must find or maintain other sources of income. That can be difficult when the nominally part-time job of legislator means near-constant demands on their attention. Its not a surprise that many find it more lucrative to take jobs lobbying their former colleagues or accepting a permanent, full-time slot in the executive branch.In Florida, the state House has just adopted a rule that aims to prevent legislators from quitting to take government jobs. That could have the effect of limiting legislative ranks to those wealthy enough to devote half the year to a demanding job that doesnt pay too well, warns Oscar Braynon, the Democratic leader of the Florida Senate. If you want to prevent legislators from using their positions as stepping stones, he says, you need to pay them a full-time salary. The current amount, $29,697, doesnt come close to that.But in a state with some of the strictest term limits in the country, the idea of giving legislators what would amount to a promotion and a raise isnt likely to gain much traction among the electorate.
State lawmakers have always been skeptical about letting voters decide public policy. Lately, some have been downright hostile.South Dakota GOP legislators are poised to repeal a ballot measure that passed just this past November. It calls for a range of ethics changes, including public financing of campaigns, limits on campaign donations, the creation of an independent ethics commission and a ban on gifts from lobbyists."It's a real stick in the eye of the people of South Dakota," said Liz Kennedy, director of the democracy and government reform program at the liberal Center for American Progress. "It's one thing when it's a policy change like minimum wage, but this is the voters saying 'our government is not working for us right now,' and the government is saying 'we reject the rules that you have imposed on us.'"Legislators are preparing to kill the law on an "emergency" basis, meaning that voters can't overturn their work through a subsequent referendum.The situation in South Dakota has drawn considerable media attention, but lawmakers are also seeking to block ballot initiatives elsewhere."It's pretty blatant, this attempt to shut down citizens' voices and their role in direct democracy," said Kellie Dupree, communications director for the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, a progressive group that sponsors ballot measures. "You don't get to decide which election results you're going to accept. I would go so far as to say it's lawlessness."In Maine, Republican Gov. Paul LePage has a recurring habit of defying the stated will of voters. Over the past couple years, he had refused to release funds they approved for conservation and housing because he disapproved of the particular projects involved or wanted to use them as leverage to pressure the legislature to approve other programs.Now, LePage is trying to convince the legislature to block two initiatives that passed in November. One would increase the minimum wage , while the other would increase taxes to pay for schools. LePage argues that voters lacked all the necessary information to make an informed choice and that their decisions aren't legally binding."The legislature doesn't even have to enact it," LePage said last month, referring to the minimum wage hike. "This is a recommendation to the legislature of what the people are feeling."There are ballot measures that are purely advisory, but voters' decisions typically have the force of law. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Arizona legislature's attempt to reject a citizen initiative that gave redistricting responsibilities to an independent commission.That ruling, however, hasn't discouraged Arizona lawmakers from trying to kill another voter-approved law.Last month, Arizona House Speaker Rep. J.D. Mesnard floated the idea of filing a lawsuit to block a minimum wage increase that passed on the November ballot. As it turned out, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry filed such a suit, with Mesnard, state Senate President Steve Yarbrough and Gov. Doug Ducey filing an amicus brief in support.The lawmakers contend that the minimum wage increase is illegal because it will cost the state money and therefore violate a prohibition against using general fund dollars to pay for voter-initiated laws. But Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who is defending the law before the state Supreme Court, notes that any general fund costs would be indirect and not mandated by the proposition.Ballot measures are contentious. They can be confusingly or misleadingly drafted and often lack context to help voters make better decisions. Some say that leaves even the voters skeptical."A lot of people are under the impression that ballot measures are not put there by regular citizens, but interests with deep pockets," said Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida at Tampa. "The public is suspicious of it, that's the other side of it."Legislators and governors have a long history of challenging ballot initiatives since they undercut their authority. But the current instances of "outright defiance" toward approved measures from lawmakers are something new, said Craig Burnett, an expert on ballot measures at Hofstra University. He suggested it's part of the changing political climate, in which there's less respect for norms and more willingness to bend rules to achieve a desired outcome.Some states offer protection from legislators amending voter-approved laws. Such laws can't be repealed for at least two years in Alaska and Wyoming, for example, while amending or repealing them in Arkansas and Nebraska require two-thirds votes in the legislature.Sponsors of voter initiatives can also protect their policies by enacting amendments to the state constitution, rather than changes in statute, because it's more difficult to reverse constitutional reforms, said Burnett."Policy entrepreneurs are going to learn from this and not use statutory initiatives as much," he said.In the meantime, Catie Kelley, an attorney with the Campaign Legal Center, called the trend of overturning the will of the voters "disturbing" and suggested that lawmakers must think they're safe for re-election and unaccountable to voters."The whole idea of having ballot initiatives is that there's some vehicle for voters to move a policy if lawmakers are unwilling to move it themselves," said Kelley. "If lawmakers are going to repeal it, or undermine it through the administrative process, it's really a lost tool for voters."But one tool lawmakers can't take away from voters is their ability to kick them out of office as revenge. Only time will tell if they do.
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking to invalidate key provisions of President Trump's executive order temporarily barring all refugees and immigration by citizens of seven majority Muslim countries.The lawsuit -- the first challenge of Trump's order to be brought by a state -- is backed by declarations from Seattle-based Amazon.com and Bellevue-based Expedia, testifying to negative impacts of Trump's order on their businesses and employees."We are a country based on the rule of law. In a courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. It's the Constitution," Ferguson, a Democrat, said at a news conference in Seattle.He said his legal team worked through the weekend to prepare the complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court against Trump, the Department of Homeland Security and top administration officials.The lawsuit says Trump's executive order violates constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and equal protection.The attorney general was joined by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee, who blasted Trump's refugee ban aimed at several war-torn, Muslim majority nations -- and giving precedence to Christians -- as "un-American.""The fact is that its impact, its cruelty, its clear purpose is an unconscionable religious test," Inslee said, pointing to the executive order's provision prioritizing the admittance of Christian refugees.State Republican Party Chairman Susan Hutchison defended Trump's order and criticized Ferguson's lawsuit as a publicity stunt designed to gain the support of the "far left" Democratic base."Mr. Ferguson basically kicked off his campaign for governor," Hutchison said at a Monday news conference in Bellevue, referring to speculation that Ferguson may be maneuvering to run in 2020.She also said her "sources" say Inslee is harboring 2020 presidential ambitions.Hutchison said notwithstanding the demonstrations in Seattle and many cities against Trump's order, most Americans are quietly supportive. "People are seeing through the protests that are all around them and are looking deeper," she said.Hutchison did agree with critics, including Republican members of Congress, that Trump's order perhaps had been rolled out too quickly."I think it was concerning for everybody, including the administration, in that there probably needed to be a little more preparation before the announcement of the order," she said.Ferguson's 14-page complaint quotes some of Trump's own 2016 campaign statements, including his initial pledge of "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." Such statements are evidence, the lawsuit says, that Trump's executive order was motivated "by animus and a desire to harm a particular group."The lawsuit notes there are 7,279 noncitizen immigrants in Washington state who are from the seven countries targeted by the executive order.In declarations supporting the lawsuit, managers for Amazon and Expedia laid out negative impacts on their employees and customers.Amazon's Ayesha Blackwell-Hawkins, who manages support services for the company's immigrant employees and their families, said in her declaration the company is aware of 49 employees born in the countries named in the executive order, who legally work in the U.S. under visas. Amazon has advised affected employees for now to to avoid traveling outside the U.S.A Microsoft spokesman said his company also was supportive of the lawsuit and is willing to testify if needed.While legal challenges already have been brought against Trump's refugee ban, Ferguson said Washington's case is broader in scope and, if successful, could strike some of its key provisions down on a national level.The lawsuit would seek a temporary restraining order blocking the executive order -- a ruling Ferguson said he hopes will occur swiftly.Signed on Friday, Trump's order sparked a wave of protests in Western Washington and across the country over the weekend, with huge crowds pouring into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport amid reports that refugees and immigrants from countries targeted by the travel ban were being detained there.Two men -- citizens of Yemen and Sudan -- were released Sunday morning after being detained at the airport by agents from Customs and Border Protection.
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GIS - 31 January, 2017: The Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Mauritius, Mrs Marjaana Sall, reiterated the commitment of the European Union (EU) to assist Mauritius in achieving the set goals under the Vision 2030. The Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Mauritius, Mrs Marjaana Sall, reiterated the commitment of the European Union (EU) to assist Mauritius in achieving the set goals under the Vision 2030.
She made this statement yesterday following a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis.
Mrs Marjaana Sall congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister and expressed EUs firm determination in providing its continuous support to the Mauritian economy in the areas of science and innovation; education; climate change; as well as trade related issues.
The Head of the EU Delegation further dwelt on reinforcing bilateral cooperation with Mauritius in addition to supporting the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement in view of enabling a conducive business environment for the country.
She recalled that EU and Mauritius will very soon sign a Financing Agreement with regards Climate Change issues as well as a National Indicative Programme covering projects pertaining to science and innovation, technology and education.
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GIS - 31 January, 2017: Mauritius and the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh will work towards strengthening bilateral ties and economic cooperation between the two countries.
This was at the fore of discussions yesterday during a courtesy call by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Mauritius, Mr M.D Abdul Mannan Howlader, on the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis.
In a statement, the High Commissioner congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister and expressed interest to reinforce collaboration with Mauritius in various sectors as well as on issues of national interest.
The High Commissioner apprised the Prime Minister that around 25,000 Bangladeshis are presently working in Mauritius and are contributing both in the Mauritian and Bangladeshi economy. He also evoked the possibility of increasing the number of Bangladeshi workers working in Mauritius.
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GIS 31 January 2017 : We need to have a strong non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector which is able to deliver quality service, effective in responding to emerging challenges, efficient in creating social values and bold enough to adopt innovation to ensure sustainability, said the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, this morning in Ebene.
The Minister was attending a ceremony organised at the initiative of LafargeHolcim (Mauritius) in the context of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy in the presence of the Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, Mr Alain Wong Yen Cheong. Eleven NGOs have received cheques totalling Rs 2.4 million. The financial support is intended to help these organisations carry out their activities.
Strengthening the capacity of NGOs should remain a continuous process, stressed Mrs Jeewa-Daureeawoo, adding that she was fully aware of the tremendous efforts of NGOs as well as their difficulties such as sourcing of fund, staffing issues or tough cases to deal with. She promised them her continuous support.
Speaking on the importance of CSR in providing assistance and funding to people fighting for social causes, the Minister recalled that every single rupee makes a difference and that the financial contribution is a relief to NGOs. Through CSR, Mrs Jeewa-Daureeawoo added, companies take time to look into the needs, ills and distress of society and m ake special efforts to provide for the welfare of people, capacity development and poverty alleviation.
According to the Minister, Government cannot do everything, thus the necessity to develop synergy among public sector, private sector and civil society through CSR initiatives. While provision of support to vulnerable people remains Governments priority, it is crucial that the public and private sectors and the civil society work together to address current challenges and scourges, she said.
Given that most of the NGOs benefitting assistance from CSR from LafargeHolcim (Mauritius) have links with her Ministry, Mrs Jeewa-Daureeawoo was grateful to the Company for the consideration and support towards women empowerment and children in distress. She commended LafargeHolcim (Mauritius) for the donation of toys to children of La Colombe Shelter in December 2016 as well as its future endeavour for provision of furniture for both La Colombe and LOasis shelters.
For his part, the Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, Mr Alain Wong Yen Cheong, outlined that Government is sparing no effort in the fight against poverty. He thus elaborated on the National CSR Foundation and the Marshall Plan against Poverty which will have a dual role in alleviating poverty and improving the economic, social and human capital of people living in extreme poverty and in precarious conditions.
Recalling that the responsibility of the National Corporate Social Responsibility Foundation now falls under the aegis of his Ministry and was registered in December 2016 under the Foundation Act 2012, Mr Wong Yen Cheong said that the Foundation will undertake programmes and projects, in favour of individuals and families registered under the Social Register of Mauritius, and also of vulnerable groups, in various fields. These comprise socio-economic development as a means of poverty alleviation; educational support and training; social housing; supporting people with disabilities, and dealing with health problems.
(TNS) - North Carolina households and business owners have received more than $178 million in low-interest loans and federal relief grants since Hurricane Matthew struck the state in October, according to state and federal officials.Within 12 hours after then-Gov. Pat McCrory declared 45 counties disaster areas, FEMA had personnel assessing damage and setting up disaster recovery sites. The last three sites, in Edgecombe, Cumberland and Robeson counties, will shut down Thursday.Mike Wade, FEMA spokesperson, said the agency assisted 81,223 households statewide with $91,167,996 in grants.The majority of damage we were seeing was from storm flooding, Wade said. A lot of people during this event did not have flood insurance. They were told they didnt need it because they were not in a flood zone.Homeowners do not have to live in a flood zone to purchase flood insurance, Wade said.A lot of the claims paid out by the National Insurance Flood Program are from people who do not live in a flood zone, he said. Most home policies do not cover flooding. I would say 99 percent do not cover it. I would suggest people strongly consider purchasing flood coverage.FEMA has two funding programs available during disaster declarations, housing and repair assistance and also other needs, such as for vehicles, funeral expenses and medical equipment, Wade said.Craven County had 618 households register with FEMA for assistance. They received a total of $633,759, Wade said.Jones County had 225 applicants that received a total of $378,259.Statewide, 81,223 households registered for assistance and received a total of $91,167,996, he said.Four of the 45 counties declared a disaster received the majority of FEMA relief funds: Robeson, $23,910,982; Cumberland, $15,023,476; Wayne, $9,243,541; and Edgecombe, $8,843,691.Weve approved a lot of things weve done over the years, Wade said. Now its just a matter of getting people on the ground. We transfer the money to their bank and that helps them get back on their feet a lot quicker. It really takes everybody coming together state, local and FEMA to make the declarations and set up the disaster sites so everything works well.J.R. Sabatelli, New Bern finance director, said the city has applied for FEMA funds, but the total amount is unknown because the city is waiting on information from its insurance provider.The city has also applied for mitigation money to do renovations in an effort to prevent damage in the future, Sabatelli said.Those funds could be used to replace two boat docks at Union Point Park that were lost in Hurricane Matthew, he said.When Hurricane Irene struck New Bern in late August 2011, one of the three docks at Union Point Park was damaged and it was replaced with a floating dock using FEMA mitigation funds, Sabatelli said. The plan is to install two floating docks to replace the two damaged during Matthew.Its a really good thing because if they are constantly paying for certain things, its better to pay a little bit extra now for mitigating the problem, Sabatelli said.The Small Business Association, or SBA, received a total of 7,306 applications from households and businesses in North Carolina for low-interest loans and 2,372 were approved for a total of $87,508,500.Michael Lampton, SBA public affairs manager, said 6,223 of those requests were for home loans and 2,025 were approved with the agency paying out $64,125,400. The SBA received 987 business loan applications and approved 320 for a total of $22,412,500, he said.The SBA also received 96 applications statewide from business owners saying they had suffered an economic injury because of the hurricane. Only 27 of those applications were approved for a total of $970,600, Lampton said.Business owners have until July 10 to meet the deadline for any economic injury they suffered that does not include physical damage to the business, Lampton said.2017 the Sun Journal (New Bern, N.C.)Visit the Sun Journal (New Bern, N.C.) at http://www.newbernsj.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Exciting progress on the tunnel front. Plan to start digging in a month or so. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 25, 2017
Founder of SpaceX and all around tech enthusiast Elon Musk held a competition this past weekend exploring the capabilities of underground pods traveling at breakneck speeds. SpaceX held its first Hyperloop Pod design competition , inviting 27 teams from around the world, most of which were associated with a university, to design the Hyperloop pods. Hyperloop technology (PDF) , an idea that has been around for a while, but has been recently popularized by Musk, involves passenger transportation in a pod-like vehicle through a near-vacuum tube faster than airline speed. While still theoretical, other companies have spun off the idea, working to make breakthroughs in the field.The purpose of the competition, according to SpaceX , is to help accelerate the development of a functional Hyperloop prototype and encourage student innovation by challenging university students to design and build the best Hyperloop pod.The test track was less than a mile long and simulated how pods would move through an underground hyperloop tunnel. An actual tunnel is being built by Musk, who sent out this tweet:We want to be there in Los Angeles right with him, said L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti , who attended the event. So your Los Angeles MTA [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] is excited to partner and see what we can do.The teams put their pods through several tests over the last week in hopes of making it into the Hyperloop test track itself. The second part of the competition will occur in summer 2017.
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy rocked the East Coast in a way the region was largely unprepared for. While the Gulf states have had plans in place for withstanding hurricanes, the northeast dedicated significantly less resources to hurricane preparedness. And it showed: The storm knocked out power to more than 8 million homes as far west as Michigan, and the cascading effects were felt "downstream."And while the transportation, energy, water and communications sectors are aware of the consequences that exist should a failure of their own system occur, what happens downstream to the interconnected infrastructure sector is not as clear, according to Fred Krimgold, director of the Disaster Risk Reduction Program at Virginia Tech's Advanced Research Institute.Up in New Jersey and New York after Sandy, a big problem was fuel shortage, not because they didnt have fuel but because they didnt have electric power, he told Emergency Management , sister publication to, adding that all the fuel was in tanks in the ground and had to be pumped electrically.Part of that understanding and finding solutions to those cascading infrastructure issues falls to Brandon Wales, director of the Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis (OCIA) at the Department of Homeland Security. Our responsibility is to really understand how infrastructures operate, how they work together, what are the connections, the dependencies, the interdependencies between infrastructure," he said, "and ultimately to understand what happens when those infrastructures fail, are disrupted or attacked ...One of the most effective ways of anticipating different types of malicious and non-malicious events to both physical and digital infrastructure is through computer modeling and data visualization tools. Building interactive tools, Wales said, provides significantly higher returns than a static sheet of numbers.Although interactive data visualizations are still in the developmental stages, Wales said he believes they are the future of data dissemination.I think this is the way people are used to consuming information in the 21st century, being able to interact with it, he said. Not just stare at a PDF file, but test it, understand it, figure out what's really most important to them and drive in on those kinds of issues."And that, Wales added, is much more difficult to do in a 100-page PDF document.There is an art to displaying complex information in a way that is honest, but it also insightful and easy to use and easy to understand, said Charles Rath , CEO of Resilient Solutions 21 (RS21), which creates interactive data visualization by producing models based on layered data. The team behind RS21 includes gamers and Hollywood special-effects folks who have worked to make their models as interactive and as interesting as possible.Making the online tool accessible and easy to use was a conscious decision, explained Kameron Baumgardner, visual informatics lead for RS21. If something is interesting to look at or fun to use, the higher the likelihood that people will want to engage. And getting public employees to buy in is a lot easier once results can be derived and explained with visualization.The big-data visualization tools, however, are only as valuable as the amount and quality of the data that goes in, Wales said.Ultimately, data is the lifeblood of the analysis and modeling that we do, he said. Without it, we are not going to be successful, so the more the data is available, the more that it is acceptable to us, the better that we're going to be able to do in fulfilling our mission.It is a two-way street, Wales explained. The more data you share, the higher fidelity analysis that we can provide.This sometimes becomes a sticking point across agencies that are concerned with oversharing sensitive data. One project OCIA took on was to create an infrastructure model in northern New Jersey near the state turnpike. The areas water systems were a mixture of state- and investor-owned utilities that did not want their data publicly accessible, potentially revealing certain vulnerabilities within the system.However, once the regional water model that represented what would happen should disruptions in any individual water system occur and how that would propagate to neighboring systems was built, utilities were able to understand disruptions they were not prepared for. Once the value was understood and the transactional nature of data sharing and its returns were felt, the utilities became more trusting and willing to hand over data.The OCIA also has a program, called the Protected Critical Infrastructure Information program (PCII), that allows infrastructure owners and operators to share data in a protected way. If the information is shared through PCII, it would be exempt from FOIA and other public sunshine laws.RS21 is working to build a reputation for itself and create examples of how useful these models can be. Many times we go into cities and we know more about the city from a data perspective than the city does, said Rath. We can say, Look at your data. This is what it's showing you. It's really empowering for the community.One project from RS21 was to create a flood inundation model of the Charleston peninsula in South Carolina. By adding in all the layers of data publicly available, they showed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which buildings would be flooded in the event of different categories of hurricanes. That is very real and visceral and powerful for people to see, said Rath. The likelihood of them taking action when they see that is drastically increased.Visualization and modeling tools are not reserved solely for disaster preparedness, but have also been utilized by city planners and government architects. RS21 has also created models and data visualization to help reduce youth violence in Mexico. I think any massive socio-economic behavioral issue that we're facing in humanity can benefit from the better visualization of data, and at a higher fidelity, said Baumgardner.Another data visualization player has helped Chicago map both its above-ground infrastructure and underground assets. An online tool from Cityzenith allows users to point and click on any building and retrieve the entire history in one consolidated place, said Chairman and CEO Michael Jansen.The program has been used to log 311 calls by residents, consolidating information in order to see long-term trends and problematic areas. The underground mapping , provides planners a sophisticated 3-D visualization of their underground assets paired with complex data. While the company has pivoted to focus on architecture, engineering and construction firms working in smart cities, many tools are provided to the cities for free.Data visualization and modeling is also a game changer for sustainable infrastructure, explained Dominique Davison, CEO of PlanIT Impact. The online tool creates models based on federal, state and local data about potential infrastructure being built with regard to energy, water use, stormwater drainage, greenhouse gas emissions, proximity to public transportation and more.Data visualization is where the information market is headed, Wales reiterated, as the potential for these technologies is hard to overstate.We think that really it's a way to engage with our customers and our stakeholders in a way that just can't be done staring at PDF files, he said. If we have this conversation in a year, I'll hopefully be telling you a lot of success stories about the feedback that we're getting from folks about what we're deploying in the future.
Narcotics Control Act versus Prescription Drug Monitoring Act
Local Governments Take Control
Missouri, still the only state without its own Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), could enact a statewide version in 2017 after roughly 12 years of trying. For now, however, the operative word continues to be could.As it has been in years past , a key issue is one familiar to virtually anyone with a computer, a cellphone, or the ability to stream movies or play multiplayer video games privacy.Two statehouse officials continue to have differing views of what constitutes privacy in a PDMP in a virtual world.They also have their own bills: House Bill 90, known in the state Senate as Senate Bill 231, introduced by state Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston; and SB 74, sponsored by state Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph.Both have tangled over the issue of a program before, sitting down in a room together two years ago in an effort to resolve differences. In order for this year to be different, change will have to come by May 30 when the state Legislature adjourns. Regardless of whether a state PDMP is enacted, however, one county is taking matters into its own hands.HB 90 would require the state Department of Health and Senior Services (HSS) to establish and maintain a program to monitor dispensing of all Schedule 2 through Schedule 4 controlled substances; require dispensers to notify HSS within 24 hours of filling a prescription, either electronically or by paper; and let HSS contract with any other state agency or private vendor running a narcotics control program.Known as the Narcotics Control Act, it would require collection of information about patients prescriptions including quantity, dosage and whether a prescription is new or a refill. The bill would also require collection of a patients name, address, date of birth and identification number, which could include but not be limited to a drivers license number, or government or insurance ID number.It would keep all prescription information confidential and not subject to public disclosure, with specified exceptions; and make unlawfully and knowingly accessing or disclosing private information regardless of whether a person is authorized to handle such information a Class E felony.The bill, which has received its second reading in the House, would also fine dispensers $1,000 for failing to notify HSS that a prescription has been filled, or for providing incorrect information.It would also require HSS to notify authorities if it believes the law has been violated or professional standards breached. It would keep dispensation information from being used to deny anyone the right to get or own a firearm; and allow the department to release non-personal, general information for statistical, educational or research purposes.HHS could also provide data to people in and outside Missouri who are authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances; to law enforcement under subpoena; to state boards including the pharmacy board; and to people requesting their own prescription information.Naturally, Rehder said she thinks her bill is the better choice.This is an extension of electronic medical records. Its simply giving medical professionals the information they need, their patients histories, Rehder told. What were trying to do is, were trying to recognize abuse, were trying to curb abuse, were trying to save these kids. Weve had story after story given of divorces, of men losing their jobs, people having surgery and never getting off prescription pills."And just as understandably, Schaaf said his bill, the Prescription Drug Monitoring Act, is the one his fellow legislators should pass to create a PDMP.Senate Bill 74 would also empower HSS to create a PDMP, using an existing data aggregation platform through the state data center within the office of administration and hold it responsible for ensuring the privacy and security of personal information.Schaafs bill calls on HSS to only aggregate necessary and appropriate information related to the prescribing or dispensing of Schedule II through Schedule IV controlled substances, to keep that information segregated from other data sources, and to keep all prescription and dispensation information confidential with specified exceptions.It cleared the state Senates Health and Pensions Committee on Thursday, Jan. 26, and has been calendared for perfection and printing before a third reading.SB 74 charges HSS with keeping all prescription and dispensation information confidential with specified exceptions; and starting Aug. 28, 2019, would let the department keep prescription and dispensation information no more than 180 days before deleting it.The bill would require prescribers and specifically all prescribers who hold themselves out to the public as pain management specialists to electronically file information with HSS on each prescription or dispensation of Schedule 2 through Schedule 4 substances. HSS would be required to pay their costs to file the information.Like Rehders bill, it would hold out the possibility of letting prescribers that cant submit information electronically do so on paper, and be funded by appropriations, but also by federal or private money.Also like HB 90/SB 231, it would criminalize inappropriate handling and use of private medical information, making it a misdemeanor to unlawfully or knowingly access or disclose prescription or dispensation monitoring information, failing to submit such information, or submitting incorrect information.SB 74 would also make it a felony for people who have access to private medical information to knowingly disclose it or use it in violation of the act and give people whose information has been improperly disclosed a private cause of action and the potential to recover damages including liquidated damages of $25,000.Schaafs bill also requires HSS to provide an annual report to the state general assembly on dispensations and fraudulent prescriptions; to implement educational courses on the acts provisions; and to work with associations for impaired professionals to ensure the intervention, treatment and monitoring of people identified as addicted to substances monitored by the act.The state senator said he believes his bill to be more protective of online privacy than Rehders legislation.With my bill, people would log on to a database, and all of the data would only ever be seen by a handful of people, said Schaaf, who said he believes Missourians remain greatly concerned about keeping their personal medical information private.I would have bet you, if you put my bill to a vote of the people of Missouri, they would still say, We dont want our drugs on a government database, he added.Rehder said privacy is a key issue for her as well, and her bill merely provides doctors, pharmacists and others with a valuable tool to use in providing medical care.Privacy is always a concern. Your medical history is not something you see hackers going after, she said. This is an extension of electronic medical records. Its simply giving medical professionals the information they need their patients histories.Dr. Sam Page, a St. Louis County Council member who testified Wednesday to a state Senate committee in support of Rehders bill, said he believes increased, albeit controlled, access is whats needed in a statewide PDMP.The alternative bill thats been offered by Sen. Schaaf limits physicians access to information that they need to make good decisions. It may wave the flag of privacy, but the limited access severely limits the ability of the PDMP to do any good at all, said Page, who testified at the state capitol to the Senate Committee on Health and Pensions.Privacy is a flag that always goes up with any electronic medical record. We go to great pains to secure the information, and PDMPs have a great track record of privacy in the U.S. Most of the questions about privacy have been about what might happen, with no good evidence that a PDMP isnt secure, Page added. The people who have access to medical information are medical professionals who are used to dealing with it. Its not that different than looking at your chart in a hospital."Schaaf questioned whether, at its core, the issue isnt just a power thing.Its the people who run the PDMPs are more concerned about having the, you know, the access to the data than they are actually stopping deaths from opioids, he said. The thing is, if you really want to stop deaths from opioid abuse, youve got to get doctors not to put people on prescription opioids longer than the recommended [duration], and youve got to get them to take people off them when theyre not working."The opioid epidemic continues to be an issue of high concern and some debate nationwide even in states with their own PDMPs. At least two governors Bill Walker of Alaska and Nathan Deal of Georgia called on their legislators to strengthen existing PDMPs in their State of the State addresses And in Missouri, the drive for PDMPs has become localized with St. Louis County joined by six member areas beginning its own PDMP later this year.Sarah Patrick, deputy director for St. Louis County's Department of Public Health, confirmed the county will have its own program up and running during the second quarter of 2017, at a cost of roughly $320,000.Technology provider Appriss Inc., a major provider for PDMPs nationwide, will stand up St. Louis County's program, after a position paper on heroin and opioid deaths last year documented the opioid effort and recommended multiple steps including launching such an effort.Member areas county-level jurisdictions elsewhere in the state will pay St. Louis County $7 per registered user to join, including physicians, physicians assistants, dentists and pharmacists.Reporting parties and members of the medical community wanting to access information will have to conclusively prove they are who they say they are. Members of the law enforcement community wanting to access information will have to be working on an active case and have a subpoena.Adding a further layer, Appriss will have the ability to track all reported information, Patrick said."There have been rumors that there are all these people looking at data and thats just not true. Were very comfortable with the system that was picked and how we will be able to protect the privacy of individuals," Patrick said. "I guess one of the benefits of being last is that a lot of these problems have been worked out elsewhere."By year's end, Page estimated a great portion of the state could be covered by the county program that is, unless its also covered by a statewide PDMP.I think weve got more momentum than weve had in the past, and bill sponsors in the House and Senate are strong leaders. But its competing with a lot of other ideas and has a lot of other pieces of legislation, and the session ends in May, Page said of a statewide PDMP's chances.In the wake of Gov. Eric Greitens' recent announcement of more than $146 million in state budget cuts, Patrick agreed it's possible a statewide PDMP may not happen ... again."Thats not usually a good indication of expansion to new programs," Patrick said.
Artyomsol cuts salt supplies to Russia by almost 30% in 2016
Salt supplies by state-run enterprise Artyomsol (Donetsk region) to Russia in 2016 fell by 29.6% compared to 2015, to 606,800 tonnes.
The company said in a press release that its large consumers last year were Hungary, Poland and Romania. In 2016, supplies to Armenia, Belarus, Germany and Estonia grew. Shipments to consumers in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria were resumed.
Salt production reached 1.67 million tonnes in 2016. This was 17% less than in the previous year.
The complete ban on imports of the company's products imposed on November 1, 2016 affected the operation of the company. Warm winter of 2015/16 season in the EU countries also influenced the company's indicators, as well as a lack of railway transport, unstable consumer demand and other factors.
Artyomsol managed to boost production of some goods. The packaged salt output grew by 13.7%, to 242,000 tonnes.
In contrast to 2015, last year the key market for the enterprise was domestic market instead of the Russian market. Some 725,600 tonnes of salt or 43.5% of total sales was shipped to Ukrainian consumers. This was 5% more than in 2015.
The company's profit was UAH 187.6 million, but due to the debt of the previous years the company had to create a reserve for troubled debts that reduced the net profit indicator. Net profit totaled UAH 93.2 million.
Artyomsol is the largest enterprise engaged in the production and sale of salt (NaCl) in Central and Eastern Europe.
The title of Chief Data Officer (CDO) is relatively new in city and state government, but one sign that the position is starting to mature and evolve is the formation of the Civic Analytics Network (CAN), a peer group of chief data officers from across the country. And a newly released white paper (PDF) from the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School one of the first efforts to come out of CAN identifies some common best practices the network identified as its members work to improve social outcomes through data-driven government.Just over a dozen cities and a handful of states have created CDO positions. One thing I found is that this job is both art and science, said Jane Wiseman, Innovations in American Government Fellow and author of the white paper, titled. The people who are effective in the position are not just technically good; they are good at reading people, at knowing when to push and when to back off. They are such dedicated public servants and they focus on things that matter to the public.The CDOs in several cities created an informal network for peer support and sharing of best practices in 2014. In 2016 the group formalized as the Civic Analytics Network, supported by Harvard Kennedy School.Wiseman notes that there is great diversity among the CAN participants. Some focus on GIS, some on performance management. Almost all are involved in open data. But only about 60 percent have an official title of CDO.There are all kinds of titles that encapsulate the vast diversity of roles, and that is the richness of it. That is exciting, she said. Oliver Wise in New Orleans is one of the great ones and his title is director of performance and accountability.Wisemans paper provides an initial roadmap for how a CDO can operate successfully. The lessons include how to develop relationships with executive leadership and build rapport with city departments.One basic question is where the CDOs office should reside. In Los Angeles and San Francisco, the CDO is in the mayors office. Wiseman said she is amazed at how well they execute under the microscope of being in the mayors office. But if I were the chief data officer, I wouldnt want to work for the mayor, she said. Mayors want everything yesterday.Instead, she said, CDOs might be better off reporting to chief information officers. Working for the CIO means somebody else gets the phone calls from the mayor," she added. "Those political things can be demanding and distracting."In Boston, the citys first chief data officer, Andrew Therriault, reports to CIO Jascha Franklin-Hodge.Jascha is a great thought leader and he set Andrew up perfectly for success, Wiseman said, adding that CIOs run big shops, overseeing huge IT projects that might have extra resources a CDO could take advantage of. It is different when you are a standalone CDO and have to come up with every resource on your own nickel. If you work for a CIO, you might be able to piggyback on other projects and get access to bright people in the same way that being at a university is better than being all by yourself.One common concern CDOs express involves finding and retaining the right mix of people to staff their offices. There are 20 CDOs in the network and they have very different requirements, Wiseman said. They need business analysts, data scientists, project managers and GIS experts.One of the challenges of staffing is to decide what the organization is going to look like and what roles you want to fill. If you are in a region where you are competing hard with the private sector for those skills, its tough, she said, and if you are not in a city where those skills are in high demand, people are scarce.How can CDOs develop meaningful relationships and build trust with city departmental leaders?One word: Listen, listen and then listen some more, said Wiseman, whose paper gave an example of the Boston Fire Department's reliance on the Citywide Analytics Team for help implementing a process to monitor how firefighters swap shifts something that came under scrutiny after a series of negative reports in the press. At the time, the department didnt have a tracking system or analytic capability to make sure it was following the rules.The centralized analytics team stepped in and helped with this concrete task, which met an immediate need," according to the white paper. "This built their credibility and created a spirit of partnership, which has carried over to other analytics projects, such as the recent project that alerts firefighters to building hazards when they are en route to a call, bringing together seven separate data sets from across the city into a single visualization."On the whole, Wiseman said, the best CDOs tend to be creative, curious and willing to take risks. The difference between a CDO and a more traditional IT person is that the IT person is responsible for diagnosing a problem and fixing it, but the job of a CDO or analytics person is to be curious, she said. They ask why there are certain patterns in the data. They have the curiosity and people skills to ask questions, to probe and understand business processes and bottlenecks so they can help agencies solve those problems.Just being open to new ideas makes a difference in this world, she said. They are all pioneers, all in startup situations, and making it up as they go along, in a good way, because there is no handbook. The goal of the paper was to help formalize the role and advance this as a field.
(TNS) -- The morning after Donald Trump won the presidential election, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Amr Shady called his immigration lawyer in a panic.My 10-year-old daughter asked me, Does this mean were going to get kicked out? said the 40-year-old founder of analytics start-up Reveel, who emigrated from Egypt to the Bay Area in 2015. I had to find out what Trump winning meant for my immigration status, but also what it meant for my chief data scientist.His lawyer, Los Angeles immigration attorney Ayda Akalin, was inundated with calls from similarly nervous clients who were either already living and working in the U.S. on visas, or had visa applications pending.At the time, Akalin assured them that nothing had yet changed, and it was too soon to be worried. But after Trump signed an executive order Friday banning citizens of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya from entering the U.S. for 90 days, Akalin had an update for her clients, particularly those from Muslim-majority countries: Stay inside the United States.All of my Muslim clients are scared, even those from other countries, said Akalin, who herself is Iranian American, having immigrated to the U.S. when she was 5 years old.The move blindsided the technology industry, which thought that its main battle on the immigration front was over the number of H-1B visas granted to high-skilled foreign workers that will be made available each year. The tech sector relies heavily on foreign-born software engineers to meet its staffing needs, and it has long lobbied for the government to lift the cap on the H-1B visa program to allow more foreign workers temporary employment with U.S. firms.But H-1Bs took a backseat on Friday as tech workers and entrepreneurs already legally living and working in the U.S. worried about their own futures. Many were caught off guard by the orders reach, which extends to lawful permanent residents or green card holders too.For those abroad, we are telling them to come back as soon as possible, and be prepared to face questioning and possible refusal, Akalin said.The order also compelled several big tech companies to break their silence about the Trump administration. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai slammed the order in a memo to employees."Its painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues," Pichai wrote, according to Bloomberg News . "Weve always made our view on immigration issues known publicly and will continue to do so."Bloomberg reports that the memo urged employees traveling overseas who are affected by the order to seek help from the companys security and immigration teams. More than 100 employees are affected, Pichai said.Were concerned about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the U.S., a Google spokesperson said. We'll continue to make our views on these issues known to leaders in Washington and elsewhere."Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, also spoke out against Trumps action, although in a less direct way, taking to his personal Facebook page to remind his millions of followers that his wife, pediatrician and philanthropist Priscilla Chan, is the daughter of refugees.My great grandparents came from Germany, Austria and Poland. Priscilla's parents were refugees from China and Vietnam, Zuckerberg wrote. The United States is a nation of immigrants, and we should be proud of that.The chief executives of Uber, Netflix, Microsoft and Lyft similarly issued statements or internal memos opposing the presidents directive. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said many drivers for the ride-hailing service are immigrants from the affected countries who often visit extended families abroad and might have trouble reentering the U.S. The company is considering compensating those drivers over the next three months to mitigate some of the financial stress and complications with supporting their families and putting food on the table.The tech industry has in the past highlighted the value of immigrants to American culture and the economy: Steve Jobs was of Syrian descent, high-profile executives at Twitter, Yahoo, Google and eBay are of Iranian descent. Along with most of the worlds biggest technology companies, the Bay Area is home to some 250,000 Muslims, according to a study by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, of which 60% are foreign-born.Venture capital firms see Trumps move as a slap in the face, especially since it comes less than two weeks after the Department of Homeland Security passed a rule allowing eligible foreign entrepreneurs to work in the U.S. for up to five years. The rule change which Silicon Valley saw as a boon, and is expected to take effect July 17 was proposed by President Obama last summer.We felt that, finally, things were moving forward, said Zafer Younis, a partner at venture capital firm 500 Startups, which prides itself on its international investments, many of which are in countries that are predominantly Muslim. This new development really dampened it.The executive order increases the uncertainty and risk of investing internationally, Younis said. And while 500 Startups will continue investing abroad, theres concern that other venture capital firms that were once eyeing international opportunities will now get cold feet.It changes the risk profile all of a sudden, he said.But for Younis, its personal, too. Originally from Jordan, Younis has lived in the Bay Area for the past two years on an EB-1 visa a green card that is granted to those deemed to have extraordinary ability. Though Jordan is not on Trumps list of countries whose citizens are banned from entering the U.S., it is a Muslim-majority nation, and it has given him pause.My wife is here. I have upcoming business trips to Japan and Europe. Im not affected, yet I have to think twice do I really need to travel or not? he said. Its a feeling I thought I left back in the Middle East. Its an anxiety, that things are beyond your control.That anxiety is shared by other technologists and entrepreneurs in the Bay Area. Shady, the Egyptian entrepreneur, is also in the U.S. on an EB-1 visa. He and his children have Canadian citizenship, but his wife is an Egyptian citizen.So what does that mean? he said. If Egypt is on the list three months from now, what does that mean for our family?The American Civil Liberties Union on Saturday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on behalf of two men who were detained at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport while traveling back to the U.S. after Trumps immigration crackdown. Silicon Valley venture capitalist Chris Sacca tweeted that he would match donations to the ACLU up to $25,000.Tech CEOs are slowly raising their voices. Immigration lawyers are advising their clients to stay put. And in a Silicon Valley mosque where Shady attended Friday prayers, the sheikh preached that everyone needs to stand against injustice toward all communities, even if their own is not directly affected.This is the most important thing for me right now because, even though it doesnt affect me directly, its important for us to all understand what it means to stand against unfairness and the splitting of families, Shady said.
Invaluable
Thats what weve chosen to focus on
Concerns
(TNS) -- A former Teradata Corp. executive can tell Montgomery County Sheriffs deputies which neighborhoods have been plagued by robberies and with software, even what addresses are mostly likely to be hit next.That former executive, Bruce Langos, can warn deputies about the domestic violence history at certain addresses. He can warn the chiefs of 29 county law enforcement agencies about the number of overdose calls as of Jan. 15 there were 148 area departments have received.The Criminal Intelligence Center started by Langos can, when armed with search warrants, pinpoint a cell phones location based on mapping data from cell towers, often leading to a suspects location. It finds criminal histories to give deputies a better picture of situations as they respond to calls.The center can even tell deputies who has bragged on Facebook or Twitter about having committed recent crimes or even planning them.Langos and Criminal Analyst Megan Wulber have harnessed and shared information like this from their Infirmary Road office for close to a year.Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer calls the center a force multiplier.He isnt getting paid half of what hes worth, Plummer said of Langos, who was hired last year at a salary of $55,000, about a mid-level deputys salary.The analysis happens very quickly, aiming to equip deputies as they move with the information they need, Langos said.Its almost real time, he said. If theres a priority call or a part 1 crime that takes place, then we jump on that pretty quick.The center is approaching its first anniversary in early February. Plummer last year said he cut a deputys position to help invest $300,000 into the center and its work. This year, that investment will get closer to $500,000, which Langos hopes to buttress with grants, he said.Miami Twp. Police Chief Ron Hess said the center has been invaluable to local departments like his. Miami Twp. relies on the center particularly on lengthy investigations that require detectives to put all the players together in complicated cases.When we have a crime with very little information, we can turn to them for clues to go on, suspects to go on, Hess said.The center saves investigators time, the chief said.I send something to Bruce, Hess said. Heres the crime Im working on. Here are the players I have. Here are the street names I have. Here are some phone numbers I have. Here are the Facebook accounts I have.The Criminal Intelligence Center then puts the pieces of the puzzles together, Hess said.Tom Thompson city of Miamisburg assistant city manager and former assistant police chief for that city said the center has helped with intelligence gathering that affects the entire region.Drug trafficking, burglaries and other crimes dont respect municipal boundaries, he said. A central intelligence-gathering effort is helpful, he said.I would definitely say that the center has been very beneficial to local jurisdictions, and I can say with certainty for Miamisburg, Thompson said.Hess said he hopes the center continues to operate. Its a sharing of information that has to happen.Plummer said he has approached the county commission twice for help in funding the center. He was rebuffed twice, he said.We have a heroin epidemic upon us, the sheriff said. Weve been given zero additional resources to combat that. It has been very frustrating.Commissioner Dan Foley said the sheriff has a $52 million annual budget, about a third of the size of the countys overall general fund, about $150 million.What county leaders have decided to do is fund improvements for several core responsibilities that the sheriffs department has, including the jail and the regional dispatch center, among other areas, Foley said. The county also helped fund five new positions in the jail to help deal with mental health and addiction issues there, he said.Thats what weve chosen to focus on, Foley said. And by the way, we did that in collaboration with the sheriff and the staff.Foley agrees that the Criminal Intelligence Center has value. But the county is facing a potential reduction of about $8.7 million a year in sales tax collections on services from Medicaid managed-care health organizations.Were not in a position to fund non-mandated items for any office because of concerns that that may happen, Foley said, adding later, Our radar is up. Were very concerned about the potential (sales tax reduction).David Rich, former city manager of Plymouth, Mich. and a professor of public administration and political science for Cedarville University, said that with this approach, however, some questions could be raised about, for example, the harming of Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.Said Rich, Im actually torn in terms the right to privacy and protection, putting protections in place.At the same time, he said, law enforcement agencies and others have collected online data for two decades or more. The CIA and the FBI all collect meta-data. We know that.And no one who talks of planning a crime or having committed a crime on Facebook or Twitter should have any expectation of privacy, he added.Its just as if yorre going to a public bulletin board or billboard . Its a public space out there, Rich said.Likewise, deputies should be able to get information about a history of abuse or threats at an address as they respond to a call, he said.When law enforcement rolls out to a call, they ought to have a heads-up, that this is an individual who has used a gun before, Rich said.The city of Toledo has an intelligence center, Plummer said. And major cities work with states at fusion centers that assist in homeland security work. Ohio has three of those.But to Plummers knowledge, the Montgomery County center is the only such county center in Ohio.And its focused on local crime, noted Rob Streck, the sheriff departments chief deputy.Because were lucky enough to be associated with the regional dispatch center, Bruce and his people listen to the radio, Streck said. They know when there was a felonious assault in Trotwood. They know if theres a robbery in Dayton. Theyre able to help as events are unfolding.
Oil transit through Ukraine to Europe declines 8.8% in 2016
Oil transit through Ukraine to Europe declined to 13.822 million tonnes in 2016, 8.8% or 1.331 million tonnes less than in the same period last year, Ukraine's Energy and Coal Industry Ministry has reported.
Oil shipment to refineries in Ukraine in 2016 declined by 12.5% or 200,800 tonnes to 1.406 tonnes.
In other words, transit shipments accounted for 90.8% of all crude oil transportation and refinery supplies accounted for 9.2%.
As reported, oil transportation on Ukrtransnafta pipelines totaled 16.760 million tonnes in 2015, 0.6% less than in 2014, including 15.154 million tonnes of oil transit to Europe (Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic), 0.9% more.
Ukrtransnafta, 100% of whose shares are in the trust management of Naftogaz Ukrainy, is the operator of the national oil transportation system.
Ukrtransnafta's trunk oil pipeline system, which includes pipes from 159 mm to 1,220 mm in diameters, stretches 4,767 kilometers and through 19 Ukrainian regions. It has annual capacity to accept 114 million tonnes for shipment and to supply 56.3 million tonnes to Europe.
Monisha Kaltenborn says the departure of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone could be remembered as a positive "turning point" for the sport.
Kaltenborn runs the small and struggling Sauber team, whose disenchantment with F1's existing regime prompted it and Force India to lodge a protest with the European Commission.
Now, she has told German radio Deutschlandfunk that "The exit of Bernie Ecclestone is a turning point for the whole of formula one".
Kaltenborn continued to the Sport am Sonntag programme: "It is a big change when the person who made the final decision on everything is no longer there."
One major change, she suggested, is likely to be in the area of F1's broadcast rights, which under Ecclestone's reign have been "very restrictive".
"As a team, we cannot use the moving images from the race of our own car, for example -- on any medium," Kaltenborn explained.
"The most important thing is that, as a sport, we can get closer to the fan and be able to communicate."
Already flagged by F1's new chief executive Chase Carey are changes to the controversial income distribution system, and even potential spending caps for the teams.
"I see this as all fundamentally positive," Kaltenborn reacted. "But I am also not so naive as to believe that everything will now be right.
"I think there is a long way to go. But we now have a promising environment, thanks to the new owners," she added.
As for Ecclestone's actual removal as CEO, Kaltenborn commented: "I see this less as a relief and more as an opportunity for the whole of formula one."
(GMM)
Up to 8,000 residents of Avdiyivka can be evacuated in the course of the day, the head of the Donetsk region's Kyiv-appointed military-civilian administration, Pavlo Zhebrivsky, said.
"We have coordinated the efforts of the heads of towns and districts of the region in the event of a possible evacuation of Avdiyivka residents. As of now, we can evacuate up to 8,000 people in the course of the day. The region's towns are ready to receive up to 9,000 people. The region's institutions for children are ready to receive more than 1,000 children any time," a report posted on his Facebook account said.
About ten tonnes of food will soon arrive in the city, and the Ukrainian army has provided additional field kitchens, he said.
As of 8 a.m., more centers opened in Avdiyivka to supply hot food and water to the population.
The hostilities in the Avdiyivka industrial zone, including those by use of heavy weapons banned by the Minsk agreements, intensified on Sunday.
. . #. , pic.twitter.com/vj8JTtROmH MFA of Ukraine (@MFA_Ukraine) 31 2017 .
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry expresses deep concern over the intensification of the Russian-terrorist forces in Donbas. "We request our international partners to step up political and diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin to stop dangerous escalation in Donbas and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the region," the Foreign Ministry said on its official website. We demand from the Russian Federation to cease hostilities immediately and strictly comply with the ceasefire. The ministry says that for the last two days, the Russian occupation forces carried out massive attacks across the contact line using all available weapons, including MLRS "Grad", artillery of 152 mm and 122 mm, mortars of 120 and 82 mm, tanks, all prohibited by the Minsk agreements, and small arms. "The Russian weapon has killed eight Ukrainian soldiers and left 26 wounded," a statement says. Civilians suffer because of the shelling of the residential areas: two civilians have been wounded. The towns of Yasynuvata and Avdiyivka were fully cut off from electricity by shelling. More than 400,000 peaceful civilians in the region have no access to water, electricity and heating. Taking into consideration harsh weather conditions and the continuing shelling by the militants, the humanitarian situation in the area continues to deteriorate. "Such actions of the Kremlin may qualify as a war crime, a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions dated August 12, 1949, an unlawful, wanton and extensive destruction of property not justified by military necessity. Obviously, the current escalation in Donbas is a clear indication of Russia's continued blatant disregard of its commitments under the Minsk agreements with a view of preventing the stabilization of the situation and achieving any progress in the security and humanitarian spheres," the ministry said.
If the proposed broad 20% border-adjustment tax were implemented and applied to the energy sector, the result would likely lead to a large increase in gasoline prices and a big premium in domestic oil prices vs. international, according to new analysis by Bloomberg Intelligence . Pump prices could rise an average $0.30 per gallon, with more sticker shock on the East Coast, which needs to import octane components as well as crude.
The WTI-Brent spread, which has been negative since the shale boom, would quickly shift to a premium of more than $10 a barrel.
PBF Energy and Phillips 66, the US refiners importing the most foreign crude, would have significant exposure to the border tax, Bloomberg Intelligence said. PBF, due to its East and West Coast refineries, is the least able to switch to more domestic crude oil compared with peers. The company also currently exports less fuel than peers, which further adds to its margin risks.
Refineries on the Gulf Coast may be more able to switch their crude slate to process more domestic crude, though margins would suffer.
The top-five US refiners dominate imports, bringing in almost 2 million barrels a day. The growth in Canadian oil production this year is likely to lead to another increase in imports from the country in 2017, the analysts said. The US imports about 3.8 million barrels a day of oil from Canadamore than from any other country. Mexico is the fourth-largest supplier of US oil imports.
The project, supported and part-funded by UK Government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), is intended to deliver improvements in thermal system efficiency using a modular combustion system, lightweight castings and composite materials. The project will also improve the UKs development and production capabilities of low-CO 2 internal combustion engine technology. The project will be led by McLaren Automotive but involves a total of six partners.
McLaren Automotive has launched a strategic project to design and develop technology for the next generation of powertrains. Working with a number of partners including BMW Group and Ricardo, the project intends to develop new combustion technology that will deliver a higher output per capacity than currently possible. It also aims to further facilitate CO 2 reductions while simultaneously increasing engine output. The technology is destined for application in future McLaren engines.
McLaren Automotive will work with its existing engine manufacturing partner, Ricardo, and BMW Group while Grainger and Worrall will deliver complex, lightweight casting technology. Lentus Composites will contribute knowledge in specialist composite structures. Completing the syndicate is the University of Bath who bring their advanced research and development capabilities in internal combustion engine systems efficiency.
This is an exciting project that plays to the strengths of all partners. McLaren Automotive has an exceptional reputation for building the worlds finest engines, as showcased by our M838T and its previous category wins in the International Engine of the Year awards. We will continue to independently design and build our own engines, and the benefits of this project will help us accelerate the development of our next generation of powertrain, as confirmed in our recently-announced Track22 business plan. Mike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive CEO
McLaren announced the six-year Track22 plan last March. At the heart of the plan is a commitment to its industry-leading 20-2% of turnover invested in R&D for future products and technology. Over the six-year Business Plan period, this represents an investment of 1 billion (US$1.25 billion) and will lead to the launch of 15 all-new cars or derivatives.
McLaren Automotive confirmed that at least 50% of its cars will feature hybrid technology by the end of the business plan period. Research engineers at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, are also in the early stages of the development of a fully-electric powertrain to evaluate its possible use in a future generation of an Ultimate Series car.
In March, McLaren will unveil a new supercar at the Geneva Motor Show. This second generation of the Super Series is McLaren Automotives first replacement of a product family and the first of the 15 new cars defined in the companys Track22 Business Plan.
The new Super Series is created around an ultra-lightweight, carbon fiber central structure. Rigid, yet weighing less than the carbon fiber and metal cockpit architecture of the first-generation Super Series, the Monocage II contributes to a lightest dry weight of just 1,283kg for the new carlower than the closest competitor and 18kg lighter than a McLaren 650S with comparable specification.
A coordination center set up to deal with heating and power supply problems of Avdiyivka in the Donetsk region has received additional instructions from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, head of the Donetsk regional military and civilian administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky said.
The president urgently returned from Berlin and "again called Avdiyivka to be briefed on the situation in the city," he said on Facebook, adding that "the president had set additional tasks for the coordination center."
Additional teams of the Ukrainian State Emergency Service and their equipment and materials arrived in Avdiyivka at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, he said. Additional units of the police and the National Guard were moved to the city. Repairmen of the regional power and gas grids came to the city as well, he said.
"As of 7 a.m., seven warming centers had been opened for the Avdiyivka population. Hot breakfast is available from 7 a.m. The city has enough drinking water. Thanks to the Coke Plant, the water temperature in the grids is being maintained at 35 degrees Celsius at the intake and 29 degrees at the outtake," Zhebrivsky said.
Power, heating and water supply was cut in Avdiyivka on Monday amid frosts of nearly 20 degrees Celsius. The accident resulted from the damage done by attacks on power transmission grids. An emergency was declared in the city, and a regional coordination center was set up to involve city heads, representatives of law enforcement authorities and city enterprises, and rescuers.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko cut short his visit to Germany because of the escalated tensions in Donbas. It was reported on Monday evening that the Ukrainian president had ordered the convening of a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group for Donbas because of the Avdiyivka situation.
A girl walking with her suffered minor injuries in the accident, which happened on the same road where an 11-year-old boy died in 2019 after being struck by an SUV.
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, joined with two Democratic colleagues this morning to urge Secretary of Defense James Mattis to prevent the Trump Administrations immigration order from harming Iraqis who have helped American troops in their native land.
The letter he sent Tuesday with U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., recounts the weekend detention at JFK International Airport of two, would-be immigrants from Iraq who had helped U.S. armed forces and who after years of vetting were arriving on special visas.
This situation is unacceptable, and we fear the United States will pay significant moral and strategic costs if it continues, the senators said in their letter responding to some of the fallout from President Donald Trumps recent executive order that temporarily staunched the flow of travelers from seven, predominantly Muslim countries with histories of spawning terrorism.
Tillis had voiced earlier support for the administrations general concept, but issued a statement Sunday regretting confusion surrounding the order, particularly given green card holders inexplicably being denied entry back into the United States.
Meanwhile, several dozen protesters gathered this morning outside Tillis office in High Point urging him to support the Affordable Care Act that he and other Republicans plan to repeal and replace.
I posted a lot in this blog space Monday about how colleges and universities reacted to the travel ban that the White House dropped on us late Friday. Spoiler alert: They're very worried.
Ive seen two main reactions in higher ed. First, colleges are telling their students, faculty and visitors from the seven listed countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen) not to leave the U.S. Second, theyre worried about what this will do for recruiting students and professors not just from The Seven but from every other country in the world. Today, its Iran and Iraq; tomorrow, maybe its Saudi Arabia, Germany and China. Who knows, right?
Heres an N.C. roundup from the N&O: International students and faculty at North Carolina colleges and universities are being advised not to leave U.S. soil, as higher education leaders try to ease fears about President Donald Trumps 90-day travel ban for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
I saw a statement from ECUs chancellor (where about 20 people might be affected) this morning: As a large, research university with students and faculty members from around the world on our campus, we know the value of having fellow citizens of the world beside us in our classroom and in our labs and clinics. They are an essential part of our campus, and our university is enriched by having them here. I want to offer my personal support for all of our international students and colleagues.
The Chronicle chronicles how West Virginia University is dealing with the ban: Members of the campus community here were still in shock on Monday about Mr. Trumps order. Many international students had lingering questions about their status and the likelihood that other countries, particularly in the Middle East, would be added to the ban. Meanwhile, campus officials are treading a fine line. They are trying to reassure students and others about their safety, but they are also being realistic about the gravity of the situation, acknowledging that the travel ban could be extended or expanded to other nations at any time.
The Chronicle also profiles seven students and professors who had their lives upended by the travel ban. Their specific circumstances are fascinating, and they feel singled out for reasons that aren't fair. As one doctoral student put it: Bacteria and lab rats dont recognize the nationalities of the people who are poking around at them.
UNCG today added to its statement from Monday, saying, in essence, that it will try to protect any affected students: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prohibits UNCG from sharing confidential student records. This includes a wide range of information including but not limited to immigration status. UNCG will follow all applicable laws, with a deep commitment to protecting the privacy rights of our students. The recent executive order does not in any way change our policy or adherence to existing law.
(The Chronicle, meanwhile, notes that, FERPA aside, U.S. colleges for years have had to report many details about their international students addresses, enrollment, employment, courses of study, etc. )
The Richmond Times-Dispatch (the N&Rs sister paper) looks ahead: The executive order banning entry into the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries could have a chilling impact on international education, university administrators fear. Students from Pakistan, from India are saying, are we next? said M. Imad Damaj, a Virginia Commonwealth University professor.
Make no mistake: This is a big, big issue for higher ed. True, the Institute of International Education says that fewer than 2 percent of the international students studying in the U.S. are from the seven countries included in this new travel ban.
But the U.S. with its best-in-the-world higher education system attracts about a million international college students each year. Thats a huge market one that maybe Europe or China might be looking to muscle in on. American higher ed is probably right to be worried.
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I dont think President Trump would get an argument from many that our refugee policy bears watching closely and possibly could be improved.
But the fire-aim-ready refugee policy he dropped on us Friday was reckless, hard-hearted and poorly conceived.
Even The Wall Street Journal editorial board scratched its head and wagged a finger.
Mr. Trump campaigned on a promise of extreme vetting for refugees from countries with a history of terrorism, and his focus on protecting Americans has popular support.
But his refugee plan is so blunderbuss and broad, and so poorly explained and prepared for, that is has produced confusion and fear at airports, an immediate legal defeat, and political fury at home and abroad.
Governing is more complicated than a campaign rally.
On its news pages, a Journal story also raises questions about countries that are included and not included on the refugee ban list.
It notes that approximately 85% of all suspects who took steps toward terrorist-related violence inside the U.S. since the Sept. 11 attacks were U.S. citizens or legal residents and about half were born U.S. citizens.
The Journal studied the perpetrators of terrorist violence in America (or people who were arrested while plotting terrorist acts) from 9/11 on and came with the following tally of their nationalities (the countries on the entry-ban list are in bold):
United States 81
Saudia Arabia 18
Pakistan . 10
Somalia 5
Yugoslavia ...5
Afghanistan ... 4
Egypt .. 4
Iraq ... 3
Yemen .. 2
Iran ... 1
Libya .... 0
Sudan .. 0
Syria . 0
If youre keeping score, its not close.
Countries on the entry-ban list: 11 people who took part in terrorist acts.
Countries not on the entry-ban list: 109.
Leader by a landslide: the U.S., which has more people who have committed or plotted acts of terror than all of the others combined (81-52).
Were No. 1.
Activities
The Greensboro Jaycees celebrated a strong 2016 and inaugurated 2017 officers at a recent ceremony at B Christophers restaurant. Outgoing President Brandon Hunter passed the gavel to new President Derek Mobley.
The Jaycees inaugurated a large and diverse board for the 2017 year, including nonprofit workers, attorneys and graduate students.
Last year, the Jaycees experimented with moving the Taste Carolina Wine Festival to White Oak amphitheater at the Greensboro Coliseum. The festival is the primary fundraising event for the Greensboro Jaycees and supports the Jaycees operations and the charitable contributions for the year to local nonprofits. In 2016, the Jaycees gave $15,000 to the N.C. March of Dimes, among other charitable contributions.
Greensboro Jaycees will announce details about the 2017 festival, the 15th annual, in the coming months. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/jayceesgso.
Announcements
The Randolph Rotary Club will hold a Round Up event at 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at AVS Banquet Centre, 2045 N. Fayetteville St. in Asheboro.
This casual, Western-themed event includes a chicken and barbecue dinner with all the fixings and performances by the country band Norlina.
The event also will include a silent auction and raffle.
The tickets, which can be purchased from any Randolph Rotary Club member, are $100 and include a meal for one person. Additional meals are for $30 each. Proceeds will benefit local nonprofit organizations and programs.
For information, contact Doug Allen at (336) 653-8381 or doug.allen@centurylink.net.
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The Ever Achieving Retired Teachers Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 3 at Hayes Taylor YMCA, 2630 E. Florida St. in Greensboro.
All educators are invited to attend and join in the fellowship.
For information, call (336) 272-8493 or email whittedg6@aol.com.
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The N.C. Zoos involvement in the Mariana Avifauna Conservation Program will be the focus of the next Piedmont Bird Club meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Library, 1420 Price Park Road in Greensboro.
Debbie Zombeck, curator of birds at the zoo, traveled to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands to help capture and move Golden White-Eyes and Marianas Fruit Doves to the uninhabited island of Sarigan. The Brown Tree Snake was accidentally introduced to the island of Guam after World War II and has now spread to Saipan. This invasive species is a threat to the bird species that live there.
The club is also encouraging participation in the 20th Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 17-20.
To participate or submit data, visit http://gbbc.birdcount.org. Participants may count birds in their backyards for as long or short a time period as they wish.
For information, contact Roberta Newton at (336) 298-7387 or rnewton@temple.edu.
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The Greensboro History Museum Guild will meet Feb. 20 at the museum, 130 Summit Ave. in Greensboro.
Participants will enjoy coffee and refreshments from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
The museum director, Carol Hart, will present Conserving Because We Care from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Hart will explain how the museum cares for precious things and share behind-the-scenes stories, mysteries and special glimpses of museum artifacts and archives.
A business meeting will follow.
For information about this free event, call (336) 373-2043.
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A Womens Recruiting Social and Business Expo will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. April 11 at the YWCA, 1807 E. Wendover Ave. in Greensboro.
The event will feature food, drinks, networking and a YWCA tour.
Guests also will have the opportunity to meet women Rotarians from the eight Greensboro Rotary Clubs.
Business expo table spaces are $50.
To attend, confirm attendance by April 5 by contact Cindi Hewitt at (847) 456-0462 or cpr454@aol.com.
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Flip Force Gymnastics and the Flip Force Booster Club will host the eighth annual Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational on Feb. 10-12 at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center, 1921 W. Gate City Blvd. in Greensboro.
More than 2,600 athletes and their families will attend this gymnastics, trampoline and power tumbling event.
Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 6 to 10 and free for children 5 and younger. For each ticket sold, the GGI will donate $1 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Piedmont.
For information, visit http://greensborogyminvite.com.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has instructed to hold a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) to resolve the situation in Donbas because of the situation in Avdiyivka, Deputy Head of Administration President of Ukraine Konstantin Yeliseyev said in the air of Channel 5.
"The president has just instructed to initiate the convening of an emergency meeting of the TCG in any mode, as well as a video conference to discuss the critical situation, that is unfolding around Avdiyivka," Yeliseyev said.
Holding the TCG meeting in Minsk was scheduled for February 1. According to Yeliseyev, an emergency meeting of the TCG is to be held before the scheduled date.
WENTWORTH The trial of a prominent Eden businessman on charges stemming from a teenage prostitution ring is unlikely to happen next week, ostensibly to give attorneys time to view recently released documents.
Last month, Superior Court Judge Stuart Albright ordered the release of various items including medical records, investigative notes taken by officers, jail correspondence between Snow and the girls' mother, information gathered from the victim's cell phone and information about the victim's education.
"The judge last term entered an order allowing access to information outside the attorneys' access," said Seth Woodall, an Eden attorney representing Mickey Dale Snow.
"The trial may potentially be delayed," he said.
Snow, 76, faces 26 charges including promoting prostitution of a minor, statutory rape, patronizing a prostitute who is mentally disabled, patronizing a prostitute and second-degree forcible sexual offense.
He is accused of having sex with a minor who, along with her sister, was prostituted by their mother to older men in the community in exchange for money.
Court documents state the girls were sexually abused for years, beginning when each was 12 years old. They reported the sexual abuse to authorities in September 2015.
Snow's case was scheduled to go to trial Feb. 6, but is not listed on Rockingham County's trial calendar.
The businessman is one of five people charged in connection to the prostitution ring.
The girls' mother, Teresa Vanover, along with Donnie Carter, Everette Ferris and Thomas "Tommy" Woodall, pleaded guilty last summer.
The Eden Police Department charged all five individuals the same day. Snow was in Thailand at the time and flew to South Korea, Amsterdam, Panama and then Costa Rica sending police on an international manhunt.
He was stopped by Costa Rican authorities and sent back to Thailand where he was arrested by the Royal Thai Police returned to Eden.
Snow is free on a $25 million bail.
GREENSBORO Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers is seeking help in identifying a man who robbed a Walgreens on Saturday.
According to a Crime Stoppers news release, the man entered the store at 3001 E. Market St. at 8:12 a.m. and robbed it at knifepoint.
The robber was seen fleeing in a 2001-05 dark-colored Ford Explorer.
If anyone knows the identity of the robber or any other information about this crime, call Crime Stoppers at (336) 373-1000 or text keyword BADBOYZ and the tip to 274637.
All calls to Crime Stoppers are completely anonymous. Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest or indictment of the individual(s) responsible.
GREENSBORO Since pleading with the public for help recently, the shelves at Greensboro Urban Ministry are filling again and pledges to keep them stocked are arriving in the mail.
Before taking the job as the nonprofits executive director in 2015, the Rev. Myron Wilkins said he was told of Greensboros reputation as a generous community.
Im seeing that firsthand, said Wilkins, who had just received a grocery order someone placed on an online shopping network and had it delivered to his office. Im getting calls from people who said, Ive never given to you ... but I want to give.
Still, while the crisis has been averted and the nonprofit will benefit from an upcoming major food collection the Boy Scout Food Drive in February there is the danger this could happen again.(Information has been corrected to fix an error. See correction at the end of the story. 12:57 p.m./Jan. 31, 2017)
Thats because it has happened before.
Statistics say some of the fastest-growing poverty in the country is reported in the Greensboro-High Point metro area.
At the same time, food-stamp benefits have decreased and many agencies acting as community safety nets are struggling with fewer dollars.
Those who work with the needy also point to the growing addition of families who have fallen out of the middle class because of layoffs or companies closing. Many are grappling with the loss of benefits or reduced hours.
For them, keeping food on the table becomes a mission.
The stereotype is people are lazy. People are scamming the system. All they have to do is just go out and get a job, said Clyde Fitzgerald, executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, which covers 18 counties including Guilford. Im not so naive to say theres a very few who do that, but overwhelmingly, the majority of those we serve have a job. Some have two or three.
The sad news is that 60 percent of the jobs are part-time, low pay and with no health coverage.
In 2009, his agency served 135,000 people through its network of programs, which also include many of the food banks stocked at churches. Today, the number is over 300,000.
These are people living in poverty when they were not there before and they cant get out of it, Fitzgerald said.
In Greensboro, many end up in line at the Urban Ministry, asking for food.
Last year, the Urban Ministry distributed nearly 1.1 million pounds of food to the community through the food pantry and Potters House Community Kitchen, which serves lunch daily to anyone in the community who is hungry.
This year, Urban Ministrys staff didnt even have time to be taken aback when two weeks into this month, the nonprofit had given out a months worth of food.
We didnt have time to even deal with the shock of it, Wilkins said. We just got into action mode.
So did the community.
On Friday, Food Lion and Lorillard employees showed up with cartloads of food. Earlier in the week, the Greensboro Grasshoppers dropped off a $5,000 check.
Everyone ranging from individuals to a local car dealership have loaded up bags and pressed them into the hands of Urban Ministry volunteers.
Guilford College alumni held a special food drive.
Local hunger is something that we kind of forget happens, Class of 1975 alum Steven Taylor said. So we said lets do something.
Correction: The story originally stated that the Boy Scouts Scouting for Hunger food drive is one of Greensboro Urban Ministrys major fundraisers. It is not a fundraiser for the nonprofit although food that is collected is donated to the nonprofit.
Christians often claim that their rights are violated when someone successfully challenges the use of taxpayer funds for religious purposes. Recently, an atheist complained that South Carolina troopers were using taxpayer money to buy books containing some Bible passages. Troopers gave the books to families who had lost loved ones in car wrecks. Based on the complaint, South Carolina stopped the practice.
In response, Christians in North Carolina took to social media, asking how a single atheist could overrule the rights of the majority. After all, an atheist could simply refuse the book. But our country is a constitutional republic, not a democracy. In a republic, a constitution protects certain inalienable rights minority rights that the majority cannot take away. In a pure democracy, the majority can impose its will on the minority the majority rules.
Under the establishment clause of the First Amendment, the government cannot favor one religion over another or favor religion over nonreligion. The troopers conduct favored Christianity over other religions and religion over nonreligion. A book without religious passages would be lawful. And just one taxpayer can seek redress for the injury to all.
In short, our Founding Fathers rejected the tyranny of the majority.
Robert G. Lehouck II
Greensboro
President Donald Trump probably does want to make America safer. But he rushed into a poorly conceived executive order that triggered confusion, protests, international opposition and even criticism from political allies.
Its working out very nicely. You see it in the airports, you see it all over, Trump said Saturday afternoon, even as demonstrators jammed airports, travelers were detained even if they had legal visas, and opponents were rushing to court.
By early Monday, he was on Twitter blaming the chaos on a Delta computer outage which didnt begin until Sunday evening protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer.
The real trouble sprang out of the Oval Office, as key Republicans pointed out. In the future, such policy changes should be better coordinated with the agencies implementing them and with Congress to ensure we get it right and dont undermine our nations credibility while trying to restore it, House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) told The Wall Street Journal.
While security agencies didnt even get clear instructions on how to enforce Trumps ban on admitting travelers from seven Muslim countries, the details of the order are much more troubling than the incompetence of its execution.
Trump grossly erred by banning for 90 days all entry to the U.S. by people from Iraq, a country that is an ally in the war against the Islamic State. Iraq on Monday ordered a reciprocal ban on Americans. Combined with Trumps previous threat to take Iraqs oil, this is a blow to future cooperation.
The other countries on Trumps list havent been responsible for terrorists coming into the U.S. Notably excluded are Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. All but one of the 9/11 terrorists were citizens of those nations. But Trump companies have business connections in all three countries, news reports based on government financial disclosure forms indicate.
The action is wrong for other reasons. An indefinite ban on accepting refugees from Syria is shameful. When neighboring Canada opens its doors so generously to people whose lives depend on finding a safe haven, the U.S. is closing our doors. The order also prevents American legal residents or even citizens from receiving visits from relatives from the listed countries. Multinational corporations see business problems as employees, clients and customers are affected. Even international participants in High Points furniture market could be prevented from attending the April event. Universities in North Carolina and across the country have expressed concerns for their international students and faculty.
Trump denies that his order is a Muslim ban. Yet it allows exceptions for members of religious minorities in Muslim countries, so the intent to target Muslims is obvious. Sadly, that fuels the jihadist narrative that the U.S. is waging a war on Islam and could boost terrorist recruitment.
This was a blunder by the president and isnt justified by a desire to make our country safer.
ATO HQ reports three Ukrainian soldiers killed, twenty wounded, 70 shelling attacks in its positions over past day
The militants fired positions of the Ukrainian military 71 times in Donbas over the past day, the press center of the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) said on its Facebook page on Tuesday morning.
"Three of our soldiers were killed, twenty wounded and four injured," a statement says.
The tensest situation remains in the Donetsk sector, near Avdiyivka. Illegal armed formations used 152 and 122 mm guns, 120 and 82 mm mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms there. They also repeatedly shelled Zaitseve, Troyitske, Kamyanka, Novotroyitske, Luhanske, Nevelske and Opytne. Pisky and Avdiyivka were shelled during the day by tanks.
In the Mariupol sector invaders fired on Vodiane and Krasnohorivka using 152 and 122 mm artillery. Mortars of various calibers were applied for shelling at Novotroyitske, Krasnohorivka, Novohryhorivka, Talakivka and Lebedynske. Rocket-propelled grenades and small arms were used to attack Pavlopil, Talakivka, Lebedynske, Hnutove, Shyrokyne and Vodiane. Novohryhorivka was fired by the enemy's infantry combat vehicles.
In the Luhansk sector mortars were used to fire at Troyitske, Popasna, Novo-Oleksandrivka. Rocket-propelled grenades at Novozvanivka and Stanytsia Luhanska.
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DANBURY The return date on a complaint to start the foreclosure process on Matrix Corporate Center was Tuesday, meaning the owners of the 1.2 million-square-foot office building have 15 days to respond to the mortgage holder.
According to documents filed at Superior Court in Danbury, the owners, Gera Danbury LLC, have defaulted on its $85 million loan. The holding company, Deutsche Bank Trust Company America, is seeking all outstanding amounts due.
Both parties have indicated they desire an amicable resolution.
Meanwhile, another major tenant of the complex has cleaned out its space and moved the employees to its headquarters a short distance away. Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the areas largest employers, had leased space at the Matrix Corporate Center, and a spokeswoman for the pharmaceutical company confirmed that it has left the building and moved all employees to its campus that straddles the Ridgefield-Danbury border.
BI signed a 10-year lease for more than 300,000 square feet at the Matrix Corporate Center in March of 2013. Last year, the company announced a restructuring that included close to 300 layoffs, with 180 coming from the Ridgefield and Danbury locations. BI employs about 2,500 people locally.
More Business Foreclosure process starts for Matrix Corporate Center in Danbury
BIs departure does not sit well with the owners of the Matrix Corporate Center. An attorney representing Gera Danbury said the building owner may pursue legal action against the pharmaceutical company.
The buildings owner is aware of the layoffs and the restructuring that Boehringer Ingelheim announced last year, Jed Horwitt of Zeisler & Zeisler, counsel for Gera Danbury. Boehringer Ingelheim is now in breach of its lease obligations. The buildings owner will take all appropriate steps, including legal action, to ensure that BI honors its obligations.
BI said it left due to quality issues following the 2013 lease renewal.
The Matrix Corporate Center has been a substantial part of our Ridgefield presence for more than a decade. Unfortunately, since renewing our lease in 2013, the management of the Matrix Corporate Center has not satisfactorily addressed several of our concerns about the maintenance and quality of the space, the company said in a statement sent to The News-Times. The facility no longer meets the standards that we expect to provide for our employees, and we were promised in our contract. Therefore, we made the decision to completely exit from the our space in Matrix Corporate Center and relocate all of our employees and contractors to newly renovated space on our main Ridgefield campus, effective January 27.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said he hopes the Matrix Group is able to restructure its debt and come out stronger and cleaner after the foreclosure proceedings.
Long term, there could be some other uses for the building, he said. Theyre a big taxpayer in Danbury so wed like to see them stay.
Last week, Boughton said the owners have had difficulty finding large tenants because many corporations are no longer looking for large spaces to lease.
The resolution to the foreclosure, according to the law firm representing Deutsche Bank, will likely result in either the sale of the building to a third party or in Deutsche Bank taking ownership.
The Matrix Group, a real estate investment firm based in Port Jefferson, N.Y., purchased the building in 2009. A major redevelopment of the property was planned before the death of the firms principal, Glen Nelson, in a car accident on Long Island on Dec. 20, 2015.
Nelsons estate controls Gera Danbury.
Jim Fagan, senior managing director at real estate firm Cushman Wakefield, said such foreclosures are not unusual with commercial real estate properties. He said the Matrix Group performed well with the building, considering the difficult market environment in recent years.
Theyve done a good job of turning the building into Class A space with nice amenities, he said. Theres just not the job creation in the state of Connecticut to keep these office buildings filled. Were seeing that from Stamford to Danbury.
The Matrix Corporate Center is still a wonderful place to be as long as (a prospective tenant) can be sure their space will be built out, Fagan added. Its in everybodys interest to keep the property maintained. The lender wants to protect its interest, as well. Theres enough value there.
Fagan said the foreclosure is a mechanism to correct what the real value of the building is.
An attorney for Gera Danbury said last week his client will ensure the building is being professionally managed and maintained so that its tenants continue to enjoy excellent service.
The Matrix Corporate Center is one of the largest office complexes in Fairfield County. It sits on more than 5,000 concrete pillars and was built as Union Carbides headquarters in 1982. It was designed by architect Kevin Roche.
The complex is home to tenants such as Odyssey Logistics & Technology, General Motors and Guideposts.
cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
Denmark will coordinate a project to support the war on corruption in Ukraine within the framework of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative, as well as develop a medium-term five-year strategy for continuing reform support in Ukraine in the sphere of decentralization, war on corruption, energy and state management.
The Cabinet's information department said Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen made the announcement during a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman on Tuesday.
The sides discussed priorities for deepening bilateral cooperation and discussed how to ensure European energy security, in particular in the context of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
Ukraine's PM thanked the Danish FM for support in combating Russian aggression and briefed him on the situation in Donbas.
Samuelsen said the visit is his first outside of the EU.
"To maintain good ties and develop the quality of cooperation with Ukraine is very important to us, to Denmark," he said.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko summons a Military Cabinet of the Council of National Security and Defense on Tuesday, an informed source told Interfax-Ukraine.
"On Tuesday afternoon a meeting of the Military Cabinet is expected to be held under the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine with the participation of the president," the agency's interlocutor said.
According to him, this is due to the deteriorating situation in Avdiyivka.
The best kind of window shopping. Photo: Omnivore Books
This weekend, in response to President Trumps highly problematic travel ban, San Franciscos beloved food-focused bookshop, Omnivore Books, tweeted the above photo of its window display to rousing applause. As you cook and search for comfort during this stressful time, its an opportunity to celebrate the seven countries on Trumps list Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and their beautiful, bright cuisines. Here, Omnivore shop manager, Sarah Henkin, explains what the five cookbooks in her window, plus five others, mean to her and owner Celia Sack. You can purchase them directly from Omnivore here, or through Amazon via the links below.
Flavours of Aleppo: Celebrating Syrian Cuisine by Dalal Kade-Badra & Elie Badra
A wonderful collection of recipes from a Montreal-based Aleppian emigre and her Canadian-born son each a tribute to the generations of women who cooked versions of them before her, and a testament to the power food has to connect you to people and places no matter where you might end up.
Persiana: Recipes from the Middle East & Beyond by Sabrina Ghayour
Sabrinas book masterfully tells the tale of a woman born in Iran who moved to England 30 years ago, ended up falling in love with food, and translating a combination of cultures into a thoroughly modern collection of recipes. Its a fun, cool, beautiful book, much like I imagine Sabrina to be in person.
The Aleppo Cookbook: Celebrating the Legendary Cuisine of Syria by Marlene Matar
A comprehensive collection of recipes, but particularly striking are the simple portraits capturing daily life in Aleppo. A shopkeeper stealing a nap behind tubs of lentils and nuts, three kids hamming it up for the camera in front of an ancient door, a busy market hall teeming with people within a beautiful old building. I flip through the pages and wonder if that market hall still stands, where those three kids are now.
Tastes of Africa by Justice Kamanga
These recipes here are flavorful and nourishing and meant for people who like to share their table with others. The land mass covered is vast but so is the generosity of spirit conveyed through Justices curries and salads, stews and kebabs.
The Iraqi Family Cookbook by Kay Karim
This special little book truly feels like a family cookbook passed down from your Iraqi grandmother (low-lit photos of finished dishes look like they were hastily snapped by her seconds before bringing them to the table). It includes an excellent introduction with a timeline of Iraqi history and notes on culture and traditions.
The North African Kitchen: Regional Recipes and Stories by Fiona Dunlop
The recipes in this book span Morocco, Tunisia, and the infrequently written about Tripoli, capital of Libya. This is another one about the photos for me: a smiling woman putting the finishing touches on a loaf of bread, a family gathered around a table while mom preps dinner, simple glimpses into everyday life that remind us we are more alike than not.
The New Persian Kitchen by Louisa Shafia
I especially love this book for the Pickles & Preserves chapter, especially the sour-plum pickle, tamarind-date chutney and sour cherry-and-rose preserves. Louisas mother is an Ashkenazi Jew and her father a Tehran-born Muslim. She deftly straddles cultures and there are many recipes in here to plan a meal around. That tamarind-date chutney, though, is worth buying this book for alone.
New Middle Eastern Street Food by Sally Butcher
Sally is a well-known cookbook author and Persian-food shopkeeper in London. Here she focuses on Snackistan: a borderless confederation of the Middle Easts favorite foodstuffs where tummies are always full and theres a slightly naughty smile on every face. Really, whats not to love there?
Classic Vegetarian Cooking from the Middle East & North Africa by Habeeb Salloum
Sadly not enough people pick this one up because it has no pictures. Their loss the food in this book relies on skillful combinations of herbs and spices creating super flavorful vegetarian dishes. I am especially in love with recipes featuring kishk, a kind of dried yogurt cheese. It adds a delicious funkiness to dishes that I cant get enough of.
Sweets & Desserts from the Middle East by Arto Der Haroutunian
I come across very few dessert-focused Middle Eastern/North African books, so this is special for that reason alone. I especially love the ice cream and sorbet chapter (mulberry sorbet!) and the jam and preserve recipes. There are so many recipes in this book that Ive never seen anywhere else.
Its BYO wasabi and soy sauce. Photo: Kit Kat Japan
Kit Kat Japan has a tradition of releasing bars in an array of flavors so huge, its been forced to move into alcoholic beverages and condiments, but the brands mad flavorists are finally correcting a glaring omission: sushi Kit Kats. The specialty bars were created to celebrate the first street-facing Kit Kat shop, which opens February 2 in Tokyo (yes, Japan already has dedicated Kit Kat retail outlets, but this ones the big time because it isnt inside a mall or department store).
There are three flavors. Tuna, naturally, which is entirely free of raw fish, thank God, relying instead on raspberry for its dark-pink color. The vinegared rice has been swapped out, so the bar sits on a sweet, puffed version coated in white chocolate. The second is tamago, that omelet-y egg dish. Pumpkin pudding gives the bar an uncomfortably familiar pale-yellow look, and it comes on a bed of puffed rice as well, wrapped in actual seaweed this time. The third bar is meant to emulate uni, and appears to get pretty close by mixing Hokkaido melon with creamy mascarpone cheese. Its served in the classic gunkan-maki preparation style, meaning this one has a full band of seaweed.
Kotaku says the set goes on sale at the end of this week for about $26, but warns that quantities are highly limited.
Lunch, Nordic-style: Split-pea soup, house-made bread and butter, lettuce with winter radish, and rye crisp. Photo: Melissa Hom
Considering that Swedish chef Fredrik Berselius came to local prominence at Kinfolk Studios, a mixed-use space in Williamsburg where the first incarnation of his restaurant Aska was located, its not entirely surprising that hes been enlisted to operate Norman, the cafe, bar, and bakery inside A/D/O, a new design incubator in Greenpoint. For me, food and restaurants are part of a creative process, says the chef, who will run the place with Agern owner Claus Meyer, New Yorks leading proponent of Nordic cooking. Where there are Scandinavians, there is sea buckthorn, and the soured-milk product ymer, and hearty porridges, and pickles and preserves, and Norman has all those things, prepared by chef Andrew Whitcomb, late of Colonie. It also has a daily-changing lunch special, accompanied by salad or vegetables, which Berselius envisions as a nourishing, affordable alternative to the workaday sandwich.
Norman has big picture windows and a refectory vibe. Photo: Melissa Hom
The mashed-split-pea sandwich comes on a bun made from land wheat, a heritage grain prized by Nordic bakers at places like Noma and Great Northern Food Hall. Photo: Melissa Hom
Norman is the kind of place that has two green salads; this one is all about the bitter lettuce. Photo: Melissa Hom
Think of ymer with preserved blueberries, toasted-flaxseed granola, and spent coffee as a Scandinavian yogurt parfait. Photo: Melissa Hom
29 Norman Ave., at Banker St., Greenpoint; 347-966-2092
*This article appears in the February 6, 2017, issue of New York Magazine.
With todays deal, you can grab an unlocked, International variant of the Galaxy S7 edge for $583.50 with prime shipping. This is the version that runs Samsungs Exynos CPU and carries the model number SM-935F, which has proven to be marginally better in raw performance with superior battery life over the North-American version that comes equipped with the Snapdragon 820.
Unlike the unlocked North American variant available at Best Buy, the international version will not work with CDMA networks like Verizon or Sprint. Also unlike the version at Best Buy, the phone does not include a warranty from Samsung.
The Black Onyx version of the phone is the lowest at $583.50 while other colors are going for a little more. The Silver and Black versions are available from the same seller, while the Gold and Coral Blue options are each sold by different sellers, though all options are Fulfilled by Amazon, so youll get the companys legendary two-day shipping with Prime.
Because there was no Galaxy Note7, there was no excess of folks flocking to sell their used S7s on third-party websites. Also, since the majority of recalled Note7s were replaced with the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, the demand for the phone didnt drop as quickly. With the Galaxy S8 just over the horizon, we expect the Galaxy S7 (edge) to drop in price more abruptly in the near future.
Source | Via
Onyshchenko accuses Poroshenko of demanding kickback from Akhmetov for gas assets, the latter denies
Wanted Verkhovna Rada deputy Oleksandr Onyshchenko has accused Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of demanding a $200 million kickback from Ukrainian tycoon Rinat Akhmetov for allegedly unfreezing accounts of the oil and gas producer PrJSC Naftogazvydobuvannya, a charge Akhmetov has refuted categorically.
"The president straight away demanded Akhmetov pay a $200 million kickback, and the latter was shocked because he has been trying to build a transparent company that operates according to European standards," Onyshchenko said in an interview with the Kyiv-based Strana.ua news portal.
Onyshchenko claims the talks broke down after Naftogazvydobuvannya's bank accounts had been frozen.
Akhmetov's press service told the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency he had already commented on the charge leveled by the MP.
"Onyshchenko's claim that money was extorted from me in exchange for unfreezing Naftogazvydobuvannya's assets is absolutely untrue," Akhmetov in December 2016 told the Kyiv-based English-language newspaper Kyiv Post.
He added that charges leveled by Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) against Naftogazvydobuvannya leading the arrest of the bank accounts were settled according to established laws and procedures.
"Naftogazvydobuvannya is operating transparently. All controversies are being settled in Ukrainian and international courts," Akhmetov said.
Strana.ua, in turn, published a comment by the energy holding DTEK, which manages the majority stake of Naftogazvydobuvannya. It says the unblocking of the company's accounts was made possible by the courts and public actions of the company, with the support of the business ombudsman and review of the case pursuant to the convention between Ukraine and the Netherlands on protection of investment, as well as in the European Court of Human Rights.
PrJSC Naftogazvydobuvannya, part of DTEK Naftogas, in 2016 increased gas extraction by 25.3% (or 328.8 million cubic meters), compared to 2015, when the company extracted 1.63 billion cubic meters.
DTEK Naftogas is the operating company responsible for the oil and gas side of the DTEK holding company. Naftogazvydobuvannya and Naftogazrozrobka, licensed to search for oil and gas deposits in Poltava and Kharkiv regions are part of DTEK Naftogas.
DTEK is a strategic holding, with three operating companies which manage coal extraction, heat-generation and distribution, as well as alternative energy and natural gas extraction. The company is part of the financial industrial group System Capital Management (SCM), the largest stakeholder of which is Akhmetov. The CEO of DTEK is Maksym Timchenko. SCM employs 118,000 people.
The latest bit of online gossip by the popular leakster Roland Quandt has it that MobiCom-Debitel is looking to form long-term partnership with HMD Global, bringing the Nokia 6 to Germany in the forthcoming months. It will be following the Nokia 150 featurephone that is already available on the German market.
Nokia 6 is still available exclusively in China with over 1.4 million registrations. There was also a rumor about a white Nokia 6 but HMD Global denied such information and assured the device is currently only officially sold in only one country and a single color.
Theres no official confirmation yet from Mobilcom-Debitel, but we'll be keeping an ear on the ground.
@rquandt Quelle ist ubrigens eine Mail-Antwort der PR-Abteilung von Freenet, der MD-Mutter. Roland Quandt (@rquandt) 30 January 2017
Via
Vodafone Nougat firmware for Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge is out
You can now download the carrier-branded Android 7.0 Nougat firmware for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge thanks to Vodafone.
The carrier released the firmware for the flagship pair in France and Germany days ago but if you know your way around side-loading the new OS onto your Marshmallow-stuck Galaxy S7 model, you can.
Android 7.0 brings a host of major improvements to the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge like Nougat's faster app installs, Blue Light filter for the display, the ability to adjust the screen resolution to conserve battery, and other, under the hood tweaks and optimizations.
You can find a downloadable firmware over at the source below.
Source
With leaks poring in from an astounding number of industry sources, it is not uncommon to get glimpses of upcoming devices really early in their development cycle. However, few actually manage to linger in the rumor mill for almost a whole year, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3. Most sources seem to agree that the delay was somehow related to the unfortunate Galaxy Note7 saga. But now that is finally put to rest and the Tab S3 appears closer to a release than ever.
The device already received its Wi-Fi certification, as well as a Bluetooth one. Now, we can add FCC to the listl. Actually, two distinct models were certified by the authority. The SM-T820, which is a Wi-Fi only version and the SM-T825 - with 3G and 4G connectivity added to the mix.
We are not quite sure how this relates to one of the earlier Tab S3 leaks, which mentions two distinct screen size variations as well - one at 9.7 inches and another at 8 inches. The FCC document doesnt really weigh in on this. However, most sources lean towards a 9.7-inch Super AMOLED panel, with a resolution of 2,048x1,536px, so a 4:3 ratio.
The debate is also out, regarding the chipset. An Exynos 7420 has been mentioned in the past. But a Snapdragon 820 seems more likely at this point. Other suggested specs include 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a 12.8MP, plus 5MP camera setup.
Since the Galaxy S8 is not going to make it to MWC this year, it could very well be the Galaxy Tab S3 that ends up the star of the show.
Thanks for the tip Michael.
Source | Via
Haiti - Diplomacy : The Core Group welcomes the 29 January elections
Sandra Honore, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the other members of the "Core Group" (the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, United States of America, the European Union and the Special Representative of the Organization of American States) welcomes the holding of the 29 January polls to fill remaining Legislative seats and elect local representatives of communal sections and urban centres.
"The 'Core Group' commends the Provisional Electoral Council, the Government of Haiti and the Haitian National Police for their leadership in creating a conducive environment for the holding of these elections. It deplores the sporadic acts of election-related violence and encourages all Haitian citizens, including candidates, political parties and their supporters, to resolve any electoral disputes that may arise in a peaceful manner and through established legal channels.
The 'Core Group' welcomes with satisfaction the framework now provided, at national and local level, for effective democratic governance and the restoration of institutional stability, in response to the aspirations of the Haitian people."
See also :
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19945-haiti-elections-tear-gas-on-a-voting-center.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19938-haiti-elections-message-to-all-by-sandra-honore.html
HL/ HaitiLibre
By Vasia Orion | Published on 2017/01/30
The truth is out and it is as depressing and simultaneously empowering as truth often is. "Solomon's Perjury" has tried tackling big topics in the life of teenagers, adults and humanity in general in just twelve episodes. This means that certain things feel inevitably rushed and underdeveloped. Even so, the final episode does the best it can to wrap up this long and arduous battle.
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I would like to start with the episode's final monologue and what it has to say about truth and perseverance. The truth can hinder one's progress and invite trouble, but as the series shows us, hiding it is no guarantee of happiness. We cannot have happiness when our conscience suffers and our character is sullied. Lying cripples us and those around us. In order to enjoy the good seasons in life, we have to do what we need to in order to be at peace.
While this is a beautiful message, I wish the series had spent more time in that process of losing ourselves to lies. This brings me to Kyeong-moon (Cho Jae-hyun). For all the show's effort to portray him as a good father, it forgets to address the "why" of his situation. Why does a man who defied the status quo and adoption stigma join the very systems he once rejected? The drama uses Kyeong-moon as a Boogeyman and thus fails to develop him in a way that fits his importance as a central figure in the story.
His character and the series would have benefited from portraying the process of how seemingly great human beings perpetuate the problems which plague this world. Ji-hoon (Jang Dong-yoon) on the other hand has the development he needs to explain his own tresspassings, even if those are also resolved too neatly. Ji-hoon lies and manipulates, but we have seen enough of what drives him and why it is a worthy cause. The antagonist should have been given the same attention.
There are other things that the series could have handled better and I am only as demanding because of the drama's excellent quality. Fewer characters and less lengthy trial scenes would have left room for more development, because the characters really make "Solomon's Perjury". We could have seen more of the adult world, what drives them and it would have been great to see the creators' thoughts on how we can all improve our world.
Despite these issues, "Solomon's Perjury" does a great job as a school mystery about corruption, morality and personal responsibility. It touches, even if lightly, upon the struggles of facing a cruel world and the ways in which those before us encourage or fail us. The series is ultimately about finding hope by breaking the abusive silence, making it a story worthy telling.
"Solomon's Perjury" is directed by Kang Il-soo, written by Kim Ho-soo and features Kim Hyun-soo, Jang Dong-yoon, Seo Ji-hoon, Seo Young-joo and Cho Jae-hyun.
Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'
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Published on 2017/01/31 | Source
Added episodes 45 and 46 captures for the Korean drama "The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop" (2016)
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Directed by Hwang In-hyeok
Written by Koo Hyeon-sook
Network : KBS
With Lee Dong-gun, Jo Yoon-hee, Cha In-pyo, Oh Hyun-kyung, Ra Mi-ran, Choi Won-young,...
Sat, Sun 19:55
Synopsis
"Suited Gentlemen In Yanggye-dong" is based on a traditional tailor's with history. The drama depicts the tears, friendship, success and romance of four men.
Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2016/08/27
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Yelchenko in his letter to UN Secretary General: We demand Russia stop fighting in eastern Ukraine
Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko has sent a letter to the UN Secretary General in connection with the deteriorating situation in the east of Ukraine.
"Yelchenko in his letter to the UN Secretary General: We demand the Russian Federation cease hostilities immediately and to comply strictly with the ceasefire," Ukraine's Permanent Mission to the UN said on Twitter referring to the statement's copy.
Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby.
12:22, 4 NOV 2022
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost seven servicemen killed and 35 injured over the past two days due to the escalation of the situation in the Avdiyivka area (Donetsk region), Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said.
"We have lost four combatants, 12 have been injured over the day before yesterday, and over the past 24 hours there are three killed and many more injured - 23," Turchynov said at a meeting with Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis on Tuesday.
The Kyiv office of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO) has authorized the arrest of former governor of Kyiv-based Mykhailivsky Bank Ihor Doroshenko for determining pretrial confinement measures, ranging from house arrest to incarceration in a temporarily confinement facility.
The press officer of Kyiv's PGO said Doroshenko on Friday, January 27, failed to appear for an appointment with the prosecutor, who intended to inform him of new charges (in addition to embezzlement, Doroshenko will be charged with bankrupting the bank).
A notice of Doroshenko's physical well-being delivered by his lawyer did not indicate any physical ailments of the suspect or that he had been hospitalized.
PGO officials and Ukraine's SBU Security Service are taking all measures to establish Doroshenko's whereabouts and carrying out the court's order to arrest him.
Doroshenko wrote on his Facebook page that he had been hospitalized.
"Since Thursday, I've been in the hospital. An ambulance took me there. I was not hiding and do not plan to hide. All legal requirements, including informing the corresponding [law-enforcement] offices, will be me by me and my lawyers," his Facebook page said.
Second Annual Report on Student Connectivity Reveals the States Leading the Way, According to EducationSuperHighway
News Release from EducationSuperHighway, January 30, 2017
LINK: Hawaii State Report
SAN FRANCISCOThe second annual State of the States report on the state of broadband connectivity in Americas schools finds a number of states are leading the way in ensuring that their students have access to equal educational opportunities provided by technology. The report was issued today by EducationSuperHighway, the leading national non-profit focused on upgrading the Internet access in every public school classroom in America.
Among the highlights of the report, every student in Hawaii, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Wyoming meets the minimum connectivity goal of 100 kilobits per second (kbps) per student meaning that every child in these states can take advantage of digital learning. Meanwhile, Kentucky and Hawaii also join Delaware, Tennessee and West Virginia in having every school connected to high-speed fiber the infrastructure that will allow their school districts to increase bandwidth over time to keep up with demand.
A full breakdown of states performing at the highest levels in various categories can be found below.
Evan Marwell, Founder and CEO of EducationSuperHighway remarked, It is clear: states are making tremendous progress in getting more and more students online at the speeds necessary to take advantage of digital learning. During the past year, an additional 10.4 million students gained the minimum connectivity they need, and 88 percent of school districts nationally are now meeting minimum connectivity goals. This is a credit to the governors, state and school district leaders, service providers, and many other partners who have come together to ensure that our students can fully access the modern learning resources that are crucial to their academic development and future professional success. I congratulate the top-performing states and we look forward to another great year of connecting more students to high-speed Internet so they have access to all of the educational opportunities of the 21st century.
The full 2016 State of the States report can be found here: http://stateofthestates.educationsuperhighway.org/
2016 State of the States Top Performing States
States With All School Districts Meeting the Minimum School Connectivity Goal
Hawaii
Kentucky
North Dakota
South Carolina
Wyoming
States With All Schools Connected to High-Speed Fiber
Hawaii
Delaware
Kentucky
Tennessee
West Virginia
States With Highest Percent of School Districts That Have Affordable Broadband
Hawaii
Connecticut
Delaware
Maine
South Dakota
States That Are Most Improved in Percent of School Districts Now Meeting the Minimum Connectivity Goal (from 2015 to 2016)
North Carolina
Delaware
Tennessee
Nevada
Virginia
State That Upgraded the Most Students in 2016
North Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
New Mexico
Arkansas
States That Are Most Improved in School Broadband Affordability (from 2015 to 2016)
South Dakota
Nevada
Rhode Island
Nebraska
Delaware
About EducationSuperHighway
EducationSuperHighway is the leading non-profit focused on upgrading the Internet access in every public school classroom in America. We believe that digital learning has the potential to provide all students with equal access to educational opportunity and that every school requires high-speed broadband to make that opportunity a reality.
We catalyze federal and state action on K-12 broadband initiatives and are currently working with governors in 20 states covering 20 million students. We work directly with school districts to accelerate network upgrades by connecting them to competitive service provider options in their areas. Our Compare & Connect K-12 online tool helps schools and service providers view broadband services and bandwidth information for school districts nationwide so they can get and deliver more bandwidth for their broadband budgets. As a non-profit, our tools and services are offered free of charge.
EducationSuperHighway is funded by national foundations including the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and our mission is supported by Americas leading CEOs.
Learn more about EducationSuperHighway here: https://www.educationsuperhighway.org
Donald Trumps recent executive order to restrict travel and suspend refugee admissions has caused uproar the world over with several global firms already condemning the move now, Starbucks has gone one further.
In a letter to current employees, chairman and CEO Howard Schultz not only promised to support all affected employees but also announced plans to hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years.
We have a long history of hiring young people looking for opportunities and a pathway to a new life around the world, wrote Schultz.
This is why we are doubling down on this commitment by working with our equity market employees as well as joint venture and licensed market partners in a concerted effort to welcome and seek opportunities for those fleeing war, violence, persecution and discrimination.
While the recruitment drive will cover all 75 countries in which Starbucks operates, Shultz said the company would start its effort in the US where it will focus on hiring individuals who have served with US troops as interpreters.
Schultz also confirmed the coffee giant would continue to support its Mexican customers, employees and producers while also investing in the country.
Workers with concerns over healthcare were also given reassurance as Schultz confirmed all benefits-eligible employees would have access to health insurance through Starbucks.
In the face of recent events around the world, let me assure you that we will stay true to our values and do everything we can possibly do to support and invest in every partners well-being while taking the actions that are squarely within our ability to control, Schultz said.
We are in business to inspire and nurture the human spirit, one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time whether that neighborhood is in a Red State or a Blue State; a Christian country or a Muslim country; a divided nation or a united nation, he continued. That will not change. You have my word on that.
Trumps recent executive orders include suspending the entire US refugee admissions system for 120 days, suspending the Syrian refugee system indefinitely, banning entry from seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days and temporarily banning entry to dual-nationals who have a passport from one of the seven restricted nations.
EC Ministers Committee to consider aggravation of situation in Donbas on Wednesday - Permanent representative of Ukraine to EC
EC Ministers Committee to consider aggravation of situation in Donbas on Wednesday - Permanent representative of Ukraine to EC
KYIV. Jan 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe Dmytro Kuleba said that the current situation in Donbas will be considered at the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe at the ambassadorial level on Wednesday, February 1.
"Tomorrow is the third step - the aggravation at the front line will be discussed at the meeting of Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe at the ambassadorial level," Kuleba wrote on his Twitter on Tuesday.
He also reported on other steps: "I have sent the information about the escalation in the Donbas region to top officials of the Council of Europe with a call to act. This is the first step. Further steps will follow tomorrow and other days. The second step: official letters to the Secretary General, Commissioner for Human Rights and President of the Council of Europe. Today the day will be devoted to phone conversations with my colleagues on the situation."
Kuleba also posted photocopies of sent official letters about the situation in Donbas.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch has expressed concern about the position of people in Avdiyivka deprived of water, power and heating supply after the attacks that damaged power transmission lines.
"Amb Y: Very concerned for Avdiivka residents, esp the 2500 children, who are without water, electricity, and heat after power lines were cut," the U.S. Embassy said on Twitter.
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The local authorities and the Ukrainian State Service for Emergency Situations are working on a mechanism of evacuation of Avdiyivka residents (Donetsk region) and are considering the possibility of evacuating nearly 12,000 people to nearby populated areas, Emergency Situations State Service's head Mykola Chechotkin said.
"The issue of evacuation of nearly 12,000 residents to the neighboring ten populated localities (Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Pokrivske, Selydeve, Horniak, Novhorodske, Ukrayinske, Bahmut, Slaviansk) is being worked on. Eighty buses, which can simultaneously evacuate up to 3,000 people, are prepared and are on standby for this. At the same time, two suburban trains, which can evacuate up to 1,600 people at once, are planned to set running for the evacuation of people," the Emergency Situations State Service's press service quoted Chechotkin as saying, following a meeting of the operational headquarters dealing with the situation in Avdiyivka on Tuesday.
Eleven heating points are arranged in Avdiyivka. The minimal pressure and the temperature of the heat transfer medium (up to 40 degrees) are provided in the heating supply system in the town. The air temperature of 15-16 degrees Celsius is being maintained in the flats. Fourteen pre-school and secondary educational institutions are suspended.
Control over the fire protection of the ovens at the Avdiyivka coke-chemical plant is provided.
If the situation deteriorates in Avdiyivka, the State Emergencies Service has formed and is keeping on alert a combined emergency and rescue team totaling nearly 150 people, 14 electric power stations with different power capacities, 22 heating points and four specific engine heaters, Chechotkin said.
The low air temperature will persist in Avdiyivka in the next two days: minus 18 degrees Celsius - on February 1, up to minus ten degrees Celsius - on February 2, the Ukrainian weather forecasting service said.
"Due to this situation, the priority tasks for the local authorities and the civil defense services are to prevent the heating supply systems in the town from freezing. The question was also coordinated with the special ceasefire coordinating center and the OSCE to provide safe conditions and undertake measures to restore the power supply to a thermal electric power station at the plant and a water filtering station as quickly as possible," the State Emergencies Service's head said.
Donetsk regional military-civil administration's head Pavlo Zhebrivsky said earlier in the morning that there is an opportunity to evacuate up to 8,000 Avdiyivka residents in the course of Tuesday.
The OSCE Permanent Council will address the situation in Avdiyivka in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on Tuesday, January 31.
"#OSCE Special Permanent Council meeting on #Avdiyivka will take place today, on 31 January," the Ukrainian mission to the OSCE said on Twitter.
The meeting will begin in Vienna at 5 p.m. Kyiv time, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mariana Betsa said.
"We have learned that a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council will be held in Vienna at 4 p.m. local time, or 5 p.m. Kyiv time, at the demand of the Ukrainian delegation, and 57 member countries of the organization will discuss the escalating tensions in Donbas," she said on the 112.Ukraine channel.
Ukrainian envoy to international organizations in Vienna Ihor Prokopchuk sent a letter to OSCE Permanent Council President Clemens Koja in connection with the tensions escalating in Avdiyivka and called for a meeting to discuss this issue.
UK Ambassador in Kyiv Judith Gough expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Avdiyivka, Donetsk region, and said that it is necessary to secure a truce in Donbas to help civilians.
"Deeply worried by bloodshed and humanitarian situation in #Avdiivka. Immediate truce vital to help civilians," she said on Twitter.
Earlier, the United States Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch expressed concern over the situation of people in Avdiyivka, who are deprived of water, power and heating following shelling that damaged power transmission lines.
The criminal investigation into the theft of funds given to Ukraine under the Kyoto Protocol is almost complete," National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) Head Artem Sytnyk has said.
"There are 10 suspects, and one more outside of Ukraine. We are considering a notice from prosecutors to try the individual in absentia," Sytnyk said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.
Sytnyk said the investigation was "virtually complete."
As earlier reported, on January 21, 2016, information pursuant to Part 2 of Article 15, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on embezzlement of UAH 480 million in state assets was added by NABU detectives to the national register of pretrial investigations. The money was given to Ukraine based on the Kyoto Protocol. The theft occurred at state-owned enterprise Ukrainian Ecological Investments (Ukrekoinvest) during a tender to replace and install LED lamps. All tender participants were screened by NABU agents.
A number of suspects were arrested. Two were convicted and arrest warrants were issued for two others along with one additional international arrest warrant.
Head of Donetsk Military and Civilian Administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky has reported to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko regarding some initial signs indicating that fighting near the town of Avdiyivka has been de-escalating, presidential press secretary Svyatoslav Tsegolko said.
"In his [Zhebrivsky's] words, after the president activated all international elements of pressure on Russia, we have the first signs of a ceasefire. According to the General Staff, silence is being observed only in the direction of Yasynuvata from Avdiyivka, but Russian militants are continuing to shoot near the industrial area," Tsegolko said.
Washington County football: Wildcats, Warriors open playoffs with victories
Williamsport and Boonsboro will play in the second round of the Class 2A-1A West playoffs after victories Friday night.
Ukrainian foreign minister says ready for any meetings on Donbas, including in Normandy format, if they can produce result
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin is ready for any meetings aimed at settling the situation in Donbas, including in the Normandy format (France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine), if they can produce a tangible result rather than are held just for the sake of it.
"I am prepared for any meetings at any level, including within the Normandy format framework, but only to achieve results, because we need not meetings just for the sake of it but we need to get a result and reduce the people's suffering from Russian aggression," Klimkin said at a joint press conference with Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen in Mariupol on Tuesday.
"We need to consistently put pressure on Russia together, which we are doing now, to make it implement the Minsk Agreements," Klimkin said. "As soon as we have a subject for discussion, we will certainly do it," he added.
In commenting on the shelling of Adviyivka by pro-Russian armed groups, Klimkin said, "I see it as deliberate provocation. I don't rule out that this is related to a cold spell and deliberate provocation of a humanitarian disaster."
The Russian side of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) has not provided any confirmation of the cease-fire in the area of the town of Avdiyivka, Donetsk region, and therefore there will be no repairs of the damaged power line on Tuesday, Head of Donetsk Regional Military and Civil Administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky has said.
"Shelling of Avdiyivka does not stop. The Russian side in the JCCC hasn't provided any written confirmation of the cease-fire in the area of repairs. The maintenance crews will not be able to go to the place of power line damage today," he wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
Zhebrivsky said the situation is being saved by the fact that Avdiyivka Coking Plant was able to raise the temperature of in the heating system to 44 degrees Centigrade.
In addition, four ambulances from Kostiantynivka arrived at Avdiyivka, the governor said.
Earlier on Tuesday, spokesman for the Defense Ministry for ATO matters Oleksandr Motuzianyk and the OSCE and the JCCC tried to convince militants to establish a cease-fire regime near Avdiyivka for repairs of the municipal infrastructure.
National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said earlier the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost seven servicemen and 35 were injured over the past two days due to the escalation of the situation in the Avdiyivka area.
The OSCE Permanent Council is holding an extraordinary meeting to address the escalation of the fighting near Avdiyivka, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maryana Betsa said on Tuesday evening.
"The OSCE has begun an extraordinary meeting," Betsa said on Twitter. "We are calling on our partners to increase pressure on Russia," she said.
The Ukrainian mission to the OSCE said on Twitter with reference to Ukrainian Permanent Representative Ihor Prokopchuk that the Ukrainian authorities are doing all they can to help the people in Avdiyivka, which has been left without heating, electricity, and water supply because of the shelling.
President Poroshenko: The shelling is massive. Who would dare talking about lifting the sanctions in such circumstances? pic.twitter.com/98faroMI3A The Bankova (@TheBankova) 31 2017 .
Ukraine expects statements from international partners following an initiative to introduce the issue of the escalation of the situation in Avdiyivka for consideration of the UN Security Council, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said. He said at a meeting with the heads of security agencies on Tuesday that he has ordered the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration Kostiantyn Yeliseyev to put forward the issue of the escalation of the situation in Avdiyivka for consideration of the UN Security Council immediately. "We expect relevant statements from our international partners today," Poroshenko said. "Apart from that, the task was given to organize negotiations as part of the Trilateral Contact Group. Partners in the United States, the European Union and NATO were informed about the situation," the Ukrainian presidential press service said. Poroshenko also said that the Ukrainian side contacted the OSCE and the relevant orders were given to Ukrainian representatives in the Joint Center on Control and Coordination of issues related to the ceasefire regime and the stabilization of the situation at the contact line in Donbas.
Two soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were wounded and one injured in the anti-terrorist operation area in Donbas as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk told the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper.
"According to operational data, two people are wounded and another one has got a battle injury. [We recorded] 25 instances of shelling along the entire contact line at this point," Motuzianyk said.
He said earlier on Tuesday that the OSCE and the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) tried to convince the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) to establish a ceasefire regime to allow for repairs of municipal infrastructure.
Ive interviewed Jerry Willard a number of times over the years always about education-related topics. Jerry was a high school teacher, then first principal of the Newton-Conover Health and Science High School now known as Discovery High School, principal of University Christian High School in Hickory, and currently a teacher of numerous classes at UCHS. Jerrys been educating kids for 46 years.
Then I heard that Jerry raises peacocks on his rural spread in Maiden. Now, thats different, I thought. Id never talked to anyone who has peacocks. Jerry agreed to let me visit his little backyard fowl farm, impressing upon me the fact that hes relatively new at owning the famously feathered creatures that are members of the pheasant family. Jerry also has a number of hens and a fine-looking rooster named Jim.
Jerry names all his birds except the three six-month-old peachicks in the small building Jerry called the raising pen. He said hell name them, all from the Purple variety of peafowl, when it becomes clear whether they are peacocks, the correct term for male peafowl, or peahens, the accurate name for female peafowl. Jerry pointed out that even peafowl raisers with vast experience have trouble determining a peachicks sex. Thats why Bob, a peahen and Jerrys first peafowl, isnt named Roberta. Her original owner mistakenly identified her as a boy bird when she was just a small peachick.
Believe it or not, Jerrys peafowl recognize their names when he calls out to one or the other, so Bob stayed Bob after it was clear that Bob wasnt going to grow long tail feathers.
Youll know theyre a male by one year old by the size of their tail, which is called the train, Jerry explained.
Girl peafowl remain somewhat plain looking because, as Jerry stated, In the world of the peafowl, the female is the one that camouflages to protect the young.
Do peafowl fly? They dont really want to, Jerry responded. They fly to escape predators and to move to food sources.
Peafowl eat plants, worms, grubs, grasses, beetles, and various other bugs. They love mosquitoes, said Jerry, whose own birds enjoy a lot of lettuce and cabbage and grapes. Jerry supplements with store-bought grains.
As Jerry and I strolled his property along Allen Creek, following moss-covered trails that wind through trees and along the quietly bubbling stream, Jerry said hed always wanted to be a farmer. He hadnt considered peafowl until the family of sibling students came to visit Jerrys chickens one day and brought him Bob.
Since that time about five years ago, Jerrys added to his sturdy bird buildings and pens to accommodate Bob and the various peafowl Jerry acquired after Bob moved in.
Jerry said the birds cant bear cold drafts. If you block the wind, they can tolerate cold temperatures, he pointed out. Their feet are subject to frostbite. Jerry constructed wide perches so the peafowls feet remain uncurled when theyre on the resting places, thus ensuring complete coverage of the feet when the peafowl lower their warm underbodies to relax on the perches.
So what does a peafowl do all day? Mostly grooming themselves, Jerry suggested, and rolling in sand. Thats how they bathe and get rid of mites, Jerry explained. The birds also enjoy just chilling, something they feel comfortable doing when they feel secure.
Jerrys peafowl party feels safe because of the trouble Jerry went to in constructing their habitat. Theres even netting across their outdoor pen. Hed love to let them wander free, but hed be exposing them to all sorts of dangers. Jerry said hes seen bobcats, coyotes, and major owls.
There are owls down here with six-foot wingspans, Jerry exclaimed. Hes lost three chickens to owls and five to raccoons.
So, the peafowl and chickens stay in confined but comfy quarters. Occasionally, Jerry opens the peafowl pen and invites the birds to roam free. Only one male and one female have taken him up on the offer. The others wont come out, said Jerry. The two brave peafowl walk to the creek bank and then fly back to their pen.
One of Jerrys birds is solid white. His name is Artemus.
Another is Sir Jackson, who goes by Jack. Hes a Black Shoulder India Blue and the peacock thats most likely to pause whatever hes doing and look when Jerry calls his name.
Another India Blue but not a Black Shoulder is John Boy.
The two peahens that live among the boys are Bob, an India Blue and the alpha of the lot, and Billy Jean. Bob lays lots of eggs; Billy Jean is just now starting to lay. Jerry said hes eaten peahen eggs. Theyre much like chicken eggs only richer, Jerry described.
Hes hoping to breed Artemus with Billy Jean, but Artemus needs to be a little older before hes fully effective, said Jerry. Hes interested now but firing blanks. Jerrys going to build several breeding pens, one of which will be for Artemus and Billy Jean.
Jerry described the showing off his peacocks do to attract Bob and Billy Jean, saying its more than just the fanned-out tail feathers that the girls like; its also the shaking of the feathers in a vibrating fashion. It actually makes a noise, Jerry discovered.
Additionally, the peacocks will yell, said Jerry, usually during mating season or out of fear. They make good watchdogs.
Jerry plans to build runs from the chickens and peafowls houses, giving them even more safe access to his woodsy wonderland of a backyard.
Its all for my own pleasure to have an aviary, he concluded.
Share story ideas with Mary at marycanrobert@charter.net.
Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost. Thomas Jefferson said.
You are invited to read forward but with a warning that the content printed on this fragile piece of paper is not for the faint of heart. And for those unsubscribed to the newspaper, if heartened by the words that follow, consider carefully the merits of staying informed with a subscription to the Hickory Daily Record.
In stark contrast to Thomas Jefferson, President Donald J. Trump insists he is a victim in the running war with the media. Cries of fake news herald from the fast-fingered Tweets of the chief executive down to your neighbor possibly reading this right now.
"But a big portion of the media, the dishonesty, the total deceit and deception makes them certainly partially the opposition party, absolutely. I think theyre much more capable than the opposition party. The opposition party is losing badly. Now the media is on the opposition party's side," Trump said in an interview on a Christian Broadcasting Network news program.
Fake news is a serious accusation and should be troubling.
Either the news is wrong and feeds readers/viewers falsehoods to further a corrupt agenda. Or, news organizations uphold the journalistic integrity ingrained in reporters from the moment they touched pen and pad.
At the HDR, there is no greater pride than knowing a story was accurately reported and shared with the community. We are humans, however, and make mistakes, mistakes that are promptly corrected online and in print when necessary.
The Associated Press is an organization that creates content and shares thousands of other articles and photographs from partnerships with newspapers, television stations and radio stations across the country.
The HDR is part of this partnership and publishes articles from the AP daily.
The AP, so well-vetted in its integrity and commitment to journalism, has a unique style newspapers adhere to across the nation. This organization could be categorized as nothing less than an excellent source of news content when it comes to sharing facts with the world.
One such AP news article, headlined US judge bars deportations under Trump travel ban, highlights the dangerous rhetoric trumpeted by the president. A factual, news article highlights a developing event unfolding across America. Here are some responses via Facebook from readers:
Keep up the media hype HDR. Your liberal bias is showing again.
It's 100% within a presidents power. Obama did it in 2011 when he banned all Iraqis for six months. Previous presidents used it too. Read it and weep Trump haters.
Hickory Liberal Daily Record
The media hype from the HDR is sharing a fact-based story with readers. It isnt liberal bias to report the news.
The second commenter justifies the executive offices power, but hangs on to the platform that Obama did it in 2011. Sharing false information is just as dangerous as trying to invalidate creditable sources of news.
Former Obama administration official Jon Finer denied a ban during Obamas tenure, according to a Washington Post article.
While the flow of Iraqi refugees slowed significantly during the Obama administrations review, refugees continued to be admitted to the United States during that time, and there was not a single month in which no Iraqis arrived here, he wrote in Foreign Policy. In other words, while there were delays in processing, there was no outright ban.
Finally, the HDR sharing AP stories is far from favoring one political ideology or the other. It is simply facts.
The HDR does have an opinion section, and we pride ourselves on including letters, commentaries, cartoons and social media feedback from both sides of the political spectrum.
I challenge you to step outside of your political comfort zones and seek facts that oppose reinforcing world views and promote education.
Those yet to subscribe: As an introductory rate, just under $10 per month, you can read the Hickory Daily Record. You can make a difference in your social bubble you can spread facts in a world desperate to stay informed.
Subscribers: Thank you. Thank you for staying informed, and thank you for caring. In a world with social media where countless people and organizations can share falsehoods disguised as information, it is vital to have reliable news.
Jon LaFontaine is the editor of the Hickory Daily Record.
Every year around this time theres an increase in the coverage of the school privatization movement as National School Choice Week rolls around, a highly organized and well-funded effort by folks on the Right to build support for more public funding for private and religious academies and as well less regulations and accountability for charters and home schools.
North Carolina is in the middle of an expansion of taxpayer funding for the almost entirely unaccountable school voucher scheme as the budget passed by state lawmakers last year called for an annual increase in funding for opportunity scholarships every year until the state is spending $145 million a year subsidizing private schools.
The massive increase comes even as reports document the high percentage of vouchers that go to religious schools, many of which openly discriminate against LGBT students and children with gay parents.
Most of these schools also use textbooks from the A-Beka Book publisher and Bob Jones University Press that teach students all sorts of bizarre theories including that dinosaurs and humans co-existed on Earth and that gay people have no more claims to special rights than child molesters or rapists.
Vouchers schools are not even required to run criminal background checks on teachers or administer the same standardized tests as public schools, so there is no way to compare the academic achievement of the students though most national studies have found mixed results at best.
There is a growing call to demand more accountability from voucher schools and that is one of the items on the policy agenda of the Public School Forum of North Carolina that released its top 10 education issues of the year at a breakfast this week that featured an interview with Governor Roy Cooper.
The Forums entire list ought to be required reading for state lawmakers. It also includes a call for more overall funding for public schools, higher pay for teachers and principals, greater investments in early childhood programs to boost third-grade reading proficiency and a stronger focus on the role that race and poverty play in schools efforts to improve academic achievement.
Each recommendation came with supporting data and the numbers are startling when you consider them together.
North Carolina ranks 41st in teacher pay with teachers making less here than in every bordering state. Fifty-two percent of teachers in North Carolina work a second job, the third highest rate in the country.
Principal pay is 50th in the nation and the state tanks 44th in per pupil spendingwhich is down more than eight percent from pre-recession levels. There are 5,500 fewer slots in NC PreK for at-risk four year olds than there were eight years ago and more than 20,000 children languish on the waiting list for day care subsidies.
Investing in children and public schools has clearly not been a priority of the General Assembly in the past six years but tax cuts have.
The cost of the tax reductions passed since 2013 is now $1.4 billion a year with most of that going to corporations and the wealthy. When the tax cuts are fully in place, they will mean $2 billion less in revenue that could be used to raise teacher and principal pay and help at-risk four year olds.
And legislative leaders are talking about more tax cuts this year.
During an interview at the Forums breakfast for the groups television show Education Matters, Gov. Cooper told Forum President Keith Poston that it is time for different priorities and that the state should invest more in education instead of cutting corporate taxes again.
Cooper also said opposed vouchers because of the lack of the accountability in the program and believes the money is better spent improving public schools for all students.
In other words, more investments in teacher pay and school funding and early childhood programs and fewer resources for the sketchy and unaccountable voucher scheme.
Its the perfect message for School Choice Week, Cooper choosing to support public schools first, and its one that state lawmakers ought to listen closely to.
Chris Fitzsimon is the founder and executive director of N.C. Policy Watch.
I must have missed another one of President Obamas executive orders sometime after Nov. 8 declaring this years election will be a best two out of three.
Letters to the paper continue to pour in day after day trying to make a case that Donald Trump is unfit to be our president.
Getting a lot of the attention is the repealing and replacing of Obamacare.
Now I am no expert on Obamacare, but I find it interesting that early on, the Democrats wanted to call it by its real name, the Affordable Care Act while the Republicans thought it was so bad they wanted the presidents name attached to it and called it Obamacare.
Nancy Pelosi told her colleagues to vote for it before they read it, the architect of the bill, Jonathan Gruber, said the people would never go for it if they understood it and even Bill Clinton called it the craziest thing Ive ever seen.
Just a few observations that might throw up a red flag as to how good for the American people this program may or may not be. Not to mention the doctors that I have talked to that are about ready to walk away from the medical profession.
I just read Mr. Ducharmes letter to the editor from Jan. 20 that said the Republican Congress is bent on depriving 22 million Americans of medical insurance.
Last time I checked, medical insurance was not one of the rights given to us by our founding fathers.
I personally think medical insurance is a smart and prudent thing to have, but if there are people out there that dont want it, dont force it down their throats and make me pay for it.
I was also intrigued by Mr. Ducharmes alternative health insurance comment that consumption of animal protein is associated with higher risk of death.
Hes right, like a 100 percent risk. I hate to break the news, but the risk of death doesnt improve any for vegetarians.still 100 percent unless the Rapture comes first.
In closing, in fairness to Mr. Ducharme, I know there are health benefits to eating less meat and more vegetables.
If we could just get more people to understand this, the law of supply and demand would kick in and meat prices would fall dramatically and I would be able to buy more meat and save a ton of money.
Bruce Lingerfelt
Connelly Springs
Gaggle of criminals protest Trumps inauguration
If it is possible to somehow get an accurate head count of Trump's inauguration crowd, it is quite possible that there were considerably fewer than at Obama's coronations.
The people who supported Trump were Republicans, Independents and Democrats with a job and who work for a living.
Considering everything was on Friday, that's a work day for responsible people.
So most of his folks were at work doing something constructive and actually paying the tariff for the ones several blocks away. The ones that comprised the "loyal opposition" that was burning cars, breaking glass and creating mayhem and havoc.
As is the usual custom of spoiled brats having a tantrum because they can't get their way every time they whine. Even the biased mainstream media couldn't get a shot of the crowds that made them look like upstanding citizens.
The whole bunch looked like what they were. A gaggle of criminals, professional complainers and career welfare bums who all looked like they could use a shower and a shave.
It certainly seemed to be a no brainer as to which was the more pleasant and better smelling crowd with whom to mix.
Ted Smith
Hickory
The authorities have managed to maintain the minimum level of supply of heat to infrastructure facilities in the city of Avdiyivka, Ukraine's Donetsk region, which was cut off from power due to shelling in the conflict zone in Donbas, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said.
"We are keeping the heat parameters at a minimal level and we have hope that we will be able to maintain the situation and even improve it by joint efforts. I don't want to go into technical details, but as of right now the situation in the city is fully controlled," he said at a meeting of the control headquarters of the Avdiyivka military-civilian administration on Tuesday evening.
Groysman said that during the meeting all alternative scenarios of power supply to Avdiyivka were elaborated on for the purpose of maintaining activities of the city at a minimal level.
He said that the alternative power supply is already provided to the Avdiyivka city hospital, critically ill patients were evacuated and only those patients who can continue treatment at home, if necessary, remain.
"The military-civilian administration has adopted a decision to suspend the education process and it's the right decision. Over 1,000 children attended five schools. There is no mass outflow of people from the city. I issued ordered to elaborate on the possibility of the functioning of one school, where children could stay during daylight hours," he said.
The prime minister said that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has implemented all mechanisms for the enemy to stop shelling the city.
"This means that as soon as the regime of quiet is initiated, we will be able to involve all repair crews to restore the power supply in Avdiyivka as soon as possible," he said.
Groysman also said that a meeting of the government during which the issue of ensuring activities of Avdiyivka will be discussed among other things is scheduled for Wednesday, February 1.
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Pakistan leaders have always been tactically brilliant but poor long-term strategists. The move on Monday to place five Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) leaders, including its emir Hafiz Muhammad Saeed who has $10 million bounty on his head, under detention by Islamabad is a pre-emptive step aimed to counter any action by US President Donald Trump to put Pakistani nationals or people of Pakistani origin on the entry ban list.
Given that most of the Pakistani elite prefer a different passport, any US action would be disastrous for the scions of Punjabi landlords living in US, Canada, Britain or anywhere in Europe. Even though Saeed, the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was placed under a UNSCR 1267 or al-Qaeda sanctions committee within a fortnight of the attacks, the detention was for only eight months and since then has been out spewing vitriol against India without any sanction from Islamabad.
Read | LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, four aides placed under house arrest in Pakistan
Zafar Iqbal, co-founder of the LeT with Saeed, was put on a UNSCR 1267 in 2012 while other three Abdullah Ubaid of Faisalabad, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niazi of Multan are key operatives of the proscribed group that functions as the strategic arm of Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Saeed has been at the forefront of jihad in Jammu and Kashmir and on January 14 formed a new organisation called Tehreek-e-Azadi-Kashmir to handle its Indian operations. Saeed is the toast of Pakistan army generals and politicians with intelligence reports indicating time and again his close proximity to Punjab chief minister, Rawalpindi Corps commander and Lahore Corps commander. The other organisation working in tandem with the LeT is the Jaish-e-Mohammed, whose founder Masood Azhar has a new patron in the Chinese leadership with the latter blocking all Indian attempts to put the emir on the ban list.
Read | Pressure from US, China may have led to LeT founder Hafiz Saeeds house arrest
It is to the ISIs credit that it handles the LeT, which is based on Ahle-Hadis ideology, and diametrically opposite Deobandi ideology-based JeM with nimbleness and alacrity to target India depending on the global heat on each of these terrorist organisations. Both have global imprint with jihadi operatives based even the US and Britain.
Rather than use detention of LeT leaders as a tactic to deflect the heat on Pakistan as the global source of Islamist jihadists since the Afghan war, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be well advised to use this opportunity to dismantle terror networks operating in his country.
Read | They killed 30 soldiers: Hafiz Saeed says Pak mujahideen attacked Aknoor camp
That the ISI and its sponsored groups are the source of destabilisation in India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and even far-off Maldives is well known to Washington and its security agencies. It is also true that these terror networks sometimes go out of control of their handlers and play freelancers in pursuance of their rabid ideologies. Classic examples would be the JeMs Pathankot air base attack on January 1, 2016, which was planned on Christmas Day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Lahore, to the mysterious bombing in Kandahar on January 10, where five top UAE diplomats were killed. Both incidents have soured the relationship between Pakistan and the victim country.
The agenda of the Let and JeM is no different in Kashmir as they are part of the ISIs ambitious strategy to annex the Valley, and will not allow any other resolution that is brought to the table. Like the 1999 Kargil war and January 12, 2002 statement proscribing the two terror groups, Pakistani rulers have shown the same tactical ability by detaining the LeT leaders with the hope of some kudos at Capitol Hill.
Read | Saeed asks Pak govt not to forge friendship with India
But this time Sharif should think long-term unlike his bete-noire General Pervez Musharraf by using this opportunity to take action against terror networks and bring the 26/11, Pathankot and Uri attack perpetrators to justice. A stable Pakistan is in global interest, not a region that is perpetually restive and on the boil.
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As many as 156 of the 251 candidates for the February 4 Goa assembly election are crorepatis or multi-millionaires, reveals an analysis of the information furnished by candidates in their election affidavits.
The data analysis, released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Tuesday, showed that 97 per cent of candidates of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are multi-millionaires, followed by the Congress at 92 per cent and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with 52 per cent.
Ranjit Cotta Carvalho (AAP) leads the pack with the highest declared assets of over Rs 65 crore, followed by Michael Vincent Lobo (BJP) with over Rs 54 crore and Pratapsingh R. Rane (Congress) with over Rs 50 crore.
The percentage of candidates with pending criminal cases is quite low. Only 38 out of the 251 candidates (15 per cent) have declared criminal cases against them. A total of 19 candidates (8 per cent) have serious criminal charges against them.
Party-wise, most candidates with criminal cases are from the Congress (9 of 37, or 24 per cent), followed by the BJP (17 per cent) and the AAP (8 per cent).
As for candidates with serious criminal charges against them, the Congress again tops the list with 16 per cent, while for the BJP it is 8 per cent. No AAP candidate has serious criminal charges against him or her.
Polling for the 40-seat Goa assembly is slated for February 4. Counting will take place on March 11.
Driving through Majhas Panthic belt into Doaba across the river Beas and finally to Malwa past the Sutlej, the narratives one heard on the ground were varied, even conflicting.
Is the voter confused? Or in two-minds? Were we missing something out in the oft-heard: Here its the Congress... AAP is in the vicinity. The mind-bogglingly split-view was audible as much in Majhas Khadoor Sahab, Doabas Kapurthala and Malwas Ludhiana.
The one take-away from the trip was that Punjabs verdict will certainly be divided, if not fractured. To the uninitiated, that might seem anachronistic.
Here the divide denotes the possibility of Majha and Doaba going with the Congress and Malwa that has bigger legislative muscle, leaning towards the Aam Aadmi Party.
Choices differ as much at other levels: between cities and villages; youth and the middle aged-elderly; committed BJP and Akali voters. In cities, the matured urban voter including saffron supporters are betraying a pro-Congress bias. On the flip side are loud AAP backers in predominantly rural Malwa. Theres evidence of the trend theyve unleashed gaining traction across regions.
For instance, a hosiery-store owner in Ludhiana was upfront in his support of the Congress: Im a BJP man. But I know a vote for it would mean backing the Akalis or helping the AAP gain power. The rethink made sense from his standpoint. Business flourished and real estate boomed when Amarinder Singh was CM.
Read| Congress, AAP competing for anti-govt votes in Gidderbaha
In contrast, Akali renegades have no love for the Congress and the first-time voter no knowledge of Amarinders captaincy. Those whore 18 were barely eight-year-old when the Congress lost power in 2007.
Its Congress here but AAP in Punjab, replied two class 10 students at a snack-bar in Kapurthala where the Congresss Rana Gurjit is popular. They had no vote. But the word-of-mouth support of their age-group built the mood to reject the known for the untried, the new!
What then could prevent the regional and urban-rural divide from throwing up a fractured mandate? The answer perhaps is in the 2007 result when the Congress won 37 seats in Malwa but only six in Majha and Doaba. So, a victory short of a landslide in the 68-seat region isnt necessarily a ticket to Chandigarh.
A last minute surge in cities and small towns for the party perceived as capable of a majority could also defeat prospects of a hung assembly. The Badals want Presidents rule to wield power by proxy, said a Jalandhar-based trader. He said bigger transfer of the BJP vote to the Congress could obviate that possibility.
Struggling to retain ground in Malwa, the Congress, by all accounts, has a clear edge in Majha and Doaba, especially in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Jalandhar. It faces a relatively tougher battle in Malwas Ludhiana where the AAPs challenge is led by lawyer-activist H S Phoolka in tandem with the Lok Insaf Party of the battle-hardened Bains brothers.
Itll be interesting to watch whether Ludhiana that has over a dozen seats will follow urban Punjab that isnt fixated on a tradition-defying vote. The city-dwellers who despise the Akalis arent averse to the Congress unlike the rural folk rooting for AAP.
Be that as it may, the Congress would be happy if the Akalis cut their losses for the bigger the erosion of their base, the greater will be the ground captured by AAP.
Read| Punjab polls: Bikram Majithia on a hat-trick, Majitha ready for a triangular contest
Vinod Sharma is the political editor of Hindustan Times
The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration has asked the Delhi Police to intensify checking to curb smuggling of illegal liquor on February 11, when the district goes to polls in phase 1 of elections.
The district administration officials held a meeting with the district police and Delhi Police on Tuesday evening in this regard. They said smuggling of large consignments of liquor on the election day is expected and they require the assistance of Delhi Police to check bootlegging.
To ensure free and fair elections, the Election Commission, police and administration are working together since the code of conduct came into effect in the state. Our priority is to check smuggling of liquor from Delhi border, NP Singh, district magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar, said.
Incidents of liquor smuggling have increased over the last week as many political parties try to lure voters by offering them liquor, police said.
Senior superintendent of police, Dharmendra Singh, said that there has been an increase in checks and inspections of vehicles entering Noida from Delhi border by the police in view of the approaching poll day of February 11.
Usually, liquor is smuggled through these porous borders. We want strict checking of vehicles entering from Delhi border on election day so that illegal smuggling is curbed, Singh said.
Singh also emphasised on cooperation between the police personnel of Delhi and Gautam Budh Nagar to stop the liquor smuggling.
We expect the Delhi Police to also keep a tab on incidents of liquor smuggling on polling day. Officials should share their phone numbers and the progress of their inspection on polling day, Singh said.
Members of Delhi Police agreed to assist the Noida police personnel on polling day. We will ensure that Gautam Budh Nagar has the full support of the Delhi Police on the polling day, Ankit Kumar Singh, assistant commissioner of police, Mayur Vihar, Delhi, said.
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Chief spokesperson of the Ahand Kirtani Jatha RP Singh has filed a criminal defamation lawsuit against deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for the latter had called him an extremist and the outfit a frontal organisation of Babbar Khalsa International. The libel suit was filed in the district courts, Chandigarh, on Monday.
There is no case against me, no weapon was ever recovered from me. How can he say I am associated with Babbar Khalsa? he said. On Sunday, SAD president Sukhbir Badal had accused AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal of courting radical elements, citing as examples his meeting with RP Singh and his (Kejriwal) stay at the house of a former militant in Moga on Saturday.
It is a political stunt. Sukhbir has lost his mind. Ours is a religious organisation whose sole aim is dharam prachar, said 61-year-old RP Singh, a businessman, who lives in Phase 7 SAS Nagar. A qualified civil engineer, Singh had worked with the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board prior to leaving his job in 1987. For political benefit Sukhbir is maligning the name of the jatha. He is threatening people. We never ask anyone to vote for any political party, he said.
He, however, admitted that Kejriwal is his friend for whom he even did ardas when the Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Sanjay Singh had come to his house.
I had even honoured Kejriwal with a siropa, Singh said. CM Parkash Singh Badal has known me since 1992. Badal used to approach the jatha seeking votes. Did Badal then not know we are BKIs frontal organisation which Sukhbir is now accusing us of? Singh said. He said jatha has 3-lakh members, of which 2 lakh live abroad.
He said sacrilege is an issue for every person true to his religion and no Guru ka Sikh will ever spare the people responsible for it. RP Singh will not vote for the Congress that is responsible for the 1984 riots and also SAD, which is responsible for sacrilege. SAD failed to ensure law and order or take the culprits to task.
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With just five days to go for Punjab assembly polls and candidates making a beeline for Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda to get its head Gurmeet Ram Rahims, the dera is keeping the political parties guessing.
In a media interaction through video-conferencing across seven states this afternoon for the promotion of his upcoming film Hind Ka Napak Ko Jawab-MSG Lion Heart 2 on Monday, Ram Rahim said the saadh sangat (followers) of the dera would take a decision on it.
When asked that candidates were already making a beeline for his dera and claiming to have received his blessings, the dera chief said he blessed everyone who came to him. I do not support anyone. My followers do. It is for them to decide. Till now, they have not conveyed their decision to me, he said.
REJECT THOSE VISITING DERA: DADUWAL
Meanwhile, radical Sikhs have urged people to reject Sikh candidates who are visiting Ram Rahim Singh for seeking his blessings ahead of the February 4 assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference, Baljit Singh Daduwal, who was appointed parallel jathedar (high priest) of Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, during a radical Sarbat Khalsa (religious congregation of Sikhs) in Amritsar in November 2015, said the Dera Sacha Sauda chief has hurt Sikh religious sentiments. So, candidates who are making a beeline for the Sirsa dera should be opposed.
Days before Gautam Budh Nagar goes to polls, the district administration has issued a strict warning to media personnel and WhatsApp group administrators to not allow promotion of political parties without prior permission.
Gautam Budh Nagar will go to vote on February 11 and the code of conduct has been in place across the state since January. The district administration has taken notice of paid news and promotions of political parties on mobile application messenger service WhatsApp.
District magistrate N P SIngh has asked media persons to not post clippings of newspapers on public WhatsApp groups that would appear as a promotion for any candidate.
There are many WhatsApp groups active in the district, which are used by media and the police and administrative personnel.
It has come to our notice that many media personnel are posting newspaper clippings with reference to political parties or candidates. We want to inform them that the code of conduct has been declared in the state and posting paid news on any electronic medium is a direct violation of the model code of conduct, Singh said.
Kindly refrain from doing so in the coming days, else action will be taken according to the election commission guidelines on the sender and WhatsApp group administrator, he said.
Singh further said that candidates who wish to campaign on WhatsApp groups must seek prior permission from media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC).
Such people need to fill form 27 of the MCMC and then they can propagate campaign information on the mobile messenger service, the district magistrate said.
The BJP has decided to scale down Prime Minister Narendra Modis involvement in the poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh, a departure from its original plan to use its most popular face to the optimum level. BJP sources said Modi would address 14 rallies in UP-- two in each of the seven phases of elections.
The number of rallies in UPexcluding seven that he addressed before the announcement of pollsis considerably less than what he addressed in Bihar. He addressed over 30 rallies in the Bihar assembly elections in 2015.
While the strength of Bihar assembly is 243, UP elects 403 MLAs. The BJPs stakes are also higher in UP that sent 71 BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha. Besides, the results of UP elections would be seen as a verdict on the NDA governments decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1000 banknotes, although the BJP has since returned to its Hindutva agenda in the state.
The idea is not to over expose him, a BJP general secretary involved with campaign drafting said. Too much focus on Modi, party strategists say, would mean that the results would be linked with his popularity and his governments performance, even though state elections are all about local factors.
Read: PM may raise exodus issue in west UP rallies
With demonetisation and surgical strikes on terror camps across the border in Pakistan failing to weave a grand narrative for the BJP, the party has fallen back on Hindutva and caste equations.
The BJP is now banking on senior leaders from UP-- Rajnath Singh, Kalraj Mishra, Uma Bharati, and Yogi Adityanath to fire up its poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh. The party had lost Bihar to the grand alliance of the Janata Dal (United), the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress. The loss in Bihar had led to murmurs within the party about its strategy to see a mandate for Modi and the NDA governments development agenda. Unlike in Bihar, the campaign management in UP has been left to local leaders. We have taken lessons from Bihar debacle, the BJP leader said, adding, It is not being repeated in UP.
Modi had campaigned extensively in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand elections, too. But those states had gone to polls shortly after the Lok Sabha elections that had witnessed a Modi wave. The BJP seems to be coming to terms with the fact that there is ebb and flow in any wave.
Read: BJP is driven by the workers, not a mother-son party: Gadkari
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Two Ukrainian armed forces servicemen have been wounded and two others sustained other injuries as government forces' positions have been shelled in Donbas; 46 such incidents had been recorded as of 6:00 p.m., the press center of the anti-terrorist operation reported on Facebook on Tuesday evening.
"A total of 46 instances of shelling have been recorded. Two of our servicemen have been wounded and two others injured," the press center said.
In the Donetsk sector, militants fired about 100 Grad launcher rounds and also used 152mm artillery systems and tanks to shell Ukrainian armed forces' positions near Avdiyivka. Militants also used 120mm mortars to shell Avdiyivka, Opytne, and Verkhniotoretske, and grenade launchers and small arms to fire on Luhanske, it said.
In the Mariupol sector, militants used 122mm artillery systems to shell Vodyane and Berdyanske and 120mm mortars to shell Novohryhorivka, Krasnohorivka, Pavlopil, Talakivka, Novotroyitske, and Vodiane.
In the Luhansk sector, militants repeatedly fired 82mm mortars against Ukrainian government forces' positions near Krymske, Troyitske, and Novozvanivka, the press center said.
Actor Akshay Kumar might have not fared big on getting awards at popular award functions but he says he is happy getting rewards by fans and reveals that he had often been asked to lower his fees in exchange of an award.
It happens sometimes that the people from the award night call you and tell you that if you perform their then they can give half the money and give an award as well. I tell them that they can give me complete payment and keep their awards with them. My fans have never stopped giving me rewards in form of their love and support and that is what matters, says Akshay.
The 49-year-old actor was being grilled by television anchor Rajat Sharma on his show Aap Ki Adalat, where the latter cross questioned the actor on this topic.
Talking about not letting awards affect his thought process, Akshay says, I dont think this is something to be so worried about or I should lower my morale. and added in jest, Sometimes my wife (Twinkle Khanna) taunts that her parents (Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia) are National award winners but I dont get awards.
As one of the accusations, Akshay was told that he is a misfit in the industry and doesnt follow the norm of partying late or socialising like his contemporaries.
Since childhood, I have the habit of sleeping on time and waking up early and this is how it has been. Sometimes it so happens that my fellow actors are coming back from a party when I am going to the gym in the morning and we wave at each other, said Akshay when probed.
While, Akshays career has seen super hit films such as Hera Pheri, Khiladi series, Bhool Bhulaiya, Airlift and Rustom, there was a time when he experienced 16 flop films.
The actor explained his strategy of staying in the film industry.
The most important thing in this industry is that you can be an average actor but you should always be a good human being. Be professional, be a producers actor and do you work right because this industry has a big heart but if you dont take care of the industry, then I have seen people fall after reaching heights of success. If you are not professional, dont take care of your producer and do as you please, then even you will never know when the downfall will come, he says.
Akshay, in the past few months has expressed his desire to support the Indian Army and has posted his views through video messages on social media.
Asked why does he feel the need to comment on so many issues, the actor retorted by saying, I have spoken about 2 things in life. If I don;t say anything then the media says that actors never comment on anything and if I do say something, then what is wrong in that? Whatever I have said in videos is not against anyone. I dont give comments over anything and leave, instead I give a solution. I am not the person who points out mistakes on anyone.
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Gone are the days when Bollywood actors had blink-and-miss roles in films abroad. Deepika Padukone enjoyed almost as much screen time as American star Vin Diesel in the recent Hollywood film, xXx: Return of Xander Cage. Taking the baton forward are noted names such as Priyanka Chopra, Ali Fazal, Dhanush and Huma Qureshi.
Deepikas colleague and touted rival, Priyanka will be seen as the antagonist in the remake of American series, Baywatch, featuring Hollywood actors Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. I love being bad! Victoria Leeds is a different kind of villain, Priyanka had told us earlier. The actor who plays the lead in the American TV series, Quantico added: My character is evil but she makes being bad look so good! I had so much fun playing her, she had told us earlier.
Then, Ali Fazals working with veteran English actor Judi Dench in Victoria and Abdul. The films about the unexpected friendship between Queen Victoria and an Indian clerk in her court in the 1800s. It doesnt get better. Ive known about this beautiful story for ages. I cant wait to take on Judi. Shes the cherry on this wonderful pudding... The most loved woman in Britain and probably the world, he had said.
Tamil star Dhanush will be seen in the comedy, The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir Who Got Trapped In An Ikea Cupboard, alongside Kill Bill star Uma Thurman. The 33-year-old will play the role of Aja, a conjurer from India, who is sent on a secret mission by his mother to Paris. Huma Qureshi and Manish Dayal (of The Hundred-Foot Journey fame) will depict a love story of a Hindu boy and Muslim girl during partition in 1947, in Gurinder Chadhas film, Viceroys House. The film also stars Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Gillian Anderson (The X Files).
Another British film, Definition of Fear, will see Jacqueline Fernandes make her international debut with a meaty role. The film will see Jacquelines character and her three girlfriends set off to spend their weekend in a cabin.
Elated to sign my first Hollywood film @The__Fakir,directed by Marjane Satrapi. A big thank you to all for the warm wishes keeps pushing me! Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) January 28, 2016
Trade expert Atul Mohan believes that Indias talent is the primary reason why international filmmakers are casting Bollywood actors in lead roles.
Filmmakers in the West want to work with diverse cast and want to take on different stories. Indian actors have proved that they can work in all genres of movies, and thats the reason why they are in so much demand in the West. I believe its only the start and one will see more actors from Indian film industry who will work in big projects abroad, he says.
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Sonu Sood has done films in multiple languages but his next release, Kung Fu Yoga an Indo-Chinese coproduction, is his most special project. Sonu who is presenting and distributing the film in India, says that all this has been possible because of his parents blessings.
One and a half years ago, when I shared the news of this film with my father, he was extremely excited. I was happy to be working with Jackie Chan, but my father was even more excited. Unfortunately, I lost him last year. On February 7, it will be a year since he expired, and I genuinely think that all this has been possible due to his blessings. I owe it all to him, Sonu says.
The actor played host to Jackie Chan and the films director, Stanley Tong, when they were in India. His friends and family are now looking forward to the films release. However, Sonu says that he is most excited about showing the film to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the film was announced when he visited China in 2015.
This is the first one of the three Indo-Chinese films, the Chinese film regulators announced during Modis visit. I am planning to arrange a screening for him. However, with elections in February, I know everyone is busy. But Ill make it happen, he says.
#kungfuyoga journey!! @eyeofjackiechan @beingsalmankhan @amyradastur93 @dishapatani film releases 3rd Feb. #mumbai #action #adventure A video posted by Sonu Sood (@sonu_sood) on Jan 30, 2017 at 8:13pm PST
Sonu has been in the industry for over 15 years and has worked with several film-makers and actors. Though, he has done action films, Sonu says he wants to be a part of an out-and-out action film. I did Yuva (2004), Dabangg (2010), and other projects, but I want to do an action film. I was always a hyperactive kid, jumping from balconies, and performing all kinds of stunts. My friends back then would tell me that I would become an action hero. Kung Fu Yoga, too, has a lot of car chases and great action sequences. I thoroughly enjoy action, and I am waiting for someone to offer me a great action script.
Talking about working with Jackie Chan, Sonu says that the action star is always open to suggestions. He is a great listener. He understands your ideas, and is always listening to your opinion on things. The best thing about working with people like that is they know their job well. Also, they push you to give it your best.
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Days after filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was assaulted on the sets of his upcoming film Padmavati, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav invited Bhansali to shoot Padmavati in Bihar without any fear.
I invite Bollywood to come and shoot in historical, glorified, culturally rich & developing Bihar. Will extend all sorts of help all the way. If the Bhansali incident would have taken place in Bihar, there would have been endless hot debates on Jungle-raj, castiesm by elite and eminent journalists, Tejaswi said in his latest tweet in reference to the assault on Bhansali in Rajasthan last week.
I invite Bollywood to come & shoot in historical, glorified, culturally rich & developing Bihar. Will extend all sorts of help all the way Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) January 30, 2017
If Bhansali incident wud had tkn place in Bihar, thr wud had been endless hot debates on Jangalraj & Castism by elite n eminent journalists Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) January 30, 2017
Tejaswi said the shocking incident took place in the BJP-ruled state of Rajasthan. It is unfortunate, he added.
, Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) January 30, 2017
Tejaswis father and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad said if such an incident had taken place in Bihar, the pro-BJP media would have made it an issue to defame Bihar. But as it happened in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Rajasthan, they are keeping silent as if nothing has happened, Prasad said.
Bhansali was assaulted in Jaipur on the sets of Padmavati last week by members of the Rajput Karni Sena who maintained that his film distorts the story of Rajput queen Padmavati. The group has said that if he wants to resume filming, Bhansali must change the name of the movie and also allow them to see it before release.
Meanwhile, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti asked filmmakers to be cautious about not twisting the history of Hindus in the name of cinema. Filmmakers and actors should take lessons from the assault on Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Its the Indians who make the film fraternity earn their money. They cannot be allowed to hurt the sentiments of people and twist the glorious past of Hindus in the name of cinema, HJS spokesperson Ramesh Shinde said.
Bhansali was assaulted on Friday by activists of a Rajput organisation at Jaigarh Fort in Rajasthan when he was shooting for the historical drama. The activists were angry over distortion of Rajput history and especially the portrayal of queen Padmavati or Padmini.
Shinde said people in Mathura have objected to script of Akshay Kumar-starrer Toilet - Ek Prem Katha as it belittles the glorious tradition of the sacred city.
Right before my pooh bani Parvati moment with my main squad .In between shots #toiletekpremkatha .This one is special pic.twitter.com/1JblEsGaNa bhumi pednekar (@psbhumi) November 24, 2016
The Censor board too should take cognisance of the sentiments of people, he said.
Shinde proposed that filmmakers should have a dialogue with leaders of community they want to make film on so that there is no opposition and they should give in writing they will not depict anything in mythology that is not true
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Professionally, Sonam Kapoor has had a great 2016. She grabbed many awards for her gritty performance in her last years release, Neerja. Personally, too, the actor seems to be in a happy space. While Sonam has always maintained that she wont talk about her personal life, her social media feed was filled with pictures of her travel getaways. Giving her company in some of them was rumoured beau, Delhi based entrepreneur, Anand Ahuja, along with her sister, Rhea, and other close friends.
Sonam, however, refuses to talk about her relationship status. I have nothing to hide. I just dont believe in discussing it. I have never spoken about my personal life but I never hide it either. The people, who should know, already know. Who I am dating is not a big deal. I dont understand why it should be. Id rather not be in the news for my personal life. I dont want people to gossip about me, says the actor.
But what about rumours that she is reportedly ready to tie the knot? Honestly, it doesnt matter to me. I dont get into clarifying anything at all. People speculating about my personal life is something I am used to.
A photo posted by sonamkapoor (@sonamkapoor) on Dec 8, 2016 at 11:49am PST
Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma and Sonam Kapoor all of them had a great 2016 with all their films working wonders at the box-office. However, Sonam says that competition is an inevitable part of the industry and remains unfazed. She says that she would father focus on herself than keeping a tab on what other actors are up to.
I dont like pulling other people down to pull myself up. You need to have some integrity and that earns you a lot of respect. I dont believe I am in the race. Im here to work and make my choices. If you want to succeed, you need to focus on yourself, says Sonam.
A photo posted by sonamkapoor (@sonamkapoor) on Nov 24, 2016 at 4:30pm PST
Its a norm these days for young celebrities to move out of their parents houses to live by themselves, but Sonam Kapoor doesnt plan to move away from home. In fact, the actor, who bought herself a place in 2015 in Bandra-Kurla Complex, has decided against moving out because she is so used to living with her parents and sister, Rhea Kapoor.
She says, I get a lot of privacy at home. I got myself a house, but I didnt move out because I love living here. I dont want to come home to an empty house. So many of my friends, Swara (Bhaskar), Huma (Qureshi) and Jacqueline (Fernandez), all live away from their families and miss home terribly. Whenever we talk, they tell me how difficult it is to live in a different city away from their families. They all want me to stay at home, and I agree with them. I love it here.
@mitalivakil @nimishshift @thehouseofpixels @rheakapoor A photo posted by sonamkapoor (@sonamkapoor) on Oct 27, 2016 at 6:56am PDT
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One of the most hotly anticipated books of the year is the debut novel by short story writer George Saunders, and the audiobook, due out alongside the book on February 14.
Lincoln in the Bardo is set in 1862, less than a year into the American Civil War, as President Lincolns 11-year-old son Willie lays gravely ill. The boy died days later, and according to newspaper reports a grief-stricken Lincoln returned to his crypt several times.
Saunders tale, based on that historical truth, takes the story into a supernatural realm, as Willie finds himself in a strange purgatory where ghosts mingle, gripe, commiserate, quarrel, and enact bizarre acts of penance, according to the books publisher, Penguin Random House.
The book takes its title from the transition state known in Tibetan tradition as the bardo.
Both dark and humorous, Lincoln in the Bardo is told in a form that, according to the publisher, deploys a kaleidoscopic, theatrical panorama of voices to ask a timeless, profound question: How do we live and love when we know that everything we love must end?
This theatrical, multi-voice story lends itself to the audio form, and the audiobook will be a star-studded feat, featuring a 166-strong cast.
Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Carrie Brownstein, Miranda July, Lena Dunham, Jeffrey Tambor, Don Cheadle, Patrick Wilson and Ben Stiller can all be heard, as can Rainn Wilson, Jeff Tweedy, Kat Dennings, Bill Hader and Keegan-Michael Key.
Lincoln in the Bardo releases in physical, digital and audio on February 14.
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Continued concerns over new H1-B visa regulations set stock prices of information technology companies tumbling down by 9% on Tuesday, a day before finance minister Arun Jaitely is scheduled to present the union budget.
The fall in stock prices are a result of growing investor discomfort with the newly proposed bill in the US that aims to rework the H1-B visa programme, under Donald Trumps presidential regime.
The new bill will adversely impact the hiring plans of Indian technology firms, which have grown over the past three decades as a large number of American companies outsourced the non-core IT work at cheaper cost to Indian tech firms that helped in building the $160 billion Indian IT industry.
Shares of Tata Consultancy Services plunged by 5.46% to touch an intra-day low of Rs 2,206.55 on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Infosys lost 4.57% to Rs 905, and Wipro went down by 4.11% to Rs 445.55. Tech Mahindra fell by 9.68% to Rs 426 and HCL Technologies declined by 6.25% to Rs 787.20.
The IT index on the Bombay Stock Exchange initially fell by 4.83% to touch an intra-day low of 9401.85. Though, it picked up to 9547.53 later in the day.
The H1-B visa has been an ongoing debate in the US, as Trump feels that it has taken away a lot of US jobs over the past many years.
His views are clear that many of these jobs should come back to his citizens. America will start winning again, winning like never before. We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams, Trump said during his 16 minutes inaugural address from the Capitol.
In another speech he had said, I will direct the department of labor to investigate all abuses of visa programmes that undercut the American worker, Trump had said in one of his speeches.
The Indian IT sector is heavily dependent on North America for its revenues. Around 60% of Indias software exports are made for North America, said Alka Dhingra, Assistant General Manager TeamLease Services.
Many feel that Trump will overhaul the work-visa programme, which will make it expensive for the companies to import Indians at a comparatively lower cost than that of an average American. The difference can go up to 30% to 40% in some cases.
A legislation has already been introduced in the US House of Representatives. It proposes at doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to $130,000, which will make it almost needless to prefer an Indian over an American.
(With inputs from PTI)
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Tension gripped Mirchpur in Hisar district after upper-caste villagers assaulted a Dalit and his relatives on Monday night.
A large number of police personnel, headed by superintendent of police Rajendra Kumar Meena and deputy commissioner Nikhil Gajraj, were deployed to prevent violence from erupting in the area.
Sources said it all began when Shiv Kumar, a Dalit, won a 1,600-metre-race held at the village on Monday. The same night, he was participating in a bicycle race when a few members of the Jat community started heckling him. Kumar retaliated, and a scuffle broke out .
In his complaint, Kumars father Ajmer Singh said relatives who tried to come to the victims aid were also assaulted.
When police were alerted to the possibility of an impending clash between the two communities, they arrived at the spot in large numbers. Meena and Gajraj assured Dalit agitators that action would be taken against those behind the assault.
The people injured in the clash were taken to the civil hospital in Hisar for treatment.
This is not the first time Mirchpur has witnessed friction between the two communities. On April 21, 2010, 70-year-old Tara Chand and his physically challenged daughter Suman (16) were burnt alive when a mob of upper-caste members torched 18 houses in the village. As many as 52 people were injured in the incident.
The government should not have withdrawn paramilitary forces from the village. We demand that the government ensure the safety and security of Dalit villagers, and rehabilitate those affected in the 2010 violence, said Rajat Kalsan, a Dalit activist.
The past three months have been incredibly hectic for Sachin Gurjar. The 26-year-old has put in long hours campaigning for his elder brother Manveer Gurjar on social media and on the streets of the national capital region.
Sachin isnt the only one. Manveers entire family and friends pulled out all stops to ensure his victory in the current season of Bigg Boss, tirelessly going from door to door and posting minute-by-minute updates on dedicated social media pages.
Their core team consists of five people -- hardware businessman Sachin, his elder brothers, Shekhar and Azad, friend Mithun Singh Rana and Manveers fan from Agra Vansh Thakur.
The Noida-based men like to call themselves manveer-ians and they have been running pages on Facebook, twitter and Instagram, gathering support base for Manveer.
We have over 35,000 likes on Facebook, 40,000 followers on Twitter and a similar number on Instagram. It was difficult in the beginning as Manveer had an extremely humble background. But slowly, we started noticing support for him across the country. It was then on November 2 that we decided to run a sustained campaign on social media, says Sachin.
But the campaign was not just limited to social media.
We distributed pamphlets in Noida, pasted posters on autos and put up hoardings in market places. We wanted to ensure that people of Noida identify their representative, says Shekhar.
Villagers of Aghapur celebrating Manveer Gurjars Bigg Boss success. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)
Slowly, the campaign spread from Noida to other places in the NCR such as Faridabad, Gurgaon, Greater Noida and then to towns in the western UP belt such as Saharanpur, Meerut and other states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
People started sending us videos in support of Manveer. They were struck by his natural charm. We received a call from Vansh from Agra who is a diehard fan of Manveer. He says that he finds his voice in Manveers. Such was the support of the people, says Sachin.
Manveer Gurjars campaign was not just limited to social media. The team put up hoardings in Delhi-NCR and also distributed pamphlets to gain public support. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)
Today, the manveer-iaans receive mails and messages from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and even African countries such as Tanzania.
We started our campaign focussing on the Gurjar community and Noida residents but slowly we realised that Manveers simplicity has hit the right note with people across countries. We received messages from Pakistan where people said that they can totally relate with him, says Sachin.
Manveer is expected to return to his village on Tuesday morning, where he will be given a grand welcome by the residents of Aghapur. And Manveer-ians have already started the preparations for the much-awaited event.
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Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the IED bomb blasts at Maur on Tuesday night was a direct result of the nexus between the AAP and radical elements. Three persons, including a Congress worker, were killed and seven injured in the twin blasts.
We have been asking the Election Commission to take note of the manner in which AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal is mingling with extremist forces. Tuesdays bomb blast proves that our apprehensions were correct and that radical elements have infiltrated into Punjab in league with the AAP, deputy chief minister Sukhbir, who holds the home affairs portfolio, said in a press statement.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh said the blast was a conspiracy against the Congress. The incident, he said, proved his worst fears that armed criminals and goons had been let loose by rival parties in a desperate bid to scuttle the Congress ride to a win in the February 4 elections.
Amarinder demanded further strengthening of security in poll-bound Punjab, saying the situation was volatile with the entry of AAP-sponsored outsiders escalating tensions triggered by reports of criminal gangs being given a free hand by the Badal government to create mayhem during the polls.
Reminder of militancy days
Sukhbir said the manner in which the blasts were staged was also a hallmark of blasts done during the days of terrorism: It has been reported that there were twin ED devices and that the scooter and car used for the attack sported fake numbers and even the numbers of their chassis and engine had been struck off.
It would be best to watch the activities of undesirable elements who have entered the state in the name of canvassing for AAP. These people are being funded to foment trouble in the state. If they are not nipped in the bud there could be more such incidents, he said, expressing his condolences to the families of the three persons who have lost their lives in the tragic incident.
Amarinder too urged the Election Commission to deploy additional central security forces in the state to ensure peaceful polls. The Naxal-Khalistani nexus promoted by Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has transformed the state into a tinderbox waiting to explode, said the former CM, expressing fears of more violence in the run-up to the elections on Saturday.
The UN Security Council will consider on Tuesday, January 31, behind closed doors the escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine, according to the UN Radio.
"At the request of the Ukrainian delegation, the UN Security Council will consider today behind closed doors the situation in Ukraine's east," the UN Radio wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, lawmakers of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction, Head of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE Volodymyr Ariev said that Ukraine will initiate urgent debate in the UN Security Council on the situation in Avdiyivka, Donetsk region.
In turn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Paruby and a group of Ukrainian lawmakers in an open letter to the parliaments of the world on the situation in Avdiyivka noted that eight Ukrainian soldiers died two days from the Russian arms and another 26 were injured.
We cant say he didnt warn us. In November, shortly after Donald Trump won the election, and amid fears (well-founded, it turns out) that the new President would lead an assault on much that is good about America, Barack Obama signalled that he would not be observing the omerta expected of former occupants of the White House. If there were issues that went to core questions about our values and ideals, and if I think that its necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, Ill examine it when it comes, he said.
This was a bad idea when he first said it, and it is a bad idea now that he has kept his word. In a statement just issued 10 days after hed changed homes, Obama said he was heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country, adding that this is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake. The most charitable thing to say about this departure from the norm is that Obama was responding to a growing clamour in some quarters of the US for him to speak out on the many outrages perpetrated by the man who now occupies his former address.
Read: President Trump fires acting attorney general for defying Muslim ban, names successor
But while there can be no doubt that American ideals desperately need defending from the relentless attacks by the Trump administration, Obama should have stayed out of the fight. This is not merely a matter of decorum or courtesy, although those are important considerations: Obamas own predecessor, George W Bush, displayed both by refraining from second-guessing or criticising him, not even when provoked by criticism of his policies. Just as important, Obama should have keep his counsel because his speaking up will have opposite effect from the one intended by his admirers. It will inevitably politicise the debate, and thus reduce its importance.
Read: US President Trump likely to issue executive order to limit H1-B visas
After all, it is hard to ignore the fact that the former President chose to issue his statement only after Trump had claimed that his new Muslim ban on Muslims from seven countries (Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen) is similar to restrictions Obama had introduced in 2011: With regard to comparisons to President Obamas foreign policy decisions, as weve heard before, [Obama] fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion. This suggests the statement was aimed at defending, not American values, but something Obama values more dearly his record.
Read: By feuding with intelligence agencies, Trump is putting the world in harms way
Yet another reason to have kept mum is that his expression of concern now exposes the former President to the charge of hypocrisy, especially on the matter of the travel ban. Critics would point out, correctly, that if Obama had, while still President, done more than merely speak up on Syria and Yemen, for instance matters might not have come to this sorry pass.
For Obama, silence would have been both polite and politic. But for many other American politicians who have not been heard from most of them of the Republican persuasion playing dumb is dangerous to their country, and (perhaps they will care more about this) damaging to their careers. As I write this, over 250 of the nearly 300 Republicans in the US Congress have taken no official position on the travel ban. This is rank cowardice. To be sure, some Republicans, such as Speaker Paul Ryan, have welcomed the ban, on the dubious grounds that it will keep the US safe. Only a handful, like the veteran Senators John McCain and Linsey Graham, have criticised it, only to be accused by the President of looking to start World War III.
The Democrats, as you might expect, have been more vociferous, with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issuing the most telling broadside, on Twitter: As a New Yorker, I am a Muslim. I am a Jew. I am Black. I am gay. I am a woman seeking to control her body. Something of a surprise is the fact that so many American corporations, which usually try to play it politically safe, have come out strongly against Trumps policies. This is not only true of the many companies, especially in the technology sector, whose rosters are full of foreigners. From Starbucks (which has pledged to hire 10,000 refugees) to AirBnB (which has offered free housing), companies that have nothing obvious to gain from taking a position against Trump have done so.
More reassuring still were the voices of the judges of four federal courts in New York, Boston, Seattle and Alexandria, Virginia who have ordered stays on Trumps executive order. More are expected in the coming days.
But it is those, especially those elected to lead, who have said nothing at all who merit the closest attention. This is no time for reticence: The Trump administration has already moved against Muslims, and its stated goals also menace women (on reproductive rights), African-Americans (on voting rights), and gays (on marriage rights). Its attitude toward Jews is amply summed by the fact that the White House left them out of a statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day and then defended itself by claiming, disingenuously, that this was because the Nazis killed other people, too.
To remain mute in the face of such bare-faced bigotry is reprehensible, and it will carry a high political cost. Americans, individuals as well as organisations, are keeping tabs of whos saying what at this critical moment in their nations history. The politicians who fail to lead now will not be able to dissimulate later. Remember how, in 2008, Hillary Clinton was unable to talk her way out of the fact that she had voted for Bushs war on Iraq and how Obama, who had opposed the war, was able to use this to his advantage? In the not-too-distant future, Republicans will win or lose elections based on what they are saying (or not saying) now.
Bobby Ghosh is editor-in-chief of Hindustan Times
Twitter: @ghoshworld
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Dressed in smart formals, this 73-year-old spoke fluent English and convinced people of his contacts in the Ministry of External Affairs.
Promising to get them government jobs on different positions, he charged a commission of Rs 20 lakh from each client. To make his story believable, he had rented an office in Indra Prakash building in Barakhamba Road, Connaught place, and had also employed a woman assistant and a peon.
His impressive personality fooled many, as people often fell into his trap. After duping over 10 persons of lakhs of rupees, the 73- year-old man finally landed in the police net on January 30.
Read: A conman with a nose for news
Moinuddin Chaudhary, a proclaimed offender who has a bounty of R 25,000 on his head, had worked as a peon with the Ministry of External Affairs in the early 1980s and fooled people by boasting about his connections. He, along with his associate Deboshree Chakraborty, allegedly duped several persons using this modus operandi.
The matter came to notice in September 2014 after one Chand Sharma approached the police and complained that three persons cheated him of R 30 lakh. The men, he complained, had promised to get a government job for his son and other relatives. The job was, however, not provided and the money was not returned. A case was then registered after inquiry.
During investigation, efforts were made to trace Chakraborty and his associate but they were absconding. They were also not available at the given addresses. Police teams tried to trace them but were unable to get any clue. For two-and-a-half years, Chakraborty and his associate successfully evaded arrest. A bounty was then declared on them.
Read: Conmen bankers using demonetisation for online fraud in Delhi
With the help of local sources, Chakraborty was nabbed from northeast Delhi on January 13. The team then started searching for Chaudhary. During investigation, we received information that Chaudhary has five kids who study in a private school in GTB Enclave area. Working on this the lead, we searched him in a nearby locality and also laid secret watch on school in GTB Enclave, said Ajit Kumar Singla, DCP northeast.
On January 30, the police finally received a tip-off that Chaudhary will go to his childrens school to pick them up. A trap was laid and he was apprehended.
During questioning, it was found that Chaudhary, who hails from Assam, worked with Ministry of External affairs as peon for about six years in 1980s. He even worked as waiter with Hotel Ambassador in Khan Market and Akbar Hotel, apart from restaurant like Kake Da Dhaba in Connaught Place, Singla said.
Read: Mumbai woman cheated by imposter posing as US Army official on Facebook
He also disclosed that he used to charge R 20 lakh per candidate, out of which he took R10 lakh as advance and remaining 10 lacs were to be paid after getting the job.
In the case that was reported in September, the complainant paid a total of R 30 lakh in cash to him and Chaudhary. When the job could not be arranged, the complainant started asking his money back and when the matter was reported to police, they both changed their address and mobile numbers.
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The Delhi Congress on Tuesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party of stalling developmental projects in Delhi.
At a convention of party workers on Tuesday, state unit chief Ajay Maken said that people are fed up of the misrule of BJP and AAP, and they would vote Congress back to power in three municipal corporations of Delhi (MCDs).
People of Delhi are fed up with the 10-year misrule of the BJP in the three MCDs and the two-year misrule of the AAP in the national capital as developmental works in Delhi have come to a halt, he said.
Maken also released a booklet containing what it as dubbed the chargesheet against AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, titled Kejriwal ke Bhrashtachar, Mauj Kare Rishtedar.
Read: A month ahead of MCD polls, Delhi to host the first ever Bhojpuri film festival
The booklet details alleged corruption indulged in by close relatives of the chief minister. The Congress workers will start making door-to-door campaigns and distribute the booklets. They will explain the failures of BJP and AAP to the people. Congress would make a forceful comeback in Delhi, as the people want the party to come back to power, he said, claiming that the Congress will return to power in the MCDs with huge majority.
The bye-elections from 13 MCD wards of which the Congress won five showed how people were eager to see the Congress back in power, as none of these wards were earlier held by the party. Both the BJP-ruled MCDs and the AAP-ruled Delhi government have become dens of corruption; both parties have let down the people of Delhi with false promises, Maken said.
Read: Perils of social media: Nagaland girl befriends Delhi trafficker on Facebook, rescued just in time
AICC in-charge of Delhi PC Chacko, former Delhi MPs Sajjan Kumar, Mahabal Mishra, and Ramesh Kumar, and other senior party members were also present on the occasion.
Senior Congress leader Chacko said that under the leadership of Maken, the Congress is set to return to power in the national capital.
They would crash weddings, befriend relatives, stay with them throughout the celebrations pretending to help them with the arrangements and escape with all the jewellery and cash from the mandap.
The Delhi Police arrested five members of the alleged gang that targeted only weddings from Madhya Pradesh. They have also apprehended a juvenile appointed by the gang to move around and get acquainted with the relatives and gain their trust.
This 16-year-old boy, the police said, was bought by the gang for R 2 lakh on contractual bondage from his mother.
According to the police, the men Gokul Prasad, 30; Sawant Sisodiya,19; Lakhan Sisodiya, 27; Abhishek Sisodiya, 25; and Vikas Sisodiya, 25 have allegedly committed over 100 thefts from wedding venues in Delhi, NCR towns, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh. With the arrest, the police have solved 15 cases of theft.
The matter came to the notice of the police after several cases of theft of valuables from banquet halls and farmhouses hosting wedding events were reported. In some cases, the CCTV footage provided glimpses of the suspects. Since these complaints were being received regularly from posh areas of south Delhi, a special team was tasked to track suspected persons, DCP South, Ishwar Singh said.
The police team analysed footage and deployed sources at banquet halls, farmhouses to gather intelligence about the movement of the suspects.
It was found that in all cases, a minor was seen committing the theft while his associates, took all precautions and made arrangements on how to safely escape, Singh said.
It was also revealed that the crime was committed after the gang invested considerable time at the venues. The thieves were not in a hurry. They did all the required homework before entering the venue. They mingled with the crowd and gradually, gained proximity with the families involved in the marriage. The juvenile would sit next to the bride or the groom during late night rituals, Singh said.
He added, As the family used to get emotional about the bride leaving, in one clean sweep, the juvenile would target purses, bags that had cash and gifts and vanish from the scene, he added.
During questioning the gang disclosed that while stolen vehicles were used as getaway vehicles, a registered car shadowed them in case they were caught. The Maruti Swift with all necessary documents was provided to the gang members by a syndicate senior of Rajgarh, MP. The police also recovered a pistol made in Czech Republic along with seven live cartridges.
During questioning we also found that the juvenile was hired by the gang on a contract of bondage whereby his mother was paid a sum of Rs 2 lakh. An iqrarnama to this effect was also executed between the syndicate and the boys mother. This illegal and inhuman contract has also been recovered from the mother. Legal opinion is being sought for initiating appropriate action in this matter separately, Singh said.
Police also found out that the gang had kept some staff of reputed banquet halls, farmhouses on their informal payroll who used to pass on information to them about the event schedules and the profiles of the hosts and the guests who were to attend marriage ceremonies at those venues.
In a scene reminiscent of the iconic film Godfather, CCTV footage from several cameras shows jailed gangster Manjeet Mahals father buying vegetables from a vendor outside his house in Najafgarhs Mitraon village at the time of the incident.
Seventy-year-old Shri Kishan can be seen with domestic help Mukesh when four-five assailants arrive in a Scorpio. As the men fire several shots, Kishan and Mukesh duck for safety.
Mukesh jumps into the fields nearby but Kishan is caught in the fire. Two men then emerge from the car and fire a few more rounds at Kishan, killing him on the spot. Police said 15-20 rounds were fired in the attack.
The shooting on Sunday had lead to heightened tension in the region. Following the incident, the police had decided to provide security to the relatives of jailed criminals in Najafgarh.
Read: Delhi gang war: Police to provide security to kin of jailed criminals in Najafgarh
The police have scanned footage from at least six CCTV cameras installed at the gate and front wall of Mahals home. However, they have not been able to identify the five assailants as the footage was not clear. Only one suspect has been identified so far on the basis of the statement of Mukesh. The suspect has been identified as Ankush alias Bholu, a member of the Jyoti-Kapil Sangwan gang that is alleged to be behind the killing.
We have interrogated scores of suspects and detained about a dozen people. The main killer has been identified and the rest are his friends. We hope to make the arrests soon, said Rishi Pal, DCP (outer), on Tuesday.
CCTV footage: How gangster Mahals father was shot point blank in Delhi
Mahal is currently in Tihar Jail after being arrested last December for allegedly masterminding the murder of ex-MLA, Bharat Singh, two years ago. While Singhs brother, gangster-turned-councillor Krishan Pehalwan, was initially suspected to be behind the attack, police later zeroed down on the Jyoti-Kapil Sangwan gang as the killers.
Read: Perils of social media: Nagaland girl befriends Delhi trafficker on Facebook, rescued just in time
The bloody rivalry began in December 2015 when Mahal and his associates had allegedly gunned down the brother-in-law of Jyoti alias Baba. Since then, the rival gang has killed four persons known to Mahal. Otherwise, the notorious village of Mitraon has already witnessed more than 60 deaths in gang wars over the last two decades.
The CCTV cameras installed outside the victims house have helped us confirm the exact sequence of events, but the footage quality is not good enough to identify any of the killers, said a senior police officer. The footage helped recognise the number plate on the Scorpio car, but even that turned out to be a fake.
Read: Delhi to Haryana in 45 min as Centre plans water taxis on Yamuna from June
The burglary at Gangoly Brothers, one of Delhis oldest watch showrooms, is reminiscent of the burglary at Cooke & Kelvey watch shop in Connaught Place from where over 100 Rolex watches worth over Rs 5 crore were stolen in September 2014.
The two burglaries at watch showrooms have several similarities. First, in both the cases the police have been unable to ascertain the identity of the thieves and the two crimes have remained unsolved till date. Second, the modus operandi of the thieves who made off with over 600 high-end and antique timepieces of international brands such as Rolex, Rado Seiko, Guess, Omega, Victorinox, Longines, Fossil, with price ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7 lakh, from Gangoly Brothers shop, was similar to that of thieves who burgled Cooke & Kelvey showroom. Both the shops are located around Connaught Place.
In both the burglaries, the shutter was lifted halfway from the centre using iron rods and jacks. The lever and the locks on the two ends of the shutter were intact. The shutter was lifted only to a height that would allow a child or a thin man to crawl inside, an investigating officer said.
Another similarity between the two thefts is that the thieves only took away costly and branded timepieces and did not touch any low cost watches. This has made the investigators believe that it was the handiwork of a professional gang and watch experts.
When we reached the spot, we found that the shutter had been lifted halfway. Nothing was broken. The lever and the lock were intact. The owner of the showroom told us that someone must have slipped a spade beneath the shutter and opened it and sent in a kid as it was too narrow for a grown up person, an officer said.
The owner of Cooke & Kelvey confirmed to HT that there had been no breakthrough in his case and the probe is still on. Since all stolen watches were insured, the insurance company compensated for our losses. Who committed the burglary at our shop has remained a mystery, the owner said.
BK Singh, deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), said they have registered a case in connection with the burglary at Gangoly Brothers showroom and their teams have been working at it.
An officer privy to the probe said that they scanned the CCTV camera footage of a nearby bank and ATM booth and found that five persons were involved in the crime. The five were all adults and they used iron rods and jacks to lift the shutter.
The faces of the suspects were not clear in the footage. We are trying our best to identify them by using our criminal intelligence network. Similar crimes occurred in the past will also be examined and involvement of gangs who use similar modus operandi will also be probed, the officer said that they were also examining data of mobile phones that were active in the area at the time of the crime on Friday night. The total loss was estimated over Rs 1.35 crore.
At the time of the robbery, the CCTV camera at the Gangoly Brothers showroom was turned off and the shop did not have an emergency alarm system in place. Investigators said that they also suspect involvement of an insider, as only a person, who was aware of the security lapses could carry out the theft with such precision.
The showroom has 15 employees, including a manager but except one or two all are old and trusted staff, claim Dinesh Baroda, onwer of Gangoly Brothers. His son Mayank Barodia said that whoever stole the watches will not be able to sell them to any authorised watch shops in Delhi-NCR, as their original bills and boxes were left in the shop.
The watches can be sold lose and at smaller shops in other states where customers may not ask for the original bill, said Mayank.
Located close to Regal Building at the outer circle, Gangoly Brothers was selling watches even before Independence. Talking about the legacy of their business, Barodia said, post Independence, Gangoly Brothers became the first watchmakers to first President Dr Rajendra Prasad, who gave them the appointment letter himself. We became partners of Gangoly Brothers in 1980 and eventually took over as the shop owner in 1984.
In an environmentally conscious approach, the Centre is planning to use debris and sediments gathered from dredging the river Yamuna for the construction of roads in Delhi and NCR.
A feasibility report is to be conducted in this regard, after which an arrangement will be made with National Highway Authority of India and the Public Works Department, said a senior official of the ministry for road transport, highways and shipping.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will be allowed to dredge the Delhi part of Yamuna to run a ferry service. Disposing of the excavated material has been a major cause of concern for authorities, and hence, they planned to explore avenues to make best use of it.
Read: Inspired by Beijing, railways going green to improve Delhis first look
Dredging of Yamuna is mandatory because a certain depth is required for smooth navigation of the ferry. However, disposing of sediments and debris from the river is one of the issues to be addressed. One suggestion has been that it may be used for construction of roads. After a proper research, the material will be used for road construction in Delhi and NCR, said the official, adding that testing will be done to ascertain whether this will have any impact on environment.
Experts say that apart from road construction or riprap, the dredged material can be used for manufacturing of bricks, ceramics, and concrete.
It may be useful for restoration or nourishment of aquatic and wetland environments, said an expert. The dredged material is composed of silt, clay, sediments, and organic matters.
Read: Wedding guests who robbed people of cash and jewellery busted in Delhi
Environmentalists expressed doubts over governments intention saying that the move seemed to benefit sand miners. We fought for years so that river sand extraction could be banned. Now, they have reinvented the term for sand mining, and call it dredging. There is huge difference between removing silt and dredging. The move aims to favour contractors, said Rajendra Singh, water conservationist and a Magsaysay awardee.
Another environmentalist, Manoj Misra, said that dredging disturbs the aquatic system of the river and is a threat to its embankment. It will disturb the ecosystem along river Yamuna. It should not be done. Instead, the authorities should work to ensure adequate water availability in the river, said Misra, who is also the convener of Yamuna Jive Abhiyaan.
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The Arvind Kejriwal government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it was not seeking full statehood for Delhi but more administrative powers.
Opening its arguments in the case where it has challenged the Delhi High Court verdict giving all administrative powers to the Lieutenant Governor, the AAP government said a democratically elected government cant be subservient to the L-G.
It is inconceivable that in a cabinet form of government, you have a titular head who is not accountable but interposes himself on every decision, senior advocate Gopal Subramanium told a bench of Justice AK Sikri and justice RK Agrawal.
A power tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre ensued soon after AAP came in power. The confrontation subsided after the high court last year declared the L-G as Delhis administrative head and said he was not bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers.
Read: Perils of social media: Nagaland girl befriends Delhi trafficker on Facebook, rescued just in time
The Delhi government has filed several petitions challenging the verdict.
Telling the court that the L-G can always remand a decision by the council of ministers for reconsideration, Subramaniam said the question before the court was whether, in the exercise of his discretion, he can nullify a decision taken by the council of ministers.
Referring to the constitutional provisions, Subramaniam asked the top court to lay down the law on whether the L-G can interpose on every decision of a council of ministers of a democratically elected government.
The senior counsel pointed to the constitutional practice followed in other states and at the Centre. He said the president or governors were bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers. He wondered if an L-G in Delhi could have more powers than those exercised by the governors.
Read: Jailed Delhi couple ran prostitution ring from Tihar, girl they trapped rescued
You can have special provisions for Delhi. You cant have special form of cabinet government where one council of ministers sits over the decisions of another council of ministers, he argued , assailing the HC judgement, which he said was a step backward from the top courts position.
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New English medium schools, installation of CCTV cameras in various localities, diagnostic and health check-up centres, exempting residential properties measuring up to 41.81 sq metre of tax and reduction of conversion charges were some of the proposals made in the East Delhi Municipal Corporations (EDMC) budget for 2017-18.
However, with a current budgetary deficit of over R2,000 crore, the announcements which may require hundreds of crores to implement, may not see the light of the day. Ever since its inception in 2012, when the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trifurcated, the east civic body has been running in losses.
Not only it has failed to take up new projects and implement programmes announced in respective budgets, the corporation has failed to ensure timely payment of salary to its staff. Sanitation workers and other staff have gone on strikes five times in the past couple of years over non-payment of salaries.
EDMC is yet to pay three months (November- January) salary to employees from Grade A to C and one month salary to sanitation workers.
Read: MCD strike in east Delhi called off, sanitation workers finally agree to lift garbage
It might be the upcoming municipal elections in Delhi which could explain the reason behind the largesse for the people that the civic body has announced on empty pockets. Elections to the three municipal bodies are expected to be held in April. The BJP rules all the three bodies and is trying every trick to make sure it retains its hold on the civic bodies.
The civic bodies are akin to the state government, enjoying almost similar powers, if not more, over 90 per cent of the area in the Capital. They administer the most basic amenities to the people and this is why are politically significant.
EDMC standing committee chairman Jitendra Chaudhary presented the budget on Monday. Besides the property tax exemption, he announced reduction of conversion charges from Rs 192 to Rs 100 per square metre.
The proposed budget will be discussed and finalised in the EDMC House with amendments on February 14.
Chaudhary announced opening two diagnostic centres and development of a health check-up kit. Two diagnosis centres would be developed on Public Private Partnership mode in east Delhi. In addition to this, collection centres would be developed at each dispensary of the corporation, said Chaudhary
Read: Cash-strapped EDMC never rose to its feet after trifurcation
Heart check-up centres would be developed and health check-up kit would be made available at primary health centres and polyclinics of the corporation for diagnosis of heart-related diseases, he said.
For the development of property over an area between 106 square metre to 500 square metre, the corporation has also proposed to do away with the requirement of an approved building plan.
Property owners can get the building plan passed from their architect and inform the corporation, said Chaudhary.
Following the announcement by the North Corporation, EDMC has also proposed to construct at least one toilet block exclusively for women and differently-abled in each ward. Chaudhary also emphasised on provision for mobile toilet in east Delhi to make the area free from open defecation and improve sanitation
Other important proposals included installation of CCTV cameras in all primary schools, opening of two more citizen service bureaus in Khichripur and Karawal Nagar, English medium schools in each of 64 municipal wards, and teaching centres in municipal schools.
Regarding the issue of sanitation, he said an application will be introduced that would include details of all dhalaos and auto-tippers.
Chaudhary blamed the Delhi government for not cooperating with the civic body. The Delhi government owes the EDMC about R5,000 crore as per the recommendations of 3rd and 4th Delhi Finance Commission, said Chaudhary.
Announcements Galore:
1. An English medium school in each ward
2. Centres in municipal schools for teaching illiterate parents of students.
3. Science clubs in municipal primary schools.
4. A web application to collate details of municipal school students
5. Recruitment of yoga teachers for mental and physical health of students.
6. Double life insurance for students from Rs 50,000 per student to Rs1,00,000.
7. Selling advertising space on EDMC website
8. Once crane for each zone to clear unused and abandoned cars
9. As per the provision of Master Plan 2021, illegal constructions upto 8th February, 2007 and up to June 1, 2014 in rural areas will be regularised on payment of compounding fees as per the building bye-laws.
10. Open air gyms in municipal parks.
11. Handing over non-productive community centres to private firms
12. Digital process for issuing general trade licences and factory trade licence
13. All EDMC accounts will be digitised
14. LED lights for one lakh street lights and 2,800 semi half mast lights.
15. Rooftop solar panels on buildings such as Swami Dayanand Hospital, Karawal Nagar Poly clinic and zonal office buildings
A fire broke out late on Tuesday evening in a room in the Parliament House, which was doused within 15 minutes, officials said.
A UPS kept in one of the rooms of the Parliament caught fire, sending plumes of smoke which alerted those present there, said Atul Garg, chief fire officer, Delhi Fire Services.
Fire tender outside Parliament where fire broke out in room no.50 pic.twitter.com/VG1P57EpR5 ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
A call was received around 9.30 PM about a fire breaking out in room number 50 of the Parliament House. Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot, he said.
Senior officials of the fire department rushed to the spot to check about the severity of the blaze, police said.
The fire was doused within 15 minutes and no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.
On Thursday, February 2, at 14.00, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference "Cynical Non-Guilty Verdict by Vinnytsia City Court of Killers of Two Young Men." The participants will include human rights activist MP Yuriy Karmazin; managing partner of the Profectum law firm Oleh Khriapa, who represents the aggrieved party, Romyhailo; the aggrieved party, Oleksandr Krylov, and his lawyer Andriy Trap (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. More information by phone: (098) 048 1018, (099) 630 7078.
Improving the image of the police will be among the priorities for Amulya Patnaik, who took over as the commissioner of Delhi Police on Wednesday.
Patnaik said he would focus on improving the public grievance redress mechanism and will ensure that the police be made more easily approachable for the citizens.
Such a system exists, but we still need to see how it can be improved. We must reach out to people from all sections of society, said Patnaik while interacting with the media, soon after formally assuming office on Wednesday evening.
Patnaik said he will also pay special emphasis on reducing street crimes and improving womens safety as well as digitising public services.
Read: Preventing crime before it happens: How data is helping Delhi Police
When asked about his approach to the Delhi government with which the Delhi Police have often been at loggerheads, Patnaik said: Relations with the Delhi government are normal, he said.
The outgoing Delhi Police chief, Alok Kumar Verma, was accorded a warm farewell on Wednesday morning. Verma, who had taken over the office of the commissioner last February, has been appointed the CBI director.
Police personnel cheered him with claps and some even danced during the farewell programme that took place in Kingsway Camp in North Delhi. Most of them credited Verma with pushing the promotions of almost 26,000 police personnel who had been forced to serve at the same rank for over 20 years.
Addressing the force on the occasion, Verma announced that the Delhi Lieutenant Governor has cleared the proposal for at least three promotions for personnel who join the force as constables or head constables. Those who join as sub-inspectors will be promoted at least twice before they retire, he said.
Unlike Patnaik who addressed the media soon after taking charge, a media-shy Verma kept clear of journalists throughout his tenure as the police chief. Before taking over as the CBI boss, his 24th posting in his 36-year career, Verma had served as the chief of police in four states/union territories.
Read: Delhi Police commissioner Alok Kumar Verma appointed the new CBI director
His successor, Patnaik, is a 1985 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre and was serving as the special commissioner of police (Vigilance) before being promoted to the top job.
Social media is the new hunting ground for human traffickers, looking to push minor girls into prostitution.
A 17-year-old girl from Nagaland was recently rescued from an airport in neighbouring Manipur as she was about to board a flight to the Capital on a ticket sent to her by a Delhi-based man.
The man, she told police, contacted her on Facebook in 2016 and they became friends. They chatted for almost a year before the man, who has been identified but is yet to be nabbed, mailed her the ticket.
The man, police said, was planning to push her into prostitution. He was also chatting with several young girls in the Northeast, Punjab and Goa, Kohima superintendent of police Joseph Hesso said.
Traffickers are randomly sending messages to girls and when someone replies, they trap them. The girl was promised a good job in Delhi but was saved just before her flight was to take off, Hesso told HT over the phone from the state capital Kohima.
Thousands of girls are trafficked to Delhi every year. Some are forced to work as domestic helps, which are in a huge demand, while many are pushed into prostitution.
According to a global survey report, India has the largest population of modern slaves in the world, with more than 18 million people trapped as bonded labourers, forced beggars, sex workers and child soldiers.
The Global Slavery Index by human rights organisation Walk Free Foundation said the number was 1.4% of Indias population.
The air ticket, said sources, was booked from Delhi and the girl was asked to come to the Imphal airport. Her parents contacted police when they found the girl missing from their Kohima home.
Police in neighbouring Manipur, too, were alerted and a picture sent to them. The girl didnt come to the airport on the day she was expected but on January 17, airport staff informed them a 17-year-old was boarding a Jet Airways flight, Imphal SP (CID) KH Sarma told HT.
We rushed and stopped the flight and later it was confirmed that she was the girl the Nagaland Police were looking for, Sarma said.
The accused has been identified and a Nagaland Police team is in the Capital to nab him.
Young girls need to be sensitised on the use of social media and why they should avoid chatting with strangers, said Rishi Kant of Shaktivahini, a child rights NGO which is assisting police in the operation.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is deliberating to modify its admission policy to adopt an 80:20 formula in which entrance exam will account for 80% weighting, while viva-voce will account for 20%.
On Tuesday, JNUs steering committee on admission met to discuss the changes in admission policy but was reportedly violently disrupted by some students. The meeting was adjourned.
JNU registrar Pramod Kumar said, Some students violently disrupted meeting related to admission policy that was trying to address the concerns of student community in JNU. They scuffled with security guards and a glass door was broken.
Read: Missing JNU student Najeebs kin cry foul over raid at maternal uncles house, cops deny claim
He tweeted, By their violent behaviour, a group of about 50 JNU students are damaging the future of thousands of socially and economically poor students. Some students in JNU have been going against the JNU ethos of free and frank discussion and resorting to violent means to push their demands.
Officials said the meeting was aimed at adopting an admission policy that would safeguard social justice and the progressive policy of JNU within the parameters of UGC regulations.
Read: Najeeb disappearance: 100 days on, police clueless, quiz friend
The move comes amid opposition from students and teachers after the university recently adopted a UGC notification that made entrance test as only qualifying and making interview as the criterion for final admission.
The steering committee was discussing the possibility of bringing modification in our admission process within the parameters of UGC rules. Many constructive formulas were suggested. We even deliberated on adopting 80:20 formula for admission to research courses, said an official, on condition of anonymity.
Read: JNU chief proctor, who led probe in missing student Najeeb Ahmads case, resigns
An official who attended the meeting said it was constructive and positive. The political differences among various groups of students led to scuffles outside the venue and some of them broke the doors and made an attempt to barge into the venue, he said.
However, JNU students union (JNUSU) president Mohit Pandey, who is also a member of the committee, said, Students were only protesting outside and nobody tried to barge in. The administration did not circulate agenda of the meeting beforehand. The issue of number of seats for admission was not even discussed.
Read: Suspended JNU student on hunger strike shifted to hospital by police
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In a scene reminiscent of the iconic film Godfather, CCTV footage from several cameras shows jailed Gangster Manjeet Mahals father buying vegetables from a vendor outside his house in Najafgarhs Mitraon village at the time of the incident. The 70-year-old Shri Kishan can be seen with domestic help Mukesh when a five assailants arrive in a car. As the men fire several shots, Kishan and Mukesh duck for safety. Mukesh jumps into the fields nearby but Kishan is caught in the fire. Two men then emerge from the car and fire a few more rounds at Kishan, killing him on the spot.
The shooting on Sunday had lead to heightened tension in the region. Following the incident, the police had decided to provide security to the relatives of jailed criminals in Najafgarh. The police have scanned footage from at least six CCTV cameras installed at the gate and front wall of Mahals home. However, they have not been able to identify the five assailants as the footage was not clear. Only one suspect has been identified so far on the basis of the statement of Mukesh. The suspect has been identified as Ankush alias Bhalu.
Police have said that the assailants belonged to a gang headed by brothers, Jyoti alias Baba and Kapil Sangwan. Mahal and his associates had allegedly gunned down Babas brother-in-law in December 2015.
Since then, the rival gang has killed four persons known to Mahal and his associates. Though police have rounded up several suspects for questioning and conducted several raids, no arrests had been made till Tuesday afternoon.
We want to offend your sight. We want to offend your gender binary. We want to offend you and your everything, says one of the posts on the social media campaign Redesign, Renovate, Refurbish. The campaign is managed by Delhi University (DU) students Vanika Sharma, Shirin Chaudhary, and Suvrita Bhatia, which is essentially a photo series. It aims to break gender identities and stereotypes; challenge body and gender shaming, and encourage gender fluidity.
The point is to show people how differently one would dress seven days of the week, if there were no beauty or gender ideals. Shirin Chaudhary
A picture in the series of a St Stephens College student, Devika Shekhawat with her jeans rolled up till knees, created quite a stir on social media for an unconventional reason her hairy legs that defy gender shaming. And despite the 1,400 likes it has on Facebook, the picture has drawn haters innumerable. The sexist and hateful comments on the picture are the reason we decided to start that campaign in the first place, says Chaudhary of St Stephens College. Were also trying to show how ones body language, posture, etc. change as one transgresses the idea of gender identity, she adds.
Through the photo series, the girls try to show how people would behave if there were no gender identities.
It will feature all kinds of media relating to gender contributed by people from various socio-cultural and economic backgrounds. Vanika Sharma
The campaign began as part of a three-student umbrella project, Gender Pages Project, an e-magazine created by Chaudhary and Sharma, to encourage conversations and art around gender and other issues related to it. The project was started in January last year with the help of The Youth Parliament Foundation, a youth run-and-led organisation, when we were volunteering with them. Now, were running it independently, says Sharma, a Delhi College of Arts and Commerce (DCAC) student. We wanted to create a space where people could just come and talk about art, and be themselves. It will feature all kinds of media relating to gender contributed by people from various socio-cultural and economic backgrounds.
The students exhibited the photos and submissions at St. Stephens College last week.
The idea behind my picture was to show that if men can sit in their balconies in vests, women come out in their bras in public spaces. Shirin Chaudhary
The photographs in the series challenge gender prejudice. Another image that stands out in the series has Chaudhary standing in her balcony, wearing a bra and jeans. The front and back of her torso reads: I am becoming less of a woman and more of myself. When I went out to my balcony in bra, a man kept on staring at me from neighbours balcony till the time I was out. Nobody cares when men go out in vests, Chaudhary says, adding, After exhibiting pictures in St Stephens College, we are looking for more venues where we can display them.
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Union minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises, Giriraj Singh likes nothing more than to wade into controversies in order to display his patriotic and religious credentials. So it is no surprise that he has chosen to throw his weight behind the hoodlums who roughed up filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansalis on the specious grounds that he has portrayed Padmavati, ostensibly modeled on Rani Padmini, in an unfavourable light in his forthcoming film.
No film-maker would dare make a film on the Prophet Mohammed, but the queen was being targeted since she was a Hindu, says Mr Singh. He does not stop there. He says that those who play with Indias history will be punished by the public.
Read | Sharad Yadav to Vinay Katiyar: A despicable list of sexist remarks by politicos
Mr Singh has in the past come up with remarks on the need for Hindus to have more children in order to prevent the community from being overrun by Muslims based on nothing more than his prejudices. He has also asked whether the Congress would have accepted it had Rajiv Gandhi married a Nigerian leading to outrage from that country and sensible people in India.
It is one thing for various senas who claim to uphold Hindu honour and faith to make ugly statements. Those who attacked Bhansali were Rajputs cut to the quick at what was perceived as an insult to the community in the celluloid depiction of the queen.
Mr Singh is a law-maker who has no business advocating violence against anyone. If anything, he should have sought action against those who took the law into their own hands and assaulted Bhansali. The ruling BJP, which should have condemned Mr Singhs remarks and taken action against him, is silent. This is what encourages people like him to become repeat offenders.
Apart from a belated rap on the knuckles, various ministers in this government have got away with incendiary and provocative remarks on cow slaughter, the minorities, women and caste. In most cases, there has been little or no censure, which has egged them on to add their two bit worth to various debates.
Read | Tejaswi Yadav invites Sanjay Leela Bhansali to Bihar to shoot Padmavati
They seem to forget that their primary responsibility is to uphold the law of the land and not act as the self-styled custodians of Hinduism and Indian culture. This sends out the signal to all sorts of lumpen elements that they are well within their rights to correct supposed historical wrongs and take the law into their own hands even if this means attacking innocent people. Mr Singh should be strongly reprimanded by the BJP and be put on watch so that he does not continue with his unacceptable ways in future.
Class 10 students of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will be given grades for practising yoga or showing patriotism from the next academic year.
The board in a notification issued on Tuesday stated that the students would be assessed on a five-point grading scale (A-E) for co-scholastic activities such as yoga, martial arts, sports, NCC among others. Students can opt for any of these under health and physical education category.
The grading will be reflected in the mark sheets. However, it will not impact the overall result.
Read | MP to introduce yoga period in schools to curb student suicides
Students should be provided opportunities to get professionally trained in the areas of their interest. Indigenous sports, yoga and NCC must be encouraged in the schools to create a sense of physical fitness, discipline, sportsmanship, patriotism, self-sacrifice and health care, reads the notification.
The marks for this component will be awarded by the physical education teacher.
In the board exams 80% weightage would be given to the written test while 20% will be given to the schools internal assessment.
Last year, the governing body of the CBSE had approved a proposal to bring back compulsory Class 10 board exams. The board has 18000 schools affiliated to it.
CBSE affiliated schools have been asked to conduct three periodic written tests in an academic year and the average of the best two will be considered and will account for 10 marks.
Students will also get marks for timely submission of notes and assignments and neatness of the notebook. Neatness and upkeep of the notebooks will carry 5 marks.
Read | MP govt says schools and colleges must display Modi, Vivekananda portraits
This is aimed at enhancing seriousness of students towards preparing notes for the topics being taught in the classroom and completing assignments. This will also address the critical aspects of regularity, punctuality, neatness and notebook upkeep, the board said.
Another component included in the co-scholastic areas is discipline. This will take into account attendance, sincerity, behaviour and values.
Discipline significantly impacts career shaping and it helps build character. Sincerity, good behaviour and values develop strength and foster unity and co-operation. Therefore, the element of discipline has been introduced, it said.
Class teachers will be grading the students on a five point scale on the subject.
Read | Patanjali to hold monthly yoga sessions in schools
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NEW DELHI
Nearly 4,000 medical students in 32 new private colleges might find their institutes disqualified as these have failed to pass standard checks.
These are among 34 colleges approved by a Supreme Court-appointed oversight committee in May 2016, but debarred by the countrys medical education regulator for failing to meet required standards.
The committee, headed by retired judge RM Lodha, had overruled the Medical Council of Indias (MCI) decision with the condition that if these colleges fail another inspection, they cannot admit students for two years.
Subsequently these colleges admitted their first batch 3,957 students last summer. These students had cleared the national eligibility cum entrance test (NEET). Rules stipulate that these students studying for their bachelors of medicine (MBBS) should be moved to other medical colleges if their institutes get disqualified. But experts feel such an effort will be challenging.
You cant stretch facilities to accommodate so many students in other approved colleges. This will hamper studies of the students, said KK Aggarwal, national president of the Indian Medical Association.
If the oversight committee accepts the MCI report, it will have to address the concerns of students admitted to these colleges.
The MCI and the oversight committee didnt respond to requests for comments.
Trouble began for the students after the MCI conducted another round of inspection in those 34 colleges in November and December. Only two colleges Maheshwara Medical College in Andhra Pradeshs Chitkul, and Amaltas Institute of Medical Sciences at Dewas in Madhya Pradesh met the regulators benchmark.
In most of the institutes, the MCI found shortage of faculty and resident doctors, locked intensive care units (ICU) and emergency wards, and vacant general wards.
Some of the colleges forged documents to show adequate faculty or lined up fake patients for MCI inspectors.
A Hindustan Times investigation had found similar shortfalls. Empty ICUs, no faculty, locked operation theatres, and under-construction departments and buildings awaiting students in many of the institutes approved by the oversight committee.
Meanwhile, Sudhir Giri, chairman of Venkateswara University that has failed to meet the MCI standard, said: The MCI is biased and adamant on barring us for vested reasons.
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IIM Bangalore has added another feather to its cap. Its one-year full-time Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) has been ranked 49 among the top 50 in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2017 released on Monday. The programmes ranking moved up 13 spots this year to be placed among those offered by B-school biggies INSEAD, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Harvard Business School, MIT: Sloan, University of California at Berkeleys Haas.
The ranking is based on surveys of the business schools and their alumni. Assessments are done on the basis of career progression of alumni, ideas generated and student and faculty diversity. This ranking features the worlds best 100 full-time MBA programmes.
Professor R. Srinivasan, director Incharge, IIMB, gave credit for this ranking to all faculty colleagues. They, as part of the EPGP and admissions interview committees, recruit a high-calibre cohort for the programme and as professors put them through a demanding learning experience in their course offerings, he said.
On why their programme was world class, IIMB faculty said continuous support was provided to all students by the EPGP office through the programme. Career Development Services also matched students expectations with recruiters specific demands. The Alumni Office was also continuously engaging with EPGP alums and connecting them with the larger IIMB alumni network.
About 56 schools took part in the 2017 edition of this ranking. All participating schools meet the FTs entry criteria, including being accredited by EQUIS or the AACSB.
French fashion designer Coco Chanel once said, Every day is a fashion show and the world is a runway. Her message implied that fashion was all about making a difference and showcasing what you believe in. With the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2017 all set to begin, HT Cafe shares looks at how this seasons designers will use the fashion show to highlight socially relevant topics.
From women empowerment to creating awareness about animal cruelty-free products and addressing gender discrimination, this year, designers aim to tell a fine story of fashion and compassion.
No labels, please!
International gender neutral model Petr Nitka will also be walking the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2017.
After the first ever plus-size show last year, Lakme Fashion Week is taking the conversation on inclusivity further with a #TagFree show this season. The show is about doing away with the different labels used to describe women, such as big, small, curvy, skinny, fair, dark, girly or masculine. Nepals first transgender model, Anjali Lama, will be one of the women walking the ramp.
Lama says, I am extremely thrilled [to walk the ramp]. This is indeed the highest recognition I have received in my career till date. Associating with this platform makes me feel like I am at the top of the world right now. I now have the responsibility to propagate this message of inclusivity further. International gender neutral model Petr Nitka will also be walking the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week.
Women power
The show #ArtisansofKutch focuses on artists from Kutch, Gujarat. Monghi Rabari, one of the artisans, says, Women usually stay home and do embroidery or work with NGOs, while the men go out and work. Women never get the recognition they deserve. I always wished for the artisans to get their due recognition. For Lakme Fashion Week, we will present an entire collection made by our own hands. I feel proud to be acknowledged as much as the designers are.
A model showcases a sari created by artisan Monghi Rabari .
Saying yes to sustainability
Footwear designer Nupur Chaudhuri will present a new collection that is made from cruelty-free materials at the fashion week. Chaudhuri says, I love animals and I want my work to contribute towards animal welfare. So, it was a conscious decision to be responsible and not use leather, whether in the upper parts or the soles of the shoes. Our shoes are quirky and fun, and carry a message that says its more fashionable to not harm the environment. She has tied up with designer Vidhi Wadhwani for the show.
Footwear Nupur Chaudhuris shoes are quirky and fun, and carry a message that says its more fashionable to not harm the environment.
Meanwhile, fashion designer Amit Aggarwal has come across a novel way to recycle old saris that have fallen into disrepair. He says, I met a woman in Delhi who hailed from the Waghri community from Gujarat. She was selling quilt and patchwork art made from old saris, and she described how women in villages traded these shreds for aluminum utensils. Aggarwal has developed a collection made from old saris with an aim to present something unique and environmentally-friendly.
Dharavi rocks
The show Dharavi Design Dialogue explores the innovation of design in Dharavi, which also serves as a hub for artisans who have serviced the fashion industry for decades. Embroidery artisans Mohammad Ismail Ansari and Shaikh Alam hail from Dharavi, and have joined hands with fashion designer Jay Ramrakhiani for the show.
Ramrakhiani, who was brought on board to help take the concept in the right direction, felt that although the artisans were amazing, he had to help them to balance quality and quantity.
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Rumours shared on Whatsapp and Facebook urging parents not to get their children vaccinated against measles and rubella (German Measles) is threatening Indias campaign to eliminate the disease that kill 46,000 children, mostly under-five, each year.
India accounts for close to one-third of the worlds 134,000 measles annual deaths, shows World Health Organisation (WHO) data.
Under Indias new measles vaccination campaign, all children from ages nine months to 15 years will be vaccinated with the measles-rubella vaccine (MR-VAC) in five states -- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry, Lakshwadeep on February 7, and Goa after the model code of conduct gets over after state elections.
Around 40 million children will be vaccinated in the first phase, which will be scaled up to include 410 million children under 15 years in all states and union territories by March 2019.
Fake alerts, which include texts and audio clips, claim the vaccine is banned in the United States for causing serious side effects, including damaging a childs immunity and memory and is being pushed in India by the global pharmaceutical industry looking for a market to dump their products.
The is a test vaccine which has been found outside India and that they want to test it on Indian children, reads one. It affect the childs concentration and daily activities and is band (sic) in the US, alleges another. The vaccine has deadly side effects and is sold by Modi to promote foreign pharmaceutical companies, reads a third.
These messages are untrue. the vaccine, MR-VAC,is made by the Serum Institute of India, which is the worlds largest producer of the vaccine and provides vaccines to most countries in Africa and Asia.
The vaccine is safe, effective and approved by the WHO for preventing infection in children, says a health ministry official who did not want to be named.
MEASLES: Vaccine Solution Measles is a leading cause of child deaths even though it can be stopped using a safe and cost-effective vaccine.
In 2015, measles killed 134,200 people globally 15 deaths every hour.
Measles vaccination has led a 79% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2015 worldwide.
Between 2000 and 2015, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 20.3 million deaths.
In 2015, about 85% of the worlds children received one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday through routine health services up from 73% in 2000.
In India. 90% children receive the first dose of MMR under the universal immunisation programme, but only 50% receive the booster dose.
MR-VAC is made by Serum Institute of India Source: World Health Organisation
A vaccine-preventable disease, measles is caused by a virus from the paramyxovirus family and spreads through air and direct contact. It causes symptoms of high fever that lasts 4 to 7 days, with a runny nose, a cough, watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks developing in the initial stage. After several days, a rash erupts on the face and upper neck and then spreads to the hands and feet. On average, the rash occurs 14 days after exposure to the virus.
The MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella is given to children at ages nine months and 15 months under Indias routine immunisation programme, but coverage for the booster shot remains a low 50-60%, which results in partial protection. About 15% of vaccinated children do not develop immunity from the first dose, so unless all the children are fully immunised, an outbreak is likely.
Globally, measles has a case fatality -- deaths per 100 infections -- of 0.2-0.3%, but in countries with poor public health infrastructure, the case fatality is 1-2%, said Dr Satish Gupta, health specialist, immunization, Unicef.
A systemic review of studies from across 12 states over four decades showed that the median case fatality ratio in India was 1.63%, with deaths being higher among under-five children and children from the backward class.
MR-VAC protects those whove been missed as well as builds herd immunity in the community by lowering infection and with it, the virus in the environment, said Dr Gupta. Much like polio, we have to eliminate the virus from the environment to make it safe for everyone. Vaccination has eliminated measles in the Americas (north and south Americas) , India can do it too.
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Youd think the prospect of bad acting, a terrible script and rock-bottom directing would put movie buffs off. But if Madrids CutreCon trash film festival is anything to go by -- youd be wrong.
Lured by such films as the musical Nudist Colony of the Dead and Bollywoods Action Jackson, some 3,500 people turned up at the five-day event. They also came to see one of the holy grails of the bad film world: Troll 2 -- with its rating of just six percent on review site Rotten Tomatoes, is considered one of the worst movies ever.
CutreCon, which ended Sunday, is one of several festivals in Europe dedicated to films so bad theyre good, many of which have been pulled from oblivion by the internet, at times earning them and their protagonists cult status.
Nostalgia for the era of low-quality, VHS films, dissatisfaction with mainstream cinema and a general desire to laugh and let off steam have contributed to the genres rise in popularity.
Also influential was Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguezs 2007 ode to trash cinema Grindhouse.
- Killer yoghurt, sharks -
The first time I came across a trash film... was when I was around 10 or 11, with a film by Larry Cohen called The Stuff, which is about killer yoghurt, says Carlos Palencia, a culture journalist and CutreCons director.
His interest in the genre eventually prompted him to create the festival, now in its sixth year, having evolved from a one-night-only film viewing to the current multi-location event.
Keyvan Sarkhosh, senior research fellow at Germanys Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics who co-authored a research paper on the subject, says there are two types of trash films -- the unintentionally bad and those deliberately made to be awful.
The man who perhaps best represents the first category is Edward Wood, whose Plan 9 from Outer Space film about aliens has been dubbed the best worst movie ever made.
Wood died in 1978 a poor alcoholic, but achieved posthumous fame thanks in part to Tim Burtons biopic Ed Wood starring Johnny Depp.
Then come films intentionally made to be incoherent and clumsy for ironic consumption, says Sarkhosh.
Cue the recent Sharknado franchise -- films about freak storms that see sharks sucked up in water spouts and rained down on unsuspecting city dwellers.
Bad taste? Not so, says Sarkhosh, whose research found that those who watched these movies were highly educated, cultural omnivores just as happy to watch arthouse films.
To enjoy bad cinema, you need to really like good cinema... you need good taste to appreciate bad taste and find the fun side (of a movie), concurs Palencia.
- Vegetarian goblins -
For Angel-Luis Andres, a 40-year-old sales manager who turned up to see Troll 2 at the festival, nostalgia is also part of the appeal.
My father would bring home a batch of videos at the weekend, he recalls.
He always brought back stuff that me and my brother liked -- monsters, dinosaurs... These are nostalgia films, he says, before sitting down for a lively screening.
Troll 2 is about a family that goes to a small, isolated village for a break, only to find it populated by evil goblins.
The goblins are vegetarian but still want to eat humans, which means they have to surreptitiously feed people a green goo that turns them into green, vegan goo too.
The laughter gets so loud at times during the screening that it becomes hard to hear the film itself.
During a scene depicting a candle-lit seance to communicate with a dead grandfather, the audience spontaneously erupts into a rendition of Happy Birthday.
A 2009 documentary about the films rise to cult status said one of the actors was a patient at a psychiatric hospital and auditioned while on leave.
Though it initially went straight to video in 1990, the films new-found popularity has meant that its Italian director Claudio Fragasso, who was present at the screening, will direct a sequel.
- Oddly brilliant -
Others have also found belated fame from their initial embarrassment.
Matt Hannon, a US actor who starred in the direct-to-video film Samurai Cop in 1991, dropped his career straight after.
So desperate was he to be forgotten that when people started saying he was dead, based on the obit of another Matt Hannon, he did nothing to dispel the rumours.
But with the rising popularity of his film some two decades after it was made, he finally came back into the limelight... and starred in the sequel Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance.
Another example is actor, director and screenwriter Tommy Wiseau, whos 2003 drama The Room bombed.
This film is like getting stabbed in the head, one user on movie site IMDb said.
But sure enough, this too has achieved cult status, and Hollywood star James Franco has directed a comedy film about it called The Masterpiece.
In an interview, actor Seth Rogen who plays in Francos film acknowledged there was something oddly brilliant about it.
There is something you have to give credit to, because of all the shitty movies, he made one that people still watch.
A 30-year-old man killed himself by slitting his throat in Jharkhands Ramgarh district on Tuesday in a ritual to appease a goddess depicted in Hindu scriptures as having severed her own head with a scimitar.
Police said Sanjay Nutt, hailing from Buxar in neighbouring Bihar, took his life at the altar of the Chhinnamasta temple where animal sacrifice is common.
Chhinnamasta which means one whose head is severed -- is worshipped by millions of Hindus as an incarnation of the Mother Goddess, the supreme female deity. Many believe Chhinnamasta to be another form of goddess Kali, the deity of death.
Chhinnamasta is depicted in religious paintings standing atop a copulating couple, holding her severed head in one hand and a scimitar in the other with jets of blood sprouting from the neck.
The temple at Rajrapppa, about 70 km from capital Ranchi, is centuries old and goats and sheep are frequently sacrificed by devotees from Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal.
Nutt, son of a Bihar police havildar, was a staunch devotee of the goddess, police said quoting family members.
We have informed family members who are on their way to receive the body. They informed us over phone that he was an austere devotee of the Goddess and often talked about leaving this world to be with the Goddess, Rajrappa inspector Atim Kumar said.
Soon after the incident, the temple committee shut the doors for devotees and the temple purified through a special ritual when the deity was bathed in milk and curd for around two hours. The shrine was reopened later.
Priests said the man had come to the temple in the wee hours and performed prayers with full devotion. Around 6 am he came out of the sanctum sanatorium, pulled out a dagger and slit his throat at the place where animals are generally sacrificed, said Subhasish Panda, a temple committee member.
Union Minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday hailed President Pranab Mukherjees customary speech ahead of budget presentation, terming it inspirational, even as Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury sought to pick holes in it.
While Javadekar said the speech outlined governments actions aimed at welfare of the poor, farmers and the SC/ST community, former Union minister Chowdhury claimed the speech was written by government in view of forthcoming assembly polls in five states.
It was renowned economist Mukherjees helplessness to read out the same, she quipped.
It was an inspirational speech, it narrated governments actions...about how we are developing the rural section, giving justice to the poor, the downtrodden, scheduled caste, scheduled tribes, farmers, labourers and all those who were neglected, he told reporters on the Parliament premises.
Javadekar noted the President also mentioned Centres moves of demonetisation and surgical strike.
...more importantly it mentioned that how the government programme have not remained only bureaucratic programme, but have become a jan aandolan (public campaign), he added.
Criticising the NDA government, Chowdhury said she felt pity for it for having rehashed and renamed schemes worked out by previous UPA dispensation as its own and claimed it has not formulated even a single scheme of its own.
They advanced the budget in view of elections. The President is helpless that he has to read out the speech written by the government. But am very sure, he must be laughing inside his mind. It is his helplessness that he had to read it out, she added.
Four minors have been booked for allegedly sodomising a 13-year-old boy in Hyderabad, filming the act and blackmailing him, police said on Monday.
The accused, who are absconding, are said to be in the age group of 16-17 years.
Though the ordeal of the victim who cannot be named for legal reasons began around two months ago, the incident came to light when his father lodged a complaint with Chaderghat police.
In 2015, India made sweeping changes to its laws governing juvenile delinquents, enabling prosecution of minors between 16 to 18 years as adults in case of serious crimes like rape and murder.
G Sattaiah, the Chaderghat inspector of police, said the victim from the Old Malakpet area was allegedly lured into unnatural sex by the four teenagers, also from the same locality.
The accused started to extort him by threatening to upload the videos and pictures on social media and also circulate it among his school mates and relatives.
A couple of days ago, when the victim could not give them money, they sent a video clip to his school principal.
Without verifying the facts, the school principal suspended him and it was then the boy informed us as to what had happened. He had been in a state of depression for the last two months, the boys father said.
Sattaiah said the victim was scared and he used to yield to them whenever they called him.
They used to demand Rs 500 or Rs 1,000 from him, threatening that if he did not bring money, they would circulate the video clippings on the social media, the official added.
The boys father has requested the school management to revoke the suspension.
The four accused have been slapped with charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).
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During his campaign, Donald Trump vowed that the country would follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American. A new bill lobbying for reforms in the H-1B visa programme was tabled in the US today, prompting reports that Trump is preparing to sign an executive order on the issue.
Here are a few key things you should know about the changes proposed to H-1B visas and how it can affect skilled workers from India looking to work in the US:
What are H-1B visas?
H1B visa is an employment-based, non-immigrant visa category for temporary workers. An employer must offer a job and apply for your H1B visa petition with the US Immigration Department.
H-1Bs are the most coveted work visas: In 2016, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that they received 2,36,000 H-1B petitions within five days of opening the process, more than thrice the number of mandated cap of 65,000 in the general category.
What are the proposed changes to H-1B visa norms?
Different bills proposed by senators have lobbied for reforms in the H-1B and L-1 visa norms. Some of the proposed changes are:
Doubling minimum salaries of H-1B visa holders to $130,000
Earmark 20% of H-1B visas for small and start-up employers
Remove per country cap for employment visas to ensure equal distribution
Firms hiring H-1B visa holders need to make a good faith effort to recruit Americans first
Give preference to students educated in the US for H-1B visas rather than computerized lottery system
Crack down on outsourcing companies that import workers for temporary training and then send them back home to do the same job
Prohibit spouses of H-1B visa holders from working in the US
Prohibit companies with more than 50 employees, of which at least half are H-1B or L-1 holders, from hiring additional H-1B employees
Strict audit and vetting by Department of Labor to clamp down on fraud or misuse
Who are the people lobbying for reforms?
January 4: Republican Congressman Darrell Issa from California re-introduced a legislation to plug loopholes in high-skilled immigration and stop the outsourcing of American jobs.
January 19: Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley and Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin, said they planned to re-introduce a bill from 2007 to protect American workers and improve fairness for visa applicants.
January 31: California Congressman Zoe Lofgren introduced the High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017 in the US House of Representatives that seeks to supplement the US workforce with talented, highly-paid, and highly-skilled workers who help create jobs here in America, not replace them.
How does this affect India?
The biggest beneficiaries of H-1B visas are Indians, followed by the Chinese. In 2014, 70% of total H-1B petitions approved were from Indians
Nearly 86% of the H-1B visas issued for workers in computer occupations go to Indian workers, according to a Computerworld analysis of government data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Indian outsourcing firms such as Infosys, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services will be badly hit. In reaction to the news, stock prices of information technology companies fell by 9%.
TCS and Infosys are already battling lawsuits in federal courts that allege that they discriminate against American workers while hiring and favour South Asians.
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday refused to comment on the political challenge thrown at him by former Goa RSS chief Subhash Velingkar, saying he only believes in the Sangh headquartered in Nagpur and not any other outfit.
The Sangh parivar here are fully supporting the BJP. I do not believe in the Sangh you are referring to. I believe the Sangh whose headquarters is in Nagpur. I do not want to speak about Velingkar. That is a political party and (they) are going ahead with their agenda. We are moving with our agenda. The people have to choose, Parrikar told a press conference.
Read | After endorsing voter bribe, Parrikar says voting is pure donation
Velingkar was sacked as the state chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) last year, following his severe criticism of Parrikar and the Bharatiya Janata Party, over the ruling BJPs decision to overtly back English over regional languages as the medium of instruction in the states government-aided primary schools.
After he was sacked, nearly 2,000 full-time volunteers of the RSS in Goa announced their mass resignations from the Sangh and decided to support Velingkar, who is also mentoring a newly-founded political party, the Goa Suraksha Manch.
The Manch is contesting the state assembly polls scheduled for February 4, in alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and the Shiv Sena. The MGP was a partner of the BJP in the alliance government in Goa.
Information technology major Infosys said on Tuesday it would seek suggestions to upgrade staff safety measures on its campuses after a 23-year-old engineer was found strangled to death at its Pune office two days ago.
A security guard murdered young employee Rasila Raju OP when she was working alone to finish a project on Sunday evening at her office in Hinjewadi IT park. The incident triggered allegations of security lapses against the company, which employs some of the brightest techies in India.
At Infosys, we are focused and committed to the safety of our employees. Yesterdays unfortunate incident is a reminder, however, that nothing is foolproof, the company said in a statement.
Rasilas family and Pune police commissioner Rashmi Shukla had asked Infosys why no female guard was deployed when a woman was working alone at night.
Shukla said: Infosys should explain that why it called Rasila for the evening shift when there was no one in her section.
In response, Infosys said it encourages employees to leave the campus before 8pm, and whenever any woman staff is travelling at night, arrangements are made and follow-up calls are placed.
Suspect Bhaben Saikia, who was captured in Mumbai the morning after the crime, worked with a private security firm and was deputed at Infosys six months ago. A background check at the time of appointment had shown no previous record of crime.
Read| Pune Infosys techie murder: Guard tried to commit suicide, police say sympathy ploy
We have mandatory background checks for vendor employees, sub-cons, housekeeping staff and rotating vendor staffs, Infosys said.
The company reaffirmed that it would continue to seek recommendations on how to strengthen staff safety. It also listed security initiatives taken on its campuses.
We have a common safety helpline that is manned 24X7, in addition we have an Infosys emergency app that has been made available to all India locations.
The company said it has extensive CCTV coverage across our campuses, and continuously assess the need to add more surveillance on campuses as we have grown in space and size.
However, the crime on the ninth floor of its Pune office couldnt be recorded as Rasilas workstation was hidden from the surveillance cameras.
Infosys said it sends out mails regularly to its employees on safety programmes, which provide personal safety tips and self-defence sessions.
Read| Pune murder shakes up Delhis working women
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Amid Jats demand of withdrawal of quota violence cases registered during the stir last year, police have claimed only history-sheeters or people with solid proof against them are still behind bars in Haryana.
Jat groups, which launched a fresh agitation on Sunday, have claimed 60 members of the community are still in jail. They are demanding cops to follow scientific method in making arrests.
We dont vouch for the guilty. But arrests made on mere videos are wrong. Its 21st century and cops must follow better ways for identifying the hooligans. Most of the people were falsely framed only because they were seen in videos, even if they were doing nothing, said Raj Singh Hooda, head of Hooda khap that extended support to the stir.
Police maintain no wrong arrests could be made as all cases were being monitored by the high court regularly.
In Jind, 47 of the 50 arrested men in connection with the quota stir have got bail. Three of those still locked in jail are facing other criminal charges as well, due to which the court did not accept their bail plea, said superintendent of police Shashank Anand.
If some people are still in jail, it means we have solid proof against them, said a Rohtak police official.
PENDING CASES KEEP YOUTHS AT BAY
Even as the Jat agitation entered second day on Monday, the protesters have so far failed to attract crowds to dharna site in Haryanas northern districts.
Sources said this time youths are not showing too much interest in the agitation at Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Karnal districts due to cases pending against Jats, who had been booked for violence during the last years stir.
Following the governments directions that youths found taking part in any unlawful activity will not be eligible for government jobs, mostly elderly people can only be seen sitting on dharna.
We did not go to the protest site this time as we had been booked for last years protest and the case is still pending with the Punjab and Haryana high court, said a Jat youth of Radaur in Yamunanagar district.
About 2,400 cases were registered against Jats and 60 youths are still behind bars. We wont give up till all these cases are withdrawn, said Nafe Singh Nain, who is leading the protest at Ballah village in Karnal.
Law allows animal sacrifice in the name of religion and there is nothing wrong in holding Jallikattu, the Centre told the Supreme Court, which on Tuesday refused to stay a recent legislation that overrode the courts ban on the bull-taming sport.
The court didnt put the new Tamil Nadu law on hold but it came down hard on the state government for failing to maintain law and order during recent protests.
Goats are sacrificed throughout the country during a festival. This is done because the law -- prevention of cruelty to animals -- permits it to do so, the Centres top legal officer Mukul Rohatgi said in a reference to Eid ul Adha as he defended the state governments new law.
He said the law was conscious that there should not be cruelty to animals. But, a holistic approach is required to be taken, he told a bench of justice Dipak Misra and justice RF Nariman.
The attorney general said the Constitution also called for preservation of culture and conservation of animal breeds, the objective behind Jallikattu.
Only native breeds race in Jallikattu which is held in mid-January as part of Pongal festivities. Supporters see the traditional sport as an incentive to protect local breeds such as Bargur and Kangayam facing an onslaught from foreign bred animals.
Read | HC stays ban on Karnataka buffalo race Kambala till SC order on Jallikattu
The court had two years ago banned Jallikattu after the animal rights body, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the event amounted to cruelty towards bulls.
Tamil Nadu was rocked by protests in January by students, techies and others demanding an end to the ban.
The bench was critical of the state government for failing to control the protesters as they demonstrated against the court ban.
What was the necessity for those road marches? Why did the situation crop up when the matter was sub judice? it asked senior advocate K Parasaran, who appeared for Tamil Nadu.
We are concerned about the courts honour. There should not be any ifs and buts in it When the final arbiter under the Constitution is seized of the matter then there should be silence and obedience.
The court said it would examine if Jallikattu could be categorised as a cultural practice, which the Constitution says must be preserved.
Read | Why were peaceful protesters supporting Jallikattu attacked? Madras HC asks Tamil Nadu
It also allowed Rohatgi to withdraw the Centrea 2016 notification that permitted Jallikattu and sought Tamil Nadu governments reply applications seeking a stay on the new law.
The Tamil Nadu assembly had on January 21 passed an amendment bill for conducting Jallikattu, replacing an ordinance to amend the prevention of cruelty to animals act, 1960.
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People who have been rescued after their boat sank off Malaysia's Sabah state arrive in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on Jan. 30, 2017. Three Chinese tourists on board a boat which sank off Malaysia's Sabah state were confirmed dead early Monday after being rescued. Three Chinese tourists have passed away among the 25 people rescued so far, while six people remained missing, said Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, Director General of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. The Chinese tourists who were rescued and the bodies of those passed away arrived in Kota Kinabalu early Monday. (Xinhua)
Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday asked Malaysia to maintain its search and rescue effort for Chinese nationals from a boat that sank off Malaysia's Sabah State on North Borneo on Saturday evening.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang also expressed hope that Malaysia would report the developments promptly.
"In the meantime, China hopes the Malaysian side will carry out fair and objective investigation to find out the truth as early as possible," said Geng.
According to Chinese Foreign Ministry, 20 Chinese tourists had been rescued, with three dead and five missing.
Geng expressed deep condolences to the victims, adding that the Chinese Consulate General's Office based in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital, had sent staff to coordinate rescue work with the search and rescue center.
The boat carrying 31 people, including 28 tourists from China, went missing on Saturday after sailing from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia to Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist island, some 60 km west to Kota Kinabalu.
For the Dalit Katheria family of the nondescript Daulatpur village in Mainpuri district of western Uttar Pradesh, the New Year turned out to be traumatic.
Hari Om Katheria, 35, his wife Meera and brother Shyam Sunder were thrashed by Chhotey Lal, an upper caste Thakur, for not greeting him with a Ram Ram.
On January 15, Hari Om was working in his field when Chhotey Lal passed by. Chhotey Lal was infuriated as Hari Om did not wish him Ram Ram and thrashed the Dalit farmer with his slippers.
When Hari Oms wife Meera and brother Shyam Sunder intervened, Chhotey Lal thrashed and abused them too.
Later that night, Chhotey Lal and his henchmen went to Hari Oms house and after thrashing the family again, set the poor farmers house on fire.
The incident was reported by some sections of the media but was largely washed away amid the high-profile family feud in the Samajwadi Party.
Chhotey lal was arrested and sent to jail. However, he is now out on bail and the case is in the trial stage.
Atrocities against Dalits have continued despite Constitutional safeguards that came into force 68 years ago.
The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker section of the people and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation says Article 46 of the Indian Constitution.
Uttar Pradeshs Hall of Shame
But Dalits remain the most oppressed section of the Indian community with poll-bound Uttar Pradesh topping the list of states with atrocities against them. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2015 statistics, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of 8,358 incidents of atrocities against Dalits.
The hacking of a Dalit couple in Mainpuri district on July 28 last year had brought UP into national focus all for wrong reasons. Ashok Mishra, an upper caste grocery owner, had hacked Bharat Nat, 45, and his wife Mamta, 40, after they failed to pay a debt of Rs 15. Four minor children of the deceased couple continue to be at the mercy of neighbours.
This was just few days after the infamous Una incident in Gujarat, where four Dalits were flogged in public for skinning a dead cow. However, there was no Gujarat like-uprising of Dalits in Uttar Pradesh after the murder of the couple. Mishra was arrested and sent to jail and is currently facing trial.
Despite the Centres decision to amend the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in December 2015 to make the law more stringent, there has been no respite in cases of atrocities on Dalits in UP.
Prof Rajesh Mishra, former head of department, Sociology, Lucknow University, says: Had BSP chief Mayawati retained her Dalit ideology, anti-feudal and anti-Brahmin stance instead of politically re-structuring the party to gain power, the situation would have been different in UP. Cases of atrocities on Dalits would have definitely come down.
UP has been awash with incidents where Dalits have thrashed and even killed by upper caste men for no reason.
In February last year, Virendra Kumar Mishra, a brick kiln owner and his staff in Dabauli village in Unnao district, barely 70 kms from the state capital thrashed a minor Dalit boy, tonsured his head and paraded him with a garland of slippers. Mishra wanted to coerce the boys father to sell his land adjacent to the brick kiln to him.
Later, Virendra Kumar Mishra was arrested and sent to jail. However, he is out on bail and the case is under trial stage in the sessions court
When it comes to atrocities on Dalits, it is almost always a familiar sequence of event across different places in UP.
Dependence on upper castes
The fate of Dalits in Indias most populous state remains the same irrespective of the political dispensation. Even the presence of Bahujan Samaj Party, whose supremo Mayawati advocates the cause of Dalits and has been chief minister of UP four times, has not been able to make any difference in their lives.
During Mayawatis fourth term from May 2007 till March 2012 UP topped the list of states with atrocities against Dalits. In each of those five years, over 7100 cases of violations were recorded.
Former IPS officer of UP cadre, SR Darapuri, who fights for Dalits rights, has better explanation for unabated atrocities against them despite stringent laws and four-time BSP regime in the state.
Crime against Dalits is not simply a law and order problem. It is a social issue which can only be tackled by empowering Dalits who are both socially and economically backward, said Darapuri.
Dalits have no land holding and are dependent on upper castes for their livelihood. This overdependence of Dalits on the upper caste makes them vulnerable to exploitation and atrocities, he added.
The incident in Gaghura village in Sambhal district in western Uttar Pradesh on August 10 last year testifies that not only upper caste but OBCs also commit atrocities on Dalits in Uttar Pradesh.
Sudha Kumari, a 13-year old Dalit girl, had gone to the village outskirts to collect fodder. When she felt thirsty, she went to the village temple to drink water from the tube well at the temples premises.
Puran Singh Kashyap, the temple priest, an OBC, and his assistant Natthu Singh, not only prevented the girl from drinking water but also abused her with casteist remarks. The girl narrated the incident to her father Charan Singh. When he objected, the priest and his assistant attacked the father-daughter duo with a trident. No action was taken against the priest.
BSP regime no different
Attacks on Dalits have increased manifold under the Samajwadi Party government, BSP chief Mayawati has often issued this statement in the last three years.
But the BSPs thrust for the 2017 assembly elections is law and order centric and the party has refrained from using any Dalit-centric slogan.
Betion ko muskurane do, behenji ko aaney do, nirdosh ko na aasu bahane do, behenji ko aaney do and gaon gaon ko shaher bananey do, behenji ko aane do, promising good law and order and development.
The Dalit dilemma largely reflects Indias economic and social inequality that continues to take a toll on the less privileged..
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Rasila Raju OP, the Infosys engineer who was found strangled at her work place in Pune on Sunday, was working alone in her ninth-floor office on a weekend when a watchman allegedly approached her on the pretext of fixing a computer cable and later murdered her.
Police arrested a private guard on Monday for the murder of the 25-year-old techie and recounted the murder after catching the fugitive Bhaben Saikia, a 26-year-old from Assam, from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at Mumbai early on Monday.
According to deputy commissioner of police Ganesh Shinde, entry into the office is restricted and Saikia could enter the office only because he followed Rasila, who gained access using a swipe card, to her workstation on the pretext of fixing the LAN cable and noting down her computers serial number.
The guards presence made her uncomfortable. He was staring, provoking her to warn that she would complain against him for stalking her. He then asked Rasila not to complain against him for staring at her the previous day, Shinde said.
When she refused to back off leading to an argument, he pulled out the cable and strangulated her in a fit of rage. The guard also hit her face with his shoes, injuring her nose, said Shinde. As it was a Sunday, there was no one in the office on the ninth floor of the Infosys facility.
While there was no CCTV camera installed near her workstation, the police zeroed in on Saikia based on the last-seen theory by gathering footage from other CCTV cameras installed at different locations. The CCTV footage showed Saikia was the last person entering Rasilas section of the office. When we tried to trace him, his mobile location showed he was on the way to Mumbai, said Shinde.
After killing Rasila around 5pm, Saikia stayed in the campus till his shift was over by around 6:30pm. His colleagues told us there was no stress showing on his face, said assistant police commissioner, Vaishali Jadhav.
Rasila Raju, the 25-year-old engineer working from Kerala. (HT Photo)
Rasila, a Kerala native, was at a workstation hidden from surveillance cameras at the tech giants office in Punes Hinjewadi IT park. But police could pinpoint the suspect as just a handful of people work at the facility on a Sunday evening.
Suspect Saikia worked with a private security firm and was deputed at Infosys six months ago, police said. A background check at the time of appointment had shown no previous record of crime.
Family complains
Rasila joined Infosys around two years ago in Bengaluru after getting her BTech degree from a Tamil Nadu college. She was transferred to Pune six months ago.
Rasilas mother died of cancer two years ago, while brother Rijeesh works abroad.
Her family from Kozhikode in Kerala said she was seeking a transfer back to Bengaluru. Had she been shifted to Bengaluru or anywhere in south India, she would have been alive now, said father Raju O, a retired soldier who is now working as a home guard in his home state.
The family accused Infosys of security lapses, asking why a female guard was not on duty when a lone woman was working.
They called my daughter to the office on Sunday which was her weekly off, said her father.
Further, Rasilas maternal uncle Manoj alleged that the guard was making advances to his niece and she complained about it to company officials.
But no action was taken. We will file a complaint for a detailed inquiry, he said.
Police too have decided to seek an explanation from Infosys about the security slip.
Pune police commissioner Rashmi Shukla said: Why didnt Infosys depute a female security staff when they knew that a woman engineer was working alone on a weekend? Why was Rasila called for the evening shift when there was no one in her section?
The tech giant didnt offer any comments on the allegations, but tweeted its condolence.
We are deeply saddened & shocked by the tragedy at Pune DC. Our hearts go out to our colleagues family in this time of grief.
Infosys officials told police Rasila had the day off, but came to work on a project and was in touch with colleagues at the companys Bengaluru office.
But when her supervisor in Bengaluru could not get through to her over phone late on Sunday, someone in the Hinjewadi office was asked to check on her.
When her colleagues came to her workstation, they found her lying on the floor with a computer wire around her neck, assistant police commissioner Vaishali Jadhav said.
The autopsy was postponed as the family requested police to hold on until they reached the city.
The incident sent shockwaves since this is the second murder of a woman techie in two months in Pune, home to young technology professionals. Antara Das, a 23-year-old from Kolkata working with Capgemini, was stabbed to death when she was returning from work late in the evening last December.
(With PTI inputs)
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India said on Tuesday only a credible crackdown on Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed will be proof of Pakistans sincerity, a day after Pakistan said it had detained the Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and four of his deputies.
Saeeds arrest has been long sought by both the Indian and American governments. The US has a standing $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Saeed has blamed the Pakistan governments move on pressure from new US President Donald Trumps administration.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the government has seen reports on Pakistan interior ministry order placing the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief under its watchlist and also the notification under which the foundation has been included in the second schedule of their anti-terror legislation under UN Security Council Resolution number 1267.
Read: Pressure from US, China may have led to LeT founder Hafiz Saeeds house arrest
The JuD, listed as a terror outfit by the United Nations, is considered by the US and India to be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant group blamed for the Mumbai attack.
Exercises such as yesterdays orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistans sincerity, Swarup said.
The spokesperson said India has long maintained that the UNSC 1267 provisions pertaining to listing and proscription of known terrorist entities and individuals must be effectively and sincerely enforced by all member states.
Read: How Pakistani newspapers reported Hafiz Saeeds detention
We have also consistently called for bringing known terrorists under the ambit of the 1267 sanctions, he said.
Protests were planned in Pakistans major cities Tuesday after authorities detained the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks after years of pressure to act against his group.
Police took Saeed away from a mosque in Lahore late Monday and escorted him to his residence where they appear to be holding him under house arrest.
With inputs from agencies
Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj had unusual guests at his office on Monday. The guests, all college students, marched straight to the SSP office to thank him with roses.
The thanksgiving gesture was unique against the backdrop of the fact that Bihar police have of late been at the receiving end for a growing pubic perception about deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
Police personnel deputed at the SSP office were surprised to see the group of girls armed with roses. They wondered if the girls had come to protest for some cause in Gandhigiri style. They stopped the girls who were firm on meeting the SSP saheb.
Hearing the hullabaloo outside, the SSP bowed to the youth brigades pressure and stepped out. And lo! The girls immediately began showering praises on the super cop, crediting him with acting tough on eve-teasers and making the state capital much secure for girls.
They lauded the SSP especially for promptly nabbing three youths, involved in molesting and roughing up two girls on the busy Boring Road in Patna on January 19. The youths on motorbike, after stalking the two sisters, had got hold of one by her hair and dragged her some distance before letting off the victim.
The SSP had promptly taken action against a cop who took the incident lightly when the girls went to the Buddha Colony police station to lodge a formal complaint.
The girls also gave kudos to the SSP for the improved situation outside college and schools, informing him that road Romeos had almost disappeared after the Patna police launched a drive against eve-teasers. The students, largely from the Magadh Mahila College and the Patna Womens College, requested him to continue the spirited drive against eve-teasers.
A buoyed SSP assured the girls that he would stop eve-teasing at all cost. He also asked them to be bold enough to come forward and report incidents of eve-teasing.
Later, talking to reporters, the SSP said, The girls of theYouth for Swaraj group, comprising college students, for protection of girls against eve-teasing, are planning to expand their footprints.
A security guard arrested for allegedly murdering an Infosys employee has told Pune Police he tried to commit suicide after strangling the female engineer but changed his mind at the last minute.
But officials dismissed his statement, saying the guard was trying to create sympathy for himself and pointed to signs that he had planned the murder in advance.
Bhaben Saikia, 26, was picked up on Monday, hours after the software professional, Rasila Raju OP, was found strangled with a computer cable at her workplace in Hinjewadi IT park near Pune.
Saikia confessed to the crime and said he went to the roof of the building to fling himself off the terrace but reconsidered when he saw security officials on the ground, officials reported.
He also said he called up his mother in Assam, told her about the crime and surrendered after her advice to do the same.
But police officials said there was no need to take the statement at face value and that Saikia showed no signs of remorse of stress.
Saikia is accused of murder. He may say that whatever he wants to, we dont need to take his statements on the face value, said assistant commissioner of police Vaishali Jadhav.
She pointed out that Saikia patiently competed his duty hours after strangulating Rasila. Later, he tried to flee at Assam when we caught him at CST in Mumbai, said Jadhav.
Police said Rasila, a native of Kozhikode in Kerala, was killed by Saikia in a fit of rage after arguments broke out between the two.
According to police officials, Saikia was staring at Rasila, who threatened to complain against him. Under the fear of being fired, Saikia initially requested Rasika not to complain. When the latter did not listen, Saikia killed her, police said.
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Infosys on Tuesday agreed to pay Rs one crore as ex gratia to the family of Rasila Raju OP and an employment to the next of her kin, a day after her father blamed the software giant for lapse in security that led to her murder.
Infosys in its letter, signed by HR representative Santhosh Nair, said, On behalf of Infosys, we agree to pay the nominee of deceased employee Ms OP Rasila an amount of INR One crore as ex-gratia. Hindustan Times is in possession of the letter, which states that statutory payments of provident fund and gratuity shall be paid according to the companys policy.
The letter also doubles up an agreement and has the signatures of Rasilas father, Raju, and other members of local Malayalee community.
Read | Pune Infosys techie murder: Rasila had told us about guards advances, says uncle
Earlier in the day, in separate statement to media, Infosys said it was considering financial assistance to victims family.
Towards ensuring financial stability for the family, Infosys takes into account the statutory payments to be made as per company policy. The company also considers ex-gratia payments based on the circumstances. Infosys also endeavors to make every effort at a suitable employment opportunity for the next of kin who qualify its recruitment criteria, it said.
Rasila, a systems engineer was found murdered at her workstation in the Hinjewadi IT Park near Pune late on Sunday evening. A security guard, Bhaben Saikia, had allegedly strangled with a computer at her workplace. The suspect was arrested from Mumbai a day later.
Read | Pune techie complained about guard to Infosys, but no action was taken, says uncle
The security guard has told Pune Police he tried to commit suicide after strangling Rasila but changed his mind at the last minute. But officials dismissed his statement, saying the guard was trying to create sympathy for himself and pointed to signs that he had planned the murder in advance.
Rasila was buried in her home town of Kozhikode on Tuesday.
Her murder was the second killing of a woman techie in Pune in the last two months. In December, Antara Das, 23-year-old techie from Kolkata working with Capgemini near Pune, was stabbed to death while returning from work late in the evening.
The latest murder sent shockwaves across the IT sector with many questioning whether security employees hired for software parks are vetted before appointment.
Read | Murdered Pune Infosys techie wanted to be transferred to Bangalore but wasnt allowed
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The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which found itself stifled under the previous regime of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, is breathing easier in the state today.
RSS media coordinator for the state N Sadagoppan said the organisation found it easier to conduct marches and demonstrations since O Panneerselvam took over as CM.
During Jayalalithaas rule, even if the courts gave permission to RSS to hold a march, the government would go and get a stay on it. But today, things are a bit different, he said, adding, We are happy with the OPS government.
The RSS functionarys admission came a day after about 1,000 swayamsevaks marched from Egmore to Chintadripet to commemorate the birth anniversaries of Saint Ramanuja, Guru Gobind Singh, BR Ambedkar and Subhas Chandra Bose.
Sadagoppan said, When the DMK was in power, even if police denied permission, it was possible to get permission by meeting the then CM Karunanidhi or some senior ministers. But it was difficult when Jayalalithaa was at the helm of affairs.
The Madras HC had granted permission to the RSS in October last year to hold its march, subject to certain conditions. It had to be postponed for some reason, Sadagoppan said.
Buoyed by the participation and response to the march, the RSS will go ahead with more of its activities that include training activists in current issues, ideological lectures, physical exercises and interacting with villagers among others.
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The murder of an Infosys techie in Pune does not appear to be an isolated incident as police data suggests that crimes against women have been on the rise in the city -- crossing 1,000 cases in 2016.
At least 1,015 cases were registered in 2016 compared to 983 in 2015 and 652 in 2014, according to data released by Pune police.
According to Pune police commissioner Rashmi Shuka, investigation into sexual crimes revealed that the accused was known to the victim in 97% of the cases.
Earlier in January, Shukla had said that in 13% of the cases, a relative was responsible for the crime, while a close acquaintance was charged in 68% of the cases.
To deal with growing cases of crimes against women, we are forming separate police teams, said Shuka.
Of the 1,015 cases against women, 354 were rape.
The police have managed to crack 99% of the rape cases reported in 2016, Shukla added.
On the Infosys techie murder, Shukla said the crime has raised several questions over the way the IT firm was handling security on the campus and promised that Infosys would be made to explain the security lapse.
Why did Infosys not depute a female security staff when they knew that a woman engineer worked alone on weekends? Infosys should also explain that why it called Rasila in the evening shift when there was no one during that period in her section, said Shukla.
The incident has left me angry. Therefore I am going to call a meeting of all the senior delegates and security heads of all the IT companies in and around Pune, she said.
Rasilas murder is the second within a month after another a software professional working with Capegemini was hacked to death by an unidentified person when she was returning home.
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What will US President Donald Trumps stance be on Indias quest for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council that received a ringing endorsement from his predecessor?
Trumps spokesman Sean Spicer left the answer hanging in the air when asked about it on Monday at his briefing, replying tersely, I am not going to get any further with getting seats on the Security Council.
At the same time he said: The relations between the two countries will go stronger.
The US policies are still taking shape and a permanent seat for India would be lower in its foreign policy priorities.
Former President Barack Obama had expressed full backing for India getting a permanent Security Council seat. US allies France and Britain have also endorsed Indias bid, while Russia is ambivalent at best and China vehemently against.
If the US were to walk back on the support for a permanent seat offered by Obama, it would be a major development.
Trump had promised to be a friend of India during the campaign and emphasised after a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week that the US considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world.
As a measure of the importance he gave India, Modi was the fifth world leader Trump called after taking office, ahead of key allies like France or Britain or important powers like Russia or China.
A permanent seat for New Delhi could also fit in with Trumps idea of remaking the world order, developing India into a counterweight to China in the region as Washington scales back some of its commitments to Asian allies.
Spicer said that Trump as very pleased with Indian American Nikki Haley being confirmed to the cabinet-level job of ambassador to the UN and that she is going to do a fine job representing us.
Haley has called for reforming the world body and making it more efficient and rooting out corruption.
Before she presented her credentials on January 27, she spelled out a tough US agenda.
Those who dont have our back...we will make points to respond to that accordingly, she warned.
The world views of India and the Trump administration will collide on some issues, with the Middle East being an important one.
Camel breeders in the state are losing interest in rearing the animal as they are facing several problems after the enforcement of the Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Bill, 2015.
In the bill, in which camel has been declared as the state animal, many clauses have been added for the protection of the animal but it is creating hurdles for illiterate breeders. One such issue is that during droughts, breeders are not being able to take camels to neighbouring states as the bill says that they have to take permission from the authorities concerned before moving the animals. After returning, too, they have to visit the authorities and show that they have brought back the same number of camels they had taken.
The camel breeders are illiterate and hence they face problems. The sale of camels at fairs too has gone down as those who buy camels will have to complete paperwork before taking the animals out of the state. So many avoid buying them, said Hanwant Singh, director of Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan (LPPS), an NGO working for camel breeders and camels.
There is demand for male camels in Punjab and Haryana, as the animals are used for ploughing fields. But they are avoiding buying camels due to the paperwork involved, said Singh.
Singh said that though the government is taking steps to encourage camel breeders a little more effort is needed. The recent Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has given its approval to camel milk. The government must take interest in setting up camel milk dairies to promote its medicinal benefits. He even said that Amul is going to market camel milk from March this year and Gujarat has only 18,000 camels, while the number is much more in Rajasthan. The government should take advantage of this, suggested Singh.
Singh also pointed out the skewed sex ratio among camels. A low female camel population is creating issues. Earlier, one male camel was enough for a herd of 50 female camels, but now there are 18 male camels in a herd of 50 female camels. The breeding season is on and with the decline in female camels, male camels in heat get violent and attack people.
People often buy female camels for slaughtering as they are cheaper than the males. This has also led to a decline in the female camel population, Singh informed.
According to the 19th Livestock Census of 2012, the camel population in India was 4 lakh. In Rajasthan, it was more than 3.25 lakh, but Singh said that now the number has declined to around 2 lakh.
While talking about the issue, agriculture and animal husbandry minister Prabhu Lal Saini said, If camel breeders have any problems, they can tell us and we will look into their problems.
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(Xinhua) 09:11, January 31, 2017
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem warned on Monday of any attempt by foreign powers to establish safe zones in northern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.
Al-Moallem made the remarks at a meeting with visiting United NationsHigh Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, where both agreed that imposing safe zones, as proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, would be "unsafe" and violate the sovereignty of Syria, if without coordination with the Syrian government.
On Wednesday, Trump said he "will absolutely do safe zones in Syria" for refugees fleeing the war in the country, amid reports that he will task the Pentagon to prepare a plan for setting up safe zones in northern Syria.
Turkey agreed on the idea, as Ankara has long been seeking to create such zones in northern Syria, especially when it has forces there fighting the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish-backed militias.
In separate phone calls with Trump on Sunday, Saudi King Salman and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Muhammad agreed to support safe zones in Syria and Yemento help refugees "displaced by the ongoing conflicts," the White Housesaid in a press release.
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country may support the U.S. initiative to establish safe zones for refugees in Syria, noting that the plan would require close cooperation with the UN and approval from the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Do not be surprised if you get a police communication for penalty within minutes of violation of traffic rules. A world-class smart traffic surveillance system is in place to catch even the slightest offence on city roads.
Hundreds of high-tech cameras have been installed at locations in the city to ensure round-the-clock surveillance. A special control room has been established for the intelligent traffic management of the city, said an official.
Jaipur will join the cities, such as Delhi and Indore, in a month to have this system in which traffic monitoring and management will be done on Reliance Jios 4G internet protocol/multi-protocol labeled switching (IP/MPLS) network with no manual intervention.
Government of Rajasthan and civic bodies have partnered with Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd for the technical and infrastructure support required for the surveillance system. The new system is ready for operations and it will be soon handed over to the state government, said a senior Reliance official.
Jio has installed over 270 HD cameras on its 4G mobile towers for smart surveillance at 115 key locations in the city. A unique red light violation and high-speed detection system has also been introduced. The new technology can detect speed up to 160kmph, the official said. The network will provide round-the-clock live video steaming to the data centre at Yojana Bhawan for police monitoring.
An official shows how the new surveillance system will work. (Prabhakar Sharma/HT Photo)
The system will help in detecting red light and over-speeding violators, and capturing number plates of vehicles flouting traffic rules. The new mechanism will be of great help for speeding up criminal investigations and managing events and festivals in the city, the official said.
During a pilot run of the system on January 25, it was found that in 18 hours, around 40,000 commuters crossed Paanch Batti and New Gate area, of which 20,000 jumped red light and zebra lines. A large number of vehicles were found over-speeding on JLN road; maximum speed of 132 km/hour was registered by speed guns, he said.
DCP (traffic) Haidar Ali Zaidi said, The project will come into operations in a month. The new system would not only strengthen transparency but also help capture traffic violations automatically.
In this system, a challan (violation ticket) will be automatically generated with evidence for over-speeding and red light jumps. Once the system is synced with the transport department, a ticket with address, time of violation, photo etc will be generated, which could be dispatched to violators doors, the Reliance official said.
The cameras can identify and monitor objects from 50 to 400 meters, and are equipped with night vision. At present 195 operational cameras have covered the walled city and JLN road, the official said. The pilot project, rolled out two years back with a cost of 50 crore, is all set to be launched, he added.
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday removed one of its investigating officers probing the Rs 17,000 crore Rose Valley chit fund scam, after he was spotted with Subhra Kundu, the wife of Rose Valley CEO, Gautam Kundu. They were seen in two separate CCTV footages, the first at the Kolkata airport and the second one at a New Delhi hotel.
The officer, Manoj Kumar is an assistant director with ED, the investigation arm of the Union ministry of finance. The CCTV footages where he was spotted with Subhra, were accessed by Kolkata Police sleuths from a computer at the Rose Valley office at Mangoe Lane in central Kolkata in December last year.
In the computer, we recovered two files namely Rose Valley and Madam Rose Valley, from where we were able to track the CCTV footages, said a Kolkata Police official.
Meanwhile, ED sources confirmed that since the name of an investigating officer has come up with the scandal, the agency thought it wise to remove Kumar from the probe process for the time being.
According to sources, Kumar claimed innocence and said that he was victimised because of personal vendetta.
Meanwhile, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), the investigation arm of the Union ministry of corporate affairs, too, filed a case against Rose Valley at a lower court, slapping a forgery charge to the tune of Rs 1.18 crore.
In the case filed, SFIO claimed that Rose Valley was illegally accumulating public deposits from 2010 to 2014 without the permission of the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
HT reported on January 3, 2017, that SFIO was re-entering the chit fund scam in West Bengal and this time the agencys area of investigation will not only be the old sharks such as Saradha, Rose Valley and Icore, but also the 194 new entrants in the Ponzi circle of the state as identified by Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The SFIO accessed important documents that revealed that two Trinamool Congress MPs arrested by the CBI in connection with the Rose Valley scam attempted to bail out Rose Valley after the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDA) cancelled its corporate agency license with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in March 2012.
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The Airport Authority of India (AAI) will report movement of all VVIPs coming to Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, to the election commission daily. The poll panel has directed the AAI to implement the code of conduct strictly , especially with VVIPs, as they are not above the law.
The airport air intelligence unit will monitor the movement of politicians who use chartered planes and choppers for campaigning and submit a daily report to the election commission. A team of income tax officials will check the baggage and keep a hawks eye on cash flow through private flights at the airport.
After the directives of the election commission the Airport Authority of India has placed a new X ray machine and a special scan machine to check the netas.
Director airport PK Srivastava said, AAI will follow the directives and no leniency will be allowed. However, there are some politicians who will not be frisked or scanned but will be allowed to pass through special pathways meant for them, heavily guarded by special forces and CISF. No common man would be allowed to sneak to that area. Other netas will be given due respect but they will have to pass through the X-ray zone.
A team of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been deployed near the X-ray zone.
According to insiders, the Airport Authority of India has set up a special cell to welcome VVIPs at the airport. Sometimes VVIPs have to wait at the airport for a long duration. So the VVIP lounge is always kept ready. There is arrangement of light refreshment and coffee for the VVIP guests.
Officials say that some leaders have high grade security, so CISF has to play a major role in providing them security inside the airport terminal and escorting the leaders out safely.
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A BJP candidate once accused of inciting communal riots has vowed to clamp curfew in three Muslim-majority towns of UP should the party be voted to power, in remarks that could invite the Election Commissions wrath for potentially violating poll guidelines.
Suresh Rana, who is contesting from Thana Bhawan in Shamli district, was booked by UP Police on charges of inciting hatred after he said on Sunday that curfew will be imposed in Kairana, Deoband, Moradabad if he and the party are elected in the polls starting next month. If I win, curfew will be imposed in Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad, Rana is heard saying in a video clip released by news agency ANI.
The MLA added his defeat will be celebrated in Deoband and Moradabad. His comments were greeted with loud cheer from the crowd. He, however, backtracked on Monday, saying his comments were taken out of context.
Accusing Rana of attempting to instill fear in the minds of Muslims, and polarise the UP polls, Muslim cleric Khalid Rashid urged the EC to cancel his candidature.
The BJP has been highlighting what it claims is mass exodus of Hindus from several areas of Shamli due to alleged extortion and threat by Muslim goons.
Last year, the BJP had released the report of a fact-finding team to Kairana and demanded a CBI probe into criminal gangs hounding out Hindus from the predominantly Muslim township in western UP. Deoband in neighbouring Shaharanpur district is famous for its Muslim seminary Darul Uloom, seen by the Hindu right-wing as a breeding ground of radical Islam.
Read more: BJPs Suresh Rana stokes trouble with plans of curfew in 3 Muslim towns in UP
Muslim voters play a decisive role on the majority of constituencies in Western UP where people will cast their votes in the first phase of election. While fortunes of BJPs rival parties depend on polarisation of Muslims in their support, the saffron partys success largely depend on togetherness of non -Muslim voters.
Though political parties avoid accepting the fact in public and usually claim of bagging votes on the name of development and not caste or religion, but , it is a fact that their election strategists always keep a close eye on swing of voters especially Muslims. It is also evident during distribution of tickets on 37 constituencies of the region where people will go to polls on February 11. While BJP has not given ticket to any Muslim candidates, its rival parties have attempted to woo Muslim voters by fielding many candidates of their clan.
Mayawati with her base vote bank of Dalits wants to add Muslim voters and to do so she has given tickets to 16 Muslim candidates in 37 constituencies of the region. The party had bagged 13 seats in the region in previous assembly election of 2012 where it won on the Muslim-Dalit combine.
Read more| UP elections: Is there a Muslim vote factor in Uttar Pradesh?
Meanwhile, the alliance of ruling Samajwadi Party and Congress could become a matter of concern for the BSP and the BJP both because majority of Muslim voters still have their inclination towards the SP in the state. They could accept alliance as a bigger force than Mayawati against Modi and under such circumstance they will prefer casting their votes in favour of the alliance instead of the BSP. Prof of political science in CCS University Sanjeev Sharma says, Muslims generally cast their vote in favour of those whom they believe could defeat BJP. The BJP now has only one option to polarise maximum Hindu votes in its favour to counter polarisation of Muslim votes in support of the alliance or the BSP.
The Samajwadi Party and Congress have fielded 25 and 13 candidates respectively on 37 seats of the region. Meanwhile, the BJP has sent a message of Hindutva among its voters by not fielding any Muslim candidate on 37 seats of the region. The party won only in eight seats of the region in previous election and later it also won the by election of Muzaffarnagar. It, however, won all 14 seats of Lok Sabha in the region in general election of 2014, which was held seven months after the Muzaffarnagar riot and polarisation worked in favour of the party.
Read more| UP elections: Politicians tour Islamic seminaries and dargahs in hope of Muslim votes
However, Ajit Singhs RLD received sever political jolt in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Ajit Singh and son Jayant Choudhary lost because its traditional Muslim voters deserted the party, which lost its winning Jat-Muslim equation on its home turf. After failing to be a part of SP-Cong alliance, RLD decided to go alone in the lection and has fielded candidates in 36 out of 37 constituencies of the region and given ticket to 7 Muslim candidates in its bid to revive its equation of Jat-Muslim by winning confidence of Muslim voters. The party won three seats in the region in 2012 and it could play a spoilsport for rival parties in the election because its traditional Jat voters is expected to come in the fold of RLD.
The issue of palayan or alleged Hindu exodus from western Uttar Pradesh (UP) could find resonance during the BJPs campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to raise the matter during his rallies in the region in February, party insiders said.
Though the formal schedule of the PMs rallies is awaited, Modi may begin the partys west UP campaign from February 4 followed by three more rallies one each in Aligarh Muslim University, Bijnor and Pilibhit over the next seven days.
Since the exodus issue has found a prominent mention in the BJPs UP manifesto, the party leaders say that the possibility of the PM Modi taking up the issue during his election speeches in west UP were high.
Meerut is about 50 kilometres from Muzaffarnagar where the 2013 communal riots split the Jat-Muslim unity, leading to massive polarisation in favour of the BJP.
Palayan also figures prominently on the BJPs election manifesto for Uttar Pradesh as the BJP is seeking to target both the SP and the BSP, who have refuted BJPs palayan claim.
The BJP has fielded lawmakers like Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana, accused of Muzaffarnagar riots, as its candidates from west UP.
Palayan as well as release of over 800 Hindus who are in jail after being framed in various riots will surely figure in my campaign, says Rana, who has started making controversial remarks that are aimed at religious polarisation.
A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report has admitted that over 250 Hindu families left Kairana town due to communal tension and fear. However, the UP government had rejected the BJPs palayan claim. The police had admitted to partial exodus but added it was largely for better opportunities.
Releasing the manifesto on Saturday, BJP chief Amit Shah, who is expected to hold several rallies in west UP, had said that if voted to power his party would set up a special police department to check palayan.
Its a reality in west UP, he had said, adding that his party will make district magistrates accountable for large-scale migration. The BJP has fielded Mriganka Singh, daughter of party MP Hukum Singh, who had first highlighted the issue of palayan as its candidate from Kairana. The BJP has already drafted its firebrand MP Yogi Adityanath into the west UP campaign. The BJP has also met the Election Commission officials, demanding that arrangements be made to ensure that those who had left west UP out of fear are able to cast their vote.
Former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionary-turned-UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya, too, is scheduled to visit the Muslim-dominated Deoband region on February 1 to consolidate the partys OBC vote in the assembly segment from where Congress had registered a surprise win in a by-poll in 2016.
The BJP won the Muzaffarnagar assembly seat in a by-poll in 2016.
Read more: Will exodus issue polarise voters in Mrigankas favour?
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The hearing of the bail plea filed by Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, one of the prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, in the Bombay high court took a new turn on Tuesday. While responding to the courts query, the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigating Agency (NIA) said they were clueless about the transcripts, if such existed, to back the ATS claims that Thakur was part of Abhinav Bharat meetings where the blast was planned.
In the charge sheet filed by the ATS, Thakur has been accused of attending meetings convened by the right wing group in cities such as Bhopal, Indore, Faridabad, Dharamkot, and Ujjain. It also mentioned that key witnesses had heard Thakur discussing the execution of the blast in a closed-door meeting in Bhopal on April 11, 2008.
This was the first meeting in which Thakur had made an appearance, the probe agency had claimed and went on to say that the Bhopal meeting, as well as the proceedings of the previous and subsequent meetings, had been recorded by co-accused Sudhakar Dwivedi on his laptop. The ATS claimed it recovered the laptop, seized its hard disk and sent its content to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Delhi for analysis. It later claimed that audio and video clips retrieved from the hard back their claim.
On Tuesday, a division bench comprising Justice Ranjit More and Justice Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi asked the NIA to produce a transcript of the recording made at the Bhopal meeting, assuming that the NIA must have gone through the same after taking over the probe from the ATS. But the central agency said it had no knowledge of any such transcript.
Representing NIA, additional solicitor general Anil Singh said that it only had the transcripts from the meeting at Faridabad and that if any more video recordings or transcripts existed, then ATS had failed to hand them over.
The Fardiabad meeting was held before the Bhopal meeting and the reference to the accused was first made in the Bhopal meeting, so if you have transcripts of the first meeting, the transcripts of the subsequent meetings must be there. What did you do with them? These were crucial meetings and the transcripts are important evidence, so how are they missing?, the bench asked.
It further asked, You have written in your own charge sheet that you got the transcripts from FSL and you studied them so why dont you have it? We want to go through the transcripts, videos, audio recordings, phone records, all that you cited in the charge sheet.
The bench even summoned ATS officers and sought the list of evidence submitted before the trial court in the case. Later, the ATS then said it had submitted a video clip from the Bhopal meeting but had no audio for the same. While it could not remember for sure, this clip it said, might have footage of Pragya Thakur.
The bench has now issued an order to the lower court to release copies of 11 CDs, a few video clips, and call detail record the ATS had annexed with its charge sheet. the hearing HC is likely to resume on February 7.
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Ahead of the Mumbai civic polls, Supriya Sule, NCP leader and Member of Parliament, and Mumbai NCP chief Sachin Ahir, in a free-wheeling chat with HT, spoke about their partys failure to make inroads into Mumbai, the hypocrisy of the saffron partners, and how the Congress is a natural ally. The BJP-Sena were partners-in-crime. How can all the corruption in the BMC be linked only to the Shiv Sena, and the BJP be completely clean?, Sule said. Forget Shanghai and Singapore, Sule said her party would focus on first getting basic amenities in Mumbai right. She did so showcasing NCP-ruled civic bodies such as Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Navi Mumbai. Ahir said the city first deserved attention on gutter, water and meter.
NCP has been in power for 15 years, but has failed to make inroads in the states capital.
Sule: Maybe, we havent put our best foot forward here. I would even be harsh on us and say, we were a bit slack. We had an alliance with Congress because of which there was a division of seats and certain areas, districts were left for our ally. In Mumbai, I really think we havent worked too much because we got so much support from elsewhere. I think we are changing now.
So, do you think an alliance with Congress for so many years has been a mistake?
Sule: It was not a mistake. We were together for 15 years and you cant call that long a partnership a mistake. We (Congress-NCP) made these choices with our eyes open. There is a good and a bad side. But, one cant say I didnt grow when you have enjoyed power with your ally for 15 years. It is foolish to say that.
In the current scenario, with the BJP-Sena split, space for an opposition has reduced. Is there space left for Congress or NCP ?
Sule: This question upsets me. I am also a citizen of this city. This election cannot be only about bickering between parties calling each other names. One is calling the other corrupt and claims to give transparent governance but continues to share power with the same party in the state and Centre. What should I do as a citizen? After getting shocked and disappointed, who do I turn to? The city needs an alternative.
Does the split affect NCP ?
Sule: I dont think it will make much of a difference. What I can say is BJP is equally responsible for all the corruption all these years. They were partners-in-crime. Why doesnt BJP talk about corruption in BMC in the last 22 years? How can BJP be clean and all corruption be linked only to Sena ? And, then you cant say my corporator may make money but I am clean. Some people say that. I dont believe in this theory. If my corporator makes money, I am equally responsible.
Do you consider Congress as a natural ally? Why havent you tied up with it for Mumbai polls?
Sule: Yes, I think we are natural allies. We are happy to have a tie up but there has been no offer. We are professionals and dont want to romance like others... so no love etc between us. In some other local bodies, there may be alliance with Congress.
Do you think NCP has realistic chances to win BMC polls?
Sule: We have to be optimistic. What does a realistic chance mean? In 2004, nobody thought we will come back to power but we did. Who would have thought in 1999 that six months after forming our party, we will come to power?
Why should Mumbaiites vote for NCP? What does it NCP offer?
Sule: In the three civic corporations we run Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Navi Mumbai, we have delivered better than anyone else. We are asking for a mandate in BMC purely on merit by showcasing our efforts. I think Mumbai needs a change as the city is deteriorating.
Sachin Ahir: While we were in government, the party didnt have departments like urban development through which we could have shown our commitment. Despite this, the citys first sea bridge Bandra-Worli Sea link was implemented by MSRDC, our department. We legalised slums till 2000. The RERA (Real Estate Regulation Act) was our concept and we introduced it in the state legislature. We can also plan the citys development, like we have done in Pune. Why is that people who were voted for by the city for 22 years failed to provide basic things? In Mumbai, we still struggle for basic facilities. This is not the city of our dreams. Mumbai needs basic amenities gutter, metre, water.
What was done to strengthen NCPs space in Mumbai after your split with Congress in 2014?
Ahir: We have been consistently raising issues and unearthed scandals. A PIL was filed on health issues in which the high court has passed strictures against BMC. Although our number was small in BMC, we tried to create our space. With only 13 corporators, NCP was declared number one in terms of performance by NGO Praja that watches elected representatives.
You spoke of development formula used by NCP in other civic bodies. But solutions for Mumbais issues would be different.
Sule: Lets start with the example of hospitals run by BMC. Despite getting funds, how many BMC hospitals are really made affordable in the last 30-40 years. In Pune, we have started maternity hospitals at the ward level that are small like Primary Health Centres in rural Maharashtra. PHC is a sustainable model and was proved effective. We have started a mother milk bank, the first in a corporation, for which we dont need great infrastructure. Lets be realistic. Shanghai-Singapore model is not going to come up in Mumbai but we can improve our schools, health care models, garbage management etc. There are ways to make this possible. In my constituency, three of 14 wards are zero-garbage wards. This was appreciated by the Centre. Similar models can be adopted in Mumbai, a very aware city. We need active citizen participation... Its a city is bursting at its seems. We love to see tall building, but do we have a system to support it?
There is a perception NCP is the most corrupt political party. This has damaged your credibility. How do you plan to tackle this ?
Sule: I am glad you asked this question. I am going to demand evidence from people who are making these allegations. I know perception cant be changed overnight, but Im making a start by challenging it. I do not want to be known as a dirty politician because I am not. You say NCP is corrupt; ok I am willing to debate this, I do not take high morality like CM Devendra Fadnavis and Rahul Gandhi. If we are corrupt, wheres the proof? Find the money and it should not be so difficult in this digital age. Find that one politician, firm who has given us this money. I havent kept the money under the bed. If it is in some bank account, trace it and Ill give you a cheque of that amount and donate it to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund...I never make allegations unless I have substantial evidence.
If either Sena or BJP emerges as the single largest party and need support, would NCP be comfortable as opposition or would it support these parties?
Sule: We are not thinking about that. We are only thinking about winning. We are here to pass with good marks, why do we think like this?
Will you be contesting all seats?
Ahir: Right now, we are concentrating on 123 seats. The party has candidates for 180-odd seats. People are also coming up for the rest of the lot. But, we just dont want to contest for the sake of contesting polls. We are selecting candidates on their merit. This is the reason, for the first time, we have chosen well-educated candidates from different professions such as doctors, advocates, civil engineer . We are trying to accommodate people that the city actually needs, and not those who are politically connected.
Your voting percentage in the last polls was just 6.56% and you won only 13 seats. How can you stake claim as a probable winner?
Sule: At least we have to reach out to the people. We are very realistic. When we contest Lok Sabha polls, we never said the PM will be from NCP. Here too, we are not saying Mayor will be from us. But, we want to perform better. If I fail this time, at least I will try to pass next time. Why should I say, I am failing, so leave it?
Assuming NCP emerges the single largest party, between BJP and Sena, which one would you like to share power with, if you have to?
Sule: There is a difference of ideology so... But one thing I must say, both parties are diluting their ideologies. Like, no more objecting to English, no more objecting to Valentines Day. They are becoming more and more like Congress and NCP.
What will the impact of demonetisation be on these elections?
Sule: There is a serious impact in rural India. What worries me more is the disparity it has created. There is still a perception that it hit the richest. But has the cash flow improved? For many of us, it may not matter, because we already have had credit cards but it has hit people at the bottom of the pyramid. They still have hopes that the money will get deposited in their Jan Dhan accounts. Prime Minister has been saying this will clear up the system, but the question is was demonetisation really needed when the economy was doing so well?
You supported BJP when it came to power in 2014 and that perception about you continues that you may align with BJP in the future.
Sule: There is a perception because there have been actions...Mr Pawar recently was awarded Padmavibhushan... earlier the PM came to Pune shared the dais with Mr Pawar and said, I have been hand-held by Mr Pawar in the early days in politics. These are personal relations that sometimes come at a political cost. But, despite that, our first choice for an alliance will be Congress because we have naturally worked together. However badly the Congress treats Mr Pawar, his heart is with the Congress.
Would you like to be the chief minister of Maharashtra?
Sule: In 2019, 2024 and 2029, the next three elections I will only ask for Baramati Lok Sabha ticket. I love my job. I genuinely enjoy being a Parliamentarian.
There are rumours about Pawar being a Presidential nominee?
Sule: We have only 11 Members of Parliament (MPs) and we have realistic aspirations. So, I have no idea where these rumours started from.
Influential people suppressed Sheena Bora murder for three years: Rakesh Maria
In a startling disclosure a day before he retires from the police force, IPS officer Rakesh Maria on Tuesday said influential and wealthy people suppressed the Sheena Bora murder in which her mother Indrani Mukerjea and former media baron Peter Mukerjea are among those arrested for three years. Read
Unsold real estate units touch 2.55 lakh in Mumbai Metropolitan Region
The real estate market in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has yet not picked up pace as the number of unsold apartments rose to a staggering 2.55 lakh units from 2.46 lakh three months back. Read
NEET registrations delayed by six weeks
At a time when class 12 students are busy preparing for their upcoming board exams, aspirants of health science courses have a bigger problem to worry about. Registrations to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) have been delayed by six weeks and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is still dilly-dallying on details of the final syllabus to be considered for the exam. Read
Maratha protesters block several roads in Maharashtra ahead of silent rally in Mumbai
Maratha community protesters held chakka jam (road blockades) at various places in Mumbai and parts of the state to demand reservation in education and government jobs on Tuesday. The protests staged during morning peak hours led to traffic congestion at some places in Mumbai. At several places across Maharashtra, state and national highways, traffic came to a standstill due to the protests. Read
Sudhir Mungantiwar orders forest dept to shoot killer tigress in Chandrapur
Maharashtra forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar ordered the forest department that the tigress, who killed three villagers near Sindewahi, bordering the famous Tadoba tiger reserves in Chandrapur district, be shot at sight.Read
A week after filing the charge sheet in the IDBI loan default case, the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) on Tuesday obtained a fresh non-bailable warrant against Vijay Mallya to facilitate the investigating agency to extradite him from the UK.
The CBI had initiated probe against Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines and IDBI bank officials in 2015. On January 23, the CBI had arrested nine people, bank and Kingfisher Airlines officials, and filed a charge sheet against 11 accused the next day. Mallya was named as an absconder in the charge sheet.
As part of the procedure, the agency last week moved a plea before the special CBI court seeking fresh non-bailable warrant against Mallya. Special judge HS Mahajan on Tuesday accepted the chargesheet and allowed the plea for issuance of the warrant.
The court held that there is sufficient material against the accused to accept the charges and Mallya is absconding in the case. Hence, the court issued a non-bailable warrant against Mallya. The fresh warrant would now help the central agency to make a stronger case for his extradition.
As per the case filed by the CBI, Kingfisher Airlines had taken a loan of Rs 950 core in 2009 which it failed to repay. The agency has calculated that the total loss suffered by the IDBI bank is about Rs1,300 crore.
On January 23, the CBI arrested former chairperson Yogesh Aggarwal and three former officials, BK Batra, SKV Srinivasan, and RS Sridhar, of the IDBI Bank along with four former executives of Kingfisher Airlines, former chief financial officer A Raghunathan, Shailesh Porkar, Amit Nadkarni and AC Shah. The accused were remanded in judicial custody after the CBI did not seek their custody. The court also heard the arguments on the bail plea of the accused and the next hearing has been scheduled for February 3.
Also read: Begged for help, not loans: Mallya blames his troubles on govt policies
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Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street in London, Britain, to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entry into the United States, on Jan. 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Ray Tang)
MPs (members of the Parliament) in Britain's House of Commons voted unanimously after an emergency debate Monday to call on U.S. President Donald Trump to repeal his travel ban on Muslims.
As a three-hour debate took place at Westminster, thousands of protesters gathered at the gates of Downing Street to reinforce a call on the government to withdraw an invitation to Trump to pay a state visit to Britain.
The protest at Downing Street was the biggest of similar protests in major cities across Britain.
Demonstrations took places in more than 35 English cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Oxford as well as the Welsh capital Cardiff, and Glasgow in Scotland.
More than 1.5 million people have signed a petition to the British Parliament saying Trump should not be invited to make an official state visit because it would cause embarrassment to Queen Elizabeth. But it says he should be allowed to enter Britain in his capacity as head of the U.S. Government.
The petition and emergency debate were in response to Trump's executive order to ban Muslims from seven Middle Eastern countries from travelling to the United States.
During his presidential election campaign Trump expressed his intention to ban Muslims from travelling to the U.S.
Former leader of the Liberal Democrat party, Lord Paddy Ashdown, warned that a state visit by Trump would spark one of the biggest ever public demonstrations ever seen in London.
Earlier Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was critical of the "highly controversial" measures introduced by Trump, but said holders of British passports would not be affected by the ban, even if they also hold dual passports from any of the seven countries affected.
Johnson said the proposed state visit to Britain by U.S. president should go ahead, adding that the British parliament is entitled to make its views known, but there is "every reason" why the state visit should go ahead.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has faced criticism from opposition politicians for not commenting herself on Trump's instruction.
Former Labor leader Ed Miliband, who generated the emergency debate at Westminster, called on May to speak personally to Trump to express the feelings of Britain on his policy.
Miliband told MPs: "What Trump has done has made the world less safe and more dangerous."
He said the unanimity in the House of Commons among MPs of all political parties, and the depth of feeling at the demonstrations across Britain showed the depth of feeling to Trump's actions.
"He's only been president for two weeks, and it already seems like a year," he said.
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow said the vote calling on the need for the U.S. to repeal the ban on entry to Muslims of the seven countries was supported unanimously by parliament.
Maratha community protesters held chakka jam (road blockades) at various places in Mumbai and parts of the state to demand reservation in education and government jobs on Tuesday. The protests staged during morning peak hours led to traffic congestion at some places in Mumbai. At several places across Maharashtra, state and national highways, traffic came to a standstill due to the protests.
In Mumbai, the protests were staged at arterial roads at Bhandup, Dahisar, Mulund, near Shivaji statue in Chembur, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road and Dadar TT. The blockades led to the traffic jams causing inconvenience to a number of office goers. About 200-300 protesters gathered at each of these places till they were detained by the police or dispersed after police action. In Aurangabad, the police resorted to lathicharge to restrain the protesters from blocking the highways. In retaliation, the protestors pelted stones on police teams. Pune-Bangalore highway in Kolhapur, Aurangabad-Solapur highway in Aurangabad, Mumbai-Dhule highway in Nashik saw similar traffic jams.
The agitations were held to gather momentum and mount pressure on the state government before the communitys silent rally scheduled in Mumbai on March 6. Though the road blockades were planned between 11am and 2 pm, at most of the places it started early. It was a national protest with prior permission at about eight places in Mumbai. It was a warm up to the massive march on March 6 and we received huge response from the community members, said Virendra Pawar, one of the organisers.
Pawar said that though in some parts of the state it will go on till 2 pm, it has been culminated in the city. He said that couple of youths participants were detained by police in central Mumbai.
The community leaders claimed that the road blockade were held at around 2,000 venues across the state.
The community has been agitating for its various demands since August last year. Besides reservation, the community has been demanding the review of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, strictest punishment for the Kopardi rape accused, construction of Shivaji statue in Arabian sea, implementation of the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission on agrarian crisis among others.
Also read
Are Maratha protests in Maharashtra losing steam?
In Mumbai: Jan 31 Maratha rally postponed to March 6
With more than 10,000 diagnostic laboratories and just over 2,200 certified pathologists, most pathological laboratories in Maharashtra are run without a doctor, according to data from the Directorate of Medical Research and Education (DMER).
A recent report by an expert committee, made under the guidance of the joint director of DMER,said that diagnostic test reports have to be supervised by a registered pathologist. Experts have said that technicians can misdiagnose reports, putting the lives of patients at risk.
The Maharashtra Association of Practising Pathologists and Microbiologists (MAPPM), the largest body of certified pathologists in the state has alleged that state officials are guarding illegal pathological labs by allowing technicians to sign test reports for blood, urine, tissue, body fluids and other histopathology findings.
MAPPM has alleged that the findings of the report, which are in accordance with a Bombay high court order of 2009, are ignored to allow the mushrooming of illegal laboratories. We have estimated that the industry of illegal laboratories is worth Rs500cr. Even in Mumbai, almost 1/3 of the labs are illegal and no action by police or government officials have been taken till date, said Dr Sandeep Yadav, president of MAPPM.
In a GR on June 24, 2016 officials mentioned that examining samples of body fluids, urine, blood or tissue and signing medical reports is a medical practice and should be done only by a registered medical professional.
The technicians with Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) or equivalent degrees, recognised by Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) can be allowed to do the tests, however; the clinical analysis has to be done by registered pathologists, read the report, accessed by MAPPM under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
Responding to the allegations of Dr Yadav and colleagues who demanded suspension of Dr Pravin Shingare, director, DMER for protecting the interests of illegal laboratories, Shingare said that MAPPM fails to address the issue of shortage of registered pathologists in the state while demanding a ban on illegal laboratories.
There are 2271 pathologists registered with MMC and we have a genuine crisis of manpower in rural areas of the state. Technicians work area, even at this moment, is to test samples with the help of existing machinery and handover the mechanically printed report. They are not involved in giving out opinions based on the same, said Dr Shingare.
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No blood bank, staff, equipment at BMCs new thalassemia centre at Borivli
The sessions court has refused to set aside the conviction of a Lalbaugcha Raja volunteer for attacking a woman constable when she was on bandobast duty at the pandal during 2012 Ganeshotsav. The court observed that attacks on police personnel on duty are on the rise these days.
Umesh Jadhav, 33, a Lalbaugcha Raja volunteer was accused of attacking a woman constable Jijabai Pawar when she tried to intervene into a scuffle between Jadhav and one of the devotees. Jadhav had slapped Pawar and by the time the other police personnel could rush to her rescue, the accused had disappeared into the crowd.
The case was registered with Kalachowkie Police and Jadhav was arrested on the basis of the CCTV footage. The Metropolitan Magistrate court, Mazgaon had however, convicted Jadhav for the charge of assaulting or using a criminal force to deter public servants from discharge of their duty. The magistrate court had sentenced Jadhav to imprisonment of two years and a fine of Rs2,000.
Jadhav had then challenged the verdict of the magistrate court before the sessions court in 2014 alleging that the finding of the magistrate court were contrary to law and not based on true facts and evidence on record.
He had alleged that the site where of the incident was crowded as devotes would visit in large numbers. The crowd was out of control, therefore the question of slapping the complainant by the accused and fleeing away from the spot was not possible. This creates doubt as there was no space at all to escape from the spot, when there was a heavy police bandobast there, Jadhav claimed in his appeal. He also said that the police did not obtain a mandatory certificate for extracting CCTV footage from the organisers. Hence, the footage cannot be relied up.
The court while hearing the appeal held that even if the evidence of CCTV footage is not considered, the evidence of other witnesses was strong against the accused. The accused has committed offence with a woman police constable while she was on duty. Now-a-days attacks on the police are on the rise, the court observed while confirming the order of the magistrate court and held that it had rightly convicted Jadhav.
Also read: Policing health: Mumbai Cops to now have doctors at their doorstep
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Navghar police and Local Crime Branch, Thane (rural) have cracked the twin murder case, in which rotting bodies of a woman and her eight-year-old daughter were found in their Bhayander flat on January 28. They have arrested Vinayak Ramesh Apur, 22, the boyfriend of the 29-year-old victim, Dipika Sanghvi, on Tuesday for allegedly murdering the two on January 25.
The police said Dipika had an affair with Apur and used to demand money from him while threatening him of filing a rape case against him if he didnt. Both of them worked in a Dahisar call centre and had been going out for the past eight months. She had separated from her estranged husband, Karthik, a year ago and was living with her daughter. Karthik was aware of their relationship and he used to pay Rs7,000 per month.
On January 25, a heated argument between Dipika and Apur, turned ugly when he hit her on the head with a blunt object and then strangulated her to death. Afteer Hetavi, who was earlier sleeping in the bedroom, witnessed the crime, he strangulated her too and wrapped her body in a bedsheet and hid it in the bed cabinet. But he didnt leave immediately , he left the next day and that was when he was caught on CCTV,said API Praful Wagh of Local Crime Branch (LCB), Thane.
Two days later, he left for Goa, from where he went to Shirdi, but was caught at Dahisar as soon as he got off the bus that he took to come back,said the official.
We interrogated his friend, who told us about the murders and as Apur was in touch with him, he tipped us about his arrival here, he said.
Apur was arrested on Tuesday and would be produced before the Thane court on Wednesday, said API Wagh.
The accused was caught on CCTV leaving the building. (HT Photo)
The womans body was found on the bed, while her daughters wrapped in a sheet inside the bed cabinet. While my officers sat on the bed, making the panchnama for Dipika, they caught a stench from the bed cabinet and after lifting the mattress, found Hetals body wrapped in a bedsheet, Patil said. The post mortem report revealed that both the victims were hit on their heads with a blunt object, he said.
Also read
Bhayander murders: Cops rule out husbands role
Mumbai: Rotting bodies of daughter, mom found in Bhayander flat
From being a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya at Kozhikode in Kerala to a system engineer at Infosys in Pune, Rasila Raju OPs journey was rough yet fulfilling until an incident changed it all.
After passing out from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Rasila went to Tamil Nadu for further studies. After completing her B Tech degree, she got a job at Infosys Bangalore around two years ago. Around six months ago, she was transferred to Pune on a project but Rasila did not want to be there. She had requested a transfer.
Rasila was strangled to death by security guard at Infosys on the campus after they entered into an argument when she threatened him of filing a complaint against him for staring at her.
Prior to entering the campus on Sunday afternoon, Rasila spoke with her friends and discussed with them about her plans to get a transfer to Bangalore, which was closer to home.
However, before her plans could turn in to reality, her life was abruptly ended. Rasila was seeking transfer to Bangalore but the company did not accept her application. Had she got transferred to Bangalore or anywhere in south India, she would have been alive, said the victims father Raju O, who retired from Indian Army and is currently working as a guard in Kerala.
Rasilas father, along with other family members, arrived in Pune on Monday. The family, which had requested the police not to carry out post mortem till they reach the city, said they would approach police against tech giant Infosys for laxity in security.
Accusing Infosys of not deploying a female security officer at Rasilas work section, her father said, They called my daughter in the office on Sunday which was her weekly off. While she was alone in her section, the Infosys should have ensured that there is a female security guard deployed on the ninth floor where she was working, said Raju O.
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Pune techie murder: Rasila had told us about guards advances, says uncle
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Raju O, the father of murdered Infosys techie Rasila Raju OP, said on Monday that the family would approach the Pune police to complain about Infosyss allegedly lax security measures.
Raju said, They called my daughter to the office on Sunday, which was her weekly off. As she was alone in her section, Infosys should have ensured that there was a female security guard on the ninth floor where she was working.
Meanwhile, Rasilas maternal uncle, identified only as Manoj, said she had told relatives that Saikia had made advances towards her and that she had complained about him to the company. However, nothing was done about it, he alleged.
We will file a complaint calling for a detailed inquiry into Rasilas death. During telephone calls, she had talked about the same security guard making advances towards her. Though she had complained to the company officials, no action was taken, Manoj said.
Raju, formerly with the Indian Army and now a home guard at Kunnamangalam police station, arrived in Pune with other family members on Monday. The family had requested the police not to conduct the post-mortem until they arrived.
Saikia allegedly strangled Rasila with a computer cable after she chided him for staring at her.
Her body was found on the floor near her workstation on the 9th floor of the Infosys building in Phase II of Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park on Sunday evening.
In the village of Kizhakkal Kadavu, Kozhikode district, relatives were making arrangements for Rasilas marriage when they heard the news of her death. It is a huge shock for us. Rasila last called her stepmother at 2.30 pm yesterday, Manoj said. Rasila had last visited her village just months ago.
After graduating from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Rasila went to Tamil Nadu for further studies. After completing her BTech degree, she got a job at Infosys, Banglore, around two years ago. Around six months ago, she was transferred to Pune on a project. Before going to work on Sunday afternoon, Rasila had told her friends about her plan to get transferred back to Bangalore as it was closer home.
Rasila was seeking transfer to Bangalore but the company did not accept her application. Had she been transferred she would have been alive today, said her distraught father.
Rasilas mother died of cancer two years ago while her brother Rijeesh works abroad.
(With inputs from PTI)
Also read: Infosys techie murdered on Pune campus, security guard arrested
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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule on Monday said the Congress was her partys natural ally and no matter what the perception about him was, NCP chief Sharad Pawars heart is with his former party.
There is a perception because there have been actions..Mr Pawar recently was awarded Padma Vibhushan.. Earlier the PM came to Pune, shared the dais with Mr Pawar and said he had been handheld by Mr Pawar in his early days in politics. These are personal relations that sometimes come at a political cost. But despite that, our first choice for an ally will be the Congress because we have naturally worked together, said Sule, in a free-wheeling chat in the Hindustan Times newsroom ahead of the Mumbai civic polls.
However badly Congress treats Mr Pawar, his heart is with the Congress. He has had challenges with the Congress, but deep within he is with the Congress, she said. She also said personally she felt more at home with the Congress modern liberal thinking.
She said everywhere other than Mumbai, the NCP was holding talks with the Congress for an alliance in other local bodies. And even in Mumbai, she clarified the NCP was willing, but had got no offer from the Congress.
At the end of the day, we are professionals and dont want to romance like others. So, no love etc between us..!
Asked if the party would have a similar opinion on an alliance with the Congress in the 2019 elections, she said: Our first choice will be the Congress because we have naturally worked together.
When asked whether she was ruling out an alliance with the BJP, the NCP MP said: Hypothetically speaking...It is like asking if Aamir Khans next movie would be a hit.
She admitted the NCP was not strong in Mumbai and not enough attention was given to the party organisation here.
In Mumbai, I really think we havent worked too much because we got so much support from elsewhere, success was probably a little easier so we didnt focus enough. I think we are changing now.
Sule also criticised the BJP for blaming the Sena for corruption in the Mumbai civic body. They were partners in crime. Why doesnt the BJP talk about corruption in the BMC in the last 22 years? How can BJP be clean and all the corruption be linked only to the Sena? she said.
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BJP, Sena partners-in-crime: NCP leader Supriya Sule
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A member of legislative assembly from Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and his secretary were booked for allegedly cheating a Mumbai police officer of Rs22.90 lakh at the pretext of selling him an SRA room in Chakala, Andheri east.
According to the Juhu police, an FIR has been registered under IPC sections for cheating and forgery against MLA Subhash Pasi, his secretary Anju Almeida and two others for duping an assistant police inspector from Mumbai Police, who earlier served at the Juhu police station.
The police officer has alleged, in the FIR, that Pasi and Almeida lured him to buy a room in a slum pocket in Chakala which was to be redeveloped under the SRA scheme. Pasi is said to have posed as a builder who had undertaken multiple real estate projects. The complainant was allegedly told that if he pays them Rs25 lakh, they will buy him a room in the slums and in future he will get a house in a newly constructed building under the SRA scheme.
The complainant sold his own house and aggregated the money and paid it to the accused back in 2014 and 2015. To mislead the complainant, the accused also made forged documents on the letter head of a construction company which had undertaken the construction work under the SRA scheme.
However, a couple of years passed and the accused stopped communicating with the complainant. The complainant then found out that Pasi was only an agent and not builder as he had claimed earlier. Gradually, the complainant realised that he has been duped and gave a written complaint to Juhu police in June last year.
After running a preliminary inquiry the police ascertained that a FIR is made out and booked Pasi and Almeida. On the other hand when this correspondent contacted Pasi and Almeida, both denied the allegations terming them as false and malicious made by the officer to defame them.
Pasi said, I never took the money from the officer, someone else did. But we have returned the money. In fact we have returned more money. I have no idea why he has filed the FIR. Almeida said, The officer is lying as we have given him his money back. In fact, we have returned him the money in presence of Juhu police. A police source from Juhu said, We have learnt that Pasi has taken more money from other officers and men in the police force. We are investigating to find out if this is true.
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Maharashtra forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar ordered the forest department that the tigress, who killed three villagers near Sindewahi, bordering the famous Tadoba tiger reserves in Chandrapur district, be shot at sight.
The tigress has killed three women Meerabai Chowdhuri, 60, on January 13, Babita Mendhe on January 22 and Manda Dandekar (both from Shivni village) on January 25. The tigress has also hurt several villagers since October last year.
The villagers, who are gripped with fear after several attacks, had urged the authorities to kill the big cat, otherwise they would do it themselves.
Mungantiwar, who is from Chandrapur district, said he had already told the forest department to issue a shoot-at-sight order against the tigress.
A senior official of the state forest headquarters said, Although the tigresses was blamed for killing three people and injuring several villagers around Sindewahi, our priority would be to tranquilise her and then capture her. If it fails, the last resort would be to shoot her.
Meanwhile, several villagers and forest officials jointly launched a search operation in the area to locate the big cat. Besides, senior forest officials are camping at Sindewahi and assessing the situation.
Earlier, the commandos of elite anti-Maoist C-60 squad from Gadchiroli shot down a problematic tiger that killed seven villagers in Chandrapur district in 2014. The state wildlife wing had issued a shoot-at-sight order to kill the tiger.
The forest department had issued the order after the then BJP legislator Sudhir Mungantiwar (now Maharashtra forest minister) had launched an agitation against the forest department for its failure to either kill or tranquilise the tigress.
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Two Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to eight years rigorous imprisonment by a sessions court on Monday for possessing Ephedrine in commercial quantity. The judge also ordered a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
In a joint operation, the Anti-Narcotics Cell and the Property Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch had arrested the two accused Peter Clement Arize, 32, and Lucky Agbaraizu, 33, on May 31, 2014 in Kalina, Santa Cruz after 3.9 kg Ephedrine was found in their possession. The drugs found on them had a market value of Rs 1.95 lakh.
The FIR was lodged by assistant inspector Nitin Patil of the Property Cell and the case was investigated by police sub inspector Baban Sanap of the Ghatkopar unit of ANC. The duo were booked under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Pyschtropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The punishment was awarded to the accused by judge S R Tamboli.
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The Japanese Embassy to Britain remained silent one day after a detailed media report said that it had been paying a British think tank to propagate against China.
An official with the Japanese Embassy in London acknowledged on Monday morning that the Embassy had received an enquiry letter from Xinhua seeking confirmation and comments on the Jan. 29 The Sunday Times report.
But the Japanese Embassy has failed to reply so far.
The Times report claimed that Japan had been paying 10,000 pounds (12,475 U.S. dollars) per month to a British think tank to hype up "China threat" among British high-level politicians.
It said that the Japanese Embassy in London reached a deal with the Henry Jackson Society (HJS), a registered charity, to wage a secret propaganda campaign against China.
A spokesman from HJS told Xinhua on Monday that the society works with organizations and governments in promoting liberal democracy, human rights and international security.
The spokesman refused to say whether the alleged financial deal with Japan is part of its efforts to promote democracy and human rights.
"We can never reveal specific details. Our position on this is well known and we will continue to support the values that free and democratic societies uphold," the spokesman said.
British media said that the financial deal was reached in response to growing cooperation between China and Britain.
This weekend, former British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind acknowledged that the HJS, founded in 2005, had approached him to put his name to an article published by the Daily Telegraph last August, expressing concerns about China's involvement in Britain's Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.
The article -- titled "How China could switch off Britain's lights in a crisis if we let them build Hinkley C" -- raised fears that "no one knows what 'backdoor' technologies might be able to be introduced into the building of a power plant".
The Sunday Times said Japan's secret public relations war on China reflects Tokyo's concerns about the "golden decade" of Sino-British cooperation.
Related: Japan pays British think tank to propagate against China: media
Japan has been paying 10,000 pounds per month to a British think tank to hype up "China threat" among British high-level politicians, local media reported Sunday.
A man from Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly has told a Ghaziabad court he was driving the Audi Q7 that collided head-on with an autorickshaw killing four people last week. By evening, he was granted bail on personal bond of 20,000 and two sureties of 20,000 each.
Ishaaq Ahmad, from Labhera village under Hafizganj police station area of Bareilly, submitted his surrender application through his lawyer on Monday. Ahmad also appeared before the chief judicial magistrate court on Tuesday afternoon.
The police claim that the car belongs to Dr Manish Rawat, a doctor at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi and stays at Olive County in Vasundhara. So far, the police have only been able to trace the car owner, Rawat, with the help of documents recovered from the car. However, Rawat has not appeared before the police to assist the investigation. He could not be contacted as his mobile was switched off.
One of his two sureties, on the basis of which Ahmad was granted bail, is from Olive County high rise while the other is from Bareilly.
Ishaaq has been falsely implicated and there is no eye witness in the case. He called me through a client on January 29 and submitted his surrender application on January 30, said Nazakat Chaudhary, Ishaaqs lawyer.
Chaudhary said that even though his client was driving the car during the incident, but he denied that the accident took place due to his error. It could also be due to the fault of the auto driver.
Accused Ishaaq Ahmad submitted his surrender application through his lawyer on Monday. (HT Photo)
However, after his application, the court sought a report from Indirapuram police station. The investigating officer submitted his report stating that Ahmad was wanted in the case lodged at Indirapuram police station under sections 279 (rash driving), 304a (causing death by negligence) and 427 (causing damages) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR was lodged against unidentified persons.
He was considered an accused in the case as he himself stated that he was driving the car during the incident. So, we sent the report considering him as accused, said Sanath Kumar Mishra, investigating officer.
No one is ruled out till we file a chargesheet, said Deepak Kumar, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Ghaziabad.
So far, no eyewitness has come forward in the case that took place around 12.15am on January 28 at secluded Hindon canal road, Indirapuram near NH-24.
Read | Audi crash ends lives, dreams to marry, work in a big city
The incident occurred barely a few days after two similar incidents involving speeding high-end vehicles.
Last Friday, a 48-year-old Uber car driver and two passengers were injured when a speeding Range Rover SUV rammed their taxi in north Delhis Civil Lines. The driver of the SUV was said to be under the influence of alcohol.
On Sunday, a 32-year-old driver lost his life after a speeding BMW driven by a 24-year-old MNC employee crashed into an Uber cab from behind near IIT in south Delhi.
The ill-fated auto that was hit by an Audi Q7 in Ghaziabad. (Sakib Ali /HT Photo)
A road accident takes place every four minutes in India, government data show, and road crashes are the number one killer of young men and women. Almost 97% of the road accidents are caused by rash or negligent driving including drink driving.
The number of people killed in road accidents on national highways shot up from 48,768 in 2012 to 51,204 in 2015, the statistics show.
Last month, the Supreme Court ordered the closure of liquor shops along the highways despite opposition from state governments. The government has brought in a new law to ensure prompt help for road accident victims, easing rules for citizens who come to their aid.
A 50-year-old man from Hapur allegedly murdered his one-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter and 38-year-old woman neighbour after she came to intervene. The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon in Noorpur area near Garhmukteshwar in Hapur district.
According to the police, Vipin Singh, a farmer, had gone to his fields on Tuesday and returned in the afternoon at around 1pm. Thereafter, he demanded lunch from his daughter-in-law Suhani who went to the kitchen and left her daughter, Ayushi, behind in the room.
The man got annoyed with the delay in serving him food and went to Suhani and told her that he had killed her daughter. The girl was lying in a pool of blood and had a severe head injury which probably led to her death. Thereafter, both Suhani and Vipins wife Geeta Devi had an altercation, said SK Dubey, circle officer (Garh).
Soon Seema, their neighbour, arrived and questioned the man about the motive behind the brutal killing of the girl.
The man got furious and picked up a sickle and killed Seema. Later, the police arrested the man. An FIR was also filed for murder against the accused. During initial investigation, it has come to light that the man was under depression. We have also recovered the weapon used during the crime. It is suspected that the man (allegedly) banged the head of the infant girl to the ground before killing her, Dubey added.
Vipins son Rahul Kumar, 25, and Suhani, 22, got married a couple of years back and Ayushi was born in December last year. Police said that Seema was also a relative to Vipin and lived nearby.
We are still not clear about the motive behind the incident but we have come to know that the accused was under depression. However, we are yet to substantiate his state with the help of medical records, said Alankrita Singh, superintendent of police, Hapur.
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Can finance minister Arun Jaitley prove political pundits wrong when he presents the budget in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday? There are predictions of a populist budget meant to bolster the BJPs prospects in the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.
The budget is expected to increase income tax exemption limit, provide incentives for home buyers, unfurl a clutch of welfare measures for the poor, especially the debt-ridden farmers, and launch a host of schemes and programmes targeted at women and students, among others.
The context for such a please-all budget is the absence of a big narrative for the BJP in the assembly elections. The electoral potential of demonetisation has become suspect. Surgical strikes across the border in Pakistan no longer set the adrenaline flying. The BJP has, therefore, returned to its Hindutva agenda and is banking on the finance minister to give it a leg-up in the elections.
A veteran politician and key party strategist, Jaitley, needs no reminder of the political compulsions. But if he were to focus on short-term political gains - instead of taking tough decisions to offset the projected slowdown in the economy - the BJP might have to pay its political cost in the long run.
In his 2015 budget speech, the FM spoke of job 16 times, growth 24 times and investment 50 times, leaving no ambiguity about his priorities. There were no sops, no freebies and no grand schemes. He boldly announced the reduction of corporate tax in a phased manner and the abolition of wealth tax.
His 2016 budget speech, however, marked a shift in the NDA governments economic and political outlook. It offered something to every section -- doubling farmers income by 2022, LPG connections in the name of women of poor households, incentives for senior citizens and middle-class people living in rented houses. Lest the opposition parties should again accuse the NDA of being pro-corporate, the FM made cars, especially in the luxury segment, and SUVs costlier.
If the finance minister had used the words farmers and rural 19 times in his budget speech in 2015, he used them 54 times in 2016. The 2016 budget speech came in the backdrop of electoral reverses to the BJP in Delhi and Bihar and ahead of assembly elections in four states and one union territory.
How much this pro-poor, pro-farmer pitch in the budget contributed to the BJPs success in those assembly elections is open to interpretation but the partys hope again hinges on a please-all Budget.
A former finance secretary who was involved in the budget-making exercise for several years told HT that political compulsions have a bearing on the budget but it depends on the government of the day and its outlook. The UPA government, for instance, took hard-nosed decisions in its last two budgets. Its decision to stick to the fiscal roadmap and contain current account deficit was politically not palatable but extremely necessary.
The NDA governments budgets have shown lots of populism. I am expecting the same this year. There are already talks of relaxing the fiscal deficit target and if it happens, it would be the second time that this government would breach it. It will erode the confidence of investors, he said.
(Views expressed by the author are personal)
A 20-year-old dancer was shot dead by revellers during a tilak (pre-marriage) ceremony at Ugar Bigaha village under Sasaram mufassil police station in Bihars Rohtas district, 150 km south-west of Patna, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The accused was reportedly in an inebriated condition, claimed the victims co-dancers. Liquor is banned in Bihar since April 5, 2016.
The would-be groom, Dr Birendra Singh, a young government medical officer at the Nasariganj primary health centre in the district, had hired the dance troupe to perform at his pre-marriage function.
Three young girls -- Anjali, Gudiya Devi and Reena -- had accompanied Naina, the victim, who was the lead performer.
The girls are believed to have told police that the incident occurred around 1.30am, when Naina wanted to take rest after a long dance session. However, the audience insisted that she continue with her performance.
Just as Naina was returning to the changing room behind the make-shift stage, which had been set up at the venue, someone from the audience fired at her from behind.
Naina slumped to the ground and lay in a pool of blood. She was taken to the Narayan Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) in Sasaram, almost an hour later after her family members reached there. She died on Tuesday morning.
The body was sent for post-mortem examination at the Sasaram sadar hospital, police said.
Later, Nainas family members and some locals gave vent to their ire by ransacking the hospital. They alleged that the hospital authorities delayed in extending her treatment. Police arrested one person and seized five motorcycles for vandalising the hospital.
However, police were yet to make any arrest in the dancers killing.
Gudiya Devi has lodged a police complaint against Dr Singh and his family members, who are absconding
Police were conducting raids to nab the accused, said Alok Ranjan, sub-divisional police officer, Sasaram.
The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) is mulling to impose fine on those who litter the state capital.
The PMC board approved a proposal for constitution of a taskforce to collect fines and also gave its approval to the penalty amount to be levied on violators. The fine would range from Rs 100 to Rs 500 for those throwing garbage at non-designated spots.
The proposal will be put on public domain to seek peoples opinion. After considering public opinion, the PMC will move to enforce the norms, said PMC commissioner Abhishek Singh.
The commissioner, however, exuded confidence that the door-to-door garbage collection would definitely take off this time. It will happen by mid or February end. Tenders for six out of eight zones of the state capital have been opened, and negotiations will now take place, he said.
PMC sources said tenders for two zones, comprising wards of Patna City, had been put off due to lack of interest by firms. For others, two to five companies have shown their interest for the door-to-door collection service, they said.
The move to realise fine from defaulters is interesting as the PMC is yet to streamline its garbage collection system.
The PMC, in 2008, had entered into an agreement with a company to outsource garbage collection of 10 of its 72 wards. The drive fizzled out after initial flourish.
The corporation again mulled the idea of outsourcing the work and the project was formally launched by the then urban development minister Samrat Chaudhary, a couple of years back, but the cleaning of what is perceived to be the dirtiest state capital in India failed to take off, yet again.
Some councilors, including Vinay Kumar Pappu and Kumar Sanjeev, were opposed to the concept of penalising people for littering without putting in place a proper system for waste disposal.
It is highly objectionable to impose fine without providing proper means for garbage disposal, they said.
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Three persons, including a Congress worker, were killed and seven injured in twin blasts at Maur, 30 km from Bathinda, around 8.30pm on Tuesday, when a road show was being taken out by Congress candidate Harminder Singh Jassi.
Jassi is a close relative of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is on the hit list of Sikh extremists and has Z-plus security.
There were improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted in a scooter and a car and were detonated with remote control, a top police official, who did not want to be named, said. Nothing can be ruled out. That a pressure cooker was used to trigger the blast is also a possibility.
After initial theories that a blast was caused by a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder in a car, a pressure cooker was found near the white Alto (PB-05C-8973) that was ripped apart. Moments earlier, there were announcements to move the car as it was disrupting traffic. Both the vehicles sported fake number plates and even the numbers of their chassis and engines had been struck off, said police sources on the condition of anonymity.
Jassi had a miraculous escape as the blast took place seconds after his vehicle had crossed the car. Shrapnel hit Jassis vehicle. The dead included an unidentified beggar, a nine-year-old girl believed to be his daughter, and Harpal Singh Pali, who was Jassis Maur poll office manager.
The car in which one of the explosions took place. (HT Photo)
Police inspecting a pressure cooker in which an IEDs is believed to have been planted. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT)
At the blast site. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT)
Investigations are underway but the needle of suspicion points to an act of terror, a close aide of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal told HT. A team of the forensic experts was rushed from Chandigarh to Maur, a five-hour journey.
Deputy commissioner Ghanshyam Thori, who was at the site, confirmed the deaths. The seven persons injured were rushed to the Bathinda civil hospital from where two of them were referred to the government medical hospital in Faridkot, Thori said.
Meanwhile, Jassi was in state of shock and not in condition to talk to the media. Jassi, whose daughter is married to the dera chiefs son, is pitted Akali Dal candidate Janmeja Singh Sekhon and Aam Aadmi Partys Jagdev Singh Kamalu in Maur. (With inputs from Chandigarh)
Also Read | Maur blast: Capt Amarinder terms it a conspiracy against Congress, Sukhbir accuses AAP
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The anti narcotic cell of police commissionerate Ludhiana seized fake currency of Rs. 1.40 lakh in new denomination from two accused on Monday late. The accused wanted to inject fake currency in market.
The police recovered 64 currency notes of 2000 and 24 currency notes of 500.
The accused have been identified as Bhupinder Singh, 35, of Bilaspur of Moga and Jagdish Singh alias Deeska, 36, of Village Chakkar of Jagraon.
A case under sections 489 A (counterfeiting, or knowingly performing any part of the process of counterfeiting, any currency-note or bank-note), 489 B (selling to, or buying or receiving from, any other person, or otherwise traffics in or uses as genuine, any forged or counterfeit currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeiting) and 489 C (Whoever has in his possession any forged or counterfeit currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit and intending to use the same as genuine or that it may be used as genuine) of IPC has been registered against the accused at police division number 2.
Anti narcotic cell in-charge Sub-Inspector Harbans Singh said the police arrested the bike-borne accused from a check point near Civil Hospital on Monday night.
The accused told police that they brought fake currency from Bobby Singh of Raikot. The police have raided at house of Bobby Singh, but he was not present at home.
The in-charge added that the accused have prepared fake currency using computer, scanner and printer. The accused are labours. The Police are expecting more important information from the accused in questioning.
In an unusual move four days before Punjab goes to the polls, Union minister and Badal bahu Harsimrat Kaur Badal made a desperate appeal to voters to consider her familys sacrifice during the decade-long Akali rule only to be trolled on social media by Aam Aadmi Party supporters, who wanted people to give the ruling family much-needed rest for the next 10 years.
Seen as a last-ditch effort to woo voters, Harsimrat, attired in an orange and yellow suit with head covered, started the moving appeal by invoking the Gurbani in a video on Monday. The video began trending on social media soon after but ended up evoking sarcasm by AAP sympathisers on Tuesday.
Harsimrat says her family and she sacrificed 10 years of their lives for the state yet people spoke ill of them. Satgur ki sewa safal hai, je ko kare chit laaye, she begins and adds, This is what the Gurbani says and this is what our family has followed for 10 years. (Deputy chief minister and husband) Sukhbir Singh Badal neglected his health while working for Punjab. Hes been standing in the sun, drenched in sweat supervising projects like the one (Heritage Street) in Amritsar.
Watch the video here:
Whatever people may be saying about us, you know the reality. You can see the development around. The change has not happened on its own. No one managed to achieve so much in 60 years but us. Sukhbir did not bother about food or water and worked tirelessly. We have not even been able to take time out for one another, the Union minister says, her voice cracking and eyes welling up in a rare display of emotion.
Our children were kids when Sukhbir and I started working for the state. We didnt even realise that theyve grown up. From being kids they are almost of marriageable age, she concludes.
Hours after the video started trending on social media and it was aired by Punjabi news channels, a reply video created by an unidentified AAP supporter mocked at Harsimrats appeal, offering a solution to her grievances.
The Sikh man in the video appealed to voters to be kindhearted and not vote for the Badals so that the family members can spend time with each another. We are selfish people. Harsimrat ji is our sister. She has spoken so emotionally. Even got emotional listening to her, he says in the video, keeping a straight face.
For 10 years we have been demanding Sukhbir paaji work for us. This time, we should give him all the rest he needs. We should not cast a single vote in his favour or for any Akali so that he does not have so many responsibilities, the man says.
After all, family comes first. People will force Sukhbir paaji and Harsimrat bhenji to contest but we must make sure they dont win so that they can spend time with their family, he adds.
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Punjab deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday urged voters to shun the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to maintain peace in Punjab. At a rally at Patrans grain market, he said the SAD- BJP alliance had always suppressed radicals during its rule, but there is a real danger of their comeback if AAP forms the government in Punjab.
AAP president Arvind Kejriwal had overstepped all boundaries of political behaviour by staying at the residence of a terrorist in Moga last week, which has exposed their nefarious intent, he said, though the AAP has said the man wt whose house Kejriwal stayed had been acquitted by court.
Sukhbir also argued that an AAP government in Punjab will be a disaster as they would not maintain a cordial relationship with the Centre. They will function here the way they are in Delhi and hamper the states economic growth.
He claimed, Ever since the NDA government came at the Centre, Punjab was a major beneficiary of its assistance with several road projects cleared apart from other projects. All this will come to a standstill under AAP rule.
Asking people to vote for development, he said the SAD-BJP government had delivered on all its election promises. Now we have further planned a roadmap to ensure large-scale development both in urban and rural areas. In our very first cabinet meeting after forming the government, we will waive the loans of all small farmers besides giving them interest-free loan up to Rs 2 lakh for at least a year.
He said both Congress and AAP have been misleading people by promising lakhs of jobs. We will ensure at least 1.5 lakh jobs in government sectors and create enough employment opportunities in the private sector by promoting industry, he added.
Crowd from outside
The rally was held to boost the poll prospectus of party candidate from Shutrana, Vaninder Kaur Loomba. But many from the crowd were from nearby constituencies.
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The Election Commission on Tuesday issued directions to ban director general of police Mohammad Mustafa, presently in-charge of Punjab State Human Rights Commission, from entering Malerkotla, from where his wife Razia Sultana is Congress candidate for the February 4 elections.
There were reports from the constituency that Mustafa was interfering in the poll process. As per EC directions, the DGP will stay at the police headquarters in Chandigarh during the remaining campaigning days, but we cant stop him from casting his vote if he is a voter from Malerkotla, said Punjab chief electoral officer VK Singh.
Other measures by EC
4,840 vulnerable hamlets identified
786 critical police stations
400 more police personnel attached with VIPs withdrawn, total now 1,600
5,573 persons rounded up by police for questioning
4,147 persons taken into preventive custody
4 kg heroin seized in Amritsar district on Tuesday
Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar (Front), director general of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, briefs media on the rescue mission of the boat accident in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on Jan 30, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]
No new survivors of a boat carrying Chinese tourists sank off Malaysia's Sabah state were found Monday, while authorities have launched investigation into the accident, arresting the boat owner and two crew members.
Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, director general of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, told Xinhua via phone that no new survivors were found and the search and rescue would continue.
Speaking to a press conference, Ahmad Puzi said the search area had been expanded to 2,400 square nautical miles, involving assets from his agency as well as Malaysian navy and air force. Neighboring Brunei has sent aircraft to search its waters.
The search faces challenges caused by strong wind and rough sea, but "that were not the excuses and problem for us to continue the operations," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities have started investigation into the accident. Prime Minister Najib Razak said on a social media posting that he saw the tragedy seriously and want a detailed investigation to find out the cause of the incident.
The skipper and the crewman were arrested for suspecting causing death by negligence, said Sabah police chief Ramli Din. The two crew members were the first to be rescued after their boat sank on Saturday on the way from the state capital Kota Kinabalu to Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist island some 60 km to the west.
The owner was arrested later on Monday, and police has launched a full probe into the accident, including whether the boat was overloaded and whether it was operated with license and insurance, Ramli told Xinhua.
No new survivors found, investigations launched into boat accident in Malaysia
Sabah police chief Ramli Din (2nd L) briefs media on the investigation of the missing boat carrying Chinese tourists in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on Jan 30, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]
"We will investigate from all angles, pertaining to negligence if any," he said.
Ramli said the boat was carrying 27 Chinese tourists instead of 28 as reported earlier. One tourist was registered for the trip but cancelled the visit after seeing the boat was full.
That brings the number of unaccounted for down to five, including a crewman, not six as reported earlier, he said. China's Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu said the new figure would have to be verified.
The passengers and crew were left adrift at sea after the boat sank in rough sea, before 20 Chinese tourists were rescued Sunday. Three tourists were found dead.
The tourists were sent back to Kota Kinabalu early Monday and admitted to a hospital. All suffered from sunburn and dehydration but were in stable conditions, according to the hospital.
A Chinese tourist who went to Pulau Mengalum for snorkeling on Saturday recalled the bumpy trip in bad weather. "It almost broke my waist," she told Xinhua. She also recalled the crowded boat and the fact that many passengers were not wearing life jackets.
Sabah police chief Ramli Din (2nd L) briefs media on the investigation of the missing boat carrying Chinese tourists in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on Jan 30, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]
A special court in Ranchi on Monday handed out seven year rigorous imprisonment to Harinarayan Rai, a former Jharkhand minister and cabinet colleague of former chief minister Madhu Koda, after he was convicted of laundering `3.72 crore during his ministerial tenure.
The case is the countrys first when an accused booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for committing offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2009 has been convicted and sentenced to jail, said senior advocate S R Das, representing the ED.
Koda and three of his former cabinet colleagues Rai, Enos Ekka and Kamlesh Kumar Singh hogged the limelight in 2009 after income-tax sleuths carried out a series of raids at more than 75 locations across the country that brought to light huge tax evasion and money laundering to the tune of `3500 crore - one of the countrys largest scam of that time.
In view of the whopping amount involved and the complicity of a number of persons in the scam, the ED had registered four separate cases each involving Koda and his group, Rai, Ekka and Singh. The CBI too booked them separately in disproportionate asset (DA) cases.
While on Monday, Rais case ended with his conviction, other three cases are still in trial stage.
The court of special judge B K Tiwari awarded seven years imprisonment to Rai and also slapped a fine of `5 lakh on him for laundering `3.72 crore. It ordered that all movable and immovable assets owned by Rai to the tune of the laundered amount be confiscated.
Earlier in 2011, the Enforcement Directorate had submitted the chargesheet against Rai disclosing therein that the former minister had tainted money of `4.33 crore.
Rai had also been convicted and sentenced to five years jail term in December last year in connection with the disproportionate assets case lodged by the CBI. He had already served more than three years in jail as an under trail inmate from August 2009 to December 2012.
Rais immovable assets
-Two houses including one at Harmu, Ranchi
-Baba Vashuki Dairy Farm, Deoghar
-Fish pond, Deoghar
-Land at Bampass Town, Deoghar
-Construction companies Maha Maya and Maha Gauri in Deoghar
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Veteran Telugu filmmaker and former Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao has been hospitalised after he suffered from respiratory and kidney problems, an official said on Tuesday.
Rao was admitted to a private hospital at Hyderabad Monday evening and put on dialysis and ventilator support.
He is suffering from kidney ailment, besides sepsis and respiratory problems. He has been put on dialysis and ventilator support and is positively responding to the treatment, a hospital official told PTI.
He will also undergo a thoracic surgery, the official said.
He was Union Minister of State for Coal in the earlier UPA government.
Rao had recently announced that he would make a biopic on former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister late J Jayalalithaa, who passed away on December 5, 2016.
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We in India feel that it is Indian cinema which has been facing flak both legal and extra-legal. We were quite upset - and justifiably so - when Karan Johars Aye Dil Hai Mushkil was threatened with proscription, because there was a Pakistani actor, Fawad Khan, on board. Never mind that he had an insignificant part to play, but groups opposed to anything Pakistan, even art, said no. Till poor Johar had to literally grovel. Really sad.
And it is not just in Mumbai, but Tamil Nadu as well, where movie releases are frequently disrupted for the flimsiest of reasons. For example, anything, even remotely so, to do with Sri Lanka is not allowed to be screened, because the Tamils in the State share an emotional bond with the Tamils in the island nation. And it is felt that no director can ever do justice to the Tamil cause, a race that suffered during the 30-year strife in Sri Lanka. But then Indian cinema can take solace from the fact that it is not alone. The Bhutanese movie, Hema Hema, which sent audiences in Toronto, Locarno, London and Busan festivals last year on a delightful high, has been banned in its homeland.
The National Films Review Board and the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs in Bhutan have proscribed the movie, because they felt that it demeaned religious symbols, which included the masks worn by the actors.
Hema, Hema is a gripping mystery drama about a sacred Bhutanese ritual, directed by the Tibetan Buddhist Lama and writer, Khyentse Norbu. The picture has mostly non-professionals, but for minor performances by the crowd-pulling Hong Kong star, Tony Leung, and Chinese actor Xun Zhou.
I have not seen Hema Hema, but here is the opening paragraph from a ScreenDaily review written during last years Locarno:
Colourful, exotic and mysterious enough to keep audiences on their spiritual toes, the handsomely produced fourth feature by Buddhist preacher Khyentse Norbu (The Cup, Travellers and Magicians, Vara: A Blessing) looks sufficiently outlandish to draw the attention of every festival programmer and appeal to all those who have already enjoyed a taste of Norbus native Bhutan in his earlier pictures. Jeremy Thomas once again executive produces (he has been a supporter since the days of Little Buddha on which Norbu was an adviser). Jigme Temzings camera fully exploits the visual potential of the location, certainly one of the films best features.
Thomas (founder of the Recorded Picture Company in the UK) condemned the ban. He and others, including Norbu, have sent letters to the Bhutanese authorities asking them to reconsider their decision.
Thomas told the media that I hate censorship. I fight against it. I had no idea that Khyentses movie would be viewed this way and I was shocked to hear that it had been banned from the very people it was made for.
Bhutanese producer Pawo Choying Dorj felt that the authorities have totally misinterpreted the rules and regulations, and it is obvious that we have been banned for reasons that are not listed in the laws of our country...This is a direct effort by the authorities to undermine the freedom of expression in Bhutan...It is very discouraging not just for our film but also for all the artists of Bhutan as the authorities have sent a loud and clear message that in Bhutan, there are boundaries to ones creativity and dreams.
Do we in India not know this, having seen the brutal assault on Sanjay Leela Bhansali recently in Jaipur when he was shooting Padmavati? Do we not recall Deepa Mehtas plight many years ago, when she and her crew, including Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das (all tonsured and read to play Vrindavan widows), were driven out of Varanasi, because an extremist organisation felt that the movie, Water, was against Indian culture and ethos? Strange, the widows lives in utter degradation and poverty have been very well documented and written about the world over. But who is to argue with groups bent on not listening to saner voices!
Finally, Mehta made Water in Sri Lanka.
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Are you looking forward to a long, relaxed holiday? If yes, then do not fall into the trap of going to popular tourist cities across the world because the number of people youll find there is sure to kill your vacation spirit.
The suspects are what you expect, cities that are major travel destinations attracting several thousand visitors every year, and have now become too popular for their own good Hong Kong, Bangkok, London, Singapore and Paris, says a new report from international market research group Euromonitor.
Bangkok bumped London to become the second most-visited city in 2015 while Hong Kong, despite registering lower arrival numbers than the preceding period, maintained its stronghold as the top city destination in the world, it said.
For its research, Euromonitor looked at the final incoming travel data for 2015 to compile their Top 100 Cities Destinations Ranking.
Throughout 2015, Hong Kong received 26.7 million international visitors, bagging the title of most-visited city for the seventh consecutive year. Thats even after experiencing a 4 percent dip in visits that year.
Meanwhile, Hong Kongs loss appears to have been Bangkoks gain in 2015, as the Thai capital saw a 10 percent growth in arrivals, nudging the city into second spot past London.
That doesnt mean the numbers for London were bad. International arrivals to the British capital also rose seven percent in 2015 compared to the previous year.
The city also remained the top European city destination, outpacing its nearest rival Paris which suffered the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks earlier that year.
Researchers also noted the growth of Japanese cities: Osaka leapfrogged an impressive 27 spot landing in 55th place, while Kyoto also rose 11 spots.
The city that is considered the birthplace of geisha culture and home to more than 1,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, also got a boost by Travel + Leisure magazine, which named Kyoto the worlds best city of 2015 in the summer, based on reader votes.
Tokyo jumped six places to rank 17th.
In the Americas, New York was the most popular destination throughout 2015, while Peru got a nine percent boost in visitors thanks to its growing reputation as a culinary destination.
And in the Middle East, Dubai was the top performer, recording an eight percent increase in international arrivals.
Here we list the worlds 10 cities that had the most number of tourists in 2015 (in descending order). Avoid them like the plague, we say, because if you want to see crowds in the end, there isnt any place like India, is there?
1. Hong Kong
2. Bangkok, Thailand
3. London, UK
4. Singapore
5. Paris, France
6. Macau
7. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
8. Istanbul, Turkey
9. New York, US
10. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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This years Union budget would be the first annual policy document since 1951 with no linkage to a five-year plan and is expected to present a new roadmap for development without a holistic national plan.
The 12th five-year plan ends on March 31, 2017, and will be replaced by less comprehensive vision document prepared by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog in consultation with various ministries and limited stakeholders.
The document, however, lacks vigour of the five-year plans and does not provide a birds eye view of the vision outcome for the next 15-20 years.
The dismantling of the plan and new fund flow mechanism for the states started with Prime Minister Narendra Modis first Independence Day speech in 2014 where he announced the scrapping of the Planning Commission. The panel was replaced by NITI Aayog termed as the governments think-tank on economy and developmental agenda.
Between 2014 and 2017, the Centres increased devolution of state share of taxes from 32% to 42% as recommended by 14th Finance Commission, halved the centrally sponsored schemes (CCS) to 30, sought more from states to pay for implementing CCS, merged additional central assistance with state plans and transferred management of central funds for states from the erstwhile plan panel to the Union finance ministry.
It is the finance ministry which has to devise a formula state funding to meet national developmental objectives. Earlier, the planning commission had a clear plan on that, former chief statistician of India Pranob Sen, who worked extensively on the last three five-year plans, said.
More fund flow
The implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendation meant that the states got about Rs 1.80 lakh crore more through the share of central taxes since 2014-15 - the first budget of the NDA government.
For this increase, the states had to forgo Rs 29,000 crore in state plans and a good amount transferred through CCS as the Centre reduced its funding share by about 10 percentage points to 60% citing implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations.
An analysis of state budgets by Accountability Initiative showed that the CCS change meant that states like Telangana, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu got less money whereas Goa, Punjab, Bihar, Haryana and Kerala got more.
The reason for this distortion was the Centre increased CCS allocation through supplementary budget presented in the winter session and not many states were in a financial position to absorb more funds so late in a financial year.
Higher devolution meant that substantial in fund flow of the poorer states like Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in percentage terms as compared to more developed Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Punjab. In absolute terms, the poorer states have not got much hike.
Less on social sector
The funding pattern change, finance minister Arun Jaitley announced in 2014 would result in spurring development on the ground.
NITI Aayogs data on expenditure by states on development presents a contrary picture.
The share of money spent on development expenditure as the share of gross state domestic product (GSDP) has fallen to 8.5% in the current financial year from 13% in 2014-15. Also, the higher fund flow has not resulted in substantial increase in expenditure on social sector.
Prime reason for this was that initially, the states expressed their inability to provide 40% of the funds for implementing the centrally sponsored schemes in which central share has been reduced. Now, they are providing for their 40% share, a senior NITI Aayog official said.
An analysis of central and state budgets by non-government Accountability Initiative before budget 2017 shows that the biggest casualty of the governments shift in funding had been health and elementary education sectors.
With more money, the states should have provided higher allocation for health and education. Sadly, the budgets do not reflect them, Accountability Initiative director Yamini Aiyar said.
What next
Ending the plan meant the NDA governments so-called marked shift from right based welfare approach of the UPA government to one where the states have more say in utilising the money for public good.
The NDA government replaced UPAs entitlement with empowerment by scaling up the leak-proof Aadhaar based direct benefit transfer (DBT) with JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) trinity as its foundation. Till December 2016, only 56% of welfare funds were being transferred through DBT.
The government promised more for infrastructure, farm sector and poor through state governments the national development priorities.
With plan and Planning Commission gone, we dont have any mechanism to find whether the states are really spending more on national development priorities. Only the next budget will help us to know how it will be done, Sen said.
Accountability Initiatives Aiyar said there was a unique opportunity for change and NITI Aayog had created a process of outcome focused measurement index to rank states on key social sector indicators.
If designed right, this outcomes index could be used to design a performance-based inter-governmental transfer system based on meeting the objectives of the schemes, she said.
The budget 2017 would is expected to throw more light on fund monitoring in the plan-less era.
As finance minister Arun Jaitley breaks a 92-year old tradition and presents a combined Union and Rail Budget, expectations are running high to boost the economy that has slowed down due to demonetization. Jaitley will also have take into account global trade tensions, protectionism and rising crude prices.
The note ban dealt a blow to the economy, particularly to those sectors like agriculture and retail that are largely dependent on cash transactions. While the Economic Survey paints India as a sweet spot among other countries, the government will have to boost growth in capital formation to retain its sweetness. That may be a tall order.
Read: In a first, finance minister Arun Jaitley authors a section of Economic Survey
The governments quest to usher in ease of doing business and repeated nudges to India Inc, private investment are yet to bear fruit.
The government has to ensure higher allocation to ministries handling infrastructure, such as defence, roads and highways, power to an effort to push public spending but a stiff fiscal deficit target has left it with little elbow room.
According to an internal study by the countrys largest lender, State Bank of India, the most disturbing sign in the economy has been the sharp decline in the growth of gross fixed capital formation a proxy for investment activity to ()3.1% in the first quarter (April-June) of 2016-17 from a peak of 9.7% in the second quarter (July-September) of the previous fiscal.
This trend needs to be reversed, and we need to ensure that the ensuing growth is likely to be more investment-driven rather than consumption driven, the report had said.
It is a critical year for the BJP; after all 8 states go to polls before Jaitley presents his next budget. So he has to balance his budget maths with the political compulsions of populism.
Read: Budget 2017: Can FM Arun Jaitley prove populism predictions wrong?
Here are the top five expectations from Budget 2017:
Income tax sops:
After the pain of demonetisation, the Indian middle class is hoping for personal tax bonanza with an increase in exemption limits for income tax and lower tax slabs.
Boost to startups:
Indias sunshine sector is looking forward to the budget for a booster dose. On the wishlist are tax holidays and easier regulations on employee stock options.
Digital India
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi persuades India to opt for a cashless and less-cash economy, people are looking for incentives for digital modes of payment. While consumers want rebates on use of digital payments, mobile wallet companies want lowering of transaction costs.
Housing-for-all vision likely to get a boost
Modis stated vision of housing for all is likely to get a push in the budget as the government looks to tap the real estate sector to boost a flagging economy.
Among measures under consideration is an interest subvention scheme whereby home loans could come at rates as cheap as 3-4% for salaried people with annual income less than Rs 10 lakh, three sources privy to the thinking within the government said independently. The cap on loans eligible for this could be in the range of Rs 25-30 lakh.
Read | Keynes to Adiga: What Economic Survey reveals about Subramanians reading list
No populism, but no hike in passenger fare likely either
Jaitley is likely to announce the creation of a Rs 1 lakh crore fund corpus on infrastructure creation, including technology upgrades to ensure railway passenger safety, an ambitious scheme on steel imports to fast-forward track renewal plans, a speed upgrade plan for mail and express trains and the setting of timelines on executing the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
A flexi-fare scheme on passenger tickets is also likely, although the finance minister is expected to stay away from the tough decision of a direct hike in passenger and freight tariffs. Concrete proposals on the setting up of the Rail Development Regulator (RDA) are also likely.
Click here for full coverage on Union budget 2017-2018
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In 2010, Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Chandigarh, released a report on drug abuse in Punjabs border districts.
Of 1,500 addicts surveyed, 3% were between 6 and 10 years old. And 85.6% of respondents were matriculates dispelling the notion that opioid dependence is a problem of the unschooled.
Heres the thing: the scale of the problem in Punjab is not much worse than it is in the rest of the country.
In 2014, the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) conducted the first nationwide survey on drug abuse in children. Of 4,024 minors surveyed, 83.2% had used tobacco, 67.7% consumed alcohol, 35.4% used cannabis and 34.7% were sniffing inhalants such as glue and correction fluid.
The worst part? The study found that only 5% of adolescents received treatment for substance use, and even they got counselling, on average, about five years after they began their drug use.
It is a problem of putting the cart before the horse, says Dr Vivek Benegal, additional professor of psychiatry at the De-Addiction Centre of Bangalores National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). Intervention tends to be focused on the drug rather than vulnerabilities that make children take such substances. Addiction is a form of self-medication and needs to be understood as such.
The tendency to view drug addiction as more a crime than a psychological problem, he feels, leads to therapeutic nihilism, where minors and young adults flit in and out of rehab.
Its not surprising that many minors sent to juvenile detention centres for, say, marijuana use, come out as hardened criminals or end up using harder narcotics, Dr Benegal says.
Denial and delay
What do you do, then, when a child becomes an addict? The story of Shobit Gupta* is a good example of what works. His parents responded quickly, sought counselling as a first step, and worked with the counsellor to frame a customised way forward that made sense for him.
Drug abuse in children overwhelmingly starts off with illicit legal substances like tobacco and alcohol. But theres almost always a delay in treatment because, between ignorance and denial, few come forward even when their children begin to skip school, indulge in theft, or start to withdraw from society, says Dr Anju Dhawan, associate professor at NDDTC. Still fewer visit government institutions because no one wants to be on the public records. Apart from this, India doesnt have enough paediatric counsellors and psychiatrists, so access can be a problem too.
The key more than laws, awareness campaigns and even parental communication doctors say, is quick reaction time.
Otherwise, theres a chance that the child will end up like Bijoy Kalita*, whose case stands out in Dr Gorav Guptas mind, sadly, for all the wrong reasons.
Rehab and relapse
Of about 2,000 patients in my 22-year career, hes the one Ill never forget, says Dr Gupta, a psychiatrist who heads the Delhi-based Tulasi Psychiatric & Rehabilitation Centre.
In 2014, Kalita was brought to Dr Guptas centre by his landlord, who found him passed out outside his flat. The 18-year-old had rashes around his mouth, dried blood under his nose and violent muscle tremors. He was also hallucinating.
It turned out Kalita had been huffing inhalants like glue and solvent since he was 13, weaned himself off them, got his act together, moved from Guwahati to Delhi to study and get his life started and the stress of all the changes had led to a relapse.
He had never seen a counsellor. He had fought this all on his own, says Dr Gupta.
The day his landlord found him, hed suffered an overdose that could have cost him his life (its called Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome; technically, arrhythmia caused by inhalant overdose).
Far from home and all alone, Bijoy entered a cycle of rehab and relapses.
He falls off the wagon, misses sessions and follow-ups. His parents back home work on tea plantations and cant visit him to help, Dr Gupta says. If Bijoy had got the help he needed when he was younger itself, chances are he wouldnt be suffering the way he is.
Read: Rescued from hell: Life after the high
Schools can do more (and better)
Last month, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to create a national action plan to tackle alcohol and drug abuse among schoolchildren.
The Court was hearing a 2014 petition by Nobel laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, founder of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, who was asking that de-addiction centres be set up in each district, with special wings for children, and the dangers of drug use be included in the school syllabus.
Right now, some doctors feel the school can be more a problem than a solution when it comes to drug use.
We need to counsel our school counsellors and include them in the fight against child drug abuse, says Dr Alpesh Panchal, a psychiatrist and former consulting counsellor at Mumbais government-run Lokmanya Tilak hospital. A lot of them are torn between maintaining confidentiality and alerting the principal or authorities about a students drug use. In the latter instance, the child is invariably thrown out of school, which never helps.
Read: Addicted at 13
The road to recovery
The system certainly did more harm than help in the case of Shantanu Tawde*, a patient of Dr Panchals, on and off, in 2007-08 and again in 2013.
Hed begun using inhalants at 8 and his concerned mother, a domestic worker, had brought him to the government hospital for counselling.
She was a single parent working multiple jobs and couldnt keep our appointments. Shantanu soon stopped attending our sessions, Dr Panchal remembers.
Four years ago, the mother brought him back. He was now 13, and addicted to marijuana. And the spiral had begun. Again, the sessions were sporadic, and just a month in, Shantanu and two friends tried to rob a bank and killed a man in the process. He was now in a juvenile home.
Sometimes, juvenile centres are worse than the outside world, says Dr Panchal. Children dont get the treatment they need. By the time his mother sought permission to consult me instead of the resident counsellor, Shantanu was already addicted to a cocktail of drugs: whiteners, cocaine, opioids, alcohol, you name it.
Two weeks after he was released on probation in 2013, he ran away. Desperate, the mother went to the police, and they found her boy in Lucknow three weeks later alone, starving, and in a fugue state. Tawde is now back in a remand home.
Contrast this with the case of Tausif Shaikh*, another of Dr Panchals patients. While counselling the 13-year-old for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2011, the psychiatrist learnt from a concerned relative that not only was the teen a marijuana user, so was his father.
The two were counselled via individual and group therapy, didnt miss a session, and have both been drug-free for three years.
He never spiraled, Dr Panchal says. This is why the government must boost infrastructure and manpower. The more grassroots-level workers, activists and doctors we have, the more accessible treatment becomes to children and their families. Doctors in remand homes and government institutions are so overburdened, they sometimes see 2,000 patients a week, making it impossible for them to help.
Dr Panchal is still haunted by the difference in the two case outcomes.
Trends are intermittent, but the problem is not, because we shy away from talking about these things in the open, he says. Just like we shy away from talking about sexual abuse, and it remains rampant, and it is a major factor that pushes children to internalise trauma and use drugs to numb themselves. If parents and schools dont start to talk to their kids, how will their kids cope?
(Names with * changed on request)
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Malaysian authorities have arrested three men for suspected links with the Islamic State militant group, police said on Tuesday.
Muslim-majority Malaysia has been on high alert since an attack last January by Islamic State-linked militants in Jakarta, the capital of neighbouring Indonesia.
Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspects were detained in three separate raids from January 27 to 29. Police also confiscated a shotgun and an air rifle.
Khalid did not identify the suspects but said one of them, a 38-year-old Malaysian, had posted a plan to carry out a bomb attack in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on his Facebook page.
Another of the suspects is an Indonesian with Malaysian residency working as security guard with the national carrier, Malaysian Airlines.
He and the third suspect, another Malaysian, were believed to have been planning to join Islamic State militants in Syria, Khalid said.
The three face charges of suspected involvement in terrorism, he said.
Malaysia has not seen a serious militant attack but authorities say they have disrupted several plots.
Seven people were wounded in a grenade blast at a bar near Kuala Lumpur in June, in an attack claimed by Islamic State.
Malaysia has arrested more than 250 people between 2013 and 2016 for suspected militant activity linked to Islamic State.
According to police data, 91 Malaysians had gone to fight in the Middle East as of October last year. Of them, eight had returned to Malaysia and 24 had been killed in fighting there.
Last week, authorities said they had arrested four people with links to an Islamic State cell based in the southern Philippines.
As former president Barack Obama broke his short-lived silence on Monday, an official appointed during his tenure was sacked as acting head of the justice department for instructing her lawyers to not defend President Donald Trumps travel ban in courts.
Acting attorney general Sally Yates was dismissed on Monday night. A statement from the White House said, by way of explanation, Ms. Yates is an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.
The dismissal was compared by some commentators to the Saturday Night Massacre of 1973 when then president Richard Nixon fired his top two justice department officials for not sacking the special prosecutor investigating the Watergate case.
Obama had earlier in the day pushed back, through a spokesman, any suggestion that these bans could be traced to any measure or step taken during his term.
But Yates was not the Trump administrations only problem from the inside. Officials of the state department were reportedly signing a dissent note arguing the travel ban could imperil relations with governments of targeted countries. These career bureaucrats have a problem with it? Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary told reporters. They should either get with the programme or they can go.
Protestors, meanwhile, continued to target international airports, raising slogans and cheering passengers who looked like citizens of those Muslim-majority countries Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Libya affected by the travel restrictions,
But despite these protests and mounting legal challenges to the order the Council on American-Islamic Relations filed one on Monday the president was not backing down and he and his aides fought back with a mix of bravado and falsehood.
But first the order, as details could become blurred in confrontations such as this. In an executive order signed Friday, Trump banned citizens of the seven countries mentioned above from entering the US for 90 days.
He also banned the entry, in the same order, of all refugees for 120 days, from anywhere in the world but indefinitely for those from Syria, a country torn apart by a civil war depicted in heart-rending social media posts by seven-year-old Bana al-Abed.
To deflect blame in the face of all-around outrage, Trump has invoked his predecessor, claiming Obama had also slapped a visa ban on Iraqis and his administration had identified seven countries as sources of terror, the same seven he has blacklisted.
Obama, who was expected to fade away but had warned he would speak up if he ever found what he described as the countrys fundamental values being threatened, spoke up on Monday, just about 10 days into retirement.
With regard to comparisons to President Obama's foreign policy decisions, as we've heard before, the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion, a spokesman of the former president said in a statement.
Trump has claimed his travel restrictions had nothing to do with religion, but is actually struggling to have it not be defined as a Muslim ban, which is what it is. He just doesnt know how to deal with it, or couch it in friendlier terms.
Kick-starting Britains departure from the European Union will be up for debate in parliament on Tuesday as lawmakers examine a draft law allowing the government to begin Brexit talks.
MPs are due to spend two days debating the bill which was published last week, after the Supreme Court ruled parliamentary approval was needed before negotiations with Brussels could begin.
The two-clause European Union Notification of Withdrawal Bill asks the parliament to give the prime minister the power to trigger Article 50 of the EUs Lisbon Treaty, formally starting divorce proceedings with Brussels.
Read: Disgraceful: Theresa May govt introduces Brexit bill, sparks row
Ahead of the debate, Prime Minister Theresa May said lawmakers should back the Brexit bill in order to implement the June referendum outcome in which 52% voted to leave the bloc.
Do they support the will of the British people or not? she said of MPs during a press conference in Dublin on Monday.
The governing Conservatives have a majority of 16 in the 650-seat lower House of Commons and the draft law is expected to pass, despite five amendments having been tabled.
They cover areas including Britains membership of the European single market, which May said would end once the country leaves the EU.
There are also calls to have greater involvement from the devolved parliaments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland -- the latter two of which voted for Britain to remain in the EU.
After the initial debate, MPs are due to vote on whether the draft law should proceed, before discussing the amendments over three days from Monday.
Once it clears parliament the bill will move to the upper chamber, the House of Lords, where it will be debated from February 20 and it is expected to be approved there by March 7.
Read: Virendra Sharma, other Labour MPs to vote against Brexit bill
While further amendments could see the draft law bounce back to parliament for further discussion, politicians are unlikely to derail the governments Brexit plans.
If approved by the Lords, the bill would then have to be signed off by Queen Elizabeth II before May can trigger Article 50 which the prime minister has promised to do so by the end of March.
The Lisbon Treaty foresees two years of exit talks and finance minister Philip Hammond has said he expects negotiations to begin before the summer.
The timetable could be shorter still, however, as the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier said in December a deal should be brokered by October 2018 to allow for ratification on the EU side.
Iranian women mourn for firefighters who were died at the collapse commercial building in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 30, 2017. At least 30 people were killed in the collapse of a 17-story building on Jan 19, Press TV reported. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)
Leading lights of academic institutions have called US President Donald Trumps order related to refugees and immigrants an affront to one of the most fundamental human freedoms, and have called for a boycott of conferences held in the United States.
As thousands took to the streets in Britain and elsewhere on Monday evening, hundreds of academics signed a petition in solidarity with colleagues who are unable to travel to the US for conferences due to Trumps order, pledging not to attend conferences there.
The petition said: The order institutionalises racism, and fosters an environment in which people racialised as Muslim are vulnerable to ongoing and intensifying acts of violence and hatred.
Among those affected by the order are academics and students who are unable to participate in conferences and the free communication of ideas We question the intellectual integrity of these spaces and the dialogues they are designed to encourage while Muslim colleagues are explicitly excluded from them.
We the undersigned take action in solidarity with those affected by Trumps Executive Order by pledging not to attend international conferences in the US while the ban persists, the petition, whose signatories included Indian-origin academics, added.
University of Cambridge vice-chancellor Leszek Borysiewicz on Tuesday recalled his own background as the son of refugees welcomed by Britain after the Second World War and called Trumps order an affront.
As the head of a university whose staff is actively engaged in research collaborations around the world, I cannot accept a policy that undermines academic freedom, disrupts partnerships, and blocks the pathways to understanding between peoples, faiths and nations, he said.
While we acknowledge that a country must have the right to manage its own borders, this ban is fundamentally at odds with the values of openness, tolerance and evidence-based decision-making that the University of Cambridge stands for.
The implementation of the executive order, he said, may curtail some of the ancient universitys researchers ability to attend academic events, work with colleagues, and in some cases even meet with their families in the United States.
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US President Donald Trumps executive order barring the entry of travellers from seven countries -- mainly Muslim nations -- for 90 days set off massive protests as hundreds of thousands came out in the support of immigrants.
As many flooded the streets and airports to protest, Starbucks said it will hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years and Airbnb offered free housing to immigrants. Many made good use of social media, art and satire to vent out their anger.
Here are some of the best cartoons following Trumps travel ban.
that we even need to fight for this says a lot about the state of our country @hankgreen #NoBanNoWall #MuslimBan #Muslimswelcome pic.twitter.com/hdOPRQGBNA Jamie (@quiversarrow) January 29, 2017
Many pictures on Twitter depicting the Statue of Liberty standing next to a Muslim woman are now becoming symbols of resistance.
.@hankgreen The #MuslimBan goes against everything we stand for in America
To the rest of the world- I'm so sorry. We do not stand for this. pic.twitter.com/u5gfnxUuIc JENN (@TheKeyThief) January 29, 2017
The satirical cartoons also show that amid the chaos and frustrations, Americans have not lost all hope. People are speaking out against Trumps policies with a flurry of protest messages on Twitter using the #NoBanNoWall hashtag.
give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free pic.twitter.com/bgaxI5uOuI paige (@thumbcramps) January 29, 2017
I felt like I needed to take another pass at this one- pic.twitter.com/9N1Il3qVoa Phil Noto (@philnoto) January 28, 2017
Trump expected to order ban on refugees today (cartoon by @adamzyglis https://t.co/U05jOnudLy) pic.twitter.com/KSQZ4RyYHv Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) January 25, 2017
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European Union nations can reject asylum seekers who have taken part in a terrorist groups activities even if their role was confined to logistics, the blocs top court ruled on Tuesday.
The European Court of Justice ruled against a Moroccan whose request for asylum in Belgium was rejected after a Belgian court convicted him in 2006 of forging passports for a Moroccan group recruiting jihadists for Iraq.
It said the Moroccan, Mostafa Lounani, had applied for refugee status expressing fears of persecution if he were returned to his home country which would likely view him as a radical Islamist and jihadist.
An application for asylum can be rejected if the asylum seeker has participated in the activities of a terrorist network, the court ruled.
It is not necessary that the asylum seeker personally committed terrorist acts, or instigated such acts, or participated in their commission, it added.
The court said grounds for exclusion from asylum can extend to people engaged in recruitment, organisation, transportation of people who travel across borders to perpetrate or plot terror attacks. (AFP File)
The court cited a UN Security Council resolution in 2014 that raised alarm about the international networks created by foreign terrorist fighters moving across borders as they waged war in Syria and Iraq.
It said grounds for exclusion from asylum can extend to people engaged in the activities of recruitment, organisation, transportation of people who travel across borders to perpetrate or plot terror attacks.
The Belgian court, it said, had sentenced Lounani to six years in jail for actively participating in the Belgian cell of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group by forging passports to help volunteers fight in Iraq.
The court also based its decision on the fact that Lounani was a member of the leadership of a terrorist group operating internationally and blacklisted by the United Nations in 2002.
A doctor who saved Syrian lives and a man who cooked thousands of meals for American soldiers in Iraq were among those who saw their lives thrown into limbo when President Donald Trumps executive order barred travellers from seven Muslim countries from entering the US.
In some instances the order separated mothers from young children and husbands from wives as people with valid entry visas were stranded in countries around the world.
I was shocked. She has a visa and theyre telling her she cant go, Ahmed Ali said by phone on Monday from a hotel in the African country of Djibouti after authorities refused to let his 12-year-old daughter, Eman, board a plane with him to the United States.
Ali, his wife and their two older children are US citizens but Eman was born in Yemen and has been living there with her grandparents.
The 38-year-old grocery store manager from Los Banos, California, said he spent five years trying to get Eman a visa and finally obtained one Thursday. By Saturday, when they tried to leave, it had been invalidated and he said he wasnt sure what hed do next. Meanwhile, hes worried that if he doesnt return home soon he could lose his job.
It is racist, he said of Trumps order. We are being targeted for our nationality and religion.
Also barred from returning is Khaled Almilaji, a Syrian doctor who has been attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on a scholarship while he studies ways to rebuild his countrys health system. He said that his pregnant wife remains in the United States while he is in Turkey.
It is really sad where the world is going to, said Almilaji, who risked his life to provide medical care during Syrias civil war and coordinated a campaign that vaccinated 1.4 million Syrian children.
Trump denied the order was to blame for chaos at the nations airports where hundreds of legal residents with green cards were stopped and interrogated for hours over the weekend while many with valid entry visas were simply turned away.
Instead Trump blamed computer glitches and the large airport protests his order prompted as he took to Twitter to argue it was needed because there are a lot of dudes out there.
The president issued a 90-day ban on travellers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. He also suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely barred refugees from Syria.
Although thousands protested the order at airports around the country and civil rights groups and some members of Congress denounced it, Trump supporters say it is a needed safeguard.
We need to know who these people are, said retired firefighter Charles Lewis of Topeka, Kansas. I just dont think this nation is secure. Were a day late and a dollar short on everything.
One of the many the order barred is Luey Rabban, who works 16-hour days as cook in a Baghdad restaurant and who received refugee status in the United States about eight months ago. He was waiting for his turn to emigrate but said Monday he is unsure now if that day will ever come.
I just want to come and see my family, Rabban, 47, said by phone from Baghdad through an Arabic translator at his brothers home in El Cajon, California, a suburb east of San Diego that has been a magnet for Iraqi Christians fleeing violence and, more recently, for Syrian refugees.
Rabban, who served meals to the US military at the Baghdad airport from 2003 to 2011, said a US Army officer helped him start on his refugee application six years ago.
Syrian brothers Bassam and Hassan Abouasali waited for 13 years to have their visas approved so they could join their brother, a US citizen, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he has a house waiting for them.
They finally got the visas last year but decided to spend one last Christmas in Damascus before leaving.
When they arrived at Philadelphia International Airport with their wives and children on Saturday they learned their visas had been cancelled and they were sent back.
Theyre exhausted. Theyre angry. Theyre frustrated. Theyre afraid, said their sister-in-law Sarmad Assali, a naturalised citizen who came to the United States when she was 13. They dont know what they have done wrong to be treated that way.
The detention of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and four aides was a policy decision in the national interest, the Pakistani military said on Tuesday as New Delhi called on Islamabad to do more by launching a credible crackdown on all groups involved in cross-border terror.
Saeed, for whom the US has offered a $10 million bounty, and his aides were placed in preventive detention late on Monday night. He is now being held at his home in Johar Town area of Lahore.
The detention came ahead of a deadline set by a financial task force for action on terror financing but no ban was imposed on the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), the group now led by Saeed, or its front organisation, the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF). Both groups were only included in the Pakistan interior ministrys watch list.
Pakistans chief military spokesman, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, told reporters Saeeds detention was a policy decision taken by the state in the national interest. He deflected questions on whether Pakistan had acted under foreign pressure and whether there was any evidence linking Saeed to terror activities.
An unnamed official of Pakistans interior ministry told PTI: The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and FIF leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required.
The government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in the coming days, he said, adding that the names of several JuD and FIF activists had been included in the Exit Control List to bar them from leaving the country.
Hafiz Saeed supporters burn US and Indian flags to condemn his house arrest. (AP)
In New Delhi, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India wanted Pakistan to do more to prove its sincerity about cracking down on terror.
Exercises such as yesterdays orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crackdown on the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks and terrorist organisations involved in cross-border terrorism would be proof of Pakistans sincerity, Swarup said.
Read| Protests erupt after LeT founder Hafiz Saeed detained in Pakistan
India also wants the UN Security Council Resolution 1267s provisions on proscription of terrorist entities and individuals to be effectively enforced, he added.
The others detained with Saeed are Abdullah Ubaid, Kashif Niaz, who is responsible for the JuDs publications, and Zafar Iqbal and Abdur Rehman Abid, both from the groups main base at Muridke on the outskirts of Lahore.
Media reports said the government decided to put JuD and FIF on the watch list and approved the freezing of their assets and cancelling of passports and arms licenses of their leaders to comply with the conditions of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Pakistan is bound to take these actions under UN Security Council Resolution 1267.
Pakistan is set to submit its compliance report on implementing money laundering laws to FATF on Tuesday, a pre-requisite for ensuring the country remains in the FATFs white list, The News daily reported.
In case of non-compliance, Pakistan could have slipped into the FATFs negative list for failing to counter terror financing.
Saeed was quick to blame pressure from India and the US for the action against him. He was allowed to address the media before being led away by police, and he claimed India was also angered by his support for the Kashmir issue.
Read| My arrest will give fresh impetus to Kashmiris struggle: Hafiz Saeed
We declared 2017 the year of Kashmir and I held a press conference with Hurriyat leaders from Kashmir in Islamabad. India made a lot of noise about that and I was expecting there will be some pressure, he said.
I say with regret that this order for my house arrest has not come from Islamabad this order has come here from Delhi and Washington.
Pakistani policemen stand guard outside Hafiz Saeeds home in Lahore on Tuesday. (AFP)
Contingents of police and other law enforcing agencies surrounded the JuD Centre at Chowburji.
Pakistani national flags were hoisted at JuD offices in Lahore, instead of the groups black-and-white flags, on the directives of the Punjab home department, and police started removing the banners of JuD from the city roads. However, JuD offices in other cities were not affected by the latest developments.
Saeeds supporters staged protests in several cities, including Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.
On Monday, interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters that his government had to fulfill its international obligations regarding groups such as JuD. He said the JuD was under the observation of the UN Security Council since 2010.
Observers said the move followed US pressure on the Nawaz Sharif government to act against terrorists. There is mounting pressure on fears that America may take punitive action against Pakistan for its stance on organisations like the JuD, said analyst Hasan Askari Zaidi.
This is not the first time Saeed has been placed under house arrest. Soon after the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, Pakistani authorities cracked down on the JuD and detained Saeed. Within six months, he was freed on the orders of the Lahore high court.
Read| How Pakistani newspapers reported Hafiz Saeeds detention
Pakistans army said on Tuesday the detention of Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a policy decision in the national interest as the government announced that the Jamat-ud Dawa leaders 90-day house arrest could be extended if required.
The detention is a policy decision taken in the national interest. The relevant department may give more information in a day or two and the situation will become clearer, military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said.
Read: Pressure from US, China may have led to LeT founder Hafiz Saeeds house arrest
Saeed and four other JuD leaders were put under house arrest after order of detention was issued by Punjab Provinces interior ministry on Monday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.
His aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz - were detained and placed under house arrest in Chauburji near JuDs Lahore headquarters.
Although they belong to different districts of Punjab but the government has decided to place them under arrest in one house in Lahore, a senior police officer told PTI.
Read: Pakistan puts Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed under house arrest
The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required, an interior ministry official told PTI.
The government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days, he said, adding that the names of several JuD and FIF activists have been placed on Exit Control List to stop them from leaving the country.
Maj Gen Ghafoor said Pakistan wants peace with India and resolution of all issues including Kashmir through talks held on the basis of self-respect and honour, but it should not be considered as weakness.
We want the Kashmir issue to be resolve via United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness, he said.
After the Punjab Home Department declared Saeeds Jauhar Town Lahore residence as sub-jail, the JuD chief was shifted there from its headquarters Al-Qadsia Chauburji.
First Saeed was allowed by police to hold a press conference before he left for his home along with dozens of his supporters amid high police security.
My detention order has come from Washington and not Islamabad. If someone thinks that after placing me under house arrest will help check freedom movement in Kashmir he is living a fools paradise. My arrest will give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris struggle against India, Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, told reporters.
Saeed further said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that he would get respite in Kashmir after his (Saeed) arrest he is seriously mistaken.
We have declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris. All programmes we planned for Feb 5 will be held across Pakistan and (Pakistan-occupied) Kashmir, he said, and vowed to challenge his detention in the Lahore High Court.
Hafiz Saeeds family will move court to overturn his house arrest, the Jamaat Ud Dawah (JuD) chiefs son-in-law said on Tuesday, hours after Pakistan ordered the preventive detention as part of a possible wider crackdown on the extremist organisation.
We will go to court. Thats where we got relief the last time, Khalid Waleed, Hafiz Saeeds son-in-law told Hindustan Times over the phone from an undisclosed location in Pakistan.
I have gone underground, claimed Waleed, who is married to Saeeds daughter. Waleed is an important member of the JuD and heads operations in Lahore.
Saeed and four of his aides were placed in preventive detention late on Monday night at the order of the federal interior ministry.
Since then, several members of the JuD have been detained in raids across various premises of the charitable organisation including the headquarters in Muridke, known worldwide to be the headquarters of the Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Read| Pressure from US, China may have led to LeT founder Hafiz Saeeds house arrest
Ajmal Kasab, one of the ten terrorists who came to Mumbai from Karachi to orchestrate the 2008 attack, had told his interrogators that he had been trained in Muridke under Saeeds supervision.
Saeed had been put under house arrest after the Mumbai attacks in 2008, which killed 166, but was released within six months by the Lahore high court which cited lack of India against a person India considers the mastermind.
The JuD has deep affiliations with the Pakistani army and the Nawaz Sharif government but Waleed in a give-away line said, None of the senior officers are taking our calls this time.
He blamed the bond between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharif and the pressure by Modi on the new Donald Trump administration for the latest move in which Saeeds home in Lahore has been converted into a sub-jail.
The preventive custody has also come a few days before February 5, when the JuD takes the lead in observing it as Kashmir solidarity day. The Jamaat holds rallies across Pakistan and Saeed has often led them in the past.
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President Donald Trump has said he loves Hindus. But he seems to have loved the tiny Hindu American community into an acrimonious split predictably along political lines, over his travel bans on refugees and select Muslim-majority countries.
On the one side is the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC), which had supported Trump for president and campaigned for him and has, expectedly, supported his travel restrictions, calling it a decisive move to protect our citizens from Islamic terror.
And on the other side are those opposed to the RHC, such as Pramila Jayapal, one of the four newly elected Indian-American members of the House of Representatives all Democrats.
She has said it was a matter of shame that some member of the community, and she specifically named the RHC, had supported the restrictions, which she said were un-Americanand divisive.
To them I say shame, Jayapal said on Monday at an event hosted by Democratic group, Asian American ad Pacific Islander Victory Fund, to oppose Trumps order. Shame for trying to divide our Indian American community.
As a Hindu I can tell you, said the congresswoman whose parents live in India, this group does not represent the much larger Indian American community that honours our birth countrys commitment to religious freedom.
The Hindu American Foundation, a non-partisan advocacy organisation for the Hindu American community, has also opposed the presidents order saying it risked harm to innocent people.
Implementing any sort of religious preference for admittance would be fundamentally unconstitutional and any permanent blanket ban based on national origin would be illegal, it said.
There are an estimated 2.29 million Hindus in the United States.
Though the bulk of them are of Indian descent, some are from Hindu-majority countries such as Nepal, Fiji, Mauritius and the Caribbean.
And there are still others, such as Tulsi Gabbard, the congresswoman from Hawaii, who is an American Hindu of American descent.
Most of them vote Democratic, following a community-wide trend among Indian Americans, but an increasing number of them are moving towards the Republican Party, which has felt the need to leverage itself better with the community given the fact that the only two Indian American governors in US history are both Republicans Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal.
Anecdotally, more Indian Americans and Hindu Americans voted for Trump than they had voted for any Republican candidate for the White House before.
And the RHC was at the forefront with Shalli Kumar, its founder, being an early and enthusiastic supporter of Trump.
While Americans do not discriminate, and this is a country that encourages legal immigration and celebrates the contributions that immigrants have made to our culture, Kumar said in a statement on Monday, it is about time we get serious about combatting the dangers of terrorism on our shores.
The coalition has, in fact, called for the list of seven Muslim-majority countries whose citizens have been banned from entering the US for 90 days to be expanded to include three more: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
News of Hafiz Saeeds detention was carried prominently by Pakistani newspapers on their front pages, with the Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief saying his confinement order was the result of an international conspiracy.
The Nation, which headlined its report Defiant Hafiz Saeed detained, was one of the few dailies to carry a photo of him being escorted away by police from the JuDs markaz or centre at Chowburji in Lahore.
Defying the detention orders, Saeed talked to media outside the Jamia Masjid al-Qadsia and said the confinement order was the outcome of an international conspiracy, the report said.
He alleged the Pakistani government was doing the bidding of India at the behest of the US to stifle (the) Kashmir freedom movement, it added.
Hundreds of Saeeds foot-soldiers chanted full throated slogans as he appeared from the mosque complex along with police officers to talk to media crews, the report said.
The influential Dawn daily reported that the UN Security Council had imposed sanctions against the JuD and declared it a terrorist organisation in 2008. New Delhi blames Saeed for the Mumbai attacks, but Pakistan argues that India has failed to provide incriminating evidence against him, the report said.
The Dawn quoted a JuD spokesman as saying that the group would not resist police action and preferred to fight their case in court.
Hours before his detention, Saeed briefed the media on the Kashmir issue. Asked about a possible ban on the JuD, he said he would move court instead of setting up an alternative party, the Dawn reported.
Image grab of the front page report in the Dawn on Hafiz Saeeds detention. (Courtesy Dawn)
The Express Tribune quoted interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan as saying that action was being taken against the JuD leadership to fulfil our international obligations.
It said the JuD has been listed under the Second Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, whereby the government can detain a person for 12 months and extend the detention from time to time.
The Tribune quoted the interior ministrys order as saying that the JuD had been taking steps causing harm to peace and security, and (was) involved in activities that violate UN Security Council Resolution 1267, which is on sanctions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Image grab of the front page report in The Express Tribune on Hafiz Saeeds detention. (Courtesy the Express Tribune)
The News daily buried details of Saeeds detention in a report that mainly focused on remarks by the interior minister. It mentioned the ministers criticism of the visa restrictions imposed by US President Donald Trump and his remarks that it was wrong to link Islam with terrorism.
The report said the government decided to put JuD and its front organisation, Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, on the interior ministrys watch list and approved freezing their leaders assets and cancelling their passports and arms licenses to ensure that the country is not blacklisted by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The media reports said Saeed had asked JuD activists to gather in large numbers across the country on February 5 to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day. I believe this is not against me but to sabotage the freedom movement of Kashmir, he was quoted as saying.
The government, Saeed said, is helpless before the pressure of Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Action was taken against him on Modis insistence and Trumps instigation, he said.
He also challenged the government to show us if there is even a single FIR registered against the JuD anywhere in Pakistan.
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Since taking office 10 days ago, President Donald Trump has moved to consolidate power within a small cadre of close aides at the White House.
Hes added a senior political adviser to the National Security Council and appears to have cut out Cabinet secretaries from decision making on some of his top policies, including the immigration and refugee order that led to protests, legal challenges and temporary detention of some legal US residents this weekend.
Trump has empowered a small group of advisers, some of whom have no experience in government, to tackle a broad range of issues including national security, the immigration policy, US relations with Mexico and plans to repeal President Barack Obamas health care law.
The inner circle includes loyal campaign aides, his son-in-law (Jared Kushner) and the advisers who ran Trumps populist, outsider bid for office. Heres a look at the Trumps inner circle and how theyre shaping the policies that are shaking up Washington:
Steve Bannon
White House Senior Advisor Kellyanne Conway smiles with chief strategist Steve Bannon on the sidelines as US President Donald Trump meets with labour leaders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. (Reuters )
Every major decision at the new White House has involved Bannon, a media executive who became Trumps top political adviser in a shakeup in August and quickly infused Trumps campaign with an anti-establishment fervor.
Bannons power has only grown at the start of the administration. He is typically at Trumps side in the Oval Office. He helped write the new presidents inaugural address marked by the reference to American carnage. He shaped executive actions pulling the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and freezing the U.S. refugees program.
Saturdays memorandum reorganizing the National Security Council extends Bannons reach further. He will now have a seat at regular meetings on national security, while the incoming director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will attend only as required by the subject matter.
Bannon is a former naval officer and Goldman Sachs executive who led Breitbart News before joining Trumps campaign. Under his tenure, Breitbart became the voice of the alt-right movement and critics pointed to coverage they said espoused racist and sexist views.
His rhetorical influence on the president was particularly clear last week. In signature style, Bannon referred to the media as the opposition party in an interview. Trump repeated the phrase a couple of days later.
Stephen Miller
White House senior adviser Stephen Miller attends a meeting between US President Donald Trump and small business leaders in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington. (AFP Photo)
Trumps policy rollouts and speeches also bear the fingerprints of Miller, a 31-year-old senior policy adviser who joined his campaign after working as a top aide to Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trumps pick for attorney general.
Miller played an influential, behind-the-scenes role in derailing efforts in the Senate to pursue an immigration overhaul after the 2012 elections. After joining Trumps team, Miller played multiple roles on the campaign, writing Trumps speeches, developing his policies and frequently serving as a warm-up act at rallies.
At the White House, Miller has been the new administrations policy guru with a heavy focus on immigration. He and Bannon were instrumental in the drafting of the executive order that established a temporary travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations. Amid chaos at airports and confusion over the bans impact on legal U.S. residents, Miller was running Saturday night meetings on the order.
But that has also made him the subject of criticism. MSNBCs Joe Scarborough accused Miller on Monday of not doing enough to loop in agency heads about the executive order and said the White House adviser had gone on a power trip.
Jared Kusner
Considered a first among equals in the competing power circles in Trumps West Wing, Kushner often has the last word as his father-in-law makes decision and, as family, has unprecedented access to the president in the White House residence.
Kushner emerged as one of Trumps most powerful campaign advisers during his father-in-laws often unorthodox presidential bid a calming presence in an otherwise chaotic campaign. He was usually at Trumps side and on his plane during the campaigns final weeks.
At the White House, Kushner has played a key role dealing with foreign government officials and Trump has entrusted him to resolve the dispute with Mexico over the border wall and has indicated that he will take the lead in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Asked about Kushners involvement on foreign policy, a White House official said he was particularly well-suited for sensitive negotiations and relationship building.
Kushner also championed the pick of his friend Gary Cohn, the president of Goldman Sachs, for a top White House economic post.
Reince Priebus
Chief White House strategist Steve Bannon (L) sits with Chief of Staff Reince Priebus (C) and senior advisor Stephen Miller during a swearing-in ceremony at the White House in Washington. (Reuters Photo)
Trumps chief of staff is a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and Republican operative from Wisconsin with close ties to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
If Bannon has become Trumps policy soul-mate, Priebus appears more focused on organization and implementation. When Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office, it is often Priebus who hands the president the paperwork.
The longest-serving chairman in Republican Party history, Priebus remains popular among RNC members and will help Trump stay connected with members of Congress, the partys establishment, fundraisers and activists across the nation. He is in frequent touch with Ryan, one of his oldest political allies, and will serve as a key emissary to House and Senate Republicans.
Kellyanne Conway
The veteran Republican pollster served as Trumps final campaign manager, joining the team with Bannon last summer at a crucial time for the insurgent campaign.
Conways title is counselor to the president and she has frequently been the face of the new administration, appearing often on Sunday shows and cable television newscasts to promote Trumps message.
After White House press secretary Sean Spicer claimed that Trump had the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, Conway defended him on NBCs Meet the Press, arguing that he was giving alternative facts.
Conway, who also advised Vice President Mike Pence when he was Indiana governor, is using the West Wing office once occupied by former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, who led the former presidents outreach to the U.S. business and political community. She is expected to help shape the administrations policies on women and veterans.
Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2017 shows illuminated Baotu Spring Park during the 38th Baotu Spring Lantern Festival in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)
The White House said it was studying the details of an Iranian ballistic missile test. Press secretary Sean Spicer said he did not know the exact nature of the test and expected to have more information later.
A defense official on Monday said the missile test ended with a failed re-entry into the earths atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile. The official was not authorised to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Iran is the subject of a United Nations Security Council resolution prohibiting tests of ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear warhead. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal, the UN ban was prolonged by eight years, although Iran has flaunted the restriction.
State department spokesman Mark Toner said the US was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the US security council resolution.
When actions are taken that violate or are inconsistent with the resolution, we will act to hold Iran accountable and urge other countries to do so as well, Toner said.
Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the senate foreign relations committee, condemned Iran for the missile test.
No longer will Iran be given a pass for its repeated ballistic missile violations, continued support of terrorism, human rights abuses and other hostile activities that threaten international peace and security, Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said in a written statement.
Members of the Yemeni army near the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha. (Reuters photo)
Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, meanwhile, claimed a successful missile strike against a warship in the Red Sea belonging to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting alongside Yemens internationally recognised government.
Video footage shown on the rebels al-Masirah television shows a warship being hit and a fire on board starting as a man not shown in the video shouts the rebels trademark chant of Allahu akbar (God is greatest), death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam.
The media arm of the Shiite rebels, also known as the Houthis, said the vessel was believed to belong to the Saudi Arabian navy.
The local affiliate of the Islamic State group in Egypts restive northern Sinai Peninsula says its fighters have killed and wounded 20 Egyptian soldiers in four days of fighting south of the city of el-Arish.
In a statement released early Tuesday and posted on a pro-Islamic State group website, the group said the fighting also resulted in the destruction of two M60 tanks, one Humvee and two other military vehicles.
Security forces have been battling IS-led militants in Sinai for years, but the insurgency has grown deadlier and more widespread over the last three years. Security forces recently intensified their combing operations against the militants and their hideouts in the desert area.
Last week, the Egyptian army said five soldiers were killed in Sinai by the enemies of the nation.
Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and four aides were placed in house arrest by Pakistani authorities ahead of a financial task forces deadline that would have had implications on the countrys financial sector if it was ignored.
The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), the group led by Saeed, and its front organisation, the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) were included in the interior ministrys watch list but they were not banned, according to orders issued to the Punjab home department.
A large police team arrived (at the JuD headquarters in Chowburji area of Lahore) on Monday night and told us that Hafiz Saeed would be placed under house arrest, Nadeem Awan, the JuDs information secretary, said in a statement.
Awan said police told them they had an arrest warrant for Saeed and four others. The others detained with the JuD chief are Abdullah Ubaid, Kashif Niaz, who is responsible for the JuDs publications, and Zafar Iqbal and Abdur Rehman Abid, both from the groups main base at Muridke on the outskirts of Lahore.
Media reports said the government decided to put JuD and FIF on the watch list and approved the freezing of their assets and cancelling passports and arms licenses of their leaders to comply with the conditions of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Pakistan is bound to take these actions under UN Security Council Resolution 1267.
Pakistan is set to submit its compliance report on implementing money laundering laws to FATF on Tuesday, a pre-requisite for ensuring the country remains in the FATFs white list, The News daily reported.
In case of non-compliance, Pakistan could have slipped into the FATFs negative list for failing to counter terrorism financing.
Saeed, who was present at the JuD centre at Jamia Masjid al-Qadsia at Chowburji on Monday, was quick to blame pressure from India and Pakistan for the action against him. He claimed India was also angered by his support for the Kashmir issue.
We declared 2017 the year of Kashmir and I held a press conference with Hurriyat leaders from Kashmir in Islamabad. India made a lot of noise about that and I was expecting there will be some pressure, he told the media before he was detained.
I say with regret that this order for my house arrest has not come from Islamabad this order has come here from Delhi and Washington.
He added, Our crime is that we are standing for KashmirJust as the Kashmiris are in the field, Pakistan must stand with Kashmir.
Contingents of police and other law enforcing agencies surrounded the mosque at Chowburji. Saeed will be shifted to his residence in Johar Town, which will be declared a sub-jail.
Pakistani national flags were hoisted at JuD offices in Lahore, instead of the groups black-and-white flags, on the directives of the Punjab home department and police started removing the banners of JuD from the roads of the city. However, JuD offices in other cities were not affected by the latest developments.
The move came hours after interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters that his government had to fulfill its international obligations regarding groups such as JuD. He said the JuD was under the observation of the UN Security Council since 2010.
Officials have said consultations are being held on whether the JuD should be banned. A final decision will be taken after consultations between the civilian and military authorities, media reports said.
Observers said the move followed US pressure on the Nawaz Sharif government to act against terrorists. There is mounting pressure on fears that America may take punitive action against Pakistan for its stance on organisations like the JuD, said analyst Hasan Askari Zaidi.
JuD activists held demonstrations in Islamabad and Lahore to protest against a possible ban. Spokesman Yahya Mujahid said the JuD is consulting its legal team to challenge the governments decision.
This is not the first time Saeed has been placed under house arrest. Soon after the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, Pakistani authorities cracked down on the JuD and detained Saeed. Within six months, he was freed on the orders of the orders of the Lahore high court.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed a spat with Mexico over US President Donald Trumps proposed border wall Tuesday, saying the countries relations were stronger than a passing row.
Netanyahu wrote on Twitter that Israel will continue to have good relations with Mexico.
I believe our ties are stronger than any passing disagreement or misunderstanding, he added.
Mexico demanded an apology after Netanyahu tweeted last week in support of Trumps proposed wall spanning the Mexican border, saying a similar plan along Israels southern frontier had been a success.
President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 28, 2017
Netanyahu did not apologise, saying he did not comment on US-Mexico relations in the original tweet.
But he said he had a long, fruitful and very friendly relationship with Mexicos President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Israels President Reuven Rivlin will speak with Pena Nieto on Tuesday, a source close to him said, as the two countries seek to calm the row.
Rivlin, who comes from Netanyahus Likud party, is expected to stress the importance of the relationship between the two countries, the source said on condition of anonymity.
Pena Nieto cancelled a planned meeting with Trump over the proposed wall.
Former US president Barack Obama broke his post-White House silence Monday to join the growing chorus against his successors contentious travel ban on seven Muslim-majority nations, rejecting suggestions that the move could be traced back to his own administration.
Acting attorney general Sally Yates, an Obama appointee, had instructed lawyers of the department of justice to not defend President Donald Trumps order, which is being challenged in courts across the country. With Trump firing her late on Monday, Dana Boente US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia will fill in until senator Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the senate.
But opposition to his order goes deeper. Officials at the state department career diplomats with unverifiable political affiliations pushed back against the order, officially signing a dissent note arguing that the directive could imperil relations with the targeted countries. And protestors continued to throng international airports across the country.
In an executive order signed Friday, Trump banned citizens of seven countries Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Libya from entering the US for 90 days. He also banned the entry of all refugees for 120 days, but indefinitely for those from Syria a country torn apart by a devastating civil war, as depicted in heart-rending social media posts by seven-year-old Bana al-Abed.
Protestors at the Los Angeles International Airport, California demonstrate against the immigration ban imposed by US President Donald Trump. (AFP photo)
Trump sought to deflect blame in the face of all-around outrage by claiming that the Obama administration had also slapped a visa ban on Iraqis. He also alleged that the previous government had identified seven countries the same ones he blacklisted as sources of terror.
Obama, who had warned that he would speak up whenever the countrys fundamental values are threatened, spoke up on Monday just 10 days into retirement. With regard to comparisons to President Obamas foreign policy decisions, as weve heard before, the president fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion, a spokesman of the former premier said in a statement.
Trump has claimed that his travel restrictions have nothing to do with religion, and is doing everything to prevent it from being defined as a Muslim ban.
Several congressional Republicans have spoken out against President Donald Trumps immigration and refugee restrictions, reflecting unease within the presidents party about the direction he is taking in his first weeks in office.
But it was not immediately clear if such internal opposition to Trump policy signals a crack in broader Republican support for the new president as he takes several controversial turns in steering his administration in the post-Barack Obama era.
Read: What does it take to be a legal immigrant in the US? A look at the system
By Monday, at least 30 Republicans in the senate and house of representatives had publicly opposed or criticized the executive order signed last Friday which led to the detention of more than 100 people at US airports and mass protests in many cities, and prompted a near unanimous castigation by Democrats.
Trumps executive order at the conclusion of his first week in office bars US entry for travellers from seven mainly Muslim countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- for 90 days.
It also suspends the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, and Syrian refugees indefinitely.
Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, who like several Democratic lawmakers met with newly arrived refugees at the weekend to highlight what they see as the danger of Trumps order, warned on the Senate floor that the ill-conceived order would only encourage lone wolves here in America.
US senator Cory Booker (C), Democrat of New Jersey, speaks alongside senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (2nd L), Democrat of New York, US house democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (L) and other members of Congress as demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump's immigration ban. (AFP photo)
Schumer urged a vote on a bill that would rescind Trumps temporary arrival ban. His effort was blocked, but numerous Republicans have called out the new president over the action.
Read: From a doctor to US military cook, Trumps immigration ban upends many lives
There was an executive order that was put in place that was overly broad, and it needs to be fixed, Senator Cory Gardner, a Republican on the senate foreign relations committee, told reporters, adding that he did not know about the order ahead of time.
That committees chairman, senator Bob Corker, said he too was in the dark until Trump signed the document in a ceremony broadcast live on US television.
Clean it up
Corkers remarks suggested he believed the administration fumbled the roll out of the document, which reportedly was not cleared by relevant senior officials such as the secretary of homeland security.
Hopefully theyre going to take action themselves over the next several days to help clean it up, Corker said, adding that Congress may draft legislation to scale back the order if needed.
Senator John McCain, an occasional harsh critic of Trump, issued a statement on Sunday warning the order could serve as a self-inflicted wound in the US fight against terrorism.
He moderated his criticism on Monday, after the White House clarified over the weekend that holders of green cards, which makes them legal US residents, would not be affected by the measure.
But again, I worry a lot about our interpreters who literally put their lives in danger, and are not allowed to come to the United States, McCain told reporters.
Iraqi citizens who served as translators for US troops have been recipients of special immigrant visas, but they have been lumped into those affected by the travel ban.
The Hill newspaper published a running tally of 39 Republican members of Congress who have publicly expressed opposition to Trumps move.
Many had complained that the administration did not have its ducks in order, acting too hastily as it rolled out a controversial step that critics have blasted as a religious test for refugees aimed at barring entry to Muslims, something Trump expressed support for early in his presidential campaign.
US President Donald Trump speaks during a visit to the homeland security department in Washington. (AP photo)
While not explicitly a religious test, it comes close to one which is inconsistent with our American character, Republican senator Lamar Alexander said in a statement.
Several Republicans, including congressman Mike Kelly, pushed back against the notion that Trump had instituted such a test for refugees.
I respectfully but strongly disagree with the criticism that this order is discriminatory against any group of people other than actual terrorists, he said Monday. I would not support a law or policy that undermines our founding principles of liberty and justice for all.
Employees and supporters of a Pakistani Islamic charity are holding protests around the country after their leader was detained by the government.
Hafiz Saeed, head of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa organization, was placed under house arrest Monday, along with four of his deputies. His organization is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, the militant group behind the deadly 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.
Saeeds arrest has been long sought by both the Indian and American governments. The U.S. has a standing $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Read: How Pakistani newspapers reported Hafiz Saeeds detention
Saeed has vowed to continue his work and has blamed the governments move on pressure from new U.S. President Donald Trumps administration.
Pressure from several quarters, including the US and China, led to Pakistan taking steps to curtail the activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed but it is still not clear if the move was part of a larger crackdown on his jihadi network.
Late on Monday night, a large police team surrounded Jamaat-ud-Dawahs headquarters at Jamia Masjid al-Qadsia in the bustling Chowburji area of Lahore as Saeed was holding a meeting with his aides. Orders issued by the federal interior ministry had directed the home department of Punjab province to place Saeed and four of his aides in preventive detention.
Reports have quoted officials as saying that Saeed will be held at his residence at Johar Town area of Lahore for three months. There were also reports of a police contingent being deployed at the JuDs markaz (centre) at Muridke on the outskirts of Lahore.
In many ways, the actions were strongly reminiscent of the actions taken by Pakistan in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which Saeed was accused of masterminding. At the time, authorities had taken over JuDs offices and centres and Saeed and several key aides were placed under house arrest.
But within six months, Saeed was freed on the orders of the Lahore high court, which cited a lack of evidence against him. Though the US offered a $10 million bounty for Saeed in April 2012, the move did not crimp his activities he continued to address rallies while the JuD and its front organisations continued their fund-raising and recruitment.
Some in Islamabad believe the action taken on Monday was simply aimed at relieving growing pressure on Pakistan from the US and even China to crack down on wanted terrorists and to fulfil international obligations, including sanctions imposed by the Al Qaeda and Taliban sanctions committee of the UN Security Council.
Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had hinted at these pressures when he told reporters on Monday afternoon that action would be taken to fulfil international obligations regarding the JuD. The organisation has been under observation since 2010-11. Since it has also been listed by the UN Security Council (sanctions committee), we are bound to take some steps and we are taking those steps to fulfil our obligations, he said.
A security analyst in Islamabad, who did not want to be named, said China too had nudged Pakistan on the need to act against wanted terrorists. Apart from the pressure publicly exerted by Washington, Beijing has been quietly pushing Islamabad to act against these people. This could possibly have been a bigger factor in Mondays developments, the analyst told Hindustan Times.
There were also reports that the US used a recent report by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), an associate body of the Financial Action Task Force, that referred to the activities and financing of the JuD to push for action against Saeed.
But questions remain about Pakistans ultimate goal and real intentions in taking action against the JuD and its chief. For one, the order issued on January 29 by Pakistans interior ministry for action against JuD and its front, the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, states these organizations have been listed in the Second Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
This means there has been no real change in the status of the two organisations they will only be on an official watch list and there is still no ban on them. The FIF will be on the watch list for only six months, though the period can be subsequently extended.
Two, the interior ministrys orders offered no evidence against Saeed and the others detained or the two organisations. They also did not cite specific violations of the law and only contained vague references that the actions of the organisations may be concerned in terrorism.
Under these circumstances, Saeeds lawyers among the best in Lahore will face no problems in approaching the courts and getting the detention order revoked.
The government has moved in the right direction but it remains to be seen if this action will be sustained or Saeed is free and back to his activities within weeks or months, the security analyst said.
The pastor of a largely immigrant Catholic church has suggested that those protesting against US President Donald Trump must commit suicide by taking a flying leap off the nearest building.
Show your hate for Trump. Do it for social justice. #JumpAgainstTrump, read a message posted by Father Philip Pizzo, just hours after he celebrated the Sunday Mass, the New York Post reported.
The message included an illustration of a man plummeting from a skyscraper.
Pizzo, 67, told the New York Post on Monday: I do not promote suicide. Ive helped many people over the years, and it does not promote suicide. It was funny.
Some parishioners were outraged.
Suicide is not funny, plain and simple, said Carlos Coburn, a congregant who once sought counselling from Pizzo because he was struggling with thoughts about killing himself.
Another parishioner, Alex Leston, said he was appalled by the post. Father Pizzo normally posts about supporting Trump, but this was just taking it too far.
The conservative priest, who oversees St. Benedict Joseph Labre Roman Catholic Church in Richmond Hill, previously posted a photo of former President Barack Obama with the words Hes not my President and another snapshot of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton titled Ugly Face.
Pakistani supporters of Islamist leader Hafiz Saeed staged small protests on Tuesday and condemned the United States, after police detained the accused architect of an attack on the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 166 people in 2008.
Saeed, pointed to by critics as evidence of Pakistans reluctance to crack down hard enough on militants, was held late on Monday at the headquarters of his charity before being placed under house arrest at his home in the eastern city of Lahore.
He denies involvement in the Mumbai attack.
The move follows a US visa ban by President Donald Trump aimed at countries deemed linked to terrorism, and, while Pakistan was not named, a Pakistani official said worry over the new administration was a factor in the decision.
Read| My arrest will give fresh impetus to Kashmiris struggle: Hafiz Saeed
Pressure from key ally China may also have played a role, according to senior Pakistani officials, who say Beijing has for months been quietly lobbying Islamabad to crack down on Saeed and other Islamist leaders.
Release Hafiz Saeed! ... Anyone who is a friend of the US is a traitor! chanted about 150 members of Saeeds Islamic charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) in the southern city of Karachi.
About 500 protesters shouted similar slogans outside the provincial assembly in Lahore. Demonstrations also were held in Islamabad, according to the JuD, which the United States says is a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group blamed for the Mumbai attack.
Saeed founded LeT in the 1990s but later distanced himself from it.
Arch-rival India was sceptical that Pakistan would bring Saeed to justice, pointing out that he had been detained before and released.
Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organizations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistans sincerity, said a statement from Indias ministry of external affairs.
US pressure, Chinese persuasion
Saeed accused the government of bowing to pressure from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United States.
This is taking place because of Modis insistence, Trumps pressure and Pakistans helplessness, Saeed told reporters.
The United States has listed both the LeT and the charity as foreign terrorist organisations and has a $10 million reward for information leading to Saeeds arrest.
The Pakistani government has not officially commented on why it acted now.
A senior defence ministry official said the government had not been contacted by the new US administration, but it had been feeling American pressure on the issue.
Trump is taking hard decisions against Muslim countries, there is open talk of actions against Pakistan also. So yes, this was a consideration, said the official, who declined to be identified.
Several other government officials have said recently that long-time ally China has been working to persuade Pakistan to act against wanted militants such as Saeed.
Officials in Beijing did not respond to queries on Tuesday, which falls during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Since 2007, Pakistan has been battling the Pakistani Taliban and other militants seeking to impose strict Islamic law.
But critics say it has targeted only militants who attack its own state, not those active in neighbouring Afghanistan and India, such as the Afghan Taliban, Haqqani network and LeT.
Read| Pressure from US, China may have led to LeT founder Hafiz Saeeds house arrest
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday night fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates, hours after she ordered the Justice Department not to defend his temporary ban on refugee and immigration that sparked nationwide protests and worldwide criticism.
"Ms. Yates is an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration," said a White House statement.
Trump appointed Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to replace Yates until his nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions, is confirmed by the Senate, local media reported.
Yates had been deputy attorney general before serving as acting chief of the Justice Department from Jan. 20, when Trump was sworn in.
"Consequently, for as long as I am the acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so," Yates said in a letter to the department on Monday.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts," she said.
"At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful," she added.
Her remarks echoed Democratic lawmakers' ongoing fight aimed to urge Trump to rescind his executive order temporarily barring U.S. entry to refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
On Monday evening, House and Senate Democrats, holding up candles, gathered at the Supreme Court with thousands of supporters in protest against the controversial order.
Afterwards, Senate Democrats kicked off a talkathon of floor speeches, urging Trump to rescind the ban, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called counterproductive, dangerous and evil, noting Trump's move "raises serious doubts" about his competence.
In response, Trump on Twitter attacked the Democrats "have nothing going but to obstruct," calling Yates an "Obama A.G."
Earlier on Monday, former President Barack Obama also voiced his support for the protests against Trump's controversial immigration ban.
"President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country," Kevin Lewis, Obama's spokesman said.
Trump has compared his order to Obama's 2011 moves to restrict entries from Iraq after two Iraqis were arrested in the United States on terrorism charges.
"With regard to comparisons to President Obama's foreign policy decisions, as we've heard before, the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion," said Lewis.
Trump tweeted early Monday that "only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning" due to his execution order, blaming "protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer" for chaos across U.S. airports in the past two days.
Schumer tweeted Friday that "Tears are running down the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty" over the ban.
On Sunday, attorneys general from 15 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, all Democrats, condemned Trump's ban as "unconstitutional, un-American and unlawful."
In a joint statement, they vowed to "use all of the tools of our offices to fight this unconstitutional order and preserve our nation's national security and core values."
Under the executive order Trump signed Friday, refugees from all over the world will be suspended U.S. entry for 120 days while all immigration from the so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days.
Countries included in the ban are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
Related: Trump's refugee ban sparks protests before White House, at over 30 U.S. airports
Thousands of protesters rallied in front of the White House on Sunday while demonstrations continued across more than 30 American airports after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily barring all refugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens from entry into the U.S..
Pakistani police confined the accused architect of the 2008 Mumbai attacks to house arrest on Tuesday, manning barricades outside his home in the city of Lahore as supporters vowed protests.
The detention of Islamist leader Hafiz Saeed follows action by the US administration of President Donald Trump aimed at countries deemed linked to terrorism, and one Pakistani official said the fear of US action against Pakistan had been a factor in the decision to hold Saeed.
India has been demanding action against him since the attack on Mumbai by 10 gunmen from Pakistan, who infiltrated the city by boat and killed 166 people in a rampage that included attacks on two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre and a train station.
The attack brought nuclear-armed Pakistan and India to the brink of war. India had yet to respond to Saeeds confinement to his home in the eastern city of Lahore.
Police detained Saeed, founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group that India blames for the bloodshed, at the headquarters of his charity, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), late on Monday.
Shortly before dawn on Tuesday, police took him to his house, where a Reuters cameraman saw police setting up a perimeter. They later banned media from the scene as about 100 Saeed supporters chanted slogans.
Saeed and his supporters accused Pakistan of acquiescing to the wishes of the United States, which has a $10 million reward for information leading to Saeeds arrest, and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This is taking place because of Modis insistence, Trumps pressure and Pakistans helplessness, Saeed told media late on Monday as he was being led away.
Saeed has denied ordering the Mumbai attacks and has distanced himself from the LeT, while leading his charity.
A JuD spokesman, Farooq Azam, announced protests in the southern city of Karachi.
Hard decisions
The United States has listed both the LeT and the charity as foreign terrorist organisations. Western officials regard the charity as a front for the LeT.
The Pakistani government has not commented on why it acted now.
A senior defence ministry official said the government had not been contacted by the new U.S. administration but had been feeling U.S. pressure on the issue.
Trump is taking hard decisions against Muslim countries, there is open talk of actions against Pakistan also. So yes, this was a consideration, said the official, who declined to be identified.
In recent months, Saeed has been holding regular news conferences to denounce a security crackdown in the Indian-controlled part of the divided Kashmir region.
If they believe that they can throw the Kashmir issue into the background through our arrests and our confinement, that is not possible, Saeed said after his arrest.
Other government officials have said recently that a broader diplomatic campaign - pushed by India - to isolate Pakistan over its perceived failure to stamp out Islamist militancy has taken a toll, even involving pressure from long-time ally China.
Indias foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack, but was released about six months later in June 2009.
A 27-year-old man, accused of an attack on a mosque in Quebec City on Sunday that claimed six lives, has been charged with murder and attempted murder.
Alexandre Bissonnette, a student at the social sciences department of Laval University in Quebec City, made an appearance in a city court on Monday evening and is next scheduled for a hearing on February 21. He has been charged with six counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP has not ruled out terrorism-related charges, though that decision will be taken as the investigation progresses.
The six victims of the massacre have been identified as Azzeddine Soufiane, Khaled Belkacemi, Aboubaker Thabti, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Ibrahima Barry and Abdelkrim Hassane.
While police have yet to lay down terrorism-related charges against Bissonnette, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau once again reiterated that his government viewed the attack as a despicable act of terror.
Speaking at a special session of the Canadian House of Commons in Ottawa on Monday afternoon, Trudeau made his governments position on the incident evident. This was a group of innocents targeted for practising their faith. Make no mistake, this was a terrorist attack, he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks as his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau (R) and NDP leader Thomas Mulcair (L) look on as they attend a vigil held in honour of the victims of a shooting in a mosque in Quebec City, Quebec January 30, 2017. (Reuters)
Trudeau, along with the leaders of opposition parties, attended a vigil on Monday evening in Quebec City in memory of the victims of the rampage on Sunday night during which six congregants at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec or Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec were gunned down.
We will get to the bottom of this. Such senseless violence has no place in Canadian society, Trudeau said.
The Canadian government has promised increased vigilance and security around places of worship, particularly mosques in the country, in the aftermath of the tragedy.
In his address, Trudeau spoke to the countrys nearly one million Muslims, as he said, Know that we value you, you enrich our shared country in immeasurable ways. Youre home.
Vigils across Canada
Even as thousands gathered in Quebec City on Monday evening in memory of the victims, similar vigils took place across Canada.
While Bissonnette hadnt been on the radar of law enforcement agencies, a local group Welcome to Refugees Quebec City stated it had been aware of his extreme stands.
It is with pain and anger that we learn the identity of the terrorist Alexandre Bissonnette, unfortunately known to several activists in Quebec City for his identity positions, it noted.
People leave flowers and candles under the police tape surrounding the perimeter of the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre, following a vigil held on honour of the victims of a shooting in the mosque in Quebec City, Quebec January 30, 2017. (Reuters)
He was apparently pro-Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French right-wing party National Front, and anti-feminists. Le Pen is among those whose pages Bissonnette liked on Facebook (his account has been deactivated). He also liked US President Donald Trump, the separatist Parti Quebecois, and also the left-of-centre New Democratic Party or NDP.
The Parti Quebecois, which ran the provincial government between 2012 and 2014, had introduced a Charter of Values for Quebec which included a bar on government employees wearing visible religious attire like the niqab or the turban.
The shootings came hours after Trudeau welcomed immigrants to Canada, striking a sharp contrast with Trumps sweeping executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim countries.
Trump suspended the arrival of refugees to the US for at least 120 days, with those from Syria barred indefinitely. He also blocked entry of people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for the next three months.
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The French-Canadian student charged in a shooting spree that killed six people at a Quebec City mosque was known in online circles as a supporter of far-right French politician Marine Le Pen and described by a former classmate as a nerdy outcast.
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, the sole suspect in Sunday nights shooting, was charged on Monday with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon. Police said he acted alone.
He was not previously known to police, but a Facebook post by the group Welcome to Refugees Quebec City said Bissonnette was unfortunately known to several activists in Quebec City for his pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist identity positions at Universite Laval and on social networks.
The online profile for Bissonnette, who made a brief court appearance on Monday, showed a wide variety of interests.
On his Facebook page, he indicated he liked Le Pen, US President Donald Trump, the separatist Parti Quebecois as well as Canadas left-wing New Democratic Party, the Israeli Defense Forces, heavy metal band Megadeth and pop star Katy Perry.
I wrote him off as a xenophobe. I didnt even think of him as totally racist, but he was enthralled by a borderline racist nationalist movement, Vincent Boissoneault, a fellow Laval University student, told the Globe and Mail newspaper. He said they frequently clashed over Bissonnettes opinions about refugees and support for Le Pen and Trump.
Bissonnettes lawyer, Jean Petit, declined to comment at the courthouse on Monday. Universite Laval confirmed on Monday that Bissonnette was a social science student there.
Bissonnette was a cerebral nerdy outcast, said former high school classmate Simon de Billy, adding the suspect and his twin brother were inseparable.
He was an avid reader, knew a lot about history and about current issues, current politics, those kinds of topics, de Billy said. He was just a bit of a loner, always with his twin brother, didnt have any friends.
He wasnt physically strong or imposing, and probably got a bit of a hard time, was probably not taken seriously. ... He would be kind of made fun of, the butt of the jokes.
Home-sharing website Airbnb is offering free accommodation to refugees and others barred from entering the United States due to President Donald Trumps immigration curbs.
Airbnbs decision comes amid a global backlash against Trumps order which puts a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily bans travellers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries.
Read: Washington state sues Trump over immigration ban order
In a note posted on its website, the company said it was working with partners to identify people who were unexpectedly stuck in limbo by the new restrictions and in need of a short-term place to stay.
The company, which helps users rent out their homes, also set up a webpage to enlist volunteers wishing to host affected refugees and immigrants.
We must stand with those who are affected, said Brian Chesky, the California-based companys CEO, in the blog post.
Barring refugees and people who are not a threat from entering America simply because they are from a certain country is not right.
Immigrants and refugees were kept off flights and left stranded in airports worldwide amid scenes of confusion and anger after the immigration ban suddenly took effect on Friday.
Read: Starbucks to cabbies: 8 ways in which America is defying Trumps Muslim ban
Airbnb could not immediately provide data as to how many people had reached out for housing assistance.
Trumps order, in addition to temporarily closing the US border to all refugees as well as travellers with passports from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, bans refugees from Syria indefinitely.
The companys move was welcomed on social media, with some 200,000 people liking a tweet from Chesky announcing the initiative.
God bless you & what youre doing, wrote Twitter user @XeMurray.
In other Twitter messages, hosts from Canada to Ireland and Mexico offered to open their doors to stranded travelers.
However, other tweets blasted Airbnb for not offering the same treatment to U.S. military veterans and homeless people.
Founded in 2008, Airbnb offers rentals in 65,000 cities across 191 countries, according to its website.
Last year, the company partnered with aid organizations to provide their workers with free housing as they respond to humanitarian crises.
Prime Minister Theresa May is standing firm amid growing demands to cancel the forthcoming state visit of US President Donald trump to Britain, but there are concerns that her invitation for a state visit had put Queen Elizabeth in a very difficult situation.
May has come under criticism for showing unseemly haste in inviting Trump earlier US presidents were invited only when they were well into their first terms. A petition calling for stopping the state visit had over 1.6 million signatories and thousands protested across Britain on Monday evening.
Peter Ricketts, former permanent secretary of the Foreign Office, said on Tuesday that Mays invitation to Trump had put the Queen in a very difficult position, and said it was unprecedented to invite a US president in the first year of office.
In a letter to The Times, he questioned whether Trump was "specially deserving of this exceptional honour", described the invitation as "premature", and added: "It would have been far wiser to wait to see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the Queen to invite him.
"Now the Queen is put in a very difficult position," he wrote.
No date has yet been announced for Trumps visit, but some MPs have raised the prospect of major protests when the US President does come. Others believe he is unlikely to visit in the next 90 days, by when his controversial order on refugees and immigration may be resolved.
If Trumps visit goes ahead, it will not be the first time that the Queen will play host to a controversial foreign leader the Shah of Iran visited in 1959, Mobuto Sese Seko of Zaire in 1973; Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania in 1978 and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe in 1994.
May, during a visit of Dublin on Monday, said: The United States is a close ally of the United Kingdom. We work together across many areas of mutual interest and we have that special relationship between us. I have issued that invitation for a state visit for President Trump to the United Kingdom and that invitation stands.
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US President Donald Trump on Monday fired the acting attorney general, a holdover from the Obama administration, after she ordered Justice Department attorneys not to defend his controversial executive order on immigration.
The acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States, the White House said in a statement.
President Trump relieved Ms Yates of her duties and subsequently named Dana Boente, US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve as acting attorney general until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate.
Yates told justice department lawyers in a letter that she did not believe defending the order would be consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.
Trumps directive on Friday put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
He has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from terror attacks but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and defiles Americas historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants.
It was unclear whether Trump would fire Yates, who was appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama. She was already days away from being replaced by Trumps pick, Senator Sessions.
The White House dismissed her comments as rhetoric and said Trump acted within his presidential powers.
Already nervous about an impending clampdown on H-1B visas by the Trump administration, stock prices of Indian IT companies fell 9 points on Tuesday, the day before the annual budget, on news of a recent legislation moved in the US House of Representatives seeking to curb outsourcing.
The bill, High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017, moved on January 24 by Zoe Lofgren, a Democratic member from California, is not expected to go much further in a chamber dominated by Republicans, one of whom, Darell Issa, has moved a competing legislation.
The flurry of legislative activity comes in anticipation of impending action, through a possible executive order by President Donald Trump, overhauling the temporary visa programme that allows the US and US-based companies to hire 85,000 high-skilled foreign workers every year.
The order, first reported by Bloomberg that saw a draft of it, will enjoin American companies to employ Americans first, and if they must look outward, they should grant priority to highly-paid positions.
Our countrys immigration policies should be designed and implemented to serve, first and foremost, the US national interest, the draft read, reportedly. Visa programs for foreign workersshould be administered in a manner that protects the civil rights of American workers and current lawful residents, and that prioritises the protection of American workers our forgotten working people and the jobs they hold.
The Indian IT industry is clearly nervous while it waits for the axe to fall, and any real or perceived threats roils the market as it did on Tuesday, when news of a legislation that has little or no chance of being enacted, drove down stocks of IT companies by 9 points.
Shares of Tata Consultancy Services plunged by 5.46% to touch an intra-day low of 2,206.55 on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Infosys lost 4.57% to 905, and Wipro went down by 4.11% to 445.55. Tech Mahindra fell by 9.68% to 426 and HCL Technologies declined by 6.25% to 787.20.
The Bombay Stock Exchanges IT index initially fell by 4.83% to touch an intra-day low of 9401.85, though it picked up to 9547.53 later in the day.
The Bombay Stock Exchanges IT index initially fell by 4.83% to touch an intra-day low of 9401.85, though it picked up to 9547.53 later in the day. (REUTERS file)
The external affairs ministry said Indias concerns related to H-1B visas had been conveyed to the US government. Indias interests, concerns have been conveyed both to the US administration and the US Congress at senior levels, ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
According to sources, Indian embassy officials in Washington met US officials and lawmakers very recently as the Trump administration was putting in place measures to control immigration.
Trump and senior members of his team have been clear that H-1B, which the president has said he used himself in his businesses, is being abused by US firms to cut costs by outsourcing jobs to companies that bring in less expensive foreign workers, mostly from India.
The Indian IT sector is heavily dependent on North America for its revenues. Around 60% of Indias software exports are made for North America, said Alka Dhingra, assistant general manager TeamLease Services.
Its not clear yet though how much the Trump administration can achieve through the executive order, as the issue of H-1B is tied to the highly contentious immigration reform effort centered round the fate of 11 million undocumented immigrants and policing the border and Trumps wall.
But Trump had said late last year in a video message that among his first tasks in office will be to direct the department of labour to investigate all abuses of visa programs that undercut the American worker.
And in a highly publicised meeting with leaders of the US tech industry called the Tech Summit they discussed doing away with the lottery system through which companies are granted H-1B visas, as the demand far outstrips availability. The other proposal was to make the application fee prohibitively expensive.
Indian IT companies such as Infosys, Wipro and TCS avail a large number of H-1B visas to send professionals to the US. L1visas a related category is given to employees of a firm when they are transferred to the US.
In 2015, President Barack Obamas administration permitted spouses of H-1B visa-holders to get permission to work.
It is estimated that nearly 86% of H-1B visas for computer-related jobs and 46.5 % for engineering positions are availed by Indians. The US issues 85,000 H-1B visas every year.
The defense department pledged to lobby for US entry of Iraqis who supported the American military after President Donald Trump barred nationals from Iraq and six other countries with Muslim majorities.
The Pentagon is working on a list of names of Iraqis who have worked for the US military, including fighters and translators, often doing so at great peril for themselves, Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said.
We are ensuring that those who have demonstrated their commitment tangibly to fight alongside us and support us, that those names are known to the services responsible for authorising entry into the country, he said.
In an executive order on Friday, Trump barred entry to the US for 90 days for citizens of Iraq, a key ally in the fight against violent extremist groups, and Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The order, billed as a temporary move to allow time for the new Trump administration to review visa criteria in an effort to make America safe from radical Islamic terrorists, also banned all refugees from coming into the country for 120 days.
The sudden travel ban sowed confusion and led to distressed scenes over the weekend at airports in the US and abroad as would-be passengers were detained or turned away.
It also sparked outrage in the US and criticism from the United Nations human rights chief and a number of countries, including Iraq.
Read: Obama condemns Trumps immigration ban, commends protests across US
We are still in the process of assessing the order, Davis said. He declined to say whether the defense department had helped in planning and advising the presidents move.
The status of Iraqi pilots who are currently training at an air base in Arizona appeared murky. That is one of the issues that we are specifically looking at, the spokesman said.
Iraq pushed back against the US ban, urging Washington to review this wrong decision.
Read: No Americans allowed: Iraq parliament passes reciprocal travel ban on US
The Iraqi parliament approved a bill calling for the government to take similar measures against Americans if Washington does not scrap the directive.
The travel restrictions come on the heels of repeated assertions by Trump that the US should have stolen Iraqs oil before drawing down its troops in 2011 from the war there.
Two Indians have pleaded guilty before an American district court to charges of smuggling foreign nationals into the US, the Department of Justice said.
Nileshkumar Patel, 42, and Harsad Mehta, 68, both from India, pleaded guilty on Monday before District Judge William Martini at the Newark federal court to separate superseding information charging them each with one count of conspiracy to smuggle foreign nationals into the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
According to court documents, Patel and Mehta admitted that from June 2013 through October 2015, they conspired to make money by recruiting Indian nationals to enter and reside in the United States illegally.
Patel and Mehta admitted that on July 24, 2014, they brought two Indian nationals to Bangkok, so that they could be transported into the United States.
They also admitted paying an individual -- who was actually an undercover officer -- to transport the foreign nationals from Thailand into Newark.
The conspiracy count carriers a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2017.
The UN security council scheduled urgent consultations on Tuesday on an Iranian ballistic missile test at the request of the United States.
The US Mission to the United Nations said it wanted the UNs most powerful body to discuss Sundays launch of a medium-range missile.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said earlier that he did not know the exact nature of the test and expected to have more information later.
Read: Iran has tested a ballistic missile, studying its nature, says US
A defense official said the missile test ended with a failed re-entry into the earths atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile. The official was not authorised to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Iran is the subject of a United Nations security council resolution prohibiting tests of ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear warhead. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal, the UN ban was prolonged by eight years, although Iran has flaunted the restriction.
State department spokesman Mark Toner said the US was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the resolution.
When actions are taken that violate or are inconsistent with the resolution, we will act to hold Iran accountable and urge other countries to do so as well, Toner said.
Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the senate foreign relations committee, condemned Iran for the missile test.
No longer will Iran be given a pass for its repeated ballistic missile violations, continued support of terrorism, human rights abuses and other hostile activities that threaten international peace and security, Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said in a written statement.
Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, meanwhile, claimed a successful missile strike against a warship in the Red Sea belonging to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting alongside Yemens internationally recognised government.
Video footage shown on the rebels al-Masirah television on Monday shows a warship being hit and a fire on board starting as a man not shown in the video shouts the rebels trademark chant of Allahu akbar (God is greatest), death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam.
The media arm of the Shiite rebels, also known as the Houthis, said the vessel was believed to belong to the Saudi Arabian navy.
The federal governments top lawyer made an extraordinarily rare move to defy US President Donald Trump on Monday by saying the justice department would not defend new travel restrictions targeting seven Muslim-majority nations because she was not convinced they were lawful.
Acting US attorney general Sally Yates told the justice department lawyers that she did not believe defending the order would be consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.
Trumps directive on Friday put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
He has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from terror attacks but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and defiles Americas historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants.
Yates, who was appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama, is days away from being replaced by Trumps pick for the top spot at the department, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, who is awaiting Senate confirmation.
The White House dismissed her comments as rhetoric and said Trump acted within his presidential powers.
I think thats a further demonstration of how politicized our legal system has become, said Stephen Miller, a policy adviser to Trump, in an interview on MSNBC.
Court action looms
US stocks suffered their biggest drop of 2017 on Monday as investors took the curb on immigration as a reminder that not all the new presidents policies would be market-friendly.
Chaos broke out over the weekend as border and customs officials struggled to put the order into practice amid loud protests at major US airports. Federal judges blocked deportation of those detained under the order.
An internal department of homeland security document seen by Reuters showed 348 visa holders were kept from boarding US-bound flights this week, and more than 200 people came to the United States but were denied entry.
More than 735 people were pulled aside for questioning by US Customs and Border Protection officers in airports, including 394 green card holders, who are legal permanent residents of the United States, the document said.
Trumps order was developed hastily and was not extensively reviewed by the agencies which are now grappling with implementing it. Trumps administration is granting waivers from the refugee ban to allow 872 people into the country this week refugees that had already been cleared for resettlement in the United States and were in transit when the order came out.
Washington state will be the first to take on the executive order, announcing an effort to sue in federal court.
It is an insult and a danger to all of the people of the state of Washington, of all faiths, Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, told reporters.
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said the lawsuit would include constitutional claims, including allegations that Trumps order violates the equal protection clause and the First Amendment. Those arguments are also being used in other lawsuits filed over the weekend on behalf of individuals detained at US airports.
Technology companies Amazon.com Inc and Expedia Inc, both of which are based in Washington states Seattle area, will support the states suit, Ferguson said.
Another Washington state company, Microsoft Corp, said it has been cooperating with the attorney generals office to provide information about the orders impact in order to be supportive.
Several other state attorneys general, including those from California and New York, have said they are considering whether to take their own legal action. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the countrys biggest Muslim advocacy group, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 people.
Chorus of condemnation
Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation on Monday seeking to block Trumps order, but the measures were unlikely to advance without support from Trumps fellow Republicans, who control majorities in both houses of Congress and have largely expressed support for his actions.
Former President Obama took the rare step of weighing in, saying through a spokesman that he was heartened by the political activism on the issue.
But White House spokesman Sean Spicer argued Trumps move was popular with Americans who are worried about attacks.
On Twitter, Trump appeared to blame the airport confusion on protesters as well as on New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who teared up over the weekend while discussing the ban, and even a computer system failure at Delta Air Lines Inc late on Sunday.
Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning. Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage ... protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer. Secretary Kelly said that all is going well with very few problems. MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN! he tweeted, referring to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.
Allies worried
There was criticism from within the US government. US state department officials circulated a draft memo of dissent, saying Trumps move would hurt Americas image abroad and inflame anti-American sentiment.
Separately, US officials said the department received multiple cables from US embassies over the weekend reporting foreign dissatisfaction at the order.
The Iraqi parliament voted to ask the countrys government to retaliate against the United States, putting at risk cooperation in the fight against Islamic State.
A government official in Baghdad said foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari plans to meet the US ambassador soon to express dismay at Trumps decision.
British foreign secretary Boris Johnson joined a chorus of concern expressed by US allies, ranging from Iraq to Germany.
This is, of course, a highly controversial policy, which has caused unease and, I repeat, this is not an approach that this government would take, Johnson told parliament.
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in London and other British cities on Monday to demonstrate against the ban. People, some holding placards reading No to Racism, No to Trump and Dump Trump, staged a protest outside the Prime Ministers Downing Street residence.
On any given day at MacDill Air Force Base, web crawlers scour social media for potential recruits to the Islamic State group. Then, in a high-stakes operation to counter the extremists propaganda, language specialists employ fictitious identities and try to sway the targets from joining IS ranks.
At least thats how the multimillion-dollar initiative is being sold to the Defense Department.
A critical national security program known as WebOps is part of a vast psychological operation that the Pentagon says is effectively countering an enemy that has used the internet as a devastating tool of propaganda. But an Associated Press investigation found the management behind WebOps is so beset with incompetence, cronyism and flawed data that multiple people with direct knowledge of the program say its having little impact.
Several current and former WebOps employees cited multiple examples of civilian Arabic specialists who have little experience in counter-propaganda, cannot speak Arabic fluently and have so little understanding of Islam they are no match for the Islamic State online recruiters.
Its hard to establish rapport with a potential terror recruit when as one former worker told the AP translators repeatedly mix up the Arabic words for salad and authority. Thats led to open ridicule on social media about references to the Palestinian salad.
Read | Islamic State faces uphill branding war in Afghanistan, Pakistan
Four current or former workers told the AP that they had personally witnessed WebOps data being manipulated to create the appearance of success and that they had discussed the problem with many other employees who had seen the same. Yet the companies carrying out the program for the militarys Central Command in Tampa have dodged attempts to implement independent oversight and assessment of the data.
Central Command spokesman Andy Stephens declined repeated requests for information about WebOps and other counter-propaganda programs, which were launched under the Obama Administration. And he did not respond to detailed questions the AP sent on January 10.
The AP investigation is based on Defense Department and contractor documents, emails, photographs and interviews with more than a dozen people closely involved with WebOps as well as interviews with nearly two dozen contractors. The WebOps workers requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the work and because they werent authorized to speak publicly.
The COLSA Corporation building is photographed in Huntsville, Alabama. The military contractor helps run US Central Commands WebOps program that counters Islamic State online propaganda. An AP investigation found the program is plagued by incompetence and skewed data. (AP)
The information operations division that runs WebOps is the commands epicenter for firing back at the Islamic States online propaganda machine, using the internet to sway public opinion in a swath of the globe that stretches from Central Asia to the Horn of Africa.
Early last year, the government opened the bidding on a new counter-propaganda contract separate from WebOps that is worth as much as $500 million. Months after the AP started reporting about the bidding process, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service told the AP that it had launched an investigation. NCIS spokesman Ed Buice said the service is investigating a whistleblowers allegations of corruption stemming from how the contract was awarded.
The problems with the WebOps operation illustrate challenges awaiting President Donald Trump. He has promised to boost military spending by tens of billions of dollars while also cutting waste at the Defense Department and ensuring that contractors arent getting sweetheart deals.
Do you speak Arabic?
In a large office room filled with cubicles at Central Command, about 120 people, many of them Arabic language specialists, are assigned to fight IS militants on their own turf: the internet.
The WebOps contract is run by Colsa Corp., based in Huntsville, Alabama. A major challenge for Colsa and contractors working on other national security programs is finding people who can speak Arabic fluently and can also get security clearances to handle classified material.
The problem, according to six current and former Colsa employees, is that to engage with operatives of the Islamic State, or their potential recruits, you need to be fluent in language, nuance and Islam and while Colsa has some Arabic experts, those skills are not widely distributed.
One of the things about jihadis: they are very good in Arabic, said one specialist who worked on WebOps.
Another former employee said common translation mistakes he personally witnessed, including the Palestinian salad example, were the result of the company hiring young people who were faking language abilities.
He mockingly described the conversations between managers and potential hires: Do you speak Arabic? he mimicked. Yes. How do you say good morning? Oh, you can do that? You are an expert. You are hired.
The WebOps Arabic program focuses on Syria, Iraq and Yemen, but for most of the time Colsa has been running it, it has had no Syrian or Yemeni staff, the AP was told in separate interviews with two current employees and one who left recently.
Engaging in theological discussions on social media with people who are well versed in the Quran is not for beginners. Iraq and Syria are riven with sectarian violence between Shiite and Sunni Muslims, who follow different interpretations of Islam. Multiple workers said that WebOps experts often trip up on language that is specific to one sect or region.
People can tell whether you are local, or whether you are Sunni or Shia, said another former worker, so poorly crafted messages are not effective. He said he left WebOps because he was disgusted with the work.
A number of the workers complained to AP that a large group on staff from Morocco, in North Africa, were often ignorant of Middle Eastern history and culture or even the difference between groups the U.S. considers terrorist organizations. The group was so dominant that colleagues jokingly referred to them as the Moroccan mafia.
A lot of them dont know the difference between Hezbollah and Hamas, said the employee who left to find more meaningful work. Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Shiite group based in Lebanon. Hamas, based in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, is the Palestinian branch of the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood.
Many Americans got their first, confusing glimpse of the countrys complex immigration system when President Donald Trump announced he was temporarily banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US and suspending the nations refugee program.
Heres a look at the system:
What is a green card?
A green card is a permit given to immigrants who are approved to be in the country indefinitely and become known as permanent residents.
Obtaining a green card can take decades and involves a meticulous process. Some people never receive one.
About a million people are granted permanent residency in the US each year. A little less than half of them are sponsored by relatives who are American citizens, according to William Stock, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Stock says sponsors and applicants undergo interviews, criminal background checks, medical screenings and fingerprinting.
The process takes at least a year for the spouse of a US citizen who has never been in the country. Immigrants with more distant relatives can wait years longer.
If its a sibling, its 20 to 30 years for most countries, Stock said, adding that people from Mexico and the Philippines can wait 75 years for green cards.
What is refugee status?
Refugees from war-torn or dangerous countries must be diligently vetted before they can be resettled in the United States. The years-long process includes rigorous background checks for possible criminal and terrorist ties.
Refugees often live in camps outside their home country for years before the US decides whether to accept them.
Only about 1% of refugees in the world are resettled in new countries, and the US takes in about half of them, the State Department says.
The US accepted about 85,000 refugees in the year ending in September.
Refugees differ from asylum seekers.
Refugees must be approved to move the United States. Asylum seekers arrive on their own and then seek protection by the US government if they fear returning to their home country.
What is a non-immigrant visa?
Non-immigrant visas apply to people who come to the country on temporary status, including students, competitive athletes, tourists, human trafficking victims, au pairs and diplomats.
Read | Build Mexico wall: US President Trumps executive orders on immigration
The category also includes foreign workers such as engineers and technical experts who work for Silicon Valley companies.
Some tech companies said they were dismayed by Trumps executive order because foreign employees represent a significant percentage of their workforces. Visas for such workers can usually be obtained within a year.
What visa is used for Iraqi interpreters who aid US troops?
The visa program for Iraqi and Afghan translators and interpreters and others who worked for the American government was created in 2006.
Iraqis and Afghans who apply for the visas are vetted in a similar way as refugees and are also entitled to the same public and private resettlement services.
There is a tight limit on the number of such visas granted. The government granted 37,000 Iraqis and Afghans special visas from 2007 to 2015, according to the Congressional Research Service, a non-partisan group.
The service says government officials try to balance the need to issue the visas in a timely fashion to protect applicants with conducting appropriate security screenings to identify threats.
The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen and Houthi Shiite rebels might have committed war crimes in the conflict that is wracking the Middle Easts poorest nation with no end in sight, United Nations (UN) experts said in a new report.
The report to the UN security council, obtained on Monday by The Associated Press, said after nearly two years of conflict, Yemen is in danger of fracturing beyond the point of no return.
The experts said an outright military victory by any one side is no longer a realistic possibility in the near term.
The panel examined 10 coalition airstrikes targeting houses, markets, factories, a hospital and a funeral hall that led to at least 292 civilian fatalities, including at least 100 women and children. The experts said they are almost certain the coalition violated international humanitarian law requiring proportionality and precautions in attacks, and added that some of the airstrikes may amount to war crimes.
A call to Saudi Arabias UN Mission seeking comment was not answered.
The panel also said it is highly likely that attacks by the Houthis or their allies using explosive ordnance against markets, a hospital and residential building violated humanitarian law for the same reasons, and may also amount to war crimes.
Pro-Houthi fighters, who have been injured during recent fighting, shout slogans during a rally held to honour those injured or maimed while fighting in Houthi ranks in Sanaa, Yemen. (Reuters photo)
Yemen, which on the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, has been engulfed in civil war since September, 2014 when Houthi rebels swept into the capital of Sanaa and overthrew President Abed-Rabbo Mansour Hadis internationally recognised government.
In March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition, backed by the United States, began a campaign against Houthi forces allied with ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh in support of Hadis government. Since then, the Iranian-backed Houthis have been dislodged from most of the south, but remain in control of Sanaa and much of the north.
The panel said the Saudi-led air campaign while devastating to Yemeni infrastructure and civilians, has failed to dent the political will of the Houthi-Saleh alliance to continue the conflict.
The alliance has demonstrated it has an effective anti-ship capability, the panel said, warning that maritime attacks in the Red Sea in late 2016 have increased the risk of the conflict spreading regionally.
The panel said it has not seen sufficient evidence to confirm any direct large-scale supply of arms from Iran although there are indicators that anti-tank guided weapons being supplied to the Houthi or Saleh forces are of Iranian manufacture.
A tribesman loyal to Houthi rebels, right, chants slogans during a gathering aimed at mobilising more fighters into battlefronts to fight pro-government forces in Yemeni cities. (AP photo)
According to the report, terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State, are now actively exploiting the changing political environment and governance vacuums in Yemen.
In 2016, the panel said AQAP claimed some 200 attacks, most using roadside bombs. Islamic State extremists, though now appearing to be weaker than in 2015, nonetheless still carried out suicide bombings and close-quarter assassination of security officials, which are increasingly filmed as they happen, the report said.
AUSTIN, TX To say that Larry Williams is a man of many words is an understatement. His stream of consciousness often follows lines of reasoning and thoughts of deep philosophy that show a depth of character few hip-hop artists display. When he applies that natural flow to his music, the result is a unique sound and style that is rapidly setting him apart from others within the music industry and establishing him as a new force of rap that people must pay attention to.
His first single, Twerkin Wit Da Does, is a perfect example of that natural flow. He said he has an archive of about 20 songs hes been working on over the past few years, and that he intentionally chose this song as an introduction to the world because its not only a story of his journey as a musician but also an upbeat club banger that fans will enjoy listening to over and over again.
Its a song that tell you a little about the struggle I went through and my goals as a person about my dreams finally being realized, he said. When you listen to the song youll hear me saying different things about how my music career even came about. Ive always wanted to put out original music, but I had to learn how the industry works first and what it takes to get my music in the right place at the right time. This song explores the idea of what it means to sit at the table with the executives.
Williams said its a song that, because of its vibe, could be played just about anywhere in a club, at home, in a car cruising around town, or even in a commercial.
Its a money-making song, he said. You get the money and youre dancing with the money.
More than anything, Twerkin Wit Da Does is a song that fans can have fun with which is exactly what he hopes to accomplish through his music. Certainly he wants his voice and his lyrics to have substance, but at the end of the day Williams said hed be happy if fans felt happiness and love through his music.
Im going to spread positive messages through my music, he said. I want to be a strong man who can not only uplift people but also spread knowledge and inspire them not to give up. If my music can give them that push of encouragement, thats great.
There was a time when I wasnt making great choices and I could have ended up on the bus to Yardsville which is a correctional facility, he said. I dont want none of that. I want to be successful and work on my music. Ive made hard and positive changes in my life, and Im going to continue to make those changes and develop better friends. That doesnt mean I havent made mistakes and wont continue to make mistakes in the future, but I hope that people see that Im trying to better my life and pursue music and stay out of trouble. Thats how my story goes, and I hope it can inspire others to do the same.
History Under Wraps
You never know when you will learn something! I was completely unaware of Germans in the United States being sent to internment camps and then back to Germany during World War II until I read Trade-Off in the February 2015 issue.
My dad was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1912. My grandfather was in the German army in World War I. They came to the United States in 1927. I was born in 1938. My grandfathers brother and his family were still living in Berlin, in the Russian sector, after World War II. The letters my grandparents received from the family had so much material blacked out that they eventually quit exchanging letters.
Mein Gott! That damn J. Edgar Hoover could have sent us to the internment camp in Crystal City, Texas, or to Germany. I find it very interesting that I never knew any of this until I read American History.
Bill Zimmer
Varna, Ill.
The Whole Truth
I read and enjoyed your articles on the antebellum period (Interview, Last Call, February 2015). You mention the effects this period had on America, but you exclude its effects on black people. I know you must agree that this period deeply affected African Americans at the time and their descendants, like myself, and that those effects are still evident today. Were slaves not affected or did you forget to mention them?
Curtis Williams
Atlanta, Ga.
Limited space precludes us from covering every detail of every story, especially when it comes to big issues like slavery and its impactwhich span centuries of our history. Both stories focused largely on antebellum America and did provide some insight into black history of that period. As for the eras long-term effectsincluding Jim Crow segregation, lynching and civil rightsAmerican History has featured those topics in the past and will continue to do so.
The Whole Truth, Part II
I am shocked that two readers of American History would call General Robert E. Lee a traitor (Letters, February 2015). The general was not a proponent of the War for Southern Independence, but could not raise the sword against his native Virginia. It is also apparent that Edward E. Baptist is attempting to rewrite history (Interview, February 2015). Few if any plantations used the pushing system. It would have been counterproductive. You dont get maximum production out of people if you mistreat them. There was a bond between many plantation families and their slaves. My great-grandfather had a family slave who accompanied him throughout his time as a soldier in the Confederate Army.
Robert J. Tiller
Mayesville, S.C.
Edward Baptist responds: Sadly, Mr. Tiller is the one who is attempting to rewrite history. Hundreds of interviews with, and memoirs written by, the survivors of the pushing system testify that enslavers used torture to force people to work harder, faster and longer. In the face of this testimony, modern-day apologists for the Souths enslavers have no response other than the mere assertion that it just wasnt that way, or that their abstract economic speculations argue against it. I should also add that white enslavers left ample testimony of their own brutality in the records of their slave laborcamp enterprises. Tis is detailed and sourced not only in my recent book, but in many other historians works as well.
Secretary, Not Senator
I enjoy reading the magazine, but a caption in the article on Andrew Carnegie (February 2015) identifies William Howard Taft as a senator in 1906 when the photo was taken. Taft was Theodore Roosevelts secretary of war at that time; he was never a U.S. senator.
Mark Leopold
Tequesta, Fla.
Originally published in the April 2015 issue of American History. To subscribe, click here.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Seba Aghayeva Trend:
Qatar has a great interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan, said Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani during a briefing in Baku Jan. 31.
Qatar and Azerbaijan intend to create an investment fund, said the minister.
Al-Thani noted that prospects of cooperation in several spheres will be discussed today during a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation.
He said also that Qatar supports Azerbaijans position on many issues.
Earlier, Azerbaijans Economy Ministry said that the creation of a joint investment fund was discussed between Azerbaijan and Qatar. The issue was discussed during the meeting between Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Qatari Ambassador to Azerbaijan Yousef bin Hassan Al-Saai.
Trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $129,550 in January-November 2016, some $67,410 of which accounted for the export to Qatar, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.
Recently elected President of USA, Donald Trumps childhood home in Jamaica Estates in Queens, New York, was sold at an auction on 17 January 2017. This property was originally up for sale in 2016 for $1.6 million, but the price was later reduced to $1.2 million by its then owners Kestenberg and his wife Claudia. However it was finally sold to its current possessor, a real estate investor Michael Davis for $1.39 million, who now auctioned it for an undisclosed amount to a concealed identity bidder.
This traditional Tudor-style home was built in 1940 by Trumps father, who was a local real estate developer and a landlord at that time. It was this home where Mr. President spent four years of his early childhood.
House exterior features an attractive design of brick and stucco, while its interiors carry the charm of old fashion arched doorways and hardwood floors. This 2,500 square feet home comprises of five bedrooms, four full bathroom & one half bathroom and fully furnished basement area with a bathroom. A dedicated guests room with a summer kitchen takes care of all the visitors ensuring utmost comfort and luxury.
The home also includes a formal dining room, a living room with fireplace to beat the chill and an enclosed backyard. Apart from being a luxurious property, what makes it more desirable is the fact that the current President of USA has spend considerable time here.
Via: Today
An old school sales technique that today is considered somewhat exploitative and sleazy may in fact help you shed some light on how to improve your loyalty program. Hot button selling was a colloquial term to describe first the process of qualifying your leads in order to decipher the emotional motivations underpinning their logic-based decisions, and then second using this information to pressure and coerce these leads into closing the sale on the spot.
From a psychology standpoint, the proliferation of this technique makes sense because of how often we humans are slaves to our emotional states of mind. When it comes to purchases, we habitually complete translations based upon our own internal 'hot buttons' then back-rationalize these decisions into features and benefits that is, the logical aspects of traditional sales training.
For instance, a woman joins a gym not to be healthier (logic) but because she wants to look drop dead gorgeous in her wedding dress (emotion). As another, a millennial buys a certain Japanese model as his first car not because it was lauded in Consumer Report for its gas efficiency and safety rating (logic), but because he saw his favorite actor driving one in the most recent Fast & Furious movie (emotion). To touch on a personal example, a marketing executive buys the newest Macbook Pro, not because he needs all that extra speed to load Microsoft Word or Outlook a few milliseconds faster, but because he has been locked in a game of technological one-upmanship with his cousin for the past three decades.
For all of the abovementioned cases, if a salesperson knows these underlying purchase drivers, he or she can subtly or overtly rephrase the pitch for maximum returns. While I would like to believe that we've moved past these antiquated methods (or maybe only given them a more innocuous name), playing upon one's emotions is a component that's sorely overlooked in today's hotel loyalty programs. Perhaps we can take the constructive aspects of hot button selling while leaving out the unscrupulous.
Transactional Pseudo-Loyalty
Today's loyalty programs are almost purely transactional. You give away your name, email and perhaps your home or mailing address, and in return you get basic perks such as free WiFi, complimentary breakfasts, extra drinks at the lobby bar, members' only room rates or shuttle service to the airport. While these are all great features of a contemporary loyalty program, there are three grievous errors that have been overlooked.
First, if it's a quick sign up process, then your loyalty program won't linger in someone's mind long enough for it to stick. Membership becomes akin to a convenience store; it's there only when it serves the immediate needs of the customer, but said customers won't go out of their way to stay loyal to any one store in particular.
Second, these perks are all but perfunctory nowadays. Everyone is offering them and as such you aren't differentiating your loyalty program from the others out there. This in itself contributes to brand apathy and agnosticism doubly true for special rates whereby consumers will only join to obtain this rate when instead you should be using your loyalty program to offer benefits to your guests that they cannot help with any other brand or hotel.
This belies the third point in that loyalty programs are too easy to join without any prequalification or introductory brand education. After all, you can't discover customers' hot buttons without first getting to know them.
Prequalification
Think of all the times you've been funneled through a hotel's booking engine and the prompt to join the loyalty program is nothing more than a basic form at the bottom of a colorless web page. Not only are there no exciting visuals to elicit an emotional reaction, but the brand remains oblivious to that person's individual tastes and preferences.
With the power of Big Data, computers these days can perform such amazing feats to infer future customer behavior from answers to even the most basic of multiple choice questionnaires, and yet we aren't making our new guests go through these rudimentary hoops in order to gain access to a myriad of benefits. Without any sense of prequalification, we are transforming travelers into mercenaries, always on the prowl for the best numerical value with little to no emotional attachment.
I'm not suggesting that we exclude certain guests from joining our loyalty programs, only that we require an ounce more of engagement on their part before induction. So include your member signup at the bottom of the booking direct page, but be sure to also throw in a "Before you join, take a minute to learn about all the things that make us great" segue.
That, or you can be more audacious by adding a graphic with the header that reads, "Tell us about yourself" or "We don't just let anyone into our loyalty program," and then have people input a few of their own preferences to build some initial rapport. Some interesting questions to this effect may include what they already like about your brand, whether they prefer shopping online or calling the hotel to speak with a reservation agent or even which occasions and features might entice them to opt for a room upgrade.
In this sense, yes, you are excluding guests, but only those who aren't willing to go the extra inch to tell you a little bit more about what makes them tick. This in itself is a qualifier as those guests who are intrinsically brand disloyal and very likely to not give you repeat business are the ones who want go through this harmless extra step.
Loyalty Programs as Brand Education
These additional steps represent a fine balance whereby you don't want the process to be lengthy to the point that it terminates the sales funnel. But when done right, you can educate potential customers to make them at the very least 'brand conscious' as well as give them reasons beyond price to select your property over others.
Key here is to make this brand education and member induction process visually stimulating. It's less a list of features that includes 'free internet access' as a top bullet point and more a slideshow that shows a happy guest relaxing in the lobby while streaming a video of his or her phone. While you may not touch upon each individual's hot button, you are certainly getting closer by prompting customers to discover more about your brand before you automatically sign them up for your loyalty program.
In other words, don't give it away, make guests 'earn it', because if people doesn't feel like they have earned something then they definitely will not bother to learn more about it. While this represents the beginning of the process, once you have that opening hook, subsequent e-blasts, offers and questionnaires will then stand a better chance towards building true brand advocacy and giving you the necessary data to better cater to your guests' emotional hot buttons.
(Article published by Larry Mogelonsky in Hotel News Now on October 13, 2016).
Larry Mogelonsky
Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
Trend:
Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 8 times violated the ceasefire in various directions along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend Jan. 31.
The Armenian army was using large-caliber machine guns.
The Azerbaijani army positions located in the Farahli and Gizilhajili villages of Azerbaijans Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in the Shavarshavan village of the Noyemberyan district and in the Berkaber village of the Ijevan district of Armenia.
Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani army positions located in the Aghbulag and Kokhanabi villages of Azerbaijans Tovuz district were shelled from the Armenian army positions located in the Chinari village of Armenias Berd district.
Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions were shelled from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Javahirli village of the Aghdam district, Horadiz village of the Fuzuli district, as well as on nameless heights of the Jabrayil district.
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.
Never mind that the month of January isnt even over yet, 21 Savage laid claim to what he said is the most used word of the year. The No Heart rapper got Twitter fingers in the middle of the night Tuesday and said he made the word issa and wants credit for it.
Though the slang term hasnt been officially recognized by any dictionary of American English, the Urban Dictionary does have an entry for it. The famous DJ Vlad interview, where 21 Savage, lounging next to several stacks of cash, explains what the tattoo on his forehead means also spawned the Issa Joke meme and its derivatives.
21 Savage often takes to Twitter to ruffle some feathers so its hard to tell whether hes serious about this or not. He does say it often in his rhymes though. And to be fair, though the southern variant of the slang contraction its a has existed for generations, its mainstream use especially in hip hop circles has roughly risen at the same time as 21s popularity. Watch the video below to watch 21 Savage say issa knife:
21 Savage
On Monday night, T.I. performed the last show of a 19-day run through Canada promoting his new album Us or Else: Letter to the System. According to report by TMZ, his bodyguard was stabbed while monitoring the merch table.
TMZ:
T.I.s bodyguard got shanked Monday night at least 3 times in one of his calves during a show Tip was putting on at a club in Moncton, New Brunswick. Were told cops got a call around 1:20 AM from The Venue, where a 23-year-old male had reportedly been stabbed during a ruckus that broke out while the guy was guarding a table selling T.I. merch.
The bodyguard was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for minor injures and released the same night.
T.I.
There are a few people in the industry who just cant seem to stop working Kanye West and Rick Rubin are two of them. West and Rubins names came up, surprisingly, through an iMessage screencap posted by Chicago musician and close friend of Chance The Rapper, Towkio.
The text exchange is between Towkio and Rubin, and it delivers many more questions than answers.
I played swim for Kanye yesterday. He Loved it, writes Rubin, who seems to be talking about an unreleased track from Towkio. According to the text, he also played the song for former Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij, whos produced for Frank Ocean, Solange, Carly Rae Jepsen and more. Its not clear if the three were all in the same room for the listening.
So it seems that Towkio and Rick Rubin are likely working together in some form or another whats less clear is what Rubin was doing with Kanye and Rostam. Was he just bouncing some ideas off the musicians? Are they all collaborating on something new? Is he working with both of them individually? Are they going to contribute to this Towkio record? Word to Sway, we dont have the answers, but we are intrigued by the whole situation.
Rubin famously collaborated with Kanye on the final stages of his 2013 album Yeezus, which was a down-to-the-wire affair.
Listen to Towkios 2015 project .Wav Theory, featuring contributions from Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, and Nico Segal (FKA Donnie Trumpet).
Kanye West
Ireland has got the tougher of the two heats for this year's Eurovision Song Contest, in May. But first, we have to pick the song that Hometown's Brendan Murray will sing...
The draw for the 2017 Eurovision semi-finals has taken place in the host city of Kyiv in Ukraine, and already there is disappointment for Ireland.
This year, Ireland's entry will be performed by Hometown band member Brendan Murray, who is managed by Irelands pop guru and X-Factor judge, Louis Walsh. According to reports, in excess of 300 songs were submitted ahead of the closing date for entries earlier this month. Murrays manager, Louis Walsh (pictured with Philomena Lynott), will now listen to all songs received, along with an RTE-appointed panel and between them, they will choose the song to represent Ireland at the Eurovision contest.
The bad news today was that Ireland has been drawn in the second semi-final, which will take place on Thursday May 11, a night on which 19 countries will take part. Ireland will be competing against strong countries like Russia, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Malta, Serbia, Romania and Austria. Only ten songs from each semi-final progress to the final, which takes place on Saturday, May 13.
The draw has also contrived to deprive Ireland of the potential support of the United Kingdom, who have been slated to vote in the first semi-final on this occasion. The UK, along with the other countries that make up the so-called 'Big Five, automatically qualify for the final but are allowed to vote in only one of the semi-finals. The host nation, Ukraine also get a bye into the final.
While being neighbours shouldnt matter a damn, increasingly in recent years, near neighbouring countries have conspicuously supported one another much to the disadvantage of Ireland, which in effect has only one neighbour at the competition.
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Whether as a result of this growing bias, or otherwise, Ireland has failed to qualify for the final for the past three years, despite the fact that we have won more Eurovisions than any other country.
"I'm honoured and excited to be representing Ireland in Kyiv in the biggest music competition in the world, Brendan Murray has said. "I was born in 1996, the last time Ireland won so I hope that will bring me luck!
Somehow, one doubts it.
Rough Magic Theatre Company will present the Irish premiere of the award-winning play The Effect by Lucy Prebble, who wrote the smash-hit Enron, at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin, between 22 March 1 April.
The Effect which is a romance exploring what it feels like to experience love on mind-altering medication when two volunteers met on a drugs trial for a new antidepressant will star Siobhan Cullen, Donal Gallery, Ronan Leahy and Ali White .
Director Ronan Phelan says he wanted to bring this script to the stage the minute he read it. I was drawn to the filmic quality of the play, how muscular it is, how funny and sharp. Lucy Prebbles takes on huge themes of love and sorrow fearlessly, approaching them with wit and vitality, he says.
Ultimately, I think that the debate between the two lovers is something everyone has to face at some point. Once you get past the initial euphoria of romantic love - you have to ask where the feelings come from? Where's the source? And in the end, the fact is there are no answers - there is no evidence. That's what this play is really about, for me. That the act of loving is always an act of faith."
Speaing about the new production, Rough Magics Lynne Parker says: We are delighted that Ronan Phelan is to direct this brilliant play for the company. After his outstanding SEEDS showcase production of Assassins we knew that his was an exceptional talent. We are thrilled to welcome this dynamic young theatre-maker to the core Rough Magic team as Associate Director.
For further information about the play log onto www.roughmagic.ie
Following on from their stunning performance at Dublins Christchurch last year, Saint Sister make their highly anticipated return to the live circuit this June for their biggest show to date Live at The National Concert Hall.
Formed in November 2014, Saint Sister is the creation of Morgan MacIntyre and Gemma Doherty. Their music draws from early Celtic harp traditions, 60s folk and electronic pop to create atmosfolk'a mix of soulful vocal harmonies, dreamy synth and electro-acoustic harp.
Following an early performance on Irish national television, one of their first gigs saw them open the stage for Arcade Fires Will Butler. Their debut EP Madrid, recorded with Alex Ryan (bassist with Hozier), was released in November 2015.
Having received incredible support on Irish radio, the lead single was championed by Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart, and went on to be playlisted on BBC Radio 1 and on German national radio, 1Live.
Their follow up single "Tin Man" came out as part of Communions Singles Club in December 2016 and received continued support from national radio, both at home and abroad. Since their formation, the band have toured extensively throughout Ireland, the UK and Germany. They made their US debut in March 2016 with multiple showcases at SXSW, and have had notable performances in Paris and Warsaw. Numerous festival appearances include BBC Introducing at Glastonbury, Latitude, Electric Picnic, Longitude, The Great Escape, Reeperbahn Festival, and an impressive live TV performance on RTE's Other Voices.
2017 has already seen the band perform at Eurosonic, as well as support Lisa Hannigan at a sold out London show in the Roundhouse.
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Saint Sister will perform live at The National Concert hall on June 7. Tickets priced at 17.50 go on sale this Friday from www.nch.ie or by calling (01) 417 0000.
Here's Saint Sister's latest single 'Tin Man':
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DALLAS - Delta Air Lines, recovering from a weekend technology outage, canceled more flights Monday but said that the issue has been resolved.
The airline said Monday that 110 flights had been canceled and more could be scrubbed. That followed the cancellation of about 170 flights Sunday night.
President Donald Trump blamed Delta for weekend problems at many airports, where large protests were held to oppose his executive order that temporarily banned travel to the U.S. by refugees and citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries. Federal judges blocked part of the order.
Trump tweeted early Monday morning that only 109 people were detained for questioning under the order, out of 325,000 coming to the U.S.
"Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage," he tweeted.
Delta officials declined to comment on the president's tweet.
Just two weeks ago, Delta CEO Ed Bastian was praising Trump, saying that he was "very excited" about the possibility that the new administration might invest in upgrading airport facilities, reduce taxes and cut regulations.
On Sunday, Delta asked the Federal Aviation Administration to hold up its departures at six major airports including Atlanta, Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York, and Los Angeles International, for several hours.
Bastian apologized on the company's website to customers affected by the "frustrating situation." Delta apologized on Twitter that some delays and cancellations were not showing up on its own systems including its website and mobile app.
Delta offered to let passengers booked on flights Monday to delay travel plans for a few days without incurring the usual fee - $200 for domestic flights - for changing a ticket.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Seba Aghayeva Trend:
Moscow is trying to arrange a meeting of the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian foreign ministers and Baku has given its consent to this meeting, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
He made the remarks at a joint briefing with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Baku Jan. 31.
I cannot optimistically accept the results of the negotiations in Moscow, Mammadyarov said commenting on the latest meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov which took place Jan. 24.
During the Moscow meeting, the foreign ministers discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
Munich Security Conference will be held on Feb. 17-19 and it is planned to hold a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs as part of the conference, he 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.
WASHINGTON - The Senate moved closer to confirming former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as the next secretary of state, even as the controversy over the Trump administration's immigration ban threatened to derail proceedings.
In a near party-line vote Monday, Senators voted 56-43 to cap debate on Tillerson to 30 hours, setting up a likely floor vote on the nomination for Wednesday.
Only three days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order putting a three-month ban on citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States, Tillerson quickly found himself under renewed attack by Democrats.
On the Senate floor Monday, Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called to delay the vote so Tillerson could respond to questions on what role he played in drafting the order and to give him the chance to disavow it.
Tillerson "said moderate Muslims were going to be our greatest allies. He might be wary about a policy that singles out seven Muslim countries," Schumer said, referencing Tillerson's statements during a confirmation hearing earlier this month. "Americans deserves to know whether Mr. Tillerson would implement this policy."
A spokesman for Tillerson did not return a call for comment.
Despite some earlier conflict over Tillerson's business dealings in Russia while at Exxon Mobil, Republicans united Monday to push his nomination toward a floor vote. Earlier in the day, the White House put out a news release pointing out that the secretary of state nominees in the first terms of former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama had been confirmed within a day of inauguration.
"Once again we're hearing the Democrats and the media traffic in fake news," said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. "This is not a Muslim ban. It's nothing more than a temporary pause on migration from countries with very weak state institutions."
The immigration ban added to what has already been a difficult confirmation process for Tillerson.
During a Senate hearing earlier this month, he took tough questioning from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and John McCain, R-Ariz., questioned his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The three Republicans eventually backed off, giving their support to Tillerson's nomination. But when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee took up the confirmation last week, every Democrat on the committee voted against Tillerson, leaving him with a thin 11-10 victory. Defense Secretary James Mattis won the Senate Armed Services Committee's approval with a 24-3 vote.
On the Senate floor Monday, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, described the longtime Exxon Mobil executive's agreement to sell off all his stock in that company a "sterling model" for other nominees. But the confirmation hearing also raised questions among Democrats and Republicans alike on how Tillerson and the Trump administration would consider human rights abuses in countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia.
On the question of a Muslim ban - which Trump had promoted on the campaign trail - Tillerson said he would not support a "blanket-type rejection of any particular group of people."
But when asked about whether the United States might create a registry of Muslims living inside the country, he was vague.
"I would need to have a lot more information around how such an approach would even be constructed," he said. "And if it were a tool for vetting, then it probably extends to other people as well, other groups that are threats to the U.S."
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So shiny and dark and smooth was the chocolate frosting on my Boston Cream doughnut at Morningstar, the distinctive coffee and tea house in the Heights, that for a minute or so I just stared at it. I was reluctant to disturb its gleaming perfection. It sat there like some heavenly orb, cosmic and unknowable.
But eventually I bit, and I haven't been able to shut up about that doughnut since. Its custard filling was subtly sweet, the icing bittersweet and sparingly applied. The yeast-raised interior had a soft stretch to it, so that the doughnut proper stood up to cream and chocolate without taking a back seat.
I was shocked. Ordinarily I steer clear of cream-filled doughnuts, and frosted doughnuts put me off, too. They're almost always too sweet for me, a confirmed doughnut purist who grew up loving old-fashioned cake specimens or yeasted doughnuts with tart fruit jam or jelly inside. All of which makes me a poor candidate to appreciate America's new breed of fancy artisanal doughnuts, which tend to be frosted and tricked out to a fare-thee-well, so that the cloying trappings take over.
Truth to tell, in the early days of Morningstar, which opened with great fanfare nine months ago, I was afraid the doughnuts were headed in that overly sweet direction. Instead, they seem to have steadily improved, right along with the breakfast-and-brunchy menu that's so on trend these days.
More Information Morningstar xx 4721 N. Main; 832-806-1115 Hours: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily Credit cards: all major Prices: doughnuts $2-$3.50, coffee and tea $2-$5, breakfast and brunch dishes $5-$16 Must-orders: Boston Cream doughnut; pineapple fritter; cortado; biscuit with creme fraiche and fruit preserves; Vietnamese steak salad; crispy rice bowl with kibbeh, soft egg and feta; Moneycat potatoes with an egg Reservations: first come, first served STAR RATINGS xxxx: superlative; can hold its own on a national stage. xxx: excellent; one of the best restaurants in the city. xx: very good; one of the best restaurants of its kind. x: a good restaurant that we recommend. No stars: restaurant cannot be recommended. See More Collapse
The coffee and espresso drinks are impeccable, as one expects from a project by David Buehrer and Ecky Prabanto, whose Greenway and Blacksmith coffee shops are much-loved Houston staples. Their beans are painstaking sourced, roasted under the Greenway umbrella, and brewed with water that passes through an impressive custom filtration setup. There are few places I'd rather knock back a cortado, or a formidable latte served in an outsize ceramic cup, like a cafe au lait that went to finishing school.
There is serious tea brewing, too - including a wall-menu section devoted to matcha, the Japanese powdered green tea with a vivid color and gripping, rounded vegetal flavor. You can order it straight, or in unusual coffee-like forms: a "cortado" swirled with either plant-based or dairy milk; and a Houston-friendly "matcha sua da," a riff on the iced Vietnamese coffee, gently sweetened with condensed milk.
And oh, the morning carbs. There's a pristine cake doughnut with a crunchy exterior and a shimmer of clear vanilla flavor. A nubby pineapple fritter jumps with tart fruit, red chile and an invigorating tinge of salt beneath its sweet glaze.
The plump, cake-based "cop donut" charms with a potent dusting of palm sugar and cinnamon. Even the rainbow sprinkles that spangle some doughnut varieties go above and beyond the call of duty: they're made in-house under the supervision of doughnut maestro Steven Perez, who once worked at Common Bond bakery. Skinny filaments of frosting are piped onto trays, allowed to set, then chopped up with knives. Voila.
They're gorgeous, those sprinkles. They liven up a strawberry frosted raised doughnut that tastes as festive as it looks, and manages not to cloy. A starburst-shaped olive oil and sea salt cake doughnut caught my eye, too. It could become a favorite of mine were the salty edge more pronounced.
And oh, the biscuits: square, flaky, superbly buttery and soft inside, with a crust that snaps back. They are marvelous plain, with tart-sweet fruit preserves and a swipe of creme fraiche, which makes an interesting stand-in for butter. One never seems like enough for me.
The biscuits show up in other applications here, including a clever fried chicken sandwich clad in sambal-honey sauce and crowned with brisk pickled cucumber and red onion. The dance of savory/crunchy chicken, buttery biscuit and sharp vegetables with sweet red chili sauce is brilliant. But the effect would be more harmonious if there were less of the sambal honey, which tends to dominate.
Still, this sandwich is striking. With its Deep Southern and Indonesian influences, a nod to Prabanto's background, it's representative of the cultural mixing and matching that's part of the Morningstar DNA - a combination of the backgrounds and culinary interests of the shop's principals, employees and guests.
Buehrer began his local hospitality career as a teen in an Asian-owned doughnut and tapioca tea spot, and ever since has vacuumed up inspiration from Chinatown to the Mahatma Gandhi District and beyond. He's a Houston Johnny Appleseed of sorts, sowing ideas, gathering a varied cast of employees, always pressing for quality and a strong sense of place.
So when a Morningstar biscuit shows up in a breakfast bowl puddled with fragrant kibbeh chili, tingling with cinnamon and low-key red pepper, it makes a very Houstonian kind of sense. So do the Moneycat Potatoes, a crunchy/soft tribute to chef Justin Yu's celebrated pop-up brunches, all swizzled with gochujang chile sauce and kewpie mayonnaise, just begging for an egg to top them off. The captivating crispy rice bowl tumbled with feta, crumbles of kibbeh-style lamb and herbs is unlike anything else in town, and crowned with a soft-cooked egg, it works as breakfast, brunch or lunch.
Yes, lunch. Recently Morningstar menu gurus Priscilla Nguyen and Alex Dunlevie added an excellent burger to the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. lineup, a lively affair sparked with tart/salty goat cheese and plenty of their house-made pickles, along with a Vietnamese-inspired salted, pickled lime dip. It's made with 44 Farms brisket, ground in house. And there is a brilliant version of a Vietnamese bo luc lac (or shaken beef) in salad form, the hunks of steak gently sauteed so they're rosy inside. Well chosen greens, mint and cilantro leaves, and currents of fish sauce knit together neatly. Just squeeze on some juice from a salt-and-pepper-dusted lime wedge and prepare to be swept away.
None of this would matter as much if Morningstar were not such a comfortable hang. The room is an interesting contrast of warm cedar and cool industrial concrete, its lines animated by the round "Zen gates" that were a signature of the late Houston architect John Zemanek, who consulted with Jim Herd's Collaborative Projects on the design.
Those round openings draw the eye, inform the space, add to the people-watching potential as Heights residents, coffee aficionados and restaurant industry folks come and go, tablehopping, working on laptops, lining up at the counter for another coffee.
Yes, the attentive counter and barista staff will allow you to run a tab, always a boon when there is serious hanging out to be done. I always seem to need just one more doughnut, and I am always reluctant to leave.
University of Houston Board Chairman Tilman Fertitta praised two University of Texas System regent nominees who last week criticized UTs intended expansion in Houston in their Senate confirmation hearings.
I think theyre very intelligent people, Fertitta said, grinning in a meeting Tuesday with the Houston Chronicles editorial board.
Two of Gov. Greg Abbotts three nominees to join UT's board said in their confirmation hearings that they didnt think the Houston project could be successful without local support and that they didnt know why the university spent $215 million to buy 332 acres without a specific plan as to how to use the property. The third said he didnt have enough information to express an opinion.
UT Chancellor William McRaven said last week that it would have been irresponsible not to buy the land in Houston, given its nationally renowned energy research and medical center. Still, he said, he would not operate without the board of regents endorsing the final decision on how to use the property.
McRaven appointed an advisory group last year to come up with proposals that would not duplicate what other Houston schools offer unless more capacity in those programs is needed. The group was asked to make its recommendations to McRaven by the end of the year. It has not yet been passed to the chancellor.
Fertitta and UH Chancellor and President Renu Khator said Tuesday that they did not know what UT was planning. UH has criticized UTs land buy as an invasion in its backyard.
From what I hear, there is no plan, Fertitta said. I dont think the Chancellor has a direct plan.
A UT System spokeswoman didnt immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment.
Since President Donald Trump took office, there have been a string of protests some coordinated, some spontaneous around the country, from the Womens March and satellite events around the globe, to the most recent round of protests at international airports in the wake of Trumps executive order on immigration.
As protests shook Bostons Copley Square and New York Citys Kennedy International Airport this weekend, Houstonians flocked to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and downtown to reject the ban and demonstrate why Houston is one of the most refugee-friendly cities in the country.
Though Houston is known as diverse city, and (as Mayor Sylvester Turner has repeatedly emphasized) its a welcoming city, Houston hasnt historically been seen as a protest city. Thats not necessarily due to a lack of trying.
Theres a general story that its a city of oil and gas, and its not a city of activism and marching, but if you dig at all, you a see much more rich and complicated story, said John Pluecker, a translator who has written about the citys organizing history.
When the Houston organizers of the nationally-coordinated Womens March met at Montroses Cafe Brasil the weekend before the event, they werent expecting big crowds. We thought there might be 3,000 people coming, said Aimee Mobley Turney, president of the local League of Women Voters organization. They knew there wasnt much time to prepare, but they had an organizer with experience dealing with permitting, and access to the Leagues contacts list. Through email and social media, the march grew. By the day of the march, some 22,000 people had signed up, according to Turney. I couldnt believe it.
Some marchers went all the way to Washington, D.C., to join the national march. Others headed to Austin. But many stayed in town to march here in Houston. As in D.C., the turnout in Houston surpassed expectations. Official estimates put the crowd size around 20,000 people.
It wasnt Turneys first time at a protest. Nor was it Houstons first time hosting a protest of tens of thousands of people. As recently as 2006, in another nationally coordinated day of protest for immigrants rights, a crowd of roughly 50,000 took the streets. But compared to other cities even smaller cities Houstons turnout for the Womens March was modest.
The crowd of 20,000 was dwarfed by attendance in other cities. Chicago saw estimated turnout of 250,000, despite being only slightly larger than Houston. Denver with a population 70 percent smaller than Houstons population hosted five times as many protesters. In Philadelphia, the mayors office estimated that some 50,000 people came out, even though its a smaller city than Houston.
So, why the small turnout in a big city like Houston?
AS SOCIOLOGIST and Kinder Institute founding director Stephen Klineberg has put it, You could put inside the city limits of Houston, simultaneously I kid you not the cities of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago and Detroit.
Houston is really big, and its so spread out, said Robin Paoli, one of the organizers of the Houston Womens March. When youre in a tight, dense environment where people are used to public transportation and public gatherings, that lends itself to, Everybody take the A train to Central Park.
But in Houston, the situation for protesters is more complicated. Participants must think about how to get there, where to park, how to pay for parking, said longtime Houston organizer Pancho Arguelles. If youre making less than $20,000 a year, suddenly having to pay $10 for parking becomes an issue.
Ashton P. Woods, an organizer with the local Black Lives Matter movement, compared his experience here to places like his hometown of New Orleans. Its really about transit and access, he said.
Other characteristics make big visible gatherings difficult, including the relative lack of density and common public spaces. Because the heavily suburban Houston metro has several downtowns the Medical Center, the Energy Corridor and downtown, among them there isnt a single, highly visible space that has served as a sort of Speakers Corner over the years.
Thats not to say protests dont exist here. Indeed, despite the citys sprawl, the Houstons infrastructure itself has served as the site and subject of protests historically. Far from secondary objects, roadways and other infrastructure are among the most essential and hotly contested elements of our cities, writes Kyle Shelton, a researcher with the Kinder Institute.
When marchers took to the streets in Houston to protest the verdict in the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin in 2013, they walked, casket in hand, toward State Highway 288 where several protestors spilled onto the road blocking traffic for up to 15 minutes. Tactics like these stem from what Shelton described as infrastructural citizenship, referencing earlier protests in the 1970s when both white and black homeowners organized to oppose highway construction that would displace hundreds of families. Recent protests, like those at the airport or the regular Critical Mass bike rides around town, also represent a form of infrastructural citizenship, accessing and disrupting spaces that facilitate the citys economy and movement.
HOUSTON ISN'T the only sprawling city that boomed in the age of highways and cars. But of the countrys five most populous cities, its the only one located in the South, Arguelles said. Both the structural legacy of segregation and the collective memory of how it ended here continue to inform civic life in a way that both erases and hinders organizing efforts over time.
In June 1963, professor John Lash at Texas Southern University wrote in the Houston Chronicle that the citys white community was nervously taking note of the explosive events in Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Mississippi, New York and elsewhere as the fight for civil rights progressed. Can what happened in Birmingham and other places happen in Houston? he asked, in a series of questions and answers meant to illuminate the violence and structural injustice occurring locally.
Yes and no, Lash wrote. Certainly black Houstonians had full cause to engage in mass demonstrations, he said, but they tended to feel their reasonable demands and goals can be reached by voluntary action of the white leadership of the community.
Today, the story of Houstons desegregation told in the book, No Color Is My Kind: The Life of Elderwey Stearns and the Integration of Houston and the documentary based on the book, The Strange Demise of Jim Crow is often offered as an example of Houstons pragmatic and peaceful approach to change. Downtown local business leaders got together and agreed to integrate in the face of public protest, but they avoided any coverage by convincing the media to engage in a week-long blackout. There was another media blackout when the citys hotels did the same thing.
That chapter of the Civil Rights era in Houston, said Pluecker, helped create a lasting impression that somehow these things happen without fight, as if segregation disappeared because the kindly white business class decided it was the best thing to do for the city.
Negotiations also helped head off other protests, including in May 1963, when a plan to disrupt a parade downtown was called off after movie theaters and restaurants agreed to integrate.
Houstons somewhat conflicted position about protests emerged again, years later in 1984, when 67 percent of Houstonians said they supported a nuclear freeze with the Soviet Union, according to the Kinder Houston Area Survey. At the same time, almost half of residents said they were opposed demonstrations supporting that position. Houstonians seemed uninterested in protesting, even though they were concerned about the issues.
But the examples of boycotts and organizing begin well before the Civil Rights era and extend far beyond. In the early 1900s, black passengers boycotted streetcars operated by hostile white conductors. In 1979, LGBTQ activists sported Oddwads and Queers for Tinsley shirts after drawing the scorn of city council member Frank Mann for endorsing his opponent Eleanor Tinsley. And today, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services leads regular toxic tours through the refinery and chemical plant-heavy neighborhoods along the Houston Ship Channel.
Organizing in Houston, Pluecker points out, doesnt always take the form of mass mobilizations, but is still critical, like the work of Texas Organizing Project or The Metropolitan Organization.
WHEN ARGUELLES reflects on the Civil Rights era in Houston, he sees both a pragmatic approach to social change from the city leaders that he thinks still persists, but also an undermining of organizing efforts that has had lasting effects on how communities here organize.
They gave people the policy victory but took away the moral victory, he said. Without the visibility, protest movements had a harder time establishing the tradition of and infrastructure for mobilizing.
Despite the perception that integration was peaceful in Houston, there were several mass mobilizations and violent clashes that followed the media blackout.
In a 2010 story for Cite Magazine, Pluecker chronicles several such incidents, including a student march on the Houston Independent School District headquarters to protest the slow progress of integration, the arrest of 488 people during a protest organized by students at Texas Southern University in which a police officer was shot and killed, and the takeover of an HISD school board meeting by Chicano activists protesting the districts desegration plans that integrated Mexican-American and black students while having a minimal impact on white students.
The killing of black activist Carl Hampton after a ten-day standoff with the police in 1970 has, Pluecker writes, been largely erased from Houston history. In 1977, another police-involved death, in which Jose Campos Torres was found drowned in the bayou two days after he was arrested, sparked a riot at a memorial held a year after his death at Moody Park in the Near Northside.
And today, the citys increasingly blue politics are sometimes at odd with those of the red state of which it is a part, he notes. That can impede protests. In LA, if you drive, you have a drivers license, Arguelles said of a recent law that allows undocumented residents to obtain a drivers license. Here, every time an undocumented person gets in a car without a license, theyre taking a risk.
That sense of risk also includes the recent memory of violence for some communities in response to mobilizing. There is a history of asking is that really a place where I will be welcome, am I safe?' said Arguelles who trains and consults community organizers through his Paz y Fuente, LLC.
ALL THESE factors have combined to create an underfunded, understaffed organizing infrastructure compared to other cities, said Arguelles. He points to a wealth of organizations that provide services for immigrants in Houston but a lack of organizing groups. He also pointed to a smaller number of unions in Houston and Texas long associated with organized protests and nonprofits tendency to focus on single elections or policy issues instead of building sustainable organizing capacity.
Without that, he said, vulnerable populations have to first focus on survival. His own group, Living Hope Wheelchair Association, started organizing in 2005 when the Harris County Hospital District stopped providing catheters, diapers and other critical supplies to undocumented immigrants with spinal cord injuries who were ineligible for Medicaid.
Ten years later, he said, the organization has grown, but when you are busy with your practice of survival, you dont have as much time to be developing that organizational power.
Often its those people most affected by a political issue who lack the time or funds to join potential protests, said Woods, the Black Lives Matter organizer. Money for gas and travel expenses to do things like protest at the state capital in Austin has been his number one organizing challenge, he said.
Despite the lack of resources and the barriers that many still face to participating in mass mobilizations, many are hopeful that the success of the recent demonstrations can be channeled into further participation in the city. For some, noted Arguelles, it was their first march. He sees that as a challenge and opportunity.
There were many who questioned the days calls for unity after facing issues that disproportionately impact communities of color, often without that highly visible unity, and in the face of a clear divide that emerged among voters when more than half of white women who voted did so for Donald Trump. But the march organizers said the event wasnt a protest of Trump.
And theyre hopeful those first-time marchers will stay involved. Theres nothing I like less than seeing people protesting and then not doing anything after that, said the League of Women Voters Turney.
Leah Binkovitz (@leahbink), formerly of the Houston Chronicle, is now a staff writer for Rice University's Kinder Institute. This story first appeared in the institute's "Urban Edge" blog.
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WASHINGTON - What would you do if you worked for an impetuous blunderbuss who ordered an action of dubious legality?
More precisely, when, if ever, do federal employees have the right to disregard a presidential order or administration policy?
That question became relevant with people here and abroad in a mighty uproar over President Donald Trump's immigration order. It shamed the nation by temporarily restricting immigration from certain Muslim majority countries -- an action that one judge after another blocked.
Officials who detained some of the foreign citizens "were following illegal orders," said Louis Clark, chief executive of the Government Accountability Project. "Those federal agents could have refused to do so."
But civil servants don't make policy, they implement it. And deciding to defy even an illegal order is risky. While the resisting employee might be right on the law, the danger of revenge is major, particularly from an administration led by a man whose New York-size ego seems unable to countenance criticism or admit error.
That was demonstrated by White House press secretary Sean Spicer's rebuke of State Department employees using a long established "Dissent Channel" to voice their opposition to the travel ban: "Either get with the program or they can go."
Sally Yates didn't get with the program and now she's gone. In another disturbing episode of this debacle, Trump fired her late Monday after Yates, the now former acting attorney general and Obama administration holdover, said in a memo that the Justice Department will not defend Trump's order in court. She was not convinced his directive is "consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right."
As Yates quickly learned, standing up for what is right can have consequences. Federal employees know they can be right and right out of a job.
"The golden rule remains 'comply now, complain later,' even where there is substantial reason to believe that an order or policy is improper, or an employee can face discipline or removal for a charge of insubordination," cautioned Debra D'Agostino, founding partner the Federal Practice Group that provides feds with legal counsel. "Under current MSPB [Merit Systems Protection Board] case law, the employee must obey an order, and then challenge its validity, except in 'extreme or unusual circumstances' in which the employee would be placed in a clear danger or which would cause irreparable harm to the employee, or, presumably, the safety of the public."
A federal judge in New York did block action against deportations based on the order because the government could not guarantee the foreigners would be safe from irreparable harm if deported.
"Ultimately," D'Agostino continued, "a federal employee may have to make a judgment call like any private sector employee would as to whether the benefits of the job override the employee's personal objection to the employer's policies and agenda."
There are some safeguards, however, for federal employees who refuse to carry out illegitimate orders and more are on the way. Currently, a whistleblower protection law shields those who reveal they have been told to break a law, but they are left unguarded if they have been told to break a regulation.
Coincidentally -- but right on time -- the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will consider bipartisan legislation on Tuesday that would fix that by closing "a gap in whistleblower protections [that] is threatening their ability to stand up for what is right," said Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., when he introduced the bill with Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-Va., last year.
Added Connolly: "The Follow the Rules Act will close a loophole that undermines whistleblower protections for federal employees. Federal employees who defy a supervisor's direction to violate rules and regulations should not be subject to retaliation."
Furthermore, Tom Devine, GAP's legal director, points out that "the Government Employee Code of Ethics, on the wall of every agency, declares that government workers must put loyalty to the law and the country 'above loyalty to persons, party, or Government Department.'"
That includes loyalty to Donald J. Trump.
In an informal email survey, federal employees and retirees were cautious, with some, but not all, saying they would refuse an illegal order.
"I can disagree with the policy, but once the decision is made I owe the people an apolitical response -- or resign," said Ray Levesqu, a Defense Department employee. Doing otherwise, "would violate the public trust of an apolitical civil service system that MUST serve any president whether we agree with his/her policies or not."
Paul Davison, a retired Air Force civilian attorney in Kathleen, Georgia, said if a policy violated the Constitution, statutes or regulations, "I would have an obligation to refuse, recognizing that this administration in particular seems less inclined to tolerate any dissent."
Current employees willing to resist were not willing to acknowledge it openly, given the risk of reprisal.
"I am sick to my stomach and have trouble sleeping already over this 'President' and his misguided 'policies,'" said one worker who did not want to be identified. "The major concern I believe I and other government employees have is the carelessness and impulsiveness with which life-changing decisions are being made without debate or common sense at the highest level of government. . . . Yes I will disregard ill-conceived policy. But not to the extent of losing my livelihood. I have bills to pay like everyone else."
Another who would resist, depending how the order "affected the world in general," was succinct about Trump: "He ain't the boss of me."
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Preston Witt isn't deterred by the sharp bramble, the mud or the sound of barking dogs as he enters the small thicket of trees springing up from the westbound side of I-10 on Tuesday. He's on a mission as he shepherds two other volunteers for the 2017 Houston Homeless Count toward make-shift camps he knows hide just behind the brush, only feet from speeding cars on one side, and joggers along the banks of White Oak Bayou on the other.
He leads the group to a clearing and a camp that looks more like a small cul-de-sac with a fully-insulated trailer and about five tents outfitted with awnings chairs and cooking equipment. It's not long before Billy's guard dog runs toward them barking. He's stopped short by a leash tied to a longer rope.
Billy, a veteran, sits on the porch of one of the tents, another bigger dog to his left perks up from its own chair.
"She won't bite, but she'll bark you to death," says Billy of the smaller yapping dog.
Witt says a lot of homeless people don't pursue housing services because they think they'll have to give up their pets, but that his organization routinely certifies service dogs for placement in housing. He hopes to convince Billy of that.
This is the outreach worker's twelfth year participating in the annual census of the city's homeless population, the rest of the year he's the Chief Services Officer at Harmony House in north Houston, a housing resource for chronically homeless men.
This week Witt is joined by about 400 other volunteers and staff from homeless agencies across the region for the "2017 Homeless Count & Survey." Every street inside Houston city limits and throughout Harris, Fort Bend and, for the first time this year, Montgomery County were combed by volunteers looking for anyone who displayed signs of not having slept indoors the night before. This year, not only are they counting heads, but starting in 2016 they began surveying individuals about their personal histories, living situations and entering them into a central database as a part of Houston's "The Way Home" program.
The program is a collaborative effort between advocacy organizations across the three counties. Their aim is to end homelessness in the area by 2020 through driving efforts from the hundreds of public, private and nonprofit entities into one central service center.
It prevents errors in counting and helps agencies avoid doubling services to the same person, which helps them serve more people said Witt.
In 2011 the count revealed about 8,500 homeless individuals in Houston and Harris County lived on the streets or in shelters. The 2016 count had around 3,600 living in the same situations.
Marilyn Brown, CEO of Coalition for the Homeless, one of the partner agencies who headed the count said of the over 50 percent reduction, "We've switched to a 'housing first' approach - a permanent housing option surrounded by supportive services, we start with determining what housing works for them. This differs with before when we started with, 'What triggers your homelessness?'"
The annual count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for funding that supports sorely-needed housing for the chronically homeless. It brought $32 million to the area in 2015.
"Chronically Homeless" is a federally defined term, and means that someone has to have experienced homelessness for a specified length of time and have some sort of disability, whether physical or mental.
In 2015 The Way Home achieved a milestone when they effectively ended veteran homelessness by being able to place any veteran willing to accept housing into a unit within one month.
This week, surveyors ask individuals when and where they became homeless, if they became homeless due to a domestic violence charge, if they are working and if they are currently seeking housing.
The push for placing homeless into housing units has only increased over the last year as Houston gears up for its second time as host to the Super Bowl on Feb. 5.
In November a notorious encampment under U.S. 59 near downtown was cleared of people living and sleeping there and a fence was put up around the area.
Some of the homeless and outreach organizations say it was an eviction as a direct result of the city wanting to clean up its image before out-of-towners descend. But police and Texas Department of Transportation said it was a public safety issue as many people staying there were using and dealing Kush and they would often wander into traffic.
Whatever the motive, the initiative continues
Meg Pohodich, CEO of Harmony House sat with a young man she surveyed at a charity kitchen associated with a small church near I-10 and Sawyer Street that focuses on homeless services. He was sure he wouldn't qualify for transitional or permanent housing because of his age.
Hayden, a 28-year-old from North Carolina said he's been living on the streets for seven years and recently arrived in Houston. The young man who plays music downtown in front of patio bars and restaurants for money said has a health issue that requires him to take medication every day that he gets from Legacy Community Health as he pulls a prescription bottle from his backpack.
Pohodich said ignorance of the requirements and being afraid they'll get in trouble keep many from reaching out. And after so many years on the streets surviving, they begin to distort reality.
One man she surveyed said he has an assault charge that he worries will keep him out of housing; a thin, talkative man who works at food pantry where he's able to feed himself on a regular basis, said "It's too much hassle," to look for housing services; one was scared to tell her he drank; still another was afraid was to tell her that he panhandled.
"It's hard to come back from this," said Pohodich. " It's hard to be chronically homeless. In my opinion, being chronically homeless is a disability."
Witt finally overcomes Billy's reservations about moving into housing with his dog.
He sits with Billy for a while, asking the survey questions but digging deeper to glean how the man ended up living outdoors. He tells him the form to approve his dog is $5 and that Harmony can help him with that.
"If you can do that, Preston, I'll go," said Billy.
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AUSTIN - Disability advocates on Monday threatened to sue the Texas Education Agency unless the state permanently ends its special education enrollment benchmark within the next month.
The advocates said immediate action is necessary because of the "devastating harm" caused by the benchmark.
The state already has suspended and pledged to eventually eliminate the decade-old cap, which punished school districts for giving special education services to more than 8.5 percent of students. But the state has angered advocates by not saying when it will permanently end the policy.
"The time for action to protect and support Texas's children with disabilities is now," the advocates from the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities and Disability Rights Texas wrote in a letter to the Texas Education Agency and Commissioner Mike Morath.
Asked to comment on the letter, agency spokesman Gene Acuna said that officials already are working to eliminate the 8.5 percent metric. Changes to the policy should be proposed in the spring, he said.
"As always, we continue to seek input from stakeholders during this process," Acuna said.
The Texas Education Agency has denied that any child has been harmed by the benchmark.
The threat of a suit adds a new dimension to the debate over the benchmark, which already is a topic in the state Legislature and the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education.
Legal action also could open the door to an effort to obtain compensation for the tens of thousands of students with disabilities who have been denied services due to the benchmark. Federal law requires schools to serve all eligible students with disabilities.
The four-page letter cited a 2016 Houston Chronicle investigation that revealed the policy and the damage it caused.
The Chronicle found that officials arbitrarily chose the 8.5 percent target while facing a $1.1 billion state budget cut and did not consult lawmakers, the federal government or any research.
Nationwide, about 13 percent of students receive some type of special education services such as tutoring, counseling or therapy - a percentage that has not significantly changed for years.
In Texas, after the benchmark took effect, the percentage dropped from near the national average to exactly 8.5 percent. That is the lowest rate in the United States, by far.
More than 100 current and former school employees admitted to the Chronicle that they delayed or denied services to students with disabilities due to the benchmark.
"The children and families of Texas deserve, need, and are legally entitled to better," the advocates wrote in their letter.
The letter also outlined the group's legal theory.
First, the advocates said, the benchmark was inappropriate because states are allowed to monitor school districts "only as necessary to ensure compliance with federal law." Moreover, they argued, the benchmark actively violated the law "because it directs, incentivizes, and has caused school districts to deny enrollment in special education programs to eligible students."
The advocates said they would not file the lawsuit if Morath and the agency counter-sign their letter and initiate the process of permanently ending the benchmark within 30 days.
"We genuinely hope and believe such a lawsuit is unnecessary given our joint interest in making sure the children with disabilities of Texas get the support and services they are legally entitled to receive," the advocates wrote.
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Azadeh Mehrani, a graduate student in the University of Houston's chemistry department, said she knew leaving Houston to visit family in Iran last summer would be risky.
But she went anyway, gambling that she would quickly get another single-entry visa to return to the U.S. before the fall semester.
It took more than six months to get the document, which arrived last week - two days before President Donald Trump's executive action on immigration blocked citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries, including Iran, from entering the U.S.
Now, Mehrani is stuck in Tehran, for at least another 90 days.
"I'm so stressed right now - I'm not sure I can have my Ph.D. or not," said Mehrani, 30, in a phone interview from Tehran on Monday.
Trump's order reverberated across Texas campuses Monday, where 1,300 students from the seven countries on the list are enrolled at public colleges and universities, including 280 at UH. Thirty-two students at Rice University are affected.
Leaders at the state's schools are trying to determine which of their students, like Mehrani, were directly affected by Trump's order, but urged all students who are citizens of the seven countries to remain inside the U.S. as interpretations of the order continued to shift.
The action particularly resonated on campuses because they host students and faculty from all over the world.
Mehrani said she took the chance of going home because she hadn't seen her family in three years after leaving to pursue her dream of getting a Ph.D. in the U.S. On Monday, she said classmates have said they now feel "imprisoned" in the U.S. "Now our family cannot come and visit us (and) you don't have permission to come out," she said.
More Information Number of students enrolled at Texas public universities from the seven banned countries: Iran: 974 Iraq: 137 Libya: 54 Somalia: 5 Sudan: 20 Syria: 45 Yemen: 57 See More Collapse
The vast majority of students on Texas campuses affected by the order - most of whom come from Iran - remain inside the U.S.
"There's, naturally, concern and many questions," said Anita Gaines, director of UH's International Student and Scholar Services.
UH President and Chancellor Renu Khator said the university's immigration clinic is assisting the affected students.
University of Texas Chancellor William McRaven, a retired admiral who oversaw the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, said U.S. officials must clarify the order's intent.
"I would hope that my commitment to our nation's security cannot be questioned," McRaven said. "But, I also stand behind the core values we hold as a nation."
Later, he said that faculty, students and staff must travel on university business often. "We want them to return to the U.S. safely. We are and will remain committed to that principle, and to them."
'Callous indifference'
In an email to students on Monday, Rice University President David Leebron said Rice would not reveal the immigration status, citizenship or national origin of any student, absent legal compulsion. The university will also develop a plan to give legal assistance to students denied entry because of their citizenship.
"These measures were implemented with a callous indifference to their immediate impact on individuals and their families," he said.
A Baylor College of Medicine physician, who asked to remain anonymous, is among those worried for her family. The naturalized citizen holds a second citizenship in Syria. If she leaves to visit family, will she be able to come back? She watches the news and scans the internet, but there are no clear answers. She did not want to give her name for fear of retaliation against family members still in war-torn Aleppo.
Alongside the travel ban, which applies to Syrian citizens, refugees from Syria have been banned from the U.S. indefinitely.
Her fears have centered on her elderly parents, 77 and 65 years old, who are in Houston for a visit that was supposed to be ending. They, too, have Syrian passports and have been living in Turkey after fleeing Aleppo. It took them two years of vetting to win permission to come to the U.S. to visit their daughter and grandchildren. Although they have a return ticket, they will probably cancel it.
"If they go, I'm not sure I'll ever get to see them again," said the doctor, among the dozens at Baylor impacted by the ripple effect of the executive order.
Dr. Paul Klotman, president and CEO of the medical school, sent out an institution-wide email on Sunday that said: "If anyone potentially affected by the order is scheduled to leave the county on business, please contact the Office of the General Counsel for guidance."
As a Muslim, the physician is not buying the White House explanation that the executive order is not targeting those of her religion. "It's hard not to feel that way," she said, especially since officials have said that once the temporary ban is lifted, Christians will be given preference for entrance.
It distressing to her that people don't understand that people like her family are just as fearful of harm as those who seem to want to keep them out. "We all want safety," she said. "That's the reason my parents left Aleppo."
University of Houston-Downtown Interim President Michael Olivas, an immigration law and higher education law professor, said in a letter to students that the order is not entirely legally clear and may undermine "religion" as a predicate for asylum or refugee status.
"All bets are off until the courts rule or until Congress acts," he said. Three UH-Downtown students come from the seven countries named, he said.
University of Texas at Austin President Greg Fenves said there are 110 students and faculty members who are citizens of the seven countries banned in Trump's order.
He said that UT will keep in touch with those affected as the order is clarified. Teri Albrecht, director of UT's international student and scholar services office, said she was not aware of affected students who are abroad currently.
"We've gone through other major immigration (orders) in the past," Albrecht said, citing Sept. 11. "But we never had something as drastic as this a blanket policy change. We don't have a lot of answers."
Rally of support
At Texas A&M University, 170 students enrolled in fall 2016 were from Iran, of 220 students from the seven banned countries. The university said it was not aware of any students who were out of the U.S. when the order was signed.
More than 900 people indicated they would attend an on-campus rally to support Muslim students on Monday evening, including students driving in from Sam Houston State University and UT, said organizer Mallory Chapman, a 19-year-old A&M freshman from Arlington.
Texas A&M University President Michael Young said in a statement that students should respect one another and stay informed.
"We are also working with our congressional delegation for assistance so that everyone affected by this order can continue their work without disruption or delay," he said.
Iraqi students in College Station now realize that they will likely not be able to visit home until they complete their programs, said Nabeel Al-Hakeem, a Texas A&M University graduate student.
Al-Hakeem hasn't been back to Iraq since 2014, when he left to study engineering at Texas A&M. Though Iraqi students and their spouses and children gather for holidays and other celebrations in College Station, homesickness is hard with such long stretches between visits.
Al-Hakeem called the order "disappointing" and said it would likely deter students from deciding to study in the U.S.
"The Iraqi people fight ISIS on behalf of all the world," he said, "and they don't deserve this kind of order by the American administration."
Jenny Deam and Ileana Najarro contributed to this report.
The beautiful, gold-domed Victoria mosque that burned to the ground Saturday has raised nearly $1 million in a massive outpouring of support from a shell-shocked community.
"Today, our faith in humanity has been rekindled again," the Victoria Islamic Center wrote on Facebook after more than 19,000 people pitched in donations to smash past the $850,000 GoFundMe goal.
Omar Rachid, the long-time mosque member who launched the campaign Saturday, said he felt "humble and elated" after the unexpected wave of support.
"We feel restored, we feel that we are wanted and obviously the amount of support that we have garnered is a message loud and clear that we belong," he told the Chronicle in a phone interview Monday night.
"People respect who we are and what we are. They love what we bring in diversity and culture."
Cause investigated
A convenience store clerk spotted the blaze around 2 a.m. Saturday, just hours after President Donald Trump signed a controversial executive order barring entry to immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Although some have been quick to call the fire arson, officials cautioned that there are no definitive clues yet as to the cause.
"It's still under investigation," Victoria Fire Marshal Tom Legler said Monday evening. The fire marshal is coordinating investigative efforts with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No one was hurt in the blaze, which took crews about four hours to put out in Victoria, about 125 miles southwest of Houston.
Rachid said repair estimates may exceed $1 million for the 17-year-old building, which did not have fire insurance.
Without a worship center to call home, the congregation has taken to praying in a vacant doctor's office.
"We have been offered multiple places to hold worship - from ballrooms, to vacant buildings to the event center," he said.
"Victoria is such a loving community."
Even as federal agents picked through the charred rubble, crowds gathered to pray and show their support Sunday.
"It was wonderful and amazing. Today, I feel we are one big family in Victoria. We are not alone," imam Osama Hassan said, hours after the gathering that drew in visitors from across the state.
Anxiety remains
But despite the optimistic overtones of Monday's event, the blaze - in the wake of a reported uptick in anti-Muslim incidents across the country - has sent ripples of worry through the tiny congregation of just under 200.
"I think there is some anxiety until they find the cause," Rachid said.
"If it is determined to be arson, then the anxiety will be elevated I think. Then you have to basically say, 'Okay the person who committed this arson, what will they do next?'"
Less than a month before the Victoria blaze, an Austin area mosque under construction was burned to the ground.
And this isn't the first time the Islamic Center has fallen prey to an unfortunate turn of events.
A week before Saturday's fire, a burglar looted the mosque's electronics. And a few years ago, a vandal painted "H8" - shorthand for "hate" - on the side of the building.
But Rachid is undaunted.
"I've been in this community for 23 years and I've experienced nothing short of love, kindness and support," he said.
"The campaign in itself is a testimony, in my opinion, to the true American spirit."
The San Antonio Express-News contributed to this report.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Don't talk about airport protests in Trump Country.
In states that propelled Donald Trump to the White House, the president's fans couldn't be happier with his executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven mostly Muslim countries.
Trump promised to put America first during the campaign, his supporters say, and he's doing it. That includes securing the nation's borders and doing everything possible to prevent terrorists from entering the U.S.
In their view, Democrats and liberal snowflakes and soft-hearted do-gooders need to calm down. Trump is being Trump.
"It shows me that he means what he says," Judith Wilkenroh, 72, a retired social-services worker from Frederick, Md, said Monday. "He's just unafraid. He's just going ahead like a locomotive, and I like him more and more every time he does something."
Immigration order
Two of Barbara Wood's three sons served in the military after Sept. 11, and she's all for Trump and his immigration order.
The president "is fulfilling his campaign promises to the best of his ability. I applaud him for that," said Wood, who lives in suburban Birmingham.
Thousands of people have demonstrated at U.S. airports since Trump issued an order Friday blocking people from seven countries in the Middle East and Africa from entering the United States and suspending refugee immigration for four months. The protests included a gathering of several hundred people in Birmingham, the largest airport in a Southern state Trump carried with ease.
Yet none of those protests matter much in Trump Country, those states and counties where Trump claimed the votes to win the Electoral College despite losing the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton.
"He's going to do what he says and says what he does," said Barbara Van Syckel, 66, of Sterling Heights, Mich. "That's a little frightening for some people."
In Texas, where Trump's support was strong during the November election, many Texas GOP officeholders in Washington quickly applauded Trump's executive order, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Reps. Joe Barton of Ennis, Roger Williams of Weatherford, John Ratcliffe of Heath, Pete Sessions of Dallas and Michael Burgess of Flower Mound. He called Trump's order "well within his authority" as president.
"In contrast to the hysteria and mistruths being pushed by the liberal media, President Trump's executive order implements a four-month pause in refugee admissions so that stronger vetting procedures can be put in place," The Washington Post quoted Cruz as saying. "This is a common-sense step that the American people overwhelmingly support."
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Austin, after first applauding the order, seemed to back off by the weekend, noting that he and Rudy Guiliani wrote a white paper for Trump, when he was presidential candidate, that recommended increased vetting but did not propose a ban on Muslims.
Texas' top Republican officials - Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn - remained silent on the controversial Trump immigration order. But House Speaker Joe Straus, in a weekend statement, expressed concerns about Trump's order.
"We all want to prevent those who may wish us harm from entering our country, but it is important that we do so in a way that is consistent with the principles of this country," Straus said. "I am concerned about sending the incorrect message that we are at war with any religion."
Democrats outraged
Democrats in Texas universally condemned the order.
"President Trump's ban on Muslim refugees betrays American values while undermining national security and economic prosperity," U.S. Reo. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, tweeted.
In Houston, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson demanded that Trump rescind his order.
"As Americans, we are best when we are true to the values we hold dear, beginning with fidelity to the Constitution and the laws of the United States," Jackson Lee said, calling the Friday order "a radical departure from these principles."
Some Trump supporters, while not echoing the Democrats, voiced misgivings. Mike Honaker, who resides in a struggling West Virginia coal town, said he didn't think "blitzing everybody" with an order that spread chaos around the world was the right way to go.
But Honaker worries about terrorism and does not have a problem with Trump's plan to screen refugees. Overall, Honaker likes 85 percent of what the president has done.
"I think he's shaking it up, the whole of Washington, D.C., and half the country, like he said he would," he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Seba Aghayeva Trend:
Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Qatar is developing day by day and the two countries positions coincide on international issues, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
The minister made the remarks at a joint briefing with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Baku Jan. 31.
Mammadyarov also noted that Azerbaijan and Qatar plan to intensify economic cooperation.
A meeting of the two countries intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation will be held in Baku today, he added.
Azerbaijan and Qatar intend to develop cooperation in the energy sphere, agriculture, tourism, within international and regional organizations, said Mammadyarov adding that it is also planned to expand the contractual legal base.
The minister noted that 15 agreements on bilateral cooperation have been prepared. The documents are planned to be signed during the high-level negotiations, which will be held in Doha in 2017, he added.
The Azerbaijani foreign minister also expressed gratitude to Qatar for the support in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hope for its continuation in the future.
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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LONDON - President Donald Trump's order barring U.S. entry to people from seven majority-Muslim nations is "divisive, discriminatory and wrong," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Monday.
But he rebuffed calls for the government to cancel Trump's planned state visit to the U.K. because of the temporary ban.
Johnson said he had told American officials that it's wrong "to promulgate policies that stigmatize people on the basis of their nationality."
He told lawmakers in the House of Commons the Trump administration had assured him that "all British passport holders remain welcome to travel to the U.S.," even if they are also citizens of one of the seven countries.
Confusion has reigned about whether dual nationals are affected by the 90-day ban on citizens of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Libya.
Britain's three biggest opposition parties have called on the government to revoke Trump's state visit, planned for this year.
Several thousand protesters demonstrated near Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street London residence Monday evening, chanting "Donald Trump has got to go" and "Shame on May." Some placards branded the prime minister "Theresa the Appeaser." It was the largest of a series of protests across the country, including in Oxford, Manchester, Newcastle, Cardiff and Glasgow.
"Friends, first they came for the Muslims," Scottish National Party lawmaker Angus Robertson told the London crowd. "But we say something - and we say no state visit for Donald Trump."
An online petition opposing the trip has more than 1.5 million signatures. Any petition with more than 100,000 signatures must be considered for a debate in Parliament, though not a binding vote.
State visits involve lavish pomp and ceremony, generally with a stay at Buckingham Palace as the guest of Queen Elizabeth II. Some Trump critics say he should not receive the privileged reception.
But May said during a visit to Dublin that she had issued an invitation, "and that invitation stands."
AUSTIN -- Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday declared a ban on so-called sanctuary cities and sweeping reforms in the state's troubled child-protection system as top priorities for emergency action this legislative session.
To cheers and a standing ovation as he addressed a joint session of the Legislature, Abbott said elected officials should not have the option of whether to enforce state and federal laws on immigration -- an obvious reference to his ongoing fight with Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.
UPDATE: Abbott cuts funding to Travis DA over "sanctuary city" policy
"Elected officials do not to pick and chose which laws to enforce," Abbott said in his State of the State speech, insisting that state and local officials "must protect Texas" from deadly criminals.
"This will be the session where we ban sanctuary cities," he said to cheers and a standing ovation as he addressed a joint session of the Legislature.
MAYORAL RESPONSE: Houston mayor pledges to be 'welcoming' to immigrants
Hernandez has announced she will decline some federal detention requests of undocumented immigrants who are jailed.
Abbott has given Hernandez until Wednesday to rescind her new policy or face possible sanctions, including a cutoff of state grant funding -- and possible removal from office. He earlier said he wants state law changed to allow for removal.
Abbott also said he intends to maintain state-funded security along the Texas-Mexico border, though he hinted that federal officials may be poised to step up their presence in a move that could allow Texas taxpayers to trim their current $800 million investment.
POLITICAL BATTLE: Fight erupts between governor, Travis County Sheriff
He said he plans Wednesday to meet in the Rio Grande Valley with federal officials to discuss their new efforts, which President Trump has said will include thousands of additional immigration agents and the construction of a border wall.
Identifying reforms in child-protection programs his No. 1 priority, Abbott said he has proposed spending more than the the Senate and House to improve those programs now, to prevent any more deaths in the state's system. More than 100 died last year while in the state system, he said.
"Do not fund this rickety system only to have it come back to haunt you in years to come," Abbott told lawmakers. "Do it right."
RISING PRICES: Avocados and other things could get pricey with border tariff
The state's foster-care system faces likely federal court supervision, after being found unconstitutional a year ago, and officials for months have been scrambling to ramp up hiring to offset skyrocketing employee turnover rates and to find placements for thousands of children who have been in temporary housing -- some for years.
Abbott also declared ethics reform an emergency, allowing fast passage of a bill to require disclosure of conflicts of interest by state officials and lawmakers.
Abbott also ordered an immediate hiring freeze in all state agencies through August to free up more than $200 million, and give legislative budget-writers a way not to have to raid the state's so-called "Rainy Day Fund."
DETAINED: Texas high school student caught in Trump's immigration ban
In his speech, Abbott also endorsed passage of a so-called "school choice" law to allow parents to decide where they send their children to school, said property tax reforms are vital and demanded a cut in the state's business franchise tax "until we can fit it in a coffin."
He also called for quick approval of a resolution affirming Texas' support for a Convention of State to amend the U.S. Constitution to give states more power over federal actions, including a balanced-budget amendment.
On key national security issues and some other issues, the federal government should have authority, but on many other issues "leave us alone and let Texans govern Texas," Abbott said.
>>>Click through the above gallery to see locations that have declared themselves "sanctuary cities" and the reaction to Donald Trump's threats against them.
AUSTIN - The latest round of proposed legislative fixes to the state's ailing child welfare system includes reorganizing a state agency and making it easier for extended family to care for their child relatives.
The pitch for new ideas comes as pressure from the courts and the public mounts for the state to improve how it cares for Texas children in crisis.
"While money matters, and it does matter, money is not the silver bullet. If money alone were the fix, then the child welfare system would already have been fixed long ago," state Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, said Monday during a news conference at the Capitol unveiling the preferred policy proposals from a team in the Texas House of Representatives.
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, tasked the group with searching for solutions to the state's beleaguered foster care system, which is under the microscope in the courts after a federal judge declared the system unconstitutional, saying it left kids worse off than when they entered. The judge since has ordered the state to reform its system, which has become the focus of numerous stories of neglected or abused children placed in homes where they were treated worse, and some made to sleep in office spaces when the agency ran out of beds.
Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, proposed that the state pay more to families who take in their own kin.
"As much as we love our grandchildren or nieces or nephews, the reality is that many families just do not have the expense of caring for an additional family member built into their budgets," she said. "Sometimes that makes it impossible for family members to take them in on a moment's notice. That's another mouth to feed, another person to clothe and can include many other unexpected changes in their daily life."
11,000 in kinship care
The state's kinship program currently pays foster families a base of $693 a month to house children in the foster care system, according to state officials, but family members who take on a grandchild, niece, nephew or other minor relative are compensated with around $500 a year. Burkett's proposal, which still is in the works, would offer families 50 percent or possibly 75 percent of what traditional foster families receive from the state.
State officials say more than 11,000 families now provide kinship care, which is expected to climb to around 12,000 families in 2018 and 2019.
Other proposals offered by House lawmakers focused on decision-making, such as Frank's pitch to spin off the Department of Family and Protective Services into an independent agency, taking it out from under the wing of the sprawling Texas Health and Human Services. Lawmakers say the reorganization would make the agency more accountable to lawmakers.
A third proposal seeks to involve nonprofit groups in placing children into foster care by establishing stronger relationships between state agencies and local organizations to find a good match. The move also would serve to keep children closer to their homes instead of moving them across the state.
Earlier this month, DFPS Commissioner Henry "Hank" Whitman and first lady Cecilia Abbott announced an initiative to reach out to churches to help locate families for foster care placements and to provide support and mentoring for foster children.
Progress slow
Lawmakers have had more than a year to think about how to address Texas' foster care system since U.S. District Judge Janis Jack in Corpus Christi condemned the state program and appointed special masters to recommend reforms.
Meanwhile, lawmakers also have been focused on a crisis in Texas' Child Protective Services after it was revealed last year that hundreds of children who had been abused or neglected have gone days or weeks without being seen by case workers.
Lawmakers last month approved more than $100 million in emergency funding to hire more than 800 workers and give significant raises to some 7,000 CPS employees in hopes of stemming the tide of caseworkers fleeing in droves for higher-paying jobs.
Lawmakers OK'd $12,000 raises for about 6,000 front-line employees in December, 20 percent pay increases for 1,110 managers and special investigators, and gave the agency permission to begin hiring up to 829 additional workers.
Senate lawmakers on Mondaygrilled Whitman over the slow progress reforming the system.
The number of kids not being seen by CPS workers has not really dropped since October, Whitman told a Senate Finance Committee, nor has employee turnover. He said internal data, however, gives him reason to believe the outcomes will get better.
"We gave you the money you asked for," Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, told Whitman in a budget hearing. "We gave you the 12,000 caseworkers you asked for. We want to see results. We've got to see results."
'Serious questions'
One children's advocate was split on the recommendations from House lawmakers. Kate Murphy, a senior policy advocate at Texans Care for Children, cheered moves to help families better afford fostering relatives, and for the state agency to build strong community partnerships. She was hesitant, however, to support separating DFPS, which manages CPS.
"The proposal to turn DFPS into a stand-alone agency raises some serious questions. We want to make sure CPS is dedicating its time and funding to taking care of kids instead of managing the logistics of creating an independent agency," she said.
Lee Nichols, a spokesman for the Texas Association for the Protection of Children, wants to see lawmakers fight to find ways to prevent the kinds of situations that force children to leave their homes, such as a home visiting program that offers parents mentors to teach good child-raising practices.
"We're worried what's going to get lost is prevention, which is the only real way to solve CPS and foster care problems long-term," Nichols said.
Brian M. Rosenthal contributed to this report.
AUSTIN -- State Board of Education members heard testimony from at least two dozen people Tuesday on Texas' biology curriculum standards, which critics say allow teachers to challenge evolution in the classroom.
The 15-member state board will take a final vote in April to decide whether to keep the language in its curriculum standards, known as Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS. Much of Tuesday's debate focused on four passages in biology curriculum standards that say schools should teach "all sides" of scientific theory.
Those passages, added by board members in 2009, were hotly debated by educators and activists. Kathy Miller, president of the left leaning education watchdog group Texas Freedom Network, told the board the standards written almost eight years ago were "written by politicians," and opened the door for teachers to teach creationism in public classrooms.
TROUBLE: Texas State fraternities suspended for 'alcohol-related' issues
"Not a single educator or science professor had a chance to review or vet those words before they were added to the curriculum," she testified.
The board asked a 10-member committee of educators and experts last July to streamline the TEKS biology curriculum standards. Those committee members asked that passages designed to challenge the science of evolution in high school courses be removed from its standards.
The board will discuss and possibly amend the recommended revisions of the standards on Wednesday and Friday.
A handful of witnesses called for the board to leave the four controversial passages in the curriculum standards.
LIFTING UP: Texas colleges that pull the most kids out of poverty
Jonathan Witt, a senior fellow with the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, asked the board to preserve two passages he thinks will allow students to think critically about scientific evidence that supports evolution.
"Teaching the scientific evidence for and against Darwin's theory enjoys overwhelming support from the public," Witt told the board.
Those testifying against the removal of the passages seemed to have the support of one of the board's most conservative members, David Bradley.
Former teacher and school librarian Tanya Estes testified that the board should accept the panel's recommendations and move away from any kind of text that would allow creationism in the classroom.
"While I respect the right for people to choose and follow their faith, religion is not a science," she said.
Bradley challenged Estes, asking her to "please cite" where in the TEKS creationism is taught. Estes said she could provide Bradley with religious and scientific reading materials regarding the origin of human life.
"When you have different factions of Christianity disagreeing on the validity of Adam and Eve, then it certainly has no place in science," Estes told the board.
The board will hold preliminary votes on the biology standards this week.
>>>Click through the above gallery to see Texas public schools by the numbers
Nick Anderson
The new travel ban is not about religion, even thought Donald Trump, the candidate, said it would be about religion. It's not about religion even though Christians from the seven countries affected would still be considered, and anyone else (Muslims), wouldn't be. But it's not about religion. Click the gallery below to see many more cartoons by Nick Anderson.
There's no definition for "flip-flop" in Black's Law Dictionary, but we'd recommend filling that slot with a picture of the Texas Supreme Court.
The Lone Star State's highest civil court has decided to waste a lot of time and money by breathing life into a doomed lawsuit against a legal and just decision reached by leaders of our city government.
Houston started offering health and life insurance benefits to legally married same-sex spouses of municipal employees a little more than three years ago. Although Texas law at the time forbade same-sex marriage, the benefits were extended to gay city employees wed in other states. That was the right thing to do, but it was also a practical decision made by city officials trying to keep worker benefit packages competitive with the private sector.
In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the nation. So it was no big surprise last September when the Texas Supreme Court, in a lopsided 8-1 decision, rejected a case filed by a couple of Houston social conservatives arguing that giving benefits to spouses of gay city employees is a violation of "religious freedom."
But a funny thing has happened since then. Under pressure from state GOP leaders including Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court has changed its mind. Without any explanation or comment, the state's highest court recently announced that, on second thought, it would hear arguments on the same-sex benefits case after all.
The theory presented in a brief filed by Abbott, Patrick and Paxton claims the U.S. Supreme Court's decision doesn't oblige state and local governments to "take steps beyond recognizing same-sex marriage" - like offering gay couples the equal employee benefits. The U.S. Supreme Court has already decided state and local governments can't discriminate against same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses. The plaintiffs in that case didn't fight their case all the way to the nation's highest court just to get a document to hang on a wall; they fought for all the rights and privileges legally granted to other husbands and wives. And yes, that includes employee benefits for their spouses.
It's disturbing that justices sitting on our state's supposedly independent Supreme Court don't have the gumption to resist political pressure and stand by their decisions. That independence has a way of going out the window when each justice has to survive a multi-million- dollar statewide election and partisan primary. Let's hope when they hear this case in March they have the integrity to reject the specious arguments. The members of the Texas Supreme Court may be elected like politicians, but they should hold themselves to a higher standard.
Details added (first version posted on 12:24)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Seba Aghayeva Trend:
Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Qatar is developing day by day and the two countries positions coincide on international issues, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
The minister made the remarks at a joint briefing with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Baku Jan. 31.
Mammadyarov also noted that Azerbaijan and Qatar plan to intensify economic cooperation.
A meeting of the two countries intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation will be held in Baku today, he added.
Azerbaijan and Qatar intend to develop cooperation in the energy sphere, agriculture, tourism, within international and regional organizations, said Mammadyarov adding that it is also planned to expand the contractual legal base.
The minister noted that 15 agreements on bilateral cooperation have been prepared. The documents are planned to be signed during the high-level negotiations, which will be held in Doha in 2017, he added.
The Azerbaijani foreign minister also expressed gratitude to Qatar for the support in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hope for its continuation in the future.
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.
Editor's note: This commentary first appeared on Dan Rather's Facebook page Saturday after President Donald Trump signed a sweeping immigration order banning from entry to the United States migrants from seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world.
Today I shed a tear for the country I know and love, the one I believe still beats in the heart of most of its citizens.
The United States became the most powerful nation in the history of mankind not merely on the basis is its fearsome military, as lethal and well-trained as that may be. It wasn't solely based on its unprecedented economic engine, as dynamic and far-reaching as that may be. America's greatness was forged by a constitutional compact of grand and universal ideals that the country has tried to live up to ever since.
For generations, we have been an imperfect but vital beacon of freedom to a world too often wandering and failing in moral confusion. But that ultimate strength has dimmed considerably in light of the recent actions on immigration from the new President Donald Trump. We are turning around desperate refugees. We are singling out men, women and children on the basis of their faith - and we are doing all of this with a randomness and capriciousness that defies reason.
A colleague of mine used the term "heartless" to describe so much of the President's executive actions. Sadly, I found it an apt and dispiriting diagnosis - especially when faced with the results of his executive order on immigration. For over the years, I have seen that our greatest American leaders extol empathy rather than condemnation. They have known that in a complicated world, it is best to make policy choices with a scalpel - not a hacksaw. Sometimes, when our national security is threatened at the level of World War II, all-out conflict is the only recourse. But those instances are by far the exception.
From Vietnam, to the Iraq War, from Japanese internment camps to the centuries-long persecution on the basis of race and ethnicity that almost toppled our democratic experiment, broad strokes channeling our least compassionate and most jingoistic impulses have always made us weaker rather than stronger.
Today, in the wake of his one-man decision to wreck and reverse immigration policy so suddenly, there is chaos and confusion mixed with heartbreak and fear. A well thought-out, measured overhaul of immigration policy, with organized-in-advance measures to implement that is one thing - and one that perhaps a majority of Americans would support. But this mess, created overnight, is quite another. With this, we have emboldened our enemies who want to see nothing else than to compete in a world of moral relativism. In the Cold War, our struggles over civil rights fed into the propaganda of the Soviet Union - as our new actions fuel the extremism Mr. Trump claims to be attacking.
Too many people during the campaign explained away Mr. Trump's irresponsible rhetoric as metaphors and euphemisms. These are not concepts he understands. Serious foreign policy experts know that this is a boon for our enemies and undermines our democratic principles. But too many Republican leaders in Congress, even ones that denounced the Muslim ban during the campaign, stand by cheering it now. History will mark their names, as it marks this moment.
This will be challenged in the courts, which may very well strike it down. But damage, real damage, has been done to our global image. I believe Vladimir Putin is smiling, and would-be global powers like China see a vacuum forming that they will be eager to fill.
I still remain optimistic that the vast majority of American people will recoil and speak out at this unwise policy. But whether we like it or not, as the detentions and impediments already springing up make all too real, this is the stated de facto policy of the United States today. Every day that it goes on, every day the chaos, confusion and heartbreak deepens, America loses more pieces of its soul and standing in the world.
Rather, a native Texan born in Wharton, stepped down as anchor of CBS News' "Evening News" in 2005 after a lengthy career in broadcast journalism.
The following are excerpts from reports generated by the Texas County Sheriffs Department:
A deputy was dispatched Jan. 29 to Texas County Memorial Hospital regarding a report of a possible stabbing victim.
The officer made contact with a 38-year-old man there who said he had been fixing a sandwich at his Walnut Grove Drive residence in Bucyrus and had fallen onto a knife that punctured his right leg. The officer spoke to a woman during investigation of the case who said she thought the mans former girlfriend had stabbed him, but the officer noted in a report that no evidence had been found to substantiate that claim.
Investigation continues.
A deputy resounded at about 9:15 p.m. to a request by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper in locating a stolen vehicle in the Dunn area.
The vehicle was supposedly behind a trailer house in the area, but searches were conducted at several residences on King Road and Oakridge Road and it wasnt found. There are no suspects.
A deputy was dispatched at about 12:15 a.m. Jan. 29 regarding a report of peace disturbance at the Evening Shade store on Highway AW. A man there told the officer four trucks had been spinning tires at the location, and that he didnt know who the drivers were but wanted to ask for extra patrol in the area.
A Bucyrus woman reported on Jan. 28 that a neighbor mans dogs had killed four of her cats. An investigating officer made contact with the man, and he was given a verbal warning to maintain better control of the dogs.
A deputy was dispatched at about 10:30 p.m. Jan. 20 after a woman reported kids shining laser pointers and flashlights outside her U.S. 63 residence at Houston.
Upon arrival, the officer was told by the woman that all the kids had run off, and that they had been bothering her dog and playing games in the adjacent woods.
The officer searched the area, but was unable to find evidence of anyone but the homes residents having been there. Based on the womans description of the situation, the officer determined she had likely been seeing city light and phone tower lights and that a bunch of kids probably hadnt been there.
An officer was dispatched Jan. 22 regarding a report of peace disturbance at a Highway 17 residence at Roby.
The officer made contact with several Sho-Me Power workers at the location who said a man wearing a beanie and dark clothing had approached them and cussed at them and threw things at them. They said the suspect had left shortly before the deputy arrived. The officer searched the area and didnt find the suspect.
A deputy was dispatched at about 5:20 p.m. Jan. 21 after a woman reported a suspicious sound at her Highway AU residence at Houston. The woman told the officer the sound had shaken her house. The officer was unable to locate the source of the sound.
Texas County Jail admissions
Jan. 22
Dakota R. Huff Laclede County hold
Jan. 23
Christopher M. Emerick passing bad checks
Nalin H. Neal 96-hour commitment
Jan. 24
Amanda M. Maglone-Layton forgery, receiving stolen property
Jan. 26
Nathan W. Smith resisting arrest
Macey L. Gary resisting arrest
Joseph A. Kaplan 48-hour commitment
Monica A. Davy receiving stolen property
Samantha L. Burleson 48-hour commitment
Jan. 27
Jesse D. Blanks 48-hour commitment
Jason K. Loman DWI
James D. Wakenight 2-days shock
Nolan C. Decker writ
Jan. 28
Kerry D. Brooks 48-hour commitment
Missie J. Collins 24-hour commitment
Jan. 29
Timothy A. Turner possession of controlled substance
Matthew J. Ramsey 45-hour commitment
Christopher A. Hunt Greene County hold
Amy L. Mulready passing bad checks
Albert C. Croft passing bad checks
A program to reduce workplace violence is underway at Texas County Memorial Hospital.
Wes Murray, TCMH chief executive officer, told hospital board members at last months meeting that 80 percent of healthcare-related workplace violence incidents were related to patients. He said the hospital has seen a rise in violence.
Murray presented information about Safe Training and Responsible Restraints (STARR), the workplace violence reduction program that TCMH is implementing.
In a 12-month survey period by the American Nurses Association, 21 percent of registered nurses and nursing students reported being physically assaulted, and over 50 percent were verbally abused, Murray said. Most people wouldnt take a job with those kind of statistics.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has created regulations for healthcare facilities to achieve a higher level of safety for patients, visitors, physicians and staff. TCMH plans to comply.
The Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) chose TCMH to participate in the STARR program along with other hospitals in the state. Mitigation Dynamics in Lees Summit is working with the MHA to train hospital employees and to help participating hospitals put policies and procedures in place in their hospital.
TCMH has submitted the hospitals current policies for safety and workplace violence. Hospital employees have also participated in initial training off site.
In March and April, Mitigation Dynamics will have staff at the hospital for two days of training with 50 TCMH employees.
We will have staff from a variety of hospital departments clinics, business office, registration and all of the nursing departments participate in the onsite training, Murray said.
Those employees will take their training back to their departments to teach others.
Everyone with direct patient care needs this training, Omanez Fockler, TCMH board member and former nurse said. This is important.
Murray said not only is TCMH looking at the safety aspect but the financial aspect of losing employees that could be injured on the job or forced to leave a job they had trained for if they didnt handle the violence appropriately.
HOSPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND INNOVATION NETWORK
Board members heard TCMH has submitted baseline data to MHA for new two-year Hospital Improvement and Innovation Network (HIIN) projects sponsored by CMS.
The baseline data covered a broad scope hospital acquired infections, pressure ulcers, workplace injury and antibiotic use were just a few of the things we reported on at the first of the year, said Amanda Turpin, quality management director at TCMH.
Turpin said TCMH medical staff members Dr. Matthew Brown and Sheena Painter, FNP, have been very active in helping set up checklists and protocols for the antibiotic stewardship program that TCMH is creating as part of the HIIN project.
CMS is requiring healthcare facilities to put an antibiotic stewardship program in place.
There is a lot of data to report, and we dont have the data mining tools that larger facilities have, Turpin said.
Turpin also reported that TCMH was one of a few hospitals in the state that completed the baseline reporting by the January deadline.
WRIGHT COUNTY 911
Murray reported Wright County 911 will begin dispatching ambulances from their new office on March 9.
TCMH and Mercy operate ambulances in Wright County with ambulance bases in Mountain Grove. TCMH is planning to have Wright County 911 dispatch the TCMH Mountain Grove ambulance when needed. Mercy does not allow their ambulances to be dispatched by the 911 offices.
When the 911 office dispatches an ambulance rather than first contacting the hospital and having us dispatch the ambulance, five minutes of time can be saved, Murray said. And as you know, those potential five minutes are crucial in an emergency.
NEW HOSPITAL RELATIONSHIP
Murray said the TCMH emergency department has been working Saint Lukes Hospital in Chesterfield to transfer some patients for specialty care that is not available at TCMH.
We have had some issues recently in trying to sending patients to Springfield hospitals because those hospitals have been on diversion due to not having the staff available for all beds, Murray said.
Murray recounted a weekend in the hospital emergency department with two stroke patients at one time, eight patients with chest pains and a motor vehicle e accident in addition to the usual less acute visits.
When our emergency department is that busy, our staff needs to spend time taking care of our patients needs not waiting on the phone for a hospital to decide if they will take one of our patients, Murray said.
TCMH has certain criteria ia to meet in handling stroke and heart attack patients, too, and without quick turnaround times for patients that need a higher level of care, TCMH could lose their state designation for handling stroke or heart attack.
Saint Lukes is about the same distance as Columbia, and we already work together on a variety things in our healthcare network, Murray said. The staff at Saint Lukes has been very receptive to quickly taking our patients when the need arises.
Murray said Saint Lukes Hospital does not have neurology services, but otherwise the hospital is equipped and eager to take patients from TCMH. The patient services department at Saint Lukes has prepared packets of information about the area for family members to utilize, too.
With the flu season upon us and the smaller Cox and Mercy hospitals feeding the larger Cox and Mercy hospitals in Springfield, it has created a tough situation for our patients that need specialized care only available at larger hospitals, Murray said.
MEDICAID REPORT
Murray reported that three Medicaid managed care companies have been contacting TCMH about signing non-binding agreements to use the companies for Medicaid patients seeking care through TCMH facilities.
In a plan that has been in place in other parts of Missouri, the state government has turned over Medicaid services to private insurance companies for Medicaid managed care. For a portion of the Medicaid payment, these companies will handle Medicaid services for all Medicaid patients.
Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, cited a TCMH case where a Medicaid managed care company refused to pay for a patient delivering a baby, citing the delivery as not medically necessary although the patient was receiving managed Medicaid coverage for prenatal care.
In the past Medicaid has worked like clockwork, but now its a mess, Pamperien said.
Pamperien explained that the managed Medicaid companies want open claims closed within 90 days. Its not always possible to have a clean claim within 90 days, Pamperien said.
Medicaid claims are closed within a year under the previous plan administration.
In the past, TCMH was able to provide the lowest cost prescription drugs to Medicaid patients, but new state regulations require that prescription drugs for Medicaid patients now come from companies that the state is contracting with.
Many times, these drugs actually cost us more through those companies, and the state is getting funds back from these companies that they require us to use, Pamperien said, adding, It hurts us even more in caring for Medicaid patients when we cant provide drugs from the pharmaceutical companies that give us bigger volume discounts.
Murray expressed hopes that changes to the Affordable Care Act would open better interaction with federal and state politicians.
There is a big push to make changes on a state level, and our federal legislators have committed that they will replace provisions in the ACA before doing away with the law, Murray said.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Unaudited financial numbers show the hospital ending the year with a negative bottom line of about $1.21 million after December ended in the red at $85,932.
Our representative from BKD has already commented on how much better we are this year than last year, Pamperien said.
BKD, LLC of Springfield provides specialized financial services and an annual audit for TCMH.
TCMH had $2.15 million in depreciation expense in 2016, slightly less than $2.2 million in depreciation expense in 2015. The overall bottom line was 36 percent better in 2016 than 2015, bringing in $730,000 more after expenses than the previous year.
Our overall revenues were up 6.5 percent or $4 million, and our outpatient revenues were up 10 percent or $4.6 million, Pamperien said.
Inpatient volume was down 4 percent and swing bed volume was down 27 percent in 2016.
At the end of the year we are fully staffed with the exception of an additional surgeon, Pamperien said.
She noted that 2016 hospital budget planning included the addition of Dr. Cory Offutt, a family medicine physician that joined the hospital in July.
We did not expect to add Dr. Groner and Dr. Mella to our staff this year, but they have also been an added bonus that will benefit our overall revenues in 2017, Pamperien said.
Dr. Jennifer Groner, a family medicine physician, was recruited in August and joined the hospital and the TCMH Mountain Grove Clinic in November. Dr. Juan Mella, a pulmonologist and sleep studies specialist, joined the hospital part-time in June.
Present at the meeting were Murray; Turpin; Pamperien; Doretta Todd-Willis, chief nursing officer, Joleen Senter Durham, director of public relations; and board members Fockler, Janet Wiseman and Dr. Jim Perry, DO.
Board members Mark Hampton and Russell Gaither were absent.
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
Trend:
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today received a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
President Ilham Aliyev hailed Azerbaijan-Qatar bilateral relations. He noted that the visit of Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Azerbaijan played an important role in developing bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that the visit of the Qatari FM paves the way for discussion of cooperation prospects.
Pointing to the activities of Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Commission, the head of state expressed hope that the commission will focus on the practical issues of Azerbaijan-Qatar economic cooperation.
President Ilham Aliyev described the political ties between the two countries as excellent, saying they are based on partnership. The head of state said there are good opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Qatar in economic, trade, tourism and other areas too. The head of state noted the importance of exploring the investment opportunities in this regard.
Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani conveyed greetings of the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to President Ilham Aliyev, saying the Emir is looking forward to welcoming the Azerbaijani President in his country.
The Qatari FM said that the ongoing development processes in Azerbaijan are followed with great interest in his country. Touching upon the economic cooperation, Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani expressed his hope that Azerbaijan-Qatar Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Intergovernmental Commission will work in a constructive manner.
Hailing political ties between Azerbaijan and Qatar as excellent, the Qatari FM expressed his confidence that the bilateral relations between the two countries will continue to develop. Emphasizing the significance of expanding economic cooperation, Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani noted that the establishment of a joint foundation is expedient in this regard.
The head of state said he is looking forward to visiting Qatar, and hailed the importance of his personal friendly relationship with Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in terms of strengthening friendship between the two nations.
They praised Azerbaijan-Qatar cooperation within the United Nations and other international organizations, underlining the importance of strengthening this cooperation.
President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the greetings of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and asked the FM to extend his greetings to the Emir of the State of Qatar.
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With the current push for companies to undergo digital transformation in all facets of business operations, HRD spoke to an employment lawyer on the legal risks involved in introducing an electronic signature programme on employment contracts and how this could affect HR teams.
According to Shaun Lee, supervising associate at JWS Asia Law Corporation, the Singapore Electronic Transactions Act provides for electronic signatures to be legally and functionally equivalent to a handwritten signature.
Signature is simply defined by the Act as a method (electronic or otherwise) used to identify a person and to indicate the intention of that person in respect of the information contained in a record, he said.
However, some risks are involved in going purely digital with company contracts and records, he said.
There are risks in terms of the authenticity of [the] signature, the identity of the party making that signature, the intention of the party making that signature as well as the authenticity of the electronic record that is received by the employer, he said.
He added that the Act places a distinction between a simple electronic signature and a secure electronic signature.
The requirements of a secure electronic signature is that it can be verified that the signature was, at the time it was made, (a) unique to the person using it; (b) capable of identifying such person; (c) created in a manner or using a means under the sole control of the person using it; and (d) linked to the electronic record to which it relates in a manner such that if the record was changed the electronic signature would be invalidated, he added.
He said that HR can further look to the Act for guidance on what constitutes a commercially reasonable security procedure which can be used to create secure electronic records or secured electronic signatures.
The Act provides that whether a security procedure is commercially reasonable is to be determined by having regard to the purposes of the procedure and the commercial circumstances at the time the procedure was used, including:
(a) the nature of the transaction;
(b) the sophistication of the parties;
(c) the volume of similar transactions engaged in by either or all parties;
(d) the availability of alternatives offered to but rejected by any party;
(e) the cost of alternative procedures; and
(f) the procedures in general use for similar types of transactions.
Alternatively, HR could also look towards digital signatures solutions backed by a Certification Authority, which has been accredited by the Infocomm Media Development Authoritys Controller of Certification Authorities. Such digital signatures are treated as secure electronic signatures under the Act, he advised.
loyers now have access to a large library of free health and safety resources after a leading workplace provider made its online collection available to the public.These resources will help businesses reduce workplace injury costs and avoid hefty legal WHS fines so we're happy to share them, says Holly Gaudiel, community outreach at Alsco NZ.The library includes over 50 downloadable and print-ready first aid posters as well as how-to guides for everything from computer-user health to chemical burns.Safety compliance is important to your business, and so is first aid compliance, says Gaudiel. Failing to comply with WHS legislation can result in crippling fines, injuries and even death.The latest data from Statistics New Zealand shows that 230,200 claims were made to ACC for a work-related injury in 2015 and 31,000 of those were for entitlement.Earlier this month, the wider Hawkes Bay area was identifies as the worst region in New Zealand when it comes to workplace injuries with a worrying rate of 151 injuries per 1,000 full-time workers. WorkSafe spokesman Brett Murray warned that the summer months should be a particular concern to employers when it comes to health and safety."Summer does create some new or add additional risks, especially those who are working long days as dehydration and fatigue can lead to potentially fatal accident, he said."I encourage each workplace in New Zealand to start the year by discussing health and safety and taking positive steps, such as discussing workplace risks with teams, checking personal protective equipment, including hearing protection, safety glasses or face shields.
People across the country came together Monday evening to mourn those who lost their lives in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque.
In Quebec City, thousands gathered outside the Islamic Cultural Centre to show support for the loved ones of six men who were killed and 19 who were injured while attending an evening prayer on Sunday.
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The Quebec City vigil has overflowed out into the streets. pic.twitter.com/n9APb6pjuK Catherine Cullen (@cath_cullen) January 30, 2017
Kevin - who came to the #MosqueShooting site with a "peace not war sign" is the first of thousands that are expected for an evening vigil. pic.twitter.com/IQCTBM3PlD Avery Haines (@CityAvery) January 30, 2017
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke, telling the crowd Canada stands with the Muslim community and will protect their right to gather together and pray.
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"We are with you. Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours," Trudeau said earlier on Monday, in a formal statement at the House of Commons.
Trudeau addresses hundreds at vigil in Quebec City #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/tEw2QNRJBY Andy Blatchford (@AndyBlatchford) January 30, 2017
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.
The victims included Azzeddine Soufiane, a father of three and local grocer; Khaled Belkacemi, a food sciences professor at Universite Laval and a father; and Abdelkrim Hassane, a government IT worker and father. Two victims, Mamadou Tanou Barry and Ibrahima Barry, were close friends from Guinea.
In Ottawa, hundreds met around the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill for a moment of silence.
Joining fellow on Parliament Hill to stand in solidarity against intolerance & hate #stefoypic.twitter.com/G1L8Q6GekM Ahmed Hussen (@AhmedDHussen) January 31, 2017
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And in Montreal, mourners held signs reading "all we need is humanity" and "paix," which means "peace" in French.
Others gathered in solidarity in nearly every city across Canada. In Iqaluit, mourners met outside the city's only mosque.
"I don't understand hurting people in a place of worship, or anywhere else for that matter," Deirdre Lee told CBC News at a vigil at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
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A Vancouver mosque held a vigil Monday night, and is also planning on holding an event for awareness of Islamophobia.
If you slay a person, its as if youve slain all of humanity, but if you save somebody, its as if youve saved all of humanity, said trustee Haroon Khan, in an interview with News 1130.
Joining people from all faiths & backgrounds at @UofT for a vigil honouring those who lost their lives in the Quebec City mosque shooting pic.twitter.com/nmz3PW7vtF John Tory (@JohnTory) January 31, 2017
"As a community, we must stand together with the victims and one another against hatred," read the Calgary vigil's Facebook event.
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Messages of love and support also poured in from around the globe.
The Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre has set up a donation page to support the victims' families.
With files from The Canadian Press
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PASHA Insurance company will serve its customers in new location.
PASHA Insurance announces that they are moving their head office to a new location Sahil Plaza which is in M. Useynov, 61 address.(in front of Dalga Plaza) All of the departments and/or divisions (such as, board of directors, customer services, claims and legal services department) will be located in head office.
Note that, head office of PASHA Insurance was located in L. Tolstoy 170 address, previously. Moving period will be between 31st of January and 6th of February. Starting from 6th of February, the company will be ready to serve its customers in new location.
Contact informations including phone numbers also have been changed: (012) 5051222, (012) 5051221 (fax).
PASHA Insurance has been operating in the insurance market since 2006. As a member of PASHA Holding group of companies, PASHA Insurance offers 36 types of compulsory and voluntary insurance services for both individual and corporate customers. During 10 years of its activity the insurance company has indemnified its customers insurance claims, total amount of compensation coming out to 115 890 100 AZN. PASHA Insurance is the leader and the biggest insurer of the Azerbaijani insurance market for the amount of share capital (50 million AZN), volume of insurance premiums and compensated insurance claims and other financial and non-financial indicators.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Anakhanum Hidayatova Trend:
Indonesian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Husnan Bey Fananie met with Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, the Indonesian Embassy in Baku told Trend.
During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state of the bilateral cooperation, and it was noted that Azerbaijan and Indonesia are friendly countries.
The Indonesian ambassador expressed confidence regarding further development of the bilateral relations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Anvar Mammadov Trend:
Azerbaijans State Customs Committee signed documents with the State Customs Committee of Belarus and the Directorate of Customs and Excise of Namibias Finance Ministry.
Aydin Aliyev, head of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, and Yuri Senko, chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus, signed a joint statement on cooperation in personnel training.
An agreement on mutual assistance in strengthening of potential of customs cooperation was signed between Aydin Aliyev and Susanna Cornelia Berkes, acting head of the Directorate of Customs and Excise of Namibias Finance Ministry.
On Jan. 30, the Azerbaijani customs chief also signed an agreement with Gosman Amrin, deputy chairman of the State Revenue Committee at the Kazakh Finance Ministry, on organization of primary exchange of information about transported goods and vehicles between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
Another action plan was signed between Aliyev and Vladimir Shamakhov, head of the North-West Institute of Management of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
Carlos Barria / Reuters
President Trump banning people from certain countries entering the US has robbed millions of people of their individuality. They are no longer separate human beings with their own thoughts, principles, likes, dislikes, fears and hopes. It is treating them all as an amorphous mass of humanity, not worthy of the right to be judged personally by their deeds and words.
Being an Iraqi-born British citizen, I thought the ban would apply to me, but according to our foreign secretary I and others like me are now exempt. Wow, how generous, and what an achievement by our government! So now I am expected to feel grateful to be given my basic human right to be judged as an individual.
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Forgive me for stating the obvious but we are incapable of choosing where we were born. I can't go back in time to instruct my parents to be elsewhere for my birth. In any case, they most likely would not be allowed to be in Europe or the US.
I thought that we had moved beyond assigning collective guilt, blame and negative characteristics on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or the colour of our skin. It fills me with foreboding and anxiety that maybe humanity is entering once again into the darker ages of the past where people were condemned without opening their mouths or doing anything bad.
Please, let us not characterise values that should be common to all decent human beings as being British, American, European or from any other nation. This immediately creates division with everybody else put in the category of the "other".
They are rights that every human deserves to have regardless of his/her ethnicity, origin or race. Refugees flocking to Europe escaping tyranny and wars share these values. Of course there will be some who are criminals, bigoted, hateful or worse, but the vast majority want to be respected and valued as human beings; they believe they could have that in the west.
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Collective punishment should be abhorrent to anyone with a shred of decency. My spirit is lifted to see people of different ethnicities, religions and colour demonstrate and sign petitions protesting the collectivisation of guilt inherent in these Trump executive orders. It has brought to the fore the other characteristics we humans have: tolerance, compassion, empathy, fairness and the burning desire to stand up to injustice and bigotry.
I am also heartened by Angela Merkel words:
"The necessary and decisive fight against terrorism does not justify a general suspicion against people of a certain belief - in this case people of Muslim belief or people from a certain country... that way of thinking is against my interpretation of the basic tenants of international refugee support and cooperation."
We are empathetic beings and we must resist the temptation to block our empathy by the barriers of colour, religion, ethnicity or country of birth. Our humanity should trump (excuse the pun) such feelings. It is the stronger bond that binds us all to this fragile planet.
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Details added (first version posted at 14:22)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Anvar Mammadov Trend:
Diversification of export will be Azerbaijans main priority in the next few years, Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev told a meeting with members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham).
The non-oil sector has long accounted for the main part of Azerbaijan's GDP, but the Azerbaijani export mainly depends on the oil sector, he said during the meeting held in Baku Jan. 31.
In 2016, 65 percent of the GDP was formed in the non-oil sector, while only 35 percent was formed in the oil sector. But we have not yet been able to achieve such diversification in export. Oil is still our main export commodity. We dont want our exports depend on one product and we have all the necessary opportunities to achieve this goal, Babayev said.
Another priority will be ensuring macroeconomic and financial stability, as well as creating a more favorable business environment, according to him.
We all know what business sector needs from the government for development. Firstly, it is political and economic stability, secondly, a favorable business environment and, finally, investment protection, said Babayev. Azerbaijan has signed more than 48 agreements to protect foreign investment. Azerbaijan provides the business sector with all the necessary conditions for development.
Blend Images - Jeremy Woodhouse via Getty Images
This week's government Bill to authorise the Prime Minister to initiate Article 50 is sufficiently long to answer the judgement of the Supreme Court, last week, and sufficiently short to discourage wrecking amendments. Having said that, the time to debate the Bill is even shorter - at just five days for all the stages in the House of Commons. Brexit brevity is far from the soul of wit, as Parliament will this week show.
The real question is: what will the group of MPs who oppose Brexit do? There are not enough of them to vote the Bill down in the Commons, even if there was any real mood to defy the outcome last June's referendum.
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According to Brexit Secretary, David Davis, it is doubtful that the Government will publish its White Paper before the Bill goes before the House. This means the scope for MPs to use something specific they disagree with in the White Paper as a fig leaf to cover voting against the referendum result is removed.
So, opposition to the Brexit Bill by MPs will take real courage. It will be tough enough for those MPs who have to take on the Government and large parts of the media. Tougher still for those MPs who also have to take on a majority of their own voters in constituencies which voted for Brexit.
The presence of long-standing Europhiles on the Tory benches, like Kenneth Clarke MP, suggested to many that the Conservatives would be having a challenging time in Parliament over Brexit but the real challenge looks to be in Labour; which had two thirds of its voters voting to Remain, many of its activists campaigning against Brexit and a majority of its MPs wishing to stay in the Single Market.
For Labour MPs, it looks as though they will also have to take on their own Leader who seems determined to have a three line whip in favour of the Brexit Bill. The irony will not be lost on many Labour MPs that Jeremy Corbyn, the serial rebel, wants to instruct his MPs to vote with the Conservative Party to support a Bill intending to action a position Labour opposed. Imagine what the hard left, who currently run Labour, would have said if Tony Blair had done that sort of thing?
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For a few Labour MPs, in constituencies which voted to remain, there will be some pressure to defy the Labour whip and vote against the Brexit Bill. That will take courage. But the real challenge is for those Labour MPs whose constituencies voted to leave but who themselves believe, in their heart of hearts, that the current policy of leaving the European Union, the Single Market, even Euratom (the European Atomic Energy Community - which is actually legally distinct from the EU but is included in this Bill), is not in the real interests of the country or their constituencies. For these MPs there is a real dilemma: follow your constituents or follow your conscience?
The worst possible position - and it was repeated by numerous Labour spokespeople over the weekend - is to make it part of some sort of electoral calculation: as though, only by voting with the government - ignoring its own policies, its own MPs and most of its own supporters - can Labour escape the accusation that it is ignoring the majority.
Many on the Labour benches - some in the Shadow Cabinet - see this for what it is: at best, a denial of their previous public positions and at worst, a dereliction of duty. It is pusillanimity over principle.
Of course, the referendum result must be respected. That's why there is a Brexit Bill. But we live in a Parliamentary democracy. MPs are representatives not delegates. They are sent to Parliament to consider, debate and decide: not to follow orders. If you believe they've considered and decided wrongly then they can be voted out; that's why it is never a job for life. There are fixed term Parliaments so people can change their minds. The job of MPs, especially Labour MPs, following the referendum is, to make Brexit work for Britain - not to make it quick or convenient for Ministers.
If an MP really believes the decision to vote for the Brexit Bill could mean their constituents are poorer, or the country is weaker, is it really right to knowingly vote for it? After all, does anyone really think the majority voted to make Britain worse off?
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And when pro-Brexiteers challenge these MPs to knuckle down and vote the way of the majority, does anyone really think that had the referendum gone the other way - which it most surely could have done with the right campaign - that Kate Hoey MP or Bill Cash MP would suddenly have become Europe's supporters or even remained silent on the issue?
At this stage no-one knows how this negotiation will go and what the outcome will be. We can only hope that Britain gets a good deal which makes the division and disruption worthwhile. For Labour to hitch itself too closely to the decision to leave - with all the economic uncertainty it threatens - looks like political stupidity at its worst. To force Labour MPs to vote for something they oppose, with no role in the negotiation and no notion of the outcome, as part of some cynical political calculation, seems to me more of a massive political miscalculation. Better to have been seen to abandon the whip that to be seen to abandon their principles.
One final thought: as the World's reaction to the recent awful executive orders from President Trump, on entry to the USA, becomes more vocal, isn't the defence from his supporters, that he can do what he promised because he won the election, only a more hard line version of the criticism of MPs who vote against the majority on Brexit?
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When I served as schools minister during the final months of the last Labour Government, I had the honour of working on our plans to dramatically improve the way young people were taught sex and relationships education (SRE) in schools.
By this time, it had become apparent that SRE in our schools was in urgent need of improvement. Ofsted was telling us that SRE was poor or required improvement in over a third of schools. Young people themselves were saying the same thing. Nearly 15% said they did not get any SRE at all in their schools. Another three-quarters said they were learning nothing about consent during lessons.
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Once we asked parents and students whether they wanted to see this improved, we discovered that the overwhelming majority - 88% of parents; and 99% of young people - said yes. They too wanted to see more investment in such a vital subject.
To address this, we tried to introduce a new duty on all schools to teach a broader subject in the national curriculum: Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHE). Whilst under the current law only council-controlled secondary schools were required to teach SRE, this new requirement would extend to primary schools and academies.
The guidance issued to schools on the teaching of SRE, which dated from 2000, also needed to be updated for the challenges of the modern age. It needed to cover issues such as internet abuse, violence against women and girls, same-sex relationships and transsexuality.
We tried to introduce these changes in our Children, Schools and Families Act 2010. Unfortunately, all our efforts came to nothing. Because of opposition from Conservative Parliamentarians, these proposals were dropped from the final text of the Act.
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In the seven years since, a number of MPs have been trying, without success, to get the Government to change their minds. Over this same period, the requirements on schools to teach SRE have become weaker. With the academisation of our schools, now more and more are not required to teach SRE - just 40% of secondary schools are now subject to this legal requirement.
When we first tried to change the law in 2010, we already knew that some appalling attitudes to women were endemic in certain parts of our society. Some shocking cases, such as the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, had also convinced many that young primary school children needed to be taught in an age appropriate way about keeping safe and what to do if they felt worried.
It would be an understatement to say that since then, the arguments for changing the law have only become stronger.
The appalling child abuse revelations following the death of Jimmy Savile have shown us that child sexual exploitation is much more widespread than previously thought - it is now estimated that 5,000 young people are being sexually exploited at any one time. With police cuts and the limited powers of the Disclosure and Barring Service we now worry that some children are much more vulnerable than previously thought.
We also know more than ever about the unacceptable attitudes to women, and consent, which are still held by many. Half of all female students say are sexually harassed every single time they go to a nightclub; half of all women in the workplace say they have been harassed; and one quarter of the female population has experienced domestic abuse, many on more than one occasion. On top of this, now have an American President who himself has boasted that he can "do anything" to any woman he wants.
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If there was ever a time for the Government to reconsider their opposition to statutory SRE, it is now. That is why, later today, I will lead a Parliamentary debate calling on the Government to finally make SRE a statutory requirement in all state-funded schools - including academies, free schools and any new grammar schools which they set up. They have the opportunity to finally do this by accepting amendments to the Children and Social Work Bill currently going through Parliament.
They need to come as close as possible to the proposals Labour originally drew up by guaranteeing young people broader teaching on consent; updating the current seventeen-year-old guidance on the teaching of SRE; and educating them for modern-day dangers like keeping safe online and being aware of grooming.
I do not claim that statutory SRE is the whole answer to all these problems. We must also, for example, increase legal safeguards for children and toughen the laws around domestic abuse. But unless we combat these attitudes in our schools, it will prove impossible to address these issues later. Now more than ever, the Government needs to change their minds on this issue.
Once upon a time, in 2013, in England and Wales, there were 76 people known to have died by suicide in prison. This was a higher rate of such deaths than in the general population. It concerned everyone who tried to make prisons safe. We have evidence of a higher than average rate of mental disorder among prisoners. We also need to take special account of people with learning disabilities or severe developmental disorders, who may find it exceptionally hard to express their needs. All this made us think that, with service improvements, we could reduce the in-prison suicide rate, but health services can only do so much.
In 2013, over 56 million of public money was spent on severance pay for prison officers; in the previous three years it was 3-6million per annum. Across the prison estate in England and Wales, as the prison population continued to rise, prison officer numbers fell by over 40%. By November 2016 there were nearly 86,000 people in prison.
In the year to November 2016 over 100 people had died by suicide in prison. The new release of suicide figures confirms the full scale of this tragedy for prisoners and their families. In addition, at least 4,000-5,000 prisoners self-harm each year, with numbers also rising. There is also concern about homicide, assaults and other unrest in prisons in England and Wales, but let's focus on suicide.
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It is a well accepted principle that all people living in England and Wales should expect equivalence of health care. This includes prisoners. The Department of Health in England and the Welsh Assembly Government have made achievements towards improving healthcare in prisons, not least by making prison health services part of the mainstream. Established health services reach in to prisoners, helping to increase service user confidence in the privacy of consultation and records as well as delivering optimum care.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists have fostered training developments to support specific knowledge and expertise and the College's Centre for Quality Improvement in psychiatric services launched a Quality Network for Prison Mental health Services in May 2015. Already over 40 services have joined, scrutinise each others' practice and promote improvements. Even good services are only useful, however, if they are accessible. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has become increasingly concerned about reports from its members across England and Wales that people given appointments for clinics within the prison cannot reach them because there are insufficient prison officers to escort them there. Worse, when psychiatrists have been told about a particularly distressed prisoner who appears to be ill, if the person cannot be brought to them, they try going to the person - only to be told that it would take four prison officers to unlock the person in safety and those numbers are not available.
Research worldwide has shown the risks to prisoners from underlying mental illness. Research in Wales has also shown how much simple qualities in the prison environment might reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. Pre-prison experiences were unrelated to depression levels in prison, but some in-prison experiences were. Getting on with staff, getting on with other prisoners and getting some exercise were all associated with lower depression ratings, poor relationships and little exercise with higher. The Howard League and Centre for Mental Health have just published similar findings and people's personal stories about how it feels to be suicidal in prison. Research informed developments, such as the introduction of 'psychologically informed prison environments' may help vulnerable people in prison but everything is contingent on getting a better balance between prisoner and prison staff numbers.
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In a whirlwind of actions since assuming the Presidency, Donald Trump has implemented a number of controversial decisions, which his supporters applaud and his detractors jeer.
Now, members of the LGBT community are becoming concerned they may be the next target for one of Trump's blizzard of Executive Orders, currently redrawing America's political landscape.
Data in a new research report released by Out Now reveal just how worried LGBT Americans - and their many allies - are at the prospect of Donald Trump signing a new Executive Order stripping them of their rights to equal protections under US law.
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On January 30, 2017 Trump's Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, refused to answer a question put to him about a rumoured action, designed to strip equal rights protections from LGBT people in the name of 'religious freedom'.
Such actions against their rights have been feared by America's LGBT communities since soon after Trump's election in November.
Worried about equality going backwards
Mike Pence caused as much - or more - concern for respondents in the new report '2016 USA Elections: LGBT Reactions'.
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We found that Pence's name was used by respondents in the write-in remarks almost as much as Trump's - as can be seen in the report's wordcloud cover graphic.
The most common words self-written into the survey by respondents were: "Trump", "Pence", "hateful", "fear", "anti-LGBT", "less safe", "discriminate", "homophobia/homophobic." Many respondents cited personal experiences of anti-LGBT incidents having risen since the November 8 election of Trump and Pence.
Key findings from the study reveal:
82% of respondents said "day-to-day life is likely to get worse for LGBT people in US society" as a result of the election result.
77% of respondents said they expect it to become harder to be "out" as an openly LGBT person with work colleagues.
75% 'strongly agree' that "it will become more necessary for corporations to activate workplace inclusion policies that support and protect equal rights for LGBT employees". A further 13% 'agree' somewhat.
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86% of respondents agreed (75% strongly) that the election of Trump and Pence is a "BAD THING" for members of LGBT communities in the USA.
One respondent's remark in the study is typical of many others who took part in the study:
"While it is hard to see how they can implement policy that attacks the rights and freedoms of LGBT people, it is likely that people will feel more emboldened to act upon their prejudices, particularly given Mike Pence's past. The election of both Trump and Pence, but the latter in particular, is likely to be seen as an endorsement by certain groups to end what they perceive as nothing more than political correctness and it is likely that they will act, one way or another, on their homophobia. Be it violent attacks or small, insidious acts, I can't see how being LGBT in the "flyover states" is going to be great in the coming years."
Many respondents singled out Mike Pence as being of particular concern.
Pence was reported in 2000 to favour funding organizations that work to "change gay sexual behavior" which many interpret as supporting so-called 'conversion-therapy' - a practice medical professionals now generally refute as cruel and ineffective.
In 2015, when Governor of Indiana, Pence signed a 'religious freedom' law which members of the LGBT community believed could worsen discrimination against them.
As one respondent in the new report commented: "I believe Mike Pence will normalize homo/trans/biphobic attitudes throughout the United States, and this will have a flow-on effect in the world. Trump will do so indirectly, as he has shown little to no interest in standing up for any of us, and seems eager to put things back to the States (such as trans bathroom laws)."
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I don't like him. I don't like what he says. I don't like what he stands for. I don't even like the colour of his skin (which I hope doesn't make me a racist). But I'd have him round for tea, but then being British I'd probably have most people round for tea.
The word 'appeasement' is being banded around a lot currently; and given Europe's history of shouty media-hogs with small features and a penchant for power, then perhaps you can understand why. However, I'm not sure having Donald Trump round for a State Visit quite qualifies as appeasement - yet.
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Appeasement obviously has a deservedly bad track record in 20th and 21st century politics; but then so does 'no-platforming'. I struggle to recall the last internationally disruptive force who was quelled because they weren't invited round to a shindig. History tells us when we disengage from populist or authoritarian government's they normally get worse rather than better.
The fact is politics means shaking hands with arseholes, even if it gets your hands dirty. Deals are made round tables; and like it or loathe it, we need a good deal with America. It matters to our trade, defence, intelligence sharing and so on. We will not get that by not returning his calls, or by not inviting him to our party.
That does not mean we have to agree with everything Mr Trump says, nor does it mean we can't call him out when he is doing things we don't agree with. Mrs May has rightly questioned the recent travel ban, and stated that a reintroduction of waterboarding would compromise intelligence sharing with the United States.
We have to ask ourselves whether we think we'd have more influence, if anyone indeed can, over The Donald by being relatively close to him or by blanking him. The answer, I'm afraid, is the former. It does not mean we have to be best mates, we've had state visits from China (2015), Saudi Arabia (2007), Russia (2003) in the past that have not meant we suddenly kotow to their regimes.
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I'd suggest that putting him under the laser stare of Elizabeth Regina II (after he's shared a blue joke or two with Phil) will probably be more impactful than ignoring him. I do not envy the Queen having to make polite conversation over scones with him, but we cannot deny that our Royal Family confers some celebrity status (which he loves) and therefore some leverage.
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
Last week, on January 27th, we marked international Holocaust Memorial Day. Together with millions of others around the world, I reflected on the history of unspeakable horrors which were committed when nations and peoples surrendered to xenophobia, nationalist prejudice, and lies. That history has a frightening relevance with regard to current world events.
Just a day earlier, on January 26th, our Prime Minister, Theresa May, spoke at a Republican Party conference in Philadelphia, together with the now inaugurated Donald Trump. She told Trump and her audience that the election marked "an era of American renewal", and that the UK and US would now be ready to "lead the world again", with the US now "greater and stronger" because of the Trump win. She told the Republicans present about her Conservative values that were instilled in her in her childhood in a vicarage in the South of England, which she said she shared with them. She was sure these shared Conservative values were the ones Republicans put "at the heart of their plan for government" during the Trump administration. After their meeting at the White House, May and Trump walked away holding hands.
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But what "values" was Theresa May talking about? If anything, the values reflected in Trump's actions in his first week reflect the practices of fascist and totalitarian regimes, not of the open and democratic Britain we would like to be.
First off, Trump launched a global assault on women's rights by introducing an international gag rule to choke off funding for sexual health and reproductive rights around the world, just a day after millions of Americans marched for gender equality.
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Trump's infamous far-right chief strategist, Steve Bannon, who is known for his white-supremacist and KKK connections, has told CNN in an interview that "the media must be humiliated, and keep its mouth shut." Speaking at the CIA Memorial earlier in the week, Trump said that "the media are among the most dishonest people on Earth", to the laughter and applause from paid staffers that he planted in the audience, and to the great dismay of CIA chiefs. In the meantime, concerns have been raised that Trump is still receiving money from foreign governments through his hotels world-wide, in breach of the US constitution, and he still refuses point-blank to disclose his taxes.
As one CNN journalist pointed out, these are all techniques and practices we see in totalitarian regimes, not in democratic societies whose values we share. Is this the direction we are heading for? Is this where Theresa May wants to take Brexit Britain? Trump's actions are the destruction of the very fabric of democratic society, and Britain should not laud it, let alone wish it on itself.
If Brexit means being isolated in an unstable world, in an embrace with Trump's quasi-fascist America, then we should want no part in it.
In Britain too these anti-democratic seeds have been sown. The Brexit campaign was based on the same kind of nationalist and xenophobic lies that Trump has promulgated, based on a warped sense of history and national illusions of grandeur, not unlike Trump's view of himself.
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Hundreds of thousands of people have been out protesting this past weekend against Trump's ban on refugees and migrants from seven Muslim majority countries. Demonstrators, activists, and lawyers blocked roads to and from airports, and rushed to the courts to litigate and protest.
These people, from diverse walks of life and backgrounds, are those who will go down in history as the true defenders of democracy, and we must take inspiration and stand with them. Around the world, a mass-mobilisation is taking place, led by young people, by women and girls, by the LGBTI community, immigrants and refugees. It is now time to join that fight, wherever you are, to be on the side of hope, decency, and tolerance.
Still, as Theresa May has promised a hard Brexit, leaving the European Single Market, she shows she is willing to push our economy over a cliff in order to stop immigration, which she fabricates to be a grave threat. She promises to turn the UK into a neo-liberal la-la land, a fantasy island tax haven for the rich, with labour and social protections slashed so that we can remain "competitive". We will be dependent on the terms and conditions offered to us by Donald Trump, who has vowed to put "America First". HIs Trade Secretary has told a conference in Cyprus that Brexit was a "God-given opportunity to take business away from Britain." For her part Theresa May has refused to provide assurances that a future US-UK trade deal would not be used to privatise the NHS. We already know that the UK government has tried to do this through TTIP, a move which was resisted by the European Parliament.
The Brexit campaign promised that it would bring "control" and "sovereignty" to Britain, and yet somehow it seems that Brexit means the opposite. It means British leaders now have to pay tribute to and fawn upon an ego-maniacal US president, being forced to take whatever conditions his administration is willing to give.
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This is not the Britain we want for ourselves or for our children. Once these decisions are made, they will be very difficult to reverse. Once article 50 is triggered, the Brexit will start ticking. The UK government will not be in control of the process nor the timeline of negotiation, which will be dictated by the European Union. In Brussels the process is seen as final, with no option of revocation or re-negotiations once the deal is done, and any EU Member State will have disproportionate power to block a deal it doesn't like. If no deal is reached by the end of the two year deadline, Britain will crash out of the EU automatically, unless the 27 Member States unanimously agree on an extension, which is unlikely.
A no-deal scenario is therefore a distinct possibility, one Theresa May has said she is willing to accept. In the 18 month time frame for actual negotiation, taking into account several months spent on consultation and procedure, the likelihood of being able to hold the government to account in any meaningful way seems to be minimal. If the Parliament at Westminster rejects the deal at the end, it is unlikely to lead to any re-negotiation or change from the EU's side. Once article 50 is triggered, Britain will be hurtling towards a very hard, bargain-basement, Brexit, a Britain desperate for Donald Trump's embrace.
As we marked the 2017 Holocaust Memorial Day, 72 years after the end of a horrific war, it is both ironic and astounding that the two great powers who saved the world from the clutches of fascism and nationalism do not seem able to recognise or resist these same forces taking over now. It seems that we have been unable to understand our own history, or to educate ourselves properly in what it means. The fight against Nazism should be seen as a fight for universal values and human rights, not as a fight for national glory. A country whose finest hour was fighting for those values should not aim to embrace Donald Trump and Brexit xenophobia.
Winston Churchill, one of the founding fathers of the European project, said that fighting the fascists in World War II was our "finest hour", and history will always remember the fight against the Nazis that way.
Two words (apologies if you've not long eaten): Milo Yiannopoulos. The poster boy of the 'alt-right', a hugely misogynistic, self-loathing gay man now firmly ensconced and feeling very much at home at Breitbart. LGBTQ+ involvement in far-right politics has a lengthier history than many realise; still more would rather sweep it under the rug of forgotten history. Of course, LGBTQ+ people, just like wider society, cover the whole breadth of the political spectrum. Crass attempts to homogenise the LGBTQ+ community politically are, logically, doomed to fail.
There are, however, some issues around which LGBTQ+ people can and should unite, the most recent example being Donald Trump's so-called 'Muslim Ban'. Unsurprisingly, social media is abuzz with statements of support for both sides of the debate. Some users have gone a step further, calling upon LGBTQ+ people to support Trump's draconian measures. It is, these people claim, conducive to the LGBTQ+ community's safety to restrict entry into the USA for Muslims, the implication being that Muslims are collectively and inherently anti-LGBTQ+, representing a real and present danger to LGBTQ+ Americans.
This is nonsensical on numerous levels. First, the assertion entirely erases the very existence of LGBTQ+ Muslims, of which there are hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, throughout the world. The arbitrary construction of 'western LGBTQ+' versus 'Muslim anti-LGBTQ+ cishet' is an absurdity based on the most insidious of sweeping generalisations.
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The world remains a largely homophobic, biphobic and transphobic place. This is by no means unique to Muslim-majority nations. Our LGBTQ+ counterparts continue to struggle for recognition of their basic dignity and human rights in parts of Eastern Europe, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa. The litany of discrimination is well-rehearsed and expands well beyond the borders of the Muslim world.
There is a bitter irony in attempts by fascists to disingenuously play on the fears of LGBTQ+ people in an attempt to recruit them to their hideous cause. If any LGBTQ+ person seriously believes that your average white male Trump supporter has any more regard for their personal dignity and safety than that of their Muslim compatriots, they are - at best - naive. Very often, we are battling a common enemy. To seek to turn us against one another is the ultimate insult. Never has an intersectional perspective mattered more than it does in this 'post-truth' era of 'alternative facts'.
To claim that Muslims are, by nature, anti-LGBTQ+ is not only to ignore LGBTQ+ Muslims. It also conveniently glosses over an indisputable truth; just as some Muslims will be anti-LGBTQ+, so are a great number of Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, atheists and agnostics. Bigotry has no race or religion; it is a rampant social scourge that traverses all strata of every country on the globe, without exception.
Fundamentally, an LGBTQ+ person's dignity and equality is never enhanced by denying the same to others. It's a cliche but when it comes to the ongoing battle for every single human to be able to live their lives in peace and justice, we truly are stronger together. We must have one another's backs. Trump and his cronies are no friends to our community. From Vice-President Mike Pence's record of virulently anti-LGBTQ+ policymaking to the increasing likelihood of an executive order enabling businesses and services to shut their doors to LGBTQ+ people, the new US administration is no friend of ours.
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E-petitions are ridiculous things.
Look no further than the one that is currently doing the rounds calling for the British Government to withdraw the offer of a state visit to President Trump later this year.
As I sit typing at 3.00pm on Monday afternoon, just twenty four hours after the petition was launched, 1,294,718 people have taken the time to sign it.
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That is a number that is unprecedented on the Government's own electronic petition website. I'm sure it will go significantly higher.
But delve behind the total and you get a different picture, a picture possibly driven by ambivalence, possibly by disagreement but a picture which undoubtedly shows that a whirlwind of social media support does not necessarily correlate with the wider public mood.
You see, the government petition site allows you to drill down to see how many people in each parliamentary constituency have shown support for an idea and it's illuminating.
For instance in the Boston and Skegness parliamentary constituency right now just 626 people have signed the petition, that's 0.6% of the 103,898 electors in that area.
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In Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, the constituency of Yvette Cooper, the percentage is just 0.75% of the electorate.
In my own, Conservative held, constituency of North West Leicestershire the figures are slightly higher with 1,178 signatures (or 1.23% of all voters).
Even in that most liberal of all bastions Brighton, Pavilion just 7.2% of constituents have signed this petition which is now dominating the news cycle.
The simple truth is, and accepting numbers of signatures may continue to rise significantly past the initial first 24 hour rush, that the overwhelming majority of our country will not take the minimal time or effort to fill in a few boxes online.
What does that tell us?
It may well say to a large number of us that President Trump is doing no more than the things he promised on the campaign trail and that he was elected into office to carry out.
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It may well say that Her Majesty offered the invitation of a state visit in the full knowledge that this was Mr Trump's agenda.
It could be argued that the majority of the British electorate believe a strong working relationship with the United States is preferable to hostile one and that America seeking to take control of borders in a way which is undesirable to us, including me I hasten to add, is not a red line sufficient enough to jeopardise that bond.
It could be that others of us, perhaps those with a greater understanding of the US system, take a view that an Executive Order is by definition an extension of existing legislation. Legislation that indeed was formulated under the Obama administration.
Or it could be that most Britons believe that President Trumps actions are a matter for the American public and not ours.
The potential reasons that people have not signed this e-petition are many but there can be no doubt that those choosing not to sign are in the significant majority.
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All of which begs the question 'why the furore now'?
And to my mind the answer is simple. There are a great many people in this country who simply do not like President Trump.
A great many think he is a boorish oaf not fit to lace the shoes of the urbane, intellectual former President Obama and no matter what this democratically elected President does he will be held, by them, in complete disdain.
I am no fan of President Trump, I can't believe for one second that had I been able to vote that I would have cast my ballot for him. But he was democratically elected with a clear mandate and a clear agenda under the US system.
It is right for opponents of Mr Trump, both here and in the United States, to voice their dissent or to demonstrate. That is what freedom of speech is about.
But ultimately when we do so we have to realise that the far larger silent majority may well have other views.
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When you sign an e-petition, even one which could be deemed by many to be nothing more than petulant grandstanding, you have to be careful. There is always the chance that it can highlight to the world how small your voice actually is.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.31
By Leman Zeynalova Trend:
Russian hopes to use the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) go counter to the purpose of the project to diversify European gas imports away from Russian gas, Agnia Grigas, energy and political risks expert, non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Trend Jan.31.
She was commenting on the statement earlier made by deputy CEO of Russias Gazprom company Alexander Medvedev that the company is discussing the possibility of using Poseidon and TAP to export gas to Europe.
There were hopes that TAP would be filled not only with Azerbaijani gas, but also in the future with Turkmen gas and thus, Moscow seeks to be the one that fills TAP pipeline capacity, added the expert.
Moreover, Grigas believes that this new Moscows strategy could imply that its plans to implement Turkish Stream project are likely to be delayed and thus it would prefer to access the southern European market via alternative infrastructure.
TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor which is one of the priority energy projects for the EU.
TAP project envisages transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries.
The pipeline will be connected to the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south.
TAPs shareholders are: BP (20 percent), State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Just under a year ago I wrote a LinkedIn post asking whether we were through the financial mis-selling storm. The Senior Managers Regime (SMR) had just come into force and the FCA was refocusing their efforts on culture by working with individual firms.
So where are we now as we bed down into 2017? Still the stories of mis-selling are regularly hitting the headlines across the world.
In Australia a bank has recently come under fire for its 'poor compensation culture'. While the firm has agreed to pay back over A$100 million for overcharging customers, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) report that only a tiny faction of this has actually been paid.
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ASIC has also announced an imminent investigation into broker-originated home loans. With mortgage brokers incentivised by the size of the loan and interest-only loans, ASIC will look into whether this is consistent with the bank's legal "responsible lending" requirement.
In the US it was revealed that 5,300 retail banking staff have been dismissed for opening 2 million bogus bank accounts in an attempt to hit sales targets. Then in California two employees filed a class action seeking US$2.6 billion or more for workers who had been fired for not hitting sales quotas having refused to engage in fraud.
Here in the UK, complaints about the mis-selling of Package Bank Accounts (PBA) prompted a review by the FCA. Dubbed 'the new PPI', this is the second most complained about product after PPI.
If we are to restore the integrity of the global financial services sector steps need to be taken by firms to minimise the risk of mis-selling.
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1. Sales Practice and Culture
The starting point should be a detailed assessment of your sales culture and practice. This includes the sales approach (the process, products, human resources and culture); risk management (the controls in place, the tools being used, the culture of compliance and risk within the organisation); and data analytics (e.g. transactions, performance, feedback, complaints).
From these findings potential misalignment with policies and conduct can be identified, areas of risk addressed, gaps in procedures or policies spotted, and action plans formulated.
Not an easy job, it requires the support of a multi-departmental team and in some cases significant cultural change. However if properly implemented and acting upon, this approach helps to reduce the risk of future mis-selling.
2. Complaints
Assuming that a firm still has a legacy of mis-selling to deal with, a robust strategy for managing complaints and remediation for past misdemeanours and also for addressing 'business as usual' complaints is needed.
Poor complaint handling has been a common factor across the financial services sector and continues today. 44,244 complaints to the Financial Ombudsman about Packaged Bank Accounts (PBA) revealed that complaints handling fell well below average.
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While a fair outcome was achieved in 88% of non mis-selling complaints, this number plummeted to 44% for mis-selling complaints. Gathering evidence, failing to address the complaint points, and not giving the benefit of the doubt to the customer were the main causes for concern. There's more on PBA in this recent blog post.
For senior management, especially in light of SMR, the failure to follow complaint processes and procedures should ring alarm bells. The FCA found that guidance was only adhered to in 22% of cases - yet when it was followed, a fair outcome was achieved in 99% of cases.
3. Accountability
Here in the UK the SMR is beginning to have an impact. While initially many senior managers felt quite complacent about SMR - they thought they understood their responsibilities - many are realising that perhaps that's not the case.
With the increase in scrutiny and awareness, things are starting to change. We're seeing senior managers making changes in processes, policies, governance, and culture. Additional support is also being requested as senior managers realise that they need people around with the right skills to help them become more accountable and assess how their actions, or lack thereof, impact on the integrity of their firms.
Finally, a word about culture. Without a doubt cultural transformation has be the key driver to restore trust, minimise risk of mis-selling and for regulatory compliance. Yet, it is still not being embraced across the board, as highlighted by recent events.
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While it is of course a significant challenge, the benefits for firms and their customers are not insignificant. There is a business case for cultural change.
The ruling by Donald Trump to place a temporary ban on Muslims from selected countries entering the USA has provoked global outrage. While a similar ban on students wanting to study in the UK seems (hopefully) inconceivable, when it comes to obtaining entry visas bona fide students and staff from Muslim countries can face an uphill struggle.
I speak from direct experience. In 2011 the University of Northampton set up a partnership with the University of Babylon in Southern Iraq. In the last five years we have graduated over 100 Iraqi students here in the UK, mostly in the subjects areas of computing and engineering. Last July alone we graduated 30 Babylon students in the presence of the Iraqi cultural attache to the UK. But behind the scenes our partnership has not been without problems. Last year a dozen or so Iraqi staff and students from Babylon who had been scheduled to fly to the UK for a short training session where prevented entry, with UKVI quoting visa compliance issues. This sad story will be familiar to many working in UK universities but it is hard to underestimate the damage done not just reputationally but to the life chances of those individuals excluded, with no good reason, from following their dream of studying in Britain.
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And to be frank we should be grateful that they still want to come. The disastrous 2003 invasion of Iraq still leaves a bitter taste, despite the toppling of Saddam Hussein whose protective attitude towards state Universities made collaboration and partnership between overseas institutions difficult at best. True, it was harder to get visas under Saddam's oppressive rule. But now as part of the immigration process paperwork must first be submitted to Amman in Jordan where the authorities sometimes stop visas being issued to Iraqi nationals. And this is before arriving in the UK where overseas students and academic staff can and have been refused entry and sent back on the next plane.
Earlier this month I was a guest at the University of Babylon and privileged to see for myself the great work being done by students and staff to help rebuild the economy. There are 22 public and around 50 private universities in Iraq. Public education is free for students who meet government specified attainment thresholds. However, this excludes many that fall short of the required standards and left to pay for their education themselves. Meeting demand is one reason the government is actively supporting the growth in private universities. Another is that the fight against Daesh, combined with the low price of oil (Iraq is still a major oil producer with extensive reserves), is draining resources away from education and healthcare.
Nursing is a case in point. The county faces a shortfall in skilled healthcare workers and UK higher education has a role to play in helping plug the gap. Nursing was not always seen as a career choice for Iraqi women. But things have changed and at Babylon University's College of Nursing there are 900 students studying for qualifications. With 100% employability, nursing is now seen in as a good option for men and women. Support from UK and US universities through staff and student exchange would further accelerate skills development in this key area. It seems however The Donald has put a stop to that for one member of the Special Relationship, at least for the time being.
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Another area where Iraqi universities need our help is in technology applied to education. Prior to 2003 the use of map-based software (GIS and GPS) was banned in universities unless first sanctioned by the state. This is no longer the case but in the shift from dictatorship to democracy Iraqi higher education is struggling to keep up with best practice in the West. Students have access now to social media including Facebook and Twitter. But universities themselves are falling behind the digital curve.
In Britain and America in the past four decades 'business' and 'businessmen' have had an almost mystical status conferred upon them by modern political discourse and popular culture.
It is little surprise then that a 'businessman' (with only six bankruptcies), has been heralded by his supporters as a saviour, ready to work whatever arcane knowledge he has to remedy America's ills.
Good businessmen (and women, though they have been generally marginalised by the creators of this particular myth), possess no greater depths of specialism than good teachers, police officers, deep sea divers or pork butchers.
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They know a certain set of processes, protocols and practices very well and understand the risks, limitations and realities of their world. They can't work spells or miracles or turn base metal into lead, and despite what we have heard, they aren't wealth creators either.
Wealth exists in labour, the physical work of extracting resources, turning them into things or providing other human beings with resources and the key to its accumulation in a capitalist society is to extract surplus wealth from labour or in short, pay people less money than the value of their labour generates and keep the difference.
In 2015 I saw a BBC broadcast from a Trump rally in the mid west of America and one attendee enthused about the Republican presidential hopeful.
She said that as he had used his business skills to enrich himself, the possibilities for what he could do for the rest of America were staggering. She believed that if a businessman applied his special skills to the problem of jobs, wages and productivity in America, then a capitalist utopia beckoned.
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Tellingly, the interviewee could not say for sure what she thought Trump might actually do, and seemed to adopt an outlook rather similar to an Edwardian maid in Upstairs Downstairs - that is was not the place of the little people to ask such searching questions.
The deification of the business guru (note how this Sanskrit term for a reverential spiritual leader - normally an ascetic - has slipped unquestioned into common usage) is nothing new. Ted Heath in 1970 thought that Britain should be run like a modern efficient corporation and Margaret Thatcher made great use of Derek Rayner to help shake up and undermine the power of the civil service.
In America, corporate managerialism, government and the military frequently overlapped throughout the Cold War. Robert Macnamara revealed in the Erol Morris documentary the Fog Of War, that he introduced Fordist practices (from the Ford Motor Company no less) to the management of the Vietnam War.
Trump is a different beast altogether and comes from a different generation to corporate types like Macnamara and Rayner. His revels in what he sees as 'deal making' which requires virtually no mystical insights, just a fortune left by his father and the will to be as belligerent and aggressive as he sees fit.
This type of capitalist is an entirely different proposition from previous iterations who have been coopted into government and has nothing to teach America or anyone else about prudence and efficiency.
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Instead he will sell short term solutions to the questions of immigration, jobs, wages and national security that at first glance appear to be the kind of simple, practical 'common sense' that only a no nonsense entrepreneur can deliver.
In the long run however, he will enrich America's billionaire class and deliver unto America and the world a salutary lesson in what pure unfettered capitalism actually achieves.
Trump has benefitted from an almost hegemonic presumption in the western world that a 'businessman' will be the solution to the ills imposed on society by profligate and idle government.
This notion has gone hand in hand with the transfer of public assets and wealth to private hands and the dominance of neoliberal thinking, first pioneered over half a century ago by the Mont Pelerin Society.
A government devoid of policy experts and instead staffed by billionaire oligarchs is the final expression of this fantasy and it might well be where it is finally dispelled. The absolute faith that Trump's supporters have placed in his 'magic' powers is unlikely to be rewarded with the prosperity he has promised.
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Photograph: R. Gurnham
Our future is suddenly uncertain. Our simple values of humanity: to be kind, thoughtful and welcoming, have been kicked to the kerb, beaten and spat upon, all in a matter of days. This isn't the place to recount all the terrifying new policies, or comment on the potential disastrous consequences. Instead, I want to invite you into a new world with a glimmer of hope, hidden away in your local library, or children's school.
This time last year, I was teaching English in a London school, my last term before maternity leave. Since then, I've been nurturing our little ones, day and night feeding, singing them to sleep and reading the same book multiple times. As I begin to consider an eventual return to the classroom, I'm feeling hopeful, a window into a better society, filled with possibility and change.
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Even the most challenging, or most apathetic of students, in my opinion, can enjoy a good story. Sharing books, discussing, reflecting, writing about our response to Literature is therapeutic as well as informative. Lessons can induce laughter and sometimes tears. I've cried along with twelve year olds at the end of Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful, a tender and unflinching tale of the senseless injustice of war; we've laughed reading Holes, a bitter-sweet comedy set in an American boy's juvenile disciplinary unit, by Louis Sachar. Well-known Shakespearean characters also draw us in: the desperate lovestruck Juliet; pitiable Othello and Desdemona trapped in Iago's web of lies; or the mighty warrior, Macduff, reduced to tears as he learns of his family's slaughter in the haunting Macbeth: "all my pretty ones? Did you say all?"
Books can teach us so much, but above all, they teach us empathy. The longevity of a book affords us the time to imagine ourselves in the scenes; to consider what we would have done or how we would have reacted. The main characters become our secret friends, who reveal their inner most thoughts, whose dreams we share. The breaks from reading allow us to reflect upon the themes and the plot, the characters and their relationships. Books can transport us back in time, or into the future, like the favourite Year 9 text, Unique, by Alison Allen-Grey who creates a world where cloning is possible, asking us what it means to be human?
My last classes before maternity leave were studying a range of heavyweight fiction. The senior class was reading George Orwell's 1984: a hot favourite in the wake of Trump's Presidency. Only twelve months ago, we tried to link this to our present day and discussed issues of surveillance, social media and a free press. The issues of Newspeak, torture, erasing historical facts and creating "Alternative Facts" like 2 + 2 = 5, were dismissed as being too fictitious for the present day. As dark as current affairs are, take comfort in the fact that students around the world are learning through History and Literature, how to make a more tolerant world.
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They were also studying texts of the Holocaust, including Art Spiegelman's Maus and Bernhard Schlink's The Reader, provoking upsetting reflections, but necessary discourse. This included a trip to the Holocaust Exhibition at London's Imperial War Museum. The teenagers and teachers moved slowly around the museum, stony faced and sick to the stomach. In a mixed faith co-educational school, every student felt the chill of history and the resolve to never allow such abhorrent fear to govern again.
Another class was reading Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, a popular book to access American Civil Rights, with themes of bullying, prejudice and morality. This monumental text has inspired many to fight for human rights, stand up to racism and to study Law.
The younger students' class reader was The Breadwinner. Written by Canadian peace activist Deborah Ellis, this is a short and simple text told by charming and characterful Parvana, living in Taliban occupied Afghanistan. Every student seemed to relate to her everyday sibling squabbles or keen sense of parental injustice. When her family become victim to the regime, the students suffer along with her, sharing her fear and urging her bravery.
Even my two year old's reading is preparing him for a world where kindness prevails. A current favourite is Julia Donaldson's Zog with Princess Pearl, the trainee medic who rejects a life of riches in favour of helping people and "giving them my care." Room on the Broom, by the same author, teaches us that there's always more room to welcome others. Even when the broomstick breaks, they work together to fight the dragon and (with a little magic) they all help to create a new broom. The ever-popular Thomas the Tank Engine shows children the benefits of compassion and being helpful with the repetitive conclusion of being "really useful engines". A trip to the local library has become a weekly must, borrowing sky-high piles of picture books to feast on, taking us on global adventures through time and space.
The news may be heart breaking and the headlines woefully worrying, but your local library offers a little hope, packed with stories to inspire, cheer and soothe. Orwell's main character in 1984, Winston, is convinced that "if there is hope, it lies in the Proles". Maybe he's still right. Maybe the resistance will grow and become politically mobilised to win votes. I would say that our inspiration for hope lies with our children, their innocent joy for life, their unwavering need for justice and above all, their love of a good story.
Photograph: R. Gurnham
Image via shutterstock
Imagine a future where a doctor knows exactly which of one their patients might get sick and when. They would know exactly how sick and be able to prescribe a treatment before any problems occurred quickly. This vision of healthcare may not be too far off thanks to recent advancements in applying artificial intelligence within the space.
A recent report from CBinsights outlined more than 90 companies that are using machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics to reduce drug discovery times, provide virtual assistance to patients, and diagnose ailments by processing medical images, among other things.
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Misdiagnosis by physicians is a grave and common occurrence in the health industry. Every year an estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of cases are misdiagnosed. These misdiagnoses exceed those of drug and surgery errors on the wrong patient or body part, both of which receive considerably more attention. The repercussions of a misdiagnosis can damage a patient's health, and cost healthcare provides significant amounts of money or even the life of a patient.
A recent study on the Veterans Administration hospital system in Texas estimated that there are at least 500,000 missed diagnostic opportunities that occur out of the 500 million primary care visits that occur annually in the United States.
A new Washington-based startup, KenSci thinks it can solve the problem of missed diagnosis by applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to it. The company, founded by a group of researchers from the University of Washington as well as ex-Microsoft employees. They believe they have found a better, more efficient way to predict health risks by identifying patterns and surfacing high-risk markers. Using a unique blend of modern machine learning and data analysis they can model disease progression and detect potential morbidity as well as predict chronic and critical illness within a group of patients.
The company has developed a kind of "App Store" for medical care complete with 40+ predictive and prescriptive apps targeting Physicians, Care Managers, Hospital Ops and Finance teams. Their claim is what used to take months to build and deploy, can now happen in a matter of weeks at a significant cost reduction regarding both deployment and ongoing platform operation.
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The market opportunity is huge. The United States has the biggest healthcare industry in the world, spending approximately $3 trillion a year. By 2018, healthcare will comprise close to 18% US gross domestic product. So even small improvement to this market can have a dramatic effect not only on the lives of real people but on the bottom line for the many healthcare providers who are looking for more efficient ways to manage ever-growing healthcare costs.
One example the company gave was around the question of preventing Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection. Sepsis occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight the infection trigger inflammatory responses throughout the body. There are more than 750,000 cases of Sepsis every year in resulting in more than 250,000 deaths or 50% of hospital deaths in the US. More than HIV, prostate and breast cancer combined! The most alarming figure is 1 in 3 of these sepsis deaths are entirely preventable.
When it comes to Sepsis as well as other preventable diseases, the answer isn't just prevention, it's prediction. The less time it takes to get antibiotics to patients means more patients that can survive. A platform like KenSci can significantly improve the odds that these types of preventable diseases will be found more quickly and result in more lives saved, which ultimately help all those involved.
Of course, KenSci isn't alone in the emerging Healthcare AI space. Leading the charge is IBM with its Watson platform which they claim can significantly reduce the amount of work healthcare professional need to perform with the help of a kind of virtual assistant there to solve any problems that pop up.
"By 2025, AI systems could be involved in everything from population health management to digital avatars capable of answering specific patient queries." -- Harpreet Singh Buttar, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan.
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Microsoft has also announced a collection of new initiatives focusing on using artificial intelligence in health care. The company says its researchers are effectively working to "solve" cancer, deploying machine learning techniques for tasks like analysing tumors and designing new medication regimes. Other Microsoft projects want to construct detailed simulations of how cancer develops in different patients' bodies, while another project -- which Microsoft is calling its "moonshot" effort -- aims to create biological cells that are programmable like computers. Another AI project from Microsoft wants to apply AI to radiology, using machine vision tools to analyse CT scans of tumors.
I do not and have never agreed with cultural and religious apologists who deny either the very existence of Islamic terrorism or confide to the illusion that terrorism, even if it exists is a sporadic phenomenon appearing here and there in form of such rare tragedies as 9/11 or 7/7. On the contrary, I believe that terrorism under the banner of Islam is an unfortunate and disastrous fact of our 21st century life.
As an Afghan, I can testify the reality and seriousness of Islamic radicalism better than the citizens of most other countries. It was in my homeland that the radical Islamists after killing, raping and torturing thousands of rural residents levelled our thousand year old capital to dust killing more than 60,000 people in the name of tribe, sect and ideology. It was also my country where Taliban carried out systematic genocide of ethnic and religious minorities, destroyed the 1500 year old and 53 meters tall magnificently standing Buddha statue, persecuted women to unimaginable levels, tortured detainees and burnt every trace of statehood and culture in the country. I have seen it real and alive. I have been its victim and its witness.
I am also familiar with its theological framework. Literalist interpretation of Islam has existed parallel with the mainstream definition throughout the history of the religion. Two of the four earliest leaders of Islam; the so-called rightly-guided caliphs were actually assassinated by people who considered them not adequately Muslim. Islamic fundamentalism has never been as mainstream as the philosophically sophisticated and historically cohesive Sufi Sunni and Shia schools, but the extremist and literalist interpretation of Islam has continued to exist for the past 1400 years be it in the form of the early Khawarij movement, the Takfiri approach of thirteenth century Ibn Taimiyyah or the modern schools of Wahabi and Deobandi Islam. It has been part of the bigger parcel and the superficial claim that terrorists are not Muslims is factually wrong and practically harmful.
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But do I believe that Trump Administration's harsh and irrational measures taken in the name of fighting terrorism that are breaking up families and destroying lives and dreams are justified? The answer is a resounding and confident NO. Terrorism is a global threat on par if not greater than climate change. We cannot afford to make an issue of such humongous importance a prawn in our local politics.
Whilst such measures are definitely undemocratic and probably illegal, they are also based on entirely false premises. The people who are being barred from entering the United States as refugees and immigrants or visitors are actually representatives of the frontline warriors against terror. They are the ones who have suffered more than any other group of people and whose brothers and sisters are currently taking arms against the forces of terror from the icy mountains of Afghanistan to the burning deserts of Iraq and the violent plains of Syria. The media has done a good job showing the faces of Daesh fighters beheading innocent westerners but they rarely portray the suffering of our peoples and their brave and desperate resistance against not just petty killers but the agents of a civilizational crisis. There are a lot of courageous people keeping Daesh and the Taliban at bay and I assure you that most of them are Muslims, underpaid and underfed.
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Those soldiers are Muslim and so are the thousands of interpreters, reporters and support staff that tirelessly work with their lives at stack backing up the efforts nobody actually gives them credit for. Of all this, it would be most cowardly and immoral to not remember and respect the thousands of unidentifiable brave people who work as our eyes and ears behind the enemy lines. Those individuals are our first line of defence against terrorism long before any terrorist reaches our borders to be curbed by our border control measures. The interesting thing is they are very much Muslim and of the terrifying-looking type who might never gain entry into a western capital.
Of late, the Western world has seen some positive developments in the move toward gender equality particularly in the context of appointments to positions of significant power and political influence. It is not just that increasingly more women are occupying such positions. It is that women reflecting a greater variety of life circumstances are now being permitted to reach summits previously only accessible via that one elevator leading beyond the glass ceiling which could only be activated by holders of the privileged white male swipe-card.
In Australia, from which I have just returned, the national television and radio broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), recently appointed Chinese-Australian, Michelle Guthrie, as its first woman Managing Director in its 84-year history. She has vowed to increase the diversity of the still very white and male-looking ABC. Prior to this, Australia had a woman Prime Minister in Julia Gillard, who is not only a woman, but an unmarried and childless one who courageously said in Parliament: "The Leader of the Opposition says that people who hold sexist views and who are misogynists are not appropriate for high office. Well I hope the Leader of the Opposition has got a piece of paper and he is writing out his resignation. Because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia, he doesn't need a motion in the House of Representatives, he needs a mirror."
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In January this year, the state of New South Wales saw the appointment of its second woman Premier, the first for the conservative, inaptly named, Liberal Party. Gladys Berejiklian is not only a woman, not only a woman of minority ethnicity, but a woman of minority ethnicity who is unmarried, childless and not even in a romantic relationship. When questions were put to her about this at her first press conference as Premier, Ms. Berejiklian asked that she be judged on her results. Quite right.
And of course, Britain is in the midst of its biggest identity crisis in a significant time, under the leadership of only its second woman Prime Minister.
It has been said that the state of true gender equality is one where there are as many incompetent women in positions of power as there have been incompetent men in the same positions. If that be right, Prime Minister May's leadership must foreshadow the advent of significantly greater gender equality, for the one thing at which she excels is being mediocre in the sense of lacking any real courage or integrity.
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Never was this clearer than last week, when she was the first of all world leaders to pay a visit to Donald Trump which concluded with her holding hands with Trump and allowing him to refer to her patronisingly as "Theresa" at their joint press conference, while she continued to refer to him by various permutations of his title "Mr. President." This was the very same week when Trump's shockingly discriminatory executive order banning people, including refugees, from certain Muslim countries (though, notably, not Saudi Arabia), even those holding dual nationality, from entering the US, took effect.
Not once during her visit did Prime Minister May publicly denounce or raise any concern in relation to Donald's sexist comments about women, including his sexualisation of a 10-year old girl who he boasted he would be dating in 10 years. Before her visit, Prime Minister May told the press that her being a female PM and the first to visit Trump would be the "biggest statement" she could make about the role of women in the world. Really? To the rest of us, it just looked like the playing out of the old stereotype of a woman rushing to capitulate to the will of a powerful man.
Prime Minister May refused on three occasions to comment on Donald's executive order, and only after coming under intense criticism from her own party did she issue the weakest possible statement indicating that she did not agree with the order and that she would make representations on behalf of any British citizens affected by the ban. This was all after stating that the US' immigration policy is a matter for the US. In contrast, Prime Minister May used her visit with Turkish President Erdogan the same week to emphasise the importance of Turkey upholding international human rights norms before celebrating the sale to Turkey of British-manufactured arms, which it will no doubt deploy, at least in some measure, to violate the human rights of its Kurdish minority. By parity of Prime Minister May's reasoning, surely the question of whether Turkey upholds human rights norms must also be "a matter for Turkey"?
Apparently Prime Minister May draws a distinction between "immigration policy" and "human rights" as though the former is incapable of affecting the latter. Or perhaps she simply feels that it is appropriate to lecture some governments about human rights, while ignoring the human rights violations of others. It is that colonial-style mentality - patronise the non-native-English-speakers who are in need of "civilising" while cosying up to the powerful. Prime Minister May's conduct has been intellectually dishonest, hypocritical and worst of all, lily-livered.
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As true gender equality is still far from achieved, it is undeniable that many women expect a certain courage from their women leaders which we, perhaps unfairly, do not always expect or anticipate will be forthcoming from male leaders, particularly in relation to matters affecting the status of women. What is troubling about Prime Minister May's recent behaviour is that she has not only shown a complete absence of such courage, but has outdone her male contemporaries in her humiliating brown-nosing to the current US administration. To withhold criticism of such behaviour because she is a woman would be to patronise her. As NSW Premier Berejiklian suggested, people, including women, should be judged by the results of their decisions.
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The emotional torment of fleeing your home is not easy to describe. I remember arriving at London Heathrow airport like it was yesterday. It was a freezing cold December night and I could not think straight. I felt so sad and guilty at leaving my parents behind. But equally I was happy and relieved to be in a safe place. I never wanted to leave Syria. I never thought that, some four years later, I would have a new life in Yorkshire.
What makes someone abandon their home and travel over land and sea for a better future? In recent days, there has been so much focus on refugees around the world. I am a 'refugee'. But first and foremost, I am a person.
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When my older brother left home two months before me, my mum didn't stop crying. But she wanted us to build our own futures somewhere safe. Staying in Syria would have meant certain death. Yet, fleeing your home means abandoning your parents and everything you've worked for. It is not a simple decision. No one decides to give up on everything on a whim.
I decided to come to the UK because it offered a safe environment where I could continue with my studies. In Aleppo, I had spent five years at university studying agricultural engineering. People are surprised when I tell them that we have universities in Syria. They see the destruction on TV, the children in the refugee camps and they think that represents Syria. It does not.
Growing up in Syria, everyone knew about this country, Great Britain. We all thought that having 'Great' in its name must mean that it is a special place - and it is. I arrived thinking I would be here for a few months, maybe a year. I never thought I would still be here after four years.
The Home Office sent me to Wakefield, then to Sunderland and finally on to Huddersfield. It was not easy to integrate. Some people just don't want to have foreigners coming to their community. People fear what they do not know or understand. On one occasion, someone threw a bottle of beer at me from a car and told me to go home. Believe me, if it was safe to do so, I would go home tomorrow.
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But these are isolated incidents. On the whole, people have been incredibly welcoming and helpful towards me - particularly at church drop-in groups and at the University of Huddersfield where I studied. Now it's my turn to give something back. In Syria, I used to volunteer with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to help Iraqi refugees fleeing the conflict there. Now, I work as a refugee service coordinator with the British Red Cross in Leeds. We help refugees who need special care - access to legal support, interpretation, family reunion, language lessons - whatever they need. It makes me feel good because I have been in their position. I know what they're going through.
It was through my work with the Red Cross that I got to meet Prince Charles in London last year. He told me it was his dream to travel to Aleppo to see the historical landmarks - the castle, the old city and the old souk. He knew about these beautiful places in this once great city. He asked me questions about Syria and how Syrian refugees in the UK need to be supported in the future. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to be in this situation.
Carlos Barria / Reuters
When I take constituents and friends on tours around Parliament - I love talking to them about Westminster Hall. About the 900 years of history. The trials. The Coronation Banquets. How it was saved from the great fire and again in World War II. But I also tell of the more recent honours it has been used to bestow. Nelson Mandela addressed both Houses there. Churchill lay in state. To address the representatives of the United Kingdom and its people there is something to be earned. An honour to deserve.
I love America. I love Americans. I have travelled across half of that great country. Along her coasts, through her mountains and her cities, across her plains. My grandfather was an American GI who came over to Britain to help us fight WW2. I have witnessed first hand the generosity, optimism and kindness of spirit of Americans of every race, creed, colour and religion. Their aspirations for liberty and opportunity for all.
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But those very aspirations are under threat. With implications not just for America for the world.
So I cannot honour Donald J. Trump. And nor should we be offering the honours of our monarch, and our historic Parliament.
I am a pragmatist. Trump is the elected President, and America one of our greatest allies and friends. I have no objections to meetings, visits, discussions and inter-governmental contact. Let us also not forget that the President is just one part of the US Constitution.
Many were deeply embarrassed by the desperate, fawning rush across the Atlantic by the Prime Minister to hold the hand of a man who was advocating torture and planning a divisive and incompetent ban on refugees, let alone the collective punishment of people from seven countries.
We choose to honour. We choose to offer the full hospitality of our wonderful Queen Elizabeth II - who as Lord Ricketts, former Head of the Foreign Office has rightly pointed out is now dragged into unwelcome controversy.
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We similarly choose to offer the opportunity to address both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall - or the Royal Gallery where I witnessed a remarkable speech by President Higgins of Ireland, full of peace and reconciliation.
Let me be clear - this goes far wider than Donald J. Trump. I have repeatedly criticised the choice to fawn over the authoritarian Monarchies of the Gulf, guilty of vast human rights abuses, the persecution of LGBT+ people and their mistreatment of women - not to mention their barring of Israeli citizens from travel. A strong partnership and dialogue with China is clearly in our national interest. But the sight of the full honours chosen to be granted to a President whose government continues to execute thousands every year stuck in the throat of many. Serious questions are now rightly being asked about the actions of Aung Sang Suu Kyi and her government against the Rohingya minority. It is highly unlikely we would choose to welcome her back to Westminster Hall.
We should not honour or be seen to endorse those who attack or stand against our basic values of humanity and equality. We should choose not to honour those to those who denigrate women, advocate torture, and who demonise people because of their faith. Those are not British values.
We should choose not to honour Donald Trump with a state visit. And we should refuse him the honour of our historic Westminster Hall.
We should not be rolling out the red carpet, nor should we be rolling over and abandoning our basic standards of decency.
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To be fair to Donald Trump - and it does seem an awful lot of statements regarding the 45th President of the United States that are not immediately negative start with a qualifier of some kind - he's doing exactly what he said he would. It doesn't make it any less repellent of course, but there is, for once, a garbled sort of consistency to his actions. That consistency has seen him rush through a gamut of deplorable actions culminating in a blanket travel ban for refugees and citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
As has been the case since he first threw his hat into the ring for the presidency, there are plenty refusing to watch on in silence. Amidst mounting worldwide condemnation, more than a million people in the UK have signed a petition demanding the cancellation of Trump's proposed state visit. This is only a small sign of the bind the British government is in. Prime Minister Theresa May finds herself stuck between a Brexit rock and an odious Trump shaped hard place, forced to bend the knee in a desperate bid to make friends and influence people.
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When the UK decided to cast off from a continent it's never been willing to properly engage with (unless centuries of internecine warfare count), rhetoric regularly came back to the much hyped "special relationship" with the US. Who needs petty squabbling EU bureaucrats when we can soar beside the majestic American eagle? That scenario didn't account for the rise of Donald J. Trump, a controversial figure to say the least.
He certainly has his fans in the UK, though some of those clustering around prove a good measure of the man. Just watch Nigel Farage slobbering all over Trump in a desperate bid to soak in a little more glory. Then there's Michael Gove, a man who once apparently held principles himself, rushing to soft-soap the new overlord. Theresa May, a decent and dignified person in all the ways Trump isn't, surely can't approve of the man, but she's also complicit in digging the hole the UK is now in, and she too finds herself prostrate before him.
For others he's gone too far. The travel ban, haphazardly applied in a storm of contradictory statements, has irked many a world leader. Just north of Trump, the Canadian Prime Minster met hate with love. Over in Europe, the French President, admittedly not under pressure to run for election again, has been strident in his opposition. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, very much an active politician and certainly the most influential in the EU, has added her voice. There are countless others trying to ensure the EU remains a beacon of goodwill and civility, while the UK slinks slowly away.
Brexit leaves the UK in desperate need of friends. European allies have been alienated and a sharp economic cliff threatens if the exit is not managed well. There's much talk of engaging with the rest of the world, and that starts with America. A longstanding English speaking ally with a powerhouse economy and a broadly similar approach to trade and world relations should tick all the boxes. Then along comes President Trump making it all so much more unpalatable.
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Thus Theresa May dashes over to be the first foreign leader to meet him, standing side-by-side and affirming close ties in the name of a quick trade deal and the continued embrace of the US military machine. She's stuck maintaining a brittle smile while he signs order after disgraceful order, clouding his presidency before he's even moved all the furniture in. And then, while Downing Street crows over its place as first amongst supplicants, the clouds gather over the Prime Minister leaving her facing hostile questions and boos, because she won't offer more than mealy mouthed disapproval of his actions.
But not everyone has been so quiet. Politicians across the aisle are raising concerns and protesters continue to pop up making clear their distaste for the US President and the warm welcome the UK seems intent on enveloping him in. It took little time for over a million to sign the petition calling for an end to his state visit. It's the kind of action that lifts spirits without being the right course. Trump is the one closing off conversation wherever he finds it. He shouldn't be met by his own medicine. We are better than his gutter politics, or we should at least aspire to be. Besides, if the UK is going to cleave to him, we can't have it both ways.
Instead Trump should arrive with all the pomp and ceremony the fast fading glory of Britain can muster. He should stand next to Theresa May while the two of them face a barrage of angry and humiliating questions. If our government wants to cosy up, it must face the opprobrium that comes with such a decision. If our government wants to sell its soul to the highest bidder, it shouldn't be done in secret, away from a disapproving public. If engaging with Trump is shameful and we're going to do it anyway, it should be up there centre stage where all can see.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.31
By Leman Zeynalova Trend:
Pipes for Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline can be stored in Swedish Karlshamn port, according to the official website of Karlshamn municipality.
Karlshamn has informed the Swedish government about plans to sign an agreement with the Dutch company Wasco Coatings Europe BV on the storage of pipes for Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, said the message.
The final decision on the issue will be made by the administration of Karlshamn municipality on Jan.31.
In December 2016, Sweden's strategic Baltic Sea island of Gotland turned down a Russian request to rent harbor space after the government warned it could harm the Scandinavian country's defense and political interests.
In an 11-0 vote, Gotland's technical board declined Dec.15 to allow Russia's energy giant Gazprom to store pipes in the Slite harbor for Nord Stream 2.
The Nord Stream 2 project envisages construction of two pipelines from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea. The project plans to use the original Nord Stream pipeline for 86-percent of the route before branching off. The capacity of the Nord Stream 2 will reach 55 billion cubic meters - the same as the capacity of the Nord Stream project.
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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
The meeting of Donald Trump and Theresa May took on a significance way beyond the usual meeting of two world leaders. Whatever the actual outcomes of this meeting, the question is really about what type of relationship the UK wants to have with the US.
Images of the leaders holding hands and speaking warm words about each other made for some good initial media coverage. The relationship looked close and seemed a good foundation for the future.
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However, just hours later, Mr Trump announced his travel ban policy and, presumably, didn't mention this to the Prime Minister. Her failure to respond critically and quickly is either a sign of strength allowing her to consider the issue before speaking (No 10) or a sign of weakness and capitulation (opponents).
Boris Johnson's ability to ring up Mr Trump's close aides and secure reassurances about the position of UK citizens is being portrayed as an immediate benefit of the new special relationship. However, the policy, as things stand, remains in place and the reassurances appear only partial.
There appears to have been no outside influence on the policy in the first place, let alone from the UK.
By coming together with Trump, May believes that they can 'lead together again'. This invoking of past glories is completely consistent with both Trump's 'Make America Great Again' and May's own vision of the post-Brexit world.
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The tough approach risks alienating European Member States at a time when the UK needs them to at least be listening to us. Hanging around with a new best friend whilst he sneers at old friends, such as Mrs Merkel and Germany, is not a good strategy in advance of Brexit negotiations. Trump is proving to be the 'bad boy' of world politics and we are hanging around with him.
Looking for a trade deal with the US first, before others, may ultimately show weakness on the part of Mrs May's government. The US is bound to look for advantages for its farmers and others, wherever it does deals. It is not just looking to maintain its global economic advantages but extend them.
So that initial deal between the UK and US will set the tone for others will want and demand from May's government. To give too much to the US just to get a deal risks making the UK a soft touch for others. It should also be considered that, according to the latest Centre for Cities 'Cities Outlook', British cities depend on EU exports.
In foreign affairs, the UK will always be the junior partner to the US. Mrs May signalled the end doctrine of armed intervention to impose democracy but Trump is still active militarily having started with a Special Forces operation in Yemen. The justifications may vary but intervention will continue.
Trump has an electoral mandate that he is implementing. Everyone knows the types of policies he will implement. The travel ban should not have come as a massive shock, even if the apparently inept way it was introduced is. So Mrs May and her team are aware of who they are dealing with.
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It appears that the need for an economic prize could outweigh all else.
You could argue that the UK has been on a steadily downward trend in terms of economic and global influence since the late Victoria era and certainly since the Second World War. As well as undoubted initiative, ideas and drive, that initial power was also built on early industrialisation, exploitation domestically and particularly abroad. Circumstances that will not be repeated. Joining the EU was part of the plan to make the UK important again. In a post-Brexit world, the Government has decided that getting close to the US will show that the country is on an upward trend.
But how much do other policies, such as the travel ban, come second? How badly does Trump have to treat other allies before a trade deal looks less attractive?
Critically, great care has to be taken that the whole initiative does not become just a couple of old imperial powers looking to rediscover past glories.
Chris Wattie / Reuters
"To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada."
This was the message of a defiant Prime Minister standing up for the fundamental value of mutual respect and tolerance of all faith communities. Less than 24 hours later a Mosque in Quebec was targeted, in what the Canadian authorities described as a terrorist attack where six individuals were senselessly killed.
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Some will comment on linking the attack as a direct consequence to the tweet in an attempt to undermine efforts to stand up for values of tolerance and respect for all, whilst others will argue that it is the consequence of the rise in populist views spreading across Europe and the United States that pit communities against each other. Views that are the result of a resurgent nationalist and patriotic movement that appears to have undertones of xenophobia and racism.
For over a decade communities have discussed and debated policies aimed at challenging the rise of international terrorism, often citing the need to win hearts and minds of impressionable young people, in the main this debate has focused on Muslim communities. Whilst such approaches have been discussed at length, terror attacks have continued and are constantly evolving in nature and methodology. Now we see far-right nationalist movements experiencing a steady but worrying increase in momentum, using the anxiety of people to spread fear and hate by attributing the rise in terrorism to ineffective domestic and foreign policies, particularly towards immigration and Muslims.
For practitioners working on policies to challenge radicalisation and extremism, these are developments that come as no surprise, The media focus, and community debate, on policies such as Prevent in the UK has focused on terrorism from a global violent jihadist perspective, but front-line workers up and down the country have always worked on all forms of extremism and have been dealing with a rise in referrals from far-right extremism, in fact in many parts of the country such referrals far outweigh those of an Islamist nature. Prevent practitioners work on the premise that vulnerability to radicalisation from a global jihadist perspective or from an extreme far-right perspective is very similar and see the risks as two sides of the same coin. In Birmingham a local project has not only stopped young people from travelling to Syria or helped challenge extremist ideology but has also supported a former member of the armed forces who was targeted by far-right groups to help attack Mosques in the city.
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It comes as no surprise to me that when speaking to many practitioners working on challenging extremism that they draw strength from shared values of mutual respect and tolerance for all, freedom of speech and democracy. They provide the basis and foundations to effective counter narratives. They are not values that have suddenly emerged but rather are values that have been shaped throughout history. The last century demonstrated how undercurrents of hatred fuelled by xenophobia and nationalism led to the persecution and death of millions whether they were Jews during the Holocaust or Muslims in Srebrenica. Chilling reminders of why values of mutual respect and tolerance of all faiths must be defended.
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
"Deals are my art form," says President Trump on the first page of his autobiography The Art of the Deal. For thirty years, he seems to have taken this as something of his personal manifesto.
"My style of deal-making is quite simple and straightforward. I aim very high, and then I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing to get what I'm after," he expands later on. "I also protect myself by being flexible. I never get too attached to one deal or one approach.... The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it... The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have."
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This is not a bad approach for the UK to take in thinking of negotiating any free trade agreement with the US. As the Prime Minister stressed in her speech to the Republican Party's conference in Philadelphia, Britain will always be a friend of America's, even if the two countries do not always agree on everything. Unlike a significant part of the Republican Party's base, the modern Conservative Party remains strongly committed to, among other things, free trade, socialised medicine and tackling climate change.
That does not mean, however, that we can not make the attempt to engage in areas where we have a common interest. Indeed, much of the agenda of the Republican Congress or President Trump's Cabinet appointees is close to many of Britain's principal priorities: improving competitiveness through radical corporation tax reform, streamlining excessive regulation and encouraging innovation.
America remains Britain's most important trading partner, in 2015 accounting for twice as large a share of exports (19.7%) as the next biggest, Germany (8.8%). As the Wall Street Journal pointed out on Friday, each country already exports more than $100 billion to the other each year. While distance does matter for trade, it is not the only determinant. Most estimates suggest that cultural links such as having a common language or historical trade link are also important.
What is more, if there was any country where you would expect distance to matter relatively less, it is Britain, given its global history, international links, language, and the dominance of services. This is only likely to become more so in future as the economy becomes increasingly de-materialised and value shifts towards the kind of intangibles Britain can specialise in, like high end creative, professional and digital services. Given that the centre of world economic gravity is increasingly moving east with the economic rise of China, Britain had better hope that it can overcome pure distance to benefit from the rising global middle class as much of it will be located in Asia.
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In the short to medium term, no single international trade deal would be likely to compensate for a bad trade deal with the EU, whose combined members together account for 44% of our exports - and from a negotiating perspective, it would be unwise to depend too much on any one of them. Together however, it is not unreasonable to believe they could make up a fair amount of the difference.
At around 3%, tariffs between the UK and US are already pretty low, but in reality - while definitely not a good thing - the damage caused by tariffs in a world of floating exchange rates can be overstated. As many economists and businesses have pointed out, what matters more in today's world, are non-tariff barriers such as different standards of regulation. Even taking into account both tariff and non-tariff effects, economists do not quite understand why economies display such strong border effects - trading far more within themselves than without than basic theory would expect. Cultural and sociological barriers can matter as much as administrative and tariff obstacles.
The focus of a US-UK new trade deal should be on looking for opportunities to take advantage of a shared culture and economic model to further lower such non-tariff borders.
A few initial potential themes come to mind:
1) Encouraging innovation, and taking into account the opportunity cost of an excessive focus on the precautionary principle
Together, Britain and America share 486 or 45% of Nobel laureates, and 19 of the world's top 20 universities. One of the real opportunities from Brexit, is the potential to escape the excessive caution of the EU's precautionary progress in areas like GM crops, energy, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Not coincidentally, these are many of the areas where US trade negotiators have traditionally complained about EU trade barriers.
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Similarly, Peter Thiel, billionaire entrepreneur and economic advisor to the Trump administrationn, has long stressed the slowing effect of regulation on innovation in the physical world. There are intriguing signs that the rest of the Trump team may be taking this seriously too, with many of the names suggested for the role of FDA commissioner noted for their support of encouraging faster innovation.
2) Seeking mutual recognition of regulation, rather than uniform common standards
It is unrealistic to expect two sovereign countries to completely harmonise their regulatory apparatus. Seeking to do so has often seriously held up past trade negotiations, while giving an opening for special interests to negotiate hidden protection for their industry in the name of some supposed higher goal. For advanced economies with similar cultures Iike the US and UK, a much more straight forward option would be to default to the mutual recognition of each other's regulatory standards. While there will inevitably be exceptions, these should be the exception rather than the rule.
The FDA, again, is a good example of where such mutual recognition could make a big difference. There is no real reason for every first world country to repeat (highly expensive) testing of every new medication, delaying the day when it can help save lives and improve welfare. Reciprocal approval of drugs cleared by either regulatory system would make a big difference - and is an idea that has already been explored by US Republicans.
3) Being relaxed about potential one-sidedness
The current White House clearly has more protectionist instincts than Downing Street, particularly when it comes to working and middle class industries. Britain could likely end up being more willing to tear down barriers in, say, agriculture, than America would want to in cars.
While unfortunate, we should not use this as an excuse to keep too much off the table. On the one hand, while many industries are understandably wary of new American competition, this is potentially a powerful new driver of enhanced competition and productivity. Even more important, the consumer interest matters as much or more than the producer interest - and British prices in things like food, clothes and shoes are currently significantly above world prices.
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What is more, this trade deal matters not just for itself, but for the precedent it sets for other deals. Britain does not want to get into the habit of carving out protections for special interests, or signal to other potential trade partners that some areas are out of bounds.
4) Opening up easier two way labour mobility for high skill workers, like entrepreneurs or scientists
Leaving the EU gives Britain the opportunity to undertake a major reform of its immigration system. Whatever their views on immigration elsewhere, most citizens of the UK and US are relatively relaxed over high skilled immigrants from the other. Over the long term, ensuring British and American businesses, scientists and artists can intermingle with relatively few barriers is one of the most powerful ways to build deeper economic and cultural connections.
5) Pricing in the negative externalities of carbon through a carbon tax
This is more of a stretch goal, perhaps, but it is possible that the new administration will be interested in an audacious approach to climate change based on a carbon tax, as opposed to President Obama's more regulatory approach.
Rex Tillerson, the President's nominee for Secretary of State, has repeatedly expressed support for a carbon tax to tackle climate change, earning him the support of electric car and solar panel entrepreneur, Elon Musk. In the past, parts of the Republican Party have expressed cautious interested in implementing such a tax that would leave the Trump administration with a far more significant environmental legacy than his predecessor.
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Given the UK's experience of both carbon taxes and carbon trading, there is potential for collaboration here between the UK and US.
Negotiating a trade agreement will not be easy. The UK, however, has some real advantages. We are not perceived as a direct economic competitor in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors where middle and working class communities are most worried about their economic security. Britain's comparative advantage is in services, whereas relative to the UK, America's comparative advantage is much more in agriculture and manufacturing. Britain is both a recognised friend across the American political spectrum and more pragmatically has a flexibility and willingness to open up areas that other countries would put strictly off limits. Trying to take advantage of these strengths, and build on our long standing common interests is worth a try.
Warwick Lightfoot is Head of Economics and Social Policy at Policy Exchange and a former special advisor to three Chancellors of the Exchequer
Anna Omelchenko via Getty Images
"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie Wiesel
If there has been one positive outcome of 2016's political upheavals it is that a great number of people seem to have rediscovered what it means to be a citizen. Taking an active part in deciding the direction one's country and homeland is to take, adding one's voice to the cacophony of debate and opinion that is the natural and necessary soundtrack of democracy is becoming a regular part of more and more peoples' daily lives. This applies to myself as well.
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In this first month of what we can still call our new year I have already attended two protests. That means I've already attended more political demonstrations than in the past two years combined. While the reasons why I have felt compelled to take this action are undeniably negative, the fact that I have been mobilized and roused from complacency is positive. In this I think I am a small part of a much larger trend. At the London Women's March Against Trump and at yesterday's demonstration in Parliament Square against Trump's Muslim ban, one of the most noteworthy things was the diversity of the crowd. While the student activist community were predictably (and rightfully) well represented at both, there were also a great deal of unusual suspects. Amidst the throng of people, one frequently found oneself marching beside elderly men and women, holding their homemade picket signs in woolly-gloved hands, families with children and infants in strollers, people, in fact, of all stripes and colours who defied the common image of the political activist.
I think that the political tragedies of the past year have reminded people that their individual contribution to the democratic process makes a difference. Secondly, I think the fact that the voices of hate and division around the world have gained new wind, forces that we all thought were extinct, or if not extinct then at least dormant and not any cause for worry, has achieved what many commentators on the left hoped for in the wake of Brexit and Trump. It has reacquainted people with their core values. As our long fought for freedoms are being threatened and trampled upon by blusteringly arrogant political leaders around the world, we have been reminded of how precious these freedoms that we have so long taken for granted really are. It has shown us how fragile our concept of progress is. It has shown us how crucial it is for us to uphold these freedoms and the values that support them. How important it is for us to reaffirm our commitment to them and our preparedness to fight for them. What seems to have happened, actually, is that political activism has become popular.
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But the interesting thing is that I don't think many of those 'unusual suspects' that I spoke about at the demonstrations this month would consider themselves, if asked, to be 'activists'. And the reason is, I think, that activism is somewhat of a dirty word. It is not something most people who aren't frantically engaged with politics would associate themselves with. Activists are a rather unpopular social category. They are considered shouty, monotonous, repetitive, self-righteous, and in a variety of other ways simply quite boorish. Nobody likes to be lectured about a cause that they may not have much connection with and made to feel inadequate for their lack of engagement with it. Similarly, I think it is the association of activism with the aforementioned characteristics that makes a great number of people, who in many cases may in fact sympathize with a cause, reluctant to call themselves, for example, a feminist.
But this is precisely what is beginning to change. Finding themselves in the midst of a grand onslaught on their core values, many people have found, or rediscovered, the confidence to take a more decisive stand on important issues that affect us all, such as the equality of all genders, ethnicities and social groups and so on. To look within oneself, to locate where ones allegiances lie, to stand behind the principles that form the very basis of the society we want to live in, and be steadfast and tenacious in the face of attacks on these, is an important step in the life of every citizen and it is one which everyone should be encouraged to undertake.
I think this very process has in fact been occurring organically as people have struggled to make sense of the tumultuous year behind them, and situate themselves in this strange new reality we find ourselves in where an inexperienced, ignorant, intolerant and intolerable fleshbag like Donald Trump (believe me, I am restraining myself) is the leader of the free world.
What I think we all have an obligation to do at this point is to show, through a united front, that our values of tolerance, diversity and equality are not up for debate. We need to be dogmatic in our morality. We will not live in a society where the question of whether rape, sexism or racism are acceptable is even debatable. We must throw such debates out of the window as soon as they arise and anyone who is even prepared to consider such a point must be disqualified from the discussion by default. We have to become more confident in the things we stand for and less timid in speaking out about them. Above all, we should make active resistance to evil (I don't hesitate in using the term) a point of pride. Essentially then, we must all become - are already all becoming - activists.
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By Heather Taylor
Its Americas favorite salad dressing, but what do we truly know about ranch? Believe it or not, ranch is a fairly recent addition in the dressing world. Invented by the founders of Hidden Valley in 1954, the creamy masterpiece is now so popular with consumers that nine out of 10 people use Hidden Valley for more than just salads. From buffalo wings to French fries, ranch is a dipping sauce favorite for just about every food under the sun.
As Hidden Valley welcomes 2017 with the Ranch Out campaign, its most significant marketing shift in over 10 years, were heading back to the valley for a retrospective look at the brands 10 biggest milestones. From starting off as a mail order business to an unusual tie-in with The Flintstones, the humble ranch dressing has proved its staying power over the decades in making mealtime a delicious experience.
1. Ranch got its start in Alaska?
Technically, yes! While the actual Hidden Valley Guest Ranch exists outside of Santa Barbara, California (well get to that in a moment), the idea was born in The Last Frontier state. Hidden Valley Ranch Founder Steven Henson moved to Alaska in the 1940s where he worked as a plumbing contractor. As he helped build thousands of homes around Anchorage, he also fed his workers and began tinkering with a recipe that would become famous ranch.
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2. Hidden Valley (Guest) Ranch where ranch was born.
Dreaming of a life out West, Henson and his wife Gayle headed to California where they discovered over 100 acres of land nestled in the sprawling Santa Ynez Mountains outside Santa Barbara. Bewitched by the enchanting sight streams, waterfalls, and a distant but gorgeous view of the ocean they purchased the property in 1954. Originally known as Sweetwater Ranch, it became Hidden Valley Guest Ranch.
Here, the flavor of ranch was born and fleshed out as a bonafide homemade recipe. Guests lodging there couldnt get enough of the creamy buttermilk taste and began asking to take samples home. For 10 years, Henson sent guests home with free jars of tasty ranch until it launched a business of its own.
3. Ranch heads to the 50 states via snail mail.
Later in the 1950s, the popularity and demand for ranch allowed Henson to start a mail order business. Were pretty accustomed to getting ranch in bottles today, but back then ranch arrived in the mail as a dry seasoning packet. Henson included a handwritten note with each packet, instructing the owner how to make ranch. Before long, ranch was shipping to all 50 states and even heading across the pond internationally!
4. The original logo design is loosely connected to The Flintstones .
Each dry seasoning packet contained more than just a special blend of herbs and spices. It also included a logo of the Ranch man, designed by the cartoonist behind The Flintstones, John Bersman.
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5. Hidden Valley Ranch hits grocery shelves in the 1960s.
From the mailbox to the convenience store, Hensons ranch became such a phenomenon that it took on manufacturing operations. By the 1960s, ranch was available to buy on shelves at grocery stores and food chains.
6. The Clorox Company acquires Hidden Valley, airs first TV ads.
The 1970s were a big decade for ranch lovers! The Clorox Company acquired Hidden Valley Ranch Dry Dressing and Party Dip and the first TV commercial spots began airing in 1977. See if you can spot the original Ranch man logo featured on the packaging in this ad!
7. The 1980s brings us what weve always wanted: bottled ranch!
In 1984, Hidden Valley Ranch released its first bottled dressing along eight new ranch flavors. Commercials ran announcing the big update with the tagline At last Hidden Valley Ranch in a bottle.
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8. The brand gets a packaging revamp and even MORE new flavors.
Iconic valley imagery, first introduced in TV ads in 1985, was added onto packaging in 1994 with new a ribbon logo.
Who remembers pizza-flavored ranch? A line of kid-friendly flavors like pizza, taco, and nacho cheese hit the scene in 1993 targeted at kids who loved ranch with their veggies. (So good, they would blow your mind as the spot says!)
9. HiddenValley.com
Seventeen years ago, Hidden Valleys website had its first shout out on TV!
10. Time to Ranch Out!
Kyle Bottoms, Strategic Lead, Critical Mass
Conjuring images of distant shores, hula skirts and sacred totems, Tiki is rooted in an enchanting mix of fumy libations and Polynesian-themed escapism. And its quite possible that no other cultural trend has risen and fallen so spectacularly over the past 100 years. Tiki was everwhere. Then it vanished.
And now, its on the rise again.
If you havent felt Tikis intoxicating pull, the new man in the White House may soon have you yearning for a Mai-Tai or Zombie.
Yes, this is an article for the age of Trump. But its also about the Great Depression, World War II, Eisenhower and Vietnam.
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Let me explain.
The Tiki trend is fueled by a desire for escapeusing rum, some citrus and a big dose of imagination to help you forget about the outside world.
While escapism is a common behavior, Tiki adoption is different. Tiki can be used as a metric to see just how good or bad were all feeling. A barometer of public sentiment: a Tiki Metric.
In short, the worse things get for people, the better it is for Tiki. And thats something we can gauge, interpret, and put to use. A cultural data set. But to understand it, you have to understand Tikis past.
Jeff Beachbum Berry, a Tiki anthropologist and owner of the restaurant and Tiki bar Latitude 29 in New Orleans, is credited for rescuing many of the famous drinks that started Tiki culture. He took me through Tikis history.
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It began in 1933, with a man named Don the Beachcomber and his Rhum Rhapsodiescombinations of rum, lime and sugar, with every element multiplied and blended in amazing ways. Sounds like good times, except that America was reeling from the Great Depression. But Don helped you forget about all that. Tiki was born, and by 1937, there were over 100 Tiki bars across the USA.
Fast forward to World War II. GIs coming home via Hawaii from the South Pacific had tasted paradise and wanted more. They didnt have to go far. Over 1000 Tiki bars had sprung up.
In the 50s and 60s, we reached peak Tiki. The drink-driven trend had become a full-on cultural phenomenon. Tiki invaded all aspects of pop culture: music, movies and even home decor. But these werent happy days. Communist witch hunts, paranoia and strict religious morality were part and parcel of the Eisenhower administration. A pervasive, nuke-fed fear lingered behind the rum induced joy
But the worse it got, the bigger Tiki bars became. Bigger waterfalls, bigger Tikis, more elaborate exotic vessels.
This was Tikis golden age. But it couldnt last.
If anything destroyed Tiki the first time around, it was the Vietnam war, Jeff explained. You weren't going to escape from the NBC nightly news watching people being zipped up in body bags as bombs destroyed palms and villages in colour by going to the Saigon Room. The escapism became real. The place you were trying to escape to became too similar to what you wanted to escape from. Tiki collapsed.
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A decade later, Tiki hit another problem: life got pretty good. Through the 80's and into the 90's, the Cold War ended, the West became increasingly secure, and America settled comfortably into its role as the world's sole superpower.
But all good things must come to an end. Today, the global scourge of terrorism, isolationist policies, and general mistrust has created a revival in cocktail culture, which has helped Tiki rise again globally. The UK only had a couple Tiki bars five years ago. Post BREXIT, there are 30 (and counting). Paris now has two. Same with Moscow. Global uncertainty means global growth in Tiki.
While most trends last 8 to 10 years, the first golden age of Tiki lasted 40. We burn through trends a lot faster now; our connectedness hastens their rise, spread and crash, but the quasi-mythical island paradise of Tiki remains timeless. I dont expect it to go away anytime soon.
Neither does Jeff Berry.
No matter how cynical or worldly people get, they respond to that promise of escape, and they respond to it on an un-ironic level. And if our new presidential administration is any indication, Tiki will be around for at least another four years.
The Tiki Metric suggests people will begin to look for delight in an atmosphere that is different from what they are used to.
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So if you have a have professional stake in predicting trends and behaivors, then take a momentary break from your data sets and field research and pay attention to that Tiki bar that popped up across town. Tiki is a trend, but it is also a metric, or barometer of other trends. By watching it closely, we can make assumptions about other trends emerging around us.
Consider this: successful trends over the coming years will be experiential ones. And if Tiki is to be believed (and it is) consumers and audiences will be drawn to experiences that transport them to some pleasurably carefree placein a meaningful, immersive way. I would expect to see brands like Disney or AirBnB push experiential escapism, and to that end, theres no better time to get into virtual reality.
At the end of our conversation, Jeff said Id like to have a safe and prosperous world, and have Tikibut I guess Im just greedy! Until we find that Utopia, we can still escape to the ones we imagine.
For me, it will be in Tiki.
One last thing: if, for whatever reason, your find yourself in trying times, I also leave you with Jeffs favourite drink. His take on the classic Navy Grog.
3/4 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
3/4 ounce White Grapefruit Juice
3/4 ounce Club Soda
1 ounce Demerara Rum
1 ounce Dark Jamaican Rum
1 ounce White Cuban or Puerto Rican Rum
1 ounce honey mix (heat equal parts honey and water till the honey dissolves, then cool it, bottle it, and store it in the fridge)
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Place all ingredients in your shaker, shake with ice, then strain into a glass containing an ice cone.
About the Author
ADDIS ABABA--President Trump has not been thinking about Africa, but it has been thinking about him.
The new President has urgent business there: terrorism, immigration, trade, weak democracies and strong men who refuse to leave power when their constitutions command. This week's meeting of the African Union touches on each of these challenges.
Terror. Boko Haram, who haunts Nigeria and its neighbors, is now a deadlier terrorist band than ISIS, measuring by body count. Other branches of ISIS and al Qaeda operate freely in Libya and Somalia, where they recruit, train, plan and carry out attacks across North and East Africa. While the U.S. military's joint Africa Command (AFRICOM) is drilling counter-terrorism forces and providing arms and equipment, the few hard-won gains on the ground came from the forces of the member-states of the African Union. Still, Africans are too poorly equipped to swiftly deploy troops across vast distances to drive terrorists from their strongholds. They will need American help to vanquish the extremists. Without that, North Africa will become a new Afghanistan--an incubator of terror attacks on the American homeland.
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Immigration. Refugees and economic migrants are already a top issue for Trump. Immigration is already a huge issue for African nations. Millions more Africans cross borders to find jobs or flee catastrophe every year than there are soldiers in the U.S. Army. More than 1.3 million Christians and animists have fled South Sudan to their former mother country, Sudan, creating a refugee crisis there. Tens of thousands of Somalis have poured into Kenya and Congo continues to send human waves into neighboring lands.
Trade. This could be a bright spot in U.S.-Africa relations if the White House quickly appoints personnel to engage African leaders. Africa is home to six of the 13 fastest-growing economies in the world for past two years, according to the World Bank. Africa is debating an ambitious regional free-trade pact that could grow to a continent-wide free-trade zone, akin to Europe. So striking trade deals with African nations would be prudent, not charity. And the U.S. is already behind China, the continent's largest trading partner in dollar terms.
Democratic reform. Governance remains a major challenge across Africa. Old age and violent coups remove more African leaders than elections. Even some of the relatively healthy young democracies are riven by corruption, tribalism and arbitrary edicts.
To seize the opportunity in Africa, the Trump Administration should encourage the African Union to more focused on economic growth than political perfectionism. Europe's mistake (and Brexit's lesson) is that bringing down economic barriers is popular and promotes prosperity while weakening national sovereignty through international lawmaking soon stirs resentment and hostility. Putting economic growth first gives African nations an exciting goal that they can enthusiastically share. Over time, as the experience of Asian and South American nations shows, success produces a middle class that demands better governance. Change from the middle up is more likely and more lasting than change from the outside in.
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Which brings us to what could be Trump's key to unlocking Africa's potential--Morocco. The kingdom, one of America's oldest allies, is stable, growing and has just undergone 15 years of successful democratic reforms. Morocco's youthful, reformist king is Africa's first constitutional monarch, the first to cede his powers to a freely elected parliament that decides all economic and domestic issues, except for national security and diplomacy. Under the king's guidance, Morocco has successfully signed free-trade agreements with African and European nations as well as the United States. The king has led a multi-national effort to promote and train imams and preachers to spread a peaceful, quietist form of Islam--striking a major blow against terrorists. Even on migration, Morocco has a solution to offer while many others only have problems to document; the kingdom has resettled hundreds of thousands of Sahrawi in its southern lands and welcomed more than 1 million refugees into its northern cities.
But guess what? That's not all we're banned from. Today, I bring you a few more things women are banned from doing in Japan.
1. Visiting Okinoshima Island
Okinoshima is a tiny 0.7 square kilometer (70-hectare) island, a mere dollop of primary forest sandwiched between Korea and Japan in a 200-kilometer (124-mile) stretch of the Genkai Sea. The mysterious island is one of Japan's sacred places, and is inhabited by a goddess, yet women are banned from visiting. Women must worship from afar, typically from a neighboring island where they can look out Alcatraz-style from a building several kilometers away.
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It's a wonder Japan would invite attention, and likely international criticism, by nominating Okinoshima and the related sites in the Munakata region for 2017 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status. The good news, if there is any, is that in the event that Okinoshima does obtain UNESCO status, all tourists, male and female, will likely be barred from visiting the island in order to preserve its original sanctity as a remote place of worship.
2. Ascending the Imperial Throne
According to the Imperial House Act, females of the household cannot become emperors. Although there have been female emperors in the past (as recently as 1770), such monarchs were unique in that they had no children, which is where the discrepancy lies. Females in the Imperial family lose their royal status if they don't marry another member of the Imperial family. Right now, with just 23 members in the Royal family, it is so small that the only choice for an Imperial heiress is to marry outside the clan. Since the world's oldest monarchy depends on blood lines of male progenitors' lineage, the Imperial House Act is unlikely to ever change this rule and instead seek ways around it. Concubines anyone?
3. Retaining a surname different from her spouse's
In Japan, the family registry system records all legal family relationships (births, deaths, marriages, divorces, adoptions, etc). In the case of a marriage, one spouse must legally assume the other's surname and be listed on that person's registry. Thus, two married Japanese people cannot maintain separate surnames. When a woman marries, she must either take the name of her spouse, or her spouse must take hers. There are certainly cases when the man takes his wife's name, but in the majority of marriages, it is the woman who is expected to take the husband's name. The family registry system is often cited as discriminatory towards women, who may want to retain their maiden names in the workplace for business or career reasons but are prevented from legally doing so.
4. Participating in certain Shinto celebrations
Women have been banned from certain Shinto, Buddhist or Shugendo religious practices in Japan over the centuries, including participation in Kyoto's famous Gion Matsuri. While time and gender equality have helped change most of these denunciations, including the participation in the Gion Matsuri, there are still some Shinto and Shugendo rituals where the banning of women is still enforced. Mount Omine and Okinoshima Island are just two examples.
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Womens' Rights are Moving Backward, not Forward
The banning of women hasn't always been a traditional part of Japanese society. Japan's native Shinto faith--where death and blood are dirty--gave rise to a tradition of purification rituals. Women began to be associated with impurity because of menstruation but this only crept into the religious ethos during the 1100's (Japan's Heian Period). According to Naoko Takemaru in her book "Women in the Language and Society of Japan: The Linguistic Roots of Bias," during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), the idea that women were impure was extended to mean men were superior to women, a concept called danson johi that took hold among the samurai classes. But it wasn't until the Meiji Period (1868-1912) that it was widespread, serving to complement the introduction of the new patriarchal family system that made the eldest son the head of the household. This family system was abandoned after WWII but danson johi still manifests itself in likely places such as religious dogma and arenas where people traditionally already struggle for power such as in business and politics.
This is an abbreviated form of an article that originally appeared in RocketNews24. To read the full article click here.
[The International Food Festival was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, India. Korean cuisine was praised by local media and attendees of the event. The photo shows Korean students from JNU./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]
By Jeong In-seo, New Delhi correspondent, AsiaToday - International students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) organized an international food festival on Thursday.
I headed to JNU after hearing the news that Korean students were attending the event. The venue was set up in a park in front of Ganga hostel, a crowded place with many students coming and going. As continuous heavy rain made outdoor events virtually impossible, the start of the festival was changed from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm and the venue was moved indoors.
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I asked people to find a way to the changed venue, but most people were not aware of the fact that the venue had been changed. Luckily, I was able to join people on the way to the event.
As I got closer to the venue, I was able to smell the aromas of food. At the event, many people were enjoying international food.
[A student in traditional Tibetan costume is serving momo, which is similar to Korean dumpling, on a plate. The Tibetan stall was one of the most popular booths along with the South Korean's./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]
The first thing that caught my eyes was the Tibetan booth. The colorful Tibetan costume reminded me of Korean traditional costume, hanbok. The people dressed in traditional costumes were selling momo and thantuk, which resemble mandoo (Korean dumpling) and sujebi (hand-pulled dough soup).
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Then I headed to a crowded booth. It was a South Korean booth ran by Korean students. 25 students were bustling to treat the guests flocking to the stall. Gimbap (dried seaweed rolls), dakkochi (chicken skewers), bibimbap (rice and vegetables dish), kimchijeon (kimchi pancake), and dalgona (sugar candy) were the menu items. While I was waiting for an interview with Korean students, people were kept coming.
Deepika, 20, raised her thumb and said, "Gimbap and dakkochi are really delicious." She said, "It's fantastic. I've also tried other food dishes, but Korean food is the most delicious. Most of all, dakkochi is more delicious than tandoori chicken."
Her friend Anshal, 20, said it was the first time she tried Korean food. He said, "I came here because my friend told me that a food festival was being held. I think Nepalese and Korean dishes are delicious. My favorite is dalgona. I'm sure Indian people will like it."
[Attendees of the event are trying kimchijeon and bibimbap./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]
Most of Korean dishes including gimbap were sold out. Koh Kwan-woo, the head of the Korean Student Association at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, credited his team members for successfully concluding the event. Koh said, "From the preparation of ingredients to the sale, all the students came together to get ready for the event. The event was successful thanks to my team members." He added, "I did a lot of research to introduce Korean cuisine to my friends in India. I visited all the dormitories in the school and made some adjustments to localize Korean dishes. I'm so glad to be able to promote Korea to India."
[Korean students are hosting flooding guests./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]
Choi Ha-young, 28, a student in the School of Japanese Language, said, "We had a hard time in finding this place. But I felt good because all the dishes were sold out."
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Kim Ye-won, 19, a student at the Chinese Language School, said, "I thought they were going to cancel the festival because of the heavy rain. But I'm so happy because so many people came to enjoy the event. There are many foreign students at school but it's hard to have international exchange. It's a great opportunity to exchange culture with each other though this kind of event."
[Korean students are introducing bibimbap to guests./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]
The International Food Festival was hosted by students from 22 different countries, including South Korea, Japan, Russia, Tibet, Nepal, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh. An official of the festival said, "All the preparations and sale of food in the festival are done by international students."
The Ministry of Magic's Foreign Affairs Department orders an immediate evacuation of all magical communities in the U.S. The No-Maj Trump administration has signed an Executive Order that, effective immediately, bans all witches, wizards, and squibs from the U.S., including those with valid visas, green cards, and portkeys.
The Floo Network will be used for emergency evacuations, as some witches and wizards are currently being detained at JFK Terminal 4.
Witches, wizards, and anyone with critical thinking faculties must remain vigilant for charges that include posing a threat to U.S. national security. Magical communities who remain in the U.S. may be subjected to additional discrimination, targeted by extraordinary surveillance, and forced to take an ideological test; Wizard registry to follow. Witches and wizards should closely follow media reports, Twitter accounts, alt-Twitter accounts, rogue Twitter accounts, and owl posts to evaluate the risks of remaining in the country. Your O.W.L. or N.E.W.T scores do not matter. The most decorated students of Ilvermorny will face deportation once their student wizard visas expire, if not sooner.
Witches and wizards, particularly half-bloods and mud bloods, continue to experience harassment and racial profiling within the U.S. Hate crimes have spiked following the election of self-avowed Golden Snitch grabber and anti-Wizard bigot, Donald J. Trump. The U.S. government continues to repress other minority magical groups including giants and unicorns. Centaurs, in particular, are urged to avoid Muggles in red hats. Consequently, some areas within the country where magical minorities reside - including Flint, Ferguson, and Standing Rock - remain unsafe. Magical communities holding peaceful protests are subject to arrest and prosecution.
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Squibs studying in non-magical schools should also be cautious as this country suffers from frequent gun violence, particularly in classrooms.* Should squib students decide to continue with their studies, the Magical Congress of the United States of America offers Active Shooter training sessions free of charge.
The U.S. government has severed diplomatic relations with the Ministry of Magic and, therefore, we cannot provide protection or consular protection to magical communities. While the International Confederation of Wizards has formally condemned these actions, it is not clear if the Trump administration intends to heed them or just "take names." Please remain vigilant and avoid satire.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Elena Kosolapova Trend:
Kazakhstan will focus on development of the industrial sectors that are connected to the use of digital technologies, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said in his annual address to the countrys people.
"It is necessary to develop such promising spheres as 3D printing, online commerce, mobile banking, digital services, including in healthcare, education and so on," Nazarbayev said.
The president ordered the government to work out and adopt a program titled "Digital Kazakhstan".
The development of the digital industry will give an impetus to all other sectors, the president said. Therefore, the government must keep the development of IT under special control.
He also instructed the government to establish the International IT Start-Up Technopark.
The Technopark must become a platform for attracting entrepreneurs and investors from various countries, Nazarbayev said. Appropriate infrastructure and favorable conditions are needed for it.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
By this time next year, maybe alternative facts (or would that be alt-facts?), the brow-raising term Trump staffers tossed into the American lexicon the other day, will top a word-of-the-year list.
But for 2016, the winners include dumpster fire (American Dialect Society), post-truth (Oxford Dictionaries), xenophobia (Dictionary.com) and surreal (Merriam-Webster).
Some words won because people looked them up a lot, as can be tracked online, but an entity like the American Dialect Society also considers how a word -- or a multi-word "vocabulary item" -- reflects the national zeitgeist. (Its choice, dumpster fire, even got represented by a pairing of trashcan and fire emojis.)
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Then there are those words that ought to be banished from our national banter. With apologies to George Carlin, call them the seven words that everyone says on television -- and everywhere else, too, but shouldn't. These seven linguistic sins may not be deadly, but they're overused, big league (not bigly, apparently). They're also imprecise, gawky, and often just plain unnecessary.
I know my list probably isn't complete, but, as Carlin said about his, it's a starter set.
1) Literally
If you're literally scratching your head about why I would make a fuss about the heedless use of literally, well, I am not alone -- and can't explain it any better than this marvelously demonstrative BuzzFeed video:
2) On the ground
Newscasters are especially hooked on this phrase, which seems to have become embedded during the early days of the American incursions into Afghanistan and Iraq. In wartime it was, and is, naturally important to distinguish troop activities on the ground from airborne missions.
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But somewhere along the way, on the ground deposed another long-serving and also military-derived phrase: on the front lines. So nowadays civilian speakers of all stripes refer to all sorts of activities on the ground, as in, "Wells Fargo employees on the ground say they had no choice but to open new accounts."
Since we Earthlings are gravity-bound, we can assume we are all on the ground, much as we can assume we are all featherless bipeds. So unless the context is war, or such pursuits as hot-air ballooning, the phrase serves little purpose, and isn't even a very good substitute for on the front the lines. If you're on the front lines, you're not only on the ground, you're clearly right up front, where the action is, which is what people seem to mean these days when they use on the ground -- but where on the ground? In the trenches, perhaps?
3) To be honest
I always find this a disconcerting phrase because it seems to impugn everything else being said.
"Pretty much everything I'm telling you now is a big-league fairly tale, but, to be honest, I love chocolate chip cookies."
Even in a post-truth world of alternative facts, we should be able to assume that our friends, colleagues and acquaintances -- perhaps even our new president -- are on the level, much as we can assume they're on the ground.
I suppose to be honest evolved out of a desire to express greater candor than merely saying frankly, although frankly packs ample punch, as Rhett Butler made clear.
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4) It's all good
This giddy catchphrase comes up a lot these days, in an odd variety of contexts, but is often deployed to gloss over an awkward moment, usually a fairly minor one, as in accidentally stepping into line ahead of someone at the supermarket: You recognize your faux pas and say you're sorry, and then the other person tells you not to worry about it, adding it's all good.
I can appreciate the show of positivity, but to say it's all good also sounds like a paean to denial. Because we know that just beyond the supermarket line, or whatever the immediate context may be, it is not all good, from the homeless man sleeping on the street nearby to the many ills beyond -- wars, famine, disease, overpriced cable TV service, and on and on.
There are surely times it might be mostly good, even if only by the narrow margin of 51 percent. In some situations it may be 75 percent good, or in extraordinary moments of goodness even 99 percent. But all good?
5) At the end of the day
A silly-sounding and by now highly overused substitute for the perfectly adequate phrase when all is said and done.
"At the end of the day, I like to drink tea in a hot bubble bath." Sure, why not? Or, on Super Bowl Sunday: "At the end of the day, we'll know whether the Patriots or the Falcons are the champions."
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But what you often hear is something like:
"At the end of the day, Wells Fargo will have to win back the trust of its customers." I know it's not meant literally, but this usage still sounds jarring, like saying you'll call someone back in a minute when it's really going to be a week or a month or even decades (see no. 6 below).
As always, though, there are poetic licenses to be granted, like, say, to One Direction:
6) Decades
Many voices in the media, I've noticed, have gotten into the habit of referring to relatively long timespans in terms of decades when, not so long ago, years used to suffice.
Decades may be a fair quantification when speaking of the career of someone like Tyrus Wong, the artist responsible for Disney's Bambi, who drew and painted from the time he was a boy until his recent death at age 106. But I hear a lot of talk about decades when it's been only two, three or maybe four. That adds up to quite a few years, but not really that many decades. So why exaggerate?
7) Limited access to email
This is not something anyone usually says, on TV or anywhere else, but we've read it for years now in auto-reply emails: "I am out of the office through Jan. 31 and will have limited access to email during that time." This limited access line might have been credible back in the dial-up days, but now? Well, maybe if you've ventured deep into the Amazon rain forest. But otherwise, how about something like:
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Photo by Bernard Starr
When I taught psychology to prospective teachers at Brooklyn College, my courses had a field component in public and private schools. I placed many of my students in an elementary school in Ocean Hill-Brownsville, Brooklyn, which was among the poorest communities in NYC. One Friday afternoon the Board of Education pay checks for the paraprofessionals, the classroom aids, didn't arrive. These workers, mostly African-American and Hispanic single mothers from the neighborhood, depended on those checks to feed their families. No wonder they anxiously complained to the principal, whom I will call Mr. Dave to protect his privacy. I was in the room when he called the Board of Education to inquire about the checks. I can only imagine the responses of the Board of Education agent from Mr. Dave's side of the conversation, which went like this:
Mr. Dave: The checks for the paraprofessionals haven't arrived. When will they be here?
Board of Ed. agent: We were tied up at meetings and will not be able to get the checks out until next week--Monday or Tuesday.
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Mr. Dave: That's too late. They need the money to live on for the weekend.
Board of Ed. agent: Sorry, but there's no way we can get the checks out today.
Mr. Dave: These paraprofessionals are upset and angry about this and are saying they will go down to the Board headquarters to protest.
Board of Ed. agent: This is America and they can to do that, but it's late in the afternoon on Friday. Some people have already left and we can't do anything about the checks today.
Mr. Dave. They are making up signs right now and intend to protest in front of the Board of Education building.
Board of Ed. agent: Well, again, they are free to do that.
Mr. Dave. One other thing. They are putting your name on the signs.
The checks arrived by courier two hours later.
I thought about Mr. Dave on January 21, 2017, when I stood on Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street, a few blocks from Trump Tower, and watched as hundreds of thousands of protestors in the Women's March passed by. What struck me about the passionate and clever signs the women (and many men) displayed was the absence of names other than Donald Trump. The signs addressed women's rights, human rights, preservation of the planet, and more; but rarely were names attached to the offensive policies and actions other than the implication of Trump: "Women's Rights Are Human Rights; I Deserve Equality; Hear Me Roar; We Are the resistance; No compromise on Bigotry."
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Mr. Dave would not have been pleased with these signs or others in the many protests in cities throughout the United States.
Without names of politicians who actively or passively endorse Trump's policies and actions the signs are not likely to irritate sensitive nerves that might evoke the "courier response."
As many commentators have said, shaming Donald Trump has little chance of success. If he knew more than our generals and intelligence agencies before the election, his victory has inflated his grandiosity and made it easy for him to dismiss citizens' protests. Indeed, neither the worldwide Women's Marches nor the nationwide response to his immigration ban seems to have rattled his confidence in his own judgment.
But what about the sycophants, many of whom previously excoriated Trump, and are sucking up to him now that he has the power they never thought he'd gain--a power they lust to participate in. Do any of them retain some remnant of integrity? Is there some way to persuade them to display courage, reason, and humanity? It may be our only chance for preserving the values that have made America great and are now being trashed.
Put their names on the signs (and the names of other politicians in communities throughout America) and remind them that we know what they previously said and what they are currently doing. Let them know with statements on signs like these:
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This is what you (name) said.
Why are you (name) licking his boots?
We will remember (name).
We are watching you (name).
If disasters result from this administration you (name) will not be able to talk your way out of complicity.
History will not be kind to you (name).
Do you (name) reveal your taxes? Why are you letting him conceal his?
How would you (name) respond if your daughter were groped?
Have you (name) forgotten that your ancestors were immigrants?
70% lies and counting: do you (name) approve?--Your silence says you do.
Why have you (name) become a rubber stamp?
What They Said Before They Endorsed Donald Trump:
Governor Rick Perry: Called Trump "a cancer" in a tweet. And then doubled down: "Let no one be mistaken - Donald Trump's candidacy is a cancer on conservatism, and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised and discarded."
Senator Marco Rubio: Called Trump's remarks about John McCain "absurd" and added "I do think it's a disqualifier as commander-in-chief."
Senator Ted Cruz: Accused Trump of "being a pathological liar, utterly amoral, a narcissist at a level I don't think this country's ever seen and a serial philanderer."
Governor Chris Christie: Said: "Showtime is over. We are not electing an entertainer-in-chief. Showmanship is fun, but it is not the kind of leadership that will truly change America." And, "Bluster, posturing, talking a big game isn't the same thing as actually doing something.''
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Governor Bobby Jindal: "Donald Trump is a madman who must be stopped."
Governor Nikki Haley: "[Trump's proposed Muslim travel ban is] just an embarrassment to the Republican Party... It's absolutely un-American. It's unconstitutional. It defies everything this country was based on, and it's just wrong."
New York Representative Peter King: "America needs a President with the strength and quiet dignity of George W. Bush, not a feckless pretender like Donald Trump..."
Senator Rand Paul: "Donald Trump is a delusional narcissist and an orange-faced windbag. A speck of dirt is way more qualified to be president."
Governor Mike Pence: "Calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional."
Utah Representative Chris Stewart: "He's our Mussolini... As a Republican, I'm telling you: Donald Trump does not represent Republican ideals."
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Sycophants should be thinking about their legacies--what they want to be remembered for. With that in mind they would be wise to take note of William Shakespeare's words:
"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones."
It's refreshing that for once Jews aren't at the front of the line for rounding up and persecution.
I don't often play the Jew card, but this time, an exception. Because we as Jews have a particular understanding of what it means to be the target of religious persecution, and special insight into where incremental restrictions on freedom of movement, association, and commerce can lead. As I remind my wife Kate often, we've been seeing it for the last 5,000 years.
The Muslim ban is not about defeating terrorism. It would have done nothing to stop any of the terrorist attacks in recent memory - not 9/11, not San Bernardino or Boston or Orlando, not Oklahoma City. The ban is about identifying an enemy, sowing divisions and creating chaos as a precursor to increasing state control and persecution, something with which we as Jews are all too familiar. To think that Jews will somehow escape unscathed in a country engaging in religious persecution is to deny history and the evidence right in front of our eyes.
The ban was announced on Friday, Holocaust Remembrance Day. That same day, the White House put out a statement on the Holocaust that failed to mention the 6 million Jews killed. This was not an inadvertent error. It was, by their own admission, a deliberate effort to be "inclusive" and not single out any specific group, because all lives matter (sound familiar?).
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Josh Marshall from Talking Points Memo summed it up best: "It is true that millions died under the Nazis who were not Jews. They included targeted ethnic groups like Roma (Gypsies), homosexuals, left-wing dissidents, people with disabilities, etc. But it has long been a trope of Holocaust deniers and white nationalists to insist that Jews were only incidentally targeted. In any case, there are no word limits in presidential statements. A more logical and worthwhile approach would be to note the various groups who were victimized. This isn't accidental. The new administration is riddled with anti-Semites and those who want to cater to anti-Semites." Jews who think there's no danger, that they're not coming for us this time, should think again - there are many white supremacists inside and outside this administration who would welcome the opportunity to prove you wrong.
There are certain things our country must never do. State-sanctioned religious discrimination is one. Pretextual policies, deprivations of liberty, and ignoring court orders all in furtherance of government-sanctioned religious discrimination is unacceptable under any circumstance. It's part of what makes us Americans. Mr. Henderson taught me that in 8th grade. By reading the Constitution. Where it says so in the very first amendment. Trump's order changes nothing.
There's been a lot made that the ban is not religiously based, not discriminatory, not that big of a deal because it's only temporary. Which to me is more of the same "are you going to believe me or your lying eyes" bullshit we've been getting out of Trump's minions this past week. But Trump said it was a ban on Muslims during the campaign. Giuliani said the same just yesterday. They tried to ram it through narrow legal loopholes and got caught. And now they're paying for it in the currency of America's reputation and who knows how many lives lost. Until we see any indication that this is anything other than a first step in a broader effort to demonize Americans of color, we have to assume the worst from an administration that has lied to us repeatedly since their first days in office. And we have to oppose it completely - not after it has progressed to become intolerable, not only when it affects us or our communities personally, not only when it affects everyone, but when it affects anyone.
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The biggest fuck you we can present to Donald Trump is to use his efforts to sow division between us as a rallying cry to unite around what we all share as Americans, and to build a movement strong enough to defeat him, his unconstitutional actions, and his anti-American aspirations.
One of the benefits of living in Alaska is that the rest of the country tends to forget about you. The frozen north, may they remain happy while gnawing on whale.
While many here in the southeastern panhandle of the state wish this trend to continue with our current president, there are signs that it will not be so. (One of these being our Women's March was photographed in the New York Times. Uh-oh.) So far, the only thing stopping Trump from signing executive orders (he's already signed four) seems to be a stuck pen cap.
Which is concerning because the country's largest national forest, and the world's most expansive temperate rainforest, could be next on the chopping block. (I killed a chicken this morning so chopping blocks happen to be on my mind.) This past December the Forest Service announced a move away from clearcutting. However, the incoming congress, along with the Alaska delegation, led by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, has threatened to undo the move, characterizing it as a last-minute Obama environmental land-grab.
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This could not be farther from the truth.
*
At the age of 19 I left New York City for Alaska, where I found work at a salmon hatchery in Sitka, a fishing village on the edge of the Tongass. After a few months in an efficiency apartment I went into the woods - 17 million acres of it surrounding town - where I spent almost a year. First in a tent, a North Face VE-25, which I quickly burnt down while priming a stove. Then in a hut built from Sitka Spruce.
When I wasn't working at the hatchery, I wandered the maze of old growth hemlocks and spruce spared by the axes of the Russians. Inspired by the trees - and my clunky shelter-building - I joined Alaska's carpentry union. Today I live in Sitka, raising my family, and renovating our World War II tugboat. At the moment a buddy and I are milling up a wind-felled Alaska yellow cedar for caprails.
In 2010, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack directed the Forest Service to speed the transition away from cutting old-growth timber in these sames woods where I lived. The Tongass Advisory Committee was conceived, comprised of representatives from Southeast's timber industry, tribal organizations, and conservation groups. The "Cut Kill Dig Drill" crowd put aside their caulks and chainsaws to sit at the table with "the crunchies" - not out of the goodness of their hearts, but because they were sick of costly litigation plaguing every timber sale. Environmentalists, for their part, sucked in their stomachs and put twenty thousand acres of old-growth spruce, hemlock and cedar on the chopping block - mostly on Prince of Wales Island, where scant old growth remains - in exchange for protection of other old-growth sections. The Forest Service dutifully sifted through more than a quarter million public comments from Alaska and the Lower 48 - mine being one of them - before approving the new land management plan.
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The plan allows Alaskans access to wood in our own backyard, while shielding pristine old growth where we harvest deer each year (most people who live on our island depend on subsistence hunting and fishing - milk costs eight dollars a half-gallon). Streams and watersheds in some of the last wild salmon habitat in the world will be sealed off in perpetua. It advances logging practices already being practiced by local companies - young growth harvested for shipwrights replanking boats (I just spent a month repairing my tug with local yellow cedar) as well as timber framing, artisan woodwork, and other innovative practices that don't involve sending our trees out of the country.
Donald Trump's election has brought a renewed sense of optimism to the timber industry - especially old school timber interests nostalgic for the glory days of the timber boom-time.
It shouldn't.
Old growth logging represents just the sort of industry - heavily subsidized by the federal government - Trump tweets against. As well as not being profitable, and costing taxpayers millions, logging damages other working-class jobs - while salmon fishing brings 6,500 jobs to Southeast Alaska, including my own, the timber industry offers 320. Fishing is a billion dollar industry, with tourism close behind. Logging puts both at risk by destroying salmon habitat, as well as the picture-perfect mountainsides hiked and photographed by visitors.
Perhaps less exciting to the President-elect - but no less important - wildlife in the forest has been shown to be linked directly to old growth, including bald eagles, the Alexander Archipelago wolf, and the largest brown bear population in the country.
Timber West, a pro-logging publication, recently ran a complimentary article on Gordon Chew, who, along with his wife and two children, runs the Tenakee Logging Company in Tenakee Springs, a town of 200, just north of Sitka. Chew's company supplies woods to high-end local artists, as well as to shipwrights working on fishing boats. (I just spent a month in the boat yard using local yellow cedar to repair the planking on my tugboat.)
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Tenakee Logging prides itself on harvesting local lumber, and refusing to clearcut. This makes sense, considering that, unlike representatives from larger export-based timber companies intent on scything mountainsides for profit, Chew lives in Alaska. "There is no debate about the exportation of clear-cut round logs overseas. It is a failed policy that isn't good for Alaska."
We are on the brink of a good, timely move in the timber industry, one that will keep our resources, and our jobs, in this country, keep folks like Chew and his family working, and allow my daughters to know what it's like to stand in the shade of majestic spruce and hemlock as I once did. Rather than supporting local loggers, and the thousands that helped develop the new forest plan, the Alaska delegation (and perhaps Donald Trump) wants to continue shipping our country's natural resources overseas at taxpayer expense.
Alternative facts, indeed. Less than two weeks into the presidency of Donald Trump it appears we are seeing the ushering in of a new era of twisted truths, fake news, and selective science. That should be good news to the corporate spin doctors who are deep into a campaign now to try to combat global concerns about the world's favorite weed killer.
Corporate spin is nothing new. Whether it's cigarettes or sugar-laden sodas, the companies that make billions from such products employ a variety of strategies to promote the good and bury the bad. Some even outright lie while doing so. But the tactics being unveiled by Monsanto and surrogates over glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup herbicide and the lynchpin for the success of genetically engineered crops, are noteworthy for the depths of their deception.
The latest move, the formation of a group called "Campaign for Accuracy in Public Health Research", (CAPHR) clearly promotes an agenda opposite to that which its name implies. Formed this month by the American Chemistry Council, whose membership includes Monsanto and other chemical industry titans, the group's express purpose is to discredit the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a unit of the World Health Organization made up of independent scientists. An IARC scientific team declared in March 2015 that glyphosate was a probable human carcinogen after reviewing an extensive body of published research on the subject. Monsanto and friends have been harassing IARC ever since through a series of demands, threats and legal maneuvers, including lobbying the U.S. House of Representatives to cut funding for IARC.
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The new campaign takes the assault further. On the group's new twitter account, set up on Jan. 25, CAPHR has posted a string of insults against IARC scientists, accusing the experts from prestigious institutions around the world of "making sensational claims," drawing conclusions "that can't be trusted," and using "questionable methodologies."
If CAPHR is to be believed, the public, lawmakers and regulators should not trust the epidemiology experts, toxicologists and other scientists who made up the IARC working group, which was led by an award-winning cancer expert from the National Cancer Institute. No, they should look for unbiased information about the safety of the industry's billion-dollar baby from the industry itself. The chemical industry campaigners insist that the people making money off chemical sales are more trustworthy than scientists who have made a career studying causes of cancer.
The rationale for the campaign is clear: It's not about protecting public health, it's about protecting corporate profits. Monsanto said as much last week in a California court as it tried to block the state's decision to require a warning on Roundup. Monsanto attorney Trenton Norris argued in court Friday that warning labels would hurt the company's finances because many people would stop buying Roundup. Fresno County Superior Court Judge Kristi Kapetan did not seem moved by the profits-over-people message. She still must issue a formal decision, but said that California can require Monsanto to label Roundup as a possible cancer threat.
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Protecting glyphosate is critical for Monsanto and other chemical industry giants now. Not only are glyphosate herbicides big sellers around the world, but the industry is in the midst of rolling out new genetically engineered crops designed to be sprayed with combinations of glyphosate and companion weed killers. Monsanto has developed crops altered so that they tolerate being sprayed with glyphosate and dicamba, while Dow AgroSciences has developed crops tolerant of a new herbicide made of glyphosate and 2,4-D. The new biotech crops build on Monsanto's glyphosate-tolerant portfolio of corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and other crops.
But even as the industry presses ahead with glyphosate-based technology, the chemical is under re-evaluation by both the European Union and the Environmental Protection Agency. And calls have been mounting for the chemical to be banned or severely restricted because of the cancer concerns and a range of other health and environmental concerns.
And there is also the not-so-small issue of the dozens of lawsuits filed against Monsanto alleging the company has long known Roundup could cause cancer but has hidden the facts from the public. Those cases, brought by people from across the United States who have cancer or lost a loved one to cancer, have been consolidated in federal court in San Francisco where discovery is underway. Monsanto has so far turned over more than seven million documents through that process.
Court records show that plaintiffs' attorneys are building their cases around the IARC classification, while Monsanto is counting on the backing of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has stated that glyphosate is "not likely" to be carcinogenic for people. Just as Monsanto is trying to tear down IARC, plaintiffs are trying to discredit the EPA findings, saying Monsanto has unduly influenced the agency. On the same day that the chemical industry launched its anti-IARC campaign, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria ordered each side in the Roundup litigation to submit briefs on how the work by both IARC and EPA is or is not relevant to the cases. The briefings are due Feb. 8.
Clearly not content to allow a federal court to sort out who is right or wrong on glyphosate, the chemical industry's championing of glyphosate includes a new promotional Twitter campaign #glyphosateisvital with postings proclaiming that the weed killer is essential to "maintain the production of safe, affordable food." "Time is running out to lobby to save #glyphosate," another posting asserts. The campaign is featured on the @glyphosate twitter account established immediately after the IARC glyphosate classification.
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Embedded in the industry's truth-twisting tactics is the characterization of anyone who gives credence to scientific research showing problems with glyphosate, or the GMOs that go with it, as "anti-science." It's an effort to reverse reality and detract from the fact that it is industry backers, not industry critics, who deplore the findings of independent, peer-reviewed scientific research.
"The pesticide industry recognizes it's on the defensive," said environmental lawyer Charlie Tebbutt. "It's doing everything it can to transform reality."
In 2015 Mallory Brown traveled to Haiti with the CrowdRise 24-Hour Impact Project to help a family that had been displaced by the hurricane. Now, two years later, she's back in Haiti and has 24-hours to raise $10,000 to help that family pay it forward. This is her story.
It was January 2015 and I was exploring the displaced person settlements outside of the island nation's capital city of Port-au-Prince. It was there that I met Chantale, a beautiful, hardworking, single mother of five, living in a tiny shack.
She had lost everything in the devastating earthquake years prior and was still struggling to get back on her feet. Her hope and optimism, despite her hardships, was infectious.
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From a tiny internet cafe in Haiti, I published my very first CrowdRise 24-Hour fundraiser to give them their dream: a new home. I created a video and asked my community to donate in an attempt to raise $5,000 in only 24-hours.
Together, we more than doubled the goal and raised almost $11,000 in 24 hours. It was unreal. The very next day, I moved the family into a new home, enrolled the kids in school, and helped Chantale start working. It was the best day.
After the success of this fundraiser, I started traveling the world and, with the help of CrowdRise, running flash fundraisers to connect thousands of donors to incredible causes. Together, we provided disaster relief in Nepal, surgery in Honduras, and supplies to homeless in the US. We reached women in Ethiopia, endangered species in Madagascar, and even refugees in Greece. Through 10 fundraisers in two years, we raised over $225,000.
Through all my adventures, I still stayed in touch with Chantale and her family. Now, two years later, I decided to go back and visit. All the kids are in school, Chantale is working, and even saving money! They love their home and are truly thriving. A total comeback story! Our $11,000 honestly changed their lives.
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Inspired by how much we helped her Chantale asked me how she can pay it forward. Chantale has been saving to open her house to a sixth child, a disabled girl named Saraphina. Saraphina was found earlier this year almost starving to death at a Haitian orphanage. At 7 years old, she only weighed 25 pounds. Saraphina has no traceable family, suffers from severe disabilities, and needs full-time care. Chantale is currently undergoing disability training through a non-profit organization called Haiti Mama, so she can care for Saraphina and other children who are on the edge of society.
After two years, Chantale's happiness would have been enough reason to celebrate. But this? THIS is true compassion. This purity, this generosity, this desire to help others...this is humanity at our best. This is the ripple effect of kindness. This makes every dollar worth it.
Please join me in making a miracle happen again. Let's help Chantale raise $10,000 in the next 24-hours to adopt Saraphina.
To help Mallory reach her goal, donate via the CrowdRise widget below:
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Demonstrators hold up placards during a protest outside Downing Street against U.S. President Donald Trump's ban on travel from seven Muslim countries on January 30, 2017 in London, England. President Trump signed an executive order on Friday banning immigration to the USA from seven Muslim countries. This led to protests across America and, today, in the UK, a British petition asking for the downgrading of Trump's State visit passed one million signatures this morning. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
Over the weekend, news reports suggested the Trump administration had brought the nation to the brink of a constitutional crisis, by openly flouting court orders that seemed to upend his executive order issued Friday, banning all refugees and immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries.
Because there were at least five different court orders issued at different times, following a vague and poorly-worded executive order, the confusion was understandable. It now appears, however, that the Trump administration is saying, at least, that it will comply with the court orders -- although reports of continued detention and denial of access to lawyers over the weekend suggest uneven compliance at best.
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Still, even the broadest of those orders, issued Sunday in Boston and applying nationwide, doesn't resolve any of the larger questions that still swirl around this unprecedented ban on refugees and specified immigrants. The order issued in Boston prevents deportation, secondary screening and detention of people who have arrived or who intend to travel to the U.S. in the next seven days, who would have been legally allowed to travel to the United States before the executive order. (Whether it will actually be enforced nationwide is another matter; the order only instructs Customs and Border Protection to notify airlines with flights arriving at Logan Airport of passengers' rights under the court's ruling.)
So while the Department of Homeland Security said on Sunday "President Trump's Executive Orders remain in place--prohibited travel will remain prohibited," that's really not true for the next seven days, and if it intends to "comply with judicial orders," as also promised, then it can't actually enforce those travel bans until next Saturday. How DHS responds over the next seven days will be a test of how this administration responds to future court orders that may obstruct its aims.
Meanwhile, the broader legal challenges to the president's executive order remain to be decided. Those include whether the order unconstitutionally discriminates on the basis of religion; whether it denies those who've arrived in the U.S. the right to due process of law; and whether it violates the immigration law's prohibition of discrimination on the basis of religion, nationality, place of birth or place of residence. These initial orders were just emergency actions to prevent the immediate harm of deportation or detention that faced hundreds of people stuck in U.S. airports, or with immediate U.S. travel plans.
Below is a list of statements from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes Fifth Assessment Report. For each statement, please indicate your agreement or disagreement and explain your reasoning:
Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.
The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased.
The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years.
Carbon dioxide concentrations have increased by 40% since pre-industrial times, primarily from fossil fuel emissions and secondarily from net land use change emissions.
The ocean has absorbed about 30% of the emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide, causing ocean acidification.
The largest contribution to total radiative forcing is caused by the increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO2 since 1750.
It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.
Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in all components of the climate system.
It is very likely that the Arctic sea ice cover will continue to shrink and thin and that Northern Hemisphere spring snow cover will decrease during the 21st century as global mean surface temperature rises. Global glacier volume will further decrease.
Global mean sea level will continue to rise during the 21st century.... [T]he rate of sea level rise will very likely exceed that observed during 1971 to 2010 due to increased ocean warming and increased loss of mass from glaciers and ice sheets.
Limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
As thousands of Americans rallied this weekend in support of American values to oppose President Donald Trump's Muslim ban, another protest was happening in Holland.
Holland, Michigan.
On Saturday hundreds of Michiganders rallied and marched in billionaire Betsy DeVos's hometown to protest her nomination to lead Trump's Education Department. A special education teacher at the march remarked of DeVos's nomination, "It's like putting Cruella De Vil in charge of the humane society."
I guess you could call her, "Cruella DeVos."
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WHAT'S AT STAKE
The outrage about DeVos isn't merely anti-Trump -- it's based on her record. Putting aside her performance at her confirmation hearing, where she "displayed a lack of knowledge about education fundamentals or refused to answer questions that Democratic members of the Senate Education Committee believe are critical to her fitness for the job," DeVos's background in education should be more than enough to disqualify her from running our nation's top education agency.
For two decades, Betsy DeVos has fought to take away dollars from public schools that educate all of our kids and instead divert resources to religious schools and for-profit charter schools. In 2000, the DeVos family backed a Michigan ballot initiative to allow public dollars to go to vouchers, but the proposal was handily defeated. Having failed to buy an election, the DeVoses decided instead to buy a legislature, giving $7 million to the state GOP and politicians to back "school choice." With a friendly Republican statehouse, the number of charters skyrocketed in Michigan, with 80 percent of the state's charters operating for profit and with little oversight. The result has been educational chaos, particularly for students in Detroit. In the last seven years, more than 150 charters have opened or closed, but charter school performance is no better than traditional public schools.
For anyone who has followed the history of Ohio's charter schools, Michigan's experience should sound familiar. Here in the Buckeye State, taxpayers spend $1 billion annually on a charter school system that is rife with waste, fraud and abuse. Ohio's charter school experiment began in Lucas County in the late '90s, but the number of charters -- and resources being diverted away from public schools -- has exploded in the last decade. This development coincided with DeVos creating a new political action committee, All Children Matter, that funneled $870,000 in 2006 to candidates that supported "school choice."
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Now buying a legislature in Ohio isn't illegal -- but the way DeVos tried to do it was. The Ohio Elections Commission voted unanimously in 2008 that All Children Matter had illegally laundered money from a Virginia PAC (where there were no donation limits) to Ohio (which had caps on contributions) -- and they fined DeVos's PAC $5.2 million. The PAC never paid the fine, and it's continued to accrue additional fees every single day since then.
Betsy DeVos claims that she doesn't owe Ohio a dime, that it's the PAC that should pay up. On the other hand, Betsy has been footing the bill for the PAC's legal fees -- and did we mention that she's a billionaire? To Betsy DeVos, $5.3 million might not seem like much, but as Sen. Sherrod Brown said, that sum "would hire a lot of teachers in the public school system around Ohio."
Betsy DeVos has been a disaster for public education in Michigan and Ohio -- and she wants to take that model nationwide. She doled out millions to politicians and then bragged she expected "something in return." If we don't stop her nomination, she'll turn the U.S. Department of Education into her own private swamp.
WHERE WE STAND
The outpouring of opposition to DeVos has united Senate Democrats.
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Betsy and her husband have donated to the campaigns of four committee members that will consider her nomination and 17 of the senators that will eventually vote on her nomination. And guess who was one of the senators that received DeVos donations? Rob Portman.
DeVos family members have chipped in $51,000 for Portman's Senate campaigns.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
DeVos's nomination vote has already been delayed, but today the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will finally vote. Democrats have said they are UNITED in opposing DeVos, but they need our help. They need three Republicans to vote no. Portman has not stated how he will vote.
Rob Portman should stop looking at his campaign finance report and listen to the voters of Ohio. Will you make your voice heard?
There were plenty of hints in the past few weeks, but now it seems clear as day: The Trump Administration plans, with the leadership of designated Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, to trash the work of the Obama Administration to protect students from the abuses for predatory for-profit colleges.
Billionaire DeVos, whose nomination is scheduled to be voted on by the Senate HELP committee this morning, is under fire for her lack of enthusiasm for public education, her weak commitment to civil rights, and her shaky performance at her confirmation hearing, where she demonstrated only limited knowledge of policy issues.
Amid a pile of disturbing answers (and possibly plagiarized passages) from DeVos to written questions by Democrats on the HELP committee, DeVos responded this way to a question from Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) about whether she would enforce the Department's 2015 gainful employment rule, which cuts off federal student aid to career education programs that, year-after-year, leave graduates with debt they cannot afford to repay: "The Department has had significant implementation issues with this regulation, including questions as to the accuracy of the data originally reported, the design of a system that would allow schools to challenge incorrect data, and the ability to provide the necessary technical assistance required. The last thing any of us want is to unnecessarily close down important programs -- putting students on the street with limited or no other options."
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DeVos deserves credit for being candid. She could have gotten away with saying a lot less. But her answer is ominous, because it clearly echoes the talking points of lobbyists for predatory for-profit colleges, particularly those of the discredited trade association of for-profit colleges, CECU, which is headed by former congressman Steve Gunderson (R-WI). Gunderson has repeatedly thundered that the gainful employment rule would cause millions of students to "lose access to higher education."
The point of the rule is indeed to shut down some higher education programs -- those that, because of high prices and low quality, leave even their graduates earning too little money to pay down their student loans. Programs that leave for-profit college students -- veterans, single mothers, and others -- worse off than when they started are often sold through high-pressure, deceptive sales practices. Such programs absolutely should be shut down; indeed the gainful employment rule, while helpful, should be much stronger.
New data released by the Department confirms what for-profit colleges feared as they have lobbied fiercely against the rule: Although the rule applies to career education programs at every kind of college -- for-profit, non-profit, and public -- 98 percent of the programs flunking the test in its first year were for-profits.
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Now, DeVos has laid the groundwork to destroy the rule.
Although predatory for-profit colleges were salivating over the prospect of Trump, and pressuring his transition team, one could have at least hoped that he might continue the valuable work of the Obama Administration to fight against fraud by for-profit colleges, which have been getting as much as $32 billion a year in taxpayer dollars. Many of these institutions have been under investigation for fraud by multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies. Candidate Trump had pledged to fight against waste, fraud, and abuse with taxpayer dollars, to help working people get good jobs, to honor our veterans, and to drain the swamp of Washington corruption. And before the recent era, in which industry money has bought the GOP outright, Republican Administrations were traditionally committed to cracking down on for-profit college misconduct.
But all the signs were there for Trump, through DeVos, to break yet another promise to working Americans:
-- At her confirmation hearing, DeVos declined to endorse the gainful employment regulation, telling Warren: "We will certainly review that rule and see that it is actually achieving what the intentions are."
-- For-profit college lobbyist Gunderson's close family friend is former House speaker, lobbyist, and Trump cheerleader Newt Gingrich (R-GA), who has been a booster for Gunderson's industry and opponent of the gainful employment rule.
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-- One of DeVos's handlers at her hearing was Lauren Maddox, a Bush Administration Assistant Secretary of Education for Communications and Outreach who served on the Trump transition staff. A principal at the Podesta Group mega-lobbying firm, Maddox was a long-time registered lobbyist for CECU (previously called APSCU), for the predatory for-profit college company Career Education Corp., and for the student loan companies Sallie Mae and ECMC. Word among education lobbyists and Department of Education bureaucrats is that other for-profit college lobbyists are under consideration for top Trump Education Department jobs, including Dennis Cariello, who was involved with preparing DeVos for her hearing, and Diane Auer Jones.
-- DeVos retains an investment in AEA Investors, which has a stake in Sextant Education, operator of a group of for-profit colleges, and she may also have an investment in for-profit giant Laureate Education.
-- Of course, Trump himself has only one professional experience with career education, as the proprietor of the predatory, deceptive Trump University, which late last year paid $25 million to settle fraud claims by students and New York's attorney general.
When DeVos gave her hedged response to Warren at the confirmation hearing, Warren shot back:
"Swindlers and crooks are out there doing backflips when they hear an answer like this. If you can't commit to use the tools that are already available to you ... then I don't see how you can be the Secretary of Education."
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But DeVos likely will be Secretary of Education, simply because Senate Republicans, in thrall to the Trump regime, appear ready to vote for her -- although Senator Lisa Murkowski just said at the committee meeting that, while she would vote for DeVos in committee, she had not yet decided how she would vote on the Senate floor.
Fortunately the swindlers and crooks backflips will be tempered by the reality of their dismal schools. DeVos's confirmation hearing answer produced a rally in publicly-traded for-profit college stocks, but it basically lasted a day. Even without the gainful rules, and other accountability measures that DeVos may be ready to throw away, continued investigative reporting on for-profit college abuses, advocacy work by pro-student organizations, and enforcement efforts by state attorneys general can help deter bad actors and protect the public from predatory schools. But a DeVos education department that sides with wealthy college operators over struggling students will disgrace itself and harm our country.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Elena Kosolapova Trend:
Agriculture should become one of the new drivers of the economy, said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in his annual address to the nation, which was published Jan. 31.
Kazakhstan can become one of the world's largest producers and exporters of agricultural products, he said. In particular, Kazakhstan has considerable potential for production of ecologically clean foodstuff. The Made in Kazakhstan brand should become a standard of such products.
I instruct to ensure the growth of food exports by 40 percent by 2021 through diversifying agricultural production, said Nazarbayev.
To achieve these goals, he instructed the government and heads of local executive authorities to reconsider the principles of granting subsidies and to gradually start insurance of products.
He added that it is necessary to create conditions within 5 years for amalgamation of more than 500,000 households and small farms in cooperatives.
Nazarbayev also instructed to improve the processing of products, create an effective system of storage, transportation and sale of products, to improve labor productivity and reduce production costs, as well as to improve the efficiency of land use and increase investment in agricultural research.
The Trump Administration's ill-conceived, unlawful, and counterproductive Muslim ban executive order raises new concerns about the nominations of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General and Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State.
With the White House under control of men who seem to lack the judgment and temperament to protect our nation's national security -- Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, and (at least for now) Michael Flynn -- and with the the Trump administration marginalizing and firing dedicated civil servants who are trying to defend U.S. interests, our country desperately needs people of independence to lead Justice and State -- to preserve the rule of law, to avoid global chaos, to prevent war and nuclear catastrophe.
A powerful report in yesterday's Washington Post documented that the seemingly mild Sessions is not that man. Far from it. In fact, the Attorney General nominee is "the intellectual godfather of the president's policies," with a "reach [that] extends throughout the White House, with his aides and allies accelerating the president's most dramatic moves, including the ban on refugees and citizens from seven mostly Muslim nations that has triggered fear around the globe."
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According to the Post story, Sessions, one of Trump's earliest supporters in Washington, helped craft Trump's first-week strategy "although Sessions had advocated going even faster." As the Post piece notes, key White House architects of the Trump shock and awe campaign Stephen Miller and Rick Dearborn, are long-time Sessions associates, while Steve Bannon appears to be Sessions' ideological soulmate. Bannon even told the Post that Sessions is "the clearinghouse for policy and philosophy" in the Trump regime and that he and Sessions are at the center of Trump's "pro-America movement."
Nor is there any reason to believe that Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson will be a strong force for sanity and responsibility, including on issues relating to Islam.
Asked at his confirmation hearing by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), "Do you support a national registry for American Muslims?", Tillerson replied, "I would need to have a lot more information around how such an approach would even be constructed, and if it were a tool for vetting, then it probably extends to other people as well, other groups that are threats to the U.S."
A national registry of any group of Americans based on their religion would be repugnant to U.S. values and our Constitution.
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It's possible that Tillerson could claim that he misunderstood the question and perhaps thought Shaheen was referencing the entrance of Muslims from overseas. But at the very least, Tillerson's answer revealed that he has little awareness of the issues or is a very poor listener. At worst, it shows that, far from countering the fervently bigoted, extremist views of Trump, Bannon, and Flynn, Tillerson would reinforce them.
Tillerson's nomination also reinforces other enormous concerns about the Trump administration:
Trump's bizarre love for Russian dictator Putin, the clear evidence that Russia tried to get Trump elected, and reports that the Justice Department is investigating Flynn's interactions with Russian officials, all suggest the U.S. needs a Secretary of State who will approach Russia in a clear-eyed, principled way. But Tillerson has developed close ties with Putin, and in 2012, Russia awarded Tillerson one of its highest honors, the Order of Friendship decoration.
Tillerson's ties to Russia are based on commerce -- on his multinational company Exxon Mobil and Russia making each other wealthier -- rather than on protecting U.S. interests, and he has opposed U.S. sanctions against Russia.
Similarly, Tillerson's record at Exxon is one of subordinating human rights and anti-terrorism concerns to lucrative business deals.
That Tillerson might view foreign relations through the lens of corporate profits also reinforces concerns about Trump. The new president's refusal to divest from his businesses, just as his companies leverage his new power in order to sell Trump-branded hotel rooms and club memberships, is turning our great democracy into a corrupt kleptocracy.
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While Tillerson's backers stress that he was recommended to Trump by former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, they don't mention that Rice and Gates run a consulting firm whose clients include ExxonMobil.
Confirming the concern that the Trump administration is about enriching government officials and their cronies, Tillerson has agreed only to recuse himself from Exxon-related matters for a single year, so far rejecting the request of senators that he recuse for his entire tenure.
Like Trump, Tillerson has refused to be accountable about his actions. Just as Trump has refused to provide his tax returns, Tillerson refused in his hearing to discuss his record at Exxon Mobil, where he has spent 41 years, including the company's alleged deceptions on climate change, which are now the subject of state attorney general investigations.
Finally, although Tillerson has somehow been lauded for not having as extreme a view on climate change as Trump, who has called it a hoax, his record is not reassuring, given the magnitude of the threat. Although Tillerson and his company stopped pretending in public, in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, that global warming isn't real, he continued to minimize the danger, while Exxon has funded think tanks that have questioned and denied climate change.
Asked at his hearing by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) whether the Trump administration would honor the Paris climate agreement, Tillerson said only that his State Department would conduct a "fulsome review" of the issue and that there would be "no space" between him and Trump on the issue. Which was hardly reassuring. And although he acknowledged that "the risk of climate change does exist, and the consequences could be serious enough that action should be taken," he added, "Our ability to predict that effect is very limited," and then told us what he really thought: "I don't see it as the imminent national security threat that perhaps others do."
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Tillerson, like Sessions, may be a good fit for Trump. But both are a bad fit for America.
As the Donald Trump-Steve Bannon shock and awe campaign moves through its second week, it's clear that it will take the determined efforts of millions of Americans to resist and repel the ugly new regime. Fortunately, a strong new anti-Trump resistance is growing, and even some Trump voters are already regretting their support.
But one American has the greatest responsibility in this struggle: Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (NY). And to succeed, he must take his inspiration from rivals -- his Republican counterpart Mitch McConnell (KY) and the conservative Tea Party. With Trump planning to announce a Supreme Court pick Tuesday night, Schumer must start playing hardball right now.
In October 2010, after nearly two years of Democratic control of the White House and both houses of Congress, Senate Republican leader McConnell offered this famous articulation of his top goal: "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."
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McConnell, of course, failed to achieve that goal. But after the GOP gained control of the House in the 2010 election and then the Senate in 2014, aided by an influx of corporate money and the power of the nascent Tea Party movement, McConnell and the Republicans were able to turn his obstructionist attitude into political stalemate, blocking virtually all meaningful legislation proposed by the White House. McConnell's Senate also stalled scores of Obama appointees and court nominees, and refused to act on Obama's Supreme Court pick Merrick Garland, a judicial moderate.
Back then, Democrats charged McConnell with putting partisanship above the national interest. But in the urgent circumstances posed by the presidency of Donald Trump, Senator Schumer must now embrace the McConnell playbook.
Schumer should eye Trump as McConnell viewed Obama in 2010: "If he's willing to meet us halfway on some of the biggest issues, it's not inappropriate for us to do business with him." But where Trump is extreme and unconscionable, as he has been since inauguration day, Schumer and the Democrats must get tough and relentlessly resist.
In order to successfully thwart Trump's hard-right agenda, however, Schumer must do one more thing: He must help his party break with the past and join with grassroots activists across America to embrace a truly progressive populist course that starkly contrasts with Trump's already-broken promises to working Americans.
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President Trump already has made clear he will be just like candidate Trump: erratic, divisive, irresponsible. Trump's childish, phony claims about his inaugural crowd size and voter fraud were just an opening distraction. Much more serious is Trump's chaotic, bigoted immigration order, which weakens America's commitment to the law and to human rights, endangers of the lives of good people, and undermines the fight against terrorism.
But while a wide range of Americans protest the Muslim ban, the Trump-Bannon assault is moving on so many other fronts, from attacks on the free press, to Trump's praise for torture, to his move to dump Obamacare with no replacement plan in sight, putting health care at risk for millions of people.
Trump's bizarre embrace of Vladimir Putin endangers our security, while his reckless rejection of efforts to protect against global warming and toxic pollution harms our very future.
And Trump's refusal to divest from his businesses, just as his companies leverage his new power in order to sell Trump-branded hotel rooms and club memberships, is turning our great democracy into a corrupt kleptocracy.
Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are now abandoning whatever principles and consciences they had to fall in line behind Trump, whose hold over the GOP base they fear, and who has agreed to work with them for the things they really want: tax cuts for the wealthy and dismantlement of the health, safety, consumer, and environmental rules that displease the GOP's big corporate donors.
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Schumer and the Democrats have every right, and responsibility, to block the Trump-GOP destructive agenda, and to fight hard against Trump nominees. Conservative but qualified cabinet picks like Nikki Haley may merit approval. But Democrats should keep fighting hard against more troubling nominees, like Tom Price, Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Betsy DeVos, Steve Mnuchin, and Scott Pruitt -- educating the public even if they lose on party-line votes.
Senators should use the procedural maneuver called withholding consent to delay a range of GOP efforts. And when it comes to the Supreme Court seat, and to many pieces of legislation, Senate Democrats retain the power of the filibuster: Sixty votes are needed for action, and there are only 52 Senate Republicans.
Schumer already has said Democrats will fight against any Supreme Court nominee "outside of the mainstream," and that's a good start. But hardball means getting tougher. McConnell thought American would do fine with eight justices. Unless Trump picks Garland or someone whose views are in the near vicinity of Garland's, Schumer should work to block confirmation.
That three Democratic senators, plus independent Angus King (ME), tonight voted to move ahead with a vote on the nomination of Tillerson, who in his hearing demonstrated little knowledge of foreign policy, refused to answer questions about his 41-year tenure at Exxon, and gave untruthful answers about Exxon's lobbying on Russia sanctions, shows that Schumer isn't pushing hard enough yet.
Efforts by Schumer and the Democrats can be successful only if they are backed up by, and in sync with, determined grassroots resistance all across the country -- a genuine progressive tea party that organizes locally as well as online, challenges lawmakers at every town hall meeting, and relentlessly rings their office telephones. The powerful protests of the past two weekends suggest that such a movement could soon emerge.
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The Democrats need to harness the powerful desire of citizens, made clear in last year's election, for fundamental change and an end to the domination of politics by corporate elites. Many voters, right and left, blamed Hillary Clinton's Democrats for losing touch with working people. If they want to return to relevance, Democratic leaders need to truly divorce themselves from predatory Wall Street actors and their Washington lobbyists and become genuine populist champions.
Congressional Democrats should embrace a strong progressive agenda: good jobs and wages, investment in career training, infrastructure, and clean energy, fair trade, civil rights and voting rights. They also need to demand accountability for those Wall Street banks, payday lenders, pharmaceutical makers, cable companies, scam for-profit colleges, and others that perpetrate consumer and financial fraud -- even as those industries continue to hire Democratic lobbyists to press lawmakers at cocktail parties. Schumer and the Democrats must stand firmly against the big money corruption of our politics -- not just say it, but mean it.
A firm populist stance by Democrats need not and should not preclude the building of a strong alliance involving business leaders and other prominent Americans to stand up to the Trump Administration's disturbing assault on constitutional freedoms and its reckless foreign policy.
But a populist approach by the Democrats will create a sharp contrast with this president. Candidate Trump promised to fight for the forgotten man and woman, but he's already forgotten them, picking anti-worker CEO Andrew Puzder as Labor Secretary, suspending a mortgage rate cut for homeowners, and advancing other plans to hurt middle class families. He promised to stand up against Goldman Sachs, and to drain the corrupt Washington swamp, but he already has undermined these pledges, stocking his administration with billionaires, former Goldman Sachs executives, and Washington lobbyists tied to big corporations, and building bonds with Exxon Mobil, Sheldon Adelson, and the Koch brothers.
With a few exceptions, notably on trade and immigration, Trump's policy agenda is McConnell's, a country club Republican approach that elevates the special interests of GOP corporate donors over those of U.S. workers and consumers.
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The challenge for Democrats is to expose Trump as the cynical enemy of working people. They can't do it unless they shed their own heavy corporate baggage. Otherwise the resistance will have no soul, no energy, and no chance to win. If congressional Democrats don't learn this lesson, they may face strong progressive challengers next election.
If Trump changes course and decides to deal on positive actions like creating jobs, increasing wages, and improving health care, Schumer and the Democrats might be able to work with him. But whether Trump has any capacity for cooperation is already in doubt, and Trump's conduct this month -- he has called Schumer the Democrats "head clown" and today mocked Schumer for shedding tears while speaking to constituents about the Muslim ban -- suggest all he wants from Schumer is the chance to bully him.
Schumer and the Democrats should join in a fierce populist resistance. And make Trump a one-term president.
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on following a swearing-in ceremony for Defense Secretary James Mattis at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
With the official death of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the likely renegotiation of NAFTA, the proponents of these deals are doubling down in their defense of the current course of U.S. trade policy. While there are serious arguments that can be made in defense of these policies, advocates are instead seeking to deny basic reality.
These trade policy proponents are trying to deny that these policies have hurt large segments of the workforce and are claiming that the people, who believe that they were hurt by trade, are simply misinformed. The proponent's story is that the real cause of job loss was the impersonal force of technology, not a trade policy that deliberately placed U.S. manufacturing workers in direct competition with low paid workers in the developing world.
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Fortunately this is a case where the facts are clear. The people who think they were hurt by trade are right. It is the people who blame technology who are misinformed or worse.
The obvious error in the technology or automation story is that automation is not anything new. We have been seeing increases in productivity in manufacturing forever; it is not something that just happened in the last two decades. In fact, the most rapid period of technological change was in the quarter century from 1947 to 1973, not the last two decades.
In spite of increases in productivity growth, there was relatively little net change in manufacturing employment in the three decades from 1970 to 2000. There were 17.8 million jobs in manufacturing in 1970 and 17.3 million in 2000. There were cyclical ups and downs, but the downward trend was relatively modest. To be clear, manufacturing was declining as a share of total employment, but there was little change in the absolute level of employment.
This changed in the years from 2000 to 2007. Over this seven year period, manufacturing employment fell by 3.4 million jobs to 13.9 million. Note that 2007 is before the collapse of the housing bubble that threw the economy into recession. The reason for this plunge in employment is simple, the trade deficit exploded to almost 6.0 percent of GDP, more than $1.1 trillion in today's economy.
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To argue that this surge in the trade deficit was not associated with a loss of manufacturing jobs is absurd on its face. Does anyone seriously want to argue that if the trade deficit had remained near 1.5 percent of GDP (its mid-1990 level), that we would not have more manufacturing jobs. Or to flip the question over, can we add over $1 trillion to our annual output in manufacturing without hiring additional workers?
And these job losses were concentrated in the traditional industrial states that featured prominently in the fall election. Ohio lost 250,000 manufacturing jobs over this period, one quarter of its total. Michigan lost 280,000 jobs, more than 30 percent of its manufacturing employment. Pennsylvania lost over 300,000 manufacturing jobs, roughly one-third of its total.
None of these numbers are seriously contestable outside of Donald Trump's alternative fact universe. They all come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and can be easily verified by any of the commentators blaming automation, if they were interested in actually knowing anything about the issue.
In fact, this story really understates the impact of trade since the imbalances that lead to the housing bubble and the subsequent crash and Great Recession were directly tied to the massive trade deficit the United States ran in this period. For this reason, people would not be wrong to say that our trade policies were an important contributor to the Great Recession and its devastating impact on the labor market.
It is also worth pointing out we could have pursued trade policies that were not so harmful to these workers. Our high dollar policy, which began under Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin in 1996, was central to the huge trade deficits of the next decade.
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Also, contrary to the folk wisdom of the elites, we have selective protectionism, not free trade. While it is easy to import manufactured goods produced by the cheapest labor anywhere in the world, even a highly qualified foreign doctor would get arrested for practicing medicine in the United States unless they first completed a U.S. residency program. We subjected our manufacturing workers to international competition, while largely protecting our most highly paid professionals.
This reality check is important. The people who turned away from the Democrats and voted for Donald Trump really did have legitimate grievances. Trade policies supported by the leadership of both parties had a devastating impact on the lives of millions of workers and their families.
We've updated our year-end report urging policymakers to provide a large funding boost to renew housing vouchers in 2017 so that we could show the potential impact that funding shortfalls could have in every state (see the table below). Without the funding, the number of low-income families receiving help to pay the rent will fall sharply this year.
Under a continuing resolution that freezes voucher funding for all of 2017 at last year's level, for example, vouchers for more than 100,000 families would be unfunded, a loss of assistance that would be greater than what the 2013 sequestration cuts caused. Larger states like Florida, California, New Jersey, and North Carolina would lose the most vouchers, but smaller states like Maine and West Virginia would also lose rental assistance for hundreds of low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children.
Such cuts in housing vouchers would undermine communities' efforts to address housing insecurity and homelessness, and do so at a time when the number of low-income households struggling to pay the rent and make ends meet has been rising dramatically.
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A growing gap between rents and tenant incomes has increased the cost of renewing housing vouchers in 2017. Due to this gap, along with policymakers' recent actions to restore vouchers lost under sequestration and reduce homelessness among veterans, the cost of renewing all housing vouchers in 2017 has risen to an estimated $18.86 billion.
That's higher than what the House and Senate appropriations committees approved last year in their respective 2017 funding bills for housing programs. The Senate bill would leave housing vouchers for at least 25,000 low-income households unfunded in 2017, and the House bill would leave an even deeper shortfall.
As our updated report explains, state and local housing agencies likely have already begun to cut the number of families they help. After President Obama and Congress enacted a continuing resolution in December to temporarily freeze funding for most federal programs through April 28, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) notified agencies that, beginning in January, they would receive 5 percent less funding than they need to support all of the housing vouchers that families are now using.
HUD could quickly reverse such cuts if policymakers include adequate renewal funding in the final funding bill that Congress aims to approve by the end of April, but the cuts will deepen rapidly -- with serious consequences for every state in the union -- if policymakers don't do so.
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*Presumes that continuing resolution funds housing vouchers at 2016 funding level.
Note: These estimates assume that $280 million of renewal funding eligibility will be met with resources from agencies' funding reserves. Totals include estimates for Guam, the Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Source: CBPP analysis of Department of Housing and Urban Development Voucher Management System data.
This post originally appeared on Off the Charts, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' blog
There is plenty of data suggesting that education, particularly a college or university degree, leads to higher incomes. Less is known about the impact of higher education -- and specific schools -- on socioeconomic mobility, that is, moving from one "rung" of the income ladder to another.
A new study by The Equality of Opportunity Project sheds valuable light on this question: Which colleges in America contribute the most to helping students climb the income ladder?
Many Elite Colleges Have Chosen Affordability Over Access
Researchers found that poor students who attend top (i.e. selective or elite) colleges do about as well in terms of income as their rich classmates, but many fewer lower income students attend these institutions. According to a New York Times article on the study, "at 38 colleges in America, including five in the Ivy League - Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale, Penn and Brown - more students come from the top 1 percent of the income scale than from the entire bottom 60 percent."
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Further, less than one-half of 1 percent of children from the bottom fifth of American families attend an elite college; less than half attend any college at all."
As Danny Yagan, one of the study authors, noted, "Free tuition only helps if you can get in."
The authors of "Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility" tracked more than 30 million students born between 1980 and 1991, linking anonymized tax returns to attendance records for almost every college in America.
There are a number of interesting reflections on higher education policy that emerge from the interpretation of this data. The New York Times reports, "These patterns are important because previous research has found that there are many highly qualified lower-income students who did not attend selective colleges--and because the low- and middle-income students who do attend top colleges fare almost as well as rich students."
Put a different way, "lower-income students end up earning almost as much on average as affluent students who attend the same college."
The New York Times also concluded, "most Americans remain on a similar place on the income distribution graph from their late 30s through the end of their careers."
College Mobility Rate Measures Graduates Movement Up Income Ladder
The researchers in the new study also developed a new data point -- a college's mobility rate - which combines a college's share of students from lower-income families with its success in moving them into a higher permanent level on an income earning's chart. A disparate collection of mainly mid-tier public colleges, including California State University - Los Angeles and the City University of New York System -- and not the Ivies -- have the best college mobility rates.
Of course, any number of factors can come into play to affect these conclusions. Most Ivies are mid-sized institutions, for example, so the impact that they have on national rates reflects the aggregate number of students that they contribute to the national findings.
Still, the findings raise important policy questions as American higher education continues to evolve and re-invent itself. For example:
Do elite colleges have a special mission to educate broadly across all income levels as the justification for their continuing status as non-profits?
If so, should they be held any more or less accountable for their ability to do so given their sticker prices, the size of their endowments, and their published statements on institutional mission?
What is more important: affordability or access?
It is widely accepted that public colleges typically educate the most first-generation students and those from the lowest socioeconomic class. In the race for students, do public and private colleges and universities really educate different students by income level or is the pool of applicants from which they select similar in 2017?
Is there differentiation by income between public and private "flagship" research universities or between the research universities and four-year predominantly undergraduate institutions?
Do non-elite institutions serve students from lower socioeconomic classes successfully?
If so, given the level of preparedness affecting the social, familial, cultural, psychological, and financial challenges that these students face, should different standards apply to admission, retention, and graduation rates across colleges and universities?
In fact, should a college's accountability be measured more fairly against the challenges that the college faces when working with students who require more attention than similar students at highly selective colleges?
Is it the money that matters most in the "free" college tuition plans now being proposed, when retention and graduation rates do not support greater student success if only the financial barriers are lessened?
Is a partial solution to design policies that better reflect institutional missions, intentions, and projected outcomes?
Should state and federal governments set education, including higher education, as a much higher priority in planning and funding cycles given rising income inequality in America?
For the past several years, consumer and political polling have relied on high tuition sticker prices, rising debt, and anecdotal personal stories to shift the blame of higher education's failures on to America's colleges and universities.
There is plenty of blame to go around with a good share of it borne by higher education. But politicians and their policy planners must also accept their own failures to read the research, understand and anticipate the demographic shifts, and assess the impact of technology on American society.
There is a persistent and growing problem with income inequality in the United States.
Rather than police American higher education, perhaps our political, social and economic leadership should find a way to partner with colleges and universities on developing solutions. It begins by doing the homework necessary to ask the right questions.
I'm Fred Raillard, Creative CEO, Co-founder and Creative Chief Officer with Farid Mokart of FRED & FARID, an independent creative boutique network based in New York, Shanghai and Paris. #FredinChina is an essential social media podcast to know and understand the world's largest economy.
I fell in love with China, and live in Shanghai with my wife and three sons since September 2012. With my teams at the FRED & FARID Shanghai agency we monitor, analyze and decrypt this ultra-connected China with nearly 800 million netizens by sharing what we see, hear and read on Weibo, WeChat, Huaban, Youku. I prepare this column with Zhuomin Qin from FRED & FARID Shanghai.
Thanks to Zhuomin Qin, Feng Huang, Jalila Levesque, Jules Chaffiotte, Radouane Guissi, Yi Zhang, Ying Zhang, Aliou Maro, Tina Liu, Louis Caudevilla, Dushan Karageorgevitch, Jing Qian, Jonathan Roy, Maxime Aubanel and Antoine Robin for their participation to this chronic.
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Click here to listen to all the podcasts.
Is Didi to blame for a disruptive ride-hailing market?
The ride-hailing market is becoming increasingly complicated in China. Uber left China last August and sold his shares to local rival Didi, who was already the leader in China and therefore found itself in a situation of complete monopoly. They could therefore lower their prices, offering regular promotions and even decreased their margins so that their drivers could be happier!
Since January 2017 Chinese users have been complaining that it is more difficult now to order a cab in T1 / T2 cities. The first month of the year coincides with the Chinese New Year and therefore the Chinese traditionally leave the cities to return home, much like Westerners do during Christmas. This is nothing new, but this year the phenomenon is more important than in the past. Recently, an angry Didi user wrote an article that became viral on social networks. He accuses Didi of disrupting the market and bringing about this difficult situation in Chinese T1 / T2 cities.
He goes on to accuse the Chinese giant for 2 reasons:
1 / The algorithm of supply and demand is a disaster and the clients endure a surge in prices even when the supply is greater than the demand.
2 / Because the drivers can now choose their trips, they are now waiting for clients to add a tip on the application. The article has reached the ceiling of 100,000 views on WeChat, and was shared a great deal. The netizens attacked Didi and some even regret the departure of Uber, which allowed for a more balanced market. Others find that the situation deteriorates Shanghai's image, while drivers were extremely courteous until now.
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Macho lyrics in the song for the movie 'Duckweed' enrage Millennials
The HotTopic this week is a film called Duckweed, directed by Han Han: one of China's most famous directors. On January 21, Han Han presented the official song of his film on Weibo. generating a lot of discussions on social networks in light of the lyrics.
The lyrics refer to a young married man addressing his wife, and his expectations. For example, he asks her to assume the full responsibility of the family (to earn more money than him, to get up earlier and go to bed later, take care of the housework, take care of the children etc.), and that in return he will not cheat on her with another woman.
Naturally, this is all very macho, and refers to an archaic vision of the couple that Chinese Millennials have dismissed, and who want to detach themselves from this old-fashioned Chinese vision of the family. Moreover, netizens know that it is not a cynical song because Han Han is known in China for his disrespectful views on women. Young people are boycotting the film.
The communication team around the film received tons of complaints, and announced that the song was only a translation and adaptation of an old Japanese song of the 70s. The team even announced that a second song would soon come out, expressing the post-marriage life of the man, where he takes on more responsibility. But Han Han never apologized for the choice of the song.
The good old days of the CNY
The HotPost this week is a video that generated 26 million views. It shows how the Chinese celebrated the Chinese New Year in the past. These ancient traditions reminded netizens of some of their childhood memories. We read some comments like, "This video reminds me of how we celebrated the CNY in my childhood. It was better before...". Other millennials or young people of the Generation Z expressed their jealousy about how the CNY was celebrated in the past. This is a very successful video blowing a wind of nostalgia across China.
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In 2000, the Central Government of Indonesia granted provinces the right to self govern and have autonomy from the Central Government to establish independent legislative councils and enact local laws, known as regional regulations.
A new report by OutRight Action International, Creeping Criminalisation, maps Indonesias national laws and the departure of regional regulations from national laws in eight provinces. It finds that regional regulations violate human rights of women, and of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and do not coincide with national level legislation and even the Constitution. The regional regulations, passed by province, district or city-level governments, are heavily influenced by the encroachment of fundamentalist interpretations of Islam, specifically, Wahhabi Islam that is exported and financially resourced by Saudi Arabia.
Moral Sexual Panic
One year ago in January 2016, an unexpected wave of state sponsored homophobia proliferated across Indonesias capital and spread across the country. The campaign began as an effort to ban lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations from Indonesian campuses, but escalated rapidly. Government officials and fundamentalist organizations began an all out attack on LGBT people, proclaiming LGBT people as morally depraved and mentally ill, condemning LGBT groups as a national security threat, a proxy war worse than a nuclear attack, and propagating LGBT people as a danger to children.
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Media fuelled the growing moral sexual panic. Prominent politicians used media to spread anti-LGBT messages, such as calling for a ban on LGBT people or urging rehabilitation for LGBT communities. These messages soon prompted vigilantism in different provinces across Indonesia. For instance, in the city of Bandung in West Java, Muslim religious vigilantes raided neighborhoods and targeted women with shared housing arrangements, accusing them of lesbianism, although women sharing housing is a common practice, In the province of Yogyakarta, Front Jihad Islam, a violent fundamentalist group, forced a Muslim religious school for waria (transwomen) to permanently shut down. Often viewed as fundamentalist thugs, the group asserted that waria should stop reciting the Quran and repent their sinful ways. They organized other violent confrontations during peaceful LGBT gatherings.
Although many Indonesians and LGBTI activists internationally were shocked by the organized manner in which the 2016 campaign was carried out, it is in fact part of the alarming and dangerous trend that has been underway for over ten years. This is evidenced by discriminatory legislation that has slowly proliferated across the country, criminalizing LGBTI people and women on subjective accusations of individual sin, destabilizing social harmony.
One impact of the discriminatory regulations is the view that relationships (heterosexual and same sex) outside of marriage are considered adultery and/or prostitution, deemed indecent, immoral, and as disrupting public order. Definitions of these terms are broad and subject to arbitrary interpretation. For instance, findings in Creeping Criminalisation show that religious leaders, religious officials, and community leaders deciding on criminality and punishment, often base their decisions on personal bias instead of the law. They act as moral police, using the legislation to impose their own interpretations of Islam on practicing Muslims. Punishments include jail terms and fines, in some instances coupled with public shaming, and in the province of Aceh, caning.
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Supposedly A Moderate Muslim Country
Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world and is considered a moderate Muslim country. The imposition of Wahhabi Islam onto Indonesians sharply contrasts with the moderate interpretation of Islam that most Indonesians practice.
Womens rights, LGBT rights, and human rights activists decry the dangerous and harmful trend of religious fundamentalism creeping into the country and say that it is transforming Indonesia into an ultra conservative Islamic state. Wahhabism has displaced local Indonesian Muslim practices and traditions, negatively impacting womens dress styles, space for womens autonomy, space for Islamic discourse, and tolerance for LGBT individuals. In fact, religious leaders who advocate Wahhabism silence questioning and debate on these issues even by practicing Muslims, shrinking religious freedom and freedom of opinion and expression.
Since the anti-LGBT campaign started, an anti-LGBT bill, which previously had limited support among Parliamentarians, has gained traction. Some activists in the country fear it could pass, and if it does, consenting Indonesians in same sex relationships will, for the first time, be federally criminalized for being lesbian, gay or bisexual.
In addition, a conservative Muslim family values group has asked the Constitutional Court to include adult consenting same sex relations as a punishable offense under the Criminal Code, Indonesias equivalent to the Penal Code. It currently does not prohibit homosexuality and lesbianism.
If these measures succeed, the national laws will no longer serve as the higher standard for regional regulations.
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The authors of the report, Creeping Criminalisation, make note of the few Indonesian Muslim religious leaders and scholars who have called for a human rights-based approach to Islam, and say that LGBT communities must not be oppressed, and must be protected as they are also Indonesian citizens.
Presidential Action
"Chaos is the precondition to creativity... Even what has been created needs to be returned to chaos from time to time so that it can be regenerated in more vital form." - Parker J. Palmer
At this year's World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland, PR firm Edelman shared its comprehensive annual Trust Barometer, confirming what we all know: global trust in institutions and leaders is at an all-time low. Fully two-thirds of countries are now considered "distrusters" (under 50% trust in the mainstream institutions of business, government, media and NGOs to do what is right), compared to about half a year ago. This is a stunning collapse in trust, even from last year's low base.
Trust in leadership is equally low. Only 37 percent of the general population believe CEOs are credible, even worse for government officials - 29 percent credible. A paltry 15 percent believe the system is working. Ironically, it was Chinese Premier Xi, in his first address at Davos, who stood in defense of globalization (quoting Abraham Lincoln, it should be said), arguing that the system is sound, but it is (Western democratic) governance that has failed. Note China ranked second on the trust index, second only to India.
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Talk about a humbling moment (if that's possible) at the annual gathering of the global economic and political elite.
There was lots of talk this year at Davos about "inclusive capitalism" (Jack Ma actually puts substance behind the slogan in his must-watch interview -- a great example of Alibaba's seemingly regenerative business model in service to its network partners rather than extracting from them, and a sharp contrast to Amazon's model, as Ma explains). But the "inclusive capitalism" talk included little honest analysis of the root cause of this stunning collapse in trust, why it is so dangerous (the rise in extreme forms of authoritarian populism rooted in emotion more than evidence and its unpredictable path), and what if anything can be done about it at this late date. Nobel Economist Joseph Stiglitz wrote a prescient piece on this topic in 2013, and called for strong regulation and bold regulators to enforce the laws. Clearly, we have failed. And without a culture that not only values trust but demands it, I am not optimistic about better regulation and stricter enforcement.
The decline in trust pervades all four institutions studied in the Edelman survey. Unfortunately, Edelman did not single out finance and report on it separately from business. Surely few would doubt that the finance sector (Wall Street mega banks, in particular) would rank at the bottom of the trust barometer within the business category. In fact, research confirms that bankers are more likely to cheat than the rest of us. (As a former banker, this is upsetting to me!)
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Nothing defines banking's breach of public trust better than the 2008 financial collapse. Being told to move on, It is easy to forget how much of the world's current social and economic woes can be traced to the financial bubble and subsequent 2008 systemic collapse, either directly or indirectly.
Recall that the financial collapse destroyed $19 trillion of economic value in the U.S. alone, permanently destroying the economic security of millions of families across America. An estimated 34 million jobs were destroyed globally in the process.
The rise of today's dangerous brand of authoritarian populism--manifesting first in Brexit and now Trump--is directly connected to Wall Street's breach of trust. It's not just because of "globalization" or "technology" taking our jobs as if it were all inevitable. We cannot forget that compounding and exacerbating these legitimate and complex challenges, and more (climate change-induced drought driving immigration, linked to the Syrian carnage comes to mind) was the willful act of dropping a bomb into an already vulnerable society. The Goldman Sachs/John Paulson Abacus trade was the Hiroshima of modern financial history.
The mortgage fiasco was a massive, reckless act of violence, perpetrated upon global society by an industry failing in its critical purpose while instead proving itself willing to do just about anything to make grotesque profits through fraud and egregious deceit. The efficient market narrative of bringing home ownership to the masses was all a cynical cover. And the industry's ongoing fraudulent activities post the crisis, from the LIBOR scandal to FX price rigging, to wrongful foreclosure with robo-signers to Wells Fargo's opening millions of fake accounts out of its "community banking" division of all places (where the do-gooders are supposed to work), sealed the fate of the industry as devoid of trust for some time to come, unfair as that may be for the many honest bankers out there.
Blaming populism on bankers' unparalleled breach of trust is a strong claim. But think about it:
Less speculative finance, less speculative real estate lending. Less boom created from unsustainable misallocation of human, physical, and financial capital to speculative real estate. Less wasted carbon in the atmosphere and less farmland destroyed, exacerbating the drought-driven migrations. Less unearned wealth for bankers and less resulting inequality, and less power for the sector to rig the rules, buy off and brainwash the politicians and even regulators, resulting in asymmetric risks only the opportunist bankers truly understood. (Trump once referred to the bankers--now his advisors--as "killers" on the campaign trail, and he's had to cross them more than once, so he knows). Less demand on the public sector to socialize the losses to "save the system" and therefore less public debt and no need for the misguided austerity driving society further into despair. That means more resources available to address the consequences of globalization and automation, and greater acceleration of investment into the transition to renewable energy and into rebuilding our aging yet vital infrastructure. More assets channeled into education, perhaps even into the revival of civics classes! We know how this narrative continues. We know it does not end with the election of a fraud to the most powerful office in the land.
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Donald Trump, whose ethics seem guided by the probability of winning lawsuits, is about as unlikely a remedy for broken societal trust as one can imagine, as his hopeful supporters are sadly about to learn. Coal is not coming back, sorry. So the consequences of lost trust will only amplify in dangerous and unpredictable ways that now stunningly include the Orwellian introduction of "alternative facts" into the Trump Administration's everyday narrative.
The so-called "activist investor" Carl Icahn is Trump's fellow bully buddy and now Special Advisor on Regulatory Reform. He has defended the need for Dodd-Frank banking reform in the past and held the banks responsible for the financial crisis in public statements. That is a testament to his common sense and refreshing objectivity as a Wall Street insider. Time will tell whether a man who has spent half a century as an opportunist (bully) stock speculator can come to see that an ideology that conflates speculation with investment and means (finance and the stock market) with ends (a healthy economy) can guide us to a more enlightened and still desperately needed financial system reform and begin the long process of rebuilding trust in Wall Street, and in the process within society.
It was 2009 when Sister Dorothy Fabritze entered the office of Father Frank Cancro's parish in Charlotte, NC. She was there to petition funds on behalf of the Circus and Traveling Show Ministries of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
It is a ministry that has served the great American circus for decades -- be it through weekly mass, the overseeing of sacraments, religious instruction for show children, the blessing of our animals or merely being present to offer a listening ear and counsel to us weary travelers. As Sister Dorothy and Father Cancro spoke, she immediately noticed a picture of a clown. Much to her surprise, that clown was none other than Father Cancro. "I remember telling her my story somewhat reluctantly," says Cancro. "Three months later, I was invited to join the circus ministry."
The Philadelphia native is decades removed from the bumbling, rebellious youth who was kicked out of college during his junior year. "My friends were worried about me, so we went to see the campus priest," says Cancro. The priest offered his counsel and asked Cancro and his friends what they wanted to do with their lives. "I didn't care to even be there, so, I flippantly told him, 'I want to be a clown!' I thought that would throw him off guard and allow me to be on my way," he says. But alas, "the Lord works in mysterious ways." Unbeknownst to Cancro, that priest he'd hoped to brush off had, in fact, been a clown, and he would be very instrumental in getting the young Cancro enrolled into the Ringling Bros. Clown College.
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Ironically, Frank Cancro's venture into clowning wasn't exactly a "flippant" whim. The few times he and his family were able to attend the circus, it was the clowns that captivated his imagination, and as a result, the desire to become one was genuine. However, following his tenure at Ringling Bros. Clown College, Cancro would enjoy brief stints with a couple of mud shows until, as he bemoaned, "burnt bridges" effectively ended his career under the big top. "Put an immature 18, 19, 20-year-old in the world of the 1960's, and you got me. It wasn't a pretty picture," he says.
Yet, somehow Frank stumbled into what he called his "save the world phase." Weary of obstructing any more opportunities and burning any more bridges, he would become a live-in volunteer for a Catholic mission in Eastern Kentucky. There he assisted the pastor with the various programs spawned by the mission -- everything from home improvement programs to alternative schools for dropouts. There was also a home visitation program that was put together by two of the social workers at the hospital. Frank would attend their meetings every evening. "Every night on my way home from those meetings I'd encounter this old nun, and she'd ask me the same question night after night -- 'How come you're not a priest?'" he recalls. "I hated it when she'd ask me that." Soon he'd had enough of the old nun's meddling and decided he'd take a weekend retreat for the sole purpose of finding an answer that would "shut her up." As he contemplated the question and feverishly sought an answer, he began asking himself what that old nun had been asking him for many a night -- "How come I'm not a priest?" He had no answer; instead, he discovered a surprising desire or at least strong intrigue. Having failed in his quest to quiet the nun, Frank immediately contacted the Bishop of Charlotte, NC, who he'd worked with previously to inquire about his interest in what he referred to as this "priesthood thing." "The Bishop invited me to visit with him to discuss the matter," says Cancro. "But, when I arrived he already had me scheduled to enter seminary in the Fall."
The Holy Bible famously documents the stories of individuals whose origins in no way point toward the legacy they are celebrated for. Such was the contemplation of the Psalmist-Shepard boy who would become Israel's most renowned king - "What is man that You are mindful of him...?" (Psalm 8:4 NKJV). For the stumbling, immature Cancro who rarely crossed a bridge he didn't burn or an opportunity he didn't squander, it was evident that "the Lord works in mysterious ways."
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"When I told my father that I was going to be a priest, there was no look like the one he gave me. I don't think he believed I'd make it, and I couldn't blame him," he laughs. One of the greatest deterrents to our abuse of time and opportunity is finding our place in the world. "When I got in the program, I loved it! It just felt right, and it has felt right for over 34 years."
As a member of the Circus and Traveling Show Ministries of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Father Frank and his colleagues are a frequent and much welcomed presence at our show. His rapport with our myriad of cultures, personalities and life styles is fluid, as it is inspiring. "I like this ministry because it's a ministry of presence. Saying mass on Saturday is the least thing I do. The most important thing I do is walk around and say 'hello' to people. As I get to know their stories, I check in. Just to respect a person enough to be present for them I think is a big part of ministry for me," he says.
His is a gentle yet impactful presence. Ours is a community in motion. There is no normal in our world and no day or even moment is the same, yet Father Frank, much like his colleagues, is a constant in the world of the unexpected. Father Frank and his colleagues are everything from trusted confidants, who lend an ear and wisdom to the most intimate and vulnerable areas of our lives, to articulate and gleeful fans of the artistry and sweat that create The Greatest Show On Earth. "I like to encourage performers. I believe part of our job is to keep the house alive. I watch the floor crew because it's just as exciting as everything else," says Cancro.
What endears Father Frank and his colleagues to the world of the circus, a society and culture all its own, is their authentic humanity. For it is easy to forget that those who are in the service of people are indeed just as human as those for whom they serve, as they often seem so beyond all that we are. However, behind every priestly collar there's a story, and in the case of Father Frank Cancro, once so wayward and rebellious, his story comes down to a very simple truth. The very bedrock of the gospel for which he is commissioned to share -- grace.
President Trump: Like President Reagan, Make Us Safer
Dear President Elect Trump:
There is a challenge more important than jobs, health care, border security, and economic growth, and yes, even your passion to "make America great, again!" The security of the world remains at risk from nuclear weapons and the unity of the American people requires trusting its leadership to address this threat reasonably. To make America great, unity and courage will be needed. I believe you do not want to make the American people afraid.
If all issues but the elimination of nuclear weapons are addressed effectively, and this issue falters, unimaginable catastrophe ensues. Proliferation must be stopped and progress toward elimination pursued.
Numerous articles have appeared that state that you would not object if Japan and South Korea developed nuclear arsenals. Now that you will become President I hope you realize that this attitude makes sensible people very afraid. These nations are prohibited from acquiring nuclear weapons under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in which the United States is party along with over 189 other nations. Suggesting violating the treaty is serious. It indicates a lack of respect for the US Constitution, which provides that treaties are the Supreme Law of the Land. I hope you will quickly make it clear that you will prevent any further spread of nuclear weapons.
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Many people believe you have a cavalier attitude toward the spread of nuclear weapons, which could be the third most dangerous thing that could happen to the world. The second would be the explosion of a nuclear weapon in a city. The first would be the explosion of less than 1% of the world's arsenals, around 100 warheads, causing tons of soot to blacken the stratosphere and ending agriculture as we know it, consequently ending civilization. The horrific effects of a nuclear strike, either intended or accidental, should scare anyone.
Also, Sir, you have created fear by implying that you will support the expenditures of hundreds of billions of dollars to upgrade and modernize the nuclear enterprise and even engage in a nuclear arms race with Russia.
I urge you to take a look at the policies, statements, and practices of a previous Republican President, Ronald Reagan. He was successful in establishing better relations with Russia. The world could use progress in that realm again now. I believe you want to bring assurance to people and actually make the world safer. It is now in your hands to accomplish.
President Ronald Reagan's actions in helping to end the Cold War are instructive. In addition to assuring adversaries that we did not intend them harm, his substantive policies were instrumental in bringing down nuclear arsenals from its excesses of over 60,000 to the present excess of over 15,000. Let's not look at political spin but hard facts. Reagan engaged in serious negotiations with President Gorbachev aspiring to achieve the universal, legal, and verifiable elimination of all nuclear weapons. He did not do this as a political stunt, but rather he believed it was best for America and the world.
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If you do not believe me, give former Secretary of State George Shultz a call. He is at Stanford and I am sure he would make it clear that President Reagan was serious when he said that nuclear weapons are "totally irrational, totally inhumane, good for nothing but killing, possibly destructive of life on earth and civilization."
Be like Reagan, engage directly with President Putin and change, and possibly save, history by ending the nuclear threat. Even President Nixon made enormous advances in this realm: achieving the SALT I Treaty, bringing into force the NPT, negotiating the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty, and actually leading in banning an entire class of weapons of mass destruction by leading in the creation of the Biological Weapons Convention.
To make sure that no one in Washington succeeds in spinning, distorting, or minimizing President Reagan's commitment to eliminating the most dangerous weapon of mass destruction, I have compiled several very clear quotes for your use:
1. "A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. The only value in our two nations possessing nuclear weapons is to make sure they will never be used. But then would it not be better to do away with them entirely?" - Ronald Reagan, 1984 State of the Union
2."We seek the total elimination one day of nuclear weapons from the face of the Earth."- Ronald Reagan, Inaugural Address, 1985
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3."My central arms control objective has been to reduce substantially, and ultimately to eliminate, nuclear weapons and rid the world of the nuclear threat. The prevention of the spread of nuclear explosives to additional countries is an indispensable part of our efforts to meet this objective. I intend to continue my pursuit of this goal with untiring determination and a profound sense of personal commitment." - Ronald Reagan, "Message to the Congress Transmitting the Annual Report on Nuclear Nonproliferation," March 25,1988.
4."Our moral imperative is to work with all our powers for that day when the children of the world grow up without the fear of nuclear war." - Ronald Reagan from "Reagan's Secret War" by Martin and Annelise Anderson
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Elena Kosolapova Trend:
Cardinal improvement and expansion of the business environment is one of the priorities of the modernization of Kazakhstans economy, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said in his annual address to the countrys people.
One of our strategic goals is to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses have at least a 50 percent share in the GDP of Kazakhstan by 2050, said Nazarbayev.
Nazarbayev added that it is important to expand the scope of microlending and improve the tools to support the mass entrepreneurship.
He instructed the government together with the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs to take measures to reduce all types of costs for business, in particular the cost of services in the sphere of energy, transport and logistics, as well as utilities.
The Kazakh president also urged to optimize the rendering public services, reduce the terms and the list of required documents, eliminate the procedures duplicating each other and fully switch to an electronic format of rendering these procedures.
Nursultan Nazarbayev has set the task before the government and the heads of local executive authorities to develop measures by July 1, 2017 for reducing the level of state regulation of processes in the business sphere.
The Kazakh president also instructed the heads of local executive authorities to develop detailed plans together with the government for improvement of conditions for doing business in the regions of the country.
In addition, Nazarbayev ordered the government to accelerate the privatization program and complete it before the end of 2018, and not until 2020, as it was previously planned.
In total, about 800 enterprises should be privatized within the program.
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Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
You probably don't think of Ireland as a culinary destination -- I certainly never did -- but a recent trip to Dublin brought some pleasant surprises to my taste buds. Traditional Irish cuisine has never been considered noteworthy, but as several Dubliners explained to me when I marveled at how good the food was, Irish gastronomy has improved tremendously over the last 10 to 15 years.
Photo: Karin E. Baker
During my stay in the Irish capital, one of my best meals was at 1837 Bar and Brasserie, one of two restaurants at the Guinness Storehouse. Opened in 2000, the Storehouse is located in one of the oldest parts of the city. Ireland's top paid tourist attraction, it's essentially a Guinness museum that's viewed as the holy grail by many a beer lover. 1837 was just opened in 2016.
The eatery is named for a significant year in Guinness history, when British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli raved about the pleasures of matching up Guinness with oysters. 1837 offers that particular pairing, along with a number of other dishes, seafood and otherwise, that pair beautifully with their beers.
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Most people associate Ireland with potatoes, corned beef, and stew, but being an island, Ireland's surrounded by water, so a bounty of fish and seafood is always ready to be plucked from the sea. In addition, this small country of four and a half million people doesn't have the massive agricultural industry that we do in the United States. Ireland's farms are small, so pretty much all the produce is organic, by default if not decree. The cows are all grass-fed, making the butter and other dairy products extremely flavorful. The meats are of very high quality. Food doesn't have far to travel in this small country, so it's all very fresh.
While at 1837, I asked Executive Chef Justin O'Connor about the evolution of Irish cuisine. He told me:
It's cosmopolitan now. It's not New York or Chicago but it's evolved. Our food has come of age. When people think of Irish food they think of stew and potatoes, potatoes, potatoes. Those should never go away, but international cooking from around the world is now the thing.
What do you think makes the food here special?
We use locally sourced food, and it's very local. I use the fish monger around the corner. We have a local bread man that makes the right brioche. There's a vegetable man just down the street I shop from. I go with a guy to pick baby veggies, walk the fields with him and cut the baby veg. You can't get much more organic than seeing him pick the veg by hand.
Why do you think Americans might want to eat at 1837 when visiting Dublin?
It gives you a chance to try Guinness-inspired pairings you're not going to find anywhere else. You get history about Guinness, finding out why Foreign Extra Stout goes with seafood and why draught goes with stew. Everything's cooked to order and fresh. Plus we've an open kitchen; we're not hiding anything. We have terrific views from the window tables that look down into the brewery and the city.
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You come here for classic dishes, many with a modern twist. People love the beef and Guinness stew. Bacon and cabbage has been a classic in Ireland for hundreds of years, so we modernized it and put it in a croquette. But the beef and Guinness stew is a classic I haven't changed too much.
I wondered how good a restaurant within a beer museum could be but was very impressed. I tried Disraeli's classic pairing of oysters and Guinness. The briny oysters were wonderfully offset by the slightly bitter taste of the creamy stout. I loved the seafood chowder, brimming over with fresh shrimp and fish, both smoked and unsmoked. It's served with a great, crusty dark bread containing the brown elixir. The beef and Guinness stew, the mussels, and crab on toast with horseradish cream, were also notable. Chocolate/Guinness mousse brought the meal to a satisfying end. Along the way, I was advised which of the six varieties of Guinness on offer paired best with each dish and was able to try samples of each.
It's week 2 of the Donald Trump Presidency -- and there are many, many places our voices are urgently needed to protect our country and our families. It can feel overwhelming.
MomsRising is here for you: We are sorting through the chaos and bringing you the top 5 ways to make an impact right now -- and each week. This is week 2 of our #Top5Actions list project so we can come together and be a wave of change.
Check out the list below. You can take one action a day, or all on the same day, and you can take action any time of day or night, your choice. (Feel free to share this list on Facebook and social media too. Your friends will thank you. We are getting lots of requests for action lists).
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Here are our top 5 actions for this week:
1- Tell the U.S. Senate to "Vote NO on Jeff Sessions for U.S. Attorney General": Take 30 seconds now and call 1-855-976-1895. It's easy and will have a big impact. When you dial the number, you'll be connected directly to the office of a key U.S. Senator to tell them to: "Reject Jeff Sessions for U.S. Attorney General." The clock is ticking on this because votes are happening starting tomorrow!
ACTION: Call 1-855-976-1895 to tell key U.S. Senators #StopSessions.
Background: News reports are saying that voting on U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions will begin in the next 36 hours. U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions has a record of racist rhetoric and embracing policies that would undermine basic civil rights. When you call, you'll be connected to key U.S. Senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee. We'll walk you through every step of the way!
2- Stop the immigration bans! Send a mini Statue of Liberty and a strong message to Congress, President Trump, and the media that the immigration ban is NOT okay.
ACTION: Send A Mini Statute of Liberty to Trump Towers -- http://action.momsrising.org/sign/Immigration_Ban/
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Background: In response to President Trump advancing immigration actions that harm families, destroy communities, hurts our economy and national security, and is putting our nation on the verge of a U.S. Constitutional crisis, MomsRising is sending thousands of mini Statue of Liberties along with messages from people across the nation about the importance of liberty & justice for ALL (and we do mean ALL!) to Trump Towers. Click above to join us in making a splash that can't be ignored by the media, Congress, or President Trump.
3- Urge the U.S. Senate to Reject Betsy DeVos for U.S. Secretary of Education -- After last week's hearing in the U.S. Senate of Betsy DeVos, President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, we are seriously worrying about what will become of our nation's public schools and our kids' education if she is confirmed.
ACTION: Sign on a letter to your U.S. Senators TODAY and ask them to reject Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education -- http://action.momsrising.org/sign/reject_DeVos/
Background: During Betsy DeVos's confirmation hearing, she couldn't answer basic questions about education policy and declined to commit to protecting funds for public schools. She would not commit enforcing gun-free zones at schools, to enforcing laws designed to prevent and punish sexual assault on college campuses, and to supporting measures that would help ensure that children with disabilities are well-served by our schools.
4- Tell Congressional Leaders and Donald Trump to remove Steve Bannon -- This "alt-right" leader should not be chief White House strategist and senior counselor, nor should he be on the National Security Council.
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ACTION: Sign on a letter to Congressional Leaders and Donald Trump urging Steve Bannon's removal from a leadership position in the White House -http://action.momsrising.org/sign/bannon_trump/
Background: Donald Trump selected an "alt-right" leader, Steve Bannon, as the chief White House strategist and senior counselor. Further, just this last weekend, the New York Times reported that Trump signed an "executive order giving the rumpled right-wing agitator [Steve Bannon] a full seat on the 'principals committee' of the National Security Council -- while downgrading the roles of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the director of national intelligence." This is deeply concerning, and as Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice Tweeted, "Stone cold crazy." Why the concern? In addition to the fact that Bannon doesn't have the background for this job, according to multiple news sources, including the New York Times, Bannon has a history of promoting sexism, anti-semitism, homophobia, transphobia and white supremacy.
5- Protect Healthcare! -- Now is a critical time to make our voices heard to protect healthcare coverage. The coverage of nearly 30 million people is at risk. Send a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper to speak out for quality, affordable healthcare via this easy link! (It's truly easy. Sample language and direct links to papers are on the link when you click it. Hundreds of letters to the editor from MomsRising members have already been printed and it's making a big impact. Let's keep the MOMentum going!).
ACTION: Click to help protect healthcare by sending an easy Letter to the Editor to your local paper: http://action.momsrising.org/lte/Healthcare
And that's the top 5 actions for this week. Thanks for being a part of the movement that is #StillMarching!
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Now, you might be wondering: What is MomsRising, anyway? MomsRising is an organization of over a million people, including people in every state in our nation, that's working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation that works for everyone. We open avenues for busy people to make an impact and have an impressive track record of wins at the city, state, and federal levels. One thing we've learned over and over again throughout our past 10 years together is that together we truly are a powerful force!
YOU ARE INVITED! For your last action of the week, we invite you to sign on with us and we'll bring you regular, high impact ways to #KeepMarching in the coming weeks as well: http://action.momsrising.org/signup/stand_with_momsrising/?source=stand
Why sign on with us? The unfair treatment of any one of us, hurts us all. Silence is not an option. Our freedoms are intertwined. So we rise together.
Rising from the landscape in a place rich with materiality and history sits architect Dorte Mandrup's new Wadden Sea Centre. Meet the renowned architect and see a building were "everything comes together."
"It's interesting that architecture exists in a strange place between the practical and pragmatic, finances and technique, and yet it needs to have an artistic expression," Dorte Mandrup says. A work of architecture becomes a question of finding the right aesthetic solution to a local challenge or, in the language of architects: "the synthesis of the parameters you're working with. When it falls into place, you know it."
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At the Wadden Sea Centre in Ribe, Denmark, the challenge was to unite the new centre's functions and the very particular landscape in which it is built. A UNESCO world heritage site, the Wadden Sea is a unique natural reserve with a rich wildlife and a specific tradition of low buildings in tile and thatch, a history that the architects wanted to include in the building. Using local, traditional materials and building techniques such as thatch the Wadden Sea Centre has "a different sculptural quality than what you otherwise see in the landscape. It's a way of developing the tradition," says Dorte Mandrup. As such, the building becomes an expression of Mandrup's way of thinking architecture: One must transcend the technical - "there must be an artistic message otherwise it doesn't matter."
Dorte Mandrup (b. 1961) is a Danish architect and founder of Copenhagen-based Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter. Her projects include the headquarter of IKEA in Malmo, Sweden, the most environmentally friendly office building in Scandinavia and the Icefjord Centre in the UNESCO-protected area of Ilulissat, Greenland. She also headed the extension of the listed Munkegard School in Gentofte, Denmark, one of modernist architect Arne Jacobsen's Masterpieces. She is the recipient of multiple awards, among others the 2003 Dreyer Honorary Award, the 2004 Eckersberg Medal and several WAN Awards.
Dorte Mandrup was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner at the site of the Wadden Sea Centre in Ribe, Denmark, in September 2016.
Camera: Klaus Elmer
Edited by: Klaus Elmer
Produced by: Marc-Christoph Wagner
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
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Michael Laitman as a child in Vitebsk, Belarus
As we reflect on the Holocaust, we should also remember that we have a way to prevent it from recurring.
Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is an opportunity to reflect on the reason for the world's unending hatred toward Israel and the Jews. I believe that understanding the causes for anti-Semitism and taking appropriate action are likely to prevent a repetition of the tragedy.
I was born and raised in Vitebsk, a midsize town in Belarus, one year after the end of World War II. A river ran inside the tranquil, picturesque and largely Jewish city, and a big square connected the streets at the center of the town.
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During the war, the Nazis conquered the city and turned it into a forced labor camp. The Jews who did not run away in time were murdered. As a child, the heaviness of the aftermath of the war lay heavily upon the city. The Holocaust was very much a part of my childhood, and even though I did not experience it personally, the ordeal became very much a part of me.
As with any Jewish family, I received a good education. By age seventeen I had already applied to the prestigious University of Leningrad (today's St. Petersburg). There, for the first time, I encountered anti-Semitism first hand. I was initially refused acceptance to the university because of my heritage. Eventually, however, my determination won and I was accepted.
I knew that there was anti-Semitism in my country, but feeling it directed against me shook me up. I decided to make Aliyah, to move to Israel. For four years I was a refusenik (a Jew denied permission to immigrate from the Soviet Union to Israel). When I finally received my exit permit in 1974, I was out of the USSR in less than 48 hours.
What Is the Meaning of My Life?
When I arrived in Israel I was a young and inquisitive scientist. I searched for a job in my field of expertise, which was bio-cybernetics, but at the same time, I kept asking about anti-Semitism. It bothered me that Jews were hated all over the world, and it made me ask about the meaning of life in general.
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Naturally, I first turned to science for answers. I came up empty handed. Science answers "how" questions, not "why" questions.
I did not feel inclined toward mysticism or the occult, so I avoided Eastern teachings and various psychological techniques, as well. Yet, the search for answers made me hungrier for the truth.
I began to look into Orthodox Judaism. I attended numerous lectures and seminars, learned with various rabbis, and read hundreds of books. I still did not understand the meaning of life, but I began to feel that somewhere within Judaism lay the answers to my questions.
One rainy February evening in 1979, I drove with a friend of mine to Bnei Brak, an Orthodox city near Tel-Aviv, hoping to find a Kabbalah teacher. At a crossroads on the main street, I asked the only man who was out in the rain if he knew where I could find a kabbalist nearby. In those days, Orthodox Jews did not dare mention the word, "Kabbalah," much less inquire as to where they might study it, or even worse, direct other people toward such places. Yet, that man nonchalantly said, "Make a right and go all the way to the end of the street. In the last house on the street, right near the orchard, they teach Kabbalah."
I followed his instructions and found what I had been searching--the wisdom that answers the question about the meaning of life. Within that house was Rabbi Baruch Shalom Halevi Ashlag (RABASH), the firstborn son of the greatest kabbalist of the 20th century, Rav Yehuda Leib Halevi Ashlag, author of the Sulam (Ladder) commentary on The Zohar, for which he was known as Baal HaSulam (Author of The Ladder). For twelve years I studied with RABASH. He taught me everything I know about the meaning of life, the meaning of Jewish existence, and anti-Semitism. To this day, the notions I convey in my columns and publications throughout the world are the ones that I had learned from him, and which he had learned from his father, Baal HaSulam.
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What Caused the Holocaust?
Our sages had summarized what I discovered in Kabbalah with the words: "No calamity comes to the world but for Israel" (Yevamot, 63a). Great Jewish leaders throughout the ages circulated this message however they could. They did so in order to remind us of the only remedy that can protect us from trouble--the power of connection. Rabbi Kalman Kalonymus wrote in Maor va Shemesh (Light and Sun): "When there are love, unity, and friendship between each other in Israel, no calamity can come upon them." Similarly, Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain wrote in Shem mi Shmuel (A Name out of Samuel): "When Israel are as one man with one heart, they are as a fortified wall against the forces of evil." Likewise, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Arieh Altar, the ADMOR of Gur, stressed in Sefat Emet (True Tongue): "Israel's unity induces great salvations and removes all the slanderers."
Many great leaders also stressed the connection between Israel, peace, and the world. Rav Kook declared in Orot Kodesh (Lights of Sanctity), vol. 2: "In Israel is the secret to the unity of the world." In Likutey Halachot (Assorted Rules), Rabbi Nachman of Breslev wrote similarly to other Jewish sages: "The essence of correction is to have unity, love, and peace in Israel." The Midrash (Tanchuma, Devarim [Deuteronomy]) states likewise: "Israel will not be redeemed until they are all one bundle."
The more I delved into the texts, the more I realized that one simple message connected them: Love your neighbor as yourself, brotherly love, and mutual guarantee are the keys to Israel's security and prosperity.
Israel Determines the State and Fate of the World
Through my studies, I learned that the unity of Israel determines more than the state and fate of the Jewish people. I learned that when we unite above our conflicts and disputes, we unleash a positive force that exists in all of nature, except within humanity. That force maintains the balance throughout nature, and its absence among us causes human society to decline into the narcissistic havoc we are seeing all around us. In his "Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot," Baal HaSulam called this force "reforming light," and explained that it can balance our self-centered nature and thereby heal human society.
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Abraham the Patriarch was the first to discover and disclose this force to others. He taught his disciples and descendants how to rise above their differences in a way that unleashed this positive force, which is why to this day he symbolizes mercy and compassion.
Moses, too, aspired to disclose this corrective power to the world. In his book, The Commentary of Ramchal on the Torah, the great Ramchal wrote, "Moses wished to complete the correction of the world at that time, but he did not succeed because of the corruptions that occurred along the way."
Our special unity at the foot of Mt. Sinai, when we committed to be "as one man with one heart," earned us not only our peoplehood, but also the task to be "a light unto nations." The "light" we were tasked with conveying is that very method of uniting above differences, which unleashes the reforming light and creates love and peace where hatred reigned before.
Over many centuries, our ancestors fought to maintain their unity above their growing selfishness. But two thousand years ago, they succumbed to unfounded hatred and were exiled from the land. Since then we have lost the ability to be a light unto nations because we have lost our unity. This is when anti-Semitism as we know it began.
Today's growing hatred toward Jews must remind us of our task. We would like nothing more than to excuse ourselves from it, but there is no such option. Only if we rekindle the brotherly love we cultivated centuries ago, and share the method for achieving this with everyone, the world will stop hating and blaming us for all its troubles.
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Like it or not, our unity determines the state of the world and its fate. Through our unity, we allow the world to unite, as we stream into the world the positive, uniting force it needs so desperately. Conversely, our separation denies humanity this power and invokes within it hatred toward Jews. This is what causes the nations' aggression toward us and why they perceive us as the source of all evil.
In his essay, "Mutual Guarantee," Baal HaSulam writes, "The Israeli nation was established as a conduit... to the extent that they purify themselves [from egoism], they pass on their power to the rest of the nations."
Remember the Unity
International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates more than a tragedy. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on the reason for anti-Semitism, and remember that we have a method for connection, a way to prevent the atrocities from recurring.
If you're a college student, you have a lot on your plate -- who could blame you for not paying attention to that mounting student loan balance? But once you graduate, your new monthly student loan bill will be hard to ignore. After all, missing a payment isn't like turning in a term paper late; debt collectors aren't nearly as forgiving as your Chemistry 201 professor.
A few tips can help keep your budget on track and your student loan servicer happy. First, know that you can lower your monthly federal student loan bill by switching repayment plans if you need to. After that, tighten up your spending so you don't fall behind on your loan payments. Here are five ways to free up cash when that student loan bill comes due.
Pick the right student loan repayment plan
Start by making sure you can afford your student loan bills. You'll build the rest of your budget around them, along with other big expenses, such as rent and transportation.
If you can manage it, repay your federal loans on the standard 10-year repayment plan. You'll pay less interest and get rid of your loans sooner. And it's a good idea to throw extra money at your bill when you can to speed up the process.
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If you're really strapped for cash, switch to an income-driven student loan repayment plan. The government offers four options that make your payments a percentage of your income, so you'll pay less when you earn less. The newest plan is known as REPAYE, and it gives all federal loan borrowers the ability to pay, at most, 10% of their discretionary income each month. That means you'll have more money to pay for the other stuff you need.
Private lenders aren't as flexible. Some have programs that will let you pause your payments for a time. If you're struggling to pay your bills, call your lender and ask about ways to postpone or lower your payments.
Prioritize your spending
Next, think about where you can cut costs elsewhere in your life so you can keep your loan bills current. Focus on saving money in ways that make sense for your lifestyle. That way you won't feel deprived of everything you enjoy, and you can cut out expenses that you truly don't need.
For instance, someone who likes to travel might live with several roommates or outside the city center so she can save money on housing. Or a grad who likes to eat organic meals might skip buying a new car so he has more flexibility in his grocery budget, says Brian McCann, a financial advisor and founder of Bootstrap Capital in San Jose, California.
"I know people that have relatively constrained finances, but they shop at Whole Foods every week because that's important to them," he says.
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Choose ridesharing over owning a car
Rent and transportation are often grads' two largest expenses, so those are good places to lower your costs if you can.
"I encourage people to try and get the big things right and not overstretch," McCann says.
Car payments can be especially costly. Consider forgoing a car and signing up for Zipcar, car2go or another car sharing service if it's available in your city. These companies let you rent a car hourly, which can help when public transportation won't get you where you need to go. Plus, you won't rack up extra expenses for car insurance or parking.
"Members really just pay for the time that they use," says Dacyl Armendariz, car2go's external communications manager.
If you need a car where you live and don't have access to these options, look into buying a used car instead of a new one.
Trim recurring monthly costs
Now it's on to smaller expenses -- and some you might not even know you're paying.
It's easy to sign up for a service that automatically charges you every month, such as the gym, ClassPass, Spotify or Netflix. Cancel them if you're not using them at least a few times a week. A service such as Truebill will track your monthly subscriptions and show you which ones you're not using so you can cancel.
Instead of paying for services like these, find free ways to do the things you love: Quitting the gym, for instance, doesn't mean you have to stop exercising. Join a free fitness group such as the November Project, which meets to exercise in the morning in cities across the country. You'll avoid the monthly fee and the long wait to use the elliptical.
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Take advantage of free events in your city
If going out is a big expense for you, get creative.
Sign up for newsletters or bookmark local blogs that keep track of free and cheap movies, plays, concerts and readings around town. Take advantage of inexpensive ticket deals for 20-somethings at cultural institutions; the New York City Ballet, for instance, offers $29 tickets for same-day performances if you're 29 or under. Make your own free fun by starting a book club or hosting themed potlucks.
You can always add to your income by picking up extra part-time work. No matter how you do it, it's possible to pay down your loans, keep up with your other bills, and maybe even have some money left over. A grad can dream.
More from NerdWallet
Brianna McGurran is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: bmcgurran@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @briannamcscribe.
Most of us who worry about environmental issues did not support Donald Trump for president. His tweeted claim that the very idea of global warming "was created by and for the Chinese" and his eagerness to repeal environmental protections make him ill-suited to head federal agencies that protect our natural world.
So now what? What should committed environmentalists, in Congress and in communities around the country, be preparing for?
The Trump administration and its House and Senate allies are likely to view this alignment of Republican control as a rare window of opportunity. We should expect them to act like bulls in a china shop, as they're already doing.
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Previous administrations that opposed environmental laws, such as George W. Bush's, kept them on the books but ignored them or left them unenforced. This approach allows environmentally damaging profiteering to occur with fewer political headaches.
Players in the mining, drilling, dumping, and spewing sectors, also known as Big Pollution, won't be satisfied with a repeat of this kind of "time out" in environmental policy. They are emboldened and are already demanding permanent steps backward.
Laws with teeth - the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and Antiquities Act among them - will be targeted for fundamental changes designed to leave them weakened long after this Republican window closes. The true aim is a wholesale reversal of the gains made by the American environmental movement.
How should environmentalists respond? First, get up off the mat. Carbon pollution, mass extinction, deforestation and other developments have already stripped us of the luxury of time. Without President Obama in the White House, people who care about ensuring a livable planet for their children and grandchildren must redouble their efforts to defend the ground we have won and keep the policies that have set us on the right path.
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Second, get out in the field. In addition to rallying the troops, environmentalists need to engage a diverse set of constituencies and help them realize the ownership they all have in clean air, clean water and public lands. The stakes are high not just for people who live in cities, but for rural residents who stand to lose the most from damage to our forests, rangelands, streams and soils. Reaching these disparate audiences means identifying new messengers and finding innovative ways to talk about the importance of conservation. We need to meet people where they are instead of telling them where they should be.
Finally, get even. A strong conservation coalition can hold the president, members of Congress and other elected officials accountable. An organized, mobilized network can call out the red herrings, the false choices and the lame excuses and demand straight answers and decisive action. The only way to prevent the destruction of our landscapes and the pollution of our air and water is to convince leaders to vote for conservation. If they refuse, the consequences must come at the ballot box.
This will not be easy. In many ways, the environmental movement is a victim of its own success. Over the past 40 years we have made great strides in reducing many types of pollution, protecting fish and wildlife from overharvesting and habitat destruction, and creating opportunities for all Americans to enjoy their public lands. Many of us now take these things for granted. Millions of Americans cannot imagine a world in which rivers catch on fire and rain dissolves stone.
Like it or not, conservationists have not done the hard things well. We need to evolve our argument for why environmental protections are more important than ever for our economy and way of life. We need to deliver that message to communities that have not heard it and are likely to be skeptical - or even hostile - at first.
This is how the next four years start. How will they end? That's up to you.
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free... I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" - Inscription on the Statue of Liberty
My grandfather, escaping the horrors of genocide in Armenia, saw that statue and believed those words as he made a new life on these shores. This is the story of millions of people from across the world whose ancestors accepted Lady Liberty's invitation and believed in the truths that were held to be self-evident in the Constitution of the United States that "all men (human beings) are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and Happiness."
This week, the world awoke to a very different message from the President of the United States. It was a message directed to those same huddled masses yearning to breathe free; to those who today seek a better life; to those fleeing from persecution; to those who are without home or country as the result of violence and war. His message: you are NOT welcome here. The door is closed. Liberty's lamp has been extinguished.
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And not only this, but as he repeated throughout his campaign, Donald Trump declared that Mexicans and Muslims, in particular, are not welcome in this "Land of the Free" on account of their race, nationality and religion. Religious prejudice, myopic nationalism and racism seem now to be the explicit guiding policies of the President of the United States and his administration. This prejudice-laden behavior which uses stereotypical generalizations about race, nationality and religion to demean and dehumanize others is the same rhetoric that has fueled racism and violence against groups perceived to be "different" throughout American and world history. It is a belief system that justified slavery and the subjugation of women in the United States, apartheid in South Africa, and colonialism in India. It is the basis for anti-Semitism, providing the theoretical and theological basis for the Nazi-led Holocaust, led to the internment of Japanese-Americans, and genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Rwanda among so many other places. The list of human atrocities caused by the dehumanizing of "the other" is long. Besides being in direct violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and debasing the core moral and ethical values of all of the religious traditions of the world, these actions also stand in direct conflict with the most basic principles of American society.
Over 200 years ago, Americans of different religions were seeking acceptance and assurance that this country would live out its founding beliefs of equal treatment under the law. Another American President, George Washington, expressed his founding vision for America in a letter he wrote to the Hebrew congregation at Newport, Rhode Island in 1790. In this letter, Washington assured the Jewish community that "the Government of the United States...gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance," and that those of all religions "who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants -- while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid." This was the first and founding vision of a multicultural, multi-religious America.
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The actions of the current President and his staff are an assault on Washington's promise, and should ignite outrage among people of all political perspectives who believe in this vision of America and of a world connected by compassion - not divided by hate. For centuries, the people of this country and their leaders have toiled to realize this promise. It has been a struggle. It continues to be a struggle. But slowly, very slowly and (sometimes with significant setbacks), the words of the Constitution, and the invitation emblazoned upon the Statue of Liberty, have become an increasing reality that has created in the United States the mosaic of peoples of all races and religions, of all genders, cultures and nationalities. This is the contemporary reflection of Washington's founding vision.
Throughout history and continuing today, in the United States and in countries around the world, the struggle against prejudice and hate and for peaceful and just diverse societies continues. Our Muslim sisters and brothers, and those refugees of all nationalities and beliefs fleeing persecution, are being targeted by the dehumanizing prejudice that has found its way into presidential pronouncement in the United States. They are being victimized by violence incited by these actions of the US government; the burning of mosques and murder of Muslims are a direct result of these policies. We, people of all beliefs and backgrounds across this country and around the world, are called to stand together arm in arm, connected heart to heart with people of all traditions, against violence of all kinds and stand united in support of freedom of religion and spiritual expression and the rights of all people to lives of dignity and peace in America and throughout the world.
The George Washington quote is an excerpt from his Letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport, August 1790. (https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-06-02-0135)
Is modern society better than that of the eighteenth century, or the Renaissance, or ancient Greece or Rome? The relentless 24/7 news media portray a world of conflict, disaster, and human turpitude. Was there ever a golden age, or are we living in it? I believe there is a clear answer to this question, and it is good for us to realize it.
I have just been re-reading a splendid essay on the subject by historians Will and Ariel Durant, written in 1968. I will summarize it before adding my own views, based partly on a difference of perspective and partly on hindsight from the last half century.
The Durant couple start by giving a rather sombre view. The idea of progress, they say, finds itself in dubious shape. Maybe the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, which stressed mythology and art rather than science and power, were wiser than us. We keep increasing our technology and knowledge, yet with good comes evil. Our comforts and conveniences may have weakened our stamina and moral qualities. "We double, triple, centuple our speed, but we shatter our nerves in the process, and we are the same trousered apes at two thousand miles an hour as when we had legs." We have news from around the planet, "but at times we envy our ancestors, whose peace was only gently disturbed by the news of their village. We have laudably bettered the conditions of life for skilled workingmen and the middle class, but we have allowed our cities to fester with dark ghettos and slimy slums."
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You can imagine the drift. Is modern art, philosophy, or architecture superior to that of ancient Greece? Are we better people? If progress "means an increase in happiness, its case is lost almost at first sight. Our capacity for fretting is endless ... we always find an excuse for being magnificently miserable ... It seems silly to define progress in terms that would make the average child a higher, more advanced product of life than the adult or the sage - for certainly the child is the happiest of the three."
But then our historians change tack. How should we define progress? The answer they come up with is a good one - "we shall define progress as the increasing control of the environment by life." Has "the average man" - forgive the apparently sexist language, but they obviously included women in "man" - "increased his ability to control the conditions of his life?"
And in a rather discursive way, they end up saying, more or less, "Yes". The tripling of life spans in the last three centuries indicates better control of the environment. "Shall we count it as trivial that famine has been eliminated in modern states, and that one country can now grow enough food to overfeed itself and yet send hundreds of millions of bushels of wheat to nations in need? Are we ready to scuttle the science that has so diminished superstition, obscurantism, and religious intolerance, or the technology that has spread food, home ownership, comfort, education, and leisure beyond any precedent?" Education, they say, is the transmission of civilization, "so our finest contemporary achievement is ... the provision of higher education for all."
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Such is the gospel according to Will and Ariel Durant. What should we make of it today?
How should we judge progress?
I propose three different criteria.
One is that of our historians - the better control of our environment. I would highlight not only the increase in prosperity and life expectancy, but also the decrease in disease and suffering, and in warfare and violence. Life is better than it has ever been for most people on the planet, and that is a stunning achievement for which science, technology, and the dedication of a huge number of physicians, scientists, and business people deserve unstinted praise.
A second criterion I propose is political and social - the spread of freedom and equality for all people, regardless of social class, nationality or ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Our society is far from faultless in this regard, but in acknowledging that fact we are miles ahead of any previous generation. I venture to guess that the next generation will be well ahead of us, and so on, because the liberal sensitivity is cumulative. For example, I am gay, and the change in attitudes in my lifetime has been stunning - from being something frowned upon, even by myself, it is now completely "normal" to be homosexual, and one does not have to conceal or feel threatened by it. It is hard to think that if Western liberal society continues, the future will take us back to the pink star or the stigma of being "queer." Of even greater importance, in terms of numbers, is the liberation of women in my lifetime - the opportunities for women may not be perfect, but they are almost infinitely greater than a generation or two ago.
A third criterion - which I think nearly all of us, especially liberals, underestimate - is the spread of free enterprise. When I grew up, more people in the world lived under communism or other forms of state-directed economy than lived under free markets. The latter will never be loved, but they bring with them not only greater prosperity, but also greater fairness and opportunity - again, far from ideal, but hugely better than under a bureaucratic society - for the majority of people. Personal creativity can be expressed in an open economy to a massively greater extent than under a closed one. In the past thirty years, a large majority of humankind has been freed from the yoke of communism and socialism - and it will not revert.
So - are there no problems with modern society?
Of course there are deep problems. Here are three:
One is that the existing trends towards greater control of the environment, greater freedom and equality, and greater economic freedom, need to be further extended. Future generations will see that we are so far only scratching the surface in all these areas.
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Another problem is that of the underclass and lack of upward social mobility. In some countries, including the United States, this problem is severe and getting worse. We need creative solutions here, and a change in the system of education, especially for young children, is long overdue.
A third problem is the lack of meaning in society. Modern secular society has brought enormous benefits, but in rejecting the importance of religion - or its equivalent for atheists and agnostics - it has thrown the baby out with the bath water. Depression and drug and alcohol dependence are symptoms of a lack of moral seriousness. No society can hang together without people of goodwill believing in a common ideology, and having a sense that every day can advance the meaning of life for themselves and their fellow citizens.
Yet, we are aware of these issues, and many others. We are dissatisfied with our society, and eager to change it. That is good. What would be even better would be to also take pride in how far we have come and in the wonderful potentialities of modern life for ourselves and everyone around us.
Certain jobs will always require staff to remain at their place of work. When we go to a bar or restaurant, we need people there to serve us. When we have oral hygiene concerns, there's no better place than the dentist's office. But for many employees, the option to work from home is fast becoming more desirable -- and economical.
Nearly four years ago, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer reversed the tech company's policy on working remotely, forcing all telecommuting employees to head back to the office. Although some industry experts came to Mayer's defense, most called the move shortsighted. Fast-forward to present day, the argument for working from home has only strengthened. And whether you're the employer or employee, the scenario is surprisingly win-win.
PROS FOR EMPLOYERS
Chinese travel website Ctrip recently gave its call center staff the chance to work from home for nine months. The results were impressive. They completed 13.5% more calls per shift, which meant Ctrip garnered an extra day's worth of productivity per employee per week. To boot, morale increased, and the company saved a whopping $1,900 per person each month on furniture, utilities, and parking.
Ctrip is far from alone with these findings. Several other organizations have dismissed the idea that telecommuting leads to lost revenue and employee apathy. Global Workplace Analytics scoured over 4,000 reports, studies, and articles on the subject. Its conclusion? Employers can dramatically benefit from letting staff work from home, be it full or part time. Some advantages:
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Expanded talent pool: The quality of hires increases when jobs open up to prospects outside commuting distance. Telecommuting also provides more options to hire workers with disabilities. And let's not overlook the cost of bringing talent to your office: Nortel estimates it regularly saves $100,000 per employee it doesn't have to relocate.
Lower salaries: Not only do two thirds of people favor working from home, 36% would choose it over a pay raise. In fact, 37% say they'd take a pay cut for the chance to work remotely.
Reduced attrition: When companies lose quality employees, recruiting and training costs can climb into the thousands of dollars. Not surprisingly, 95% of businesses say working from home significantly improves employee retention.
PROS FOR EMPLOYEES
Some employees may have concerns about working from home. They may question whether they can properly adapt to such an unfamiliar set-up. Turns out, there's little to worry about:
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No more daily slog: Few things in life are despised more than the daily journey to and from work. Telecommuting can put an end to this process, getting rid of travel costs (gas, transit) and freeing up between five and 15 hours per week.
More focus, less stress: Whether it's cramped conditions or intrusive coworkers, offices can be the enemy of productivity. Working from home can not only curb these distractions, it's been proven to reduce stress and enhance overall mood.
Work and family can come first: There's a long-held belief that says it's nearly impossible to commit to a career and a family. And although this may have once been true, times have changed. In a recent Microsoft study, nearly one-third of respondents wished they could work from home to spend more time with family. Whether it's allowing workers to keep an eye on the kids or share more face time with a spouse, telecommuting is a simple and effective way to balance work and home.
OVERCOMING THE CONS
It would be naive to think working from home doesn't come with its share of obstacles. Fortunately, steps can be taken to smooth out the process:
The issue: Lack of in-person communication and collaboration. Many businesses rely on face-to-face meetings to troubleshoot, provide feedback, and discuss policy changes. Telecommuting has the potential to disrupt this process.
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The fix: Mandatory in-office days are an option, allowing companies to round up their entire staff for high-value meetings. (Not to mention team-building social events.) That said, with services like Skype, FaceTime, and various conference call providers, it's easier than ever to keep the lines of communication open. Email and secured instant messaging are also on hand to fill in any gaps, allowing direct collaboration to continue. This approach is particularly helpful to workforces that span numerous time zones: employees can simply reply to a written query when they're back at their desk.
The issue: Concerns employees will perform poorly due to lack of at-home supervision.
The fix: Managers can feel a loss of control when allowing staff to work remotely. But direct oversight is still very achievable. The key is in the metrics. By setting measurable performance targets (e.g. specific sales, customer service, or production outcomes), it's easy to track accountability and boost performance.
The issue: Privacy concerns. Employees working from home can leave businesses vulnerable to everything from data loss to security breaches.
The fix: Although such threats are real, the risks can be minimized. The company's IT department should carefully review all network protocols, and be placed in charge of remote access granted to staff members. On top of this, employees working remotely should attend mandatory security training, and only be given access to databases relevant to their job duties.
HOW TO TRY IT ON FOR SIZE
Any business considering a work-from-home option needs to know it isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. There's no shame in proceeding with caution before making a firm decision either way. Some options:
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Test the waters: It's easy to turn a workplace nuisance into a productivity experiment. Has the power gone off in your building? Or maybe you need to assemble a skeleton staff for an upcoming holiday weekend. Why not use such opportunities to let staff work from home? So long as their output can be monitored, you're in a perfect position to see if telecommuting can benefit you (and them).
The rotation solution: Instead of clearing the decks by having everyone work remotely, consider a rotating schedule. This way, a certain percentage of staffers are always under management's watchful eye. Most employees will still relish the opportunity to work from home once or twice a week.
Place emphasis on performance: Here's a low-risk method for ensuring productivity and accountability. Employees who meet weekly or monthly performance targets can continue to work remotely. Those who can't meet agreed-upon goals will be sent back to the office. No fuss, no muss.
THE WORKING FROM HOME TAKEAWAY
Prime Minister Netanyahu's administration declared (regarding the recent vote against Israel at the UN Security Council) that: "President Obama and Secretary Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the UN."
Whether or not there's any basis for Netanyahu's accusations about the U.S. role in this vote -- none of this excuses Netanyahu's significant management errors.
Israel faces real diplomatic challenges. But instead of having a full-time experienced Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Netanyahu (in Grand Poobah style) has simultaneously been Israel's Foreign Minister, Communications Minister, Economy Minister, and Regional Co-operation Minister.
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Netanyahu's multiple roles have been controversial even in Israel where the courts have suggested that, in addition to legal concerns, it's difficult to see how Netanyahu could be effective in all these roles. For example, a full time Foreign Minister could inform and challenge the Prime Minister intellectually, as well as spend time making connections with diplomatic peers in other countries. Netanyahu headed all these ministries because it serves his own political interests (his multiple positions are trading chips for use in Israel's coalition politics).
Israel's ambassador to the UN (Danny Danon) is a career politician -- not a diplomat -- and the UN is his first diplomatic posting. He was removed from a cabinet position (in a prior Israeli government) for being a loose cannon. His prior activities in Israeli politics were unrelentingly hostile to the Obama administration. It's widely rumored that Netanyahu viewed Danon as a political rival, and consequently sent him to the UN to get him out of the country. (It's also rumored Danon accepted the UN position to raise his profile in Israel.) These aren't helpful qualifications for an ambassador operating in the UN's hostile environment.
Israel's ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer is also not a career diplomat. Arguably, his major qualification for this posting was having been one of Netanyahu's closest political advisors. Dermer is very close to the American Republican Party, and has been accused of favoring the GOP (Dermer supported the Republican candidate Mitt Romney over Obama in the 2012 election), despite Israel's need (over the past several years) for President Obama's support. Dermer's also been accused of prioritizing Netanyahu's political career over the interests of the State of Israel, and has been censured by the Israeli Civil Service for endorsing Netanyahu as Prime Minister (while serving as Israel's ambassador to the US, intended to be a non-political position).
Besides this team's dramatic diplomatic failure at the UN, it has also been incompetent on day-to-day matters. Netanyahu and team cancelled a meeting with the President of the United States by making a media announcement, before informing the White House. This gratuitous rudeness wasn't a grand diplomatic gesture, but merely incredible sloppiness. If that's how Netanyahu's diplomatic team treats Israel's most important ally, what must its interactions with other countries be like? How many countries have been accidentally snubbed by this diplomatic team, and what role (if any) did that play in Israel's recent debacle?
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Netanyahu's cultivation of Russian President Vladimir Putin resulted in still another diplomatic failure. Israel did Putin a favor (and further distanced itself from the US and Israel's other traditional allies) by refusing to support the UN's condemnation of atrocities in Syria. Putin publicly showed his contempt for Netanyahu -- by voting (the very next day) at the UN to condemn Israel. Netanyahu's buddy Putin couldn't even be bothered to merely abstain from the vote.
That brings us to the recent UN vote on Israel's settlements policy. The UN Security Council has 15 members, and the vote was 14 to 0. It's striking that Israel's diplomatic team couldn't convince even a single country to vote against the resolution Israel opposed. Only one country -- the U.S., Israel's firmest ally -- abstained, rather than vote against Israel.
Netanyahu demanded that the U.S. veto, rather than merely abstain from, a UN resolution supported by America's largest and most important partners and rivals. But Netanyahu himself placed so little importance on this diplomatic issue that he couldn't be bothered to assign experienced diplomats and a full time Foreign Minister to advocate for Israel.
Netanyahu and his team's failures at the UN prompted no introspection or re-examination of their strategy. Instead, they vehemently blamed President Obama for Israel's loss at the UN.
Netanyahu's attacks on Obama served his domestic political needs (because they distracted his constituents from his diplomatic mistakes and the criminal investigations swirling around him). But it's not clear what benefit (if any) Israel derived from Netanyahu's attacks on Obama, one of the most popular politicians in America (Obama's approval rating is 55% compared with only 37% for Trump).
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While Netanyahu and company are nominally ecstatic for the dawn of the Trump era, these problems are not going away. Trump is clearly seeking some type of deal with Russia (which has traditionally supported Iran and Assad), and Israel could easily become a bargaining chip. Israel's current diplomatic arrangements are not well suited to dealing with the existing challenges, let alone with what might happen in the volatile Trump administration.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Elena Kosolapova Trend:
Kazakhstan needs to attract transnational companies to integrate to global chains of production and distribution of goods and services, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said in his annual address to the countrys people.
In particular, the president noted the need for effective implementation of a joint investment program with China to establish production facilities in Kazakhstan.
He recalled that realization of six projects under this program has already started, and two of these projects have been launched, including the plant for SKD (semi-knocked-down) hybrid and electric vehicles made by Chinas JAC.
Nazarbayev instructed to study the further expansion of production of electric vehicles for exporting them and create the necessary infrastructure.
The Kazakh president also instructed the government to develop an investment strategy by Sept. 1, 2017, and also develop a single export strategy.
Nazarbayev also instructed to create a council for the export policy, which has to include representatives of the business community.
He said the Kazakh government should double the non-oil exports by 2025.
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Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Informal intellectual collaboration is crucial for good social science research. This includes interactions with colleagues to improve a paper before it is sent to a journal.
Our new research explored the value of informal intellectual collaboration. It highlights the importance of social networks in academia.
What we uncovered suggests the scientific impact of a research paper increases with every additional commenter who provides feedback. This impact is measured by the number of citations over a paper's lifespan. The same holds when we look at the probability of publishing a paper in top journals.
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But here's the true novelty of our paper: it found that the feedback of more central or connected people is more valuable than less central, less connected ones when it comes to impact. And no, it's not as simple as just asking your most senior colleague for their input. Seniority isn't what matters. It's all about how well connected an academic or researcher is.
This is important information. Our results should encourage university management to actively encourage collaboration among scientists, across departments, and across universities - and to make networking and seeking feedback part of PhD training.
Connectedness is key
So how do you define "well connected" in this case?
A researcher is well connected in a social network because they are connected to other well-connected researchers. We used what might sound like a tautological idea in our research: the so-called eigenvector centrality, which posits that if you know important people you are probably important in that field, too. It is the same idea that allows Google's search algorithm to identify relevant websites.
But, as we've already pointed out, our findings weren't about "importance", or status. These eigenvector central academics are not necessarily the most well known or most senior. And they aren't always affiliated to the most prestigious universities. Yet in the social network they occupy influential positions. It's about connections. Think of them as opinion leaders.
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Feedback from eigenvector central academics has a much larger impact on a paper's publication success than feedback from isolated loners. Highly connected commenters may point authors to emerging new topics or the most rewarding avenues for future research.
To reach these conclusions, we built the first and most comprehensive view of the social network structure among financial economists. It connects authors and acknowledged commenters from published papers. This is a novel approach because it captures all those that have contributed to a paper, not only authors.
Our innovative approach was to use acknowledgements as a primary source of data. In financial economics, authors often acknowledge from which colleagues they have received helpful feedback. We collected more than 5,800 research papers from six major financial economics journals. About 90% of these acknowledge helpful input by colleagues.
After consolidation we create the network. Two researchers are connected when they have co-authored a paper or one acknowledges the other. This network connects about 7,500 researchers and indicates information flows between them. Then we computed the network positions and ranked individuals according to their eigenvector centrality.
Such an analysis helps uncover patterns and structures that remain hidden when looking at individual researchers only.
We then used a quasi-natural experiment - the assignment of discussants at top conferences - to show our main argument: getting feedback from a colleague increases the scientific impact of a paper more if the colleague is more eigenvector central in the social network of their profession.
On our website, we have developed an interactive tool where financial economists can find themselves on our database.
In a companion paper we explore the determinants of the most eigenvector central financial economists. That is, we contrasted their eigenvector centrality rank with their individual characteristics. We found that traditional author metrics such as citation counts or their number of published papers cannot explain which researchers are eigenvector central.
One part of the answer is certainly that citation counts have many problems and poorly capture true academic strength. Another one is that is generally difficult to identify the opinion leaders unless you know all the network.
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New insights in the sociology of economics
Our analysis is not exhaustive and research is ongoing. But it is clear that understanding knowledge flows helps in understanding productivity differentials among scientists.
Hopefully these results will inspire university managers to actively encourage collaboration among scientists, across department and across universities.
Our results also support calls to measure scientific impact broader, and not just based on citations.
Finally, our findings highlight the importance of sufficient travel funding for academics, given the crucial role of academic conferences as a networking opportunity.
Authors' note: This article is based on a post written for the London School of Economics' blog.
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The writer-political thinker Albert Camus once commented that the true source of strength of modern Europe has been its ability to live on its contradictions, flourish amid its differences and, under pressure, to reinvent itself as "a civilisation on which the whole world depends even when rejecting it".
The remark was anti-fascist, a sharp knife designed to cut through fantasies of European unification, by ideology or military force. It expressed equal contempt for the violence of European colonialism, which Camus knew well from his native Algeria, and for all forms of nationalism. "I love my country too much to be a nationalist" was his shorthand formula for casting doubt on the nationalist fetish of borders, nation state jurisdictions and pompous talk of the "essence" and "purity" of nations and national identity.
A generation later, this whole democratic way of thinking about a post-nationalist and diverse Europe is besieged by an assortment of menacing trends, Claus Offe explains over lunch during my recent visit to Berlin. A sage septuagenarian with a gift for no-nonsense political analysis, Offe is among Europe's best-known public intellectuals. He specialises in straight talk. So I begin by asking him to summarise what's going on in Europe.
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Claus Offe/Author provided
"Our times resemble the 1920s", he replies. "We're witnessing the accumulation of various crises that are rapidly putting the whole European project under tremendous pressure. Illiberal forces are on the rise. Middle classes are shrinking. There's populist hatred of 'the establishment' and fascination with strong leaders. Europe is suffering multi-morbidity. Our problems, and the promises that are being broken, are now far greater than anything money could possibly buy, even if large sums of EU transfer funds were suddenly made available, and spent wisely, in a spirit of solidarity."
Economic stagnation
An obvious source of the present European malaise is economic stagnation, which has now lasted nearly a decade. Offe recalls the work of the American economist Robert Gordon, who's shown that in the history of modern capitalism, the median economic growth is less than 1% per annum, and who calculates that in the face of "headwinds", such as a rapidly ageing population, soaring inequality and festering social ills, a new round of innovation-driven growth is highly improbable.
"Europe's economic problems aren't over", Offe tells me. "Stagnation is combined with rising household, investor and public sector debt. Italy has an unstable banking system. Income and wealth inequality gaps are still widening. Product and process innovations that favour both labour and capital are in short supply. Unemployment stops millions of people from servicing their debts. And there's a worrying new statistical category: young Europeans who are classified as NEET because they are 'not in education, employment or training'."
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It's said that bad luck comes in big bundles. Europeans are feeling the pinch of the proverb in this unfolding set of crises, he says. The social injustices and destabilising effects of a stagnant economy are one thing.
There's also the Putin factor. The military assertiveness of the Russian regime is spreading fear and division among the people of Poland and the Baltic states. It's also undermined the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood Policy.
"The Russian occupation of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine is destabilising the Ukraine state and producing military and international law conflicts that we've not seen, apart from the post-Yugoslav wars, since the end of World War Two."
Sasha Maksymenko/flicker
Russian aggression compounds the swelling uncertainty and failure in other policy areas, Offe continues. It's as if there's a conspiracy of trends determined to bring ill fortune to Europe. He gives another example: the unhappy coincidence of sluggish growth and high unemployment with the escalating refugee crisis. The combination is proving to be "a real godsend for the populist right in Europe".
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Refugee crisis and populist trouble
Populist movements and parties, he says, are trying to stir up public trouble by stringing together the problems of stagnation, refugees and threats of terrorism into a single story. He's adamant that their simple-minded story-telling must be resisted. In this worsening European crisis, in matters of intellect and politics, recognising the complexities of the multiple dynamics really matters.
Offe underscores the point by noting that Europe's entanglement in the ongoing wars in Libya, Iraq and Syria, in its neighbouring regions, is among these multiple dynamics. Europe is at war. It's been drawn into the devilish "confrontation between the two regional powers of Iran and Saudi Arabia" and the military rivalries of Russia, Turkey, and the USA, "each with its own and openly conflicting military agenda".
The spread of IS-inspired jihadist "suicide missions and random killings of civilians" is another matter. He tells me that some acts of violence, including the December attack on the Christmas market in Berlin, are products of "administrative and police failure". Contrary to the populists, most acts of violence are "home-grown", he insists. "This violence has little or nothing directly to do with refugees. The discomforting truth is that the big majority of known attackers are citizens, and often natives, of EU member states, often with family roots in the Middle East and North African region."
The trouble for Europe is that the in-flow of refugees "is not going to end any time soon", he emphasises. It's not just that "human beings are a migratory species" or that "building fences on salt water is for technical reasons impossible". The policies of the European Union are in disarray. Its governing capacity is weak.
The Dublin agreement, which placed the responsibility of settling refugees on the states where they first arrived in Europe, was defeated by wall builders in Hungary, Slovenia, Macedonia and other states. The European Home Affairs Ministers agreement (in September 2015) to allocate at least 120,000 stateless peoples throughout the EU was stillborn; more than a year later, figures from the European commission show that only 8,162 people have found a permanent home. The Schengen Agreement, an open-border arrangement that enables passport-free movement of citizens across most of the EU bloc, an arrangement that was among the "most effective and popular accomplishments of European integration", is crumbling.
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European Commission DG ECHO/flickr
The EU-Turkey deal, signed in March 2016, is not working either, and probably can't be made to work. Refugees continue to arrive in large numbers in Greece and Italy, where they face appalling living conditions; the promised funding of several billion euros hasn't yet been provided to the satisfaction of Turkey, which is hardly a "safe third country". Yet more refugees from the war zones are surely on their way, Offe says, driven from their homes by uncivil wars, food shortages and climate change. "People aren't frivolously leaving their home country. They leave because their situations are intolerable, and because Europe is an attractive safe haven. Syria's just the tip of the iceberg. Waves of Kurdish refugees may be next."
With more than 1.3 million Syrians now believed to be trapped by the al-Assad government's "surrender or die" tactics in Idlib and at least 40 other besieged communities across the country, Offe's assessment hardly seems exaggerated. With an additional 1.1 million Syrians facing the threat of siege, Frauke Petry of Germany's Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders, Nigel Farage and other populist xenophobes are rubbing their hands together in glee.
Offe detests their tactics, and their thinking. It's not just that "Europe's political elites still haven't understood that the gates of 'fortress Europe' can't be fully closed", or that most European governments are callously flouting humanitarian norms. The framing of refugees as foreigners who don't belong in a Europe that is supposedly "full" simply doesn't make sense, Offe says. "If all the refugees who've so far arrived had been settled fairly in the member states, then the share of refugees in each country would be less than 1% of their total population." That's hardly "an unbearable economic burden".
Offe is quick to point out as well that populists are normally silent about the mounting costs of wall building, border protection and potentially lost trade. He cites a recent European Commission report that notes that lost business, steeper freight and commuter costs, interruptions to supply chains, and government outlays for tighter border policing will probably cost the whole European economy at least 18 billion euros each year.
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Mstyslav Chernov/Wikipedia Commons
Populists, he notes, are equally silent about the long-term economic benefits of migration. When refugees are seen in terms of labour markets, a subject he's studied and written about for nearly half a century, the new arrivals are on balance long-term assets. "I don't underestimate the challenges of integration. It will take a generation. Many refugees are burdened by bad memories of terrible atrocities. More than half come equipped with only elementary school qualifications. But Syrian medical doctors and many other refugees are unpaid-for human capital. Through time, they're going to fill the demographic and labour-market gaps of rapidly ageing European societies".
The German burden
The galling fact is that Germany, home to more than a million refugees, has been forced disproportionately to bear the costs of the catastrophes suffered by people from war-ravaged countries. Data collected and analysed by the Pew Research Centre and Eurostat, the European Union's statistical agency, show that Germany gave refuge to more than 1.1 million people in 2015, the highest annual number received by a European country during the past 30 years. The year 2016 saw another 300,000 people arrive in Germany.
So our conversation shifts to Angela Merkel, and her impending political fate. For someone whose leftist sympathies run deep, Offe's empathy with her migration policies is surprising. On this issue, he's clearly on her side. He's scathing about Dutch Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders (who in response to the Berlin attack tweeted a provocative photo of Angela Merkel, with blood on her hands) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his dismissal of the refugee issue as a "German problem" and Chancellor Merkel's policy as "moral imperialism".
Offe makes a prediction that doubles as a warning: the refusal of the majority of European member states to bear their fair share of the burden is going to affect them, too. His warning has a sting in its tail. This time around, he says, pausing, Angela Merkel miscalculated the degree of member state support for burden sharing. But Germany's leadership in the refugee crisis "unwittingly shows that when Brussels fails to deliver effective policies Berlin and Germany's leadership can't substitute for the European Union".
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But what about those loud voices, within Germany's AfD and elsewhere, who are saying that heavy intakes of mainly Muslim refugees are threatening European civilisation? Offe grows visibly irritated. "That's the battle cry of the populists: all these 'foreigners' make 'us' feel like 'foreigners in our own country'".
The odd thing, he notes, is that "ethno-nationalist and xenophobic passions" are weakest in the very countries (Italy and Greece) that for geographic reasons are being forced to bear the costs of wave after wave of refugees. The pattern throughout Europe, he says, is that Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry are strongest where there are fewest refugees. He gives the point a sharp twist: "It's the demagogue populists and their supporters who are most urgently in need of being 'integrated' into societies that are ever more diverse."
Brexit and European disintegration
Our short time together is ending, so I press Claus Offe to say a few words about Brexit, and the dangers posed to the EU by potentially ruinous state rivalries.
Offe admits he's worried about new fractious fissures that are developing, for instance between Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece, "the loser countries of the Euro and debt crisis", and the rest of the EU. The disagreements over refugee policy between Brussels and the Visegrad ("V4") countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) are similarly ominous, he agrees. But he reserves his full exasperation for the Brexit drama: the events triggered by the decision of UK voters (actually only 37.5% of them to leave the EU.
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The wise public intellectual suddenly reveals his upset about the political damage that's being done to Europe by the Brexit decision. "Let's imagine we're living in a house with others", he begins, "and a resident proposed a vote on whether or not we should continue staying in the house. We'd naturally expect a discussion of alternative housing arrangements before the vote was taken. We'd need to know where we're moving. Incredibly, that didn't happen prior to the UK referendum."
Offe rounds on the "fear-driven, truth-doesn't-matter propaganda" of the Brexit campaign. His harshest words are reserved for the motives and miscalculations of David Cameron. The UK referendum "was the political equivalent of what's known in penal law as 'criminal negligence'" led by a Prime Minister "trying to stem the tide of nationalist populism", says Offe. "How could he so recklessly force a whole country to play Russian roulette against itself?"
I remind Offe that Cameron's been punished politically for his foolishness; after all, he was forced to resign, in disgrace. "Yes," says Offe, invoking Winston Churchill's biting quip, "but the trouble with committing political suicide is that you live to regret it." Then follows a remark about suicide: "Suicide requires courage, but in this case the decision to hold a referendum was driven by cowardice." Cowardice, I ask? "The cowardice of a governing elite that shirked its political responsibilities as representatives of the public good", he replies. "And the cowardice of voters not held accountable for such a momentous and complex decision that will surely inflict massive economic burdens and long-lasting political disadvantages upon the whole British population".
European Council President/flickr
The whole saga "stinks on ice", Offe says. Not only does it raise such practical questions as what will be the fate of the two million European citizens currently working in the UK, or who will pay the pensions of British citizens currently employed at the European Commission, Brexit is compounding public anxieties about the future. Flights of capital from the country have begun. And Brexit exposes the deadly dangers of using a referendum to handle complex and consequential matters. "Parliaments use safety procedures, such as several readings of bills, confidence votes and super-majority requirements," he says. "In this Brexit business, such procedures were entirely absent at Westminster."
Now that the UK Supreme Court has ruled (by an 8-3 majority) that Theresa May's government must win the support of both houses of parliament before triggering Article 50, new battles are bound to happen.
The Scottish National Party will undoubtedly seek substantial amendments to the proposed legislation; the Liberal Democrats will likely vote against Article 50 unless there's a guarantee of another referendum on the final deal reached between the UK and the EU. How the Lords will react is unclear. Populists are of course wetting themselves with excitement. "Now Parliament must deliver will of the people - we will trigger A50 by end of March. Forward we go!", tweeted Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
Supreme Court has spoken. Now Parliament must deliver will of the people we will trigger A50 by end of March. Forward we go! Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 24, 2017
A viable alternative
But in which direction? And with what results? Whatever transpires, we agree that the whole messy Brexit process is spreading anxiety throughout the whole of the EU, so I put my farewell question to Offe.
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When measured in terms of media coverage and public commentary, paradoxically, European integration is deepening, I say. Not since World War II has the subject of Europe gripped the hearts and minds of so many millions of people. Yet most things otherwise look rather bleak, as in the 1920s; the menace of European disintegration is getting the upper hand, isn't it? How long will it be before Europe becomes a burden to the rest of the world, I ask? Can Europe, as Camus had hoped, once again prove it's capable of finding energy in its contradictions and differences and, under pressure, reinvent itself as a place the whole world respects?
Claus Offe surprises me with his ebullience, or what he calls his "cautious realism". Europe may be on its knees, he says, but it's not down and out. "Those who draw analogies between the 1930s and our times are mistaken," he says. "Yes, our present troubles bear some resemblance to the economic disruption and political disaffection of the 1920s. But there are no Fuhrers waiting in the wings. There's widespread public commitment to democracy. Even fringe neo-fascist parties like Germany's NPD (National demokratische Partei Deutschlands] are forced to camouflage their doubts about democracy."
"And the setbacks of the moment are but the flipside of eclipsed hopes", he says. "Neo-liberal globalisation has momentarily triumphed over a robust welfare state. It's fashionable to ignore the economic benefits of integration and to think that tightened national borders are a bulwark of security. But I'm convinced none of this can replace the hope for an integrated Europe that provides for the security and prosperity of its citizens in ways that disjointed nation states can't any longer do."
Pete Lambert/flickr
I ask him what he has in mind. "There's only one viable general alternative", he replies. "The banks and states have been bailed out. Now it's time to rescue workers, the unemployed, young people, pensioners and other citizens who've been most severely hurt by financial crisis and stagnation. Money's cheaper than ever, austerity has failed."
He pauses, for effect. "So imagine the founding of a new Ministry for Social Affairs and Social Security in Brussels that pays each member state 50% of the unemployment insurance and retraining costs they currently bear. Then imagine a multi-billion euro infrastructure investment programme in such fields as communications, transportation and energy, backed by a strengthened European Parliament and a Commission-led government of a federal Europe. Such initiatives would undoubtedly increase public support for European integration. They would encourage citizens to feel that Europe mustn't be lost, that it's possible to move forwards, towards a system of transnational social security and representative democracy never before tried anywhere else on our planet."
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Born in Berlin in 1940, Claus Offe has published widely and researched and taught at many institutions throughout the world. He was most recently Professor of Political Sociology at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin (2006 - 2012). Among his best-known recent books are Reflections on America: Tocqueville, Weber and Adorno in the United States (2005), Europe Entrapped (2015) and (with Ulrich Preuss) Citizens in Europe (2016).
This article is part of the Democracy Futures series, a joint global initiative with the Sydney Democracy Network. The project aims to stimulate fresh thinking about the many challenges facing democracies in the 21st century.
Stephanie Keith/Reuters
Let me tell you two stories that happened to two different people. Both concern religion in North America.
Register how you feel about each of them.
Story one: "Why are you not Christian?" a man asks you.
Story two: You wake up to find someone has left a Bible on your doorstep.
Which of these sounds more violent, more threatening to you? Or neither?
Now, imagine yourself a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf in a Western country and repeat the two stories to yourself again. How would you feel?
Now let me complete each story and give you some context.
Story one
"Why are you not Christian?" the man asked, kindly, in broken English.
"We believe in Jesus and the Bible," I said, wanting to comfort him, "and we have a lot of Christians in Egypt where I come from."
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This happened to me in Houston, Texas around 2007 or 2008. The man was a plumber coming in to fix my sink. He found it difficult to express himself in English but seemed to care about saving my soul, however misguided that was.
It didn't occur to me to be offended or afraid. This was a time when America was on the cusp of electing either a black president, a female president or at least a female vice president. Houston, despite what all my American friends had told me before I left Egypt, was not a generally racist place to live.
Half of the surgery fellows working with my husband at the Texas Heart Institute were Muslim. Some strangers said "Assalamu Alaikum" (peace be upon you) to me on the streets, or stopped me and my friends to comment on the beauty of our colourful headscarves.
Story two
You wake up to find someone has left a Bible on your doorstep. This happened to a friend in North America, soon after Donald Trump was elected president. She felt it was a threat or a subtle act of violence. She wondered how her neighbours would feel if she placed a Qur'an on their doorsteps.
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When I heard my friend's story, it got me thinking about the possible intentions of the person who placed that Bible on her doorstep.
I trust that my friend's feeling of being threatened was real in that context. But I wondered if the story might have been different. What if the story had included a note inside the Bible, showing who had left it, or giving an invitation to exchange holy books?
What if the Bible on the doorstep had been the beginning of a dialogue rather than a way to scare someone away? And if the person who left the Bible on my friend's doorstep didn't have bad intentions, why didn't they do it in person and look her in the eye?
Context and power
There are differences between story one and two, chief among them are context and power. The political context and who the actors are make a difference to the story. An elderly, Hispanic plumber fixing my sink? Not a threat to my 20-something self in Houston, accompanying my surgeon husband doing a fellowship at a prestigious nearby hospital.
Had I been asked the same question by a white man, in an angry voice, in another context, my reaction would probably have been very different.
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I am telling this story in the era where we are lamenting the rise of fake news and exploring our roles as educators to respond to it, as if a technical solution to figuring out if something is a lie will fix our problems. It won't. Because it's not a technical problem.
Education and understanding
Donald Trump's executive order banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US is not fake news. It's real news. And as a community, we have to deal with it.
Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has said:
"Power is the ability not just to tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person. The Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti writes that if you want to dispossess a people, the simplest way to do it is to tell their story and to start with, 'secondly'. Start the story with the arrows of the Native Americans, and not with the arrival of the British, and you have an entirely different story. Start the story with the failure of the African state, and not with the colonial creation of the African state, and you have an entirely different story."
The media does this all the time. So do politicians - we see Donald Trump right now, talking about banning Iraqi refugees and immigrants from entering the US, without mentioning the role of his country in causing the instability that motivated the immigration in the first place.
Adichie also says:
"The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story."
In my view, the best way to ensure that we and our children see more than the stereotypical story about people who are different from us is to expose them and ourselves to multiple stories. The bare minimum is to expose ourselves to other cultures on their own terms.
So, for example, we don't learn about Native Americans from Pocahontas or from Western films. We learn from Native Americans themselves. If we don't have direct access to them (I live a long way away in Egypt), find them online. Read or listen or even, if you're lucky, converse.
I know what you're thinking. I'm Muslim, talking about Muslims in America. What brought this on? But in the midst of my concern over Muslims in America, I also noticed Trump's presidential memo to advance approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline, I can see the injustice in this, and the irony: on the one hand, a "nation of immigrants" that is neither honouring immigrants, nor honouring the original residents of this land.
We will always have blind spots towards cultures that are unfamiliar to us. But the more deeply we establish understanding of the "other", the more we try to empathise, with social justice as our underlying value, the more likely we are to become empathetic, critical, global citizens. As educators, we must expand and diversify the people in our in-groups, and help students do this too.
Education expert Sean Michael Morris, on the day of Trump's inauguration, urged us to change the way we teach. He wrote:
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"An education that convinces us of what needs to be known, what is important versus what is frivolous, is not an education. It's training at best, conscription at worst. And all it prepares us to do is to believe what we're told."
This goes for parents and mentors as well as those of us in more formal teaching roles.
Building empathy
The best way not to believe what we're told is not to go fact-checking each and every thing we hear. Instead, I propose we start building our ability to understand people who are different from us, in context, rather than relying on harmful stereotypes. To know them as individuals, as they would like to be known, not as some dominant power (or US president) has decided we shall know them.
This is not quick or simple. But it can allow us to form a view of the world that rises above deception and to see what's important in our humanity. And it will change the way we vote. When we empathise with others, we imagine how our decisions can impact them.
Remember those two stories I mentioned earlier? Back in 2007 and 2008, I felt comfortable and safe praying in a mosque in Houston. Now, I would not, given the latest news of Islamophobic violence in mosques coming from North America, most recently the terrorist attack on a mosque in Quebec City that left six people dead.
My friend with the Bible on her doorstep, a dual citizen, was unable to attend a conference in the US a few days ago.
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But that isn't the biggest tragedy. The tragic stories are those of families torn apart by this executive order. Parents who cannot reach their children. What we need now, more than ever, is empathy.
Maha Bali, Associate Professor of Practice, Center for Learning and Teaching, American University in Cairo
Yesterday I made an embarrassing mistake. I received an email from a trusted colleague that was a chain letter from one of her trusted colleagues. It asked that I send it on to at least 20 people, requesting them to send it on as well. That way, In three days, everyone in the US who had an email account would have seen it. Maybe even you. It purportedly came originally from Warren Buffet and was called "The Buffett Rule" for cleaning up politics. I won't go into the details but it fooled me and I sent it on to my list of friends, many of whom are nonfiction authors and know a hoax when they see it. I even sent an email to Diane Ravitch, who has occasionally reposted some of my writing and she immediately wrote back saying that Susie Buffett, Warren's daughter, had told her personally that it was not true.
In addition, one of my author colleagues, Laurie, informed us all that it was a phony, citing a few websites and my agent, Susan, gave me a list of websites to check the veracity of any story. I was embarrassed because I should have known better. After all my books are always vetted by experts. And if there was ever a time for vetting, this is it!
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I'm being bombarded with emails asking to sign petitions and join rallies and sometimes I haven't a clue about the organization behind it. Plus there are all kinds of emails that smell of propaganda. Yes, I want to participate in these troubling times as a citizen. So now that I've done my mea culpa, I'm passing on some important information for you to determine truth from alt truth. Check out these websites:
"Media Bias/Fact Check (MBFC News) is an independent online media outlet. MBFC News is dedicated to educating the public on media bias and deceptive news practices. "MBFC News' aim is to inspire action and a rejection of overtly biased media. We want to return to an era of straight forward news reporting. "Funding for MBFC News comes from site advertising, individual donors, and the pockets of our bias checkers."
We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding. FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The APPC was established by publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg to create a community of scholars within the University of Pennsylvania that would address public policy issues at the local, state and federal levels.
Politifact.com This Pulitzer Prize-winning site goes to great lengths to explain their process to root out facts from fiction. It is worth reading about here:
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Snopes.com focuses on smoking out rumors. They have a search box where you can insert something you've seen or heard from the media and they check it out.
Washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker If you trust traditional media, then the Washington Post is your source where reporters adhere to journalistic standards. Nothing is reported without three independent sources. They give out Pinocchio's as a rating for falsehoods.
Interestingly, one of our email group is a school librarian. She was amused at the furor of "reply alls" as we sorted this out. Her take?
"
What fun to see you all performing the librarian's job of fact checker! We all suffer from the great malaise - confirmation bias. Someone needs to write about this...
Thanks for providing a bit of levity today - I really needed it! And thanks for the nice list of fact checking sites. I will share them with students tomorrow giving Laurie and Susan full credit."
U.S. President Donald Trump talks to senior staff Steve Bannon (R) and Jared Kushner (C) during a swearing in ceremony for senior staff at the White House in Washington, DC January 22, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
President Trump has begun to act on promises he made during the Presidential campaign, and his actions pertaining to national security are making Americans less safe. For example, during the campaign, then candidate Trump said he had a secret plan for defeating ISIS. Unfortunately, he is undermining the real progress being made against ISIS in Iraq, Syria and globally.
Specifically, the President's Executive Order (EO) prohibiting immigrants and visa holders from seven predominately Muslim countries from entering the United States, as well as his support of the use torture, and proposal to reinstate the use of black sites for interrogating detainees, will only add to the case being made against the United States by terrorist organizations and their supporters.
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In addition, the Presidential memorandum altering the permanent membership of National Security Council Principals Committee meetings to include political advisors, but to exclude the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Chairman) and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), puts a political focus on those meetings, and will have a negative impact on national security.
Aside from the very real affront to American values these actions represent, as well as the legal issues they raise, it is useful to take a look at what this will do to US national security, particularly counter-terrorism (CT) efforts. The immigration ban, which includes Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan, gives preferential treatment to non-Muslims in those countries. The Administration can wrongly say that it isn't a ban on Muslims, but ISIS and the rest of the world believes it is.
ISIS in particular is using this as proof that America is at war against Islam. With a single stroke of a sharpie, the President has undone the important work of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to make sure that Muslims understand that US counter-terrorism (CT) efforts are not a fight against Islam but against terrorists who use Islam as an excuse for their atrocities.
Excluding Iraqis and Libyans from coming to the United States will make it very difficult to work with the governments of those countries, who are key allies in the battle against terrorists. Just as bad, the Trump policies, real and proposed, will inspire lone wolf attacks in the American homeland. This kind of attack has increased dramatically since 2015, and is considered to be among the most difficult to defend against. Lone wolves often go through a process of self-radicalization, and the recent actions and rhetoric coming from the Trump Administration could be fodder for self-radicalization efforts.
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The President's stated support for the use of torture, which would be illegal if implemented, and the suggestion that he may reinstitute black sites not only provides another important talking point for ISIS and Al Qaeda, it also complicates the ability of the US to work with allies who want nothing to do with torture. British Prime Minister Theresa May had to clarify with Parliament before coming to the US that her government does not support torture.
Just as significant, Secretary of Defense Mattis and CIA Director Pompeo are on the record as being against torture. While President Trump has said he would accept their judgment on this issue, at the same time, he repeatedly said he did not agree with them, confusing adversaries and allies as to what US policy really is. In addition, it is wrong to ask the men and women of the intelligence community to go back to policies for which they have been investigated and criticized by two Administrations and Congress.
A Presidential memorandum that gives Trump advisor Steven Bannon official standing in the National Security Council Principals Committee meetings, without giving the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence equal status, is a bizarre action that seems to indicate the primacy of politics and spin over intelligence analysis and military experience.
Even if the DNI and Chairman will attend most key White House meetings on national security issues, specifically excluding them in the Presidential memorandum sends the wrong signal on CT policy and the overall approach of the Administration on national security issues. This change will not be lost on America's adversaries, including terrorist groups, who pay close attention to every action and statement made by the Administration.
Actor Kal Penn addresses delegates during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina September 4, 2012. REUTERS/Eric Thayer (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)
If you haven't heard, President Donald Trump signed a mildly controversial Muslim ban, that he's saying isn't really a Muslim ban. For the record, it is. This rigorous refusal of human rights to people from seven countries in The Middle East has upturned the United States in just four days.
This past weekend airports turned into a disaster zone, people took to the streets again to protest, and a Trump supporter fired on a mosque in Quebec, Canada. Islamophobia is spreading under this ban and those who oppose the order are suffering the consequences. It seems the division in this country grows wider by the day.
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Donald Trump isn't exactly off to a great start as the 45th President of the United States. He's breeding fear and hatred. These deplorable attitudes are empowering even the most closeted bigots and everyone is feeling the heat... including celebrities.
Luckily, we have people like Kal Penn. Who you may recognize as Kumar of Harold and Kumar Go To Whitecastle fame but the actor is also quite politically active. He served in the Obama administration as Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 31
By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:
Constructive agreements on further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation were achieved as a result of the visit to Ashgabat of a Belarusian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Kalinin, the Belarusian embassy in Turkmenistan said in a message.
The delegation included Minister of Architecture and Construction Anatoly Cherny, Deputy Chairman of Belneftekhim Concern Igor Bobyr and Director General of Belaruskali JSC Ivan Golovaty.
The message says that meetings were held with Batyr Ereshov, deputy chairman of Turkmenistans Cabinet of Ministers and Alexander Dadaev, chairman of Turkmenistans Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
During the meetings, issues of the two countries cooperation, including in implementation of joint construction projects, supply of automotive and agricultural machinery and equipment, agricultural products, as well as goods and services.
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy wants to give insurance firms state tax cuts that are expected to result in $11 million in savings in the next year, and $22 million in 2019.Gov. Malloy proposed a reduction on insurance premium taxes from the current 1.75% to 1.5%.There are simple and relatively inexpensive ways we can improve the business climate by making state government more predictable and sustainable, Malloy was quoted as saying in a statement by the Hartford Courant.The insurance industry has a long and storied history in Connecticut, and we must ensure that we maintain our competitive edge so they continue to thrive and grow in our state, he added.The local chief executive noted that the tax cuts are expected to save insurance firms based in the state millions in taxes. There are currently around 60,000 insurance workers across the state.If approved, the measure will take effect next year.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Fatih Karimov Trend:
Agricultural products shared 9.2 percent of Irans exports in terms of value during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (March 20-Dec. 21, 2016), said the latest statistics released by Trade Promotion Organization of Iran.
The value of Iran's agricultural exports accounted for $2.913 billion, during the period, 3 percent more year-on-year. Iran exported 3.435 million tons of agricultural products, indicating a rise by 29 percent compared to the first nine month of preceding year (March 20-Dec. 21, 2015).
Industrial products shared 33.8 percent of Irans exports in terms of value during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. The value of Iran's industrial exports accounted for $10.683 billion, during the period, 5 percent more year-on-year. Iran exported 24.17 million tons of industrial products, indicating a rise by 4 percent compared to the first nine month of preceding year.
Iran petrochemical exports increased by 1.3 percent to $9.743 billion during the 9-month period. The volume of the petrochemical exports registered a rise by 28 percent to 21.467 million tons in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.
Iran exported 13.051 million tons of gas condensate, worth $5.124 billion in the period, which indicates a 97.5-percent and a 65-percent increase in volume and value respectively, year-on-year.
Iran's total non-oil exports (including the gas condensate) stood at $31.593 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, which indicates a 9-percent increase.
Therefore, the share of the gas condensate, also known as ultra-light oil from total non-oil exports stood at 16.2 percent, while petrochemical products shared 30.8 percent of Iran's total non-oil exports in the nine months.
The Islamic Republic also exported $256 million worth of handicrafts and hand-made carpets (12 percent increase) and $972 million worth of mineral products(42 percent increase) in the 9-month period.
Mineral products shared 2.9 percent of the Islamic Republics total exports in terms of value.
Owner Yuki Cohen and attorney Timothy Shugrue at the last License Board hearing. The bar agreed to donated its profits for five days if the board deferred a license suspension.
Methuselah Ordered By Licensing Board To Donate Five-Days of Profits
On Monday Police released the video of the incident in which Shugrue says it is clear that the doorman asked the shooting victim for identification. PITTSFIELD, Mass. Instead of having her liquor license suspended for five days, Methuselah owner Yuki Cohen is donating the profits from those days to a local non-profit.
Methuselah was called before the Licensing Board to answer to an incident on Nov. 25, 2016 , when a 17-year-old was drinking at the bar and then was shot moments after right outside the door.
The Licensing Board agreed on Monday to stay a license suspension for a year, meaning if there are any violations in the next year the suspension is automatically imposed, and to accept her offer to donate the profits for those five days to a non-profit.
"In lieu of closing, my client is willing to donate her profit, her income, during a period you suggest to underage drinking [prevention] or any non-profit organization so that the employees continue to work so we don't harm them in the process," attorney Timothy Shugrue said.
"I know it is unique."
Shugrue's proposal came right as the board was looking to suspend the bar's license anywhere from three days to seven days. The issue centered on the underage drinking incident that board member Richard Stockwell compared to an incident at Lach's Lounge a year ago in which that bar faced a seven-day suspension.
"I think what happened at Methuselah, unfortunately, mirrors exactly what happened at Lach's Lounge. There was a violation at the bar. The gentleman left the bar. It was outside on city property where both of these individuals were shot," Stockwell said.
"I have a very strong feeling that this board cannot treat North Street, the upscale bars on North Street, differently than the bars on Wahconah Street, Tyler Street, or Madison, or Onota."
James Dominguez was inside Lach's on Jan. 23, 2016; when he left, he was shot and killed in the parking lot. Responding officers found patrons who were heavily intoxicated a violation of overserving. The Licensing Board issued the seven-day suspension as well as forced the bar to close at midnight for two months.
That hearing also included the mayor issuing a statement arguing for the board to "deliver a strong message."
At Methuselah, a 17-year-old man was drinking at Methuselah and upon leaving, he was shot outside.
But Board member Thomas Campoli doesn't see the two incidents as being the same. It was just a few months before the Lach's suspension that its owners were brought before the board for a separate incident . In that case, in October 2015, an altercation occurred inside the bar and one man left and ended up shooting someone outside. A firearm was also passed between individuals in the bar and the police say a bartender misled them about it.
"That came on the heels of a much more troubling incident at Lachs," Campoli said.
Methuselah hasn't been perfect, however, and has gone before the Licensing Board in the past for overcrowding. Then the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission issued a one-day suspension to Methuselah's license.
But, on Monday there was nobody looking to send any strong messages about illegal activity. Instead, downtown business merchants and the president of Downtown Pittsfield Inc. argued the importance of the Methuselah to North Street's business growth.
"To us, this is a strategically important business," said Downtown Pittsfield Inc. President Jesse Cook-Dubin.
Cook-Dubin went on to say that the long-term efforts to revitalize the city's downtown depends on entrepreneurs taking risks to open businesses in struggling blocks. On both sides of Methuselah, the blocks are filled with struggling businesses rotating in and out. But "this block is becoming one of those strong blocks."
He was worried about the "stigma" caused by a suspension and the ultimate loss of business Cohen would possibly see. He added that the bar is where his company and other companies bring young professionals they are trying to recruit.
"This is a good citizen in our community, not just Mrs. Cohen but this whole operation," Cook-Dubin said.
Steven Valenti, owner of Steven Valenti's Clothing for Men, echoed those sentiments and he was joined by a few other downtown business people. Meanwhile, David Hall of the Rotary Club praised Cohen for her community work that includes donations each year for a raffle the club uses to raise money to send children to summer camps.
"We depend on the good businesses in our community for these donations," Hall said.
Despite how good of a community partner Cohen is, the board still felt that it needed to treat the bar fairly compared to other incidents such as at Johnny's Beach Club, Lach's Lounge, and Chameleons. Campoli, however, said all of those incidents minus the second at Lach's Lounge had started from altercations inside the establishments and the bars had previous violations.
"It is obvious there is no nexus between the shooting and anything that happened inside of the bar," Campoli said.
In Methuselah's case, there was no altercation inside the bar. Further, Methuselah argued it had done everything it could to prevent a violation. The 17-year-old who was shot was described as looking older than his age and had presented doorman Shane Tatro an identification card. Police found a Massachusetts license in the victim's pocket which had him listed as being age 25.
Tatro, however, said that he remembered it being a Connecticut license and the man was 35. But, Shugrue said maybe it was, in fact, the license officers found. Nonetheless, between facial hair and tattoos, the man allegedly didn't look underage and Tatro said he checked the photo, the birthdate, and the name.
"He didn't set off any alarms," Tatro said of the identification.
Board member Diane Pero, however, looked at the photos of the man and at the identification and said there are a number of inconsistencies in the photo on the license found and the photos of the victim. Further, she said there are signs in the photo of the victim that indicate he may not have been over the age of 21.
Despite the inconsistency in statements and consideration whether or not it was an honest mistake, it is still a violation. For that, the board agreed it needed to take some action.
Pero said because of the actions the board took against others in similar situations, she couldn't "look the other way" in this case. She advocated for a suspension. Board member Dana Doyle then motioned for a three-day suspension but that failed to get a second. Stockwell ultimately motioned for Shugrue's suggestion, which was adopted by the board.
Adams officials are wary of spending money on Cheshire School should the School Committee decide to close one of its elementary schools.
Adams Administrators Against Cheshire Elementary Renovation
ADAMS, Mass. Adams officials are advocating against the potential closure C.T. Plunkett School as an answer to the regional school district's declining enrollment and rising budget.
The Adams-Cheshire Regional School District has broached the possibility of closing one of its two elementary schools in recent years.
Both Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco and Selectmen Chairman Jeffrey Snoonian have written letters questioning the wisdom of spending millions to renovate Cheshire Elementary School.
Mazzucco sent a letter more than a week ago to Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee Chairman Paul Butler and Superintendent Robert Putnam citing a fiscal 2014 Massachusetts statement of interest for the renovation of Cheshire Elementary. The letter was also sent to Monica Lamboy, senior associate with the University of Massachusetts at Boston's Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management, which is developing recommendations for the school district.
"[The SOI] lists out substantial facility and educational issues with CES and I think you both need to be aware of what the district has already determined regarding the condition of CES," Mazzucco wrote.
The town administrator wrote that Adams will not pay for the renovation of the Cheshire Elementary School.
"Adams would be responsible for a portion of any debt service for a remodel of CES, which is not going to happen," Mazzucco's letter states. "I can assure you this community will not, nor at any time in the future, support a renovation of the CES facility."
Mazzucco and Snoonian both argue that Plunkett would need far less maintenance over the next few years, such as a roof replacement and some brick repointing. Cheshire School, however, is in "dilapidated condition" and has an"inability to provide a consistent environment for learning," Snoonian cited from the statement to interest.
Plunkett can survive until the district shrinks to a point where it can operate in one school - the recently renovated Hoosac Valley High School.
"These future needs at CES as outlined by the district are substantial, and the district clearly questions the educational value of the building," Mazzucco wrote. "Also, keep in mind with the context of this report we know we will be going to a one-building district in the future, so any substantial renovations to CES would not be warranted period."
Mount Greylock Principal Mary MacDonald discussed the needs of the school's math department, which was applauded by School Committee member Steven Miller, left.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee on Thursday decided to order an updated cost-benefit analysis of expanding the junior-senior high school district to include the elementary schools in its sending towns.At its regular monthly meeting, the School Committee OKed a $5,000 study by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools. It is the most tangible step to date in the district's revival of an initiative it put on the back-burner in 2014 after the district was invited to enter the Massachusetts School Building Authority's building program.With the use of a regionalization study grant from the commonwealth, the district in 2013-14 undertook a yearlong study by a committee of 15 representing the town governments of Williamstown and Lanesborough, both elementary schools and the junior-senior high school.Despite the recommendation of that committee and the inclination of the Mount Greylock School Committee itself, Mount Greylock officials decided they needed to put their efforts into supporting the building project while the district had the opportunity to receive state matching funds.With the renovation and addition project well under way, the School Committee last year issued a request for proposals for a consultant to help study update the district's information on the regionalization question.School Committee member Carolyn Greene, who chaired the 2013-14 Regional District Amendment Committee, told her colleagues that a full-blown RDAC study may not be necessary, but the district ought not go to the town with outdated financial data."The initial focus will be the Chapter 70 [state aid]," Greene said Thursday. "That's where most of the cost/benefit is, in the Chapter 70 variable."If the numbers aren't looking good, we may want to reconsider whether we ask the towns for a vote, but the towns could take a vote [on regionalization] anyway. If the numbers are looking OK, there are a lot of other reasons to take it to the towns: the educational benefits alone and the viability, being able to attract leadership, making it easier on all our administrators."It makes us more efficient. All those efficiencies are educational benefits because they take the energy away from bureaucracy and allow us to put that energy into education."The RDAC findings still are available on the districts website . Many of the committee's conclusions stand the test of time, but the financial assessments are an unknown without further study.Currently, Mount Greylock and its two "feeders" share central administration through an arrangement known as the Tri-District. Part of the impetus for the original RDAC was a belief that while shared administrative services generated some efficiency, the arrangement could be stronger, more efficient and, ultimately, more attractive to potential superintendent candidates.In the fall, the Tri-District lost its first-year superintendent when he departed amid heavy criticism from school administrators and School Committee members. Douglas Dias' predecessor, Rose Ellis, the first to serve as top administrator for the three districts, told the three elected school committees prior to her departure that the Tri-District setup would not be attractive to qualified potential superintendents in the future.Currently, the Tri-District is administered by an interim superintendent; the three school committees plan to launch a search for a permanent replacement within the calendar year.MARS and its assistant executive director, Stephen Hemman, who worked extensively with the RDAC four years ago, are available to rerun the financials, Greene said. After Thursday's meeting, she said the initial financial analysis could be available to the School Committee as soon as early February.She also speculated the towns could have warrant articles on the regionalization question before the voters as soon as annual town meeting 2017 in May in Williamstown and June in Lanesborough."When we get the numbers, we'll take them first to this committee, then to the towns and the [elementary] school committees," Greene said. "These will all be public meetings. As much as we can, we need to talk about this early and often and in public."Mount Greylock School Committee member and Williamstown resident Steven Miller noted that it is not a slam dunk even with data about greater efficiency and potential cost savings."One concern people might have is: Will issues be lost if we have one school committee for the three schools," Miller said.Mount Greylock School Committee Chairwoman Sheila Hebert of Lanesborough said there is a safeguard in place to make sure individual school's concerns are heard."When you go to the big region, what's important is the school councils, so they can give their input to the budget and the issues important to the school itself," Hebert said. "They can bring all that to the [regional] school committee."Greene agreed."The other issue that comes up is school identity," she said. "It's a very real issue and one we talked about a lot and one the [Berkshire County Education] Task Force will talk about a lot as we move into Phase 2 of our study."There's an immediate fear of absorption, but the important thing for us is to have the conversations. Is there anything to be afraid of or do the benefits far outweigh the concerns?"As with the RDAC discussions of four years ago, the current regionalization talk only applies to the schools that currently share a central administration: Mount Greylock, Williamstown Elementary and Lanesborough Elementary. A smaller town whose elementary school feeds Mount Greylock, Hancock, has a tuition agreement with the regional district. While it frequently is mentioned as a potential addition to the region, that kind of expansion is not currently on the School Committee's agenda.In other business on Thursday, the Mount Greylock School Committee heard a presentation from North Adams Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Malkas and William Diehl of the Pioneer Valley's Collaborative for Educational Services about efforts to create a similar collaborative in North Berkshire County. And Principal Mary MacDonald and faculty from the school's math department gave a presentation on the need for increased funding for math instruction.Following on a December presentation from the junior-senior high school's health department , MacDonald explained that the math department is similarly understaffed, and she plans to include a request for an additional faculty position in each department in the fiscal year 2018 budget."Last year, when we were doing the budget, one of the ways we accommodated the needs of the towns was not to replace Courtney Gibson, a retiring seventh-grade math teacher," MacDonald said. "At that point, by doing careful shuffling and scheduling the math department, the guidance department and I thought we could get through one year without replacing her, and we did that successfully."But we'd like to replace that position very much so."MacDonald offered numbers demonstrating how popular math electives are at Mount Greylock, where the school in recent years has consistently seen 80 percent of its students score proficient or advanced on standardized tests, and where 67 students last year took the Advanced Placement test in calculus; 67 percent of those students scored a three or higher on the AP test (which scores from 0 to 5), making them eligible for college credit.As successful as Mount Greylock has been in teaching mathematics, that success needs to be supported through the budget, MacDonald indicated."We want more flexibility and want to be able to expand the course offerings," she said. "We'd like to be able to support more sections for some of the classes we offer. Right now, we see some high [class] numbers in algebra 25 kids in seventh and eighth-grade algebra. We'd like to see those numbers pulled back a little bit."Miller, a math professor at Williams College, was the first to applaud Mount Greylock's efforts and noted the success of students who have taken his college classes as high school students. Committee member Chris Dodig thanked the faculty as both a public servant and a parent.Five members of the seven-person School Committee attended Thursday's meeting, which was rescheduled from the week before because of a snowstorm.
Tehran, Iran, Jan. 31
By Mehdi Sepahvand, Fatih Karimov Trend:
Iranian and French companies signed five cooperation documents at the end of the two countries joint economic commission session, held in Tehran on Jan. 31, Trends correspondent reported from the session.
The documents envisage cooperation for development of Mashhad international airport, construction of a bioethanol plant in the western city of Kermanshah, and holding pilot training courses for Iran and regional countries as well as cooperation in fishery industry and caviar production.
French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was present in the commission session, said that his country is interested to establish long-term cooperation with Iran in the railroad industry, development of ports, and the energy sector.
He further underlined the need for removing barriers to financial relations with Iran, saying French banks have been encouraged to take a more active role in trade with Iran.
Heading a high-ranking 60-member political-economic delegation, Ayrault arrived in Tehran Jan. 30.
During his two-day visit, Ayrault is scheduled to meet with Irans President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.
Tehran, Iran, Jan. 31
By Mehdi Sepahvand, Fatih Karimov Trend:
Irans missile tests are not related to the nuclear deal between Tehran and the six world powers, which came into force last year, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, has said.
He made the remarks during a joint press conference with his visiting French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault in Tehran Jan. 31, Trend correspondent reported from the event.
As all members of the P5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) have already confirmed, Irans missile tests are not a part of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aka nuclear deal), Zarif said.
Zarif added that Irans defense program including ballistic missile tests is neither related to the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal.
He said Iran will not hand over its defense to other countries permission.
Irans missiles are not designed to carry a nuclear warhead, Zarif said, adding that Iran will never use its weapons to attack other countries.
The top Iranian diplomat further warned the United States against creating new tensions with Tehran over the issue.
Asked whether Iran has conducted a missile test recently, Zarif refused to confirm that.
According to US officials, Tehran has carried out a test launch of a medium-range ballistic missile on Jan. 29.
The US mission to the United Nations said it is requesting that the UN Security Council hold a closed-door meeting to discuss the test.
Meanwhile, the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, confirming the test, refused to give any details on how the White House plans to deal with the issue.
We are aware that Iran fired that missile, we are looking into the exact nature of it, Spicer said.
Tehran, Iran, January 31
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
The foreign ministers of Iran and France in a joint press conference in Tehran expressed happiness that trade volume between the two countries has tripled over the past year.
Irans Mohammad Javad Zarif said during the press conference that the two sides had convened their first economic commission meeting, signing several agreement documents, Trends correspondent reported from the event.
According to Zarif, the agreements included the areas of economy, science and technology, environment, aviation, rail transport, and money laundering.
The Iranian foreign minister also pointed out that the first car to be jointly made by Iran and France will hit the market in about one month.
Jean-Marc Ayrault, for his part, said French banks are fully prepared to support economic activity of French companies in Iran.
Expressing happiness over the 2015 opening of Frances trade office in Tehran, the French foreign minister said the office is helping various Iranian and French companies to carry out business.
It is important for us to support cooperation projects with Iran, he said, adding, After the [nuclear] deal we turned to a new stage. The agreement should be respected by France and the other parties that signed it.
Ayrault further pointed out that Iranian and French universities have signed 17 MoUs, adding that France is after stronger academic ties with Iran.
Long-lasting cooperation with Iran on railroads, ports, aviation, and renewable energy is top on agenda for France, therefore we will pursue the agreements until there are put into practice.
France plans to double the number of visas it issues to Iranians, Ayrault also said, adding that France wants to be able to allow a larger number of Iranians wishing to travel to France to ask for a visa in improved conditions.
Heading a high-ranking 60-member political-economic delegation, Ayrault arrived in Tehran Jan. 30.
IDF Preparing for Thousands of Rockets
The Fellowship | January 31, 2017 Rockets Fired at Tel Aviv
Yesterday Stand for Israel reported on some of the terror threats about which Israel is constantly vigilant. One of these is the Lebanese terrorist organization, Hezbollah. Now, The Jerusalem Posts Anna Ahronheim tells us that the IDF is currently very concerned with Hezbollahs ability not only to strike anywhere within Israels borders, but to take out the Jewish states electronic systems, as well:
The IDF Home Front Command is preparing for the thousands of rockets expected to strike Israel during the next war, investing hundreds of millions of shekels over the past two years on defensive measures and strengthening strategic capabilities.
The IDF considers Hezbollah the most substantial threat, with at least 120,000 rockets aimed at Israel, many of them able to strike anywhere in the country. While most have a range of just 45 kilometers, the army has said that it expects a bombardment of over 1,000 rockets in the course of just one day.
The Home Front Command currently divides the country into 264 polygon alert zones in which a siren is activated once the flight path and expected landing area of a missile or rocket is calculated.
The Jerusalem Post has learned that Israels already state-of-the-art alert system is being upgraded, as the number of polygon alert zones is set to increase to a few thousand by April 2018.
The increase in zones means that, as opposed to a siren sounding for an entire city, individual neighborhoods or streets will be alerted to take shelter
Israel Urges US, UN to Act Against Iran
The Fellowship | January 31, 2017 Israel Urges US
Stand for Israel told you about Irans latest breach of both the international nuclear agreement and a similar U.N. resolution a test launch of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile. Now, The Jerusalem Post reports that in light of this blatant act of aggression, Israel has called on the United States and the United Nations to take action against the Islamic Republic:
Israel is urging the world to take action after a US official said Monday that Iran carried out a test launch of a medium-range ballistic missile over the weekend, seemingly in violation of UN Resolution 2231, which forbids the Islamic Republic from carrying out such tests for a period of eights years.
The United Nations Security Council was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the test at the request of the United States. The US request came after Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon called for the meeting, saying of the test, This aggression is not only directed toward Israel, it is directed toward the entire Western world.
New US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley was expected to take part in the Security Council talks. The call for the meeting was the first such request that the US has made since Haley was confirmed for her post last week.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that in light of reports of the Iranian ballistic missile test, one of the issues he will raise with US President Donald Trump during their meeting on February 15 will be the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran. He said it is forbidden that Iranian aggression go without a response.
Intelligence Minister Israel Katz told Army Radio on Tuesday that there is no doubt that further sanctions on Iran are needed, following the ballistic missile test
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Dermot O'Leary and Emma Willis will co-host the Brit Awards after Michael Buble was forced to pull out of the ceremony, it has been announced.
The presenters of two of the biggest rival singing competitions - The Voice and The X Factor, will team up for the music event held at London's O2 Arena.
Buble had to drop his presenting role after his three-year-old son was diagnosed with liver cancer.
Willis, who has three children, said: "Every part of me sends so much love and all the best wishes in the world to Michael and his family at such a difficult time.
"I'm a huge fan of his and I would have relished watching him present the Brits. I know everyone involved wants to make the best show possible and I hope we do him proud."
O'Leary added: "Michael is an effortless showman, so those patent shoes will not be easy to fill. But it's an honour to be asked to step in with Emma to host the Brits.
Brits chairman Jason Iley said that Buble could host a future Brits event. "Our thoughts go out to Michael and his family. We would love to see him on our stage in the future."
The Brits take place on 22 February at the O2 Arena. See the full list of nominees here.
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Queens Of The Stone Age have made their feelings very, very clear about US President Donald Trump.
The band took to their official Instagram page to hit out at the President after he issued an executive order to ban immigrants and refugees from seven countries.
"This man is a shallow, inept, multi-bankrupt declaring, narcissistic, narrow minded, out of touch, objectifying, barf inducing, fascist, clown penis... who also happens to be re-stup-redicu-lame."
QOTSA also quoted Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Trump's immigration ban has caused global uproar and chaos at US airports, with American law enforcement agencies and foreign countries struggling to grasp Washington's new policy.
The countries affected are Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Iran, Libya and Sudan.
Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban Show all 20 1 /20 Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-1 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-2 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-3 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-4 SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 28: Demonstrators hold signs during a rally against a ban on Muslim immigration at San Francisco International Airport on January 28, 2017 in San Francisco, California. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday that suspends entry of all refugees for 120 days, indefinitely suspends the entries of all Syrian refugees, as well as barring entries from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering for 90 days. Stephen Lam/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-5 A crowd of protesters gathers outside of the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse as a judge hears a challenge against President Donald Trump's executive ban on immigration from several Muslim countries, on January 28, 2017 in Brooklyn. The judge issued an emergency stay on part of Trump's executive order, ruling that sending refugees stopped at U.S. airports back to their countries would be harmful. Yana Paskova/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-6 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-7 NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-8 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-9 Getty Images Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-10 Getty Images Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-11 NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-12 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-13 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-14 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-15 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-16 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-17 NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-18 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-19 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-20 Passengers wait in line to check in at the American Airlines terminal at JFK International Airport August 10, 2006 in the Queens borough of New York City. British authorities arrested 21 people and halted a anallegedly terrorist plot to use liquid explosives concealed in carry-on luggage to blow up airliners traveling between Britain and the U.S. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff said that the plot appeared to be directed at U.S. carriers flying out of Heathrow. such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines. Stephen Chernin/Getty
At the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, stars of film and TV took the opportunity to convey their anger at what has been referred to as Trump's "Muslim ban" and express solidarity with refugees.
The move also prompted former President Barack Obama, who has only been out of office for 10 days, to state his disagreement at the ban and express support for protesters around the country.
Kevin Lewis, a spokesman for the former president, said: "President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country.
"Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices hear by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake."
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Myron Ebell, the controversial advisor to Donald Trump who describes himself as an enemy of environmentalism, has visited No 10 Downing Street.
The climate change denier led Mr Trumps transition team for the Environmental Protection Agency until the inauguration. Since then, Mr Ebell has returned to his job at an anti-environmentalist think tank.
It isnt clear why Mr Ebell was attending Theresa Mays office, who he spoke to when he was there or what he spoke about. But it came a day after a briefing where Mr Ebell said that he was sure that Mr Trump would pull out of the Paris climate accord, and indicated that he and Mr Trump agreed that it was pretty clear that the problem or the crisis has been overblown and overstated.
He told that event that he doubted the science about climate change, which is agreed on by almost every scientist.
10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke filled with the carbon that is driving climate change drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan
Ebell has previously criticised those working for the UK Government to fight climate. In 2005 he said the then UK Chief Scientist David King was an alarmist with ridiculous views who knows nothing about climate change.
Mr King is now foreign secretary Boris Johnson's special representative for climate change.
During the briefing in London on Monday, Ebell made his anti-scientific stance clear. There hasn't been much warming for the last 20 years, or statistically no warming for the last 20 years, but it is going to happen because we keep pumping more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, he said.
Since 1996, that is the year before the Kyoto Protocol was negotiated, over 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions since the era of fossil fuels began in around 1750 have been emitted. Now, if we were going to have some warming, it should have started.
The fact is that the sensitivity to carbon dioxide, the sensitivity to the climate, has been vastly exaggerated.
In all of this discussion of the impacts of global warming, the benefits of higher carbon dioxide levels and of warming...are completely minimised by the alarmist community.
Asked why Mr Ebell was there, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: He was in for a meeting with advisers in his capacity as director of the think tank, the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
This was part of regular engagement between Number 10 with various different think tanks and others. He was there in that capacity, it was a meeting between him and staff in Number 10, it wasnt with the PM.
It is understood climate change was not discussed at the meeting and that no ministers were present.
Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party, said she had tabled a parliamentary question to ask what Mr Ebell was doing at Number 10.
Myron Ebells visit to Downing street is deeply alarming. He is a known climate change denier and his utterly misguided approach has no place in our politics.
If Trump pulls out of the Paris agreement, and the Prime Minister did nothing to try and stop him, then she must accept some responsibility for such a hammer blow to the climate movement.
Theresa May must tell us what Ebell was doing in Downing Street and confirm whether or not she brought up climate change with President Trump."
Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said: "Theresa May has some explaining to do. What was a former Trump adviser and notorious climate sceptic doing at No10? Has the prime minister agreed her staff can meet with the archenemy of the Paris climate agreement she has pledged to honour?
Mays failure to quickly condemn Trumps attack on refugee rights has already sparked a huge backlash. Pandering to Trump's anti-science views on climate will only make it worse. Its time for the prime minister to start drawing red lines around the values and laws we support, including respect for the Geneva Convention and the Paris climate agreement.
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After the time-honoured excesses of Christmas and New Year, these days its just as common to fling ourselves into a health kick, be it dry January, Veganuary, or investing in a guilt-induced gym membership which we will use religiously until about March. All the deprivations not easy when the days are still so dark and cold, and while most of us who persevere have to admit we feel brighter, fitter and stronger for the detox, were also looking forward to that first delicious tipple.
The end of the month is almost upon us but what can you drink thats flavour-packed, yet will keep the hard-won healthy glow going? What will ease you in gently, so to speak?
These wines are all lower alcohol, with nothing over 11.5 per cent ABV for whites and 12 per cent ABV for reds. More importantly, they are all interesting in terms of flavour and quality and most come with minimal intervention. In fact, theyre positively saintly!
Recommended Craft beer snobs are about to evolve into something even more annoying
Weve also included a pear cidre at just 2.5 per cent and for those who want to keep it clean a while longer, theres an alcohol-free spirit to enjoy in a cheeky mocktail. So indulge in a glass or two of what you fancy, safe in the knowledge that you are still being kind to your body.
Meinklang Gruner Veltliner, 2015
10.99, Vintage Roots.co.uk
Gruner Veltliner doesnt get anything like the limelight it deserves. Light and nervy when young, developing to honey and toast with age, this Austrian grape is full of the flavours of green apples and citrus, with a white pepper finish. It packs a wonderful hit of mineral freshness and all at only 11.5 per cent ABV.
Partida Creus, VN Vinel.lo Rojo, 2015
Les Caves de Pyrene, call 01483 554750
In 2007 Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa two Italian architects moved to Bonastre, Catalonia, in search of a slower pace of life. Their winery, Partida Creus, works in harmony with nature, producing ethically and sustainably farmed wines, and their slower-paced ethos is ideal for this time of year. Using ancient grape types such as Garnacha, Ull de Perdiu, Sumoll, Queixal de Llop, Samso, Garrut and Trepat, they have made a great wine that bucks the trend for boozy reds at just 10.5 per cent ABV, with aromas of cherries, raspberries and cinnamon. Serve slightly chilled.
Seedlip Spice 94
27.95, The Whisky Exchange.com
This award-winning, sugar- and sweetener-free, copper pot-distilled spirit infuses allspice, cardamom, oak, lemon, and grapefruit to give an aromatic substitute for gin, but with a taste thats more clove than juniper. Serve in a tall glass with lots of ice, tonic water and a red grapefruit twist, or whip up a Seedlip Spice Sour with lemon juice, a dash of sugar, egg white and white wine vinegar.
AOC Fleurie Beaujolais Cru Chasselay
15.75, VintageRoots.co.uk
This family-run domaine dates back to 1462 and the experience is clearly displayed in the vivid expression of the thin-skinned Gamay grape: freshly picked sour cherries, blackberries, blueberries and violets. Naturally high in acidity, with light tannins and only 12 per cent alcohol, this red matches a host of different meats, cheeses and even grilled fish.
Adega Cooperativa de Ponte de Lima, Vinho Verde DOC Branco 2015
8.99, Ocado.com
Literally translated as green wine referring to the youth of the wine, rather than the colour this 11 per cent ABV Vinho Verde is a blend of Loureiro, Treixadura and Arinto grapes from Portugals oldest town Ponte de Lima. Its light as a feather with fresh and floral aromas, grapefruit and lime acidity and a delightful little spritz.
Weingut Maria and Sepp Muster, Opok White, 2014
Les Caves de Pyrene, call 01483 554750
Generally, the cooler the climate, the lower the alcohol and this Austrian stunner hails from Leutschach in Styria. Named after the regions limestone and marl soils, Opok is a lively mix of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Welschriesling (no relation to the Riesling grape) and Gelber Muskateller the deliciously floral grape known as Yellow Muscat. Like a bracing winter walk by the ocean, this 10 per cent ABV wine boasts saline purity and herbaceous notes. Gives the edge to a plate of sheeps cheese or simple roast pork.
Sassy poire cidre
7.99, Selfridges, call 0800 123400
Parisians cant get enough of this handcrafted, 100 per cent real fruit cidre at just 50 calories a pop, made from the historic methods of the family-owned Chateau de Sassy in Normandy and its old-vine orchards. With a recipe based on the traditional style of the Chateau, the poire cidre uses more than 10 varieties of fresh pears and is only 2.5 per cent ABV. Thirst-quenching and delicate with a tangy finish.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Farhad Daneshvar Trend:
US President Donald Trump is angry at the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA/ nuclear deal) because, after clinching the accord, the world has recognized Iran's right to enrich uranium, President Hassan Rouhani said.
President Rouhani said that it became feasible to enrich uranium in the country using advanced domestically-manufactured centrifuge machines,
known as IR-8, one year after the implementation of the JCPOA, Tasnim news agency reported.
The president made the remarks addressing a group of people in the northern province of Alborz.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) on Jan. 28 announced that the organization has started injecting uranium hexafluoride (UF6) into IR-8 centrifuge machines.
The organization through a statement on the same day said that Irans research and development plans will continue without any halt in all sectors of peaceful nuclear activities according to the JCPOA.
Iran and the world powers inked the JCPOA on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.
Under the nuclear agreement, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.
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For decades, professional psychologists and psychiatrists have kept schtum with regard to their expert views on political candidates they havent personally assessed.
Under ethical rules set out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), shrinks are banned from publicising their professional diagnostic opinions.
And yet over the course of last years US presidential election campaign and increasingly since the inauguration, psychiatrists have put the rule to one side and been speaking out about their concerns over the new Presidents mental health.
But why?
Recommended Psychologists believe Trump is showing signs of severe mental illness
It seems the case of Donald J Trump is so extreme that they simply feel its their duty to warn the public - the experts will no longer be silenced.
Many feel obligated to speak out about their concerns, believing they can reach relatively strong conclusions from Trumps public appearances. And true enough, thanks to his outspoken nature, we have a lot of information about the Donald.
As psychotherapists practicing in the United States, we are alarmed by the rise of the ideology of Trumpism, which we see as a threat to the well-being of the people we care for and to American democracy itself, the Citizen Therapists Against Trumpism wrote in their manifesto.
We cannot remain silent as we witness the rise of an American form of fascism. We can leverage this time of crisis to deepen our commitment to American democracy.
These psychologists are forgetting the APAs rule because they believe so strongly that Trumps presidency will undermine the emotional health of those seen as the other in America - both historically denigrated groups and those whose turn will come.
They are speaking out for the well-being of people we treat and care for in our work, and for a lot of psychologists and psychiatrists, Trump is also too colourful a character to resist diagnosing.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
But this is a change from the past half century: whilst scientists, professors and politicians freely share their insights and views with journalists, psychiatrists and psychologists are not supposed to publicly reveal their diagnoses of public figures they havent examined.
Section 7.3 of the APAs Principles of Medical Ethics states:
On occasion psychiatrists are asked for an opinion about an individual who is in the light of public attention or who has disclosed information about himself/herself through public media. In such circumstances, a psychiatrist may share with the public his or her expertise about psychiatric issues in general.
However, it is unethical for a psychiatrist to offer a professional opinion unless he or she has conducted an examination and has been granted proper authorization for such a statement.
Those who have broken the rule in the past have not only been reprimanded but kicked out of the APA.
Why did the rule come into force in the first place though?
It all goes back to 1964, when Barry Goldwater ran for President. He was - like Trump - widely considered to be of unstable mental health.
As part of a special issue called The Unconscious of a Conservative: A Special Issue on the Mind of Barry Goldwater, Fact magazine asked over 12,000 psychiatrists one simple question: Do you believe Barry Goldwater is psychologically fit to serve as president of the United States?
9,939 of them didnt respond, 571 said they didnt know enough to form an informed answer, 657 answered saying they believed Goldwater was perfectly fit to be President, but 1,189 said no.
They published an article titled 1,189 Psychiatrists say Goldwater is Psychologically Unfit to be President! and included comments from those surveyed - Goldwater was called paranoid and a dangerous lunatic, for example.
After the article was published, Goldwater sued Fact, the magazine lost and then went defunct, and the APA created the so-called Goldwater Rule.
Diagnosing a narcissist with Donald Trump
But psychiatrists are now calling for an end to the rule.
The University of Minnesota's Dr. Jerome Kroll, for example, co-wrote an academic journal commentary calling for the Goldwater Rule to be abolished.
I am a citizen, he said. If I have something to say, what I say might be stupid. What I say may embarrass psychiatry, but it's certainly not medically unethical.
I think he (Trump) comes as close to the narcissistic description as one would find, Kroll said. I think that would disqualify him. I am breaking the Goldwater rule as we speak.
The Goldwater Rule was adopted by the APA in 1973 and was opposed by just one board member: Dr. Alan Stone, a professor of psychiatry and the law at Harvard.
His reasoning was that he believed in free speech: If psychiatrists want to make fools of themselves, they have that right, Stone said.
But he later met Goldwater and drew a different conclusion on the man: He was an extremely well-balanced person, Stone said. We (psychiatrists) were thinking politics. We were against Goldwater.
Perhaps understandably, being somewhat further removed, British psychiatrists appear less keen to comment on Trumps mental health - The Independent asked various for their opinions, all of whom refused to discuss the subject.
Professor Sir Simon Wessely, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, did explain his view though: Speculating on the mental health of well-known public figures such as Donald Trump is usually facile and stating the obvious, unless its based on real, serious, and inside information, he told The Independent.
But it seems many American psychiatrists feel Trump poses too serious a threat to keep quiet.
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It began as a gentle way to unwind, a reward after a long day at work.
Jackie Brafford, a registered nurse, would arrive home, kick off her shoes and pour herself a glass of chardonnay as she prepared dinner for herself and Steven, her husband of 40 years. After the pair ate at their home in Mineral, Virginia, Jackie would settle on the couch with a book, glancing at the evening news while idly scratching Crystal, the family's chow, between the eyes.
Often that first glass of wine would turn into a second, and then another.
At some point, on Jackies days off, she might not make it to lunchtime before she started drinking, Steven says.
By early last year, Jackie, 62, was about five years into habitual alcohol use. Family members had confronted her with their worries around Christmastime, and Jackie quit drinking, cold turkey. But by then, Steven says, she was lethargic and unmotivated, her appetite low.
Id been after her to get those things checked out, he says, but nurses are the worst patients, and she didnt think anything was wrong enough to warrant a visit to the doctor.
On vacation in Florida with Steven and friends in March, Jackie began to feel acutely ill, tired and weak. The couple headed north, stopping at their daughters home in Virginia Beach for a grandsons birthday party. But right before the festivities began, Jackie told her husband to take her home. Once in the car, that request changed, Steven says, to just take me to the hospital.
Within days, doctors suspected alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a spectrum of damage caused by excess alcohol intake. To survive it, Jackie was told, she would need a new liver.
Many Americans die every year of complications of ALD more than 21,000 in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some might have been saved by a liver transplant. However, many ALD patients are unable to get on a list for a donor organ because an informal policy at nearly all of the nation's 140 or so transplant centers requires that ALD patients demonstrate six months of sobriety before they are allowed to register.
The rationale is twofold, says Todd Stravitz, medical director of liver transplantation at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, which observes the six-month rule. First, we want to see if the patient's liver restores function in the absence of alcohol. And, we want to ensure that the recipient will cherish the gift of a liver by not abusing it.
And a gift it is. The decision is complicated because there aren't enough livers to go around. In 2015, 7,127 people received new livers nationwide, according to Anne Paschke of the nonprofit United Network for Organ Sharing. But the demand for livers far exceeds the supply: More than twice as many sick patients have been cleared for the national liver transplant waiting list an ever-changing registry of candidates that contained 14,799 names in mid-January that is maintained by UNOS.
Jackie Brafford needed a spot on that list and fast. We went through the evaluation, very worried that she was too sick to last for the six-month wait, Steven says. Finally, they told us she was denied due to alcoholism. They said they didnt want to waste a liver. I cant even tell you how sad my wife was, knowing she was going to die.
Five weeks later, she did. Shed been sober for four months.
At transplant programs around the country, selection committees labour to ensure that each patient placed on the national registry is a practical choice. The committees panels of 20 to 30 professionals such as surgeons, hepatologists, pharmacists, nutritionists, psychologists and social workers weigh physical symptoms, psychosocial and family health characteristics, and substance-abuse history.
Alcoholic liver disease can be a controversial indicator for transplant, with an often unarticulated observation of conventional moral codes.
We try really hard to not make decisions based on personal feelings, says Sander Florman, director of the Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Having said that, we are doctors humans and we take care of our individual patients humans case by case, and we try to balance organ shortage with always opting to save lives.
Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty
He adds: The six-month practice has been generally accepted but is not based on hard data, and I believe should be seen as more of a guideline than a policy because life and death is at stake. As a result, it is hard to draw a firm line in the sand. If someone has been sober, is in a program, committed to remain in a program and has social supports, it is very hard to justify six months as an absolute and any different from 5 1/2 months or other amount of time if they will die without transplant.
Although ALD is the second-most-common form of chronic liver disease hepatitis C is the most common liver disease leading to transplant researchers from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases report that most patients with end-stage ALD are never formally evaluated for transplantation. The group attributes that to perceptions that ALD is self-induced (and to) the possibility of recidivism or noncompliance as well as to the shortage of organs. About 21 per cent of the people on the waiting list have alcoholic cirrhosis, a severe manifestation of ALD, according to Paschke.
But practice guidelines from the liver-diseases association assert that only a small fraction of ALD transplant patients revert to heavy alcohol use or abuse and that overall survival rates are generally similar between alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related liver transplant recipients.
Patients with active substance-abuse issues aren't flat-out denied transplants when they apply, Stravitz says. Instead, they're deferred while the social workers and psychologists consult with them to try to get them to where they're acceptable candidates. Unfortunately, that marker isn't written in stone, particularly when trying to predict who will return to abusive alcohol consumption.
Getting a slot on the list doesnt mean you'll survive given how many on the list never get transplants, Steven Brafford says. But my wife might have.
Brafford says that his wife had stopped drinking for about three months without benefit of addiction treatment before her ALD diagnosis. But there was still that six-month rule, he says. In my opinion, the committee members hid behind it so they could go home and sleep at night. Im still angry, alone and asking myself what I could have done differently so my wife would be alive today.
Will Reves, a 40-year-old IT specialist in Richmond, hadnt been a problem drinker, says Sarah Reves of her husband. He had been just the typical have a few drinks on the weekend type of guy, she says, but he lapsed into heavy alcohol use following the death of a family member. Last January, after about four or five weeks of downing a fifth of bourbon daily, his eyes turned yellow, and we knew something was really wrong, Reves says.
Will Reves was swiftly diagnosed with ALD. They told us that he needed to hang out for six months, that maybe hed perk up, says Sarah Reves, a nurse practitioner. He had consumed no alcohol nothing not mouthwash or cough medicine, not a sip of beer after that.
Still, his markers of liver disease worsened, and in March he required admission to an intensive care unit.
Doctors told the family that he had alcoholic hepatitis and that it probably was irreversible and fatal. Reves assured his care team that he would never touch alcohol again, his wife says, and she didnt doubt him. My husband was stubborn and loyal and a person who did not make promises he couldnt keep.
The transplant committee at the hospital agreed that he could move forward with the physical workup required for liver allocation. He underwent a colonoscopy, a stress test and cardiac catheterisation, his wife says, and he was in a great mood every time he cleared a hurdle.
But within days, committee members informed the family that they would not list Will.
They wanted him to have some inpatient counselling (at a substance abuse center) for alcohol, she says, but Will couldn't be released to do that because he was too sick. His response was: They dont believe me, and they dont think Im worth saving. In early April, just eight days after the committees decision and 11 weeks after the first symptom, Sarah says, her husband developed sepsis, a common complication of liver failure, and died.
In patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, the six-month rule can be a death sentence because there simply isnt time for patients to undergo counselling and demonstrate their resolve to remain sober, Stravitz says. But how else can the transplant community test a patients potential to stay alcohol-free and safeguard their new liver?
Even family members sometimes will say that ALD is a self-inflicted problem, he continues. But some understand the rationale behind the rule especially those whove watched their loved ones abuse themselves for years, and they understand that were not being punitive. But the decisions can seem subjective.
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Marilyn Bullock received her liver transplant in July 2015, six months after being diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. The 63-year-old bank employee, who characterises herself as a former social drinker, says she believes that if Id had to wait even one week more I wouldnt be here now. When her transplant finally came through, she was weak, exhausted and ready to give up.
While she understands that organs are in short supply, she is not convinced that a six-month wait is fair. It shouldnt be a hard-and-fast rule, she says. I think it should be situational.
Calling herself more than lucky to have qualified for a transplant, Bullock says: I appreciate everything 100 per cent more. I view things differently now. I take care of myself. And Im not going to mess things up by drinking again.
For her part, Sarah Reves says she understands the decision to be skeptical of transplants for ALD patients. But I'm angry for the mental anguish my husband had to go through as he tried to clear hurdle after hurdle to get onto the list. There has to be a better way than the doctors saying, Prove to me that I should let you live and the patient saying, I made a mistake do I have to keep paying for it?
Washington Post
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Apple has missed the deadline to pay 13bn (11bn) it owes to the Irish government in tax benefits, the European Unions competition said on Tuesday.
In response to a question to CNBC during a press conference in Dublin, Margrethe Vestager, the EUs competition commissioner admitted that collecting the money was a tricky thing to do because the sum was so large.
Ms Vestager said that the commission is working with Irish authorities to recover the unpaid taxes, according to CNBC.
It's a tricky thing to do because it's a large sum so of course you have to figure out how to do that. It's not as an escrow account in some of the other cases where it might be 25 or 30m [] and therefore I do respect that it's a complicated matter and it may take a little more time, she added.
European authorities have accused Ireland of helping Apple to avoid paying to pay high taxes by means of a so-called sweetheart deal that is in breach of EU rules.
In August, the commission said the deal devised by the Irish government had allowed Apple to pay tax of just 0.005 per cent in 2014 and an average rate of 1 per cent over many years.
The deadline for Ireland to recover the money into an escrow account was January.
However, the issue has proved complicated as both the Irish authorities and Apple have repeatedly denied breaching state aid rules. Both have separate appeals pending against the European Commissions findings.
The Irish finance ministry said the European Commission had misunderstood both Irish law and had exceeded its powers, seeking to breach Irelands sovereignty in national tax affairs.
The ruling means Ireland stands to gain an additional 11bn from those unpaid taxes but Ireland's decision to appeal - rather than take the money - is based around its economy's dependence on foreign companies.
5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Show all 5 1 /5 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Facebook Facebook paid 4327 in corporation tax in 2014, after it made a pre-tax loss of 28.5 million, according to filings at Companies House. That's less tax that new average UK employee pays on their salary. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Amazon Amazons UK business paid just 11.9m in corporation tax last year, even though the online retail giant took 5.3bn in sales from British shoppers. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Google So well known for avoiding tax that it had the 'Google tax' on multinationals that move profits to low-tax countries named after it. Alarm bells started ringing in 2012, when Google revealed it payed only 11.6 million to the Treasury, despite taking 3.4 billion in the UK. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Uber Uber paid 22,134 in UK corporation tax last year despite making an 866,000 profit. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Starbucks In October, the European Commission ruled that Starbucks' tax deal in the EU was illegal, ordering it to pay pay between 20-30 million to the Netherlands.
The country has structured its economy around attracting multinationals with its low corporate tax rate.
About 1,000 firms, including Facebook and Google, have their European headquarters in Ireland, due mainly to its 12.5 per cent headline rate of corporate income tax the second-lowest in the EU.
The Commission has become much more aggressive in its approach to the agreements struck between multinational companies and EU member states. Previously it has ordered Dutch authorities to recover 30m from Starbucks with a similar amount due to Luxembourg from Fiat Chrysler.
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Insurers are very rarely congratulated on their generosity when it comes to paying out on claims, but on Monday, Axa and Aviva made a unique exception.
Both said that they will pay out on claims for those affected by US President Donald Trumps controversial refugee and immigration ban, even though those affected are not technically covered for this type of circumstance.
It is unclear how much the two companies might actually pay out - neither provided an estimate of the number of their customers they thought might be affected.
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In a statement issued on Monday, Axa said: "In light of the sudden and unexpected decision by the Trump administration to block entry to the US for nationals from Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Yemen, AXA Insurance UK confirms that individuals who have been denied entry as a result of the executive order, will be able to claim on their policy.
"Although not technically covered, we view the current situation as unprecedented and unforeseen and as such we are extending the cover under our policies.
Aviva said it would extend the cover on its standard travel insurance for those unable to get assistance from their travel provider and who are in the US and need to arrange an alternative route home.
Thousands of people joined marches across Britain in protest at Mr Trump's ban on people from Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Libya and Sudan from entering the US for 90 days. The executive order also bans entry of those fleeing from war-torn Syria indefinitely.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Insurance is not the first industry to react publicly to the shock ban. A host of Silicon Valley tech bosses, including chief executives of Netflix, Google and Microsoft have condemned the order, expressing moral concern and saying it will hamper their ability to recruit highly-skilled employees.
On Monday, Google launched a $4m (3.2m) crisis fund to help employees and other people affected.
Apple founder Steve Jobs was the biological son of a Syrian immigrant. In a memo to employees on Sunday, current chief executive Tim Cook said: Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do. We have reached out to the White House to explain the negative effect on our coworkers and our company.
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Deutsche Bank has been slapped with two major fines in the US and the UK, for alleged money-laundering crimes in Russia -another body blow to Germanys largest lender, which has over the last year been plagued by major investigations and massive fines dating back to before the financial crisis.
The investigation found that Deutsche Bank's clients had moved $10bn out of Russia using so called-mirror trades sold through the bank's Moscow, London and New York offices, according to Reuters.
The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), a state bank regulator, said that Germanys biggest bank would pay it $425m (339m), while the UKs Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said on Tuesday morning that it had fined the bank 163m ($204m), the largest fine of its kind in the UK, for failing to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering (AML) control framework, the agency reported.
The Russia settlements relates to a trading scheme that operated from 2011 until early 2015.
The DFS alleged Deutsche Bank missed numerous opportunities to detect, investigate and stop the scheme due to extensive compliance failures, allowing the scheme to continue for years, Reuters said.
Deutsche Bank said it had cooperated with the investigation and had set aside sufficient cash in its reserves to cover the fine.
The bank will also now be required to hire an outside monitor to review its internal compliance measures, in addition to paying the settlement.
The FCA said that Deutsche Bank was obliged to establish and maintain an effective [anti-money laundering] control framework and that by failing to do so, Deutsche Bank put itself at risk of being used to facilitate financial crime and exposed the UK to the risk of financial crime.
The size of the fine reflects the seriousness of Deutsche Banks failings, the FCA said. Other firms should take notice of todays fine and look again at their own [anti-money laundering] procedures to ensure they do not face similar action.
Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. 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The lender continues to defend itself from other US probes and potentially expensive civil suits -- liabilities that chief executive John Cryan has set out to resolve as he seeks to restore confidence.
Less than two weeks ago Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $7.2bn in the US for its illegal conduct and irresponsible lending practices before the financial crisis.
Shares of the Frankfurt-based bank rose as much as 2.1 per cent when markets opened Tuesday. The lender is scheduled to release its fourth-quarter earnings results on Thursday.
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The company behind cartoon characters Snoopy and Charlie Brown might be up for grabs.
US brand management company Iconix Brand is considering selling its majority stake in Peanuts Worldwide, which owns the right to the iconic characters, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
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The news agency reported that the cast of characters, which dates back to the 1950s and includes Lucy, Peppermint Patty and Pigpen, had sparked interest among a slew of investors, including some Chinese companies.
Iconix did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Three months ago and after more than three decades of collaboration insurance giant MetLife dropped the Peanuts characters as mascots, dealing a blow to Iconix. The most recent contract, which had been signed in 2014, had reportedly cost MetLife between $10m to $15m (8m to 12m) a year.
Created by Charles Schulz and licensed in more than 100 countries, Reuters reported that the characters generate about $30m in 12-month earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, according to the sources. The sources, however, declined to comment on the valuation of a possible deal, according to Reuters.
Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.
Iconix Brand manages multitude of consumer retail names including Umbro, Ed Hardy, Lee Cooper and Zoo York.
Besides Peanuts, Iconix is also looking to sell its Strawberry Shortcake brand, Reuters reported, citing the same people familiar with the matter.
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Getting your coffee at Starbucks might be becoming a political statement.
Starbucks' chief executive Howard Schultz, on Sunday, said that the coffee giant will hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years in response to President Donald Trump's executive order to temporarily bar refugees access to the US and to ban entry for anyone from seven majority Muslim countries.
While many customers were immediately supportive of the companys actions, Mr Trumps backers took to social media to criticise Mr Schultz and threatened to boycott the brand.
The hashtag #BoycottStarbucks was still trending on Twitter on Tuesday morning, with people praising and condemning the companys move.
Twitter user Scott Presler said: While President Trump is working to get Americans jobs, Starbucks CEO wants to hire 10,000 refugees.What about us?#BoycottStarbucks.
Customers opposing Mr Trumps new immigration ban praised the companys decision, also using the hashtag.
There is a #boycottStarbucks going around because theyre pledging to hire refugees, you know what that means? Time to get some Starbucks, Shafeeq Younus tweeted.
Many criticised the coffee giant for hiring refugees instead of veterans. Starbucks, however, does have a programme in place to support veterans and their families. It is currently in the process of hiring 10,000 veterans and military spouses as part of a pledge it made in 2013 to achieve the goal by 2018.
The Seattle-headquartered coffee-maker has had a long history with political engagement and it is not the first time the company found itself in the midst of a tweet-storm.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
In November, coffee drinkers slammed Starbucks for 'politicising coffee' with the chain's new 'community cups after the company release a green takeaway cup designed to create a symbol of unity in a divisive time. Mr Schultz publically endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton in September.
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Taking a child on holiday for seven consecutive days during term time without a school's permission cannot on any view be lawful, a QC for education chiefs has told the Supreme Court.
The submission was made during a Supreme Court hearing brought by Isle of Wight council on Tuesday.
The local education authority is seeking to overturn a High Court ruling in May last year clearing Jon Platt of failing to ensure his daughters regular attendance at school.
Recommended What the High Court holidays judgement means for you
Mr Platt, 46, won the landmark case last year after being prosecuted for taking his daughter out of school to go on holiday during term time.
The father of three was fined 60 in April 2015, after her Isle of Wight school refused permission for seven days of absence.
Refusing to pay the fine, Mr Platts charge doubled to 120, and he quickly became embroiled in a row with his local council.
The matter was taken to the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court in October that year, where Mr Platt won his case, but the local authority appealed the decision to the High Court.
Lord Justice Lloyd Jones and Mrs Justice Thirlwall dismissed the council's challenge in May 2015, ruling that the magistrates had not erred in law when reaching their initial decision.
Simon Calder exclusive interview with Jon Platt
The two judges said the magistrates were right to take into account the wider picture of Mr Platt's daughter's regular attendance record when they decided he had no case to answer.
Mr Platts victory was hailed as a triumph of common sense, with many suggesting the case would pave the way for other families choosing to take their children out of school during term times.
On Tuesday, he reappeared in court for a one-day hearing after Isle of Wight council appealed the High Court decision.
The key legal issue discussed by five justices in the court is whether or not Mr Platt committed an offence by failing to ensure that his daughter attended school regularly, as required by the 1996 Education Act.
Lord Justice Lloyd Jones and Mrs Justice Thirlwall said the magistrates rightly took into account the wider picture of the child's attendance record, including the period outside the dates of the Florida holiday.
UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images 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
Martin Chamberlain QC, appearing for the council, argued that the High Court had taken a wrong approach and regular attendance meant pupils had to be in class at all times when required by the school rules.
Mr Chamberlain added that, in any event, absence for seven consecutive days cannot on any view be regular attendance.
Mr Plat, whose Supreme Court case has been secured using legal aid, said the council was spending huge amounts of taxpayers' money into fighting him, which would allow the Government to 'criminalise' millions of parents.
Following Lord Justice Lloyd Jones and Ms Justice Thirlwalls ruling last year, councils reported a surge in the number of term-time holidays being booked in England.
The debate first came about after the Government ordered a crackdown on unauthorised school absences in 2013.
Ban on term time holidays should be scrapped - London Live
Until that point, headteachers were able to use their discretion to allow parents to take children out of school for up to 10 days per year.
But new rules from the Department for Education (DfE) now states headteachers must only authorise absences in exceptional circumstances such as funerals.
If parents break the rules, the local council can issue a fine of 60, which doubles if it remains unpaid after 21 days.
Parents argue that vacations in peak holiday periods are up to four times more expensive, however, costing the typical family the equivalent of 1,771 extra per trip.
Since the landmark case was won last year, some 35 local councils in England have changed their policy on fining parents, according to a BBC investigation.
A further five are reviewing their policy, while 28 have withdrawn fines imposed on parents.
The Department for Education has told parents that their children missing just a few days in the classroom can damage GCSE results.
A DfE spokesperson said: Our position remains that children should not be taken out of school without good reason.
That is why we have tightened the rules and are supporting schools and local authorities to use their powers to tackle unauthorised absence.
A verdict is expected at a later date.
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A transgender woman has been blocked from seeing her five children after a family court ruled it was not compatible with her ex-wifes ultra-orthodox Jewish background.
The landmark ruling, seen by The Independent, was issued by Justice Peter Jackson at the family court in Manchester. It has been handed down after 12 months of the transgender woman asking for access to her five children.
At the centre of the fight between two parents were claims that the transgender parent, who is living as a woman, should not be allowed direct access to her children after leaving the ultra-orthodox Jewish community.
This is because, barristers acting for the mother argued, it would lead to her children being ostracised by their ultra-orthodox community and unable to live normal lives due to their association with a transgender parent. However, Orthodox Jewish rabbis acting for the parent argued that Judaism did not believe transgender individuals should be punished in this way.
Despite that, Justice Jackson concluded that the risk that these children and their mother would be rejected by their community if the children were to have face-to-face contact with their father was too great to allow direct contact.
Weighing up the profound consequences for the childrens welfare of ordering or not ordering direct contact with their father, I have reached the unwelcome conclusion that the likelihood of the children and their mother being marginalised or excluded by the ultra-orthodox community is so real, and the consequences so great, that this one factor, despite its many disadvantages, must prevail over the many advantages of contact.
I therefore conclude with real regret, knowing the pain that it must cause, that the fathers application for direct contact must be refused.
He added: "I reject the bald proposition that seeing the father would be too much for the children. Children are goodhearted and adaptable and, given sensitive support, I am sure that these children could adapt considerably to the changes in their father. The truth is that for the children to see their father would be too much for the adults."
The parent is instead allowed to indirectly contact her children four times a year via letters on festivals and on their birthdays.
The parent had claimed she was subject to domestic abuse by her ex-wife but that had been denied.
Richy Thompson, campaigns manager at the British Humanist Association told The Independent the decision was extremely sad given the progress made towards equal rights for transgender people. At a time when society is progressing towards having much more inclusive attitudes towards trans people and their fundamental rights, it is extremely sad that a religious community can hold such discriminatory attitudes, and threaten to ostracise children over a parents gender identity, that we might even end up with a family court judge entertaining a ruling like this one, he said.
The case highlighted the difficulties faced by religious communities like ultra-orthodox Jewish Charedis if they encounter modern influences. Charedi communities adhere to a strict 19th-century interpretation of Judaism and contact with the secular world can be taboo.
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MPs have submitted 60 pages of proposed changes to legislation published last week which will give Prime Minister Theresa May the authority to start Britain's exit from the European Union.
The Bill, consisting of only two clauses and less than 150 words in total, was drawn up after the Supreme Court ruled May could not trigger the legal 'Article 50' exit process without the approval of Parliament. Ms May wants to start the exit process by the end of March.
Below are the details of amendments submitted so far and how they will be discussed in parliament in a debate beginning on Tuesday.
KEY POINTS
- Amendments seek to change the meaning of the legislation, or attach additional conditions to it. These range from changing the purpose of the bill significantly to minor technical alterations.
- Any amendments will need to win approval in both houses of parliament, and as such are unlikely to pass unless a substantial number of the ruling Conservative party rebel against their leader. There has so far been no indication such a rebellion is likely.
- Ms May's Conservatives have an overall majority in the elected lower chamber of parliament, the House of Commons.
- The Conservatives do not have a majority in the unelected House of Lords.
- A 'Reasoned Amendment' seeking to scupper the legislation will likely be voted upon on Wednesday. It is not expected to win sufficient support to derail the Government's plans.
- The first batch of substantial amendments will then be debated in the House of Commons next week during a three day 'Bill Committee' debate due to start on 6 February. Votes are expected to be held during this stage.
- Not all proposed amendments will be debated, or will make it to a vote.
- There is currently a fixed timetable for the debate in the House of Commons. Amendments are not expected to slow this down. If there is insufficient time to debate amendments, they will be voted upon without debate.
- There is no fixed timetable yet in the House of Lords, but Labour and Conservative Party sources have said there is a willingness to ensure the legislation can be passed in time to trigger Article 50 by 31 March.
PROCESS
Any Member of Parliament (MP) can submit a proposal to change the bill which is formally known as the 'European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill'.
These amendments are then grouped according to their aims by parliamentary officials ahead of the committee debate. Some are rejected on technical grounds such as being outside the scope of the original bill. The final say on which amendments are selected for debate will rest with deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle.
These amendments are first discussed and voted upon at the committee stage of legislation under broad subject groupings.
If MPs vote in favour of a particular set of amendments, they are carried forward to the 'Report Stage' where they will be debated in more detail. Similar amendments are likely to be consolidated and redrafted at this stage and new amendments can also be introduced.
Amendments passed at this stage will be incorporated into the bill and subject to a final vote, after which it is then passed to the House of Lords, where it will undergo a similar process. Both houses must agree on the final draft, and the bill can be passed back and forth until they do.
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
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
The amendments submitted so far have been grouped into the following categories:
1. PARLIAMENTARY SCRUTINY
Currently proposals include changes to ensure that the Government reports regularly to Parliament on its progress in exit negotiations with the EU, and calls for a debate prior to triggering Article 50 on whether Britain should remain a member of the EU's single market.
2. DEVOLVED ADMINISTRATIONS
These include creating a duty to consult the Scottish Parliament and demands for devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to be given a greater say in agreeing Britain's negotiating aims.
3. VOTING ON BRITAIN'S FINAL EU EXIT DEAL
Ms May has promised to give MPs a vote on whether to accept the deal she has negotiated for Britain with the EU. Amendments to the bill include calls for more negotiating time if MPs reject her deal and even a second public referendum on the terms of the exit package.
4. IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
Some MPs want to change the bill to make the government publish their assessment of how different aspects of Britain's exit will affect various sectors such as climate change, equality and the public finances.
5. NEGOTIATING PRIORITIES
Several amendments in this large category seek to legislate to define what the Government can and cannot negotiate with the EU. Some seek to ensure the rights of EU nationals living in the UK are protected, others look to guarantee visa-free travel between Britain and the EU.
Some amendments call for the Government to publish a clear plan of its negotiating strategies.
Reuters
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Madeleine McCanns parents have lost an appeal against the author of a book who alleged they were involved in the toddlers disappearance.
Portugals Supreme Court ruled Kate and Gerry McCann cannot sue the former Portuguese detective who published the book for libel.
In 2015, a Lisbon court ordered Goncalo Amaral to pay Kate and Gerry McCann 500,000 (429,000) in compensation for the allegations made in his book, Maddie: The Truth of the Lie.
Search for Madeleine continues
The book was published in 2008, three days after Portuguese authorities formally closed their inquiry and cleared the McCanns of any wrongdoing.
Mr Amaral argued in his defence that the claims in his book stemmed from the police investigation.
He also noted Portuguese media had already reported the possibility the parents may have played a role in Madeleines disappearance.
More than 50,000 was raised in support for the detective, donated via a Go Fund Me page, after he was ordered to pay damages.
Former detective Goncalo Amaral poses with his book during its launch in Lisbon in 2008 (AP)
The McCanns had sought 1.2m (1m).
However, an appeals court overturned the conviction last year before reaching Portugal's top court.
The Madeleine McCann case Show all 25 1 /25 The Madeleine McCann case The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann One of the last photos of Madeleine before her disappearance EPA The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann Madeleine McCann was three when she was abducted during a family holiday in 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Top worn by a man that detectives investigate with connection to disappearance of Madeleine McCann A computer generated image of the distinctive burgundy long sleeve top worn by a man that detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are looking for The Madeleine McCann case Apartment in Portugal from where Madeleine went missing An aerial view of the Ocean Club apartments and pool where Madeleine McCann went missing Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Kate McCann Kate McCann speaks to the press outside the court house in Lisbon on 12 September 2013 following the first audience of the McCann couple's libel proceedings against former inspector Goncalo Amaral for a book written about the case of their missing daughter The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Kate McCann and Gerry McCann before the start of the 'Miles for Missing People' charity run in Regent's Park in London, 2011 The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Kate and Gerry McCann make an appeal at a press conference in the holiday resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal 7 May 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann The McCann's give an interview with a Spanish television channel at their home in Rothley The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Madeleine McCann was abducted in Portugal in May 2007 AP The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Preliminary forensic analysis on samples recovered from the McCanns' hire car raised the possibility of a match with Madeleine's DNA profile, according to the leaked report Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Pope Benedict XVI blesses a photo of four-year-old abducted British girl Madeleine McCann, while meeting her parents Gerry and Kate McCann, after his weekly general audience at the Vatican, 2007 Reuters The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Gerald McCann and Kate McCann speak to the press on 4 May 2007 at the Ocean club appartement hotel in Praia de Luz in Lagos after Madeline vanished while her parents were out to dinner The Madeleine McCann case Portuguese police search for Madeleine Dozens of Portuguese police aided by dogs search for missing three-year old British girl Madelaine McCann in front of the Ocean club appartment hotel in Praia de Luz in Lagos The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Gerald McCann and Kate McCann walk holding their two other children outside the Ocean club apartment hotel in Praia de Luz in May 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann Madeleine McCann pictured at the age of three, left, and as she might have looked aged nine PA/Teri Blythe The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have described as "pure speculation" reports in the Portuguese press suggesting that a chief suspect in the disappearance of their daughter was killed in a tractor accident four years ago. PA The Madeleine McCann case Tribute for missing Madeleine in Rothley, Leicesteshire Three year old Cally prepares to add a yellow ribbon to a floral tribute for missing Madeleine McCann in Rothley in Leicesteshire, 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Support for the missing Madeleine Everton captain Lee Carsley (L) leads his team onto the field, followed Mikel Arteta (C) and Manuel Fernandes (R) wearing Tshirts bearing a message of support for the missing British toddler Madeleine McCann, prior to the English Premiership match between Chelsea and Everton, at Stamford Bridge in London, 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann A poster appealing for information about Madeleine McCann at a Spanish railway station PA The Madeleine McCann case BBC's Crimewatch reconstruction of Madeleine McCann's disappearance Former porn star Mark Sloan (L) was cast in the BBC's Crimewatch reconstruction of Madeleine McCann's disappearance BBC The Madeleine McCann case Clarence Mitchell holds two artist's impression of the new suspect McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell holds two artist's impression of the new suspect on 20 January 2008 in London. The description has come from British woman Gail Cooper, who was staying with her family close to the McCann's apartment in Portugal The Madeleine McCann case Image of a woman sought in the case Clarence Mitchell, the press spokesman for the McCann family, releases a photofit image of a woman sought in the search for missing Madeleine McCann Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Suspect in disappearance of Madeleine McCann Police released two e-fits of suspect in disappearance of Madeleine McCann Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Raymond Hewlett Convicted paedophile Raymond Hewlett, who is being sought in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann PA The Madeleine McCann case A picture of a suspect An artist's impression of a suspicious man seen by a witness apparently watching the McCann family's apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, the day before Madeleine McCann went missing Channel 4
Madeleine disappeared from a holiday home in Portugal's Algarve region in May 2007, days before her fourth birthday.
British police are still investigating her disappearance.
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Boris Johnson has condemned opponents for making comparisons between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler, just months after comparing the EU to a Nazi super state.
Speaking during a Commons debate over Mr Trump's controversial immigration ban, the Foreign Secretary accused Labour of demeaning the Holocaust and urged MPs to stop pointlessly demonising" the US President.
"I do find it distasteful to make comparisons between the elected leader of a great democracy and 1930s tyrants, he said.
"I think continuing to use the language of appeasement demeans the horror of the 1930s and trivialises our conversation."
His comments came just over two weeks after he likened French president Francois Hollande to a Second World War German general.
If Mr Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape [the EU], in the manner of some World War Two movie, I dont think that is the way forward, and its not in the interests of our friends and partners," he said.
It is not the first time he has made such comparisons. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph in May, he accused the EU of trying to dominate the continent in the same way as Hitler or Napoleon.
Mr Johnson claimed European history for the past 2,000 years had been dominated by failed attempts to unify the continent and recreate the golden age of the Romans.
Napoleon, Hitler, various people tried this out, and it ends tragically. The EU is an attempt to do this by different methods, he said.
Mr Johnson defended the US President on Monday despite increasing public anger over what many of his critics have called a Muslim ban.
The real-estate mogul signed an executive order limiting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days, suspending refugee resettlement for 120 days and barring Syrian refugees from entering the country indefinitely.
However, Mr Johnson insisted Mr Trumps bark is worse than his bite amid accusations that the UK Government was aware the travel ban could be coming into effect last week.
The former Mayor of London defended Mr Trump as the UKs friend and partner but refused to reveal any further content of confidential conversations that had taken place between Theresa May and the US president on her state visit.
The clashes came as thousands of demonstrators bearing placards shouted anti-Trump chants in front of Downing Street, after a petition demanding the state visit be cancelled reached 1.6 million signatures.
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Thousands of people have demonstrated across Britain in protest at US President Donald Trump's immigration ban.
In London, MPs held an emergency debate on Mr Trump's executive order, while Whitehall was turned into a sea of placards as thousands gathered in Downing Street.
The rally took place at the gates of the Prime Ministers office, where activists bore placards and shouted slogans against the ban.
Mr Trump provoked backlash around the world after signing the order to halt immigration from seven countries with Muslim-majority populations. It also applies to refugees seeking entry to the US.
The ban has been described as Islamophobic by critics, although the President has insisted it is a necessary precaution to protect US citizens from Islamic terrorism.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told the crowd she had come on behalf of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
She said: Donald Trump has been president for only a few days and look at what he is doing.
Donald Trump has maintained his travel ban is a necessary precaution to stop Islamic terrorism in the US (PA)
We need to resist the Islamophobia and scapegoating of Muslims, we have got to resist it whether it is in the United States or here in the UK.
Shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti told the event: It is in sadness and solidarity that we gather here this evening.
I also hope, friends, that we stand here in solidarity with all the world's women who the president has insulted and all the desperate refugees that he would spurn.
Also addressing the crowd, one Muslim refugee said: America is a beacon of democracy and peace, but Trump's action will tear the fabric of American society.
We call on all peace-loving individuals to stand firm and oppose all racist and xenophobic action.
One woman told The Independent: I had to come out to show this isnt acceptable. The ban is just really horrifying and prejudiced. I had to come out to show my support and that this isnt ok and that this isnt normal.
Ms May has been accused by critics of failing to do enough to distance herself from Mr Trumps policies, amid concerns the ban represents the rise of right-wing extremist policies.
Demonstrators holding placards attend a protest outside Downing Street against U.S. President Donald Trump's ban on travel from seven Muslim countries in London (Getty)
A petition calling on MPs to block Mr Trump from making a state visit to the UK later this year amassed more than a million signatures within 24 hours.
However, a spokesperson for Ms May has said Downing Street has no intention to rescind the offer, saying the Prime Minister looks forward to receiving Mr Trump later this year.
During the Downing Street rally, the crowd chanted intermittently Shame on May.
Following the Presidents executive order, a federal judge ordered a stay on the ban, meaning refusal of entry for immigrants and refugees will temporarily stop while a court considers whether it is constitutional. Announcing the stay order, the judge said she was concerned the White House may not have thought the plan through.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Rallies against the travel ban have also taken place in other majority cities in the UK, including Edinburgh and Cambridge, with tens of thousands of people expected to take to the streets across the country.
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There are numerous reasons why Donald Trumps state visit to Britain, which often involves a banquet with the Queen and a stay at Buckingham Palace, puts the Royal Family in an awkward position. From the Presidents political staff reportedly warning Prince Charles not to lecture Mr Trump on climate change unless he wants a fiery response to the fact a petition against the billionaires visit has already skyrocketed past 1.6 million, the occasion could be riddled with potentially awkward situations.
However, another reason for potential discomfort has emerged: an old tweet Mr Trump sent about Kate Middleton in 2012 has resurfaced. The former reality TV star weighed in on the furore around the publication of topless photos of Kate Middleton, saying the Duchess of Cambridge only had herself to blame for the photos being taken.
Kate Middleton is great - but she shouldn't be sunbathing in the nude - only herself to blame, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter at the time, prompting criticism.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Mr Trump appears to be tweeting about the heavily pixelated topless photos of Middleton sunbathing on holiday in the south of France in September 2012 with Prince William. The trial of six media representatives over the publication of the photos was recently delayed until May.
On Friday, Theresa May invited Mr Trump on an official state visit on behalf of the Queen, with the unlikely duo making the announcement at a joint press conference at the White House.
I have today been able to convey Her Majesty the Queen's hope that President Trump and the First Lady would pay a state visit to the United Kingdom later this year, the Prime Minister said. I'm delighted he's accepted that invitation.
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Caroline Lucas has branded Donald Trump "a racist bigot" and called on the UK Government "to stand up to bullies."
The MP and co-leader of the Green Party spoke out against the US President as demonstrators around the world took to the streets in protest over an executive order signed by Mr Trump that suspended immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Thousands descended on London's Downing Street, calling for Theresa May to cancel the real-estate mogul's planned state visit.
During an interview with the BBC Ms Lucas was asked: "Aren't these the actions of someone who doesn't yet have the experience, who is learning very fast in a new job?"
She replied: "No, they are the actions of a racist bigot and we have to stand up to bullies and that is what the UK should be doing."
She added that Theresa May was so worried about being "friendless after Brexit that she will accept any kind of relationship with any kind of bigot around the world."
Ms Lucas, who attended the Downing Street rally along with several Labour and SNP politicians, said the Government response to Mr Trump's travel ban was "appallingly meek."
"On this cold, grey night we will stand together in solidarity with Muslims across the world who are bearing the brunt of Trumps bigotry. We will condemn the British Governments appallingly meek response to the US presidents barbarism. And we will demand something better," she wrote in an op-ed on the Huffington Post.
"History teaches us the consequences of silence at moments like these. All of us have a duty to stand up against oppression and hatred. So today I urge you to join a demonstration near your home, to sign the petition and to join me in telling our Government that we wont accept them backing away from standing up to tyranny."
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Refugees, green card and visa holders were blocked from boarding US-bound flights or detained in arrivals over the weekend as Mr Trump's ban on immigration from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen came into force for 90 days.
Protesters swarmed international travel terminals and took to the streets denouncing the measures, which also suspended refugee resettlement for 120 days and barred Syrian refugees indefinitely.
The UN denounced the measures as "mean-spirited" and "illegal" under international human rights law.
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MPs will debate whether Donald Trumps state visit should be cancelled.
The debate comes after a petition calling for the US Presidents visit to be downgraded nears 1.7 million signatures.
On the same day, MPs will also be forced to discuss a second petition calling for Mr Trumps state visit to go ahead after it was signed by more than 100,000 people.
It comes amid global outrage at a ban on people travelling to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries was imposed by Mr Trump in an executive order on Friday.
The restrictions sparked mass protests across cities in Britain on Monday.
But Downing Street has already confirmed it has not changed its position on the billionaires UK visit. An invitation has been extended and accepted, said a No 10 spokesman.
The petition is asking to save the Queen embarrassment by not forcing her to meet the US President, citing his well documented misogyny and vulgarity.
James Corden films airport journey in protest at Donald Trump's 'Muslim ban'
Therefore during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit, it concludes.
Theresa May first announced the planned state visit during a press conference with Mr Trump last week.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
The following day, Mr Trump announced his temporary ban on those travelling to the US from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian and Yemen.
Parliament is forced to consider any petition that reaches 100,000 signatures for a debate in Westminster Hall.
Downing Street has rejected claims the Queen has been put in a difficult position due to Mr Trumps state visit invitation.
Ms Mays spokeswoman said she did not accept the view of the former head of the Foreign Office, Lord Ricketts, that things would now be awkward for the monarch due to the controversy which has engulfed the planned visit.
The spokeswoman also refused to be drawn on claims the Prime Minister had been given notice of parts of Mr Trumps travel ban on Muslims and refugees during talks at the White House last week.
She told a regular Westminster briefing there would be no blow-by-blow account of their private discussions.
Lord Ricketts, who was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office from 2006-10 before becoming David Camerons national security adviser, said the offer of a state visit so early in Mr Trump's presidency was premature.
In a letter to The Times, he said it was unprecedented for a US president to be given a state visit in their first year in the White House and questioned whether Mr Trump was specially deserving of this exceptional honour.
It would have been far wiser to wait to see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the Queen to invite him.
Now the Queen is put in a very difficult position.
Additional reporting by PA
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Prince Charles has warned the lessons of the Second World War are in increasing danger of being forgotten.
Speaking at a fundraiser for World Jewish Relief, a humanitarian agency, the Prince of Wales remembered the indescribable persecution endured by Holocaust survivor and former Olympic weightlifting champion Ben Helfgott.
The Prince, who recently issued a veiled warning over the election of Donald Trump, said it was his grandmothers sheltering of a Jewish family which inspired his work with a range of faiths.
The work of World Jewish Relief enables us to rally together to do what we can to support people practically, emotionally and spiritually, the royal, who was appointed patron of the charity in 2015, told a crowd of hundreds.
Particularly at a time when the horrific lessons of the last war seem to be in increasing danger of being forgotten.
The royal suggested Helfgotts experience of persecution served as a reminder for not overlooking history, saying: To meet Ben, and others who, like him, have endured indescribable persecution, is to be reminded of the danger of forgetting the lessons of the past.
The Prince applauded the work the charity, which was established to support those fleeing Nazi Germany, did with impoverished Jews in Ukraine as well as those escaping the atrocities of Syria and Rwanda.
Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Show all 62 1 /62 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II on a walk-about in Portsmouth during her Silver Jubilee tour of Great Britain, 1977 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The future Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (R) pictured with her younger sister Princess Margaret (L) in 1933 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The 9-year-old Elizabeth attends an aristocratic wedding with her mother and younger sister. Later in that year with the death of her Grandfather and the Abdication of her Uncle Edward VIII she became first in line to the throne, 1936 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The coronation of King George VI in 1937, Elizabeth aged 10 became the heir apparent to the throne Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth and her sister arrive at Waterloo station to say goodbye to their parents as they leave to tour Canada. Elizabeth was thought too young to escort her parents on the tour and was described as "tearful" as they departed. She and her parents made the first ever transatlantic telephone call during their time away, 1939 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The 13-year-old Elizabeth and her sister Margret address children who have been evacuated from the cities on BBC's 'The Chilrens Hour' She said "We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well", 1940 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Just before the end of the war Elizabeth took part in training to become an ATS officer. She is pictured learning to change a tire, 1945 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The official announcement of Princess Elizabeth and Phillip Mountbatten's engagement. The pairing was incredibly controversial as Prince Phillip had no financial standing and he was foreign born, the prince of Denmark and Greece (though he served Britain in the war and was given British Citizenship), 1947 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II (in coach) and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh are cheered by the crowd after their wedding ceremony, on 20 November 1947, on their road to Buckingham Palace, London Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth smiles at her first child, a month old Prince Charles. Charles was born on 14 November 1948 Corbis Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The couples second child Princess Anne was born in 1950 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Arriving back in England upon hearing the death of her father King George VI. The Kings health had been in decline for a number of years and Elizabeth had been filling in for him on an official visit to Australia by way of Kenya. As his heir Elizabeth became Queen aged 26 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth's coronation took place on 2 June 1953. It was the first ever coronation to be aired live on television, being one of the most watched events in history with millions gathering around their TV sets to see the new monarch Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II standing next to her daughter Princess Anne, 1960 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II President Eisenhower (centre) with the British Royal family (L-R) Prince Philip, Princess Anne, HM Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Captain John Eisenhower, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, 1959 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II as she turns to smile and talk to an unidentified officer, during the Trooping of the Colour by the First Battalion of the Jamaica Regiment at Up-Park Camp, Kingston, Jamaica, 1966 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II walking cross country at the North of Scotland Gun Dog Association Open Stake Retreiver Trials in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1967 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the Chelsea Flower Show in London, a regular fixture in the royal calendar, 1971 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during their traditional summer break at Balmoral Castle. The highland retreat is one of the Queen's favourite places, each year, she heads off to Scotland for the summer. "It is rather nice to hibernate for a bit when one leads such a moveable life," she once said, 1976 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II during a walkabout in Muscat while visiting Oman, 1979 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II with some of her corgis walking the Cross Country course during the second day of the Windsor Horse Trials. The monarch is responsible for introducing a new breed of dog known as the "dorgi" when her corgi Tiny was mated with a dachshund "sausage dog" called Pipkin which belonged to Princess Margaret, 1980 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II (L-R) the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince and Princess of Wales after the christening ceremony of Prince Harry, 1984 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II taking the salute of the Household Guards regiments during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in London, 1985 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen Elizabeth II as they smile to well-wishers outside Clarence House in London, 1987 AP Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II, with Chief Instructor, Small Arms Corp LT Col George Harvey, firing the last shot on a standard SA 80 rifle when she attended the centenary of the Army Rifle Association at Bisley, 1993 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II South Africa's President Nelson Mandela greets Queen Elizabeth II as she steps from the royal yacht Britannia in Cape Town at the 1995's official start of the her first visit to the country since 1947 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she visits Bowring Park in St. John's, Newfoundland, on the third day of a 10-day official visit to Canada, 1997 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh make their way into St. George's Chapel at Windsor for the annual Garter ceremony, 1999 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II as they meet at the Vatican, 2000 AP Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother leaving church by horse drawn carriage on the Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, 2000 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth rides her horse in the grounds of Windsor Castle, 2002 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth arrives for the world premiere of James Bond movie "Casino Royale" at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square in London, 2006 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth boards a scheduled train at Kings Cross station in London, 2009 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II planting a tree at Newmarket Animal Health Trust, during a royal visit which marked her 50th year as the charity's patron, 2009 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II talking with Pope Benedict XVI during an audience in the Morning Drawing Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh during a four day visit by the Pope to the UK, 2010 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2010 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from the crowd during her visit to Federation Square in downtown Melbourne, 2011 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth watches a preview of her Christmas message wearing a pair of 3D glasses, studded with Swarovski crystals in the form of a "Q", at Buckingham Palace in central London, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Members of Britain's royal family (front L to R) Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles cheer as competitors participate in a sack race at the Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Britain's Prince Charles kisses the hand of his mother Queen Elizabeth at the end of her Diamond Jubilee concert in front of Buckingham Palace in London, 2012 Reuters Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge laughs as Queen Elizabeth gestures during a visit to Vernon Park in Nottingham, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend a service for the Order of the British Empire at St Paul's Cathedral in London, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II meets young people during an official visit to The Shard building in central London, 2013 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Actress Angelina Jolie is presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace, London, 2014 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visit the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red evolving art installation at the Tower of London, 2014 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the State Opening of Parliament, 2015 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II (L-R) Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge holding his son Prince George of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry (back), Prince Andrew, Duke of York (back), James, Viscount Severn (front), Princess Beatrice of York (back), Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Eugenie of York (back) stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace waiting to view the fly-past during the Queen's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour,' in London, 2015 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Trooping of the Colour is an annual celebration marking the Queen's birthday, 2015 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Britain's Queen Elizabeth II stands with Kate the Duchess of Cambridge whilst pushing Princess Charlotte in a pram as they leave after attending the Christening of Britain's Princess Charlotte at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, 2015 AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Broadway Theatre in Barking, 2015 Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II greets wellwishers during a 'walkabout' on her 90th birthday in Windsor in 2016 AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Members of the Royal Family during trooping of the colour in 2017 AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Queen waves at Prince Harry and Meghan after their wedding in 2018 POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex gesture during their visit to the Storyhouse in Chester, Cheshire in 2018 AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles reacts as he sits with his mother Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, in Portsmouth in 2019 AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Chris Allerton/Sussex Royal/PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II reacts as she visits the Haig Housing Trust in Morden in 2019 POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II takes her seat on the The Sovereign's Throne in the House of Lords next to Prince Charles, before reading the Queen's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament in 2019 POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II looks at the coffin of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during his funeral service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales pose alongside the tree which they planted to mark the start of the official planting season for the Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) at the Balmoral Cricket Pavilion, Balmoral Estate in Scotland POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Britain's Queen Elizabeth II cuts a cake to celebrate the start of the Platinum Jubilee during a reception in the Ballroom of Sandringham House, the Queen's Norfolk residence on February 5, 2022. - Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday will became the first British monarch to reign for seven decades, in a bittersweet landmark as she also marked the 70th anniversary of her father's death AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Westminster Abbey accompanied by Prince Andrew, Duke of York for the Service Of Thanksgiving For The Duke Of Edinburgh on March 29, 2022 in London Getty
It is about supporting local communities with what they feel they need and not about imposing solutions from outside."
World Jewish Relief shows us how vital it is to learn lessons from the horrors of the past, he later added.
Rafi Cooper, the charitys director of communications, told The Independent: His Royal Highness provides a timely reminder that we need to reach within and beyond our own community, regardless of faith a message that our Jewish values and history teach us is essential to avoid the horrors of the past being repeated.
The Princes reference to the horrific lessons of the last war are reported to have been viewed by some in the room as a thinly-veiled criticism of Mr Trump. The President has prompted global condemnation for his immigration ban in recent days. Last week, the billionaire property developer signed an executive order suspending the entire US refugee admissions system for 120 days, halting the Syrian refugee programme indefinitely, and banning entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
At the end of last year, the Prince issued a warning over the rise of populism in a seemingly cloaked reference to the election of Mr Trump and the rise of the far-right in Europe. Although he did not mention any politicians by name, he said there were deeply disturbing echoes of the dark days of the 1930s and evil religious persecution was occurring across the world.
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Asylum-seekers have been placed in accommodation with infestations of mice, rats and bedbugs after arriving in Britain, a Commons report has found.
In an inquiry by the influential Home Affairs Select Committee in Westminster, MPs delivered a scathing critique of the system for housing those who apply for refugee in the UK. The committees chair Yvette Cooper described some of the conditions as a disgrace.
One woman complained that her kitchen was full of mice, saying: They even ran across the dining table while we were eating. Another client, who was forced to live with vermin infestations, said the noise of rats triggered flashbacks as he shared a cell with rats when he was detained and tortured in his country of origin.
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This trigger led to a significant deterioration in his mental health and the re-emergence of suicidal ideation, the report added.
Since 2012 accommodation has been provided to asylum seekers via six regional contracts, which are delivered by three providers Serco, G4S and Clearsprings Ready Homes. The report said the poor standard of asylum accommodation was the most significant issue identified in the evidence it received, which focused largely on contracts administered by G4S and Serco.
Ms Cooper said the state of accommodation for some asylum seekers and refuges in Britain was a disgrace. She added: We have come across too many examples of vulnerable people in unsafe accommodation, for example children living with infestations of mice, rats or bed bugs, lack of healthcare for pregnant women, or inadequate support for victims of rape and torture.
"No one should be living in conditions like that."
The committee found that the dispersal scheme used to place asylum seekers around the country is not working. Applicants are concentrated in a small number of some of the most deprived areas placing pressure on local schools and healthcare services, according to the report.
Hundreds of local authorities are not taking part in the scheme, which is voluntary.
MPs called for measures to increase participation but said if town halls continued to fail to sign up, then the Government should use powers to compel them.
Ms Cooper said: It is completely unfair on those local authorities and communities that have signed up and are now taking many more people, when so many local authorities in more affluent areas are still doing nothing at all.
Contractors are housing more people than they were funded for because of the contract design, growing delays in Home Office asylum processing and higher applications, the committee added.
It also warned that inspection and complaints regimes are inadequate and said accommodation funding is much lower than for the Government's separate Syrian refugee scheme leading to a two-tier system.
Diane Abbott, the shadow Home Secretary, said: It is simply unacceptable in 21st century Britain that people fleeing war and persecution are being placed in such disgraceful conditions.
She continued: Many councils across the country are willing to step up and take in refugees. But ministers must now come forward with proposals to ensure all local authorities play their part.
Ultimately, it is for the Home Office to ensure that councils receive adequate support so they can provide the housing and services these incredibly vulnerable people need.
Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants arriving in Italy on MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie DeardenI Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants undergoing health checks after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants undergoing security checks after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants being fingerprinted after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants being fingerprinted after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily A man being taken to hospital from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden
A Home Office spokeswoman said: The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and we are committed to providing safe and secure accommodation while applications are considered.
We work closely with our contractors to ensure they provide accommodation that is safe, habitable, fit for purpose and adequately equipped and we conduct regular inspections to check that this is the case.
We have also made significant improvements to the operation of the contracts, including increasing the number of dispersal areas by more than a third."
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A senior Labour MP has made the extraordinary claim that voting down the Article 50 Bill could lead to riots.
Matthew Pennycook, a junior Brexit spokesman, warned of civil disturbances by angry Leave voters if MPs blocked the referendum result.
The move would also lead to Theresa May calling, and winning, a snap general election and forcing through an even harder Brexit, he said.
Mr Pennycook spoke out amid Labour turmoil over its leadership's support for the Article 50 Bill, which has reached the Commons today.
Two Labour frontbenchers have resigned, with Jeremy Corbyn accused of giving the Prime Minister a blank cheque to force through her version of Brexit.
But Mr Pennycook said of blocking Article 50: It would exacerbate the divisions that the referendum has exposed, it would be a gift to the far right, it might even cause civil disturbances in parts of the country.
I think people would take to the streetsthat is a danger.
The Brexit spokesman also urged unhappy Labour colleagues to recognise the danger of a general election if MPs stood in the way of the referendum result.
Speaking to the BBC, he added: If Parliament voted down the Bill it would almost certainly trigger a general election that I think, in the current circumstances, would give the Government a majority.
Going to the country on that sole issue of Parliament defying the outcome of the referendum would lead to and guarantee the hardest of Brexits.
With the current balance of the Commons at the moment, we have a reasonable chance of ensuring that doesnt happen.
That last claim is strongly disputed by MPs who fear Parliament is about to trigger Article 50 with no means to impose checks on Ms May if the negotiations go badly.
The Liberal Democrats have said they will oppose the Bill unless Ms May agrees to a further referendum on the final deal a call the Government will reject.
And Labour is demanding a meaningful vote in Parliament on the final Brexit deal early enough for Ms May to seek better terms if hers are rejected by MPs.
The Prime Minister has threatened to crash out of the EU with no deal if Parliament rejects her terms despite stark forecasts of an economic slump if she does.
However, Mr Corbyn has said he will tell Labour MPs to back the Bill even if Labours amendments are thrown out in a final showdown next week.
That stance will provoke further front-bench resignations, probably including the departure of Shadow Business Secretary Clive Lewis.
The Bill will be debated today and tomorrow, before a vote to give the legislation its second reading, which the Government will win easily.
That will be followed by three days of line-by-line scrutiny in a Bill committee, at which opposition parties will attempt to shape the Brexit process.
The legislation will then be amended in the Lords, but Ms May hopes it will clear Parliament on March 7 allowing her to trigger Brexit as she arrives at an EU summit at the end of that week.
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The European Parliament is being flooded with thousands of requests from Britons anxious to remain EU citizens after Brexit.
Guy Verhofstadt, the parliaments chief Brexit negotiator, vowed to press ahead with a proposal to offer them the chance to remain EU citizens, as he revealed the scale of interest on this side of the Channel.
Its responding to hundreds, maybe even, at this moment already, thousands of mails that Im receiving from UK citizens who are saying, I want to continue my link with Europe. I dont want to lose completely my EU citizenship, and Im looking to the possibilities, what elements of this EU citizenship, we can keep on an individual basis.
Mr Verhofstadt added: Many are in shock still, of, I think, the outcome of the referendum.
The Independent first revealed the proposed plan to offer British people the chance to individually opt in and remain EU citizens.
It would see Britons offered individual associate citizenship, allowing them to retain free movement to live and work across the EU, as well as a vote in European Parliament elections.
Mr Verhofstadt believes it has captured the imagination and hopes of young people, in particular, who are desperate to keep the right to move to other EU countries.
British citizens are likely to lose their automatic right to live and work in the EU after Brexit, after Theresa May made it clear that ending freedom of movement rules is her priority.
However, the plan has already been opposed by some Leave-supporting MPs and groups who have urged Ms May not to make it part of the Brexit negotiations.
Speaking on LBC radio, Mr Verhofstadt set out more of his thoughts on the proposal, saying: EU citizenship is mainly that you have consular help, consular aid, when you are in difficulties for example, when youre travelling.
That could also be free travel inside the European Union. They are things that are linked to the EU citizenship and what Im looking for.
I dont say that this will be ultimately possible, but what I am looking for is, can we not respond positively to these individuals in the UK, British citizens who are saying, Please, please, please let us keep at least some elements of the EU citizenship.
Weve got to look to that request, because I think its very important that it is not the citizens of the UK who become the victim of this new situation and of the Brexit.
Mr Verhofstadt will represent the European Parliament in the withdrawal negotiations, while former Commissioner Michel Barnier will lead them on behalf of the European Commission.
During the interview, Mr Verhofstadt agreed he wanted an EU with a fiscal, monetary, defence and political union, but with less bureaucracy.
And he swam against the tide by insisting he was optimistic that 2017 could see voters turn against nationalism and populism.
He said: A number of new politicians in countries like France, like Poland, like Spain, like Italy, even maybe Germany, youre going to see that.
We know that the counter movement is already born and the counter movement can only be a more united Europe as a response to that and certainly not the trap of nationalism and populism.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend:
Donald Trump, the new US president, turned out to be an unpredictable and determined politician, who already in the first days of his presidency, demonstrated that he wont be led by the majority when it comes to his vision of the country's national interests of the country.
It seems that Trumps presidency will become an inexhaustible topic for discussion by experts and political scientists around the world. However, I would like to consider a rather narrow aspect of this issue - relations with the diaspora, more precisely, with the omnipresent Armenian diaspora, the position of which in the US deteriorated considerably when Trump took his office.
The history of the Armenian diaspora in the US is a history of a parasite on the hosts body. Expanding and taking roots, Armenian diaspora at some point became an essential part of the US society, and could start to bring some demands to the authorities, and throughout many years, these demands were satisfied at the very least.
More often, leaders of the Armenian-US organizations had close contacts with senior Democrats in Congress and the White House.
For example, Hillary Clinton, a candidate for the Democrats at the last US election, has maintained close relations with some representatives of the Armenian community throughout many years.
In general, it is not even about Clinton, as the Armenian lobby was able to use a peculiarity of the US government it is known that after the Kennedy era, people who were at the pinnacle of power in the US always represented someones interests. It could be the interests of those financial institutions that sponsored expensive election campaigns of US senators. These political figures, trying to get the most financial instruments, were very loyal to the sponsors, among which were also large US diasporas. And being already in office, they had to consider their sponsors interests.
This scheme has never been a secret. On the contrary, the Armenian lobby quite openly made claims of money injections. In 2012, leading pro-Armenian organizations announced they would not support the re-election of Democrat Barack Obama in connection with the violation of the campaign promise to recognize the so-called "Armenian genocide".
With Trumps accession to power, a fundamental change occurred in the established pattern of lobbying pro-Armenian interests.
The new US president is not poor and doesnt need sponsors. A representative of the oligarchy, a successful businessman, who financed his pre-election campaign himself, without external investments and donations, has suddenly become frighteningly independent. He owes nothing to anybody, the Armenian diaspora has absolutely no influence on him, and that this trend will last for at least four years, terribly frightens Armenians.
Harut Sassounian, publisher of The California Courier, told Armenias First News publication that the Armenian lobbying organizations tried fruitlessly to meet with Trump in order to find out his position on Armenia.
Sassounian said that during the election campaign, Armenian organizations, representatives of the Armenian community were trying to have a meeting to see what Trump thinks on the "Armenian issue", which position he holds, but, again, all attempts regarding the meeting failed.
This is not surprising considering that during the recent election, Armenian organizations spent millions of dollars for the uncompromising and aggressive campaign against Trump, by using all means - from the continuous attacks on the Internet before to the active dissemination of misinformation.
The end of 2016 was a complete disaster for the Armenian lobby in the US taking into account that Trump became president after Armenian lobbyists dug up dirt on him and pro-Armenian Republican Senator Mark Kirk, who stood against Trump, co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues, congressman from Illinois Bob Dold and Nevada pro-Armenian and anti-Trump Senate candidate Joe Heck failed to enter the Senate.
Even if the pro-Armenian senators and congressmen came to power, then they would be unpleasantly surprised by the new president.
According to the pre-election campaign, one of the points of the new US presidents plan was the fight against lobbying in the government bodies.
"We will introduce a five-year ban for the officials to become lobbyists after leaving the administration and a lifetime ban for the officials to lobby on behalf of foreign governments," Trump added.
Trump is quick to fulfill pre-election promises proceeding from the first ten days of his presidency.
As for the regional approach as a whole, Trumps independence from political interest groups in the US can help him to sensibly consider the South Caucasus-related issues proceeding from the US national interests, rather than the interests of the Armenian lobby.
Elmira Tariverdiyeva is the head of Trend Agency's Russian News Service
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Brexit Secretary David Davis has confirmed the UKs intention to pull out of Euratom, the European nuclear research agency that predates the European Union and its predecessors, threatening the UKs plans for new nuclear power plants and putting at risk the chances of it meeting its commitment to reduce carbon emissions.
The plans were included in explanatory notes to the Brexit bill published by the government last week. They jeopardise Britains involvement in leading international projects, including ITER, a huge magnetic fusion device in France being developed by the European Union in conjunction with the US, India, China and Russia. An associated project, the Joint European Torus, is based in Oxfordshire.
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Tom Greatrex, a former Labour MP, who is now chief exectuive of the Nuclear Industry Association said: The UK nuclear industry has made it crystal clear to the government that our preferred position is to maintain membership of Euratom. The nuclear industry is global, so the ease of movement of nuclear goods, people and services enables new build, decommissioning, R&D and other programmes of work to continue without interruption.
The UKs decision to remove itself from Euratom threatens to severely delay the Hinkley Point C project, the forthcoming nuclear power plant that is crucial to the UKs plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
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Amber Rudd has warned that Donald Trumps controversial immigration ban is a propaganda opportunity for Isis.
The Home Secretary, who was facing questions from the Home Affairs Committee surrounding the implications of the UKs exit from the European Union, also said the UK would never adopt anything similar to the US President's policy on refugees.
Mr Trump signed an executive order on Friday that suspended the Syrian refugee programme indefinitely, suspended the entire US refugee admissions system for 120 days, and banned entry from Muslim-majority countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
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When asked by committee chair Yvette Cooper if she was worried about Mr Trump's ban playing into the hands of extremists, Ms Rudd said: Isil and Daesh [Isis] will use any opportunity they can to make difficulties, to create the environment they want, to radicalise people, to bring them over to their side, so it is a propaganda opportunity for them potentially.
Ms Rudd added: I would observe that the difficulties to the UK are not caused by people coming from those countries (the seven singled out by Mr Trumps administration) but from people being radicalised over here.
Ms Cooper also asked Ms Rudd whether she should be raising extra concerns with the US administration.
Ms Rudd said she raised concerns in a telephone call yesterday to her opposite number, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, but Ms Cooper accused her of merely referencing the street protests of thousands rather than giving her own opinion.
But she said: I find it [the travel ban] divisive and wrong and I will look forward to raising it further in my next meeting.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: We have been very clear that we believe this policy is divisive and wrong.
It is clear that Isis would twist any policy from any government for their own propaganda purposes, they added.
The committee hearing comes amid two contrary petitions surrounding the property magnate turned leader of the free world.
An online parliament.uk petition entitled Prevent Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the United Kingdom has nearly 1.7 million signatures. The Donald Trump should make a State Visit to the United Kingdom petition meanwhile has more than 132,000.
A Westminster Hall debate on 20 February will argue the two rival petitions.
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Thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences have been posthumously pardoned.
Dubbed the Alan Turing law, it will in effect act as an apology to those convicted for consensual same-sex relationships before homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales in 1967.
It comes after decades of campaigning from the LGBT community and after the family of the Enigma code breaker Alan Turing delivered a petition to Downing Street before the 2015 general election.
Justice minister Sam Gyimah said it was a truly momentous day.
Public pressure led to the major political parties pledging to introduce the Alan Turing law in memory to the man Winston Churchill described as making the single biggest contribution to the allied victory in the Second World War.
The pardons, first announced last year, have now been officially rubber-stamped after the Policing and Crime Bill received Royal Assent.
It enshrines in law pardons for those convicted of consensual same-sex relationships before laws were changed.
Mr Gyimah added: This is a truly momentous day. We can never undo the hurt caused, but we have apologised and taken action to right these wrongs.
I am immensely proud that Turing's Law has become a reality under this Government.
The new law will also see statutory pardons granted to the living.
However, this will only apply in cases where individuals have successfully applied through the Home Offices disregard process to have historic offences removed.
The pioneers of LGBT rights in 2015 Show all 6 1 /6 The pioneers of LGBT rights in 2015 The pioneers of LGBT rights in 2015 Justice Anthony Kennedy and the other Supreme Court Justices who legalised same sex marriage in the US The US Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage is all 50 states of America in June, splitting 5-4 in favour. Writing the majority opinion, Justice Kennedy said gay people hope not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilizations oldest institutions. The pioneers of LGBT rights in 2015 Caitlyn Jenner After she revealed her new self in an interview and cover with Vanity Fair magazine in June, the former olympian quickly became the most famous trans person in the world. AFP/Getty The pioneers of LGBT rights in 2015 Cara Delevigne The former model said she identified as bisexual in an interview with Vogue in July. AFP/Getty The pioneers of LGBT rights in 2015 Ellen Page The openly gay actress confronted Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz at a campaign rally in Iowa in August over laws that discriminate against the LGBT community. AFP/Getty The pioneers of LGBT rights in 2015 iO Tillett Wright The artist and Instagram star began the Self Evident Truths project in 2015 to photograph everyone who doesnt identify as 100% straight. Famously it featured Johnny Depps teenage daughter Lily Rose who said she fell somewhere on the vast spectrum and singer Selena Gomez who addressed rumours she was dating Cara Delevigne. AFP/Getty The pioneers of LGBT rights in 2015 Ruby Rose Australian born Rose was one of the very first celebrities to come out as genderfluid. She was hailed for giving it a public platform a the MTV Europe Music Awards in October when she welcomed ladies and gentlemen, and everyone in-between in her introduction.
The charity Stonewall said: Another important milestone of equality has been secured in law.
Gay and bi men, cautioned or convicted for kissing, holding hands or just chatting up men, can now have these crimes deleted from their record.
The more equality is enshrined into our law books, the stronger our equality becomes, and the stronger we as a community become.
This is not just equality for gay and bi men; the passing of this law is justice.
Liberal Democrat peer John Sharkey, who authored the original amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill, said: This is a momentous day for thousands of families up and down the UK who have been campaigning on this issue for decades.
It is a wonderful thing that we have been able to build on the pardon granted to Alan Turing during Coalition and extend it to thousands of men unjustly convicted for sexual offences that would not be crimes today.
New Alan Turing notebook shows codebreaking was a 'hobby on the side'
Mr Turing, the Enigma code breaker responsible for decrypting Nazi messages, was granted a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 61 years after he was charged at Manchester police station over homosexual activity.
The pioneering mathematician, whose code-breaking skills are said to have shortened the Second World War by two to four years, lost his job with the secret service following a conviction for gross indecency and was forced to undergo chemical castration by a series of injections of female hormones.
Two years later Mr Turing took his own life and it is estimated that around 49,000 were convicted under similar outdated laws until homosexuality was decriminalised.
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Most British people oppose Theresa Mays take-it-or-leave-it threat to leave the EU with no deal and risk a damaging economic crash, a new poll has found.
The Prime Minister is urged instead to go back and negotiate a better agreement with EU leaders if Parliament rejects the Brexit terms she strikes in a final deal vote expected in 2019.
The verdict comes ahead of a likely debate next week in which the Government will be urged to concede a meaningful vote one staged early enough for her to go back and seek those better terms.
Recommended Senior Labour MP warns of riots if MPs fail to trigger Article 50
So far, ministers have refused to say exactly when the crucial vote will take place, or to guarantee it will before the proposals go to the EU Parliament.
And Ms May has insisted a rejection by MPs would see Britain crash out of the EU with no trading agreement at all, because Westminster will not be allowed to block Brexit.
Before the referendum, the Treasury forecast that falling back on World Trade Organisation (WTO) tariffs the likely consequence of leaving with no deal would deliver a 7.5 per cent hit to GDP by 2030.
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 poll is revealed after some Tory MPs joined Labour in calling for the vote on the final deal to carry proper weight, when debate on the Article 50 Bill got under way in the Commons.
Dominic Grieve, the Conservative former Attorney General, insisted it must take place before the European Parliament votes, as he warned that Britain would pay a heavy price for Brexit.
I think we have made a grave error and I think it is one that will become more and more apparent with the passage of time, Mr Grieve told ministers.
Neil Carmichael, another pro-EU Conservative, said: It is essential for Parliament to have some final say on these matters when we get to the endgame.
You shouldnt jump out of an aeroplane without checking if the parachute is working and that is what we need to consider when we head towards the final moment in two years.
Labour has tabled the amendment calling for a meaningful vote, which is likely to be debated when the Article 50 Bill reaches its committee stage after being given its second reading this week.
Brexit: Nick Clegg on Government's 'sycophantic' relationship with Trump
The demand wins the backing of 51 per cent of people who responded to the YouGov poll, who said the Prime Minister should seek a better deal, if MPs reject her terms.
Only 34 per cent of people said they wanted too leave the EU with no deal.
Voters in every region of the country and in every social group opposed Ms Mays threat to walk away with no deal, as did every age group apart from over-65s.
The findings were seized upon by Pat McFadden, a Labour MP and supporter of the pro-EU Open Britain campaign, who said the public did not want the Prime Minister putting a gun to Parliaments head.
He said: Leave campaigners were quick to praise the principle of parliamentary sovereignty, but have been much less keen to see it exercised in practice.
The Article 50 Bill will be approved but attention will then turn to the nature of the future agreement between the UK and the EU.
A vote on this deal should not be the Government putting a gun to Parliaments head it should be a meaningful choice which allows Parliament to send the Government back to the negotiating table if the deal they negotiate is not good enough.
The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill will allow Ms May to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and start the withdrawal talks between the UK and the EU.
The Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party will vote against it at 7pm on Wednesday, but Labour has made the difficult decision to back it at second reading guaranteeing it will pass.
Jeremy Corbyn has said his MPs will also be told to vote for its final reading, next week, even if Labours amendments fall, which is likely to trigger further frontbench resignations.
During the debate, Nick Clegg claimed the Prime Minister turned down an offer from Germany to give Britain some form of emergency brake over immigration in return for the country adopting a soft Brexit.
The former Liberal Democrat leader said: Some people say there is no alternative, we must leave the single market, there is no remote chance we could find an accommodation with our European partners. Nonsense.
But what did this Government choose to do? It decided to spurn all friendship links with Europe. It decided to placate parts of the Conservative Party rather than serve the long-term strategic interests of this country.
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Theresa May will not find it plain sailing as she rushes to have her Brexit bill approved by March 7, a senior Tory has warned.
Lords were told that the Prime Ministers timetable shows she wishes legislation permitting her to trigger Article 50 to have passed all stages by the first Tuesday in March.
It would allow Ms May to use a European Council summit two days later to officially launch the Brexit process, though she could wait longer if she wished.
With the debate on the Bill to trigger Article 50 starting on Tuesday, a senior Tory figure told The Independent: What we are seeing now is a huge raft of amendments being tabled.
There are cross party talks going on about this. Its not going to be plain sailing for the Prime Minster.
The Bill is eventually likely to pass without amendment, with Tory rebels in the Commons appearing to back away from trouble as long as Ms May produces a promised White Paper on her negotiating Strategy soon.
There is some chance for delay in the Lords, with amendments potentially debated including ones seeking a guarantee for EU citizens rights, a vote on leaving the single market, on having a second referendum and on the terms of the final vote in Parliament on Ms Mays deal, which is likely in two years.
Theresa May pledges white paper on Brexit strategy
Brexit Secretary David Davis is expected to say at the start of the debate: It is not a Bill about whether or not the UK should leave the EU, or how it should do so.
It is simply about implementing a decision already made, a point of no return already passed. We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the EU, they decided they did.
If the desired timetable to approve the Bill by March 7 is met, it would allow Chancellor Philip Hammond to deliver his spring Budget the day after and Ms May to go to the summit in Malta, ready to officially trigger the two year countdown to Brexit.
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A Catholic Priest has suggested anyone who disagrees with US President Donald Trump should kill themselves by jumping off a tall building.
Father Philip J. Pizzo shared a post on Facebook which appeared to encourage suicide, just hours after he led Sunday Mass at Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Church in New York, .
Show your hate for Trump. Do it for social justice. #JumpAgainstTrump, said a meme he posted to his personal account, accompanied by an illustration of a man falling from a skyscraper.
The 67-year-old cleric deleted the post shortly after sharing it with his friends and followers, but not before several members of his congregation had seen his offensive comment and some users had taken pictures of the post.
The priest said he shared the post because that he thought the meme was funny.
I do not promote suicide, Mr Pizzo told The New York Post. Ive helped many people over the years, and it does not promote suicide. It was funny.
Philip J. Pizzo @fatherpizzo, catholic priest in Richmond Hills Queens thinks anti-Trump folks should kill themselves. @Pontifex thoughts? pic.twitter.com/3e3sqNdzS3 Matthew R. Bautista (@matthewbautista) January 31, 2017
The priest, whose congregation come largely from immigrant backgrounds, previously posted a photo of Barack Obama with the words: Hes not my president.
A snapshot of Hillary Clinton captioned Ugly Face in Italian and Happy Halloween, has also appeared on his social media page, The New York Post reported.
Some parishioners said they would stop attending the church as a result of the suicide meme, while others have called for Mr Pizzo to be investigated.
Suicide is not funny, plain and simple, said Carlos Coburn, who attended the church for 20 years.
Mr Coburn added that he once sought counselling from Mr Pizzo because he had experienced intrusive thoughts about killing himself, but he said he will now start worshipping elsewhere.
Its disturbing for someone in my situation, Mr Coburn said. I know this man, he baptised me, and I dont want to go back to his church.
Others said the post was tone-deaf considering the area's large Latin American and Caribbean immigrant population.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
A spokesman for the Diocese of Brooklyn said the post does not reflect the churchs stance and has been removed.
Father Pizzo did share the meme in question on his personal Facebook page, he said. He says he intended it as satire only, regrets the offense it has caused and has deleted it. This post does not, in any way, represent the view of the church.
The Samaritans in the UK can be contacted on 116 123
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When the President fired the acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to implement his travel ban from seven Muslim-majority countries, many eyes were on his replacement.
In the short time before Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions is likely to be approved for the top job, Donald Trump appointed the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana Boente, to cover him.
Mr Boente, 62, was nominated by former President Barack Obama in October 2015 and confirmed two months later by the Senate.
He spent more than three decades at the Justice Department as a career public servant, supervising persecution of federal crimes in his district and working across both Republican and Democratic administrations.
To Mr Trump, loyalty is perhaps an even higher recommendation than 33 years in the relevant department.
Mr Boente said, unlike his predecessor Sally Yates, he would enforce the so-called Muslim ban from seven countries for 120 days and the suspension of Syrian refugees "indefinitely".
He told The Washington Post he had already been defending the executive order, signed last week, in a lawsuit brought against it in Virginia federal court.
"I was enforcing it this afternoon," Mr Boente said.
"Our career department employees were defending the action in court, and I expect thats what theyll do tomorrow, appropriately and properly."
Before joining the Justice Department, he worked as a law clerk to the Chief US District Judge Waldo Ackerman for the central district in Illinois.
Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, a Democrat, called him one of the Justice Departments "consummate utility players", praising his work to expose corruption in Louisiana and Virginia.
"He is that reliable middle child, the one you could always count on to be there for you," she told The Post.
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Democrats have successfully stalled the approval of one of Donald Trumps most controversial picks, Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, for another day.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the Democrats were frankly outrageous for delaying the confirmation.
I know Ive repeated this every day but honestly its getting a bit ridiculous, said Mr Spicer, calling the Democrat filibustering and boycotting embarrassing.
The mere idea that theyre not even showing up to hearings is truly outrageous, he added.
As Mr Spicer was giving a briefing, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer announced he would invoke the two-hour rule.
Mr Schumer tweeted on Monday: The American people need answers on exec orders from Sen Sessions. [Senate] Judicial Committee shouldnt proceed until we get them so Ill invoke the two-hour rule.
Chuck Schumer breaks down talking about Trump's 'Muslim ban'
The senate panel was expected to approve and advance Mr Sessions for a vote in the full senate on Tuesday, but have delayed the committee vote until Wednesday morning.
The rarely-invoked senate tool to delay the vote comes as strong opposition remains to President Trumps pick for one of the highest offices in the nation. Democrats have tied Mr Sessions to the so-called travel ban of refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Not one order idea or pronouncement is meant to bring this country together; they only serve to drive us further apart, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said.
It is in this context we are being asked to consider this nomination.
Cory Booker testifies that Jeff Sessions is not qualified to protect the rights of U.S. citizens
Mr Session was deemed too racist to serve as a federal judge in the 1980s due to allegations of racial discrimination. He was given a Senate hearing at the time, and they heard that he dismissed organisations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union as un-American. He was also accused of suggesting a white civil rights lawyer was a race traitor for taking on a voting rights case in Alabama.
This month, Democratic Senator for Minnesota Al Franken grilled Mr Sessions on his claims that he had filed dozens of lawsuits in his home state to challenge segregation in schools. He admitted his name had been on the paperwork but that he was not at the head of these cases or was as involved in them as was previously suggested. During the time he claimed to file these lawsuits, most schools in the state had already been desegregated.
He was also accused of sympathising with the Ku Klux Klan at this time.
Jeff Sessions presses Sally Yates on her need for independence from the White House
These are damnably false charges, he insisted at his Senate hearing on Tuesday.
I never declared the NAACP was un-American or that a civil rights attorney to be a disgrace to his race, he added. There is nothing I am more proud of than my 14 years in the Department of Justice."
When same-sex marriage was legalised at a federal level in the summer of 2015, he said the move was an effort to secularise, by force and intimidation.
He was asked at his Senate confirmation hearing if he still believed that Roe v Wade, a 1973 law that guaranteed a woman a right to an abortion at certain stages of her pregnancy, was the most erroneous decision the Supreme Court had ever made.
He said at the hearing that he would not actively seek to overturn the law, but did not clarify what he would do if lawmakers moved to repeal the laws.
Mr Sessions was key in persuading Mr Trump to hire Mike Pence as Vice President, a man who consistently fought womens reproductive rights as Indian Governor.
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The rule of law is undergoing a "major breakdown", according to a former member of staff at the Department of Justice.
Donald Trump's decision to fire attorney general Sally Yates who was forced out after questioning whether the controversial Muslim ban is legal, and refusing to defend it in court violates a "principle that everything else in our democracy depends on", according to Matthew Miller. Mr Miller served as director of public affairs at the US DoJ, and echoed the opinions of a range of commentators in criticising the decision to sack Ms Yates.
"In our democracy, the president is not supposed to dictate to the [attorney general] how to interpret the law," he wrote on Twitter. "This is a major breakdown in the rule of law.
Donald Trump sacks acting attorney general over immigration ban
"A president who fires an AG over this will think he can fire an AG over, say, a probe into whether his campaign coordinated [with] Russia."
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
He criticised the decision to replace Ms Yates with Dana Boente, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who was sworn in at a private ceremony and immediately. He is thought to be much less opposed to Mr Trump than Ms Yates, who had served under President Obama.
I am honoured to serve President Trump in this role," Mr Boente said when he was appointed. "I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected."
Recommended Trump fired acting Attorney General after she defied refugee ban order
Mr Boente pondered whether the Trump administration had chosen Mr Boente precisely because he would follow orders.
"The next US [attorney] in line of succession was not Boente, but Zach Fardon," he wrote. "Did Trump go forum shopping for one who would follow orders?"
He said that people should oppose the move no matter how they feel about the Executive Order that banned refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.
"No matter what you think about the EO, the independence of DOJ is a principle that everything else in our democracy depends on," he wrote.
Lawyer and constitutional expert David Allen green echoed the comments, hailing Sally Yates as a hero.
"Far from "betraying" the @theJusticeDept, Sally Yates chose not to betray the Rule of Law," he wrote on Twitter, in reference to comments in the press release from Donald Trump. "A legal hero."
A follow-up post read: "Something is wrong when language of "treachery" and "betrayal" is used when sacking those upholding the US constitution and the Rule of Law".
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Donald Trumps unofficial electoral fraud expert was registered to vote in at least three states during the presidential election, according to an investigation.
Gregg Phillips, whose unsubstantiated claim that the election was marred by 3 million illegal votes was tweeted by the president, was reportedly listed on the rolls in Alabama, Texas and Mississippi.
Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by just under 3 million votes.
Why would I know or care? said Mr Phillips, when he was asked by the Associated Press whether he knew of his multiple registrations.
Doesn't that just demonstrate how broken the system is? That is not fraud - that is a broken system. We need a national ID that travels with people.
Mr Phillips, who has held various civil service roles in Mississippi, tweeted on 11 November: Completed analysis of database of 180 million voter registrations.
Number of non-citizen votes exceeds 3 million. Consulting legal team.
Mr Phillips, now a board member of conservative anti-vote fraud non-profit True the Vote, reportedly only voted in Alabama in November.
Earlier this month, he described the amazing effort by True the Vote volunteers after they found thousands of duplicate records and registrations of dead people.
Mr Phillips electoral status was inactive in Mississippi and suspended in Texas, but officials apparently told AP that he could have voted.
Despite his election victory, Mr Trump has claimed that up to 5 million immigrants voted illegally.
"When you look at the people that are registered, dead, illegal and two states, and some cases maybe three states, we have a lot to look into, Trump said in an ABC interview.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
According to various media reports, chief White House strategist Steve Bannon, press secretary Sean Spicer, treasury secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin, youngest Donald Trump daughter Tiffany, and senior White House adviser and Mr Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner were registered to vote in more than one state.
Mr Trump tweeted on Friday: Look forward to seeing the final results of VoteStand. Gregg Phillips and crew say at least 3,000,000 votes were illegal. We must do better!
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
By Orkhan Quluzade Trend:
The volume of Turkeys foreign trade amounted to $341.2 billion in 2016, which is 2.8 percent less than in 2015, says the report of the Turkish Statistical Institute.
The volume of exports of Turkish goods amounted to $142.6 billion in 2016, while the volume of imports was $198.6 billion.
Germany, which imported products worth $14 billion in 2016, ranks first in the Turkish exports. The UK ranks second with $11.6 billion and Iraq ranks third with $7.6 billion.
The biggest decline was observed in exports to Russia - Turkey exported products worth $1.733 billion to this country in 2016, which is 51.7 percent less than in 2015.
As for Turkish imports, China ranks first by exporting products worth $25.4 billion to Turkey in 2016, while Germany ranks second with $21.4 billion and Russia ranks third with $15.1 billion.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
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Donald Trump has replaced the director of US immigration after firing acting Attorney General Sally Yates for betraying him.
The Department of Homeland Security gave no reason for the abrupt removal of Daniel Ragsdale, the acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), on Monday night.
The lawyer has returned to his previous post as deputy director of the ICE, where he has worked for 11 years advising its enforcement programmes.
Mr Ragsdales replacement puts the postition of acting deputy director Peter T Edge and other officials in doubt at the agency, which is charged with enforcing Mr Trumps executive order temporarily banning refugees and citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Donald Trump sacks acting attorney general over immigration ban
John F Kelly, the Secretary of Homeland Security, was reportedly still discussing the proposals with officials when an aide looked up to find the President was already signing the order on live television.
In a statement, he said Mr Trump appointed Thomas D Homan as the new acting director of ICE, where he was previously the executive associate director of its enforcement and removal operations.
In this capacity, he led ICEs efforts to identify, arrest, detain, and remove illegal aliens, including those who present a danger to national security or are a risk to public safety, as well as those who enter the United States illegally, Mr Kelly said.
I look forward to working alongside him to ensure that we enforce our immigration laws in the interior of the United States consistent with the national interest.
Mr Homan has served as a police officer in New York, border patrol officer and special immigration agent, later heading up the division in Dallas, Texas.
News of his appointment came hours after Mr Trump fired the acting Attorney General for betraying the Department of Justice after she refused to enforce his executive order.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
In a statement confirming Ms Yates replacement with Dana Boente, he called her "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration amid global protests against his incendiary policy.
Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme, Mr Trump said. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country.
Ms Boente will serve as acting Attorney General until Jeff Sessions is confirmed by the Senate, where the President claimed he was being wrongly held up by Democrat senators for strictly political reasons.
His appointment has been dogged by controversy after it emerged he was denied a role as a federal judge because of allegations of racial discrimination in the 1980s.
The chain of events on Monday has been compared to the Nixon-era Saturday Night Massacre in the US, when the Attorney General and his deputy resigned rather than follow orders to fire a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal.
At least three top national security officials - Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary Mr Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department - have told associates they were not aware of details of the executive order on immigration until Mr Trump signed it.
Leading intelligence officials were also left largely in the dark, according to reports, as was the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Protests against the order blocked Whitehall in London on Monday night (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
Amid demonstrations and legal challenges, there are signs of growing internal dissent over the Presidents executive order, which pauses the US refugee programme for four months, bans Syrian refugees indefinitely and freezes immigration from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen for 90 days.
Federal judges in New York and several other states have issued orders that temporarily block the government from deporting people with valid visas who arrived after Mr Trump's travel ban took effect and found themselves in limbo.
After a chaotic weekend during which permanent residents were among those detained at airports, the Department of Homeland Security clarified that customs and border agents should allow legal residents to enter the country.
The Pentagon is also trying to exempt Iraqis who worked alongside the US and coalition forces at extreme risk during the ongoing conflict.
Ms Yates concluded that the policy was at odds with the Justice Department's mission and said that though other lawyers had reviewed the order, they had not examined whether it was "wise or just".
I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right, the acting Attorney General wrote in a letter before she was fired, directing government lawyers not to defend the order.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer challenged others opposed to the measure to resign. They should either get with the program or they can go, he said.
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The US is in the middle of a coup and hasn't realised, according to Michael Moore.
The filmmaker and journalist, who was one of the few famous people to publicly predict that Donald Trump would become President, has warned that the US state is being overthrown by Mr Trump and the people he has appointed to govern alongside him.
Linking to a New York Times piece about the role of senior advisor Steve Bannon, he posted on Twitter: "If you're still trying to convince yourself that a 21st century coup is not underway, please, please snap out of it".
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
The article described how Mr Bannon, who until recently ran the far-right news site Breitbart News, had taken a major role in national security policy that usually would only be occupied by senior generals. That move was a major break with precedent and it and Mr Bannon himself have been credited with many of the extreme policy pronouncements coming from the White House in recent days.
But Mr Moore also posted the link soon after it emerged that the President had fired US attorney general Sally Yates because she had questioned whether the Muslim ban was legal and told Justice Department lawyers to stop defending it. A statement said that she had been relieved of her position because she was "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration".
Recommended Trump fired acting Attorney General after she defied refugee ban order
Mr Trump replaced Ms Yates with Dana Boente, who is thought to be much more favourable to the new administration. But it is likely that he will be soon replaced in turn by Senator Jeff Sessions, who is currently waiting to be confirmed by the Senate.
A Google engineer had made the same argument in a viral blog post just hours before, arguing that the institution of the Muslim ban could be seen as a "trial balloon for a coup". He pointed to a range of different events including reports that the Muslim ban was opposed by lawyers at the Department for Homeland Security, who were then overruled by Mr Bannon, and a report from the Guardian that claimed that the White House had "purged" nearly all senior staff at the State Department.
The post by Yonatan Zunger claimed that the administration was in the middle of transferring all executive power "to a tight inner circle, eliminating any possible checks from either the Federal bureaucracy, Congress, or the Courts. Departments are being reorganized or purged to effect this". He also wrote that moves like the Muslim ban and the unexpected events that followed are a way of "actively probing the means by which they can seize unchallenged power".
Donald Trump sacks acting attorney general over immigration ban
That post was shared by a range of celebrities, including the creator of House of Cards.
Britannica defines a coup as "the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group". It differs from a revolution in that it happens quickly and doesn't depend on large numbers of people instead, it requires only "a change in power from the top that merely results in the abrupt replacement of leading government personnel".
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The largest Islamic civil rights group filed a massive lawsuit against the Trump administration for its executive order restricting travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 John Doe individuals who say President Donald Trumps unilateral Muslim ban action is unconstitutional.
Our First Amendment is under attack. We, as attorneys, are foot soldiers of the American Constitution and took an oath to protect all from being targeted by the government because of their faith, said attorney Shereef Akeel.
Mr Trumps order, officially titled Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals, sparked a massive surge of protests on Saturday and Sunday after more than 100 travellers were held in airport detention centres despite having been vetted and approved by the US government prior to their journey to the US.
The lawsuit comes as the acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, ordered Justice Department lawyers to not defend the controversial executive order in court.
For as long as I am the acting attorney general," Ms Yates said, "the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defence of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so."
In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales EPA In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Bangkok American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Kolkata Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Berlin Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Melbourne Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred Rex In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Macau Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydeney Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London Reuters
In December, Mr Trump announced a a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what's going on.
The lawsuit says the Muslim Exclusion Order is fulfilment of that announcement, and boasted intent to enact a federal policy that overtly discriminates against Muslims and officially broadcasts a message that the federal government disfavours the religion of Islam, preferring all other religions instead.
It adds: While the Muslim Exclusion Order does not apply to all Muslims, the policy only applies to Muslims [Emphasis theirs].
Despite the monumental uproar against his policy, Mr Trump said the rollout in the first days ran smoothly. Responding to the criticism, however, he denied that the order to ban travel from seven Muslim-majority countries was not a Muslim ban, and blamed the media for promoting a false narrative.
Protests across American airports in response to Trump's immigration ban
To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting, he said. This is not about religion this is about terror and keeping our country safe.
But career US diplomats disagree. In a draft dissent memo, the State Department officials condemned the order, saying that it does not do anything to make the US safer.
Former President Barack Obama broke custom and issued a biting criticism of the order only 11 days into his successors presidency.
Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake, a statement from Mr Obamas spokesperson said.
With regard to comparisons to President Obamas foreign policy decisions, as weve heard before, the statement adds, the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith."
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Donald Trumps ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations could be just the beginning of a broader crackdown on Muslim immigration, Amnesty International has warned.
The rights advocacy group issued an urgent call for Britain to do more to fight the policy, which effectively bans citizens from three African and four Middle Eastern countries from entering the US. It was accompanied by a 120-day suspension of all US refugee programmes.
Mr Trump pledged in December 2015 to enforce a total and complete shutdown on Muslim immigration into the US, before revising this to promising extreme vetting once he became the Republican Partys candidate.
Amnesty fears the immigration ban announced by executive order on Friday could become permanent and extend to more countries.
Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, told The Independent: This ban is shocking and appalling. Although President Trump says that this is a temporary ban, we fear it may become permanent and that other countries will start to follow it.
We are in the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War and we have seen the United States closing its doors. We need to stand up for the values that we support, and that is why we call on our [UK] Government to do everything in its power to change this policy and to oppose it.
On Sunday, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus told CBS Newss Face the Nation programme that the ban, which targets Syria, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Iran, could be taken further.
Mr Priebus said: The reason we chose those seven countries was [that] those were the seven countries both Congress and the Obama administration identified as being the seven countries that were most identifiable with dangerous terrorism taking place in their country.
Now, you can point to other countries that have similar problems, like Pakistan and others. Perhaps we need to take it further.
The original text of Mr Trumps executive order defines his seven-country banned list as a temporary measure, to be enforced until the Department of Homeland Security has conducted a review into its visa security controls.
It includes a clause that, once that review is complete, Mr Trumps ministers can at any point extend the list with the names of any additional countries recommended for similar treatment.
The suggestion that visa restrictions could be extended to Pakistan was met with outrage in that country. Pakistan Peoples Party politician Syed Khursheed Shah told the Hindustan Times: What is clear is that Donald Trump is targeting Muslims, not terrorists.
The ban has also sparked a backlash in the UK, amid confusion over whether it will affect the hundreds of thousands of Britons with ties to the countries in question. The Government moved to assure the public that British passport holders would not be affected, before US embassies started issuing contradictory advice.
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a Tory peer and former Conservative minister whose parents came to the UK from Pakistan, told the BBC Radio 4s Today programme Mr Trumps executive order was only starting to effect the complete Muslim ban he pledged during the 2016 election campaign.
It is important we refer to it as what it is, Lady Warsi said. It is a Muslim ban, every sign is that it is a Muslim ban. If we are saying it is not a Muslim ban, we are saying it is a ban on people from Muslim-majority countries and it exempts non-Muslims, so make of that what you want.
SAG Awards get political as actors turn on Trump
Like Amnesty, Lady Warsi called on Theresa May and the British Government to do more to exert pressure on Mr Trump to repeal the order, and joined those questioning whether he should be allowed to conduct a state visit to the UK.
We are at a very interesting crossroads at the moment, that will determine the kind of country we want to be, she said. If we want to be a country that promotes liberal, progressive values that people have equal worth and equal values in our society then we have to be clear when we voice that opinion so people in this country know that whatever crazy things the President of the US may be doing, it is not what we believe and it is not what we support.
Donald Trump has explicitly stated that he believes his new immigration rules do not amount to a Muslim ban. This is not a Muslim ban as the media is falsely reporting, he said. This is not about religion. This is about terror and keeping our country safe.
Yet the executive order also makes special provisions for persecuted minorities in the countries in question, and when asked by the Christian Broadcasting Network if he sees Christians as a kind of priority here, Mr Trump said: Yes.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Protests at US airports continued into a second day on Monday, while the Screen Actors Guild awards in California on Sunday night were dominated by stars political messages in defiance of the new administration.
The UNs rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein denounced Mr Trumps executive order on Monday as mean-spirited. Discrimination on nationality alone is forbidden under human rights law, he said.
Thousands of Britons were due to attend a protest against Mr Trumps travel ban and against Ms Mays perceived tardiness in criticising it outside Downing Street on Monday evening.
And in an urgent question on the matter in the House of Commons, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he had received assurances from the US embassy that the changes would make no difference to British passport holders, irrespective of their country of birth or any other passports they hold.
The Trump order was, he said, a highly controversial policy which has caused unease, adding: This is not an approach that this Government would take.
Where we have differences from the United States, we will not quail from expressing them, as I have done today, he said. But we also repeat our resolve to work alongside the Trump administration in the mutual interest of both countries.
The SNPs national womens and equalities convener, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, said: This action is inhumane, it is racist and it is immoral.
And Labours Emily Thornberry said Mr Trump was heading down a very dangerous slope, in reference to images showing Ms May holding the Presidents hand as they walked down a gradient at the White House last week.
Boris Johnson accused the opposition of pointlessly demonising the Trump administration.
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Nearly 900 refugees will be allowed into the United States this week despite Donald Trumps executive order suspending the nation's refugees program.
Kevin McAleenan, acting commissioner of the US Customs and Border Protection agency, said 872 refugees would be granted waivers.
Mr McAleenan told a news conference the move was allowed under the order in instances where refugees were ready for travel and stopping them would cause undue hardship.
He said the refugees will be arriving this week and will proceed for waivers through the end of the week.
Donald Trump sacks acting attorney general over immigration ban
Since the order, 721 travellers trying to enter from the seven countries were denied entry, Mr McAleenan said.
The Trump administration executive order suspends the US refugee program for four months, indefinitely bans all those from war-ravaged Syria, and temporarily freezes immigration from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
It also led to a public showdown between Mr Trump and the acting US attorney general, who was fired late on Monday after she challenged the constitutionality of the order.
Mr McAleenan said it was fair to say that communication among government agencies on the order had not been the best.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
At the briefing, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly denied reports he had been out of the loop in the White House planning for the immigration restrictions.
MR Kelly told reporters he looked at two drafts of the order before it was signed on Friday, and added that high-level government lawyers and agency officials were involved in drafting it.
He also said he knew it was coming because Mr Trump had discussed it several times during his presidential campaign.
It comes as San Francisco became the first state to sue Mr Trump over a separate executive order withholding money from cities that have adopted sanctuary policies toward undocumented immigrants.
Mr Trump signed the directive on sanctuary cities on 25 January, along with an executive order to build a wall along the US-Mexican border, as he charged ahead with sweeping and divisive plans to transform how the US deals with immigration and national security.
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Citizens from Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and Libya have been barred from the US for 90 days under controversial security measures implemented by Donald Trump.
However, six of the seven banned states also bar citizens by nationality, an argument often cited by Mr Trump's supporters in an attempt to normalise the unprecedented steps.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the banned countries of Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Libya all block Israeli citizens from entering their own countries, and the measures are also enforced in Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
However, international politics professor Fawaz Gerges at London School of Economics said comparisons between America and Arab-Israeli relations fly in the face of reality.
Trumps ban is a Muslim ban, based on religious discrimination and racial discrimination. The relationship between Israel and its Arab neighbours is one of war since 1947 - for the last 70 years. By trying to force comparison, it just flies in the face of reality, its apples and oranges, sky and sea, he told The Independent.
The boycott of Israel by Arab nations is a completely different thing. The Arab world offered Israel a kind of a deal - a Palestinian state in return for normalised political relations. But we are not talking about these small warring states, we are talking about the leader of the free world, the defender of human rights. What Trump has done has undermined America as a moral voice in the world."
We are talking about blocking poor countries, that are war torn, they don't have the means and the ability to retaliate - what kind of options do they have against the US? Thats why Trump has chosen these states - Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan arent on the list because they have options.
The US citizen also discredited claims Barack Obama took a similar approach in 2011 when he temporarily increased vetting measures of Iraqi citizens travelling to the US.
What we need to understand is there a qualitative difference between the measures put in place between the Obama administration and the blanket ban put in place by Trump, he said.
Obamas measures were to protect the US against potential threats based on specific information gathered by national security forces in 2011 and 2015.
Dr Gerges, who is a leading expert on Isis and Al Qaeda, said Mr Trumps ban was ultimately counter intuitive as it would play into the hands of terrorist recruiters.
It serves as massive propaganda for Al-Qaeda and ISIS, it shifts the debate between being a war within islam to being a war between the West and Islam, he said.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
He also accused Mr Trump of executing a political, ideological decision in order to play to his core base of alt-right supporters and tea party republicans.
All the evidence we have is most of the attacks that take place on American soil are carried out by American citizens or residents, he said.
This is a political decision, an ideological decision, playing to his alt-right base and this is the beginning.
Green card and visa holders were being blocked from boarding US-bound flights within hours of Mr Trump issuing the new order.
Refugee admissions to the country have also been suspended for 120 days as part of measures the Republican leader claimed would keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the US.
The executive order, titled Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States, also bars Syrian refugees indefinitely until significant changes are made, and halved the annual cap on refugees to 50,000.
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Donald Trumps shock ban on all travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries has sparked confusion and outrage around the world since it was announced without warning on Friday.
But it seems that the uncertainty inspired by the Presidents executive order extends to those inside the White House itself.
On 29 January, two days after Mr Trump had signed the order banning people from three African and four Middle Eastern countries as well as suspending all refugee programmes his administration issued a statement Regarding Recent Executive Order Concerning Extreme Vetting.
Recommended Trump fired acting Attorney General after she defied refugee ban order
Mr Trump has been calling for extreme vetting, in his words, since early on in his candidacy for the 2016 election. In a speech in Ohio in August last year, he set out the plan to make it tougher for applicants to get US visas as a way of combatting Islamist extremism.
His Sunday statement on extreme vetting, issued by the office of press secretary Sean Spicer, said America will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression while protecting our own citizens and border. We will keep it free and keep it safe, he said.
Fast forward just one day, and on Monday a new statement from Mr Spicers office said explicitly that Mr Trumps new immigration policy was not extreme.
The statement was defending Mr Trumps decision to sack acting Attorney General Sally Yates, for speaking out against his executive order and ordering Department of Justice officials not to defend it.
Ms Yates, who has now been replaced with Trump supporter Dana Boente, betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States, the new statement read.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country.
Before she was sacked, Ms Yates she had a responsibility to ensure the DoJs actions were consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.
I am not convinced that the defence of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful.
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Over four million people across the globe have signed an open letter to President Donald Trump to tell him the world rejects your fear, hate mongering and bigotry.
The letter, hosted on petition platform Avaaz, was posted following the announcement of Mr Trumps Muslim ban, which has seen America temporarily suspend immigration from seven majority Muslim countries, and place a four-month suspension on the countrys refugee program.
With the Muslim ban, Trump has shown that the worst fears about his Presidency are true, the petition page states, while urging people to sign the open letter and join the resistance.
Recommended Thousands march on Downing Street amid protests at Trump travel ban
The petition shows people adding their name to the open letter in real time with their nationality, with fresh people from all over the world signing it every few seconds.
The letter reads: Dear Mr Trump,
This is not what greatness looks like.
The world rejects your fear, hate-mongering, and bigotry. We reject your support for torture, your calls for murdering civilians, and your general encouragement of violence. We reject your denigration of women, Muslims, Mexicans, and millions of others who dont look like you, talk like you, or pray to the same god as you.
Facing your fear we choose compassion. Hearing your despair we choose hope. Seeing your ignorance we choose understanding.
Caroline Lucas: Trump is a 'racist bigot'
As citizens of the world, we stand united against your brand of division.
Protests erupted at airports across America in the wake of the executive order signed on Friday, as people from the seven countries named in the order were temporarily stopped from entering the US.
In the UK, thousands of people descended on Downing Street on Monday night to protest against the travel ban. The action was echoed across the country, where people took to the streets in UK cities including Edinburgh and Cambridge to protest.
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Accusing her of betrayal and insubordination, Donald Trump fired acting US Attorney General Sally Yates after she publicly questioned whether his controversial refugee and immigration ban was constitutional and refused to defend it in court.
The dramatic public clash between the new president and the nation's top law enforcement officer laid bare the growing discord and dissent surrounding his executive order, which temporarily halted the entire US refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
The move refusing entry to those from Syria, Lybia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan, set off massive protests at airports across the country.
After the Trump administration suffered its first defeat in federal court over the weekend, staying some aspects of the executive order, Ms Yates issued her denouncement of the action. The President fired her shortly afterwards.
The White House said in a statement that Ms Yates had "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States."
He immediately named longtime federal prosecutor Dana Boente, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, as Yates' replacement.
Mr Boente was sworn in privately, the White House said.
He promptly order Justice Department lawyers to "do our sworn duty and to defend the lawful orders of our President."
He said: I am honoured to serve President Trump in this role.... I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected."
Senator Jeff Sessions, Mr Trump's pick for attorney general, will almost certainly defend the policy once he's sworn in.
He's expected to be confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee and could be approved within days by the full Senate.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Ms Yates, a Democrat who was appointed by the Obama administration had earlier order lawyers not to defend Mr Trump's order.
"I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with the institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what's right," she said.
"At the present, I am not convinced that the defence of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful."
The former Acting Attorney General was the first person to be fired on principle by the Trump administration.
Ms Yates, the highest ranked Senate-approved Justice Department lawyer was the only person with the authority to approve international surveillance warrants.
Press Secretary Sean Spicer had earlier challenged government employees to leave their posts when questioned about US diplomats who issued a dissent memo draft condemning Mr Trump's executive order.
Chuck Schumer breaks down talking about Trump's 'Muslim ban'
"Any government official who doesnt understand the Presidents goals in this and exactly what it was, he told reporters, they should either get with the programme, or they can go."
Former President Barack Obama has also defied custom and spoken out against Mr Trump's order referred to by civil rights advocates as the "Muslim Exclusion Order". The former president said he was "heartened" to see such civic engagement as Americans take to the streets to denounce the new President.
"Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," a statement from Mr Obamas spokesperson said.
"With regard to comparisons to President Obamas foreign policy decisions, as weve heard before," the statement added. "The President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith."
Meanwhile, the state of Washington his filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for the refugee ban.
"We are a country based on the rule of law, and in a courtroom it is not the loudest voice that prevails, it's the Constitution," the state's Attorney General Bob Ferguson said at a news conference.
"At the end of the day, either you're abiding by the Constitution or you are not. And in our view, the President is not adhering to the Constitution when it comes to this executive action."
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Donald Trumps administration has pledged to retain LGBT protections implemented by former President Barack Obama, despite claims during his campaign he would repeal "a lot of" the previous administrations actions.
In a statement from the White House, the President pledged to protect the community from violence and oppression.
President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election, the statement read.
The President is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.
The clarification came after Mr Trumps press secretary Sean Spicer said he didnt know whether the new President would rescind LGBT rights.
When questioned over the issue during a White House briefing, he said: I just dont know the answer.
Mr Trumps alleged backing of the order will be likely to anger conservative Republicans hoping to put an end to more socially liberal policies.
It has done little, however, to reassure LGBTQ campaigners.
Mark Snyder, director of communications for the Equality Federation, told The Independent that they were "unimpressed and will remain vigilant in case of repeal under the guise of religious freedom".
"Trump's actions against refugees and immigrants also impact LGBTQ people, putting some families in very dangerous situations," he said.
"We stand in firm solidarity with every community Trump, his team, and his nominees are targeting," he continued. "He has surrounded himself with people who have long records of opposing fairness and equality for LGBTQ Americans and our families as well as opposing the civil liberties that most of us consider to represent the core values of our nation."
Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, said Mr Trump had set a low bar by merely agreeing to protect protections that already exist.
"LGBTQ refugees, immigrants, Muslims and women are scared today, and with good reason," he said.
"Donald Trump has done nothing but undermine equality since he set foot in the White House. Donald Trump has left the key question unanswered will he commit to opposing any executive actions that allow government employees, taxpayer-funded organisations or even companies to discriminate?
Mr Griffin added that Mr Trump has filled his cabinet with people who "have spent their careers working to demonise [LGBTQ people] and limit [their] rights".
"You can't claim to be an ally when you send LGBTQ refugees back to countries where their lives are at risk. You can't claim support them and then rip away life-saving services made possible through the Affordable Care Act for transgender people and those living with HIV or AIDS. You can't be a friend to this community and appoint people to run the government who compare being gay to bestiality."
Many had feared the new President would make a sharp break from the protections afforded by the Obama administration, exacerbated by Vice President Mike Pences track record on LGBTQ rights.
As the Governor of Indiana, Mr Pence signed a religious liberties bill that gay rights groups said would legitimise and legalise discrimination.
Within hours of Mr Trump being sworn into the nation's highest office, the White House website took down its page on LGBTQ rights and its apology for discrimination dating back decades, and also removed pages on civil rights and climate change.
Incoming Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that legalising same-sex marriage was an "effort to secularise, by force and intimidation".
President Obamas 2014 order banned companies doing business with the federal government from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The move applied to an estimated 24,000 companies that collectively employed 28 million workers accounting for a fifth of America's workforce.
In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Pride in London 2016 In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London Participants on motor cycles during the Pride in London parade, as it makes its way through the streets of central, London. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London Daphne, a miniture schnouzer, wears a rainbow tie at a march as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in London on June 25, 2016 Getty Images In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London Jennifer Saunders (right) and Joanna Lumley (left) pose in character along with performers in front of the Absolutely Fabulous/Stolli (vodka) Pride in London float PA In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London 'Pet Play' enthusiasts dress and behave as dogs during a march as the LGBT community celebrates Pride in London on June 25, 2016 Getty Images In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London A policeman kisses his fiance after proposing to him during the Pride in London parade, as it makes its way through the streets of central London. PA In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London Participants show their support for victims of the Orlando shooting during the annual Pride Parade in London on June 25, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Matthew Barzun (left) and Major of London Sadiq Khan attending the Pride in London parade PA In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London Participants take part in the annual Pride Parade in London on June 25, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London Participants take part in the annual Pride Parade in London on June 25, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Pride in London 2016 Pride in London Participants show their support for victims of the Orlando shooting during the annual Pride Parade in London on June 25, 2016. AFP/Getty Images
The Human Rights Campaign found that many states are nonethless ramping up their efforts to fight LGBT protections. There have been some pro-LGBT victories in recent months, for example, North Carolina governor Pat McCrory conceding defeat in his re-election bid after signing a house bill which champions discrimination, and Vermont and New York banning "conversion therapy" for gay youths.
Last year, more than 200 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in states around the US.
Many were defeated, but North Carolina and Mississippi did adopt discriminatory bills. More than 111 million people still live in states which do not have LGBTQ protections in the workplace.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura told reporters on Tuesday that he asked the Security Council to hold the intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva on February 20th instead of February 8th, Sputnik reported.
De Mistura suggested to send the invitations for the Geneva talks on or around the 8th of February. Explaining why he suggested to postpone the talks, the Special Envoy said he wanted to give a chance for the "Astana initiative to implement itself".
"I did ask the [UN] Security Council and based also on the discussions I had with the SG [Secretary-General] to postpone the talks until the 20th [of February]," de Mistura stated.
He also said that with the talks now planned for February 20, the Syrian government will have an opportunity to engage in serious discussions on the issue and opposition groups, in their turn, will be given a chance to come to the Geneva talks as one unified group.
The envoy pointed out that if the Syrian opposition delegation is not formed by February 8 for the talks in Geneva he would select the delegates as per UN Security Council resolution 2254.
"This time, if by the eighth of February the opposition will not be ready to come up with a unified group I will have to apply what I have not yet applied which is a prerogative that [Security Council resolution] 2254 gave the special envoy to actually select the delegation in order to make sure that it can be as inclusive as possible," de Mistura stated.
The Geneva round of intra-Syrian talks under UN auspices was initially set for February 8. On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that the negotiations would be postponed until late February.
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Donald Trumps administration appeared to cite the terrorist attack on Muslims at a mosque as justification for the US presidents own anti-terror policies.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the shooting, which killed six worshippers at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre in Canada, was a terrible reminder of why the Republican leader must be proactive, rather than reactive.
Twenty-seven-year-old French-Canadian student Alexandre Bissonnette has been charged over what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has branded a terrorist attack.
Recommended Quebec Mosque shooting suspect was a fan of Donald Trump
We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms, said Mr Spicer, who did not refer to it as terrorism.
Its a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant, and why the president is taking steps to be proactive, rather than reactive, when it comes to our nations safety and security.
Mr Spicer, reading from a statement at the daily press briefing yesterday, did not say which policies he was referring to.
Mr Trumps team however has talked of the importance of being reactive when justifying the highly controversial immigration ban.
Hundreds on Twitter have expressed confusion over why Mr Trumps team would link an attack, which appeared to target Muslims, to policies which restrict the immigration of Muslims.
Fox News tweeted yesterday that the suspect was of Moroccan origin, based on reports from French language newspaper La Presse.
But police later said this second man, Mohamed el Khadir, was simply a witness and was never arrested.
Were going to put the safety of Americans first, were not going to wait and react, as I said in the statement, the president is going to be very proactive in protecting this country, added Mr Spicer, who said Mr Trump had spoken to Mr Trudeau by telephone.
Were not going to wait until we get attacked and figure how we can make sure it doesnt happen again.
Mr Trumps ban suspends admission of all refugees for 120 days, imposes an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees, and bars admission for 90 days of all immigrants and visa-holders from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan.
Alexandre Bissonnette has been charged with six counts of murder Reuters (Reuters)
The 70-year-old property magnate has already fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates for defying the executive order.
Security expert Dr. Bessma Momani at the University of Waterloo, told Global News: The reality here is that there is no rhyme or reason from the security lens to explain those seven countries.
We cant use the security lens to explain what is frankly a very arbitrary, not very well thought out plan.
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While some green card and visa holders were detained in airports across the US or blocked from boarding US-bound flights in the wake of Donald Trumps immigration ban, James Corden had another altogether smoother travelling experience.
The comedian, who hosts The Late Late Show, secretly filmed his hiccup-free journey through Los Angeles airport.
After setting up the camera in his car, a sombre-faced Corden walked past protesters outside the terminal, checked in for his flight, speedily walked through security, ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and had a friendly, affable chat with an airport worker before boarding his flight.
Freedom of movement should be this easy for all legal immigrants, the video then says. Not just the white and Christian ones.
While The Late Late Show's video is pretty boring and not a lot happens, it succeeds in conveying the sharp disparity of Cordon's travelling experience and those affected by Mr Trump's "Muslim ban".
In the wake of the immigration ban, the 38-year-old, who is known for his Carpool Karaoke segments, has thrown his weight behind the demonstrations which have erupted in protest.
Corden, who was born in Hillingdon, shared a photo of a protest in Liverpool on Twitter, saying: Proud of the people of Liverpool for this.
The billionaire property magnates ban on refugees entering the US has unleashed chaos and outrage across the world. Last week, Mr Trump signed an executive order suspending the entire US refugee admissions system for 120 days, halting the Syrian refugee programme indefinitely, and banning entry for people from seven majority-Muslim countries.
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An ex-US Secretary of State is among scores of high ranking former American government figures and military officials that have expressed their "deep concern" with Donald Trump's controversial executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
"This Order not only jeopardises tens of thousands of lives, it has caused a crisis right here in America and will do long-term damage to our national security," they said in a letter addressed to senior figures in the new president's administration.
"In the middle of the night, just as we were beginning our nations commemoration of the Holocaust, dozens of refugees onboard flights to the United States and thousands of visitors were swept up in an Order of unprecedented scope, apparently with little to no oversight or input from national security professionals."
Among the signatories are former US secretary of state, Dr Madeleine Albright, ex-CIA director Michael Hayden, Janet Napolitano, who once served as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Samantha Power, the former US ambassador to the United Nations.
A number of retired generals, senior officials and high profile politicians joined their condemnation of the policy in the letter addressed John F. Kelly, the Homeland Security Secretary, Thomas A.Shannon, the acting State Department secretary and Sally Yates, the acting Attorney General fired by Donald Trump for refusing to publicly questioning and refusing to defend the ban.
"Simply put, this Order will harm our national security," it said. "Partner countries in Europe and the Middle East, on whom we rely for vital counter terrorism cooperation, are already objecting to this action and distancing themselves from the United States, shredding years of effort to bring them closer to us.
"Moreover, because the Order discriminates against Muslim travellers and immigrants, it has already sent exactly the wrong message to the Muslim community here at home and all over the world: that the US government is at war with them based on their religion."
It added that Christian communities may have be endangered by handing Isis "a recruiting tool and propaganda victory that spreads their horrific message that the United States is engaged in a religious war."
Sean Spicer uses the Quebec City mosque attack to justify Trump's policies
"Brave individuals" who helped US servicemen in the fight against the Islamist terror group have had their "lives have been disrupted and they may even be in greater danger if they are sent home," it said.
The "suddenness" of the order was "troubling" it said, adding that it had received little scrutiny and the governments response had been "disorganised and chaotic".
"Perhaps the most tragic irony of this episode is that it is unnecessary," it said.
Many of the signatories had worked during the September 11 terror attacks, it said, adding: "We do not need to turn America into a fortress to keep it secure."
It said: "Since the 9/11 attacks, the United States has developed a rigorous system of security vetting, leveraging the full capabilities of the law enforcement and intelligence communities. This vetting is applied to travelers not once, but multiple times.
"Refugees receive even further scrutiny. In fact, successive administrations have worked to improve this vetting on a near continuous basis, through robust information sharing and data integration to identify potential terrorists. Since 9/11 not a single major terrorist attack has been perpetrated by travellers from the countries named in the Order."
World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. 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The White House is yet to formally respond to the letter, but news of it has emerged as Mr Trump's press secretary clashed with a number of current diplomats who are voicing their dissent with the policy.
The officials circulated several drafts of a memo arguing that the executive order Trump signed last week will not make the US safe, runs counter to American values and will fuel anti-American sentiment around the world.
Dissent channel cables are a mechanism for American diplomats to register disagreement internally about US policies. It was established during the Vietnam War and was most recently used by diplomats to criticise the Obama administration's approach to Syria. In that case, former Secretary of State John Kerry met with signers of the cable to discuss their concerns.
Officials indicated that at least several hundred diplomats have suggested they would sign the memo but the final number of signatories will not be available until it is submitted.
But Mr Trump's press secretary dismissed the diplomats and challenged them to resign if they weren't on board with the order.
Calling them "career bureaucrats", he said: "They should either get with the program or they can go".
While he later said Mr Trump appreciates the work of public servants, Mr Spicer said they should respect the desires of the American people and the importance the new president places on protecting the country.
"If somebody has a problem with that agenda, that does call into question whether they should continue in that post or not," he said. "This is about the safety of America."
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A California state senator has called for the White House to release Melania Trumps immigration documents as part of an objection to President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies.
Nancy Skinner, a Democrat, made the call in reaction to the leaders executive order to restrict funds to sanctuary cities areas controlled by local authorities that refuse to enforce federal immigration policies.
The order was later dwarfed in significance by Mr Trumps Muslim ban. The measure which bars travellers from several Muslim-majority nations from the US has drawn international condemnation and sparked mass protests.
Protesters against Trump's 'Muslim ban' gather in London
Ms Skinner, who made the request in the state capitol, told Politico California: No one in the Trump operation has released any of the documentation to indicate what was the circumstance, or whether she [Ms Trump] had full legal status.
We only know they had a lawyer look at whatever papers she chose to give.
The immigration status of Slovenian-born Ms Trump who travelled to the US in 1996 to pursue her modelling career has previously come under intense scrutiny. An investigation by The Associated Press in November found that the First Lady was paid for 10 modelling jobs in the US before she had the right to work there.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Ms Trump, who received her green card in March 2001 and became a US citizen five years later, has insisted that she arrived in the country legally and that she never violated her immigration conditions.
During the Presidential campaign, she made references to her relocation while defending her husbands strict immigration proposals.
In August, Mr Trump claimed his wife had got it so documented and vowed to hold a news conference to address the issue in the weeks that followed. The event that has yet to take place.
One member of the Republican National Committee, Harmeet Dhillon, dismissed Ms Skinner's request as a cheap trolling tactic", Politico reported.
Mr Trump fired his acting Attorney General on Monday night after she refused to defend his "Muslim ban", an executive order that stops refugees, as well as migrants from Muslim nations, from entering the US.
The President said the country's top law-enforcement officer, who had served as deputy general under the leadership of Barack Obama, had betrayed his administration.
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House Speaker Paul Ryan insisted Donald Trumps Muslim ban was not dangerous for the US, but the "rhetoric" around it was.
Three days after Mr Trump signed an executive order to ban refugees from seven countries and indefinitely suspend Syrian refugees, Mr Ryan argued that it was merely the way people spoke about the ban which could act as an incentive for terrorists to recruit anti-US operatives.
"I think the rhetoric around this could be used for a recruiting tool [for terrorists] and I think thats dangerous but remember these countries were named by the Obama administration and there is an issue with terrorists trying to infiltrate a refugee population.
"There is nothing wrong with taking a pause and making sure the proper vetting standards are in place."
Around 12,500 Syrian refugees were admitted to the US last year after being vetted for at least two years.
The ban led to large protests at airports around the US and to the former acting Attorney General Sally Yates instructing lawyers not to defend the travel ban - she was then fired at the weekend for "betraying" Mr Trump.
The Presidents executive order also faces severe criticism from human rights activists, Democrats and a growing group of Republicans.
Mr Ryan himself tweeted against Mr Trumps proposal for extreme vetting and a religious test of incoming refugees and immigrants last July, saying the proposal was "not reflective of Americas fundamental values".
"I reject it," he wrote.
His spokeswoman defended Mr Ryans support of the the newly-imposed ban, as it was "not a religious test and was not a ban on people of any religion".
At a GOP press conference on Monday morning, Mr Ryan said that national security should be the main focus.
"We can be generous and support our national security at the same time," he said.
He added that the roll-out of the ban - with no guidance to airports, airlines or about green card and visa holders - caused confusion.
"Now I think its regrettable that there was some confusion on the roll-out of this," he said.
"No one wanted to see people with green cards or special immigrant visas like translators get caught up in all of this. And so I think, regrettably the roll-out was confusing but on a go-forward basis Im confident that [Department of Homeland Security] Secretary [James] Kelly is going to make sure this is done correctly, that they get a good review and we get this up and running with the kind of vetting we want to see."
The blanket order blocks citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya from entering the country for at least 90 days. It also bans refugees from anywhere in the world for 120 days, and indefinitely bans refugees from Syria.
Mr Ryan insisted there was still a role for Congress to provide oversight on Mr Trumps executive orders.
The Republican prompted the audience at the conference to remember the Paris attacks as support for the travel ban.
Not one person from the seven countries affected by the ban has carried out a terrorist attack in the US. Countries like Saudi Arabia, from where the 9/11 hijackers came, are not on the list.
Other Republicans like South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham have described the ban as a "self-inflicted wound".
But Mr Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are not among them.
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The French-Canadian student charged in connection with a shooting spree that killed six people at a Quebec City mosque was a supporter Donald Trump and far-right French politician Marine Le Pen.
Described by one former classmate as a "nerdy outcast." Alexandre Bissonnette, is the sole suspect in the shooting.
The 27-year-old was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon. Police said he acted alone.
Sean Spicer uses the Quebec City mosque attack to justify Trump's policies
Bissonnette's online profiles show a wide variety of interests.
On his Facebook page, he indicated he liked Le Pen, US President Donald Trump, the separatist Parti Quebecois as well as Canada's left-wing New Democratic Party, the Israeli Defense Forces, heavy metal band Megadeth and pop star Katy Perry.
"I wrote him off as a xenophobe. I didn't even think of him as totally racist, but he was enthralled by a borderline racist nationalist movement," Vincent Boissoneault, a fellow Laval University student, told The Globe and Mail newspaper. He said they frequently clashed over Bissonnette's opinions about refugees and support for Le Pen and Trump.
The University Laval confirmed on Monday that Bissonnette was a social science student there.
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
Bissonnette was a cerebral "nerdy outcast," said former high school classmate Simon de Billy, adding the suspect and his twin brother were inseparable.
"He was an avid reader, knew a lot about history and about current issues, current politics, those kinds of topics," de Billy said. "He was just a bit of a loner, always with his twin brother, didn't have any friends.
"He wasn't physically strong or imposing, and probably got a bit of a hard time, was probably not taken seriously. ... He would be kind of made fun of, the butt of the jokes."
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San Francisco filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging President Donald Trump's executive order directing the US government to withhold money from cities that have adopted sanctuary policies toward undocumented immigrants.
The lawsuit, filed by San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, marks the first court challenge over the sanctuary order filed by one of the targeted cities.
Mr Trump signed the directive on sanctuary cities on 25 January, along with an executive order to build a wall along the US-Mexican border, as he charged ahead with sweeping and divisive plans to transform how the US deals with immigration and national security.
Local officials in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Denver, Washington and Seattle, as well as San Francisco, offer some forms of protection to illegal immigrants.
Donald Trump supporters boo mention of immigrants during speech
Billions of dollars in federal aid to those cities could be at risk.
Tuesday's lawsuit alleges that the executive order violates the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution, which states that powers not granted to the federal government should fall to the states.
"In blatant disregard of the law, President of the United States seeks to coerce local authorities into abandoning what are known as 'Sanctuary City' laws and policies," said the lawsuit, filed in San Francisco federal court.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Mr Herrera told reporters at City Hall on Tuesday morning the city's sanctuary policy was borne out of a desire to allow and encourage undocumented immigrants to report crimes to police without fear of being deported.
He said such policies make residents safer and cited research suggesting that counties and cities with sanctuary policies, of which he estimated there were 400 across the country, had fewer crimes per 10,000 residents than other jurisdictions.
"President Trump's executive order tries to turn city and state employees into federal immigration officers. That is unconstitutional," Mr Herrera said.
The suit seeks to halt Mr Trump's order and also calls on a judge to declare that San Francisco is in compliance with federal law.
Reuters
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An internal State Department dissent memo, declaring that President Trumps temporary travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim majority countries would not make the country safer, has reached more than 900 signatures.
A senior official with the department told Reuters that the memo was submitted to management on Tuesday.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer acknowledged the memo Monday but said that diplomats should "get with the program or they can go."
Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban Show all 20 1 /20 Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-1 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-2 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-3 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-4 SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 28: Demonstrators hold signs during a rally against a ban on Muslim immigration at San Francisco International Airport on January 28, 2017 in San Francisco, California. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday that suspends entry of all refugees for 120 days, indefinitely suspends the entries of all Syrian refugees, as well as barring entries from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering for 90 days. Stephen Lam/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-5 A crowd of protesters gathers outside of the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse as a judge hears a challenge against President Donald Trump's executive ban on immigration from several Muslim countries, on January 28, 2017 in Brooklyn. The judge issued an emergency stay on part of Trump's executive order, ruling that sending refugees stopped at U.S. airports back to their countries would be harmful. Yana Paskova/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-6 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-7 NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-8 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-9 Getty Images Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-10 Getty Images Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-11 NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-12 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-13 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-14 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-15 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-16 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-17 NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-18 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-19 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-20 Passengers wait in line to check in at the American Airlines terminal at JFK International Airport August 10, 2006 in the Queens borough of New York City. British authorities arrested 21 people and halted a anallegedly terrorist plot to use liquid explosives concealed in carry-on luggage to blow up airliners traveling between Britain and the U.S. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff said that the plot appeared to be directed at U.S. carriers flying out of Heathrow. such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines. Stephen Chernin/Getty
The letter, titled Subject: Visa Applicants at Consulate General Dubai Seek Clarification on Executive Order was drafted over the weekend and has consistently been edited by members of the departments dissent channel. According to The Intercept, it examines the orders effect on green card holders, visa applicants, and the elderly.
By the time the ban is lifted, my son is going to be dead from cancer, said an Iranian couple that had been hoping to visit their ailing child in the United States, the memo reads. Tell President Trump that my government is the terrorist, pleaded another Iranian applicant, but we the people are not terrorists.
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Washington state's attorney general declared on Monday that he was suing President Donald Trump over his temporary ban on immigration from seven countries with majority-Muslim populations, making it the first state to announce a legal action against the Trump administration over one of its policies.
Mr Trump's executive order also suspended the United States' entire refugee program and set off nationwide protests over the weekend, including one that drew 3,000 people to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
"If successful it would have the effect of invalidating the president's unlawful action nationwide," Attorney General Bob Ferguson said at a news conference.
Recommended Trump fired acting Attorney General after she defied refugee ban order
Mr Ferguson was one of 16 state attorneys general who released a statement on Sunday calling Mr Trump's immigration action "un-American and unlawful."
Mr Trump has repeatedly said that Friday's order suspending immigration for citizens of the seven countries for 90 days is aimed at protecting the nation against extremists looking to attack Americans and U.S. interests.
The lawsuit against Mr Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and high-ranking Trump administration officials was filed in federal court in Seattle.
The complaint seeks to have key provisions of the executive order declared unconstitutional, Mr Ferguson said. The state is also asking for a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the order.
Thousands join London protests against Donald Trump travel ban
"We are a country based on the rule of law, and in a courtroom it is not the loudest voice that prevails, it's the Constitution," Mr Ferguson said. "At the end of the day, either you're abiding by the Constitution or you are not. And in our view, the President is not adhering to the Constitution when it comes to this executive action."
Declarations of support from Amazon and Expedia two Washington state-based businesses will be filed with the lawsuit, said Mr Ferguson, who was joined at the news conference by Governor Jay Inslee.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, also supports Mr Ferguson's efforts, said Dominic Carr, general manager for public affairs. The company will be happy to testify more if needed, Mr Carr said.
The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
The complaint claims that Mr Trump's actions are separating Washington families, harming thousands of state residents, damaging the state economy, hurting Washington-based companies "and undermining Washington's sovereign interest in remaining a welcoming place for immigrants and refugees," Mr Ferguson said.
Governor Inslee said the "inhumanity" of Mr Trump's order is obvious.
"This is un-American, it is wrong, and it will not stand," Governor Inslee said. "The clear intent of this executive order is to discriminate against one faith amongst all God's children."
Asked if he fears retaliation from the Trump administration, Governor Inslee said "there's no predicting this president, but we will not yield, we will not be leveraged, we will not be threatened, we will not be intimidated."
Governor Inslee said he learned the hard way over the years "you do not back down to bullies."
Mr Ferguson said he has been in contact with other attorneys general but at this point Washington state was acting on its own regarding the legal action.
The Port of Seattle said over the weekend that people who were detained at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as a result of Mr Trump's order have been released.
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal said on Sunday that two individuals were released. One is a citizen of Sudan and the other a citizen of Yemen, both countries named in Mr Trump's order.
Associated Press
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A Chinese who has been unable to leave India after accidentally crossing into the country in 1963 has spoken to his brother for the first time in more than 50 years.
Wang Qi was a surveyor in the Chinese army when he entered India by mistake, the BBC reports.
It was not long after the Sino-Indian war that had broken out in 1962 when Mr Wang became lost near the border and crossed into India. He found a Red Cross van and asked them for help, but was turned over to the Indian authorities and imprisoned for seven years.
Now in his eighties, Mr Wang lives in the village of Tirodi in Madhya Pradesh, central India with his family.
During a visit from a BBC reporter, he has been able to speak to his brother in China via video message, after visiting a government building with internet access.
Mr Wang has not seen his 82-year-old brother Wang Zhiyuan for 54 years. The pair spoke for 17 minutes, after which Mr Wang said: I couldnt recognise him. He looked so old. He said he was alive just for me.
Mr Wang, who is known in India as Raj Bahadur, has been trying to get permission to leave India and travel to China to see his three brothers and two sisters for decades, but has never been allowed to by the government.
In 2014 Mr Wang was issued with a Chinese passport, but he has yet to receive permission to travel to China.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times at the time, he said: I have heard a lot about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj helping foreign nationals, stuck in India, return to their homeland. I pray with folded hands to the two leaders to help me also return to my siblings in China, he said.
Mr Wang said he was his mothers favourite, but he was unable to see her before she died in 2006. He was visited by a nephew in 2009, which raised his hopes again of being able to see his family, but three years ago, he said it was still a pipedream.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 31
Trend:
Turkey and Israel will hold political consultations for the first time in the last six years, Anadolu agency reported.
The consultations will take place in Ankara on Feb. 1, according to the news agency.
The Turkish delegation will be headed by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Umit Yalcin and Israels delegation will be headed by Yuval Rotem, director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Besides, one of the Turkish Cabinets officials is expected to visit Israel during the week.
Turkey and Israel are currently aiming at normalizing the bilateral relations and increasing the number of mutual visits.
In July 2016, Turkey and Israel signed an agreement on normalization of relations after the crisis connected to the Freedom Flotilla incident in 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one flying Turkeys flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces, with eight Turkish citizens being killed as a result.
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The mounting possibility of military confrontation between the US and China would be disastrous for the region, experts have warned amid inflammatory statements from both nations.
Donald Trump has followed up his incendiary campaign claim that China was financially raping the US by threatening to impose a 45 per cent tariff on imports, after vowing to buy American in his inaugural speech.
The new President has also shaken Beijing by questioning the One China policy, which does not formally recognise Taiwan, and speaking to the island nations President over the phone in a break with decades of diplomatic policy.
Tensions ramped up further when Mr Trump accused the Chinese military of stealing an underwater research vessel in the South China Sea in an unprecedented act.
Rex Tillerson calls China's actions in the South China Sea 'illegal'
Beijing said it removed the device from international waters to ensure the safe navigation of passing ships, and later returned the vessel amid continuing controversy over the contested region, where the US conducts freedom of navigation operations.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has advocated an American naval blockade of artificial Chinese islands in the South China Sea, while there are unconfirmed reports of Beijing moving intercontinental missiles into firing range of the US.
Analysts do not consider a full-blown conflict between the US and China a realistic prospect, despite a senior Chinese military official claiming war was becoming a practical reality.
Kerry Brown, an associate fellow in the Asia programme at Chatham House, said there may be skirmishes between American and Chinese military assets at sea.
He told The Independent Mr Trumps provocative and chaotic approach was increasing tensions, adding: Its a no-win situation. Only through the act of the most amazing stupidity and provocation would conflict happen.
But Mr Trump and his team have shown they are willing to do very high-risk things.
It is significantly more probable that there would be a misunderstanding than it has been for many, many years. It is still improbable but significantly more likely.
Veerle Nouwens, a research analyst for Asia studies at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) said any military confrontation between the two global superpowers would be disastrous for the region.
There is a heightened risk of miscalculation but I do not think that anybody is out to have a clear military conflict, she told The Independent.
World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Show all 29 1 /29 World reaction to President Trump: In pictures World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty Images World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mosul , Iraq Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures New Delhi, India Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Karachi, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kabul, Afghanistan AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem. Israel Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Moscow, Russia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Seoul, South Korea AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Peshawar, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Hyderabad, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kolkata, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Aleppo, Syria Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem, Israel EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Baghdad, Iraq Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Tokyo, Japan Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico Getty
Theres a lot of symbolism in visits and in words that are being spoken but its treading that fine line.
Ms Nouwens said China is there to stay in the South China Sea, where it is building up a military presence on several artificial islands despite condemnation by the UN and countries contesting the waters.
At the moment China has taken a wait and see approach to Mr Trump to see who the rest of his team will be, she added.
Theyre taking a back seat at the moment but theyre drawing red lines for any upcoming negotiations.
The new administration is expected to exert pressure on China to open up its domestic markets, which are currently restricted for foreign companies.
Extreme tariffs like those proposed by Mr Trump could damage the US economy by making China look elsewhere for major American imports such as planes and agricultural products, Ms Nouwens said, while some US companies currently take up to 90 per cent of their revenue from China.
Britain has been improving economic ties with China in recent years, with the relationship becoming increasingly important after the vote for Brexit, meaning Theresa Mays government will have to tread a careful line between its two allies.
Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, positioned himself as a defender of free trade at Davos, telling the World Economic Forum that pursuing protectionism is like locking ones self in a dark room.
China's President Xi Jinping used his speech at the World Economic Forum to spurn protectionism (AP)
No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war, he warned, in the first ever appearance by a Chinese leader at the summit.
Mr Trump used his opening days in office to formally withdraw the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, distancing America from its Asian allies.
Some said they would now look to include China in a revised pact or pursue Beijing's alternative free trade agreements as the country continues to threaten the US position as the worlds largest economy, as well as its military dominance.
Analysts have warned that the new Presidents protectionist stance risks decreasing his countrys global influence, rather than fulfilling his campaign pledge to Make America Great Again.
If anyone were to say China is playing a leadership role in the world I would say it's not China rushing to the front but rather the front runners have stepped back leaving the place to China, said Zhang Jun, director general of the Chinese foreign ministrys international economics department.
Prof Brown described Mr Trumps policy as 25 years out of date, adding: When its the worlds second largest economy with this enormous military, its too late.
Its prehistoric policy for a modern era. I think its not going to work but it is going to cause a lot of damage, and thats the problem. Its real knucklehead stuff.
Ms Nouwens cautioned that while Mr Trumps unpredictability has temporarily put China on the back foot as it awaits his next move, the Presidents position carries risks of dangerous misunderstandings.
I think Mr Trumps decision to appoint an old friend of China as US ambassador that he did shows theres room for negotiation, but its about how they move on from here, how they negotiate Mr Trumps ultimate ambition, she added.
Over the next six months everyone will be looking very closely.
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The Indian government has endorsed universal basic income (UBI) in an annual report.
UBI is a powerful idea and would be more effective at combating poverty than existing state benefits, according to the country's 2016-2017 Economic Survey.
However if it were implemented now political challenges could "derail" UBI before it got off the ground, the survey found, suggesting the country is not yet ready for the scheme.
The introduction of UBI is not expected to be announced in the Union Budget, which will be delivered in Parliament by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday, but it could be tabled for discussion in the near future.
If implemented, India would join Finland in providing free money to citizens.
Under a universal income system, citizens would receive a set amount of money from the state, forfeiting other benefits.
India, which has an estimated population of 1.3 billion people, has a growing economy, but around 29.5 per cent of people live in poverty, according to a 2014 government report particularly in rural areas.
Professor Guy Standing, a founding member of the Basic Income Earth Network, told Business Insider UBI trials in India had been remarkably positive, giving people a sense of control over their money, reducing debt and empowering women.
The Survey praised Universal Basic Income as "a radical and compelling paradigm shift in thinking about both social justice and a productive economy", saying it could be to the twenty-first century "what civil and political rights were to the twentieth".
Meanwhile the report was damning of the current welfare system, which "inflicts an indignity upon the poor by assuming that they cannot take economic decisions relevant to their lives.
An unconditional cash transfer treats them as agents, not subjects.
The concept of UBI received a boost recently when the government of Finland announced the introduction of a trial involving 2,000 unemployed people.
The recipients will be given 560 (480) every month for two years unconditionally, even if they find work.
India elephants with knitted jumpers Show all 9 1 /9 India elephants with knitted jumpers India elephants with knitted jumpers Badly treated rescued elephants at the Wildlife SOS sanctuary outside Agra, India with their newly knitted jumpers are on show for the first time, they are all effected by the cold after their ordeal at the hands of owners Roger Allen India elephants with knitted jumpers Roger Allen India elephants with knitted jumpers Roger Allen India elephants with knitted jumpers Roger Allen India elephants with knitted jumpers Roger Allen India elephants with knitted jumpers Roger Allen India elephants with knitted jumpers Roger Allen India elephants with knitted jumpers Roger Allen India elephants with knitted jumpers Roger Allen
In a statement, the Finnish government said: The primary goal of the basic income experiment is related to promoting employment. The experiment, including follow-up research, aims to find out whether basic income promotes employment.
However, India could face significant obstacles to implementing UBI which do not exist in Finland due to the vast differences in social and economic context.
The Survey pointed that the Indian state suffers from "high levels of corruption, clientelism, rules and red tape" which could make delivering UBI difficult.
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A teenager denied a visa to go to space camp in the US because of Donald Trumps travel ban has been told he should be allowed to go after all.
Pouya Ghadirian, 15, thought his dream trip was over when the American Consulate in Australia said they could not grant him a visa because of his dual Australian-Iranian passport.
But Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull has said this was a mistake and that Australian dual nationals should not be affected by the highly controversial ban of residents from seven Muslim-majority countries including Iran.
Donald Trump has maintained his travel ban is a necessary precaution to stop Islamic terrorism in the US (PA)
Mr Ghadirian planned to visit the US with classmates in March, with the trip set to include Orlando, Washington DC and the Space and Rocket Centre in Alabama.
The Melbourne teenager cried with disappointment when he was told during his visa interview that he couldnt proceed with his application after Mr Trump signed an executive order banning entry from seven predominantly Muslim countries -Syria, Lybia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan.
I cried at the consulate and I dont normally, Pouya told The Sydney Morning Herald. My dad was upset as well because he was saying, 'Look we've had no criminal record and we've done nothing wrong.'"
After hearing the Prime Minister say that dual-nationals should not after all be affected, the schoolboy said he is still unsure of whether or not he will be able to go.
He said: I cant really tell (if Ill be allowed to go) until I go to the consulate again. As of now we still haven't received any information from the US consulate, or the embassy, or the foreign ministry."
He added that he thought it was unbelievable that Iran was added to the list of countries.
There are a lot of successful Iranian people in the United States that have contributed to the economy and made America what it is, he said.
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Mr Ghadirian's parents have lived in Australia for nearly 20 years and he was born there, but deemed ineligible for the US visa waiver programme, which allows Australian citizens to stay in the country for 90 days without obtaining a visa.
After Mr Trumps order was announced, Mr Turnbull instructed Australian diplomats to secure exemptions like those granted to British and Canadian citizens.
There are more than 110,000 Australian residents who hold dual passports with one of the seven banned countries.
The Australian Prime Minister has been criticised in much the same way as Theresa May in the UK for his failure to condemn the travel restrictions outright.
Mr Turnbull said: When I have frank advice to give to an American president, I give it in private as good friends do as wise Prime Ministers do to ensure they are best able to protect Australia and Australia's best interests.
Confusion, chaos and anger have spread throughout the world since the executive order was abruptly announced, with those holding dual passports with one of the banned countries left unsure of whether or not they can enter the US.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he has obtained assurances that British citizens with dual passports should not be denied entry.
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Austrias coalition government has promised to ban Muslim face-covering veils and to restrict eastern European workers access to the labour market, in a package of policies aimed at countering the rise of the far-right Freedom Party.
The anti-Islam Freedom Party (FPO) has topped opinion polls for months, boosted by the influx of more than a million migrants into Europe in the past two years and concerns over their impact on jobs and security. Last month the FPO candidate came close to winning Austrias presidential election.
With a parliamentary election due next year, Chancellor Christian Kern of the Social Democratic Party (SPO) hopes the package will provide fresh impetus to an eight-month-old coalition widely seen as ineffective.
We agreed that we must work faster and more clearly, conservative Vice Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner told a joint news conference with Kern outlining their 35-page plan. It is now up to us to do what governing parties do, namely implement the programme.
The deal included a ban on Muslim veils such as the burka and niqab, which cover all or most of the face, and said a more general ban on civil servants wearing religious symbols was in the works.
We believe in an open society that is also based on open communication. Full-body veils in public spaces stand against that and will therefore be prohibited, the agreement said.
Mainly Catholic Austria is home to around 600,000 Muslims in a total population of about 8.7 million. The conservative People's Party, the junior coalition member, obtained tougher measures on security, including the electronic tagging of former jihadists.
The SPO opposed its call for a lowering of an annual cap on asylum claims, agreeing instead to strengthen existing border controls in general and to support measures such as greater incentives for voluntary deportation.
The deal also included a requirement that 30 per cent of a company's supervisory board members be female and a plan to make foreign multinationals, particularly online companies, pay the same tax on advertising revenue as newspapers.
Unemployment in Austria has been steadily rising but is still relatively low at 5.9 per cent, under a harmonised EU measure.
Earlier this month Kern proposed returning to a system that gave local workers priority for jobs in sectors that employ a high number of people from poorer eastern European member states. The system was in place provisionally from 2004 to 2011 after many ex-communist countries joined the bloc.
Anti-burqa protesters try to enter Australian parliament wearing Ku Klux Klan outfit, a motorcycle helmet and niqab Show all 2 1 /2 Anti-burqa protesters try to enter Australian parliament wearing Ku Klux Klan outfit, a motorcycle helmet and niqab Anti-burqa protesters try to enter Australian parliament wearing Ku Klux Klan outfit, a motorcycle helmet and niqab canberra1.gif EPA Anti-burqa protesters try to enter Australian parliament wearing Ku Klux Klan outfit, a motorcycle helmet and niqab canberra2-.gif AP
The coalition agreement said the government would push for the European Commission to allow a similar system, supporting a reduction of and limit on labour force migration.
Brussels is unlikely to accept such a system, however, as it clashes with the fundamental EU principle of free movement of people.
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Greeces most prominent neo-Nazi movement says it has found a new surge in support following Donald Trumps election as US President, and that his ban on travellers from some Muslim-majority countries validates the groups far-right views.
Stirring a hardline, nationalistic element in Greece, the new Presidents controversial immigration ban has sent thousands of supporters of the far-right Golden Dawn party, which represents about 10 per cent of the popular vote and is the country's third-largest party, onto the streets. They have staged torchlight parades and called for copycat bans for Greece, which is still struggling to cope with a year-long refugee crisis.
Trumps policies have given us a new wind of support, Elias Panagiotaros, a leading light of the far-right party and an MP in Athens, told The Independent. Its validating and reinforcing our nationalistic and patriotic policies policies that we have been advocating for years.
Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Show all 9 1 /9 Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Nikolaos Michaloliakos, leader of the Golden Dawn party, addresses supporters in front of the party's offices in Athens during the commemoration of the death of three officers in 1996 during the Imia crisis that brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war Getty Images Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Supporters of Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party lift torches and wave national and party flags during an annual rally to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the Imia dispute, in Athens, Greece Reuters Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Golden Dawn supporters wave flags and chant slogans in front of the party's offices in Athens to commemorate the death of three officers in 1996 during the Imia crisis that brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war Getty Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Supporters of Greek ultra nationalist party Golden Dawn hold Greek national flags and torches during a gathering of Greek nationalists in central Athens, to commemorate the death of three Greek military officers Getty Images Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Supporters of the Greek ultra nationalist party Golden Dawn hold Greek national flags and torches during a gathering of Greek nationalists in central Athens, to commemorate the death of three Greek military officers Getty Images Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Protesters hold banners in a march to the US Embassy and to the offices of far-right wing party Golden Dawn, during an anti-fascist rally organized by leftist movements in Athens, Greece EPA Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Protesters hold banners in a march to the US Embassy and to the offices of far-right wing party Golden Dawn, during an anti-fascist rally organized by leftist movements in Athens, Greece EPA Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Supporters of Greece's extreme right Golden Dawn party raise torches during a rally commemorating a 1996 military incident which cost the lives of three Greek navy officers and brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war, in Athens AP Golden Dawn rally in Athens, Greece Supporters of Greece's extreme right party Golden Dawn attend a rally in Athens AP
We should follow Trumps beat, he said. We shouldnt leave Greece like an open field for migrants to come and go as they want. We should reclaim our country and our interests and put them first, just like Trump.
Golden Dawn supporters marched through the streets of Athens at the weekend, ostensibly to commemorate the deaths of three Greek military officers in a helicopter crash near the Imia islets, at the Greek-Turkish sea border, on 31 January 1996.
Waving torches and the partys red-and-black flag a colour scheme closely resembling that of Hitlers Nazi party the group chanted anti-Turkish and anti-migrant slogans and its members spoke out against the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in our country.
Police said about 800 people were involved in the Golden Dawn march. A counter-protest organised by Greek anti-fascists also took place in another part of the city at the time, although authorities said they were kept apart and there were no clashes.
The march and its heated rhetoric signal an eerie resurgence for Golden Dawn, a once fringe and negligible political force that emerged from obscurity three years ago to gain national representation in Greeces 300-seat parliament.
Feeding on the countrys financial crisis and popular resentment of traditional mainstream parties, the neo-Nazi grouping, regarded as being among the most dangerous reactionaries in Europe, saw its support rise before swooning amid allegations of it orchestrated the killings of leftist hip-hop artists in Athens two years ago.
Since then, Mr Panagiotaros said, weve become grounded. He said the group nonetheless remained vigilant and silent, watching on the sidelines of a lingering refugee crisis that has seen more than a million undocumented migrants pass through Greece on their way to seeking asylum in other parts of Europe, at times unsettling the country and unnerving its people.
Although 62,000 migrants remain trapped in the country because of a flurry of border closures in the Balkans last year, Greece has seen only scarce streaks of racist violence. Still, anti-immigrant feeling is on the rise, and that, says Mr Panagiotaros will pick up as Trump presses ahead with anti-immigration policies.
Its simple, the Golden Dawn politician said. Trump is the planets keeper. Hes the president of the worlds superpower, and whether you like him or not, his policies are now validating beliefs and concerns across the globe.
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European Council President Donald Tusk has called Donald Trump an existential threat to Europe, in an extraordinary attack on the new US President.
In an open letter delivered to leaders of the 27 member states, Mr Tusk included the new American President as part of a group of dangerous challenges facing the bloc, citing Russia, China and radical Islam as other threats.
He issued a call for political solidarity before a summit in Malta later this week, where Europes heads of states will gather to discuss the future of the bloc.
Thousands join London protests against Donald Trump travel ban
Polands former Prime Minister said an assertive China, Russias aggressive policy, terror and anarchy in the Middle East and worrying declarations by the new American administration put the future of Europe in jeopardy.
Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy, he wrote.
The disintegration of the European Union will not lead to the restoration of some mythical, full sovereignty of its member states, but to their real and factual dependence on the great superpowers: the United States, Russia and China.
Mr Tusks comments came as Theresa May faced a revolt from her own MPs over her refusal to condemn Mr Trumps immigration ban.
Many European leaders were categorical in their condemnation of the suspension of immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries and of refugee resettlement.
However, Ms May was criticised for her slow response to the events.
Only together can we be fully independent, Mr Tusk wrote. We must therefore take assertive and spectacular steps that would change the collective emotions and revive the aspiration to raise European integration to the next level.
European diplomats said senior national officials and diplomats discussed a possible EU response to Trump at a meeting in Brussels. However, some governments were cautious that Europeans should not be hasty to alienate a key ally.
It came as British Chancellor Philip Hammond warned the new President would have more of a destabilising effect on the bloc than Brexit.
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Financial police searched French presidential candidate Francois Fillon's office in parliament on Tuesday, a parliamentary source said, as part of an inquiry into his wife's income that has thrown the election wide open.
Fillon had been favourite to win the presidency for the conservative The Republicans party until a week ago, when the newspaper Le Canard Enchaine reported that his wife Penelope drew hundreds of thousands of euros in pay without doing any work.
Mr Fillon has said she did work for the money, but an official inquiry has been opened, and an opinion poll published on Sunday showed rival independent centrist Emmanuel Macron has caught him up.
The scandal has coincided with the choice of a hard-left presidential candidate by the Socialist party in Benoit Hamon, a move also seen as good for Macron's prospects.
A group of right-leaning Socialist lawmakers wrote in Le Monde newspaper on Tuesday that they could not back Mr Hamon, the clearest sign yet that his appointment could tear the party apart, with some lawmakers tempted to join the Macron camp.
But it was the Mr Fillon fake pay scandal, and his team's attempts to control it, that took centre-stage on Tuesday.
Le Canard Enchaine's story on fake pay calls into question the squeaky-clean image that won him the party ticket for The Republicans over rivals who had legal issues overhanging their campaigns.
Separately from the search of his office, Mr Fillon's lawyer sought to explain the payments on Tuesday.
"Francois Fillon had no constituency office while he was a member of parliament," his lawyer Antonin Levy told RTL radio.
"That role was filled from their home, and in your view who is at home ... if there is no office? Penelope Fillon of course."
Le Canard Enchaine reported that Penelope Fillon who had previously said in interviews that she did not get involved in her husband's political affairs had been paid 500,000 (430,000) from state funds as a parliamentary assistant to Mr Fillon and his successor.
The newspaper said it could find no evidence that she had actually done any work. It also said she was paid a further 100,000 for very little work by a literary review, whose owner Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere was a family friend.
The payments involved were made over a period between 1998 and 2013, the newspaper said.
The Fillons and Ladreit de Lacharriere were all interviewed by police leading the inquiry on Monday. Mr Fillon has not denied the payments but has said her work was not fake.
He has said he will step down as a presidential candidate should he be put under formal investigation.
An opinion poll by Kantor-Sofres on Sunday put Mr Macron and Mr Fillon almost neck-and-neck on 20-21 and 21-22 percent respectively in the first round of the presidential election on April 23, with Fillon having lost ground compared with a month ago.
Only one of them would go through to the second-round runoff on 7 May against the predicted first-round winner, Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front.
There, either man would win the run-off easily with over 60 per cent of the vote, the poll said.
Ms Le Pen meanwhile faced a funding showdown with the European Parliament on Tuesday as a midnight deadline it has given her to pay back 300,000 approached.
The parliament found that Ms Le Pen had been paying her former chief of staff Catherine Griset with funds that rules say should be used only to pay assistants for the work as EU lawmakers.
If she does not pay, she risks having her salary and allowances as an EU lawmaker cut back. Ms Le Pen has so far refused to pay back the funds.
Reuters
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The third migrant to perish in a week has been found dead in his tent on Greeces Lesbos island, raising alarm about the grim winter conditions in overcrowded camps that critics have denounced as deplorable.
The dead man is believed to be about 20 and from Pakistan, a police official on the island said. Another migrant who shared his tent was critically ill and taken to hospital.
The death at the islands Moria camp follows those of a 22-year-old Egyptian and a 46-year-old Syrian who shared a tent and died days apart. Greek media reported they had inhaled fumes from a heater, but authorities would not confirm or deny that.
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Greeces migration minister Yannis Mouzalas ordered an investigation into the deaths, the causes of which remain unclear. Steps would be taken to make the situation more manageable, he was quoted by the Athens News Agency as saying.
We wonder how many deaths it will take for the government to wake up, said Stavros Theodorakis, leader of the small centrist party To Potami.
At least 3,000 refugees and migrants are living in Moria, a hilltop former military base where conditions have deteriorated as they await for months for word on their future.
The United Nations refugee agency and other international organisations have urged Greece to improve conditions at its overcrowded facilities.
Something has got to give. We cannot tolerate this wanton loss of life, said International Rescue Committee Greece director Panos Navrozidis, acknowledging that conditions in Moria did not meet humanitarian standards.
As a mid-winter freeze gripped parts of the country earlier this month, thousands of asylum-seekers endured sub-zero temperatures. Summer tents on Lesbos were weighed down by snow.
Across Greece, more than 60,000 refugees and migrants, most from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, have been stranded since last March in formal or makeshift camps which U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch has described as deplorable and volatile.
Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants arriving in Italy on MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie DeardenI Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants undergoing health checks after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants undergoing security checks after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants being fingerprinted after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants being fingerprinted after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily A man being taken to hospital from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden
We don't know yet how they died but we do know the thousands stuck on the Greek islands have been suffering horrendous conditions in the cold, trapped by the failure of the EU to offer protection and dignity, said Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International's Europe director.
Reuters
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A six-year-old boy washed up on a Spanish beach and two young brothers trying to reach their father in France are among the child refugees dying in desperate journeys across the Mediterranean as Europe continues to turn its back on their plight.
In tragic scenes echoing the death of the three-year-old Alan Kurdi in 2015, which ignited global calls for asylum seekers to be granted safety, a boys body was found by authorities on the shoreline in Cadiz.
Its state of decomposition led Spanish authorities to believe he was among a group of at least six migrants from sub-Saharan Africa who drowned a fortnight ago while trying to cross the Strait of Gibraltar.
Donald Trump announces a ban on refugees and all visitors from Muslim-majority countries
The body of the boy, estimated to be six years old, was found by a passing villager and officials are attempting to identify him to contact bereaved relatives.
Two more children died over the weekend as they attempted to cross the treacherous Central Mediterranean between Libya and Italy with their siblings.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said the two brothers, aged five and eight, died of either hypothermia or suffocation in a packed dinghy launched from the Libyan port of Zuwara over the weekend.
They were with their two sisters, aged 10 and 14, and all were travelling from the Ivory Coast in an attempt to reach their father in France.
A French naval ship took around 150 survivors from West African countries including Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Guinea to shore in Trapani, Italy, and transferred them to a shelter.
Crossing the Mediterranean is always dangerous for migrants, but at this time of year the sea conditions and the cold weather can be lethal, particularly for small children, said Federico Soda, director of the IOM coordination office for the Mediterranean.
It is unacceptable that children like these are dying while trying to reach Europe by sea. This year, crossings of the Mediterranean have continued throughout the winter because of the increasingly dangerous and unbearable conditions that migrants face in Libya every day.
In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby being taken on to MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos all images by Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby among refugees on a boat carrying 185 people off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Migrants and refugees sleeping after being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos ship Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A crew from MSF's Bourbon Argos ship rescuing a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya, at sunrise Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A woman in a stretcher being lifted onto MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden
Another dead body was brought ashore in Sicily by the rescue ship Diciotti, with asylum seekers on board the dinghy saying two people fell overboard during the attempted crossing.
The remains of a Nigerian woman were also found among more than 204 migrants brought to the Italian island of Lampedusa on Sunday.
At least 254 refugees have died in crossings over the Mediterranean so far this year, following a record 5,000 deaths in 2016.
More asylum seekers have died on land in the continent they hoped would offer them safety, including victims of the freezing conditions gripping much of Europe this month.
A two-month old baby died at the Ritsona refugee camp in Greece on Friday, a day after being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Doctors in Chalkida recommended a referral to a hospital in Athens but the parents returned to the camp, believing an ambulance would be sent after an apparent translation issue.
And three men have died in recent days on the Greek island of Lesbos, where the navy sent a ship to provide emergency accommodation after tents were buried in snow earlier this month.
A 20-year-old Pakistani man was found dead in his tent early on Tuesday morning in the Moria detention camp, and a 46-year-old Syrian man was found dead there on Saturday, following the death of a 22-year-old Egyptian man last week.
A migrant stands next to a snow-covered tent at the Moria detention camp on the Greek island of Lesbos on 7 January (AFP/Getty)
Charities have warned that thousands of refugees remain at risk in poor shelter and extreme weather conditions across Europe, where many have been stranded by travel restrictions and closing borders.
The dire situation comes after Donald Trump provoked international condemnation by freezing the US refugee programme and immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries of concern.
The needs of refugees and migrants worldwide have never been greater and the US resettlement program is one of the most important in the world, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and IOM said in a joint statement.
The two agencies cautioned against proposals by the President to prioritise asylum claims by Christians a move that could violate international law.
Boat crossings over the Aegean Sea have dramatically decreased since the EU-Turkey deal was struck in March, which has resulted in anyone arriving in the Greek islands detained under threat of deportation.
But voyages over the longer and more treacherous Central Mediterranean, now the deadliest crossing in the world, have continued throughout the winter, as well as journeys from North Africa to Spain to the west.
Almost 5,500 migrants have arrived by sea in Europe so far this year, according to UNHCR figures, in unseaworthy rubber dinghies and overloaded wooden fishing boats.
Most of the 4,200 asylum seekers arriving in Italy are from African countries including Nigeria and Eritrea, while around 1,200 reaching Greece were predominantly from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
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The nuclear icebreaker Lenin, the pride and joy of the Soviet Union's Arctic great game, lies at perpetual anchor in the frigid water here. A relic of the Cold War, it is now a museum.
But nearly three decades after the Lenin was taken out of service to be turned into a visitor attraction, Russia is again on the march in the Arctic and building new nuclear icebreakers.
It is part of a push to firm Moscow's hand in the High North as it vies for dominance with traditional rivals Canada, the United States, and Norway as well as newcomer China.
Interviews with officials and military analysts and reviews of government documents show Russia's build-up is the biggest since the 1991 Soviet fall and will, in some areas, give Moscow more military capabilities than the Soviet Union once had.
The expansion has far-reaching financial and geopolitical ramifications. The Arctic is estimated to hold more hydrocarbon reserves than Saudi Arabia and Moscow is putting down a serious military marker.
History is repeating itself, Vladimir Blinov, a guide on board the icebreaker Lenin, which is named after communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, told a recent tour group.
Back then (in the 1950s) it was the height of the Cold War and the United States was leading in some areas. But we beat the Americans and built the world's first nuclear ship [the Lenin]. The situation today is similar.
Under President Vladimir Putin, Moscow is rushing to reopen abandoned Soviet military, air and radar bases on remote Arctic islands and to build new ones, as it pushes ahead with a claim to almost half a million square miles of the Arctic.
It regularly releases pictures of its troops training in white fatigues, wielding assault rifles as they zip along on sleighs pulled by reindeer.
Russian servicemen of the Northern Fleet's Arctic mechanised infantry brigade participate in a military drill on riding reindeer and dog sleds near the settlement of Lovozero outside Murmansk (Reuters) (Lev Fedoseyev/Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Handout via REUTERS)
The Arctic, the US Geological Survey estimates, holds oil and gas reserves equivalent to 412 billion barrels of oil, about 22 per cent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas.
Low oil prices and Western sanctions imposed over Moscow's actions in Ukraine mean new offshore Arctic projects have for now been mothballed, but the Kremlin is playing a longer game.
It is building three nuclear icebreakers, including the world's largest, to bolster its fleet of around 40 breakers, six of which are nuclear. No other country has a nuclear breaker fleet, used to clear channels for military and civilian ships.
Russia's Northern Fleet, based near Murmansk in the Kola Bay's icy waters, is also due to get its own icebreaker, its first, and two ice-capable corvettes armed with cruise missiles.
Under [former Soviet leader Mikhail] Gorbachev and [former Russian President Boris] Yeltsin, our Arctic border areas were stripped bare, said Professor Pavel Makarevich, a member of the Russian Geographical Society. Now they are being restored.
The build-up, which echoes moves in Crimea and Kaliningrad, has been noticed in Washington. US Defense Secretary James Mattis told his confirmation hearing this month it was not to our advantage to leave any part of the world to others.
Mattis, in a separate written submission, described Moscow's Arctic moves as aggressive steps and pledged to prioritise developing a US strategy, according to Senator Dan Sullivan.
That poses a potential dilemma for President Donald Trump, who wants to repair US-Russia ties and team up with Moscow in Syria rather than get sucked into an Arctic arms race.
The build-up is causing jitters elsewhere. Some 300 US Marines landed in Norway this month for a six-month deployment, the first time since the Second World War that foreign troops have been allowed to be stationed there.
And with memories of Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea still fresh, Nato is watching closely. Six of its members held an exercise in the region in 2015.
The Soviet military packed more firepower in the Arctic, but it was set up to wage nuclear war with the United States not conventional warfare. Arctic islands were staging posts for long-range bombers to fly to America.
But in an era when a slow-motion battle for the Arctic's energy reserves is unfolding, Russia is creating a permanent and nimble conventional military presence with different and sometimes superior capabilities.
Sergei Shoigu, the defence minister, is presiding over the reopening or creation of six military facilities, some of which will be ready by the year's end.
They include an island base on Alexandra Land to house 150 troops able to survive autonomously for 18 months. Called the Arctic Trefoil, officials have said they may deploy military jets there. MiG-31 fighters, designed to shoot down long-range bombers, or the SU-34, a frontline bomber, are seen as suitable.
Moscow's biggest Arctic base, dubbed Northern Shamrock, is meanwhile taking shape on the remote Kotelny Island, some 2,700 miles east of Moscow. It will be manned by 250 personnel and equipped with air defence missiles.
Soviet-era radar stations and airstrips on four other Arctic islands are being overhauled and new ground-to-air missile and anti-ship missile systems have been moved into the region.
Russia is also spending big to winterise military hardware.
The modernisation of Arctic forces and of Arctic military infrastructure is taking place at an unprecedented pace not seen even in Soviet times, Mikhail Barabanov, editor-in-chief of Moscow Defense Brief, told Reuters.
He said two special Arctic brigades had been set up, something the USSR never had, and that there were plans to form a third as well as special Arctic coastal defence divisions.
Russia's military activity in the Arctic is a bit provocative, said Barabanov. It could trigger an arms race.
In Murmansk, home to Russia's icebreakers and just an hour from the Northern Fleet's headquarters, the prospect of an Arctic renaissance is a source of pride.
The city is steeped in Arctic and military history. The conning tower of the Kursk submarine, which sunk in 2000 after an explosion, looks down from a hill above the port.
And in central Murmansk, scale models of dozens of icebreakers crowd the halls of the Murmansk Shipping Company, while sailors, wrapped in great coats, barrel along its streets.
These Arctic bases are on our territory. Unlike some other countries we are not building them overseas, said Denis Moiseev, a member of the Russian Geographical Society.
Other countries are also very active in trying to push their borders towards the North Pole. Our army must be able to operate on all our territory in extreme conditions.
One country regularly mentioned as an unlikely Arctic rival is China, a close Moscow ally, which has observer status on the Arctic Council, the main forum for coordinating cooperation in the region, and is starting to build its own icebreakers.
Politicians are keener to discuss a commercial Arctic push.
A Russian serviceman of the Northern Fleet's Arctic mechanised infantry brigade participates in a military drill on riding reindeer and dog sleds near the settlement (Reuters) (Lev Fedoseyev/Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Handout via REUTERS)
New roads and a railway are being built and ports overhauled as Moscow expands its freight capacity and, amid warmer climate cycles, readies for more traffic along its Arctic coast.
It hopes the Northern Sea Route, which runs from Murmansk to the Bering Strait near Alaska, could become a mini Suez Canal, cutting sea transport times from Asia to Europe.
But while the route's popularity inside Russia is growing, relatively high transit costs and unpredictable ice coverage means it has lost some of its lustre for foreign firms.
Grigory Stratiy, deputy governor of the Murmansk Region, told Reuters there was strong interest in sea route from Asian nations however and that new icebreakers would allow for year-round navigation in the 2020s.
Whatever the weather, the Northern Sea Route will be needed. Its use will definitely grow, said Stratiy, who said Russia was keen to attract foreign investment to the Arctic.
When asked about his country's military build-up, he smiled.
There's no reason to be afraid I can reassure you, he said, saying it was driven only by a need to modernise.
Russia has never had any aggressive aims and won't have them. We are very friendly people.
Reuters
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Several representatives of largest Turkish political parties said on Tuesday they welcome a Russian proposal to visit Syria together with Russian lawmakers, Sputnik reported.
The proposal has been put forward by Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council.
"We could make a joint visit with Russian lawmakers to Syria if it serves the advancement of the peace process in Syria, preserving its unity and territorial integrity," Muhammed Erdogan, lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party told Sputnik.
Meanwhile, a lawmaker from Turkey's Republican People's Party said his party "could not turn its back to any initiative that serves the peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis."
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Pictures have surfaced of an eight-year-old US citizen who was reportedly one of a large group civilians killed in Yemen during the first military operation authorised by US President Donald Trump this weekend.
A US team raided an alleged Al-Qaeda base in central Yemen on Sunday, which the Pentagon reported resulted in the deaths of 14 jihadis and one US commando. Three more commandos were injured.
The US did not confirm or deny reports from medics on the ground and in Yemeni media that up to 30 women and children were also killed in the raid.
Nawar Al-Awlaki, who went by Nora, was the daughter of infamous New Mexico-born al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed by a US drone strike in the country in 2011.
Her grandfather told local media she was hit in the neck by a bullet and bled out over two hours, telling her mother not to worry about her.
Why kill children? This is the new [US] administration - its very sad, a big crime, Nasser Al-Awlaki was reported as saying.
It was previously thought that the operation had already been approved by former President Barack Obama before he left office. However, a military official speaking on background told NBC News on Monday that the raid was planned and carried out by Mr Trumps administration.
Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Show all 4 1 /4 Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Hugh McLeod Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Hugh McLeod Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Hugh McLeod Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Hugh McLeod
Almost everything went wrong, the official said. As well as the reported civilian casualties and the death of 36-year-old Navy Seal Owen Williams, the MV-22 Osprey which landed the troops apparently landed hard, injuring those on board, and later had to be destroyed.
The mission had originally been intended to capture intelligence and computer equipment, the official continued.
Since the introduction of Mr Trumps so-called Muslim ban travel restrictions for citizens of certain countries, Jihadist-friendly social media channels have suggested that the prediction of Anwar al-Awlaki - Nawars father - that the West would eventually turn against its Muslim citizens was coming true.
The death of his young daughter could be fuel to the extremist anti-Western narrative, observers say.
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Donald Trump has faced his first Middle Eastern diplomacy spat as US President in the face of growing international concern over the alleged testing of a ballistic missile by Iran.
US State Department spokesperson Mark Tone said on Monday that Tehran had test-launched a medium-range ballistic missile that exploded after 630 miles (1,000 km) and ended with a failed re-entry into the atmosphere. No other details were given.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif refused to confirm or deny to reporters on Tuesday whether the test had taken place, reiterating that Iran would never use ballistic missiles to attack another country.
Irans missiles, he added, are not designed for the capability of carrying a nuclear warhead, and therefore not part of the 2015 nuclear deal struck between the country and world powers.
Several non-nuclear tests have taken place since then.
Mr Zarif said he hoped the issue would not be used as an excuse by the new US administration to create new tensions.
The historic US-Iran nuclear deal was implemented in July 2015. It eased the international sanctions that have crippled Irans economy for decades in return for curbs to the countrys nuclear programme, reassuring the international community that Tehran which has sworn the destruction of Israel was not seeking to develop a nuclear bomb.
On the campaign trail Mr Trump called the deal a disaster and suggested his administration would abandon it, although such rhetoric has simmered down since he won the US election last November.
Trump boasts about watching 'top secret' Iran video
The White House said on Monday it was looking into whether the missile test violated the UN Security Council that ratified the 2015 accord, and the UN is holding emergency talks on the matter at the request of the US.
Israel, which Mr Trump views as a major ally, was was quick to condemn the missile testing.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a flagrant violation of the Security Council resolution that must not go unanswered, adding that he would bring up the possibility of reinstating sanctions when he met with President Trump next month.
Russia Irans major ally, but a country with which Mr Trumps administration is seeking better relations than under Barack Obama said the test did not contravene the UN resolution.
Tensions are already flaring between the US and Iran after President Trumps executive order temporarily banning citizens of Iran and six other Muslim countries from travelling to the US.
In a reciprocal move, Mr Zarif said that Americans would not be issued travel visas until further notice.
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A reported ballistic missile test by Iran is to be discussed by the UN Security Council amid concern the move violates a resolution limiting the country's capability.
Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, said a meeting would be held on the "very concerning" issue later on Tuesday, adding that it would be "inconsistent with UN resolution".
Iran's foreign minister refused to confirm the test, saying the country's was not part of the landmark nuclear deal struck with world powers in 2015.
"As all signatories to the nuclear deal have announced, the missile issue is not a part of it," Mohammad Javad Zarif said.
CIA director warns Donald Trump over the worst mistakes he could make with Iran, Syria and Russia
He added that Iran's missile were not designed for the capability of carrying a nuclear warhead...our ballistic missile was designed to carry a normal warhead in the field of legitimate defence.
The White House said it was studying details of an apparent Iranian ballistic missile test, which ended with a failed according to American officials.
Little over a week after the inauguration of Donald Trump, who vocally opposed the nuclear deal, Mr Zarif said the issue should not be used as an excuse for some political games by the new US administration. The Iranian people would never allow their defence to be subject to the permission of others.
The Iranian military has long boasted of having missiles that can travel more than 1,200 placing much of the Middle East including its enemy Israel in range, but claims they are merely a deterrent.
Its latest test provoked anger among Israeli politicians, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying he planned to discuss Iran in his upcoming meeting with Mr Trump in Washington.
I intend to raise with him the renewal of sanctions against Iran, sanctions against the ballistic missiles and additional sanctions against terror and also to take care of this failed nuclear agreement, he said.
In May 2016, Iran's defence minister Hossein Dehghan issued a vague denial after a media outlet close to the Revolutionary Guard reported that the country had test-fired a ballistic missile with a 1,200 mile range.
New York protests against Iran nuclear deal Show all 10 1 /10 New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A woman holds a poster as she takes part in a rally on Times Square in New York opposing the nuclear deal with Iran New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York An inflatable mushroom cloud stands among demonstrators during a rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York Protesters rally against the nuclear deal with Iran in Times Square New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A member of the Neturei Karta Orthodox Jews sect is escorted away by New York City Police during a rally near Times Square to demand that Congress vote down the proposed US deal with Iran in New York New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A woman shouts slogans during a rally against the nuclear deal with Iran in Times Square in New York New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A protestor holds a placard during a demonstration and rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran in Times Square New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York Some of several thousand protestors crowd into 7th Avenue at 42nd street as they demonstrate during a rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A woman holds a placard as she joins several thousand other protestors to demonstrate during a rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York Protesters rallied against the Iran nuclear deal in New York's Times Square KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York Protestors shout slogans as they demonstrate during a rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran
He said that no missile had been tested with the range that was published in the media, but he did not deny that a ballistic missile had been fired.
In March, Iran test-fired two ballistic missiles - one emblazoned with the phrase Israel must be wiped out in Hebrew - sparking international outcry.
A Security Council resolution adopted after Iran reached its nuclear deal with world powers in 2015 calls on the country not to take any actions related to ballistic missiles that are designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
Mr Zarif contends that its ballistic missile launches are not banned under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 because the prohibition only applies to weapons specifically designed to carry nuclear warheads.
But the US, which maintains its own set of sanctions against Iran, has argued that previous launches are in defiance of the ban.
The EU called on Tehran to refrain from activities which deepen mistrust", with foreign policy spokesperson Nabila Massrali saying that a ballistic missile test would not constitute a violation of the nuclear deal but was inconsistent with Resolution 2231.
Whether it constitutes a violation is for the Security Council to determine, she added.
Additional reporting by AP
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The new US travel ban targeting citizens of Muslim majority countries is a betrayal of Iraqis, the countrys former ambassador to Washington DC has said.
Lukman Faily, who served as Baghdads representative to the US between 2013 - 2016 and like his fellow citizens is barred from entering the country, said that Donald Trumps administration has signalled to the Iraqi people that the US is [treating them] unjustly.
Iraqis have worked alongside US forces to defeat terrorism since 2003, he said, and therefore for Iraq to be treated like this... to say it's a betrayal [is] an understatement, he told AFP.
Citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen are not allowed to enter the US for 90 days under President Trumps far-reaching executive order, which also suspends the US refugee resettlement programme for 120 days and indefinitely bars those fleeing the Syrian civil war from seeking asylum in the country.
The hastily implemented legislation has caused outcry around the world but provoked particular anger in Iraq, where politicians and civilians have denounced the apparently flaunting of the two countries special relationship.
A parliamentary committee on Sunday called for Baghdads government to implement retaliatory restrictions on Americans visiting Iraq and was followed up by a parliamentary vote on Monday.
Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban Show all 20 1 /20 Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-1 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-2 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-3 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-4 SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 28: Demonstrators hold signs during a rally against a ban on Muslim immigration at San Francisco International Airport on January 28, 2017 in San Francisco, California. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday that suspends entry of all refugees for 120 days, indefinitely suspends the entries of all Syrian refugees, as well as barring entries from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering for 90 days. Stephen Lam/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-5 A crowd of protesters gathers outside of the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse as a judge hears a challenge against President Donald Trump's executive ban on immigration from several Muslim countries, on January 28, 2017 in Brooklyn. The judge issued an emergency stay on part of Trump's executive order, ruling that sending refugees stopped at U.S. airports back to their countries would be harmful. Yana Paskova/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-6 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-7 NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-8 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the new immigration ban issued by President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-9 Getty Images Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-10 Getty Images Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-11 NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-12 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-13 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-14 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-15 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-16 Protestors rally during a demonstration against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-17 NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-18 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-19 Protestors rally during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. President Trump singed the controversial executive order that halted refugees and residents from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Stephanie Keith/Getty Protestors rally at JFK Airport against Muslim immigration ban jfk-protest-muslim-ban-20 Passengers wait in line to check in at the American Airlines terminal at JFK International Airport August 10, 2006 in the Queens borough of New York City. British authorities arrested 21 people and halted a anallegedly terrorist plot to use liquid explosives concealed in carry-on luggage to blow up airliners traveling between Britain and the U.S. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff said that the plot appeared to be directed at U.S. carriers flying out of Heathrow. such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines. Stephen Chernin/Getty
It is not immediately clear whether the vote will impact American civilians and military already living and working in Iraq, as well as those who seek to enter. No details were offered by parliamentary spokespeople.
Neither is it understood how the measures will affect cooperation in the ongoing battle against Isis.
Around 5,000 US troops are currently deployed in the country to assist Iraqi forces in the fight against the jihadi militants.
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Israel has approved the construction of another 3,000 new homes in West Bank settlements, in addition to the 2,500 announced last week.
More than 2,000 housing units will begin construction immediately, a statement from Israel's Defence Ministry said.
The statement said defence minister Avigdor Lieberman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to approve the construction of the houses.
The election of Donald Trump, who has promised to be far more supportive of Israel than his predecessor, has emboldened Israel's settlement movement.
Barack Obama uses final interview as President to slam Israeli policy on settlements
It comes days after the government approved an additional 2,500 homes in the West Bank and hundreds more in east Jerusalem.
The Palestinians claim both areas, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as parts of a future state.
"We are in a new period in which life in Judea and Samaria are back on track," Mr Lieberman said.
The announcement comes as Israel prepares to uproot an illegal settlement outpost in the West Bank.
Israel's military ordered residents of the Amona outpost to evacuate the area within 48 hours, days before a deadline for its demolition.
Israel's Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that Amona was built on private Palestinian land and must be demolished. It later set 8 February as the final date for it to be destroyed.
Amona is the largest of around 100 unauthorised outposts erected in the West Bank without permission but generally tolerated by the government.
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
Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the 1967 Green Line is considered illegal under international law.
Both the United Nations and the European Union have condemned the accelerated settlement expansion initiatives.
Settlement building, which has increased each year under Mr Netanyahu's premiership, is viewed as one of the major obstacles to a lasting peace deal in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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The Israeli parliament has begun a week-long debate on the final adoption of a bill that would legalise thousands of wildcat Jewish settlement homes on privately owned Palestinian land in the West Bank.
The Regulation Bill would legalise at least 3,900 Israeli homes built without permission from the government, in 54 of the wildcat settlements known as outposts.
The legislation stipulates original owners of the land would be given either generous financial compensation or land elsewhere.
If approved, it would be the first time Israel has applied its own civil law to land it recognises as Palestinian-owned in the West Bank, law professor Amichai Cohen told AFP.
While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party and coalition government support the bill, it has been met with fierce opposition from Palestinians, Barack Obama's administration, the EU and others in the international community in favour of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has called it a declaration of war, and Israels Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit reportedly told Mr Netanyahu earlier this month that he would not defend the legislation against legal challenges because he believes it violates both Israeli and international law.
The bill was originally due to pass into law on Monday, but in opposition members of the Knesset tabled 500 revisions and requested more than a month of further debate in protest.
Around 2,000 people in support of the legislation demonstrated outside the building while MKs debated its future.
Barack Obama uses final interview as President to slam Israeli policy on settlements
The week-long discussion is a compromise pushed through by the Knesset House Committee, after which the bill will be voted on. It is expected that parliament will approve it in its final form.
The international community views all Israeli construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the 1967 Green Line as illegal, whether authorised by the Israeli government or not.
Israel has made several bold new policy moves when it comes to settlements since US President Donald Trump was sworn into office 11 days ago, including plans for thousands of new Israeli homes in existing settlements.
The Regulation Bill was reportedly taken off the Knesset slate in 2016 while Prime Minister Netanyahus Likud party waited for Mr Obama - who was critical of settlement building - to leave office.
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The legitimacy of the Brazilian prison system has come in for deep scrutiny following a series of violent encounters between rival gangs in the north of the country. It started on January 1 when 56 inmates affiliated to the countrys largest criminal gang, Sao Paulos First Command of the Capital (PCC), were murdered at the Anisio Jobim complex in Manaus. Since then, more than 110 inmates have lost their lives in conflicts across a number of prisons over who controls those spaces.
The mass killings followed a number of smaller, yet equally violent encounters between the PCC and its northern rivals in October 2016, when another 21 prisoners died. In each incident, the victors new territory has been marked by the mutilated bodies of their victims.
Brazils President, Michel Temer, continues to be criticised for denying the full implications of the massacres. In particular, critics claim the violent events are not exceptional events but symptoms of a system in continuous crisis.
Recommended 33 inmates killed in Brazil prison uprising in Roraima
In a recent article, anthropologist Chris Garces and I looked at the three underlying factors being blamed for the riots: the historically inhumane, overcrowded living conditions of the average Brazilian prison; a failure to prevent criminal gangs from spreading throughout the prison system; and the recent breakdown in relations between the PCC and Rio de Janeiros Red Command (CV), Brazils second largest criminal gang, over the trade in cocaine.
Riot police group negotiate with an inmate's delegate during a rebellion at the Alcacuz Penitentiary Center near Natal, Rio Grande do Norte state (Getty Images)
By controlling prisons, gangs indirectly control the drugs trade outside prison. Gangs do not typically sell drugs themselves but through a system of franchising, or licensing. When someone purchases drugs from a gang on licence and does not repay their debts, they know there will be nowhere to hide the day they end up in prison.
Faxina running the wings
But the crisis is also a temporary breakdown in a long-established order. The riots have disrupted a decades-old system of co-produced governance that has kept Brazilian prisons in order and enabled the average Brazilian inmate to survive their prison experience.
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
Central to my understanding of Brazilian prison order is prison staff shortages. Historically, Brazilian prison administrators have never employed sufficient staff to run their establishments without the full cooperation of prisoners. Out of this grew a reliance on the inmate faxina or cleaner. Faxina were described in the 1953 autobiographic account of writer Graciliano Ramos of his time served as a political prisoner in Candido Mendes prison, Rio de Janeiro, and by Drauzio Varellas 1991 account of everyday life at Carandiru prison, Sao Paulo, where he worked as a doctor. In both prisons, faxina were responsible for daily routines such as cleaning and distributing meals. They also worked alongside or in place of prison guards, helping to maintain order and security. Candido Mendes and Carandiru were the birth places of the CV and the PCC gangs.
In the past 30 years Brazils prison population has exploded, from a recorded 37,071 prisoners in 1984 to 622,731 prisoners in 2014. At the same time, staff-inmate ratios have decreased to the point where it is usual for one guard to be on duty for every 200 or 300 prisoners.
Prison staff have naturally come to rely even further on prisoners to self-govern. As in other parts of Latin America, prisoners have in turn had to become more and more organised to survive. In the new era of mass prison gangs, guards have little need to enter the cellblocks apart from to unlock and lockup in the morning and evening. In some prisons, even this most basic of prison officer function is being replaced with the use of electronic gates.
Of course, Brazilian prisoners still continue to rely on prison staff, but the relationship between them is largely reciprocal and negotiated. In some of the prisons I have researched or visited, including prisons run by the PCC, prison governors approve faxina that have been chosen by the leaders of prison gangs.
It is no coincidence that no prison staff have died in the recent rebellions. The breakdown in order is the cause of a rift in criminal gang relations, not prisoner-staff relations.
Women relatives of inmates set makeshift barricades on fire in protest at the transfer of 200 prisoners from Alcacuz to other prisons in Rio Grande do Norte (Getty Images)
Brazil, then, has a long history of inmate governance and staff-prisoner collaboration that ordinarily maintains order and survival. But this has temporarily broken down as the two big gangs compete for territory in northern Brazil.
Gangs keeping prisons safer
For inmates at the top of prison hierarchies, this co-produced order allows them to make money from drugs. But the common prisoner is more concerned with everyday order: they want prison gangs to make their lives more predictable, protect them, and provide for their needs.
Relatives of inmates wait for news outside Alcacuz after a fight between rival gangs left at least 30 prisoners dead (Getty Images)
With the Brazilian state increasingly failing to do this, prison gangs are stepping in to fill the void. The PCC is the most advanced of these prisoner organisations and the most successful at keeping order. In ground-breaking recent studies, anthropologists Karina Biondi and Adalton Marques demonstrated that through its regulation of illicit markets, banning of weapons and drugs other than cannabis, provision and enforcement of regulas de convivencia (rules of coexistence), the PCC has actually made Sao Paulos prisons the safest in the country.
There is little the Brazilian authorities can do in response to the recent wave of rebellions in the short term. They will wait for the crisis to run its course. When the northern dispute between the PCC and CV is settled, Temer can rest assured that it will be back to business as usual. Prison rebellions are no more in the interests of prisoners than prison authorities. Temer might also hope that the PCC one day controls the whole of the prison system.
Sacha Darke, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Westminster. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com)
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As an adamant enemy of hot yoga, with its yuppie cult following and seriously unpleasant stickiness, I had high hopes for ice yoga.
The brainchild of Arctic wellness outfit Active North, based up in Swedish Lapland, Id imagined all that fresh, frigid air would be much better for me than a stuffy studio.
But now Im out on the ice, Im not so sure.
Standing facing the edge of my mat, I take my right leg out to the side. Shifting the weight of my torso, I place my elbow on to the top of my bent knee. My left arm reaches over my head while my snowsuit attempts to keep up with the stretch. Warmth, rather than flexibility, seems to be the strong point of my outer layer.
Ice yoga is performed on reindeer fur mats to protect from the cold
I try to bring my focus away from the constricted feeling around my armpit to my breathing. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. I can see my icy exhalations right in front of me.
My instructor tells me to move into the plank pose, and as I slowly come into position, I realise my movement is a little off balance as my clunky snow boots make sure my footwork isnt as nifty as usual.
Im now face to face with the reindeer hide, which is acting as my mat. Reindeer hair traps heat better than any other animal skin, so Im told, and I dont feel the cold emanating from the block of ice Im balancing on which, incidentally, is the only thing (aside from the dead reindeer) between me and the Byske River beneath.
Hands up if youre beginning to realise this wasnt such a good idea
Moving from plank we push up into cobra. I lift up my chin, but since two of my base layers have hoods and Im wearing a hat and a scarf, I struggle to get much of a bend in that area.
From here, moving back into childs pose is quite nice. The snowsuit starts to remind me of a puffy one-piece I used to wear as a toddler, and I think Ive maybe reached the level of yogi enlightenment were you begin to regress.
We finish the class by lying down on the mat in shavasana (corpse pose). Just as I begin to relax, were up again, being handed warm wooden cups of chaga chai. Im reluctant to get up, but I guess lying motionless in -17C isnt a great survival technique.
The slow and static postures Im using for this Yoga on Ice session are drawn from Virya and Yin yoga, allowing me to focus on my frosty surroundings. The ice-covered lake and snow-capped trees are calming, but staying so still for so long did feel counterintuitive in the cold.
Our writer takes the ice plunge, which is purportedly good for you
However, our instructor and founder of the retreat, Rebecca Bjork, is all fresh-faced, cheery Swedish perfection and despite the slight discomfort, if it means looking like her, Im willing to give it a chance.
Following the yoga session, were invited to try a typical Swedish sauna and ice plunge pool, which, we are assured, will improve our circulation and relieve muscle tension.
Theres more tension first, though making it into the changing room in your snowsuit is a logistical nightmare. I feel like I have more of a workout taking off all my layers than I had during the yoga session.
Walking into the 80C sauna, my body begins to warm up pretty quickly, but before I get too comfortable, Im told to take a dip in the ice plunge pool created by drilling a hole into a layer of ice covering the river.
Running from the sauna out into the cold, the powdery snow burns as it sticks to my feet. I have to balance my need to get this over with really quickly, with not wanting to knock out all my teeth on the icy wooden ladder.
Snowshoeing expeditions are also part of the Arctic wellness retreat
Surprisingly, compared to the snow, the 0C water feels tepid, and I sink myself lower and lower to feel warmer.
However, emerging from the water, it feels like Ive pressed a reset button on my whole body. The endorphin rush is worth the pain of the previous few minutes, giving me a newly gained understanding of masochists.
Other activities during the retreat include snowshoeing through the forest, cooking reindeer, moose and Arctic char over open fires, and deeply meditative ice sculpting. Hacking at a block of ice for an hour with a really sharp tool does wonders for my stress levels more so than the yoga, to be honest.
After three days, my skin glows from the saunas, my muscles relax from the icy plunge pools, and my soul soothes from the ice smashing and sublime frozen landscapes.
But I dont think Ill be taking my downward dogs out onto the frozen pond in my local park just yet.
Travel Essentials
Visiting there
There is a choice of four-day Arctic Winter Yoga retreats run by Active North across three locations: Munkviken, Aurora Safari Camp, and Byske.
A retreat at Byske costs from 6,500 Swedish krona (about 592.40) per person, running from 6 to 9 April. It includes full-board accommodation in log cabins by the beach, yoga classes, countryside walks, and access to sauna and hot tub. There is also a day session available based from Byske upon request.
There are also dates for day retreats between January and March 2018.
Getting there
Norwegian Air flies from Gatwick to Stockholm. Transfer to Skelleftea (for the Munkviken and Byske camps) with Scandinavian Airlines, or to Lulea (for the Aurora Safari camp) with Norwegian Air. Prices start at 160 return.
More information
visitsweden.com
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Perhaps the worst thing about travelling a lot for your job is the amount of time you spend in airports. The Independents travel correspondent Simon Calder and head of travel Laura Chubb pick the ones that have proved most trying in the past year take note, and learn from our pain.
Simon says: Iqaluit, Baffin Island
Understandably, remote airports in thinly populated areas tend not to offer great shopping, dining and rooftop swimming pools. Given the challenges in the far north, all you can do is hope the flight is on time. My incredibly expensive (500-plus) hop to Ottawa was 13 hours late, because one airline refused to operate and another had to be found. For the last couple of hours of the delay, passengers were kept in yellow school buses rather than in the terminal.
Simon says: Madrid, Spain
Public transport from the city, in the shape of the direct train link to Terminal 4, was late and slow. The inter-terminal transit bus to the older terminals takes an age they are so far apart that the charming town of Barajas intervenes. The easyJet flight was late for no apparent reason, and the facilities were so poor that most of us sat on the floor while we waited. MAD is both the airport code and the mood of the average passenger.
Laura says: Los Angeles, US
Transiting through LAX to catch a connecting flight to Tahiti last year was an ordeal. First of all, staff directing the queues at immigration had no idea what they were doing. I was ushered into the wrong line, which added an hour to getting through passport control not ideal when youve only got two hours before your next flight takes off. Upon being called forward, the friendly chap at the desk took offence at the Arabic stamps in my passport, and made vaguely threatening remarks about the stupidity of my countrymen going to such places on holiday, adding the US wouldnt be letting us in with stamps like this soon. Not even the sight of Arnold Schwarzenegger in line at security could cheer me up after that chilly reception.
Happy passengers at Luton Airport (AFP/Getty Images)
Simon says: Luton, Bedfordshire
An August Sunday: delays on the approach to the airport (I was among the many who got out and walked), long security queues, and then airside there was such sclerosis that my Wizz Air plane was an hour late simply because everything took so long cheating me out of 60 minutes of sunshine at my destination.
Laura says: Barbados, Caribbean
As if it werent bad enough that youre leaving the sunny climes of the Caribbean to land back in grim London, Grantley Adams airport makes a point of ensuring your departure is as unpleasant as possible. Its tiny, rammed full of sunburnt holidaymakers with nowhere to sit, and the duty free shop is really expensive, so you cant even take the edge off with a splash of rum. I also witnessed staff willfully ignoring a solo, elderly wheelchair-bound passenger calling out for water at the un-air-conditioned gate.
Barbados: The beaches are heaven, but the airport is hell
Simon says: Abu Dhabi, UAE
In the 1980s, I used to visit Abu Dhabi airport a lot: it was a regular refuelling stop for flights to Asia and Australia. I remember the terminal comprising a ghastly green dome with lousy facilities. Astonishingly, given the way that Etihad has become a global force, on my latest visit the experience was no better. The only thing I like about Abu Dhabi airport is the Premier Inn, which offers a cheap and comfortable sleep.
Abu Dhabi's skyline has changed a lot since the 1980s; the airport, not so much (Getty)
Laura says: Calgary, Canada
I cant tell you what the inside of Calgary airport is like, because I never saw it. Instead, I sat on the snowbound runway for three hours on Christmas Eve, while the captain who had made an emergency landing there to offload an ill baby wrangled with the airport and his bosses over fees before we could take off again. (At least thats what the captain seemed to say, sparking a near-riot on board.) Three cheers for the holiday spirit.
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The EU referendum posed a simple question: In or out of the European Union. Ever since, the Government has falsely sought to portray what happens next as simple. Anyone who dares to question this fantasy is shouted down as a Remoaner, or branded an opponent of democracy who doesnt trust the British people.
The Governments attempt to strangle any and all debate hasnt proved to be entirely successful. For a start, its original intention to do everything behind closed doors and present whatever emerged as a fait accompli has been ruled illegal. It is that which has led to the current two-day House of Commons debate ahead of a Parliamentary vote authorising the Prime Minister to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
Unfortunately, while she should be commended for her action, the debate she forced the Government to allow elicited more heat than light, particularly as regards the economy and the UKs future trade relations, about which there are profound questions.
From the Citys financial titans, to small widget-makers in the Midlands that export to Germany, businesses that have trading relations with Europe will suffer as a result of the hardline stance taken by the May Government toward Brexit.
Brexit: Nick Clegg on Government's 'sycophantic' relationship with Trump
One reason that the opposition to this has been more tepid than it ought to be is that the economic shock expected to result from the vote in favour of Brexit didnt occur.
There was a brief wobble, and the pound weakened considerably. But then the UK economy picked itself up and performed well enough that Brexiteers have been able to brush aside any lingering concerns and imbalances that economists (boo!) have pointed to.
This has encouraged a dangerous complacency in some business leaders. Those for whom worries remain have typically chosen to adopt the approach the Government favours for them: theyve stuck their fingers in their ears and said la la la in response to warnings.
Those businesses that trade with Europe are in for a nasty shock in a couple of years, even if Europe decides not to play rough.
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Unfortunately, that is something it might very well do, given that it needs to show other reluctant members that leaving isnt a bed of roses. The snarling triumphalism and aggression exhibited even by liberal(ish) Leavers is scarcely an encouragement to play nice.
Brexiteers keep repeating that it will hurt Europe too if it chooses not to toe their line. The problem is it will hurt the UK more.
As for the notion that other trade deals will fall from the sky like confetti? Ken Clarke likened that to Alice In Wonderland because a fairy story is what it is. Trade deals are complicated, difficult and take time. Even if people were queuing up to sign them, as Boris Johnson and others have claimed, it will be years before the bus finally arrives.
The fact remains that these issues need raising and debating before it is too late. Part of the reason that Brexiteers are so fond of using the referendum as a bludgeon in an attempt to silence debate is that they have no answers. That cannot be allowed to continue.
If there is any group that can get through to the Conservative Party it is the business lobby. Unfortunately the silence from it has been deafening.
The Brexiteers preferred option for their opponents is also the easiest one: it is for them to keep quiet and fall back on the excuse of respecting the result of the referendum and the will of the British people while promising to work hard to make the best of it.
Lots of business leaders have resorted to this in public. Privately they are well aware that it will end up a god-awful mess in a best-case scenario and an absolute catastrophe if the worst happens.
That has to change. Businesses dont necessarily have to state that Brexit is a thoroughly bad idea, even though it is. But they do need to raise the fact that the Governments current approach to it will destroy jobs, harm the UKs economic prospects and make everyone poorer.
They need to argue for the least worst option. So do others, by the way.
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As part of the exhibition inauguration, Alain Delamuraz, Vice-President and Head of Marketing for Blancpain, Laurent Ballesta, marine biologist, photographer and Blancpain partner, and Jorgen Eldevik, Brand Manager Blancpain for the Swiss market, welcomed journalists and friends of the brand to Zurich Airport. Alain Delamuraz discussed the Blancpain brand values: Our innovative spirit reflects our long-term approach. We invented the Fifty Fathoms, the first modern diving watch, more than 60 years ago. Since then, we have developed significant relationships with scientists, divers, government organizations and other ocean pioneers. Against this background, I am delighted to inaugurate this exhibition and introduce you to our new BOC II.
The exhibition features three sections, each dealing with themes related to the world of the oceans. The first covers the history of the brands ties with the oceans. The second examines the scientific results of the expeditions sponsored by the Manufacture. The third and final section is devoted to underwater photography with the aim of raising public awareness of the diversity of the underwater world, as well as increasing understanding of the importance of preserving it.
For the first time in Switzerland, Blancpain unveiled during the inauguration the new Fifty Fathoms Blancpain Ocean Commitment II watch. This timepiece is limited to 250 examples and for each piece sold, the sum of 1,000 euros will be donated in support of scientific exhibitions.
At this event, guests were treated to a preview of the film, Antarctica, in the footsteps of the Emperor penguin, the result of the Gombessa III expedition sponsored by Blancpain. In the wake of the Gombessa I expeditions that revealed the secrets of the coelacanth, the greatest zoological discovery of the 20th century; and Gombessa II, which studied the spectacular spawning of the Camouflage Grouper, Laurent Ballesta and Blancpain achieved a first in terms of exploration, underwater diving and photography. This was the first time that scientific divers have been able to access what lies below the ice flow in Adelie Land. Through this documentary, the latter delivered a testimonial of a world made fragile by global warming. The film will be broadcast on Arte on March 10 at 3.30 pm.
The Zurich Airport Airside Center welcomes more than 1.7 million people a month. This constitutes an important number of visits for Blancpain whose aim is to alert the maximum possible number of visitors to its three basic principles: optimism, long-term vision and innovation.
The Blancpain Ocean Commitment exhibition will run until February 12 at the Zurich Airport Airside Center.
Roe and Co taps into the booming popularity of the tipple (Diageo/PA)
Drinks giant Diageo is to launch a new Irish whiskey as it looks to tap into the booming popularity of the tipple.
The owner of Guinness, Captain Morgan rum and Johnnie Walker Scotch said that it will pump 25 million euro into a start-up premium blend.
The whiskey will be dubbed Roe & Co, after 19th-century whiskey maker George Roe, with the investment to be made in the former Power Station at St James's Gate in Dublin, formerly a Guinness factory.
The popularity of Irish whiskey has soared to become the fastest growing spirit drink in the world, according to the Irish Whiskey Association.
Agriculture minister Michael Creed hailed the investment, adding that global Irish whiskey sales have increased by more than 300% in the past 10 years, with record exports of over 400 million euro.
He added: "Irish whiskey is experiencing a renaissance and is truly an Irish success story.
"It is seeing a return to the success it experienced in its golden era in the 19th century and is now the fastest growing spirit drink in the world."
Production at the Dublin plant will begin in the first half of 2019.
Earlier this month, Diageo cheered rising profits thanks to a triple tonic from the Brexit-hit pound, robust Scotch sales and a strong US performance.
The United States has special immigration checks in six countries around the world.
More than 600 law enforcement officers are stationed at 15 locations checking travel documents, passports, visas and making sure travellers abide by strict customs and agriculture importation rules.
These pre-clearance operations take place in Dublin and Shannon, as well as Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Bermuda; Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Winnipeg in Canada; and in the Caribbean there are posts in Aruba and in Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas.
The Irish outposts opened in 2008 and last year officers there processed about 1.18 million people in Dublin and 204,000 people in Shannon.
The system allows people flying into the US to avoid long queues at US immigration and customs when they touch down on American soil.
In total 18 million people went through the pre-clearance system around the world last year - 15% of all commercial air travellers flying into the US.
The Department of Transport confirmed one person was refused pre-clearance at Dublin Airport on Monday. No information has been released on what passport the passenger was travelling on.
The US embassy in Dublin said that decisions on pre-clearance were a matter for the Department of Homeland Security, which operates pre-clearance through its Customs and Border Patrol.
"It's general policy not to divulge the figures of those turned away or the specifics of any case," a spokesman said.
Cabinet ministers in the Irish government are holding talks on the ramifications of President Donald Trump's new rules.
They restrict movement of people from seven countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - to the US and at least one government minister and campaigners in Ireland have raised concerns that the practice may be illegal on Irish soil.
Before the radical clampdown was made, US authorities had been in talks with several other countries interested in establishing pre-clearance operations.
Agreements had been reached late last year for new facilities in Stockholm in Sweden and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Sebastian Barry, whose book Days Without End has won the Costa Book of the Year award
County Wicklow writer Sebastian Barry has become the first novelist to win the Costa Book of the Year award for the second time.
Mr Barry, 61, who won in 2008 with The Secret Scripture, claimed the award for his novel Days Without End, which is set in 1850s America.
The Dublin-born author and playwright, who lives in County Wicklow with his wife and three children, was inspired to write about a gay relationship after his son came out.
Judges' chairman Professor Kate Williams said Mr Barry was the unanimous choice for his "searing, magnificent and incredibly moving description of how the West was won".
The book centres on teenager Thomas McNulty and his brother-in-arms John Cole, who fight in the Indian Wars and the Civil War.
Professor Williams noted: "Sebastian Barry said his son came out and he wanted to write a gay relationship.
"These two men find engagement and beauty in each other.
"I think that is what is so wonderful about the book - it takes you to the most brutal moments of humanity... and yet you have these moments of love, friendship and redemption.
"It is just such beautiful characterisations and brilliant writing."
Mr Barry is the first novelist to win the coveted award twice, a feat which has also been achieved by poets Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes.
The book was probably the most political of this year's five finalists, who had been whittled down from 596 entries.
Each writer who made the final had won the top honour, and 5,000, in the qualifying Costa Book Awards.
They won in book categories including the First Novel, Novel Biography, Poetry and Children's awards.
Mr Barry takes home another 30,000 for scooping the overall prize and being named as Book of the Year award winner.
Professor Williams said of the winning book: "It is very striking we are thinking and looking so much about American history and life at the moment and here is this book about the founding of America."
She said the book touches on "how power corrupts, what power does to you" and also on whether "it is possible to have power over others and still retain your humanity".
The other shortlisted finalists included non-fiction writer Francis Spufford for her debut work of fiction Golden Hill, which scooped the First Novel Award, and debut non-fiction writer Keggie Carew, who won the Costa Biography Award for Dadland.
It was her attempt to learn about her father's past as he slips into dementia.
Alice Oswald was named winner of the Costa Poetry Award for Falling Awake, a collection of poems written to be read aloud.
Brian Conaghan took the Costa Children's Book Award for The Bombs That Brought Us Together.
After being named the winner at a central London ceremony, Mr Barry thanked the judges, saying: "You have made me crazy happy from the top of my head to my toes in a way that is a little bit improper at 61."
Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor has dismissed calls for a special Brexit ministry, saying "all ministers now are Brexit ministers".
She was at a Brexit event for stakeholders in Co Leitrim.
"Let me reassure you - we are preparing for a hard Brexit. The easiest thing in the world is to appoint a minister for this and that."
But she said that each minister had responsibilities in this area and it was "a complete Government endeavour".
Her own focus was on securing and creating jobs in the context of Brexit.
"There will be opportunities and obviously there will be negatives," she said.
She said she and her colleagues report directly to the Taoiseach on all Brexit-related endeavours and "he is the minister in charge of Brexit".
The "stakeholder engagement event" in the Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon was addressed by Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland, and Patricia King, general secretary of Ictu.
Representatives of businesses, local authorities and chambers of commerce from around the country attended as well as delegates from the Freight Transport Association of Ireland, Coillte, Ibwc, Manufacturing Northern Ireland, the Irish League of Credit Unions and the Western Development Commission. The jobs minister said the focus was on how businesses could be affected by the UK's decision to leave the EU.
"Obviously the Border is really important and that is why I am here." And she added that "every job matters around the country".
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, before signing an executive order. Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Donald Trump and his populist advisers in the White House are one of the main three existential threats facing the European Union - and not Brexit - the chief Brexit negotiator of the European Parliament has claimed.
Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister and arch European federalist who recently returned from a tour of the US, said that it was now clear that Europe had "fewer friends than ever" in Washington.
Setting out the three main existential crises threatening Europe, Mr Verhofstadt listed radical Islamic terror, the revanchist Russian President Vladimir Putin and his funding of anti-EU, far-right parties and destabilising of Europe, and Donald Trump, the new US president.
"We have a third front undermining the European Union, and it is Donald Trump who has joined [the far-right parties] from across the Atlantic. He has talked fairly favourably of other countries wanting to break away from the EU, and that he hoped for disintegration of the European Union."
Influence
Mr Verhofstadt singled out the "enormous influence" of Steve Bannon, the Breitbart News founder who is now chief strategist to Mr Trump and was recently promoted to enhanced positions in the US National Security Council.
"Every European that I met in the US had only one conclusion, which is that the EU has fewer friends than ever in the USA today," he added, saying that the Trump administration had imported European populist views via figures like Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen, whom Mr Bannon is known to admire.
Mr Verhofstadt repeated his view that Brexit was a "wrong decision" and a "disaster" but said that Britain's exit must now provide the springboard for the realisation of his dream of a federal Europe with its own treasury and common defence forces when the UK leaves.
"Brexit is a golden opportunity not only to negotiate a new partnership between the EU and Britain, but also to get our act together inside the EU and that second track is as important - if not more important - than the first track," he said in a lecture at Chatham House, the foreign affairs think-tank. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
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A 'friction free' border was the target set by Enda Kenny and Theresa May during their Brexit meeting that was largely overshadowed by events in the United States.
Both prime ministers faced a series of questions over their engagements with US President Donald Trump on a day when they hoped to show some progress on building a post-Brexit understanding.
Mr Kenny described their discussions as "frank" but indicated that Ireland would be working to help Britain retain some trading rights after they leave the EU, while Mrs May said "everyday movements" across the Border must remain "seamless".
However, it was the turbulent global climate in the wake of Mr Trump's 'Muslim ban' that dominated their joint press conference with Mr Kenny confirming he will accept the traditional St Patrick's Day invitation to the White House.
And the British prime minister insisted that despite a public backlash, her offer of a state reception for Mr Trump in London stands.
Mr Kenny said: "It's really important that I be able to say face-to-face to the president the issues that are of importance to us."
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Read more: Enda Kenny backs Theresa May's 'friction-free' trading goal post-Brexit
He added that while he disagrees with the new administration's immigration policy, he has to go to Washington to speak for Irish citizens living in America, including about 50,000 undocumented immigrants.
"I don't agree with it - I will obviously say that to the president and vice president when I meet with them," Mr Kenny said.
Mrs May was blunt in her response when asked whether it was appropriate for the UK government to welcome the new president at a time when he is enforcing such a ban on citizens from seven countries.
"That invitation stands," she said.
Mrs May said the US "is a close ally of the UK" but "we have a different approach to these matters in the UK".
On Brexit, Mr Kenny said a deal to keep UK-EU trade as close as possible would be an "absolute priority" for Ireland.
"Our two governments are agreed that a close and friction-free economic and trading relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, including Ireland, is in our very best interests," the Taoiseach said.
"And as the UK prepares for its formal notification under Article 50, we want to see that these deep trading ties between our two countries are recognised and facilitated.
"That will continue to be an absolute priority for my Government, not just in our discussions with the British government, but also with our EU partners as we prepare for the negotiation process on the EU side of the table."
For her part Mrs May promised to try to retain a situation whereby residents of the Republic and Northern Ireland will be able to freely pass over the Border daily without interruption.
She noted that Britain and Ireland had open borders "long before either of us was a member of the European Union".
"We have of course said we do not want to see a return to the border of the past - that isn't just a phrase, actually it symbolises the sort of seamless, frictionless border that we want to see in the future," Mrs May said.
"Of course there are elements of full membership of the customs union that would restrict our ability to trade and do trade agreements with other parts of the world.
"But I believe, and this is what we are working on, that we need to find a solution which enables us to have as seamless and frictionless a border as possible between Northern Ireland and Ireland so that we can continue to see the trade, the everyday movements, that we have seen up to now," she said.
Green Property has completed the sale of 7 and 8 St James's Square in London for a combined total of 290m (245.9m) to Asian casino tycoon Stanley Ho's Shun Tak Group.
The sale brings to an end Green Property's ownership of a portfolio which had once been owned by a company linked to the convicted Greek fraudster Achilleas Kallakis. Green Property acquired No 7 and No 8 St James's Square from AIB in 2008 as part of the bank's disposal of the wider Kallakis portfolio
The new owner of the St James's Square properties, the Shun Tak Group, was founded by Stanley Ho, in 1972.
Now 95, Mr Ho was once known as 'the king of gambling' thanks to his domination over decades of the gambling market in Macau.
In 2011, he was named by Forbes magazine as Macau's wealthiest person with a net worth of $32bn (30bn).
The price paid for No 8 St James's Square reflects a yield of 3.69pc and a capital value of 3,245 per sq ft.
The Helly Nahmad Gallery's decision to sign a 15-year lease in 2015, in which it agreed to pay a rent of 185 per sq ft across 2,959 sq ft on the building's sixth floor, thrust the property into the headlines, with Property Week reporting it as the highest rent ever paid for an office in the UK.
Number 7 St James's Square is a 30,000 sq ft Edwin Lutyens-designed mansion that fronts on to St James's Square.
Since being acquired by Green Property, the building has been excavated extensively below the listed house to make way for the future construction of a pool, spa and sub-basement car park.
A private courtyard garden has also been created.
Watches are not rocket science Watches are not rocket science
Perhaps you dont have a PhD. Well, thats a shame, because with some watches, youll need one to understand how to tell the time.
Perhaps you dont have a PhD. Well,...
The farm organisations are on a collision course over beef sector supports, with the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) arguing for payments to cull suckler cows, while the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has demanded increased payments to retain numbers.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed was called on by the IFA last week to increase direct supports for suckler farmers to 200/cow.
The IFA claimed that the future of suckler farming was in doubt without a commitment from the Government to a coupled payment on beef cows.
However, the ICSA has labelled this a "disastrous policy", given the current oversupply of cattle and continuing uncertainty around Brexit.
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ICSA suckler chairman Dermot Kelleher said the focus should be on supply control and paying farmers to take cows out of the system. It wants farmers who reduce suckler numbers paid 200 annually for each of their remaining cows for up to five years. The voluntary scheme would be operated on an EU-wide basis, in the same way as the recent EU milk reduction package.
The scheme would be based on a reference year and the payment would be linked to a reduction in calves registered compared to the reference year. Farmers would have the option to reduce some or all of their herd and could return to full production at the end of five years if they wished.
"We actually need to box clever and policy needs to address the problem that over-supply is killing farmers' profitability when markets are volatile or weak," Kelleher said.
"We need extra live exports but the reality is that most live export options are limited in terms of price available and weight requirements," he added.
Bord Bia forecast that between 100,000 and 120,000 additional cattle will come on stream this year, with beef prices taking a hit as a consequence. While any approach aimed at curbing beef production would be strongly opposed by the factories, Kelleher said such opposition was not his concern.
"I am a representative of farmers not of the beef industry. I am focused on how many suckler farmers can make a profit. Paying people to keep up cow numbers serves the industry and it boosts the Bord Bia agri-food exports statistics but it will do nothing for price," the ICSA representative said.
"It's basic economics: scarcity pushes price up and oversupply pushes it down."
Kelleher maintained that the ICSA's approach would be cost-effective for the EU and national governments, while also benefitting farmers.
Taking out around 15pc of the suckler herd would cost 30m per year, and lead to tighter supplies and therefore higher prices down the line, he argued. The IFA proposal could cost up to 200m per year, without a reduction in supplies and still leave farmers exposed to the vagaries of the market, the ICSA leader pointed out.
The head of BNP Paribas Securities Services met Finance Minister Michael Noonan for an hour in December, during which they discussed the implications of Brexit.
It is understood, however, that BNP - which already employs around 600 people overall in Ireland in a number of businesses - gave no specific details about its plans to deal with the fallout from the vote.
It comes as fund management company FundRock announced it is opening a Dublin office to deal with an anticipated increase in cross-border funds activity out of Ireland post Brexit. Japanese investment group Daiwa is also considering Dublin as a location.
BNP Paribas Securities Services ceo Patrick Colle met Mr Noonan on December 16 in Dublin. Also in attendance were officials from the Department of Finance and IDA, as well as Derek Kehoe, ceo and Head of Territory for BNP Paribas Ireland, Paul Daly, Head of Securities Services for BNP Paribas Ireland and Ian Lynch Head of Hedge Fund Services for BNP Paribas Securities Services.
It is understood that a briefing had been prepared for the meeting by the Department of Finance with an eye on being ready for a Brexit discussion, but BNP gave no details of its plans. However, the implications of the Brexit vote were discussed.
The company said today that the meeting between Mr Colle and Minister Noonan was an opportunity, facilitated by IDA, to discuss a range of topics pertinent to the Groups ongoing activities in Ireland.
Meanwhile, FundRock Management Company said it would be opening a new office in Ireland to grow its presence in Dublin, Luxembourg and the UK.
FundRock said that following the market uncertainty created in the investment management sector post-Brexit, it is opening an Irish office to service its clients' needs and capitalise on the "significant rise in UK-based deal flows".
Revel Wood, FundRock ceo, said the move to Ireland is a crucial part of the company's long-term strategy.
The Dublin office will be headed up by Ross Thomson, who has nearly 20 years of fund industry experience in Luxembourg and Canada.
Meanwhile, Daiwa Securities Group is considering Frankfurt and Dublin among candidate cities to host European operations it moves out of London following Brexit, the Japanese brokerage's top executive said.
The Tokyo-based firm will need to establish a licensed entity in the European Union following the UK's decision to leave the bloc, ceo Takashi Hibino said. It is running simulations with a consulting firm, he said yesterday at a briefing in Tokyo with his successor, deputy president Seiji Nakata.
Daiwa has about 450 employees in Europe, mostly in London, which will remain the main location for most of its operations in the region. Japanese banks and brokerages are among global financial firms considering moving some functions away from the UK capital to retain access to the EU.
Prospects for Japanese securities firms have improved since November after stocks rallied on a weaker yen following Donald Trump's victory.
BNP Paribas Securities Services in Ireland has operated as a centre of excellence for the servicing of investment funds since 2001.
You might be drinking the wrong wine: How to spot a fake one
Experts Judge The Annual International Wine Challenge Entries (Photo : Getty Images/Dan Kitwood )
There has been an increase of fake wines in the market in the recent years, and it does not only occur at the top end of the market because several discoveries of fraudulent wines even at small independent stores. This is the reason why fraud investigations remain a frequent occurrence.
No one wants to be disappointed with the wines and spirits they purchase. In order to avoid fake wines, be vigilant about the provenance of the wines and the source, according to Forbes.
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Chai Consulting's Maureen Downey and Siobhan Turner recently give a seminar on the buying wines, according to Decanter. Here are the important things to watch out for:
1. Check the label color. Over the years, paper has certainly evolved and changed with the so-called "ultrawhite" as a formula introduced in 1957. Under the blue light, this paper fluoresces and when you have an ultrawhite label on the bottle of wine, chances are it is fake.
2. Read the small print. Most of the fine wines use a plate press and what you need to look for is the color separation from a three color screen process, or squared edges from a dot matrix. You can easily see the difference because they should be glaring.
3. It shows its age. Most fake wines try to fake their age by using certain techniques to stain the shiny new label. They use stain from tobacco, dirt from shellac and some even show an underlying label under close examination.
4. Glue stains. If you can find glue stains around the label edges, it means it can be suspicious. You can check it because just like the ultrawhite, it fluoresces under the blue light.
5. Corks. Bordeaux corks are branded and are usually 52-55mm in length. They are also not inked.
Other EU member states will have to prove that Apple made profits in their jurisdiction in order to claim a share of the 13bn Ireland has been ordered to collect in Apple back taxes.
European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager said that Ireland must collect the tax, but other states could claim a share by proving the profits were generated there.
Apple has argued that its global profits fall due in the US, not countries where it sells products.
Ireland has yet to collect the money, which will be held in escrow while challenges to the ruling by the State and Apple work through the EU courts, the Commissioner said.
Apple has said it will make the payment, the delay in collecting the tax reflects the complexity of locking away such a large sum, Margrethe Vestager said.
Including legal challenges and appeals the money could be on-ice for as long as five years.
She remains convinced that the total to be paid by Apple will be at the the 13bn level, Commissioner Vestager said.
Speaking in Dublin, she denied that Brussels had launched a witch-hunt against US technology businesses, despite recent high profile cases taken against Facebook and Google, as well as Apple.
She said she didn't believe the actions would dampen US enthusiasm to invest in Europe. Ireland is one of the main European beneficiaries of US investment.
"Europe is open for business, she said.
Europe is probably the biggest, richest market in the world," she added.
The Commissioner is in Dublin for an appearance at the Oireachtas Finance Committee today, where she will answer questions from TDs and senators.
The Apple tax ruling has been challenged by the Government here, which says it is not entitled to the 13bn, and by Apple itself.
It is understood that the Commission has until the middle of March to make a formal reply to the Irish challenge to its ruling, in a case that will ultimately be heard by the European General Court in Luxembourg.
Each party to the case will have a number of opportunities to submit rounds of written legal pleadings before an initial oral hearing in Luxembourg which could still be more as long as two years away.
Defended
Apple has said it will make the payment, which will sit in an escrow account for what's expected to be around five years until the challenges against the original ruling and any subsequent appeals are heard.
Ms Vestager, a former Danish deputy prime minister, has staunchly defended her findings that Ireland granted billions of euro in illegal state aid to Apple.
Fine Gael senator Kieran O'Donnell, who is a member of the committee, said he welcomed her decision to attend the hearing, whereas Apple has declined to speak.
However, he said the Apple tax ruling had raised serious questions, including over the independence of the Revenue Commissioners and Ireland's tax sovereignty, and was in language that was "very ambiguous and confusing".
Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who is challenging the ruling having secured support from the Government, will appear at the Committee on Thursday.
Customers of Bank of Ireland have been warned that scammers are trying to get control of their personal accounts.
The customers have been told not to reply to mobile phone text messages claiming to come from the bank.
A number of people reported receiving the fraudulent messages today.
The message claims their account has been locked and they need to submit personal data to a website. A link to the website is included in the text message.
Known as smishing, this is where customers receive an text that claims to be from Bank of Ireland or another financial institution.
Customers are asked you to verify or re-submit confidential personal banking information in an attempt to obtain sensitive information such as personal banking details.
One customer reported on Twitter: I got that today. Rang BOI and they said it was a scam and theyd had lots of reports today.
Another customer, who is a business customer through her job, said she was concerned when she got the SMS (short messaging service) text.
Bank of Ireland insisted its customer mobile database had not been hacked.
A spokesman for the bank added: Bank of Ireland never requests that customers give full personal log-on details, either over the phone in an SMS or online, in an unsolicited manner.
Bank of Ireland strongly urges any customer in receipt of such SMS never to click on any link, as doing so enables the download of malicious software that has the capacity to collect and compromise personal details and defraud bank accounts
The bank reminded customers that it will never contact them asking them to provide full personal log-on details, either over the phone or online.
Bank of Ireland said suspicious text messages can be in circulation at any time, and customers bring these to the attention of the bank on an ongoing basis.
The bank has provided a section on its website which gives advice to customers on security measures https://www.365online.com/online365/spring/security.
The spokesman added that if customers receive one of these suspicious texts or a suspected fraudulent email:
do not click any links or open any attachments.
do not input any personal / account information even if it appears to be from Bank of Ireland.
forward the email to 365security@boimail.com immediately.
then delete it without clicking on any links or attachments.
If customers have any concerns or any questions they should contact the bank on 1890 365 365.
An Irish-American tech company has intervened in the current US immigration controversy by offering to pay the legal fees of Muslim tech workers thinking of moving to Dublin.
Software firm Intercom is offering to pay legal fees of up to 250,000 for or at least 50 Muslim tech workers if they consider Dublin as their next career destination.
The move was announced by Intercoms chief executive and cofounder, Eoghan McCabe.
If youre in tech, and youre from one of the newly unfavoured countries, or even if youre not, but youre feeling persecuted for being Muslim, wed like to help you consider Dublin as a place to live and work, wrote Mr McCabe in a company blogpost.
Simply drop us an email at love@intercom.com and well advise you on moving to Dublin. Help you understand what its like. Even connect you with our Muslim friends there. Well connect you with tech companies in Dublin who are very hungry for new talent. If you decide you want to look into moving seriously, well retain our Dublin immigration attorneys for you and pay your legal bills with them, up to 5,000. Well do this for as many as we can afford. We should be able to do this for at least 50 people. And if you end up moving there, well pair you with an Intercom buddy to show you around, help you learn about the different neighbourhoods and schools and fun things to do.
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Mr McCabe said that the offer was not meant as a recruitment drive to take advantage of the current instability around migration policy in the US.
We will explicitly not be pitching anyone on working for Intercom, he said. This is not a recruitment drive for Intercom. This is us doing what little we can, in accordance with our values, to help those we care about.
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I moved to San Francisco from Ireland in 2011 and now hold a green card and live here. I set up our headquarters here, which contains all of our business functions. My cofounders set up our Dublin office, where our research and development teams are based. And we have over 150 people in each office now. Wed like to use this special position were in to try help anyone in our industry feeling unsafe and hurt right now.
Intercoms move comes after Limerick-born Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison announced that he would match donations of up to $50,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union, which has pledged to fight President Trumps new immigration policy.
Mr Collisons company, which enables online payments, is based in San Francisco with a growing office in Dublin.
Ellen DeGeneres has used Finding Dory to give Donald Trump a lesson in immigration after it was revealed that he screened the Disney-Pixar movie in the White House on Sunday.
While thousands of people protested outside the White House against Donald Trump's controversial immigration ban, inside things were very different as Donald Trump held a screening of Finding Dory for family and friends.
The White House announced the screening at 3pm in their official daily schedule and the Associated Press confirmed it was the Disney-Pixar animated film.
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Ellen DeGeneres, who voices the forgetful Australian fish Dory, discussed the film in the opening segment of her show. Without mentioning any buzzwords she cleverly managed to send a political message to Trump.
The TV host called out the ironies of Trump's movie choice, considering it's all about a separated family that travels the ocean in the hope of being reunited.
"Dory arrives in America with her friends Marlin and Nemo," she said.
"She ends up at the Marine Life Institute behind a large wall. They all have to get over the wall, and you won't believe it, but that wall has almost no effect in keeping them out."
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While Ellen said she normally avoids discussing politics, she felt it necessary to talk about the "very nonpolitical, family-friendly" animated movie.
"Even though SDory gets into America, she ends up separated from her family, but the other animals help Dory," she said as her audience cheered.
"Animals that don't even need her. Animals that don't have anything in common with her. They help her even though they are completely different colours. Because that's what you do when somebody is in need - you help them."
Ellen spoke out against Trump's immigration ban on Sunday, right after the news broke of the movie screening.
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"For me, America is great because of all the people who came here. Not in spite of them," she wrote.
Her Finding Dory co-star, Albert Brooks, also spoke out about Trump's movie choice.
For me, America is great because of all the people who came here. Not in spite of them. #NoBan Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 29, 2017
P.S. My grandparents were immigrants. The woman making us pizza right now is Muslim. And I'm grateful for all of them. #NoBan Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 29, 2017
"Odd that Trump is watching Finding Dory today, a movie about reuniting with family when he's preventing that in real life."
Following on from their stunning performance at Dublins Christchurch last year, Saint Sister make their highly anticipated return to the live circuit this June for their biggest show to date
They'll play Live at The National Concert Hall on June 7.
Saint Sister, formed in November 2014, is the creation of Morgan MacIntyre and Gemma Doherty. Their music draws from early Celtic harp traditions, 60s folk and electronic pop to create atmosfolk'a mix of soulful vocal harmonies, dreamy synth and electro-acoustic harp.
Following an early performance on Irish national television, one of their first gigs saw them open the stage for Arcade Fires Will Butler. Their debut EP Madrid, recorded with Alex Ryan (bassist with Hozier), was released in November 2015.
Having received incredible support on Irish radio, the lead single was championed by Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart, and went on to be playlisted on BBC Radio 1 and on German national radio, 1Live.
Since their formation, the band have toured extensively throughout Ireland, the UK and Germany. They made their US debut in March 2016 with multiple showcases at SXSW, and have had notable performances in Paris and Warsaw. Numerous festival appearances include BBC Introducing at Glastonbury, Latitude, Electric Picnic, Longitude, The Great Escape, Reeperbahn Festival, and an impressive live TV performance on RTE's Other Voices.
2017 has already seen the band perform at Eurosonic, as well as support Lisa Hannigan at a sold out London show in the Roundhouse.
Tickets 17.50 includes booking fee, go on sale this Friday from www.nch.ie or calling (01) 417 0000.
Dermot Bannon is still the nation's favourite architect as Room To Improve returned with some of its highest ratings yet.
The RTE series drew in an impressive audience of 592,300 viewers, or 42pc of the viewers, for the debut episode of series 10.
This is an increase over the opening episode of series 9 which was watched by 584,400 viewers, or a 40pc share of the audience.
On Sunday night's episode viewers were introduced to Robbie and Julie from Darndale, a couple who saved for over 20 years to buy the house of their dreams a 1940s cottage in the Dublin suburb of Malahide.
Robbie and Julie told Dermot their budget was 180,000 to turn the ramshackle cottage into the house of their dreams.
With a two-storey extension planned, it turned out the remediation costs were so high, Dermot could only deliver a single storey.
However with help from Room To Improves new quantity surveyor Lisa OBrien, Dermot redesigned a two storey extension, reducing its cost to a 30,000 overrun.
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Dermot suggested a white kitchen which Robbie and Julie agreed with but they eventually settled on a grey one.
Room To Improve airs Sundays on RTE One at 9:30pm.
The Starbucks logo hangs outside one of the company's cafes in Northwich (Photo : Getty Images/Christopher Furlong)
Millennials are evidently a big market for companies and considered a new consumer generation. They are the ones who are just starting their own families, buying new houses and maximizing technology in every way possible to make their lives easy and convenient as possible so major brands are doing everything they can to impress these millennials.
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This relationship that has been established between brands and millennials are the reason why they are more than willing to spend for their preferred brands. Let us take a look at these five brands that millennials cannot live without.
1. Apple
When iPhone was released in 2007, most millennials might have just been entering their earning years and iPhones have been the most trusted brand when it comes to mobile phones, according to The Motley Fool. With over 78 percent of millennials who use their phones for not less than two hours per day, iPhones have been the most preferred back in 2016.
2. Amazon
Amazon tops the charts when it comes to online shopping, according to Business Insider. It has emerged as the most liked brand among millennials aged 16 to 34. It even defeated Facebook, Google and YouTube because Amazon offers so much convenience for its users by allowing quick comparison or prices from a wide variety of providers.
3. Starbucks
Almost all millennials practically love coffee and coffee translates to Starbucks. It is no wonder why Starbucks is the millennials' favorite coffee fix, given their trendy innovations, loyalty rewards and extensive use of social media; not to mention that some of their orders look perfect on Instagram.
4. Forever 21
Forever 21 has got a lot of millennials hooked because of their trendy pieces sold at very affordable prices. Most millennials value experience better than shopping which is why they prioritize travel and food but because this brand is so affordable, it just makes them so hard to resist.
5. Disney
Almost all millennials can relate to Disney, simply because it has always been there, from the young stars on the Disney channel to the cartoon characters coming to life on the big screen, this brand can definitely bring back a feeling of nostalgia to millennials.
A 14-year-old schoolboy, whose leg was lacerated while he was on holiday in Florida, has been awarded 30,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.
Barrister Karl Finnegan told the court that in January 2013 Rhys Nolan-Delaney was on a family holiday and was in the playground of the Rosen Inn, Pointe Orlando, Florida, when he was injured.
Mr Finnegan said Rhys slipped on a metal step leading to a slide and cut his right shin on the edge of it.
The court heard that Rhys, who was 10-years-old at the time, suffered a nasty laceration to his leg and had been taken to a hospital where the wound was stitched.
Mr Finnegan told Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, that Rhys had been fortunate not to have damaged any tendons or nerves in his leg.
The court was told the laceration had left a broad permanent and visible scar on Rhys leg. Through his mother Karen Nolan-Delaney, he sued tour operator Tropical Sky Ireland Ltd, which trades as American Sky, with an address at Pembroke Hall, Fitzwilliam Square West, Dublin.
Rhys claimed the defendant was in breach of the Package Holidays and Travel Trade Act 1995 as it had not provided him with a secure accommodation, free from defects. He alleged the step had been dangerous and unsafe.
Mr Finnegan said the defendant had made a settlement offer without admission of liability. He said that following an assessment by the Injuries Board of the value of the case at 25,000, the tour operator had initially made an offer for that amount.
Counsel said the offer had now increased to 30,000 and he was recommending its acceptance to the court.
Judge Groarke accepted the offer and, hearing that Rhys was an avid mountain biker but did not want to trouble his parents with the purchase of an expensive bike, he allowed a payment out of 1,300 to buy a mountain bike, on the condition that a receipt is furnished.
An Irishman living in London was stabbed to death by his neighbour after an early-morning row never stood a chance a court heard.
John Martin (41) originally from Meath, was killed on August 7.
His neighbour Darryn Madigan of Doreen Avenue, Kingsbury has plead guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder according to reports from the first day of his trial.
The court heard that on the night Mr Martin was killed Madigan emerged from his flat yelling "I'm going to f****** kill you".
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The Central Criminal Court in the Old Bailey in London heard that Mr Martin returned home from a night out with his girlfriend, where he had been in pubs in Wembley and had a lot to drink.
He arrived home in a taxi shortly before 4am and started to shout abuse at the top window of Madigans building the court heard.
In response Madigan is alleged to have confronted Mr Martin with a knife and stabbed him twice in the chest.
Madigan was arrested at the scene covered in blood and initially told police he had fallen down the stairs and on top of Mr Martin. Later, he said he stabbed him by accident.
Oliver Glasgow, QC, prosecuting said that the Irishman was unarmed and wearing a t-shirt and never stood a chance the Hillingdon Times reports.
"This was a deliberate attack committed by a drunken man who could not control his temper, he told the jury.
The trial continues.
Gayle Killilea, wife of bankrupt developer Sean Dunne, has been ordered by a court not to reduce her assets below 50m amid concerns efforts are being made to put her husband's assets beyond the reach of creditors.
Mr Justice Brian McGovern, who presides over the Commercial Court, made the temporary order pending a hearing of further proceedings.
The order was sought by Insolvency Service official Christopher Lehane, who, as the Official Assignee in bankruptcy, is in charge of Mr Dunne's estate and realising funds for creditors.
Mr Justice McGovern said there was a strong prima facie case that Ms Killilea and her husband were "involved in an elaborate scheme" to frustrate efforts by Mr Lehane and a US bankruptcy trustee to administer Mr Dunne's affairs.
The evidence for much of that case was based on "glaring inconsistencies" in what had been said by Ms Killilea in court, in documents and in exhibits provided to the court, he said.
Mr Dunne himself referred in an affidavit to gifting 60m in assets to his wife, he said.
There was also detailed evidence of the lengths the couple had gone to in an effort to conceal assets from the bankruptcy official and of a significant lack of co-operation.
Mr Lehane's application followed the recent sale for 14m of a house in Shrewsbury Road, Dublin, which Mr Dunne said he gifted to his wife in 2005.
Walford had been bought by Mr Dunne for 58m, making it Ireland's most expensive house.
It was sold to a Cypriot company, Yesreb, for 12m in 2013.
Yesreb is reported to have sold it last December to a trust linked to financier Dermot Desmond for just over 14m.
The proceeds from the 2013 sale are to be held in a third-party escrow account until a dispute over the beneficial ownership of the property at the time is resolved.
Mark Sanfey SC, for Mr Lehane, said given what had happened with Walford, his client was concerned there would be nothing for Mr Dunne's creditors at the end of the process.
His side had no faith in a proposed undertaking from Yesreb about putting the Walford proceeds into escrow.
The money would come out of escrow when the legal problem is resolved.
Mr Sanfey said Yezreb was incorporated in Limassol five weeks before Mr Dunne's bankruptcy and was essentially a shell company.
Mark Binchy BL, for Ms Killilea, said his client would be fully contesting the claims made against her and opposed the interim order. But he said he would not oppose one meeting the net value of Walford, some 12m, in circumstances where the money would be in escrow pending further proceedings.
Mr Justice McGovern said he was granting the order that Ms Killilea not reduce her assets below 50m. He refused an application for a stay on the order.
Three men and a teenage boy are due in court today to be charged in connection with the murder of a Dublin man earlier this month.
Neil Reilly (36) was killed at 4am on January 18 in the Esker Glebe estate, not far from his home at St Finians Close in Lucan.
The three men will appear before Blanchardstown District Court this morning, while a teenage boy is due before the Children's Court in Smithfield.
All four are expected to appear at 10.30am.
In High Court proceedings, Mrs Tsouros wants the repossession order made last November quashed. Stock Picture
A woman has brought a legal challenge over a decision to grant a repossession order for her home in Donnybrook, Dublin.
Patricia Tsouros claimed the order was made by the County Registrar for Dublin before her solicitor was able to make representations on her behalf in relation to the house at Marlborough Road in Dublin 4.
The order was made in favour of KBC Bank. In High Court proceedings, Mrs Tsouros wants the repossession order made last November quashed.
The court heard she was unaware of a default in the mortgage until legal proceedings were served on her and her husband, John Leech, in June 2015.
KBC's bid for a repossession order was contested. She said she had relied on her husband for the management of household finance and she relied on both her husband and a financial adviser they had met with to resolve matters with the bank.
Mrs Tsouros claimed she was unaware of developments in the action, but did ask her husband's solicitor to keep her own solicitor informed of matters.
No information was passed to her solicitor, she claimed.
She claimed that on the evening of November 2, 2016, she was informed that her husband intended to consent to the order for repossession before a register at Dublin Circuit Court the following morning.
Mrs Tsouros said she immediately instructed her solicitors to attend court on November 3, and sought time so she could resolve matters.
However, the County Registrar refused to hear Mrs Tsouros's solicitor because she "was not on record".
The registrar then proceeded to make a repossession order in respect of the property, before placing a six-month stay on the order. Mrs Tsouros said she was denied the right to be heard before the order was made, which is a breach of her rights.
Permission to bring the challenge was granted, on an ex-parte basis, by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan yesterday.
The Catholic bishops have given the nod to a new initiative that could lead to the handover of more than 150 of their 2,880 primary schools to multi- or non-denominational patron bodies.
But there was a hostile reaction from Educate Together, which questioned its fairness and transparency, and claimed it would favour transfers to the new model of community national schools, run by local education and training boards (ETBs).
They were responding to moves by Education Minister Richard Bruton to give fresh impetus to the process of divesting Catholic schools, which has made little progress since it was launched five years ago.
Bishop Brendan Kelly, chair of the Bishops' Council for Education, welcomed the announcement and also a statement made by Mr Bruton last Friday, relating to the teaching of religion and sacramental preparation in community national schools. He said the council would study the minister's proposals and would also continue to engage with Mr Bruton, his officials and with ETBs.
Religious education is a key issue for the Catholic Church in any handover. The bishops are more comfortable with the approach taken by the community national schools than Educate Together.
Read more: 'Religious identity is explicitly not left at the school gate' - Minister pledges strong support for community national schools
In a speech last Friday, Mr Bruton referred to ongoing work on the structure of the community national school religious programme, which could bring it even closer to meeting the requirements of the Catholic Church.
But a spokesperson for Educate Together described Mr Bruton's proposal as "both unfair and unworkable".
The multi-denominational education body, which is patron of 81 primary schools, said it was neither fair nor transparent as ETBs - State agencies with a central role in the process - also had a vested interest because they are patrons of community national schools.
Educate Together said community national schools were the preferred model of the Catholic Church, while Mr Bruton had also endorsed them. It said the plan "seems to be designed to facilitate the handover of religious schools to ETB-run schools in return for payment".
Mr Bruton rejected claims of a potential for a conflict of interest on the part of the ETBs, saying: "What other bodies would you use than our local statutory authorities with elected members and representatives of the education stakeholders?
"They're embedded in the community. They're the ones who should have the consultation, and should openly report on what has transpired in that consultation. You can make the argument that we need Chinese walls but I think that can be managed."
An Irish mum who lost her baby son an hour after he was born has called for a routine anomaly scan to be given to all expectant mothers.
Cork mum Diane Magee (38) spoke to Neil Prendeville on Cork's Red FM about her heartbreak of losing baby Christopher in November 2015.
"I have a lovely little girl Maisy and I got pregnant seven months after and we were surprised but absolutely delighted. I went public and we got to 12 weeks and we got the scan and everything was fine, we got to 15 weeks and I had a slight bleed an ended up in hospital but everything was fine," Diane told Neil Prendeville.
"20 weeks came and I wasn't aware of an anomaly scan and I didn't get it. A few days shy of 32 weeks I wasn't happy with the kicks and I said to my husband David that something was wrong.
"For my own peace of mind I went up to hospital. There was something wrong. I was told I was going to the labour ward at 32 weeks and my whole life changed."
At Cork University Maternity Hospital, Diane went into labour.
"They said the baby needs to come out, the heartbeat is really low. Up to that point we didn't know it was a little boy but they said if his lungs developed more there would be a better chance."
Despite being 32 weeks old, the doctor told Diane that her baby's head only measured at 25 weeks.
"I was asleep for half an hour after the birth and he lived for just over an hour so my husband had him in his hands and he had the awful deal of telling me when I woke up that I had a beautiful baby boy but he wasn't going to live long."
"He was born special and we were just in shock. Unfortunately my family didn't get a chance to meet him."
Diane later found out after the post-mortem that Christopher had a fatal foetal abnormality.
"We think about him every day and I wish that he was here with us but he was a very sick child and no parent would want their child to be in that pain.
"The anomaly scan would have allowed us to prepare. Every mother should get that scan. I would have known that there was a child inside me that might not live at any moment.
"I wouldn't have changed anything with Christopher. I feel like the way it happened it happened for a reason."
A Catholic church has been "significantly damaged" in a suspected arson attack.
It happened in the Donegal Street area of Belfast on Monday between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
Police said it appears someone tried to set fire to a "heavy set of 25 foot long velvet curtains valued at 10,000 (11,600)".
The fire alarm alerted the Fire Service who put the fire out.
In a statement on Monday night Bishop Noel Treanor said he was "deeply shocked and appalled".
He said: "This criminal action is a violation of the sanctity of the Church and an attack upon the local community that has caused significant damage to the property and left the local congregation distressed and deeply upset. Places of worship hold deep significance for the entire community and for their congregations and they should not be targeted.
The police and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene and are currently investigating the cause of the fire. I pay tribute to these emergency services who acted quickly to bring the fire under control and have prevented further damage to this most beloved place of worship in the heart of the city of Belfast.
"I am reassured by the many messages of support that the local clergy have received from across the community. Their support bears testimony to the fact that the repercussions of this action are felt by all within the community.
"I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed suspicious behaviour in the vicinity of the Church this afternoon to contact and assist the PSNI at Tennant Street with their investigations on 101)."
Jack Ma (6th, left), chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., attends the opening ceremony of Alibaba-backed Internet bank MYbank in Hangzhou, China. (Photo : Getty Images)
Basing on the majority of investment accounts, China is said to be the global leader in financial technology and Internet banking investments.
Financial technology (or fintech) attracted around half of all the total Chinese venture capital last year and major Internet banks have performed well financially relative to other startups.
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Baidu Inc., China's leading search provider, became the latest technology giant to open a direct bank this January. They have joined forces with CITIC Bank, a Chinese investment firm, to form Baixin Bank. Baixin is a bank that will offer online-only bank transactions and lending services for both consumers and small businesses.
With the launch of Baixin, Baidu joins Internet giants Tencent Holdings and Alibaba in offering direct transactions through online banks.
Tencent, the operator of China's largest social network WeChat, formed WeBank in 2014.
Alibaba introduced MYBank and Ant Financial, two of China's most successful financial technology ventures.
The growth of financial technology in China is largely an extension of services from Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent--all of which control much of the online and mobile life of Chinese Internet users.
Other Chinese companies are following this trend. Xiaomi, one of Chinas biggest online smartphone vendors, bought a 30 percent stake in Sichuan XW Bank last December. Sichuan XW Bank is a major Internet bank in China that leverages data to target consumers and small businesses.
Meituan.com, a website that specializes in offering group-buy options to consumers, also formed Julin Yilian Bank, and received its banking licenses last Dec. 2016.
According to a joint report by the DBS bank and consultancy firm EY, fintech investments surged to about $8.8 billion in just 12 months.
Ant Financial is said to have raised $4.5 billion in early 2016. This is the largest single private placement in financial technology history, which boosted the company's valuation to $60 billion.
The traditional banking industry in China is the biggest growth enabler of fintech, as major banks generally focus on serving state-owned enterprises, large private companies and local and regional governments. The under-served sectors have been a major benefactor of Internet banks in recent years.
Kerry Group employees represented by SIPTU will hold a two day strike next week in a dispute over proposed changes to employee conditions.
Two 24 hour strikes are set to take place on Monday February 6 and Thursday February 9 next week at the Charleville plant in Cork.
The escalated industrial action comes after the employees completed a 24 hour work stoppage this morning at 7am and management are expecting to stoppages to continue over the coming weeks.
SIPTU organiser, Terry Bryan said the current action has been taken because management at the food ingredients plant, did not attend the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to discuss proposed changes to the terms and conditions of employment.
The current 24-hour work stoppage will be followed by two more 24-hour stoppages next week. The dispute will likely further escalate in the coming weeks if management continue to refuse to to attend the WRC," Mr Bryan said.
There is a collective agreement between the company and workers concerning dispute resolution which clearly states that should a matter remain unresolved between the parties it shall be referred to the appropriate third party body, in this case, the WRC.
The items that are in dispute include proposed changes to shift patterns and terms, job rotation and appointments.
"These matters were due before the Labour Court on 28th November 2016. However, management withdrew from that scheduled hearing and has now refused to attend a conciliation meeting at the WRC," he added.
The pre-clearance facility, which has been in place since 2008, was used by 1.18 million people in Dublin last year and by 204,000 people in Shannon. Photo: PA
A person was refused permission to board a flight from Dublin to the US as a result of the travel ban on people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
While the Department of Transport would not comment on the circumstances of the case, a spokesperson confirmed that in such cases An Garda Siochana is notified.
"If the person is an Irish national or a non-Irish national legally resident in the State, a criminal history check is done and if they are not wanted for any crime or warrants, etc, they are escorted to landside," the department said.
In a letter to the Taoiseach seen by Independent.ie, Independent TD Katherine Zappone warned the travel ban could "have legal implications for Ireland".
Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Minister said the fast-tracking of US-bound passengers through Dublin and Shannon airports must be maintained despite Donald Trump's 'Muslim ban'.
As the Government scrambled to come up with an appropriate response to Mr Trump's new immigration policy, Taoiseach Enda Kenny ordered an immediate review of pre-clearance visa arrangements.
However, writing in today's Irish Independent, Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan says this is not the time "to place a question mark over the continued operation of the US pre-clearance facilities".
"Many other countries envy the pre-clearance arrangements our citizens enjoy. I believe we should maintain them," he says.
Children's Minister Katherine Zappone said the Government should be prepared to eject US immigration officials from our airports if a review finds that Mr Trump's policies breach equality law here.
Read more: EXCLUSIVE: The people in Ireland affected by Trump's seven-country 'Muslim ban'
The pre-clearance facility, which has been in place since 2008, was used by 1.18 million people in Dublin last year and by 204,000 people in Shannon.
The rules ensure that travellers departing Ireland are treated in the same way as domestic passengers once they enter the US.
Members of Cabinet were yesterday circulated a memo by Transport Minister Shane Ross who warned against changes to the US pre-clearance rules.
"It would be premature to contemplate a change in these arrangements before obtaining greater clarity on this administration's immigration policy," the memo states.
But in a letter to the Taoiseach, seen by the Irish Independent, Ms Zappone took an entirely different approach.
The Independent TD warned the application of the travel ban could have legal implications for Ireland and urged the Taoiseach to "take a stand for equality, human rights, and the rule of law in the face of contemporary developments in the United States".
"I am deeply concerned that the application of the executive order by pre-clearance officers in these areas, assisted by gardai and customs and excise officers, is resulting in people experiencing discrimination based on religion and nationality within our jurisdiction.
"I also wish to express my concerns about the implications of this executive order for Irish citizens who hold dual citizenship with listed states, including those who were born there. It is not possible effectively to rescind citizenship in a number of these states: Iran, Syria, Libya and Yemen," Ms Zappone said.
Fellow Independent minister Denis Naughten is understood to be backing Ms Zappone's level of concern.
"Mr Naughten abhors any discrimination on religious grounds," a source said.
Mr Kenny said the review is necessary "so that we can be absolutely clear of the importance of this".
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is facing a growing clamour to call out his St Patricks Day visit to the White House amid claims he wont stick it to Donald Trump.
A number of Opposition parties are pressing for Dail time to debate the US Presidents immigration policy and are seeking a clear statement from Mr Kenny on the Governments attitude to the new administration.
The AAA-PBP group have tabled a Dail motion asking the Taoiseach to snub Mr Trumps invitation to the traditional shamrock ceremony, while the Labour Party have tabled a series of questions seeking clarification on pre-clearance arrangements at Dublin and Shannon airports.
Making the argument for why Mr Kenny should not attend the White House, AAA-PBPs Paul Murphy said: If it goes ahead it's part of a traditional green-washing of a right-wing American president. Thats the purpose of the visit, so that Trump can pretend hes friends with the Irish and to get an image that he certainly doesnt deserve.
It was put to him that its better for Mr Kenny to be in Washington to speak on behalf of the 50,000 undocumented Irish, but Mr Murphy replied:
Does anyone really believe that Enda Kenny is going to go and stick to Donald Trump and tell him what he really thinks?
"Is Enda Kenny going to go in and say what he said in the Dail, that we think hes a racist and dangerous man? Hes not.
The reality is hell go in, hell be tame and craven.
I have no confidence that Enda Kenny after a meeting with Donald Trump, that Enda Kenny will have any sort of hard-hitting statement.
Richard Boyd Barret said Mr Trump was basically putting two fingers up to human decency
The Taoiseach of this country cannot in any way legitimise or endorse this dangerous, racist agenda by handing a bowl of shamrock to Donald Trump on St Patricks Day, he said.
The Dun Laoghaire TD argued that millions of people march in St Patricks Day parades across the US and for the Taoiseach to boycott the President on that day would be an enormous political blow to Donald Trump.
Speaking on the Leinster House plinth, Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin also questioned Mr Kennys ability to articulate the views of the vast majority of Irish people.
I suppose in a way Im challenge the Taoiseach to set out in the clearest way, will he, even if it means that Donald Trump who is prone to doing these things cancels any formal visit. Let Ireland take a stand on principle, he said.
However, Mr Howlin warned: "I dont think anybody can stick it to Donald Trump because he doesnt listen. Hes made it clear for example that when he goes the United Kingdom he doesnt want to meet Prince Charles because he doesnt want to hear discordant voices.
He wants to be surrounded by sycophants re-echoing his own prejudices to him. He doesnt hear anybody.
The former minster, who sat at the Cabinet table with Mr Kenny for five years, described the St Patricks Day event in the White House as a happy, clappy, shamrockery event that has no political content but has enormous emotional content.
It would be perceived by many as formal endorsement of a policy position that would jar with the Irish people, he said.
Michelle ONeill became the partys leader in Northern Ireland yesterday. Photo: Getty Images
Mary Lou McDonald, Gerry Adams, Michelle ONeill and Martin McGuinness raise their hands together after Ms ONeills selection as the newly appointed Stormont leader for Sinn Fein. Photo: PA
NO GIRL POWER! Mary Lou McDonald, Michelle ONeill, Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams smile for the cameras as Northern Irelands election campaign began. Photo: Paul McErlane/RollingNews.ie
'Michelle ONeill has taken the express route to the top of Sinn Fein, but in politics timing is everything.' (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
The new Sinn Fein leader in Northern Ireland has defended her appointment, which took place last week without a proper election.
Former Health Minister Michelle ONeill said her position was ratified by the partys Ard Comhairle on the back of a recommendation by Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams.
She told RTEs Today with Sean ORourke programme that she had been approached about taking over the position around Christmas due to a deterioration in the health of her predecessor Martin McGuinness.
There was obviously a decision in the room taken, Ms ONeill said when pressed on why there was no wider election within the party.
It was put to the Ard Comhairle and unanimously decided that I should be leader, she added.
In a wide-ranging interview, Ms ONeill was asked about her own republican past. Her late father Brendan Doris previously served time in prison for IRA membership.
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She said she deeply regretted the conflict, but insisted there can be no hierarchy of grieving or pain.
The conflict is regrettable, Ms ONeill said. Im so sorry it happened for everybody involved.
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On the issue of the prospect of future power sharing with the DUP, Ms ONeill said she would be prepared to work once again with the former First Minister Arlene Foster.
But I will only work with them on equality and parity of esteem and mutual respect, Ms ONeill said.
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You cant share power with people who are only interested in representing the elites of society, she added.
Ms ONeill accused her opponents of trying to shift the blame for the Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) scandal over to her former department.
She said the DUP needs to accept responsibility for the scandal, which may leave the taxpayer saddled with a GB500 bill.
The Belgian model Hanne Gaby Odiele has revealed that she is intersex. She says she has done this to break the "taboo" about this subject and to help professionals and parents understand that children with this condition should not be forced to have surgery without their consent.
What is intersex? In the past it was called hermaphroditism, but more recently is referred to as a disorder with sexual development. It is a condition in which there is a discrepancy between the genetic make up of the child and their sex organs. A child might have the genetic make up of male (XY chromosomes) or female (XX) chromosomes, but their sexual organs do not match.
For example, genetic males may not have a penis or genetic females may lack ovaries and a uterus and instead have testicles. The most common cause is adrenogenital syndrome, a condition in which the female foetus is exposed to high levels of male hormones secreted by the adrenal glands, causing her masculinisation. This occurs in about one in 15,000 newborns.
Genetic conditions such as adrenogenital insensitivity syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome (xxy chromosomes) are also causal.
The treatment traditionally began as early as possible with surgery and the gender of the genitalia was assigned, usually, rather than that of the chromosomes. This approach was based on the work of Dr John Money, an American psychologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital specialising in gender identity. He advanced the idea that gender was socially and not biologically determined; nurture was stronger than nature.
Therefore if children had surgery early and there was no ambiguity in the parents about the child's gender, then the outcome would be good. He is famous for the case of David Reimer, one of the most famous patients in medical history. As a baby he underwent a circumcision that destroyed his penis in a botched operation. His parents were advised to take him to Money for assistance in changing his gender to female, so that he could lead a healthy sex life as an adult woman. His name was changed to Brenda. He had surgery to provide a vagina and was brought up as a girl with continuing input from Money, part of which was to supervise his.
Money reported this case in various medical journals calling it the Joan/John Case, claiming the operation to have been a success and providing support for his position regarding gender. Society bought into the belief that gender was indeed a malleable social construct, a view that is now commonplace. Tragically, Brenda had many mental health problems growing up and at 14 learnt the truth - that she was born male. She immediately underwent reassignment back to her original gender and got married. However he continued to be dogged by depression and at the age of 38 David (formerly Brenda) Reimer shot himself.
While David did not have an intersex problem, his case may have contributed to the change in medical opinion regarding early surgery. It is now advised that it be delayed for as long as is healthy physically and psychologically, while also involving the child in the decision where feasible.
Yet questions continue to be discussed and debated among professionals dealing with these cases. The fundamental one is which is the correct sex to select - that based on the organs, or on the chromosomes? How damaging psychologically is it to wait until it becomes more obvious from the child's behaviour and personality which sex "fits" best?
How will this influence sexual orientation - most of those with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, the most common cause, are heterosexual, but there has been an increase in those who are bisexual or same sex attracted.
Intersex should not be confused with gender identity disorder (trans) where the person has congruent genes and sexual organs but feels and believes they are incongruent. They insist that they are of a particular biological sex but that they function as and are of a gender that is different. For this they can undergo gender reassignment surgery, although their needs are very different from those who are intersex.
It is unclear why Ms Odiele made this statement now since there have been some cases (Christiane Volling in Germany) before the courts asserting that non-consensual surgery violates the rights of this group.
Malta, in 2015, became the first country to ban non-consensual gender reassignment surgery and that same year the Council of Europe recognised the right of intersex people not to have reassignment surgery.
Whatever Odiele's motivation, this is clearly a profoundly complex condition with significant physical, psychological, social and ethical ramifications, demanding sensitive management by professionals, parents and wider society. It would be perverse if it were to be appropriated by those engaged in identity politics, now raging in the US and Europe.
A 50pc hike in the carbon tax, reducing the maximum speed on motorways and removing public car parking spaces are among the measures proposed to transform Ireland to a low-carbon economy.
A briefing note prepared for Government sets out a range of options which could be brought in to reduce use of fossil fuels and move to a 'green' economy.
They include reducing the maximum speed limit on motorways from 120kmh to 110kmh to help reduce transport emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes a year, and removing public car parking spaces in cities by a "small percentage" every year to give more space for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport services.
But a suggested 50pc hike in the carbon tax from 20 per tonne at present to 30, which would add to the cost of motoring and home heating, will prove politically divisive.
Designed to discourage use of fossil fuels in favour of cleaner energy, some 400m a year is currently collected in the tax which was introduced in 2009.
An analysis from Professor Brian O Gallachoir from UCC's Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy suggests that increasing the rate by 50pc would provide a "clear and timely signal" on Ireland's commitment to tackling climate change and reducing use of fossil fuels.
But it would add around 3c to the price of a litre of petrol or diesel, and up to 45 on annual home heating bills.
The move would also impact on the cost of a bale of briquettes, which would rise by around 14c, with 60c added to a 40kg bag of coal. While both are among the most polluting fuels, they are commonly used by low-income households and any measures will have to factor in the risk of making fuel poverty worse.
Communications, Climate Action and Environment Minister Denis Naughten will tell cabinet colleagues today that he intends to publish a briefing document for public consultation on the National Mitigation Plan in the coming weeks, which will set out the measures needed to address emissions from transport, agriculture, power generation and other sectors of the economy.
Read more: Comment - Ireland doesn't really do climate change - so what will Paris deal mean for us?
The final plan must be submitted for Government approval by next June.
The briefing document includes an "indicative list" of possible measures, but none has been decided, but does say that the carbon tax has a "key role" to play.
"Consideration of certain taxation elements will be necessary to underpin a clear pathway and positive policy environment for an early transition to alternative, cleaner fuels," it said. "One measure could involve an increase in carbon tax on petrol and diesel from the current level of 20/tonne to 30/tonne."
This could yield savings of more than one million tonnes of carbon between 2017 and 2030. Ireland currently emits almost 60 million tonnes a year, and they are rising. Unless emissions are reduced, Ireland can expect to endure more extreme weather events and increased risk of new pests and diseases.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) speaks during his meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images)
The National Assembly has begun plans in encouraging a technology transfer from China to Nigeria as part of the efforts in reducing the high rate of unemployment in the country. This was disclosed in Abuja at the Spring Festival Temple Fair, organized by the Chinese Embassy in conjunction with the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria.
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Yusuf Buba Yakub, the Chairman and House Committee on Nigeria-China Relations, stated that the move would turn the country into an industrial hub.
He stated: Nigeria and China have lot of activities together. As lawmakers, we make sure that the interest of our businessmen who go to China to trade is protected and that we try to see how we will encourage the technology transfer from China to Nigeria so that as I have said before, we will also become industrialized as the China people have become. Nigeria and China share so many things in common."
Buba also stated that the National Assembly was doing all that they can in ensuring that the interest of Nigerian businessmen in China is protected.
If you talk about population," Yusuf added, "China is the most populated country in the world while Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. And our Independence Day with China is on the same day, October 1. So we also have a lot to benefit from each other in terms of trade relation.
"If you bear me witness, you will see that in every home in Nigeria, you have at least one Chinese product. But we want to change the trend, instead of bringing in these things from China, we want to have a partnership with the Chinese businessmen so that we can produce these things in Nigeria."
China's Ambassador to Nigeria Zhou Pingjian also spoke at the fair. He pointed out that China and Nigeria are also cooperating in other areas such as trade, manufacturing, agriculture, and infrastructural development.
Zhou said: We are doing it one by one and we believe this mutual beneficial cooperation will bring more and more benefits to our two people."
White villages scattered around the Sierra Nevada offer a surprising respite from the Costa del Sol.
Been to the Costa del Sol? Given that Irish holidaymakers took over 1.5 million trips to Spain last year, many have.
What about Malaga? Or Ronda, the mountaintop city doing the splits across the dramatic El Tajo gorge? Also highly likely.
But say the words Las Alpujarras, and people go: Huh?
Ever seen photos of Spains pueblos blancos, the white villages so reminiscent of North African scenes? One of them, Lanjaron, is just 50 minutes from Nerja.
From there, a winding drive takes you deeper into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, past breathtaking gorges, visceral valleys, and into tumbledown villages like Pampaneira, Capileira and Trevelez.
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All of a sudden, crowded beaches and apartments seem a galaxy away.
Las Alpujarras is the collective term for the splashes of white villages spread around the southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada.
Originally founded by Moorish settlers fleeing the conquest of Granada in 1492, theyve remained remarkably unimpacted over the centuries retaining their layouts, microclimates, blinding whiteness, chestnut beams and blissfully car-free centres.
Tourists do visit, of course (Spains most southerly ski resort is nearby). But the numbers pale in comparison to the coastal resorts a few dozen miles away.
Visit in shoulder season, and youll dodge the crowds, finding time-locked outposts where locals sit in cafes, jamon ages in warehouses, shoppers potter around honey stalls and hand-woven rugs, and in summer, hikers traverse the old mule paths braided between towns.
For 24 or 48 hours, it's like travelling in time.
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Dont understimate the corkscrew roads once you leave the motorway.
Plan your route, leave generous time for stops, bank on a speed of around 40kmph, and watch out for cyclists and campervans.
Its possible to do Lanjaron and other towns in a daytrip from Granada or the Costa del Sol, but youll see more and get a deeper cultural dive if you stay a night.
If you like your wine, break the journey in Hacienda Senorio de Nervada (above, senoriodenevada.es) with a tasting or overnight stay.
See spain.info for more.
Get to Granada
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Las Alpujarras are easily reachable from the Costa Del Sol, but Granada is a more natural (and magical) touring base.
This intriguing city is home to the exquisite citadel on a hill that is the Alhambra (book online at alhambradegranada.org; it gets more tourists than the Prado), as well as the Albaicin, a Moorish quarter that wouldnt look out of place in the Moroccan hills, Lorcas Huerta de San Vincente, and all manner of mouthwatering tapas.
Its an hour and a half by car from Malaga, to which both Aer Lingus and Ryanair fly direct. See lovegranada.com for more.
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Ireland's relationship with the United States dates back to before the independence of either country. It is built on the hundreds of thousands of our people who left for a new life in the US, whether fleeing famine or conflict at home or seeking better economic opportunity.
The affection in which Ireland is held in the US is unique and is reflected in, among other things, the high frequency of political visits between our countries.
The highpoint of all of this contact is the annual visit to the White House by an Taoiseach for St Patrick's Day. The tradition of presenting shamrock to the US president dates back to 1952 and has continued - regardless of who has occupied the Oval Office - every year since then.
It is unique and transcends the question of who is in government in either Dublin or Washington DC because it is about more than politics - it is a reflection of the deeper and broader relationship between our two countries.
It also provides us with an unrivalled opportunity to influence and to pursue our national priorities in the relationship with the US. Again, this is unique. No other country - much less one as small as Ireland - has this level of access, no other country manages to bring the centre of American power to a virtual political standstill to celebrate its national day. It would be a mistake to take this tradition for granted or to fail to recognise it for the enormous opportunity it provides Ireland every year.
Developments in the US in recent days could have far-reaching implications. While US immigration policy is a matter for their authorities, there are humanitarian consequences which could arise from the US order temporarily banning the entry of immigrants from certain countries, as well as repercussions for the relationship between the US and the global Muslim community.
I have expressed my concern, as have colleagues from other EU countries. I have also reiterated Ireland's commitment to our values and to our international obligations. I am also very conscious of the continuing priority we must attach to seeking relief for the some 50,000 undocumented Irish citizens in the United States.
In the light of recent developments, I understand the sense of worry among many Irish people at home and in the US. Our embassy in Washington and consulates remain in active and ongoing contact with Irish immigration centres throughout the US and we will continue to monitor developments in this area very closely. However, for Ireland and for the international community, we need to analyse the situation as it develops, assessing the implications and making clear our concerns and reservations to our friends in the US. This is not a time to cut off dialogue or to abandon important opportunities for communication with the highest levels of the US government. On the contrary and staying true to our values, we need to use those opportunities to put forward our point of view and to seek to influence our interlocutors in a constructive direction.
I will use my visit to Washington this week to do exactly that and I know an Taoiseach will do likewise when in the White House for St Patrick's Day.
Neither is this the time to place a question mark over the continued operation of the US pre-clearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports.
Some 1.2 million passengers availed of these facilities in 2016. Many other countries envy the pre-clearance arrangements our citizens enjoy. I believe we should maintain them.
The relationship between Ireland and the US will continue to flourish because it is not based on any single element, but on a multiplicity of strands, be they personal, professional, historical, contemporary, cultural, or sporting. Above all, it is based on people and family ties and on a shared belief in democracy and the rule of law, as well as the rights and dignity of all, irrespective of origin, religion or ethnicity.
These are the values which have bound our two countries, and the US and Europe more generally, and will underlie the Government's approach in dealing with the challenges that face us in a new political context in Washington DC.
Thalia Heffernan dancing with Curtis Pritchard during the Second live show of RTEs Dancing with the Stars. Picture: KOBPIX
Thalia Heffernan dancing with partner Curtis Pritchard, amid rumours she's dating dancer Ryan McShane, during the Second live show of RTEs Dancing with the Stars. Photo: Kyran O'Brien
Thalia Heffernan takes a break from Dancing With The Stars to walk her dog Leonard on South William Street, Dublin
Thalia Heffernan has gone public on her new romance with professional dancer Ryan McShane
Guaranteed Irish launches 'Hero Awards' with Artist Maser who was awarded first Guaranteed Irish Hero Award for championing contemporary Irish art both at home and abroad. Picture: Mark Stedman
He has dated some of Irelands best-known models, but artist Maser says its "unfair" to brand him a "modeliser".
Maser, known for his striking designs, is currently dating model and DJ Daniella Moyles.
He was previously linked with former Dancing With The Stars contestant Thalia Heffernan and also dated TV host Vogue Williams.
However, Maser said he does not like being described as a serial modeliser and described that reputation as not fair.
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The term usually refers to men who exclusively date catwalk and photocall queens.
It was made famous when Carrie Bradshaw wrote about dating a modeliser in HBO hit series Sex and the City.
While Maser was reluctant to discuss his previous relationships, he said current girlfriend Daniella was "doing great".
The couple initially kept a very low profile, but in recent weeks have been spotted together at several events.
Over the weekend, they had dinner in trendy Mexican restaurant 777 and recently enjoyed a weekend away together in London.
Maser is currently based in London but is thinking of moving to Barcelona in the summer.
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"Just loads of projects, loads of travel, Portugal, New York next week, Moscow, about 10 countries lined up this year, he told the Diary.
"I think I might move to Barcelona for the summer, base myself there.
"So I might spend a few months working from there. Im pretty transient at the moment."
He was speaking at the launch of the Guaranteed Irish Hero Awards where he received the first of six gongs for his contribution to contemporary Irish art, including his latest mural on The Tara Building.
"I have two guys that work for me, and one of them is friends with the guys that took over the building," he said.
"I offered to paint the wall. Im not living here, but its good to get an opportunity to do a wall here."
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Meanwhile, Masers former flame Thalia became the latest celebrity to be booted off RTEs Dancing With The Stars on Sunday.
Thalia previously described her and Masers split as "bittersweet".
But she has since moved on and is now dating professional dancer Ryan McShane, who is partnered with Denise McCormack on the show.
Alex and Linda at Laurence Church in Ballitore, Co Kildare. Photography by Christopher Dolinny, visit dolinnyphotography.ie
Alex, from Frankfurt and Linda from Kildare, met in Bayreuth, Germany, through mutual friends on a night out.
It was just a week after Linda had arrived in the town to work at the local university. It wasn't long before the pair developed feelings for each other - and several years later Alex popped the question while they sat on a park bench on a visit to Amsterdam.
Alex and Linda decided on a traditional church ceremony in St Mary and Laurence Church in Ballitore, Co Kildare. Afterwards, the couple and their guests travelled the short distance to Killashee hotel, in Naas, for their reception.
Following a German tradition whereby newlyweds are set a challenge - which represents the first obstacle the couple overcome together in marriage - Alex's best man, Olli, set Linda and Alex the task of cutting a heart from a fabric banner outside the church, using only two small scissors.
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Linda found her Ronald Joyce dress in Amarra Bridal Boutique in Newbridge, while her mother made her veil, lovingly hand-stitching each pearl on. Linda also got creative, making the bows for the church pews with the aid of some of the wedding party, and calligraphing the place cards for the table.
After their Big Day, Alex and Linda made their way to Bad Hofgastein in Salzburgerland, Austria, where they spent two weeks hiking, biking, swimming and eating great food.
* Words by Dee Finnerty. Photography by Christopher Dolinny, visit dolinnyphotography.ie
If you would like your wedding featured here, email weddings@independent.ie
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Eight people have died, including a number of soldiers, in clashes in eastern Ukraine
At least eight people have been killed as f ighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine escalated on Tuesday.
The fighting briefly trapped more than 200 coalminers underground, the warring sides reported.
Rebels in Donetsk said an electricity sub-station was damaged in shelling, cutting power to the Zasyadko coal mine in Donetsk.
The mine is notorious for its safety standards: 33 people were killed there in 2015 by a methane blast.
With lifts not working, the miners had been trapped underground for several hours before local authorities found the back-up generators outside the mine to get the elevators working.
By late afternoon on Tuesday, all 207 men were able to get out.
Separatist military spokesman Eduard Basurin, in an interview with Russian state Rossiya 24 television on Tuesday, denied reports that separatist shelling cut power lines and heating stations in Avdiivka, saying they had been damaged earlier.
The artillery shelling, which appears to be the worst in many months, was concentrated around the government-controlled town of Avdiivka, home to a giant coking plant.
Its director said on Monday that preparations were being made to stop production, something rarely done throughout the conflict that has claimed more than 9,600 lives since it began in 2014.
A ceasefire deal struck in Minsk in 2015 has helped to reduce but not stop the fighting.
The press office of the Ukrainian government's operation in the east said on Tuesday that heavy shelling around Avdiivka, on the northern outskirts of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk, killed at least three troops and injured 20 more.
The office also reported an unspecified number of civilian casualties. The rebels turned down the government's offer to cease fire to allow the removal of the dead and wounded, the operation headquarters said.
In Donetsk, the rebels' Donetsk News Agency reported four rebel fighters have died and seven were injured overnight as well as three civilians.
One civilian was killed in shelling in Donetsk, Mr Basurin told Russian news agencies.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday accused the Ukrainian government of provoking the crisis.
The Kremlin has "reliable information" that Ukrainian volunteer battalions crossed the frontline on Monday night and tried to capture rebel territory, Mr Peskov said.
Pavlo Zhebrivsky, head of the administration in charge of the government-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, said on Facebook his office was working on a plan to evacuate 12,000 residents from Avdiivka.
Donetsk News Agency cited the rebel military command accusing government troops of attacking their positions Tuesday morning in the south of the conflict zone, to the east of Mariupol.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had cut short his visit to Germany on Monday because of the fighting.
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The White House said on Monday it is studying the details of an Iranian ballistic missile test
Iran's foreign minister has refused to confirm that the country conducted a missile test, saying its missile programme is not part of a 2015 nuclear deal between his country and world powers.
The White House said on Monday it is studying the details of an Iranian ballistic missile test.
Iran is the subject of a United Nations Security Council resolution prohibiting tests of ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear warhead.
During a joint news conference on Tuesday with visiting French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault, foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was asked if Iran had conducted a recent missile test.
"The missile issue is not part of the nuclear deal. As all signatories to the nuclear deal have announced, the missile issue is not a part of nuclear deal," he said.
Iran's missiles, he added, are "not designed for the capability of carrying a nuclear warhead ... Our ballistic missile was designed to carry a normal warhead in the field of legitimate defence."
A US defence official said on Monday the missile test ended with a "failed" re-entry into earth's atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the US was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the UN Security Council resolution.
Mr Zarif said he hopes the issue is not used as "an excuse for some political games by the new US administration".
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Benjamin Netanyahu has struggled to find a balance between appeasing his settler constituents and respecting Israel's Supreme Court
Israel has announced plans to build 3,000 new homes in West Bank settlements, pressing forward with a construction drive that began after the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president.
The announcement came as Israel prepares to uproot an illegal settlement outpost in the West Bank, and appeared to be aimed at calming settler anger over the impending court-ordered evacuation of the Amona outpost.
Israel's Defence Ministry said the latest construction was approved by defence minister Avigdor Lieberman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
It comes days after the government approved an additional 2,500 homes in the West Bank and hundreds more in east Jerusalem.
The Palestinians claim both areas, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, as parts of a future state.
Israel's military ordered residents of Amona to evacuate the area within 48 hours, media reported, days before a deadline for its demolition that threatens to destabilise Mr Netanyahu's government.
Israel's Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that Amona was built on private Palestinian land and must be demolished. It later set February 8 as the final date for it to be destroyed.
The shooting happened in a mosque in Quebec City (AP)
Police at the scene of the shooting (The Canadian Press/AP)
Quebec mosque attack suspect Alexandre Bissonnette has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder.
Bissonnette has also been charged with five counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting at a mosque late on Sunday.
Quebec police had earlier said that a second man arrested following the attack was now being treated as a witness.
Six people, ranging in age from 35 to 65, were killed in the shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre, while five were in critical condition and 12 others suffered minor injuries.
The six people who died have been identified as Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42; Abdelkrim Hassane, 41; Khaled Belkacemi, 60; Aboubaker Thabti, 44; Azzeddine Soufiane, 57; and Ibrahima Barry, 39.
Bissonnette has made a brief court appearance at which he did not enter a plea.
He appeared in a white prisoner jumpsuit, and stared at his feet and fidgeted during the hearing.
His next court date is February 21.
Larry Grant, in a still from All Father's Relations, shares his experience of reuniting with his father's family in China. (Photo : All Our Father's Relations)
A documentary film featuring four siblings from Musqueam First Nation with Chinese ancestry was recently shown in Vancouver, Canada.
"All Our Fathers Relations" stars four brothers and sisters, Helen Callbreath, Gordon Grant, Larry Grant, and Howard E. Grant who traveled to China to visit their ancestral home for the first time and meet their fathers relatives.
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It was personally fascinating to see how they had to navigate their upbringing and their identities, Yoshizawa said in an interview released by CBC News.
Grants father was an Indigenous person and one of the over 80,000 payers of the Head Tax.
He and his family experienced prejudice through the Indian Act and more which often kept the family separated.
According to Larry Grant, a Musqueam elder, those past experiences with racist laws made them hesitant to visit China.
At an early age, the siblings never really wanted to go due to an impression of what might happen to them as portrayed in Cedar and Bamboo, a story about early Chinese immigrants who was deserted in China and was treated as a family slave.
But soon after realizing they were also getting older, found out that their fathers familys ancestral home could soon be bulldozed, fear subsided.
When the siblings finally got to visit China, they were surprised at how familiar and modern their fathers village was.
Since the 19th century, relations between Chinese and First Nations in Canada had often been mutually beneficial and respectful; both people supported each other despite marginalization and racism.
Directed by Alejandro Yoshizawa, the film aims to foster inquiry, dialogue, and reflection regarding the interconnected histories of First Nations, Chinese, and Canadian issues, both in communities across China and Canada.
For more information and project updates, visit All Our Fathers Relations website.
President Donald Trump has fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates, after she ordered the Justice Department to not defend the controversial banning refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Mr Trump signed the executive order to ban refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries Syria, Lybia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan late last week. The move set off massive protests at airports across the country.
After the Trump administration suffered its first defeat in federal court over the weekend, staying some aspects of the executive order, Ms Yates issued her denouncement of the action.
The President fired her shortly after.
"The acting Attorney General ... has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," the White House said in a statement.
Mr Trump appointed Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to replace Ms Yates. Mr Boente was sworn in as new Acting Attorney General as of 9pm, according to the White House.
It remains unclear who facilitated the swearing-in of Mr Boente.
I am honoured to serve President Trump in this role until Senator Sessions is confirmed. I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected, Mr Boente said in the White House statement.
Ms Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, issued the directive for DoJ lawyers earlier in the evening.
"I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with the institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what's right," she said.
"At the present, I am not convinced that the defence of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful."
The former Acting Attorney General was the first person to be fired on principle by the Trump administration.
Firing Ms Yates, the highest ranked Senate-approved Justice Department lawyer was the only person with the authority to approve international surveillance warrants.
The Trump administration claims that Mr Boente has the authority, but it remains unclear whether he has actually been sworn in and possesses that ability as of this writing.
Press Secretary Sean Spicer had challenged government employees to leave their posts when questioned about US diplomats who issued a dissent memo draft condemning Mr Trump's executive order.
"[A]ny government official who doesnt understand the Presidents goals in this and exactly what it was, he told reporters, they should either get with the programme, or they can go."
Former President Barack Obama has defied custom and spoken out against Mr Trump's executive order referred to by civil rights advocates as the "Muslim Exclusion Order" saying he was "heartened" to see such civic engagement as Americans take to the streets to denounce the new President.
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"Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," a statement from Mr Obamas spokesperson said.
"With regard to comparisons to President Obamas foreign policy decisions, as weve heard before," the statement adds, "the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith."
Mr Boente will remain Acting Attorney General until Trump-nominee Jeff Sessions receives Senate approval.
Meanwhile, the state of Washington his filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for the refugee ban.
"We are a country based on the rule of law, and in a courtroom it is not the loudest voice that prevails, it's the Constitution," state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said at a news conference.
"At the end of the day, either you're abiding by the Constitution or you are not. And in our view, the {resident is not adhering to the Constitution when it comes to this executive action."
A woman places flowers at a makeshift memorial near the Islamic Cultural Center in Quebec City Photo: AFP/Getty Images
Police officers patrol the perimeter near a mosque after a shooting in Quebec City which left six people dead Photo: REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger
A student has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder after six people were shot dead at a mosque in Quebec City during evening prayers.
Alexandre Bissonnette has also been charged with five counts of attempted murder over the shooting on Sunday evening.
The massacre, which Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, condemned as a "cowardly terrorist attack on Muslims", left five people in a critical condition and a further 12 escaped with minor injuries.
Police initially arrested two men but later said just one, named locally as Alexandre Bissonnette, remained a suspect.
A second person held in connection with the shooting was later described as a witness.
A handgun and at least two assault rifles were also recovered, according to Canadian media reports.
Bissonnette is a French-Canadian in his twenties, reported local news website TVA, which cited police sources.
A Quebec police spokesman said the suspect's motive was unclear and that there was "no indication" that anyone else was involved in the attack.
The shooting came as Mr Trudeau said that Canada would continue to welcome refugees, in response to President Donald Trump's travel ban on security grounds on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Canada is generally welcoming towards immigrants and refugees, but tensions have been simmering in Francophone Quebec over attitudes towards Islam.
Last year, a pig's head was left on the doorstep of the mosque that was attacked on Sunday during Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Practising Muslims do not eat pork. In 2013, police investigated after a mosque in the Saguenay region of Quebec was smeared with what was believed to be pig's blood. In the neighbouring province of Ontario, a mosque was set on fire in 2015, a day after the Paris terror attacks in November.
Mohamed Yangui, president of the Quebec mosque, said he began receiving panicked phone calls when the shooting began. He was not inside the mosque at the time.
Up to 100 worshippers had been inside the mosque, and there were fears yesterday that several children could be among the injured.
In a statement, Mr Trudeau said: "We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge. It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence. Diversity is our strength, and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear."
Philippe Couillard, Quebec's premier, said the Muslim community was the "target of this murderous attack". The Canadian Council of Imams said: "Islamophobia has killed innocent Canadians." It added: "We ask all decent people to stand against hatred of Islam and Muslims in any forum."
Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
For more than a year, US President Donald Trump made it clear how he felt about refugees and other Muslim foreigners seeking to reach the United States: they were not welcome.
Mr Trump's rhetoric during the election campaign alarmed many Americans and foreigners alike, but his surrogates at the time mocked the supposed hysteria of his critics, insisting they should take him seriously, not literally.
It turns out we all should have taken Mr Trump both seriously and literally. An executive order signed on Friday at least temporarily barred entry to refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries - and unleashed chaos in both American airports and politics this weekend.
The international community largely reacted in shock and outrage at the move, which was implemented in a fog of confusion and prompted dramatic protests outside air terminals in many of the US's major cities. Democrats and even some Republicans condemned it as mean-spirited, ineffective and harmful to US interests.
Sure, the US does have a long, dark history of xenophobia. There have been yellow perils and red scares, internment camps and racist exclusion acts. But the Trump White House is operating on a radical nationalist ideology that we haven't quite seen before, one shaped by open contempt for its critics and opponents and seemingly built on the talking points of Europe's far right.
Mr Trump has found common cause with a host of hardline, populist and anti-immigrant politicians in Europe, all of whom preach a similar brand of angry cultural nationalism and reject open trade, international institutions and other hallmarks of the liberal global order. Their gains in recent years mirrored Mr Trump's rise and inspired the American president.
Nowhere is the far-right surge more visible than in its efforts to block tens of thousands of Syrian refugees from seeking sanctuary in the West. Its arguments, while couched in security concerns, are explicitly cultural: Influential far-right politicians like France's Marine Le Pen or Dutch populist Geert Wilders claim their nations are locked in a clash of civilizations with Islam and its adherents. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the most outspoken anti-refugee head of government in Europe, styled himself as a defender of Western Christendom and built a wall on his southern border.
Mr Trump joined them on the parapets and parroted their scaremongering. He conjured up a world where hordes of Syrian refugees and other malefactors were flooding into the United States, where the Paris attackers could end up in Portland, where we simply "don't know what's going on". It was a world of disaster and fear only he could set right.
Of course, none of this was particularly true. The EU's open internal borders and proximity to the Middle East create security conundrums the US, blessed by its geography, does not have. The existing American refugee resettlement program already involves "extreme vetting" - a rigorous process of checks that can take up to two years. The permanent residents (or 'green card' holders) whom Mr Trump's advisers also sought to block have gone through months, if not years, of checks to win their legal status.
Mr Trump issued a statement on Facebook on Sunday evening pushing back against the widespread criticism of his executive order, saying the list of countries identified in the ban was one drawn up earlier by the Obama administration (the comparison was quickly debunked). "This is not about religion," Mr Trump said.
But for Mr Trump's chief White House adviser, former Breitbart head Stephen K Bannon, it almost certainly is. Mr Bannon is Mr Trump's main ideologue, a nativist, a champion of a kind of Christian nationalism and a figure of increasing power behind the scenes.
At a conference of European conservatives at the Vatican in 2014, he said he believed the West was "at the beginning states of a global war against Islamic fascism". His politics - and thus much of Mr Trump's - combine economic populism with ethnic nationalism. This may seem somewhat out of place in the US, where the Republican Party has long defended the interests of free traders and corporate elites. But it's squarely in line with the older European tradition of ultra-nationalism, and those Europeans now see Mr Trump's victory and policies as harbingers of things to come on their own shores.
A French-Canadian university student has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder after a shooting at a Quebec City mosque that killed six people and injured 17 others, Canadian authorities said on Monday.
The suspect in custody for the attack on Sunday evening prayers was Alexandre Bissonnette, according to a source familiar with the matter. A man of Moroccan descent who had also been arrested was now considered a witness, although his nationality was not immediately known, the source said.
Police declined to discuss possible motives for the shooting at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. Police said they were confident no other suspects were involved in the attack.
"They consider this a lone wolf situation," the source said.
Expand Close Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a statement on a deadly shooting at a Quebec City mosque, in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 30, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Wattie / Facebook
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Whatsapp Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a statement on a deadly shooting at a Quebec City mosque, in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 30, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Wattie
The suspect was expected to appear in a Quebec City courtroom on Monday afternoon.
Trudeau, who has made a point of welcoming refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, told the House of Commons in Ottawa: "Make no mistake, this was a terrorist attack."
He added a personal message to Canada's one million Muslims:
"Know that we value you. You enrich our shared country in immeasurable ways. It is your home. Last night's horrible crime against the Muslim community was an act of terror committed against Canada and against all Canadians. We will grieve with you. We will defend you. We will love you. And we will stand with you."
Sombre parliamentarians observed a moment of silence. Trudeau will visit Quebec City later on Monday, a spokesman said.
The attack was out of character for Quebec City, a city of just over 500,000 which reported just two murders in all of 2015. Mass shootings are rare in Canada, where gun control laws are stricter than in the United States.
In addition to the six killed, five people were critically injured and 12 were treated for minor injuries, a spokeswoman for the Quebec City University Hospital said.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Trudeau to express his condolences "and offered to provide any assistance as needed," said Trudeau spokesman Cameron Ahmad.
Over the weekend, Trudeau said Canada would welcome refugees, his response to an executive order by Trump on Friday to halt the U.S. refugee program and to temporarily bar citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
Trump's action, which the president said was "not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe," was widely condemned in the United States and abroad as targeting Muslims.
On Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the Quebec shooting was "a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant, and why the president is taking steps to be proactive, rather than reactive, when it comes to our nation's safety and security."
FATHER OF FOUR KILLED
A father of four, the owner of a halal butcher near the mosque, was among those killed, said Pamela Sakinah El-hayet, a friend of one of the people at the mosque.
The mosque concierge was killed, as was Ahmed Youness, a 21-year-old student, El-hayet told Reuters. One of El-hayet's friends, Youness' roommate, was in the mosque at the time of the shooting. He was unharmed, she said, but in total shock.
Ali Assafiri, a student at Universite Laval, said he had been running late for the evening prayers at the mosque, near the university in the Quebec City area. When he arrived, the mosque had been transformed by police into a crime scene.
"Everyone was in shock," Assafiri said by phone. "It was chaos."
Universite Laval is the oldest French-language university in North America, with 42,500 students.
Vigils were planned for Montreal and Quebec City, the provincial capital, as well as in Edmonton. There was an outpouring of support for the mosque on social media.
Citizens for Public Justice, a group of Canadian Christians, churches and other religious congregations, expressed their solidarity with the Muslim community of Quebec City.
"Last night's shooting, targeting people of faith during their worship and prayer, is a deplorable attack on all Canadians and our most deeply-held values," the group's executive director, Joe Gunn, said.
While the motive for the shooting was not known, incidents of Islamophobia have increased in Quebec in recent years.
The face-covering, or niqab, became a big issue in the 2015 Canadian federal election, especially in Quebec, where the majority of the population supported a ban on it at citizenship ceremonies.
Alibaba and JD.com's Ventures in Groceries Drag Shoppers Away from Supermarkets, Corner Stores
Walmart supermarket entrance promoting JD.com in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. (Photo : Getty Images)
Alibaba Group and JD.com, China's two biggest e-commerce companies, have increasingly become the preferred shopping destinations for the country's 720 million Internet users.
Over the past few months, both Alibaba and JD.com invested hundreds of millions of yuan in groceries, resulting in a price war aimed at dragging shoppers away from purchasing from supermarkets and corner stores.
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The online retail market is currently flourishing in China due to the country's highly efficient and low-cost courier industry. According to the National Statistics Bureau, nearly 20 percent of online purchases are fast-moving consumer goods, which include toiletries, soft drinks and fresh food.
Both companies have made their strategies to get a strong foothold in the blossoming online grocery market. Alibaba first tested the supermarket strategy last 2012 by launching Tmall grocery services in Hangzhou and Shanghai.
In 2015, the grocery business was listed as one of the company's four pillars of online retailing.
Alibaba spent about 1 billion yuan in Beijing alone in order to subsidize grocery shoppers and vendors in that year. According to a staff member at Tmall, Alibaba made huge investments in warehouse facilities and logistics to enable the engagement of fresh produce sales.
JD.com set up its own online supermarket division in Oct. 2015 to respond to Alibaba.
Walmart sold Yihaodian, one of China's earliest online grocery websites, to JD.com in exchange for about $1.5 billion worth of company equity. This provided JD.com shoppers a wider access to imported Walmart products.
Feng Yi, Vice President of JD.com, said, "After the deal, JD.com announced a 1 billion yuan investment in Yihaodian over the next three months and an ambitious goal of developing JD.com as the largest grocery retailer in three years."
Last Oct. 19, Alibaba and Suning Commerce Group Co. established a new e-commerce joint venture to combine the strengths of both companies.
The next day, JD.com stepped up by opening up Walmart-branded stores on JD.com and investing $50 million in New Dada, a JD.com-backed online grocery specialist.
Alibaba and JD.com's efforts to reshape their businesses echoed Alibaba Chairman Ma's call on e-commerce companies to adapt a radical change in the global retail industry as the boundary between online and offline sales becomes increasingly blurred.
CONCORD - Tara Franklin, a tax professional in Charlotte, has moved her practice to Concord.
Based in Charlotte for over 20 years, Franklins company Carolina$ Tax Pro$ provides tax preparation, tax planning and general business consulting for individuals and businesses.
The tax preparers role is to give the taxpayer every legal benefit that will serve to minimize their tax bill, Franklin said. I have over 60 different tax saving tips that are certain to save the average taxpayer money when it comes to paying Uncle Sam.
A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Tara was an Engineer and Human Resource Professional for Fortune 500 companies before moving to Concord and becoming a tax preparation and advising professional.
MIDLAND- As Dr. Sherill Jordan stood in the building that will soon become her new dentist office, she enthusiastically talked about the space and amenities it will offer patients.
She opened Jordan Family Dentistry in Midland four and a half years ago right off of Highway 24/27 in the same vicinity as Midland Town Hall. When she started she had zero patients, but she said God has blessed the dentistry and it quickly outgrew that location.
So in August 2016, the dentistry began construction on its new building, a space Jordanl hopes will better serve its nearly 1,300 patients.
Weve just been looking for the right place and we finally found it. We wanted to stay in Midland, Jordan said. We are packed in like sardines right now but over there we should have plenty of room to grow and accommodate more patients.
That perfect place is on Hwy 601 right after the stoplight in Midland. Jordan and her staff are only moving right down the road, but this time its into a building that is designed just for their needs. The dentistry has six staff members; two hygienists, two assistants, a patient coordinator and a financial coordinator.
The new dentistry is designed to look like a farmhouse, which Jordan thinks will help patients feel more at home during visits.
I designed it from the floor up. Then my team helped me decide different things I needed in there, Jordan said. We wanted it to feel sort of like a home to make everyone feel comfortable.
Special features in the new office will include a reception area with a childrens nook, a business office with storage, three hygienists rooms, a consultation room, staff lounge with a kitchen and washer and dryer and a lab.
And it will also include a first for Jordan; her own office.
Ive never had my own office in any place Ive worked in, she said. This will be good. I wont just have a little tiny desk in a corner.
Jordan said she hopes the new office will be up and running within three-to-four months. She said patients have been continuously asking when it will be open. She is pleased with the excitement surrounding this big step.
We are excited. Its just going to be a lot better for everybody. I think our patients will be better served and we will be able to see more patients, she said. We treat everyone from birth to 110 years old. We try to make everybody feel like they are part of the family when they come in.
KANNAPOLIS- The cause of a fire that destroyed an elderly couples home Monday evening is still under investigation.
At least seven departments were dispatched to the three-alarm fire at 521 Buffalo Street in Kannapolis near Enochville at about 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30. According to a representative from the Enochville Volunteer Fire Department, the fire began in a shop and spread to the couples mobile home.
About 60 to 80 firefighters were called in to assist.
It looked like it was going to be pretty bad at first, Enochville Chief J. Stikeleather said. The buildings were a total loss.
Fire departments that responded included the Kannapolis Fire Department, China Grove Fire Department, Landis Fire Department, Odell Fire Department, South Iredell Volunteer Fire Department, Atwell Township Volunteer Fire Department, Locke Township Fire Department and West Rowan Volunteer Fire Department.
No injuries were reported.
The Rowan County Fire Marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire.
President Trump fired acting attorney general Sally Yates on Monday night after she ordered Justice Department lawyers not to defend his immigration order temporarily banning entry into the United States for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world.
In a news release, the White House said Yates had "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States." Trump named in her place Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Boente said he would enforce the president's directive until he was replaced by Trump's attorney general nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.
"Yes, I will," he said in a brief phone interview with The Washington Post. "I was enforcing it this afternoon. Our career department employees were defending the action in court, and I expect that's what they'll do tomorrow, appropriately and properly."
Later Monday, he formally rescinded Yates' order and instructed Justice Department employees "to do our sworn duty and to defend the lawful orders of our President."
The move came just hours after Yates ordered the Justice Department not to defend Trump's immigration order, declaring in a memo that she was not convinced the order is lawful. Yates wrote that, as the leader of the Justice Department, she must ensure that the department's position is "legally defensible" and "consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right."
"At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful," Yates wrote. She wrote that "for as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so."
The stunning events marked the latest sign of turmoil over Trump's announcement Friday that he would shut the U.S. borders to refugees and those entering the country from seven Muslim-majority countries.
More than 100 State Department diplomats have signed a memo objecting to Trump's order, arguing that it will not deter attacks on American soil. The document, which says Trump's ban will generate ill will toward U.S. citizens, is destined for what's known as the department's Dissent Channel, which was set up during the Vietnam War as a way for diplomats to signal to senior leadership their disagreement on foreign policy decisions.
Yates was a holdover from the Obama administration, but her move still represented notable disagreement from someone who would be on the front lines of implementing it.
A Justice Department official said that hours after Yates released her memo refusing to defend the president's executive order, she was delivered a one-line letter from the head of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel saying that she had been removed. The White House then announced her firing with a statement criticizing her as "an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration."
"It is time to get serious about protecting our country," the statement said. "Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country."
Sessions, Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department permanently, is awaiting Senate confirmation, although it could come as early as this week. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider his nomination Tuesday, and the entire Senate must wait one day before voting. A spokeswoman for Sessions declined to comment.
Boente (pronounced BEN-tay), who was sworn in at 9 p.m., said he would serve until Sessions is confirmed, which he understood from news reports might happen by week's end. He declined to say when or by whom he was approached to take over as acting attorney general, and he also declined to discuss the specifics of Yates's memo.
Boente is a longtime federal prosecutor who has a remarkably low-key demeanor, although he has supervised high-profile investigations and prosecutions. Assistant U.S. attorneys from his office were involved in the probe of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, and they won the criminal convictions - which were later vacated - against former Virginia governor Robert McDonnell, R. Boente also led the prosecutions of former U.S. representative William Jefferson, D-La., and former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin, D. At his swearing-in ceremony as U.S. attorney, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch called him "that reliable middle child, the one you could always count on to be there for you."
Boente would not have been first in the line of succession ordered by Obama, who had placed U.S. attorneys in the District of Columbia, Chicago and Los Angeles ahead.
Yates's refusal to defend to Trump's immigration order - and her firing over it - capped a day in which resistance to the ban fomented inside the government and across the country.
Civil rights lawyers and others across the country increased the pressure on Trump on Monday to dial back the ban - filing legal challenges to the executive order as they worked to determine whether people were still being improperly denied entry or detained. Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project, who worked on one of the legal challenges, said of Yates's memo, "It sends a very strong message that there's something very wrong with the Muslim ban."
Earlier in the day, former president Barack Obama also weighed in on the executive action through a spokesman, seeming to back those demonstrating against Trump's decree and declaring his opposition to "discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion."
Obama said that he was "heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country" - an apparent reference to protests at airports nationwide. He also disputed Trump's claim that his ban was based on Obama administration decisions.
A Justice Department official familiar with the matter said Yates felt that she was in an "impossible situation" and had been struggling with what to do about a measure she did not consider lawful. A Justice Department official confirmed over the weekend that the department's Office of Legal Counsel had been asked to review the measure to determine whether it was "on its face lawful and properly drafted."
In her memo, though, Yates said her role was broader. She wrote that an Office of Legal Counsel review does "not address whether any policy choice embodied in an Executive Order is wise or just," nor does it "take account of statements made by an administration or its surrogates close in time to the issuance of an Executive Order that may bear on the order's purpose."
That could be a reference to Trump's campaign trail comments about a "Muslim ban" or the recent assertion by Trump surrogate Rudolph W. Giuliani that the president had asked him "the right way to do it legally."
Democrats criticized Yates's firing as an unfair termination of someone who was following the law. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said, "What the Trump administration calls betrayal is an American with the courage to say that the law and the Constitution come first." Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the termination "underscores how important it is to have an attorney general who will stand up to the White House when they are violating the law," and said many have doubts about Sessions.
Others, though, turned their ire on Yates.
"It can't be stated strongly enough how reckless, irresponsible and improper the behavior was of the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, in refusing to defend the president's order," senior policy adviser Stephen Miller told Fox News.
Miller accused Yates of "refusing to defend the lawful powers of the president." He also said he had no doubt about the order's legality.
George J. Terwilliger III, a deputy attorney general in the George H.W. Bush administration, said Yates's memo was a "foolish, naked political move by what appears to be an ambitious holdover official" that would only create "unnecessary disorder."
Even with Yates gone, there remain serious questions about the implementation of the order. A lawsuit in Virginia asserted that dozens of people may have been forced to give up their green cards by Customs and Border Protection agents, although that figure could not immediately be substantiated. Lawyers in Los Angeles said they had received similar reports, though they were still exploring them.
The ACLU's Gelernt said that lawyers were "having trouble independently verifying anything because the government will not provide full access to all the detainees." Of particular concern, he said, was that the government had not turned over a list of detainees, as it had been ordered to do by a federal judge in New York. He said that lawyers might be back in federal court in the next day or so to forcibly get access to it.
The ACLU lawsuit in New York is perhaps the most significant of a growing number of legal challenges. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also filed a sweeping challenge Monday, alleging that the order is meant "to initiate the mass expulsion of immigrant and non-immigrant Muslims lawfully residing in the United States." The lawsuit lists 27 plaintiffs, many of them lawful permanent residents and refugees who allege that Trump's order will deny them citizenship or prevent them from traveling abroad and returning home. Lawyers with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed a similar challenge in Washington state.
Bob Ferguson, Washington state's attorney general, also filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging broad, constitutional concerns with the order and its impact on Washington - making him the first state official to do so. That lawsuit has the support of Microsoft and Amazon.com, two companies based in Washington state. (Amazon owner Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post and has voiced Amazon's opposition to the order personally.)
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that one lawsuit "doesn't make any sense" and sought to minimize the action as simply subjecting 109 people to more rigorous screening. According to State Department statistics, about 90,000 people received nonimmigrant or immigrant visas in fiscal year 2015 from the seven countries affected by Trump's executive order.
RALEIGH Heres the good news: North Carolinas state budget is solidly in the black. From July to December, the first six months of the fiscal year, General Fund revenues are up four percent over the same time last year. At the same time, General Fund expenditures are up just two percent. If current trends continue and thats a big if, because revenues and expenditures dont necessarily display the same patterns from year to year state lawmakers and new Gov. Roy Cooper will likely see a sizable budget surplus by the end of June.
And now, the bad news: state lawmakers and new Gov. Roy Cooper will likely see a sizable budget surplus by the end of June.
Okay, so Im being a little cheeky here. Running a surplus is far better than running a deficit. It speaks well of both the states economic performance and the states recent fiscal policies. But if Im right and North Carolina experiences another in what has been an impressive series of annual surpluses, you can expect tremendous political pressure on state leaders to wrench open the spending spigot.
The Cooper administration would love nothing better, it seems. The governor ran against former Gov. Pat McCrorys record of budgetary restraint, even to the point of criticizing the accumulation of a $1.6 billion rainy-day fund. During the fall campaign, Cooper said that was too big, that hed have spent a good deal of that money rather than saving it.
As the governor proposes far higher levels of expenditure for the 2017-18 fiscal year and beyond, hell be cheered on exuberantly by liberal newspapers, left-wing activists, and the spending lobbies that will actually get the loot. Yes, the Republicans maintain supermajorities in both legislative chambers. I worry, however, that some GOP lawmakers might succumb to pressure from the spending lobbies, or even conclude on their own that the state has saved enough.
That would be a mistake. North Carolina has done an impressive job of shoring up its balance sheet, not only by building a $1.6 billion rainy-day fund but also by socking away another $411 million in Medicaid reserves. But if we end up with a large budget surplus by June, state policymakers should still put a good chunk of it into the rainy-day fund.
It may sound like having $2 billion in cash reserves is plenty. But what if a recession comes sooner rather than later? The current national recovery from the Great Recession, while relatively anemic, has been lengthy by historical standards. Were due for a downturn. Admittedly, some of the policies currently being debated in Congress, such as tax reform and regulatory relief, would boost economic growth in the long run. But that doesnt mean they would necessarily forestall a cyclical recession in the short run.
Moreover, there is risk emanating from Pennsylvania Avenue. While new President Donald Trump says he favors domestic tax reform and regulatory relief, he also advocates tariffs (which are taxes) and other trade restrictions (regulations) that could hamper economic growth or even trigger a recession themselves.
The North Carolina General Assemblys Legislative Research Commission has already endorsed the idea of raising the states rainy-day fund target from the current eight percent of annual operating revenue to roughly 12 percent. That sounds about right. Building a 12 percent reserve would ensure that, if a moderate-to-severe national recession washed over North Carolina, state policymakers could pay the bills, maintain core public services, and resist the siren song of hiking state taxes during downturns. (Past Democratic governors and legislatures yielded to that temptation, to the states detriment as well as their own.)
Recessionary prospects arent the only reasons to save. North Carolinas state health plan and pension fund are underfunded by billions of dollars. Past politicians promised generous benefits to teachers and state employees while pretending those promises had little cost. Todays politicians must exercise fiscal restraint so the promises can be kept.
Itll be good to run another surplus. Itll be great if it doesnt get squandered.
John Hood is chairman of the John Locke Foundation and appears on the talk show NC SPIN. You can follow him @JohnHoodNC.
TRAI to audit telecom networks
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will conduct a new type of audit on telecommunication networks across India during the first week of February. Although TRAI regularly audits telecommunication networks independently, TRAI recently asked telecom operators to assist with the February audit, which will test operators in five cities Jaipur, Bhopal, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Kolkata for call success, blocked call, and call dropped rates as well as signal strength.
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TRAI previously conducted several audits in an attempt to ensure that operators were in compliance with the regulators quality of service norms. These tests, however, were widely criticized by many in the telecom industry; a number of telecom operators failed previous audits and were required to make investments to fill service gaps and become compliant with the regulators quality norms.
IRDAI proposes risk controls, compliance programs for insurance industry
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) issued a draft statement that proposes risk controls for the growing insurance industry. Specifically, the IRDAI has proposed a reform that would prohibit insurance companies from outsourcing fund management, anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) compliance programs, product design, as well as customer compliance programs.
Further, the insurance regulator has proposed an annual audit of outsourcing policies as well as mandatory disaster recovery plans and back-up facilities for some business functions. These proposals follow a similar announcement in August 2016; the IRDAI has invited insurance companies to lodge comments with the regulator by February 7.
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Jail time for real estate developers in Tamil Nadu?
The Tamil Nadu state government released a draft copy of the Tamil Nadu Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Rules, 2016 for public comment. The rules, which were drafted by the state government, are in compliance with the Model Rules and Model Regulations for Regulatory Authorities published by the federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.
While the industry and consumers are likely to benefit from the Act, the state government will likely field a fury of complaints from industry lobbyists before the rules are presented to the state assembly: the state government has proposed jail time for developers that do not pay refunds to investors for failing to meet project deadlines. According to the draft rules, real estate firms must refund investors within 45 days of any missed deadline.
If the refund is not paid within this time, the case can be heard by a special appellate tribunal, which can prosecute offenders under the India Penal Code. According to the draft rules, realtors charged under the penal code can avoid jail time by paying a one-time fine amounting to 10 percent of the total budget cost. However, several media sources have quoted government officials whove claimed that its unlikely the draft rules will be introduced to the state assembly any time soon.
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An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2016 Doing Business in India 2016 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in India. As such, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Indian market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to stay up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.
Pre-Investment Due Diligence in India
In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we examine issues related to pre-investment due diligence in India. We highlight the different regulatory, tax, and socio-economic issues that a company should be aware of before entering the Indian market. We also detail some of the topics related to entry structures while investing in the Indian market, as well as cultural and HR due diligence, which may differ from state to state.
Strategies for Repatriating Funds from India
In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we look at issues related to repatriating funds from India. We highlight the unique regulations for sending funds back from India, examine the various strategies companies can make use of while repatriating, and look at remittance procedures for different types of Indian entities. Finally, we give some tips on how expats can remit their Indian money to their home countries.
A box containing about 20 pounds of lobsters at Maine Coast in York, ME, is bound for Shanghai, China. (Photo : Getty Images)
Chinese e-commerce platforms and North American distributors are both seeing a growing demand for lobsters from China. China's appetite for lobsters has risen significantly ahead of the Lunar New Year despite its high pricing in the winter due to smaller catches.
In China, lobster is called "dragon prawn," and it makes a delicious dish with a lucky meaning once cooked. More Chinese are adding different varieties of lobster dishes for the most important meal of the year.
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The Boston Lobster Co. discovered the huge Chinese market for lobsters six years ago, when many Chinese people traveling abroad would order live lobsters to take home to their families.
China currently calls North American grown lobster as "Boston Lobsters," which gained tens of thousands of reviews online.
E-commerce companies are playing a big role when it comes to the Chinese consumption of American lobsters. JD.Com, China's second largest e-commerce platform, has been doing a same-day delivery in major cities, delivering lobsters fresh for customers.
"JD.com has seen more than an eightfold increase in the sales of U.S. fresh food in the three weeks leading up to the Spring Festival compared to last year," said the company's Vice President of International Corporate Affairs, Josh Gartner.
It was reported that the live lobsters exported to China by Nova Scotia, one of Canada's three maritime provinces, represented only 6 percent of the province's lobster exports by 2011, and it climbed to 21 percent by the end of Nov. 2016.
John Bitzan, country risk analyst at Export Development Canada, said, "The increase in Chinese demand for live lobster from Canada is a welcome development for Canadian fishery workers and exporters."
He added: "We believe that it speaks to a greater awareness of Canadian lobster in the Chinese market. It is also a testament to the growing purchasing power of the Chinese consumers."
Distributors are seeing an escalating competition when it comes to exporting lobsters. American lobsters are sold for about $20 to $25 per pound on JD.com. Cooked lobsters in China could cost more than $100.
Military ships and aircraft conducted search and rescue operations at an area of 2,400 square nautical miles off Sabah, Malaysia, after a boat carrying 28 tourists sank in rough weather. (Photo : Getty Images)
Three Chinese tourists on board a catamaran which sank off the coast of Sabah state in Malaysia were confirmed dead early Monday after being found by search and rescue personnel.
The Chinese nationals were among the 25 people rescued so far while six people remain missing, said Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, Director General of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
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The bodies of the tourists and those rescued landed in the state capital of Kota Kinabalu on Monday morning and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Family members of the rescued and missing tourists also arrived in Kota Kinabalu early on Monday and were escorted by Chinese embassy officials.
Chen Peijie, Chinese Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu, told the Xinhua News Agency that the Chinese tourists who survived the sinking suffered various degrees of injuries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping offered assistance and neighboring Brunei deployed a helicopter and naval assets to help in the search.
Shahidan Kassim, a minister in the Malaysia's Prime Minister's Department, told the press on Sunday night that 23 people were rescued by tug boats and fishermen, while the captain and crew members of were found earlier on Sunday.
The captain said the boat was 'broken' by strong waves before sinking, according to Shahidan.
"All the tourists were tied together and were carried away by the currents," he added.
Police have detained the boat captain and a crewman for questioning, according to local media reports.
The catamaran was reported missing on Saturday when traveling from Kota Kinabalu to Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist destination during the Lunar New Year. A total of 31 people were on board, including 28 tourists from China and three crew members, according to maritime officials.
Shahidan said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, maritime police as well as the Malaysian navy and air force have joined in the search and rescue efforts.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called for a full investigation of the tragedy.
"However, at the moment we must concentrate fully on the search and rescue efforts for six more victims who have not yet been found," he said in a press statement.
Shoppers walk past Harrods department store. (Photo : Getty Images)
A survey has found that affluent Chinese preferred United Kingdom brands for gifts, jewelries, shopping and cars, including the country as a travel destination.
Hurun reported that in terms of fashion brands, Chinese men consumers prefer Burberry items as gifts over L.V. Moutai and Chanel.
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As for shopping, Chinese consumers prefer shopping at Harrods, a British department store, which has been winning the Best London Luxury Shopping Destination for fourth consecutive year.
Meanwhile, Backes & Strauss was named Best British Jewelry Watch brand for the first time.
For automotives, rich Chinese people preferred British luxury car Rolls-Royces Ghost model as the Best Super Luxury Executive Car, followed by Bentleys Mulsanne.
Rolls-Royce Wraith won the Best Luxury Car for Self-Drive, while Ashton Martin DB9 followed. Ashton Martins DB11 model was named Super Car Best New Arrival, while Jaguars XFL won Executive Car Star Performer.
For the second consecutive year, Range Rover won Best Luxury SUV in the SUV category.
As for travel, Hotels.com reported that it has become an essential part of life for two-thirds of Chinese travelers and travels to the UK have increased extensively.
Chinese often allot more days for traveling despite their busy schedule, said Rupert Hoogewerf, chairman and chief researcher for Hurun Report.
Chinese they take 10 days for holidays, three more days than last year, whilst the super-rich take five more days than last year to 15 and go abroad 3.4 times a year on average, twice for traveling, said Hoogewerf.
But as for cities to live, Chinese people still prefer San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles in the United States; while London only landed on the 14th place.
The UK Luxury Brands in China report is a focused summary based on the Best of the Best Awards 2017 survey and the Chinese Luxury Consumer 2017 study.
It involved 449 Mainland China millionaires with personal wealth of 10 million yuan ($1.4 million at current exchange) who were surveyed between Sept. and Dec. 2016.
Last year, Yibada reported that the number of Chinese individuals having 1 million yuan ($151,700) to 5 million yuan worth of investable assets is estimated to reach 12.3 million this year, up from 11.16 million last year, according to a report released by Forbes China and China Pacific Insurance Group.
People celebrate the Lunar New Year with a dragon dance in Nantong, Jiangsu Province. (Photo : Getty Images)
Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is the most important, highly anticipated festival in China as well as neighboring countries.
People travel long distances to return to their hometowns to attend family reunions and visit relatives and friends. So schools in China get a month off, and universities even more just to give people enough time to be with their families.
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Other than family reunions, what makes Spring Festival so special that it attracts even foreigners around the world?
Here are five things to love about Spring Festival:
1) Animal toys. There are people who love collecting items. Since Chinese zodiac assigns one of 12 animals, either real or mythological, to each year, this is the best time for it. People buy assigned animal toy for the year. So this year, people probably bought some rooster toys.
2) Food. Some of the traditional foods eaten during the festival are dumplings, which symbolize the luck that is wrapped inside, and pudding, which symbolizes a more prosperous year. Other Chinese New Year foods include spring rolls, glutinous rice cakes, and sweet rice balls. People also buy candies, melon seeds, and other seeds.
3) Temple fairs, red lanterns, and paper-cuts. Every building, street, and houses is decorated with red as it is the main color for the festival. People gather together to visit temples, see the fireworks, and light lanterns, which are put up for decoration, let loose to fly, and floated in rivers.
4) Dragon and lion dances. These dances are very popular and common during Chinese New Year. These dragons and lions are formed by a group of people who dances to the beat of the drum as they believe these animals scare evil spirits away.
5) Red envelopes. Hongbao in Chinese pinyin are used to put money in the hope of giving good luck. These envelopes are given to younger people and (retired) seniors.
These and many more are just some of the interesting things to love about Chinese New Year.
But if you want to witness traditional Chinese culture, this is the best time to visit China. Good luck and safe travels!
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Industrial waste water leaks into the Bei Xiaohe River on June 25, 2007 in Beijing, China. (Photo : Getty Images)
China's National Audit Office has recently found that around 17.6 billion yuan ($2.56 billion) allocated for water pollution prevention work in 2016 was not effectively used. The office has told 31 provinces to check use of funds to treat water pollution.
According to the audit office's report, the funds were allocated for 397 projects in 18 provinces, with some regions seeing serious failures in the enforcement of environmental protection laws.
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Last month, the audit office said that more than 3,000 people had been punished and 160 billion yuan in funds "rectified" after they performed an audit of the 2015 budget.
In August of last year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced its plan of improving the quality of the country's water supplies. The 4,800 separate projects were estimated to cost to a total of 430 billion yuan.
The environment ministry allocated 13 billion yuan for 2016 to improve urban drinking water and prevent pollution in China's major rivers.
China's pollution problem stems from unregulated chemical run-offs, untreated wastewater and the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers. According to a survey published in 2015, about two-thirds of the country's underground water and a third of its surface water is unsuitable for human contact.
In another report published by the Nature Conservancy in April of last year, about three-quarters of the water sources tapped by China's 30 biggest cities experience major pollution, posing a major threat to the health of tens of millions of people in the country.
Just recently, a chemical plant in Jiangsu has been fined 20 million yuan for dumping almost 2,700 tons of liquid acid waste into the Grand Canal. The local court verdict found that the waste has caused environmental damage "beyond measure".
The acid waste polluted water quality in the neighboring districts and forced several water plants to suspend production. This also led to long-term damage of the aquatic ecosystems.
With issues such as the misuse of funds and uncompliant industrial companies, China's battle against water pollution still has a long way to go.
Famous Hollywood actress, Ashley Judd who is currently visiting Delhi for the World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls initiative, revealed how she was molested and raped at a young age.
She said,
"I was molested when I was 7 years old. I was raped at 14, and then I was raped in 1998. Its a miracle that I wasnt trafficked."
via ht
The 48-year-old actress, who bid a respectful Namaste and sported mehendi on her palm, invoked a powerful "Ab samjhauta nahi" and implored everyone to speak against sexual violation of women and girls.
I'm a survivor of gender&sexual violence: Actor Ashley Judd at World Congress against sexual exploitation of women&Girls,Delhi earlier today pic.twitter.com/YUKIj032j1 ANI (@ANI_news) January 30, 2017
I was molested for the first time at the age of seven, experienced rapes at the age of 14 & in 1998: Hollywood actor Ashley Judd pic.twitter.com/L2DD9PYThi ANI (@ANI_news) January 30, 2017
Reality is my lifetime earnings are 40 % less, simply because I am a female: Hollywood actor Ashley Judd pic.twitter.com/7qnZrInXp3 ANI (@ANI_news) January 30, 2017
I love my country (United States) & my country has a long way to go in obtaining full equality for girls and women: Ashley Judd pic.twitter.com/sGstLIEH96 ANI (@ANI_news) January 30, 2017
Talking about discrimination against women in Hollywood, Judd also added, "There is a big pay gap in Hollywood, because of gender discrimination, and my life time earnings are 40 % less than what I should have earned, had there been pay equality in the industry."
At least seven workers who had gone for the cleaning a chemical tank of an oil mill located in Latur industrial area died late on Monday.
ANI
Police suspect the workers suffocated to death due to the poisonous gases that formed after chemicals in the tank reacted with the cleansing solution.
Earlier reports said the labourers were rescued and rushed to a hospital in a highly critical state. Police too had earlier claimed that all trapped workers were rescued and shifted to a nearby hospital.
ANI
The workers had gone for the cleaning work in the afternoon but did not come out for hours. Mill authorities later sent some other workers for their search.
As nobody returned from the chemical tank, authorities themselves rushed to the spot only to find workers were lying in an unconscious state.
The jury is still out there on whether Unidentified Flying Object or UFO spottings are real or madeup.
Inquisitr/ Representative Image
But some people its seems are pretty sure that they do exist is the US's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), that is because they have seen them. According to the recently declassified CIA documents which has been since published online, the agency believes they have spotted several UFOs over the Indian subcontinent in 1968.
These were across south Ladakh, north east Nepal, north Sikkim and western Bhutan.
Inquisitr/ Representative Image
"One sighting over Kaski in Nepal on the night of March 25, 1968 involved a 'blazing object, flashing intermittently' that 'disintegrated'," the document claims.
It states of having spotted reddish-brown objects emanating white smoke, and rocket-like objects with a trail of yellow-white fire over various parts of Ladakh.
Inquisitr/ Representative Image
According to the documents, One white light and simultaneously two blasting sounds were heard. Also, one reddish light followed by white smoke, was seen moving from East to West at 1 p.m. on March 4, 1968, above Chang La, Fukche and Koyul in Ladakh.
The declassified documents, however, don't mention on the extend of the programme or what they achieved out of it.
In the first official details on cross-border surgical strikes carried out by Indian special forces last year, the army's account of the action provides a broader picture of the gallantry of an officer who personally killed four targets in close combat, a sniper who got his targets by sharpshooting into a bunker and a team that inflicted heavy casualties on regular Pakistani soldiers.
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1. Declassified CIA Files Claim The Agency Spotted UFOs In Indian Skies Back In 1968
Inquisitr/ Representative Image
According to the recently declassified CIA documents which has been since published online, the agency believes they have spotted several UFOs over the Indian subcontinent in 1968. These were across south Ladakh, north east Nepal, north Sikkim and western Bhutan.
Read more
2. 26/11 Mastermind Hafiz Saeed Finally Under House Arrest In Pak, Blames 'Modi-Trump Friendship'
Reuters
One of India's most wanted terrorists, Hafiz Saeed has blamed the 'growing friendship between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump' for his surprise house arrest by Pakistani authorities. In a video message posted on Monday following his detention, Saeed alleged that Pakistan government took the decision under international pressure.
Read more
3. In A Bid To Enhance Experience, Indian Railways To Rent Out Hill Trains To Private Companies
comian
World's fourth largest railroad network, the praised Indian Railways, is about to open its gates for the private sector. The loss-making Indian Railways will now allow private players to take over their hill-trains. The leasing out of its standalone passenger corridors and branch lines to private companies for operations and maintenance marks the beginning of corporate participation.
Read more
4. Sundar Pichai Donates $4 Million To Refugee Causes After Trump's Ban Affects 200 Google Employees
getty images
Google CEO Sundar Pichai raised $4 million and donated it to support refugee causes after Donald Trump's immigration ban affected 200 Google employees. While Pichai himself donated $2 million, he asked his staff to match his donation so that the same could be given to four organizations - the American Civil Liberties Union, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the International Rescue Committee, and the UNHCR.
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5. Indian Jawan Who Accidentally Crossed LoC Says He Was Beaten And Tortured By Pak Soldiers
mumbaimirror
Sepoy Chandu Chavan, who had strayed across the LOC on September 29 last year and was released by Pakistan on January 21, has said that he was severely tortured by Pakistani army officers. His brother Bhushan, an army man himself, told Mumbai Mirror that he was never allowed to sleep, and was kept in a dark room in solitary confinement for the duration of his capture. Read more
A Club Med resort (Photo : Club Med)
A massive expansion plan is in the works for Club Med with plans to open 15 new resorts worldwide in the next three years and to upgrade nine of its existing sites.
Among those to be opened are three mountain village resorts in France, to be opened one year apart from each other until 2019, Club Med CEO Henri Giscard d'Estaing announced. France is Club Med's biggest market.
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The holiday company also plans to open one in China and one in Japan in 2017.
Giscard said described the initiatives as a "march forward" that is "now accelerating." Chinese conglomerate Fosun Group took control of Club Med in Jan. 2015 after a fierce takeover fight lasting nearly two years with Italian tycoon Andrea Bonomi.
Fosun gives Club Med a chance to diversify its expansion, notably in the booming Chinese market. Club Med sources 70 percent of its revenue from the European market.
The takeover made Club Med more luxurious as 77 percent of the 68 holiday villages it operates worldwide are classified as premium or luxury compared to the mere 55 percent in 2010, when Fosun bought an initial 7 percent stake in the company.
Club Med also attracted more customers in China, which is its second largest market with 200,000 customers, up from 59,000 in 2010. Its resorts in China are located in Beidahu, Guilin, Sanya, Yabuli, and Zhuhai Dong'ao Island.
The resort firm's biggest market remains to be France with its 406,000 customers, which is practically unchanged from 2015.
This year, Club Med will open a Joyview branded resort that is designed to provide the opportunity to enjoy short holiday breaks in Anji. Joyview resorts are established near China's major cities, that includes Anji, which is relatively close to Shanghai.
Club Med reported a 1 percent rise in clients worldwide to 1.26 million in 2016 and generated a 15 percent increase in Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) amid a 1 percent dip in global revenue to 1.469 billion euros.
While there is a 3 percent drop in revenue from Europe, it reported a 6 percent rise in Asia and a 4 percent increase in America.
Club Med is no longer listed on the stock exchange.
Ideally, all the cronies who have been thriving on the backs of bureaucrats and politicians should be in jail. Just a couple of days ago, a politician's audacity reached a new high when he claimed to media that he has joined politics to make money and fool people.
I have no motive to enter politics besides earning money so that I can invest and avail all the facilities of an elected MLA, the accused said to a news agency ANI.
Twitter
However, amid all the depravity and corruption, this conviction has jolted the land beneath everyone's feet.
Case in point, the imprisonment of this Jharkhand Minister, who was accused of money laundering during his reign.
The former Jharkhand Minister Hari Narayan Rai has now been sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment by the court.
This is the first case of conviction under anti-money laundering law in the country since the PMLA Act was first enforced about 12 years ago.
Country's first #moneylaundering conviction: #Jharkhand Minister sentenced to 7 years rigorous imprisonment. #ED Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 31, 2017
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Rai.
indiatvnews
The said case came in news in September 2009, wherein a number of arrests were made and asset worth of hundreds of crores were confiscated. Rai, the former Tourism, Urban Development and Forests Minister in the Koda cabinet, was sentenced by the court for laundering funds over Rs 3.72 crore. Koda is the former chief minister of the state.
Rai has been pronounced guilty under section 3, read with section 4, of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and has been sentenced to 7 years RI, the maximum under the said Act and has been additionally fined Rs 5 lakh.The court found him guilty to launder the proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 3,72,54,016, the agency quoted.
This is a historic judgement as this becomes the first conviction under the PMLA in the country which was enacted in 2002 and implemented from 2005 in order to check and curb black money and grave financial crimes'' another officer who is privy to the case added.
(Also read: Crackdown On Benami Properties Has Begun, I-T Department Attaches 42 Assets, Issues 87 Notices)
After an Indian man was held in the US over an alleged bomb threat, Foreign Minister directed the Indian Ambassador to the US to provide a report on the incident.
pti
Paraman Radhakrishnan, a 53-year-old businessman from Gujarat was arrested from the Grand Forks International Airport in North Dakota on Saturday. The arrest came after he told a travel agent that there was an explosive in his bag. He is now facing terrorism charges and is being held at a correctional facility.
grandforksherald
After Radhakrishnan's wife sought Swaraj's help on Twitter, the latter told her that she was awaiting a report on the matter.
@SushmaSwaraj Sushmaji, my husband Paraman Radhakrishnan is an honest man with a passion for energy conservation. renu (@Nair1209Renu) January 28, 2017
I have asked for a report from Indian Ambassador in U.S. @IndianEmbassyUS. https://t.co/9Xv09int4S Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 30, 2017
Radhakrishnan was on a business trip to the US for a week and was returning to India from the Grand Forks International Airport, where he checked in for a Minneapolis-bound flight, PTI reported.
Local media reported that the police arrived at the airport at 5 am local time and took Radhakrishnan into custody. The airport bomb squad "evaluated the validity of the threat" but found no explosive devices in his bag.
Several other people including Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel also sought Swaraj's help in ensuring Radhakrishnan's release, citing that he was falsely accused.
Its only been one week, and people are already getting the answer to the question many were asking during last years presidential campaignWill Trump actually do what he says? And, unfortunately, we are quickly finding that yes he will. As Trump is just beginning to flex his Presidential muscles, he is barreling through controversy after controversy so quickly that it is difficult for protestors around the country, and the world, to keep up.
AFP
The most recent firestorm occurred late on Friday as Trump signed his 14th Executive Order of the week--Protection Of The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States. This order, which many critics point to as the first step towards his Muslim ban touted during his campaign, bars all nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen (conveniently absent from the list are Middle Eastern states in which he has business interests like Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt) from entering the United States, suspends all refugee admissions for at least 120 days, and indefinitely suspends the acceptance of Syrian refugees. The order also contains a provision giving preferential treatment to minority religions in these countries, that is non-Muslims, giving credence to the argument that this order specifically targets Muslims. Trump himself said the US would give priority to Christian refugees.
ALSO READ: 'This Is Not A Muslim Ban,' Donald Trump Claims After Controversial Immigration Move
AFP
As expected, protests erupted across the country and lawsuits were filed as nationals of these states were detained at airports for deportation or stopped from boarding their flight to the US, even if they held valid US visas or were US permanent residents. Many have pointed out the absurdity of the order given the fact that no acts of terrorism in the United States have been committed by people from these seven countries; most of the terrorist attacks in the United States have been committed by US citizens and therefore an immigration ban does little to solve the problem; and there have been 0 terrorist attacks in the United States committed by refugees. A recent Cato Institute study shows that there is a 1 in 3.64 billion chance of an American being killed in a terrorist attack by a refugee.
But there is something to be learned from the chaotic situation that unfolded over the weekend in the wake of this Executive Orderthe three guiding and interacting forces of his Presidency thus far.
ALSO READ: PornHub Airs Trumps Inauguration Video, Says 'Rich White Man Fucks The Entire Country At Once'
1) Authoritarianism
Trumps actions as President have so far revealed someone very interested in consolidating power to himself and his inner political circle while distrusting any that challenge him, even within his administration. His tactics in engaging with the media and other branches of government are straight out of the authoritarian handbook.
AFP
His handling of the media has been primarily antagonistic, barring the few sympathetic outlets like Fox News, as he attempts to undermine their legitimacy. His response to the backlash over the immigration ban was, of course, to blame the media. He announced in a series of tweets on Saturday, Thr [sic] coverage about me in the @nytimes and the @washingtonpost gas [sic] been so false and angry that the times actually apologized to its dwindling subscribers and readers. They got me wrong right from the beginning and still have not changed course, and never will. DISHONEST. The following day he took to Twitter to bear down on his attack, Somebody with aptitude and conviction should buy the FAKE NEWS and failing @nytimes and either run it correctly or let it fold with dignity!
ALSO READ: Online Petition Seeking To Scrap Donald Trump's UK Visit Inches Toward 1 Million Signatures!
AFP
Since being elected, Trump and his political surrogates have worked to portray the media as peddlers of lies, falsehoods, and fake news, even on seemingly innocuous topics like the size of his Inaugural crowd. They are attempting to create doubt and cognitive dissonance among the public, ultimately undermining the publics confidence in the media as a reliable source of information. Their presentation of alternative facts, in Presidential advisor Kellyanne Conways words, can only be a strategy to obfuscate the truth of what actions the administration is taking. This strategy has worked to so well among his supporters that Republican Congressman Lamar Smith of Texas stated on the House floor; Better to get your news directly from the President. In fact, it might be the only way to get the unvarnished truth. The Trump administration has even challenged the medias right to access, such as waiting six weeks after the election before holding a press conference, considering moving the White House Press Corps out of the White House, saying his office would have to approve each reporter allowed in his press pool, and refusing to answer questions. His advisor, Steve Bannon, called the media the opposition and said they should keep their mouths shut and just listen.
ALSO READ: A Brief Explainer On The Refugee Crisis For The Man Who Needs It The Most, Donald Trump
AFP
This weekend also showed his contempt for other branches of government and the US system of checks and balances. It was reported that the Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, who would be enforcing the immigration ban, was not consulted before hand. In fact, he found about the signing of the Executive Order watching Trump sign it on television half way through his first briefing on it. It was also reported that Trump did not consult the White Houses Legal Counsel or work though the possible implications in his rush to get it signed. The lack of coordination created intense amounts of confusion, especially for the immigration agents who received no written instructions for how to enforce the Executive Order. Not surprisingly, a federal judge placed an emergency stay on the immigration ban the very next day because of its violation of the constitutional right of due process. Trumps response was to ignore the court order. Two days later, the acting Attorney General Sally Yates ordered the Department of Justice lawyers not to defend the immigration ban in court due to the outstanding questions of its unconstitutionality. Trump swiftly responded by firing her, stating in a press release she had betrayed the Department of Justice and was an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration. In the midst of the hectic weekend, he even found time to remove the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Director of National Intelligence from the National Security Council and replace them with his controversial political advisor, Steve Bannon.
2) Nationalism
AFP
Any good authoritarian leader needs an ideology light on policy and heavy on emotion. Trump made it clear in his populist-aimed Inaugural address his vision for his Presidency: At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of AmericaFrom this day forward, its going to be only America firstFor many decades, weve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; weve defended other nations borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while Americas infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay. We will follow two simple rules: Buy American, and hire American. As for the substantive elements of this nativistic American first policy, there is very little evidence of what that may be. He keeps assuring the public he will make America great again, appealing to their patriotic emotions but not to their intellect.
ALSO READ: Trump Fires Attorney General Who Refused To Accept His Executive Order On Immigration Ban
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This nationalistic ideology is not only built on emotions but also scapegoating, in this instance, immigrants and Muslims. He points to immigrants as stealing American jobs and Muslims as threatening lives, creating an atmosphere of fear to justify his actions and concentration of power. He stated in an interview Islam hates us and vowed in his Inaugural address to eradicate radical Islamic terrorism. His justification for this Muslim ban is the protection of American lives, with surrogates saying that the strengthening of our borders is a small price to make America safe again. However, it is clear that this immigration ban is more for political posturing for his supporters and will actually make it harder to combat terrorism as he alienates allied states in the Muslim world and increases the pressure on the American Muslim community. Many extremist groups, such as ISIS, have praised the immigration order for making it appear that American is at war with Islam, thereby improving their ability to recruit American Muslims to their cause. One pro-Islamic State social media account referred to Trump as the best caller to Islam and the immigration ban as a blessed ban.
If there is one thing that dominates the decisions of Donald Trump, it appears to be his ego more than anything else, represented by his constant and uncensored use of Twitter. When protests erupted and criticisms abounded in the media against his Immigration ban, Trump took to Twitter to air his displeasure, calling out individuals by name such as Senators Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Chuck Schumer.
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Trumps fragile ego was also on full display when he and his administration spent an inordinate amount of time trying to argue that his inaugural crowd was the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period despite photographic evidence that his crowd size was dwarfed by both President Obamas first Inauguration and the Womens March held the following day in which millions of people across the country and world marched in opposition to his Presidency.
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This presents an array of difficulties. Trump has a tendency to rely upon his ever-unpredictable and impulsive Twitter diplomacy, which often undermines and contradicts statements made by others in his administration. Leaks from the White House show that there have been conversations among White House staffers to take Trumps Twitter account away from him given his inclination to pick unnecessary fights and drift off message. This unhinged rhetoric has led to an increase in hate crimes against women, Muslims, Latinos, and other minority groups, such as South Asians. He also appears unable to handle any criticism with civility, a hallmark of electoral politics in the United States. Kellyanne Conway went so far to argue in an interview that reporters that talked smack about Trump should be fired.
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The combination of these three factors makes for a very toxic and unpredictable Presidency. Not only will this be a problem for people within the United States trying to make sense of Trumps policies and how they will affect them but will also be a great challenge for nations abroad trying to predict how the US will behave in the future. Trump is already aligning himself with far-right nationalists across Europe and made moves to defund the United Nations, cripple NATO, and support the weakening of the European Union, seemingly without concern about the long-term consequences. It is hard to tell what will be the impact of Trumps presidency. But if he is able to avoid impeachment, one thing is for sure. It will be a rocky four years for everybody.
Men and women from the Middle-East, who had traveled thousands of miles in search of the American Dream found it snatched away from them, one week after President Donald Trump took charge.
Trump's Executive Order, curtailing immigration from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and Somalia sent a shockwave through the Muslim majority countries - combined, they sent 86,000 visitors to the United States in 2015 (Department of Homeland Security), half a lakh obtained permanent U.S. residency that year.
As Vice News pointed out, the Middle Eastern immigrant is quite the opposite of the evil Trump administration paints him as.
For one, Middle Eastern immigrants are some of the most highly self-employed of any demographic.
They are even more entrepreneurial than immigrants from Muslim majority countries Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and even India.
"I thought that this country, one of its values was that they don't care what religion you have or where you're from"
Yet, this is the very demographic Trump wants to weed out, irrespective of education, employment history, or any other qualifying basis. "We based our entire lives here," Iranian-born Masoud Afzali, told Reuters in a phone interview. "I thought that this country, one of its values was that they don't care what religion you have or where you're from, and that you can live freely."
Afzali had won a green card through immigration lottery and came to the United States with his wife and daughter about a year and a half ago. Last week, his wife and three-year-old daughter went to visit family in Iran. Now, they face the prospect of being separated indefinitely.
"We based our entire lives here," Afzali said in a phone interview on Saturday, his voice breaking.
"I thought that this country, one of its values was that they don't care what religion you have or where you're from, and that you can live freely."
One of India's most wanted terrorists, Hafiz Saeed has blamed the 'growing friendship between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump' for his surprise house arrest by Pakistani authorities.
In a video message posted on Monday following his detention, Saeed alleged that Pakistan government took the decision under international pressure.
Reuters
He said that India had put pressure on Trump to act against him as he wanted close ties with Modi. Saeed, who has never held back his hatred towards the US in the video message, however, says he doesn't have any issue with America and it was only with India.
Raking up Kashmir once again, the globally designated terrorist said he will continue the "fight for Kashmir" no matter if he is under house arrest.
Reuters
In what came as a surprise move to many, Pakistan had on Monday placed Saeed and his four aides under house arrest for their activities to harm peace and security. Saeed along with his aides will be held at his residence in Johar town which has now been converted into a sub-jail for the next three months.
Simultaneously, a crackdown was also launched Jamaat-ud-Dawa headquarters and offices in Muridke and Lahore.
According to a notification issued by the Pakistan Interior Ministry, Saeed has been detained under Section 11-EEE(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Reacting to the development, Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the government was taking steps to fulfil its international obligations regarding JuD.
AP
Khan also hinted at taking steps against JuD.
The organisation has been under observation since 2010-11. Since it has also been listed by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee, we are bound to take some steps and we are taking those steps to fulfil our obligations.
While Pakistan claims that its action wasn't under pressure, it is worthwhile to note that there were reports that Trump could enlist Pakistan to the names of countries from which citizens have been temporarily banned entry into the US.
Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack has evaded law for all these years due to his proximity with the political and military leadership in Islamabad.
Despite India's demanding him to be tried for his crimes, Pakistan has always protected him, even at the expense of facing international isolation.
Donald Trump is ruining lives in more than one way and it's getting scary.
Mahmoud Hassan was on his way to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) when Trump's signature on the immigration order razed all his dreams to the ground. All this 18-year-old wanted to do was to earn an engineering degree from MIT but now his hopes have vanished into oblivion.
mahmoud hassan
Hassan, who's from Damascus, Syria, can no longer pursue his dream owing to Trump's immigration order that temporarily bans citizens of seven Muslim countries including Syria.
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"Now Trump's orders will prevent me from going there. My dreams are basically ruined," Hassan told CNN. Hassan had also won a scholarship for the programme he was readying himself to join later this year.
Hassan is no longer sure what he wants to do.
According to Sebastian Strangio, one of the reasons behind this preference is Chinas emphasis on investing in big infrastructure projects. (Photo : Getty Images)
Despite receiving support from both the United States and China, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has always preferred to resort to its warm relations with the rising superpower. This has been the case since 2006, when Prime Minister Hun Sen declared China as its "most trustworthy friend."
Cambodia's inclination towards China may prove advantageous amidst a more protectionist and inward-looking United States under President Donald Trump, according to an article by TheNews.com.pk.
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According to Sebastian Strangio, one of the reasons behind this preference is the China's emphasis on investing in big infrastructure projects. This is in direct contrast to West's focus on soft development, such as enhancing democracy, transparency, and good governance.
"The Chinese build bridges and roads and there are no complicated conditions," said Hun Sen, as quoted in Strangio's book entitled "Hun Sen's Cambodia"
Passing on the Torch
As the United States retreats from the globalism and free-trade, a resurgent China may provide an alternative to countries like Cambodia.
Although Beijing has no intentions of espousing liberal democracy, its rising economic and political power will be sought after as a beacon of globalization.
Hints at this changing global set-up became apparent when President Xi Jinping attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, a first for a Chinese head of state. During the forum, he warned world leaders against protectionism, likening it to "locking oneself in a dark room."
Many analysts saw several contradictions when President Xi delivered his message and mulled over the possibility of an authoritarian Communist party boss taking on the torch of globalism.
Globalization with a twist
For Yongjin Zhang, a professor of international politics at the University of Bristol, there is a disconnect between the traditional definition of globalization, as seen by the champions of liberal democracy, and China's own perspective of the phenomenon.
"The Chinese understanding of globalization is different from the prevailing liberal project that Trump is trying to dismantle," said Zhang.
"China may attempt to defend that part of globalization that China has benefited from, free trade for example. However it is not committed to globalization as a liberal project for constructing the future world."
Trump's Cruel Ban on Refugees Sets a Chilling Precedent
This self-serving move may only be the beginning from the new President. If he can stop refugees from coming in, who's to say he won't also kick them out or worse?
By Robert Fisk January 30, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " The Independent " - So Donald Trump is going to f**k them all. No excuses for such filthy words today. Im only quoting the man whose Pentagon offices he just used to disgrace himself and America. For it was Secretary of Defence James Mad Dog Mattis who told Iraqis in 2003 that he came in peace he even urged his Marines to be compassionate but said of those who might dare to resist Americas illegal invasion of their country: If you f**k with me, Ill kill you all. Theres no getting round it. Call it Nazi, Fascist, racist, vicious, illiberal, immoral, cruel. More dangerously, what Trump has done is a wicked precedent. If you can stop them coming, you can chuck them out. If you can demand extreme vetting of Muslims from seven countries, you can also demand a values test for those Muslims who have already made it to the USA. Those on visas. Those with residency only. Those if they are American citizens with dual citizenship. Or full US citizens of Muslim origin. Or just Americans who are Muslims. Or Hispanics. Or Jews? Refugees one day. Citizens the next. Then refugees again. No, of course, Trump would never visit such obscene tests on Jewish immigrants for they would be obscene, would they not? and nor will he stop Christians from Muslim countries. America has always condemned sectarian states, but now Trump declares that he approves of sectarianism. Minorities will be welcome the Alawites of Syria, to whom Bashar al-Assad belongs, will presumably not count, and I guess we can expect all US embassies to have three queues for visa applicants. One for Muslims, one for Christians, and a third marked Other. Thats where most of us will be standing in line. And by doing so, we will automatically give approval to this iniquitous system and to Trump. Theres no point in wasting time over the obvious: that America has bombed, directly or indirectly, five of the seven nations on Trumps banned list. Sudan just escapes, but the US blew a packed Iranian passenger airliner out of the sky in 1988 and has raised no objections to Israels bombing of Iranian personnel in Syria. So that makes six. Theres nothing to be gained by reiterating that the four countries whose citizens participated in the international crimes against humanity of 9/11 Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Emirates and Lebanon do not feature on the list. For the Saudis must be loved, cosseted, fawned over, approved, even when they chop off heads and when their citizens funnel cash to the murderers of Isis. Egypt is ruled by Trumps fantastic guy anti-terrorist president al-Sisi. The glisteningly wealthy Emirates wont be touched. Nor will Lebanon, although its tens of thousands of dual-national Syrians may have a tough time in the future. But no, this vile piece of legislation is not aimed at nations. Its targeting refugees, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The Muslim ones, that is, not the Christians. How can they ever withstand a values test? And what are Americas values anyway? Its OK to attack sovereign states. Its OK to use pilotless planes to assault men and women in other countries. Its OK if your allies steal land from others for their own people, if you support Arab dictatorships that emasculate and execute and rape their prisoners, as long as they are allies of the USA. Its OK to fast-track Saudi visas as the Brits have been doing for years even if they are members of the most inspirational Wahhabi cult in the world: membership includes the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Isis, you name it. Theres even no value in touting our own participation in this charade. Having just patted the killer governments of the Gulf on the head and heading off to do the same to Turkeys autocrat-in-chief our poodlet prime minister, fresh out of Washington, hasnt uttered a word about Trumps wickedness. Wasnt it Britain and America, for heavens sake that was weeping copious tears, buckets of the stuff, for the 250,000 (or 90,000) Muslim refugees of eastern Aleppo a couple of months ago? And now, so much do we care for them, that they are being well and truly f****d. They were almost all Muslims in eastern Aleppo, by the way. The Christians of Syria have, through no fault of their own, sought protection from Bashar. And what message did the Christian priests of northern Syria give when I interviewed them? They did not want their people to leave for the West, they said. Hard though it was, Christians should stay in the lands of their faith, the Middle East. In the West, they would merely be lost in a secular world. Trump is going to make sure they are. Thus America is henceforth going to protect itself from radical Islamic extremists Islamic note, not Islamist and well all be able to follow him. Is non-EU Britain not going to be able to march along the same awful path? If America is our economic lifeline, will it not also be our moral lifeline for the political buffoons of the United Kingdom? Sure, its a long time since World War Two. But then, what did the US do before or after Hitlers evil? It prevented Jewish refugees from coming to America. Yes, even Anne Frank. And now theyre at it again. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Representatives of Belt and Road member countries. (Photo : Getty Images)
If reforms would be implemented, China could significantly transform global economic development as the world is expected to gain huge benefits from China's Belt and Road Initiative, Jean-Pierre Lehmann, an expert on the international economy, said Friday, Jan. 27, at a conference in Bucharest in Romania.
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Lehmann, who is also the founder of the Evian Group, said in his speech that the world could gain huge economic benefits from the initiative, which involves about $2.5 trillion and has added 1.75 percent surplus to the world's GDP, although it has yet to overcome challenges such as acquiring new assets and addressing social unrest in some areas, Xinhua News Agency reported.
According to Lehmann, "the narrative of the 21st century will be written in Asia by the Asians, and above all, by China as a regional and global power."
"China is already the main market for many countries, from Brazil to France . . . there are Chinese interests across the world, from Seattle to Djibouti," the expert added.
Lehmann pointed out that China's global influence has been noticeable.
"The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), set up in 2016, attracted even the U.S. allies, and Obama failed to prevent them from joining the AIIB. China already set up 110 economic zones in 50 countries. In Xi'an (a city in China's northwest), the Summit of the Silk Road gathered 500 participants from 52 countries," he said.
The expert said China has contributed about 25 percent to world economic growth and by 2030, it is expected to become a top-earning economy fueled by creativity and ideas.
"The Chinese economy was made by muscle, but now it's getting more with the brain, but many do not understand this!"
Lehmann said that it is a symbiotic relationship in which the world relies on China and China depends on the world. He attributed this gain to the reform and open policies of the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. Now, three decades after him, the world needs China, the expert noted.
The expert also advised that companies doing business in China face strong competition.
"Often, many countries seem to have the same competitive advantages, but you should keep up the discussion and build relations for business with the Chinese," he advised.
"In January 2017, the first freight train from Yiwu (in eastern China) to London became operational and Xi Jinping was the first Chinese president to come to Davos, this is staggering! We already speak of Eurasia. Things happen at an amazingly rapid pace," Lehmann added.
He said that "China's foreign policy could reshape a good part of the world's economy," but it should be taken as a move that China is moving towards domination or hegemony.
Outrage About Trump Exposes "Librul" Hypocrisy
By Moon Of Alabama
January 30, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " Moon Of Alabama " - The current "librul" outrage about Trump's announced policies is somewhat amusing. Yes, these policies are bad, very bad. Trump is bad. But so was Obama and so is Clinton. Protesting the policies of one while not protesting when the other implemented the same policies is insincere grandstanding.
Wherever you look, those Trump policies are building directly on, or simply repeat Obama policies. The now theatrically outraged people swallowed those without a word of protest.
A Trump order yesterday introduced a temporary ban on visa holders and visa issuing to citizens of seven Middle East countries. These countries are: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Those countries have one thing in common. No terrorist who killed on U.S. soil originated from them. The (few) terrorists who attacked within the U.S. came from the Middle Eastern countries not on the list. Following Trump's order, outcries on social media and in various papers ensued. People went to airports to protest. TV was there to spread the news.
But it is nothing new that the citizens of those countries are targeted with U.S. visa restrictions. It was Obama who introduced such in 2015 and 2016. The Trump order links directly to them. It does not name any country but refers to them as "countries designated in Division O, Title II, Section 203 of the 2016 consolidated appropriations act."
U.S animosities against these countries is even older. According to the former general Clark, plans were made to wage war against six of the now named seven countries back in 2001. Yemen was later added while Lebanon was (temporarily?) taken off the list. The administrations change, the selected "enemies" stay the same.
In 2011 Obama stopped processing Iraqi visa requests for six month. That move was quite similar to Trump's current one. Where was the outcry in 2001? In 2011, 2015 and 2016? Is it only bad when Trump restricts visits for certain people from certain countries?
Sure, Trump introduces his "outrageous" measures loud and abruptly where Obama sneaked them in. But that is just different marketing, not a different product.
This morning CNN headlines: White House discussing asking foreign visitors for social media info and cell phone contacts. HOW OUTRAGEOUS! How can Trump even think of such an invasion of privacy! Fake outrage - Obama had already signed off on this. The plans to collect social media accounts of traveling visitors and citizens were officially introduced in October 2016 and the implementation started in December 2016. The Trump White House is late in discussing the issue.
Yesterday Trump also issued a memorandum to structure his National Security Council. It says that the Director of National Intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Staff "shall attend" when it is pertinent to the issue in question. "Librul" outrage ensues. Trump excludes the DNI and CJCOS from the NSC! Obama's first Defense Secretary calls it a "huge mistake"! But a comparison of the text Trump issued with the text Obama issued when he came into office shows them to be mostly similar. Nothing really relevant has changed. The "shall attend" clause is exactly the same.
Yesterday people were protesting at airports against Trump's temporary immigration restrictions. Lots of outrage against Trump ensued on social media over this and the other issues. The hypocrisy here stinks to high heaven. Where were the protest when Obama did similar?
Where are the protests demanding the repeal of the Patriot Act? Where are the anti-war protests? These died as soon as Obama came into office. They never came back even as Obama pursued polices that were, at best, Republican light and far from any progressive ideal. Only fake liberals, aka "libruls", could agree with these. When Dick Cheney is your witness against Trump you have lost the plot.
Many of the people coming out now against Trump would likely have jubilated had Hilliary Clinton won the election and introduced the exactly same policies. Protest against the system that is incorporated in Trump, just as it is incorporated in Clinton, does not come to their mind. Do they expect to be taken serious?
There was no outrage today from any of the U.S. "libruls" and their media outlets about last nights failed U.S. military raid in Yemen. The rural home of a tribal leader's family, friendly with some Yemeni al-Qaeda members, was raided by a special operations commando. A U.S. tiltrotor military aircraft was shot down during the raid. One soldier was killed and several were wounded. The U.S. commandos responded with their usual panic. They killed anyone in sight and bombed the shit out of any nearby structure. According to Yemeni sources between 30 and 57 Yemenis were killed including eight women and eight children (graphic pics). The U.S. military claimed, as it always does, that no civilians were hurt in the raid.
One of the killed kids was the 8 year old daughter of al-Qaeda propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki. (The targeted family is related to al-Awlaki's wife.) The girl was a U.S. citizen. Under Obama the CIA had already assassinated her father and her 16 year old brother. With Obama's active help the Gulf countries have been bombing and destroying Yemen for nearly two years. No U.S. demonstrations were held against this war.
Yemeni sources say that at least two men were abducted by the U.S. military. The Central Command press release only said that the raid had helped to acquire "intelligence" about possible future terror acts. That probably means that the prisoners will be tortured to unveil such "intelligence" even as they may not have any. The Obama administration had introduced new rules for the military on how to handle detainees. The UN judged that the application of some of these rules is torture. The "libruls" will of course be outraged should any of those rules, which Obama introduced, be used under a Trump administration.
The hypocritical outrage against Trump for things Obama already did is exactly what Trump wants and needs. He keeps chasing the media and the Clintonistas around the block. The impression he leaves, not only with his followers, is that of a man who works a lot. 25 outrages out of 25 headlines in just one week? "Impressive! That is way more than Obama achieved!"
Trump already filed for reelection. Who really wants to beat him will have to attack him on fundamental issues. That is a problem for the "libruls". Obama and Clinton stand for the same terrible policies Trump is pushing for. They are not as loud as Trump and paint their aims in softer colors. But the difference is only one of degree.
The U.S., like many other "western" countries, needs fundamentally different policies and politicians to become a more just and social society. The current "librul" outcries take energy away from achieving such.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
"Muslim ban" hypocrisy: Left quiet when Obama also halted visas: Why was the Left silent when the Obama administration refused to issue visas to Iraqis for six months?
Move the Embassy: End the Charade
By Stanley L. Cohen January 31, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " Counterpunch " - Among Donald Trumps first acts as President was suspending Barack Obamas last a grant of 221 million dollars in discretionary humanitarian aid to Palestine. But why pause before the next move against Palestine? Move the US Embassy to East Jerusalem right now and end this charade once and for all. Politics US politicians like to preach from on high about justice for Palestinians and Israelis alike as if the pathway of pain for occupied and occupier is one-in-the same as if these two dramatically different ends of the scales of justice can, indeed should, be balanced. When it comes to Palestine, for decades the United States has hidden behind a cheap frilly veneer of neutrality all the while subsidizing, to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, a vicious, often deadly, criminal occupation that has used impediment and stalling tactics to re-sculpt a landscape that has been home to Palestinians for the millennium. How often do we hear from US politicians that Palestine is a complex issue? In point of fact, Palestine is very complicated only when confusion provides opportune cover for delay. Of course, ethnic cleansing knows no better cover than delay. The debate about the whens, wheres and whys can go on and on as not much more than the allure of excuse. There are, however, certain fundamental truths about Palestine that cannot be denied even by those largely European immigrants who have become expert at rewriting history to suit a land grab of epic and on-going proportion. Population While figures vary from source to source, in 1914, Palestine had a population of between 600-738,000 Palestinians (Muslim & Christian Arabs as well as other religions) and 59-94,000 Jews. In 1922, the census showed some 660-725,000 Palestinians and 84-89,000 Jews. In 1931, it is recorded that 4,075 Jews immigrated to Palestine along with 1245 Christians and 213 Muslims. In 1935 it was 61,854 Jews who immigrated with 903 Arabs and 1390 Christians and others. In 1937 it was 10,500 Jews, 743 Arabs and 1196 Christians and others who came to Palestine. By the end of 1944, the Jewish population had increased to 528,702 of which 117,226 were natural and 327,686 were immigrants. The Arab population had increased to 1,061,277 of which 453,405 were natural and 18,695 were immigrants. Christians and others increased to 149,645 of which 51,616 were natural and 18,948 were immigrant. Four years later, in 1948, when land designated as Israel was ripped from the heartland of Palestine by UN political fiat, the two sides were ill-matched. The Jewish community in Palestine was much smaller: approximately 608-630,000 to the Arab, Christian and others 1.3-1.7 million roughly 30 or so percent of the overall population. In spite of all Israels efforts, the Jewish population remains in the minority (as it has since at least the 5th century). Land As of 1922 Jews owned roughly 3% of the land in Palestine which increased to some 7% of its total over the next decade. When the State of Israel was established, Jewish ownership of land stood at 8.6%, with 3.3% owned by those who were to become known as Israeli-Arabs while another 16.9% of land was abandoned by Palestinian owners who fled in advance of the war that was to come. Following the UN pronouncement, some 700,000 Palestinians were driven from their farms and villages with estimates running as high as 20,000 civilians killed, twice as many injured and hundreds of rapes carried out by marauding terrorists from the Irgun, Stern Gang and Haganah. Hundreds of villages and towns were eradicated. In the war that followed, another 400 to 600 Palestinian villages were sacked while urban Palestine was almost entirely extinguished. Out of about 400 Jewish settlements built post 1948, 350 were fabricated on Palestinian refugee property. Between 1948 and 1950 some 369 Palestinian villages were erased and replaced by 161 new Jewish settlements. During that same period, Israel seized two-thirds of all cultivated land which had been owned by Palestinians who were forced to flee. Reliable estimates indicate that ultimately 80% of the Arab inhabitants, in what became Israel, left or were expelled from their homes, swept out by a colonial design that has run unabated since 1948 one in which the US has been very much a willing partner, indeed, enabler of the ethnic cleansing that has ensued. Fast Forward 1993: The Wasted Talks The Oslo Peace Process of 1993 was intended to lead to a final negotiated settlement between the parties within five years. Among other things, it divided the West Bank into three administrative divisions: Areas A, B, and C. The first two were the smallest and were to be home to just Palestinians subject to varying degrees of Palestinian oversight. Area C, the largest at approximately 75% of the West Bank, was gradually to be transferred to Palestinian jurisdiction. It also led to the creation of a Palestinian Authority (PA) with responsibility for the administration of territory under its control. Oslo I was signed in Washington D.C., followed by Oslo II in 1995. Among other things, this agreement, also known as the Taba Agreement, called for prompt Israeli withdrawals from various Palestinian areas and expanded Palestinian self-rule. Following Oslo I, in rapid order, came: The Gaza-Jerico Agreement also known as the Cairo Agreement (1994);The Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities Between Israel and the PLO ( August 1994); The Protocol on Further Transfers of Powers and Responsibilities (August 1995); The Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron (January 1997); The Wye River Memorandum (October 1998); The Sharm el-Sheik Memorandum (September 1999); The Camp David Meetings in (July, 2000); The Agreement on Movement and Access (November 2005); and, most recently, during 2013-2014, the unsuccessful attempt by now former Secretary of State Kerry to restart the so-called peace process. Although these dozen or so hollow agreements, protocols and meetings made for powerful photo ops and fine dining, in practice they provided little more than cover cover for Israel to steal more and more Palestinian land and moral cover for the US to speak of justice while, in reality, stoking the flames of racial and religious hatred through billions of dollars for Israeli settlements and weapons. The Growth of Settlements To some degree, the Oslo Accords are based upon the 1978 Camp David Agreement that resulted in a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. At the time of the agreement, there lived some 7,400 settlers in the West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem), and 500 in Gaza. Fifteen years later, at the time of the 1993 Oslo Accords, there were some 262,500 settlers in the West Bank. Seven years later, at the Camp David Summit of 2000, there were a total of 362,945 settlers in the West bank with 169,969 in East Jerusalem. By 2013, some 20 years after the Oslo Accords, the number of settlers grew to 520,000, across the West Bank, including 200,000 in East Jerusalem. Today, there are approximately 250 settlements and outposts in the West Bank home to some 800,000 illegal settlers constituting approximately 13% of Israels population. Among them are 13 settlements and 12 solely Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem where 200,000 Israelis live. The population of East Jerusalem is now down to 37% Palestinian. Area C of the West Bank is now 99% settler occupied. Empowered by the election of Donald Trump and his nomination of David M. Friedman, long aligned with its settler far right, as Ambassador to Israel, it has approved more than 3,000 new units in the occupied West Bank, and signaled a green light to take what little else remains. The Bleeding Hearts of the White House One need not be a soothsayer to note a steady unbroken pattern of Israel swallowing more and more of the occupied West Bank even as U.S. politicians, republican and democrats alike convene feel good peace conferences or wax on about the need for justice for Palestinians. As then President, Jimmy Carter noted There has to be a homeland provided for the Palestinian refugees who have suffered for many, many years. Ronald Reagan, spoke of autonomy talks to pave the way for permitting the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate rights. George H.W. Bush criticized the presence of illegal settlements in the West Bank noting Outposts, yeah, they ought to go. President Clinton opined about the need for the creation of a new Palestinian State based on the idea of self-determination for the Palestinian people. George W. Bush called for a halt to Israels military occupation of Palestinian lands needed for a state. Several years ago Barrack Obama decriedmore aggressive settlement construction over the last couple years than weve seen in a very long time. Though these sentiments have been echoed by each occupant of the White House over the last 40 years, in reality theyve reflected little more than a conspicuous political subterfuge to garner votes while providing Israel unlimited funds to support its endless aggression. The cold hard reality is US politicians care far more about the domestic political mileage and influence of American Zionists than they do abstract notions of international law or justice for Palestinians. One simply cant have it both ways calling out for justice while subsidizing Israeli hatred and violence with an open checkbook and empty rhetoric. Its just not possible to be a neutral and detached arbiter at the same time courting votes. Ultimately, it doesnt matter. Israel simply does not care. 68 years of its history, and counting, has shown that it has and will continue to do whatever it wishes to Palestinians unless and until the United States holds it accountable by ripping up the blank check or until the pain and suffering of its colonial enterprise becomes just too much for Israelis to bear. Enter Donald Trump Donald trump is a simple man with a simple mind. Its his way or none. He loves the challenge of being the smartest, toughest and most creative thinker in the room even when he knows hes far from it. To Trump theres nothing like the grand dare, even when he knows hes not up to it. And when all else fails, he simply makes up the narrative to suit his view. In Trumps world honesty is for the weak, reality for those who cant lie and then simply move on. For decades presidents have determined that they could pontificate to the world about justice for Palestinians but finance Israel in its drive to purge them from the river to the sea without costs that they were unwilling to bear. However, these same presidents discerned a bright red line beyond which they could not cross without unleashing consequences far too explosive to contemplate namely, moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to the capital of Palestine in Jerusalem. Apparently Donald Trump does not care. To the politically naive, such a move would be of little practical consequence a mere symbolic gesture. To millions of Palestinians, indeed hundreds of millions of Arabs, moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem without their specific invitation would constitute a point of no return a veritable disaster in waiting. In one fell swoop, it would signal an end to two separate yet related fictions that, since Oslo, have helped to enable a relative calm in Palestine even in the presence of the loss of much of it to settlers: 1) that the United States was interested in even the semblance of neutrality and 2) that the PA has the ability to represent the traditions and aspirations of the Palestinian people with meaningful capability and authority. So, Mr. Trump, proceed at your own peril. If you feel, as Ambassador-to-be Friedman does, that Jerusalem is Israels eternal capital proceed with your folly. Move the Embassy. To millions of Palestinians, the only answer will be militant and fierce resistance, and it will come as sure as the early morning call to prayer. Stanley L. Cohen is lawyer and activist in New York City. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Is Trumps Agenda Starting to Show Shades of Brown? The Million Dollar Question By Peter Koenig January 31, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Where is Mr. Trump coming from and where is he going to? What is really on his agenda, what is trustworthy, and what is sheer farce and eventually killed by its own weight of controversy? While out there, the different agenda items are spun around by the presstitute as anti-Trump and pro-establishment propaganda. Left and right do no longer exist. The so-called liberal elitist intellectual left has sold its soul to the neocons, they may not even realize to what extent. The benefits they cash-in have blinded them to the disaster politics being propagated by the globalist-Atlantists. They are now fully in the realm of the Neocon crony directed western mass-media. After all, the lush western comfort zone is difficult to leave while it lasts; key sentence while it lasts. Thereafter the deluge which may mean eradication of life on earth as we know it. In comes Trump, thinking he doesnt need the establishment; a multi-billionaire who doesnt need the approval or the money from the establishment. In a symbolic gesture, he renounced his salary as President of the United States. If it only were that simple. In a historic move, President Trump has signed in the first ten days in Office an impressive number of Presidential Decrees and Executive Orders, has initiated long phone calls with friends and foes and even received the Prime Minister of Washingtons closest ally, Mme. Teresa May from the UK. To be sure, she came with her own agenda, a trade deal and a promise to keep NATO alive. In the light of everything else that is going on, did she get what she came for, or is it yet another make-believe propaganda event? Executive Orders Among the Executive Orders, Presidential Decrees and Controversies, is the objective of achieving a peaceful alliance with Russia, jointly fighting terrorism in the Middle East, notably eradicating ISIS and affiliated terror groups like Al-Nusra, Al-Qaeda and other belligerent mercenaries, eventually to finding peace in Syria, Iraq and the Middle East as a whole as well as in Ukraine. Mr. Trump also considers NATO obsolete and outdated and rightly so. Since 1991, the official role of NATO, to defend Europe from a possible intrusion of the Soviet Union has disappeared. Never mind, that NATO has since then be reborn, namely as a constant aggressor of Russia, against all agreements made between the allies, winners of WWII in 1991, expanding its military bases from 12 in 1991 to over 30 today, all encircling and threating Russia willingly provoking possibly an all-devastating WWIII. It is clear that western promises, agreements and diplomacy count for nothing. The US / western military industrial complex calls the shots or enunciated differently: lucrative destructive military production and war overrule peace; they buy politicians and diplomats. The obsolete NATO statement, was quickly interpreted by his cabinet appointees and military advisors as meaning that Europe has to chip in more reminding of Obamas request that European NATO members should contribute with at least 2% (of GDP) military budget, thereby reducing the funding gap which now stands at 70% US vs. 30 % other members. Trumps campaign pledges were genuinely addressing the peoples concerns. Not only of the American people, but the vast majority of the worlds population wants peace. Contrary to what one would believe, reading, listening and watching the MSM. While Mr. Trump talked on Saturday, 28 January, for over an hour with Mr. Putin on the phone, seeking harmonious relations, establishing a person-to-person contact between the two leaders, even projecting a personal meeting soon for closer discussions on how to address Syria, Ukraine the fight against (Washington-made) ISIS and other associated Middle-Eastern terror groups, the ever ongoing anti-Russia drum-beat must be ringing in his ears. Mr. Trumps own Cabinet appointees were berating and demonizing Russia, following the establishments (Deep State) script, with false and toothless accusations. These are the proclamations of Mr. Mattis, Secretary of Defense I would consider the principal threats, starting with Russia; Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State-designate: Russia today poses a danger; Mike Pompeo the new Tea-Party Republican CIA Director: Russia has reasserted itself aggressively. Of course, no evidence, just negative propaganda. All the while, Madame May is warning Mr. Trump on the risks associated in dealing with Mr. Putin and that utmost caution was in order. This may have been one of the reasons for not talking about lifting of sanctions during his conversation with Vladimir Putin. There were serious rumors circulating that in a good will gesture, Mr. Trump may lift the useless and illegal sanctions against Russia. Of course, this may have made Europe look ridiculous, including the UK under Teresa May, holding on to sanctions which were imposed in the first place only because as vassals to Washington they were unable to resist and refuse the sanctions mandated by Obama, three years ago and which were doing more harm to Europe than to Russia. And now, what to do, if Trump abolishes them? Do they, the Master puppets of Europe also rescind them, showing publicly that they are nothing but a spineless bunch of stooges? Also, the only reasoning for the sanctions were two gross and flagrant western lies, (i) Russia interference in Ukraine, and (ii) Russia annexation of Crimea. Lifting the sanctions would mean the justification for them has gone basically admitting to the lie. The west has literally dug itself in a hole of worms, or worse, a nest of tarantulas. Now, where does Trump stand? Here are some of the controversial decrees and executive orders, domestic as well as international. Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines As part of the many decrees he signed last week, Mr. Trump reversed Mr. Obamas ban on the Keystone XL pipeline, as well as the Dakota Access pipeline. It is an abrogation of the native Americans civil rights living in this area. He said there would be renegotiation, between whom and whom was not clear. The pipeline projects would follow a quick environmental assessment process. But the main reason for doing so, he said, was creating jobs creating jobs building the pipelines, but also in manufacturing the steel pipes in the US. The Sierra Club and other environmentalists immediately denounced Mr. Trumps decision and announced huge protests, much larger than those which brought Obama to put a freeze on these controversial projects. According to the Native Online News, Mr. Trump took down the Native Americans Web Page from the White House web pages, as well as the web pages on civil rights, people with disabilities and climate change, all of which were part of the White House Intranet during the last eight years of Obamas White House. Is this indicative on how Mr. Trump feels towards minorities? Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trade Agreement One of the new Presidents first moves was canceling the Obama-negotiated TPP. This was just a formality, as the trade deal between 11 Pacific countries and the US was already dead during the last months of Obamas White House tenure. Nothing new there. But this formality could pave the way for an equal or even more important trade deal prevention, the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) with the European Union the deal that would be so bad, it needed to be negotiated in secret and behind closed doors. The same for TiSA, the Trade in Services Agreement that involves 50 countries (49 + US) and would lead the way to privatizing all service systems, from water supply to health, to education and on by international corporations, mostly American corporations. Cancelation of these trade agreements is a good thing. They are all lopsided in favor of American corporations rent-seeking activities abroad. They are nefarious for Europeans and Americans alike, if their puppet leaders accept them, like the submissive Brussels technocrats, and their tooth- and spineless member countries. However, that was not Mr. Trumps worry. His worry is, America First bring back these overseas jobs and manufacture at home, creating jobs at home. This conforms with the deglobalizing principle of local production for local markets, creating local jobs actually supporting the American working class which has been miserably neglected over the past few decades of relentless outsourcing to cheap-labor countries.. The Mexican Border Wall Trump had promised throughout his campaign he would build a wall (Israel style) along the Mexican border to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and that the cost of the wall had to be borne by Mexico. Mexicos President, Enrique Pena Nieto said Mexico would not pay for the border wall. Escalating the conflict, President Trump accused Mexico of burdening the United States with illegal immigrants, criminals and trade deficit. If Pena Nieto would refuse, The US would pay for the wall with a 20% import levy on all goods and services from Mexico. The argument has come to a standstill, as Mexicos President, under public pressure, has come forth strong, canceling the meeting with Donald Trump scheduled for this week in Washington. In his anti-immigrant zeal, Trump did not consider the economic disaster a ban on (illegal) immigrants would mean for western US economies that depend on them agriculture, hostelries, and small manufacturing. On the other hand, inventive Mexican business wizards are circulating rumors that Mexico might want to convert the wall into a tourist attraction, equipped with hotels, restaurants, parks, shops and even a museum telling the visitors the true story of the piece of land where the United States has built a wall, to whom that land originally belonged and who stole it and under what circumstances. A bit of history along with the wall could indeed do no harm. Banning Immigration from Muslim Countries President Trump also signed a controversial Executive Order banning immigration notably from Middle East countries, like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen. This created havoc at airport border controls throughout the US and the world, as hordes of refugees and travelers from Middle Eastern countries were blocked, after Trumps signing of the Executive Order. According to the NYT, a Brooklyn judge ruled to prevent the government from deporting some of the refugees back into their home countries, as they might be exposed to harsh and inhuman treatment. He stopped short, however, from declaring Trumps action as constitutionally illegal and did not go as far as letting the stranded crowds into the country. So, the chaos prevails. What else is new? The Masters of Chaos just added a new dimension to the never-ending chaos of the war on terror. Syria Safe Zones President Trump last week gave the Pentagon and the State Department 90 days to come up with a plan to establish safe zones within Syria. This is akin to the Obama / Hillary desire, implying no-fly zones (for Syria military) and potential mid-air conflicts between Russian and US / NATO planes, both allegedly fighting terrorists. According to Trump, the safe zones were meant to protect Syrian war-stricken refugees. This latest idea is a stark departure from his earlier campaign pledge to make peace in Syria and cooperate with Russia in eradicating ISIS and other terrorists, and to abandon the policy of US foreign interference. Needless to say, neither Syria or Russia have been consulted. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called on Washington to reconsider such a move in a conflict-ridden Syria, where both sides are engaged in aerial military campaigns. Is it possible that this latest Trump contradiction is in response to Netanyahus request and long desire to destabilize Syria and to establish safe zones so that gradually Syria could be infiltrated with US, NATO and Israeli ground troops to protect the Syrian population and eventually advance towards Damascus to force a regime change? With this order to his Pentagon colleagues, Trump breaches his campaign promise of non-interference in other countries. Is he poised to become a traitor only few days into his Presidency? Surprisingly, Britains Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should be allowed to run for re-election in the event of a peace deal in Syria. This is a drastic reversal of the UK position which until recently was a carbon copy of Washingtons regime change objective. Johnson added, We have been wedded for a long time to the mantra that Assad must go, and we have not been able at any stage to make that happen, and that has produced the difficulty we now face. We are getting to the stage where some sort of democratic resolution has got to be introduced and if there is a political solution, then I dont think we can really avoid such a democratic event. I think that is the way forward. Lets see how that chives with Mr. Trumps idea to please Mr. Netanyahu. Torture and Water Boarding plus Already back in February 2016, Trump said, torture works, water boarding will be back; it will be soft in the light of other interrogation enhancement tactics we will do much worse water boarding is fine, but it is not really tough enough. Under a three-page draft order, titled Detention and Interrogation of Enemy Combatants, Trump would also bring back rendition and dark prisons (i.e. CIAs black sites), which Obama banned. If signed, the draft order would also revoke Mr. Obamas directive to give the International Committee of the Red Cross access to all detainees in American custody. The new Trump rule might lead to a blatant infringement against the Geneva Convention of Prisoners of War. These practices of torturing detainees and disappearing them in black sites are serious crimes which must never be repeated, Ian Seiderman, Legal and Policy Director of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) stated. Much worse, according to Michel Chossudovsky , Mike Pompeo, the new head of the CIA, favors the reinstatement of waterboarding, among other torture techniques. He views Muslims as a threat to Christianity and Western civilization. He is identified as a radical Christian extremist who believes that the global war on terrorism (GWOT) constitutes a war between Islam and Christianity. The GWOT is not just fought abroad; it will continue being a major task for the Homeland Security Department, hence guaranteeing their work for years to come. It is already now hard to believe that anything regarding the absurdly paranoid US security position will change under Trump. He receives orders from above. And the above, or the Deep State has an absolute interest in preserving the status quo. This is the one way towards the extremely lucrative aim of Full Spectrum Dominance. War and destruction are highly profit-oriented; believe it or not, the US economy depends on it. If there was peace tomorrow, the US economy would collapse. Moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Early on in his campaign and obviously pleasing one of his Deep State masters, Israels Netanyahu, Mr. Trump let it be known that he intends to transfer the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. As recently reported by Al Jazeera and Information Clearing House (ICH), and against all historic background, preparations are well under way for that move which would be a disaster for US diplomacy, not just in the Middle East but all over the world. The last shred of US credibility would be flushed down the drain. When France and Britain signed the Skype-Picot Agreement hundred years ago (May 1916), dividing Ottoman territories among themselves, Jerusalems status was designated as an international area, due to its shared religious significance. That status was adhered to throughout the 70 years of almost continuous Israeli Palestinian conflict. Trump, under pressure from pro-Israeli Zionist lobbies, also says he may cut funding to the UN, if the international body recognizes Palestine. It is clear, Netanyahu pulls the strings on puppet Trump. And why does Mr. Trump, the strong-minded, financially, politically and, yes, morally independent new President of the United States, voted for by the people, by the common people, by the working-class people, those who have had enough of the promises and lies of the Washington establishment why does he fall to the pressure of the Zionists? These are but some of Mr. Trumps starkly controversial and often contradictory policy decisions; many of them pleasing some, but terrifying others and this not just domestically, but throughout the international arena. The million-dollar question on where President Trump is headed is still a door to a dark room. One worthwhile agenda item, not yet mentioned but should be considered by Mr. Trump as suggested by Paul Craig Roberts is breaking into hundreds of pieces the six mega-media corporations that own [and control] 90% of the US [and western] media and selling the pieces to separate independent owners who have no connection to the ruling elites. Then America would again have a media that can constrain the government with truth rather than use lies to act for or against the government. This might actually fit Mr. Trumps own outrage with the fake news MSM. It might help cutting the monster octopuss tentacles that currently span and usurp the globe, by feeding the people the truth. However, the monsters tentacle-amputations would need to be sealed off with a collective consciousness, so they could never grow back. Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a former World Bank staff and worked extensively around the world in the fields of environment and water resources. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. H He is the author of Implosion An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! - Essays from the Resistance . The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
The Justice System Is Criminal By Paul Craig Roberts January 31, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - On January 23, 2017, I asked, Are Americans Racists? I pointed out examples where racist explanations prevail over empirical fact. I did not write that there is no racism in America. I said that racism is not the be-all and end-all explanation of American history and institutions. The point I made is that racist explanations are often inadequate and both work against racial harmony and blind us to more general and more serious problems. Perhaps the worst of Americas failed institutions is the criminal justice system. The US has the largest prison population in the world, not only as a percentage of the population but also in absolute numbers. Freedom and democracy America has an absolute larger number of incarcerated citizens than authoritarian China, a country with four times the US population. Many factors contribute to this result. One is the privatization of prisons, which has turned them into profit-making enterprises ever needful of more labor to exploit, which adds to the pressure for convictions. Another factor is the disregard of the protective features of law in order to more easily pursue demonized offender groups, such as the Mafia, child abusers, drug dealers and users, and terrorists. Lawrence M. Stratton and I describe the transformation of law from a shield of the people into a weapon in the hands of the state in our book, The Tyranny of Good Intentions. This transformation did not occur because of racism. It occurred because chasing after devils and convicting them became more important than justice. Today the criminal justice system is largely indifferent to a defendants guilt or innocence. This is a far worst problem than racism. It is the main reason that there are so many false convictions in the US and so many wrongfully convicted Americans in prison. Indeed, even the guilty are wrongfully convicted as it is easier to frame them than to convict them on the evidence. To be clear: The primary reason for wrongful conviction is that the success indicator for police, prosecutor, and judge is conviction, not justice. Crimes are solved by wrongful convictions. High conviction rates boost the careers of prosecutors, and high profile convictions boost their political careers. The key to rapid and numerous convictions is the plea bargain. And plea bargains suit judges as they keep the court docket clear. Today 97% of felony cases are settled with a plea bargain. This means police evidence and a prosecutors case are tested only three times out of 100. When the evidence and case are tested in court, the test confronts a vast array of prosecutorial misconduct, such as suborned perjury and the withholding of exculpatory evidence. In America, everything is loaded against Justice. In a plea bargain police do not have to present evidence, prosecutors do not have to bring a case, and judges do not have to pay attention to the case and be troubled by a growing backlog as trials consume days and weeks. In a plea bargain the defendant, innocent or guilty, is told that he can plead to this or that offence, which carries a lighter sentence than the crime that allegedly has actually occurred and on which the defendant is arrested, or the defendant can go to trial where he will face more serious charges that carry much harsher penalties. As it has become routine for police to falsify evidence, for prosecutors to suborn perjury and withhold exculpatory evidence, for jurors naively to trust police and prosecutors, and for judges to look the other way, attorneys advise defendants to accept a plea deal. In other words, no one expects a fair trial or for real evidence to play a role in the outcome. The short of it is that the pursuit of justice is not a feature of the American criminal justice system. Justice does not matter to the police, to the prosecutor, to the jury, to the judge, and often not to the hardened defense attorney who has witnessed so much injustice that he believes justice is a fairy tale. The only exception to this is the justice introduced from outside the justice system by innocence projects and pro bono attorneys, such as Bryan Stevenson, director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2014 Stevenson published Just Mercy, a fascinating collection of case histories of wrongful convictions that he and his colleagues managed to have overturned. A book such as this benefits from a main case, and the one that Stevenson delivers is that of Walter McMillian. It required six years for Stevenson to overturn what must be the most obvious, blatant frameup of a completely innocent man in US history. There were a large number of witnesses who testified that they were with McMillian at a fish fry during the time that a murder for which McMillian was indicted and convicted took place. The only evidence against McMillian was the suborned perjury of a man who retracted his coerced testimony three times, once in the courtroom of Alabama Judge Thomas B. Norton, who simply ignored it. McMillian is black, and the sheriff, prosecutor, judge, and jury that framed him are white. This fact, together with the fact that the ignored witnesses whose testimony cleared McMillian were black and McMillians sexual affair with a white woman in a small Alabama town, seem to convince Stevenson that McMillian was convicted because of racism. Using Stevensons own account, I am going to show that many other factors in addition to racism played roles in McMillians wrongful conviction. Stevensons emphasis on a racist explanation of Alabama justice deflects attention from the fact that human corruption and evil go far beyond mere racism. McMillian was wrongfully convicted, because the justice system has no concern with justice. Letting the system off as merely racist doesnt nearly go far enough. The problem is much worse. McMillian was falsely convicted, (1) because sheriff John Tate was under community criticism for the failure to solve the murder case of a young woman and needed someone to arrest for the crime, (2) because Ralph Meyers gave false testimony against McMillian for confused reasons that did not work out for him, (3) because the local newspaper, as newspapers are wont to do, convicted McMillian in the press, which meant that the jury had to convict or be accused of letting off a murderer, and (4) because the judge, Robert E. Lee Key, not only is unworthy of his name but most certainly did not have the fortitude to run a fair trial when the only possible outcome for his career and reputation in the community was conviction. Neither did his successor, Thomas B. Norton, have fortitude for the same reasons. I am convinced that all of these representatives of the justice system are racists, but they would have convicted McMillian for the same reasons if he had been white. If the justice system was concerned with justice, he would not have been convicted irrespective of race or gender. What the emphasis on racism blinds us to is that the justice system is corrupt because justice does not play a role in it. Justice has to be brought into the system from outside by people such as Bryan Stevenson. And for people such as Stevenson to bring justice into the justice system, they must have a high tolerance for death threats and for witnessing justice fail again and again. I want to emphasize that I am not being critical of Bryan Stevenson. He is very intelligent, overflowing with integrity, determination, ability and empathy for others. He has a moral conscience second to none. He is someone everyone would love to have as a friend and colleague. If Stevenson does not see what his own work reveals, that injustice prevails irrespective of race and gender, it is because he grew to maturity during a time when the victimization of identity politics is the prevailing explanation. Victimization has expanded to its limit: everyone is the victim of white heterosexual males. I wouldnt be surprised if white heterosexual males have now been shown by identity politics to be the victims of themselves. Stevenson describes the convictions of white women by white women. In the aftermath of hurricanes and tornadoes that wrecked coastal Alabama, Marsha Colbey gave premature birth to a stillborn son. She came to the attention of police because her busybody neighbor Debbie Cook had noticed the pregnancy but saw no child. Colbeys fate was sealed by the media craze set aflame by Andrea Yates and Susan Smiths murders of their children. Media sensationalized the baseless suspicion surrounding Colbey and turned her into another dangerous mother. Forensic pathologist Kathleen Enstice testified without evidence that Colbeys son had been born alive and had died by drowning. The states own expert witness, Dr. Dennis McNally, and the defenses expert witness Dr. Werner Spitz testified that Colbeys age alone placed her pregnancy at high risk for fetal death and that there was no scientific evidence that a crime had occurred. Irresponsible media had communities and juries on the lookout for dangerous moms who should be put in prison, and they found one (along with many others) in Colbey. The trial judge permitted Colbeys fate to be decided by jurors who stated that they could not honor the presumption of innocence in Colbeys case. Other jurors said that they always believe the police and prosecutor. This failure of justice enabled Stevenson after years of effort to secure Colbeys release. Clearly, Colbeys wrongful conviction had nothing to do with racism. Identity politics would want to say she was convicted by misogynists, but Colbey was the victim of other women. Justice is so absent in the criminal justice system that Victoria Banks in order to avoid capital punishment was coerced into a plea bargain carrying a 20-year sentence for murdering her child after her pregnancy despite the fact that there was no pregnancy and no child. Stevenson was able to win her release by establishing that she had had a tubal ligation five years prior to her alleged pregnancy, which made it biologically impossible for her to conceive and give birth to a child. A woman whose tubes were tied, for which conclusive medical evidence existed, five years before she was accused of having just had a child that she murdered is forced into a plea bargain carrying 20 years in order to avoid the electric chair. Perhaps only Alabama could produce something this absurd, but this is a faithful picture of American justice. Stevensons legal work for wrongfully convicted women brought him into contact with more horror. At Alabamas Tutwiler prison for women, women prisoners were raped and made pregnant by prison guards. Stevenson reports: Even when DNA testing confirmed that male officers were the fathers of these children, very little was done about it. Some officers who had received multiple sexual assault complaints were temporarily reassigned to other duties or other prisons, only to wind up back at Tutwiler, where they continued to prey on women. In other words, rape is not a crime if you are a prison guard at a womens prison. This is a faithful picture of justice in America. The justice system needs victims, and is focused on ruining peoples lives whether they deserve it or not. The more American lives ruined, the greater the success of the justice system. There is a current case in Alabama of a US Marine honorably discharged who suffers from PTSD. To help out a family friend, who needed a car for work but could not obtain a loan, the Marine sold him a car of his own, which the family friend was to pay off monthly. When payments stopped, the former Marine inquired. Payments were promised, and the family friend offered his cell phone to be held until payments caught up, as an indication of his good faith to pay. It turned out to be the wrong cell phone, not the debtors personal phone but a company-issued one. The company regarded it as a theft by the Marine, and the family friend had to report it to the police. The fact that it was all a misunderstanding has not caused the justice system to drop the case. Instead the prosecutor is demanding a misdemeanor plea. In other words, another person with something on his record who can be a suspect for the next burglary. As everyone in the case is white, injustice is occurring despite the absence of racism. It is a paradox that child protection laws in the hands of police and prosecutors have become weapons with which to ruin children. A father whose son is being ruined for life over nothing sent me the story with his permission to publish it as a warning to others about the heartlessness with which the justice system irresponsibly ruins even the immature young. This story again demonstrates that the function of American justice is not justice, but to ruin as many people as possible and as early in life as possible. The gratuitously ruined lives that the justice system achieves is the monument to the success of justice. I decided not to publish it, not because I disbelieve it, but because the son has not been sentenced, and protestations of innocence in media, as Stevenson says, can prejudice authorities against the defendant, especially in Virginia where this miscarriage of justice took place. I do not want to expose the son to risk in the event that the father is wrong, as I suspect he is, in expecting publicity to elicit compassion and empathy that would moderate an unjust event. Instead, I will tell the gist of the story, which illustrates the tyranny of good intentions. Child protection laws were passed by legislators ignorant of the unintended consequences. Consequently, the laws have done far more harm than good. Lets call the son Zach. Having just turned 18, he was visiting a young woman his age whose younger sister introduced him via social media to a 13 year old female who shared his interest in dragons and animation. The two never met. As their shared interest developed via the Internet, so did their friendship. As the natural process that turns a girl into a woman progressed, the cyber relationship developed a romantic aspect. The girl/woman sent Zach five photographs of herself in her underwear. Later the girl/woman developed emotional problems due to the impending divorce of her parents and was admitted to a mental health facility. At some point she confided her cyber relationship with Zach to a counselor. The child protection laws required the counselor to inform the police, who seized Zachs computer and found chat logs and the five photos. The consequence was that Zach was charged with 20 felony indictments carrying 350 years in prison. As they always are, the charges were vastly overstated. For example, the five photos sent to Zach of a torso in underwear (apparently the girls face was not shown) got Zach charged with distribution of child pornography. No charges were filed by the parents of the girl. The charges were entirely the idea of the prosecutors office, and the 350 years produced a plea bargain to lesser offences. American criminal justice had secured another victim. In the absurdity that is American law you can be guilty of indecent liberties with a minor without ever having seen the girl in person or ever having been close enough to touch. The advent of virtual reality and video screens means that crimes can have happened in virtual reality that did not happen in real reality. In my days it was almost impossible to be guilty of indecent liberties with a minor, because the age of female sexual consent was 14. But as females sexually matured earlier, the age of sexual consent was irrationally pushed higher. Today the legal age that a male may have sex with a female is 18. In other words, the absurd American legal system pretends that women do not have sex until after they graduate from high school. Who can imagine college dorms full of virginal women? When America had a livable legal system, law was based on the common ordinary behavior of people. This is known as the Common Law, the foundation of law in England and the United States. Today the law is so uncommon as to be absurd. Yet absurdity is enforced with vengeance. The video age means that crimes can be committed by looking at a video screen, and that is what happened to Zach. Neither his attorney nor the judge told Zach and his parents that his coerced plea meant that there was no appeal and that he was registered for life as a sex offender. Zach had committed a violent sex offense online! It was the girl who sent the photos, but the offense was Zachs for having them on his computer. We owe these crazed results that destroy our youth to child advocates who have pushed through in total ignorance of unintended consequences laws that criminalize the normal sexual exploration and testing that accompanies the teen-age years that begin with puberty. Child advocates think that when a kid enters puberty at age 12 or 13 nothing is supposed to happen until the kid is 18. Then at this magic age, everything illegal at 17 becomes legal. People who produce laws like this ruin people. Laws pushed by child advocates have broken up families and taken children from their homes and placed them in foster care where they are often abused. By providing a bounty to Child Protective Services for seizing children, the federal government provides an incentive for CPS to break up families on the slightest pretext. And they enjoy the ruin that they inflict. When you read Bryan Stevensons Just Mercy, what you encounter are Americans who enjoy ruining other people. What Stevenson is revealing is not racism but evil unleashed. When the liberals destroyed religion as a moral restraint, they released evil. Evil is now everywhere in the West and seldom held accountableAbu Ghraib, Guantanamo Prison, the CIA Black Site torture prisons, womens prisons where inmates, most of whom are wrongfully convicted, are routinely raped by guards, and American courtrooms in which sit judges whose function is to defend justice but who accept coerced pleas from innocents in order to save themselves work. This is America, a country totally devoid of justice, a hapless country forced to suffer injustice except for those few cases that heroes such as Bryan Stevenson are able to overturn. If only Americans in their so-called democracy had the power to make Bryan Stevenson Attorney General for life and give him the power to write and enforce the laws would justice return to America. God help a country as totally devoid of justice as the United States of America. It is important to understand that very few of these wrongful convictions are mistakes. They are done willfully, because the overriding incentive of the American criminal justice system is to produce convictions at all cost. Police, prosecutorial and judicial misconduct seldom bear any cost. Just so you understand how law completely protects the police, prosecutors and judges who routinely violate it, as Stevenson reports, state and federal courts have persistently insulated prosecutors from accountability for egregious misconduct that results in innocent people being sent to death row. In 2011 a Republican Supreme Court ruled that a prosecutor cannot be held liable for misconduct in a criminal case, even if he intentionally and illegally withheld evidence of innocence. In plain words, criminal actions against the innocent are now the legalized policy of the American criminal justice system. Are the American people moved by these extraordinary injustices and their legalization by the Supreme Court of the United States? Are the Alabamans in the same county who egged on the frame-up of Walter McMillian ashamed of their willing complicity in a gratuitous act of injustice? Absolutely not. They reelected sheriff Tate, and he remains in office today. In 2003 Illinois governor George Ryan, citing the unreliability of evidence on which capital punishment is based commuted the death sentences of all 167 people on death row. His reward was to be convicted on false corruption charges and sentenced to five years in prison. Ryan was convicted by the coerced testimony of Scott Fawell who received in exchange for his testimony reduced prison time for himself and his fiancee. On the stand Fawell said that the prosecutor had his head in a vise and that he was testifying against Ryan to save his fiancee from a long prison sentence. He said his testimony against Ryan was the most distasteful thing Ive ever done. That jurors believe such compromised witnesses is the reason defendants avoid jury trials. This is the face of justice in America, a hapless country totally devoid of justice where law exists solely for the economic benefit of those whose careers rise with conviction rates, whether of the innocent or the guilty. Law professors, such as Harvards Charles Fried, have shown their indifference to wrongful conviction. Fried came up with the argument that finality was more important than justice. Fried was annoyed by appeals. He argued that ending a case had its own importance and that at some point appeals based on fresh evidence had to be cut off even if it meant an innocent person was executed or spent life in prison. Conservative legislators showed their indifference to wrongful conviction in 1994 when they took over Congress and promptly eliminated federal aid for legal representation of the wrongly convicted on death row. The conservatives were more comfortable with the deaths of innocents than with admitting the willful mistakes made by law and order. The indifference of Americans to injustice has spread outside US borders. The Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama regimes are responsible for millions of dead and displaced persons in 10 countriesSerbia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, Syria, Ukraine, and Palestine. None of those responsible have expressed any remorse and neither have the American people. Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order . The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Can Trump Deliver? By Paul Craig Roberts January 31, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - My view of Trump is conditional and awaits evidence. I am encouraged by the One Percents opposition to Trump, or we have just experienced the greatest ruse in history. Indeed, a pointless ruse, as the Establishment had its candidate in Hillary. Trumps executive orders dont support the argument that he is acting for the One Percent. Trump nixed the global corporations beloved TPP. He is trying to close down the mass immigration that the corporations use to suppress domestic wage rates. He is committed to normalizing relations with Russia, much to the discomfort of the neoconservatives and the military/security complex. As for Mnuchin, he left Goldlman Sachs in 2002, the same year that Nomi Prins left Goldman Sachs. That was 14 years ago. We know for a fact that Nomi, a former managing director, is not an operative for Goldman Sachs, so my position is to wait and see what Mnuchin does before we declare him to be a Goldman Sachs agent. For a different view see Nomi Prins in the Guest section of this website. Think about it this way: If Trump is sincere, and the Ruling Establishment seems to think that he is, about cleaning out a nest of outlaws, what better help could he have than one of the outlaws? Change from the top requires tough mean people. Anyone else would be run over. My position is to wait for the evidence. For years my readers have said that they need some hope. Trumps attack on the Ruling Establishment gives them hope. Why take this hope away prematurely? From the beginning my concern has been that Trump has no experience in the economic and foreign policy debates. He doesnt know the issues or the players. But he knows two big things: the middle and working class are hurting, and conflict with Russia could result in thermo-nuclear war. My view is support him on these two most important of all issues. My worry is that Trump has already gone off course on better relations with Russia. Trump had the sense to speak during his first week in office with Russias President Putin. Reports are that the one hour conversation went well. However, the report from the Trump administration is that the sanctions were not mentioned and that Trump is considering connecting the removal of the sanctions with a reduction in nuclear arms. Clearly, Trump needs more astute advisors than he has. Confronted with 28 NATO countries, Russia, the population of which is dwarfed by this collection of countries and armaments, relies on its nuclear weapons to deal with the potential threat. During the Obama regime, the threat to Russia must have seemed to be very real, as the demonization of Russia and its President were based entirely on obvious lies and reached levels of provocation seldom seem in history without leading to war. If I had been Trumps advisor, I would have insisted that the first thing that Trump tell Putin is that the sanctions are history and I apologize for the insult based on the fabricated lies of my predecessor. This is what was needed. Once trust is restored, then the matter of reduction in nuclear arms can be raised without making the Russian government concerned that the duplicitous Americans are setting them up for attack. If you were a Russian, if you were a member of the Russian government, if you were president of Russia, if you had experienced an American coup that overthrew the elected government of Ukraine, a province that was part of Russia for 300 years, if you had experienced an American inspired attack on the Russian residents and Russian peace-keeping forces in South Ossetia, long a province of Russia, that caused the intervention of the Russian armed forces, an intervention blamed by the US government on Russian aggression, would you trust the United States? Only if you are a complete fool. Trump needs advisors sufficiently knowledgable to tell him about the situation that he has committed himself to improve. Who are these advisors? Consider now the Muslim ban. Muslim refugees are a problem for the US and Europe because the US and its NATO puppets have bombed a large number of Muslim countries entirely on the basis of lies. One might have thought, that with all its experience of war, the Western countries would be aware that wars produce refugees. But apparently not. The easiest and most certain way to deal with the problem of Muslim refugees is to stop the bombings that produce refugees. Apparently, this solution is beyond the grasp of the Trump administration. According to news reportsand considering the presstitute status of news organizations one never knowsthe new Trump administration authorized a SEAL team attack in Yemen that murdered an 8 year old girl along with a number of women and children on January 29. As far as I can ascertain, no women are marching in opposition to the Trump administrations continuation of the policy of the Bush/Obama regime of murdering Muslims in the name of a hoax war on terror. Trumps Archilles heel is his belief in the Muslim threat, an orchestrated threat cooked up by the neoconservatives. If Trump wants to defeat ISIS, all he needs to do is to stop the US government and CIA from funding ISIS. ISIS is Washingtons creation, used to overthrow Libya and sent to Syria to overthrow Assad until the Russians intervened. Someone needs to have enough geo-political knowledge to tell Trump that he cannot simultaneously mend relations with Russia and revive the conflict with Iran and threaten China. As I feared, Trump has no idea who to appoint in order to achieve his agenda. Now lets turn to Trumps critics: Identity Politics, that is, the explanation of Western history as the victimization of everyone by white heterosexual males. The attacks on Trump lack legitimacy, and everyone except those immersed in victim politics sees that. The same people who march against Trump and condemn his Muslim ban do not march against the wars that produce the Muslim refugees and immigrants. Trumps opponents are in the illogical position of supporting the war on terror and the 9/11 story on which the war is based, but objecting to the ban on entry of Muslim terrorists into the US. If Muslims are terrorists as the Bush/Obama narative claims, it is totally irresponsible to admit into the US Muslims harmed by Washingtons attacks on their countries who might have thoughts of revenge. The liberal/progressive/left long ago abandoned the working class. The consequence of their illegitimate complaints will be to lump all dissent into their illegitimate category. Thus truth-tellers along with fiction-tellers will be shut down. The public will not be able to differenate between the orchestrated attacks on Trump and those telling the truth. My conclusion is that the stupidity of Identity Politics by discrediting dissent will empower the worst elements of the right-wing. If Goldman Sachs is also operating against us, as Nomi Prins believes, then the US is history. Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order . The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Trump, Atomic Bombs And Confused Japanese Samurais By Andre Vltchek January 31, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Goodbye President Obama! Japan is mourning your departure. It is mourning because you were such a good friend, an exceptionally predictable ruler, and a truly traditional imperialist. You spoke so well, and tormented all those unruly colonies with admirable zeal and effectiveness! What is soon coming is untested and therefore frightening. Obedient and disciplined Japan historically detests unpredictability. It doesnt really mind prostituting itself, but only if it brings great tangible benefits and as long as strict protocol and decorum are fully respected. The upcoming scenario could be frightening: Who knows? That new big ugly chap across the ocean could soon ruin all etiquette; calling whores and profiteers by their real names. The Japanese government and big business are now shaking in dread, day and night. What changes are coming? How to please the new foul-speaking lord? 10 billion dollars will be spent or should we say invested in the United States by Toyota car giant, in order to appease the new Emperor? Why not? Every penny of it is worth it! The Emperor has to be kept happy. Japan is ready to arm itself to the teeth, provoking both North Korea but especially China? Yes and yes again, as long as the global balance of power so greatly in favor of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan for decades, remains intact. The Conservative Prime Minister of the country, Shinzo Abe, doesnt want any dangerous developments, any deviations. As far as he is concerned, things are just fine as they were. Not perfect, but fine. Japan has been exactly where it should be: on its back, ageing, but still desirable, eating mountains of caviar and oysters. ***** Things are, however, developing, rapidly and some would say, irreversibly. The new US president, Donald Trump, is clearly allergic to China as well as to several other Asian countries. He is preaching protectionism and an extreme form of nationalism, something that used to be synonymous with Japans trade and business practices of the past. Somehow, this does not appear to be in Japans favor. Japan was allowed to be protectionist, in exchange for its unconditional political obedience. It thought that it was awarded almost exclusive privileges. Now paradoxically, Japan is trying to save the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-nation free trade agreement, which Donald Trump is promising to nuke. Japans parliament even ratified the pact at the end of 2016. Foreign Policy Magazine (FPM) declared in its report published on January 2017: Abe Wants to Be the Last Free Trade Samurai. In fact, Shinzo Abe is desperately trying to preserve Japans prominent position, at least in Asia, and mainly against China, which is intensively negotiating its own economic partnership agreement with several Asian countries called Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Mr. Abe is also trying to push through his brutal neo-liberal reforms that are encountering resistance from the Japanese public. FPM wrote: TPP gives the government the handy excuse it now needs to take unpopular reform measures meant to give a new push to the Abenomics program. Blaming outsiders for such un-Japanese actions is a popular political maneuver that even gets a special name gai-atsu. ***** Japans desperate desire to remain the regional superpower is pushing it even closer towards the West, and particularly the United States. Since WWII, the country has been fully dependent on Washington (and its market fundamentalist dogmas), to such an extent that it almost totally abandoned its own global vision and foreign policy. In the meantime, Japan is trying to even further penetrate and subjugate various Southeast Asian countries, literally wrestling them away from the increasing influence of China and Russia. It is a very complex, often bizarre game, as Abes government is habitually acting by inertia, doing what was expected of it by the earlier US administrations, not necessarily by the upcoming one. Once totally under Western control, the Southeast Asian monolith is beginning to crack: the Philippines under President Duterte and Vietnam after some fundamental leadership changes in early 2016 are moving closer towards China and away from Washingtons orbit. Even Thailand, one of the most dependable Cold War allies of the West is quickly discovering the countless advantages that come from a stronger relationship with Beijing. In Asia, resistance against Western imperialism is on the rise, and Japan is in panic. It collaborated for so long that it lost all memories of acting independently. In exchange for betraying Asia, it used to reap great benefits; the gap between its astronomical standards of living and those in the rest of Asia used to be exorbitant, but now, the Human Development Index (HDI) rates such countries as South Korea, even higher. Socialist and fiercely independent China is catching up, not only economically but also in terms of science, technology and standards of living. The essential question is never openly asked, but is creeping into the subconscious thoughts of many Japanese people: Was it really worth it to collaborate so shamelessly with the West, and for so long? The more confusing and unsettling the answers, the more aggressive the behavior of many ordinary Japanese citizens: racism towards the Chinese and Koreans is on the increase. Often it is propelled by a frustration that accompanies defeat; sometimes it comes from shame. ***** The present is intertwined with history and its interpretation. In Nagasaki, I discussed once again the complex intricacies related to Japans past, with the legendary Australian historian Geoff Gunn. Japan never really took full responsibility for the tremendous pain it caused several Asian countries, but particularly China, where around 35 million people vanished during the brutal, genocidal occupation. It is also silent about its role during the Korean War, and the crimes committed by its corporations in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. However, it portrays itself as a victim, because of the atomic bombs that destroyed two of its cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII, and because of the annexation of several of its islands by the Soviet Union. Of course, the nuclear bombing of the Japanese cities by the US Air Force (or the fire bombing of Tokyo) was not meant to be a punishment for the monstrous crimes Japan committed in China or Korea. It was simply a thinly disguised experiment on human beings, as well as an aggressive message and warning to the Soviet Union. In Japan, everything is taken out of historic context. Collective memory is hazy. The occupation of several Asian and South Pacific countries, the alliance with the European fascist powers, WWII itself, the US occupation and consequent collaboration, Japans profiteering during the Korean War, as well as the constant siding with the imperialist policies of the West: it all has been covered by a comforting and softening duvet; by cozy make-believe pseudo reality. While the horrendous US military and air force bases located in Okinawa and Honshu have been intimidating both China and North Korea, Japan has been distributing, hypocritically, all over the world its multi-lingual columns with May Peace Prevail On Earth signs, trying to feel good, and congratulating itself for its peaceful constitution (composed by the US after the War). In 2016, Shinzo Abes close ally, Barak Obama, visited the Peace Park in Hiroshima City. He did not apologize to the victims of the nuclear blast. Instead, he posed with two traditional Japanese paper cranes, the local symbols of peace, and he spoke about the suffering of people during the wars. He wrote a message to promote the abolition of nuclear weapons, and then signed the book, putting the paper crane next to his signature. How touching! Servile Japanese media dutifully covered the event. Nobody died from laughter; nobody puked publicly, while recalling countless wars, deadly covert operations and coups as well as targeted killings that took place while Mr. Obama was the boss of his aggressive Empire. A few months later, Mr. Abe visited Pearl Harbor. Like his US counterpart did in Hiroshima, he spoke about the suffering of the US servicemen based in Hawaii during the Japanese attack. He did not apologize, but he turned sentimental, even poetic. At the end, almost everyone felt really well, at least those living in Japan and the West. Others do not matter too much, anyway! ***** Now the old script is quickly becoming obsolete. The new director is facing the stage, shouting at the actors, hitting seats with his cane, insulting proteges of his predecessors. Japan is terrified. It likes continuity and certainty. It plays by the rules, the older the better. This is not looking good. It may not end well, not well at all. China and Russia are rising, indignant and finally united. Several Asian countries are switching sides. President of the Philippines is calling Western leaders sons-of-whores. India, now the most populous country on Earth, has gritted its teeth and just in case got itself one more chair, now sitting on two. At least some in Japan are now (secretly and quietly) suspecting that all along they were betting on the totally wrong horse. How can a samurai break all his allegiances without losing face? How can he save his ass, when his armor begins to burn? It is not easy; the etiquette of honor is extremely strict, even if honor consists, if stripped of its decorative layer, of brainlessness and sleaze. One possible and very traditional escape is a ritual suicide. It seems that Japans leadership is committing exactly that: it is raising the banner abandoned on the battlefield by the previous warlord, it is trying to gather some scattered allies, and then lead them to the futile battle against the mightiest creature on Earth the Dragon, and by association, against the dragons friend and comrade the Bear. It is all beginning to look like a kitschy martial art movie, or like a desperate set of irrational moves performed by a gambler before he reaches absolute bankruptcy. All this could be, however, extremely deceiving, as Mr. Abe is actually not a fool. He is playing a very high game and he may still have some chances of winning: if the new Lord, Mr. Trump, decides to exceed all previous rulers by his brutality and aggressiveness, and re-hire the old and well-tested samurai, Japan, for his deadly onslaught against humanity. It is worth remembering that throughout Japans history, not all samurais were fighting for honor. Most of them were for hire. Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He has covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. Three of his latest books are revolutionary novel Aurora and two bestselling works of political non-fiction: Exposing Lies Of The Empire and Fighting Against Western Imperialism . View his other books here. Andre is making films for teleSUR and Al-Mayadeen. After having lived in Latin America, Africa and Oceania, Vltchek presently resides in East Asia and the Middle East, and continues to work around the world. He can be reached through his website and his Twitter . The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
President Trump: Nationalist Capitalism, An Alternative to Globalization By James Petras January 31, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - During his inaugural speech, President Trump clearly and forcefully outlined the strategic political-economic policies he will pursue over the next four years. Anti-Trump journalist, editorialists, academics and experts, who appear in the Financial Times, New York Times, Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal have repeatedly distorted and lied about the Presidents program as well as his critique of existing and past policies. We will begin by seriously discussing President Trumps critique of the contemporary political economy and proceed to elaborate on his alternatives and its weaknesses. President Trumps Critique of the Ruling Class The centerpiece of Trumps critique of the current ruling elite is the negative impact of its form of globalization on US production, trade and fiscal imbalances and on the labor market. Trump cites the fact that US industrial capitalism has drastically shifted the locus of its investments, innovations and profits overseas as an example of globalizations negative effects. For two decades many politicians and pundits have bemoaned the loss of well-paid jobs and stable local industries as part of their campaign rhetoric or in public meetings, but none have taken any effective action against these most harmful aspects of globalization. Trump denounced them as all talk and no action while promising to end the empty speeches and implement major changes. President Trump targeted importers who bring in cheap products from overseas manufacturers for the American market undermining US producers and workers. His economic strategy of prioritizing US industries is an implicit critique of the shift from productive capital to financial and speculative capital under the previous four administrations. His inaugural address attacking the elites who abandon the rust belt for Wall Street is matched by his promise to the working class: Hear these words! You will never be ignored again. Trumps own words portray the ruling class as pigs at the trough (Financial Times, 1/23/2017, p. 11) Trumps Political-Economic Critique President Trump emphasizes market negotiations with overseas partners and adversaries. He has repeatedly criticized the mass media and politicians mindless promotion of free markets and aggressive militarism as undermining the nations capacity to negotiate profitable deals. President Trumps immigration policy is closely related to his strategic America First labor policy. Massive inflows of immigrant labor have been used to undermine US workers wages, labor rights and stable employment. This was first documented in the meat packing industry, followed by textile, poultry and construction industries. Trumps proposal is to limit immigration to allow US workers to shift the balance of power between capital and labor and strengthen the power of organized labor to negotiate wages, conditions and benefits. Trumps critique of mass immigration is based on the fact that skilled American workers have been available for employment in the same sectors if wages were raised and work conditions were improved to permit dignified, stable living standards for their families. President Trumps Political Critique Trump points to trade agreements, which have led to huge deficits, and concludes that US negotiators have been failures. He argues that previous US presidents have signed multi-lateral agreements, to secure military alliances and bases, at the expense of negotiating job-creating economic pacts. His presidency promises to change the equation: He wants to tear up or renegotiate unfavorable economic treaties while reducing US overseas military commitments and demands NATO allies shoulder more of their own defense budgets. Immediately upon taking office Trump canceled the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and convoked a meeting with Canada and Mexico to renegotiate NAFTA. Trumps agenda has featured plans for hundred-billion dollar infrastructure projects, including building controversial oil and gas pipelines from Canada to the US Gulf. It is clear that these pipelines violate existing treaties with indigenous people and threaten ecological mayhem. However, by prioritizing the use of American-made construction material and insisting on hiring only US workers, his controversial policies will form the basis for developing well-paid American jobs. The emphasis on investment and jobs in the US is a complete break with the previous Administration, where President Obama focused on waging multiple wars in the Middle East , increasing public debt and the trade deficit. Trumps inaugural address issued a stern promise: The American carnage stops right now and stops right here! This resonated with a huge sector of the working class and was spoken before an assemblage of the very architects of four decades of job-destroying globalization. Carnage carried a double meaning: Widespread carnage resulted from Obama and other administrations destruction of domestic jobs resulting in decay and bankruptcy of rural, small town and urban communities. This domestic carnage was the other side of the coin of their policies of conducting endless overseas wars spreading carnage to three continents. The last fifteen years of political leadership spread domestic carnage by allowing the epidemic of drug addiction (mostly related to uncontrolled synthetic opiate prescriptions) to kill hundreds of thousands of mostly young Americans and destroy the lives of millions. Trump promised to finally address this carnage of wasted lives. Unfortunately, he did not hold Big Pharma and the medical community responsible for its role in spreading drug addiction into the deepest corners of the economically devastated rural America . Trump criticized previous elected officials for authorizing huge military subsidies to allies while making it clear that his critique did not include US military procurement policies and would not contradict his promise to reinforce old alliances (NATO). Truth and Lies: Garbage Journalists and Arm Chair Militarists Among the most outrageous example of the mass medias hysteria about Trumps New Economy is the systematic and vitriolic series of fabrications designed to obscure the grim national reality that Trump has promised to address. We will discuss and compare the accounts published by garbage journalists (GJs) and present a more accurate version of the situation. The respectable garbage journalists of the Financial Timesclaim that Trump wants to destroy world trade. In fact, Trumps has repeatedly stated his intention to increase international trade. What Trump proposes is to increase US world trade from the inside, rather than from overseas. He seeks to re-negotiate the terms of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements to secure greater reciprocity with trading partners. Under Obama, the US was more aggressive in imposing trade tariffs that any other country in the OECD. Garbage journalists label Trump as a protectionist,confusing his policies to re-industrialize the economy with autarky. Trump will promote exports and imports, retain an open economy, while increasing the role of the US as a producer and exporter.. The US will become more selective in its imports. Trump will favor the growth of manufacturing exporters and increase imports of primary commodities and advanced technology while reducing the import of automobiles, steel and household consumer products. Trumps opposition to globalization has been conflated by the garbage journalists of the Washington Post as a dire threat to the the post-Second World War economic order. In fact, vast changes have already rendered the old order obsolete and attempts to retain it have led to crises, wars and more decay. Trump has recognized the obsolete nature of the old economic order and stated that change is necessary. The Obsolete Old Order and the Dubious New Economy At the end of the Second World War, most of Western Europe and Japan resorted to highly restrictive protectionist industrial and monetary policies to rebuild their economies. Only after a period of prolonged recovery did Germany and Japan carefully and selectively liberalize their economic policies. In recent decades, Russia was drastically transformed from a powerful collectivist economy to a capitalist vassal-gangster oligarchy and more recently to a reconstituted mixed economy and strong central state. China has been transformed from a collectivist economy, isolated from world trade, into the worlds second most powerful economy, displacing the US as Asia and Latin America s largest trading partner. Once controlling 50% of world trade, the US share is now less than 20%. This decline is partly due to the dismantling of its industrial economy when its manufacturers moved their factories abroad. Despite the transformation of the world order, recent US presidents have failed to recognize the need to re-organize the American political economy. Instead of recognizing, adapting and accepting shifts in power and market relations, they sought to intensify previous patterns of dominance through war, military intervention and bloody destructive regime changes thus devastating, rather than creating markets for US goods. Instead of recognizing Chinas immense economic power and seek to re-negotiate trade and co-operative agreements, they have stupidly excluded China from regional and international trade pacts, to the extent of crudely bullying their junior Asian trade partners, and launching a policy of military encirclement and provocation in the South China Seas. While Trump recognized these changes and the need to renegotiate economic ties, his cabinet appointees seek to extend Obamas militarist policies of confrontation. Under the previous administrations, Washington ignored Russia s resurrection, recovery and growth as a regional and world power. When reality finally took root, previous US administrations increased their meddling among the Soviet Unions former allies and set up military bases and war exercises on Russia s borders. Instead of deepening trade and investment with Russia , Washington spent billions on sanctions and military spending especially fomenting the violent putchist regime in Ukraine . Obamas policies promoting the violent seizure of power in Ukraine, Syria and Libya were motivated by his desire to overthrow governments friendly to Russia devastating those countries and ultimately strengthening Russias will to consolidate and defend its borders and to form new strategic alliances. Early in his campaign, Trump recognized the new world realities and proposed to change the substance, symbols, rhetoric and relations with adversaries and allies adding up to a New Economy. First and foremost, Trump looked at the disastrous wars in the Middle East and recognized the limits of US military power: The US could not engage in multiple, open-ended wars of conquest and occupation in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia without paying major domestic costs. Secondly, Trump recognized that Russia was not a strategic military threat to the United States . Furthermore, the Russian government under Vladimir Putin was willing to cooperate with the US to defeat a mutual enemy ISIS and its terrorist networks. Russia was also keen to re-open its markets to the US investors, who were also anxious to return after years of the Obama-Clinton-Kerry imposed sanctions. Trump, the realist, proposes to end sanctions and restore favorable market relations. Thirdly, it is clear to Trump that the US wars in the Middle East imposed enormous costs with minimal benefits for the US economy. He wants to increase market relations with the regional economic and military powers, like Turkey , Israel and the Gulf monarchies. Trump is not interested in Palestine , Yemen , Syria or the Kurds which do not offer much investment and trade opportunities. He ignores the enormous regional economic and military power of Iran , Nevertheless Trump has proposed to re-negotiate the recent six-nation agreement with Iran in order to improve the US side of the bargain. His hostile campaign rhetoricagainst Tehran may have been designed to placate Israel and its powerful domestic Israel-Firsters fifth column. This certainly came into conflict with his America First pronouncements. It remains to be seen whether Donald Trump will retain a show of submission to the Zionist project of an expansionist Israel while proceeding to include Iran as a part of his regional market agenda. The Garbage Journalists claim that Trump has adopted a new bellicose stance toward China and threatens to launch a protectionist agenda, which will ultimately push the trans-Pacific countries closer to Beijing . On the contrary, Trump appears intent on renegotiating and increasing trade via bilateral agreements. Trump will most probably maintain, but not expand, Obamas military encirclement of China s maritime boundaries which threaten its vital shipping routes. Nevertheless, unlike Obama, Trump will re-negotiate economic and trade relations with Beijing viewing China as a major economic power and not a developing nation intent on protecting its infant industries. Trumps realism reflect the new economic order: China is a mature, highly competitive, world economic power, which has been out-competing the US , in part by retaining its own state subsidies and incentives from its earlier economic phase. This has led to significant imbalances. Trump, the realist, recognizes that China offers great opportunities for trade and investment if the US can secure reciprocal agreements, which lead to a more favorable balance of trade. Trump does not want to launch a trade war with China , but he needs to restore the US as a major exporter nation in order to implement his domestic economic agenda. The negotiations with the Chinese will be very difficult because the US importer-elite are against the Trump agenda and side with the Beijing s formidable export-oriented ruling class. Moreover, because Wall Streets banking elite is pleading with Beijing to enter China s financial markets, the financial sector is an unwilling and unstable ally to Trumps pro-industrial policies. Conclusion Trump is not a protectionist, nor is he opposed to free-trade. These charges by the garbage journalists are baseless. Trump does not oppose US economic imperialist policies abroad. However, Trump is a market realist who recognizes that military conquest is costly and, in the contemporary world context, a losing economic proposition for the US . He recognizes that the US must turn from a predominant finance and import economy to a manufacturing and export economy. Trump views Russia as a potential economic partner and military ally in ending the wars in Syria , Iraq , Afghanistan and Ukraine , and especially in defeating the terrorist threat of ISIS . He sees China as a powerful economic competitor, which has been taking advantage of outmoded trade privileges and wants to re-negotiate trade pacts in line with the current balance of economic power. Trump is a capitalist-nationalist, a market-imperialist and political realist, who is willing to trample on womens rights, climate change legislation, indigenous treaties and immigrant rights. His cabinet appointments and his Republican colleagues in Congress are motivated by a militarist ideology closer to the Obama-Clinton doctrine than to Trumps new America First agenda. He has surrounded his Cabinet with military imperialists, territorial expansionists and delusional fanatics. Who will win out in the short or long term remains to be seen. What is clear is that the liberals, Democratic Party hacks and advocates of Little Mussolini black shirted street thugs will be on the side of the imperialists and will find plenty of allies among and around the Trump regime. James Petras is a Bartle Professor (Emeritus) of Sociology at Binghamton University, New York. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Secret Docs Reveal: President Trump Has Inherited an FBI With Vast Hidden Powers
By Glenn Greenwald and Betsy Reed
January 31, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " The Intercept " - In the wake of President Donald Trumps inauguration, the FBI assumes an importance and influence it has not wielded since J. Edgar Hoovers death in 1972. That is what makes todays batch of stories from The Intercept, The FBIs Secret Rules, based on a trove of long-sought confidential FBI documents, so critical: It shines a bright light on the vast powers of this law enforcement agency, particularly when it comes to its ability to monitor dissent and carry out a domestic war on terror, at the beginning of an era highly likely to be marked by vociferous protest and reactionary state repression.
In order to understand how the FBI makes decisions about matters such as infiltrating religious or political organizations, civil liberties advocates have sued the government for access to crucial FBI manuals but thanks to a federal judiciary highly subservient to government interests, those attempts have been largely unsuccessful. Because their disclosure is squarely in the public interest, The Intercept is publishing this series of reports along with annotated versions of the documents we obtained.
Trump values loyalty to himself above all other traits, so it is surely not lost on him that few entities were as devoted to his victory, or played as critical a role in helping to achieve it, as the FBI. One of the more unusual aspects of the 2016 election, perhaps the one that will prove to be most consequential, was the covert political war waged between the CIA and FBI. While the top echelon of the CIA community was vehemently pro-Clinton, certain factions within the FBI were aggressively supportive of Trump. Hillary Clinton herself blames James Comey and his election-week letter for her defeat. Elements within the powerful New York field office were furious that Comey refused to indict Clinton, and embittered agents reportedly shoveled anti-Clinton leaks to Rudy Giuliani. The FBIs 35,000 employees across the country are therefore likely to be protected and empowered. Trumps decision to retain Comey while jettisoning all other top government officials suggests that this has already begun to happen.
When married to Trumps clear disdain for domestic dissent he venerates strongman authoritarians, called for a crackdown on free press protections, and suggested citizenship-stripping for flag-burning the authorities vested in the FBI with regard to domestic political activism are among the most menacing threats Americans face. Trump is also poised to expand the powers of law enforcement to surveil populations deemed suspicious and deny their rights in the name of fighting terrorism, as he has already done with his odious restrictions on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Understanding how the federal governments law enforcement agency interprets the legal limits on its own powers is, in this context, more essential than ever. Until now, however, the rules governing the FBI have largely been kept secret.
Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Todays publication is the result of months of investigation by our staff, and we planned to publish these articles and documents regardless of the outcome of the 2016 election. The public has an interest in understanding the FBIs practices no matter who occupies the White House. But in the wake of Trumps victory, and the unique circumstances that follow from it, these revelations take on even more urgency.
After Congresss 1976 Church Committee investigated the excesses of Hoovers FBI, in particular the infamous COINTELPRO program in which agents targeted and subverted any political groups the government deemed threatening, including anti-war protesters, black nationalists, and civil rights activists a series of reforms were enacted to rein in the FBIs domestic powers. As The Intercept and other news outlets have amply documented, in the guise of the war on terror the FBI has engaged in a variety of tactics that are redolent of the COINTELPRO abuses including, for example, repeatedly enticing innocent Muslims into fake terror schemes concocted by the bureaus own informants. What The Intercepts reporting on this new trove of documents shows is how the FBI has quietly transformed the system of rules and restraints put in place after the scandals of the 70s, opening the door for a new wave of civil liberties violations. When asked to respond to this critique, the FBI provided the following statement:
All FBI policies are written to ensure that the FBI consistently and appropriately applies the lawful tools we use to assess and investigate criminal and national security threats to our nation. All of our authorities and techniques are founded in the Constitution, U.S. law, and Attorney General Guidelines. FBI policies and rules are audited and enforced through a rigorous internal compliance mechanism, as well as robust oversight from the Inspector General and Congress. FBI assessments and investigations are subject to responsible review and are designed to protect the rights of all Americans and the safety of our agents and sources, acting within the bounds of the Constitution.
Absent these documents and the facts of how the bureau actually operates, this may sound reassuring. But to judge how well the bureau is living up to these abstract commitments, it is necessary to read the fine print of its byzantine rules and regulations which the FBIs secrecy has heretofore made it impossible for outsiders to do. Now, thanks to our access to these documents which include the FBIs governing rulebook, known as the DIOG, and classified policy guides for counterterrorism cases and handling confidential informants The Intercept is able to share a vital glimpse of how the FBI understands and wields its enormous power.
For example, the bureaus agents can decide that a campus organization is not legitimate and therefore not entitled to robust protections for free speech; dig for derogatory information on potential informants without any basis for believing they are implicated in unlawful activity; use a persons immigration status to pressure them to collaborate and then help deport them when they are no longer useful; conduct invasive assessments without any reason for suspecting the targets of wrongdoing; demand that companies provide the bureau with personal data about their users in broadly worded national security letters without actual legal authority to do so; fan out across the internet along with a vast army of informants, infiltrating countless online chat rooms; peer through the walls of private homes; and more. The FBI offered various justifications of these tactics to our reporters. But the documents and our reporting on them ultimately reveal a bureaucracy in dire need of greater transparency and accountability.
One of the documents contains an alarming observation about the nations police forces, even as perceived by the FBI. Officials of the bureau were so concerned that many of these police forces are linked to, at times even populated by, overt white nationalists and white supremacists, that they have deemed it necessary to take that into account in crafting policies for sharing information with them. This news arrives in an ominous context, as the nations law enforcement agencies are among the few institutional factions in the U.S. that supported Trump, and they did so with virtual unanimity. Trump ran on a platform of unleashing an already out-of-control police I will restore law and order to our country, he thundered when accepting the Republican nomination and now the groups most loyal to Trump are those that possess a state monopoly over the use of force, many of which are infused with racial animus.
The Church Committee reforms were publicly debated and democratically enacted, based on the widespread fears of sustained FBI overreach brought to light by aggressive reporters like Seymour Hersh. It is simply inexcusable to erode those protections in the dark, with no democratic debate.
As we enter the Trump era, with a nominated attorney general who has not hidden his contempt for press freedoms and a president who has made the news media the primary target of his vitriol, one of the most vital weapons for safeguarding basic liberties and imposing indispensable transparency is journalism that exposes information the government wants to keep suppressed. For exactly that reason, it is certain to be under even more concerted assault than it has been during the last 15 years. The revealing, once-secret FBI documents The Intercept is today reporting on, and publishing, demonstrate why protecting press freedom is more critical than ever.
In 2016, America Killed Over 24,000 of the Nationals Donald Trump Just Banned
On the other hand, nationals of banned countries killed zero Americans in the last 30 years.
By Leyal Khalife January 31, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " Stepfeed " - The nationals of countries US President Donald Trump has banned in order "protect the United States" have killed zero civilians in America since 1980. How many people has America killed in these very same countries in 2016 alone? Over 24,000. In 2016, the US dropped 26,172 bombs in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan. Five of these countries are on Trump's "Muslim Ban" list -- including Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan. Here's the breakdown of the number of bombs the US dropped on Muslim-majority countries last year. 1. Syria gets bombed over 12,000 times in 2016 In 2016, America dropped over 12,000 bombs on Syria in its fight against ISIS.
2. Bombs on Iraq fell a hundred short of Syria During former President Barack Obama's last year in office, the country witnessed over 12,000 bombs, killing at least 6,878 civilians the same year.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that America could get "another chance" to steal Iraq's oil -- saying that ISIS probably wouldn't exist if the US had "kept the oil." 3. Libya got bombed nearly 500 times 4. Yemen has been dubbed "one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes" In 2016 alone, the US dropped 35 bombs in Yemen -- a country that has been dubbed "one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world." In 22 months, the country has witnessed over 10,000 civilians deaths and over 40,000 wounded individuals. 5. 150 people were killed in Somalia in just one month in 2016 In 2016, 14 bombs shattered the lives of hundreds of civilians in Somalia. In March 2016, at least 150 people were killed in a US-led attack under the Obama Administration. The airstrike hit a training camp that belongs to the Islamist militant group, the Shabab, the Pentagon said, according to the NY Times. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) at the weekend expressed hope that should former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as the next president of the country come 2019, the lingering issue of marginalisation and under-development being suffered by Ndigbo would be given a holistic solution and would become a thing of the past.
In a statement issued in Enugu, signed by the PDM Promoter in the South East, Dr. Haroun Ajah and made available to LEADERSHIP called on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to contest the next presidential election as the party would give him full support and cooperation to achieve his political ambition.
The statement read in part, Leadership is a trust on behalf of God and the people, therefore, we expect from the Presidency of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar come May, 2019 to run an all inclusion government and administration in Nigeria where Ndigbo will equally be at the commanding levels of Federal Government Authorities and Agencies.
I implore the National Caretaker Committee of PDM party and the Grand Guru Baba PDM, Ibrahim Gusau in particular to work very hard to ensure that people with respect, courage, commitment and integrity emerge as Leaders of the Peoples Democratic movement, PDP party in the forthcoming congresses and National convention.
I call on the former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Turakin Adamawa to contest the next general elections. We are aware that the Turakin Adamawa is not a member of PDM party but certainly we all in the South East Nigeria and beyond will give him full support and cooperation on any platform, he Turakin Adamawa may wish to contest the next general election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him, Atikus call for the restructuring of Nigeria remains the only way to a better administrative system for Nigeria.
It is our belief that the wonderful idea of restructuring Nigeria as the commitment to achieve true federalism in Nigeria can only be carried out by courageous and patriotic person like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as President of Nigeria.
Source: Leadership
Leave Your Laundry; the Laundroid Will Do It for You
The Laundroid, with all its intended functions, is slated for release in 2019. (Photo : toyokeizai.net)
There will come a day when people won't have to spend hours doing their laundry. For the time being, however, tech innovators are busy coming up with ingenious solutions.
Take Shinichi Sakane, a Japanese inventor, for example.
Big-name partners such as Panasonic Corp. have invested 6 billion yen or roughly $53 million to help Sakane further the development of his "Laundroid," a robot that can wash and dry garments, as well as fold and organize clothing according to the user's specifications, according to an article by China Daily.
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Once it's finished, the Laundroid, a machine as big as a refrigerator, can render washing machines, dryers, and clothes drawers obsolete in people's homes.
It's unclear how the Laundroid will perform all of its functions as Sakane is not too keen on sharing details of how the robot works. According to patents, however, the basic premise is that users dump clothes in a lower drawer, and the robot will take care of the rest through its robotic arms and sliding plates.
"We tried so many things and none of them worked," said Sakane, who heads the Seven Dreamers Laboratories Inc., in an interview with China Daily.
"A ton of team members quit, saying it's impossible or that I'm crazy. But the ones who remained came up with some truly brilliant ideas."
Sakane drew inspiration from the film "2001: A Space Odyssey" by Stanley Kubrick, with the Laundroid resembling objects in the film that introduced prehistoric humans to technology.
"That's what we had in mind: a technology that never existed on Earth descends from space. If we could automate this, the act of doing laundry will be gone for good."
According to CB Insights, the funding round for the Laundroid is one of the largest for a Japanese tech startup. To date, the total amount of funding received is 7.5 billion yen.
The Laundroid, with all its intended functions, is slated for release in 2019. A prototype than can sort and fold garments, however, will be available for sale in March in markets worldwide.
A group of over 500 sledders at a ski resort in Austria set a new world record for the longest chain of sleds.
Bramberg Tourist Office and Waldkogel Mountain Railways gathered 508 sleds at Wildkogel Arena Neukirchen ski resort in Bramberg to claim the Guinness World Record for Longest chain of sleds.
The line of sleds stretched about 2,460 feet as the group traveled down a slope while keeping all 508 sleds connected throughout the trip.
Managers of Waldkogel Mountain Railways Rudolf Gostl and Bernhard Gruber were proud of the achievement which vastly exceeded the previous record of 50 sleds.
The organizational effort was worthwhile, they said. We are proud and delighted to have achieved the world record title in the Wildkogel Arenaa really sensational event!
An American high school students use of spare locker space is going viral thanks to a video showing his finished project a fully functioning vending machine.
Blake Hawkins, 17, a senior at Valley Center High School, posted a video to YouTube showing his chemistry teacher demonstrating the soft drink vending machine the student built in his school locker.
Hawkins, who detailed the process behind the invention on the website Instructables, said The Soda Locker was inspired by the extra space in his school locker.
With so many schools moving to electronic devices for books, lockers become less of a space for your books, and more of a question of: What am I going to do with this?' he wrote.
Hawkins said his invention proved popular with his fellow students, selling up to six 75-cent cans of soda during each class break.
I think most of it is the novelty that youre buying a pop from a vending machine inside of a locker, he told KWCH-TV.
He said school administrators made him shut down The Soda Locker because it violates school rules, but he is working on reaching a deal to operate the vending machine with proceeds going to a school club or program.
The North-West zone of All Progressive Congress (APC) has condemned the issues being raised over President Muhammadu Buharis health and vacation, saying it was unwarranted and unpatriotic.
In a statement after its meeting in Katsina on Monday, the party said the issues smacked of desperation of the opposition parties.
It said that the zone had declared total support to Buharis administration, in its bid to move the nation forward.
The meeting emphasized the need for members of the National Assembly from the North-West to fully support the president in his effort to provide responsive leadership to Nigeria, the statement signed by National Vice Chairman, North-West, Inuwa Abdulkadir, said.
The meeting called on north-west zonal leadership of the party to engage members of the national assembly, ministers, and heads of government agencies to ensure that policies and programmes fall in line with the partys manifesto.
The meeting emphasized the need for elected and appointed public officeholders to undertake periodic consultation with constituents to enlighten them on government policies and programmes, and at the same time, receive feedback for effective service delivery.
The meeting reiterated its support to seven governors in the North-West region in their effort toward economic integration of the region within the context of the north-west economic cooperation and integration framework, the communique said.
The party also appreciated the seven states in the zone for their initiative at identifying high development priority areas like education, healthcare, agriculture, water resources, energy, solid minerals and industrialization.
It called on party members to rise in the defence of the hard-won but overwhelming mandate of the majority of Nigerians by eschewing all forms of internal conflict and division.
We should appreciate the need to rally round our leaders and for the leaders to carry all members along in flying the flag of APC, the communique said.
A suspected robbery gang on Monday stormed the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) branch along Shell RA Bus Stop in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, injuring some persons.
It was gathered that the robbery took place between the hours of 8 a.m and 9 a.m but eyewitnesses were skeptical about the success of the gang in carting away some amount of money as a policeman was said to have been killed as he successfully foiled the robbery.
Sources said the hoodlums escaped through Rumuibekwe Street to unknown destination.
The Spokesperson of the Police in the state, Mr Nnandi Omoni, confirmed the robbery incident, adding that the slain police sergeant actually prevented the armed robbers from stealing money.
A police sergeant was killed during a shootout. He died on the spot. He (police sergeant) foiled the robbery, he stated.
In a related development, gang of armed robbers attacked Owo town in Ondo state in what appeared to be a coordinated attacks on banks, residents of the town have said.
Several banks in the town were attacked in the two-hour operation, with a manager in one of the banks reportedly shot dead.
Bystanders and passers-by were feared dead, and several others injured, while one of the attacked banks was set ablazed, a security source said.
The robbers were believed to have made away with large amounts of money from the banks.
A 35-year-old disabled man, Sylvanus Ukpan, has been arrested by the police in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State for allegedly supplying charms and locally-made bullet proof vests to criminals in the state and neighbouring Cross River State.
Parading the suspects, yesterday, at the Command Headquarters in Makurdi, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashir Makama, said the suspect was nabbed by a special anti-crime squad, code-named Operation Zenda.
Represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent Mose Yamu, the Commissioner explained that the suspect, who was in company of another, was heading towards Wukari in Taraba State when they were arrested.
He said: He was caught yesterday night with charms and seven locally-made bullet proof vests, which was meant to be supplied to a yet to be disclosed gang.
We have already established that they were coming from Otukwuunya in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, when they were nabbed at Ayua, between Katsina-Ala and Wukari.
We are still investigating the matter, but we strongly believe that he could have been arming criminal gang within that axis with charms and in this particular instance they might be heading to Gbishe.
Our investigations also revealed that each of the vest is worth over N250,000. But investigation into the matter is still ongoing.
The suspect on his part, however, denied that the charms were meant for criminals.
He said: The charm was given to me by a friend for protection against the people attacking our community, but my father asked me to return it that it was devilish. I was about to do that when the police arrested me.
Source: Vanguard
I think he needs to be educated about the efforts of the Buhari administration: So far Buhari has released three bail out funds to the 36 states in Nigeria totalling over N1.5 trillion in the last 18 months. Apart from this another trillion was released as Paris Club refund money to the 36 states. Buhari emphasized the need for the states to prioritize the payment of salaries of workers and pensions of pensioners as these states receive the money.
Unfortunately, instead of some states to use the funds to pay off civil servants and pensioners salary and pension arrears they chose to loot the funds. A governor of one of the South South states siphoned N3b of the funds using his mistress as a front and now the mistress has run away with the funds. Tuface Idibia you can now see why Nigerians are suspicious of the motive and source of the funds for the protest you want to embark on. Why didnt you lead a protest against these governors who mismanaged the Buhari bail out funds and the Paris Club refund money? Why did you not protest against GEJs looting of N51 trillion naira and the Godswill Akpabio alleged looting of over N1 trillion naira from the Akwa Ibom state treasury for which he is being prosecuted by the EFCC? Why didnt you protest Akpabios alleged corrupting of a Supreme Court justice who is currently being tried for corrupt practices on the bench? Is it because you are a corruption apologist? Is it because you are the agent of corruption fighting back? Is it because you are part of desperate plot to poison the hearts and minds against a fantastically incorruptible President who fights the corrupt no matter whose ox is gored? We your fans want to assure you that if you go ahead with this protest we will reevaluate our support for you and it may be downhill for you afterwards.
Rethink your actions and reflect deeply.
Dr. Bunmi Awoyemi Divinewealth
Two persons have been reportedly killed by a suicide bomber during an early morning prayer at a mosque in Dalori Quarters, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Confirming the incident, Sani Datti, the Head of Information for the National Emergency Management Agency, said the bomber, a male, killed himself and another person as he detonated the vest trapped to his body.
Details later..
US President Donald Trump has declared that his administration would not allow mass killings of Christians continue. He stated this on his twitter handle in a rare show of solidarity with Christians in the Middle East.
He had tweeted a few minutes ago : Christians in the Middle East have been executed in large numbers . We cannot allow this horror to continue!
We are doing more to keep you informed on issues that matters to you.
Canadian Police have named two of the suspected attackers at a shooting at a Mosque in Quebec which left 6 people dead on Sunday night.
The two suspects, identified as Alexandre Bissonnette and Mohamed el Khadir allegedly opened fire on the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre. One of the suspects was arrested at the scene while the other phoned police to give himself up on Monday morning.
Some unofficial reports claim that the men are in their early twenties and are students at a local university but no motive as yet been discerned for the act of terror.
Canada has kicked against the Executive Order of President Donald Trump restricting Muslim immigrants from entering America.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken a stand on social media against the temporary US ban on refugees and immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Mr Trudeau underscored his governments commitment to bringing in those fleeing persecution, terror & war.
The US Department of Homeland Security said the entry ban would also apply to dual nationals of the seven countries.
However, Mr Trudeaus office says Canadian dual nationals are exempt.
We have been assured that Canadian citizens travelling on Canadian passports will be dealt with in the usual process, a spokeswoman for Mr Trudeau said in an emailed statement.
US President Donald Trumps National Security Adviser Mike Flynn confirmed that holders of Canadian passports, including dual citizens, will not be affected by the ban, the statement said.
Canadas Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen is a dual national who arrived as a Somali refugee. Within hours, Mr Trudeaus tweets had been shared more than 150,000 times.
Welcome to Canada also became a trending term in the country. Mr Trudeau, who gained global attention for granting entry to nearly 40,000 Syrian refugees to Canada over the past 13 months, also sent a pointed tweet that showed him greeting a young refugee at a Canadian airport in 2015.
On Friday, Mr Trump signed an executive order suspending entry to the US from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen for 90 days.
The USs entire refugee admissions programme has also been suspended for 120 days. Those fleeing Syria as refugees are banned until further notice.
Jessica Middleton lands a clean punch against Alice Yauger during their encounter at Bellator 171 last Jan. 27. (Photo : YouTube/BellatorMMA)
Bellator is one of the fastest growing mixed martial arts promotions out there today. Just recently, they had a fight card, which featured UFC veterans Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen duking it out in the main event. They looked to repeat this spectacle at their latest event, where they pitted 54-fight journeyman Melvin Guillard against Chidi Njokuani, who was on an eight-fight win streak.
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The main card kicked off with AJ McKee taking on Brandon Philips, with the former having a sizeable reach advantage. It was a back and forth contest between the two, which also focused more on the standup game rather than taking the fight to the ground. Two judges for the bout scored it 29-28 in favor of the still undefeated McKee, while the third scored it 30-27 in the same direction, MMA Weekly reported.
Female fighters are now also getting opportunities in the Bellator main card, with Jessica Middleton taking on Alice Yauger in a flyweight contest. Both fighters came charging out the gate with bad intentions, looking to finish the fight as soon as possible. Momentum swung to Middleton's favor in the second round and she never looked back, as she took home the unanimous decision nod.
The co-main event of the evening saw six-year Bellator veteran David Rickels taking on Aaron Derrow, with the latter fighting for just the second time in the promotion. Unlike the first two fights in the Bellator 171 main card, this one showcased more of the fighters' ground game after Rickels floored his opposition with a clean, which was followed up with more from the dominant position.
While similar events transpired in the second round of this lightweight fight, it was the third that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Within one minute of the third round, Derrow was once again clipped by well-timed striking, but this time had no answer to the ground and pound that followed. Rickels won the fight via a technical knockout.
The first round of the main event between Guillard and Njokuani started rather slow with various stoppages during the frame. The first was for a prolonged bout of feeling out and measuring each other, while the second and third times were for illegal strikes when Guillard landed a groin shot on Njoukani, who later in the round landed an illicit knee on his downed opponent.
Njoukani then proceeded to dominate when he found himself in a dominant position for the majority of the second round. While the referee stood both fighters back up near the end of the round, Njoukani was able to land a devastating shot to the live, which visibly hurt Guillard, Bloody Elbow reported.
Njoukani once again found top position early on in the third round. He continued his ground and pound from last round at a relentless rate, not allowing Guillard to recover and find his footing. The referee stood them back up once again in the closing moments of the fight, but the unanimous decision (30-25, 30-24, 30-26) victory was already well secured by Njoukani.
Watch the full highlights of Bellator 171 here:
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has sent a protest letter to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Department of State Security (DSS) over the alleged complicity of Commissioner of Police, Legal ,Force Headquarters, Umar Surejudeen in the alleged disobedience of court order and the alleged diversion of the sum of N33.5million ordered compensation to the indigenes of Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Area of Bayelsa State over a multiple oil spill in 2013.
According to the CLO, though the alleged accomplices identified within the staff of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NOAC) and the United Bank for Africa (UBA) have been dragged before the Federal High Court over alleged four count charges of conspiracy, fraud, theft, electronic fraud and unlawful diversion of fun, the Civil Society groups led by the Civil Liberties organisation wants the accused Police Personel investigated and dismissed over alleged complicity in the crime against the benefiting community.
The CLO, in the protest letter to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the DSS, claimed that preliminary investigation showed that the unholy alliance and conspiracy of the CP Legal, Force Headquarters, Abuja (Umar Surajudeen) with United Bank of Africa (UBA PLC) against an oil producing community in the Niger Delta (Azuzuama Community in Bayelsa State was evident and as an organization committed in ensuring the rights of the common man, oppressed and voiceless, we the CLO in strong terms condemn the unpatriotic actions of the CP Legal Force Headquarters, Umar Surejudeen, which is causing tension in the Azuzuama Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and demand for his dismissal from the Nigerian Police Force.
In the letter, which was signed by its Bayelsa State chapter Chairman, Chief Nengi James, made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, the CLO stated that From our findings, the Federal High Court Yenagoa via its ruling of 1st Dec. 2015, directed UBA PLC as Garnishee to pay the Judgment sum of N33,579,450.00 (which was awarded against AGIP OIL Company) into the Courts Account within two weeks of which failure to do so, the judgment creditors could take steps to enforce and execute the said order. As UBA PLC (Garnishee) refused to comply with the order of the Court, the judgment creditors (represented by Kelvin Ejelonu (Esq), of Kelvin Ejelonu& Associates) commenced moves to execute the said order and an Application was made to the then commissioner of police, Bayelsa State (P. Ogunshakin) for policemen to go for the execution of the court order on UBA PLC (Swali Branch, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State).
In the course of the Execution, the Manager of the said UBA PLC Branch pleaded with the Registrar of the FHC to accept Managers Cheque to the tune of the judgment sum to offset the said judgment sum as there was not enough cash in the Bank. The said cheques were made out in the name of the Registrar Federal High Court, Yenagoa, of which he immediately on leaving the Bank lodged the said cheques in the account of Federal High Court, Yenagoa domiciled with Fidelity Bank. The Account was credited and an alert was received by the Registrar, Federal High Court.
But then UBA PLC was desperate by all fraudulent means to stop the payment and in furtherance to that the next day 10th March, 2016, the Bank through one of its officials, Mr. John Iyinbo sent an email to the central clearing group stopping the clearance of the cheques claiming that there is an order of interlocutory injunction of the Court of Appeal, Port-Harcourt Division retraining UBA from paying this caused the said alert received by the Federal High Court Registrar to revert. Meanwhile, there is no order of interlocutory injunction of the court of Appeal anywhere restraining UBA PLC rom paying the said money because till date, UBA PLC has not been able to produce the alleged order.
Subsequently, the judgment creditors counsel, Kelvin Ejelonu (Esq) petitioned UBA PLC to the commissioner of police, Bayelsa State who assigned the petition to the monitoring unit of the same command for diligent investigation. UBA PLC and its officials were implicated after the investigation hence the matter was filed on 21/6/2016 as charge No: FHC/YNG/46C/2016 against UBA PLC and some of its officials, so far, the matter has since come up on 14th of September, 2016, 5th of October, 2016, 26th October, 2016, 30th November, 2016 and on 30thJan. 2017.
Our concern is the unethical action of the CP Legal, Force Headquarters who posted or caused to be posted a new O/C Legal to Bayelsa State police command with express instruction to withdraw the criminal matter against UBA PLC and to transfer the case file to Abuja, without the knowledge of the complainant. The implication is that UBA PLC seems to have achieved what they couldnt achieve with CP OGUNSHAKIN (the then commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State).
We, the CLO identifies with the judgment creditor AZUZUAMA COMMUNITY in Bayelsa State and also watch with interest in this matter to see whether AGIP Oil Company, UBA PLC and Government Agencies would keep on brazenly undermining communities in the Region and also exhibit total lack of respect for Court Orders, when it affects communities in the region and when such community resorts to self-help, the common cry becomes Niger Delta restiveness and militancy.
In the light of the above facts, we call for an official investigation of the matter by the appropriate quarters (by i.e the IGP, PSC and even DSS as the said act is a threat to security in the Niger Delta) and if the CP Legal force headquarters is found to be in any way culpable for Abuse of office and corruption he should be dismissed and prosecuted forthwith and if this is not done then we have no option than to assume as follows: That the Government is selective and not serious about the Anti-corruption fight. That the Anti-corruption fight is targeted at certain groups and individuals.
That Government wants to perpetuate injustice on the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta, through the said police officer and his collaborators. That the police is quick to punish its lower ranks while protecting its corrupt senior officers. That Acts of corruption, impunity and Abuse of office is very much prevalent in Nigerian Police Force. This is a very serious matter that has serious implications to the quest for peace in the Niger Delta region as Azuzuama Community and Neighbouring communities watch with interest to see how this matter would end up, whether an Oil Producing Community or any community at all in the country would try to be on the side of the law while injustice and corrupt acts of officers like CP Legal, Force Headquarters would keep on forcing them towards self-help.
Source: Leadership
A professor of Community and Public Health Nutrition has sounded a note of warning to Nigerians over the consumption of barbecued beef popularly called Suya.
Consumers of barbecued beef popularly called Suya have been advised to always ensure that generous portions of onions, cabbage, tomatoes and other vegetables were eaten along with it.
Suya is generally made with skewered beef, ram, or chicken. Innards such as kidney, liver and tripe are also used.
The thinly sliced meat is marinated in various spices which include peanut cake, salt, vegetable oil and other flavourings, and then barbecued.
Ngozi Nnam, Professor of Community and Public Health Nutrition at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.
Ms. Nnam said that there was a link between its consumption and increased risk of cancer, noting that consumption of suya garnished with onions and other vegetables has a strong cancer-lowering effect.
Eating Suya can actually cause cancer. This comes from the reaction of meat and the smoke during Suya preparation which results in a toxic compound that can cause cancer.
Smoking of the meat is what causes cancer. Some metabolites from food can cause cancer. What is important is to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to increase antioxidants in the body.
The antioxidants can neutralise or react with the toxic metabolite from food to prevent cancer, she said.
According to her, Suya is good to eat with onions and cabbage because they react with the toxic substance produced by smoke to prevent cancer. It is good to eat Suya with onions and other fruits and vegetables.
The nutritionist, however, urged Nigerians to consume more of fish than beef. She said that the major benefit of eating beef was that it provided needed protein for the individual.
It is however healthier to eat fish than meat because some fish e.g. srumbia fish contain omega 6 fatty acid which is good for the body.
Omega 6 fatty acid is also very good for infants because it is required for proper brain development.
In addition, she warned against the consumption of smoked fish, saying again the problem with smoked fish is the toxic substance produced by the smoke. If we can grill it, it will be better than smoking it, she advised.
Ms. Nnam, also the President of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, said that the National Policy on Food and Nutrition has been implemented across the country.
The National Policy on Food and Nutrition was launched during the Nutrition Week in September 2016 by the Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari.
After the launch, the policy has been domesticated and being implemented in different states of the federation. The Ministry of Budget and National Planning is overseeing this activity with state nutrition officers, she said.
The policy seeks to improve the nutritional status of all Nigerians, with particular emphasis on the most vulnerable groups including children, women, and the elderly.
-NAN
The Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) says it will provide free medical services to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to the state.
The information is in a statement by the Secretary of the association, Dr Peter Ekwueme in Enugu on Moday.
Ekwueme stated that such services would, however, be offered at the orientation camps in Awgu Local Government Area of the state.
He noted that the NMA wanted to build formidable partnership with the NYSC to improve the quality of medical services at the disposal of youth corps members.
He added that the NMA was working on a robust collaborative programme with officials of the NYSC to address health challenges encountered by corps members posted to the state.
The secretary said the Enugu State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Cajetan Onyedum, in company of other officials of the association, has already embarked on a situation assessment visit to the NYSC orientation camp in Awgu Local Government Area.
The visit ended with a robust discussion with the NYSC state Coordinator, Alhaji Ahmed Ikaka, who expressed gratitude for the wonderful cooperation and support he was getting from the state chapter of the NMA.
He assured that the association, doctors and health institutions in the state would keep an eye on the health situation in the camp and its clinics.
Former aide to the immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Ben Onyechere was killed at the weekend in Owerri, Imo State capital.
Daily Sun reliably gathered that the deceased was shot dead on Sunday evening by gunmen at the popular Maris Junction at Ikengbu layout in Owerri where he had gone to shop.
It was learnt that the gunmen, numbering about five had reportedly trailed their victim and caught up with him at the popular junction at about 8pm.
According to an eyewitness, the gunmen, who had overtaken the deceased car dragged down his driver and when he resisted, the gunmen shot him in his legs, which instantly disabled him, after which they forcefully dragged the deceased into their own car and sped off.
Onyechere was later discovered dead in the pool of his blood yesterday morning, few metres away from Maris Junction from where he was initially abducted.
However, when contacted, the spokesman of Imo State police command, Mr. Andrew Enwerem (DSP), who confirmed the incident, said the identity of the deceased was not known to the police as none of the family members had reported to the police.
He further disclosed that police had been alerted to the shooting incident at Maris Junction at Ikenegbu and that investigation was on to find out the identity of the victim.
In another development, a 23-year-old man, simply called Chimobi, who is in police net for kidnapping his boss son, has confessed he did it as payback for the mans wickedness.
The suspect and his alleged accomplice, Emmanuel, are being interrogated by operatives at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Lagos State Police Command.
The suspect were alleged to have abducted 10-year-old Emeka at the Orile area of the state last week Monday.
Chimobi, who was paraded with his accomplice, Emmanuel said: Yes, I am the mastermind of the kidnapped boy. I recruited Emmanuel. I did all I did as a payback for my masters wickedness. My former boss is very wicked.
I was learning how to sell used clothes from him. He promised to settle me after appreniship. I started my tutelage in 2013, but he started counting for me from 2014.
I was not bothered, as he promised my parents, that I would not regret learning trade from him. Today, I am in pains because, when I completed after my apprenticeship, rather than settle me, my boss opened another shop and asked me to man it and deliver N20,000 weekly.
As I could not make it because of the economic recession, he sent me packing and I have to return to the village. Well, Emmanuel told me to come over to Lagos, where her got me a job in a hotel. It was while I was working in the hotel that the idea came on how to payback my boss. I now invited Emmanuel. I laid ambush for my boss 10-year-old child, on his way to the school. I succeeded and I kept him in the room in the hotel management gave me.
Source: TheSun
The Federal Government has again applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja for protection of witnesses that will testify against the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
Dasuki is facing charges of unlawful possession of fire-arms and money laundering.
The fresh application was brought to court by Chief Oladipo Okpeseyi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), recently engaged by the government to lead the prosecution.
The application filed on January 24 is insisting that the witnesses should be given protection by the court by not allowing their names and addresses to be made public in the course of the trial.
But in a strong opposition to the fresh request, Dasuki asked the court to dismiss the governments motion because it lacked merit and was an abuse of court process.
In a counter affidavit filed on behalf of the Ex-NSA by his lead counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji, argued that there was no justification for government to have brought the motion for secret trial for the second time having lost in the first motion.
The defendant insisted that government had on its own volition placed the charges against him in the internet where the names, addresses and positions of the witnesses were conspicuously put at the disposal of the general public.
Dasuki maintained that when the first application argued by the then Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Mohamed Diri, Justice Adeniyi Adenola of the same court in a landmark ruling dismissed the request.
It was dismissed because the witnesses were already known by the public having given their names through the internet.
He further said that bringing the same motion to the same court constituted a gross abuse of court process and that what the prosecution ought to do if not satisfied with the decision of Justice Ademola, was to have gone to court of Appeal to ventilate its anger.
Dasuki who attached a copy of the earlier court ruling on the application urged the trial judge, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, not to allow the fresh motion for secret trial to be entertained.
When the motion came up today, Opeseyi could not move the motion on the ground that the defence had just served him a voluminous counter affidavit objecting to the motion.
The prosecution counsel told the court that so many fundamental issues were raised in the counter affidavit and that plethora of authorities were also cited in the counter affidavit.
He therefore applied for an adjournment to enable him study the counter affidavit and respond to it appropriately.
Justice Mohammed therefore fixed hearing of the motion for March 1.
The Directorate of State Services had in 2015 slammed a two-count charge of unlawful possession of fire-arms and money laundering against Dasuki.
But the trial suffered a setback last year when Justice Ademola withdrew from further conducting the trial following his arrest by the DSS on allegations of corruption related matters.
The withdrawal of justice Ademola from the trial prompted the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice Ibrahim Auta to transfer the case file to the present judge
The Ex-NSA who pleaded not guilty to the charges was in 2015 admitted to bail by justice Ademola but was disallowed by the DSS from enjoying the bail by re-arresting him and keeping him in the custody since December 2015.
Other courts have also granted bails to Dasuki include Ecowas Courts order for his release but he is still being kept in detention.
Source: NAN
Investigations on Monday revealed a former Akwa Ibom State Governor as the chief sponsor of the planned massive nationwide protest being orchestrated by 2face, against the Buhari-led administration, PMNEWS reports.
The protest, planned to hold on Sunday, February 5, had in the last two weeks generated much hue and cry with some Nigerian celebrities queuing behind the move, while others had kicked against the intention.
But on Monday, a source revealed to PMNEWS, that 2face was being used as a stooge to drive the protest aimed at smearing the Buhari-led FG.
The said former governor, now a Senator, has never hidden his love for the African Queen crooner and had in the past said to have showered the music icon with cash and gifts worth several millions of naira.
PMNEWS recalls that 2face and his wife, Annie Macaulay, in 2013, were gifted two brand new Prado SUVs by this former governor as their wedding gift which they graciously accepted.
2face has however, come under severe criticism by some fans who feel he was silent during the previous administration where massive corruption, lawlessness and poverty were the order of the day, with some concluding that there was more behind the protest.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he will not allow the killing of Christians in the middle east to continue.
Trump, who stated this in a tweet, via his Twitter handle @realDonaldTrump, said Christians in the Midde-East have been executed in large numbers.
Last week, he signed an executive order imposing a ban on citizens from seven predominately Muslim countries Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Somalia.
His action has sparked off a protest in the US.
Trumps tweet reads, Christians in the Middle-East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot all this horror to continue.
Minority Christians have been victims of attacks in Syria and Iraq by the Islamic State since its insurgency started.
But Christians in Egypt and Pakistan have also been reportedly targeted by extremists.
Trumps tweet was retweeted more that 25,000 times and like by over 88,000 users in less than four hours.
Source: Leadership
Joined as respondents in the suit marked as FHC/ABJ/CS/46/2017, apart from President Buhari, are Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Jude Okeke and Justice John Tsoho.
The affected judicial officers, justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja alongside his wife, Olubowale, were arraigned before the 4th (Okeke) and 5th (Tsoho) respondents, respectively.The plaintiff wants the court to declare that the 2nd respondents (AGF) prosecution or purported prosecution of the affected two Justices at the instance of the 1st respondent (President Buhari) is arbitrary, an aberration and violation of the principles of separation of powers, judicial independence and the rule of law.
He is now praying for an order compelling and/or directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to forthwith discontinue with the prosecution of the said two justices and refer the cases to the 3rd respondent and an order compelling the 3rd respondent to direct and or order the 4th and 5th respondents to forthwith discontinue with the trial of said two Justices and refer the cases to the 3rd respondent.
An order compelling and /or directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to formally bring the petitions against the affected two Justices or any other Judicial officer to the 3rd respondent for investigation, discipline and sanctioning of the affected Justices,he is praying, asking further for a perpetual injunction restraining the 1stand 2nd respondents from prosecuting the affected two Justices or any other Judicial officer for ethical violation without following due process of law.
Supported by 53 paragraph affidavit, the deponent swore that unless the respondents are restrained, the independence of the Nigerian Judiciary will continue to be eroded by the executive arm of Government.
He averred: That I am a Minister in the temple of Justice with the commission to protect and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at all times. That the 1st and 2nd respondents have concluded plans to ask the DSS to raid the residence of more Judges and Court workers. That the 1st and 2nd respondents have successfully castrated the Judiciary and co-opt it as an appendage of the Executive arm.
Nigerian newspaper headlines January 31, 2017.
Punch
One Civilian JTF and a male suicide bomber lost their lives in a foiled suicide bomb attack in Dalori Quarters in Maiduguri.
Guardian
Some residents of Maiduguri have decried the increasing cases of child abuses by unscrupulous homosexual persons.
Vanguard
SENATE Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan has told Nigerians that the 2017 budget would be smoothly and promptly passed, just as he said that the leadership will meet today with chairmen of committees on the way forward for the budget.
The Nation
Five oil companies have been linked with the $153million seized from former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Leadership
Nigerias oil export will receive a boost as a major export facility, Trans Forcados Pipeline which was shut for most of 2016 is set to be reopened.
Thisday
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Ikeja, Lagos, has arrested three men identified as Oscar Okafor, Mahmud Hassan and Sadique Mustapha for the unlawful importation of 49 boxes containing 661 pump action rifles which were concealed in a container conveying steel products and other merchandise goods.
Premium Times
Morocco was on Monday readmitted into the African Union at the 28th AU summit of Head of States and Government in Addis Ababa.
The Sun
A man has erected the statue of former President Goodluck Jonathan at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
A mobile policeman allegedly lost his life, yesterday morning, when robbers stormed a new generation bank around Rumubekwe/Shell area junction of Port Harcourt, carting away about N30 million from a customer.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, numbering about four, stormed the bank in a Toyota Corolla car, shooting sporadically to ward off any resistance.
According to eyewitnesses, the robbers apparently trailed a customer who came with the money in a vehicle to the bank.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said the police foiled a bank robbery attempt.
Omoni noted that there was a gun battle between policemen and the gang of criminals and that the policeman died in the incident.
While noting that the gunmen escaped with bullet wounds, Omoni stressed that normalcy was quickly restored in the area.
He pleaded with members of the public to give prompt information to the police or any other security outfit for swift response.
Source: Vanguard
Girl Meets World Season 3 (Photo : Disney Channel)
"Girl Meets World" Season 4 wrapped up this month, but before the finale episode aired, Disney Channel first confirmed the show's cancellation.
After the network's decision has been made public, showrunner Michael Jacobs said that there are other television networks and streaming sites that may be interested in picking up "Girl Meets World" for Season 5.
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While speaking with TV Line, Jacobs said that some networks have become interested in "Girl Meets World" after it was cancelled by Disney Channel because they saw how dedicated the audiences are in trying to urge the creators for a renewal.
Jacobs added that networks want to make sure that their shows will have huge following, and this is exactly what they can get if they pick up "Girl Meets World" for at least one season.
Unfortunately, Netflix has already announced their decision to not pick up the show. Immediately after Netflix's confirmation, Jacobs spoke with The Wrap to express his disappointment over Disney Channel's decision to axe the Rowan Blanchard starrer.
According to him, there are still more stories to tell about each of the characters and their connection with each other. This means that "Girl Meets World" could have still gone on until Season 5 with ease. Jacobs added that there should not be any worries about "Girl Meets World" not having unique storylines because this is something the writers can do perfectly.
Meanwhile, Hulu is another streaming channel that is being rumored to pick up "Girl Meets World." However, they still have not made their final decision on the program.
In other news, the writers on TV Line recently debated on whether or not "Girl Meets World" should still be renewed for Season 5. Some of them believe that there is still hope for renewal, while others think that it is best to leave the show the way it ended in Season 4.
If "Girl Meets World" will be renewed, it is possible that Freeform may be its perfect network. After all, Riley Matthews (Blanchard), Maya (Sabrina Carpenter), Lucas (Peyton Meyer) and the rest of the young cast members are already growing up and turning into teenagers.
Two suspects, including a 20-year-old nurse, Felicia Weinoh, who specialized in treating victims and members of the kidnap gang who abducted eight schoolgirls and staff at the Nigeria Turkish International College, NTIC in Isheri North Area of Ogun State have been arrested by the police.
Godspower Olobele, who is said to be the gangs informant stationed at Majidun area of Ikorodu, Lagos was arrested during the weekend with the sum of N200,000, said to be his share of the ransom collected for the release of the NTIC schoolgirls and staff.
The suspects were arrested few days after an undisclosed amount was paid as ransom for the schoolgirls and staff to the gang of kidnappers who stormed the school and abducted the victims at night.
A ransom of N1.2 billion was initially demanded by the kidnappers, also known to have been terrorizing Lagos and Ogun states. They have been mentioned in several high-profile bank robberies and kidnappings within these states in recent times.
Felicia Weinoh, disclosed that her boy friend, who she identified as Iyenaboh Bandon, a.k.a. American, lured her into the gang. She explained that she wasnt being paid because her boyfriend was always giving her money.
American is my boy friend and we have been dating for a long time and he knows that I am a nurse and I am still undergoing training. I used to go into the creeks to treat him and his friends whenever they were sick and last week they called and told me that a woman in their custody was sick and I told them that I was busy but when I went the police arrested me at Majidun waterside, she revealed.
According to Vanguard, the other suspect, Olobele, disclosed that he was given the sum of N200,000 as his own share after the NTIC kidnapping, adding that he also got N100,000 when three schoolgirls were abducted at Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary in Ikorodu, Lagos, in March 2016.
It was American who introduced me to the gang. He met me at Majidun where I used to sell firewood and local gin close to the waterside when he came to drink and when he knew I am an Ijaw man, he asked of my sales and I told him I make about N2,000 daily and he told me that it was small.
He then asked me to join him in his business and my job will be simple and easy. Whenever they have victims in their camp I normally supply the food and whenever they want people to enter into their camp they will pass instructions to me. After every business I used to get between N100,000 and N200, 000.
I was given N200,000 after the last job but the police found another N100,000 on me which he gave me for the police towards his wifes bail.
Earlier, four suspects, including a militant leader, Philip Joel, also known as General Kakadu, were arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, while a ransom of N1.2 million was recovered from one of them.
Jolted by the starting revelations on the purported seizure of two BELL helicopters imported by the Rivers State Government, the High Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has returned to the drawing board on how to handle the situation.
One of the options on the table of the NCS, is to sacrifice the Deputy Comptroller of Customs for the Lagos Area Command, Mr. Frank Allanah, who brought the matter to the public domain.
The other option, it was further gathered, is to allow the issue to be politicised until it loses steam.
Reliable sources in the NCS hinted that Customs High Command may suspend Allanah as a face-saving measure in the light of the controversy sparked off by announcing the seizure of the helicopters imported by the Rivers State Government.
But in a swift reaction, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Sunday called for the sack of the Comptroller-General of NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) for telling lies to the nation. HURIWA said that the lie brought untold embarrassment on Nigeria, for which Ali should go.
Allanah had on Friday told a bewildered nation that the service recently seized two armoured helicopters from an unknown importer and handed them to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
According to a senior Customs official, aside failing to pay the required duty, the unknown importer did not obtain clearance from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to import the armoured aircraft.
The official, who put a lie to the statement, said that the Customs High Command was thoroughly embarrassed by the turn of events and was battling to save face.
With the damning letters supplied by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the only option is to sacrifice poor Allanah who was merely carrying out orders from above, he said.
The NCS official said that the gaffe by the NCS was one of the several indicators of the inter-agency rivalry in the nations security circle.
The ONSA is working at cross-purposes with the Customs Service, while the Police are in overdrive to outdo the Department of State Service (DSS). The implication is the several gaffes that have become the hallmark of the present administration, he lamented.
Governor Wike had at the weekend raised the stakes when he punctured the position of the NCS.
The governor, who accused the Customs High Command of spawning propaganda, maintained that he had informed President Buhari in writing, of the intention of the state government to hand the helicopters ordered to be purchased by his predecessor and serving Minister of Transport Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, over to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
It is shocking that the Customs would turn around to claim that they impounded the helicopters, Wike said.
The governors media aide, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, followed up by making public copies of correspondences between Wike, the Customs CG, the NSA, as well as the ones exchanged with the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, on the helicopters.
Interestingly, the twin-engine Bell 412 helicopters were imported by Amaechi.
I am surprised that they have started propaganda and political falsehood on the said armoured helicopters, Wike said in Port Harcourt, stressing that the ONSA had three days before the purported seizure written a letter to Ali as well as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, conveying his approval for the NAF to take charge of the helicopters.
In the letter dated 3rd November, 2016 and captioned: Re: Request for Approval to take Custody and Manage two X BELL 412 Helicopters, the NSA said that the approval was the fallout of an earlier letter by the Air Chief seeking such approval.
The NSA stated in the correspondence: I am directed to respectfully refer to your correspondence: NA/905/D/CAS dated 21st April, 2016 on subject, wrote AT Famadewa, a Brigadier-General in the ONSAs office. I am to convey the National Security Advisers approval for NAF to take custody and manage the two X BELL 412 helicopters as requested by Rivers State government.
Prior to the NSAs approval, Governor Wike had written the Customs boss requesting for a provisional release of the helicopters, promising to pay whatever approved duty should the request for waiver receive a negative nod from Adeosun.
In the letter dated 28th September, 2016, Governor Wike told the Customs boss that, aside from duly obtaining Form M for the importation of the helicopters, the security equipment were at the mercy of being vandalised, even though the government and the people of Rivers State were in dire need of such surveillance equipment to tackle security challenges.
While requesting for a provisional release of the helicopters, Wike had pledged that, we undertake to make full duty payment in the event of a negative response to our pending application for waiver.
Meanwhile, reacting to the issue, former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of Transport, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, said that former president Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Nyesome Wike prevented and blocked the state from taking possession of the controversial helicopters.
Source: BreakingTimes
Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital is now in total black out following the shut down of power facilities by protesting youths.
The youths from a host community in Oyigbo Local Government Area stormed the Afam Power plant and shutdown the transmission engine supplying power to Port Harcourt.
When contacted, Public Communications Officer of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, John Onyi said the the youths were violent.
Onyi told the media in Port Harcourt that the youths broke into the Afam Power Plant facility, chased all the technical engineers away and shutdown the transmission engine.
The youths said we are giving them low shedding. That we are not giving them enough power and other things as the host community.
Their action has now led to a total black out in the entire Port Harcourt. The facility they shutdown is the one that supplies power to Port Harcourt.
Our engineers had to leave the site for their own safety. We are calling on the Law enforcement agencies and the government to come to our aid.
The PHEDC spokesman also appealed to the youths to calm their nerves while the issues were being amicably resolved.
Caretaker Committee Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area, Chisom Gbali said the actions of the youths were justified.
He said the community hosting the Afam Power Plant had not benefited from the facility.
Chisom Gbali accused the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company of violating the Local content Law.
Source: Dailypost
Sally Yates, a Barack Obama appointee, had written an extraordinary letter by historical standards, telling Justice Department lawyers not to defend the Trump executive order, which has spurred protests at airports throughout the country, Heavy reported.
The acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States, the White House said in a statement on Monday.
President Trump relieved Ms Yates of her duties and subsequently named Dana Boente, US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve as acting attorney general until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate.
In a letter she wrote to the department earlier in the day, Yates asserted that she is responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.
At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful.
Trump initially responded to the letter by an expected tweet, in which he branded Yates an Obama AG.
He further complained that the Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons They have nothing going but to obstruct.
Trump issued an executive order late Friday to impose a 90-day entry ban on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia, block refugees from Syria indefinitely, and suspend all refugee admissions for 120 days.
Following the order, several lawsuits were being introduced against the ban.
Yatess order was about to deny the government courtroom representation in the lawsuits.
Two female members of a gang, were earlier today apprehended by local residents in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state, and later handed over to the Police.
Below is how a Facebook user Bright Jossy, who shared the photos, reported the story on social media;
Today 30th January, 2017.
Two female professional criminals who claimed to be Favour & Uchechi from Abia & IMO state. were caught along Rumuoke, off AdaGeorge Road, Port Harcourt with the help of the Capacity Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers state chapter, Amb Sukubo Saraigbe Sukubo and some NYCN members in a broad daylight with bundles of several sophisticated master keys, which theyve used to penetrate doors of neighborhood who has gone out for work and daily livelihood. And were handed over to the Nigerian Police Force, AdaGeorge Division
See more photos below;
On a day that a London court ruled that former Delta state governor James Ibori, could return to Nigeria, he signaled a possible political comeback in the country.
In an interview with Reuters, the former Delta State Governor said he would return to Nigeria within days.
Ibori was released from British prison in December after serving half of his 13-year sentence, taking into account pre-trial detention.
What happens in African politics you are in it until you die, Ibori said.
I am a politician, I will always be a politician. I play the politics in my party and in my country for the good of my people, he said after a court hearing, part of ongoing legal proceedings in his case.
Nigerian media reported that Iboris release had prompted dancing in the streets in parts of Delta State.
A video later surfaced on YouTube of Ibori being feted in London by supporters including a sitting Delta State senator who said, to cheers, that Ibori had made the careers of several prominent Nigerian politicians while in prison.
Ibori declined to say whether this was true. The prison telephone is meant for keeping in touch so you can reintegrate when you come out, he said.
Asked if he would run for office again, Ibori said he was barred from doing so for 10 years because of his conviction, but that he intended to appeal to have that conviction overturned.
The appeal would centre on an allegation, made by one of Iboris former associates, that a British police officer had taken bribes in return for inside information on the case before Iboris conviction, and that prosecutors had covered it up.
British police say the allegation was investigated, resulting in no arrests or charges.
The state prosecution service says material supporting the allegation exists and it initially failed to disclose that to Iboris defence team, but it is confident Iboris conviction remains valid. Court proceedings are ongoing.
West African forces have arrested a senior Gambian army general and have seized weapons from the private residence of exiled former ruler Yahya Jammeh, force commander Francois Ndiaye has said.
General Bora Colley, the head of an elite commando unit, had been arrested in neighbouring Senegal, he said, without giving details.
Regional troops had also raided Mr Jammehs residence in his home village of Kanilai, recovering arms and ammunition, General Ndiaye said, adding: The situation is under control.
General Colley was the former commander of the military camp in Kanilai, where Mr Jammeh had planned to go and retire before being forced into exile after refusing to accept defeat in the 1 December election, The Gambias Freedom newspaper reported.
Four guards for Mr Jammehs wife, Zainab, were also arrested, in the border town of Karang in Senegal, General Ndiaye said.
Regional forces have been helping President Adama Barrow to consolidate his power in the tiny West African nation since Mr Jammeh went into exile more than a week ago.
Mr Jammeh had tried to cling to power, but left after under pressure from Senegalese-led troops and mediators.
Source: AIT
Theres a new object storage server that has been introduced as an open source alternative to Amazon S3 and other API-compatible services.
Minio, written in Go and available under the Apache license, allows unstructured data (up to 5TB per object) to be stored on a pool of drives of your choosing. Included in the box are protections against data loss and an event-notification system that can be used to build AWS Lambda-like functionality.
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Simple and sturdy wins the race
A guiding principle of the service is to keep things simple, because only simple things scale, Minio says. The standalone binary for Minios 64-bit Windows server is 23.5MB; the client is 10MB. It can run on a single node or can gang together pools of drives across a cluster of machines. The service runs on a variety of OS platforms: Linux, MacOS, Microsoft Windows, FreeBSD, andin theoryany other platform that supports the Go runtime.
Minio can be accessed using the programs own command-line utility or any Amazon S3-compatible CLI or SDK. The documentation for Minio outlines various recipes for using the server in conjunction with other services or clients. Those running FreeNAS, a FreeBSD-based storage system that supports ZFS, can run Minio directly on FreeNAS by way of the FreeBSD version of the server.
If you want to build software on top of Mino, SDKs are included for JavaScript, Java, Python, and Go, and the documentation contains example apps for each of those languages. As a bonus, theres an example photo-browsing app written in Swift that plugs into a REST service written in Java. Another example app shows how to upload files from a browser without exposing ones S3 credentials, using only a few dozen lines of code.
One thing common to all the language SDKs is an interface to Minios event notification service. According to Minio, this makes it possible to write lambda-style apps that respond to events in the filesystem, and hook notifications for various popular frameworks (AMQP, Elasticsearch, Redis, NATS, WebHooks, Kafka and Postgres).
Minios creators stress its reliability. If you have at least four drives in a pool, you can shard data across those drives to prevent data loss due to mechanical failure or random data corruption. Minios sharding works on the object level, rather than the drive level, which makes it easier to recover a specific piece of data. One downside is that drive pools currently cannot be larger than 16 drives, although you may run multiple instances of Minio server on different ports to get around this.
Lets do this our way
Building credible alternatives to Amazons cloud offerings has been a theme across many open source projects compatible with AWS de facto standards. The hard part isnt making new incarnations of those standards available, its giving people a reason not to embrace Amazon. Thats a tough sell given the cloud giants presence, its ever-expanding roster of offerings, and the loyalty of its users. Amazon provides many incentives to set up shop within its walls and stay there.
That said, people are always looking for services that complement, rather than replace, their Amazon workloads. Minio could be one piece in such a puzzle.
Climate activists block private jets at Amsterdam airport AP - 45 minutes ago Hundreds of climate protesters have blocked private jets from leaving Amsterdams Schiphol Airport in a demonstration on the eve of the COP27 United Nations climate meeting in Egypt $SPX : 3,770.55 (+1.36%) $DOWI : 32,403.22 (+1.26%) $IUXX : 10,857.03 (+1.56%)
Should Investors Sweat the 2022 Midterm Elections? Young & The Invested - Sat Nov 5, 6:00AM CDT Election Day is right around the corner. And while there's plenty to be anxious about, Wall Street strategists say your portfolio shouldn't be one of them.
Cotton Closes with another Triple Digit Gain Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT Front month cotton futures added triple digits to the climb on Friday. Dec cotton closed up by another 4.73%, for a weekly gain of 20.5%. The December to December spread is now an 8.56 cent premium for... CTZ22 : 86.93s (+4.73%) CTH23 : 85.67s (+4.26%) CTK23 : 84.63s (+3.21%)
Cattle Markets Fade into Weekend Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT Live cattle futures ended the Friday session 10 to 50 weaker in the front months. For the week, Dec fats faded by $1.35. The weeks cash price was mostly near $150 in the South and mostly near $153 in... LEZ22 : 151.650s (-0.20%) LEG23 : 154.375s (-0.32%) LEJ23 : 158.000s (-0.19%) GFX22 : 177.825s (-0.10%) GFF23 : 179.625s (+0.11%)
Mixed Close for Hog Futures Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT Hogs went into the weekend mixed but mostly lower with 15 to 40 cent losses in the nearbys and 5 to 20 cent gains in the deferred contracts. For the week, December hogs ended with a $13.13 loss, while... HEZ22 : 82.975s (-0.48%) HEJ23 : 92.400s (-0.16%) KMZ22 : 93.875s (-0.13%)
Soy Futures Rally into Weekend Barchart - Fri Nov 4, 4:46PM CDT Soybean prices traded higher with 1.14% to 1.7% gains in the front months to go into the weekend in the black. Jan beans closed the week with 4.4% gains. Soy oil futures led the rally, closing the week... ZSX22 : 1451-4s (+1.73%) ZSPAUS.CM : 14.2554 (+1.92%) ZSF23 : 1462-2s (+1.76%) ZSH23 : 1469-0s (+1.73%)
China the Trump Card? Why the US Needs the Asian Powerhouse More Than Ever
U.S. President Donald Trump may need China more than ever, given the country's key international position. (Photo : Getty Images)
China is no stranger to U.S. President Donald Trump's red-hot tirades, being on the receiving end of the choleric business mogul on trade and diplomatic issues. But Trump may have to slow himself down a bit to fulfill these campaign promises--all of which may require China's help.
Security Issues
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Trump has made his promise against radical Islamism front and center of his campaign, with such foreign policy already gaining ground through his unwarranted ban on people from eight Muslim-majority countries. But perhaps he needs to take advantage of China's leverage on that ground.
China's continuing endeavor to stave off insurgencies by Muslim Uighurs in distant Xinjiang region stands as a comparable case in which the country can find itself in a common ground with Trump's America. Plus, China's close intelligence ties with Iran and Pakistan may be of good use to the U.S., per Bloomberg.
The nuclear deal involving Iran has also been a target of Trump's heavy rhetoric. Again, China's closeness with Iran may prove the country useful for the U.S. as a referee of sorts for a potential renegotiation or withdrawal.
Cornering North Korea's ambitions to launch nuclear missiles at the expense of global peace is an end Trump wants to achieve. China, the largest power that closely interacts with the reclusive Korean state, can be Trump's best bet to attain that.
The Economy
Trump's "America First" policy, promising to deliver 25 million jobs in the U.S., may benefit from China's massive global economic contributions. For instance, Alibaba founder Jack Ma noted that he can easily create one million jobs for American businesses--something that The Donald should think about.
What's more, Trump wishes to expand American businesses in China, something that may be jeopardized with his move to engage with Taiwan. Such challenges the One China policy, which recognizes Taiwan as part of China, and his conversation with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen might serve as a shaky point.
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Inflation remains the primary concern for the worlds central banks, which have engaged in the broadest and fastest tightening regime in history, according to Alejandra Grindal, chief economist at Ned Davis Research.
A UK-based claims management firm is eyeing expansion into the Australian market, it has been reported.Validus, which was founded in 2007, is looking to open up an Australian branch of the business sooner rather than later, according to British newspaper The Eastern Daily Press.Our strategy is to manage subrogation claims across the world, Mike Srokowski, chief executive of Validus, told the publication.We are hoping to go live in Australia in quarter one, South Africa in the middle part of the year and we are already up and running in Ireland.Validus offers both a managed claims service and a self-service platform and uses software to process approximately 40,000 claims a month, 7,000 in credit hire and 31,000 in subrogated claims in the UK market.Overseas expansion is set to double the size of the firm, adding almost $10 million (6 million) to the business.
"I was a bit surprised by that," says expert
EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty brokerage and employee benefits consultant headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., has hired Christopher J. Giuditta as a vice president.
Giuditta will focus on the cultivation and development of new revenue opportunities throughout EPICs Northeast Region. He will be based in Stamford, Conn., and report to managing principal Craig de Gruchy.
Giuditta joins EPIC from H.D. Segur Insurance. During his 17 year career there, he provided individuals and business owners with risk management and insurance solutions while overseeing the service team regarding client satisfaction and retention.
Additionally, Giuditta worked with third party referral partners to enhance offerings and ensure clients awareness of and protection from a range of risk exposures. Giuditta was also a top producer for new affinity groups along with maintaining and growing the firms Travelers Benefits Plus programs.
For the past five years, Giuditta has concentrated on the private client segment, providing personal risk management guidance and custom insurance protection to high-net-worth individuals.
Source: EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants
Topics Agencies Connecticut
Maine Governor Paul LePage has signed a bill to delay portions of Maines legal marijuana law.
LePage signed the bill on Friday night. It still became legal to possess and grow marijuana in the state on Monday. But the bill delays any retail sales of marijuana until as far away as Feb. 1, 2018.
LePage initially refused to sign the bill, which sparked tension between the governor and lawmakers. On Friday, Democratic Rep. Louie Luchini of Ellsworth accused the Republican of putting his ego ahead of protecting Mainers by his inaction on the emergency legislation.
Without a delay, the marijuana legalization referendum would have gone into effect without addressing oversight of marijuana sales or closing a loophole allowing Mainers under 21 to possess the drug.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Cannabis Maine
Both maintenance workers killed by an Amtrak train near Philadelphia last year were on drugs when the crash happened, test results show, but that doesnt appear to have factored into safety lapses and miscommunications being blamed for their deaths.
Toxicology reports released Thursday by federal safety investigators show backhoe operator Joseph Carter Jr. tested positive for cocaine and supervisor Peter Adamovich had morphine, codeine and oxycodone in his system. Tests on train engineer Alexander Hunter, who was injured in the crash, showed evidence of marijuana use.
Other documents released by the National Transportation Safety Board pinned blame on a lax safety culture that put Carter, 61, and Adamovich, 59, in harms way as they performed maintenance on an active track in April.
Although the materials do not reflect that drug use was the cause of this incident, any positive drug test result is completely unacceptable, Amtrak President and CEO Charles Wick Moorman wrote in a letter to employees.
Among the other documents released Thursday was a report posted in error and later removed in which investigators criticized Amtrak managers for allowing the track maintenance work to go on without a detailed plan identifying safety hazards. NTSB investigators wrote that the railroads assertion that a plan wasnt needed amounted to a post-accident circling of the wagons.
Investigators said they determined that the track where Carter and Adamovich were struck was closed to trains until about 20 minutes before the crash, and that a foreman who took charge after a shift change never called to have it closed again.
Hunter, 47, blew the horn and hit the brakes once he saw equipment on an adjacent track and then on his own track, about five seconds before impact. The train slowed from 106 mph to 100 mph and only came to a complete stop about a mile down the track.
Lawyers for Carters family said his positive drug test was irrelevant to the systematic failures the investigative report described at Amtrak.
Had the appropriate systems been in place and human error by the tower and locomotive engineer not occurred, Mr. Carter would be alive today, lawyer Tom Kline said.
Carter, Adamovich and Hunter had all passed previous drug tests given as part of their employment, according to the investigative reports. No drugs were detected in post-crash tests given to surviving maintenance workers, the trains conductor and two assistant conductors.
Federal regulators say theyve seen an uptick in drug use by rail workers in recent years. Starting in April, workers who perform track maintenance will be subject to the same random drug and alcohol testing as train crew members.
In a statement, the Federal Railroad Administration urged railroads to be vigilant in substance testing and do all they can to ensure employees are not operating or working under the influence.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Pennsylvania Drugs
Digital technologies can be harnessed by the re/insurance industry to narrow insurance protection gaps in developing and emerging markets, thereby improving societal resilience after natural disasters, according to a report published by the Geneva Association.
However, the protection gap problem is not limited to emerging markets, the report emphasized, pointing to the recent example of the devastating earthquake that hit central Italy on Aug. 24, 2016 where only 10 percent of total losses were insured.
And the global protection gap is getting worse, the report said, noting that uninsured losses have risen from 0.07 percent to 0.19 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) in the last 40 years.
Risk exposure, primarily driven by accelerating urbanization, has clearly outpaced insurance penetration, said the report titled Harnessing Technology to Narrow the Insurance Protection Gap.
Therefore, re/insurers need to further strengthen their contribution to societys resilience to disasters as well as to creeping developments such as ageing or longevity, commented Anna Maria DHulste, the secretary general of the Geneva Association, in a forward to the report.
Digitization is a unique lever for insurers to develop more affordable, efficient and customer-centric products and solutions, thereby enhancing the societal value of insurance, the report said.
In developing and emerging markets, in particular, technology offers the potential to increase insurance penetration by addressing obstacles in the areas of distribution and claims settlement which, for example, hinder the wider uptake of microinsurance, the report said.
In mature insurance markets, there is a perception of product complexity and opacity at the customer end, which have impeded the expansion of the reach of insurance products, it added.
Technological advancements could effectively address this issue, for example, by enabling customers to put together products the way they really want to, the report said. Based on big data, insurers could predict what customers need, instead of asking them to answer a multitude of underwriting questions.
In addition, the report noted, new technologies and improved analytics could lower the cost of policy administration, marketing, distribution and claims settlement and, at the same time, improve risk selection and underwriting.
Overall, technology will boost the affordability, awareness and appeal of insurance globally, the report indicated.
Affordability and Risk Awareness
In developing and emerging markets, protection gaps can be attributed to affordability and low levels of risk awareness and risk culture, the report said.
In emerging markets, many, if not most, potential customers have never before had formal insurance. This is particularly true of developing countries, where insurance schemes linked to mobile phone subscriptions are generally the first experience of the low-income population with formal and individual insurance, it continued.
As a result, innovative mobile-based insurance, can go a long way in boosting awareness and narrowing protection gaps, the report said.
Technology and the Insurance Value Chain
New (digital) technologies are expected to profoundly impact all links of the insurance value chain in a way which offers the potential to radically lower transaction costs and mitigate traditional obstacles to insurance such as moral hazard and adverse selection, the report said.
Indeed, the report noted it is widely believed that the biggest source of value creation in digitized insurance will be in reducing costs and developing new and more customer-centric products and solutions.
The key to unlocking this potential and tapping into the vast protection gap is to integrate technology, data and analytics, the report affirmed.
The impact of digitization across the value chain is pervasive, permeating the areas of pre-purchase, sales and operations, it continued.
Firstly, it reshapes the way customers discover and perceive insurance propositions pre-purchase, it said.
Secondly, sales are enhanced by dropping costs as a result of disintermediation, and increased conversion of leads on the back of tailored solutions and digitally enhanced physical distribution channels. Disintermediation connects carriers with their customers directly, enabling tremendous gains not just in terms of cost-efficiency but also in anticipating and understanding customer needs. Both effects are set to boost insurance penetration.
And, finally, by facilitating straight-through-processing, digitization can lead to a massive reduction in back-office costs. Coupled with big data and predictive analytics, it can also translate into significant improvements of the claims ratio and, therefore, improves the affordability of insurance, the commentary said.
Mitigating Moral Hazard
Further, the use of modern technology such as telematics makes it less likely that insureds will be careless and take risks, or behave against the interest of other insureds simply because they are protected (which alleviates moral hazard), the report said.
Also, big data enables quantum leaps in risk classification and makes insurance more attractive to good risks who benefit from more favorable individual pricing. Adverse selection where primarily high-risk individuals would buy insurance is effectively mitigated. Overall, insurance markets become more efficient and offer a better deal to risk-conscious insureds.
Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
Digitization is a unique lever for insurers to develop more affordable, efficient and customer-centric products and solutions, thereby enhancing the societal value of insurance, the report confirmed.
However, in order to achieve this and preempt potentially disruptive new competitors insurers need to step out of their comfort zone. The imperative of digitizing the value chain is bound to present major challenges and even tribulations to incumbents, from managing channel conflicts to implementing headcount reductions in administrative functions, it emphasized.
Even though the insurance industrys digital (r)evolution has just begun, technology has already contributed to narrowing protection gaps, said Dr. Kai-Uwe Schanz, senior adviser to the Geneva Association and a co-author of the report. Digitization is a unique lever for insurers to develop more affordable, efficient and customer-centric products and solutions, thereby enhancing the societal value of insurance.
Deputy Secretary General of The Geneva Association and report co-author, Dr. Fabian Sommerrock, said, The use of technology is one of the most relevant and topical dimensions of the global protection gap debate.
He hoped that the report would help sensitize the global re/insurance community, governments, lawmakers, regulators, standard-setters, development banks, supranational organizations and consumers to the enormous leverage technology can deploy to make societies more resilient through risk mitigation, and protection products and solutions.
Source: Geneva Association
Topics Carriers InsurTech Tech Reinsurance Georgia
H.W. Kaufman Financial Group and Burns & Wilcox Canada announced they have acquired the high-value homeowners insurance practice from Quebec-based XN Financial Services Inc. (XN).
A managing general agent and provider of insurance products, XN is a subsidiary of The Henner Group, one of Frances leading insurance specialists offering solutions for individuals and companies, said a statement from the acquiring companies.
XN Canada Private Client Services (XN PCS) employees and products, designed specifically for the needs of high-value homeowners, will become part of Burns & Wilcox Canada, a flagship organization of Kaufman group of companies and North Americas leading managing general agent and specialty insurance broker.
Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Strategic acquisitions that complement, further strengthen, and expand our expertise into new markets is a deliberate focus, said Alan Jay Kaufman, chairman, president and CEO of H.W. Kaufman Financial Group. The acquisition adds substantial value to Burns & Wilcox Canada in Quebecs growing insurance landscape.
The acquisition marks the expansion of Burns & Wilcox Canada into Quebec.
Burns & Wilcox Canada is proud to open its new office in Montreal, and we welcome the talented colleagues of XN PCS to our team, said Jodie Kaufman Davis, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director of Burns & Wilcox Canada. The acquisition fits into our long term strategic growth plan, enhancing our personal lines capabilities in Quebec.
We are pleased to join such an established, trusted, and client-focused firm like Burns & Wilcox Canada, said Carol Bolduc, director of Relationships with Brokers of XN PCS. Burns & Wilcox Canada can provide the diversified range of expertise, experience and services our clients demand. Bolduc will stay on with Burns & Wilcox Canada as the Quebec personal lines manager.
This marks the 15th acquisition by H.W. Kaufman Financial Group since 2010.
About Burns & Wilcox Canada and H.W. Kaufman Financial Group
Burns & Wilcox Canada is a managing general agent with offices in Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, and St. Johns. Burns & Wilcox Canada is a member of H.W. Kaufman Financial Group, whose global activities include: Burns & Wilcox, Burns & Wilcox Brokerage, Burns & Wilcox Re, Atain Insurance Companies, Canadian Reports, US-Reports, Chesterfield Insurance Brokers, Lochain Patrick, Cranbrook Underwriting, Global Excess Partners, R.B. Jones, Royal Premium, and Minuteman Adjusters.
Topics Agencies Insurance Wholesale Canada Human Resources
The United States will switch course on climate change and pull out of a global pact to cut emissions, said Myron Ebell, who headed U.S. President Donald Trumps Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transition team until his inauguration.
Ebell is the director of global warming and international environmental policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a U.S. conservative think tank, and helped to guide the EPAs transition after Trump was elected in November until he was sworn in on Jan. 20.
Trump, a climate skeptic, campaigned on a pledge to boost the U.S. oil and gas drilling and coal mining industries by reducing regulation.
He alarmed nations that backed the 2015 Paris agreement to cut greenhouse gases by pledging to pull the United States out of the global deal agreed by nearly 200 countries. However, Trump told the New York Times in November that he had an open mind on the agreement.
Trumps administration has asked the EPA to halt all contracts, grants and interagency agreements pending a review, sources said.
The U.S. will clearly change its course on climate policy. Trump has made it clear he will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. He could do it by executive order tomorrow or he could do it as part of a larger package, Ebell told reporters in London on Monday.
The top energy official for the European Union, meanwhile, said he hoped that Trump would stick to the Paris deal.
ANXIETY
I wouldnt hide that in discussion with our partners; there is a lot of anxiety over future U.S. policies, said European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic, who was a key broker in clinching Paris agreement.
If the (U.S) administration decides to go in a different direction, I think sooner or later they will have to come back to the realization that climate change is happening.
The timing of any action by Trump is difficult to predict because government departments are still in transition, Ebell said, adding that he had not met Trump in person.
Any country wanting to pull out of the Paris agreement after ratifying it has to wait four years.
A source on Trumps transition team said last year that there were speedier alternatives, such as sending a letter withdrawing from the 1992 international framework accord that is the parent treaty of the agreement; voiding U.S. involvement in both in a years time; or issuing a presidential order simply deleting the U.S. signature from the Paris accord.
Ebell said the cleanest way would be to withdraw from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change itself.
Whether the U.N. secretariat wants the U.S. to continue to have a seat at the table is up to them. I dont think Trump cares about that. The people who elected him would prefer not to have a seat at the table, Ebell said.
Trump appointed Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who has led 14 lawsuits against the EPA, as the agencys administrator, though a vote on his nomination has not been scheduled.
The President has also drawn heavily from the energy industry lobby and pro-drilling think tanks to build its landing team for the EPA, according to a list of the newly introduced 10-member team seen by Reuters on Monday.
Ebell also said he thought the political make-up of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which reviews applications for the construction and operation of natural gas pipelines, will change dramatically under Trump.
Given the way the campaign went, I think you will see very quick executive action to expedite LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminals and pipelines, he said.
(Reporting by Nina Chestney and Alissa de Carbonnel in Brussels; Editing by Ruth Pitchford and David Goodman)
Topics USA Climate Change Pollution
Police say drivers overdosing on heroin have caused three crashes in a city in North Carolina in the past week.
Police Capt. Michael Kirk told media outlets that no one was seriously injured in the crashes in High Point, but two of the vehicles had children inside.
Kirk says in one crash, officers found two people passed out in the front seat of the wrecked vehicle and two children uninjured in the back seat.
Kirk says High Point has a serious heroin problem. He says the city saw well over twice as many overdoses from the drug in 2016 than the year before.
Kirk says many of the wrecks happen when people leave their homes to use drugs and then try to drive back.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics North Carolina
Saccorhytus coronarius, based on the original fossil finds. The actual creature was probably no more than a millimeter in size (artist's concept). (Photo : S Conway Morris / Jian Han)
A microscopic sea creature identified from fossils in China might be the earliest known step on an evolutionary path that eventually led to the emergence of humans
Researchers have identified traces of "Saccorhytus coronarius" -- a microscopic, bag-like sea creature that lived about 540 million years ago.
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They believe this organism is the earliest known prehistoric ancestor of humans.
This organism was named Saccorhytus after the sack-like features created by its elliptical body and large mouth,
Saccorhytus is new to science and was identified from microfossils found in China. It is thought to be the most primitive example of a so-called "deuterostome" -- a broad biological category that encompasses a number of sub-groups, including vertebrates.
If the conclusions of the study published in the journal Nature, are correct, then Saccorhytus was the common ancestor of a huge range of species, and the earliest step yet discovered on the evolutionary path that eventually led to humans, hundreds of millions of years later.
The Saccorhytus microfossils were found in Shaanxi Province in central China. They pre-date all other known deuterostomes.
By isolating the fossils from the surrounding rock, and then studying them both under an electron microscope and using a CT scan, the team was able to build a picture of how Saccorhytus might have looked and lived. This revealed features and characteristics consistent with current assumptions about primitive deuterostomes.
The study suggests Saccorhytus' body was bilaterally symmetrical -- a characteristic inherited by many of its descendants, including humans -- and was covered with a thin, relatively flexible skin. This suggests it had some sort of musculature, leading the researchers to conclude that it could have made contractile movements, and got around by wriggling.
Perhaps its most striking feature, was its rather primitive means of eating food and then dispensing with the resulting waste. Saccorhytus had a large mouth, relative to the rest of its body, and probably ate by engulfing food particles, or even other creatures.
Saccorhytus was about a millimeter in size, and probably lived between grains of sand on the seabed. Its features were spectacularly preserved in the fossil record. Surprisingly, researchers were unable to find any evidence the animal had an anus.
But, as can be expected, modern humans are unlikely to perceive much by way of a family resemblance to this ugly thing.
The study was carried out by an international team of academics from the University of Cambridge in the UK and Northwest University in Xi'an China, with support from other colleagues at institutions in China and Germany.
"We think that as an early deuterostome this may represent the primitive beginnings of a very diverse range of species, including ourselves," said Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology and a Fellow of St John's College, University of Cambridge.
"To the naked eye, the fossils we studied look like tiny black grains, but under the microscope the level of detail is jaw-dropping. All deuterostomes had a common ancestor, and we think that is what we are looking at here."
Degan Shu from Northwest University said the team has made some important discoveries in the past, including the earliest fish and a remarkable variety of other early deuterostomes.
"Saccorhytus now gives us remarkable insights into the very first stages of the evolution of a group that led to the fish, and ultimately, to us."
Most other early deuterostome groups are from 510 to 520 million years ago, when they had already begun to diversify into not just the vertebrates, but the sea squirts, echinoderms (animals such as starfish and sea urchins) and hemichordates (a group including things like acorn worms).
This level of diversity has made it extremely difficult to work out what an earlier, common ancestor might have looked like.
"We had to process enormous volumes of limestone -- about three tonnes -- to get to the fossils, but a steady stream of new finds allowed us to tackle some key questions: Was this a very early echinoderm, or something even more primitive? The latter now seems to be the correct answer," said Dr. Jian Han of Northwest University.
Hundreds of insurance professionals and representatives from local nonprofits will convene on March 16 for the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundations annual Horizon Award Gala at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
The IICF Western division will announce more than $400,000 in grants to 44 charitable organizations during the A Night at the Museum themed event.
Each year the IICF honors an individual or organization within the insurance community with its Golden Horizon Award.
This year the IICF will honor Mark Wells, editor, CEO and publisher of Wells Media, home to Insurance Journal, Claims Journal, MyNewMarkets, Insurance Journals Academy of Insurance and Carrier Management.
The group is honoring Wells for his industry leadership and philanthropic commitment. Under Wells leadership, Wells Media has been an ardent supporter of IICF and has served as a platform to highlight industry-wide philanthropic contributions in helping communities and enriching lives.
This years Horizon Award gala will also recognize 44 nonprofit organizations that champion the causes of education, child abuse prevention, disaster preparedness, and health and human services.
As one of the Western Divisions Community Grant Award recipients and this years featured nonprofit, Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles will be in attendance at the gala, where attendees will hear the personal story of a Wish Kid whose wish was made possible by contributions like the IICF community grant. A portion of the funds raised during the evenings festivities will also go toward granting additional wishes.
In its thirteen years, the Horizon Award Gala has brought together insurance professionals in celebrating the philanthropic commitment of our industry to the communities and nonprofit organizations that we support throughout the West, said Jon Axel, IICF Western Division Board of Directors chairman and senior vice president at Hub International Insurance Services. It is our privilege to be honoring Mr. Wells with our Horizon Award this year, in recognition and appreciation for his dedication to this industry and its aim of giving back and making a real difference in the communities where we live and work.
Through its community grants program, the IICF raises funds within a region and reinvests back into the same region and its communities. This years grantees includes nonprofits across IICFs Western division that are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities, focused in the areas of education, child abuse prevention, disaster preparedness, and health and human services.
For more information on the gala, including registration and sponsorship opportunities, contact Melissa-Anne Duncan at (714) 870-1084 or maduncan@iicf.com.
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Topics Market Training Development
Californias largest utility must pay a $3 million fine and run thousands of TV commercials publicizing its pipeline safety violations as punishment for its criminal convictions in a deadly natural gas explosion in the San Francisco Bay Area.
U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson sentenced Pacific Gas & Electric Co. last week. In addition to the fine and advertising requirement, he required PG&E employees to perform 10,000 hours of community service.
The sentence closes one of the final chapters in the legal and regulatory fallout from the 2010 blast in the city of San Bruno that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.
California regulators have previously fined PG&E $1.6 billion for the explosion, and the company has spent hundreds of millions of dollars settling victims lawsuits.
Related:
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics California
Jeremy D. Morley concentrates on International Family Law. The firm works with clients around the world from its New York office, with a global network of local counsel. Mr Morley is the author of "International Family Law Practice", the leading treatise on international family law in the U.S., and "The Hague Abduction Convention", published by the American Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and a former law professor.
You desperately need to buy a car, but you lack the cash or the required down payment. No problem, says the auto dealer: You can finance the whole purchaseat interest rates that range as high as 12% to 22%. Unless you like the idea of paying such exorbitant terms, consider these ways to buy an auto with no money down.
Key Takeaways If you need to totally finance your car purchase, Increasing your credit score can qualify you for better loan terms.
Getting a co-signer might also let you buy a car with a down payment.
Be sure to shop around at dealers and lenders; the more you know about car loan rates and terms, the better a deal you can negotiate.
Even a small down payment is better than noneso delay a car purchase, if possible, until you can come up with some cash.
Boost Your Credit Score
Lenders lower interest rates for borrowers who have steady jobs or regular monthly income, who have lived in one place for at least a year and who have a credit record that shows they can meet their payments.
Credit scores of 680 and higher give you the best chances of persuading a lender to waive your down payment without raising interest rates. Scores between 580 and 669 are considered subprime; the lender may waive the down payment, but will certainly ding you with a higher interest rate on the entire car loan. A score that is 580 and below may cause the lender to reject you altogether.
Your first step is to straighten out your credit report by checking its accuracy. Then, take steps to boost your credit score. Pay all bills on time, and try to pay off debts and credit card balancesor at least keep them low, around 25%30% of your total credit limit. As having a good credit score is crucial for securing an ideal loan, you may want to consider one of the best credit monitoring services to ensure your information stays safe.
Consider a Cosigner
Another option is to get a family member or friend with a strong credit score to cosign the purchase contract with you. It might get you out of the down payment, though it only helps you lower your interest somewhat, since lenders realize that the car is usually for the person with the weaker score and typically offers an annual percentage rate (APR) that hovers around the median range.
Getting a cosigner is not to be done lightly. The person shares the responsibility of the loan with you: If you miss a payment, or are habitually late, you lower your credit score and that of the cosigner, too. It can also be fraught with emotionalthough a cosigner technically has no ownership in the vehicle, they could feel they've a right to it. If you do get a cosigner, share the title; be diligent in your repayments, and keep organized records to prevent disagreement.
Shop Around
Car loans can vary a lot. So do your homework, and shop around. Consider auto dealerships, local credit unions, banks, or alternative loan providers. Research current auto loan rates online, and look for specialized online lenders that offer low-rate auto loans without down payment requirements.
Before asking around, familiarize yourself with the most common auto loan rates to avoid being duped or misled by dealers. They're a competitive bunch, by nature, and if you show you know what the going rates are and what others offer (implying you'll take your business elsewhere), it's amazing how the person you're dealing with suddenly will "see what we can do for you."
Save Up for a Down Payment
Yes, we know the title of this article is How to Get a Car With No Down Payment. But we'd be remiss if we didn't say: You really do a lot better if you can come up with some cash. The problem with not making a down payment is that it can leave you in an upside-down situation should you want to sell the car down the road. Cars depreciate fast. You could end up seriously out of pocket, even owing a lot of money, if the outstanding balance on the loan is more than the car's resale value.
And the bite might not be as bad as you think. While 20% down has been the traditional amount, dealers have lately gotten more flexible in the minimum cash amounts they require. In fact, car buyers in 2019 made an average 11.7% in down payments, due to the increasing costs of vehicles. Of course, the more in cash, the better. But any amount of down payment is recommended because it lowers the amount you owe in principal and interest, and avoids the "underwater" scenario above.
9%12% The range of required down payments for a new or used auto, according to the Kelley Blue Book.
If you can, wait several months before you buy your car so that you can save up for the down payment. Along with saving, use that time to boost your credit score, so that you'll qualify for more favorable loan terms.
The Bottom Line
It is possible to buy a car with no down payment, but you run a higher risk of being tagged with steeper interest rates. You can always buy a cheaper used vehicle or trade in your existing car, if you have one that's in good condition, since such steps usually lower your rate, too. In all cases, look for short-term loans that are less than 72 to 84 months long, and avoid extras, such as extended warranties or credit life insurance, which may raise your overall payments.
To better understand what purchasing a car with no down payment might look like, it's worth experimenting with an auto loan calculator to ensure that the other factors are still favorable.
Audit. The very word can send shivers up the spine of even the most conservative taxpayer. For many, this dreaded procedure results in either nightmarish visits to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office or visits from revenue agents to their homes and businesses.
The result is often an assessment of back taxes, interest, penalties, and sometimes even criminal sanctions. But those who are unlucky enough to receive unfavorable adjustment rulings from an audit have more recourse than they realize. Audits can be appealed in the same manner as lesser court rulings, and in many cases, the Office of Appeals overturns (or at least modifies) the findings of the original audit in the taxpayer's favor. Here are a few tips you can use to help you appeal an audit, should you receive a notice from the IRS.
Key Takeaways Taxpayers have the right to appeal their audits.
You must file your official protest within 30 days of the date on the letter sent by the IRS.
Prepare for your hearing, present your case, and negotiate a settlement with the appeals officer.
Consider suing the IRS in U.S. tax court as new issues cannot be introduced in this venue.
There's a very good chance that you'll win your appeal but if you don't, you are liable for any accrued interest and additional penalties.
The IRS Office of Appeals
The IRS understands that many taxpayers won't agree with the findings of its auditors. Therefore, it has created a separate branch of service called the Office of Appeals, which consists of approximately 2,000 employees located nationwide. Most of them were auditors themselves, at one time, but are now senior employees in the IRS system, and they usually have legal or accounting experience.
The sole function of these individuals is to review finished examination reports and provide an impartial platform for taxpayers to plead their cases to a higher power within the IRS. They attempt to avoid litigation by resolving tax disputes internally in a way that foments future voluntary taxpayer compliance with the tax laws.
Appeals officers have greater authority and flexibility in deciding cases than auditors. Their competence is judged by how often they can reach a successful compromise with taxpayersnot by their willingness to back an auditor's findings. The Office of Appeals will listen to any reason why you disagree with an audit other than religious, moral, or political beliefs.
The Office of Appeals has a formal stated commitment to explain your rights to you in the appeals process, hear your concerns, act in a timely and responsive fashion, and provide fair and impartial service.
How to Appeal Your Audit
The IRS sends you a detailed examination report after your audit is complete. It outlines all the proposed assessments and changes and is broken down by interest, penalties, and taxes.
Initiating Your Appeal
The first step in the appeals process is simply not to sign and return your copy of this report, which usually results in the generation of a 30-day letter that explains how to appeal the audit. You must file your official protest within 30 days of the date listed on the letter. You may want to consider appealing to the auditor's manager, although this will not extend the 30-day deadline.
Here's the information the IRS says that your formal protest must include:
Your name, address, and a daytime telephone number A statement that you want to appeal the IRS findings to the Office of Appeals A copy of the letter you received that shows the proposed change(s) The tax period(s) or year(s) involved A list of each proposed item with which you disagree The reason(s) you disagree with each item The facts that support your position on each item The law or authority that supports your position on each itemif any. The penalties-of-perjury statement is as follows: Under the penalties of perjury, I declare that the facts stated in this protest and any accompanying documents are true, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Your signature under the penalties of perjury statement
Missed the Deadline?
If for any reason you are not able to file your protest within the allotted time, you can request a 30- or 60-day extension, which is usually granted. You then have three choices as to how you move your audit to the Office of Appeals:
If you owe less than $2,500, you can just ask your auditor for an appeal. If you owe between $2,500 and $25,000, you should write a letter of protest, titling it a "small case request." This letter must contain all of your contact information and the tax identification numbers of all involved parties, as well as a declaration of intent to appeal and an itemized breakdown of the disputed items. Or you can complete IRS Form 12203: "Request for Appeals Review," which is downloadable from the IRS website. If you owe more than $25,000, Form 12203 is your only option. It is also recommended that taxpayers in the first category either write a letter or complete Form 12203 in addition to making a verbal request to ensure that their case doesn't slip through the cracks.
Didn't Get a Response?
In most cases, an appeals employee will respond to your protest within 90 days, although this can vary somewhat depending on the nature of your case. If you have not heard back after 120 days, follow up with the office where you sent the request for a status report.
If you are not able to obtain an update on the status of your case, try to find out when the office will contact you. If you cannot get a date, call an Appeals Account Resolution Specialist (AARS) at (559) 233-1267. The AARS should be able to provide you with information about whom your account was assigned to and how to contact that person.
The IRS suspended face-to-face conferences, including appeals, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, substituting them for telephone or virtual meetings as of March 2020.
Preparing for Your Hearing
Taxpayers usually have at least 60 days to prepare for the appeals process after submitting the appeals request. Use this time to cement the details and arguments you intend to make during the appeal.
Be sure to request a copy of the auditor's file. You are legally entitled to it under the Federal Freedom of Information Act. This requires another letter to be sent to the FOIA officer at your local IRS office. Be sure to specify the tax years covered in the audit, and volunteer to cover the costs of all necessary copies. Send the letter via certified mail and request a return receipt. It will probably take at least a month before your request is granted, and don't hesitate to follow up if it takes longer. Meanwhile, get all of your documents and other papers organized and ready.
Prepare copies of all necessary receipts, statements, and any other forms you need to prove your case. Break down information clearly on spreadsheets that the appeals officer can easily understand. Even hand-made visual presentations can be effective if the situation calls for them. Create a separate file folder for each contested item for the officer's convenience.
Presenting Your Case
Appeals case hearings tend to be fairly informal and you can record the proceedings if you desire. It is advisable to create at least a rough outline of what you want to tell the officer, and you may want to go over your points beforehand.
Once you are in front of the officer, clearly articulate any errors you feel the auditor committed during the audit. However, do not badmouth either the auditor or the IRS no matter how much you may want to.
Be prepared to hear the officer request further documentation or time to research a matter. If this happens, don't hesitate to ask for as much time as you need, especially if the matter requires your involvement. And make sure you take very careful notes of what the officer says during the hearing if aren't (or can't) recording the session.
Negotiate a Settlement
Appeals officers are instructed to avert the chance of the IRS losing a case in court. The first thing you should ask the appeals officer to do is waive any penalties that the auditor assessed. The officer can do this fairly easily if they are convinced that your intentions aren't fraudulent.
Agreeing to pay at least a few of the adjustments also shows good faith, but don't specify which ones. The willingness to compromise will raise your credibility in the eyes of the officer. Speak in terms of adjustments, items, or percentagesnot dollars. It goes without saying that the art of negotiation is paramount in determining the results that you get from the hearing.
Settlement amounts are usually reached verbally and then transcribed onto IRS Form 870: "Waiver of Restrictions on Assessment and Collection of Deficiency in Tax and Acceptance of Overassessment." It can take months for the printed form to arrive in your mailbox after the hearing is over. It should be noted that signing this form will prevent you from taking the IRS to U. S. Tax Court if you should later find another mistake made by either the auditor or the appeals officer.
Before you sign, be sure you thoroughly understand everything printed on it. Make certain that the numbers on the form correlate with the verbal agreement you reached during the meeting and don't hesitate to consult a tax professional if you have questions of any kind.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Appealing an Audit
Advantages
There is a very small number of taxpayers who actually appeal their audits. Why this percentage is so low is something of a mystery, given the ease and speed of the appeals process. But appealing an audit can often reduce (or even eliminate) previously assessed taxes and penalties. It also costs nothing, unless you enlist the aid of a tax professional, which is usually unnecessary.
The odds of winning your case are surprisingly high. The average taxpayer who appeals an audit can expect to see the total dollar amount originally assessed by the auditor reduced by a total of 40%.
What's more, appealing your case delays the due date of your tax bill for the duration of the appeals process, which can last for months. This gives you additional time to gather the funds necessary to pay the assessment or work out a payment plan.
Disadvantages of Appealing
There are only a couple of instances in which the audit process may prove to be detrimental. There is a possibility that the appeals officer may find additional items that the auditor missed. This is rare, but if you know of something detrimental on your return that was not flagged previously and could still be found, suing the IRS in U.S. Tax Court may be a safer alternative, as new issues cannot be introduced in this venue.
The other issue to consider is that both interest and penalties will continue to accumulate on your assessed balance during the appeals process. This means that if you lose your appeals case, then you will end up paying even more than before.
Pros Reduce or eliminate previously assessed taxes and penalties
Costs nothing to appeal
High chance of winning your appeal case
Delay the due date on your tax bill Cons Appeals officer may find items missed by the auditor
Interest accumulates and penalties are due if you lose your case
The Bottom Line
Although appealing an audit can theoretically pose adverse consequences in some cases, most taxpayers who come out on the short end of an audit stand an excellent chance of having at least some of the judgments from their audits reversed. Make sure you download Publication 5: "Your Appeal Rights and How To Prepare a Protest If You Don't Agree" from the IRS website if you need more information on how to your rights to appeal.
Wind energy is part of the fast-growing renewable energy industry, which is designed to produce energy with lower carbon emissions and less pollution. The Global Wind Energy Council notes that the global wind industry has increased dramatically in recent years. The industry has different facets, such as developing and managing wind farms, producing and distributing the electricity generated by wind power, and manufacturing, distributing, and maintaining machinery. The size of competitors ranges from small players to large, multinational companies that operate their wind energy business as a division or subsidiary.
The wind energy sector, represented by the First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN), underperformed the broader stock market over the past year. FAN provided a total return of -12.7% over the past 12 months, well below the Russell 1000's total return of -7.1%. These market performance numbers and all statistics in the tables below are as of Aug. 6, 2022. The conversion rate from CAD to USD was 0.77 as of Aug. 8, 2022.
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Passage The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, was signed by President Biden on Aug. 16, 2022. The legislation calls for a more-than-$300-billion investment in energy and climate reform. This would be the largest federal investment in clean energy in U.S. history. Measures in the bill would invest in renewable energy infrastructure, including additional wind turbines and the manufacture of solar panels. Individuals would receive tax credits on the purchase of electric vehicles and steps taken to make homes more energy efficient.
Here are the top three wind stocks with the best value, fastest growth, and best performance.
These are the wind stocks with the lowest 12-month trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Because profits can be returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks, a low P/E ratio shows youre paying less for each dollar of profit generated.
Launch of a Fajr-3. (Photo : IRG)
Iran denies the unsuccessful test of what appears to be its first intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) in mid-January violated United Nations Resolution 2231 that forbids it from conducting tests such as these.
American and Israeli media said Iran tested the IRBM with a claimed range of 4,000 km and capable of carrying nuclear warheads during the third week of this month. The IRBM was said to have been launched from the Imam Khomeini Space Port in the city of Semnan east of Tehran.
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The IRBM, which western media said was named "Khorramshahr," lifted-off successfully, but the mission was labeled a failure because of the loss of its reentry vehicle. The missile flew some 600 km before exploding.
An intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000 km to 5,500 km. Iran has no operational IRBMs. Its longest ranged missile is the Fajr-3 medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a claimed range of 2,500 km.
There is also no missile named Khorramshahr on known lists of Iranian ballistic missiles, leading to speculation as to what kind of missile the Iranians actually tested.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the test as a "flagrant breach" of UN Security Council resolutions and demanded the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran.
Netanyahu said he would discuss with U.S. President Donald Trump a reevaluation of the "entire failed nuclear accord" the Obama Administration and other P5+1 countries agreed with Iran in 2015
For its part, Iran argued that because the nuclear accord forbids them from developing a nuclear weapon, this means that no Iranian ballistic missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Therefore, there isn't a violation of the 2015 nuclear accord since the IRBM that failed didn't carry a nuclear weapon.
UN resolution 2231, however, bars Iran from conducting ballistic missile tests for eight years. The resolution came into effect on July 20, 2015.
It also calls on Iran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology."
Iran, however, did have a point when it said the deal doesn't include provisions preventing it from conducting ballistic missile tests as long as these missiles aren't designed to carry a nuclear weapon.
IoT Evolution Expos List of Supporters Expand to include top industry players
Trumbull, CTJanuary 31, 2017TMC and Crossfire Media announced today that 17 more industry-leading companies will be lending their support as sponsors and exhibitors for IoT Evolution Conference & Expo being held February 7-10, 2017 at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. IoT Evolution Expo has evolved to become the leading educational and networking forum for the enterprise looking to understand how to develop and implement IoT solutions that drive measurable results and business transformation. The event will feature a robust exhibit floor, powerful keynotes, case studies, live demos, unique sessions, special events, networking opportunities and much more.
Are you using IoT? Would you believe it comes into your life every day, keeping you safe and secure and your food fresh and timely, said Carl Ford, CEO, Crossfire Media, executive director of content, IoT Evolution. The companies below and already sponsoring and exhibiting are innovating in ways that make consumers, enterprises and municipalities better. Please come and see for yourself how IoT impacts your life and business.
Platinum Sponsor:
CENTRI provides advanced security for the Internet of Things. Our technology helps organizations secure what matters most in IoT their data. CENTRI reduces the risk of data theft and loss of equipment command by establishing trusted devices and advanced encryption technology while retaining complete visibility to all activity. CENTRI maximizes IoT device uptime and protects the data in transit, at rest and on the endpoint. Gold Sponsor:
Corporate Sponsors:
LocationSmart is the worldwide Cloud Location Services market leader for connected devices. LocationSmart provides the easiest and most comprehensive cross-carrier platform for local, hyper-local and context-aware application development. LocationSmarts core location services span indoor and outdoor use across devices, platforms and carrier networks.
ESP PROSEARCH are Retained Executive Recruiters dedicated to disruptive technologies and focused on the SSL, LED Lighting, Internet of Things (IoT) and the related Semiconductor Industries. With our proprietary search methodology we seek out and identify the best and brightest minds with search services offered throughout the world; US, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Exhibitors:
beamSmart is a configurable IoT messaging and content sharing platform that connects people, information and machines. It is built on a mobile cloud communication platform using machine learning technology offering low latency and end-to-end encryption.
ClearBlade is the enterprise IoT platform to rapidly engineer and run real-time, scalable IoT applications. ClearBlade enables companies to build IoT solutions that make streaming data actionable by combining business rules and machine learning with powerful visualizations and integrations to existing business systems. Built from an enterprise-first perspective, the ClearBlade Platform runs securely in any vendor cloud, on-premise, or in hybrid environments.
Danlaw Inc is a global leader in connected car and automotive electronics. Danlaws family of 800 people live, breathe, and create innovative tech for some of the worlds largest car makers. Thirty years ago, Danlaw designed software for the first 8-bit Electronic Engine Control module, and today, we continue to develop forward-looking technologies. Danlaw focuses efforts on R&D to stay ahead of rapidly changing industry needs in an increasingly connected world.
Digi International is a leading global provider of business and mission-critical M2M and IoT connectivity products and services. Digi helps customers create next-generation connected products and deploy and manage critical communications infrastructures in demanding environments with high levels of security, relentless reliability and bulletproof performance. Founded in 1985, theyve helped customers connect over 100 million things, and growing.
Globecomm is the leading engineering-driven, global connectivity provider serving media, maritime, enterprise and government markets in over 100 countries. Globecomm develops smart connectivity solutions to address customer issues across a broad spectrum of areas, including system design and integration, managed communication services including mobile and IoT, media services and mission critical networks. Globecomm is known for their unique ability to provide robust connectivity to the most remote locations under the most treacherous conditions. Globecomm is dedicated to improving communications and leverages its world class, global network to offer end-to- end, managed service communications solutions worldwide.
iBusiness Magazine - business innovation solutions - is the distinct choice for business end-users who are using cross platform technologies like Apple, Microsoft & Google. Unlike any other magazine, iBusiness Magazine focuses on providing information around business and enterprise solutions running on mobile & desktop technologies. iBusiness Magazines articles take a solutions-based approach to productivity, workflow management and tips & tricks.
Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) is a global, member-supported, organization that promotes the accelerated growth of the IIoT. By coordinating ecosystem initiatives to securely connect, control and integrate assets with people, processes and data using common architectures, interoperability and open standards, the IIC delivers transformational business and societal outcomes across industries.
InHand Networks is a global leader of Industrial IoT, with a record of tremendous success following groundbreaking innovation since its inception in 2001. InHand serves world-class partners and customers with industrial M2M routers, gateways, industrial Ethernet switches, rugged computers and IoT management platforms. InHand provides IoT solutions for various vertical markets including Smart Grid, Industrial Automation, Remote Machine Monitoring, Smart Vending, Smart City, Retail and more.
Resolvit is a technology and management consulting firm, specializing in IoT Enablement services including IoT strategy, platform integration, application development, and program management. Resolvit also helps customers achieve better business outcomes through data realization, enterprise mobility, and technical content creation. With offices across the US and in Argentina, Resolvit supports industry-leading clients in sectors such as Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail, Energy, Life Science, and Government.
RIoT is the largest IoT community in the USA. The community is approaching 4k members, with local, regional and global corporate support. RIoT represents a network of technologists, engineers, business leaders, academics, policy makers, and entrepreneurs, all of whom have a stake in the Internet of Things industry. RIoT is helping to define the new economy, built around the explosive growth of IoT.
Sub U System is a developer of compact, powerful, scalable, and highly secure IoT IP networking appliances. Sub U System devices outperform well known competitors offerings, while consuming far less power, yet offer the most robust level of security allowed commercially.
Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the executive's user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, world of supply and demand chain enablement to gain competitive advantage.
T-Mobile US, Inc. is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The Company's advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to 67.4 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS.
TEOCO operates a state-of-the-art test lab with highly experienced test engineers and lab managers to guide customers through device certification in the quickest and most cost-efficient manner. TEOCOs lab follows industry-standard testing methodologies and is an Approved Vendor Lab (AVL) for AT&T 10776 testing. TEOCOs highly respected test services are used by the worlds leading device manufactures.
This group joins over 51 additional sponsors and exhibitors at IoT Evolution Expo including:
Super Sponsor: Telit , Diamond Sponsors: KORE, Numerex, Platinum Sponsor, Eurotech, Sprint, Yokogawa Gold Sponsors, Ingenu, HARMAN, Verizon Corporate Sponsors, Cradlepoint , Gemalto, Tellient, Senet, Sequans Communications Track Sponsor, Coris, Exhibitors : Aeris, Aizoon USA , Altaworx, Anritsu Company, Arrow, Aware360, Axis Communications, Azul Systems, Bayshore Networks, Berkley Varitronics Systems, Cisco, Connected Development, Delta, Dense Networks, DMI, Dunn Solutions, Encore Networks, Gatetel, GeoTab, GetWireless, GIGA-TMS INC, Intertek, Ispirata, Janus Remote Communications, Link Labs , Litmus Automation, NimbeLink, Octo Telematics, Reality Analytics, Rev.io, scriptr.io, Symmetry Electronics, Systech Corporation, Systena America , Tactical Network Solutions, Taoglass, US Cellular.
Registration for IoT Evolution Expo is now open. For more information on how to register, contact Scott Kargman at [email protected] or call 516-808-1991. For media registration, contact Jessica Seabrook. Companies interested in exhibiting, sponsorship or advertising packages should contact Matthew Gleeson at 203.852.6800 ext. 145.
For the latest IoT Evolution Expo news, updates and information, follow the event on Twitter at @IoTEvolution.
About TMC
Global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. This presents branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities for vendors/sellers.
TMCs Marketplaces:
Unique, turnkey Online Communities boost search results, establish market validation, elevate brands and thought leadership, while minimizing ad-blocking.
Custom Lead Programs uncover sales opportunities and build databases.
In-Person and Online Events boost brands, enhance thought leadership and generate leads.
Publications, Display Advertising and Newsletters bolster brand reputations.
Custom Content provides expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts.
Comprehensive Event and Road Show Management Services help companies meet potential clients and generate leads face-to-face.
For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit www.tmcnet.com.
About Crossfire Media
Crossfire Media is an integrated marketing company with a core focus on future trends in technology. We service communities of interest with conferences, tradeshows, webinars and newsletters. Crossfire Media has a partnership with Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) to produce events and websites related to disruptive technologies. Crossfire Media is a division of Crossfire Consulting, a full service Information Technology company based in New York.
Media and Analyst Contact:
Jessica Seabrook
Marketing Director
203.852.6800 ext.170
[email protected]
Edited by Ken Briodagh
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan heads to Washington today for a series of meetings with political and business leaders.
The Minister will meet US congressional leaders including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.
China Leaks First Photos of New AEW&C plane for New Aircraft Carrier
Prototype Chinese carrier-launched AEW&C. (Photo : PLAN)
Chinese state media has stage managed the release of the first pictures of what it claims is a prototype of China's first carrier-based airborne early warning and control aircraft (AEW&C) aircraft that performs functions similar to the U.S. Navy's Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye.
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The unnamed prototype was spotted on the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) "carrier on land" at the Huangdicun Air Base in Wuhan province. This facility is a full size replica of the flight deck of the CNS Liaoning (CV-16), China's only operational aircraft carrier, and is used to test aircraft and equipment that will equip two new carriers now being built.
Knowledge that an AEW&C can only be launched by steam driven catapults confirms that China's third carrier will indeed feature a catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) system that's standard on all U.S. Navy Nimitz-class carriers.
An AEW&C aircraft is an airborne radar picket that detects aircraft, ships and vehicles at long ranges. It also performs command and control of the battlespace in an air engagement by directing fighter and attack aircraft strikes.
Photos of China's new AEW&C aircraft show a remarkable resemblance to the U.S. E-2D Hawkeye. Both planes are turboprops with a distinctive mast on which is emplaced a radome housing a rotating radar. Even the horizontal stabilizers of the Chinese plane look similar to that of the Hawkeye.
China's third aircraft carrier will also be its first conventional carrier featuring a lengthy, horizontal flight deck and the CATOBAR system. Construction of China's third carrier is taking place at the Jiangnan Changxingdao shipyard near Shanghai.
The third carrier will likely have a larger aircraft complement than the Liaoning or the modified second carrier, the Type 002 that will still have the ski jump.
The Liaoning can embark 36 aircraft: 24 Shenyang J-15 fighters; 6 Changhe Z-18F anti-submarine warfare helicopters; 4 Changhe Z-18J airborne early warning helicopters and 2 Harbin Z-9C rescue helicopters.
A photograph in Chinese online forums in late 2016 revealed that China's aircraft carrier mock-up in Huangdicun was modified with the removal of the ski-jump section. This change confirms speculation the mock-up has been modified into a carrier flight deck similar to those on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
Enda Kenny says calls for him to boycott his invitation to the White House are "populist".
That's despite one of his own ministers, Shane Ross, being among those who think he shouldn't go.
Kenny's decision to travel, and personally complain about Donald's Trump immigration policies, is supported by Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein.
The Taoiseach says raising concerns in person is the best way to voice Ireland's objections.
"The populist question that I shouldn't go to the White House, it is a populist question yeah.
"You always follow that line and that's your right as you wish but I intend to go to the United States, I intend to speak directly to American President in the White House."
Meanwhile, a Government Minister has described Donald Trump's new immigration rules as 'nothing short of disgusting'.
The US President's travel ban, on seven-mainly Muslim countries, has prompted protests across America.
Communications Minister Denis Naughten, says Enda Kenny should 'eyeball' Mr Trump during his St Patrick's Day visit to the White House.
He told Galway Bay FM the Taoiseach needs to be strong in his approach.
"To discriminate against anyone based on religion is totally unacceptable. What difference does it make what god or no god that someone gives praise to."
The Taoiseach has said Irish citizens will still be allowed to enter the United States, even if they are also citizens of a country banned by the new US President.
Enda Kenny gave the assurance to the Dail, as he also declared Donald Trump's new immigration policy to be "morally unacceptable".
He told TDs that there are no legal concerns about the application of President Trump's new rules on Irish soil, but he has disappointed opposition leaders in the Dail by saying he hasn't yet written to Donald Trump to protest at the new rules.
"I have not written to the United States President because I intend to visit him in the Oval Office in the White House and say my piece publicly, both before and then. I think President Trump is well used to disagreements and obviously will have many more in the time ahead."
It has also been confirmed that the person turned away from US pre-clearance earlier this week, lives and works in Ireland.
Mr Kenny told the Dail that the person was denied entry on Saturday from Dublin Airport, after being "lawfully resident and working in Ireland".
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has demanded a clear statement from the Taoiseach, revealing he has already written to President Trump.
"I'm still disappointed, Taoiseach, that you haven't raised your opposition to this man directly with the Trump administration. I wrote to you last week about this. I also wrote to President Trump. You could have done exactly the same thing, you are the Taoiseach, you represent the people of this State."
Let Me Tell You is a new bespoke podcast series from
Hosts Daniel McConnell and Paul Hosford take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments in recent Irish political history from the unique perspective of one of the key players involved.
A mother accused of trafficking a Nigerian woman into the country and forcing her into prostitution has been acquitted after several inconsistencies emerged in the alleged victim's evidence.
The complainant had previously told a jury she underwent a voodoo process in her home country during which she swore she would not report the alleged trafficker, Joy Imasogie (aged 40).
She said that once in Ireland she had to have sex with up to ten men a day to pay off a 50,000 "debt" to Ms Imasogie arising from her being brought to Ireland.
Ms Imasogie of Chapleswood Crescent, Hollystown, Dublin 15, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to organising for the woman to enter the country illegally, to compelling or coercing the woman to be a prostitute and to controlling or directing the activities of prostitution for gain on dates between March 2006 and April 2008.
Today Judge Patricia Ryan directed the jury to find Ms Imasogie not guilty following a defence application for the case to be withdrawn. The judge ruled it would be unsafe to the jury to consider the case given the clear contradictions in the evidence.
During the trial the alleged victim told the jury that she had stopped working as a prostitute in 2008 after she broke contact with Ms Imasogie and threw away her phone.
However, Judge Ryan said that evidence that was uncovered during the trial showed that the woman continued to work as a prostitute after this date. The uncontroverted evidence was contained in a file from a women's health project.
The woman told the project she was still working as a prostitute and that she advertised her services on the internet. She also said she didn't want help to leave that way of life.
Judge Ryan said the woman was not recalled by the prosecution to explain these inconsistencies. As a result there is no explanation for how these matters arose, the judge said. She said there was a complete conflict in the evidence.
During the trial the complainant told Kerida Naidoo SC, prosecuting, that she was living in dire financial circumstances with her grandmother in Benin City, Nigeria in 2006 when a neighbour told her he knew somebody in Europe who was looking for girls.
The woman said she then spoke on the phone to Ms Imasogie, who told her she owned a hair salon in Ireland and asked her if she was a good girl.
She said I could help out in the salon and mind her children, the woman told the court.
The woman said a man named Kingsley then arranged for her to visit a village where she swore an oath before a native doctor. Her nails and pubic hair were cut and she then swore she would not report Ms Imasogie or Kingsley to the police, she said.
She also swore that she would pay back a sum of 50,000, which she was told was the cost of travelling to Ireland. This was some kind of voodoo process, Mr Naidoo said.
She said that on arrival in Ireland Ms Imasogie told her she would have to sleep with men for money to pay off the 50,000.
I was angry and crying, saying this wasn't what I was told...I didn't want to do that, the woman said.
She said she was soon having sex with up to 10 men a day for no payment. She said all the money she received was handed over to the accused.
Ms Imasogie denied organising prostitution or trafficking the woman. She said she sometimes let the woman do her hair in return for food. The accused also alleged the woman was having an affair with her husband.
She wanted to have a baby with him, she told gardai.
The accused also claimed the mother of the alleged victim was using voodoo to take her husband away from her, but "did not succeed".
Two units of Cork City Fire Brigade were called to Cork's Grand Parade to help gardai in removing a man from a cherry picker on Sunday morning.
The man had climbed up the lifting system but became stuck on the platform and unable to dismount safely.
Democrats have blocked planned Senate committee votes on Donald Trump's picks to be health and treasury secretaries after boycotting the session.
The postponement came as congressional Democrats, in a confrontational mood over Mr Trump's administration actions, also used lengthy speeches at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting considering Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, of Alabama, to be attorney general.
At another committee, lawmakers voted to send the US president's choice to head the education department, Betsy DeVos, to the full Senate for a vote.
Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee said they would not attend the panel's planned votes until they could ask more questions about Republican representative Tom Price, of Georgia, the health nominee, and Steve Mnuchin, Mr Trump's Treasury selection, who they said had misled Congress about their backgrounds.
The Democrats' action prevented the finance panel from acting because under committee rules 13 of its members - including at least one Democrat - must be present for votes.
Democrat Senator Debbie Stabenow, of Michigan, said the men would hold positions "that directly affect peoples' lives every day. The truth matters".
Finance committee chairman Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, of Utah, accused Democrats of "a lack of desire to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities".
.@sensherrodbrown on why Senate Dems boycotting Price and Mnuchin committee votes. https://t.co/qr5oT2gOHX Andrew Rafferty (@AndrewRafferty) January 31, 2017
"They ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots," he said.
Republicans were trying to help Mr Trump staff his cabinet in the second week of an administration that has ignited fights on multiple fronts.
Mr Trump has, by executive action, clamped temporary bans against refugees from all countries and visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations.
He has also seen relations with Mexico sour after insisting it will pay for a border wall.
We must strengthen public education in America, not destroy it. The U.S. Senate should not approve Betsy DeVos as secretary of education. https://t.co/E8mTyAAtYx Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 31, 2017
Democrats forcing the delay of finance committee votes cited one report in The Wall Street Journal that Mr Price received a special, discounted offer to buy stock in a biomedical company, which contradicted his testimony to Congress.
They said another report in The Columbus Dispatch showed documents revealing Mr Mnuchin had not been truthful with the Senate in the confirmation process in comments about how his bank OneWest had handled home foreclosures.
Separately, the Senate Health, Education, Labour and Pensions Committee voted 12-1 to approve Ms DeVos, a GOP donor and conservative activist, as education secretary.
In a more peaceful setting, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee quickly approved former Texas governor Rick Perry as Energy Secretary by 16-7, and Republican representative Ryan Zinke, of Montana, to head interior by 16-6.
AP
New figures, published yesterday, show that the ports cargo volumes grew for a fourth successive year in 2016, and by 6.3% to 34.9m gross tonnes.
Dublin Port Company chief executive Eamonn OReilly said volume growth is expected to top 3.3% per year up to 2040.
By then, the port expects to have received 77 million more gross tonnes of cargo than is currently the case.
This has led the company to reassess its growth plans. The first phase of Dublin Ports 600m 30-year redevelopment plan is underway.
However, given that the ports annual average cargo volume growth was forecast at 2.5% when the overall expansion plan was announced in 2012, Dublin Port Company has changed plans regarding what it wants to do with lands.
Central to the review is a bid to use its 44-hectare site near Dublin Airport, known as Dublin Inland Port, to facilitate non-core, but port-related, activities.
This will include the warehousing of cargo and haulage equipment including containers.
That will free-up nearly 30 hectares of land at Dublin Port to enable the expansion of cargo discharge services.
A consultation process on the plans has just opened.
Mr OReilly said that with the rate of growth evident at Dublin Port, the company needed to make better use of the space at its disposal.
It is prudent that we respond to changing circumstances as they impact on the ports operations and capacity to grow, he said.
Mr OReilly also reiterated his view that Brexit would not be disastrous for port business.
After last Junes EU referendum in the UK, he said the impact would be far less negative than that of the 2007-2009 global recession.
Yesterday, he said that while Dublin Port Company doesnt see any positives from Britain exiting the EU, the negatives are manageable.
I doubt, very much, that the economic effect from Brexit will be anything like that from the recession and we wont see a fall off in trade volumes, he said.
Nobody knew what they were heading into with the recession and the country basically fell off a cliff.
In the case of Brexit, there are two years before it becomes a reality and two years in which to prepare. We have no clear view as yet, he said.
Mr OReilly said that while Brexit may prompt a return of customs controls at Dublin Port, which will be a big challenge, there remains two years to work out the details if necessary.
Dublin-based Kastus is one of 20 Enterprise Ireland client companies attending the Arab Health healthcare exhibition in Dubai, which will see 4,000 exhibitors and over 130,000 visitors from 163 countries.
Kastus unveiled its Log4+ formula, which is an antimicrobial solution that kills harmful bacteria and micro-organisms such as MRSA and E.coli.
Kal Penn's crowdfunding for refugees reaches $650k; How a social media troll turned into help amidst chaos over Donald Trump's controversial ban
Kal Penn attends the 2016 Global Citizen Festival In Central Park To End Extreme Poverty By 2030 at Central Park on September 24, 2016 in New York City. (Photo : Getty Images for Global Citizen/Noam Galai)
Kal Penn gave a non-typical response to a racist troll who told him on Instagram "you don't belong in this country you f****ng joke." Penn initiated a charitable endeavor on Jan. 28, Saturday, through a crowdfunding page for Syrian refugees.
The "House" actor, who was born in New Jersey to Indian immigrants, titled the fundraising effort "Donating to Syrian refugees in the name of the dude who said I don't belong in America" and outlined his mission. The page said: "We are better than the hateful people who tell us we don't belong in our own country."
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Penn's crowdfunding page added that they will turn those hateful people's and the United State president's racism into love. The charitable move was launched amidst the chaos caused by President Donald Trump's controversial ban.
The support for Penn's crowdfunding effort has been considerable, since many are resisting the ban. It has raised over $650,000 in donations as of Jan. 30, Monday. The money goes to the International Rescue Committee to help Syrian refugees.
"Usually, I ignore that stuff. But then I thought, this is ridiculous," Penn told Los Angeles Times. We've, unfortunately, seen a rise in rhetoric like this because of the president's own rhetoric on things like this."
The 39-year-old actor who had briefly worked for the Obama administration added that the country is no longer the America he knows and loves. He believes many people feel the same.
Trump implemented the executive order on Jan. 27, Friday, temporarily banning people from entering the U.S. It states that all refugees as well as people from Syria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Libya and Sudan cannot enter the U.S.
Government agencies appeared to be unprepared for the change which resulted to an unknown number of U.S. visa holders abroad to be stranded. Those having dual citizenships who were born in any of the listed countries are included in the ban.
The executive order means that about 134 million people are now not temporarily not allowed to enter or reenter the U.S. The order also throws thousands of U.S. residents with permanent visas into legal limbo and triggered backlash and protests across the country, the New York Magazine reported.
Here is a scoop of Trump's ban:
On European healthcare, the Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI) 2016 states: It gets better with every year, saving lives, curing disease, and strengthening quality of life among the public. And in the era of Trumpism, largely, it is affordable to almost all Europeans.
However, Irelands performance within the index, ranked 21st overall, prompts some withering criticism from the reports authors.
According to Health Consumer Powerhouse, which published the study: Ireland sticks to inefficient, unequal, semi-private funding.
When it comes to the EHCI ranking of cost-efficient healthcare (Bang for the buck) rating, which shows the relation between money spent on public healthcare and the performance of healthcare systems, Ireland ranks 31st, with only Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania faring worse.
Observing that Irish patient organisations have been radically more pessimistic in their responses to the survey conducted as part of EHCI research for a number of years, it states: Doubts must be raised on the validity of official statistics.
As a result, it says EHCI 2016 had scored Ireland on patients versions of waiting times.
In the category of accessibility, Sweden which otherwise performs well Ireland, and Poland have the lowest score among the 35 countries.
It is probably not a coincidence that for countries scoring low on accessibility, such as Sweden, the UK, and Ireland, this spills over into long A&E waiting times, it states.
The authors also refer to the response of the HSE and the Department of Health following the EHCI 2015 report, about initiates to reduce healthcare waiting times to no more than 18 months for a specialist appointment.
Even if and when that target is reached, it will still be the worst waiting time situation in Europe, it states.
It also notes that Ireland has the highest percentage of population buying duplicate healthcare insurance, prompting the question over whether this should be regarded as an extreme case of dissatisfaction with the public system, or simply as a technical solution for progressive taxation.
It says changes to Irelands abortion laws are a very minor step indeed towards abortion as a womens right.
In the category of pharmaceuticals, Ireland is among those ranked highest, alongside France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, and there is also praise for Irelands performance in reducing MRSA.
Overall, the report says that copying the most successful European healthcare systems is a solution for underperforming countries.
Stephen McMahon of the Irish Patients Association said he hopes the report would prove a watershed moment.
The sum of this performance is that Irish patients have been let down by successive governments, who have not delivered timely and cost efficient access and importantly care to our most vulnerable when they need it, he said.
Sinead Maguire (43) of Bayview Avenue, Dublin 3 died when the car she was travelling in hit a pole at the junction of Malahide Road and Clontarf Road at 1.52am on May 29 2014. Her mother Lillian Maguire said she feels vindicated by the outcome of the inquest.
"We've been told so many lies but the cameras don't lie. The proof was in the CCTV footage. I'm so angry about how we have been treated," Ms Maguire said, speaking after the inquest.
The jury at Dublin Coroner's Court returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
Garda James Newman was driving the marked squad car, a Ford Focus in the early hours of May 29 2014. He said he was around 35 to 40 seconds behind the Toyota Avensis in which Ms Maguire was a back seat passenger.
The family's legal representative, David Langwellner asked the garda if he was chasing the car.
"No. I wasn't close enough to be chasing it," Garda Newman said.
Garda Terry Moore was in the passenger seat of the Garda car. He said he lost sight of the car before it crashed.
"We were never close enough to be involved in a chase," the garda said. Asked if they were following the car, the garda replied yes. "We were attempting to stop it," he said.
Forensic Collision Investigator Sergeant Edward Davin said the driver attempted to take a right turn at the junction of Malahide Road and Fairview at excessive speed. The speed on impact was 82kmph. Gardai were travelling 9.5 seconds behind the car 160m north of the crash site, according to CCTV footage. Ms Maguire was not wearing her seatbelt.
GSOC investigated the incident and sent a file to the DPP. No prosecution was directed and there was no disciplinary action taken in relation to the case.
The driver of the car Eric Wansboro, is currently serving an eight year sentence for dangerous driving causing death. Neither he nor front seat passenger Ian McDonagh have any recollection of the crash.
"To this day my memory is ruined," Mr McDonagh told the coroner.
Dublin Fire Brigade responder Peter Hendrick treated Mr McDonagh at the scene. "He was verbal, conscious and communicating." Mr Hendrick said.
He scored the man full marks on the Glasgow coma scale, a neurological scale used to record the conscious state of patients.
Sinead Maguire died due to neck, chest and abdominal injuries as a result of the collision.
His department said there is no conflict of interest in asking education and training boards (ETBs) to have a role in the selection of areas where bishops or religious orders should hand over schools to new patrons.
But Educate Together says the boards have a vested and direct interest in the process. It is competing with local ETBs to open four new multi-denominational primary schools in Cork and Dublin.
The ETBs are being asked to survey pre-school childrens parents in areas where there is limited choice of primary schools outside of those with religious patrons.
But the Department of Education said the selection of alternative patrons where demand emerges for multi-denominational schools will be left to the existing owner of school facilities, and only based on consultation with local parents and with those proposing to set up new schools on those sites.
Educate Together chief executive Paul Rowe said this gives these bishops as patrons, or trusts who own the school properties, a disproportionate influence over the process and denies the fundamental democratic rights of parents.
The proposed plan seems to be designed to facilitate the handover of religious schools to ETB-run schools in return for payment, he said.
A key feature of an ETB-run community national school (CNS) is that the preparation of children for religious rites of passage, such as First Communion for Catholic pupils, is permitted as part of the school day.
This aspect was highlighted by Mr Bruton when he publicly endorsed the CNS model last week, before yesterdays announcement of how he proposes to progress the divestment of religious-run schools in areas where there is not enough population growth to justify state funding for new schools.
He said that the process he is proposing would be based on transparency and fairness, with parents views to be central to any decisions.
But rather than transferring properties to be occupied by schools under a new patron, they would instead be leased because of the complexities that have seen just 10 schools change hands so far in a process begun in 2012 to widen school choices for parents.
Mr Rowe cited previous indications on behalf of Catholic schools and patrons that they preferred the CNS model.
In Educate Together schools, any faith-specific activities are not facilitated during the school day.
Bishop Brendan Kelly, chair of the council for education of the Irish Catholic Bishopss Conference, welcomed Mr Brutons announcement and his statements last Friday in relation to the teaching of religion with sacramental preparation in community national schools.
He said the council will continue to engage with the minister, his department and ETBs while they study the proposals.
Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) said ETBs only role will be identifying areas by asking parents if they would like a multi-denominational or non-denominational school in their areas.
The question thereafter of what type of school people would prefer will be a different phase of the process, said ETBI general secretary Michael Moriarty.
Officers are trying to liaise with family members to find out what they have planned, and where, and who might be coming from abroad to attend.
Garda intelligence has suggested there is a threat from the Hutch grouping against the cartel, although it is not clear how the attack might be carried out.
Senior officers are concerned that members of the Kinahan hierarchy abroad might travel home.
It is thought there is no information that Daniel Kinahan, elder son of cartel boss Christy, is going to fly back, with some senior sources doubting he will.
The military-style assault on the Regency Hotel in north Dublin on February 5, 2016, resulted in the death of Byrne, from Crumlin, south Dublin.
Daniel Kinahan was believed to have been the main target of the attack, but he escaped death.
That assault, involving gunmen dressed in SWAT-type uniforms and brandishing AK47s, was in retaliation for the murder of Gary Hutch in Spain the previous September.
Byrnes death unleashed a murderous campaign by the Kinahan cartel, with the assassination of seven people here and another in Spain.
As it stands, it is thought the Byrne family is planning low-key events this Sunday, possibly including an anniversary Mass and a visit to Byrnes graveside at Mount Jerome Cemetery in Harolds Cross.
Gardai are understood to be in contact with the Byrne family to try and determine what they have planned and who might be attending.
This is to make sure the Hutch group dont launch an attack, said one source.
The funeral of Byrne, a 33-year-old father of two, was an extravagant affair, featuring ten stretch limousines and protected by a massive garda security operation.
The Armed Support Unit and the Special Crime Task Force, along with local gardai, have been conducting checkpoints and patrols to prevent bloodshed.
They are taking in both Dublins north inner city the home of possible Hutch targets and the south west of the city, where most of the Kinahan members live.
It is thought all the main cartel targets, apart from those in custody, are still here, some of them openly visiting each other.
Fewer than six people in the wider Crumlin area, along with another senior lieutenant living in England, are considered to operate the top layers of the cartel in Ireland.
The cartel is under mounting pressure after a series of Garda successes against them.
Last Saturday, gardai found an estimated 3m worth of heroin and cocaine, along with an assault rifle in Sallins, Co Kildare.
It is thought the drugs, linked to the cartel, were hidden inside sofas.
The previous Tuesday, gardai uncovered 15 firearms, including a submachine gun, assault rifle, and silencers, in west Dublin.
The Friday before, gardai and customs confiscated 1.9 tonnes of cannabis, worth an estimated 37m on the street.
ILIR president Ciaran Staunton said: We are advising people not to be alarmed by scaremongering. The authorities dont have the manpower to go after people who have committed misdemeanours like parking fines as they have undocumented criminals with felony offences like murder and rape to deal with first. Overstaying a visa is not a criminal offence in the US, he warned.
He also rejected calls for the Taoiseach to boycott the traditional visit to the White House on St Patricks Day.
He should go. Irish America will be there. Ireland is the only country in the world that has a standing appointment at the White House every year. Other countries would give their right hand for this access. To not attend wont serve any purpose. It wont affect US policy, he said.
Mr Staunton also pointed out that while the Irish Government had been quick to denounce the US presidents action on immigration, they have been slow to tackle the extensive red tape that hampers undocumented Irish returning to live in Ireland.
Such roadblocks, he said, were put in place during the Celtic Tiger as the Irish who emigrated to the US in the 1980s and returned to Ireland in the 1990s never faced such difficulties.
Charity begins at home. Instead of criticising President Trumps actions, Id like to ask the Government what will happen if the 50,000 undocumented Irish are forced to come back?
The returning undocumented, Irish citizens, encounter serious problems in opening bank accounts if they return to Ireland; they have to apply for a drivers licence all over again if they are gone for 10 years, they will have lost their no claims bonus for car insurance and they cant avail of the many farming supports and grants available as they cant supply tax records, he said.
Meanwhile, a statement has been issued by some of this countrys human rights organisations urging the Government to condemn President Trumps ban on refugees and migrants from seven blacklisted countries.
The statement is signed by the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Amnesty Ireland, the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI), Free Legal Advice Centres (Flac), Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, the Irish Council of Civil Liberties and the Irish Refugee Council.
It also called on ministers Charles Flanagan and Frances Fitzgerald to urgently review the pre-clearance system in operation at Dublin and Shannon airports and to take action if there was a reasonable chance a persons rights under international human rights law may be under threat. They also want anybody refused pre-clearance at an Irish airport to be given information on the relevant laws and the opportunity to seek legal advice.
This executive order is a barely concealed attempt to discriminate on nationality and religious grounds, the statement said.
THE visit of any British prime minister is a milestone event, as it allows our political leaders pretend to be international players, even for a brief moment.
As the grey clouds hung low over Dublin, the ominous mood of the international political landscape appeared to be reflected in the dank weather conditions.
Everyone, from Taoiseach Enda Kenny to his giddy advisers, were on their best behaviour for the visit of Theresa May who was still recovering from her seismic meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington last Friday.
His controversial immigration executive order and the widespread hysteria it has caused was the number one issue on everyones lips.
It even managed to trump the issue of Brexit, if you pardon the pun.
It was after 4.30pm when Ms Mays sizeable motorcade whizzed into the splendid courtyard of Government Buildings, with considerable traffic jams being caused to facilitate her.
Greeted by an army officer, who offered a brisk salute, Ms May stepped out of her Land Rover to be greeted by the hand of Mr Kenny.
Dressed in a dark blue overcoat, which seemed fitting for the occasion, the two posed on the steps for the waiting media before disappearing into the bowels of the building which was previously the Royal College of Science.
One could not help but think there was a little touch of the absent landlord visiting the land about Ms Mays visit, who had swung by Cardiff earlier in the day.
The site of the union flag flying overhead was a slightly unsettling one, given the events of the past and all that.
While the impact of the British decision to leave the EU was the primary reason for the visit, events in the US stole the show and it dominated the highly controlled and stage-managed press conference.
Neither leader is that comfortable departing from the script and yesterday was a dreadfully rigid affair.
There was more warmth standing out in the cold waiting for Ms May to arrive than when herself and Enda were on the dais.
For his part, following some stern prompting from his Cabinet most pointedly Minister Katherine Zappone Mr Kenny told reporters he has ordered a full review of US immigration pre-clearance operations here in Ireland.
In respect of the policy used by the American government, I disagree with it. I will say that to the president [Trump] and the vice-president [Mike Pence] when I meet with them.
"I have asked for a complete review now of the pre-clearance facilities here in Ireland in respect of the three departments that are handling this so we can be clear of the importance of it, said Mr Kenny.
It must be remembered that pre-clearance brings enormous convenience to a lot of people so these are issues we are happy to negotiate on. I dont agree with this policy and he will hear my reasons when I meet him.
Mr Kenny was speaking at about the same time that news broke of the first person being stopped at Dublin Airport on foot of Mr Trumps executive order.
For her part, Ms May, or My Maggie as Mr Trump has called her, took a softer line.
In respect of the policies which have been announced by the United States, the UK takes a different approach, she said.
At no stage in the six years when I was home secretary did I introduce those sort of arrangements. Obviously, President Trump has been elected and has implemented what he promised he would. But we have a different approach.
Both leaders were asked whether they would break off upcoming engagements with Mr Trump in protest at his immigration diktat.
Ms May has invited Mr Trump to Britain for a state visit in June and told her reporters that the invitation still stands.
Mr Kenny, for his part, spoke at some length as to the long-standing ties between Ireland and the US. and explained that the St Patricks Day invitation to the White House is an invitation accepted on behalf of the people of Ireland and that he still intends going.
Mr Kenny said he will use the opportunity to speak to Mr Trump face to face and tell him of his disapproval.
Im sure Trump is quaking in his boots now, came the unsympathetic response from some in the press corps.
But the Taoiseach and Ms May did manage to squeeze some chat about Brexit and its potential impact on us into their meeting.
Ms May insisted there will be no return to a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland after Britain leaves the EU, but gave no details as to how that will be achieved.
Mr Kenny backed Ms Mays goal of securing a friction-free trading relationship with the EU after Brexit, but alas no details.
Ms May said the UK will remain a reliable partner for Ireland, adding that familial ties between the countries are strong. She said there will be no return to the borders of the past.
She also reaffirmed the UKs commitment to the Belfast agreement and successor agreements.
The Taoiseach said helping Ms May to agree a deal to keep UK-EU trade as close as possible would be an absolute priority for Ireland ahead of Brexit negotiations.
Setting out her strategy this month, Ms May strongly hinted that Britain could leave the European customs union, stating that she wanted frictionless cross-border trade, but had an open mind on whether it should be done through associate membership or a new agreement.
Mr Kenny echoed her language, suggesting he would support the strategy during the divorce talks.
Our two governments are agreed that a close and friction-free economic and trading relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, including Ireland, is in our very best interests, he said.
And as the UK prepares for its formal notification under Article 50, we want to see that these deep trading ties between our two countries are recognised and facilitated.
That will continue to be an absolute priority for my Government, not just in our discussions with the British government but also with our EU partners, as we prepare for the negotiation process on the EU side of the table.
Mr Kenny and Ms May insisted they do not want to see a return to the border of the past between the North and the Republic.
We have of course said we do not want to see a return to the border of the past that isnt just a phrase, actually it symbolises the sort of seamless, frictionless border that we want to see in the future, said Ms May.
Of course there are elements of full membership of the customs union that would restrict our ability to trade and do trade agreements with other parts of the world.
And of course we also want to ensure that we carry on with the common travel area, which was in existence long before either of us were members of the European Union or its predecessors.
And with that, she was gone again, leaving us a little clearer on matters. And I mean a little.
My Life as a Zucchini (Photo : Cine maldito/YouTube)
The growth of Chinas box-office earnings in 2016 slowed down during the second half of the year, resulting in a weak 3.8 percent growth which watered down the gains made by The Mermaid. The reason behind the slowdown in the second half is the local audience became more discerning and sought higher-quality movies.
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High-Quality Films
Films nominated by prestigious award-giving bodies such as the Oscar and Golden Globes are considered of high quality generally. Some of the nominees for the Oscar Award have been shown, currently showing or would open soon in China. However, one Best Picture nominee and the Animated Feature Film nominees could only be viewed by streaming. These are Hell or High Water for the Best Picture, available on bilibili, The Red Turtle on AcFun and ootopia on Youku, according to The Beijinger.
Nominee But Boring
Arrival is currently showing in China, but reviews by local show that despite the movies being acclaimed in the U.S., Chinese moviegoers either felt asleep because of boredom or did not understand the movie at all. Another film still currently showing is Hackshaw Ridge, but it is expected to be pulled out soon.
La La Land is scheduled for showing on Feb. 14, but there are questions if western musicals would be a hit among Chinese moviegoers. The musical got 14 nominations in the Oscar and tied the record held by Titanic and All About Eve.
Among the Animated Feature Films, Kubo and the Two Strings is still showing, while Moana is no longer available. There is one more animated movie nominated, My Life as a Zucchini, but it is unsure if the movie would get a China release in 2017. Besides its Oscar nomination, the low-budget stop motion feature made by Swiss-French animators also was nominated at the Cesar Award, the national film award of France which is open only to French productions, Cartoon Brew reported.
Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 (2:05 pm) - Score 1,378
The Superfast Northamptonshire project in England has today signed two new contracts worth 10.23m with rural fibre optic ISP Gigaclear, which will enable the provider to roll-out their ultrafast (1Gbps+) Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTP) broadband network to 6,330 premises.
The Northamptonshire scheme completed its original contract with Openreach (BT) at the end of 2015 (here), which enabled 90% of local homes and businesses in the county to access a superfast broadband (24Mbps+) network (reflecting an additional 61,950 premises passed). Most of this was done using VDSL2 based up to 80Mbps capable Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) technology and tiny bit of ultra-fast FTTP.
Since then theyve been working with BT to extend that coverage to a further 20,465 premises (Contract 2), which is due to complete by December 2017. Today around 94% of the county can access broadband speeds of 24Mbps+ and once contract two is completed then this should rise above 95%.
However the local authority has just signed a third contract, this time with fibre optic ISP Gigaclear instead of BT. Under the new deal some 6,330 extra homes and businesses will be covered by the ISPs latest Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTP) technology, which can deliver ultra-fast broadband speeds of up to 1Gbps and faster in the future.
The new deal is being supported by around 4.9 million from the county council and 1.68 million from the Governments Broadband Delivery UK programme, with a further 3.65 million in private investment coming from Gigaclear itself.
Joe Frost, Gigaclears Business Development Director, said: Winning the Superfast Northamptonshire contracts means that we can now set the wheels in motion for providing a futureproof, pure fibre network to people living and working in the most remote corners of the county. Rural Northamptonshire will be one of the best connected areas in the UK as a result. This will be life-changing for residents and have a huge impact on the local economy as the ultrafast speeds attract organisations to the area. The fact that Gigaclear is winning more and more contracts like this one is a huge step in the right direction in the campaign for pure fibre, as we continue to connect thousands of people to speeds of up to 1Gbps. We are excited to work in partnership with the Superfast Northamptonshire team. This, together with our current and planned commercial coverage, will mean that we expect to be delivering ultrafast to more than 25,000 residents and business premises in rural Northamptonshire.
Cllr Ian Morris, Superfast Northamptonshire Project, said: Im delighted that were going to be working with Gigaclear on Stage Three of our Superfast Northamptonshire project, which will focus on those hardest to reach rural areas, which are the most difficult to serve with infrastructure. Having a county with excellent broadband infrastructure is essential if we want to be able to compete economically with other areas. The contracts awarded to Gigaclear will enable local businesses to benefit from some of the fastest broadband speeds available which is good news for data hungry operations and will to help boost the bottom line, whilst access to ultrafast broadband at home means the whole family can get on-line to take advantage of all that the internet has to offer.
According to Gigaclear the FTTP roll-out will be complete by December 2018; news on the exact coverage plan for the third contract should follow later this year (around May 2017). The deal marks the latest in a string of big contract wins for Gigaclear and theyre also the favourites to pick-up a major deal in the Gloucestershire and Herefordshire region (here).
However all of these new deals will be putting additional pressure on Gigaclear to ramp-up their deployment scale and attract more investment. So far theyve managed to cope and we hope that continues into the foreseeable future. The larger they become, the more we all expect.
We should point out that at the end of contract two around 14,000 premises in the county will still be waiting for a superfast broadband network to reach them, thus there will remain a fair gap left to fill even once Gigaclears 6,330 has been subtracted.
Ransomware is becoming a part of everyday life. This is illustrated by startling examples of the insidious malware that have occurred in just the past few weeks.
Ransomware occurs when a user executes malware that locks up his or her device. The malware gets into the machine either because the user is tricked into doing so or via a contaminated download. The ransom generally is paid by bitcoins.
The Washington Post reports that 123 of the 187 network video recorders that are part of the Washington, DC, police departments closed circuit video service were offline between January 12 and January 15. Each of these devices stores video shot by as many as four cameras. Donald Trump was inaugurated on January 20, which points to the potential danger the attack represented.
Earlier this month, the Romantik Seehotel Jaegerwirt, an expensive hotel in the Austrian Alps, gave in to a ransomware attack, according to Network World. This was the third time that the hotel was attacked. During one of the previous two occurrences, a backdoor apparently was left in the system that made reentry easier.
During the opening weekend of the winter season, the electronic guest room entry cards stopped functioning and could not be reprogrammed. The hotel at that point had 180 guests a full house and the hotel decided that it had no choice but to pay the hackers about $1,600 in bitcoins.
The hotel said that it publicized the situation in order to raise awareness. Ironically, the result will be that the 111-year-old hotel will be upgrading to an exciting technology: old-fashioned metal keys.
Not every organization surrenders to ransomware. On January 19, more than 700 circulation and public computers in the St. Louis public library system were taken hostage. The 17-branch library, according to Threat Post, refused to pay the $35,000 ransom. Services were gradually brought back online during the next few days. As of the time of the post, only the reserve system remained offline. No trouble was expected in bringing it back.
The ability of the library system to avoid paying ransom certainly is a good sign. It is unclear why it was able to deal with the problem so effectively while other organizations seem helpless to respond. One hint is that the criminals broke into the system electronically and planted the malware, which is an atypical way of spreading ransomware. Perhaps that difference points to a lack of sophistication in the malware or its implementation.
Ransomware is terrifying to businesses. Indeed, its so scary that some companies pay up even though they have not been victimized. OnePoll and Citrix asked 500 UK businesses with 250 or more employees about their experience with those claiming to be holding them ransom.
The study found that 39 percent of the businesses had been bluffed and that 61 percent of these paid a ransom. The companies paid an average of 13,412.29 ($16,739.22), with 6 percent paying more than 25,000 ($31,198.73). The results of the survey suggest the unfortunate possibility that organizations are intimidated or are simply giving up:
Ultimately, this research leaves a worrying impression that organisations may be treating ransomware as a cost of doing business just like shrinkage and fraud in some sectors. This mentality may be resulting in British businesses paying out when it is not necessary, while simultaneously supporting cybercriminal activity.
The press release didnt say why folks getting the demands didnt simply check to see if there indeed was a real ransomware attack. Whatever the details, the result of the research in its own way is as frightening as the real attacks.
Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.
One of the things that has been very clear to me over the last decade is that too many CEOs see layoffs as a tool they can aggressively use to meet quarterly numbers and/or spike their stock. They have no real concept that eliminating large numbers of qualified employees is like letting a two-year-old with a drill get rid of the extra weight in a race car. The damage done often exceeds the benefits of a layoff. No one should have learned this lesson better than Carly Fiorina, who had a decent plan to become President of the U.S. That plan had these foundation elements: Be seen as a successful CEO of HP, take the California Senate seat from the weakest California Senator, and then use this background to become President.
But Fiorina got fired from HP, largely as a result of losing the loyalty of the HP employees, and getting stabbed in the back by one of her closest advisors, and then lost the Senate race, largely by the same number of people she laid off, plus their immediate families. Had she been more compassionate with regard to her downsizing efforts, shed likely not have been fired, have won that Senate seat, and we could have had Fiorina as President, not Donald Trump.
Well break this down into three parts: the problem that Fiorina needed to solve, the tool Ive recently run into that could have solved it, and the future of deep learning in HR.
The Problem That Needed to Be Solved but Wasnt
At issue for Fiorina was a near complete disregard for the needs of the employees working for her. Ive seen a lot of CEOs reach a mental level where they think they are so far above those that work for them that they lose all empathy for them. Dont get me wrong too much empathy can make a CEO unable to make the hard decisions. But if a CEO loses all empathy, the result is typically some kind of perceived employee abuse and Fiorinas layoffs were surrounded with those perceptions. The people she got rid of had a significant tendency to hate her as a result, and this same perception spread to her staff, making it nearly impossible for her to execute. It is my belief that had she simply handled her large layoffs better, much of what eventually caused her failures later in life wouldnt have occurred and shed have had a far stronger shot at becoming the U.S. President. On the debate stage, when she spoke, she was actually a far stronger performer than Trump, but she couldnt get over the perceptions surrounding her failures resulting from poor employee treatment.
So, a tool that could have allowed her to do the layoffs without the employees feeling she had tossed them aside like last months garbage would have massively improved her chances of success not only as CEO but as an eventual presidential candidate.
RiseSmart Deep Learning Outplacement
This all came to mind last week when I was briefed by RiseSmart, a company specifically formed to handle layoffs and other downsizing efforts in a way that minimizes the impact on the departing employee. The company uses deep learning to best match employees with job opportunities at scale, minimizing the impact of the layoffs on their lives.
What a deep learning system can supply is the kind of customized job and skill matching that typically would require a dedicated employee. But you cant scale dedicated employees anymore, and that creates a great opportunity for a deep learning system to step in and provide a very effective human-like service at scale.
Unlike simple question matching, deep learning has the capability to learn from mistakes and assure that not only do the skills match, but that the personalities and career path match as well. And finally, also through experience, the system can learn to identify those employees who have questionable backgrounds or should be removed from the workforce so that they dont become problems for the hiring firm.
The Future of Analytics in HR
Now, what I didnt share is that my second degree is in Manpower Management, basically the science behind Human Resources, which is why RiseSmart was an interesting conversation. I had minors in Marketing and Computer Science, but my passion at the time was in better placing people where they could be the most successful, with success being measured not by financial rewards alone but by overall happiness and wellbeing. That is a part of the employment process that has sadly been lost through misguided and largely failed efforts to assure workplace equality.
Deep learning could be used to identify those with the potential to lead the company early on and assure that they got the breadth of skills needed to eventually do the job. It could be used to identify and rehabilitate employees who were unhappy and not screw up motivated employees who had passion and deep love for their firm (something that happened to me years ago). It could be used to identify and prevent the conditions that lead to embezzlement and abuse, and identify and remove employees with those tendencies before much, or any, damage was done.
In short, it could become the heart of the kind of great place to work policy that was, at one time, a breakout idea that was killed accidentally when IBM bought ROLM.
Wrapping Up: The Friendly AI
We have a lot of focus on how the implementation of AI will cost jobs, but firms like IBM have been arguing that the implementations they imagine, at least initially, will enhance, not replace, workers. Enhancing HR would be at the core of any such effort, focusing on making employees happier, more productive, and more fulfilled rather than just unemployed.
And, in addition to making us happier in our jobs, AI could have made Carly Fiorina President. There is a lot of irony in this, given that the old HP, the firm she once ran, was a tech firm that could develop such a solution itself.
Rob Enderle is President and Principal Analyst of the Enderle Group, a forward-looking emerging technology advisory firm. With over 30 years experience in emerging technologies, he has provided regional and global companies with guidance in how to better target customer needs; create new business opportunities; anticipate technology changes; select vendors and products; and present their products in the best possible light. Rob covers the technology industry broadly. Before founding the Enderle Group, Rob was the Senior Research Fellow for Forrester Research and the Giga Information Group, and held senior positions at IBM and ROLM. Follow Rob on Twitter @enderle, on Facebook and on Google+
After the Toyota Supra was discontinued years ago, many of us have been anticipating its return. Last year, an announcement that there will be no such thing has been made and we were all disappointed. However, it would seem that we have a reason to rejoice as the Japanese automaker is bringing us a Supra after all.
Toyota Supra: Tokyo Debut
It would seem that we will be meeting the return of the iconic Toyota Supra soon enough. According to report, a Toyota Supra concept is set to make its debut in the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show that will take place several months from now. Apparently, the next Toyota Supra will also have a new design as it will be borrowing a few details from the FT-1 concept that made its debut a few years ago. That being said, the new Toyota Supra will certainly have an even meaner look than it ever did. It would certainly be very interesting to see how things will turn out when it makes its debut.
The Toyota And BMW Connection
One of the most interesting thing about the upcoming Toyota Supra concept is the fact that the Japanese automaker is working with BMW to bring the iconic Supra back. It's no secret that Toyota and BMW are two of the biggest automaker names in the whole industry and we can only expect that the output between the connection of Toyota and BMW is going to be something we would welcome with big smiles on our faces.
Toyota Supra: Expected Powertrains
The Toyota Supra is iconic not just because of its captivating looks but also because of its raw power. Therefore, we also expect that the next generation of the Toyota Supra will pack quite a punch like its predecessors. According to report, the next Toyota Supra is said to be coming with three powertrain options. One is a 2.0-liter inline-four engine capable of putting out 255 horsepower followed by a 3.0-liter V6 engine that delivers 340 horsepower. This is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In addition, a 2.5-liter hybrid will also be available. Of course, these numbers are not yet final and must be taken with a grain of salt.
Toyota Supra: Debuting With Two Other Heavyweights
It looks like the Toyota Supra will not make its debut alone. Apparently, two other heavyweights will be making their appearance along with the Supra. The S-FR II, which is said to be a smaller version of the GT86 will also make its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. In addition, a Corolla bearing the GTI badge and expected to be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 250 horsepower will also appear next to the Toyota Supra.
Following her recently concluded winning in the 65th annual edition of the Miss Universe, Iris Mittenaere said that she was very surprised that she won but feels very blessed. On the website of the said organization, the 24-year-old Miss Universe who came from France said she wanted "to advocate for dental and oral hygiene" should she win in the competition. Mittenaere explains while everything during the pageant period has been amazing, being a Miss Universe has been her ultimate dream just like any other girls would love to be.
Miss Universe 2016 And Her "Oral Hygiene" Advocacy
In one of her statements reported by Express, the Miss Universe website has announced that by being a dental student from Lille, Iris Mittenaere was known to have her ambitions focused on her advocacy to promoting healthy teeth and gums. That being said, Mittenaere who happens to be a daughter of a history professor and a schoolteacher, has a degree in science and plans to become a dental surgeon. Furthermore, the stunning French model was also quoted to have said that she really aspires to help, understand and meet people.
The Miss Universe 2016
Meanwhile, according to Mirror, Raquel Pelissier of Haiti turned out to be the first runner-up while Andrea Tovar of Columbia placed second runner-up. It was found that Mittenaere has allegedly been the second French woman to be crowned as the eventual winner after their first win in 1953. Ultimately, it looks like that the 24-year old dentistry student would now be able to make her advocacy come true after beating 85 hopefuls from around the world Sunday night during the 65th edition of the pageant. After winning the contest last night, Mittenaere, a French model was left overwhelmed yet grateful with being proclaimed winner and she wiped the tears of happiness from her eyes. The crown is indeed worth fighting for in stilettos.
Android 7.0 Nougat has been a household name ever since it started coming out on online publications, just this year. Sources admitted that the update being part of the Samsung Galaxy S7 handsets is expected to happen real soon. And it seems like the AT&T Galaxy S7 Active would be one of the few smartphones that would first receive the new software.
AT&T Samsung Galaxy S7 Active To Experience Android 7.0 Nougat Update First
Sources told that the AT&T Galaxy S7 Active would form part of the first few Android 7.0 Nougat-enable smartphones in the world. These reports came in as publications revealed certain documents from the Wi-Fi Alliance; giving great hints that Galaxy S7 Active enabled by the newest Android update is already certified for Wi-Fi use.
It is also reiterated that the Galaxy S7 Active is an exclusive device of AT&T. Hence, the roll-out would be US-based only for now. The update on the said device has never been a surprise to anyone as Samsung already admitted that the Galaxy S7 Active would get that immediately.
On the other hand, there is still no news as to when the AT&T would give out Android 7.0 Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge models.
Unlocked Galaxy S7 And Galaxy S7 Edge Already Updating To Android 7.0 Nougat Update
Furthermore, it is admitted that the unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are already experiencing the Android 7.0 Nougat update in the U.S. While in U.K., it is already expressed that they are currently working on testing the software to the other Galaxy S7 models. It is expected that the update would be rollout on February. In India, some of the S7 handsets already starting to get the Android 7.0 Nougat update.
Actor Tom Hiddleston, winner of Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film for 'The Night Manager,' poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards. (Photo : Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
After the earthbound heroes went on a royal rumble in "Captain America: Civil War," the more powerful, cosmic beings face off in "Thor: Ragnarok."
At the end of "Thor: The Dark World," we find out that Odin is not the one sitting on the throne in Asgard but a shape-shifted Loki. Thus, the big question was Odin's location and condition. There were many theories brought forth based on the comic books from being dead to undergoing the "Odin sleep."
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However, recent revelations on the plot has Odin trapped in Midgard, based on behind the scenes photos as featured in Screen Rant. As they point out, the setting is New York with taxis and establishments bearing New York signage, even though they were actually shot in Australia.
This led to the mid-credit scene where Thor and Doctor Strange discussed the presence of Loki in Midgard. There were scenes where Thor and Loki were together, and that could mean two things: the "brothers" were searching for their father together (as Thor may still not know that Loki has turned evil again after they worked together in 'The Dark World') meaning Loki does not know what happened to Odin (and therefore, he wasn't responsible for it. Or it could also be an act (he's not the god of Mischief for nothing).
One person who could see through it all would be Doctor Strange. No less than Tom Hiddleston mentioned it in an interview during the Golden Globes from MTV.
"I can't spoil anything for you," Hiddleston said. Yet he talked about the role of Doctor Strange in "Thor: Ragnarok."
"Doctor Strange has very intensely, cerebral, time-bending powers," Hiddleston says. "At the end of Thor: The Dark World Loki's on the throne. What happened to Odin? So, maybe Doctor Strange has to help out with that particular conundrum."
Hiddleston was pushed but he somehow dodged a direct meeting of Doctor Strange and Loki, but his defense reveals that it could actually happen. As the interviewer noted, it's almost a "no-brainer" to have the Sorcerer Supreme face off with Loki.
It was clear that Doctor Strange saw the Asgardians as a threat and he didn't want them wandering around "this world" as shown in the mid-credits scene in "Doctor Strange." What if Loki has plans to stick around?
If Thor vs Hulk was not reason enough to watch "Thor: Ragnarok" the Loki-Doctor Strange face-off takes the cake.
Of every single mobile device that Chinese giant Xiaomi has released, the Mi Note 2 has been probably the greatest, given the fact that this is a flagship phablet that offers incredible specs and features with a really attractive price. Fortunately for the brands lovers, a Blue Coral color variant is now available.
The Mi Note 2 Will Have 4 New Colors
According to GSMARENA, this new color was discovered thanks to a number of images published on Chinese social media network Weibo, in which its shown Xiaomis CEO Lei Jun holding the Mi Note 2 in the Blue Coral color. Naturally, this move represents a huge bet from Xiaomi to increase the devices popularity, considering that it sales were has been so great that offering it in different colors would be quite lucrative.
Although the Mi Note 2 was only available in Black, Gold and Silver color, the company has unveiled another four, which promises to increase popularity among the users. These colors are Green, Purple, Pink and the Blue Coral, which would make this mobile device even greater in China, considering that it will offer more color variants than the majority of the most famous Chinese smartphones.
The Galaxy S7 Also Had The Blue Coral Color
As reported by Android Headlines, what seems quite curious about the Blue Coral variant of the flagship Mi Note 2, is the fact that this is exactly similar to the Coral Blue released by the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge last year, which also gained a huge popularity in a moment in which the company was facing the huge damage that the Note 7 recall left.
Although the new color options for the Mi Note 2 represent a great news for the company, theres no information about when these new colors will go on sale. Nevertheless, is expected that it would be released in a few weeks, and have the same price as the three original variants of the flagship phablet.
Song Joong-ki with Baby Girl (Photo : Instagram/Song Joong-ki)
Song Hye Kyo intrigued a lot of fans when she posted on Jan. 19 on Instagram her photo with a young girl without explaining who the child is. It led to speculations the girl is her daughter or pressure for her to marry Song Joong-ki so she could have her own beautiful baby.
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However, a week after she posted the viral photo on Instagram, Descendants of the Sun co-star Song Joong-ki himself also posted on his Instagram a photo of himself holding also a baby girl. The photo became viral with almost 100,000 likes.
Angel Child
His fans who posted comments about the photo took note that the most popular actor in South Korea and China has a similar picture as Song Hye Kyo who was with an angel child, wrote iramurdana. As expected, fans like kany_xian_jiaer asked, Whos that girl?
Fielmesias thought the girl is the baby of the SongSong couple, and like Song Hye Kyo who did not answer the fans question about the identity of the young girl with her, Song Joong-ki also did the same and did not reply to fans questions. Other fans indulged in fantasy such as ae.niccee who wrote, My husband and our daughter.
Fans Baby?
However, the figure on the lower right corner of the photo may provide a clue who the baby is. There is a woman taking a photo of Song Joong-ki on her smartphone, likely the mother of the child. The foreground also hints that the 31-year-old actor likely guested on a radio station and the woman probably requested for a photo opportunity with the actor.
This is not the first public post of Song Joong-ki with a baby girl. In mid-July, he posted his photo carrying Xingxing, the seven-month-old daughter of Korean actress Zhang Ziyi.
President Obama is only a couple of weeks out of office, but his legacy on cybersecurity is already getting reviews mixed reviews.
According to a number of experts, Obama said a lot of good things, did a lot of good things and devoted considerable energy to making cybersecurity a priority, but ultimately didn't accomplish the goal of making either government or the private sector more secure.
The most recent, stark illustration was the series of leaks, enabled by hacks that US intelligence agencies attribute to Russia, that undermined both the credibility of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and the election itself.
As Kevin Murray, director of Murray Associates, a counterespionage consultancy, put it, government can make as many policies as it wants, but if it doesnt solve the problem, what good is it?
Or, as Paul Rosenzweig, founder of Red Branch Consulting, former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official under President George W. Bush and frequent contributor to the Lawfare blog, put it, they had the tools, they just chose not to use them when the chips were down. I dont know why.
Government can make as many policies as it wants, but if it doesnt solve the problem, what good is it?
Kevin Murray, director, Murray Associates
That is significant, given that one of the prime constitutional responsibilities of government is to provide for the common defense. Over the past decade, cybersecurity has approached the same level of importance as military or law enforcement security. The potential damage from cyber attacks has grown from the nuisance level to crippling.
At the physical level, top government officials have warned multiple times of the risk of a "cyber Pearl Harbor" attack from hostile nation states, terrorists or criminal gangs. There are continuing, and persistent, reports of vulnerabilities in the nations critical infrastructure.
At the economic level, Gen. Keith Alexander, former director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and head of US Cyber Command, said in 2012 that economic espionage mostly by China had led to, the largest transfer of wealth in human history.
Certainly this was not due to a lack of attention from Obama, who declared cybersecurity a priority at the beginning of his presidency and mentioned its importance in nearly every State of the Union address.
The list of initiatives, orders, policies and legislation coming during his watch is long and impressive. It includes:
In February 2009, Obama ordered a review of the state of cybersecurity in government. In May, he announced the "Cyberspace Policy Review," which he said would result in a coordinated cybersecurity plan to be run from the White House, and intended to, deter, prevent, detect and defend against cyber attacks.
In June 2009, what had been a provisional US Cyber Command since 2006 became permanent. The goal is a staff of 6,000, but as of last year, it was reportedly still at about two-thirds of that. However, there is general agreement among experts that the US has, "the most powerful cyber arsenal in the world."
In response to a 2013 Executive Order from Obama, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a "Cybersecurity Framework" in February 2014 a document that set standards for both the private and public sector, and that has undergone various updates. The latest draft update, aimed at improving security for critical infrastructure, was issued in January, shortly before Obama left office.
In June 2015, the administration released M-15-13, a Policy to Require Secure Connections across Federal Websites and Web Services, which set a deadline of Dec. 31, 2016 for all agencies to use encrypted HTTPS websites and web services.
According to the General Services Administration, as of this month, while compliance is far from 100 percent ranging from 43 percent to 73 percent for government domains and subdomains the government now outpaces the private sector on HTTPS.
In September 2015, Obama reached what was described as a common understanding with Chinese President Xi Jinping to halt economic espionage. Their joint announcement stated that, neither countrys government will conduct or knowingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property (IP) While that has not eliminated the problem, it has reportedly reduced it.
Congress passed, and in December 2015 Obama signed, the Cyber Information Sharing Act (CISA), designed to improve the sharing of threat information between government and the private sector. Opponents still call it a surveillance bill, but advocates say any hope of improving the nations cybersecurity will require cooperation between the private and public sectors.
Unfortunately, those and other initiatives did not always achieve the desired results. Security failures over the past eight years are well known and, in some cases, have been catastrophic.
Perhaps the worst was the hack, attributed to China, of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which compromised the personal data of about 22 million current and former federal employees.
The level of cybersecurity that exists in government today would be disgraceful if it existed within large corporate America.
Aaron Tantleff, partner, Cybersecurity Practice, Foley & Lardner
Douglas R. Price, a board member of AFIO (Association of Former Intelligence Officers), called it, a failure of epic proportion.
The OMB launched a so-called, 30-Day Cybersecurity Sprint to improve everything from authentication to threat detection, but that came much too late after the breach was disclosed.
Other high-profile lapses include:
- Leaks of millions of classified documents from US Army soldier Bradley (now known as Chelsea) Manning and former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, which not only undermined confidence in the administrations claims that it wasnt conducting surveillance on American citizens, but also illustrated that government couldnt protect itself against insider threats.
- The president tried twice, in 2011 and 2015, to launch legislation that would, "improve cybersecurity for the American people, our nations critical infrastructure and the federal governments own networks and computers.
But neither proposal went anywhere, in part due to a divided Congress, but also because of opposition from civil rights and privacy groups.
- The federal Einstein cyber threat detection and prevention system, which has existed since 2004 and has gone through several iterations since then, was upgraded by DHS to "EINSTEIN 3 Accelerated (E3A" in 2015.
But it has been criticized by experts, former government officials and members of Congress for being hopelessly outdated before it is even fully implemented the deadline for implementation was this past December.
Greg Touhill, deputy assistant secretary of cybersecurity operations and programs at DHS, famously said in November 2015 that, Einstein 3 is really where we needed to be 15 years ago.
- Hacks, attributed to Russia, of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the email account of John Podesta, chairman of the Clinton presidential campaign. Wikileaks released embarrassing information from them during the final weeks of the campaign.
There are a number of reasons given for the failures.
First, numerous experts have said it is essentially impossible for government to keep up with the evolution and expansion of the threats. As Rosenzweig put it in an interview with Nextgov, government moves at 60 miles per hour and Internet innovation moves at 6,000 miles per hour.
Others say that gap is larger by orders of magnitude.
Aaron Tantleff a partner in the Cybersecurity Practice at Foley & Lardner, added that given, mass connectivity amongst devices via the Internet of Things, lack of security of all sorts of other devices and the lack of sufficiently trained cybersecurity experts, no wonder theres vulnerability.
Second, it is tough for government to manage the online security of critical infrastructure when much of it is in private hands. Instead of mandates, with significant penalties for failure to comply with them, government mainly issues advisories and recommendations.
Third, it is tough for government to compete with the private sector for talent.
The federal government continues to lag behind because it has to pay IT staff on a government pay scale, said John Bambenek, manager of threat systems at Fidelis Cybersecurity. For aspiring and experienced IT staff, the private sector is simply a much more lucrative and attractive career option.
Updating servers and laptops isnt as sexy as other spending projects. No congressman ever attended a ribbon cutting for a shipment of new computers.
John Bambenek, manager of threat systems, Fidelis Cybersecurity
But, experts also say there are things government could, and should, do better. Price said security requires both, protection measures and for our adversaries to be deterred from attacking. We did many things right with regard to the former, but the fact that we are still experiencing foreign hacking says that we have a lot more work to do on the deterrence side.
Tantleff noted that some vulnerabilities persist, because we elect to maintain them, presumably oddly enough for security reasons.
He pointed to a blog post by Michael Daniel, the former White House cybersecurity coordinator, who argued that, disclosing a vulnerability can mean that we forego an opportunity to collect crucial intelligence that could thwart a terrorist attack, stop the theft of our nations intellectual property, or even discover more dangerous vulnerabilities that are being used by hackers or other adversaries to exploit our networks.
Daniel added that it would not be in the national interest to build up, a huge stockpile of undisclosed vulnerabilities. But, of course, the definition of a huge stockpile could generate huge debate.
An obvious way for government to improve would be to update its technology, and experts note that in a budget approaching $4 trillion, surely money exists to improve hardware and software. But they say the political will is lacking.
When it comes to spending money, security always falls behind other priorities, Bambenek said. Updating servers and laptops isnt as sexy as other spending projects. No congressman ever attended a ribbon cutting for a shipment of new computers.
Finally, Murray said government needs to focus not just on those who hack or steal data, but also on those who let it happen. He said government wont get better results until it demands accountability. In virtually every case of a failure, including the OPM breach, those in charge are allowed to resign, which means they keep their pension and all other government benefits.
Theres a lot of hand wringing, but not enough action, Murray said. You have to make the people in charge of holding this information accountable. Somebody should get paid a lot of money, but then told, You are going to be held responsible if it leaks out on your watch.
You start doing that, and people will start taking it seriously, he said.
Ultimately, if what matters is results, Obamas legacy will suffer. Tantleff pointed to a recent book titled "The Global Cyber Vulnerability Report," that reviewed the cyber vulnerabilities of 44 nations, and ranked the US the 11th safest.
Its hard to believe that will help Obamas cybersecurity legacy, he said.
Whether things will improve under President Trump is anyones guess, but some early indications are not encouraging.
Nicholas Weaver, a senior staff researcher at the International Computer Science Institute, in a post on Lawfare, declared that the presidents insistence on continuing to use an insecure Android device is, asking for a disaster (and) should cause real panic.
Once compromised, the phone becomes a bug even more catastrophic than Great Seal able to record everything around it and transmit the information once it reattaches to the network, he wrote.
Tantleff said, the jury is still out, on whether Trump will be able to improve on Obamas record. But in his view, it is not a terribly high bar.
The level of cybersecurity that exists in government today would be disgraceful if it existed within large corporate America, he said. No financial or healthcare institution would be comfortable nor would the American people with our current efforts.
Here's the situation: You walk out of the supermarket with three bags in each hand and it already feels like your arms are gonna fall off. We've all felt like a pack mule at some point, and one company is hoping to change that with its personal cargo robot, Gita.
The bot was created by Piaggio Fast Forward, a sister company of Piaggio Group, most famous for creating the Vespa. Piaggio Fast Forward describes Gita (pronounced "jee-ta") as an "autonomous vehicle that extends a person's cargo carrying abilities."
The vehicle is 26 inches tall and can carry up to 40 pounds of goods at speeds as high as 22 mph. It can either follow a human operator or move about autonomously in pre-mapped areas. A number of sneak-peek videos on the company's YouTube page show potential uses for Gita including picking up and delivering a package, carrying someone's purchases at a market, and even walking a dog.
According to a company press release, Gita will debut on Feb. 2 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at which time more details about the robot will be made available. Piaggio Fast Forward says it will deploy Gita in a number of different business-to-business pilots in the near future with an eye toward future consumer applications.
Theres a land grab happening now between networks to link small, battery-powered IoT devices.
If countless forecasts are true, there will soon be a lot more tiny, low-power devices like sensors out in the world. The 2G networks that connected many of these to the cloud are gradually going away and newer, more specialized networks are emerging. Vendors are pushing different LPWANs (low-power, wide-area networks) to do the job and trying to get more users and network operators on their side. Their survival may depend on building up a big ecosystem of devices.
On Monday, U.S. network operator Ingenu partnered with distributor and system builder Arrow Electronics, which will offer Ingenus RPMA (Random Phase Multiple Access) technology when it develops IoT systems for enterprises and smaller businesses in the U.S.
In addition to reselling components, Arrow offers services to help enterprises and smaller companies develop internal systems and technologies for their needs. Now those services can offer RPMA connectivity for those systems. The partnership with Ingenu isnt exclusive, so Arrow could offer other LPWANs, too.
Ingenu operates an RPMA network that covers 30 U.S. metropolitan areas. Like other LPWANs, its designed to send small amounts of data at low speeds over long distances while conserving batteries. The Shell oil company and the utility Southern California Edison are two big users.
There are RPMA networks running or being built in about 30 other countries, too, under licensing agreements. Those countries include China, Italy, and Australia.
The Arrow deal is only for U.S. companies, but if those organizations have operations outside the country they can get roaming service, said Derrick Calderon, Ingenus vice president of business development. All the RPMA networks use the same frequencies, in the unlicensed 2.4GHz band.
Other LPWAN technologies are also expanding. Earlier this month, the French network operator SigFox partnered with IoT solution provider SensorInsight and sensor technology vendor Libelium to develop environmental sensor networks in the U.S.
LoRa, a system supported by the LoRa Alliance industry group, is being rolled out by enterprises and some mobile operators around the world. Earlier this month, wireless operator Eleven-x announced a LoRa-based network in Canada and said it would soon extend the system throughout the country. Meanwhile, new versions of LTE for some small IoT devices are also coming into the mix.
This story has been corrected to remove a reference to plans to reach 100 countries by year's end.
16:46
JON Platt, the father at the centre of the Supreme Court battle with the Isle of Wight Council and Department for Education over school holiday fines, has said he is not confident of victory after today's (Tuesday) hearing.
Speaking to the Isle of Wight County Press after the day-long hearing in London, Mr Platt, told the County Press: "If I was a betting man, I would say it is going to go against us."
Mr Platt praised his legal team, but said lawyers for the DfE and the Isle of Wight Council had also made strong representations.
He highlighted concerns about the impact of the case on parents across the country, after suggestions in court that the law could be interpreted in a way that would make it a criminal offence for a child to even be late to school, not just absent.
Mr Platt's team argued that such an interpretation would be 'absurd' however Mr Platt said he was 'not at all confident' of which way the case would go.
The case has been adjourned for the Supreme Court justices to make a decision which could take weeks.
See our live coverage from throughout the day here.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Miss Philippines Maxine Medina (Photo : YouTube)
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Miss Philippines Maxine Medina shared a beautiful and iconic moment right after the coronation of the new Miss Universe.
As Miss France Iris Mittenaere was crowned as the 65th Miss Universe, the girls congratulated Miss France. Meanwhile, Wurtzbach was seen eager to find Medina in the sea of girls. Once she found her, they hugged for a few minutes on stage.
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The former Miss Universe was also seen whispering something to Medina and made it seem that she is comforting the Philippines' bet after it slipped the Top 3. Medina finished in the Top 6 of the competition. At the end of the video, she was seen crying and wiping her eyes.
In an interview at the after party of the Miss universe beauty pageant, Wurtzbach revealed what she said to her beauty queen sister. Wurtzbach said that she told Maxine not to worry about the bashers because she did not make a mistake in the Q and A.
Before the coronation, Medina was often criticized for her grammar and lack of substance in answering questions during her past interviews. Medina also met a lot of backlash for her answer at the Question and Answer portion of the pageant. This is exacerbated by Maxine's use of an interpreter, which she did not use when answering the question.
It was revealed that the beauty queen felt too much pressure during the competition due to high expectations from her countrymen. The most prestigious beauty pageant was held in Manila, Philippines on Jan. 30.
According to beauty queen maker Jonas Gaffud, the Philippines' bet felt that she has more chances of winning the pageant if it was held outside the country to eliminate the extreme pressure from fellow Filipinos.
Phoenix is the most modern nightclub in Udon Thani (Thailand) and also one of the most popular with younger clubbers.My hotel ( Centara - very recommended) was only 500 meters from the club so I spent 3 nights in a row there. The thing I liked the most about Phoenix is that it gets crowded even on weekdays, especially after midnight. It is much nicer than hanging out in the depressing farang bars of Samphan Thamit street.
There is no entrance fee and the prices of drinks are moderate (100THB for a Chang beer, 1,500THB for a bottle). There is no dress code but if you plan on socializing, you should really avoid looking like a tourist.Inside, you have between 95% and 100% of Thai customers (depending on the night). I was surprised by how gorgeous some of the girls were, much better than any you would meet during daytime in Udon Thani. Many seemed to be just normal girls who come to enjoy the music and have a good time with their friends. If you are not shy, it is easy to get a few phone numbers.The club in itself is not so big but it looks nice and modern. You have a stage for live music bands (Thai songs) in one of the corners, and then about 30 tables on the dancefloor. On the ceiling, they've hanged a cool replica of a Star Wars spaceship.When the live band is not playing, the DJs will mix mostly recent EDM songs as you can see on this video I shot:29-30 Adunyadet RoadUdon Thani, ThailandFor events and photos: Phoenix Udon Thani Every day from 9PM to 2AMYou can also read Best Nightclubs and Bars in Udon Thani
Maxine Medina, Miss Universe Philippines 2016 competes on stage in Yamamay swimwear featuring footwear by Chinese Laundry during the 65th MISS UNIVERSE Preliminary Competition at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, January 26, 2017. The contestants have (Photo : The Miss Universe Organization)
Before the Miss Universe 2016 beauty pageant, Miss Philippines Maxine Medina revealed that she has a secret weapon that she will use against other candidates. However, this weapon seemed to have not worked as she failed to get the highly-coveted crown.
Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina admitted that she has a secret weapon for the 65th Miss Universe. Expectations are high for the Philippines' bet hoping for the first back-to-back win. The reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach won the pageant last year and has set the bar high for Medina and the beauty queen was always compared to the Miss Universe 2015 titleholder.
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According to Kami, Maxine's secret weapon in the competition is just to be herself and to let her personality shine. Being the host delegate, Medina is extra friendly to the other candidates to make sure they feel comfortable in the country.
The Miss Universe candidates received a fair warning from Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza who once said that candidates do not know how good Medina is in the competition. Considered as one of the strong candidates thanks to her home court advantage.
The Miss Philippines failed to win the crown this year after she finished in the Top 6 of the competition. The beauty queen fell right after the first round of Question and Answer. The Philippines' candidate has met a lot of backlash for her grammar and lack of substance in answering her past interviews making Filipinos worried how she will answer the questions.
However, Medina shined during the preliminary competition and many people commended her performance onstage and how she walked.
Lack of access to official state documents leaves significant gaps in the understanding of Egypt's modern history, the 'Cairo Fire' of 26 January 1952 being a prominent example, says historian Khaled Fahmy
Some 65 years later, the true story of the Cairo Fire is still untold, and the mastermind and culprits behind one of the worst acts of arson to ever hit the capital remain unknown to the public.
On Saturday 26 January, 1952, almost 24 hours after the soldiers of the British occupation killed 50 Egyptian auxiliary policemen in Ismaliya, a serious wave of agitation took over the capital leading to a sudden outbreak of violence and the burning of hundreds of key buildings, including the exquisite Cairo Opera House and some of the capitals top restaurants, bars and stores.
In the last days of January 1952, many narratives were offered up on who really burned the city." One particularly prominent narrative suggested it was the palace, to further increase the political dilemma the British occupation was facing in the wake of its confrontation with police in Ismaliya.
Another narrative blamed angry students and demonstrators who had already protested the killing of the police officers in front Abdin Palace, adding that most of the burned and looted buildings were associated with the Western presence in Cairo.
A third narrative blamed the fire on political forces opposed to King Farouk and that wished to further complicate his already confused relation with the British occupation.
But we dont know and we cannot know, or rather start the path to know, before we start to put our hands on the documents related to whatever happened on that day. The Egyptian police must have conducted some form of investigation and there must have been some findings registered in official documents.
Accessing these documents is simply the first step to reveal the true story of this particularly significant political event that hit the country not just the capital 65 years ago, says prominent historian Khaled Fahmy.
Speaking to Ahram Online, Fahmy, currently visiting professor at Harvard University, lamented the continued lack of access to documents that relate to significant moments in 20th century Egyptian history.
The Cairo Fire, Fahmy said, was a particularly significant moment in the sense that it revealed the structural problem that the regime of King Farouk was facing with an aggressive occupation, a barely functioning parliament, and an undermined opposition represented in Al-Wafd Party.
And this all happened only a few months before the 23 July 1952 when the Egyptian government was neither in an open confrontation with the occupation nor in direct negotiations to end the occupation.
According to Fahmy, in Ismailya, one day before the fire, British soldiers told the Egyptian police that they had to choose between the guerillas fighting the occupation and the British army in Egypt, and where the police decided to not to turn their backs on their compatriots, even though the government was not demanding an end to the British occupation.
This is why there are so many questions about what really happened on 26 January in Cairo and it is such a pity that 65 years later we remain unable to access the necessary documents to inform us not just as concerned researchers but as a public about what was happening there and then, Fahmy said.
Fahmy argued that this denial of access to basic information appears almost deliberate, because in the end the documents of state institutions might be incomplete or designed to fit with a particular line or another.
This is really a pattern, and I am sure that the relevant state institutions in Egypt keep documents and conduct necessary classification of information. But I am not sure whether they turn in these documents over to the National Archives, as they should, and whether the National Archives is willing to make these documents, if they have them, readily available to researchers, Fahmy lamented.
Any attempt to revisit a day as significant as that of the Cairo Fire, Fahmy relates, is thwarted by the state's style of withholding information, even when it should by law be made public, especially documents of the ministries of the interior and defence."
Whatever we have learned from the archives about the work of the police in Egypt, prior and after 1952, was essentially thorugh the archives of the Ministry of Justice, and this relates to criminal cases that the police referred to a court of law. But otherwise we are really mostly uninformed, Fahmy said.
Any attempt to revisit the Cairo Fire or any other significant moment in modern Egyptian history prompts the very serious question of access to information, Fahmy asserts.
Did we get to see the documents about the states take on the 18 days of the January 2011 Revolution? The answer is not really. We got to learn of a situation assessment that was put together by State Security and we got some glimpses of some information made available upon the subsequent break-in at the State Security headquarters after the ouster of the Hosni Mubarak regime, Fahmy said.
Fahmy was a member of a committee entrusted with documenting the 18 days of the January 2011 Revolution, and whose work remains largely inconclusive. Recently, when reading the memoires of an Australian medical examiner who headed forensic investigations in Egypt in the early decades of the 20th century, Fahmy came across information about the many bodies of protestors that were found around the city having been killed during the 1919 Revolution.
Now we know that there were also bodies that were found in the wake of the confrontations of 28 January 2011," he added, "but there again we dont have the official say on this matter. And we havent read substantial and free testimonies about 28 January 2011 at least not yet, Fahmy noted.
Acts of arson do happen during moments of political upheaval, and confrontations between the police and demonstrators end up with causalities, but it is important to know what really happened, not to vindicate but to understand, Fahmy said.
For example, there is no clear understanding of the way the shift happened in the responsibilities and mandate of the police following the establishment of three parallel intelligence systems under Nasser by Zakaria Moheiddine.
But it is important that we learn what happened there because it would help us decipher the power dynamics among state instutitons in charge of collecting information and this is not a minor issue because these dynamics remain significant, as we saw during the January Revolution and beyond, Fahmy said.
Fahmy is worried not just about access to historical documents but also their preservation.
Following the fall of the regime of East Germany, the Stasi's documents were carefully kept intact as a significant testimony on the history of the country during the Cold War era. Access to these documents was allowed under certain constraints designed to protect society from the full consequences of the ugly truth whereby the secret police recruited one out of every six people to spy on friends, neighbours and family.
However, as Fahmy noted, even constrained access to these documents helped to have them properly classified and kept for present and future research by historians and sociologists. Short of this, Fahmy said, the truth would always be elusive to the public and often enough manipulated by the state to serve political purposes.
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A tobacco industry analyst is projecting a mid-August closing date for the proposed $49.4 billion sale of Reynolds American Inc. to British American Tobacco Plc.
Reynolds board of directors announced Jan. 17 that it had accepted BATs second offer, in which BAT would acquire the 57.8 percent of Reynolds that it doesnt already own.
BAT said Reynolds would become its largest global subsidiary, with Reynolds shareholders owning 19 percent of BAT. There is a $1 billion breakup fee for each company.
Reynolds had 5,600 full-time and 100 part-time workers companywide as of Dec. 31, 2015. Reynolds is estimated to have about 2,000 local employees, the majority of whom work at its Tobaccoville plant.
Olivetree Financial analyst Tyler Tebbs said Monday he expects the companies shareholder votes to take place by Aug. 10, and the deal to close by Aug. 12 if the regulatory process goes smoothly.
The companies have projected a third-quarter closing of the deal, following a U.S. regulatory process lasting four to five months.
BATs revised offer was valued Jan. 17 at $29.44 in cash and $30.20 in BAT shares, or $59.64 per share overall. The breakdown is $24.4 billion in cash and $25 billion in British Tobacco American depository receipts, known as ADR, that are valued at 0.526 BAT shares for each Reynolds share.
According to Investopedia, an ADR is a stock that trades in the U.S. but represents a specified number of shares in a foreign corporation.
BAT plans to establish a Level III ADR with the New York Stock Exchange. A Level III ADR is considered by Investopedia as the most prestigious of the three levels, in part because it can be used to raise capital through a public offering.
Tebbs said he expects the two underlying regulatory steps with the Securities Exchange Commission and NYSE registering and listing the ADRs to be very smooth. He projects the SEC will complete its review between mid-May and early June.
However, the key risk that merger arbitrage investors face is the devil in the details of the expected timing of the shareholder votes relative to the BAT and Reynolds dividends ex-dividend dates of Aug. 18 and Sept. 9, respectively.
The BAT ADR will have an approximate equity value of $28 billion, and should attract increase sell-side coverage and investor relations effort on the U.S. side of the Atlantic, Tebbs said.
Reynolds shareholders will benefit from the issuance and receipt of new ADR shares as part of their merger consideration, as they will be in U.S. shareholders home market and they will trade, clear and settle according to U.S. market conventions.
BAT said in a Jan. 18 regulatory filing that it has no plans to close or move the head office in Winston-Salem, nor make any significant changes to the current high-quality manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Tennessee, nor to the trade marketing team.
BAT is confident that not only will the great majority of jobs in the Reynolds family of companies be preserved following completion, but in the future, as a stronger, combined organization, we believe there is a possibility of U.S. job growth and expansion.
Nicandro Durante, BATs chief executive, stressed that the company has a strong track record of successfully integrating acquisitions and remains committed to Reynolds Americans U.S. workforce and manufacturing facilities.
BAT has identified three main areas for cost synergies that are expected to produce at least $400 million in annual savings by completion of the third year of the deal. They are in procurement, product development and head office roles that need to be relooked at, Durante said.
BB&T Corp. and SunTrust Banks Inc. are among 25 regional and super-regional banks that have gained a level of regulatory relief as they prepare for the 2017 stress test cycle.
The Federal Reserve said Monday it has removed banks with total assets between $50 billion and $250 billion from the qualitative assessment of its Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) regulations. The list also includes Fifth Third Bancorp.
By doing so, the Fed said it was reducing significant burden on these firms and focusing the qualitative review in CCAR on the largest, most complex financial institutions. There are 11 of those banks, including Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co. and PNC Financial Services Group.
BB&T, with $219.3 billion in total assets as of Dec. 31, has been rumored by analysts to be considering one or two major bank deals, likely within its 15-state territory, to surpass the $250 billion threshold. The expansion strategy would give BB&T an expanded revenue stream to absorb increased regulatory expenses.
The CCAR process evaluates the capital planningzz processes and capital adequacy of large financial institutions through quantitative and qualitative assessments.
The most noteworthy public element of the review is banks having to declare how they would perform in a severe economic downturn.
The latest downturn scenario includes: the U.S. unemployment rate peaking at 10 percent in the third quarter of 2017 up from 4.7 percent in December; a decline in housing prices of 23.1 percent; a stock market drop of 50.7 percent by the end of 2016; and a notable rise in market volatility.
Depending on what that review shows, the Fed can approve or reject a banks capital plans, which typically include permission to buy a bank or make a large purchase, raise its dividend to shareholders and the level of a share-repurchase program. The Fed typically provides its approval or denial of capital plans in June.
The 25 banks still will be subject to regular supervisory assessments that examine their capital planning processes.
BB&T spokesman David White said Tuesday that the bank remains subject to the quantitative requirements of CCAR and our qualitative processes are intact.
We have built a first-rate, capital-planning approach for CCAR requirements, and will continue to run the full capital planning process.
The Feds final rule decreases the amount of additional capital a firm can distribute to shareholders in connection with a capital plan that has not been objected to without seeking prior approval from the Fed.
Previously, a firm could distribute up to an additional 1 percent of its Tier 1 capital beyond the amount in its capital plan. The final rule reduces that amount to 0.25 percent.
Gaining the Fed boards approval is not a given.
A BB&T capital plan submission for 2013 initially was rejected by the board, with BB&T also given a chance to resubmit its plan, which was approved. The Fed typically does not disclose what weaknesses it found in rejecting a plan.
In 2015, although regulators approved Bank of Americas initial capital plan, it was required to submit a new proposal to address certain weaknesses in its capital planning processes.
Tony Plath, a finance professor at UNC Charlotte, said the Fed decision doesnt really move the needle much on the cost side of the CCAR test, since most of the cost is on the quantitative side, where banks must forecast capital levels under various recessionary scenarios.
Where it really moves the needle is on the uncertainty side of the testing procedure. The qualitative side has always been a bit of a moving target, and many of the regional banks have never been quite sure they know just what to do in the area to meet the Feds expectations.
But since nothings changed over on the quantitative side of the test procedure, the 2017 round of stress tests is still going to cost shareholders a bundle of money to perform, Plath said.
CBL reaches leaseback deals with Sears
CBL & Associates Properties Inc., owner and operator of Hanes Mall, said Monday it has completed a sale-leaseback transaction for five Sears department stores and two Sears Auto Centers in its portfolio, including Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville.
The company said it acquired the locations for a combined $72.5 million. Sears will continue to operate the department stores under new 10-year leases. Two of the facilities are in CBLs hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn.
CBL will have the right to terminate each Sears lease at any time (except November through January), with six months advance notice. Sears also has the option to terminate the leases within one to four years, depending on the property.
The other locations acquired are Brookfield Square in Brookfield, Wis., Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga, Eastgate Mall in Cincinnati, and Jefferson Mall in Louisville, Ky. The Sears Auto Centers are located at Northgate Mall in Chattanooga and Volusia Mall in Daytona, Fla.
In December, CBL sold Randolph Mall in Asheboro.
Other Triad area malls owned by CBL are Alamance Crossing in Burlington and Friendly Center in Greensboro.
Richard Craver
Lowes board expands share repurchase program
The board of directors for Lowes Cos Inc. said Friday it has authorized a new repurchase program of up to $5 billion of the companys common stock.
The program has no expiration date and adds to the previous programs balance, which was $627 million as of Oct. 28.
A company typically buys back its shares from the marketplace to reduce the number of outstanding shares. Because there are fewer outstanding shares, those remaining can become more valuable.
Companies also buy back shares when they believe the shares are undervalued.
Richard Craver
Boehner joins
board in Brazil
JBS S.A., based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, said Monday that it has named John Boehner to its board of directors.
Boehner is the former U.S. House speaker and a current Reynolds American Inc. board member.
JBS Foods International trades on the New York Stock Exchange.
Richard Craver
Starbucks set to launch voice ordering via app
SEATTLE Amazons Alexa is now able to order up a latte.
Starbucks says its partnering with Amazons voice platform to offer on command ordering. Starting Monday, anyone who has an Amazon device with Alexa, like the Echo smart speaker, is able to place a Starbucks order using their voice.
Starbucks is also launching a beta test of voice ordering through its iPhone app.
The Associated Press
The loss of North Carolina jobs tied to the American trade imbalance with China may have peaked about a decade ago.
However, the ripple effect continues to be felt in the state, particularly in the high-tech sector, according to a national study released last week.
The Economic Policy Institute, a left-learning nonprofit research group, reported that North Carolina has lost 131,100 jobs, primarily in manufacturing, since 2001 because of trade policies deemed more favorable to China than the United States.
About 95,100 of the job losses occurred between 2001 and 2008, and primarily involved furniture and textiles.
For 2015-16, North Carolina has lost 10,500 jobs during 2015-16 from the trade imbalance, the Washington-based institute determined.
In this decade, job losses have come primarily in high-tech sectors, such as computers and electronic parts, and machinery.
Mark Vitner, a senior economist with Wells Fargo Securities, said the disruption unleashed by opening up trade with China was severely underestimated.
We have been living with the impact in rural parts of North Carolina and Virginia for the past two decades. ... Vast numbers of folks remain underemployed, Vitner said.
The report comes as President Donald Trump is considering raising tariffs on Chinese imports, a potential response that opponents worry could provoke a trade war between the countries.
The United States has a massive trade deficit with China, said Robert Scott, the institutes director of trade and manufacturing policy research.
According to a January report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. trade deficit with China was a record $367 billion in 2015 U.S. exports to China were valued at $116.2 billion, while imports from China were valued at a record $483.9 billion.
The growth of that deficit almost entirely explains the failure of manufacturing employment to fully recover along with the rest of the economy, Scott said. And as other studies have suggested, the trade deficit has cost us millions of jobs since China entered the World Trade Organization in 2001.
He said the trade imbalance affects some parts of the country, such as North Carolina, through job cuts and factory closings.
Others are surviving but not growing the way they could be if new factories were opening and existing plants were hiring more workers, Scott said. This slowdown in manufacturing job generation is also contributing to stagnating wages and incomes of typical workers and widening inequality.
N.C. sixth in job losses
North Carolina ranks sixth in terms of jobs lost because of the China trade imbalance and fifth highest in terms of percentage of lost jobs, at 3.12 percent, the institute said.
California was No. 1 for the most jobs lost, at 589,100, while Oregon was first in lost jobs by percentage, at 3.82 percent.
Though the loss of jobs from companies pursuing lower labor costs in China and later in other Asian countries has been severe, economists have said the North American Free Trade Agreement tends to resonate more with North Carolinians.
Thats because NAFTAs transfer of apparel and textile production from the United States has been going on since 1994 and affected major areas of rural and urban North Carolina.
The institute calculated employment data taken from federal labor and census reports to determine the jobs impact on a statewide and congressional district basis. The congressional districts were adjusted in 2013 to reflect the new geographic districts that went into effect with the 2013 Congress.
North Carolinas 5th, 6th and 12th congressional districts have lost a combined 34,700 jobs, about 3.5 percent of the combined employment level within the three districts.
The 5th District includes Forsyth County and is composed mostly of Northwest North Carolina counties. The 6th District is comprised mostly of central Piedmont counties, including Guilford County. The 12th District snakes along Interstate 85 and includes metropolitan areas of Forsyth, Guilford and Mecklenburg counties.
An estimated 3.4 million jobs were affected nationwide, of which 2.6 million were in manufacturing.
The 2nd District of North Carolina, in the central and eastern part of the state, was ranked 19th in the country, with 13,200 lost jobs. The 6th District was ranked 33rd, at 13,300, the 5th District was 52nd, at 11,500, and the 12th District was 84th, at 9,900.
The trade deficit with China has more than quadrupled since the countrys entrance into the World Trade Organization, rising from $83 billion in 2001 to $367.2 billion in 2015, the institute said. This rise has led to job losses in every state and congressional district.
Furniture industry hit
The loss of furniture jobs as it relates to China has followed two main paths.
For example, the Triad lost more than 12,000 furniture jobs mostly in Davidson County.
From 2002 to 2014, Furniture Brands International Inc. eliminated at least 8,940 jobs in North Carolina including at least 2,184 in Thomasville and at least 2,954 in the Triad overall.
Furniture Brands strategy, as the worlds top furniture manufacturer, relied on establishing a lower-cost Asian production supply chain, mostly in its own plants.
The offshoring strategy proved flawed, particularly as the Chinese-produced items didnt resonate or sell as well with U.S. consumers as domestic production had. The steep downturn in sales eventually led to the companys bankruptcy and sale of its assets.
Other furniture companies, such as Lexington Home Brands, Hooker Furniture Corp. and Pulaski Furniture, chose to source production from third-party manufacturers, with mixed results.
When the Triad furniture job cuts began, the average furniture and textile production wage was between $12.50 to $17 an hour, enough in many instances to support a middle-class household.
Most of those displaced workers had to settle for full-time jobs where $12 an hour was an above-average wage, or work two or more part-time jobs to make the same income.
Even though some furniture production has thrived, manufacturers continue to struggle to hire enough workers.
For example, Ashley Furniture Industries Inc., the nations top furniture manufacturer and retailer, is actively hiring for production and other jobs at its mammoth operations in Advance. It has at least 1,120 employees there and wants to add at least another 100.
United Furniture Industries also is searching for employees to handle its growth, particularly after entering the wooden-furniture market in 2015. The company leases production and warehouse space at the historic Weeks Plant in northwest Winston-Salem.
It has at least 315 employees in Winston-Salem and at least 1,215 in the Triad, counting its plants in Davidson and Randolph counties.
Vitner said that even as advanced manufacturing is doing better in some areas of the state, such as the Triad and Hickory, manufacturers are having a hard time convincing younger workers that factory jobs are a good place for them to work because of all the turmoil the industry and its workers have gone through the past couple of decades.
Turn to tariffs
Michael Walden, an economics professor at N.C. State University, cautioned that there are consequences to taking steps suggested by the institute and Trump administration officials.
For example, Walden said, if the U.S. were to respond with tariffs on Chinese imports, would China respond with tariffs on U.S. exports? North Carolina agricultural exports to China could be adversely affected.
He said if the purpose of Chinese tariffs is to bring back manufacturing jobs, that is not assured.
Chinese production could simply move to other countries in Asia. Supply chains are worldwide, so while assembly may occur in the U.S., the major value inputs could still be in foreign countries, he said.
Plus, the reality is manufacturing has increasingly been moving to machinery and technology inputs, and away from labor inputs, Walden said. So the job impact could be disappointing.
Walden added that tariff increases likely would lead to higher prices for consumers.
The institute said currency manipulation remains the hot-button import issue, particularly in the furniture, sock and textile industries.
Other issues include illegal industry subsidies, such as the wooden-furniture sector has experienced, along with tariff and non-tariff barriers to imports, and the suppression of wages and labor rights.
Meanwhile, outsourcing by multinational companies has created a flood of Chinese imports into the United States, leading to rapidly growing trade deficits and corresponding job loss, the institute said.
Scott said the Trump administration must continue to challenge China on unfair currency practices, excess production capacity and illegal dumping.
There should be stepped-up enforcement of fair trade laws and treaty obligations, and a border-adjustable carbon fee on imports produced by energy-intensive industries, he said.
Scott said competition from other low-wage countries also has contributed to driving down wages and reducing bargaining power for millions of U.S. workers.
The U.S.China trade relationship needs to undergo a fundamental change, he said.
Addressing unfair trade, weak labor and environmental standards in China, and ending currency manipulation and misalignment should be our top trade and economic priorities with China.
Fourteen Egyptian fisherman out of a total 16 are returnng home on Tuesday after reconciliating with the Tunisian authorities over illegally fishing near Sfax Port in the country's territorial waters three weeks ago.
The fishermen told Ahram Online that they are fine and will return on an EgyptAir flight taking off from Carthage Airport at 12:30 Cairo Local Time (CLT), arriving around 3:40 CLT (1:40 GMT).
The two remaining crewmen will stay in Tunisia to appeal a 150,000 Tunisian Dinar (EGP 1.2 million) fine imposed on them by the reconciliation committee formed to resolve the issue. The fishermen argue that the fine is too high.
Prior to their release, the fishermen were not being held in detention and were moving freely at Sfax Port, Tunisian agriculture ministry official Abdulla Al-Rabehy said at the time.
Al-Rabehy expressed concerns over what he described as the growing number of Egyptian boats that fish in Tunisian territorial waters without a license.
Fishermen face fines between 30,000 and 300,000 Tunisian Dinars (between EGP 250,000 and EGP 2.5 million) for fishing without a permit, according to Al-Rabehy.
The exchange rate of $1 is to EGP 18.9, according to the Central Bank website.
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A Lexington woman said Monday that she does not know when she will be reunited with her husband in Iraq as a result of the temporary immigration ban implemented last week by President Donald Trump affecting seven predominately Muslim countries.
His visa application, in its final stages, has been halted.
Haval Ali, a physician from the northern Kurdistan region of Iraq, has been trying to enter the United States almost since his departure in April. Before leaving, he had been in the United States on a visa to do research at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he met Kristine Ali of Lexington, an autopsy technician at the medical center.
They met in October 2015 and were married in March.
As Kristine Ali describes it, their lives might have never been so deeply connected had she not had the gumption to ask him out on a date. Kurdish people dont really date, she said. In a sense, she said, they were breaking a societal norm for a chance to spend time together.
It was beautiful from the start, Kristine Ali said. Were simple people. Simple lives. We love each other.
A month after the marriage ceremony, in April, he returned to Iraq because his immigration visa as a researcher at Wake Forest Baptist was going to expire, she said. While in Kurdistan, she said, he has been applying for another entry visa with the aim of living in the United States with her.
They had done everything the correct way, she said.
The couples predicament highlights an apparent unintended consequence of Trumps move to implement policies that administration officials say are part of a wider strategy to protect the United States from terrorism and which critics say make the country less safe.
This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country, GOP U.S. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said in a joint news release. That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.
Trump used Twitter on Monday to defend the order, saying that there is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country.
90 days?
The executive order bans for 90 days individuals except permanent residents of the United States, or green card holders from seven predominately Muslim countries: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
The 90 days could last longer. White House spokesman Sean Spicer left open the idea of extending the time frame of the ban, after the administration has had a chance to review the vetting process. Well go from there, he told reporters during a press conference at the White House.
I truly believe that this is being blown out of proportion, he said.
The order also calls for Homeland Security and State department officials, along with the director of national intelligence, to review what information the government needs to fully vet would-be visitors and come up with a list of countries that dont provide it. The order says the government will give countries 60 days to start providing the information or citizens from those countries will be barred from traveling to the United States.
I am glad to see that President Trump is doing what he campaigned on keeping America safe and protecting its citizens, U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, R-13th, whose district includes Lexington, said Sunday.
As the White House said earlier, 325,000 people from foreign countries came into the United States yesterday (Saturday) and only 109 were detained many of which I imagine will be released by the time this article is printed.
It is only common sense that we extensively vet every single person coming to our country from a terrorist hotbed. I am disappointed by the way the media has sensationalized this action by our president, Budd said.
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., traveling as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, did not comment after receiving questions on the ban for two days.
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Banner Elk Republican whose 5th Congressional District includes Winston-Salem, said that the United States has always welcomed immigrants but that the top job of the federal government is to provide national security.
Given shortcomings in the current screening process, I joined a bipartisan House majority in supporting legislation to strengthen the vetting process for individuals seeking entry to the United States through the Visa Waiver Program or as refugees.
The executive order signed by the president on Friday came with little clarity and caused much uncertainty for foreign travelers. Additional implementing guidance is needed to ensure that the order can be applied in a fair and equitable manner, Foxx said.
There had been confusion on how the executive order would affect green card holders.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Sunday permanent residency would be a dispositive factor in our case-by-case determination, absent information indicating a serious threat to public safety and welfare.
Citizens of the seven target countries who hold permanent U.S. residency, or green cards, will not be barred from re-entering the U.S., as officials had previously said. Officials also said Sunday that dual citizens who are nationals of one of the seven target countries and a country thats not on the list will be subject to additional security screenings, but will likely be allowed through.
Affects refugee program
The executive order also affects the U.S. refugee program.
Under the order, the refugee program will be suspended for four months time to review how refugees are vetted before they are allowed to resettle in the United States. Trumps order also cuts the number of refugees the United States plans to accept this budget year by more than half, to 50,000 people from around the world.
During the previous budget year, the United States accepted 84,995 refugees, including 12,587 people from Syria. President Barack Obama had set the current refugee limit at 110,000.
The temporary halt to refugee admissions includes exceptions for people claiming religious persecution, so long as their religion is a minority faith in their country.
Also under Trumps order, the State Department will stop issuing visas to Syrian nationals and halt the processing of Syrian refugees. That will remain in effect until Trump determines that enough security changes have been made to ensure that would-be terrorists cant exploit weaknesses in the current vetting system.
U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, R-6th, shared some of the same concerns about the effect of the order on green card holders, which appear to have been clarified. He also stressed that top national security officials have admitted that the government is unable to fully vet refugees.
We have always been a compassionate nation, and will continue to be a beacon of hope and freedom for the world. The refugee resettlement program is important in keeping with that tradition. But, we also have an obligation to ensure the safety of every American, he said.
Kristine Ali said shes not a political person and she understands that the federal government has to keep the United States safe against terrorists, but she said she cant help feeling heartbroken by the sudden reality that theres no way of knowing with certainty when she may be able to see her husband again.
I thought I was going to cry all day, Kristine Ali said, recalling the moment she learned that the immigration ban had halted the application process. I dont know what is going to happen.
Somalian refugee Habiba Mohamed is appealing to First Lady Melania Trump to persuade her husband to reverse course on tough new restrictions on refugees.
Mohamed and her husband arrived in Georgia in mid-January but are now separated from their 20-year-old daughter, who planned to fly to the U.S. this week but is now unable to leave a refugee camp in Kenya.
Mohamed says she's appealing to the first lady because she's a mother and "knows the love that a parent has for their child."
WASHINGTON The Trump administration is considering a plan to weed out would-be immigrants who are likely to require public assistance, as well as to deport when possible immigrants already living in the United States who depend on taxpayer help, according to a draft executive order obtained by The Washington Post.
A second draft order under consideration calls for a substantial shake up in the system through which the United States administers immigrant and nonimmigrant visas overall, with the aim of tightly controlling who enters the country, and who can enter the workforce, and to reduce the social services burden on U.S. taxpayers.
The drafts are circulating among administration officials, and it is unclear whether President Donald Trump has decided to move forward with them or when he might sign them if he does decide to put them in place. The White House would not confirm or deny the authenticity of the orders, and White House officials did not respond to requests for comment about the drafts on Monday and Tuesday.
If enacted, the executive orders would appear to significantly restrict all types of immigration and foreign travel to the United States, expanding bars on entry to the country that Trump ordered last week with his temporary ban on refugees and people from seven majority Muslim countries.
While Trump's immigration ban last week focused on national security and preventing terrorism, the new draft orders would be focused on Trump's campaign promises to protect American workers and to create jobs, immediately restricting the flow of immigrants and temporary laborers into the U.S. workforce. The administration has blamed immigrants who end up receiving U.S. social services for eating up federal resources, and it has said immigrant workers contribute to unemployment among Americans who were born in the United States.
"Our country's immigration laws are designed to protect American taxpayers and promote immigrant self sufficiency. Yet households headed by aliens are much more likely than those headed by citizens to use Federal means-tested public benefits," reads one draft order obtained by The Post, titled "Executive Order on Protecting Taxpayer Resources by Ensuring Our Immigration Laws Promote Accountability and Responsibility." The draft order provides no evidence to support the claim that immigrant households are more likely to use welfare benefits, and there is no consensus among experts about immigration's impact on such benefits or American jobs.
The administration would be seeking to "deny admission to any alien who is likely to become a public charge" and develop standards for "determining" whether an immigrant can be deported after five years if that person receives a certain amount of public assistance, including Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid.
The second order, titled "Executive Order on Protecting American Jobs and Workers by Strengthening the Integrity of Foreign Worker Visa Programs" calls for "eliminating" the "jobs magnet" that is driving illegal immigration to the United States, according to a copy obtained by The Post. The order would rescind any work visa provisions for foreign nationals found not to be in "the national interest" or in violation of U.S. immigration laws.
It weighs how to make America's immigration program "more merit based," calls for site visits at companies that employ foreign workers, and tasks the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with producing a report twice a year on the total number of foreign-born people - not just nonimmigrant visa holders - who are authorized to work in the United States.
It also instructs DHS and the State Department to submit a report on "the steps they are taking to combat the birth tourism phenomenon," meaning instances in which noncitizens come to the United States to have children, who in turn gain citizenship, a popular conservative refrain but one that is dismissed by immigration experts as a relatively minor problem.
Together, the orders would aim to give U.S. citizens priority in the job market from top to bottom by preventing immigrants from taking jobs and pushing some immigrants out of jobs they currently have.
"The unlawful employment of aliens has had a devastating impact on the wages and jobs of American workers, especially low-skilled, teenage, and African American and Hispanic workers," the draft order says.
Economists are divided on the extent to which illegal immigration impacts wages, but generally find that immigration is good for the economy, including the immigration of low-skilled workers.
"The overwhelming consensus in the economics academic literature is that immigrants add more to the economy than they take, they create more jobs for Americans, and they are a net benefit to the American economy," said Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration policy analyst at the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank.
Nor have studies shown immigrants to be a greater drain on federal benefits relative to their American counterparts, he said: "When you compare poor immigrants to poor natives, poor immigrants are less likely to use welfare, and when they do, the dollar value of the benefits they use is lower."
That's partly because under existing federal law, new permanent residents, or green-card holders, are unable to qualify for welfare and other public benefits during their first five years of residency. Immigrants who entered the United States illegally also are unable to obtain federal welfare benefits.
Refugees are an exception, and advocates note that while those fleeing war and strife at home tend to need assistance upon arrival, they generally begin contributing to the economy within a few years.
The Migration Policy Institute has found that public assistance dependence falls over time, and that "refugee men are employed at a higher rate than their U.S.-born peers."
While demonstrators poured into airports to protest the Trump administrations draconian immigration policies, another presidential memorandum signed last weekend may have even more lasting, wide-ranging and dangerous consequences. The document sounds like a simple bureaucratic shuffle, outlining the shape the National Security Council will take under President Trump. Instead, it is deeply worrisome.
The idea of the National Security Council (NSC), established in 1947, is to ensure that the president has the best possible advice from his Cabinet, the military and the intelligence community before making consequential decisions, and to ensure that, once those decisions are made, a centralized mechanism exists to guarantee their effective implementation. The NSC is effectively the central nervous system of the U.S. foreign policy and national security apparatus.
First, he essentially demoted the highest-ranking military officer in the United States, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the highest-ranking intelligence officer in the United States, the director of national intelligence. In previous administrations, those positions or their equivalent (before the creation of the director of national intelligence, the CIA director occupied that role) held permanent positions on the NSC.
Now, those key officials will be invited only when their specific expertise is seen to be required. Hard as it is to imagine any situation in which their views would not add value, this demotion is even harder to countenance given the threats the United States currently faces and the frayed state of the presidents relations with the intelligence community. A president who has no national security experience and can use all the advice he can get has decided to limit the input he receives from two of the most important advisers any president could have.
The president compounded this error of structure with an error of judgment that should send shivers down the spine of every American and our allies worldwide. Even as he pushed away professional security advice, Trump decided to make his top political advisor, Stephen K. Bannon, a permanent member of the NSC. Although the White House chief of staff is typically a participant in NSC deliberations, I do not know of another situation in which a political adviser has been a formal permanent member of the council.
Further, Bannon is the precisely wrong person for this wrong role. His national security experience consists of a graduate degree and seven years in the Navy. More troubling, Bannons role as chairman of Breitbart.com, with its racist, misogynist and Islamophobic perspectives, and his avowed desire to blow up our system of government, suggests this is someone who not only has no business being a permanent member of the most powerful consultative body in the world he has no business being in a position of responsibility in any government.
Worse still, it is a sign of other problems to come. Organizing the NSC this way does not reflect well on national security advisor Michael Flynn whether the bad decision is a result of his lack of understanding of what the NSC should do or because he is giving in to pressure from his boss.
Moreover, elevating Bannon is a sign that there will be more than one senior official in Trumps inner circle with top-level national security responsibility, an arrangement nearly certain to create confusion going forward.
Indeed, rumors are already circulating that Bannon and senior adviser Jared Kushner are the go-to people on national security issues for the administration, again despite the lack of experience, temperament or institutional support for either. Kushner has been given key roles on Israel, Mexico and China already. History suggests all this will not end well, with rivalries emerging with State, Defense, the Trade Representative and other agencies.
Combine all this with the presidents own shoot-from-the-lip impulses, his flair for improvisation and his well-known thin skin. You end up with a bad NSC structure being compromised by a kitchen cabinet-type superstructure and the whole thing likely being made even more dysfunctional by a president who, according to multiple reports, does not welcome advice in the first place especially when it contradicts his own views.
The executive order on immigration and refugees was un-American, counterproductive and possibly illegal. The restructuring of the NSC, and the way in which this White House is threatening to operate outside the formal NSC structure, all but guarantees that it will not be the last bad decision to emerge from the Trump administration.
First we saw President Trumps announcement on the wall on our southern border. The unnecessary and counterproductive boondoggle set off a war of words and threats of a trade war with Mexico.
Then came his immigration announcement. The Post reports: The order was called Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States and contained a temporary entry ban that would affect citizens of seven countries Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia.
In comments to the Christian Broadcasting Network, Trump indicated that special status might be accorded to Christians in Muslim majority countries. Of course, the hundreds of thousand killed in Syria are predominately Muslim.
The impact was immediate as refugees were turned back from airports. An Iranian scientist headed for Boston, an Iraqi interpreter who put his life on the line to help American troops and Syrian refugees fleeing genocide were among the many innocents turned back in scenes that reminded some of Jews fleeing Germany in the 1930s and 40s. (Trumps action came on Holocaust Remembrance Day, which Trump marked with a statement that shamefully and inexplicably did not mention Jews.)
The move also alarmed European allies, who apparently were blindsided by the move.
This was a campaign stunt turned into a cruel and destructive policy with no forethought or planning. The ban goes so far as to include green card holders. The sheer recklessness and lack of planning should be deeply disturbing.
Unsurprisingly, an ACLU lawsuit challenging the ban was filed on Saturday, certain to be followed by more legal challenges. Foreign policy experts and former intelligence officials blasted the ban. They pointed out that refugees are among the most thoroughly vetted immigrants in a process that can take up to two years. Eighty percent of refugees from war-torn Syria are women and children.
Donald Trumps refugee policy and misguided religion-based preferences are a violation of foundational American values and unsupported by national security realities, Evan McMullin, a former CIA officer and independent presidential candidate told me. Sadly, many Republican members of Congress share Trumps anti-Muslim bigotry, and others lack the courage to oppose it. They will be defined by their silence and failure to use the power the people have vested in them to defend the ideals that are central to Americas economic and security strength.
Michael OHanlon from the Brookings Institution was similarly negative. I doubt we need any ban. Our vetting is very good. However, in any case, why ban women with their kids? There have been very few female terrorists and hardly any who are moms, he told me. Why ban former interpreters? They have already proven their trustworthiness and we owe them. Why ban anyone over 50? Terrorists over that age are extremely rare. He added, Its sweeping in one sense yet strangely selective in others, not applying to South Asians or Southeast Asians. It smacks of symbolism and in a mean way.
In the Senate, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) was among those condemning the move:
With the stroke of a pen, President Trumps action has undermined the core values that built this country. It is profoundly un-American to turn away those fleeing horrific violence and persecution or to discriminate against people based on nationality and religion. More than half of the millions of vulnerable citizens seeking refuge from Syria are children, who are today trapped between a brutal regime and violent extremist groups.
Make no mistake, a ban on refugees from certain countries, paired with the preferencing of religious minorities, makes this a ban on Muslims... and top Pentagon officials tell us this ban will be used as a rallying cry for violent extremist movements seeking to attack Americans and American interests.
Shamefully, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), who previously condemned a ban on Muslims, chirped up with praise for Trump. President Trump is right to make sure we are doing everything possible to know exactly who is entering our country.
Instead of groveling, Congress should step in to demand the president suspend his directive or face congressional action to swiftly overturn his disastrous move. And for Ryan, the leader who vowed to restore Congress as the maker of immigration law, his statement demonstrated the degree to which Trump has corrupted a once thoughtful and respected figure.
We see here a perfect demonstration of what happens when demagogues, with no experience in the White House and no input from serious professionals, take a dubious campaign promise and instantly turn it into policy. (Rex Tillerson, if he had a hand in this, should not be confirmed as secretary of state; if he was excluded, he might rethink his participation in the administration.) Anti-immigrant zealots close to Trump (Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller) have zero understanding of the international ramifications of their irrational and unnecessary schemes (both regarding the wall and on immigration). If Trump is to avoid becoming a failed president and doing immense harm to the country even before he gives his first State of the Union address, he should banish the ignoramuses and find some qualified help.
UPDATE: In a humiliating blow to Trumps effort to enact his refugee ban, a federal court stayed any effort to remove those affected from the U.S. It does not affect those prevented from coming/returning to the U.S.
PASADENA, Calif. The producers of the comedy series Superior Donuts had a tasty way of luring Judd Hirsch into the series.
What happened was, they sent me a box of doughnuts, said Hirsch, who is best known as the star of Taxi. I was doing a play in the Berkshires, and a dozen doughnuts comes in the mail.
Thats how they pay Judd, is doughnuts, joked Jermaine Fowler, his costar.
Actually, Hirsch said, he gave the donuts to the plays crew.
In Superior Donuts, which starts at 8:30 p.m. Thursday on CBS, Hirsch plays Arthur, a curmudgeonly doughnut-shop owner who is resisting the gentrification of his Chicago neighborhood. Fowler plays his new employee, Franco, an energetic young black artist who wants to bring the doughnut shop into the modern era while keeping it from going mainstream. The humor revolves around culture clashes and topical issues.
The series is based on a 2008 play by Tracy Letts, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. Katey Sagal and David Koechner co-star as regular customers at the shop, and Maz Jobrani as an entrepeneur who wants to buy it out.
Fowlers background is largely in sketch comedy, but he said he is enjoying working on a situation comedy.
I was raised on watching sitcoms, said Fowler, who is 28. I watched sitcoms since I was a kid, so I love long-form comedy. Thats just what I was raised on. I love it. So doing the show was just my dream.
He also enjoys watching Hirsch and Sagal (Married... With Children) at work.
Watching the two act is pretty damn awesome, he said. I get to sponge up what they do and their acting choices. Watching these two act, and how well they treat people on the set, has been very inspiring to me.
Working on the show requires being around a lot of doughnuts, and Fowler has his preferences including a fondness for a certain Winston-Salem brand.
We had a Krispy Kreme in D.C., and thats where I always went to, every weekend, to get Krispy Kreme and stuff, he said. I love doughnuts, but only the glazed ones. The rest of them, I cant deal with the sprinkles, thats too much crap. But Ill do glazed.
RIVERRUN RETRO: 7 p.m. Thursday at Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 N. Spruce St. A film screening of Stella Dallas, starring Barbara Stanwyck, and a discussion with Stanwycks biographer, Victoria Wilson, followed by a book signing of the biography, A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True: 1907-1940. Tickets: $15 adult, $10 student with a valid ID. For information, visit www.rhodesartscenter.org.
DINOSAUR DIARY: 7 p.m. Friday at The Walker Center, 1328 S. Collegiate Dr., Wilkesboro. Dinosaur Diary features Rexie the T-Rex, a gentle, anatomically perfect, realistic dinosaur puppet that brings the prehistoric world to life. An inexpensive meal of pizza, hotdogs and all the fixings, assorted snacks, and drinks will be available for pur-chase from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tickets: $11 adult, $5 children; limited number available. For information, call (336) 838-6260, email walker.boxoffice@wilkescc.edu or visit www.walkercenteronline.org.
UNBROKEN CIRCLE BENEFIT CONCERT: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Byrum Welcome Center, Wake Forest University. The Shalom Projects sixth annual event with WFUs multi-generational bluegrass string band, The Unbroken Circle. Donations offered during the concert will support the programs and initiatives of The Shalom Project. For information, visit www.theshalomprojectnc.org.
Today
Rain showers early becoming a steady light rain for the afternoon. High near 70F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Tonight
Periods of rain. Low 64F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Tomorrow
A steady rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told African leaders on Tuesday that the climate control recommendations reached during the 2015 Paris Climate Conference should not hinder development plans on the African continent, assuring of Egypt's full commitment to international efforts and agreements to combat climate change.
El-Sisi made the comments during his speech at the meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC ), which was held on the sidelines of the 28th African General Assembly in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
The president spoke of the significance of the meeting, as it comes in the framework of the agreements reached during the Paris and Marrakech conventions on climate change to hold the average global temperature at 2 C.
However, El-Sisi stressed that this should not overwhelm the budgets of African nations, which are lacking in financing and technology. "The African continent is the lowest contributor to climate change in the world, though it is the most affected by its negative impacts," the Egyptian president said in his speech. The African leader pointed to the importance of the two initiatives proposed at the Paris conference to help the African continent face the consequences of climate change. The initiatives comprise expanding the use of renewable energy and finding ways to help Africa adapt to climate change. El-Sisi also reiterated Egypt's support for the African Climate and Africa Adaptation Initiatives. The Egyptian president said that the efforts to counter the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly important and significant globally, highlighting Egypt's role in hosting meetings of African climate change comittees in recent years. He also affirmed Egypt's commitment to support development on the African continent. El-Sisi expressed appreciation for the cooperation of African nations with Egypt during its chairmanship of the CAHOSCC, stressing the country's readiness to continue cooperation within the African framework to face climate change. El-Sis said at the end of his speech that he is handing over chairmanship of the committee to Gabon's president Ali Bongo.
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An embassy spokesperson says Ambassador Beecroft travelled back to Washington for 'routine consultations,' adding that the new Trump administration would decide if he remains in his post in Cairo
The US embassy in Egypt told Ahram Online on Tuesday that US Ambassador to Egypt Robert Stephen Beecroft remains the US envoy to the country, denying reports that the ambassador resigned and travelled back to Washington based on a mandate issued last month by the new US administration.
On 23 December, the US Department of State issued a diplomatic cable on Trumps behalf notifying politically appointed ambassadors that they are required to leave their posts by 20 January, a routine directive traditionally given by new US administrations.
Ambassador Beecroft remains the ambassador of Egypt. He has left Cairo to Washington for routine consultations, the embassy spokesman said, adding that the new administration would decide if he remains in his post in Cairo.
The ambassador is scheduled to return to Egypt in February, the spokesperson said.
On Tuesday, several Egyptian news websites cited diplomatic sources saying that Beecroft travelled to Washington for consultations following his resignation, where he would present his vision to the new administration.
Beecroft was appointed as ambassador to Egypt in 2014 by then-president Barack Obama, replacing ambassador Ann Patterson.
Beecroft served as US ambassdor to Iraq from 2012 to 2014, and has served in Washington as executive assistant to two secretaries of state and special assistant to a deputy secretary of state.
He has also held posts in the Department of States Executive Secretariat and Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
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About 200 bags of diapers, hygiene essentials and other related products will be available free-of-charge to expecting moms, who register for the "Shower for Life" event being held on Nov. 5, from 1-3 p.m., at St. Paul's Anglican Church, located at 316 W. Carolina Ave in Summerville. Read more'Shower for Life' calls all expecting mothers
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By Katharine Jones and Esra Kaytaz | (The Conversation) |
On Holocaust Memorial Day 2017 and amid the worlds greatest refugee crisis since World War II, Donald Trump imposed a four-month suspension of all refugee admissions into the US and indefinitely banned entry to all Syrian refugees.
The presidents executive order suspends the USs entire refugee resettlement programme the largest in the world for 120 days, and places a temporary 90-day ban on people from Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Yemen.
Amid personal heart-break and tragedy for the people and families affected, mass protests have ignited to the Muslim travel ban and to the end of the refugee resettlement programme. But what impact will the suspension have on countries currently hosting large refugee populations?
The ripple effect
For Turkey, currently hosting 2.8m Syrians and more than 290,000 asylum-seekers and refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, the US refugee resettlement programme means a great deal.
As a proportion of the whole refugee population in Turkey, the numbers resettled to other countries are small. Numbers for 2016 from the UNHCR are incomplete, but the 8,500 refugees resettled from Turkey to the US within 2016 account for about a tenth of the 84,995 US resettlement places between September 2015 and September 2016.
But resettlement from Turkey matters because while party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, in Turkey refugees are only admitted into a temporary protection system. While there is no limit on how long they can stay, they cant move onto other more permanent forms of residency or citizenship which guarantee more rights.
Refugees have limited rights to education, welfare and employment. Most live in challenging, poverty-stricken circumstances. Child and forced labour is reportedly endemic It was the inability to live safely and securely in Turkey, which led many of the 800,000 women, men and children to risk their lives crossing the Aegean Sea to Greece during the crisis in 2015-2016.
It is also true that refugee resettlement in Turkey has been far from perfect. Variable interpretation of eligibility criteria by the different embassies which UNHCR refers refugees to has rendered the process opaque to refugees and observers alike. The intense vetting conducted by US security agencies of those applying for resettlement has significantly slowed the process in recent years. Lengthy processing and waiting times can lead to enormous stress among those seeking to be resettled. In 2015, 15,466 refugees were referred for resettlement to the US, but only 4,833 departed.
Despite this, in Turkey, resettlement is integral to refugee protection. For those who will be unable to return to their homes in the foreseeable future, the end of the US resettlement programme is a significant and symbolic blow.
The Turkish government gave a muted response. Prime Minister Binali Yldrm argued that it was too early to evaluate the measures. Like Trump, Recep Tayyip Erdogans government has also been accused of using refugee resettlement as a political tool.
Refugees were the central bargaining tool in the March 2016 EU-Turkey Agreement, where Turkey agreed to receive migrants and refugees who had crossed the Mediterranean from its shores, and for every Syrian returned to Turkey, another Syrian would be resettled to the EU. In September 2016, Turkish authorities prevented the resettlement of 1,000 Syrian refugees to the US and other countries claiming that resettlement countries, including the US, were cherry-picking based on skills and education levels rather than based on vulnerability. Trumps decision means that refugee resettlement from Turkey is likely to become further politicised.
Other countries, notably Jordan and Lebanon, that are also hosting large numbers of refugees will also likely be affected by Trumps move.
Resettlement faces an uncertain future
Its difficult to know what the future holds for those waiting to be resettled. Canadas prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has already agreed to take those not allowed into the US as a result of Trumps move. But this is not ideal, especially for those who had been waiting, some for many years, to join family members already living in the US and from whom they will continue to be separated.
Nor is it possible to yet know what is in store for the future if there is one of the US resettlement programme or those of other countries. UNHCRs initial response was relatively cautious, no doubt with an eye to the 40% of its income which it receives from the US government. However, on January 30, human rights chief Zeid Raad al Hussein called the travel ban illegal.
Global political responses have been muted, with the government of Australia even offering Trump cautious support. And the British prime minister, Theresa May, recently returned from official visits to the US and to Turkey, failed to condemn the new policy.
As a proportion of the 21.3m forcibly displaced worldwide, the numbers resettled have always been small in comparison to the those currently in need of resettlement programmes. Even without Trumps action, global demand for resettlement places expected by UNHCR to be 1.19m by the end of 2017 greatly outstrips supply.
What is clear though is that Trumps action is hugely symbolic and will resonate globally for years to come. Historically, the US has led the world with its resettlement programmes and where it leads, others are likely to follow.
Challenging Trump on his decision to end the refugee resettlement programme is therefore both vital and urgent.
Katharine Jones, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University and Esra Kaytaz, Research Associate, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Related video added by Juan Cole:
Press TV: Syrian children in Turkey drop out of school to work
Parliament's secretariat-general said that MP Anwar El-Sadat's accusation that it bought cars in excess of the budget are groundless
The secretariat-general of Egypt's parliament has denied accusations that speaker Ali Abdel-Aal had requested buying three heavily armoured cars worth EGP 18 million in one month in violation of the country's austerity measures.
MP Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat said earlier this week that parliament purchased the cars in excess of the budget allotted for such purchases.
In a statement released on Monday night, the secretariat said that "documents show that the cars were purchased with funds that were part of parliament's original budget from before it was elected... there was no any misuse of funds."
The statement said that the request to buy the cars was issued in December 2015, one month before Egypt's new parliament was elected.
"The request was issued by the minister of state for parliamentary affairs and transitional justice, who was responsible at the time for running the affairs of parliament in accordance with the law," said the statement.
According to the statement, "Article 51 of the House of Representatives Law states that if parliament is dissolved, the prime minister or one of his deputies would take charge of running the financial and administrative affairs of the House."
It added that "as a result and while preparations were underway for electing a new parliament, the minister of parliamentary affairs... had requested that a fleet of 25 cars, including a heavily armoured one - be bought to be used by parliament's new speaker, his two deputies and senior staff."
The statement said that upon the request of the minister of parliamentary affairs, the ministry of planning had approved in December 2015 that parliament's budget be allocated an additional EGP 10 million.
"While as much as EGP 4 million out of this amount was earmarked to buy the 25 cars, the remaining EGP 6 million was allocated to buy a heavily armoured car to serve the transportation needs of the speaker of the new parliament," said the statement.
The statement said that only 17 cars were bought from the planned 25, which were intended to replace 25 old ones that were no longer viable for use.
"The 17 new cars included two Mercedes to serve the speaker's two deputies," the statement said.
The statement revealed that it was the Ministry of Defence which was charged with buying the speaker's new armoured car.
"[The car] was bought for 393,000 euros, which is half the cost of buying this car today," said the statement.
The statement added that "after parliament was dissolved in 2012, the speaker's heavily armoured car was sent to the cabinet to be used by the prime minister."
"For this reason, the Ministry of Planning approved in December 2012 that the new parliament's speaker should be allocated a heavily armoured car to replace the one that was given to the prime minister," the statement added.
The statement said that it is no longer a luxury for parliament's speaker and high-profile figures to be allocated with cars fitted with the most up-to-date security equipment.
"These types of cars have become a high security necessity as terrorist are now targeting senior officials by use of highly explosive bombs as in the case of the bombing and killing of Egypt's prosecutor-general in 29 June 2015," said the statement.
The statement disclosed that in February 2016 and because of the rising threat of terrorist groups, it was decided that the two Mercedes cars allocated to the speaker's two deputies should be replaced by two heavily armoured cars.
"As a result, the Ministry of Planning approved that an additional amount of EGP 16 million be earmarked to parliament's budget so that the Ministry of Defence can buy these two cars," said the statement, adding that "the ministry of defence has not yet bought the two cars."
The statement concluded that all the purchase papers and documents related to parliament's new cars will be presented to the budget committee, which is in charge of overseeing parliament's budget.
It stressed that while parliament is committed to observing the state's current austerity measures, it is also keen that the speaker and his two deputies receive the highest level of security.
The statement decried MP El-Sadat's opting to disseminate his accusations on TV channels and websites without contacting parliament's secretariat-general first.
"He should have contacted parliament's secretariat-general first and it was ready to give all the facts and documents necessary about this case," said the statement.
Anwar El-Sadat, nephew of late president Anwar El-Sadat and head of the liberal Reform and Development Party, is expected to be investigated by the ethics committee next week. Sadat faces accusations that he had leaked original document of the government-drafted NGOs law to a number of foreign embassies in Cairo without getting parliament's prior approval.
Sadat was dismissed as head of parliament's human rights committee last September after some MPs had accused him of using his position to serve a Western liberal agenda.
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |
Trump staffer Stephen Miller, an arch-conservative, defended Trumps Muslim ban on television Monday by pointing to Europe, where he alleged there were Muslim ghettos that bred radicalism over generations.
While a tiny number of Muslim Europeans deriving from poor neighborhoods have become radicals, they dont actually appear to come from fundamentalist families and several were actually petty criminals with anything but a puritan style of life before they went radical. In most years in the past decade, Muslim terrorist actions have been like 1% of the European total (2015 obviously was an exception). It is estimated that only 2/5s of French Muslims even consider themselves religious.
Miller lives in a world without facts. He doesnt know what he is talking about when it comes to European Muslims and has simply bought a lot of propaganda.
Some of us remember when Stephen Emerson, the self-appointed expert on Muslim extremism and darling of American media who is always wrong about everything, alleged that
In Britain, its not just no-go zones, there are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply dont go in. And, parts of London, there are actually Muslim religious police that actually beat and actually wound seriously anyone who doesnt dress according to religious Muslim attire.
To say the least, these allegations were untrue. Then British PM David Cameron sputtered, he must be a complete idiot.
Although the entire British nation and most of Twitter made unbearable fun of Emerson for his ridiculous fantasy, in Stephen Millers mind Emerson was perfectly correct. And he and alt-Neo-Nazi Stephen Bannon are now writing legislation on the basis of these Islamophobic fairy tales.
Just how detached from reality these troglodytes are is demonstrated by their reaction to the horrifying Quebec mosque shooting, which was allegedly committed by Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, a far-right young admirer of French extreme nationalist Marine LePen, and of one Donald J. Trump. Like Americas Dylann Roof, he was seduced by the Islamophobic Network that spends millions of dollars a year defaming Muslims. He spoke of being invaded by immigrants and of the danger of Canada becoming like Europe (no doubt he was afraid of those Birmingham no go zones). He also denounced feminism. His college friends called him an introverted nerd.
Trump spokesman Sean Spicer actually cited the mosque shooting as though it had been carried out by a Muslim Canadian and gave it as a reason for which Trumps Muslim ban had been justified!
Surely if the mosque shooting indicated anything, it is that Trump has no business being president, if he is going to whip up ethnic and religious hatreds even beyond the US borders that result in innocent people being killed.
Spicer was likely misled by the shameful Fox coverage of the mosque shooting, which continued to identify as the suspect a Muslim witness to the shooting who had mistakenly been arrested by Quebec City police in the early confusion, and kept this fake news going for many hours after it had been falsified. Glenn Greenwald pointed this out:
This inflammatory, false tweet is now 7 hours old. It's been known for 5 1/2 hours to be false, during which time it's been RT'd repeatedly: https://t.co/wuswAkhCJa Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 31, 2017
By now, I have little doubt that most Trump supporters firmly believe that the Quebec mosque was shot up by a radical Muslim from Birminghams no-go districts and that is why Great Leader has to protect us from damn furriners.
And I no longer have much hope that these false ideas can be challenged by mere evidence and rational argument. We have fallen down the rabbit hole, were on the other side of the looking glass, and the Orange Queen insists we must believe six impossible things before breakfast. And the Orange Queen is shouting, Off with his head!
Only it is our heads.
Related video added:
CBC News: Aftermath of Quebec mosque shooting: CBC News special
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TeleSur |
In a letter from the CEO, Starbucks told employees it would do everything possible to support affected workers.
Starbucks Corp Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz said on Sunday that the company planned to hire 10,000 refugees over five years in 75 countries, two days after U.S. President Donald Trumps executive order banning refugees from certain countries.
Trump on Friday put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travellers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries.
The order sparked widespread international criticism, outrage from civil rights activists and legal challenges.
The hiring efforts announced on Sunday would start in the United States by initially focussing on individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where the military has asked for such support, Schultz said.
Schultz has put Starbucks in the national spotlight, asking customers not to bring guns into stores and urging conversations on race relations.
Schultz said on Sunday that if the Affordable Care Act is repealed and employees lose healthcare coverage, they would be able to return to health insurance through Starbucks.
Schultz will step down as CEO in a few months to focus on new high-end coffee shops, handing the top job to Chief Operating Officer Kevin Johnson, a long-time technology executive.
Via TeleSur
[JURIST] Austrias ruling coalition announced [press release, in German] Monday a plan [text, PDF, in German] to ban full-face coverings in public places, with a focus on Islamic veils. The proposal is part of a set of reforms created [BBC report] after extensive negotiations by the Social Democrats and Peoples party [party websites, in German]. The ban is based on the Austrian commitment to an open society, where open communication is required. The text of the plan implies that full face veils, such as the niqab and burqa, would run counter that commitment. In an interview [transcript, in German], the Vice-Chancellor suggests that the ban will mostly affect tourists, although police officers will also be prohibited from wearing head scarves.
Full-coverage veils have been the recent subject of legislation and adjudication in Europe. In December German Chancellor Angela Merkel on endorsed [JURIST report] a partial ban on burqas and niqabs, saying that the full facial veil is inappropriate and should be banned wherever is legally possible. Also in December the Netherlands legislature voted in favor [JURIST report] of a partial burka ban. However, in July the EUs highest court ruled in favor [JURIST report] of a French woman who was fired for wearing a head scarf.
A Bosnian Serb woman was indicted [press release, in Bosnian] Monday for taking part in the killing of 37 Muslim Bosniak prisoners of war during the 1992-95 war [BBC profile]. Visnja Acimovic is accused [Reuters report] of war crimes and acting against international humanitarian law by violating provisions of the Geneva Conventions [LII materials]. The prosecution claims Acimovic consciously and willingly took part in the murder of 37 Bosniaks in the eastern town of Vlasenica in June 1992. Reports state that the victims were brought by bus from the Vlasenica prison to a location where Acimovic shot them at close range. The bodies were unearthed in 2000.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [JURIST backgrounder] and the Balkan States continue to prosecute those accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity that left more than 100,000 people dead and millions displaced during the Balkan conflict of the 1990s. In October a Croatian prosecutor charged eight ex-Yugoslav military officers [JURIST report], including commander Borislav Djukic, with war crimes perpetrated during the Croatian War of Independence. In July Brazilian authorities arrested a man charged with committing war crimes in 1992 [JURIST report] against the civilian population of former Yugoslavia. The search for wanted criminal Nikola Ceranic began in late June after Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities forwarded an extradition request to the Brazilian Justice Ministry and Supreme Court. In April a French court ruled to extradite Radomir Susnjar [JURIST report], who is suspected of war crimes committed during Balkan conflict of the 1990s, to Sarajevo where he will face charges concerning his involvement.
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit [official website] ruled [order, PDF] Monday that the federal government, which took control of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) [official websites], may withhold certain documents sought in a suit filed by shareholders. The government fought [petition for writ of mandamus, PDF] the disclosure, claiming presidential privilege protected the documents. Writing for a three-judge panel, Judge Kathleen OMalley stated that the shareholders had no particular need for the documents in question.
The effects of the 2008 financial crisis are still reverberating through the legal system [JURIST backgrounder]. Last spring a federal judge unsealed an opinion [JURIST report] from late March ruling that the government did not have grounds to designate the major insurance company, Metlife, as too big to fail, a designation only four firms have received. The Financial Stability Oversight Council [official website] determined in 2014 that financial distress at Metlife could significantly affect the national economy and therefore the company deserves increased federal scrutiny. The judge held, however, that such a designation was unsupported by substantial evidence and disregards the costs that Metlife will inevitably suffer. In February of last year Morgan Stanley [corporate website] agreed to pay about $3.2 billion to settle charges [settlement agreement, PDF] that it misled investors in residential mortgage-backed securities [JURIST report]. In September the US Department of Justice [official website] unveiled a new policy [text, PDF] for white-collar crimes, which targets individuals accused of crimes instead of the companies [JURIST report].
[JURIST] A Pakistani anti-terrorism court acquitted 112 individuals suspected of taking part in the 2013 burning [NYT report] of 150 Christian homes and two churches in the Lahores Josep Colony. Ghulam Murtaza Chaudhry, the lawyer defending the suspects, stated that the suspects were acquitted [Reuters report] because of a lack of evidence. Chaudhry stated the testimony of the plaintiffs was inconsistent and they could not identify those accused. The suspects were being charged under Pakistans blasphemy law [AI backgrounder], which outlaws blasphemy against any recognized religion and provides penalties that range from a fine to death. At the time the acquittal was handed down, all 112 suspects were out on bail.
Pakistans National Commission for Justice and Peace reported [BBC report] that a total of 21 Hindus, 187 Christians, 494 Ahmedis, and 633 Muslims have been accused under the blasphemy law between 1987 and 2014. The law has led to outburst of violence through out Pakistans history. In 2014 Tashid Rahman, a defense lawyer and human rights activist, was shot and killed [Al Jazeera report] after defending Junaid Hafeez, a university professor who has accused under the blasphemy law by student groups. An investigation [official report, PDF] into the blasphemy law by Pakistans Center for Research and Security Studies [official website] concluded that more than 60 people have been killed extrajudicially in matters connected to the law. The list includes numerous judges, lawyers and politicians who have attempted to have the law amended.
[JURIST] The number of data breaches and files stolen worldwide reached a record high in 2016, according to cyber security firm Risk Based Security [corporate website] Monday. Inga Goddijn [official Twitter], Risk Based Securitys vice president, stated [UPI report] that while the number of data breaches actually remained relatively flat from last year, the big story coming out of 2016 is obviously the massive increase in the number of records exposed. The report [text, PDF] by Risk Based Security revealed that breaches at FriendFinder Networks, Myspace and Yahoo accounted for more than 2.2 billion records compromised and that Yahoo alone reported 500,000 records breached in one incident and more than a billion in another. The US and Britain represented more than half of all data breach cases reported last year. Less than 20 percent of breaches were the result of insider activity, and hacking continued to dominate as the leading breach type. Stolen laptops, which were once a primary cause of data compromise, accounted for only 1.6 percent of breaches.
A data breach is the intentional or unintentional release of secure or confidential information to an untrusted environment. Breaches can be associated with organized crime or political activism. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act [text] was enacted in 1986 to protect against federal computer hacking. Possible hackings have caused serious concern in recent years.
Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of 10 US Senators introduced legislation [JURIST report] aimed at implementing mandatory sanctions against Russia for its involvement in cyber hacking during the 2016 presidential election. Last month, the Manhattan US Attorney announced [JURIST report] charges against three foreign nationals for insider trading, wire fraud, intentional damage, unlawful access, and related conspiracy acts.
The European Court of Justice [official website] ruled [judgment] Tuesday that those seeking asylum in the EU may be denied if they have any ties to terrorism. The case was in regards to Mostafa Lounani, a Moroccan national. Lounani was convicted in 2006 of preparing forged documents in an attempt to transport radicalized volunteers to Iraq. In 2010 Lounani applied in Belgium for refugee status, fearing what retribution might come from the Moroccan government due to him being labeled a radical terrorist. This petition was initially denied, then granted, but finally rejected by the High Court. The court backed its judgment by citing [press release] the UN Security Councils [official website] concern over the growing threat of international terrorism.
Countries around the world have struggled recently to balance national security interests with rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Last week US President Donald Trump signed a controversial executive order suspending immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations, sparking legal challenges and mass protests. Also last week Slovenia passed amendments to enact emergency measures to deny refugees [JURIST report] entry into the country and to expel those who did not have their asylum claims properly assessed. Earlier this month Human Rights Watch reported that Croatia is forcing asylum seekers [JURIST report] back to Serbia, contrary to EU policy.
[JURIST] Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, on Monday urged [press release] US President Donald Trump [official website] not to reinstate torture policies. Melzer referenced the 2014 US Senate Intelligence Committee Report [text, PDF], which stated that the Central Intelligence Agencys (CIA) [official website] use of enhanced interrogation techniques was not an effective means of acquiring intelligence and rested on inaccurate claims of their effectiveness. Melzer criticized Trumps pledge to reinstate torture by claiming that waterboarding is a form of torture, that the use of torture is not legally or morally acceptable, and that the use of torture is prohibited by the Convention against Torture, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [texts] and the Geneva Conventions [ICRC backgrounder]. Melzer concluded:
If the new Administration were to revive the use of torture, however, the consequences around the world would be catastrophic. Should Mr. Trump follow through on all of his pledges, more countries are likely to follow his lead and get back into the torture businessan ultimate disgrace for all of humanity.
Many of Trumps pledges and early actions have been met with international and domestic resistance. On Friday Trump issued an executive order restricting access to the US for refugees and visa holders from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The order further suspended admission of refugees from any country for 120 days while the administration is reviewing the visa program and limited the number of possible refugees for 2017 to 50,000. Over the weekend, several federal judges blocked [JURIST report] parts of the executive order. On Tuesday, Trump signed presidential memoranda to progress construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline [memoranda]. This decision has raised significant controversy [Reuters report], given former president Barack Obamas stance against the pipelines, the fact that Trump owned stock in ETP, the company building the Dakota Access Pipeline, until at least mid-2016 and because its chief executive donated $100,000 to his campaign. Last Monday Trump reinstated [press release] a Reagan-era policy known as the Mexico City Policy [USAID statement] that prevents foreign non-governmental organizations from receiving US funding if they provide abortions or promote policies that may lead to abortions. The policy has since received criticism from pro-choice groups.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations [advocacy website] filed a lawsuit [complaint, PDF] in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia [official website] Monday challenging the constitutionality of the Trump administrations executive order [text] restricting immigration from several Muslim-majority nations. The order specifically blocks immigrants from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Citing the vulgar animosity of the order, the suit alleges the measure suffers from constitutional infirmity because it effectively bans a subset of Muslims from entering the nation and so violates the Fifth Amendment. The plaintiffs, composed of attorneys and activists, request a speedy hearing to grant an injunction preventing the administration carrying out the discriminatory portions of the order.
Trumps decision to ban many individuals from the countries specified remains controversial. The Eastern Division of Virginia issued an order [text, PDF] on Saturday stating that all legal permanent residents detained under the order had the right to a lawyer and that they could not be removed from the US for the next seven days. After acting US Attorney General Sally Yates instructed the Department of Justice not to defend the order, President Donald Trump fired her [NYT report] Monday night.
Egypt and Sudan have agreed to work together to kick-start a new phase of bilateral relations, a joint statement by the leaders of both countries said on Tuesday amid reports of growing tension between the two neighbours over Khartoum's hosting of members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group.
The announcement was made shortly after Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with his Sudanese counterpart Omar Al-Bashir in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa during the 28th General Assembly of the African Union.
The meeting came against the backdrop of reports of growing tensions over Sudan's hosting of members of the Muslim Brotherhood and allowing Khartoum-based leaders of the group to recently hold internal elections of its advisory council.
El-Sisi and Al-Bashir agreed "to work to launch a new phase of brotherly relations between the two countries to bolster stability and achieve development and prosperity for both countries," the joint statement said, according to Egypt's state news agency MENA.
The two leaders said they would work towards bolstering economic cooperation as well as political and security ties.
They reaffirmed the "unified objectives associated with the national security of both countries and joining hands to confront all challenges in the Arab, African and the Middle East region," the statement added.
Tuesday's meeting is part of the efforts by both sides to maintain communication and coordination at all regional and international events, the statement said.
Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour said earlier on Tuesday that both sides have intensified meetings over the past period to look at means of boosting bilateral ties.
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Egypt army's chief of staff Mahmoud Hegazi left for the UK on Tuesday for talks with British army leaders on bolstering Egyptian-British military cooperation, according to a statement by the Egyptian Armed Forces.
Army spokesman Tamer El-Refai said that Hegazi will meet with British officials to talk about coordinating efforts to face challenges facing the security and stability of the MENA region, as well as broader aspects of military cooperation between the two countries.
Hegazi last visited the UK in September 2015.
In October, Egypt and the United Kingdom concluded a joint naval exercise in Alexandria as part of the two countries wider defence partnership.
The exercise came following a September visit by UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, during which the two countries decided to pursue deeper military cooperation.
The UK has stressed multiple times that it is "committed to supporting a more secure, prosperous and democratic Egypt," affirming its commitment to working with Egypt in tackling "shared challenges" such as terrorism.
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An Iraqi lawmaker who has campaigned prominently for fellow Yazidi women enslaved by the Islamic State group said Tuesday that new US travel restrictions may prevent her from accepting a human rights award.
Vian Dakhil had been due to travel to Washington to receive the Lantos Human Rights Prize next week for her work highlighting the plight of Yazidi women turned into sex slaves by the jihadists after their homes were overrun in 2014.
But Friday's executive order by President Donald Trump barring nationals of Iraq and six other Muslim countries from entry to the United States has thrown those plans into question.
"It is not clear yet if I will travel or not," Dakhil told AFP. Trump said that the entry ban, which will apply for at least 90 days, will help make America safe from "radical Islamic terrorists".
But Dakhil is a Yazidi, a member of a non-Muslim minority that has been subjected to a campaign of killings, kidnappings, enslavement and rape by the Sunni Muslim extremists of IS. "The decision came as a surprise," Dakhil said.
She said the Iraqi embassy and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, which is awarding the prize, were working to secure an exemption to the travel ban. The fact that she is a member of the Iraqi parliament may help her case.
The Lantos Foundation was critical of the blanket nature of the closed door policy adopted by Trump.
"Dakhil's case is a startling example of how the executive order signed by President Trump is having unintended consequences and ensnaring not only those who have no links to terrorism but also those who have risked their lives to fight terrorism in cooperation with the United States," it said.
The foundation said the award was acknowledgement of Dakhil's "courageous defence of the Yazidi people as they faced mass genocide two years ago at the hands of the Islamic State and for her ongoing rescue mission on behalf of enslaved Yazidi women."
The foundation is named after the late US Congressman Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who was a lifelong champion of human rights.
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Morocco's King Mohammed VI took a seat at the African Union headquarters Tuesday for the first time in 33 years after being re-admitted by the bloc.
The monarch attended the closing ceremony of the summit where he was expected to deliver a speech a day after 39 of the AU's 54 member states agreed to allow Morocco back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from some over the status of Western Sahara.
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Iran on Tuesday warned the United States against fuelling tensions over its ballistic missile tests as the UN Security Council prepared for urgent talks on the issue at Washington's request.
The row comes against a backdrop of already-strained relations over US President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens from Iran and six other Muslim-majority countries.
The European Union, which helped broker a landmark nuclear deal between major powers and Iran, appealed to Tehran to refrain from activities such as the missile tests "which deepen mistrust".
But the diplomatic push by the West quickly ran into trouble as Russia said a missile test would not breach a UN resolution on Iran's nuclear programme.
Moscow, which is fighting alongside Tehran's forces in Syria, said the demand for emergency talks at the Security Council was aimed at "heating up the situation".
Diplomats said the Security Council talks on Iran would be held on Tuesday after a meeting on Syria.
Trump has sharply criticised the nuclear deal that led to a lifting of international sanctions against Iran, which used the occasion of a visit by France's foreign minister to express its discontent with Washington.
"We hope that Iran's defence programme is not used by the new US administration... as a pretext to create new tensions," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at a news conference with Jean-Marc Ayrault.
Tehran has neither confirmed nor denied firing any missiles at the weekend.
Iran says its missiles do not breach United Nations resolutions because they are for defence purposes and not designed to carry nuclear warheads.
"We have always declared that we will never use our weapons against others except in our defence," Zarif added.
And he slammed the new US administration's "shameful act of denying entry to people holding legal visas" for the United States.
Speaking at the same news conference, Ayrault said France had made clear its disquiet over the missile tests.
"France has expressed its concern at Iran's continuation of its ballistic missile tests on several occasions," he said.
He said the continued tests are "contrary to the spirit" of the Security Council resolution on the nuclear deal struck in 2015 in the Austrian capital, and "hamper the process of restoring the confidence established by the Vienna agreement."
Washington called for the emergency UN meeting after a request by Israel which said the missile test violated UN resolutions that bar Iran from launching ballistic missiles that could have a nuclear capability.
"The international community must not bury its head in the sand in the face of this Iranian aggression," said Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon.
"The Security Council members must act immediately in response to these Iranian actions which endanger not only Israel, but the entire Middle East."
But Russia indicated it had little appetite for any move to censure Iran at the Security Council over the reported missile test.
"Such actions, if they took place, do not breach the resolution," Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax news agency.
Ryabkov said that Moscow, which co-signed the nuclear deal, had not confirmed the missile test took place.
UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which includes terms of the nuclear accord, was adopted in July 2015.
It states that Iran "is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology."
Iran has said its missiles would never carry a nuclear warhead as it has no plans to develop atomic weapons.
The White House said Monday it was aware Iran had recently carried out a missile test, but refrained from offering details or criticism.
In Brussels, an EU foreign affairs spokeswoman said the bloc "reiterates its concern about Iran's missile programme and calls upon Iran to refrain from activities which deepen mistrust, such as ballistic missile tests".
She said that since Iran's ballistic missile programme was not included in the nuclear accord, "the tests are not a violation".
But it was up to the Security Council to determine if the latest test was a breach of UN resolutions on Iran's missile programme, she added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the launching of a ballistic missile constitutes a "flagrant violation" of UN rules.
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Yemeni security forces killed an Al-Qaeda leader in the province of Lahj during a raid on Tuesday, police said.
Ammar Qaid, known as Al-Qaeda's "emir" in Lahj, was killed in an exchange of fire with "counter-terrorism" forces after refusing to surrender, said provincial police chief Saleh Sayed.
The raid in the provincial capital Huta was carried out as part of a vast operation backed by an Arab military coalition against the Islamist militants in Aden, Abyan and Lahj, in southwestern Yemen.
They are three of five provinces under the control of government forces at war with Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels.
In southern Hadramawt, meanwhile, suspected Al-Qaeda militants shot dead policeman Ali al-Bekri on Monday night in the town of Qotn before fleeing, a security source told AFP.
In the north of the country, heavy clashes on Monday killed 21 loyalist soldiers and seven rebels in Midi and Haradh, military sources said.
The pro-government forces had come under fire in a minefield as they advanced, said one source.
Yemen's long-running conflict escalated in March 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition began bombing raids against the Huthis who had stormed the capital and taken swathes of central and northern territory.
Around 7,400 people have died in air strikes and clashes since then, the UN says, and aid agencies have warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in the Arab world's poorest nation.
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Turkey arrested two MPs from the main pro-Kurdish party on Tuesday, including its chief spokesman, the latest move in a crackdown on the group ahead of a vote on changing the constitution.
Ayhan Bilgen -- spokesman for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and an MP representing the eastern province of Kars -- was remanded in custody ahead of trial after he was detained by police at an Ankara airport on Sunday and taken to the Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir in the southeast.
The state-run Anadolu news agency reported that he was arrested on charges of "membership in an armed terror organisation."
Another prominent HDP lawmaker, its legal expert Meral Danis Bestas, was also placed under arrest after being detained at her home in Diyarbakir.
But the party said Bilgen's arrest was meant to prevent the HDP from campaigning against constitutional changes that would dramatically expand President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers in a referendum set for April.
"The arrest of our party spokesman Ayhan Bilgen is to block our referendum work but you cannot turn down the volume of 'NO,'" the HDP wrote on its Twitter account.
The arrests raised the number of HDP MPs behind bars on terror charges to 12, including the party's co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag. The party holds 59 of the 550 seats in parliament.
Bilgen had become the public face of the party in the absence of the co-leaders.
Turkish prosecutors are demanding up to 142 years in prison for Demirtas on charges of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.
Demirtas and other MPs have denied any links to the PKK, listed as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies, and denounced the case as political.
In another move, police detained a member of the secular opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Sera Kadigil, on accusations of "insulting the president", "publicly denigrating religious values and inciting hatred" through a series of social media posts.
These included a post questioning slogans like "martyrs never die", which have been much repeated as the army presses offensives against Kurdish militants and jihadists.
Kadigil, a lawyer and a member of the party's assembly, was held by the police after her client's hearing at an Istanbul courthouse, Anadolu reported.
CHP lawmaker Baris Yarkadas, who appeared at the Istanbul courthouse in support of Kadigil, argued that the detention was timed to coincide with the referendum campaign, saying the tweets in question dated to 2015.
"How interesting it is that Kadigil's tweets -- ignored since 2015 -- were all of a sudden taken out of the archives and began to be discussed as the date for referendum draws closer," he said.
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Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's decision to ban Iraqis from travelling to the United States punishes those who are "fighting terrorism".
Trump signed an executive order barring citizens of Iraq and six other Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for at least 90 days, a move he billed as an effort to make America safe from "radical Islamic terrorists".
The travel restrictions, which come on the heels of repeated assertions by Trump that the US should have stolen Iraq's oil before leaving in 2011, risk alienating the citizens and government of a country fighting against militants the president has cast as a major threat to America.
"You come to the victim to hold him accountable, to the people who are sacrificing, who are fighting terrorism, to punish them," Abadi said, in his first reaction to the ban.
"We do not now want to do anything now... but we are studying all our choices."
The Iraqi foreign ministry has already called on Washington to review the travel restrictions, which it said were the "wrong decision".
And parliament voted to back reciprocal measures against the US if Washington does not change course -- a move that does not implement restrictions but which does reflect the widespread displeasure with Trump's ban.
The dispute over the travel ban comes amid a massive Iraqi operation to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State (IS) militant group -- a battle for which a US-led coalition is providing air support and other assistance.
Even if Iraq did implement travel restrictions on Americans, it does not seem likely that they would be applied to coalition forces.
But US senators John McCain and Lindsay Graham said the ban could impact military cooperation and security in other ways.
"This executive order bans Iraqi pilots from coming to military bases in Arizona," where they have received training, they said in a joint statement that drew condemnation from Trump.
"Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism," they said.
The travel restrictions have upended the lives of Iraqis who were planning to move to the US -- some of whom have waited for years to obtain visas.
Fuad Sharif and his wife quit their jobs, sold their belongings and left for the US with their three children, but were prevented from boarding their flight in Cairo despite having valid visas.
Now they are back in Iraq, staying at his brother-in-law's empty home and living off savings, Sharif said.
"I am relying on the money I have to live... now I am without work and my wife is without work and the children are without schools," he said.
The measures do not only affect those seeking to move to the US -- they also bar people from visiting.
Vian Dakhil, An Iraqi lawmaker who has campaigned prominently for fellow Yazidi women enslaved by IS, said the restrictions may prevent her from travelling to the US to accept the Lantos Human Rights Prize next week.
The Lantos Foundation said Dakhil's situation highlights the flaws in Trump's decision.
It "is a startling example of how the executive order signed by President Trump is having unintended consequences and ensnaring not only those who have no links to terrorism but also those who have risked their lives to fight terrorism in cooperation with the United States," the foundation said.
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An Israeli military prosecutor on Tuesday sought a prison sentence of three to five years for an Israeli soldier who shot dead a wounded Palestinian in the occupied territories as he lay on the ground.
"We believe the appropriate sentence for the accused should not be less than three years and not more than five years," military prosecutor Nadav Weisman said during a court hearing in Tel Aviv.
Elor Azaria, 20, was convicted of manslaughter in a military court on January 4 for the killing of Abdul Fatah al-Sharif in March 2016.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online
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ARAPAHOE Iris Florence Laura Upward, 90, of Arapahoe died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, at Good Samaritan Society Care Home in Arapahoe.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Arapahoe with the Rev. Karen Watson officiating. The casket will be closed at the church. Burial will be at Arapahoe Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Wenburg Funeral Chapel in Arapahoe with the family present from 4-6 p.m.
She was born on Oct. 15, 1926, to William A. and Evelyn (Crouch) Fudge in Leicester, England.
She received her education at Norborough Girls School in Leicester. With the advent of World War II in Europe, the United States deployed airmen to England. This is how Iris met Wayne Upward, who was serving in the U.S. Army Air Force 30 miles away from Leicester. Iris and Wayne were married on July 1, 1944, at the Church of the Martyrs in Leicester. They were married for 57 years.
Iriss first glimpse of America occurred when she arrived in New York Harbor with many other war brides who came to make their homes in a new country. Wayne, who had returned to the United States with his unit, drove to New York to meet his bride. They traveled to Arapahoe where they made their lifelong home. To this union were born three children, Elizabeth, Robert and John.
Iris enjoyed life in Arapahoe and was active in Music Club, Bridge Club and numerous other activities. In McCook, on Jan. 29, 1951, Iris stood proudly to pledge her allegiance to her new country as she became a citizen of the United States of America.
In 1973, Iris became the deputy county treasurer of Furnas County until her retirement in 1985.
During her retirement years, she began making and hand quilting quilts, a hobby that would bring joy to her and others for many years. She was a member of Friendship Quilters Club where she enjoyed friendships with others who shared her passion for quilting.
When she could no longer quilt due to macular degeneration, she began walking every day to fill some of her time. She was a presence in the neighborhood where she stopped to pass the time with one person or another as she enjoyed her stroll. She was also a regular at the Senior Center for lunch and loved the companionship it provided.
Iris was a devoted member of St. Pauls Episcopal Church where she was a member of the Guild and taught Wednesday School each week for many years. Iris was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Wayne; her parents; parents-in-law; a sister-in-law; and a brother-in-law.
Those left to mourn her passing include her children and their spouses, Elizabeth and David Hendricks of Arapahoe, Robert and Stormie Upward of La Grande, Ore., and John and Pam Upward of Fort Worth, Texas; eight grandchildren, Timothy, Jonathan and Stephen Hendricks, Matt and Jeff Upward, Tiffany Rollins and Christopher and Noah Upward; 17 great-grandchildren plus No. 18 on the way; her beloved sister, Pansy Medcalf of Leicester; two sisters-in-law, Wyoma Andrews and Maureen Newman; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorials are suggested to St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Arapahoe; or Hospice-Rural Med Home Care Resources, P.O. Box 470, 211 W. 14th Ave., Holdrege, NE 68949.
Visit wenburgfuneralhome.com to leave condolences or personal reflections.
with Carly Ann Filbin and Bobby Hankinson Checking out penises; the origin of snowflake; Uber makes good re: Muslim ban; Starbucks to give 10,000 refugees jobs; Chuck Schumer vs. Donald Trump; a tax on Mexican products; private bathtub shows; divorce lawyer hypnotizes women for sex
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The invitation to US President Donald Trump for a state visit to Britain has put Queen Elizabeth II in "a very difficult position"
Peter Ricketts, who was a former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, said on Tuesday that the United Kingdon's invitation to US newly elect US President Donald Trump should be downgraded to an official visit to spare the queen any embarrassment.
More than 1.6 million people have signed a petition to cancel the state visit and thousands took to the streets in protest following Trump's decision to ban refugees and citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries.
Ricketts, a House of Lords member who also served as national security adviser to former prime minister David Cameron and as ambassador to France, called the invitation "premature" in a letter to The Times newspaper.
"It would have been far wiser to wait to see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the queen to invite him. Now the queen is put in a very difficult position," he said.
State visits involve Queen Elizabeth II, who is the head of state, and are seen as the highest expression of friendly ties between two countries. Official or working visits are less ceremonial and usually do not include royal engagements.
May announced the state visit during a meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday which was intended to boost trade ties after Britain leaves the EU. "There is no precedent for a US president paying a state visit to this country in their first year," Ricketts said. "The government needs to move fast to protect Her Majesty from the growing controversy."
The Times quoted sources close to Buckingham Palace saying that the state visit was going ahead on May's recommendation, after a Downing Street spokesman appeared to shift the blame away from her entourage.
One source said that royal officials "don't want the queen being dragged into something political".
But former foreign minister William Hague, writing in the Daily Telegraph, played down the concerns.
"A queen who has been asked over the decades to host tyrants such as Presidents Mobuto of Zaire and Ceausescu of Romania is going to take a brash billionaire from New York effortlessly in her stride," he wrote.
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Minister of Justice and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould answers a question during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Monday, Jan.30, 2017. Wilson-Raybould says the Liberal government is determined to bring forward legislation to legalize and regulate the recreational use of pot this spring, despite the fact it is working overtime to manage many unknowns associated with U.S. President Donald Trump.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
FILE - In this April 4, 2016 file photo, General Electric Co., CEO Jeff Immelt speaks during a news conference in Boston. The heads of Apple, Ford and Goldman Sachs said that they don't support the executive order that President Donald Trump signed last week, which bans immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. Google said it is donating cash to organizations that support immigrants. Immelt said the industrial conglomerate would make its Auvoice heardAu with the new administration and Congress. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Small business leaders applaud President Donald Trump after he signed an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. Trump order is aimed at significantly cutting regulations. White House officials are calling the directive a "one in, two out" plan. It requires government agencies requesting a new regulations to identify two regulations they will cut from their own departments. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Reacting to this before and after photo above that went viral last night, OAP Freeze who is always against Pastor E.A Adeboye and RCCG, had this to say:
Redeemed was busy setting up churches on every street, yet they missed this boy.. I bet with you, that there was a Redeemed church within walking distance from this starving child, branded a witch by the same doltish belief system that extorts your first salary every January, having you willingly give your hard earned money in a recession, to a church where the G.O has a private jet and leads a life of sheer opulence!
The Nigerian Pentecostal church brands people wearing tattoos as bad and unchristian whereas this woman with all her tattoos is more Christ like than all your Daddy GOs can ever be. What she is doing is all Jesus requires of us, Jesus NEVER COLLECTED TITHE or first fruit and his disciples didnt collect it either!
As a matter of fact, no Christian church collected tithe for 600 years after Christ died and resurrected.
History claims that Mungo Park discovered the Niger and we wonder what were the Nigerians living around the Niger doing, that it had to take a foreigner to discover a river we were bathing in and washing from? My answer was simple The same thing we were doing when hope was found ~FRZ
P.S. Anyone that demands your entire January salary from you, in this recession, is a thief! Anyone who gives it is a fool!
#FreeTheSheeple
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The little boy was rescued after he was abandoned by his family in Akwa Ibom due to witchcraft saga.
A Japanese mission from Waseda University discovered a private tomb in the Theban necropolis in Luxor, Mahmoud Afifi, the head of the antiquities ministry's Ancient Egypt Department, said on Tuesday.
Afifi says that the tomb, located at the El-Khokha area on the west bank of the Nile, is beautifully decorated and likely dates to the Ramesside period, based on its style. Early inspection of the tomb suggests that it belonged to a royal scribe named Khonsu .
Jiro Kondo, the head of the Japanese mission, told Ahram Online that the tomb was discovered while excavators were cleaning the area to the east of the forecourt of the tomb of Userhat, a high official under king Amenhotep III.
He added that the team aslso stumbled upon a hole hewn connected to the south wall of the transverse hall of the previously unknown tomb of Khonsu.
The tomb is built on a T-shape on an east-west axis, with the main entrance, currently covered in debris, facing the east.
The tomb measures approximately 4.6m in length from the entrance to the rear wall of the inner chamber, while the transverse hall measures approximately 5.5 m in width.
Photo: Courtesy of Waseda University
Kondo explains that on the north wall of the entrance doorway, a scene shows the solar boat of the god Ra-Atum being worshipped by four baboons in a pose of adoration.
On the adjacent wall, hieroglyphic texts are inscribed vertically describing Khonsu as a true renowned scribe.
On the southern part of the eastern wall in the transverse hall, Khonsu and his wife worship the gods Osiris and Isis in a kiosk, behind which is a depiction of the two ram-headed deity, likely Khnum or Khnum-Re.
On the upper register of the northern part of the tomb, there are carved seated figures of Osiris and Isis, though the upper parts of their bodies are broken.
On the lower register, a portion of the paintings shows the followers of the tomb owners.
"Regretfully, most of the wall paintings on the western wall of the transverse hall are no longer there," says Kondo.
Hani Abul Azm, the head of the Central Administration for Upper Egyptian Antiquities, says that the wall where the hole hewn is found hold vertical inscriptions at the top.
The name and title of tomb's owner are identified. The frieze pattern near the ceiling shows a typical khekher-frize of the Ramesside period.
The ceiling decorations are better preserved than the wall paintings, while more images may be discovered in the inner chamber once the debris is cleared.
Photo: Courtesy of Waseda University
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Pain is usually considered a symptom, not a life-threatening medical problem.
But for Army veteran Richard Dejarnette, 52, constant excruciating pain in his right leg made his life intolerable, and he believes he wouldnt be alive today if a physician anesthesiologist at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center hadnt been there to help him.
On December 14, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the wise decision to keep physician anesthesiologists at the head of the anesthesia care team at VA hospitals nationwide, ensuring that veterans like Mr. Dejarnette will continue to receive first-class anesthesia care. While the VAs new Advanced Practice Registered Nurses rule will allow nurse practitioners and midwives to practice independently, anesthesia and pain management are considered so complex and high-risk that physician oversight is crucial to safe patient care.
Mr. Dejarnette was stationed in Germany in 1986 when he dislocated his right knee during a routine morning run with his battalion. He had no idea then that the injury would spiral into an 18-year battle with a debilitating condition known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
CRPS, while rare, is usually the aftermath of an injury or an operation on an arm or leg. Abnormal hyperactivity of the nerves leads to severe, unrelenting pain. In the worst cases, the limb becomes swollen, stiff, and so painful that it can no longer function. Opioids drugs such as morphine or oxycodone can ease the pain, but they dont treat the cause, and their chronic use can lead to addiction, overdose, and death.
I first met Mr. Dejarnette when I was a medical student, and I was shocked at the sight of his right leg purplish, ulcerated, cold, and useless. He was sitting in a wheelchair, unable to care for himself and suffering intense pain at the slightest touch to his leg. He needed anesthesia just to allow the leg to be cleaned. He had consulted many physicians, but none had been able to help him, and he had already made two suicide attempts. He was considering a move to Oregon where he could have access to legal assisted suicide.
I was surviving, but I wasnt living, Mr. Dejarnette recalled. I had mentally dissociated the limb from my body years ago. It just hung there like dead weight.
Complex pain syndromes can be notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. This is why pain medicine is a specialty in its own right. Harkirat Chahal, MD, the physician anesthesiologist who led Mr. Dejarnettes treatment, had completed medical school, four years of residency training in the specialty of anesthesiology, and further fellowship training to become board-certified in pain medicine.
Mr. Dejarnette had begged in the past for doctors to amputate his leg, believing that to be the only way to alleviate his pain for good. But amputation carries its own risks in the setting of CRPS, which may develop in other limbs. Amputation also may result in phantom limb pain, where the perception of pain persists even though the limb itself is gone.
The condition of Mr. Dejarnettes leg had deteriorated to the point that gangrene and life-threatening infection were real risks. Amputation was the only solution. But would it solve his pain problem, or would he be left as badly off as before?
Dr. Chahals team at the VA hospital developed a novel treatment plan. A peripheral nerve catheter was inserted into Mr. Dejarnettes thigh during the surgery, infusing a continuous solution of local anesthetic (numbing medicine) to block nerve conduction to and from the leg. They continued the infusion for four weeks, to make sure that phantom limb pain didnt develop after the amputation.
Now, two years later, Mr. Dejarnette says, Im so active that my family cant even keep track of me! With a new prosthetic limb, he is independent and completely free of pain without any medications. He can go to the gym, walk his dog, drive a car, and enjoy life in ways he never thought he would experience again.
Though his case was extreme, Mr. Dejarnette isnt alone in his experience of prolonged suffering. Increasing numbers of veterans today are returning from service with debilitating, painful injuries. Physician anesthesiologists fulfill a critical role in the operating room, and those with expertise in pain medicine also help veterans heal and overcome chronic pain. After their selfless service, our veterans deserve the highest quality of care from the best pain experts available.
The recent VA rule protecting physician-led anesthesia care comes as a relief to veterans like Mr. Dejarnette. Veterans, concerned citizens, and physicians sent over 100,000 letters and emails to the VA opposing any change to the current practice where physician anesthesiologists lead the anesthesia care teams at VA hospitals. We hope that the VA will hold fast to this decision and withstand any pressure to reverse it.
After suffering for so many years, Mr. Dejarnette walked his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day a dream come true for him and his family, thanks to his physicians innovative and successful pain management. All our injured veterans deserve no less.
Ajit Rai is an anesthesiology resident.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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The problem with health care and drug prices in America isnt that we spend too much money. The real problem is that we believe we are spending other peoples money.
Yes, I was raised in Sweden, but no, Im not a Socialist. The irony is that free health care there is more clearly understood to be directly financed by local(!) taxes that can go up if people in that region consume more health care. Here, nobody knows what anything health care related costs, or who pays how much, so how can we care about the cost of health care?
Here, most health insurance is financed by employers, and I dont believe the average American worker is lying awake at night worrying that his familys medical bills will eat into the corporate profits of his employer. Even if American workers bear some of the costs of their health insurance the relationship between how much health care they consume and how much their portion of the insurance premium will go up is less than obvious. And this depends on who else is insured in the same risk pool as each particular workers employer-sponsored insurance.
The Swedes have in spite of their minimal churchgoing a set of ethics that relates their personal choices to the impact they have on society as a whole. They recycle batteries instead of throwing them away. They worry about air pollution so much that it is illegal to idle your car for more than 60 seconds. My former countrymen also care deeply about how waste in the health care system can affect the availability of health care for vulnerable people.
Another thing they are more sensitive about than we are over here is corporate greed. The examples on this side of the Atlantic are so many and occur so frequently that we soon forget each case. What we do retain is the regrettable sense that health care is a dirty business where someone is always taking advantage of someone: providers cheat Medicare, insurers cheat patients, drug companies cheat them all.
What we need in this country is a moral wake up call, whether that comes as a crisis or a disruptive innovation. It is obvious that government regulation and oversight has done relatively little to reduce the Wild West behavior and mentality of the big players in our industry.
The first thing we need to do is scrap the concept of health insurance because insurance is when something expensive but unusual and infrequent is paid from a pool of money that a lot more people pay into than withdraw from. In America today, everybody draws from that pool of money, even for things that are completely predictable, like having a baby or even an annual physical (except if you have Medicare, and then you get a Wellness Visit, but thats another story). That means every single transaction of health care in this country becomes a profit center for one or more types of middleman, who most of the time adds little value but draws handsome revenue from what they do.
If we are trying to cover everybody for everything, lets call it what it is: socialized medicine. But are we ready for a society where we all stop and consider the common good before we ask for that MRI, just to know whats going on or where drug prices are negotiated between a single payer like CMS or each State Health Department and the drug companies?
I believe the citizens of my adopted homeland prefer to have more freedom of choice than a Socialist system usually offers, and I believe that by having both the ability to choose and the responsibility to pay for services, we can make the health care value equation come out more even.
And, Im sorry, but if we reign in the excesses of insurers and drug companies, American patients may act more responsibly, but as long as the gauging, fraud and abuse continue to be rampant in the industry there will be no loyalty between patients and the system.
Then, our only hope will be a post-apocalyptic direct primary care model, which is just as American as the corporate model. Come to think of it, maybe even more so.
A Country Doctor is a family physician who blogs at A Country Doctor Writes:.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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I recently consulted a specialist at a major medical center in New York, and a few days later, here came a questionnaire in the mail. How much time did I spend in the waiting area? it asked. How long was I kept waiting in the examining room? How close to my appointment time did the doctor see me?
The one thing it didnt ask was whether I cared.
Theres no mystery about why medical centers pay so much attention to wait times: patients demand it. During the months I underwent cancer treatment, I often overheard fellow patients complaining bitterly that theyd been sitting there for an hour, dammit.
I wonder if theyve thought that through. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, a surgeon I desperately wanted to see gave me an appointment on only two days notice. My medical oncologist spent extra time with me whenever test results required explanation; and when the possibility of a secondary blood cancer arose, a hematologist squeezed me in at 7 a.m. on the next business day.
Each time one of my doctors makes time for me, other patients have to wait. When they make time for other patients, sometimes I have to wait. To me, theres no contest: knowing that my doctors will be there for me when I most need them means far more than having them be prompt. Because, of course, they cant do both. Responding to emergent needs is fundamentally incompatible with maintaining a rigid timetable, and cancer just doesnt schedule well.
I said some of that to a retired colleague whod walked out of his doctors office after waiting half an hour. They shouldnt take so many patients! he protested. Then they wouldnt be so backed up!
It reminded me of times when, as a college professor, I had some students begging to get into a course so they could graduate on time, while others complained that the class size was too large. If my surgeon and medical oncologist had been trying to shorten their wait times by turning patients away, I wouldnt have made the cut myself, since my diagnosis is widely considered inoperable, and I live outside the usual radius for chemotherapy patients.
Theres an old saying, Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it. If patients keep focusing on wait times, presumably our doctors will indeed be pressured into staying on schedule. So they wont squeeze us in on short notice after all, we can always go to the emergency room, to be seen hours later by a doctor we can only hope is familiar with the chemotherapy were taking or the surgery weve had. Doctors wont accept us as new patients, no matter how badly we want to see them, if theyre already reached their limit; nor will they spend extra minutes with us when theres a decision to make or news to absorb.
Perhaps theres no way to turn back the tide of clock-watching and bean-counting that physicians write about every week on KevinMD. If so, were facing a decline in the quality of American health care that no miracle drug or cutting-edge technology can compensate for. No matter how rarely I needed a quick appointment or extra time, simply knowing that my doctors would respond if a problem arose meant that I wasnt out here all alone, adrift in an impersonal medical system.
Now that Im healthy and in remission, Im classified as a patient who can wait for hours, if need be while more urgent cases are seen. I dont mind. Sipping hot tea in a comfy chair in the waiting room, reading a book, Im just grateful that, today, the emergency isnt me.
Joan DelFattore writes about single life, including handling illness without a partner.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Korea's cosmetics industry saw big increases in exports last year mainly thanks to Chinese consumers.
According to the Korea International Trade Association, exports of skincare products and makeup rose some 44 percent from a year earlier to a total of US$3.97 billion. Exports to China accounted for some 36 percent of that.
The growth is remarkable given the global economic slowdown and rising diplomatic tensions with China over Korea's decision to deploy a U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery here.
A government official said, "Chinese people have more disposable income, and Beijing didn't specifically target Korean cosmetic firms in any retaliatory measures."
Shocking figures show that one in two first-time mothers had their babies delivered by Caesarean Section at St Luke's Hospital last October.
The figures for the maternity services at St Luke's Hospital show that they have the highest rate of c-section births in the country.
The rate of Caesarean section among first-time mothers was 50% compared to a rate of 30% at Kerry General Hospital.
In Kilkenny the rate was 39.2% among women who had at least one previous pregnancy. Concerns have been raised in relation to the figures, which were published on the HSE website by Aims Ireland. a voluntary group which promotes normal birth.
112 babies were born at St Luke's Hospital in October and 1333 babies were born there in 2016.
A spokeswoman for AIMS Ireland said the group was 'extremely worried' about the rate of Caesarean Section at the hospital.
We are extremely worried to find that the latest c- birth rate for St Luke's hospital was so high, and differed by as much as 10% from the rates in other Irish Maternity Units.
C-sections carry significant increased risks for mother and baby, and prospective parents should be informed as to what these risks are, said Chair of Aims Ireland, Krysia Lynch.
In 2012 Aims Ireland highlighted a significant disparity in C-Section rates between St Luke's and other Irish maternity units.
We were assured that an inquiry would take place and the results would be published. We are very disappointed and alarmed to see the disparity persist and also the lack of any report outlining the medical rationale behind it."
"The first time mother rate was worrying as a previous c-sections can predispose mothers to repeat c-births. Of equal concern is the high multiparous (women who have had a previous pregnancy) rate. This indicates that mothers with previous c-sections are not being offered a trial of labour."
Aims Ireland believe women should be informed of the many options available to them on subsequent births following a c-section. Options include a repeat c birth, a trial of labour with the aim of a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) or a Home Birth After Caesarean (HBAC). Aims Ireland is organising a free information day on post c-birth options for parents in Trinity College on February 2. For more see www.aimsireland.ie
The figures were obtained from the Maternity Patient Safety Statement.
The recommended Caesarean Section rate as indicated by the World Health Organisation is between 10% and 15%.
Kingstree, SC (29556)
Today
Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..
Tonight
Mainly cloudy. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.
The phone call came late among Asian countries amid the power vacuum here, though embattled President Park Geun-hye congratulated Trump on Nov. 10 after he won the U.S. election. Trump made calls to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week.
In the 30-minute phone call, Trump said the U.S will always be with South Korea "100 percent" and bilateral relations will be "better than ever."
U.S. President Donald Trump and Korea's acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn spoke on the phone for the first time Monday and agreed to strengthen joint defense capabilities to deal with the North Korean nuclear threats.
According to the White House, Trump "reiterated our ironclad commitment to defend" South Korea, "including through the provision of extended deterrence, using the full range of military capabilities." He also pledged close cooperation with South Korea in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
Hwang's office said in a press release Hwang "stressed the need for joint efforts to take stronger action against Pyongyang's military provocations."
Trump also said U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis's upcoming visit to Seoul reflects "the close friendship of the two countries and the importance of their alliance."
Mattis visits Seoul on Feb. 2-3 and meets with Defense Minister Han Min-koo. The two allies' plans include the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery here. Hwang explained Seoul's stance on the THAAD deployment and Trump voiced his active support.
Hwang expressed his hopes that Trump will visit Seoul as soon as possible.
The two leaders refrained from discussing sensitive issues like the share Seoul pays for the upkeep of the U.S. Forces Korea and renegotiation of the bilateral free trade agreement that went into effect in 2012.
A government source here said, "A considerable amount of uncertainty over smooth communication with the U.S. leader appears to have been resolved."
Remember the lost decade for U.S. stocks? From 2000 through 2009, the total return including dividends of Standard & Poors 500-stock index was a negative 9.1%, or an annualized loss of 0.95%.
Today, were about to see another lost decade, reports Jeff DeMaso, research director for the Independent Adviser for Vanguard Investors. But this time its overseas.
Of course, 2009 proved a wonderful year to buy U.S. stocks because the S&P 500 hit bottom on March 9, 2009, and is now closing in on eight straight years of gains. DeMaso argues that similarly, this year may well prove to be a propitious time to buy foreign stocks. I couldnt agree more.
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The divergence between foreign stocks and U.S. stocks has been stunning. Over the past 10 years, the S&P 500 has returned an annualized 7.2%. During that same stretch, the MSCI EAFE index of foreign stocks in developed countries has returned a meager 1.1% annualized. And the MSCI Emerging Markets index has done little better, returning an annualized 2.6%. Because stocks around the globe peaked in October 2007 before plunging into the worst bear market since the Great Depression, 10-year returns for foreign stocks are virtually certain to be underwater by this fall. (All returns in this article are through January 26.)
But expecting recent past performance to continue into the indefinite future is a classic investing mistake. I believe investors should always stay widely diversified, then put a little extra into parts of the market that are statistically cheap. Add a ton of patience and youll almost certainly wind up ahead over the long run.
Today foreign stocks are remarkably cheap relative to U.S. stocks. On earnings over the past 12 months, the S&P currently trades at a price-earnings ratio of 23higher than at any previous time except during the tech bubble of the late 1990s. Meanwhile, the MSCI EAFE index trades at a price-earnings ratio of 20pricey, but not ridiculous. Emerging markets are cheap at 14 times trailing earnings.
Doug Ramsey, chief investment officer of the Leuthold Group, an investment research firm, looks at an average of earnings over the past four years together with consensus analyst estimates for the coming year. So-called normalized earnings smooth out the peaks and valleys of the economic cycle and are widely considered to be a better gauge of market value than other methods of measuring earnings.
On Ramseys calculation of normalized earnings, U.S. stocks trade at a P/E of 22.5, foreign stocks in developed countries trade at a P/E of 16, and emerging markets stocks change hands at a P/E of 11.5.
Of course, overseas stocks arent cheap without reason. The European Union is threatened by a wave of nationalismthe same trend that swept Donald Trump into the White House. Japans economy faces huge demographic headwinds, mainly due to an aging population. And emerging markets have suffered from a lack of demand from the developed world.
But the stock market is a discounting mechanism, rapidly digesting all available relevant information. That means the bad news is already reflected in share prices, and if the news gets just a bit better than the market expects, foreign stocks will rally.
No one knows when foreign stocks will accelerate or when U.S. stocks will lose their mojo. But history shows that foreign and domestic stocks typically take turns leading each other, often for multiyear periods. Long-term returns for each are roughly the same. Emerging markets are already pulling ahead. Over the past 12 months, they have returned 33.0%9.7 percentage points better than the S&P. Says Ramsey: If you have a three- to five-year time horizon, you should do better overseas.
What to buy? Below are some first-rate choices, starting with the lowest-risk options.
American Funds New Perspective F1 (NPFFX (opens in new tab)) is the cautious way to play foreign stocks. It invests roughly half of its assets in foreign stocks and half in U.S. stocks. Over the past 10 years, it has returned an annualized 6.3%an average of 4.9 percentage points per year more than the MSCI All-Country World index. Annual expenses are 0.84%. Like all American funds, it is sold primarily through advisers, but individual investors can buy this and other American funds without paying a sales charge through the Fidelity and Schwab online brokerages.
Fidelity International Growth (FIGFX (opens in new tab)) manager Jed Weiss looks for unfairly tarnished stocks. Some are out of favor because of industry conditions; others are depressed because of company-specific crises. Over the past five years, the fund has returned an annualized 7.0%an average of 1.1-percentage point better than the MSCI EAFE index. Weiss currently has 20% of assets in U.S. stocks. The fund is a member of the Kiplinger 25.
American Funds New World F1 (NWFFX (opens in new tab)) is a longtime favorite of mine. About half of its assets are in emerging markets stocks; the remainder is in multinational companies that do lots of business in emerging markets. The fund has consistently topped emerging markets stocks overall in bad markets and has bested foreign stocks in developed countries in good markets.
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS (opens in new tab)) is a great choice in an index fund. For a mere 0.13% annually, it gives you the entire foreign world, including a 19% weighting in emerging markets. The fund owns some 6,000 stocks. If you dont like the exchange-traded-fund wrapper, you can buy the fund under the symbol VGTSX for 0.18% annually or at the same price as the ETF through the admiral shares (VTIAX (opens in new tab)). The admiral shares require a $10,000 minimum investment.
Steve Goldberg (opens in new tab) is an investment adviser in the Washington, D.C., area.
When you or a family member experience a medical crisis, it can be hard enough to focus on getting the best care. The last thing you want to deal with is an overwhelming pile of medical bills.
Health insurance claims specialists can help. They serve as experts, advocates and detectivesknowing how to deal with the mysterious and complex insurance system, translate the jargon and codes, understand when you need to pay a bill and when to wait, and how to fix errors and build a case for an appeal.
Its not a process you get good at because hopefully you dont go through it very much, says Kathleen Hogue, president of Mediform Inc., in Twinsburg, Ohio, who has been a medical claims specialist for 37 years. Her job has changed a lot during that time, especially now that more people have high-deductible health insurance policies, complex out-of-pocket cost rules and narrow provider networks.
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Claims specialists tend to charge $75 to $95 per hour, and theyll generally give you a free consultation with a cost estimate and some basic advice. You can find claims specialists through the Alliance of Claims Assistance Professionals (opens in new tab). Some prefer to work locally; others have clients throughout the U.S.
If you suspect there is an error in a medical bill, it helps to contact a claims specialist before making arrangements to pay. You dont want to negotiate 50% off something you didnt owe to start with, says Pat Palmer, a medical claims specialist in Roanoke, Va. You want to contact someone with experience to do a thorough investigation into those charges.
Contacting a claims specialist soon after discovering a problem can help avoid hours of frustration and missed deadlines (specifics vary by plan, but you generally have 180 days to file an appeal). Many times people try to resolve it on their own, and they make a million phone calls and fight with the insurance company, says Denise Sikora, president of DL Health Claim Solutions (opens in new tab), which has offices in Monroe Township, N.J., and The Villages, Fla. By the time they get to me, these claims are often more than a year old, and sometimes two and three years old, says Sikora.
The claims specialist may be able to spot an error to get a claim paid quickly without filing an appeal. Pat Shea, a specialist in Green Bay, Wis., says about 80% of the denials he deals with are reversed once he resubmits the claim with extra information or coding mistakes fixed. Only about 20% go to a formal appeal.
Strategies to Trim Bills
Shea first studies the denial letter. You look at the reason for the denial, and thats what gives you the way forward, he says. If payment was denied because the procedure was cosmetic, such as removal of a skin lesion, he asks the doctor to provide evidence that the procedure was medically necessary, for example. If the diagnosis or treatment was miscoded, Shea fixes it and resubmits the claim. He tries to deal with insurers through e-mail, so he has a paper trail. (His website at www.medicalclaimshelp.org (opens in new tab) offers more strategies.)
Shea can also help people avoid claims trouble ahead of time. Anne Richardson of Alexandria, Va., contacted Shea when she was helping her adult daughter get coverage for cochlear implant surgery. Her daughter works in Atlanta, but the surgeons recommended for her complex case were in Chicago. Before scheduling surgery, Richardson contacted Shea to find out if there was anything he could do to get coverage at the distant hospital. Shea found that her daughters plan has a reciprocal arrangement with certain out-of-state hospitals in the Midwest. He made sure that her surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists and followup therapy providers would all bill at in-network rates.
Richardson says the full price for the surgery and therapy would have been about $90,000, but with in-network coverage they paid just $6,000 (plus $225 for Sheas help). If you are facing a complicated surgery, get someone to check on the coverage ahead of time, says Richardson.
Japan's NEC stock tumbles after it slashes profit outlook
TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - NEC Corp shares tumbled as much as 18.5 percent to 258 yen on Tuesday after the Japanese maker of communications equipment slashed its profit outlook for the year ending March 31 as delays to projects squeeze revenue. The company on Monday said it expects full-year operating profit of 30 billion yen ($264 million), down from its earlier estimate of 100 billion yen. ($1 = 113.6600 yen)
(Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Richard Pullin)
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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Japan finmin Aso says to keep close contact with US on currencies
TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Japan must keep close communication with the United States on currency issues, Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday. The G7 and G20 major economies make it a rule that foreign exchange issues should be discussed by currency authorities, Aso told reporters after a cabinet meeting. Asked whether he would visit the United States with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Feb. 10 to meet President Donald Trump, Aso said nothing had been decided.
(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Chris Gallagher)
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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Brazil's central bank forecasts higher debt-to-GDP in January
BRASILIA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Brazil's public debt probably grew in January from December, central bank economist Fernando Rocha told journalists at a press conference on Tuesday. Net debt probably reached 46.4 percent of gross domestic product in January, up from 45.9 percent in December. Gross debt is forecast to have risen to 70.2 percent of GDP, up from 69.5 percent at the end of 2016, Rocha said.
(Reporting by Silvio Cascione; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
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 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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BERLIN, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Further financial assistance for Greece depends on the successful completion of a review of its bailout programme and the participation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a spokesman for the German Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.
"Further payments depend on the successful completion of the programme's review and the participation of the IMF," the spokesman said.
On Monday, the head of the euro zone's bailout fund said Greece will only receive more loans from the bloc if the IMF joins its latest aid programme, spelling out a condition thus far disregarded by Athens's creditors. Greece needs a new tranche of financial aid under its 86 billion euro bailout by the third quarter of the year or it faces the risk of defaulting on its debts.
(Reporting by Tom Koerkemeier in Brussels; Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Andrea Shalal)
By Drazen Jorgic
ISLAMABAD, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Pakistan plans to launch at least two liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply tenders in the coming months, a senior Pakistani energy industry official said on Tuesday, confirming that trading house Gunvor has won a tender to supply 60 LNG shipments to Pakistan over the next five years.
Pakistan has become a major buyer in the global LNG markets in recent years, with the government frantically building pipelines and port terminals to speed up imports to alleviate chronic energy shortages.
About a third of Pakistan's energy supply comes from expensive furnace oil, and the South Asian nation of 180 million people can currently only meet two thirds of its demand for gas.
The emergence of Pakistan as a large-scale buyer is a welcome boost in the market for LNG as demand slows in traditional big buyers like Japan.
Pakistan's second LNG terminal will become operational in the middle of 2017, with an import capacity of 600 million cubic feet of gas per day. That equates to about six cargo shipments per month.
A senior Pakistani government official said Pakistan LNG, a new state-owned company set up to import gas, was working on fresh deals before the terminal becomes operational.
"Depending on how a potential government-to-government deal goes, we will have at least two more tenders in the next few months," the official said.
A round of bidding was held earlier this month for the purchase of a combined 240 shipments of LNG, worth about $5 billion over the lifetime of the contracts.
Gunvor supplied the lowest bid for the five-year tender, expressed as a percentage of a barrel of crude oil, at 11.6247 percent. For the 15-year tender to supply approximately 180 cargoes, Italy's Eni entered the lowest bid of 12.29 percent of a barrel of crude oil.
"The Gunvor bid will be confirmed today," said the official.
The evaluation process for the 15-year tender was continuing.
Spot LNG prices have collapsed in recent years and the Gunvor bid was among one of the lowest ever recorded.
"Using this new pricing as the benchmark, we estimate saving the Pakistani consumer more than 25 billion rupees ($240 million) per year," the official added.
Pakistan's ruling party is battling to end energy blackouts in time for the 2018 elections and plans to have five LNG terminals operational by the start of 2019, including two private terminals. ($1 = 104.8000 Pakistani rupees)
(Editing by Greg Mahlich)
MOSCOW, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Russian gold producer Polyus Gold International is guiding investors towards a yield of 5.10-5.25 percent for its 6-year eurobond issue, three financial market sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The sources said Polyus had received orders of around $1.7 billion for the eurobond offering, which it expected to complete on Tuesday.
A source earlier said the company had given guidance of 5.25-5.50 percent and that Polyus was considering issuing a Eurobond of a benchmark size. (Reporting by Kira Zavyalova; Writing by Peter Hobson; Editing by Vladimir Soldatkin)
(Adds comments from news conference)
By Duncan Miriri
NAIROBI, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Kenyan economic growth is expected to slip to 5.7 percent in 2017 from about 5.9 percent in 2016, and the biggest risks ahead are linked to uncertainties in the global economy, the central bank said on Tuesday.
Governor Patrick Njoroge told a news conference that Britain's vote to leave the European Union and the direction of U.S. policy under the President Donald Trump were both casting a shadow over the outlook.
Economists have said elections later this year could also have an impact - Kenya has a history of strife during voting. The governor did not mention that as a factor.
"There will be some headwinds. The most significant one still remains external shocks," the governor said. On the domestic front, a drought would also hurt first quarter growth, he added.
Njoroge said one potential risk related to U.S. policy was the fate of a trade deal between the United States and Africa called AGOA, which gives products from Kenya and other African states preferential access to the U.S. market.
"What would happen if suddenly somebody tore up this agreement? There is no recourse," he said, referring to a deal that accounts for 5.3 percent of Kenya's exports, most of them clothing.
Trump's pledge to put "America first" has worried some African nations, concerned that it could affect their access to the U.S. market.
The governor also said Kenya relies heavily on foreign exchange sent home from its citizens abroad, many of whom live in the United States.
Trump's policies and statements about immigration have worried some African states.
(Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Working hours in Korea have been increasing again recently after a brief lull when it seemed they might stop ranking among the longest in the world.
According to a report by the Korea Labor and Society Institute on Monday, Koreans worked 2,273 hours in 2015 or 43.6 hours per week. That was 26 hours longer than the previous record in 2013 and 1.3 times the OECD average of 1,766 hours a year.
Some 54.2 percent of workers worked beyond the legal limit of 40 hours a week, according to the report. Men in their late 30s worked the longest hours at 47.1 hours a week. Those with only a high-school diploma worked the longest hours, followed by graduates of vocational colleges and university graduates.
The shipping and transportation sector had the longest working hours at 47.7 a week, followed by manufacturing (45.9) and real estate rental services (45.9).
The biggest reason for the recent surge is a rise in the number of low-paid workers and a consequent drop in the proportion who work only a five-day week. The proportion working five days a week rose from 30.2 percent in 2005 to 66.4 percent in 2013 but then fell to 65.7 percent in 2015.
Other reasons are a preference among employers to make existing staff work longer hours rather than hire new staff, and stalled progress in improving conditions for shift workers.
Park Ji-soon at Korea University said, "Businesses are trying to make staff work longer hours to meet production goals since it's hard to lay off newly hired workers, and employees want the overtime pay."
(Adds details)
HARARE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's government has made a fresh attempt to seize more than half of platinum producer Zimplats' mining land, the company said on Tuesday.
It said it received a new notice from President Robert Mugabe's administration on Jan. 13 that the government wanted to seize the land and gave the company 30 days to lodge an objection.
This is the third time since February 2012 that the government has issued a notice to seize 27,948 hectares of mining ground from Zimplats, the country's biggest platinum producer. It objects to the acquisition.
Zimplats, which is 87 percent owned by South Africa's Impala Platinum Holdings , owns a total of 48,535 hectares in mining claims.
"The operating subsidiary (Zimplats) is engaging the government of Zimbabwe on the matter," the company said in its third-quarter results statement.
It did not give more details on the issue. Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa did not answer his mobile phone when contacted for comment.
Mugabe's government has previously defended the decision to seize Zimplats land, saying the miner had an excessive amount of land and it wanted to distribute the claims to new companies.
Zimplats said its profit for its third quarter, ended Dec. 31, rose 28 percent to $21 million thanks to higher platinum matte sales, which increased to 133,978 ounces from 100,392 ounces previously.
The mining company ships its platinum matte for further processing at refineries in South Africa.
(Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Mark Potter and Susan Fenton)
* CEO says China crackdown good for iron ore
* Fortescue Q2 iron ore shipments fall 4 pct
* Still on track for bumper year; costs fall
* Iron ore price defies forecasters
(Adds CEO comments)
By James Regan
SYDNEY, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A Chinese crackdown on inefficient steelmaking will support demand for iron ore imports, Australia's Fortescue Metals Group said on Wednesday, maintaining its forecast for record shipments this year amid a rebound in prices.
Exports to China by the world no. 4 iron ore miner dipped slightly in the quarter to Dec. 31, quarterly production data showed, but are still on track to meet or beat the high end of its 2016/17 guidance for 165 million to 170 million tonnes.
Iron ore was one of the best-performing commodities in 2016, defying analyst forecasts for a correction on the back of plentiful supply and an expected slip in demand from China, the world's biggest buyer.
A push by Beijing to do away with high-polluting and low efficiency electric arc furnace steel mills, which use scrap steel rather than iron ore, will help miners, Fortescue chief executive Nev Power said.
"This translates into 40-50 million tonnes of iron ore," Power said. "We are very confident that the substantial numbers will be replaced by integrated steel mills,"
By some industry estimates, mini-mill steel production could be as high as 100 million tonnes a year, nearly 10 percent of China's total capacity.
The expected increase in demand could help offset expectations that record Chinese imports of just over 1 billion tonnes in 2016 would contract this year.
However, Power cautioned that the iron ore market would take even an additional 50 million tonnes of demand "in its stride", as Fortescue and larger rivals such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto operate at maximum rates.
The newly built Roy Hill mine neighbouring Fortescue in Australia's Pilbara mining district alone is getting set to produce up to 55 million tonnes this year.
For the December quarter, Fortescue's cash production costs fell by 7 percent to $12.54 a tonne from the previous quarter and were down 21 percent on a year earlier, the company said.
The final cost for Fortescue of mining and shipping its ore to China stands at around $24 a tonne, Power said.
Spot iron ore prices surged 81 percent last year and are currently around $80 a tonne, despite analysts' forecasts for a contraction to around $55.
But forecasters remain concerned that millions of tonnes of additional low-cost supply from Australia and Brazil will soon send prices into retreat.
A Reuters poll in mid-December put the average price of iron ore at $54.70 per tonne in 2017. (Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Richard Pullin)
Stuff reports:
New Zealanders who hold dual nationality with a country on US President Donald Trumps blacklist are not restricted to travel to the US if they hold a New Zealand passport and a US visa. The US Embassy in Wellington has confirmed the exemption, which was yesterday declared to apply to Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, also applies to New Zealand.
I think it also applies to more countries than just these.
Dual nationals of Yemen, Libya, and Somalia and a Visa Waiver Program country such as New Zealand may to travel under the waiver programme unless they have travelled to any of the seven countries on or after March 2011. Any travel to those seven countries in the past five years, would mean those New Zealand citizens would also have to apply for a US visa.
I visited Iran around eight years ago. Will I end up needing a visa also at some stage!
UPDATE: The restrictions quoted above are in fact not new, but been in place since 2015. The ban on citizens from the seven countries is new, but the visa need for those who have visited them is an Obama policy.
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Jonathan Schanzer writes at Politico:
The Palestinian internecine conflict is a bipartisan blind spot. The last two presidential administrations labored to achieve a two-state solution without giving serious thought to solving the current three-state scenario. Indeed, Israel is currently sandwiched between two separate Palestinian statelets: a Palestinian Authority-run West Bank and a Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The West Bank government is open to making a deal with Israel in theory, but refuses in practice thus far. The government ruling Gaza seeks nothing less than Israels destruction based on both religious and nationalist grounds.
Fairly hard to negotiate peace with a state that wants your total destruction.
Rather than address the geopolitical split that renders any Palestinian leader incapable of signing a peace agreement with Israel, the Obama administration insisted that settlements are the primary obstacle to peace. While there may come a time and place to address that issue, the focus on settlements was putting the cart before the horse. Any diplomatic effort to end the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis to include the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel must first solve the Palestinian internecine conflict. From there, a bilateral negotiation can ensue between two leadersone Palestinian and one Israelithat legitimately represent their people.
The settlements are an obstacle to peace and make it harder. But they are definitely not the primary or even secondary obstacle. The major obstacle is there is no one capable and/or willing to negotiate on behalf of Palestine.
Admittedly, it will be no small task to negotiate peace between the Palestinians. The two sides harbor an ideological hatred for one another that is equal to if not greater than what we often see between Palestinians and Israelis.
If you disbelieve that, then consider the conflicts between Sunni and Shia Islam.
If Trump is looking for a bold step to take in his first one hundred days, he should appoint a Special Envoy to Solve the Palestinian Conflict. In doing so, his message would be clear: The United States is committed to diplomacy between Palestinians and Israelis, which hinges on a solution to the longstanding Palestinian internal dispute.
You need peace in Palestine before they can negotiate peace with Israel.
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A lot depends for both of them on the Galaxy S8 and G6 models respectively. They are due for release in the early part of this year.
Samsung and LG have leaked photos of their new flagship smartphones to the IT bloggers and tech websites who reliably help them with advance publicity.
Samsung has eliminated the home button on the front side of the Galaxy S8 and put a fingerprint-recognition sensor next to the camera on the back, both in order to make the screen bigger without making the body too unwieldy. The new Galaxy phone has a screen with curved edges all round, resulting in a 5.7-inch screen for the S8 and 6.2-inch screen for the S8 Plus.
LG's G6 will feature a 5.7-inch screen compared to the 5.3-inch version seen on the G5. The bezel of the G6 will be minimized so that the screen accounts for more than 90 percent of the front side of the handset. It is also rumored to have wireless charging capacity.
Samsung has a lot riding on the new phone after the expensive global debacle of the exploding Galaxy Note 7. Both Samsung and LG have now chosen to tread carefully and feature 3,000mAh batteries rather than the 3,500mAh in the combustible phone.
Both smartphones also feature voice-recognition functions. But the G6 uses the Google Assistant program, while Samsung opted for its own program called Bixby.
An industry insider said, "The two handsets are becoming more similar by featuring larger screens and other functions that are almost the same."
LG unveils the G6 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in late February, while Samsung plans to reveal the S8 a month later.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)
Today
Snow showers this morning. Bright sunshine later. High near 55F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%..
Tonight
Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 40F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Marvel Studios will shoot some of the new film in the Avengers franchise, "Black Panther," in Korea.
Marvel Studios last Friday announced that production of "Black Panther," which will be released in North America early next year, has begun and the shooting will take place in Korea and Atlanta.
Marvel cast Korean actress Claudia Kim, or Kim Soo-hyun, in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" in 2015, and about 20 minutes of the film were shot in Seoul. It attracted 10.5 million viewers in Korea to become the second most successful foreign film here after "Avatar."
Black Panther first made an appearance in "Captain America: Civil War" in 2016. The superhero is the king and protector of a fictional African nation, Wakanda. He is played by Chadwick Boseman.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures at the Chairman's Global Dinner aimed at introducing foreign diplomats to the team tasked with implementing his "America First" policies in Washington, D.C., Jan. 17. Trump has aggressively executed his disputed campaign promises. However, analysts say that the policies may be a major stumbling block to the U.S. achieving sustainable growth and maintaining its global leadership over the long term. / AFP-Yonhap
Trump's protectionist measures to increase China's clout in Asia
By Kim Jae-kyoung
The United States will become the biggest victim of Donald Trump's protectionism-based "America first" policy, analysts said Monday.
The warning came as Trump wasted no time fulfilling his campaign promises aimed at "making America great again" after he was sworn in as the 45th president.
Trump has dropped many key projects implemented by his predecessor Barack Obama by signing executive orders to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and to scrap Obama's health care reform.
His administration also abruptly banned citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S., and is seeking to impose large tariffs on foreign goods and combat alleged currency manipulation by China and Korea in a bid to support American companies.
Trump's policies may help produce more jobs and boost business activities in the short term, but in the long term they will be a major stumbling block to the U.S. achieving sustainable growth and maintaining global leadership, the analysts said.
The nerves of the U.S. economy are innovation and global leadership. Many of Trump's policies are destined to destroy these core values of the world's largest economy over the long term, they added.
In other words, protectionism will discourage innovation and America will gradually lose its economic and political clout in the world.
"I think the biggest victim of footloose protectionism will be the U.S economy," Mauro Guillen, director of the Lauder Institute at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, told The Korea Times.
"Its strength is innovation. With protection, innovativeness will decline," he said. "China could be a winner if it exploits the opportunity to enhance its influence in the world and to develop its internal market."
It seems that Trump does not fully understand China and how the dynamics of the global economy will unfold in the coming decade, the analysts said.
Tearing up trade deals, including TPP, and levying larger tariffs will not help the U.S. solve its trade deficit problem, bring back more jobs to Americans and sell American products abroad.
Such measures could reduce imports, but might also lower exports via multiple channels, including retaliatory tariffs from major trading partners, particularly China.
Given China is emerging as the world's biggest consumer market, the U.S. may take the bigger brunt in a trade dispute.
More importantly, the likely trade frictions with China and other Asian countries, such as Korea and Japan, imply that the U.S. may lose its leading role in reshaping economic integration in Asia, thus giving China more influence in the region.
This is also likely to end up tipping the balance of regional security alignments in favor of China.
Hurting American producers, consumers
James Rooney, chairman of Advanced Capital Partners, said that much of Trump's trade and globalization rhetoric is in danger of being reflections of the past rather than observations of the present and anticipations of the future.
"An old China is already fading into the past and low labor cost jobs are increasingly migrating to other countries like Vietnam as China's per capita income and labor costs rise along with the increasing experience, skills, and education of its workforce," he said.
Rooney, also an international finance professor at Sogang University, pointed out that the real issue with trade and globalization for the U.S. will be its own failure to take advantage of the myriad of additional opportunities available to it in the form of 7.4 billion consumers worldwide.
"The truth is that foolish actions on their part are more likely to hurt American producers and consumers with higher product costs and tariffs than to create more jobs in the U.S.," he said.
"The U.S. actually needs more globalization to create new jobs and strengthen its economy, but that increase of globalization is hardly dependent on trade legislation and instead is heavily dependent on the leadership and entrepreneurial skills of American businessmen."
Trump's picks for key cabinet posts are also raising questions about the possibility of creating more jobs for Americans.
For example, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is known as a vulture investor specializing in restructuring distressed firms. His turnaround tactics have been controversial as in many cases he took over ailing firms and made a fortune by selling them after cutting jobs and pensions.
Finally, Trump's lopsided policies only in favor of the U.S., such as combating currency devaluation, could dent the country's credibility in the global business community.
The Trump administration is seeking to name some Asian export-oriented countries with huge trade surpluses with the U.S, including China and Korea, as currency manipulators.
"I dislike the artificial labeling of other countries by the U.S. when we have spent the last eight years or so watching the U.S. print vast amounts of dollars which to me equates to currency manipulation and the wallpapering-over of many other original sins," Rooney said.
By Nam Hyun-woo
Dongwha Duty Free Shop, Korea's first downtown duty free outlet, is on the verge of collapse as it lacks the funds to pay back debt of over 70 billion won ($60.14 million).
According to industry sources, the duty free outlet failed to pay 71.5 billion won incurred by Hotel Shilla's exercise of a put option.
A put option is an option contract which gives the buyer the right to sell a specified amount of underlying securities at a specified price. In May 2013, Hotel Shilla acquired 19.9 percent of Dongwha shares for 60 billion won and placed the put option to reclaim its investment.
As the hotel exercised its right in June last year, Dongwha was obliged to pay 60 billion won in principal and 11.5 billion won in interest.
The amount increased to 78.8 billion won as Dongwha failed to repay the investment by the due date in December last year. However, the outlet is seemingly unable to come up with the amount due by the Feb. 23 expiration date.
Also, Dongwha has to give Hotel Shilla its 30.2 percent stake or 576,000 shares as it mortgaged the shares in the contract under which Dongwha pledged to hand over the shares to Hotel Shilla if it failed to pay the 71.5 billion won by December.
The shares are owned by Lotte Tour Chairman Kim Ki-byung, who is the largest shareholder with 41.66 percent. Kim reportedly used the 60 billion won for a capital increase for Lotte Tour.
However, the debt is a huge burden to Dongwha, whose business outlook is not so bright.
In the past several years, conglomerates entered the downtown duty free market in Seoul, threatening outlets run by small- or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as Dongwha.
In 2015, there were six duty free shops in Seoul, but the number will increase to 13 this year, heralding a fiercer competition. Donghwa's operating profit has decreased from 7.03 billion won in 2014 to 1.54 billion won in 2015.
On a more negative note, luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Montblanc recently withdrew from Dongwha Duty Free.
This apparently forced Kim to give up control of the outlet.
A domestic economy news outlet e-Daily quoted a close aide to Kim as saying: "Kim informed Hotel Shilla, Dec. 18, that he would give up his managerial rights as well as handing over his shares."
Should Hotel Shilla accept that, its stake in Dongwha will surge to 50.1 percent.
With rumors of putting the duty free shop up for sale spreading, possible moves by the Korea Customs Service (KCS) are gaining attention.
It remains to be seen whether the customs agency, which has the authority to allow a firm to operate duty free shops, will allow a trade of Dongwha's license.
"Theoretically, it is possible to trade the license if the potential buyer is an SME," said a KCS official. "Should the license be traded, the KCS will have to screen the buyer. However, if the buyer is a conglomerate, the KCS will not allow the trade."
North Korea may not test fire ICBM soon
By Kim Jae-kyoung
SINGAPORE North Korea will not test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the near future, said William Brown, a professor at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
The prediction came as growing jitters after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said early this month that the reclusive country is in the final stages of developing an ICBM able to mount a small nuclear warhead.
The Washington-based North Korea expert said Monday that Pyongyang still has to go through numerous tests to make sure that its launch will be successful.
"There are a lot of tests that Pyongyang needs to undertake before it can prove an ICBM with a nuclear attack capability and the U.S. will have plenty of chances, I suspect, to interrupt that process if it is determined to do so," Brown said in an interview.
He believes that at the moment, the unpredictable North Korean leader will not try to test U.S. President Donald Trump because of the volatile billionaire's unpredictability.
"Kim is likely unsure of how Trump will react, and thus may be a little afraid to push his ICBM technology too fast, risking an embarrassing failure or even a U.S. or Japanese attack on his rocket," he said.
Brown, who previously worked for the CIA, the Commerce Department and the National Intelligence Council for North Korean issues, thinks that Kim might play a "waiting game," seeing how politics in the U.S. and South Korea works out.
"He probably thinks there is some chance he will be able to engage the Trump administration, and a new South Korean government, and perhaps come up with some deal that confirms his nuclear power status, something his father was unable to do," he said.
He said that there is no doubt Kim is working on his missile and weapons technology and is increasing his supply of fissile material to make more weapons.
The professor stressed that the South Korean government should ensure that it will put its voice in Trump administration's decision on how to respond to North Korea's possible launch of long-range missiles.
"As his technology advances, Kim will feel he must do something to prove his long-range missiles and Trump will then have to decide whether and how to follow through," he said. "Korea needs to have a voice in that decision."
Regarding his plan to build a "state-of-the-art" missile defense system announced on the webpage of the White House, he said that what Trump is suggesting is the U.S. will speed up the development of its defense technology.
He said that U.S. strategy against North Korea is to intercept a missile in mid-flight, high in space, using missiles fired from Aegis cruisers, noting that many U.S. and Japanese ships have these systems and are improving their missiles.
"These systems have had some success against practice targets but are continuing to evolve," he said. "I do keep wondering if the U.S. or Japan will ever use a live North Korean missile as target practice."
"Over the past three decades the U.S. has developed an arguably credible defense against certain types of attacks on the U.S. mainland, including what North Korea is likely to be able to produce in the next few years," he added.
Brown expressed concerns that all the talk of ICBMs ignores the more dangerous current threat of North Korea's short- and medium-range missiles.
"Missile defense against hundreds of these weapons might help defend particular locations but I expect a pre-emptive capability is the only thing that can really deter this kind of North Korean mischief," he said.
By Yi Whan-woo
A series of high-level security talks and crucial conferences that may affect the geopolitics surrounding the Korean Peninsula will take place here and abroad in February.
The meetings come as the Donald Trump administration and the Kim Jong-un regime ratchet up rhetoric against each other with the latter's additional missile and nuclear tests looking imminent.
First, there will be the defense ministerial talks between South Korea and the United States in Seoul, Friday, which will provide a glimpse of how the Trump administration will deal with North Korea and its provocations.
The North's possible test-firing of a long-range missile to mark the 75th anniversary of its late leader Kim Jong-il's birth on Feb. 16 could also affect the new U.S. government's red line on Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction, according to analysts.
"February and March will be critical months for security on the peninsula considering the Trump administration is in its early phase," said Korea National Diplomatic Academy Chancellor Yuk Duk-min. "South Korea, the U.S. and Japan should sit down together and come up with a roadmap to counter North Korea's cycle of military provocations and peace overtures."
In the first defense ministerial meeting between the two allies after Trump was inaugurated, Jan. 20, Defense Minister Han Min-koo and U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis are anticipated to confirm the Seoul-Washington alliance.
Some military sources said they may send a warning to Pyongyang as well over its pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
During his two-day South Korea visit, Mattis is also scheduled to visit a South Korean-U.S. combined division in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province as well as the newly-built U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.
He will be in Japan from Friday to Saturday and meet Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada.
Diplomatic sources said Foreign Minister Yun Byun-se will fly to the U.S. and meet James Tillerson, Trump's nominee as U.S. secretary of state, if Tillerson is confirmed.
Tillerson awaits a final confirmation vote from the U.S. Senate this week, most likely to be held Wednesday.
In separate efforts, Yun is scheduled to join the Meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers in Bonn, Germany on Feb 16 and 17.
He will then attend the annual Munich Security Conference from Feb. 17 to 19, during which South Korea plans to hold foreign ministerial talks with the U.S., China, and Japan, respectively.
The top nuclear envoys of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are pushing to meet in Washington D.C. to discuss issues related to the dormant six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program.
The three envoys are Kim Hong-kyun, center, special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun and Japan's Asian and Oceania Affairs Bureau Director-General Kenji Kanasugi.
J.P. of the one-man "kraken roll" band Octopoulpe eats takoyaki while on tour in Japan. / Courtesy of Octopoulpe
By Jon Dunbar
Octopoulpe, "a monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers," approaches Korea's shores this weekend to spread madness and fast punk music.
J.P., the man behind the tentacle mask, returns to Korea after touring his one-man "kraken roll" band Octopoulpe through Japan.
"The tour is really good so far!" J.P. wrote to The Korea Times while on tour. "Every time I go to Japan, I know more people than my previous visits. It's especially because of the recent strong connection in the punk and hardcore scene between Japan and Korea. So every time I tour in Japan, I feel like the shows and the parties are funnier and better."
He started his 10-date Japan tour Jan. 24, with industrial noise act Klaus Legal, run by a fellow Frenchman. Last December, the two played 13 shows throughout China with Le Crabe, a French expat based there.
J.P., who has also drummed for Korean hardcore punk bands MyManMike and Arryam, may just be Korea's most-well-traveled musician, having toured Asia, Europe and the Americas extensively. Although MyManMike toured abroad frequently, with Octopoulpe J.P. has much more freedom of movement.
"I'm a freelancer so I can work when I'm on tour," he explained. "I don't have to ask any other member about taking holidays for touring, so I try to play outside Korea as much as possible."
This Friday, Octopoulpe and Klaus Legal will land in Busan for a show at Vinyl Underground, and Saturday they will be in Seoul for a show at Salon Nomad, near Hongik University in western Seoul.
Octopoulpe is an intensely memorable act. J.P., wearing only his tentacle mask and briefs, plays drums, accompanied only by an interactive screen playing prerecorded instrumental and vocal tracks. Some songs feature guest vocals by members of Korean bands including the Kitsches, MyManMike, Yuppie Killer and Billy Carter.
Despite the eldritch imagery of Octopoulpe, the songs are fun and J.P. is lighthearted and friendly on stage.
Once he winds up touring, J.P. plans to finish recording Octopoulpe's first album. He also hopes to take Arryam on its first overseas tour to Okinawa and Australia, and possibly return to Europe for another Octopoulpe tour later this year.
Visit facebook.com/octopoulpes for show details.
This photo shows the final version of state-authored history textbooks unveiled at the government complex in Sejong, south of Seoul, Tuesdsay. The government has said that middle and high school students will learn Korean history through state-published textbooks starting in 2018, which critics call an attempt to stamp out diverse interpretations of history.
/ Yonhap
By Kim Bo-eun
The education ministry's flip-flops on its plans for history textbooks are fueling confusion.
One of the most controversial parts of the state-authored history textbook, the draft of which was unveiled last November, was that it stated Aug. 15, 1948 three years after Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 occupation as the date for the "foundation of the nation."
This part remained unchanged in the final version presented Tuesday. Liberal historians protest that this dismisses the importance of independence movements which took place under Japan's colonial rule, as well as the establishment of a provisional government in Shanghai in 1919. They claim the date should be recognized as the day of the Korean government's establishment instead.
Along with unveiling the final version of the state-authored textbook, the ministry said it would leave it to private publishers' discretion to choose which view to adopt regarding the date.
This is a shift from an earlier stance that it would apply the same guidelines for private publishers' textbooks as it did to the state-authored one.
"We revised the guidelines to allow the date to be interpreted as the establishment of the Korean government as a means to respect various opinions on the matter," Education Vice Minister Lee Young said at a briefing held at the Sejong Government Complex.
The finalized state-authored textbook will be used at selected middle and high schools under a pilot project starting in March.
However, not many schools are expected to incorporate the books due to opposition from regional education offices.
The plan was criticized as an attempt by the Park Geun-hye administration to glorify the achievements of her father, former President Park Chung-hee, a controversial leader whose administration saw profound economic growth but committed many human rights abuses.
Out of 17 education offices, 13 have vowed not to cooperate with the ministry in introducing the state-authored books in schools.
Even after reflecting 760 proposals for revisions to the draft of the state-authored textbook, the part depicting Park Chung-hee's rule remained mostly the same. The final version added that the movement pushed by the military strongman to develop the country's economy "received criticism as an attempt to reform people's minds as a means to maintain (Park's) dictatorship." But the number of pages dedicated to Park's rule remained unchanged.
"It was difficult to reduce the section on Park's rule because of the length of his 18-year term," said Keum Yong-han, an assistant minister at the ministry's school policy office.
In November 2015, the ministry had originally planned on changing the system by allowing history textbooks of multiple publishers to only having a single state-authored textbook starting in 2017.
However, due to a fierce backlash, the ministry said in December it would allow both state-authored and private publishers' textbooks starting in 2018.
In the meantime, it is the ministry's plan for schools to use the state-authored textbook on a voluntary basis, as a pilot project this year.
Because private publishers' textbooks based on the revised curriculum are yet to be compiled, schools which do not adopt the state-authored textbook will use existing ones from the private sector.
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers are pushing for a bill which will ban the use of state-authored textbooks.
There are also forecasts that the plan for schools to adopt state-authored textbooks, one of President Park's key plans, may end up being discarded because Park is awaiting her impeachment ruling by the Constitutional Court.
Defense Minister Han Min-koo, left, and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis
By Jun Ji-hye
Defense Minister Han Min-koo and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis agreed Tuesday to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here as planned.
In a 30-minute phone conversation, the top defense officials said the deployment of the anti-missile system will go forward despite China's protests and retaliatory measures, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
China strongly opposes the THAAD deployment in the belief that its X-band radar could be used to spy on its missile capabilities despite Seoul and Washington's assurances that the system is only to defend against the North's ballistic missiles.
The allies have agreed to deploy the advanced U.S. anti-missile defense unit here by July.
The phone conservation took place ahead of the U.S. official's two-day visit to South Korea, beginning Thursday, on his first overseas trip after being appointed to head the Pentagon.
He will meet with acting president, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin and Minister Han to discuss the North's missile threats and other bilateral challenges, the ministry said.
Mattis said he chose South Korea as his first destination as the Seoul-Washington alliance is significant amid growing North Korean threats.
Firm readiness posture against North Korea
In their phone call, Han and Mattis also agreed to maintain a firm readiness posture so the allies can immediately and overwhelmingly respond to possible provocations from Pyongyang.
The ministry said Mattis vowed to offer extended deterrence, which refers to Washington's stated commitment to defend its ally by mobilizing all military capabilities nuclear and conventional to deal with the North's aggression.
"The defense chiefs of the two countries assessed that there is a greater possibility of the North pushing forward with strategic and tactical provocations amid power transitions in the U.S. and South Korea," a ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
The comment came as the reclusive state has ratcheted up military threats with its leader Kim Jong-un claiming in his New Year address that the North has entered the final stages of preparations to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of about 10,000 kilometers, capable of hitting targets on the U.S. mainland.
Expressing their concerns over the North's missile threats, Han and Mattis shared the need to consistently improve the Seoul-Washington alliance and strengthen their cooperation in coping with the repressive state, the ministry said.
The agreement was in line with one made Sunday between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Hwang in a phone conversation, during which they reaffirmed the importance of the alliance and agreed to strengthen joint military capabilities.
The ministry added that the two defense chiefs did not discuss issues related to cost-sharing for the upkeep of the U.S. Forces Korea, downplaying speculation that the newly inaugurated U.S. administration may demand Seoul pay more for its protection.
During the presidential campaign, Trump argued that it made no sense for the U.S. to pay to defend prosperous allies like Japan and South Korea, and should consider pulling out of these countries unless they pay more.
The ministry said Mattis will have bilateral defense talks with Han, Friday, after paying courtesy calls on Hwang and Kim, Thursday.
The defense chiefs are reportedly planning to announce a strong warning message against the North after their talks.
Mattis will leave for Japan after wrapping up his trip here.
By Jun Ji-hye
Concerns are being raised that the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in Korea could cause a setback in a project to repatriate the remains of Chinese soldiers who were killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.
The humanitarian project first began in 2014 after President Park Geun-hye offered to repatriate the remains of the fallen soldiers to their homeland during a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.
For the past three years, working-level officials of the two countries have held meetings in late January or early February, and repatriated the remains in late March. But the two sides have failed to set a schedule for a meeting this year as of Tuesday.
"We asked China to hold a working-level meeting in late January or early February as we have done for the past three years. But we have not received a definite answer," a Ministry of National Defense official said on condition of anonymity.
Previous meetings have been held on Jan. 22 of 2014, Feb. 10 of 2015 and Jan. 28 of 2016.
Observers say Beijing's ongoing protest against Seoul's decision to allow the United States Forces Korea to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here might have resulted in China's lukewarm attitude to the project, raising the possibility that it could be suspended.
They cited that China has taken various actions in retaliation against the deployment including cutting off mutual exchanges.
But the ministry official tried to remove concerns, saying even if the meeting is held later than usual, the repatriation of the remains can be implemented in late March as the two sides have carried out the project every year for three years, so there are not many things to be prepared beforehand.
He added that China would also want its fallen soldiers to return home.
Seoul repatriated 437 remains in 2014, 68 in 2015 and 36 in 2016. This year, it plans to repatriate about 20, according to the ministry.
/ Yonhap
By Park Si-soo
A fire erupted at the open-air Namdaemun Market, one of Seoul's biggest, Tuesday.
The blaze was extinguished after burning stores on the third floor of a four-story building dominated by shops selling children's clothes. The exact cause of the blaze and amount of damage were unknown as of 3 p.m. There were no reports of casualties.
"The fire was first detected at 2:17 p.m.," a fire department official said. "An investigation is under way to find the exact cause of the fire."
/ Yonhap
/ Yonhap
By Kim Se-jeong
A member of a pro-President Park Geun-hye group killed himself over the weekend in Seoul, but the way the group handled his death has raised many eyebrows.
According to police in Nowon-gu, northeastern Seoul, the 60-year-old jumped from his sixth-floor apartment in an apparent suicide Saturday evening. The victim was holding two Korean flags with the message: "If the impeachment is confirmed, I will stop recognizing the Constitutional Court." No suicide note was found. The police said they were looking into the death, Tuesday.
On Sunday, the pro-government group, against the will of the man's bereaved family, attempted to set up a memorial altar at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall. They described him as a "martyr" for democracy.
Their attempt even led to a clash with the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), which had refused to give permission for the altar.
"The tent with a memorial altar is illegal because the group didn't obtain approval from the city in advance," SMG spokesman Kang Tae-woong said on Tuesday.
The city asked the activists to remove the altar and leave the site empty.
Members of the conservative group have been camping out at the plaza since Jan. 21 protest Park's impeachment. Park was impeached by the National Assembly on Dec. 9 for her involvement in a corruption scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
Despite the city's order, the group went ahead with erecting the memorial altar Tuesday morning.
As the altar largely remained unvisited, the activists showed extreme hostility to anti-Park activists. They even turned away journalists from liberal media outlets who approached them to ask questions. "We won't allow you here. You're pro-North Korea and are ruining this great country," they shouted.
The conservative activists have been demonstrating to against anti-President protesters who have gathered every Saturday since the end of October. They are strong supporters of the impeached President and her father Park Chung-hee. Also, they label anyone opposing the President and the conservative party as communists.
Questioning will focus on bribery, blacklist and Sewol suspicions
By Kim Rahn
President Park Geun-hye's lawyers and the independent counsel team are holding last-minute talks to set the date for the first-ever questioning of an incumbent president in the nation's history.
Independent counsel Park Young-soo himself is expected to quiz the President instead of assistant counsels later next week.
To zero in on the President, the special prosecution team has questioned dozens of figures involved in the widespread corruption scandal, including former and incumbent government officials, ministers, professors and doctors.
One of the key allegations the President faces is bribery involving conglomerates, which the prosecution had earlier failed to confirm and passed on to the counsel.
Cheong Wa Dae officials allegedly pressured 53 companies to provide 77.4 billion won ($66.4 million) to the Mir and K-Sports foundations controlled by Park's confidant Choi Soon-sil. The counsel suspects some of them sought business favors from the government in return for the money.
The money was funneled to Choi and her associates, but the team regards it as bribes for the President, believing Choi and Park shared economic interests an allegation Park denies.
It sought an arrest warrant for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong for offering bribes, but a local court rejected the request. For more solid ground for the bribery charges, the counsel will have to question Park, the alleged co-recipient of the money.
Another allegation is that the President allowed Choi, who has never held a government post, access to confidential documents and to meddle in personnel affairs.
Former presidential secretary Jeong Ho-seong told investigators that the President had ordered him to seek Choi's opinion in state affairs.
Choi also allegedly intervened in the appointment of high-ranking officials including former Culture Minister Kim Jong-deok, former Vice Culture Minister Kim Chong and former Korea Creative Content Agency CEO Song Sung-gak.
In a recent interview with an online news outlet, Park partially admitted Choi's personnel affairs intervention, but said it was only about recommendations and the recommended candidates went through the verification process.
But suspicions are growing that she also meddled in the appointment of ambassadors to several Southeast Asian countries where she sought business opportunities.
The counsel will also dig into Cheong Wa Dae's alleged creation of a blacklist of artists critical of the government. While Park says she does not know about the list, the counsel has already collected evidence unfavorable to her, and arrested former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon and former Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun on the charges.
Negligence on Sewol
What Park was doing in the first seven hours of the Sewol ferry sinking on April 16, 2014, is another issue the counsel team has to ask the President.
More than two-and-a-half years have passed since the tragedy in which more than 300 lost their lives, but Cheong Wa Dae has failed to clarify Park's whereabouts, only continuing to say she received written and phone reports about the disaster and gave orders to officials. Her lawyers denied rumors that she was receiving cosmetic treatment during those hours, but without any details.
If she was not properly responding to the sinking because of such treatment or other reasons, it would constitute dereliction of duty. It is to be seen whether the President will tell the truth about the "missing seven hours" to the independent counsel.
By Choi Ha-young
Ban Ki-moon
Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed inter-party talks on revising the Constitution before the presidential election, Tuesday.
The proposal is viewed as an attempt to gather forces against Moon Jae-in, the leading presidential hopeful of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) who has been lukewarm to constitutional revision ahead of the election.
"The 30-year-old outdated Constitution is at the center of the tragedy that the nation is experiencing today," Ban told reporters. "I propose all political parties and their leaders join this move to revise it and limit the presidential power."
Along with the proposal, he criticized the leading candidate Moon Jae-in, who has claimed he would do it after the election.
"The powerful DPK candidate cited lack of time, but this is an excuse," said the career diplomat who arrived in Seoul on Jan. 12. "He should not conceal his desire for his faction's interests."
Highlighting the urgency of the constitutional revision to diffuse presidential authority, he said a powerful presidency was the source of all national crises. "Now, we should stop the conflicts and confrontations between the factions."
However, Ban said the successful completion of the constitutional revision is not a condition of his challenge for Cheong Wa Dae, implying he will run for the presidency regardless of the negotiation's results.
In line with the calls from politicians mainly from the second-largest opposition People's Party, the National Assembly formed a special committee for a constitutional revision in December. The People's Party has eyed a political alliance with others except Moon linked by the agreement on the constitutional revision.
Ban said he will back up the committee's efforts as an outsider, in case of its malfunction due to factional opposition.
Particularly, Ban emphasized the presidential term and the Assembly's term should coincide. "If elected, I would like to accept a shorter term to arrange the term with the legislature." According to the current Constitution, the President's term is five years without a chance for re-election.
When asked about the public support for the constitutional revision, Ban said the candlelit rallies have been "spoiled," citing some slogans. At the street protest which led to President Park Geun-hye's impeachment, citizens prioritized "eradicate the deep-rooted evils," rather than constitutional revision.
Regarding rampant rumors which party Ban would join, he said, "I will make a decision as soon as possible and reveal it to the public once it's confirmed." After People's Party Chairman Park Jie-won openly rejected Ban's accession to the party on Sunday, the Bareun Party appears his sole option.
Former Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Moon Jae-in speaks to reporters at a coffee shop near the National Assembly, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Kim Hyo-jin
Moon Jae-in, the leading presidential hopeful of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), hinted Tuesday he could seek a coalition government if elected to Cheong Wa Dae.
The former DPK chairman responded positively to calls for a coalition government by other opposition hopefuls during a press conference, urging liberal forces to unite for a change of power.
"I will join hands (with opposition parties) for a change of power and in managing state affairs. If they share the cause for a change of government, the power can also be shared with other opposition parties," he said.
"I don't believe that the party which a president belongs to is the only ruling party and the rest are the opposition parties."
The remarks were viewed as Moon's bid to forestall possible political realignments across the liberal and conservative blocs ahead of the upcoming presidential election, according to pundits.
"He is seeking to avoid potential challenges from anti-Moon opposition forces by sending a strong message that he will embrace them," Hwang Tae-soon, a political analyst, said, noting the ongoing talk in the political arena of creating a "big tent" between possible minor opposition candidates and former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Moon also intended to attract supporters of the second-biggest opposition People's Party, who are based in the traditional liberal home turf Gwangju and North and South Jeolla provinces, Hwang added.
DPK's high-profile members and presidential hopefuls Rep. Kim Boo-kyum, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, and Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung have called for a coalition government among the opposition parties, saying it is necessary to push for reforms if the party takes power.
It has resonated among party members as they are concerned about the possibility that the next government may be able to maintain stable support from the party which only has 121 seats in the 300-seat Assembly.
"Without the support of the National Assembly, nothing can be done in South Korean politics," Rep. Park Hong-geun of the DPK said, showing support for the idea.
"All the opposition parties will seek a change of government immediately after the election and it will lead to never-ending conflicts between parties. No reforms can be made under such circumstances. "
Yoon Tae-gon, a senior political analyst at Moa Agenda Strategy, said Moon appears to be leaning toward the idea, too, in preparation for the time of his taking power.
"The number of seats the DPK holds is not enough for smooth state management," he said. "Moon is bracing for his time."
Gyeonggi Province is leading a project to train people over 60 as school bus safety officers. / Yonhap
By Hong Dam-young
Gyeonggi Province is leading a project to train people over 60 as school bus safety officers.
The province is working with three private organizations including the Korean Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged. The seniors will work on buses run by private educational institutes or hagwon.
Two hundred and fifty people will receive training on safety regulations, how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and traffic accident rules.
Participants in the two-day training course that begins in June will receive certificates from the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training allowing them to work as bus safety officers. Their jobs include monitoring traffic violations and checking the vehicle's condition.
The officers will ride the buses between 2 and 7 p.m. and receive up to 900,000 won ($774) a month.
"We hope the new project becomes a leading precedent that opens more jobs to seniors," Gyeonggi Governor Nam Kyung-pil said.
A revised traffic law that went into effect on Dec. 29 requires guardians to accompany children riding the buses from private institutions that carry fewer than 15 passengers.
According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority, 11 children were killed in commute bus accidents between 2011 and 2015.
The advert in Time Square in New York wishing U.S. President Donald Trump and Americans a happy Lunar New Year.
A hundred firms sponsor advert offering holiday greetings to America and its president
By Nectar Gan
While Donald Trump is drawing waves of criticism only a week into his U.S. presidency, a group of Chinese companies have gone against the tide and seized the opportunity of the Lunar New Year to express their goodwill to the leader, who has vowed to impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports.
A large billboard sponsored by 100 Chinese companies is up and shining in New York's Times Square, wishing Trump and the American people a "happy Chinese new year".
The advertising campaign was launched by a Chinese media platform named "huashangtaolue", which focuses on the Chinese business community and has cooperations with various media outlets affiliated with the government. A similar holiday advert was carried last year.
The world-famous commercial intersection is a stone's throw from Trump Tower on the prestigious Fifth Avenue, where Trump's wife and youngest son remain after Trump moved to the White House following his inauguration.
Companies that sponsored this year's greeting include state-controlled real estate giant Greenland Group, which acquired a 70 per cent stake in a US$5 billion project to develop residential property in Brooklyn. Other sponsors include Mengniu Dairy, home appliance manufacturer Galanz and air conditioner maker AUX.
Times Square in New York is home to some of the most expensive outdoor advertising in the world, with premium digital spots costing up to US$4 million a year.
Trump, a real estate mogul-turned-politician, has long sought to bring his brand to China. He also has Chinese business ties in the US, with state-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China the biggest tenant of Trump Tower. But he has lashed out at China for being a currency manipulator and vowed during his election campaign to levy a flat 45 per cent tariff on all Chinese imports. Many observers, as well as some Chinese business leaders, have warned that trade friction between the US and China is inevitable. There are also concerns that a trade war between the world's two large economies might be looming on the horizon.
In recent years, many Chinese companies have sought to increase their global presence by leasing the big electronic billboards in Times Square, one of the most popular attractions in the world, drawing nearly 40 million visitors a year.
Xinhua leased a billboard there in 2011 and various Chinese businesses have followed suit, including online shopping sites and internet companies.
Apart from businesses, state propaganda has also sought a presence. Last summer, the square saw a three-minute video asserting China's claim to the South China Sea that played 120 times a day for 12 straight days, after an international tribunal ruled against Beijing in a case brought by the Philippines.
Hiking conditions can be tough in the Ngong Ping area.
Accident happened as weather deteriorated over the city
By Danny Lee
A man has died after falling down a cliff while hiking on Lantau, police said.
A search and rescue operation was launched by the police and the Government Flying Service at noon on Monday after it received a report that a man had fallen down a cliff along a rough trailin the Ngong Ping area.
Rescue teamsand police eventually found the 59-year-old hiker, surnamed Chan,who was unconscious and had sustained multiple injuries. A helicopter sent to airlift the man to hospital encountered challenging weather conditions.
Around a dozen rescue workers walked along the trail with a stretcher to help the man but he was later certified dead at the scene.
Conditions around Hong Kong deteriorated at lunchtime, but it is unclear if the rain or other weather conditions were a factor in the hiker's fall.
Police confirmed they received a "request for assistance" around noon time. They added: "A man reported to police that he saw another man fall down from a remote location called Fung Yu Pik. Later on a man was found unconscious and subsequently certified dead."
Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and that the hiker had fallen from a height of 60 metres.
Experienced hiker Steve Pheby, who runs the amateur group, Hong Kong Hikers, said some of the trails on Lantau which were off the main hiking routes were "treacherous".
Pheby said he cancelled a hike planned for Kowloon Peak on Monday due to heavy rain, saying hiking on rock surfaces was extremely slippery and tricky.
"For anyone going out hiking, you have to consider the time of year. If you are planning anything treacherous and it's been raining you should think again.
"Be aware of your surroundings and have the right equipment. Just having a normal pair of running shoes is not good enough. They don't have the grip and are not made for that terrain.
"If you are hiking on your own it is not recommended going off the main trail ... Let people know where you're going," Pheby added.
With hiking becoming more popular, the number of mountain search and rescue cases has more than doubled, rising from 138 in 2005 to 340 in 2015, according to figures from the Fire Services Department, which conducts search and rescue missions on hiking trails.
Calls to the Civil Aid Service, which also carries out rescues, have doubled to 133 over the same 10-year period.
Zhang is dragged away by one of the tigers in the compound.
Four visitors who tried sneaking into the same zoo in 2006 were nearly killed by lions
By Kinling Lo
A man who was mauled to death by a tiger at a zoo in eastern China on Sunday was found to have climbed two three-metre walls to avoid paying the entrance fee, according to the official announcement by the zoo.
A video taken on Sunday showing a tiger dragging the man covered in blood around in its compound at the Ningbo Youngor Zoo in Zhejiang province went viral on the internet.
One tiger was shot and killed while zoo staff tried various methods to save the man, including setting off firecrackers to drive it and its companions away.
The badly injured Zhang was rescued more than an hour later, but was later declared dead in hospital
The zoo was evacuated as investigators tried to find out how the man entered the tiger enclosure that is separated from visitors by a moat and a stone wall.
Late on Sunday, the Ningbo Oriental Fortune Lake Tourism District Management Group, which is in charge of the zoo, issued a statement on its Weibo account saying that the dead man, surnamed Zhang, and a friend, surnamed Li, had not bought entrance tickets.
Zhang was declared dead soon after arriving at a nearby hospital.
"Zhang and Li climbed over a three-metre wall from the northwest side of the zoo, ignoring warning signs along the wire fence, before scaling over another three-meter into the tiger enclosure. Zhang entered the pen. Li did not."
According to the statement, the men brought their wives as well as Zhang's two children to the zoo. The children and the two wives paid the entrance fee.
The adult entrance fee to the zoo costs up to 130 yuan (HK$147) while children pay 70 yuan.
Four visitors who also tried sneaking into the same zoo in 2006 were nearly killed by lions.
Zhang, 40, was from Hubei, his family said. He had worked in Ningbo since 2000 and earned several thousand yuan a month. His family described him as an "underprivileged employee".
Many Weibo users, however, appeared unsympathetic towards the dead man.
"The tiger is so innocent, it is not his fault. Why did they shoot it?" said a comment that was liked nearly 48,000 times by noon on Monday.
"This man jumped to his own death, who can he blame? If he does not follow the rules set by men then of course the rule of nature will take over," said another comment.
"I apologize for the death of your compatriot," said Rodrigo Duterte during his speech on Thursday. / Yonhap
By Lee Han-soo
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has officially apologized over the assassination of a Korean businessman and vowed to capture the police officers responsible.
Jee Ick-joo was murdered in the headquarters of the Philippines National Police in Quezon City after being abducted from his home last October.
"I apologize for the death of your compatriot," Duterte said. "We are very sorry that it had to happen, but I can assure you, those responsible are known to us already and they will go to prison. I will see to it that they will be sentenced to the maximum. I am very sorry for that sordid incident ... Police XXXXX, I won't let you get away with it. You will suffer."
Duterte said he was embarrassed by the killing.
Only Ricky Santa Isabel, the alleged killer of Jee, is in custody.
Duterte said other suspects have 48 hours to turn themselves in or face a dead or alive bounty of 5 million pesos ($100,000).
In response to the assassination, police chief Ronald dela Rosa said he will disband the anti-drugs unit and rebuild it from scratch.
Nguyet Thi Thanh, one of the survivors of a Vietnam War massacre committed by South Korean soldiers, speaks at a weekly demonstration by former comfort women in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, during her first visit to Korea last April. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
'Peace is possible when putting myself in the shoes of an assailant'
By Choi Ha-young
Koreans usually see themselves from the point of view of the victims, for example, of wartime sex slavery under Japanese imperialism. So, more than 40 years after the Vietnam War ended, it is difficult to find any feelings of guilt here over Korea's role in that war, even if the nation sent over 300,000 soldiers to Vietnam. There, 11,000 of them died and some still suffer long-term effects from exposure to defoliants.
According to a Vietnamese military report published in the 1980s, South Korean soldiers killed about 5,000 Vietnamese civilians. Some researchers speculate the number could be as high as 9,000.
In September 1964, South Korean soldiers landed in civil war-ravaged Vietnam to support U.S. attacks on communist forces. Then President Park Chung-hee, President Park Geun-hye's father, signed a deal with the U.S. to get long-term loans for economic growth. The troops were dedicated to building humanitarian facilities and providing necessities, but also were involved in battles.
From Dec. 3 to 6, 1966, the 2nd Marine Division of Korea killed about 430 civilians in Binh Hoa, in Vietnam's south. Reportedly, more than half the victims were women and seven were pregnant. Among them were 166 children.
"The sin, enough to reach the sky, will be remembered eternally," a monument erected in the village reads. Across Vietnam, around 80 monuments recall the wartime crime committed by Koreans.
Scholars and journalists investigated the tragedy, and it came to light in 1999 through media reports. But Seoul has never apologized officially.
Former President Kim Dae-jung expressed regret in 1998 during a visit to Hanoi, but no progress has been made since. Only civic groups have continued medical volunteer activities in Vietnam to offer an apology and some activists campaigned to build a museum to inform the Korean public about the issue.
However, the Korean government recently set back the clock. One of President Park's flagship policies, state-authored textbooks, justified the nation's participation in the war, omitting descriptions of the anti-war movement of the time. And most textbooks don't mention the massacres.
Instead, Korean students would learn of the war's economic benefits. So, many Koreans are unaware that the country' soldiers were "assailants."
Vietnam's change of view
Originally, Vietnam demonstrated the rule of "shutting out past affairs and opening to the future." But Ku Su-jeong a master's degree and Ph.D. holder from the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City says the phrase doesn't mean the Vietnamese will cover up the memories forever.
"Rather, the Vietnamese government has investigated the atrocities, published booklets and designated the massacre sites as historical remains and organized events to commemorate," said Ku, who exposed the massacres in Korea for the first time as a correspondent of a local media outlet, Hankyoreh.
In December, a documentary titled "The Last Lullaby," which dealt with the Binh Hoa massacre, won an honorable mention from Vietnamese state-run broadcaster VTV.
"Above all, it is shameful not to recognize wrongdoings citing that victims don't demand an apology," the longtime observer told The Korea Times by email.
A local resident looks at a monument inscribed with 74 victims' names, which was erected in a village in Hoi An.
/ Korea Times files
Chain of brutality
Interestingly, she pointed out that looking back on the tragedy will help Korea reflect on its own unresolved historical issues. "There are considerable connections between the massacres that occurred around the Korean War, those during the Vietnam War and those during the May 18 Democratization Movement in Gwangju in 1980," Ku said.
In 1948, two years before the Korean War, government forces killed Jeju residents who protested the nation's division. In 1980, a military government ordered the shootings of civilians in Gwangju, which also involved torture and sexual assaults.
Chae Myung-shin, then commanding officer of the Republic of Korea forces in Vietnam, is the thread that connects the consecutive atrocities, Ku said. "Chae's first post was Jeju Island in 1948 and he conducted sweep-up operations against suspected communists," she said.
"The achievements during the Vietnam War gave a chance for advancement to the soldiers, who formed a strong bond. This is the beginning of Hanahoe which means Group of One the unofficial private group in the military."
Two leading members of Hanahoe former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and his right-hand man Roh Tae-woo approved atrocities against the Gwangju Democratization Movement to strengthen their grip on power.
There were similarities in the murders across the massacres: cutting off females' breasts after rape, killing children and senior citizens and incinerating all after the brutalities.
"Korea has a long history of ideological conflicts," Ku said. "The experiences on Jeju and massacres during the Korean War would be a background of the orchestrated atrocities under stern anti-communism education."
Additionally, she said the soldiers' panic, caused by an unfamiliar environment and the language barrier, would be a further reason for the cruelty.
How to apologize
Ku calls for an unlimited apology to Vietnamese victims first and also recognition of what happened, fact finding, an official apology, legal compensation, punishment of offenders, documentation in textbooks and the erection of memorials.
"This is what Korean civil society has urged of Japan," she said. "If Korea treads in Japan's steps like the so-called Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, this would be a secondary victimization. Above all, the most important thing is a sincere apology and self-reflection."
Recently, Ku led a group trip to the massacre sites in Vietnam, on the 50th anniversary of the Binh Hoa massacre. The participants paid their respects at the memorial and met the survivors. Among the participants were a conscientious objector, who has rejected mandatory military service because of their belief in peace.
The phrase "Peace is possible when putting myself in the shoes of an assailant" has inspired Ku and her longtime movement to build peace between Vietnam and Korea. Now she is preparing the establishment of the Korean-Vietnamese Peace Foundation, based in Seoul, to push for a public awareness campaign on the issue. Along with the preparation, she has to deal with a lawsuit filed by 831 Korean veterans who deny all allegations about all massacres.
East Asian brains are generally bigger than European or African ones.
Chinese scientists discover natural selection played a role
By Stephen Chen
Natural selection in East Asian populations has favoured genetic mutations leading to bigger brains, according to a new study by Chinese researchers that did not find a similar preference in Europe or Africa. Natural selection in East Asian populations has favoured genetic mutations leading to bigger brains, according to a new study by Chinese researchers that did not find a similar preference in Europe or Africa.
The study has shed new light on a controversial issue that has puzzled scientists for decades: why is the average Asian brain bigger than the average European or African one?
The world's largest survey of brain sizes, conducted by American scientists three decades ago using more than 20,000 modern human skulls from around the globe, found that the average cranial volume among East Asians was 1,415 cubic centimetres, compared with 1,362 for Europeans and 1,268 for Africans.
Subsequent studies have confirmed those results. Among them was a magnetic resonance imaging survey last year which found that East Asians had a higher cranial vault, which allowed their skulls to house a bigger brain.
Researchers proposed a range of hypotheses to explain the differences, with some suggesting that living in a cold climate could lead to a boost in brain size because in such conditions a bigger brain would be better at maintaining a constant temperature at its core, where most thinking took place.
But the climate theory could not fully explain differences in the brain sizes of people living in the same latitudes, such as Chinese and Europeans.
The Chinese researchers said a gene called CASC5 one of eight regulating human brain size might provide more clues. Unlike most of the other genes, which also regulated the brain sizes of monkeys or early human species such as Denisovans and Neanderthals, genetic mutations of CASC5 in Homo sapiens are relatively young, only occurring after our species left Africa between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago.
The researchers, led by Professor Su Bing, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Kunming Institute of Zoology, compared CASC5 mutations in different populations for the first time.
They found a "high frequency" of four mutations closely related to increased brain size among East Asian populations including Chinese, Japanese and Mongolians. But such mutations rarely occurred in Europe or Africa.
"At the population level, our results suggest a selection of CASC5 in East Asian populations, which seems to favour a larger grey matter volume of the brain," the researchers said in a paper published in the journal Human Genetics late last month. "By contrast, no signal of selection was detected in Europeans and Africans."
"Precisely why this occurred is not entirely clear," they added.
Besides climate, other forces that might drive such selection included social structure and cultural preference, Su told the South China Morning Post this week, while adding that such theories were pure speculation at this stage.
"Precise answers require further studies," he said.
Su said the study in no way suggested that Asians were smarter than other humans.
"Scientific research has found no evidence, none at all, to support the existence of intellectual difference among races," he said.
However, scientists generally agreed that humans had made significant sacrifices in return for increased brain size, Su said.
The brain consumed lots of energy, and a bigger brain made birth more difficult and drained resources from the rest of the body, resulting in many issues such as decreased physical strength. Europeans were generally bigger and stronger than Asians, Su said, but whether the physical difference was associated with brain size required further investigation.
"The Darwinian selection may still be going on today, but I think the brain size difference among races will eventually disappear due to the widespread genetic exchange occurring around the world today," he said.
An anthropologist based in Beijing said the study tackled an important but sensitive issue in human evolution.
"The findings may fuel racist debate," said the anthropologist, who requested anonymity.
Data in the study also showed a high frequency of genetic mutations occurring in South Asian populations, who lived in a warmer climate, and the anthropologist said it would be interesting to investigate whether Darwinian positive selection favouring bigger brains had also occurred there.
If so, it might suggest that brains grew bigger as humans spread further from Africa.
By Lee Seong-hyon
With "Trump America" in place now, one of the areas that the East Asian geopolitical analysts pay attention to is how the Trump variable would enter into Sino-North Korea relations. First, China is wary that the tough-talking Trump may take a much harder line toward North Korea that may, in turn, "destabilize" China's strategic neighborhood environment.
Beijing has a habit of suspecting that Washington gets tougher on North Korea when it wants to warn China. This might sound odd to outside observers, but "this pattern" is a well-entertained item among regional strategists. It also reveals how China identifies its geopolitical vulnerability more aligned with North Korea, than with the United States. At the extension of the logic, it also underscores the potential limitation of cooperation Washington wants to have from China, so as to jointly deal with the regional pariah. That won't happen, however, to borrow Trump's New Year's resolution on North Korea.
In fact, when Trump blurted "That won't happen" as a reaction to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's threat of test-launching an ICBM (with an obvious connotation that its reach could hit continental America), it was China that was also alarmed. Trump's swift Twitter warning against North Korea's seemingly unstoppable ICBM libido was perceived by China as a firm deterrence posture by Washington on the matter.
A North Korea-fired ICBM landing on American soil is tantamount to hurting U.S. "core interest," a Chinese analyst observed. The term, "core interest," is jargon with a specific definition when it is used in the Chinese security context. According to the Chinese Communist Party, "core interest" is the top-level national interest among the three interests (core, major and general). Specifically, it is an interest the "nation's survival" (guojia de shengcun) depends on, and therefore there can be "no room for compromise" (burong tuoxie).
So, China's perception of attaching a cardinal graveness to North Korea's possible ICBM launch and America's possible retaliation makes Beijing jittery, as it destabilizes China's backyard. Furthermore, this warning came from the mouth of Trump a human being China finds inhumanly challenging to pin down, let alone predict.
China expects the Trumpian push on Beijing to restrain Pyongyang, to be more demanding than Obama's. Trump said China has "total control" over North Korea. "China should solve that problem," he declared.
Whether China really has that level of leverage over North Korea is debatable, but what matters is Trump's "thinking" on the matter. He is now the president of the United States (despite some Americans' denial). Trump's thinking will have decisive policy implications regarding how the U.S. government will approach the topic from now on. Supportive of this interpretation, Trump's pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said China can "make magic" on the North Korean issue. The question is, will China make that magic?
As things stand now, and based on how China has been implementing the latest U.N. sanctions, China appears to be on a course that cannot afford to meet American expectations. The latest U.N.-approved sanctions, which China also signed, have been rolling in the aftermath of North Korea's successful fifth nuclear test reportedly its biggest yet.
While giving its nod behind the international body's move, China yet insisted the sanctions not hurt the North Korean people's "livelihood" (minsheng). The defining feature of "minsheng" is that, it is China that defines it, and it is China that enforces it. When the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was asked to define it, Wang circumscribed it by saying: "People know what it means when they hear it," during a press conference last year. Wang's Zen-like answer was masterful, but the "minsheng" clause serves to remain as one of the two main challenges to the task of implementing the sanctions, in both spirit and flesh.
The other challenge in the sanctions scheme is the so-called "conflict of interest" between the local governments and the central government. The local economy of a city such as Dandong, a Chinese city that borders North Korea, relies largely on its trade with North Korea. Sanctions naturally hurt the city's economy. Therefore, enforcing sanctions goes against the local interests. Moreover, the provincial officials' job evaluation is also significantly based on the local economy's growth. The official's local popularity also suffers when he strictly enforces the sanctions. "So, what would you do about the sanctions if you were the mayor of Dandong?" a Chinese interlocutor asked.
China also bemoans the lack of "incentives" from the United States for Beijing's enforcing the sanctions. As the U.S.-China relations are expected to enter into a "conflict phase" under the Trump administration, China may find itself much less enthused to play the role of a "hit man" against its problematic neighbor. On the contrary, as North Korea is one of the few countries in the world that openly challenges the U.S. leadership, China will find Pyongyang more useful than before, in corroborating China's geopolitical interests. Taken together, Sino-North Korea relations in 2017 will not only depend on their mutual mojo (a topic we'll cover later), but also largely leveraged by the U.S.-China relationship.
Lee Seong-hyon, Ph.D., is a research fellow at the Sejong Institute. Reach him at sunnybbsfs@gmail.com
Kodo Nishimura is a monk and also a makeup artist. / Courtesy of Hankook Ilbo
By Ko Dong-hwan
Japanese monk Kodo Nishimura believes all people are equal. This typical message, however, carries more weight because Nishimura is a transvestite who works during daytime as a renowned makeup artist.
The seemingly weird mixture of professions started from a pre-teen identity crisis, which was overcome by self-enlightenment and matured into discovering a destiny of helping others look good while reminding them not to deny their natural appearances.
Nishimura, 27, says cosmetic artists and monks have something in common in that they "make others happy."
"Each person carries a unique hue," he says. "My hands and heart make it shine brighter."
Nishimura has been travelling Tokyo and New York putting colorful touches on celebrities.
His coming-out in 2013 did not solve his deep questions of "why do people live" or "why should people do good things." This situation led him to train to be a monk, which he did two years later.
He had pondered whether to give up either of the two worlds because being a cosmetic artist violates the rules of becoming a monastery member. But his makeup teacher encouraged him that "when you go outside and grab attention, you are spreading Buddhism's message that all living creatures are equal."
Nishimura's Instagram page vividly portrays his life as a makeup artist.
Outside the monastery, Nishimura lives an exotic life. His Outside the monastery, Nishimura lives an exotic life. His Instagram pages are filled with selfies of himself as a woman wearing different makeup styles and wigs; and photos of him with other models in glamorous outfits. Offline, he gives makeup lessons to other sexual minority celebrities in Japan.
"Transgender people still have men's skin, which cannot be the same as that of biological women," he says.
"Transgender people need makeup techniques that can enliven their unique skin tone. When their confidence grows, I become happy too."
Realizing that his sexual orientation was unlike that of other boys when he was eight years old, he hid the fact throughout the teenage years and went to the U.S. to study fine arts after graduating from high school.
But with a different skin color than that of Caucasians, his ethnicity-based psychological exploration continued, until Japanese model Mori Riyo won Miss Universe in 2007.
Her typical Asian look, which did not have double eyelids or a sharp nose, became the champion's look with the help of makeup that accentuated such traits instead of hiding them. Riyo's make-up artist then taught him cosmetic techniques.
Nishimura considers the world as a kaleidoscope, where everyone has unique beauty.
"Whatever people say about your skin color, you go ahead and cultivate your own self,"he says. This is what he teaches.
A scene from "The Orphan of Zhao." / Courtesy of National Theater Company of Korea
By Kwon Mee-yoo
"The Orphan of Zhao," a play highly acclaimed for its impressive directing intersecting comedy and tragedy, and its absorbing performances by polished actors, returned to the Myeongdong Theater in downtown Seoul for a second run.
The play, produced by the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK), attracted unexpected publicity earlier this year as its director Koh Sun-woong was associated with the notorious blacklist allegedly created by President Park Geun-hye to list artists critical of her administration.
During a hearing on the blacklist, it was revealed that Koh was originally included on the list, but Park Min-kwon, former vice minister of culture, asked for clemency for Koh because his play was too good. Park's request was denied and he was replaced as vice minister of culture. The mention immediately evoked curiosity over the play, which was already highly anticipated after its award-winning premiere in 2015.
The play is based on Chinese author Ji Junxiang's 13th century script of the same name and director Koh adapted the play focusing on Cheng Ying, the man who gives up his only child to save the "seed of revenge."
The first act revolves around the tragic fate that strikes Cheng Ying. The second act is on Cheng raising the orphan of Zhao and shepherding the boy to avenge his family's enemy. Koh uses a handful of symbolic objects _ a tree, a wheel, a moon, a chair and clubs of different sizes _ to progress the story.
The original play often referred to as the Chinese "Hamlet" due to its revenge nature, but director Koh was more interested in the human nature behind the vengeance.
In the end when the orphan of Zhao completes his revenge, Duke Ling suggests he and Cheng Ying annihilate Tu'an Gu's entire family and relatives to be fair. However, Cheng Ying, who devoted 20 years of his life to the revenge plot, looks rather empty and hollow instead of being overwhelmed by joy. Cheng Ying faces the ghosts of those related to this long-time reprisal behind the curtain, but they just slide by Cheng Ying, intensifying his loneliness and vanity.
The futility expressed in the face of actor Ha Sung-kwang, playing Cheng Ying epitomizes what the play wants to convey.
The play centers around the meaning of revenge and the vanity behind vengeance, but it also questions what makes a good leader. "All of the problems are rooted in poor judgment," director Koh said. "When General Tu'an Gu remonstrated Duke Ling to annihilate the entire family of Zhao Dun, Duke Ling could think wisely and make a different decision, which could have prevented the ravages of the vengeance."
The play runs through Feb. 12. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 50,000 won. It is performed in Korean with Chinese subtitles on Thursday and Sunday, and with English subtitles on Friday. For more information, visit www.ntck.or.kr or call 1644-2003.
/ Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By James Kim
On Jan. 20, we inaugurated the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump. We will also have a new president in South Korea before the end of 2017. And given the departure of U.S. Amb. Mark Lippert, we will also have a new United States ambassador to South Korea, yet to be named.
We are now entering an uncertain and potentially transformative new era between the United States and Korea. President Trump has already executed on some of his campaign pledges, including the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, announced the building of the "wall" with Mexico along with renegotiating NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), instituted major immigration reforms and has actually succeeded in convincing major companies to change their manufacturing footprint in favor of the United States. Everyone has to take President Trump very seriously.
The KoreaUnited States relationship has also been prominently mentioned by President Trump, of which the KORUS FTA (Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement) and the $23 billion trade deficit has been deemed a "negative" for the United States. Now is the time for the key stakeholders in Korea to truly sell the value of the KORUS FTA on a factual basis and support the key economic initiatives of President Trump, namely, $1 billion in infrastructure improvements (roads, bridges, airports and tunnels) and bringing back manufacturing jobs to the United States. In addition, we need to ensure that the American multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in Korea must have conviction that Korea is and can be an attractive country to continue with its foreign direct investment.
We all know that the KORUS FTA has been called a "Gold Standard" by numerous leaders. Korea is the sixth largest trading partner of the United States generating $350 billion in total volume. Evidence clearly shows that the FTA is benefiting both sides despite the $23 billion trade deficit in Korea's favor. Two-way trade has increased 84 percent over the last decade and reached $115 billion in 2015. Actually, exports to the United States on non-FTA benefited products such as steel, semi-conductors and autos rose by 7.9 percent while those with tariff concessions rose by 6.9 percent. At the same time, the United States actually enjoyed a trade surplus in services, with tourism and IT leading the way. Korea also has the lowest deficit compared to China, Japan, Mexico, Germany and India.
If we were to successfully defend the win-win partnership between Korea and the United States, I believe both American MNCs operating in Korea and the many Korean companies with a significant presence in the United States should work together and "sell" the value proposition to the Trump administration. In the United States, Korean companies employ more than 45,000 citizens and furthermore, average salaries are higher than other companies based there. Companies such as CJ employ 180 Americans in Fort Dodge, Iowa; Lotte Chemical has 2,000 in Lake Charles, Louisiana: and Hankook Tire with 1,800 in Clarksville, Tennessee. I am sure these smaller, lesser known cities all value the Korean investment.
By Jeffrey I. Kim
On Jan. 20, 2017, Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States of America. The message of his inaugural speech was simple and straightforward. His voice was strong and his determination to change America was firm.
During his election campaign, he had promised to make America strong and great again. His promises effectively stirred up a great number of American voters. Upon his presidential inauguration, he deplored, "For many decades we've enriched foreign countries at the expense of American industry, subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of the American military," and "We've defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own".
To make his promises come true, he will apply Trumponomics. During his campaign, Trump had promised to cut personal and corporate taxes, to restructure multi-lateral trade deals, and to undertake large-scale fiscal stimulus measures aimed at building nation-wide infra-structure and strengthening the military.
President Trump is now fulfilling his campaign pledges one by one. His rhetoric on trade and jobs during the campaign is turning into action. He has signed a series of major executive orders to change America. First he pulled the US out of the 12-nation Pacific trade deal, commonly known as TPP. Unlike his predecessors, Trump believes that the TPP is a disaster for American workers. In handling a trade deal, he wants to adopt a bilateral rather than multilateral negotiations framework.
By Stefan Halusa
During a nationally televised roundtable in March 2014, President Park Geun-hye announced a "War on Regulation," introducing various measures in different industries to tackle some of the most urgent regulatory obstacles for businesses in Korea. The Park administration initiated efforts to concentrate deregulation especially in sectors such as education, healthcare, finance, tourism, and information and communication technology (ICT).
Although regulatory reforms were introduced in the following years, the recently published 2016 Business Confidence Survey has shown that many European businesses in Korea are still not fully satisfied with the government's policy regarding regulations. Fifty-four percent of European companies in Korea stated that the reforms implemented in 2016 did not help their businesses and only 5 percent are confident the Korean government will start to implement meaningful reforms. The government's responsibility and obligation to define the regulatory framework to ensure safety, security and health of consumers and to protect the environment is unquestioned. But when regulations become obstacles, by restricting rather than enabling companies to develop and to create new job opportunities, they lead to higher costs for consumers and reduced consumer choice and influence in the competition for the best solution or product. This is especially true when regulators impose different local standards, instead of applying global ones. Or when new standards are defined, and applied retroactively to already delivered products, making them obsolete.
There are examples in various industries where this is the case in Korea:
The international standard for car window washing fluid is that it needs to operate down to minus 23 degree Celsius in winter. The Korean regulation is minus 25 degrees Celsius, all year round. This also causes tons of antifreeze to be released into the environment.
By Christoph Heider
In the recent months, chaebol, respectively its representatives, have been hit hard in the media. For me a crisis is not necessarily bad. A crisis is a start to reflect, review and to change. Instead of being pessimistic, I am more optimistic that the right lessons are learned from these recent incidents.
People perceive the Korean chaebol rightly as innovative and powerful global players. Chaebol undoubtedly have contributed to the impressive economic development of Korea since the 1960s. It can even be stated that without chaebol and their impressive business extension, Korea would not be there where it is today.
It is true that politics and business have to work hand-in-hand politics cannot do without business and business cannot do without politics. The tight alignment of government and business targets in the 1960s was right so that Korea was able to generate highly needed economic growth. The question now is if this intense relation still fits to our time? Is the corporate structure of chaebol still the right business model to operate? The initiative proposed in 2012 by the current government to somehow restructure the underlying landscape for chaebol was a good and wise decision; unfortunately, that initiative somehow never got up to full speed.
Diversification is key! Politics have to provide a framework where businesses can develop. Businesses mean small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as bigger corporations. Korea is very much dependent on the conglomerates. In corporate business, you rather reduce the dependency on too dominant customers and instead develop a diversified customer portfolio. This is the direction Korea needs to go. We need an economic policy which is focusing more on nurturing SMEs and allow them to develop into auspicious companies. A healthy economic landscape allows SMEs to interact with other corporations in a fair and transparent way, on an arms-length principle, and on even terms. It also allows SMEs to develop from start-ups to "Hidden Champions."
Compliance is key! Non-compliant behavior by company representative is a considerable business risk. It is not only that company representative might be indicted or penalties need to be paid the overall risk is much higher. The anti-graft law was a good start but actually what is even more needed, is management change. If we believe company homepages, each has implemented effective compliance systems to ensure compliance with applicable laws. The question rather is: Why doesn't it work? First and foremost, the message must come from the top. The CEO of a corporation must be a role model and must stand for "zero-tolerance." There is no way to be partly compliant. Compliance is a 100 percent commitment and must be part of every CEO's skill set it must be in his or her DNA. It is quite obvious that we cannot expect employees to be compliant if a leader doesn't send the right message. Compliance needs to become natural behavior in daily business life.
Transparency is key! Transparency is a prerequisite for corporate governance. What is needed is a transparent corporate shareholder structure. It is somehow surprising that efficient processes have made inroads into production but somehow have been completely neglected in group structures. The fact is that the organizational set up with cross-shareholdings is a nontransparent construct. Instead a simple holding-affiliates-organization is much more transparent as it is very clear who owns the company, who has management influence over whom, and what revenue and profit is generated overall. The holding's supervisory board is then in the position to supervise company executives and group companies in a common and standardized way.
To end: Every crisis is a new start. "Team Korea" which means politics and businesses together has to make the right decisions. By doing so, Korea will develop further toward a fair and transparent business environment.
Christoph Heider is president of the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea.
The International Monetary Fund's warnings that Korea may be following in the footsteps of Japan, which suffered "the lost decades," have been repeated and therefore are not new. But it is worth noting that the global funding agency has raised the possibility that the two economies may be showing similar movements with a lag of about 20 years by comparing various data from each.
In its recent working paper, the IMF said Korea's demographic trends are seemingly tracking Japan's, reflecting large gains in longevity, low birthrates and limited immigration. "After peaking at 63 percent in 1995, Japan's working-age population ratio declined to about 56 percent in 2015, while Korea's working-age population is projected to peak at 66.5 percent in 2017, and then fall quickly to 56 percent in less than 20 years," the report said.
According to the paper, Japan's potential growth plunged from an average 4 percent in the late 1980s to less than 1 percent in the 2000s. In Korea, its potential growth dropped quite dramatically as well from a record high of 8 percent in 1991 to 2.9 percent in 2015.
The IMF also took note of strong similarities in the labor markets between the neighbors, which "has created a two-tiered workforce and contributed to inequality."
The report said both Korea and Japan grapple with balance sheet weaknesses. But given its strong fiscal balance, "Korea can afford using fiscal policy actively to incentivize corporate restructuring and structural reforms," it said.
As useful policy lessons from Japan's experience, the IMF urged Korea to progress with the restructuring of nonviable companies and address low productivity in the services sector and labor market duality with structural reforms. All these measures have already been suggested, meaning that Korea will not follow in Japan's footsteps only if they are carried out faithfully.
The problem is that we know the answer but are failing to heed the IMF's warnings fully. In fact, it's not easy to expect speedy corporate restructuring this year, given the upcoming presidential election. Rather, there are fears that the warnings might be translated into reality amid an outpouring of populist pledges from presidential candidates.
Whoever becomes president, he or she should accept these policy suggestions humbly and endeavor to revive the vitality of Korea Inc.
Phone conversation reassures strong bilateral alliance
Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn and U.S. President Donald Trump talked on the phone for the first time Sunday and reaffirmed the importance of the alliance between the two countries.
In a statement, the White House said that President Trump reiterated an "ironclad commitment" to defend South Korea. They also agreed to take steps to strengthen joint defense capabilities to defend against the North Korean threat. Trump ended the conversation by wishing Koreans a prosperous Lunar New Year.
The phone call came at a time of high anxiety among Koreans about the future of Korea-U.S. relations with the Trump White House. Such concerns are not unfounded, given his negative views about his country's security commitments overseas and his former remarks about Korea paying "peanuts" for U.S. troops stationed here while he was campaigning. He has also criticized the Korea-U.S. FTA as a "job-killing deal."
Although the phone conversation was reassuring on the close Korea-U.S. alliance, there are lingering concerns here regarding how the two countries will work through complex bilateral issues in the coming months.
The Trump-Hwang phone talks seemed cursory and lacked urgency or content in comparison to the phone conversation between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The Trump-Abe call was held earlier and the two leaders concluded the conversation by setting a date for a bilateral summit, with Abe accepting an invitation from Washington. Abe, who was the first head of state to meet Trump after his stunning election victory, will be meeting the new U.S. President on Feb. 10 The two leaders are expected to consult on ways to cooperate on the North Korean threat, according to a statement by the Japanese foreign ministry.
Since President Park Geun-hye is undergoing impeachment procedures, she is unable to carry out her proper diplomatic function. It is very unfortunate that political circumstances have hampered Korea's diplomatic capacity amid huge changes in the U.S. administration. A major diplomatic event such as a bilateral summit is likely to be held off until the domestic situation is settled.
Hwang reportedly invited Trump to visit Korea, but the White House did not mention the invitation in its statement about the phone talks. In contrast, the White House posted in a Twitter message that POTUS had invited Abe to Washington and announced the date of their upcoming meeting.
Despite domestic political circumstances and the limitations of an acting president, Korea-U.S. relations should move forward based on mutual trust and an all-weather friendship. The leaders of the two countries should meet soon to get to know each other better. Washington should also swiftly name a successor to former U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert.
Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president on Jan. 20 with an inaugural address giving a poignant "America-first" message. Korea's foreign ministry should prepare meticulous strategies to deal with a Trump's America, one that will pursue its own interests at the risk of possibly hurting others.
South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will meet U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis this week to discuss joint efforts to counter North Korea's growing military threats and enhance the bilateral alliance, Hwang's office said Tuesday.
The meeting will be held at Hwang's office in Seoul at 5 p.m. Thursday. Mattis will begin his two-day visit to South Korea that runs through Friday as part of his first overseas trip since taking office on Jan. 20.
During a telephone conversation between Hwang and U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, the two leaders discussed Mattis' upcoming trip to South Korea and noted the trip "reflects the close friendship between our two countries and demonstrates the importance of the U.S.-ROK (Republic of Korea) alliance," the White House said in a statement.
Observers said that Hwang and Mattis could touch on a series of pending issues, including the planned deployment of a U.S. missile defense system to the Korean Peninsula, which has faced strong opposition from China, Russia and some local politicians.
On Friday, Mattis will fly to Japan for talks with his counterpart Tomomi Inada. (Yonhap)
Yun Kyoung-suk, chef and owner of Yunga Myeongga, poses in her restaurant, at Avenuel in downtown Seoul, Tuesday.
/ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Yunga Myeongga chef committed to promoting 'hansik'
By Kim Ji-soo
Yun Kyoung-suk, chef and owner of Yunga Myeongga, is known as "Wonder Woman" among her staff at the Korean fine dining restaurant in downtown Seoul. For one thing, she hardly sleeps.
"Oh, you might say I live 25-hour days," Yun, 50, said.
Passionate and driven to spread "hansik," or Korean cuisine, she makes many of the ingredients herself, even the oil, soybean sauce, chili pepper paste and soybean paste.
Her belated return to a childhood dream of promoting Korean fine dining began two years ago with Yunga Myeongga. She prepares and cooks the dishes, which she updates according to Korea's four seasons, and she constantly thinks about ways to better deliver fine Korean dining.
Interestingly, if Korean food had a passionate preacher, Yun would come close.
"Korean dining has a rich history that anyone can delve into; our forefathers created a treasure trove of information about recipes for Korean food. We now need to introduce it to the world," Yun said. "In fact, Korean mothers are both cooks and family doctors in that they prepare food that will make their families healthy and well," she said.
With that belief and her nimble hands, Yun puts forth healthy and fine Korean dining. This reporter had a chance to try the restaurant's 12-course dinner Sugeumjae, which means an "undiscovered jewel."
A porridge dish, which is usually the first course of the meal at Yunga Myeongga. / Courtesy of Yunga Myeongga
The course started with water, traditional liquor and Chinese yam porridge, followed by amuse-bouche, which included an eggplant wrap and a walnut persimmon roll; appetizers including bamboo shoots and chives accompanied by a special sauce; traditional Korean pancakes, which were comforting and delicious, along with stir-fried mushrooms and seasonal vegetable dish; boiled pork; and steamed targetfish wrapped in lotus leaf.
The creme-de-la-creme dish was steamed abalone and beef served in a traditional-style bowl. The dish is made with the finest Korean beef and abalone steamed with traditional Korean medicinal ingredients. It dances in a perfect tango with the diner's taste buds, as if to dare the diner to try this unusual but balanced combination of tastes local, rustic and clean.
Ending with a rice dish and a Korean dessert dish that included bite-sized chrysanthemum bread and boiled pear preserved in honey, the multi-course dinner rests well on the stomach and later moves the body into slumber. The next day, the diner awakes with a light feeling, perhaps attesting to the healthy ingredients in the meticulously prepared meal.
"I can boast of the cleanest kitchen, the best fresh produce and a clean taste," Yun said. She shows the state of her kitchen in three stages when the ingredients are prepared, when the food is cooked and when the food is served. She also opens her kitchen to culinary students. The chef also shares her recipes upon request to further promote fine Korean food.
In this way, through her culinary practice, Yun is an avid champion of the sharing economy; she believes in spreading the spirit and memory that is food, especially Korean food, through Yunga Myeongga and other projects. For example, she has hired traditional Korean artisans of "dancheong," or traditional multicolor paintwork, to decorate the interior of Yunga Myeongga. She also volunteers at local district offices and opens her kitchen for culinary students to use. This year, she hopes to deliver lunch boxes to poor elderly residents who live in tiny rooms in shanty towns known as "jjokbangchon."
"I don't think I am quite the typical restaurant owner in that I pursue the food rather than the (financial) returns," Yun said. But she considers herself business savvy after all, she ran a hospital before returning to her long-held dream. Her approach to Korean food is to learn and uphold its essential identity and share it generously with others.
A delectable choice of amuse-bouche at Yunga Myeongga on porcelain designed by Yun and her son.
/ Courtesy of Yunga Myeongga
Yun has culinary blood running in her. A native of Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province, she said she can remember making "stir-fried Korean chili peppers and pork" and hot corvina stew when she was as young as eight or nine.
She was the youngest of four children two girls and two boys and it was her who was by her mother's side constantly as she cooked. As a grownup, she traveled for work, got married and ran a hospital that offered a combination of Western and Oriental medicine. However, the hospital director, wife and mother of two, wanted to return to her childhood dream of becoming a "super chef."
Her restaurant, Yunga Myeongga, offers three courses the Surijae, the Sugeumjae and the eponymous Yunga Myeongga. The remarkable lunch course, Surijae, includes porridge, appetizers, a boiled pork dish made with pork from Jeju Island, braised fish, a rice dish and dessert; all for 30,000 won including tax.
"I developed this as my bold, ambitious menu, so that more people can come and enjoy fine Korean food," Yun said.
Those opting for more sumptuous dishes can opt for the 12-course Sugeumjae priced at 165,000 won and the 14-course Yunga Myeongga priced at 330,000 won.
The past two years for her and the restaurant have been a period of tears, she said. "But I believe in doing what one must do; things that are meant to be will work out and those that are not meant to be will not," Yun said, expressing her dedication to promoting Korean food.
Yun's restaurant was not one of the 24 Korean restaurants that received Michelin stars for the first time this year, but this setback does not deter her.
"I found throughout my life that the most Korean food can have a global appeal," Yun said. "I want to prove that hardworking, honest Korean restaurants that remain true to our traditional recipes, the reservoir of cultural content that our forefathers bequeathed to us, and to fresh ingredients can survive on their own," she said.
Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea, left, and National Assembly Secretary General Woo Yoon-keun smile in front of an outdoor shelter for stray cats, Jan. 4. / Courtesy of Rep. Han Jeoung-ae
By Choi Ha-young
The National Assembly opened four outdoor shelters for stray cats on Jan. 4.
The structures were made after Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) rescued three cats from the parking lot at the Assembly last September. They were named "Democracy," "Nuri" and "People" after the three largest parties: DPK, Saenuri Party and People's Party.
The cat called Democracy was seriously injured after being hit by a car, and barely survived. Han proposed to Secretary General Woo Yoon-keun to install the houses for cats at the Assembly and Woo approved it.
"Lawmakers take many steps to protect social minorities," Han told The Korea Times, Wednesday, at her office. "If we fail to protect the weakest creatures here, it would be hard to say we can protect citizens."
This is the first time cat shelters have been built at a governmental facility here. Han dreams of expanding their presence outside the Assembly, to regional assemblies and city halls.
"Further, it can awaken lawmakers' sympathy to take more care of social minorities including the homeless and temporary workers around them," she said.
Recently, the Assembly directly hired sanitation workers, but it has a long way to go to ensure stability for interns and reporters at National Assembly Television.
Animal rights advocacy groups donated the shelters and 200 kilograms of cat food. They will get them spayed and neutered in spring. Currently, cat moms party officials or secretariat executives are feeding the animals regularly.
Han is a member of the National Assembly Forum for Animal Welfare, composed of 39 lawmakers. A member of the Environment and Labor Committee, she is now trying to revise the Animal Protection Act in cooperation with activists focusing on animal breeding.
"As breeders produce animals recklessly, people buy pets without consideration," said Han. "Then we have to deal with the social cost of abandoned pets."
She hopes to build a virtuous circle as more Koreans become pet lovers. "If the price of pets increases by an authorization system on breeders, people will visit pet sanctuaries instead of shops."
120,000 still using jumbo smartphones
By Kang Seung-woo
Galaxy Note 7
Samsung Electronics is going all-out to make Galaxy Note 7 users give up the discontinued smartphone as some 120,000 users, including 40,000 in Korea, are still in possession of the devices prone to catching fire.
However, it remains to be seen if its efforts will pay off as there are few handsets on the market to lure the holdouts away from the exploding jumbo phone along with its much-touted features.
Although Samsung adopted a series of measures like capping the maximum battery life to encourage its users to return them, some learned how to avoid the software update. Pundits even claim users can get the battery back to 100 percent capacity even after the software update.
The world's largest smartphone maker started selling the Note 7 here on Aug. 19, but halted sales and conducted two rounds of global recalls following reports of some of the devices catching fire while charging. It finally killed off the Note 7 altogether in early October. On Jan. 23, Samsung blamed the poorly designed and manufactured batteries for the overheating problem.
"It has to do with consumer safety, so we are making full-fledged efforts to retrieve as many Note 7s as possible," an official of Samsung Electronics said.
The firm has once again extended the deadline for refunds and exchanges to the end of this month.
"During the period, those who will turn in the Note 7s do not have to pay any cancellation fees," the official added.
According to Samsung, the Note 7 return rates for global and domestic users both reached 96 percent as of Jan. 23, which translates into 120,000 and 40,000, respectively.
In order to boost the return rate to 100 percent, the company issued a software upgrade last month to cap battery charging to 15 percent for Note 7 users. The measure also began in Europe on Tuesday.
However, Samsung said it has no further plans yet to make the Korean Note 7 lovers return their phones.
Verizon, the largest wireless carrier in the U.S., unveiled its plan last month, to divert all calls made from Note 7s to its customer service team, according to Forbes.
Despite the company's efforts, Note 7 users remain resistant, bypassing software updates. Rather, they are set to hang on to their ill-fated handsets until Samsung launches its next-generation flagship Galaxy S8 that is expected to debut in late March or early April.
Members of an internet cafe of Note 7 users demand that Samsung allow them to use their smartphones freely until the S8 release.
"As faulty batteries are the root cause of the Note 7 disaster, we hope Samsung will replace them with safe batteries so we can continue using them," a Note 7 user said.
A cellphone vendor said a lack of competitive replacements also prevents them from turning in their Note 7s.
"Many consumers have used them because they believe other devices are not as attractive as the Note 7, so they are likely to wait for Samsung to launch the Galaxy S8," the seller said.
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)
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte sitting in an economic seat on a commercial plane. / Screen captured from inquirer.net
By Lee Han-soo
He has done it again.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has caught media attention for taking an economy seat on a flight to Manila from Davao City on Thursday night.
Photos of him leaning his head against the window seals have gone viral.
This is not the first time Duterte has traveled economy class.
In July, the President, 71, took a premium economy seat on his way to Davao City. Back then, he underwent security checks like a regular passenger, according to reports.
During his first meeting with his Cabinet officials, he told them to shun special treatment.
"We should treat ourselves just like any other Filipino traveler," he said.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump points his finger when he speaks at a press conference at Trump Tower on Jan. 11 in New York City. The President Elect spoke and answered questions on the turning over of his business to his children, email hacking and fake news. / UPI-Yonhap
By Ko Dong-hwan
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has blasted the release of unsubstantiated intelligence reports of claims he indulged in a sex romp in Moscow.
"I think it was disgraceful, disgraceful that the intelligence agencies allowed any information that turned out to be so false and fake out," Trump told a news conference in New York, only days before he takes office.
Several news organizations reported earlier this week that a former British spy had compiled a dossier of claims that Russian spy agencies have embarrassing information about Trump, including a sex video.
The salacious video was allegedly shot at a hotel in the Russian capital in 2013, according to reports by CNN, The New York Times and The Times. It allegedly shows the American property mogul frolicking with prostitutes.
Purportedly shot with the idea of potentially blackmailing Trump, the video was part of "compromising information" collected in Russia by a former M16 operative now providing commercial opposition research services, first to Republican Party rivals of Trump and then to the Hillary Clinton campaign, according to the Boston Herald.
The information also claimed that Russian officials and Trump representatives "discussed the Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta," according to the report.
The leaked information reportedly revealed that the Russian government has been trying to compromise Trump for years during his frequent business visits to Moscow.
U.S. intelligence agency chiefs recently gave a classified, unsubstantiated two-page report about the information to Trump and President Barack Obama.
Trump reacted to the growing scandal about his connection to Russia on Twitter on Jan. 10, saying: "FAKE NEWS A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!"
"Two Bellmen 3" starring Jessica and Ki Hong Lee was finally released and the both actors received enormous appreciation from fans for playing a good role like a real sweet couple. The new movie is the third sequel of the JW Marriott Hotel film series. It continued with Two Bellmen 2 starring William Spencer and Caine Sinclair, joining to the Bellmen Games.
The first part was mostly shot in Los Angeles, while the second series was in Dubai. Seems like the "Two Bellmen" will tour its fans around the globe as the latest is all set to show Seoul's scenery and culture.
According to Soompi, "Two Bellmen 3" with Seoul as its main location is still starred by William Spencer and Caine Sinclair. The two flew to Seoul to compete for the best bellmen in the world. Jessica (Mi Na) played as a supportive fiancee of Jun Lee (Ki Hong Lee), who is portraying as an aspiring musician. The couple is to get married in the same hotel where Bellmen Games is held. Even though Mi Na's parents are not in favor of their marriage because of Mi Na's music career. Jun Lee lost his label a week before their wedding. The two bellmen then found the young couple, saving them from their wedding.
The Korean "Two Bellmen 3" stars are also now been recognized internationally. Jessica has just launched her newest single "Fly" and was rapidly gone viral with almost 2 million views on Youtube within 24 hours from its release. The 29-year-old Ki will return in "The Maze Runner" sequel.
"Two Bellmen" was released earlier of 2016. Its release on Youtube has gained almost two million views in less than a week. The "Two Bellmen 3" will be released on YouTube in September, which is expected to make another colossal hit.
A dad-of-two was tied down and restrained in a dirty Caribbean hospital that his wife claims was like a prison.
David Ramsey, 48, collapsed on holiday in Barbados and was left fighting for his life.
He was strapped into a hospital bed for three days and developed painful sores on his hand, foot and back.
And, to add insult to injury, the couple have been hit with a 19,000 medical bill for his Davids treatment.
In total he spent 10 days in hospital, which his wife Liz claims was dirty and looked like something from the 1920s.
She said David was strapped to the bed to stop him from falling out, causing the sores on different parts of his body.
Liz, 51, of Blyth, Northumberland, said: I was absolutely terrified seeing David get worse and worse. It was like he was in a prison.
The beds were all dirty and the hospital looked run down. It was just filthy. Ive never been so scared.
The couple headed for the Caribbean Islands on November 4 last year, having saved for more than 18 months to go on holiday.
But as their trip was drawing to a close, David started to feel light headed and collapsed.
He was treated by medics on the ship before he was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Bricklayer David was immediately rushed to intensive care after doctors discovered he was suffering from double pneumonia.
Liz said: It was then the doctors come out and told me that my husband was going to die and to get any family members over.
It was horrible as I was on my own. Three days later they said they were going to try and take him off the ventilation.
They said that if he didnt start breathing on his own then they were going to have to let him go.
After a couple of days, David showed signs of recovery and was transferred to another ward at the hospital.
Liz said: The nurses tied him to the bed for three days with bandages because they said he was at risk of falling out.
He then started getting cuts on his hand and the nurse said he was allergic to the plasters but that never happens in England.
He was covered in bed sores and I was seeing him get worse. The level of care at the hospital was disgusting.
After spending 10 days in hospital, David was released on November 30 and flew back to the UK four days later.
However, he is currently receiving treatment and physiotherapy at Newcastles Royal Victoria Infirmary up to three times a week to treat his injuries.
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A student is devastated after her fit and healthy young boyfriend collapsed and died on top of her during s3x. The girl, identified only as Fu, was making love with 22-year-old Huang after they woke up at 5am.
She said: Halfway through our lovemaking, he began to sweat and had difficulty breathing. He lost consciousness right there, and fell down on the bed with a loud thud. I called his name and touched him, but there was no reaction,
The horrified 20-year-old called for an ambulance which raced Huang to hospital, but there was nothing doctors could do.
Debates about it on local media sites have concluded he had a happy ending.
One, Lai, wrote: What a way to go. He met a sudden death, but it was without pain.
He was enjoying the euphoria of making love and went straight to paradise.
Huang was a little overweight but had always been healthy, Fu told cops.
His shattered parents said: How can he die like this? We want to know what happened.
They have asked police to probe the cause of death. But officers say they do not suspect foul play and believe Huang suffered a stroke or heart attack in Keelung, Taiwan.
Shih Chi-chung, a senior doctor at the hospital Huang was taken to, said: When he arrived he had already stopped breathing and had no pulse.
He was unconscious and his eyes rolled white.
Huang had recently recovered from a minor cold.
And his death has prompted medics to suggest that the citys unusually cold temperature (11C) could have played a part.
Dr. Shih, head of Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals emergency room, warned that people should avoid vigorous sex when it is cold and warm up first with some exercises.
Prosecutors are awaiting the results of an autopsy.
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The Kardashians have wrapped up their luxury holiday and are heading back to Los Angeles.
After showing off her curves in all their glory this past week, the reality star opted to wear something a lot more casual for the plane journey.
The mum-of-two was spotted holding both Saint and a smiling North under each arm as they were flanked by burly security guards.
Kourtney was also spotted carrying youngest son Reign as they made their way through departures, while Kylie held onto boyfriend Tygas son King Cairo.
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Two Americans were killed in Donald Trumps first anti-terror raid on foreign soil an eight-year-old girl whose father was an al-Qaeda leader, and a Navy SEAL Team Six member involved in the mission.
Nawar al-Awlaki, also known as Nora, was among the non-combatants killed along with several women in Sundays military operation at an Al-Qaeda camp in Yemen.
he was the daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki , a dual US-Yemeni citizen who was the first American to die in a US drone strike.
The other American citizen killed in the raid was Chief Petty Officer William Ryan Owens, 36, who died during a gun battle.
Her 16-year-old brother, Abdulrahman, also a US citizen, was killed in a drone strike in Yemen two weeks after their father died in 2011.
Anwar al-Awlaki, 40, was born in the US state of New Mexico and split his youth between the US and Yemen, where his parents are from, before returning to America as an adult and working as an imam and lecturer.
He left the US in 2002 while he was being monitored by authorities, and spent some time giving lectures at mosques in the UK before returning to Yemen in 2004.
The al-Qaeda leader and propagandist was considered a potential successor to Osama bin Laden .
Yemenis claimed that as many as 59 combatants and civilians, including women, were killed.
US officials said some of the women were combatants and shot at the SEAL Team Six members.
Nawars grandfather, Nasser al-Awlaki, who once served as Yemens agriculture minister, claimed to NBC News the girl was killed by a bullet to the neck as she and her mother were sitting in a house.
He claimed other children were killed in the raid and that SEALs entered another house and killed everyone inside, including women, before burning it.
During the ensuing firefight Owens, of Peoria, Illinois, was killed. He was assigned to a special warfare unit based on the US East Coast.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in a statement: Ryan gave his full measure for our nation, and in performing his duty, he upheld the noblest standard of military service.
The United States would not long exist were it not for the selfless commitment of such warriors.
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LINN An ice fisherman died after falling through the ice on Jan. 24 in Geneva Lake.
At 3:34 p.m., the town of Linn Police Department was dispatched to the Linn Pier Boat launch on the south side of Geneva Lake for a welfare check on town of Linn resident Michael Zielinski.
Zielinskis pickup truck was parked at the pier as he had gone out on the lake to ice fish sometime around 3 a.m., the press release said.
Linda Zielinski, Michaels wife, called the department to make a welfare check because Zielinski was nowhere to be found.
According to the press release, she attempted to call Michaels phone all day to check on him but was unable to get an answer.
She looked around the shore line for her husband but couldnt locate him there or see him on the lake, the press release said. She then asked for the departments assistance as the ice on the lake looked unsafe to walk on, with several visible cracks and areas of open water.
The Linn Police Department deployed its drone, equipped with a forward looking infrared camera to perform an aerial search of the lake and shorelines.
Within four minutes, the drone obtained a faint heat signature in the water. After closer inspection, the department confirmed it to be Michael Zielinski.
Zielinskis body, along with his fishing equipment, was located approximately 1,036 feet from the south shore of the lake, north west of the Linn pier, floating near the surface of the water with no movement.
It is unclear for how long Zielinski was in the water, but Linda noted that his cell phone went right to voicemail starting around 7 a.m., the press release said.
Linn Fire Department was immediately dispatched to the scene for water rescue/recovery. Linn Fire Department divers, assisted by the city of Lake Geneva Fire Departments air boat, recovered Zielinskis body and brought it back to shore.
At approximately 5:04 p.m., he was pronounced dead by the Mercy Hospital on-scene MD-1 physician Todd Daniello.
Linn Police Department advises everyone to stay off of the lake, due to recent warmer weather thawing ice to dangerous levels.
ELKHORN The Southeast Drug Operation Group, or SEADOG, recently applied for and received a grant allocating $20,000 per year for two years toward a COPS anti-methamphetamine task force to help rid the southeast part of the state of its methamphetamine problem.
According to the press release, the Walworth County Drug Unit will be the lead contact for SEADOG, overseeing the administration of this grant for Kenosha, Racine, Dodge, Jefferson and Walworth Counties.
The grant comes after what the press release called an upward rise of methamphetamine production and possession in southeast Wisconsin.
Walworth County specifically has dealt with many methamphetamine related incidents, the press release continues.
A story on this grant will appear in a future edition of the Regional News.
Jan. 30, 2017 (EIRNS)This statement was issued for immediate release Monday afternoon, in the midst of a nationwide mobilization to stop the nomination of Steven Mnuchin as Treasury Secretary.
"Ohio Organizations Urge Sen. Sherrod Brown and Sen Rob Portman to Put Hold on Mnuchin Treasury Nomination; Cite Lies to Congress on Foreclosure Practices
"Toledo, Cleveland: Today Leaders of Our Revolution Northwest Ohio, the Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus, and Ohio Revolution called upon Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman to immediately put a Hold on the nomination of former One West Bank CEO and Goldman Sachs Alumnus Steve Mnuchin.
"Dennis Slotnick, the Chair of Our Revolution Northwest Ohio, charged, Mr. Mnuchin falsified information to the U.S. Senate in his testimony in front of the Senate Finance Committee. He noted that One West never used robo-signing to mass process foreclosure notices during the financial meltdown from 2008-2015. According to an authoritative study released on Sunday by the Columbus Dispatch, Mnuchins One West Bank definitely engaged in robo-signing in Ohio.
"Robo-signing is the term used when a single mortgage company person signs hundreds or more foreclosures swearing that they absolutely reviewed each case and followed all the federal procedures, and it turns out that they simply affixed their signature without going through the necessary steps.
"The Dispatch found that nearly fifty homes in the Columbus area were foreclosed using robo-signing done in Texas. The Dispatch further discovered that 1900 foreclosures were executed by One West in the six largest counties of Ohio during this period. How many were robo signed is yet to be determined.
"One case in Cleveland Heights was described in great detail by the Columbus paper. It read like a horror story, as a homeowner fought to save her home over a five-year period against the vicious and lying tactics of Mnuchins bank. Its almost like being raped, like being emotionally violated, said Carla Duncan, a social worker who was victimized by the OneWest robo-signing. It got to the point where I was afraid to open my own door. Marc Dann, former Ohio Attorney General, and Ms. Duncans lawyer during the five year ordeal, told the Dispatch that Mnuchins businesses were a major offender in the mortgage crisis.
"Mr. Mnuchin was not only involved in dirty mortgage operations but he also told the committee that he opposes the restoration of the Glass-Steagall Act, separating commercial from investment banking. Had Glass-Steagall not been repealed, it is likely that the entire mortgage and mortgage-backed security meltdown would never have happened.
"So, my allies and I are calling for Sen. Brown and Sen. Portman to immediately put a hold on the Mnuchin nomination. Furthermore, we are planning on coming to Congress this week to bring them this story, and also to urge Congress and President Trump to restore Glass-Steagall and end these nightmares once and for all. To Contact Dennis Slotnick please call: 419 704 1863 , email slotnicks4@aol.com and Steve Holecko at: 440-220-1874."
PRESS RELEASE
U.S. Should Cooperate with Russia When Possible, Says Former NATO Commander
Jan. 30, 2017 (EIRNS)Former NATO Commander Adm. James Stavridis said yesterday that the United States should be ready to confront Russia when necessary, but at the same time, be able to cooperate on matters of mutual interest.
"There are many zones of cooperation with Russia, including counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, counter-piracy, the Arctic, arms control, trade, science, diplomacythere are many ways we can cooperate,"
he told radio host John Catsimatidis on AM 970 in New York, during an interview.
"So I would say we ought to keep our eyes open; recognize Putin will push hard around the edges of NATO," he continued. "We should confront where we must, but cooperate wherever we can. I think thats the approach the Trump team will take."
In Germany, CSU leader Horst Seehofer told Bild am Sonntag in an interview published yesterday, that the sanctions against Russia must be lifted.
"Im arguing for realpolitik, not sabre-rattling," Seehofer said.
"We have to be clear about different positions, such as about the annexation of Crimea, while working to promote sensible business ties."
"The sanctions against Russia should be ended this year," Seehofer continued.
Local self-government minister MB Rajesh said on Saturday that the temporary openings in the Corporation would be filled through employment exchange.
Tanta Restaurant Review Authentic Chicago Peruvian Cuisine
Chicagos authentic Peruvian restaurant, Tanta (118 W. Grand Ave. in River North), offers a brand new menu. This includes a lunch experience for its diners daily from 11am to 2:30pm. Executive Chef Jesus Delgado creates a selection of never-before tasted Peruvian lunch dishes as part of the restaurants new service, which are also available for guests to enjoy on the indoor/outdoor rooftop dining space once spring returns.
Were thrilled to offer this new dining experience for our loyal guests as well as those looking to enjoy a taste of Perus lively, vibrant cuisine in the afternoon, General Manager Tomy Lokvicic says. Especially during summer, its a great way for local business professionals to escape the office and savor some sunlight on our rooftop during lunch hours.
Additionally, the restaurant plans to offer a Peruvian Power Lunch option, featuring a selection of prix-fixe dishes specifically designed for business professionals with limited time constraints to get back to the office in time for their next meeting. The new lunch menu includes salads, sandwiches, and other various bites, desserts, and cocktails. There is also an extensive dinner, brunch, sweets, and cocktail menu. *For Chicago Restaurant Week (January 27th-February 9th), Tanta is offering a $22 prix fix lunch menu and a $44 dinner menu, each per person.
Tantas interiors boast a trendy and vibrant yet casual ambiance. The restaurant is a long, narrow space with comfy brown tables and booths. Along the wall runs an extra long, colorful mural. I loved the simplistic beauty of the building.
My friend and I had a very enjoyable dining experience at Tanta when we arrived for lunch. Our server was very friendly and professional and attended to our every need and request. Our lunch cocktails included a pomegranate mimosa (which was nicely tart and not too sweet) and la guapa (Ch lavender gin, rhubarb, lemon and Anna Codorniu brut rose), which was a surprisingly lovely drink, considering we are not gin drinkers.
For our starters, we shared potatoes (golden Yukon potato fries, chimichurri, polleria sauce) and plantain chips with a polleria dipping sauce (mayonnaise, cilantro, onion, garlic, red pepper). Both were delicious! I also loved that they were not heavy or excessively greasy; they were a delightful beginning to our meal.
Next, we shared the most marvelous caprese salad. (All of Tantas food is Peruvian while also influenced by Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Italian cuisine). The salad consisted of a black quinoa mix, creamy burrata cheese, basil, arugula, baby spinach and aji Amarillo dressing. The only complaint I had about the salad is that I wished it had more burrata on it.
We vegetarians were extra hungry that afternoon: We ate two flavorful entrees, one of which was not offered on the menu. We indulged in a quinoa chaufa (wok-fried quinoa, bell pepper, mushroom, bean sprouts, soy sauce, sesame oil and scallions) and a vegetable ceviche that was not on the menu (lime, asparagus, carrots, sweet potato and Peruvian corn). My friend was a bigger fan of this dish since I do not care for lime very much. Another tempting dish we tried was roasted cauliflower in a cheese sauce. I have always thought that cauliflower is a lovely, underappreciated vegetable and in this dish the cheese enhanced it.
We chose to order two amazing desserts to complete our fantastic meal: duo de alfajores (vanilla and chocolate shortbread cookies, dulce de leche center and lucuma ice cream) and tarta de manzana (baked apple, almond crust, golden quinoa ice cream and toffee sauce). Both dishes were a piece of Heaven. I especially loved the alfajores because they were homemade. (Store-bought alfajores in my opinion can often be dry).
After our meal, our server gave us a brief tour of Tantas rooftop. It was beautiful with indoor and outdoor dining space. Though it was barren and cold in the middle of January, it was rather easy for me to envision enjoying a nice cocktail up there once summer arrives.
And so my eager food readers, what are you waiting for? Come soon to Tanta to enjoy a superb Purvian dining experience. (I will also see you all up on the rooftop in May!)
Photos: Jennifer Lunz
Hours:
Dinner: Daily at 5pm
Lunch: Daily 11am - 2:30pm
Brunch Specials: Saturday and Sunday
Rooftop Season: May-September
Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling 312.222.9700 or visiting the website, or follow updates on social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
The travel ban imposed by President Trump has had a minor impact on U.S.-based airlines but has forced foreign airlines to scramble, even prompting one carrier to switch out a flight crew to comply with the action.
Trumps executive order to temporarily bar travelers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya has sparked protests at some major airports, causing several flight delays. There were no reports of canceled flights.
For the record: An earlier version of this story said Emirates flies seven direct flights from Abu Dhabi. Emirates flies 17 flights a day to the U.S.
At Los Angeles International Airport, a total of 15 flights six international flights and nine domestic flights were delayed Sunday because flight crews and passengers were hampered getting past protesters to their gates.
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No U.S.-based carrier flies directly to any of the seven countries listed in the temporary ban, and visitors from those countries make up only a fraction of all visitors to the U.S.
The travel volume between the U.S. and the affected countries is not very large compared to the volume to other places, said Jan Brueckner, an economics professor at UC Irvine and expert on the airline industry. So I dont think its a huge thing.
But other experts worry that the ban may send a message that the U.S. is not as welcoming to foreign tourists as it was in the past.
If the U.S. is viewed as a hostile environment, not a welcoming destination, we will see fewer international visitors this year, said Henry Harteveldt, an industry analyst with Atmosphere Research Group.
That could be a major blow to the nations travel industry, which supports 15.1 million jobs.
The U.S. Travel Assn., the trade group for the nations travel industry, said it hopes that the Trump administration does not delay reviewing the procedures for approving visas from the seven countries. The executive order keeps out refugees for 120 days and travelers from the seven predominantly Muslim nations out for three months.
The real trouble would come if the chaos and confusion is protracted, said Jonathan Grella, executive vice president at the association.
U.S. carriers said they are rebooking and offering full refunds to travelers who had to cancel flights to the U.S. For those travelers who landed in the U.S. with a one-way ticket and were forced by the executive order to fly back, the airlines picked up the cost of the return flight.
The biggest impact of the ban has been on foreign-based airlines, which complained that Trumps executive order caught them by surprise.
The executive order was issued without prior coordination or warning, causing confusion among both airlines and travelers, the International Air Transport Assn., said in a statement Monday. It also placed additional burdens on airlines to comply with unclear requirements, to bear implementation costs and to face potential penalties for non-compliance.
The trade group represents 265 airlines worldwide, including Qatar, Emirates, Etihad and Iran Air, carriers that fly out of some of the countries named in the ban.
Emirates Airline, the worlds largest long-haul carrier with 17 flights a day to the U.S. , said it was forced to change pilots and flight attendants on some flights to the U.S. to keep from violating the new ban. Trumps executive order did not exclude airline crew members with passports from those countries named in the ban.
Emirates declined to elaborate on the staff changes, saying only: We have made the necessary adjustments to our crewing, to comply with the latest requirements. Emirates continues to operate flights to the U.S. as scheduled.
Travel from the Middle East and Africa represents only about 5% of all overseas visitors to the U.S., according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mexico, Canada and Europe represent the biggest markets for foreign tourism to the U.S.
Still, the travel ban continued to spark controversy.
A Los Angeles travel agent who specializes in booking trips for Iranian Americans said her clients are afraid to leave the U.S. for fear that they cannot return. Even Iranian-Americans, they dont want to go anywhere, said Nancy Amiri of Amiri Travel.
Suiteness, an online travel site, announced that in response to the temporary ban it has removed all of Trumps hotels from its travel site.
As supporters of diversity and the collective strength of the human spirit, we at Suiteness refuse to profit off of Trump Hotel listings while innocents suffer because of this executive action, said Robbie Bhathal, chief executive of Suiteness.
hugo.martin@latimes.com
To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.
At a gas station in Tijuana last week, cab driver Martin Canseco talked angrily about the dramatic surge in gasoline prices that has touched off sometimes deadly protests.
I cannot feed my family; its too hard, he said as the digits flew by on the pump filling up his van.
His remarks echo those of millions across Mexico, where the governments decision to accelerate increases to gasoline prices is part of a larger, more ambitious effort to reform the entire countrys inefficient and sclerotic state-run energy sector.
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Most economists agree that a less regulated environment will better allocate resources and encourage much-needed investments.
The transformation was going to be difficult under ideal circumstances but conditions have quickly become more complicated in Mexico, where half the population lives in poverty and political leaders are churning through a new host of challenges, including one from the new U.S. president.
For many, the gas price increase was, in the words of a Mexican adage, the drop that made the glass spill over.
People are already making miserable wages, said Tijuana resident Israel Lopez, speaking in Spanish as he took a walk near the beach with his wife. Can you imagine a guy making 600 pesos [$29] at a factory and he has kids and a family? What are they going to do?
Each weekend since the price hikes were announced, thousands of angry residents have taken to the streets, prompting authorities to block freeway access into Mexico from San Ysidro.
In nearby Rosarito, a man intentionally drove his pickup into a group of federal officers. Across the country, at least four people have been killed and more than 1,500 arrested.
Mexicans call the price increase gasolinazo literally, gasoline blow and it has become a flashpoint for anger over larger, long-simmering issues in Mexico that include chronic complaints about government patronage, favoritism and corruption.
Even those who favor reforming Mexicos energy system have blasted the way the government of President Enrique Pena Nieto has handled the politics of the price increase.
They simply threw the baby into the water and said, Sink or swim, said Tony Payan, director of the Mexico Center at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. And of course, the baby is sinking.
They simply threw the baby into the water and said, Sink or swim. And of course, the baby is sinking. Tony Payan, director of the Mexico Center at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University
In 1938, Mexicos government nationalized the countrys oil industry. The move pushed out foreign companies and created Pemex, the state petroleum company that became, for many, a source of national pride.
But for decades, the energy industry was poorly run and riven with corruption.
Oil refineries, for example, operate so unproductively that even though Mexico is one of the worlds top producers of crude, one-third to one-half of the countrys gasoline is imported from the United States.
In an increasingly globalized economy and international energy landscape, the Mexican government heeded the calls of most economists to break up its state-controlled system that bred economic inefficiencies and distorted markets.
An overhaul of energy laws in 2013 has led to a series of reforms that touch virtually every segment of the industry. Mexico has opened its energy markets to foreign investors, with companies such as San Diego-based Sempra Energy expanding their profiles in areas including natural gas pipelines as well as solar and wind farms.
Energy reform included eliminating price controls on gasoline, which had been subsidized for decades, leading to an artificially low price.
All the money the [Mexican] treasury is putting into gasoline subsidies and it was in the billions, depending on the year wasnt going to education or infrastructure, public services, healthcare, you name it, said Jeremy Martin, vice president of energy and sustainability at the Institute of the Americas.
On Dec. 27, Mexicos Finance Ministry announced the price increase, which was expected. But the increase was not a small one: The price of premium gas would jump 20%, and the price of regular gas would go up 14%. And the increases would go into effect in less than a week, on Jan. 1.
Whats more, prices will go up an additional 8% in February to help complete the process of more flexible pricing.
The impact was even more pronounced in border cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Nogales because of a long-standing government policy that indexed gasoline prices in Mexico to prices across the U.S. border. By indexing, gasoline prices in border towns were even lower than they were in interior Mexico.
But the indexing regime is going by the wayside as well, Payan said.
Tijuana drivers like Canseco say the 20% increase is actually bigger.
It went up 50% more, he said.
The daily minimum wage in Mexico is just 80 pesos ($3.60) and the announcement of the gasoline price increase came just days after congressmen voted themselves Christmas bonuses that equaled about $11,000 per senator and $6,500 per congressman.
Many government officials also receive gasoline vouchers that are worth about $250 a month, Payan said. The voucher system is slated for the chopping block, but it still sticks in the craw of millions in Mexico, where the average household income equals $12,806 a year.
Earlier this month, Pena Nieto appeared on national television, saying the government had to increase gasoline prices in order to avoid raising taxes and cutting social programs.
I ask you, he said to the camera, What would you have done?
Pena Nietos approval numbers have dropped as low as 12%.
The whole idea of increasing gasoline prices made sense from an economists point of view, said George Baker, publisher of the Mexico Energy Intelligence newsletter. However, it did not make sense from a political point of view.
Payan suspects the Pena Nieto administration chose to opt for a big gas price increase as part of a political calculation.
The presidential election is in June 2018, so I think they decided, lets just do it all at once, go through the pain this year, a year and a half away from the election, in the hope that the Mexican people quickly forget it, Payan said.
Martin at the Institute of the Americas said the government handled the gasoline spike poorly but said in the long run, energy reform will help Mexico and its people.
And he offered a caveat:
Institutional development transparency, removing corruption from the system it all has to be done concurrently with the openings to private investments so there can be a full seizing of the opportunity.
Nikolewski writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com
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Rigorous cleaning practices dont ensure that medical scopes are free of contamination, and many of these reusable devices have scratches and dents that could harbor blood, tissue and bacteria, a new study found.
The seven-month study, published Tuesday in the American Journal of Infection Control, found that 12 of 20 gastroscopes and colonoscopes examined tested positive for bacterial growth, even after being disinfected using the current guidelines or additional measures.
In addition, 17 of the scopes were pulled from use at the end of the study and returned to the manufacturer for repair due to serious defects. Photos in the study show numerous scratches and dents on the ends of the scopes that could trap organic material as well as brown stains, debris and residual fluid stuck inside scope channels.
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The scopes were relatively new at the beginning of the study and all were manufactured by Tokyo-based Olympus Corp., the leading maker of gastrointestinal scopes used in the United States and worldwide.
Physicians, other caregivers, hospitals and regulators should be paying keen attention to this issue, as patients have a right to assume that clean instruments are being used on them, said Cori Ofstead, the studys lead author and an epidemiologist in St. Paul, Minn.
Since 2015, federal prosecutors, lawmakers and government regulators have been investigating a series of outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant superbugs across the country tied to scopes. Most of the scrutiny has been focused on a specific device known as a duodenoscope, which is used to inspect and treat problems in the gastrointestinal tract. It has been tied to at least 35 deaths in the last four years.
This study and other outbreak reports suggest a broader problem affecting other types of scopes, which could put more patients at risk of dangerous infections nationwide. However, the bacteria this latest study found werent the drug-resistant superbugs that can be deadly for patients.
Those scopes shouldnt be in use. Im amazed the gastroenterologist could even see anything because the lens was covered in so much crud. Michelle Alfa, professor at the University of Manitoba
The research was limited to a small number of scopes at one surgery center affiliated with the University of Minnesota Health System. But outside experts said the research was rigorous and raised serious concerns.
Those scopes shouldnt be in use, said Michelle Alfa, a professor in the department of medical microbiology at the University of Manitoba and an advisor to U.S. regulators on scope testing. Im amazed the gastroenterologist could even see anything because the lens was covered in so much crud.
Alfa said the staining and discoloration inside the scopes indicated a buildup of biofilm, a slimy material that shields bacteria and other microbes from being removed during cleaning.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates medical devices, said it was aware of the studys findings and urges hospitals to immediately remove from service any scopes that show signs of damage.
Since the recent outbreaks and subsequent government warnings, many hospitals have adopted a variety of new safety measures to combat scope-related infections.
But Ofstead said subjecting scopes to additional rounds of manual cleaning, automated washing and a different disinfectant didnt have much impact.
The findings suggest that cleaning wasnt working, perhaps because cleaning doesnt work when endoscopes are damaged, said Ofstead, chief executive of the medical research firm Ofstead & Associates.
This study focused on widely used colonoscopes and gastroscopes, which have somewhat simpler designs than duodenoscopes and are believed to be easier to disinfect. The study didnt track patients and there was no evidence of infection among people treated at the study site.
The colonoscopes, which peer at the inner lining of the large intestine, presented fewer problems than gastroscopes, designed to examine the upper gastrointestinal tract. When the clinics technicians performed tests to detect contamination, they found the first manual cleaning worked 99% of the time for colonoscopes.
For gastroscopes, only 48% were deemed clean after the first try. And 11% never reached the benchmark for clean even after two rounds of manual scrubbing and two rounds of automated cleaning and high-level disinfection.
The researchers said gastroscopes may be incurring more damage and becoming more resistant to cleaning due to exposure to stomach acid and bile in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Olympus, the device manufacturer, issued repair reports on 14 of the scopes and said 13 of them had at least one critical defect, according to researchers.
In a statement, the company said it welcomes additional research and perspectives as helpful to the entire medical community and our own efforts to increase patient safety related to endoscopes.
Chad Terhune is a senior correspondent with California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation published by Kaiser Health News.
President Donald Trump touted a $600-million cost reduction for the F-35 fighter jet program in remarks Monday. But that amount appears to be similar to a previously planned price slash by the Department of Defense.
Trump took credit for the reduction, telling reporters that the cut applies to 90 planes.
I was able to get $600 million approximately off those planes, he said. I think that was a great achievement. So I appreciate Lockheed Martin for being so responsive.
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The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is produced in batches, and the price per plane is expected to decrease with each lot. The next batch, known in military jargon as low-rate initial production 10, is expected to contain 90 planes. Negotiations are still ongoing to determine pricing for these planes.
Defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp. is the planes builder.
In December, Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, program executive officer for the F-35 joint program office, said the price per plane in this upcoming batch could decrease 6% to 7%.
The F-35 comes in three variants to suit the needs of the Air Force, Marines and the Navy, with separate prices for each. In the previous batch of planes, the most common F-35A variant was priced at $102.1 million per jet, with the F-35B at $131.6 million per jet, and the F-35C at $132.2 million per jet.
With this in mind, Bogdans expectation of a 6% to 7% reduction per plane would put the total cut for all 90 planes which includes all three variants between about $576 million and $672 million.
Lockheed Martin said in a statement that the company appreciated Trumps comments on the positive progress weve made on the F-35 program.
We share his commitment to delivering this critical capability for our men and women in uniform at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers, the firm said.
When asked whether the $600 million cut mentioned by Trump was in addition to the already-planned cut, the company declined to comment on ongoing discussions, and referred that question to the F-35 joint program office.
The joint program office, in turn, said negotiations are ongoing and we expect to get a good deal for the taxpayers and for the warfighter.
Last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis ordered a review of the F-35 program and its costs, and also asked for a parallel review of whether the capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet could compare with that of the F-35C.
samantha.masunaga@latimes.com
@smasunaga
A lawsuit filed Monday accuses banking giant Wells Fargo of illegally denying student loans to young immigrants who are protected from deportation and allowed to work and study in the U.S. under a program created by former President Obama.
Wells Fargo said it was disappointed the plaintiffs sued instead of working with the bank on a solution.
The young immigrants are in the country illegally but have Social Security numbers and documents that meet bank requirements for identification, but Wells Fargo refuses to give them loans based on their citizenship status, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California by the Los Angeles-based Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
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The loans, meanwhile, are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, the suit says.
It seeks a court order declaring the policy discriminatory and forcing Wells Fargo to grant the loans to those participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. It also seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Wells Fargo understands the dream of pursuing higher education, and we remain focused on our responsible lending practices to assist temporary and permanent residents and U.S. citizens in obtaining student financing, the bank said in a statement.
Banking experts say financial institutions can face unique challenges getting repaid by borrowers who are not in the country permanently, including potential difficulty in accepting payments from foreign banks.
A spokesman for Chase Bank said it does not offer student loans. An email to representatives for Bank of America was not immediately returned.
The lawsuit comes amid concern among immigrant groups that President Trump will cancel the DACA program as part of a broader effort to control immigration. Trump has signed executive actions over the last week to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, temporarily ban immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries and suspend the United States entire refugee program.
Its very important in our view to establish that there are clear rules against this kind of discrimination, particularly in a time like this, said Tom Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Obama created DACA by executive order in 2012, providing temporary protection for immigrants brought to the United States by their parents before the age of 16 and who live in the country illegally.
Under the program, recipients receive a Social Security number, allowing them to work, pay taxes, study and travel for a two-year period. More than 750,000 immigrants had been approved for DACA as of December 2016, federal officials say.
Mitzie Perez, one of those immigrants and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, came to the U.S. illegally in 1997 from Guatemala at age 5. Now 25, Perez is a junior at UC Riverside, where she is focusing on gender and sexuality studies.
She applied for a student loan from Wells Fargo last year to help cover the costs of her education but was not able to proceed with the online loan application after she disclosed she was not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, according to the lawsuit. She said she works and has used credit cards to cover her tuition.
Every day I consider not completing my education because I dont have the means, she said.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of other DACA recipients who have been denied loans by Wells Fargo. Saenz said it was too early to know how many people might qualify.
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Guitarist and vocalist Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 fame has put his home in Sherman Oaks back on the market for $2.249 million, or for lease at $9,500 a month.
The Spanish-style house, built in 2008, features vaulted ceilings, wrought-iron work, French doors and wood floors.
A two-story foyer with a sweeping staircase, living and dining rooms, a loft/office, five bedrooms and six bathrooms are within 5,312 square feet of living space. The breakfast nook sits off the kitchen and draws the eye with black fabric wallpaper and wainscoting.
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Upstairs, the master suite has a pair of walk-in closets and a two-way fireplace. A private balcony sits off the master bedroom and overlooks the grounds.
Outdoors, a large patio area sits beneath a trellis. Tall hedges surround a swimming pool and spa.
The property had been listed for as much as $2.799 million last year. It last changed hands in 2009 for $1.7 million, public records show.
Nicki LaPorta and Karen Crystal of Ewing Sothebys International Real Estate are the listing agents.
Whibley, 36, is a founding member of Sum 41. The Canadian rock band is known for the songs In Too Deep and Were All To Blame. Their sixth studio album, 13 Voice, was released last year.
neal.leitereg@latimes.com
Twitter: @NJLeitereg
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Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos said the Seattle-based company is prepared to support a lawsuit being brought by Washington states attorney general against President Trump and the administration over Trumps executive order on immigration and refugees.
The Washington Post, which is owned by Bezos, reported that Bezos wrote in an internal email to Amazon employees Monday that company lawyers have prepared a declaration of support for the suit. The Post reported that the letter says company lawyers are working other legal options as well.
Fellow Washington state-based tech companies Microsoft and Expedia are also supporting the suit.
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The lawsuit filed Monday says the restrictions on immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries is damaging Washington states economy and hurting its companies.
Amazon didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
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Theres no avoiding politics these days. Not even a thrilling stage adaptation of the great American novel set on the high seas can offer complete escape.
At Saturdays matinee of Moby Dick at South Coast Repertory, when Starbuck, the levelheaded first mate on the Pequod, asked about Captain Ahab, Shall this crazed old man be tamely suffered to drag a whole ships company down to doom? it seemed as if the audience collectively drew a loud intake of breath. (If Starbuck were to tweet this question today, hed no doubt gain 10,000 followers in an instant.)
Of course Herman Melvilles classic novel, published in 1851, isnt about this latest turn in American democracy. But its scope is so wide, ranging across subjects of morality, metaphysics and even marine biology, it cant help speaking eloquently to our current turmoil. A voyage into the heart of darkness, Moby Dick is still the most incisive guide to the lure of destruction that threatens to capsize all that our civilization has built up in its defense.
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The production, adapted and directed by David Catlin, comes from Chicagos Lookingglass Theatre Company. A marvel of economy, the adaptation shrinks a 500-plus-page novel into two hours of stage time.
Naturally, something is lost in translation. The great, mad Swedish playwright August Strindberg lamented that the 19th century theater had become a Bible in picture for those who cannot read what is written or printed. He would be right to note that the attenuated stage version cannot induce the same sea change of consciousness as a full immersion into Melvilles hypnotic prose.
But Strindberg would no doubt be mightily impressed by the impressionistic approach to theatrical illustration. Visually, the production is a stunner. Catlin and his brilliant design team provide scenic enticement to awaken the audiences imagination. Like the best books, the staging (with sets by Courtney ONeill, costumes by Sully Ratke and lighting by William C. Kirkham) requires our full mental collaboration.
The vessel captained by Ahab discreetly suggests the skeletal outline of a great white whale. Like Jonah, whose biblical tale is invoked by Melville, we are in the belly of the beast.
But were also encouraged to float above the action through the acrobatic dynamism of the actors who leap onto ropes and hoops that double as the ships mast. Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi is responsible for the aerial choreography, which infuses the staging with kinetic excitement.
Christopher Donahue, left, Anthony Fleming III and Jamie Abelson face Kelley Abell, Kasey Foster and Cordelia Dewdney as the Fates. (Debora Robinson / South Coast Repertory)
Three actresses (Kelley Abell, Cordelia Dewdney and Kasey Foster) portray what the program describes as the Fates. These otherworldly figures intone descriptive passages from Melville that capture the addictive nature of the sailors life. Sound designer and composer Rick Sims provides music for these female apparitions that evokes the death-haunted nature of the open seas, ingeniously conjured by a billowing skirt.
Call me Ishmael is how both the novel and this untraditionally traditional stage version begin. The role is performed by Jamie Abelson, who plays Ishmael as a persnickety loner who sees the sea as the only answer to the gloom that has engulfed him. He is our eyewitness on this journey and, in those few moments when he transcends his limitations, he becomes our emotional surrogate.
The characterizations may not have sufficient time for psychological complexity, but they have a vivid flatness that hints at greater depths. The evolving friendship between Queequeg (a muscularly graceful Anthony Flemming III), the Polynesian harpooner, and Ishmael grows in poignancy as Ishmael comes to emotionally depend on the cannibal who turns out to be in many respects the most highly evolved person aboard the whaling ship.
Christopher Donahue limns Ahabs monomaniacal soul with an austere economy of brushstrokes. This is no melodramatic stage villain but a plausible leader who has given himself over to vengeance. Ahabs pursuit of Moby Dick, the great white whale that caused the loss of his leg, has become for him the substitute religion that no reason can deter.
Opposing him is Walter Owen Briggs Starbuck, a professional and practical-minded sailor who recognizes the dangers of Ahabs obsession yet struggles to find the will to overcome him. Briggs performance offers sharp glimpses into the characters inner struggle to overturn hierarchy and convention when the lives of his shipmates are on the line.
Lookingglass buoyant staging honors a literary masterpiece by stretching the companys theatrical vocabulary almost to the breaking point. Great works of art defy safety, and theres a scene near the end when I feared that not just the crew of the Pequod but also the audience at South Coast Rep was in imminent danger.
While serving as an inspiring example of physical theater, the production complements rather than replaces the novel. The experience revived in me the memory of reading Moby Dick one summer as a young man on vacation near the shore and it has urged me to take the book down from the shelf to reacquaint myself with a narrative wisdom that is never out of season.
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Moby Dick
Where: South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays; ends Feb. 19
Tickets: $30-$84
Information: (714) 708-5555 or www.scr.org
Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
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charles.mcnulty@latimes.com
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Nightclub shooting in virtual reality? For Rose Troche, painful subjects make for powerful art
Watch a nightclub shooting in virtual reality? For Rose Troche, painful subjects make for powerful art
Filmmaker Rose Troche wants her virtual reality work to be considered something other than cinema. She premiered a VR piece at Sundance, If Not Love. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Rose Troche says she came out three times in her life: first as a Puerto Rican, next as an artist and finally as a gay person.
By the time I came out as gay, it was like, Oh, this old thing? jokes Troche, the child of immigrant parents who grew up hiding her minority identity on multiple levels in a tough Chicago neighborhood during the 1960s and 70s.
Relaxing on a couch in a Hollywood Hills chalet, she explains how shes in the midst of a fourth coming-out of sorts. As a writer and director on the vanguard of virtual reality, shes trying to articulate that her latest form of art isnt filmmaking.
Its a tricky but important sticking point for the celebrated indie filmmaker, whose virtual reality project If Not Love premiered this week at the Sundance Film Festivals experimental New Frontier arts and media exhibition.
Since 2012, New Frontier has showcased the film worlds bold and exciting steps into the VR space. Troche, who has exhibited three pieces at New Frontier since 2014, is searching for fresh language to describe that entrance.
Im advocating for a whole new set of words so that we stop calling it cinema, she says. This needs to exist as what it is and not be put into a funnel of what is a beautiful and amazing medium, but its not the same thing.
Troche would know. She carved out a career for herself in film after her 1994 feature debut, the lesbian romantic comedy Go Fish, became a cult hit. Made for $15,000, the film grossed more than $2.4 million at the box office thanks to a string of awards and a nomination for a Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.
I do pieces that take you to places that you dont want to go, and I dont want to take you to those places on a whim or in a cavalier way. Rose Troche
Film gave way to a decade spent building commercial success in television, most notably as the co-executive producer of the lesbian drama The L Word. But a history of social activism and a desire for a new artistic challenge drove Troche to create VR work.
Three out of four of her pieces have dealt with difficult subjects. Perspective Chapter 1: The Party was a first-person exploration of date rape from the point of view of both the survivor and the assailant. Perspective Chapter 2: The Misdemeanor told the story of a police shooting from the perspective of a policeman and a young black man being shot.
The new work, If Not Love, is a short piece that takes the viewer on a painful, 360-degree journey through a mass shooting at a gay nightclub. If Not Love isnt intended to re-create last years Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Fla., but the project was inspired by that incident as well as by the tragedy in Nice, France, when a truck plowed through a crowd at a Bastille Day celebration.
In both cases, Troche wondered if anything could have been done to stop the violence.
If Not Love explores that thought by following the story of a closeted gay man who, after an anonymous hookup, decides to carry out a shooting at a nightclub. The piece presents an alternate scenario where, instead of letting him leave after sex, the mans partner asks him to stay. The two men kiss and hold each other, while back at the nightclub the bodies on the ground suddenly rise up in reverse of the falls they took in the shooting.
The idea, which Troche admits is perhaps naively simplistic, is that a single act of love just might save someone from himself. She felt VR would be the most effective medium to get her idea across because of its immediacy.
This form allows you a shortness of story, but in a more immersive way, Troche says. I do pieces that take you to places that you dont want to go, and I dont want to take you to those places on a whim or in a cavalier way. I wouldnt want you to be immersed in this for more than seven minutes.
If this isnt film, what is it? You watch it like film, only through a special headset. And the watching is active, instead of inactive. VR encourages you to move around to look up, down, right and left. If you turn completely around during the scene in If Not Love, when the shooter is leaving after his secret tryst, for example, you will see a childs car seat.
With VR, Troche says, we are relearning how to watch. Its teaching us how to view things differently, and to be more intuitive viewers.
New Frontier curator Shari Frilot says she has invited Troche to exhibit year after year because of her ability to emotionally penetrate the limits of the intellect in ways that are powerful, familiar and accessible.
She continues to stand out as a storyteller in this field who is doing something unique around combining classic aspects of filmmaking character, performance, story structure with the embodied power of this immersive medium in ways that continue to push this field forward, says Frilot, who has seen New Frontier grow exponentially since its inception in 2007 as a fledgling space at the intersection of art, filmmaking and technology.
Troche believes that VR will claim its rightful place in the pantheon of future media arts when its makers learn to create strong narratives with powerhouse performances. Three years ago, she says, it was popular to say narrative couldnt be done in VR. This has been proven false, but to date she doesnt feel the accomplishment has been properly achieved.
Its really important to me to test the parameters of how to create sustainable narratives in VR, Troche says, adding that the sooner a cohesive language to describe it emerges, including critics who understand and employ that language, the sooner that feat will be accomplished.
Actors, too, will need to relearn their craft if VR is to flourish. Actors are never off camera in a 360-degree film, unless they physically leave the room. Its almost like being in a play, only, unlike with theater, actors in VR need to understate everything. The more they project in VR, the more false they look.
Troches next step into the narrative realm is a 30-minute VR comedy series called LGBTQIA, which she describes as The Bad News Bears of gay comedy.
Im trying to find the strengths of VR and what it has to offer, she says.
I watched the film Blue alone in a movie theater, and I remember being in the space and bubble and world of it. I think VR has the potential to put viewers back in that space in a whole new way.
Pedro Almodovar will head the jury of the Cannes Film Festival when the prestige gathering kicks off May 17.
The Spanish auteur, who has brought five films to competition, will return to a group he first served with a quarter-century ago. In 1992, Almodovar was a part of a jury headed by Gerard Depardieu; the group selected Bille Augusts The Best Intentions for the top prize, the Palme dOr.
For the record: An earlier version of this post gave the title of Bille Augusts 1992 Palme dOr winner as My Best Intentions. The title is The Best Intentions.
In a statement, Almodovar said he was aware of the responsibility that entails being the president of the jury and I hope to be up to the job. Festival organizers called the director a unique and hugely popular artist.
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The Cannes jury chooses the prizes for the 20 or so films in the main competition, regarded as the best from around the world. The festival has tended toward jury presidents from English-speaking countries in recent years, last choosing one from another place, Italys Nanni Moretti, in 2012, and before that Isabelle Huppert in 2009.
Last year a jury headed by Mad Max director George Miller tabbed the Ken Loach social drama I, Daniel Blake for the Palme over the more critically lauded Toni Erdmann. Fall films Elle, Loving and The Salesman were also among the movies that premiered in competition.
Almodovars own Julieta, about a woman estranged from her daughter coming to terms with events from the past, also played in competition there.
Jurors and titles will be announced in the coming months.
See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour
steve.zeitchik@latimes.com
Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT
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The border guard took my passport and grunted. Two more guards arrived, eyed me, inspected my papers and led me to a room. The door closed. Never a good sign.
It was around 3 a.m. in Tehrans international airport and my presence had disrupted the calm of a winters night. Whispers, asides, a commander was summoned.
Days before I landed in December 2002, the Iranian government had ordered that American journalists be fingerprinted and questioned on entering the country. The decree was in retaliation for American officials insulting behavior toward Iranian nationals. I sat beneath a portrait of Ayatollah Khomeini. A man walked into the room with a fingerprint pad, ink and paper. He took my hand but seemed confused; the guards pressed in closer, watching.
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The man rolled one of my fingers over the pad. Too much ink. The print smudged. He grabbed a second finger. Another unreadable blur. The commander grew agitated. Bursts of Farsi crackled around me; the guards appeared to be giving advice to the man with the ink. The man yelled back. No one was sure of the procedure. What had begun as menacing slipped into farce. The commander sighed and, wanting to regain control of the situation, ordered tea.
The man with ink handed me a tissue. I wiped my stained fingers. The guards laughed. The tea came. Silence fell. We were an American and four or five Iranians with no common language. We nodded and gestured, men caught up in the politics of their governments, stirring sugar and sipping tea in the strange circumstances of the night.
I was reminded of that moment on Sunday when Iranian director Asghar Farhadi announced that he would not be traveling back to Los Angeles next month to attend the Academy Awards. His movie The Salesman is nominated for an Oscar for foreign language film. Farhadis decision came after President Trumps executive order to suspend the U.S. refugee program and temporarily prohibit entry to citizens of seven predominantly Muslim nations.
(Jay Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Farhadi could have applied for an artistic waiver, but like Taraneh Alidoosti, the star of The Salesman, he decided to take a moral stand. In a statement directed at Trump and Irans religious conservatives, he said:
For years on both sides of the ocean, groups of hard-liners have tried to present to their people unrealistic and fearful images of various nations and cultures in order to turn their differences into disagreements, their disagreements into enmities and their enmities into fears. Instilling fear in the people is an important tool used to justify extremist and fanatic behavior by narrow-minded individuals.
Farhadis films are meditations on what crisis does to the soul, how it forces us to confront not the image of who we want to be, but of who we are. His characters stand unadorned, flawed and imperfect, struggling for but not always finding redemption. Much like ourselves. Not having him at the Academy Awards will diminish the ceremony; filmmakers and actors may praise him from the stage, but it wont carry the resonance of a conscientious cultural and international voice at a time that the Trump administration is peering inexorably inward.
The U.S. and Iran have been enemies for decades. But there are people beneath the mistrust, wars, terrorism and geopolitical designs that shape their policies. On my 2002 trip to Iran, I drove through the snow to the mountains outside Tehran. Girls in black chadors sledded, boys skied.
I stopped at the home of Bahman Farmanara, a director harassed by Iranian censors over his film about a depraved gynecologist who runs over an angel with his car. We talked about artistic integrity and how much he respected and was shaped by Hollywood films, including Rear Window and All About Eve.
He even liked the Renee Zellweger movie Nurse Betty, saying, It was a silly thing. A way to escape.... Some films are like Prozac, some like Valium. But he said it was the art that mattered, the power of film to transcend borders and speak truth.
I was invited to a New Years Eve party a few nights later. The taxi dropped me at a high-rise in one of Tehrans wealthier neighborhoods. I stepped in the elevator. Women shrouded in black abayas, only their faces showing, got in with men in dark suits. Nobody said a word on the way up, and I wondered how much fun the evening was going to be. Alcohol is forbidden in Iran and police enforce religious codes. The elevator doors opened to a penthouse. Music blared. The women peeled off their black robes and danced in short, backless dresses. Their husbands loosened their ties. A man handed me a whiskey.
Welcome to the real Iran, he said. You know, Americans and Iranians are very alike. It is only our governments that make problems. He paused and held up his glass. What kind of movies do you like?
Farhadi, whose 2011 film A Separation won Iran its first foreign language Oscar, had similar sentiments when I met him a few weeks ago. Do you know the answer to ending these wars and violence? he asked. The only way is for the people of the world to come to know each other, not through politics but through culture. If people the world over get to see and know each other and understand how similar they are, they would be unwilling to kill one another.
Instilling fear in the people is an important tool used to justify extremist and fanatic behavior by narrow-minded individuals. Asghar Farhadi, director
Immigration bans and a rising global populism threaten cultural exchange. A suspicion of the other is pervading. I felt that, in what turned out to be a harmless hour or so, in that small room in the Tehran airport years ago. When we finished our tea, the commander and the guards stood and the man with the ink tried again. He rolled my finger over his pad and pressed it on paper. A clear print appeared. The fine, curvy lines of identity.
The man smiled and did my other fingers. My hands were a mess when it was done. The guards and the commander were relieved. I was given a box of tissues and sent on my way. The terminal was empty; my bag sat alone near the carousel. I found a taxi and was driven into a city where I had never been, a place that flickered with the art of propaganda iconography, the portraits of martyrs.
I left Tehran in early January 2003, crossing the mountains into northern Iraq. I arrived at the last Iranian outpost. Guards were cleaning their guns and listening to a radio. A few prayer mats were scattered in the dust. The guards looked at me as if I were lost. I handed them my passport and after some consultation they decided I had the right paperwork and wasnt a spy. They stamped my documents and pointed me down a dirt road to the border. A light rain began to fall.
War is coming, one of them yelled.
See the most-read stories this hour
Twitter: @JeffreyLAT
jeffrey.fleishman@latimes.com
Jeffrey Fleishmans 2003 stories from Iran:
Iran Living on Edge Between Reformists and Conservatives
Iran Feels Hemmed In by Tough U.S. Rhetoric
A weary warrior of Iran: Bahman Farmanara continually battles Islamic censors to depict modern-day life
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Writers Guild of America calls travel ban un-American; stands behind Asghar Farhadi
From a new salmon-pastry hybrid to a new downtown restaurant and brewery, heres whats happening in L.A. food and beverage:
Sushi baked: Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, the Highland Park bakery known for the cruffin (croissant-muffin hybrid pastry), is now serving something called a California Croissant. The bakery is billing the pastry hybrid as a sushi-stuffed croissant, even though there isnt any actual sushi involved. Its a croissant stuffed with smoked salmon wrapped in nori, with ginger and wasabi but no rice. The croissant is served with a side of soy sauce for dipping. The California Croissant is $5 and available at both the San Francisco and Highland Park locations. 111 S. Ave. 59, Los Angeles, (323) 739-0473, mrholmesbakehouse.com.
Hatfields 2.0: Karen and Quinn Hatfield, the married pastry chef and chef behind Odys + Penelope and Sycamore Kitchen, both on La Brea Avenue, will open a restaurant called the Mighty in downtown L.A. this spring. The restaurant, whose name was inspired by the Bob Dylan song The Mighty Quinn, will move into the Higgins Building, which is already home to Badmaash and the Edison. The Mighty will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Highlights include rotisserie chicken, pastas and salads. On the sweet side, Karens pastries, old-fashioned layer cakes and seasonal pies. The restaurant will serve Stumptown coffee, as well as beer and wine. 108 W. 2nd St., Unit 105, Los Angeles.
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Light em up: Gastro Garage, the blowtorch-wielding pop-up dinner crew, will open its first permanent restaurant in the downtown L.A. Arts District this summer. You can expect dishes such as fish and short ribs cooked on a drill bit, with a blowtorch, and torched foam-stuffed doughnuts. And there will be cocktails (no torching). Address yet to be announced. thegastrogarage.com.
Atwater switch: Canele, chef and co-owner Corina Weibels neighborhood restaurant in Atwater Village, will close at the end of March or early April. Replacing it will be Journeymen, a restaurant by Gjelinas David Wilcox and Guy Tabibian. The two describe the new restaurant as very vegetable-driven, very progressive, very community-based. 3219 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 666-7133, canele.la.
Brasserie revamp: The Patina Restaurant Group has relaunched Kendalls Brasserie in downtown L.A. with a new menu by chef Jean-Pierre Bosc. Highlights include escargot in absinthe-garlic butter; a croque-madame; and bouillabaisse. The restaurant also plans to open a new lounge called the Boardroom that will serve late-night bites, cocktails and have live music. 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 972-7322, www.patinagroup.com/kendalls-brasserie.
New brews: Mikkeller, the Copenhagen brewery with locations around the world, including San Diego and San Francisco, will open Mikkeller DTLA on Feb. 10. Located in a 7,600-square-foot former auto repair shop, Mikkeller DTLA will have more than 62 taps as well as a craft cocktail program. Kaffebaren, a cafe located inside Mikkeller DTLA , is now open, serving kombucha, salads and sandwiches. A portion of the restaurant also will feature slow-cooked, smoked meats from chef Enrique Cuevas, who has cooked at Spring in L.A. and Alinea in Chicago. 330 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, www.mikkellerbar.com.
Killer combo: The Mermaid in Hermosa Beach has merged with Killer Shrimp to become Killer Shrimp at the Mermaid. In addition to the new name, some of Killer Shrimps signature dishes, including the Killer Shrimp original bowl of shrimp, will now be available at the new location. The back poolroom has been turned into the Copa Lounge, a 1950s-themed dining room. 11 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, (310) 374-9344, www.killershrimp.com.
Still hungry? Odys + Penelope will launch a happy hour menu Wednesday. Spartina has launched a social club with specials every Monday evening. Josh Pebbles is the new executive chef at Tart restaurant at the Farmers Daughter hotel. The Hello Kitty Cafe truck is back and will be making appearances in Valencia, Glendale and Northridge. The Cellar Beverly Hills, a new wine concierge and storage service, has opened in Beverly Hills. Fat Dragon, a Chinese restaurant and tea bar in Silver Lake, in the same strip mall as Trois Familia, is open. Link N Hops, the Atwater Village restaurant and taproom known for its sausages and craft beer selection, has opened a location in Sunland.
Jenn.Harris@latimes.com
@Jenn_Harris_
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Stepping to the front of the stage before a large crowd, the young woman introduced herself simply as Boo. Dressed in a colorful bomber jacket, jeans and glasses, Boo is short with a soft, high-pitched voice.
When the music drops, her demeanor changes.
Performing 2003s Shake That Monkey, by Too Short, Boo paces the stage rapping the raunchy lyrics and dancing with the swagger of a seasoned entertainer. And the audience eats it up.
When her performance ends, the crowd erupts in cheers. I didnt mean to be on stage like that, she says, reverting back into her everyday persona.
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Standing shoulder to shoulder, hundreds of people packed into Union Nightclub this month for Trap Karaoke, an event that blends karaoke with a sing-along concert experience. But instead of Bon Jovi, Journey, Backstreet Boys and other classic karaoke songs, the event features exclusively trap, hip-hop and R&B music think Kanye West, Travis Porter and Migos.
Maybe 20% of the event is karaoke but you have hundreds of people who go home and have had the time of their lives, said Jason Mowatt, 31, the event founder and director. I think karaoke is an excuse for people to let their guard down and come out and have fun.
The origins of Trap Karaoke started as a lark. Mowatt was texting a friend obsessed with the rapper Future. He said Ill talk to you later, Im going out to karaoke with my coworkers. And I was like. Man wouldnt it be crazy if we could do karaoke to trap music, Mowatt said.
Mowatt, who has a background in social media marketing and was an investor/organizer of Washington, D.C.s hip-hop and electronic music festival, Trillectro, quickly arranged the first trap karaoke on New Yorks Lower East Side in September 2015. From there, the event evolved into a nationwide tour.
In Los Angeles, duo Brigidann Cooper and Omar Alcibar, dressed in complimentary red and black outfits, took the stage to perform the 1990s 2Pac hit California Love.
Cooper was the main performer, with Alcibar acting as hype man. When she forgot some of the words, the audience jumped in the large screen projecting lyrics to the audience helped.
Ive done regular karaoke, never with this kind of crowd, Cooper, 35, says later, hanging out by the bar. Its like a performance; you have to engage the crowd and be entertaining.
Thats part of the allure of this event itself. Ive gone to various karaoke bars, even recently in New Orleans, and even there the hip-hop selection was so low, Alcibar, 36, says. Maybe people dont have time to transcribe Lil Wayne.
Hip-hop themed karaoke is not a new concept. The Rhyme Along, for instance, which started in 2009, is a monthly event in Los Angeles that caters to the hip-hop crowd, but its rare to find a karaoke bar or lounge that has an extensive hip-hop catalog.
There are theories as to why trap karaoke is in relatively short supply. It has to do with the influx of karaoke from Japan into the U.S. in the late 1980s and early 1990s, according to Rob Drew, author of Karaoke Nights: An Ethnographic Rhapsody.
The whole song repertoire was 800 songs in 1990, when karaoke first appeared, then it expanded to 1,400 songs by 1992, which is when I started studying it. It was a very selective menu, Drew said. Also at that time, even though hip-hop was popular, it was kind of under the radar for the mainstream music industry.
Drew also spoke about the culture of karaoke, and the differences between singing versus performing hip-hop in a public setting.
Your generic American karaoke bar, it tends to be a form for an exhibition of singing skill being able to hit the high notes and the low notes and having perfect pitch, Drew said. I think thats because hip-hop culture is so organically participatory that it never seemed like it needed karaoke.
But the event, which features exuberant amateur performances, has many similarities to traditional karaoke. One main difference lies in its ability to bring black millennials together to let loose, share in a connected experience and feel a sense of community.
This is why Mowatt wants to expand Trap Karaoke to smaller and lesser-known cities. From the beginning, my stance on this was were not party promoters, were community organizers, Mowatt said.
Here in Los Angeles, the event was held on the same night as Donald Trumps inauguration.
So we all saw what happened early this morning in D.C., host Lowkey says, drawing thunderous boos. But it dont represent our America. Donald Trump doesnt represent us; he never will represent us.
From there, the DJ launched into anti-Trump song FDT by Compton-rapper YG.
The night concluded with words of encouragement from the host, who repeated something hed said earlier about Boos performance.
Attack life just like Boo attacked the stage tonight.
makeda.easter@latimes.com
@makedaeaster
At USC, an Iranian graduate student is canceling plans to conduct research on Syrian refugees, afraid he will not be allowed to return to the United States.
At UCLA, professors have been deprived of a rare opportunity to visit Iran.
At UC Irvine and other campuses, students are nixing plans to visit their relatives post-graduation.
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President Trumps recent executive order imposing a 90-day ban on entry into the United States from seven Muslim-majority nations is roiling universities across California and the nation, fueling deep anxiety about the future of international academic exchange.
Universities like UC depend on the exchange of students and faculty across the world and getting the best researchers and the best young scholars that we can, University of California President Janet Napolitano said in an interview Monday. The executive order runs counter to that by singling out a few Muslim-majority countries as home for potential terrorists when the factual basis for that statement hasnt been proven. Its not consistent with our values.
Napolitano, who served as U.S. Homeland Security secretary in the Obama administration, said an extensive screening process already exists, and Trump is needlessly jeopardizing academic collaboration.
The notion that the United States is just willy-nilly letting people in really isnt true, she said. We did already have a restrictive policy. The executive order piled on top of that does tip it in the wrong direction, she said.
The Assn. of American Universities, which represents 62 prominent universities, has spoken out strongly against the order and is lobbying to rescind it.
Trumps ban hits hardest in California, whose universities and colleges host the largest number of students from the targeted countries of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Syria. The overwhelming majority of them are from Iran, with 1,286 visas issued to them in 2015, according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security data compiled by College Factual, a New York-based firm that analyzes higher-education data.
The 10-campus UC system enrolled 495 graduate students and 40 undergraduate students from the countries covered in the ban in fall 2016 95% of them from Iran. UC Irvine hosted the largest number, with 115 students from Iran and two from Sudan, UC data show.
Cal State University officials said they enrolled 259 students from the targeted countries.
The fallout of Trumps orders hit private and public campuses.
Among individual California campuses, USC was the most popular destination, with 252 students granted visas in 2015 239 from Iran, according to College Factual.
Mahan Naeim, a UC Irvine senior majoring in biomedical engineering, said he was furious that Trumps order might interfere with his plans to visit his relatives in Iran after he graduates in June. The U.S.-born Naeim joined protests against Trumps order at Los Angeles International Airport over the weekend and Monday at UC Irvine.
Were not outraged because were Iranian; were outraged because were American, Naeim said. All of us have to fight back.
At USC, Aamna Asif and Noha Ayoub of the Muslim Student Union said theyre working with other student groups to organize a rally and march from a local mosque, host a teach-in and Know Your Rights workshops, and ask professors on immigration law to speak on panels.
We are being proactive. Were not succumbing to that fear, Asif said.
Domenico Ingenito, a UCLA assistant professor of classical Persian, was excited about attending an international conference on Persian literature in March, the first time it would be held in Iran. Monday, he received an email notice that the conference was being canceled because Iran, after Trumps orders, refused to grant visas to 45 U.S. citizens.
Ingenito said he had to postpone midterm exams this week because his students, most of them Iranian, were too upset to study. And his own research will suffer, he said, because he dare not risk visiting Iran now even though hes an Italian citizen; he is unsure about what Trump might do to scholars like him on H-1B visas.
Amir, a USC graduate student in cinematic arts who declined to give his last name for fear of fallout, said, even though he has a green card, he canceled his plans to go to Germany and Turkey over spring break to work on his documentary on Syrian refugee children.
I just dont want to risk it, he said. Who knows what else could happen?
Students say their social media and texts are full of friends confusion about their status and worries about the future.
Someones friend in Iran had just been accepted to Northern Illinois University, but now was heartbroken to find out that she might not be able to attend.
Others expressed sadness that their Iranian parents might not be able to come to the U.S. for graduation ceremonies or see the campuses they have long called home.
Maytha Alhassen, a Syrian American doctoral student in American studies and ethnicity, said her parents, American citizens, are anxious about traveling because their U.S. passports still say they were born in Syria.
This is all about breaking apart and dividing people, she said.
Still, Alhassen and other students said theyve been heartened by the support of many Americans on and off campus.
Protesting at LAX, Alhassen taught enthusiastic strangers the dabka, a traditional dance from her familys region, Levant. Together, they danced.
teresa.watanabe@latimes.com
Twitter: @teresawatanabe
rosanna.xia@latimes.com
Twitter: @RosannaXia
The longer she worked for Celerity Dyad Charter School in South Los Angeles, the more Tien Le wondered where the public money the school received was going.
She taught in a portable classroom on an asphalt lot not unheard of in this city of tight squeezes and little green space but her students had no library, cafeteria or gymnasium. The school didnt provide most supplies, Le said, so when her sixth-graders needed books, pencils and paper, she bought them herself.
Months into her first year, Le and her colleagues were invited by the organization that managed the school to a holiday party at a large house in Hollywood. She and other teachers and staff parked in a lot rented for the occasion and took a shuttle to the house. Inside, there were two open bars, casino tables for poker and blackjack, and a karaoke room. At evenings end, a limousine ferried guests back to their cars.
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I remember being really confused that night, Le said. When I asked for basic supplies, I couldnt get those things, yet you have money for this expensive party? For a public school it was not normal.
When I asked for basic supplies, I couldnt get those things, yet you have money for this expensive party? Tien Le, teacher
Le, 29, left Celerity after two years, in 2012, and is now a doctoral candidate at USC. But she was not alone in her concerns about Celerity Educational Groups finances. Last week, federal agents with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security raided Celeritys headquarters, confiscating computer equipment and records.
The focus of their investigation remains unclear. The search warrants are under seal. But the inspector general for the Los Angeles Unified School District has been looking into allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement by the charter school organization, which runs seven schools in Southern California.
The investigation comes amid a boom in charter schools in L.A., which now has more charter schools than any other U.S. city. They have drawn money and students away from public schools, igniting fears about the school districts financial survival. Since 2009, enrollment in L.A. Unified schools has dropped by more than 100,000, while the number of children in L.A. charter schools has roughly doubled.
L.A. Unified officials say their investigation of Celerity is ongoing. As part of its review, the district has scrutinized the schools founder, Vielka McFarlane, whose salary at one point exceeded that of the superintendent of L.A. Unified. It has also raised questions about Celerity Global Development, a newer entity run by McFarlane that has significant financial and operational power over Celerity Educational Group. Before she opened her first charter school in 2005, McFarlane worked for the school district as a teacher and administrator.
The districts general counsel has said that the federal investigation is focused not on the performance of Celeritys schools but on the Celerity organization that manages them, as well as businesses that have relationships with the group.
An associated group, Celerity Schools Louisiana, operates four charter schools in that state. The network had recently been approved to expand into Nevada, but after last weeks raid, state officials there got cold feet and revoked the agreement.
The raid shook the organization. Yet, at a meeting last week for families of students at Celerity Dyad, parents asked few questions and seemed to absorb the news with a collective shrug.
Steve Lopez: A $471,000 charter school exec, and another case of gutter politics in LAUSD school board race
Blanca Magana, who has three children enrolled in the organizations schools, said she wasnt at all worried about the investigation. The principal of Dyad, which serves grades K to 8, had assured parents, she said, that it doesnt affect the students.
Charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately managed, are free from many of the regulations that dictate day-to-day life in public schools. Because of this, their supporters often say that they are able to put more money into classrooms and have greater control over how it is spent. Critics argue that they lack sufficient oversight, even as they receive large amounts of public money.
The Times spoke with nine former teachers and administrators in the charter network who said they had long harbored concerns about Celeritys use of taxpayer dollars and felt that students were being shortchanged.
There were missing supplies, there was damaged furniture, there were broken light fixtures, said Christopher Mayes, who was hired last spring as a curriculum specialist at Celerity Lanier Charter School in Baton Rouge, La.
He quit after only three days, disturbed by the conditions and what he said was rampant disorganization. He is suing Celerity Schools Louisiana for unpaid wages and has found new work as principal of a charter school in Memphis, Tenn.
Mayes, 35, said that when news of the raid reached him, he was not even slightly surprised. I was only surprised that it look that long.
In addition to using portable classrooms, Celerity Dyad also occupies a nearby building. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Former teachers in Los Angeles said that requests for essential classroom supplies went ignored, leaving them with little choice but to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars of their own money. They said, as a matter of practice, Celerity administrators would not hire substitute teachers. If a teacher had to take a sick day, her students would be parceled out to other classrooms, keeping the schools costs down at students expense.
Maurice Suh, an attorney for Celerity, defended the network.
Celerity has consistently provided necessary resources, supplies and other support for its students, he said, describing Celerity as a first-class educational institution.
Sara Fisher, a former curriculum specialist who began working for Celerity in 2013, said she went at least five months without being paid.
She moved to L.A. to work for the charter network, uprooting herself from Missouri on the promise of a yearly salary of $90,000. But weeks and then months went by, and still there was no paycheck. Fisher, 34, said she dipped into her retirement savings to cover her rent.
I went to HR and said, I moved across the country for this job, and they said, Our hope is to get you paid by Thanksgiving, she recalled. Mind you, I started in July.
That same year, total revenue for Celerity Educational Group exceeded $38 million, according to the organizations filings. The majority of it came from public funding. McFarlane, its chief executive at the time, was paid an annual salary of $471,842. Michelle King, the superintendent of L.A. Unified, the second-largest school system in the nation, earns $350,000 a year.
...they said, Our hope is to get you paid by Thanksgiving. Mind you, I started in July. Sara Fisher, former curriculum specialist
Fisher didnt make it to Thanksgiving. In late November, after she pushed for her pay, she said she was called into the organizations office and told she was being fired for insubordination not for organizing but for wearing flip-flops during a professional development meeting. (Fisher said she slipped them on only after the meeting in order to be comfortable as she cleaned up the room.) Ultimately, she said, Celerity gave her a check for a fraction of what she had earned.
Asked to respond to former employees claims, Suh did not dispute Fishers account or Les memory of the extravagant holiday party.
A number of questionable allegations from sources with axes to grind and that go back as far as seven years do nothing to take away from the facts that Celerity schools are accredited by the prestigious Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges and that the majority of Celeritys schools are California Distinguished Schools, he said in a statement.
Celerity schools have posted higher test scores than the L.A. Unified average. Last year, 55% of Dyad students who took the state English exam scored at or above grade level, compared with 39% throughout the district.
Although its common for schools to emphasize the need for students to perform well on Californias annual exams, former employees said the charter networks leaders made test scores their singular focus. At some schools, students were tested every Friday, but in classrooms with more children than laptops this task could consume class time for several days. Teachers whose students performed well earned bonuses. Those who did not sometimes were fired, according to former employees.
Celerity management would go into the teachers classroom over the weekend and box up all of their belongings, Fisher said. The teacher would show up Monday morning, and they would see all of their stuff just packed up and be told, Youre not going to work today.
Some former teachers interviewed said that the charter organizations leaders also often encouraged them and their students to raise money for causes, a request that struck them as unusual because a significant number of the children lived well below the poverty line.
Le said that one year the network organized a walkathon to raise money to build a school in Africa. Exactly where in Africa wasnt clear, Le said, nor does she remember receiving progress reports on the schools construction.
At the time, I thought it was really cool. Im glad theyre getting students involved in these international issues, she said. I encouraged them to fundraise, which I regret now because I dont know where it went.
That was years ago, but the financial demands have continued.
Last year, the network sent out an email asking some of its employees to sell tickets for a gala it was throwing. Each staff member was supposed to sell seven tickets, according to an email obtained by The Times. If they couldnt hit that number, Celerity would lend a hand.
Celerity Global is offering installment plans if that will help you meet your goal, the email said. Thank you!
Times staff writer Adam Elmahrek contributed to this report.
anna.phillips@latimes.com
Twitter: @annamphillips
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Los Angeles schools Chief Financial Officer Megan Reilly, who insisted for years that the school district must do more to confront a perilous financial future, is stepping down after a decade to accept a similar job with the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
Reillys salary in her new position will be $260,000, and shell have a three-year contract. At L.A. Unified, she was earning $237,820, according to public records, under a contract that would have expired in June.
There is no indication that Reilly, 51, left L.A. Unified under pressure, unless it was the toll of worrying about future financial shortfalls. L.A. Unified faces budget challenges from declining enrollment, high fixed costs, rising pension obligations and costly retiree health benefits.
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As befitting her role of financial steward, Reilly spoke publicly of potentially dire consequences to come and spoke even more bluntly behind the scenes, sometimes warning that current spending practices and union contractual obligations were unsustainable. Sometimes her arguments carried the day; sometimes not.
Its scary, Reilly said about looming retiree healthcare obligations in 2015. It has been a growing concern that our liabilities have been increasing year after year and slowly becoming larger than our assets. Were not there yet, but we probably have a couple of years to go.
That same year, she warned internally that the districts first pay raise in years was too generous. She lost that argument.
She later oversaw the work of an independent panel of experts that, in the end, essentially agreed with her concerns about the future.
In going to Santa Clara, she will oversee a sizable organization with an annual budget of $348 million, but it pales next to L.A. Unified, whose general fund is $7.6 billion.
Reilly was one of the school districts last major imports from the Navy, hired in 2007 during the administration of Supt. David Brewer, a retired admiral. The Navy connection was well established before Brewers arrival; by then, the district had brought in a fleet of former naval officers to resurrect the districts building program and manage the bulk of the nations largest school construction and modernization effort.
Reillys previous job was executive director of business services and comptroller at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.
One of her more difficult roles at L.A. Unified was helping steer the district through a statewide recession that resulted in massive budget cuts and layoffs.
With her steady hand and level head, Megan helped us navigate difficult financial times, L.A. schools Supt. Michelle King said in a statement. Thanks to her strong leadership over the last nine years, Megan leaves behind a highly capable finance team that will allow us to make a smooth transition.
In a statement, Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Jon R. Gundry praised Reillys wide range of experience.
In the same release, Reilly said she is committed to providing students and our schools with the necessary resources to learn and grow.
Reilly did not respond to a request for an interview.
She wont begin her new duties until April 17 and has agreed to help with the transition in L.A. Unified through mid-March.
howard.blume@latimes.com
@howardblume
As the sun set Friday, attorney Talia Inlender shut down her mobile phone and computer for the Jewish Sabbath.
The electronics were supposed to remain off until the next night, but President Trump had just signed the executive order barring refugees and citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from the United States. Inlenders wife awoke her the next morning after reading news reports of the sweeping ban.
I think you need to turn on your phone, she recalled her wife saying.
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Scanning her emails, Inlender saw an emergency plea from a refugee assistance organization asking for attorneys to help people being detained by border officials at U.S. airports. Within hours, Inlender, an immigration lawyer who works for the nonprofit Public Counsel, was walking into the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.
She was among the first in what would become a wave of volunteer lawyers descending on the airport in the wake of Trumps order. Many, like Inlender, are part of a battle-tested network of advocacy groups in Los Angeles that has been working for years without fanfare on immigration issues and now have suddenly found themselves in the international spotlight as they push back against the presidents action. Others were attorneys with no experience in the intricacies of immigration law who felt compelled, nonetheless, to turn out as their social media feeds filled with calls for help.
Abeer Abdelrahman, left, hugs sister Areej Ali at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX after Alis arrival from Sudan. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
It was coordinated chaos, Inlender said of the response.
Indeed, veteran advocates and attorneys who tried to organize the outpouring of help described a frenetic, largely improvised effort that was thwarted badly by Customs and Border Protection officials who refused to allow attorneys to see people being detained and released no information on the detainees.
The executive order, which Trump has claimed will better protect the country against terror attacks, bans refugees from any country entering the U.S. for 120 days and bars refugees from Syria indefinitely. It also blocks citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries for at least 90 days. Critics of the ban have expressed concern it will do little to improve security while alienating Muslims.
As details of the order began to leak out last week, lawyers and organizers said they held conference calls to discuss the legal challenges they planned to mount once the order was signed. Inlender said she responded to an email from one nonprofit, the International Refugee Assistance Project, that sought volunteers for a legal rapid response team should the need arise.
But several immigration lawyers said they were still caught off guard by the scope of the order. White House officials initially said it applied as well to people with green cards, which give them legal status as residents in the country.
That decision stunned lawyers. As reports of legal residents and refugees being detained at airports began to surface Saturday morning, emails between advocacy groups were flying and phones ringing, said Stacy Tolchin, an attorney who chairs the National Immigration Project for the National Lawyers Guild.
This is a grassroots effort, cautioned one email that went out Saturday morning soliciting help. Were trusting you to coordinate with your fellow local attorneys, and to keep us informed if anything goes awry.
By mid-morning dozens of lawyers had been dispatched to LAX. The numbers grew over the weekend and by Monday more than 100 attorneys had showed up, estimated Judy London, directing attorney of Public Counsels Immigrants Rights Project.
One of them was Steve Sina, who was quick to admit he doesnt know much about immigration law. The Playa Vista-based attorney, who normally handles cases involving technology and transactions, drove to LAX Monday after reading news reports of the prolonged detentions and deportations of people that continued after federal judges in Los Angeles and elsewhere issued emergency stays against the executive order.
Today was really a no-brainer, he said. Federal judges orders are not being followed, are being disrespected.
Sireen Sawaf got involved through a Facebook post.
A former law school classmate of Sawafs alerted her to a friends post on Saturday, asking for the names of Arabic-speaking attorneys to help at LAX.
I had been incessantly reading the news, Sawaf said. When I saw that tag, I thought, This is an opportunity to do something.
She canceled her plans to see friends on Sunday, leaving her two young children with her husband as she made her way to the airport. When she arrived, she walked up to a group of attorneys who had already assembled.
I can speak the language. Im Syrian. Im an attorney, she said. Im not an immigration attorney but heck, I read a couple documents and I have a sense of what we can demand and I can help.
Sawaf, who works for the city attorneys office in Los Angeles, said she felt a personal connection to the work. Her parents are Syrian, and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Japan when she was a toddler, after her father got a work visa.
Although her parents are now citizens, Sawaf said, she has other relatives who are not. The travel ban can and will affect my family personally.
A handful of volunteer attorneys showed up on Monday at the U.S. Marshals office in downtown Los Angeles, hoping unsuccessfully that the agency would help enforce orders by various judges to temporarily halt the presidents action.
Im self employed, so anytime Im not working Im losing money this is just much more important, said Darius Amiri, 34, an immigration attorney whose father emigrated from Iran in the 1970s.
Another of the lawyers, Nina Bonyak, 33, said she fled Russia in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, where she and her family were persecuted as Jews. She came to the U.S. at age 9 as a refugee with her parents, sister and grandparents.
My family ran away from a Communist country to get away from these kinds of things, said Bonyak, a naturalized U.S. citizen. Bonyak and Amiri had spent the day before at LAX looking for relatives of detainees.
If theres a silver lining to all this, its that it turns out Americans care about refugees and their lawyers. Attorney Talia Inlender
Inlender and others who were the first to arrive at the airport over the weekend set up an impromptu command post next to a bar and a Pinkberry frozen yogurt store in the Bradley Terminal. Someone showed up with markers and poster board, and signs in Persian and Arabic were drawn up offering help.
With authorities denying access to people being detained, lawyers were left to canvass the arrivals area of the terminal in search of relatives who were waiting for people being held. Those family members, some of whom were able to speak by phone with their detained loved ones, relayed information to the attorneys. Those details were relayed in turn to Tolchin and attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union, who were at their offices frantically writing court filings based on some of the cases to challenge the order.
With scores of lawyers on hand eager to help, it was an often a frustrating experience, lawyers said, as there was little actual legal work to do. On Sunday, with the cadre of lawyers still swelling, London ultimately announced to the group that the most helpful thing they could do was join the mass of protesters that had gathered outside the terminal.
Still, London and others said they were heartened by the turnout and the support that airport travelers and others showed. A steady stream of pizzas, hamburgers and bottles of water were delivered to the attorneys throughout the weekend.
Ive been doing this work for 30 years and havent been able to get people to pay attention, London quipped. If theres a silver lining to all this, its that it turns out Americans care about refugees and their lawyers.
Times staff writers Maya Lau and Kate Mather contributed to this report.
james.queally@latimes.com
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alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com
For more breaking news in Southern California, follow us on Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT, @joelrubin and @AleneTchek
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Bogus bomb-threat calls prompted evacuations of Jewish community centers in Long Beach, La Jolla and other cities across the U.S. on Tuesday.
Long Beach police were dispatched to a bomb-threat call in the 3800 block of East Willow Street at about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, police said, and the staff at the Alpert Jewish Community Center implemented their action plan and self-evacuated.
No devices were found during a search of the facility, police said.
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A similar bomb threat caused evacuation of a Jewish community center in La Jolla.
The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center on Executive Drive received the threat by phone shortly before 9 a.m., executive director Michael Cohen said.
Officers searched each building of the facility but found nothing suspicious, Police Officer Josh Hodge said.
Cohen said staff immediately followed their security protocols by evacuating employees and pre-schoolers at the center.
The center issued an alert to parents of children who were at the center, saying they are safe but could be picked up at La Jolla Country Day School on Genesee Avenue, if the parent had valid identification. All programs at the center were suspended temporarily, the alert said.
When the sweep by police was completed, the center reopened about 10:45 a.m., Cohen said.
Bomb threats were also reported at Jewish community centers across the country, including in Boulder, Colo., and Salt Lake City.
Secure Community Network, which describes itself as a homeland security initiative on behalf of the American Jewish community, tweeted that 11 centers received threats.
On Jan. 18, bomb threats were made to 27 Jewish centers in 17 states, according to media reports. The FBI issued a statement at the time that federal officials were investigating possible civil rights violations stemming from the threats.
Those incidents followed similar threats to 16 Jewish centers in nine states on Jan. 9, made by what the FBI termed a robocall system.
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After spending nearly three weeks in Turkey visiting her sick father, Mayasah Witwit was eager to return home to Los Angeles on Sunday and be reunited with her husband and their four children.
But when Witwit, an Iraqi refugee and a cancer patient herself, went through customs at Los Angeles International Airport, officers stopped her.
You are from Iraq, they said. You cant enter.
Witwit was taken to what she described as a special room, where she and about 20 to 30 other people from Iran, Somalia and Syria were detained for hours, caught in a confusing legal limbo that followed President Trumps executive order temporarily blocking travelers from seven predominately Muslim countries.
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Critics have accused Trump of unfairly targeting Muslims and questioned the legality of the ban. Trump, meanwhile, insisted the action is a necessary security precaution, saying in a tweet that the U.S. needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW.
At LAX, Witwits family waited in fear, unable to contact her and unsure what would happen. Her children cried. Her husband worried that his wife would not be able to take the medication she needs for her advanced-stage breast cancer.
Witwit, 48, wondered whether she would be reunited with her children again.
I felt confused, she said. I fear that I will not see my family or my kids.
Witwit and her husband, Isam Zabiba, recounted their six-hour ordeal Monday at their Westminster apartment, where the couple and their children moved from Iraq a little more than a year ago. Witwit, a gynecologist, and her husband, a college professor, are applying for green cards, but came to the United States with refugee status. Zabiba said they received that status after fleeing a bad situation in Iraq, where he worked with the U.S. Army helping Iraqis find jobs.
The couple said they were shocked that Witwit was detained for so long, noting that she had both her passport and legal travel documents allowing her to travel to and from the United States. Zabiba knew about Trumps travel ban, but said he thought a ruling from a judge in New York would allow his wife to come home without being affected.
Were looking forward to new futures for us and for our children, Zabiba said. We hope that this situation is just bad dreams for just one night, not for all.
For days, Trumps move stirred chaos across the globe, with travelers abruptly intercepted en route to the United States and barred from entering the country. In the U.S., protesters swarmed outside airports as attorneys inside frantically worked on behalf of the detainees.
Attorney Sireen Sawaf spent most of Sunday at LAX, trying to help a woman whose trip to the U.S. stalled in Saudi Arabia. Sawaf was about to go home that night, she said, when she saw two little girls and their father. The family was clearly waiting for someone, Sawaf recalled.
Sawaf, the daughter of Syrian immigrants who works at the L.A. city attorneys office, spoke to the family in Arabic and learned they were waiting for the girls mother: Witwit. When Sawaf learned that Witwit was being treated for Stage 4 cancer, she said, she knew she had to stay.
We couldnt walk away, Sawaf said.
An immigration attorney began reaching out to Customs and Border Protection officials, Sawaf said, explaining that a cancer patient was being detained. Sawaf tried to amp up the pressure on social media, writing on Facebook about the case.
Meanwhile, Witwit was still inside the room. Officials there didnt reveal much, she said. Someone told her she was being detained because she was from Iraq.
Because of Trump, the man told her. He signed a paper.
Officials offered Witwit water and a chance to use the restroom, she and her husband said, but she wasnt able to take her medication, which she had packed in a checked bag that she didnt have access to.
Witwits family is still not sure why she was let go the officers didnt clearly explain, they said. As soon as she left the room, Witwit said, her voice breaking, she went straight to her children and hugged them.
kate.mather@latimes.com
@katemather
Two people were shot to death in Irvine, and their suspected killer has been taken into custody, police said Tuesday.
Officers responding to the killings found the gunman inside a home in the 14000 block of Crystal Circle about 1 p.m., said police spokeswoman Kim Mohr.
Two people inside the home were killed. The gunman was identified as Nolan Pascal Pillay, 37, Mohr said.
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We believe this to be a domestic violence case, in which all parties involved are related, she said in an email.
Police are awaiting a warrant that would allow them to search the home, Mohr said.
The identities of the victims were not immediately available.
The killings are the first two of the year for Irvine, annually named Americas safest big city with more than 230,000 residents. There were three homicides in the city last year, police said.
joseph.serna@latimes.com
For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.
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It was a trip that was supposed to reunite a long-separated family, but a San Joaquin Valley man has found himself and his 12-year-old daughter effectively stranded in the Horn of Africa following President Trumps recent travel ban.
Ahmed Ali, a U.S. citizen and resident of Los Banos, had been working with immigration officials for years to bring his daughter, Eman, to California.
In 2011, he obtained a family-based immigrant visa petition for the girl, who had been living with her grandparents in Yemen. After his fee payments were accepted and her visa was approved, the 38-year-old flew to Africa last week to retrieve the girl.
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But on Saturday, as the father and daughter waited to board a flight at a Djibouti airport, his daughter was stopped and blocked because of Trumps executive order temporarily banning citizens and refugees from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
Ali and his daughter are now stuck in Djibouti, waiting to hear whether they can reenter the U.S., according to their lawyer.
He is understandably distressed and frustrated because everything is uncertain, said his attorney, Katy Lewis. We still dont have a path to get them on a plane yet.
On Monday, several immigration groups filed a nationwide class-action lawsuit on behalf of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, including Ali and his daughter, challenging Trumps ban. The lawsuit asserts that Trumps executive order violates the statutory prohibition against discrimination and the Constitutions guarantee of equal protection under the law.
In the lawsuit filed in federal district court in Washington, attorneys argued that there is a real possibility that the United States will not permit [Alis daughter] to enter the United States, along with her U.S. citizen father, to join her U.S. citizen mother and her two U.S. citizen sisters.
His daughters visa had been approved a day before Trump signed the order, barring immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Ali and his family moved to the U.S. from Yemen in 2004, but they returned to the country not long after because his wifes mother was ill. While in Yemen, Eman was born.
Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) has pleaded to do everything within our jurisdiction to help Mr. Ali and his daughter to get home as soon as possible and safely.
Calling the presidents order flawed policy, Costa said, It has the potential to be ruled unconstitutional.
Lewis said she is working with the congressman to obtain a travel letter, exempting the family from the order. But so far, she said she hasnt had any luck.
The U.S. Consulate in Djibouti has told Lewis they are waiting for further guidance from the U.S. officials to determine whether they can issue the letter to Ali and his daughter.
Its just particularly upsetting that she cant enter the U.S. and rejoin her family, who are U.S. citizens, the lawyer said.
Lewis has been working with Alis family for several years to help Eman with her visa. Because she lived in Yemen, Eman and her family went through extensive vetting and encountered several hurdles at embassies in the war-torn country, she said. If the girl is allowed to enter the U.S., she would immediately be allowed to become a citizen because she is a minor and her parents are citizens, Lewis said.
But for now, the status of Emans return remains in limbo.
Ali is the sole breadwinner for his family and works as a manager at Buy N Save Market in Los Banos, his attorney said. His wife, 14-year-old daughter and nearly 2-year-old daughter remain at home in Los Banos, eagerly awaiting their return.
Meanwhile, Ali and his daughter are stuck in a hotel in Djibouti, according to Lewis, where they have no family and no clue what their future holds.
veronica.rocha@latimes.com
For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.
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A man was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk for the ninth time in six years, after crashing his car in Placentia over the weekend, police said.
Placentia police responded to a call of a traffic collision on the 100 block of South Lakeview Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday. Witnesses reported that a vehicle may have struck a power pole and was attempting to drive away, police said in a statement.
Arriving officers found a car resting on top of a Southern California Edison electrical box with live wires under it, police said.
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Officers arrested the driver, Derek Stacy Haskayne, 52, on suspicion of driving under the influence. Police later discovered Haskayne had eight prior DUI convictions in Orange County since 2011.
Because of the number of prior cases within 10 years, the latest became a felony DUI charge, according to authorities. The Placentia resident was also booked for driving on a suspended license, driving without a breathalyzer installed in the car and violation of DUI probation.
Haskayne was on post-release community supervision for a prior felony DUI. He is being held without bail.
brittny.mejia@latimes.com
Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia
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A team of Los Angeles Building and Safety inspectors and engineers will be at the scene of Monday evenings mudslide that affected at least three homes in the Hollywood Hills.
The mudslide occurred in the 8100 block of West Laurel View Drive, said Erik Scott, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The large backyard of a home on Hillside Avenue slid downhill and across Laurel View Drive, into the front yards of two homes, Scott said. The residents of one home became trapped and had to be rescued by firefighters.
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The citys Department of Building and Safety will have a team there Tuesday to conduct an assessment.
Its going to take a while to see exactly what the cause was, said David Lara, a spokesman for the department. Of course we think last weeks rain probably contributed to it.
The hill will need to be covered with plastic to prevent any further erosion due to rainfall, Lara said. The property owner will need to hire soil engineers to make recommendations on how to fix the issue for both the short term and the long term.
We dont really want to call it a landslide per se, because landslides infer there was a combination of natural occurrences, which created a landslide, Lara said. For now, I would just call it a slide.
1 / 7 Homeowner Joani Smith looks over the fence from her yard that collapsed down into the rear of other homes in the area of Laurel View Drive in the Hollywood Hills. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 7 Scene of a cliffside behind one home that has collapsed down into the rear of other homes in the area of Laurel View Drive in the Hollywood Hills. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 7 Geologists with the city of Los Angeles, along with firefighters and police, assess debris covering Laurel View Drive in the Hollywood Hills Tuesday morning, after a hillside collapsed into the rear of other homes in the area of Laurel View Drive. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 7 Residents are escorted by police to view the debris covering Laurel View Drive in the Hollywood Hills. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 7 A sheared hillside hours after a landslide from the backyard of a home on Hillside Avenue damaged two homes and power lines on Laurel View Drive. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 7 Hillside Avenue resident Joani Smith stops to see the damage caused by a landslide from her backyard on to Laurel View Drive. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 7 Investigators assess damage to a hillside and nearby homes, hours after the landslide. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The home above the slide area has been yellow-tagged which allows limited access while the two properties below have been red-tagged, which bars all access.
Were keeping the red tags on those buildings until further notice, until we determine the stability of that slope, Lara said.
Another property was yellow-tagged later Tuesday afternoon, Lara said, because there was evidence of part of the slide on the property as well.
Residents were encouraged to keep an eye on their properties and make sure water is diverted in an approved manner.
Its been about seven to 10 years since weve had rains such as these, Lara said. We dont know which areas may have been affected just like this one. Nobody knew this was coming.
The mudslide also buried a vehicle and took out power lines, causing outages in the area. The Department of Water and Power tweeted that power had been restored to nearly all of the more than 400 customers who had lost power.
Crews are waiting on assessments from other agencies before they fully restore power, according to Albert Rodriguez, a Department of Water and Power spokesman.
(Video by Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Theyre still waiting on the situation to stabilize so they can get their crews in once they determine its safe to go in, Rodriguez said.
This month, shifting soil underneath a home in the Hollywood Hills caused a balcony to collapse onto a roadway.
A 9,000-pound slab of concrete and a retaining wall fell onto Laurel Canyon Boulevard, forcing officials to shut down the road as repairs were made.
A stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard will remain closed until at least Thursday evening as crews work to clear a rock and mudslide that occurred Jan. 22.
The road will remain closed from post mile zero to post mile 3.6 for safety reasons, according to Michael Comeaux, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
Comeaux stressed that the estimated time for reopening the road is subject to change.
In the U.S., it is estimated that landslides cost the nation $3.5 billion per year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.
brittny.mejia@latimes.com
Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia
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UPDATES:
3 p.m.: This article was updated with details about another home being tagged.
11:32 a.m.: This article was updated with details about homes being tagged.
This article was originally published at 9:20 a.m.
The air rescue of a victim who fell 100 feet down seaside cliffs in Pacifica was abandoned Friday night after authorities say a local man flew his drone into the area to watch what was happening, forcing a helicopter crew to withdraw.
The rescue played out about 10:15 p.m. on the rocky shoreline below 320 Esplanade Ave., Pacifica police said.
First responders determined the person could not make it up the cliff by foot and called in the California Highway Patrol to help, authorities said. The CHP helicopter crew lowered a medic to the victim and prepared him to be hoisted up when other rescuers spotted the drone.
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Once the helicopter crew found out there was a drone on scene, they had to suspend the rescue operation and gain altitude to avoid a collision, police said in a statement. The drones operation could cause the helicopter to crash.
Instead of hoisting the victim by air, paramedics and firefighters with North County Fire Authorities rappelled down the cliff, put the victim in a basket and brought him up with ropes. The operation took about two hours, officials said.
In the meantime, police went looking for the drones operator.
Residents in the area mentioned knowing a neighbor who flew a drone, so officers knocked on the door of 55-year-old Gerald Destremps.
Destremps admitted to flying the drone and allowed officers to confiscate it, Pacifica Police Capt. Joseph Spanheimer said.
He was cited with a misdemeanor charge of impeding first responders at the scene of an emergency.
As drones have become more prevalent in recent years, the Federal Aviation Administration and public agencies have made a concerted effort to alert the public to laws surrounding their use.
Regulations dictate how high drones can fly, how close they can operate near airports and their use during emergency operations.
joseph.serna@latimes.com
For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.
Immigrant advocates had long pushed Los Angeles to legalize street vending, arguing that sidewalk sellers who hawk ice cream, hot dogs wrapped in bacon, or other food and goods should not face criminal charges that could put them at risk of being deported.
But the idea languished at City Hall as lawmakers sparred over where and how sidewalk vending should be allowed. Activists grew frustrated as the years passed with hearing after hearing yet no clear plan for legalizing and regulating their trade.
Then Donald Trump was elected president, and local officials decided to hustle.
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Fearing a coming crackdown on immigrants, Los Angeles City Council members Joe Buscaino and Curren Price vowed to stop punishing vending as a crime and begin setting up a regulated system. The council pushed forward with their plan Tuesday, voting to draft a law that would decriminalize sidewalk vending.
As it stands, selling food or goods on the sidewalk can lead to misdemeanor charges in Los Angeles. City attorneys will now draw up new rules that would strip those criminal penalties and authorize the city to eventually issue vending permits, a first step toward legalization.
Councilman Jose Huizar told reporters it was a sign to this Trump administration that we will not abide by his fear, his vilification, his scapegoating of immigrants.
Instead, Los Angeles is saying, You do not have to work in the shadows, Huizar said.
City staffers say it could take months, however, for Los Angeles to work out all of the details and begin handing out permits to vendors. In the meantime, vendors who ply their trade on city sidewalks could still be cited and fined for violating the municipal code, but they would not face criminal convictions.
Lawyers are also supposed to report back on whether the city can offer amnesty to vendors already facing criminal charges. Though lesser citations are much more common, city prosecutors filed misdemeanor charges for sidewalk vending in more than two dozen cases between October 2015 and October 2016, according to the city attorneys office.
Such charges could jeopardize immigrants in the country illegally. Last week, Trump signed an order that emphasized deporting not only people convicted of crimes but also people who were charged with crimes not yet adjudicated, and even those who have not been charged but are believed to have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense.
Those disturbing developments helped spur the city to take action, said Mike Dennis, who sits on the steering committee of the L.A. Street Vendor Campaign. It took something horrible at the national level for them to see the urgency that weve been seeing for a long time.
Business groups, including many that had raised concerns about vending, also said they supported decriminalization at the Tuesday hearing. The sole lawmaker to vote against decriminalizing sidewalk vending was Councilman Mitch Englander, who said that it puts the cart before the horse to roll back criminal charges before new regulations are in place.
Under the proposed system that the council backed Tuesday, Los Angeles would hand out a limited number of permits, allowing up to two stationary vendors to set up shop on each face of a block in commercial and industrial zones, and an as-yet-undetermined number of mobile vendors in residential areas.
But the city still has to work out many crucial parts of the proposal, including how much permits will cost, how many staffers will be needed to enforce the rules and what penalties will be imposed for violating them. Los Angeles also plans to allow some neighborhoods to impose stricter rules on sidewalk vending, but that process still needs to be hammered out.
Lawmakers still must decide those details a potentially lengthy process before permits will start being issued.
Theres still work to be done, said Councilman Gil Cedillo, who has long opposed misdemeanor charges for vending. But this is a huge step forward.
Sidewalk vendors and their advocates have argued that some of the proposed rules are too restrictive. The L.A. Street Vendor Campaign contends that the city should not allow neighborhoods to totally prohibit sidewalk vending, nor require vendors to get permission from neighboring shops to do business outside. Merced Sanchez, a vendor who works in downtown L.A.s pinata district, pleaded with the council to loosen its proposed restrictions on the number of vendors allowed on each block.
If Los Angeles doesnt permit more vendors, Sanchez told lawmakers in Spanish, most of them will be out of work.
The Coalition to Save Small Business, which has raised concerns about how sidewalk vending can affect brick-and-mortar businesses, has insisted that communities should be able to choose more, less or no sidewalk vending if they desire. Although the coalition backs many of the proposed restrictions on when and how vendors can operate, many businesses remain concerned about how the city will ultimately enforce them. Neighborhood groups have also voiced worries about blocked sidewalks and trash.
We totally understand the reason why theyre pushing this forward with such speed, but we dont want the details to get lost in the shuffle, said Joseph Mariani, associate executive director of the Hollywood Property Owners Alliance. Theres still a lot of questions we have on enforcement. Whos going to do it? Whos going to pay for it?
Eliminating criminal charges for sidewalk vending is one of a string of proposals that Los Angeles lawmakers have backed to counter the actions of the Trump administration, including opposing the proposed Environmental Protection Agency chief and approving the hiring of an immigrant advocate at City Hall.
If Los Angeles wants to stand up for immigrants, we cant simply talk about opposing Trumps policies or nominees, Buscaino said Tuesday. We need to take serious actions like this one.
emily.alpert@latimes.com
Twitter: @LATimesEmily
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5:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction and context.
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1:10 p.m.: This article was updated with the councils vote.
This article was originally published at 10:10 a.m.
President Trumps executive order temporarily closing the U.S. to refugees and travelers from seven Middle Eastern countries sparked condemnation this week from Southern California bishops, with one calling the act shameful.
In a statement released Tuesday, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, leader of the largest archdiocese in the nation, said that while he agrees with securing the countrys borders, the order undercuts the importance for real immigration reform.
These new orders do not change the fact that our nation needs true and lasting reform of our immigration system, he wrote. Do we really want to hand over the fate of millions of fathers, mothers and children to overworked caseworkers in an underfunded immigration court system? A policy of enforcement only without reform of the underlying system will only lead to a human rights nightmare.
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Gomez said the order appeared to have been put together hastily and not enough thought seems to have been given to their legality or to explaining their rationale or to considering the practical consequences for millions of people here and across the globe.
He urged Trumps administration to stop deportations of refugees and travelers who are not violent criminals because it would be the most constructive and compassionate thing.
Trumps executive order blocks all refugees entering the United States for 120 days and indefinitely stops Syrian refugees. It also prohibits for 90 days the issuance of visas to people from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Sudan and Yemen. All of those nations have predominantly Muslim populations.
Comments by Gomez come days after San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy spoke out against the ban in a written statement.
This week, wrote the bishop, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, the Statue of Liberty lowered its torch in a presidential action which repudiates our national heritage and ignores the reality that Our Lord and the Holy Family were themselves Middle Eastern refugees fleeing government oppression.
McElroy responded with a statement Sunday evening, noting the United States historic identity as a haven for refugees. The presidents executive order, he wrote, is rooted in xenophobia and religious prejudice instead of a careful consideration of national security.
This week is just such a shameful moment of abandonment for the United States, he wrote.
The San Diego diocese includes roughly 1.3 million Catholics and 98 parishes in San Diego and Imperial counties. The Los Angeles diocese includes about 5 million Catholics and 287 parishes in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Warth and Rowe write for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
UPDATES:
2:25 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez.
This article was originally published at 7:25 a.m.
The hashtag #BoycottStarbucks was trending Monday on Twitter, a day after Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz pledged to hire 10,000 refugees globally over the next five years.
The backlash wasnt far behind.
We have a long history of hiring young people looking for opportunities and a pathway to a new life around the world, Schultz wrote in a letter to employees Sunday. This is why we are doubling down on this commitment.
Starbucks Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz. (Richard Drew / Associated Press)
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Schultz said the hiring would take place in the 75 countries where Starbucks does business, beginning at home in the United States with interpreters and others who had helped support the U.S. military abroad.
Social media users and conservative media sites quickly criticized Schultz for prioritizing refugees over unemployed homeless, veteran and black citizens in the United States.
A Facebook post by the pro-Trump website 100 Percent Fed Up encouraged its followers to call Starbucks and boycott the company. It was shared nearly 10,000 times.
One Twitter user, @Pamela_Moore13, said, I would rather take care of TEN homeless US veterans than 50,000 migrants/illegal aliens. How about you?
A tweet from @TEN_GOP, which describes itself as the unofficial Twitter of Tennessee Republicans, faulted Starbucks for not helping bring down black unemployment instead. It was liked 3,000 times.
The hashtag also prompted a vigorous backlash, with people critical of the refugee ban co-opting the hashtag and saying they would go out of their way to support the company.
The reason #BoycottStarbucks is trending is because they are going to hire refugees.
I say #DrinkStarbucks andy lassner (@andylassner) January 30, 2017
The debate was the latest development in a social media war between supporters and opponents of President Trumps policies, in which companies are increasingly being forced to take sides.
On Saturday evening, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, whose membership is largely Muslim and Sikh and almost universally immigrant, called for a work stoppage including by drivers for the ride-share company Uber at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Uber tweeted that evening that surge pricing the fare increase that typically accompanies an increase in demand had been turned off at JFK.
The tweet was seen by many as an attempt by Uber to advertise its services and profit from the strike, and the hashtag #deleteUber quickly took off online, with people posting photos of themselves deleting the app from their phones.
Lyft, an Uber competitor, said the company would donate $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union to support its work defending detained immigrants.
Uber later tweeted a clarification that its earlier tweet had not been intended to break the strike, and Chief Executive Travis Kalanick, who has been under fire for agreeing to serve as an economic advisor to Trump, promised to donate $3 million for the legal defense of immigrants, but many social media users said it was too little, too late.
nina.agrawal@latimes.com
Twitter: @AgrawalNina
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President Trump nominated federal Judge Neil M. Gorsuch on Tuesday to fill the Supreme Court seat of the late Antonin Scalia, choosing a Western appeals court judge seen as the most likely choice from Trumps shortlist to win Senate confirmation.
Announcing his selection in a prime-time, televised White House ceremony, the new president cast his decision as another campaign promise kept and perhaps the one with the most far-reaching impact.
Trump praised Gorsuchs experience on the bench, academic credentials and his track record in securing bipartisan Senate confirmation for lower-court slots.
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The qualifications of Judge Gorsuch are beyond dispute, Trump said. I only hope that both Democrats and Republicans can come together for once for the good of the country.
Because Scalia was a stalwart conservative, Gorsuch is not likely to change the previous balance of the court. But his nomination does set the stage for a bruising partisan fight over a man who could help determine U.S. law on gun rights, immigration, police use of force and transgender rights.
In brief remarks, Gorsuch praised Scalia as a lion of the law, and affirmed his commitment to what conservatives consider a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
It is for Congress, and not the courts, to write new laws, he said.
Gorsuch, a 49-year-old graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School who serves on the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, also honored former Justice Byron White. Gorsuch once clerked for White, a fellow Coloradan, and called him one of the smartest and most courageous men hed ever known.
Trump made his announcement with trademark showmanship, on the grand stage of the White Houses East Room before a national audience, creating an aura of mystery or in the more critical view of some, a reality-show atmosphere around what is traditionally a staid, sober process. In addition to key Republican lawmakers, the audience included Scalias widow, whom Trump acknowledged.
The president called his selection process, which began with a list of 21 candidates released during the campaign, the most transparent in history, then trumpeted its dramatic conclusion.
So was that a surprise? Was it? he asked the audience after inviting Gorsuch and his wife on stage.
A president making such a consequential nomination after only days in office is highly unusual, and the nomination was in part a product of the partisanship that has come to define Washington in recent years. Democrats remain outraged at the GOPs refusal to grant a vote or even a hearing to President Obamas nominee to fill the vacancy, appeals court Judge Merrick Garland.
Coming after more than a week of rapid-fire executive actions, the choice offered a measure of reassurance to Republican leaders growing wary of the vocal opposition to Trump. He took office as the least popular newcomer to the Oval Office in modern history, and already a majority of voters in a Gallup tracking poll say they disapprove of his job performance.
GOP lawmakers, in particular Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, have increasingly advised the president to avoid a move that could provoke Democrats to obstruct a nomination. The minority party is already using delaying tactics to weaken some of Trumps Cabinet choices.
Barring further changes to Senate filibuster rules which GOP leaders for now seem reluctant to make Trump needs to sway at least eight Democrats to ensure his nominee is confirmed.
Liberal activists have already begun to take aim at Democrats who voted to advance some of Trumps Cabinet nominees, and are likely to press further to try to block Gorsuch, given the consequential nature of Supreme Court decisions such as, in recent years, in preserving abortion rights, extending marriage rights to same-sex couples and twice upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.
Democratic lawmakers immediately criticized Trumps choice.
As a judge, he has twisted himself into a pretzel to make sure the rules favor giant companies over workers and individual Americans, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a leader in the partys increasingly powerful progressive wing.
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, pointed not to Gorsuchs record but to Trumps, particularly his temporary ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries an order that sowed chaos at U.S. entry points over the weekend and that was blocked in narrow instances by a handful of federal judges. Trump fired acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates after she directed federal prosecutors not to defend the order.
In light of the unconstitutional actions of our new president in just his first week, the Senate owes the American people a thorough and unsparing examination of this nomination, Leahy said.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, which will oversee Gorsuchs confirmation process, expressed concern over two cases in which he voted to deny contraceptive coverage to women. She noted Trump promised in the campaign to appoint antiabortion judges.
Tonight, President Trump declared, I am a man of my word. Thats exactly what Im afraid of, Feinstein said.
Still, Gorsuch was unlikely to spur the sort of fight that could have been prompted by some of the other judges Trump eyed.
I consider the United States Senate the greatest deliberative body in the world, and I respect the important role the Constitution affords it in the confirmation of our judges, Gorsuch said at the White House.
GOP leaders were particularly concerned that choosing William H. Pryor Jr., a judge on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals who once called the decision legalizing abortion the worst abomination in the history of constitutional law, could prompt centrist Republican women in the Senate to withhold support.
The White House pointed to the testimony of Neal Katyal, former acting solicitor general in the Obama administration, in a New York Times op-ed.
More than ever, public confidence in our system of government depends on the impartiality and independence of the courts, Katyal wrote. I have no doubt that if confirmed, Judge Gorsuch would help to restore confidence in the rule of law.
Leading conservatives, including Christian evangelicals who provided a key bloc of support for Trump in the campaign, praised the choice. Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, said Trump won evangelical support in no small measure because of his ironclad pledge about the Supreme Court.
We never doubted then-candidate Trumps sincerity or commitment, and by nominating Judge Neil Gorsuch, he has now kept that promise, he said.
As the White House and senators now engage in the confirmation process, both sides are mindful that it could be the first of several to come soon over the balance of the high court.
Four sitting justices have served for longer than two decades Anthony M. Kennedy the longest at nearly 29 years, followed by Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer. Both Kennedy and Ginsburg are in their 80s.
If Kennedy, the courts swing vote, or Ginsburg, its liberal anchor, were to retire soon, Trump would have a clearer opportunity to significantly shift the courts ideological balance.
Even as McConnell and key GOP aides advised the administration privately, the Senate leader also publicly defended the controversial position he took last year to refuse to act on Garlands nomination. McConnells stance paid off, giving Trump this early opportunity to shape the high court.
It had been more than a century since a Supreme Court vacancy was filled in a presidential election year, McConnell reminded reporters Tuesday.
This is a beginning of a four-year term. This is not in the middle of a presidential election, he said. There have been Supreme Court appointments in the middle of the first term for Bill Clinton, for Barack Obama. None of those four nominees was denied an up-or-down vote.
michael.memoli@latimes.com
Twitter: @mikememoli
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UPDATES:
7:20 p.m.: This story was updated with comments from Senate Democrats.
5:30 p.m.: This story was updated with comments from Trump and Gorsuch.
5 p.m.: This story was updated with Trumps announcement.
This story was originally published at 4:50 a.m.
The Senate is expected to vote soon on President Trumps nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama to be attorney general of the United States. Hard as it may be for lawmakers to vote against one of their own, the Senate should do so in this case. Sessions is the wrong man for the job.
Unlike some of Trumps Cabinet nominees, Sessions possesses the necessary professional experience for the position to which he has been nominated: He was a longtime U.S. attorney and served as Alabamas attorney general before being elected to the Senate. We also concede that the president any president is entitled to considerable deference from the Senate in staffing the executive branch. It would be unreasonable to expect a Republican president to populate his Cabinet with liberal Democrats.
But Cabinet officers in general and the attorney general in particular arent merely executors of a presidents policy. They also are responsible for implementing laws enacted by Congress. In the case of the attorney general, those include laws against discrimination on the basis of race, religion and gender as well as those that punish crimes motivated by hatred of gays and lesbians.
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Civil rights groups are virtually unanimous in opposing Sessions confirmation because they fear that he wont vigorously enforce those laws. We share their concern. Our opposition to his nomination is not due to the old charges against him that he made racist comments (charges that led him to be rejected for a federal judgeship in 1986). Those charges are three decades old and, when leveled, generally lead to a he-said-she-said debate about Sessions character that is not resolvable.
Civil rights groups are virtually unanimous in opposing Sessions because they fear that he wont vigorously enforce those laws. We share their concern.
Our concern is about what hes done in his career and where he stands on the issues. Although he ultimately voted to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act in 2006, Sessions once called that seminal civil rights law intrusive and said it was good news for the South when the Supreme Court gutted one of its key provisions. He voted against expanding the federal hate-crimes law to include crimes targeting victims because of their sexual orientation. He also voted against legislation requiring interrogators for the CIA and other agencies to abide by restrictions in the Army Field Manual that prohibit inhumane methods of interrogation. (Given that, do we really want him working for a president who has said he believes torture absolutely works?)
In his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sessions insisted that he would do his dead level best to enforce laws that he might not have supported as a legislator. Perhaps he would, but its understandable that senators would wonder about the level of enthusiasm he would bring to that task given his past positions.
Moreover, the Department of Justice does more than react to individual cases: When it is most faithful to its mission it also proactively addresses patterns of civil rights violations, as the department over the years has done in pressing urban police departments including the Los Angeles Police Department and, most recently, the Chicago Police Department to address patterns and practices that violate civil or constitutional rights.
But Sessions has made it clear that he is skeptical about the departments use of consent decrees to bring about reforms in police departments. Its a difficult thing for a city to be sued by the Department of Justice and to be told that your police department is systemically failing to serve the people of the state or the city, he told the Judiciary Committee, adding that we need to be careful and respectful of [police] departments.
The experience here in Los Angeles suggests, to the contrary, that Justice Department pressure and oversight can be tremendously valuable in reforming troubled police agencies.
Another concern about Sessions is that he would be serving in the administration of a president who already has demonstrated, in his ill-considered executive order blocking the entry of refugees and immigrants from the Middle East, a lack of respect for legal norms. In such an administration, the attorney general must be and must be seen to be free of political pressure.
Sessions told the Judiciary Committee that he recognizes that the attorney general must be willing to tell the president no if he overreaches. But Sessions would join the administration as someone who was a fervent political supporter of Trumps presidential campaign so fervent that he had to agree to recuse himself from any Justice Department investigation involving Hillary Clinton and whose former aides are now in key policymaking positions at the White House.
With Donald Trump in the Oval Office, its especially important that the attorney general be a figure with a reputation for independence and an unquestioned commitment to the cause of equal justice under law. Sessions falls short of meeting that job description.
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer is soon to be elected to a second term. Thats a statement we can make with confidence because he is running without opposition. So why bother with an endorsement? Feuer is in, and not for merely another four years. Because of a voter-approved change in city election schedules, he (and everyone else elected or reelected in the March 7 race or the May 16 runoff) will have a one-time, extra-long 5-year term.
But were going to endorse him anyway, and with enthusiasm, because he has been good for Los Angeles and has set a standard that future city attorneys should strive to meet. He has done what several of his predecessors set out to do or claimed, inaccurately, to have achieved: He has made the L.A. city attorneys office one of the citys top-flight law firms a destination not merely for career City Hall lawyers, but for sharp young law school graduates and seasoned lawyers in the private sector. That has helped him use the office to curb improper housing practices, combat crimes that until recent years were assigned by law to the district attorney, protect consumers from abusive practices (as in his action against Wells Fargo), and take national leadership in the fight against gun violence.
Feuer has succeeded not merely because he is a good lawyer but because he is a good politician, and yes, there is such a thing. Among his predecessors, Carmen Trutanich blundered by treating his City Hall clients, such as the mayor and City Council, as potential adversaries or wrongdoers, and Rocky Delgadillo too obviously treated his post as a launching pad for advancement. Feuer by contrast has struck a constructive relationship with his elected counterparts without being unduly deferential. He has managed to use his office to fill some of the gaps they have left, yet without stepping on their toes.
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Ill be damned if Im ever going to say, Its not my job, Mike Feuer, in a conversation with The Times editorial board
For example, city policies and an absence of leadership have resulted in a loss of affordable housing as well as in development that is inconsistent with legally required community plans. City Council members are his clients and Feuer can hardly sue them for inaction. But he has, for example, sued owners of rent-controlled properties for evicting their tenants and converting their units to short-term Airbnb rentals.
He has also stepped in to help correct the citys inadequate programs for limiting its liability in lawsuits, and the money the city has to pay out annually because of broken sidewalks, falling tree limbs, police uses of force and even discrimination against employees.
Officially, Feuers role is to advise the City Council on the likelihood of success or failure at trial and to help negotiate a settlement if the council so directs him. He must balance that against the need to do the right thing for people who have been wrongfully injured by city action. But he has no ability to direct changes in the policies or procedures of those departments that are actually costing so much money they are, after all, his clients, not his underlings. Feuer cant direct that payouts for pothole damage come from the Street Services Bureaus budget, for example, to give that office a financial incentive to prevent the need for future payouts.
Working with council members, though, and a bit outside the traditional limits of his jurisdiction, Feuer has begun crafting a risk management program, with corrective action plans from the responsible departments and follow-up evaluation: Did the corrective action work? How much money was saved? Its an example of how to handle the somewhat odd job of city attorney, which carries little authority but presents many opportunities for taking responsibility.
Ill be damned if Im ever going to say, Its not my job, Feuer told the Times editorial board. We like that attitude. All L.A. residents should.
It is undeniable that crime in Los Angeles has crept up on Feuers watch, and that remains his biggest challenge in the coming term. He has been handed responsibility for many drug and property crimes that before Proposition 47 would have gone to the district attorney. It is one of his biggest frustrations that large numbers of suspects simply dont show up for the treatment and alternative sentencing programs that he has set up. Feuer keeps trying new things, and generally outpaces his counterparts in other cities at experimenting with solutions. Its a challenge across California, and we cant find a district attorney or city attorney who is taking the issue on with as much vigor and creativity as Feuer.
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In 1973, President Nixon ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox because he wouldn't obey Nixon's order to stop looking into Watergate. Two of the Justice Department 's top leaders resigned in protest rather than following Nixon's directive to fire Cox. It became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre," an instance of the president using his power to punish political enemies within the Justice Department.
Its a phrase that came up again in January after President Trump ousted acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates, just hours after she said the Justice Department would not defend the presidents controversial executive order temporarily banning all refugees and travelers from certain countries. And the phrase reappeared Tuesday when Trump ousted FBI Director James Comey. In that case, Justice officials cited Comeys handling of the end of the Hillary Clinton email investigation. [For those keeping score, yes, the same handling which Clinton has said she believes contributed to her loss to Trump.]
Three years ago, on the 40th anniversary of Nixons actions, artist Steve Brodner drew this guide to the key players.
(Steve Brodner / Special to The Times)
Heres more on the episode from deputy Op-Ed editor Susan Brenneman, originally published Oct. 18, 2013:
The Saturday Night Massacre was a scorched-earth moment in the Watergate affair.
On Oct. 20, 1973, the two highest-ranking members of the Justice Department, Atty. Gen. Elliot L. Richardson and his deputy, William D. Ruckelshaus, quit rather than follow President Nixon's order to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. Cox and the courts were pressing the president to release White House tape recordings that might shed light on whether he had a role in covering up a break-in at Democratic Party headquarters in Washington's Watergate office complex.
Nixon's move to block the special prosecutor was for most Americans their first up-close look at what the Watergate fuss, by then more than a year old, was all about: naked presidential power.
Nixon badly miscalculated on Oct. 20, 1973. When Richardson got the order to fire a defiant Cox, the attorney general instead went in person to the White House to quit his job. Ruckelshaus, next up at the Justice Department, was handed his orders by phone, and he too refused and resigned.
"You owe a duty of loyalty to the president that transcends most other duties," Ruckelshaus told a gathering of former U.S. attorneys in 2009. But "there are lines.... In this case, the line was bright and the decision was simple."
For Robert H. Bork , then the U.S. solicitor general, it was another matter. Unlike Richardson and Ruckelshaus, Bork hadn't been a party to Cox's investigation. He hadn't personally agreed to protect the special prosecutor's independence. Besides, Ruckelshaus explained, Bork "believed the president had the power to fire Cox and he was simply the instrument of the exercise of that power."
Here's where it gets interesting: Ruckelshaus was relieved that Bork did what did. He emphatically didn't want to see Cox fired, and he had refused "an order from his commander in chief" (that's the way Alexander Haig, Nixon's messenger, put it). But that wasn't the only thing on Ruckelshaus' mind:
"The solicitor general was third in command at the Department of Justice," he said, "and there the chain of command stopped. It's not clear what would have happened if Bork had refused.... Both Elliott and I had urged Bork to comply if his conscience would permit. We were frankly worried about the stability of the government."
By the time Nixon resigned, effective Aug. 9, 1974, and put an end to the "long national nightmare" of Watergate, it was clear that government stability (apart from Nixon's own hold on power) hadn't been the first concern of the president and his cronies.
With Watergate, the United States survived "a massive break of trust," Ruckelshaus said in 2009. "The center and the Constitution held. We also suffered greatly.... In my opinion, Richard Nixon's conduct ... did his country incalculable harm, and ... we have not yet fully recovered from some of the damage."
Updated May 9, 4:15 p.m.: This op-ed was updated with Trumps firing of Comey.
This piece was originally republished on Jan. 30, 2017.
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President Trump has earned near-universal condemnation for the excesses of his first week in office, ranging from falsehoods about the size of his inauguration crowd and about millions who supposedly voted illegally for his opponent to the implementation of his slap-dash executive order on immigration. Even immigration restrictionists were aghast at the chaotic way in which the immigration order was handled.
While White House spokesmen ridiculously claim that everything couldnt be better, the presidents more thoughtful conservative admirers have invoked a more subtle and slightly more plausible defense: They claim that the media are practicing a double standard by holding Trump to account after not having done so for Obama. In other words, they are trying to deflect from Trumps sins by citing the shortcomings of his predecessor.
Does Trump tell whoppers, they ask? Sure, they will grudgingly admit, but so did Obama. There was what PolitiFact called the Lie of the Year in 2013: If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it. Or there was the false narrative that Obamas National Security Council staffer Ben Rhodes used to sell the Iran nuclear deal, which included lying about when the negotiations began.
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Obama may have been [overly] cautious and self-righteous, but he was much more thoughtful, dignified and restrained than his bombastic and erratic successor.
Is Trump giving inadvertent aid and comfort to the enemy with his overly broad immigration edict, which gives the appearance of being animated by anti-Muslim animus? Is he turning his back on Syrians who are victims of civil war? Sure, some of his more honest defenders will acknowledge, but Obama did even worse by doing nothing to stop the slaughter in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of some 500,000 people and by abandoning Iraq in 2011, thus allowing Islamic State to arise. Obamas action, or more precisely inaction, created a rallying cry for Sunni jihadists, as did the general perception, fed by the Iran nuclear deal, that Obama was putting Shiite interests over those of Sunnis.
Is Trump causing widespread consternation with his executive order temporarily barring visitors from seven Muslim countries and indefinitely barring all Syrians? Trump defenders claim, falsely, that Obama did something similar by supposedly stopping all refugees from Iraq for six months in 2011. In reality, the Obama administration only slowed down refugee admissions after a security breach it did not stop them entirely, much less bar all visitors from various countries.
Is Trump needlessly provoking a crisis with Americas third-largest trade partner and neighbor with his demands that Mexico pay for his border wall? The smarter Trump defenders will admit thats the case, while suggesting that Trump is treating Mexico no worse than Obama treated Israel by, for example, refusing to veto an anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations.
Trumps defenders are hardly wrong in noting that the media were besotted with Obama and are not enamored of Trump, and thus they hold the current president to a higher standard than his predecessor. But the charge can also be turned around on Trumps fans: Why are they holding Trump to a lower standard than Obama?
In any case, while a useful rhetorical device, cries of hypocrisy hardly excuse what Trump is doing. While Obama, like all politicians, told his share of falsehoods and made promises he couldnt keep, Trump is a mendacity-producing machine the likes of which we have never seen in the White House. And he repeats falsehoods, such as his claims about the size of his inauguration crowd or the number and effect of illegal voters, even when their lack of factual foundation has been repeatedly exposed and even when, for political purposes, he would be far better advised to let the whole subject drop.
Its true that Obama shamefully turned his back on American security interests in the Middle East, but Trump is making a bad situation far worse with his needlessly provocative language (such as his repeated claims that the U.S. should have stolen Iraqs oil or that torture works ) and his overly broad executive orders on immigration, which play directly into the jihadist assertion that the West is at war with Islam.
In the end, there simply isnt any comparison between the two. Obama may have been maddeningly cautious and self-righteous, but he was much more thoughtful, dignified and restrained than his bombastic and erratic successor. Obamas presidency was a failure in many respects most especially in the rise of Islamic State and the collapse of Syria into civil war but it did not uproot 70 years of alliances and trade partnerships as Trump threatens to do.
And even if you judge Obama more harshly, lets keep in mind this hoary adage: Two wrongs dont make a right. Conservatives would be well advised to stick to their principles and not become apologists for Trumps excesses if they want to emerge from his presidency with their dignity and integrity intact.
Max Boot is a contributing writer to Opinion and a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
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The Trump White House is engulfed in a firestorm that it ignited. The Democrats and the media supplied the gasoline.
I am increasingly confident that the above statement could be an evergreen. Trump may move to the center on this policy or that indeed, I expect he will but the Trump we saw during the campaign is the president we got. There was never going to be a lasting pivot.
Trump spent his first weekend burning through political capital arguing about crowd sizes. It was foolish but relatively harmless. Trumps actions his second weekend were more worrisome. Its not just the substance of Trumps Muslim ban executive order that bothers meIm using scare quotes because its not really a ban on Muslimsbut his process, or lack thereof.
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If Trump had given agency professionals 30 days to review his order on refugees, he could have avoided the confusion at airports, not to mention the media hysteria and the protests. And if his communications team had been given time, they could have preempted some of the wild claims made by Democratic detractors.
Its possible and one must hope that Trump can learn...on the job. But what if he doesnt? He could put the country in serious peril.
They went another way: The Bannon Way. According to CNN, when lawyers at the Department of Homeland Security concluded that the executive order banning travelers from seven countries did not include legal permanent residents a.k.a. green card holders senior strategist Steve Bannon led the charge to countermand the ruling. Hence the airport mess.
Over the weekend, Bannon also succeeded in getting himself put on the National Security Councils principals committee. This would not be unlike a President Hillary Clinton putting David Brock on the NSC.
This is not to say Bannon is to blame for all this. The buck stops with the president. But Bannon leads the let Trump be Trump wing of the White House, which relishes sowing chaos and demonizing the press.
Actually, wing might be the wrong word, given that evidence of a countervailing faction is in short supply. (On Fox News Sunday, Kellyanne Conway, widely seen as a voice of reason in Trumps inner circle, argued that journalists who didnt show sufficient respect to the president should be fired).
Bannon has said hes a Leninist but hes really more of a Trotskyist because he fancies himself the leader of an international populist-nationalist right wing movement, exporting anti-globalist revolution. In that role, his status as an enabler of Trumps instinct to shoot or tweet from the hip seems especially ominous.
The Bannon way might work on the campaign trail, but it doesnt translate into good governance. Its possible and one must hope that Trump can learn this fact on the job.
But what if he doesnt? He could put the country in serious peril.
Consider Russia. In a normal time, the signals being sent by the Trump team would be interpreted as an invitation to Russian aggression. The president waves off concerns about Russias annexation of Crimea, talks of NATOs obsolescence and hails Vladimir Putins heroic leadership. During the campaign, Trump surrogate Newt Gingrich belittled Estonia a NATO ally as being in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. (At its closest point, its 85 miles away, the same distance as Finland.)
Putin might well decide to act on Trumps hints. But I dont think Trump would actually welcome an attack on Estonia or another NATO ally. Indeed, I suspect he would feel betrayed by such a move.
Then what? Who backs down? Do we abandon Estonia, or do we go to war?
In normal times, the essence of statecraft is to avoid getting into such predicaments in the first place by working carefully and deliberately and consulting with such institutions as the National Security Council.
Which is where Trump will find Bannon.
jgoldberg@latimescolumnists.com
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To the editor: Charlotte Allen reminds us that George W. Bush designated Iraq, Iran and North Korea as constituting an axis of evil and that liberals responded at the time by pointing out that addressing entire countries as evil was a bad thing. Now, certain liberal pundits have referred to President Trump as evil. (When it comes to Trump, liberals cant see shades of gray, Opinion, Jan. 27)
Personally, I do not use the word because I think it is meaningless. I do not believe in evil. I do not believe that Satan has stained souls and turned them evil. That said, branding one man as evil is, in my humble opinion, far different than branding entire populations as such.
Next to Allens article is another piece by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon reminding us that Bush told the Iraqi people that America does not abandon our friends, and we will not abandon you. Trump may not be evil, but he certainly does not display any evidence of being diplomatic or disciplined.
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Bethia Sheean-Wallace, Fullerton
..
To the editor: Yes, we who called President Bush evil were wrong in doing so. But at least he was sane.
Calling Trump evil misses the point. He seems not to know the difference between what is true and what is not. This snowballs into an Orwellian repetition of lies where truth is buried and those who know somethings seriously wrong become cowed into helpless obeisance to insanity.
Loren Woodson, Santa Monica
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To the editor: To President Trumps ban on travel to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries which harkens back to a dark period in Europe when German soldiers asked, Ausweis, bitte, (papers, please) lets instead look to the German words of another American president who said, Ich bin ein Berliner. (Trumps cruel, illegal refugee executive order, Opinion, Jan. 29)
Only perhaps now it should be, Ich bin ein Muslim.
Russ Woody, Studio City
..
To the editor: The presidents Muslim ban bothers me to my core. But what bothers me more is the false sympathy thats present because of it.
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Whether its a 40-year-old hijabi woman like my mother or a high school student like myself, any Muslim American can tell of their experience with veiled Islamophobia since 9/11. This ban lifts the veil.
Sadly, weve learned to cope, not with violence or anger, but with love.
Muslims across the United States have given everything they have for this country whether its by saving lives in medicine or giving their own lives in military service. Nearly 6,000 U.S. service members identify as Muslims, because the prophet Muhammad taught us that love of ones country is part of ones faith.
We will continue loving America, even if sometimes it does not love us back.
Sinaan Younus, Perry Hall, Md.
..
To the editor: I do not support Trump, but for whatever reason, the Obama administration did not adequately address terrorism in the United States. Trumps ban on people from seven Muslim-majority nations entering this country is an unfortunate consequence of terrorism.
Many documented acts of terrorism in this country have been committed by Muslims living here who were able to travel freely to and from the Middle East and elsewhere to become radicalized. This is a fact. Obviously, Trump should have included more details in his plan before his administration implemented it.
Some will say Trumps action is racist, but it is not. Interning innocent Japanese Americans was racist, as there were no acts of terrorism perpetrated by Japanese Americans.
Something needs to be done. This is a step in the right direction.
Neil Snow, Manhattan Beach
..
To the editor: Your articles have mentioned the effect this ban may have on teaching hospitals and training new physicians.
I am a resident physician at Yale-New Haven Hospital and I train alongside Syrians, Iranians and other immigrants. Let me be clear: They make American healthcare better. Americas finest hospitals rely on the brightest doctors from around the world. In pathology, my field of medicine, more than half of all new residents went to medical school outside the U.S.
This policy is deleterious to American healthcare but also has a human cost. Some of my colleagues have spouses working in other countries. They may no longer be able to see them under this ban. Other immigrant residents fear they too may be the next victims of an executive order.
It pains me to watch my colleagues, as well as my patients, suffer under this anti-immigrant agenda of the White House.
Benjamin Mazer, MD, New Haven, Conn.
..
To the editor: My parents emigrated from Austria in 1940 to escape the Nazis.
My mother was Jewish. They applied for visas in 1939 but had to wait an extra year because the U.S. quota of immigrants from Austria had been reached. This delay could easily have resulted in my parents being placed in a concentration camp.
My maternal grandparents were not so lucky. They died in Auschwitz.
Now our president has suspended refugee arrivals and has banned entry from certain Muslim countries. How many people will die? Does this administration have any compassion? This is not how you make America great.
Betsy Estrada, Mission Viejo
..
To the editor: No, no, no!
This 56-year-old American Jew can no longer sit in her comfort and security and ask how 6 million people could perish, thankful that she wasnt yet alive to bear witness or die.
Congratulations, President Trump: After just a week in the White House you have sealed your ignominious fate as the greatest American counterpart to Adolf Hitler.
I have been despondent. Now I am awake.
Laurie Aronoff, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: A new president with no government experience quickly fires off executive orders without first consulting the professionals who have expertise and experience. Chaos ensues immediately at airports around the world as confused officials deny entry to U.S. legal permanent residents and others with legal visas.
Federal judges rebuke them. The next morning the president sends his chief of staff to change policy again on a television show.
Isnt it great that finally we have a Republican businessman who really knows how to run things?
John Odell, Pasadena
..
To the editor: Sadly, Trumps immigration ban isnt the last straw. Its just the next straw with more and more hastily conceived executive orders to follow.
Now is the time for more Republicans to stop acting like sheep and speak up.
Stefan Gerber, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: Dear France:
Thanks for the statue. It was a nice thought, but we really should return it. It just doesnt suit our current style. I hope you kept the receipt.
Thanks anyway.
Ken Moreno, Pasadena
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In the 2018 governors race, Gavin Newsom leads the pack in fundraising Gavin Newsom, the first major candidate to jump into CA's 2018 governor's race, narrowly lead the pack in 2016 fundraising w/ $4.27 million Phil Willon (@philwillon) February 1, 2017 Facebook
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Schwarzenegger: Were going through some difficult moments ... but I guarantee we will work our way out of this By Seema Mehta (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that the United States had faced trying times and political crises before, and has always persevered. Yes, were going through some difficult moments right now, as we have in the past, but I guarantee we will work our way out of this, Schwarzenegger said, speaking at an electoral reform event at the University of Southern California. He recalled immigrating to the United States and seeing the violent protests at the Democratic National Convention in 1968, Watergate and the economic troubles during President Jimmy Carters tenure. One thing you can count on in America is even though it falls every so often as we all do it dusts itself off, gets up and gets going again, Schwarzenegger said. That is why its the number one country in the world. Although Schwarzenegger did not mention President Donald Trump by name during his remarks, the comments appeared to be a reference to the turbulence since Trump took office less than two weeks ago. Tensions between Schwarzenegger, who replaced Trump as the host of Celebrity Apprentice, and the new president and fellow Republican have been escalating. On Monday, Schwarzenegger called the implementation of Trumps temporary ban on immigration from several Muslim-majority countries crazy. The previous week, Schwarzenegger slammed Trumps pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt, as a hypocrite. Earlier in January, Trump mocked Schwarzenegger for the first ratings of Celebrity Apprentice after the former governor took over as the host. During the presidential campaign, Schwarzenegger repeatedly made clear his disdain for Trump, pointedly casting his ballot in the California primary for Ohio Gov. John Kasich after he had dropped out. On Tuesday, Schwarzenegger was headlining an event about redistricting reform at his namesake institute at USC. He did not respond to reporters questions after the event. While governor, Schwarzenegger championed electoral reform, including an ultimately successful effort to take the redrawing of congressional and legislative districts away from politicians and give them instead to an independent commission. Both political parties have long tried to use gerrymandering to create districts that favor their politicians. But David Daley, author of The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal Americas Democracy, argued that Republicans were able to make unprecedented changes in the 2010 redistricting that will have long-lasting effects on this nations politics because of a confluence of factors, including unprecedented technology such as mapping software, and a flood of anonymous money due to the Citizens United ruling. In 2010, gerrymandering enters its steroid era, Daley said. The end result, he said, was that while the nation remained relatively closely divided between the two parties, the GOP was able to exponentially expand its hold of statehouses, governors mansions and congressional seats. Speakers urged Californians to take the lessons they had learned through the states redistricting reform and try to help voters apply them in other states, through the initiative, or legislative or legal systems. We are the model for the rest of the nation and that is why we in California have to do everything we can to pull together all the things that happen successfully in California and nationwide, Schwarzenegger said. Because the rest of the states are waiting for us. Facebook
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Top Democratic donor Tom Steyer is planning a larger role opposing President Trump By Chris Megerian On Sunday, Tom Steyer was holding a cardboard sign saying not on my watch at San Franciscos airport, one of thousands protesting President Trumps order preventing visitors from several predominantly Muslim countries. I went out there to participate, but also to listen, he said. Like other liberal leaders, hes been hunting for the right approach to counter Trump. Now the deep-pocketed Democratic donor is launching a new effort that could expand the scope of NextGen Climate, the San Francisco-based organization he created and funded. Although Steyer expects to stay active on environmental issues the onetime hedge fund manager is best known for advocating stronger steps to fight climate change and support clean energy hes looking to play a more expansive role in opposing Trump. The number of issues that have to be addressed are broader, he said in an interview, pointing to Trumps statements on issues such as voting that he considers to be a broader attack on fundamental American rights. In a video posted on Tuesday night, Steyer says, I promise to do everything in my power to stand up to Trump and asks for the publics thoughts on what next steps should be taken. Steyer spent $74 million in the 2014 midterm election, and then millions more last year to support Hillary Clinton and other Democrats. Although results have been mixed Republicans gained ground in both years Steyer said the experiences have positioned NextGen to educate and mobilize voters across the country. There are very few people who are set up organizationally to do what were trying to do, he said. Steyer has already played a role in opposing Trumps nominees, running advertisements criticizing his choice for secretary of State, former Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson. Besides simply fighting Trump, Steyer also hopes to project an alternative view of the country one that comes with a dose of California sunshine. America can pursue a much more optimistic, a much more prosperous, a much more equitable and a much healthier future, he said. Facebook
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Former aide is preparing to run for Rep. Grace Napolitanos seat if she retires By Javier Panzar Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk), who turned 80 last year, has not made plans to retire. But one San Gabriel Valley politician is raising funds to run in case Napolitano does decide to bow out after 10 terms in Congress. Mary Ann Lutz, the former mayor of Monrovia and a former aide to Napolitano, reported having $101,000 in the bank to run for Napolitanos 32nd Congressional District seat, according to a new filing with the Federal Election Commission. But Lutz says she will run only if Napolitano retires. I have enormous respect for my former boss, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, and would never run against her for any office, Lutz said in a statement. In the event that the 32nd Congressional District seat eventually opens up, I plan to run, and run aggressively. Napolitano suffered a minor stroke last February that affected her ability to write and slightly slowed her walk. She continued her reelection campaign and beat state Assemblyman Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina), who effectively ended his campaign in August after a judge granted his ex-wifes request for a domestic violence restraining order against him. During an interview with The Times a day before the November election, Napolitano said the health of her 90-year-old husband would be a key factor in her decision on whether to run for an 11th term in 2018. I would love to stay but it depends, she said. I will be ready to hang it up when I am ready. Lutz was elected in 2003 to the City Council in Monrovia, a city of 36,000 in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, and was elected mayor in 2009. She lost her reelection bid in 2015 and went on to work for Napolitano as an advisor on water issues. Lutz raised $26,000 and loaned her campaign committee an additional $75,000. Napolitano has $144,692 in the bank if she wants to run again. Facebook
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State Senate committee votes in favor of funding legal aid for immigrants in California facing deportation By Jazmine Ulloa (John Moore / Getty Images) A state legislative bill seeking to expand legal services for immigrants in the U.S. illegally moved out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday on a 5-2 vote. The bill, introduced by state Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), would create a legal defense program funded with state money that would provide lawyers for immigrants caught in deportation or removal proceedings. It comes roughly three years after the Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors program began providing state-funded legal services for young refugees fleeing gang violence in Central America. Hueso said the measure faced new urgency given President Trumps executive orders last week on immigration. This is a bill protecting Californians, protecting their families, but also protecting Californias economic prominence, Hueso said. I hope we can all stand united on this and say, Yes, we stand by our immigrant community in California. Members of the committee raised concerns about whether it whittled away at defense services available for detainees convicted of certain crimes and over how the state would be able to afford it amid a looming deficit and budget cuts from the federal government. It is well-meaning, but it is a whole different agency that we are setting up in an expedited way, Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) said. Read More Facebook
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California assemblyman wants state to make cleaner purchases By Chris Megerian (Alexis Cuarezma / For The Times) A California lawmaker wants state officials to consider greenhouse gas emissions when making new purchases, a proposal that would add a new wrinkle to the bidding process for government contracts. Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) said the legislation (AB 262) would harness the states enormous buying power to support clean manufacturing. The measure, which includes state agencies and university systems, would affect the purchase of materials such as asphalt, cement, steel and glass for projects such as hospitals, dormitories and roads. Companies bidding on state contracts would be required to report greenhouse gas emissions generated by the manufacturing and transportation of supplies. Officials would then factor that information into their decision. Given Californias goal of slashing emissions, Bonta said he hopes that the legislation puts the states money where its values are. He doesnt expect the requirement to report more information would be a significant burden on companies seeking contracts. This will just be one more piece of information that will need to be added, he said. Facebook
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First of several immigrant protection bills clears state Senate Public Safety Committee By Jazmine Ulloa (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) As national debate and protests have taken place over President Donald Trumps executive actions on immigration and refugees, the state Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday passed the first of several bills aimed at protecting immigrants in California. Senate Bill 54, introduced by Senate President pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources to investigate, detain, report or arrest persons for the purposes of immigration enforcement. The proposal, dubbed the California Values Act, also aims to protect immigrants personal data, requiring state agencies to review their confidentiality policies and to ensure that they are only collecting information necessary to their departments. It moved out of committee with a 5-2 vote. Long line of advocates, lawyers in support SB 54, prohibiting law enforcement agencies from using resources for immigrants enforcement. pic.twitter.com/G0IV9ihRjE Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) January 31, 2017 The bill seeks to strengthen immigrant protections threatened under Trumps executive actions. In orders signed last week, the president pledged to cut federal dollars from so-called sanctuary cities, which have policies limiting the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. At a committee hearing Tuesday, De Leon said the proposal builds on the California Trust Act, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed in October 2013. The state law prevents law enforcement agencies from detaining immigrants longer than necessary for minor crimes so that federal immigration authorities can take them into custody. A long line of immigrant advocates, lawyers and lobbyists rose in support of the bill, saying it would continue to help law enforcement officials build trust within immigrant communities and allow more victims and witnesses to report crime. Democratic members in the committee urged their Republican colleagues to vote for the legislation and move away from Trumps rhetoric, which they said stereotyped immigrants as criminals. They pointed to low crime rates in immigrant communities and stressed that many police chiefs do not want to enforce immigration laws. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), chair of the committee, said people across California were under economic stress that could be manipulated into fear. All of us want hardened criminals prosecuted under the law, she said. All of us. But what we are watching now is a pitting of people against each other, a targeting of immigrants. Opponents were not swayed. They said the bills language was too broad and could prevent communication among police agencies at different levels of government, allowing dangerous criminals to escape prosecution. Im concerned that you are basically making the state of California a de facto sanctuary state, Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Murrieta) told De Leon. Facebook
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California lawmakers seek stricter enforcement, more transparency at state toxics control agency By Melanie Mason Jose Gomez, at his home on South Hicks Avenue in East Los Angeles, is among thousands whose yards have been tested for contamination from the former Exide plant. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Assembly Democrats unveiled a package of five bills Tuesday aimed at reforming the state agency tasked with regulating toxic substances. The Department of Toxic Substances Control has been roundly criticized for its flat-footed response in regulating and cleaning up pollution from the now-closed Exide battery recycling plant in Vernon. A Los Angeles Times review in 2015 found the department knew for years that the plant was violating environmental regulations but was slow to act on it. Too many communities, including communities I represent, have been harmed by toxic emissions that were released into their neighborhoods emissions that could and should have been stopped, Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) said in a statement. The goal of this legislative package is a more transparent, accountable, and responsive Department of Toxic Substances Control and safer and healthier communities throughout California. The proposed legislation includes: AB 245 by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), which would require hazardous waste facilities to comply with higher financial assurance requirements to make sure there are adequate funds for contamination cleanup.
AB 249 (Gomez), which would increase maximum penalties the department can assess to match what the federal government can assess in similar situations.
AB 248 by Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-San Bernardino), which would require hazardous waste facilities to submit permit renewals two years prior to the current permits expiration to avoid lapses.
AB 246 by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), which would promote the use of fence line monitoring by facilities to better detect leaks.
AB 247 by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), which would create a statewide task force focused on reducing lead poisoning in the state. Facebook
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Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she will vote no on Jeff Sessions nomination for U.S. attorney general By Sarah D. Wire California Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced this morning that she will vote no on the nomination of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for U.S. attorney general. The statement comes after protestors visited Feinsteins home and office out of concern that she may vote in favor of the nomination. Protesters marched on her home and California offices last night. #CASen https://t.co/U0HhsJxwTB Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) January 31, 2017 JUST NOW: On Sessions attorney general nomination: I must vote no. pic.twitter.com/lfQnX5Khug Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) January 31, 2017 It is very difficult to reconcile for me the independence and objectivity necessary for the position of attorney general with the partisanship this nominee has demonstrated, Feinstein said Tuesday. We are being asked to determine whether this nominees record demonstrates that he will have the objectivity to enforce the law for all Americans and be an independent attorney general and not an arm of the White House. Feinstein is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which votes today on the confirmation of Sessions to be President Trumps attorney general. Feinstein pointed to former acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Sally Yates as an example of what she is looking for. Yates was fired Monday, just hours after she announced that the Justice Department would not defend Trumps controversial executive order banning refugees and travelers from certain countries. Yesterday, early in the evening, we clearly saw what a truly independent attorney general doesI have no confidence that Senator Sessions will do that, Feinstein said. Instead, he has been the fiercest, most dedicated, and most loyal promoter in Congress of the Trump agenda, and has played a critical role as the clearinghouse for policy and philosophy to undergird the implementation of that agenda. Facebook
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Where do Californias members of Congress stand on President Trumps refugee order? By Sarah D. Wire Noor Hindi, left, and Shah Najjar, middle, join the protest at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) President Trumps executive order Friday, which blocked U.S. entry to refugees and nationals of seven Muslim-majority nations, brought thousands of Americans to the nations airports in protest over the weekend. Several Democrats from Californias 54-member congressional delegation joined constituents at airports, and lobbied customs and Border Patrol officials to release the detained visa holders. Many of the states 14 Republican representatives were initially silent on the executive order. Several have since voiced their support, while others were critical of the orders rollout. Heres a look at what each member of the California congressional delegation has said about the executive order: Read More Facebook
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California state Senate passes resolution condemning President Trumps refugee ban By Jazmine Ulloa Protesters are held back by airport police on Sunday at LAX. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) After nearly two hours of debate, the state Senate on Monday passed a resolution that condemned President Trumps executive order banning immigrants and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries, calling it discriminatory overreach. Democrats introduced the resolution after the presidents order Friday spurred a weekend of protests and chaos at airports across the country. The resolution denounces Trumps actions and urges the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to comply with federal court orders permitting detainees to have timely access to counsel. It cleared the Senate floor with a 26-11 vote largely along party lines, reflecting the national rift over Trumps immigration order. Two Republican members abstained. On the Senate floor, Democrats called the executive order an affront on religious freedom that panders to fear and foments discrimination, and said it would not further public safety. Reaching to members across the aisle, they said the resolution was not about partisanship or opposing Trump, but about protecting American institutions. In a fiery speech, state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) said the order is unconstitutional and violates fundamental rights. You see this is how we end up with fascism and totalitarianism, she said. Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said she did not want four more years of executive orders crafted in the cover of darkness. But Republican members said that President Obama had taken similar actions and that they had a duty to their constituents, who were worried about national security and a vetting process they said did not stop terrorists from entering the nations borders. Obama has rejected comparisons of his policy to Trumps. We do not welcome those who have come here to harm us, Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) said, urging a no vote. We cannot ignore contemporary reality. Our enemies do not reside beyond our shores. They are within. The resolution states that 134 million people are temporarily barred from entering or reentering the United States, including nationals with dual citizenship. Hundreds of thousands with visas are also blocked, it says. The resolution also denounces the manner in which the executive order was executed, saying it was not fully vetted by the departments tasked with protecting the nations national security interests. Facebook
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State attorneys general met in Florida to strategize on how to counter Trump, Becerra says By Patrick McGreevy California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra. ((Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) ) A joint statement by 15 attorneys general over the weekend condemning President Trumps refugee order grew out of a meeting in Florida between California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and some of his concerned counterparts, Becerra said Monday. Becerra gathered Thursday in Fort Lauderdale with other attorneys general, including Washington Atty. Gen. Bob Ferguson, to strategize about responding to the Trump administration on various issues. The meeting took place at the annual winter conference of the Democratic Attorneys General Assn. Several of the AGs have been in communication, Becerra said in an interview with The Times. We made it very clear in our joint statement that we are going to do everything we can to make sure that the unlawful, unconstitutional executive orders by the Trump administration dont see the light of day. Officials who signed the joint statement included legal representatives from Washington, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia. On Monday, Ferguson announced he was suing Trump over the executive order that suspended refugee entries for 120 days and barred entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Becerra said that he had been in contact with Ferguson and that the option to pursue legal action is under consideration for California. Thats one of many avenues of how we are looking to approach this, Becerra said. As a result of the Florida meeting, Becerra said, the top lawyers from the 15 states are collaborating on how to address various Trump directives. Everyone is doing a little bit of something, he said. Everyones trying to figure out how best to address this. Florida Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, a Republican, did not attend the meeting, Becerra said. Facebook
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California warily watches President Trump while pushing forward on climate change By Chris Megerian (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Its been a decade since California set its first target for slashing greenhouse gas emissions, one of several policies that has made the state an international leader in the fight against global warming. So while President Trump suggests hes going to roll back the countrys environmental regulations, state leaders insist they wont be knocked off track here. This is when you do your best work, said John Laird, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. We cant worry about pulling back just to sink with everyone else who isnt moving at all. Read More Facebook
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Rep. Duncan Hunter urges Trump to make an executive order exemption for Iraqis who aided U.S. military By Sarah D. Wire Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) are asking President Trump to approve waivers to his executive order for Iraqis who helped the American military. Hunter and Kinzinger, who both served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said in the letter to Trump that they supported a request from Defense Secretary James N. Mattis that visa reviews for some Iraqis be fast-tracked. For the safety of these courageous individuals and their families, and in the interest of our national security, its critical that we make this exception and do so swiftly, the congressmen said in a statement. The executive order Trump signed Friday bars all refugee entries for 120 days, blocks Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars for 90 days the entry of citizens from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia. Some of the earliest stories of people caught up in the ban included military interpreters from Iraq who had visas. We respectfully ask that you take this action to ensure these individuals are not put in any further danger. Doing so would send a strong signal to those who show such immense courage to advance U.S. security interests at a risk to their own safety, as well as the many veterans and warfighters whove relied on the service of these individuals for their own protection and to accomplish their objectives, their letter states. Facebook
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Democrats in the California Legislature move to condemn President Trumps immigration orders Facebook
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Assembly Republican leader Chad Mayes voices his misgivings about refugee order By Patrick McGreevy Assembly Minority Leader Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley) speaks in the Capitol on Jan. 11. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP) Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley on Monday joined a number of GOP politicians who are voicing misgivings about President Trumps order temporarily barring refugees from some majority-Muslim countries from entering the country. Religious liberty is a core value of our nation. My ancestors immigrated to America to flee religious persecution, Mayes said in a statement. While bolstering our national security is important, when forced to decide between security and liberty, I will always side with liberty. He is concerned about them [the orders], said Matt Mahon, a spokesman for the assemblyman. Trumps directives suspended refugee entries for 120 days and barred entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Facebook
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Rep. Zoe Lofgren and other ranking Democrats demand emergency meeting on refugee ban By Sarah D. Wire After two days of protests across the country over President Trumps order Friday banning refugees from seven countries, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) and the ranking Democrats of three committees that oversee immigration issues are demanding a meeting with President Trumps new Homeland Security secretary, John F. Kelly. The move by Trump prevented green card and visa holders from reentering the country, and led to the detention of more than a hundred people landing at U.S. airports with valid entry documents. Late Saturday, a federal judge in New York issued a temporary stay against the deportation of anyone who had arrived with a valid visa. The letter demanding the meeting, signed by Lofgren, Judiciary Committee ranking member John Conyers (D-Mich.), Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Elliot Engel (D-N.Y.), calls for it be scheduled by the close of business Wednesday. The Democrats also ask for more information about how the order is being implemented, whether the stays placed by federal judges over the weekend are being followed and whether green card holders are affected. Only two days after the order was signed it is clear that it has already led to panic and disorder, not to mention protests, the letter states. This is apparently due in part to the lack of internal administration review prior to its issuance as well as a lack of clarity and guidance provided thereafter. Lofgren, a former immigration attorney and the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committees Immigration Subcommittee, also plans to file legislation today to rescind the executive order. Getting such legislation through the House could be difficult with Speaker Paul Ryan supporting the executive order. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is proposing similar legislation in the Senate. House and Senate Democrats plan to hold a rally against the order outside the Supreme Court Monday evening. Facebook
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As California Democrats blast Trumps refugee order, Republicans in the congressional delegation hold their fire By Sarah D. Wire Only a few of the states 14 Republican representatives have publicly commented on an executive order signed by President Trump on Friday that barred refugees and green card holders from seven countries from entering the U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) released a statement Sunday night saying some tweaks are needed, but his background as chairman of the House Select Intelligence Committee leads him to support the executive order. In light of attempts by jihadist groups to infiltrate fighters into refugee flows to the West, along with Europes tragic experience coping with this problem, the Trump administrations executive order on refugees is a common-sense security measure to prevent terror attacks on the homeland. While accommodations should be made for green card holders and those whove assisted the U.S. armed forces, this is a useful temporary measure on seven nations of concern until we can verify who is entering the United States, he said. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) told the Washington Post that pausing the intake of refugees from terror hotspots is the right call to keep America safe, but he hopes the cases of people traveling on visas who were prevented from reentering the country are resolved quickly. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) said on Twitter on Sunday that the rollout has created confusion, and that executive orders arent the way to fix the countrys long-term problems. View Twitter post View Twitter post Several of Californias 38 Democratic congressional representatives and the states two senators were out in force over the weekend demanding the release of refugees and green card holders, and an end to the executive order. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced two pieces of legislation shell file in response. One would immediately rescind the presidents order. The second would limit executive authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to prevent a president from unilaterally banning groups of immigrants. Its clear that the president gave little consideration to the chaos and heartbreak that would result from this order, she said in a statement. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) joined protesters outside the White House Sunday afternoon. We will fight against racism. We will fight against anti-Muslim rhetoric. We will fight against those who will marginalize who we are. pic.twitter.com/R54f3MDhvo Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 29, 2017 In Los Angeles, Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) joined protesters at Los Angeles International Airport. On Saturday, Reps. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), Nanette Barragan (D-San Pedro) and Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) joined the initial protests at the airport, and worked to get some of those being held released. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) accompanied protesters at San Francisco International Airport Sunday. Congresswoman @MaxineWaters is here at LAX protest leading the crowd in the chant "no ban, no wall, you build it up we'll tear it down" pic.twitter.com/iNEmkVVkmW Javier Panzar (@jpanzar) January 29, 2017 2:31 p.m. Jan. 30: This post was updated to clarify Rep. Ed Royces statement about the executive order. It was originally published Jan. 29. Facebook
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State Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra condemns Trumps refugee order and explores challenge By Patrick McGreevy Assyrian Christians, who fled unrest in Syria and Iraq, attend Mass at St. Georges Assyrian Church in Jdeideh, Lebanon. Trumps directive provides an exception for religious minorities. ( (AFP/Getty Images)) California state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Saturday condemned an executive order by President Donald Trump barring people from some Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. and said he is consulting with legal advisors over a way to challenge the directive. Trump has suspended all refugee entries for 120 days and barred entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Justice in America doesnt live or die on the stroke of one mans pen regardless of how high his office, Becerra said in a statement late Saturday, less than a week after taking office. The Trump Administrations anti-religion, anti-refugee executive order is in so many ways unjust and anti-American He said the order discriminates against people based on their faith and denies entry to those with fears of death and persecution. I have conferred with my team, and we are reaching out to others as well, to find every avenue possible to defend our family members and those who live permanently in our communities who may be barred from re-entry into America, Becerra said. The Trump executive order should not stand and must be confronted as a constitutional overreach, he added. Facebook
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California Politics Podcast: Reactions to President Trumps first week By John Myers Even before the weekend controversy and protests, Californias top elected officials spent much of the last week reacting to the first moves by President Donald Trump. On this weeks California Politics Podcast, we take a closer look at the sharp words offered by Gov. Jerry Brown in his State of the State speech when it comes to the new politics of Washington. We also focus much of this weeks discussion around three big topics that caught the attention of a number of California lawmakers: immigration moves by Trump; the rough week that was for the nations environmental protection enforcers; and rekindled but unproven allegations of widespread voter fraud. Im joined by Marisa Lagos of KQED News and Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project. Facebook
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Gov. Jerry Brown will undergo new round of treatment for prostate cancer, but wont miss any work By John Myers Gov. Jerry Brown, who first was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012, will begin a new round of treatment for the disease, his office reported on Saturday. Brown, 78, will maintain his duties as governor during the treatment, according to his staff. No additional details were provided about how long the treatment will take, or what prompted its timing. Fortunately this is not extensive disease, can be readily treated with a short course of radiotherapy, and there are not expected to be any significant side effects, said Dr. Eric Small, a UC San Francisco oncologist, in an emailed statement provided to reporters. The prognosis for Gov. Brown is excellent. Brown initially learned he had prostate cancer in late 2012 and underwent similar treatment for several weeks. The governor has also been treated for basal cell carcinoma a type of skin cancer twice in the past nine years, with reconstructive surgery on the right side of his nose in 2011. With almost two years remaining on his final term in office, Brown is already the oldest governor in California history. He often made a point of pointing out his physical fitness in his return to the job in 2011, including a 2012 challenge to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie of a 3-mile race, a push-up contest and a chin-up contest. Though hes been treated in San Francisco, the governor and First Lady Anne Gust Brown now live full-time in the historic governors mansion in Sacramento after moving out of Oakland last year. Facebook
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Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra takes a jab at the Trump administration when asked about the battles to come Facebook
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Proposed law would make penalties for using fake immigration papers the same as those for using fake drivers license By Jazmine Ulloa A proposed California law seeks to ensure that a person who uses false documents to conceal their citizenship status faces the same punishment as a person who uses a fake drivers license. The legislation by Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) would amend the penal code to make both crimes wobblers,
meaning prosecutors would have the discretion to charge suspects in such cases with either felony offenses or lower-level misdemeanors. Under the proposal, the repercussions for defendants would be the same: If convicted of a misdemeanor, offenders would have to serve up to one year in county jail, while a felony conviction would mean up to 16 months in county jail, or two or three years in prison. A spokesman for Bocangera said the measure was introduced as a proactive response to President Trumps hard-line stance on immigration and would reverse part of Proposition 187, a controversial ballot measure to deny public services, such as education and healthcare, to immigrants in the country illegally. The proposition, approved by voters in 1994, requires any person who uses false immigration records to face felony charges. Bocangeras bill amending those provisions would need a two-thirds vote in the Assembly and the state Senate to pass. Today, if an underage college student uses a fake ID to purchase a six-pack of beer, he or she can be charged with a misdemeanor, Bocanegra said in a statement. However, if an immigrant is caught using that same fake ID, he or she is automatically charged with a felony and is subject to five years in prison. This is fundamentally unfair. Facebook
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Fearing catastrophe, Californias Gov. Jerry Brown wants the worlds leaders to stop goofing off By Chris Megerian Gov. Jerry Brown pointedly criticized world leaders for goofing off instead of addressing looming problems with climate change and nuclear weapons during a radio interview on Friday. Theyre really averting their gaze, he said. And that is dangerous, very dangerous. Brown has become increasingly outspoken about issues he describes as existential threats to humanity, and the election of Donald Trump has only made him more concerned. During the interview, he spoke in sweeping terms about the need to support scientific research in the face of political denial. Darkness cannot totally extinguish the light, Brown said while criticizing Republicans for refusing to accept the scientific consensus around climate change and the need for dramatic changes to confront global warming. @JerryBrownGov in our studio (in fact, in my chair!) as he chats w/ Ira Flatow on @scifri pic.twitter.com/kIyGBFQW9X Beth Ruyak (@CapRadioRuyak) January 27, 2017 At another point, Brown mused that humans have accumulated vast power without a corresponding increase in wisdom. That creates a gap between the power to destroy and the wisdom to control those destructive forces. Brown reiterated his plan to push forward Californias policies on climate change even if Trump follows through on the federal governments plans. Were going to do everything we can to stay on track, he said. Facebook
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Some California lawmakers say its time to expand how the state defines violent crime By Jazmine Ulloa As California undergoes the largest overhaul of prison parole in a generation, some lawmakers and law enforcement officials say its time to revisit how the state legally defines a violent crime. Gov. Jerry Browns Proposition 57, which voters overwhelmingly approved in November, continues a statewide effort to increase rehabilitation services and decrease the prison population. Among its provisions, the initiative gives the state parole board greater latitude to consider the early release of prisoners who have served their primary sentences, and whose crimes are not designated as violent under the California penal code. But since the early days of the ballot measure campaign, debate has brewed over just who the law will benefit, with prosecutors saying that short and porous list excludes certain rape crimes and other dangerous offenses. This legislative session, the discussion moves to the Capitol. Read More Facebook
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Fearing deletion, Tom Steyer copies Environmental Protection Agency website on climate change By Chris Megerian (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) With President Trump in the White House, information about climate change has been disappearing from government websites. Some fear the same thing could happen with the Environmental Protection Agency. Now the advocacy organization run by environmentalist and political donor Tom Steyer is taking steps to preserve the information. We will not allow Trump and the oil corporations to push us towards an Orwellian world full of official lies and misinformation. Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) January 27, 2017 NextGen Climate copied the website and made it available at SaveOurEPA.com. As Americans, we will not allow Donald Trump to erase the truth or rewrite history, Steyer said in a statement. This information belongs to the people, and the public has a right to know the truth. Trump has taken other steps that have alarmed environmentalists. For example, he greenlighted two oil pipelines that had been stopped by former President Obama. Facebook
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For California, a return to center stage in the 2020 presidential contest By Mark Z. Barabak (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) Kamala Harris hadnt even arrived in Washington to take up her job as Californias spanking-new U.S. senator when the chatter began: Kamala for president! Never mind her disavowals Seriously? or the fact that the first balloting of the 2020 race is, at a minimum, 1,000-plus days away. The soul-sapping election of Donald Trump has Democrats desperately looking far, far down the road. Usually the candidates start sending signals, said Jim Demers, a longtime party strategist in New Hampshire, the state that traditionally holds the first presidential primary. This time Im hearing activists begging for the race to begin. With a wide-open contest (read: not a Clinton or Obama in sight), the list of would-be contenders, real and imagined, is lengthy, even by the prodigious standards of this early stage. Whats different in 2020 is that California huge in population, mighty in economic power, desperate to matter in presidential politics figures to be at the center of speculation in a way it hasnt for a generation. Read More Facebook
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Theres a major fight on the way over Trumps plans for sanctuary cities By Liam Dillon Immigrant workers marching in Los Angeles in 2014. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times) Cities in California are gearing up for a legal fight against President Trumps plans to take away federal dollars from so-called sanctuary cities. These cities typically are defined as those that dont cooperate with federal immigration officials for deportation purposes, and the new president wants to strip them of funding unless they start doing so. But the language in Trumps executive order on the issue is vague, and San Francisco officials believe their city is already exempt from the mandate. Read More Facebook
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Fighting Trumps border wall on environmental grounds probably wont win in court By Liam Dillon A pair of fences separates Mexico, left, and the U.S. south of San Diego. (Bill Wechter / AFP) California political leaders are seeking all sorts of strategies to fight President Trumps plans to build a wall along the border with Mexico. One strategy thats likely to fail is a lawsuit based on state and federal environmental laws, legal experts said. Congress already has given the federal government broad authority to waive environmental laws to build a border fence and the courts have upheld that power. Read More Facebook
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Calexit organizers can now start collecting signatures to get California secession on the ballot By Christine Mai-Duc Supporters of the campaign for California to secede from the United States can now begin collecting the hundreds of thousands of signatures they need to get a proposed Calexit initiative on the ballot. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla cleared the proposed initiative to begin collecting signatures on Thursday. If the measure gets on the ballot and gains approval by a majority of voters, it would repeal clauses in the California Constitution stating that the state is an inseparable part of the United States and that the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, according to the title and summary prepared by the state attorney generals office. The measure would place another question on the ballot in 2019, asking whether California should become a separate country. If at least half of registered voters participate in that vote, with at least 55% of those voting to approve, the results would be treated as Californias declaration of independence. The current measures fiscal effect is dependent on various factors, writes the states nonpartisan legislative analyst, and if it succeeds would result in major, but unknown budgetary impacts. The proposals backers, known as Yes California, have argued that the state is culturally out of step with the rest of the U.S. and that California pays more money to the federal government than it receives in spending. The election of President Trump has only strengthened their argument, they say. California loses [by] being a part of America culturally and financially, said Marcus Ruiz Evans, one of the groups founders. It could be a nation all its own, everybody knows that. The only question is if they want to break off. Its unclear how the group will collect the required 585,407 valid signatures from registered voters over the next 180 days to qualify for the ballot. A campaign committee, Yes California Independence Committee, has raised no funds so far, according to records from the secretary of state. But Evans says that his group has more than 7,000 volunteers (significantly down from a 13,000 estimate in December) ready to gather signatures and that voters can expect to see signature gatherers on the streets in the next couple of days. Yes California says that even if the proposed initiative does land on the ballot and voters approve it, such an unprecedented move to secede would need to receive approval of at least a majority of the states in the union, among other legal hurdles. Evans says hes not fazed. America already hates California, and America votes on emotions, he said. I think wed have the votes today if we held it. UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: This post has been updated to clarify that the proposed initiative would place a future vote on Californias secession on the ballot in 2019. Facebook
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Rep. Ted Lieu is trolling Donald Trump, and he hopes youre watching By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Ted Lieu is now placing an asterisk next to President Trumps name in news releases. Its the Torrance Democrats way of drawing attention to his concerns about the new administration, he said. Sometimes the best way to respond to crazy is with satire, Lieu said. Never before have I had this feeling where our leader is potentially unhinged and has a problem with the truth, and that is highly disturbing for the leader of the free world. So Ive decided Im just going to point that out as much as I can. The asterisk leads readers to the bottom of the email, where a postscript says: ***In addition to losing the popular vote, Trump as of January 20, 2017 is in violation of the Emoluments Clause set forth in Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution due to massive conflicts of interests and his refusal to put his global business holdings in blind trusts. Trump also benefitted from Vladimir Putin ordering a multifaceted and brazen Russian influence and cyber hacking campaign with the goals of undermining faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrating Secretary Clintons electability, and helping Trumps election chances. Trump and his press secretary also routinely make stuff up. The sophomore congressman said he initially planned to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, hoping his rhetoric was a campaign tactic and that he would pivot to uniting the country following the election. Then Lieu listened to the presidents inaugural speech. I was hoping he would govern different than how he campaigned, he said. I came to the conclusion that it would be worse for America to normalize him. Lieu followed the addition to his news releases with a Cloud of Illegitimacy Clock that counts the time since Trumps swearing-in, which is how long Lieu says Trump has been in violation of the Constitution by not divesting from his businesses or putting them in a blind trust. The Constitution bans government officials from receiving gifts or payments from foreign governments. Next he posted a series of tweets mocking White House spokesman Sean Spicer for giving incorrect figures on how many people attended the inauguration, and top Trump aide Kellyanne Conway for using the term alternative facts. Was charged $2.99 for coffee listed at $2.59. That's why I have trust issues. Oh, and the fact that @seanspicer at #WhiteHouse makes shit up Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 23, 2017 Ive decided that the administration using alternative facts is more profane than anything that I could say, he said. When the administration lies, they just need to be called out on that. If they are going to lie about stupid little things, like crowd size, imagine what theyre going to say when they roll out their healthcare plan, whenever that might be. Lieu has needled Trump in responses to several executive orders this week, including by saying he would bet a nice bottle of California wine that the Administration will be unable to find a credible witness to testify under oath to the allegation that 3-5 million people illegally cast votes in 2016, and by mentioning the inauguration crowd while talking about Trumps proposed border wall. Lieu said hes absolutely hoping Trump will respond. I think satire is an effective way to highlight issues, and I want the American people to see who this president really is, because in 22 months they get to vote again on every member of Congress, and that will be a referendum on Donald Trump, Lieu said. Facebook
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California Democrats propose adding third, nonbinary gender option for drivers licenses and other official documents By Melanie Mason View Twitter post California drivers licenses and birth certificates could have a third option for gender in addition to male or female under legislation unveiled Thursday by Democratic lawmakers. The bill by state Sens. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would establish a new nonbinary gender marker for official state documents. Lawmakers framed the measure as an expansion of rights for transgender, intersex and other people who do not identify as male or female. It will keep California at the forefront of LGBTQ civil rights, Atkins said at a Capitol news conference. The bill, SB 179, also would streamline the process for people to change their gender on such documents. It would remove the requirement that an individual obtain a sworn statement from a physician certifying medical treatment for gender transition. It also would create a process for people younger than 18 to apply for a change of gender on their birth certificate. Jo Michael, of Equality California, a gay rights advocacy group, said the bill had personal resonance. Michael identifies as transgender and nonbinary. For the first time, Californians like me could have accurate gender markers that truly reflect who we are, Michael said. Wiener said the proposal places California in stark relief to other states in the country, including North Carolina, where a high-profile law regulating transgender peoples use of public bathrooms roiled the state. As the LGBT community but especially the trans community is under assault in this country, California needs to go in the opposite direction and embrace the trans community and support the trans community and modernize these laws, he said. The legislation does not specify what the alternate gender marker would be, but other countries that have implemented such a policy, such as Australia and New Zealand, have used the letter X alongside M for male and F for female, according to Sasha Buchert of the Transgender Law Center. Atkins, who is a lesbian and a member of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, said this proposal marks an evolution for her in better understanding the concerns of the transgender and intersex community. She authored a law in 2014 that ensures death certificates reflect a persons gender identity, an experience she said made her more aware of the bureaucratic hurdles that transgender people often face. This years bill, she said, is moving us forward into a new world, where acceptance is ... letting people be who they tell you they are. Facebook
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Former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder will visit Sacramento to meet with Democratic legislators next month By Melanie Mason (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press) California lawmakers will have a chance to meet the Legislatures new outside counsel on Feb. 7, when former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. travels to the state to address Senate and Assembly Democrats. Holder, leading a team of attorneys from the firm Covington & Burling, has been hired by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) to serve as outside counsel as the state prepares a legal strategy to deal with the administration of President Trump. But Senate and Assembly staff officials said his invitation to meet with lawmakers was extended prior to the contract, which begins in February, and that Holder is making the trip on his own personal time. His travel and accommodations expenses will not be paid with state funds, and his appearances will not be part of his billable hours, they said. Holder will address Senate Democrats at their annual policy retreat, and will speak to the Assembly Democratic caucus. His visit comes soon after state Democratic leaders this week denounced Trumps executive orders on immigration and pledged to take his administration to court should other legislative means of resistance fail. Facebook
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A guide to the guessing game that is the 2018 California governors race By Phil Willon While the race to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown already has attracted a small cadre of well-known Democrats, the behind-the-scenes strategizing, cajoling and guessing games surrounding a handful of other potential contenders could create havoc in whats expected to be Californias biggest political showdown since 2010. Among those watching closely are the candidates already definitely in the running, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Treasurer John Chiang. Delaine Eastin, who spent eight years as Californias top education official, announced she was running in November and officially launched her campaign and fundraising operation on Thursday. Read More Facebook
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This is not a monarchy: California Senate leader Kevin de Leon bashes Trumps immigration orders By Jazmine Ulloa (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) California Senate leader Kevin de Leon took another shot at President Trump and his executive orders on immigration Wednesday night, calling his threat to withhold federal dollars from so-called sanctuary cities political blackmail and political vengeance. In an interview on the MSNBC show The Last Word with Lawrence ODonnell, De Leon said California was working with former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. to study all of its legal options to oppose the directives. Under the 10th Amendment, the state Senate leader said, the federal government cannot commandeer and force local municipalities and police agencies from carrying out their work. The appearance came hours after Trump signed orders to temporarily halt the U.S. refugee program, cut funding for cities that offer immigrants protections and order federal officials to construct a U.S.-Mexico border wall. California will not become a cog in the Trump deportation machine, De Leon said. This is not a monarchy, and I know he fancies himself as a king, but this is a republic. Read More Facebook
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President Trumps voter fraud allegation is a lie, says Californias top elections officer By John Myers Secretary of State Alex Padilla. (Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press) With President Donald Trump rehashing last years accusation of widespread voter fraud in California and elsewhere, the states top elections official is also restating his take: Its not true. When the president says millions of illegal ballots are cast, thats simply not the case, said Secretary of State Alex Padilla in an interview on CNN Wednesday. Its a lie. As was the case when Trump made the accusation in November, theres no evidence of such a broad attempt to sway the outcome in California. The president lost the Golden State to Democrat Hillary Clinton by almost 4.3 million votes. Trumps announcement on Wednesday of a major investigation into voter fraud reignited the issue, even though there was also Republican skepticism in the wake of the new round of accusations. Is it a question of millions of people? Thats a pretty steep hill to climb, said Assemblyman Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach), the vice chairman of the Assemblys elections committee. Youd have to have a very strong coordinated effort across California to pull that off. Harper said he believes the better discussion is whether new, independent audit capabilities need to be in place to examine election results. Others, though, were sharply critical of the presidents motives. Allegations of widespread voter fraud are not just alternative facts, they are a calculated and sinister attempt at voter suppression that takes a page from this nations bleak history of segregation, said Laphonza Butler, president of the state council of the Service Employees International Union. In the CNN interview, Padilla said he worried the president was sowing doubt in an effort to legitimize efforts such as a purging of voter rolls. I hope that its not a sign of things to come, he said. Facebook
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Intelligence committee led by Californians investigating Russian influence in 2016 election By Sarah D. Wire The House Select Intelligence Committee is examining allegations that the Russian government tried to influence the 2016 election, Republican Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes and ranking Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff said in a statement Wednesday. The two Californians said the committee is looking at Russian cyber activity and other active measures directed against the U.S. It also will examine links between Russia and people working for political campaigns as well as the federal response to Russia, including leaks of classified assessments from the intelligence community. The statement does not specifically mention President Trump, the assessment of the U.S. intelligence community that Russia attempted to intervene in the presidential election to ensure he would win or news that Trumps national security advisor was in frequent contact with the Russian ambassador as President Obama was considering sanctions against Russia. This issue is not about party, but about country. The Committee will continue to follow the facts wherever they may lead, the statement said. The Senate Intelligence Committee, on which Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) serves, also is investigating Russian interference in the election, and the U.S. response. Two Republican senators have joined a number of House and Senate Democrats, including House Select Intelligence Committee member Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) in pushing for a nonpartisan independent commission to examine the issue. Nunes, who served on Trumps transition committee, has previously said he doesnt think an independent commission is necessary. The statement also asked the new, Trump-appointed heads of intelligence agencies to bring documents requested by the committee directly to committee members. It will not be adequate to review these documents, expected to be in the thousands of pages, at the agencies. They should be delivered to the House Intelligence Committee to provide members adequate time to examine their content, it states. Facebook
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No stamp, no problem: Lawmaker says postage-paid ballots should be available to all Californians By John Myers (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) California voters would no longer have to scrounge around in search of a stamp to mail in their ballot under new legislation introduced this week at the state Capitol. We want to make sure voters dont have any barriers, said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego), the bills author. Ballot envelopes sent by elections officials would be marked as prepaid postage and the postage costs would be paid for by individual counties. A key question will be the cost for mailing in as many as 10 million ballots statewide. Not all ballots will weigh the same, given the numerous city and county measures that also are considered in regularly scheduled elections. The initial language of Assembly Bill 216 doesnt offer specifics on reimbursing counties, though Gonzalez Fletcher said she expects the proposals ultimate cost could be under $2 million, if the law also makes clear that voters can still place a stamp on their ballot. Regardless, postage fees are likely to be deemed a mandated cost that state government must cover. Gonzalez Fletcher said the advent of email and online bill-paying services have meant that fewer voters have stamps readily available, with busy working Californians scrambling just to find the time to exercise their right to vote. It starts to feel like a very small poll tax, she said. The proposal is another example of the steady evolution of elections conducted less by the ballot box than the mailbox in California, as more than half of all registered voters now permanently receive absentee ballots. A number of the states most populous counties are expected to soon embrace a sweeping new law shifting elections away from neighborhood polling places and toward a substantial number of votes being cast by mail. This is welcome legislation, said Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation. Requiring voters to pay for ballot postage sends a message that the government is putting up obstacles to make it more difficult to vote. In many cases, ballots placed in the mail without proper postage are already being delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Some counties in California have offered prepaid postage in the past, but the vast majority have not. Facebook
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California improves grades from anti-smoking group with barrage of anti-tobacco laws By Patrick McGreevy California led other states in adopting a flurry of new laws restricting tobacco products last year, resulting in a big improvement in the states grades from the American Lung Assn. In a report released Wednesday, the health group boosted the states grade for the level of tobacco taxes from an F last year to a B, in recognition that California voters in November approved a $2-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax. The Legislature last year also adopted a half-dozen new laws, including an increase in the minimum age for smoking from 18 to 21 and an expansion of a smoking ban in public places, including restaurants and theaters, to also include use of electronic cigarettes. The states grade for smoke-free air policies rose from a B to an A, while California received a B for restricting tobacco to young people. The group gave the state an incomplete for funding of tobacco prevention programs because officials have not yet started collecting money from the tobacco tax increase in Proposition 56. In 2016, Californians fought back against Big Tobaccos grip on our state, said David Pogue, chairman of the American Lung Assn. in Californias governing board. Tobacco-related illnesses remain the single most preventable cause of disease and death in California, and were proud to reaffirm ourselves as a national leader in the effort to reduce smoking rates and exposure to secondhand smoke and to protect our children from a lifetime of addiction. The group cited the lack of significant new tobacco laws passed in Los Angeles for its decision to leave the citys C grade unchanged. El Monte and West Hollywood passed some new tobacco policies and raised their grades. Santa Ana earned a C, but was at top of the list in Orange County, where almost all the other cities received Fs, officials said. Facebook
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Sen. Kamala Harris pushes Trumps budget director pick on timely disaster relief By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) pushed President Trumps budget chief pick Tuesday on whether hed advise the new Republican leader to offer timely disaster relief, especially to states like California that face earthquakes, fires, floods and other natural disasters. Can you assure me that when natural disasters hit various parts of the country like California, that you will be willing to put the immediate interests of people in need as the first priority for you, or will you insist that the budget cuts be made before agreeing to provide critical assistance to those victims? Harris asked Rep. Mick Mulvaney during a confirmation hearing Tuesday. The South Carolina Republican asked for spending cuts to offset billions in relief funding after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. There is a proper federal role in dealing with natural disaster relief, Mulvaney said in response to Harris questioning. Sandy is a tremendous example of something so large, its simply too large for one state or local government to deal with, it is an appropriate function of the federal government. Harris pushed a second time, So can you assure me that if a natural disaster hits other states, like California for example, that you will not hold up relief for the state, waiting to determine whether there are going to be budget cuts or cuts in order to provide that relief? Or are you going to sit back and crunch the numbers while people are waiting for help? Mulvaney replied, No, I see my role in that particular circumstance as advising the president. Mr. President, heres what weve done it in the past, heres how it worked out, heres how I think we should proceed in this circumstance and heres why. And then whatever the president says to do, I will enforce. Harris is still weighing how to vote on Mulvaneys confirmation, her staff said. Facebook
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Trump is a hot topic in Californias race for governor, but not in a good way By Phil Willon Donald Trump at the California Republican Party convention in Burlingame in April. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) One of the most talked about politicians in Californias 2018 governors campaign isnt even running. Rarely does a day go by when Republican President Donald Trump isnt used as a political pinata by one of the top Democrats in the race. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom took some jabs Tuesday when he addressed the California Legislature before Gov. Jerry Browns annual State of the State speech. Newsom mocked the Trump administration for its reliance on alternative facts a phrase used by a Trump senior advisor when defending inflated inauguration crowd figures and took a subtle shot at the presidents comment about American carnage in the nations cities. The insecurity of this man is near incomprehensible. These lies damage our democracy & country's reputation-Shameful https://t.co/ib7i6DqfH8 Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 24, 2017 On Monday, state Treasurer John Chiang criticized Trump for doubting the scientific evidence of climate change. President Trump may believe global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing noncompetitive, Chiang said. We Californians stand with the scientific community and the 195 nations that have declared climate change is an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet. When Antonio Villaraigosa announced his bid for governor right after the general election, the former Los Angeles mayor was sure to include a dig at Trump. Im running because I think the answer to the divisiveness we see in the country right now is unity, and the answer to fear is hope, he said. Last May, Villaraigosa compared Trump to segregationist George Wallace. Californias former superintendent of public instruction, Delaine Eastin, last week ripped Trump for nominating Betsy DeVos for Education secretary. Eastin said DeVos, a charter school advocate and Republican fundraiser from Michigan, was a threat to public education in the country. In speeches, in fundraising emails, in tweets and Facebook posts, the Democrats have liberally excoriated Trump while largely avoiding lobbing any criticism at one another. Its a safe and easy tactic that appeals to a sizeable majority of voters in left-leaning California. In the November election, Trump was trounced by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in California losing to her by more than 4.2 million votes. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican being urged to run by fellow party members, has also rebuked Trump in the past. In May, Faulconer said he rejected Trumps divisive rhetoric about women and immigrants. Faulconer was absent at Trumps inauguration and skipped a Trump campaign rally in San Diego last spring. For any Republican to have a legitimate shot in the governors race, or any statewide election, the more distance they put between themselves and Trump the better, said GOP political consultant Rob Stutzman. Its important that youre not on the record gushing about Trump, Stutzman said. 3:30 p.m.: This story was updated to correct the title of Delaine Eastin. She is a former state superintendent of public instruction. Facebook
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Californias House members vote along party lines on permanently banning federal funds for abortion By Sarah D. Wire Californias House delegation split along party lines Tuesday on a bill to permanently prohibit the use of certain federal funds for abortions. President Trump promised the anti-abortion community during the campaign that he would make the funding ban commonly called the Hyde Amendment permanent. It passed the House 238-183 and goes next to the Senate. The 52 members who represent California in the House split along party lines, with 36 Democrats against for it, and 14 Republicans voting for it. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Jim Costa (D-Lieu) did not vote. Their staffs each said the member would have joined Democrats in voting against the measure. If passed by the Senate, it would permanently prohibit federal funding from being used to cover abortion costs except in cases of rape, incest or if the mothers life is in danger. It effects government employees health plans, Medicaid and health insurance plans offered under the Affordable Care Act. The amendment has been added to the annual appropriations bill for the past 40 years and the bill approved by the House Tuesday would make it permanent. During debate on the House floor Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) called the bill a womens health catastrophe that will keep poor women on Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act from having access to insurance. In effect it makes abortion only an option for the wealthy, she said. Previous versions of the bill twice passed the House but were not considered by the Senate while President Obama was in office. 11:09 a.m. Jan. 25: An earlier version of this article reported that Democrats voted for the bill and Republicans voted against the bill. It was the opposite. Facebook
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California lawmakers to weigh whether younger children should be allowed to testify in custody cases By Jazmine Ulloa California lawmakers will weigh whether family courts should allow children as young as 10 to testify before judges regarding parent custody or visitation rights. A bill filed by state Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) would lower the current threshold from age 14 to enable more children to express their wishes in court, some of whom she said could find themselves in life-threatening situations. The legislation was co-sponsored by the California Protective Parents Assn. and the Center for Judicial Excellence. Neither current law nor the bill would require children to testify in family cases unless they choose to. In a statement, Levya called the proposal an important child safety measure. As a family court makes critical life decisions for children, it makes sense for them to be granted a greater voice in court proceedings since they can contribute essential information before final decisions are made, she said. Facebook
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Support for California secession is up, one poll says By Phil Willon Students from several high schools rally at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 14 after walking out of class to protest the election of Donald Trump. (Reed Saxon / Associated Press) Californians support for a breakaway California republic has increased, one poll has found. One-third of state residents support peacefully seceding from the United States, up from 20% since Californians were last asked the same question in 2014, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll. The polls margin of error for the California answers was plus or minus 5 percentage points. Still, half of Californians opposed the idea of succession, though Democrats were more inclined to support it than Republicans. The survey found that 60% of Republicans gave the idea of peacefully seceding a thumbs down compared with 48% of Democrats and 50% of independents. Nationally, 22% of those polled supported having their state break away from the U.S., according to the survey. A Calexit campaign already is underway to make California an independent nation. The effort faces extremely long odds. The poll surveyed 14,000 adults nationwide, and 500 in California, from Dec. 6 to Jan. 19. Facebook
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Gov. Jerry Brown defiantly tells lawmakers California is not turning back in face of Trump and GOP proposals By John Myers Gov. Jerry Brown used his State of the State speech on Tuesday to promise a forceful defense of Californias efforts on climate change, healthcare and assistance to those in the country illegally against new proposals by President Donald Trump and national Republican leadership. California is not turning back, Brown said to applause. Not now, not ever. The governors remarks, delivered in front of lawmakers and state elected officials in the Assembly chambers, came just four days after President Trumps forceful inaugural address that signaled a dramatic new course for the federal government. While he never mentioned the president by name during the 16-minute speech, Brown said there are disturbing signs as to whats on the horizon. We have seen the bald assertion of alternative facts, whatever those are, he said, a reference to top Trump advisor Kellyanne Conways weekend comments on NBCs Meet the Press. We have heard the blatant attacks on science. Familiar signposts of our democracy truth, civility, working together have been obscured or swept aside. The annual event in the chamber of the state Assembly was unusual from the outset. Just minutes before beginning his speech, Brown gave the oath of office to Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, the former Los Angeles congressman confirmed to the post on Monday afternoon by the state Senate. Legislators have had a decidedly unusual start to their new two-year session. After a raucous opening day in December that laid bare wounds from the presidential race, lawmakers were presented two weeks ago with Browns projection of a $1.6-billion budget deficit looming on the states fiscal horizon. But the sea change in national politics has been a persistent buzz in the state Capitol, and Brown promised a strong defense of Californias unique view on major policy issues. The governor made a special mention of the issue of illegal immigration, offering perhaps his strongest words to date. Let me be clear, the governor said, his voice rising. We will defend everybody every man, woman and child who has come here for a better life and has contributed to the well-being of our state. Even with those critiques, the governor veered from his prepared remarks to praise Trumps call for a new focus on infrastructure projects. I say, Amen to that, man! he said. And Brown urged members of the Legislature to reject the bitter partisan divisions of this moment in the nations history. Democrats are in the majority, but Republicans represent real Californians, too, he said to bipartisan applause. We have generally been civil to one another and avoided the rancor of Washington. I urge you to go even further and look for new ways to work beyond party and act as Californians first. Facebook
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Xavier Becerra takes oath of office, is first Latino to become California attorney general By Patrick McGreevy Xavier Becerra ((Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) ) Minutes after resigning his seat in Congress on Tuesday, Xavier Becerra took the oath of office as Californias new attorney general, and he immediately made plans for a sit-down with sheriffs from throughout the state to talk about law enforcement issues. Becerra, 58, was given the oath of office at the Capitol by Gov. Jerry Brown, who predicted earlier that Xavier will be a champion for all Californians. The ceremony was held before Brown was scheduled to deliver his annual State of the State address, and a day after Becerra received final confirmation by the state Senate. I will do my utmost to uphold your faith in me to serve as our great states next chief law enforcement officer and legal advocate, Becerra said in a letter to Brown on Tuesday, letting him know he had resigned from Congress. And while I leave Congress with mixed emotions, I am ready to begin my work as Attorney General. Californias hard-working families are counting on us, and we wont let them down, Becerra said. Becerra was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, physician Carolina Reyes, two of his three daughters, and his parents, both immigrants from Mexico. Brown appointed Becerra to fill a vacancy after former Atty. Gen.l Kamala Harris won election to a seat in the U.S. Senate. Becerra has pledged to challenge any attempts by the new administration of President Trump to roll back state policies on immigration, civil rights and the environment. Brown noted his appointees background during his speech. Like so many others, he is the son of immigrants who saw California as a place where, through grit and determination, they could realize their dreams, Brown said. And they are not alone, millions of Californians have come here from Mexico and a hundred other countries, making our state what it is today: vibrant, even turbulent, and a beacon of hope to the rest of the world. The first Latino to become state attorney general in California spent the last two weeks meeting with dozens of legislators as he went through confirmation hearings in both houses. Governor Brown and state legislators have already shared valuable ideas on our path forward, Becerra said in a statement after his confirmation. And next week I hope to sit down with sheriffs from across our state to begin our work together keeping our families safe and enforcing our laws fairly. The first focus on local law enforcement was welcomed by Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, president of the California State Sheriffs Assn. He wants to start with law enforcement in the San Joaquin Valley, and I think thats a really positive step, Youngblood said. Im impressed with his credentials. Im impressed with his background, and I think hes going to be a good attorney general. Facebook
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Watch: Gov. Jerry Brown delivers his State of the State address Gov. Jerry Brown will deliver his State of the State address at 10 a.m. PST. Watch live here: Facebook
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Xavier Becerras resignation from Congress took effect at 9:15 a.m.; he calls serving a distinct honor Xavier Becerra has submitted letter of resignation from Congress ahead of swearing in for California attorney general today Patrick McGreevy (@mcgreevy99) January 24, 2017 Facebook
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Californias senators split on CIA director confirmation By Sarah D. Wire Californias senators split Monday night on the confirmation of Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), President Trumps pick to lead the CIA. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who serves on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee and backed Pompeo, said in a statement that Pompeo gave straightforward answers to her questions, and that House colleagues called him smart, hardworking and devoted to protecting our country. Congressman Pompeo has committed to following the law regarding torture, promised to provide objective analysis of Irans compliance with the nuclear agreement and insisted that he would continue to keep the Senate Intelligence Committee fully informed of CIA activities, Feinstein said. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said in a statement that she appreciated that Pompeo was responsive, engaging, and has made a number of positive commitments during the confirmation process, but said she couldnt vote for him after looking at his entire record on issues such as torture, surveillance, and the collection and use of metadata. Pompeo was confirmed 66 to 32 Monday evening. Thirteen Democrats joined Feinstein in voting for him. While House members dont get to vote for confirmation, the leaders of the House Select Intelligence Committee, Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) and ranking Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) joined Feinstein in congratulating Pompeo for his confirmation. Facebook
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Sen. Kamala Harris moves into some familiar digs on Capitol Hill By Sarah D. Wire (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and her staff can begin moving today into her official Senate office, the same space she interned in as a college student. Few offices can hold a staff as large as the ones allocated to the California members and as expected, Harris was assigned an office in the Hart Senate Office Building, the same space occupied by former Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). Harris can start moving in this morning, her staff said. Back home, Harris plans to have state offices in Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco, her staff said. It is a bit of a change from Boxer, who had additional offices in Oakland and Riverside, but did not have an office in San Francisco. The space in Washington should feel familiar. It was occupied by Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) when Harris interned for him as a mailroom clerk for a summer when she was a Howard University student in the 1980s. Two floors up in the same building is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Except for states where staff size is a consideration, Senate offices are assigned based on seniority and sitting senators have months to decide if they want to move offices. That means some new senators could spend months working out of temporary space. Facebook
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Assembly speaker taps former Obama spokesman for communications strategy By Melanie Mason Bill Burton (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) With Californias face-off against Washington, D.C., getting widespread attention, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon has turned to a veteran of national politics to help shape his public image: White House veteran Bill Burton. Burton, who once worked as deputy press secretary in the Obama administration, was hired this month by Rendon, a Democrat from Paramount, for communications strategy. Now a managing partner in the Los Angeles office for SKDKnickerbocker, a prominent liberal public affairs firm, Burton said he relished being involved in California politics, which he said sets a model for liberals nationwide. With President Trump and congressional Republicans controlling the national agenda, Speaker Rendon and his incredible staff are at the center of some of the most important progressive fights in the country and we couldnt be more excited to be helping any way we can, he said. Burton said his services, paid for out of Rendons campaign account, are meant to offer a more intentional approach to how hes been dealing with media a recognition, he said, of Rendons and Californias elevated role in national politics. Rendon is not the only legislative Democrat to be represented by SKDKnickerbocker. Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia of Bell Gardens also is a client. The firm also worked with Democratic Reps. Grace Napolitano and Linda Sanchez in their reelection bids, as well as freshman Rep. Nanette Barragan in her heated congressional race against fellow Democrat, former state Sen. Isadore Hall. Facebook
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State Senate votes for final confirmation of Xavier Becerra as state attorney general By Patrick McGreevy Gov. Jerry Brown, left, appointed Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) as state attorney general. ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The state Senate on Monday voted 26-9 in favor of final confirmation of Rep. Xavier Becerra as Californias attorney general, putting on watch a veteran politician who has promised to block efforts by President Trump to roll back state policies on immigration, civil rights and the environment. Becerra, a Los Angeles Democrat and 12-term congressman, is set to take the oath of office on Tuesday before Gov. Jerry Browns State of the State address. As Attorney General, Xavier will be a champion for all Californians, Brown said in a statement after the party-line vote. Brown appointed Becerra as the states first Latino attorney general to fill the vacancy left when former state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon said Becerra will be an effective counter force to Trump, who has threatened mass deportations and the repeal of some environmental laws. Many of us know him personally and can attest to his character, to his integrity and to his qualifications, De Leon said of Becerra. He will be a strong partner for our state to help us work with the federal government when we can and to resist when we must. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) said Becerra understands the challenges ahead. He will indeed vigorously defend the values of our state by taking the fight to the federal government when necessary, said Jackson, who chairs the state Senate Judiciary Committee. Becerra, 58, said during two weeks of confirmation hearings that he would also fight any attempt to weaken environmental protections or adopt stop-and-frisk police policies that allow officers to search anyone on the street. All Republican senators voted against Becerra or withheld their vote. I think when you are the top cop you have to enforce the law to the fullest extent, said state Sen. Joel Anderson (R-San Diego) before he voted against Becerra. Opponents cited Becerras support for sanctuary cities that refuse to have their officers help enforce immigration laws. San Francisco prohibits local authorities from holding immigrants for immigration officials if they have no violent felonies on their records and do not currently face charges. Trump has threatened to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) also opposed Becerra, saying he is worried that the antagonistic tone being set by Democratic lawmakers with Becerra could put at risk the $86 billion the state and its cities gets annually from the federal government. I dont want to jeopardize those funds, Moorlach said. Becerra said he was humbled by the vote and ready to get working.He plans to meet soon with county sheriffs to discuss local law enforcement issues. As I embark on this new journey, my compass will be the experiences of hard-working families like the one I grew up in, Becerra said. As the son of immigrants, I know how important it is to protect the rights and dreams of every aspiring American. I will make sure no headwinds from outside our state can knock us down. Facebook
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Attorney general nominee Becerra questioned on guns, death penalty and pot during confirmation hearings By Patrick McGreevy Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), shown at a gun violence event in June, was selected by Gov. Jerry Brown to be Californias next attorney general. ((Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) ) In two weeks of confirmation hearings, state attorney general nominee Xavier Becerra has been asked for his position on many issues, including new gun control laws, the states death penalty policy and the recent voter approval of an initiative that legalized recreational marijuana use. The 12-term congressman is up for a possible final confirmation vote Monday in the state Senate. Read More Facebook
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California attorney general nominee Xavier Becerra is warned against suing Trump early and often By Patrick McGreevy Rep. Xavier Becerra (Rich Pedroncelli / AP) With Xavier Becerra facing a final confirmation vote Monday for state attorney general, two former high-level officials in the office are warning against drowning President Trump in lawsuits. The pressure to sue Trump early and often is a trap, according to Michael Troncos, former chief counsel in the California attorney generals office, and Debbie Mesloh, a former senior advisor to the California attorney general, writing in an op-ed piece published by the Los Angeles Times. In this right-wing political moment, a major legal case on our climate change laws or our policies benefiting (young immigrant) Dreamers may well lead to a Trump White House victory, establishing precedents that far outlast this presidency, the two write. In fact, the cases Becerra chooses not to bring may be among his most important achievements. Courts cant rule on whats not before them. Troncos and Mesloh said California will be up against a U.S. Supreme Court remade in Trumps image, and that [a]sking a federal court to overturn federal immigration policies could be a fools errand. Read More Facebook
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California cities would have to make it easier to build houses under new legislation By Liam Dillon California cities that are falling behind on housing production goals set by the state would be forced to remove some of their development restrictions under legislation from a Bay Area state senator. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released new details in his bill, SB 35, Monday morning that would require cities to approve new housing in areas already zoned for high-density development provided developers set aside some units for low-income residents. The bills provisions would only apply in cities where growth isnt keeping pace with housing production targets developed by the state every eight years that are designed to ensure California has enough homes for its growing population to live affordably. Right now, thats not happening. The states median home price of $485,800 is more than 2 1/2 times the national average, with the states poorest residents the hardest hit. And in the most recent eight-year housing cycle ending in 2014, production was less than half of the state target. Wiener, a former San Francisco supervisor, said Californias affordability crisis requires the state to involve its
President Trump fired acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates on Monday, just hours after she announced that the Justice Department would not defend his controversial executive order temporarily banning all refugees and travelers from certain countries.
Yates has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States, the White House said in a statement. It is time to get serious about protecting our country.
Yates is a career prosecutor who served as the Obama administrations deputy attorney general. Trump had asked her to stay on as acting attorney general pending the confirmation of his pick for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama.
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The firing came after Yates wrote a letter to Justice Department lawyers in which she said she questioned the lawfulness of Trumps order and announced that the Justice Department would not defend it in court.
My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts, Yates wrote.
At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful, she wrote.
Consequently, for as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.
The letter, the defiance of the presidents wishes that it reflected and the subsequent firing created the most public split between the Justice Department and a White House since fall 1973, when President Nixon ordered the firing of Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox, prompting the departments two top leaders to resign.
Taken together, the actions heightened the already tense atmosphere surrounding the travel ban, which has sparked protests at airports around the country and several court challenges.
In a tweet Monday evening before he announced her termination, the president portrayed Yates statement as part of a partisan move against him, saying the Democrats are delaying my Cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct. Now have an Obama A.G.
The White House announced that Trump had appointed Dana J. Boente, the top federal prosecutor in northern Virginia, to serve as acting attorney general until Sessions is confirmed. He is a 31-year veteran of the Justice Department, with a background in tax crimes and fraud. In December 2012, he was appointed by former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. to serve as the U.S. attorney in New Orleans.
The firing is likely not only to heighten the political tension but also create additional problems. To begin with, Yates doubts about the legality and wisdom of Trumps order are now on the public record and almost certain to be cited by lawyers challenging Trumps action in future cases.
In addition, Yates was the only person in the department authorized to sign wiretapping warrants in foreign espionage cases involving the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
Justice Department lawyers had initially questioned whether someone who had not been confirmed to one of three top Justice Department positions could legally perform that job. They eventually concluded that Boente would qualify.
Sessions is likely to be confirmed this week, but Senate Democrats have been trying to slow the process.
The firing also increased the sense of chaos that already has surrounded the executive order, which Trump signed Friday. The order suspended all refugee resettlements in the U.S. for 120 days, and indefinitely for those from Syria. It also banned travel to the U.S. for 90 days by nationals of seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Already the administration has had to reverse position on parts of the order, as immigration officials have struggled to understand what it required.
After initially detaining scores of U.S. permanent residents on Friday and Saturday, in some cases keeping them in custody for many hours, the administration announced Sunday that in the future, green-card holders from the seven countries covered by the travel ban would not be detained except in unusual circumstances.
The administration also announced that dual-nationals, people with British and Iraqi passports, for example, would be exempt from the ban after initially saying they would be covered. That question has created tension with European governments.
The State Department announced Monday that refugees from places other than the seven countries covered by Trumps ban could still enter the U.S. through Thursday because many were already in transit. About 900 refugees are expected to enter the U.S. this week, the department said in a statement. Earlier, officials had been uncertain about their fate.
In court hearings so far, Justice Department lawyers have struggled to defend the order or answer questions from judges about the legal issues involved.
On a conference call with reporters on Monday, Jordan Wells, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which won a preliminary skirmish in court over the weekend, described the crackdowns impacts as topsy-turvy.
Top White House officials wrote the order without the usual consultation with the major agencies that have to carry it out.
Yates was said to be among several top government officials who found out shortly before Trump signed the order or, in some reported cases, when they saw him signing it on television Friday.
Yates agonized all weekend, according to a person familiar with her deliberations, debating whether to resign or to direct federal prosecutors not to defend Trumps order. Eventually, knowing that it would probably cost her the job, she decided to write the letter.
The presidents comments in an interview Friday that Christians deserved priority for entrance to the U.S. and an account from former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, a longtime Trump supporter, about the president asking him and others to draft a Muslim ban, influenced her decision, the person said.
Yates wrote in her letter that comments made by administration officials may bear on the orders purpose in ways that would undermine its constitutionality.
Much of the confusion about the order stems from the haste with which it was prepared.
Trump tweeted Monday that if the order had been publicized in advance for a week, the bad would rush into our country during that week. That is untrue. The process of getting a visa from any of the covered countries typically takes months.
At the Justice Department, the Office of Legal Counsel, which normally reviews executive orders, was given a brief period to check the text to see whether it clearly violated any legal standards. That office determined that the order passed muster.
But, Yates said in her letter, that review was a basic check that did not consider broader issues, such as whether the order was discriminatory or consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.
Yates declaration came as opponents filed two new court challenges to the order. In Washington state, Atty. Gen. Bob Ferguson, saying the president was not above the law, declared that Trumps order had violated the Constitution by creating a religious test for entry to the country and by denying due process to those seeking visas.
In Virginia, 27 Muslims filed suit in federal court saying the ban amounted to an unconstitutional religious test. The people bringing the case include students from Yemen and Somalia who hold U.S. visas, and a Syrian national who is a legal permanent resident in the process of gaining U.S. citizenship.
The ACLU, which won a key initial challenge against the immigration ban late Saturday, said it also was preparing a broad challenge to the order on constitutional grounds.
The president has wide power over immigration. Federal law says he can suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens if he finds them to be detrimental to the countrys interests. The same law, however, also says that no person shall receive any preference or priority or be discriminated against in the issuance of an immigrant visa because of the persons race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence.
Legal experts predict the court fights over the law could be lengthy and complex.
The strongest case for opponents is that this order is discrimination based upon religion, said T. Alexander Aleinikoff, a law professor at the New School in New York who worked as a counsel to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Immigration is an area where courts generally dont get involved. But Im sure this could go all the way up high, to the Supreme Court, Aleinikoff said, adding that nothing is clear on how this will play out.
Kevin Lapp, an associate law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, noted that the usual rules around discrimination dont have the same force when it comes to immigration law.
But, he said, this may be the moment where courts draw the line on nationality or religion on immigration, saying things have gone too far.
Times staff writers Del Quentin Wilber, Brian Bennett and Tracy Wilkinson contributed to this report.
David.Lauter@latimes.com
Jaweed.Kaleem@latimes.com
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UPDATES:
7:25 p.m.: The story was updated with additional background.
The story was originally published at 6:45 p.m.
State lawmakers voiced doubts Monday about the ability of state agencies to finish crafting regulations and a licensing system for the sale of recreational marijuana in California by the end of this year, as promised to voters.
The possibility of delay was raised at a hearing at the Capitol by three state Senate committees looking into whether state agencies are on track to complete the work this year.
Agencies responsible for constructing a system for selling marijuana in California, including the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation, have fallen behind in some key tasks. Officials acknowledged that, while they can begin processing license applications by Jan. 1, 2018, the agency may not be able to issue all of the tens of thousands of licenses expected to be applied for by that deadline.
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Though the licensing system will not be complete by 2018, the bureau hopes to be able to begin processing applications by that time, but may initially have to issue some provisional licenses.
Doubts were voiced at the hearing by lawmakers including state Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), chairman of the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee.
Frankly, I have to say that there is a considerable amount of skepticism from some of us up here about meeting that deadline, Hill said to start the meeting.
There are a lot of challenges, acknowledged Lori Ajax, chief of the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation. Ajax had begun drafting licensing rules for medical pot, but is now also in charge of providing permits for sellers of recreational cannabis.
Recreational use was approved by voters in November in an initiative that called for licenses to be issued by Jan. 1, 2018.
Updates from Sacramento
She said rules will be put through a streamlined emergency regulation process to get them on the books by Jan. 1. But some applicants for licenses may not immediately be included in required tracking and testing systems by the deadline.
We are not going to be able to grant everyone a license on Jan. 1, 2018, Ajax said. Some may get temporary licenses while the tens of thousands of applications are being processed, she said.
It may take months to do background checks and process all the license applications.
Multiple agencies, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture and state Department of Public Health, are developing rules to license and tax the growing and sale of medical and recreational marijuana in California.
Ajaxs bureau was supposed to create 17 positions this year to produce the new regulation system, but so far has hired only 11 people. Ajax said she hopes to fill other positions in a couple of months. An additional 70 positions have to be filled once the budget is approved for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Assn., called on lawmakers to properly fund and staff the agencies creating the new licensing system.
California cant afford to delay, he said.
The bureau also has not yet appointed a stakeholder advisory committee required by Proposition 64 to help it consider industry and community concerns.
An extensive study of the environmental impacts of the new industry is also required, and such studies have been known to take more than a year, officials said.
Proposition 64 put a massive requirement on state marijuana regulators and not very much time to accomplish the landslide of rules and regulations mandated by the initiative, Sen. Mike McGuire (D-San Rafael) said.
He said some state departments may be ready by Jan. 1.
But we have to face the facts its not realistic that all of the Proposition 64 rules and regulations will be in place by the new year, McGuire said.
The state Legislative Analysts Office released a report calling the existing timeline ambitious, noting that state agencies must finalize regulations and guidelines, have staff in place and set up information technology systems in a shorter period of time than is normal for such a large and complex new regulatory program.
It is unclear what the consequences might be if state agencies are unable to meet Proposition 64s January 2018 deadline to issue nonmedical cannabis licenses, the report said.
Medical cannabis dispensaries are allowed to continue operating until new licenses are available, so any delays would affect only recreational users.
Some proponents of pot legalization say they trust Ajax will get the job done, while Don Duncan, California director of Americans for Safe Access, which advocates for patients, said putting the right system in place is more important than meeting a deadline.
I dont necessarily think its a catastrophe if its not done exactly on Jan. 1, Duncan said. Obviously we want to get it done. If it takes an extra three or four months, that would be fine. I think its more important to get right than to do it fast.
patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com
Twitter: @mcgreevy99
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ImmigrationWhite House
Jan. 31, 2017, 11:16 a.m. Reporting from Washington
Trump administration signals that some temporary bans on entry into the U.S. could become permanent
The Trump administration doubled down Tuesday on its commitment to transforming the nations border law enforcement, signaling that some of the temporary bans on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries are likely to be made permanent and elevating a deportations official to run the top immigration enforcement agency.
Administration officials, led by newly sworn-in Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, moved to allay the havoc that marked the roll-out of the ban and another on refugees. They briefed reporters and planned to head to Capitol Hill later today in an apparent effort to smooth relations after reports that lawmakers and other stakeholders were left out of the crafting of the executive order on toughened vetting at border entry points.
In a news conference, Kelly and other top Homeland Security officials conceded some problems, including poor communication. But they insisted that all court orders were followed over the weekend, rebutted reports that some legal residents were denied access to attorneys at airports and said they everyone detained by border agents was treated with dignity and respect.
The vast majority of the 1.7 billion Muslims that live on this planet, the vast majority of them have, all other things being equal, have access to the United States, Kelly told reporters. And a relatively small number right now are being held up for a period of time until we can take a look at what their procedures are, he said, seeming to acknowledge that mostly Muslims have been affected by the ban.
The moves signaled that the White House remained committed to remaking border law enforcement even in the face of widespread confusion and condemnation of President Trumps order.
Kelly said for the first time that the some of the restrictions that caused confusion and sparked protests over the weekend could be extended well into the future.
Some of those countries that are currently on the list may not be taken off the list anytime soon, he said.
Trump also named a longtime deportation officer, Thomas D. Homan, as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Homan, who will oversee the execution of Trumps immigration enforcement order, was most recently in charge of the agencys 5,000 deportation officers, a force Trump said he would triple to 15,000.
Trumps orders put a greater emphasis on deporting not only those convicted of crimes, but also people in the country illegally who were charged with crimes not yet adjudicated, those who receive an improper welfare benefit and even those who have not been charged but are believed to have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense.
Neil Gorsuch could fall somewhere between his hero, Justice Scalia, and former boss, centrist Justice Kennedy By David Savage Judge Neil M. Gorsuch was resting midway down a Colorado ski slope last year when his cellphone rang with the news that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia had died. I immediately lost what breath I had left, Gorsuch recalled in an April speech, and I am not embarrassed to admit that I couldnt see the rest of the way down the mountain for the tears. Now, as President Trumps pick to replace Scalia on the high court, Gorsuch is seen by many on the right as a fitting replacement for the iconic jurist that Gorsuch considered a lion of the law. Like Scalia, Gorsuch, 49, who serves on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, is a well-respected conservative who believes judges should decide cases based on the law as it was understood when passed, not on how they think it should be. Hes a clear, impassioned writer, albeit without Scalias flare for biting sarcasm. But Gorsuch also evokes the qualities of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, for whom Gorsuch worked as a law clerk. (If confirmed, Gorsuch would join three justices who previously clerked on the high court, but he would be the first ever to serve alongside the justice he or she worked for.) Like Kennedy, 80, Gorsuch is a Westerner with a polite, congenial manner who at times has won praise from liberals. He may be more conservative than Kennedy when it comes to expanding individual rights, but he seems to lack Scalias fervor for overturning liberal precedents from decades past. Which way Gorsuch skews could be pivotal for the future of the court. Conservatives clearly hope hell be more like Scalia than Kennedy, a centrist swing vote who has often joined liberals on issues such as gay marriage and abortion. Some conservatives have even expressed hope that Gorsuchs personal history with Kennedy might enable him to draw the Reagan-appointee back toward the right. Read More Facebook
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Trump chooses Neil Gorsuch, a conservative seen as likely to be confirmed, for Supreme Court By Michael A. Memoli President Trump nominated federal Judge Neil M. Gorsuch on Tuesday to the Supreme Court to fill the seat of the late Antonin Scalia, choosing from his short list an appeals court judge from Denver seen as most likely to win Senate confirmation. Because Scalia was a stalwart conservative, Trumps choice is not likely to change the balance of the court. But it does set the stage for a bruising partisan fight over a man who could help determine law on gun rights, immigration, police use of force and transgender rights. Read More Facebook
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Trump administration is radicalizing Democratic voters, creating a challenge for the party, Rep. Adam Schiff says By Sarah D. Wire (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) As protests spread over policy announcements from the Trump administration, Democrats must work to encourage participation in politics, but face a danger of the party becoming too radicalized, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said Tuesday. The radical nature of this government is radicalizing Democrats, and thats going to pose a real challenge to the Democratic Party, which is to draw on the energy and the activism and the passion that is out there, but not let it turn us into what we despised about the tea party, Schiff said. During a meeting with reporters and editors in the Los Angeles Times Washington bureau, Schiff also discussed his role as the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Select Intelligence Committee under a Trump administration and how Democrats will manage in the minority. Ever since the election, party leaders have been debating: Did we lose because we were too far to the left and we had too small a tent, or did we lose because we are too mainstream and didnt energize the base? Schiff asked. We are obviously having that debate, but theres a whole new element, which is the reaction to the Trump administration that makes this different in kind, certainly different in intensity, than I think weve ever seen after an election, he said. The more radical the administration is, the more radicalized our base becomes, which just feeds the Breitbart crowd, and who knows where that ends. Democratic leaders have to channel public reaction to Trumps actions into progress, rather than deadlock, Schiff said. Reaction to Democrats seen as working with the Trump administration has been strong. Monday night, for example, protesters marched on Sen. Dianne Feinsteins home and office voicing fears she would back Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general. The senator from California announced Tuesday that she would oppose Sessions. Several groups calling themselves indivisible have popped up in cities across the country as focal points for efforts to organize. We have two of the most capable strategists as the head of our House and Senate Democrats, Schiff added, referring to House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Senate Democratic leader Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York. If anybody can grapple with this, they can, but its going to be a challenging and moving target day to day. I just hope that we can channel that energy in a way where we can provide a check on this administration because Ive never been more worried about the countrys future than I am right now, he said. Schiff said part of his role as the ranking Democrat on the House Select Intelligence Committee will be pushing back when the Trump administration puts out inaccurate information about the intelligence community and its findings. Trump has repeatedly dismissed or sought to minimize the intelligence communitys findings that Russia sought to intervene in the 2016 election to benefit him. Schiff said hes concerned about what else the administration might be willing to dismiss. I think that will be kind of a new frontier, he said. How do we contradict a president making representations about what the intelligence community has to say when the information is classified? Facebook
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Trump administration signals that some temporary bans on entry into the U.S. could become permanent By Brian Bennett Trumps orders put a greater emphasis on deporting those convicted of crimes and those in the country illegally who were charged with crimes not yet adjudicated The Trump administration doubled down Tuesday on its commitment to transforming the nations border law enforcement, signaling that some of the temporary bans on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries are likely to be made permanent and elevating a deportations official to run the top immigration enforcement agency. Administration officials, led by newly sworn-in Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, moved to allay the havoc that marked the roll-out of the ban and another on refugees. They briefed reporters and planned to head to Capitol Hill later today in an apparent effort to smooth relations after reports that lawmakers and other stakeholders were left out of the crafting of the executive order on toughened vetting at border entry points. In a news conference, Kelly and other top Homeland Security officials conceded some problems, including poor communication. But they insisted that all court orders were followed over the weekend, rebutted reports that some legal residents were denied access to attorneys at airports and said they everyone detained by border agents was treated with dignity and respect. The vast majority of the 1.7 billion Muslims that live on this planet, the vast majority of them have, all other things being equal, have access to the United States, Kelly told reporters. And a relatively small number right now are being held up for a period of time until we can take a look at what their procedures are, he said, seeming to acknowledge that mostly Muslims have been affected by the ban. The moves signaled that the White House remained committed to remaking border law enforcement even in the face of widespread confusion and condemnation of President Trumps order. Kelly said for the first time that the some of the restrictions that caused confusion and sparked protests over the weekend could be extended well into the future. Some of those countries that are currently on the list may not be taken off the list anytime soon, he said. Trump also named a longtime deportation officer, Thomas D. Homan, as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homan, who will oversee the execution of Trumps immigration enforcement order, was most recently in charge of the agencys 5,000 deportation officers, a force Trump said he would triple to 15,000. Trumps orders put a greater emphasis on deporting not only those convicted of crimes, but also people in the country illegally who were charged with crimes not yet adjudicated, those who receive an improper welfare benefit and even those who have not been charged but are believed to have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense. Facebook
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White House tries to ban the word ban, hours after president uses it himself By Noah Bierman This is not a ban, spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters in a fiery news briefing. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) President Trump used the word ban in a tweet as recently as Monday to describe his new executive order suspending travel from seven Muslim-majority countries and halting the refugee program for several months. But facing backlash from many directions, the White House adamantly insisted Tuesday that the word is verboten. This is not a ban, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters in a fiery news briefing. When we use words like travel ban, he said later, that misrepresents what it is. Its seven countries previously identified by the Obama administration, where, frankly, we dont get the information that we need for people coming into this country. In fact, people from the seven banned countries Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Libya cannot enter the United States under the order. Spicer appeared to be making a renewed effort to distinguish the order from the all-out ban on Muslims entering the country that Trump proposed during the campaign. Many around the world see the newest policy as an outgrowth of that proposal. Trump himself conceded a religious connection when he said in an interview on Friday that he wanted to make it easier for Syrian Christians to enter the country. And former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani told Fox News that the order sprang from a group he formed at Trumps request to create a legal framework that would accomplish the campaign goal of a Muslim ban. But amid confusion and worldwide criticism in recent days, the Trump administration has tried to temper some of the more incendiary rhetoric around the proposal. Even the words extreme vetting, a favorite Trump slogan, were called into question by Spicer on Tuesday. Calling for tougher vetting [of] individual travelers from seven nations is not extreme, he said. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country. But changing the ban branding around the program at this point will be difficult. Heres Trumps tweet from Monday: If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the "bad" would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad "dudes" out there! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017 And Spicer himself used the term ban as recently as Sunday: Sean Spiceer today: This is not a Muslim ban. It is not a travel ban.
Sean Spicer in White House press release, Jan. 29: pic.twitter.com/axTM1m66nM Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) January 31, 2017 Facebook
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Senate confirms Elaine Chao as secretary of Transportation By Associated Press Elaine Chao testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on Jan. 11, 2017. (Zach Gibson / AP) The Senate has confirmed Elaine Chao to serve as Transportation secretary in the Trump administration. The vote was 93 to 6 on Tuesday. Chao is an experienced Washington hand. She was Labor secretary under President George W. Bush and is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Chao would be a lead actor in pursuing Trumps promise to invest $1 trillion to improve highways, rail service and other infrastructure projects. Facebook
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Speaker Paul Ryan defends Trumps immigrant and refugee ban, as Congress grumbles about being left out By Lisa Mascaro "What is happening is something we support... we need to make sure that the vetting standards are up to snuff," Paul Ryan says of travel ban pic.twitter.com/iX6YkOLkLl CBS News (@CBSNews) January 31, 2017 House Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Tuesday stood by President Trumps temporary ban on refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations and indicated that he was confident the administration could fix the confusing rollout without action from Congress. What is happening is something we support, said Ryan, whose office was the target of a sit-in by protesters opposed to Trumps order. We need to pause and we need to make sure that the vetting standards are up to snuff so we can guarantee the safety and security of our country. Congress was blindsided by Trumps executive action -- Ryan learned about it as the public did when the White House announced it Friday afternoon. Many GOP lawmakers have raised concerns. During a private meeting in the Capitol basement Tuesday, Republican lawmakers were counseled on how to handle protesters and office sit-ins happening across the country. Its regrettable that there was some confusion on the rollout of this, Ryan said. No one wanted to see people with green cards or special immigrant visas, like translators, get caught up in all of this. Ryan also said he was concerned the ban could be used as propaganda by terrorist groups. The rhetoric surrounding this could be used as a recruiting tool, and I think thats dangerous, he said. Still, Republicans leaders as well as rank-and-file GOP lawmakers largely agreed with the presidents move to halt refugee admissions for 120 days, and to temporarily ban citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries, unless they are Christians or other religious minorities. The president was well within his right to issue an executive order, said Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), chairman of the House Rules Committee. Do I feel let out? I feel like everybody was left out, he said. I wish they communicated it. I wish they had gotten more information to people. I wish they had measured three times and sawed once. Lawmakers have shown little appetite for Congress to get involved, and suggested the chaos that erupted at airports over the weekend was just part of a learning curve at the White House. I support the thrust of the executive order, said Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.), who nevertheless said the administration should have been better prepared and will need to get your act together. Last year, Ryan had strongly condemned Trumps campaign-trail call for a Muslim ban. In recent days, Ryan, like other congressional leaders, was forced to dial up the administration with his questions and concerns about the order, conferring Monday with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. I am very pleased and confident that he is, on a going-forward basis, going to make sure that things are done correctly, Ryan said. Pressed on whether Congress would have a role, Ryan did not indicate any immediate legislative action. Facebook
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Democrats boycott Senate committee votes on Price, Mnuchin By Jim Puzzanghera Senate Democrats speak with reporters after boycotting Finance Committee confirmation votes. (JIM WATSON / AFP/Getty Images) Senate Democrats on Tuesday boycotted a committee vote on two of President Trumps top Cabinet nominees -- Tom Price to lead Health and Human Services and Steve Mnuchin to be Treasury secretary. Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) blasted the Democratic move as he sat in a hearing room with only Republicans on the dais. They ought to be embarrassed. Its the most pathetic treatment Ive seen in my 40 years in the United States Senate, Hatch said. I think they should stop posturing and acting like idiots, he said. At least one Democrat needs to be present for the committee to vote on the nominations, Hatch said. He recessed the hearing until further notice, saying he hoped a vote could take place later Tuesday. But asked mid-afternoon if he thought the committee would be able to meet Tuesday, Hatch said it doesnt look like it. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the committees top Democrat, said Price and Mnuchin have misled the public and held back important information about their backgrounds. Until questions are answered, Democrats believe the committee should not move forward with either nomination, Wyden said. This is about getting answers to questions, plain and simple, he said. Ethics laws are not optional, and nominees do not have a right to treat disclosure like a shell game. Today @SenateFinance Democrats refused to move forward with nominations of Mnuchin & Price. Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 31, 2017 The litany of ethics revelations regarding @RepTomPrice are strong evidence that he cannot be allowed to have control of #Medicare. Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 31, 2017 Mr. Mnuchin continued to fail to come clean on shady foreclosure practices that hurt Americans. Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 31, 2017 Liberal groups cheered the boycott while Senate Republican leaders decried it as Democratic obstructionism. They are manufacturing issues on a daily basis to drag this process out, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kent.) said of the confirmations of Trumps nominees. I dont see how they can explain to the American people how it is appropriate to prevent the administration from getting up and getting started, he said. Democrats have said Mnuchin, a wealthy Wall Street executive, misled the committee in his response to a written question about foreclosures at Pasadenas OneWest Bank while he ran it from 2009-15. Democrats pointed to a report Sunday by the Columbus Dispatch that Mnuchin denied that OneWest engaged in so-called robo-signing of mortgage documents. The paper said its analysis of nearly four dozen foreclosure cases in Ohios Franklin County in 2010 showed that the bank frequently used robo-signers. The Columbus Dispatch cited a foreclosure involving a mortgage signed by Erica Johnson-Seck, a OneWest vice president who said in a deposition in a 2009 Florida case that she signed an average of 750 documents a week. Barney Keller, a spokesman for Mnuchin, said Monday that several courts had dismissed cases involving allegations of robo-signing by Johnson-Seck. The media is picking on a hardworking bank employee whose reputation has been maligned but whose work has been upheld by numerous courts all around the country in the face of scurrilous and false allegations, Keller said. Democrats also have problems with Price, a six-term congressman and former orthopedic surgeon who has distinguished himself in conservative circles for his staunch opposition to the Affordable Care Act and his plans to slash federal healthcare spending. His nomination has become among Trumps most controversial, in part because of his hostility to government safety net programs, including Medicaid and Medicare. Democrats have also been increasingly critical of Prices extensive trading in healthcare stocks while he has been in Congress, and in some cases while he has pushed legislation that would benefit his portfolio. Price has denied any wrongdoing. Also drawing criticism is Prices purchase of discounted shares in an Australian biotech firm, Innate Immunotherapeutics, which he was offered through a private deal not available to general shareholders. Price also denied that this was improper, and Senate Republicans have rallied to his side, saying he did not violate any ethics rules. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said he and the other Democrats on the committee want Mnuchin and Price to explain their lies either in person before the committee or in new written answers. I want them to disclose this information that they seem not to want to disclose, Brown said. 12:10 p.m.: This post was updated with additional comments from Hatch as well as from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Sherrod Brown. 8:00 a.m.: This post has been updated with additional information and background. 8:07 a.m.: This post has been updated with additional information. Facebook
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White House aides who wrote Trumps travel ban see it as just the start By Brian Bennett (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Even as confusion, internal dissent and widespread condemnation greeted President Trumps travel ban and crackdown on refugees this weekend, senior White House aides say they are only getting started. Trump and his aides justified Fridays executive order, which blocked travel from seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days and halted refugees from around the world for 120, on security grounds an issue that they say they take seriously. But their ultimate goal is far broader. Trumps top advisors on immigration, including chief strategist Steve Bannon and senior advisor Stephen Miller, see themselves as launching a radical experiment to fundamentally transform how the U.S. decides who is allowed into the country and to block a generation of people who, in their view, wont assimilate into American society. That project may live or die in the next three months, as the Trump administration reviews whether and how to expand the visa ban and alter vetting procedures. White House aides are considering new, onerous security checks that could effectively limit travel into the U.S. by people from majority-Muslim countries to a trickle. Read More Facebook
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Why corporations cant risk keeping silent about Trumps immigration ban By David Pierson Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz said the Seattle coffee company is developing plans to hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years. (Richard Drew / Associated Press) Corporate America generally prefers to stay quiet about partisan politics. Pick one side of a hot-button issue, the thinking goes, and youll risk losing customers on the other side. But like so many norms before it, President Trump has turned this one on its head. A growing number of companies are deciding its a bigger risk to their investors and bottom line to stay quiet than it is to protest Trumps ban on refugees and travel from seven Muslim-majority nations, betting vocal opposition to the executive order scores them a moral and fiscal victory. While it was possible for companies to take a wait-and-see approach leading up to Trumps inauguration, many firms can no longer ignore the White Houses policy given the effect the order is already having on employees either stranded or fearful of traveling. Only a week ago it seemed foolish to speak out against a president who has admonished individual companies on social media such as Carrier, Boeing and General Motors. Now the pendulum has swung the other way. Companies, mostly in technology but increasingly in other sectors, have decided that its not enough just to speak out against the immigration order. They believe that they must also take headline-grabbing action. Read More Facebook
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Op-Ed: Trump is taking the Bannon Way, and it will end in disaster By Jonah Goldberg Bannon has said hes a Leninist' but hes really more of a Trotskyist because he fancies himself the leader of an international populist-nationalist right wing movement, exporting anti-'globalist' revolution. In that role, his status as an enabler of Trumps instinct to shoot or tweet from the hip seems especially ominous. The Bannon way might work on the campaign trail, but it doesnt translate into good governance. Its possible and one must hope that Trump can learn this fact on the job. But what if he doesnt? He could put the country in serious peril. Jonah Goldberg Read More Facebook
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Trump will leave LGBTQ protections in place By Associated Press (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The White House says President Trump will leave intact a 2014 executive order that protects federal workers from anti-LGBTQ discrimination. In a statement released early Tuesday, the White House said Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community and that he continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election. The Trump administration has vowed to roll back much of President Obamas work from the last eight years and had been scrutinizing the 2014 order. The directive protects people from LGBTQ discrimination while working for federal contractors. The recent statement says the protections will remain intact at the direction of Trump. Here is the text of Obamas executive order, signed on July 21, 2014: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including 40 U.S.C. 121, and in order to provide for a uniform policy for the Federal Government to prohibit discrimination and take further steps to promote economy and efficiency in Federal Government procurement by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Amending Executive Order 11478 . The first sentence of section 1 of Executive Order 11478 of August 8, 1969, as amended, is revised by substituting sexual orientation, gender identity for sexual orientation. Sec. 2. Amending Executive Order 11246 . Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended, is hereby further amended as follows: (a) The first sentence of numbered paragraph (1) of section 202 is revised by substituting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin for sex, or national origin. (b) The second sentence of numbered paragraph (1) of section 202 is revised by substituting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin for sex or national origin. (c) Numbered paragraph (2) of section 202 is revised by substituting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin for sex or national origin. (d) Paragraph (d) of section 203 is revised by substituting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin for sex or national origin. Sec. 3. Regulations . Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall prepare regulations to implement the requirements of section 2 of this order. Sec. 4. General Provisions . (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an agency or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. Sec. 5. Effective Date . This order shall become effective immediately, and section 2 of this order shall apply to contracts entered into on or after the effective date of the rules promulgated by the Department of Labor under section 3 of this order. Update 6:45 a.m.: This article was updated with the text of the 2014 executive order. Facebook
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Trump fires Justice Departments top official after she refuses to defend his refugee ban By David Lauter Sally Yates. (J. David Ake / Associated Press) President Trump fired acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates on Monday, just hours after she announced that the department would not defend his controversial executive order banning refugees and travelers from certain countries. Yates has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States, the White House said in a statement. It is time to get serious about protecting our country. The move came after Yates sent a letter to Justice Department lawyers saying that she questioned the lawfulness of Trumps executive order. My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts, Yates wrote. At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful, she wrote. Consequently, for as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so. Yates was a holdover from the Obama administration. But because Trumps nominee for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, has not been confirmed and no other senior Justice Department officials have been appointed, firing her was expected to cause significant problems within the department. Among other issues, Yates is the only person in the department currently authorized to sign warrants for wiretapping in foreign espionage cases involving the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Trump replaced Yates with Dana J. Boente, a three-decade veteran of the Justice Department who was appointed in 2015 by former President Obama as U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Virginia. 6:37 p.m.: The story was updated with Trumps decision to fire Yates. Read More Facebook
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U.S. service member killed in Yemen identified as Navy SEAL from Illinois By Jeanette Steele The Pentagon on Sunday confirmed the death of a U.S. servicemember in a raid in Yemen targeting al-Qaeda, marking the first American combat death under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. A Navy SEAL from the Virginia-based elite unit known as SEAL Team 6 was killed Sunday during an unusual nighttime raid that put U.S. troops on the ground against Al Qaeda leaders in the middle of war-torn Yemen. The fallen sailor was identified Monday as Chief Special Warfare Operator William Ryan Owens, 36, of Peoria, Ill.. Three other Americans were wounded in the raid and an MV-22 Osprey had to be destroyed after the aircraft suffered a hard landing and couldnt fly. Another U.S. service member was injured in that crash. The raid marked the first known counter-terrorism operation and first confirmed combat fatality under President Trump. Steele writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Facebook
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Protests against Trumps ban on certain immigrants continue across the country By Ann M. Simmons Protesters rally at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 29, demonstrating against the immigration ban imposed by President Trump. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) After a weekend of turmoil at many of the nations airports following President Trumps executive order to suspend the U.S. refugee program and temporarily prohibit entry to citizens of seven predominantly Muslim nations, federal officials said all people being detained on arrival to the U.S. had been released. But that hasnt put a stop to demands to lift the travel ban. Protests continued to be held and organized throughout the country incluidng in New York, New Orleans, Colorado and Connecticut. According to Ground Game, an online platform for organizing, at least a dozen demonstrations were planned for this week in what the group described as a fight against Islamophobia and Fascism. Calls to rally, demonstrate and protest swept social media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook. In Louisville, Ky., a rally was planned for Monday evening at the Muhammad Ali Center, in what organizers said would be a gathering for American values and to voice support for our nation and our city, which was founded and is strengthened by immigrants. In Hattiesburg, Miss., there was call to join a peaceful vigil in solidarity with refugees, immigrants, and Muslims on the University of Southern Mississippi campus on Monday evening. Declaring that Jersey City stands with our Muslim and immigrant community, organizers in that New Jersey city called on people to come to a pedestrian mall on Monday to stand in solidarity and peace as we show our strength in diversity as one of the most diverse cities in the nation. Other demonstrations were planned for later in the week in cities nationwide, including Tuesday in Tuscon, where organizers encouraged people to stand in solidarity with Senator (John) McCains strong public statement opposing the executive order banning refugees and Legal Permanent Residents from Muslim countries! Similar actions were planned on Tuesday at the South Carolina State House in Columbia and at the Worchester City Hall and Common in Massachusetts, while organizers in San Francisco, under the banner #NoBanNoWallSF, urged residents to join the resistance against Donald Trumps racist and exclusionary Executive Orders on Saturday. We will not allow our country to be divided by hate and religious persecution, read a statement from #NoBanNoWallSF posted on Facebook. Facebook
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Obama carefully weighs in on refugee ban, says he is heartened by public response By Michael A. Memoli (Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Images) Former President Obama has offered his first public comment on the conduct of his successor, saying through a spokesman that he is heartened by public demonstrations against the Trump administrations controversial move to temporarily ban refugees and block all admissions from seven countries. President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country, Kevin Lewis, a spokesperson for the former president, said in a statement emailed to reporters Monday. In his final official speech as President, he spoke about the important role of citizen and how all Americans have a responsibility to be the guardians of our democracy--not just during an election but every day. Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake. Lewis also said in the statement that Obama fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion. Trump aides deny that his executive order, released Friday, involves religious discrimination. The order temporarily blocked travel to the U.S. by residents of seven predominantly Muslim nations, but left many of the Islamic worlds largest population centers unaffected, they note. The order also included an exception for believers of minority religions in those countries, a provision that Trump explicitly said would help Christians. Obamas statement is notable less for its content than for the fact that it was issued at all. It reflected the delicate balance he feels he must strike between showing a degree of deference to the new president and speaking out on issues he sees as critically important. The statement tiptoed around the content of the order, focusing more on the former presidents interest in citizen engagement. Obama said before leaving office that he expected to choose carefully when to comment on the actions of his successor and would focus less on normal functioning of politics and more on certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake, as he put it in his final news conference. Mondays statement did point, though, to comments Obama made at a news conference in November 2015, when he called the idea of a religious test for immigration policy shameful and not American. We dont have religious tests to our compassion, he said at the time. Facebook
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GOP-led Congress worries about its role in the Trump era By Lisa Mascaro Its what congressional Republicans had long dreamed about: a majority in both chambers to advance conservative policies and a president from the same party to sign them into law. But the Trump White House isnt turning out exactly the way they envisioned. The GOP establishment is experiencing whiplash after a week of President Trump bulldozing through the norms of policy and protocol dashing off executive orders without warning, escalating a diplomatic crisis with the countrys closest southern neighbor, triggering global confusion with a new refugee policy and generally hijacking party leaders agenda and replacing it with his own. Rather than the hoped-for collaborative new relationship between the White House and Congress, GOP officials complain that Trump is brushing aside their advice, failing to fully engage on drafting tough legislative packages like tax reform and Obamacare, and bypassing Congress by relying on executive actions, something they frequently complained about under President Obama. At the same time, Trumps unilateral moves continue to blindside Republicans and direct the national focus toward topics many in the party would rather avoid, whether thats how to pay for building the border wall with Mexico, warming ties with Russia, investigating false claims about voter fraud or, most recently, implementing sweeping new policies on refugees and visas. In the name of party unity, many Republicans so far have refrained from publicly attacking the new president. But for some, the new refugee policy crossed the line, signaling the first major rift in their already fraught partnership. Read More Facebook
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Washington state sues Trump over immigration order By Mark Z. Barabak President Trump signed an executive order Friday that suspends all immigration for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Opening a new legal front, lawyers for the state of Washington filed suit Monday seeking to block President Trumps executive order temporarily banning foreign refugees from entering the United States. No one is above the law, not even the president, Atty. Gen. Bob Ferguson said in announcing the federal lawsuit. And in the courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. Its the Constitution. Over the weekend, a federal judge in Brooklyn issued an order curtailing portions of Trumps executive order, issued Friday, which temporary halts migration from seven predominantly Muslim countries for at least 90 days and also closed the nation to refugees for at least the next four months. Other challenges are pending. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Seattle was the first taken by a state attorney general, and its provenance was no surprise. Washington state and others along the West Coast voted overwhelmingly for Democrat Hillary Clinton in November and have emerged as a hotbed of anti-Trump sentiment. We will not yield, said Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who joined Ferguson at a Seattle news conference. We will not be leveraged. We will not be threatened. We will not be intimidated. We will not be bullied by this. Trumps order, which has sparked demonstrations across the country, brought an outpouring of objection from Insleys Democratic colleagues around the country. President Trumps recent executive orders that divide and discriminate do not reflect the values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution or the principles we stand for as Oregonians, said Gov. Kate Brown. A single executive order does not define who we are as a country, said Connecticut Gov. Daniel P. Malloy. We are a nation of immigrants and must continue to fight for the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to breath free. In Massachusetts, another state that voted overwhelmingly for Clinton, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker joined the chorus of Democratic criticism, saying the travel ban would undermine the international relations forged by the states business, academic and healthcare communities. The confusion for families is real. The unexpected disruption for law-abiding people is real, Baker said. Thankfully, the federal courts will have an opportunity to straighten this out and it is my hope they do so, and do so quickly. Facebook
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How a top conservative radio host took on Trump, lost his audience and faith, but gained a new perspective By Mark Z. Barabak Charlie Sykes, right, interviews Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) before Wisconsins 2016 primary (Morry Gash/Associated Press) For nearly 25 years, Charlie Sykes was one of the most powerful and influential voices in Wisconsin. He cheer-led policies that turned this historically progressive state into a model of conservative governance. He made and destroyed political careers, using his perch on Milwaukee talk radio to help vault figures such as House Speaker Paul Ryan and Gov. Scott Walker to national prominence. But for the moment Sykes was speechless. He sank into the brown leather banquette of a suburban steakhouse. He stammered. He sighed. When youve devoted your whole life to certain beliefs and you think now they have been undermined and that you might have been deluded about things, he began. So. So. Um... In 2016 Sykes emerged as one of Donald Trumps most prominent critics, a stance that outraged listeners, strained longstanding friendships and left him questioning much of what he once held true. Read More Facebook
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Pentagon compiling a list of Iraqis who aided the U.S. military and wants them shielded from Trumps travel ban By W.J. Hennigan The Pentagon is compiling a list of Iraqi citizens who have worked with the U.S. military and is recommending that they be exempt from President Trumps temporary ban on entry to the U.S. by people from Iraq and six other predominantly Muslim countries, according to the U.S. military. The move could potentially shield tens of thousands of Iraqi interpreters, advisors, and others who have assisted the American military from the presidents controversial executive action that blocked visitors from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen. Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Monday that the list will include names of individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to helping the United States. Even people that are doing seemingly benign things in support of us whether as a linguist, a driver, anything else they often do that at great personal risk, he said. So people who take these risks are really making a tangible signal of support to the United States, and thats something that will, and should be, recognized. The list would not require any changes to the presidents order, but rather serve as guidance to the Department of Homeland Security and the White House in implementing the new policy. White House spokesman Sean Spicer later pushed back against blanket exemptions. We recognize that people have served this country, we should make sure that in those cases theyre helped out, he said. But that doesnt mean that we just give them a pass. Trump, who signed the order at the Pentagon on Friday, did not consult Defense Secretary James N. Mattis or Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the temporary suspensions of entry to visitors from the seven nations, according to U.S. officials. The executive action put the U.S. military in a difficult position because it works closely with the Iraqi government on a range of issues, including the fight against Islamic State, which necessitates travel between the two countries. For instance, Iraqi military pilots train to fly F-16 fighter jets at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Its not clear those pilots, who are active in the fight against Islamic State, could arrive in the U.S. for the training. 1:10 p.m.: This post was updated with White House response. Facebook
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Trump signs order on rulemaking: For every regulation added, agencies have to cut 2 others By Noah Bierman (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump signed an executive order Monday designed to fulfill his campaign pledge reduce red tape for businesses. The two-page order requires that when a federal agency proposes new regulations, it shall identify at least two existing regulations to be repealed. We want to make the life easier for small businesses and big business, Trump said Monday from the Roosevelt Room of the White House, where he met with nine representatives of the small-business sector. Trump said he hoped to see up to 75% of federal regulations eliminated during his presidency. Regulation has been horrible for big business, but its been worse for small business, Trump said. He also reiterated his promise to gut the Dodd-Frank Act, the financial regulatory overhaul that was passed after the financial crisis. Dodd-Frank is a disaster, he said. Were going to be doing a big number on Dodd-Frank. Consumer advocates who backed the law say that eliminating it would help Wall Street and other players in the financial sector at the expense of consumers. Facebook
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U.S. diplomats to protest Trumps travel ban order By Tracy Wilkinson Protesters of President Trumps immigration order block traffic at LAX. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) A number of U.S. diplomats are condemning President Trumps ban on some Muslim immigrants and visitors, saying the abrupt order does not make the U.S. safer and will only stoke anti-American fervor overseas. The complaint, being made through the State Departments so-called dissent channel, echoes criticism coming from human rights attorneys, legal experts and lawmakers from both political parties, as well as world leaders. It is significant because it represents the viewpoint of the men and women who must carry out Trumps unconventional and often provocative foreign policy. A policy which closes our doors to over 200-million legitimate travelers in the hopes of preventing a small number of travelers who intend to harm Americans ... will not achieve its aim of making our country safer, said a draft version of the memo that was circulating Monday and was reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. It was first reported by ABC News. Moreover, such a policy runs counter to core American values of non-discrimination, fair play and extending a warm welcome to foreign visitors and immigrants. The White House was quickly dismissive of the dissent and seemed to suggest the diplomats should quit if they disagree with a policy. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the diplomats raising of opposition does call into question whether or not they should continue to work in the State Department. It was not clear how many officials would sign the memo. Dissent channel memos are in theory not made public. The mechanism is designed to allow diplomats to offer an alternative policy without fear of retaliation. Acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner confirmed the existence of the memo but declined to comment on its contents. The dissent channel is a longstanding official vehicle for State Department employees to convey alternative views and perspectives on policy issues, he said. "... It allows State employees to express divergent policy views candidly and privately to senior leadership. The agency is still waiting for a boss. Trumps pick for secretary of State, former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, is expected to be confirmed by the Senate this week. The last time a dissent-channel memo was reported publicly was last year, when about 50 diplomats protested Obama administration policy in Syria, which they described as inaction. 12:20 p.m.: This story was updated with White House comment. 8:40 a.m.: This story was updated with comment from a State Department spokesman. Facebook
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Trump to announce his Supreme Court choice Tuesday -- in prime time By Michael A. Memoli (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump will announce his first Supreme Court nomination in prime time on Tuesday, he tweeted this morning. I have made my decision on who I will nominate for The United States Supreme Court. It will be announced live on Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. (W.H.) Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017 The announcement was moved up two days amid the continued fallout from the executive action Trump signed temporarily banning refugee admissions from some countries. Trump had tweeted last week that he would announce his high-court decision Thursday. In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network on Friday, Trump said his administration was doing some final vetting of his choice to replace the late Antonin Scalia, and that the pick would be from among the list of 20 names he issued during the election campaign. I think the person I pick will be big, big, he said. I think people are going to love it. I think evangelicals, Christians will love my pick. And will be represented very fairly. Times Supreme Court reporter David Savage profiled each of the leading contenders: Judge Thomas Hardiman of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and Judge William H. Pryor Jr. from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The move could prompt a major clash with Senate Democrats, who have warned the president against a choice outside what they consider the mainstream. Some are threatening to block any choice in retaliation for Senate Republicans refusal to even hold hearings on President Obamas choice to replace Scalia, Merrick Garland. Democrats 2013 change to Senate rules that allowed most nominations to advance with a simple majority vote exempted Supreme Court nominations, meaning that Democrats could potentially filibuster the choice. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) appeared to rule out any further rule change in an interview last week, though Trump urged him to consider doing so. Facebook
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As Hollywood gathered at the SAG Awards, some entertainers joined LAX protest Facebook
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This New York doctor went to visit family in Sudan, and now hes stuck By Molly Hennessy-Fiske Dr. Kamal Fadlalla (Dr. Kamal Fadlalla / For The Times) Dr. Kamal Fadlalla, a hospital resident who has been working in New York for the last 20 months, was stuck in Sudan on Sunday, having gone there to see his family earlier this month. He had left Jan. 13, was due to return Feb. 4 but tried to return on Friday after hearing about President Trumps executive order on immigration, which suspended entry for people from seven countries, including Sudan. He made it past passport control, all the way to the gate at the airport in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. One hour before departure they called my name, he said, and summoned him to the ticket counter, along with other New York-bound Sudanese passengers. When I got to the counter, they said there was a notice from Customs and Border Protection that ... they had to offload us from the flight. I was shocked. Fadlalla, 33, hoped for a reprieve as other passengers gathered, all stuck. One family, they came back from Dubai, she was a mother of three or four kids. She was waiting overnight at the Dubai airport. There were also two passengers turned back from New York, he said. It was a very tough night on me, He stayed for several hours, then returned to his mothers home in Madani, two hours south. Fadlalla is a second-year resident in internal medicine at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn. He is hoping to specialize in hematology and oncology. The Committee for Interns and Residents found an attorney to represent him, he said, but he had not received any news about how a New York federal judges ruling late Saturday, which halted the deportations of people who had arrived in the U.S. with valid visas, could affect him. I dont know what Im going to do. My vacation is going to end and I have to join the hospital next week. Its going to be tough on me, Fadlalla said. I dont know for how long Im going to stay here. I dont know what Im going to do. My visa is valid for three months. Im really stuck. I have my house there, my utilities, my work, my patients, my colleagues. It was my life for the past 20 months. And Im stuck here. Fadlalla is from northern Sudan, and describes himself as a moderate Muslim. He said the executive order wont make the U.S. safer by barring valid visa holders like him because, Ive been through the whole process of visa interviews. He had planned to take board exams next year, and if he misses them, his schooling will be delayed. He had wanted to stay and work in New York, too. All my life is there. Now Im stuck here. I dont know what to do, he said. Its going to really affect my life, my patients, my colleagues and their work schedule. He said the executive order has shocked others in Sudan, too. Theyre talking about human rights. Everybody knows the United States is about freedom, he said. Everybody knows America is a free country, a country of chances for everybody. Still, people have hope in those protesting at airports all over the United States and attorneys who have volunteered to help immigrants and refugees, he said. He said the order is especially worrying for aspiring Sudanese medical residents who have been preparing to match with a hospital in March to study in the United States. A lot of my colleagues who are preparing for exams are really, really worried about this, Fadlalla said. Im really worried about the future of these young people. They study a lot and spend a lot of money, a lot of effort to enter the United States. Im concerned about my future and my colleagues future. Facebook
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Californias congressional Republicans hold their fire on Trumps refugee order By Sarah D. Wire Only a few of the states 14 Republican representatives have publicly commented on an executive order signed by President Trump on Friday that barred refugees and green card holders from seven countries from entering the country. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) released a statement Sunday night saying that some tweaks are needed, but that his background as chairman of the House Select Intelligence Committee leads him to support the executive order. In light of attempts by jihadist groups to infiltrate fighters into refugee flows to the West, along with Europes tragic experience coping with this problem, the Trump administrations executive order on refugees is a common-sense security measure to prevent terror attacks on the homeland, Nunes said. While accommodations should be made for green card holders and those whove assisted the U.S. armed forces, this is a useful temporary measure on seven nations of concern until we can verify who is entering the United States. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) told the Washington Post that the executive order is the right call to keep America safe, but he hopes the cases of people traveling on visas who were prevented from reentering the country are resolved quickly. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) said Sunday on Twitter that the rollout has created confusion, and that executive orders arent the way to fix the countrys long-term problems. View Twitter post View Twitter post Several of Californias 38 Democratic congressional representatives and the states two senators were out in force over the weekend demanding the release of refugees and green card holders as well as an end to the executive order. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced she would file two pieces of legislation in response. One would immediately rescind the presidents order. The second would limit executive authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to prevent a president from unilaterally banning groups of immigrants. Its clear that the president gave little consideration to the chaos and heartbreak that would result from this order, she said in a statement. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) joined protesters outside the White House on Sunday afternoon. We will fight against racism. We will fight against anti-Muslim rhetoric. We will fight against those who will marginalize who we are. pic.twitter.com/R54f3MDhvo Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 29, 2017 In Los Angeles, Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) joined protesters at Los Angeles International Airport. On Saturday, Reps. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), Nanette Barragan (D-San Pedro) and Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) joined the initial protests at the airport, and worked to get some of those being held released. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) accompanied protesters at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday. Congresswoman @MaxineWaters is here at LAX protest leading the crowd in the chant "no ban, no wall, you build it up we'll tear it down" pic.twitter.com/iNEmkVVkmW Javier Panzar (@jpanzar) January 29, 2017 Facebook
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Legal moves come too late for Iranian man who arrived at LAX after Trumps order By Matt Hamilton Ali Vayeghan arrived at 7:15 p.m. Friday from Tehran. He was going to stay with relatives, then go to Indiana, to join his wife, who arrived in the U.S. four months ahead of him, and his son. But he never emerged from customs. His niece said he was put on a plane to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. The ACLU was trying to prevent his deportation but arrived with paperwork 45 minutes too late. The family spoke to him by phone after he landed in Dubai, where he was waiting to be put on a flight to Tehran. Hes literally crying in the airport in Dubai, Ali Vayeghans niece, Marjan Vayghan, said. On Sunday afternoon, a federal judge in Los Angeles ordered authorities to transport Vayeghan back to the U.S. and admit him under the terms of his visa, which is set to expire Feb. 14. U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee said in her order that Vayeghan had demonstrated a strong likelihood of success in establishing that removal violates the Establishment Clause, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and his rights to Equal Protection guaranteed by the United States Constitution. But by the time the order came down, Vayeghan was on a plane bound for Tehran. Federal judge in LA has issued order allowing Iranian man deported from LAX yesterday to be admitted to US pic.twitter.com/yPth0xEQpv Matt Hamilton (@MattHjourno) January 29, 2017 Facebook
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The political climate is a hot topic at the Screen Actors Guild awards The Actor statue watches over the red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium. (Matt Sayles / Invision / Associated Press) Stars on the red carpet and at the winners podium tonight in Los Angeles are not keeping their mouths shut on current affairs. The 23rd Screen Actors Guild awards are being held at the Shrine Auditorium. Heres what they have had to say so far: I want you all to know that I am the daughter of an immigrant. My father fled religious persecution in Nazi-occupied France, and Im an American patriot, and I love this country, and because I love this country, I am horrified by its blemishes and this immigrant ban is a blemish and it is un-American. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, accepting her award for her role in Veep We need to vote. Had we all voted, we wouldnt be here. You dont like it, you dont have nothing to say if you didnt vote. Get a clipboard, get organized and get in it. Dont sit back on the sidelines. Get in it. This is a fight for the country right now. Its worth fighting for. Courtney B. Vance, nominated for his performance in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story For the first time ever in my lifetime, Ive been concerned about where its going to go. It doesnt seem to be that its going to go in a very positive direction. Claire Foy, nominated for her role as Queen Elizabeth in the Netflix series The Crown Read More Facebook
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Green card holders will not be blocked by Trumps order, Homeland Security says By David Lauter (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) The Trump administration backed away from one of the most controversial parts of its new executive order on immigration Sunday evening, saying that permanent U.S. residents in most cases will not be affected by the new rules. Since the president issued the order Friday, confusion has been rampant over the effects on permanent residents, noncitizens who hold so-called green cards that allow them to live and work legally in the U.S. Many were stopped and detained at airports for many hours on Friday and Saturday and, in some cases, reported that they had been threatened with being returned to their home countries. An undetermined number of other green card holders were stopped from boarding U.S.-bound planes. Late Sunday, however, the secretary of Homeland Security, retired Gen. John Kelly, issued a statement changing the policy. Statement By Secretary John Kelly On The Entry Of Lawful Permanent Residents Into The United States https://t.co/Es1qivoR3J pic.twitter.com/hffMK2MOQC Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 29, 2017 I hereby deem the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interest, Kelly wrote. Green card holders from one of the seven countries covered by the 90-day ban will still need to request a waiver to gain reentry to the U.S. if they have traveled abroad. But unless officials have significant derogatory information about a green card holder that indicates a serious threat to public safety and welfare, lawful permanent resident status will be a dispositive factor in deciding the case, Kellys statement said. A White House official, briefing reporters about the change in policy, said that about 170 people have applied for a waiver to the ban so far, and all 170 have received a waiver and have been allowed to enter the U.S. The seven countries affected by the ban are Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Facebook
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Uber fights immigration order -- and #DeleteUber hashtag -- with $3-million legal fund for drivers By Tracey Lien Hours after Lyfts co-founders announced a $1-million donation to the American Civil Liberties Union to defend the
Constitution, Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick pulled out his pocket book as well. Kalanick promised in a Facebook post that the company would create a $3-million legal defense fund to help drivers affected by the Trump administrations move to restrict immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries. The fund will help drivers with immigration and translation services. Kalanick also said the San Francisco ride-hailing company will provide 24/7 legal support to drivers stuck outside the country and compensate them for lost earnings. Drivers eligible for assistance were directed to contact the company via an online form. Although the announcement was greeted with some support on Facebook and Twitter, many saw it as too little too late. The company had come under fire a day earlier for advertising on Twitter that it was operating at New Yorks Kennedy International Airport during a taxi strike protesting the executive order. That gaffe, coupled with Kalanicks involvement in a panel advising President Trump on economic issues, helped spawn the Twitter hashtag #DeleteUber, which encouraged customers to delete the app from their phones in protest. You are 20 hours too late, one person wrote in response to Kalanicks Facebook post. Still deleted my account today, wrote another. Though Kalanick issued a statement on Saturday opposing the executive order, it didnt stop thousands of Twitter users from adopting the trending the #DeleteUber hashtag to decry Ubers actions. They accused the company of attempting to profit from the strike and prioritizing business interests over a moral imperative. Celebrities also jumped on the bandwagon, with actor and activist George Takei on Sunday tweeting to his 2.9 million followers: Lyft donates $1mil to ACLU while Uber doubles down on its support for Trump. #DeleteUber. Facebook
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75-year-old grandmother from Iran tells the story of her detention at LAX By Alene Tchekmedyian Siavosh Naji-Talakar of Phoenix hugs his grandmother Marzieh Moosavizadeh after she was released from detention at LAX early Sunday morning. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Marzieh Moosavizadeh and her grandson follow a routine when she visits almost every year from Iran. The 75-year-old, who travels in a wheelchair and speaks little English, struggles to find direct flights to Phoenix, where he and his family live. So they meet in Los Angeles and he escorts her on the last leg of her trip. This time was different. Moosavizadeh landed at Los Angeles International Airport a day after President Trump signed an executive order banning citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, from entering the United States. Read More Facebook
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GOP senators call executive order a self-inflicted wound. Trump calls them wrong and weak By Matt Ballinger McCain and Graham in 2013. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John McCain of Arizona released a statement Sunday saying that confusion at U.S. airports shows that President Trumps executive order on immigration was not properly vetted. Such a hasty process risks harmful results, the Republicans statement read. We should not stop green-card holders from returning to the country they call home. We should not stop those who have served as interpreters for our military and diplomats from seeking refuge in the country they risked their lives to help. And we should not turn our backs on those refugees who have been shown through extensive vetting to pose no demonstrable threat to our nation. It went on: Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism. The president responded on Twitter: The joint statement of former presidential candidates John McCain & Lindsey Graham is wrong - they are sadly weak on immigration. The two... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017 ...Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017 Facebook
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At least 600 people wait to greet Syrians arriving in Phoenix By Nigel Duara Elijah Chavez and Brandi Hernandez protest in Phoenix (Nigel Duara/Los Angeles Times) A Phoenix-bound British Airways flight was scheduled to arrive from London at Sunday evening carrying several Syrians. A protest of about 600 people was waiting at a Phoenix international airport terminal for the flight to arrive. The outcome when these people arrive is uncertain at best, said Tanveer Shah, an Arizona attorney in private practice who volunteers with the ACLU. Shah said Syrians on board the flight would, in the best case, walk off the plane without a problem. But given the outcomes in other cities on Saturday and Sunday, Shah said it was incumbent on civil liberties attorneys to be there when the plane arrives. We have staff attorneys here ... who are prepared to file emergency pleadings, Shah said. Facebook
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When Muslims got blocked at American airports, U.S. veterans rushed to help By Matt Pearce (G. Morty Ortega / Getty Images) Jeffrey Buchalter was reflooring his foyer in Chesapeake Beach, Md., and listening to MSNBC over the weekend when he heard the news: An Iraqi who had worked with American forces as an interpreter had been stopped from entering the U.S. under a new executive order on immigration from President Trump. The story stopped him cold. Buchalter, an Army veteran who works as a law-enforcement instructor at the Department of Homeland Security, had served multiple tours of duty as a military policeman in Iraq, service that cost him dearly. He was decorated for injuries sustained from gunfire and improvised explosive devices. Exams revealed hed suffered herniated discs, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, and he spent 2 years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center trying to get right. But he was still alive, and now the married father of two children. And he believes thats thanks in part to the work of Iraqi interpreters who acted as guides during his work in their country. So he told his younger daughter and son they were going to take a trip: a two-hour drive to Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., where, for the first time in his life, Buchalter would join a protest. Read More Facebook
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Demonstrators against Trumps immigration limits and a few who like them surge through LAX By Javier Panzar The crowd at LAX is getting bigger and bigger. pic.twitter.com/dJ281TETXj Javier Panzar (@jpanzar) January 29, 2017 Thousands of people filled the international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday afternoon to call for the release of an unknown number of people being detained by immigration authorities. Filling the arrivals section of the terminal and spilling into the street outside, the throng chanted, Let them in, and Love, not hate, makes America great. Jacob Kemper, a 35-year-old Army veteran who fought two tours in Iraq, said he was infuriated to think soldiers he fought alongside might be denied entry to the country. I really dont care about religion, but I really hate oppression, he said, holding a sign that read, I Fought Next To Muslims. Shay Soltani, a network engineer, fled the Iranian revolution 40 years ago and still has family members in Iran. She doesnt know if she will be able to see them again. As she and hundreds of others marched through the airport, she said she was horrified by Trumps order. I am so hurt by this, she said. He is against freedom of speech and the constitution and everything I believe in as an American. Meanwhile, about a dozen counter-protesters popped up on the other side of the street, holding signs that said X-treme vetting and Keep Refugees Out. They said they were tired of immigrants entering the U.S. illegally, which they said jeopardizes the safety of American citizens. Chanell Temple, 63, of Los Angeles said she was sick of watching immigrants here illegally steal benefits and services from American citizens, specifically veterans and homeless people who need aid. I worked out here for 40 years and they are coming here and taking everything away, said Temple, a former bookkeeper who said she lost her job and healthcare after she was fired for an inability to speak Spanish. Raul Rodriguez Jr., coordinator of a group called America First Latinos, said he was concerned about what he considers a surge in crimes committed against Americans by those who are in the country illegally. They are lawbreakers. They have violated federal law and they need to be deported, he said. Facebook
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Silicon Valley execs speak out against immigration ban By Tracey Lien Technology executives are speaking out against President Trumps executive order on immigration, highlighting how the ban hurts their businesses. Leaders of companies that include Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Dropbox and Twitter denounced it over the weekend. Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do, said Apple chief executive Tim Cook in a memo to employees. In my conversations with officials here in Washington this week, Ive made it clear that Apple believes deeply in the importance of immigration both to our company and to our nations future. General Electric Co. chief executive Jeff Immelt said Sunday that businesses with global operations must balance working with the new administration while also supporting their workers and partners. We have many employees from the named countries and we do business all over the region, Immelt said in a statement. These employees and customers are critical to our success and they are our friends and partners. We stand with them and will work with the U.S. administration to strive to find the balance between the need for security and the movement of law abiding people. Facebook
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LAX protest grows as families wait Meg Heatherly, 27, of Los Angeles holds a Shame sign during a protest at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Facebook
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L.A. city attorney barred from seeing detainees at LAX By James Queally Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer said he was repeatedly denied access to federal detainees or an attorney who could discuss the situation with him at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Federal officials have declined to discuss the LAX detentions or respond to Feuers criticisms. While he was at the airport, Feuer said he was approached by a woman who claimed her father, suffering from Parkinsons disease, was among the detainees. It is those kind of real stories that are at stake because of this outrageous action by the feds. It is time not only for officials in my position, but all Americans, should find this a breathtaking violation of rights. Mike Feuer Read More Facebook
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Democratic attorneys general from 15 states condemn Trump immigration order By Ann M. Simmons California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) More than a dozen Democratic attorneys general from states across the country have condemned the Trump administrations executive order suspending acceptance of refugees and have vowed to oppose it to ensure that as few people as possible suffer from the chaotic situation that it has created. In a communique Sunday, the group said: As the chief legal officers for over 130 million Americans and foreign residents of our states, we condemn President Trumps unconstitutional, un-American and unlawful Executive Order and will work together to ensure the federal government obeys the Constitution, respects our history as a nation of immigrants, and does not unlawfully target anyone because of their national origin or faith. The executive order places an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and prohibits citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering as refugees for four months. It also places a suspension on admissions of other citizens of those countries. The legal officials represent 15 states. They include California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and his contemporaries in Washington, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia. Religious liberty has been, and always will be, a bedrock principle of our country, and no president can change that truth, the attorneys general said in the statement. They praised the decision of multiple federal courts to order a stay on some aspects of the order. We are confident that the Executive Order will ultimately be struck down by the courts, the statement said. Facebook
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13 people who had been detained at LAX have been released, source says By James Queally Protesters at LAX on Sunday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Thirteen people who were detained Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airports Terminal 2 were eventually released, a law enforcement source told The Times. Each of them held green cards, which grant permanent residency in the U.S. The source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation at the airport, could not provide detention figures for the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which has been the center of protest activity. Thats where protesters were gathering Sunday. Nurse Jamie Shoemaker, 51, of Los Angeles held an American flag in one hand and carried a sign that read, Muslims are welcome here, racists and fascists are not. She called Trumps order un-American. This is not the country I want, she said. This is not the country I grew up in. Read More Facebook
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Democrats in Congress drafting legislation to repeal Trumps refugee ban, pressuring GOP for support By Lisa Mascaro Sen. Chuck Schumer becomes emotional speaking against Pres. Trump's immigration order, calling it "mean-spirited and un-American." pic.twitter.com/NkhUdpaNyV ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 29, 2017 Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Democrats will introduce legislation as soon as Monday to stop President Trumps actions temporarily banning refugees and arrivals from certain Muslim countries. House Democrats are taking similar legislative action, and lawmakers from both chambers will rally Monday evening at the Supreme Court to protest Trumps orders. This executive order was mean-spirited and un-American, said Schumer, the New York Democrat, choking up as he stood with immigrants and refugees at a press conference Sunday. It must be reversed immediately. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said House Democrats are exploring legal options, including an amicus brief in support of the ACLU lawsuit against the actions. The chances of passing a bill through the Republican-controlled Congress are slim, as most GOP leaders and lawmakers have not objected to Trumps ban. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday that while he was personally opposed to a religious test on admissions, it was best left to the courts to resolve the issue. Its hopefully going to be decided in the courts as to whether or not this has gone too far, McConnell said on ABCs This Week. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) expressed his support Friday for Trumps action. A handful of Republicans, though, are uneasy with Trumps orders, and have spoken against them. Schumer noted that just few more Republicans would be needed to reach the 60-vote threshold for advancing Senate legislation. Maybe we can pass something in Congress, Schumer said. Its up to Republicans. Facebook
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Emotional reunion at JFK airport after release of elderly Sudanese man from immigration detention By Barbara Demick Tears and hugs at JFK's international arrivals as a detainee is released, reuniting father with son. More families wait, cheering. pic.twitter.com/WrVpoocWjY Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) January 29, 2017 For those immigrants temporarily detained under a new Trump administration executive order at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport, attorneys have put a priority on getting some of the older detainees released to their families. One small victory for the lawyers was the case of Yassin Abdelrhman, a 76-year-old green card holder from Sudan who had been detained after a trip home to visit family. He was released about noon on Sunday after being detained for 30 hours. Soon, he was reunited with his sons. He is a strong individual, but he has some health challenges, said U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who had been working on their case. Facebook
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Iranian director Asghar Farhadi will not attend Oscars Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi after winning an Oscar in 2012. ((Allen J. Schaben/ Los Angeles Times) ) In a statement to the New York Times today, Oscar-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi said he no longer planned to attend this years ceremony. Farhadis film The Salesman is nominated in the foreign language film category. Farhadi had initially hoped to attend despite the prohibition on visitors from Iran. But he said he had decided the possibility of this presence is being accompanied by ifs and buts which are in no way acceptable to me even if exceptions were to be made for my trip. Read More Facebook
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How an Iranian Fulbright scholar got into the U.S.: We found a lawyer who found a lawyer who found a lawyer By Barbara Demick Iranian students in front of a makeshift law office in JFKs Terminal 4. (Barbara Demick / Los Angeles Times) Perhaps nothing encapsulates the chaos emanating from President Trumps executive order better than what happened with Ukrainian Airlines Flight 232. The regularly scheduled flight to Kiev had to turn around on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy Airport early Sunday after a federal judge issued a stay of a deportation order of dozens of foreigners, including a 32-year-old Iranian linguist who is a doctoral candidate and former Fulbright scholar. With just minutes to spare, Vahideh Rasekhi -- helped by volunteer lawyers and her smart phone managed to prevent the flight from taking off. She had arrived Saturday afternoon, but was blocked from entering the United States by the executive order barring arrivals of citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia and Libya. Around midnight, she was put on the Ukrainian Air flight to return to Tehran, via Kiev. We found a lawyer who found a lawyer who found a lawyer, said Mehdi Namazi, 29, a friend who has been waiting for her at the airport. The lawyers were showing officials a copy of the order issued a few hours earlier by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly in Brooklyn. It was all very confusing. They were arguing as the plane was taxiing, Namazi said. According to one lawyer, Melissa Trent, Rasekhi herself was walking up and down the aisles arguing for the plane not to take off. She knew that if the plane left she would never get back to the United States again, Trent said. Rasekhi spent most of Sunday in detention with other Iranians, but was released into the United States at around 3 p.m.. A dozen Iranian friends had been waiting inside the airports Terminal 4 amid a clutter of discarded coffee cups and half-eaten donuts in front of a diner that had been turned into a makeshift law office. Another Iranian student was waiting for her parents, who were taken into detention after arriving on another flight I havent seen them in 3-1/2 years. They dont speak English. But Im hopeful, said the student, who gave her name as Sahar. The students were both furious at the way their country had been targeted by Trumps order and touched by the outpouring of support from the volunteer lawyers. We see two different Americas here. There is this order banning us, and than there are all these people here who came to the airport. If it werent for these volunteers, she would have been deported, said Namazi. Im very depressed. We feel betrayed by this country that we invested so much energy and hope into. We are all graduate students, professors, PhDs, engineers. To say this is for national security, it doesnt add up, said Tahmineh Tabrizian, 33, another friend of Rasekhis. She said her own parents had planned to come to the United States and had spent $14,000 on tickets and visas and would now have to cancel their trip. Rasekhi, who has lived in the United States for a decade, was a Fulbright scholar at UC Santa Barbara and received a masters degree at Fresno State University, according to a resume supplied by one of her friends. She had been studying for a PhD at Stony Brook University on Long Island. She had gone to Tehran over the Christmas break to visit her parents and was on her way back to resume her studies when she was detained. Facebook
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Protests begin again at LAX on Sunday morning By Genaro Molina Facebook
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Protesters in Tel Aviv compare Trump immigration order to Israeli refugee policies By Joshua Mitnick Demonstrators in Tel Aviv protest U.S. President Trumps new immigration order. (Joshua Mitnick / Los Angeles Times) Holding signs reading Refugees Welcome and chanting No Ban, No Wall, Sanctuary for All, several dozen demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv on Sunday to join protests in the U.S. against President Trumps new immigration policy. Mia Zur Szpiro, a 36-year-old filmmaker, said she felt compelled to demonstrate because her parents survived the Holocaust. We are a country of immigrants, and to me it was astounding that this [order] was passed on Holocaust Memorial Day, she said. Its wrong to stereotype, and its wrong to send people who are in need back into the face of danger and the risk of death. Elliot Vaisbrub Glassenberg, a protest organizer and migrant rights activist, compared the new U.S. policy to Israeli policies toward tens of thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese migrants who crossed into the country illegally from Egypts Sinai desert. The policies that Trump has enacted are no worse than the policies that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu has enacted for years here such as not allowing any non-Jews to be given refugee status in Israel, except for a select few. Togod Omar, a native of Sudan who was at the protest, said he applied for political asylum in Israel three years ago, and is still waiting. He said Sudanese friends hoping to be resettled in the U.S. were upset by the new executive order. Trump doesnt understand whats going on in Sudan, Omar said. You cant punish the Sudanese people for what the Islamic government is doing. You cant banish someone because of their religion. Facebook
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President Trump hits majority disapproval in record time, Gallup finds By David Lauter Days until achieving MAJORITY disapproval from @Gallup
Reagan: 727
Bush I: 1336
Clinton: 573
Bush II: 1205
Obama: 936
Trump: 8. days. pic.twitter.com/kv2fy0Qsbp Will Jordan (@williamjordann) January 29, 2017 President Trumps actions during his first week in office have appeared to be aimed at the voters who already supported him, not at reaching out to the rest, and thats taken a rapid toll on his support, which was already historically low. Gallup, which has measured job approval for presidents for decades, shows Trumps approval so far at 45%, with 48% disapproving. Thats an average of several days polling. The daily trend lines are not kind to the new administration. As of Saturday, 51% of Americans disapproved of Trumps performance. Thats a record for the speed of getting to majority disapproval. By comparison, President George W. Bush hit majority disapproval six months into his second term, in June 2005, and remained in negative territory for the rest of his tenure. President Obama did not hit 51% disapproval until August of 2011, during the crisis over the federal debt ceiling that summer. His approval rebounded later that year, but he had a second period of majority disapproval during late 2013 and much of 2014. He ended his term with widespread approval and 37% of Americans disapproving. Trump Job Approval: Approve 45% (-1); Disapprove 48% (+3). Get the full trend https://t.co/BjTUhf0NAM. GallupNews (@GallupNews) January 27, 2017 Facebook
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Hundreds of travelers were caught in limbo over rushed visa ban By Brian Bennett (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Hundreds of travelers were blocked from entering the U.S. or prevented from boarding flights in the hours after President Trump signed his order banning arrivals from seven predominantly Muslim countries, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In the order, Trump temporarily suspended refugee admissions and banned travelers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Scores of people from those countries were aboard airplanes flying toward the U.S. when Trump signed his executive order on Friday afternoon, setting off waves of confusion among border officials and the traveling public. Upon landing at U.S. airports, 109 people from the listed countries were detained by immigration officials and prevented from entering the U.S., officials said. The department had approved 81 waivers to the new travel ban by Saturday afternoon, the official said, but at least some of the people detained on arrival were sent back to their countries of origin. Court orders issued Saturday evening required U.S. border officials to stop returning people who had already arrived with valid visas. It is unclear how many people were deported before the orders were issued. It is also unclear if the Trump administration has fully complied with those orders. In addition to the people who arrived in the U.S. and were detained, as of 3 p.m. on Saturday, an additional 173 travelers from the listed countries had been stopped from boarding flights to the U.S., a Homeland Security official said in a statement. The department did not make an official available to describe the actions and the agencys response. As many as 3,250 travelers may have been inconvenienced by the new visa restrictions, officials for the department said in a statement Sunday. Yesterday, less than 1% of the more than 325,000 international air travelers who arrive every day were inconvenienced while enhanced security measures were implemented, the statement read. The department will comply with court orders, the statement said. But no evidence was given to confirm this. Lawyers seeking to meet with detainees at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington and at San Francisco have said that they were blocked by officials on Sunday. The Department of Homeland Security will comply with judicial orders, faithfully enforce our immigration laws, and implement President Trumps executive orders to ensure that those entering the United States do not pose a threat to our country or the American people, according to the departments statement. All of the visa holders and travelers from the listed countries blocked from entering the U.S. since Friday already had gone through multiple steps of security screening that checked their biographical information and travel history against U.S. terrorism databases. Facebook
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White House seems to back down on part of new vetting policy By Christi Parsons The White House on Sunday appeared to back down on a key part of President Trumps tough new immigration order, signaling that travelers trying to enter the country from seven banned countries will be allowed in if they hold green cards. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said that these legal permanent residents are exempt from the travel ban moving forward, even though over the weekend other administration officials said the rule did apply to them. The apparent reversal came amid a national controversy over the new Trump order that temporarily halts the entry of all refugees to the U.S. and any traveler from seven majority Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Federal judges across the country have blocked parts of the presidents executive actions since they came down on Friday, mostly preventing the deportation of some travelers who ran into the first wave of implementation over the weekend. The back-and-forth over the green-card holders reflected a generalized confusion about the new order, which also bars Syrian refugees from entering the United States indefinitely. Lawyers for some of the affected immigrants said border agents seemed uncertain about the new rules and were disagreeing with one another about which travelers were affected and which were not. Further complicating the picture was a statement from the Department of Homeland Security asserting that its agents would enforce all of Trumps orders while also complying with judicial orders. As some of the orders block deportation, that left individual officers to try to figure out which priorities to honor. Facebook
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Op-Ed: Trumps cruel, illegal refugee executive order By Erwin Chemerinsky Protesters demonstrate at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on Saturday. (Stephanie Keith / Getty Images) Barring individuals fleeing persecution from entering the United States is simply inhumane. Adding irony to injury, Trumps executive order was issued on Holocaust Remembrance Day, which should have been an occasion to atone for turning away refugees during the 1930ssome of whom then died in concentration camps. For example, in 1939, the United States turned away the St. Louis, a boat filled with refugees, many of them German Jews. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 254 passengers from the St. Louis died in the Holocaust. Erwin Chemerinsky Read More Facebook
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Lyft pledges to donate $1 million to ACLU following Trumps immigration order By Tracey Lien (Richard Vogel / Associated Press) Tech executives had been mostly quiet for the first week of Donald Trumps presidency but that changed after his controversial executive order restricting refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries. Executive after executive spent Saturday tweeting and posting messages to Facebook decrying the administrations actions. Lyft co-founders John Zimmer and Logan Green went a step further: On Sunday, they announced they would donate $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union over the next four years. Banning people of a particular faith or creed, race or identity, sexuality or ethnicity, from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft and our nations core values, the co-founders wrote in an email to Lyft customers. We stand firmly against the actions, and will no
About 230 people gathered Sunday night at Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach for an interfaith town hall meeting presented by the Jewish Collaborative of Orange County to, as organizers said, combat hate in the community.
We held the town hall interfaith meeting to provide a forum for local community members to come together to learn more about what resources are available to them in the event of bigoted acts or incidents of violence, according to Susan Seely, associate director of the Olive Tree Initiative at UC Irvine.
Hard-working, patriotic Muslims like me are feeling displaced and under attack because of our faith, Anila Ali, board president of the American Muslim Womens Empowerment Council, said in a KABC-TV/7 report. Im a Muslim. Im an American. Im a woman and Im proud of it.
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Although the meeting was held two days after President Trumps executive order temporarily banning travel to the United States for people from seven Muslim-majority countries, it had been planned before the order was signed Friday.
Representatives of UCI, the Orange County Sheriffs Department and other law enforcement agencies and members of various faith and ethnic communities were on hand to answer questions.
Speakers included Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Downing, imam Muzammil Siddiqi, rabbi Marcia Tilchin, imam Mohammed Zafarullah, Special Agent Matthew Coit of the FBIscivil rights department and Alison Edwards, deputy director of Orange County Human Relations.
The event was organized by Seely; Ali; Lisa Armony, executive director of the Rose Project of the Jewish Federation & Family Services-Orange County; and Peter Levi, regional director of the Orange County/Long Beach chapter of the Anti-Defamation League.
The event ended with songs created by Muslim, Jewish and Christian people ages 15-20 from Music in Common.
When members of the Muslim Student Union at UC Irvine saw protesters descending on international airports in cities such as Los Angeles and New York over the weekend, they began to organize their own rally to show solidarity with demonstrations nationwide against President Trumps executive order to temporarily bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
It was really inspiring seeing the protests at the airports, said Zinab Alsadek, public relations chairwoman for the Muslim Student Union at UCI. It just shows that were all on the same team, that we want to make America inclusive of all different faiths and backgrounds.
Dozens of students gathered at noon Monday for the two-hour rally, which also expressed dissatisfaction with Trumps order last week to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico.
The crowd of demonstrators grew to more than 100 after more students and also faculty members joined as the group marched through the Student Center and past Langson Library.
Chants of Let them in and No ban, no wall echoed among the marchers. A sign bearing the message Refugees, Muslims, immigrants welcome was carried toward the front of the line.
Members of Hermanos Unidos de UCI, an organization focused on increasing the retention and graduation rates of Latino males on campus, set up a carne asada quesadilla booth on the schools Ring Road area Monday for a club fundraiser. They took a break from cooking and applauded the demonstrators as they walked toward the Student Center.
Its very humbling to see this kind of support, Muslim Student Union member Selma Hassane said. Increasing awareness was an important objective of the rally, she added.
Trumps executive order Friday barred entry to the United States of immigrant and nonimmigrant nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days to ensure that adequate standards are established to prevent infiltration by foreign terrorists or criminals.
The order also suspended refugee admissions from any country for 120 days and the admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely.
A temporary stay issued by a New York federal judge on Saturday meant travelers who had been granted permission to be in the United States couldnt be deported upon re-entry, pending a permanent ruling.
On Sunday, the president issued a statement reading: To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting. This is not about religion this is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order.
My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months, the statement said. The seven countries named in the executive order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror.
Hassane said Monday that these refugees who are coming are escaping terror.
Alsadek said that while its true that not all Muslim-majority countries are involved, regardless of what country you are from, you will feel judged. That goes for anyone who looks Muslim or comes from a Muslim-majority country.
A statement posted Sunday on the Muslim Student Union website said, The Muslim Student Union stands against the many ways in which anti-Muslim and xenophobic hatred manifests itself, including hate speech and hate crimes and prejudice that targets refugees and immigrants of all backgrounds.
Kyung Hyun Kim, a UCI professor of east Asian languages and literature who immigrated to the United States from South Korea as a teenager, joined the marchers Monday.
Terrorist threats are real, but two wrongs dont make a right, Kim said. You cant oppose [terrorism] through an action that is equally despicable.
UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman released a statement Saturday saying: UCI has 154 students and scholars from these countries. ... I want to express my deep concern for our students, scholars and others who will be personally affected by this order. I agree with the statement today by the Association of American Universities that the order is already causing damage and should end as quickly as possible.
Before the demonstration ended Monday, UCI graduate Ossama Kamel, a former Muslim Student Union member, led a call to prayer.
More than a dozen people took off their shoes as they kneeled and bowed their heads to pray.
alexandra.chan@latimes.com
Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
The Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday will again consider moving forward with overnight permit parking for residential streets west of Balboa Village, between Adams Street and Island Avenue, in an attempt to free up more areas for residents to park.
The city began looking into the issue after homeowners near Balboa Village complained of parking shortages because of spillover from the commercial area. Early this year, the City Council approved permit parking for part of the commercial area but voted to leave out residential permits because few property owners had participated in a survey intended to gauge support for the program, according to a city staff report.
Since January, the city has held several meetings and sent an advisory ballot to 1,297 households, absentee property owners and mooring permit holders who would be affected by the change in parking regulations.
About 57% of the households that were mailed the survey responded. About 58% of the respondents expressed support for the program.
The advisory ballot revealed greater support for the program along blocks closer to Balboa Village, where parking conflicts are most apparent, the staff report states.
Originally, the city considered including the streets between Seventh Street and Adams Street, but based on the results of the survey, staff decided to reduce the area to streets between Island Avenue and Adams Street, according to the staff report.
If approved, permit parking would be enforced from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily. Each household could receive up to four annual permits at a cost of $16 each, plus up to six daily guest permits at a cost of $1 each.
The Balboa Village Advisory Committee, made up of city officials, business owners and residents, is recommending that the city implement the program in two phases, first issuing permits between Adams Street and Medina Way and later, if necessary, between Medina Way and Island Avenue.
In letters to the City Council, several residents supported the proposal, pointing to constant concern about the availability of parking. However, others opposed the cost of the permits.
Susan Langlie Upson, whose family has had a home on Fernando Street for 50 years, wrote in a letter to the council that she believes residents shouldnt have to pay for the permits.
Any permits to keep outsiders off our residential streets should be at no charge to residents/guests and should be convenient to obtain, she wrote. Anything else smacks of pure revenue generation and nothing more. If that is the true purpose of this program, then make the tourists buy permits and limit where they can park, not us.
The California Coastal Commission would need to sign off on the program before it could be implemented.
Tuesdays City Council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Drive.
The aroma of coffee drifted into my cabin along with the distant squawking of seagulls, but it was a gentle swaying that reminded me I was waking on a boat.
I leaped from my bunk, the first passenger to reach the sunny salon for a steaming mug, and curled up on an upper-deck sofa. There I watched seals pop up from the mirror-smooth waters, sending ripples across a pristine bay toward the mist-veiled rainforest slope.
I love cruising remote wilderness on small, working boats, and British Columbia has a roll call of them puttering along its coast and islands.
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When Vancouver, Canada-based Maple Leaf Adventures in 2015 launched cruises aboard a converted 1912 tugboat, I signed up for a seven-night adventure exploring the nooks and crannies of the mystical Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands.
The blade-shaped archipelago of more than 400 islands is off British Columbias north coast. They are home to the Haida, a First Nations people known for their rich culture and craftsmanship.
During my July trip, I wanted to walk wild beaches, hike in some of the continents most verdant rainforest, whale- and wildlife-watch and, I hoped, spot the elusive migratory tufted puffin in a region nicknamed Canadas Galapagos.
And to putter about on a tugboat called the Swell.
There is a cheerful cuteness to the Swell that reminds me of the Theodore Tugboat kids series I watched with my nephew in the 90s. But the Swell is the real deal, a grown-up, 88-foot powerhouse that worked hard for decades along British Columbias coast.
Now, after a $4-million refit, its plying those waters to the delight of a maximum of 12 guests in six elegant, wood-paneled, en-suite cabins.
Exploring Graham Island
My trip began with a flight from Vancouver to Masset, a no-frills fishing town on the top of Graham Island, the bigger of the two main Haida Gwaii (which translates as Islands of the Gwaii people).
Our group of 10 was met by Cody Waller, a local Haida Gwaii guide who led us to Old Massett, one of just two remaining Haida villages on the island.
There were once over 500 Haida communities in the islands, with a population of over 7,000, he said. In the late 1800s smallpox epidemics reduced their numbers to fewer than 700.
Haida culture, once almost lost, has revived in the last 50 years, evident by the smell of fresh cedar shavings scattered around a totem pole being created by master carver and Old Massett Mayor Jim Hart.
At Sarahs Haida Arts & Jewelry, in a stylized longhouse in Old Massett, we browsed the works of dozens of local painters, printmakers, sculptors and other artists.
We saw three sandhill cranes and a bear on the way to a picnic on pebbly Agate Beach in Naikoon Provincial Park. We picked wild thimble and salmonberries, and hiked into forests of giant Sitka spruce and cedars where cashmere moss blanketed fallen logs and fence posts.
We spent our first night ashore at the native-owned seaside Haida House near the village of Tllel. We dined on local razor clams, Dungeness crab, salmon, halibut and other local goodies.
We have a saying here, our waitress said. When the tide is out, the table is set.
The next morning we drove to Skidegate, the second Haida community on Graham Island, where, in 2008, the $26-million Haida Heritage Centre opened with a museum, amphitheater, aboriginal cafe and canoe/totem carving shed.
The complex, in a contemporary series of longhouses, lies along a crescent-shaped beach. Six totems erected in front were created by local carvers such as Bill Reid, whose monumental works are showcased throughout Vancouver and at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
By early afternoon we were chugging on a 20-minute ferry from Graham to Moresby, the second-biggest island.
After an hour on a bumpy forest logging road, we reached our launching point, where a Zodiac waited to take us to the Swell, anchored just offshore, for the wild part of our adventure.
Riding the Swell
Stepping aboard the 104-year-old Swell was a trip back in maritime history. It has also been a fishing boat, a private yacht and a live-aboard scuba boat.
After warm muffins and a warmer welcome, we pulled up two traps and counted 151 fresh spot prawns destined for dinner.
We set sail southward for a cluster of about 150 small islands accessible only by float plane and boat, most of them part of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, jointly managed by Parks Canada and the Council of the Haida Nation.
We sailed past ruins of old salmon canneries and logging operations that once clear-cut these lush rainforests.
That evening we anchored at Ikeda Cove on Moresby Island, where, in the morning, we hiked amid the mossy remnants of an early 1900s copper mine complete with rails from a horse-drawn tramway.
I kayaked every morning after breakfast, spotting sea otters, raccoons, oystercatchers, countless bald eagles, and small herds of Sitka deer munching on sea asparagus at low tide.
One day we bobbed for an hour watching a black bear Haida Gwaii has one of North Americas biggest black bear populations browse the shoreline.
Every afternoon after our shore expedition I settled into the hot tub on the upper deck with a glass of beer and listened to the gentle chug of the tug.
On our second day on the Swell a very excited Jane Taylor from Boston snagged a 15-pound lingcod that became part of that evenings Thai chowder, along with salmon and halibut caught by a guest on the previous trip.
The halibut weighed 60 pounds and the girl who caught it was only 10! chef Oliver Burke said.
In front of two longhouses on Windy Bay on Lyell Island, part of Gwaii Haanas National Park, we met Vince Collison, our first Haida Watchmen. The Watchmen spend their summers protecting their heritage and guiding at Haida sites in the park.
Collison explained that in August 2013, Haida and Parks Canada staff raised the Legacy Pole at Windy Bay.
It was the first monumental pole raised in Gwaii Haanas in 130 years, he said. It represents 20 years of the groups working together to preserve the Gwaii Haanas region.
We visited the remains of the villages of Skedans on Louise Island and Tanu on Tanu Island, where massive, fallen roof beams and poles made distinct mossy bulges on the forest floor. And we heard about the mass graves of villagers who died of smallpox.
At the abandoned Rose Harbour whaling station on Kunghit Island, where a pair of giant metal rendering drums rust on the beach, we met Gotz Hanisch, who runs a guesthouse on-site and is one of only three island residents.
In the early 20th century, he said, showing off a fin whale jawbone, baleen and flipper bones, 4,000 whales were processed here, their meat and bones reduced to fertilizer.
The highlight of the trip was the village of Ninstints on the tiny island of SGang Gwaay at the archipelagos southernmost tip.
As I walked on a mossy boardwalk through the earthy, pungent rainforest I glimpsed eyes and great, gaping mouths through the trees ahead.
Goosebumps rose on the back of my neck. One weathered totem pole after another appeared, a stacked cedar menagerie of killer whales, ravens, beavers and bears, until there was a grove of ancient columns, tilted and vulnerable. The sacred Haida site was named to UNESCOs World Heritage list in 1981.
It was hard to imagine the trip could get better. But then, as the Zodiac was taking us back to the Swell, Capt. Dave Holliss pointed.
An ungainly flock of birds had lifted off the waves, displaying chunky orange beaks and bright yellow Mohawks flapping in the wind.
Tufted puffins! we all shouted.
travel@latimes.com
If you go
THE BEST WAY TO HAIDA GWAII, CANADA
From LAX to Vancouver, Canada, Alaska, Air Canada, American, Delta, United and WestJet offer nonstop service, and Delta, Alaska, United, Air Canada and WestJet offer connecting service (change of planes). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $277, including taxes and fees. From Vancouver, Pacific Coastal Airlines flies nonstop to Masset. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $400. The flights are not included in the cruise fare.
Pacific Coastal AirlinesAir Canada
Maple Leaf Adventures, (250) 386-7245. Seven-night/eight-day excursions on the Swell to Haida Gwaii from May 23 through July 13. From $5,000 per person, double occupancy. Includes tours and one night on Graham Island as well as all meals and wine with dinner, guided activities, shore trips, permits, fees and transfers.
Maple Leaf Adventures also offers Haida Gwaii trips on a 92-foot schooner, the Maple Leaf.
TO LEARN MORE
Destination British Columbia
Northern BC Tourism
Haida Gwaii Tourism
Gwaii Haanas National Park
The president of the European Council on Tuesday branded the U.S. a threat, as the backlash against the Trump administrations stance on issues such as immigration, NATO and European sovereignty intensified across the continent.
In a harshly worded open letter to 27 European Union heads of state, Donald Tusk said worrying declarations by the new administration were helping make the EUs future highly unpredictable.
Tusk, who heads the council that defines EU priorities, said the external threat posed by the U.S. administration was among geopolitical conditions that include an assertive China, especially on the seas, Russian aggression toward Ukraine and its neighbors and anarchy in the Middle East and Africa, with radical Islam playing a major role.
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For the first time in our history, in an increasingly multipolar external world, so many are becoming openly anti-European, or Eurosceptic at best, Tusk wrote. Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy.
He called on European leaders to show courage and political solidarity.
We should remind our American friends of their own motto: United we stand, divided we fall, Tusk said.
The Tusk letter came a day after former Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliaments chief negotiator as Britain prepares to leave the EU, said during a speech at a London think tank Monday that he believes Trump is trying to encourage exit referendums in Germany and France.
My impression is we have a third front undermining the EU, and that is Donald Trump, he said.
French President Francois Hollande has called for a firm response to the new U.S. administration and a united European front, and warned Trump in a phone call Saturday against the economic and political consequences of his protectionist approach.
Faced with an unstable and uncertain world, withdrawal into oneself is a dead-end response, Hollande said in a statement issued by the Elysee Palace.
EU leaders are scheduled to gather for a summit in Malta on Friday.
The potency of Tusks letter is likely to have been fueled by fears over any deepening of ties between the U.S. and Russia as a result of Trumps election victory in November.
Tusk, a Polish politician, expressed concerns late last year that Russia was pursuing a strategy designed to weaken the EU and has supported keeping sanctions against Russia in place.
Across Europe, concerns have been mounting about how Trumps election will affect the EU, not least because Trump has referred to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as obsolete, praised Britain for voting to leave the EU and appeared to welcome the idea of other countries leaving the EU.
I believe others will leave, Trump said in a recent interview with Londons Sunday Times and German newspaper Bild. I do think keeping it together is not gonna be as easy as a lot of people think.
In Britain, where 48% of voters favored remaining part of the European Union while 52% voted to leave in the bitterly fought referendum campaign, and more than 100,000 people recently took to the streets in a series of anti-Trump womens marches, tensions have also been running high.
British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to attend only some elements of the Malta summit since Britain voted to leave the EU in the June referendum. Britain is preparing to extricate itself from the bloc and forge new trade alliances globally.
May has sought to establish a strong working relationship with Trump and last week became the first foreign leader to meet with him since his inauguration Jan. 20.
Her visit to Washington was touted as a diplomatic coup by the prime ministers office, and May stood with Trump in the White House and reaffirmed the strong special relationship that exists between the two nations, while speaking of a robust future trade deal.
She also invited Trump to a state visit hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. Hours later, the president signed an executive order temporarily banning refugees and travelers from some countries.
A petition calling for Trumps state visit to be banned because it could embarrass the queen swiftly gathered popular support and had amassed more than 1.7 million signatures by late Tuesday. The matter is to be debated in Parliament on Feb. 20.
Mays public show of solidarity with Trump and her subsequent refusal to condemn his new policies or withdraw the invitation for a state visit has been met with skepticism and some concern.
The former head of the Foreign Office and a national security advisor, Peter Ricketts, wrote a letter in the London Times on Tuesday saying that the visit should be downgraded because it puts the queen in a very difficult position and was ill-judged advice.
It would have been far wiser to wait and see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the queen to invite him, Ricketts said.
He said a possible solution could be inviting Trump for an official visit without the full pomp and ceremony of a state visit that heavily involves the monarch, and delaying the state visit until it would be viewed in a more favorable light and the queen could receive him in a celebratory, warm manner.
The queen has kept characteristically quiet about the uproar, at least in public, but her son and heir to the throne, Prince Charles, expressed his concerns during a speech at a Jewish charitys dinner Monday.
The work of World Jewish Relief enables us to rally together, to do what we can to support people practically, emotionally and spiritually, he said. Particularly at a time when the horrific lessons of the last war seem to be in increasing danger of being forgotten.
Charles, who campaigns about the environment, also reportedly plans to confront Trump over his views on climate change if they meet face to face, according to the Sunday Times.
Boyle is a special correspondent.
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For seven years, Ekram Razeqy worked alongside U.S. forces in some of Afghanistans most volatile provinces, surviving roadside bombings and Taliban ambushes as an interpreter for American troops.
Fearing he could be targeted by Taliban sympathizers when he returned to civilian life, he applied for a special visa that allows interpreters who assisted U.S. forces in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to resettle with their families in the United States. In May 2012, he sat for an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and was told to wait up to 12 months for his application to be processed.
Nearly five years later, Razeqy is still waiting for an answer one he now fears might never come because of President Trumps executive order shutting down the U.S. refugee program for 120 days and banning all citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days.
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While Afghanistan is not one of the seven countries on the list, Trumps efforts to reduce immigration, particularly from Muslim nations he perceives as security threats, have alarmed Razeqy and others who feel the Special Immigrant Visa program will be abolished or curtailed even further.
Im really worried about this, Razeqy, 33, said Sunday by phone from Kabul, where he lives with his wife and two children. I think its really, really bad news for Afghans who are still waiting for the SIV.
The executive order Trump signed Friday does not mention the SIV, intended for interpreters whose lives may be in danger because of their service to the United States. But the orders vague, sweeping language prompted mass confusion and protests at U.S. airports this weekend as authorities detained immigrants and visitors with valid visas and lawyers fought to have them released.
The Pentagon said Monday that it was working to ensure that interpreters and others who worked with the U.S. military were exempt from the ban on entry. Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, referred specifically to Iraq, which, unlike Afghanistan, is among the seven countries whose nationals are banned.
But White House spokesman Sean Spicer later pushed back against blanket exemptions.
We recognize that people have served this country, we should make sure that in those cases theyre helped out, he said. But that doesnt mean that we just give them a pass.
An Afghan national traveling on an SIV was detained briefly Friday at San Francisco International Airport while his wife and children were allowed through, said Matt Zeller, an Afghanistan veteran and founder of No One Left Behind, a nonprofit group that helps Afghan and Iraqi combat interpreters resettle in the U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers held the Afghan man for several hours because they were unclear on which nationalities were subject to the ban, Zeller said.
Hameed Khalid Darweesh, an Iraqi man who worked for U.S. forces for 10 years and obtained an SIV this month, was detained upon arrival Friday at Kennedy Airport in New York because Iraq is one of Trumps seven countries of particular concern.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit on behalf of Darweesh and another Iraqi detainee, winning a judgment late Saturday that blocked the deportation of visa holders.
Trumps order would slash the number of refugees allowed into the United States in 2017 to a maximum of 50,000 fewer than half the number allowed last year. That could significantly restrict approvals under the SIV program, which has a backlog of 13,000 applicants in Afghanistan and only 1,500 more visas available over the next four years under the latest congressional authorization.
The visa program also seems in trouble because Trumps order will prohibit immigration from countries that fail to provide adequate information to the U.S. about visa applicants. Record-keeping in Afghanistan has long been scant; many SIV applicants, for example, never obtained birth certificates.
Trumps nominee for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, is one of the harshest critics of the visa program and has argued that it should be killed.
Were profoundly concerned about what this means for U.S. national security, Zeller said. Were already starting to see previous translators express dismay at this order online and question why they ever signed up to work with us, saying they dont trust Americans.
If thats the prevailing narrative, how are we ever going to find allies in future conflicts or humanitarian situations around the world if we dont keep our word to leave no one behind?
The visa program has resettled more than 52,000 Afghan and Iraqi interpreters and family members in the United States since 2007. The program in Afghanistan was long criticized for bureaucratic delays until the State Department significantly sped up processing of the applications in 2014.
Proponents of the program say SIV recipients have put their lives on the line to assist U.S. personnel. They are among the most thoroughly vetted of visa applicants, undergoing exhaustive background checks by U.S. military and intelligence agencies that often last years not to mention the extensive screening that took place before they were hired as interpreters in the first place.
As the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan has dwindled to about 8,000, jobs for interpreters have dried up. At the same time, Taliban insurgents, who have said they will target anyone who collaborated with foreign troops, have strengthened their grip on large parts of northern and southern Afghanistan.
Many SIV applicants live in fear in Afghan cities while others have given up waiting and joined the dangerous migrant trail to Europe.
Razeqy, who is jobless, said he checks the State Department website sometimes multiple times a day for updates on his status. He and his wife spent more than $1,000 collecting the required documents, letters of recommendation and medical reports for themselves and their two children.
I send a lot of emails to the U.S. Embassy, Razeqy said. I told them: You dont know my situation. Everyone knows I was an interpreter. I cant travel easily. I cant work.
My message to President Trump is that I worked seven years faithfully for Americans, shoulder to shoulder, Razeqy said. And its not just me but there are thousands of us. Its not fair to leave us behind.
Other former interpreters have been stymied by the visa application process. Alireza Rezai, 26, said he couldnt contact his former U.S. military mentors for recommendation letters because he forgot his Facebook password and was locked out of his account. Emails he sent went unreturned.
Six years ago, Rezai was riding at the front of a U.S. Army convoy in western Afghanistan when his truck struck a roadside bomb. The soldiers and Rezai escaped without severe injuries, and the platoon leader praised the young interpreter for remaining cool under pressure.
His enthusiasm for the job is unwavering, and his professionalism is without equal, Lt. David S. Savanuck wrote in a recommendation letter Rezai collected.
I dont think Trump understands that for most of the Afghan guys who worked with the U.S., their lives are in danger, Rezai said by phone from Herat, in western Afghanistan.
Every day the security is getting worse here. So if they end this [SIV] process, I am sure that most of the guys who worked with the U.S. Army will be at risk.
shashank.bengali@latimes.com
Times staff writer W.J. Hennigan in Washington contributed to this report.
Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia
Critics of President Trumps orders to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border have called the plan immoral or question the normalcy of building a barrier against a longtime ally with which the U.S. is at peace.
It turns out that Trumps move is not so unusual. Geographers and experts on borderlands say Trumps wall is part of a growing trend of nations fencing off their neighbors even those they call friends.
Barriers for military defense are anomalies now, said Elisabeth Vallet, an adjunct professor of geography at the University of Quebec at Montreal and an expert on international border barriers. Most of them are between countries at peace. Its fencing ourselves in rather than keeping an enemy state out.
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There were very few barriers between nations at the end of World War II and just 15 in 1990, said Reece Jones, an associate professor of geography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and author of Violent Borders: Refugees and the Right to Move, which explores how borders are formed and policed. But in the last five years, 25 new walls and fences have gone up between nations, he said.
Indian Border Security Force personnel patrol the Bangladesh border at the Lankamura post in Agartala. (AFP/Getty Images)
An uptick in barrier-building occurred after the so-called Arab Spring, the series of antigovernment protests and rebellions that spread across the Middle East in early 2011, according to Vallets research. At least 70 border barriers separated nations from their neighbors as of last October, Vallet said.
Some of the latest construction includes Hungarys erection of a barrier on its border with Serbia and Croatia in 2015. Bulgaria also built a fence along the Turkish border that year and expanded it in 2016 ironic because after the fall of communism in Bulgaria in 1989, authorities took pains to tear down a wall designed to keep people in.
Construction on a British-financed 13-foot-high barrier in the French port city of Calais, aimed at preventing refugees and migrants from entering Britain, began in September. Norway started building a steel fence 660 feet long and 11 feet high at its arctic border with Russia.
And just this month, Lithuania, Turkey and Myanmar announced plans to construct barriers on their borders.
All of this construction raises walls and some fundamental questions:
Slovenian soldiers set up barbed-wire fences on the Slovenian-Croatian border near Rakovec. (STR / AFP/Getty Images)
Whats driving all this construction?
Though most barriers concrete walls, barbed-wire fences and sand berms were constructed to deter trafficking and terrorists, newer barriers aim to stop migrants.
Its more of an effort to control migration than for peacekeeping, Vallet said. Democracies are picking up on the idea of keeping people out.
Typically, the goal is to prevent people from poorer nations of the global South from entering the more wealthy and industrialized nations of the North, experts said.
What would be unusual would be to have a wall between countries that are equivalent economically, said Kenneth D. Madsen, associate professor in geography at Ohio State University at Newark. Today, the walls are really between countries that have economic discrepancies.
Barriers also are being used to send a message, not only to outsiders but to a national audience, border experts said.
During his election campaign, Trump said the U.S.-Mexico wall would be built to keep out Mexicans he described as criminals, drug dealers, rapists.
What politicians want is to communicate to the electorate that something is being done, Madsen said. Its not about stopping people; its about communicating.
Jones, the academic from Hawaii, noted that a wall symbolizes action. Its a powerful symbol of action to counter the things that people are afraid of.
Vallet said Trump was using the theory of the clash of civilizations that in the post-Cold War world, the main course of conflict will be over cultural and religious identity.
Its the fear of the other, Vallet said. The other being somebody you dont know, somebody you fear the fence being the solution.
An Iranian soldier stands guard in 2003 at a wall built to prevent drug trafficking in the Mirjaveh point where the borders of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan meet. (Behrouz Mehri / Getty Images)
But do barriers actually work?
What scholars have found is that walls and barriers seem to have very little impact, Jones said.
Countries are investing a lot of money on something you can go over, under or around, Vallet said.
Migrants are often forced to find alternative means of crossing a border, and the new routes are often more dangerous, even deadly, Jones said.
For example, in the 2000s, more than 2,000 migrants a year died trying to cross into the U.S. from Mexico, Jones said. In other parts of the world, thousands of migrants have perished trekking through deserts or on shoddy boats trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
What are the arguments for building barriers?
Countries facing tension from or in conflict with neighbors say their efforts to physically insulate themselves are justified.
Israel, for example, has built barriers in the West Bank and along its boundaries with Egypt, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Saudi Arabia has fenced itself off from Yemen and the United Arab Emirates and is working on a giant wall and ditch along its border with Iraq.
President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 28, 2017
India hopes to complete a 2,500-mile barbed-wire barrier along its border with Bangladesh this year. Last year, fearing Moscows possible move toward expansionism, the Baltic state of Estonia approved the building of a fence on its border with Russia.
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The Iranian government carried out a medium-range ballistic missile test Sunday that may be a violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution, U.S. officials said.
The launch, which took place at a site more than 130 miles east of Tehran, is Irans first real test of the Trump administration.
The missile was tracked flying southward 650 miles before exploding when its reentry vehicle failed, according to officials who werent authorized to speak publicly on intelligence.
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The missile has been tested before, officials said, most recently in July 2016.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters Monday that the administration was aware the test took place, but wouldnt provide additional information.
Were looking into that, he said. Were aware that Iran fired that missile. Were looking into the exact nature of it, and Ill try to have more for you later.
Iran was among the seven predominantly Muslim countries targeted in President Trumps controversial executive action signed Friday that blocked its citizens from entering the United States.
Christopher Harmer, a military analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, a nonpartisan public policy group in Washington, said that its impossible to know if Tehran conducted the test as a response to the presidents action, but that the test also serves as propaganda.
Iran is always working on every aspect of its missile program: better guidance, more payload capacity, and better reliability, he said. They test often so its difficult to say for sure whether this is a response to the travel ban, but the timing is suspect.
Trump, as a presidential candidate, was deeply critical of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, calling it the worst deal ever negotiated.
Iran had agreed to strict constraints on its atomic program in exchange for an end to economic sanctions that had throttled the nations economy.
U.N. Resolution 2231, passed shortly after the nuclear deal was signed, calls on Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.
The U.N. will now determine whether the launch was a violation.
Iran has repeatedly maintained that missile development is within its rights to self-defense against attack from Israel, its longtime regional adversary. The missile arsenal was never designed to be tipped with nuclear warheads, Tehran has said, therefore it should face no U.N. restrictions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a statement on his Facebook page that called the test a flagrant violation of the resolution. He added that he intended to raise the renewal of sanctions against Iran in this context and in other contexts when he meets Trump at the White House on Feb. 15.
william.hennigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @wjhenn
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At Cafe Baghdad, a gathering spot in Beirut for many Iraqis and Syrians who fled violence in their countries, the conversation Monday was of little but the U.S. travel ban.
Whats the fault of the families and children here? said 50-year-old Mounir Gerges, whose voice rose in indignation as he watched a group of his friends play dominoes.
Like other cafe patrons, he feared that more countries would adopt the same hard line as the Trump administration. A former government employee in Iraq, Gerges worried that his application to join his family in Australia would be delayed.
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The U.N. is doing nothing for us about this, he said. Its been three years with them going slow, and now this.
President Trumps executive order which blocks travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries has caused anger and resentment across the Muslim world, but nobody has felt it so sharply as Iraqis.
Their nations army has fought side-by-side with the Americans on the war against Islamist extremism. A major battle is underway right now: American forces are backing Iraqi and Kurdish fighters as they seek to drive Islamic State militants from Iraqs second-largest city, Mosul.
Iraq is on the front line of the war on terrorism, the parliaments foreign committee said in a statement Monday. It is unfair that the Iraqis are treated in this way.
In comments directed at the Trump administration, Muqtada Sadr, a powerful Shiite cleric and political leader, said on his website, It would be arrogance for you to enter freely Iraq and other countries while barring to them the entrance to your country ... and therefore you should get your nationals out.
Parliament was pressuring the Iraqi government to retaliate with measures that would do just that.
Why is it on us Iraqis? said Meshan Jboori, a lawmaker from a Sunni faction. And no Iraqi has ever conducted any terrorist attack in the U.S.
As for those Americans who are here, I think they should leave, he said. If they dont want to back down, then they should leave, yes, even the fighters. Im sure Russia will be willing to take their place and give us the support we need to defeat terrorism.
Trumps executive order, which blocks entry of all Iraqi citizens for 90 days, also includes Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also keeps out all refugees for 120 days and Syrian refugees indefinitely. Trump said it was aimed at keeping terrorists out of the country while giving the government time to strengthen its vetting procedures.
In Washington, the order left Trumps most senior Cabinet members struggling to contain the fallout. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who began work the day the order came down, was reportedly not consulted in advance about the directive.
The Pentagon, which has 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, was seeking to shield Iraqi citizens who have worked with the U.S. military from the travel ban, compiling a list of Iraqis it will recommend for exemption.
The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Douglas A. Silliman, who took up his post less than five months ago, was meeting with Iraqi lawmakers to try to stave off a vote for Iraq to respond in kind to the U.S. restrictions.
Thousands of American contractors work in Iraq. Business deals, including arms sales and energy, run into the billions of dollars. U.S. troops and diplomats have for years depended on Iraqis working alongside them, sometimes in life-or-death situations. There is close intelligence cooperation between the two countries.
Diplomatically, Iraq has so far been treading carefully. On Monday, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement asking the new U.S. administration to reconsider this wrong decision.
We affirm Iraqs desire to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, it said.
But officials and ordinary citizens alike said they found it baffling to be on a list that also included the failing or failed states of Libya and Yemen and avowed U.S. rival Iran.
Among those caught by surprise was Lukman Faily, a former ambassador to Washington, who said he would not be able to travel to the United States for upcoming conferences. He told CNN that Iraqis were astonished by the travel ban, considering it a deep affront to national pride.
Particularly galling to some was the notion that Iraqis entering the United States posed a terrorist threat, in light of the fact that few countries have been harder hit by terrorism. Suicide bombings and other attacks have killed and maimed thousands in Iraq over the last decade.
Compounding the resentment, Trump rattled Iraq with repeated assertions that the United States should have taken the oil when it toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. Experts said any move to seize oil reserves as spoils of war would have been in violation of international law, but Trump who had floated the idea during his campaign brought it up again after taking office.
We should have kept the oil, but OK, maybe well have another chance, the president said on a visit to CIA headquarters a day after being sworn in. In the Arab world, those comments helped fuel a belief in some quarters that U.S. Mideast policy is largely predicated on a wish to plunder the regions energy resources.
To many inside and outside Iraq, the travel ban posed the potential to undercut the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State, and at the very least provided a propaganda gift to jihadist supporters. Backers of Islamic State were cheering from the social-media sidelines, citing Trumps move as proof that Muslims would never be accepted by the West.
Two powerful Republican senators, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said Sunday that the presidential directive could do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security by inflaming resentments against the U.S.
We fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism, the two said in a joint statement.
Separately from the consternation in Baghdad, officials in the semiautonomous region of Kurdistan were worried as well. As Iraqi passport holders, its people fall under provisions of the travel ban. That leaves many Iraqi Kurds with U.S. ties in limbo, including students, aid workers and businesspeople.
The Kurdistan regional government, which has a separate diplomatic mission in Washington, said in a statement that it was trying to get more information from the Trump administration about the orders scope and effects.
In Lebanon, which has been a prime refuge for Iraqis hoping to travel onward to the United States or other destinations, the directive left many despondent, said Suheil Anton, a former oil engineer who has become an unofficial spokesman for displaced Iraqi families.
We thought that things would open up for Iraqis this year, since they would barely let anyone in last year, he said. But this is a betrayal of Iraqis now.
In a shabby Beirut apartment, the wife and four children of Nizar Isaac members of a minority Christian sect from a village outside Mosul had been preparing to start a new life in the United States.
They were approved for refugee visas and had planned to leave Tuesday for Michigan, reuniting with a son who had arrived in the U.S. two months earlier. Five suitcases wrapped in cellophane and two red UNICEF tote bags were ready to go.
But the travel ban dashed the familys departure hopes.
Isaac, a 52-year-old plumber, had planned to stay behind because his application was rejected. He had been distraught over the prospect of being separated from his wife and children, but that was outweighed by the desperate hope that they would find refuge in the United States.
I didnt know if I could follow them or not, he said. It was like I was getting a divorce, but I had accepted it.
Special correspondent Bulos reported from Beirut. Staff Writer Laura King contributed from Washington.
UPDATES:
7:50 p.m.: This article has been updated with reaction from Iraqis.
This article was originally published at 4:25 p.m.
Like so many Syrian refugees who have clustered together in this northern Lebanese port, where an abandoned, weed-strewn train station stands as a metaphor for dashed dreams, Abu Moussa is feeling the frustration of exile.
Unlike many people here, though, the 30-year-old vegetable vendor has no problem with President Trump and his ban on refugee admissions for Syrians.
We cant blame America, said Abu Moussa a nickname he gave for privacy reasons as he took a coffee break Tuesday at a stall next to his vegetable stand. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states arent taking anyone. Those people are Muslims and theyre not helping.
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Trump wants America first, he added. I liked him from the day he took office.
That is decidedly a minority view in Tripoli, Lebanon not to be confused with the capital of Libya where hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have arrived in recent years, hoping that it will be a springboard to a new life in Europe or the United States.
Tourists visit the Great Mosque in Tripoli, Lebanon, in 2015. (Bilal Hussein / Associated Press)
For most people here, Trumps indefinite ban on the resettlement of Syrian nationals in America (as opposed to an injunction of at least four months on six other Muslim-majority countries) was further proof that the world has all but abandoned the refugees fleeing civil war.
Trump signed an executive order on Friday halting admissions to the U.S. by citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Another order stopped all refugees from entering the country for 120 days, but it banned Syrians indefinitely.
Why are we Syrians specifically rejected?. Were now the worst scum of the Earth? The other six countries get to have their case reviewed, but not us. Were the worst, said Abdul Qader Qudr, a 52-year old Syrian former construction contractor from Tartus, a Syrian coast city a scant 40 miles up the Mediterranean coast from Tripoli.
Yes, at least give Syrians a special treatment, but not like this not special treatment for the worse.
Qudr, who had applied to emigrate to the U.S. 12 years ago to join his brothers and elderly mother in Los Angeles, had left a job in Saudi Arabia six months earlier to finalize procedures for his immigrant visa in Lebanon.
Now, he said, his dreams have evaporated.
I didnt even register with the U.N. so I wouldnt mess up my case. Theres no country that will take us now, he said. Refugees must register with the U.N. to receive assistance and temporary residency in Lebanon.
Go risk dying in the sea on a boat, youll get asylum. But try to go legally and youll get rejected every time. The stamps in my passport are like a joke, he said.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians, desperate to flee the violence of the six-year civil war ravaging their country, have opted for a risky sea passage between Turkey and Greece en route to refugee-friendly European countries, such as Germany and Sweden. The International Office of Migration recorded almost 4,000 deaths in 2015 for refugees making the Mediterranean crossing.
Large swaths of Syria have been destroyed in the punishing fight between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels who reject his rule.
About half of the countrys population has been displaced some 11 million people and of that group, about 4.8 million people have fled to neighboring countries and beyond.
Qudrs sentiment was shared by many waiting for assistance in front of the U.N.s Tripoli headquarters, located on a muddy street with fearsome potholes covered by the days rain. Its a stones throw away from the Rashid Karami International Fairground, a sprawling (and unused) installation designed in the 1960s by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. It stands as a testament to the one-time significance of Tripoli, which has been largely superseded by the capital, Beirut.
A Syrian refugee boy walks in a muddy alley at a makeshift camp near the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon, in 2013. (Ibrahim Chalhoub / AFP/Getty Images)
I wish we would qualify for anywhere and leave here, but its useless, said Saraa Merii, a 27-year old mother of three children who had come to update her refugee case file. Clutching her hand was her bashful 3-year-old daughter, Sidra, her face dominated by a grey Tom & Jerry cap.
As she spoke, Merii glanced at a woman in a hijab approaching the pool of rainwater that had formed at the entrance of the U.N. refugee agency compound. The woman teetered dangerously on high-heel sandals, one strap broken, the water lapping at her feet.
Merii had left the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib five years ago. She and her husband, a construction worker, were struggling to pay rent and feed their family. Although they failed to qualify for resettlement, she said she didnt care and wanted to return to Syria.
The whole world has been against Syrians, so what, now its only about Trump? she said with a tight smile on her face.
Lebanon, whose population before the Syrian civil war was 4.3 million according to the World Bank, has taken in 1.1 million registered refugees with an estimated 400,000 more off the books a whopping 37% increase in its overall population. (The equivalent would be more than 100 million refugees flooding the U.S.)
They have seen their assistance slashed as aid agencies, faced with funding shortfalls, struggle to handle the deluge. And though Syrians in the past made up a significant percentage of Lebanons work force, the government has placed new regulations banning them from occupying certain white-collar jobs.
Winter ends with us in debt. And people refuse to lend you more money after youve come to them once or twice, said Ibrahim Ali Baroud, a laborer who had come to register his 2-month old daughter for assistance. Rain and cold temperatures means he spends days without work.
Its all against Syrians. Look how it is here. Theres no employment, and aid is not enough to cover the basic requirements of life.
In a meeting with U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem reiterated the Syrian governments call for the Syrian refugees in the neighboring countries to return to their homeland, affirming the governments readiness to receive them and provide their requirements, according to a report by the official Syrian Arab News Agency.
Yet even among those able to go back to Syrian territories under government control, many fear being pressed into mandatory military service and dying in a battle that shows no sign of stopping.
Abu Moussa, the Trump supporter, was served coffee by Ahmad Raslan, a former Arabic teacher and journalist from Idlib, whose stall functioned as the streets ersatz corner cafe.
Its unfair. His statements and his great aggression toward Muslims dont show civility from the president of the greatest and strongest country in the world, Raslan, speaking in eloquent formal Arabic, said of Trump.
These are the words of a primitive person, not a civilized person. And he violates the principles of the U.S.
After some back and forth, a third customer, who gave his name as Abu Mohammad, got the last word in.
In the Emirates, its easier to get a visa for a Bangladeshi than a Syrian, he said before giving an exasperated wave of his hand.
For seven days, weve heard nothing but Trump. Enough.
Bulos is a special correspondent.
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The decision by Brazil Supreme Court President Carmen Lucia Rocha could lead to new revelations about the involvement of politicians and business leaders in the Lava Jato corruption scandal
French retailer is in discussions with at least four banks and could spin off the business in May, sources say
Among the 86 beautiful and talented women who represented their countries in the Miss Universe pageant, Miss France Iris Mittenaere is crowned as the Miss Universe 2016.
The 23-year-old dental surgery student impressed the judges with her excellent and authentic answers to questions. Along with bringing pride to France, Mittenaire also campaigned for dental and oral care around the world CNN reported.
The pageant ended successfully and it entertained supporters around the world. A very entertaining moment in the pageant according to Yahoo News was when Mittenaere explained to Steve Harvey that she is a cook and her speciality was beef bourguignon then she invited Harvey to try it. Harvey answered, "No, I have a wife. I can't come."
It can be recalled that last year Steve Harvey was wrong at first to announce the winner who was a Filipina, this time he joked on the show held on Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines that he got the winner right this year.
Top finalists who fought closely for the crown are First Runner-up Raquel Pelissier of Haiti, Second Runner-up Andrea Tovar of Colombia and 10 others from Kenya, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Panama, Colombia, Philippines, Canada, Brazil, Thailand and U.S. Votes were counted online from the Miss Universe app and Twitter.
The Philippines, as the host country for the pageant, immediately congratulated the winner. As the presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, people of France are rejoicing. This is truly a proud moment for their country. He also said that Iris brought tremendous joy to her people by representing France well on the international stage with her winning grace, regal bearing and inspiring answer and that Iris has won not only the nod of the judges but the affection of the entire world as well.
In the same statemen,t Abella also congratulated the Philippines representative Maria Mika Maxine Medina for making it to the top six.
Acting attorney general, Sally Q. Yates received the boot from President Donald Trump after she openly resisted to defend the newly-elected president's new executive order. She refused to rally behind Trump after he ordered the ban of refugees as well as people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States.
The New York Times reported that Yates received the order that she was fired from her position Monday. Yates served as deputy attorney general under ex-president Barrack Obama. She has betrayed the 10-day old Trump administration by saying that the Justice Department attorneys will not defend the president's orders. Meanwhile, President Trump replaced Yates with Dana J. Boente, United States attorney for Virginia's Eastern District. Boente will be acting attorney general until Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama is confirmed by Congress.
On the other hand, The Telegraph reported that Trump's immigration order is just one of his many controversial plans which will soon be revealed as his administration completely transitions. It is rumored that the new president is also considering reversing rights of LGBT which were celebrated during the previous administration. As Trump sacks acting attorney general Yates, protesters have started to gather in US cities as well as across Britain. As of today, more than 1.5 million people have signed a petition to scrape the travel ban.
Ms. Yates received a lot of backlash after she was fired. She was called "an Obama administration appointee who is weak on boarders and very weak on illegal administration." Sources said that over the weekend, Yates was anxious as to what she would respond to the president's order. Two officials said that she even considered resigning but later said that she would not want to leave her worries to her successor.
Boente was sworn as the new acting deputy attorney general even before Yates received an official letter that she was fired from her position. The letter was signed by President Trump's assistant John DeStefano and was hand-delivered at the Justice Department.
The decision was made after the animal health examiners were not able to rule out the presence of H5N8 avian influenza at a third farm in Wyre. The Food Standard Agency said that the ailment was not danger to nourish wellbeing, as they said a "pro-active extract" would occur including birds, pheasants, partridge, and ducks. General Health England said the hazard to general wellbeing from the infection was very low.
According to BBC, the beginning of outbreak was found a week ago at a farm in Wyre with 10,000 birds, comes after by a second case including a run of about 1,000 birds. The third premises would be rinsed and disinfected for additionally reducing the risk that infection can be spread to different flying animals. The examinations will proceed and the confinements are officially put on the sites will stay in force until cleansing and sterilization are done and the examination is finished.
However, the world's top exporter has been untouched by the exceptionally infectious virus that prompted to the boundless culling of birds for more than 30 million in South Korea alone. After some key bringing in countries banned poultry from contaminated countries, Brazil is relied upon to see additionally demands for its products. The avian flu outbreak is additionally uplifting news for other virus-free countries that can fill the supply gap, such as the U.S., which is the second-greatest exporter and mostly evaded contamination since the case was widened in October, as Bloomberg reported.
Nan-Dirk Mulder, an analyst at Rabobank International in Utrecht, Netherlands said that the worldwide situation has worsened since mid-December. The countries like Brazil and the U.S. will, in fact, catch a piece of the overall industry from the European Union in universal markets. As indicated by the Brazil Animal Protein Association, or ABPA, it was indeed, even without the ongoing crisis, Brazil's chicken exports will move as much as 5 percent to 4.6 million metric tons this year.
South Korea has been hit the hardest, separating around one-fifth of its chickens. China, South Africa, and Hong Kong are among the countries that are banned imports from parts of Europe, while Chile announced its first outbreak in over 10 years. However, in Brazil, the best poultry exporters suspends production visits to avoid from contamination after the government raised its bird flu alert status in December.
Recently, the archeologist found an Iron Age tomb that fashioned out overflowing treasure of gold, bronze, and amber, which revealed after lying undisturbed by the Danube River for almost 2,600 years. As indicated by researchers, the marvelous stockpile decorated and surrounded the skeleton of a lady who likely died at the age of 30 and 40, and it recommends that she was an elite individual from the Celtic society that buried her ancient southern Germany at the hill fort known as Heuneburg in 583 B.C.
Fox News reported that the nearness of a petrified sea urchin and ammonite that is a sort of wiped mollusk in the grave finds interesting, and said that the lady was a sort of a priestess. Dirk Krausse, the archeologist for the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg said that there are various graves around the lady's burial chamber that had been looted throughout the years, with a few thieves digging from tomb to tomb. Krausse added that the recently discovered grave is an extraordinary, as it is the first richly outfitted focal grave from that period.
Moreover, Live Science added that the individuals have thought about Heuneburg, an ancient hill fort close to the Danube River, for quite a long time. The Celtic city-state was likely established in the 6th century B.C., and it is imagined that even the famous Greek philosopher Herodotus as specified it while expounding on the historical background of the Danube River. However, it was not until 1950 that scientists started modern excavation of the site, which sits only north of the Alps.
Moreover, Krausse said that the style of the tip of lady's gems and chanfron coordinates that found in cultures south of the Alps, including Italy, Greece, Cyprus, and Sicily. The other excavations propose that the gold filigree was made at Heuneburg, demonstrating that artisans there were motivated by styles in cultures of the Alps. Krausse added that by knowing this new grave, it sees the setting between the area south of the Alps and this city at the Danube River.
The moment Donald Trump had sworn in as President of the United States there have been many issues that were not appreciated by other countries. Recently, U.K. had denied Trump's visit to meet Queen Elizabeth II stating that it would be an "embarrassment."
A petition on the Parliament's website had been signed not to give Trump a full state visit to the UK, the petition had gained almost 926,000 signatures in less than 48 hours. It was launched in response to Trump's order in banning people from seven major Muslim countries from travelling to the U.S., as per Business Insider.
The American President was invited for a state visit after he met the Prime Minister Theresa May in Washington D.C. However, his order on the Muslim travel ban has been the reason for his denial to enter the country.
According to Yahoo, the petition reads "Donald Trump's well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Whales." It was London's first Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan who spoke against Trump's visit.
It appears that this is not the first time Trump has been a focus of a Parliamentary petition, back in December 2015, Trump was banned from the UK when he was a Republican candidate. It was known as the most popular petition to date at that time.
As for the Prime Minister, she had received criticism from other politicians for her failure to condemn Trump's travel ban policy. She was also forced to issue a statement saying that she does not agree with the ban.
Graham Guest of Leeds started the petition and he said if Trump is photographed standing next to the Queen it will make him look like a statesman, which he is actually not. He further added that he should not come to the country at all in any capacity.
Donald Trump's presidential directive is beginning to bear fruit. One of his goals is to bring back most needed jobs in the US. Taiwan is now weighing plans to build a high-tech fully automated $7 billion display facility for the manufacturing of iPhones, tablets, and other electronic devices through Foxconn.
Nikkei Review stated that Apple has high interest to partner with Hon Hai Precision Industry Inc. or commonly identified as Foxconn, and asked the Taiwanese conglomerate to erect a $7 billion Plant facility.
The US Company needs the panels for its gadgets as well. The $7 billion automated facilities will create an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 jobs for the Americans. Much needed employment of President Trump's campaign promise to bring them back to American soil.
Foxconn has its present manufacturing facility in Zhengzhou, China. The factory produces over a 100 million units of iPhones per year, said Terry Guo, Foxconn Chairman. He added that iPhones produced in the US would probably cost more than those made in China. To balance this, Guo further reiterated to ease on land lease, electricity, and taxes.
Trump had talks with Apple CEO, Tom Cook on the $7 billion automatic plant display facility. The CEO has the capacity to make a decision to build an Apple facility. An investment of this magnitude and the jobs it will create is a presidential campaign victory Trump promised, as what Macworld has reported.
Chairman Guo talked with Masayoshi Son, Chairman of the Softbank Corporation and a close business partner. Son expressed his p reporters after a talk with Trump. Foxconn and $7 billion are in it, as reported on Bloomberg Technologies.
But there is growing concern in the ranks of the Chinese Government. The Chinese concern is the investment Shift of Foxconn away from China to the US. Foxconn is one of the biggest foreign employers in China with nearly a million jobs it provides across the nation. Losing jobs are one of the main trigger mechanisms of unrest in the society of China. Massive protests on job cuts are unnerving the country with the backlash it will create.
Jan 31, 2017, 12:25pm ET
Unionization efforts flare up at Nissan's Mississippi factory
Nissan has denied claims that workers are being mistreated and disrespected at the facility.
Nissan has issued a statement denying allegations of mistreatment from employees at its Canton, Mississippi, factory as dozens of protesters reportedly gathered not far from the company's North American headquarters in Tennessee.
Canton plant press operator Ernest Whitfield told The Tennessean workers are being "mistreated" and "spoken to disrespectfully by management," while safety conditions "aren't up to par."
"It's just a lack of dignity we're having to deal with, and we're told we're ungrateful when we say we want to unionize," he added.
Whitfield was reportedly among a group of around 70 protesters gathered in Nashville, a short drive from Nissan's HQ in Franklin, Tennessee. Some signs are said to have referenced civil rights, while others called for Nissan to "stop threatening your workers."
Nissan issued a statement claiming it has a history that values employees and respects their right to organize.
"Nissan Canton and Smyrna employees enjoy good, stable, safe jobs with some of the highest wages and strongest benefits in Mississippi and Tennessee," the company added. "The allegations being made by the union against Nissan are completely unfounded."
The United Auto Workers has attempted to organize automobile assembly plants in the South for many years. A 2014 initiative to unionize Volkswagen's Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant narrowly lost a vote and sparked a dispute between the UAW and the German automaker.
Islamabad: The Pakistani Authorities yesterday issued an order against the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief, Hafiz Saeed. He has been put under the house arrest as per the source. He is also the mastermind behind the Mumbai attack.
Also Read: 2nd IED Blast in Charaideo on Wednesday, no major injuries found
He has been house arrested in Lahore's Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji. Along with him, 4 other terrorists are also arrested. After the action taken against him, Saeed has blamed India for his arrest. He also said that India has put its efforts so that he can get arrested.
Donald Trump after becoming the United State President is also working against the terrorism. He has banned the entry of 7 Islamic Citizens in the US.
A group of protestors around Pennsylvania have a standing Tuesday date with the state's junior U.S. senator, Pat Toomey.
They don't actually meet with Toomey, or break bread with him.
Rather, what started last year as a group of activists' weekly appointment with staffers at the Republican senator's Philadelphia office has turned into "Tuesdays with Toomey," a weekly appointment at his offices around the state for residents to raise their concerns abut Toomey and his connection with President Donald Trump and his policies.
Today around lunchtime, just like previous Tuesdays, groups organized at Toomey's offices in Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
In Salisbury Township, the crowd gathered at the corner in front of the glass-clad office building off Cedar Crest Boulevard.
Some were wearing pink hats with cat ears, a reference to Trump's statements about grabbing women's genitals. Others carried signs that lambasted a number of topics: efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the travel ban from seven Muslim-majority countries and construction of a wall on the Mexico-U.S. border.
Linda Wood, president of the Kutztown Area Democratic Club, came dressed in a handmade Donald Trump head and a striped inmate costume. Toomey's Lehigh Valley office is the closest office to Wood, an artist who lives in Fleetwood.
"This president terrifies me, absolutely terrifies me," said Wood from inside the Trump head. She was holding a sign that read "Don't be conned."
Some protestors, like Wood, are concerned about the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a Obamacare.
"It's helped me tremendously," Wood said. She is self-employed, and her previous insurance plan had a $5,000 deductible.
Merrisa Stoll, wearing a surgical mask, cried as she described being diagnosed with multiple types of cancer. She carried a sign that said, "ACA saved my life."
"I have so much passion for this," said Stoll, who lives in Bethlehem Township. Stoll needs ongoing treatment and said she is part of a new clinical trial involving stem cells.
"If ACA goes away, I die," she said.
A crowd of a few hundred people gathered outside Toomey's Pittsburgh office, and dozens organized in Harrisburg.
Referring to the temporary travel ban, Gigi Williams told pennlive.com, "I want (Sen. Pat Toomey) to say 'no.' I want him to vote against it. I want him to stand up and have a spine and speak for the people of the country, not his party."
Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Hackettstown police have arrested a co-conspirator they said helped a couple rob victims by befriending them, and then taking their money.
Tyrell Durham (Courtesy photo)
Tyrell D. Durham, 22, of Edwardsville, Pa. -- the Jan. 13 Fugitive of the Week in Warren County -- was arrested Monday and was taken to the Warren County jail.
Police Sgt. Darren Tynan said Durham turned himself in.
The case began at 11:05 p.m. June 27 when Kayla Rodriguez, 20, of Scranton, Pa., allegedly called a male victim for help with car trouble in a municipal parking lot. As the victim opened the hood to check the engine, Rodriguez's boyfriend, 20-year-old Franklin L. Williams Jr., of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., approached him with a gun, police said.
Williams put the gun to the victim's back and demanded cash and his cellphone, according to police. He also demanded the victim get into the car, but the man was able to run away, police said.
Williams made off with the cellphone, valued at $250, and $800 in cash, according to police.
At 10:30 p.m. June 19, the pair are accused of committing a similar crime. This time they took along Durham, according to police.
Rodriguez in that incident allegedly forged a relationship with another male and entered his home in the 200 block of Sharp Street with an intent to rob him. Rodriguez scoped out the scene and alerted Williams and Durham to enter, police said.
Williams and Durham barged into the house, pushed the victim to the ground and punched him in the face, according to police. They then allegedly demanded money and made off with an undetermined amount of cash, police said.
In the June 19 crime, Williams is charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and aggravated assault. In the June 27 crime, Williams is charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted kidnapping, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a handgun.
Williams was arrested on Nov. 30. He was released under 24-hour medical care while he awaits a court date, police said.
Rodriguez is charged in the June 19 crime with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. She is charged in June 27 crime with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Rodriguez had been on the lam for weeks after the crime as police posted alerts asking for the public's help in finding her. After various sightings, Rodriguez was taken into custody Dec. 8 in Pennsylvania by a joint task force. She was sent to Warren County jail in lieu of $250,000.
Police on Jan. 4 put out a warrant for Durham on charges of robbery, burglary and aggravated assault. He was taken Monday to the Warren County jail. Tynan said bail was not set for Durham.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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Detectives made the arrests and seized weapons and ammunition during two undercover operations last March.
The first investigation involved officers detaining Jatinder Singh (37), who was acting as a courier transporting three Fergarmy Hungarian police and military issue 9mm self-loading handguns and 21 rounds of ammunition.
He was acting on the instructions of "Leicester group leader," Inderpaul Rura (48) and his right-hand man, Tavian Simpson (29).
Singh was driving on the M1 when he was stopped on the northbound carriageway, on March 2.
Jonathan Cox, prosecuting, said the guns are known as 'pocket pistols' because, due to their size, they are easily hidden in a coat or pocket.
The second investigation involved another "Leicester group leader," Sean Waldron (34), who arranged with Huddersfield criminal leader, Mahamed Rafiq (30), for the delivery of a lethal Skorpion vz.61 machine pistol, capable of firing 800 rounds per minute.
Waldron's right hand man during the arrangement was Konnagh Sheppard (23).
Acting on instructions from Tavian Simpson, who took part in both operations, Leicester courier, Glenn Gibbons (33) and his girlfriend Joanne Booth (41) collected the machine pistol from Rafiq's associate, Rizwan Shakoor (31) in Sheffield.
Mr Cox said Gibbons drove "like a maniac" at up to 140mph back to Leicester, on March 25.
The weapon was seized by the police on March 29 when they stopped another man in a car (who recently received a five-year jail sentence for his role ) as he was taking it to be buried at a secret location along with 25 rounds of ammunition.
It is the first fully automatic-firing weapon of its kind to have been seized in Leicestershire, said Mr Cox.
A further 19 rounds of machine pistol ammunition were recovered from a house in Leicester, where Booth had hidden it behind a loft hatch door.
Footage of an identical gun being test fired by police was shown in court, demonstrating how 20 rounds were fired in under three seconds.
Mr Cox said: "The machine pistol is a military standard weapon developed specifically for the Czechoslovakian army, in particular their special forces unit.
"It remains in use in several countries. It was designed for use in warfare."
Judge Ebraham Mooncey passing sentence said: "Each of these nine defendants have played a part in bringing into Leicester, lethal prohibited weapons and ammunition that goes with it.
"Had it not been for the assiduous work of the police and others in the investigating team, items that could cause utter misery would have been at large and at some stage used in some despicable way they aren't collectors' items.
"As Mr Cox, for the prosecution puts it, these items aren't purchased to hang over the mantelpiece."
The judge said the sentencing guidelines stated: "Anyone who buys a gun and lethal ammunition much have in mind activity to kill, maim, terrorise or intimidate."
Judge Mooncey said of the Skorpion machine pistol: "I've been shown a DVD of how such an item fires and it's not to exaggerate it to say it was very frightening so many bullets fired in such a short period of time.
"It's a very dangerous weapon."
Mr Cox told the court: "The defendants each occupied a role in extremely serious organised criminality which, but for the determined efforts of the police, would have resulted in lethal fully functioning and loaded weaponry being readily available to serious criminals in Leicester."
He quoted the Court of Appeal as saying: "The gravity of gun crime cannot be exaggerated.
"Guns kill and maim, terrorise and intimidate, that's why criminals want them.
"Too many are carried, too many are used, always with devastating effect on individual victims and with insidious and corrosive impact on the wellbeing of the local community."
In mitigation, the court heard that the defendants - who were supported by a full public gallery of friends and relatives - regretted their actions and wanted to put their offending behind them.
The judge said: "Each defendant accepts that custodial sentences are inevitable.m When they have served up to half the sentence they will be eligible for release subject to certain conditions."
Operation One
Tavian Simpson, of Redpath Close, Leicester 20 years in total (for involvement in both gun plots ).
Inderpaul Rura, of Bradgate Road, Groby, Leicestershire 14 years and four months.
Jatinder Singh, of Gifford Close, Leicester, - 11 years and two months.
All three admitted transferring the three Fergarmy pistols and ammunition, on March 2.
Operation Two
Sean Waldron, of Meadowsweet Road, Leicester - 14 years and four months.
Konnagh Sheppard, of Walcote Road, Leicester 10 years and eight months
Glenn Gibbons, of Walcote Road, Leicester nine years.
Joanne Booth, of Aikman Close, Leicester - six years and three months.
Mahamed Rafiq, of Oastler Avenue, Springwood, Huddersfield 12 years
Rizwan Shakoor, of Marlington Drive, Huddersfield, 10 years and seven months.
Waldron, Sheppard, Gibbons, Booth, and Simpson, admitted transferring a Skorpion vz.61 machine pistol and acquiring ammunition on March 25.
Rafiq and Shakoor admitted transferring the Skorpion machine pistol and transferring the ammunition.
What the police said
Detective Inspector Richard Bull, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: "All of these individuals are part of organised crime groups who have been determined to bring firearms to our county.
"We have worked tirelessly to bring them to justice and rid our streets of prohibited firearms, which could be used in criminal activity.
"While this is a significant prosecution I would like to reassure the local community that gun crime is a relatively rare occurrence on the streets of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, but that does not make us complacent.
"We will continue to tackle individuals such as these who could cause hurt, alarm and distress."
The focus is on Laois TD and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Charles Flanagan this week as he travels to Washington DC for a 3 day visit.
The Portlaoise based Minister will undertake a number of business engagements, as well a number of meetings with Congressional leaders. The visit is being seen as a crucial first official engagement with US officials and politicians since President Donald Trump took over at the White House.
This visit is an important opportunity to meet with US Congressional leaders and to have an exchange of views with on matters of common interest and concern between Ireland and the United States. I am also looking forward to meeting with members of the Irish business community in the Washington, DC, area, he said.
The Minister will address the AGM of the Irish Network DC. This a professional networking organisation for Irish, Irish-Americans and friends of Ireland in the Washington metro area.
On Wednesday, 1 February, the Minister will hold a series of meeting with US Congressional leaders, both Republican and Democrat. This includes meetings with US House Speaker, Paul Ryan, House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi. The Minister will also meet with members of the bi-partisan Congressional Friends of Ireland group.
My meetings with senior political leaders on Capitol Hill provide an opportunity for me to discuss a range of issues of interest and concern to Ireland and the US, including: on-going US support for the Peace Process; Irelands approach to Brexit; the prospects for immigration reform, as well as recent immigration related measures announced by the US; and economic links between Ireland and the US, said the Mountmellick native.
In regard to immigration, these contacts will provide an opportunity for the Minister to convey the Governments concern in regard to the recent announcements by the US Administration which impact on undocumented Irish citizens in the US and, more widely, on citizens of certain designated States.
On Thursday, 2 February, the Minister has a number of engagements with representatives of Irish, US and international media outlets based in Washington.
At least 500 people had to be accommodated on A&E trollies or on wards at Portlaoise hospital this month, as staff were stretched to breaking point in their battle to care for patients.
While pressure for space at Portlaoise hospital began to ease in the last days of the month for the first time since before Christmas, the overall picture for January is of a hospital under siege.
Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) daily trolley and ward watch figures show that the total of sick patients left waiting at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise totalled 466 patients to January 30.
A quarter of these were accommodated on wards, until a bed was free. However, the majority had to wait on a trolley in the Emergency Department (A&E/ED).
The total number left waiting in January is likely to exceed the 466 mark as weekends were not factored in.
The busiest day of the month in Portlaoise was January 3 when 42 people were waiting - 24 people were on A&E trollies that day. More trollies were used in Portlaoise during the month than other bigger hospitals in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
While the pressure has began to reduce, the escalation policy is still activate at the hospital at the start of this week because there were more than a dozen people on trollies in the A&E.
INMO figures showed that there were 16 people on trollies at the Midland Region Hospital, Portlaoise on Monday, January 30,
The number was up slightly on the previous Friday's figure when just 10 patients were on trollies in the A&E.
The situation began to stablise from last Thursday onwards. Before that there were 26 patients on trollies or on wards on Wednesday and 27 people waiting on trollies or wards on Tuesday. There was the same number of people waiting to be admitted on Monday.
However, while pressure eased in Portlaoise, the trolley count remained high in on other hospitals where Laois patients are referred to or can choose, if Portlaoise is not suitable.
During January, the Minister for Health, Simon Harris visited, but he did not see the A&E department. Some 19 patients were on trollies on the day he arrived.
Minister Harris was in Portlaoise to listen to the views of politicians on the future of the hospital and whether it would be downgraded with the loss of its A&E.
He said no decision had been reached and added that the dogs in the street knew that other hospitals could not cope if any hospital A&E were to close.
A Laois TD has taken a housing body to task over its intentions for unfinished homes in Mountrath, but the agency insists that they will be available for Laois County Council tenants this year.
Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley demanded action on Cluainin Estate, Mountrath which he said had been left vacant.
Three years after the Oaklee Housing Association bought the houses, which were to house some of those on the Councils waiting list, not one bit of work has been done to prepare them for occupancy, he said.
Deputy Stanley said it is two years since approval was given to use them for social housing with Laois County Councils nominating tenants and paying an annual rental subvention to Oaklee.
There is a growing waiting list for housing in Mountrath, with over 100 households in need of housing in the area, yet these fine three bedroomed semi-detached houses lie vacant, he said.
The TD, who raised the issue in the Dail, claimed a modest amount of work is needed to have them ready for occupancy.
While there has been a small amount of damage caused by vandalism, this should in no way prevent their speedy completion, he said.
In a statement to the Leinster Express, Oaklee reject the TD's claims. It said it purchased the 11 properties located in Cluainin Estate, Mountrath in November 2015, as part of a receiver sale.
Following the purchase of the units, an architect was appointed to oversee the completion, and detailed inspections revealed a number of critical issues with the 'as constructed' timber frame units.
The delay in allocating these properties is unfortunate, however, Oaklee must ensure tenant safety and compliance with the building control legislation. Laois County Council has been kept informed of the issues with this development throughout 2016 and we anticipate work on the units will be completed in June 2017 when we look forward to welcoming new tenants, said Oaklee.
Oaklee said it has delivered 200 units in the last 18 months in Ireland as part of addressing critical housing need.
Deputy Stanley said the response was belated.
Oaklee Housing is a registered charity and they have carried out no work to complete these houses either prior to this date or at any time since.
In fact the only work they have done is to erect a security fence across the roadway in the estate and the car parking area. This has prevented the public areas of the estate being completed and taken in charge by the Council as there are road markings and parking bays still to be marked.
Oaklee has dragged their heels with these social houses while the housing situation in Mountrath continues to become more critical, he said.
He said what has happened in Cluainin raises serious questions over Government policy of farming out the responsibility for providing social housing to Housing Associations.
He said it was 'bad policy' that councils have been 'side lined' and their only role is to nominate tenants.
I
Three brothers were among four men arrested on Saturday night in a major Garda operation.
Gardai from Naas, Kildare and Portlaoise combined to mount an operation in the Robertstown between 8am and 9pm throughout Saturday.
And the four men, all locals, were arrested and questioned initially before appearing at a special sitting of Naas District Court on Sunday, January 29.
Judge Grainne ONeill presided at the sitting which saw brothers Anthony, Jordan and Stuart Wyse, with an address listed as Derrymullen, Allenwood, charged with possession of certain items namely a hammer, bolt cutters and a pair of gloves which could be used in the commission of a burglary.
A fourth man, Henry Cahill, with addresses listed as 3522 Bishopsland, Kildare town, 2511 Conroy park, Kilcullen, and 32 Emerson Park, Prosperous, faces several charges of burglary at a variety of locations.
Jordan Wyse, Stuart Wyse and Mr Cahill were remanded in custody in Cloverhill Prison, to appear back before Naas District Court on Thursday of this week, February 2.
Meanwhile Anthony Wyse was released by Judge ONeill on bail to appear at Naas District Court tomorrow, Wednesday, February 1.
He was granted bail subject to several conditions that he sign on at Naas Garda Station and that he obey a curfew.
A .1% dividend was offered to Rathangan Credit Union members at last nights 46th AGM with the local branch achieving 16m in assets, 4m in loans and a membership of 3,438.
A loan interest rebate of 0% was also approved. In 2015, a .25% dividend and a 2.5% interest rebate was put in place.
Auditor, Michael Casey of Byrne Casey & Associates said; Over 16m went through the accounts during the year, thats 300,000 a week. Its so busy, and such an important entity for Rathangan and the district.
Chairperson, George Hipwell told the 90 members, staff and volunteers in attendance that the AGM had been delayed until after Christmas due to a new accounting system. He said far more detailed information had to be approved by the Central Bank, which were swamped with accounts from Credit Unions all over the country leading to a backlog.
This year, despite the external challenges and an uncertain landscape, we can be proud of our positive achievements ie: growth in membership, growth in savings, growth in our loan book, payment of a dividend, prudent investments, success in the collection of bad debts, adequate provision of funding for future loans and assets of 16m, he said.
He also paid tribute to founder member Bill Kiernan, who was in attending his 46th AGM. Local man, Willie Champ, who was absent through illness, was also wished well in his recovery. Mr Hipwell also praised Mary Martin, who had retired during the year, describing her as a wizard with figures with a memory to match.
Concerns were expressed by two of the attendees about dividend. They said they felt more should be given back to members if the Credit Union had 16m in assets and was doing well.
Mr Casey outlined the nature of the assets, highlighting 10m was effectively tied up in cash and 4m in loans, while the remainder was in fixed assets. He also pointed out the return on investments had dropped in value. Manager, Grainne Forde stressed the branch also pays for the savings insurance and death benefit for members.
The members were informed the number of new loans grew by 107 to 730 in 2016 totaling 2.09m - an increase of 489,303 on the previous year. Mr Hipwell said loans were the life blood of the organisation. One hundred new members joined up in 2016.
Chapter 7 chairman, Frank Cronin complemented the Credit Union on its building, which was completed in 2011 and said it was a huge achievement for a small Credit Union.
Ciaran Bishop from the Irish League of Credit Unions recalled visiting Rathangan as a field officer where he used to liaise with the late Maddie Keanan. He said it was a credit to the board the Credit Union was in such a position.
Manager, Grainne Ford announced the winners of the art competition with Abbie Hilliard, Isabelle Clarke, Nora McIntyre, Niamh Gorey and Tessie Gleeson all topping their individual categories.
The recipients of the PJ Kelly Bursary for 2016 were Sinead Byrne, Pat Kelly, William Dunne and Daniel McAvinney. Rathangan Boys school won the recent schools quiz in the A and B section followed by Bunscoil Bhride in second.
It was agreed by the members to donate 1,500 to Rathangan Parish Welfare and 500 to third world charity.
I didnt join the Liberal Democrats in order (to use David Camerons phrase) to bang on about Europe. My main pre-occupation was building communities and quality public services.
I have met colleagues in the party though for whom this was the big thing that brought them into politics and for whom any tinge of Euro-scepticism smelt of heresy; any suggestion that the European project was going off the rails was unspeakable back-sliding.
This sensitivity always struck me as odd but as something to be aware of rather than to react to.
Liberals have always been internationalist and for free trade, peace and prosperity, but also for devolving power as far as possible. The EU could seem pointlessly prescriptive at times and any version of free trade that involves something as clunky as the Common Agricultural Policy has at least to be up for debate.
There was always a gap between what Liberals wanted from the EU and what they got. It therefore seemed to me reverse engineering to suggest as Jeremy Hardy did scathingly on the News Quiz that the test of whether you were a Liberal was how keen you were on the EU.
Now, however, I accept that I am doomed by some horrid quirk of fate to spend the rest of my political life banging on about Europe. I used to take a wholly irrational pride in never having seen The Sound of Music no small feat when you consider its on TV every Christmas and so its the political equivalent for me of having to sing The Hills are alive etc morning, noon and night.
To save a little time you can see me doing it here:
There is though something that has sharpened my view. The choice on the EU was or should never have been carry on regardless, but reform or reject. Some on both sides of the Brexit vote despaired of reform, however, and made a calculated, on balance decision. Others, however, quite consciously turned their back on internationalism, free trade and co-operation across national boundaries many out of fear, some out of suspicion, a few out of actual enmity. The same drivers drew American voters to Trump.
Its not always stupid to be fearful or suspicious and there are things that you definitely should hate but when political success is built around demonising the other and making your nation great (albeit more selfish) the world is heading for trouble.
Brexit symbolises a withdrawal from Pan-European co-operation in favour of pursuing enlightened self-interest elsewhere. On one level that may just be economically foolish but on another level it clearly plays to a little-Englander mentality that will serve us ill and has historically held us back in so many ways.
I guess we are at a historic juncture. That great internationalist Dag Hammarskjold, Secretary General of the UN, referring to the Zoroastian battle between good and evil said
On the field where Ormuzd has challenged Ahriman to battle, he who chases away the dogs is wasting his time
Banging on about Europe (and internationalism) is maybe what one has to do
* John Pugh was Liberal Democrat MP for Southport until 2017 and was elected as a Councillor for the Dukes ward of Sefton Borough Council on 2 November 2017.
A packed lecture theatre in St Jamess Square, London, was the setting for this years Isaiah Berlin Lecture, hosted by Chatham House and introduced by Liberal International President, Dr Juli Minoves. Tickets had been swallowed up within three hours of becoming available in anticipation of a typically robust contribution from the recently appointed negotiator for the European Parliament, and Guy Verhofstadt didnt disappoint.
Against a backdrop of unprecedented threats to the stability of the European Union, he set out his vision for the future of the political order in Europe.
He believes that Europe is under a triple threat of radicalised political Islam through terrorism, from Vladimir Putins Russia through cyber attacks and the financing of extremist parties, and from Donald Trumps America, given his expressed desire for a fragmentation of the European Union. The European Union has fewer friends than at any time in recent history.
And how do we avoid the disintegration of the European Union? He acknowledges that it has problems, multiple crises of migration, terrorism, geopolitical weakness, the economies of Southern Europe. It acts too little, too late.
He gave the example of the response to the 2008 financial crisis. The Americans cleaned up their banking sector and took all the necessary steps to secure the economy in just nine months. Europe is still talking about it. The American taxpayer has already been recompensed for the cost of the rescue.
Europe has a half-complete banking union and inadequate political institutions. Perhaps, he mused, the European Union doesnt really exist, but is simply a loose confederation of twenty-eight European states. As he explained, if you have weak institutions, you will not have good policies and resulting poor economic performance (a point that is true both in politics and in political parties). And, with the unanimity rule at European Council level, you cannot have effective decision making.
In cantering through a brief history of the European institutions, he pointed out that the Treaty of Rome had simply created a customs union, due to French diffidence about the project. As a result, the institutions have been playing catch-up with the politics ever since.
Europe does things the wrong way round, passing Schengen and then thinking about a Coastguard and Border Agency, creating a common currency without a treasury. The institutions matter.
I was particularly intrigued to hear that Europe spends the equivalent 42% of the American defence budget but has only 12% of the capacity because each country duplicates the efforts of its neighbours. Co-operation is localised, not Europe-wide, and he was clear that we need to address this, through a European Defence Union which would complement, not compete with, NATO.
He did have a potentially positive sense that people believe that Europe should do all sorts of things, but not the way that they are done now. More than 70% of European citizens believe, in twelve of thirteen fields polled, that Europe should do more. We need to find a way of delivering these things by having a better Europe, a Europe that can defend itself and its values.
In a final rallying call, he said that we cannot retreat to nationalism and national identity. Nationalism was a European invention, but proved to be a disaster when it became a conduit for the politics of ethnicity. Too many people died for nationalism for it to be the answer. It was, he concluded, the most stupid thing you can do, and you play with fire if you return to it.
All in all, it was a lecture that would be unfamiliar to those whose only image of Guy Verhofstadt is that of the fanatical federalist so alarming to our somewhat rabid press corps. He believes that, for Europe to work, it needs to change and change radically. He isnt alone
* Mark Valladares is a member of the Partys International Relations Committee.
Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled amendments to the Article 50 Bill demanding a peoples vote is held on the final Brexit deal, that the government must commit to securing Britains membership of the Single Market and that EU nationals living in the UK are guaranteed the right to remain.
The first requires a referendum on the final deal, the alternative being to remain a member of the EU. This is the reality v reality referendum, as opposed to the reality v fantasy that we had. It doesnt address the question of whether Article 50 is unilaterally revokable if it turns out not to be, the EU would have to agree to our remaining members.
NC 131 Referendum on the proposed new agreement with the EU (1) A referendum is to be held on whether the United Kingdom should approve the United Kingdom and Gibraltar exit package proposed by HM Government at conclusion of the negotiations triggered by Article 50(2) for withdrawal from the European Union or remain a member of the European Union.
(2) The Secretary of State must, by regulations, appoint the day on which the referendum is to be held.
(3) The question that is to appear on the ballot papers is Do you support the Governments proposed new agreement between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar and the European Union or Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?
(4) The Secretary of State may make regulations by statutory instrument on the conduct of the referendum.
The second demands the government adopt a policy of seeking to remain in the Single Market. Weve yet to hear from those who want us to diverge from Single Market rules and erect non-tariff barriers to trade, exactly which rules they want divergence from and how the new barriers to trade would do any good. With nothing to be achieved by erecting trade barriers, we should keep them down.
NC 133 Single Market This Act does not come into force until the Prime Minister has certified that it is the policy of Her Majestys Government that on leaving the European Union the United Kingdom should as soon as possible accede to the European Economic Area Agreement as a non-EU party.
The third demands that EU citizens currently lawfully resident in the UK keep their right to remain in the UK.
NC 136 Right of EU nationals to remain Effect of notification of withdrawal Nothing in this Act shall affect the continuation of those rights of residence enjoyed by EU citizens lawfully resident in the United Kingdom and UK citizens lawfully resident in the EU on 23 June 2016 after the United Kingdoms withdrawal from the European Union.
There is a pdf of all the tabled amendments here. Will parliament assert itself successfully, now that control has been taken back?
Nick Clegg commented
Today, the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies has slated the governments plans for creating three million apprenticeships on the back of a 2.4 billion tax on business as, a considerable risk to the efficient use of public money. The IFS is warning of an expensive blunder in the making. Government does not look like it is listening.
Then we have the Home Affairs Select Committee calling much of the housing provided for refugees, a disgrace. Add that piece of inhumane incompetence to the epidemics of violence and suicide in our prisons. Or how about the cries of anguish coming from head teachers faced with slashed budgets imposed by ever-deeper austerity at the same time as rising expectations created by Mrs Mays rhetoric that shes on the side of the left behind.
Early in January, the organiser of the worlds leading trade show of its kind, the Consumer Electronics Show, said in Las Vegas that the UK governments lack of support for technology start ups is, a source of embarrassment.
Shall we do more Tory incompetence? How about the handling of the whole Brexit matter that has left people, businesses and universities in limbo for six months now and more to come? How about the ineptitude manifested by the way the small matter of a wayward rocket from a British nuclear submarine was handled?
Of course, the biggest blunder of all is the governments incompetence in handling the whole business of Donald Trump and the State visit. Anyone with half an ounce of experience of public affairs and public relations could have told Mrs May that inviting such an unpopular figure to meet the Queen so early in his term was to invite trouble.
Mr Trumps inept handling of his awful immigration policy has now added great fuel to the fire. When Mr Trump gets here we can expect central London to be bursting at the seams with people showing their disapproval of him and his world view. The Queen is now centre stage in this controversy and the British people wont like that.
Its all adding up to a government that thinks its smart, efficient and in control, but in fact its not. Its perhaps time that we added government incompetence to our LibDem armoury. Lets tell the public about every failing. Lets show that Mrs Mays administration and leadership is not good enough. Lets be the opposition Labour is failing to be. Voters can forgive many things, but if time after time a government is shown to be incompetent the voters will eventually say enough is enough.
* Martin Roche is a member of Canterbury Liberal Democrats
THREE retiring teachers in east Limerick have been thanked for moulding thousands of pupils in their long careers.
The local branch of the INTO held a function in the Castletroy Park Hotel to mark the retirements of Antoinette Darcy, Scoil Chaitriona,Cappamore; Margaret Moynihan, Caherelly NS and Br James Dormer, Doon CBS. They were joined by colleagues, friends and INTO members.
Emma Dineen, ex-president of the INTO, praised their dedication to the children in their care and made a presentation to each one. Ann Horan, Limerick and Kerry INTO representative, spoke of the contribution the three teachers had made inside and outside of the classroom.
These teachers have seen many changes since they set out on their careers. However, they have devoted themselves to providing the highest standards in an ever-changing world, said Ms Horan.
Ms Darcy started in Tineteriffe NS, Cappamore in 1978. She taught junior infants, senior infants, first and second classes. Her Friday raffles have gone down in history and grown men have been known to come over all nostalgic when those raffles are mentioned. Wasnt it an amazing coincidence that lady luck smiled on every child in the class!
In 1999, Ms Darcy became one of the first resource teachers in the country in the Convent School, now Scoil Chaitriona, Cappamore. In 2009, she trained as a reading recovery teacher which was perfect for someone with a passion for reading.
Ms Darcys wonderful sense of humour, witty words and listening ear are what those lucky enough to have been taught by her, and her colleagues, will remember.
Br Dormer was the last Christian Brother teaching in County Limerick. At the time of his retirement he was the longest serving teacher in the country with 46 years completed.
Born in Dublin, his first post was in Wexford in 1970. In 1974, Br Dormer began teaching in CBS Sexton St and though he finished there in 1980 he was an ever-present figure sitting on a wide range of boards and assisting in a vast array of positions. In 1980, he was appointed principal of Lismore CBS. After 13 years it was back to Limerick and Doon.
Br Dormer fostered the education of the local boys in religion and hurling, as well as the curricular subjects. He will be gone but in no way forgotten as the example he set through his teachings has moulded the lives of thousands.
Ms Moynihans first role was in her alma mater Presentation Convent School in Sexton Street in 1977.
After 23 years in the city she moved to Caherelly NS. Ms Moynihan embraced every new technological advance with enthusiasm and set high standards of academic achievement for herself and her pupils.
Yet, a lifelong love of traditional music, sport and history, resulted in a well-balanced approach enabling pupils of all interests and abilities to experience success. Ms Moynihan is held in the highest of regard by parents and pupils.
UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick has been experiencing major overcrowding this week, according to figures published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation this Tuesday afternoon.
According to the daily report, there were 45 patients being treated on trolleys in the emergency department and on additional trolleys and beds in the wards at the Dooradoyle facility.
It has the second highest rate of overcrowding this Tuesday, behind Cork University Hospital, which has 48 patients being treated on trolleys. UHL had the worst rate of overcrowding on Monday morning, with 40 patients on trolleys.
This high level of overcrowding comes after the announcement that 36 beds were to be opened between St Johns Hospital, Ennis and Nenagh hospitals. Senator Kieran ODonnell said that these extra beds will help alleviate the A&E crisis" present at UHL.
A state-of-the-art emergency department is expected to open this May, subject to a successful recruitment campaign and HSE funding. It will be three times the size of the current facility, and is expected to improve the patient and staff experience at the hospital, a spoeksperson for the UL Hospitals Group said.
IMMINENT plans to erect a memorial in honour of one Limerick's most famous and beloved sons, Sir Terry Wogan, will proceed shortly, it has been confirmed on the first anniversary of his passing.
The Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Kieran O'Hanlon, confirmed to the Limerick Leader, that plans to erect a statue in honour of the BBC broadcasting legend who died this day last year aged 77 will be drawn up in the coming weeks, following agreement with his family in the UK.
Mayor O'Hanlon said it was his intention to erect a sculpture, estimated to cost in the region of 50,000, on lower Thomas Street, linking with O'Connell Street.
The Fianna Fail leader of the council said he felt this would add to the area due to the planned 9m pedestrianisation of the city's main thoroughfare by 2019.
He outlined that his idea is to have a statue of Wogan sitting casually on a bench, with a microphone in hand, as if about to interview someone, which he feels would invite his countless number of fans to sit alongside the bronze sculpture and pose for photographs.
"Sir Terry was loved and adored throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and never forgot where he came from, said the Mayor.
He was a wonderful ambassador for Ireland and Limerick. He was proud to be from Limerick, and to be an Irishman in Britain at a time when it was hard, during the IRA bombings.
"I have spoken to his family about the plans and will be in consultation with them again over the coming weeks," he said, adding that the piece could prove to be a tourist draw.
"If we could get even one per cent of his six million listeners to Limerick that would be fantastic. For his army of followers, it would be a pilgrimage they would have to make. We honoured him in life, we should likewise do it in his passing, said Mayor OHanlon.
He has invited the public to submit ideas and make proposals regarding the memorial in the next few weeks to mayor@limerick.ie.
He said these will help inform prospective artists' impressions of the sculpture, which have yet to be drawn up.
Labour councillor Joe Leddin, who was mayor when Wogan received the Freedom of Limerick in 2007, endorsed the idea, but said he believed the proposals should go forward for full public consultation, to avoid mistakes made in the past regarding other memorials in Limerick.
Situated on Bedford Row, opposite the proposed site for Sir Terry's memorial, is the statue of the twice Oscar-nominated actor Richard Harris, which drew severe criticism at the time of its unveiling.
That piece, which cost 150,000, depicts him in his role as King Arthur from Camelot.
The renowned Limerick artist John Shinnors was among those who criticised the 'pint-sized' sculpture of the giant of the silver screen, describing it as "touristy kitsch; an opportunity lost, an opportunity that was thrown away".
"We have to honour Terry Wogan," said Cllr Leddin. He was a broadcasting legend, the likes of whom I don't think we'll ever see again.
"I think everyone would be in agreement with honouring him, but it's a question of what we do, and it would have to be done in consultation with his family," said Cllr Leddin.
He added that the monument of the Limerick dockers on Howley's Quay should serve as a more fitting example of what can be achieved in an honorable and realistic portrayal of those who have made a major contribution to Limerick life.
Limerick based solicitor and RTE DJ Will Leahy was among those to pay tribute to Sir Terry on the anniversary of his passing.
He wrote online yesterday: "He probably won't get any mentions in the same way Bowie's first anniversary did, but tomorrow is the first anniversary of the passing of Terry Wogan. Proud Limerickman and one of the true greats in broadcasting."
THE FORMER chief executive of Shannon Airport has voiced his opposition to any potential removal of US pre-clearance facilities in the Mid-West's gateway to America, following widespread condemnation of US President Donald Trump's anti-immigration policy.
Speaking on RTEs Today with Sean ORourke, Neil Pakey, the former CEO at Shannon Airport, said that the pre-clearance facilities in Shannon and in Dublin were of "massive strategic importance for Ireland" and "a unique selling point for business in the region.
Both airports increased their service to the US as a result of the pre clearance centres, he said.
Shannon and Dublin are the envy of airports across Europe. It does make Ireland more competitive, said Mr Pakey.
Mr Pakey added that the pre-clearance agreement was legal, and whilst acknowledging that no other airports in Europe have pre clearance facilities, he said some 10 European airports were in negotiations for these facilities.
My fear is that if Ireland stops the pre clearance service then the others will step in, he added.
There have been widespread calls in recent days for both pre clearance facilities to be reviewed in light of President Trumps order that halted the entire US refugee programme for 120 days, indefinitely banned refugees from Syria, and blocked entry for 90 days for citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he had asked for a complete review of the US pre-clearance facilities in Ireland.
Doras Luimni, the Limerick-based support group for all migrants living in the Mid-West, and an advocate for human rights, said to its knowledge no one has been detained at Shannon and prevented from travelling on to the US following the ban.
We have been in contact with the authorities at Shannon Airport and they informed us that, as yet, there are no persons there affected by the ban," said Leonie Kerins, director of Doras Luimni.
"We have informed the airport that we are happy to assist anyone who may be affected and can do so by providing legal information and advice on immigration. We will support anyone who this ban applies to and in whatever way we can," said Ms Kerins.
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has said that the operation of US immigration pre-clearance at Irish airports must be urgently reviewed, after experts in human rights law warned the application at Irish airports of the US ban on people from seven mainly Muslim countries may be illegal.
The Shannon Watch group will hold a protest at the airport this Thursday, February 2, at 6pm.
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After President Donald Trump signed an executive order restricting immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk turned to Twitter to voice his frustrations.
The billionaire entrepreneur usually abstains from making his political opinions known, especially on social media, with the exception of the occasional shout-out to climate science. However, it seems that Trump's anti-immigrant sentiment struck a nerve this time.
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Trump's executive order, which he signed Friday (Jan. 27), suspends immigration of refugees from war-torn countries around the world for 120 days while indefinitely barring everyone in Syria from entering the United States regardless of immigration status. People in six additional countries with Muslim-majority populations are also banned from the U.S. for 90 days.
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On Saturday (Jan. 28), one day after Trump signed the executive order, Musk began to tweet his thoughts on the new immigration restrictions. He wrote that the executive action "is not the best way to address the country's challenges," and pointed out that many people are unfairly affected by the policy.
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To combat the new order without outright rejecting it, Musk has asked his Twitter followers to read the full text of the executive order and come up with ideas to amend it. While several of his followers called for a repeal, Musk who became an adviser to Trump in December, feels that an amendment would be more feasible.
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Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Protesters demonstrate against the immigration ban that was imposed by President Donald Trump at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 29, 2017.
A controversial executive order enacted by President Donald Trump over the weekend immediately barred some refugees and immigrants from entering the United States, triggering confusion and outrage across the country, including from within the scientific community.
Known colloquially as a "Muslim ban," the executive order, signed on Friday (Jan. 27), suspended the country's entire refugee admissions system for 120 days, and specifically suspended the Syrian refugee program indefinitely. The order also temporarily stopped citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen countries with predominantly Muslim populations from entering the country.
Over the weekend, travelers from these countries were detained at airports across the country, prompting thousands of protesters to gather outside airports to voice their disapproval of the ban. [10 Historically Significant Political Protests]
Since the executive order was signed, many members of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) community have voiced their concern over the ban, which could restrict international research collaborations and attendance at major science conferences in the U.S. The following is a collection of official statements and social media posts from science and technology leaders:
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, asked his followers on Twitter for specific amendments to the executive order that he will present to Trump.
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Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, responded to the ban in a memo to the company's staff, as reported by Bloomberg. Pichai said that more than 100 staff members at the company are affected by the order, and the CEO recalled staff to the U.S. after the order was signed.
"Its painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues," Pichai wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by Bloomberg. "Weve always made our view on immigration issues known publicly and will continue to do so."
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who was born in India and moved to the U.S. to study computer science, wrote in a post on LinkedIn (opens in new tab) that the tech company supports broader immigration opportunities.
"As an immigrant and as a CEO, Ive both experienced and seen the positive impact that immigration has on our company, for the country, and for the world," Nadella said. "We will continue to advocate on this important topic."
Another Silicon Valley company made waves with its response to the ban, causing the hashtag #DeleteUber to trend on Twitter. In a show of support for the protesters gathered at airports, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance called for drivers to avoid John F. Kennedy International Airport between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET on Saturday (Jan. 28). However, Uber took a different approach and announced that it was lowering prices by eliminating "surge pricing" on rides around JFK Airport. People on social media took the app's surge-pricing announcement either as an act of support for the executive order, or as an attempt to profit from it. In response, #DeleteUber became popular on Twitter, with users sharing screenshots of them deleting the app from their phones.
In contrast, Uber's ride-share competitor Lyft pledged to donate $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union, a civil rights group that is fighting the ban in court.
Scientists have already begun to organize against the immigration policy. A petition denouncing the order was signed by more than 12,000 researchers including 44 Nobel laureates.
Ken Kimmell, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said in a statement that the executive order's targeting of Muslims and refugees is "un-American and inhumane."
"America's economy and particularly our scientific enterprise has always benefited from the contributions of immigrants and refugees," Kimmell said. "Turning our back on those in need doesn't just violate our values as Americans it leaves our country worse off."
A spokesperson for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) also spoke out against the ban. AAAS CEO Rush Holt said in a statement that it is necessary to allow scientists and students from around the globe into the U.S.
"Scientific progress depends on openness, transparency, and the free flow of ideas," Holt said. "The United States has always attracted and benefited from international scientific talent because of these principles."
Universities across the U.S. have also called on the administration to end the ban. In a statement, Mary Sue Coleman, president of the Association of American Universities, said that the executive order is already causing damage, stranding students who have been approved to study in the U.S. (Initially the ban also applied to people with valid visas or green cards, but a federal judge in New York ruled that citizens of the seven countries who hold valid visas and have already arrived in the U.S. cannot be removed from the country.)
"It is vital to our economy and the national interest that we continue to attract the best students, scientists, engineers, and scholars," Coleman said.
Individual scientists have also spoken out against the ban, with some announcing that they wont be attending conferences because the executive order bans colleagues. For instance, Anna Watts, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Amsterdam, tweeted that she declined an invitation to help organize a meeting in the U.S. because of the ban.
Similarly, Megan MacKenzie, a professor of international relations at the University of Sydney, asked on Twitter if traveling to the U.S. for a conference is ethical when it can no longer be inclusive.
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Original article on Live Science.
Monster black holes shooting jets of gamma-ray radiation right at us have been spotted farther away than ever before, dating back to when the universe was nearly one-tenth its current age.
The five distant objects, called gamma-ray blazars, deepen the mystery of how black holes so large could have formed so early in the universe's history.
Roopesh Ojha, an astronomer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, presented the new results during a press conference today (Jan. 30) at the American Physical Society meeting in Washington, D.C. The results will also be published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement. [Found: Gamma-Ray Blazars Powered by 'Supersized' Black Holes (Video)]
"The light we observed from these five objects left when the universe was just somewhere between 1.9 to 1.4 billion years old," Ojha said. Based on the data, "you arrive at the conclusion that they're all home to really, really massive black holes. Two of them are so big that their black holes may be well over 1 billion solar masses."
The supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, in contrast, has a mass of between 4 and 5 million times the sun's.
Blazars form extremely active cores of some galaxies. They consist of a supermassive black hole with a dense, whirling disk of material around it, which generates the energy for near-lightspeed jets of material aimed perpendicular to the disk. If one of those jets is aimed toward Earth, it appears particularly bright and the core is classified as a blazar. (Image credit: M. Weiss/Cfa)
A blazar is a class of active galactic nuclei a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy with a large disk of material whirling around it (outside the black hole's point of no return), generating radiation that blasts out in hyperfast jets. Blazars are the most active, from Earth's perspective, because the jets of material are speeding right toward us at near the speed of light. The new study looked at a particular type of blazar that's even more active than usual, Ojha said and those blazars tend to spark from incredibly massive black holes, even compared to other galactic cores.
Before these five blazars were detected, the most distant blazar that had been seen emitted its light when the universe was close to 2.1 billion years old. The team, led by two researchers at Clemson University in South Carolina, was able to find blazars even more distant because of a significant processing software update to the orbiting Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope's Large Area Telescope, which increased its sensitivity by about 40 percent, particularly at lower frequencies, Ojha said.
NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected the five most distant gamma-ray blazars ever (their locations are seen here in a NASA video still). The light from the blazars dates back to when the universe was between 1.9 and 1.4 billion years old. (Image credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Scott Wiessinger)
The five newfound blazars are only a few of the many similarly powerful objects that must have existed that early in the universe's history after all, we only detected the ones whose fierce jets are pointed directly at us.
"For a typical value of one of these objects, for the one object you see, there's something closer to 600 that you don't see," Ojha said. And that further emphasizes a major question about the early universe: How did black holes so large form so quickly?
"We've probably just made this problem a little bit more difficult by finding objects that are so massive," Ojha said.
Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
A new artificial-intelligence system designed to imitate the way the brain handles vision can diagnose a rare eye condition just as well as eye doctors can, a new study shows.
The new system, which focuses on identifying a rare eye condition called congenital cataracts, could also help diagnose other rare diseases someday, the researchers said.
In the study, scientists in China used an artificial neural network named CC-Cruiser. This network was a "convolutional neural network," meaning it was designed based on the way neurons are organized in the brain region that deals with vision. The scientists wanted to see if neural networks could help address rare diseases, which afflict about 10 percent of the world's population. [10 Technologies That Will Transform Your Life]
"We were inspired by the work of the DeepMind group, [which] beat professional human players at classic video games," said study co-lead author Dr. Haotian Lin, an ophthalmologist at Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China. "Since AI can play games against human players, why not create an AI that could act equally as a qualified human doctor?"
Previous research suggested that convolutional neural networks are good at scanning data to recognize images, Lin said. The scientists reasoned that a convolutional neural network could be effective at scanning images of eyes to diagnose congenital cataracts, which cloud the lens of a child's eye from birth and can lead to irreversible vision loss.
The researchers first "trained" CC-Cruiser using photos taken as a part of the Childhood Cataract Program of the Chinese Ministry of Health. The photographs included 476 images of children with normal eyes and 410 pictures of children with congenital cataracts of varying severity.
After this training, the researchers tested the network. They gave CC-Cruiser data from 57 patients, including 43 who had normal eyes and 14 who had congenital cataracts. The neural network identified potential cases of congenital cataracts with 98.25 percent accuracy, estimated the location of the cataracts with 100 percent accuracy and suggested the proper treatments with 92.86 accuracy, the researchers said.
Then, in a more difficult test, the researchers mimicked the real-life rareness of congenital cataracts. They gave CC-Cruiser images from 300 normal cases, and just three images from children with congenital cataracts. The neural network successfully excluded the normal cases, identified the three cataract cases, and provided accurate evaluations and treatment decisions, the researchers found.
However, when it came to a test that used 13 images of normal eyes and 40 pictures of cataracts found on the internet, CC-Cruiser was slightly less successful. The neural network identified potential cases of congenital cataracts with 92.45 percent accuracy, estimated the location of the cataracts with 94.87 percent accuracy and suggested the proper treatments with 89.74 accuracy, the researchers said. This discrepancy could be due to how photos of eyes can vary greatly according to the lighting, angle and resolution of different imaging machines that doctors use, the scientists explained.
The researchers also compared CC-Cruiser's accuracy with that of real-life eye doctors. They had the neural network and three ophthalmologists, ranging in expertise from novice to expert, look at 50 cases involving a variety of challenging medical situations designed by a panel of experts. The researchers said the neural network performed as well as the eye doctors; for instance, CC-Cruiser identified all of the patients who had congenital cataracts, while all three ophthalmologists missed one case.
Currently, the main strategy to help people who have rare diseases involves building specialized care centers, but these are often very expensive and geographically scattered, leaving many rare-disease patients without adequate care, the researchers said. They reasoned that neural networks could, over the internet, help provide computerized expertise on rare diseases for many hospitals.
To this end, the researchers also developed a website for CC-Cruiser (Hospitals can upload clinical data to the cloud-based platform for the neural network to evaluate. Patients and doctors can also interact via the website.
This research into identifying and assessing congenital cataracts could also work on other diseases that rely on diagnoses via medical imaging, Lin said.
Creating a robot doctor like Baymax from the movie "Big Hero 6" "is one of the wildest dreams for human beings," Lin told Live Science. "We believe that our work could represent a practical step to a real-world Baymax." [The 6 Strangest Robots Ever Created]
Rigorous clinical trials are still needed "before we put the AI into regular clinical practice," Lin said.
The scientists detailed their findings (opens in new tab) online Monday (Jan. 30) in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Original article on Live Science.
A firehose of lava spewed from the sea cliffs on the Big Island of Hawai'i on Jan. 28 and 29, 2017.
A stunning new video has captured a huge fire hose of lava streaming into the ocean at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
The stream of lava is currently pouring into the ocean from a sea cliff near Kamokuna on the Big Island of Hawaii, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). When this massive lava chute hits the cool seawater below, the result is explosive steam.
Striking images show what looks like a giant bucket of red paint pouring into the ocean, surrounded by plumes of steam, ash, debris and gas. The ensuing steam explosions, which occurred Jan. 28 and Jan. 29, have tossed molten lava high up into the air, with some bits of molten rock catapulted to twice the height of the sea cliff. [See Amazing Video of Lava Fire Hose]
Yesterday (Jan. 30), a crack opened in the sea cliff above the lava tube which feeds the new lava stream. Volcanologists flying over the site used a special thermal-imaging camera to reveal the crack, which is now a scorching 428 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius), according to the USGS. On Jan. 28, volcanologists gingerly stepped onto the unstable surface to measure the crack, and found that it is 11.8 inches (30 centimeters) wide and cuts deeply into the new solidified lava laid down on the older sea cliff. This hot crack could be a sign that the entire sea cliff could come tumbling down, according to the USGS.
A firehose of lava spewed from the sea cliffs on the Big Island of Hawai'i on Jan. 28 and 29, 2017. (Image credit: USGS)
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is home to Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes. The massive volcano has been erupting for 30 years, and the system has more than 200 structures, including the Pu'u O'O crater, a steaming caldera filled with a lava lake known as Halema'uma'u. The firehose of lava is part of Kilauea's long eruption.
The continuous eruption is also growing the Big Island, with a constant stream of lava from Pu'u O'O crater laying down new rock on the island as well as streaming into the ocean.
Originally published on Live Science.
The U.S. Navy's new hero may be a knight in slimy armor.
A team of scientists and engineers with the U.S. Navy is taking inspiration from the natural world to develop a new defense tool. The researchers are using slime from the bottom-dwelling hagfish to create a new synthetic material that could act as another layer of defense on warships.
Pacific hagfish, also known as slime eels, secrete their protective slime to obstruct the gills of predators. The slime's properties are comparable to those of Kevlar, the synthetic fiber used in protective gear such as combat helmets and bulletproof vests, according to Josh Kogot, a biochemist with the Navy. [Biomimicry: 7 Clever Technologies Inspired by Nature]
"The synthetic hagfish slime may be used for ballistics protection, firefighting, anti-fouling, diver protection or anti-shark spray," Kogot said in a statement from the Navy. "The possibilities are endless. Our goal is to produce a substance that can act as non-lethal and non-kinetic defense to protect the warfighter."
Two protein-based components a thread and a mucin (a mucus protein) make up the hagfish's slime. The thread is like a coil, quickly unraveling when it comes into contact with water, while the mucin binds to water, restricting the flow, said Ryan Kincer, a materials engineer with the Navy. When the thread and mucin interact with the water, a three-dimensional network of slime is created, and that 3D slime can expand to be up to 10,000 times its initial volume, Kincer said.
In the Navy's latest example of biomimicry using ideas from nature to solve human problems the team recreated the slime's distinctive alpha and gamma proteins. Next, the scientists will focus on refining the synthetic slim and mass producing it.
"Researchers have called the hagfish slime one of the most unique biomaterials known," Kincer said. "For the U.S. Navy to have its hands on it, or a material that acts similar, would be beneficial."
Original article on Live Science.
Participants will evaluate the level of preparedness at countrys airports for future crises two years on from the highly destructive 7.8-magnitude earthquake near Kathmandu
DHL is to co-lead a series of emergency disaster-relief workshops to evaluate the level of preparedness at Nepals airports for future crises two years on from the highly destructive 7.8-magnitude earthquake near Kathmandu.
The logistics giant is helping to coordinate a four-day training and assessment programme involving airport authorities, military and humanitarian partners to develop a customized disaster response action plan for Tribhuvan International and Nepalgunj airports.
Within 48 hours after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal in April 2015, the countrys main airport was flooded with humanitarian aid supplies and rescue and relief teams coming in from all around the world. However, about a week later, large aircraft were unable to land at the airport as the runway was damaged from the influx of flights delivering aid, DHL said.
Airports play a critical role in channelling humanitarian teams and relief goods quickly after a disaster strikes, the company pointed out. Besides having the necessary infrastructure to smoothly deliver the lifesaving support to the affected communities, the team on site needs to be trained in the necessary protocols and know-how to handle the dramatic rise in air traffic and flow of goods and people following a natural disaster.
The 2015 earthquakes have shown that adequate level of infrastructure and effective logistical operations would not only save lives but help reduce economic loss.
Keeping this lesson in mind, Nepals airport authorities, representatives from the Home Ministry, the Nepal Army and other humanitarian responders have come together to assess and strengthen the post-disaster preparedness arrangements at two of Nepals most strategic airports: Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj Airport.
More than 30 officials from government agencies and airports are expected to participate in the four-day Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD) workshops, which will be led by Deutsche Post DHL Group and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). During the workshops, the participants and trainers will evaluate the current level of preparedness at the two airports, go through trainings, provide concrete recommendations and an action plan to ensure that Nepals airports are prepared for future disasters.
The 2015 quake truly demonstrated the crucial role airports play in Nepals national emergency response network, said Valerie Julliand, UNDP Resident Coordinator. We just cant wait for another disaster to strike to have strong and effective contingency plans to manage the flow of emergency relief goods to the people in need.
The GARD workshop is a key milestone in UNDPs efforts to support the government in making Nepal a disaster-resilient country and the airports ready to implement immediate response actions in the event of a disaster.
Being a landlocked country with a mountainous geography, Nepal relies heavily on air routes to transport aid and supplies during times of emergency. As part of the current GARD workshops, Deutsche Post DHL Groups aviation experts and UNDP leaders will be equipping participants with best-practice logistics management during natural disasters, before working with them to devise customized disaster-response plans for both airports.
The workshops will also raise awareness of Disaster Risk Reduction and identify priorities for investment in national infrastructure that could further improve the resilience of emergency supply chains during a disaster.
A clear and flexible action plan can help airport operators to minimize logistics bottlenecks and better manage sudden influxes of relief aid, bulky supplies like food, water and medical supplies, as well as NGO personnel entering the country, said Chris Weeks, Director of Humanitarian Affairs for DHL.
Almost two years since we first went into Nepal in the earthquakes aftermath, its especially heartening to see the government and airports considering preparedness as paramount, and incorporating it into action plans that could potentially save more lives in the future.
Kumar Chaudhary, Director of the Flight Operation Department at Tribhuvan International Airport, commented: The 2015 earthquakes revealed that effectively channelling relief efforts from airports to affected communities require appropriate infrastructural capabilities and swift administrative procedures. In addition to reassessing the airport facilities and strengthening staff expertise, the workshop will lead to a series of follow-up activities including an action plan that we can run dry through simulation exercises.
We are committed to working together with all emergency counterparts to follow up on implementation.
GARD was developed in 2009, by Deutsche Post DHL Group in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the aim of preparing airports in disaster-prone areas to handle the surge of incoming relief goods after a natural disaster occurs. It also enables the various organizations and aid agencies to better understand the processes at the airport in the aftermath of a disaster, which will help facilitate relief efforts and enhance overall coordination.
To date, GARD workshops have been held at around 40 airports in Armenia, Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Nepal, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
GARD trainers and training materials are provided free-of-charge by Deutsche Post DHL Group while UNDP leads the project implementation and facilitates the coordination with the government authorities. GARD training workshop arrangements and logistics costs are fully covered by UNDP with funding contribution by the government of Germany.
GARD is an integral part of Deutsche Post DHL Groups GoHelp program in which the group pools all of its activities related to disaster preparedness and management. As a form of crisis prevention, GARD workshops are used to prepare airports for coping with potential natural disasters.
Should a disaster strike, Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) provide emergency aid and ensure that relief supplies can be accepted in a coordinated manner and passed on to the correct aid organizations. The DRTs were established in cooperation with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). They encompass a worldwide network of more than 400 volunteers, all specially trained employees of Deutsche Post DHL Group.
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School & Education, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases
By Long Island News & PR Published: January 31 2017
Uniondale High School Assistant Principal Dyan Barton, along with other personnel from the school district, were honored for her decade of work with Haitian students and their families in the District.
Uniondale, NY - January 30, 2017 - The Uniondale School District announces Uniondale High School Assistant Principal Dyan Barton, along with other personnel from the school district, were recently honored for her decade of work with Haitian students and their families in the District.
The tremendous dedication Ms. Barton has shown assisting Haitian students in the district for the past decade is a testament not only to her outstanding character, but also to the inclusive community the District is proud to foster, said Uniondale School District Superintendent Dr. William K. Lloyd. All students in our district find a safe, stable, secure learning environment on which to build the academic foundation and success of their lives.
Uniondale High School Assistant Principal Dyan Barton, Uniondale School District Superintendent Dr. Wlliam K. Lloyd and Olympic Haitian Swimmer Naomy Grand'Pierre at the Sekou Pou Ayiti Gala to support victims of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. The Uniondale School District helped organize this event to honor Ms. Bartons decade of work with Haitian students in the District and support victims of Hurricane Matthew. Photo by Uniondale School District.
More than 200 Long Islanders came together during the inaugural Sekou Pou Ayiti Gala to support Ms. Barton and the Haitian cause. The Sekou Pou Ayiti Gala is sponsored by the Gift of Writing Foundation, which helps Haitian students attend school, the Uniondale School District and the Uniondale Relief Committee. Proceeds from the event were donated to support the victims still suffering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew in southwestern Haiti. During the event guest speaker and Olympic Haitian Swimmer Naomy Grand'Pierre shared her inspirational story about overcoming obstacles to become the first female swimmer from Haiti to compete in the Olympics.
Ms. Bartons work has made a difference not only for Uniondale students, but also for students in Haiti who are able to attend school as a result of her work, said Uniondale High School Principal Dr. Edward Thomas. Her commitment to helping others is representative of the values which led to every school in the District being recognized as a National School of Character.
For more information about the Uniondale School District, please visit the website at www.district.uniondaleschools. org.
Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause, Travel & Local Attractions, Press Releases
By Long Island News & PR Published: January 31 2017
Mayor Margot Garant: Uptown Port is just as important as our downtown, and we have been working for years to revitalize and redevelopment the blighted southerly gateway of our Village.
Port Jefferson, NY - January 30, 2017 - The Inc. Village of Port Jefferson is awarded $500,000 NYS Restore NY Funding; $50,000 in NYS Empire State Development funding and $250,000 Suffolk County JUMPSTART funds to begin Upper Port Development Project.
Photo by Inc. Village of Port Jefferson.
Mayor Margot Garant stated, Uptown Port is just as important as our downtown, and we have been working for years to revitalize and redevelopment the blighted southerly gateway of our Village. You know when you have the major backers of the State and County behind you, that you are finally getting traction and things are beginning to transform there right now. The hard work is beginning to pay off.
NYS Restore NY Grant - $500,000 for Upper Port Blight Redevelopment
As part of the Upper Port Revitalization and Master Plans (passed in 2015), the Village of Port Jefferson embarked on a multi-phased revitalization effort with partners NYSDOT, MTA and LIRR to revitalize a severely blighted area surrounding the Upper Port LIRR station parking lots and Plaza.
key blighted commercial structure located on Main Street near the Restore NY Funds will support the de/reconstruction of alocated on Main Street near the Port Jeff LIRR station Plaza. Funds will be used to demolish and redevelop the blighted structure and to transform the parcel into a mixed-used affordable housing/retail Main Street Anchor creating a sense of place triggering economic impact. All plans and traffic studies are complete and approved by DOT, the LIRR and the MTA. The $500,000 grant awarded will make the de/reconstruction of this critical parcel possible.
NYS Empire State Corporation Funds - $50,000 in state funds will also be used to complete and finalize the Upper Port Urban Renewal Plan.
Photo by Inc. Village of Port Jefferson.
JUMPSTART Suffolk Economic Development Project Funding - $250,000
Jumpstart funds in the amount of $250,000 will offset the total cost of $ 850,000 to complete the shovel-ready Phase One/West Side Parking Lot Upgrades. Phase One will combine three parcels into one, mutually agreed, creating a uniform parking lot and one-way street, which will become part of the Villages managed parking system thereafter. The West side of the LIRR parking lot is owned by the MTA, the Village, and a private developer. The Village has received MTA permission and has entered into a private/public partnership with the new housing developer currently building 72 new apartments known as Rail Realty The Hills .
This project will create clean, well-lit access connecting new housing ( The Hills ) to the LIRR station and will encourage the use of mass transit. The Village proposed an improved parking design and reconfiguration for parking, commuter drop-off and pedestrian access along the Port Jefferson LIRR station train esplanade. The Port Jefferson LIRR Branch is one of the busiest commuter stops on the LIRR North shore branch with over 30,000+ in rider ship per day.
The upgrade of the Port Jefferson LIRR Plaza is a multidimensional transformative transit oriented development project that will include improved lighting and access to housing options, reconfigured parking, signage, traffic calming modifications for LIRR and bus entrance/exit, new drainage, sidewalks and trees. These upgrades will enhance tourism and provide a gateway to multiple transportation, tourist, event and residential options.
As a result of the $800,000 in NYS and Suffolk County Economic Development Funding, the Upper Port Revitalization project, is set to begin in Spring 2017.
The Pakistani government has issued orders to place Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) emir Hafiz Saeed under house arrest and raid the groups offices. Saeed, who runs a state within the Pakistani state that is akin to Lebanese Hezbollah, has been placed in protective custody in the past, only to be freed.
Pakistani police fanned out across Jamaat-ud-Dawas extensive complex in Muridke as well as the groups offices in Lahore with warrants to place Saeed and five other leaders under house arrest, Dawn reported. The arrest order was confirmed by JuDs secretary of information and spokesman. Saeed was not present at JuDs Muridke complex or the Lahore offices, but was reported to be at a nearby mosque.
In addition to issuing orders placing Saeed under house arrest, the government has started to remove the banners of JuD from the roads of Lahore.
The US and India have both put pressure on Pakistan to detain Saeed and shut down his terror network for over a decade, but to no avail. After the US and India accused Saeed and Jamaat-ud-Dawa of executing the deadly Nov. 2008 terror raid in Mumbai, Saeed was placed under a loose house arrest in Dec. 2008. It was later reported that Saeed consulted with Osama bin Laden to plan the Mumbai assault. However, Saeed was able to move about Lahore with few, if any, restrictions.
Saeeds strong ties with Pakistans military and intelligence branch, as well as politicians, has made him impervious to attempts to keep him in custody, even under the loose house arrest. By August 2009, the Lahore High Court said the government did not have grounds to detain him.
Three years after Saeed was released, and one day after the US Rewards For Justice program issued a $10 million bounty for information leading to his arrest and prosecution, a Pakistani counterterrorism official confirmed that Saeed and Jamaat-ud-Dawa were consulting with the government to conduct a purported jihadist de-radicalization program. That same day, Saeed gave a speech where he called on Muslims to wage jihad against America.
Pakistan has an extremely poor record with keeping known jihadist leaders in custody. Known terrorist leaders such as Masood Azhar (Jaish-e-Mohammed), Qari Saifullah Akhtar (Harakat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami), and Malik Ishaq (Lashkar-e-Jhangvi) have been detained numerous times, only to be freed.
Background on Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and al Qaeda
Osama bin Laden and his mentor Abdullah Azzam encouraged Saeed to form Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the late 1980s, and helped fund the establishment of the terror outfit. LeT, like al Qaeda, calls for the establishment of a global caliphate and receives funding from Saudis and other wealthy individuals throughout the Middle East. LeT has since been renamed Jamaat-ud-Dawa and also uses a number of charitable fronts to mask its operations.
LeT is an ally of al Qaeda; the two groups provide support for each other, and their operatives train in each others camps. In the past, LeT has established training camps in Kunar province in Afghanistan, Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and the tribal areas, and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Northern Areas. Many of these facilities are thought to still be in operation to this day.
Fighters from LeT battled alongside al Qaeda and Taliban operatives in the assault on the US combat outpost in Wanat in Nuristan province, Afghanistan in July of 2008. Nine US troops were killed, and 15 US soldiers and four Afghan troops were wounded in the heavy fight that nearly culminated in the outpost being completely overrun. US forces ultimately beat back the attack, but abandoned the outpost days later.
LeT has an extensive network in Southern and Southeast Asia, where it seeks to establish a Muslim caliphate. The group essentially runs a state within a state in Pakistan; they have established an organization that is as effective as Lebanese Hezbollah. Its sprawling Muridke complex, just northwest of Lahore in Punjab province, is a town of its own. Throughout Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, LeT runs numerous hospitals, clinics, schools, mosques, and other services. In support of its activities, LeT is active in fundraising across the Middle East and South Asia, and the group has recruited scores of Westerners to train in its camps.
In 2005, the group succeeded in providing aid to earthquake-ravaged regions in Kashmir while the Pakistani government was slow to act. LeT also provided relief to tens of thousands of internally displaced persons who have fled the fighting between the military and the Taliban in the Malakand Division as well as those impacted by the devastating floods in Pakistan in 2010.
The US government designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in December 2001. The Pakistani government banned the group in January 2002, but this did little to shut down its operations. The group renamed itself Jamaat-ud-Dawa and conducted business as usual. After Mumbai, Jamaat-ud-Dawa used the name Falah-i Insaniat Foundation (FIF), and continued fundraising and other activities. The US designated the FIF as a terrorist group in November 2010.
LeT has mastered the art of using charitable groups to fundraise as well as promote its message and recruit. Since 2010, the US has also identified the following groups as LeT fronts: Al-Muhammadia Students, Al-Anfal Trust, Tehrik-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool, and Tehrik-e-Tahafuz Qibla Awwal.
In reality, Saeed and his leaders rebranded the group as a Muslim charity to mask the operations of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa. After Mumbai, Pakistan claimed to shut down Lashkar-e-Taiba/Jamaat-ud-Dawa offices and camps, and detained followers, but the efforts were largely cosmetic.
Saeed and his followers have strong ties with elements within Pakistans military and the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, or ISID. LeT is one of the primary terror groups used by Pakistans ISID to direct military and terror operations inside India and Indian-held Kashmir. During the 1999 Kargil War, when Pakistan invaded Indian-held Kashmir, the Lashkar-e-Taiba fought as the vanguard for Pakistani forces in the mountainous region. To this day, LeT military and terror units continue to infiltrate into the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, with the help of Pakistans military.
Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
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Shabaab fighter waving the jihadist groups flag inside the base
In photos released yesterday, Shabaab, al Qaedas branch in East Africa, detailed last weeks deadly assault on a Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) base in southern Somalia near the Kenyan border. The raid came just over one year after another assault on a KDF base in El Adde, which killed more than 100 Kenyan soldiers.
In last weeks assault, Shabaab said its Saleh al Nabhan Battalion launched a coordinated, large-scale attack on the base. The attack began with two simultaneous suicide bombings, followed by an assault team breaching the perimeter of the base. According to Shabaab, more than 67 KDF troops were killed. However, in the photos only around 50 bodies are shown. The jihadist group was able to capture the base and took vehicles and supplies before withdrawing.
A KDF spokesman denied Shabaabs version of the events in a comment to Al Jazeera. Shabaab is known for propaganda, whatever they are saying about the attack is incorrect, including the number, he told the news agency. Speaking to The Guardian, another spokesman completely denied the attack compromised the base. [Kenyan] soldiers repulsed the terrorists, killing scores, the spokesman said. KDF officials also initially downplayed last years attack in El Adde.
At first, the KDF downplayed the size of the attack before being forced to admit casualties. The initial estimate was around 60 KDF killed, however, as investigators and other personnel combed the base after Shabaab fled, the number quickly rose. It is now believed that around 100, if not more, KDF soldiers were killed in that raid.
The Saleh al Nabhan Battalion is named after the senior Al Qaeda East Africa operative of the same name. Al Nabhan was wanted by the FBI for his involvement in the 1998 US embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania before being killed by US forces in Somalia in 2009. The Kenyan jihadist was also wanted for his involvement in a 2002 strike on an Israeli hotel and an airliner in Mombasa. This was the same battalion that carried out the El Adde attack.
Shabaab continues to be a constant threat to African Union, Somali, and other forces inside Somalia. It has also continuously targeted African Union troops in southern Somalia and has taken back some territory in the process. The jihadist group has also been able to mount attacks in the central part of Somalia and into neighboring Kenya, as well.
Some of the photos released from the Kulbiyow KDF base:
Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.
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Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > Simultaneous Parliament and State Assembly Polls Strike at the Root of (...)
Prime Minister Modi has for the last six months kept up a continuous refrain for simultaneously holding Lok Sabha and State Assembly polls and the supposed advantages that would flow from it. As was to be expected, a number of newspapers and newspersons are picking up this matter. It is unfortunate that the Election Commission of India and Niti Ayog should have gone along with this suggestion without even the minimum constitutional requ-irement of a public debate and seminarsand more unforgivably without discussion of the matter with other major political parties and the State governments. In order to have a worthwhile debate, it is necessary to know the legal and factual situation at present.
The present life of the Lok Sabha expires in May 2019. Modis repeated emphasis on simultaneous polls is actuated by the realisation that the mood of exhilaration that he was able to create in the 2014 parliamentary poll is diminishing very fast. The background situation from 2004-2014 of the UPA regime had exposed so many scandals, both financial and adminis-trative, that people were sick of the goody but not visible Prime Minister Manmohan Singh because of the domination of the Indira Gandhi family. The exposure by the Supreme Court of telecom and coal scandals had made the BJPs task easier. By itself the BJP under the leadership of none other than Modi (helped fully by the RSS) may not have done that well. But Modi had created an illusion of a strong and honest government in Gujarat that people were willing to ignore or even forget one of the worst periods under Modi, namely, the state-supported mass slaughter of Muslims in 2002. Such was the communal passion aroused by the RSS that in the country, which was already disgusted with the corruption and inefficiency of the UPA Government and also heightened by the split amongst the various political parties, Modi romped home with an overwhelming majority of seats in the Lok Sabha but with just 31 per cent of votesof course greatly helped and boosted by corporate funding.
That illusion has now been exposed. Even ardent supporters of Modi at present do not place hundred per cent bet on Modi winning the Lok Sabha polls in 2019that is why the effort of Modi to work out a strategy so as to keep his rivals caught up with State Assembly polls in order to avoid combined pressure on him in the Lok Sabha polls.
But this strategy of Modi is not constitutionally possible. After the Emergency, the Constitution (44th Amendment) has provided in Article 83 and Article 172 of the Constitution that the Lok Sabha and Legislatures of the State shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer. Thus the factual situation at present will show that it is constitutionally not possible to hold simul-taneous polls in May 2019.
This is because it would require to extend the term of the States Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan (by five months), Mizoram (by six months) and Karnataka (by 12 months) which is constitutionally not possible. Of course, the terms of Haryana and Maharashtra (by five months), Jharkhand (by seven months) excepting NCT Delhi (by eight months) could be curtailed as these States have BJP governments, but Delhi would not agree.
Punjab, UP are going to polls two monthsobviously no one can expect Tamil Nadu, Bihar, J&K, West Bengal and Kerala, all under the rule of Opposition parties, to agree as their terms are upto 2021. Assam can go to polls in 2019 though those are due in 2021 as it is run by a BJP Governmentwould Modi agree to curtail the term in a State where the BJP has for the first time come to power?
Non-BJP States like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal whose terms expire by 2021, will never agree to curtail their terms. The Central Government, whose term would expire by 2019, cannot continue thereafter without holding fresh elections due in May 2019.
If, however, Modi is so keen on holding simultaneous polls even with some States, he can hold them by dissolving Parliament in 2017 and then holding simultaneous polls by also dissolving at same time the State Assemblies where the BJP enjoys a majority and whose terms are not yet over as mentioned above. If Modi is not willing, why is he trying cover his governments failure by conjuring up these illusory undemocratic solutions?
But a greater principle of democracy is involved in simultaneous polls of Parliament and State Assemblies unless by fortuitous circumstances the five-year period of Parliament and State Assemblies happen to coincide. This contrived situation, being sought to be brought about by Modi, has very dangerous implications and is against the basic structure of our Constitution that is impermissible. According to the Supreme Court of India, Article 1(1) defines India as a Union of States which means a federation of States.
Our Constitution specifically provides an exclusive ListI empowering the Central Government which alone can legislate on certain subjects in List-I in the Seventh Schedule. The States alone can legislate in List-IIParliament cannot. Both the Centre and States can legislate in List-III. The State List-II includes very important subjects like agriculture, law and order et al. on which only the State can legislate and the Centre has no jurisdiction. Obviously voters have different aspects, priorities when voting for State Assemblies and Parliament. In the Delhi Laws Act the Supreme Court of India (1951) specifically held: The State Legislature under our Constitution is not a delegate of the Union Parliament. Both legislatures derive powers from the same Constitution. Within its appointed sphere, the State Legislature has plenary powers.
Modi wants to deny this strategic advantage of States and weaken decentralisation which is the core of our constitutional jurisprudence.
Examples of other countries like the USA and Europe would also show that it is constitu-tionally recognised that the priorities and interests of the State in day-to-day-governance are emphasised differently. Thus in the USA a rather extreme position prevails that law and medical degrees of one State are not even recognised in the rest of the States. As for elections, they have different laws in each State. They have separate laws for the Presidents election and separate for those of the Senate and House of Representatives and also separate for various States. Of course, this is an extreme example borne possibly by the history the USA had experienced.
We wisely did not go so far. Also the distinction between the priorities of the Centre and States are different. The sooner Modi relinquishes this idea of simultaneous polls the better. This gives unfair advantage to national parties as against the State parties and distorts the sentiment of voters that the government be close to the people of the area concerned.
The author, a retired Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, was the Chairperson of the Prime Ministers high-level Committee on the Status of Muslims and the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing. A former President of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), he is a tireless champion of human rights. He can be contacted at e-mail: rsachar1 [at] vsnl.net / rsachar23 [at] bol.net.in
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > Ridiculing the Mahatma
It is hard to believe that the government- financed Khadi Board printed Prime Minister Narendra Modis picture in the familiar pose of Mahatama Gandhi sitting behind the charkha, spinning the yarn, without the PMOs permission. Probably somebody at the lower level allowed the Board to go ahead. The furore in the public was so strong that the contradiction was inevitable.
Even then the PMO was not as strong as it should have been. In fact, a stern warning should have been issued there and then so that such examples of indiscretion do not go unpunished in future. This might have chastened those who, on one pretext or the other, violate the dignity of the Republic, not realising that they are insulting themselves.
Only the other day, the standing of people was made mandatory when the national anthem was played. People still do not respect the order and open the doors of cinemas even though they are bolted from inside. They think that it was a governments order which they did not have to obey.
They do not seem to realise that the national anthem and the Republics flag are sacred because they represent the nations honour and sovereignty. People would have to realise themselves that no order or law can instil patriotism. It is their own feelings which should assert whenever the choice is between what benefits the nation and what benefits an individual or party.
Gandhiji himself was conscious of the peoples feelings. As I wrote earlier, he stopped his prayer meeting when someone objected to the recitation of the Quran. He resumed it only when the person concerned withdrew his opposition. Gandhiji was, however, more successful in Kolkata where the then Chief Minister, Hussein Shaheed Suhrawardy, had declared the Muslim Leagues action plan in response to the Congress satyagraha.
The action plan turned into a massacre of Hindus and Sikhs with the states connivance. There was retaliation, taking the lives of thousands. Gandhiji went to Kolkata and asked the people to give him their weapons. Even the most affected ones surrendered the arms within 24 hours. Lord Mountbatten, who was then the Governor-General, remarked that the armed forces were of little consequence and the one- man force had done the job.
India has traversed a long way since then. It has less faith in pluralism than before. The border drawn on the basis of religion has diluted secularism. But the fault is that of the Congress, not that of the Muslim League which had demanded from day one the grouping of Muslim majority provinces into a separate, sovereign Islamic state. The Congress, which represented the secular ethos, is itself going away from its ideals. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a tall Muslim leader, had warned the Muslims if they did not feel safe in undivided India where they could say that though less in number they were equal share-holders in post-independent Indias fortunes. But the Muslims were then riding the high horse and bent upon of having even a moth eaten Pakistan. They have inherited a country which is bound to discriminate between Muslims and others. In fact, the living condition, whatever their number, is pitiable. There are forced conversions and of non-Muslims marrying Muslim boys.
The Maulanas warning has come true. Roughly 18 crore Muslims have practically no say in the governance of the country. Their plight, as the Sachar report on Indian Muslims said, was worse than that of Dalits. Politically, they have ceased to matter. Nor do they assert themselves lest Hindu chauvinism takes a still more virulent shape.
However, the Muslims are themselves hardening their position. The Kashmiris are already behaving as if they are independent. At the time of accession, the popular leader, Sheikh Abdullah, had supported the Maharaja because he was fighting against the tribals incuding regular troops. It is a different story that he opposed New Delhi when it went beyond the three subjects, Defence, Foreign Affairs and Communications.
Chief Minister Mahbooba Mufti has been criticised by the Kashmiris for having met Prime Minister Narendra Modi who, they said, was the Hindus leader. They conveniently forget that he is Indias Prime Minister. Whether they support his views or notmany do not in Indiais not relevant because he came to power after winning 262 seats in the 540- member Lok Sabha.
The example of Zaira Wasim from Kashmir is before us. She acted admirably in a film and, as Amir Khan, its director and producer, said in a message, she was brilliant. But the pressure of the separatists in the Valley was so much that she had to say in a TV interview that she was ashamed of what she had done, disowning her role in the film. Her message was poignant: girls should not follow her example as if she was telling them about the ordeals she had gone through.
That means that those who are wanting to establish a separate, sovereign Islamic Republic in the Valley are far from satisfied. They know that their opponent was the Indian Army. But they go on fighting to register Kashmirs demand for independence. I found them, when I went to Srinagar, relentless.
New Delhi would have to talk to the separatists and see if they could accept real autonomy within India, telling them that India would not spread itself beyond the three subjects: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Communications.
The author is a veteran journalist renowned not only in this country but also in our neighbouring states of Pakistan and Bangladesh where his columns are widely read. His website is www.kuldipnayar.com
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > Socialist Partys Political Agenda in the Present Setting
DOCUMENT
The following is the Political Resolution of the Socialist Party (India) adopted at the partys Fourth National Convention (Lucknow, November 14-15, 2016).
Most of the established parties do all sorts of things to grab power during State and Central elections. False promises, personal allegations and counter-allegations, communal tension, casteism, regionalism, lingualism, individualism, dynasty politics, money and muscle power, conspiracy and all such tactics are used shamelessly. Superficial sympathy is shown towards the deprived sections of society to mislead the poor and working class in order to bring them into the respective parties fold. The media, following the maxim of people buy what they see, serves this anti-people politics 24X7. In the midst of all this cacophony, theres no space for meaningful debate on fundamental issues like poverty, the complexities of the chasm between the rich and the poor, unemployment, illiteracy, malnutrition, suicides by lakhs of farmers, suppression of civil rights, the increasing vulnerability of tribals, Dalits, women, minorities and environmental destruction. Actually, all mainstream parties are in union since the beginning of the nineties on imple-menting the policies of liberalisation, privati-sation, globalisation, consumerism, centralism and jingoistic nationalism. These parties frame their policies to enable the profiteering of national and multinational corporates, in turn with the dictates of the World Bank, IMF, WTO and other such organisations which propagate corporate capitalism. Thus, the mainstream political parties have become agents for the sell-off of natural resourceswater, forest and landto the big corporate houses at throwaway prices.
The neoliberal capitalist era has wreaked havoc at the global level too. The powerful and so-called civilised nations have pushed many countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Egypt, Sudan, Congo, Mali, Mozambique etc. into long-term civil war or armed conflict with the sole purpose of selling arms, gaining contracts and getting access to these countries oil, gas and mineral resources for their corporates. These nations ensure the supply of funds and ammunitions to terrorist organi-sations like the Taliban, ISIS, Al Shabab, Hizbul Mujahideen even though incidents of terror are taking place in European countries and America as well. Due to all this, millions of men-women-children are condemned to live in refugee camps for many years. During the past years many thousands of people setting out for Europe via the Mediterranean Sea have drowned in it. The human traffic and drug mafia network throughout the world is extorting money from war-ridden nations in Asia and Africa and channeling it back to Europe. It is also forcing women into prostitution and youngsters into debilitating addiction on a large scale. The black money of politicians, industrialists, bureaucrats, brokers of all countries is stored from Swiss banks to offshore tax heavens. The United Nations, UN Security Council, European Union etc. have not been able to find solutions to these human civilisation-threatening problems so far.
Through this National Convention the Socialist Party calls upon like-minded people and organi-sations in India and the world to reject this capitalist-consumerist model of development based upon indiscriminate plundering of natural resources by powerful nations and corporate houses. They must think of an alternative model of development based on preserving environ-ment, equality, simplicity, decentralisation and co-operative planning to discard the inhumanity inherent in the vicious cycle of violence and oppression.
In our State Assemblies and Parliament, three-fourths of the elected members are millionaires winning elections with money-power, having nothing to do with the issues of poor and working class people. It is obvious that there is a need for fundamental reforms in the election system too. The Socialist Party demands that electoral expenses of parties should be added to the expenses of respective party candidates. All political parties should be brought under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act for their property and income-expenditures. Instead of declaring the candidate with the highest number of votes as the winner, the proportional representational system based on the ratio of votes should be implemented.
Since the beginning of neo-liberal policies, anti-labourer and pro-industrialist changes have been introduced in the labour sector. The Socialist Party demands that original labour laws should be strictly and completely implemented. If there is need of pro-labour changes in labour laws then trade union representatives should be taken into confidence. The Socialist Party supports the 12-point demand charter submitted by the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) along with other trade unions.
The present government has ignited a debate on Uniform Civil Code targeting the Muslim community. The Socialist Party believes that in a country like India, consisting of various minorities, a uniform civil code is neither possible nor necessary. The sensitivity of each religious group has to be respected and the religious group constituting the majority has no right to foist its own practices on the minorities. Even amongst the majority, that is, Hindus, different practices prevail. Thus in the North marriage between uncle (mama) and niece is unimaginable, while in the South this practice is quite prevalent.
The question of Triple Talaaq is being heard before the Supreme Court and has no relevance to the question of Uniform Civil Code, which falls in a separate category.
The question of discrimination against women is the real question on this subject. The fact is that many Muslim countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, do not have instant Talaaq in their law, and many Muslim scholars in India have openly said that under Islam Triple Talaaq, as practised in India, is not sanctioned. Even Pakistan and Bangladesh do not allow instant Triple Talaaq. It may be noted that in Bangladesh the Hindu minority is still following the Hindu Law of the pre-1947 period and has opposed any reforms on the lines of those enacted since 1956 in India. The Socialist Party condemns the mala fide intention of the RSS and other communal bodies to heighten tension amongst the minorities on this subject.
The Socialist Party views with great concern the continuous deterioration of Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir: schools are closed under directive from the Hurriyat, children have been arrested under the Public Safety Act, the killings by the security forces even of small children and blinding by pellet guns are grave matters of daily pain and suffering. The Socialist Party demands that the children should be imme-diately released and all efforts should be made to reopen schools through of process of peaceful dialogue.
The party calls upon the Central Government to immediately initiate dialogue with all parties, groups, and the Hurriyat. There should be no precondition for talks either from the govern-ment, the Hurriyat or other groups. The Central Government should withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which has been a long-standing demand of all human rights bodies. At the same time the people of Kashmir should be assured by the Central Government that Article 370 of the Constitution will be strictly maintained and that there will be no dilution of it.
Ever since the BJP has come to power communal tensions have increased in society. Minority Muslims, Dalits and tribals have been violently and even fatally attacked. Communal hysteria was whipped up first in the name of love jihad and then goraksha, which has left the minorities and Dalits feeling very vulnerable and insecure. The RSS and allied organisations are doing all these acts. They have undeclared support of the BJP Government and the Prime Minister. All this is being done as a strategy to manipulate the majority Hindu vote-bank. This government has not even spared the national flag and Army for electoral gains. The RSS, which worked for British rule during the freedom struggle, is now self-proclaiming to be nationalist and blaming other political parties and dissenting organisations and people as anti-nationals. It does not appear that the govern-ment believes in the Constitution of India to run the country. The Prime Minster and his team have brought most of the mainstream media into their fold using state and corporate power.
This government has handed over the economy to the corporate houses and the society to the hooligans of the RSS. The government, with its intentions of implementing the agenda of the RSS, has not only intervened in the working of schools, higher education and research institutions, but has also harassed Dalit and weaker sections students. The BJP has many leaders from the Dalit, backward and Muslim background, who are not associated with the RSS; but they are silent. The Congress and other regional party leaders and governments are not working effectively to curb the activities of the RSS that aim to sabotage the constitutional set-up of India. In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Partys government has not taken effective actions against criminal acts sponsored by the RSS. The Socialist Party through this National Convention wants to alert the people of India that they should seriously look into the intentions and actions of the RSS/BJP of dividing the society and oppose them.
The Socialist Party, inspired by the inheri-tance of great leaders and thinkers like Acharya Narendra Deva, Gandhi, Dr Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, JP, Dr Lohia, S.M. Joshi, Yusuf Meherally, Achyut Patwardhan, Kamaladevi Chattopa-dhyaya, Sarojini Naidu, Karpoori Thakur, Madhu Limaye, Kishan Patnaik, reaffirms its faith in the fundamental principles of socialism and pledges to establish a socialist order uprooting neo-liberal order in solidarity with the working class.
Thus stands the Socialist Party upholding Brotherhood and Equality.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > 67th Anniversary of Democratic-secular Indian Constitution: Hindutva (...)
There is no doubt that despite many infirmities the Indian Constitution, as framed by the Constituent Assembly (CA) of India on November 26, 1949, is a fine document of liberal democracy. Its emphasis on an all-inclusive polity assuring social, political and economic justice was, in fact, a continuation of the anti-imperialist legacy. But the Indian Constitution today faces the most critical challenge to its existence. It is true that the ruling parties before the enthronement of the Modi Government in 2014 paid lip-service to the pro-people goals enshrined in the Constitution but none dared to declare that they would overthrow the democratic-secular Indian Constitution. It is for the first time in the history of independent India that PM Modi calls himself a Hindu nationalist1 and declares that he is an RSS cadre and groomed as a political leader by Guru Golwalkar.
It is to be noted that the RSS is publicly committed to replace the present Indian Constitution by Manusmriti, a Brahmanical scripture which assigns women and Sudras sub-human status. The CA passed the Constitution on November 26, 1949 and the RSS English organ, Organiser, on November 30, 1949, in an editorial, rejected it and demanded Manusmriti as the Constitution. It read:
But in our Constitution, there is no mention of the unique constitutional development in ancient Bharat. Manus laws were written long before Lycurgus of Sparta or Solon of Persia. To this day his laws as enunciated in the Manusmriti excite the admiration of the world and elicit spontaneous obedience and conformity. But to our constitutional pundits that means nothing.
Even after independence the RSS kept on denigrating the Constitution of India. M.S. Golwalkar, the only Guru to most of the present Hindutva rulers including our PM and the most prominent ideologue of the RSS, analysed the Indian Constitution in the following words:
Our Constitution too is just a cumbersome and heterogeneous piecing together of various Articles from various Constitutions of Western countries. It has absolutely nothing which can be called our own. Is there a single word of reference in its guiding principles as to what our national mission is and what our keynote in life is?2
Every RSS cadre, including the PM, in her/his everyday prarthana (prayer), worships the Hindu Rashtra and not democratic-secular India and pledges to accomplish a Hindu state. This can be known by a perusal of the following words in the RSS prayer:
Affectionate Motherland, I eternally bow to you/O Land of Hindus, you have reared me in comfort/O Sacred Land, the great creator of good, may this body of mine be dedicated to you/I again and again bow before you/O God Almighty, we the integral part of the Hindu Rashtra, salute you in reverence/for your cause have we girded up our loins/give us your blessings for its accomplishment.3
Importantly, the RSS organ, Organiser, in its issue on the very eve of Independence, dated August 14, 1947, rejected the whole concept of a composite nation (under the editorial titled Whither):
Let us no longer allow ourselves to be influenced by false notions of nationhood. Much of the mental confusion and the present and future troubles can be removed by the ready recognition of the simple fact that in Hindusthan only the Hindus form the nation and the national structure must be built on that safe and sound foundation. The nation itself must be built up of Hindus, on Hindu traditions, culture, ideas and aspirations.
But the most shocking is the denigration of Tri-colour or National Flag by the RSS. On the eve of independence when the Indian Constituent Assembly adopted Tricolour as the National Flag, the same organ of the RSS, Organiser, in its issue dated August 14, 1947, denigrated this choice in the following words:
The People Who Have Come To Power By The Kick Of Fate May Give In Our Hands The Tricolour But It Will Never Be Respected And Owned By Hindus. The Word Three Is In Itself An Evil, And A Flag Having Three Colours Will Certainly Produce A Very Bad Psychological Effect And Is Injurious To A Country.
If the RSS is dead against the democratic-secular Constitution of India and all symbols related to it, then the question arises as to why RSS cadres, PM Modi and many of his colleagues are celebrating the 67th anniversary of the Indian Constitution. As masters of double-speak these rulers are buying time and waiting for an opportune moment to strike from within. In the last two-and-a-half years they have been destroying the democratic institutions of the Indian polity one by one, just waiting to demolish the democratic-secular Indian polity. This plan was outlined by Guru Golwalkar long back in 1940. Golwalkar, while delivering a speech before 1350 top level cadres of the RSS at Resham Bagh, the RSS headquarters in 1940, declared:
RSS inspired by one flag, one leader and one ideology is lighting the flame of Hindutva in each and every corner of this great land.4
All those who are concerned about the future of the democratic-secular Indian polity must come together to resist the anti-national agenda of the RSS.
Endnotes
1. Modi as the CM of Gujarat interviewed by Reuters at the formers residence at Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat, July 12, 2013.
2. M.S. Golwalkar, Bunch of Thoughts, Sahitya Sindhu, Bangalore, 1996, p. 238.
3. RSS Shakha Darshikha, Gyan Ganga, Jaipur, 1997, p.1.
4. M.S. Golwalkar, Shri Guruji Samagar Darshan (Collected Works of Golwalkar in Hindi), vol. 1, Bharatiya Vichar Sadhna, Nagpur, p. 11.
Shamsul Islam, a well-known theatre personality, is a former Associate Professor (now retired), Department of Political Science, Satyawati College, University of Delhi. For some of the authors writings in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Gujarati see the following link: http/du-in.academia.edu/Shamsullslam
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > Netajis Immortal Words
On the occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses 120th birth anniversary on January 23 this year, we are carrying the following excerpts from Netajis speeches and writings while remembering that stalwart of our freedom struggle.
This is Subhas Chandra Bose speaking to you over the Azad Hind Radio.
For about a year I have waited in silence and patience for the march of events and now that the hour has struck, I come forward to speak.
The fall of Singapore means the collapse of the British Empire, the end of the iniquitous regime which it has symbolised and the dawn of a new era in Indian history. The Indian people who have long suffered from the humiliation of a foreign yoke and have been ruined spiritually, culturally, politically and economically while under British dominationmust now offer their humble thanks to the Almighty for the auspicious event which bears for India the promise of life and freedom...
The outside world hears from time to time voices coming from India, claiming to speak either in the name of the Indian National Congress or of the Indian people. But these are voices coming through the channels of British propaganda and nobody should make the fatal mistake of regarding them as representative of Free India. As is natural in a land that has been under foreign domination, the British oppressors have endeavoured to create divisions among the Indian people... There is, however, the vast majority of the Indian people who will have no compromise with British Imperialism but will fight on till full independence is achieved. Owing to war-time conditions prevailing in India, the voice of these freedom-loving Indians cannot cross the frontiers of that countrybut we who have fought for more than two decades for our national emancipation, know exactly what the vast majority of our countrymen think and feel today.
Standing at one of the cross-roads of world-history, I solemnly declare on behalf of all freedom-loving Indians in India and abroad that we shall continue to fight British Imperialism till India is once again the mistress of her own destiny. During this struggle and in the recons-truction that will follow, we shall heartily co-operate with all those who will help us in overthrowing the common enemy. I am confident that in this sacred struggle, the vast majority of the Indian people will be with us. No manoeuvre, intrigue or conspiracy on the part of the agents of Anglo-American Imperialism, however prominent they may be and to whichever nationality they may belong, can throw dust in the eyes of the Indian people or swerve them from the path of patriotic duty. The hour of Indias salvation is at hand. India will now rise and break the chains of servitude that have bound her so long. Through Indias liberation will Asia and the world move forward towards the larger goal of human emancipation.
[From the first broadcast to the world over Azad Hind Radio, February 19, 1942]
A question which many people ask is as to what will happen when the British are forced to leave India. British propaganda has made many people think that without the British there will be anarchy and chaos in India. These people conveniently forget that British occupation began only in 1757 and was not complete till 1857while India is a land whose history is measured, by thousands of years. If culture, civilisation, administration and economic prosperity were possible in India before British rulethey will also be possible after British rule. In fact, under British rule, the culture and civilisation of India has been suppressed, the administration has been denationalised and a land that was formerly rich and prosperous has become one of the poorest in the world...
It would be wrong to dogmatise from now about the exact form of the future Indian state. One can only indicate the principles which will underlie that state and determine its form. India has had experience of several Empires in the past and this experience will furnish the background on which we shall have to build in future. Then we shall have to consider the causes which led to our political downfall and prevent their recurrence in future. Further, we shall have to remember that the intelligentsia of India today is quite familiar with modern political institu-tions and is greatly interested in them. We shall also have to consider the political experiments made in different parts of Europe in the post-Versailles period. And lastly, we shall have to consider the requirements of the Indian situation.
One thing, however, is clear. There will be a strong Central Government. Without such a Government, order and public security cannot be safeguarded. Behind this Government will stand a well-organised, disciplined all-India party, which will be the chief instrument for maintaining national unity.
The state will guarantee complete religious and cultural freedom for individuals and groups and there will be no state-religion. In the matter of political and economic rights there will be perfect equality among the whole population. When every individual has employment, food and education and has freedom in religious and cultural matters, there will be no more any minorities problem in India.
When the new regime is stabilised and the state-machinery begins to function smoothly, power will be decentralised and the provincial governments will be given more responsibility.
The state will have to do everything possible to unify the whole nation and all methods of propagandapress, radio, cinema, theatre, etc.will have to be utilised for this purpose. All anti-national and disruptive elements will have to be firmly suppressedalong with such secret British agents as may still exist in the country. An adequate police force will have to be organised for this purpose and the law will have to be amended, so that offences against national unity may be punished heavily. Hindustani, which is already understood in most parts of the country, will be adopted as the common language for India. Special emphasis will have to be laid on the proper education of boys and girls and of students in the schools and in the universities, so that they may imbibe the spirit of national unity at an early age.
British propaganda has deliberately created the impression that the Indian Mohammedans are against the Independence movement. But this is altogether false. The fact is that in the nationalist movement, there is a large percentage of Moham-medans. The President of the Indian National Congress today is Azada Mohammedan. The vast majority of the Indian Mohammedans are anti-British and want to see India free. There are no doubt pro-British parties among both Mohammedans and Hindus which are organised as religious parties. But they should not be regarded as representing the people.
The great revolution of 1857 was a grand example of national unity. The war was fought under the flag of Bahadur Shah, a Mohammedan, and all sections of the people joined in it. Since then, Indian Mohammedans have continued to work for national freedom. Indian Mohamme-dans are as much children of the soil as the rest of the Indian population and their interests are identical. The Mohammedan (or Muslim) problem in India today is an artificial creation of the British similar to the Ulster-Problem in Ireland and the Jewish problem in Palestine. It will disappear when British rule is swept away...
While dealing with the problems of reconstruction, it would be interesting to know that in December, 1938 when I was the President of the Indian National Congress, I inaugurated a National Planning Committee, for drawing up plans for reconstruction in every department of life. This Committee has already done valuable work and its reports will be helpful for our future activity.
The Indian Princes and their States are an anachronism which must soon be abolished. They would have disappeared long ago, if the British had not preserved them in order to hamper the unification of the country. Most of the Princes are active supporters of the British Government and there is not a single Prince who is likely to play a role, similar to that which Piemont played in the Risorgimento movement in Italy. Among the people of the States who are one-fourth of the total Indian population, there is a popular movement which is closely connected with the Congress movement in British India. The Princes will naturally disappear along with the British rule, since most of them are very unpopular with their own people. But they cannot present any difficulty to the Free India Government... Young India has a gigantic task to fulfil. There are tremendous difficulties to overcome, no doubt, but there is also the joy and glory of struggle and ultimate victory.
[From the article Free India and her Problems, first published in the German periodical Wille und Macht in August 1942 and then reproduced in Azad Hind, the official publication of the Free India Centre in Berlin]
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2017 > Lead, kindly Light . . .
From N.C.s Writings
Every year we dutifully go through the ritual of offering homage to Gandhiji on the day of his martyrdom.
We shall once again be witnessing the ceremony on January 30 to be conducted as per protocolearly morning prayer at Rajghat, singing of bhajans and hymns, a round of spinning and then during the course of the day, meetings and seminars and a special programme on Doordarshan to remind us of the Father of the Nation. VVIPs encircled by gun-totting security guards will do the round of the Samadhi marked with the two words that he had uttered lastHey Ram! And there will be the military salute as it is officially celebrated as the Martyrs Day to remind ourselves of those known and unknown heroes who had laid down their lives in the freedom struggle.
This year, of course, we miss Gandhiji more than ever before as we watch the hideous apparition of the demon of communal violence engulfing city after city, as Hate overpowers sanity in communal killings, forcing thousands homeless, and handing over normal life to goonda gangs or mastans linked to political bosses. Not that it all started with Ayodhya December 6. Communal violence has been flaring up here and there all these fortyfive years since he was shot dead. And yet Ayodhya December 6, 1992 has become a watershed in the annals of contemporary India. For, here a place of worship of one faith was demolished by insensate fanatics, bent on building a place of worship of another faith at that very spot. The architects of this campaign say that they are determined to build a grand temple there because they knew that Lord Ram was born at that very spot.
Their plea has been that a general of Emperor Babur had demolished a temple to build a mosque. And so five hundred years later they must, tit-for-tat, demolish the mosque to build the templeall in the name of Ram, who was the personification of benign tolerance and transparent candour. It was a short-shrift job, the demolition of the mosque by a competent demolition squad coming stealthily under cover of the massive crowd collected by a non-stop campaign. But in the aftermath of that demolition operation, three thousand people lost their lives in distant parts of the country in the tension-charged weeks that allowed. Not only the scars of that trail of bloody violence are visible, but the assailants have been freely roaming all over, untouched by the guardians of law and order.
There have no doubt been protests, angry protests, from hundreds and thousandsin speeches and statements, meetings and rallies. And yet with all these stirrings, however belated, for stamping out communalism, in the midst of it all, we miss Gandhiji. And what would he have done had he been living in our midst today? Perhaps the answer to this question might help our leaders to strike out for the right path to meet the challenge of communal hatred.
Those of us who are old enough to remember him have to confess that in those days many of us in our youthful impudence used to think that the frail old man was making too much fuss about Hindu-Muslim animosity, as we fondly believed that the problem would be solved once the British quit our country, since the Raj exploited the principle of divide-and-rule.
But Gandhiji could sense danger ahead. He was not secular in the European sense of the word, in which the secular is meant as opposed to the clerical. Gandhis view on secularisma term he rarely usedwas that in the Indian context, it should extend equal respect for all religions. Himself a devout Hindu, he insisted that the Muslim must have the same right to pursue his own faith. At the same time he campaigned for the removal of inequities enjoined by Hindu tradition. Hence his campaign for the Harijans right of entry to any temple, and his insistence on the active involvement of women in the national struggle for independenceboth the issues which the orthodox school in the Hindu society has frowned upon to this day.
With his arrival on the national political scene, he sought to unite the Congress with the Muslim League, which in the early twenties culminated in the Congress-Khilafat pact. In the thirties came his tireless crusade against the pernicious British device of separate electoratekeeping the Hindus and the Muslims apart, as also the Scheduled Castes from caste Hindus. While he succeeded in persuading Ambedkar to give up separate electorate and agree to reservation of seats in the legislature for the Scheduled Castes, Gandhiji could not win over the Muslim League for scrapping the system of separate electorate for the Muslims. Few of our political leaders at that time or later could anticipate the danger that the separate electorate system spelt for Indias unity. Only Gandhi could foresee it.
Herein lay the seeds of partition. Hence his last-ditch efforts in the forties to come to an understanding with Jinnah and ward off the partition which the British had already planned to impose by exploiting the demand for Pakistan. Gandhijis last desperate efforts could be seen during the hectic days of negotiations with the British Raj immediately after the end of the Second World War. And when he found he could not convince even his trusted colleagues in the Congress High Command to repudiate the partition plan in the Mount-batten award, he withdrew. The Congress Working Committee took the momentous decision to agree to the countrys partition as per the Mountbatten Plan without the advice and consent of the tallest member of the party.
Gandhiji could foresee the bloodbath that the partition brought, and his entire efforts at that time were directed towards healing the wounds of the partition. It was a one-man crusade which took him to Noakhali, Calcutta and Bihara fearless pilgrim traversing the frightening jungle of hatred. And he had planned to go to Pakistan with the same message of harmony instead of hate when he himself fell to the bullet of a fanatic Hindu assailant.
For him, the mission was simple, straight as an arrowsince the partition could not be averted, let us concentrate on reinvigorating the urge for Hindu-Muslim harmony and peace. No hatred for Pakistan, but extend the hand of trust and amity and thereby break down the barrier of suspicion and hatreda far-reaching design for the two communities, for the two countries, to live in harmony and honour.
Thats how Gandhiji comes back to us today, alive and beckoning us all to live and let live. To be my brothers keeper was his watchword for building this great land of ours.
Today we miss him mosthe with his constant prayer, Lead kindly Light amid the encircling gloom....
(Mainstream, January 30, 1993)
If the Republicans get a majority in the US House of Representatives, as is expected, theyll focus on lawsuit investment transparency and Chinas IP practices
Washington: For the first time, the Trump administration has indicated that Pakistan could be included in a list of Muslim-majority countries from where immigration to the US has been banned by President Donald Trump.
"The reason we chose those seven countries was, those were the seven countries that both the Congress and the Obama administration identified as being the seven countries that were most identifiable with dangerous terrorism taking place in their country," White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said.
Trump's controversial executive order, signed on Friday, halted the entire US refugee programme for 120 days, indefinitely banned Syrian refugees, and suspended all nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Somalia.
Falling uncertainty gave stocks a tailwind in 2016 as investors moved past the Brexit referendum and US presidential election. By year end, persistent skepticism gave way to budding optimism, and the proverbial "animal spirits" stirred. This year, it should be continental Europe's turn. France, Germany and the Netherlands all hold national elections, while Italy is expected to call snap elections as well. Many fear populist, non-traditional, anti-EU parties on both the far right and left are on the rise and will grab national power. Though these parties are gaining in polls and winning local elections, they still lack the political infrastructure to meaningfully impact policy or make the market's most-feared scenarios-like another country's exit from the EU or even the eurozone-a reality. Thus, when the "worst-case" scenario doesn't come to pass, the likely result is relief.
European politics are factionalized and scattered. In the US, the two-party system dominates, with minor third party movements cropping up occasionally. But in the parliamentary system-used often in Europe and elsewhere around the globe-there is room for more parties and more platforms. Lately, parties with minority support have popped up across Europe, forcing fragile coalitions and muddying the legislature's ability to take decisive policy action. This feature alone screams more gridlock than widely imagined, reducing legislative risks for stocks.
Italy
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned in December after his referendum on Senate reforms failed. His former Foreign Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, became caretaker prime minister, heading a technocratic government with a narrow mandate to reform the electoral process and address a handful of struggling banks. Renzi (who remains his party's leader) has mooted calling snap elections in the spring or summer, and many fear the anti-euro Five Star Movement Party (M5S) could win and decide to take Italy out of the eurozone. Recent polls show M5S polling neck and neck with Renzi's Democratic Party at ~28%. Both parties would struggle to form a stable government, let alone push through significant legislation. Furthermore, a recent poll indicates only ~15% of Italians would favor an exit from the eurozone. The worst-case and most-feared scenario remains a low-probability event.
France
French presidential elections will be held in April (with a likely second round in May), and little has changed in the race to replace FranCois Hollande. Recent polls still favor the anti-EU Front National's Marine Le Pen and center-right Republican candidate FranCois Fillon emerging from the first round of votes, with Fillon winning the presidency in the second round by a substantial margin (64% to 36%). Even if an enormous scandal were to derail Fillon-he is currently doing damage control over questions surrounding his employment of his wife when he was a lawmaker-centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron would likely make it to the second round in his place. Macron is polling with a similarly wide lead versus Le Pen (65% to 35%). Le Pen likes to point to Brexit and Trump's victory as a sign of hope for her candidacy, but both polled much better than she ever has so far.
Germany
Similar to France, there are scant new developments for German elections: Angela Merkel will run for a fourth term as Chancellor, with voters going to the polls on September 24. Merkel's center-right coalition continues to lead in the polls (33%), with the center-left Social Democratic Party trailing (21%). The far-right anti-EU Alternative for Germany (AfD) remains well behind at 15%. Merkel's popularity has taken a hit tied to terrorist attacks and the immigration crisis, yet she still remains by far the most popular politician in Germany.
The Netherlands
Dutch voters head to the polls March 15 in parliamentary elections. Not unlike the larger countries in the eurozone, the Netherlands also has a far-right anti-EU party: The Party for Freedom, led by Geert Wilders, which currently leads polls. While that may sound alarming, his party is expected to win only 33 of parliament's 150 seats, making coalition-building quite challenging. Forming a government strong enough to pull the Netherlands out of the EU is even more improbable, as several parties have already indicated a lack of willingness to partner with Wilders. Switzerland provides a good example of what the next Dutch government might look like. Their largest party in parliament, the far-right Swiss People's Party, is currently not a part of the government, instead sitting in opposition to a cobbled-together coalition of centrist parties. The Dutch economy isn't in dire need of reforms, so a gridlocked government would be fine for markets.
Much like we saw last year with Brexit and the US presidential election, European elections will likely fail to deliver the wallop market participants dread. Fear of a false factor is bullish for markets, and European politics will provide us with several of those this year.
US Dollar Chartathon
In this Weekend Report I'm going to show you some updated charts on the US dollar which has been in a bull market since the low in 2011. It's hard for a lot of investors to admit, but until the charts change the bull market continues. A bull market is characterized by a series of consolidation patterns forming one top of the next, until the last pattern is a reversal pattern which reverses the bull trend. The old expression, the trend is your friend, also applies to the US dollar as well. Until the US dollar negates the series of higher highs and higher lows on an intermediate term basis, we have to assume the bull market is in tact.
Lets start by looking at a daily line chart for the US dollar which shows the horizontal trading range beginning back in March of 2015. The breakout topside of the horizontal trading range took place a little over 2 months ago in November of last year. After the initial breakout there was the initial backtest which could have been the beginning of the next impulse move up, but the US dollar stalled out a month later and is currently backtesting the top rail around the 100 area again.
This is getting a lot of investors bearish on the US dollar, but nothing is broken yet. So far the top rail of the rectangle consolidation pattern is still holding support and until it's broken this is still just a backtest before the next impulse move up begins in earnest. It's all about playing the odds.
US Dollar Index Daily Chart
Below is a daily bar chart for the US dollar which shows the price action backtesting the top rail of the sideways trading range. Last Friday the US dollar closed right on the top rail. A worst case bullish scenario for the US dollar would be if the price action declined down to the center dashed mid line, that can happen in sideways trading ranges before the move you were looking for finally takes place. A close below the center dashed mid line would negate the bullish breakout that is currently underway.
US Dollar Index Daily Chart 2
There is another consolidation pattern that has formed during the last year of trading inside the horizontal trading range which is a double H&S bottom. Neckline #1 was broken to the upside in October of last year with the backtest to the neckline being the US election spike. From that backtest the US dollar rallied strongly and broke out above neckline #2, which was also backtested from above with the 50 day ema giving support at the neckline. Neckline #2 support now comes in at the 98.85 area.
US Dollar Index Daily Chart 3
This next chart is a weekly look which puts our year and a half horizontal trading range in perspective. In a bull market there is an impulse leg up followed by a consolidation pattern that leads to the next impulse leg up, so on and so fourth, until the bull market exhausts itself and a reversal pattern builds out.
There are 3 important trendlines which should offer support. The first one is the top rail of the blue trading range which is now being tested. The second important trendline is neckline #2. If neckline #2 fails, then the last bit of support will come in at the bottom rail of the major uptrend channel.
US Dollar Index Weekly Chart
This next chart is a weekly combo chart which has the US dollar on top and gold on the bottom. On the right hand side of this combo chart you can see the 2 H&S patterns that formed on both the US dollar on top, and gold on the bottom, that have formed inversely to each other complete with the US elections spikes. There is also a short term inverse correlation taking place at the December 2016 low on gold that corresponds with the high made on the US dollar, which has now fallen back to the top of the trading range. The bottom line is,, whatever direction the US dollar goes, gold will most likely go in the opposite direction until proven otherwise.
US Dollar Index Weekly Chart 2
This next chart for the US dollar is a long term monthly look which shows a massive 10 year base which launched the US dollar's bull market. From a Chartology perspective the bigger the base the bigger the bull market. I would expect that at a bare minimum we should see at least one more impulse leg up before the bull market exhausts itself, with the possibility of several more consolidation patterns forming before the bull market ends.
US Dollar Index Monthly Chart
Below is another combo chart which has the US dollar on top and gold on the bottom. The most important aspect of this chart is shown by the two sets of red arrows. The red arrows on the left side of the chart shows where the US dollar bottomed out in 2008 and gold topped out just before the crash. The two red arrows in the center of the chart shows the positive divergence the US dollar had to gold in 2011. Note that massive rally gold had out of the 2008 crash low which led to the bull market peak at 1920 in 2011. While gold was going parabolic the US dollar should have been declining in a significant way taking out the 2008 low, but it didn't. As you can see the US dollar actually made a higher low vs the 2008 low, creating the positive divergence for the US dollar to gold. That is the point where I mark the beginning of the US dollar's bull market. Since that 2011 low the US dollar has been in a bull market while gold has been in a bear market.
US Dollar Index and Gold Monthly Charts
Now lets look at a couple of charts for the XEU. If the US dollar is backtesting an important trendline then the odds are high that the euro is also backtesting an important trendline. Note the H&S top that formed within the sideways trading range that matches the inverse H&S bottom on the US dollar chart we looked at earlier.
Euro Weekly Chart
This long term monthly chart for the XEU shows a massive H&S top in place. The impulse move down out of the blue bearish rising wedge is the same impulse move up in the US dollar, which started in 2014. After slicing through the brown shaded support and resistance zone the euro began to consolidate that big move down by building out the red triangle consolidation pattern just below the S&R zone. If the next impulse move down takes hold, there is a good chance that we will see a move similar to the one when the price action broke below the blue bearish rising wedge, right shoulder.
Euro Monthly Chart
The weekly chart for the XEU shows a close up view of the 2014 impulse move down and the current blue triangle consolidation pattern building out. I have been looking for a backtest to the bottom rail to come in around the 107 area, which was hit this past week.
XEU Weekly Chart
The last chart for the XEU shows why we need to pay attention to what this currency does as gold tends to trade in tandem. It's not a perfect correlation but close enough.
XEU and Gold Daily Charts
The XJY, Japanese yen, is another important currency to follow if you want to know what the PM complex is up to. In 2011 the yen built out a H&S top about the same time gold topped out. Just like gold, the yen has also been in a bear market, forming a small base in 2015, which gave the yen its first counter trend rally. This counter trend rally took the price action back up to the top rail of the black 5 point triangle pattern which now became the apex. The apex of a triangle is where all the energy is located between the bulls and the bears. Normally they will hold support or resistance depending on the direction of the move. If the apex of a triangle fails to hold support or resistance then you have an end around move, which can be bullish if the move is up, or bearish if the move is down. This chart shows the apex holding resistance.
Japanese Yen Monthly Chart
This next chart I overlaid GLD on top of the XJY which shows it has an even closer correlation than gold and the XEU. So how the yen moves, so will GLD.
Japanese Yen and Gold Daily Charts
This last chart for the yen I overlaid the HUI on top so you can see the correlation which is pretty strong. You can see there is some interesting price action on the right hand side of the chart as shown by the thin black dashed trendlines. If the yen bounces then the HUI should bounce too. If the yen puts in a double top then there is a good chance the HUI will breakdown below its dashed trendline. It looks like this week is going to be very interesting in regards to these two.
Japanese Yen and HUI Gold Bugs Index Daily Charts
The UUP is a proxy for the US dollar which shows its trading range was a black bull flag. A backtest to the top rail would come in around the 25.50 area where the 34 week ema would also come into play.
US Dollar Index Bulish Fund Weekly Chart
The 10 year weekly chart for the UUP shows its entire history. Note the year and a half blue bullish falling flag that formed at the end of the major downtrend channel which gave the UUP the energy it needed to finally take out that top rail of the downtrend channel. After breaking out of that major downtrend channel the UUP has been consolidating in another blue flag which broke out late last year, and is deciding if it wants to do a complete backtest to the top rail and the 30 week ema.
US Dollar Index Bulish Fund Weekly Chart 2
This last chart for tonight is a weekly look at the USDU which has a more equal weighting for the US dollar. We've been following the breakout from the blue diamond for three months or longer which is still in play. The 30 week ema does a good job of showing you where support and resistance lies.
The bottom line is, how the US dollar trades will have a direct impact on currencies and the PM complex. They can move together for short periods of time, but in the long run they tend to move inversely to each other. The US dollar is doing a critical backtest that is going to give us some important clues by how it interacts with the top rail of its nearly 2 year trading range. If the US dollar fails to follow through to the upside then the PM complex will enjoy another very strong bull market. Right now the US dollar is at an inflection point in regards to the big picture, which will come to an end at some point. All the best...Rambus
Wisdom Tree Bloomberg US Dollar Bullish Fund Weekly Chart
All the best
Gary (for Rambus Chartology)
http://rambus1.com
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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.
Rambus Chartology Archive
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Is This The Best Way For Investors To Play The Electric Car Boom
As Tesla fires up itsUS$5-billion battery gigafactory to mass produce lithium-ion batteries in a historical turning point, lithium prices are set to explode, there has never been a better year to be a lithium company.
Tesla began mass production of lithium-ion batteries in the first week of January 2017, and by the end of the year it will have led to a doubling of global battery production capacity. By 2018, Tesla predicts it will churn out 35 gigawatts of batteries per year. Its a massive amount that surpasses more than what the rest of the world combined produces.
To put it more succinctly, Teslas Nevada Gigafactory alone will lead to a doubling of global battery production capacity next year alreadyand with such limited supply availability it means a bull run for lithium. If lithium grows at its expected rate of 16 percent annually, it will be the fastest-growing commodity of the century--and junior lithium companies may turn out to be the fastest-growing companies of the century.
Lithium X Energy Corp. (TSX.V: LIX) (OTCQB: LIXXF) is a small-cap lithium company with a large resource (> 1 million tonnes LCE) and a dream team that has stormed the new supply scene in a way that would have been unthinkable just a couple of years ago.
Not only does the company have a world-class lithium resource in one of the sweetest lithium spots in the world, but it also has a world class technical and financial team with a strategic vision that has the potential to turn this into a billion-dollar company.
Heres why:
#1 Flawless Sector Fundamentals
Lithium stocks continue to rise, and analysts view 2017 as the strongest lithium rise yet because of Teslas Model 3 demand. The demand is not even in question: Teslas already got some 370,000 reservations and is looking to deliver 100,000 before the end of the year. Its more a question of supply meeting demand at this point.
Lux Research, a leading independent research and advisory firm, believes the electric vehicle market will grow to $10 billion within the next four years, while Navigant Research forecasts sales of electric vehicles to increase from 2.6 million in 2015 to over 6 million in 2024.
Last month saw the highest number of EV sales in the U.S . ever, with sales up 37 percent in 2016 from the previous year. The consensus is that the startup of Teslas battery gigafactory will boost that sales growth further and faster.
In the meantime, Tesla isnt aloneits got competitors, and the battery gigafactory scene is heating up quickly. Those competitors need lithium, too.
Demand is set to soar. According to Deutsche Bank, demand for lithium will rise from 209,000 tonnes in 2016 to 534,000 tonnes in 2025.
#2 Prime Lithium Land
When we talk about lithium, we arent talking about very many prime locations. More than 70 percent of the worlds known lithium reserves are in the lithium triangle of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. In the U.S., not only is Nevada ground zero for the American lithium boom, but its also host to the only lithium mine in the United Statesand Lithium X has prime projects in both places.
LIX has a market capitalization of US$110 million, but its lithium properties tell a story with a potentially much higher price tag. Other lithium companies operating in the lithium triangle have markets caps ranging from US$15 million to US$1 billion.
The company is developing its 8,156 hectare Sal de los Angeles project, situated in the prolific lithium Triangle in Salta Province, Argentina. LIX owns the right to mine lithium on 32 claims here, nearby major miner FMC Corps Fenix deposit at Salar de Hombre Muertoone of the biggest lithium operations in the world. Here, Lithium X and its predecessors have already invested some US$20 million. And so far, resource estimates confirm the significance of the deposit.
More importantly, Lithium X is also the largest land holder in Nevadas Clayton Valley, the only producing lithium area in the entire United States. The company has over 15,000 acres in Clayton Valley, adjacent to Albermarles Silver Peak mine, the only American lithium producer right now, and about three hours from Teslas gigafactory, where flipping the on switch has just created the start of a market frenzy.
#3 Best Operational Team in the World
Though lithium is the hottest commodity of our time, lithium companiesin their purest formare actually rare. There are only a small number of lithium mining companies on the TSX.V compared to the enormous number of gold companies listed.
What this means from an investors viewpoint is that talent is everything with this commodity, and real talent is hard to come by because few have the raw lithium industry executive experience necessary to develop this commodity in a sudden demand surge atmosphere.
It also means that there is a heated battle on to steal the best lithium executives because everyone knows this is where the winners and losers will be determined on this playing field.
Its also what makes Lithium X stand out. A brief look at the executive set-up here and it all becomes clear: Weve got people, projects and capital, the three pillars of the mining business and the key to identifying the most promising early-stage mining opportunities.
Eduardo Morales leads the operating team and has 36 years of experience, former CEO of Rockwood Litio Ltd. And former President of Rockwood Lithium Latin America, who developed Salar de Atacama from grass roots all the way up to a world leader in the production of battery grade lithium carbonate. Thanks to Morales leadership, Rockwood was sold to Albermarle Corporation in 2014 for US$6.2 billion.
Paul Matysek, Lithium Xs executive chairman, is a geochemist and geologist and also a corporate entrepreneur. Hes built up and sold four companies in the past 10 years for over US$2.3 billionand that includes lithium.
Brian Paes-Braga, founder and CEO of Lithium X, is a visionary whose touch has so far turned pretty much everything to gold.
It also helps immensely that equity financing and corporate structuring are the purview of Fiore Advisory, led by Frank Giustra, a Canadian business mogul who really needs no introduction and whose mining prowess is legendary. Giustras reputation for financing high-level, successful natural resource deals means capital follows him around automatically. In fact, the industry calls it the Giustra Premium. This is where we see the smart money getting into lithium at the right time.
And theres no question about commitment, with roughly 20% insider ownership. They wont settle for anything short of another big success.
Indeed, from their perspective, success is imminent. The company is advancing full speed ahead, and looking to convert resources into reserves at a fast pace. In Argentina, construction on a 2,500-tonne pilot ponding facility should be permitted within the next 6 months, or sooner, in a JV agreement, and the contractor for this project is ready to mobilize. This will be a major step towards full-scale lithium production.
The LIX dream team has extensive experience and demonstrated success in Argentina, and just as importantly, the capacity to raise money. And in the emerging lithium boom, those who advance fastest in the race to production will be rewarded handsomely. LIX is working on its feasibility study, which is the last technical step to production--where investment turns into profit.
With Tesla already fired up and the hunger for lithium-ion batteries more voracious than ever before, the race to new lithium production is on, and it will be the best and brightest executive team that win when the dust on this energy revolution settles.
Elon Musk has already said Tesla needs to absorb the entire worlds lithium production adding that he, will seek American lithium sources first. With Tesla already inking early stage supply agreements in the Clayton Valley region already... the time to move on this opportunity is now.
We fully expect Lithium X (TSX.V: LIX) (OTCQB: LIXXF)whose ambition is to become a billion-dollar companyto emerge on the top when that happens.
By James Burgess of Oilprice.com
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New Cold War with a Different Enemy
As all the alarm bells ring continuously that the Russian Federation is the cause for the latest cold war, the actual risk for a hot conflict or an intentional brinkmanship of worldwide proportions should focus on the real enemy of humanity. The Brexit campaign was about more than just leaving the European Union. Likewise, the Trump movement is about a great deal more than just keeping Hillary Clinton from the oval office. Formerly the nation-state was the organizational format for government. Europe emerged from the dark ages to carve out kingships and spend centuries of warring with mostly bloodline relatives. When the bonds of feudalism loosened and economic advancement expanded the enlightenment of human thinking altered the political landscape. Notions of democratic principles germinated into ushering aside Kaisers, Czars and Kings. The popular vote in a strange ritual came to be known as an election, was culturally adopted as registering the popular will of the people.
Oh, what a charming fairy tale, if only folks could really live happily ever after. What is missing from this Grimms fable is that the planet has never been ruled by benevolent government. Often the officials that administer the institutions of the state are not the real power. If you have the intellectual courage to face the way the world actually operates, clear your mind from all the false narratives that want people to accept that there are good political regimes that need to prevail against oppressive authorities.
Indeed, this game does not fly. At the root of the never-ending conflict that has enslaved mankind from the days when Cain killed Abel, the forces or coercion has dominated political affairs. At last, excuses of blindness do not apply. The lines between complete world subjugation and a reprieve from the edge of insanity have presented itself.
The Economic Nationalism: Alternative to Globalism makes the following point, Globalism is on the precipice of a world-wide implosion. The danger is not just a planetary economic depression, but an intentional political crisis that will demand even more control and loss of access to meaningful commerce.
Money in whatever form that can be manipulated best runs the skids of collectivist control for all the naive populations that delude themselves into accepting this totalitarian paradigm. In spite of this, ordinary oppressed citizens can advance the collapse of the unambiguous controllers for this incessant dialect for unending war fever.
The once secretive elites of financial domination want people to believe they are so confident in their power command that they can go public with their announced plan to kill the populist dragon. Actually, they are desperate to keep a lid on their cryptic matrix, because the truth be told, only a destructive global war can save their financial house of cards.
With all the press from the beautiful people gathering at the World Economic Forum in Davos you get the opposite side of the blue blood Bilderberg coin from the counterfeit mega-rich. So when Reuters reports that the World's eight richest as wealthy as half humanity, Oxfam tells Davos, just ask; how did they accumulate all this absurdly disproportionate disparity?
Hey, in the age of digital technology, the art of price fixing and monopoly preeminence has allowed the alchemy moneychangers to literally print their immense return even quicker than compound interest. When currency and equity transactions can generate ill-gotten gains for the privileged of all elites you know that the Rothschild architecture for financial captivity has done very, very well.
Remember all the financial institutions for bankster management of the billions of serfs; reside in their World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Central Banks and the Bank of International Settlement. In laymans terms this is the heart of the New World Order. This system of autocratic domination forms the marrow of the established international community. People are expendable, but their interlocking of mutual authoritarian interests must prevail.
So it comes as no surprise that In Davos, Xi makes case for Chinese leadership role: In the first appearance by a Chinese leader at the annual meeting of political leaders, CEOs and bankers in the Swiss Alps, Xi also cautioned other countries against blindly pursuing their national interests, in an apparent reference to the "America first" policies of Donald Trump.
China has always been the darling of the globalists. The entire Free Trade swindle was maximized under the Red Chinese Communists. It is the preferred model upon which national independence can be exterminated.
Back in the U.S.A., the parasites within government are working overtime to retain their influence as the Trump administration starts taking their turn at taming the establishment bureaucracy. With the appointment of seasoned Wall Street insiders, the prospect of reinventing the monetary system is doubtful.
The fate of Trump prosperity relies upon preventing a staged collapse. Being at the mercy of algorithm computerized shorting as the central bank holds hostage the money supply might forecast that a successful national restoration would be so difficult that the global financial system will just continue to dominate over the common folks.
Still, the restless sentiments within the European Union countries may well erupt into a dramatic renunciation of the EU technocrats. Can the money mongers risk a continental uprising when one of their favored distractions can be used to keep the printing presses running at a fevered pace?
The munitions merchants that played such an important role to keep WWI going have transformed into vast corporatist defense contractors who are most proficient at travelling the revolving door circuit. War, whether real of imaginary is a sure profit center.
The difference in the 21st century is that European countries are not defended by large standing armies nor do they want to disturb their commercial cash flow. Into this mix, China represents the biggest threat to any nation, who wants to survive as an independent cultural and commercial entity.
The alliance between the EU globalists and the Chi-Coms is a union made in hell. Keeping the corporatist cartel a competitive completion free zone is reason enough to gin up a new cold war. After all, if the prognoses that the stability and fortunes of your own nation are profoundly threatened, should not a country understand their real enemy?
Hey, the multi-billionaire elites buy their way into political influence. So why should they be concerned about all the billions of peons when they are sterilized from consummating any profound retaliation? Just threaten them with an economic depression or a nuclear winter and the unruly will grovel to get back in line.
The best way to keep the fearful and insecure in their prison of despair and apathy is to nip in the bud the animal spirits that start to unleash when measurable successes from national pride and independence spread.
Capitalizing on scaring people into thinking a frosty fight is eminent is like pumping up the fright that global warming will melt the worlds ice caps. Sorry, this new cold war is being marketed as keeping people in the dark. No sun light is allowed to shine upon the international climate change of commercial corporatist extortion.
Every American has an economic self-interest in eliminating the U.S. trade deficit. The many decades of Chinas unscrupulous imbalance in trade practices has fueled the globalist shakedown racket. Now that the Trump Nation is pushing back, the fake news from the main stream media controlled by the globalists, preaches their free trade financial Judgment Day scenario.
With all the Chinese acquisitions of Hollywood film enterprises, it will not be long before the brainwashing messages will script the Red Commies as the savior to our America First nationalism.
The fifth column within our own borders and all the damage from Bill Clintons surrendering of military missile technology has added to the threat from mainland China. The globalists need a new protector, even if it means bringing the doomsday clock to almost midnight.
Abandoning the TPP is a clarion call to go much further. It is long overdue to withdraw from the World Trade Organization. Globalism Destroys America: 10 Reasons Why The World Trade Organization Is Bad For The United States Economy demonstrates that reason or common sense does not exist within the establishment elites. The vast majority of our politicians are 100 percent behind this system which is designed to deindustrialize the United States, ship our jobs overseas and substantially lower our standard of living.
The globalist demand that America must continue the same failed policies of the last half century is a bluff to swallow our diminished place in the world. Trump voters know better. Its only the economic illiterates or the corporatist lackeys that panic about taking on China or International Finance.
When the Democrat Senate knuckle draggers cease their obstruction, Trumps commerce team will prove that the world wants to trade with the U.S. under fair and mutually beneficial terms.
The globalists have already been waging war on America. One day people will get so mad that the small group of oligarchs and plutocrats will not be safe on their island retreats of underground bunkers. Maybe then they will feel the chill from their Davos carnage.
SARTRE
Source: http://www.batr.org/totalitariancollectivism/013117.html
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The Philippines BRIC Effort
From Regime Change Ploys to Accelerated Economic Development
While the Obama White House prepared plans for regime change in the Philippines, President Trump is working on an assertive strategy in Asia. Meanwhile, President Duterte is accelerating the countrys economic growth dramatically.
After the election triumph of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines has initiated a series of economic reforms to accelerate development, decentralise governance and a tough but controversial struggle against corruption and drugs.
The early economic signals are promising. Recently, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III announced that the government is set to sustain growth at close to 7% in 2017, despite political noise, by banking on higher infrastructure spending, tax and other reforms, improved peace and order.The big question is President Trumps strategy for the region. With his keen interest in history, Duterte knows only too well that, while the US is a powerful regional ally, American security state and imperial dreams, including torture, originate historically from the Philippines. Yet, few expected the Obama State Department to respond as palpably as it reportedly did.
Regime Change Plan
After the controversial US Ambassador Philip Goldberg left the Philippines, he wrote a blueprint to undermine Duterte within 18 months. According to the document, which was leaked to The Manila Times early in the year, Goldberg advocates fostering public discontent with Duterte by isolating the Philippines through military assistance and economic blackmail relative to other ASEAN member countries.
While Goldberg thinks that (deposing Duterte) would be a challenge for the opposition, his goal is imperial rule and divide among Philippine congressmen and senators; the ASEAN states; and international multilateral organisations. Moreover, the pro-US opposition should be strengthened through aids and grants. The plan calls on Washington to deploy economic, political and military strategies against Duterte to bring him to his knees and eventually remove him from office.
According to Daniel Russel, State Departments assistance secretary for East Asian affairs, the allegations of a blueprint are false. However, Russel himself is a key figure in the US pivot towards Asia. US-based sources have also tried to discredit the blueprint as coming from Chinas Philippine Ambassador Zhao, which the executive editor of The Manila Times Dr. Dante Ang calls a fantasy.
It is not the first time Goldberg is associated with regime change efforts. In 2008 President Evo Morales and the Bolivian government gave him 3 days to leave the country after declaring him persona non grata following efforts to fund the opposition leaders, separatists and think-tanks with millions of dollars.
Yet, President Obama rewarded Goldberg by appointing him assistant secretary of state for Intelligence and Research; one of the 16 elements of the US Intelligence Community. That made Goldberg the middleman between US intelligence and US diplomacy. Thereafter he was sent to the Philippines, which he left in less than three years after efforts to intervene with the election outcome.
Exploiting Opposition, Human Rights and Ngos
The regime plan ensued after election last May, when President Aquinos designated successor former interior minister Manuel Roxas, an ex-investment banker and Liberal Party leader failed to deliver a democratic victory. Known as Mr. Market, Roxas appealed to elites in Manila and Washington but Duterte got almost 40% of the national vote, nearly twice as much as Roxas.
Since elections, there remain nagging questions about the rise of a narco state and drugs generals during Roxas watch as interior minister. One of them is a vocal Roxas supporter, retired national police chief general Marcelo Garbo Jr., a protector of drug syndicates. To set such perceptions aside, Goldbergs plan argues that the political opposition would need all the political weapons in their arsenal to replace Duterte. The plan advises restraint in expressing public support for former President Fidel Valdez Ramos and Vice President Leni Robredo, and other opposition leaders so as not to alarm the Duterte administration of an impending destabilization or a coup.
These plans rely on the center-right Philippine Liberal party, which is known for its market-friendly neoliberal policies and firm support of the US pivot to Asia. Ramos was trained at US West Point in 1960. In the 1980s, he was in President Marcoss inner circle of national police and military. Following the fall of Marcos, he served as President Corazon Aquinos military chief. In turn, Leni Robredo is a lawyer and social activist, who the Duterte administration sees more loyal to opposition and possibly the Goldberg plan. Her relationship with the Cabinet fell apart in December, when she was informed to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings.
In geopolitics, human rights and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have only too often been used as geopolitical instruments. The Philippines is no exception. In the Benigno Aquino III era until mid-2016, complacency with drug lords and narco politicians went hand in hand with the rise of 3.7 million addicts. International media was quiet about both. However, when Duterte started his war against drugs and corruption, which has cost over 6,000 lives, international concern escalated rapidly.
In the public debate, the point person has been Senator Leila de Lima, Aquinos former Secretary of Justice, who chaired a senate inquiry into the extrajudicial killings of drug suspects. She has been glorified by the BBC as the woman who dares to defy Philippine president Duterte and as an outspoken advocate of justice. For the same reason de Lima was invited to and awarded in the US as one of the leading 100 global thinkers by the Democrats Foreign Policy. In the Philippines, many see her awards as perversions of justice, however.
Last August, de Lima was found to have a 7-year affair with her lucratively-rewarded driver Ronnie Dayan who served as her money collector for drug protection and campaign financing. When she was still Justice Secretary, the Discovery Channel presented an unsettling documentary Inside the Gangsters codeon ruthless gangs exerting control over the notorious New Bilibid Prisons, while being coddled by the Aquino administration. Oddly enough, de Lima was removed from the Senate committee last September, but her international accolades ensued after the disclosure of her activities. International media has largely ignored her abuse of public office and public funds.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also play a role in US-Philippines geopolitics, along with wealthy US Filipinos linked with the Aquino circles, such as billionaire philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis, who served as an attorney for the US Immigration and Naturalization Services in 1979-90. Her sister is former chairwoman of Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Imelda Nicolas. Both are Robredo supporters.
A more influential source of funds is billionaire George Soros, who Duterte says has bankrolled local NGOs against him as he has been portrayed as a mass murderer in the West. International media has relied on these NGOs and think-tanks in their demonisation of Duterte.
Last November, the US-based Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) did not renew its $430 million aid grant to the Philippines. While the Dutertes criticism about aid conditions was reported as tirades against America in the West, the MCC is hardly independent. It is chaired by State Secretary John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. It also deploys indicators that precondition aid on neoliberal policies.
The MCC debacle is overshadowed by the economic implications of US-Philippine military ties. Until 2010, the countrys military expenditures decreased two decades from 1.6% to 0.8% of GDP. During the Aquino era, which coincides with the US pivot to Asia, the expenditures soared to almost 1.4% of GDP, according to SIPRI which in dollar terms is over five times the proposed aid package in just one year.
Ambitious, Transformational Economic Efforts
Under Dutertes leadership, Manilas economic development has been dramatically accelerated. Again, international media has largely ignored the story. According to Ernesto Pernia, director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Philippines must ramp up its total investment spending to some 30% of GDP to achieve its development goal.
The effort is to become an upper middle-income economy by the end of Dutertes term in 2022, which would pave the way for a high-income economy by 2040. If peaceful conditions prevail in Southeast Asia and the Philippines remains united, such ambitious objectives could be viable.
Last July, I argued in the Philippines Foreign Service Institute (FSI) that, in order to accelerate growth, the country should drastically increase both its domestic and foreign investment, seek funds not just from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) but from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); and not just from US and European multinationals but from Chinese companies. Nor can the Philippines any longer afford to export its people, I added. Although some 10% of the GDP can be attributed to remittances, no BRIC-like emerging economy can misallocate its human capital in such a manner. Even the most favourable demographics will be wasted, if there are not enough jobs.
It is this BRIC-like transformation that Manila is now trying to achieve. As a result, the public share of investments would have to climb from 5.4% of GDP in the ongoing year to 7% onward until 2022. As private and public investment is expected to contribute 18.6% and 5.4% of GDP, respectively, that would boost total investment to 24% of GDP. The Duterte administration is intent to restore the kind of growth track that the Philippines enjoyed in the early postwar era when its living standards were still second to those of Singapore in Southeast Asia.
However, even the ambitious infrastructure program will not be enough to eradicate poverty and become a high-income economy by 2040. To achieve its ultimate objective, the Philippines needs to raise total investments from the hoped-for 24% this year to 30% of GDP, of which only 7% would be contributed by the public sector.
Additionally, Manila needs to implement broad and deep reforms in tax policy and administration to raise enough revenue to fund the governments huge spending plan. According to ASEAN, in 2015 FDI in the Philippines was around $5.7 billion, significantly behind Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, which attracted FDI of $16.9 billion, $8.0 billion and $11.8 billion, respectively.
As real GDP growth rate is accelerating, Manila is pushing for legislative reform, which would streamline the regulatory environment, and the pivot to China, which translates to the participation of AIIB in Philippine projects and has already led to $24 billion in aid pledges. At the same time, the longstanding maritime dispute has been set aside. At the same time, Japan, a historical investment partner, is planning to raise its FDI in the Philippines with $1.8 billion in business deals plus a pledge from conglomerate Marubeni to invest $17.2 billion in water, power and infrastructure.
Unlike his predecessors, Duterte has little interest in exporting more people. We have to improve the economy so you will not come back here, said Duterte during his recent visit in Japan to migrant workers. If ever you will return to Japan, it will be for a vacation.
Finally, in my FSI presentation, I also argued that the Duterte administrations efforts to negotiate sustained peace deals with its Communist and Islamist insurgents could be seen as part of the new economic strategy. A no-conflict approach within and around the country would boost stability and thus increase the potential for prosperity. And that precisely has been Dutertes objective, particularly in the troubled regions and islands in the south; particularly in Mindanao, whose natural resources hold great potential for future economic development.
From Obamas Regime Changes to Trump Uncertainty
In the Philippines, the alleged plan of Vice President Robredos supporters to create dissent against Duterte has become a national issue. If a Ramos-Robredo scenario were to fail, Golberg advises exploiting possible rifts among Duterte supporters, or assisting Robredo led opposition groups coupled with the Catholic Church, business sector and NGOs.
Despite the controversial drugs war, Dutertes approval and trust ratings in the Philippines remains 83%, according to the Pulse Asia survey. Only 5% of the nation disapproves of Duterte. However, the ratings of opposition figures have fallen. At the same time, the legal battle about vice-presidency is heating. Leni Robredo won vice-presidency with a narrow margin against former senator Ferdinand Bong Bong Marcos, former President Marcoss son. In his electoral protest, Marcos says that the Liberal Party rigged the 2016 elections in favour of Robredo. That kind of fraud would no longer be surprising.
The stakes in the Philippines are no longer just domestic. Today the countrys stability is strongly supported by Beijing as well. Amid the news about the ouster plot, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China was confident on Dutertes leadership and would continue to support his policies.
Soon President Trumps administration must reassess Goldbergs regime-change scenarios in light of his own pledge to redefine America First policies in Asia and China. Before the US elections, Trump and Duterte had a brief but friendly phone conversation. While Duterte may get better along with Trump than former President Obama, the new White Houses Philippines plans are subject to its broader Asia and China strategy which as secretary of state Rex Tillertons confirmation hearings suggest could mean greater assertiveness in the region.
In the Philippines, any US-led regime change effort would face firm domestic, regional and international opposition. Only the Philippines can determine its own future. Unipolar regime change plans should have no role in the multipolar 21st century especially in Asia which is critical to global growth prospects.
Dr Steinbock is the founder of the Difference Group and has served as the research director at the India, China, and America Institute (USA) and a visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more information, see http://www.differencegroup.net/
The commentary was originally released by The European Financial Review on December 7, 2016 http://www.europeanfinancialreview.com/?p=12062
2017 Copyright Dan Steinbock - 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.
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A Better Solution Than Trump's Mexico Border Wall
Just one week in office, President Trump is already following through on his pledge to address illegal immigration. His January 25th executive order called for the construction of a wall along the entire length of the US-Mexico border. While he is right to focus on the issue, there are several reasons why his proposed solution will unfortunately not lead us anywhere closer to solving the problem.
First, the wall will not work. Texas already started building a border fence about ten years ago. It divided people from their own property across the border, it deprived people of their land through the use of eminent domain, and in the end the problem of drug and human smuggling was not solved.
Second, the wall will be expensive. The wall is estimated to cost between 12 and 15 billion dollars. You can bet it will be more than that. President Trump has claimed that if the Mexican government doesn't pay for it, he will impose a 20 percent duty on products imported from Mexico. Who will pay this tax? Ultimately, the American consumer, as the additional costs will be passed on. This will of course hurt the poorest Americans the most.
Third, building a wall ignores the real causes of illegal border crossings into the United States. Though President Trump is right to prioritize the problem of border security, he misses the point on how it can be done effectively and at an actual financial benefit to the country rather than a huge economic drain.
The solution to really addressing the problem of illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and the threat of cross-border terrorism is clear: remove the welfare magnet that attracts so many to cross the border illegally, stop the 25 year US war in the Middle East, and end the drug war that incentivizes smugglers to cross the border.
The various taxpayer-funded programs that benefit illegal immigrants in the United States, such as direct financial transfers, medical benefits, food assistance, and education, cost an estimated $100 billion dollars per year. That is a significant burden on citizens and legal residents. The promise of free money, free food, free education, and free medical care if you cross the border illegally is a powerful incentive for people to do so. It especially makes no sense for the United States government to provide these services to those who are not in the US legally.
Likewise, the 40 year war on drugs has produced no benefit to the American people at a great cost. It is estimated that since President Nixon declared a war on drugs, the US has spent more than a trillion dollars to fight what is a losing battle. That is because just as with the welfare magnet, there is an enormous incentive to smuggle drugs into the United States.
We already know the effect that ending the war on drugs has on illegal smuggling: as more and more US states decriminalize marijuana for medical and recreational uses, marijuana smuggling from Mexico to the US has dropped by 50 percent from 2010.
Finally, the threat of terrorists crossing into the United States from Mexico must be taken seriously, however once again we must soberly consider why they may seek to do us harm. We have been dropping bombs on the Middle East since at least 1990. Last year President Obama dropped more than 26,000 bombs. Thousands of civilians have been killed in US drone attacks. The grand US plan to remake the Middle East has produced only misery, bloodshed, and terrorism. Ending this senseless intervention will go a long way toward removing the incentive to attack the United States.
I believe it is important for the United States to have secure borders, but unfortunately President Trump's plan to build a wall will end up costing a fortune while ignoring the real problem of why people cross the borders illegally. They will keep coming as long as those incentives remain.
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Ive been covering meetings of the Henry County Board of Supervisors for a couple of years now, and there are a few familiar faces in the community who come to the meetings time and again. I dont think any are more familiar, however, than Dorothy Carter.
Carter is the president of the Henry County Education Association, and throughout the year but particularly during the budget season she comes to speak to the board on behalf of county educators, requesting that the supervisors consider a little additional funding for students and teachers.
At the January board of supervisors meeting, Carter requested that the board consider additional funding in the coming budget to provide teachers with step raises. County teachers are five years behind on step raises, she said, and county paraprofessionals are seven years behind.
I think its safe to say that for both the county and city, our elected officials would love to be able to give our schools all the money they need. Unfortunately, the budget creation process is a high-wire balancing act, and all too often, our schools receive close to the minimum they need to operate.
One would hope, then, that the state would step in and help fill in the gaps, as education is a crucial public service.
Unfortunately, based on the information coming out of the General Assembly, educators are going to be left in the lurch yet again.
Over the weekend, Republican budget leaders from both chambers of the General Assembly announced a three percent pay increase for state employees, plus a 17 percent higher starting salary for Virginia State Police troopers.
Unfortunately, the three percent raise for state employees excludes teachers.
Jim Livingston, president of the Virginia Education Association, voiced his opposition in an article in the Virginian Pilot.
This sends a clear message that (teachers) work is not valued by the General Assembly and they are not concerned about the fact that Virginia is no longer competitive, he said, mentioning that there are 800 open teaching positions across the state, and adding that teacher pay in Virginia is $7,200 below the national average.
Its hard to argue with Livingstons points. When youre the only group excluded, its hard not to feel like your work isnt valued.
This isnt to say that other state employees and state troopers are not deserving of their raises; however, our educators deserve them as well.
Ive never been a teacher, nor have I ever had any desire to, but I know plenty of teachers. It can be a deeply rewarding job, but it can also be an extremely difficult one.
A teacher is tasked with walking into a classroom filled with young people, the vast majority of whom have no interest in being there, and attempting to earn their respect and fill their heads with knowledge. One can imagine how difficult that must be, and according to many of the teachers I know, dealing with the parents is even worse than dealing with the students.
I had a friend who often filled in as a substitute teacher in a nearby city in Virginia. She once told me that the teachers she subbed for had stopped leaving her lesson plans; instead, they left her a pile of referral slips and told her that her first priority was to make sure none of the students killed each other. In an environment like that, becoming a state trooper might begin to look like the safer option.
Our teachers deserve every cent they earn, and the fact that our educators, both local and state-wide, are so far behind in their raises is frankly shameful.
Our students deserve better, too, because a good education and a background in critical thinking is the bedrock that a bright future is built on.
Come to think of it, maybe thats the reason the General Assembly didnt approve a raise for teachers; after all, a lack of critical thinking is the reason many members of the General Assembly were elected in the first place.
On 2 February, 2016, two workers of PIA were killed while dozens of other protestors were injured when paramilitary forces of the Pakistan Rangers and Sindh Police indiscriminately opened fire on a rally of hundreds of PIA workers. These workers were protesting against the privatization of PIA being carried out under the dictates of IMF.
Workers of Pakistan International Airways (PIA) were protesting on all airports of the country against this draconian policy for many weeks prior to this incident, through token strikes and demonstrations, but the government would not accept their demand to end privatization. On 2 February, workers gathered in big numbers at Karachi Airport and marched towards the Jinnah Terminal against the planned privatization of the national flag carrier. Before the gunfire, the Sindh Police had viciously baton charged the hundreds of gathered workers. But when the workers could not be subdued with batons, the paramilitary Rangers outfit were called in, whose first and only act of crowd control was indiscriminate firing on peacefully protesting men and women. As a result, two workers were killed while many others were injured. In this brutal act of repression the federal government of PML(N), led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif; the provincial government of PPP in Sindh led by Zardari and his son Bilawal; and the paramilitary Rangers force, controlled by the Pakistan Army, were equally responsible. All the other political parties in Parliament support the policy of privatization as well, and none have raised any outcry against this brutality.
This brutal murder of two workers led to a complete strike of PIA workers across the country in which not a single domestic or International flight could fly for eight days. This was unprecedented in the history of this country, and expressed the sheer strength of working class. This strike got huge support from workers of other departments, and solidarity was expressed by unions of railways, electricity workers (WAPDA), steel mills, and others. At that time 68 public sector departments were being privatized by the government and workers were protesting against this privatization in almost all departments. Most notably, the WAPDA movement was at its peak. WAPDA is the largest union of workers in the country, as many as 100,000 unionized workers, and leads the trade union movement. But the leadership of this union failed to connect WAPDA with this strike of PIA workers. Even though during the PIA workers strike many meetings were held by various unions in other departments to express solidarity with this strike, unfortunately, due to the lack of courageous leadership and the betrayal of many union leaders, this could not be transformed into a general strike throughout the whole country. But at least, after a long absence, the question of general strike was posed in front of unions and workers.
Another important aspect was the lack of any political platform which could unite or even support the working class for this general strike.
In the end, the strike was unable to achieve its desired goal and, believing the hollow promises of the government representatives of ending privatization, workers returned to work. Soon after, a huge wave of victimization was launched against the workers, and show cause notices were sent to more than three hundred workers for participating in the strike. The government also reiterated that it will continue with its privatization policy, whatever the cost may be.
This clearly shows the intentions of this government, which killed the workers to pursue its anti-people policy. One year has passed since this blackest incident in the history of Pakistans anti-privatization struggle, but not a single person has been arrested or put on trial, and there is no hope of such action by this government. Rather, workers are being targeted in the vilest possible way under the age-old disciplinary action witch hunt. But instead of cooling off, the fires of revolt are still smoldering and getting ready to burst forth in a raging inferno. In reality, the struggle of PIA workers is, in fact, a part of the struggles of workers all over the world against the tyranny of the capitalist system.
The regime of Nawaz Sharif, since coming to power in 2013, has carried out a program of massive cuts, privatizations, and taxation which has broken the backs of common people. While the economic program is being dictated by the international imperialist financial institutions (IMF, World Bank, etc.), all the factions of the ruling class, along with military and civilian bureaucracies, the judiciary, security agencies, and local capitalists are busy looting and plundering the wealth and resources produced by the toiling masses through commissions, kickbacks, tax evasions, and purchase of public sector enterprises at give-away prices.
A clear example is that of Federal Minister for Petroleum and Energy Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who owns a private airline, Air Blue, which is flourishing and making huge profits while PIA always shows a loss. After coming to power, this minister has used his influence to change the routes of international flights and transfers of staff of PIA in ways that benefit his own private airline.
These rulers want to sell more and more in less time so they can pocket as much as they can through these auctions. But the biggest hurdle in path of this gravy train is the working class, which is determined to fightthe reflection of which we have seen in various movements of different sections of society in the last couple of years such as young doctors, nurses, hospital workers, electricity workers (WAPDA), teachers, students of colleges and universities, railway workers, the national telephone services workers (PTCL), farmers, NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) workers, PIA workers, Port Qasim workers, Pakistan Steel Mills workersin short, almost all sections of the working class and youth have participated in some form of struggle against privatizations. Though these movements have not yet succeeded in ending the privatization completely, they have been able to delay privatization, deregulation, downsizing, and cuts for some time. One example is the case of PIA, where privatization has been delayed at least for one year now. But after each delay the state attacks more viciously. This new normality for the labour movement in Pakistan is posing new questions, not only for a capable leadership for the labour movement, but also on the political front. There is as yet no political party at the moment which oppose this policy of privatization and connects with the aspirations of the working class.
After failing to privatize PIA and other departments through traditional methods, the government has come up with new plans. First they started to divide the airline into two separate entities, PIA -1 and PIA-2, in order to divide the strength of workers and make this public asset more convenient to sell and more lucrative for buyers. The splitting of PIA into PIA Premier has not worked either, and it has become another financial burden on this airline, which some decades ago was one of the top ten airlines in the world. This experiment in the airline at the expense of the taxpayers has failed spectacularly, costing millions of rupees every month, and is bleeding PIA dry.
Now the government has come up with the policy of floating the shares of various public sector departments in the Pakistan Stock Exchange, where interested investors can buy these shares. These departments include some WAPDA and PIA units. Recent announcements by the government also suggests plans of firing 3500 PIA workers by the end of 2017, while four units of the airlinecatering, flight training, engineering, and cargo serviceswill be converted into separate business units and sold off before the end of the year. The government also plans to sell off a 49% stake in the airline by the end of the year, for which all the planning has already been finalized. The government contends that the airline has been operating at a loss for many decades, that the state cannot keep on feeding this white elephant, and that, due to its inability to run an airline, incidents like the crash of flight PK-661 will increase in the coming years.
Looking at PIA today, no sane person will believe that this is the same airline which was pride of the skies in the 60s and 70s and considered one of the premier airlines of the world, an airline which has all the facilities and amenities needed to run an airline from the ground up, from flight training, engineering, cabin crew training, cargo, and catering, to the maintenance of airports and airplanes. This is an airline which has fathered various other airlines in the Middle East, the Far East, and Africa. From humble beginnings after colonial independence, the airline remained profitable till the early 90s while providing cheap transportation facilities to the people. Millions of Pakistani workers are living abroad, especially in the Gulf States, who travel via this airline. Remittances from these workers are a major source of income for Pakistan. While these workers face brutal exploitation in these countries, they save money for several years to take flights back home to meet their families. If PIA is privatized, these workers would not be able to come back home even after a decade, because many routes will stop operating and fares will skyrocket.
The first steps towards the privatization of PIA were taken in early 90s, when the Open Skies policy was implemented and landing rights were granted to foreign airlines, giving them unfettered access to airports, facilities, and passengers. Extremely profitable local and international routes were given away for pennies. Many departments of the airports have been privatized over the years, and many airports have also been shut down. The fleet has not been upgraded, and even if new airplanes have been brought in, they are either used, leased from other airlines, or new ones leased on extremely expensive and detrimental agreements. The corrupt ruling class and the sycophantic management of PIAwhich is appointed, incidentally, by whichever government is in poweris involved in millions of dollars of corruption, kickbacks, false invoicing, and other measures. Various managements over the years have plundered the airline so much that one former managing director now has his own private airline competing with the national carrier while others are running various facilities of different airports on contract. The rulers, including all elite sections of the state, use the airline as their personal taxis, as evident by the regular visits of the Prime Minister to the UK for health checkups, and the most recent visit to Turkmenistan, where a plane remained on the tarmac for the duration of his visit. Whole airplanes are appropriated, to be filled with freeloaders and family, and the cost is borne by the taxpayers. Further destruction of the airline is assured by zero hiring and new training of the staff. The corrupt pillar of a corrupt capitalist state, the media, screams from its pulpit of lies that PIA has the highest ratio of workers-to-plane in the world, but what is not told is that this calculation includes all the staff, from ground crew to cabin crew, control tower staff to cargo handlers, and the pilots. Another propaganda point which is a constant feature of lies is that there is a huge burden of wages on the airlinebut what is never said is whose wages they are talking about. The largest portion of wages goes to the management and the many directors, whose only job is to draw hundreds of thousands of rupees worth of wages while plundering and abusing the facilities of PIA. Current CEO Bernd Hildenbrands take-home salary is reportedly $30,000 a month, while 214 directors and managers are getting pay of more than Rs. 0.5 million or $4,600 per month each, excluding house rents and other perks and privileges. Out of a total workforce of around 15,000, in a country where the minimum wage is Rs. 14,000 per month, or $130 per month, this is huge plunder. The collective pay of all the workers of PIA constitutes a very small proportion of total expenditures. Another claim made is that all the profitable airlines of the world are private airlines, which is another attempt at lies, falsehood, and deceit. Since the world capitalist crisis of 2008, the airline industry as a whole is in decline and loss. The few airlines which are profitable, e.g. Middle East airlines like Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Airlines, are in fact run by the oil-rich states and are heavily subsidized, from fuel costs to facilities usage, along with fewer working staff than required, working on hellish schedules.
The policy of privatization, accompanied by corruption, sycophancy, nepotism, and conscious efforts at destruction of viability and brand of PIA, in order to force through its privatization, have now taken on horrific proportions. Staff shortages, and massive exploitation of the current staff; preferential treatment of private and foreign airlines; old airplanes; and ever increasing cuts in state investment have resulted in the incident of 7 December 2016, when flight PK-661, an ATR plane on a domestic flight from Chitral to Islamabad crashed, killing all 47 people on board, including 5 cabin crew. The death of a prominent mullah in the crash was hyped by the media to avoid accountability for the crash, and no assurances were given as to whether such incidents will be avoided in the future, and that the safety of PIA workers and passengers will be assured. Instead, this incident is being used as a pretext to further speed up the privatization process, and the government has tried its best to bury the whole incident as quickly as possible. This has further increased the likelihood of such incidents happening more frequently in the future. The government has already converted the national flag carrier from a publicly owned entity into a private limited company through a bill in the parliament to make the selloff easier. Political parties of every color and ilk are party to this black crime.
The question arises as to why the government is hell-bent on selling a gargantuan publicly owned enterprise for peanuts, which no single company or even a consortium of companies can buy outright? The clear reasons are contracts, kickbacks, collusion with the Qatari and Turkish ruling elites and the local private airline operators; dreams of housing societies and shopping malls on the exclusive and lucrative lands of PIA; and the plunder of investor sub-companies of the airline and various lucrative local and international hotels owned by the airline. PIA owns elite hotels near JFK airport in New York and at Champs Elysee in Paris, along with many others. For this reason, the airline and the airports will be cut up like sacrificial lambs, and various pieces will be sold off to partners and cronies.
Before the February 2016 strike, the government had been lying through its teeth, saying that the process of privatization would not affect a single worker and that the airline would be turned into a profit-making entity. To destroy this edifice of deceit, one does not need to go too far. When Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) was being privatized in 2005, similar assurances and promises were given. At that time a military dictator, Pervez Musharraf, was ruling the country, and now a so-called democratic transition has been made. But the policies and tactics are all the same. The balance sheet after the privatization of PTCL speaks for itself. In the last 11 years, 38,000 workers have been laid off while the profit of the enterprise has decreased from Rs. 30 billion ($280 million) to Rs. 8 billion ($74 million), which now goes straight into the pockets of Etisalat (the Dubai-based company which bought PTCL). The workers who were laid off largely remain destitute and unemployed. In the last couple of years, little new hiring has been done, all on contract or daily wages with maximum exploitation and none of the basic facilities of permanent employment. Whatever money was earned by the state after selling off 26% of its shares and giving up management control of PTCL has been spent in laying off the workers and paying off debts and technical fees. The total value of PTCL has dropped from Rs. 358 billion ($3.3 billion) to Rs. 53 billion ($495 million), which means that the remaining shares of the state have lost a total value of around Rs. 225 Billion ($2.1 billion). The stocks are in shambles, while the private cellular companies have not only increased their market share, but now a majority of the profits from the market flows into these private companies accounts. The condition and the crisis of PTCL perpetuated in the last eleven years is enough to open up the eyes of every worker in Pakistan and make very clear the anti-labor policies of the state. Now the remaining 16,000 PTCL workers are being laid off, after which there will not a single permanent employee in the company.
The year 2017 is a critical year for the public enterprises in the line of fire for privatization. The government has to fulfill its commitment to the IMF by fast-tracking the privatization of PIA, all the companies of WAPDA, and Pakistan Steel Mills. The government has been trying to privatize different public entities since 2013, and has had some success in healthcare, education, banks, water, sewerage, and municipality, where large portions have been put on contractual running. The government has divested almost all of its shares, but has not been successful in many other departments, due to fierce resistance by workers. It is becoming increasingly clear to the workers that instead of fighting isolated struggles in their own departments and enterprises, the struggle has to be taken to every section of the working class, and the workers need to unite as a class to fight against the state policies of privatization.
For this, while it is necessary to build a loyal, audacious, and responsible labour leadership, there is also an urgent need to form a common platform, with a common strategy and program, through which not only the privatization policy, privatization commission, and privatization ministry is lobbed off to the dustbin, but also all the industries and entities which have already been privatized could be renationalized, along with all the other commanding heights of economy. Every worker must be given a minimum wage equal to 10 grams of gold; the right to unionize must be must be fully enforced; and the state must not only centrally plan and invest in all departments, but also ensure quality employment for youth.
2 February 2017 will not only be the first anniversary of the heroic struggle of workers of PIA against privatization, but also the anniversary of the first martyrs, Anayat Raza and Saleem Akbar, of the anti-privatization struggle in Pakistan. This day is not only a pledge to the martyrs and workers of PIA to continue the workers struggle, but also a day which will prove to be a milestone in the class struggle for years to come.
Red Workers Front is organizing protests and public meetings in different cities across the country to observe this day as a Black Day in the history of Pakistan. RWF has also produced a pamphlet in large numbers with following program and demands:
A murder case of PIA employees should be registered against the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Sindh, and the DG Rangers, and immediate action taken against them.
An irreconcilable struggle against all anti-worker political parties and those trade union leaders who support privatization.
End to Privatization. End of Privatization Commission and Ministry of Privatization.
End to all anti-worker policies in already privatized institutions, and for their renationalization.
All ad hoc and contractual employees should be made permanent in all government departments. End of contractual labour in private industry.
Minimum wage should equal 10 grams of gold.
Complete Independence of trade union activities.
Cancellation of all agreements with and debts to the IMF and World Bank.
All private banks and the commanding heights of economy should be nationalized, without any compensation, under the democratic control of workers.
All the income from above two points should be spent on health, education, energy, and other welfare projects for people.
Workers of the world unite!
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A sign for Aetna Inc., sits atop a building at the company headquarters in in Hartford, Conn. ((AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File))
Aetna is considering a move to Boston and has been in discussions with Gov. Charlie Baker's office regarding new headquarters for many months, the Boston Business Journal reports, citing sources close to the negotiations.
The company has been based in Connecticut since its founding in 1853. Aetna, headquartered in Hartford, employs more than 50,000 people and has a market capitalization of $40.2 billion, according to recent figures reported by Forbes.
The insurance giant has looked into potential spaces in Boston, interested in as much as 150,000 square feet of office space, the Journal reports.
Should Aetna move, it would not be the first company wooed to Boston in recent years. Massachusetts officials aggressively courted General Electric to the city from Connecticut, inviting a GE team to a get-together in Boston's North End and pitching the state's health care and educational sectors.
GE's 800-employee campus will be located in the Seaport District. GE headquarters, which once housed the NECCO candy company, are expected to open in 2018. The city's Seaport District will soon also be home to Reebok, another company relocating to Boston from Canton in search of a trendier work environment.
Mark T. Berolini, the chief executive of Aetna, has sought to set Aetna apart from other health care companies as a healthy and happy place for employees. Following a near-death expierence, the New York Times reports, he reshaped his health regimen and began offering free yoga and meditation classes to his employees. Conference rooms in the Hartford headquarters are temporarily shut down for business during the day and converted into meditation classes. Thousands of employees have participated in the programs, the Times reports.
The company also pays employees to get a good night's sleep. Aetna introduced a program last year to pay employees $25 a night if they get seven or more hours of uninterrupted sleep for 20 nights in a row.
Bertolini promoted the benefits of sleep in an interview on CNBC in 2016. "You can't be prepared if you're half-asleep," he said, adding, "Being present in the workplace and making better decisions has a lot to do with our business fundamentals."
AMHERST -- The Amherst Police Department will continue its policy of not asking about the immigration status of any crime victim, witness or suspect unless the information is directly relevant, according to a statement released Monday by town officials.
Neither will police refer the information to federal immigration enforcement authorities unless the information developed is directly relevant.
The statement from Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone, Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Acting Superintendent of Schools Michael Morris was issued in response to President Donald Trump's executive order issued Friday that bans refugees from entering the United States for 120 days. The order also bans nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and Syrian refugees indefinitely.
"Our first and primary mission is the protection and education of the people of every age who live, work, visit, or study in the Town of Amherst. ... In our diverse community, we strive to maintain partnerships and positive relationships with all members. We believe these positive relationships lead to a safer community, a better educated citizenry and improved quality of life for all members of our Amherst community," the statement reads.
Bockelman, Livingstone and Morris also said they value the "strong relationships" with federal and state authorities "who support our efforts with funding for important activities."
The statement points out that in December 2016, the Select Board, at the request of the Human Rights Commission and in recognition of Town Meeting action taken in 2012, proclaimed that, to the extent permissible by law, "the Town and its officials and employees shall not participate in Federal enforcement programs relating to immigration enforcement."
Statement by Town Manager, Police Chief, Supt of Schools 01-30-17 by ledermand on Scribd
The town schools will also continue "to enroll and serve every child living in our district who chooses to attend our schools without regard to her or his immigration status," according to the statement.
SPRINGFIELD -- Andrew "Drew" Savage loved to make his brothers and his friends laugh. He loved music, and he loved history and politics.
"Andrew had a quiet aura and thought on many political issues that would make people aware of their American history. In fact, I said to him you should look into going to college to study history," said Beverly Savage, whose son was one of four young people killed in a car accident on Jan. 17 on Union Street.
Also killed in the accident were his younger cousin, Cassidy Spence, Adrianna Hernandez and Katrina Maisonet-Jones, all seniors at Central High School. The driver, a man whom police have not named, remains in critical condition.
Family and friends of Savage and Spence will gather Tuesday morning at The Christian Cathedral on Eastern Avenue in Springfield to remember the two cousins whose lives ended so suddenly.
Savage, 20, was born in Springfield and lived here with his parents Beverly and George Savage as well as his brothers Andre, Joshua, George III and Caleb. When he was 9 years old, the family moved to Orlando, Florida, where he completed his schooling, attending Olympia High School and graduating from Pinellas County Job Corps in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a certification in facilities management.
Savage and his parents recently moved back to Springfield, but he had dreams of returning to Florida and buying a big house for his family.
"He loved family. Just a few months ago he said to me, 'Family is heaven on Earth,'" his mother said. "He would always get on the computer and look at big houses."
Born into a large, loving, religious family, Savage spent a lot of time with his brothers.
"Andrew is the life of the party, the goofy and the funny one. He always puts a smile on our faces whether on a regular day, a bad day, a sad day, and especially on holidays. His soul is one that is so easy to love," said Joshua, his older brother.
Joshua recalled many times when Savage got him through a difficult experience or a tough day.
"Being around him would just put you in a great mood. There were times I was down and he would be right there ready to help me get back to my happy place," he said.
Growing up in a family of ministers, Savage spent a lot of time in church as a kid.
"In fact when he was 16, he was my and his dad's music man -- he would organize the music for the church services," Beverly Savage recalled.
Even though he liked to goof around, he also liked to get into debates with his family and friends and recently took a deeper interest in politics.
In his room his mom found a stack of books he recently purchased including "1944: FDR and the Year That Changed History," by Jay Winik, "Lion of the Senate: When Ted Kennedy Rallied the Democrats in a GOP Congress," by Nick Littlefield and David Nexon and Hillary Rodham Clinton's "Hard Choices."
Today the Savage family will lay to rest a son whose life ended too soon, Beverly Savage said.
"Drew had a way of causing people to live their true selves and be free in living. He would often impart wisdom to his loved ones and possessed the uncanny ability to find humor in hard times or trying circumstances," she said. "He stood out for his individuality, loving, caring, and we only wanted the best for him."
His brother added, "For everyone he loved and cared for, he wanted the best for them. There are plenty of things we can thank him for, but I thank him for keeping it real with us and being the loving and loyal brother he is."
Savage also leaves behind three sisters, Aijah and Brittnee Smith and Priscilla Savage.
SPRINGFIELD - Approximately 80 people from around the Pioneer Valley, concerned with the opening days of the Donald Trump administration, took the streets of downtown Springfield to voice their continued opposition to the direction of the new administration.
The demonstrators, many bearing signs critical of Trump, his controversial top aide Steve Bannon, and his nominees for cabinet positions, urged Massachusetts senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey to stay strong in their opposition to what they called White House overreach.
"No wall! No fear! Hear our voices loud and clear!" the group chanted at one point.
"Democracy is under attack! What do we do? Fight back!" they chanted a little later.
It was the second such demonstration on Main Street in a week, and organizers pledged it would continue each week. Both were sponsored by the local chapter of MoveOn, the progressive activist organization.
Organizer Jane Myers said the rally was intended to show Markey and Warren that they are in their corner when it comes to opposing Trump.
"We're here to tell our wonderful senators that we support them and want them to be very bold and do everything in their toolbox to resist Donald Trump's agenda," Myers said.
Warren regional director Everett L. Handford came out to speak to the crowd for around 10 minutes. He said he would relay their concerns to Warren. Afterward, he met privately with Myers and a few other demontrators in his office.
He declined to speak to the press.
Where the demonstration last week focused on opposing Trump's choices for cabinet positions, news out of Washington, specifically executive orders calling for construction of a wall on the Mexican border and restrictions on refugees and immigrants from Syria and other Muslim countries, added more fuel to the resistance fire.
Jeanne Kaiser of Springfield said she took part because she feels people need to be vigilant about what the Trump administration may be planning.
"I feel we need to have our eyes on the current administration every single minute," she said.
She was not present for the demonstration last week, and said she may attend if there is one next week.
She said she attended last week's women's march in Washington.
She said that in the short term, she'd like to see Trump have to "walk back" his travel ban, but in the long term, she said she is genuinely afraid for the direction of the country.
"The first 11 days of this administration have been much worse than I thought it would be - and I thought it would be very very bad," she said. "It took Nixon years to fire his attorney general."
Jane Fleishman from Northampton drove down in the snow because she wanted to be a part of a visible resistance to the Trump administration.
"I'm outraged and I wanted to put my voice out there in terms of the dissent that needs to happen in this country," she said.
Such public demonstrations allow like-minded bystanders to learn that there are others speaking out. It also lets local representatives know that they will have support if they take a stand in opposition to the White House, she said.
HOLYOKE -- Building Commissioner Damian J. Cote will inspect the inside of the closed Mater Dolorosa Church Tuesday but said today he sees no conclusive reason why the 116-year-old building at Maple and Lyman streets should face emergency demolition.
Cote's statement comes as The Republican reported Friday that a report by an engineer hired by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, which owns the church, urged emergency demolition of the church and nearby rectory because pieces of the steeple recently have broken off and fallen to the ground.
"Considering the report that was submitted and the exterior inspection completed today, I have not seen compelling evidence that would justify an emergency demolition order. I have reached out to schedule an inspection of the interior of the building," Cote said in an email.
Cote also said that the Diocese's request to demolish the church and rectory have triggered a city ordinance that requires historical-significance reviews by the Holyoke Historical Commission before any razing can proceed.
Diocese spokesman Mark E. Dupont said the Jan. 24 report compiled for the Diocese about the condition of Mater Dolorosa Church by Bernard J. Hunt, an architect and structural engineer with Barry Engineers and Constructors Inc. of Pittsfield, proves the church needs to come down for safety reasons.
"Given the scope and detail of Dr. Bernard J. Hunt's report, we believe we have presented the city compelling evidence to support our finding that the steeple poses a real threat. Dr. Hunt is not only a structural engineer with his Ph.D. but he is also an architect with a distinguished resume and extensive experience in the area of reviewing the structural integrity of older buildings," Dupont said.
"We have arranged for Mr. Cote to personally inspect the steeple tomorrow from the inside. Assuming he confirms Dr. Hunt's findings by his own observation, we hope that he will then consider issuing an emergency demolition order. Historic value is not without merit but should never trump the safety of the public," he said.
The leader of a group that has fought to save Mater Dolorosa Church on Friday criticized Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, said the engineer's report was "fake news" and said the city should impose its demolition delay ordinance to save the building.
"We will not allow this senseless, selfish authoritarian attempt to level our church and heritage," said Victor N. Anop, a lawyer from Chicopee and chairman of Friends of Mater Dolorosa.
The conflicting assessments about Mater Dolorosa Church's condition are the latest in a series of disputes about the church that the Diocese closed in 2011.
Parishioners loved the church, which was built and paid for by Polish immigrants in 1901, and occupied the church round-the-clock for a year after it was closed.
They filed appeals to rescue the church from closure to the Vatican's highest court, which said in a ruling issued in May 2015 that the church could close.
An attempt to safeguard the church by including it in a proposed Polish Heritage Historic District on Lyman Street was rejected in April 2015 by an 8-7 City Council vote.
The Diocese closed Mater Dolorosa Church in June 2011 because parishioner numbers had declined and out of concerns about the structure's steeple. But while an engineer for the Diocese said the steeple was unsound, an engineer for Friends of Mater Dolorosa said the steeple would last for a long time.
The Diocese combined Mater Dolorosa with the former Holy Cross Church to form Our Lady of the Cross at 23 Sycamore St.
The Barry Engineers and Constructors report about Mater Dolorosa Church included photographs showing separation of bricks, rotted wood and gaps in roof flashing allowing in water that could lead to rapid deterioration, the report said.
"Based on our past structural investigations of the Mater Dolorosa Church and rectory and based on the recent event of steeple pieces falling to the public way below, it is our professional opinion that the building structure represents multiple dangerous conditions, as defined by the building code, and immediate action needs to be taken to secure and make safe the public way below and to begin the immediate demolition of the entire church and rectory building structures," the report said.
Plans to resettle 51 refugees into Northampton ground to a halt this weekend following President Donald Trump's executive order suspending the United States' refugee program, leaving uncertain futures for the African and Middle Eastern nationals scheduled to find new homes in the Pioneer Valley this year.
Trump's order, which also temporarily banned travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, paused the country's refugee program for 120 days and prohibited the entry of Syrian refugees indefinitely.
18 of Northampton's 51 planned refugees had already cleared all State Department vetting and been approved for entry prior to Trump's order, according to Catholic Charities Agency of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, the local agency that coordinates refugee resettlements with the State Department in the Pioneer Valley.
Those people, who include children as young as 9 months old, were supposed to begin arriving as soon as Feb. 20. Now, they will remain in camps and temporary shelters overseas, said Catholic Charities Agency of Springfield Executive Director Kathryn Buckley-Brawner.
"It is probably as bad as we thought it could possible be," Buckley-Brawner said.
Trump has described the refugee program suspension as a necessary national security measure designed to develop better tools for identifying potential terrorists.
Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world - a horrible mess! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017
Critics have disputed his reasoning, including hundreds of State Department employees who signed a memo opposing the executive order as counter-productive and against American values.
For Northampton, the most immediate impact of the suspension will be the absence of 18 refugees who had already passed the State Department's two year vetting process and been given final approval to settle in the city.
Some incoming refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been in refugee camps since 1996, when an invasion and then civil war broke out that has since killed millions of people. Children who would have arrived range in age from nine months to nine years old, and the families came from Syria, Iraq and Bhutan, Buckley-Brawner said.
The Syrian family was part of the Kurdish minority group and had fled both government and ISIS violence into the Kurdish region of Iraq, she said.
"They are one of the ethnic groups that is very much persecuted and discriminated against," Buckley-Brawner said.
Catholic Charities of Springfield does not have direct contact with refugees until they enter the United States.
Rather, the State Department assigns cases through the charity's parent organization, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and then the local agency gives final confirmation that it can accept the settlement -- a process known as "assurance."
All 18 refugees had received final assurance, but were not in transit by the time the order went into effect and so are now in limbo, Buckley-Brawner said. Northampton's 32 other expected refugees had not yet been assigned.
"Because they did not have their airplane tickets at the moment this order was signed their travel was suspended," she said.
Catholic Charities had held public meetings in Northampton and recruited volunteers to aid for refugees once they arrived. The State Department provides just 90 days of funding once refugees resettle; Catholic Charities had found volunteers to commit to long-term support, and three Congolese families had been assigned to local "circles of care" prior to the suspension.
In December of 2015, the Northampton City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for the city to serve as a sanctuary for refugees from the Syrian civil war, which has killed at least 470,000 people, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research.
At a public meeting in September of last year, some residents raised concerns about funding and whether an influx of new refugees would divert services from Northampton's existing homeless population. Supporters, including Mayor David Narkewicz, said the city was seeking grants and volunteer support to defray costs.
Buckley-Brawner said she hopes the suspension will expire as planned after 120 days, and that the indefinite ban on Syrian refugees will be lifted. Her organization and others are firmly opposed to the order, and are advocating politically to reverse it and considering legal challenges.
"We feel that from a faith based perspective that this order does not reflect the way we feel about those who are marginalized and against whom violence is perpetrated," Buckley-Brawner said. "As a country we always have been open to those who need to flee, who need safe harbor. We feel very strongly that this action has been very uncompassionate and ill thought-out
Old Hampshire County Courthouse
The historic Hampshire County Courthouse at 99 Main St. in Northampton. The Northampton District Court and Hampshire Superior Court are located in a more modern wing at the back of the building, accessed from Gothic Street.
(Mary Serreze photo)
NORTHAMPTON -- A Hampshire Superior Court jury this month found in favor of a Florence woman who claims she was sexually harassed by her boss at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and awarded her a total of $157,000 in damages.
But a judge is now considering whether to review, and possibly overturn, the jury's Jan. 17 verdict, issued after a four-day trial and more than two days of deliberation.
Earlier during the trial, a lawyer for the university asked Judge Mark Mason to issue a so-called directed verdict, asserting that former maintenance worker Esheika Hackett had not proven her case by a preponderance of the evidence, the standard used in civil litigation, court records show.
Mason on Jan. 17, after the jury returned its verdict, agreed to keep attorney Jean Marie Kelley's motion under advisement. The university now has until Jan. 31 to file a supportive memorandum. Hackett, represented by Worcester lawyer John Martin, will have until Feb. 7 to respond.
Hackett's complaint, filed in 2013, names UMass Amherst and John C. Reilly II, her former boss on a cleaning and maintenance crew. She claims the Chicopee resident subjected her to "quid-pro-quo" sexual harassment and that UMass knew, or should have known, about the problem but did not take reasonable steps to prevent it.
Hackett claims Reilly engaged in a pattern of "obscene, vulgar, and derogatory" behavior toward her, culminating in a Feb. 20, 2012 incident where he allegedly pulled her into a supply closet and sexually assaulted her. She claims Reilly threatened to fire her if she would not have sex with him.
The university denied the claims, as did Reilly, who represented himself in the matter.
In court filings, the university asserted that Hackett and Reilly had a longstanding relationship that was flirtatious, if not sexual, in nature; noted that Hackett herself was disciplined for sexually harassing male co-workers; and claimed that Hackett never complained directly to upper management about the 2012 incident.
Various battles over character evidence occurred over the course of the litigation, the most recent of which played out after members of the jury had already been seated.
Hackett on Jan. 9 voluntarily withdrew her earlier bid to exclude evidence that she was fired in 2013 for sexually harassing her colleagues. Hackett then tried to amend her complaint to include a retaliation claim against UMass. Mason denied the motion to amend.
Jurors did hear a graphic audio recording of the alleged supply closet incident. Hackett said she secretly recorded the interaction on her cellphone. Mason allowed the recording, ruling that the state's wiretap law does not require that such evidence be suppressed in a civil trial.
Reilly was criminally charged in relationship to the 2012 supply closet incident, and admitted to sufficient facts to warrant a guilty finding on a sexual assault charge. But on the stand in Northampton this month, he claimed he had been pressured to accept a plea deal in Belchertown's Eastern Hampshire District Court.
Reilly was fired from his job at the university after an investigation into the sexual assault allegations, according to court documents.
The jury found the university and Reilly culpable under two separate theories of sexual harassment: "quid-pro-quo" and "hostile work environment."
Quid-pro-quo occurs when a supervisor suggests that an employee has something to gain by satisfying a sexual demand. A hostile work environment claim is invoked when an employee is subjected to frequent or pervasive unwanted sexual comments, advances, requests, or similar conduct in the workplace.
According to the jury verdict slip, Hackett was awarded $6,600 for emotional distress and $112,200 in punitive damages, both to be paid by the university. Reilly was ordered to pay $13,200 for causing emotional distress, and $25,000 in punitive damages.
Lawyers for Hackett and the university did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Montana Innovation Co (Montana Inc) announces the start of operations as the newest hub from which to accelerate Montanas burgeoning startup community.
With a growing innovation scene in Montana, from healthcare to photonics to FinTech, Montana Inc is designed to push innovation even further to make the state competitive with other markets in the region, such as Denver and Salt Lake City. Thinking Big in Big Sky Country, Montana Incs MT2050 vision is to empower and support a statewide 10X growth strategy from under 6,000 technology jobs to 60,000 jobs and from under $1 Billion in technology sector annual revenue to $10 Billion, by the year 2050.
Press Release here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/01/prweb14017064.htm
Missoula Current coverage here: http://www.missoulacurrent.com/business/2017/01/missoula-montana-innovation/
Even before George Jetson entranced kids with his cartoon flying car, people dreamed of soaring above traffic congestion. Inventors and entrepreneurs have long tried and failed to make the dream a reality, but that may be changing.
Joan Lowy, Associated Press
Full Story: http://www.sfgate.com/business/technology/article/A-commuter-s-dream-Entrepreneurs-race-to-develop-10893294.php?cmpid=nl_biztek
Montana State University Billings (MSUB), the College of Business at MSUB and the MSUB Foundation are pleased to announce the fourth annual call for nominations for the statewide Montana Business Hall of Fame. In order to reach a wide group of people in Montana and garner the best possible group of nominees, we would like for the members of the Montana Ambassadors to receive this email and the attached nomination form. Members are invited to nominate a business leader they believe is worthy of recognition. Because many people are deserving of recognition, previous nominations may be re-submitted.
The Montana Business Hall of Fame recognizes business leaders who have been successful in private enterprise in Montana. By identifying outstanding examples of business leadership, the Hall of Fame recognizes, shares, and documents stories of success and innovation. The Hall of Fame creates an awareness of appreciation of Montanas rich heritage of business leadership.
Last years class included these outstanding business leaders: Karen Fagg (Billings), Terry Payne (Missoula), and Dr. Nicholas Wolter (Billings). These individuals were honored at An Evening With Henry Winkler dinner on October 11, 2016. At least two new members are inducted each year.
Business leaders selected for the Montana Business Hall of Fame are recognized for their contributions to Montana within the past 25 years. Posthumous nominations are welcome. The criteria for acceptance into the Montana Business Hall of Fame include:
* Outstanding business performance
* High standard of ethics
* Willingness to take risks
* Concern for the customer and for the well-being of employees
* Innovative business ventures
* Contributions to their local communities and the state
Anyone interested in acknowledging the outstanding contributions of Montana business leaders may submit a nomination to the MSUB College of Business. Those selected for the honor will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at an awards ceremony held this fall.
Request for Nominations
You are invited to nominate a business leader you believe is worthy of recognition. You may submit your nomination at http://www.msubillings.edu/mbhof/form.htm or you may mail your nomination to Dr. Barbara Wheeling, College of Business, Montana State University Billings, Billings, MT 59101 or email it to [email protected]. The deadline for nominations is February 13, 2017.
Name of person: _________________________________________________________
Name of the persons business: _______________________________________________
Why you think this person deserves this recognition: _________________________________________________________
Thank you for your participation.
Sincerely,
Barbara Wheeling
Dean
College of Business
Montana State University Billings
1500 University Drive
Billings, MT 59101
The Kalispell Chamber supported HB 232, revising laws for dual enrollment at community colleges, heard on Monday, January 30 before the House Education Committee. The Chambers representatives in Helena stood as a proponent for the Chamber, clarifying the ability of community colleges, including Flathead Valley Community College, to offer dual credit curriculum.
Flathead Valley Community College is an invaluable partner of the Kalispell Chamber and community in working toward meeting growing workforce needs. Recently, FVCC completed the Nursing and Health Sciences Building to support area healthcare job training and new manufacturing equipment and faculty have been added to meet the demand for training in the areas of wood products, high-tech, and firearm manufacturing.
"Workforce preparedness is a high priority for the Kalispell Chamber this legislative session. HB 232 will put community colleges on the same footing as the Montana University System for dual credit curriculum, which improves student success and lowers familys educational expenses," says Joe Unterreiner, President of the Kalispell Chamber.
This wording will clarify the community colleges ability to serve high school students, which FVCC has done for the last 20 years, and teaching over 700 area high school students during FY16.
Montanas Republican U.S. senator, Steve Daines https://www.daines.senate.gov/ , announced Monday hes co-sponsoring bills that would eliminate federal health funding for Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/ , calling it an organization that "traffics human baby parts."
Daines is one of 25 senators co-sponsoring two bills that would halt federal funds for Planned Parenthood, which is targeted by abortion opponents because it performs abortions. Similar bills have been introduced in the U.S. House.
By Mike Dennison MTN News
Full Story: http://www.kpax.com/story/34383335/daines-co-sponsors-bill-to-eliminate-federal-funding-for-planned-parenthood
A new business accelerator based in Missoula is building a $2.4 million seed fund to help startups across Montana push innovative ideas and compete with larger metro regions in the West.
Devin Holmes, founder of Montana Innovation Co. http://www.montanainnovation.co/ , said 20 percent of the capital needed to fill the fund has already been committed, and hes working on securing the rest from investors across the country.
By Martin Kidston/Missoula Current
Full Story: http://www.missoulacurrent.com/business/2017/01/missoula-montana-innovation/
***
Montana Innovation Co, a new Montana-based start up accelerator to offer $2.4M in investment funding http://www.matr.net/article-75430.html
Just off a freeway in Southern California, 396 refrigerator-size stacks of Tesla batteries, encased in white metal, have been hastily erected with a new mission: to suck up electricity from the grid during the day and feed it back into the system as needed, especially in the evening.
The installation, capable of powering roughly 15,000 homes over four hours, is part of an emergency response to projected energy shortages stemming from a huge leak at a natural gas storage facility.
The project, which officially came online Monday but began operating at the end of last year, is an important and surprising demonstration of how utilities can use enormous collections of batteries in place of conventional power plants.
By DIANE CARDWELL
Full Story: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/30/business/energy-environment/battery-storage-tesla-california.html?hpw&rref=technology
The University of Montana promotes a positive and productive work environment and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.
Career Opportunities at the University of Montana https://university-montana-hr.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.allpositions&company_id=16254&version=1
Lucy Tompkins
Full Story: http://www.montanakaimin.com/news/um-begins-national-search-for-president-provost/article_b73745a4-e734-11e6-80c5-5fd2b5a8bd1a.html
A Marion man arrested in 2014 and charged with assaulting his girlfriend and killing her unborn child was cleared of the most serious charges during a trial last week.
Jackie Taron Agnew, 43, of 131 Circle Street EM, Marion, was found not guilty of assault on a female, assault by pointing a gun and assault by strangulation in McDowell County Superior Court. He was found guilty of simple assault and interfering with emergency electronic communication. He was sentenced to 210 days in jail and given credit for the 233 days he was jailed.
On Dec. 29, 2014 at or around 12:10 a.m., officers with the Marion Police Department responded to McDowell Hospital in reference to a prior assault that occurred at 131 Circle Street. The 26-year-old victim, Monika Credle, was reportedly 17 weeks pregnant at the time of the alleged assault. She told police that Agnew had strangled and pointed a gun at her at their home on Circle Street.
Credle said she and her 8-year-old daughter, who was in the house at the time of the assault, were able to leave the house and were transported to McDowell Hospital. According to police, Credle lost her unborn child as a result of the event.
The following day around 2 p.m., Agnew turned himself in at the McDowell County Courthouse and was placed under arrest. He was given a $175,000 bond and indicted one year later.
The charge of murder of an unborn child was dismissed by the district attorney in February 201, according to his attorney.
Agnews trial on the other charges began on Wednesday, Jan. 25 of this year.
Attorney Mike Edwards was originally appointed as Agnews defense attorney, but subsequently withdrew after Agnew refused to accept a plea. Edwards was replaced by Krinn Evans prior to the trial beginning.
On Wednesday morning, the state called four witnesses, including Credle, her now 10-year-old daughter, a co-worker and Sgt. Detective Rick Gutierrez of Marion P.D., according to Evans.
Under cross-examination, the alleged victim (Credle) admitted that she gave numerous stories to law enforcement and medical staff including different details to multiple people that night, said Evans, who maintained that physical evidence did not support Credles assertions against Agnew.
According to Evans, Detective Gutierrez testified under cross examination that he had witnessed no signs of physical injury to the alleged victims face or throat on the night of the incident and several days later when he saw the victim again.
The following day, Agnew stated under oath that he had left the residence at approximately 1 p.m. on the date of the incident after he and Credle agreed to move her out, according to his testimony, he returned home between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. to find the alleged victim still at the residence, where the argument resumed. Then, Agnew claimed that following treatment at the VA Hospital for minor injuries during the altercation, he returned to McDowell County the next day learning that he was wanted on multiple felonies and misdemeanors.
Mr. Agnew denied strangling and assaulting the alleged victim during testimony, said Evans. The only contact that he admitted to was brushing past Credle as he was trying to exit the residence.
The jury began deliberations at 4:10 p.m. on Thursday, but no verdict was reached. The following day, the jury came back and reached their verdict at 10:15 a.m.
My client and his family are ecstatic that he was acquitted on the felony and numerous misdemeanors, and that the two convictions were satisfied with pre-trial confinement credit, said Evans. He was able to walk out of the courthouse in the company of his family to return home.
Clarification: This story has been edited to clarify that the death of an unborn child charge had been dismissed in February 2016.
On Saturday, Jan. 28, Maggie Effler of Old Fort was crowned Miss Blue Ridge Valleys Outstanding Teen 2017.
Effler is a 15-year-old sophomore at McDowell Early College. She will represent McDowell County and western North Carolina in Raleigh at the Miss North Carolina Outstanding Teen Pageant to be held June 21-24.
Effler will spend most of her year in service to western North Carolina promoting her platform Caught Red Handed. The platform is centered around addressing heart disease risk and prevention. She will use the resources of the American Heart Association to educate others, according to a news release.
Miss Americas Outstanding Teen Inc. was organized to encourage positive achievement by helping to nurture and build the scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living, and community involvement of our nations youth, reads the news release. The Miss America Pageant System encourages young women to achieve their goals through the four points of the crown: Service, Scholarship, Style, Success.
Maggie Effler is available for appearances at local events. Anyone interested in booking her for appearances can contact the directors, Jeff Jones and John Vance at 828-674-2424 or by email at info@missasheville.org.
Work-related deaths rose slightly across the state in 2016, but McDowell was among the 77 counties that saw no accidental deaths on the job.
Falls and struck-by incidents continue to cause the largest number of work-related deaths statewide based on preliminary information released Monday by the state Department of Labor. Struck-by incidents accounted for the most work-related deaths with 19, while falls accounted for 12 deaths. The departments Occupational Safety and Health Division inspected 48 work-related deaths last year, up from 43 in 2015. The safest year in the last decade was 2013 when there 23 people killed at work.
Year after year, we see falls and struck-by incidents take the lives of too many workers, Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. Falls and struck-bys are especially troubling because we know nearly all these types of workplace accidents can be prevented when proper safety training is coupled with the proper use of personal protective equipment. Seven of last years construction deaths involved a fall from a roof. We never lose sight of the fact that these are human lives lost at work, and I take each one personally. These were someones husband or wife, mother or father, brother or sister, son or daughter, and in some cases grandparent. They were best friends and co-workers at an average age of 42 years old.
The OSH Division tracks work-related deaths that fall within its jurisdictional authority so it can pinpoint where fatalities are occurring and place special emphasis on counties or regions where deaths on the job are happening. By tracking fatalities in real time, the department can also notify particular industries of any concerning patterns or trends identified and issue hazard alerts to warn industry.
Through years of tracking workplace deaths, we have identified four areas known as the Big Four that employers and employees should be mindful of in the workplace, said Kevin Beauregard, director of the Occupational Safety and Health Division. Falls, struck-bys, caught-in/ between incidents and electrocutions make up the Big Four and generally account for 80 percent or more of work-related deaths in construction and general industry.
The OSH Division also partners with businesses and organizations that represent some of the most hazardous industries through partnerships and alliances to heighten industry awareness and assist with education and training
While fatalities continue to fluctuate, North Carolinas injury and illness rate has steadily declined since 2001 and dropped to an all-time low of 2.6 per 100 full-time workers in 2015. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles the injury and illness rate data. Based on the most recent data released by the BLS, North Carolina is one of the nations top 10 safest states in which to work with a rate statistically lower than the national rate of 3.0.
The construction industry continues to be the most hazardous industry in the state with 19 work-related deaths in 2016, seven more than in 2015. The manufacturing industry had the second highest number of work-related deaths with nine in 2016, a decrease from 11 in 2015. The seven fatalities in the services industry was an increase from five in the previous year.
In addition, agriculture, forestry and fishing decreased from eight fatalities in 2015 to five in 2016. There were also four fatalities in the transportation and public utility industry, an increase from one in 2015. Government stayed the same at two fatalities. The wholesale trade industry increased from one fatality in 2015 to two in 2016. There were no work-related fatalities in the retail trade industry or the finance, insurance and real estate industry.
Mecklenburg County led with 12 fatalities. Guilford and Rowan experienced four each. Cumberland and Wake experienced three fatalities each. Catawba, Forsyth, Gaston and Robeson experienced two fatalities each. Fourteen counties experienced one fatality.
Whites accounted for 27 of the 48 work-related fatalities. Blacks accounted for 10 and Hispanics for nine. There were two Asians. Men accounted for 44 of the 48 deaths. Women accounted for four workplace deaths.
The state figures exclude certain fatalities that fall outside its jurisdictional authority. These include traffic accidents, which account for nearly half of all work-related deaths, as well as homicides and suicides that are investigated by law enforcement agencies. The count also excludes fatalities investigated by federal OSHA and other exemptions in which the department does not have the authority to investigate, such as on farms with 10 or fewer employees.
Federal figures compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with cooperation of NCDOL, include all work-related fatalities. The federal figures for 2015, the latest figures available, can be found on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/regions/southeast/news-release/fatalworkinjuries-_northcarolina.htm. Data for 2016 will be available in December.
Businesses may call 1-800-NC-LABOR to learn more about free safety training opportunities provided by NCDOL or visit www.nclabor.com.
WASHINGTON - A Senate panel is scheduled to vote Tuesday on President Trump's nominee for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, a Michigan billionaire and private school voucher advocate who has become one of Trump's most controversial Cabinet picks.
The GOP majority has defended DeVos as a bold reformer who is willing to shrink the federal imprint in education and upend the status quo in the interest of expanding opportunities for disadvantaged children.
But Democrats have vowed to oppose DeVos, arguing that she is wholly unqualified for the job. They say that she favors policies that undermine the public schools that serve most U.S. children and that she has not adequately answered questions about potential conflicts of interest related to her investments.
With the two sides dug in, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions appears likely to approve DeVos on a party-line vote when it convenes Tuesday at 10 a.m. DeVos's nomination would then go to the full Senate for approval.
DeVos has been a powerful force in pushing to expand charter schools in her home state and taxpayer-funded vouchers for private and religious schools nationwide. But she has no professional experience in public education. During her confirmation hearing this month, she stumbled over basic policy questions, at one point saying that states should be allowed to decide whether to follow a four-decade-old federal civil rights law that protects students with disabilities.
Also during the Jan. 17 hearing, DeVos left open the possibility that she might seek to cut education funding or support privatizing public schools. She passed up a chance to reassure senators who are concerned that she intends to scale back the Education Department's efforts to enforce civil rights laws in schools. And she rejected a ban on guns in schools, saying that some schools might need firearms to defend against "potential grizzlies" - a line that became fodder for late-night comics.
Some Democrats and their traditional allies - including teachers unions and civil rights groups - have criticized DeVos as unacceptable since she was nominated in late November. But her hearing performance unleashed a broad new wave of opposition, carried along in part by the Women's March on Washington and other anti-Trump resistance efforts.
Michael Moore, the liberal filmmaker, urged marchers to call their senators to oppose DeVos. Anti-DeVos petitions circulated widely online, with one, organized by Credo Action, amassing 1.4 million signatures.
Senate offices have been swamped with anti-DeVos phone calls and emails. The National Education Association, the nation's largest labor union, alone accounted for more than 1 million emails and 40,000 phone calls.
Teachers and parents also have organized protests to oppose DeVos on Capitol Hill and in places such as Portland, Ore.; Nashville; and Holland, Mich., DeVos' home town. More than 250 civil rights groups, including those devoted to disability rights, signed a letter of opposition.
DeVos' supporters accuse Democrats of bowing to union bosses and defending a status quo that too often consigns poor, African American and Hispanic children to the worst schools.
But the opposition to DeVos is broader than unions. It includes groups such as Democrats for Education Reform, which supports charter schools, and the Education Trust, which has pushed for evaluating teachers in part on standardized test scores.
Democrats on the Senate committee have repeatedly asked the chairman, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., to delay Tuesday's vote, arguing first that they needed more opportunities to ask DeVos questions and then - after submitting more than 1,000 questions to her in writing - that she did not fully respond.
Through a spokesman, Alexander brushed aside those concerns Monday and said that Democrats have asked DeVos 25 times more questions than Republicans asked Obama's nominees for the job. He said that DeVos answered the questions and that the vote would go on as scheduled.
by Sara Guaglione , January 30, 2017
The New York Timeswill launch a new daily podcast hosted by Michael Barbaro called The Daily. The show, which is billed as a reimagining of a daily audio report for a digital audience, will debut on February 1. It will include a text messaging component and will be available on Alexa-enabled devices.
Each 15-20 minute weekday show will publish at 6 a.m. and will focus on the news of the day, featuring two to four stories.
BMW is the official launch sponsor of The Daily.
Listeners can tune in on the Times site and mobile apps, or subscribe on Apples Podcast app or podcast app of choice.
A unique element of this audio show is Barbaro, who will communicate with listeners via text message. He will share context, analysis and thoughts on the days news with readers via SMS, as well as act as a personal guide to the news.
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When you subscribe to his text messaging service, an automated text reply reads, Michael Barbaro here from the NYT, ready to help you make sense of the news More soon!
The Daily will be available as a Flash Briefing on Alexa-enabled devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home. This is the first show available on Alexa devices from The New York Times; publishers like The Atlantic Medias Quartz and The Washington Post have been on this feature for a few months now. (WaPo owner, Jeff Bezos, is also CEO of Amazon).
The Times is likely hoping to achieve similar success with its morning audio show as it has experienced with its popular morning email briefing newsletter.
Our readers have always turned to us first thing in the morning to help them understand the world. Now, with our new audio report, we're able to explain the news in a whole new way, stated Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times.
Michael Barbaro joined the newspaper in 2005. He covered the presidential campaign and hosted The Run-Up, a politics podcast the Times launched in August.
The Times has recently upped its investment in audio shows. Associate editor Sam Dolnick told Politicos Morning Media earlier this month the newspaper hopes to introduce up to five new podcasts this year, adding to its existing seven series. Last year, the it launched four podcasts.
In text, reporters are just grey bylines that most people may not even notice. But in audio, our reporters become personalities, your friends, your guides, and we think the loyalty that engenders will draw people deeper into the New York Timesecosystem, Dolnick told Morning Media.
by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, January 30, 2017
Steve Bannon, the chief strategist for Donald Trump, who first rose to prominence as publisher of online right-wing news and opinion site Breitbart News, is joining one of the most powerful institutions in the U.S. government.
Over the weekend, President Trump appointed him to the principals committee of National Security Council, which advises the president on all security policy.
Trump simultaneously removed the Director of National Intelligence (a position currently unfilled pending approval of nominee Dan Coats, former Republican senator from Indiana) and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, from the principals committee.
Bannon left his position as executive chairman of Breitbart News in August of last year to run Trumps campaign for president, replacing the real-estate mogul and reality TV stars previous chief strategist, Paul Manafort.
As chief strategist, he was credited with reinvigorating Trumps flailing presidential campaign and crafting its unorthodox and ultimately successful game plan. Bannon deliberately courted controversy in order to win media coverage and raise the candidates profile. At the same time, he used Trumps Twitter account and sympathetic online outlets, like Breitbart, to counter criticism and present the candidates own version of events.
Since the election, Bannon has continued to play a central role guiding the Trump administrations first moves, including the issuing of controversial executive orders to build a wall on the border with Mexico and turn away travelers from seven countries with Muslim majorities.
Bannons appointment to the NSC took many observers by surprise, in light of his apparent lack of expertise in national security matters. No previous president has appointed a purely political operative to the NSC.
A number of politicians expressed concern about Bannons appointment, including some Republican grandees.
Sen. John McCain, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated: I am worried about the National Security Council. Who are the members of it and who are the permanent members? The appointment of Mr. Bannon is something which is a radical departure from any National Security Council in history.
by P.J. Bednarski , Staff Writer @pjbtweet, January 30, 2017
This was the first presidential election in which social media played a dominant role. Even back in 2008, social media was tinier, less fully formed than it is now. Those Trump tweets no doubt shaped his candidacy and how opponents responded, and even how campaign dollars were spent, to the detriment of television, which got a little lost in the new technology this time around.
One week of the Trump presidency constitutes only a few pages, not even a chapter, of his time in the job. But in that short time, the presence of social media protest from within the government has become a story all its own.
You could have never guessed, on Jan. 19, 2017, that by dinnertime on Jan. 20, 2017, the National Park Service would be in the White Houses cross-hairs. That's due to the controversy created by National Park Service retweets of photos from Trumps inauguration crowd compared to President Obamas eight years before.
Another retweet noted the topics scrubbed from the Whitehouse.gov Website on Trumps very first day, including civil rights, climate change and healthcare. The new Trump administration shut down the site, then later resumed it with a caveat against talking about policy.
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Not too long after, Alt-National Park Service sites debuted on social media--Facebook, Twitter and Instagram among them. When users friend the Facebook page, theyre told, Thanks for becoming a part of [the] resistance against Donald Trump.
A handful of National Park Service sites--including the best known ones like Yellowstone and Grand Canyon and Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the relatively obscure Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland-- take credit for the non-affiliated site, but as NPR reported, its not clear who is actually running it-employees or just friends and supporters.
As NPR also reports, its not just the park and forest services that are striking out on their own. It provides a list of 80 rogue Twitter sites, including ones for alt-Customs, Justice Department, Veterans Affairs, Labor, Centers for Disease Control, Commerce and as they say at K-Tel, many, many more. (Most, however seem to be environment-based.)
On Instagram, a graphic of a bear wearing a National Park Service hat contains the message Smokey Says Resist. But Sunday, Instagrams alt masters were urging people to ignore that graphic, fearful the federal government could make some legal noise.
Weirdly, for a while, visitors to the alt-Park Service site were not allowed to like it. According to a Website called U.S. Uncut, visitors received a message reading, If you think youre seeing this by mistake, please let us know.
That snafu has been cleared now, and the alt page is going full blast again. Facebook says it has had nearly 2 million page follows since it went up on Jan. 24. Thats from zero. The messages left on Facebook and Instagram are defiant.
Its those stats, if they are repeated to some degree by the other alt-sites out there, and the ones the may come, that could end up being a lot more powerful than any politicians tweets have been.
pj@mediapost.com
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 30, 2017
Siding with the gym Vertical Fitness, a federal appellate court has dismissed a lawsuit alleging that the gym violated a robo-texting law by sending ads to a former member.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that California resident Bradley Van Patten consented to receiving text messages from the gym when he provided it with his cell phone number.
"Van Patten gave his consent to being contacted about some things, such as follow-up questions about his gym membership application, but not to all communications," a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit said in a ruling issued Monday. "The scope of his consent included the text messages invitation to 'come back' and reactivate his gym membership."
The ruling grew out of a lawsuit filed by Van Patten in 2012, when he alleged the gym violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by sending him ads via text message. That law prohibits companies from using autodialers to send text ads, without the recipients' prior consent.
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Van Patten said he joined a Gold's Gym in 2009, but canceled his membership three days later. When he filled out the application, he provided his cell phone number, according to court papers.
Several years later, the Gold's Gym he had joined became affiliated with the company Vertical Fitness, which developed a marketing campaign aimed at convincing former members to return.
Van Patten alleged in his lawsuit that he received two unsolicited text messages as part of that campaign.
U.S. District Court Judge Larry Burns dismissed the lawsuit in 2014, ruling that Van Patten consented to receiving the messages.
He then appealed to the 9th Circuit, which upheld Burns' ruling.
But even though the 9th Circuit sided with Vertical Fitness on a dispositive issue, the court also rejected the company's argument on a key point.
The gym had argued that Van Patten shouldn't be able to proceed with a lawsuit because he hadn't suffered a "concrete" injury as a result of the alleged text ads. Vertical Fitness relied on a recent Supreme Court decision involving the data aggregator Spokeo. In that matter, the Supreme Court ruled that a consumer who sued Spokeo for allegedly violating a federal law could only proceed if he first showed that he suffered a concrete injury.
But the 9th Circuit said in its ruling that an unsolicited text message was the type of concrete harm that would support a lawsuit.
"Congress identified unsolicited contact as a concrete harm, and gave consumers a means to redress this harm," the judges wrote. "The telemarketing text messages at issue here, absent consent, present the precise harm and infringe the same privacy interests Congress sought to protect."
That portion of the ruling could affect numerous tech companies, including Facebook and Twitter, which are currently facing lawsuits accusing them of violating the robo-texting law.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, January 31, 2017
A growing number of technology companies have begun to work together to challenge President Trump's immigration and travel ban.
GitHub, an open-source development community, seems to be spearheading a Tuesday meeting with a group of tech firms to discuss filing an amicus brief. The brief is filed by parties that are not litigants, in support of a lawsuit challenging President Trump's action restricting immigration and travel.
Trump's executive order, signed this past weekend, restricts immigration for 120 days from seven Muslim countries where, it claims, travelers cannot be "properly vetted." The administration says the action is intended to increase national security.
Those in transit will be allowed to enter the U.S. until February 2, reports The Wall Street Journal, citing agencies charged with receiving them in partnership with the government.
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Those heavily invested in the open-source development community, such as Google, are among the companies invited to participate in the meeting.
Others include Adobe Systems, AdRoll, Airbnb, Automattic, Box, Cloudera, Cloudflare, Docusign, Dropbox, Etsy, Evernote Corp, Glu Mobile, Lithium, Medium, Mozilla, Netflix, Pinterest, reddit, Salesforce.com, SpaceX, Stripe, Yelp and Zynga, per Reuters.
The business protest is not confined to tech companies. Ford Motor Co, Coca-Cola and Goldman Sachs Group, among others, also weighed in Monday.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, January 31, 2017
In a theme that couldnt be more timely, the normally uncontroversial Budweiser brand is betting on a 30-second Super Bowl spot that tells the story of company co-founder Adolphus Buschs emigration from Germany to America in the mid-1800s to fulfill his brewing dreams.
The spots theme already had been revealed by A-B InBev, but the company publicly unveiled the actual ad (below) called Born the Hard Way today, posting it on YouTube and its Twitter page.
Among other scenes, the spot shows the newly-arrived Busch being verbally attacked (Go back home!) and jostled by rough-looking types on Americas city streets (above).
It remains to be seen how the divided U.S. populace will receive the Super Bowl spot, which was obviously a fait accompli before the events that were triggered this week by the new administrations ban on immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
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But executives from the brand and the creative agency, Anomoly, certainly didnt play down the theme in statements accompanying the ads pre-game release.
"This commercial shows the start of Budweisers journey, and while it is set in the 1800's, it's a story we believe will resonate with today's entrepreneurial generation those who continue strive for their dreams," said Ricardo Marques, VP of Budweiser.
When Budweiser told us they wanted to celebrate those who embody the American spirit, we realized the ultimate story lived within their own brand history, added Anomaly global chief creative officer Mike Byrne. Adolphus Busch is the hero of the Anheuser-Busch American dream story, which makes him the perfect protagonist.
by Gord Hotchkiss , Featured Contributor, January 31, 2017
I was in the U.S. last week. It was my first visit in the Trump era.
It was weird. I was in California, so the full effect was muted, but I watched my tongue when meeting strangers. And thats speaking as a Canadian, where watching your tongue is a national pastime.
(As an aside, my U.S. host, Lance, told me about a recent post on a satire site: Concerned, But Not Wanting To Offend, Canada Quietly Plants Privacy Hedge Along Entire U.S. Border. Thats so us.)
There was a feeling that I had not felt before. As someone who has spent a lot of time in the U.S. over the past decade or two, I felt a little less comfortable. There was a disconnect that was new to me.
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Little did I know (because Ive turned off my mobile CNN alerts since Jan. 20 because I was slipping into depression) but just after I whisked through Sea-Tac airport with all the privilege that being a white male affords you, Washington Governor Jay Inslee would hold a press conference denouncing the new Trump Muslim ban in no uncertain terms. On the other side of the TSA security gates, there were a thousand protesters gathering. I didnt learn about this until I got home.
As I said, it was weird.
And then there were the SAG awards on Sunday night. What the hell was the deal with Winona Ryder?
When the "Stranger Things" cast got on stage to accept their ensemble acting award, David Harbour, acting as spokesperson, unleashed a fiery anti-Trump speech. But despite his passion and volume, it was Winona Ryder, standing beside him, that lit up the share button. And she didnt say a word. Instead, her face contorted through a series of 20-some different expressions in under 2 minutes. She became, as one Twitter post said, a human gif machine.
Now, by her own admission, Ryder is fragile. She has battled depression and anxiety for much of her professional life. Maybe she was having a minor breakdown in front of the world. Or maybe this was a premeditated and choreographed social media master stroke. Either way, it says something about us.
The "Stranger Thing"s cast hadnt even left the stage before the Twitterverse started spreading the Ryder meme. If you look at Google Trends, there was a huge spike in searches for Winona Ryder starting right around 6:15 pm (PST) Sunday night. It peaked at 6:48 pm, with a volume about 20 times that of queries for Ryder before the broadcast began.
It was David Harbour that delivered the speech Ryder was reacting to. The words were his, and while there was also a spike in searches for him coinciding with the speech, he didnt come close to matching the viral popularity of the Ryder meme. At its peak, there were 5 searches for Winona Ryder for every search for David Harbour.
Ryders mugging was -- premeditated or not -- extremely meme-worthy. It was visual, it was over the top and, most importantly, it was a blank canvas we could project our own views on to. Winona didnt give us any words, so we could fill in our own. We could use it to provide a somewhat bizarre exclamation point to our own views, expressed through social media.
As I was watching this happen, I knew this was going to go viral. Maybe its because it takes something pretty surreal to make a dent in an increasingly surreal world that leaves us numb. When the noise that surrounds us seems increasingly unfathomable, we need something like this to prick our consciousness and make us sit up and take notice. Then we hunker down again before were pummelled with the next bit of reality.
Let me give you one example.
As I was watching the SAG awards, I was unaware that gunmen had opened fire on Muslim worshippers praying in a mosque in Quebec City. I only found out after I flicked through the channels after the broadcast ended. Today, as I write this, I now know that six are dead because someone hated Muslims that much. Canada also has extreme racism.
I find it hard to think about that. Its easier to think about Winona Ryders funny faces. Thats not very noble, I know, but sometimes you have to go with what youre actually able to wrap your mind around.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 31, 2017
Senator Al Franken is warning the new head of the Federal Communications Commission that weakening the net neutrality rules would threaten free speech online.
"Because of net neutrality, a handful of multibillion-dollar companies cannot control where their users get their information, and those massive corporations cannot choose to bury sites offering alternative viewpoints," Franken (D-Minnesota), writes in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. "And because of net neutrality, people from across the nation can connect with each other, share their ideas on the internet, and organize a community effort."
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The rules, passed by a 3-2 vote in 2015, reclassified broadband access as a "telecommunications" service and imposed common-carrier obligations on broadband providers. The regulations prohibit Internet service providers from blocking or degrading traffic, and from engaging in paid prioritization. The FCC also broadly banned providers from hindering Web users and content companies from connecting with each other online -- although the scope of that prohibition remains uncertain.
Telecoms and cable companies unsuccessfully asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the rules. The carriers are currently asking that court to reconsider its decision.
Even though the rules survived that first court challenge, the new FCC could still weaken the regulations. Pai, who vocally opposed the net neutrality order, recently said the rules' days were "numbered."
Franken said in his letter that Pai's well-documented opposition to the rules "raises serious concerns" about his commitment to free speech.
The senator added: "Allowing giant corporations to pick and choose the content available to everyday Americans would threaten the basic principles of our democracy."
First it was the McConnaissance, but now it's the Gibsonaissance and it's happening right now before our very eyes.
It began with Mel Gibson receiving a twelve-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, the goodwill followed through to the Oscars where he's received a number of nominations - including Best Director and Best Picture - and now, it is complete with an offer for a major studio comedy.
Sunrise, sunset.
THR reports that Paramount has offered Gibson a leading role in Daddy's Home 2, the follow-up to the comedy vehicle that starred Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in 2015. Much like the first one, Gibson will play the alpha male grandfather ala Mark Wahlberg whilst John Lithgow plays the more laidback, relaxed type that WIll Ferrell played in the original.
It's a good pairing, as both of them have excellent comedic chops - who didn't love Third Rock From The Sun, like? - so it makes sense to put them both together. Considering how Gibson was pushed off the set of The Hangover, Part II by the cast, this is definitely a turning point for him.
Putting him in an audience-friendly, middle-of-the-road comedy like this is essentially the major studios acknowledging that he's back in the fold. However, Gibson has stated that his next film to direct will be a follow-up to The Passion Of The Christ.
It's not yet known when The Professor And The Madman - which is currently filming in Ireland - will be released, but it's likely that it'll be released before Daddy's Home 2.
Via THR
by Sara Guaglione , January 31, 2017
The Huffington Post has ratified its first union contract to guarantee job security, raises, editorial independence and increased diversity.
Over 200 HuffPo editorial employees are now part of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), a union that represents about 4,000 media workers. Collective bargaining began between The Huffington Post and WGAE in late 2015.
Now, HuffPo claims to be the largest digital news site to unionize.
The contract has a provision that asserts editorial employees cannot be assigned to work on native advertising or branded content.
It also guarantees that employees will receive at least a 3% salary increase per year. In some cases, employees will receive increases of $10,000 to $20,000 over the course of the three-year contract, which solidifies new minimum salaries for newsroom job titles.
Additionally, the contract has specific clauses on comp time for employees, who work during holidays, and scheduled time off and severance in the event of layoffs. Employees will be given two months severance, plus an additional weeks pay for each year of service.
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WGAE represents employees at Univision-owned Gizmodo Media Group (formerly Gawker), Fusion and The Root; ThinkProgress; and about 100 workers at Vice Media.
This agreement is going to improve the lives of many of our peers, and make HuffPo an even better place to do great journalism, The Huffington Post Bargaining Committee stated. It shows what a newsroom can accomplish when it decides to come together and bargain collectively. Were grateful to the company for working with us toward such a strong and fair first contract.
HuffPost CEO Jared Grusd said he was pleased to work with WGAE to reach the agreement.
We remain committed to providing growth opportunities for all of our talented and dedicated editorial and video staff to ensure The Huffington Post is the leading digital platform for news and information, he stated.
WGAE also has ongoing talks with Salon Media, where employees are attempting to have their union recognized.
by Jess Nelson , January 31, 2017
Google employees in eight offices across the United States staged a walkout on Monday, protesting the immigration ban signed by President Trump in an executive order Friday.
The order bans all nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, affecting travel from Syria, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Iran.
Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google and President of Alphabet, and Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, supported the protest and spoke to employees gathered at Googles headquarters in Mountain View, California. As many as 200 Google employees are affected by the immigration ban.
Brin, who also joined protests at the San Francisco International Airport over the weekend, first came to the United States during the Cold War as a refugee from the Soviet Union. He was six years old at the time.
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"Its painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues," wrote Pichai, an immigrant from India, in an email sent to staff on Friday.
Google leaders were not the only tech professionals who spoke out against the ban, as many more took to email to communicate their opinions and offer support to any employees affected.
Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, quoted Dr. Martin Luther King in his email to staff on Saturday. Apple is open, he also wrote. Open to everyone, no matter where they come from, which language they speak, who they love or how they worship.
Shantanu Narayen, the CEO of Adobe, emailed staff on Sunday to express how Adobe would not be the company it is today without our rich diversity of employees, and that continued diversity is vital to our future. Narayen himself is an Indian immigrant and US citizen.
Lyft pledged to donate $1 million over the next four years to the ACLU. We ask that you continue to be there for each other -- and together, continue proving the power of community, Lyfts co-founders wrote in an email to all customers and staff on Sunday.
Other companies have not been as vocal. Ginni Rometty, the CEO of IBM and a member of the Trump administration, released a simple short statement on Monday, while Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle and a member of the Trump transition team, remained silent.
by Larissa Faw , January 31, 2017
JetBlue and the Jamaica Tourist Board used a clever hook to support the #JetBlueFlashFares campaign that provides low cost vacation packages.
A team effort, the concept was first developed and produced by Rokkan following a creative briefing from the JetBlue team. Then JetBlue brought the idea to its partners at the Jamaica Tourist Board.
The resulting campaign selected 15 commuters (captured on film) at New York City's Jamaica Station to exchange their Jamaica Station train tickets for plane tickets to Jamaica the Caribbean nation. The film shows two Jamaican hosts entertaining travelers at a beach pop-up paradise with drums and sand inside the Queens train station.
The hosts interact with travelers by taunting them about the current 85 degree temperature in Jamaica, compared to 28 degrees in NYC as well as inquiring about the lengths of their commutes. Finally, they ask riders whether they would be willing to trade their commuter tickets for a JetBlue Vacations package - air + hotel - to Montego Bay, Jamaica. (JetBlue returned their train tickets.)
"Id say the biggest challenge for an event like this, with hidden cameras, is getting often jaded New Yorkers - rushing to catch their trains - to pause and relax for a moment," says Tara Carson, manager of consumer promotions and regional marketing, JetBlue. "Were happy to reward those that did pause with a chance to relax for a bit longer under the Jamaican sun."
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The film, which can be seen on YouTube and other sites, is supported by paid media placements and social influencer activations, which are being handled by MullenLowe, JetBlues AOR.
The airline has had a long-standing partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board since JetBlue first launched flights to Montego Bay in 2009.
by P.J. Bednarski , Staff Writer @pjbtweet, January 31, 2017
Nobody but me would be interested in My Fabulous Career writing cord cutting stories. I think my first one occurred in 2009 and basically said that cord-cutting was a word describing something that hadnt happened yet.
Thats changed over the years as the options for cable or satellite disconnectors have increased.
A new report from Forrester Research says the number of cord-cutters have doubled in the last three years, from 3% of the population surveyed, to 6%.
The number of likely cord-cutters has gone up from 9% in 2013 to to 16% in 2016.
Thats always a fun figure when included in studies like this. I suspect a lot of people also told pollsters they were considering moving to Canada if their man/woman didnt win. I know one person who has moved, but to New Zealand.
But unlike even the very recent past, those likely cord-cutters just might do it now. There are more and more alternatives to cable or satellite TV and at the same time, younger viewers moving into the marketplace may reject cable at the very beginning of their TV service experience and have a good alternative.
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Our data shows that those who have already cut the cord are largely driven by price and value, while those considering it are evaluating all the ways they can get access to content and which provider will offer them the best experience, Forresters report says.
So in other words, once cord cutters did it recognizing theyd be missing something. Now, they can actually shop for something close to what they want.
Of those who have chave done the deed, surprising to me, 48% were married couples but only 28% were older millennials, Forrester says.
But going forward, 61% of the new cord cutters will be married, and 56% will have children under 18 in their house, up from 33% now. That probably explains the increase in childrens programming being offered by top streamers. And 54% of the cutters will have household incomes over $75,000 compared to only 37% who are that well-off now. In the future, 61% of the cord-cutters will be what Forrester calls "progressive pioneers" who are generally tech savvy and are easily traveling in the new media landscape; just 22% of the cutters are in that group now. Forrester says altogether, one out of five of us fit the bill.
Currently, 35% of the likely cord cutters are held back by concerns that can be summed up as habit. Theyve always had cable or they cant imagine living without it, or its part of a bundle that makes it seem economical. But 51% are still hanging in with cable or satellite because of the content it provides. (Significantly, 11% say its the local channels).
So as OTT provides more of what cable gives them, its logical theyll switch.
But for current cord cutters and prospective ones, the biggest reason to cut the cord is cost--42% of both groups cite that feature of cord-cutting. The cable business, already shoots itself in the foot every time it raises rates; pretty soon its going to have a permanent limp.
Of the major services, cord-cutters like Netflix best by various measures, Hulu next and then HBO Now. Amazon Prime is fourth. CBS All Access and NBCs Seeso are less important and upwards of 20% consumers polled found those two network-derived channels to be too expensive, a higher number in that category than the others.
pj@mediapost.com
Consumers reject portion downsizing because they're good at spotting it, but don't realise how big portions have become because they underestimate them. Understanding this can help make consumers more receptive to both downsizing and supersizing.
But whenever a brand tries to shave a few percentages off the size of their product, consumers immediately notice and complain. The latest revolt occurred earlier when Mondelez reduced the size of its Toblerone chocolate bars in the UK by increasing the gap between its triangular chunks.
Why are people so mad at downsizing? Certainly, downsizing is a loss, but so is a price increase. And consumers are generally indifferent to all the supersizing that has been happening over the past three decades. The same 16 ounce Coke, which now seems so normal were, not so long ago, advertised as a "big size, serving 3". In fact, for its first 50 years, the standard measure Coca Cola bottle was 6.5 fluid ounces. Now single servings of Coke at American fast food restaurants regularly reach up to 32 ounces.
In an article published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, titled "The Accuracy of Less: Natural Bounds Explain Why Quantity Decreases Are Estimated More Accurately Than Quantity Increases," INSEAD Professor of Marketing, Pierre Chandon and Nailya Ordabayeva, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Boston College, find that people are much better at accurately judging decreasing portions than increasing ones, which is why there are such public outcries when companies try to shrink portions.
Across five studies involving 4,842 size judgments, they show that people, including experts such as professional chefs from the Paul Bocuse Institute, estimate quantity decreases more accurately than quantity increases. On average, they found that a portion that is doubled in size is judged to be only 72% larger than the original size, a strong underestimation, whereas one that is halved appears to be 53% of the original size, which is a very good approximation.
"Our brain is very bad at judging quantity increases, but surprisingly accurate at judging quantity decreases", said Chandon, who is also the The L'Oreal Chaired Professor of Marketing, Innovation and Creativity at INSEAD and Director of the INSEAD Sorbonne University Behavioral Lab. "Supersizing food portions is a lose-lose proposition: Consumers don't realize how much food is available, they refuse to pay a fair price for it, and end up eating more than realize. Companies should consider downsizing back to what used to be a regular portion size not so long ago. But they need to downsize smartly, leveraging what we know about size perceptions, otherwise consumers will reject it".
In one experiment, they asked 510 participants to take a look at five different portions of chocolate candies in plastic cups. The cups had 37, 74, 148, 296, and 592 candies respectively. In the "supersizing" condition, participants were told the count of the smallest portion (37) and were then asked to estimate the number of chocolate candies in the other four portions. The average estimates were 57, 102, 184, and 296. In other words, people missed exactly half the candies in the largest cup. People in the downsizing group were told the count of the largest portion (592) and were asked to estimate the number of candies in the other cups. Their average estimate was 346, 163, 74, and 36. They only missed the size of the smallest cup by one candy.
Chandon and Ordabayeva hypothesized that this asymmetry exists because there is a natural lower bound or a zero point when portion sizes decrease. In other words, a decreasing portion cannot go below zero. When portions increase, however, they can theoretically grow to infinity. Without an upper bound, it is hard for people to estimate how big something has become.
To test their hypothesis, they provided an upper bound to some of the participants, telling them that the plastic container could hold a maximum of 629 chocolate candies. In this case, participants in the supersizing condition judged the largest container to hold 528 M&Ms, much closer to the actual numbers. When an upper bound was available, judgments of size increases were no longer less accurate than judgments of size decreases.
As another test, Chandon and Ordabayeva asked people to estimate the change in size between portions rather than the size of the portions themselves. They did this because size ratios--for example, how many times larger or how many times smaller one portion is compared to another--do not have an upper bound, regardless of whether size increases or decreases. They found that estimating size ratios reduced the asymmetry between increases and decreases and made consumers less averse to size decreases.
"Our study suggests a number of strategies that can improve consumer decisions in the face of quantity increases vs. decreases," said Ordabayeva. "This improved visual accuracy, in effect, makes people less averse to, and more receptive towards, healthier downsized portions and packages," she added.
People are easily pulled into binge culture's quick-fix obsession with junk-food. But, according to a study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, they might just as easily be able to pull themselves out of it.
Laura Corbit, assistant professor at the University of Sydney, and her team wondered how one might counteract unhealthy eating habits. They were curious to find out how food cues, such as billboards and commercials, affect our decisions about where, what and how much to eat. How does our environment shape how we eat?
In order to figure out useful strategies against obesity and metabolic disease, they used lab rats to conduct a series of experiments replete with oreos, pringles, jelly snakes and chow.
They showed that environments where tasty high-fat and high-sugar treats were routinely consumed induced habitual control: animals lost the ability to make volitional nutritional choices based on the current value of food. But the study also showed that rats could easily be brought out of this state.
For people, habitual behavior means that eating patterns are not necessarily dictated by conscientious weight regulation and health concerns, but also by external food cues that shape and perpetuate certain eating habits: a world where McDonalds billboards loom large at every corner, luring you in with the promise of cheap, high-fat and high-sugar food.
A first experiment backed this idea up by looking at volitional versus habitual control in rats. Animals were initially given repeated exposures to junk-food or bland chow environments. After being food-deprived, they were trained to press levers that provided either sugar water or pellets. Then, once they were full, they were once again placed in junk-food and bland chow environments in order to see whether these distinct contexts would affect their food-seeking behavior.
This first experiment showed that a junk-food environment caused rats to exhibit a more habitual mode of behavior than a bland chow environment.
But could aspects of the environment also reverse this habitual behavior?
In a second experiment, the rats underwent the same procedures as in the first experiment. This time, however, distinct sound cues were played whenever rats were placed in junk-food or bland chow contexts, creating specific environmental cues associated with specific food types.
The researchers found that the cue played in the bland chow context improved sensitivity to the devaluation of food, when rats were subsequently placed in the junk food context after having been fed.
A sound cue paired with bland food is all it took to take rats out of a habitual mode of behavior and back into a volitional mind frame.
The idea that we control how, when, and what we eat assumes - wrongly - that we are always able-minded enough to make measured, healthy decisions. Our best intentions could be assailed by a constant stream of sensory information.
If the frequently habitual nature seen in rats is translated to people, this study offers encouraging insight. The researchers suggest using simple interventions, such as reminders of how unhealthy certain foods are or interrupting the automatic processing of junk-food cues. A number of smartphone apps have already been developed to stymie the consumption of unhealthy food. Equally, simply putting up signs that point out healthy food options in a food court can be an effective way of bringing us into a volitional state of mind.
As a corrective to obesity and metabolic disease, humans can come up with their own preventive cues, which may jolt them out of habit and into health.
This study was supported by a University of Sydney Bridging Support grant.
Article: Contexts Paired with Junk Food Impair Goal-Directed Behavior in Rats: Implications for Decision Making in Obesogenic Environments, Michael D. Kendig, Ambrose M. K. Cheung, Joel S. Raymond and Laura H. Corbit, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00216, published 8 November 2016.
Hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases decline on days with major snowfalls compared to days with no snowfall, but they jump by 23% two days later, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
"With global climate change, major snowstorms may become more frequent and severe," said lead author Jennifer Bobb of the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, who worked on the study as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biostatistics at Harvard Chan School. "Understanding trends in hospitalizations related to snowfall will help us develop ways to protect public health during harsh winter conditions."
The study will be published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
The researchers analyzed data for 433,037 adults hospitalized at the four largest hospitals in Boston (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Medical Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital) during the months of November through April, for the years 2010-2015. They focused on admissions for cardiovascular diseases; cold-weather related conditions such as frostbite; and falls and injuries.
"This was a complex data science endeavor that required coordination and linkage of electronic medical records across hospitals," said senior author Francesca Dominici, professor of biostatistics and senior associate dean for research at Harvard Chan School.
Other findings included:
Cold-weather-related disease admissions increased by 3.7% on high snowfall days (greater than 10 inches of snow), compared to days with no snowfall.
Cardiovascular disease admissions were higher on days of moderate (5 to 10 inches), rather than high, snowfall.
Admissions for falls increased 18% on average during the six days following a moderate snowfall, compared to days with no snowfall.
Health hazards posed by snowfalls may have previously been unrecognized, according to the researchers. A possible explanation could be that people who are most susceptible to cardiovascular events and falls stay indoors during heavy snowfalls and avoid potential hazards, say the researchers.
They write that the two-day delayed jump in admissions for cardiovascular events after heavy snowfalls could reflect delays getting to the hospital during snow emergencies.
The mechanisms by which snowstorms lead to adverse cardiovascular events that are not fully understood, noted the authors. Snow shoveling may be one such factor. This possibility derives from prior studies of "snow-shoveler's infarction," which found that heavy snow shoveling resulted in cardiorespiratory demands that were comparable to or higher than the demands of maximal treadmill testing.
This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (Grants R21 ES022585-01, R21 ES024012, R01 ES024332, R01 ES026217, P30 ES000002, P50 MD010428, K08 AR060257); the Environmental Protection Agency (Grant 83587201-0); the Health Effects Institute (Gran 4953-RFA14-3/16-4); and the Harold and Duval Bowen Fund.
Article: Time-Course of Cause-Specific Hospital Admissions During Snowstorms: An Analysis of Electronic Medical Records from Major Hospitals in Boston, Jennifer F. Bobb, Kalon K. L Ho, Robert W. Yeh, Lori Harrington, Adrian Zai, Katherine P. Liao, Francesca Dominici, American Journal of Epidemiology, doi: 10.1093/aje/kww219, published online 30 January 2017.
A test that measures the levels of five chemicals in the breath has shown promising results for the detection of cancers of the oesophagus and stomach in a large patient trial presented at the European Cancer Congress 2017.
Together, stomach and oesophageal cancer account for around 1.4 million new cancer diagnoses each year worldwide 1. Both tend to be diagnosed late, because the symptoms are ambiguous, meaning the five-year survival rate for these two types of cancer is only 15%.
The new research, involving more than 300 patients, showed that the test could diagnose cancer with an overall accuracy of 85%.
Dr Sheraz Markar, an NIHR Clinical Trials Fellow from Imperial College London, under the supervision of Professor George Hanna, told the Congress: "At present the only way to diagnose oesophageal cancer or stomach cancer is with endoscopy. This method is expensive, invasive and has some risk of complications.
"A breath test could be used as a non-invasive, first-line test to reduce the number of unnecessary endoscopies. In the longer term this could also mean earlier diagnosis and treatment, and better survival."
The trial was based on the results of previous research that suggested differences in the levels of specific chemicals (butyric, pentanoic and hexanoic acids, butanal, and decanal) between patients with stomach or oesophageal cancer and patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms without cancer. The new research aimed to test whether this 'chemical signature' that seemed to typify cancer could be the basis of a diagnostic test.
In the new study, the research team collected breath samples from 335 people at St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust; University College London Hospital; and the Royal Marsden Hospital, London. Of these, 163 had been diagnosed with stomach or oesophageal cancer and 172 showed no evidence of cancer when they had an endoscopy.
All the samples were analysed with a technique called selected ion flow-tube mass spectrometry, which is able to accurately measure small amounts of different chemicals in mixtures of gases such as breath.
Researchers measured the levels of the five chemicals in each sample to see which ones matched to the 'chemical signature' that indicated cancer.
The results showed that the test was 85% accurate overall, with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 81%. This means that not only was the breath test good at picking up those who had cancer (sensitivity), it was also good at correctly identifying who did not have cancer (specificity).
Dr Markar said: "Because cancer cells are different to healthy ones, they produce a different mixture of chemicals. This study suggests that we may be able detect these differences and use a breath test to indicate which patients are likely to have cancer of the oesophagus and stomach, and which do not. However, these findings must be validated in a larger sample of patients before the test could be used in the clinic."
Over the next three years, the researchers will continue with a larger trial, using the test with patients who are being given an endoscopy for gastrointestinal symptoms but not yet diagnosed with cancer. This will assess the ability of the test to pick up cases within a group that is likely to contain only a small percentage of cancers.
The team is also working on breath tests for other types of cancer, such as colorectal and pancreatic, which could be used as first-line tests in general practice surgeries.
Abnormality with special cells that wrap around blood vessels in the brain leads to neuron deterioration, possibly affecting the development of Alzheimer's disease, a USC-led study reveals.
"Gatekeeper cells" called pericytes surround blood vessels, contracting and dilating to control blood flow to active parts of the brain.
"Pericyte degeneration may be ground zero for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, ALS and possibly others," said Berislav Zlokovic, senior author of the study and director of the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "A glitch with gatekeeper cells that surround capillaries may restrict blood and oxygen supply to active areas of the brain, gradually causing neuron loss that might have important implications for Alzheimer's disease."
Published in Nature Neuroscience, this was the first study to use a pericyte-deficient mouse model to test how blood flow is regulated in the brain. The goal was to identify whether pericytes could be an important new therapeutic target for treating neuron deterioration.
"Vascular problems increase the risk of cognitive impairment in many types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease," said Kassandra Kisler, co-first author and a research associate at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute. "Pericytes play an important part in keeping your brain healthy."
A closer look at the mouse models
Pericyte dysfunction suffocates the brain, leading to metabolic stress, accelerated neuronal damage and neuron loss, said Zlokovic, holder of the Mary Hayley and Selim Zilkha Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Research.
To test the theory, researchers stimulated the hind limb of young mice deficient in gatekeeper cells and monitored the global and individual responses of brain capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in the brain. The global cerebral blood flow response to an electric stimulus was reduced by about 30 percent compared to normal mice, denoting a weakened system.
Relative to the control group, the capillaries of pericyte-deficient mice took 6.5 seconds longer to dilate. Slower capillary widening and a slower flow of red blood cells carrying oxygen through capillaries means it takes longer for the brain to get its fuel.
As the mice turned 6 to 8 months old, global cerebral blood flow responses to stimuli progressively worsened. Blood flow responses for the experimental group were 58 percent lower than that of their age-matched peers. In short, with age, the brain's malfunctioning vascular system exponentially worsens.
"We now understand the function of blood vessel gatekeeper cells is to ensure adequate oxygen and energy supply to brain cells," said Amy Nelson, co-first author and a postdoctoral scholar at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute. "Prior to our study, scientists knew patients with Alzheimer's disease, ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders experience changes to the blood flow and oxygen being supplied to the brain and that pericytes die. Our study adds a new piece of information: Loss of these gatekeeper cells leads to impaired blood flow and insufficient oxygen delivery to the brain. The big mystery now is: What kills pericytes in Alzheimer's disease?"
The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the American Heart Association.
Scientists at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute at the Keck School of Medicine and other collaborators are already working to further this line of research, scanning the brains of people who are genetically at risk for Alzheimer's. They are also collecting cerebral spinal fluid and blood for analysis of vascular damage, including injury to pericytes.
Emergency departments have a new tool to identify patients with chest pain who can be removed safely from cardiac monitoring, with validation of the Ottawa Chest Pain Cardiac Monitoring Rule, according to a research paper published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Ottawa researchers had previously developed the Ottawa Chest Pain Cardiac Monitoring Rule as a simple tool to help physicians determine which patients could be safely removed from cardiac monitors.
The current study tested the decision rule in actual patient settings to determine its safety and usefulness. Researchers enrolled 1125 patients with chest pain who visited the emergency departments of The Ottawa Hospital's two campuses (Civic and General), and 796 (70.8%) were monitored during their stay. Of all the patients who were monitored, only 15 (1.9%) patients suffered an arrhythmia during their stay in the emergency department. The rule would have enabled 284 (35.7%) patients to be safely removed from cardiac monitoring.
"Our study results show that clinically important arrhythmias are uncommon among patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain," writes Dr. Venkatesh Thiruganasambandamoorthy, scientist and emergency physician at The Ottawa Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, with coauthors. "A substantial number of patients are unnecessarily being placed on cardiac monitoring, while this resource is needed for patients in the waiting room who are more ill."
The rule was designed to be highly sensitive, meaning it would identify all patients with an arrhythmia. In this validation study, it performed as desired, detecting 100% of patients. None of the patients in the study who could be taken off the monitor as per the rule experienced any arrhythmias.
Researchers created the initial decision tool in 2007, but suggest that despite a time lag, it will be useful for clinicians. It has already been implemented in three Canadian emergency departments, two in Ottawa and one in Calgary.
"Overall the management of chest pain patients has not changed much in the past 10 years with most patients requiring serial blood tests to rule out heart attack and end up staying in the emergency department for few hours. Hence, our study results are important, very relevant and will improve the management of chest pain patients in the emergency," says Dr. Thiruganasambandamoorthy. "The results, if implemented, should have a significant and positive impact on wait times and increase the availability of monitored beds for sicker patients."
"We recommend that patients who present to the emergency department with chest pain be removed from cardiac monitoring if they are free of chest pain at the time of assessment and if the ECG is either normal or shows only nonspecific changes. Following this rule will allow for at least one-third of patients to be safely removed from cardiac monitoring immediately after their initial evaluation, freeing up valuable resources that may be allocated to patients who are more ill," the authors conclude.
The study was funded by the Ontario Innovation Fund. Dr. Venkatesh Thiruganasambandamoorthy is currently supported by the National New Investigator salary award through the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Article: Prospective validation of a clinical decision rule to identify patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain who can safely be removed from cardiac monitoring, Shahbaz Syed, BSc, MD, Mathieu Gatien, MD, Jeffrey J. Perry, MD, MSc, Hina Chaudry, MBBS, Soo-Min Kim, BScH, Kenneth Kwong, BSc, Muhammad Mukarram, MBBS, Venkatesh Thiruganasambandamoorthy, MBBS, MSc, CMAJ, doi: 10.1503/cmaj.160742, published 30 January 2017.
Tony-winning Broadway star Idina Menzel, aka Adele Dazeem, aka the voice of Elsa from Frozen, will play an Irish gig this summer.
Menzel is embarking on an extensive European tour this summer which includes a stop-off at Cork's Live at the Marquee on Sunday, June 25th.
The last time she played in Ireland was at Dublin's BGE Theatre in 2015 which sold out pretty quickly - so you can expect this gig to do the same.
Speaking of which, tickets are on sale from usual outlets next Monday, February 6th at 9am.
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"Assisting, intelligent robots for older people could relieve pressures in hospitals and care homes as well as improving care delivery at home and promoting independent living for the elderly."Professor Papadopoulos added, "It is not a question of replacing human support but enhancing and complementing existing care."She added, "We are starting with care homes and with people who are semi-independent living in sheltered housing, but we do believe that in the future the robots would become acceptable for people to have in their own homes."Pepper, the robot, has already been shown to be useful in a range of social scenarios. The droid landed a job in Pizza Hut locations in Asia, announced a partnership with Honda's robot Asimo and will soon start selling life insurance in Japan.Two hospitals in Belgium have installed Pepper robots in their receptions for trials to accompany visitors to the department they're looking for.Source: Medindia
We all have, at some point, come across people who have unusual experiences to share. Some can be bizarre but some of them are so mesmerizing that they leave our hearts filled with jealousy and envy. At times, listening to those experiences makes you wish you could be a part of them. One such experience is to dine at the highest peak of the world, Mt. Everest. Ever wondered what it feels like? We are sure it will be captivating. The mere thought of it excites us so much, but this group of people, led by renowned chef James Sharman made this dream come true for many with their pop-up restaurant at the mountains base camp. Sharmans fine-dining expedition was assisted by four of his chef friends and eight porters.
One Star House Party
Now this isnt any regular dinner party to say the least managing the logistics, beating all odds and fighting the weather can make anyone lose hope and sometimes their lives, while trying to achieve the unattainable. The team had 16 plastic chairs, three wooden tables and enough cookie supplies to feed over 20 people. Their mission wasnt easy at all and the culinary team even witnessed a small avalanche while they were on the lookout for an ice-free patch of rock to host the dinner. But, Sharman who isnt any rookie in the industry, managed to pull this off with success.
One Star House Party
This dinner party was a part of One Star House Party, a pop-up restaurant initiated last year by Sharman and a few chefs. Before heading to Everest in December, the team had hosted similar fine dinner parties with their short-lived restaurants in Beijing, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. At every restaurant, dinners were sold out and the credit definitely goes to the exceptional culinary skills of the team. Sharman has earlier cooked at Noma and The Ledbury, two of the most sought after European restaurants that often find a place in the worlds best restaurants list.
One Star House Party
Sharman told Outside, You build a restaurant at Base camp to make a bang. But it was quite humbling, he further added. Their approach towards cuisine too was very refreshing. For instance, in Bangkok, the team served local beef sundried with homemade fish sauce, and charred Thai eggplant. Similarly, in Vietnam, they served water buffalo heart and fish brined in coconut water. So, each time they visited a new place, they pulled together their menus after eating food at the local restaurants and exploring the markets. One of the chefs with the pop-up campaign, Jack Donahue said, Nepalese food gets lost in Indian food in the Western perspective. Jack further added, They have their own distinct style Its a lot milder. There are dal dishes and curry dishes, but the spices are much more subtle and less furious.
One Star House Party
But there were a lot of aspects to keep in mind, especially in terms of food which Sharman acknowledged. According to him, the key to unlocking the menu was when they started considering food as an advantage in their nine-day hike to the base camp. So as they started putting the menu in place, it slowly became more and more Himalayan, as told by the chefs. En route their journey, they even discovered Sukuti, a buffalo jerky thats air-dried in the cold, a process that has profound effects on the flavour.
One Star House Party
The party hosted 15 diners who paid $1,050 for food and lodging over the course of a 14-day journey from Katmandu to the Base Camp and back. The meal was simpler as compared to other parties the team had hosted earlier, and was served in bowls along with beer cans. The highlight of the menu, according to Sharman, was a riff on Sukuti, the buffalo jerky found throughout Nepal. The chefs made a dry curry of the jerky by reheating it in ghee with spices and onions. These were some of the dishes that graced the menu Potatoes grown in Dingboche, steamed and cooked with turmeric, black mustard seeds, cassia leaf; carrots and radish fermented in wheat husk and beer; thinly sliced raw pumpkin, frozen and thawed to change the texture, fermented in mustard leaf dressing; pickled long gourds; fermented sauce of hot green chili and tamarind; and preserved, and grilled and tea smoked aubergine.
The next pop-up restaurant will be hosted in Mumbai. This isnt the first time that a dinner party was hosted on Everest. Last year, renowned cook, Sat Bains tried to prepare a meal on the mountain, but had to come down after showing signs of altitude sickness during the ascent. Oh god, how we wish we couldve been a part of this mouth-watering dinner party. But for now, lets be happy with our Manali treks, or bike rides to Ladakh.
Source: Outside
No matter where you are from or what religion you preach, if the leader of the free world starts banning Muslims from seven countries, we should be concerned. Trumps Muslim ban has caused a lot of chaos and uncertainty all over the world with many people terming his executive order a Draconian decision which sets a very bad precedent for other far-right governments all over the world.
While many celebrities have spoken up on the issue, this particular take by The Daily Shows correspondent Hasan Minhaj nails the entire fiasco of the Trump Administration. Take a look at how Trumps Muslim ban is affecting the families of refugees who have already suffered a lot.
If you still think that Trump is justified in passing an executive order that bans Muslims to enter America then guess what, youre next!
Nobody does luxury better than the sheikhs and princes of the Middle East. From their personal planes to their gold-lined bathrooms, they sure know how to live it up like royals. A picture shared by a Reddit user that has been doing the rounds just confirms the same. The user claims that a Saudi prince bought airplane tickets for his 80 falcons.
Reddit
According to the Reddit post, a Saudi Arabian prince accommodated all of his 80 hawks, flying to an unknown destination, because when you have the money, why not?! The identity of the prince and the airline is not known yet.
Falcons on a plane? Seriously? Many of you will be surprised to know falcons on a plane is not as uncommon as it sounds. Falconry, also called hawking or gamehawking, has been a popular practice in the Middle East for a long time, with men training falcons to hunt down other birds.
Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images
Local airlines often carry around falcons being transported by their owner. There is even a patented Falcon Master (a kit for falcons) that enables the owners to carry them on flights. Etihad Airways too allows falcons on its planes but has limit on the number of birds allowed.
Believe it or not, falcons have their own passports too (though we dont know how they distinguish them from their passports photos). The falcon is the national bird of the UAE and demands enough respect to have a place for itself on planes.
Looks like falcons have a better life than many of us here. Okay bye, gotta go buy second class train tickets to Jhumritalaiya.
It was recently reported that Michael Buble would be standing down as host of the upcoming BRIT Awards in London in order to be with his sick son Noah.
The Canadian crooner's replacements have just been announced, and they're familiar faces to the British and Irish public.
The ubiquitous Dermot O'Leary and Emma Willis will step into Buble's shoes on February 22nd at London's O2 Arena, with O'Leary confirming the news on Instagram this morning.
He captioned the below photo: "Well, that's not my average Tuesday morning... Would much rather be hosting under different circumstances, but honoured to be asked, and especially looking forward to working with this one @emmawillisofficial."
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LONDON - Prime Minister Theresa May's plan to leave the European Union is expected to survive weeks of intense parliamentary scrutiny starting on Tuesday, despite pro-EU lawmakers' attempts to force the government to rethink its strategy.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves Number 10 Downing Street in London, Britain January 24, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
May's government is seeking approval for a new law giving her the right to trigger Article 50 - the legal process for leaving the bloc - after the Supreme Court ruled last week that she could not take that decision unilaterally.
Some lawmakers will try to use the legislative process to press her to reveal closely-guarded details of her negotiating strategy, give parliament and devolved governments more say over the exit talks, or even block Brexit entirely.
But Conservative leader May's majority in parliament means her plan to start Brexit negotiations by the end of March is currently expected to pass through parliament's legislative process relatively unchanged and on time.
"I suspect at the moment there isn't going to be enough for a majority for any amendment," a source close to cross-party discussions on the legislation told Reuters.
"The bottom line is that there is very, very, very little appetite for Conservative MPs (Members of Parliament) to back any amendments."
"HARD BREXIT"?
The second largest party, Labour, is expected to call for more parliamentary scrutiny of the Brexit process, but has said it will not ultimately try to thwart it. Several Labour MPs disagree with this stance and will oppose the law.
For more on the amendment process, see here:
For more on the legislative process, see here:
Lawmakers who disagree with the government's plan to leave the EU's single market and negotiate a free trade deal with the bloc - a strategy described by some as a 'hard Brexit' - are gearing up for a fight.
Five separate amendments designed to halt the bill before it can become law have been submitted by lawmakers from different opposition parties. The two-day debate starting on Tuesday is expected to include a vote on one of these.
"If we're serious about opposing an extreme Brexit then we can't just wave through Article 50," said Caroline Lucas, a Green Party MP who has signed one of the amendments along with lawmakers from other parties.
In addition, 60 pages of proposed amendments to the short two-clause bill have been submitted for debate at later stages in the parliamentary process, seeking to change the bill for a range of different reasons.
The government is expected to use its majority to resist any substantial amendments to the bill, arguing that the June 23 referendum to leave the bloc has already empowered them to execute Britain's withdrawal.
"It is simply about implementing a decision already made, a point of no return already passed," Brexit minister David Davis will say. "We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the EU; they decided they did."
BEIJING -- The recent temporary entry ban imposed by US President Donald Trump on refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries has been rejected by traditional US allies.
Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against US President Donald Trump's executive order in London, Britain January 30, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
MPs (members of the Parliament) in Britain's House of Commons voted unanimously after an emergency debate Monday to call on Trump to repeal his travel ban on Muslims.
More than 1.5 million people have signed a petition to the British Parliament saying Trump should not be invited to make an official state visit because it would cause embarrassment to Queen Elizabeth.
Under an executive order signed by Trump on Friday, refugees from all over the world will be suspended from entering the United States for 120 days while all immigration from so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days.
Countries included in the ban are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The total population from these countries exceeds 130 million.
British Prime Minister Theresa May's office said Sunday that the minister would interfere if the decision affected British nationals, stressing, "we do not agree with this kind of approach."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday slammed the US ban.
Anti-terrorism efforts should not justify general suspicion against a specific group of people, Merkel told a press conference prior to her talks with visiting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
"The essential and also resolute fight against terrorism in no way justifies general suspicion against people of a specific faith, in this case people of the Muslim faith or people of a certain background," she said.
"This approach, in my view, contradicts the basic tenets of international aid to refugees and international cooperation," the chancellor said.
Trump's entry ban was also rejected by French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who emphasized that "welcoming refugees who are fleeing war is part of our duty."
French President Francois Hollande on Saturday warned Trump about the economic and political consequences of a protectionist approach, urging him to respect the principle of accepting refugees.
In a telephone conversation, Hollande said that "faced with an unstable and uncertain world, withdrawal into oneself is a dead-end response."
Moreover, the Dutch government declared late Sunday it rejects the Trump order and asked the United States for clarification.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders issued a joint statement with his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, saying that the two countries' embassies in Washington "are urgently examining the consequences of the US executive order for our citizens and residents with a double nationality."
"We are determined to protect the rights of our citizens and residents, and will discuss swiftly within the European Union (EU) the necessary steps," the statement said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also voiced his disagreement on the issue.
"To those fleeing persecution, terror and war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength," Trudeau tweeted Saturday.
Governments of Finland, Iceland also expressed the position that the US move is unacceptable.
The U.S. military is drawing up a list of Iraqis who have helped U.S. forces to avoid having them caught up in the red tape of President Donald Trump's restrictions on entry to the U.S., the Pentagon said Monday.
"We have been provided the opportunity by the White House to submit names," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, for possible exemptions from the 90-day travel ban against those from Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Iran.
Davis also said the Defense Department is considering drawing up a separate list of non-citizen, active-duty members of the military holding green cards for distribution to other agencies to ease their entry into the U.S. from overseas.
About 5,000 non-citizens enlist in the military annually, and the average number of non-citizens serving in the total force each year is about 18,000, Davis said. The DoD had no immediate count of the number of active-duty non-citizens who are from the seven countries affected by the travel ban.
RELATED: Veterans in Congress Call for Ban Exemptions for Iraqi Interpreters
As for the Iraqis, Davis said, "We are ensuring that those who have demonstrated their commitment tangibly to fight alongside us and support us -- that those names are known in whatever process there is going forward.
"There are a number of people in Iraq who have worked for us in a partnership role, whether fighting alongside us or working as translators, often doing so at great peril to themselves," he said.
Several Iraqis who worked for the U.S. as translators on the front lines and in other capacities were caught up in the initial chaos of the travel ban over the weekend, which led to confusion among immigration officials and demonstrations at airports.
Trump issued an executive order last Friday titled, "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States." In addition to the travel ban against the seven Muslim countries for at least 90 days, the order also suspended the admission into the U.S. for at least 120 days of all refugees across the globe and put an indefinite suspension on the admission of any refugees from Syria.
At least four federal judges nationwide have issued stays on implementation of the executive order on actions brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and others. New Attorney General Jeff Sessions is expected to challenge the stays in cases that could go to the Supreme Court.
Senate and House Democrats have said they will propose legislation to override the executive order, and several congressional Republicans have also voiced their concerns.
In a joint statement Sunday, Sens. John McCain, an Arizona Republican and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and member of the committee, said Trump's order sent the wrong signal in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
"Our most important allies in the fight against [ISIS] are the vast majority of Muslims who reject its apocalyptic ideology of hatred," they said. "This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country. That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security."
In a barrage of Tweets, Trump defended his order: "Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world -- a horrible mess!"
Another Trump Tweet mocked McCain and Graham, who both opposed his candidacy: "The two Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III."
-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
As political tensions between the U.S. and Iran simmer, the U.S. and four other allied navies on Tuesday kicked off a three-day maritime exercise in international waters abutting the Iranian shoreline.
The United Kingdom-led exercise, Unified Trident, comes on the heels of a White House executive order banning immigration to the U.S. from seven countries, including Iran. In response, the Iranian foreign ministry released a statement saying it would enact a reciprocal ban on American travel to the country, and added that it would "retaliate" against the U.S.
In remarks reported by Iranian new agencies Jan. 30, the head of the Iranian Navy, Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari, said he was aware of the upcoming allied exercise and warned against any incursion of the participating ships into Iranian territorial waters.
"We don't care what is said by whom or what they do. For us, it is important to be so ready in our defensive capabilities to stand any threat at anywhere," Mehr News Agency reported that Sayyari said. "Anybody who wishes to stage a war game within the limits of the free waters should follow the international law, and we do not allow anybody to get close to our waters and this is our red line."
U.S. officials said there is no plan to enter Iranian territorial waters, internationally recognized as the region extending 12 nautical miles from a nation's shoreline.
"This exercise is not directed toward any nation, but will demonstrate a combined commitment to an enduring presence and to regional stability," U.S. Naval Forces Central Command spokesman Lt. Rick Chernitzer told Military.com in a statement. "Unified Trident will be conducted in accordance with international maritime laws, standards and norms."
In the past 12 months, the Iranian Navy has provoked U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf in dozens of high-profile harassment incidents, an increase from previous years. Last August, the coastal patrol ship USS Squall fired warning shots at Iranian vessels in one of a series of close encounters with Iranian boats that took place within a week of each other.
During Unified Trident, which also will include participants from the French and Australian navies, a task force of allied ships will be faced with "a number of conventional and unconventional maritime and air threats" to ensure operational readiness and preparation for a variety of deployed military scenarios, according to a U.S. Navy release about the exercise.
The exercise "will span the international waters of the Arabian Gulf, incorporate all forms of maritime operations, reinforce relationships with partners and allies, maintain readiness and improve cooperation to ensure the free flow of commerce," Chernitzer said.
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.
-- Greg Douquet is founder and managing partner of Red Duke Strategies. Before retiring, he was a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps and chief of staff for Marine forces in Africa and Europe. In March 2003, he was the aviation planner for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
It was March 2003 when Gen. William Wallace, then-U.S. Army 5th Corps commander, was reminded of the axiom: "Amateurs talk tactics, but professionals study logistics."
The massive and powerful 5th Corps -- the main effort in Central Command's bid for victory in defeating Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard force -- was "operationally paused." As the world watched, media and political leaders were characterizing the situation as a "quagmire."
Wallace's most acute logistical concern was fuel to feed his massive 1st Armor Division and 3rd Infantry Division.
To Wallace's east, I Marine Expeditionary Force planned three major forward operating bases for sustainment, as well as 27 refueling points along its route of advance.
Our new secretary of defense was leading I MEF's charge to defeat the Iraqi armed forces. Gen. James Mattis, then-1st Marine Division commanding general, in an effort to maximize momentum and the endurance of the division's mechanized vehicles, reduced the load of his Marines, minimized mechanized vehicles, put full faith and confidence in the 3rd Marine Air Wing, and accepted the risk that his force could achieve its objectives before running out of gas.
Later, Mattis reflected back on the compromising situation of the "March Up" as well as fuel demand during counter-insurgency efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and stated that the military must be "unleashed from the tether of fuel."
Mattis had seen the future imperative to change our sources of energy for military operations, and it was written in the lessons of the recent past.
The Soldier's Load
Largely as a result of Mattis' testimony, the Defense Department investigated ways to reduce fuel dependency and established operational energy staffs at the Pentagon.
More efficient generators, man-packable solar arrays, and attempts at more fuel-efficient vehicles promise to make tomorrow's ground forces nimbler and extend their range and endurance.
However, without resources for design and testing to improve these nascent efforts, the ability to radically alter the military's fuel demand will not mitigate the risks of today or prepare for the battlefield of the future.
Energy Security in the 'Third Offset'
While the DoD has commenced many important energy initiatives in recent years, its dependence on fossil fuel still presents a vulnerability to our forces.
Continuing wars in Afghanistan and renewed involvement in Iraq and Syria remain characterized by a steady stream of fuel trucks to feed the American way of war.
The Pentagon has taken a closer look at its supply chain, ultimately finding that by 2009 more than 3,000 troops and civilian contractors had been killed or wounded protecting convoys, 80 percent of which were transporting truck fuel. The passage of the fuel that survived often required payouts to dishonest governments and even the Taliban.
Iterative improvements in weight and efficiency are not enough. To ensure that the next "March Up" is governed by the ingenuity of the maneuvering formations and not the pace of commercial fuel trucks, the DoD must harness the remarkable technological innovations in renewable energy and link them with our emerging operational concepts.
If Multi-Domain Battle is a precise description of how the U.S. will wage future war, the large footprint FOBs as we knew them in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom will disappear. Command posts will need to reposition rapidly to move with their dispersed forces and cannot afford to drag fuel convoys with them.
Fuel keeps you focused backward on your logistical lines of sustainment and also comes with a host of hidden costs in storage, security and building materials. Storing fuel required us to enlarge the FOB's perimeter, increasing the demand for security rather than directly and persistently engaging the enemy.
Connecting Energy Innovation to Battlefield Effectiveness
Secure micro-grids sourced by predominantly renewable energy should be at the heart of forward operating bases. Industry is making massive gains in the efficacy, weight and durability of solar and wind energy, and there is no reason why our maneuver elements should wait for fuel trucks before they seize the next objective.
Our ground forces should be equipped with lightweight renewable solar panels and wind generating units -- easily assembled, low signature, and capable of powering a hasty assembly area or linking together for a company outpost.
Energy resiliency will make maneuver elements more sustainable, stealthier and protective of the force, and ultimately more likely to accomplish the mission.
Nobody understands this better than Mattis. The tether of a long fuel line of communication is antithetical to winning on the modern battlefield. Mattis intuitively understands that survivability and success in battle requires lightning-fast maneuver, fires, communication and decision making.
Let's set the conditions now with renewable operational energy so our future small-unit leaders won't have to wait for the fuel truck when opportunity arises.
-- If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
U.S. European Command's deputy commander said Monday that a newly arrived armored brigade is ready to face any threat in Europe, just as fighting resumed in Ukraine.
"These Iron Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team send a clear signal of our commitment as they round out our joint team's capability in a very significant way," said Lt. Gen. Tim Ray, speaking in Poland at a Jan. 30 ceremony for the 3rd ABCT, according to a EUCOM press release.
"The events in 2014 and the trans-Atlantic declarations from the Wales and Warsaw Summits demonstrate the indivisibility and unity of the alliance in light of Russia's invasion into Ukraine. These events forged a commitment, and a plan, to build our defense and deterrence posture in Europe," Ray said.
Meanwhile, fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine escalated, killing at least eight people late Monday and early Tuesday, injuring dozens and briefly trapping more than 200 coal miners underground, ABC News reported.
Oleksandr Turchynov, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council, said Tuesday that heavy shelling around Avdiivka killed at least three government troops and injured 24 more.
The press office of the Ukrainian government's operation in the east reported an unspecified number of civilian casualties. It also said the rebels turned down the government's offer for a ceasefire to allow the removal of the dead and wounded, according to ABC News.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday accused the Ukrainian government of provoking the crisis. The Kremlin has "reliable information" that Ukrainian volunteer battalions crossed the front line Monday night and tried to capture rebel territory, according to ABC News.
Operation Atlantic Resolve was designed to reassure NATO allies and partners in the region after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The 3rd ABCT is just one aspect of America's commitment to the region, Ray said. It is a "key part of our joint land, naval, air, space and cyberspace team. Be assured, the full weight of the U.S. military stands behind these sentinels of freedom," Ray said.
Deployed from Fort Carson, Colorado, the 3rd ABCT's 3,500 soldiers and 2,000 vehicles join a recently increased land, sea and air presence in the region.
The arrival of the 3rd ABCT starts back-to-back rotations of U.S. troops and equipment in the region. The ABCT will be dispersed across seven locations in Eastern Europe for training and exercises with European allies, Ray said.
These forces represent one element of America's commitment to European security, and it is ready to defend that security if called upon, he said, adding that the troops will train with allies and partners, ultimately leading to greater interoperability.
"Our commitment to defense is rock-solid. And we must maintain the territorial integrity of our alliance and maintain a Europe that is whole, free, prosperous, and at peace," Ray said.
-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
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...
New Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, a retired Marine general, defended President Donald Trump's travel ban on seven majority-Muslim countries and said Tuesday that confusion at airports was caused mainly by protesters.
At a news conference with top aides, Kelly pushed back against charges that Homeland and other government agencies were blindsided by Trump's executive order last Friday imposing a 90-day ban on travelers to the U.S. from Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Iran.
The order also put a 120-day ban on admitting refugees from across the globe and placed an indefinite halt on Syrian refugees coming to the United States.
"We did know the [Executive Order] was coming," said Kelly, an Iraq veteran whose last post was as head of U.S. Southern Command.
"We had people involved in the general drafting of it. We knew all that was coming," he said, and "it wasn't a surprise it was coming."
Kelly also argued against calling Trump's action a "travel ban."
"This is not a travel ban; this is a temporary pause," he said, and "This is not, I repeat, not a ban on Muslims."
Kelly said the confusion and delays at airports across the country Friday night were mainly the result of protests at immigration checkpoints. "Our officers -- who are at the counter, so to speak -- the only chaos they saw was what was taking place in other parts of the airport."
He was joined at the news conference by Kevin McAleenan, the acting head of Customs and Border Protection at Homeland.
McAleenan said that more than one million travelers came to the U.S. by air in the first 72 hours of the order being in place. Of that number, about 500,000 were foreign nationals. He said 721 of the 500,000 foreign nationals were not allowed to board flights because of the order, and 1,060 lawful permanent residents and 75 visa holders who did arrive were granted waivers. He also said 872 refugees will be arriving this week after waivers are processed for them.
However, in contrast to Kelly, McAleenan said it is "fair to acknowledge" that communications about the executive order "haven't been the best in the initial rollout of this process."
Implementation of the order became more complicated as several federal judges issued stays on its execution and acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday night announced that, in her opinion, the executive order was unlawful. Yates said she would not order U.S. Attorneys to defend it in court.
Trump immediately fired Yates and replaced her with Dana J. Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who pledged to defend the executive order.
Questions about Terror Threat
The controversial travel ban on people from the seven majority-Muslim countries has raised questions about the magnitude of the terror threat they pose to the U.S. and prompted the Defense Department to seek exemptions for those who helped the U.S. military in Iraq. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said Monday that the DoD had yet to begin submitting requests for exemptions.
The executive order signed by Trump at the Pentagon last Friday with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at his side was titled "Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States."
The first sentence of the order said it was intended "to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States."
Without citing a figure, the order went on to say, "Numerous foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001, including foreign nationals who entered the United States after receiving visitor, student, or employment visas, or who entered through the United States refugee resettlement program."
In remarks after the signing, Trump said the order was designed to "keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America. We don't want them here."
However, two recent think tank reports have concluded that the terror risk posed by travelers from the seven countries, and from Muslim-Americans in general, has been exaggerated.
A report last week by the Cato Institute said, "The countries that Trump chose to temporarily ban are not serious terrorism risks."
The author of the report, Alex Nowrasteh, said he had compiled a list of foreign-born people who committed or were convicted of attempting to commit a terrorist attack on U.S. soil from 1975 through 2015.
He said that, during the time period he analyzed, a total of 17 people from the countries singled out by Trump "were convicted of carrying out or attempting to carry out a terrorist attack on U.S. soil and they killed zero people."
In another report for the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security, sociologist Charles Kurzman, a professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, said that 46 Muslim-Americans were associated with violent extremism in 2016, a 40 percent drop from 2015.
"Few of these individuals (9 of 46, or 20 percent) had family backgrounds from the seven countries reportedly designated by the Trump administration for temporary immigration bans," the report said.
In a statement accompanying the report, David Schanzer, director of the Triangle Center, said, "The data in this report contradicts two common narratives in our polarized discourse about terrorism. First, it is flatly untrue that America is deeply threatened by violent extremism by Muslim-Americans; attacks by Muslims accounted for only one-third of one percent of all murders in America last year."
"Second, it is also untrue that violent extremism can be ignored as a problem within the Muslim-American community. Collaborative efforts between government agencies and Muslim-Americans to address this problem are justified and needed," Schanzer said.
-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Commissary officials on Monday unveiled new savings requirements for the system's 238 stores worldwide, setting the framework on which prices will be based under an upcoming plan known as "variable pricing."
Currently, products at the commissary are sold at-cost plus a five percent surcharge that pays for store upkeep and new construction. All other overhead costs are taxpayer funded.
But a new pricing model passed by Congress last year allows the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to instead use a variable pricing plan, with prices based on a percentage of savings over the same items sold off base and determined on a region-by-region basis.
For shoppers, that means commissary prices will fluctuate dependent on what part of the country they are in and the cost of goods sold at off-base stores in those areas. DeCA's regional savings index, released Monday, will dictate the percentage of savings the system must maintain over off-base grocers, officials said in a release.
According to the chart released Monday, the 36 commissaries in New England will have 21.4 percent savings over local off-base retailers; 30 commissaries in the South Atlantic region will have savings of 19.9 percent; 33 stores in the South Central region will have savings of 18.1 percent; 31 stores in the Pacific region of the U.S. will have savings of 20.9 percent; 20 stores in the Mountain region will have 17.6 percent savings; 18 stores in the North Central region will have 20.2 percent savings; nine stores in Alaska and Hawaii will have 32.6 percent savings; and 61 stores outside the U.S. will have 44.2 percent savings.
The average savings at commissaries across the U.S. will be 20.2 percent, officials said, while the global average across all 238 stores will be 23.7 percent.
"The enhanced savings calculation will allow us to measure the benefit more specifically and more often," commissary chief Joseph Jeu said in a statement. "Although market fluctuations will cause prices of grocery products to increase and decrease -- as they do today -- commissary patron savings levels will remain constant."
Information on when the new savings standards will be put in place or a list of specific stores included in each region was not immediately available.
The regional savings were calculated to include applicable off-base local and state food sales tax and the five percent commissary surcharge, according to a fact sheet. For overseas stores, the savings was calculated using the cost of living index, the fact sheet says. Average regional prices and savings will be refreshed monthly, according to the fact sheet.
The variable pricing rule was included in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by former President Barack Obama late last year, in an attempt to decrease the $1.3 billion in taxpayer funding the system receives annually.
-- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com.
U.S. Navy officials are assessing the damage after the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam dumped a significant amount of oil into Tokyo Bay while anchored near Fleet Activities Yokosuka.
The incident was characterized as an engineering incident in a statement by U.S. Pacific Fleet. The Antietam ran aground, a Navy official confirmed to Military.com, though it remains unclear to what extent it grounded or the causes of the incident.
Navy Times, which first described the mishap, reported the Antietam dumped 1,100 gallons of oil as a result of the incident. But Pacific Fleet officials declined to confirm how much oil was discharged, saying an investigation is underway to assess the situation.
Following the mishap, the Antietam was safely returned to Yokosuka with the help of tugs attached to the installation. Navy divers are inspecting the ship to determine damage, Pacific Fleet officials said in a release.
No American sailors or Japanese personnel were injured, officials said.
More information is expected to be made available in coming hours as morning dawns in Japan.
"The Navy is still working to determine the exact location that the spill took place and will take measures to minimize impacts to the environment as appropriate," Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight, a PACFLEET spokesman, said in a statement. "The Navy is cooperating with the Government of Japan and Japanese Coast Guard in response to this issue."
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.
The Navy SEAL killed Jan. 28 during a raid on al-Qaida in Yemen was a 36-year-old chief petty officer, the Defense Department said Monday.
Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens, of Peoria, Illinois, was killed during an intelligence-gathering operation on al-Qaida on the Arabian Peninsula that left six additional troops wounded or injured, defense officials said.
Owens enlisted in August 1998 and made chief in December 2009, an official told Military.com. His awards included three Bronze Stars -- two with a "V" distinguishing device signifying combat valor.
While multiple outlets have reported that Owens was a member of the elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group, better known as SEAL Team Six, officials would confirm only that he was a member of an East Coast-based special warfare unit.
"I extend my condolences to the family and shipmates of Chief Petty Officer William 'Ryan' Owens," Defense Secretary James Mattis said Monday evening in a statement. "Ryan gave his full measure for our nation, and in performing his duty, he upheld the noblest standard of military service. The United States would not long exist were it not for the selfless commitment of such warriors."
Owens is the first U.S. service member to be killed in action since President Donald Trump took office Jan. 20.
The raid was also noteworthy in that it pitted SEALs against female combatants. At least 14 AQAP-affiliated enemy fighters were killed, some of them female, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said in a statement.
Three other SEAL team members were wounded in a firefight during the raid, and three more were hurt in a hard landing by a V-22 Osprey that was providing troop transport for the operators, officials said.
Trump called the raid a "success", and Davis said it would provide the Pentagon with further insight into planning within AQAP, which has taken responsibility for the 2015 "Charlie Hebdo" terror attacks in Paris.
"I thank our gallant troops and their families for their dedication to protecting this nation, and I pass our respects to Ryan's family in this most difficult time," Mattis said.
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.
The White House hit back Monday at Democrats and some Republicans who have charged that the role of Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford on national security issues is being diminished while that of White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is being enhanced.
The Pentagon also sees no effort to sideline Dunford, who is by law the chief military adviser to the president, in the memorandum issued by President Donald Trump last Friday on access to meetings of the White House National Security Council. "Not in our view," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.
In a lengthy and combative opening statement to his daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said it is "nonsense" to read into the Trump memo any intention to downgrade the important role of Dunford or detract from Trump's high regard for the chairman.
"There's been a lot of misreporting this week about what this memo does and does not do, so let me walk you through this real quick," Spicer said.
The memo said that Bannon, the former publisher of Breitbart News and a key adviser to Trump during the election campaign, would become a regular attendee at the "Principals Committee" meetings of the NSC, which is headed by retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.
The memo also said that the presence of Dunford and the director of National Intelligence, who has yet to be named, would be required only "where issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed."
"The principals committee is merely the NSC minus the president," Spicer said. "The idea that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the DNI are being downgraded or removed is utter nonsense.
"They are at every NSC meeting and are welcome to attend the principals meetings as well," he said. "To be clear, the memo lays out that if there's a principals meeting that is outside their scope -- for example, a domestic issue that doesn't pertain to the military -- they're not required but certainly welcome to be in attendance."
"The president holds Chairman Dunford in the highest regard," Spicer said. "The suggestion that he would downgrade the important role that the chairman plays in matters of national security reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the tremendous respect that the president holds for both the chairman himself and the Joint Chiefs as a whole."
Much of the criticism of the memo focused on Bannon, who called the media the "opposition party" in a New York Times interview last week and has been associated with the far right movement known as the "alt right."
On ABC-TV's "This Week" program Sunday, Spicer said that Bannon, who was a junior officer in the Navy from 1976-83, would bring valuable military experience to NSC meetings.
"Well, he is a former naval officer," he said of Bannon. "He's got a tremendous understanding of the world and the geopolitical landscape that we have now."
Spicer said, "Having the chief strategist for the president in those meetings, who has a significant military background, to help make, guide what the president's final analysis is going to be, is crucial."
Later on the same ABC program, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a Republican whose service as defense secretary overlapped in the administrations of former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, voiced concerns about the shake-up at the NSC.
"My biggest concern is there are actually, under the law, only two statutory advisers to the National Security Council and that's the director of Central Intelligence, or the DNI, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I think pushing them out of the National Security Council meetings, except when their specific issues are at stake, is a big mistake," he said.
Susan Rice, Flynn's predecessor at the NSC, went on Twitter to castigate the Trump memo. "This is stone cold crazy," she said. "After a week of crazy. Who needs military advice or intell to make policy on ISIL, Syria, Afghanistan, DPRK?" ISIL referred to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and the DPRK to North Korea.
"It's of concern, this reorganization" of the NSC to include Bannon, Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on CBS-TV's "Face the Nation" program.
McCain called the new NSC arrangements a "radical departure" from the past. "I am worried about the National Security Council," he said.
-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Depending on your PT test, the order of swimming may best be determined by where it is in the order of events of that test.
12:16pm: Manfred has issued a statement disputing elements of Correas account. Per the commissioner, the league decided not to investigate the matter until federal authorities had wrapped up their work. But the leagues Department of Investigations circled back to Correas camp last summer (following his guilty plea) to request his cooperation, which was not forthcoming.
Per Manfred:
On July 21, 2016, Mr. Correa was informed directly that he would be placed on the permanently ineligible list if he did not cooperate with the Department of Investigations. Mr. Correa not only steadfastly refused to answer any questions, but also opposed the release of any documents by the government to the Office of the Commissioner. On August 23, 2016, Mr. Correas attorney told the Department of Investigations that Mr. Correa was not interested in providing any information directly or indirectly to MLB. The Department of Investigations was not provided evidence to substantiate the other allegations contained in Mr. Correas letter, but remains willing to meet with Mr. Correa at any time.
9:46am: Former Cardinals scouting director Chris Correa, who is currently serving a 46-month sentence for improperly accessing the databases of the Astros organization, has leveled similar charges against the Houston front office via Twitter. His claim comes in the wake of the leagues decision yesterday to punish St. Louis in the form of two draft picks and $2MM (which will go to the Astros as a form of compensation).
According to Correas statement, an unidentified member of the Astros organization accessed proprietary data on a St. Louis Cardinals server late in 2011. Further, he charges, the Astros utilized the Cardinals information to replicate and evaluate key algorithms and decision tools related to amateur and professional player evaluation. Most seriously, perhaps, Correa alleges that Houston GM Jeff Luhnow and then-assistant GM David Stearns were included in e-mail discussions about these efforts.
Needless to say, these new allegations do not come from an outwardly credible or impartial source. As he acknowledges in his own statement, the apparent support for his allegations was obtained through unlawful methods. Weve yet to see or hear anything regarding actual proof for Correas assertions. And the league has given no indication that it has or will investigate the matter, despite Correa saying that he offered to provide commissioner Rob Manfred with information at the time that the scandal broke.
The Astros will not issue further comment at this time, per David Barron of the Houston Chronicle. The organization did release a statement yesterday, saying that it had cooperated fully into the various investigations and emphasizing that it is pleased to have closure on this issue. The club stated that it was in support of Manfreds decision, calling it a clear message of the severity of these actions. And Astros general counsel Giles Kibbe recently told Barron and Chronicle colleague Jake Kaplan that, as we have previously stated, we did not have any of the Cardinals proprietary information in Ground Control or our database.
Those interested in learning more about the background of this matter can find it in MLBTRs extensive prior coverage. This post lays out many of the key facts that emerged after a federal investigation was undertaken following the public release of proprietary Astros information. Additional information about Correas misdeeds was publicized for the first time over the weekend, including his potential role in the public leak and the nature of his access to the Cardinals systems.
THURSDAY: The Reds have agreed to a minor-league deal with Arroyo, per MLB.coms Mark Sheldon (via Twitter). He has already passed his physical with the organization, though he still needs to formally sign his contract before itll be official.
MONDAY: It emerged recently that the Reds had taken a look at former rotation stalwart Bronson Arroyo. Though the level of the teams interest wasnt clear at the time, it seems now that the organization saw some promise in the veteran rightys workout. Indeed, Cincinnati has engaged Arroyo in contract talks that appear likely to result in a deal, according to a report from Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reporting (on Twitter).
Cincinnati has made clear that it isnt interested in handing out any more major-league deals this winter, so any arrangement with Arroyo would be of the minor-league variety. Thats unsurprising, as Arroyo is less than a month away from his fortieth birthday and over two-and-a-half years removed from his last MLB appearance.
In his most recent work in the bigs, Arroyo provided the Diamondbacks with 86 innings of 4.08 ERA pitching. He landed in Arizona on a two-year deal after an eight-year run with the Reds. Arroyo not only revived his career in Cincy, but established himself as a tireless workhorse who could be relied upon for solid innings even in his mid-thirties.
All told, Arroyo spun 1,690 1/3 frames of 4.05 ERA ball with the Reds. While the results were rarely spectacular, that 211-inning-per-year average was plenty valuable. Though he never threw harder than the upper eighties, compiling just 5.9 K/9 against 2.3 BB/9, Arroyo managed to suppress batting averages on balls in play with his crafty pitch mix.
That track record led the D-Backs to promise Arroyo $23.5MM in free agency. Unfortunately, he rather promptly broke down and hasnt returned to the majors since. Tommy John surgery kept him out for 2015. Though he returned to join the Nationals in spring camp in 2016, his return bid was thwarted by a torn tendon in his rotator cuff. While it seemed at one point as if Arroyo might not have another comeback bid in him, it seems hell give it another try.
Close
Qualcomm Beijing is facing two lawsuit raps after Apple accused them of abuse in its position in the market and failure to meet inexpensive license for standard essential patents. According to a Beijing Intellectual Property Court, Apple seeks $145M in damages or equivalent to almost 1 billion Yuan.
In Qualcomm's defense, general counsel Don Rosenberg alleged that the Chinese subsidiary of Apple is just trying to look for ways to make Qualcomm Technology cheaper. Rosenberg also belied accusations that they are ripping money out of Apple because they offered the same terms with hundreds of other Chinese companies.
He also stressed that those terms were parallel to what was penned under the NDRC Rectification plan. Rosenberg also emphasized that Qualcomm is not only ready to defend their business model against Apple in China, but anywhere in the world, IBTimes reported.
To recall, Qualcomm is not only battling Apple, but the US Federal Trade Commission as well. In Jan. 17, FTC accused Qualcomm of employing unfair trade practices to maintain its grip on semiconductor market, according to a Reuters report. These parts are essential to manufacture mobile phones.
After the FTC affair, Apple realized that they too can file charges in China due to alleged unclaimed rebates and price cut from overpricing. The total cost for such Apple claims against Qualcomm reached 1 billion Yuan.
Qualcomm is the major supplier of chips for both Apple and Samsung. In fact, both companies are so dependent on Qualcomm that they account for almost half of what Qualcomm earned in recent fiscal year. This share quantifies for $23 billion of Qualcomm's revenue.
With the cases looming in China and the US, it is unclear whether it can affect the market relationship of Apple and Qualcomm. The only clear development of these cases is that Qualcomm is attempting to wrap up both charges in the US should it be possible to carry them over from China.
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[January 31, 2017] Alexandria, Virginia, Selects Tyler Technologies' EnerGov Planning, Regulatory, and Maintenance Suite of Solutions
Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) signed an agreement with the city of Alexandria, Virginia, for Tyler's EnerGov planning, regulatory, and maintenance suite of solutions. The agreement includes software licenses, professional services, training, and support. The city's objective was to replace its legacy land management solution with a highly functional system to help align departments and create more efficient business processes. The city wanted a solution that could help streamline staff workflows, reduce manual status tracking, and integrate with mobile devices and web applications with customer interface to increase real-time data access. City leaders also wanted a solution that could integrate GIS data to enhance information about land parcels and other areas vital to growth. After vetting several software solutions via a competitive public procurement process, Alexandria chose Tyler's EnerGov platform for its flexibility an integration capabilities, as well as Tyler's longevity, financial stability and public sector experience. Alexandria will implement several EnerGov components, including the permitting and land management suite, electronic plan review, GIS integration, and citizen self-service portal.
EnerGov will help enhance interdepartmental collaboration for community development and property development for functions such as zoning, permitting, proffer administration and code inspection services. EnerGov will also give city staff real-time data access while in the field via mobile devices. Alexandria, located less than 10 miles south of Washington, D.C., has more than 150,000 residents. The city and its public school system are also Tyler clients, using the Munis enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution.
About Tyler Technologies (News - Alert), Inc. Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) is a leading provider of end-to-end information management solutions and services for local governments. Tyler partners with clients to empower the public sector - cities, counties, schools and other government entities - to become more efficient, more accessible and more responsive to the needs of their constituents. Tyler's client base includes more than 14,000 local government offices in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and other international locations. In 2016, Forbes ranked Tyler on its "Most Innovative Growth Companies" list, and it has also named Tyler one of "America's Best Small Companies" eight times. The company has been included six times on the Barron's 400 Index, a measure of the most promising companies in America. More information about Tyler Technologies, headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at www.tylertech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170131005067/en/
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Mayor Mike Duggan has seemed to downplay Detroit's alleged sanctuary status.
police may ask when conducting an arrest or when cooperation is requested by federal authorities. Moreover, Detroit does not use "sanctuary city" or any similar phrase in its legislation.
President Donald Trump appears to be making good on his campaign promise to penalize so-called "sanctuary cities"local municipalities that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities in deporting, detaining, or collecting information on residents who may be in the country illegally. According to an executive order signed by Mr. Trump on Wednesday, the nation's policy is now to force such cities into compliance by withholding the federal funds.Sanctuary city policies are intended to make communities safer by allowing undocumented people who witness crimes, or who are victims of crime, to communicate with police without fear of detention or deportation.While some mayors are fighting back with a vehement defense of their cities' policiesBill de Blasio of New York promised to "defend all of our people regardless of their immigration status," and Martin J. Walsh of Boston declared "if necessary, we will use city hall itself" to shelter those targeted by Mr. Trump's order"If Detroit police arrest somebody [who is] here illegally, they contact customs and immigration," Duggan told Michigan Radio on Thursday.But other Detroit officials, such as council member Raquel Castaneda-Lopez, continue to say "sanctuary city" when describing Detroit's policy towards the undocumented.The conflicting declarations arise from the fact that "sanctuary city" has no precise legal definition, referring instead to a variety of policies that may describe a stronger stance in some jurisdiction or a less openly defiant one in others. Detroit's ordinance , adopted in 2007, is among the latter. While it does instruct city employees to provide equal services to all residents regardless of citizenship and generally instructs police not to ask about immigration status, there are exceptionsAt the other side of the spectrum are Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance and San Franciso's City of Refuge policy , which specifically prohibit police from detaining a person based on his or her immigration status, and mandating that city resources may not be used to assist federal authorities with deportations. Of particular concern to these and other cities is the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement "immigration detainer" policy, which asks cities and counties to, as described in Chicago's ordinance, "hold the [undocumented] individual for up to 48 hours after that individual would otherwise be released."These requests, according to the Chicago code, "are issued by immigration officers without judicial oversight, and the regulation provides no minimum standard of proof for their issuance; there are serious questions as to their constitutionality."Mr. Trump's executive order, for what it's worth, defines "sanctuary jurisdictions" as those who "willfully violate Federal law in an attempt to shield aliens from removal from the United States." The extent to which cities are bound by federal law remains an open question, however, with legal experts challenging the proposed funding ban.Miami has already given in to Mr. Trump's demands, suggesting that other municipalities may soon follow.Update: In an article that appeared in the Detroit Free Press on Jan. 30, Mayor Mike Duggan "reaffirmed his commitment to be a welcoming place for immigrants and refugees." He did not, however, label Detroit a "sanctuary city."Timothy Boscarino is a city planner and historian who lives and works in Detroit.
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business Vodafone-Idea merger: Consolidation good for telcos, says Former Bharti Airtel CEO On the news of a possible merger between Vodafone and Idea Cellular, Sanjay Kapoor, former CEO of Bharti Airtel says, consolidation is good for the industry's sustainability.
business Retail investor enthusiasm in CPSE ETF picks up: Reliance Nippon Sundeep Sikka, ED & CEO, Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management said it is a starting of a new trend where retail investors who have never been coming to ETF until now have started showing interest.
PHILADELPHIA Among the many soft skills that have made Rob Thomson the right manager for the Phillies in 2022 is a knack for understatement. So Thursday, in assessing his teams 3-2 loss in Game 5 of the World Series,...
Ex-choir director in Bucks County pleads no contest to molesting two students, secretly filming another
Opening statements started Jan. 30 in the trial for Antolin Garcia Torres, who is suspected of kidnapping and murdering 15-year-old Sierra LaMar of Morgan Hill.
Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney David Boyd started for the prosecution, spending the afternoon describing the circumstances leading up to Sierras disappearance March 16, 2012, and some of the evidence linking her last moments to Garcia Torres.
Sierra LaMar is dead, and this man killed her, Boyd began his opening statement, pointing at Garcia Torres. Boyd then showed the juryconsisting of six women, six men and seven alternatesthe last known photo of Sierra, a selfie she took on her MacBook Pro computer just after 7 a.m. the day she disappeared.
Boyd continued by describing Sierras habits as a normal teenage girl; a timeline of known whereabouts for the teen and Garcia Torres around the time of her disappearance; and some of the thousands of pages of evidence that showed the two crossed paths in the hours after Sierra, a sophomore at Sobrato High School, was last seen.
When Boyd played a recording of Sierras mother, Marlene LaMars phone call to 911 that evening to report her missing, sobs arose from several people in the packed courtroom. In the recording, Marlenes voice quavered as she desperately asked the dispatcher if police could issue an Amber alert.
Marlene, Sierras father Steve LaMar and several more of the teens family members were in the courtroom audience.
Sierras remains have not been found, but Boyd told the jury it is highly unlikely she ran away from home. An active social media user who always had her smartphone with her, using it to constantly communicate with her friends and family, Sierra was totally dependent on her parents as she had no financial means of her own, or even a form of identification other than her school ID.
Sierras body has not been found. The only thing found are traces of her, found in (the) car owned by that man, Boyd told the jury, again pointing at Garcia Torres. These traces include DNA that matches Sierras profile and a hair that was stuck to a piece of rope in the trunk of Garcia Torres red Volkswagen Jetta.
Boyd presented photos on a large flat-screen monitor throughout his opening presentation, as he described Sierras cell phone and a bag containing her clothes and other belongings, which were found in two different locations off the side of the road in the rural areas surrounding her home near the intersection of Palm and Dougherty avenues in north Morgan Hill. The cell phone was found March 17, 2012 in a field with no tire tracks or footprints around it, suggesting it had been thrown to the location, Boyd said.
Sierras bag, found a couple days later near Laguna Avenue, contained the clothing she was wearing when she left home that morning to take her routine walk to her school bus stop, Boyd said. This includes the San Jose Sharks sweatshirt she was wearing in her last selfie, underwear, bra and jeans. That leaves her naked, Boyd said.
Furthermore, Sierras jeans held a very strong odor of urine, he told the jury.
Also in her bag were Sierras shoes, socks, lunch money, jewelry, makeup, house keys, an inhaler, hair bandall the things you might expect a 15-year-old girl to carry to school, including school books, Boyd said.
Garcia Torres, 25 of Morgan Hill, sat quietly throughout the trials opening, occasionally speaking quietly with his attorney. He wore a gray sweater on top of a blue buttoned-down shirt, his hair cropped short and neatly combed.
In addition to the murder and kidnapping charge, Garcia Torres also faces three unrelated counts for attempted kidnapping, stemming from a series of incidents in 2009 in which he allegedly attacked three women in the parking lots of two Safeway stores in Morgan Hill. Boyd began to describe these incidents before court adjourned Jan. 30.
If convicted of the murder charge, he faces a possible penalty of death or life in prison without parole.
Boyd further told the jury that Garcia Torres had the opportunity to kidnap and kill Sierra, as his whereabouts cannot be accounted for from about 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. the day Sierra disappeared. That would give him plenty of time to commit the crime and dispose of Sierras body in a remote location, Boyd said.
Three days before Sierra disappeared, Boyd said Garcia Torres purchased a gallon of bleach and a turkey baster from Safeway. When he showed photos of these items to the jury, the audience gasped. Boyd explained that bleach can be used to eliminate DNA evidence, and a turkey baster can be used to apply the solution to intimate areas where DNA is found.
Investigators determined Garcia Torres purchased these items by searching the records on his Safeway Club card. The bleach and turkey baster were not found at Garcia Torres residence at a mobile home park in south Morgan Hill when detectives searched there, Boyd added.
Boyds opening statement will continue Jan. 31 in the same courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. Opening statements by Garcia Torres defense team will follow, before witness testimony begins. The trial is expected to last up to five months.
Emma Wall: Hello and welcome to the Morningstar Series "Why Should I Invest With You?" I'm Emma Wall and I'm joined today by Hyung Jin Lee, Head of Asian Equities for Barings.
Hello Jin.
Hyung Jin Lee: Hi Emma.
Wall: So, let's start by saying Happy New Year.
Lee: Happy Chinese New Year. Year of the Rooster.
Wall: Indeed, and last year was the Year of the Monkey. Which was supposed to be unpredictable, which in terms of politics and macroeconomics it certainly was. But in terms of markets actually Asian equities did quite well over the last 12 months, despite people being nervous about the market up 9%.
Lee: Well, as we have been saying for quite a while now. The fundamentals and the equity market outlook for Asian equities was not as dire as perhaps the market was pricing in. Now there is volatility, no doubt and there is sort of what we call tail risk or event risk in the horizon. But I think the underlying fundamentals still remain what we thought they would be. Of course, there are challenges and potential pitfalls for the Asian markets is of course one of them is continuing slowdown of Chinese economy.
Thats all sort of what I call normal type of stuff. It is not financial policy, nor is it how is commodity pricing going to differ. So, in terms of that context I think again Asia and emerging markets in general were outperforming for most of the year last year. Then you had some turbulence with U.S. presidential elections, as well as the rate hike. There was some volatility there but again as you see in year-to-date although much too short to say anything. But again, going back into that pattern, you are seeing more and more interest build up in emerging markets especially in Asia.
Wall: I'm glad you mentioned President Trump there, because I suppose he is the specter on the horizon for China and Asian equities in the way that he wasnt this time last year. This time last year he was definitely an outsider. There is a lot of talk from Trump about China and China policy obviously, thats something for politicians to be concerned about, but for investor in Asian equity should they be concerned about that.
Lee: Certainly, I mean in cases where there could trade friction as indeed there already seems to be between the Trump administration and other countries. Again, that was one of the things that I meant when I talked about little bit of event risk in the horizon. I think from our perspective certainly that is concern for us, in the short term.
But even if that occurs I think it will, I mean hopefully be contained and no one really benefits from a sustained trade tensions. I think in terms of equity markets it could cause some turbulence, but for us of course we will be looking at that kind of volatility as both opportunity as well as strength.
Wall: I suppose there is one thing to say that unlike 10 years ago, where China and Asia were heavily reliant on the U.S. consumer in order to grow the bottom line of both business and the country. They are now much more self-contained and the trade within the Asia region in between those countries is growing daily isnt it. So, in a way they are increasingly self-sustaining.
Lee: Yes, thank you very much. You seem to I think you should write our strategy. I think that is precisely what one of the points that I'd like to point out to our investors. That Asia has sort of its own internal growth engine if you want to call it that. And that will barring extreme cases, black swan events if you want to call it that. That will continue to run and it might not be the most exciting thing in the world, but just steady economic growth, steady corporate earnings growth hopefully and in the long term of course, personal income growth. Thats going to drive domestic event grow.
Wall: And what about where you are seeing those opportunities. Because obviously with the rising market there must be some sectors that are looking quite expensive and others that perhaps the fundamentals are more compelling.
Lee: Yes, I mean if there is sort of more unique characteristic of the recent markets in 2016 and year-to-date has been what we call the value rally or outperformance of what are traditionally considered lower growth sectors and companies. Certainly, they had been very, very cheap in terms of valuation before, and one can argue that many investors were sort of hiding away in more what are thought to be more stable, more predictable companies and sectors like consumer as well as healthcare. Again, that is fine as long as the fundamentals and earnings outlook back that up.
Indeed, we also have participated in the rallies, if you want to call it that of what are traditionally called cyclical sectors. But for us the earnings growth, the earnings outlook has to be there and we're not going to invest in stocks or sectors just because their share prices are down and perhaps they would have like a trading pick up. So again, we are looking mainly at the long-term fundamentals, long term earnings story and long term growth stories. So, for us in terms of day-to-day research pretty much the same.
Wall: Jin, thank you very much.
Lee: Thank you.
Wall: This is Emma Wall from Morningstar. Thank you for watching.
Five takeaways from RBCs national housing health report.Nation-wide, sales-to-new listings ratios climbed to the point of favouring sellers in 2016 and sales trended downward as the year progressed. New listings have also been on a downward trend since late-2015.Overall, most markets are now considered balanced with the exception of Toronto, which continues to be a sellers market.Additional mortgage rule changes, aimed at cooling the housing industry, could be on the horizon, according to RBC.Ongoing concerns about housing affordability, government exposure to housing, and stability of hot housing markets and the financial system keep the odds of further policy intervention elevated, the bank said in its report.The yield on the five-year Government bond has been on an upward trajectory since November, increasing 77 basis points above the 12 month average that month.Further hikes could be material detrimental to housing demand in Canada, according to RBC, due to the impact it would have on mortgage rates.Absorption of condo units was solid last year compared to 2015, leading to a decrease in unsold units across the country. The rate of unsold units fell to 0.32 units per 1,000 population in November of 2016, down from a 19-year high of 0.41 units in May 2015.Overall, the inventory of completed but unsold condos evolved constructively in the past year in Canada, thereby muting oversupply risks, RBC said.Inventory for single-family homes also remains healthy.We continue to find that little concern of overbuilding is warranted in the single family home segment, where levels remain well below historical averages (when measured on a per 1,000 population basis) with the trend even declining slightly in the past several years, although a slight uptick appears to have taken place in the late stages of 2016, RBC said.While there are diverse issues plaguing various markets from affordability issues to economic issues there is little worry about a major housing market downturn.Local housing risk indicators continue to paint diverse pictures of vulnerabilities and risks across Canada; however, there is little indication that any major market faces a potentially destabilizing downturn in the near term, the bank said.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)
Today
A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 80F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..
Tonight
Mostly cloudy. Low 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Mortgage lender United Shore Financial Services LLC plans on hiring 600 people this year to help fill the new 20,000-square-foot expansion of its Michigan headquarters, according to Crains Detroit Business.
The expansion comes after the Art Institute of Michigan vacated the first floor of the five-story building in which United Shore is situated. The $250,000 expansion, expected to finish mid-summer, is an addition to United Shores $3-million, 275,000-square-foot headquarters
The company plans to add IT, sales and underwriting jobs. Spokesman Brad Pettiford said the company workforce, more than half of which is composed of millennials, has doubled in size since 2014, with 1,000 hires last year alone.
"I think the culture here is the main driver for the popularity because of the different perks, amenities and the opportunity for advancement," Pettiford told Crains. "It provides a good work-life balance."
2016 was a record-breaking year for the company, with more than $23 billion in loan volume a 78% increase from 2015 while its total revenue was $857 million.
Mat Ishbia, president and CEO of United Shore, said theyre expecting a 50% growth this year.
Our goal is to hit $30 billion in loan volume this year, despite predictions of a slowing market," Ishbia told Crains. "Bringing in top local talent is the key to our growth."
New members inducted into Institute of ...
The Mother Lodes Republican Congressman is backing President Donald Trumps recent executive order that has spurred some nationwide protests.
It has been the hot topic in Washington, DC over the past few days.
Congressman Tom McClintock has released the following statement, reading, I strongly support President Trumps executive order on refugees. There is no unconditional right to enter the United States, and the President has a sworn responsibility to assure that those entering our country are not hostile to our Constitution, our people, or the rule of law. The order is limited to countries that are hot-beds of Islamic extremism and provides for case-by-case waivers to assure that bona fide dissenters from these regimes can enter. This is a temporary stop-gap to give the administration time to put a new vetting system in place that can adequately assess the veracity of a refugees claims and his intentions.
Last night President Trump fired acting US Attorney General Sally Yates after she refused to defend the executive order and she questioned the legality of the administrations order. White House spokesperson Sean Spicer put out a statement afterwards that Yates was an Obama administration appointee that is weak on borders.
The executive order is receiving increasing attention at the state capitol in Sacramento as well. Yesterday, Democratic Senate Leader Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles said, President Trumps sweeping executive order aimed at keeping Muslims out of the United States is not only an affront to our Constitution, it takes us back to a time of government sanctioned discrimination.
The Associated Press reports California lawmakers may prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, essentially creating a border-to-border sanctuary in the nations largest state. Legislation will be considered in a legislative committee later today.
The inauguration of the President of the United States is always a major affair, complete with dignitaries and an audience of tremendous size.
Crowds can be measured in a degree of variables: In-person, online, and television viewers just to name a few.
Some presidential inaugurations have pulled larger audiences than others.
During his first press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer took issue with some news reports that President Donald Trumps inaugural audience was not as large as others. In fact, Spice said, That was the largest audience to witness an inauguration, period.
PolitiFact Florida heard the claim and gave it their worst rating, PANTS ON FIRE.
Writer Josh Gillin said estimates were hard to come by, but regardless, the evidence is difficult for Spicer to overcome.
Generally about somewhere between 250,000 and 600,000 people were counted at the inauguration in Washington, and that is way behind some other presidents, especially President Obama, who, in his first inauguration in 2009, had 1.8 million people, and so that's generally considered a record for the most number of people on the National Mall for ANY event, Gillin said. But then, you know, when we also go back and look at other comments that Spicer had made, he said at his press conference that he was including, you know, people online, through YouTube, through social media, and if we go back and look at that including TV ratings, Trump still comes behind Obama by about 17 million viewers or more, so in this case, nothing about what Spicer had said was right.
For that reason Spicers comment received a PANTS ON FIRE rating.
SOURCES: Trump inauguration size questioned
An ambitious project spearheaded by several area organizations may shape the future of how Florida -- and the world -- moves.
Central Florida Automated Vehicle Partnership to simulate, test, deploy connected vehicles
9 state, local agencies, universities involved in this partnership
Connected vehicles are not driver-less
We have a vision that takes us all the way from soup to nuts," said Jeremy Dilmore with the Florida Department of Transportation. Fundamentally, what this has the potential to do is really improve the safety of our transportation network.
The Central Florida Automated Vehicle Partnership aims to simulate, test and eventually deploy connected vehicles.
The partnership is comprised of the city of Orlando, University of Central Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, FAMU-FSU Engineering, NASA and Kennedy Space Center, LYNX, FDOT Districts 1 and 5, Central Florida Expressway Authority and Florida's Turnpike Enterprise.
Theyre all great folks. Very, very smart people," said Charles Ramdatt, Director of Special Projects for the city of Orlando. What better place to showcase these technologies?
After losing a U.S. Dept. Of Transportation Smart Cities Challenge to Columbus, Ohio last year, Ramdatt said that the city was motivated to continue their efforts, working with public and private sector partners.
In December, they submitted a new proposal to the Department of Transportation, pitching Central Florida as a proving ground for automated vehicles. One month later, they were awarded one of 10 national designations.
To be designated was a wonderful, pleasant surprise. But, I was not that confident, to be honest with you," said Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Aty, referring to the intense competition. The goal is to work together for a better Central Florida. There are a lot of technologies we will test in the lab before we go out and implement.
The UCF Pegasus Professor and Engineering Department Chair will lead a team of researchers, developing connected vehicle technologies in their lab using simulations.
Two cars approaching an intersection can talk to each other and warn each other," he explained, differentiating between "connected" vehicles and "driver-less" cars.
Connected cars are cars talking to each other and talking to the infrastructure.
Some automation -- from adaptive cruise control to self parking -- is already in use, he explained, while cars that are driver-less, the utmost level of automation, may be a by-product of the group's work.
UCFs strength in simulation will be coupled with that of Florida Polytechnic, a new state university in Lakeland.
Its right up our alley," said Dr. Randy Avent, president of the university. We have six majors, most of them centered around computing and technology type things and math. A big piece of the university is that were a projected-based curriculum, very hands-on.
#Students in class @FLPolyU modify race cars to be autonomous. Though on SMALL scale, this mirrors project university & others will tackle. pic.twitter.com/oP71LuqMFO Julie Gargotta (@juliegargotta) January 31, 2017
With the help of the Turnpike, Florida Poly will be building a controlled testing facility in Polk County, on the site of a former 400-acre farm; It's a place where dried-up blueberry shrubs and citrus trees dot the land.
SunTrax will include a 2.25-mile, oval track, used for testing intelligent tolling. Inside the track, infield, the university will construct a simulated downtown core. According to the proposal, construction starts in the spring on the facility, while testing will begin in fall 2018.
While FAMU-FSU will furnish additional research and FDOT will provide technical engineering support for the project, NASA will provide a second controlled testing facility at Kennedy Space Center on an array of private roads. In coming years, the cars will hit read roadways, like I-4 and toll roads.
Its predicted by many to be an $80 billion dollar industry, which means theres a lot of jobs that could come out of this," said Avent. We have seven or eight faculty right now beginning to start thinking about what types of research they can do and what types of technologies they can develop.
I think the sky is the limit for what we can dream or wish for. But the real hard work starts now," said Abdel-Aty. This will open the door to a lot of work, high-level work. Then for a future where we are in the center of applying this new technology, which is the future."
According to the city, the U.S. DOT designation as a proving ground does not come with funding, but the group will be working to solicit additional partners, from car to technology companies.
Will president Donald Trumps executive order cause Central Florida to stop being a hotspot for travel?
Some in the tourism industry worry the new travel ban will cause deep implications on international business.
For tourist Annette Bahler and her family, the sunny Orlando weather is a change they were looking forward to.
We havent enjoyed so much [due to the weather] but the sun even feels good, she said.
Experience Kissimmee director DT Minich is in London meeting with some of their top clients to discuss concerns regarding the latest executive order.
Minich said the implications this travel ban may have on local tourism are high and hes not the only one who thinks that.
Immigration attorney Gail Seeram agrees. I think that this may put a halt to tourism to Central Florida, the tourist capital of the world, she said. People are going to be scared about whether theyre going to be allowed into the country.
Seeram said a lot of tourists visit the U.S. through the visa waiver program, a program that will now require interviews and thats not just limited to the seven Muslim-majority countries.
Theres going to be a lot more work on the embassy side. Embassies are going to be screening more, Seeram explained. Theyre going to be looking at people's backgrounds more before they issue any immigrant or non-immigrant visas now that embassies also have to do interviews for the visa waiver program.
Tourist Kaitlin Kaufman hopes these precautions dont have lasting negative changes.
Yes, I am a little uncomfortable for sure. Hows this going to play out? But I think in the end it will be dealt with responsibly, Kaufman said.
There are several major updates on Capitol Hill Tuesday regarding President Trump's Cabinet nominations. Here is a roundup from the Senate:
CONFIRMED
Elaine Chao is now confirmed as Transportation secretary.
The former Labor Secretary was confirmed to take over the U.S. Transportation Department by the U.S. Senate in a 93-6 vote. Dissenting votes including Cory Booker, D-New Jersey; Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon; Charles Schumer, D-New York; Kirstin Gillibrand, D-New York; Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont; Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell abstained from the vote. Chao is his wife.
Chao was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence Tuesday afternoon.
BLOCKED
Democrats in the Senate Finance Committee boycotted the meetings Tuesday for Rep. Tom Price, Health and Human Services secretary nominee, and Steve Mnuchin, Treasury secretary, effectively blocking their nominations for now.
Democrats said they would not move forward until they have more information about the two nominees. The Democrats cited several newspaper reports accusing Price of insider trading in health company stock, along with Mnuchin's behavior involving foreclosures when he was a banker with OneWest.
The Democrats say Congress has been misled about the candidates' backgrounds.
The meeting cannot move forward because 13 members, including at least one Democrat, has to be present for the votes.
Among the Democrats who took part in the boycott was Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida. Nelson's office confirmed his participation in the boycott.
Nelson spoke out about the boycott on the Senate floor while speaking about his decision to vote for Elaine Chao.
"There was new information that came overnight in the publication of the Wall Street Journal of additional information about the nominee for the department of HHS, which needs to be cleared up before the committee proceeds," Nelson said.
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APPROVED
A Senate Committee approved Betsy DeVos' nomination as Education secretary on a party-line 12-11 vote.
Two Republican senators on the committee voted for DeVos anyway even though they have some reservations and said they may not vote for her confirmation in the full Senate.
DeVos had only one hearing in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and by most accounts she did a poor job answering many questions and did not seem to have a good grasp of education policy or what the department does.
DeVos is now also under fire for claims she lifted direct quotes from a former Obama administration official for her written answers to questions submitted by the Senate committee.
A Senate committee approved Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke for Interior secretary and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for Energy secretary.
Both nominees met with little resistance Tuesday in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee also approved WWE co-founder Linda McMahon to head the Small Business Administration in an 18-1 vote.
All four nominees will now go before the full Senate for confirmation.
DELAYED
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote Wednesday on whether Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions should move to the Senate floor for confirmation.
Democrats used an obscure Senate rule Tuesday to delay the vote. They gave several long speeches opposing sessions for several hours, triggering a rule that doesn't allow committees to be in session for two hours past the state of the Senate day.
Sessions is expected to be approved by the panel eventually.
The committee vote for Labor Secretary nominee Andrew Pudzer has also been postponed.
A spokesperson for the panel said the CEO of Hardee's and Carl's Jr. has not filed financial and other statements to the panel. The vote was supposed to happen on Feb. 7. No word on when that hearing will happen.
UPDATE:
On Feb. 1, the 18th Judicial Circuit Court granted the state's motion to strike the demand for a speedy trial. The case was continued and will not go to trial next week.
EARLIER:
A man charged with a brutal double murder in Cocoa in 2013 will soon head to trial.
The death penalty for Marcus Royal is still on the table, even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Florida's death penalty process unconstitutional a year ago.
Royal made a court appearance Tuesday. He's accused of killing 80-year-old Faye Jones and 58-year-old Michael Fallon.
Prosecutors say Royal brutally attacked the elderly woman inside her Cocoa home March 17, 2013, then turned on Fallon as he arrived at the house to take her to church that day.
Fallon survived in a coma for a year and a half until his family chose to take him off life support.
Royal was on the run shortly after the crimes, eventually turning himself in to authorities in Virginia.
Despite the uncertainty of the state's death penalty process, Judge Jim Earp ruled last week that the state can continue preparing for a death penalty case. Earp also granted the defense's motion for a speedy trial.
But Tuesday, the defense changed its mind, asking for a continuance.
That didn't sit well with the judge, who called their actions a "sham."
"I am not continuing this case. I am giving Mr. Royal the speedy trial he asked for, thank you. This hearing is over," Earp said.
Both the defense and prosecution will have to prepare as though this were a death penalty case.
Jury selection begins Monday.
LUBBOCK -- The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District (HPWD) Board of Directors unanimously agreed to cost-share an exploratory well with the City of Wolfforth to investigate the Dockum and the Edwards-Trinity (High Plains) aquifers in western Lubbock County.
Wolfforth City Manager Darrell Newsom presented the proposal at the Jan. 10 HPWD Board of Directors meeting. The board agreed to allocate $90,000 to assist with the project, plus U.S. Geological Survey logging costs.
The City of Wolfforth has recently concentrated their efforts to ensure citizens have a reliable source of drinking water for years to come. They have just completed a cutting edge water treatment plant to improve the quality of their water. Now they are focusing on their supply.
The Edwards-Trinity (High Plains) Aquifer lies beneath the Ogallala, and the City of Wolfforth hopes to obtain a well in that aquifer at a depth of about 300 feet. If adequate water is located and can be produced, this will reduce the cost of pumping Ogallala water from their well field located outside of the city limits.
The test hole will be drilled into the Dockum Aquifer to a depth of 1,700 feet, and logged by the U.S. Geological Survey. After logging, the test hole will be filled to the bottom of the Edwards-Trinity (High Plains) Aquifer. Depending upon the test hole results, it may be reamed and cased for use as a municipal well to supplement the City of Wolfforths current groundwater supply.
The Edwards-Trinity Aquifer will hopefully provide us with a water source that will not compete with our own wells or the irrigation wells in the area, Newsom said. Our partnership with HPWD will allow us to share information with other cities in the region, and that will help all of us. HPWDs cooperation and support will allow us to obtain much more complete data than we would be able to obtain and understand on our own.
This is the districts third partnership with a municipality to explore the Dockum Aquifer. In 2016, the cities of Abernathy and Lubbock, with assistance from the HPWD, drilled test wells into the Dockum to determine the quality and quantity of the brackish aquifer. Lubbocks test well, located near the South Water Treatment Plant, was completed in December.
We are learning more about the Dockum Aquifer as a result of these efforts, said HPWD General Manager Jason Coleman. In recent years, the district has established a monitoring network in this aquifer, and these partnerships allow us to add additional data collection sites to the network.
Construction of this test hole is expected to start in early 2017.
Created in 1951 by local residents and the State Legislature, the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 is charged with the responsibility of conserving, preserving, protecting and preventing waste of groundwater in aquifers within its 16-county service area. HPWD is the first groundwater conservation district created in Texas. Visit www.hpwd.org or call 806-762-0181 for more information. You can also find HPWD on Facebook and Twitter.
HART -- The two-member Robotics Team at Hart High School placed second in the TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) Robotics competition on Jan. 21 at the Region 16 Service Center in Amarillo.
Josiah Holguin and Alexcia Rosette uses Legos Robots to complete different pre-arranged challenges. The team will compete at state later this school year. Hart Jr.-Sr. High School science teacher and team sponsor Shane McDaniel accompanied Holguin and Rosette to Amarillo.
AUSTIN -- Parents could receive part of the money spent on public education to send their kids to a different school under a plan unveiled by a group of senators and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Patrick said that this plan seeks to give all students in Texas the right to seek a quality education. "We already have school choice in Texas. If you are rich enough, you send your child to private school," he said. "But if you're not wealthy enough to do that, then you don't have any options. Every parent has a right to send their child to the school that they think is best for them."
Senate Bill 3 aims to create school choice through two methods. The first will allow parents to receive a portion of the money intended to educate their child at a traditional public school, which averages about $9,000 per year. This money would be placed in a trust account and could only be used for educational costs, like private school tuition or online courses. The amount received is based on need, ranging from 60 percent of the cost for educating a student at a public school in a year for families above twice the poverty line, to 75 percent for poor families, and 90 percent for families with disabled children. Bill author and Senate Education Committee chair Sen. Larry Taylor of Friendswood says that the state will split the cost with districts in the first year. He added that the lack of school choice programs in Texas is holding the state back. "Thirty other states have school choice programs across this nation. We are behind the curve," said Taylor. "If Texas wants to remain economically soundwe need to pass school choice legislation, to give our students the opportunity to receive a great education tailored to their specific needs."
Vista Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for Vista Bank, on Monday announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire The Hamlin Financial Corporation and its subsidiary, Hamlin National Bank.
The Hamlin Financial Corporation, through Hamlin National Bank, operates full service banking locations in Hamlin and Rule.
Hamlin National Bank was established in 1907 and has assets of $84 million, $35 million in total loans and $69 million in deposits, as of Dec. 31, 2016. Based upon its Dec. 31, 2016 balance sheet, Vista Bancshares, Inc. would have total assets of approximately $480 million upon completion of the transaction.
Vista Bank has a number of banking centers in the area, including Plainview, Hale Center, Petersburg, Abernathy, Idalou, Ralls, Crosbyton and Lubbock.
The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Vista Bancshares, Inc. will issue shares of its common stock and cash for all outstanding shares of The Hamlin Financial Corporation common stock.
The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2017, subject to customary conditions, and shareholder and regulatory approvals. In connection with the closing of the transaction, Hamlin National Bank will merge into Vista Bank. Certain directors and executive officers of Hamlin National Bank have entered into agreements with Vista Bank.
John D. Steinmetz, president and chief executive officer of Vista Bank said, We are excited about the opportunity to serve Hamlin, Rule, and the surrounding areas and want to welcome Hamlin National Banks team, clients, and shareholders to Vista Bank. We look forward to delivering competitive products and innovative technology to the area and upholding Hamlin National Banks commitment to community.
Mickey Long, chairman of Vista bank said, Vista Bank continues to look for opportunities to enhance our presence across Texas, and Hamlin National Banks locations in Hamlin and Rule are an excellent fit for us.
Gary Ford, president of Hamlin National Bank said, We are excited to become part of the Vista Bank family. We chose Vista Bank as a merger partner because their history and operating philosophy is similar to ours while at the same time allowing us to bring new financial capabilities to our customer base in Jones and Haskell counties. We are confident all our stakeholders and our communities at large will benefit from this transaction and the future growth of Vista Bank.
Completion of the transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including customary regulatory approvals and approval of The Hamlin Financial Corporation shareholders. Vista Bancshares, Inc. was advised in this transaction by Stephens Inc. as financial advisor, and Fenimore Kay Harrison & Ford LLP as legal counsel. The Hamlin Financial Corporation was advised by Hunton & Williams as legal counsel.
Vista Bancshares, Inc. is a Texas-based bank holding company with $396 Million in assets as of Dec. 31, 2016. The company owns Vista Bank which operates 11 full-service locations in Lubbock and the surrounding area, and loan and deposit production offices in Dallas and Fort Worth.
Formed in 1912 and operating as a true community bank, Vista Bank seeks to serve families and businesses by offering the best in banking technologies, products and services. Vista Bank offers a variety of traditional loan and deposit products to its customers, which consist primarily of small and medium sized businesses and consumers. The companys website is www.vistabank.com.
DURHAM State police say a man walked into a Main Street gas station Monday night and stole 15 packs of cigarettes.
State police responded to Grippos Mobil, 349 Main St., for a report of a theft around 10:45 p.m.. A man went to the front register and asked to purchase 15 packs of cigarettes, state police said. Once the cigarettes were placed in a bag, the man took the bag and left without paying. No weapon was displayed and no one was injured.
State police dogs searched the area.
The combination of a sizzling economy and a shortage of housing has left hundreds of thousands of acres of Bay Area open space from ranches in Antioch to scenic landscapes in San Mateo in danger of being developed, according to a report being released Tuesday by a land conservation group.
The study, called At Risk, found that 293,100 acres of farmland and natural areas could be paved over in the next 30 years if suburban sprawl is not stopped.
Wholesale bulldozing is not inevitable, though, according to the report by San Franciscos Greenbelt Alliance, which seeks to steer all new development into areas that have already been urbanized. In fact, the open space under threat in the Bay Area has been reduced by 29,700 acres since 2012, when the last At Risk report was released.
Jeremy Madsen, chief executive of the nonprofit group, said deft management of growth by local governments has saved open space in many bay counties.
Obviously we are in a hot economy, with lots of growth pressure on the region, and yet over the last five years the amount of land at risk has dropped, Madsen said. It means weve got lots of development pressure, but weve done a good job putting policies and plans in place to tell growth where it should go.
The study, which has been produced every few years since 1989, took into account zoning rules, historic land uses, desirability and housing needs before assigning risk to each county in the Bay Area.
Contra Costa County tops the Bay Area, the report said, with 62,000 acres of land vulnerable to potential development, an increase of almost one-third since 2012. Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood, which have all continued to sprawl outward, are the biggest trouble spots, according to the report.
It notes that developers in Antioch want to build 1,667 housing units on 550 acres of grasslands. The proposal, called the Ranch, would plop the housing, a recreation center, a fire station and five parks in southern Antioch, where trails would link them to the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve.
Meanwhile, Brentwood has been rapidly consuming farms and ranches in every direction, and is trying to annex a large area southwest of the city. Developers want to carve up the picturesque Tassajara Valley and, if county planners dont stop them, could pave over the countys golden hills, farmland and habitat for wildlife, the report said.
Santa Clara, with 54,100 acres being eyed for a concrete coating, is the county with the second-most to lose, the report found. It said more than half of the remaining farmland could sprout buildings. That includes much of the Coyote Valley between San Jose and Morgan Hill, part of which is still zoned for industrial development.
In Solano County, feverish land speculation has put 44,600 acres of oak-dotted hillsides and valleys at risk, said the Greenbelt Alliance. Vacaville and Fairfield have proposed annexing agricultural and grazing land in an effort to meet regional housing requirements. Some 27 percent of Solanos vast wetlands and groundwater basins is in danger, according to the report.
The study is an attempt by the Greenbelt Alliance, which has long fought for the passage of urban-growth boundaries, to prevent development outside city centers, a challenge complicated by the Bay Areas affordable housing crisis. Madsen said the goal is not to stop new housing, but to persuade local governments to approve responsible development in populated areas, where businesses and infrastructure are already in place and driving can be kept at a minimum.
We are some of the strongest advocates of housing, but we believe that growth should go in the right places in existing urbanized areas, Madsen said. That means investing in funding for affordable housing and development of new homes near BART stations or transit instead of out on farmland or in rural areas.
Kerry Fugett, executive director of Sonoma County Conservation Action, said her group has worked with the Greenbelt Alliance to push this type of project, including high-density housing around stations for the North Bays soon-to-open SMART train. She said there has been no organized opposition to that concept.
The most opposition we see comes from NIMBYism, she said.
Madsen said Mountain View provided an example of smart growth when it rebuilt the out-of-date San Antonio Shopping Center a few years ago, adding housing and pathways. The flip side, he said, was seen in Palo Alto in 2013 when residents held a successful referendum to stop a 60-unit affordable senior housing plan, called the Maybell Project, near El Camino Real. A much smaller plan for the location was approved in 2016.
The 2013 vote to block the project had a real dampening effect on sustainable development in Palo Alto, Madsen said.
Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite
The large San Francisco hotel and condominium complex proposed for 950 Market St. is set to move forward after the developer reached an agreement with a coalition of LGBTQ activists who had opposed the project.
On Monday, developer Group I agreed to pay $300,000 into a fund that will be used to establish a transgender community center, to create a transgender historic and cultural district, and to support transgender-serving businesses and nonprofits in the district.
The Mayors Office of Economic and Workforce Development will administer the fund, with a board of directors made up of community members.
Nate Allbee, who is pushing for the establishment of the transgender historic district in the Tenderloin, said the developer got how important transgender history is to the community.
They have given us this amazing fund to help us preserve our history, Allbee said. We are lucky to be in San Francisco, where even the developers are supportive of protecting LGBT spaces.
In the weeks leading up to the deal, the opponents had argued that the environmental study for the 950 Market St. development failed to adequately assess the historic role the block played in the the citys lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer history. The block was the center of what was called the meat rack a district bounded by Turk, Taylor, Market and Mason streets a busy spot for transgender hustlers from the 1950s through the early 1970s.
In addition, two early gay bars the Old Crow and the Rainbow Tavern occupied 950-964 Market St., a two-story structure also known as the Dean Building. Another building, the three-story corner structure with entrances at 974 Market St. and 67 Turk St., was home to the Silver Rail, another gay bar.
The deal helps Group I avoid a legal fight that could have dragged on for months. It clears the way for the developer to start construction on a modern glass and metal flatiron building that will add 242 condo units and 232 hotel rooms to a stretch of Market Street that has been largely boarded up and vacant for a decade.
We are hoping to begin pulling permits in February, and demolition would begin shortly thereafter, said Jessica Berg, a spokeswoman for the project.
On Tuesday, Supervisor Jane Kim is to introduce legislation to create the transgender historic district, the first of its kind in the United States. The district will be bordered by Jones Street to the west, Mason Street to the east, Market Street to the south and Eddy Street to the north. It will also include the first two blocks of Sixth Street, between Howard and Market streets.
The historic district will be called the Compton Cafeteria Historic District, after the 1966 riot at a cafe at Turk and Taylor, which is considered the first major transgender protest in the United States.
We want trans people from all over the world to be able to learn their history in the Compton District, said Allbee. Its an official recognition by the city that there are historic and cultural resources related to the transgender community that need to be preserved.
Kim, who brokered the deal, said, It was a lot of meetings and a lot of listening in terms of what the actual needs were. Kim has been supportive of the project, particularly since Group I agreed to donate a parcel of land at 180 Jones St. to the city for affordable housing.
Both Kim and Berg said a major sticking point in the negotiations was figuring out who would control the money and how it would be disbursed. Before the deal, backers of the development had publicly accused the opponents of looking to shake down Group I for $2 million.
This money is going directly to the city, but it will address the issues the community is concerned about, Kim said.
Berg said the developer has always been dedicated to making meaningful contributions to those who live in the Tenderloin.
We wanted to make sure the agreement wasnt just to benefit a narrow group of individuals but the community at large, Berg said.
J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trumps two top finalists for the U.S. Supreme Court were summoned to Washington ahead of his prime-time announcement that will set up a confirmation showdown with Senate Democrats.
Trump is expected to select one of two federal appeals court judges, either Neil Gorsuch of Denver or Thomas Hardiman of Pittsburgh, and each was asked to go to Washington on Tuesday, according to people familiar with the presidents decision process. Trump says he will announce his choice at 8 p.m. Washington time.
Either Gorsuch, 49, or Hardiman, 51, would in all likelihood restore the ideological balance that existed before Justice Antonin Scalias death on Feb. 13, 2016, left a vacancy that has yet to be filled. Each is a Republican appointee with a decade-long record on the federal bench.
The nomination will come amid the controversy over Trumps order restricting travel into the U.S. by people from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday night after she refused to uphold his executive order. That move angered Democrats, who vowed an all-out fight against his nomination of Jeff Sessions as attorney general and set the stage for an even bigger clash over the high court vacancy.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said polls showed that 70 percent of voters in November viewed the Supreme Court nomination as an important choice.
"This individual will make those voters and every American very, very proud," he said Tuesday.
Republicans have said an announcement this week would provide time for confirmation before the Senate recess scheduled to start April 8, and potentially let the new justice hear cases during the high courts current nine-month term.
Democrats will be hard-pressed to stop the nomination given the 52-48 advantage Republicans hold in the Senate. Under current rules, Republicans need 60 votes to bring the nomination to the Senate floor. Some Democrats say they will insist Republicans reach that threshold.
"Its really important we have a mainstream nominee, and the way to do that is to require a super-majority vote, as we have now," Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, said Monday.
QuickTake on the U.S. Supreme Court
Even so, Republicans could eliminate the filibuster for Supreme Court appointments with a simple majority vote. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed lawmakers will confirm Trumps nominee.
Opponents will seek to "paint whoever is nominated in apocalyptic terms," McConnell said on the Senate floor Monday. "It doesnt matter who this president nominates, the left has been rolling out the same tired playbook for decades."
Democrats are still smarting from Senate Republicans refusal to consider former President Barack Obamas nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to fill the Scalia seat. That nomination would have given the court a majority of Democratic appointees for the first time since 1969.
Gorsuch is a champion of religious liberty known for his crisp, occasionally pointed writing style. He has faulted liberals for an "overweening addiction to the courtroom" and last year hailed Scalia as a "lion of the law."
Similar to Scalia
A study led by Mercer University law professor Jeremy Kidd concluded that Gorsuch is the second-most similar to Scalia of the 21 prospective justices on a list Trump released during the campaign.
Gorsuch is a fourth-generation Coloradan who earned his undergraduate degree at Columbia, his law degree at Harvard and a doctorate in legal philosophy at Oxford.
Hardiman is a Massachusetts native with working-class roots. His father owned a taxi company, and he drove a cab himself when he was a student. He became the first in his family to graduate from college when he earned his degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1987.
A graduate of Georgetown Universitys law school, Hardiman would be the only justice on the court currently who didnt earn a law degree from an Ivy League school.
Hardiman has gone further than the Supreme Court in backing gun rights by saying the Constitutions Second Amendment protects the right to carry a handgun in public places. "The need for self-defense naturally exists both outside and inside the home," he wrote.
The nomination could be one of several for Trump. Three other justices -- Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy and Stephen Breyer -- are at least 78.
--With assistance from Laura Litvan To contact the reporters on this story: Greg Stohr in Washington at gstohr@bloomberg.net, Jennifer Jacobs in Washington at jjacobs68@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Craig Gordon at cgordon39@bloomberg.net, Laurie Asseo, Kevin Whitelaw
2017 Bloomberg L.P.
A freestanding emergency care center company will expand to its sixth location this year.
Houston-based SignatureCare Emergency Center has a network of five 24-hour emergency care facilities staffed by board-certified professionals that can treat adult and pediatric patients.
RELATED: CHI St. Luke's Health buys five freestanding ERs
The fifth location recently opened in College Station. The sixth will open in Stafford later this year, according to a company statement.
The company is marking the third anniversary of its first location, SignatureCare Emergency Center - Mission Bend, 8910 Texas 6 South in Houston. Other locations are in Sugar Land, Montrose, the Heights and Memorial City.
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Some gimmicks actually work, and President Donald Trump's requirement to drop two regulations for every new one could do some good.
Trump's executive order applies to the Code of Federal Regulations, which consists of 50 titles and runs to more than 178,000 pages. When Congress passes a law, a government agency amends the CFR to implement it.
In 1975, the CFR had about 71,000 pages, so if you suspect there could be some redundancy in all the new laws passed since then, and all the new regulations that are subsequently implemented, you'd be right. The code is full of outdated and contradictory regulations that confuse even the best lawyers and stymie new business ventures.
Even President Barack Obama believed there was room to trim. He ordered the U.S. government to review all regulations in 2011.
"To facilitate the periodic review of existing significant regulations, agencies shall consider how best to promote retrospective analysis of rules that may be outmoded, ineffective, insufficient or excessively burdensome, and to modify, streamline, expand or repeal them in accordance with what has been learned," Obama's Executive Order 13563 said.
Trump's policy would push this effort along by forcing agencies to review the existing laws at least until they find two old regulations to delete, or more likely, to combine with existing rules. There's only one problem: Congress passed the laws that created the regulations and will often need to get involved in repealing them.
This is where Trump could get into constitutional trouble.
Bonus content During February, we're giving you free access to Houston Chronicle business columnist Chris Tomlinson and the Texanomics blog, featuring Lydia DePillis. Check out the Chronicle's exclusive content for subscribers at HoustonChronicle.com, where you can get digital access for as little as $1 per week. See More Collapse
Also, if Congress passes a new law, and Trump signs it, he's got no choice but to implement it, whether he can find two old regulations to delete or not.
Deleting regulations is also not as simple as some bureaucrat highlighting a few paragraphs and hitting delete. There is a process of soliciting public comment, and then addressing all of those comments, that must be done before a regulation is created or deleted.
The minute the Trump administration tries to short-circuit any of these procedures, rest assured some special interest attorney somewhere in Washington will file a lawsuit faster than you can say billable hours. His team should proceed with caution.
Nevertheless, Trump's sentiment is welcome, and he has plenty of allies in Congress and business that are ready to help repeal regulations.
"Manufacturers saw a number of 'midnight regulations' handed down in the final days of an administration notorious for adding duplicative and unnecessary regulations over the past eight years," said Aric Newhouse, senior vice president of policy and government relations at the National Association of Manufacturers. "Many of these regulations seriously impact the success and growth of manufacturers in the United States."
No one can deny the potential benefits of giving the CFR a good edit to simplify the rules for American business people and ensure that regulations accomplish what they were intended to do. But as always, the devil is in the details of implementation.
USAA employees will receive a 16.8 annual performance bonus for 2016, the company announced Tuesday.
The payout represents a slight decline over the 17 percent bonus awarded in 2015, which was the companys smallest annual cash award since 2008 when it awarded 13.5 percent.
The insurers financial performance is one of elements used by its board to determine the annual bonus. Last year was a historic year for catastrophe-related claim, the company reported in a statement. Events such as hailstorms in San Antonio and Colorado and Hurricane Matthew caused last years insurance claims to rise 2 times over 2015.
The 2015 bonus of 17 percent was a 9 percent drop from the 18.7 percent bonus in 2014. The decline was attributed to a 33 percent drop in profits, the result of higher auto insurance claims and lower investment returns.
The San Antonio-based firm provides insurance and financial services to about 11.8 million members, comprised of military personnel, veterans and their families.
Click here on ExpressNews.com to read the full story or turn to Wednesdays Business section.
pdanner@express-news.net
Twitter: @AlamoPD
Snapshot: Well-known and prolific restaurateur Jason Dady (think: Tre Trattoria, Two Bros BBQ Market, Shuck Shack) just cant stop. Hes struck again with The Bin Tapas Bar, a new Spanish-themed tapas bar in the heart of the culinary blossoming happening along East Grayson Street.
Who goes there? Professional urbanites and foodies on the trail of Dadys latest edible exploits.
Meeting the Little Mermaid at Disney World was more than a photo opportunity for an overweight woman it gave her the motivation to shed half her weight.
Jennifer Ginley, a 26-year-old caseworker in Liverpool, England, told People she had inhibitions about getting engaged to her longtime boyfriend because she didn't want to "be shopping for a size 26 dress."
RELATED: Hottest San Antonio trainers to guide your 2017 fitness resolutions
She said her breaking point came during a family vacation to Disney World in January 2015. The trip was marked with signs of her obesity from requesting seat belt extenders on the plane ride to riding on adjusted seats on the attractions but she was reduced to tears when she saw a picture she took with the Little Mermaid, according to People.
"I saw myself in a whole new light I looked so unhealthy that I cried, wondering how and why I had done that to myself."
Ginley enrolled in a weight loss program, Slimming World, in May 2015 and began planning her meals and becoming active. Just over a year later, Ginley weighed in at 135 pounds and got engaged.
RELATED: Photos: Woman loses 193 pounds, shares 'ugly' 'reality of extreme weight-loss'
She told People her fiance, Luke, proposed just before Christmas.
"It was such an incredible feeling to be able to say 'Yes!' without even a second thought about my weight, and I can't wait to go dress shopping," she said in the interview.
Ginley is currently gracing the cover of the Slimming World magazine and has amassed more than 100,000 followers on Instagram where she keeps her fans up to date with the healthy meals she's filling up on.
mmendoza@mysa.com
Twitter: @MaddySkye
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Albany
As efforts to connect downtown Albany and the Warehouse District continue, four historic buildings in the Arbor Hill neighborhood are set for a $2 million rehabilitation.
Local developer Patrick Chiou of 800 Broadway LLC joined the Community Preservation Corporation to secure $1.53 million in financing to rehabilitate 800-804 Broadway into 15 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Chiou has taken on several development projects to revitalize the area, most recently purchasing the 166-year-old Church of Holy Innocents on North Pearl Street to stabilize and redevelop the historic structure. He also renovated 83 Beaver St. into nine apartments, and joined a group of Chinese investors to buy two State Street buildings.
"The redevelopment and historic preservation of these buildings is critical to the revitalization of the 'New Broadway,' and will play a key role in connecting Downtown Albany and the Warehouse District," Chiou said in a news release Tuesday.
The apartments will offer off-street parking, with monthly rents between $1,200 and $1,475.
The Community Preservation Corp., a nonprofit affordable housing and community revitalization finance company, provided a construction loan and a SONYMA-insured permanent loan through its agreement with the state Common Retirement Fund for the project.
"Small buildings like these are the backbone of communities throughout our state, often serving as a haven of natural affordability for low- and moderate-income families," Rafael E. Cestero, president and CEO of the organization, said. "At CPC, we understand that it's not whether a project is large or small, it's the positive impact it can have in anchoring a community, bringing additional investment to the area, and giving people stable and sustainable housing opportunities."
The rest of the funding will be from the developer, a city tax abatement and possible federal and state historic tax credits. Other recently completed projects in the area include 151 Henry Johnson Blvd., renovated into a mixed-use building, and 733 Broadway, renovated into 29 apartment units.
afries@timesunion.com 518-454-5353 @mandy_fries
BRIDGEPORT - It only took a jury a half hour to decide that Garyl Alexis should go to prison for the next 20 years.
Then again, Alexis, an illegal immigrant from Haiti, did leave his wallet with his ID at the scene of his robbery and then tried to get it back later.
After a week-long trial the six-member, Superior Court jury found the 28-year-old Alexis, of Canaan Road, Stratford, guilty of first-degree robbery and second-degree threatening. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 13 by Judge Maria Kahn.
Stratford police did a great job of getting to the scene quickly and making a quick arrest, said Senior Assistant States Attorney Joseph Harry.
On May 21, 2015, Alexis was invited to a friends home on Broadbridge Avenue in Stratford to smoke some marijuana, according to testimony at trial. However, when Alexis got to the home he pulled out a handgun and stole two ounces of marijuana from his friend.
He then fled, leaving his wallet behind.
The victim then texted Alexis asking why he had robbed him to which Alexis responded: Everyone is food - Oh, and I want my wallet back.
Police were then called and arrested Alexis 20 minutes later.
These cases can be very difficult to try because we are asking the jury to follow the law and ignore the fact that the crime was committed while another alleged crime, smoking marijuana, was taking place, Harry said later. Fortunately the jury followed the law.
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Connecticuts congressional delegation is trying to take away the spending power of President Donald Trump to carry out his contentious executive order barring immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations.
All seven Democrats have signed on to legislation seeking to block the program from taking effect, with Chris Murphy the lead author of the Senate version of the bill opposing Trumps signature action. Its co-sponsors include Murphys Senate colleague, Richard Blumenthal.
Murphy said Tuesday that the ban is not only illegal, but it gives terrorists a recruiting tool to bolster their false narrative that the U.S. is anti-Muslim. He characterized the restriction as a death sentence for refugees from the countries on the list.
So our policy now is to bomb Yemen, bomb Iraq, bomb Syria, creating a humanitarian disaster and then locking civilians inside to die, Murphy said in an interview. Thats a moral abomination.
The pushback from Democrats, who are in the minority in both the Senate and House, follows a turbulent weekend of protests at airports across the nation over Trumps executive order. Murphy has been trying to help reunite a Milford resident from Syria with his wife and two daughters, who were granted refugee status but grounded in the Ukraine over the weekend after Trumps executive order was signed.
A request for comment was left Tuesday with the Trump administration, and with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
State GOP Chairman J.R. Romano said Democrats are guilty of what they accused the Republicans of during the presidency of Barack Obama obstruction.
What theyre interested in is trying to embarrass and disrupt the Trump presidency, and its not working, Romano said. They lost the election and they cannot accept it and theyre going to do everything necessary to undermine the democratic process.
In the House, Connecticuts five representatives co-sponsored the Statue of Liberty Values (SOLVE) Act of 2017, which would defund Trumps immigration ban.
Now is the time to stand up against this madness, Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said Monday in a speech on the House floor.
Over the weekend, Himes was asked by Yale physicians to intervene in the case of a ophthalmology resident and green card holder from Syria who was detained while returning from a humanitarian mission in the Bahamas. The doctor was eventually allowed to return to the U.S., but his case highlighted one of the more controversial aspects of the order it did not distinguish between green card holders and other immigrants from the seven Muslim-majority nations.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., blocked Democrats attempt to bring the SOLVE Act up for a debate, saying at a news conference Tuesday that Trump is delivering on his campaign promise to secure the border.
What the president has asked us to focus on, and something that we completely agree on, something we ran on, is weve got to secure our border, Ryan said. We have security concerns, given this age of terrorism, given the fact that we have drugs coming across our border, we have an opioid problem. There are lots of reasons why our focus first and foremost is on border security.
/ Danbury school district
DANBURY - Fourth-graders at the citys fastest-growing elementary school moved into temporary classrooms over the weekend, freeing up needed space for other students in the building, the school district said.
Fourth-graders at Shelter Rock School moved into four new portable classrooms, complete with new furniture, new whiteboards, and projectors, the release said.
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HARTFORD A group of Fairfield County legislators is pushing a bill that would give the General Assembly final say over whether the cost of riding Metro-North increases.
Enough is enough, said State Rep. Fred Camillo, R-Greenwich, referring to yearly Metro-North fare increases since 2012, including an unpopular 6 percent increase last year.
Last fall, several of us got a couple of thousand signatures from constituents, Camillo said. We did everything we could but could not stop (the fare increase). This would give us a way to debate and discuss it.
Other lawmakers joined Camillo on Monday during a public hearing before the Legislatures transportation committee. They supported a bill that would strip the state Department of Transportations authority to raise Metro-North and bus fares and hand it to the General Assembly.
We hold hearings to hear from commuters about how they feel about an increase, said state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, co-chairwoman of the transportation committee.
So many come out and all are against it, yet a raise gets enacted immediately, she said. I think the idea of making it harder to ignore the public outcry and have the Legislature weigh in is a good idea.
State Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton, who sponsored the bill, said shes tired of watching DOT ignore objections to Metro-North fare increases.
More Information Metro -North fare increases 2012 5 percent 2013 5 percent 20145 percent 20151 percent 20166 percent See More Collapse
Not only is it distressing when fares go up and up, there is the simple fact that DOT is controlling all decisions, Lavielle said. There is a real reason to reorganize who has authority on these increases.
The bill comes in response to last years debate over a 6 percent Metro-North fare increase. Despite thousands of signatures from commuters opposed to the fare hike, and testimony from hundreds who spoke against the increase during public hearings, the DOT approved the higher fares.
State officials said increased revenue from Metro-North helped offset $37 million in cuts to DOTs budget as part of a deal to close a deficit in excess of $1 billion. DOT also closed rest areas, ticket windows at train stations and raised bus fares.
State Rep. Russell Morin, D-Wethersfield, pointed out that Metro-North riders are subsidized by the state.
I support what Metro-North provides but it does cost the state money, Morin said. Where does the user responsibility come in? Im not sure we are just funding a budget shortfall.
Lavielle said the fare increase was absorbed by the DOT and did not directly benefit Metro-North service. She said opponents offered alternatives to restore the DOT money, but those ideas were ignored.
The problem is (legislative leaders) didnt have to respond to us, Lavielle said.
Jim Cameron, founder of the Commuter Action Group and a columnist with Hearst Connecticut Media, said he supports the bill, but also warned lawmakers that they might not like what they create.
Be careful what you wish for, Cameron said. If you want to have the final vote, you will be seen as the one finally responsible for a fare increase. And there will be more fare increases, no doubt.
Cameron said when the DOT lacks adequate funding there only two alternatives: a fare increase or a service cut.
Now lawmakers will get to pick their poison, he said.
Contributed Photo / Contributed Photo
A bill submitted to the legislature would restore funding for Connecticuts three tourism districts, whose budgets were cut by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in June.
State Rep. Brian M. Ohler, a republican from Canaan, introduced the legislation Jan. 17. The western, eastern and central districts had been receiving about $400,000 each from the state, but were eliminated as part of Malloys plan to close the budget deficit.
HARTFORD - A Shelton man is facing up to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Monday to robbing four banks last year.
Scott Taylor, 47, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of bank robbery and admitted that he robbed four branches of Chase Bank last year.
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The Rothko Chapel is preparing to host an event exploring the intersection of poetry, spirituality and family.
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, the nonprofit's new "Concept of the Divine" series continues with readings and conversation with Willis Barnstone, Aliki Barnstone and Tony Barnstone, three poets from the same family - a father, daughter and son.
The three poets are also related to Howard Barnstone - Willis's brother - one of the architects who designed the Rothko Chapel, located at 3900 Yupon St., Houston.
During the event, each poet will read from their collection of work, examine their own personal concept of the divine and engage in conversation with each other and the audience.
A reception and book signing follow the program. The event is free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $10.
"Willis, Aliki and Tony are each acclaimed and evocative poets in their own right - with a rich family history with the Rothko Chapel," the nonprofit's executive director David Leslie said. "Poetry offers a window to the holy that sometimes dialogue cannot, reflecting essential human truths in such an artful form. We are lucky to have the Barnstone family as our guides for this event."
The program is presented in partnership with Saint Julian Press, a literary and educational organization that promotes cultural conversations and interfaith awareness, acceptance and appreciation.
"Willis Barnstone has lived an amazing life and his work is amazing," event moderator and Saint Julian Press publisher and CEO Ron Starbuck said.
Starbuck explained that Willis Barnstone was present with his brother Howard Barnstone during a visit to Mark Rothko's studio in a former New York City firehouse.
"Rothko kindly showed him his work for the chapel one by one, and asked what he thought of them," Starbuck said. "This was just before the work was shipped to Houston."
"When you consider the diversity and depth of the Barnstones' literary work as a whole, combined with their connection to Rothko, this becomes an occasion that celebrates and engages the mystery of creation in an artistic dialogue about humanity's concept of the divine," Starbuck said.
Willis Barnstone is a poet, memoirist, translator, Hispanist and comparatist, who has written more than 70 books of scholarship and poetry. A New Testament and Gnostic scholar, he published "The Restored New Testament," including the Gnostic gospels of Thomas, Mary and Judas. He is a Guggenheim Fellow, the distinguished professor of Comparative Literature Emeritus and senior scholar in the Institute of Biblical and Literary Studies at Indiana University. He has also received the Emily Dickinson Award, the W.H. Auden Award and a special citation for translation from the Pen/Book of the Month Club.
Aliki Barnstone is a poet, translator, critic, editor and visual artist. She is the author of eight books of poetry, most recently "Dwelling." Her first book of poems, "The Real Tin Flower," was published when she was 12 years old with a forward by Anne Sexton. She has been awarded a Senior Fulbright Fellowship, the Silver Pen Award from the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Literature Fellowship in Poetry and a residency at the Anderson Center at Tower View. She serves as Poet Laureate of Missouri and is professor of English and creative writing at the University of Missouri.
Tony Barnstone is a poet, author, essayist and literary translator. In addition to his 18 published books, his work has appeared in dozens of American literary journals. His latest work, "Pulp Sonnets," is a book of illustrated poetry based on 20 years of research into classic pulp fiction, Gothic literature, B movies and comic books, illustrated by Iranian artist Amin Mansouri. He lives and teaches in California, where he serves as chair of English at Whittier College.
The program will be the third event in the "Concept of the Divine" series, which provides a venue for speakers to share how their personal concept of God has changed over time and shaped their lives, their work, their service to the community and their understanding of their own identity. The series will continue on Thursday, May 25 with writer and speaker Uddin Asma.
For event registration and for more information about the Rothko Chapel, the "Concept of the Divine" series and a full calendar of upcoming programs, workshops and events, visit rothkochapel.org or call 713-524-9839.
Jan. 18
On Jan. 18, Corporal Kramer was dispatched to Bellaire High School to meet with Houston Independent School District Police Officer Rodriguez in reference to a student reporting being shot at in the 5300 block of Valerie on 01/13/2017 at 3:40 p.m. The student reported an unidentified Hispanic male shot a handgun in his direction from a moving vehicle four times. To this students' knowledge no persons or property were struck by the rounds.
At 4:32 p.m., Officer Delgado was dispatched to speak with a victim in the 800 block of North Second Street concerning an identity theft. Officer Delgado made contact with the victim who stated his identifying information was stolen and used to open several credit card accounts.
At 11:15 a.m., Officer Lysack was dispatched to 6600 S. Rice Ave. the above address in reference to a burglary of a motor vehicle. The suspect opened the unsecured door and stole a wallet from the cup holder and a purse from the front passenger side floorboard. The suspect left the scene in a gray, four door sedan with paper plates. The suspect's vehicle was last seen headed westbound in the 5300 block of Bellaire Boulevard.
Jan. 19
At 2:11 p.m., Officer Younger was dispatched to the 4500 block of Birch Street in regards to a theft in progress. Officer Younger arrived at approximately 2:15 p.m. and made contact with the witness who advised two unidentified black male suspects were observed stealing UPS packages off of her neighbors front door step. Officer Younger's investigation found at least three separate residences had packages stolen.
At 7:55 p.m., Officer Liccketto was dispatched to the 5300 block of Maple Street in reference to an aggravated robbery. The victim was walking in the 5300 block of Valerie and a Hispanic Male pulled up next to him. The suspect asked for the time then pointed a black pistol at the victim and demanded he hand over is phone or he would shoot him. The victim gave the phone to the suspect who then drove away. The victim then walked home and proceeded to call 911.
Jan. 20
At 6:17 a.m., Officer Lysack met with the victim at the Bellaire Police Department. The victim stated he parked his vehicle at 8200 Englewood St. on Jan. 18 at 7:23 a.m. because he drove into the flood waters and his vehicle was no longer drivable. On Jan. 19 about 11a.m. , the victim returned to where he parked his vehicle and it was no longer at the location. Bellaire Dispatch checked with the Houston and Harris County tow lines and was unable to find any record of the vehicle being towed. The vehicle was entered into NCIC/TCIC as stolen.
At 10:30 a.m., Officer H. Lopez was dispatched to the 4400 block of Lafayette Street in reference to a theft of construction materials. An unknown person made access to the construction site and stole copper wiring from inside a house which is in the process of being built.
At 5:46 p.m., Officer Liccketto was dispatched to a theft in the 800 block of Carol Drive. Officer Liccketto arrived and met with the resident who stated someone had entered his back yard and took a mounted T.V. and a mini fridge.
At 4:16 a.m., Officer Ortega was dispatched to the 4600 block of Oleander Street to meet with Bellaire Medic 81 in reference to a cardiac arrest call. Upon Officer Ortega's arrival she met with the victim's son who stated he found the victim unresponsive and not breathing. Upon Bellaire Medic 81's arrival they were instructed not to perform C.P.R. on the victim due to the victim having a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate).
At 5:45 p.m., Officer Liccketto was dispatched to the 800 block of Woodstock in reference to a burglary of a motor vehicle. The owner of the vehicle left the vehicle locked at about 4:30 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. the vehicle was observed with the driver side back window broken and the driver door open. The unknown suspect made entry into the vehicle and took a bag with various items.
Jan. 21
At 8:34 p.m., Officer Guerra was dispatched to the City of Bellaire Police Department lobby in reference to a report of theft. The investigation indicated the incident was an instance of identity theft which occurred in the 5200 block of Laurel Street.
At 6:56 p.m., Officer Guerra was dispatched to the City of Bellaire Police Department Lobby in reference to a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, Officer Guerra made contact with the reportee who stated the El Ahorro Supermarket pickup truck was stolen from the parking lot between about 9:30 p.m. Jan. 19 and 1 p.m. Jan. 20.
Jan. 22
At 1:05 a.m., Officer C. Barber (R/O) was dispatched to a one car wreck at 5200 block of IH-610 north. Upon arrival, R/O observed a black SUV on its left side. Contact was made with the driver of the vehicle, who was uninjured. After subsequent investigation, the driver was driving with an invalid driver's license and no proof of financial responsibility. The driver has three previous driving while license invalid convictions and today a Class A misdemeanor charge was acquired.
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The Houston Northwest Chamber held its annual "Diamonds & Ice Gala" Saturday at The Norris Conference Center Red Oak Ballroom in City Centre.
The gala is the pinnacle event of the chamber year, and honored former Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman and Judge Connie Hickman for their contributions to northwest Harris County.
Senator Jon and Judge Tony Lindsay were named as the 2016 Diamond Award recipients for their economic development contributions to the northwest community, primarily through his accomplishments in developing the Harris County Toll Road System.
This year's Diamonds & Ice Gala theme was Black Tie Tailgate, in honor of Houston hosting the Super Bowl.
Contact 281-440-4160 or www.HoustonNWChamber.org for information.
For more than 42 years, the chamber has served north Houston, Spring, Klein, Champions, FM 1960, FM 2920, SH 249 and Sam Houston Tollway Corridors. The chamber has more than 700 members.
Memorial Villages Police Department
A Tri-Cities Public Safety Committee composed of members of Bunker Hill, Piney Point and Hunter's Creek are holding a public information meeting Tuesday, Feb. 7, to discuss a study approved by the committee evaluating cameras on public streets within the Memorial Villages Police Department jurisdiction.
The cameras would have license plate recognition technology and be placed at 27 locations throught the area, said MVPD Assistant Chief of Police Ray Schultz.
With several weeks until filing closes for May elections, the Pasadena mayoral race has drawn five candidates - two members of City Council, two former state representatives and a San Jacinto College trustee.
The race occurs against the backdrop of a federal judge's decision to overturn the city's system of electing a mix of at-large and district council members, ruling that it is unfair to Hispanic voters and that Pasadena must return to all single-member districts. Term-limited Mayor Johnny Isbell is fighting that ruling through an appeal.
Issues presented by the candidates range from making needed street repairs to taking a stand on whether to continue the city's appeal of U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal's ruling and what to do to bridge a perceived divide between Hispanic and Anglo residents.
"These are difficult times in Pasadena," said Gilbert Pena, a former House District 144 representative who is seeking the mayor's post to bridge gaps in what he sees as a city divided between the southern part, where many Anglos live, and the primarily Hispanic north side. "It's my hope that if I win, I would work to unify Pasadena as one city, and not just north and south."
Another candidate, City Councilman Jeff Wagner, said he will emphasize "town hall meetings, workshops, whatever it takes to get City Council and the community back involved with each other that's what we're going to do."
Others running for mayor are City Councilwoman Pat Van Houte, San Jacinto College trustee John Moon Jr. and Robert Talton, who was the District 144 representative from 1993 to 2009.
Attempts to reach Talton by presstime were unsuccessful.
John Moon Jr.
"I've supervised several hundred employees throughout my career," said Moon. "I spent 10 years as CFO of Moody Bank, and during that time I created the budget for the bank and its 31 locations. We grew the bank from $300 million and four locations to 31 locations and almost a billion dollars in assets. That gives me experience with both budgeting as well as management of employees, and that's the major parts of the city's budget right there."
Moon, who has been a certified public accountant since 1983, said, "I believe I'm a new face with new ideas, and that's why people should vote for me."
In 2009, he won election to the San Jacinto College board and was unopposed for re-election in 2015.
"San Jacinto College is well-respected, and I have gained valuable experience as a trustee there," he said. "Through careful planning, we have been able to increase the annual student graduation rate from about 2,000 students a year to 6,000 students a year with only a 1 (percent) or 2 percent increase in student enrollment."
The college has partnered with Pasadena ISD and industry partners on a program that allows students to attain a two-year college degree while in high school.
"What I would like to see is that same level of cooperation between the city and Pasadena ISD for the benefit of the citizens," he said.
Moon grew up in Pasadena and graduated from Sam Rayburn High School. After attended San Jacinto College, he received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University and a master's degree in accounting from the University of HoustonClear Lake.
For more information about Moon, visit www.johnmoonjr.com. He can be reached at jr@johnmoonjr.com or 713-448-9944.
Gilbert Pena
Pena served as a Republican state representative from 2015 to 2017, losing lost a re-election bid to Democrat Mary Ann Perez in November. A resident of Pasadena since 1992, he graduated from Texas Southern University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1996.
He said he opposed the city's 2013 redistricting that added at-large council positions. The redistricting resulted in a lawsuit by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund that led to a trial and the judge's decision.
"I went door-to-door and talked to residents about this, and at the time I even spoke out against the redistricting at City Council because it was going to be harmful to the Hispanic community in general," Pena said. "I also pointed out at that time it was going to be expensive. Now two years later and it's cost the city millions of taxpayer dollars.
"If elected, I definitely would stop the appeal process," he said. "There's a lot of other things we could do with this money other than give it to lawyers."
Pena said that improving streets and drainage and strengthening the city's sense of community were priorities.
"I'm going to try and stay away from this north and south issue many people talk about because I feel it is just dividing the city," he said. "I want to make sure the Anglo community doesn't feel that because I'm Hispanic I will only pull for the Hispanics just like the previous administration only pulled for the Anglos. I want to treat Pasadena as one city and be as transparent and open as possible.
"I'm running with the hope of getting more Hispanic people involved," Pena said. "The Hispanic people just don't seem to get involved in city politics, and so it all keeps going the same and they keep discriminating against us. They don't fix our streets. If Hispanic people want change in Pasadena and want to receive the same type of treatment, we need to vote because then we will be respected if we vote in numbers just like we did during the (presidential) election."
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/GilbertPenaforMayor
Pat Vat Houte
Elected to her first term on the City Council in 2009, Van Houte emphasized her experience in city government.
"Each person who has filed for mayor so far has government experience, but (for) the majority of them it's not at the city level," she said. "I have been in city government for almost eight years. I know who the department heads are. I know what departments do what and the processes of how things get done in the city. I know the backstory on many of the projects and things that we're doing. This is a stronger foundation going in, either to keep things going or to change things - having the background on it helps.
"As an elected official, I have always looked at each issue on its own merits," she said. "I don't vote as I do because the other people are voting that way. I don't vote based on promises to city contractors."
Van Houte worked for the Texas Workforce Commission for many years investigating unemployment claims. She also has investigated emergency situations with Child Protective Services.
"I'm bilingual, which will help. It's better to be able to communicate directly with someone in their own language rather than they try to communicate in a language in which they're not comfortable or having to get someone to translate," she said. "I've made an effort to get around and see as much as of the city as possible and to know what the issues are in each neighborhood. I think I have seen more of the city than the other candidates."
Van Houte said she also would pull the plug on the city's efforts to appeal the verdict in the voting rights case.
"The judge spent a week and a half hearing from many witnesses, looking at a lot of information and made a decision. The city has spent almost $2 million on the lawsuit already, and I don't think it is in our best interest to spend more public money on this," she said.
In elected, Van Houte said she would work to improve communications with residents and make city government more open.
"There are many things on the city website that are outdated. We need to do a better job of keeping it up to date. Department heads need to understand that there is an expectation that they will provide good information on a timely basis," she said. "I also want to set up a basic application for city boards and commissions so that anyone who is interested can apply and be considered and it would not be just who the politician knows getting appointed every time."
A Syracuse, New York native, Van Houte moved to Pasadena in 1980 after graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor of science degree in psychology and a master of arts degree in behavioral sciences from the University of Houston Clear Lake.
Van Houte can be reached via email at patvanhoute@yahoo.com or by phone at 713-475-1506
Jeff Wagner
Elected to City Council in 2015, Wagner pointed to his experience on the council and as a Houston police office.
"I have learned a lot being on the City Council. It's been on the job training for two years. So, I'm ready to step into the mayor's office and go to work," Wagner said. "Being a board member of the Houston Police Officers Union for the last seven years, I've dealt with budgets between $400 million and $500 million. I know how to deal with budgets. I know how to make budgets work for all employees. I also know how the city works. So, I bring something special to the table because I've been on both sides of the table. I can negotiate for the city, but I'm also looking out for the employees.
"I truly feel the morale of the employees, if it stays high, the work quality will go up and that's what will make a difference in this city," he said.
If elected, Wagner would emphasize repairing neighborhood streets.
"How we're going to do this is through partnerships. We're going to take public and private entities and get them together on board and we're going to get this done. I'm talking about making the streets in the neighborhoods better than they have been in such a long time," he said. "My second commitment is just the overall city. Everyone is going to have a seat at the table when I become mayor. Every community, every citizen, we're going to listen to problems and come up with solutions."
After graduating from Galena Park High School, Wagner began his career in law enforcement as the youngest Galena Park police reserve officer in the department's history at 18 years old. He joined the Houston Police Department the next year.
For more information, visit www.jeffwagner4mayor.com
The filing period for mayoral and candidates for all single-member districts closes Feb. 17. Election Day is Saturday, May 6.
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A Beaumont man was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison on Tuesday for making a terroristic threat to the Exxon Mobil refinery on Burt Street.
Lance Giovanni Fontenot, 23, pleaded guilty in September to "maliciously conveying false information about explosive material," according to a statement from acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas Brit Featherston's office.
In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone ordered Fontenot to pay Exxon Mobil restitution of more than $370,000, the cost of shutting down the pipeline during the threat.
On June 15, 2016, Fontenot called the Exxon Mobil refinery in Beaumont and claimed an employee and her brother had set explosive packages "around the exterior of the facility" that were set to detonate at a specific time, according to the statement.
According to an affidavit from Fontenot's arrest, he said in the phone call that the employee "had been talking about ISIS."
The threat was determined to be false, and when investigators called the number that had made the initial threat, Fontenot answered and identified himself, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
He had previously been in a romantic relationship with the employee named in the call.
"Fontenot admitted to knowingly lying about the threat of explosives and was aware that his actions would disrupt the operations of a plant with an interstate pipeline that would result in a significant financial loss to the company," the statement said. He "stated the purpose for the threat was to retaliate at the named employee for discontinuing their romantic relationship. Fontenot also admitted to lying about the employee having any known connection with a terrorist organization."
Fontenot asked Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin to release him from jail on June 21, but Giblin denied the request, citing Fontenot's two previous assault convictions and his actions before the bomb threat.
Two days before calling in the threat, Fontenot was looking for the woman at the refinery and was escorted out by police, FBI agent Ralph Woodward testified. The purpose of the bomb threat was to get the ex-girlfriend fired, according to Woodward, who said he believed Fontenot might try to retaliate against the woman if released.
LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com
Twitter.com/LizTeitz
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Firefighters in Montgomery County spent the better part of Monday afternoon battling small grass fires, mostly due to improper burning in the dry, windy weather, officials said.
As of 2:45 p.m., there were at least six fires, according to Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams. As the day went on, more and more fires popped up throughout the county, requiring a massive fire response from Montgomery County firefighters and state officials.
Most of the fires started as small burn piles that got out of control, Williams said. One fire in East Montgomery County required a response from the Texas A&M Forest Service, which provides various bulldozing equipment to help create a stop line for the fire.
That fire started just after noon near North Hillcrest Drive and White Oak Drive when a controlled burn got out of control. The winds shifted and pushed the flames east toward Valley Ranch Parkway, which created a predicament for the East Montgomery County and Porter Fire Departments as they had issues accessing the area to tackle the spreading blaze.
"People don't check the weather forecast, and they burn," Williams said. "The winds pick up almost every afternoon. As soon as the winds pick up around noon or 1 o'clock, the fires start popping up. People just don't check the forecast or they underestimate the wind's ability to pick up and carry the embers from their fire and get it out of control."
Other fires popped up south of Montgomery off Spring Branch Road and off Old Highway 105 East in Conroe. Williams said burners often are confused about weather conditions.
While heavy rains drenched parts of Montgomery County last week, Williams said they were followed by many dry days, which creates a perfect storm for grass and vegetation to grow and die quickly.
"As soon as winds turn around into the north and the west, you start getting low humidity and high winds," Williams said. "That dead grass that's been killed off by the recent frost is ready to burn within just a couple hours of a northwest wind."
While it is unclear whether anyone will be cited for Monday's fires, Williams said at least one person over the weekend was cited when his fire got out of control and burned a neighbor's storage shed.
"If your fire gets off your property and damages someone else's property, you could be cited for reckless damage," Williams said. "That's just from a criminal standpoint. You would also be liable for any damages in a civil court."
Williams said it's important for anyone who burns to first check whether it is legal to burn, and then check weather reports daily, as weather patterns can shift at any moment making fire conditions dire.
A 33-year-old Ohio man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking in methamphetamine.
Bobby L. Pemberton of Trotwood, Ohio, was arrested on Sept. 10 after an Illinois State Police trooper pulled over a car in which he was a passenger. The stop happened just outside of Troy, on Interstate 55.
The trooper alleged that the driver of the 2016 Nissan Rogue, 45-year-old Phillip McCarty of Glendale, Ariz., had been following the vehicle in front of him too closely and breaking two other traffic laws, according to court records.
The trooper searched the car and allegedly discovered nine bundles of what was tested and determined to be methamphetamine. He also allegedly found $636 in cash on Pemberton.
The Madison County States Attorneys office charged them both with Methamphetamine Trafficking and with Unlawful Possession With Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine.
McCarty is being held at the Madison County Jail on $500,000 bond.
He purportedly told investigators that he and Pemberton had been transporting the meth to Ohio for payment.
Shortly after the men were arrested, prosecutors began the process of having the $636 forfeited to the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois. The Request for Preliminary Review to Determine Probable Cause for Forfeiture alleges that the cash found on McCarty was in close proximity to illegal drugs and that the amount of seized cash was substantial and inexplicable.
The charges against McCarty are still pending in Madison County.
Because more than 900 grams of meth was seized, Pemberton and McCarty are eligible for an enhanced sentence of 30 to 100 years in prison on the trafficking charge.
The Unlawful Possession With Intent To Deliver charge carries a possible sentence of 15 to 50 years in prison.
At his hearing last week, Pemberton entered an Alford plea to the meth trafficking charge for which he did not admit guilt but acknowledged that the state had enough evidence to find him guilty, according to Madison County Assistant States Attorney James Buckley.
Buckley said that the Methamphetamine Trafficking offense requires offenders to serve at least 75 percent of their sentence.
The plea and sentencing was heard before Circuit Judge Kyle Napp.
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Authorities released the identity of a Colorado man who drowned Monday on Lake Conroe
Family members found Richard George Howard, 69, of Durango, Colorado, unresponsive in the lake around 10 a.m. Medics performed CPR on the man for quite some time before they pronounced him dead.
Howard fell into the lake sometime between 9 and 10 a.m. while at Lochness Marina RV Park in the 14500 block of Calvary Road west of Willis. Two of the man's family members had left for breakfast around 9 a.m. and came back to find him floating in the water.
The three were visiting the area from Colorado, wanting to spend two weeks on the lake fishing. That all ended when the man presumably fell into the 10-foot-deep water.
"It's a tragedy," Precinct 1 Constable Philip Cash said on scene.
Cash said he does not suspect any foul play. The man had health problems, Cash said, that may have contributed to the drowning but declined to provide any further details.
Howard's fishing equipment and other items were onshore. He was not wearing a life vest.
Divers with the Precinct 1 Constable's Office searched through the murky cove for any other clues. Montgomery County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack was notified of the death and ordered an autopsy.
This is the first death on the lake in 2017, Cash said.
State county leaders to gather in Albany
ALBANY Officials from each of New York's 62 counties are traveling to Albany for a conference on the challenges facing local governments.
The New York State Association of Counties says the three-day legislative conference, which begins Monday, will attract more than 900 attendees.
This year's big topics include the need for state funding for 911 and the public defenders system, the ongoing heroin and opioid epidemic and the proposed upstate expansion of Uber and Lyft.
County leaders are also expected to discuss Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal encouraging local governments to find ways to share resources and services.
Speakers include state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Erie County Executive Mark Polancarz.
Lawyers: 42 New York airport detainees freed
NEW YORK Lawyers working with travelers detained at Kennedy Airport because of President Donald Trump's travel ban say at least 42 people who had been in custody have been released.
Attorneys from the group NoBanJFK said that as of late Monday they still didn't know the status of two detainees.
They said up to nine people who arrived on a flight Monday from Saudi Arabia were being held for questioning.
Trump signed an order Friday blocking citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
A judge barred the government from deporting travelers, but people can still be stopped from entering.
Lawyers say at least 19 of the detainees at Kennedy were U.S. residents.
The largest number of detainees were Iranian.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning lashed out on Twitter - as hes been known to do - at House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The prominent Democrats stood with other members of congress on the steps of the Supreme Court on Monday night, voicing opposition to Trumps Executive Order signed on Friday that bans citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the county.
The law sparked outrage in airports around the country, including at San Francisco International Airport, where hundreds gathered in raucous protest over the weekend, while federal immigration officials scrambled to understand and implement the order.
Pelosi began speaking at Monday nights gathering but was cut off for several minutes when the PA system malfunctioned, causing some awkward moments.
What the President did undermines our values and is not in support of the oath of office that we take, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, Pelosi said before the microphone cut off.
That snafu prompted the president to tweet Tuesday: Nancy Pelosi and Fake Tears Chuck Schumer held a rally at the steps of The Supreme Court and mic did not work (a mess)-just like Dem party!
Pelosi spokesman, Drew Hammill, responded to the barb Tuesday morning:
The mic briefly didnt work, but this thin-skinned President clearly heard the voices of more than 250 Members of Congress and thousands of others who gathered outside the Supreme Court last night. The Presidents immoral executive order is clearly unconstitutional - no matter how many times he tweets or how many Administration officials he fires.
One of those fired officials Hammill referred to was acting attorney general Sally Yates, who was a Democratic appointee and publicly questioned the constitutionality of the executive order on Monday.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer accused Yates of betraying the Department of Justice after Trump sent out a written statement announcing she was fired. Longtime federal prosecutor Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was named as Yates replacement.
The acting head of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement was also fired on Monday night.
Trumps executive order restricts travel to the United States for 90 days for citizens of Libya, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. It also halts all refugees from coming into the United States for 120 days, and refugees from Syria are banned indefinitely from coming to the county.
Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com
Westport Police / Contributed Photo
WESTPORT A New York teen and a male minor were allegedly caught trying to deposit a fraudulent check at Westport banks Jan. 24.
The young male juvenile went to both Westport locations of Citibank, attempting to deposit a forged check using a Citibank debit card and PIN number, according to police. The second location, at 399 Post Road West, called police, who were notified the car the juvenile was suspected to have left in was nearby. Officers stopped the car on Post Road West near Kings Highway and found and arrested the minor that had attempted to deposit the check at both banks, according to police.
The Most Rev. Michael J. Sis, Bishop of San Angelo spoke Tuesday in front of the Tom Green County Courthouse on the subject of immigration
Below are his prepared remarks:
Good evening. Id like to start with a prayer, and then share a few words.
Let us pray: Lord God, we thank you for the chance to live in freedom in this beautiful country. Please guide this evenings prayer vigil in a spirit of mutual respect. Lead our nation down the right path in this critical moment in our history. We depend completely on you, who live and reign forever and ever.Amen.
One of the most controversial social issues of our day is the question of immigration. According to the United Nations, there are now more than 65 million people in the world who are forcibly displaced from their homes.
With the recent wave of unrest regarding the situation of immigrants and refugees, this provides us with an opportunity to examine our own attitudes toward migrants and to appreciate the many benefits that migrants bring to our communities.
Think about the fact that there is no one in our country who is not descended from people who at some point migrated here from another continent. Even the Native American tribes migrated here from Asia.
The United States of America is a better country because of the contributions of immigrants. Think about the people you know who are immigrants or children of immigrants: They are your neighbors, your co-workers, your relatives, and your friends.
This country was built by immigrants. We have the Statue of Liberty for good reason. We must never turn our backs on that heritage of integrating newcomers into our culture.
There are many places in the Bible that speak of the immigration experience:
- God inspired Abraham and Sarah to move from Ur of the Chaldeans and settle in the land of Canaan.
- Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt to the Holy Land.
- Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were temporarily refugees in the foreign land of Egypt in order to escape the violence of King Herod.
- One of Gods commandments in the book of Exodus relates to migrants: You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt (Ex 22:21).
- Jesus teaches us in the Gospel of Mathew that, when we welcome the stranger, we are actually welcoming Christ himself, who will say in the Last Judgment, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. (Matthew 25:35) Sometimes Christ visits us in the disguise of the migrant in need.In the end, we will be judged according to how we have responded to him.
People have a basic human right to migrate, in order to find a safe place to live, and to be able to put food on the table.
Of course, every country has the right and responsibility to maintain the integrity of its borders and the rule of law. Those who enter a country, or seek refugee settlement, or apply for immigration status, should be carefully screened in order to protect the common good.
The U.S. government has a legitimate role in intercepting unauthorized migrants who attempt to travel to the United States. Illegal immigration should not be condoned or encouraged, because it is not good for society or for the migrant, who then lives outside the law and in the shadows.
What is needed is comprehensive immigration reform. The economy of the United States depends upon a certain amount of immigrant labor, but in the current system the number of available visas for workers is not sufficient to meet our demand for foreign laborers.
Rather than maintain a system that feeds upon keeping people in the shadows, it would make more sense to grant enough work visas for the workers that we need.
Speaking for the Catholic Church, we will continue to provide pastoral care and charitable assis-tance to new immigrants. We welcome immigrants to participate actively in our local congregations. We will continue to assist people to regularize their immigration status, and our agencies will continue to process and place refugees after screening by the federal government.
We believe that our faith calls us to welcome the stranger, to treat others with compassion, and to live with a spirit of solidarity for all human beings.
Thank you all for caring enough to be here this evening. God bless you.
BROWNSVILLE A jury found a border agent not guilty of capital murder in the grisly decapitation slaying of Francisco Palacios Paz nearly two years ago.
Joel Luna, a 32-year-old border agent, was also found not guilty of murder, but was convicted of engaging in organized crime. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. His younger brother, Eduardo, 27, was convicted on all counts, including capital murder.
AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott highlighted his fight against so-called sanctuary cities Tuesday as he delivered his State of the State address, declaring the issue an emergency so lawmakers can get to work on it tomorrow.
There was a roar of approval and a partial standing ovation in the House chamber, although a number of Democratic lawmakers sat without applauding.
While the Odessa Police Department reported a double-digit percentage drop in crime in 2016, the 5,130 serious crimes in Odessa were in excess of 1,300 than the number reported in Midland.
This week, both Midland and Odessa police departments offered their respective crime statistics reports for 2016. Both showed decreases compared to 2015 -- Midland by 1.1 percent, Odessa by 11.6 percent. OPD reported decreases in all but one part 1 crimes -- those MPD defined as mostly likely to be reported and are serious in nature an/or volume.
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SAN ANTONIO Michele Roode Boyd, a registered nurse who went missing on Thanksgiving Day, may have been spotted in the Medical Center recently, her brother said in an interview with mySA.com.
A coworker reached out to a Facebook group dedicated to finding Boyd, 42, and said she saw Boyd on Sunday night near Medical Drive and Wurzbach Road where she was reportedly wearing jeans and a dark hoodie covering her head.
The coworker said she called out to the woman and went looking for her after turning her car around, but she was gone moments later.
RELATED: S.A. nurse, mother went missing on Thanksgiving, family seeking help to find her
The coworker also told Boyds brother, Joe Roode, the woman who looked like her may have gone into some apartments on Medical Drive across from the CVS right before Wurzbach Road.
She looked so much like Michele, short curly red hair and her face resembled hers, The coworker said to Roode.
Boyd, who has a 5-year-old daughter and two step children, is described as having red, short hair, is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds. She has a vine tattoo on her left ankle, according to a police report.
RELATED: Reward offered for missing elderly woman last seen at Poteet Flea Market
Boyd separated from her husband a week before her disappearance and may have experienced a mental break," her brother said, adding that she started exhibiting strange behaviors, but they dont believe drugs are involved.
Roode said she lives in Leon Springs on the Northwest Side of San Antonio, but her vehicle was found and towed on Black Friday from a taqueria off Rigsby Avenue on the East Side. He said some people in that area claimed to have seen her, but authorities have not been able to find her.
RELATED: Search for missing 29-year-old man continues
Anyone with information regarding Boyds whereabouts is asked to contact the San Antonio Police Departments Missing Persons Unit at 210-2077660 or the Heidi Search Center at 210-650-0428.
Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com
twhite@mysa.com
Twitter: @tylerlwhite
SAN ANTONIO A man in his 30s is in critical condition at University Hospital Tuesday after getting hit by a vehicle while fleeing from police on Loop 410, according to police.
Castle Hills police officers tried to pull over a black 4-door sedan that was driving on flat tires at about 12:20 a.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Loop 410 and Honeysuckle Lane, an officer said at the scene.
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Four fraternities at Texas State University were suspended earlier this month one for up to 5 years following "alcohol-related policy violations," campus officials confirmed Tuesday.
Pi Kappa Alpha, Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Alpha and Delta Tau Delta, will cease campus operations for 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively, university spokesman Matt Flores told mySA.com.
The suspensions were issued on Jan. 6 following review by a student justice panel comprised of students, faculty and staff. The fraternities are prohibited from conducting business or hosting social events, Flores explained.
RELATED: Texas State fraternity suspends operations in wake of death of 20-year-old student
He said the alleged violations occurred the night of Oct. 28, 2016 during an "off-campus social event."
Flores avoided connecting the infractions to the death of a Texas State freshman at a fraternity party the day of the alleged violations.
The body of 20-year-old Alpha Delta Pi sorority member Jordin Taylor was found Oct. 29, at least 12 hours after being dragged 500 feet by a bus with mechanical issues in the 600 block of Dupuy Ranch Road, near Cool River Ranch.
Guadalupe County Sheriff Arnold Zwicke said at the time there was a fraternity party held at the ranch the night of Oct. 28.
On what appears to be Taylor's Twitter account, she favorited a tweet posted Oct. 27 containing an image promoting a "Monster Mash" party hosted by Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Alpha and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternities at Texas State, the fraternities suspended this month.
The flier image did not include a date or location for the "Monster Mash" party.
RELATED: 20-year-old Texas State sorority member found dead under bus near San Marcos River
Zwicke said in a news release that around 11:15 p.m. one of the shuttle buses at the venue, used to haul tubers to and from the river, lost its air braking system, causing the driver to leave the vehicle where it had stopped.
The sheriff said Taylor's cause of death was "consistent with being stuck and dragged by the bus" and "appears to be an accident."
On Nov. 1, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity released a statement that the chapter voluntarily suspended all operations in the wake of Taylor's death.
"The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity was made aware that Taylor was found in proximity to an event held the previous evening involving members of (the) Zeta Theta Chapter and other organizations," a statement from the fraternity reads. "Until more information becomes known, the chapter is voluntarily suspending all operations until further notice."
Neither Texas State Greek Affairs nor national headquarters for each of the fraternities involved have returned requests for comment. Texas State University Infraternity Council could not be reached.
Staff writer Kelsey Bradshaw contributed to this report.
mmendoza@mysa.com
Twitter: @MaddySkye
Texas State is investigating its third case of unauthorized and controversial fliers plastered across its San Marcos campus in recent months.
In November, fliers posted on bathroom mirrors called for the "arrest and torture" of "deviant university leaders," and in December the university removed fliers asking people to report undocumented immigrants to authorities.
David Williams/Austin Ridesharing
AUSTIN -- An additional $500 million for sweeping reforms of Texas' beleaguered child protection system and $250 million in cuts to business franchise taxes are highlights of Gov. Greg Abbott's proposed budget released Tuesday.
While Abbott does not write the state budget -- that's up to the Senate and House -- he has the final authority to sign or veto the spending document, so his wishes will hold some sway in a year when state revenues are down and spending is expected to be tight.
To the editor:
I am confused?
For the last eight years, anyone who dared to complain about the policies or executive actions of the resident was verbally flogged and called racist, a bigot or both. For that reason, quite a few people all over the United States (probably many more than all the marchers in the world the other weekend) abstained from expressing opinions. Those abstainers did not want to be called names and they did not want to create bigger racial divisions than those that they President and the media were eagerly creating every single day.
On this year's Inauguration Day, I had a full day at work but I relied on a tape of the event to appreciate it firsthand, what had transpired in Washington, D.C. I saw the leaders of the Democratic Party, that had lost their battle to the presidential post, who graciously attended the event, granting validity to the process called democratic election. A process that many individuals in the United States of America cannot even comprehend what it means.
Then, I heard the president's acceptance speech. I was not personally overwhelmed with joy, but he was elected on that platform and we all have to give him the benefit of the doubt that there is more to the new president than what he said or left out in 16 minutes.
But, the newly elected president had not even started to "govern," so what were all the protests about? Were they about the love for their country and their fellow Americans? Was there complaining about the singularly special system of government that has worked out successfully for over 200 years and it is envy of the whole world? Just think about it; this is the country where everyone and their dog wants to come in, but nobody in their right mind or the right side of law wants to leave. No, they wanted the whole world to know how much they hated the president himself. Huh? But, if we were all to protest about anyone that we don't like, we will not have the kind of industrious country that we have.
But, as long as the masses are manipulated to believe that their "show amounts to something," they will do whatever they are told. Manipulation of the masses is something that is fairly new for native Americans, not that new for those who have suffered oppression and persecution. There is a difference between protesting out of love for an ideal and protesting out of hate for a person. Mature and civilized individuals give the protesters and their manipulators respectability when they do not deserve it.
By the way, fellow op-ed writers, for the sake of our country's future, please scale down you war in the female gender. It is not fair not just to generalize and verbally flog those of us of the female persuasion. By insisting on taking that direction, you may end up end up shooting some of the people with whom you may have more in common than you think.
Chiqui Sentmanat
Meaningful property tax reform needed
To the editor:
Seriously, give the president and his team a chance, more changes in a week than the last eight years that may actually turn out positive for the country.
Meanwhile on to more important issues right here in our back yard. Where is the march on Austin for our property tax improvement promised by our lieutenant governor as his No. 2 priority? I read all 53 pages of legalese in SB2, and to my understanding, the only reduction offered is if your property is declared part of a federal disaster area. Not much help here in Montgomery County.
Texas has the sixth-highest property tax rate in the country. Dan Patrick promised to do something about it for all of us; where is it? With our Legislature meeting only every two years, we may have a long wait to see real change. Seniors and businesses are among those affected the most. Annual assessment caps don't work, as the county just makes other adjustments to nullify them to keep revenue stream.
Einstein would have a problem understanding the "algorithm" used to calculate FMV. Contesting your taxes against this "secret code" is nearly impossible, even when you present the arbitration board facts on local home sales that represent true market value. Statewide, however, the more complex and realistic long-term fix is to revamp our state tax code. Contact your representatives to hold them accountable to work toward a solution that is meaningful.
Arron Angle
The Woodlands
This week, the Lieutenant Governor began referring bills to committee and we will soon begin to hear them in committee. The legislative process kills more bills than it passes, which I consider a good thing. Only the best legislation which has had significant public input and survived the hearing process should become law.
Here are five things happening at your Capitol this week:
1. Senate Finance Begins
The Senate Finance Committee, on which I serve, have begun their hearings. Over the next few weeks we will hear the legislative appropriations request from every state agency and higher education institutions, as well as public testimony. These requests are a starting point to determine their budget needs for the next two years.
The hearings have focused on public education and higher education institutions. As this is a tough budget year for the state, we will be studying each of these programs to determine the appropriated funding is being used appropriately to benefit students and help provide the education they deserve.
2. School Finance Workgroup
In addition to the regular work of the Senate Finance committee, The Senate Finance Committee Chair Jane Nelson has appointed a workgroup to study school finance. The workgroup members will work with stakeholders to propose a new simplified school funding structure.
Many of our funding items have not been updated in 30 to 40 years. This is an opportune time to ensure we are providing an equitable system for all school districts across the state, which also meets the needs of the students in those schools. Education has and should continue to be one of the top priorities of the Legislature, and I look forward to working with the members of Senate Finance to ensure we are able to accomplish this task.
3. Tuition Set-Asides
In 2003, the Legislature required universities to set aside a percentage of an undergraduate, graduate and professional degree students tuition, to be used to provide assistance to students with a financial need. While the set-aside was not meant to be an extra charge to the students, universities have to raise their tuition to cover this set-aside.
I believe this has created a tax on student's tuition. Even if a student has taken out loans to pay for their education, they will have to take out much more than is needed for their own education to pay for someone else's tuition. Senator Kel Seliger has filed Senate Bill 18, I am also a co-author, which would repeal this set-aside program. I look forward to working with Senator Seliger and supporting him in doing away with this program.
4. Ethics Reform
Transparency and strong ethics laws are critical to good government, which is why I've co-authored Senate Bill 14 with Senator Van Taylor to provide ethics reform in the State. This bill would keep elected officials who are convicted of felonies from staying in office and receiving a state pension. It would also require more disclosure of money and gifts that lobbyists provide to elected officials, as well as prevent elected officials from immediately turning into lobbyists after leaving the Legislature. Finally, it requires elected officials to provide more information about their incomes, including government contracts and legal referral fees. Texans deserve to know whether elected officials may be swayed by special interest groups, and taxpayers should not be paying for these pensions of elected officials who commit felonies.
5. Timeline of Session
Although we have now been in session two weeks the Legislature is not allowed to fully pass any legislation in the first 60 days of the 140-day session unless the Governor designates an item as emergency legislation. This and other provisions help to place even more value on our time and ensure only the most pressing issues are addressed. The framers of the Texas Constitution envisioned a citizen legislature which only meets every other year for a limited amount of days, and is therefore unable to infringe too much on citizens' lives. Many years later, their vision is still being fulfilled.
Below are some important dates to keep in mind for this session:
March 10th - This is the last date bills in the Senate and House can be filed.
May 29th - This is the final day of the 85th regular session, which happens to fall on Memorial Day.
June 18th - This is the last day the Governor can sign or veto bills passed during the regular legislative session.
President Trump's new get-tough attitude on immigration has already stopped one Mexican from coming to the United States.
Trouble is, the Mexican who stayed home was President Enrique Pena Nieto.
President Nieto wasn't coming here illegally, and he wasn't captured in Jeff Davis County, Texas, by one of Trump's friends in the Border Patrol.
But the Mexican leader and President Trump decided to scrap their planned summit next week after trading some testy tweets about whether or not Mexico was going to pay for a new wall along the U.S. southern border.
Don't worry.
There won't be another Mexican-American war.
President Nieto will be back in good time and he and Donald will make their deal.
But before the two leaders meet face-to-face - and before Trump starts spending his weekends in Texas pouring concrete footers on the border -- Trump should get his busy staff to dust off, update and improve the Bracero program.
Most Americans - especially the politicians in Washington - have no idea what the Bracero program was.
But from 1942 until 1964, when the federal government's program was eliminated, it made illegal immigration from Mexico largely unnecessary by allowing the free flow of Mexican agricultural workers into and out of the United States.
Over 22 years about 4.5 million Mexican nationals worked temporarily on the vegetable and fruit farms of California and the Southwest.
The braceros were poor peasants. They were seasonal workers. They did hard agricultural work that not enough Americans were willing to do.
They were greeted and processed by U.S. officials at collection stations at the border.
They signed contracts with the farmers and companies that employed them, then worked long hours for low wages.
It was far from perfect. The braceros weren't treated as well as they should have been by their bosses or the government. They often suffered discrimination.
But they were free to come and go as temporary guest workers of America, not illegal invaders.
They could work, save their money and, unlike illegal immigrants today, could then easily return to Mexico.
The United States and Mexico both benefitted from the Bracero program, which in the long run had a huge impact on American culture, the agriculture business and the northerly flow of illegal immigration.
The program was ended in 1964 in part because of President Kennedy's concerns that the cheap labor of braceros was hurting American workers and because of political pressure from self-interested farm labor unions.
By ending it and replacing it with nothing, the federal government and Congress essentially created the illegal immigration issue in the United States.
It turned good men from Mexico who wanted to come here to work into criminals.
They had to break into the United States to find work and then break out of America if they wanted to see their families again.
Many Mexican immigrants here illegally had little choice but to stay and then have their families sneak across the border to join them.
Fifty years and millions of illegal immigrants later, the Southern border is closed in both directions and President Trump is looking to waste billions on a wall he thinks will keep it that way.
But before he starts construction, he should get rid of the government regulations, laws and red tape that have created our illegal immigration problem.
Then he should come up with a new version of the Bracero program, so that the Mexicans who want to work in America can come in legally through a gate, not over a wall.
Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of "The New Reagan Revolution" (St. Martin's Press). Send comments to Reagan@caglecartoons.com.
STAMFORD A city man whos believed to be connected to several shootings faces arson charges after police said he set a stolen car on fire.
Tyreik Gantt, 19, of Connecticut Avenue, is being held on $200,000 bond on charges of second-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson and second-degree larceny.
Police said their investigation began when a red Subaru Forester was found fully engulfed in flames on Oakwood Place on Jan. 14. The car had been stolen during an armed carjacking in Bridgeport about a week earlier and used in another carjacking in Norwalk, Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin said.
The Bridgeport victim, who was working as a pizza deliveryman, told police two men took his Subaru, money, cellphone and pizza on Jan. 8, according to the report.
The same car was seen on Jan. 14 during a violent carjacking in Norwalk, where three masked men stole a black Toyota Camry from a Chinese food deliveryman and shot him in the leg and arm, police said.
In Stamford, the investigation led police and fire marshals to find footage of Gantt and another man just moments before the car was set on fire. Conklin said Assistant Fire Marshal Antonio Forte discovered a video of the men pumping gas into the two stolen cars at a Shell station.
Gantt is also seen pouring gas in the back passenger seat of the Subaru, Conklin said.
Police recognized Gantt from previous arrests, but the other suspect has not yet been identified. Conklin said there are several ongoing investigations connected to the case.
Gantt faces at least two other felony charges stemming from a Sept. 6 incident when police said he dropped a loaded gun during a foot chase. Police said he was wanted for questioning in several shootings in the city.
Gantt is scheduled to appear Feb. 10 in state Superior Court in Stamford.
noliveira@stamfordadvocate.com
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DANBURY - A police officer accused of using unnecessary force against a handcuffed suspect has been charged with breach of peace, authorities said Tuesday.
Authorities said video footage shows Officer David Williams, a 15-year veteran, using unnecessary force on a suspect who was in custody and handcuffed after assaulting another officer July 29. Officials declined to give details of the incident or to provide the video, citing their ongoing investigation and the potential prejudice to a jury pool if the case were to go to trial.
State Police and the Danbury States Attorneys office both conducted investigations into the allegations against Williams. Additional charges are possible, officials said.
The Danbury police Internal Affairs division also conducted an investigation and found a number of policy violations, officials said. A formal disciplinary hearing against Williams will be held soon.
A union official said the incident occurred after the assault on Officer Joe Pooler near Jimmies Market in the citys Germantown neighborhood.
Police said then that Pierre Elhayek, 20, of Danbury, approached Poolers cruiser and started banging and kicking the car. When Pooler got out, thinking Elhayek needed his help, the suspect punched and kicked the officer several times and forced him to the ground. Pooler eventually was able to call for help, and other officers took Elhayek into custody.
Officer Bryan Reed, president of the Danbury Police Union, questioned the timing of the charge against Williams more than six months after the purported assault occurred.
There is no victim and no complaining party in the case, Reed said. I believe the court got tough because theyve been unsuccessful in the past prosecuting cases against Danbury police officers and (States Attorney Stephen Sedensky) sunk his teeth into this case.
In response, Sedensky said, If we determine there has been criminal activity, its something we look into, regardless of who is doing it.
Williams has received several awards during his tenure with the department, including the Exceptional Service Award in May 2016 for performing CPR on a man who overdosed on drugs.
He also received the Lifesaving Award after helping firefighters extricate an injured driver from a car wreck on Main Street on Nov. 24, 2011.
Elhayek, who is being held on a $300,000 bond, faces several felony charges including second-degree assault. He is expected to appear again in Superior Court on Feb. 10.
Williams is scheduled to be arraigned on the breach of peace charge on Feb. 9. The charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison.
dperrefort@newstimes.com
NEW YORK France has banned the practice of providing free refills on sodas and other sugary beverages as part of an effort to combat obesity, reports the New York Times. The new law is in line with World Health Organization recommendations that urge countries to impose a tax on sugary drinks to battle an increase in obesity, notes the news source.
France has been at the forefront of tackling the issue, along with countries like Japan, where a national law requires companies and local governments to measure the waistlines of people between the ages of 40 and 74, and to encourage them to exercise.
All public eateries, from fast-food restaurants to school cafeterias, are affected by the new law.
The Times notes that the new law has divided the French, who consume fewer soft drinks per capita than residents of most other countries. Each person has to take responsibility, a 21-year-old man told Le Parisien newspaper. Restaurants might as well put scales in front of each fast-food joint, he added.
OAKVILLE, Ontario Restaurant Brands International Inc. has established a master franchise joint venture with a group of investors in Mexico that brings the Tim Hortons brand to the country.
We are continuing to build on our commitment of taking the Tim Hortons brand and Canada's favorite coffee around the world," said Daniel Schwartz, CEO of Restaurant Brands International. "Mexico has a thriving coffee market so we are very optimistic about the opportunity to grow the brand across the country."
"It is a great step forward for the Tim Hortons brand as we make our first market entry into Latin America," said Elias Diaz Sese, president of Tim Hortons. "Our partners have a deep understanding of the foodservice industry in Mexico, which we believe will serve them well in growing the brand in the region and delivering an excellent experience for all our guests."
The agreement is the most recent by RBI in its plans to develop and grow the Tim Hortons brand internationally. In 2016, RBI announced similar agreements in the Philippines and Great Britain. Tim Hortons opened its first restaurant in Canada in 1964 and in the U.S. in 1984. Today, the brand maintains a strong base of restaurants across Canada, the U.S. and the Middle East.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 190 member National Societies. The Organisation acts before, during and after disasters and health emergences to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. Our work is guided by seven fundamental principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality) and by Strategy 2020, which voices our collective vision and determination to move forward in tackling the major challenges that confront humanity in the present decade.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in its commitment to building strong National Societies and to supporting scaling up of National Societies services to the most vulnerable populations, has established a Cluster office in Abuja to support five countries of Benin, Cote DIvoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo as well as Liberia and Sierra Leone which are country offices.The Cluster works in close collaboration with the Regional office in Nairobi Kenya. The Regional Office has counterparts in various technical fields including Health, DCPRR, OD, PMER, PRD, Finance and AdministrationClassification Level Senior OfficerOrganizational Unit / Duty Station (Department / Zone Office / Delegation..... etc)ABUJA CLUSTER OFFICEImmediate Supervisors Title Head of Cluster (HOC)Sub-regional Security Delegate, West & Central Africa, (if this post is extended) or Regional Security Coordinator, AfricaJOB PURPOSETo assist the Abuja Cluster in managing all matters related to security management.Assist the Abuja Cluster in coordinating effective security processes and procedures that aim to further improvethe Federations overall security management in the Cluster with a major focus on Nigeria.Evaluate, monitor, and assist in improving the IFRC Security Minimum Security Requirement (MSR) compliance.Evaluate, monitor compliance with mandatory IFRC trainings (e-learning programs), and devicemechanisms to ensure full compliance by all IFRC personnel (incl. integrated PNS personnel).In close coordination with RSC, SRSD, or Security Unit Geneva, organise training sessions for IFRC and NRCS staff on security & safety management.Ensure the security and contingency plans are updated and rehearsed, on a regular basis (minimum bi- yearly).Monitor the security environment across the Cluster countries, and keep the HoC, Sub-regional securitydelegate, and Regional Security Coordinator informed of developments as well as major incidents and events in a timely manner.Monitor and report on IFRC security incident and support the HoC and staff in addressing security incidents.Monitor and review Cluster travel security clearance requests.Provide newly arrived delegates, newly employed local staff, and visitors from abroad with up-to- date security briefing.Establish and maintain a good working relationship with the staff of PNSs, the ICRC, the NRCS, UN,INGOs, and with government authorities (military, police, civil and the government intelligence agencies), Liaise and coordinate with Private Security Provider in Nigeria.Supervise and ensure that security guards deployed undertake their duties on a 24/7 basis in Nigeria.Train security guards in relation to post orders, incl. access control, alarm response, fire etinguishers, and other standard safety equipment.Undertake other tasks assigned by HoC.Duties applicable to all staffActively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariats goalsAbide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principlesPerform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line managerPOSITION REQUIREMENTSEducationPreferredSuccessfully completed the Stay Safe e-learning courses (basic and managers)UNDSS security certification programme (SCP) trained and qualifiedA relevant education at undergraduate level, e.g. BA, BSc, LLBRequiredMinimum 5 years working eperience in a humanitarian organization (e.g. UN,INGO, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement)Minimum 3 years working eperience in an emergency response unit (UN,commercial security, police, or military)Robust in-country contetual understanding and operational eperienceMinimum 3 years first-hand eperience with IFRC security management systemRequiredGood communication skillsVery good analytical skills in political, socio-economic, and security areasAbility to work in a multi-cultural environmentGood stress management skillsSelf supporting in computers [Windows, Microsoft Office, database, e-mail (Outlook) etc.] and security technology (e.g. physical security measures, CCTV systems, HF & VHF radios, satellite communications)Valid driving license (light vehicles)LanguagesRequiredFluently spoken and written EnglishPreferredKnowledge of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)The scope of the Senior Health Officer position is to provide support to the five countries covered by the West Coast country support team; Benin, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo. S/he shall be based in Abuja and as a secondary responsibility, be supporting the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) in their day to day Health and care related activities. His/her primary responsibility will be to implement the Cluster Health strategy.The primary duties of the Focal point for Health and Care are to:Support capacity building of the NS Health and Care departments at Headquarters and branch levels.Work closely with the NS Counterparts to contribute towards integrated disaster preparedness, RiskReduction, operation response, Resilience building and recovery.Liaise with and encourage NS to engage effectively with other key health sector players at national level,Monitor the National and Regional spread and severity of current epidemic diseases and proactively communicate emerging health related issues to focal points of contact as appropriate, in collaboration with relevant agencies.Represent IFRC in relevant health sector forums and networks and share among these sectors and forums, information about RC/RC technical knowhow developed and lessons learned.Have the responsibility to support the NSs in proposal development for funding with an aim towards epanding the current health portfolioLiaise with partners to identify opportunities for engagement, to work with the NS to enhance its visibility vis-avis the Ministries of Health and relevant departments in the five countries;Support regular monitoring and evaluation of country level community based health programmes.Support development of a training curriculum/strategy for the NS Health Staff at Headquarter andBranch levels covering areas such as: community based health and nutrition approaches and topics as well as in project planning, budgeting, reporting and proposal writing.Document best practices and lessons learnt in community based health programme implementationBuild and maintain a knowledge database and disseminate technical information, updates and innovation in the health sector to PNS and Cluster.Participate in health trainings, meetings and forums when applicable.Produce regular quality technical reports to the Cluster and in collaboration with the PMER DelegateThe secondary duties of the Focal point for Health and Care are toSupport any projects that are currently being implemented by the Nigeria RC to ensure quality of activities and timely and accurate reporting.Monitor the National spread and severity of current epidemic diseasesRepresent IFRC in relevant health sector forums and networks in NigeriaLiaise with partners to identify opportunities for engagement, to work with the NS to enhance its visibility vis-avis the Ministries of Health and relevant departments in Nigeria;Support regular monitoring and evaluation of country level community based health programmes.Participate in health trainings, meetings and forums when applicable.Ensure effective working relationships with NS technical counterparts and leadership.Duties applicable to all staffActively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariats goalsAbide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principlesPerform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line managerEducationRequiredRelevant university degree (such as Management, Development Studies, Public Health, Social Sciences, etc.)Masters Degree in Public Health or related DisciplineExperienceRequiredA Minimum of 2 years eperience in leading and managing public health programs in a humanitarian organization in developing countries.Good understanding of the humanitarian environment, strong analytical skills and capacity to translate analysis into strategy and planning.A very good track record of networking, influencing and negotiating and building relationships effectively.Experience in proposal development, report writing, and developing budgets.Experience of field based implementation.Experience of financial management to ensure compliance.RequiredSelf-supporting in computersCoordination and partner relationship buildingDemonstrated technical epertise in strategic management, project planning and budgeting, resource management, implementation ability as well as programme monitoring and evaluationSkills in training and developing National Society capacitySkills in training and developing staff capacityExcellent skills in networking with other agencies and organisationsValid international driving licence (manual gears)LanguagesRequiredFluent in written and spoken English.ProfessionalismNational society relationsManagerial effectivenessTeamwork and Team buildingJudgement-DecisionmakingManaging performanceStrategic orientationCommunicationInnovationIntegrityDiversityApplicants should send Cvs by clicking the apply now button or send hard copy sealed and delivered at:International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,Plot 589 T.O.S. Benson Crescent,Off Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Way,Utako District, Abuja - Nigeria.13 February, 2017
360 Degree Habitat Limited is duly registered with RC: 1059575 under the Laws of the federal republic of Nigeria under the Companies and Allied matters act 1990, pursuant to section 659 as a company, with corporate head office at House 12b, Rd 1311, Phase 2, Kado Estate. Abuja and operations office at number 19b, road B, Agodi G.R.A, Ibadan.360 degree is a company that specialize in general civil engineering construction works, general merchandise, import and export services and general supplies. With Fifteen (15) employees specializing in civil engineering, Architecture and planning, Landscaping and estate management, we are very proud of accelerated professional experience brought to the firm by the principal partners and the professional staff of Architects, Planners, Engineers and Surveyors. This experience and expertise allows us to dazzle our clients with a wide range of structural analysis, Architectural planning and project management skills.This diversity of talents and round-the-clock project execution also provide our clients with the highest level of comprehensive service possible within the time frame.Civil EngineeringTo contribute to the profitability of the business through the leadership of the construction business stream.To be responsible for managing the Construction Business Stream within the Civil Engineering Division; reporting to the Director of Civil Engineering.To manage a team of senior contract managers, contract managers and supervisors to deliver construction worksTo support clients in the pre-construction phase, reviewing tender information and workloads, supporting the allocation of resources and carrying out site visits where required.To work closely with the senior management team and the Senior Commercial Manager to deliver month financial reports including budgets, forecasts, profit and loss, and MLO (most likely out turn).To support the estimating team with the bid management for tendersTo provide visible leadership and emphasis to the Health and Safety of sites.To ensure the programming of resources is optimized to deliver projects to the desired level of safety, quality and profitability.To review job costs and values to ensure the maximum levels of profitability.To ensure smooth running of sites through regular liaison with the team, the client and our supply chain.To work in conjunction with the Marketing and Commercial departments to ensure aligned business development and opportunity success/failure reporting.To chair regular team progress meetings internally and externally with clients.To monitor works to ensure the accurate submission of monthly applications, invoices and final account settlement.To ensure that all works are completed to both a timely and a satisfactory standard, including liaising with the client.To ensure the timely collation of information for Health and SafetyTo ensure that project handover and reviews are undertaken on all projects and contracts.To act in accordance with company policies and procedures, particularly with reference to our Equality and Diversity policies, procedures and practices.To behave in a manner that supports the company's stated Vision and Values and ensure other team members do like-wise.To uphold the companys Health, Safety and Environmental policies, procedures and practices.To undertake other duties and ad hoc projects as required.Minimum of HND/B.Sc in Engineering or any relevant Construction related disciplineMembership of an appropriate professional organization a plusPrior experience of contracts managementPrevious experience of working on heavy civil engineering projects and demonstrable market knowledgePrevious role(s) in a commercially focused organization an advantageTechnically competent in industry disciplinesInterpersonal Skills Excellent verbal and written communications skills at all levelsHigh business ethics - honesty, culturally unbiasedTeam Orientation, Individual thinker capable of actively contributing to the delivery of team performanceAbility to operate in and manage a large team in a collaborative manner to ensure other parties are fully engagedCommercial Understanding , Strong customer focus and excellent customer service skillsStrong commercially awarenessComputer literatePersonal Effectiveness, Demonstrable ability to work in a busy environmentExperience of working under pressureStrong concern for order and quality ,robust attention to detailExcellent organisational skills,with the ability to prioritise and Self motivatedApplicants should send their applications via mail to: info@360degreehabitats.com 17 February, 2017
CalPERS has managed to descend to a new low. Its strategy of trying to sweep fundamental problems under the rug has reached the point that the rug is not just lumpy but also starting to move.
The latest shocker (and it is shocking) is that the board has launched a plan to strip JJ Jelincic, the only board member who does his job by asking substantive questions of staff, of meaningful authority if he does not resign. This is a kangaroo court, pure and simple. Joe McCarthy would be proud.
When we asked law professor and former general counsel of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, Bill Black, for his reaction, he was so disturbed that he wrote a post, which we are publishing in conjunction with ours. One of his major points was the board lacks the authority to take this move. He also stressed that General Counsel Matt Jacobs was acting contrary to every normal reflex of a corporate general counsel and was supporting rather than cleaning up CalPERS corrupt culture.
Blacks analysis is detailed as well as devastating. I urge you to read it in full.
It is also noteworthy that CalPERS is trying to keep this indefensible action from public view. This plan would have started and might have proceeded entirely in secret, save for the fact that that Jelincic not insisted that the annual board peer review be held in an open session. CalPERS scheduled the meeting to discuss stripping Jelincic of power at an offsite in Monterey, away from its Sacramento board room. Jelincic had no warning that it would include a proposal to push him off the board.
Moreover, CalPERS neither recorded a video, as it does for all open sessions in Sacramento and for most of the sessions its offsites, nor did it make a transcript for this illegitimate procedure. But we have a bootleg video, and weve uploaded the key section to YouTube. We have embedded the transcript at the end of this post. Well discuss the details shortly.
This campaign against Jelincic is proof of diseased governance. And that is no surprise since the foxes are in charge of the henhouse. CalPERS staff is not accountable to anyone save its board, and once in a great while, the court of public opinion. And as we have documented over the past three years, the only board member who stands up to staff is Jelinicic. The other members of the board, rather than admitting to themselves that Jelincic is doing what they all ought to be doing, instead see him as a threat and are determined to beat him down.
As CJ Latsa, a board member at Ohios state pension fund, Ohio PERS, wrote:
This is potentially a very serious situation. It is my hope that any trustee would be considered innocent until proven guilty and an investigation would include adequate checks and balances. Without a fair and impartial review, a board could in effect act as judge, jury, and executioner. Considering the worst case scenario, it would be a travesty if a board mistakenly unelected the peoples choice without due cause.
CalPERS members, beneficiaries, and California taxpayers should be alarmed. This is proof that CalPERS is not merely putting protecting its image over its duties to beneficiaries and taxpayers. It is operating as a rogue organization with no respect for the law. At the end of this post, we provide the names and contact information for board members and state officers. We urge you to circulate this post widely and ask friends, family, and colleagues in California to contact these public officials and tell them that you oppose this attack on a public-spirited board member and that CalPERS needs more, not fewer people like Jelincic.
CalPERS Moves to Oust or Neuter Its Only Effective Board Member
Bill Slaton, who is chairman of CalPERS board governance committee, led the attack on Jelnicic (see below from 0:30 to 3:07; you can also view this segment on YouTube):
Bill Slaton: Yeah, I have some more comments, and I wrote them out and thought about this a lot because after I read these comments I thought about them and I shared some of the concerns, and as I look at these and think back over the last 18 months and Mr. Jelincic, Im going to address you in this that as Ive observed, youve taken unilateral actions that to me are clear violations of fiduciary duty, and by implication placed our fiduciary duty as a board at risk, and the common theme is the disrespect for the governing rules of the organization. To be more specific, Im talking about the disregard for confidentiality of materials or decisions reviewed or made by this board, but I want to be very clear about this. The comments Im making today have nothing to do with Mr. Jelincics views regarding the issues this board faces, nor is it about his fair challenges to staff and other expert opinions presented to us, and in fact, I believe very strongly that minority views properly conveyed are vitally important to fostering honest and robust decision making and board oversight of this organization, so given that there have been multiple times that this has happened over the last 18 months and I say this only very reluctantly there are in my view only two possible solutions to protect the fund from the risk of continued fiduciary violations. The first would be for Mr. Jelincic to voluntarily resign his board position. Although it is clear that he possesses extensive knowledge in the investment arena as well as valuable historical perspective on all matters pertaining to CalPERS, this behavior again, in my opinion negates the advantages he brings to the board and the constituency he represents. If he chooses to remain on the board, I ask the board president to place on the board agenda as soon as possible an action item regarding a sanction or sanctions to be imposed by this board, and one sanction I ask to be considered would prohibit Mr. Jelincic from attending any closed sessions conducted by any committee or the full board while he remains a member of this board due to his repeated unauthorized disclosure of confidential material.
Lets unpack this. Well stick with the big issues for now and return to the finer legal points in later posts.
Slaton accuses Jelincic of leaks of confidential material without offering so much as a single example. This is nonsense. First, as Jelincic points out immediately after this demand, he has repeatedly been accused of releasing confidential information that other board members had disclosed. Jelincic maintains that due to this history of the board making false charges against him, he has been vigilant about maintaining the secrecy of matters discussed in closed session, which by law board members must protect.
Second, the odds are high that Slaton and his allies have no idea what confidential information amounts to and are trying to string up Jelincic for discussing matters that are not confidential. Notice that later in the session, board member Richard Costigan, one of the two lawyers on the board, effectively says that the line between what is confidential and not confidential isnt always clear cut, and as a practical matter, it is difficult to keep track of what was said in closed session versus open meeting. He also stated, regarding breaches of confidentiality, [A]ll of us are guilty of it.
Again, recall the show of outrage by virtually all members of the board when Jelincic dared to obtain information that staff had improperly denied him using the California Public Records Act. Every independent legal expert deemed CalPERS refusal to be unlawful. A board member should never be denied an information request, particularly one any member of the public could get. Yet the board circled its wagons in trying to keep Jelincic in the dark. This is part of a pattern of the staff and board working together to try to put a veil of secrecy around CalPERS that is far greater than allowed by law.
Third, consistent with Costigans remark, there are many times when information in closed session has been made public, yet heretofore the board had never made an issue of it. For instance, in this open session video, from 06:52 07:12, Real Desrochers ineptly discloses a number that he says is subject to closed session. While Desrochers might be forgiven for making a slip, in 2011, Chief Investment Officer Joe Dear (now deceased) announced that he was going to give his macro-economic briefing to the board in open session, after it had previously been discussed only in closed session for years. Note that no change in law occurred nor was there any board vote taken. It instead appears that Dear recognized that there was no legal basis for having this discussion in closed session.1
As former chief investment officer and public pension fund trustee Andrew Silton wrote:
A bit more than a year ago, I suggested that CalPERS had lost its way (see, a bit more than a year ago, I suggested that CalPERS had lost its way (see, http://meditationonmoneymanagement.blogspot.com/2015/12/from-leading-way-to-losing-its-way.html) as a pension organization. After watching Bill Slaton encourage JJ Jelencic to resign or face an inquiry by the full board about unspecified revelations of confidential information, I suspect CalPERS faces even deeper issues. The integrity of CalPERS has been put at risk by Mr. Slaton. Mr. Jelencic has a healthy skepticism of the consultants, staffers and experts that appear before the full board and investment committee. Skepticism is what keeps pension plans and investment organizations from committing major mistakes. Moreover, Mr. Jelencic appears to enjoy the confidence of the current and retired employees who have twice elected him to his seat on the board. If CalPERS has specific information that Mr. Jelencic violated any policy, that information should have been furnished to Mr. Jelencic in a proper manner. Instead, Mr. Slaton used a session of an off-site to impugn Mr. Jelencics integrity. Im disappointed that Mr. Jelencics colleagues could only marshal a meek response to Mr. Slatons unfair innuendo. Perhaps a reprimand or a resignation is warranted, but it isnt Mr. Jelencic who should be facing those potential consequences.
Slaton says these alleged disclosures threatened the boards execution of its fiduciary duty. Remember, we dont know exactly what if anything Jelincic allegedly did, but the charge is that Jelincic did grave damage to the boards ability to execute its fiduciary duty is absurd.
For starters, Slatons claim assumes the board is currently performing its fiduciary duty, which as we have repeatedly documented, it isnt. The onus then is on the Slaton and his co-conspirators to demonstrate that if Jelincic disclosed information impermissibly, it was harmful.
In fact, it is a near-certainty that the board members beef is that Jelincic has been, as they often indignantly complain, embarrassing the system. Yet as the entire board was told in its fiduciary training immediately before this meeting, CalPERS board has no fiduciary duty to CalPERS the organization, meaning its employees. The boards and staffs duties are solely to the beneficiaries.
The barmy logic of believing that board members should avoid embarrassing the system at all costs means they should have covered up former CEO Fred Buenrostros taking bribes from placement agent Al Villalobos, a crime which led him to be sentenced to four years in prison. That shows how far the CalPERS board has departed from any semblance of understanding what fiduciary duty means.
Slaton proposes a star chamber to impose an illegal sanction. Keep in mind that if Jelincic really were taking closed session material and making it public, theres a simple and clean remedy: go to a district attorney and have Jelincic charged. The fact that the board is not willing to use this route suggests that they are not prepared to subject their evidence, if any, to a formal process in which Jelincic can examine it and offer counter-evidence before an impartial judge.
While most of the board members seemed uncomfortable proceeding with a formal matter against Jelincic, none had the courage to challenge Slaton. If you watch carefully, you will see that the ones who are keen to punish Jelincic are Slaton, board president Rob Feckner, and Priya Mathur. Feckner says he has had many conversations with the general counsel on this matter (and please read law professor and former general counsel Bill Blacks assessment that Jacobs role is partisan and the advice he is giving is not just wrongheaded but actually destructive to CalPERS). Priya Mathur is a zealous defender of staff as a result of the organization repeatedly coming to bat for her in the wake of numerous transgressions, such as failing to file required disclosure forms and repeated unexplained absences from board meetings.
Even though some board members, unlike Slaton, used the word trial to describe the meeting at which the board will persecute Jelincic, that looks to be an effort to have a make it up as you go along process seem more legitimate than it will be. Even so, Ron Lind, was clearly uncomfortable with the prosecutorial nature of Slatons proposal and called for a more traditional informal approach.
By contrast, Priya Mathur was pushing to have the proceeding take place in closed session, with the result that there would be no public record and no accountability whatsoever. Board president Rob Feckner said he also preferred this route but conceded it might be necessary to have all stages, and not just the final decision, held in open session. With Jelnicic already a black sheep, a secret hearing would mean formalities are irrelevant and the fix is in. That is doubly true given that Feckner acknowledged that since Jelnicic has been accused of leaking, any material at issue is already public, so there is no danger of harm in discussing it further in a public meeting.
Slaton gives lip service to appreciating Jelincics dissenting views. Notice Slatons elaborate disclaimer that he values Jelincics opinions. It is unlikely to be an accident that this carveout came shortly on the heels of our post on the importance of courage and independence as critically important qualities for board members.
Yet notice that Slaton refers specifically to Jelincics actions over the last eighteen months as the basis for the effort to oust him. Gee, what started happened then?
That was when what ought to have been easy peasy questions from Jelincic about private equity resulted in senior staff providing answers that deservedly made CalPERS the laughing stock of the fund management industry.
In June 2015, Chief Operating Officer Wylie Tollette not only admitted CalPERS had no idea of what it was paying in private equity carry fees, but falsely claimed that it was an industry problem as if no one could get the information. In fact it is typically disclosed in the audited financial statements that all limited partners receive. Investors like South Carolinas pension fund have been able to get the data in the cases where it readily available. After a firestorm of bad press, CalPERS reversed itself and set out to get the information, which it eventually published.
Similarly, in August 2015, Jelincic asked the head of private equity, Real Desrochers, what should have been a simple question about management fees. Despite Jelincic coming at it several ways, Desrochers gave answers that made clear he had no understanding of how private equity fees work.
These are stunning lapses, yet the board has been remarkably unconcerned. And worse, they are trying to depict Jelincic as somehow undermining the boards execution of its fiduciary duties. In reality, the boards failure to investigate stark evidence of a lack of competence and/or diligence by these two staff members alone is a prima facie case of the boards failure to perform its fiduciary duty. In other words, they are scapegoating Jelincic for having exposed deep-seated problems at CalPERS and are falling down on their jobs by refusing to address these issues.
Why Jelincic Is Being Attacked
Jelincic has come under repeated attack, in some cases orchestrated by the staff that the board nominally oversees. For instance, we chronicled how the giant pension fund engaged a scandal-ridden fiduciary counsel, Robert Klausner, apparently for being willing to say whatever its client wanted to hear, regardless of whether the advice was legally sound. Klausner then led a board discussion that one reader called a hating on JJ session where one board member, Michael Bilbrey, argued that nobody on the board should be asking questions of the staff publicly.
Several members of the board sharply criticized Jelincic for using Californias version of FOIA to get access to records available to the public that staff had refused to provide him. That level of insubordination should be completely unacceptable, as several law professors pointed out. However, in the Alice in Wonderland world in which CalPERS lives, anyone who tries to hold the institution accountable, including board members entrusted to do precisely that, must be checked.
CalPERS board and staff are either inexperienced journalistically or maliciously pretending to be.
The critical coverage of CalPERS on Naked Capitalism is one of the big sources of the boards anger towards Jelincic. They seem to naively believe that the only way anyone could do the kind of detailed analysis and reporting that we have provided must have been fed information by an insider. And since they see that I have regularly reported on Jelincics questions in open session and the staffs inept answers, or worse flat out lies, they further assume Jelincic must be the source.
Had they bothered searching the sites archives, or read my book, they would see I have become expert on topic areas more difficult than anything I have written about with respect to CalPERS, including collatearlized debt obligations (as in cracking how they are structured and documenting their outsized systemic impact in the crisis), the mechanics of mortgage securitization and servicing, including how pooling & servicing agreements work, how contractually-stipulated securiticazation procedures broke down, the implications of those chain of title abuses for the ability to foreclose in various states, and the ramifications for banks, investors, and regulators.
CalPERS legal department and board further appears not to understand what information about CalPERS and some of its important counterparties is public, and in particular, how some of that has been made public by independent parties. It also appears to lack the imagination to consider that I have been contacted by current and former CalPERS employees, have successfully sought out former senior officers, and also have long-standing relationships with senior members of venture capital and private equity firms.
What You Can Do
As we have demonstrated in the past, writing and calling state officials is effective. Please let urge everyone you know in California to take action.
Bill Slaton was appointed by the Governor. Please write or call Governor Jerry Browns office and tell him that governance at CalPERS has become a travesty, with his appointee Slaton as a prime example. Describe how Slaton is trying to implement a legally impermissible sanction against an effective trustee voted in twice by members. Tell him that he needs to ask Slaton to resign. Be sure to cc Slaton.
Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160 E-mail contact form: https://govnews.gov.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php Send a cc to: Mr. Bill Slaton
Board of Administration
CalPERS
Lincoln Plaza North
400 Q Street
Sacramento, CA 95811 E-mail: wjslaton@gmail.com
Please also contact the two elected officials on CalPERS board, John Chiang and Betty Yee. Betty Yee was present at the board session that Slaton led and did not object. Her silence implies consent.
Mr. John Chiang
California State Treasurer
Post Office Box 942809
Sacramento, CA 94209-0001
(916) 653-2995
E-mail: john@sco.ca.gov Ms. Betty Yee
California State Controller
P.O. Box 942850
Sacramento, California 94250-5872
(916) 445-2636
E-mail: b.t.yee@sco.ca.gov
In addition, if you are a California citizen, please alert your state Assemblyman and Senator, and demand that they look into this serious lapse of governance. You can find you Senate and Assembly representatives here.
Thanks again for your help.
____
1 From the transcript of the December 12, 2011 meeting:
Yves here. Get a cup of coffee. This post walks through some of the recent efforts to defend Uber against the evidence Hubert Horan presented in earlier posts in his series. One basic issue the loyalist fail to deal with is that the long history of transportation fleet management has shown that there is a tradeoff, in terms of capacity management (how big a fleet to have) between profitability and customer convenience (how much capacity to offer to allow customers more availability/more rapid response). Thus Ubers massive subsidies are the reason customers may find that it offers more rapid fills of their orders for service than traditional cabs. Remove the subsidies, as Uber eventually must, and the fact that it is inherently a high cost producer, it will offer an inferior cost/speed of response tradeoff to other providers.
By Hubert Horan, who has 40 years of experience in the management and regulation of transportation companies (primarily airlines). Horan has no financial links with any urban car service industry competitors, investors or regulators, or any firms that work on behalf of industry participants
Ubers narrative for its growth and expected industry dominance is devoid of any economic evidence
Uber has managed to get its own story about its eventual dominance and its unprecedented $69 billion valuation widely accepted despite a lack of supporting evidence. Uber depicts itself as similar to a handful of other blockbuster Silicon Valley startups: an incredibly powerful business model based on cutting edge technological innovation that would work in any city in any country. Like those other well-known startups, losses will soon give way to robust profits and the enormous power of this business model will inevitably lead to global industry dominance, and could possibly even lead to Uber significantly displacing private car ownership.
Unfortunately, nothing in the Uber narrative is based on objective evidence or actual industry economics. Neither Uber nor anyone else has provided any verifiable evidence that Ubers business model can even achieve sustainable profits. Similarly, there is no proof of massive efficiency advantages that would be necessary to achieve inevitable industry dominance in the near term or major reductions in private car ownership in the longer term.
In fact, the spectacular failure of Uber China directly refutes the claim that Uber has a clear path to global dominance. Urban car services have none of the powerful scale economies that allowed other digitally-based tech companies to rapidly grow into profitability. No one has demonstrated that any of Ubers claimed innovations have a material impact on efficiency or profitability. Uber users may like their fares and service levels, but no one can explain where Uber will suddenly find billions in efficiencies and scale economies that would be required to make its business self-supporting.
Uber has already imposed major unilateral cuts in the driver compensation levels it used to attract the drivers it needed to support its rapid growth; no one can explain why Uber wouldnt similarly reduce passenger benefits as it approaches industry dominance. There is absolutely no evidence showing how a profitable Uber could sustainably provide cities with higher quality and lower cost transport service.
The Naked Capitalism series finding that Ubers business model could not earn sustainable returns without exploiting anti-competitive market power was based on a wide range of evidence about the competitive economics of the urban car service industry
This series sought to establish an alternative to Ubers narrative, using economic evidence to address the question of whether Ubers growth and anticipated dominance will improve overall economic welfare. It has used traditional, well-accepted, widely used analytic techniques that a consultant or financial analyst would use to understand the market potential and/or competitive threat of a new entrant, or that an economist or an urban transport planner would use to consider whether an alternate taxi competitive/regulatory structure might improve service levels or industry efficiency.
If an Uber-dominated industry is to improve overall economic welfare, it would meet four tests
(1) the ability to earn sustainable profits in competitive markets large enough to provide returns on its investment base (2) The ability to provide service at significantly lower cost than existing competitors, or the ability to produce much higher quality service at similar costs (3) The creation of new sources of sustainable competitive advantages through major product redesigns and technology/process innovations that incumbent producers could not readily match (4) Evidence that the newly dominant company will have strong incentive to pass on a significant share of those efficiency gains to consumers in the form of lower prices and/or increased service.
Since Ubers investors have been explicitly pursuing total worldwide industry dominance, the evidence of profits, efficiency, competitive advantages and consumer welfare benefits would need to be overwhelming and obvious.
Part one of this series focused on the evidence that Uber was a fundamentally uneconomic enterprise (e.g.2015 operating margins of negative 140% and $2 billion in actual losses) and that all of Ubers growth to date was due to billions in predatory investor subsidies that competitors could not match.
Part six presented new evidence confirming those findings, including reports that Ubers 2016 losses were likely to exceed $3 billion, and data showing all margin improvement had been due to unilaterally imposed cuts in driver compensation. It also discussed Ubers spectacular failure in China, which demonstrated that its business model could not be easily leveraged worldwide.
Part two gave data showing that Uber was the industrys high cost producer and lacked the scale/network economies other startups have used to grow into profitability.
Part three showed how various claims that Ubers growth had been driven by competitively powerful innovations were readily refuted by evidence of actual industry economics. As a result, there was no basis to expect Uber could ever earn sustainable profits in a competitive market.
Part four discussed how Ubers investors had always seen quasi-monopoly industry dominance and the elimination of legal/regulatory barriers to the exploitation of anti-competitive market power as the key to earning returns on their $13 billion investment.
None of the findings rested on any single data point, and each of the conclusions was complemented and reinforced by evidence from the separate analytical approaches (financial results, cost structure, competitive advantage, industry dynamics). To encourage a discussion that could help improve the analysis part five of the series responded to many of the readers who had posed comments, questions and criticisms about precious posts. The finding that Uber would reduce economic welfare was based on the combination of its lack of efficiency advantage (so that its growth reflected an allocation of resources to less efficient uses) and the risk that a dominant Uber could exercise anti-competitive market power.
One objective of the Naked Capitalism series was to begin the process of refocusing the public discussion about Uber around economic evidence
As discussed in part three using the example of Amazon, the media coverage and public discussion of Uber has been markedly different from past startups.
Every major startup has had a PR story it wanted to tell to investors, consumers and competitors, but media coverage of past startups treated their reasonableness and accuracy as an open question. Amazon wanted to emphasize the power of its potential competitive advantages, but reporters sought input from independent experts in relevant fields (ecommerce, warehousing, distribution, traditional retailing) so that readers could better understand whether the claims were valid. Even as the power of Amazons many efficiency advantages became widely understood, the question of whether Amazon could ever achieve sustainable profits remained widely debated.
Press reports on Uber, by contrast, show no effort to investigate whether claims about competitive efficiencies and technological innovations make any sense. Independent sources with actual knowledge of the economics of taxis or urban transport are never quoted.
Similarly, leaked information showing Ubers multi-billion dollar operating P&L losses first became available in mid-2015, but the overwhelming majority of media coverage completely ignored the question of whether the company will ever be profitable.
Journalists depict Ubers unstoppable march to industry dominance as established truth, although the basis for their certainty about Ubers overwhelming is never explained. Competitors like Lyft (with over $2 billion in funding) are treated as minor inconveniences, and every company that had served the industry prior to 2010 is treated as completely irrelevant. Even those who have been highly critical of specific Uber practices (false advertising, driver exploitation, journalist harassment, refusal to obey insurance and safety laws) typically assume that Ubers story is true. Worse, they take the view that the costs and/or business model changes needed to fix these problems are not significant, and that Uber would retain its yet-to-be-demonstrated efficiency advantages.
Later in this series, we will discuss in detail how Uber was able to dominate media coverage and effectively block any serious scrutiny of its business model. In simple terms, pro-Uber media coverage falls into two major categories. The first category includes advocacy directly financed by Ubers huge PR machine and/or provided by active Uber supporters with the help of Uber PR. Unlike any previous Silicon Valley funded startup, PR was a major strategic and spending priority for Uber since day one. So far, Uber has been able to overwhelm independent or dissenting views. These efforts included paying academics to publish major pro-Uber claims that do not hold up to even cursory scrutiny (including the Steven Levitt papers discussed in part six). Yet the press reports them as if they were independent, highly rigorous research. The active Uber supporters usually have political/ideological affinities with the company (i.e. favoring the elimination of any form of regulation including barriers to monopolization and the ability to exploit anti-competitive market power) and write pro-Uber papers to advance those objectives.
The second category is technology industry journalists and analysts. As in many other parts of the media, their ability to provide readers with critical insights may be compromised by things like their dependence on access to the senior executives of the prominent companies they cover. In its early startup days Amazon felt it had a powerful competitive story to tell and welcomed the business press.
By contrast, Uber went to great extremes to show it would ruthlessly attack any outsiders that dared question their official story.[1] At a more basic level, Ubers narrative was designed to tap into the technology writers predisposition that tech is a powerful force for good in society and a major driver of progress and economic growth. There are obviously many examples of where technology companies have increased overall economic welfare, but many more cases where they havent; you need to look at the economic facts in each situation.
But by wrapping itself in the mantles of technological innovator and industry disrupter, and emphasizing the contrast between Yellow Cab companies based out of garages in unsavory locations and a glamourous startup funded by the Silicon Valleys best and brightest, Uber convinced most technology journalists that they didnt need to talk to anyone familiar with those garages, or to investigate the sources and power of Ubers claimed innovations and disruption.
Thus the biggest challenge here is not assembling and explaining the economic evidence, but to refocus the public discussion. There are technology journalists and analysts who arent on the Uber payroll and dont see Uber as part of a broader ideological crusade. Can they respond to the type of economic analysis presented in the Naked Capitalism or has Ubers narrative become too deeply ingrained?
Unfortunately, most of the technology and the mainstream business media have been valorizing Uber for seven years. Even when confronted with hard evidence of $3 billion annual operating losses, they may be reluctant to suggest that they might have gotten the story badly wrong.
Criticism of the Naked Capitalism analysis could be an entirely constructive response as long as the criticism was based on economic evidence, for example finding more detailed Uber P&L data, new evidence about Ubers cost competitiveness, scale economies, or the efficiency impacts of specific business model features.
The two articles considered below illustrate the difficulty in truly shifting public discussion away from Ubers narrative and towards constructive debate based on economic evidence. They represent best-case examples of reporters who have been covering tech industry issues for years.
While neither author had previously published anything remotely critical of Uber, both are free of direct Uber influence and are not focused on an external political/ideological agenda.
The first was by Timothy Lee in Vox[2]. Over the years, Lee has also covered the technology industry for Forbes and the Washington Post. The second was by Ben Thompson in his tech industry newsletter Stratechery,[3] which has been published since 2013. Both reports started by recognizing that the recent reporting about Ubers continuing massive losses and the Naked Capitalism series represented major challenge to conventional wisdom about Uber. Both told their readers why they disagree with the major findings of the Naked Capitalism series, but provided links so their readers could examine the detailed arguments for themselves. But none of those disagreements were backed by any verifiable economic evidence that would materially affect any of the findings they disagreed with.
Thompsons counter-arguments: the P&L evidence is incontrovertibly false, it is impossible to draw any conclusions about Ubers cost competitiveness, and Uber can easily exploit scale economies to grow into profitability
Thompsons most emphatic assertion pertains to the issue (that I discussed in both part one and six) of whether the leaked 2002-06 Uber Global P&L data fully incorporates all the operating revenue and expenses from Uber China.
First, Part 1 insisted that the financial figures excluded Uber China, which was incontrovertibly false . (Thompsons emphasis)Thats a pretty big problem considering the scale of Ubers losses in China! Not only did that error make the all of the numbers (very) wrong, it also raised serious questions about the analysis as a whole, particularly given the fact it remains uncorrected.
This assertion grossly misrepresents what I wrote. Uber has refused to explain what is included or not included in the leaked numbers (or any other aspect of its financial results). I did not claim that the exclusion of China was a proven fact, but laid out multiple data points supporting my interpretation of the financial results. For example, the quarterly EBITAR contributions, as reported by Bloomberg[4]
2016 Reported Uber Global EBITAR contribution Uber Global shareholding in Uber China 2nd Q ($ 800) million Entire quarter 3rd Q ($ 800) million Half of quarter 4th Q ($ 800) million None (sold in August)
Uber has never published hard data about the losses of the separately organized Uber China operation, but multiple sources have reported claims that the losses were much worse than Uber experienced elsewhere, perhaps on the order of $1 billion. My assumption was that if the P&L results of an associated company with a different ownership structure making humongous losses had been fully incorporated in the parents operating P&L, those results would show sudden, dramatic improvements when the subsidiary was sold, probably on the order of a couple hundred million dollars per quarter in this case. You not only dont see that in the 2016 numbers, but you dont see any of the 2014-16 margin volatility you would have expected to see as Uber China rapidly grew. And incorporating the P&L results for Uber China would have been a major violation of GAAP accounting rules. Uber not only had no incentive to violate GAAP rules, but would have had ample reason to keep the huge losses and awful margins separate. Would this constitute proof in a court of law? Of course not, but it is a fair attempt to back up an argument using data and logic.
Does Thompson back up his alternate view with data or logic? Nope. He ignores my evidence, presents no data of his own, and then makes the totally indefensible claim that his alternate view is an incontrovertibly proven fact. Why does he think his view is incontrovertibly true and mine is incontrovertibly false? Because of a single tweet from the Bloomberg reporter, suggesting that the Uber numbers might include China. A claim that the reporter didnt think was reliable enough to ever include in any of his Bloomberg articles.
No one has disputed the bottom-line operating P&L loss numbers (e.g. $3 billion in 2016). If Thompson believes that China losses are included, and distort attempts to evaluate whether Ubers business model is working well elsewhere, what alternate number should we use? He doesnt say.
The worst case guess would only reduce the 2016 losses to $2.5 billion (Uber China was sold in the middle of 2016). Thompson doesnt explain why this would significantly change any of the other findings about Ubers competitiveness.
How Uber did its accounting here is a simple factual question, and at some point well have a clear answer. It would be one thing if Thompson said that his strong hunch was that I was wrong and the numbers did include Uber China but neither of us yet had proof. But Thompson is willfully ignoring the available evidence, insisting that his gut feel constitutes absolute truth, and telling his readers the contradictory evidence on this one point Ive presented raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the entire Naked Capitalism series.
Thompsons second line of attack is to claim that it is impossible to draw any meaningful conclusions about Ubers competitive economics from aggregate P&L data.
Part 1 analyzed Ubers profit and losses at the company level. While that is certainly an important data point as should be obvious, in the long run all companies need to be profitable its not particularly helpful when it comes to a company investing heavily in growth, particularly if they are investing in pursuit of an opportunity governed by not just network effects but also scale effects. What is required is an evaluation of unit costs: how much does Uber earn or lose on an individual ride? And, per the previous point, how did that number differ by city, level of market maturation, etc.?. The issue with analyzing Uber is that we including the author of these blog posts simply dont know what the companys unit economics are; that the author attempted to make pronouncements about the companys financial viability anyways was, in my estimation, an error just as significant as falsely claiming that the numbers did not include Uber China.
This objection is simply silly. Would it be nice to base an Uber analysis on detailed, carefully audited tables of unit cost data broken down by city, product and time of day? Well yes, but neither Uber or any other privately owned startup in history has ever provided that kind of data. Analysts routinely evaluate the growth potential of new products and companies where theres less information available than there is here.
Thompson is also ignoring Ubers actual strategy and narrative. Uber did not get $13 billion in funding in the hope that its business model might be able to make money in some kinds of markets under some kinds of conditions. Uber raised $13 billion because it told investors that it had an invincibly powerful business model based on cutting edge technology that would work in any city in any country, and would rapidly drive its inevitable march to global industry dominance. Thus the Uber Global P&L data I focus on are entirely appropriate. That Uber Globals losses have been substantially greater than any venture capital funded startup in historyon both an absolute and margin basisprovides a powerful first clue that their business model might be terribly flawed.
Note that when Thompson doesnt like my analysis showing Ubers costs are uncompetitive, he insists that nobody should be allowed to draw conclusions unless supported by extremely detailed internal data that will never be made available, but when Thompson doesnt like that my finding that Ubers business model is fundamentally uneconomic is backed by both hard P&L data and industry cost analysis, he dismisses everything on the basis of a single tweet.
The third and most important area of disagreement is that although Thompson accepts my data analysis of the traditional industry cost structure he rejects my use of that same data to support the argument that Uber lacks the scale/network economies that would be needed to quickly achieve sustainable operating profits. My finding that Uber has no significant scale/network economies is central to my argument that Uber has been engaging in predatory competition in pursuit of monopoly. Unless one can demonstrate the growth economics that will quickly convert $3 billion annual losses to sustainable profits, Ubers behavior cannot be interpreted any other way.
Powerful scale economies only exist when the cost structure has a huge fixed cost component, so that growth rapidly drives down unit costs. I provided the example of Amazon, which did have significant fixed costs (its entire IT marketing infrastructure, warehousing/distribution) and thus could expand to new geographic and product markets at very low marginal costs. I demonstrated that fixed costs were a tiny piece of urban car services total costs (85% are the totally variable costs of drivers, vehicles and fuel) and only a small portion of the 15% corporate costs are truly fixed. Uber cannot expand into new markets at very low cost since it faces unique driver recruitment, political lobbying and competitive marketing challenges in each city. I also pointed out that in the hundred years prior to Uber there had been absolutely no evidence of a tendency towards market concentration (either within or across cities) that would naturally occur if significant scale economies existed in this industry
Does Thompsons criticism based on any evidence showing flaws in my analysis or showing where Uber had suddenly discovered significant scale economies? Not really. His criticism is entirely based on an argument that demonstrates that Thompson doesnt understand the difference between short-term tactical marketing issues and the question of longer-term strategic/financial viability. He correctly points out that marketing managers in a company with powerful growth economics (like Amazon) would rationally price below total cost in order to accelerate those growth economics. But he completely ignores the question of whether Uber actually has Amazon-like growth economics, and if so, where do they come from and how strong are they?
Thompson concludes with several other assertions that ignore the evidence Id provided about those questions and are not backed by any supporting counter-evidence whatsoever. In each case hes doing nothing more than repeating portions of Ubers narrative.
He insists Uber achieved important efficiencies from the leverage to rework decades-old regulations that artificially limited taxi service to the benefit of incumbents. Zero explanation beyond this single sentence. The economics of taxi regulations are somewhat involved and theres never been a serious analysis showing large, clear-cut impacts in a single direction. [T]here is far more demand for Uber than there ever was for traditional taxis. It is bizarre and perhaps telling that Horan flatly denies this market expansion in Part 3. Like the claim of massive efficiencies from deregulation, Thompson imagines that Uber operates totally independently of the basic economic constraints every other company faces. Other companies cannot permanently expand the overall market unless the industry can (or will soon be able to) earn profits on all the added capacity, but Thompson thinks evidence of billions in losses could not possibly have any bearing on his claim the Uber has massively expanded demand. To claim that an industry that currently loses billions every year has permanently increased demand is akin to claiming that volume stimulated by a ruinous price war better is a better reflection of underlying demand than the lower volumes observed under stable, profitable market conditions.
Thompson is also ignoring Ubers explicit goal of driving traditional operators out of business; it is trying to displace existing capacity, not to add to the capacity traditional operators already provide.
Likewise, you cannot say that Ubers evasion of longstanding capacity regulations improved economic welfare without showing how a mature open entry industry can profitably provide more capacity and lower prices. Thompsons claim that Ubers full potential is to replace personal car ownership is similarly untethered to economic reality. This claim doesnt just require demonstrating that Uber is massively more efficient than Yellow Cab; it requires showing that Uber can achieve such astounding levels of productive efficiency that it could drive taxi prices down to a tiny fraction of what they are today.
Lees counterarguments: Uber is much more efficient, Ubers scale economies will drive profits, and Ubers real strategy is driverless cars
In parts two and three of the Naked Capitalism series I lay out the reasons why Uber has higher costs than traditional operators, why nothing in its business model constitutes a powerful competitive advantage, and why it lacks the scale or network economies that digitally based companies could use to grow into profitability. Although Lee reasonably summarizes other parts of my argument, he simply ignores the evidence I presented on these points, asserts that Uber does have powerful competitive advantages and scale/network economies, but presents no actual economic evidence showing why he might be right and I might be wrong.
Lee correctly notes that I did not think that Ubers investors were too stupid to understand industry costs, but (as discussed in detail in part four) that I thought those investors thought they could convert urban transport into a winner-take-all game and earn returns from exploiting monopoly power. But he rejects my Uber returns require industry dominance argument. The other possibility one that seems more likely to me is that Uber really has figured out ways to make the taxicab market more efficient that Ubers model is superior to conventional taxicabs. I had addressed those issues in detail in parts two and three; what points does Lee see that I might have missed? The most obvious one is that smartphone hailing is inherently more customer-friendly than having to call an old-fashioned taxi dispatcher. I had explicitly noted in part three that a lot of people seem to like Ubers app, but there was no evidence that whatever marginal advantages it might have had any material impact on overall cost efficiency (dispatching accounts for roughly 7% of the cost of a traditional taxi operation) or driver revenue utilization. The Uber app gives customers a realistic estimate of how long it will take for a car to pick them up. And once a customer hails a cab, it allows him to track a cars progress.
The software in Ubers app can be readily copied (my local cab company in Phoenix has an app with the same functionality) so this cant be a source of powerful, sustainable advantage. More importantly, there are dozens of other industries with ordering apps even more sophisticated and customer friendly than Ubers, but none of them have any impact on market competition, and none helped create $68 billion in corporate value.
And Ubers pickup times have gotten even shorter as the companys fleet has grown. Here Lee is simply ignoring all of the data clearly showing that the prices and service quality Uber customers like is due to massive multi-billion dollar subsidies, not superior efficiency. Customers like the Uber app because it shows them multiple empty cabs nearby who can quickly pick them up. My Phoenix taxi app often shows no cars nearby or long wait times before pickup. Thats not because Ubers software represents an efficiency breakthrough, it is because my fare in Phoenix needs to cover the entire cost of the cars and drivers on the street, while Uber subsidies make it possible to offer greater (but unsustainable) capacity.[5]
Lee then claims that Uber somehow achieves much higher driver revenue productivity than traditional operators.
As Uber gets more customers, it reduces the average distance a driver must drive to reach a customer and hence the amount of time they waste driving without getting paid.And this suggests one hole in Horans argument: If Uber can use driver time more efficiently, that really could lead to a sustainable cost advantage. In economics jargon, this is known as a network effect. Its the reason that eBay has a stranglehold over the collectibles market and Craigslist dominates online classified ads.[6]
Needless to say Lee has no actual evidence of this huge productivity advantage, but he is at least trying to come up with a hypothesis that has some logical relationship to competitive efficiency.
The first problem here is that driver revenue productivity is fundamentally driven by major demand differences by time-of-day and geographic location, not the problem of driving twenty blocks to find a new customer when there was another customer only ten blocks away. A dispatcher at a traditional taxi company has the same information on the location of people who want cabs as Ubers app, and as noted, traditional operators could adapt software with the same functionality as Ubers if the additional automation would have a big impact on productivity.
But drivers who have just dropped off a passenger at the airport at 6:30 am (or anywhere at 8 am on a Sunday morning), or in a distant low density residential neighborhood, are likely to have a long wait before their next fare and there is absolutely nothing in Ubers business model that solves this problem.
The second problem is that the customer perception of shorter waits for Uber cars actually means Uber has a driver productivity disadvantage. I wait longer for my Phoenix cabs than Uber customers because fewer of them are sitting around empty.
And the third problem is that this is neither a scale or network economy, and any appearance of efficiency is an artifact of the unsustainable excess capacity Uber has been subsidizing. There is absolutely nothing in the business model of Uber that produces Ebay/Craigslist type network economies.
As noted earlier, if urban car services had powerful growth economics here you would have seen strong tendencies towards market competition in cities dominated by dispatch cab services long before Uber. Lee is arguing that the dispatch company with the most cabs would gain a huge cost advantage due much better driver productivity; not a 1-2% type improvement, but as much as a 30% advantage. If so we would have lots of historical evidence of bigger companies capturing most of the traffic from smaller companies with higher costs and longer customer wait times. This never happened; taxi companies large and small needed to ensure a close balance between their driver/vehicle capacity and their revenue base. If the biggest company added capacity wait times would fall but profits would fall faster because the efficiencies Lee thinks are powerful dont actually exist.
As with Thompson, Lee thinks that Uber can rapidly eliminate multi-billion dollar losses because he imagines they have the exact same scale economies as Amazon.
Amazons unprofitability during the 1990s was an illusion created by Amazons aggressive investment in growth. Amazon was spending a lot of money on things like warehouses and new software that were going to take a few years to pay off.thanks to economies of scale in software and warehousing, Amazons costs per book kept going down as the company grew[Uber is] just pursuing an even more ambitious version of Amazons strategy that Ubers core business is sound, but Uber is investing heavily in things like expanding to India and developing self-driving cars.
Needless to say Lee provides absolutely no economic evidence here, and does not explain why my analysis showing that urban car service costs are overwhelmingly variable might be wrong, he just baldly asserts that if this worked for Amazon, it must fully explain what Uber is doing.
Amazons worst losses were $1.4 billion in its fifth year of operations, but shrank rapidly thereafter, while Uber losses have been steadily growing and will be over $3 billion in its seventh year. If Uber had huge scale economies, its profit margin would have been rapidly improving; in fact Uber had no margin improvement whatsoever between 2012 and 2015, and its 2016 improvement was totally driven by unilaterally imposed driver pay cuts, not growth economies.
As with Thompson, Lee does not seem to have a clear idea of what scale economies are, or how they work, makes no effort to explain how his imagined future scale economies could quickly achieve over $3 billion in savings, and does not seem to care that his argument is totally inconsistent with all of the available data.
Perhaps, Lee argues, none of this matters because the big payoff for Uber investors will come from driverless cars.
The real prize in the ride-hailing wars, then, isnt the conventional ride-hailing market itself. Rather, its the opportunity to become the customers gateway to the emerging self-driving car market. There are good reasons to think that most self-driving cars will be hailed on demand rather than owned by individual drivers. If thats true, having the most popular ride-hailing app will be a huge strategic advantage in the self-driving car market.
Thats Lees entire driverless car argument, and Thompson had made a similarly unelaborated and unsubstantiated assertion. Theres no explanation of how (or when) he thinks driverless technology and markets will develop, no explanation of what winning this yet-to-be-created market will actually involve, and no evidence as to why Uber is better positioned to earn billions in profits than the other major companies investing here.
Uber had raised $10 billion of its $13 billion cash base before it made driverless cars a strategic priority, so there is no basis for claiming its investors saw this as the real prize. Rationally, companies should not expand into riskier, more capital-intense markets until a strongly profitable position in its core market has been completely secured. At this point the main reason Uber and its supporters seem to be emphasizing them is to distract attention from Ubers inability to make money in its core business.
Tech press coverage of Uber: ignore economics, keep repeating the Uber narrative
The focus here has been on the Thompson and Lee articles, in the interest of seeing whether they had raised any issues that the Naked Capitalism series had missed, or whether they had presented new economic evidence that could constructively contribute to the public discussion about Ubers business model and its potential impact on economic welfare. They had not, but I want to reemphasize that Lee and Thompson remain best case examples of tech press coverage of Uber. There are scores of articles in the tech and mainstream media much, much worse than these, but these best-case examples help illustrate the power of Ubers narrative.
Unlike many other reporters, they are free of direct Uber influence, make serious effort (as they have done here) to consider different viewpoints and I have always found their work to be worth reading. But neither is yet able to present analysis or engage in debate centered on economic evidence.
Their willingness to acknowledge that hard evidence about P&L results and industry economics contradicts the narrative is limited and grudging. Thompson is sure theres evidence out there showing that Uber is actually profitable in most markets and that its costs arent actually higher than traditional competitors, even though he cant produce any of it. Lee is sure theres something in Ubers business model that is powerfully efficient, but he cant point to anything that would actually create major cost advantages or help explain $68 billion in corporate value. Both insist that since they consider Uber to be a tech company it must magically possess Amazon caliber scale economies and/or Ebay type network economies, but see no need to demonstrate that these magical economies actually exist.
A key issue here is that tech has morphed from one element of a larger business toolkit into a quasi-ideological/religious movement based on inherent virtues that the non-tech world lacks. As the broader Silicon Valley world has convinced itself that it is the avatar of progress and economic growth, and that industry disruption is virtuous regardless of actual impacts, most of the journalists and industry analysts embedded in that world have devolved from critical, objective thinkers to advocates and cheerleadiers for our side.
Ubers narrative was designed to evoke these emotive/tribal loyalties, by portraying itself as the heroic defender of progress, innovation and disruption, engaged in mortal battle with the evil taxi cartel and the corrupt government regulators fighting to prevent the entrepreneurs who were using advanced technology to provide the world with better taxi service at lower prices. Despite hard evidence ($3 billion losses in year seven, massive failure of Uber China, no efficiency or scale driven margin improvements) many find it difficult to abandon the framing they bought into years ago.
Tom Slee (I would highly recommend his book Whats Yours is Mine: Against The Sharing Economy) has been following Thompsons arguments and the overall Uber discussion over the years. When Brad DeLong posted links to the Naked Capitalism series, to Izabella Kaminskas Financial Times article and to Thompsons Stratechery piece at his website,[7] Slee posted the following comment, which captures the ongoing refusal to reconsider the Uber narrative in light of growing economic evidence nicely:
It sounds like Ben Thompson is falling for the Uber bait and switch. Stages of which: Uber has a nice business as a status product (Uber Black Car ~ 2010)
Uber Black may not be profitable, but Uber will displace taxis and be hugely profitable because of technology-driven efficiencies (UberX: 2014-2015)
UberX may not be profitable, but UberPool will lead to new efficiencies in mass transit (2015-2016)
UberX may not be profitable, but Uber is a logistics company and will rewrite the rules of delivery (UberEats, various speculative stories, 2013-2015)
UberPool may not be profitable, but when Uber displaces car ownership the scale of the market will make it profitable (2016)
Uber with drivers may not be profitable, but driverless cars will make Uber profitable (2014-)
Driverless cars may not be profitable, but Uber is looking into flying vehicles (2016) The Uber makes losses while maintaining credibility for bringing the future in some form or other.
__________
[1] Uber executive Emil Michaels suggested that the company should consider hiring a team of opposition researchers to dig up dirt on its critics in the media and specifically to spread details of the personal life of a female journalist who has criticized the company. Smith, Ben, Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt On Journalists, Buzzfeed, 17 Nov 2014. Lacy, Sarah, The moment I learned just how far Uber will go to silence journalists and attack women, Pando Daily, 17 Nov 2014.
[2] Lee, Timothy, Why Uber lost $2.2 billion in 9 months, Vox, 9 Jan 2017
[3] Thompson, Ben, Uber Losses (but China Gains?), Uber and unit Economics, Reconsidering Uber, Stratechery, 20 Dec 2016. Stratechery is a subscription-only tech industry publication, similar to Pando (which has published numerous articles strongly critical of Uber) and The Information (which has said nothing critical of Uber but was the primary source of the Uber financial data presented in part one.
[4] Newcomer, Eric, Ubers Loss Exceeds $800 Million in Third Quarter on $1.7 Billion in Net Revenue, Bloomberg, 19 Dec 2016. 2nd and 3rd quarter results were actuals; the 4th quarter number was Ubers mid-December expectation of what the actual results would be.
[5] There is published evidence that Uber can easily manipulate customer displays to show many more cabs than are actually available. Hwang, Tim & Elish, Madeleine, Ubers Algorithms and The Mirage of the Marketplace, SLATE, 27 Jul 2015, Rosenblat, Alex, Ubers Phantom Cabs, VICE, 27 Jul 2015. The larger issue is that Ubers app was never designed as a passive conduit between independent drivers and customers; it was always designed so that Uber (particularly if it achieves industry dominance) could totally control all of the supply, demand and pricing information taxicab markets require in order to function.
[6] Although he did not claim that Ebay/Craigslist type network efficiencies existed, Thompson has laid out similar arguments about superior Uber driver productivity in the past (Thompson, Ben, Why Uber Fights, Stratechery, 24 Nov 2014) and repeated the general claim in the article discussed above.
[7] DeLong, Bradford, There is a serious debate about Uber, floor wax or desert topping?excuse me: Uber: grift or technological and organizational breakthrough?, Grasping Reality Blog, 20 December 2106. Kaminska, Izabella, The Taxi Unicorns New Clothes, Financial Times, 1 Dec 2016.
Query for Readers
An expert (meaning Has Credentials) and guest blogger at Naked Capitalism would like to get an introduction to one of the Op-Ed editors at the Los Angeles Times (he once had senior contacts there but theyve all moved on). If you know someone in the Op-Ed section and can make a referral, please e-mail Yves at yves_at_nakedcapitalism.com and put Los Angeles Times in the subject line. Yves can provide more information.
* * *
Human forebear a bag-like beast with no anus: study France24. 2017 is already great.
3 More Scandals That Will Have You Saying, WTF Wells Fargo Fortune. Nice to see its business as usual outside the hysteria in the Beltway.
Deutsche Bank Fined $204 Million by U.K. FCA Over Russian Trades Bloomberg. Ditto.
Former HBOS manager found guilty of corruption and fraud BBC. Ditto. Sources close to the investigation say the total value of the fraud may be closer to 1bn. Thats real money! Richard Smith comments:
Look how long it took from initial press reports by Ian Fraser, 2008, well enough documented to stand up to Scottish libel law (just about) to get to charges in Jan 2013, and then from charges to convictions in Jan 2017.
Yes, the problem most crooks have is that they just dont steal enough.
Rapid Money Supply Growth Does Not Cause Inflation Evonomics
Lukoil Eyes Start Of Oilfield Development In Iran This Year Oilprice.com (Re Silc).
How Russia sold its oil jewel: without saying who bought it Reuters (Furzy Mouse). Any actual evidence of who the buyer is, beyond speculation?
Hollywood as We Know It Is Already Over Vanity Fair
Nafta: First shots in a trade war FT
Syraqistan
Greece has three weeks to deal with potentially disastrous debt Guardian
This Is How You Should Read French Election Polls Bloomberg
Brexit: MPs to begin formal process with two-day debate BBC
2016 Post Mortem
Man who fueled Trumps voter fraud conspiracy is registered in 3 states AP. Now to find his body doubles, the ones that used each of his registrations.
Trump Transition
Democrats Secret Weapon: Republicans Own Everything Now New York Magazine
Big Brother Is Watching You Watch
Health Care
Class Warfare
Will Integrating Women into Armed Groups Prevent Rape? Political Violence at a Glance
Apocalypse then: Americas secret war in Laos FT. Where todays CIA got its start.
Antidote du jour:
See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Origami of the cell
(Nanowerk News) In the ancient Japanese art of origami, paper must be folded precisely and following a specific order to create the desired result -- say, a crane or lotus flower. It's a complex pursuit that requires keen attention to detail and utmost accuracy.
An equally precise biological process in living cells gives rise to proteins, the large biomolecules essential for life.
Proteins begin life as long strings of amino acids that must fold into the three-dimensional shape prescribed for their particular biological function. When proteins don't fold as expected -- think badly misshapen crane -- the cells activate stress responses meant to mitigate the problem. But severe or prolonged stress produces an acute response: Cell death is triggered to protect the organism.
Sustained activation of one such reaction -- the unfolded protein response, or UPR -- has been implicated in a number of diseases. Seeking to illuminate a piece of this biological puzzle, an international team of scientists, including UC Santa Barbara cell biologist Diego Acosta-Alvear, examined the role of a central UPR component, a stress sensor protein called IRE1 (inositol-requiring enzyme 1), in atherosclerosis.
These images show a reduction in the number of macrophages infiltrating atherosclerotic plaques (in green) in animals treated with the IRE1 inhibitor.
The researchers found that blocking IRE1 with a small molecule prevented the progression of atherosclerosis in mice. The findings appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ("Targeting IRE1 with small molecules counteracts progression of atherosclerosis").
"A healthy cell has one type of stress response network wiring and it's likely that a diseased cell accommodates that wiring to survive," said Acosta-Alvear, an assistant professor in UCSB's Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. "Stress response networks control the life vs. death decision in cells, and since a diseased cell is nowhere near its comfort zone, rewiring its stress responses allows it to avoid or delay cell death even when conditions are adverse. That's what we wanted to understand: how a diseased cell does that and why it happens."
The UPR is triggered when the normal functions of the endoplasmic reticulum -- the cell's largest organelle in charge of making and folding proteins -- are compromised. Though the UPR usually promotes healthy endoplasmic reticulum function, sustained UPR activation sometimes results in diseases such as atherosclerosis, the deposition of fatty plaques on artery walls, among other conditions. Understanding what happens with the UPR in disease is key to illuminating the normal operation of this essential pathway -- and to providing insights into the development of targeted therapies.
This shows a reduction in atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta of mice (in red) when treated with the IRE1 inhibitor.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress is triggered not only by protein-folding problems, but also by fatty acids, explained Acosta-Alvear. Fat-induced stress and metabolic overload of the endoplasmic reticulum can alter its function, triggering chronic inflammation, which plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis.
In this research, the scientists disturbed endoplasmic reticulum function by introducing saturated fatty acids into cells to induce lipotoxic stress. This in turn activated the UPR and IRE1.
Active IRE1 relays the protein-folding stress information to the cell nucleus by controlling the production of a very potent transcription activator, XBP1 (X-box binding protein-1). Transcription activators are proteins involved in the process of converting, or transcribing, DNA into RNA.
The investigators' analyses demonstrated that XBP1 was responsible for turning on pro-atherogenic genes. They then treated mice with a compound that blocked IRE1.
Project aiming for technological breakthrough on solar-based hydrogen generation
(Nanowerk News) Currently, photovoltaics (PV) covers about 7.4 percent of the net electricity demand in Germany and on sunny weekends, this even rises to 50 percent. However, PV cannot generate electricity at night and in conditions with high cloud cover.
Nevertheless, PV cells can be combined with electro-catalysts in order to split water into its constituent elements, hydrogen and water. This solar generated hydrogen thus stores solar energy in a chemical form and releases it, as required for example at night, via a fuel cell.
Although in recent years research in this area has made much progress, up till now, unlike PV, no technological scale up to large areas has been accomplished. In other words: the race is currently wide open.
Partners in Germany, Italy, Sweden
This challenge will now be addressed by the PECSYS project: the project is coordinated by the Competence Centre Thin Film and Nanotechnology for Photovoltaics Berlin (PVcomB) at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and brings together expertise from the Forschungszentrum Juelich, Germany; Uppsala University, Sweden; the National Research Council of Italy and from two corporations namely, Solibro Research AB, Sweden and 3SUN, Italy.
6 percent efficiency for 6 months
Dr Sonya Calnan, the spokesperson of the project and a researcher at HZB acknowledges, The aims of the project are ambitious and very definite: The demonstrator system to be developed is expected to be realised on an area of at least ten square meters, to convert more than six percent of the incident solar energy into hydrogen and to maintain stable operation for at least six months. Also, the cost of the so-generated hydrogen should be less than five euro per kilogramme. For comparison: the actual market price for hydrogen is about eight euro per kilogramme.
Integrated device
At PVcomB, photovoltaic cells based on different materials such as silicon and chalcogenides, as well as tandem cells based on metal halide perovskites, together with electro-catalysts and membranes shall be tested and protective layers developed. The goal is to ultimately develop an integrated device that can stably operate under extreme environmental conditions.
Appropriate for industrial production
The participating project teams thus aim to identify a system that is most appropriate for industrial production. The demonstrator systems with a total area of ten square metres shall then be installed at either Forschungzentrum Julich and/or at 3SUN and produce at least ten kg of hydrogen in six months.
NASCAR championship contenders have plenty of ARCA Menards Series experience The Championship 4s are set, and the contenders in each series have plenty of experience and in most cases success within the ARCA Menards Series platform.
The long-awaited N24 bypass of Tipperary Town and Bansha is in danger of getting no funding until after 2021.
Design, environmental impact assessments and the construction times would then mean that the promised road could be decades away from opening if the project is not put back on the governments priority list, local councillors have been warned.
The proposed new road from Pallasgreen to Cahir was first looked at in 2000 and the route selected and approved by the National Roads Authority in 2003. An Environmental Impact Statement was prepared and preliminary design began but there has been no funding for the project since 2012 and there will not be until it is put back on the governments priority roads projects list.
At a meeting of Cashel Tipperary Municipal District Committee last week, Glen Jones, a senior engineer from the regional roads design office in Tramore, said after the delay the EIS would have to be started again. That would be the next phase of work, along with Compulsory Purchase Orders for the land needed.
If there was funding to go ahead with the project today, Mr Jones explained, it would be 2020 before the finished design would go to An Bord Pleanala; detailed design would be complete in 2022 and tenders would be awarded late that year, then construction could start in 2023.
However there is no funding available. The current priority list runs to 2021. There is a mid-term review later this year and Mr Jones urged councillors to lobby for the N24 project to be put back on the priority list during that review or they will have difficulty getting any funding for the project before 2021.
We were told in the late 90s we would be driving on it in 2005, Cllr Denis Leahy recalled. Cllr Leahy reminded councillors of a meeting of public representatives when the then Minister Martin Cullen promised the money was there.
We are the ones bypassed, the people of Tipperary, Cllr Leahy said.
Cllr Michael Fitzgerald said they were at nothing looking backwards, we have to look forwards. He siad the mid-term review of roads projects would be crucial and everything must be done to position the N24 project properly. We need every help now, we have a real opportunity, let us make sure in this mid-term review that the N24 Pallasgreen to Bansha route is a priority!
Cllr John Crosse said they should look at a ring-road again as businesses in the centre of town are finding it hard to trade with the current levels of traffic.
Director of Services for Roads with Tipperary County Council, Marcus OConnor, said lobbying is planned. Council officials are going to meet soon with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and they are going to set up a group representing all the local authorities along the proposed N24 route. He said it would not be easy as there are other schemes also trying to get on to the priority list.
He told councillors that if they wanted to see a road complete by 2023 they would need to be starting work now. Were not even in the starting blocks, he said.
All councillors were in agreement that they will lobby to have the route made a funding priority and get local oireachtas members to support them.
The death occurred on Monday, January 23, at the Cottage Nursing Home, Clonmel, of Sr. Margaret Finn, Presentation Convent, Clonmel and late of Dualla.
She was daughter of Andrew and Margaret Finn (nee Quigley), both teachers in Dualla N.S. Her father Andrew was a well-known writer and folklorist and her mother Margaret was very musical and was a native of Croughhmackeen, Doon.
The Finn family were the first family to occupy the Teachers Residence in Dualla, now Dualla Community Centre. Sr. Margaret who was born on February 19, 1919, was the second member in a family of seven. Her brother Sean and sisters Annie, Maureen, Breda Buckley and Eileen Woods have all predeceased her.
A few years after the untimely death of her mother in 1930 at the age of 41, her father married Mary Ryan, Rathclough, next door neighbour and so the Finn family connection with the parish of Boherlahan and Dualla was established and maintained down through the years.
After completing her primary education in Dualla N.S., Sr. Margaret received her secondary education at the Convent of Mercy, Tuam, and Presentation Convent, Thurles. In 1939, she entered the Presentation Convent, Clonmel taking the name Sr. Stanislaus in religion but in later years changed to Sr. Margaret. She trained as a Primary Teacher in Carysfort Training College, Dublin and taught in the Presentation Primary School, Clonmel, where she has been based all her life.
In her role as teacher and educator she touched the lives of many young boys and girls in their formative years by her friendly, endearing and caring disposition. Music was her first love and her plain chant choirs won many prizes at Feile Chluain Meala. Like Nano Nagle, the Foundress of her Order, she was first a woman of faith and then a woman of action.
She was ahead of her time in reaching out to the wider community in Clonmel by her involvement. She started a girls club in St. Marys Parochial Hall and on Saturday nights organised a bus full of girl volunteers to go to Ferryhouse Industrial School which was run by the Rosminian Fathers.
For many years she ran an all-in train service, which included fare and meals to Knock and this was known as Sr. Stans train. Then, when this service was abandoned due to rising costs, she organised a bus pilgrimage every year instead. She was also responsible for the Annual Easter Pilgrimage to Lourdes. She was a founder member of Clonmel Apostolic Society who made vestments and altar linen for the Foreign Missions.
In 1997, she was presented with a beautiful scroll by Bishop Lee of Waterford for her 30 years of dedicated service to the Apostolic Society in which the needs of many missionary orders throughout the world were met. For her 90th birthday, she was given a Civic Reception by the Mayor in Clonmel for her many years of dedicated service to the town.
In 2011, she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee as a Sister 70 years professed. In retirement she was well known for her care and visitations to the elderly. As family was very important to her she loved to renew acquaintances with relatives and friends and down through the years she was a regular visitor to her native Dualla.
On June 15, 2012, as the oldest past pupil of the old school in Dualla, she unveiled the plaque of the New School in Dualla with Mikey Heffernan, the oldest past pupil living in the Parish.
On Thursday, January 26, after reposing in her Convent, her remains were removed to St. Marys Church, Irishtown. Her Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr. Billie Meehan PP and assisted Fr. Michael Hegarty PP St. Olivers Parish; Fr. Brendan Crowley PP St. Peter & Pauls Church; Fr. Tom Russell, Franciscan Friary, Clonmel; Fr. Pat Hayes, St. Marys; Fr. Cyprian, St. Marys; Fr. Tom Coffey, Chaplain South Tipperary General Hospital; Fr. Paddy Pierce, Ferryhouse; Fr. Tom Dunne CC Boherlahan Dualla; Fr. John Walsh, Farranree, Cork; interment took place in the Convent Cemetery.
The school children formed a Guard of Honour as the cortege moved from the Convent to the Church and back again to the Cemetery. Sr. Margaret is survived by her sister Sr. De Pazzi, Presentation Convent, Farranree, Cork, her brother in law, Frank Woods, Mooncoin, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends to whom sincere sympathy is extended. Peace to her soul.
A federal appeals court ruled Monday that the Treasury Department will have to hand over more documents to investors of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac related to its profit sweep of the two government-sponsored enterprises.
Under the 2012 agreement, the GSEs must hand over all profits to the U.S. Treasury, but investors have sued the government, claiming that arrangement is illegal.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency and Treasury Department have provided the investors with more than 48,000 documents related to the sweep agreement, but have so far successfully held back other documents it claims are too sensitive to release. On Monday, an appeals court upheld a lower court ruling to release 50 of the remaining 58 net worth documents.
It's not clear what the documents will reveal, but attorneys for the investors praised the ruling.
"The Appeals Court declared that the government can keep only four under 'presidential privilege' and four under 'deliberative process privilege away from shareholders' lawyers," wrote Investors Unite, a group representing the investors, in a press release.
The Treasury Department could not be reached for comment.
PHH Corp. is opposing an attempt by Democratic attorneys general in 16 states and the District of Columbia to intervene in an appeals court case that found the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's structure was unconstitutional.
The Mount Laurel, N.J.-based mortgage servicing firm alleges that the state AGs have no legally protected interest in the case and that they failed to meet the standard for intervening in a timely manner.
The company filed two motions with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Friday, the deadline for the company to respond to arguments by the state attorneys general and the U.S. Solicitor General.
The arguments are part of the ramped-up jockeying to influence the outcome of the contentious appeals court case, PHH Corp. v. CFPB. The case could determine whether CFPB Director Richard Cordray can keep his job until his term expires in July 2018, or if President Donald Trump can fire him at will.
"The state AGs did not need to read newspaper articles speculating on what 'the Trump administration is planning' to realize that, if the CFPB director were like every other cabinet secretary, then the CFPB would be accountable to the president like every other executive branch agency," attorneys for PHH stated in an 18-page motion. "The [D.C. Circuit] panels questions about the constitutionality of the agency at oral argument last year were a matter of public record. The state AGs' decision to wait until after not just the presidential election but the inauguration to seek to intervene, long after the case was brought, is the opposite of 'good cause.'"
PHH also argued that even the U.S. Solicitor General was straining to articulate a basis for an en banc hearing by the appeals court. In October, a three-judge appeals court panel ruled that a provision of the Dodd-Frank Act allowing the CFPB's director to be removed only for cause was unconstitutional. The panel sought to strike that provision, allowing the president to remove the director at any time.
But the CFPB has appealed that decision, seeking an en banc review by the entire appeals court. In an unusual move, the state AGs, two Democratic lawmakers and a consumer advocacy group have all filed motions arguing that they have legal standing to intervene. In its filing, PHH said there are "no examples of an appellate court granting rehearing en banc for the purpose of not reaching an issue."
Cordray, a former Democratic Ohio attorney general, has signaled that he will not resign. He also has said he intends to continue to pursue an aggressive regulatory agenda for the independent agency.
The timing may be a problem for the state AG's petition. Federal appellate rules require that a motion to intervene be filed within 30 days after a petition for review is filed; PHH filed its petition for review in June 2015. Lawyers for PHH said the state attorneys general have no standing to defend the constitutionality of a federal statutory provision that only applies to one federal officer, in this case, the director of the CFPB.
State attorneys general had argued that the D.C. Circuit panel's decision in October effectively gave the president veto power over the states' ability to enforce the Consumer Financial Protection Act because states are required to notify the CFPB of any intended enforcement actions they might file, allowing the CFPB to intervene.
The states "remain free to pursue their own enforcement actions, and the courts will remain the ultimate arbiters of any disagreements," the PHH motion stated.
Citigroup's plan to sell a $97 billion mortgage servicing portfolio and subservice its remaining accounts highlights the growing prevalence of nondepository servicers and raises questions about how much capacity exists for these institutions to absorb more large deals.
The deal, announced Monday, is the latest in a series of large servicing acquisitions by publicly traded New Residential Investment Corp. The New York-based nonbank will pay approximately $950 million and $32 million for Citi's mortgage servicing rights and related advances, respectively, which are tied to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans originated by CitiMortgage.
In addition to the Citi deal, New Residential has acquired the servicing rights on more than $150 billion in unpaid principal balance from companies including Walter Investment Management Corp., PHH Corp. and FirstKey Mortgage since October 2016. Deals of these sizes suggest a growing risk for the nonbank servicing business, said Chris Whalen, senior managing director and head of research at Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
"It points to a lack of capacity in the market," he said, adding that given its size, the parties involved in the Citi deal probably didn't have much competition.
Regulators have been wary of nonbank concentration in both the servicing and subservicing space, and Citi's MSR sale is pending a review process by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The expected timeframe for that process is within the first half of this year.
"They will say yes," Whalen said of the FHFA approval. "Who else would take it?"
Citi has long been a top mortgage player, but its participation and revenue from its servicing business have wavered over time. The company has been scaling back its servicing for years in line with its efforts to operate more efficiently and focus on more profitable business lines.
While there are disincentives, such as recent changes in capital requirements that have generally limited banks' appetites for holding mortgage servicing, it's unclear if the Citi deal is a harbinger of greater bulk selling of the same order. The limited capacity for large deals may portend future agency servicing transactions decreasing in size, on the order of $2 billion to $5 billion, to make them accessible to smaller servicing shops and increase competition among buyers.
"There is more opportunity for nonbanks to step in where the banks are stepping back," said Gagan Sharma, CEO of BSI Financial Services in Irving, Texas, a company that provides subservicing for more moderate-sized portfolios.
Citibank also plans to transfer the subservicing on the balance of its loans to Cenlar by the end of 2018. It will continue to hold the MSRs on retail loans it owns.
Citi does plan to remain active in originating loans for its portfolio and for sale to Fannie and Freddie, but generally it is true that nonbanks' stake in both sides of the home loan business is growing and a year-to-year rise in rates is making servicing look more attractive.
"Everything is shifting to the independents in such a big way: servicing and originations," said David Lykken, president and founder of Transformational Mortgage Solutions, a consulting firm in Austin, Texas.
But not every nonbank has the capacity to handle the scale.
"The biggest challenge the nonbanks have is they are restrained by [availability] of capital, banks less so," he said. However, banks do have regulatory capital requirements linked to MSRs that nonbanks don't have.
This opens up opportunity for nonbank servicing investors like New Residential that can tap capital through the public markets, as it will in the case of the Citi deal, so long as they have enough capacity. Both New Residential and Nationstar are publicly traded and have ties to private equity firm Fortress Investment Group.
Capacity rather than competition is the main challenge for companies servicing bulk portfolios because of the high barriers to entry.
"Servicing is not something you get into overnight," said Roelof Slump, managing director at Fitch Ratings.
(As delivered)
President Rumen Radev,
Welcome so much to NATO Headquarters. And congratulations on your appointment as President. And Id also like to say welcome back to NATO Headquarters because you told me that you have been working here many years ago, and that just underlines your personal commitment and understanding of the importance of NATO. And in your previous role as commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, you helped to keep our airspace safe. And I know that you will remain committed to NATO and to our shared security now in your new role as President.
For almost 13 years, Bulgaria has been a valued Ally, making many important contributions to our collective defence. You provide ships to NATO patrols in the Black Sea. And you play a key role in the security of your region, through your contributions to NATO presence in Kosovo, your support for the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, and your assistance to Ukraine where you lead the NATO Trust Fund on medical rehabilitation.
I am also very grateful for your strong commitment to NATOs presence in Afghanistan, helping to fight terrorism and to prevent that Afghanistan once again becomes a safe haven for international terrorism. I met Bulgarian troops in Afghanistan and its great to be able to tell you that they were very professional, very committed and we are proud to have Bulgarian troops as part of our presence in Afghanistan.
The security environment which surrounds us is changing. We see a more assertive Russia. We see the turmoil and the violence to the South - terrorism. And we see cyber-attacks and hybrid warfare.
NATO is responding. We are responding by increasing our presence both in the south east of the Alliance, and in the Baltic countries and in Poland. We are strengthening our presence in the Black Sea region, with a package of measures on land, at sea and in the air. And we will finalise this work at our meeting of defence ministers in February. And several Allies have already indicated they will contribute to this presence. A strong sign of NATO solidarity.
But security does not come for free. Therefore we have to increase defence spending and I welcome that Bulgaria has now started to increase its investments in defence. I think this just underscores the commitment of Bulgaria to NATO and to NATO decisions to strengthen our collective defence and to increase defence spending.
NATO does not want confrontation with Russia. We dont seek confrontation with Russia. We dont want a new Cold War so our response is measured. It is transparent and it is defensive. But it sends a clear signal that we stand together. That all Allies are ready to protect each other. Defending one another.
So President, welcome once again to NATO Headquarters. Its great to see you and I look forward to working with you. Welcome once again.
OANA LUNGESCU [NATO Spokesperson]: Okay, any questions? BTV there.
Q: [Interpreted] Hi, hello dear Secretary General and Mr. President, my question is related to the policy concerning Russia that will be led by the new President of the United State Donald Trump and how do you think, what aspect do you think this policy will affect the most strength the biggest reinforcement along the eastern flank of NATO which is the biggest reinforcement that weve had since the end of the Second World War? How will Donald Trumps policies affect us?
JENS STOLTENBERG (NATO Secretary General): I spoke with then President-elect Donald Trump after he was elected in November and Ive also spoken with Secretary of Defense Mattis recently and they have all conveyed the same message that United States will remain committed to NATO to the Trans-Atlantic bond and that its not only something that they say but we also see now that the United States is actually increasing its presence in Europe. There is a strong bi-partisan support in the Congress and the Congress has quadrupled funding for the European Reassurance Initiative which is funding increased military presence of the United States in Europe with a new brigade, with more training, with more exercises and with more pre-positioned equipment and supplies. So this is a strong political commitment but its also followed with more presence in Europe. And when it comes to the relationship to Russia I would like to underline that our increased presence in Europe is a measured and proportionate response to the behaviour of Russia and a more assertive Russia which has implemented a significant military buildup over many years and which has used military force against a neighbour, against Ukraine. NATO is responding but we are responding in a defensive way, in a measured way. We dont want confrontation, we dont want a new Cold War so we are keeping the channels for political dialogue open with Russia and the message from the incoming administration is that, the new U.S. Administration, is that they also want dialogue with Russia but its based on strength and I think thats exactly the same message that we are conveying from the whole Alliance and we agreed in Warsaw at our Summit that we need strong defense but also political dialogue with Russia and I look forward to work together with the new President and his security team on exactly on how to implement and how to follow up that message.
OANA LUNGESCU: Bulgarian National Radio just behind right there.
Q: [Interpreted]: Will Bulgaria this year take part in more large scale operations or trainings with the Allies? And what do you think will be the greatest challenge to NATO in the coming months?
JENS STOLTENBERG: Bulgaria is participating in many different kinds of training and exercises in NATO and with NATO Allies. Actually tomorrow there will be a new multi-national exercise that will start in the Black Sea - a Maritime exercise with the participation of Bulgaria but also with ships from Canada, from the United States, from Turkey and from other NATO Allied countries. So it just illustrates that there are several exercises, different kinds of training activities where Bulgaria participate. And this is a part of the increased presence in the southeast of Europe with more patrols in the Black Sea and also with more exercises and Bulgaria is part of that.
RUMEN RADEV (President of Bulgaria): [Interpreted]: If I can just add our participation in NATO is very important for us not only because it increases the security in our region; its extremely important because it enhances the military capability of our armed forces because in each such exercise we acquire new tactics, new techniques and new procedures.
OANA LUNGESCU: Okay, one very last quick question, Wall Street Journal.
Q: JULIAN BARNES [Wall Street Journal]: Maybe not quick. To the President I wonder if you think its time for sanctions against Russia to be eased and whether you think more broadly NATO should pursue improved relationship with Russia given Mr. Trumps desires for cooperation on counter-terrorism? To the Secretary General I wonder if you could comment on the sanctions issue but also the Iranians test fired a ballistic missile, I wonder if this, what do you think this says about relevance of NATO missile defense and whether missile defense systems should be on the table in discussions with Russia?
RUMEN RADEV: [Interpreted]: First of all the increase of the defense and deterrence posture of NATO should be hand in hand as Secretary General said with deepening the political dialogue with Russia in order to avoid confrontation and misunderstandings and to lower the risks. And as President Trump also shared the main challenges and threats today come from international terrorism, countering the Islamic State - these are all threats that cannot be tackled unless NATO and Russia have common efforts on this, both in the Middle East and in the global fight against terrorism.
JENS STOLTENBERG: We are looking into the nature of what happened and the details surrounding the ballistic missile launch. So I cannot comment on the details of that incident. But what I can say is that NATO continues to develop its ballistic missile defense system because we see that several nations including Iran are developing different kinds of ballistic missiles and are testing and strengthening their systems. And that just underlines that NATO has to continue to develop a ballistic missile defense system. Our BMD, or ballistic missile defense, is not directed against Russia, its directed against threats coming from outside the Euro-Atlantic area. We have previously offered Russia to work together with them on this, then Russia rejected and NATO has continued to develop our system which is a defensive system and its a way to protect Europe against missile threats.
OANA LUNGESCU: Thank you very much. This concludes this press point.
JENS STOLTENBERG: Oh, sorry sanctions. Sanctions is part of the response from many countries to the aggressive actions of Russia against Ukraine. The sanctions are decided by the European Union, the United States and other countries, its not a NATO decision but I have supported and welcomed the sanctions. What NATO has done is that we have responded by increasing our military presence in the Eastern part of the Alliance and we are continuing to do exactly that by implementing the decisions on enhanced and tailored forward presence. Thank you.
OANA LUNGESCU: Thank you very much.
Monday, January 30, 2017 by: Vicki Batts Tags: bees , Costco , neonicotinoids This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
(Natural News) Could a retail giant help give more traction to the movement against pesticides that harm bees? The popular big-box retailer, Costco, has called for their suppliers to limit their use of non-essential pesticides in their products that will be sold in Costco stores. Specifically, the retailer is discouraging the use of neonicotinoids, a controversial class of insecticides that are known to be especially harmful to pollinator species, like bees.
As a company, Costco has consistently received praise for keeping both employees and consumers content. It seems that they are at it again with their latest policy for preserving bees and other pollinators.
Costco launches policy to protect pollinators
A 2016 policy release, entitled Costco Wholesales Live Goods Policy To Protect Pollinator Health, the retail giant stated:
Costco Wholesale understands that the honey bee population is declining and these bees are necessary for the life cycles of people, plants and the food we consume. We have invested in a multi-year research project to improve honey bee health and sustainability and are committed to following the continuing research, developments surrounding bee colony collapse and other areas of environmental concern. We are also committed to business practices that support the growth and sustainability of bees and other pollinators.
Costcos policy also encourages their suppliers to use eco-friendly methods of pest or disease control when producing goods for their company, as well as minimizing the use of all non-essential chemicals. The retail giant is also mandating that the application of any chemicals must be done in strict accordance with all local and federal laws and regulations.
Costco is also heartily discouraging the use of neonicotinoids, particularly on plants where bees are considered to be primary pollinators, or on plants that are known to attract bees. [Related: Keep up with the latest pesticide news at Pesticides.news]
Waking Times reports that, The policy follows on the heel of an announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mitigate the acute risks to bees from pesticide products.'
Between its 705 stores across the globe and yearly sales totaling upwards of $120 billion, Costco is in an amazing position to help lead a massive movement against the use of these harmful products. Given the devastating decline of bee populations (which continue to dwindle), it is absolutely essential that we begin to end the use of harmful pesticides and other such chemicals.
Recently, the rusty patched bumblebee was added to the endangered species list. Twenty years ago, the rusty patched bumblebee was a prevalent species. It is now the first bee in the contiguous 48 states to have been proposed for endangered species status, but there are grave concerns that it wont be the last.
Dangers of neonicotinoids
Neonicotinoids, or neonics for short, are a popular class of insecticides. Research continues to show, however, that these insecticides dont just harm the intended species of insects they are also harmful to bees and other pollinator species.
Researchers from Mainz University Medical Center and Goethe University Frankfurt recently found that even low, field-relevant doses of neonics are indeed harmful to bees. Their research was published by the esteemed journal, PLOS One in 2016. They found that even small amounts of neonics can negatively affect acetylcholine levels in developing bee larvae. This can have a serious affect on the bees future development. Larger amounts were associated with more dramatic effects.
Professor Ignaz Wessler, one of the studys lead authors, commented, Our research results thus confirm that the neonicotinoids can jeopardize the normal development of honeybee larvae.
Back in 2013, the EU came to a similar conclusion prompting them to place temporary restrictions on three popular neonicotinoid insecticides; imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam.
Several scientific publications have indicated that non-lethal amounts of neonics could very well be associated with the dramatic decline in bee populations. Abnormalities in breeding and impaired flight orientation have also been reported.
Sources:
WakingTimes.com
ScienceDaily.com
(Natural News) It seems that the French are bidding farewell to free re-fills and saying hello to an over-inflated government. Late last week, it was announced that restaurants in France would be subject to prosecution, should they continue to offer unlimited amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages for free or at a fixed price. The French government has actually made it illegal to sell unlimited amounts of sugary drinks.
Now, we all know that sugar is not a benign substance: it contributes to disease risk and the raising rates of obesity. In fact, some research has indicated that sugar has a substantially more profound impact on diabetes risk than other foods. And, it is also a well-known fact that sugar consumption is on the rise especially in Western cultures like the US. Sugar is a problem. But, is big government really the way to solve it?
Soda is already taxed in France
In 2012, the French government imposed a tax on sweet drinks. Taxing sweet drinks may seem like a reasonable approach, but it inevitably does more harm than good. Statistics from Mexico showed that sugary drink sales fell by 6% in just a single year. However, statistics also showed that this decrease translated only to a very modest decrease in calorie consumption: the average calorie intake in Mexico dropped by a mere 5 calories a day. Thats not exactly enough to help a country win the war against obesity. Furthermore, statistics have shown that the poor lost more of their income to the sugary drink tax than the wealthy.
To put it simply, taxes on sugary beverages did not yield the kind of benefits they were purported to, and the tax put more fiscal stress on poor people than the rich. Who knew.
You cant legislate calories away
This new piece of legislation out of France takes the notion of sugary drink taxes one step further by mandating how much soda restaurants can give to their patrons, and forcing restaurants to charge their customers each time they need another beverage.
The Telegraph reports:
Frances Health Minister Marisol Touraine has championed the ban on unlimited refills, telling MPs two years ago: This habit is common in other countries and it is increasingly taking hold in France. I understand it can be attractive for young people who are offered unlimited sugary drinks, which contain an excessive amount of sugar or sweeteners.
The government claims this latest idea will help to combat obesity and diabetes. While a recent health study has indicated that about half of Frances population is overweight, only about 15 percent appear to be obese.
The government clearly wants to put a stop on obesity before it becomes more problematic, but can they truly legislate such an issue out of existence?
People may drink less soda in restaurants, but one cannot predict what other choices they may make. Perhaps more people will choose to order dessert, instead of drinking the same amount of dollars in soda.
In addition to the taxes and the unlimited soda ban, the French have already limited school vending machines to providing only fruit and water, have banned ketchup in school cafeterias and only permit chips to appear in school lunches once a week. When it comes to school lunches, these parameters are slightly more agreeable, because school lunches are provided by the government. In that regard, they are actively trying to improve the nutrition they provide to children.
However, mandating what the private sector can and cannot do is a bit more controversial. It all seems a bit unreal: the government is essentially trying to tell grown adults how much soda they can drink. [RELATED: Learn more about government overreach at BigGovernment.news]
It is not that the desire to encourage citizens to drink less soda is bad: its not. Drinking less soda is a very good thing. But, the government believing that it can simply legislate its desires into action is a very dangerous line of thinking.
Sources:
Telegraph.co.uk
BusinessInsider.com
Economist.com
(Natural News) George Soros has been manipulating economic markets, funding revolutions, and promoting multicultural societies for many years. His billions from investing are strategically placed in hundreds of philanthropic and social engineering non-governmental organizations (NGOs) via his Open Society Foundation (OSF), founded in 1993 and operating in every continent throughout the world. Under the guise of a desire to build tolerant societies and initiatives that advance justice, Soros and his globalist minions are more interested in a borderless one world global village and using covert operations to destabilize nations. Last year Vladimir Putin banned Soros from Russia, as reported by Usdefensewatch.com, stating that Soros was a threat to Russian national security. (See more news on George Soros at Soros.news)
Russia is not alone is recognizing the threat. According to Anonymous, Hungary has decided to crack down and sweep out the Soros initiated NGOs that are accused of serving global capitalists and back political correctness over national governments. This is not the first time that Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, has taken on the globalist machinery.
In 2014, Hungary demanded audits of Norways NGOs that were operating in their nation, accusing them of being paid operatives for foreign interests. Hungary has also taken a bold stance against the enormous biotech, chemical, and agricultural giants by banning the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food, feed, and seeds. Additionally, Truactivist.com reports that in the the fall of 2016, after Hungary made an early payoff of their $26 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), they kicked the IMF out of Budapest.
The OSF, which has over sixty different NGOs operating in Hungary, has said it has no intention of stopping its work, despite the push-back against the Soros run organization. There is little doubt that the Trump victory and the defeat of globalist Hillary Clinton, whom Soros whole-heartedly embraced, is a strong impetus in Hungarys demand to regain freedom and national sovereignty. According to Journal-neo.org, Soros gave the Clinton coffers tens of millions of dollars trying to elect her. After Clintons loss, Soros lost nearly a billion dollars shorting the markets believing that stocks would drop dramatically but he is still spending plenty of money to disrupt the leadership of sovereign nations, including the United States and President Trump.
At the most recent meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, as reported by CNBC.com, Soros called President Trump a would-be dictator who is going to fail, but that failure wouldnt be because of people like me who want him to fail. Soros believes that the new President will fail due of his self-contradictory ideas.
In the meantime, you can bet that Soros will keep funding anti-Trump NGOs, activities, and protests. Hes already had a big hand in the Womens March on Washington, which took place the day after Trumps inauguration. Nylive.com reports that Soros had funding ties to more than 50 partners who helped organize the march. These included Planned Parenthood, National Resources Defense Council, MoveOn.org, the National Action Network, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the ACLU, and Center for Constitutional Rights, among others.
CBS reporter Steve Kroft interviewed George Soros in 1998, and that interview is a fascinating look at the mind of a man who has no shame or remorse in his actions.
Its clear that Soros is not going to stop fomenting divisions in the U.S. and beyond. Having an emergency organic food supply becomes more critical every day.
Sources:
OpenSocietyFoundations.org
UsDefenseWatch.com
AnonHq.com
TrueActivist.com
Journal-neo.org
Cnbc.com
NytLive.com
YouTube.com
(Natural News) The overuse of prescription drugs in America has long since reached epidemic proportions. One of the driving forces behind this mass over-prescription, of course, is Big Pharma. And despite the evidence that certain drugs arent always necessary, reports indicate that doctors continue to prescribe them indiscriminately. If that wasnt bad enough, many people are also prescribed more drugs to treat the side effects of another medication.
Big Pharma has come under fire for a number of things over the years. Monopolization of the industry, questionable advertising and price gouging are just some of the things that the industry has been criticized for. Corruption, greed and a disregard for fellow human beings seem to run rampant in the world of pharmaceuticals; the industry has paid out countless dollars for criminal and civil settlements over the years. And yet, nothing seems to stop them. (RELATED: Find more examples of drug industry price rigging at Rigged.news.)
Physicians, Big Pharma and over-prescription
As a country, the US takes in an exorbitant amount of prescription drugs. In 2011, it was estimated that the average American citizen was taking 12 different prescription drugs yearly to manage or treat chronic health conditions. Over the last twenty years, spending on drugs has increased by a woeful $200 billion.
There are many factors that contribute to ever-increasing amount of prescription drugs in the United States. For example, many drugs come with side effects like depression, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and other health issues. Instead of lowering the dose or trying an alternative drug, doctors will often just prescribe a second medication to treat the effects of the first drug. A 2012 study published in the journal Annals of Family Medicine found that the prescribing cascade where doctors prescribe more medications to control the effects of a primary prescription is a key contributing factor to the heavy use of pharmaceuticals in healthcare.
The same study found that most physicians reported prescribing two or more medications per one medical condition to help reach their target for the patient. More than half of the patients observed were taking five or more prescription medications.
Big Pharma has found a number of different ways to influence physicians when it comes to what drugs they prescribe. For example, many pharma companies have serious financial ties to medical communication companies (MCC), like WebMD or Medscape. Physicians who use these sites may not be fully aware of how much money organizations like these receive from the drug and medical device industry. Many of these MCCs also offer continuing education courses for physicians. Physicians may not be aware that the involvement of these MCCs with Big Pharma could inevitably compromise their own education.
MCCs are not Big Pharmas only method of manipulation. Clinical trials are often designed by the industry to influence and market drugs to doctors. The pharmaceutical industry even offers educational courses on their latest products, often showcasing them for non-FDA approved uses and even when there is no proof of efficacy or safety. (RELATED: Read more about fake science and data manipulation at FakeScience.news)
Big Pharma sells drugs to patients too
Direct marketing to patients is another key issue in the age of over-prescription. When people go to the doctor, they expect the doctor will give them something to make them better. This not only puts pressure on the physician to prescribe, but it also makes even the average person a target for Big Pharma. After government restrictions on direct consumer marketing became more lax, patients became more upfront about asking about new treatments. The pharma industry spends some $21 billion a year just to push their products and many of their advertising and promotional techniques toe the line of being misleading and false without hesitation.
In 2015, the industry spent a record-breaking $5.4 billion of direct-to-consumer ads alone. The same year, Americans spent over $450 billion on prescription drugs. Apparently, Big Pharmas efforts paid off. Direct-to-consumer marketing remains a controversial practice; many people seem to think it somehow empowers consumers, but the reality is that Big Pharma is marketing expensive drugs to unwitting future customers. When you see an ad for a drug on TV and there are about 80 drug advertisements per hour they are not trying help you become more aware, they are trying to sell you a product.
Big Pharmas marketing tactics do not end with doctors; they know one of the best ways to get people hooked on their products is to advertise directly to the people who will be consuming it.
Sources:
NaturalBlaze.com
TheGuardian.com
UPI.com
WorstPills.org
DrugWatch.com
Tuesday, January 31, 2017 by: David Gutierrez Tags: biotechnology , international politics This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
(Natural News) Values-based disagreements over genetic engineering are likely to be a major source of conflict between states in the coming decades, warns a recent report from the National Intelligence Council.
How people think about the very nature of life and how people love and hate is likely to be challenged by major technological advances in understanding and efforts to manipulate human anatomy, which will spark strong divisions between people, country, and regions, the report reads.
The National Intelligence Council provides long-term strategic analysis for the U.S. intelligence community and the Director of National Intelligence.
The more advanced the technologies of genetic engineering and human bodily modification become, the less likely that different nations will be able to find common ground, the report says.
Deciding for the world
A recent editorial by Gizmodo summarizes the problem like this: different countries and cultures have different values about the limits that should be placed on biotechnology. But it only takes one country to allow a technology into the world that others consider untested, dangerous, or morally repugnant.
If modern science can defy the boundaries of borders, who exactly should be charged with deciding what science to unleash upon the world? Gizmodo asks.
The editorial cites two current examples of such controversies. The first concerns biotech company Oxitec, which has genetically engineered male mosquitoes to carry a gene that will kill all of their offspring. These mosquitoes have already been released into the wild in some countries, such as Brazil, in efforts to suppress the population of mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever.
Suppose, the editorial asks, Canada approves the GM mosquito and the United States does not? Eventually, mosquitoes from Canada will find their way into the United States, regulatory approval or not. Thus in this scenario, Canadas regulators would have, de facto, overruled the U.S. decision.
Similarly, scientists worldwide have warned of the dangers of germline modification of human beings that is, making modifications to human sperm, eggs, or embryos. Because these germline cells eventually differentiate into every cell in the body, changes to them can hypothetically affect any organ system, making it nearly impossible to predict their effects. These changes are then also passed on to future generations without their consent. (RELATED: Stay up to date on genetically modified foods at GMO.news)
Critics also warn that germline modification begins a slippery slope toward designer babies or genetically engineered superhumans, ideas which have major social ramifications and are widely unpopular.
Scientists and ethicists have repeatedly called for a moratorium on germline modification research. But recently, the United Kingdom announced a framework for licensing clinics to perform a type of germline modification known as mitochondrial replacement, or three-parent IVF. This led Newsweek to suggest that British scientists are unilaterally deciding the future of humanity.
Is cooperation impossible?
The Gizmodo editorial suggests that perhaps an international legal framework is needed to regulate genetic engineering, but admits that this may be a pipe dream.
The major challenge is that different countries have dramatically different attitudes toward biotechnology. The US government is heavily pro-GMO, for example, while many European countries have banned GMO crops and require labeling of GMO foods.
Im skeptical about the ability of an international body to reflect the very different conditions and, more importantly, cultures of different countries, Stanford bioethicist Hank Greely said.
When countries want different things, he said, international bodies typically end up being ineffective, often with mandates sufficiently vague that everyone could agree to them but that no one will be particularly bound by them.
This phenomenon was on display at a recent meeting of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity. Activists had called for a global moratorium on a biotechnology technique known as gene drive, in which a genetic modification is designed to completely take over in a wild population. Despite the fact that bioethicists regularly raise warnings about the implications of gene drive and that a UN resolution would have been non-binding, the UN refused to issue a comment on the subject.
Likely this reluctance came, in part, from the influence of countries with powerful biotech industries.
Sources for this article include:
Gizmodo.co.uk
DNI.gov
DNI.gov
NaturalNews.com
NASA is taking a deeper dip into the autonomous robots field, with a desire to develop new technology to "improve" how humans interact with new robotic counterparts.
Terry Fong, senior scientist for autonomous system at NASA's Ames Research Center, said it may be about time for humans and robots to interact with autonomous systems. This is especially the case for robots they can trust.
According to a NASA Ames video, Fong said scientists need to create a piece of software that would allow them to look at a terrain and sensor data from autonomous robots. This resulted to the creation of VERVE, a "3D robot user interface" that helps NASA see and grasp the 3D world of remotely operated robots.
In a report from Motherboard, VERVE has been used with NASA's K10 planetary rovers. These are mobile "robot" prototypes that are built to travel bumpy terrains. It's also used with the agency's K-Rex planetary rovers that determine soil moisture, as well as with the SPHERES on the International Space Station. Its latest use is with the new robot Astrobee, which flies around the ISS.
In 2013, NASA carried out a series of tests with astronauts on the ISS, where astronauts who were in the international space station remotely operated the K10 rover in California. However, we can't just "plug in a controller" on a robot due to the time delay. The robot will have to be able to do the tasks assigned to it.
Tech Eye states that this, however, still means that a human being should be on the other side of the control structure. A presence of a human brings experience and cognition into the fray, something robots do not have -- at least not yet.
The technology being developed at NASA will not just be for astronauts alone. NASA wants to develop the technology to be used in a myriad of industries as well, including the commercial sector such as supporting autonomous vehicles in partnership with Nissan.
Scientists at the Arizona Geological Survey have released the first up-close footage the massive, 3.2-km (2-mile) crack that has formed in the Arizona Desert. According to the description accompanying the footage, the scientists used a drone to get a view of the crack.
"AZGS is experimenting with drone technology as a tool for mapping fissures and other surface features, e.g. landslide masses," it said.
AOL News said that while this is not the first fissure reported in the area, but it is measured to be the longest. The fissure was found in the Tator Hills area of southern Pinal County, between Casa Grande and Tucson.
"I noticed on Google Earth imagery from 2014 that there was a new fissure," said geologist Joe Cook, who was one of those who detected the crack in an interview with KVOA. "We got out to map it and found that it was much longer than it shows in the Google Earth imagery."
Fissures are important in studying the features of a landscape. It especially gives experts an idea on what's happening deep the ground surface. Cook said groundwater pumping could have been the cause of the fissure, as it was found in an area where groundwater pumping is prevalent.
"These form because the ground is sinking and the ground is sinking because we're pumping water out and we have for many years," said Cook. Live Science reported that the fissure has different depths on both ends.
"Some areas are about 10 feet [3 meters] across and up to 25-30 feet [7.5 to 9 m] deep (tapering crack, narrowing with depth), while others are a narrow surface crack less than an inch across," Cook told Live Science in an email. "These narrow sections sometimes have open voids underground, so collapse of the overlying material is possible -- this is how the deep open portions of the fissure formed."
The crack is worrisome not just because of how it appears but because it may pose danger to livestock and passersby who might fall in, get stuck or buried in it.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk met with U.S. President Donald Trump last week at the White House. The businessman also recently agreed to become a member of Trump's economic advisory board and Trumps' Strategic and Policy Forum.But it looks like the businessman and the new president do not agree on some point.
However, even Musk cannot hold back his reaction when the new president of the United States signed an executive order on the immigrant ban. Citizens of the U.S., and even celebrities reacted to the decision that is also currently being protested upon.
Before President Donald Trump won the elections, analysts predicted that Musk might have a problem running his businesses under the new administration. The recent meeting between the two proved that Musk might actually benefit from the new government. However, the fate of Musk and his business may also be in jeopardy as the CEO expressed his opposition to the new immigrant ban.
"The blanket entry ban on citizens from certain primarily Muslim countries is not the best way to address the country's challenges," Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a Tweet.
The blanket entry ban on citizens from certain primarily Muslim countries is not the best way to address the countrys challenges Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2017
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has joined the tech chorus opposing President Donald Trump's seven-country ban on immigration. In a two-part tweetstorm, Musk said the orders are "not the best way to address the country's challenges" and that "many people" affected "don't deserve to be rejected."
This isn't the only time that Musk reacted to the controversial EO's that the president had officially signed. "Many people negatively affected by this policy are strong supporters of the US. They've done right, not wrong & don't deserve to be rejected," Musk said in a statement via The Verge.
Musk believes that in order to influence the new president, negation should be forgotten. "Are you aware of a single case where Trump bowed to protests or media attacks?" Musk said as per USA Today. "Better that there are open channels of communication."
Although his reaction to the immigrant ban seemed to counteract his earlier statements, one thing is for sure, that Musk will closely work with the new administration.
A Chula Vista family, including a mother who leads a Girl Scouts troop, escaped injury when a fire swept through their home but a huge haul of Girl Scout Cookies was not so lucky.
Two adults and three daughters ages 12, 11 and 5 were safe following the fire on 27 East L St., just east of Hilltop Drive. The homeowner, Ernest Perkins, woke up before 5 a.m. when he heard the smoke alarm.
He said he saw smoke coming out of the garage and quickly called 911. He then got his family safely out of the home. Their pets, two cats and a dog, also made it out safely.
Chula Vista Fire Department (CVFD) officials said most of the fire ripped through the garage; some flames spread to the attic and part of the house.
A friend of the family, Carmela Perez, told NBC 7 the mother of the family is a leader of the Girl Scouts. The mother had Girl Scout Cookies stored in the garage, waiting to be sold, as the organizations cookie seasons just began.
All of the cookies burned in the fire, Perez said.
The mother was concerned her daughters would be responsible for the cookies, and also upset because she knows it is how the troop raises money for the year.
Perez said the Girl Scouts sent representatives to the familys home Tuesday to check in on the family and make sure they were okay.
[Theyre] the best people if you needed anything, Perez said.
NBC 7 reached out to Girl Scouts San Diego. The organization released a statement saying they were saddened to hear one of their dedicated Girl Scout families had been impacted by this fire and thankful no one was hurt.
"Our staff reached out to them this morning to express our concerns and offer assistance. We assured them that we are here to support them in any way possible. We will replace the cookies, and the family will not be held responsible for the loss," Girl Scouts San Diego said.
Neighbors were also checking in on the family throughout the day; the Red Cross is helping them as well.
The CVFD said one firefighter was evaluated at the scene of the blaze for overexertion. No one was hurt.
Fire investigators said a cable wire was knocked down at the house, though they are not sure if thats connected to the cause of the fire. The investigation is ongoing.
It's been an emotional time for 18-year-old Batool Rawoas, a Syrian refugee who is one of eight immigrants working at 1951 Coffee Co., a Berkeley coffeehouse aimed at supporting Bay Area refugees.
"I didn't learn only how to make coffee, but I'm learning how to communicate better with these people," Rawoas said. "I'm learning more about this culture, even more English."
According to its website, the coffeehouse is a nonprofit specialty coffee organization seeking to promote the well-being of the refugee community by providing job training and employment to refugees and asylees while educating the surrounding community about refugee life and issues.
Rawoas is deeply troubled about the crackdown on Muslim immigration. President Donald Trump's executive order has halted refugees from her war-torn homeland from entering the U.S. indefinitely.
"We are feeling really sad and afraid at the same time," she said. "We are just normal humans. If I'm wearing this scarf, that doesn't mean I'm different than you."
Rawoas's uncle was scheduled to join her parents and three siblings in California this month after passing rigorous background checks. But now that's on hold. With the support of her new job, she's trying to stay positive.
"We came here to start a new life again," she said. "We just want to improve our life; we don't want to hurt anyone or make trouble for anyone."
The coffeehouse, at 2410 Channing Way in Berkeley, collects donations through Crowdrise for its Raise the Bar for Refugees campaign. It has raised more than $31,000 as of Monday, according to its website.
Alameda County sheriff's deputies late Tuesday night were still trying to catch an escaped inmate who bolted in handcuffs while being transported to San Francisco International Airport, and was last seen near Interstate 880 in Hayward.
The inmate, who has been identified as 27-year-old Shawn New, was being extradited to Kentucky for violating probation on a credit card and ID fraud conviction. Authorities were transporting him from Dublin-based Santa Rita Jail to SFO, but he managed to escape from the transport vehicle, Sgt. Ray Kelly said.
The vehicle came to a stop around 9:45 a.m. near A Street and I-880 in Hayward, according to Kelly. New opened the back doors, which were unlocked at the time, and jumped from the car and took off running.
"At some point, the traffic was stopped. Mr. New jumped out of the backseat of the car and ran down the freeway, handcuffed," Kelly said.
Officials say the back doors of the rental car didn't have child safety locks and deputies didn't put leg shackles on New because of the long flight ahead.
People who live near his escape route are scared.
"He could be anywhere," resident Delfino Vasquez said. "He could knock down somebodys door. ... Maybe a little scared to find someone at your door kicking it in or shoving you in and holding you hostage until this thing clears."
New was wearing a blue plaid shirt, blue jeans and brown boots at the time of his escape, Kelly said. He has a thin build, stands about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 165 pounds.
Deputies say it's best for residents to keep their doors locked. New is not considered violent, but he should be considered dangerous, Kelly said.
"Right now, the ball has fallen in our court to go recapture this guy," he said.
Anyone who spots New is asked to contact the Alameda County Sheriff's Department.
San Francisco Giants star catcher Buster Posey took to his Instagram account Monday to post a touching tribute to slain Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens.
Owens, of Peoria, Illinois, was killed in a raid in Yemen over the weekend, according to Pentagon officials.
Posey indicated in his post that Owens was a member of Seal Team 6 and a huge Giants fan. Posey said Owens was a frequent visitor to the Giants spring training camp in Scottsdale, Arizona, and posted a photo of Owens inside the team's clubhouse.
Posey said in the post he had the honor of meeting Owens and his son in 2012.
"For me, it is easy to take for granted the life that my family and I get to live everyday," Posey wrote in the post. "Words don't do justice for the gratitude that I have for people like Ryan that sacrifice their lives fighting against evil, so that we may live with freedom.
"Unfortunately for Ryan's family, they lost a husband and a father this weekend. I can't imagine the pain they must be going through. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Ryan Owens was a hero that is gone way too soon."
Owens was killed in a firefight Sunday with militants from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's branch in Yemen. Three al Qaeda leaders were killed in the raid, U.S. officials told NBC News.
Thousands of Google employees gathered at the company's Mountain View campus on Monday to protest President Donald Trump's new immigration orders.
A crowd amassed at the center of the tech giant's headquarters, many carrying signs that read "#NoBanNoWall," "All are welcome" and "We are a nation of immigrants."
The unofficial rally was started by a Google engineer and included several speakers, including co-founder Sergey Brin, a Russian immigrant.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai criticized Trumps immigration order in an email to staff on Friday, saying the U.S. ban on foreign nationals from seven countries affects at least 187 Google employees, according to the Wall Street Journal.
"This is something, there are some values, which are really near and dear to your heart," Pichai said. "Its foundational and its something you should never compromise on. The thing weve been debating for the past three days is one of them."
Hundreds of Google employees on Monday converged at the center of the companys headquarters, also known as the Googleplex for a rally denouncing President Donald Trumps temporary immigration ban.
Nearly 1,000 Google employees in San Francisco held a similar march and rally earlier in the afternoon along the Embarcadero. Rallies also were held at Google offices in New York, Seattle and London.
On Saturday, Brin joined hundreds of protesters at San Francisco International Airport, telling reporters he is a refugee, according to the Mercury News. Brin and his family fled Russia in 1979 because of persecution against Jews, the newspaper said.
"I came here to the U.S. at age 6 with my family from the Soviet Union, which at that time was the greatest enemy the U.S. had maybe it still is in some form but it was a dire period of the Cold War," Brin told the crowd. "Some of you probably remember it. And there was threat of nuclear annihilation. And even then the U.S. had the courage to take me and my family in as refugees."
Google has created a $4 million crisis fund for four organizations that support immigrants: the American Civil Liberties Union, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, International Rescue Committee and UNHCR, according to USA Today.
CEOs of other large corporations, including Apple's Tim Cook, Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Starbucks' Howard Schultz, also have been outspoken against Trump's immigration ban.
Less than two weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump has been blasted by waves of criticism.
But the anti-Trump movement isn't just a ragtag nationwide phenomenon. It's becoming hyperlocal and organized.
The online group Indivisible, which is pieced together with former congressional staffers, recently published a Google Doc now morphed into an online guide filled with how-tos when it comes to defying the elected leader's agenda. Since that time, thousands of local collectives across the nation with the goal of speaking out against Trump's actions have adopted the guide and utilized its inside tips to spark advocacy.
Several hundred local groups in the Bay Area, ranging from "The Resistrump" in Redwood City to "Alameda Nasty Women," have been identified by Indivisible as bands of people gathered to "resist Trump's agenda, focus on local, defensive congressional advocacy, and embrace progressive values."
A majority of the Bay Area groups are clustered in San Francisco and in the East Bay cities of Oakland and Berkeley. Other factions have cropped up along the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
After nearly five years of delays, frustration and evidence battles, the trial in the kidnapping and killing of 15-year-old Sierra Lamar began Monday with the prosecution's opening statement.
Sierra disappeared in March 2012 on her way to a school bus stop in Morgan Hill. Antolin Garcia Torres, now 25, is charged with kidnapping and killing her. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Garcia Torres despite the fact that Sierra's body has never been found.
Sierras parents were in the courtroom, where they heard details about her disappearance and the prosecution's contention that DNA evidence found in Garcia Torres' car and on Sierra's clothing prove he killed the teen.
Lead prosecutor David Boyd told the jury that a responding deputy noticed a strong smell of urine on her jeans, found less than 3 miles away from her bus stop on Palm Avenue in Morgan Hill. Boyd also referred to a sweatshirt and undergarments that indicate the girl was naked and dead.
After nearly five years of delays, frustration and evidence battles, the trial in the kidnapping and killing of 15-year-old Sierra Lamar began Monday with the prosecutions opening statement. Cheryl Hurd reports.
Boyd told the jury he believes a strand of Sierras hair was found on a rope allegedly found in the trunk of the defendants car. He also said there is evidence Garcia-Torres bought a turkey baster and bleach three days before Sierra disappeared, planting a seed that the crime may have been premeditated.
The prosecution also played the 911 call Sierras mother made to report her disappearance.
Boyd warned the jury that the defense likely will say that Sierra ran away.
After court let out Monday, Sierra's father, Steve LaMar, made a brief statement without answering questions about the case or his daughter.
"It's been an emotional day for us, we're all exhausted," he said. "Sierra's family and Sierra's friends, the hundreds of searchers that have helped us search for Sierra are all glad that this day has finally come."
The prosecution will continue with its opening statement Tuesday morning. Then the defense will get its turn. The defense has indicated it will argue that Sierra is a runaway and still alive.
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Traffic is one of the most frustrating headaches for Bay Area drivers, and now inefficient roads are adding to the irritation.
Two stretches of pavement in the Bay Area - Interstate 980 in Oakland and Interstate 280 in San Francisco - are among 10 freeways in the country that need to be torn down and replaced with more efficient urban boulevards, according to the "Freeways Without Future" report published by the Congress for the New Urbanism, a collective dedicated to constructing well-designed cities.
Instead of funneling money to repair or expand the two freeways, CNU recommends replacement alternatives that it says would better connect communities and generate economic opportunity.
CNU officials suggest I-980 be gutted and replaced with a "multi-way boulevard" with rail service running beneath the road. The concept would add housing to the region, and it would reconnect the West Oakland neighborhood to the downtown area, according to CNU.
Just across the San Francisco Bay, city officials are considering a plan that would knock down a 1.2-mile stretch of I-280 the link that currently connects Highway 101 to Mission Bay and replace it with affordable housing units and commercial space. The plan could also land a high speed rail station at the spot where I-280 currently ends.
The resistance to President Donald Trump's immigration order is playing out in several ways and in multiple venues in San Francisco, a city known for its diversity.
From the streets to the classroom to automated phone calls, San Franciscans opposed to the president's bans on refugees and immigramts are making sure their voices are heard.
All 56,000 students in the San Francisco Unified School District received an automated phone message Monday to reassure families that, despite our new president's executive orders on immigration, it is safe for students to go to school.
"We want to make sure students don't miss out on an education, and we are here to serve all students, regardless of immigration status," district spokeswoman Gentle Blythe said.
Also Monday, at San Francisco State University, a panel discussed how to promote unity through education. Organizers hope to stop incidents like the hateful posters that were hung up on campus last fall targeting Muslims.
"Islamaphobia is not only targeting Arabs and Muslims," said Rabab Abdulhadi, AMED SFSU professor. "It's true, it is. But it's an invitation to racism against everybody."
At the Islamic Society of San Francisco, the Truman National Security project had a message of its own about the safety of our country under this new order.
"It makes us less safe by sending a signal to the rest of the world that we're not a place that can be trusted, as far as valuing our allies, our Muslism allies, overseas and the fight against terrorism," the council's Josh Weinberg said.
The common theme expressed among all entities in San Francisco was unity against the executive order and a commitment to continue to fight it.
Morteza Bakhtiari, 62, was finally able to crack open a cold beer and his wife, Nazi, 60, was able to crash on her daughters couch. But only after a panic-filled 46 hours that took them from their home in Tehran to Dubai and finally to San Francisco International Airport, where they emerged on Sunday about 5:30 p.m. to the cheers of hundreds, perhaps 1,000 protesters, waiting for their release.
We were so amazed at how many American were at the airport, Bahareh Bakhtiari, 35, a dentist in San Jose told NBC Bay Area in her first extensive interview about her parents detention and overseas saga. All these white people werent even affected by President Donald Trumps executive order temporarily banning refugees from seven countries from entering the United States, and they came out for us. Its a big deal.
Bahareh Bakhtiari
109 Denied Across U.S. in First Day, Five Detainees Released at SFO
In the first 23 hours of the presidential ban, which has now been softened and no longer includes green card holders, 109 were denied entry upon arrival and 173 people were kept from boarding flights to the United States, according to a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security. Five were detained and released at SFO over the weekend, including the Bakhtiaris, another Iranian couple held for 30 hours and eventually helped by the Asian Law Caucus and a man en route to meet his fiance.
lawyer: one Iranian couple is being detained at SFO they are in their 70s. And possibly one traveler from Yemen. pic.twitter.com/jhs4AKa5fZ Lisa Fernandez (@ljfernandez) January 29, 2017
The Bakhtari Daughters Work To Fly Their Parents to California
Morteza Bakhtiari is a retired real estate agent, Nazi is a retired teacher. Both of whom have daughters who were trying furiously to bring their parents to America before the ban got worse. The parents are green card holders who travel back-and-forth between Iran and the United States regularly.
The 46-Hour Timeline From Iran to SFO
6:30 p.m. Friday: Bahareh Bakhtiaris friend called her. Had she heard about Trumps executive order?
7 p.m. Bakhtiari flicked on CNN. Then she called her sister, Behnoosh, 31, a dental student in Michigan. Her sister sent her a link to the executive order. I glanced at it, she said. But it was so vague.
"That's a Bunch of Hoo-Hah": Son-in-Law on Trump's Order
She spoke to her husband, Pejmun Zargar, an attorney and international tax consultant. His response? No, thats impossible, she recalled him telling her. Its unconstitutional. Thats a bunch of hoo-hah.
7:30 p.m. She and her sister decided the risk wasnt worth it.
8 p.m. They called their parents in Iran. They woke them up as it was about 7:30 a.m. Saturday there. Hey, mom and dad, were scared. Lets buy you a ticket, Bakhtiari recalled. Her parents already had a scheduled flight to SFO on Feb. 18. But she and her sister worried by then, things could be worse. And re-issuing paperwork for travel is excruciating, Bakhtiari said. Since there is no U.S. Embassy in Iran, her parents had to get their documents in Turkey. They didnt want to have to go through that again. The sisters Face-timed their parents in their hometown of Hamadan, one of the oldest cities in the world. They told their parents to pack their belongings, find someone to watch the cat and drive five hours to the airport in Tehran. As they were talking, Bakhtiari was watching all the airline tickets getting snapped up.
"Let's Do It": The Daughters Buy $3,500 Plane Tickets
8:30 p.m. Lets do it, she said, and she bought two tickets for her parents costing about $3,500 on Emirates Airline. The administration is so crazy, we didnt want to wait another 20 days. It wasnt an easy decision to make but Bakhtiari said, We were all so panicky.
9 p.m. Her parents made a round of phone calls. They found a friend to watch the cat indefinitely. Ive never seen my father cry so much over his cat, Bakhtiari said. In their haste, her parents left some medication behind. Her parents headed to the airport. They were flying from Tehran to Dubai, where they had a 10-hour layover. They were expected to touch down at SFO on Sunday at 12:45 p.m. Bakhtiari went to bed.
Protesters Against Trump's Immigration Policies Take Over SFO
7:30 a.m. Saturday: Bakhtiari woke up and flicked on TV and began monitoring the situation.
10 a.m. She saw protesters at John F. Kennedy Airport. She went online. She saw the American Civil Liberties Union was dispatching lawyers to airports around the country. She called in sick to her dental office. I cannot focus and go to work, she told them. I saw all the protests and the mixed messages from the White House and I knew that there was the possibility that something could change.
Noon: She hopped in her car to drive to SFO. I was getting more hopeful, she said.
2 p.m. She arrived at the airport, where it would have been 2 a.m. in Dubai. Her parents had gotten on the 14-hour flight, despite some fellow passengers being told by the airline not even to bother. She talked to the ACLU lawyers staffing a cubicle at the international terminal. They told her to tell her parents not to sign any papers without talking to a lawyer first. They hooked her up with Berkeley immigration lawyer Nancy Hormachea, who speaks Farsi. She also talked to attorney, Margaret Moody, at attorney who is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, who also happens to be married to an Iranian. They both advised her to have her parents call her as soon as they landed. Bakhtiari protested all day with the others who came out holding signs that read Jews for Muslims and Muslims Welcome. A group of musicians banged out No hate, no fear, refugees are wanted here. Amanda Fried came with her two children. Her grandparents lived through the Holocaust and I promised them I would never let it happen again.
"My family escaped from Holocaust and I promised grandparents I would never let it happen again." Amanda Fried of SF pic.twitter.com/ULAwcjrd8o Lisa Fernandez (@ljfernandez) January 29, 2017
"My Feet Were Exploding": Daughter Protests With Americans
1:30 a.m. Sunday: She drove home for a few hours sleep. I had wanted to go home earlier, my feet were exploding, she said. But she stayed. If the Americans were there for her and her parents, she couldnt leave.
Noon p.m. Bakhtiari returned to SFO.
12:45 p.m. Her father used a fellow passengers phone to call her. He and her mother had landed. Then nothing for three hours. Bakhtiari waited in the terminal. Lawyers scurried about. Protesters kept each other updated: An Iranian couple had been detained, one of five people at SFO who had been questioned and finally released by the end of the weekend.
Bahareh Bakhtiari
3:30 p.m. A custom agent called Bakhtiari. Your parents are here. They are fine. Theyre just going through inspection. Do they need lawyers? she asked them. No, the agent said. Do you have a translator? They dont speak English. Yes, the agent said. Then there was silence. And more silence. For about two hours, she heard nothing.
Since her parents didnt have an American phone line, they had no ability to communicate with her. She couldnt find them anywhere. Airport police, airline officials. No one knew where they were.
Tearful, Joyous Reunion: "Don't Worry, We'll Let You Go"
5:30 p.m. Her father borrowed a stranger's phone. Were outside the arrival gate, he said. Finally. They met for a tearful and joyous reunion. Cameras rolled. Chanters cheered. They told their daughter they werent scared, just exhausted. The agents had offered them water, and treated them respectfully. Dont worry, well let you go, the agents told them.
We were very, very happy, Bakhtiari said.
For now though, her parents are just getting over their jet lag, and have done some initial grocery shopping.
As for how long they plan to stay? I dont know if or when theyre going back, Bakhtiari said.
A federal lawsuit filed Monday accuses banking giant Wells Fargo of illegally denying student loans to young immigrants who are protected from deportation and allowed to work and study in the U.S. under a program created by former President Barack Obama.
Wells Fargo said it was disappointed the plaintiffs sued instead of working with the bank on a solution.
The young immigrants have Social Security numbers and documents that meet bank requirements for identification, but Wells Fargo refuses to give them student loans based on their citizenship status, according to the lawsuit by the Los Angeles-based Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
"It's very important in our view to establish that there are clear rules against this kind of discrimination, particularly in a time like this," said Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
The suit seeks a court order declaring the policy discriminatory and forcing Wells Fargo to grant the loans to those participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. It also seeks unspecified monetary damages.
"Wells Fargo understands the dream of pursuing higher education and we remain focused on our responsible lending practices to assist temporary and permanent residents and U.S. citizens in obtaining student financing," the bank said in a statement.
Banking experts say financial institutions can face unique challenges getting repaid by borrowers who are not in the country permanently, including potential difficulty in accepting payments from foreign banks.
Paul Hartwick, a spokesman for Chase Bank, said it does not offer student loans. An email to representatives for Bank of America was not immediately returned.
The lawsuit comes amid concern among immigrant groups that President Donald Trump will cancel the DACA program as part of a broader effort to control immigration.
Trump has signed executive actions to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, temporarily ban immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries and suspend the nation's refugee program.
Obama created DACA by executive order in 2012, providing temporary protection for immigrants brought to the United States illegally by their parents before the age of 16.
More than 750,000 immigrants had been approved for DACA as of December, federal officials say.
Mitzie Perez, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, came to the U.S. illegally in 1997 from Guatemala as a small child. Now 25, Perez is a junior at UC Riverside.
She applied for a student loan from Wells Fargo last year but says she was not able to proceed with the online loan application after she disclosed she was not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. She said she works and has used credit cards to cover her tuition.
"Every day I consider not completing my education because I don't have the means," she said.
Threats against Jewish community centers were reported in at least ten states Tuesday, forcing evacuations and prompting the FBI to launch an investigation into possible civil rights violations.
It's the latest in a series of threats, including bomb threats, at the centers in the last few weeks.
The Jewish Community Center Apachi Day Camp in Lake Zurich, Illinois, was evacuated Tuesday morning after a bomb threat was phoned into the campus, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, NBC Chicago reported. The threat remains under investigation.
In an earlier incident, the Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center in Albany, New York, was evacuated Tuesday morning after receiving a bomb threat, the second in the last two weeks, the Albany Times Union reported.
The JCC of Greater New Haven in Woodbridge, Connecticut, was evacuated due to a threat shortly before noon Tuesday, according to JCC officials. The same center was evacuated last week over a bomb threat. The building was checked on Tuesday and employees have since been allowed to return to work, said Judy Diamondstein of the JCC/Jewish Federation.
Preschool students at the Worcester Jewish Community Center in Massachusetts were evacuated after a bomb threat was called in, Worcester Police said. A search by a Worcester Police bomb-sniffing dog and state police turned up nothing, and the building was declared safe. It's the second time in less than two weeks that the center has received bomb threats.
Authorities gave the all-clear for The Lawrence Family JCC in La Jolla after a threat prompted a campus-wide evacuation early Tuesday, San Diego police confirmed.
A bomb threat prompted the evacuation of the Boulder Jewish Community Center in Boulder, Colorado, Tuesday morning, NBC affiliate KUSA reported.
And a bomb threat also prompted the evacuation of the JCC in Salt Lake City Utah, according to Salt Lake City Police, NBC affiliate KSL.com reported.
The JCC Association of North America told NBC in a statement that bomb threats were also called in to its centers in New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin. Outside the U.S., the London Jewish Community Centre in Ontario, Canada, also received a bomb threat.
"We are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats," David Posner, director of strategic performance at JCC Association of North America said in a statement. He added: "We are relieved that no one has been harmed and that JCCs continue to operate in a way that puts the safety of their staff, visitors, and premises first.
The FBI and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with threats, the agency said in a statement.
On Jan. 18, 27 Jewish community centers in 17 states, including Florida, New Jersey, Delaware, Tennessee and North Carolina received threats, according to the JCC Association of North America. It wasn't clear if they were connected. No injuries or actual explosives have been reported.
On Jan. 9, 16 centers in nine states received threats. In central Florida bomb threats targeted two Jewish centers and two Jewish preschools in Tampa. Authorities said no explosives were found at those locations.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, with the backing of the state's Republican governor, said Tuesday her office was joining a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union challenging President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration.
Healey, a Democrat, said the order restricting travel into the U.S. by people from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and blocking refugees for 120 days was "harmful, discriminatory and unconstitutional."
Gov. Charlie Baker did not join Healey at a news conference announcing the lawsuit but simultaneously issued a statement that expressed support for the action and a hope that the courts would resolve the dispute quickly.
A moderate in a heavily Democratic state, Baker was the first GOP governor to announce during the presidential campaign that he would not support his party's nominee, saying he questioned whether Trump had the temperament for the job.
Massachusetts is intervening in the lawsuit filed over the weekend on behalf of two state university professors, both Muslims from Iran and lawful permanent U.S. residents.
"With the wave of a pen, the president's executive order kept them and thousands of others from coming home," said Healey.
After being detained and questioned for three hours Saturday at Boston's airport as they returned from an academic conference, the professors were released.
University of Massachusetts President Martin Meehan, a former Democratic congressman, said the five-campus system has more than 300 students and 166 faculty members from the seven countries named in Trump's order.
"We will do everything we can to protect our faculty, our students, our scholars, our researchers," said Meehan.
Early Sunday, two federal judges in Boston granted the ACLU of Massachusetts a temporary injunction against the travel ban from the seven predominantly Muslim nations. Healey said the state would seek to make permanent the injunction and require immigration officials to process and approve renewals of visas and other immigration statuses for those already in the U.S.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced separately on Tuesday his office is similarly joining a lawsuit filed by the ACLU in that state. On Monday, Washington became the first state to file a legal challenge against the executive order.
The order is necessary to keep potential terrorists out of the country until security procedures are improved, the Trump administration maintains.
Oxfam, a Boston-based non-profit, and the ACLU of Massachusetts also joined in the state's lawsuit against Trump.
Many people in Vermont continue expressing deep disappointment with President Donald Trump's recent executive order which, among other changes, indefinitely suspends the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States.
Before the order came down, the city of Rutland was in the process of welcoming 100 refugees from Syria and Iraq this year, with more expected in future years.
Those refugees have undergone close scrutiny through a lengthy and rigorous U.S. vetting process conducted overseas, leaders at Vermont Refugee Resettlement have said.
The volunteer group Rutland Welcomes had organized the collection of necessity kits to help those refugees start new lives in Vermont. The kits consisted of everything from mops to alarm clocks.
But now, following President Trump's signature, those kits will remain in storage until the best use for them can be determined.
Jennie Gartner, a volunteer with Rutland Welcomes, said she remains hopeful that national policy may change, and refugee resettlement can resume in Rutland.
"It's so incredibly important that we can say, wow, these are real families," Gartner said on Monday. "These are families who need our help, these are families who very well could die if we don't do something."
Gartner was part of a large crowd in Rutland that protested the executive order this weekend.
"We have to be hopeful," Gartner said. "We have to hope that at a certain point, the president and his administration will say, 'OK, the security is OK, and we can let these people in,' because you can't keep the borders of America closed forever--it's just absolutely ridiculous."
President Trump reaffirmed his position that a halt on refugees from Syria and other nations is an important part of a series of reforms that he sees as critical to national security.
Trump tweeted Monday, "There's nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country."
However, multiple opponents to the order have argued that it could actually make the country less secure, by making the United States appear to enemies like ISIS to be anti-Muslim.
Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, said Monday at a luncheon hosted by the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce that he and his cabinet are looking for ways to push back against the White House.
"I think this infringes upon our constitutional rights," Scott said in his speech. "I truly believe, to build a strong, vibrant economy, we need peaceful families from all walks of life."
Scott later added, "I don't believe that federal funding should be used as a tool to force us into anything."
The Vermont Mayors Coalition said it appreciated Gov. Scott standing up for human rights.
The coalition, made up of the mayors of Rutland, Burlington, Winooski, St. Albans, Barre, Montpelier, Newport, and Vergennes, called on President Trump to rescind his order.
"The United States, the State of Vermont, and our towns and cities have a long and proud history of welcoming immigrants and refugees from all cultures and backgrounds, and we believe we are a better country and State for it," the Vermont Mayors Coalition said in a statement Monday. "Fridays Executive Order stands in stark contrast to that history, and should not be allowed to stand."
Congressman Peter Welch met last week with two Syrian refugee families who moved to Rutland before the executive order came down.
Monday, the Democrat said he hopes to blunt the impacts of the order, looking for support for legislation that could perhaps de-fund its implementation.
"People of Vermont are going to stand up for the rights and opportunities of all people, regardless of their race, regardless of their religion," Rep. Welch said.
Welch further described Trump's order as "just wrong."
Also Monday, Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan joined a coalition of attorneys general from across the country who condemned Trump's executive order.
Immigration lawyers remained on hand Monday at Boston's Logan Airport to speak with arriving passengers who might need assistance, as well as families waiting for loved ones overseas.
On Sunday, lawyers for the Massachusetts chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union were able to temporarily stop Trump's executive order barring some travelers from seven different Muslim-majority nations. As a result, a federal judge issued a stay of the executive order in Boston for the next seven days.
Despite the temporary restraining order put in place, many locals say they are still concerned about the immigration order.
Mike Hager, whose plane arrived on Monday, is a United States citizen from Iraq who served as a translator for the military.
Hager said his family members who were traveling with him have green cards but were all held back in the Middle East.
"Nieces, my nephews. All of them. We went there because my mom passed away," Hager said. "Right when we got there, all of the people that were green card holders, they got stuck they can't even get back here."
Haley Woldseth was also at Logan waiting for the arrival of her future mother-in-law, an Iranian citizen.
"I don't want to put my mother in law through hell trying to get here," Woldseth said. "We caught wind of the executive order a day or two before it was signed and did our best to get her over here. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite quick enough."
Woldseth's future mother-in-law was trying to make it in time for her son and Haley's wedding. She was stopped from boarding a plan Friday in Abu Dhabi.
"This is so much bigger than my wedding. It would be lovely to have them here, but we have families that are separated and we have no idea how long that will be for," said Woldseth.
Mahdi Hashemia was at Logan because his mother-in-law was supposed to visit her granddaughter in Iran in a few days.
"She says she wants to see her grandma and we don't know if that's possible or not and that's really sad," Hashemia said.
Local families say they are now racing to get their loved ones here to the U.S. before the temporary restraining order expires on Friday.
Members of Maine's refugee and immigrant community are reeling from President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration this weekend.
The order stops refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries for 120 days, and requires officials to conduct additional screening.
The Trump administration has stated the executive order seeks to keep out radical Islamic terrorists.
Maine has a large Somali immigrant population, and Somalia is one of the seven countries listed on the immigration ban.
"It's concerning being on a list of countries that are 'too dangerous,'" said Mahmoud Hassan, president of the Somali Community Center of Maine. "It's just sad, to be negatively singled out, to be suspect until proven innocent."
Pious Ali, an immigrant from Ghana, and Portland's first African-born, Muslim city councilor, said many people have been calling him, asking questions about the immigration process in light of Trump's executive order.
"It's scary," Ali said. "People don't know where to turn."
"We came here because we felt this was the most safe place in the world, and for this to be happening here, now we don't know where to go," said Ali. "Where are we going to run to?"
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) held a press conference with members of the ACLU of Maine and former immigration lawyers to discuss the so-called Muslim ban.
"This is unconscionable, unthinkable, and unconstitutional," said Rep. Pingree.
Beth Stickney, an immigration lawyer for three decades, believes the challenges to Trump's executive order could end up in front of the Supreme Court.
Being a so-called night owl affects a lot more than your bedtime.
Various studies suggest that habitually staying up late can wreak havoc on the body in various ways. Health complications that can stem from burning the midnight oil include:
1. Weight gain
Adults who restrict their sleep time by staying up late might be more susceptible to weight gain, according to the findings of a 2013 study.
Participants whose sleep was restricted to 4 to 8 a.m. consumed more calories overall compared with participants who slept from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., the study found. Researchers attributed this difference to the first groups consuming more meals late at night.
A 2011 study found that people who stay up late and sleep in also could be more susceptible to weight gain due to consuming extra calories during dinner and later at night.
Compared with participants who went to bed earlier and got up earlier, late sleepers also:
Consumed 248 more calories per day. This was not deemed statistically significant, however.
Consumed twice as much fast food.
Consumed half as many fruits and vegetables.
Drank more full-calorie sodas.
Had a higher body mass index, a measure of weight that takes height into consideration.
Senior study author Phyllis Zee, a neurology professor at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine, explained:
Human circadian rhythms in sleep and metabolism are synchronized to the daily rotation of the Earth, so that when the sun goes down you are supposed to be sleeping, not eating.
When sleep and eating are not aligned with the bodys internal clock, it can lead to changes in appetite and metabolism, which could lead to weight gain.
2. Diabetes
For people who already have Type 2 diabetes, a 2013 study found that staying up late and sleeping in (as well as eating a big dinner) were associated with poor glycemic control, meaning poor control of blood glucose or blood sugar levels.
3. Muscle loss
A 2015 study of South Koreans found that among men who had an evening chronotype which is an attribute reflecting your preferences in the timing of behaviors such as sleep the health problems they were at a higher risk of developing included sarcopenia, a condition in which the body gradually loses muscle mass.
Story continues
Study author Dr. Nan Hee Kim, of Korea University College of Medicine, said of night owls increased risk for such health problems:
This could be caused by night owls tendency to have poorer sleep quality and to engage in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, late-night eating and [living] a sedentary lifestyle.
4. Metabolic syndrome
Women who had an evening chronotype had more belly fat and were at an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, the same South Korean study found.
The Mayo Clinic defines metabolic syndrome as a cluster of conditions that occur together and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Those symptoms include:
Increased blood pressure
High blood sugar level
Excess body fat around the waist
Abnormal cholesterol levels
5. Pregnancy challenges
A 2014 study concluded that darkness at nighttime is critical to the health of developing fetuses and to the reproductive health of women who are trying to get pregnant.
Exposure to light during the night suppresses womens production of melatonin, which could deprive the fetal brain of enough of the hormone needed to regulate its biological clock, the study found.
Melatonin, which is secreted by the brain in response to darkness, also protects womens eggs from what scientists call oxidative stress, which is also referred to as free-radical damage.
Study researcher Russel J. Reiter, a cellular biology professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, explained to Live Science:
We have evolved for 4 million years with a regular light-dark cycle that regulates circadian rhythms [biological clock]. We have corrupted this with the development of artificial light
There is a biological price to pay for disturbing the light.
Reiter recommended that women who are trying to get pregnant have at least eight hours of complete darkness at night and keep those hours regular from day to day.
For more help getting sounder sleep, be sure to check out 16 Affordable Ways to Ensure You Sleep Like a Baby.
Has being a night owl affected your health? Sound off by commenting below or on our Facebook page.
This article was originally published on MoneyTalksNews.com as '5 Ways That Being a Night Owl Can Harm Your Health'.
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Caterpillar Inc. announced Tuesday it is moving its global headquarters to the Chicago area.
The company previously planned to build a new headquarters complex in downtown Peoria, but those plans have since been canceled.
Caterpillars Board of Directors has been discussing the benefits of a more accessible, strategic location for some time, said Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby in the announcement. Since 2012, about two-thirds of Caterpillars sales and revenues have come from outside the United States. Locating our headquarters closer to a global transportation hub, such as Chicago, means we can meet with our global customers, dealers and employees more easily and frequently.
A limited group of senior executives and support functions will lead the move to the new leased office space beginning in 2017, the company said.
We value our deep roots in Central Illinois, and Peoria will continue to be our hometown. The vast majority of our people will remain in this important region where we have many essential facilities and functions, Umpleby said. The new location is also an opportunity to add to our talented team while improving the productivity of our senior leaders.
The current headquarters building in Peoria will still continue to be used for Caterpillar offices, the company said.
If Caterpillar succeeds globally, we win in Central Illinois," said Peoria County Board Chairman Andrew Rand. "Im disappointed we cant keep every job here, but if moving some of its team near Chicago helps Caterpillar thrive, it will benefit Peoria, our county and the surrounding communities."
Caterpillar expects about 300 employees in total to be based in the new Chicago-area headquarters, including some positions relocated from Peoria, once the office space is fully operational.
A northern Illinois judge has again delayed the felony trial for the widow of a suburban Chicago police officer who killed himself and made it look like he was gunned down in the line of duty.
Lake County Judge James Booras on Monday pushed back Melodie Gliniewicz's trial to May 30. The delay is needed because the judge ordered prosecutors to identify the bank transactions authorities used to charge Gliniewicz with theft. The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reports the delay is to give prosecutors time to provide the specifics.
The 52-year-old widow's defense attorney wants to know which transactions were in question.
Gliniewicz was indicted after her husband, Fox Lake Police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, committed suicide last year. She has pleaded not guilty to charges she stole from the village's youth policing program.
Illinois friends of an Iraqi man waiting for a Special Immigrant Visa fear he wont be able to move to the United States any time soon as a result of President Trumps executive order restricting immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
The Iraqi translator, nicknamed Jaguar, risked his life to help American troops during the height of the Iraq War and insurgency. He applied for the Special Immigrant Visa in 2011, received recommendations from military officers and supervisors, and is currently awaiting a second interview in the approval process.
John Taylor is a former Illinois National Guardsman who patrolled alongside Jaguar in areas near Baghdad in 2004 and 2005. Taylor has contacted lawmakers regarding updates in Jaguars visa application and also helped him apply for humanitarian parole through the US Department of Homeland Security.
But Taylor said the recent executive order on immigration is making him think outside the box for new ways to help Jaguar.
Were making plans to see if we can get him to another country. It may end up being somewhere in Europe. Ideally, it be nice to get him to North America, Taylor said. Maybe when the time is right, he can come to the United States.
In an email to NBC, Jaguar explained his understanding of the Presidents order targeting refugees and immigrants from Iraq and the other listed countries from traveling to the US.
I think Mr. Trump personally didnt mean to stop traveling for good, wrote Jaguar. I think he wants to stop and fix immigration illegals.
Taylors business partner, Majid Jabber, himself a former Iraqi translator who moved to the US on a Special Immigrant Visa in 2007, said he was taken aback by the executive order and that translators seeking to move to the US do not have the luxury of time. Many Iraqis who worked for the US military are considered traitors by extremists, according to Jabber.
Jaguar said he faces near daily threats in Baghdad and cannot leave his house.
I can only imagine what Jaguar is feeling right now, Jabber said. Youre really fighting for your life every second.
Over the weekend another Iraqi man who worked as an interpreter for the US military was detained at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport following President Trumps executive order.
We need to appreciate the service that theyve had, but that doesnt mean that we dont let them in without a certain degree of vetting, said White House press secretary Sean Spicer during a press conference Monday. The onus is on us to make sure that were protecting the American people.
Jabber now lives in Toulon, Illinois. He found work as an engineer before partnering with Taylor to open a chain of vape stores across northern Illinois.
Garry McCarthy will not be forced to testify in the increasingly hostile divorce case of former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and his estranged wife Sandi.
At least not for now.
Because the soon-to-be former Mrs. Jackson has filed a motion to quash the subpoenas in the case, those subpoenas for McCarthy, Chicago businessman Richard Simon, and former police officer James Love have been put on hold, pending a formal hearing February 27th. McCarthys lawyer also reached a separate agreement with Jacksons attorney to hold off on any appearance.
The subpoena to former police superintendent Garry McCarthy was surprising and unwarranted, McCarthys attorney Morgan Stogsdill said outside of court. Mr. McCarthy has absolutely nothing to do with the Jackson divorce.
McCarthy and the others received subpoenas earlier this month, demanding that they appear for questioning by the former congressmans attorney, and bring along documents and photos which might detail previous relations they may have had with Sandi Jackson. For now, those appearances are held in abeyance, and it is unclear whether any of the three will be required to submit themselves for questions.
While Mr. McCarthy will follow any directive of this court, at this juncture, it is unnecessary to do so, Stogsdill said.
Previously, Simon echoed McCarthys comments that he had nothing to offer in the Jackson divorce, declaring in an e-mailed statement that he had only met Sandi Jackson on two occasions, which were social events with more than 100 people present.
I have not communicated with her directly or indirectly, or with Ms. Jackson by telephone or by any electronic means ever, Simon told NBC5. There are no gifts, funds, or anything else of value given to Ms. Jackson by me for any reason, nor have I done so for another.
From the media spin, said Simon, it appears that Mr. Jacksons lawyer is far over reaching for legal actions in Illinois, so the court will keep the case in Illinois.
In her motion to quash the subpoena requests, Sandi Jackson accused the former congressman of conducting a fishing expedition.
Jesse has improperly issued three third-party subpoenas simply to harass Sandra, that motion stated. The subpoeanas were filed in the public court file and immediately posted in online news articles, all without a copy being served on Sandra or her attorneys.
That motion went on to declare that the one-time Chicago alderman was seeking a hearing, to prevent any further abuse by Jesse, the consequence of which is the immediate dissemination of information to the public at large, including the couples teenage children.
A bomb threat was called in to a Jewish community center in unincorporated Lake Zurich Tuesday morning amid similar scares in at least five different states, according to authorities.
Sheriffs deputies searched the building but found nothing suspicious after an employee of JCC Apachi Day Camp, in the 2300 block of North Old McHenry Road, said a bomb threat was phoned into the camp. The incident occurred about 10:30 a.m., according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriffs Office.
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The building is also used as a daycare during the school year, according to the release.
Bomb-sniffing dogs were on the scene Tuesday morning continuing to search the area. Students were transferred to a different location, the sheriffs office said.
There were no injuries and the threat remains under investigation, the sheriffs office said.
At least five Jewish Community Centers across the U.S. were evacuated Tuesday, the latest in a series of threats, including bomb threats, at the centers in the last few weeks, multiple NBC affiliates have reported.
Similar threats were made at Jewish facilities New York, Connecticut, California, Colorado, Florida and other states, according to reports from NBC affiliates.
A $5,000 reward is being offered after the mysterious shooting death of a Lewis University professor and father found Friday night in his car near a school in west suburban Naperville.
Officers responded to a report of an unresponsive person inside a vehicle about 7:30 p.m. Friday in a parking lot at Scullen Middle School, 2815 Mistflower Lane, according to Naperville police.
They found 37-year-old Matthew Langes body. Lange, from Oswego, was inside the vehicle with the windows broken out, police said.
They quickly determined that he suffered from gunshot wounds, he was transported to Edward Hospital in Naperville where he was pronounced dead, said Naperville police Cmdr. Lou Cammiso. We dont feel it was a robbery, we don feel it was a carjacking, we dont feel it was a random event.
Lange was picking up his son at Scullen Middle School about 7 p.m. where the 4-year-old was in a polish program. A spokesperson told NBC 5 said Lange alternated Friday pickups with his ex-wifebut he never showed up. Another parent came inside and reported a car with its lights and motor on with a person inside. Thats when the police were called.
On Friday night, there were two non-district organizations which had rented space in the building for activities and an after-school club meeting.
The incident does not appear to be random and there is no threat to the community, police said.
Naperville police were conducting a homicide investigationthe departments first in three years.
Monday night at Lewis University in Romeoville, flags were at half-staff, counselors were offered to students and staff who were grieving the loss of a coworker and mentor.
Illinois universities are speaking out against President Donald Trump's sweeping travel ban that has left some students and professors stranded abroad.
The University of Illinois System put out a statement Monday saying its three campuses are "greatly concerned" about the ban and "strongly recommend that students and scholars who might be affected defer travel outside the U.S." School officials say they're working with those affected and offering resources.
Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro said Monday that the Evanston school "will refuse to provide information to the federal government regarding the immigration status of members of our community." The school's police also won't detain individuals based on immigration status.
University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer sent a letter Monday to Trump saying the "strongest possible terms" that it's important for the U.S. to continue to welcome immigrants.
Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, president of DePaul University said in a statement there should be no confusion about where the school stands on the travel ban.
"We will take every action within the law to protect everyone within our community, including Muslim students, faculty and staff in the United States and from other countries, just as we remain unwavering in our support of undocumented students during these uncertain times," Holtschneider said.
A small group of demonstrators remained at OHare Monday night showing support for those effected by President Donald Trumps executive order on immigration.
Attorneys continued to volunteer their timewaiting to help anyone in need after a weekend that saw more than a dozen travelers detained and more than a thousand demonstrators flooded into Terminal Five.
Nour Ulayyets sister, Sahar, was denied entry Saturday when she arrived from Saudi Arabia at OHare.
She was told that she could not get in because of her Syrian passport, Ulayyet said. She was not allowed inas simple as that.
Sahar is a Syrian citizen living in Saudi Arabia, Ulayyet explained, who was coming to vist her mother who had undergone surgery Friday.
She really needed to be by her side and unfortunately she was not given that privilege, Ulayyet said.
The uncertainty for travelers continued Monday. One family from Iran spent three hours in screening before being allowed to proceed.
Its not something that you expect, said Tahniyat Patel, who was arriving in Chicago from Cancun.
A 16-year-old resident of Jordan also arrived at OHare Sunday with their parents but was held overnight for additional screening and was ultimately sent back to Jordan Monday night.
Ald. Ameya Pawar, the first Democrat to declare candidacy in the 2018 governor's race, criticized Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner Monday for failing to take a definitive stand on President Donald Trumps controversial executive order on immigration.
@GovRauner is a cowarda real failure in leadership, Pawar tweeted Monday. #WeWillResist.
On Sunday evening, Rauner issued a statement on Trumps executive order, which halts refugee resettlement and imposes a travel ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations.
The governor has been supportive of tightening the vetting process for Syrian refugees because of ISIS attempts to infiltrate refugee flows but hes opposed to immigration bans that target any specific religion, a spokesperson told NBC 5 via email.
Serious concerns about the executive order have been raised. We urge swift resolution of these concerns through the courts to ensure we are a nation that is both secure and welcoming of immigrants and refugees, the statement continued.
Rauner's office did not immediately respond to Ward Rooms request for comment on Pawar's declaration.
In a separate tweet, Pawar claimed Trumps executive action fulfills Rauners 2015 request to ban Syrian refugees. Following the Paris terrorist attacks in November of 2015, Rauner and a group of governors pushed to temporarily halt the resettlement of Syrian refugees.
Last year, Rauner's office reportedly looked into its legal options and wanted a review of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's acceptance and security processes. However, his office would not detail what actions the governor has taken since then, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Earlier this month, Pawar slammed Rauner for including non-budget items in ongoing budget negotiations.
I think the fact that were holding up the state budget for non budget-related items like term limits is immoral, Pawar told QConline.
Pawar also claimed Rauners turnaround agenda encourages a race to the bottom by seeking to undercut unions and collective bargaining rights.
According to the Democrat, the state needs to adopt a progressive vision moving forward.
Connecticut U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said Monday that would block a nominee for the high court if that individual doesn't meet what he described as, "mainstream" standards.
I hope there is a nominee who is a mainstream thoughtful, responsible, legal thinker," Blumenthal said.
The move to block President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee would come after a full year of blockades put up against Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's pick to fill the void left by the death of Antonin Scalia.
Blumenthal said if the nominee doesn't meet his standards, then he would work to make sure that nominee doesn't get seated on the high court.
An extremist, out of the mainstream jurist or legal thinker will be blocked," he warned.
When asked to describe what "mainstream," meant, Blumenthal said that would apply to someone who is, "willing to adapt the constitution to changing times but standing foursquare for basic rights; the First Amendment, the right to privacy.
When reached for comment, a spokeswoman for Sen. Chris Murphy said he would reserve judgment on a pick before one is named.
The most influential Republican in the Connecticut General Assembly, and the Chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party each say they support President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration and refugees.
One of the orders temporarily blocks citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries from entering the United States and put restrictions on Visa issuances, while the other indefinitely blocsk Syrian refugees from being resettled in the United States.
Could he have rolled it out better? Absolutely," said Sen. Len Fasano, the Republican President Pro Tem, in the divided Connecticut State Senate. "Could he have made some exemptions for kids? Certainly."
Fasano says the orders are meant to protect American citizens, while ensuring those enter the country aren't looking to do harm.
He described the orders as, "fair," and said, "He doesnt want some act to happen under his watch and hes going to put in those safeguards to do the best he can to make sure that those folks who are coming to our shores are well vetted.
Connecticut Republican Party Chairman, JR Romano, said the orders were mischaracterized by those who opposed them, which he said led to demonstrations.
The truth is, hitting a pause button to ensure the safety of American families, I think is necessary," he said during an interview.
Romano also said the executive orders fall short of anything resembling a ban on Muslims, even though the countries targeted are all majority Muslim nations.
This isnt a Muslim issue, this is a cultural issue, that we have to have a bigger conversation about.
Richard Kay, the Oliver Ellsworth Legal Scholar at the UConn School of Law, said the orders are vague, and hit on numerous issues that could be challenged in court. He said the orders are set up for what could be a mixed bag of results.
Kay said groups opposing the actions could have standing on equal protection and constitutional grounds, but said any challenge that that policies are bans on religion might be harder to prove.
Just to say it singles out Muslims is hard to do when this is really a small group of Muslims in the world who are affected by this. A great majority of others live in other countries, India, Indonesia.
The ACLU received record donations as of Monday afternoon, north of $24 million. The Executive Director of the ACLU in Connecticut, David McGuire, said the group can be expected to be on the legal front lines for the duration of the Trump presidency if such actions continue.
All of these things do run afoul of the constitution. Were talking about religious liberty, equality, the things that our country is built on so we do expect to be active over the next coming months and years.
In Connecticut's largest city, Bridgeport, a "Resist Trump" vigil was held on Monday night.
Trump is wrong," said vigil participant and Bridgeport resident Lauren Gray. "Trump is just flat out wrong.
More than one hundred people held a "Vigil for Resistance", organized by the Make The Road Connecticut group, at McLevy Green Park.
This is a moment to reflect," said organizer Julio Lopez. "But this is also a moment to fight.
Lopez' group is aiming to turn Bridgeport into a sanctuary city, in which local authorities would agree not to contact federal agencies that could put undocumented people and refugees in danger of deportation.
"Theres a movement building," said Lopez. "Theres a lot of people excited in the worst way possible."
But the focus of the Monday's vigil was on protesting Trump's travel ban, which impacts immigrants and refugees-- mostly from Muslim-majority nations.
"We want our president to see that we are coming together to fight for justice," said Bridgeport resident Aracelis Hidalgo, who attended the vigil with her two year old daughter.
Quietly waiting just outside the gathering was Terry Sullivan, a Trump supporter, who backs the president's latest executive action.
"I came here to speak to people and say that we need to get along and to work together on immigration, on racism," said Sullivan.
As for Bridgeport potentially becoming a sanctuary city, the group that organized the vigil will present a resolution to the city council on Feb. 6. It is unclear what would happen after that.
We cant be screaming at each other. We all have to talk. Were all in this," said Gray.
For decades, First Congregational Church of Guilford has been a beacon of hope on the Connecticut shoreline for refugee families coming to the United States. But now, the church is attempting to chart a new course in the aftermath of President Donald Trumps executive orders suspending the United States refugee program and banning travel from seven majority-Muslim countries.
To see actions being taken, which are absolutely clearly anti-immigrant, seems as though its against what our country stands for, Craig Mullet, chair of the churchs board of community and world concerns, said.
Mullet is himself an immigrant, coming to the U.S. in 1999 from South Africa, where he was an anti-apartheid campaigner.
The presidents executive order hits close to home for this nearly 400 year-old congregation.
Since 2000, theyve assisted refugees from five of the seven countries on the travel ban list, including a Syrian family in 2016.
We continue to believe that all people have the right to be valued, respected and safe. We think that should permeate all policies Rev. Sarah Verasco said.
Over the years, the churchs board of community and world concerns has served as something of a liaison for refugees in their new, unfamiliar homes, connecting them to basic services like schools, jobs, housing and clothing.
Ministers said they believe the ban is fundamentally wrong.
When politics step in and on our faith, on our basic belief system, obviously we speak up Rev. Dr. Ginger Brasher-Cunningham said.
Because of that, the Christian church in Glastonbury remains firm in its mission of welcoming all and being allies to the Muslim community.
Despite critics who refer to the action as a Muslim ban, Trump said the order is not about religion but keeping Americans safe.
America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border, Trump said in a statement on Sunday.
First Congregational Church of Guilford has planned an interfaith forum Sunday that includes Christian leaders, a rabbi and an imam.
Read more here for what the travel ban means and whats next.
Two insurance companies said in a court filing that they should not pay the claim Nathan Carman filed for the boat he and his mother were lost at sea in and said the vessel was altered and made unsafe.
The boat was insured for $85,000.
Stamford, Connecticut-based National Liability & Fire Insurance Co. and Virginia-based Boat Owners Association of the United States have asked for a declaratory judgment in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island.
According to court filings, Carmen removed the boat's structural bulkheads, trim tabs and "the day before the boat sank (Carman) opened four half dollar-sized holes in the hull near the waterline and attempted on his own to fill them, which was not satisfactory."
Nathan Carman, 22, and his mother Linda Carman, 54, were reported missing on Sept. 18 when they failed to return from a fishing trip in the waters off Point Judith in Rhode Island.
In the days that followed, the U.S. Coast Guard searched 62,000 square miles, from the coast of Rhode Island to New York and New Jersey, but there was no sign of mother or son until Sept. 25, when a Chinese freighter called Orient Lucky found Nathan Carman alive on a life raft about 115 nautical miles off Martha's Vineyard, but there was no sign of Linda Carman, who officials presume is dead.
When Nathan Carman spoke with officials, he said he heard a "funny noise" coming from the boat's engine compartment. When he went to go look, it was filling up with water.
He also told officials that he directed his mother to reel in the fishing lines and that was the last time he saw her, according to court filings.
The insurance companies rejected the claim after a naval architect and marine surveyor assessed the boat's alterations, saying that Carman "knew his boat was unseaworthy when it departed Ram Point Marina," the filing alleges.
Nathan Carman has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the disappearance of his mother. NBC Connecticut reached out to Nathans attorney, who had no comment. We also reached out to the firm representing both insurance companies, but did not hear back.
Sources close to the investigation also said that Nathan Carman is a person of interest into his wealthy grandfather's homicide in 2013, but Nathan has denied any involvement in the unsolved murder.
Some lobster fishermen expressed skepticism Tuesday about a plan to try to revive the dwindling southern New England lobster stock through new fishing restrictions.
Lobster fishing in the U.S. is experiencing a boom that has lasted several years, and prices have also been high. But the population of the species has diminished in the waters off southern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Long Island, New York, where it was once plentiful.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is considering a host of options to try to rejuvenate the region's lobster stock, which scientists have said is falling victim to rising ocean temperatures. An arm of the commission voted Tuesday to send the options out for public comment.
Fishermen and fishing groups at the meeting said it might not make sense to restrict fishing when the environment itself is what's hurting the lobster population.
George Dahl, a spokesman for the Long Island Sound Lobstermen's Association, asked: "What good is it to penalize the fishermen with more restrictions if the environmental conditions are not good enough for the lobster population to survive?"
The regulators could pick new restrictions for the fishery by May.
The selection of those measures will follow public comments that will be solicited in the coming months, the commission has said. Possibilities for managing the fishery include changing the legal harvesting size limit for lobsters, reducing the number of traps in the water and enforcing seasonal closures.
Megan Ware, a fishery management plan coordinator for the commission, said it's important to find a way to increase egg production among southern New England lobsters so the population can rebuild. The new management options are geared at accomplishing that, commission members have said.
Fishermen seek lobsters off of New England and Canada, with the U.S. fishery based mostly in Maine. The southern New England lobster fishery is a small piece of a larger American lobster fishery that was worth a record of more than $620 million at the docks in 2015.
A 47-year-old Shelton man pleaded guilty to a bank robbery charge Monday and admitted that he robbed four Chase Bank branches last year, according to the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Scott Taylor was accused of robbing the Chase Bank at 184 Main St. in Westport on June 2, the Chase Bank at 1561 Boston Post Road in Milford on June 24, the Chase Bank at 50 Washington St. in Norwalk on July 6 and the Chase Bank at 1855 Main St. in Stratford on July 13.
During each of the robberies, Taylor handed a teller a note demanding cash and said he had a gun, according to federal officials, who said Taylor stole around $23,300 during the first three robberies and $1,000 during the July 13 robbery.
Taylor was arrested at the Stratford train station shortly after the July 13 robbery and was found with $998 in cash and 33 folds of heroin, federal officials said.
He has been detained since he was arrested and he is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on May 3.
Refugee families bound for the United States are now in a holding pattern after President Trump's executive order on immigration. That includes a Syrian family headed to the Northeast with help from volunteers in New London.
"They said sorry, America is closed," said Holly Popa, of New London, describing what a family of Syrian refugees was told as they tried to board a plane Saturday from Turkey to the Northeast.
Popa was working to get them to Ledyard to live with their relatives, also refugees. She chose not to identify the family to not interfere with their refugee status.
That family is in search of a better life from a war-torn Syria. But Popa said in Turkey it wasn't much better. Their children couldn't get an education.
She said it took three to four years of grueling interviews to get them a legal OK to come to U.S. for a better life. They gave up their home, jobs, obtained the proper legal documents, packed up all of their belongings and had tickets to fly.
"I was in shock with what happened to them," Popa said. "It felt like my heart was ripped out. It just doesn't feel like this is the America I knew and grew up in, and the reasons my grandparents came here."
Popa's grandparents came from Lebanon decades ago to find the American dream.
Ron Ward is a co-leader of Start Fresh, a group that helps bring refugees to New London. He said there's a two family-home ready to accept refugee families that's sitting vacant.
"We had put the word out to the refugee network that we were ready to accept new families, and arrangements just could not happen in the timing," Ward said.
Popa said the refugees already in New London County are afraid of their standing, despite getting to the U.S. legally. They're afraid they might be sent back.
"Because of their status," Popa said. "Their refugee status. With a refugee status, they're in the works of getting their green cards. All of our refugees. And this could put a damper on it."
Saturday at 7 p.m., Fresh Start, along with Connecticut College, is showing a documentary of a refugee camp in Jordan, Ward said. Current events are already generating a larger audience, he added. The showing will be at Connecticut College.
A 37-year-old Wallingford man was seriously injured when he was hit by a car in North Haven Monday night.
Police said the victim, who was not publicly identified, was trying to cross Washington Avenue near Scrub Oak Road around 6:30 p.m. when he was struck. He was taken to the hospital with severe injuries, police said.
The driver of the vehicle stayed on scene and is cooperating with investigators, police said.
The road was closed for several hours. The South Central Connecticut Traffic Unit is investigating.
When it comes to crime, Colleyville continues leading Texas statistics as one of the safest cities in the state.
Violent crime is down 60 percent in 2016 compared to 2015 and overall crime is down 49 percent from 2010.
There is not a great deal of crime in Colleyville traditionally, but that may not be coincidence.
Colleyville is a historically low-crime community, but we enjoy a great partnership with our community," Assistant Police Chief Robert Hinton said. Our community is engaged. We have more community volunteers than we have police officers.
Police think community involvement has made a difference.
Police departments cant fight crime by themselves. Theyve got to have the communitys support, Hinton said. Our officers are a part of the community and they have been the eyes and ears and they are the reason why this community has been so safe.
Colleyville police have several programs in place to keep residents involved and active in fending off crime.
Every year, we put on a citizens police academy so that our citizens can go through a mini police academy to see what our officers face every day on the streets, he added. It takes four months to go through it and they graduate.
While violent crime is down, home burglaries saw a rise in 2016. Citizens are already stepping up to help in that area as well.
We have a 'Citizens on Patrol' program that we call a COP program where our citizens go out on patrol after receiving training and they look for different things [like] checking peoples houses when they are out of town, Hinton explained.
Hinton said residents are dedicated to keeping the city in a low-crime bracket as the city has been named by several national studies the safest city in Texas.
Some cities dont utilize those programs the way they should," he said. "We take full advantage of those programs and they have been a great success.
Before President Donald Trumps executive order on immigration unleashed a firestorm of debate and waves of protests, it was his plan to build a wall on the Mexican border that was grabbing attention and stirring dispute.
Trump's plans to meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto broke down in acrimony over who will pay for the border wall eventually being resolved via a phone call on Friday where both pledged to keep their discussions out of the press. But disagreements over who will pay for the wall lingered.
Related: Heres What the US Imports From Mexico and Who Would Pay Trumps 20% Tax
Given an executive action signed by Trump has already authorized construction of the border wall, and given that Trump has support from Congressional Republicans, the obvious question is: If Mexico doesn't pay, what could the wall cost the average American?
According to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan, the cost of construction would be somewhere between $12 billion and $15 billion. That comes out to around $100 per U.S. household.
Thats pocket change in the grand scheme of things, but it comes in the context of a serious and worsening fiscal outlook for the U.S. Treasury. Let's hope Mexico pays for the wall, because American taxpayers already have a huge bill coming due very soon: The national debt is quickly closing in on the $20 trillion mark, which is worth nearly $62,000 for every man, woman and child in this country.
Related: Trump Just Blew His Chance to Renegotiate NAFTA
Watch for deficits and the national debt to return to the headlines soon as the U.S. Treasury once again approaches its statutory debt ceiling the subject of repeated standoffs between President Obama and Congressional Republicans between 2011 and 2013.
A fresh update on the fiscal outlook from the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget paints a bleak picture. Under their current baseline forecast, which assumes modest average GDP growth of 1.9 percent over the next 10 years, trillion-dollar deficits will return by the 2023 fiscal year, expanding from $587 billion last year (3.2 percent of GDP) to $1.4 trillion (5.0 percent of GDP) by 2027.
Story continues
Related: Heres How Trump Could Drive the Economy Into a Ditch
As a result, the national debt will grow by more than $11 trillion. Much of this, to be fair, isn't Trump's fault, as spending on "entitlement" programs such as Medicare and Social Security will drive the lion's share of the deficit increase. But possible policy chances, such as repealing certain cost offsets in Obamacare, cutting taxes and eliminating caps on defense spending, would worsen the outlook.
If Trump is going to balance the budget, or even just stabilize the debt by shrinking the federal deficit, we're going to need more than a big check from Mexico City. We're going to need sizable budget cuts (wed have to slash 40 percent of non-entitlement, non-defense spending) and a big acceleration in GDP growth to boost tax receipts (especially if tax rates are cut). CRFB estimates the economy would need to grow, on average, 3.5 percent per year for the next 10 years to make this possible.
It's improbable although thats exactly what could've been said about Trump's candidacy at every single stage.
Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Opposition to President Donald Trump's travel ban is spilling over from the streets to the courtroom.
While protesters took to the streets of Washington, D.C. on Monday, two new federal lawsuits were filed.
The suits are in Washington State and in Virginia, where a Muslim civil rights group argues the travel ban is not only unconstitutional, but puts American Muslims in danger.
Meanwhile, the White House continued defending the travel ban. Trump's spokesman argues 109 detentions over the weekend is a minor inconvenience to keep America safe.
"He's going to do everything in his power to stop every threat and potential threat, said White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. That's the key in this: 'How do we get ahead of threats?'"
The far-reaching effects of the travel ban have come home to Hurst, for one young couple.
They are now divided by that executive order through a unique set of circumstances.
Neil and Roslyn Sinha have only been married six months and she doesn't have permanent U.S. residency yet.
She had to travel to Dubai this weekend to visit her sick mother and she's now stuck there because she has an Iraqi passport, even though she's never set foot in that country.
Love happened quickly for Neil Sinha.
"Her humanity, her humor, just everything," he said.
He met his wife on a visit to Los Angeles. She lived in Dubai, but after months of long talks and visits back and forth, the couple decided to commit.
"I said 'you know what, you're the one for me and we just got married,'" said Neil Sinha.
That was in August. The couple settled down in Hurst, and Roslyn Sinha applied for a green card. While it was still processing, her mother had a series of strokes in Dubai and she was granted permission to go visit.
But while she was on the way there, Trump signed his executive order.
"The same government that gave her permission to leave is now telling her you cannot come back," said Neil Sinha.
Roslyn Sinha was born in Dubai, but in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), passports are issued based on your family's heritage. Hers happens to be Iraqi, which is on the travel ban list.
"She came here legally, we got married legally, we applied for her green card legally, she got the advanced parole legally. She left the country legally and now she can't come back," said Neil Sinha.
"Neil, I'm sorry you have to go through this, you did not sign up for this. I'm sorry," Roslyn Sinha told her husband over the phone.
The couple is now researching how to bring Roslyn Sinha back to the U.S. The airlines say they won't let her on a plane.
"Nobody knows how to interpret this executive order, Neil Sinha said. Nobody knows, based on her unique situation, how to handle it."
And with so much uncertainty, they fear the executive order could be extended beyond 90 days.
"It's a tricky situation but we're going to figure it out," Neil Sinha told his wife.
The newlyweds are now testing their vows across an ocean and an order.
"She's just a perfect person in my opinion, said Neil Sinha. I'm not going to find anyone else like her. I don't want to. She's the only option. I've got to get her back here. I need my wife back, that's it."
Roslyn Sinha was supposed to fly back to DFW on February 7 and start a new job right after that. Now while she's stuck overseas, she's worried that job will disappear.
The couple is calling all their local lawmakers looking for help. Theyre also working with immigration attorneys. Neil Sinhas father is a former judge in Tarrant County, so theyre reaching out to any contacts they can find.
Everyone is directing the couple to the U.S. Embassy in the U.A.E, but so far they havent gotten any answers there.
An Iraqi man is free Tuesday morning after being detained overnight inside U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Labeeb Issa, who attorneys said has spent the past six years working as a driver for the U.S. Army, was released from customs at about 6:45 a.m. He had been detained since about 3:15 p.m. Monday.
Issa came to the U.S. on a special immigration visa.
He was released after lawyers representing detainees at D/FW Airport filed an emergency petition in a federal court in Dallas.
According to the petition, Issa was "held against his will" and "in extreme pain." Issa uses a wheelchair after being badly injured in an attack last year.
He told NBC 5 that Customs and Border Protection agents were "very nice" to him while he was held, and that's he's just "happy and grateful" to be in the U.S.
"If I'm in Iraq now, maybe I'm dead," said Issa. "God gave me a new life. I feel so happy. Thanks so much."
Dozens of lawyers have volunteered to help people detained since President Trump's travel ban went into effect Friday.
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Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Mr Issa (PDF)
Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Mr Issa (Text)
Dallas police said a second suspect is in custody in the beating outside a Target store in Dallas that injured a well-known local theater director and actor earlier this month.
Derek Whitener, 33, was beaten with a wooden rod by two men just before 11 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, outside the Target store on the 2400 block of North Haskell Avenue, Dallas police say.
He was transported to Baylor Medical Center Dallas where he underwent surgery for a fractured skull. He was released from the hospital Saturday.
Police said two young men were responsible in the attack. An unidentified juvenile suspect was arrested Friday and police said a second suspect, identified as 17-year-old Zantrell Sauls, was arrested Monday evening.
Sauls is charged with aggravated assault, a second-degree felony, police said.
While police have not confirmed the motive in the beating, they said last week that Whitener, a well-known actor in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, was initially confronted by two males as he walked toward the store but that the men walked away when he went to the entrance.
Once inside the store, police said Whitener reported the men as "suspicious" to Target personnel.
As a Target security guard and an off-duty Dallas police officer approached the two men, one of them walked away. The second man, shown in surveillance video holding a wooden rod, had a brief discussion with the off-duty police officer and was asked to leave the property.
A benefit concert at Theatre 3 in Uptown Dallas Tuesday night will honor actor Derek Whitener and help raise money for his medical bills.
Whitener wrapped up his shopping and left the store at about 11:05 p.m. As he walked toward his vehicle, police said he was again approached by the two men. This time they made a threatening statement and began beating him with the stick before running from the parking lot.
A customer in the parking lot reported the incident to the off-duty officer who then called for medical help.
Police said there is no indication this is a hate crime, but they did not disclose what the men said before beating Whitener.
Two jail guards for a sheriff's office near Waco have been arrested on charges they sold drugs to county inmates.
The Killeen Daily Herald reports 25-year-old Kevin Arzate and 34-year-old Paul Robert Picetti each was charged with delivery of a controlled substance.
Authorities say the arrests of the men, who worked for the Coryell County sheriff's office, came after an undercover operation into the sale of illegal contraband.
The sheriff's office was joined by the Texas Rangers in the investigation. Both men were arrested last week.
Coryell County online jail records show Arzate and Picetti are no longer being held.
A phone listing for Arzate could not be found and a listing under Picetti's name rang unanswered.
A Texas truck driver accused of causing a 2014 crash in Oklahoma that killed four college softball players has died by suicide at his home, a prosecutor says.
The prosecutor in the Oklahoma case, Murray County District Attorney Craig Ladd, confirmed to The Oklahoman that 55-year-old Russell Staley died just days before a scheduled court hearing.
Tarrant County medical examiner's office records show Staley died Friday of a gunshot wound at his home north of Fort Worth.
Staley was scheduled for trial in March on four counts of manslaughter in the deaths of the softball players from North Central Texas College.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol determined Staley lost control of his semitrailer on Interstate 35 near Davis, Oklahoma, crossed the center line and crashed into the team's bus.
A remote stretch of Interstate 10 has reopened after a freight train derailment on an adjacent Union Pacific Railroad track closed the vital West Texas highway for about three hours.
No injuries were reported.
Railroad officials say that more than 20 of the railcars being towed from Fort Worth to West Cotton, California, derailed about 6:30 a.m. Monday about 40 miles east of Van Horn. The cars contained a variety of cargo.
NBC 5 has been reaching out to your lawmakers regarding President Donald Trumps Executive Action on refugees.
We have asked for comments from the North Texas Delegation in Washington, D.C. and both senators.
Sen. Ted Cruz issued the following statement regarding President Trumps recent executive order exclusively to NBC 5:
"We live in a dangerous world, and for eight long years the Obama administration remained willfully blind to the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, admitting tens of thousands of refugees whom the FBI expressly told Congress they could not be certain were not terrorists. That Obama policy made no sense, and it made America less safe. If we are serious about combating the threat of radical Islam, we must reform and strengthen our refugee programs to ensure proper vetting of those entering our countryespecially when they are coming from nations that are hotbeds of terror. This is crucial to our national security and to protecting American lives, and it is a priority for which I have long advocated. "I commend President Trump for rejecting Obama's willful blindness, and for acting swiftly to try to prevent terrorists from infiltrating our refugee programs. In contrast to the hysteria and mistruths being pushed by the liberal media, President Trumps executive order implements a four-month pause in refugee admissions so that stronger vetting procedures can be put in place. This is a commonsense step that the American people overwhelmingly support. The executive order also calls for the prioritization of religious minorities, a welcome change from an Obama administration that functionally discriminated against religious minorities, who are especially vulnerable to persecution and genocide. "DHS Secretary John Kelly was just confirmed overwhelmingly, and I have confidence that he will provide the leadership needed to properly implement these reforms. I am already pleased to see him announce that some legitimate concerns about the non-refugee aspects of this order are being handled properly, and that lawful permanent residents will be given priority in entering the country. "It is incumbent upon Congress to pass legislation to further assist in these efforts. Congress should pass the Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Protection Act, to insure that all refugees are properly vetted. In addition, the executive order calls for greater influence from the states in this process, and the State Refugee Security Act that I just introduced with Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) would do just that. Both bills are commonsense steps to keep us safe, and should be something that all senators and representatives, regardless of political party, can unite behind."
Senator John Cornyn:
"I'm glad they revised it to make sure that legal permanent residents would not be included unless there was derogatory information. I just think they got in a big hurry. But I also think that public that public safety is the number one responsibility of the federal government, so I certainly support the vetting of refugees and people coming into the country."
Here are the statements we have received from our representatives.
A spokesperson for Republican Congressman Joe Barton-6th District:
"Congressman Barton has heard from constituents experiencing delays. He will continue to review the Executive action this week with his colleagues in Washington."
Representative Michael Burgess, R-26th District:
"My top priority has always been to protect Americans at home and to do so by securing our borders. As he has made clear, President Trump is taking the steps well within his authority, and based off intelligence gathered in the Obama Administration, to keep our country safe. Congress should remain involved in the process and provide legislation to strengthen not only border security but vetting those who wish to enter the country through any means."
Representative Kay Granger, R-12th District:
"I am convinced that President Trump made the decision because he believes it will make us safer. I cut funding that would increase the number of refugees coming from Syria when I was briefed that we could not adequately vet that population before granting them refugee status to the United States. The job of the President is to defend and protect our nation. We must also protect our well-earned position as a caring and humanitarian nation. I pray that we do both."
Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-30th District:
I stand in solidarity with the refugees, immigrants and their loved ones who are being banned from entering our country. This does not represent the America that is made up of immigrants or the values we cherish, one being freedom of religion. Yesterday across the nation and here at the Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport many people were being detained and were not allowed entry into our country. This was all a result of the most recent executive action signed by President Trump banning individuals from seven dominant Muslim countries to enter our country. During this time there is a lot of confusion and families being torn apart. I am aware and waiting to be fully briefed on how many people are being detained at the D/FW airport, so my staff and I can fully provide assistance and guidance to those who need it.
Representative Pete Sessions, R-32nd District:
This morning I spoke with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings about passengers detained at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport as a result of the Presidents executive order. We have confidence that officials from the Department of Homeland Security are working to comply with the executive order and any subsequent judicial action on this matter. I believe our first and foremost priority is to protect the American people and safeguard our homeland. Just as President Obama suspended the refugee program in 2011 for six months, the Trump Administration is working to protect national security by making adjustments in the refugee vetting process. It is critical that we address the threat of individuals who come to our country to create chaos and threaten our freedom.
Representative Marc Veasey, D-33rd District:
"President Trump's latest executive action is already causing mass confusion for international airports nationwide. I have been in contact with all relevant agencies and I will continue to monitor the situation closely. I have heard reports of upwards of 50 detainees and I am traveling to DFW airport to gather more information. In the meantime, airport officials are providing cots, blankets, food and water to those detained. The Trump Administrations refugee ban and their instruction to suspend entry from Muslim-majority countries is wholly un-American and challenges our countrys humanitarian leadership.
Representative Roger Williams, R-25th District:
"The national security of the United States and its citizens is paramount to anything else. I firmly support a temporary travel ban on individuals from countries of concern- a designation given by the Obama Administration's Department of Homeland Security. During this time we must ensure our vetting process is completely foolproof."
Representative Sam Johnson, R-5th District:
The number one priority of any president is to ensure the safety of all Americans. As a 29-year Air Force veteran who fought in two wars in the name of freedom, I appreciate that our new Commander-In-Chief is taking the safety of the American people seriously. As recent terrorists attacks both at home and abroad underscore, we must do everything in our power to ensure we dont let terrorists slip through the cracks.
Representative Jeb Hensarling, R-5th District:
President Trump made clear that keeping America safe is a top priority for his Administration, and it is refreshing to see that he is willing to take swift and decisive action to achieve that goal. And, while the rollout of his executive action could have gone more smoothly, I believe most Americans, and particularly the East Texans I represent, would agree that its just common sense to take a closer look at people trying to enter the U.S. from nations with broad terrorist networks. In fact, more than a year ago Congress passed, and President Obama signed into law, a bill that placed a higher threshold for entry into our nation. The legislation blocked people who have traveled since 2011 to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and Syria from entering the United States through our Visa Waiver Programno matter their country of citizenship. Several months later, the Obama Administration added Libya, Somalia, and Yemen to that list. These seven countries, are the exact same countries included in President Trumps executive order. And, while critics claim this temporary pause in immigration amounts to a Muslim ban, this couldnt be further from the truth. In fact, more than 40 countries with Muslim majorities were not included on President Trumps list at all. America is a nation of immigrants, and should continue to be. Although we cant take in the world, we should strive to find places for people who come here legally, seeking freedom and opportunity. But, we need to make sure those seeking to come to America mean us no harm. In the coming days and weeks, Congress should exercise its responsibility to take a careful look at the underlying policies to ensure they are effective in achieving the goal of making America safer and preventing terrorists from coming to our shores.
Representative John Ratcliffe, R-4th District.
A bobcat remains missing from the Smithsonian's National Zoo, and tipsters told zoo officials Tuesday they spotted her in surrounding neighborhoods.
As a result, more than a dozen schools moved activities indoors Tuesday, a D.C. Public Schools spokeswoman said. American University had also warned students Monday.
Neighbors said they weren't worried, exactly, just ... remaining observant.
"I wish that it was in its cage, rather than roaming the streets of D.C.," said Drew Montmarquet, who was visiting the zoo Tuesday.
Joey Jimenez, who lives near the zoo and in the area where Ollie has been cited, said he's been looking out while taking his small dog out on walks. "I was kind of alarmed, because I have to walk her out at night time," Jimenez said.
The zoo received several calls from the public over Monday night with "consistent information" that the bobcat, a female named Ollie, was in Woodley Park and Cleveland Park, zoo officials said Tuesday morning in a statement.
A team of zookeepers, zoo police and members of the Humane Rescue Alliance are searching those areas, the zoo said.
Ollie, who weighs 25 pounds, was last seen with two male bobcats at 7:30 a.m. Monday during a routine count. When a zookeeper went to feed the bobcats at 10:40 a.m., Ollie was gone.
Zoo officials said there is no imminent danger to the general public or zoo guests, but no one should approach her if they see her. Instead, the public is asked to note the time and exact location of the bobcat and call 202-633-7362.
Bobcats are not known to be aggressive to humans, the zoo said.
A female bobcat has escaped. Bobcats are not known to be aggressive to humans. Sighting call 202.633.7362 https://t.co/7Y5cmCEkpp pic.twitter.com/QLM6Im7418 National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 30, 2017
Dr. Brandie Smith, associate director of animal care sciences for the zoo, said Monday that it looked like one of the ropes that holds the bobcats' mesh enclosure had broken. Smith said it didn't look like a deliberate act, but the break left a gap through which they believe Ollie was able to escape.
Craig Saffoe, a curator for great cats at the zoo, said on Monday that Ollie is a capable hunter and would be able to care for herself while on the loose.
"Cats are... they're survivors. This is not like she's out in an area, in an environment that she can't survive," Saffoe said, noting that bobcats are indigenous to the D.C. area, although rare. "This a very survivable habitat; it's one of the things that will make it very difficult for us to ensure that we can find her."
Saffoe said Ollie is equipped to survive and that bobcats sometimes catch birds that land in their enclosure.
He was not completely confident they will be able to find her.
"We are doing everything we can to ensure that we can get her back. The likelihood that we get her back? I mean, I'd be lying to you if I said that we're definitely going to get her back," Saffoe said. "We're setting everything up to get the best chances of success here."
He said it's more likely Ollie will return to her enclosure on her own.
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Smith said zookeepers train for "events like this," so they immediately began a search after discovering Ollie was missing. However, they quickly changed tactics out of fear that they could end up scaring her away.
"We actually created a bigger perimeter search so that any looking would drive her toward her exhibit," Smith said.
Ollie has a chip for identification purposes but not a tracker. She was born in the wild and is close to 7 years old. Zoo officials believe she may return to her enclosure for food and shelter on her own.
"There's food, there's shelter, there's warmth at her exhibit," Smith said.
Bobcats can run up to 30 mph and are excellent climbers, according to the zoo's webpage on the animal. At the zoo, they eat prepared meat, mice, rats and chicks. In the wild, they eat rabbits, hares, squirrels and mice.
"She is a carnivore, so for small birds, small animals in the area, which could even include small cats and dogs, she could be a threat," Smith said Monday. "I would treat her the same way that I would treat a stray dog. You wouldn't approach a stray dog. And she's the same thing. She's not a threat unless you become a threat to her."
The most recent animal to escape the zoo was an agouti, which is a small mammal, in July 2015, a zoo spokeswoman said. The agouti escaped from an exterior habitat but was found on the walkway and was easily recaptured, she said.
In 2013, a red panda named Rusty famously escaped from the National Zoo. He was recaptured in D.C.'s Adams Morgan neighborhood the following afternoon. Ashley Foughty spotted Rusty and tweeted pictures that helped keepers find him in a tree.
Zoo officials said Rusty likely escaped the zoo by "climbing across a 'bridge' created by rain-laden trees and bamboo" -- and he probably did it for a snack of some nearby bamboo, they said.
Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.
Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly insisted Tuesday that President Donald Trump's executive order restricting travel from seven Muslim-majority countries and suspending the U.S. refugee program is not a ban on travel or on Muslims.
"This is not, I repeat, not a ban on Muslims," Kelly said at a news briefing with other U.S. immigration officials, that comes amid protests and confusion around the world over the order and its effects as inhumane and contrary to long-standing American values.
Democrats and some Republicans have criticized the order and its rollout.
"Regrettably, the rollout was confusing, but on a go-forward basis, I'm confident that Secretary Kelly is going to make sure that this is done correctly," House Speaker Paul Ryan said at a separate news conference Tuesday.
Kelly characterized the order as a chance to revisit U.S. policy on visas and refugees. He also said that Customs and Border Patrol agents are in compliance with the law, after some reports suggested agents did not immediately comply with a court order that blocked part of the actions.
A senior U.S. official says 872 refugees will be allowed into the United States this week despite the executive order suspending the U.S. refugees program.
Kevin McAleenan, acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, said these refugees would be granted waivers. He said that was allowed for under the order, in instances where refugees were ready for travel and stopping them would cause "undue hardship."
McAleenan said this was being done in concert with the State Department. He said 872 refugees will be arriving this week and will processed for waivers through the end of the week.
Kelly denied reports that he had been out of the loop in the White House planning for the immigration restrictions.
Kelly told reporters he looked at two drafts of the order before the Friday signing and that high-level government lawyers and agency officials were involved in drafting it. He also said he knew it was coming because Trump had long talked about it as a presidential candidate.
People who know Kelly, however, told The Associated Press that he was not aware of the details in the directive until around the time that Trump signed it.
Meanwhile, Washington, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia are becoming the first states to sue the Trump administration, joining lawsuits filed in federal court challenging the executive order.
Since Donald Trump was elected president, Democratic state attorneys general have been forming a coordinated wall of legal resistance over immigration, environmental protections, health care, and other major issues.
The state officials' plan for legal pushback has precedent: Several Republican attorneys general made it a practice to routinely file lawsuits against the policies of former President Barack Obama.
Unlike groups taking up fights on behalf of individuals, attorneys general the chief lawyers for state governments can sue more broadly on behalf of their states. Most are elected and thus can act independently of their state legislatures or governors.
A Texas court on Monday temporarily halted more than $200,000 to prosecutors in the criminal case against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton after one his donors sued over the mounting legal bills footed by taxpayers.
The ruling comes as Paxton awaits trial in May on securities fraud charges. An attorney for the prosecutors said he expected a swift resolution from the Dallas-based Fifth Court of Appeals and accused Paxton supporter Jeffory Blackard of trying to derail the criminal case with a fight over legal fees.
Blackard, a real estate developer who has given at least $1,200 to Paxton but not since 2011, has twice sued over the $300 hourly rate given to special prosecutors. The bills are paid by taxpayers in Collin County, a politically conservative suburb where Paxton lives and also where a grand jury indicted him in 2015 on charges of defrauding investors in a tech startup.
Paxton has pleaded not guilty and faces 5 to 99 years in prison if convicted.
Edward Greim, an attorney for Blackard, dismissed accusations of trying to stonewall Paxton's case and said his client is only trying to do what's right.
"It's unfortunate that every time the taxpayers try to argue the law in this case, the Attorneys Pro Tem resort to arguing politics and using the media to attack the defendant they're trying to prosecute," Greim wrote in an email.
The court halted payments until it can review arguments next month.
"This guy is not going to walk because he's got a friend with a lot of money who can keep brining lawsuits over fees," said David Feldmam, an attorney for the prosecutors.
Paxton was indicted eight months after winning his 2014 election in a landslide. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was also trying to revive a civil lawsuit against Paxton after a federal judge threw out the original charges filed by federal regulators last year. Paxton has signaled he intends to run for re-election in 2018.
What to Know Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued four emergency actions related to CPS, sanctuary cities, ethics reform and less federal intervention.
Abbott issued a proposal making it a hate crime for anyone to commit a crime against a law enforcement officer out of bias against police.
The biennial Muslim Day rally held outside the capitol ended with no interruptions and only a few protesters.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) delivered his State of the State address in the House chamber of the Texas Capitol Tuesday morning, telling lawmakers to get to work on better funding the state's beleaguered child welfare system and banning so-called "sanctuary cities."
Abbott used his second State of the State address to echo President Donald Trump's executive actions that would withhold taxpayer funding to local governments that don't comply with federal immigration agents.
But Abbott wasn't specific about what a Texas anti-sanctuary law should look like.
The governor, who doesn't have the power to remove local officials, has threatened the job of the Travis County sheriff over her "sanctuary cities" polices. Abbott has ordered Sheriff Sally Hernandez to enforce the immigration holds or risk losing funding.
Tackling child welfare, the governor said the state's child welfare crisis has resulted in rising deaths and hundreds of allegedly abused or mistreated children going unseen by state investigators.
The problem has worsened despite Abbott ordering an overhaul last year.
Im declaring CPS reform my first emergency item for this session. We must reform the state's Child Protective System #TXSotS pic.twitter.com/iWFdZmNOSz Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) January 31, 2017
Abbott is also calling for a review of the state's school finance system that the Texas Supreme Court ruled was only barely constitutional last summer. Abbott also called for school vouchers, an effort that has stalled repeatedly in Texas Legislature despite steadfast support from top conservatives.
The governor issued a proposal that would make "it a hate crime for anyone to commit a crime against a law enforcement officer out of bias against the police" and he's asking that legislators pass the Police Protection Act this session.
I want legislation that increases penalties & makes it a hate crime for those who target our peace officers. #TXSotS Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) January 31, 2017
"While our state and the nation continue to mourn the heroes lost in Dallas, it is time for us to unite as Texans to say no more," Abbott said in a prepared statement. "The men and women in uniform risk their lives every day to protect the public, and it is time we show them the State of Texas has their back. Texas will no longer tolerate disrespect for those who serve, and it must be made clear to anyone targeting our law enforcement officials that their actions will be met with severe justice."
Im committed to advancing adoption services and developing programs to support mothers who embrace the blessing of a child's life. #TXSotS Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) January 31, 2017
In his address, Abbott also listed property tax reduction, expanded school choice options, expanded Pre-K and improving adoption and protecting the unborn as legislative priorities for the session.
We need property tax reform that prevents cities from raising taxes without voter approval. #TXSotS Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) January 31, 2017
Abbott's address to the Republican-controlled Legislature comes at a time when President Donald Trump's executive actions on immigration and building a border wall promise to heavily impact Texas.
WATCH: How #Texas will preserve liberty & forge a path to prosperity for all Texans this legislative session. https://t.co/Ry6c126ZsD pic.twitter.com/RvqswBcyfB Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) January 31, 2017
Muslim Day Rally May Overshadow State of the State Speech
Hundreds of Muslims rallied outside the Texas Capitol before the governor's speech as part of a lobbying event organized months before Trump's executive order Friday.
Abbott hasn't yet commented on Trump banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, which has sparked protests nationwide.
By 10 a.m., several hundred people had gathered outside the Texas Capitol for the Muslim Day rally and lobbying activities.
Supporters wore T-shirts on a sunny and brisk Tuesday morning saying, "I stand with my Muslim neighbors." Only a single counter protester was seen in the early going, and there were no signs of tense interactions with rally participants.
A group of North Texans planning to take part in the rally boarded a bus Tuesday morning in Plano bound for the capitol.
Two years ago, a small, vitriolic group of hecklers formed during the Muslim Day rally. Before it started, one grabbed the microphone and proclaimed, "Islam will never dominate the United States!" This year, security has been increased and rally participants surrounded the microphone and nearby areas to keep something similar from happening.
Many of the people formed a human chain around the few protesters who did show up to keep them at a distance. Supporters of the demonstrators waived signs that read "Hate Has No Home Here."
By 12:30 p.m., the rally had ended with few protesters and no interruptions.
The biennial event organized by The Council on American-Islamic Relations was scheduled before Trump won the presidency, but tensions have risen after Trump banned entries to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority nations.
Local leaders, community groups and refugee organizations gathered Monday evening for an interfaith vigil at Thanks-Giving Square in downtown Dallas in protest of the detention of dozens of immigrants at U.S. airports under a travel ban issued by President Donald Trump.
The event, which attracted several hundred people, was organized by a newly formed group called "In Solidarity" which promotes community service and involvement. Its founder, Eric Ramsey, said he was inspired by what he saw over the weekend and wanted to give people an outlet to continue the conversations those rallies started.
"To tell people they're not welcome in America that's not what I was raised to believe America stands for," said Ramsey.
He said despite Trump's claims that this action will make our country safer, he believes it will embolden terrorists and their recruiting efforts and create unnecessary fear of refugees.
"My hope with this event was to bring people together to come away from that fear so they can stand up and be a part of something and hopefully make some sort of change," said Ramsey.
Nasreen Obaid came to America as an Iraqi refugee four years ago.
"As refugees, we have a lot of hopes and dreams to live in peace. We have been searching for a long, long time and I found peace in America," she said.
Obaid said she went through a year-and-a-half of background checks and vetting before being allowed into the country. Her family, including her mother, brothers and sister, remain in Iraq. They have been waiting on paperwork to allow them into the U.S. for four years, Obaid added.
But she said she is hopeful she will see them soon.
"I believe in this country, I believe in Americans, I believe we will be together again," Obaid said, smiling.
Attorneys volunteering their services to the detainees at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport say about two dozen immigrants have been detained at D/FW since the ban was issued.
Chris Hamilton, one of the lawyers who organized the so-called war room of volunteers providing pro-bono legal services, says families have been the primary source of information for the volunteer legal team, that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have sparing at best with any information.
In a Twitter post Monday evening, the group of volunteer lawyers calling themselves DFW Detained said seven detained travelers had been released throughout the day because of the work of the volunteers. However, six were still being held.
Among those released Monday was a family of three, including a 5-year-old child. They were able to leave after a detention of more than nine hours, Hamilton said.
As many as 100 lawyers at a time have donated their time at a "war room" at an airport-area hotel, preparing writs of habeas corpus and other documents to free travelers caught in the ban.
Angela Hunt, a former Dallas City Council member, said she and other lawyers met Saturday morning to help travelers detained at D/FW Airport. She said "it's very, very distressing that this most fundamental of human rights under the Constitution is being denied."
Trump and his supporters continue to defend the executive order, insisting it's not a "Muslim ban" as some have suggested, but a measure that will allow "extreme vetting" of the people coming into the U.S. from areas where terrorists operate.
In a series of tweets he posted Monday morning, the president said, "There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country. This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world! If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the "bad" would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad "dudes" out there!"
At The Shops at Legacy in Plano, Trump's immigration order is finding support.
"I think, as American citizens, we don't have a country unless we have a border, so I'm very pro-Donald Trump and what he's doing with our immigration," said Chad Crawford, of Frisco. "My understanding is that the vetting that we are doing is incomplete and insufficient, and we need to have a proper vetting process."
"It's not the end of the world," said Philip Portwood, of Plano. "So three months out of everybody's life, then you're fine, and you come and then I see no issue with it."
The temporary travel ban also has supporters at the Plano Senior Recreation Center.
"Somebody's got to protect the country, and he's in charge now, and I think he did the right thing by protecting the country," said Gilmer Rabe, of Plano.
"People who are up to no good have found it too easy to get into the United States and other countries," said Bill Berry, who lives in Far North Dallas.
"I fully respect and support people coming in who are going to support our country, and I think we just need to know more about the people coming in," said Dana Gant, of Plano.
NBC 5's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.
The White House says President Donald Trump will leave intact a 2014 executive order that protects federal workers from anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
In a statement released early Tuesday, the White House says Trump "is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community" and that he "continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election."
The Trump administration has vowed to roll back much of President Barack Obama's work from the past eight years and had been scrutinizing the 2014 order. The directive protects people from LGBTQ discrimination while working for federal contractors.
The recent statement says the protections will remain intact "at the direction" of Trump.
The first of more than 150 claims that construction of the LBJ Express Project ruined neighbors' homes is before a Dallas jury this week.
The giant road project added a below-ground toll road to busy Interstate 635 in North Dallas.
"At first we thought it was great. They're redoing LBJ and everything. But then we started to notice damage," said Farmers Branch neighbor Steve Davis.
He said his home was in excellent condition in 2010 when he first moved in. Major road construction began in his area the next year, and Davis said around-the-clock pile driving kept him awake at night.
"And you could feel it. Every time they hit, you could hear it, you could feel it, you could hear the windows shake, rattle. It's a constant thing all through the night," Davis said.
Even though the project was finished in September 2015, Davis said cracks continue to grow throughout his home and in the concrete driveway outside.
"It's just not coincidence. It couldn't be," Davis said.
The first trial is for the home of Felipe and Aurora Rodriguez, but much of the same evidence would be used for all the other cases.
In opening statements Monday, a lawyer for the main project contractor, Trinity Infrastructure Group, said construction is not to blame for the problems.
"Look at the real evidence, the facts," said attorney Jon Paul Hoelscher. "You're going to agree with us, there really is no evidence to prove their claims."
Hoelscher said homes all over Dallas, nowhere near the construction site, have the same kind of problems with damaged slab foundations from shifting soil conditions.
Plaintiffs' attorney Dean Gresham told the jury Trinity Infrastructure Group is to blame. Gresham said the contractor failed to follow recommended monitoring of the soil, as excavation was underway for a depth the equivalent of a five-story building.
"Speed and profit took priority," Gresham said. "If you break something, you should fix it."
The first trial could last at least a week, and the jury's view of the evidence could help determine how the other cases will be handled.
Steve Davis said experts have told him his house may be beyond repair.
"It's going to cost us money to put everything is storage while this house is fixed or while we move or try and find another one. We've got to stay somewhere," he said.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the current host of NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice," is taking no prisoners when describing his feelings about the immigration travel ban instituted by the man he replaced on the show, Donald Trump.
"I think that the real problem is that it was vetted badly," Schwarzenegger said Monday during an interview with Mario Lopez on NBC's "Extra." "If they would've run this by the Justice Department and Homeland Security and had the lawyers really study it and focus on it and give it some time to do it the right way.
Schwarzenegger, who immigrated from Austria to the United States in 1968, served a stint as governor of California from 2003 to 2011 in between Hollywood roles. He believes the immigration plan was poorly planned from the start.
To go and ban people who have a green card, that means that the United States of America has given you permission to work here permanently and you are on the way to permanent citizenship I was in that position its crazy. Its crazy and makes us look stupid when the White House is ill-prepared to put this kind of executive order out there, Schwarzenegger said during the interview.
Schwarzenegger acknowledged that there is an adjustment period with a new team, and mistakes are going to be made. But, he adds, I hope that this is a wake-up call for them. I learned very quickly that I have to be more inclusive and that I have to really not only do it with my party but with the other party, too.
Border Patrol agents arrested a previously deported sex offender and a man with a $500,000 warrant out for his arrest this weekend near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The first arrest happened at approximately 5 p.m. Friday when Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro station saw a man running from the border fence by the Calexico Gran Plaza Outlets.
When agents approached the man, they determined he was not in the U.S. with proper documentation.
He was arrested and taken to the El Centro station, where record checks showed the 33-year-old Mexican national was convicted in California for sex with a minor. He received five years probation.
The undocumented immigrant, who has not been identified, will be criminally prosecuted for Re-Entry After Removal as a convicted sex offender.
The following day, at approximately 7:40 p.m., agents saw a man running from the border fence heading north as they were monitoring camera systems at the Calexico station.
The man, running approximately 32 miles east of the Calexico Port of Entry, was heading toward Interstate 8 at the time, agents said.
When agents arrived, they found the man, a 60-year-old Mexican national, hiding in nearby brush.
Border Patrol agents learned the man had no legal documents to be in the U.S. and he was taken to the Calexico station, where record checks uncovered the man had an outstanding $500,000 warrant for possession of drugs and a firearm out of Ventura County.
The man was turned over to the Imperial County Sheriff's Department for extradition to Ventura County.
In the 2017 fiscal year, El Centro Border Patrol agents have arrested two convicted sex offenders.
One day after billionaire business mogul Sheldon Adelson pulled the plug on his financial backing of the proposed Raiders stadium in Las Vegas, Goldman Sachs the next chief financial backer followed suit.
A source familiar with the $1.9 billion stadium deal told NBC Bay Area that the investment bank is not committed to financially supporting the stadium deal unless future proceedings seat Adelson at the table.
The latest twist in the East Bay franchise's attempt to head to Las Vegas puts the proposed exodus up in the air.
The Raiders, who officially submitted relocation papers earlier this month, have committed $500 million to the stadium's construction. Las Vegas has chipped in $750 million via hotel tax revenue. Adelson had promised $650 million to fund the Las Vegas stadium, before abruptly ditching the deal Monday.
In a statement, Adelson said he was shut out of discussions that ended up with the presentation of a stadium lease document to the Clark County Stadium Authority.
"We were not only excluded from the proposed agreement," the statement read, "we weren't even aware of its existence."
An apparently rattled Adelson continued: "It's clear the Raiders have decided their path for moving to Las Vegas does not include the Adelson family. So, regrettably, we will no longer be involved in any facet of the stadium discussion."
It is not entirely clear why Adelson was excluded from the talks, but his departure has forced the Raiders to look for a financial alternative.
Golden Sachs seemed to be the answer, until news surfaced that the investment bank and the casino mogul were a package deal.
Regardless of the current financial squabble, the Raiders will need 24 of the NFL's 32 owners to approve the relocation attempt. Owner meetings are scheduled for March.
The financial shift seems to keep a glimmer of hope alive for the Raiders to stay in Oakland. Ronnie Lott, the leader of an investment group keen on keeping the Raiders in the East Bay, tweeted Monday that he remains devoted to gathering funds for the construction of a $1.25 billion, 55,000-seat seat stadium in Oakland.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
After spending a year in an animal shelter, one of the 710 Freeway chase dogs has been adopted.
Brittney is one of six dogs who made headlines when she and five others ran onto the 710 Freeway in Long Beach on Jan. 19, 2016. The dogs jumped out of the car when their owner surrendered to police after leading officers on a pursuit that began on the 91 Freeway in Orange County.
After California Highway Patrol wrangled the pups, the dogs were taken to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA). Four of the six dogs were adopted quickly.
After spending a year at the shelter, Brittney has finally found her "forever home."
For the last month, Brittney has been working with children from East Whittier Middle School in spcaLA's violence prevention program, teaching Love and Compassion (TLC).
She and five other shelter dogs visit the school to teach the students "kindness and compassion for animals and all living beings," according to spcaLA.
Brittney's new owner allowed her to finish the program before taking her home. She "graduates" in a ceremony at the school on Thursday.
Brittney's 2-year-old sister Honey is still available for adoption.
Anyone interested in adopting Honey should call the spcaLA at 562-570-7722.
Homeowners and city safety inspectors are watching for signs of crumbling on a hillside in the Hollywood Hills after landslide sent mud and debris across a street and into the front yards of two other houses.
The Los Angeles Fire Department sent 50 firefighters Monday night to investigate the 8100 block of West Laurel View Drive by ground and air, according to LAFD spokesman Erik Scott. A large backyard of one home on Hillside Avenue slid downhill and across the street of Laurel View Drive into the front yard of two homes.
The dirt did not enter the homes. However, the slide took out power lines, triggered a minor gas leak and at least one vehicle was buried.
Approximately 380 customers in the Hollywood Hills were affected by a power outage around 5:30 p.m. due to the slide, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Five homes were evacuated as a precaution, fire officials said.
No injuries were reported, but firefighters remained on scene through Monday night to "ensure safety."
No cause has been given. Los Angeles hasn't had rain in about a week, but was pounded by a series of storms before that.
The City Council voted Tuesday to create an ordinance to decriminalize street vending, bringing Los Angeles closer to no longer being the only major American city that prohibits it.
The proposal, which was put forward by council members Joe Buscaino and Curren Price, replaces criminal penalties with a permit system enforced through fines and property confiscation.
The proposal passed by a vote of 11-2, however, it is not effective immediately. It will go to a vote again in a week or two, so until then street vending remains illegal.
The vote authorizes the city attorney to craft an ordinance, but there will likely be more debate and possible changes to the ordinance before it comes back to the council for final approval.
The general idea for an ordinance decriminalizing street vending has the support of the Coalition to Save Small Business and the L.A. Street Vendor Campaign, but there has been significant opposition to key parts of the proposal as it stands, including the requirement that vendors get permission from existing brick and mortar businesses on the block and restricting the number of vendors in many areas to two per block.
During a public hearing on the proposal at the Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee on Dec. 12, Buscaino told the crowd that what was being advanced to the full council is a "framework" for a policy, and that if the council voted to direct staff to craft an ordinance, it would come back to the committee for a "full dissection" before going to back to the council again.
"Ladies and gentleman, we are here today because the status quo is not working as it relates to sidewalk vending,'' Buscaino said at the meeting. "Los Angeles is the only major city that prohibits vending of every type, 24 hours a day, throughout the entire city on approximately 11,000 miles of sidewalks, and it is no surprise that is clearly is not working."
The proposal also notes President Donald Trump's stated goal of deporting immigrants with criminal records who are in the country illegally, and says, "Continuing to impose criminal misdemeanor penalties for vending disproportionately affects, and unfairly punishes, undocumented immigrants, and could potentially put them at risk for deportation."
Sundance-Film-Festival
With the Sundance Film Festival just finished, filmmakers whose films didn't get sold during the festival are now trying to come up with a strategy to stay relevant in the eyes of buyers.
In the hopes of attracting some of the movies that aren't having distributors knocking down their doors, Amazon announced before the festival began that any feature film that played at this year's Sundance can join its Amazon Video Direct platform, a service that Amazon touts as being a self-service publishing interface, without the need for complex negotiations or contracts.
But numerous filmmakers and producers at Sundance who talked to Business Insider expressed uncertainty about how beneficial the service would be not just to titles at the fest, but for independent films that are desperately looking for some kind of release.
Amazon launched the self-distribution platform Amazon Video Direct (AVD) last May with the intention, as AVD head Eric Orme told Business Insider, to give filmmakers another avenue if they dont feel they will secure distribution.
It's free of charge to upload any film to the platform. The only requirement is that it must meet the Amazon Video guidelines and contain captions or subtitles. You then select the options on how the movie will be viewed rent, buy, available for free on the site with ads, or available on Amazon Prime. Then the movie is on the service for potentially millions to see.
A filmmaker can track how its performing by using their AVD dashboard to see how many people are viewing the content and where in the world its being viewed.
But because of the prestige that comes with being selected to show at Sundance, Amazon is dishing out upfront cash to entice filmmakers there.
In a program touted as Film Festival Stars, AVD (not to be mistaken with Amazon Studios, which acquires films for theatrical/streaming and produces projects in house) will provide Sundance 2017 titles that join by February 28 a publishing bonus as well as enhanced royalty rates.
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The non-recoupable, onetime bonus is $100,000 for titles that were in this years US dramatic or premieres categories at the fest. It's $75,000 for US documentaries and documentary premieres. And $25,000 for titles that were in the world dramatic, world documentaries, NEXT, Spotlight, Kids, Midnight, or New Frontier sections.
Only Film Festival Stars receive upfront money for uploading to AVD.
This years Sundance titles that join AVD also will get enhanced royalties 30 cents per hour of views in the US, 12 cents per hour for international views.
The standard AVD royalties are 15 cents per hour in the US and 6 cents per hour internationally. Across the board, the cap for royalties in a month is $75,000. Filmmakers also receive 50% of all purchase/rental fees for their movie (this will also be the split Sundance films receive when going on AVD).
The Sundance titles that join AVD give up their streaming rights as they are required to be on Amazon Prime for 24 months, and the first 12 months will be exclusive to Prime.
We have structured this in such a way that really helps support them if they don't get the options they are hoping for, Orme said of the Sundance filmmakers, adding that they consulted with filmmakers and distributors to come up with the Film Festival Stars initiative.
But filmmakers at Sundance Business Insider spoke to, along with established directors and producers who didnt have titles at this years fest, voiced concerns about the offer.
Some felt $100,000 comes nowhere near a figure that will recoup the investors of their movies, while others feel the late February deadline is unfair since (outside of the headline-grabbing monster deals during the fest) Sundance titles typically dont find distribution for six months to a year after the festival.
Black_Field
On the latter point, Orme said he understands what AVD is offering isnt for every Sundance film and points out that this is only for streaming rights, and that the publishing bonus money can be used to promote a filmmakers title while looking for theatrical distribution.
The problem with that, however, is that most distributors who would entertain a theatrical deal also want the streaming rights to the film.
I would just want filmmakers to really exhaust all of those other distribution possibilities before giving up streaming, because once you give up streaming, thats it, producer Mynette Louie (The Invitation) told IndieWire before Sundance began.
Another issue filmmakers have pointed out is that because of the secretive nature of how many people actually watch content on streaming services like Amazon and Netflix, its impossible to know if the figures AVD is offering are fair.
Distributors withhold digital numbers from filmmakers, so there are no digital revenue comps available to run estimates to determine if this is a good deal for my film, producer Rebecca Green (It Follows) told Business Insider. For example, the deal stipulates that a film makes money per hour viewed, but what is the average length of time a film is watched on Amazon and how does that differ per genre? What statistics do I have about past films released on Amazon Direct, in the same way I can look up box-office numbers for every film released in theaters, in order for me to determine if 30 cents per hour is a good deal for my film? I can tell you that I do not have this information for even my own two films currently in the digital stage of their release. Maybe it is a good deal, but without the numbers to back it up, I really have no idea and neither does any other filmmaker selling their film.
AVD states it will not announce the Sundance titles that have taken the Film Festival Stars deal until after the February 28 deadline (the titles will then be available on AVD this September), but two filmmakers who have found success already on the platform were at Sundance singing its praises.
Justin Doeschers The Break-In and Danishka Esterhazys Black Field have been two of the standout titles since the start of AVD, as both have received the platforms AVD Stars recognition a cash bonus to filmmakers who are top performers on Prime.
Doescher joined AVD right when the service began in May as he had recently finished his movie and was figuring out where to show it other than film festivals.
Not receiving any acceptance letters to attend film festivals and not getting anyone to pay to watch his ultra-low-budget horror movie on Vimeo Pro, Doescher said he instantly found success when The Break-In showed up on Amazon Prime through AVD.
For people who have Prime already it wasnt a big deal to check out my movie as opposed to Vimeo Pro where they didnt want to pay for something they didnt know about, Doescher told Business Insider.
Esterhazy is a Canadian filmmaker who had a successful festival run in her home country and a TV release, but she found no avenue to get her Gothic drama to an American audience until Amazon came along.
The Break In
I was thinking of trying to put it on iTunes or Netflix, she said. But my filmmaker friends who had tried that told me they spent a lot of money to get it on there and nobody watched their movies.
Uploading Black Field for free to AVD was enticing and it has led to Esterhazys movie having hundreds of thousands of views on the platform since, according to her.
Both filmmakers were coy about how much they are making from AVD, though they said when they were named AVD Stars they made around $100,000, counting the bonus, in that particular month.
Orme says that like all Amazon initiatives, AVD will be tweaked as it evolves, but from the outside, at least at the moment, filmmakers are still skating carefully around this latest self-distribution option.
"I'm still trying to figure out what the immediate advantages are, unless you made your movie for less than the amount being offered, said filmmaker Zach Clark, whose movies like Little Sister and White Reindeer have premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival, followed by distribution. I just saw that they paid $2 million for a movie that premiered in competition at Sundance, so why offer only $100,000 to everyone else? Streaming rights are increasingly the only rights that matter for independent films, so I would be extremely cautious and skeptical about taking this offer, unless I had a $75,000 movie in competition. And honestly, how many $75,000 movies are in competition at Sundance this year?
Note: Business Insider is a partner in Amazon Video Direct.
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An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer shot and wounded two burglary suspects early Monday at his home in Downey.
The shooting occurred about 1 a.m. at the officer's home in the 7800 block of Borson Street, according to the Downey Police Department.
According to Downey police and the LAPD, the officer -- whose name was withheld -- suffered minor injuries during the confrontation with the two suspects and was treated at a hospital.
The unidentified suspects were both taken for hospital treatment of gunshot wounds that were apparently non-life-threatening.
The officer is assigned to the LAPD's Olympic Station.
A man was shot and wounded Tuesday morning near Crenshaw High School.
Firefighter-paramedics tansported the wounded man on a gurney into an ambulance in front of the high school. Detaials about the victim's condition were not immediately available.
Officer Aareon Jefferson said a call of shots fired came in shortly before 8 a.m. on the 5000 block of 11th Avenue, where the school is located. Officials said the suspected shooter was last seen in a dark-colored truck or SUV.
LA Unified School District spokeswoman Barbara Jones said no students were involved and classes were not in session at the time of the shooting. The school was locked down as a precaution during the police investigation.
Google is celebrating the late Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu as its Google Doodle on Monday, paying tribute to the Oakland-born civil rights activist who refused to go to the governments incarceration camps for Japanese Americans.
And according to his daughter, his debut appearance on the world's largest search engine is especially relevant in today's atmosphere regarding immigrants.
Korematsu, who would have turned 98 on Monday, was the first AsianAmerican to get a day named after him in the United States. Since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation establishing the day into law in 2010, Hawaii, Virginia and Florida now also recognize Jan. 30 as Fred Korematsu Day.
But Monday was his first debut as a Google Doodle, according to his daughter, Karen Korematsu, the founder of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute in San Francisco.
In my opinion, when you have made a Google Doodle, you have made it, she said in a phone interview Monday on her way to Sacramento, where her father's memory will be honored.
She said that her family tried to get her dad to be represented by Google last year, but it was unsuccessful.
This time, her brother, Kenneth, knew artist Sophie Diao, herself a child of Asian immigrants, who drew the patriotic portrait of Korematsu. In the picture, he's wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom given to him by then President Bill Clinton with a scene of the internment camps to his back. He's surrounded by cherry blossoms and flowers that have come to be symbols of peace and friendship between the United States and Japan.
Fred Korematsu was born to Japanese parents in Oakland and graduated from Castlemont High School, which is where his daughter said he learned about the Constitution.
When the United States entered WWII, he tried to enlist in the U.S. National Guard and Coast Guard, but was turned away because he was Japanese, according to the institute.
He was 23 years old and working as a foreman when Executive Order 9066 was signed in 1942 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The order sent more than 115,000 people of Japanese descent living in the United States to incarceration.
Rather than relocate to an internment camp, Korematsu went into hiding. He was arrested in 1942 and despite the help of organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, his conviction was upheld in the landmark Supreme Court case of Korematsu v. United States. Because of that, he and his family were sent to the Central Utah War Relocation Center at Topaz, Utah, until the end of WWII in 1945.
In 1976, President Gerald Ford formally ended Executive Order 9066 and apologized for the internment, stating "We now know what we should have known then not only was that evacuation wrong but Japanese-Americans were and are loyal Americans.
Fred Korematsus conviction was overturned in 1983 in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco after evidence came to light that disputed the necessity of the internment. Some of his lawyers who represented him then, Dale Manami and Don Tamaki, formed a law firm, and he was also represented by the Asian Law Caucus, among other attorneys. Many lawyers from that firm and the law caucus were at the San Francisco International Airport this weekend providing free legal service to Muslim refugees detained there briefly.
To Karen Korematsu, the choosing of her fathers image to be represented as a Google Doodle is highly relevant as the Donald Trump administration has issued travel bans to citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.
I think one of the main reasons he was chosen by Google was the opportunity to educate people on the mistakes of our past history, his daughter said. This new order is very scary. This is not what America is about. You dont put the fear of God into people. This is not right.
An assistant principal for a Miami Beach elementary school was arrested on federal child porn charges, sources told NBC 6.
Don Clippinger, assistant principal for Fienberg-Fisher K-8 Center, was arrested Tuesday morning, Miami-Dade County Public Schools officials confirmed.
The details of the charges were unknown. No attorney information was immediately available.
"The accusations made against this employee are disgraceful and reprehensible, and constitute conduct unbecoming a school district employee," the school district said in a statement. "Miami-Dade County Public Schools has initiated procedures for the immediate termination of this individual from any and all employment with the school district."
Clippinger was a 23-year employee of the school district, officials said.
At the school at 14th Street and Washington Avenue Tuesday, parents said they received a call from the school advising that the assistant principal had been accused of downloading child pornography.
"My heart stopped. As a mom you bring your kids to school to be safe, the last thing you would expect is something like this to happen," parent Bee Santana said. "Especially, you know, with an assistant principal, and now that you tell me he's been around a long time, now they should investigate the prior schools he went to to see if there were any incidents or what not."
Clippinger is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
In the wake of a controversial executive order signed by President Donald Trump halting refugees from specific nations entering the United States, one of the largest Muslim civil rights group is calling on all citizens observing the religion to refuse any additional questions they are asked when entering or exiting the country.
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement against the recent moves by the Trump administration, saying it continues to disproportionately target American Muslim citizens.
CAIR-FL says all American citizens of the Muslim faith make up 50 to 75 percent of those selected for secondary inspection when traveling despite being just one percent of the population. The organization encourages members to comply and be truthful with officials and give basic information when asked.
Officials say agents and other officers have asked people questions that include how often they pray and what is preached at their mosque. CAIR says anyone who feels they are being profiled because of their faith should ask to speak to a supervisor immediately as well as a lawyer if they are not released.
The South Florida community is voicing its concerns over the immigration executive order of President Donald Trump.
Protesters were out in force Tuesday night outside the offices of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez. The mayor sent a memo to the county's corrections director last week saying jails should hold undocumented immigrants detained by police and turn them over to the department of homeland security when requested.
Rally organizers say what the mayor signed off on is not what the people of Miami-Dade want.
"Living in a majority immigrant county - Mayor Gimenez himself is an immigrant its going to cost the county more money to become another arm of Trumps deportation order, said Ruth Moreno, the state coordinator for immigrant defense group iAmerica
Mayor Gimenez did say that when it comes to this issue, immigrants should not fear police in Miami-Dade County. People opposed to the measure say there are still plenty of questions left unanswered.
"There's so much going on, how do you chose what's more important? Our standing in the world, not being run by someone with such close ties to Russia, not having a racist in charge of national security? Where do you, what's most important?" rally organizer Janet Carabelli said.
A Long Island cardiologist who conspired to kill a rival doctor following a professional dispute has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Anthony Moschetto will also face five years of post-release supervision under the sentencing arrangment announced Tuesday. The 56-year-old doctor pleaded guilty in October to criminal possession of a weapon, conspiracy, arson and other charges listed in a 77-count indictment.
Nassau County prosecutors had recommended Moschetto be sentenced to 12 years. His medical license will be suspended. He must also turn over any legal firearms in his possession.
Prosecutors said Moschetto offered an undercover officer $5,000 to have the rival doctor beaten and $20,000 to have him killed. He was recorded on video giving the officer $500 and blank prescriptions as a deposit.
When investigators searched Moschetto's mansion in Sands Point, they found a cache of weapons hidden behind a motorized bookcase.
Prosecutors say Moschetto also hired an intermediary to set the other doctor's office on fire.
Two other men were also charged. One pleaded guilty. The other was acquitted.
A Pennsylvania family fighting to have their relatives return to the United States after they were detained at Philadelphia International Airport and sent back overseas under the immigration order told "NBC Nightly News" that they supported Donald Trump for president.
I understand he wants to make America safe, Sarmad Assali said. "We're all on with this. I definitely want to be in a safe place. But people need us and we need to be there for them."
Assali and her husband, Dr. Ghassan Assali, who has a dentistry practice and received his degree from New York University, are originally from Syria but have been living in the United States for more than 20 years.
Assali's two brothers, their wives and their two children initiated their immigration attempts in 2003 while living in Syria. In December 2016, they were approved to join Assali and her husband in Allentown after the couple bought and furnished a home for them.
But early Saturday morning, after they landed at Philadelphia International Airport, Assali's relatives were detained. They were then sent on an 18-hour flight back overseas.
The detainment and deportation occurred only hours after the president signed an executive order that immediately restricted travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries, temporarily halted the refugee program and indefinitely blocked refugees from Syria.
"Two security guards were waiting for them," Assali said. "They took them. They said, 'Are you Syrians?' They said, 'Yes.' They said, 'Come with us.'"
Assali's relatives, who are all Orthodox Christians, had visas and proof of green cards. The six Syrians were told they had to go back on the next flight and return to the Middle East, according to Assali. The next day, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus announced that the order would not extend to green card holders.
They went on an 18-hour flight back to Doha and are currently in Damascus, according to the Assali family. One of Assali's relatives has heart problems and was given oxygen.
Tawfik Assali, the 21-year-old son of one of the deported Syrians, told NBC News he came to the United States three years ago and was waiting for his mother to join him.
"I was one hour away from hugging her," he said. "Seeing her."
Hours after the six Syrians were sent back home, a federal judge granted an injunction on the order in response to a request filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other legal organizations. While the stay blocks anyone with a valid visa who is being held at airports from being deported, it only applies to those currently within the U.S., not anyone who tries to come to the U.S. going forward.
The six Syrians remain in Damascus. Joseph Hohenstein, an attorney for the Assali family, told NBC10 Monday they were denied a resolution that would bring them back to Allentown. Lawyers from the ACLU of Pennsylvania, HIAS Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the families.
A crowdfunding campaign has been created for the family, which liquidated its assets in order to pay for visas, security screenings and other legal documents that were issued before their planned departure to the U.S.
This poor family sold everything and used those funds for this trip and now thats gone, said Joseph Hohenstein, an attorney who is helping on the case. If they ever make it here they will be coming with not a penny to their names.
On Sunday, Ghassan Assali appeared alongside Gov. Tom Wolf decrying Trumps executive order.
"America is not America," Assali said. "Like ISIS now, they ask, 'Are you Christian? What do you believe?' And if they are not saying what they believe, they kick you out and they cut your head off. So America, same thing. They ask you are you Muslim? You've got to change your religion. Thank you." [[412059543, C]]
His son, Joseph, is a sophomore at Temple University studying biology and Spanish. The family lives in a well-established Syrian and Lebanese community in Allentown that dates back more than 100 years, Hohenstein said.
The community is predominately Christian and houses several churches.
Despite what happened to the Assalis, not everyone in their community disagrees with Trump. NBC News spoke with Rev. Anthony Sabbagh, an immigrant who voted for Trump partly because of his promise to make national security a top priority.
"I admire a president that protects his people and tries to make America safe," Sabbagh said.
In her interview with NBC News, Sarmad Assali had a question for Trump.
"Why?" she asked. "Where is your human side to send somebody to a war zone?"
Editor's Note: A conversation on Wednesday with an attorney for the Assali family clarified they did not vote for President Donald Trump, although they could legally vote and did support him.
An hours-long lockdown at Linden High School in New Jersey has been lifted after authorities searched the school following a threat posted to social media.
The school was put on lockdown for more than four hours Tuesday after authorities said they had received information about an Instagram post containing a direct threat to the school at about 9 a.m.
Officers from both Linden and surrounding towns searched the school, and students reported sitting on the floor waiting during the lockdown hours.
Officials said the lockdown was lifted at about 1 p.m., however a heavy police presence remained at the scene scene. School officials implemented an early dismissal, but after-school activities will proceed as scheduled.
Linden Chief of Police Jonathan Parham said the investigation was still "very active."
[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More
"For that reason we will not comment as to the specifics of the case other than to say have conducted a thorough search of the school and are confident that the students and faculty are safe," he said.
The public school on Saint Georges Avenue serves more than 1,700 students in grades 9-12.
Top Tri-State News Photos
A missing 41-year-old New Jersey woman has been found dead in the trunk on her car in Newark, authorities say.
The Essex County prosecutor's office says Diana Boggio was killed, though it's not clear where that happened.
Boggio's body was found in the trunk of her Honda Accord at about 9 a.m. Tuesday at 25 Verona Ave., the prosecutor's office says.
The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.
Boggio, of Belleville, had been reported missing Saturday afternoon.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact 877-847-7432.
Dozens of volunteer attorneys were continuing to work around the clock at Terminal 4 of John F. Kennedy Airport Monday, part of a spontaneously formed coalition calling itself No Ban JFK.
The lawyers have already helped more than 40 people clear customs at the Queens airport since President Trump signed an executive order Friday temporarily restricting entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries and indefinitely bans Syrian refugees from crossing into the country.
The work is far from over, however, according to Camille Mackler, director of legal initiatives at the New York Immigration Coalition, which was coordinating No Ban JFK's volunteer efforts in assisting detained immigrants at JFK.
"They are in waiting rooms, they are being questioned, that's what we are hearing," Mackler said of the detained travelers. "They are having their documents checked, they are having their background checks done."
Of the 46 people who were detained at JFK, 15 are Iranian nationals, five are Iraqi nationals, one Libyan national, one Saudi Arabian national, one Senegalese national, three Sudanese national, three Syrian nationals, eight Yemeni national, and 10 undetermined, according to Mackler. Forty-two were released, one of whom came as a refugee and therefore not technically detained. Two were sent back to their home countries of Sudan and Iran, and two remain unaccounted for.
"We just had someone traveling from Iraq, not clear what kind of visa, but they didn't make it through, and their friend cannot find them," said Mackler.
Mackler says on the group's website -- broadened as nobanusa.com -- that the coalition isn't in communication with the the government in an official capacity, and that "the numbers we provide come from our lawyers being deployed at terminals, and connections made with the families and loved ones of detainees who get the airport gates."
The volunteer attorneys at JFK have received hundreds of inquiries from people who were not able to board their international flights.
"We have the law on our side, and the ACLU is working to mount legal challenges and hopefully, we will be succesful because if anything is shown from 650 lawyers signing up in two days, from 3,000 people at JFK alone on Saturday, from 20,000 in the streets yesterday -- this is now what the president and the people governing want," said Mackler.
If you or a family member know anyone who is being detained, please contact our hotline at https://t.co/vXwaIv8AnM #nobanJFK #nobanUSA NoBanJFK (@nobanjfk) January 30, 2017
Port Authority police briefly banned the volunteer lawyers from Terminal 8, but the after calling Port Authority Police headquarters, were allowed back in.
The volunteer attorneys are working on behalf of individual detainees while the American Civil Liberties Union is taking broader legal action, according to No Ban JFK.
Meanwhile, demonstrators were also at the airport Monday, though the group was smaller compared to the thousands who descended on Kennedy Airport over the weekend to protest the immigration ban.
"For this fight to keep going, we have to be vigilant every day for the next four years," said Jason Stump of Astoria, Queen. "Because I no longer have the faith that my country has my back so we have to have each other's back despite the govnerment."
Daisy Skeleton drove in from Massachusetts at around midnight Sunday to join the protest, and Bonnie Hilton came in from Washington, D.C.
"We feel a little bit helpless, and helping people have voices -- so really, our physical presence and calling our senators and local government is all we can do right now," Hilton said.
What to Know Protests continued Monday after rallies broke out at airports across the U.S. over the weekend in response to Trump's immigration policies
Protesters have turned out in droves, though supporters of the president said they've been pleased with his first week in office
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker have been among the fiercest critics of President Trump
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has joined other states' top government lawyers in suing the Trump administration over the president's highly controversial executive order restricting travel for refugees and immigrants from several Muslim-majority nations.
Calling Donald Trump's 90-day travel ban "unconstitutional, unlawful and fundamentally un-American," Schneiderman said he was proud to partner with other Democrat attorneys general "to fight to permanently strike down this dangerous and discriminatory order."
"I will continue to do everything in my power to not just fight this executive order, but to protect the families caught in the chaos sown by President Trump's hasty and irresponsible implementation including pressing DHS and CBP to provide a full list of those still detained and allow them access to legal service providers," Schneiderman said in a statement.
The federal lawsuit was originally filed by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale University, the Urban Justice Center, and the National Immigration Law Center. Washington and Massachusetts were among the first states to join the suit, which asks a judge to throw out key provisions of the executive order issued Friday.
Schneiderman told The Associated Press that lawyers, including attorneys general, are having an "awakening" regarding the Trump administration.
"This is a president who does not have respect for the rule of the law," he said. "That's something that bothers a lot of people."
Schneiderman has given model legislation to local governments in New York showing them how to become sanctuary cities that would refuse to cooperate with federal authorities on some immigration enforcement matters.
Their plan for legal pushback has precedent: Several Republican attorneys general made it a practice to routinely file lawsuits against the policies of former President Barack Obama.
Meanwhile, thousands continue to protest Trump's order at rallies in New York City and across the nation following a weekend of confusion and outrage.
The tri-state, like much of the country, is fiercely split on ideological lines.
Though protests are visible and widespread, a national Quinnipiac University poll released Monday says American voters support, 48 to 42 percent, suspending immigration from 'terror prone' regions, even if it means turning away refugees from those regions.
On Staten Island, where 60 percent of voters chose Trump, the new president has their vote of approval.
On Staten Island, the only borough of New York City that Donald Trump won in the presidential election, people say they're pleased with his first week in office.
Aiman Youssef of Midland Beach, who immigrated to Staten Island from Syria in 1989, is among the 57 percent of voters in the borough who voted for Trump.
"He's trying to protect the country, and he's doing an amazing job," said Youssef, who approves of both Trump and the travel ban.
"I think he did a lot in eight days, more than any president did in eight years," he said.
In Castleton Corners, Jen Remauro said she doesn't agree with all his executive orders but doesn't have any regrets about voting from Trump.
"I don't agree with fully that he's asking the president of Mexico to pay for the wall, it's sort of like my backyard neighbor asking me to pay for his fence," she said.
"Give him a chance," she added. "Everybody wants a chance in life."
"This guy, yes he's a millionaire, yes he has a mouth, he likes to run it," said Remauro. "But just sit back, relax and see what he can do, because sometimes the impossible can happen."
At the Page Plaza Diner in Tottenville, Eugene Shteynvarts, another Trump voter, said, "So far, a fast start out of the gate, but let's see what he completes in the next four years."
And Sam Pirozzolo, who threw an inauguration party complete with a life-size presidential cutout, said, "I'm very impressed with what he's doing so far."
"He's doing everything he said he would," said Pirozzolo. "I don't know that I've ever seen that from any political candidate before."
Among the supporters on Staten Island, that appeared to be the consistent theme: they were pleased to see a politician that makes promises and keeps them.
Officials echo the support, with Rep. Dan Donovan saying he believes Trump's travel ban is "in America's best interest."
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates shot to the heart of the debate over how President Donald Trump is handling the first few weeks of his administration after Trump fired her in an extraordinary public showdown Monday.
Yates publicly questioned the constitutionality of his refugee and immigration ban and refused to defend it in court, drawing wrath from the administration Trump called it a betrayal of the Justice Department and plaudits from her former boss.
Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Yates showed "courageous leadership" in insisting on following the Constitution.
"With her decision not to defend the executive order regarding immigration, Sally Yates displayed the fierce intellect, unshakable integrity, and deep commitment to the rule of law that have characterized her 27 years of distinguished service to the Department of Justice under both Democratic and Republican administrations," Lynch said in a statement.
Bob Ferguson, the state of Washington attorney general suing the federal government over the travel order, agreed with her decision.
"You've got a duty to follow the law and go where the law takes you," he said on MSNBC Tuesday.
The clash Monday night between Trump and Sally Yates, a career prosecutor and Democratic appointee, laid bare the growing discord and dissent surrounding an executive order that halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days. The firing, in a written statement released just hours after Yates went public with her concerns, also served as a warning to other administration officials that Trump is prepared to terminate those who refuse to carry out his orders.
Yates' refusal to defend the executive order was largely symbolic given that Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for attorney general, will almost certainly defend the policy once he's sworn in.
He had been expected to be confirmed Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee, but lengthy speeches from Democratic members threatened to push the vote into Wednesday. After he passes the first hurdle, Sessions could be approved within days by the full Senate.
Yet the firing reflected the mounting conflict over the executive order, as administration officials have moved to distance themselves from the policy and even some of Trump's top advisers have made clear that they were not consulted on its implementation.
As protests erupted at airports across the globe, and as legal challenges piled up in courthouses, Yates directed agency attorneys not to defend the executive order. She said in a memo Monday she was not convinced it was lawful or consistent with the agency's obligation "to stand for what is right."
Trump soon followed with a statement accusing Yates of having "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States." He named longtime federal prosecutor Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, as Yates' replacement. Boente was sworn in privately late Monday, the White House said, and rescinded Yates's directive.
The chain of events bore echoes of the Nixon-era "Saturday Night Massacre," when the attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned rather than follow an order to fire a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal. The prosecutor, Archibald Cox, was fired by the solicitor general.
Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration who was the top federal prosecutor in Atlanta and later became Loretta Lynch's deputy, was not alone in her misgivings.
At least three top national security officials Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department have told associates they were not aware of details of the directive until around the time Trump signed it. Leading intelligence officials were also left largely in the dark, according to U.S. officials.
But Kelly denied reports Tuesday that he had been out of the loop in the White House planning for the immigration restrictions.
Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that despite White House assurances that congressional leaders were consulted, he learned about the order from the media.
In a video of Yates' deputy attorney general confirmation hearing in 2015, Sessions is shown questioning her about her stance should then-President Barack Obama require her to carry out "unlawful" views.
"You have to watch out because people will be asking you to do things and you need to say no. You think the attorney general has the responsibility to say no to the President if he asks for something that's improper?" Sessions asks.
"A lot of people have defended the Lynch nomination, for example by saying 'well, he appoints somebody who's going to execute his views, what's wrong with that?'" he asks, referring to Obama's nomination a year earlier of Loretta Lynch as Attorney General.
"But if the views the president wants to execute are unlawful, should the attorney general or the deputy attorney general say no?"
Yates tells Sessions: "Senator, I believe the attorney general or the deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution and to give their independent legal advice to the president."
Yates on Monday said that she had reviewed the policy and concluded that it was at odds with the Justice Department's mission. She said that though other lawyers in the department had reviewed the order, their review had not addressed whether it was "wise or just."
"I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right," Yates wrote in a letter.
Trump said the order had been "approved" by Justice Department lawyers. However, the department has said the Office of Legal Counsel review was limited to whether the order was properly drafted, but did not address broader policy questions.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer challenged those opposed to the measure to resign.
"They should either get with the program or they can go," Spicer said.
Alberto Gonzales, attorney general under George W. Bush, said on CNN that the president needs to get "diverse" views from members of his administration, but that he is still entitled to have his lawful orders carried out.
The blowback underscored Trump's tenuous relationship with his own national security advisers, many of whom he met for the first time during the transition.
Mattis, who stood next to Trump during Friday's signing ceremony, is said to be particularly incensed. A senior U.S. official said Mattis, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph Dunford, was aware of the general concept of Trump's order but not the details. Tillerson has told the president's political advisers that he was baffled over not being consulted on the substance of the order.
U.S. officials and others with knowledge of the Cabinet's thinking insisted on anonymity in order to disclose the officials' private views.
Despite his public defense of the policy, the president has privately acknowledged flaws in the rollout, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. But he's also blamed the media his frequent target for what he believes are reports exaggerating the dissent and the number of people actually affected.
After a chaotic weekend during which some U.S. legal permanent residents were detained at airports, some agencies were moving swiftly to try to clean up after the White House.
Homeland Security, the agency tasked with implementing much of the refugee ban, clarified that customs and border agents should allow legal residents to enter the country. The Pentagon was trying to exempt Iraqis who worked alongside the U.S. and coalition forces from the 90-day ban on entry from the predominantly Muslim countries.
"There are a number of people in Iraq who have worked for us in a partnership role, whether fighting alongside us or working as translators, often doing so at great peril to themselves," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers in Trump's party sought to distance themselves from the wide-ranging order.
While Spicer said "appropriate committees and leadership offices" on Capitol Hill were consulted, GOP lawmakers said their offices had no hand in drafting the order and no briefings from the White House on how it would work.
"I think they know that it could have been done in a better way," Corker said of the White House.
NBC's Asher Klein contributed to this report.
Pentagon officials have identified the U.S. service member killed in a raid in Yemen over the weekend as Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens, 36, of Peoria, Illinois.
Owens was killed in a firefight Sunday with militants from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's branch in Yemen. As NBC News reports, the raid left nearly 30 others dead, including the eight-year-old daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, the New Mexico-born al Qaeda leader who was himself killed in a U.S. strike five years ago.
The raid, conducted by the supersecret Joint Special Operations Command in southern Yemen, was intended to capture intelligence, specifically computer equipment, according to a senior U.S. military official. Three al Qaeda leaders were killed in the raid, U.S. officials told NBC News.
Three U.S. service members were wounded, as was a fourth, who was injured when a military aircraft assisting in the mission had a "hard landing" nearby, according to U.S. Central Command.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis released a statement Monday offering condolences to the family and shipmates of the fallen Navy sailor.
"Ryan gave his full measure for our nation, and in performing his duty, he upheld the noblest standard of military service," Mattis' statement said. "The United States would not long exist were it not for the selfless commitment of such warriors."
Contrary to earlier reporting, a senior military official said, the raid was not a holdover mission approved by President Obama, but President Trump's first clandestine strike. The mission involved "boots on the ground" at an al Qaeda camp near al Bayda in south central Yemen, said the official.
Planning for the clandestine counterterrorism raid began before President Barack Obama left office on Jan. 20, but Trump authorized the raid, according to a U.S. defense official, who was not authorized to discuss details beyond those announced by the Pentagon and so spoke on condition of anonymity.
That means Owens is the first member of the U.S. military to have died in action authorized by President Donald Trump.
"Americans are saddened this morning with news that a life of a heroic service member has been taken in our fight against the evil of radical Islamic terrorism," Trump said in a statement.
"My deepest thoughts and humblest prayers are with the family of this fallen service member," he said.
The U.S. has been striking al Qaeda in Yemen from the air for more than 15 years, mostly using drones. Sunday's surprise pre-dawn raid could signal a new escalation against extremist groups in the Arab world's poorest but strategically located country.
The action provides an early window into how the new president will put his campaign rhetoric into action when it comes to foreign intervention.
Trump had promised an "America first" approach and an end to the "era of nation building" if he won the White House. Many interpreted his language as isolationist and expected Trump to be more cautious about where the U.S. intervened.
At the same time, Trump had broadcast a stronger posture on the world stage. He pledged to beef up the military and said he aimed to achieve "peace through strength."
Sunday's raid was not the first time that the United States had conducted a counterterrorism raid on the ground in Yemen, but it was not the usual approach of striking from the air, the defense official said.
The raid was planned as a clandestine operation and not intended to be made public, but the loss of a service member changed that, the official said, adding that no detainees were taken in the operation.
In addition to killing the militants, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said U.S. forces "captured a whole host of information about future plots that's going to benefit this country and keep us safe."
The president "extends his condolences," he said on ABC's "'This Week." ''But more importantly, [he] understands the fight that our servicemen and women conduct on a daily basis to keep this country safe."
Just over a week ago, suspected U.S. drone strikes killed three other alleged al Qaeda operatives in Bayda in what was the first-such killings reported in the country since Trump assumed the U.S. presidency.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, long seen by Washington as among the most dangerous branches of the global terror network, has exploited the chaos of Yemen's civil war, seizing territory in the south and east.
The war began in 2014, when Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies swept down from the north and captured the capital, Sanaa. A Saudi-led military coalition has been helping government forces battle the rebels for nearly two years.
An early-morning fire Saturday destroyed a Texas mosque that was a target of hatred several years ago and experienced a burglary just a week ago.
A clerk at a convenience store spotted smoke and flames billowing from the Islamic Center of Victoria at about 2 a.m. and called the fire department.
"It's sad to stand there and watch it collapse down, and the fire was so huge," Shahid Hashmi, the Islamic center's president, said. "It looks completely destroyed."
Victoria Fire Marshal Tom Legler asked for help from the Texas Fire Marshal's Office and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine what caused the blaze. Hashmi said authorities have told him it was too early to speculate.
"None whatsoever right now," the center director said. "We don't have any lead or information as to what started the fire and what happened. So I'm sure it's going to be a few days, they told us, before they can come up with any answers for us."
The congregation's pastor, known as an imam, was awake in the early morning hours and checked online surveillance of the mosque and found no alarm active and the doors unlocked, Hashmi said.
On Jan. 21, someone broke in and stole some electronics, including laptops.
"He was worried about it and drove over there," Hashmi said. "By that time, fire engines were already there pouring water on the fire."
The structure was built in 2000. No injuries were reported. It took about four hours to extinguish the blaze.
Hashmi, who's lived in Victoria 32 years, said the congregation of about 140 has had few other problems and has enjoyed support from the city of about 115 miles southwest of Houston.
He already has received offers of temporary quarters for the congregation to worship.
"When 9/11 happened, Muslims and non-Muslims, we all got together," he said. "Of course, we will rebuild."
The Victoria Advocate on Saturday reported that in July 2013, a man admitted to painting "H8," a computer shorthand for "hate," on the outside of the building.
On Jan. 7, a mosque under construction near Lake Travis in Austin was burned to the ground.
The Texas office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said like that blaze, it would monitor the investigation of the Victoria fire.
"Because of growing anti-Muslim bigotry in our nation, and because of the recent spike in hate incidents targeting Islamic institutions and individuals, we urge investigators to keep the possibility of a bias motive for this fire in mind," CAIR-Houston Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll said.
There's been no determination yet for the Austin blaze, Diane Kanawati, with CAIR-Austin, said Saturday.
In December, a man was sentenced to four years in prison for setting fire to a Houston mosque where he worshipped. Gary Nathaniel Moore pleaded guilty to arson and using a fire as a deadly weapon in a Dec. 25, 2015, blaze that caused significant damage at the Islamic Society of Greater Houston mosque.
At the request of the United States, the U.N. Security Council scheduled urgent consultations Tuesday on a reported Iranian ballistic missile test, according to U.S. officials.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said it wanted the U.N.'s most powerful body to discuss Sunday's suspected launch of a medium-range missile.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said earlier that he did not know the "exact nature" of the test and expected to have more information later.
A defense official said the missile test ended with a "failed" re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Iran is the subject of a United Nations Security Council resolution prohibiting tests of ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear warhead. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal, the U.N. ban was prolonged by eight years, although Iran has flaunted the restriction.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the U.S. Security Council resolution.
"When actions are taken that violate or are inconsistent with the resolution, we will act to hold Iran accountable and urge other countries to do so as well," Toner said.
Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Iran for the missile test.
"No longer will Iran be given a pass for its repeated ballistic missile violations, continued support of terrorism, human rights abuses and other hostile activities that threaten international peace and security," Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said in a written statement.
Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, meanwhile, claimed a successful missile strike against a warship in the Red Sea belonging to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting alongside Yemen's internationally recognized government. Video footage shown on the rebels' al-Masirah television on Monday shows a warship being hit and a fire on board starting as a man not shown in the video shouts the rebels' trademark chant of "Allahu akbar (God is greatest), death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam."
The media arm of the Shiite rebels, also known as the Houthis, said the vessel was believed to belong to the Saudi Arabian navy.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday temporarily barring visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries and refugees worldwide. The order sparked confusion at airports, protests around the country and denunciations from leaders around the world, leading the Trump administration to clarify its meaning. Now, the order will face scrutiny in federal courts.
Here's what we know about it so far:
Who is barred from entry to the U.S.?
Trump's executive order temporarily suspends travel to the United States by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days. The countries are: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The State Department is no longer offering visas to citizens of those nations, unless they are also citizens in the United Kingdom.
The order includes a four-month suspension of America's refugee program. The suspension is intended to provide time to review how refugees are vetted before they are allowed to resettle in the United States, according to the Trump administration.
What is the status of green card holders and dual citizens?
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly issued a statement Sunday declaring that residency would be a "dispositive factor in our case-by-case determination." That means citizens of the seven target countries who hold permanent U.S. residency "green cards" will not be barred from re-entering the U.S., as officials had previously said.
Officials also clarified to The Associated Press Sunday that dual citizens who are nationals of one of the seven target countries and a country that is not on the list will be subject to additional security screenings, but will likely be allowed through.
The clarifications came after green card holders were detained in airports on Saturday when the executive order was applied to them too.
[NATL] Trump Immigration Order Triggers Protests Across US
How does the reception of refugees change with this executive order?
Trump's order cuts the number of refugees the United States plans to accept this budget year by more than half, to 50,000 people from around the world.
During the last budget year the U.S. accepted 84,995 refugees, including 12,587 people from Syria. President Barack Obama had set the current refugee limit at 110,000. The temporary halt to refugee admissions does include exceptions for people claiming religious persecution, as long as their religion is a minority faith in their country.
How many people were affected by the order?
There were 109 people denied entry to the U.S. upon arrival in the first 23 hours of the order, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official. Abroad, 173 were denied entry on flights to the U.S. from the seven countries listed in the order.
That's compared to 325,000 average daily travelers, which Trump spokespeople have called "a small price to pay" compared to the threat of a terrorist attack.
Why are people protesting the order?
Trump's order sparked immediate chaos and outrage in the United States, with travelers getting detained at airports, panicked families searching for relatives and protesters marching against the measure parts of which were quickly blocked by several federal courts.
The outrage stemmed from the perception that the U.S. was going back on its history as a beacon of freedom and opportunity for the whole world. One protest was held in sight of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York City.
Why does the Trump administration say this immigration ban is necessary?
The executive order called said refugees and people from the seven predominantly Muslim countries entering the U.S. would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.
America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border, said Trump in a statement on Sunday. Despite critics who refer to the action as a Muslim ban, Trump said the order is not about religion but keeping Americans safe.
Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world - a horrible mess! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017
Were making sure that the priority is American citizens, American institutions, American businesses, American families, press secretary Sean Spicer said on Morning Joe Monday morning. Thats the number one job of any government and any leader, to protect its people.
But critics have seized on the words of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani who told Fox News that Trump had wanted a "Muslim ban" and asked Giuliani to create a commission to show him "the right way to do it legally."
They also say that no one from the nations listed in the order has been responsible for an attack on U.S. soil. By comparison, most of the Sept. 11 attackers were from Saudi Arabia, which was left off the list.
How is Syria specifically affected by the immigration order?
Trump's order directs the State Department to stop issuing visas to nationals of conflict-torn Syria and halts the processing of Syrian refugees. That will remain in effect until Trump determines that enough security changes have been made to ensure that would-be terrorists can't exploit weaknesses in the current vetting system, according to the administration.
How have leaders abroad reacted?
America's closest allies spoke out against the entry ban to varying degrees. The British prime minister wouldnt condemn the move but said she did "not agree" with the executive order. Other allies, such as France and Germany, criticized the ban as an act of discrimination, arguing that receiving refugees is a duty necessary for international cooperation. Canada's prime minister did not explicitly mention the ban while reaffirming the nation's commitment to receiving refugees, citing the necessity for diversity.
On the other hand, the far-right National Democratic Party in Germany celebrated "the massive restriction on the entry of pseudo-refugees and Muslims to the USA."
To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017
A petition on the British Parliament's website attracted over 1 million signatures backing a call for Trump, who has been invited to meet Queen Elizabeth II, to be barred from the U.K. on the basis of misogyny and vulgarity.
How will immigration vetting change moving forward?
During the Obama administration, vetting for refugees included in-person interviews overseas, where applicants provided biographical details about themselves including their families, friendships, social or political activities, employment, phone numbers, email accounts and more. They also provided biometric information, including fingerprints. Syrians were subject to additional, classified controls that administration officials at the time declined to describe, and processing for that group routinely took years to complete.
Trump's order did not spell out specifically what additional steps he wants to see the Homeland Security and State departments add to the country's vetting system for refugees. Instead he directed officials to review the refugee application and approval process to find any security measures that could be added to prevent people who pose a threat from using the refugee program.
What challenges have been filed so far?
The American Civil Liberties Union quickly filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order on behalf of two Iraqi refugees stopped at John F. Kennedy International Airport, arguing that the order violates due process, equal protection, international law and immigration law.
A federal judge in Brooklyn issued an emergency stay of parts of Trumps executive order Saturday night and prevented the government from deporting some people detained at airports across the country after their arrival in the United States. The judge did not rule on the constitutionality of the executive order.
Federal Judge Ann M. Donnelly of the Eastern District of New York Courthouse in Brooklyn granted an injunction in response to a request filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other legal organizations on behalf of individuals subject to President Trumps immigration ban from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Other lawsuits were filed in Boston, Seattle and Alexandria, Virginia.
On Monday, the first state-level action came from Washington. Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced a lawsuit asking a federal judge to declare key provisions of President Trumps immigration executive order unconstitutional.
"No one is above the law not even the president," Ferguson said in a statement. "And in the courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. Its the Constitution."
Whats next?
The ACLU is expected in the coming days to try to overturn the executive order, The Washington Post reports.
It will argue that Trumps executive order discriminates against Muslims and is unconstitutional. Trump is denying that the order is a Muslim ban, but the ACLU plans to rely on Trumps own words in the past, according to The Washington Post.
We are likely to file a broader challenge to the Executive Order in the coming days, and well likely seek temporary relief, Lee Gelernt, a senior lawyer at the ACLUs national office, told The Washington Post.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said it would file a federal lawsuit Monday on behalf of more than 20 people challenging the ban.
The lawsuit, to be filed in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Virginia, will challenge the constitutionality of the order, arguing that its apparent purpose is to ban Muslims from the seven designated countries.
The courts must do what President Trump will notensure that our government refrains from segregating people based on their faith, Gadeir Abbas, a lawyer who is co-counsel on the lawsuit, said in a statement.
The Trump administration has yet to respond in detail to the lawsuits.
The Department of Homeland Security said the Trump order "protects the United States from countries compromised by terrorism and ensures a more rigorous vetting process."
And administration lawyers cite another provision of federal law that allows the president to "suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or non-immigrants" if the president determines that their entry would be "detrimental to the interests of the United States."
Protests continue across the US over immigration ban
A man died in a fall from a roof of a Delaware power plant Tuesday morning.
The man died in the industrial accident around 8:10 a.m. at the NRG Indian River plant along Power Plant road in Dagsboro, said Delaware State Police in a news release.
"A male subject fell from a roof of the power plant and has died as a result of the fall," said police.
The investigation was in its very early stages Tuesday and police said they would release more details upon the completion of their investigation.
More than 9,200 acres of farmland have been preserved by Montgomery County, part of a vision by the planning commission to keep agriculture part of the culture.
In 2017, the budget for preserving more farmland is bigger than before, commission executive director Jody Holton said.
"This year, the amount that Montgomery County has to invest in the Farmland Preservation Program will triple," she said in a statement.
To bring in voices from farmers and residents, the county is hosting an all-day conference, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10, in Telford. The location is Franconia Heritage Restaurant, 508 Harleysville Pike.
The topics for the summit titled "Keeping Farming in Montgomery County: A Conference Focusing on Sustaining Farming for the Future" will be farmer-centric: funding sources for on-farm improvements, emerging sectors of the farm marketplace, soil health, diversifying farm products and transitioning farms to the next generation.
The keynote speaker will be a third-generation farmer from New Jersey, Lawrence Kuser, owner and president of Fernbrook Farms in Chesterfield, Burlington County. Kuser will discuss how he has diversified his farm's business over the last 30 years.
The conference will be split into morning and afternoon sessions.
Anyone interested should register with the county Farmland Preservation Program or contact program administrator Danielle Weiden at (610)278-5239 or dweiden@montcopa.org.
UPDATE: Attorneys representing the Assali family filed suit in federal court Tuesday. New details here.
A Lehigh Valley family was denied a resolution that would bring them back to Allentown from Damascus, Syria, where they were ordered to return after briefly landing at the Philadelphia International Airport Saturday morning.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection rejected the resolution Monday, said Joseph Hohenstein, an attorney for the Assali family. Lawyers from the ACLU of Pennsylvania, HIAS Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association will file a federal lawsuit Tuesday morning on behalf of the families.
"There is a history of the U.S. government acknowledging mistakes and errors after they have removed people and assisted in their return," Hohenstein said. "When it hasnt done its job right, theyre willing to fix it. Thats what were asking them to do here."
The families were detained and deported through an executive order signed Friday evening by President Donald Trump that immediately restricted travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries and temporarily halted a refugee program for Syrian immigrants.
Six members of the Assali family - comprising of two brothers, their wives and two children - were detained by Customs and Border Protection officials after disembarking a Qatar Airways flight at 7:25 a.m. Saturday, hours before a Brooklyn federal judge issued a stay on deportations initiated under Trumps executive order.
As a result, the six relatives were forced onto an 18-hour flight to Doha and are currently in Damascus, said relative Joseph Assali from Allentown. One of his relatives experienced heart problems on the flight and was given oxygen.
It was probably from the stress, he said. The hardest part is getting through a war zone to cross one border to make it to another country and then fly into America only to find out the laws changed while you were in the air.
A crowdfunding campaign has been created on behalf of the family, which liquidated its assets in order to pay for visas, security screenings and other legal documents that were issued before their planned departure to the U.S.
This poor family sold everything and used those funds for this trip and now thats gone, Hohenstein said. If they ever make it here they will be coming with not a penny to their names.
The Assalis initiated their immigration attempts in 2003 while living in Syria. In December 2016, they were approved to join relatives in Allentown, including Josephs father and mother who have been in the United States for more than 20 years. Dr. Ghassan Assali has a dentistry practice and received his degree from New York University.
The family decided to postpone their move to Pennsylvania until January in order to spend Christmas with their family in Syria. When they landed, their passports and visas were revoked and canceled.
On Sunday, Dr. Ghassan Assali appeared alongside Gov. Tom Wolf decrying Trumps executive order.
"America is not America," Dr. Ghassan Assali said. "Like ISIS now, they ask, 'Are you Christian? What do you believe?' And if they are not saying what they believe, they kick you out and they cut your head off. So America, same thing. They ask you are you Muslim? You've got to change your religion. Thank you."
Dr. Ghassan Assali and his family live in a well-established Syrian and Lebanese community in Allentown that dates back more than 100 years, Hohenstein said. The community is predominately Christian and houses several churches. Dr. Ghassan Assali's son, Joseph, is a sophomore at Temple University studying biology and Spanish.
The Assalis "were legal American immigrants to the point where the U.S. embassy in Syria shook hands and congratulated them, Grode said. All that remained was to fly and get here.
During an interview with NBC Nightly News, Dr. Ghassan Assali and his wife Sarmad Assali admitted that they had both voted for Donald Trump.
"I understand he wants to make America safe," Sarmad Assali said. "We're all on with this. I definitely want to be in a safe place. But people need us and we need to be there for them."
A New Jersey woman was charged with beating her husband to death with a fire extinguisher, said the Burlington County Prosecutors Office.
Police charged Laciana Tinsley, 42, Monday evening with murder and weapon charges in the death of 74-year-old Douglas Tinsley, said prosecutors.
The killing took place inside the Willingboro Township couple's home on Hancock Lane Monday afternoon. The victim died at the scene.
Tinsley struck her husband in the head multiple times with a fire extinguisher, said investigators. The motive for the assault remained under investigation Tuesday. Tinsley's defense lawyer said she acted in self-defense however and claimed her husband was suffocating her at the time. Investigators have not confirmed this however.
Tinsley will remain jailed until at least Friday. A judge will decide then whether to set bail or keep her in custody.
A day before the Affordable Care Act deadline, Mayor Jim Kenney and City Controller Alan Butkovitz sent joint letters to three congressmen and two senators claiming more than 220,000 Philadelphia residents would lose their health insurance if Obamacare was repealed without an appropriate replacement.
Kenney and Butkovitz sent the letters to Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA 13th district), Rep. Bob Brady (D-PA 1st District), Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA 2nd District), Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Monday. The mayor and city controller wrote that the total number of people who would lose their health insurance amounts to about 22 percent of Philadelphians between the ages of 18 and 64, according to data from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
While the direct impact is evident for those who face losing their healthcare, the indirect impact is much greater as repealing the act would also mean a loss in hundreds of millions of dollars through Medicaid expansion funding, Kenney and Butkovitz wrote. This is money the city utilizes to fund more than a hundred healthcare entities and community organizations that provide mental health and substance abuse services for 517,000 Philadelphia County Medicaid recipients.
Kenney and Butkovitz warned Philadelphia could see a large financial loss in important healthcare services that are critical in the fight against the opioid epidemic across Pennsylvania. They urged the five politicians to address the potential impact an Obamacare repeal with no replacement would have.
NBC10s Drew Smith spoke with a local Republican about the mayors warning. He urged that everyone wait and hear about the replacement plan before jumping to conclusions.
Immigration lawyers representing a Syrian family denied entry into Philadelphia Saturday morning filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday against the Trump administration.
The complaint filed on behalf of the Asali family alleges President Donald Trump's executive order violates several constitutional guarantees, including those belonging to members of a protected class and the right to due process.
The lawsuit asked that the familys visas, which were legally obtained and granted, be reinstated and that reentry into the United States be paid at the governments expense. Lawyers also sought a guarantee that the Asalis not be detained upon arrival on U.S. soil.
These are not people seeking asylum. These are not people seeking any relief, said Jonathan Grode, one of the attorneys working on this case. This is a family-based sponsorship.
This lawsuit comes one day after U.S. Customs and Border Protection denied a resolution to bring the family back to the U.S.
The family including four adults and two children planned to settle in Allentown about 60 miles north of Philadelphia where relatives who are U.S. citizens had bought a home for them. It took the family 13 years to secure visas and passports to relocate to the U.S.
All six family members returned to Syria over the weekend, and have been described as tired and exhausted by their Allentown relatives.
Theyre on overdrive, said Sarmad Assali, whose brother-in-law required oxygen to be administered to him mid-flight after becoming faint.
They were treated like criminals. Their paperwork and their passports were taken away from them. They were not allowed to have them until they reached Beirut, Lebanon, where they had to travel by land back to Syria.
Sarmad Assalis husband, Dr. Ghassan Assali, first immigrated to the U.S. more than 30 years ago. He joined relatives already living in Allentown and received his dentistry degree from New York University. In 2003, Assali sought to bring his remaining brothers from Syria to join his family in Pennsylvania.
Basam and Hassan Asali and their wives, Jozfin and Jurjeet, and Hassans two children, Sara and M.A.A., were issued visas in December 2016. They waited to relocate until January in order to spend the holidays in Syria. The Asali family is Christian.[[412094453, C]]
After arriving at the Philadelphia International Airport, the Asali family was met by two U.S. Customs and Protection officials. The six were removed from the plane, detained and told they could either leave the U.S. on the same plane or stay and be arrested, according to court documents. They were denied phone calls and prevented from speaking to their relatives waiting at the airport.
The lawsuit referenced a weekend court decision in New York, which ruled that authorities could not remove people from the seven Muslim-majority countries who arrived in the U.S. after Trump issued his executive order banning immigrants from those nations. The Asalis were mid-flight when the executive order was issued, the family said.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the agency will continue "to work with our partners in the departments of justice and state to implement President Trumps executive order to protect the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the United States."
DHS added that it is "committed to ensuring that all individuals affected by the executive orders ... are being provided all rights afforded under the law."
The government agency is working closely with airlines to prevent travelers who cannot enter the United States from boarding flights heading to the country, according to a statement.
"We are and will continue enforcing President Trumps executive order humanely and with professionalism," DHS said.
The agency did not comment specifically on the Asali lawsuit.
Defendants named in the litigation include President Trump; the Department of Homeland Security and its secretary, John Kelly; Customs and Border Protection and its Acting Commissioner, Kevin McAleenan; and Kevin Donohue, the port director of the Philadelphia field office of CBP.
The family members last names are spelled differently due to a name change during immigration into the U.S., a spokesman for the ACLU said. [[412059543, C]]
By Praveen Menon and Pairat Temphairojana
KUALA LUMPUR/BANGKOK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Seeking to capitalise on U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial new travel restrictions, companies and officials in Asia said they would target greater tourism and education ties with Muslims worried about the curbs.
Trump's Friday directive put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
In Muslim-majority Malaysia, the group CEO of Asia's largest budget airline, AirAsia, suggested countries in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could cash in.
"With the world now getting more isolationist it's time for ASEAN to start making it easier for tourists to come," Tony Fernandes said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Malaysia is a popular destination for tourists from the Middle East, with nearly 200,000 arriving in 2016 from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Qatar.
The country is also a key destination for medical tourism and halal tourism, with food and other products largely halal-certified.
In neighbouring Thailand, tourism officials said the U.S. ban could lift visitor numbers.
"The Middle East is a big market for us, especially in the medical tourism sector. They may choose to visit Thailand more and this may also boost our sector," Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn told Reuters.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Trump has presented his ban as a way to protect the United States from Islamist militants, but it has been condemned by a growing list of foreign leaders and drawn protests by tens of thousands in American cities.
With concerns about safety and security building, some Asians were reconsidering U.S. travel plans and seeking alternatives, even though their countries were not subject to the restrictions.
"When you want to travel, especially for leisure, then you want peace of mind," said Alicia Seah, director of public relations and communications at Singapore's Dynasty Travel.
Story continues
"Right now people are planning for their March-April onwards travel. They will put their travel plans (to the United States) on hold at this juncture in time."
Singaporeans may either chose to travel to the United States later in the year or explore alternative locations such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada or within Asia, she said.
TOUGHER VETTING
Trump has argued tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from attacks, but critics complain that his order unfairly singles out Muslims and defiles America's historic reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants.
Keysar Trad, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said Trump's travel restrictions were not only hurting innocent people but were "bringing great damage to his own economy and to the standings of Americans internationally".
"Everyone who has relatives in America, whether they are from the countries listed or not, they are petrified of what this man is going to do to America and to their relatives," Trad told Reuters.
Some education providers had seen early signs of an impact.
Rod Jones, CEO of Australian-listed education firm Navitas Ltd, said the company had seen a downturn in inquiries for their U.S.-based English language courses.
"We have started to see students back off from the U.S. because of their concerns about potential issues they may face," Jones told analysts on an earnings call.
"But they still want to go somewhere," Jones added, identifying Canada and Australia as important alternatives. "The Canadian Prime Minister has come out and said 'if the U.S. doesn't want you, we'd love to have you' and I think it is the approach of Australia too."
Aulia Adila, 24, a young professional in the media industry in Jakarta, had been considering the United States as an option for postgraduate study.
"When Trump had a chance of winning the election this made me reconsider going to the States to study. Now that he won, and with the Muslim ban and the new migrant policy, it's becoming even more impossible and unsafe to be in America," Adila said.
"I'm considering another country where I'll feel safe." (Additional reporting by Fransiska Nangoy and Ben Weir in Jakarta, Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore, Colin Packham and Claudia Farhart in Sydney; Writing by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Alex Richardson)
A Villanova University history professor was found dead next to Chester County train tracks, two days before he was scheduled to begin serving a 20-month federal prison term for child pornography charges.
The Chester County Coroner's Office ruled 60-year-old Christopher Haas' death Saturday morning in West Whiteland Township as a suicide. He died next to some train tracks from exsanguination -- the action of losing blood from the body.
The coroner declined to say what caused Haas to bleed out near the Whitford SEPTA Station.
Haas' attorney, Scott Godshall, told The Philadelphia Inquirer he was planning to drive Haas to federal prison in New Jersey on Monday. His lawyer said Haas was apprehensive, but he seemed in good spirits when they talked last week.
Haas was accused of using a computer on Villanova's campus to search the Internet for child pornography. He pleaded guilty in September to accessing the internet with the intent to view child exploitation images.
SUICIDE PREVENTION HELP: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Documents obtained by NBC 7 Investigates show the San Diego Police Department Chief, Shelley Zimmerman, suggesting officers delete their text messages "every day."
In California, the California Public Records Act (CPRA) allows the public access to government records, including text messages. According to the law, documents owned or used by a government entity have to be retained and made available to the public, if requested.
The directive from Zimmerman was made during an SDPD meeting in July 2016. According to notes, NBC 7 Investigates obtained from the meeting Zimmerman said, "reminder that CPRA's come in for emails-think about what you are emailing, consider deleting text messages every day."
Click here to read all of the notes.
San Diego attorney Guylyn Cummins said paper and electronic communication within government organizations must be archived, not deleted.
With respect to actually deleting texts or tweets or e-mails when they deal with, you know, public business, I think that would violate the California Public Records Act," she said.
Last week, NBC 7 Investigates asked the Chief for an on-camera interview about her July statement but the agency declined the request.
Instead, Lt. Scott Wahl, a department spokesperson sent an email and said, Chief Zimmerman often tells her staff not to "put sensitive law-enforcement information in emails that are open to public disclosure" and to "routinely remove texts that are not mission-essential, as they slow down communication."
Wahl said an example of a non-essential text would be a message to a co-worker about a lunch order.
Click here to read his complete statement.
Well, its kind of troubling because whats non-essential right," Cummins asked. "If it relates to public business, it should be kept. Period."
Cummins said personal matters discussed using government-issued accounts and devices can be deleted. But, agencies should make their usage policies clear.
I think there should be policies that every governmental entity has in place where they basically say, you know, use your official device when you conduct public business and retain those records, don't use it for your own private use.
Right now, the California Supreme Court is deciding if emails sent by public officials and employees through private devices and accounts, that are related to public business are subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act. The Court's decision is pending.
To read more about the California Public Records Act and what information you have a right to, click here.
Mexican authorities arrested a 48-year-old man Friday who is accused of raping his 11-year-old stepdaughter in Tijuana, the Baja California District Attorney's (DA) office confirmed.
The victim is now seven-months pregnant, according to the DA.
A report was filed on Jan. 17, but the alleged sexual assault took place back in June 2016. Once the DA received the report, an investigation was held by the Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Unit.
The suspect was booked into the State Penitentiary on Friday, where his legal situation will be determined, according to the DA.
We're not releasing the name of the suspect to protect the victim in this case.
Anyone who attempts to buy a human for sex in San Diego should expect "a visit at the sheriff's inn" instead of a citation, a top prosecutor said Tuesday.
Law enforcement officers across Southern California worked together last week to target people who purchase people for sex in an investigation dubbed "Operation Reclaim and Rebuild."
Investigators posted ads online offering sex for money, Chief Deputy District Attorney Summer Stephan said. An adult peace officer posed as a minor in the undercover operation.
When potential buyers showed up to a hotel expecting to buy a person for sex, law enforcement officers took them into custody.
Stephan said 142 men were arrested, accused of soliciting prostitution in the three-county operation. She said 28 children and 27 adults were rescued by officers.
The illegal sex trade is believed to generate $810 million annually, making it the second-largest criminal industry in San Diego County. Illegal narcotics is the top criminal industry, Stephan said.
San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Summer Stephan explains how the website was involved in the human trafficking task force operation.
Thirty-eight people were arrested in San Diego County alone including 22 buyers that are charged with soliciting prostitution.
In Southern California, 36 men were arrested and accused of pimping, officials said.
The men will face misdemeanors; however, they were not simply cited and released. Each suspect was handcuffed and jailed for the offense, Stephan said.
The days of citation are gone. They should expect to have a visit at the sheriffs inn, she said.
Most of those arrested were married with children at home, San Diego County Sheriff's Department Assistant Sheriff Mike Barnett said. Their occupations ranged from unemployment to highly compensated professional careers, he said.
The operation involved more than 160 people from 18 different agencies.
Chief of Police Shelley Zimmerman said programs like this one has helped reduce the footprint of human trafficking in her city.
San Diego is a safer area as a result of their work, she said.
A Valley Center woman was ordered Friday to spend a year behind bars and pay $1.8 million in restitution after defrauding lenders following the 2007 Witch Creek Fire.
Deborah Tumlinson, 55, pleaded guilty to a wire fraud scheme that ran from May 2010 to April 2013, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
When her Ramona home was damaged in the 2007 Witch Creek Fire, Tumlinson used non-existent settlement money to get various loans.
She exploited her own tragedy and the compassion of others, and in the process made sure it became someone elses tragedy," said Acting U.S. Attorney Alana W. Robinson in a written release. "The people she fleeced paid a high price, and for that, she will pay a high price.
Tumlinson joined a class-action lawsuit against San Diego Gas & Electric to recoup their losses.
A 2008 California Public Utilities Commission report found SDG&E and Cox Communications were responsible for starting the three destructive wildfires, including the Witch Creek Fire, that burned in October 2007.
Working with an attorney who has since been disbarred, Tumlinson told a prospective lender that she had received $2.4 million from the lawsuit. In fact, no settlement had been made.
She put up the alleged settlement as collateral for a loan through U.S. Claims to purchase a new Valley Center house. In addition, she received a $250,000 home equity loan on that house by making material misrepresentations on a loan application to mortgage broker Seaside Funding, Inc. in Carlsbad, according to the indictment.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino ordered Tumlinson to spend one year and one day in custody. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,838.742.24.
The Witch Creek Fire, the largest of the 2007 wildfires and second largest in California history, destroyed and damaged thousands of homes and killed two people.
A suspected drunk driver accused of killing two of his passengers in a crash near Campo pleaded not guilty on Monday.
Ryan Gary Renz, 24, was traveling at a high rate of speed on southbound Buckman Springs Road south of Lake Morena Drive when he crashed into a tree, according to the California High Patrol (CHP).
The vehicle rolled over multiple times before coming to a stop on its roof.
CHP said the two passengers, 26-year-old Dillon Cody Wiltfong and Johnny Ray Meyer Jr., 23, both Campo residents were killed in the crash. Renz suffered minor injuries.
"Dillon was in the army. He was a specialist," Wiltfong's mother told NBC 7 on Monday, adding that she was angry at the situation.
She said a memorial had been laid out at the spot where the accident occurred.
Renz appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty. His bail was set at $3 million.
The FBI has launched an investigation into possible civil rights violations in connection with threats made to Jewish Community Centers in San Diego and across the country.
The Lawrence Family JCC was evacuated early Tuesday following a threat, San Diego police confirmed.
At the same time, there were at least 17 similar threats made to JCC buildings across the U.S.
The center in La Jolla called police just before 9 a.m. reporting the threat. Officers responded and moved people from the center to nearby La Jolla Country Day as a precaution.
The center typically has preschool, senior activities, fitness center activity and meetings going on that time of day.
At the time, parents had just been dropping their children off for pre-school.
"As soon as I got the message over the PA system, I literally grabbed him and ran out," said parent Chloe Reitherman.
One evacuee described the incident as not a huge surprise.
"I think we weren't terribly surprised because we were kind of kept up to date on the condition around the country, that there were several other centers that have had terror threats," said evacuee Honey Doublebower.
Officers swept the La Jolla JCC campus and reopened it just before 11 a.m.
"I don't think any of us feel terrified or as you can see from the kids, they're all calm and content. So I'm just grateful that they know how to handle this in an appropriate manner," said parent Jayde Elmaleh.
While this threat is being investigated, we continue to take numerous security measures to ensure the safety of our members and guests, Executive Director Michael Cohen said.
JCC buildings in New Haven, Conn., Boulder, Colo., and Albany, N.Y. were also evacuated due to threats early Tuesday, according to news reports in those cities.
While FBI investigators refused to comment on Tuesday's threat in La Jolla, they said it is one of several similar threats made across the U.S.
"The FBI and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with threats to Jewish Community Centers here in San Diego and across the country," the agency said in a written statement. "The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence, and will ensure this matter is investigated in a fair, thorough, and impartial manner."
Pentagon officials have identified the U.S. service member killed in a raid in Yemen over the weekend as Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens, a U.S. Navy SEAL who trained in Coronado for a period of time.
Owens, 36, of Peoria, Illinois, completed his basic Special Warfare Training in Coronado as well as Advanced Special Warfare Training at Naval Base Coronado from 2001 to 2002. He also completed Personnel Support Detachment in Coronado.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis released a statement Monday offering condolences to the family and shipmates of the fallen Navy soldier.
"Ryan gave his full measure for our nation, and in performing his duty, he upheld the noblest standard of military service," Mattis' statement said. "The United States would not long exist were it not for the selfless commitment of such warriors."
Owens was killed in a firefight Sunday with militants from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula's branch in Yemen. The raid left nearly 30 others dead, including an estimated 14 militants. Three U.S. service members were wounded, as was a fourth, who was injured when a military aircraft assisting in the mission had a "hard landing" nearby, according to U.S. Central Command.
Owens is the first member of the U.S. military to have died in action authorized by President Donald Trump.
"Americans are saddened this morning with news that a life of a heroic service member has been taken in our fight against the evil of radical Islamic terrorism," Trump said in a statement.
"My deepest thoughts and humblest prayers are with the family of this fallen service member," he said.
Owens was a decorated Navy SEAL who was awarded the Bronze Star,
Joint Service Commendation Medal w/Combat V, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and National Defense Service Medal, among others. Over the course of his career, he received more than 15 honors.
In addition to training on Naval Base Coronado, Owens trained in Illinois and at an East Coast-based Special Warfare Unit.
Planning for the clandestine counterterrorism raid begun before President Barack Obama left office on Jan. 20, but Trump authorized the raid, a U.S. defense official told the AP, who was not authorized to discuss details beyond those announced by the Pentagon and so spoke on condition of anonymity.
Sunday's raid was not the first time that the United States had conducted a counterterrorism raid on the ground in Yemen, but it was not the usual approach of striking from the air, the defense official said.
The raid was planned as a clandestine operation and not intended to be made public, but the loss of a service member changed that, the official said, adding that no detainees were taken in the operation.
An al-Qaida official and an online news service linked to the terror group said the raid left about 30 people dead, including women and children. Among the children killed was Anwaar, the 8-year-old daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical Yemeni-American cleric killed in a U.S. airstrike in Yemen in 2011, according to the girl's grandfather.
In addition to killing the militants, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said U.S. forces "captured a whole host of information about future plots that's going to benefit this country and keep us safe."
The president "extends his condolences," he said on ABC's "'This Week." ''But more importantly, he understands the fight that our servicemen and women conduct on a daily basis to keep this country safe."
Senate Democrats blocked committee votes on three of President Donald Trump's highest-profile Cabinet picks Tuesday as spiraling partisan hostility over the fledgling administration's refugee curbs and other initiatives seemed to seep into Congress' work on nominations.
In an unusual step, Democrats boycotted planned Senate Finance Committee votes on Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to become health secretary and financier Steven Mnuchin to head the Treasury Department. They accused both men of lying about their financial backgrounds, and since committee rules require at least one Democrat to be present, Republicans could not hold roll calls.
"He didn't tell the truth," the committee's top Democrat, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, said of reports that Price received preferential treatment in purchasing stock in a biotech company. "He misled the Congress and he misled the American people."
The tactic infuriated Republicans, even though the GOP boycotted a committee vote on Gina McCarthy to head the Environmental Protection Agency in 2013 when Democrats ran the Senate.
"They ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots," said committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "Are they that bitter about Donald Trump? The answer has to be yes."
At the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats criticized Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Trump's nominee for attorney general, in speeches that lasted as long as 30 minutes apiece. After four-and-a-half hours, panel Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, adjourned the session and set a new meeting for Wednesday.
"He's been the fiercest, most dedicated defender in Congress of the Trump agenda," California's Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on Judiciary, said of Sessions.
The clashes came as the opening days of the Trump administration have seen little of the honeymoon period new presidents usually experience. The chief battleground has been Trump's executive order temporarily blocking refugees worldwide and anyone from seven Muslim-majority nations.
With liberal groups pressing them to fight Trump and a brutal battle looming over his imminent pick for the Supreme Court vacancy, Tuesday's delaying tactics let Democrats signal they will use their limited power as the congressional minority to hamper the GOP.
Republicans said they would try reconvening the Finance committee Wednesday to see if Democrats would cooperate. Hatch planned to discuss the standoff with Wyden.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., all but taunted Democrats in remarks to reporters. "It is time to get over the fact that they lost the election," he said. "The president is entitled to have his Cabinet appointments considered. None of this is going to lead to a different outcome."
Price, Mnuchin and Sessions still seem certain to win eventual Senate confirmation, and other nominees made progress. The full Senate confirmed Elaine Chao to be transportation secretary, while committees advanced three other Trump picks, including wealthy GOP contributor Betsy DeVos to head the Education Department.
Democrats said their objections to Price were prompted by a Wall Street Journal report in which officials of Innate Immunotherapeutics Ltd. said Price got a special offer to buy stock at a low price. Price had testified to Congress that the shares he purchased were available to all investors.
They've also opposed him for his support for repealing President Barack Obama's health care law and his plans to reshape Medicare and Medicaid, favorite Democratic programs.
On Mnuchin, Democrats cited an article in The Columbus Dispatch asserting that documents show he wasn't truthful with the Senate in describing how his bank, OneWest, had handled home foreclosures. The newspaper said that bank used "robo-signing" for hundreds of mortgage documents, a technique critics associate with fraud, though Mnuchin said it had not done so.
Democrats also said Trump's selection of Mnuchin breaks his campaign promise to go after Wall Street.
Price and Mnuchin have said they've done nothing wrong and Republican lawmakers have stood by them.
Besides Sessions' likely role defending Trump's moves against refugees, Democrats say they don't trust him to enforce civil rights laws.
DeVos has long supported charter schools and allowing school choice, policies that Democrats and teachers' unions view as threats to federal support for public education.
The Senate confirmed Chao to be transportation secretary by 93-6. She was labor secretary under President George W. Bush, and is McConnell's wife.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as Energy secretary by 16-7, and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., to head Interior by 16-6.
DailyFX.com -
Talking Points:
Donald Trumps decision to fire his Attorney General kept Asian markets on edge
The Bank of Japan left its policy settings alone
But the Yen ticked up anyway against a generally slothful US Dollar
Benchmark Japanese shares fell more than one percent on Tuesday, with the Yen gaining ground after the Bank of Japan left its monetary settings alone as expected.
The Nikkei 225 shed 1.7% by the close, with the ASX and Kospi also lower. Markets in Hong Kong and mainland China remained closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. Mondays generally gloomy backdrop endured into another session. It had been engendered by US President Donald Trumps executive order banning citizens of seven Middle Eastern nations from entering the country for 90 days. It was deepened on Tuesday by news that Trump had dismissed the acting Attorney General Sally Yates. She had evinced the gravest reservations about the ban, going so far as to question its legality.
Evidence of a combative Trump, prepared to make good even on what markets saw as his more extreme campaign rhetoric, is not a sight investors like to see. Sure enough, stocks struggled and the US Dollar gave up ground.
The White House aside, it was a heavy session for Japanese economic releases. The Bank of Japan kept all key policy rates unchanged, but did up its growth forecasts. However, it acknowledged that the risk to all its calls was to the downside given all the uncertainties now crowding the global horizon. Earlier in the session, the Yen had gained ground on an already Trump-hit US Dollar on the news that Japanese household spending had picked up in December, while unemployment levels remained low and steady.
Elsewhere, crude oil prices declined slightly on wire reports that suggested a big weekly increase in US drilling activity. Gold was as ever the beneficiary of equity market caution, nosing above $1200/oz again.
The remainder of the global session will offer investors a diverse range of economic indicators for those able to tear themselves away from the US Presidential Twitter feed. From Eurozone and Canadian growth data, German employment levels to US consumer confidence, there are plenty of likely market-movers on offer.
Story continues
Inching higher, but can it hold? How gold fared in Asia:
Asian Stocks Struggle Again, Trump Front and Center
Chart Compiled Using TradingView
How many of DailyFX analysts first-quarter forecasts have survived January? Take a look.
--- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research
Contact and follow David on Twitter:@DavidCottleFX
original source
DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.
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A 4-year-old girl is in critical condition after her mother told police she kicked her because the child refused to brush her teeth, police say.
Iris Hernandez Rivas, 20, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was charged with first-degree child abuse and first-degree assault.
Police were called to the Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Maryland, on Thursday after the young girl was taken to the hospital with head trauma and multiple bruises on her body.
Doctors believed the injuries were the result of physical abuse.
When detectives spoke with Rivas, she told them she kicked the girl after becoming angry that the girl did not brush her teeth. Rivas said the girl fell backward, hit her head on the living room wall and fell to the ground.
Rivas told police the girl went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. She said she found her daughter face down in the bathtub and waited about an hour before calling 911.
Rivas also told detectives the bruises on the victims body were from her striking her daughter with a belt several days prior. Rivas is currently being held without bond.
The girl was transferred from the Rockville hospital to the Childrens National Medical Center in Washington. She was listed in critical condition.
Charges are being dropped for three journalists who were swept up in a large group arrest of protesters during the inauguration of Donald Trump.
The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia filed notices on Monday, Jan. 30 to dismiss the felony rioting charges against Matthew Hopard, John Keller and Alexander Rubinstein.
The three were working as journalists covering protests on Jan. 20 when they were arrested as part of a group along with other innocent observers.
Police arrested 230 people and charged them with felony rioting, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Police arrested 230 people and charged them with felony rioting, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The arrests came after some protesters, who described themselves as anarchists, became violent, smashing windows, throwing rocks at police and setting a limousine on fire.
Two other people who identified themselves as journalists still face charges. The U.S. Attorney's Office has declined to comment on those cases.
Last week, Gina Schweppe stacked 72 cups of organic applesauce into her shopping cart. The bill should have been $54. But, with coupons, she walked away with the snacks for less than $6.
The Northern Virginia mom clips coupons to save money on groceries for her own family -- and to help stock food banks for people in need.
"Theres no reason for me to hold tightly to my tubes of toothpaste when there are actually people out there that need toothpaste," she said.
Clipping coupons from newspapers and hunting them down online is a lot of work, but it keeps the Schweppe family's grocery bills low, she said.
"We get things for cheap to free all the time," she said.
The little pieces of paper do create some clutter.
"Literally, we have coupons in every little crevice of our house," Schweppe said. "We have coupons in our car. We have coupons in places there should not be coupons."
Schweppe, of Ashburn, first used coupons as a child, with her mother. As an adult, she started watching "extreme couponing" videos on how to buy impressive amounts of groceries for little money.
The stay-at-home mom of two said she started a nonprofit called Loudoun Coupons for Hope. She buys in bulk and donates items to Community Church, in Ashburn.
Pastor Brian Ayers praised her work to help others.
"Its really exciting. I honestly never thought of something like couponing being used in the way that Ginas doing that, but its really cool to see," he said.
Schweppe started a class at the church to teach others how to use coupons, and she gives tips on YouTube.
"I wanted to combine my love for couponing, my passion for couponing, with also giving back," she said.
Schweppe had these 10 tips on couponing:
1. The Sunday newspaper is one of the best places to look for coupons.
2. There are two main types of coupons: manufacturer's coupons and store coupons. Manufacturer's coupons are put out by brands. These coupons can be used at a variety of places. Store coupons are put out by stores and only can be used at those stores.
3. Planning ahead is key. Check out the circulars to find out what's on sale, and then try to use coupons on top of the sale prices. That will save you the most money.
4. Organization is important. You will want to keep everything organized by category, e.g. food, household, health, baby, pet, beauty. One way to do that is by having a plastic bag for each category. Another way is by having a binder.
5. Be sure to read the fine print on the coupons, e.g. on limitations, expiration dates, etc.
6. Don't feel like you have to buy something just because you have a great coupon for it. If you don't need the item, it doesn't matter how good of a deal it is. You will save more money if you don't buy it.
7. You may encounter people at checkout -- such as the cashier and the customers behind you -- who act frustrated or impatient when they see you pull out your coupons. Don't let them get to you. Just remember that what you're doing isn't wrong!
"Its gonna be stressful," Schweppe said. "I know my first few times, when I saw people standing behind me and looking upset with me because I had a million coupons, it would stress me out. I would literally start to sweat in the line. I have to remember that the people that are upset with me behind me, Im never gonna see again."
8. Some stores have a policy in which they double any coupon up to $0.99 every day. So, if you're getting an item that's normally $2 and you have a coupon for $0.99, the coupon will double to $1.98 and your item will be basically free! Some grocery stores will occasionally have special days where they raise the limit for how much they will double, for example, on anything up to $2 off, or they might even triple your coupons, so be on the lookout for those special days.
9. Military families stationed overseas can actually use expired coupons at their bases up to six months after the expiration date. So, if you have any expired coupons, don't throw them out -- donate them!
10. Couponing takes time to master. You probably will not be able to go to a store and walk out with a cart full of free groceries right away. As with anything, practice makes perfect.
Virginia will join a federal court case challenging President Donald Trumps immigration executive order, according to the Virginia Office of the Attorney General.
State Attorney General Mark Herring, along with Gov. Terry McAuliffe, made the announcement Tuesday afternoon. Herring said the state would join a case currently before the court, Aziz v. Trump.
"The Commonwealth of Virginia and its people are already being harmed by this ban," Herring said. "We have been working around the clock since Friday to examine this executive order before reaching this conclusion. This order is unlawful, unconstitutional, and un-American, and action is required."
Herring and McAuliffe spoke directly about the educational impact of the order and the fears of students and instructors, who have been vetted and are green card holders, about traveling to or from the United States, specifically Virginia.
"As we speak, there are students at our colleges and universities who are unable to return to Virginia," Herring said. "We have professors, researchers, and employees at our colleges and universities and Virginia businesses who either cannot enter the country, or who will be barred from returning should they leave."
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, issued a temporary restraining order to block for seven days the removal of any green-card holders being detained at Dulles International Airport. Brinkemas action also ordered that lawyers have access to those held there because of the ban.
Other judges in New York, Massachusetts, and Washington state also blocked parts of the order.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) have already voiced their displeasure with the presidential executive order banning refugees, which sparked protests at several airports around the country.
Herring issued a statement shortly after the order was announced.
"This order is in direct conflict with the most foundational principles of our country and our Commonwealth. For generations, the United States has been a beacon of hope and a safe harbor for those in need. President Trump is dimming that light and slamming the door in the face of vulnerable people fleeing unimaginable circumstances. He is also sending a terrible signal to minority communities that they too could be the target of his ire and telling Muslims in Virginia and around the country that they are inferior because of their faith. That is simply shameful.
"Along with Gov. McAuliffe, my team and I are closely examining this order, something President Trump and his administration apparently failed to do before issuing it, and exploring any options we may have to oppose this un-American, discriminatory, and misguided action."
Boston police say they have made an arrest in the shooting death last year of a man killed in front of his 4-year-old son at a city barbershop.
Authorities say 29-year-old William Shakespeare was arrested Tuesday in New York City.
Shakespeare, of Dedham, faces first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the shooting on June 14 of 31-year-old Marcus Hall.
Witnesses said at the time that Hall had just arrived at the barbershop in the city's Mattapan neighborhood to get his son a haircut when he was killed. Police have not disclosed a motive for the shooting.
Shakespeare remains in New York awaiting extradition and it was unclear when he'd be returned to Massachusetts. It could not immediately be determined if he has a lawyer.
Residents in two Maine communities are in shock after flyers supporting the KKK were recently found in their neighborhoods.
For the second day in a row, Sosa Alibudi opened his grocery store in Augusta to find an unwelcome delivery at his doorstep.
Its dangerous, he said, and kind of scary.
Flyers recruiting for the KKK have been left outside his business, and throughout the neighborhood, near Washington Street.
The flyers have a phone number for a Klan Hotline. When callers dial the number, a greeting states that the group is interested in advancing the white race.
Alibudi, an immigrant from Iraq, understands the Klans history of hate in the United States.
We are human beings. We dont deserve this, he said. I want to tell everybody we are not enemies. We love people here.
The same flyers were also distributed in a Freeport neighborhood Monday, near the home of Maine Speaker of the House, Sara Gideon.
We are disturbed, and we are angry, said Gideon, who organized a community meeting to reaffirm Freeports values, at the Freeport Community Center Tuesday night.
Its about coming together and raising one voice and saying we absolutely reject these sentiments, said Gideon. Theres no room for hatred here.
Many immigrants travel to the Boston area for their education and to work in the booming medical industry. But since President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration last week, many people are worried that those orders will keep patients from being able to take advantage of quality care.
The House of Peace in Ipswich, Massachusetts, has been helping refugee families since the 1990s, and for the first time, they are unable to take in any new children.
"What would have happened if they were 48 hours later, literally we don't know," Carrie Schuchardt said.
Carrie and John Schuchardt, founders of the small, non profit said a father and teenage son from Iraq made it to Massachusetts just hours before President Donalds Trumps executive order that would have prevented their entry into the United States.
"There was a horrific accident this boy was thought to lose his leg which is why he was brought to this country," John Schuchardt said.
"They were able to get a visa to come because the treatment was needed urgently, Carrie Schuchardt added.
The 14-year-old boy and his father had been living in a refugee camp in Iraq.
Through the House of Peace, he is now receiving treatment at a Boston hospital. Once its over, they will return to the camp in Iraq.
The Schuchardt's worry they may be the last refugees helped at House of Peace for a while.
"The door has being closed on them there is no provision for emergency or humanitarian exceptions to this total exclusion and some of these children need medical care or die," said John Schuchardt.
The Ipswich couple said they are also worried about children they helped in the past that may need follow up treatment, and may not be able to return to the country.
The NBC Boston Early Warning Weather team has issued an Early Warning Weather Alert through Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.
Snow is expected to develop from southwest to northeast across Southern New England Tuesday midday through afternoon, reaching Connecticut during the late morning, Central Massachusetts and Cape Cod around midday and Boston to the Merrimack Valley during the early afternoon.
Some schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut have already announced early dismissals on Tuesday due to the approaching storm.
As of 1 p.m., snow was already beginning to fall in southwestern Massachusetts, spreading north for the evening commute.
Though intensity will mostly be light to moderate, snow falling onto subfreezing road surfaces this evening likely will make for some slick spots particularly away from any chemically pretreated interstates.
Police in some Massachusetts communities - including Ashland, Wellesley and Worcester - are already responding to crashes as the roads start to ice up. Rhode Island State Police said they handled 55 accidents between 1 and 7 p.m. No serious injuries were reported.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is urging motorists to use caution, reduce speeds and stay a safe distance away from plows, especially seeing as 13 state plows have been struck by vehicles already this winter.
Snow-Covered Roads Cause Crashes Across Massachusetts
With the upcoming weather, its important to remember that safety is the greatest priority and we advise all travelers to minimize distractions, give themselves extra time and space, and dont crowd the plow," MassDOT Highway Administrator Thomas J. Tinlin said.
Snow continues overnight Tuesday night, slowly drifiting northward overnight Tuesday night, tapering early Wednesday morning in most of Southern New England.
Bursts of snow will continue in Northern New England on Wednesday, likely heaviest near Penobscot Bay in Maine.
By the time all is said and done, about four inches falls in much of Southern New England with locally higher amounts in Southern Worcester County, near Cape Ann in Eastern Massachusetts, along the Berkshires and Green Mountains, and near Penobscot Bay in Maine.
Stay with NBC Boston and necn throughout the day for updates as the storm moves in.
[NATL] Extreme Weather Photos: Record Heat Threatens Europe
Why does God allow evil?
Regular columnist James Knight offers an explanation as to why God allows evil to take place in the world.
The most popular and long-standing objection to God's existence is a modus tollens argument that if God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent then evil should not exist in the world.
The standard Christian response has always been that there is a big battle going on between good (those on the side of God) and evil (those on the side of the Bad One), and that thanks to God's awesomeness good will eventually triumph over evil. What they mean is that God is opposed to evil but that for now He will allow Satan to corrupt creation until Kingdom comes.
God will be the ultimate victor over Satan (as the book of Revelation explains), but if God is so opposed to evil why does He allow it to happen when He has the power to stop it? The question becomes even harder when we dig deep into the Bible and find not just that God doesn't discontinue evil, but that at times He seems to actively encourage its appearance.
The story of Job tells us how God allowed Satan to subject Job to all kinds of hardship, including taking away his possessions, killing his family and afflicting his body with sores. Later on, God also allows Nebuchadnezzar to rule a Babylonian Empire that subjected the disobedient people of Judah and Jerusalem to all-conquering torment and hardship.
The answer to the question of why if God opposes evil He allows it to happen is apparently that He will use all things, including evil, to show us His love, grace and goodness. Even the cross, which is the primary exhibition of God's love, grace and goodness, is the result of God allowing evil to subject Christ to torture and death.
Consider when Shakespeare writes a tragedy, like Macbeth or King Lear, that pits goodness against badness. Shakespeare writes badness into Lord and Lady Macbeth's characters to demonstrate, among other things, how the selfish pursuance of power and ambition corrupts those with little self-control. Similarly, Shakespeare uses the badness of Edmund, Goneril and Regan in King Lear to show the goodness of Cordelia.
The difference between God and Shakespeare here (well apart from the fact that Shakespeare is a flawed human and God is perfect) is that while we never see Shakespeare make an appearance as himself in his plays, we do see God make an appearance in His own creation story in the person of Christ. So, it's not just the case that God allows evil to happen in the world, it's that He allows himself to be subjected to it through the person of Christ for our salvation.
Christ being the light that allows Himself to be subjected to darkness may well be a good metaphor for why God allows Satan to run amok in these present times. Without darkness, we would have only light, and no way to distinguish the light as being distinct from an absence of light. If it is the light of Christ that enables us to know God, it is the darkness that enables us to see the light of Christ.
James Knight is a local government officer based in Norwich, and is a regular columnist for Christian community websites Network Norfolk and Network Ipswich. He also blogs regularly as The Philosophical Muser, and contributes articles to UK think tanks The Adam Smith Institute and The Institute of Economic Affairs, as well as the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC).
The views carried here are those of the author, not necessarily those of Network Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive debate between website users.
j.knight423@btinternet.com
At least one employee of the U.S. Federal Reserve sees the value of bitcoin and mining for it if you get your computing power for free. Nicholas Berthaume, who is now a former employee, was sentenced to 12 months probation and fined $5,000 for installing unauthorized bitcoin software on a Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System server.
According to a news release by the Office of Inspector General, Berthaume pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful conversion of government property.
Working as a Communications Analyst, Berthaume had access to some Board computer servers. He put the computing power of a federal server to work for him. Mining is costly after all, as nowadays it tends to use more electricity than a miner earns. Unless a person has excess power from a solar farm for mining, then stealing electricity for mining is an option some people choose. You may have heard about the three men and one woman recently arrested in Venezuela for electricity theft and internet fraud.
At any rate, Berthaume chose to install unauthorized software on a Board server to connect to an online bitcoin network in order to earn bitcoins. He continued to mine bitcoins on the Feds server for over two years, from March 2012 to June 2014.
OIG investigators were unable to tell how many bitcoins Berthaume earned using that server due to the anonymity of the bitcoin network. Berthaume didnt offer up that information either. In fact, he at first denied having any knowledge of the bitcoin mining software.
At some point during his scheme, he also modified certain security safeguards so that he could remotely access the server from home. But after already lying about having no knowledge of wrongdoing, Berthaume remotely deleted the software that he had installed in an effort to conceal his actions.
Eventually forensic analysis by OIG agents and members of the Federal Reserve System's National Incident Response Team pointed the finger of blame at Berthaume. He was fired from the Board and later admitted his guilt and cooperated in the investigation.
The OIG reported that no Board information was lost due to Berthaumes actions. The incident was enough for the Board to implement security enhancements.
Mark Bialek, Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, wrote:
This case demonstrates how my office will vigorously pursue Board employees who unlawfully abuse their positions and use government property for personal gain. I commend our agents for their diligent work. I also thank the Board's Division of Information Technology for its cooperation and the U.S. Department of Justice's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section for its assistance.
If you are interested in mining bitcoin, here are purportedly some tips on the best hardware, software and mining pools and operations. Here are some interesting facts learned by an off-grid miner.
New railway bridge to be formally unveiled after 12 month closure
Boundary Road one of Newburys busiest through routes will reopen this afternoon (Tuesday January 31), following 12 months of disruption.
However, the bad news is the bridge will still only be able to accommodate one-way traffic for now because the land north of the bridge is not yet wide enough for two-way traffic.
The necessary widening works will be completed at a later date as part of the adjacent Sterling Cables redevelopment and paid for by the developer and the council.
Work on Boundary Road started in January 2016 to allow Network Rail to carry out essential works to heighten the bridge ahead of electrification of the line.
Network Rail has admitted the 2.5m project is one of the most complex of all its bridge replacements, due to the age of the structure and the number of utilities connected to it.
Boundary Road was previously closed for three months from July 2015 until October 2015 while utility services were diverted away from the bridge ahead of the main works taking place.
That closure caused gridlock, with some disgruntled people getting in touch with the Newbury Weekly News to say it was taking them up to 40 minutes to travel across town.
The works have not only had an impact on motorists using the towns road network, but they have also generated complaints from nearby residents.
Several of them contacted the NWN last year to say that noisy overnight works had kept them awake and made the walls of their homes shake.
Throughout the closure, a temporary footbridge has been in place for pedestrians and cyclists to use.
Last year, Network Rail gave Newbury schoolchildren the chance to design artwork to brighten up the footbridge.
When the new bridge is put into operation, the pupils artwork will be moved and put on display at Newbury and Newbury Racecourse stations.
This week, a spokesman for Network Rail, James Crook, said: We would like to thank residents for their patience.
This essential upgrade will pave the way for faster, greener electric trains with more seats to be operating through Newbury.
Oindrila Sarkar By
Express News Service
BENGALURU: Railway sahayaks are pessimistic about coming under the ambit of social security and are looking at the upcoming Budget with mixed hopes. Not many are aware that the government had announced the probability of extending the social security schemes run by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
A new cess may be announced on Tuesday to cover railway porters. There had been a proposal from the labour ministry to levy a cess of 10 paise per railway ticket to bring the porters under the ambit of social security net.
Gorai, who has been working for the past 20 years in the Bengaluru Cantonment Railway Station, said he has given up all hopes. I am uneducated, but we all know that the railway budget has been done away with. The only thing we got from the last years Budget was a name change. What difference does it make to me whether Im called a coolie or a sahayak?
We do not have any kind of security. We only have railway passes which we can use for one round-trip to our place and some treatment in the railway hospital. We cant do this back-breaking work all our lives, but we cant stay away either because we get no pension, he added.
Murthi, who works in the Bangalore City Railway Station, said, We take a maximum of `6,000 per month, which is not enough. I still feel well not get any good deal at the end of the Budget; they only want to please the rich and powerful and give some sops to the minorities.
When contacted by Express, E Vijaya, deputy general manager, South Western Railways, said that although the policy has been announced no guidelines have been issued. This will be applicable only for registered porters, he added. On being asked how the government has arrived at the figure of 20,000 porters, she said the figure might be misquoted as the number of registered porters is much higher.
Porters are not government employees per se, but are just working in that ecosystem. Its some kind of a contract labour where the Railways is outsourcing the work to people who have registered with it, said Rajaji Meshram, director, infrastructure and government services at KPMG.
Porters are unique to the railway ecosystem and in India the only social security is pension and PF. In PF, the mandate is that the employee needs to put a part of his salary and the company contributes a part, he said, noting that porters dont get a salary.
But, the idea of imposing a 10 paise is not welcomed by all. P Sharyar, who runs a kirana shop right outside the Cantonment station and a frequent traveller, feels that once the cess is introduced, it can be increased whenever the government wants.
Why should the money for porters social security be taken from the ticket which I am buying? he asked, saying that those who use porters services should fund it.
Vishwas Udgirkar, senior director, Deloitte India, an expert on the railways sector, explained that the government is going in for the cess mode because money collected through this mode cannot be used for other purposes. If they increase the fares, then the money can be diverted elsewhere. Railways today is in such dire need of the money that they need to charge cess for everything now like the safety cess.
BENGALURU: Railway sahayaks are pessimistic about coming under the ambit of social security and are looking at the upcoming Budget with mixed hopes. Not many are aware that the government had announced the probability of extending the social security schemes run by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). A new cess may be announced on Tuesday to cover railway porters. There had been a proposal from the labour ministry to levy a cess of 10 paise per railway ticket to bring the porters under the ambit of social security net. Gorai, who has been working for the past 20 years in the Bengaluru Cantonment Railway Station, said he has given up all hopes. I am uneducated, but we all know that the railway budget has been done away with. The only thing we got from the last years Budget was a name change. What difference does it make to me whether Im called a coolie or a sahayak? We do not have any kind of security. We only have railway passes which we can use for one round-trip to our place and some treatment in the railway hospital. We cant do this back-breaking work all our lives, but we cant stay away either because we get no pension, he added. Murthi, who works in the Bangalore City Railway Station, said, We take a maximum of `6,000 per month, which is not enough. I still feel well not get any good deal at the end of the Budget; they only want to please the rich and powerful and give some sops to the minorities. When contacted by Express, E Vijaya, deputy general manager, South Western Railways, said that although the policy has been announced no guidelines have been issued. This will be applicable only for registered porters, he added. On being asked how the government has arrived at the figure of 20,000 porters, she said the figure might be misquoted as the number of registered porters is much higher. Porters are not government employees per se, but are just working in that ecosystem. Its some kind of a contract labour where the Railways is outsourcing the work to people who have registered with it, said Rajaji Meshram, director, infrastructure and government services at KPMG. Porters are unique to the railway ecosystem and in India the only social security is pension and PF. In PF, the mandate is that the employee needs to put a part of his salary and the company contributes a part, he said, noting that porters dont get a salary. But, the idea of imposing a 10 paise is not welcomed by all. P Sharyar, who runs a kirana shop right outside the Cantonment station and a frequent traveller, feels that once the cess is introduced, it can be increased whenever the government wants. Why should the money for porters social security be taken from the ticket which I am buying? he asked, saying that those who use porters services should fund it. Vishwas Udgirkar, senior director, Deloitte India, an expert on the railways sector, explained that the government is going in for the cess mode because money collected through this mode cannot be used for other purposes. If they increase the fares, then the money can be diverted elsewhere. Railways today is in such dire need of the money that they need to charge cess for everything now like the safety cess.
By PTI
NEW DELHI: IT stocks plunged over 4 per cent today, knocking off more than Rs 33,000 crore in market valuation of top five firms, after a new H1-B Bill in the US set off concerns that it will adversely impact hiring plans of Indian technology firms.
TCS slumped by as much as 4.47 per cent to settle at Rs 2,229.90 on BSE. Intra-day, the stock had hit a low of Rs 2,206.55.
Infosys lost 2.01 per cent to close at Rs 905. During the day, it had fallen to a low of Rs 905.
Wipro came in at Rs 457.10, 1.62 per cent lower than its previous close. It tumbled to Rs 445.55 at one point.
Tech Mahindra went down as much as 4.23 per cent to close at Rs 451.75 and HCL Technologies declined 3.67 per cent to Rs 808.85.
Taken together, these five saw an erosion of over Rs 33,000 crore in their market capitalisation.
The BSE IT index, a benchmark of IT stocks, fell 2.96 per cent to settle at 9,586.34.
In addition, Mastek dropped 3.68 per cent, Mindtree 3.27 per cent and Mphasis 3.34 per cent.
According to experts, US President Donald Trump plans to overhaul work-visa programmes that dampened investor mood.
A legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives which among other things calls for more than doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to USD 1,30,000, making it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India.
"Hike in H-1B visa cost will have significant impact on the financials... as Indian companies are major users of H-1B visa though they form very less part of the overall workforce (around 11-15 per cent)," Angel Broking said in a report.
"Depending on the companies, they could easily witness around 60-70 per cent rise in the salaries of the H-1B visa dependent workforce and hence have significant impact on the net profit of the companies," it added.
H1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. The technology companies go for it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year. PTI SP SBT
NEW DELHI: IT stocks plunged over 4 per cent today, knocking off more than Rs 33,000 crore in market valuation of top five firms, after a new H1-B Bill in the US set off concerns that it will adversely impact hiring plans of Indian technology firms. TCS slumped by as much as 4.47 per cent to settle at Rs 2,229.90 on BSE. Intra-day, the stock had hit a low of Rs 2,206.55. Infosys lost 2.01 per cent to close at Rs 905. During the day, it had fallen to a low of Rs 905. Wipro came in at Rs 457.10, 1.62 per cent lower than its previous close. It tumbled to Rs 445.55 at one point. Tech Mahindra went down as much as 4.23 per cent to close at Rs 451.75 and HCL Technologies declined 3.67 per cent to Rs 808.85. Taken together, these five saw an erosion of over Rs 33,000 crore in their market capitalisation. The BSE IT index, a benchmark of IT stocks, fell 2.96 per cent to settle at 9,586.34. In addition, Mastek dropped 3.68 per cent, Mindtree 3.27 per cent and Mphasis 3.34 per cent. According to experts, US President Donald Trump plans to overhaul work-visa programmes that dampened investor mood. A legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives which among other things calls for more than doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to USD 1,30,000, making it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India. "Hike in H-1B visa cost will have significant impact on the financials... as Indian companies are major users of H-1B visa though they form very less part of the overall workforce (around 11-15 per cent)," Angel Broking said in a report. "Depending on the companies, they could easily witness around 60-70 per cent rise in the salaries of the H-1B visa dependent workforce and hence have significant impact on the net profit of the companies," it added. H1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. The technology companies go for it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year. PTI SP SBT
By ANI
NEW DELHI: Hollywood went after President Donald Trumps sweeping ban on immigrants from seven Muslim nations at the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, and now Latina beauties Selena Gomez and Sofia Vergara have joined the chorus.
Taking forward what actor Ashton Kutcher said at the SAG awards about President Trump's executive order that temporarily bans refugees and immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries, Gomez, who boasts a Latin heritage, posted a picture on her Instagram, of the same quote.
Ashton Kutcher had said, Everyone in airports that belong in my America: You are the part of the fabric of who we are, and we love you and we welcome you, which was re-posted by Selena on Instagram.
Meanwhile Modern Family hottie Sofia Vergara drew a lot of flak and support as well on Instagram when she posted a sexy picture of herself in a low-cut dress along with a friend, captioned as immigrants with a hashtag #nowondertheydontwantushere.
Trump's executive order, announced Friday, temporarily suspended immigration from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days. It halted the country's refugee resettlement program for 120 days and banned Syrian refugees from the U.S. indefinitely.
NEW DELHI: Hollywood went after President Donald Trumps sweeping ban on immigrants from seven Muslim nations at the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, and now Latina beauties Selena Gomez and Sofia Vergara have joined the chorus. Taking forward what actor Ashton Kutcher said at the SAG awards about President Trump's executive order that temporarily bans refugees and immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries, Gomez, who boasts a Latin heritage, posted a picture on her Instagram, of the same quote. Ashton Kutcher had said, Everyone in airports that belong in my America: You are the part of the fabric of who we are, and we love you and we welcome you, which was re-posted by Selena on Instagram. Meanwhile Modern Family hottie Sofia Vergara drew a lot of flak and support as well on Instagram when she posted a sexy picture of herself in a low-cut dress along with a friend, captioned as immigrants with a hashtag #nowondertheydontwantushere. Trump's executive order, announced Friday, temporarily suspended immigration from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days. It halted the country's refugee resettlement program for 120 days and banned Syrian refugees from the U.S. indefinitely.
By IANS
JAIPUR: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's production team has assured Shree Rajput Karni Sena that no intimate and/or romantic scene between Alauddin Khilji and Padmavati would be shown in his movie "Padmavati", the Karni Sena claimed here on Monday.
A letter addressed to Giriraj Singh Lotwara, President, Shree Rajput Sabha, Jaipur, and signed by Shobha Sant of Bhansali Productions, reads: "As discussed with you, this is to specifically clarify that there is no romantic dream sequence or any objectionable or romantic scene between Rani Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji".
The letter says that they have been carefully researching and making the film.
"We are confident that Mewar will be proud of the film made on their revered queen. We do not want to hurt sentiments and would appreciate if all the social organisations and local people support us in making this film and making their queen revered by the world.
"We will discuss this proposal made by Bhansali Productions before making a final call in a day or two. Though they have accepted almost all of our demands," Vivek Singh, a leader of Karni Sena, told IANS.
"One of our demands still remains -- of seeing the movie before its release," Singh said.
Bhansali or his team could not be reached for comment.
Activists of Shree Rajput Karni Sena protested against and misbehaved with the crew of "Padmavati" in Jaipur's Jaigarh Fort last week. They also damaged some cameras and other equipment, forcing Bhansali to stop shooting.
The incident elicited strong support from the Hindi film fraternity for Bhansali.
Singh said: "We had earlier requested him (Bhansali) to show us the script, which he did not do. We are against distorting historical facts and we know that he has distorted historical facts."
"Padmavati" tells the story of Alauddin Khilji, the medieval-era Delhi ruler, who fell in love with Rajput queen Padmavati. Actors Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor star in the film.
JAIPUR: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's production team has assured Shree Rajput Karni Sena that no intimate and/or romantic scene between Alauddin Khilji and Padmavati would be shown in his movie "Padmavati", the Karni Sena claimed here on Monday. A letter addressed to Giriraj Singh Lotwara, President, Shree Rajput Sabha, Jaipur, and signed by Shobha Sant of Bhansali Productions, reads: "As discussed with you, this is to specifically clarify that there is no romantic dream sequence or any objectionable or romantic scene between Rani Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji". The letter says that they have been carefully researching and making the film. "We are confident that Mewar will be proud of the film made on their revered queen. We do not want to hurt sentiments and would appreciate if all the social organisations and local people support us in making this film and making their queen revered by the world. "We will discuss this proposal made by Bhansali Productions before making a final call in a day or two. Though they have accepted almost all of our demands," Vivek Singh, a leader of Karni Sena, told IANS. "One of our demands still remains -- of seeing the movie before its release," Singh said. Bhansali or his team could not be reached for comment. Activists of Shree Rajput Karni Sena protested against and misbehaved with the crew of "Padmavati" in Jaipur's Jaigarh Fort last week. They also damaged some cameras and other equipment, forcing Bhansali to stop shooting. The incident elicited strong support from the Hindi film fraternity for Bhansali. Singh said: "We had earlier requested him (Bhansali) to show us the script, which he did not do. We are against distorting historical facts and we know that he has distorted historical facts." "Padmavati" tells the story of Alauddin Khilji, the medieval-era Delhi ruler, who fell in love with Rajput queen Padmavati. Actors Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor star in the film.
Harpreet Bajwa By
Express News Service
CHANDIGARH: After twenty-five years a massive security deployment has flooded the state, due to the upcoming Assembly election as Punjab goes to polls on February 4. Some 500 companies of central forces have been put on duty besides the Punjab Police.
Sources said that for the first time since 1992 Assembly elections, around 500 companies of CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, Railway Protection Force, SSB besides armed police forces from thirteen states have been deployed in the state to conduct free and fair elections and to stop money, drugs and liquor flow to lure voters. A senior police officer said, "These 500 companies comprise about 50,000 personnel besides 70,000 police personnel on Punjab Police are also on election duty. In the border districts of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Tarantarn, Amritsar (Rural), Batala, Gurdaspur and Pathankot companies of BSF have been deployed.
Besides election duty they can also keep a tab on the activities along the Indo-Pak international border. While in Patiala and Sangrur districts some 32 and 24 companies respectively have been deployed. In Patiala, ten companies of RPF and 22 of CRPF have been deployed. While in Bathinda some 24 companies and 21 companies have been deployed in Fazilka. In the other districts 15 to 19 companies of central forces have been deployed as per requirement.
Sources further point out that all borders with neighbouring states of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh have been sealed as paramilitary force personnel have been deployed. Some 109 nakas are in operation twenty into seven on the state borders and of them are under CCTV surveillance.
Sources said that besides central forces the police forces from Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh have been deployed in Punjab. An officer said that private vehicles have been hired and given to the personnel and officers of these police and central forces for their movement in the state. During the last Assembly elections in 2012 around 220 companies of central forces were deployed for election duty.
A senior police officer said that this kind of deployment was done last during the 1992 elections with central forces and army and he had not seen this kind of security cover since then. Additional DGP VK Bhawra said that police till date has rounded up 5,573 troublemakers and taken 4,147 in preventive custody to ensure peaceful elections.
He said that ECI has identified 4,840 vulnerable hamlets and 786 critical police stations. Bhawra said that 94 per cent licensed weapons have been deposited in all the districts. He said that 16 election-related FIRs have been registered throughout the state and 34 certified paid news cases have been detected. Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, VK Singh said that he had a video conference with the chief secretaries and DGPs of neighbouring states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal, J& K and Advisor Chandigarh and they have been told to completely seal the border with Punjab 48 hours prior to election.
CHANDIGARH: After twenty-five years a massive security deployment has flooded the state, due to the upcoming Assembly election as Punjab goes to polls on February 4. Some 500 companies of central forces have been put on duty besides the Punjab Police. Sources said that for the first time since 1992 Assembly elections, around 500 companies of CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, Railway Protection Force, SSB besides armed police forces from thirteen states have been deployed in the state to conduct free and fair elections and to stop money, drugs and liquor flow to lure voters. A senior police officer said, "These 500 companies comprise about 50,000 personnel besides 70,000 police personnel on Punjab Police are also on election duty. In the border districts of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Tarantarn, Amritsar (Rural), Batala, Gurdaspur and Pathankot companies of BSF have been deployed. Besides election duty they can also keep a tab on the activities along the Indo-Pak international border. While in Patiala and Sangrur districts some 32 and 24 companies respectively have been deployed. In Patiala, ten companies of RPF and 22 of CRPF have been deployed. While in Bathinda some 24 companies and 21 companies have been deployed in Fazilka. In the other districts 15 to 19 companies of central forces have been deployed as per requirement. Sources further point out that all borders with neighbouring states of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh have been sealed as paramilitary force personnel have been deployed. Some 109 nakas are in operation twenty into seven on the state borders and of them are under CCTV surveillance. Sources said that besides central forces the police forces from Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh have been deployed in Punjab. An officer said that private vehicles have been hired and given to the personnel and officers of these police and central forces for their movement in the state. During the last Assembly elections in 2012 around 220 companies of central forces were deployed for election duty. A senior police officer said that this kind of deployment was done last during the 1992 elections with central forces and army and he had not seen this kind of security cover since then. Additional DGP VK Bhawra said that police till date has rounded up 5,573 troublemakers and taken 4,147 in preventive custody to ensure peaceful elections. He said that ECI has identified 4,840 vulnerable hamlets and 786 critical police stations. Bhawra said that 94 per cent licensed weapons have been deposited in all the districts. He said that 16 election-related FIRs have been registered throughout the state and 34 certified paid news cases have been detected. Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, VK Singh said that he had a video conference with the chief secretaries and DGPs of neighbouring states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal, J& K and Advisor Chandigarh and they have been told to completely seal the border with Punjab 48 hours prior to election.
By ANI
AMRITSAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday seized two Pakistani boats from Tota Guru post (Dera Baba Nanak Post) on the Ravi river in Punjab.
No arrests have been made so far.
It is the fourth incident in this area within a few days.
In October last year, the BSF seized a Pakistani boat from the same area.
The boat was empty and had got washed away along with its anchor due to rising water level in the river.
AMRITSAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday seized two Pakistani boats from Tota Guru post (Dera Baba Nanak Post) on the Ravi river in Punjab. No arrests have been made so far. It is the fourth incident in this area within a few days. In October last year, the BSF seized a Pakistani boat from the same area. The boat was empty and had got washed away along with its anchor due to rising water level in the river.
By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: As Trump Government moves to tighten H1B visa rules that are going to affect the countrys outsourcing IT giants; India says it has already conveyed its concerns both to the US Government and the US Congress.
Indian software techies will be the worst hit if the H1B visa reform bill introduced in the US House of Representatives is passed. The US has given over a million visas to Indians in 2016, which accounts for 72 percent of the total H1B visas issued the world over.
Indias interests and concerns have been conveyed both to the US Administration and the US Congress at senior levels, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. The concerns have been conveyed earlier not after the Trump administration introduced the H1B visa reform bill in the US House of Representatives. Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar has reached the US immediately after the win of Republican candidate Donald Trump in the polls, and is understood to have established communication channels with the Trump team.
The bill among other things intends to double the minimum salary of H1B visa holders to $130,000. This would make it difficult for firms to source their workers from abroad, including India.
H1B is a non-immigration visa that allows US companies to hire foreign workers in the highly skilled occupation. IT Giants like Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd use these visas to send their programmers and engineers to work with their clients in the US using the H1B visas. According to estimates, the Indian IT industry has at least 350,000 workers on these visas.
The news about the introduction of the bill has not been well received by the stock markets. As the shares of TCS, HCL Tech, Infosys and Wipro registered slump on Tuesday.
NEW DELHI: As Trump Government moves to tighten H1B visa rules that are going to affect the countrys outsourcing IT giants; India says it has already conveyed its concerns both to the US Government and the US Congress. Indian software techies will be the worst hit if the H1B visa reform bill introduced in the US House of Representatives is passed. The US has given over a million visas to Indians in 2016, which accounts for 72 percent of the total H1B visas issued the world over. Indias interests and concerns have been conveyed both to the US Administration and the US Congress at senior levels, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. The concerns have been conveyed earlier not after the Trump administration introduced the H1B visa reform bill in the US House of Representatives. Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar has reached the US immediately after the win of Republican candidate Donald Trump in the polls, and is understood to have established communication channels with the Trump team. The bill among other things intends to double the minimum salary of H1B visa holders to $130,000. This would make it difficult for firms to source their workers from abroad, including India. H1B is a non-immigration visa that allows US companies to hire foreign workers in the highly skilled occupation. IT Giants like Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd use these visas to send their programmers and engineers to work with their clients in the US using the H1B visas. According to estimates, the Indian IT industry has at least 350,000 workers on these visas. The news about the introduction of the bill has not been well received by the stock markets. As the shares of TCS, HCL Tech, Infosys and Wipro registered slump on Tuesday.
Manish Anand By
Express News Service
AGRA: With the 2014 Narendra Modi wave a thing of the past, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav appears to be taking ove the development plank from the BJP for the upcoming Assembly elections. While farmers appear anguished that much of the promises made by the BJP during the 2014 polls remained unfulfilled, the chief minister seem to be beating the anti-incumbency factor, as locals claimed that Yadav has turned Agra into Paris.
Even while the long drawn out family feud within the Yadav clan continues to command the attention of the people on the lines of a never ending television serial, the state chief minister seems to be gaining the support. Akhilesh Yadav has taken the right step to take control of the party. Mulayam Singh Yadav should have passed the baton to avoid the family drama. Akhilesh Yadav has done a lot of good works for the state. There is no anti-incumbency factor against him, said Rajesh Pachauri of Bakalpur village in Mathura.
Even while the BSP supremo Mayawati had faced the CBI probe in the Taj corridor project, the chief minister seems getting the credit for its completion. With carved and lighted red-sandstone pillars dotting the Taj corridor in Agra, the stretch has become a major tourist attraction. Akhilesh Yadav has turned Agra into Paris. You may just go and take a look, said Rohit Singh, who added that the inner ring road in the city along with the promises of airport and Metro have endeared the chief minister closer to the people in Agra.
Even while Agra had traditionally been a BSP bastion, the SP is making spirited attempt to make inroads into the area. The prospects of the SP had apparently taken a hit after the sudden demise of its nominee Chandrasen Taplu. However, his wife Mamata Taplu, who is now the SP candidate from Agra Cantonment, after winding off campaigning late evening, told EXPRESS that people in the city are rallying behind the chief minister due to his development credentials. He is a youth with a clean image. The chief minister has fulfilled all promises that he had made for Agra. My husband had also done a lot of developmental works, said Mamata Taplu.
While Akhilesh Yadav is drumming up support for completion of road projects and welfare schemes, the BJP is facing anger of the farmers. Farmers sowed pulses in the hope of better prices. But once the crop matured, the prices crashed. Similarly, the potato farmers could not recover even half the input cost, said Ajay Singh, a farmer in Sikandara.
Having won the political battle against his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, people on the ground claimed that the chief minister could not be blamed for poor law and order situations in the state. People are well aware that there were bad elements who did not allow the chief minister to function independently for most parts of his tenure. Now that those elements are out of the party, Akhilesh Yadav has come out clean and stronger. The Muslims will back him in this elections, said Gani Mohammed, a retired teacher, in Agra.
AGRA: With the 2014 Narendra Modi wave a thing of the past, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav appears to be taking ove the development plank from the BJP for the upcoming Assembly elections. While farmers appear anguished that much of the promises made by the BJP during the 2014 polls remained unfulfilled, the chief minister seem to be beating the anti-incumbency factor, as locals claimed that Yadav has turned Agra into Paris. Even while the long drawn out family feud within the Yadav clan continues to command the attention of the people on the lines of a never ending television serial, the state chief minister seems to be gaining the support. Akhilesh Yadav has taken the right step to take control of the party. Mulayam Singh Yadav should have passed the baton to avoid the family drama. Akhilesh Yadav has done a lot of good works for the state. There is no anti-incumbency factor against him, said Rajesh Pachauri of Bakalpur village in Mathura. Even while the BSP supremo Mayawati had faced the CBI probe in the Taj corridor project, the chief minister seems getting the credit for its completion. With carved and lighted red-sandstone pillars dotting the Taj corridor in Agra, the stretch has become a major tourist attraction. Akhilesh Yadav has turned Agra into Paris. You may just go and take a look, said Rohit Singh, who added that the inner ring road in the city along with the promises of airport and Metro have endeared the chief minister closer to the people in Agra. Even while Agra had traditionally been a BSP bastion, the SP is making spirited attempt to make inroads into the area. The prospects of the SP had apparently taken a hit after the sudden demise of its nominee Chandrasen Taplu. However, his wife Mamata Taplu, who is now the SP candidate from Agra Cantonment, after winding off campaigning late evening, told EXPRESS that people in the city are rallying behind the chief minister due to his development credentials. He is a youth with a clean image. The chief minister has fulfilled all promises that he had made for Agra. My husband had also done a lot of developmental works, said Mamata Taplu. While Akhilesh Yadav is drumming up support for completion of road projects and welfare schemes, the BJP is facing anger of the farmers. Farmers sowed pulses in the hope of better prices. But once the crop matured, the prices crashed. Similarly, the potato farmers could not recover even half the input cost, said Ajay Singh, a farmer in Sikandara. Having won the political battle against his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, people on the ground claimed that the chief minister could not be blamed for poor law and order situations in the state. People are well aware that there were bad elements who did not allow the chief minister to function independently for most parts of his tenure. Now that those elements are out of the party, Akhilesh Yadav has come out clean and stronger. The Muslims will back him in this elections, said Gani Mohammed, a retired teacher, in Agra.
Prasanta Mazumdar By
Express News Service
GUWAHATI: A day after the Nagaland government postponed the February 1 urban local bodies (ULBs) elections, the Gauhati High Court on Tuesday ruled the polls should be held as scheduled.
Following the dramatic turn of events, trouble broke out in the commercial hub Dimapur where curfew has been imposed by the authorities starting 8 pm Tuesday after the protestors enforced a bandh on hearing the court order.
Reports suggested hundreds of youth, armed with spears, machetes and other weapons, congregated at the town. Scores had come from the state capital Kohima which is 74 km away.
They appealed to the people to come out to register their protests. Dimapur is where the protests against 33 per cent reservation for women in civic bodies are being spearheaded from.
In its ruling the court said the state government should hold the elections with 33 per cent reservation of seats for women. Following the court order, the government has decided to conduct the polls. However, they will be held in only 12 of the 32 ULBs.
The chief ministers office said the judgement came following a petition filed by a woman who prayed that some extra constitutional bodies, opposed to the elections, were creating hurdles and as such, the state government be directed to ensure holding of free and fair elections with 33% reservation of seats for women.
The Court directed the state to ensure that the election, in question, is held freely and fairly and if necessary, adequate security provided to the candidates and voters.
On Monday, the government had decided to postpone the polls following its meeting with the Joint Coordination Committee which is a conglomerate of protesting tribal organisations.
GUWAHATI: A day after the Nagaland government postponed the February 1 urban local bodies (ULBs) elections, the Gauhati High Court on Tuesday ruled the polls should be held as scheduled. Following the dramatic turn of events, trouble broke out in the commercial hub Dimapur where curfew has been imposed by the authorities starting 8 pm Tuesday after the protestors enforced a bandh on hearing the court order. Reports suggested hundreds of youth, armed with spears, machetes and other weapons, congregated at the town. Scores had come from the state capital Kohima which is 74 km away. They appealed to the people to come out to register their protests. Dimapur is where the protests against 33 per cent reservation for women in civic bodies are being spearheaded from. In its ruling the court said the state government should hold the elections with 33 per cent reservation of seats for women. Following the court order, the government has decided to conduct the polls. However, they will be held in only 12 of the 32 ULBs. The chief ministers office said the judgement came following a petition filed by a woman who prayed that some extra constitutional bodies, opposed to the elections, were creating hurdles and as such, the state government be directed to ensure holding of free and fair elections with 33% reservation of seats for women. The Court directed the state to ensure that the election, in question, is held freely and fairly and if necessary, adequate security provided to the candidates and voters. On Monday, the government had decided to postpone the polls following its meeting with the Joint Coordination Committee which is a conglomerate of protesting tribal organisations.
By PTI
SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today hit out at the Centre for allegedly continuously changing the aims of the demonetisation decision.
"This is a new one!!! First it was to curb black money, then terrorism was the target and finally a 'cashless economy' was the end goal."
"Now it seems the objective was to make real estate cheaper. Why didn't the government say this from the beginning?" Omar tweeted.
The National Conference working president was reacting to Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramaniam's remarks in which he said one of the aims of demonetisation was to bring down the real estate prices.
Without naming Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Omar hit out at the BJP leader for his remarks in which he had termed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram as "failed economists".
"Whatever other criticism the BJP may choose to heap on Dr Manmohan Singh, calling him 'a failed economist' is the least accurate one," Omar said.
SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today hit out at the Centre for allegedly continuously changing the aims of the demonetisation decision. "This is a new one!!! First it was to curb black money, then terrorism was the target and finally a 'cashless economy' was the end goal." "Now it seems the objective was to make real estate cheaper. Why didn't the government say this from the beginning?" Omar tweeted. The National Conference working president was reacting to Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramaniam's remarks in which he said one of the aims of demonetisation was to bring down the real estate prices. Without naming Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Omar hit out at the BJP leader for his remarks in which he had termed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram as "failed economists". "Whatever other criticism the BJP may choose to heap on Dr Manmohan Singh, calling him 'a failed economist' is the least accurate one," Omar said.
Santwana Bhattacharya By
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Addressing the first day of the Budget session of Parliament, Pranab Mukherjee lauds govt policies to address the welfare of the poor, draws parallels between note-bandi and the Mahatmas Champaran movement
The air in Delhi is thick with a new buzzword. Another acronym actually UBI (universal basic income) courtesy the Economic Survey. But the next big idea was preceded by President Pranab Mukherjees address to the joint sitting of Parliament replete with the time-honoured mentions of oppressed, depressed, the poor and the downtrodden.
Making everyone conclude that Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys Budget on Wednesday would be couched in populism. Though the maximum desk-thumping from the Treasury benches came with President Mukherjees assertions on demonetisation, what stood out was the povertarian slant of the address.
The President drew parallels between note-bandi (cast as a poor mans resilient struggle) and the days of the Champaran movement championed by Mahatma Gandhi at the dawn of the Independence struggle. Ahead of the crucial Budget session, President Mukherjee said that Champaran, nearly a century ago, gave a new direction to the Freedom struggle, channelising jana shakti.
The implication being, that demonetisation as a fight against corruption has led to a similar awakening of the nation and the people. At the core of all my governments policies is the welfare of the garib, dalit, pidit, shoshit, vanchit, kisan, shramik and yuva, Mukherjee said in his address. Prime Minister Narendra Modis move was highlighted as a movement against the corrupt and the rich, thus earning support from the poor despite their own troubles. This stands out against the Congress-led Oppositions portrayal of demonetisation as an economic disaster.
Analysts now expect the Budget would be used to make overtures to the poor for their display of character in the weeks following the November announcement, and to alleviate any pain they may be feeling as a result of cash shortage. Mukherjee, whose term expires later this year, said the government was committed to the welfare of the needy, adding that financial inclusion was key to poverty alleviation. Modis government has pushed hard to bring the unbanked masses into the formal economy through schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana.
The President said 260 million Jan Dhan accounts had been opened so far, and 200 million Rupay cards had been issued for cashless payments. While the aim of the demonetization exercise was initially articulated as one meant to stamp out black money, it quickly transformed into a drive to go cashless, and the Rupay cards are expected to play a big part in this drive, along with mobile wallets. Over Rs 16,000 crore had been made available to self-help groups and to take the banking system to the doorstep of the poor and the unbanked, the India Post Payments Bank has been started, the President noted, adding that 130 million poor had been covered under various social security schemes. Data released at the beginning of the month showed that the economy will likely grow at 7.1 per cent in 2016-17, 0.5 percentage points slower than the previous years 7.6 per cent expansion, underlining fears of an economy-wide crunch due to demonetisation.
Projections were based on incomplete output and corporate income data, amid signs of faltering investment and weak consumer spending, leading to fears that the actual numbers could be worse. Assuring the farmers about the governments focus on agriculture, Mukherjee said: My government has taken various steps to transform the lives of our farmers. Focus has been on holistic development of the agriculture sector making available affordable credit, ensuring assured supply of seeds and fertilisers, improving irrigation facilities, comprehensive risk coverage, improving productivity through Soil Health Cards, assured market and remunerative prices for the produce through e-NAM (National Agriculture Market). He repeatedly stressed that the government was committed to farmers welfare. The corpus of NABARD funds has been doubled to `41,000 crore to ensure easy credit access to farmers, he said.
Mukherjee lauded the performance of female Indian athletes at the Rio Olympics and said the government wants to empower women. Our women deserve equal opportunity. The Rio Olympics, where we took great pride in the performance of P V Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Deepa Karmakar and others, illustrates the strength of our women. The nation is proud of its first three women fighter pilots. This reminds us of what we can achieve, as a nation, if women are fully empowered, and if their skills and talent are optimally utilised."
NEW DELHI: Addressing the first day of the Budget session of Parliament, Pranab Mukherjee lauds govt policies to address the welfare of the poor, draws parallels between note-bandi and the Mahatmas Champaran movement The air in Delhi is thick with a new buzzword. Another acronym actually UBI (universal basic income) courtesy the Economic Survey. But the next big idea was preceded by President Pranab Mukherjees address to the joint sitting of Parliament replete with the time-honoured mentions of oppressed, depressed, the poor and the downtrodden. Making everyone conclude that Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys Budget on Wednesday would be couched in populism. Though the maximum desk-thumping from the Treasury benches came with President Mukherjees assertions on demonetisation, what stood out was the povertarian slant of the address. The President drew parallels between note-bandi (cast as a poor mans resilient struggle) and the days of the Champaran movement championed by Mahatma Gandhi at the dawn of the Independence struggle. Ahead of the crucial Budget session, President Mukherjee said that Champaran, nearly a century ago, gave a new direction to the Freedom struggle, channelising jana shakti. The implication being, that demonetisation as a fight against corruption has led to a similar awakening of the nation and the people. At the core of all my governments policies is the welfare of the garib, dalit, pidit, shoshit, vanchit, kisan, shramik and yuva, Mukherjee said in his address. Prime Minister Narendra Modis move was highlighted as a movement against the corrupt and the rich, thus earning support from the poor despite their own troubles. This stands out against the Congress-led Oppositions portrayal of demonetisation as an economic disaster. Analysts now expect the Budget would be used to make overtures to the poor for their display of character in the weeks following the November announcement, and to alleviate any pain they may be feeling as a result of cash shortage. Mukherjee, whose term expires later this year, said the government was committed to the welfare of the needy, adding that financial inclusion was key to poverty alleviation. Modis government has pushed hard to bring the unbanked masses into the formal economy through schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana. The President said 260 million Jan Dhan accounts had been opened so far, and 200 million Rupay cards had been issued for cashless payments. While the aim of the demonetization exercise was initially articulated as one meant to stamp out black money, it quickly transformed into a drive to go cashless, and the Rupay cards are expected to play a big part in this drive, along with mobile wallets. Over Rs 16,000 crore had been made available to self-help groups and to take the banking system to the doorstep of the poor and the unbanked, the India Post Payments Bank has been started, the President noted, adding that 130 million poor had been covered under various social security schemes. Data released at the beginning of the month showed that the economy will likely grow at 7.1 per cent in 2016-17, 0.5 percentage points slower than the previous years 7.6 per cent expansion, underlining fears of an economy-wide crunch due to demonetisation. Projections were based on incomplete output and corporate income data, amid signs of faltering investment and weak consumer spending, leading to fears that the actual numbers could be worse. Assuring the farmers about the governments focus on agriculture, Mukherjee said: My government has taken various steps to transform the lives of our farmers. Focus has been on holistic development of the agriculture sector making available affordable credit, ensuring assured supply of seeds and fertilisers, improving irrigation facilities, comprehensive risk coverage, improving productivity through Soil Health Cards, assured market and remunerative prices for the produce through e-NAM (National Agriculture Market). He repeatedly stressed that the government was committed to farmers welfare. The corpus of NABARD funds has been doubled to `41,000 crore to ensure easy credit access to farmers, he said. Mukherjee lauded the performance of female Indian athletes at the Rio Olympics and said the government wants to empower women. Our women deserve equal opportunity. The Rio Olympics, where we took great pride in the performance of P V Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Deepa Karmakar and others, illustrates the strength of our women. The nation is proud of its first three women fighter pilots. This reminds us of what we can achieve, as a nation, if women are fully empowered, and if their skills and talent are optimally utilised."
By PTI
NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee today favoured a constructive debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assemblies and funding of polls to eradicate money power.
The Government, he said, is also committed to combating terrorism and to ensure that perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice.
In his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament marking the opening of the Budget session, Mukherjee referred to the government's demonetisation decision to fight black money and corruption as also the surgical strikes across the LoC as bold decisions, both of which were received with thumping of desks by members.
"Frequent elections put on hold development programmes, disrupt normal public life and impact essential services and burden human resource with prolonged period of election duty.
"My government welcomes a constructive debate on the simultaneous conduct of elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Funding of elections to eradicate misuse of money power also needs to be debated," he said.
In the speech, which is the Government's narrative on what it had done during the year and what it plans to do in the new financial year, the President said Government would welcome any decision taken by Election Commission in this regard after consultations. Referring to the surgical strikes, Mukherjee said the government had taken decisive steps to give a fitting reply to the repeated incursions on India's territorial sovereignty.
"On September 29, 2016, our defence forces successfully conducted surgical strikes at several launch pads along the Line of Control to prevent infiltration by terrorists. We are proud of the exemplary courage and valour displayed by our defence personnel and owe a debt of gratitude to them," he said.
Touching on the demonetisation decision, the President said the resilience and forbearance demonstrated by the countrymen especially the poor, recently in the fight against black money and corruption, is remarkable.
Later again, referring to the issue, he said, "My Government has taken bold decisions in the interest of the poor."
To combat evils of black money, corruption, counterfeit currency and terror financing, Mukherjee said the government took the decision on November 8 to demonetise old 500 and 1000 rupee currency notes.
"My government's very first cabinet decision (in 2014) was to set up a SIT on black money.
"The passing of black money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act 2015, Benami transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016, Amendments to treaties with Singapore, Cyprus and Mauritius to prevent misuse of provisions in such treaties for tax evasion and movement of black money in India and the Taxation Amendment Act providing for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, have together resulted in a comprehensive policy backed initiative against black money," he said.
NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee today favoured a constructive debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assemblies and funding of polls to eradicate money power. The Government, he said, is also committed to combating terrorism and to ensure that perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice. In his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament marking the opening of the Budget session, Mukherjee referred to the government's demonetisation decision to fight black money and corruption as also the surgical strikes across the LoC as bold decisions, both of which were received with thumping of desks by members. "Frequent elections put on hold development programmes, disrupt normal public life and impact essential services and burden human resource with prolonged period of election duty. "My government welcomes a constructive debate on the simultaneous conduct of elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Funding of elections to eradicate misuse of money power also needs to be debated," he said. In the speech, which is the Government's narrative on what it had done during the year and what it plans to do in the new financial year, the President said Government would welcome any decision taken by Election Commission in this regard after consultations. Referring to the surgical strikes, Mukherjee said the government had taken decisive steps to give a fitting reply to the repeated incursions on India's territorial sovereignty. "On September 29, 2016, our defence forces successfully conducted surgical strikes at several launch pads along the Line of Control to prevent infiltration by terrorists. We are proud of the exemplary courage and valour displayed by our defence personnel and owe a debt of gratitude to them," he said. Touching on the demonetisation decision, the President said the resilience and forbearance demonstrated by the countrymen especially the poor, recently in the fight against black money and corruption, is remarkable. Later again, referring to the issue, he said, "My Government has taken bold decisions in the interest of the poor." To combat evils of black money, corruption, counterfeit currency and terror financing, Mukherjee said the government took the decision on November 8 to demonetise old 500 and 1000 rupee currency notes. "My government's very first cabinet decision (in 2014) was to set up a SIT on black money. "The passing of black money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act 2015, Benami transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016, Amendments to treaties with Singapore, Cyprus and Mauritius to prevent misuse of provisions in such treaties for tax evasion and movement of black money in India and the Taxation Amendment Act providing for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, have together resulted in a comprehensive policy backed initiative against black money," he said.
By ANI
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) not to field candidates in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections if it is offering unconditional support to the BJP.
If it doesn't field candidates then we believe MNS is thinking for 'Marathi manus' else it's apparent that MNS is BJP's B team, the Shiv Sena said in a statement.
The Shiv Sena has ruled out any alliance with the MNS.
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has indicated that he was not keen on any rapprochement with estranged cousin Raj Thackeray.
A day after MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar went to Matoshree (Uddhavs residence) seeking an alliance, the Sena chief said: I have not received any proposal. Anyway, the Sena is all prepared to go solo and we will win across Maharashtra.
The MNS leader, earlier on Sunday, was not granted an audience by Uddhav and hence he had to be content meeting Sena leaders like Anil Desai, to whom he proposed an informal alliance.
The proposal would include the MNS not fielding any candidates in constituencies where the Sena is strong and in return the Sena would not field any candidates that had sitting MNS corporators.
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) not to field candidates in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections if it is offering unconditional support to the BJP. If it doesn't field candidates then we believe MNS is thinking for 'Marathi manus' else it's apparent that MNS is BJP's B team, the Shiv Sena said in a statement. The Shiv Sena has ruled out any alliance with the MNS. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has indicated that he was not keen on any rapprochement with estranged cousin Raj Thackeray. A day after MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar went to Matoshree (Uddhavs residence) seeking an alliance, the Sena chief said: I have not received any proposal. Anyway, the Sena is all prepared to go solo and we will win across Maharashtra. The MNS leader, earlier on Sunday, was not granted an audience by Uddhav and hence he had to be content meeting Sena leaders like Anil Desai, to whom he proposed an informal alliance. The proposal would include the MNS not fielding any candidates in constituencies where the Sena is strong and in return the Sena would not field any candidates that had sitting MNS corporators.
A Surya Prakash By
A detailed analysis of the sources of funding of political parties in India between 2004-05 and 2014-15 by the Association of Democratic Rights (ADR) and National Election Watch has thrown up sufficient evidence to strengthen the argument that there is need for stricter laws to inject transparency into funding of political parties and to make them more accountable to tax authorities and the Election Commission of India.
The ADR analysis has come up with some startling findings. The total income of national and state parties in the country during this period was Rs 11,367 crore, but as much as Rs 7,833 crore came from unknown sources!
Among the national parties, the Indian National Congress, which headed the coalition that ruled the country for a decade from 2004, collected as much as Rs 3,323 crore from unknown sources, constituting 83 per cent of its total income.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the other hand earned `2,126 crore, which made up for 65 per cent of its total income from anonymous sources.
The donations received by the CPI(M) and even the Aam Admi Party (AAP) was way above 50 per cent of the funds collected. Among regional parties, the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh did very well for itself, collecting `766 crore during this period, but the bigger worry was that close to 94 per cent of this money came from unknown sources.
The analysis has thrown up several more disturbing facts: The income of national parties from unknown sources increased by 313 per cent from Rs 274 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 1,131 crore in 2014-15. During the same period, the income of regional parties from unknown sources shot up by 652 per cent from `37 crore to Rs 281 crore. Even more worrying is the fact that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which raised such a hue and cry over demonetisation, was the only party to consistently declare that it received no donations above `20,000. As a result, 100 per cent of the donations which came to the party during this period, came from unknown sources, although the partys total income jumped from Rs 5 crore to Rs 112 crore since 2004. This constituted a rise of 2,240 per cent in the partys income and all of it from anonymous donors!
These conclusions are indeed damning and provide proof, if proof were needed, to show that political funding is the fountainhead of corruption and generation of black money in the country and that the problem is now getting out of hand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis drive against corruption and black money can get an impetus only if this issue is addressed honestly by the political establishment. Modi has indicated more than once that he is willing to take the bull by the horns, by stating publicly that he wants transparency in political funding. The Election Commission has flagged this issue and argued for tougher legal measures to regulate the funds of political parties.
The Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi has suggested amendments to the election law to put an end to anonymous donations. The problem exists because currently, the law permits a political party to protect the identity of any person who donates less than `20,000 to the partys coffers. Since parties are not required to disclose the names of such donors, most of them have exploited this loophole in the law. The gross misuse of this provision can be seen in the humongous amounts of cash deposited by parties in their bank accounts by just stating that these funds are the aggregation of small donations from party supporters. The accounts of political parties for the years 2013- 14 and 2014-15 which have been analysed by ADR, show that as much as 71 per cent of funds collected by political parties in India came from undisclosed sources.
Another indicator is that donors generally tend to become more generous when a party is in power. For example, the total funds collected by the BJP in 2013-14the period during which the political winds began blowing in its favourwas `674 crore or 44 per cent of the funds collected by political parties. This rose to Rs 970 crore or 52 per cent of the total in 2014-15 when it was well entrenched in power. The Congress on the other hand collected `598 crore in 2013-14 (39 per cent) and `593 crore (32 per cent) in 2014-15, the year in which its Lok Sabha tally slumped to 44.
Since as much as 71 per cent of the funds fall in the anonymous category, it is reasonable to presume that most of this is generally black money, which has been earned illicitly by the donors. These are payments made by businessmen and industrialists and contractors to their favourite political parties and it is fair to presume that this is given either in the hope of securing government contracts or as an expression of gratitude for contracts secured. This is indeed the fountainhead of political corruption and must be addressed if the political system needs to be cleansed.
Modi has promised the Election Commission that his government will take forward its proposals. Other parties too have, at least, outwardly, supported the idea. The Congress has announced that it supports any step which promotes accountability. Taken together, this should be a win-win situation because for the first time the country has a Prime Minister who is aggressively pushing for reforms to curb flow of black money into politics and this has been endorsed by all the major political parties. Further, the Election Commission is ready with legislative measures needed to end the menace and this initiative has the fullest backing of the Law Commission and judiciary. Therefore, this is a propitious moment to strike. What are we waiting for?
A detailed analysis of the sources of funding of political parties in India between 2004-05 and 2014-15 by the Association of Democratic Rights (ADR) and National Election Watch has thrown up sufficient evidence to strengthen the argument that there is need for stricter laws to inject transparency into funding of political parties and to make them more accountable to tax authorities and the Election Commission of India. The ADR analysis has come up with some startling findings. The total income of national and state parties in the country during this period was Rs 11,367 crore, but as much as Rs 7,833 crore came from unknown sources! Among the national parties, the Indian National Congress, which headed the coalition that ruled the country for a decade from 2004, collected as much as Rs 3,323 crore from unknown sources, constituting 83 per cent of its total income. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the other hand earned `2,126 crore, which made up for 65 per cent of its total income from anonymous sources. The donations received by the CPI(M) and even the Aam Admi Party (AAP) was way above 50 per cent of the funds collected. Among regional parties, the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh did very well for itself, collecting `766 crore during this period, but the bigger worry was that close to 94 per cent of this money came from unknown sources. The analysis has thrown up several more disturbing facts: The income of national parties from unknown sources increased by 313 per cent from Rs 274 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 1,131 crore in 2014-15. During the same period, the income of regional parties from unknown sources shot up by 652 per cent from `37 crore to Rs 281 crore. Even more worrying is the fact that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which raised such a hue and cry over demonetisation, was the only party to consistently declare that it received no donations above `20,000. As a result, 100 per cent of the donations which came to the party during this period, came from unknown sources, although the partys total income jumped from Rs 5 crore to Rs 112 crore since 2004. This constituted a rise of 2,240 per cent in the partys income and all of it from anonymous donors! These conclusions are indeed damning and provide proof, if proof were needed, to show that political funding is the fountainhead of corruption and generation of black money in the country and that the problem is now getting out of hand. Prime Minister Narendra Modis drive against corruption and black money can get an impetus only if this issue is addressed honestly by the political establishment. Modi has indicated more than once that he is willing to take the bull by the horns, by stating publicly that he wants transparency in political funding. The Election Commission has flagged this issue and argued for tougher legal measures to regulate the funds of political parties. The Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi has suggested amendments to the election law to put an end to anonymous donations. The problem exists because currently, the law permits a political party to protect the identity of any person who donates less than `20,000 to the partys coffers. Since parties are not required to disclose the names of such donors, most of them have exploited this loophole in the law. The gross misuse of this provision can be seen in the humongous amounts of cash deposited by parties in their bank accounts by just stating that these funds are the aggregation of small donations from party supporters. The accounts of political parties for the years 2013- 14 and 2014-15 which have been analysed by ADR, show that as much as 71 per cent of funds collected by political parties in India came from undisclosed sources. Another indicator is that donors generally tend to become more generous when a party is in power. For example, the total funds collected by the BJP in 2013-14the period during which the political winds began blowing in its favourwas `674 crore or 44 per cent of the funds collected by political parties. This rose to Rs 970 crore or 52 per cent of the total in 2014-15 when it was well entrenched in power. The Congress on the other hand collected `598 crore in 2013-14 (39 per cent) and `593 crore (32 per cent) in 2014-15, the year in which its Lok Sabha tally slumped to 44. Since as much as 71 per cent of the funds fall in the anonymous category, it is reasonable to presume that most of this is generally black money, which has been earned illicitly by the donors. These are payments made by businessmen and industrialists and contractors to their favourite political parties and it is fair to presume that this is given either in the hope of securing government contracts or as an expression of gratitude for contracts secured. This is indeed the fountainhead of political corruption and must be addressed if the political system needs to be cleansed. Modi has promised the Election Commission that his government will take forward its proposals. Other parties too have, at least, outwardly, supported the idea. The Congress has announced that it supports any step which promotes accountability. Taken together, this should be a win-win situation because for the first time the country has a Prime Minister who is aggressively pushing for reforms to curb flow of black money into politics and this has been endorsed by all the major political parties. Further, the Election Commission is ready with legislative measures needed to end the menace and this initiative has the fullest backing of the Law Commission and judiciary. Therefore, this is a propitious moment to strike. What are we waiting for?
By Online Desk
In the month since the mass molestation of women that took place on New Years Eve, December 31, 2016 in Bengaluru, Newindianexpress.com set out to ask a few questions to the general public to understand peoples mindsets and to get them to #StopBlamingStartReasoning.
We conducted a survey, both online and in person by recording videos, to get a pulse of the people and to get them to examine their own beliefs about women and their roles in society and how it all ties up.
What does society say? Do clothes play a role in provoking sexual assault? If so, then why do children also get preyed on often? Do we tend to blame parties and western culture for the crimes, whereas women face equal or worse kinds of unwanted advances in public places like buses, schools and colleges and offices? We asked some thought-provoking questions to more than 250 people in all (online and in person), and the responses we received helped us understand the problem a little better.
To find answers to why women are largely the victims of sexual assault, we needed to first challenge established notions about the gender. Politicians like Samajawadi Partys Abu Azmis reactions to the Bengaluru New Years Eve incident are typical of the scourge of misogyny and the victim-shaming that it allows. Although his comments were widely condemned, they are also widely-held beliefs.
So, we removed the factor of the female gender from the equation and asked why men, too, get sexually assaulted? Thats when the truth revealed itself.
Because the perpetrator was able to exercise power over the victim. That was the overwhelming response of the respondents. Here are some samples: a man whose social standing was lower than that of a woman was sexually assaulted; a man who is effeminate and weak was molested; men dont get assaulted because they exude physical strength; children are easy targets as they are weak and cannot stand up to the perpetrator, and so on.
A psychologist in the age group of 25-40 who took the survey summed it up thus: Because the molestors do not understand the concept of respecting other people's rights. They are very self-centered when they feel sexually aroused, that they only seem to think about what they want, and for some people molesting seems to be a way of dominating to make themselves feel powerful in some way.
The responses, in fact, concur with the definition given to sexual assault by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO also says it is women, as is commonly known, that are subjected to high incidences of sexual violence.
According to the WHO, Sexual violence is defined as: any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a persons sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work. Coercion can cover a whole spectrum of degrees of force. Apart from physical force, it may involve psychological intimidation, blackmail or other threats for instance, the threat of physical harm, of being dismissed from a job or of not obtaining a job that is sought. It may also occur when the person aggressed is unable to give consent for instance, while drunk, drugged, asleep or mentally incapable of understanding the situation.
The act of a sexual assault, as the survey responses too revealed, is one where the perpetrator commits the crime because he believes he can dominate the victim. There is, on the part of the perpetrator, either no understanding of or willingness to acknowledge the rights of a woman as an individual her right to make decisions about her own body, her right to public spaces, her right to be an active part of society. A mans such rights, on the other hand, are taken for granted.
In Pictures: Sexual assault and society: NIE survey reads the minds of men and women, young and old
Prevalent as sexual assaults on women are, we examined if society itself was unwilling to concede women the rights they are due. Most respondents answers acknowledged that it was the circumstances where men take liberties with women without their consent that led to the rules that society expects women to follow to keep themselves safe. Most said that it was the mindset of the man that led him to commit a sexual crime, and that a woman does not ask for it, as the common victim-blaming narrative goes.
So does education lead to awareness? Most people agreed that the educated are not less likely to commit sexual crimes, as our schooling system neither provides healthy sex-education, nor does it teach values such as respect of women and equality of the sexes, at an impressionable age. In fact, the system prevents the mingling of the sexes, in most cases, and this leads to curiosity, which provokes sexual assault, said one middle-aged man.
Some respondents, in fact, said it was the educated that were more likely to commit sexual crimes, as they think they can cover it up because theyre intelligent enough to do so. An example cited was of those who use technology and social media to harass women and then wipe the traces clean because they had the know-how.
A wizened old man said both the educated and the uneducated commit sexual crimes, and that the only difference was that the educated were wily enough to pretend to be clean on the outside while using every opportunity they get to exploit those weaker than them, like women and children.
As for education, does it start and stop at school? One respondent pointed out how what is practised at home is what the children learn. If men of the house treat women as equals and with respect, thats what the children would imbibe. But if men treat women disrespectfully, children learn that women are those they can have their way with, he said.
That brings us to the question, is everyone aware of what consent is? And does a woman have the right to express consent or dissent? The response of a school-teacher in the age-group of 25-40 was revealing. Women lack independence and therefore have abdicated the right to consent and dissent, she said.
One young male business analyst advocates respect of a womans independence and individuality, just as a man would expect that his independence and individuality be respected. Men should know that a womans value does not lie in her adherence to culturally-imposed standards of conduct or beauty, he explained.
What about independent women? Why are they scrutinised for their sartorial choices? Despite most people acknowledging that sexual assault is the result of one exercising power over another, when women are the victims, the respondents show a clear bias in how they judge the victim. For instance, in the case of sexual assault on women, one middle-aged respondent when asked about the Bengaluru incident, put the onus on the victim, saying her clothes may have provoked the assault, she should not have been out late at night, and she should not have gone to a party. But when we asked the follow-up question about why then children get victimised, the woman then shifted the onus on to the perpetrator, saying the man must have been a lust-crazed animal.
Another middle-aged woman, however, brought the focus back on the power equation, saying men who abuse children are feeding their ego.
What about prevention? Why are women asked to take the onus for prevention of sexual crime (given that women are largely the victims and men the perpetrators, as crime statistics both in India and abroad show)? Is it not better instead to sensitise men to respect women? A female lawyer thinks sensitisation is humbug and that only severe punishments will deter men from committing the crimes.
However, several respondents said parenting plays an important role in sensitising boys and girls before they become men and women, to help them understand consent, to accord each other mutual respect and to treat each other as equals.
The business analyst, who said womens independence must be respected, is also of the opinion that when they are children, parents should keep tabs on boys too, like they do on girls, find out where they are going, impose curfew, and watch what theyre up to in the real world and on social media, he says.
A young male engineer, however, brings us back to the reality of the times. It is still mans world, he says, and a male chauvinistic one at that. He believes men were built strong to protect and care for women but some of them misuse their power against the weaker sex.
In the month since the mass molestation of women that took place on New Years Eve, December 31, 2016 in Bengaluru, Newindianexpress.com set out to ask a few questions to the general public to understand peoples mindsets and to get them to #StopBlamingStartReasoning. We conducted a survey, both online and in person by recording videos, to get a pulse of the people and to get them to examine their own beliefs about women and their roles in society and how it all ties up. What does society say? Do clothes play a role in provoking sexual assault? If so, then why do children also get preyed on often? Do we tend to blame parties and western culture for the crimes, whereas women face equal or worse kinds of unwanted advances in public places like buses, schools and colleges and offices? We asked some thought-provoking questions to more than 250 people in all (online and in person), and the responses we received helped us understand the problem a little better. To find answers to why women are largely the victims of sexual assault, we needed to first challenge established notions about the gender. Politicians like Samajawadi Partys Abu Azmis reactions to the Bengaluru New Years Eve incident are typical of the scourge of misogyny and the victim-shaming that it allows. Although his comments were widely condemned, they are also widely-held beliefs. So, we removed the factor of the female gender from the equation and asked why men, too, get sexually assaulted? Thats when the truth revealed itself. Because the perpetrator was able to exercise power over the victim. That was the overwhelming response of the respondents. Here are some samples: a man whose social standing was lower than that of a woman was sexually assaulted; a man who is effeminate and weak was molested; men dont get assaulted because they exude physical strength; children are easy targets as they are weak and cannot stand up to the perpetrator, and so on. A psychologist in the age group of 25-40 who took the survey summed it up thus: Because the molestors do not understand the concept of respecting other people's rights. They are very self-centered when they feel sexually aroused, that they only seem to think about what they want, and for some people molesting seems to be a way of dominating to make themselves feel powerful in some way. The responses, in fact, concur with the definition given to sexual assault by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO also says it is women, as is commonly known, that are subjected to high incidences of sexual violence. According to the WHO, Sexual violence is defined as: any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a persons sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work. Coercion can cover a whole spectrum of degrees of force. Apart from physical force, it may involve psychological intimidation, blackmail or other threats for instance, the threat of physical harm, of being dismissed from a job or of not obtaining a job that is sought. It may also occur when the person aggressed is unable to give consent for instance, while drunk, drugged, asleep or mentally incapable of understanding the situation. The act of a sexual assault, as the survey responses too revealed, is one where the perpetrator commits the crime because he believes he can dominate the victim. There is, on the part of the perpetrator, either no understanding of or willingness to acknowledge the rights of a woman as an individual her right to make decisions about her own body, her right to public spaces, her right to be an active part of society. A mans such rights, on the other hand, are taken for granted. In Pictures: Sexual assault and society: NIE survey reads the minds of men and women, young and old Prevalent as sexual assaults on women are, we examined if society itself was unwilling to concede women the rights they are due. Most respondents answers acknowledged that it was the circumstances where men take liberties with women without their consent that led to the rules that society expects women to follow to keep themselves safe. Most said that it was the mindset of the man that led him to commit a sexual crime, and that a woman does not ask for it, as the common victim-blaming narrative goes. So does education lead to awareness? Most people agreed that the educated are not less likely to commit sexual crimes, as our schooling system neither provides healthy sex-education, nor does it teach values such as respect of women and equality of the sexes, at an impressionable age. In fact, the system prevents the mingling of the sexes, in most cases, and this leads to curiosity, which provokes sexual assault, said one middle-aged man. Some respondents, in fact, said it was the educated that were more likely to commit sexual crimes, as they think they can cover it up because theyre intelligent enough to do so. An example cited was of those who use technology and social media to harass women and then wipe the traces clean because they had the know-how. A wizened old man said both the educated and the uneducated commit sexual crimes, and that the only difference was that the educated were wily enough to pretend to be clean on the outside while using every opportunity they get to exploit those weaker than them, like women and children. As for education, does it start and stop at school? One respondent pointed out how what is practised at home is what the children learn. If men of the house treat women as equals and with respect, thats what the children would imbibe. But if men treat women disrespectfully, children learn that women are those they can have their way with, he said. That brings us to the question, is everyone aware of what consent is? And does a woman have the right to express consent or dissent? The response of a school-teacher in the age-group of 25-40 was revealing. Women lack independence and therefore have abdicated the right to consent and dissent, she said. One young male business analyst advocates respect of a womans independence and individuality, just as a man would expect that his independence and individuality be respected. Men should know that a womans value does not lie in her adherence to culturally-imposed standards of conduct or beauty, he explained. What about independent women? Why are they scrutinised for their sartorial choices? Despite most people acknowledging that sexual assault is the result of one exercising power over another, when women are the victims, the respondents show a clear bias in how they judge the victim. For instance, in the case of sexual assault on women, one middle-aged respondent when asked about the Bengaluru incident, put the onus on the victim, saying her clothes may have provoked the assault, she should not have been out late at night, and she should not have gone to a party. But when we asked the follow-up question about why then children get victimised, the woman then shifted the onus on to the perpetrator, saying the man must have been a lust-crazed animal. Another middle-aged woman, however, brought the focus back on the power equation, saying men who abuse children are feeding their ego. What about prevention? Why are women asked to take the onus for prevention of sexual crime (given that women are largely the victims and men the perpetrators, as crime statistics both in India and abroad show)? Is it not better instead to sensitise men to respect women? A female lawyer thinks sensitisation is humbug and that only severe punishments will deter men from committing the crimes. However, several respondents said parenting plays an important role in sensitising boys and girls before they become men and women, to help them understand consent, to accord each other mutual respect and to treat each other as equals. The business analyst, who said womens independence must be respected, is also of the opinion that when they are children, parents should keep tabs on boys too, like they do on girls, find out where they are going, impose curfew, and watch what theyre up to in the real world and on social media, he says. A young male engineer, however, brings us back to the reality of the times. It is still mans world, he says, and a male chauvinistic one at that. He believes men were built strong to protect and care for women but some of them misuse their power against the weaker sex.
By Express News Service
VIJAYAWADA: A 25-year-old engineering student from Sudan was found dead in his room at a rented house near Ferry Ghat road, near Vijayawada in the wee hours of Tuesday. The police suspect that he was murdered by his Sudanese roommate following an argument over sharing of the room rent.
The police said that Mahamad Elmgtaba, a second year of BTech (ECE) student at Nova Engineering College in Ibrahimpatnam near Vijayawada was a native of Bahri village of Khartoum State in Sudan. He was living in a rented room near Ferry Ghat, along with his fellow national Al Albdeen Ibrahim Hamed Mahmoud who is in his first year of BTech (ECE).
Over a few days, the roommates had frequent fights over sharing the room rent and following a heated argument on Monday night, Mahmoud stabbed Elmgtaba repeatedly in the abdomen. The victim succumbed to injuries while being shifted to Andhra Hospital of Vijayawada in the early hours of Tuesday and was declared brought dead.
The Ibrahimpatnam police arrested the accused and registered a case for murder.
VIJAYAWADA: A 25-year-old engineering student from Sudan was found dead in his room at a rented house near Ferry Ghat road, near Vijayawada in the wee hours of Tuesday. The police suspect that he was murdered by his Sudanese roommate following an argument over sharing of the room rent. The police said that Mahamad Elmgtaba, a second year of BTech (ECE) student at Nova Engineering College in Ibrahimpatnam near Vijayawada was a native of Bahri village of Khartoum State in Sudan. He was living in a rented room near Ferry Ghat, along with his fellow national Al Albdeen Ibrahim Hamed Mahmoud who is in his first year of BTech (ECE). Over a few days, the roommates had frequent fights over sharing the room rent and following a heated argument on Monday night, Mahmoud stabbed Elmgtaba repeatedly in the abdomen. The victim succumbed to injuries while being shifted to Andhra Hospital of Vijayawada in the early hours of Tuesday and was declared brought dead. The Ibrahimpatnam police arrested the accused and registered a case for murder.
By Express News Service
VIJAYAWADA: Vempati Praveen, a 14-year-old, is battling for life with 70 per cent burns at Government General Hospital of Vijayawada. He was allegedly set on fire by Katuri Venkateswara Rao, warden of Mother Theresa orphanage on Republic Day in Marepalli in A Konduru mandal near Vijayawada.
Praveen, from hospital bed, said that he was set on fire by the warden.
The accused reportedly was angry and went out of control when Praveen refused to obey his orders of doing scavenging works at the orphanage. In a fit of rage, Venkateswar allegedly poured petrol on Praveen and set him on fire.
He set me ablaze. I cried asking him to save me as flames were rising all around. He then threatened that he would not save me unless I give a declaration that I attempted suicide, Praveen said.
According to Aduri Manith, Praveens cousin who also lives at the orphanage, the warden poured petrol on Praveen and set him on fire around 4 pm.
Later, the warden, two other inmates and I shifted Praveen to a local clinic in an auto rickshaw but the doctor was not available. Then we shifted him to Konduru hospital through 108 ambulance. Then they brought Praveen to Vijayawada General Hospital at about 10 the same night. The warden instructed Praveen to give a statement that he attempted self-immolation. Praveen accordingly did it out of fear when a magistrate recorded his statement at the hospital, Manith told Express.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nuzvid, T S V Ramana, based on the Vijayawada police and magistrates statement, the police came to the conclusion that the boy set himself on fire. But, Kondur police are recording the statements of remaining students.
We will initiate action against the warden if found guilty, said the police.
However, the warden told Express that he did not pour petrol on the boy and that he himself attempted suicide as he was depressed after his grandmother pulled him up for continuing to steal pens and mobile phones.
I was with remaining children when the incident took place. The boy set himself on fire in the verandah. I take care of the children like my own, Venkateswar Rao said.
VIJAYAWADA: Vempati Praveen, a 14-year-old, is battling for life with 70 per cent burns at Government General Hospital of Vijayawada. He was allegedly set on fire by Katuri Venkateswara Rao, warden of Mother Theresa orphanage on Republic Day in Marepalli in A Konduru mandal near Vijayawada. Praveen, from hospital bed, said that he was set on fire by the warden. The accused reportedly was angry and went out of control when Praveen refused to obey his orders of doing scavenging works at the orphanage. In a fit of rage, Venkateswar allegedly poured petrol on Praveen and set him on fire. He set me ablaze. I cried asking him to save me as flames were rising all around. He then threatened that he would not save me unless I give a declaration that I attempted suicide, Praveen said. According to Aduri Manith, Praveens cousin who also lives at the orphanage, the warden poured petrol on Praveen and set him on fire around 4 pm. Later, the warden, two other inmates and I shifted Praveen to a local clinic in an auto rickshaw but the doctor was not available. Then we shifted him to Konduru hospital through 108 ambulance. Then they brought Praveen to Vijayawada General Hospital at about 10 the same night. The warden instructed Praveen to give a statement that he attempted self-immolation. Praveen accordingly did it out of fear when a magistrate recorded his statement at the hospital, Manith told Express. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nuzvid, T S V Ramana, based on the Vijayawada police and magistrates statement, the police came to the conclusion that the boy set himself on fire. But, Kondur police are recording the statements of remaining students. We will initiate action against the warden if found guilty, said the police. However, the warden told Express that he did not pour petrol on the boy and that he himself attempted suicide as he was depressed after his grandmother pulled him up for continuing to steal pens and mobile phones. I was with remaining children when the incident took place. The boy set himself on fire in the verandah. I take care of the children like my own, Venkateswar Rao said.
By Express News Service
KOCHI: Though one of the finest celebrity chefs in the state who would cook any variety of dishes and present it with a smile, the last three weeks were tough for Lakshmi Nair in her other role as a Principal which she was handling for some eight years. The pan Kerala strike against the harassment of students at the Self-financing colleges in the state following the death of an engineering student at Thrissur suddenly turned against her and her institution Kerala Law Academy Law College, (KLALC). The demand by all the protesting groups is the same: remove Lakshmi Nair as the Principal of the college which will turn 50 next year.
She joined the KLALC as a Guest lecturer in History in 1988 and in Law two years later. She became a full-time lecturer in 1994 and became Professor in 2007. She did her LLB, LLM and PhD from KLALC. She is a second rank holder of the Kerala University in B.A History and a first rank Holder in LLM from the same University. A familiar figure in mini screen for three decades, Lakshmi Nair was a news reader with Doordarshan (Malayalam) from 1986 to 1988. A celebrity culinary expert as the host of the most popular cookery show Magic Oven as well as Flavours of India, in CPM-backed Malayalam Television Channel, Kairali, with a high viewership rate among similar programmes. She was also a member of the Kerala State Film Censor Board since 2005.
KLALC shut down indefinitely after the joint strike, launched by student organisations against the management's denial of permission to hold a protest march in the campus, turned violent. Kerala State Human Rights Commission has registered suo motu case in connection with the student's protests and the SC/ST Commission and Youth Commission sought an explanation from college authorities over students' allegations of harassment by college authorities. On Monday, a non-bailable case has been slapped against her for allegedly harassing a student belonging to scheduled caste by addressing him by caste.
This shows the level of suffering the students had to endure. They are frustrated as there is no transparency in the marks. Over the years, she has given internal marks to those students she liked and it decided their fate, said Parvathi T, popular anchor, social activist and also a former student of the KLALC who could not complete her course, as the college claimed she had shortages in attendance in 2005.
As N Narayanan Nair, the director of KLALC, who is also the father of Lakshmi, is one of the power centres in state politics and the family is close to CPM, the party had to take a cautious step backward from arriving at a hasty decision. The Education Minister's efforts to defuse the crisis failed as the students stick to their stand and demand of Lakshmi Nair's resignation. Meanwhile, Kerala University debarred Lakshmi Nair from all examination-related matters as a sub-committee of the syndicate found that many of the allegations to be true. The list included installation of CCTV cameras at the college women's hostel intruding into the privacy of the students, the sole power to give internal marks with the principal. More internal marks were allotted to Lakshmi Nair's future daughter-in-law, who had only 50 percent attendance. The principal even refused to submit documents which committee sought as part of the probe. The audio clippings also substantiated charges against her.
KOCHI: Though one of the finest celebrity chefs in the state who would cook any variety of dishes and present it with a smile, the last three weeks were tough for Lakshmi Nair in her other role as a Principal which she was handling for some eight years. The pan Kerala strike against the harassment of students at the Self-financing colleges in the state following the death of an engineering student at Thrissur suddenly turned against her and her institution Kerala Law Academy Law College, (KLALC). The demand by all the protesting groups is the same: remove Lakshmi Nair as the Principal of the college which will turn 50 next year. She joined the KLALC as a Guest lecturer in History in 1988 and in Law two years later. She became a full-time lecturer in 1994 and became Professor in 2007. She did her LLB, LLM and PhD from KLALC. She is a second rank holder of the Kerala University in B.A History and a first rank Holder in LLM from the same University. A familiar figure in mini screen for three decades, Lakshmi Nair was a news reader with Doordarshan (Malayalam) from 1986 to 1988. A celebrity culinary expert as the host of the most popular cookery show Magic Oven as well as Flavours of India, in CPM-backed Malayalam Television Channel, Kairali, with a high viewership rate among similar programmes. She was also a member of the Kerala State Film Censor Board since 2005. KLALC shut down indefinitely after the joint strike, launched by student organisations against the management's denial of permission to hold a protest march in the campus, turned violent. Kerala State Human Rights Commission has registered suo motu case in connection with the student's protests and the SC/ST Commission and Youth Commission sought an explanation from college authorities over students' allegations of harassment by college authorities. On Monday, a non-bailable case has been slapped against her for allegedly harassing a student belonging to scheduled caste by addressing him by caste. This shows the level of suffering the students had to endure. They are frustrated as there is no transparency in the marks. Over the years, she has given internal marks to those students she liked and it decided their fate, said Parvathi T, popular anchor, social activist and also a former student of the KLALC who could not complete her course, as the college claimed she had shortages in attendance in 2005. As N Narayanan Nair, the director of KLALC, who is also the father of Lakshmi, is one of the power centres in state politics and the family is close to CPM, the party had to take a cautious step backward from arriving at a hasty decision. The Education Minister's efforts to defuse the crisis failed as the students stick to their stand and demand of Lakshmi Nair's resignation. Meanwhile, Kerala University debarred Lakshmi Nair from all examination-related matters as a sub-committee of the syndicate found that many of the allegations to be true. The list included installation of CCTV cameras at the college women's hostel intruding into the privacy of the students, the sole power to give internal marks with the principal. More internal marks were allotted to Lakshmi Nair's future daughter-in-law, who had only 50 percent attendance. The principal even refused to submit documents which committee sought as part of the probe. The audio clippings also substantiated charges against her.
Moon Express, the first private company in history to receive government permission to travel beyond Earth's orbit, announced Tuesday that it raised another $20 million in private equity financing to fund its maiden lunar mission to take place in late 2017. This brings the total amount of private investment to $45 million from investors that include Peter Thiel 's Founders Fund, Collaborative Fund and Autodesk (ADSK).
What may have added impetus to investor interest in Moon Express is President Trump's picks for the NASA transition team Charles Miller and Chris Shank and the leading candidate to become the next NASA administrator, GOP Rep. Jim Bridenstine. All support commercial space ventures and manned exploration including lunar missions.
If successful, the new MX-1 lunar lander from Moon Express would not only win the $20 million Google Lunar XPRIZE, it would also help jump-start a new era of space exploration. Up until now, only government-funded missions from the United States, China and Russia have landed on the moon.
Last year the U.S. government made a historic ruling to allow the company to engage in peaceful commercial lunar exploration and discovery following consultations with the FAA, White House, State Department and NASA.
The company's challenge now is to meet the XPRIZE requirement: Make a soft landing on the moon, travel 500 meters across its surface, and transmit high-definition video and images back to Earth. All tasks must be done before the end of this year.
According to co-founder and chairman Naveen Jain, "Moon Express now has all the capital it needs to land its small robotic spacecraft on the surface of the moon in November or December of 2017." The company's goal is twofold: 1) mine the moon for valuable resources, such as Helium-3, gold, platinum group metals, rare earth metals and water; and 2) help researchers develop human space colonies for future generations.
The ability to mine Helium-3 could have a tremendous impact on Earth and the environment. Helium-3 is a clean, non-radioactive energy source that could potentially power nuclear fusion reactors. Theoretically, a relatively small amount could produce enough clean fuel to power entire industries, if not the entire planet. It's for this reason that the Chinese have also announced plans to mine Helium-3 on the moon.
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Another draw is tapping water on the moon's surface. Hydrogen and oxygen can then be separated to create rocket fuel for deep-space missions to Mars and beyond. Essentially, the moon can serve as a fueling station for spacecraft.
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"This year is a watershed year for Moon Express and America's commercial space industry," said Bob Richards, Moon Express' co-founder, president and CEO. "Just before the presidential election, NASA released a call for concepts for payloads to the moon to be delivered by private companies. That shows a rising tide of interest in the moon by our nation's space industry."
Thanks to a unique public-private partnership with NASA, Moon Express has access to NASA engineering expertise. It has licensed space launch complexes 17 and 18 at Cape Canaveral from the U.S. Air Force. The six-year-old start-up with a team of 30 already has contracts for payloads from the private sector and scientific community. They include the delivery of the international lunar observatory on the moon, retroreflector arrays to test principles of Einstein's general relativity theory and lunar geology, and human remains and DNA samples for space burial from Celestis.
In addition, Moon Express hopes to snare a contract for a payload from NASA for its first mission, said Richards.
Moon Express has contracted five electron rockets from New Zealand-based launch provider Rocket Lab for its missions. In the future, it plans to be rocket agnostic and use a variety of rocket providers.
European Space Agency has also expressed interest in partnering with Moon Express. ESA has plans to develop lunar colonies in the future.
Now the race is on to see who will win the Google Lunar XPRIZE and what player will land on the moon first. Contenders include SpaceIL from Israel, Team Inus from India and international team Synergy Moon.
At the same time, superpowers are busy preparing their own missions. China has unveiled plans to visit the moon's north and south poles late this year and return to Earth with rock samples. In 2018 it plans to send its Chang'e-4 lander to the dark side of the moon to carry out patrolling surveys. At the same time, Russia's Roscosmos is planning a manned space exploration base on the moon.
As Naveen explains, "he and his partners are just a group of entrepreneurs trying to move humanity forward. We want to leave a legacy for future generations."
By Express News Service
KOZHIKODE: The family members of Rasila Raju are in a state of shock.
Rasila, 23, was away from her family for the last two months and they were busy planning her wedding.
Her father Raju received a phone call from an Infosys officer around 10 pm on Sunday, asking him to reach Pune urgently as Rasila was in a critical condition. After that, we were anxiously waiting for more details and kept in touch with the officer. But, he was not willing to say what had happened to her, said O P Manoj, an uncle of Rasila.
Later, we contacted a family friend in Pune. After an hour, we were told Rasila had been murdered, he said.
The family is still in disbelief. Having a pleasant character, Rasila was always happy with family and friends. She enjoyed her job too and did not have enemies, said Manoj. However, he said she had once complained about a security person misbehaving with her in office. But we did not take it seriously, said Manoj.
Rasila, an engineering graduate, completed her schooling from Kozhikode and graduation from Tamil Nadu. She had joined Infosys Pune campus two months ago after working in Chennai for two years. She was trying to return to Chennai, said her uncle. Her elder brother Lijin Raju works as an air force officer in Abu Dhabi.
Raju and a friend reached Mumbai on Monday and were engaged in procedures to bring Rasilas body to Kerala.
KOZHIKODE: The family members of Rasila Raju are in a state of shock. Rasila, 23, was away from her family for the last two months and they were busy planning her wedding. Her father Raju received a phone call from an Infosys officer around 10 pm on Sunday, asking him to reach Pune urgently as Rasila was in a critical condition. After that, we were anxiously waiting for more details and kept in touch with the officer. But, he was not willing to say what had happened to her, said O P Manoj, an uncle of Rasila. Later, we contacted a family friend in Pune. After an hour, we were told Rasila had been murdered, he said. The family is still in disbelief. Having a pleasant character, Rasila was always happy with family and friends. She enjoyed her job too and did not have enemies, said Manoj. However, he said she had once complained about a security person misbehaving with her in office. But we did not take it seriously, said Manoj. Rasila, an engineering graduate, completed her schooling from Kozhikode and graduation from Tamil Nadu. She had joined Infosys Pune campus two months ago after working in Chennai for two years. She was trying to return to Chennai, said her uncle. Her elder brother Lijin Raju works as an air force officer in Abu Dhabi. Raju and a friend reached Mumbai on Monday and were engaged in procedures to bring Rasilas body to Kerala.
By Express News Service
CHENNAI: The State government on Monday indicated that elections to the local bodies in Tamil Nadu can be held only after April due to the forthcoming examinations to SSLC and Plus Two courses, valuation of which would last till April. Majority of personnel for election works are drawn from among the teachers.
This assumes significance as the hearing on a case filed by the State Election Commission (SEC) is coming up for hearing before the Madras High Court on Tuesday.
On January 28, a division bench asked the SEC about the time required for conducting local body elections. The SECs counsel said the commission was ready to conduct the elections by April. When the judges objected to this asking why such a long time was needed, the counsel said he would get back to the court after getting instructions from the authorities.
While the State government did not say this directly in the bill tabled by Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani that replaced the Ordinance promulgated last month for extending the term of special officers for the local bodies till June this year, examinations were cited as one of the reasons for extending the term of special officers.
The DMK and its allies Congress and IUML opposed the two Bills introduced for replacing the Ordinances promulgated for extending the term of special officers of local bodies and Chennai Corporation, at the introductory stage itself.
The bill said the State Election Commissions current electoral roll of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly would be the basis for panchayat electoral roll under Rule 14 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Election) Rules, 1995. On the receipt of the rolls this month, the SEC would be in a position to prepare the corresponding panchayat electoral rolls.
Further, the examinations for the students of SSLC and Plus Two courses would be held between March 2 and middle of April and hence the teaching staff cannot be deployed for the election duties. Besides, most of the school premises, used as polling stations, would be available only after the examinations and valuation of answer-sheets are over.
Hence, the SEC has requested the State government to make appropriate arrangements for administering the affairs of the rural local bodies beyond December 31, 2016 and thus, the Ordinance was promulgated extending the term of special officers till June 30 or until the first meeting of the council is held after the ordinary elections to the local bodies, whichever is earlier, the bill added.
Elections to the local bodies were earlier scheduled for October 17 and 19 last year, but the notifications issued by the SEC were struck down by the Madras High Court on a plea filed by the DMK that due reservation policies were not followed in respect to the ST community. The court had also directed the SEC to issue a fresh notifications and complete the election process by the end of the December last.
CHENNAI: The State government on Monday indicated that elections to the local bodies in Tamil Nadu can be held only after April due to the forthcoming examinations to SSLC and Plus Two courses, valuation of which would last till April. Majority of personnel for election works are drawn from among the teachers. This assumes significance as the hearing on a case filed by the State Election Commission (SEC) is coming up for hearing before the Madras High Court on Tuesday. On January 28, a division bench asked the SEC about the time required for conducting local body elections. The SECs counsel said the commission was ready to conduct the elections by April. When the judges objected to this asking why such a long time was needed, the counsel said he would get back to the court after getting instructions from the authorities. While the State government did not say this directly in the bill tabled by Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani that replaced the Ordinance promulgated last month for extending the term of special officers for the local bodies till June this year, examinations were cited as one of the reasons for extending the term of special officers. The DMK and its allies Congress and IUML opposed the two Bills introduced for replacing the Ordinances promulgated for extending the term of special officers of local bodies and Chennai Corporation, at the introductory stage itself. The bill said the State Election Commissions current electoral roll of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly would be the basis for panchayat electoral roll under Rule 14 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Election) Rules, 1995. On the receipt of the rolls this month, the SEC would be in a position to prepare the corresponding panchayat electoral rolls. Further, the examinations for the students of SSLC and Plus Two courses would be held between March 2 and middle of April and hence the teaching staff cannot be deployed for the election duties. Besides, most of the school premises, used as polling stations, would be available only after the examinations and valuation of answer-sheets are over. Hence, the SEC has requested the State government to make appropriate arrangements for administering the affairs of the rural local bodies beyond December 31, 2016 and thus, the Ordinance was promulgated extending the term of special officers till June 30 or until the first meeting of the council is held after the ordinary elections to the local bodies, whichever is earlier, the bill added. Elections to the local bodies were earlier scheduled for October 17 and 19 last year, but the notifications issued by the SEC were struck down by the Madras High Court on a plea filed by the DMK that due reservation policies were not followed in respect to the ST community. The court had also directed the SEC to issue a fresh notifications and complete the election process by the end of the December last.
By Express News Service
CHENNAI: The First Bench of the Madras High Court turned down a plea to declare Thai Poosam a holiday, stating that only the State could decide on public holidays. The courts would not venture into such areas of State administration, the Bench said.
The Bench of Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice M Sundar made the observation while dismissing on Monday a public interest litigation (PIL) from A Annadurai of Tirupur.
Thai Poosam, on February 10, marks the full moon day in the Tamil month of Thai. More than 50 lakh devotees are expected to visit the six abodes of Lord Muruga that day. Even in Singapore and Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Mauritius, Thai Poosam was a national holiday, the petitioner stated.
CHENNAI: The First Bench of the Madras High Court turned down a plea to declare Thai Poosam a holiday, stating that only the State could decide on public holidays. The courts would not venture into such areas of State administration, the Bench said. The Bench of Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice M Sundar made the observation while dismissing on Monday a public interest litigation (PIL) from A Annadurai of Tirupur. Thai Poosam, on February 10, marks the full moon day in the Tamil month of Thai. More than 50 lakh devotees are expected to visit the six abodes of Lord Muruga that day. Even in Singapore and Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Mauritius, Thai Poosam was a national holiday, the petitioner stated.
Sinduja Jane By
Express News Service
CHENNAI: From spreading rumours to posting unverified information to create mass frenzy, social media trolls have done it all. The latest in the line of fire is the State-sponsored mass Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination drive. Now, the State government has been forced to warn the trolls spreading canards about the vaccination drive with criminal action.
The State decided to crack the whip after a group of government doctors knocked at the Chief Ministers Grievance Cell with a complaint against a Coimbatore-based healer, Bhaskar, levelling allegations against the vaccine. He has been claiming that the vaccine contained disease-causing organisms. This is done only to cause life-threatening diseases in children, he charges in one of his video messages, doing the rounds on the social media and on instant messaging platforms.
The State Health Department is gearing up for the first-ever mandatory MR vaccination drive from February 6 to February 28.
Dr T Satva, a young government doctor, who once served in rural service, along with a few others, lodged a complaint with the CMs cell urging for stringent measures against people trying to sabotage a massive welfare campaign. Such unscientific messages are a threat to public health. In my 10 years of practise, I have not seen cases of measles, polio and small pox. This is only due to the sustained vaccine drive, he said.
Since the doctors of this age have not seen any such cases, they are ill-equipped to treat the diseases. An outbreak would prove disastrous for the entire community. Dr Satva cited the example of Malappuram district in Kerala, where two teenagers died and 20 were diagnosed with diphtheria. This, he said, was due to the anti-vaccination propaganda. To prevent a repeat of it here, officials should take action against these campaigners, he added.
Indicating this to be a motivated campaign, Dr K Kolandaswamy, Director of Public Health, noted how the MR vaccine that was licensed to India in 1983 is at the centre of the campaign after all these years. Till now, it was administered by private hospitals, but now the government is doing it free of cost. This is not a handiwork of one person, but of many groups, he added.
Most parents lack understanding of these preventable diseases, rued Kolandaswamy, explaining how vaccines help wipe out the diseases completely. There are three types of vaccines: live attenuated (weakened), killed and toxoid (inactivated toxins), which are prepared according to the nature of the organism. Once vaccinated, the child will develop immunity against these diseases, he said. The government is targeting 1.8 crore children during this drive, he added.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr C Vijaya Bhaskar has warned of stringent legal action against those who spread false propaganda.
CHENNAI: From spreading rumours to posting unverified information to create mass frenzy, social media trolls have done it all. The latest in the line of fire is the State-sponsored mass Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination drive. Now, the State government has been forced to warn the trolls spreading canards about the vaccination drive with criminal action. The State decided to crack the whip after a group of government doctors knocked at the Chief Ministers Grievance Cell with a complaint against a Coimbatore-based healer, Bhaskar, levelling allegations against the vaccine. He has been claiming that the vaccine contained disease-causing organisms. This is done only to cause life-threatening diseases in children, he charges in one of his video messages, doing the rounds on the social media and on instant messaging platforms. The State Health Department is gearing up for the first-ever mandatory MR vaccination drive from February 6 to February 28. Dr T Satva, a young government doctor, who once served in rural service, along with a few others, lodged a complaint with the CMs cell urging for stringent measures against people trying to sabotage a massive welfare campaign. Such unscientific messages are a threat to public health. In my 10 years of practise, I have not seen cases of measles, polio and small pox. This is only due to the sustained vaccine drive, he said. Since the doctors of this age have not seen any such cases, they are ill-equipped to treat the diseases. An outbreak would prove disastrous for the entire community. Dr Satva cited the example of Malappuram district in Kerala, where two teenagers died and 20 were diagnosed with diphtheria. This, he said, was due to the anti-vaccination propaganda. To prevent a repeat of it here, officials should take action against these campaigners, he added. Indicating this to be a motivated campaign, Dr K Kolandaswamy, Director of Public Health, noted how the MR vaccine that was licensed to India in 1983 is at the centre of the campaign after all these years. Till now, it was administered by private hospitals, but now the government is doing it free of cost. This is not a handiwork of one person, but of many groups, he added. Most parents lack understanding of these preventable diseases, rued Kolandaswamy, explaining how vaccines help wipe out the diseases completely. There are three types of vaccines: live attenuated (weakened), killed and toxoid (inactivated toxins), which are prepared according to the nature of the organism. Once vaccinated, the child will develop immunity against these diseases, he said. The government is targeting 1.8 crore children during this drive, he added. Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr C Vijaya Bhaskar has warned of stringent legal action against those who spread false propaganda.
By Express News Service
HYDERABAD: A fresh row over water is likely to crop up between the two Telugu states. This time, the alleged drawing of water by Andhra Pradesh exceeding the Minimum Draw Down Level (MDDL) at Pulichintala is being objected to by Telangana. Telangana contends that AP should maintain MDDL at Pulichintala so that the standing crops under lift irrigation schemes in Telangana can be saved.
On Monday, Telangana irrigation minister T Harish Rao dashed off a letter to his AP counterpart Devineni Umamaheswara Rao on the issue. Minimum Draw Down Level (MDDL) is the level below which water should not be drawn for using it for other purposes.
Harish Rao said in his letter that eight lift irrigation schemes in Telangana have been functioning under the foreshore of KL Rao Sagar Pulichintala Project in Nalgonda district.
With respect to running of eight lift irrigation under the foreshore of Pulichintala, a serious crisis for saving 30,000 acres of standing crops arises as water level is now below pumping level at +32.77 with capacity of 1.557 tmcft at Pulichintala project, which is well below the MDDL of +42.670 where the capacity of reservoir is 9.540 tmcft, Harish Rao said in the letter.
Harish Rao dashed off the letter after Telangana farmers staged a protest demanding that AP stop drawing water so that they can get water. The protest, which took place two days ago in Guntur, triggered a backlash from AP farmers and tension prevailed there for some time.
Following this, Harish Rao wrote the letter to Uma stating that the standing crops require water for another two to three weeks.
HYDERABAD: A fresh row over water is likely to crop up between the two Telugu states. This time, the alleged drawing of water by Andhra Pradesh exceeding the Minimum Draw Down Level (MDDL) at Pulichintala is being objected to by Telangana. Telangana contends that AP should maintain MDDL at Pulichintala so that the standing crops under lift irrigation schemes in Telangana can be saved. On Monday, Telangana irrigation minister T Harish Rao dashed off a letter to his AP counterpart Devineni Umamaheswara Rao on the issue. Minimum Draw Down Level (MDDL) is the level below which water should not be drawn for using it for other purposes. Harish Rao said in his letter that eight lift irrigation schemes in Telangana have been functioning under the foreshore of KL Rao Sagar Pulichintala Project in Nalgonda district. With respect to running of eight lift irrigation under the foreshore of Pulichintala, a serious crisis for saving 30,000 acres of standing crops arises as water level is now below pumping level at +32.77 with capacity of 1.557 tmcft at Pulichintala project, which is well below the MDDL of +42.670 where the capacity of reservoir is 9.540 tmcft, Harish Rao said in the letter. Harish Rao dashed off the letter after Telangana farmers staged a protest demanding that AP stop drawing water so that they can get water. The protest, which took place two days ago in Guntur, triggered a backlash from AP farmers and tension prevailed there for some time. Following this, Harish Rao wrote the letter to Uma stating that the standing crops require water for another two to three weeks.
By PTI
BRUSSELS: EU chief Donald Tusk hit out today at "worrying" statements by the administration of Donald Trump, saying Washington's new stance was among a series of "threats," along with China, Russia and radical Islam. Tusk said in a letter to EU leaders ahead of a summit in Malta that the bloc must take "spectacular steps" to stay together, and should take advantage of US isolationism to boost trade with other countries. "Today we are dealing with three threats, which have previously not occurred, at least not on such a scale.
The first threat, an external one, is related to the new geopolitical situation in the world and around Europe," Tusk said in the letter obtained by AFP. "An increasingly, let us call it, assertive China, especially on the seas, Russia's aggressive policy towards Ukraine and its neighbours, wars, terror and anarchy in the Middle East and in Africa, with radical Islam playing a major role, as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration all make our future highly unpredictable," Tusk said. "Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy," Tusk added. The second threat, said Trump, was the internal challenge posed by a rise in anti-EU nationalism, and the third was the "state of mind of the pro-European elites."
All 28 EU leaders will discuss migration at Friday's summit in Malta. They will then meet without British Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the future after Brexit, with Tusk saying they must now stick together.
BRUSSELS: EU chief Donald Tusk hit out today at "worrying" statements by the administration of Donald Trump, saying Washington's new stance was among a series of "threats," along with China, Russia and radical Islam. Tusk said in a letter to EU leaders ahead of a summit in Malta that the bloc must take "spectacular steps" to stay together, and should take advantage of US isolationism to boost trade with other countries. "Today we are dealing with three threats, which have previously not occurred, at least not on such a scale. The first threat, an external one, is related to the new geopolitical situation in the world and around Europe," Tusk said in the letter obtained by AFP. "An increasingly, let us call it, assertive China, especially on the seas, Russia's aggressive policy towards Ukraine and its neighbours, wars, terror and anarchy in the Middle East and in Africa, with radical Islam playing a major role, as well as worrying declarations by the new American administration all make our future highly unpredictable," Tusk said. "Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy," Tusk added. The second threat, said Trump, was the internal challenge posed by a rise in anti-EU nationalism, and the third was the "state of mind of the pro-European elites." All 28 EU leaders will discuss migration at Friday's summit in Malta. They will then meet without British Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the future after Brexit, with Tusk saying they must now stick together.
By PTI
DUBAI: The first Indian Business Partnership Summit will be held in Bahrain next week to further cement bilateral trade and economic ties. The summit, organised by India's PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry will in association with Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), is scheduled to take place on February 7 on the sidelines of the Gulf Industry Fair at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The Indian Business delegation to Bahrain will be led by Senior Vice President of the PHD Chamber, Anil Khaitan, along with 30 Indian companies, with diverse business interests with multiple products and services. Khaitan said that detailed discussions will be held to further cement the trade and economic ties between India and Bahrain.
The delegation led by PHD will feature business leaders involved in a variety of sectors such as energy including solar, real estate, financial services, rural e-commerce, venture capital funds, logistics, ports and maritime, startups, aluminum, manufacturing, industrial metals (steel and alloys) and academic and research bodies. "PHD Chamber is organising this Summit at Bahrain for the first time. This energy is in great measure due to the persistence and co-operation with our partners HCE in Bahrain," Khaitan said. India and Bahrain enjoy excellent bilateral relations characterised by strong political, economic and cultural contacts.
This positive relationship is seen in the latest trade figures which valued trade between the two countries to be over 1 billion US dollars. "The India Business Partnership Summit is the result of a vision shared by HCE and PHD Chamber to build on the bilateral trade and investment currently between Bahrain and India by engaging a wider audience of entrepreneurs and businesses from both countries," Jubran Abdulrahman, Managing Director of HCE, said.
The Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Committee of PHD Chamber, Manish Aggarwal, the deputy leader of the delegation, said that the growth of "Housing for All" policies in India offers business opportunities for industry to service the smart cities of India. "Bahrain is also moving along the policy of creating smart urban hubs which could provide excellent cross-fertilisation of ideas and products between India and Bahrain," he said.
DUBAI: The first Indian Business Partnership Summit will be held in Bahrain next week to further cement bilateral trade and economic ties. The summit, organised by India's PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry will in association with Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), is scheduled to take place on February 7 on the sidelines of the Gulf Industry Fair at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The Indian Business delegation to Bahrain will be led by Senior Vice President of the PHD Chamber, Anil Khaitan, along with 30 Indian companies, with diverse business interests with multiple products and services. Khaitan said that detailed discussions will be held to further cement the trade and economic ties between India and Bahrain. The delegation led by PHD will feature business leaders involved in a variety of sectors such as energy including solar, real estate, financial services, rural e-commerce, venture capital funds, logistics, ports and maritime, startups, aluminum, manufacturing, industrial metals (steel and alloys) and academic and research bodies. "PHD Chamber is organising this Summit at Bahrain for the first time. This energy is in great measure due to the persistence and co-operation with our partners HCE in Bahrain," Khaitan said. India and Bahrain enjoy excellent bilateral relations characterised by strong political, economic and cultural contacts. This positive relationship is seen in the latest trade figures which valued trade between the two countries to be over 1 billion US dollars. "The India Business Partnership Summit is the result of a vision shared by HCE and PHD Chamber to build on the bilateral trade and investment currently between Bahrain and India by engaging a wider audience of entrepreneurs and businesses from both countries," Jubran Abdulrahman, Managing Director of HCE, said. The Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Committee of PHD Chamber, Manish Aggarwal, the deputy leader of the delegation, said that the growth of "Housing for All" policies in India offers business opportunities for industry to service the smart cities of India. "Bahrain is also moving along the policy of creating smart urban hubs which could provide excellent cross-fertilisation of ideas and products between India and Bahrain," he said.
By AFP
LOS ANGELES: When Sara Yarjani handed her passport to an immigration officer at Los Angeles airport she was sure she'd be waved through customs, as had happened before. Instead, 23 hours later, she was deported.
The 35-year-old Iranian graduate student became one of the first victims of the chaos unleashed by President Donald Trump's executive order blocking citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, from entering the United States.
Yarjani, who spoke with AFP by telephone late Monday from Vienna, where she is a permanent resident, said her ordeal began shortly after her plane landed Friday evening and -- unbeknownst to her -- Trump's travel ban had kicked in.
"I had been on holiday in Canada to see my sister and then went to Austria and was coming back to resume classes," said Yarjani, a student of holistic health at the California Institute for Human Science, located north of San Diego.
"I was not expecting to be stopped," she said. "I had previously entered the country and was treated very well ... and gone through customs within minutes."
This time she quickly realized that it would be different, as the immigration officer took her passport and ushered her to a waiting area.
Two female officers who barked orders patted Yarjani down as she stood against a wall with her arms raised. She was told to remove her shawl, her jewelry and shoe laces, and was asked to hand over any cash as well as her cell phone -- all of which were later returned.
Yarjani said after nearly four hours of waiting and questioning, during which she was allowed no phone calls, an officer compelled her to sign a form agreeing to deportation on grounds, he claimed, that her student visa was no longer valid.
'Leave voluntarily or forcibly'
"The officer told me 'you have two option-- either you comply and agree to leave voluntarily ... or you will forcibly be deported and face a ban of one to five years or longer of reentry to the US'," she said.
"The way he was saying it was very threatening and I felt I had no choice."
Yarjani said she became aware of the mayhem caused by Trump's order when she was allowed, shortly after midnight, a quick call to her sister to let her know she was being deported.
"I arrived in LA at 8:35 pm Friday and left at 7:30 pm the next day," she said.
Yarjani said as she was being escorted by two armed officers for her flight back to Europe, she was able to briefly check her phone and learned that a federal judge had temporarily blocked part of Trump's executive order.
"I told one of the officers that a judge had ruled against the ban ... and that I should not be put on the plane but all she said was 'wowza' while ordering me to keep walking," Yarjani said.
She said now that she was back in Austria with her parents, she was still trying to come to terms with what had happened and considering her next move.
"It's a very confusing feeling right now because on the one hand I feel thankful I am out of their custody but on the other hand, it's really sad and heartbreaking because I really love what I am studying," she said, her voice breaking.
"I have worked so hard for the past year and a half and it's been such a long journey to get there and to study something I am really passionate about."
She said university officials have been very supportive and concerned about her fate while attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have also offered assistance.
"Being stopped from entering the country to continue my studies does not make any sense," said Yarjani, who was due to graduate this summer.
"I was treated as if I had done something drastically wrong ... and I don't think studying something that is aimed at helping people is a crime you should be deported for."
LOS ANGELES: When Sara Yarjani handed her passport to an immigration officer at Los Angeles airport she was sure she'd be waved through customs, as had happened before. Instead, 23 hours later, she was deported. The 35-year-old Iranian graduate student became one of the first victims of the chaos unleashed by President Donald Trump's executive order blocking citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, from entering the United States. Yarjani, who spoke with AFP by telephone late Monday from Vienna, where she is a permanent resident, said her ordeal began shortly after her plane landed Friday evening and -- unbeknownst to her -- Trump's travel ban had kicked in. "I had been on holiday in Canada to see my sister and then went to Austria and was coming back to resume classes," said Yarjani, a student of holistic health at the California Institute for Human Science, located north of San Diego. "I was not expecting to be stopped," she said. "I had previously entered the country and was treated very well ... and gone through customs within minutes." This time she quickly realized that it would be different, as the immigration officer took her passport and ushered her to a waiting area. Two female officers who barked orders patted Yarjani down as she stood against a wall with her arms raised. She was told to remove her shawl, her jewelry and shoe laces, and was asked to hand over any cash as well as her cell phone -- all of which were later returned. Yarjani said after nearly four hours of waiting and questioning, during which she was allowed no phone calls, an officer compelled her to sign a form agreeing to deportation on grounds, he claimed, that her student visa was no longer valid. 'Leave voluntarily or forcibly' "The officer told me 'you have two option-- either you comply and agree to leave voluntarily ... or you will forcibly be deported and face a ban of one to five years or longer of reentry to the US'," she said. "The way he was saying it was very threatening and I felt I had no choice." Yarjani said she became aware of the mayhem caused by Trump's order when she was allowed, shortly after midnight, a quick call to her sister to let her know she was being deported. "I arrived in LA at 8:35 pm Friday and left at 7:30 pm the next day," she said. Yarjani said as she was being escorted by two armed officers for her flight back to Europe, she was able to briefly check her phone and learned that a federal judge had temporarily blocked part of Trump's executive order. "I told one of the officers that a judge had ruled against the ban ... and that I should not be put on the plane but all she said was 'wowza' while ordering me to keep walking," Yarjani said. She said now that she was back in Austria with her parents, she was still trying to come to terms with what had happened and considering her next move. "It's a very confusing feeling right now because on the one hand I feel thankful I am out of their custody but on the other hand, it's really sad and heartbreaking because I really love what I am studying," she said, her voice breaking. "I have worked so hard for the past year and a half and it's been such a long journey to get there and to study something I am really passionate about." She said university officials have been very supportive and concerned about her fate while attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have also offered assistance. "Being stopped from entering the country to continue my studies does not make any sense," said Yarjani, who was due to graduate this summer. "I was treated as if I had done something drastically wrong ... and I don't think studying something that is aimed at helping people is a crime you should be deported for."
By PTI
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran today of launching a ballistic missile in what he said constitutes a "flagrant violation" of a UN Security Council resolution.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Netanyahu said he intended to "raise the renewal of sanctions against Iran in this context and in other contexts" in his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The White House said on Monday that Trump will host Netanyahu on February 15.
Israel's archfoe Iran has carried out a number of missile tests in recent months, which the United States and European governments have said are a breach of its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal.
Western powers say the missiles are capable of carrying nuclear warheads and therefore go against the deal, while Iran says its missile programme is "non-negotiable".
Israel had opposed the deal between Iran and major powers, which lifted a wide range of international sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran's nuclear programme.
"Iranian aggression must not go unanswered," Netanyahu wrote on today.
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran today of launching a ballistic missile in what he said constitutes a "flagrant violation" of a UN Security Council resolution. In a statement on his Facebook page, Netanyahu said he intended to "raise the renewal of sanctions against Iran in this context and in other contexts" in his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump. The White House said on Monday that Trump will host Netanyahu on February 15. Israel's archfoe Iran has carried out a number of missile tests in recent months, which the United States and European governments have said are a breach of its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal. Western powers say the missiles are capable of carrying nuclear warheads and therefore go against the deal, while Iran says its missile programme is "non-negotiable". Israel had opposed the deal between Iran and major powers, which lifted a wide range of international sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran's nuclear programme. "Iranian aggression must not go unanswered," Netanyahu wrote on today.
By Associated Press
LONDON: The British government's decision to invite President Donald Trump for a state visit, one of the highest honors it can bestow on a visiting dignitary, has involved Queen Elizabeth II in the passionate debate over Trump's travel ban.
Trump's provocative decision to deny refugees access to the United States and to make it more difficult for people from seven Muslim-majority countries to visit has been widely denounced by opposition leaders and sparked protests in Britain, leading some to question the wisdom of the government's decision.
It is the British government, currently led by Prime Minister Theresa May, that invites heads of state on the queen's behalf, but it is the queen who acts as hostess. In most cases, that involves lavish pomp and ceremony, as well as a stay of several days at the queen's official residence, Buckingham Palace.
The prospect of protests outside the palace when Trump comes calling has put the queen in a "very difficult position," said Peter Ricketts, formerly a top official in the Foreign Office.
In a letter to The Times on Tuesday, Ricketts said the "state visit" should be downgraded to a lower level "official visit" to spare the monarch any embarrassment. He said the invitation should not have been extended in the first days of Trump's administration.
"It would have been far wiser to wait and see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the queen to invite him," Ricketts said.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim elected to that post, has called for the invitation to be rescinded. His office said he will describe Trump's travel ban as "cruel, prejudiced and counterproductive" at a City Hall diplomatic reception Tuesday.
An online petition opposing Trump's visit has drawn more than 1.6 million signatures, prompting what will be a non-binding debate in Parliament set for Feb. 20.
State visits are typically offered to foreign monarchs, presidents and prime ministers in ways designed to bolster British diplomacy and economic interests.
The invitation to Trump is part of an effort to strengthen ties with the goal of reaching a beneficial trade agreement with the United States once Britain leaves the European Union.
A state visit is a carefully choreographed event and involves grand pageantry in the heart of London.
The queen and other senior royals greet visitors with a ceremonial welcome, usually on Horse Guards Parade, followed by a carriage procession to the palace. A multi-gun salute is fired from Green Park and the Tower of London, and there traditionally is a formal banquet for roughly 150 guests in the palace ballroom.
The queen opens the state dinner with a speech, followed by a formal toast to her guest.
Buckingham Palace officials said the queen would not comment on plans for Trump's visit. The government says the visit is "months away" and that a date has not been chosen.
May said during a joint appearance with Trump Friday that he would be coming for a state visit at an unspecified date.
Hours later, Trump signed the executive order limiting travel to the United States. May has said she does not agree with the plan, but the government insists the state visit is going forward.
LONDON: The British government's decision to invite President Donald Trump for a state visit, one of the highest honors it can bestow on a visiting dignitary, has involved Queen Elizabeth II in the passionate debate over Trump's travel ban. Trump's provocative decision to deny refugees access to the United States and to make it more difficult for people from seven Muslim-majority countries to visit has been widely denounced by opposition leaders and sparked protests in Britain, leading some to question the wisdom of the government's decision. It is the British government, currently led by Prime Minister Theresa May, that invites heads of state on the queen's behalf, but it is the queen who acts as hostess. In most cases, that involves lavish pomp and ceremony, as well as a stay of several days at the queen's official residence, Buckingham Palace. The prospect of protests outside the palace when Trump comes calling has put the queen in a "very difficult position," said Peter Ricketts, formerly a top official in the Foreign Office. In a letter to The Times on Tuesday, Ricketts said the "state visit" should be downgraded to a lower level "official visit" to spare the monarch any embarrassment. He said the invitation should not have been extended in the first days of Trump's administration. "It would have been far wiser to wait and see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the queen to invite him," Ricketts said. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim elected to that post, has called for the invitation to be rescinded. His office said he will describe Trump's travel ban as "cruel, prejudiced and counterproductive" at a City Hall diplomatic reception Tuesday. An online petition opposing Trump's visit has drawn more than 1.6 million signatures, prompting what will be a non-binding debate in Parliament set for Feb. 20. State visits are typically offered to foreign monarchs, presidents and prime ministers in ways designed to bolster British diplomacy and economic interests. The invitation to Trump is part of an effort to strengthen ties with the goal of reaching a beneficial trade agreement with the United States once Britain leaves the European Union. A state visit is a carefully choreographed event and involves grand pageantry in the heart of London. The queen and other senior royals greet visitors with a ceremonial welcome, usually on Horse Guards Parade, followed by a carriage procession to the palace. A multi-gun salute is fired from Green Park and the Tower of London, and there traditionally is a formal banquet for roughly 150 guests in the palace ballroom. The queen opens the state dinner with a speech, followed by a formal toast to her guest. Buckingham Palace officials said the queen would not comment on plans for Trump's visit. The government says the visit is "months away" and that a date has not been chosen. May said during a joint appearance with Trump Friday that he would be coming for a state visit at an unspecified date. Hours later, Trump signed the executive order limiting travel to the United States. May has said she does not agree with the plan, but the government insists the state visit is going forward.
The competitive bidding for a $16 billion contract to supply the U.S. Air Force with a new training jet may be winnowed from its current number of potential bidders. Aviation Week has reported that Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) may pull out, and neither Sierra Nevada nor Textron Inc. (TXT) is willing to say definitively that they will submit a bid.
That leaves Boeing Co. (BA) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT), the nation's two largest defense contractors, to slug it out for the contract. A team led by Raytheon Corp. (RTN) and Italy's Leonardo pulled out last week, and Textron has never said more than that it is considering a bid. Sierra Nevada, a privately held aerospace firm, has been similarly reluctant publicly to commit to a bid.
ALSO READ: Trump and Boeing, Brexit and UK Airlines: Damage Report
The issue that is giving the potential competitors second thoughts is price. The winning bidder almost certainly will have to submit the lowest price. Both Boeing and Lockheed can afford to battle it out on price, but Raytheon decided it could not, and now it appears that Northrop Grumman is thinking the same thing.
Northrop Grumman CEO Wes Bush said last week that the company has not made a go/no-go decision yet, even though it has made a substantial investment in a flying prototype. Aviation week cited Bush: "We don't want to walk ourselves into a decision to do something just because we've been doing it."
ALSO READ: Is Southwest Airlines Really Boeings Launch Customer for the 737 MAX?
If the contract award comes down to just Boeing and Lockheed, both will come in with the lowest price they can reasonably make, regardless of whether they can make a profit. Why? To keep their plants open and to maintain some positive cash flow to impress investors. Cost overruns and losses can be dealt with later.
It is even possible, though not likely, that whichever company wins can actually build the planes for the low-ball price.
Lockheed snagged more than $36 billion in federal contracts in fiscal year 2015, more than twice as much as second-ranked contractor Boeing, which managed to haul in more than $16 billion. But Boeing's commercial jet business added to its defense business nearly doubled Lockheed's 2016 total revenues. And Lockheed's 2016 revenues were about double Raytheon's and Northrop Grumman's.
Story continues
ALSO READ: Americas Most Hated Companies
And with the current administration's emphasis on lowering costs or at least announcing that it has lowered costs only the super-rich can afford to play. That means Boeing and Lockheed.
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By Express News Service
A day after the Trump administration indicated that it might restrict the entry of Pakistani nationals, Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was placed under house arrest in Lahore.
The Lahore Police reached the Jamaat ud Dawa headquarters late on Monday evening with a heavy contigent of police to implement the order, JuD officials said. A heavy contigent has surrounded the Masjid-e-Qadsia Chauburji and our headquarters, said Ahmed Nadeem, a JuD official.
Reports suggested that the Pakistani authorities are also looking to impose a ban on JuD.
The US had warned of sanctions if Pakistan failed to take action against JuD and Saeed. JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit which is responsible for numerous attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike. JuD has been listed by the UNSC, we are bound to take some steps, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said.
A day after the Trump administration indicated that it might restrict the entry of Pakistani nationals, Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was placed under house arrest in Lahore. The Lahore Police reached the Jamaat ud Dawa headquarters late on Monday evening with a heavy contigent of police to implement the order, JuD officials said. A heavy contigent has surrounded the Masjid-e-Qadsia Chauburji and our headquarters, said Ahmed Nadeem, a JuD official. Reports suggested that the Pakistani authorities are also looking to impose a ban on JuD. The US had warned of sanctions if Pakistan failed to take action against JuD and Saeed. JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit which is responsible for numerous attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike. JuD has been listed by the UNSC, we are bound to take some steps, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said.
By AFP
ANKARA: Turkey tourism revenues fell almost 30 percent in 2016, the country's statistics office said Tuesday, after visitors stayed away following multiple terror attacks and a failed coup.
In 2016 income from tourism fell by 29.7 percent compared to the previous year, falling to $22.1 billion (19.7 billion euros), the Turkish Statistics Institute (TUIK) said on its website.
The country has been hit by a spate of attacks blamed on Islamic extremists and Kurdish militants while tourists were further spooked by the attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the July 15 failed coup and the subsequent crackdown.
For the whole of last year, over 31 million visitors came to Turkey, TUIK said, compared to nearly 42 million in 2015.
The statistics include Turkish residents who live abroad.
Tourism is a key economic sector in Turkey, accounting for some five percent of GDP, and the slowdown in the sector has contributed to a deterioration in growth.
The economy in the third quarter contracted for the first time year-on-year since 2009, shrinking 1.8 percent.
Tourists have been put off in particular by attacks in locations frequented by foreign visitors blamed on jihadists.
In June 2016, 47 people were killed in a triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, with authorities pointing the finger at Islamic State (IS) jihadists.
And just 75 minutes into 2017, an IS-linked militant killed 39 people in an elite nightclub in Istanbul as New Year celebrations were in full swing.
But Turkish officials are still hoping for better times in 2017, pinning expectations on an upsurge in tourism from key market Russia after a deal to normalise ties.
In August, visitor numbers to Turkey from Russia fell 83.63 percent compared with the same month in 2015.
For the whole of 2016, Turkey saw foreign visitor arrivals drop by 30 percent, the tourism ministry said.
"God willing, 2017 will be better than 2016, and 2018 will be better than 2017," said Tourism Minister Nabi Avci, quoted by the state Anadolu agency.
"Turkey is a perfect destination, everyone should absolutely see it," UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Taleb Rifai said.
"And it's important for this second reason, travelling to Turkey is the best response to give to terrorism," he added.
ANKARA: Turkey tourism revenues fell almost 30 percent in 2016, the country's statistics office said Tuesday, after visitors stayed away following multiple terror attacks and a failed coup. In 2016 income from tourism fell by 29.7 percent compared to the previous year, falling to $22.1 billion (19.7 billion euros), the Turkish Statistics Institute (TUIK) said on its website. The country has been hit by a spate of attacks blamed on Islamic extremists and Kurdish militants while tourists were further spooked by the attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the July 15 failed coup and the subsequent crackdown. For the whole of last year, over 31 million visitors came to Turkey, TUIK said, compared to nearly 42 million in 2015. The statistics include Turkish residents who live abroad. Tourism is a key economic sector in Turkey, accounting for some five percent of GDP, and the slowdown in the sector has contributed to a deterioration in growth. The economy in the third quarter contracted for the first time year-on-year since 2009, shrinking 1.8 percent. Tourists have been put off in particular by attacks in locations frequented by foreign visitors blamed on jihadists. In June 2016, 47 people were killed in a triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, with authorities pointing the finger at Islamic State (IS) jihadists. And just 75 minutes into 2017, an IS-linked militant killed 39 people in an elite nightclub in Istanbul as New Year celebrations were in full swing. But Turkish officials are still hoping for better times in 2017, pinning expectations on an upsurge in tourism from key market Russia after a deal to normalise ties. In August, visitor numbers to Turkey from Russia fell 83.63 percent compared with the same month in 2015. For the whole of 2016, Turkey saw foreign visitor arrivals drop by 30 percent, the tourism ministry said. "God willing, 2017 will be better than 2016, and 2018 will be better than 2017," said Tourism Minister Nabi Avci, quoted by the state Anadolu agency. "Turkey is a perfect destination, everyone should absolutely see it," UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Taleb Rifai said. "And it's important for this second reason, travelling to Turkey is the best response to give to terrorism," he added.
By AFP
ISTANBUL: US President Donald Trump's immigration and refugee restrictions are "offensive", a top Turkish official was quoted as saying on Tuesday, in the first explicit criticism by Ankara of the controversial policy.
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus called on Trump to reconsider the decision, which he said was motivated by Islamophobia, the Haberturk daily reported.
"It is not possible to accept this," said Kurtulmus, who is also the chief government spokesman, according to the daily. "The policy should be reviewed."
On Friday, Trump issued an executive order that bars US entry for travellers from seven mainly Muslim countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- for 90 days.
Trump defended the new policy, introduced just a week after he became president and which stirred up fresh protests this week, by saying that it would make the United States safe from "radical Islamic terrorists."
Kurtulmus blamed rising Islamophobia, anti-immigrant feelings and xenophobia in the West for the decision, calling on the new administration to "correct" the policy.
"It is extremely offensive that such a decision was made in a country like the United States which is known as a nation with all different religions and ethnic groups in a melting pot," he said.
"It is not correct. It is really a decision that triggers discrimination... None of the countries' citizens can be categorically branded as bad."
A champion of the fight against Islamophobia, Ankara had until now steered clear of explicit criticsm of Trump's move, although Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Saturday warned against "putting up walls" to solve the refugee crisis.
Turkey is home to some 2.7 million Syrian refugees who have fled from the almost six-year war between rebels and President Bashar al-Assad.
Ankara has high hopes of the new American administration, seeking to amend ties that deteriorated under the Barack Obama over a number of issues including US support for Syrian Kurdish militia.
Last week, US media reported that the Pentagon would be given 90 days to craft a plan to set up "safe zones" in or near Syria -- which Ankara said it would watch closely.
ISTANBUL: US President Donald Trump's immigration and refugee restrictions are "offensive", a top Turkish official was quoted as saying on Tuesday, in the first explicit criticism by Ankara of the controversial policy. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus called on Trump to reconsider the decision, which he said was motivated by Islamophobia, the Haberturk daily reported. "It is not possible to accept this," said Kurtulmus, who is also the chief government spokesman, according to the daily. "The policy should be reviewed." On Friday, Trump issued an executive order that bars US entry for travellers from seven mainly Muslim countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- for 90 days. Trump defended the new policy, introduced just a week after he became president and which stirred up fresh protests this week, by saying that it would make the United States safe from "radical Islamic terrorists." Kurtulmus blamed rising Islamophobia, anti-immigrant feelings and xenophobia in the West for the decision, calling on the new administration to "correct" the policy. "It is extremely offensive that such a decision was made in a country like the United States which is known as a nation with all different religions and ethnic groups in a melting pot," he said. "It is not correct. It is really a decision that triggers discrimination... None of the countries' citizens can be categorically branded as bad." A champion of the fight against Islamophobia, Ankara had until now steered clear of explicit criticsm of Trump's move, although Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Saturday warned against "putting up walls" to solve the refugee crisis. Turkey is home to some 2.7 million Syrian refugees who have fled from the almost six-year war between rebels and President Bashar al-Assad. Ankara has high hopes of the new American administration, seeking to amend ties that deteriorated under the Barack Obama over a number of issues including US support for Syrian Kurdish militia. Last week, US media reported that the Pentagon would be given 90 days to craft a plan to set up "safe zones" in or near Syria -- which Ankara said it would watch closely.
By AFP
UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will hold urgent talks Tuesday on Iran's test-firing of a medium-range missile, diplomats said.
The United States requested the emergency consultations after the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations called for council action.
"In light of Iran's January 29 launch of a medium-range ballistic missile, the United States has requested urgent consultations of the Security Council," the US mission said in a statement.
The talks on Iran will follow a meeting on Syria scheduled for 10:00 am (1500 GMT).
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said the missile test violated UN resolutions that bar Iran from launching ballistic missiles that could have a nuclear capability.
"The international community must not bury its head in the sand in the face of this Iranian aggression," said Danon.
"The Security Council members must act immediately in response to these Iranian actions which endanger not only Israel, but the entire Middle East."
It was the first request for council consultations made by the United States since new US Ambassador Nikki Haley took office.
US President Donald Trump has promised to strengthen ties with Israel and has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal that led to a lifting of international sanctions against Tehran.
Trump is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 15.
A Security Council resolution adopted a few days after the 2015 nuclear agreement bars Iran from developing missiles "designed to carry nuclear warheads."
Iran has said its missiles would never carry a nuclear warhead as it has no plans to develop atomic weapons, but military officials have insisted on expanding the country's missile program.
Britain, France and the United States have sought council action over Iranian missiles launches last year, but Russia and China opposed discussion of possible sanctions that they argued would jeopardize the hard-fought nuclear deal.
The deal reached with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions.
UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will hold urgent talks Tuesday on Iran's test-firing of a medium-range missile, diplomats said. The United States requested the emergency consultations after the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations called for council action. "In light of Iran's January 29 launch of a medium-range ballistic missile, the United States has requested urgent consultations of the Security Council," the US mission said in a statement. The talks on Iran will follow a meeting on Syria scheduled for 10:00 am (1500 GMT). Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said the missile test violated UN resolutions that bar Iran from launching ballistic missiles that could have a nuclear capability. "The international community must not bury its head in the sand in the face of this Iranian aggression," said Danon. "The Security Council members must act immediately in response to these Iranian actions which endanger not only Israel, but the entire Middle East." It was the first request for council consultations made by the United States since new US Ambassador Nikki Haley took office. US President Donald Trump has promised to strengthen ties with Israel and has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal that led to a lifting of international sanctions against Tehran. Trump is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 15. A Security Council resolution adopted a few days after the 2015 nuclear agreement bars Iran from developing missiles "designed to carry nuclear warheads." Iran has said its missiles would never carry a nuclear warhead as it has no plans to develop atomic weapons, but military officials have insisted on expanding the country's missile program. Britain, France and the United States have sought council action over Iranian missiles launches last year, but Russia and China opposed discussion of possible sanctions that they argued would jeopardize the hard-fought nuclear deal. The deal reached with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions.
By Associated Press
CAIRO: The U.S. Embassy in Israel says Israelis born in the seven Muslim-majority countries under a travel ban ordered by President Donald Trump can still travel to the United States under certain conditions.
A message posted on the embassy website on Tuesday says Israeli passport holders born in Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen who do not have a valid passport from their birth country can travel to the U.S. under a valid visa.
The embassy says it's continuing to process visa applications from Israelis born in those countries who don't have a passport from one of the seven countries or have not "declared themselves to be a national of one of those countries."
Hundreds of thousands of Jews born in countries in the Middle East and North Africa settled in Israel after the country's establishment in 1948. Many were automatically stripped of their citizenship by those countries when they left.
It is rare for Israelis to be dual nationals of one of the seven countries and the U.S. Embassy did not specifically say what happens to Israelis who carry a second passport from one of the countries under Trump's ban.
The executive order Trump issued caused confusion among Israelis born in countries affected by the travel ban.
___
5:45 p.m.
France's prime minister is criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump's three-month immigration ban on refugees from Muslim countries as being useless in the fight against terrorism.
Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Tuesday that Trump's decision "only aims at exacerbating tensions, creating potential conflicts" and "in the end, the greatest inefficiency regarding results in the fight against terrorism."
Cazeneuve, who was interior minister in 2015 and 2016 when deadly terror attacks were carried out by Islamic extremists in France, said the government reinforced its counterterrorism law and boosted security forces while preserving "national unity" and the values of the country.
He says the U.S. ban "is useless because it ostracizes some countries" and "makes it impossible to welcome people who are persecuted in their country and need protection from free nations."
___
4:45 p.m.
The Netherlands' firebrand anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders has clashed in Parliament with the Dutch foreign minister over U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban for people from seven Muslim nations.
In a debate Tuesday, Wilders seen by many as a Dutch equivalent of Trump paid tribute to the new U.S. leader, saying, "Finally America has a president, finally a country in the West has a president, who not only lives up to his promises but who says 'the freedom of my citizens is more important than anything.'"
Foreign Minister Bert Koenders hit back, saying, "If you want to fight terror, then the worst thing you can do is trample human rights."
The Dutch government has updated its travel advisory for the U.S. to warn of the effects of Trump's new policy on Dutch citizens who have dual nationality with one of the seven nations affected.
___
4.20 p.m.
The leaders of Germany and Sweden are decrying the immigration restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump and both say they're seeking more clarity on how citizens will be affected.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said that "the fight against terrorism does not justify such general action against particular countries and people of a particular faith." Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven called the move "counterproductive" and "totally unacceptable."
The two leaders were speaking at a press conference in Stockholm Tuesday.
Merkel also stressed Germany's commitment to the independence of the European Central Bank and trading "in fair competition with everyone else" on world markets.
That came after Peter Navarro, who is to lead a new White House council on trade, was quoted in the Financial Times as saying that Germany is using a "grossly undervalued" euro to "exploit" the U.S. and its European partners.
___
2:35 p.m.
Iran's foreign minister has reiterated that Iran will no longer issue visas for Americans, describing the decision as a "counter-action" to Trump's executive order banning nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, from entering the United States.
Mohammad Javad Zarif added that "if there is an exception, it will be reviewed through the mechanism which has been created in the Foreign Ministry." Zarif spoke to the "Khorasan daily" on Tuesday on the sidelines of a joint press conference with his visiting French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault. About 5 million tourists visit Iran each year, most of them coming from Iraq and other neighboring countries. Europeans have also been coming to Iran, but Americans represent far less than 1 percent of the total or about 50,000 and are subjected to rigorous background checks. Zarif first announced the reciprocal move by Tehran on Saturday, when Trump's visa restrictions took effect. At the time, he said Iran's ban will not be retroactive and that all Americans with already valid Iranian visas "will be gladly welcomed."
___
10:35 a.m.
Iran's oil minister says there is no ban on American companies working in Iran's oil industry.
The semi-official ILNA news agency on Tuesday is quoting Bijan Zanganeh as saying: "American companies face no ban for entering our oil industry."
However, Zanganeh said American companies "have not directly applied" to work in Iran's oil industry, so far.
This is the first such remark by Iran after an executive order by U.S. president Donald Trump on Friday banned immigration and visa processing for Iranians alongside six other Muslim countries.
In January, Iran's Oil Ministry published a list of 29 international companies qualified to bid for oil and gas projects following the lifting of sanctions under a landmark nuclear accord that went into effect last year.
CAIRO: The U.S. Embassy in Israel says Israelis born in the seven Muslim-majority countries under a travel ban ordered by President Donald Trump can still travel to the United States under certain conditions. A message posted on the embassy website on Tuesday says Israeli passport holders born in Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen who do not have a valid passport from their birth country can travel to the U.S. under a valid visa. The embassy says it's continuing to process visa applications from Israelis born in those countries who don't have a passport from one of the seven countries or have not "declared themselves to be a national of one of those countries." Hundreds of thousands of Jews born in countries in the Middle East and North Africa settled in Israel after the country's establishment in 1948. Many were automatically stripped of their citizenship by those countries when they left. It is rare for Israelis to be dual nationals of one of the seven countries and the U.S. Embassy did not specifically say what happens to Israelis who carry a second passport from one of the countries under Trump's ban. The executive order Trump issued caused confusion among Israelis born in countries affected by the travel ban. ___ 5:45 p.m. France's prime minister is criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump's three-month immigration ban on refugees from Muslim countries as being useless in the fight against terrorism. Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Tuesday that Trump's decision "only aims at exacerbating tensions, creating potential conflicts" and "in the end, the greatest inefficiency regarding results in the fight against terrorism." Cazeneuve, who was interior minister in 2015 and 2016 when deadly terror attacks were carried out by Islamic extremists in France, said the government reinforced its counterterrorism law and boosted security forces while preserving "national unity" and the values of the country. He says the U.S. ban "is useless because it ostracizes some countries" and "makes it impossible to welcome people who are persecuted in their country and need protection from free nations." ___ 4:45 p.m. The Netherlands' firebrand anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders has clashed in Parliament with the Dutch foreign minister over U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban for people from seven Muslim nations. In a debate Tuesday, Wilders seen by many as a Dutch equivalent of Trump paid tribute to the new U.S. leader, saying, "Finally America has a president, finally a country in the West has a president, who not only lives up to his promises but who says 'the freedom of my citizens is more important than anything.'" Foreign Minister Bert Koenders hit back, saying, "If you want to fight terror, then the worst thing you can do is trample human rights." The Dutch government has updated its travel advisory for the U.S. to warn of the effects of Trump's new policy on Dutch citizens who have dual nationality with one of the seven nations affected. ___ 4.20 p.m. The leaders of Germany and Sweden are decrying the immigration restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump and both say they're seeking more clarity on how citizens will be affected. Chancellor Angela Merkel said that "the fight against terrorism does not justify such general action against particular countries and people of a particular faith." Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven called the move "counterproductive" and "totally unacceptable." The two leaders were speaking at a press conference in Stockholm Tuesday. Merkel also stressed Germany's commitment to the independence of the European Central Bank and trading "in fair competition with everyone else" on world markets. That came after Peter Navarro, who is to lead a new White House council on trade, was quoted in the Financial Times as saying that Germany is using a "grossly undervalued" euro to "exploit" the U.S. and its European partners. ___ 2:35 p.m. Iran's foreign minister has reiterated that Iran will no longer issue visas for Americans, describing the decision as a "counter-action" to Trump's executive order banning nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, from entering the United States. Mohammad Javad Zarif added that "if there is an exception, it will be reviewed through the mechanism which has been created in the Foreign Ministry." Zarif spoke to the "Khorasan daily" on Tuesday on the sidelines of a joint press conference with his visiting French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault. About 5 million tourists visit Iran each year, most of them coming from Iraq and other neighboring countries. Europeans have also been coming to Iran, but Americans represent far less than 1 percent of the total or about 50,000 and are subjected to rigorous background checks. Zarif first announced the reciprocal move by Tehran on Saturday, when Trump's visa restrictions took effect. At the time, he said Iran's ban will not be retroactive and that all Americans with already valid Iranian visas "will be gladly welcomed." ___ 10:35 a.m. Iran's oil minister says there is no ban on American companies working in Iran's oil industry. The semi-official ILNA news agency on Tuesday is quoting Bijan Zanganeh as saying: "American companies face no ban for entering our oil industry." However, Zanganeh said American companies "have not directly applied" to work in Iran's oil industry, so far. This is the first such remark by Iran after an executive order by U.S. president Donald Trump on Friday banned immigration and visa processing for Iranians alongside six other Muslim countries. In January, Iran's Oil Ministry published a list of 29 international companies qualified to bid for oil and gas projects following the lifting of sanctions under a landmark nuclear accord that went into effect last year.
By PTI
WASHINGTON: The White House has said it is studying details of an Iranian ballistic missile test. Press secretary Sean Spicer said he did not know the "exact nature" of the test and expected to have more information later.
A defense official yesterday said the missile test ended with a "failed" re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Iran is the subject of a United Nations Security Council resolution prohibiting tests of ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear warhead. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal, the UN ban was prolonged by eight years, although Iran has flaunted the restriction.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the US was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the US Security Council resolution.
"When actions are taken that violate or are inconsistent with the resolution, we will act to hold Iran accountable and urge other countries to do so as well," Toner said.
Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Iran for the missile test.
"No longer will Iran be given a pass for its repeated ballistic missile violations, continued support of terrorism, human rights abuses and other hostile activities that threaten international peace and security," Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said in a written statement.
Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, meanwhile, claimed a successful missile strike against a warship in the Red Sea belonging to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting alongside Yemen's internationally recognized government.
Video footage shown on the rebels' al-Masirah television yesterday shows a warship being hit and a fire on board starting as a man not shown in the video shouts the rebels' trademark chant of "Allahu akbar (God is greatest), death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam."
The media arm of the Shiite rebels, also known as the Houthis, said the vessel was believed to belong to the Saudi Arabian navy.
WASHINGTON: The White House has said it is studying details of an Iranian ballistic missile test. Press secretary Sean Spicer said he did not know the "exact nature" of the test and expected to have more information later. A defense official yesterday said the missile test ended with a "failed" re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. The official had no other details, including the type of missile. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. Iran is the subject of a United Nations Security Council resolution prohibiting tests of ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear warhead. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal, the UN ban was prolonged by eight years, although Iran has flaunted the restriction. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the US was looking into whether the ballistic missile test violates the US Security Council resolution. "When actions are taken that violate or are inconsistent with the resolution, we will act to hold Iran accountable and urge other countries to do so as well," Toner said. Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Iran for the missile test. "No longer will Iran be given a pass for its repeated ballistic missile violations, continued support of terrorism, human rights abuses and other hostile activities that threaten international peace and security," Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said in a written statement. Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, meanwhile, claimed a successful missile strike against a warship in the Red Sea belonging to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting alongside Yemen's internationally recognized government. Video footage shown on the rebels' al-Masirah television yesterday shows a warship being hit and a fire on board starting as a man not shown in the video shouts the rebels' trademark chant of "Allahu akbar (God is greatest), death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam." The media arm of the Shiite rebels, also known as the Houthis, said the vessel was believed to belong to the Saudi Arabian navy.
Express News Service
JAFFNA: The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka Tamil-majority Northern Province C.V.Wigneswaran has suggested that the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) explore the legal possibility of instituting its own independent war crimes accountability mechanism in the absence of an international judicial mechanism recommended by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in September 2015.
Wigneswaran said this on Monday while speaking at a function in Vattakandaal Tamil Mixed School in Mannar district, where 60 to 70 people including Principal V.Sundaramoorthy and teachers T.Mahendiran and S.Ratnadurai were gunned down by the Sri Lanka Army on January 30, 1985.
The Chief Minister asked the Leader of the Opposition in the NPC, Sinnadurai Thavarajah, who is also a lawyer, to look into the legal aspect of his proposal and report. The memorial function was organized by Thavarajah as his sisters husband was among those massacred in the school.
Thavarajah told Express later that he would look into the Chief Ministers proposal before making his recommendation.
Explaining the circumstances under which the Chief Minister made the suggestion, Thavarajah said it has been 32 years since the Vattakandaal massacre had taken place, but till date there is no inquiry and punishment for the army troops who had perpetrated the atrocity.
It has been two years since the UNHRC passed a resolution with Sri Lankas co-sponsorship, recommending a judicial war crimes accountability mechanism with the participation of international judges, prosecutors and investigators, but the Sri Lankan government has repeatedly ruled out international participation.
Thavarajah said that going by the lack of interest in pursuing cases such as the Vattakandaal school massacre case, there is little or no hope that an impartial accountability mechanism will be set up. Hence the demand for a Provincial Council initiative, he said.
Thavarajah said that he wanted to hold the memorial function on January 30, 2015 after the hawkish President Mahinda Rajapaksa was replaced by the more moderate Maithripala Sirisena in the January 8, 2015 Presidential election. But he could not. The plan to hold it in 2016 also had to be abandoned, this time because of his mothers demise.
JAFFNA: The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka Tamil-majority Northern Province C.V.Wigneswaran has suggested that the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) explore the legal possibility of instituting its own independent war crimes accountability mechanism in the absence of an international judicial mechanism recommended by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in September 2015. Wigneswaran said this on Monday while speaking at a function in Vattakandaal Tamil Mixed School in Mannar district, where 60 to 70 people including Principal V.Sundaramoorthy and teachers T.Mahendiran and S.Ratnadurai were gunned down by the Sri Lanka Army on January 30, 1985. The Chief Minister asked the Leader of the Opposition in the NPC, Sinnadurai Thavarajah, who is also a lawyer, to look into the legal aspect of his proposal and report. The memorial function was organized by Thavarajah as his sisters husband was among those massacred in the school. Thavarajah told Express later that he would look into the Chief Ministers proposal before making his recommendation. Explaining the circumstances under which the Chief Minister made the suggestion, Thavarajah said it has been 32 years since the Vattakandaal massacre had taken place, but till date there is no inquiry and punishment for the army troops who had perpetrated the atrocity. It has been two years since the UNHRC passed a resolution with Sri Lankas co-sponsorship, recommending a judicial war crimes accountability mechanism with the participation of international judges, prosecutors and investigators, but the Sri Lankan government has repeatedly ruled out international participation. Thavarajah said that going by the lack of interest in pursuing cases such as the Vattakandaal school massacre case, there is little or no hope that an impartial accountability mechanism will be set up. Hence the demand for a Provincial Council initiative, he said. Thavarajah said that he wanted to hold the memorial function on January 30, 2015 after the hawkish President Mahinda Rajapaksa was replaced by the more moderate Maithripala Sirisena in the January 8, 2015 Presidential election. But he could not. The plan to hold it in 2016 also had to be abandoned, this time because of his mothers demise.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has proposed amending a political party law to bar convicts from serving as party leaders (AFP Photo/) (CAMBODIA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY/AFP/File)
Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen on Tuesday threatened to seize the property of opposition leader Sam Rainsy and sell the party's headquarters if he wins a defamation case against the exiled politician.
The one-million-dollar lawsuit is the latest in a string of legal cases targeting Cambodian opposition leaders trying to break Hun Sen's 32-year grip on power.
Rights groups say the strongman is trying to keep his opponents under pressure ahead of local elections this year and a general election in 2018.
Hun Sen filed the latest defamation case against top foe Rainsy after he accused the premier of bribery in a speech several weeks ago.
"I am waiting for the verdict to be finalised. This time, I will take money...I am demanding $1,000,000," the premier said during a parliamentary session Tuesday.
"I heard the party's headquarters is registered under the name of Sam Rainsy, so the party's headquarters will be auctioned," he told the assembly, adding that the politician's personal property would also be "frozen... and sold".
The money would be used to build houses for handicapped people, he added.
Rainsy, who currently lives in France and faces several lawsuits, was sentenced to five years in prison in December over a post on his Facebook page, a conviction that makes his return from self-imposed exile unlikely.
On Tuesday Hun Sen also proposed amending a political party law to bar convicts from serving as party leaders -- a clear dig at Rainsy and his Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
The premier's ruling party also voted to strip the CNRP's acting head Kem Sokha of his title of minority leader.
Responding on Twitter, Rainsy sought to brand Hun Sen's threats as signs that he was "panicking" ahead of looming elections.
"Hun Sen can no longer appeal to electorate, so personally hounds me, as symbol of resistance to autocratic, corrupt power," he wrote.
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Hun Sen has amassed extensive control over Cambodia's government and economy during his three decades in power and has a history of ruthlessly undercutting his rivals.
He claims to have brought much needed peace and stability to a nation ravaged by civil war and the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.
But opposition groups have drawn growing support in recent years amid disillusionment with the endemic corruption and rights abuses that have flourished under his watch.
An investigation by Global Witness last year accused the premier and his relatives of carving a $200 million business empire out of the impoverished country's economy to buttress their political power.
The government dismissed the report but did not directly address the specific allegations detailed by researchers.
Rainsy's opposition party made huge gains in the 2013 elections and say they only lost because the vote was stolen -- a claim Hun Sen has vigorously rejected.
Assam mournsa the death of 3 prominent personalities
Guwahati, Jan 29 : : Assam mourned after the state on Sunday lost three prominent personalities.
(Posted on 29 January 2017, 1667655117 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/more-news.php (Posted on 29 January 2017, 1667655117 173O212O198O32)
The state has lost spiritual guru Arun Goswami, pioneer of Assamese mobile theater Ratan Lahkar and litterateur Kamakhya Sabhapandit.Arun Goswami, the founder of Krishnaguru Sewashram at Na-Satra near Sarthebari in lower Assams Barpeta district, who breathed his last on Sunday morning.Goswami is known as Krishnaguru among his followers in the ashram.Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his mourning on the demise of Krishnaguru Ishwar Arun Goswami.In a message Sonowal said that founded in the year 1974, Krishnaguru Sevashram ushered in a spiritual regeneration in Assam, North East, and the world as a whole.The spiritual leader set a fundamental moral ground for the advancement of the whole humanity. The Gurujona also played an emphatic role in unleashing intellectual values and integrating humanity as a whole through his teachings. Gurujona also played a great role in the development of education and hoped that the spiritual path shown by the Gurojona will help in setting a society based on high moral grounding, Sonowal said in his message.Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami also condoled the passing away of Krishnaguru and termed the demise as an irreparable loss to the society.On the other hand, former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also expressed his sadness on the demise of the spiritual guru and said that he was a great spiritual guru where large sections of society followed him, doing social service to humanity be it education and spiritual teachings and Assam has lost a great Guru.Assam governor Banwarilal Purohit, state minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora also expressed their mourning on the demise of Arun Goswami.On the other hand, the state lost a doyen of Assamese mobile theater Ratan Lahkar.The harbinger of Assamese mobile theater passed away on Sunday noon after prolonged illness leaving the people of the state in shock.Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal condoled the death of Ratan Lahkar, a doyen of mobile theatre who breathed his last on Sunday.In a message, Sonowal said that a theatre artiste, producer, director Ratan Lahkar rendered an exemplary role in the uplift of mobile theatre and used it as a tool to social change.Assuming an instrumental role in setting up of Kahinoor Theatre way back in 1976, his contributions towards the growth of mobile theatre will be remembered by everybody. Late Lahkar by staging Illiad, Odyssey, Ramayan, Mahabharat at Kohinoor Theatre, he gave a new twist to the world of mobile theatre. Late Ratan Lahkar also earned accolades from even the Hollywood for enacting Titanic on the stage. His death is bound to create a void in the cultural and intellectual arena of the State, Sonowal said.The Assam CM has also announced that the last rites of late Lahkar would be performed according full state honour.Sonowal even paid a visit to Rabindra Bhavan and offered his rich tributes to the mortal remains of Ratan Lahkar and expressed his sympathy with the bereaved family of Late Lahkar.Chief Ministers Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami also mourned the death of Ratan Lahkar and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and termed the death of Ratan Lahkar an irreparable loss to the cultural world of the State.Various organizations and individuals thronged his residence at Pathsala in Barpeta district to pay their last respect to the lifeless theatre personality.The state also lost renowned writer Kamakhya Sabhapandit on Sunday moring.(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)image:google maps
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Desperate elements have joined 'hands' with punctured 'wheels': BJP
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Jan. 30 : Coming down heavily on the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said desperate elements have joined hands with punctured wheels and are claiming to win 300 seats.
(Posted on 30 January 2017, 1667655119 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/karnataka-news.php (Posted on 30 January 2017, 1667655119 173O212O198O32)
BJP leader S. Prakash told ANI that the Congress used to earlier launch attacks on the Samajwadi Party Government but the narration has now changed."Just days before this development, Congress was making a scathing attack on Yadav's government. Posters and hoardings were put up against this government. Overnight, this narration was changed to pad up an alliance with the Samajwadi Party. Two desperate elements have joined hands and are claiming to win 300 seats," he said.Further criticising Rahul Gandhi's remark of branding 70 percent of Punjab's youth as drug addicts, Prakash said that repetitions of such claims by both the Congress vice-president and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paints a bad image of the youth of Punjab and unnecessarily bringing bad name to the Badals.In the first public appearance after the Samajwadi Party and Congress formalised the poll alliance, Gandhi and Akhilesh justified the tie-up.Declaring that their combined objective was to "defeat the fascist forces," respond to "politics of hate" and counter divisive ideology, the two leaders said that the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance would usher in a "storm of development".Both leaders resorted to symbolism to drive home their point.Gandhi said that he shared both a "personal and political relationship" with Akhilesh and their coming together was akin to the "meeting of the Ganga and Yamuna at the Sangam."Akhilesh, in turn, pronounced that they were "two wheels of the cycle."The leaders also released the joint campaign slogan: UP koh yeh saath pasand hai (UP relishes this alliance).Uttar Pradesh will be voting for a new state assembly in a seven-phase election between February 11 and March 8.Out of the 403 assembly seats, the Congress will be contesting in 105 seats and the Samajwadi Party will field its candidates in rest of the 298 seats.
Did you know Museumplein is also the biggest square in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has a number of special squares, each with its own character. One can find the best terraces and go for sparkling nightlife. Explore art and culture at Museumplein, dive into nightlife on Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein or stroll past the market stalls on Waterlooplein, Amsterdam offers something for all.
(Posted on 30 January 2017, 1667655120 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/world-news.php (Posted on 30 January 2017, 1667655120 173O212O198O32)
Dam SquareThis is probably the best known square in Amsterdam. Located around is the Royal Palace, which is a great tourist attraction. Take a look at how the royals used to live. Another must is Madame Tussauds, the world-famous wax statue museum. Several living statues can be found on the square itself. Take a picture with them for a few coins. The National Monument commemorating the victims of WWII is located on the other side of the Square. The National Commemorative Ceremony occurs on 4 May every year, remembering all the victims of WWII as well as those of wars around the world. The King and Queen place flowers and wreaths here together with other authorities and living relatives.{image_1}RembrandtpleinRembrandtplein is the place to go for cafs and clubs that is open until deep into the night. The Escape has been a byword in Amsterdam for years now but Caf de Kroon is also well worth a visit. Caf de Schiller with its Jugendstil interior takes one back to the roaring twenties.{image_2}Rembrandtplein was named after the famous painter Rembrandt. His statue has a prominent place in the center of the square. Around him, you will see the characters from his most famous work: The Nightwatch. Thorbeckeplein, which is a walk from Rembrandplein, is buzzing with more cafs.LeidsepleinThis square is located in the heart of Amsterdams nightlife. In the streets around the square, popular clubs like Jimmy Woo and De Kring are located. Visit the Stadsschouwburg or DeLaMar Theater. A stylish high tea afternoon can be enjoyed at Cafe Americain at Hotel Americain. Since its opening in 1902, Amsterdams Beau Monde has been visiting this ample space built and decorated in Art Deco style. There are countless hotels near Leidseplein. Spending the night here means you will be near the square as well as several great shopping streets and the popular Vondelpark.{image_3}MuseumpleinAs the name suggests, this square is well known for its many museums. Museums with ringing names, too: Rijksmuseum, Van Goghmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, they can all be found around this square. It is likely to make one think of a park: its biggest surface is given over to a field of grass where people have picnics in summer. It is equally attractive in winter, when the pond is transformed into an ice-skating rink. Ice skates are available on rent but it is just as nice to watch the skaters whilst enjoying a hot drink and typically Dutch poffertjes. {image_4}NieuwmarktThere is a lot to do on Nieuwmarkt. There is a market during the day and the many cafs ensure that there is plenty to do in the evening. Events are held here on a regular basis and in summer, there is an antiques and curiosity market in the weekends.Nieuwmarkt rubs shoulders with the Chinese district, where you on can enjoy lovely Chinese food in restaurants and go shopping, and the Lastage district with its canals and authentic little houses. There was a period in Holland in which Catholics were not allowed to openly practise their faith? They were allowed to gather in hidden churches, buildings that did not show on the outside that they were churches. Ons Lieve Heer op Solder is one of them. Today it is a museum well worth a visit if you are near Nieuwmarkt. Spending the night near Nieuwmarkt will keep you in the city center which is an excellent starting point for a great urban walk to visit beautiful squares and canals. It is also close to Amsterdams Central Station.www.notintown.net
Tokyo looking to strengthen ties with India through promotion of tourism
New Delhi , Jan. 30 : Representatives of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government organised 'Tokyo Wonderland', a media seminar conducted to promote Tokyo tourism in India.
(Posted on 30 January 2017, 1667655121 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-india-news.php (Posted on 30 January 2017, 1667655121 173O212O198O32)
A survey conducted last year showed that the number of tourists visiting Tokyo has increased significantly over the last decade. This is one of the key reasons for the Tokyo government to consider promoting tourism in India."India and Japan have always shared a healthy bond. With an increasing number of outbound travelers, we believe that it will be beneficial for us to promote tourism in India," said Ken Katayama, Deputy DG, Bureau of Industrial and Labour Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.The promotional activities are underway in several cities in India, with the intention of increasing the number of tourists prior to the Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled to take place in Tokyo in 2020. Several measures are being taken to implement facilities that will make transport and communication simpler for tourists. The Tokyo government is also working on providing business opportunities to Indian companies looking to expand their operations in Tokyo."We understand that language is a problem. To solve this, we are looking to set up more multi-lingual information centers across Tokyo. Additionally, we are also getting WiFi enabled in all important locations so that tourists can access important information at any time," said Masahiko Sakamoto, Senior Director Tourism Division, Bureau of Industrial and Labour Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Warning of dire food shortages in Horn of Africa, UN agricultural agency calls for urgent action
New York, Jan 30 : With only one-quarter of expected rainfall received in the Horn of Africa in the October-December period, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday called for an immediate response to prevent widespread drought conditions from becoming a catastrophe.
(Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655123 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/world-news.php (Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655123 173O212O198O32)
The magnitude of the situation calls for scaled up action and coordination at national and regional levels, FAO Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources, Maria Helena Semedo told a high-level panel on humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa chaired by the United Nations Secretary-General, Antnio Guterres, which was held yesterday on the side lines of the 30th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.This is, above all, a livelihoods and humanitarian emergency and the time to act is now. We cannot wait for a disaster like the famine in 2011, she added.FAO estimates that over 17 million people are currently in crisis and emergency food insecurity levels in member-countries of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), namely Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, which are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.Currently, close to 12 million people across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya are in need of food assistance. Much of Somalia, north-east and coastal Kenya, south-east of Ethiopia as well as the Afar region are still to recover from El Nio-induced drought of 2015/16 while South Sudan and Darfur region of Sudan are facing the protracted insecurity.Acute food shortage and malnutrition also remains to be a major concern in many parts of South Sudan, Sudan (west Darfur) and Ugandas Karamoja region.FAO warns that if response is not immediate and sufficient, the risks are massive and the costs high.For his part Guterres called for a stronger commitment to work together: We must express total solidarity with the people of Ethiopia on the looming drought, as a matter of justice.FAOs partnership to build resilience to shocks and crises in the Horn of Africa is critical and will increase, said FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa Bukar Tijani.Recently, FAO and IGAD agreed on some key steps to enhance collaboration in mitigating the severe drought currently affecting the countries in the Horn of Africa region and strengthening food security and resilience analysis.Photo: FAO/Simon MainaSource: www.justearthnews.com
Lubomir Zaoralek, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, addresses the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, September 27, 2014. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine/Files
By Robert Muller
PRAGUE (Reuters) - Hackers have breached dozens of email accounts at the Czech Foreign Ministry in an attack resembling one against the U.S. Democratic Party that the former Obama administration blamed on Russia, Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said on Tuesday.
He said he was told by experts the cyber-attacks were likely conducted by a foreign state. He said the ministry's internal communication system was not affected and no confidential material was compromised, though an extensive amount of data was stolen.
Zaoralek, whose email account was also hit, did not name any countries he thought may be responsible for the attack.
"When I discussed this with the best experts that we have here, they told me that the character of the attack was such that the attack was very sophisticated, that it must have been, according to them, conducted by some foreign state, from the outside," Zaoralek told a news conference.
"They also told me that the way the attack was done very much resembles the character of attacks against the system of the Democratic Party in the United States."
A government source told Reuters authorities suspect the attacks originated from Russia.
Zaoralek said the ministry had known since the beginning of January that hackers had breached its email, and added it was necessary to check whether other key government institutions have also been attacked, something he said was possible.
He said the ministry was not registering any further attacks at the moment.
The Czech Republic is a member of the U.S.-led NATO military alliance and of the European Union.
In October last year, Czech police detained Russian citizen Yevgeniy Nikulin, who has been indicted in the United State for hacking computers of social media companies. The U.S. and Russia have both requested his extradition. The state attorney office has yet to file its recommendations on the requests.
Obama administration officials said Russia engaged in cyber attacks during the U.S. presidential election campaign meant to tar the reputation of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and help Republican Donald Trump to victory. Russia denied this.
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Trump later acknowledged that Russia likely hacked the Democratic National Committee and the emails of top Democrats during the presidential election.
Russian officials have denied all accusations of manipulation and interference intended to sway the U.S. election outcome or weaken the European Union.
In December, Germany's domestic intelligence agency reported a striking increase in Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilising German society, and targeted cyber attacks against political parties.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she could not rule out Russia interfering in Germany's 2017 election through Internet attacks and misinformation campaigns.
(Additional reporting by Jan Lopatka; writing by Jason Hovet; editing by Mark Heinrich and Dominic Evans)
Budget 2017: President Mukherjee to address joint sitting of Parliament today
New Delhi , Jan. 31 : With the Annual Budget session of Parliament scheduled to start from today, President Pranab Mukherjee will address both the Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament House here.
(Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655127 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655127 173O212O198O32)
The Economic Survey will also be tabled later in the day and the Rail Budget will be presented with the General Budget this year on Wednesday.Apart from presentation of the general budget, 34 bills will be taken up for passing and consideration during the entire session. These include three ordinances which will be replaced through bills. The ordinances relate to Enemy Property, Payment of Wages and Specified Bank Notes.The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had recommended that the Budget session should commence on January 31 and the Union Budget be presented the next day so that the new financial provisions come into force from April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
PM Modi wishes NDRF on 12th Raising Day
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday wished the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on the ocassion of its 12th Raising Day.
(Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655130 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655130 173O212O198O32)
Modi tweeted: Greetings to @NDRFHQ team on their 12th Raising Day celebrations. NDRFs efforts in disaster response, rescue relief are commendable.He said: The @NDRFHQ is rightly focussing on strengthening systems, processes capacity building, which help in minimising loss of life or property.
Modi's Mann Ki Baat address on 'examination' converted to e-book
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday, where he spoke on examination, has been converted into an e-book.
(Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655130 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655130 173O212O198O32)
Last Sundays #MannKiBaat has been converted into an e-book, which can be read by students during this exam season, Modi tweeted.Get your e-book on tension-free exams personalised exam greetings. Dont forget to register. http://nm4.in/dnldapp #MannKiBaat, he said.
Arunachal University of Studies proposes establishment of multi-specialty hospital at first convocation
By Pradeep Kumar, Namsai (Arunachal Pradesh) Jan.31 : The Arunachal University of Studies (AUS), which has added 102 graduate and post graduates to the state's human resources pool this year, has also announced plans to set up a multi-specialty hospital and introduce degree courses in mass communication, nursing, education and medical education.
(Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655132 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655132 173O212O198O32)
Disclosing this during the university's first convocation, its Chancellor-cum-WEM Chairman Aswini Lochan said the AUS aims to steer local youth towards joining the national mainstream and expressed confidence about the institution's ability to carve a niche globally through its qualitative performances.Acting Vice Chancellor Professor V K Kawatra said that the ASU, set up under WEM, has pragmatic plans for expansion, including introducing a course in Buddhist studies from next year which would involve the participation of learned monks.A thunderous applause rent the air on Sunday after Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Rehabilitation Council of India member-secretary S K Srivastava and Bar Council of India executive committee chairman Apurba Kumar Sharma were conferred Doctorates in Literature (D Lit) or Causa Honoris degree in recognition of their invaluable contributions in various fields.Dr. Chowna Mein said the growth of human resources under the supervision of the World Education Mission (WEM) would help meet avowed objectives.He further stated that a skilled work force in large numbers was the need of the hour and suggested the introduction of new technologies in the agricultural sector."I have suggested the agriculture department to seek Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Black or Sticky rice like Bora, which is very famous in Thailand," he said.Dr. Mein sought a proposal for the establishment of a mobile agriculture laboratory for the speedy growth of state's huge agri-horticulture sector.Describing the students passing out as responsible citizens, Arunachal Pradesh's Education Minister Honchun Ngandam said, "You are free to decide what to do and to decide what will not be of benefit to GenNext and the nation. Earn quality education or else there is no scope in this competitive world. Life is a challenge; face it without making any excuse"."Invent yourself to 'help yourself' to be useful human beings least you are discarded by society," Ngandam said while citing the example of former American president Abraham Lincoln.He urged the students to prove themselves globally while helping Arunachal Pradesh to march ahead.Parliamentary secretaries Chou Tewa Mein and Chau Zingnu Namchoom, District Commissioner S K Sharma were the others present.
Budget Session: PM Modi appeals to political parties to uphold public interest
New Delhi , Jan. 31 : While appealing to the political parties to uphold people's interest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said productive and detailed discussion of budget should be done.
(Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655133 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/india-news.php (Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655133 173O212O198O32)
"We had discussions with parties, both individually and collectively. A productive and detailed discussion of budget should be done," Prime Minister Modi said while addressing the media ahead of the Budget Session."I expect all the parties will take forward the session by doing perfect discussion," he added.Outlining the session strategy, the Prime Minister said that discussion on the merger of the General and Railway Budget will also take place and its future benefits will be highlighted.Putting light on certain amendments, the Prime Minister said earlier the budget used to be presented in the evening at 5 p.m. but since the time of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the budget has been started to be presented right after the session begins."A new tradition is starting," he said.President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari earlier in the day addressed the Parliament.The duo stressed on the importance of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas.'President Mukherjee backed the government for its pro-poor-, pro-Dalit policies and enumerated the other policies taken by the Centre for the betterment of the women, farmer and youth.The Budget Session is to begin from tomorrow with the presentation of the general budget and 34 other bills which will be taken up for passing.
Trump may target tech companies work-visa programs
New Jersey [USA], Jan. 31 : U.S. President Donald Trump's next immigration policy-related focus is likely to be on work-visa programs that tech companies rely on to hire tens of thousands of workers every year.
(Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655133 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/world-news.php (Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655133 173O212O198O32)
According to a Bloomberg report, the executive order is still in draft form, but if enacted, it could mean major overhauls in the way tech giants like Apple, Microsoft and Amazon recruit their employees.As per the order, the companies will have to prioritize the hiring American workers and if they hire foreign workers, then, they must prioritize the most highly compensated."Our country's immigration policies should be designed and implemented to serve, first and foremost U.S. national interests," the draft states."Visa programs for foreign workers . should be administered in a manner that protects the civil rights of American workers and current lawful residents, and that prioritizes the protection of American workers - our forgotten working people - and the jobs they hold," the draft adds.Trump's order affects a number of visa programs, including H-1B, L-1, E-2, and B1. H-1B visas are commonly used by the tech companies to recruit high-skilled workers from overseas when they can't find domestic talent to fill positions.The new administration's proposed order would also create more transparency around visa programs by publishing statistics on who uses the programs within a month of the federal government's fiscal year.Trump's original executive order banned immigration from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia. Over the weekend, a number of tech companies, startups, and others in the industry voiced support for the American Civil Liberties Union and joined in the protests at New York and San Francisco airports in a show of solidarity with the United States' immigrant community.
UK food and drink trade mission looking for Indian partners
New Delhi , Jan.31 : The UK's Department for International Trade, is bringing in a strong delegation of UK food and drink companies to participate in the 10th India Food Forum, 31 January - 2 February, in Mumbai. The trade mission brings together seventeen of the most iconic and high-quality British brands to network with Indian businesses in Mumbai and Delhi.
(Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655135 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-india-news.php (Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655135 173O212O198O32)
While in Mumbai the delegation will participate in the inaugural Food Forum session - 'Food for Tomorrow', visit Nature's Basket for an Exhibition and Conference, meet Chef Ashish Bhasin and the purchasing team at Trident. They will also visit grocery store Hypercity, where a month-long placement of UK brands is taking place.In Delhi the UK delegation will meet Amit Lohani, Food & Drink Importers Association (FIFI), Pawan K. Agarwal, CEO, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and J.P Meena, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries. They will also attend a networking reception at the British High Commission featuring UK food, drink and music.St.John Gould, Director, Department for International Trade and Economics, said:"The UK and India are natural business partners. We have people to people links, history, strong economic ties, all lay the foundation for a mutual love of our food and drink. We are delighted to introduce some leading UK companies in this growing sector.The two countries have many things in common: one of these is a love of food. Just like India, the UK has a wide diversity in food and drink and many successful food and drink brands are present in India. In particular there is a growing appetite in India for UK's gourmet food and I am delighted to be hosting a reception for the visiting delegation. We hope you dip your McVities biscuits in your Twinnings tea. We know there is more you can discover."The delegation's visit builds on the vision of the two Prime Ministers' to broaden bilateral trade cooperation between the UK and India. The delegation is keen to make new contacts, explore business opportunities, build fruitful and long-lasting commercial partnerships and help introduce India to top quality UK nibbles and tipples.
Navy chief arrives in Port Blair on five-day visit
Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) , Jan.31 : Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS),accompanied by Mrs. Reena Lanba, President NWWA, arrived at Port Blair on their five day visit to Andaman and Nicobar Command today. He was received by Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command.
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After arrival at Port Blair, he called on the Lt.Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Professor Jagdish Mukhi.Subsequently during briefing at HQ ANC, he was updated on the operational preparedness of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. He reviewed the infrastructure development and future plans of ANC.Over the next four days, Admiral Lanba will be visiting the various outlying units of HQ ANC and interacting with the troops located there to get a first-hand overview of their preparedness and well-being.During the course of his visit, he would be visiting Air Force Station Car Nicobar (Carnic) where he will be paying his tributes to the martyrs at the Tsunami Memorial.He would also be visiting INS Baaz at Campbell Bay, INS Kardip at Kamorta Island and Naval Air Station (NAS) Shibpur apart from the various units and establishments located at Port Blair.
Shruti's birthday celebrations in Chennai
Mumbai, Jan 31 : Bringing in yet another promising year was none other than the pan India rockstar-actress Shruti Haasan.
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She celebrated her birthday over the weekend at her father Kamal Haasans house in Chennai and invited 15-20 of her good friends.Present ofcourse was her father, two of her childhood friends who flew in from London along with some friends from Bombay and ofcourse from Chennai including Tamil actors Tamannah Bhatia, Jiiva and Vishal along with director-choreographer-actor Prabhudeva whos Shruti has worked with before as well.{image_1}Shrutis looking forward to 2017 with all the exciting stuff she has lined up - across her film and music work. She brought in her birthday on the sets of her Telugu film opposite Pawan Kalyan where the team got her to cut a special cake on set.The year ahead should see 4 releases for Shruti across all three languages - Behen Hogi Teri in Hindi, Singham 3 opposite Suriya in Tamil, her fathers film Sabaash Naidu - which is a tri-lingual and Pawan Kalyans Telugu film.{image_2}Coming back to the party - It was a lovely, casual party at the house spanning a 3 course meal and an easy lounge music vibe. It was an intimate setting that allowed for people to mingle and spend time with the birthday gal.
Tata Motors hosts 'Small Commercial Vehicle Application Expo'
Mumbai, Jan 31 : Furthering initiatives for an enhanced customer purchase experience around its popular range of ACE Small Commercial Vehicles (SCV), Tata Motors recently hosted its 'Small Commercial Vehicle Application Expo' - 'Har Business ka Ace' in Mumbai, Jaipur, Udaipur, Bhubaneshwar, and Bikaner among the 44 cities where the Expo will take place.
(Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655138 173O212O198O32) https://www.newkerala.com/business-india-news.php (Posted on 31 January 2017, 1667655138 173O212O198O32)
At the Small Commercial Vehicle Application Expo Tata Motors will showcase a range of fully built applications on its popular ACE brand of mini-trucks, with 11 fully built last mile solutions, ranging from Steel Containers, Refrigerated Containers, Insulated Containers, Hoppers, Box Tippers, Water-Tankers and a Cafeteria-on-Wheels.Showcasing the versatility of the ACE brand, through this expo Tata Motors is targeting new and existing small commercial vehicle customers, giving them an opportunity to explore newer businesses and providing them employability options with ready for business vehicles. Tata Motors plans to reach out to customers across over 30 locations pan India, giving them an understanding of the advantages of a fully built vehicle, for commercial applications.Commenting on the occasion, R.T. Wasan Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Tata Motors said, At Tata Motors we understand our customers requirements and the launch of the SCV Application Expo, is yet another innovative example of addressing the emerging needs for a safer, more comfortable and a reliable commercial vehicle experience. As leaders in the fully-built commercial vehicle space, with the SCV Application Expo, we also hope to cut down on our customers wait time, by bringing our ready-to-use small commercial vehicles even more closer to them. Fully Built Vehicles provide for customized off the shelf solutions, with easy-to-operate equipment, also providing us at Tata Motors, with greater opportunities to engage with customers for a larger understanding of the benefits of a Tata Motors commercial vehicle. With application based offerings and added benefits of being backed by Tata Motors extensive service network, we are geared to provide our customers with a unique differentiator, for sustainable business models.The Ace range of small commercial vehicles offers superior safety, offers maximum performance in varied conditions, is comfortable and easy to maintain. The Ace range is customizable, for a varied business needs, right from catering to e-commerce delivery to upholding the Swachh Bharat vision for a cleaner India.
By Karen Freifeld and Arno Schuetze
NEW YORK/FRANKFURT, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank AG has agreed to pay $425 million to New York's banking regulator over a "mirror trading" scheme that moved $10 billion out of Russia between 2011 and 2015, the regulator said on Monday.
In addition, Britain's Financial Conduct Authority is about to penalize the bank roughly $200 million for the suspicious trades, a person familiar with the matter said.
The scheme involved clients buying stocks in Moscow in rubles and related parties selling the same stocks shortly thereafter through the bank's London branch, the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) said in a statement.
The trade of a Russian blue chip stock, typically valued at between $2 million to $3 million an order, was cleared through the bank's New York operations, with the sellers typically paid in U.S. dollars, the regulator found.
The regulator, which licenses and supervises the New York branch, found the bank conducted its business in an unsafe and unsound manner in violation of state banking law.
Though the trades appeared to have no legitimate economic purpose, Deutsche's deficient anti-money laundering controls and know-your-customer policies did not detect and stop the scheme for years, DFS superintendent Maria Vullo said.
Deutsche Bank said "it has been unable to identify the actual purpose behind this scheme," according to a consent order between the New York regulator and the bank. "It is obvious, though, that the scheme could have facilitated capital flight, tax evasion or other potentially illegal objectives."
In addition to the penalty, Deutsche is required to retain an independent monitor to review the bank's compliance programs.
A spokesperson for the Financial Conduct Authority declined to comment. The source on the FCA's expected penalty did not want to be identified because the terms were not public.
The New York regulator said it worked closely on the investigation with the FCA.
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Reuters reported on Monday that Deutsche Bank was poised to settle with British and U.S. authorities over the trades.
The U.S. Department of Justice, which also has been investigating the suspicious trades, is not party to the deal. A spokesman for the Justice Department declined to comment on the status of its probe.
Deutsche Bank disclosed last September that it had taken disciplinary measures against certain employees as part of an investigation of the trades and would continue to do so.
The bank also cut back on its investment banking activities in Russia last year.
Monday's consent order found Deutsche Bank's Moscow traders facilitated the scheme.
Deutsche Bank had set aside 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in provisions for the Russian case, people close to the matter have told Reuters.
A resolution on the mirror trades comes on the heels of a $7.2 billion agreement with the Justice Department for misleading investors in selling mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis. The two probes lift much of the uncertainty swirling around the bank over its exposure to fines and enforcement.
The bank is due to report fourth-quarter financial results on Thursday.
(Reporting By Karen Freifeld; additional reporting by Kirstin Ridley in London and Kathrin Jones in Frankfurt; Editing by Bernard Orr)
3 Newport County teams are one win from playing for a title
The playoffs are underway, and there are teams still alive, while others have been eliminated.
Champaign, IL (61820)
Today
Showers this morning then remaining overcast and windy during the afternoon hours. Morning high of 61F with temps falling to near 50. Winds SW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph..
Tonight
Clear skies. Low 42F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
It seems every high-profile tech executive has openly condemned President Donald Trumps executive order on immigration, which blocks citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for 90 days and indefinitely bars Syrian refugees.
Though Trump has yet to specify how he will change worker-visa programs for high-skilled immigrants, its a topic on the minds of leaders in the tech community. On Monday, Bloomberg obtained a copy of Trumps draft proposal that would upend the work-visa programs that many tech companies rely on for a bulk of their workforce.
Our countrys immigration policies should be designed and implemented to serve, first and foremost, the U.S. national interest. Visa programs for foreign workersshould be administered in a manner that protects the civil rights of American workers and current lawful residents, and that prioritizes the protection of American workers our forgotten working people and the jobs they hold, according to the draft proposal reviewed by Bloomberg.
We dont know when this measure will be made official, but the tentative plan should not come as a surprise given Trumps repeated rhetoric around the need to prioritize and protect American workers. Earlier this month, Trumps policy chief Stephen Miller suggested scrapping the current lottery process and instead soliciting visa petitions for jobs that pay the highest salaries.
This plan is a nod to a bipartisan bill first introduced to Congress in 2007 by Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin, which prioritizes American workers and restores fairness in visa programs for skilled foreign workers. The legislation, reintroduced last week, would get rid of the lottery system and crack down on outsourcing companies.
Vikram Desai & Donald Trump
Vikram Desai the vice president of Immigration Voice, a non-partisan advocacy group working toward alleviating the problems faced by legal high-skilled future Americans in the United States told Yahoo Finance he is optimistic that Trumps administration will help fix structural problems with the H-1B system.
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We welcome the steps the administration would take to reform the abused H-1B system, and are hopeful that the administration would focus on the abuse in the system so the system works in the best interest of American workers, genuine companies/employers, and, tax-paying law abiding legal skilled immigrants that have done everything right, he said.
In a seemingly counterintuitive stance, Desai, who himself is an H-1B visa holder, said the solution is not to give more employers H-1B visas, but to instead provide them with the tools and expediency to pursue lives in the US.
The primary concern for H-1B visa holders is how to navigate the path to permanent residency and eventually US citizenship, which currently seems unattainable. In the meantime, employees on the H-1B visa often cant ask for a raise, change jobs or travel freely without feeling anxious. H-1Bs are sponsored by employers and cannot be transferred from one employer to another. There are 1.5 million folks stuck in the backlog of trying to obtain permanent residency (i.e. a green card), according to Desai.
Currently, only 7% of the total number of green cards in the US can go to applications from a single nation. That means H-1B holders from countries with high demand like China, India and Mexico have to wait longer than other applicants for a green card.
Employers see this loophole H-1B visa holders are stickier employees theyll stay with your company in fear of losing their jobs. We believe that the current H-1B system needs a lot of reform and enforcement so that American workers dont get displaced, and legal immigrants dont get exploited, he said.
Desai said he and other leaders of Immigration Voice met with then-candidate Trump at an event in New Jersey last October. They urged him to raise awareness about how [high-skilled immigration] causes displacement of American workers and exploitation of legal immigrants.
Trump said his administration would fix these issues, according to Desai, who found the response encouraging.
Currently, the H-1B is a lottery with 65,000 open spots and 20,000 additional spots allocated to those with advanced degrees from US institutions. The visa lasts three years, though individuals can apply for an extension of an additional three years, for a total of six years. The visa allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations like scientists, doctors, engineers and computer programmers. Holders cannot remain in the US permanently and can only get additional extensions if their employer applies for their permanent residency (i.e. a green card) on their behalf.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Last week, California congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat who represents Silicon Valley, introduced The High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017, a new bill that to curbs H-1B visa outsourcing abuse. In light of companies like Disney (DIS), Southern California Edison and the University of California San Francisco being scrutinized for allegedly replacing American workers by outsourcing to companies with cheaper H-1B workers, she laid out guidelines on a market-based solution that gives priority to those companies willing to pay the most.
Though many outspoken tech executives have emphasized that diversity is fundamental to the countrys innovation and in building the next crop of entrepreneurs, the current H-1B visa program actually doesnt provide immigrants with one notion of the American dream building a business.
If we continue to bring these folks over, we have to give them rights. Simple rights like changing jobs or opening up a business, Desai said.
Its been depressing and infuriating that all of a sudden, in the last 48 hours, executives are speaking out about this ban, he added. For years weve been trying to reach out to our CEOs. We have folks that get stuck every day at airports trying to return to the US.
Organizations like Fwd.us, a group primarily founded and funded by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, including Facebooks (FB) Mark Zuckerberg, LinkedIns (LNKD) Reid Hoffman, and Microsoft (MSFT) founder Bill Gates, among others, are pushing for immigration reform, particularly in regards to high-skilled workers. Yahoo (YHOO) CEO Marissa Mayer is also listed as a contributor to the organization.
Its an indictment of Congress, not being able to do anything for two decades. This visa program existed before the worldwide web and its wildly prohibitive, Fwd.us president Todd Schulte told Yahoo Finance last year.
High-skilled immigration reform could be one area where there can be a bipartisan agreement. And an overhaul of the system could benefit H-1B visa holders in the long-term.
Melody Hahm is a writer at Yahoo Finance, covering entrepreneurship, technology and real estate. Read more from Melody here & follow her on Twitter @melodyhahm.
Otolaryngologists, also known as ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors, diagnose and treat ENT conditions and disease. Otolaryngologists also are known as head and neck surgeons.
Specialists in this field have training in both surgery and medicine. ENT doctors focus on a number of medical specialties and various sub-specialties. These include such disciplines as pediatrics, oncology, sinus disease, and surgery. Because of their range of capabilities, ENT surgeons might one day correct a childs tonsillitis and on the next day treat an adults larynx cancer.
Treatment Areas
Approximately 10% of North Americans are plagued by loss of hearing. Ear and hearing disorders are one of the focus areas of ENT physicians, who can diagnose and manage these conditions. These doctors are trained to diagnose, treat, and, if necessary, operate on conditions involving loss of hearing, noise in the ears, infections of the ear, as well as certain disorders entailing cranial nerves. These ear disorders are often present from birth.
One of the more frequent health issues in North America is common and often reoccurring sinusitis, which involves the inflammation of the nasal passages for an extended period of time often for up to three months. ENT doctors specialize in caring for the passages and sinuses. They may have to address allergies, polyps, and obstructions in the nasal area.
ENT physicians are experts in addressing throat, voice box, and food pipe disorders, including swallowing and voice issues. This is a pretty important sub-specialty considering that talking and consuming food is pretty basic to ones survival.
The ability to see, smell, and hear are based in the head and neck area of the body. ENT doctors best know how to treat conditions ranging from benign or cancerous tumors to infections and trauma that may occur in this area. They can carry out either cosmetic or reconstructive procedures.
Sub-Specialty Expertise
Allergies: Often treated by ENT doctors with medicines and allergy shots, they instruct patients to avoid mold, dust, pollen, and other irritants. The conditions treated include inflamed mucous membranes, sore throats, ear aches, an inflamed voice box, and loss of balance.
Facial surgery: ENT physicians can perform plastic and reconstructive procedures to correct face, neck, and ear abnormalities. They may perform face lifts, remove lesions and other growths, and correct cleft palates or deformities of the ear.
Head region: ENT specialists can operate on head and neck tumors, including tumors and other abnormalities found in the nose, throat, mouth, larynx, voice box and food pipe. A stuffy nose and anosmia can also be addressed.
Throat: ENT doctors can address swallowing disorders. They treat problems such as unusual voice changes, dysphagia (which can occur at different stages of the swallowing process), reflux disorders, and various infections and inflammations.
Ear: Otolaryngologists can treat ear nerve disorders that may impact ones balance as well as hearing ability. These conditions include swimmers ear, face and neck discomfort, vertigo and ringing.
Pediatric conditions: Children with special ENT issues, such as congenital head and neck conditions, sleep apnea, and those with delayed growth issues can be treated by ENT physicians. Breathing and airway problems, allergies, and sinus conditions can also be corrected.
Further Reading
What if doctors could look into a crystal ball and predict which of their patients might be at risk of getting sick enough to go to the emergency room? What if they could use that prediction to help patients get treatment more quickly, with less fear and uncertainty, and with a greater chance of returning home rather than being admitted to the hospital? For at least one group of patients, that's exactly what researchers at Penn Medicine are trying to do. But instead of peering into a crystal ball, they're attempting to harness the power of big data.
For this project, doctors and data miners are specifically focusing on lung cancer patients. By flagging things like recent lab tests, radiology visits, or patient-reported symptoms, Penn's team is hoping to come up with a formula that will predict when a patient is likely to end up visiting the emergency room. Right now, the formula can predict an estimated one out of every three ER visits, giving doctors the chance to take action before a patient gets to that point.
"Once we get the alert, we can call the patient ourselves," said Tracey Evans, MD, an associate professor of Clinical Medicine in Penn's Abramson Cancer Center and one of the doctors piloting the program. "We can schedule them for a visit to our clinic. We can recommend more frequent follow-ups or increase the steps they are taking for home care. All of this stems from big data, and the hope is it can help keep patients out of the emergency room."
The term big data gets used a lot these days, but even if you talk to the experts, it's tough to find a uniform definition. We recently took a stab at the question here, but the most important thing to realize is just how much information the term covers.
"I like the definition of big data that says: It is data that's so big, it makes you feel uncomfortable," said Jason Moore, PhD, director of Penn's Institute for Biomedical Informatics. "You see it, and you're paralyzed. So we need to help people see the data in a way they can process."
Just for starters, think of all of a person's social media posts - the articles they read and share, the photos, and the restaurant check-ins. Together, all of this information paints a picture of who they are. In this case, information contained in a patient's electronic medical record paints a picture of who they are as a patient and helps doctors understand how to treat them most effectively.
Once doctors can better predict which patients may need urgent treatment, they can either take preventative measures, or direct that patient away from the emergency room and into another facility. With this in mind, Penn recently launched the Oncology Evaluation Center, which now serves as a kind of urgent care facility specifically for cancer patients. Staffed with both oncologists and nurse practitioners, it gives patients the ability to see clinicians who are more attuned to their particular condition when they come in for common complications like infections, fevers, or pain management. The new center is embedded within the Abramson Cancer Center's regular clinics in the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, which also makes it easier to coordinate urgent care needs and regular treatment schedules.
"We hope to be able to help patients avoid being admitted to the hospital," Evans said. "But even in this case, when admission is required, it's controlled. This also keeps the patients with doctors they already know, which provides a more comfortable environment."
The new center can also be on the front lines once the data tells doctors that a patient could be at risk for an emergency room visit. Evans says even if those predictions aren't perfect, they can still be a tool to help doctors pick up on trends that might otherwise not stand out.
"Good doctoring is pattern recognition," Evans said. "So to have all of this data here and not use it is ridiculous. It may help us find better ways of doing things that we don't even know about yet."
Ironically, the problem with big data in the field of oncology is that it isn't actually big enough. So much of what we know about the symptoms cancer patients experience and the complications that could lead to an emergency room visit are tied up in physicians' notes. Even with electronic medical records, the notes themselves are all written in prose, which is hard for a computer to interpret for a project like this.
"There are gaps in our data because of free text data or narrative data," said Peter Gabriel, MD, MSE, chief oncology informatics officer in the Abramson Cancer Center. "It is very challenging for computers to process this kind of data and turn it into computable facts."
But even if computers could process this data, it still wouldn't paint the complete picture. One of the most important pieces of data in the case of predicting emergency room visits is to know which patients have gone to the ER and which symptoms prompted those visits.
"But what if you went to an ER at a different hospital than where you go for your cancer treatments?" Gabriel pointed out. "How would we know? It makes it challenging to get a complete set of data."
To fill in some of those holes, Penn recently entered into a partnership with Independence Blue Cross.
"By partnering with the insurer, we're hoping to close the gap on unknown ER visits," Gabriel said. "That should improve our predictive models for other patients."
Gabriel also says greater data sharing among medical institutions would be a great step for these kinds of predictions, something he says the National Cancer Institute is pushing for through the Cancer Moonshot Initiative.
Opioid use and abuse is a significant social, health and economic issue in Canada. Researchers at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) have discovered that an existing anti-gout medication is effective in reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms in opioid-dependent rodents. Their work is leading to the development of a clinical trial at the Calgary Pain Clinic.
Neuroscientist Tuan Trang, PhD and his team, including PhD student Nicole Burma, explored the underlying causes of opioid withdrawal and identified an important target in the spinal cord that is responsible for producing withdrawal symptoms in rats and mice. The target, called pannexin-1, is located throughout the body and importantly, in the brain and spinal cord. The study was published January 30 in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine.
Opioids are a potent class of drugs that are used to treat pain. Stopping opioid use can result in severe withdrawal symptoms - a key contributor to continued opioid use. Currently, there are few medications that ameliorate these symptoms. For their study, Trang and Burma looked specifically at two common opioid drugs: morphine and fentanyl.
"Opioid withdrawal is aversive, debilitating and can compel individuals to continue using the drug in order to prevent these symptoms," explains Trang, an assistant professor in the UCVM and the Cumming School of Medicine. "In our study, we effectively alleviated withdrawal symptoms in rodents, which could have important implications for patients that may wish to decrease or stop their use of these medications."
Prior to this study, the cellular mechanism of opioid withdrawal was not well understood, hampering the search for therapeutic avenues. Trang explains, "the focus of much of the research so far has been on neurons themselves. Our study looked at key immune cells in the nervous system - and specifically at the pannexin-1 channel on these immune cells, which is something that hasn't been explored before."
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The discovery represents a key shift in understanding how withdrawal occurs and it opens the door to treatments that could have tremendous therapeutic potential.
Once they identified the mechanism, the researchers were able to test an existing drug - in this case an anti-gout medication called probenecid that is known to have non-selective pannexin-1 blocking effects. The drug is Health Canada approved, is relatively inexpensive, and has few side effects. Importantly, the researchers were also able to demonstrate that the drug did not affect the ability of the opioid to relieve pain.
"This is an exciting study which reveals a new mechanism and a potential therapeutic target for managing opioid withdrawal, says renowned Canadian pain researcher Dr. Michael Salter, Chief of Research at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. "The findings of Dr. Trang and his team could have important implications for people on opioid therapy and those attempting to stop opioid use."
With such encouraging preclinical results, the researchers quickly started looking at how to translate this discovery to humans. They are already moving forward with Dr. Lori Montgomery and Dr. Chris Spanswick at the Calgary Pain Clinic to design a clinical trial.
"We now need to look to see if this works with patients as well as ensure safety," says Spanswick, Medical Leader of the Calgary Pain Program. "We are at the very early stages of organizing clinical research. It will be some time before this research gets off the ground and we look forward to continuing collaboration with the HBI on this and other areas of research."
"Opioids are the pharmacological cornerstone for treating chronic pain in a large variety of diseases," says Trang. "Understanding why opioid withdrawal occurs and how to alleviate it, is of critical importance in improving pain therapy and may have implications for substance abuse in opioid addicts. The potential impact is immense."
The wear and tear of life takes a cumulative toll on our bodies. Our organs gradually stiffen through fibrosis, which is a process that deposits tough collagen in our body tissue. Fibrosis happens little by little, each time we experience illness or injury. Eventually, this causes our health to decline.
"As we age, we typically accumulate more fibrosis and our organs become dysfunctional," says Denisa Wagner, PhD, the Edwin Cohn Professor of Pediatrics in the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine and a member of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Ironically, fibrosis can stem from our own immune system's attempt to defend us during injury, stress-related illness, environmental factors and even common infections.
But a Boston Children's team of scientists thinks preventative therapies could be on the horizon. A study by Wagner and her team, published recently by the Journal of Experimental Medicine, pinpoints a gene responsible for fibrosis and identifies some possible therapeutic solutions.
"We've documented in mice how deletion of a single gene, PAD4, has a drastic effect on curbing the complex process of fibrosis," says Kim Martinod, PhD, a former postdoctoral fellow and co-lead author on the study with Thilo Witsch, MD, and Luise Erpenbeck, MD, in Wagner's lab.
Their research indicates that an already-FDA-approved drug used by cystic fibrosis patients could shield our organs from fibrosis during acute events, like lung infection or heart attack. And looking to the future, they envision that the development of a once-daily pill, capable of inhibiting PAD4, could one day be used as a preventative measure.
PAD4's purpose
The PAD4 gene controls an enzyme of the same name. In times of infection or bodily stress, the PAD4 enzyme activates a strange, primitive immune defense that ends up doing more harm than good. White blood cells, called neutrophils, self-combust and eject their own DNA strands outward like javelins. Sacrificing themselves, the exploded neutrophils and their outreaching DNA tentacles form so-called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which nature perhaps intended to use as webs for catching foreign invaders and plugging up injury-related bleeding.
Even though NETs try to help us, they counteractively set off a chain reaction that deposits an insidious type of collagen amidst our organs' hard-working cells. This collagen-laced fibrosis keeps piling up each time our body's immune system releases NETs. Over a lifetime, cumulative fibrosis is a far more important factor in health than any possible benefits imparted by NET release.
"Suppressing PAD4 activity and therefore blocking NET formation over the course of someone's lifetime could potentially have dramatic effects on overall organ function, we hypothesized," says Wagner.
Wagner's team set out to demonstrate the relationship between PAD4, NET release, aging and organ fibrosis. They studied mice, which share very similar immune responses with humans.
Implicating PAD4 in age-related organ decline
Whereas young hearts in mice and humans contain thin layers of connective tissue, older hearts typically have too much connective collagen built up between heart muscle cells. This reduces the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently.
To investigate PAD4's effects on age-related cardiac fibrosis, Wagner's team compared heart tissue of normal mice with another group of mice that had the PAD4 gene deleted. They observed that old mice without PAD4 had much less fibrosis than the normal mice. In fact, these mice had heart tissue that looked strikingly similar to heart tissue of young mice, and they kept up remarkably "young" levels of systolic and diastolic heart function as they aged.
Wagner's team then looked at collagen deposition in mouse lungs. They found that deleting the PAD4 gene also significantly reduced lung fibrosis as mice aged.
The researchers believe these observations show that deleting the PAD4 gene in mice protected their organs from age-related fibrosis and dysfunction.
"If we could inhibit PAD4 or otherwise stop NET release in humans, we might be able to greatly reduce age-related fibrosis and improve our quality of life," says Wagner.
For starters, it turns out there's already a drug on the market that can degrade NETs after they've been released. It works by targeting the expelled strands of DNA that characterize NETs.
Preventing fibrosis
The DNA-destroying enzyme DNase has been developed into a drug used today by cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. CF makes the body's fluid secretions very thick, causing mucus accumulation and frequent lung infection. In the face of the ensuing infection, PAD4 activates prolific NET release in CF patients' lungs. Together with bacteria, this forms a gel-like layer of debris that further debilitates the lungs.
To combat this gel, CF patients turn to an inhalable drug form of DNase.
"NETs are easily targeted and destroyed by DNase in the lungs of CF patients," says Wagner. "So by extending DNase use to a much wider range of patients experiencing infectious illness or injury, we could potentially clear up NETs elsewhere in the body and prevent subsequent organ fibrosis."
Wagner's team tested this approach in an experimental model of mice with cardiac injury leading to heart failure, which activates the PAD4 enzyme and triggers NET release. Within one month, fibrosis and decline in heart function will typically follow.
Interestingly, mice that received DNase injections in the next few days after cardiac injury were protected from fibrosis nearly as well as mice that had their PAD4 gene deleted (and therefore never experienced NET release at all).
DNase might therefore be a powerful interventional therapy. It could potentially fight off accumulating organ fibrosis caused by a huge variety of infections or acute injuries.
To block NET release before it can even happen, Wagner and her team envision a PAD4 inhibitor drug that could stop neutrophils from being activated by the PAD4 enzyme.
"The development of orally-administered PAD4 inhibitors intended to be taken like baby aspirin could radically improve our quality of life as we age," Wagner speculates.
A new study, published on the cover of the scientific journal Biological Psychiatry and lead by Dr Carlos Saura from the Institut de Neurociencies (INc) at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), reveals a new molecular mechanism essential for associative memory encoding in the hippocampus. This brain region is highly affected pathologically at early stages of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimers disease.
Associative memory is necessary to relate and remember situations, places and people at long term. This new study shows that a protein called CRTC1, which regulates genes essential for neuron function, needs to be activated in the hippocampus so that associative memory can be processed and stored.
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In previous studies, the research group demonstrated that CRTC1 was disrupted in the brain of Alzheimers patients at early disease stages. Indeed, associative memory is one of the first cognitive abilities altered in dementia patients. The new study reveals that disruption of CRTC1 function also occurs while neurodegeneration is occurring.
To restore CRTC1 function, researchers used a gene therapy approach to introduce copies of this gene in a group of neurons in the hippocampus of a mouse model of neurodegeneration. Mice that have already memory deficits and neuropathology and treated with this gene-therapy approach were able to remember a negative experience that they had in the past. Mice that received an innocuous treatment did not remember the experience and they behaved normally. Carlos Saura explains that: "The relevance of this discovery is that activation of specific neurons of the hippocampus reverses memory loss even at late stages of neurodegeneration".
The study provides important knowledge on the molecular bases of memory processing in normal and pathological conditions, especially in memory disorders. "These results are exciting since provide strong support for potential translational applications in the clinic because this molecular mechanism could be a new target to reverse memory decline in dementia", said Dr Carlos Saura.
Source: http://www.uab.cat/web/newsroom/news-detail/new-research-points-to-potential-treatment-for-memory-loss-activating-a-protein-dysregulated-in-dementia--1345668003610.html?noticiaid=1345717951643
Urban Aeronautics/Tactical Robotics shows an Israeli-made flying car (Image: AP)
Urban Aeronautics/Tactical Robotics shows an Israeli-made flying car (Image: AP)
Spurred by technology advances and demand for transportation alternatives in increasingly congested cities, entrepreneurs around the globe are vying to become the first to develop a commercially viable "flying car." The designs vary greatly, and most aren't actually cars capable of driving on roads. Here are some examples:European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is working at its Silicon Valley research center on a driverless flying taxi that at first will have a pilot, but will later be autonomous. The vertical takeoff-landing, all-electric aircraft is a cockpit mounted on a sled and flanked by propellers in front and back. Airbus plans to test a prototype before the end of 2017, and to have the first Vahanas ready for production by 2020.Israeli tech firm Urban Aeronautics originally designed its people-carrying drone as an "air mule" for military use. It takes off vertically and has a standard helicopter engine, but no large main rotor. Its lift comes from two fans buried inside the fuselage. Two smaller ducted "fans" mounted in the rear provide forward movement. It can fly between buildings and below power lines, attain speeds up to 115 mph, stay aloft for an hour and carry up to 1,100 poundsGerman technology company Lilium Aviation is working on a two-seater aircraft that will take off vertically using 36 electric fan engines arrayed along its wings. The aircraft will hover and climb until the fans are turned backward slowly. After that, it flies forward like a plane using electric jet engines. The company has been flight-testing small scale models. The aircraft will have an estimated cruising speed of up to 190 mph and a range of 190 miles.The Slovakian company AeroMobil has developed a car with wings that unfold for flight. It uses regular gasoline and fits into standard parking spaces. It can also take off from airports or "any grass strip or paved surface just a few hundred meters long," according to the company's website. Driver and pilot licenses will be required.Chinese drone maker EHang has been flight-testing a person-carrying drone in Nevada. The vehicle is a cockpit with four arms equipped with rotors. Takeoff and landing targets are pre-programmed. A command station in China will be able to monitor and control the aircraft anywhere in the world, company officials say.Joby Aviation of Santa Cruz, California is developing a two-seat, all-electric plane with 12 tilt rotors arrayed along its wings and tail. The aircraft takes off and lands vertically and can achieve speeds up to 200 mph, according to the company's website.Terrafugia, based in Woburn, Massachusetts, began working a decade ago on a car folding wings that can fly or be driven on roads that's called the Transition. The company says it plans to begin production of the Transition in 2019. Terrafugia is also working on a "flying car" called the TF-X a car with folding arms and rotors for vertical takeoff and landing.This two-seater, electric multicopter from German company e-volo has 18-rotors and looks like a cross between a helicopter and a drone. It is controlled from the ground, eliminating the need for a pilot license.This Mountain View, California, aircraft developer bankrolled by Google co-founder Larry Page says on its webpage that it is working on a "revolutionary new form of transportation" at the "intersection of aerodynamics, advanced manufacturing and electric propulsion." Company officials declined to provide details about Zee's projects.
Toyota lost its crown as the world's top-selling automaker in 2016, company figures showed, with the Japanese giant overtaken by Volkswagen as the industry prepares for an uncertain trade environment under Donald Trump.
The German automaker moved back into the top spot despite being hit by a massive emissions cheating scandal that rocked its reputation.
The carmaker, once a paragon of German industry, was plunged into its deepest-ever crisis after it emerged in September 2015 that it installed emissions-cheating software in millions of diesel engines worldwide.
However, the crisis seemed to have little effect on the firm's standing with drivers as it announced this month that annual sales rose 3.8 percent in 2016. The results were boosted by strong performance in China which helped push total sales to 10.3 million, after slipping to 9.93 in 2015. VW group also includes the brands Audi, Porsche and Skoda.
Toyota said it sold 10.175 million vehicles worldwide last year, a 0.2 percent increase.
The annual figures come as the industry faces an uncertain outlook year with President Trump threatening punitive tariffs on imports into the United States in a bid to force them to manufacture and hire there.
Trump targeted Toyota in one his fiery tweets, criticising its ongoing project to build a new factory in Mexico and threatening it with painful tariffs. He has also pledged to review several trade deals that he says are detrimental to American workers. Japan's Kyodo News agency reported that Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday, ahead of the latter's scheduled summit next week with Trump.
Toyota said it could not comment on the report, while Japan's chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga would not confirm it. Toyota has problems in China, whereas VW is very strong in China and is using it as en engine of growth," said Hans Greimel, Asia editor for Automotive News.
"That's the difference that matters," he told AFP.
"They might be neck-and-neck right now but maybe long term you have to be a big player in China, and Toyota is still playing some catch-up there."
"In the US, another key market, Toyota has a big advantage over VW but it is running out of steam because it is not able to tap the boom there for SUVs as much as its rivals."
Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 to installing so-called "defeat devices" in 11 million vehicles worldwide, after their existence was revealed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The software caused engines to reduce emissions of harmful nitrogen oxide when they were undergoing regulators' tests. VW agreed this month to plead guilty to fraud and pay fines amounting to $4.3 billion in the United States to close its emissions cases with the Department of Justice.
Washington: A legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives which, among other things, calls for more than doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to $130,000, making it difficult for firms to use the programme to replace American employees with foreign workers, including from India.
- H-1B visas are intended for foreign nationals in "specialty" occupations that generally require higher education
- It includes, but is not limited to, scientists, engineers or computer programmers. The government awards 65,000 every year
- Indians receive nearly 70% of all H-1B visas issued worldwide
- In the American fiscal year 2015 (October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015), more than 110,000 H-1B visas were issued to Indian citizens.
- In 2016, there were 236,000 applications for just 65,000 available visas, which means only 27.5% of the applicants were lucky
- Industry estimates put the total number of Indian engineers on H-1B visas in the US at up to 350,000
- The H-1B visa program tends to be more critical to outsourcing firms than US tech firms. For instance, more than 60 percent of the US employees of Infosys are H-1B holders, and the company in its annual report has cited an increase in visa costs as among factors that could hurt its profitability
President Pranab Mukherjee addressing a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.
A pre-budget economic survey was also tabled during the session. On February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Union Budget his fourth budget and perhaps the most challenging one that may look to soften blow of currency ban with tax and other sops as he seeks to revive growth.
Today a new tradition will begin; Budget will be presented earlier and will incorporate Rail Budget, said PM Narendra Modi.
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Raipur: The activists in Dantewada district have alleged police have killed two local tribals, including a woman, after branding them as Naxals on Sunday.
The relatives of slain suspected Naxals claimed they were first abducted by police and later shot dead in the Jungles of Hirauli-Purangal when they were returning from Kirandul weekly market.
Both the victims were relatives.
On Sunday, police issued a statement claiming they received a tip off about the presence of Naxals in Hirauli-Purangal jungles and engaged the rebels which resulted in their death.
According to police, the slain Naxals were identified as Bhima Kudati alias Sukku, a deputy Commander of Gampud village and Sukmati Hemla, a member of Jan Milita.
Police also claimed that it recovered a 303 Rifle and huge cache of arms from encounter site.
On Monday, a post about the alleged encounter was shared on the social media by social activist Mangal Kunjam who claimed encounter was fake.
After the post was shared, a controversy kicked off and police claims of encounter came under scanner.
Superintendent of Police Dantewada, Kamlochan Kashyap, rejected the allegations and said, "The people who were trying to paint police encounter in negative shades and spreading rumours are actually Naxal supporters and enjoy links with Naxals and will be probed."
Earlier, the courts and NHRC have acknowledged widespread human rights violations and incidents of rapes in Bastar by police. Dantewada comes under Bastar division.
Notably, Bastar IG SRP Kalluri has been facing criticism from humans rights organisations for alleged attacks on rights activist and journalists by police.
The Economic Survey is often seen as a signpost to the Union Budget. One of the key take away from the Economic Survey 2017-18 is the mention of Universal Basic Income, a concept that has been in currency recently. The Survey document tabled in Parliament on Wednesday says that Universal Basic Income an alternative to plethora of state subsidies for poverty.
So can we expect a grand announce by finance minister Arun Jaitley in his Union Budget speech tomorrow on this mother of all social security schemes? Well, lets wait for a day more. In the meantime, News18s Tushar Dhara tells you all that you need to know about Universal Basic Income.
Q) What is a Basic Income?
A) Basic income is a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means test or work requirement.
Q) Why is it Universal?
A) The idea is that every citizen gets it and therefore it is universal. Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian said last year that the government is considering giving an unconditional cash transfer of about Rs 10,000-15,000 on an annual basis to each and every citizen in the country.
Q) Is it in cash, rather than in-kind?
A) Basic income is provided in cash, without any restriction as to the nature or timing of the consumption or investment it helps fund. In most cases, it supplements, rather than substitutes, existing in-kind transfers such as free education or basic health insurance.
Q) How would it work in India?
A) If implemented in India it could replace numerous poverty alleviation schemes such as Indira Awas Yojna, NREGA and PDS. On the other hand, the idea is that it supplements, rather than substitutes, existing in-kind transfers such as free education or basic health insurance.
Q) What is the rationale for it?
A) The changing nature of job creation with increasing automation leading to fewer jobs mean that in the next 20 years as much as 68% of existing jobs in the country will be under threat, hence the need for a guaranteed source of income.
Q) How much would a Universal Basic Income scheme cost in India?
A) This is where the details are not clear. Estimates peg the cost of providing a universal income to 1.3 billion Indians at around 10% of GDP. The government on the other hand could decide to give it to the poorest households, as identified by the Tendulkar Committee-defined poverty line or individuals with jan dhan accounts. Arvind Panagariya, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman, estimates that giving Rs 1,000 to 130 crore Indians would cost the exchequer Rs 15.6 lakh crore.
Q) Has it been tried out in India?
A) Yes. In 2011, In eight villages in Madhya Pradesh, every man, woman, and child was provided with a monthly payment of, initially, Rs 200 for each adult and Rs 100 for each child paid to the mother or guardian; these were later raised to 300 and 150 respectively. The two pilot projects were funded by UNICEF.
Q) What were the results?
A) Dr. Guy Standing of the School of Oriental and African Studies, who was involved with the project, has written that the results were positive. Nutrition increased and the better health outcomes led to increased school attendance. The basic income led to small scale investments by the recipients and reduced debt levels.
Q) So is it the right way to go?
A) There is still no consensus on the issue. Critics caution that any scheme that provides an unconditional guaranteed income to a section of the population (as may happen in India) without having to work will create resentment. Also, getting rid of subsidies in kind (food, healthcare, and schooling) may result in decreased outcomes in these areas.
Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday batted for setting aside of egos and holding talks to solve the problems plaguing Jammu and Kashmir.
"The people of Jammu and Kashmir were already upset due to some reasons and Burhan Wani's incident came as a trigger for the state-wide agitation. I feel Jammu and Kashmir should not be treated as an ego problem... You talk to people and territory will follow," Sinha said here at a presentation titled 'Kashmir, in search of solution'.
Talking to people from all sections is more important than portraying the issue as merely a "territorial" one, he said.
"Kashmiris have lost their faith with Indian state over a period of time. They have a feeling of betrayal from the Indian government, because of the use of pellet guns.
Did government use pellet guns at Marina beach in Tamil Nadu or during the strong agitation of Jat community in Haryana?" Sinha asked.
"Why was it used extensively in Kashmir? It is giving a wrong message to Kashmiri people," the former finance minister said.
"During my discussions with stakeholders in Kashmir, I I was also told that aggressive debates on some television channels have damaged image of the state in the country," he said.
"If you show an iota of sympathy to Kashmiris, you are labelled as an anti-national, I feel the Kashmiri youth is completely alienated from the Indian government. They don't believe in India. They are bitter and have lost fear of getting killed," he added.
Sinha said that during their meetings, many traders and people said that they don't mind incurring losses but they want a solution to the 70-year-old problem.
Wajahat Habibullah, former police commissioner and member of the concerned citizens' group said, "Earlier, intellectuals in major cities in Jammu and Kashmir expressed disappointment towards the government. This time, it is mainly from rural areas. Especially, after the killing of Wani."
City-based Observer Research Foundation organised the presentation in Mumbai.
The interest of our politicians is diametrically opposite to the interest of the nation. The interest of the politicians is to win next elections by hook or crook, he said.
People of the country have the right to know who are going to become the judges," he said, adding, prominent lawyers should be asked to put forward the questions to collegium.
: Former Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju has hit out at politicians once again, calling them the goondas who have neither the genuine love nor the patriotism towards the country.Speaking at a programme organised to commemorate the death anniversary of former editor of Asianet News, T N Gopakumar in Thiruvananthapuram, Katju said: Most of the politicians are a set of goondas Their aim is to grab power and make money, adding that the people were in the hands of hooligans and dacoits.Asianet news has also instituted an award in the name of Gopakumar, which was conferred upon Dr M R Rajagopal, chairman of Pallium India.Questioning the manner in which Indian politicians run the day-to-day affairs, Katju asked if the democracy was supposed to be run in this manner, where the merit of the candidate is not looked into but just his caste.Taking aim at politicians who repeatedly indulge in communal and caste politics, Katju lambasted them saying they appeal to caste and communal forces instead of destroying casteism and feudalism for the interest of the nation.Politicians are not allowing us to go forward because they have to win elections and they have to appeal to feudalism and casteism, he said.Shedding light on the state of the people of India, Katju said: The real condition in India is that there is massive poverty. 75 to 80 percent are living terrible lives of poverty.""There is massive unemployment and massive child malnourishment.Katju, who is famous for his forthright criticism of religion, politics and at times even judiciary on Facebook, rooted for televised proceedings of selection of judges for High Court and the apex court, saying it would ensure more transparency in the selection for higher judiciary.Taking a critical stand on the media ownership and its coverage, he said: Many of the media outlets have been taken over by big business houses They dont bother peoples welfare anymore.Describing how the media oscillates between the two principal parties, Congress and BJP, depending who is in power, he said: When the government changes, the media becomes pro-Congress; when there is a BJP government, the media becomes pro-BJP Media starts dancing to the tune of the central government.
#UPDATE: Nine workers dead after inhaling poisonous gas in a factory in Maharashtra's Latur last night. pic.twitter.com/k2vSEicpGC ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
Nine workers were killed after inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a tank at a factory in Maharashtra's Latur district, fire department officials said.Some workers fell unconscious while cleaning a tank at Kirti Oil Mills at Latur MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) on Monday night, they said.A few others climbed down into the tank to check on them but did not come out. They all died after inhaling poisonous gas, the officials added.A probe in the matter has been started.
New Delhi: A safety fund of Rs 20,000 crore for railways reeling under a series of deadly derailments, development of new lines, station redevelopment and setting up of Rail Development Authority and High Speed Rail Authority will be in focus as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presents the first Rail Budget subsumed in the General Budget on February 1.
Going ahead with the government's reform agenda, Jaitley will discard the 92-year-long tradition of presentation of a separate Rail Budget and instead make it part of the General Budget earmarking a few paragraphs on the public transporter's finance, projects and the road map for the next fiscal.
Jaitley is likely to give more focus on infrastructure development such as new lines, doubling, station redevelopment, safety upgradation.
Reeling under a series of derailments, the Budget is likely to announce creation of a separate safety fund of about Rs 1 lakh crore over the next five years out of which Rs 20,000 cr will be earmarked for 2017-18, according to sources.
Railways will also miss the operating ratio target of 92 per cent and is likely to settle at about 94-95 per cent. The Budget 2017-18 is likely to announce setting up of Rail Development Authority, a regulatory authority for the public transporter. The formation of High Speed Rail Authority with the selection of its managing Director and other directors is also likely to be announced.
The Budget will also give a fillip to non-fare revenue exercise and monetising assets like vacant land, estimated to be about 48,000 hectares including redevelopment of stations with private participation.
An ambitious project of increasing train speed upto 160-200 km per hour on major trunk routes will be announced which will involve fencing off the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai routes at an estimated cost of Rs 21,000 crore.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who had written to Jaitley seeking Rs 1.19 lakh cr as a special safety fund, finally succeeded in getting a nod from the Finance Ministry for creation of a separate fund for the badly needed safety upgradation of rail infrastructure.
While Rs 15,000 crore will be from the gross budgetary support, railways will have to generate Rs 5000 crore from internal generation. It is to be seen whether the Railways will generate it by levying a safety cess or manage through the internal surplus.
The target of operating ratio is at 92 per cent Railways, which is losing both passenger and freight volumes, witnessed its traffic receipts in April-December 2016 down to Rs 1.19 lakh as against Rs 1.34 lakh cr target, a negative growth of more than 11 per cent.
Despite the introduction of flexi-fare, the passenger revenue segment has also witnessed a fall in earnings by over 9 per cent as compared to the last year.
The plan outlay is likely to go up from Rs 1.21 lakh crore to about Rs 1.36 lakh cr in the next fiscal.
Railways have accelerated spending by over 28 per cent on infrastructure projects in the nine months of the current fiscal as against the corresponding period in the last fiscal.
Expenditure on projects like laying new tracks, doubling and electrification of network across the country during April-December 2016 has witnessed a significant jump touching Rs 68,059 crore mark as compared to the Rs 53,118 crore in the same period last fiscal, which was an increase of 28.1 per cent, according to the Railways data.
The budget will continue to focus on speedy electrification and laying of new tracks as part of capital expenditure plan.There will be no announcement of new trains.
The Demand for Grants with details of allocations for states and specific projects will be taken up on February 3.
"What was the necessity of road marches. There is a way to react. Tell the TN government that law and order is a primacy in civilised society. There has to be silence and obeisance to SC judgements," observed the court, while hearing a petition seeking a stay on new Tamil Nadu law on Jallikattu.
In a breather to the Tamil Nadu government, the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to put a stay on the new Jallikattu law framed by the state government.The court's refusal to rule on the new law immediately has paved the way for Jallikattu festivities across the state beginning tomorrow.The apex court also asked the state government to explain why the new law should not be struck down and sought reply to the same within six weeks.Taking view of the protests turning violent, the court expressed its displeasure over the issue and asked the state government to maintain law and order.The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Jan 23 unanimously passed an amendment bill that allowed Jallikattu to be conducted across the state.The Bill defines Jallikattu as an event involving bulls conducted with a view to following tradition and culture from January to May and it includes similar events like 'Manjuviratu', 'Vadamadu' and 'Erudhuvidum' festivals.In another measure, the state government issued a set of stringent guidelines including CCTV surveillance and medical examination of bulls to ensure safe conduct of Jallikattu.As per a circular sent to the district administrations and organisers of the bull-taming sport, the names of participants and bulls should be registered and a team of officials should monitor the events.
: A proposed new law that will effectively cut down the number of H-1B visa entrants into the US could actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise for India, a technology industry veteran told News18.Ashok Soota, former president of Wipro and Executive Chairman of Happiest Minds Technologies, said that more work will now move offshore as US is set to face a talent crunch in these specialized sectors.The effect will be two-fold: We will bring more of the work offshore, which is a long-term advantage for the Indian IT industry. Besides, it will drive Indian companies up in the value chain, because the kind of people who we send will be premium people, people who are consultants and highly experienced and skilled, he said.Soota, who has earlier been president of the Confederation of Indian Industry, points out there are an estimated one million jobs vacant in the US in the IT sector that American companies have not been able to fill. Unemployment rate in this sector is almost negligible.They need the skills, they need us. The net impact will drive up costs within the US, as they have a talent crunch, says Soota.Every year, there are about 65,000 H-1B visas that Indian techies seek out to work in the US. Currently, visa norms state that those who get H-1B visas earn at least $60,000 per year. But the doubling of this minimum salary requirement means that the number of people who go there will be lesser. The impact will be on Indian and American companies.And the potential effect of the H1B clampdown on business could probably lead to US firms weighing in on their government to not go ahead with the proposal.Secretary-General of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce Raju Bhatnagar points out US firms are already taking up cudgels against their government.We are seeing a face-off against the government, big companies like Google have even set up a $4 million fund to help migrants, Bhatnagar said.However, he cautioned that Indian IT companies may look to rework their economics around these challenges look at ways and means to bring down the on-site work and even move to other geographies.Companies do have projects from countries like Canada or UK, but the US is still 55 per cent of our revenue stream for most firms. We will re-set these equations, because, beyond a point, you cannot service clients at higher costs, he said. That could well mean, again, that US companies lose out on cost-effective work that Indian engineers do for them.Soota added that having higher salary requirements for H-1B visas will obviously mean that the flow of IT workers to the US will reduce as India won't be able to send that many people at the doubled salary benchmark.But I am an optimist. Every time there is a change in US policies, Indian companies, Indian businesses have adapted and have converted into an advantage, Soota said.This is perhaps why the IT lobby group National Association for Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) has advised some caution to the Trump administration before it changes visa norms.The Lofgren Bill provisions may... leave loopholes that will nullify the objective of saving American jobs..., said a Nasscom statement, also cautioning that the bill could have a ripple-effect on other industries like nursing, life sciences and engineering.In an interview with CNN News18, Nasscom president R Chandrashekhar pointed out that IT companies provide services that make corporate America more competitive and efficient, and thus help job creation in that country.There are more than one million unfilled jobs in the US, thats well-documented by the US Labour Department. If, in spite of all this data, some decisions are taken to restrict or constrict the movement of those skills for emotive or political reasons, either these jobs will remain unfilled or jobs will move out of the US. Both of which are not good as far as the US economy is concerned, he said.
January 29: #GigiHadid and #BellaHadid at the #NoBanNoWall march in New York City. A photo posted by Hadid News (@hadidnews) on Jan 29, 2017 at 3:21pm PST
Models and sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid took to the streets against US President Donald Trump's ban on entry of citizens from seven Muslim majority countries.The sisters, whose father Mohamed Hadid is Jordanian-American, Muslim and of Palestinian descent, were seen at the Battery Park shouting "No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here"When marching down a blocked off roadway, they held up a sign which read: "We are all Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists, Christians, Jews."Certain key letters from each denomination written in the protest sign were highlighted to spell out: "We are all humans."Bella flashed her tummy in a cream colored knit turtleneck which cropped above her pants. She donned a pair of skintight jeans and sneakers.Gigi sported a cropped pair of denim with a red stripe on the sides, completing her look with a red puffer jacket. They were joined by their mom Yolanda Hadid at the rally.It's not the first time Gigi has expressed her political views. Earlier, she voiced her support for a Women's March in Washington.
Chennai: Working on India's most anticipated film Baahubali: The Conclusion can be nerve-wracking, but for visual effects supervisor R.C Kamalakannan it can't be more satisfying as he's getting to learn and share.
"It is 15 months since taking over the reins of Baahubali: The Conclusion visual effects. It's amazing that almost all major VFX studios in our country are following one pipeline, working towards one common goal," Kamalakannan, who has also worked on films such as Magadheera and Puli, said in a statement.
He went on to add that work on the film's post-production is currently underway in 33 studios around the world.
"Life can't be more satisfying. This opportunity to learn and share means a lot," he said.
With the second part in the franchise slated for release on April 28, he added that everyone in the team is racing against time but towards a common goal.
Starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan and Sathyaraj, the S.S Rajamouli-directed magnum opus will release in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam, apart from being dubbed in other foreign languages at a later stage.
Mumbai: Actress Huma Qureshi says she has never played a character which is close to her personality.
"I am yet to play a character which is close to my persona but I enjoy that. As an actor, playing different roles that are quite opposite of your own personality is fun," Huma, who is sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar in her upcoming film Jolly LLB2, told IANS here on Monday.
Talking about her character in the black comedy, the actress said, "Pushpa Pandey is a girl from a middle class family who is fun, mad, has her own quirks and she keeps fighting with her husband Jolly, who is the 19th Assistant of a lawyer!"
When asked how is she in real life, she said: "Oh, I am so cluttered in my personal life. I am very inelegant who doesn't wear high-heels and a bookworm and movie buff. And I am very outspoken too." Huma said she is busy reading George Orwell's 1984.
Talking about Subhash Kapoor, the director of the film, she said, "He is a brilliant director who wrote the script in a very interesting way. The story has a seamless shift from comedy to poignant moments and that makes the story so special."
As the actress worked with Akshay for the first time, sharing her experience, Huma said: "It was great to work with Akshay as he is very disciplined and involved with the process of filmmaking. He does not go to his vanity when his scene is done, rather he interacts with all of us. In fact, I think we managed to finish shooting on schedule because of his discipline and dedication on the set."
Directed by Subhash Kapoor, Jolly LLB2, featuring Akshay Kumar, Huma Qureshi, Annu Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla, is releasing on February 10.
I have been here since 7 pm but I will not leave till I listen to Bhagwant Mann. I have seen his speeches on Youtube. This time, I will see him speak live.
AAP can credit the massive turnout at its rallies in the Malwa region, where it is hoping to create a Delhi-like wave, to supporters between the ages of 18 and 35. The youth vote in Punjab is 53 percent and could give the AAP a decisive edge in the polls.
A senior AAP leader said that Bhagwant Mann has emerged as the partys secret weapon to tap into the youth vote. The Sangrur MP has had a busy few weeks and has been holding 5-6 Malwa Inquilab rallies on a daily basis.
Its nearly 9 pm and over 20,000 people have gathered in a small park in Moga in the biting cold.Joginder (23) has come from his village, 15 km from the town, to listen to Aam Aadmi Party leader Bhagwant Mann but the Sangrur MP has not yet turned up.When Mann finally arrives, he is met with a roaring applause. He opens with a joke on how they should let him speak since the Speaker doesnt let him do so in Parliament.I am 23-years-old. I should have had a job by now but I am unemployed. The Akalis have not created any opportunities for people like me. Many people older than me wasted their lives because they got no jobs. I dont think Akalis and Congress can create any jobs, Joginder said.In addition to the drug crisis, unemployment is the other major concern facing young voters in Punjab. According to the 2011 Census, there were nearly 99 lakh unemployed people in Punjab. The 2015 Statistical Abstract of Punjab stated that in 2014, there were over 3.6 lakh job applications pending with employment exchanges in Punjab.Many feel that both issues are not mutually exclusive to each other. Ajay Kumar (27), who runs a tea shop in Moga, says, I am a graduate but never found a job. In the end, I was forced to open a tea shop. I was worried about my younger brother falling in bad company and developing a drug habit so I sent him away to Himachal Pradesh to study. He is 19 years old and will graduate soon. I lost my chance when I was young but at least my brother can come back to a job in his home state.In the Majha region, we are in a tough fight with the Congress but in Malwa, we have the chance to manage a Delhi-like sweep. Even we did not realize how popular Bhagwant had gotten on the ground. He starts at 9 am and addresses rallies till late in the night. He is particularly popular in Malwa. Since he is quite young himself, young voters can easily relate with his bursts of energy on the stage, the leader said.At his rallies, Mann has been attacking Congress and SAD leaders over their age. In Moga on Saturday, for instance, he said, Captain Amarinder Singh says that this is his last election. Captain Sahib, if this is your last election then you shouldnt fight at all. Enjoy your retirement and spend some time with your family. If someone says it is their last election then you should never vote for them because if they dont fulfill their promises, you cant even punish them in the next election.He also hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and said, After the age of 60, even government employees are told to retire because their judgment cant be trusted. If that is the case then can you trust the judgment of 90-year-old Badal senior? A young Punjab needs leaders who are invested in the future.After his rally, a bulk of his supporters stayed back to dance to AAPs election anthem Jhaadu waala button dabadeyo, Punjabiyon! (Choose the broom, Punjabis). The song is just one of the many ways in which the AAP is trying to ensure talk around itself is sustained till February 4, when the state goes to polls. In other parts of the state, volunteers have prepared street plays to act out the AAP manifesto. AAP slogans have also caught on in rural Malwa. The AAP, however, is the not the only party vying for the youth vote.Last month, Congress Chief Ministerial candidate Amarinder Singh launched the Har Ghar Captain campaign and vowed to give at least one job per household in Punjab. He also promised that an unemployment allowance of Rs 2,500 per month would be given to the youth in the first 100 days of his government and has vowed to set aside Rs 10,000 crores for the scheme. The challenge for AAPs campaign lies in wooing older voters who say they trust Captain Amarinder Singh because he is an old hand in Punjab politics.Lucky Gehlotra, a Ludhiana-based trader, said, I think AAP is making some good points in the campaign but there will be a lot of uncertainty with them. Arvind Kejriwal has a clean image and he is popular here but we have already seen the Congress and they are a steady ship. There is some level of trust with the Congress. Captain may not be a speaker like Bhagwant Mann but he knows how to run the state. In the end, I think the people will go with the established party rather than a new one.
Lucknow: When it all seemed well under control for Samajwadi Party president And UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, a serious threat to his leadership erupted yet again from within his own family.
Just a day after party veteran Mulayam singh, criticising the much celebrated SP-congress alliance and declaring not to campaign for it, it's now Akhilesh's uncle Shivpal, who has hit hard, declaring to form a new party immediately after the counting of votes for UP Polls.
Shivpal chose to speak his mind, just minutes after filling his nomination as a SP candidate from Jaswantnagar in Etawah. Political observers see a strong message in the timing of this threat.
The intent is clear, it's an open dare to Akhilesh: a party candidate and an important man from within the family rebelling against his own president.
The question now is that having escaped a split before polls, is the Samajwadi party headed for split post polls?
A leader close to Shivpal, willing not to be quoted, claims Shivpal's latest statement is not in isolation. It's a plan of a well considered script and that too with support of Mulayam Singh.
"There is a clear connect between what Mulayam said yesterday and Shivpal's declaration to form a new party," added the senior leader.
The fact that Both Shivpal and Mulayam chose to lie low, ever since Akhilesh won the battle in Election Commission, was part of the strategy.
The strategy is to project the 'battle against Akhilesh' not on grounds of a father versus the son or an uncle versus the nephew, but on more sensible political grounds of standing for party's interests, in the backdrop of its alliance with the Congress party.
While addressing his supporters, after filing his nomination in Etawah, Shivpal said: "First it was deliberate insult for Mulayam Singh, when he(Mulayam) was removed from the post of national president. Further, the alliance with the Congress has come as another setback to party's interests."
"Interests of several leaders and workers have been compromised with. We will form a new party after 11th March," said Shivpal.
Both Mulayam and Shivpal have begun the mobilisation from within and outside the party against Akhilesh Yadav.
A crucial part of their strategy is first to ensure defeat of the 'Congress-SP alliance' in the polls.
It will be easy to wage a war, with Samajwadi Party being in opposition. If the alliance fails to strike a right chord and get numbers, it will not be easy for Akhilesh to curb the rebellion by his own uncle.
Caught between the warring factions of the Samajwadi party, is the Congress. Its leaders are now concerned about the impact of Mulayam and Shivpal's move.
A senior leader, who is also Congress' candidate from a seat in West UP, said,"Mulayam and Shivpal's comments can be disastrous for the alliance. After all, it will strengthen the belief of a weak Samajwadi Party, which then may fail to be a catalyst for the crucial minority votebank."
However, Congress was quick to dismiss the threat. The Congress Party's UP spokesperson Amarnath Agarwal said: "Akhilesh and Rahul Gandhi have struck a perfect chord. It has been seen and well received by people of UP. Statements of some leaders can't impact the poll prospects of the alliance."
But amid claims and counter claims, the fact is that Akhilesh's road to political and electoral success is full of challenges.
Challenges not just from formidable 'Behenji' and an aggressive BJP under its President Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but from within his own family.
For those who stood quietly in long queues outside banks, this probably would be the moment of deliverance. Garibi Hatao 2.0. Especially in states like UP which witnessed some initial distress after note bandi due to low banking density. People here will get a chance to deliver their verdict on the issue sooner than the others, for the elections are just round the corner.
Two months after Narendra Modi government crossed the half-way mark of its five year mandate, Arun Jaitley will be presenting his fourth budget. Jaitleys speech on Wednesday will not only be watched closely in financial circuits, it will also be judged on its political quotient, coming as it does just after demonetisation and just before the five state assembly polls.That Union Budgets can fetch a few extra seats was shown by P Chidambaram in 2009 when he announced a loan waiver for farmers. This budget has been advanced by a month, and with due permission from the Election Commission, would be unveiled before the first vote is cast in Goa and Punjab this Sunday.The political implication of this years budget is not so much in regard to its advanced date. It is about huge expectations associated with it.Over the last three months, while defending demonetisation, BJP as the ruling party has presented the note ban as some sort of panacea which will rectify both social and economic distortions in society. Naturally, people would want the government to deliver. And deliver now, when the biggest policy statement of the government is unveiled.Note bandi is as much a monetary decision, as it is political. Its probably the most radical move by the BJP to pitchfork it from one side of the class divide to the other. In terms of perception, it aims to transform BJP to a poor mans party. It aims to overwhelm the very fundamental of Indian polity: caste faultlines.For that to happen, the gains for the poor must be tangible. Quite tangible. With many agencies predicting a slowdown - at least in the first few quarters - government will have to spur growth through public spending. Countervailing this with fiscal consolidation and curbing public borrowing to below 3 percent would be quite a task.
Kairana (Shamli): The so-called "Hindu exodus" from Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh, which had grabbed headlines, is a non-issue in the electoral battle here.
The real issue here is the widespread unemployment with candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party also fighting to secure their family turf.
In June last year, Kairana's BJP MP Hukum Singh claimed that 346 Hindu families had fled due to the building communal tensions.
The electorate in the constituency, in Shamli district, rejects the charge.
"Migration from villages and smaller towns to cities is an issue of national concern but if someone says that only Hindus are migrating from Kairana, I can't believe. I know even many Muslim families which have migrated from Muzaffarnagar to Kairana after the 2013 riots," Sanjeev Malik (33), a school teacher, told IANS.
"There might be one or two families who would have migrated from here but not due to the alleged threats and extortion by criminal elements belonging to a particular community as claimed by Hukum Singh," he added.
But Nirmal Singh, a Gurjar, contradicts him.
"Hindus here are in minority and they (Muslim) take advantage of it. Hindu families here feel insecure due to the criminal elements and left for safer places," Singh said.
The BJP has pitted Hukum Singh's daughter Mriganka Singh from the seat while the SP has fielded Nahid Hasan, son of former MP late Munawar Hasan, who died in a road accident.
Kairana will vote in the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh election on February 11.
The Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded Diwakar Kashyap while Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM has pitted M. Massiullah.
Singh represented Kairana in the state assembly seven times before he moved to the Lok Sabha in 2014. In the by-poll, Nahid Hasan won by defeating Hukum Singh's nephew Anil Chauhan.
After BJP gave ticket to Mriganka, Chauhan joined the Rashtriya Loka Dal (RLD) to make the contest triangular.
Md. Rasheed (22), a college student, told IANS: "Migration is not an election issue. Political parties brought up this issue for electoral benefits but it's not going to help them. Unfortunately no one talks of unemployment, education and health related issues."
Hukum Singh, however, told IANS that law and order was an election issue and migration was related to it.
"Security of people is an issue and I stand for them," Singh said, claiming that even a substantial numbers of Muslims would vote for his daughter.
"They need jobs. Lack of employment has made the youths drug addict. I am fighting for their cause. They see hope in me," he added.
Mriganka Singh told IANS: "I am a daughter of Kairana. A lot of work needs to be done as the aspiration of people increases by time."
Haji Mehraj (38), a mobile engineer, said: "Despite all the problems, people of Kairana will vote on religious lines. Hindus will vote for Mriganka Singh while Muslims will vote for Nahid Hasan.
"Ultimately, the electoral battle here is to save the dynasty," Mehraj said, referring the dominant Singh and Hasan families.
Meharban Ansari, who runs a betel shop at Chowk Bazar area, told IANS that the main fight will be between Hasan and Singh families but he can't say who will have the last laugh.
"RLD's Chauhan is leaving no stone unturned to defeat her sister Mriganka Singh. He will fetch some Jat and Gurjar votes. BSP's Kashyap will get Dalit and Kashyap votes. This equation can hurt the BJP. Even Muslim votes will be divided but to a lesser extant," Ansari said.
Kairana has around three lakh voters, with Muslims being in majority (around 43 per cent). The rest includes Gurjars (11 per cent), Jats (10), Kashyaps (11) Dalits (12) and Brahmins and others (3 per cent).
The Hasan and Singh families have dominated politics in the region for three decades.
Before joining politics, Hukum Singh took voluntary retirement from the Army as a Captain.
In 1974, he won his first election on Congress ticket. But he was defeated in 1977. He won the assembly elections of 1980 and 1985. After being defeated in three consecutive elections, Singh joined the BJP and won four elections continuously between 1996 and 2012.
In 2012, Singh defeated Munawar Hasan's brother Haji Anwar Hasan. Rivalry between the Hasan and Singh families is known to everyone in the area.
In 1996, Munnawar Hasan won the Lok Sabha election from Kairana. He has a unique records in his name.
In a very short span of time he became members of all the four houses --Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Uttar Pradesh Assembly and Uttar Pradesh Council.
His father Akhtar Hasan represented Kairana in Parliament in 1984. After the death of Munawar Hasan, his son Nahid Hasan is carrying forward the political legacy of the family.
(Adds European Commission, companies comment)
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Ecobat Technologies, the world's biggest lead recycler, Belgian rival Campine and France's Recylex are set to be fined by EU antitrust regulators next month for taking part in a cartel, two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.
Johnson Controls International will not be sanctioned as it alerted the European Commission about the cartel, the people said.
The EU competition enforcer in June 2015 charged five companies of fixing the prices of scrap lead-acid batteries in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands over a three-year period to 2012, resulting in lowered prices paid to scrap dealers. It did not name the companies.
The Commission subsequently dropped one company from the case, one of the people said.
Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso declined to comment. Ecobat had no immediate comment while Recylex and Johnson Controls said they could not comment on an ongoing investigation. Campine did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The recyclers buy scrap batteries, the bulk of them car batteries, extract the lead from them and re-use it to make new products. The case started with dawn raids by the Commission in 2012.
Companies can be penalised up to 10 percent of their global turnover for breaching EU antitrust rules.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee. Editing by Jane Merriman)
With the government set to present the Union Budget 2017-18 on February 1, some of the leading tech companies and IT manufacturers are bracing up for the implementation of the much anticipated Goods and Services Tax (GST), demanding that the excise duty structure should be rationalised.Read more: Asus Zenfone 3S Max With 5,000mAh Battery to Launch on February 7 "The IT industry has been seeking an extension of the excise duty differential benefit scheme to cover all the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) products including desktops, laptops, telecommunications equipment etc. This would mean a zero duty on all inputs for manufacturing of electronic components and parts," said Alok Ohrie, President and Managing Director, India Commercial, Dell-EMC.According to Rajiv Srivastava, Managing Director, HP Inc. India, IT manufacturers are bracing themselves for the GST implementation.Read more: Welcome BlackPods: Apple AirPods in Jet Black Colour "The government's objective should be to enable this transition from the current taxation system as smooth and orderly as possible -- both for itself and for businesses and consumers. It will be important to outline a roadmap for IT manufacturers for the implementation of the new GST policy well in time," Srivastava said in a statement.Read more: Asus Zenfone 3S Max Review: Looks Good, Houses a Stellar Battery According to Ohrie, expected budget benefits include import substitution, attracting component manufacturers to set up base in the country and the creation of numerous jobs in the IT sector."After Make in India and demonetisation, the next big disruption is GST. The government has to carefully take measures to remonetise the economy to return to high GDP growth while maintaining cost competitiveness," noted Vikas Agarwal, General Manager, OnePlus India.
Calls to boycott travel to the US as a show of protest against President Donald Trump's travel ban are growing louder, with the biggest appeals coming from some individuals in its closest neighbor: Canada.
Following Trump's wide sweeping ban on refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, American protesters have been filling up airports and marching outside US consulates to express their outrage.
But the ban is also spurring non-Americans to show their solidarity with those affected, including a growing movement north of the border where Canadians are placing self-imposed travel bans to the US, and where the country's biggest daily newspaper, The Toronto Star, published a commentary this week calling on fellow Canadians to do the same.
"...the reprehensible Trump travel ban demands a personal response. As an ordinary citizen there is something you can do," wrote Mark Bulgutch, a journalism professor at Ryerson University in Toronto and former journalist.
"You can tell the president that if he closes the door on people who don't deserve such callous treatment, we won't be using the door he has left open for us. We'll stop visiting the United States."
Over on Twitter, it seems other Canadians are two steps ahead of him, with some pledging to spend their time -- and more importantly money -- anywhere other than the US.
"Officially decided not to go to a conference in the US this summer. Might not step foot on US soil until 2021," tweeted Emmett McFarlane, a professor of political science at the University of Waterloo, along with newspaper columnist and author.
Another U of Waterloo professor Josh Neufield echoed the same sentiment.
"Difficult decision but I am boycotting all travel to the USA for four years under @POTUS. Apologies to seminar and conference organizers," he tweeted.
Trump's controversial ban has also had a ripple effect outside the travel industry, with some calling for the boycott of American-made goods and brands.
Coffee giant Starbucks has found itself in a difficult position as one of the most ubiquitous and easily identifiable US brands in the world: Trump's plan to build a wall between Mexico and the US prompted calls among Mexicans to boycott the coffee shop.
But Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has been a vocal opponent of Trump's policies and announced this week plans to hire 10,000 refugees to protest the ban.
Meanwhile, in retaliation against Trump's move, lawmakers in Iraq -- one of the seven countries that are banned -- voted Monday to ban US citizens from entering their country.
New York: New York and British authorities slapped nearly $630 million in fines on German banking giant Deutsche Bank over alleged money laundering in Russia, New York State's Department of Financial Services announced.
The scheme illegally moved $10 billion out of Russia, using so-called mirror trades among the bank's Moscow, London and New York offices, authorities said. The US Justice Department also is investigating the matter.
The fines were the latest development in the string of legal woes for the German banking giant, coming less than two weeks after the bank finalized a $7.2 billion settlement with the US Justice Department over its role in the 2008 global financial crisis.
The New York authorities said in a statement they were joined by Britain's Financial Conduct Authority in penalizing the bank after finding pervasive weaknesses in Deutsche Bank's internal safeguards for money laundering and client risk.
DFS fined the bank $425 million, while FCA's fine was 163 million pounds, or about USD 204 million.
"This Russian mirror-trading scheme occurred while the bank was on clear notice of serious and widespread compliance issues dating back a decade," DFS Superintendent Maria Vullo said in the statement.
Bank units tasked with legal compliance and preventing money laundering were understaffed and ineffective, the DFS said.
In "mirror" trades, clients would purchase stocks in rubles in Moscow while other clients who were related or even had the same owner would sell the same stock at the same price through the bank's London branch.
"By converting rubles into dollars through security trades that had no discernible economic purpose, the scheme was a means for bad actors within a financial institution to achieve improper ends while evading compliance with applicable laws," according to the legal document detailing the settlement with DFS.
In addition to paying the fines, Deutsche Bank also will be required to hire an outside monitor to review its internal compliance measures.
Brussels: US President Donald Trump and NATO both agree on the need for dialogue with Russia from a position of strength, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said.
Trump has badly rattled Europe with his softer line on Moscow and by calling into question Washington's near-70 year commitment to an alliance he dubbed "obsolete" and an unfair burden on the US taxpayer.
But Stoltenberg said that in recent phone conversations with Trump and US Defence Secretary James Mattis, "they all conveyed the same message that the United States remains committed to NATO and the transatlantic bond."
"The message of the new administration is that they also want dialogue with Russia but from a position of strength," Stoltenberg told reporters after talks with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
NATO leaders in July last year signed off on the alliance's biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War in response to Russia's intervention in Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea.
At the same time, they endorsed dialogue with "a more assertive" Russia so as to ensure transparency and to avoid any dangerous misunderstandings at a time of increased tensions.
Radev, seen as more sympathetic to Moscow than his predecessor, highlighted the fact that he had chosen NATO HQ for his first visit abroad since taking office.
"NATO remains an extremely important organisation to safeguard the allies ... we support NATO efforts to defend and deter and we believe that Bulgaria is part of these efforts," he said.
Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 along with several other former communist states once ruled by Moscow.
Radev, a former air force commander, who was partly US-trained and according to Stoltenberg served at NATO, said earlier this month he believed Trump offered hope of an improvement in relations with Russia.
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed a spat with Mexico over US President Donald Trump's proposed border wall Tuesday, saying the countries' relations were stronger than a "passing" row.
Netanyahu wrote on Twitter that Israel "will continue to have good relations" with Mexico.
"I believe our ties are stronger than any passing disagreement or misunderstanding," he added.
Mexico demanded an apology after Netanyahu tweeted last week in support of Trump's proposed wall spanning the Mexican border, saying a similar plan along Israel's southern frontier had been a success.
Netanyahu did not apologise, saying he did not comment on US-Mexico relations in the original tweet.
But he said he had a "long, fruitful and very friendly relationship" with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Israel's President Reuven Rivlin will speak with Pena Nieto on Tuesday, a source close to him said, as the two countries seek to calm the row.
Seattle: Washington state's attorney general Bob Ferguson said on Monday that he was suing President Donald Trump over his temporary ban on immigration from seven countries with majority-Muslim populations, making it the first state to announce a legal action against the Trump administration over one of its policies.
Trump's executive order also suspended the United States' entire refugee program and set off nationwide protests over the weekend, including one that drew 3,000 people to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
"If successful it would have the effect of invalidating the president's unlawful action nationwide," Attorney General Bob Ferguson said at a news conference.
Ferguson was one of 16 state attorneys general who released a statement Sunday calling Trump's immigration action "un-American and unlawful."
Trump has repeatedly said Friday's order suspending immigration for citizens of the seven countries for 90 days is aimed at protecting the nation against extremists looking to attack Americans and U.S. interests.
The lawsuit against Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and high-ranking Trump administration officials was filed in federal court in Seattle.
The complaint seeks to have key provisions of the executive order declared unconstitutional, Ferguson said. The state is also asking for a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the order.
"We are a country based on the rule of law, and in a courtroom it is not the loudest voice that prevails, it's the Constitution," Ferguson said. "At the end of the day, either you're abiding by the Constitution or you are not. And in our view, the president is not adhering to the Constitution when it comes to this executive action."
Declarations of support from Amazon and Expedia two Washington state-based businesses will be filed with the lawsuit, said Ferguson, who was joined at the news conference by Gov. Jay Inslee.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, also supports Ferguson's efforts, said Dominic Carr, general manager for public affairs. The company will be happy to testify more if needed, Carr said.
The complaint claims that Trump's actions are separating Washington families, harming thousands of state residents, damaging the state economy, hurting Washington-based companies "and undermining Washington's sovereign interest in remaining a welcoming place for immigrants and refugees," Ferguson said.
Inslee said the "inhumanity" of Trump's order is obvious.
"This is un-American, it is wrong, and it will not stand," Inslee said. "The clear intent of this executive order is to discriminate against one faith amongst all God's children."
Asked if he fears retaliation from the Trump administration, Inslee said "there's no predicting this president, but we will not yield, we will not be leveraged, we will not be threatened, we will not be intimidated."
Inslee said he learned the hard way over the years "you do not back down to bullies."
Ferguson said he has been in contact with other attorneys general but at this point Washington state was acting on its own regarding the legal action.
The Port of Seattle said over the weekend that people who were detained at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as a result of Trump's order have been released.
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal said Sunday that two individuals were released. One is a citizen of Sudan and the other a citizen of Yemen, both countries named in Trump's order.
Lynchburgs annual Great Decisions lecture series will this year cover topics ranging from Latin American politics to the future of Europe in the wake of Brexit.
The series sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lynchburg, the American Association of University Womens Lynchburg branch, the YWCA of Central Virginia and Lynchburg Public Library will be held every Thursday in February in the librarys Community Room. Light refreshments are served from 2:30 to 3 p.m. each week, followed by the presentation from 3 to 4 p.m.
David Richards, professor of international relations and political science at Lynchburg College, will open the series Feb. 2, discussing how Latin American politics are swinging rightward again, a development thats more due to socioeconomics than ideology, in Latin Americas Political Pendulum.
The rest of the series continues as follows:
Feb. 9: The Future of Europe, presented by Sweet Briar history professor John Ashbrook. He will cover the EUs uncertain future post-Brexit, touching on what Europe will look like especially in light of an increasingly aggressive Russia, and how U.S. foreign policy can adapt.
Feb. 16: Saudi Arabia in Transition, by Mitra Nafissian-Rash, senior program officer for Legacy International. She will discuss how Saudi Arabia is attempting to boldly transform itself and shift more power to the younger generation, while countries such as the U.S. point out the lack of democracy, womens rights and human rights.
Feb. 23: Conflict in the South China Sea, by Jeffrey Key, associate professor of international affairs at Sweet Briar College. He will focus on competing territorial claims to the South China Sea and how preventing tensions from boiling over is a matter of careful diplomacy.
If Lynchburg Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather on any of the dates, that days lecture will be canceled and rescheduled for March. For more information, call (434) 455-6300.
RICHMOND A sign brandished by a woman in the front row of a House of Delegates subcommittee meeting Tuesday exemplified the underlying disagreement between two ideologically opposite bills meeting disparate fates.
Abortion is healthcare, the sign read.
Women in pink pro-Planned Parenthood T-shirts packed one of the larger House of Delegates meeting rooms Tuesday morning opposing HB 2264, which they said is designed to dry Planned Parenthood health centers of state money causing them to close. Members of the same group lined up to testify in favor of HB 1563 carried by Del. Kaye Kory, D-Fairfax, intended to strike down a law requiring first-trimester abortion providers be regulated like hospitals. Kory and her backing of activists say the existing laws are meant to restrict abortion providers unfairly, causing them to close.
A succinct trio of religious advocates, The Family Foundation, the Virginia Catholic Conference and the Virginia Assembly for Independent Baptists, opposed Korys bill, saying existing law is meant to promote safety and health. They also supported HB 2264, carried by Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge.
On separate motions from Del. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg, the subcommittee killed Korys bill and passed Clines on to the full Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee.
While overall abortion rights are ultimately and have been determined by the U.S. Supreme Court, legislators and advocates can shift law and resources to encourage or discourage access to abortions.
In our view, abortion isnt health care because it ends lives instead of healing them. However, since abortion operates under the guise of health care in the commonwealth, we should ensure that it operates under the safest regulations provided, said Bill Re, associate director of the Virginia Catholic Conference, in speaking against Korys bill.
Facing a packed morning schedule for Health, Welfare and Institutions subcommittees and committee meeting Tuesday, subcommittee Chairman Richard P. Dickie Bell, R-Staunton, politely cut off those supporting Korys bill. When he asked those who supported HB 1563 to stand up a common time-saving measure when legislators hear what they consider duplicative testimony most of the people in the room rose.
Dr. Serina Floyd, medical director at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., spoke in favor of abortion rights in hearings for both bills. The restrictions Korys bill would have removed are a sham, Floyd said, and only designed to squash abortion services.
Closing safe, high-quality health care clinics in our communities will not end the need for abortion, Floyd said. What it does is makes it increasingly difficult and sometimes impossible for a woman who has decided to end her pregnancy to get the safe, quality, constitutionally protected abortion care she needs. What it does is it forces women to take matters into their own hands.
Abortions rights proponents made a similar argument against Clines HB 2264. Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed the legislation last year as carried by Cline and will do so again, according to a spokesman.
Despite protests, Cline couched the bill as meant to allocate tax dollars efficiently.
It simply ensures that the money that our taxpayers send to the commonwealth is used in the most efficient way possible, directed to health clinics that meet the needs of those populations they serve in the most comprehensive manner possible, Cline said.
RICHMOND Rep. Tom Garrett, R-5th District, joined many fellow Republicans on Monday in backing President Donald Trumps immigration order, although he lightly criticized the administrations roll-out.
Garrett, a freshman Homeland Security Committee member, said he learned through news reports about Trumps Friday order to ban citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days. The order also suspends refugee admissions into the country for 120 days.
It was a complete messaging failure by the administration in how they put it out, Garrett said in a phone interview Monday evening. Once we figured out what happened it wasnt nearly as the sky is falling as some would have us believe.
The Friday announcement sparked demonstrations by Democrats, pro-immigration advocates and attorneys, including a protest at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, D.C. While many people protested the order as a whole, of particular concern were green card holders, who were detained for hours after trying to re-enter the country, according to numerous media reports.
Anyone who has a legal right to be in the United States, including green card holders, only should be detained if there is a reason to believe they as an individual have committed or may commit a crime, Garrett said.
I think it happened because of the inartful dissemination of the intention of the order, Garrett said. The left overreacted, he said.
Garrett fully supports the order he and other Republicans have called a pause.
ISIS has indicated its wishes to use the refugee system to infiltrate western nations. Our office has received information to substantiate these claims, Garrett said in a statement. With this in mind, a temporary pause for further review of the program only serves to fulfill the United States governments first responsibility to protect its citizens.
When asked in June on the congressional campaign trail about Trumps previous call for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the country, Garrett said he wouldnt support a religious test but supported one from countries with an active Muslim war-making effort.
This order, he said, is not a religious test but one based on nationality.
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th District, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which oversees immigration policy, was not consulted ahead of the orders roll-out, according to a Goodlatte aide. A Goodlatte spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.
Its sensible to hit pause on admitting foreign nationals and refugees from countries where adequate screening cannot occur, and its long past time for the completion of the Entry-Exit system in order to crack down on those who overstay their visas, Goodlatte said in a statement Friday.
Both congressmen serving the Lynchburg area are in position to contribute to the discussion following the quickly implemented suspension order.
In a statement emailed from a spokeswoman Monday, Goodlatte said he looks forward to working with Trump to take legislative action in Congress to further enhance border security.
The Homeland Security Committee has not met yet since the order went out but will later this week, Garrett said.
I expect it will be a very busy meeting, he said in the interview.
Update: Lynchburg firefighters responded to a house fire Monday afternoon that blew smoke down Warren Avenue carried by gusty winds, but they said two residents were able to evacuate safely.
Officials on scene said a 911 call regarding a blaze at 306 Warren Ave. came in at about 12:54 p.m. When Capt. Kenny Turner, of the Lynchburg Fire Department, arrived at the scene from Station 3 about three minutes later, he said there was heavy fire showing from 3 sides. The two residents were alerted by a smoke alarm and self-evacuated before firefighters responded, he said.
We were able to stop it to one half of the house, he said. Weve got smoke damage and heavy smoke damage in 50 percent of the house.
He said a live wire running from the house to an electrical pole posed a challenge to fighting the blaze from the front, on top of the large volume of fire inside.
Kristina Marshall lives at the house that was downwind from the blaze and said she started to fear it would spread with the wind. At first, she said she thought the smoke might be dirt kicked up by the wind.
Ive seen their dog out a couple of times, but I dont really know them, she said of the residents. Im just so thankful that they got their pets out and that theyre safe.
Officials at the scene at the time said the Red Cross was working with the residents.
Earlier: Lynchburg firefighters responded to a house fire at 306 Warren Avenue just before 1 p.m. Monday.
Officials on scene said two residents escaped the home before firefighters arrived.
Crews had the fire mostly extinguished by around 1:20 p.m.
This has been a breaking news update.
Charles Darwins 1835 trip to the Galapagos Islands laid the groundwork for his theory of natural selection. Nearly two centuries later, science buffs can follow in his footsteps on a Galapagos Cruise with Richard Dawkins. Planned by Quasar Expeditions, the week-long excursions (scheduled for December 2017) will introduce guests to the wonders of the archipelago, a collection of 13 major isles located around 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Fringed by the cerulean blue ocean and teeming with a wealth of wildlife species and exotic plants, the islands have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Each day, Richard Dawkinsa respected evolutionist in his own rightand several Quasar naturalist guides will lead philomaths on tours of the archipelago, pointing out the flora and fauna and answering any questions along the way. As they explore the major isles, guests will glimpse giant tortoises, iguanas, sea lions, and other native species. Snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking to picturesque lagoons and bays are also part of the itinerary.
The tour kicks off at Daphne Major, a volcanic island that is home to blue-footed boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, short-eared owls, and other indigenous birds. The expedition will then migrate to Isabela and Fernandina, where guests can snorkel to their hearts content and spot colorful fish, penguins, flightless cormorants, and turtles. While visiting Bartolome (which is famous for its jutted Pinnacle Rock), adventurers will hike to a summit that overlooks Santiago and Sullivan Bay and swim with sea lions. Santa Cruzhome to sandy white beaches, salt water lagoons, pink flamingos, blue herons, and endemic Scalesia treesis next on the list. On the last leg of the trip, travelers will hike on Espanola and admire a massive rock formation on San Cristobal Island.
Each night, guests will retire to the fittingly named M/V Evolution, a 192-foot yacht with room for up to 32 passengers. Outfitted with a bar, library, and hot tub as well as snorkeling gear and kayaks, the yacht will be a welcome refuge after an action-packed day of exploration. In addition to breakfast and lunch buffets, guests will be treated to sit-down dinners each evening. A nightly cocktail hour provides plenty of time to mingle and try an array of fine Chilean and Argentinean wines.
The $9,400 per person price tag includes accommodations and transfers, guided tours and excursions, full meals aboard the yacht, domestic flights, wetsuits, kayaks, and snorkeling gear. (quasarex.com)
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With her 14-year-old son Dante Herrera bundled up in his wheelchair next to her, Marlo Dean asked a couple of hundred people to put their fists in the air as they protested an 11,000-person waiting list for disability services.
What do we do? Dean asked the crowd gathered outside the Virginia Capitol in the cold morning air on Tuesday.
We fight, they said in reply.
We fight to have what? Dean said to cheers. A life like yours.
Dean was among a long line of parents, advocates and lawmakers who implored the crowd to keep fighting for services for people with disabilities. Herrera, who has Batten disease, a rare and fatal brain disease, has been on the waiting list since he was 3 years old, Dean said.
The government should be helping people that have problems, that have challenges, that have difficulties, said Del. Timothy D. Hugo, R-Fairfax. Were all Gods children and government has an obligation and a necessity to step up and try to help everybody, to make sure everybody can live life to the best of their capabilities.
Virginia has for far too long relied on institutionalized care for people with disabilities, said Jamie Liban, executive director of the Arc of Virginia, an advocacy organization.
Even after the federal government required the state to provide care in the least restrictive settings possible at home, if possible, rather than in institutions the waiting list for services has been growing. Advocates have urged the state to spend more money on disability waivers, or slots, which provide a variety of services to families in need, such as respite care or home modifications.
Caroline Conner, 7, has been waiting for a waiver slot to get adaptations in her home, additional nursing, a case manager and extra therapy to keep her muscles from stiffening in certain positions, her mother Marta Conner told the crowd. Caroline has Rett Syndrome, a brain disorder that makes it impossible for her to walk, talk, sit without assistance or use her hands.
Marta Conner said her daughter wears diapers and her food is pureed. She had 85 seizures last year.
Caroline has a lower level waiver that pays for respiratory equipment, but a more intensive waiver would improve the length and quality of Carolines life and also allow us to continue to care for her in our home, Marta Conner said.
Sen. Barbara A. Favola, D-Arlington, said its shameful that the waiting list is so long, and she vowed to reduce it.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, a pediatric neurologist in Norfolk, said 70 percent of the children he cares for have disabilities. He said they should have the same educational opportunities as other students in school, and they should be educated in the least restrictive environments possible.
Adults with disabilities should have the same opportunities for employment and access to affordable housing, he said, as he put in a plug for his run for governor.
I can tell you as the next governor of the commonwealth of Virginia, Im going to stand up for all of you with disabilities, Northam said. I will be your friend, and I hope you will be my friend.
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine on Monday told students in Roanoke that he doesnt care whether its called replace, repair or reform, just as long as something immediately follows repeal of the Affordable Care Act and offers access to all.
Kaine, a Democrat, was recently appointed to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and has been traveling Virginia to gather views of people who work in health care. On Monday, he toured labs at Jefferson College of Health Sciences and then met with a packed room of students to talk about the future of health care.
The thing we are most engaged with right now in Congress is a battle about whether the Affordable Care Act will be repealed or whether it will be fixed. That is a massive debate. And the answer to that debate is going to shape all of your careers, Kaine said.
He views his first task as convincing his Senate colleagues of the danger in repealing the Affordable Care Act without an immediate replacement.
Basically, that was a jump-off-the-cliff-and-figure-out-how-to-land-in-midair plan, he said. In Congress, we shouldnt be creating uncertainty sadly we do that pretty well. We should try to create more certainty.
Repeal without replacement would affect 30 million Americans, disrupt the insurance and health care industries and negatively affect the economy, Kaine said.
Since passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and throughout former President Barack Obamas terms, congressional Republicans repeatedly attempted to repeal it. Now with President Donald Trump also calling for quick repeal, the GOP is tasked with designing a replacement plan, but there appears to be little agreement.
Republicans met last week for a retreat in Philadelphia, and a tape leaked to news outlets showed members unsure how to replace the act without clear direction from Trump, who has said no one will lose coverage or pay more.
Folks are saying the replacement plans will not make us worse off. They will hopefully maintain coverage and make us better, Kaine said. Well have to put any plan they propose under a microscope to see if that is the case.
Kaine said his idea is to bring patients, providers, insurers and hospital leaders to the table and have them propose changes that would make the Affordable Care Act better.
Students offered a couple of suggestions.
One said she found purchasing a plan through the marketplace exchanges to be arduous. I personally struggle and I have a lot of education. I can only guess how the marginalized population does, she said.
The exchanges offer a way for people without workplace insurance to purchase plans; most qualify for government subsidies to help pay the premiums.
But students without jobs or with low-paying ones cant take advantage of the exchanges because their income is too low.
Many students are still covered under their parents plans, as the Affordable Care Act made it possible for young adults to stay on the plans through age 25.
The ACA has been fantastic for coverage under our parents, said Mia McDonald, a second-year physician assistant student and president of the PA Class of 2017.
But with many health care professions requiring masters and doctorate degrees, students are aging out of their parents plans before graduation.
We have a very rigorous program, so many of us cant work. We dont qualify for the marketplace, she said.
Kaine said one of his sons will face that situation next year. Kaine said he also knows what it is like to be turned down for insurance. After he left the governors office, he had to buy private insurance for his family and found that a pre-existing condition made it hard to find a plan to cover all of them.
While attention is focused on redesigning a health care system, Kaine asked the students to shift their focus to health promotion and remember throughout their careers to be health educators.
Heres the challenge we have in this country. We have a fantastic health care system for treating illnesses, accidents and injuries. We train the best professionals. But we dont have great health, he said. Theres no way youre going to create a health care system that youre going to like the outcomes, either the health outcomes or the cost, if a population is becoming less and less healthy.
Visitors to Virginias state parks last year spent nearly $225 million, supporting more than 3,500 jobs and yielding $19 million in tax revenue, according to a new study.
The report issued Monday was compiled by the Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business as part of its partnership with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the agency that manages Virginias state parks.
Virginia has 37 state parks, which saw a record 10 million visitors last year, up 12 percent from the year before. Out-of-state visitors accounted for $98 million of spending last year, the report said.
At Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County, which began operating as a state park in September, visitors spent $1.5 million. Visitors spent $7.6 million at Claytor Lake State Park and $9.6 million at Smith Mountain Lake State Park.
The total economic activity stimulated by state parks last year was between $292 million and $301 million, the report found. That economic activity generated about $19.6 million in tax revenue for the state.
The total economic impact of state parks last year was between $219 million and $259 million, the report said. Economic impact is a measure of fresh money infused into the states economy that likely would not have been generated in the absence of the park system.
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Google CEO Sundar Pichai and cofounder Sergey Brin addressed crowds of employees rallying against President Trump's immigration ban on Monday, as about 2,000 Google staffers in offices worldwide took to the streets with signs.
At least one hundred people outside Google's downtown San Francisco offices took to the streets on Monday afternoon, carrying signs and chanting. "You build a wall, we'll tear it down," was one such chant.
Google employees are sharing photos from this rally on Twitter, under the hashtag "#GooglersUnite." Executives like Nest CEO Marian Fawaz are visible addressing the crowds in these pictures.
It was not immediately clear if the protests were officially sanctioned or organized by Google, the world's largest internet company, or were organized by employees. One person familiar with the matter described it as a "company-supported rally by employees."
Pichai, who was born and raised in India, told the crowd assembled at Google's Silicon Valley headquarters that "the fight will continue," according to New York Times reporter Daisuke Wakabayshi, who tweeted photos from the scene:
Google CEO sundar pichai at rally at Googleplex "the fight will continue" pic.twitter.com/cZOfn9FiGY Daisuke Wakabayashi (@daiwaka) January 30, 2017
And Sergey Brin told the crowd that he would not have the life he does today if this "wasn't a brave country":
"It's a debate about fundamental values" sergey brin, Google co-founder and refugee pic.twitter.com/JDBXL77xuY Daisuke Wakabayashi (@daiwaka) January 30, 2017
Google is among numerous tech companies that have decried Trump's order on immigration. Many tech companies count foreign-born workers among their rank and file employees as well as at the highest leadership levels.
Story continues
Other tech CEOs Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has described the immigration ban as "un-American" while Apple CEO Tim Cook has said it is "not a policy we support."
Still, Google's criticisms come even as the company has sought to forge stronger ties with the new Republican administration.
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"Roger Curry" was all that the gentleman with the American accent said when asked his name, and he said it only once. Thus begins the strange story Darragh MacIntyre spins for the BBC, following the mysterious trail of a man found wandering a parking lot in England in late 2015. Hospital tests revealed he had dementia, which everyone knew would complicate matters, but little did they realize how tough it would prove to find out who he really was. While police checked missing-persons lists and contacted US and Canadian authorities, the man everyone called Roger was placed in a local nursing home, where he lived contentedly under the care of staff who adored him. The home's manager even confessed to MacIntyre it would be "devastating" if Roger was IDed, because "we've adopted him."
MacIntyre's story takes a sharp turn when, thanks to a Facebook post and an old high school yearbook photo, Roger was actually IDed as Earl Roger Curry. MacIntyre was able to track down that he was from the Los Angeles area and had a wife and two grown children. But that wasn't necessarily good news: MacIntyre's digging revealed a "volatile" relationship between Curry and his son, Kevin, and an especially disturbing discovery: It appeared Roger's wife and Kevin traveled with him to England the month he turned up there, and they went home without him. The case is now unfolding in US courts, writes MacIntyre. It has left him musing whether Roger, now in an LA nursing home, would've been better off left unidentified in England. Read more of MacIntyre's take on the tale, as well as his attempts to talk to Kevin, here. (A tourist's selfies helped solve his vanishing.)
Authorities say 31 pounds of cocaine that was accidentally discovered stashed in the nose of an American Airlines aircraft in Tulsa, Okla., is worth around $434,000. Tulsa County Sheriff's Office spokesman Justin Green says the plane arrived in Miami from Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday. It was flagged for maintenance and sent later that day to Tulsa International Airport, where American Airlines has a maintenance base, the AP reports.
While working on the nose gear, an airline employee noticed what looked like a clump of insulation or a brick-like object and called the sheriff's office to inspect the suspicious find. Authorities discovered seven bricks of cocaine, worth at least $14,000 a pound. Sheriff's office spokeswoman Casey Roebuck says the case has been turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration in Miami. "That's a lot of cocaine, so we suspect cartel involvement," she says. (Customs officers in Cincinnati found 53 pounds of meth stashed inside a snail statue.)
For nearly two decades, Scott Johnson's death had been labeled a suicide. The 27-year-old's naked body was found Dec. 10, 1988, on a cliff overlooking Sydney's northern beaches, with his clothes folded above. His brother didn't buy it, and in 2005 he developed an alternate theory: An inquest that year reviewed three other cliff deaths from around the same period, and determined there was a good chance they were murders. Upon learning "there were three other cases of gay men that died at cliff sides that had probably been attacked by marauding teen gangs, I collapsed," Steve Johnson told WCVB last month. And, perhaps, not without reason. The New York Times reports Australian officials are now acknowledging that teen gangs attacked gay men for sport in the '80s and '90s, and did force some over cliffswith relative impunity.
New South Wales police are reviewing 88 deathsabout 30 unsolvedgoing as far back as 1976 to see if they qualify as anti-gay hate crimes. In parallel, a third coroner's inquest into Johnson's death is underway; the second, in 2012, removed suicide as his cause of death. Australia's ABC points out the only other time a third such inquest has occurred in Australia was with the case of Azaria Chamberlain, the baby taken by a dingo. Johnson, called a brilliant mathematician by those who knew him, had been working on his PhD at Australian National University in Canberra at the time of his death. The Australian notes that the inquest, which will resume in June, heard from two people in December who say Johnson referenced suicide in conversations with them. But the Times notes Johnson's PhD supervisor told the inquest that on the day he was last seen Johnson came to him "happy," sharing a major breakthrough he had made in his work. (Read more unsolved mystery stories.)
Charlotte McCourt has sold more than 15,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in a manner so unconventional it's making news: The 11-year-old has been unflinchingly honest. Trefoils? "Kind of boring." Toffee-tastic? "As flavorless as dirt." Savannah Smiles? "Divine." (Not all were negative.) Charlotte, a New Jersey sixth-grader, was dismayed that only two of the boxes she had sold were marked to be donated to US military troops, so her father suggested she write a letter to a wealthy family friend who might be willing to donate a bunch. The result? A letter that described each cookie in brutally honest terms, including demerits for "blandness" to Do-Si-Dos. "I played it by ear and I just kept typing until I thought the letter was good," Charlotte tells ABC News. The wealthy friend did indeed send 25 boxes of cookies to the troops, but it was a Facebook post that made Charlotte's cookie sales hit warp speed.
Charlotte's dad, a writer and producer on the podcast "The Way I Heard It," showed the letter to the show's star, TV host-turned-podcaster Mike Rowe, who posted on his Facebook page a video of himself reading the letter and asking viewers to reward Charlotte's honesty. "Send the message that when you tell the truth, good things happen," Rowe said. A day later, sales on Charlotte's cookie-sales website zoomed, with more than 7,000 boxes being donated to troops and more being ordered. She has now sold more than 15,000 boxes, and the video has more than 8 million views. Refinery 29 notes that many commenters are reminding viewers they can support their local Girl Scouts when placing orders. (This girl made headlines for a unique sales idea, too.)
Authorities in Canada think Sunday night's mosque shooting that left six people dead is a "lone wolf situation," reports Reuters, and they think they've got their shooter: Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, appeared in court Monday and was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder, reports CBC News. So far, he does not face any terrorism-related charges. Bissonnette attended Laval University, near the Quebec City mosque, and studied political science and anthropology. The AP reports that he was known to espouse "far-right nationalist views" online, and the Toronto Globe and Mail reports that this didn't begin until March when nationalist leader Marine Le Pen visited Quebec City.
"I wrote him off as a xenophobe," says a fellow Laval student. "He was enthralled by a borderline racist nationalist movement." A member of a refugee advocacy group says Bissonnette had become a familiar name to those who monitor extremist groups. He was "unfortunately known to many activists in Quebec for taking nationalist, pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist positions at Laval University and on social media," Francois Deschamps wrote on the Facebook page of the group Welcome to Refugees, per the Montreal Gazette. Five victims of the shooting remained hospitalized as of Monday evening. (Read more Quebec City stories.)
The first American military raid of the Trump administration wasn't a complete failure, but "almost everything went wrong," a senior military official tells NBC News. The Sunday raid in Yemen, which the president approved last week, left dozens of people dead, including two Americans: a service member identified Monday as Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens, 36, and Nora al-Awlaki, the 8-year-old daughter of radical US-born preacher Anwar al-Awlaki. Her father was killed in a US drone strike in 2011 and her 16-year-old brother died in a 2013 strike. Officials tell the New York Times that the raid had been in the works for months, but the Obama administration handed final approval over to President Trump.
Owens, a Navy SEAL from Peoria, Ill., died after being wounded during the raid on an al-Qaeda-held village, the Washington Post reports. Another three members of his unit were hurt during the firefight, and three more were injured, one severely, when their MV-22 Osprey aircraft had a "hard landing" at the site. Pentagon officials say three al-Qaeda leaders were among 14 fighters killed during the raid. Medics say at least 30 people died at the scene, including women and children. Nora al-Awlaki's grandfather, former Yemeni Agriculture Minister Nasser al-Awlaki, claims the true number is closer to 60. Nora "was hit with a bullet in her neck and suffered for two hours," he tells Reuters. "Why kill children?" (Read more Yemen stories.)
A state visit from President Trump won't just cause uproar in Britain, it will be a royal pain, according to a former senior diplomat. In a letter to the Times of London and an interview with the BBC, former Foreign Office chief Lord Peter Ricketts argues that it was inappropriate for Prime Minister Theresa May to have arranged the invitation from Queen Elizabeth II. Ricketts says it is unprecedented for an American president to be invited for a state visit in their first year in office, and wonders whether the controversial leader really deserves this "exceptional honour." "It would have been far wiser to wait to see what sort of president he would turn out to be before advising the Queen to invite him," he writes. Now, Ricketts says, Elizabeth is put in a "very difficult position."
It appears the sentiment is taking hold: 10 Downing Street is now saying, rather vaguely, that Trump's visit is "months away," reports Sky News. More than 1.6 million people have signed a petition calling for the state visit, which usually involves a stay at Buckingham Palace, to be canceled because "it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty." On Monday, thousands of people protesting Trump's immigration order took to the streets of British cities and some opposition members of Parliament called for the visit to be scrapped, comparing Trump to the likes of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, the Guardian reports. "This man is not fit to walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela," said Labour MP Dennis Skinner. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, however, defended Trump, saying that America is a crucial ally and that Trump's "bark is considerably worse than his bite." (Read more President Trump stories.)
Almost half of all natural world heritage sites are slowly being degraded, and experts have a clear suspect: humans. A study based on the Human Footprint Indexwhich evaluates agriculture, infrastructure, population density, and other factorsidentifies more than 100 of 229 sites that are suffering from human activities, reports Smithsonian. "The world would never accept the Acropolis being knocked down, nor a couple of pyramids being flattened for housing estates or roads, yet, right now, across our planet, we are letting many of our natural world heritage sites be fundamentally altered," the study author says in a release. The Guardian notes that many sites suffering damage are home to endangered species or those that cant be found anywhere else.
Losses were seen on every continent, but North America alone has accounted for 57% of forest loss globally since 1993, with pine beetles seen as the main problem. Overall, however, sites in Asia fared the worst. Some notable specifics close to home: The Waterton Glacier International Peace Park on the US-Canada border has lost 23% of its forested area, Yellowstone 10%, and the Grand Canyon 6%. This "is alarming and must be addressed," says lead author James Allan from the University of Queensland. The study authors urge UNESCO to institute conservation measures before the damage becomes irreparable. (Australia wanted to log one of its heritage sites.)
If you're hoping to watch the Super Bowl to escape from politics, at least one commercial will bring you right back to current events. Budweiser's homage to its co-founder, Adolphus Busch, is certainly "relevant," as Ad Age notes. The 60-second spot, called "Born the Hard Way," details Busch's hardscrabble migration from his homeland of Germany to St. Louis, where the ad shows the hostility he faced when he arrived in America in 1857. As an actor playing the sharply dressed Busch wanders through the crowd, a man yells, "You're not wanted here, go back home." Busch escapes a boat inferno and treks through mud to get to his final destination, and he's seen at the end of the ad having a beer with co-founder Eberhard Anheuser.
The chief creative officer of Anomaly, the ad agency that created the spot, said his team had been tasked with celebrating "those who embody the American spirit"and realized Budweiser's own origin story was the fodder for their commercial. "While it is set in the 1800s, it's a story we believe will resonate with today's entrepreneurial generation," Ricardo Marques, the beer brand's VP of marketing, says in an Anheuser-Busch InBev press release. The ad, which the Independent calls "perfectly timed," ends with an Anheuser-Busch logo over the tagline "When nothing stops your dream." (Budweiser renamed itself "America" last summer.)
Anthony Weiner could face child pornography chargesand a minimum 15 years in prison, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The Hill reports the 51-year-old Weiner allegedly sent a 15-year-old girl shirtless photos of himself, descriptions of sexual acts he wanted to perform with her, and more. Now sources say federal prosecutors are mulling whether or not to bring child pornography charges against Weiner, with his lawyersobviouslytrying to convince them not to.
The most serious charge Weiner could face is production of child pornography for allegedly convincing the girl to send him sexually explicit photos. That charge comes with a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. He could also be charged with receipt of child pornography (a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence) or possession of child pornography. Weiner resigned from Congress in 2011 after a sexting scandal, the New York Daily News reports. Two years later, he was embroiled in another sexting scandal while running for mayor of New York City. (Read more Anthony Weiner stories.)
A billboard welcoming Ford Motor Co is seen at an industrial park in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, January 4, 2017. REUTERS/Christine Murray (Reuters)
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co on Monday criticized President Donald Trump's controversial immigration order, becoming one of the highest profile U.S. manufacturers to question the decision to temporarily ban travelers coming from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
The leader of Goldman Sachs also criticized the order and FedEx and UPS said they were reviewing its impact. The chief of Tesla has said he would ask members of a business advisory council to come up with potential changes to recommend to the White House.
Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. and Chief Executive Officer Mark Fields said in a statement to employees that the company does not support what it called a new U.S. travel ban.
"We do not support this policy or any other that goes against our values as a company," they said, adding that Ford is not aware of any employees directly affected by the policy.
Ford's statement came the same day that Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein became the first major Wall Street chief to say he did not support the immigration policy.
Fields met twice with Trump last week to talk about economic issues. Ford was harshly criticized by Trump during the campaign for moving some production to Mexico, but he has praised the automaker in recent weeks for announcing new U.S. investments.
Ford is based in Dearborn, Michigan, home to one of the largest Arab-American populations in the United States.
General Motors Co , Fiat Chrysler Group NV , Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> and Honda Motor Co <7267.T> have declined to comment on the immigration order.
GM Executive Vice President Mark Reuss, asked about the Trump order at an event, said only that "GM is a global company."
Tesla Motors Inc CEO Elon Musk used his Twitter account on Sunday to ask followers to read the immigration order and propose "specific amendments." He said he would seek a consensus among members of a business advisory council that is expected to meet with President Trump this week.
Story continues
In a response to a comment on his Twitter feed, Musk wrote, "There is no possibility of retraction, but there is possibility of modification ..."
It was not clear on Monday what role Musk would play in organizing a response by the 19 members of the business advisory council. He did not reply to emails seeking comment.
CEOs of several technology companies have criticized the White House order suspending the U.S. refugee program and barring travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Until Monday, executives of many U.S. companies outside Silicon Valley had remained silent or issued cautious statements highlighting their commitments to a diverse workforce.
Logistics companies FedEx Corp and United Parcel Service Inc issued statements Monday saying they were reviewing the policy's impact. FedEx said it is "actively working to seek clarification as quickly as possible.
UPS said it is reviewing the implications of the order for its employees around the world, and said it "supports policies that enable the legal movement of people across borders, while also understanding the need to protect national security."
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
New Delhi:
A 21-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by three men in a moving car in Delhis Amar Colony area. All three accused have been arrested by Delhi police from their homes in Moti Bagh area on Tuesday morning within 12 hours after the incident came to light.
Police reached the culprits after the victim made the call to the police control room on Monday night from Garih in South Delhi, alleged that the men had raped her in their car and dumped her there.
One of the accused men was known to the woman, reportedly. The woman is said to be a native of Jharkhand and has been living in Tughlaqabad area for the past few months.
New Delhi:
A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly looting Rs 8.62 lakh from an ATM in east Delhi's Shakarpur area.
Puspendera Singh was an employee of a private firm that provides security to banks and ATMs. Police recovered Rs 8.60 lakh from his possession.
The accused took advantage of dysfunctional CCTV cameras at the Shakarpur ATM. But one of the cameras was functional.
"On the examination of the said camera, we found that at2.47 PM on Friday, a person entered the ATM cabin and was trying to operate the machine. Further probe revealed that he is an ex-employee of a private security firm," Omvir Singh, DCP (East), said.
He was on the run and was arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj district.
New Delhi:
Hollywood actress Ashley Judd, who was in Delhi on Monday revealed that she was raped twice.
The 48-year-old actress was here for the World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls initiative, spoke about her sexual assault.
Ashley said that she is a survivor of gender & sexual violence.
While addressing a press conference, she revealed, "I was molested when I was 7 years old. I was raped at 14, and then I was raped in 1998. Its a miracle that I wasnt trafficked.
Judd has been an active social activist and has been one of the strong voices against Donald Trump for his offensive remarks against women.
"I love my country (United States) & my country has a long way to go in obtaining full equality for girls and women," she added.
The 'Twisted' actress continued saying that there is a huge pay disparity in Hollywood and that her lifetime earnings are 40 % less, simply because she is a female.
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New Delhi:
The CCTV footage of the encounter of a gangsters father in Delhi has come out. The father of a criminal was shot dead allegedly by a group of men in outer Delhis Baba Haridas Nagar on Sunday in what is suspected to be a revenge killing.
It is suspected that the Jyoti Nadu gang is involved in the attack on Manjeet Mahals father and Delhi Polices Crime Branch teams are probing the matter, police said.
The incident took place around 10.10 AM when Shrikrishan was walking outside his home in Mitraon village.
In the CCTV footage, Shrikrishan can be seen outside his home, talking two men, when a colour Scorpio pulls up. One man runs away while another one tries to save Shrikrishan before hiding in fields behind them.
Meanwhile two men get down from the car and shoot Shrikrishan, while he lay on ground, and drive off.
According to a senior police official, the culprits fired 12 rounds at him and fled the scene.
Hearing the gunshots, Shrikrishans family members rushed out and found him lying in a pool of blood. They then informed police about it.
The police has since detained six suspects in this matter.
With Shrikrishans death, the tally of those murdered in the series of revenge killings that started in late December in 2014-2015 has gone up to five. Last year, a father-son duo, the family of an arrested member of Mahal gang, was gunned down at their residence in Chhawla.
Mahal, a native of Najafgarhs Mitraon, a village infamous for gang wars, came in contact with notorious gangster Balraj over two decades ago. Once Balraj was killed in a gang war, Mahal took over the gang and he was in the crime world for over two decades, he said.
He was arrested for allegedly masterminding the killing of ex-MLA Bharat Singh and half a dozen other murders and is lodged in Bhondsi Jail.
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New Delhi:
Lok Sabha member and former union Minister E Ahamed was on Tuesday collapsed in Parliament During the address by President Pranab Mukherjee to the joint sitting of both Houses.
RML Hospital sources have said that Ahamed has suffered cardiac arrest and his condition is critical and he has been put on life support system.
78-year-old Ahamed, who is the president of Indian Muslim League, complained of uneasiness and breathlessness, sources said.
The Parliament staff tried to give him first aid but as his pain continued, he was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, they said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi enquired about his health.
Ahamed, who represents the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency from Kerala, had served as Minister of State for External Affairs in the previous UPA government.
(With inputs from agencies)
Condition of IUML MP E Ahamed who was rushed to the hospital from Parliament is critical, presently on life support system a ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
Member of Parliament E Ahamed taken to hospital after he got severely ill a ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
MP E Ahamed (IUML) was taken to hospital from Parliament during President's address. a ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
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Panaji :
Following Election Commissions instructions, Goa Police on Monday filed an FIR against AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly violating the model code of conduct through his controversial comments about bribery at a rally in the poll-bound state.
A First Information Report has been filed against Kejriwal following a complaint by Returning Officer Gurudas Desai, Mapusa Police Inspector Rajendra Prabhudesai told.
Mapusa Police has booked the Delhi Chief Minister under relevant sections of the Representation of the People Act and the Indian Penal Code. These sections relate to corrupt practice and bribery.
The Election Commission had taken cognisance of Kejriwals statements in which he had asked voters to accept money from Congress and BJP but vote for his party.
Also read: EC orders FIR against Arvind Kejriwal for bribe remarks in Goa rally
Goas Chief Electoral Officer had directed district authorities to file an FIR against Kejriwal before January 31 over his bribery comments.
The 48-year-old AAP chief, whose party is making its electoral debut in the February 4 Assembly polls, had defended his remarks and termed EC order against him as illegal.
Earlier on Monday, he had registered his protest with the Election Commission (EC) for its order to the Goa government to lodge an FIR against him.
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New Delhi:
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Tuesday said that Mondays orders against Jammat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed have been taken by Pakistan in past too. He said that only a credible crackdown on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind would be a proof of Pakistans credibility.
Exercises such as yesterdays orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down would be proof of Pakistans sincerity, he said.
Amid pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration, Hafiz Saeed and four others were on Monday night put under detention here in Punjab Province.
Punjab governments Home Department issued the detention order of Saeed and Lahore Police reached JuD headquarters in Chauburji to implement the order, JuD said.
Punjab governments action comes amidst pressure on Pakistan from the Trump administration that it must take action against JuD and Saeed to avoid sanctions.
Video | Modi effect? JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, placed under house arrest in Pakistan
JuD is the front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit which is responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the Mumbai terror strike of November 26,2008, which was masterminded by Saeed.
The Ministry of Interior, in its January 27 order, has placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa (JUD) on the Watch List and have listed these organizations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended).
(With inputs from PTI)
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New Delhi:
Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat has stated that Pakistan is responsible for avalanches in Jammu and Kashmir, media reports said.
The death toll from avalanches in the Himalayan region of Kashmir has risen to 20 over the last week after five more Indian soldiers succumbed to their injuries on Monday. All these five soldiers were rescued from heavy snow in the Machhil sector on Saturday.
According to Gen Rawat, Pak shell firing is causing the avalanches.
While addressing a ceremony, Rawat said that usage of heavy weaponry and cross-border firing by Pakistan Army are causing avalanches in the valley. Heavy weaponry firing by Pakistani is leading to loosening of the soil which causes landslides, he reportedly said after paying homage to Major Amit Sagar, who lost his life in an avalanche in Sonamarg on January 25.
Read | Kashmir avalanche: 20 army personnel lost their lives in last 6 days as 5 soldiers rescued from Macchil sector succumb to injuries
Indian Occupied Kashmir is witnessing heavy snow falling since last few days as many Indian soldiers have died and bodies of few are yet to be recovered. 21 persons including 15 army men have died in these avalanches, he said.
Indian Army chief further reportedly said that Indian army is seeking help from Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, a laboratory under the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to conduct a study of avalanche areas in the valley so that troops can be withdrawn from the dangerous areas.
But due to hostile condition and vulnerability of some posts, the retreat will limited, he added.
Read | J-K avalanche: Wreath laying ceremony of Major Amit Sagar who lost his life in Gurez sector
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New Delhi:
BJP on Monday assured Dalits that the party-led government at the Centre will not make any changes in the reservation policy and the quota in jobs and education for the community will remain in force till it was in power.
At a press conference, national president of BJP SC Morcha Vinod Sonkar said the Narendra Modi government was "worried about Dalits and committed to their welfare".
"The prime minister himself has said that till BJP is in power, there would be no changes in the existing reservation policy," he said.
Attacking BSP chief Mayawati, he said she played politics on the issue of the suicide of Rohit Vemula and had even gone to the house of a Dalit in Gujarat, but did not care for the members of the community in Uttar Pradesh who faced atrocities.
Asked about an RSS member's comment about a review of the reservation policy, the Kaushambi MP said the saffron organisation had made its stand clear that there would be no change in the reservation policy.
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mark fields
Ford's relationship with President Donald Trump had a rocky start.
When Trump announced his candidacy for president in June 2015, he attacked Ford's plan to build a manufacturing plant in Mexico, using it as a jumping-off point to discuss how he would crack down on companies that moved jobs out of the US by building plants abroad.
It was that attack that prompted Ford's first correspondence with Trump.
"I got a hold of his email, and I wrote him a note and said, 'Congratulations on running for president,' and gave him some facts," Ford CEO Mark Fields said during a recent visit to Business Insider's headquarters.
Trump sent a handwritten note back, Fields said.
That's because Trump is known to use email on a very limited basis. His aides often handle his online presence for him for example, The Washington Post reported in July 2015 that despite being an avid Twitter user, Trump usually dictates them to a communications director, who then has aides post them.
Still, Trump had a war of words with Ford for a while.
In November, Trump incorrectly credited himself with persuading Ford to keep a manufacturing plant in the US instead of moving it to Mexico.
Ford said it had never planned to move its Louisville, Kentucky, plant there, but rather shift production of one of its vehicles from Louisville to Mexico. That move wouldn't have resulted in any job cuts, Ford said at the time.
"We were just always coming back with the facts, because that's what you do as a company you set the record straight," Fields said of his correspondence with Trump at the time.
The relationship between Ford and Trump seems to have strengthened since then. Fields attended two meetings this month at the White House about US manufacturing, and he's part of the president's Manufacturing Jobs Initiative.
"I'm really glad we now have a productive relationship and he's prioritized manufacturing and automotive," Fields said.
Story continues
NOW WATCH: Ford just revealed some of the first production versions of its most expensive supercar the Ford GT
More From Business Insider
Lucknow:
Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav on Tuesday filed his nomination from Jaswantnagar ahead of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Shivpal said on Tuesday that the decision on alliance with Congress will be taken after the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
Shivpal said he if fighting elections on Samajwadi Party ticket.
"Any decision on alliance will be decided after the elections," he told ANI.
On January 29, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav kicked out their maiden campaign in Lucknow, were seen sharing hugs and besides sporting same coloured jackets.
ALSO READ | UP assembly polls 2017: Shivpal Yadavs name missing from Samajwadi Partys list of campaigners
Out of the 403 assembly seats, the Congress will contest in 105 seats and the Samajwadi Party will field its candidates in rest of the 298 seats.
I am with netaji: Shivpal Yadav, SP on being asked about Mulayam Yadav's statement on Congress-SP Alliance #UPpolls pic.twitter.com/9k73uZa0gJ ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 31, 2017
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Udham Singh Nagar :
Congress rebel Shilpi Arora, who is fighting as an independent candidate from Kichcha seat against Chief Minister Harish Rawat, on Monday accused him of furnishing false information in his nomination papers.
Arora, who filed a complaint with the Election Commission, accused the chief minister of providing false income details in his papers and claimed that he was possessing two PAN cards.
She also claimed that his signature appeared to be different from the one used during his 2014 by poll nomination from Dharchula.
The rebel leader demanded that his nomination be cancelled.
She registered her complaint along with BJP candidate Rajesh Shukla but EC officer Naresh Chandra Durgapal, after hearing both parties, dismissed it.
Rawats advocate Charan Singh termed the allegations false and said they were intended to gain publicity.
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Washington:
Barack Obama on Tuesday hit out at Donald Trump, warning that 'American values' are at stake as the former president voiced his support to mass protests against his successor's controversial travel ban on Muslims and the "extreme vetting" orders.
Breaking his silence over Trump's controversial immigration policies, Obama, who left the White House just 10 days ago, said he fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.
"With regard to comparisons to President Obama's foreign policy decisions, as we've heard before the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion," Obama's spokesman Kevin Lewis said in a statement.
This is the first press statement issued by the office of Barack Obama after he left the office 10 days ago. Lewis said Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country.
"In his final office speech as President. He spoke about the important role of citizen and how all Americans have a responsibility to be the guardians of our democracy not just during an election but every day," he said.
"Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected official is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," Lewis said.
Trump's executive order bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for the next 90 days, suspends the admission of all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely suspends the Syrian refugee programme.
Former presidents walk a fine line between staying political engaged and avoiding knocking their successor, CNN said. President George W Bush, for example, remained markedly silent on politics during Obama's eight years in office.
But Obama's relationship with Trump is different, and his statement made clear that the former president will stay engaged and outspoken on political action, it said.
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London :
Kick-starting Britains departure from the European Union will be up for debate in parliament on Tuesday as lawmakers examine a draft law allowing the government to begin Brexit talks.
MPs are due to spend two days debating the bill which was published last week, after the Supreme Court ruled parliamentary approval was needed before negotiations with Brussels could begin.
The two-clause European Union Notification of Withdrawal Bill asks parliament to give the prime minister the power to trigger Article 50 of the EUs Lisbon Treaty, formally starting divorce proceedings with Brussels.
Ahead of the debate Prime Minister Theresa May said lawmakers should back the Brexit bill in order to implement the June referendum outcome in which 52 percent voted to leave the bloc.
Do they support the will of the British people or not? she said of MPs during a press conference in Dublin on Monday.
The governing Conservatives have a majority of 16 in the 650-seat lower House of Commons and the draft law is expected to pass, despite five amendments having been tabled.
They cover areas including Britains membership of the European single market, which May said would end once the country leaves the EU.
There are also calls to have greater involvement from the devolved parliaments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Irelandthe latter two of which voted for Britain to remain in the EU.
After the initial debate MPs are due to vote on whether the draft law should proceed, before discussing the amendments over three days from Monday.
Once it clears parliament the bill will move to the upper chamber, the House of Lords, where it will be debated from February 20 and it is expected to be approved there by March 7.
While further amendments could see the draft law bounce back to parliament for further discussion, politicians are unlikely to derail the governments Brexit plans.
If approved by the Lords, the bill would then have to be signed off by Queen Elizabeth II before May can trigger Article 50 which the prime minister has promised to do so by the end of March.
The Lisbon Treaty foresees two years of exit talks and finance minister Philip Hammond has said he expects negotiations to begin before the summer.
The timetable could be shorter still, however, as the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier said in December a deal should be brokered by October 2018 to allow for ratification on the EU side.
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Lahore:
In an unusual move, Pakistan's army on Tuesday said the detention of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a "policy decision in the national interest" as the government announced that the Jamat-ud Dawa leader's 90-day house arrest could be extended if required. "The detention is a policy decision taken in the national interest.
The relevant department may give more information in a day or two and the situation will become clearer," Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters.
Saeed and four other JuD leaders were put under house arrest after order of detention was issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry on Monday in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.
His aides Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz - were detained and placed under house arrest in Chauburji near JuD's Lahore headquarters.
"Although they belong to different districts of Punjab but the government has decided to place them under arrest in one house in Lahore," a senior police officer told PTI.
"The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required," an interior ministry official told PTI.
"The government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days," he said, adding that the names of several JuD and FIF activists have been placed on Exit Control List to stop them from leaving the country.
Maj Gen Ghafoor said Pakistan wants peace with India and resolution of all issues including Kashmir through talks held on the basis of self-respect and honour, but it should not be considered as weakness.
"We want the Kashmir issue to be resolve via United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness," he said. After the Punjab Home Department declared Saeed's Jauhar Town Lahore residence as sub-jail, the JuD chief was shifted there from its headquarters Al-Qadsia Chauburji on Tuesday.
First Saeed was allowed by police to hold a press conference before he left for his home along with dozens of his supporters amid high police security. "My detention order has come from Washington and not Islamabad.
If someone thinks that after placing me under house arrest will help check freedom movement in Kashmir he is living a fool's paradise. My arrest will give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris' struggle against India," Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, told reporters.
Saeed further said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that he would get respite in Kashmir after his (Saeed) arrest he is seriously mistaken. "We have declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris. All programmes we planned for Feb 5 will be held across Pakistan and (Pakistan-occupied) Kashmir," he said, and vowed to challenge his detention in the Lahore High Court.
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New Delhi:
Sending out a provocative message and boasting of his powers, a defiant JuD chief Hafiz Saeed said that his detention would give a fresh impetus to Kashmiris struggle against India as the Mumbai attack mastermind has been placed under a 90-day house arrest.
Saeed was detained on Monday at JuDs Lahore headquarters at Masjid Al-Qudsia Chauburji, was later shifted to his Jauhar Town residence which has now been declared as a sub-jail by authorities in Punjab province.
The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required," an Interior Ministry official told PTI.
Not only this, the government may take further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days.
ALSO READ | India on Hafiz Saeed's house arrest: Only a credible crack down would prove Pakistan's sincerity
Saeed along with 4 other JuD leaders was taken into custody and put under house arrest following order of detention was issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.
Saeed was however allowed to hold a press conference before he left for his home along with dozens of his supporters amid high police security, said, My detention order has come from Washington and not Islamabad.
If someone thinks that placing me under house arrest will help check freedom movement in Kashmir he is living in a fool's paradise. My arrest will give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris' struggle against India, he said.
He further went on saying that if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that he would get respite in Kashmir after his arrest he is seriously mistaken.
ALSO READ | Video : Modi effect? JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, placed under house arrest in Pakistan
We have declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris, he said adding that all programmes planned for February 5 will be held across Pakistan and PoK. He vowed to challenge his house arrest in Lahore High Court.
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Washington:
Breaking his silence over his successor Donald Trumps immigration policies, former US president Barack Obama on Tuesday said he disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.
With regard to comparisons to President Obamas foreign policy decisions, as weve heard before the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion, Obamas spokesman Kevin Lewis said in a statement.
This is the first press statement issued by the office of Barack Obama after he left the office 10 days ago.
Lewis said Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country. In his final office speech as President. He spoke about the important role of citizen and how all Americans have a responsibility to be the guardians of our democracy not just during an election but every day, he said.
Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected official is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake, Lewis said.
Trumps executive order bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for the next 90 days, suspends the admission of all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely suspends the Syrian refugee programme.
Former presidents walk a fine line between staying political engaged and avoiding knocking their successor, CNN said.
President George W Bush, for example, remained markedly silent on politics during Obamas eight years in office. But Obamas relationship with Trump is different, and his statement made clear that the former president will stay engaged and outspoken on political action, it said.
For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:
The United State President Donald Trump on Monday fired the acting Attorney General, Sally Yates for refusing to defend the immigration order, temporarily banning entry to Muslims from seven countries.
In a statement, the White House said Yates "betrayed the Department of Justice" and was "weak on borders" and said she was being replaced by Dana Boente, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
"Ms Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration," the White House statement said. "It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country."
Read | Donald Trump planning to enforce stricter rules for issuing H1B visa; Indian IT, Pharma sector to get affected
In the letter, Yates wrote: "At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful."
"Consequently, for as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so."
Trump's order, which went into effect Friday, affects immigration from seven countries that have predominantly Muslim populations, temporarily bans certain travelers and places indefinite restrictions on Syrian refugees.
Read | US checking immigrants' social media accounts for political view before issuing visa
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Istanbul:
A top Turkish official was quoted as criticising US President Donald Trump's immigration and refugee restrictions as "offensive". This was the first time that Ankara had criticised the controversial policy.
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus called on Trump to reconsider the decision, which he said was motivated by Islamophobia, the Haberturk daily reported. "It is not possible to accept this," said Kurtulmus, whois also the chief government spokesman, according to the daily.
"The policy should be reviewed." On Friday, Trump issued an executive order that bars USentry for travellers from seven mainly Muslim countries --Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- for 90 days. Trump defended the new policy, introduced just a week after he became president and which stirred up fresh proteststhis week, by saying that it would make the United States safe from "radical Islamic terrorists."
Kurtulmus blamed rising Islamophobia, anti-immigrant feelings and xenophobia in the West for the decision, calling on the new administration to "correct" the policy. "It is extremely offensive that such a decision was madein a country like the United States which is known as a nation with all different religions and ethnic groups in a meltingpot," he said. "It is not correct. It is really a decision that triggers discrimination... None of the countries' citizens can becategorically branded as bad."
A champion of the fight against Islamophobia, Ankara had until now steered clear of explicit criticism of Trump's move, although Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Saturday warned against "putting up walls" to solve the refugee crisis. Turkey is home to some 2.7 million Syrian refugees whohave fled from the almost six-year war between rebels and President Bashar al-Assad.
Ankara has high hopes of the new American administration, seeking to amend ties that deteriorated under the Barack Obama over a number of issues including US support for SyrianKurdish militia.
Last week, US media reported that the Pentagon would begiven 90 days to craft a plan to set up "safe zones" in ornear Syria -- which Ankara said it would watch closely.
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United Nations :
The UN Security Council will hold urgent talks on Irans test-firing of a medium-range missile on Tuesday, diplomats said.
The United States requested the emergency consultations after the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations called for council action.
Earlier, US had received assurances from Washington that its employees from Muslim countries hit by the US visa ban will be able to travel to New York to work at UN headquarters.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric initially told a briefing that there was a handful of staff who were unable to board US-bound flights at the weekend.
The spokesman later clarified that there were no confirmed cases of UN staff member being affected by the new policies.
US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order suspending all visa applications from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen for at least 90 days.
Some UN employees from the blacklisted countries have G4 visas, which are issued to staff of international organizationsa class of visas that was deemed exempt in the order.
We have gotten assurances from the US mission that UN staff members from those seven countries listed, who have valid G4 visas, will be allowed to come in the United States for their work, Dujarric said.
The United Nations has said it hopes the visa ban will be temporary but has not urged Trump to reverse course.
Obviously we have seen the confusion that has taken place over the last few days, and its clear that its of concern to us, said Dujarric.
UN rights chief Zeid bin Raad Zeid al-Hussein called the ban illegal and mean-spirited, issuing the toughest response from the United Nations.
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BERLIN, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Germany's HDE retail association on Tuesday said it expects retail sales to expand by 1 percent in real terms to 492 billion euros ($526.49 billion) in 2017, down from 1.6 percent last year.
The group said about half of the sales would result from online business. It said employment in the sector, now at around 3 million people, would rise by just under one percent in 2017. ($1 = 0.9345 euros) (Reporting by Markus Wacket; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Joseph Nasr)
United Nations:
The UN childrens agency on Tuesday launched an appeal for USD 3.3 billion to help 48 million children caught up in crises worldwide amid fears of a funding cut from top donor the United States.
Some 42 per cent of the UNICEF appeal for 2017 -- USD 1.4 billionis earmarked to support Syrian children living in the country and as refugees across the borders in neighboring states.
This years appeal represents a 18 per cent increase from the initial 2016 request for funding. Donors contribute to the appeals on a voluntary basis.
The United States is by far the top donor to UNICEF, followed by Germany, Britain and the European Commission.
Media reports that the new administration of President Donald Trump is seeking to cut at least 40 per cent of voluntary contributions to international organisations have set off alarm bells at the United Nations.
UNICEF deputy executive director Justin Forsyth said there was no indication at the moment that the childrens agency will be hit by cuts, adding that he remained hopeful that US support will continue.
Faced with rising humanitarian needs, notably from the wars in Syria, Yemen and South Sudan, UN agencies have been requesting more funding, but the donor response often falls short.
The impact on the ground of our appeals not being funded is children dying, children not going to school, children not being protected, said Forsyth.
Almost one in four of the worlds children now lives in a country affected by conflict or disaster, according to UNICEF.
Aside from Syria, UNICEFs assistance in 2017 will be heavily focused on Yemen, South Sudan and Nigeria - three countries ravaged by wars that have had a heavy toll on children.
UNICEF is struggling to ensure children caught up in conflict still have access to schools to avoid creating a lost generation of youths vulnerable to violent extremism.
There are consequences, not just for the children, said Forsyth. There are consequences for global and regional security by not investing in the needs of these children for education.
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2017 / The first 2017 edition of the German print magazine Derivate Magazine includes the readworthy article "Edelmetalle 2017: Zwischen Glaskugel und Kaffeesatz", in which living legends of the financial sector discuss price performance potentials of precious metals going forward. Alongside the precious metals producers Endeavour Silver (Mexico) and Sibanye Gold (Africa), Golden Dawn Minerals Inc. (GOM.V) is being presented as a promising investment candidate.
Leo Nelissen explained in a new article, why gold and gold mining stocks are "the best hedge against possible disappointments from the high expectations regarding Trumps policies and actions". He also believes that gold can do well even if Trump doesnt disappoint. On top of that, Nelissen says that gold miners seem to be the best hedge against a general market correction, during which times gold stocks should perform well. As the USD futures traders are very bullish at the moment, any disappointments could push the USD much lower. "This would mean another massive gold (miners) rally", he concluded.
The full report can be accessed with the following links:
English (web version): http://rockstone-research.com/index.php/en/markets-commodities/2399-Gold-and-Gold-Stocks:-The-Best-Hedge-Against-Trump-and-Other-Uncertainties
German (web version): http://rockstone-research.com/index.php/de/maerkte-rohstoffe/2395-Gold-und-Goldminenaktien-sind-die-beste-Absicherung-gegen-Trump-und-andere-Ungewissheiten
German (PDF): http://rockstone-research.com/images/PDF/GoldenDawn12de.pdf
Disclaimer: Please read the full disclaimer within the full research report as a PDF as fundamental risks and conflicts of interest exist.
SOURCE: Rockstone Research
Historian Drew Gilpin Faust speaks at Harvard University in the Thompson Room of the Barker Center as she is named President of Harvard February 11, 2007 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard appointed Faust as the first woman to lead the oldest college in the U.S. as campuses nationwide struggle with a shortage of female faculty members.
Harvard President Drew Faust criticized President Trump's immigration ban in an email to the Harvard community on Sunday, The Harvard Crimson reported.
"Nearly half of the deans of Harvard's schools are immigrantsfrom India, China, Northern Ireland, Jamaica, and Iran," she wrote. "Benefiting from the talents and energy, the knowledge and ideas of people from nations around the globe is not just a vital interest of the University; it long has been, and it fully remains, a vital interest of our nation," she continued, in an email that urged the Trump Administration, Congress, and court system to reconsider the order.
Faust's words come amid backlash over an executive order which bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from traveling to the US for 90 days. Opponents of the ban worry that the temporary travel suspension will turn into a permanent ban. Two Harvard affiliates have been blocked from entering the US since the order was issued, according to The Crimson.
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One appears to be Samira Asgari, who was set to begin working on a tuberculosis project at a Harvard Medical School laboratory, according to The Boston Globe.
Asgari, who is Iranian, was turned away from boarding her plane at Frankfurt Airport in Germany.
"They took me a few meters away and took my passport and told me my visa's not valid," Asgari told The Globe in a Skype interview. "I told him I do have a valid visa, but he told me that it doesn't matter. I asked him, What can I do now?,' and he told me to go home."
About 200 Harvard professors have signed a petition deriding Trump's executive orders on immigration. The petition, called "Academics Against Immigration Executive Order," includes the names of more than 7,000 professors around the nation. Harvard signers of the petition include Nobel laureates Dudley Herschbach and Eric Maskin.
NOW WATCH: This incredible story of the most miraculous airplane landing can teach you a great deal about focus
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New court documents reveal EPA to be Monsantos prostitute one more reason to shut down the Environmental Pollution Agency
A probe is currently underway to determine just how cozy the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is with worlds most evil corporation, Monsanto. And thus far, it is becoming more than apparent that the EPA functions as little more than a pimp for the biotechnology industry, routinely approving chemicals like Roundup (glyphosate) without proper safety assessments.
As part of a series of lawsuits recently filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, lawyers for plaintiffs claiming that Roundup caused them to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have demanded to see the details of the EPAs safety assessments for Roundup, to which they have received little information. So far, Monsanto has turned over documents marked confidential that reveal nothing about the agro-chemical giants relationship with the EPA.
According to reports, the EPA has been assessing the safety of glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsantos Roundup herbicide, ever since the controversial chemical started gaining attention around the world as a serious threat to environmental and human health. On the surface, the EPA has supposedly been conducting an independent analysis of glyphosates safety in the interest of public health.
But it is now being revealed that the EPA has merely been acting as a gatekeeper to approve whatever Monsanto throws its way, including chemicals like glyphosate that have repeatedly been linked to causing organ damage, cancer tumors, and more. Much of the rest of the world, including the World Health Organizations (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), is recognizing that glyphosate is dangerous and never should have been approved in the first place, but the EPA has been dragging its feet on the issue. Essentially, the EPA is engaged in fake science to obscure the evidence that glyphosate causes harm to humans and the environment.
This is largely because former EPA top brass Jess Rowland has been fighting on behalf of Monsanto, rather than on behalf of the people for whom the EPA works the American public to salvage glyphosates dwindling reputation. The EPA has further been working on behalf of Monsanto in lawsuits like the one currently moving forward in California, much to the chagrin of independent scientists who recognize how corrupt the EPA has become on this front.
The EPAs stamp of approval for the safety of glyphosate over the last few decades has been key to the success of Monsantos genetically engineered, glyphosate-tolerant crops, which have been popular with farmers, explains Truth-Out.org about the issue. (RELATED: See more news about protecting the environment from toxic pesticides and herbicides at Pesticides.news)
Plaintiffs in suit against Monsanto demand to see correspondences between EPA top brass and chemical giant
Now that Rowland has been outed as a Monsanto hack, attorneys for plaintiffs in the California suit are now asking that he be deposed in order to reveal more about the EPAs connections with Monsanto, and possibly other chemical companies as well. Monsanto, of course, is fighting tooth and nail to keep its correspondences with Rowland private, but it is only a matter of time before this evidence is revealed.
Monsanto has so far turned over six million pages of documents as part of the court proceedings, but upwards of 85 percent of it has been marked as confidential, meaning plaintiffs are required to black out this information. The plaintiffs lawyers say this designation is improper and that such information needs to be revealed in order for the facts to prevail.
Monsanto has been confident all along that [the] EPA would continue to support glyphosate, whatever happened and no matter who held otherwise, the lawyers say. [I]t is clear that Monsanto enjoyed considerable influence within the EPAs OPP, and was close with Mr. Rowland The documentary evidence strongly suggests that Mr. Rowlands primary goal was to serve the interests of Monsanto.
Sources for this article include:
Truth-Out.org
Drive.Google.com
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BETHEL - School Superintendent Christine Carver proposed a $44.3 million budget for the 2017-18 academic year at a Board of Education meeting last week, an increase of 1.68 percent from this years budget.
Carver said the budget will allow the district to meet its five-year strategic plan. Rather than increasing funding for more teachers or supplies, she said she focused on reallocating resources. A majority of the increase (1.5 percent) is from contractual raises for staff.
[The budget] really reflects how instruction is changing in the 21st century and how we allocate our funds, she said. The whole theme of the budget.is really about how do we become more efficient in using our resources and reallocating our staff needs to meet the goals in the strategic plan?
Director of Fiscal Services Theresa Yonsky said as the educational landscape is changing, so, too, is the way the district spends money. Rather than purchasing more library books, for example, she said, the district is spending on digital resources.
We're spending in a very targeted focus in areas that really align to the strategic plan, she said.
Board of Education Chairman Larry Craybas said Carvers proposal had the lowest proposed increase he has seen out of other districts in western Connecticut.
It was a very tight budget, he said.
Craybas said he appreciates how Carver aligned her proposal to the strategic plan.
The presentation was tied to that strategic plan, to where we are today and a focus on where we need to go and the steps we need to take in 2017-18, he said. We pride ourselves...on being on the leading age and doing things it was right to do before others decided to do it or before others were waiting for some kind of mandate to take that course.
Under the proposal, the district would reallocate positions to provide additional math and English specialists for students who need extra help in these areas.
One of our big focus areas in our five-year strategic plan under [the section] all students can learn is to ensure that were providing the necessary interventions for students who are demonstrating academic gaps in any way, Carver said.
The reallocations would also allow the district to hire its first full-time English as a second language teacher. The district has seen a growing number of students requiring that program over the past several years. In 2010, the district had nearly 80 such students, but today has more than 130. Still, Carver said the percentage of students in the program has stayed at about 4 percent because of the growth of the overall student population.
English language learners currently go to part-time tutors or math and English specialists for extra help.
But we really need support in language development and strategies for English language learners, Carver said.
The proposal also includes funding to increase the districts science, technology, math and engineering programs, pay substitute teachers more and expand the career pathways at the high school.
The board has several workshops in the coming days, each of which will focus on aspects of the budget. The board will then present its budget to the Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen on Feb. 22.
NEW MILFORD The school board recently sent a proposed budget of $63.8 million to Town Council for consideration.
The budget, which the board passed unanimously last week, is about $153,000 less than the superintendents original proposal. It includes an overall increase of $2.1 million, or 3.45 percent, over the current school years budget.
School officials say health insurance is the driving factors of the budget increase. About 1.75 percent of the increase, or about $1.2 million, is solely for that purpose.
We agreed it was the best budget we can put forward to promote our academics, but the biggest concern is medical costs, said School Board Chairman David Lawson.
The board made four changes to the superintendents proposed budget during four budget workshops, including cutting $107,700 from the capital budget, $125,000 from the supplies budget and $50,000 from salary control, which is used to cover to new hires if someone leaves.
The board also added $130,000 to hire two kindergarten teachers and better meet the needs of the incoming kindergarten class.
Other staffing changes retained from the superintendents budget are a part-time physical education teacher, a special education department chair at the elementary schools, a world language teacher to accommodate more eligible seventh-graders and a full-time board-certified behavioral analyst. Half the cost of the behavioral analyst will be covered with a grant.
The cost of the new staff members in the superintendents budget will be offset by the elimination of four teaching positions: one second-grade teacher, two fourth-grade teachers and one fifth-grade teacher.
Superintendent Joshua Smith said these changes are driven by enrollment needs.
Smith applauded the boards work and the balanced budget that passed.
The board spent four nights and a substantial number of hours scrutinizing the budget with the needs of the district and were conscientious of fiscal constraints, he said. I appreciate the work of the board to really push the administration to defend the budget and look out for the needs of the district.
The budget also calls for replacement of some Smart Boards as well as establishing and starting a replacement cycle for computers and Chromebooks. Rising transportation costs and a new emotional support program at the high school also contributed to the increase.
Last week, Mayor David Gronbach wrote the Board of Education encouraging the board to sell the East Street building, which houses its central offices, and use the money to offset state funding cuts and bolster the schools capital budget, as well as for tax relief.
Selling the building is part of Gronbachs plan to turn the former John Pettibone School into a community center and relocate several town departments and the school central offices there. He proposes covering the renovations to the school boards section of Pettibone and the move to the building using money from the East Street building sale.
By funding your own work, you would allow the equity from the sale of the East Street property to not only repay the $250,000, it would also allow an infusion of money into your capital account, Gronbach wrote.
Lawson said the letter was referred to the school boards operations committee to be discussed.
kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345
DANBURY - Federal officials have confirmed that the last of female prisoners bound for Danbury have been transferred back to the Federal Corrections Institute as a long-delayed construction project nears completion.
Justin Long, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Prisons, said the transfer began last month and was recently completed. But only a handful of the more than 1,100 women transferred out of the prison in a controversial move three years ago returned.
Many of the original inmates who were moved out of Danbury have already been released from Bureau of Prisons custody, Long said.
According to the prison bureau website, about 1,045 inmates are housed at the Danbury facility, including 78 women in the female portion of the prison. It was formerly a womens prison, made famous by the occasional celebrity inmate and the hit book and television series, Orange is the New Black.
The Bureau of Prisons was criticized in 2013 after announcing plans to turn the low-security prison, which had served women for the previous 20 years, into a mens facility. When both prison advocates and federal lawmakers expressed concern that female inmates would be placed far away from their families, the bureau agreed to rethink its plans.
Federal officials agreed to build a new womens facility on the site, and construction began in 2015. The project was expanded in May 2016 when officials decided to add a building for inmate programs, space for health services, a new visiting area and office space. The combined cost of the projects was about $24.6 million.
Long said this week that the new facility will eventually house around 200 female inmates.
Women transferred out of the Danbury prison in 2013 were moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. - a jail that wasnt designed to house long-term inmates. Many advocates complained about the conditions at the jail, including inadequate medical care.
Members of the National Association of Women Judges, who visited the Metropolitan Detention Center in June, described the conditions that prisoners face as unconscionable, noting at least one inmate hadnt seen her children and elderly mother in more than a year, and most hadnt seen daylight since they were transferred from Danbury three years ago.
These women had all but given up hope that things would get better, their report stated. The lethargy was almost palpable.
MONTREAL, Jan. 30, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ -
Message from Archbishop Christian Lepine to the Archbishop of Quebec:
Gerald Cyprien Cardinal Lacroix
Archbishop of Quebec
Dear Cardinal Lacroix,
In the face of the attack perpetrated in Quebec City, I wish to express to you, on behalf of the faithful of the Archdiocese of Montreal and of myself, my most heartfelt solidarity with you, with the diocesan community, with the victims' families, and with the Muslim community.
Nothing can justify acts of murder against innocent people. We are called to reaffirm continuously, whatever our beliefs, that as human beings we are all brothers and sisters, and we are all equal in dignity.
Taking a moment of silence, we ask God to keep us ever respectful with hearts set firmly on peace.
+Christian Lepine
Archbishop of Montreal
Special Mass today at 5 p.m.
Furthermore, Most Reverend Christian Lepine will celebrate a special Mass for the victims and their families today at 5 p.m., at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral.
SOURCE Archdiocese of Montreal
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2017/30/c7904.html
For further information: Eric Durocher, 514 931 7311 - Lucie Martineau, 514 925 4304
Related Links
www.diocesemontreal.org
* Country seen as post-war success story
* Weeks of unrest have shaken companies' confidence
* Govt seeking to boost processing output
By Ange Aboa
ABIDJAN, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Cocoa grinders in Ivory Coast are holding off on new investments after military and social unrest this month, potentially denting government plans to boost processing of the commodity in the world's top grower.
Ivory Coast has emerged from a 2002-2011 political crisis as one the world's fastest growing economies, attracting foreign investment into everything from the cocoa industry to breweries and shopping malls.
But soldiers, mostly former rebels, seized control of the country's second biggest city, Bouake, this month, sparking a series of smaller mutinies across Ivory Coast and exposing cracks in its post-war success story.
The revolts coincided with a strike by civil servants demanding around $400 million in back wages.
"The security, social and political situation these last weeks has indeed opened our eyes to the fact that there is still instability and a lack of visibility in the short to mid-term," the director of an international processing firm told Reuters.
Cocoa firms largely remained in Ivory Coast, which has roughly 40 percent of the world's production, during a decade of unrest and armed conflict. However, many companies in other sectors either shuttered operations or relocated.
The end of the crisis brought a renewed enthusiasm to invest, allowing Ivory Coast to overtake the Netherlands as the world's leading processing hub.
The government aims to process half of Ivory Coast's cocoa output by 2020 - up from around a third currently - and is planning to offer tax breaks and fiscal advantages to companies that help it achieve its goal.
However, three companies told Reuters they would now hold off on planned investments.
"We're not going to sign for the moment, because we can't invest. The current situation won't allow it. So we're going to take the time to reflect on what we will do after 2020," said the director of another company with grinding operations.
Story continues
The main companies with grinding operations in Ivory Coast include Cargill, Swiss firm Barry Callebaut, France's Cemoi and Singapore-based Olam International. Ivorian companies include Choco Ivoire and Ivory Cocoa Products.
Many in the country are concerned that the incidents this month foreshadow more instability.
The government was forced to pay bonuses to end the military unrest, while the striking workers agreed to suspend their walkout for a month to allow negotiations.
"I can understand cocoa investors who don't want to invest millions in their factories now because, in my opinion, the crisis isn't over," said an agricultural commodities analyst, who asked not to be named.
"The situation has just been postponed until later." (Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Alexander Smith)
HALIFAX, Jan. 31, 2017 /CNW/ - New Brunswick insurance providers are closely monitoring recent ice storm damage resulting from power outages and freezing rain in northeastern New Brunswick.
"Like all New Brunswickers, our primary concern is the safety and sheltering of the people affected by the storm," says Amanda Dean, Vice President, Atlantic, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). "IBC is in contact with representatives from insurance companies, brokers, and officials from the province's Emergency Measures Organization."
IBC recommends that insured property owners having damage contact their insurance representative as soon as possible to report the damage to their home or business. Coverage and deductibles will vary among individual policies, so it is essential for consumers to speak with their insurance representative to determine exactly what their policy covers.
"Insurers in the region may soon be dealing with a large number of claims," added Dean. "To serve customers quickly, some insurers will be bringing in out-of-province adjusters to help. Usually, urgent claims involving the most extensive damage will be addressed first. Consumers should be assured that once they have reported a loss, their information is in the system and an adjuster will be assigned to their claim."
While waiting for an adjuster to be assigned to their claim, homeowners should:
Take pictures and/or video of the damage to their property.
Start cleaning up if it is safe to do so.
If possible, protect their property from further damage (for example, drain domestic water and heating pipes and drain the hot water tank), remove debris and take other mitigating measures.
Keep all receipts for expenses related to the cleanup.
Take caution with potential of fire and fumes when using auxillary forms of heat and power.
If you need help getting in touch with your insurer, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ASK-IBC (1-844-227-5422).
Weather-related damage caused by a tree or branch falling on a house, shed or fence will be covered under most homeowner policies. If a fallen tree damages a vehicle this will be covered if the insured has 'Comprehensive' or 'All Perils' coverage for their vehicle. As well, most homeowner's policies provide coverage for loss of freezer contents in the event of an extended power outage. As with other coverages, these claims are subject to the deductible purchased and the terms of individual insurance policies.
About Insurance Bureau of Canada
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. For more than 50 years, IBC has worked with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC supports the vision of consumers and governments trusting, valuing and supporting the private P&C insurance industry. It champions key issues and helps educate consumers on how best to protect their homes, cars, businesses and properties.
P&C insurance touches the lives of nearly every Canadian and plays a critical role in keeping businesses safe and the Canadian economy strong. It employs more than 120,000 Canadians, pays $9 billion in taxes and has a total premium base of $49 billion.
For media releases and more information, visit IBC's Media Centre at www.ibc.ca. Follow IBC on Twitter @InsuranceBureau and @IBC_Atlantic or like us on Facebook. If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 18442ask-IBC.
If you require more information, IBC spokespeople are available to discuss the details in this media release.
SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2017/31/c1838.html
For further information: To schedule an interview, please contact: Andrew McGrath, Manager, Media Relations, IBC, 416-362-2031 ext. 4312, [email protected]
Related Links
http://www.ibc.ca
CALGARY, Jan. 31, 2017 /CNW/ - (TSX: ESI) Ensign Energy Services Inc. will host its inaugural Investor Conference starting at 8:00 am ET, Thursday, February 2, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario. Reflecting on 2016 with an eye to 2017 and beyond, Ensign's management team will focus on Ensign's business profile, financials, and growth opportunities.
Ensign's Investor Conference will also outline operational highlights with a deep dive into Ensign's advanced premier rig fleet, diversified services, and technological developments, such as Ensign's recently introduced Ensign Edge drilling rig technologies.
This event will be webcast live starting at 8:00 am ET, and can be accessed live by clicking the hyperlink provided here. Following the conference, the webcast and presentation will be posted on Ensign's website.
Entry to Ensign's Investor Conference will be limited to those who RSVP in advance. Those who wish to attend the conference and have not already registered may do so by emailing [email protected].
The Ensign Edge
Recently introduced, The Ensign Edge, including Edge Analytics and Edge Controls, provide customers with advanced rotary and directional drilling performance management systems.
Ensign's Edge Analytics combines rigs' real-time data stream with a powerful machine learning model to deliver actionable insights and repeatable performance:
Drives continuous process improvement;
Improves equipment reliability;
Identifies opportunities for drilling optimization.
Ensign's Edge Controls platform integrates with all Ensign rig control systems to improve directional control and optimize drilling:
AutoDriller increases precision and stable control while drilling;
Quill Oscillation improves directional control and penetration while sliding;
Stick-Slip Mitigation protects equipment and optimizes drilling through downhole torque management.
About Ensign
Ensign Energy Services Inc. operates a fleet of roughly 200 drill rigs, 100 service rigs, 78 directional drill kits, and a host of other complementary oilfield services. Ensign, over the course of the last 10+ years, has reinvested over $3 billion back into the company; refurbishing and building new advanced premier rigs, investing in developing new technologies, capitalizing on changing markets and empowering its people with the expertise, that customers have come to expect. Over the past 10+ years, Ensign has added on average 15 new rigs to its fleet every year.
Ensign is a global leader in oilfield services, headquartered out of Calgary, Alberta, operating in Canada, the United States and internationally. We are one of the world's top land-based drilling and well servicing contractors serving crude oil, natural gas and geothermal operators. Our premium services include contract drilling, directional drilling, underbalanced and managed pressure drilling, rental equipment, well servicing and production services. Please visit our website at www.ensignenergy.com.
Ensign's Common Shares are publicly traded though the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ESI.
SOURCE Ensign Energy Services Inc.
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2017/31/c7277.html
For further information: Ensign Energy Services Inc., 400 - 5th Avenue S.W., Suite 1000, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0L6 Canada, Mike Gray, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone: (403) 262-1361; Lisa Montanini, Global Marketing & Communications, Telephone: (403) 262-1361, Email: [email protected]
Related Links
http://www.ensignenergy.com
Toronto-based IT Infrastructure and Operations Company to Drive Superior Client-Centric Experience
TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2017 /CNW/ - Coreio Inc., a leading IT services provider for enterprise-scale companies, is proud to announce that Brookfield Renewable's North American Operations has retained Coreio to provide Managed IT Infrastructure and Operations services, including full-time request/incident management and on-site, bilingual IT support to its offices in Canada and the U.S., starting in May 2017, on a contract term of 5 years.
As part of the agreement, Coreio will provide Brookfield Renewable's North American Operations with a dedicated Service Desk, based in Toronto, to support more than 1,000 end users in both Canadian French and English. Coreio will provide its onsite Deskside Support services via a multi-modal service model with full-time onsite support resources embedded at Brookfield Renewable's main locations across Canada and the United States. The Deskside Support fleet will integrate closely with the Toronto-based Service Desk team who will provide level one support to end users and dispatch technicians as needed.
"Coreio is very pleased to be working with Brookfield Renewable's North American Operations to support its IT Infrastructure and Operations," said Rob Muroff, Chief Operating Officer at Coreio. "We know that Brookfield Renewable recognized in Coreio an experienced, truly client-centric organization that takes our clients' end users' productivity and satisfaction very seriously."
Coreio approaches client challenges by seeing them from the perspective of the client's business goals first, and then designing custom solutions that produce optimal business value. In addition to providing request/incident management and on-site IT support, Coreio provides strategic IT counsel to enterprise clients regarding Infrastructure and Operations, and a variety of managed IT services across data centre and networking and asset lifecycle management.
More information is available on Coreio's website at www.coreio.com and on Twitter @coreioinc and LinkedIn.
About Coreio
Coreio Inc. is a leading Toronto-based IT services provider that delivers IT Infrastructure and Operations solutions for enterprise-scale companies across North America. We build on our 35-plus year history as a strategic partner, and apply our experience as in-house IT experts, to help our clients solve complex business and technology issues, so they can focus on what they do best. Visit www.coreio.com for more information.
SOURCE Coreio Inc.
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2017/31/c5960.html
For further information: Jennifer Solmes, Senior Manager, Communications, Coreio Inc., Tel: (647) 401-0084, Email: [email protected]
OTTAWA, Jan. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - Members of the media are invited to join the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, for a media availability on yesterday's attacks in Quebec City.
Following his remarks, Minister Goodale will take questions from the media. The event will be available via Periscope.
Date
Monday, January 30, 2017
Time
3:30 p.m. EST
Location
Foyer of the House of Commons
Parliament Hill
Ottawa, Ontario
SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2017/30/c3074.html
For further information: Information: Scott Bardsley, Office of Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 613-998-5681; Media Relations: Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657
Related Links
www.publicsafety.gc.ca
OTTAWA, Jan. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, released the following statement related to last night's shooting incident at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City.
"Our heartfelt sympathies are with the families and friends of those affected by this horrific attack in Quebec City. We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and our thoughts go out to the community in this difficult time.
I am being briefed regularly on the situation and commend the efforts of the Quebec Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) for their swift response to this incident. This is the result of the close collaboration of the Quebec Police Management against Terrorism framework, which allows the relevant agencies to work very closely and effectively to keep the public safe.
At this time, the National Terrorism Threat Level for Canada remains at 'medium' where it has stood since 2014.
The Government of Canada monitors all potential threats and has robust measures in place to address them. However, Canadians should always be alert to the danger of terrorism and report any suspicious activity to the National Security Tip Line (1-800-420-5805) or by contacting their local police.
Our government stands firm in our commitment to protect this country from terrorists and the fear they hope to cause. Canada will stay vigilant and united, and continue to safeguard our rights and freedoms.
I'd also like to add that the call for applications under the Security Infrastructure Program was scheduled to close tomorrow. The Department of Public Safety will extend that deadline, so that places of worship, community centres, and educational institutions have a chance to re-examine their security infrastructure and consider bolstering it.
As the investigation is ongoing, authorities are limited in the information they can provide. More information will be made available when possible."
Follow Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) on Twitter.
For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.
SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2017/30/c6405.html
For further information: Scott Bardsley, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 613-998-5681; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, (613) 991-0657
Related Links
www.publicsafety.gc.ca
TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - The United Steelworkers (USW) is alarmed and grief-stricken by Sunday night's terrorist attack on a mosque in Quebec City, killing six people and wounding several others.
"Words cannot convey the sadness and anger we feel today. While such violence is all-too common in today's world, we in Quebec and Canada are shaken by a level of brutal, hateful violence that we are not often confronted with. All Steelworkers, all Canadians and all reasonable people reject this hate-based violence," said Ken Neumann, USW National Director.
"Quebec is a land of openness, humanism and peace. We know that these values will prevail and overcome this hatred. We are thinking of the victims, their families and our brothers and sisters in the Muslim community. The Quebec we love is built on the values of respect, freedom and solidarity," said Alain Croteau, Quebec Director of the Steelworkers.
SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2017/30/c3158.html
For further information: Ken Neumann, 416-544-5951; Clairandree Cauchy, 514-774-4001, [email protected]; Bureau des Metallos a Sept-Iles 418-962-2041; Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-434-2221, [email protected]
Related Links
http://www.usw.ca
An international consortium is working to implement a new approach to increase the accuracy of optical radars function.
An optical radar is a device for estimating the distance, comprised of emitter sending an optical signal (for example laser beam), a receiver catching the signal reflected by various objects around the radar, and a data processing system, creating the picture of the surrounding landscape by the specific differences and delay times between the outgoing and incoming signals.
Earlier researches from SPbPU with colleagues from Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology and University of Oulu have developed an optical transmitter increasing the accuracy of optical radars nearly ten-fold. These are record indicators. Such results were achieved by applying shorter optical pulses, which duration is about one nanosecond, for the scanning procedure.
Reducing the pulse length while maintaining its power can significantly improve its accuracy: the typical indicators in similar devices are 30-40 V / 3-5 ns, while the device created in SPbPU demonstrates 40V / 1 ns, this is a unique achievement. This device might find a broad application range in shipbuilding, automobile, aircraft manufacturing, optical detection, and electronic equipment.
The aim of scientific consortium is to continue the collaboration for improving the characteristics of the optical emitter, in particular, to increase the radiating power, the pulse repetition rate and the transition to subnanosecond area.
The first steps in the development, technological implementation and experimental study of the device were taken in cooperation of University of Oulu, Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Currently, the equipment is almost collected for metrological study, which will be held at SPbPU. Leibniz University of Hanover will provide technological support for the development of silicon switch with a drastically (1-2 orders of magnitude) increased frequency of repetition, which should significantly improve the accuracy and reduce measurement time.
TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Japanese Economy Minister Nobuteru Ishihara said on Tuesday he expected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss security issues including threats in northeast Asia.
Ishihara also told reporters he expected the two heads of state to discuss economics and free trade when they meet Feb. 10.
(Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Chris Gallagher)
Experimental and theoretical research has shown spherical tokamaks to be a fast route to fusion compared with more conventional tokamak devices such as Joint European Torus (JET), according to David Kingham, chief executive of Tokamak Energy.
By pursuing this route, fusion researchers around the world, including at Tokamak Energy, are developing new materials and technologies to help us get fusion power into the grid by 2030, Kingham told a meeting held last week by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on developing fusion power. Tokamak Energy was invited as one of the three most promising fusion concepts, along with General Fusion and Tri-Alpha Energy.
The UKs Tokamak Energy grew out of Culham Laboratory, home to JET the worlds most powerful tokamak and the worlds leading centre for magnetic fusion energy research. Tokamak Energys technology revolves around high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets, which allow for relatively low-power and small-size devices, but high performance and potentially widespread commercial deployment.
The worlds first tokamak with exclusively HTS magnets the ST25 HTS, Tokamak Energys second reactor demonstrated 29 hours continuous plasma during the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in London in 2015 a world record.
The plasma is where the fusion reaction takes place, and its stability is crucial, Kingham said.
The next reactor in construction the ST40 would produce plasma temperatures of 15 million degrees Celsius hotter than the centre of the Sun this year. The ST40 is currently being built at Tokamak Energys facility at Milton Park in Oxfordshire.
Center column of the Spherical Tokomak ST40
The ST40 is designed to achieve 100 million degrees C and get within a factor of ten of energy break-even conditions. To get even closer to break-even point, the plasma density, temperature and confinement time then need to be fine-tuned, Kingham said.
The next step is to build a reactor that takes this knowledge and uses it to demonstrate first electricity from fusion by 2025. This will then form the basis of a power plant module that will deliver electricity into the grid by 2030, he added.
This huge challenge requires, he said, massive investment, many important collaborations, an excellent supply chain, many dedicated and creative engineers and scientists and, no doubt, some good luck and good management in order to succeed.
Tokamak Energy has raised private investment of 20 million ($25 million) from Oxford Instruments, L&G Capital, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and others. It has a valuable dialogue, Kingham said, with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory on spherical tokamaks, and with the Plasma Science and Fusion Centre at MIT on HTS magnets. Both institutions are leading laboratories that share our vision, he said.
Elsewhere private ventures can be seen tackling challenges previously assumed to be the realm of governments Virgin Galactic and Space X being two examples, he said.
In an interview with World Nuclear News (WNN) on 26 January, a day after his meeting with the Paris-based IEA, Kingham said the ST40 is due to be completed and start commissioning this Spring.
This signals a defining moment for Tokamak Energy, as the ST40 will be the most powerful compact spherical tokamak in the world that will aim to produce plasma temperatures hotter than the centre of the sun well before the end of the year, he said.
Tokamak Energy is unique among nimble, privately funded fusion energy ventures, he said, in the way that the majority of them are looking for alternative and quicker routes to fusion energy, in comparison to large publicly funded companies, which often make slow progress but do sometimes produce new scientific breakthroughs. Tokamak Energy is unique amongst privately funded fusion energy ventures, he added, as it is aiming to accelerate the development of fusion energy based on the tokamak.
Other routes to fusion are being taken by, for example, General Fusion and Tri-Alpha Energy, he noted. General Fusion is taking the approach of Magnetised Target Fusion, with the aid of modern electronics, materials, and advances in plasma physics. Tri-Alpha Energy is utilising proprietary advanced beam-driven field reversed configuration technology to create a superheated plasma environment. Tri Alpha Energy has operated a national lab-scale machine, which in many aspects resembles a future power plant, in which hydrogen and boron would fuse generating helium and energy.
The tokamak as a class of device has had unprecedented global support backed up by scientific consensus, Kingham said. More than 200 tokamaks have been built in laboratories worldwide, he noted, and there has been a 20 billion ($21 billion) international agreement to build Iter, a huge tokamak, in France.
Tokamak Energys schedule is, he said: build a small prototype tokamak to demonstrate the concept; build a tokamak with all magnetics of high temperature superconductor (achieved in 2015); reach fusion temperatures in a compact tokamak (aiming for 100 million degrees in 2018); achieve close to energy breakeven conditions by 2019; produce electricity for the first time by 2025; put fusion electricity into the grid by 2030.
IAEA Nuclear Fusion On the fusion triple product and fusion power gain of tokamak pilot plants and reactors
Abstract
The energy confinement time of tokamak plasmas scales positively with plasma size and so it is generally expected that the fusion triple product, nT E, will also increase with size, and this has been part of the motivation for building devices of increasing size including ITER. Here n, T, and E are the ion density, ion temperature and energy confinement time respectively. However, tokamak plasmas are subject to operational limits and two important limits are a density limit and a beta limit. We show that when these limits are taken into account, nT E becomes almost independent of size; rather it depends mainly on the fusion power, P fus. In consequence, the fusion power gain, Q fus, a parameter closely linked to nT E is also independent of size. Hence, P fus and Q fus, two parameters of critical importance in reactor design, are actually tightly coupled. Further, we find that nT E is inversely dependent on the normalised beta, N; an unexpected result that tends to favour lower power reactors. Our findings imply that the minimum power to achieve fusion reactor conditions is driven mainly by physics considerations, especially energy confinement, while the minimum device size is driven by technology and engineering considerations. Through dedicated R&D and parallel developments in other fields, the technology and engineering aspects are evolving in a direction to make smaller devices feasible.
* JFE says pushing ahead with Mexico steel plant
* But keeping close watch on U.S. trade policy
* President Trump has threatened to tear up NAFTA agreement (Adds quotes and analysts estimate)
By Yuka Obayashi
TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Japan's No.2 steelmaker JFE Holdings said it was still set to build a steel plant in Mexico with U.S. company Nucor, although it is closely watching U.S. policy after President Donald Trump threatened to tear up a regional trade pact.
Trump has threatened to ditch the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) binding Mexico, the United States and Canada, while the White House has also touted the possibility of a tax on its southern neighbour's exports to the United States to pay for a border wall.
"We are proceeding with our project as planned, but we are carefully monitoring moves by the U.S. government and our customers' demand," JFE executive vice president Shinichi Okada told an earnings news conference on Tuesday.
JFE and Nucor said in June last year they would form a venture to build a plant in Mexico to supply automakers there that serve the NAFTA market.
The factory is expected to cost about $270 million, with the capacity to produce 400,000 tonnes of galvanized sheet steel a year after completion in 2019.
Okada said they have begun procuring construction materials and building is scheduled to start later this year.
Okada commented on the plans for the plant after JFE more than tripled its net profit forecast for the year through March 2017 to 50 billion yen ($434 million). The steel company also more than doubled its recurring profit forecast to 70 billion yen from 30 billion yen.
The estimates beat analyst forecasts for 17.6 billion yen and 31.5 billion yen respectively, according to a mean estimate from Thomson Reuters.
Higher appraisal gains on its raw material inventories due to surging coking coal prices contributed to the revision, JFE said.
Coking coal futures on the Singapore Commodity Exchange leapt from $86.92 a tonne on June 1, 2016, to a high of $299.87 on Nov. 30, a gain of 245 percent.
Story continues
They have since dropped by almost 40 percent to around $186 a tonne, but are still more than double what they were in the middle of last year.
Hit by the soaring materials cost that cuts its profit margin, JFE reported a 30 percent drop in recurring profit for the April-December period.
JFE said it expected to produce 28.2 million tonnes of crude steel on a parent basis in the year through March 31, edging up from 27.36 million tonnes a year earlier.
($1 = 113.6500 yen) (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi, Additional reporting by; Aaron Sheldrick; Editing by Joseph Radford and Tom Hogue)
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has called for probe of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, over allegations that he diverted $10 million bailout funds.A statement yesterday by acting spokesman of the APC in Delta State, Leonard Obi, also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate the alleged missing N48.6 billion Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission fund.APC asked EFCC to dismiss denial by Okowa and thoroughly scrutinize the states finances.The statement reads in parts: We hope that it is not true that the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa is the one involved; but, if it is established that he is implicated, then it is most cruel, manipulative and disgraceful for Governor Okowa to debase himself so callously, and to have acted in a manner that is so criminal and morally unjust.We implore EFCC to dig deeper with this investigation and uncover other possible covert misappropriation by Governor Okowa who has still not responded to a recent accusation that he, allegedly, has misappropriated a colossal sum of N48.6b from the statutory allocation due to Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), being half of the total 13% derivation funds that accrued to Delta State from May 2015 to November 2016.It is obvious to Deltans that under Governor Okowas PDP-led government and indeed, all previous PDP-led administrations, Delta State has nosedived in all ramifications: economically, educationally and in the quality of its infrastructure, leaving the state impoverished and left behind on several development indices.Even Delta State government workers and aged pensioners who have long been weeping and wailing over non-payment of their salaries and pensions have not been spared; and they have been protesting incessantly for release of their salaries and pensions.In the midst of such extreme insensitivity to the plight of Deltans, it is awful and disgusting to be reminded of the looting of Delta State treasury which cabals in previous PDP-led administrations visited upon the innocent people of Delta State.We now have every cause to worry that the looting of Delta State treasury has become another recurring decimal with this Okowa PDP-led government.Given the gravity of the allegations, we call on Governor Okowa to step into the open and clear the air on this scandalous fleecing of the wealth of Deltans, including the reported misappropriation of N48.6billion DESOPADEC funds.We, APC Delta State, roundly condemn this damnable fraud on the people of Delta State, and demand that the EFCC does everything to bring the culprits to book immediately. Deltans are eager and waiting. Nigeria is waiting.
The Presidency on Monday said 23,000 persons have so far benefited from 23, 400 loans in 13 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT...
The Presidency on Monday said 23,000 persons have so far benefited from 23, 400 loans in 13 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Governments Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), under the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs).A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, listed the States as Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Rivers and the FCT.He said the loans ranged between N10,000, to N100,000 per applicant.The loans, he said would be paid directly to individuals, while they are expected to belong to registered associations and/or cooperatives to ensure that they were peer-endorsed as credible, and to facilitate timely repayments.All beneficiaries must have BVNs and bank accounts. the statement statedStressing that the Micro-credit scheme is a no-interest loan scheme, with only a one-time 5 per cent administrative fee for costs, the statement said the loan is targeted at micro-enterprises: traders, artisans, market men and women, entrepreneurs, farmers with the involvement of cooperatives and executed through the Bank of Industry, BOI.It added Although over 23,000 people have benefited from the loans, altogether, over 1 million people have already enrolled for the programme across the country and are expected to benefit this year.To facilitate the loan disbursement, four payment providers have been signed-on for the programme mostly in the urban areas. The next wave of payment providers, coming on stream by March 2017, would provide a much wider coverage in the rural areas.About 8,436 market associations and cooperatives nationwide have been registered for this scheme through the web portal (www.boi.ng/market), as well as through paper application forms.On the progress made with the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, the statement said that actual feeding of pupils is expected to commence this week in Ogun and Oyo States, while Ebonyi State will soon followIt also gave details of the cost of the feeding programme, stating that N70 was the cost of the one meal per pupil.Contrary to insinuations in some quarters and inaccurate reports in some sections of the media, there are no payment issues or any kind of food rationing taking place in states where the Homegrown School Feeding Programme has kicked off.While the Federal Government has paid all approved cooks based on the number of pupils allocated to each cook, it is the State that provides the number of pupils to be fed. And where those figures change, the next batch of FG payment would reflect it.Specifically, where the number of pupils increase, the State will communicate the increase and approve the review. The numbers of the new pupils are then physically verified, before a commensurate number of cooks are engaged, trained and then paid.The FG has also adopted a system where it pays the cooks a 10-day advance payment for feeding. The programme is designed to ensure that no cook feeds more than 150 pupils a day, but in some cases, the numbers are as low as 35 children per cook.The meal which must be sufficient and nutritious is costed around locally sourced items and approved by the State under the N70 per child provision by the Federal Government. Food quality is monitored at the school level through the head teachers, the Parent Teachers Association, PTA, and the State monitoring teams.11 States have so far indicated their readiness to commence the school feeding programme having met FGs set criteria.The progress so far recorded with the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, the N-Power Teach for unemployed graduates, the Conditional Cash Transfer for the poorest, and the GEEP underscores the Buhari Presidencys commitment to the plight of poor Nigerians and unemployed youths in the country.Efforts to ramp-up all the schemes are in top gear currently, it said.
Rilwan Akiolu, oba of Lagos, says Atiku Abubaka and Lawal Daura advised former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to remove him from the Nigeri...
Rilwan Akiolu, oba of Lagos, says Atiku Abubaka and Lawal Daura advised former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to remove him from the Nigerian police force.The monarch said the ex-vice president and director-general of Department of State Services (DSS) were able to convince Obasanjo to retire him because the Police Service Commission (PSC) is a toothless bull-dog.Akiolu made this known on Monday at a stakeholders meeting held in Victoria Island, Lagos.He said his retirement was a conspiracy by chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to win 2003 elections in Lagos.He said in part: Atiku, Daura and others sat down and advised President Obasanjo that if he wanted to win Lagos in 2003, I should be removed. It was written on paper.The monarch said the former president did not know anything about it. He had to send for the Inspector-General of Police (IG) because the then Chief of Staff challenged the plan to retire me.For someone to sit at the PSC and determine who retires from the police is unfair. This is not how to run a very efficient and effective police force.Akiolu was retired from the force in 2002.
President Donald Trump fired acting US Attorney General Sally Yates after she defied him on his controversial executive order on immigran...
The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct. Now have an Obama A.G. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2017
US Allies worried
"The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," the statement read in part.Yates an appointee of former President Barack Obama told the Justice Department earlier Monday not to defend Trump's executive order.Yates, who was set to be replaced by Trump's appointee Jeff Sessions once he's confirmed, denounced the executive order in a letter to Justice Department lawyers, saying it may not be lawful."I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institutions solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right," Yates said in the letter."At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful."Trump's executive action, authorized on Friday, calls for a temporary halt on all refugees coming to the US, and bars the entry of foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries. The order has sparked protests in streets and airports across the country, and has been roundly condemned from members of both parties. Trump spent the day Monday vigorously defending the order.Trump criticized Yates in a tweet Monday evening:Yates's directive was generally a symbolic one and would only have been enforced until she left office.Yates was appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama.The White House dismissed her comments as rhetoric and said Trump acted within his presidential powers.A new acting AG Dana Boente was sworn in immediately.There was criticism from within the U.S. government. U.S. State Department officials circulated a draft memo of dissent, saying Trump's move would hurt America's image abroad and inflame anti-American sentiment.Separately, U.S. officials said the department received multiple cables from U.S. embassies over the weekend reporting foreign dissatisfaction at the order.The Iraqi parliament voted to ask the country's government to retaliate against the United States, putting at risk cooperation in the fight against Islamic State.A government official in Baghdad said Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari plans to meet the U.S. ambassador soon to express dismay at Trump's decision.British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson joined a chorus of concern expressed by U.S. allies, ranging from Iraq to Germany."This is, of course, a highly controversial policy, which has caused unease and, I repeat, this is not an approach that this government would take," Johnson told parliament.Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in London and other British cities on Monday to demonstrate against the ban. People, some holding placards reading "No to Racism, No to Trump" and "Dump Trump," staged a protest outside the Prime Minister's Downing Street residence.
The Federal Road Safety Corps has recommended a nationwide ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada to reduce road acciden...
The Federal Road Safety Corps has recommended a nationwide ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada to reduce road accidents.The recommendation forms part of the Road Traffic Crash Report 2016, submitted by the Corps Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.The report quotes Oyeyemi as saying that commercial motorcyclist remained a major cause of fatal road traffic accidents across the country, hence the need for state governments to consider banning them from operating.The RTC statistics for October 2016 shows that 230 cases or 18 per cent of a total of 1,259 vehicles involved in accidents within the month were commercial motorcycles.According to the report, motorcycle accidents ranked third after cars which accounted for 457 cases or 36 per cent, followed by minibuses with 243 or 19 per cent of the total.Oyeyemi said, Following the outcome of the analysis, it could be concluded that motorcycle still constitutes serious menace on the nations highways.Accordingly, improved results could be achieved in the future, if more state governments could consider placing a ban on the use of motorcycle for commercial purposes.In view of the above, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation should facilitate and encourage state governments to ban the use of motorcycle for commercial purposes.Commercial motorcycle is currently banned from major routes in some cities and towns including Abuja and state capitals across the country.
Former aide to the former president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has described him as a prophet.
As Naira hits $1 to 500, do read @GEJonathan 's word. Retweet if you think he was a prophet. Fave if you think not. pic.twitter.com/yNh2FnIGd6 January 30, 2017
Former aide to the former president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has described him as a prophet.Omokri's statement is coming as the Nigerian naira hit 500 per dollar at the parallel market segment on Monday.He said former President Goodluck Jonathan's word has come to pass after the currency slide to an all-time high.He tweeted with a photo: As Naira hits $1 to 500, do read @GEJonathan's word. Retweet if you think he was a prophet. Fave if you think not.
A 5-year-old boy said to be an American citizen, from Maryland was detained for more than 4 hours yesterday at Washington Dulles airport, ...
A 5-year-old boy said to be an American citizen, from Maryland was detained for more than 4 hours yesterday at Washington Dulles airport, after President Donald Trump's executive order. His mother is from Iran. The boy travelled to Washington Dulles with another family member. His mother was waiting to pick him up when he arrived but the five year old was detained for hours.Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland blasted Trump about the boy being detained for more than four hours saying it happened even though the senator had given authorities advance notice of the boy's arrival. The detainment of the child sparked outrage online.Trumps executive order, signed Friday, temporarily bans travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Syrian refugees are blocked indefinitely. Trump defends the controversial immigration ban saying quote, "this is about terror and keeping our country safe." Trump says, "we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and voters."The boy has re-united with his mother.
Before I go on, let me make this clear, I do not, and cannot support the nefarious acts of the so-called Fulani herdsmen. They are lawless and should be treated as such. But what I find disgusting is that, an already politicized issue like this one needs to be taken cautiously by the Clergy. Does praying for your enemy to die improve your own living conditions? Does an eye for an eye not make everyone blind? Will he stand for some of his members or listeners who kill or guillotine an innocent Fulani herdsman when the member is being tried for murder? If everyone goes about killing herdsmen as the controversial Apostle said, is that not an easy road to Kigali? If, God forbid, war breaks out in Nigeria today as a result of his careless utterances, will he remain in his Auchi church to sort himself out of will migrate to one of the 42 countries he claims to have churches? What then becomes of his members, whom he had led into bloodletting? Is it not better to apply wisdom than being sorry?
Some angry youths in Oyibo Local Government Council have said that the government of Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo gave their community a...
Some angry youths in Oyibo Local Government Council have said that the government of Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo gave their community a 20 years grace not to pay for electricity.The youths in the late hours of Monday shutdown a power station belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), leading to electricity blackout in Port Harcourt and environs. They were protesting alleged inability of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) to provide them with steady electricity and TCNs refusal to employ youths from the host communities.The youths, in their numbers, forced the TCN staff to leave their office premises and barricaded the power station in Afam, Oyibo Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers.Chisom Ngbali, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Oyibo Local Government Council, who led the protest, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.He said that the youth took the action after the host communities were allegedly disconnected from the power grid following their failure to pay electricity bills.We went there (power station) and left the premises immediately after giving them instructions that if they dont restore electricity to us; there wont be electricity anywhere.PHED says they will not give host communities electricity until they make payment for electricity used which is not part of the agreement we have with the Federal Government.Host communities have been thrown into darkness for five days and counting and electricity supply is the only thing that we are benefiting from TCNs presence in our communities.We had earlier given them the condition that if we must pay for electricity; TCN should employ our people and give us contracts as stated in the local content law, he said.Ngbali claimed that host communities had an agreement with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjos administration in 2006; and which granted host communities 20 years window of non-payment for electricity.He said the 20 years period would expire in 2026, adding that the disconnection of electric supply to the area was illegal. Ngbali claimed that no indigene of the communities was under the employ of TCN in spite of the company operating in the area for many years.We cannot be in the midst of plenty and yet nothing is coming to our people. This is our land, and all the adverse effect on the environment is on us, he said.Mr John Onyi, the spokesman for PHED said that the protesters action disrupted power supply to Port Harcourt and environs.He said that PHED depended on transmission from TCN to enable it to distribute electricity to customers in the state.Onyi condemned the protest and challenged host communities to produce the written agreement it had with the Federal Government which absolved them from paying for electricity.We recall that on two different occasions in 2016, youths from Oyibo LGA carried out similar action, and to which, if unabated will continue to throw Port Harcourt city into unnecessary darkness.PHED condemns the actions of the youth and call on law enforcement agencies and Rivers Government to intervene and put a final stop to this frequent disruption of electricity distribution to customers, he said.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has urged the citizenry to display true leadership virtues and resist the temptation to succumb to divisi...
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has urged the citizenry to display true leadership virtues and resist the temptation to succumb to divisive tendencies.A source in the Presidency, who craved anonymity, quoted the Acting President as responding to the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which accused him of keeping silent in the face of brutal killings of Christians in Southern Kaduna.The source said Osinbajo would always work in line with the rule of law and was committed to the best standards of governance that value the life of every Nigerian, regardless of religion or ethnicity.He noted that even though there were weaknesses in the nations criminal justice system that limited his action, the Acting President was still working within government to bring the reforms necessary, including the option of community policing, to effectively arrest the situation in Southern Kaduna and other places.The source said: The Acting President has always acted to defend the rule of law and course of Justice. He is firmly committed to the best standards of governance that primes and values the life of every Nigerian, regardless of religion or ethnicity. As far as he is concerned, all Nigerians are equal and loved by God and does not discriminate on the basis of religion.Alongside the President, Prof. Osinbajo is unwavering in ensuring that anyone who violates the law should and must be made to face the full extent of the law.He has spoken out publicly on the inherent weaknesses in the nations Criminal Justice System, and is working assiduously within government to bring the reforms necessary, including the option of community policing.The current limitations of the criminal justice system, however, affect virtually every kind of crime, including the example of high profile murders of the past, many of which remain unsolved.This administration will continue to defend and protect the lives of all Nigerian citizens. Its the reason the President gave firms instructions to security agencies military and police to send reinforcements to Southern Kaduna to enforce the peace. The Southern Kaduna crisis has become a worrying recurrent decimal over the years.We -all of us in government, political, religious leaders, traditional rulers and the Nigerian people, especially the elites- must work to find a lasting solution.
Sally Yates, former US Acting Attorney General that was sacked by Donald Trump has reacted to her sack. Ms Yates was fired when she said t...
Sally Yates, former US Acting Attorney General that was sacked by Donald Trump has reacted to her sack. Ms Yates was fired when she said the executive order banning Muslims did not appear to be lawful.In a reaction on her twitter timeline, She wrote:'It was an honour serving the people of United States and Deputy and Acting Attorney General. We all make America great. Diversity is the win!She continued: Thank you everyone for supporting and standing by. I took and upheld oath to defend the constitution not to someone's personal likings'''Yates was immediately replaced by Dana Boente, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
It is laughable that the only link between the music star, 2 Face and Senator Akpabio which the authors of the mischievous story belabour to establish is that in 2013, 2Face and his wife, Annie Macaulay were gifted (sic) two brand new Prado SUVs by this former governor as their wedding gift which they amiably (sic) accepted.
For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that Senator Akpabio knows nothing about the planned protest neither is he the sponsor. In fact, Senator Akpabio has had no contact whatsoever with 2Face for many years.
According to the information being circulated the organizers of the planned protest have stated clearly that their protest is: a call for nationwide protests as we say no to the Executive, no to legislatures, no to judiciary.
Is it not idiotic and senseless for anyone to imagine that Senator Akpabio will sponsor a protest against the same arm of government that he is serving as a leader.
As the Minority Leader, Senator Akpabio has consistently maintained that Nigerians should put aside their differences and support every effort that will pull the country out of the present recession. Much as he believes in the right of every Nigerian to express himself, he does not think that mass protest is the solution.
The mischievous attempt to drag the name of Senator Akpabio into the planned protest should be discountenanced as the handiwork of political jobbers.
Former United States President Barack Obama yesterday gave his backing to the global protests against the travel ban by President Donald...
Former United States President Barack Obama yesterday gave his backing to the global protests against the travel ban by President Donald Trump.Citizens of seven mainly-Muslim countries have been banned from entering the United States for 90 days while refugees have been prevented in an executive order signed by Trump.The countries affected are Libya, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan they have all denounced the order with some of them vowing retaliation.In his tweets yesterday, Trump blamed big problems at airports on the demonstrators themselves, an airlines technical problems and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), who teared up while discussing the ban. (Delta suffered technical issues Sunday evening 48 hours after Trump signed the immigration order that canceled about 150 flights.)Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning, Trump tweeted. Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage..protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer.Business giants are uncomfortable with the ban.Ford CEO Mark Fields and Chairman Bill Ford strongly rebuked Trumps travel ban in a joint statement yesterday, breaking with other major automakers who have largely remained silent so far.In the first statement released since leaving the White House, Obamas new spokesman Kevin Lewis said: President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country.Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake.Lewis added that Obama fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.He noted that in Obamas farewell address to the nation earlier this month, he spoke about the important role of citizen not just on Election Day, but every day.Also yesterday, dozens of U.S. diplomats around the world were set to formally criticise the immigration restrictions, according to U.S. media report.A dissent cable has been drafted for senior State Department officials, ABC News and the Associated Press reported.Draft text seen by the BBC says that the ban on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries will not make the US safer and is un-American.President Trump issued the restrictions on Friday.His executive order halted the entire U.S. refugee programme for 120 days, indefinitely banned Syrian refugees and suspended all nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.The list does not include Saudi Arabia, where most of the hijackers in the 9/11 attacks came from.News of the complaint from U.S. diplomats comes amid a global chorus of condemnation of the new policies. The White House has defended the restrictions as necessary safety measures.The statement by Fords CEO and chairman, said: Respect for all people is a core value of Ford Motor Company, and we are proud of the rich diversity of our company here at home and around the world, Fields and Bill Ford said in the joint statement.That is why we do not support this policy or any other that goes against our values as a company.The travel ban has impacted people with green cards who were previously approved to travel freely.The fourth American automaker, electric-vehicle maker Tesla Motors, denounced the Trump immigration policy on Saturday. CEO Elon Musk has pledged to pursue a consensus among fellow Strategic and Policy Forum members on needed changes to the plan to propose to the president.Other major automakers have not spoken but a group of other majr forms CEOs have lashed out at the order.Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein became the first major Wall Street leader to speak out against the order..In a voicemail to employees on Sunday, Blankfein said diversity was a hallmark of Goldmans success, and if the temporary freeze became permanent, it could create disruption for the bank and its staff.This is not a policy we support, and I would note that it has already been challenged in federal court, and some of the order has been enjoined at least temporarily, Blankfein said, according to a transcript seen by Reuters.Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, wrote to employees with deep concern and a heavy heart about the executive order from the U.S. president two days earlier.Schultz said he would hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years at Starbucks businesses worldwide.We will start this effort here in the U.S. by making the initial focus of our hiring efforts on those individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel, he said.Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to twitter to voice his concern.The blanket entry ban on citizens from certain primarily Muslim countries is not the best way to address the countrys challenges.Many people negatively affected by this policy are strong supporters of the U.S. Theyve done right, not wrong and dont deserve to be rejected, he added.CEO Travis Kalanick said Uber would be supporting all of its drivers who are citizens of the countries named but who were currently stuck outside the U.S. because of the presidents unjust immigration ban.And Jamie Dimon, the company chairman of Americas biggest bank JPMorgan Chase, also said that employees would be supported if they were affected.Dimon, Kalanick and Musk are all members of Trumps Strategic and Policy Forum, a group of business people called together by the president to advise him on economic policy.The CEOs of the top three advertising holding companies also issued statements vowing to protect their employees.We are a talent business and weve long been committed to making diversity and inclusion a core part of our companys DNA, said Interpublic Group Chairman and CEO Michael Roth, in a statement. We therefore remain committed to protecting our colleagues, and will provide whatever assistance is necessary to keep our employees and their families safe and a valued part of our organisation, no matter their nationality or religious beliefs.While IPG is based in New York City, the holding company has agencies and employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. Though Roth made no specific mention of the ban in his statement, it was issued in response to requests to address the situation.Likewise, John Wren, CEO of Omnicom Group, issued a brief statement emphasising the companys concern for its workforce. Our people are our greatest asset and right now, our top priority is to protect and support employees, their families and all those otherwise affected, Wren said.Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, issued a somewhat more extensive statement that cited his family history and a longstanding distaste for such measures.Regarding the effect of the ban on WPP employees, Sorrell said there had been no immediate impact we are aware of in the first few days of the ban.He added that WPP is concerned about the impact it may have on our people and their families both inside and outside the USA and on innocent people generally.As the grandson of Eastern European grandparents, who were admitted to the UK in the very late 19th and early 20th centuries, I have an instinctive dislike of such measures, said Sorrell.Though prominent industry partners such as Nike, Google, Twitter and Apple made their opposition to the travel ban public over the weekend, the major holding companies and agency leaders had remained silent until Monday morning. Individual agency leaders have still refrained from commenting on the matter publicly.On Saturday, a U.S. federal judge issued a stay that forced the administration to release certain travelers being detained in airports. The administration itself revised the ban on Sunday to allow freer travel for U.S. residents in possession of green cards.At the DealBook conference hosted by New York Times columnist Andrew Russ Sorkin last week, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi said she fielded questions from her employees who were all crying after the election. She said: The question that theyre asking, especially those who are not white: Are we safe? Women are asking: Are we safe? LGBT people are asking: Are we safe? I never thought Id have had to answer those questions.
A former US President, Barack Obama, has criticised President Donald Trumps executive order to curb immigration, backing protesters wh...
A former US President, Barack Obama, has criticised President Donald Trumps executive order to curb immigration, backing protesters who have taken to the nations airports to express their displeasure.Obama, in a statement on Monday by his spokesperson, Kevin Lewis, said Trumps immigration policy was discriminatory.The (former) President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion, CNN quoted Lewis as saying.Lewis added that Obama perceived the protests as exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake.This is the first time Obama, who ceded power to Trump 10 days ago, would criticise the current President, breaking an unwritten rule that former presidents should refrain from criticising the current White House occupant.Trump had on Friday banned seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for the next 90 days and suspended the admission of all refugees.Trumps order temporarily banned immigration from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia and indefinitely stopped Syrian refugees from coming to the United States.
Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria's former aviation Minister has lashed out at Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for staying silent while Christi...
Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria's former aviation Minister has lashed out at Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for staying silent while Christians are being slaughtered.Fani-Kayode made the claim in an article titled ''The travails of Apostle Johnson Suleiman and the inciting words of the Sultan of Sokoto.''He wrote, ''Yet sadly our Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who is undoubtedly a fine gentleman and who is a practising Pentecostal Christian, appears to be helpless and has done absolutely nothing to help and protect his own from the sneaky dirty rats.''Clearly, he has no power and he does not have the disposition or the political will and clout to take a stand against this great evil. The best he could do was to issue a tepid statement telling Nigerian religious and political leaders not to allow religion to drive us apart. He did not condemn the genocide that was being perpetrated by the Fulani militias and neither did he commiserate with the families of those that were butchered or express regret about the inability of the Federal Government to prevent the carnage.''The persecution and killings of Christians appear to just go on and on even when we have a man that is a Christian as our Acting President. Yet consider what happens when Christian leaders complain and speak out against the mass murder, the genocide and the insidious attempt to wipe away our faith from the face of the earth.
By Jarrett Renshaw and Marianna Parraga
NEW YORK/HOUSTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. East Coast refiners are on a Brazilian crude buying spree, market sources say, displacing West African cargoes as producers such as Royal Dutch Shell and Norway's Statoil sell rising output from fields off Brazil's coast.
The uptick in Brazilian imports into the region comes as the only Latin America producer to increase output in recent years seeks markets close to home for the oil it is pumping from the massive offshore subsalt oilfields under development.
February deliveries of Brazilian crude into the U.S. East Coast are expected to hit 2.4 million barrels, or 86,000 barrels-per-day, the highest monthly volume since at least 2009, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration and Reuters shipping data.
The strong February numbers follow a surge in Brazilian oil shipments into the region that started last September that pushed the annual figure for all of 2016 past 2012 volumes.
"It's cheaper than West African crude," said one East Coast trader, when asked why the volume was rising.
The grades of crude being shipped include Iracema, Lula, Peregrino and Sapinhoa.
Brazilian medium grades compete with some African crudes, especially those from Angola.
China has been taking more Angolan crude over the past year , gobbling up almost all the medium and heavy crude West Africa has to offer in recent months.
Brazilian crude was once a mainstay on the U.S. East Coast, averaging roughly 50,000 bpd in 2009, on the eve of the shale revolution that upended trade routes. U.S. Bakken crude pushed out foreign imports on the East Coast from 2010 until 2015, but the reliance on domestic supplies proved short-lived.
Some grades are shipped from Uruguayan waters, others from the new Acu terminal at northeast of Rio de Janeiro.
"Prices for Lula, Sapinhoa and Iracema are currently at around the same level: Dated Brent -$1.50 per barrel for February delivery going out from Uruguay coast," said a trader.
Story continues
Brazil's offshore crudes require a costly transportation method including dynamic positioning vessels capable of loading at floating platforms.
Most companies operating offshore fields in Brazil ship their barrels in two tranches, which increases freight costs, meaning shippers prefer to sell via relatively short trade routes to North American and European destinations.
Consortia formed by Brazil's state-run Petrobras, Shell, Statoil, Portuguese Galp Energia, China's Sinopec and Sinochem and Spanish Repsol are marketing Brazilian grades while increasing output at Santos and Campos basins.
Brazilian crudes remain strong on along the Gulf Coast, averaging roughly 125,000 bpd over the past two years, according to EIA data.
The biggest buyers on the U.S. East Coast are PBF Energy and Philadelphia Energy Solutions, according to market sources and Reuters shipping data. Monroe Energy, a subsidiary of Delta Airlines, bought two cargoes in October, but has not made any additional purchases, according to a source familiar with the details.
(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in New York and Marianna Parraga in Houston; Libby George contributed to this report from London; Editing by Simon Webb and Bernard Orr)
CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION PRESERVES DELAWARE BAY WETLANDS IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY
204-ACRE TRACT TO BE ADDED TO HEISLERVILLE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
(17/P7) TRENTON The Department of Environmental Protections Green Acres Program has completed the $620,000 purchase of a wetlands area along Delaware Bay in Cumberland County that will protect habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.
The DEP used $462,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program and $158,000 from the Green Acres Program to purchase 204 acres of bay wetlands and upland buffers in Maurice River Township. The land will be added to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlifes Heislerville Wildlife Management Area.
We are very happy to preserve this land for use by a wide variety of wildlife species, including various types of waterfowl, shorebirds, bird of prey, and wading birds, said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. The Delaware Bay region is truly a special place, remarkable for its beauty and opportunities for diverse wildlife-related activities, including hiking, fishing, hunting and bird watching.
Ecotourism is a growing industry in New Jersey, especially in places such as the Delaware Bay region, where nature lovers converge to watch migrations of shorebirds, birds of prey such as eagles, osprey and hawks, and even butterflies and dragonflies. The Delaware Bay region is home to the states largest concentration of bald eagles, and is a critical stopover for migrating shorebirds.
Coastal wetlands are among the richest and most important natural places on the planet, said Wendi Weber, Northeast Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They are habitats for fish and wildlife, but also play an important role for people such as providing clean water and special places to get outside and enjoy nature. National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants are critical to our work with states and partners to protect and restore these important places.
The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance congratulates the Green Acres Program for their continuing work to acquire critical Delaware Bay Habitat. The acquisition of this sensitive habitat is a win for both wildlife and the residents of New Jersey, said Edward Markowski, Environmental Projects President for the New Jersey Outdoors Association.
The Heislerville Wildlife Management Area currently protects 7,231 acres of Delaware Bay shoreline, wetlands and uplands including some of the most important beaches used by migrating shorebirds such as red knots, which fuel up on horseshoe crab eggs as they fly to breeding grounds as far north as the Canadian Arctic.
Although comprised of numerous separate parcels, the Wildlife Management Area includes two major sections. One flanks the east bank of the Maurice River and fronts a portion of Delaware Bay known as Thompsons Beach, and the other is just to the east, along a gently curving swath of nearly pristine bay front that includes Moores Beach. The Maurice River is on the federal inventory of National Wild and Scenic Rivers.
The Wildlife Management Area provides numerous parking areas and access points for recreational activities, as well as a boat ramp. The Wildlife Management Area also offers an auto-trail driving loop. The area around the Maurice River is an important wintering area for birds-of-prey, also known as raptors, including numerous pairs of bald eagles.
It is important that we continue to add to our inventory of Wildlife Management Areas across the state, said Richard Boornazian, DEPs Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources. These special places provide awe-inspiring opportunities to enjoy nature and solitude. For decades, the Green Acres Program has played a critical role in securing these sites for public enjoyment, and this latest addition continues that tradition.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides grants up to $1 million for the purposes of acquiring, restoring or enhancing coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands to provide long-term conservation benefits to fish and wildlife habitats. The program is funded through taxes paid on equipment and fuel purchases by recreational anglers and boaters.
For details on the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, visit: www.fws.gov/coastal/coastalgrants/
For more information on New Jerseys system of Wildlife Management Areas, visit: www.njfishandwildlife.com/wmas.htm
PHOTO/Courtesy Gary Lehman
###
MEXICO CITY, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A U.S. subsidiary of Mexico's Cemex, one of the world's largest cement producers, sold a concrete tubing unit for approximately $500 million, the company said on Tuesday.
In a statement sent to Mexico's stock exchange, Cemex said proceeds from the transaction would be used to reduce debt.
(Reporting by Natalie Schachar)
Tolls possible as Louisiana looks for private help to ease Baton Rouge traffic woes
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - January 31, 2017) - Millrock Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: MRO) (MLRKF) ("Millrock" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has sold a concession named Violeta to Riverside Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: RRI) ("Riverside").
Consideration paid by Riverside for the concession is $10,000 and 100,000 Riverside shares. Additionally, Riverside has granted a 0.5% Net Smelter Returns royalty to Millrock. The agreement is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.
Gregory A. Beischer, Millrock's President & CEO commented: "This concession is favourably situated geologically and sits immediately adjacent to larger tracts of land that are known to host some interesting gold occurrences. In a larger, district play, Violeta could be a valuable block for Riverside. Millrock is pleased to now own some Riverside shares as we believe this fellow generative explorer will continue to succeed and that the shares will someday be much more valuable."
About Millrock Resources Inc.
Millrock Resources Inc. is a premier project generator to the mining industry. Millrock identifies, packages and operates large-scale projects for joint venture, thereby exposing its shareholders to the benefits of mineral discovery without the usual financial risk taken on by most exploration companies. The company is active in Alaska, British Columbia, the southwest USA and Sonora State, Mexico. Funding for drilling at Millrock's exploration projects is primarily provided by its joint venture partners. Business partners of Millrock have included some of the leading names in the mining industry: Centerra Gold, First Quantum, Teck, Kinross, Vale, Inmet, Altius and Riverside.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Gregory Beischer"
Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEO
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include without limitation the completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete exploration programs on schedule and the success of exploration programs.
"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."
The federal government plans to pour $125 million into the fight against a mysterious disease that has ravaged corals in Florida and much of the Caribbean, and now poses a dire threat to the treasured reefs off the Louisiana and Texas coasts.
WASHINGTON (AP) The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all.
Morgan Stanley (MS) told its employees it will provide support to individuals and families affected by President Donald Trump 's immigration restrictions.
"We are closely monitoring developments around the new U.S. travel restrictions imposed this weekend. While no individual employees were impacted in their travel to date, we are concerned for those individuals and their families who could be impacted and will provide them support as needed," the company said in a memo to employees on Sunday
Citing public safety, Trump issued a surprise executive order over the weekend limiting entry into the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries. The move created disruptions for several U.S. companies whose employees were caught in limbo while traveling overseas, and sparked protests around the world.
"We value immensely the contribution of all our employees from all over the world. Continuing to draw on talent from across the globe is a key element of Morgan Stanley's culture and ultimately to our success in serving our clients," the company added.
On Monday, CNBC confirmed that Lloyd Blankfein, chief executive of Goldman Sachs (GS), said the investment bank will work to minimize the effects on its employees from Trump's executive order.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday that the ban is a "small price to pay" for safety .
The Massachusetts ABLE Program -- The Attainable Savings Plan -- gives your loved one control over their savings without interfering with eligibility for government 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.
Most states have ABLE programs, and each state has slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account.
The Massachusetts ABLE Program is called The Attainable Savings Plan. The program is open to residents and nonresidents, and Massachusetts 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. Any money a person has in a traditional bank account counts 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 trustee not by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. This leaves people with special needs little control over finances and limits their 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.
Only one 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.
Contributions are capped annually. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Massachusetts ABLE Accounts -- Attainable Savings Plans
Massachusett's ABLE account program is called the Attainable Savings Plan. Here are some details.
Common name : Attainable Savings Plan
Website : https://www.mefa.org/save/able-account
Statute: Mass Gen Laws Ann 15C 29
Program manage r: Fidelity Investments https://www.fidelity.com/able/attainable/overview
Investment institution: Fidelity
Account limit : $500,000 (but you can lose your eligibility for SSI if your account exceeds $100,000)
Open to out -of-state residents: Yes
Minimum amount to open an account: None
Debit or prepaid card available: Yes
Investment options: 8 options that vary in risk from 100% Short-term investments to 85% stocks and 15% bonds.
Investment fees: Investment fees vary based on your investment portfolio. Fees range from 0.29% of assets to 0.88% of assets.
Annual fees: There is no annual fee.
Unlike many ABLE programs in other states, Attainable Savings Plans are not insured by the FDIC.
In addition to the $16,000 annual contribution, if you are employed, you can contribute your annual gross salary up to $12,880 (in 2022) into your Attainable Savings Plan, for a potential annual contribution of $28,880.
If you use your account funds on something that is not a Qualified Disability Expense, you may have to pay income taxes and a 10% additional federal penalty tax on any earnings made on these funds.
You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website of 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 Massachusetts on Nolo.com.
Welcome to nonleaguedaily.coms news provision, your go-to source for all non league updates, rumours, interviews, and much more besides.
Founded by a team with a genuine passion for the world of non league football, nonleaguedaily.com understands exactly what supporters of the so-called lower leagues are looking for. You want the high-quality reporting, in-depth analysis, and match reporting that matches that is more commonly found in the journalism for the top flights, but with the focus firmly fixed on the national leagues.
We understand that your passion, interest, and dedication is constant, and we believe you need a news service that matches that commitment with its own dedication and thoroughness so thats what you can expect from our site.
The latest non league news, as and when it happens
Conventionally, non league news has always travelled fairly slowly, especially when compared to the instantaneous, constant breaking news cycles found in the upper leagues. Tales are told on terraces, rumours passed between pub patrons and circled between supporters at the latest game, often forced to remain somewhat local initially before word eventually spreads to other locales.
For us, this slow spread may be fairly organic in nature, but it simply isnt compatible with the modern football environment. Its also not conducive to the current fast-paced, always-available media landscape, nor the way that people tend to consume news nowadays. Thats why we have put together a non league news source that fans can turn to for the latest updates, as and when they happen, and as and when you want to read them. Non-league news now is the only acceptable speed at Betting.co.uk.
We update our non-league football news coverage constantly, bringing you all the latest developments and seeking to spread the word as quickly and accurately as possible. So if youre wondering whats happening both with your local team and with the lower leagues as a whole, you can visit us for non league news now, and be confident the stories you find are completely up to date.
News reported by passionate fans
Our efforts to bring you the very best non league football news are undeniably a professional concern, and one that we take seriously. We are if youll excuse the uncharacteristic tooting of our own horns good at what we do, and we know that the efforts we make in this regard are one of the reasons our site has enjoyed such success thus far.
However, everyone who writes for us also shares our readers enthusiasm for non league football. Were not just churning out content in the hopes of cashing in on a professional dream; were here because we want to be, and will always be dedicated and committed to non league football as an entity and thriving in the experience of being able to talk about our favourite subject whenever we can. We create non-league news now that is written by genuine fans and enthusiasts, for fans. We know what you want to know and what matters most to an ardent non league supporter, and we always ensure that focusing on these elements is our guiding principle as we seek to solidify our status as an online non league paper fans can always rely on.
When compiling non league news, we think with the mind of a fan first and foremost. We cover the angles and stories that we find compelling and that we know our fellow non league enthusiasts also care about. News doesnt have to be dry and formulaic, in our opinion. When its written by people who are genuinely as fascinated by the stories they are reporting on as their readership will be, we believe news can be interesting, compelling, and even have a sense of personality and humour.
News content written with passion and expertise
We believe that thanks to our dedication, insightfulness, and commitment to our subject matter of non league today, we are offering the best of both worlds to those searching for an online non league paper. We give you the professional approach we feel is appropriate for news about one of the most intriguing aspects of UK football; an aspect that we genuinely feel does not receive the interest and plaudits that it should be generating. Nevertheless, we dont let that professionalism take over everything we do: we remain committed fans, nurturing our own personal interest in non league football and ensuring every word we compose is infused with a sense of passion and dedication that enhances the posts we create.
Its therefore obvious that our non-league content today isnt ever going to be dry, basic, or put together by a tired staff writer who has never heard of any team below the Championship before they rush off to the pub for the evening. Our writers are genuine experts: were covering non league football because we want to, because we believe in it, and because its where our strengths lie. The result is informed content that capitalises on our deep knowledge of the history, as well as the present-day realities, of non league football in the UK.
Beyond news: the nonleaguedaily.com interview series
One of our goals with nonleaguedaily.com is to not just dryly report the news from an outsiders perspective, effectively regurgitating press releases that are devoid of genuinely illuminating information. We also go right to the source of the stories: the managers and club insiders who have direct experience, and often influence, on the sport and how it is managed.
We regularly conduct interviews as part of our news provision, asking the questions that are on everyones lips and providing the best possible view into the non league world. We have reporters pitchside at matches, microphone to hand and plentiful questions ready to be asked. The end result for you, the reader, is the kind of information and close-up looks into the non league world that just cant be found anywhere else.
As our commitment to providing interesting interviews amply demonstrates, we want to be involved in breaking the stories that everyone then talks about, rather than following along and focusing solely on what everyone already knows. If youre looking for leading content that you cant find anywhere else, and that goes right to the centre of the non league world, then you can turn to nonleaguedaily.com for all the benefits of a conventional non league paper, but in electronic, easily-accessed form.
A host of other content to enjoy alongside the non league today
Our focus on providing non league news will always be maintained: we consider this aspect the most important of what we do, and it will always be the recipient of our time, dedication, and interest. Well be here, a consistent and trustworthy news portal, for as long as non league football news exists.
With that said, when you have read up on the latest goings-on, were here with further content for you to enjoy. Naturally, given our partnership with leading brand Betting.co.uk, we provide guidelines for those interested in the world of sports betting. Well help you find the best UK bookmaker with our plentiful coverage of existing brands; ideal if youre looking to put your newfound knowledge, courtesy of us, about non league to use and place a few bets.
Furthermore, we also provide highlights of all the latest UK betting offers, so you can ensure youre achieving the best value with all the latest betting deals whenever youre betting on the latest non league matches. Youll find all of this coverage is as consistent and reliable as our non league news provision,
Non league features and deep dives
Returning to the world of non league football, we also provide a range of feature content that goes deeper and further into the non league world than ever before. Less instantaneously topical but still hugely relevant to the modern game, our features are the dream deep dives that we feel non league fans deserve. Were always striving to do better, offer more, and ensure that non league fans can enjoy the same wealth of content as followers of the top tiers, so you can expect top-flight content with the same commitment and dedication as found throughout the upper echelons of the sport.
So whether youre looking to find the most recent non league football news, seeking a new bookmaker for your non league bets, or hoping to delve deep into a niche non league-related topic, nonleaguedaily.com is always going to be worth a visit.
Return to nonleaguedaily.com for all your non league news needs
Weve told you what you can expect from nonleaguedaily.coms news; now we need to put our confidence where our promises are, make sure we deliver on those promises, and establish trust as an online non league paper you can trust. We look forward to welcoming you back to our news section and showcasing the best we have to offer, from exciting new non league interviews to cutting-edge news to transfer speculation. If you want to truly have your finger on the non league pulse, then nonleaguedaily.com is always going to be here for you.
What was fallen has risen, as a bell dedicated to the Council Bluffs Fire Department was placed in its new home Monday after years in storage.
The fire station bell, dedicated to the department on July 4, 1876 though its older than that, according to Fire Chief Justin James is now hanging from a newly constructed Centennial Bell Tower in front of the fire station at 200 South Fourth St.
Heavy equipment needed to be brought in for this job courtesy of Salvos Construction, with Jim and Kelly Salvo at the helm as the 1,300 pound brass bell was strung up via crane.
The Salvos are also Council Bluffs firefighters, so they were no strangers to the gathering crowd that morning watching eagerly as history was once more put on display.
Jim Salvo said the operation went smoothly despite a few minor hitches. Controlling the crane with a remote, a chain had to be fed through a hole on top of the tower to raise the bell.
It was pretty amazing because it had to be a perfect fit, Salvo said. They say its 1,300 pounds but I suspect its heavier than that.
James said the construction and restoration of the bell and tower was accomplished completely by donations driven by the department totaling to more than $200,000.
With the bell now installed, next will come finishing the roof and plaza below. Depending on the weather, a ceremony could be held as early as spring, James said.
Mayor Matt Walsh described the bell as an artifact unique to the citys history.
We have a long standing tradition with our fire department here, Walsh said. The bell goes back 140 years and is a great source of pride for our firefighters. I think its important to the citizenry to learn that history and to celebrate it.
James own research on the bell produced some interesting discoveries. While marked for the United States centennial, the bell was most likely constructed before that.
Labeled L.M. Rumsey, which was a manufacturing giant of its time the Sears Roebuck of its day, James described it but they didnt make the bell.
Cast by McShane Bell Foundry in Maryland via sand and horse manure, it was labeled Rumsey for branding, James explained. An 1869 article of the Nonpareil is the first mention of the bell, stating the citizenry have sent for one out of a Rumsey catalog.
The catalog itself is housed in the Library of Congress, James added.
In fact, when the city first got the bell, it was bigger than they thought. It was first erected around 1882. It tolled for fire calls and firefighter funerals at various station spots around the city until it was located at Station No. 6 on North Broadway in the mid-2000s.
Eventually the bell was taken down due to structural problems with the roof, and stayed in storage but no longer.
Council Bluffs has an incredibly unique history that we should tell, rather than have other people tell it for us, James said.
A planned statewide judicial branch furlough day will set things back at courthouses across Iowa, as officials have become accustomed to cutbacks and a lack of funding.
It just puts us behind on things itll put us behind a whole day on the workload, Pottawattamie County Clerk of Court Ruth Godfrey said. It makes it very difficult to hold session when the support staff is not here. Almost impossible. Its going to make it difficult to get anything done.
A memo sent to judicial branch personnel on Friday from Court Administrator David Boyd says the states court system will go on furlough on May 26 to help reduce a $400,000 budget gap. Clerk of court and other offices will be closed the Friday before Memorial Day, and 1,446 judicial employees will not be paid. Boyd says judges and magistrates will work that day with no pay cut.
The administrator said that if the branch finds savings elsewhere, the furlough will be canceled.
The budget shortfall is a result of cuts the Legislature is poised to approve and send to Gov. Terry Branstad. The adjustments were drafted after revenue forecasts for the fiscal year came up lower than expected.
Boyd said that the judicial branch was looking at a $3 million budget cut. The majority of it will be covered by leaving judgeships and other staff positions open, leaving the $400,000 to be covered.
At the beginning of the fiscal year, there were approximately 70 staff vacancies throughout the entire judicial branch. Boyd noted that while some mission critical positions have been filled along the way, the number today is 111.
The furlough will affect clerk of court staff and court administration staff.
For the employees living payday to payday, itll obviously hurt, Godfrey said, who also noted said her office is short three employees because of the budget crunch.
The clerk of court said shes almost getting used to this because of annual budget fights. State courts employees were furloughed for almost 20 days in 2009 and 2010 because of tight budgets that also resulted in layoffs, the Des Moines Register noted.
The Legislature doesnt want to fund us but still wants us here every day, Godfrey said. The people working here in this office, they take it in stride. This has been a problem for many years.
Her office handles a number of actions, including civil lawsuits, criminal filings, traffic tickets, child support payments, juries, small claims, committals for mental or drugs and protection orders. In additional to criminal court, mental health and drug court are housed at the courthouse as well.
Even though judges and magistrates will work on May 26, Godfrey said most trials and hearings scheduled for that day will have to be continued to a later date.
Its going to make it difficult to get anything done, she said.
The electronic filing system used by the courts will ensure attorneys and clients are able to continue their work as usual.
We just wont have one-on-one customer service that day, Mills County Clerk of Court Kim Carter said.
Carter noted the furlough is only one day but expressed concern about the future, with the state budget picture looking bleak.
With current projections, were going to have to trim down services by cutting court hours or reducing staff. Which no one looks forward to.
Thats something thats projected in the future if things dont start (changing), Carter said. The public would see a negative impact on their accessibility to the courts. We would hope (the Legislature) can avoid that.
Both Godfrey and Carter said theyve worked to cut costs. Carter said 95 percent of her costs are on employees. Godfrey noted, we continually strive to behave more like a business.
We cut where we can, try to improve our efficiencies, she said. Im sure thats the practice across the state.
Godfrey said she hopes the government will work to help people like her, Carter and judicial branch staff across the state.
Were really gotten so efficient on how we operate. The only solution I see is that we get fully funded, she said. I dont know another way to solve the problem than to be fully funded. There needs to be a compromise.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
High school seniors from all over the country are gearing up to head to colleges in the fall, and the Southwest Iowa Educational Foundation wants to help more than 80 Iowa students with their transitions from high school to college.
The nonprofit organization is offering more than $85,000 in award money to students living in southwest Iowa.
While we recognize the increased need for students to pursue a post-secondary education, we also recognize the financial difficulties and barriers students face as they embark on this endeavor, Southwest Iowa Educational Foundation President Tori Christie said in a press release. We hope to mitigate that burden, at least a bit, by offering some financial assistance.
Founded in 1984, the organization generates scholarship money by partnering with community members and organizations that are interested in donating money in the name of financial aid money, or a scholarship.
We basically do all the work, nonprofit director Steve Irvin said. They tell us what they want for requirements in the scholarship, and we take care of the advertising.
Once students submit their applications, organization members also score each application and select which students will receive each scholarship.
This years application will be available starting tomorrow and will be available at swiowaeducationalfoundation.org, once the application goes live.
After students complete the initial online application, the organization then matches students with various scholarship opportunities.
Students will then be asked to complete any additional specific scholarship requirements.
Requirements vary by scholarship with some based on financial aid and others on merit; the organization encourages students of all income levels to apply.
Its important to help students because college costs are climbing and we want to help encourage young people to go to college, Irvin said. Were committed to helping deserving students achieve their college and career goals.
Applications will be accepted through March 15. Students selected to receive the scholarships will be invited to attend an award breakfast set for 7:30 a.m. at New Horizons Presbyterian Church on May 3.
A really cool part about our process is at our breakfast if our donors can attend they do, Irvin said. The ones that do get to meet with the recipient, and its a pretty cool thing to see.
Several hundred residents of Page and Fremont counties in southwest Iowa and Atchinson County, Missouri all customers of the Southwest Regional Water District were notified Monday to boil their water in the aftermath of a waterline relocation project.
According to the utilitys website, SWRWD has been working with on plans with the Page County Engineering Road Department to relocate 480 feet of eight-inch water main this year that would be in conflict with the construct of a bridge project on Fisher Creek on B Avenue in Page County.
A new eight-inch restraint joint water line was directional bored under the creek by Crain Construction of Clarinda last week. On Monday, service was shut down to complete the pipe connections, chlorination procedures and line flushing. A boil order was issued effective at 8 p.m. Monday until further notice as water samples are collected and tested by certified staff.
Jacob Walters, a service technician for the utility, said testing is expected to be completed, allowing the boil order to be lifted, by Thursday or Friday.
The water service interruption and boil order affected SWRWD customers in the following service areas:
In Page County, all customers located in Morton and Washington townships and customers located south of 280th Street and west of Hackberry Avenue in Colfax Township. Included in the area are the towns of Blanchard and Northboro.
In Fremont County, all customers located south of 300th Street in Locust Grove Township.
In Atchinson County, Missouri, customers in the town of Westboro.
The utilitys website lists 60 customers in Blanchard, 54 customers in Northboro and 141 customers in Westboro. The utility did not have an estimate of the number of rural customers impacted by the service interruption and boil order.
System wide, the utility serves 6,727 customers in Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page and Taylor counties in Iowa as well as Atchinson County, Missouri. In addition to the towns of Blanchard, Northboro as well as Westboro, Missouri, SWRWD serves the towns of Elmo, College Springs, Yorktown, Imogene, Coin, New Market, Shambaugh and Braddyville.
A Plattsmouth, Nebraska, man was arrested nearly two years later for theft warrants after authorities said he stole a trailer full of tools and was caught in the act by a trail camera.
Donnie Sprau, 48, has been charged with first and second degree theft and three counts of third degree burglary. He was arrested Wednesday and remains held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on $10,000 bond.
According to court records, Pottawattamie County Sheriffs deputies were dispatched near 152nd Street and Mormon Bridge Road near Crescent for two theft reports in February 2015.
The alleged victim in both reports is a tree trimming company, which reported three vehicles had been broken into, with pry marks left on the doors and compartments where tools were stored.
Another incident occurred on Feb. 13, 2015 at about 4 a.m. when a trailer storing tools was stolen from the alleged victim.
Photos of the theft were given to police that were taken with a nearby trail camera, showing a truck that was unique and easily identifiable at the scene, the report reads.
The next day, deputies found the stolen trailer and the unique truck at a residence in Council Bluffs, which belonged to Sprau, they said.
Sprau spoke to authorities and told them at the time of the theft he was asleep at home Plattsmouth with his wife. After being shown pictures taken from the trail camera, Sprau changed his story and stated that he and his wife had been fighting and he had been staying in his truck or in Fort Calhoun (Nebraska), police said.
The alleged victim viewed the property in the truck and found their hydraulic oil, which they had receipts for.
Authorities said they seized Spraus truck and the stolen trailer, obtained a search warrant and found the stolen property.
Sprau met with officers on May 7, 2015, and told them he was being framed, and that the trailer which he didnt steal or know was stolen next to his property only had his fingerprints on it because he had checked it out, according to the report.
Police had no further contact with Sprau for nearly two years until his arrest this week after a warrant was issued. His preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 3.
Troubling start to Legislative Coffee
I wanted to let my thoughts be known about some of the issues that were brought up at the Legislative Coffee on Saturday morning.
First of all, I find it disturbing that the Republicans in the Iowa Legislature feel that it would be better to defund Planned Parenthood, and lose $3 million in funding during a massive budget shortfall, even if they dont seem to know the details.
For the record, Sen. Dan Dawson, taxpayer money does not fund abortions.
Second, there was ironic statement from Rep. Greg Forristall who said earlier in the session that the school supplemental aid for next year would be very disappointing to everybody.
Later, he said that with Republicans in control of both chambers and the governors office that they would be able to get it done faster because there were less politics involved. Faster does not equal better, obviously.
Finally, Rep. Hanusa made a comment about how the legislative pay would be less this year. Because they are cutting 10 days off the session, the representatives and senators would be losing 10 days of per diem.
But what about their actual salary? Does this mean that they will be getting the same salary for less days of work?
Bart Randolph, Council Bluffs
Tired of mistruths about Planned Parenthood
At Saturdays Legislative Coffee, the question was raised: What is the logic of the states proposal to defund Planned Parenthood when the state faces a $117 million budget shortfall and will suffer a $3 million loss from the Federal government, especially when abortions are at an all time low?
Our newly elected state senator, Dan Dawson, appeared to be well prepared with well-thought-out answers to audience questions up to this point. His response was, Many people are turned off by Planned Parenthood selling fetal body parts for profit.
This response received an unusual outburst from the women in the audience of Not true! Not only is this statement untrue, but the true unedited video he was referring to explained that Planned Parenthood clinics want to cover their costs, not make money, when donating fetal tissue from abortions for scientific research.
The women in this country are tired of being told alternative truths from our elected officials. And, yes, it matters not only for our president but also our state elected officials.
Patricia Fuller, Council Bluffs
Thank you to emergency services
On Monday, Jan. 23, I was attending a luncheon at the Walnut Hill Reception Center. As guests were beginning to eat, a relative initially appeared to be choking. His two sons sprang into action performing the Heimlich maneuver while another person called 911.
Despite what seemed like forever, in this crisis, the EMTs arrived within minutes of the phone call. Upon entering, they calmly and professionally accessed the situation, did what they needed to do and worked as a team to stabilize the patient before transporting.
Witnessing firsthand these qualified and trained Council Bluffs emergency medics perform their duties, they, along with all small-town emergency volunteers are just doing their job when the call comes in and respond accordingly.
A sincere thank you to all but especially to the crew on the call at 3 p.m. Monday, as the family member had suffered a heart attack. Their expertise and knowledge saved his life.
Barb Von Weihe, Treynor
Op-Ed: Trump's immigration ban could have a catasrophic impact on the US
My friend Rasheed and I are both fathers, grew up watching Saved by the Bell and 1990s professional wrestling, and once boiled crawfish together.
We are also both Americansthough his story is a bit different than mine.
Rasheed is Muslim.
His family came to the country as Muslim immigrants. Like the men and women detained in airports over the weekend, Rasheed's family once boarded a plane and headed for a better life.
For me, Rasheed puts a human face (one I like a whole lot) on the Executive Orders Donald Trump signed over the weekend. While Trump maintains that the Orders are not the "Muslim Ban" he advocated for during the campaign, in an interview Saturday Rudy Giuliani stated that Trump contacted him asking for a legal method to enact a ban.
Even if you've never personally known a Muslim and can't get to a place where you have compassion for refugees and immigrants based on religious beliefs, constitutional principles, or the words of past Republican presidents like Ronald Reagan and both George Bushes, there is a bottom-line reason why you should oppose Trump's policies on Muslim immigrants and refugees.
The bottom-line reason is this:
America's economic strength is based on attracting the best and the brightest to come here and help build a better future.
That competitive advantage is baked into our entire economy.
When a college student gets an engineering degree and goes to start his or her own company, investors know that student succeeded in a system that attracts the smartest minds from all over the world. Foreign airlines buy Boeing planes because Boeing is a company founded in a society that believes in merit, talent, inclusiveness, and competition. Succeeding in Americaeither as an individual or as a companyis based on the notion that you are competing against the best ideas and the most talented individuals, regardless of what they believe or where they were born.
That's the American brand.
And that brand has worked really well for us.
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That brand is the reason why a nation with 5 percent of the global population can be the world's biggest innovation engine. The words on the Statue of Liberty welcoming immigrants to America through a "Golden Door" weren't just a poetic metaphor.
They were an economic prophesy.
Our belief in an open, welcoming, competitive society is our gold mine. It's what has made our businesses innovative and our economy strong.
Donald Trump is destroying America's brand as a beacon for the talent. Over the weekend Trump informed the world the United States is no longer a welcoming nation, that our government no longer believes in the concept of individual merit and worthiness, and instead finds specific groups of people and religions wholly unworthy of the opportunity to earn the title "American."
You don't need to be a Muslim, a Green Card holder, or a refugee, or have a friend like Rasheed to feel the impact of this radical remaking of America.
You just have to know that the more a nation closes itself off from the world, the more economically stagnant it becomes.
No one is buying jet engines manufactured in Uzbekistan, and the graduates of Turkmenistan's universities aren't creating the world's next innovative companies. Even China, the alleged great economic threat Trump can't stop talking about, has a per capita income lower than Romania and Costa Rica. That should come as no surprise, given that both Cost Rica and Romania are ranked by Freedom House as being more open than China.
Of course, the impact of Trump's Executive Orders is about more than just our national brand.
Recently my youngest daughter came to my office and asked me if we would let some of our Hispanic and Muslim friends hide in our basement, should they need it.
"Like Anne Frank," she said.
I've written online enough to know that even hinting at the possibility that we might be traveling down some of history's darkest roads brings out a hysterical outcry and people citing "Godwin's Law," which is the idea that invoking Hitler automatically invalidates any argument.
Citing Godwin's Law means you view history as though it were the Star Wars movies. That view of history is wrong. Only George Lucas thinks the story of an Evil Empire starts in the middle.
In real life, every story has a beginning.
But it doesn't take going full-Fuhrer to damage our country.
It might be as simple as telling the world you're no longer welcome in America, and you should take your hopes, dreams, and talent elsewhere.
And if that's who we've become, we all lose.
Commentary by Dustin McKissen, the founder and CEO of McKissen + Company, a strategy, marketing, and public relations firm based in St. Charles, Missouri. He was named one of LinkedIn's "Top Voices" in 2015 and 2016, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational and Industrial Psychology. Follow him on Twitter @DMcKissen.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCOpinion on Twitter.
A man accused of trying to run over a Nebraska state trooper on Interstate 80 last March accepted a plea deal Monday in Lincoln County District Court.
Aaron Suppes, 25, pleaded no contest to attempted assault on an officer with a motor vehicle, a felony, and first-offense driving under the influence, a misdemeanor. A charge of possession of a stolen vehicle was dropped.
On March 10, Trooper J.J. Connelly pulled over a vehicle that matched the description of one that had been involved in an attempted carjacking in Brule, he told The Telegraph at the time. As Connelly conversed with the driver, he saw another car coming toward him. He said he saw the driver crank the wheel to the far right, as if he was intentionally coming at Connelly. A witness noted the same thing.
The car did not hit Connelly but struck the car Connelly had pulled over.
The driver of the second car, Suppes, was the man Connelly had been looking for. Court records show that Suppes was charged March 10 in Keith County Court with unauthorized use of a propelled vehicle defined as taking over a running vehicle without the owners consent. The charge is a misdemeanor.
Judge Richard Birch set Suppes sentencing date for March 13.
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AP) _ Pentair PLC (PNR) on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter net income of $131 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.
On a per-share basis, the Manchester, United Kingdom-based company said it had profit of 71 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 78 cents per share.
The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 73 cents per share.
The diversified industrial manufacturer posted revenue of $1.19 billion in the period, which did not meet Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.21 billion.
For the year, the company reported net income of $522.2 million, or $2.85 per share, swinging to a profit in the period. Revenue was reported as $4.89 billion.
For the current quarter ending in April, Pentair expects its per-share earnings to be 61 cents.
The company said it expects revenue in the range of $1.14 billion for the fiscal first quarter.
Pentair expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.45 to $3.55 per share.
Pentair shares have increased slightly more than 8 percent since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index has risen almost 2 percent. The stock has increased 34 percent in the last 12 months.
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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PNR at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PNR
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Keywords: Pentair, Earnings Report
Chicago-based private investment firm Madison Industries has acquired a controlling interest in Task Force Tips, which Chairman and CEO Stewart McMillan said poises the company in Valparaiso for more growth.
McMillan said he has been looking for a buyer to enter into a partnership for the last 12 years and chose Madison Industries because it lets company founders stay involved. He will continue to serve as CEO of Task Force Tips, which now has the backing of a multibillion-dollar buyout specialist.
Task Force Tips now aims to grow through the acquisition of other firefighting equipment companies.
"They 100 percent want me to be here," he said. "They believe in preserving company culture. They believe in manufacturing. They're going to keep the company right here in Valparaiso. They're not one of those companies that moves companies offshore."
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. McMillan said he and others on the management team bought an equity stake in the company.
Task Force Tips makes fire hose nozzles and other firefighting equipment at its 168,000-square-foot headquarters at 3701 Innovation Way, which includes a firefighting museum. The company was founded when Gary Fire Chief Clyde McMillan jotted an idea for an automatic nozzle down on a napkin in 1968, and it has since grown to employ 240 people in Valparaiso.
"All the same people are going to be working here," McMillan said. "There are going to be more resources to do bigger things."
Task Force Tips sells its products worldwide, garnering about 30 percent of its sales from exports overseas. McMillan said he's always tried to position Task Force Tips as the market leader in innovation. "I love what I do," he said. "I was looking to find the right ownership, and absolute best partners. (Madison Industries) is a company that buys and holds. It's like Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway. It doesn't buy and flip."
Last year, Task Force Tips acquired Amkus Rescue Systems in Downers Grove, Illinois, so it could branch out into hydraulic rescue tools such as cutters, rope rescue systems, and spreaders that pry apart car doors. It also bought out Iowa-based RescueStrut 911, which makes vehicle stabilization devices.
"Fires are going down these days," McMillan said. "But fire departments are doing more rescues out of vehicles. In my 31 years as a firefighter what I remember most were not fires but vehicle crashes. It was the worst day of their life, and we would save their life. Fire departments need rescue tools, and there's growth there."
McMillan has been involved in Task Force Tips for 45 years, working for his dad in their basement when he was still a college student at Purdue University Calumet. The family-run business was an early adopter of new technologies, starting to use email in the 1980s and first launching a website in the dial-up days of 1993.
Madison Industries owns water filtration, medical and industrial companies and was interested in firefighting equipment manufacturing because it's a stable, steady business, McMillan said.
"They hope to establish a new vertical with Task Force Tips as the lead company," McMillan said. "They will give us the resources to do more things."
Remarks from winners and others at Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards:
"This story is of unity, this story is what happens when we put our differences aside and we come together as a human race. We win, love wins, every time. ... Thank you so much for appreciating these women. They are 'Hidden Figures' no more!" Taraji P. Henson, accepting ensemble cast honors for the film "Hidden Figures," about African-American mathematicians in the 1960s space program.
"Whether the Russians did or did not hack the voting of tonight's SAG Awards, I look out on the million or probably even the million and a half people in this room and I say this award is legitimate and I won. I won, the winner is me, landslide." Julia Louis-Dreyfus, best comedy series actress for "Veep."
"I'm often asked how would Lyndon Johnson think about Donald Trump. And I honestly feel that (president No.) 36 would put his arm around (president No.) 45 and earnestly wish him success. And he would also whisper in his ear something he said often, as a form of encouragement and a cautionary tale, 'Just don't (pee) in the soup that all of us gotta eat." Bryan Cranston, winner for his portrayal of LBJ in the TV movie "All the Way."
"To get to be a part even a tiny, tiny part of a group that cares about reflecting society and bringing people joy and making them laugh and giving people hope ... we're in a really tricky time in our country and things are very inexcusable and scary and need action, and I'm so grateful to be part of a group that cares and wants to reflect things back to society." Emma Stone, best lead actress for the film "La La Land."
"What August (playwright August Wilson) did so beautifully is he honored the average man, who happened to be a man of color. And sometimes we don't have to shake the world and move the world and create anything that is going to be in the history book. The fact that we breathed and lived a life and was a god to our children, just that, means we have a story and it deserves to be told." Viola Davis, best supporting film actress for "Fences."
"My mother is an ordained minister. I'm a Muslim. She didn't do backflips when I called her to tell her I converted 17 years ago. But I tell you now, we put things to the side and I'm able to see her and she's able to see me." Mahershala Ali, best supporting film actor for "Moonlight."
"A lot of people are saying right now that actors shouldn't express their opinions when it comes to politics. But the truth is, actors are activists no matter what, because they embody the worth and humanity of all people." Kerry Washington, nominated for the TV movie "Confirmation."
"Good evening, fellow SAG-AFTRA members and everyone at home and everyone in airports that belong in my America. You are a part of the fabric of who we are, and we love you and we welcome you." Ashton Kutcher, opening the ceremony.
"I'm shocked. I'm probably not as shocked as Jeffrey (fellow nominee Jeffrey Tambor), but I'm pretty shocked. I would like to go against the strain this evening and thank President Trump for making Frank Gallagher seem so normal. William H. Macy, best comedy series actor for "Shameless."
"We stand up here representing a diverse group of people, representing generations of families who have sought a better life here, from places like Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ireland .... And we know that it's going to be up to us and all of you probably, too, to keep telling stories that show what unites us is stronger than the forces that seek to divide us." Taylor Schilling, accepting the TV comedy ensemble cast award for "Orange is the New Black."
"Live your life so that when you are being honored for your achievements the people called upon to make laudatory remarks can feel reasonably honest about their comments. Otherwise, in these times, all their words ... might be perceived as alternative facts or, worse yet, fake news." Lily Tomlin, accepting SAG's lifetime achievement award.
LAPORTE The LaPorte County Prosecutor's Office said it had no choice but to release convicted child molester and killer Richard Dobeski following a court hearing Monday.
Dobeski had already served the maximum amount of time he faced on allegations of failing to register as a sex offender, according to prosecutors.
The case against him remains pending, so the prosecutor's office declined further comment.
Dobeski was released from prison in 2003 after serving 40 years for the strangling deaths of siblings Shawn and Cary Johnston, ages 6 and 3, who were found in the crawlspace of his Long Beach home.
He was living in Westville in 2007 when he was arrested for possession of child pornography and molesting a 7-year-old boy. He later was given an 11-year prison sentence.
Dobeski was released early in 2013 and placed on parole, but later wound up back in prison for cutting off the GPS ankle bracelet he was ordered to wear.
He was released in 2015 and wound up in Indianapolis, where police arrested him at a public library. He was charged in Marion and LaPorte counties with felony counts of failing to register as a sex offender.
Dobeski was convicted of the offense in Marion County, but the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed it in December 2016, according to the LaPorte County prosecutor. The time he served was applied to the LaPorte case, which was more than he faces if convicted. That resulted in his release this week.
PORTAGE The City Council here has called for the resignation of Mayor James Snyder.
Council President Mark Oprisko, a Democrat, and Councilman John Cannon, the council's lone Republican, met with Snyder on Monday afternoon for more than an hour.
"I basically told him how I feel, as well as the others, that it is time to resign. The focus is now more on the indictment and the charges than the city," said Oprisko, adding he has had reports from employees that the mayor's legal status is impeding their jobs.
"I told him if you are not going to resign, stay home and collect your salary and let the city move forward," said Oprisko, adding that if he doesn't resign, the council will propose an ordinance to remove him as chairman of the Utility Services Board.
Snyder was indicted on three counts in federal court in November including bribery and tax evasion. His trial is set for April 10.
Oprisko said there are several reasons why they are calling for the mayor's resignation, including recent spending trends, the effort by the mayor to pay $93,000 of his personal legal fees prior to his indictment without seeking approval from the Utility Services Board and, most recently, his trip to Washington D.C. for a mayor's conference and to attend the presidential inauguration, taking two police administrators and his family.
Council members Sue Lynch, Liz Modesto, Scott Williams and Collin Czilli all said they agreed with Oprisko's and Cannon's request of the mayor. Member Pat Clem was out of the area.
"I am standing behind the city council members in asking him to resign," said Lynch. "If he truly loves the city, he needs to do what is best for the city."
"I am 100 percent in support of President Oprisko's decision to approach the mayor and ask him to step down," said Williams. "I believe the morale has been affected to prevent the city from operating properly and it is the time the council stepped forward and made a stand."
Modesto said "it is not just one thing, it is a combination of things" that caused her to agree to seek Snyder's resignation, citing recent issues with the mayor's spending.
"I still believe what I said in my statement of Nov. 18 to be true, Mayor Snyder is innocent until proven guilty and deserves his day in court," said Czilli. "However, after two months of consideration, I have reached the conclusion that if Mayor Snyder truly believes in Portages future success, it is incumbent on him to resign his office, effective immediately."
The council's call for Snyder's resignation follows that of Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham.
Snyder gave a statement to The Times via email saying "When I signed my oath of office there was no clause giving up my American Civil Rights, including my presumed innocence. My rights and my oath of office are no different than Councilman Oprisko or Councilman Cannons rights. They are correct that this is weighing heavily on Portage and we are operating well under these circumstances. Residents of Portage are receiving the great services they have come to expect and those services will continue because of the hard work of the public servants working. My dedication to working with other City elected officials has not feigned and together Portage will see more big things accomplished. Any rash decisions are ill advised and detrimental to the future of Portage."
A Hobart police squad car and another vehicle were involved in a crash Sunday near U.S. 30 and Mississippi Street, officials said.
Lake County sheriff's police are investigating, department spokesman Mark Back said.
A 20-year-old man was a passenger in the Hobart officer's black and white 2011 Ford Crown Victoria at the time of the crash, officials said. The man was being held on suspicion of battery and battery on law enforcement, Hobart police said.
Back said his records initially indicated no one was injured in the crash but the investigation is continuing.
Hobart police said the prisoner was taken to Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus, but his condition was unknown as of Monday morning.
Hobart police said the Lake County prosecutor's office could file charges against the man Monday.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, Back said.
INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana House and Senate agree that local governments no longer should be allowed to ignore State Board of Accounts audits that find officials are intentionally deviating from policies and procedures required by state law.
The Republican-controlled House voted 95-3 Monday for House Bill 1031. The bill authorizes escalating penalties up to a total spending freeze for local governments that fail to promptly correct a state audit finding.
State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, the sponsor, said in his experience most local governments follow the rules or quickly get back in line if an audit uncovers a mistake, such as improper cash handling procedures or untimely financial reporting.
But he said other entities, such as the Lake County Solid Waste Management District, have a history of ignoring audit findings or spending more time challenging them than it would take to simply do things as the law requires.
"It just seems to me that if we're going to spend the money to try to provide good governance, then this kind of bill makes sense to compel them to at least do something," Slager said.
A similar proposal, Senate Bill 159, sponsored by state Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, was approved last week by the Republican-controlled Senate, 47-0.
It likewise requires local officials to explain, in person, to a panel of state lawmakers why they refuse to comply with state law, though it lacks the spending-freeze option approved by the House.
The measures now will swap chambers so lawmakers can work toward a compromise proposal in the weeks ahead.
VALPARAISO Air Force veteran and Unity Hospice patient Victor McGovern had only a few humble words to share while viewing airplanes and military memorabilia during a late morning outing Monday to the Porter County Regional Airport.
But the 69-year-old Gary resident did not hesitate to sing along as best he could once hospice officials brought out the acoustic guitar and broke into one of McGovern's favorite songs, "Ghost Chickens in the Sky."
"You don't know how much I appreciate it," he said in a weak voice before joining the others in signing the "Star Spangled Banner."
The outing was organized by Unity Hospice of Merrillville as part of an effort to fulfill the last wishes of patients, said Volunteer Bereavement Coordinator Chrissy Huntzinger.
One 7-year-old patient wanted to see the sequel to the movie "Night at the Museum" and it was arranged for him and his friends at the Portage 16 IMAX theaters.
"If we can make something happen for them, that's what we do," she said.
McGovern, a cancer patient, who has been on hospice care for more than three years, arrived at the airport hanger courtesy of Superior Ambulance.
He appeared disoriented at first when confronted with the small crowd of well wishers and media, but quickly found common ground with Unity Director of Program Development Brenda McGarvey, who is also an Air Force veteran.
"We know there's no other branch but the Air Force," she joked with him.
McGarvey said the outing is part of the Hospice for Heroes program. The hospice arranges for uniformed military people to show up at the bedsides of veterans, which often causes the patients to rally, if for just the final hours.
McGovern spoke little Monday as he was pushed around the hangar in a wheelchair, but was able to identify various aviation and military memorabilia.
"That's a prop," he said pointing to a propeller hanging on the wall.
"That's a practice bomb," he said of the small rocket-shaped item on the floor.
Monday's tour was led by Unity Chaplain Steve Buchelt, who is a civilian pilot.
"When we connected on that level, it took our relationship to a whole new level," he said.
McGovern was a plane mechanic during his 18 years in the Air Force and was assigned during the Vietnam War to deliver the herbicide Agent Orange.
"It's guys like that that keep those wings flying," McGarvey said.
When asked what he thought of the outing, McGovern hesitated and then said in a hushed tone, "I'm not worth it all,"
The response did not surprise those gathered, including his wife Brenda McGovern.
"He's always worried about somebody else," she said.
CROWN POINT About a dozen people showed up Monday night at the council chambers at City Hall to hear about a proposed express commuter bus service to Chicago.
The meeting was held by the transportation committee of the City Council and led by Councilman Chris Retson, who made the bus service the center of his campaign during his run for council in 2015.
Retson is proposing something along the lines of Valparaiso's ChicaGo Dash express service, which went into effect in 2008. Plans are to have two Chicago-bound buses a day, initially, depart the Lake County Government Center for one to three stops downtown. The buses would be equipped with Wi-Fi, satellite TV, restrooms and be ADA compliant.
Retson said benefits would include having more businesses likely to relocate to Crown Point while encouraging the millennial population to stick around. It would also reduce rush hour congestion at 109th Avenue and I-65 interchange. He said it would also give a boost to the residences on the north side and for businesses there along Main Street.
One-way tickets would cost anywhere from $8 to $12.
Retson said using Valparaiso's model would cost about $632 per bus to operate. He said if the buses were filled at $12 a ticket the city would make a profit without applying for a single grant but "that won't happen."
"I promise you that," he said. "But I'm hoping we can have a strong ridership here."
Local resident Mark Talbot came to the meeting to see if the service would be a feasible option for him and his wife who both work downtown. Talbot said he and his wife used to take the South Shore train there from the Miller station in Gary at a cost of about $200 each per month. A few years ago he started driving downtown, with his wife, where he leases a parking space at $225 a month.
He said even if the Crown Point bus fare was at its lowest, at $16 round-trip, it would cost $320 each for him and his wife. Which makes driving downtown cheaper than taking the proposed bus.
Talbot said if there was a special monthly rate or something around the cost of $230, it would make it more feasible. He said he appreciates Retson looking into the bus service and likes the idea of the station being at the county government center.
Councilwoman Carol Drasga, who is on the transportation committee, said funding the bus service is a critical issue. She said she spoke with Valparaiso officials who told her at the $8 one-way ticket price, they subsidize their bus service at $100,000 a year in addition to the grants they receive.
"I think it's a great idea," she said. "My question is on the cost."
Attendees at the meeting included Mayor David Uran and several council members including Andrew Kyres, who said he is encouraged by Retson's initiative.
"I think it's a good start," he said. "The Valpo one has been very successful and we would probably include similar components."
Also at the meeting was Carl Lisek, executive director of South Shore Clean Cities, who said if the city is going to move forward with this, the SSCC can help with resources and identify available grants.
Those who did not have a chance to attend the meeting and would like more information can contact Retson via email at cretson@crownpoint.in.gov.
CROWN POINT Its been more than two years since the family of Dean and Barbara White first offered the Southlake YMCA $16 million to expand and upgrade the Ys building and facilities.
Laurie A. Halaska, CEO of the Crossroads YMCA, which includes the Southlake, Griffith, Hammond and Whiting Ys, officially announced to the membership Monday how the White Foundation grant will be used to launch a fundraising campaign for what will be a $35 million project to triple the size of the current building.
The foundation grant is now $15 million with an additional $6 million coming from the couples children. Another $3.5 million is coming from major donors and $7 million will be financed. The Y is seeking $3.5 million from the community at large over the next five months.
The project will increase the existing 40,000-square-foot building to about 121,000 square feet, which will enable the facility to meet the needs of the city and the surrounding communities for the next 75 years, Halaska said.
Craig White, scion of Dean and Barbara and a member of the Y, said, My parents have always had a love for Crown Point and Northwest Indiana. By giving this gift to the YMCA, they felt it would have the maximum impact to Crown Point and surrounding communities.
So, what has the Y been doing since Craig White first told them of the donation? Well, theyve been making sure whatever they do, they do it right, Halaska said.
The original suggestion from Craig White was for the gift to help enhance the aquatic area, which consisted of one, four-lane, inadequate and antiquated pool.
Design inspired by facility in Wichita, Kansas
We started doing our due diligence of what the improvements should look like, Halaska said. We pulled in designers and looked at other facilities, and we came upon Wichita, Kansas.
A group of board members and others, including Craig White, went to Wichita to visit the YMCA faclity there, where they met with its CEO Dennis Schoenebeck, who has since retired. After touring Wichitas facilities, White indicated hed like to bring the kind of facilities Schoenebeck created in Wichita to Crown Point.
That changed our direction, and its why its taken us two years, Halaska said.
Schoenebeck was brought in as a consultant to the project because he was very knowledgeable of both buildings, having led the effort to construct eight Ys in the Greater Wichita area, and programs. The Crown Point group worked with him and with the Wichita architects SJCF Architecture, who designed those facilities, and with their own staff.
To find out what the needs of the local communities are, the Crown Point Y also met with community leaders in Crown Point and surrounding communities and with Franciscan Health Crown Point officials. The Y is on land owned by Franciscan, and the Franciscan board had to approve the use of the additional land. They also talked about the funding needs for the project with all of them.
Making sure needs are met 75 years from now
Weve done a lot of research to be sure we are doing the right thing for the community, Halaska said. The big key for us is not looking at the short time going out five years. We are looking at 75 years out to make sure we meet the needs of a growing community.
According to census figures recently reported in The Times, Crown Point is the fastest-growing community in Northwest Indiana, having increased its population about 18,000 over the past 15 years.
The Y opened in 1997 and within the first three months had a membership of 5,000 and a waiting list of 900. After an addition 10 years ago, it grew to 8,000 members, but expects to have 25,000 members soon after the expansion is complete at the end of 2018. Halaska said the new facility will handle the tripling of membership and still have room to grow.
We have played a valuable role in meeting community needs, but we want to do more. Much more, Halaska said. We are embarking on an extraordinary transformation that will provide a world class YMCA facility to the citizens of Crown Point and surrounding areas and transform our lives and our community.
A 39-bed geriatric psychiatric hospital could open in October at a renovated building in downtown Hammond providing more than 80 full-time jobs.
The Hammond Redevelopment Commission Monday conditionally approved Assurance Health System Inc.'s bid for the four-story building at 5243 Hohman Avenue that was once the home of the Mercantile National Bank.
The company anticipates hiring about 83 full-time employees with an average wage in the $50,000 range plus about 25 part-time workers, according to information provided to the redevelopment commission. The annual payroll is expected to be around $4.8 million.
"It does sound like a very exciting project and a huge investment that you are doing here," Commission President Tony Hauprich said Monday.
Phil Taillon, executive director of the city's planning and development department, said the building has been sitting vacant for several years. In addition to bringing a business into a large downtown building, Taillon noted the company will be providing a service not currently offered locally.
"It's definitely a win for the city," he said.
The company, who city officials have been working with for some time, was the only one to bid on the city-owned facility. The bid was for the minimum sales price of $355,500.
Assurance Health System will open up a short-term, inpatient psychiatric hospital, focusing on seniors, at the building. Assurance operates similar facilities at three other locations, including one in Anderson, Indiana, that was toured by city officials, and has plans to open others.
The company anticipates spending about $4.5 million on renovating the building in Hammond. President Kyle Small said the company plans to use local labor on the renovation.
"We are very excited to be here," Small said.
According to information provided to the commission by Assurance, the typical patient at the secured facilities is 65 years and older with an average age of 83. They may be diagnosed with psychiatric disorder and be exhibiting disruptive or disorderly behavior, according to the company.
The vast majority of the patients will stay no longer than 15 days, according to a company official. The company only takes in referrals from places such as nursing homes and hospitals and patients will not be allowed to leave before being transported back to the facility from which they came, according to Small.
"We typically draw in the 45 to 60-mile range," he said.
Small said the company usually partners with the local hospital and officials are planning to meet with officials with Franciscan St. Margaret Health Hospital in Hammond.
Taillon said the city would not be providing incentives, but that the company may be receiving some from the Hammond Urban Enterprise Association. He said the city, however, does plan on doing some refurbishment in the area nearby the building.
CROWN POINT Lake County Sheriff Lt. Guy Mikulich goes on trial Aug. 21 in Lake County Criminal Court.
Mikulich appeared Monday before Lake Criminal Court Judge Clarence Murray with defense attorney J. Michael Woods, who was standing in for attorney Paul Stracci.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michael Toth asked Murray to set a trial date for Mikulich. Woods said the defense needs more time for discovery. However, after a lengthy consultation between the attorneys and the judge, Murray granted the states request for a jury trial date with a pre-trial conference slated for June 26.
Mikulich, a Merrillville resident who turns 38 on Thursday, faces 13 charges, including four felony charges for driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. He has been suspended without pay from the sheriffs department since his July 10, 2016, arrest, and has been out on bond since July 21.
Indiana State Police allege Mikulich was driving while intoxicated in an unmarked Ford Crown Victoria squad car while on duty at the Gary Air Show last summer.
According to court records, Mikulich struck and severely injured Derrick Dircks, 34, of Frankfort, Illinois, as Dircks arranged items in the rear of his 2014 Toyota Sienna van. Dircks four children were inside the van during the time of the crash, the affidavit states.
Dircks lost consciousness at the scene, but later regained it while he was being treated in an ambulance. According to court records, Dircks could have hit Mikulich's windshield with his head. Dircks also was treated for injuries to his eye, right thigh, leg and arm.
Dircks was taken to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus after the crash and was released from the Gary hospital July 5, according to Indiana State Police.
The probable cause affidavit states Gary police stopped Mikulich about a mile and a half from that accident scene. He is accused of having a blood alcohol content of 0.15, nearly double the legal limit.
Toth also told Murray that hes received calls from both the Lake County Sheriffs Department and the Indiana State Police asking when the unmarked squad car Mikulich was driving at the time of his arrest will be released.
Woods said he will let those law enforcement agencies know when the car can be released.
CROWN POINT A plea agreement is in the works for Stephanie Serrano, one of three people charged with in the beating death of Gary resident Nathan Marshall in January 2015.
Serrano, now 31, has been in custody at the Lake County Jail since her arrest in April 2015, charged with murder and assisting a criminal, a level 5 felony. The Gary resident appeared Tuesday with her defense attorney Patrick Young before Lake County Criminal Court Judge Samuel Cappas.
Young told the judge a plea agreement on the murder charge is being worked out with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Eric Randall and should be ready to submit by Feb. 17. The bail hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday was vacated.
James Willingham of Lake Station was also charged in the homicide of Marshall, 31, and remains in the Lake County Jail. Cheyanne D. Evans of Gary was charged with assisting a criminal after her arrest in Orlando, Florida.
Marshall, who was confined to a wheelchair, was reported missing by family members on Jan. 23, according to court records. His body was found Feb. 25, 2015 in a wooded area north of the 2200 block of Fairbanks in Gary after a child riding an ATV spotted his remain, the probable cause affidavit states.
An autopsy by the Lake County coroners office determined Marshall was strangled to death, with blunt force trauma as a contributed factor.
CROWN POINT Plans for the $35 million expansion of the Southlake YMCA from 40,000 to 121,000 square feet were unveiled for the organization members Monday for the first time.
The announcement came after more than two years of research and planning following the initial announcement by the family of Dean and Barbara White of a $16 million gift to improve the antiquated aquatic center. It involved consultations with area communities and getting approval for the additional land from the Franciscan Health Crown Point.
The additional land for the expansion is nine acres.
Those attending the two sessions for members Monday got a look at the 80,000-square-foot addition to the east side of the Y at 1450 S. Court St. The addition will include a six-lane lap pool, a zero-entry warm water pool with a slide and other water features, an outdoor L-shaped pool, also with a slide and other water features, mens lockers, womens lockers and universal locker rooms with private changing areas.
Two new gyms are planned along with an overhead walking/jogging track that will connect to the existing gym; six program studios for cheer, dance and group exercise; a steam, sauna and whirlpool; a family game room; a juice and coffee bar; a large lobby and lounge along with social spaces throughout the facility; a community meeting room with a teaching kitchen; a 21,000-square-foot comprehensive wellness center with cardio, strength and functional training equipment; a mezzanine/terrace for outdoor classes and social functions and plenty of parking.
Early learning center will become licensed
In addition, the existing pool area will be transformed into a gymnastics center, and the Y will have an educationally focused drop-in child care area for children to be monitored while their parents exercise. The early learning center will become licensed, and all the Ys administrative offices will be moved to space in the existing facility.
Expansion will enable the Y to offer many new programs as well as expanding some existing ones. New programs will include summer day camps; the gymnastics center; dance and martial arts programs; competitive teams in gymnastics, swimming and other sports; healthy eating classes; senior wellness; medical-based wellness programs in the areas of diabetes prevention and cancer support groups; weight management and nutrition and CPR and baby-sitting courses.
Y project second largest in the city
The Y project is the second largest in the city, surpassed only by the high school, during the last decade. The $16 million initial offer by the Dean and Barbara White Foundation was changed to $15 million for the final project, but it will be enhanced by $6 million from their children and another $3.5 million from major donors. The Y is in the first phase of a fundraising campaign to raise another $3.5 million and the remaining $7 million will be financed.
The community phase of the fundraising will kick off in May with the goal of having enough to break ground for the project Aug. 1. Completion of the addition is expected Dec. 1, 2018. The Y will remain open and operating during the construction, and, when the addition is done, work will begin on the remodeling of the existing building.
Laurie A. Halaska, CEO of the Crossroads YMCA, which operates the branches in Griffith, Hammond and Whiting in addition to the Southlake Y, said plans for remodeling the current structure havent even been drawn up yet, and a completion date for that work hasnt been determined. The entire projects schedule also will depend on the success of the fundraising campaign.
Y has come a long way since 1976
The Y has come a long way since the citys first YMCA opened in the downtown in 1976 offering summer day camps, childcare, youth sports, swimming lessons and fitness programs.
We are very grateful for the generosity of the White family, and the benefits of their contribution to Crown Point and the surrounding communities is beyond description.
We want to acknowledge and thank our neighbor, Franciscan Health Crown Point, for their generosity in allowing us to have a long-term lease that allows for this expansion, Halaska said. Together we have a long history of serving the needs of the Crown Point community. Every day we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn and grow.
Crown Point Mayor David Uran said, The city wants to congratulate the Southlake YMCA, and we are excited about the expansion and renovation plans. A project of this magnitude will provide quality of life amenities that will compliment and preserve our communitys values in many measurable ways. We also are grateful to the White family and their foundation for their continued philanthropic contributions. Together we are truly building a stronger community from within.
The Y is a private, community-based nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. Although it is part of a national federation of YMCAs, all its assets belong to the local organization.
MICHIGAN CITY A Michigan City man accused of badly injuring a puppy in 2015 has had his plea agreement rejected.
Richard Cope is accused of injuring a four-month-old dog, later nicknamed Chance Christmas because of its miraculous recovery, in December 2015.
According to court documents, Cope was given the dog by a woman moving to an apartment that didn't allow pets. It's alleged Cope later struck and stomped on the dog and taped his nose shut prior to the puppy wandering next door on Christmas Day in 2015. Several people noticed him in the backyard wheezing, foaming at the mouth and stumbling.
Sherri Christopher, who helped the dog back to good health, wants more than the maximum 30 months called for in the plea and hopes all of it has to be served locked up.
"He's definitely not a contributing member to society. He needs to be behind bars where we know where he's at," said Christopher, director of the Porter County-based animal rescue group, Guardians of the Green Mile.
On Feb. 10, Cope can either present a new plea or go to trial.
The terms rejected Friday by LaPorte Superior Court 4 Judge Greta Friedman called for a 30-year sentencing cap on charges of intimidation and torturing or mutilating an animal, both Level 6 felonies, along with animal neglect or abandonment, a Class A misdemeanor.
It was up to the judge to decide the number of years and how much of it would be spent behind bars.
Although the pit bull puppy is now doing fine, he walks with a slight limp and will never recover some of his lost agility.
"He's always going to suffer the consequences of having two broken hips. He is going to be an old man way before his time," said Christopher, adding Chance is being taken care of outside of the area.
The National Civility Center, a partner with Community Civility Counts, is sponsoring World Civility Day events on April 13 and will host a workshop at the Indiana Welcome Center.
Civility starts with you, will be the focus of the workshop of the Civility Center, a non-profit resource center that recently created a civility calendar and a civility scorecard. Find out more at civilitycenter.org
The Civility Center also will hold its board of board of directors meeting in Northwest Indiana on April 12.
Board members will travel from Arkansas, California, Michigan, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., and Canada to attend the meeting and the events of the second World Civility Day.
"The need to restore civility in society has never been greater in our lifetimes, said Russ Charvonia, president of the National Civility Center. The board of The Civility Center looks forward to holding its board meeting in Hammond in conjunction with the second annual World Civility Day. This is a very appropriate forum for us to continue our efforts.
Community Civility Counts, which started as a partnership of the Gary Chamber of Commerce and The Times Media Co. in 2015, is planning a full-day of workshops at the Welcome Center and an awards dinner in the evening at Avalon Manor in Merrillville.
Tickets can be ordered through the Gary Chamber of Commerce. Call (219) 885-7404. Tickets are $25 for the day sessions and lunch and $60 for the celebration and awards dinner. Tables of 10 for the dinner can be reserved for $550.
Sponsorships also are available through the Gary Chamber.
LONDON (AP) The Latest on President Donald Trump, his travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries and other immigration actions (all times local):
6:50 p.m.
The head of the U.N. refugee agency estimates that some 20,000 people could have been resettled in the United States during President Donald Trump's 120-day suspension on admitting refugees.
The office of U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi says he is "deeply worried by the uncertainty" faced by thousands of refugees in the process of being resettled in the U.S.
UNHCR said in a statement Monday that it estimates that 800 refugees were set to travel this week alone, but have been barred from entry following Trump's executive order signed Friday.
The Geneva-based agency says it came up with the estimate for a total of 20,000 people who might have been resettled during the 120-day suspension based on average monthly figures from the past 15 years.
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6:35 p.m.
Hundreds of people are protesting in the British university town of Oxford against U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration ban.
The protest on Monday night also targeted Conservative U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, who many in the crowd felt did not react strongly or quickly
"This is what democracy looks like!" The crowd chanted. They carried signs reading "No to racism, no to Trump!"
As speakers vowed to press to get the government to revoke the state visit invitation to the American president, the crowd chanted: "Theresa May, hear us shout: Muslims in, sexists out!"
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6:10 p.m.
The United Nations says it has received assurances that the Trump administration's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries will not affect U.N. staff members from those countries.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said a handful of U.N. staff members traveling on G-4 visas which allow non-diplomats to work at U.N. headquarters in New York were kept from boarding planes over the weekend.
But Dujarric said he was informed Monday that "all issues had been ironed out and we got the needed assurances from the U.S. Mission" that staff from the seven countries with valid G-4 visas can return to work at the United Nations.
Dujarric reiterated that the U.N. "very much hopes that the measures put in place regarding refugees are temporary," saying "the U.S. has been a critical partner of the United Nations organization ... in resettling refugees."
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6 p.m.
Entrepreneur Richard Branson has registered his opposition to President Donald Trump's travel ban in a blog post, promising to donate to the American Civil Liberties Union and the International Rescue Committee and urging the public to donate to worthy causes.
The founder of the Virgin empire said in his post Monday there were many reasons to be worried about the order, which bars people from seven countries in the Middle East and Africa from entering the United States and suspends refugee immigration for 120 days.
Branson says he applauds "the thousands who have taken to the streets and the airwaves in solidarity across the U.S." and others donating their time "on behalf of those caught up in this mess."
The company did not immediately disclose the size of the donations.
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5:40 p.m.
A Somali refugee says more than 200 refugees with flights to the U.S. have been told they cannot travel because of President Donald Trump's orders temporarily suspending entry by citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries.
Suleiman Yusuf, a teacher, said Monday that the 200 left a refugee camp in eastern Kenya last week, but were told by the International Organization for Migration that their Monday flights were canceled "because of Trump's orders."
Yvonne Ndege, a spokeswoman for the United Nations refugee agency, says about 13,000 Somali refugees who had been interviewed and approved for resettlement by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services have been affected by the order.
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4:45 p.m.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says he has been assured by American officials that "all British passport holders remain welcome" in the United States, even if they are also nationals of seven countries temporarily barred by President Donald Trump.
Johnson has told lawmakers in the House of Commons that Trump's executive order "will make no difference to any British passport holder, irrespective of their country of birth or whether they hold another passport."
Confusion has reigned about whether dual nationals are affected by the 90-day ban on citizens of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Libya .
Johnson said the U.K. had told the Americans of "our anxiety about measures that discriminate on grounds of nationality." He said "this is something that we do not support."
Opposition lawmakers are demanding the government condemn the ban even more strongly and cancel a state visit to Britain by Trump planned for later this year.
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4:40 p.m.
French and U.S. travelers at Paris' largest airport Charles de Gaulle reacted with shock to President Donald Trump's decision to ban citizens from a number of largely Muslim countries.
National carrier Air France announced 15 people from the countries listed in the executive order had been blocked before boarding their flight to the U.S.
Ross Anderson, a U.S. tourist heading back home to the Washington area, said that he was afraid he might probably witness firsthand the effects of Trump's decision with "protests and maybe people being detained or blocked."
Travelers at Charles-de-Gaulle's 2E Terminal were mainly critical of the measure. French U.S.-bound tourist Bernadette Taglia-Zackarin called the decision with respect to members of targeted countries Iran and Iraq "extremely dangerous."
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3:15 p.m.
The foreign minister of Qatar says his country is against President Donald Trump's blanket banning of refugees and travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said in Serbia on Monday he hopes U.S. authorities will further assess the move and "we hope that they are going to do the right thing" about it.
Several of those stopped at U.S. airports since Friday are believed to have traveled on flights from Qatar.
The foreign minister says: "When it comes to be addressed in a Muslim framework, I think this is something we will stand against."
The 90-day ban, imposed on Friday, affects travel to the United States by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
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2:45 p.m.
The president of the American University of Beirut has criticized President Donald Trump's executive order to indefinitely bar refugees from Syria and keep individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days.
Fadlo Khuri, a dual Lebanese-American citizen, said in a statement released Monday that the AUB community has watched the fallout at America's airports with "growing concern" in the last 72 hours.
The university is one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in the Middle East.
Khuri says: "We find this action and its implications to be in conflict with the enduring values of liberty and justice for all, which the original framers of the US constitution fought to protect."
Founded in 1866, AUB enrolls around 8,500 students from all over the world.
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2:20 p.m.
Turkey's national airline says it will reimburse passengers who were unable to fly to the United States due to the U.S. ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations.
Turkish Airlines said Monday that customers who could not board their flights would be fully reimbursed and not charged any fines.
The carrier did not say how many Turkish Airlines passengers were affected by the ban.
A company official did not immediately respond to questions from the Associated Press.
The 90-day ban, issued by President Donald Trump on Friday, halts travel to the United States by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
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2:15 p.m.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is renewing her criticism of President Donald Trump's order suspending entry to the U.S. for people from seven Muslim-majority countries and halting refugee admissions.
Merkel said Monday that "the necessary and determined fight against terrorism in no way justifies a general suspicion against people of a certain faith in this case against people of Muslim faith or people with a certain origin."
She added that she believes the U.S. action also "contradicts the basic concept of international help for refugees and international cooperation."
Merkel's words echoed similar comments by her spokesman Sunday, the day after the German leader voiced her regret at the decision during a telephone with Trump.
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1:55 p.m.
Pakistan's interior minister says President Donald Trump's action banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States will hurt "global unity against terrorism" and could backfire and "help terrorists achieve their goals."
The minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, also said on Monday that the U.S. administration's measure will "add to the miseries" for the victims of terrorism world over as Muslim countries were the ones most hit by terrorism.
Khan says linking terrorism with Islam is not justifiable since only a few hundred misguided people turn to militancy and defy the message of Islam out of the world's 1.5 billion Muslims.
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2:05 p.m.
An Iraqi lawmaker says the parliament's decision calling for a "reciprocity measure" in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order is non-binding for the Iraqi government.
The deputy parliament speaker, Sheik Humam Hamoudi, says the vote approved in the Iraqi parliament on Monday was "a recommendation" and did not move as a "law."
Hamoudi's statement is echoed by Kirk Sowell, a political and legal analyst focused on Iraq and publisher of the newsletter "Inside Iraqi Politics."
Sowell says that the Iraqi "parliament absolutely lacks the authority to originate legislation of any kind regulating anything the executive branch does."
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12:40 p.m.
The European Union has vowed it will not discriminate against refugees based on nationality, race or religion and will never choose for isolation and inequality.
EU Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said that the 28-nation bloc is carefully studying the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a travel ban on refugees to see how much it will impact EU citizens.
Schinas also quoted from a Sunday interview of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in which he said: "We have to make choices about the world we want to live in. We must choose between isolationism, inequality and national egotism on the one hand. And openness, social equality and strength through solidarity on the other."
In an interview with the German Die Welt, Juncker said that "it is by standing for opening, social equality and solidarity that Europe can credibly act on the world stage to find common forward looking solutions."
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12:15 p.m.
Doctors Without Borders says U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order suspending entry for refugees from Syria into the United States is putting lives in danger.
The Paris-based advocacy group says Trump's order "will effectively keep people trapped in war zones, directly endangering their lives."
Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French-language acronym MSF, called Trump's order "an inhumane act against people fleeing war zones."
It called on the U.S. government to lift the ban, end the exclusion from specific countries, and to restart the resettlement of refugees.
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12:10 p.m.
The U.S. Embassies in London and Berlin have advised people from the seven countries affected by President Donald Trump's travel ban not to seek a visa, or schedule an appointment even if they are a dual nationals.
The statement posted on the London embassy's website on Monday issued the guidance to "aliens from the countries of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen."
It says, "if you are a national, or dual national, of one of these countries, please do not schedule a visa appointment or pay any visa fees at this time."
There has been widespread confusion about whether the ban applied to dual nationals.
The embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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11:55 a.m.
Two lawmakers say that the Iraqi parliament has approved a "reciprocity measure" after U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning citizens from Iraq and six other Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
The measure, adopted by lawmakers at a Monday session of parliament, is to apply to Americans entering Iraq.
Lawmakers Kamil al-Ghrairi and Mohammed Saadoun told The Associated Press that decision is binding for the government. Both say the decision was passed by a majority votes in favor but couldn't offer specific numbers. No further details were available on the wording of the parliament decision.
It was also not immediately clear who the ban will apply to American military personnel, non-government and aid workers, oil companies and other Americans doing business in Iraq.
It was also not known if and how the Iraqi measure would affect cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State group in Mosul.
Trump's order includes a 90-day ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen, and a 120-day suspension of the U.S. refugee program.
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11:20 a.m.
A spokesman for the German foreign ministry says "tens of thousands" of people are likely to be affected by the recent U.S. travel ban.
An executive order issued Friday by U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily restricts entry to America of people from seven majority-Muslim countries.
Foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer says Germany is trying to understand the practical implications for its citizens who also hold a passport from one of the affected countries. He told reporters in Berlin on Monday that Germany hoped to receive further "clarity" from Washington in the coming hours.
Chancellor Angela Merkel had expressed regret Sunday about Trump's decision, but refrained from condemning it.
Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Monday that Merkel intended to "work for a good German-American relationship."
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11:00 a.m.
British Prime Minister Theresa May's office says that a state visit to Britain by U.S. President Donald Trump later this year will go ahead, despite increasing calls for it to be canceled over his temporary ban on residents of seven majority-Muslim countries entering the U.S.
Her office says "an invitation has been extended and accepted."
No date has been announced for the state visit, which involves lavish pomp and ceremony, often with a stay at Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.
An online petition on a government website has attracted more than 1 million signatures opposing the trip. Protests against the travel ban are planned Monday in London and other British cities.
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10:50 a.m.
Iran's senior vice president is calling President Trump's executive order on travel and visa process ban "illegal, inhumane and against human rights."
The official IRNA news agency Monday quotes Ishaq Jahangiri as saying the order should be reviewed at the international level.
Jahangiri says: "We will definitely take stance against this illegal, inhumane and anti-human-rights activity in international bodies. And once again (we) will review and explore American human rights in international bodies in order to let the world to know what a system they are facing."
He did not elaborate.
The executive order suspended issuing visas for people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen for at least 90 days.
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10:40 a.m.
The world's largest body of Islamic nations has told The Associated Press that it has "grave concern" over U.S. President Donald Trump's order banning travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation issued a statement Monday to the AP warning that "such selective and discriminatory acts will only serve to embolden the radical narratives of extremists and will provide further fuel to the advocates of violence and terrorism."
It called upon the U.S. to "reconsider this blanket statement and maintain its moral obligation to provide leadership and hope at a time of great uncertainty and unrest in the world."
The 90-day ban, imposed Friday, affects travel to the U.S. by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. All are OIC members.
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10:30 a.m.
Air France has blocked 15 passengers from Muslim countries from traveling to the U.S. because they would have been refused entry under President Donald Trump's new immigration ban.
Air France said in a statement it was informed Saturday by the U.S. government of the new restrictions, and had no choice but to stop the passengers from boarding U.S.-bound flights.
An airline spokeswoman said Monday that the passengers were taken back to their point of departure or otherwise taken care of. She would not provide the passengers' names, nationalities or other details.
The passengers were from seven Muslim-majority countries affected by the three-month immigration ban: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
In the 1920s, my father's family moved from Canada to Gary, Indiana, for work in the steel mills. My father attended school, boxed in Golden Gloves competition, fought in WWII and worked in the mill for 43 years, raising five children.
In 1970, my father found out that he was not a U.S. citizen because his parents never established citizenship for him. He was able to become a naturalized citizen in a matter of months.
In the 1920s, no one said that those Canadian-Irish immigrants should be deported or labeled as criminals. The United States helped hard-working, honest, deserving people to resolve the legal issues and continue their American lives.
That is the America many of us grew up in.
It is easy to be selfish and intolerant. It is American to be generous and inclusive.
Tim Loosemore, Hebron
The gentleman who questioned President Barack Obama's pardons also mentioned Obama signing unconstitutional orders.
Obama has been accused of signing more than 900 executive orders. In reality he signed 279. George W. Bush signed 291, and Bill Clinton signed 364.
What evidence do you have to prove his orders were unconstitutional? Executive orders were his only choice given Republican opposition.
It is said that a lie repeated over and over somehow becomes the truth. Fear and hate is what will destroy our fragile democracy. We have a responsibility to find the facts, not the alternatives.
Janice Lesniak, Schererville
With so much going on around us and inside usfrom the busy pace of life, to political turmoil, to changes in our own bodies as we ageit often seems like theres hardly any time to just sit, breathe and empty our minds of worry.
But thats where meditation and breathing practice come in, which in addition to the opportunity to slow down and rest also offer numerous health benefits.
Madeline Ebelini, a stress reduction educator and teacher of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program in Bonita Springs, Florida, lists benefits that include improved sleep, reduced hypertension and blood pressure, a strengthened immune system and reduced anxiety.
If you choose to meditate, there are many different practices to choose from, some with religious roots and some that are entirely secular. No matter which you choose, its important to remember that mindfulness is not about trying to get anywhere other than where you are, Ebelini says. Its about being, not doing.
Meditation for Uncertain Times
Because meditation is inwardly focused, it can make you more aware of whats happening inside the body and mind. This allows you a time of pause before you react in the midst of a stressful experience.
Pay attention to how your body is responding, Ebelini says. Notice if there is an emotion present that you can name and name it: anger, anxiety, hopelessness, fear. Notice what is going on in your mind. What is the mind doing with this information?
Oftentimes, our default response to stress is to find a quick solution and take immediate action. While this might work if were confronted with a tiger charging at us, its less useful if stress is caused by something more abstract like politics or workplace deadlines.
You may discover that your mind is in search of immediate answers and solutions, when none may be readily available, Ebelini says. Instead, breathe slowly while paying attention to the inner landscape of your body, heart and mind. Learning how to just be with your experience in those moments builds resiliency and interrupts patterns of automatic reactivity which often increase our stress, she says.
Its Best to Just Breathe
Sometimes the best cure for stress can be to focus on our breathing. Its the ultimate natural cure for stress. Were all going about things to cure our stress and were missing our cornerstone, the pivotal factor, says Belisa Vranich, a clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience who has spent the last decade dedicating herself to the study of breathing. Vranich is the founder of the Breathing Class, and author of the book Breathe, a 14-day program to improve mental and physical health through better control of breathing.
Weve started to breathe in a way that puts us into perpetual low-grade stress, and we think that its normal, she says. Vranich points out that 9 out of 10 adults breathe vertically, raising their shoulders and expanding their chests when inhaling, and then lowering the shoulders and contracting their chests when exhaling.
Thats completely anatomically incongruous and completely out of sync with how our bodies are designed, she says. Instead, Vranich teaches her students to think of breathing with their hips and stomachs instead. To inhale, relax and expand the belly. Then compress your stomach on the exhale so that your bellow button comes closer to your spine. You actually use your abs, she says.
When her students breathe horizontally, a lot of wonderful things happen, Vranich says. Youre using the densest most oxygen rich part of your body. (That would be the lower part of your lungs.) Your nervous system realizes that youre breathing deeply, and causes the body to relax.
The vertical breath causes a fight or flight response, Vranich says, because of the tension it puts on the body. Horizontal breathing causes the opposite. A lot of us know fight or flight, but the opposite is not on the tip of the tongue, she says. Instead of fight or flight, the horizontal breath is a rest and digest breath.
Vranich explains that this type of breathing decreases anxiety and lowers blood pressure. If you start breathing with your diaphragm, most of that gets better right away, she says. Its incredibly self-reinforcing. Just the knowledge that youre supposed to inhale and expand and exhale contract.
How to Start in Five Minutes
Ebelini offers these tips: Practice at the time of day when you feel most alert, she says. She adds that you should select a place in your home where you will be undisturbed and thats free of distractions.
Seat yourself comfortably in a chair or on a cushion and set a timer for five minutes. Ebelini uses a free app called Insight Timer. Either close your eyes or keep them at a half-gaze, she says. Briefly scan through your body and just notice the feeling of your body sitting. Locate where in your body you feel the sensations of breathing most vividly and simply feel the experience of your inhales and exhales.
If you find your mind is starting to wander, thats okay. Just bring your attention back to your breathing again. Dont judge yourself because your attention wanderedthats normal, she says. Meditation is about the coming back.
When the timer rings, you can go on about your day. The benefits of meditation build subtly, so it takes some discipline and consistency, especially at first, she says. As you practice, you can gradually increase the time you spend in meditation. Over time you will begin to notice amazing changes in your ability to respond skillfully in stressful situations, she says.
It's a tale of two cities on Staten Island, following President Trump's controversial travel ban on people from seven Muslin countries. Staten Island is a hotbed of Trump support in the city but it also has a large community of undocumented immigrants fearful of the president's border crackdowns. Borough Reporter Amanda Farinacci has the details.
The lawn signs boasting support of Donald Trump are still up, though there are fewer of them.
But even without the tell-tale reminders of last year's campaign, it's not hard to find Staten Islanders who are proud to call Trump their President:
"I'm fully behind Trump," said one.
"I'm so glad he got in," said another. "It was like a dream come true. I love him."
Staten Island's south shore is the most conservative area of the city's most conservative borough.
Voters here backed Trump over Hillary Clinton by a three to one margin.
They're shaking their heads over the protests in Manhattan, and JFK airport, over Trump's executive order closing the country to most people from seven predominantly Muslim countries...
They say the rallies are a waste of time and that it's too soon to tell whether Trump's policies will be effective.
"He made a lot of promises during his campaign," said one. "And now he's initiating those promises. I don't think anybody should be surprised by how he is initiating them; it's happening rather quickly and I think it's something that is positive."
"Did you see them?" one asked. "Did you see them making fools of themselves? Most of them were."
"They like to protest; people here like to protest; every little thing," said another.
While Trump supporters say they've taken a wait-and-see attitude, immigrant advocacy groups on the island's north shore say they've got no time to spare when it comes to mobilizing in defense of President Trump's policies.
Advocate Gonzalo Mercado was one of the thousands who turned out at JFK Saturday night.
He says many members of the island's large population of undocumented Hispanics are receding to the shadows
"There are people who are completely unnerved," Mercado said. "They don't know what to do. A lot of people are advising not to travel."
Several know-your-rights sessions are planned, and there is even talk of creating a so-called Underground Railroad, pairing residents here with undocumented immigrants who fear they may be deported and offering their homes as a safe haven.
Two Bronx men are under arrest after police say they tried to beat the toll at the George Washington Bridge this past weekend.
According to Port Authority police, Jose Hernandez pulled an Audi sedan over near the bridge entrance on the New Jersey side around 9 p.m. Sunday.
They say his passenger, Bryan Rosario, got out and taped a piece of paper over the rear license plate.
The car then drove through a toll lane without stopping.
Police pulled the car over and arrested both men after Hernandez was unable to provide insurance information.
They are facing a number of charges including toll evasion and tampering with public records.
A day before MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast leaves office, Governor Andrew Cuomo makes two interim appointments to replace him.
Ronnie Hakim will be the MTA's Interim Executive Director.
In 2015, she became the first female president of New York City Transit.
Before, she was the Executive Director of New Jersey Transit.
Prendergast said in a statement that she has a deep understanding of the region's transportation network.
Meanwhile, former Bronx Borough President and candidate for mayor, Fernando Ferrer, will serve as the agency's Interim Chairman.
He briefly held the same position before Prendergast took over in 2013.
The Governor says a search committee will recommend permanent candidates in the coming weeks.
The foundation also helped organize the pilgrimage along the route taken by some of those who fled, one of the most poignant stops being this small town in central Portugal, where Mr. Sousa Mendes was born and is buried in a family crypt. There, the participants held a remembrance ceremony. Today the familys former mansion is in ruins, with the roof collapsed, but its prominent place in the town is a reminder that family members were once powerful aristocratic landlords, until the war and Fascism changed their destiny.
Some of those taking part in the pilgrimage had not returned to Portugal since the war. Until they were contacted by the foundation, many descendants had in fact not heard of Mr. Sousa Mendes, either because their parents never spoke about their wartime experiences or because they probably never realized just what a crucial role he played in facilitating their escape.
Mr. Sousa Mendes started ignoring Lisbons orders and delivering his visas in 1939, several months before Germanys invasion of France, in part because he had a twin brother, a fellow Portuguese diplomat, who was stationed in Warsaw and told him about Nazi atrocities there.
Many of his visas, however, were issued in the frantic month of June 1940, when the Germans were tightening their grip on France and the Portuguese government was scrambling to bring home its rebel consul from Bordeaux. Mr. Sousa Mendes eventually gave up his struggle and returned to Lisbon in early July, after the Portuguese had also instructed the Spanish border police to turn back holders of his visas.
In the 1980s, Portugal rehabilitated Mr. Sousa Mendess name and apologized to his family, while the Portuguese Parliament posthumously promoted him to the rank of ambassador.
Still, Harry Oesterreicher, the treasurer of the Sousa Mendes Foundation, said that it was disappointing to see the limited recognition Mr. Sousa Mendes had received in Portugal and how his family mansion here had been allowed to fall into ruin. It was repossessed by creditors after his death.
The foundation is now hoping to turn the house into a museum of tolerance, with the Portuguese authorities pledging last month to make an initial contribution of about $400,000.
Ten years ago this month, Apples (NYSE: AAPL) then-Chief Executive Steve Jobs first introduced the iPhone to the world, and since then those smartphone sales have been powering the companys top and bottom lines.
But 2016 saw a three-quarter string of declining iPhone sales, the first in its history, and last quarter the company announced its first decline in year-over-year revenue and profit in 15 years. Might those numbers have reversed course when AAPL turns in its fiscal first-quarter 2017 results after the market closes today?
Some analysts argue that AAPL is the most important earnings report to watch. It is the most heavily weighted stock on the S&P 500 (SPX). And, as a side note, it's been the most widely held stock among TD Ameritrade investors for three straight years.
Did iPhone Sales Break the Slump?
The December quarter typically tends to be the best for AAPL because it includes the holiday-shopping season, when many consumers are buying AAPL products as gifts. AAPL already has boasted about breaking all-time sales records in the App Store, with purchases topping $3 billion in December alone. And Chief Executive Tim Cook told Reuters in early December that the Apple Watch looked to be the one of the most popular holiday gifts last year.
Sales growth is off the charts, he told the news agency, though he didnt reveal numbers. In fact, during the first week of holiday shopping, our sell-through of Apple Watch was greater than any week in the products history. And as we expected, were on track for the best quarter ever for Apple Watch," he added.
But sales of AAPLs ubiquitous smartphoneswhich generate roughly 60% of total revenuesare the ones that some analysts say matter the most. Q1 2017 also is the first full quarter of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus sales (there were only a few weeks of the new iPhone selling period in the last quarter), that some analysts think are likely to have helped boost total revenue back into growth mode. AAPL said in its last earnings report that it was forecasting Q1 revenue between $76 and $78 billion. Even at the low end, that would be higher than last years $75.87 billion in sales in Q1.
Story continues
Besides the new smartphone versions, AAPL also brought out its thinnest and lightest MacBook Pro in October, with new features. Some analysts are also pointing to AAPLs efforts to grow its service division as something to watch in Q1. According to the companys press release, revenue last quarter from Internet servicesAppleCare, Apple Pay, licensing and other servicesjumped better than 24% from the year-ago period, setting a record at $6.32 billion. Its iPad sales were flat and Mac sales slumped nearly 17% during the same period.
The Q4 consensus earnings estimate from third-party Wall Street analysts is $3.22 a share, down from $3.28 per share in the year-ago period, according to the Earnings Analysis tab on the thinkorswim platform from TD Ameritrade. Revenue is projected to climb to $76.92 billion from $75.87 billion a year ago.
The options market has priced in an expected share price move of about 3.2% in either direction around the earnings release, according to the Market Maker Move indicator on the thinkorswim platform.
Calls have been active at the weekly 122 and 123 strikes while puts have seen activity at the weekly 120 strike. The implied volatility sits at the 40th percentile. (Please remember past performance is no guarantee of future results.)
Note: Call options represent the right, but not the obligation, to buy the underlying security at a predetermined price over a set period of time. Put options represent the right, but not the obligation, to sell the underlying security at a predetermined price over a set period of time.
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LOS ANGELES A Fontana woman reunited with her family Monday after being detained in Saudi Arabia and again at Los Angeles International Airport as a result of President Donald Trumps executive order temporarily halting some foreigners entry into the United States.
Areej Ali, who has a green card, had trouble coming home from Sudan, where she attended her sisters wedding. Ali was detained for 12 hours in Saudi Arabia while attempting to board a connecting flight to LAX.
I felt confused, upset, sad, the software developer said by phone Monday. All my rights and everything I worked for my whole life everything was getting stripped away from me within seconds.
Through the assistance of friends and family in California, and the use of social media, they were able to get the attention of Sen. Kamala Harris, who intervened to help get Ali on a flight back to the U.S.
Harris spokesman Tyrone Gayle said the senator is relieved for the refugees who have the opportunity to be reunited with their families at LAX and across California. Harris staff is actively working to provide resources and support for those who have been contacting the senators office, he said.
The ordeal began Friday when Alis sister, Abeer Abdelrahman, saw Trump sign the order. Despite the time difference it was 3 a.m. in Sudan she called Ali and alerted her to the developing events. Ali had traveled to Sudan with her mother, Nadia Faqeer, a U.S. citizen.
I told her they needed to come home right away. I knew I needed to get my family back home, Abdelrahman, 30, of Laguna Hills, said.
Ali immediately began reading the news reports about the executive order and said she sensed the urgency. Less than 12 hours later, Ali and her mother were on a flight back home.
I actually thought they were going to face some issues in Sudan, but we didnt think it would be in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). We got a call at 9 a.m. telling us they wouldnt let her board and that they were having to ship back to Sudan any non-U.S. citizens, Abdelrahman said by phone Monday.
Ali said airport officials in Saudi Arabia tried to separate her from her mother, but Faqeer refused to leave her daughters side.
For the next several hours the Fontana residents called, texted and email friends from a lounge area, trying to figure out how she could return to the country she called home.
At first I didnt what to do, I felt so helpless, Abdelrahman recounted. I started to make calls and check into social media.
The air carrier stopped her at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia because officials there were concerned about getting fined, she said.
The executive order suspends resettlement of Syrian refugees indefinitely, suspends all other refugee resettlement for 120 days, and bans the entry of nationals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen for 90 days.
Over in Fresno, family friend Gadeer Muhammad said she became aware about her friends situation through Facebook.
She never expected this to happen to her, Muhammad said. They were devastated and have had to go through so much the last few days.
Muhammad said this was the first time in two decades years the U.S. resident had left the country. But she didnt want to miss her sisters wedding.
It turned a happy experience into a nightmare for them, Muhammad said, who lived in Fontana for 13 years. She and Ali became friends while at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga.
Ali and her family had traveled to Sudan for Abdelrahmans wedding in December. But the longtime Fontana resident and her mother stayed behind to help her uncle, who planned to travel to the U.S., with a February appointment to get his visa, Ali said.
They cut the trip short without even saying farewell to family in Sudan, she said.
While Ali and her mother were in Saudia Arabia, the family eventually came in contact with representatives from Harris office as well as Orange County-based attorney Courtney Black, who was able to obtain a letter saying that Ali was a U.S. resident and the executive order did not apply to green card holders.
Ali messaged her sister, informing them they were boarding a flight and would be back on American soil by 11 a.m. Monday.
Thank God it worked, Abdelrahman said. I was so happy because I thought I wasnt going to see her for a long time.
Abdelrahman and her husband, who were able to return to the states before Trump issued his executive order, were at LAXs Tom Bradley International Terminal on Monday, waiting to be reunited with sister and mother.
Alis mother was released, but Ali was detained, then question, for more than an hour.
The first person Ali said she saw exiting the gate was her sister. The two embraced.
I felt extremely relieved and overwhelmed, she said. I couldnt believe I was here and it made me appreciate America. I felt the support of everybody and everyone going through what Im going through.
Thousands flocked to Irvine Chinese Schools 41st annual Chinese New Year Festival this past weekend to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Rooster.
Its the most important Chinese holiday that we celebrate, Irvine Chinese School Principal Yulan Chung said. The new year is the day all the family members come together.
For the first time, the schools New Year celebration was expanded to two full days, instead of a one-night event, to accommodate more people, Chung said.
Students sang, danced and recited poetry to showcase what they learned about the Chinese culture over the past year. Booths featured arts and crafts, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese paper cutting, puppet shows and more.
Irvine Chinese School is one of the largest of its kind in California, with about 1,200 students enrolled.
The first day of this Chinese New Year, based on the lunisolar calendar, was Saturday. Celebrations last until the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month.
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2017 is the year of the rooster, one of the 12-year cycle of animals.
Its a year that encourages people to chase their dreams by working hard, Chung said.
Irvine Chinese School will also partner with Pacific Symphony to present the 2017 OC Lantern Festival on Feb. 4 (the actual end of the 2017 New Year is Feb. 11). The free event is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.
Contact the writer: tshimura@scng.com
What about that tunnel?
Re: Severe storm damage closes Ortega Highway; unclear when it will re-open [News, Jan. 26]: Now that we are seeing the dangers and inconvenience of an overcrowded, curvy, one lane each way road that has a huge amount of motorcycle accidents let us reconsider the long mentioned tunnel from the Elsinore area to the south O.C. area.
Ortega is a wonderful scenic route but not meant for large traffic flows. Heck, maybe Gov. Brown could add it to the high-speed train route.
George W. Zeissner, Fountain Valley
Get it together
Gov. Jerry Brown just proposed a budget of $177 billion, with funding for everything under the sun. Its hard to believe that the closure of Ortega Highway is being delayed because the equipment needed to begin the repairs is being used somewhere else that somewhere else being Sacramento (of course). Maybe they can borrow the equipment from a better managed state which shouldnt be hard to find.
Jeff Thomas, San Clemente
Support and defend
The following words are from the governors oath of office: I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Gov. Browns recent statements, if he carries them out, will violate his oath of office. Its time to stop the nonsense. Gov. Brown should use his influence and the representatives of the state in Congress to change the law, if he and they can. But until they do, he is honor bound to obey it. If he cannot, he should resign. If he does not, he should be impeached.
M. J. Knudsen, Trabuco Canyon
Somethings gotta give
Re: Newport deal shows how pensions are rigged against taxpayers [Opinion, Jan. 29]: While living in Texas in the mid-90s I spent time at a resort in Arizona. During afternoon happy hour I met a gentleman who introduced himself as a retired police chief from a mid-sized California town. After a few drinks he said he retired with full benefits at age 53, he was now 55, with a pension of over $100,000 a year. I thought to be employed by a local government must be the ultimate job. Now I live in California and Im worried how we can maintain these exceptional pensions in the long run, either by higher taxes, lower services or pension reduction.
H.K. Rahlfs, Irvine
AVDIIVKA, Ukraine Heavy artillery and rockets hit residential areas in eastern Ukraine Tuesday amid a new outburst of fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels, leaving at least eight people dead and dozens injured.
Salvos of heavy-caliber artillery were heard throughout the night and late morning in Avdiivka, a town on the northern outskirts of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk where residents have been without electricity for days. In Donetsk, at least one civilian was killed by shrapnel.
Fighting around Avdiivka has cut water and power supplies for most of the town and it was left without heating in the dead of winter. Temperatures plunged to minus 18 Celsius (0 F) on Tuesday morning.
The warring sides blamed each other for the spike in hostilities, the worst in months. The Ukrainian government was considering evacuating 12,000 residents from Avdiivka, Pavlo Zhebrivsky, head of the administration in charge of the government-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, said on Facebook.
With no signs of an immediate evacuation in sight, some residents went to a local bus station, hoping to get away from the heavy shelling.
Volodymyr Bassak, 67, was waiting to catch a bus Tuesday morning to a city some 200 kilometers (125 miles) north because of the lack of heat in his home.
The house was shaking (shelling) was really intense at about four in the morning, Bassak said as he brushed tears from his eyes. There were flames along the front line.
Valery Tretyakov said he was having tea at home in Donetsk when he heard a big explosion and the sound of shattered glass. He rushed into the bedroom and saw his wife bleeding from a shrapnel wound to her neck that proved fatal.
It was impossible to stop bleeding, Tretyakov said. One minute and thats all.
The rebels Donetsk News Agency also reported that four fighters died and seven were injured overnight along with three civilians.
Oleksandr Turchynov, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council, said on Tuesday that shelling around Avdiivka killed at least three government troops and injured 24 more. Another seven soldiers were killed on Sunday and Monday, the government said.
The press office of the Ukrainian military operation in the east reported an unspecified number of civilian casualties. It said the rebels turned down the governments offer for a cease-fire to allow the dead and wounded to be moved.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accused the Ukrainian government of provoking the hostilities to distract public attention from domestic issues.
Peskov told reporters in Moscow the Kremlin has reliable information that Ukrainian volunteer battalions crossed the front line Monday night and tried to capture rebel-controlled territory.
Kiev is worried that Donald Trumps administration could ease some sanctions on Russia the U.S. imposed for the annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and support for the insurgency in the east.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Tuesday that the escalation of hostilities proves the sanctions must be kept in place to bring the aggressor to justice.
Peskov, in turn, said that Kievs aggressive actions threaten to derail a 2015 Ukraine peace deal brokered by France and Germany. The agreement obliging the warring sides to hold fire and pull back heavy weaponry has been regularly violated.
The European Union has expressed concern over the renewed fighting and called on both sides to pull back immediately to allow for the urgent repair of critical infrastructure.
An escalation in the east could be beneficial to both the separatists and the Ukrainian government, Kiev-based independent political analyst Vadim Karasyov said.
Kiev is eager to win support of the new Trump administration, and for this they need to show that separatists and the Kremlin are derailing the peace accords, he said. For the Kremlin, its important to show that it holds war and peace in its hands; if the new U.S. administration wants peace in Ukraine, it needs to offer something in return.
Rebels in Donetsk said an electricity sub-station was damaged in shelling, cutting power to the Zasyadko coal mine. The mine is notorious for poor safety standards; a methane blast there killed 33 people in 2015.
With elevators not working, the miners were trapped underground for several hours before local authorities found backup generators outside the mine. By late afternoon on Tuesday, all 207 men were able to get out.
The director of Avdiivkas giant coking plant said on Monday that preparations were being made to stop production, something rarely done throughout the conflict that has claimed more than 9,700 lives since it began in 2014.
The coking plant, which switched to a natural gas supply after power was cut off on Tuesday, was providing some heating to homes in the town even though its gas reserves were are running low, director Musa Magomedov told The Associated Press.
Vasilyeva reported from Moscow. Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Yuras Karmanau in Minsk, Belarus, and Raf Casert in Brussels contributed to this report.
ORANGE Sharif Muzayen didnt hear the crash that nearly killed him.
But he could smell it.
As an Orange policeman with three years on the beat, Muzayen had investigated fatal collisions involving intoxicated motorists, and the scent of death was everywhere.
Brake fluid, burning rubber.
There is always that smell, and its always the same, the 32-year-old Muzayen said.
But that night, on Dec. 10 at around 3 a.m., while crumpled on the ground on a two-lane residential street with one-story homes, it was his life in the balance.
Now, nearly three months after a woman is accused of DUI, the man who grew up in Berlin wanting to become a cop is again chasing a dream: to get healthy, and to again hit the streets as an officer.
My motivation is to get my life back the way it was, Muzayen said the other day, after meeting with his orthopedic surgeon at Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana.
That early morning
It all started, back on that December night, when Muzayen responded to help another officer investigating a report of an intoxicated man sleeping in a truck blocking a driveway in the 500 block of North Cambridge Street.
Muzayen awakened the man, who took an Uber home.
Then Muzayen walked to the rear of his black-and-white Ford Explorer, parked near the curb, and opened the trunk. He was after the needed paperwork for the incident.
Muzayen doesnt recall getting hit there, allegedly by Ashley Victoria Bertolino, 27, of Tustin. She is accused of driving a 2016 Hyundai Veloster at about 40 mph while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
He does remember seeing the concern on his sergeants face.
He looked at me and told me not to move, Muzayen said.
Muzayen was able to make it to the sidewalk, where another officer began applying a tourniquet to a severed femoral artery in his left leg, gushing blood.
The officer was asking me how tight to make the tourniquet, he recalled. I told him to keep tightening and tightening until you cant tighten anymore and then go up a notch.
Muzayen lost nine pints of blood there on Cambridge, and three more on the way to Orange County Global.
As the ambulance made its turns in darkness, he checked off each street: East on Walnut Avenue, south on Tustin Street, left into the hospital parking lot.
Muzayen didnt worry about dying. But the former U.S. Marine Corps cop feared losing his badly injured leg.
I thought to myself that I had done two tours in Afghanistan, and now I was going to lose my leg, he said.
As the ambulance drove up the hospitals steep driveway, he lost consciousness.
Inside the emergency room, four surgeons oversaw Muzayen getting pumped full of drugs, put him on a ventilator, and placed him in a medically induced coma frantically working to save his life.
In the hospital
The stocky, muscular officer underwent eight surgeries that included skin grafts, replacing an artery with that from a cow, and the insertion of a titanium rod in a tibia.
Finally, after four days, Muzayen woke up.
Doctors told him that if he hadnt gotten to the hospital so quickly, and if that officer hadnt applied the tourniquet, he would have died.
The array of tubes and pumps attached to him initially frightened his 8-year-old son, Luke, and 2-year-old daughter, Leia.
My daughter cried herself to sleep a lot, said Muzayens wife, Vanessa. That is how much she loves her daddy.
Other officers, emergency personnel and locals, who dropped off cards for him and gifts for the children at the Police Department, showered Luke and Leia with Christmas toys and other gifts.
Recruits at the Orange County Sheriffs Academy dropped off a donation at his home. A fund-raising breakfast was held at a banquet hall in Orange.
Within the department, Muzayen has a reputation for being an active cop.
He is a proactive police officer known for making a lot of DUI arrests, Sgt. Phil McMullin said.
Finally, on Jan. 17, Muzayen got to leave Orange County Global Medical Center for home. The family will have its Christmas this week.
The accused
Bertolino was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and later arrested.
She awaits trial on felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs causing bodily injury, and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury.
Bertolino turned 27 the day after the crash, but authorities have not said whether a pre-birthday celebration may have contributed to the incident.
Muzayen hopes Bertolino will be held accountable for the crash that nearly cost him his life.
I dont hate her guts, he said. I dont feel anything for her, including sympathy or empathy. I just hope justice will be served.
These days
At least three times a week, Muzayen receives physical therapy. He uses a walker to get around and is on blood thinners to treat a large blood clot lodged in his thigh.
It may take two years to fully recover.
Now, each day is a struggle.
Every minor task is huge, Vanessa Muzayen said.
Yes, he wants to resume training to become a certified drug-recognition expert, who helps other cops determine what illegal substance a suspect is under the influence of he wants to be an active member of Orange P.D. again.
Why?
As a kid growing up in Berlin, the son of an American mother and a Palestinian father, Muzayen did indeed dream of becoming a cop.
I saw injustice from a very young age, he said. It always bugged me. I wanted to be able to bring justice and peace of mind back to people.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline
Its as realistic a birthing experience as any nursing student can hope for aside from attending an actual, live birth of course.
In the Nursing Simulation Center of Cal State Fullertons School of Nursing is a birthing simulation room. There, a robotic woman her name changes every few years as incoming students vote on a new moniker lies in an imitation hospital room with all of the signs, sights and even noises of a woman in labor.
On some days the woman is programmed to have a healthy, by-the-books birth. On other days however, things can get complicated for the CSUF nursing students assigned to deliver the faux baby.
Certainly birth is a very special, intimate experience, said nursing student Vanessa Domush, 35. So I think it is very valuable to allow a student to become very comfortable with the manipulations and movements. This allows us to work through some of the emergencies that can come up without having to practice on an actual patient.
Domush is enrolled in CSUFs Womens Heath Care nurse-midwife program. While midwifery may be thought of as a profession of the past, the field has been steadily rising, with the number of midwife-attended births doubling since the early 1990s.
CSUF nurse-midwife students go on to take the American Midwifery Certification Boards national exam.
There are two types of midwives.
A licensed midwife is an individual who is licensed by the medical board to attend births.
A nurse-midwife is a registered nurse who is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.
The vast majority of midwives in the United States are nurse-midwives; midwifery laws and procedures vary by state.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of nurse-midwives, nurse-anesthetists and nurse practitioners is projected to rise 31 percent from 2014 to 2024.
A 2015 report from the bureau indicated nurse-midwives have a median annual wage of $92,510 compared to a registered nurses median annual wage of $67,490.
A nurse-midwife is a healthcare professional who can independently manage the prenatal care, delivery, birth and postpartum care of a woman, as well as newborn care.
These certified nurses take a physiological approach to maternity care, opting only for surgical intervention when there is risk to the mother or child.
We are trying to facilitate something that is natural, Domush said.
A personalized birth experience
The rise in demand for midwives does not surprise Ruth Mielke, associate professor of nursing and coordinator of the CSUF womens healthcare concentration.
I think a part of it is coming from consumers actively looking for midwives because they know that they want to avoid an unnecessary cesarean and want to have choices during labor and birth such as showering, changing positions and not having continuous electronic fetal monitoring, Mielke said.
Women throughout history have had their babies in bed or sitting on some sort of birthing stool and not in fancy stirrups, she said.
Mielke is a certified nursing-midwife at the Eisner Pediatric and Family Medical Center in Los Angeles. Shes estimates that she has attended more than 3,000 births in her 30 years of midwifery experience.
Prior to attending nursing school, she spent nine months assisting in a Guatemalan clinic, where she was exposed to birthing issues like prolonged labor and fetal malpositions that would normally require surgical intervention.
interestingly, I saw that most women birthed very well and just needed some support and guidance, Mielke said.
The experience led to her interest in midwifery.
We are experts with regards to the normalcy of birth; that means trusting that it typically goes well but also identifying signals that mean we need a consultant, whether its that we need help as its getting too complicated and even need an obstetrician to step in and do a cesarean, Mielke said.
Shes very careful not to disregard obstetricians and their significance in the maternity and childbirth fields; in fact, Mielke thinks midwives and physicians can learn from each other by working together.
Physicians are our collaborators; we need them, Mielke said. And in the practices where we are working together, they need us.
While growing in popularity, the midwifery field faces a number of obstacles.
A common misconception about midwives is that they only deliver babies at home; throughout the United States, midwives attend births at home, hospitals and birth centers, Mielke said.
Many also are not aware that large hospital groups such as Kaiser Permanente offer midwife services.
The work and skill sets needed to be a midwife are also oftentimes disregarded, said Domush.
I would say the biggest misconceptions are that we are not educated, that midwives are people who go out into the back country and deliver babies, Domush said. In fact we are very educated and have a lot of experience and education behind our degrees; most people dont even realize we have a degree.
Through CSUFs partnerships with local healthcare institutions like Kaiser Permanente and Eisner Pediatric and Family Medical Center, midwife students are able to complete their 1,000 required clinical service hours at facilities that provide them with real-life training situations.
While assisting in births is a core component of the job, its not all it entails. Nurse-midwives specialize in providing healthcare throughout a womans entire life.
This can include prenatal care, postpartum care, routine exams, biopsies and prescription needs.
Many women never have a baby but they still have women-specific gynecology needs, Mielke said. And those needs get more complex sometimes after they get into menopause.
CSUF midwifery program offers options for nursing students
The CSUF Womens Health Care nurse practitioner and nurse-midwife emphases were founded in 2003 by nursing professor emeritus B.J. Snell. The program received accreditation by the American College of Nurse-Midwives in 2004.
CSUF is among three universities in the state that offer nurse-midwifery education programs; about 40 universities throughout the United States offer similar programs.
With the growth of midwife programs throughout the United States, Mielke hopes the number of cesarean deliveries in the country will drop, especially in California, where according to the California Health Care Foundation, one-third of babies born in the state are delivered via surgical measures.
The rise in midwives also means less money spent. Vaginal births cost approximately 50 percent less than cesarean births because of the absence of technological features and surgical procedures.
Midwifery services can also be the answer to maternity and womens healthcare in rural areas, Mielke said.
The School of Nursing is contemplating creating a student-run womens healthcare program in Californias rural communities.
Mielke is also considering expanding the course online.
I see that there is a benefit to exploring at least an online presence just because I feel that there are probably registered nurses with an interest in midwifery, she said. There are national (programs) and there are private universities that run online programs and theyre very popular, but theyre not cheap.
Since its launch, about 120 students have graduated from the CSUF nurse-midwife program.
The School of Nursing is currently only able to accept 12 to 15 applicants annually, although it receives nearly five times the number of applications. In the coming years, Mielke hopes to expand the program through grants.
The program offers its students three-year and two-year course options.
Contact the writer: amarcos@scng.com
One of Californias most powerful politicians, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, promised to be a voice for environmental justice in Sacramento.
Then it hit home.
Last year, air regulators discovered cancer-causing emissions a few miles from the home of the Democrat and his wife in the city of Paramount, where he has resided since October 2015.
Air regulators found two metal-processing plants responsible for the release of the carcinogen chromium-6 at hundreds of times the normal level.
The findings sparked outrage in the community, triggered a sweep of dozens of facilities suspected by state agencies to be operating without permits and provoked public health officials to re-examine how theyre dealing with long-simmering health risks caused by pollution.
In an interview, Rendon discussed the findings and expressed worry that the Trump administration will put Californias tough environmental rules at risk.
He also promised the polluting companies will have to pay.
Q. What was your reaction when you found out about the toxic release?
A. I was upset when I first found out about it. Then, once I discovered that a lot of plants had been operating without permits for so long, I was irate.
Q. But you have said before you werent totally shocked by the discovery of cancer-causing toxins. Why not?
A. I represent a district that has a long history of environmental degradation, everything from problems related to air quality to soil contamination to problems with water quality. The problems have been profound, and in a lot of instances a lot of the cities and agencies responsible havent been as responsible as they should be.
Q. Who or what agency is to blame for what is happening in Paramount?
A. At the outset, it is quite obvious that the city did not do their job in terms of ensuring that there was proper licensing, for sure. But obviously there are regulatory agencies that we need to poke around and see to what extent they were or are not responsible.
Q. What regulatory agencies are you referring to?
A. I am curious about the South Coast Air Quality Management Districts role, and I am curious to find out when they found out the stuff they knew. Obviously, what they have done in the past couple of weeks I am happy with. I am happy the Aerocraft facility closed (for violations). It bothers me that the community has to wait for this sort of crisis or violations to be found.
Q. Some people have said that this is a symptom of a larger problem in communities across the region. What can you do to stop this from happening elsewhere?
A. We know these problems exist. Its incumbent upon the Legislature to engage in the type of oversight that the extension of term limits allows us to, but its also incumbent upon agencies like the South Coast (Air Quality Management District) and individual cities to do their part as well.
Q. Whats the role of the state in ensuring the health of these communities?
A. To a large extent we have an oversight function over any agency that receives state funding. We can engage in audits over any of the agencies. We can engage in audits over Paramount.
Q. Is there going to be an audit of Paramount?
A. We havent constituted (legislative) committees yet, but its important that we get to the bottom of what happened with the permitting process, for sure.
Q. What are you going to do about Paramount and, more generally, these problems replaying themselves?
A. We are going to continue to make sure, for example, that companies arent operating without permits in that city and in all of the cities that I represent. I think that further oversight from the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials and other state agencies are what we do as well.
Q. Your office has said more rules wont necessarily fix the problem. Can you explain why?
A. I think there are effective rules for protecting our community, but if the individual bureaucracies responsible for those things arent working properly, then they wont be effective. And that goes for the inspection programs.
Q. Did the state fail Paramount or other communities like it?
A. Its hard to pinpoint one entity or one level of government. The city failed Paramount by not adhering to their own permitting process. AQMD could have done a better job; DTSC could have done another job. There were a lot of instances of agencies not protecting people the way that they should have.
Q. Do you think the Department of Toxic Substances Control should have been more responsive?
A. That was one of the lessons that we learned over Exide (a Vernon plant that contaminated soil with lead). Obviously, it was a terrible thing, but what was beneficial is we engaged in these extensive oversight hearings in the district. We discovered the agency was not at all effective.
Q. Is it effective now?
A. They have improved, but there are changes that need to be made. Whats important for me is that these entities arent focused exclusively on crisis management and that they continue to do their job in between crises as well. What is also important is communication between the agencies. Paramount needs to talk to AQMD, the AQMD needs to talk to DTSC, DTSC needs to talk to the city of Paramount. If theres not that kind of communication, I think we suffer.
Q. We just swore in a new president. Will that complicate Californias ability to enforce state environmental regulation in Paramount and elsewhere?
A. Of course it does. We have a new president who is not concerned with environmental quality, certainly not concerned about water quality. That very much complicates things. I am fearful that every single gain we have made will be eroded.
Q. What do you tell people living in communities like Paramount?
A. We have not done as good a job as we could. We are doing a better job than many states and they need to be vigilant and they need to speak up.
Q. The business community has complained that over-regulation is scaring away business. What do you tell the manufacturers out there?
A. In California, we have developed some of the most stringent environmental regulations in the country and in some instances the world. And the economy continues to grow. The green economy in particular continues to grow. These environmental regulations lead to more jobs than their critics ever want to admit.
Q. What should people expect from you?
A. We are going to continue to press for the businesses in those communities to pay for more air monitors; the residents shouldnt have to pay for that. The businesses were the ones who were responsible for the mess.
This interview was condensed and edited for clarity and brevity by Rachel Uranga. She can be reached at ruranga@scng.com,
@racheluranga on Twitter
Families and school children across the nation were wrapped up the largest school choice celebration in history last week. National School Choice Week featured more than 20,000 events across the country, including hundreds in Southern California.
One of the largest events in Southern California was a school choice fair that took place at Santa Anas Nova Academy Early College High School featuring representatives from Orange County public charter schools helping families understand the enrollment process to local charter schools.
Nova Academy is a charter school focused on early college attendance it allows students to pursue college credits while getting their high school diplomas. Nova has 400 high school students, 80 percent of whom are from low-income families. In 2015, Novas students earned 549 college credits. In fact, 98 percent of its students graduated from high school that year and 96 percent of them attended college.
Nova Academy offers a glimpse at some of the education reform innovations taking place in Southern California and across the country. There are a growing number of promising school choice models that are improving student results and offering parents the ability to choose the type of educational setting that is best for their kids.
Overall, more than 1 million students benefit from private school choice programs, with 30 states offering scholarships or tax credit programs allowing students to attend private schools. In addition, charter schools, which are public schools that have contracts for academic and financial performance, are also thriving. Six percent of U.S. students about 3 million students are now enrolled in the more than 7,000 charter schools nationwide. And another 2 million students are homeschooled in the U.S., including approximately 350,000 homeschoolers in California.
Some states have also started embracing Education Savings Accounts, which give parents maximum amount of control over their childrens educations. Under ESA programs, parents receive a debit card with their childs state education funding on it. Parents can spend this money to customize their childs education, spending the funding on anything from private school tuition to tutoring services to therapeutic education services, such as speech therapy. Families can also save any unused portion of their education funding and use it in future years, including paying for college costs.
In Nevada, 8,000 families have signed up to use ESAs in 2017. Theyll receive $5,100 in per pupil funding to spend on education expenses. This week, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval pledged $60 million to support the program. Arizona launched its similar School Empowerment Scholarship education savings account program in 2011 and it now serves more than 3,000 students. In Arizona, families have saved 31 percent of total ESA funds.
Outcomes for both private school choice programs and charter school programs have been promising. Stanfords Center for Research on Education Outcomes examined 41 urban regions, including Southern California, and found that charter school students gains in reading and math scores, compared to their public school counterparts, equal roughly 40 additional days of learning per year in math and 28 additional days of learning in reading.
Similarly, EdChoice, an education reform group, found 18 empirical studies that have examined academic outcomes for school choice participants using random assignment. Fourteen of the 18 studies found school choice improves student outcomes, two found no effect and two found Louisianas highly regulated and restrictive voucher program had a negative effect.
In contrast, the Obama administrations $7 billion attempt to better the lowest-performing public schools through School Improvement Grants in recent years failed to produce improvements. A new report by the federal government concluded, Overall, across all grades, we found that implementing any SIG-funded model had no significant impacts on math or reading test scores, high school graduation or college enrollment.
The news that these federal grants failed to produce better results comes as school choice proponent Betsy DeVos is primed to take over as education secretary. Hopefully, the new Trump administration will allow states and school districts to pursue school choice initiatives that ensure accountability and give students better opportunities to succeed.
Lisa Snell is director of education at Reason Foundation.
IRVINE Two people are dead and a man is in custody in a shooting Tuesday at an Irvine home.
The shooting was reported shortly before 1 p.m. on Crystal Circle, said Kim Mohr, an Irvine Police Department spokeswoman.
Police arrested 37-year-old Nolan Pascal Pillay at the home, Mohr said.
The deaths are being investigated as a domestic incident, and its believed the victims lived at the house, she said. However, investigators are unsure if Pillay also resided there.
The shooting happened in a cul-de-sac of single-family homes about a block from Greentree Elementary. School officials ordered a soft lockdown, meaning classroom doors and exterior building doors were locked.
Joyce Dale lives across the street from the shooting site. Her husband told her that he heard yelling from the house. He heard them say, Im sorry! Im sorry! she said.
Dale said a man and his two adult sons live at the house, and have been there about 15 years.
Tuesdays homicides were the citys first in 2017; there were three in 2016, Mohr said.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 or sschwebke@scng.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline
Theres a shortage of teachers in California and one demographic is in particularly short supply: teachers who are male and Hispanic or African American.
Hispanic and African American male children they dont see teachers who look like them until high school, if at all, said Aimee Nelson, director of CSUFs Center for Careers in Teaching. [Teaching] is one of those fields thats traditionally a female majority, mostly white.
CSUFs College of Education has made training a new generation of male and Hispanic and African American teachers a priority this coming year with a program called GiFT, short for Growing Future Teachers.
In the 2014-15 school year, 27 percent of Californias public school teachers were men, according to the California Department of Education. Twenty-three percent of those male teachers were Hispanic or African American, which means only six percent of California public school teachers were male and Hispanic or African American.
The recession hit the teaching profession hard, and California is suffering from a shortage of teachers. Palo Alto think tank Learning Policy Institute published a report in November including a survey of 200 school districts across the state. Seventy-five percent of the surveyed districts were understaffed, and the report found that districts compensated by increasing class sizes, hiring substitutes or non-credentialed instructors and canceling classes.
The shortage is particularly acute among men, Nelson said.
The idea of teaching is not held in very high regard especially for men, she said.
The professions image has taken a beating, she said, from myths that teachers cant make a decent living to headline-grabbing cases of teacher misconduct.
Shes seen undergraduates gravitate towards flashier, higher-paying jobs in medicine or engineering, especially when theyre under pressure from parents to pay off student loans.
And students who saw their high school teachers or parents lose their jobs during the recession are leery of going into teaching themselves, Nelson said.
[The recession] affects future generations, because if your dad was a teacher and got laid off at the timeyoure probably not going to go into teaching, she said. Youre just going to remember that he got laid off.
Californias credentialing process makes it difficult for post-graduate programs like the ones offered at CSUFs College of Education to reach out to undergrads interested in teaching, she said.
Most other states allow students interested in teaching to earn their bachelors degree and teaching credential simultaneously, but California requires students earn their bachelors degree first and then enroll in a one-year credential program.
We have the unique challenge of finding students who are interested in teaching who dont major in education, like they do in all the other states, Nelson said.
Mark Bibian didnt consider going into teaching until he worked at AVID, a tutoring center at CSUF for local middle and high school students.
I didnt really see myself being a teacher, the junior English major said. But once I was in AVID, and once I was teaching [the kids], talking to them and seeing that they wanted to succeed, that felt good inside.
Bibian applied to work at the Center for Careers in Teaching earlier this year, and hes now the centers high school ambassador, visiting local schools once a week and encouraging students to go into teaching.
He plans to pursue a teaching credential at CSUF after graduation and leadi a classroom of his own in Orange County.
Bibian is one of 12 undergrads at CSUF who expressed an interest in teaching and matched GiFTs targeted demographic of male and Hispanic or African American students.
Theyll be paired with mentors Hispanic or African American male teachers from across Orange County and Los Angeles.
One of those mentors is Al Rabanera, a math teacher at La Vista High School in Fullerton. Like Bibian, Rabanera didnt go to college with dreams of becoming a teacher.
He was pre-med at UC Irvine until a few weeks shy of graduation, when he decided medicine wasnt for him. His best friend was going to be a teacher and he figured hed give it a shot too.
He enrolled in CSUFs teaching credential program, and in his second semester was handed the keys to his own classroom at La Vista at the ripe age of 22.
They said, Hey Al here are the books, here are the keys, good luck! Rabanera recalled.
Studies show that teachers are most likely to leave the profession in their first five years on the job. A 2015 report from the U.S. Department of Education found that 10 percent of new teachers quit after their first year, and 17 percent quit in the first five years.
Nelson said many new teachers feel isolated their first few years in the classroom, but the sentiment is magnified among teachers of an underrepresented demographic because few of their coworkers share their cultural background.
Theres a very low retention rate for teachers in the first five years especially for these men, she said. Its hard to find colleagues who can identify with your struggles, who are willing to mentor you.
Rabanera was assigned a mentor when he started at La Vista, but his mentor worked at a different school, he said, and he only met with her once a month.
He recalled the difficulty of tracking down the most basic of classroom supplies in those first few months.
Where do you get pencils from? Where do you get printer paper? In the first five years, youre still trying to get your footing, he said.
Nelson and Rabanera hope GiFTs mentor system will give the next generation of male and Hispanic or African American teachers a support network that will keep them in their classrooms for the long haul.
When you have someone pushing you along the way and whos there when things get tough, that makes all the difference, Nelson said. Youre more likely to stick with it.
Sal Oliva, a hotel worker and Uber courier from Staten Island, is ecstatic about President Donald Trumps executive order. So are Michael Bower, an owner of a home alarm company in Seattle, and Lynn and Don Broesch, retirees from suburban Milwaukee.
Trumps immigration policy may be setting off protests around the country and raising eyebrows and objections among allies abroad. But at home, a large portion of the electorate is behind the president. Trumps supporters say that the promise of tougher immigration policies is one of the main reasons they voted for him. Fridays order, along with an earlier one for building a wall, shows that he is serious, they say.
I was like, Oh, my God. I was so happy, said Oliva, 32. He is gay and said he was deeply affected by the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, by an American of Afghan descent. That one really got to me. That could have been me.
Trump has tapped into a deep anxiety that is a relatively recent feature of modern U.S. politics: terrorism from abroad.
His detractors argue that his actions are not borne out by facts. Since Sept. 11, 2001, no one has been killed in the United States by an immigrant or the son or daughter of an immigrant from any of the seven countries in the 90-day visa ban. A vast majority of killings overall happen at the hands of native-born Americans. Some recent attacks in which the Islamic State was invoked were carried out by Muslims born in the United States.
But emotions are powerful forces, and much of what people know comes from smartphone and tablet screens showing an endless stream of news of terrorist attacks that feel immediate and threatening even if they are far away.
I dont begrudge my grandma who never met a Muslim in her life, but all she sees on TV are Muslims blowing things up, said Bower, 35, who grew up in rural Idaho. It is not irrational that people are worried.
He emphasized that Trumps order was only temporary.
Lets just take a breather, Bower said. Take a little time out. Lets get the smart people in here and formulate a plan.
Each person sees the policy through the lens of personal experience. For Bower, it evokes his stepsister, whose husband works in lower Manhattan and was there on Sept. 11. He was on one of the last trains out of the city that morning and, even now, Bower said, she is scared every day her husband goes to work.
I guess I would probably say I adopted my sisters view, he said. I see how it affects her. I dont think its bad to re-examine what we are doing.
For all the outrage the order has stirred, including among some Republicans, two recent polls found that a plurality of Americans support some type of suspension of immigration. A Quinnipiac University poll in January found that, by a ratio of 48-42 percent, voters supported suspending immigration from terror prone regions, even if it means turning away refugees from those regions. And a December Politico/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll found that 50 percent of Americans favored banning future immigration from regions where there are active terrorist groups.
Opinion on the subject breaks sharply along partisan lines. A New York Times/CBS poll in July found that 2 in 3 Trump supporters favored a temporary ban on allowing Muslims to enter the country, while 87 percent of Clinton voters opposed it.
Events are fluid, and after the administrations retreat Sunday from barring holders of green cards from re-entering the country, some experts suggested that Trump might be calculating his actions to provoke liberals.
Mr. Trump goes out of his way to offend nearly everything the left values, said Philip E. Tetlock, a political psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of Superforecasting. He even takes glee in it.
It also may serve his purposes, if an angry left riles up the right, heightening the sense of battle on both sides and endearing him to his supporters even more.
The liberal media spent all their time and effort bashing him, laughing at him, saying he wasnt fit, said Don Broesch, a retired accountant from Germantown, Wisconsin, who said it seemed as if every story about Trump during the campaign was negative. When theres an underdog out there, and they are totally criticizing him, all it does is drum up support for him. It makes me like him even more. I love it when they bash him because it tells me hes doing the right thing.
Broesch and his wife, Lynn, strongly support the immigration order. Lynn Broesch said she had been wary of Muslims since Sept. 11, but had a new surge of worry after the knife attack by a Somali-American last year in a mall in Minnesota, where her son and his family live.
Trumps chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, has been sharply critical of the news media as elitist and out of touch and has stirred the pot of class divide. It is hard to say what part of the resentment his supporters feel has arisen from their own direct experience and what part has seeped in from the political air. Often it seems to come from both.
Oliva contended that the media portrays Muslim immigrants only positively.
Every story about a Muslim immigrant is that they are as American as apple pie, he said. But Im sorry, Islam is no friend of LGBT people. When Islam meets gay people in Somalia or wherever, they get thrown off the roof. And you expect them to be different when they move here? You cant expect people to absorb our values.
A day after massive weekend protests erupted in the nations busiest airports, community leaders in Southern California slammed what they called President Donald Trumps unjust, un-American, unconstitutional ban on refugees and certain nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Members of the Muslim, Latino, Jewish and Asian communities joined people from several civil rights and interfaith groups at a news conference Monday in Anaheim after Trump signed an executive order Friday that restricts foreign nationals from entering the U.S., suspends the refugee admissions program for up to 120 days and bans refugees from Syria.
It is downright Islamophobic and a confirmation of proposed anti-Muslim policies made during the presidential election campaign, said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, of Trumps order.
And make no mistake whatever language is used in this executive order, Muslims are the sole targets.
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A stay issued by a federal judge Saturday night barred U.S. border agents from removing anyone in the U.S. with a valid visa from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. It also covered anyone with an approved refugee application. The ACLU filed a lawsuit Monday seeking a temporary restraining order blocking the executive order, and CAIR filed a suit of its own, calling Trumps actions unconstitutional.
Caitlin Sanderson, deputy director of advocacy and staff attorney at the ACLU, said the group will continue to have attorneys stationed at Los Angeles International Airport, where dozens of people entering the country were detained over the weekend. Most were released.
A smaller group of protesters swarmed the airport again Monday.
But Sanderson said Customs and Border Patrol officials have hamstrung the ACLUs attempts to help those caught in this web. It is impossible to find the full scope of the problem, Sanderson said. We do not know exactly how many people have been detained in an unlawful manner, been deported unlawfully or have been prevented from boarding. The reason we dont know is because the government wont tell us or give us this information.
The protests and the ACLUs work have sent a powerful message to Muslim Americans, said Amir Hussain, professor of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
To see people standing up for us not just or only as refugees or immigrants, but as Muslims, he said. That has been really extraordinary.
He also praised the response from the Jewish American community.
They have been at the forefront of the protests, both because they know that the commandment that is repeated more than any other commandment in the Torah is to not oppress the stranger, and because they know with the painful history of the Holocaust of where the road of prejudice and intolerance ends.
Estee Chandler, organizer for Jewish Voice for Peace Los Angeles, said all communities came under attack because of Trumps orders.
We all belong here, she said. We will not be divided. We will resist these discriminatory and harmful policies. We will resist together.
Christian leaders also denounced Trumps actions on Monday.
William Thurmond, deputy executive minister for the American Baptist Churches of Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii, said church members on the whole likely believe Trump was making good on campaign promises.
But Thurmond said they perhaps didnt think fulfilling promises would take such a harsh form in the sweeping executive order concerning refugees.
We are a reflection of our nation, I believe, said Thurmond, who is African American and based in Los Angeles. America is a collection of refugees and aliens. We forget that, I think. And maybe our president forgot that.
Thurmond didnt fault Trump for trying to bolster protection from potential terrorist attacks but he described Trumps executive order as a knee-jerk reaction.
Im not going to beat up on him, he said. How we vet people I think needs improvement.
Still, even with the voices of support, some Muslim Americans said they felt frightened by Trumps order.
Omer Mohammed Ali, chairman of the board of directors for the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley, said upon hearing news of the order, he immediately canceled plans for a trip to Saudi Arabia in March.
Im scared to travel, Ali said. And my wife freaked out. Shes a U.S. citizen like me.
Ali, who owns a business, said he became a citizen a decade ago. Even so, hes afraid of the order.
That makes my citizenship a piece of toilet paper that Donald Trump flushed down the toilet, he said.
Staff writer David Downey contributed to this report.
The U.S. cannabis industry has gone mainstream. Advancements in disease management, recent legalization measures for recreational marijuana use in more than a half-dozen states and fading social mores have allowed a counterculture keystone to play the center role behind some of the most anticipated IPOs to come out of the tech and health sector in recent years.
Legal cannabis sales were a $7 billion market last year, with the medical cannabis industry alone accounting for more than $4 billion. Combined sales in the industry are poised to amass as much as $20 billion within the next five years.
Investors, private equity funds, consultants and startups representing every point in the cannabis ecosystem have since surfaced to align this burgeoning industry with its growing demand, be it in vaporizer manufacturers, extracts or edibles, cannabis-specific media companies or med-tech startups doing research that could lead to new types of treatments for a variety of illnesses.
Some analysts now believe this green rush has the potential to rival the dot-com era in terms of investment and innovation, and as cannabis business impact and consumer demand surge on a national stage, the communications world has taken note.
PR shops across the country have now lined up to service virtually every vertical in the cannabis sector, offering everything from branding and strategy to research to tried-and-true earned media programs that aim to share cannabis companies stories with consumers. Some PR agencies have now even opened their own cannabis-specific service divisions; others have sprung up entirely for the purpose of representing industry leaders in this new frontier.
PR services run the gamut
New York-based PR shop North 6th Agency in January announced that it had formed a new division dedicated entirely to servicing clients in the legal cannabis industry. The firm, which now serves as agency of record for numerous cannabis companies including Canopy, Green Flower Media, Jetty Extracts, Poseidon Asset Management, Surna, Tradiv, VapeXhale and Wurk, has been representing cannabis clients since states first began legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes.
N6A president and CEO Matt Rizzetta said his agency, which was founded in 2010, was introduced to the field by chance with the signing of a new account and has since doubled down and decided to scale its practice to create a new group dedicated to the industry. A director was recently promoted to head N6As cannabis division and the agency is now looking for account coordinators, executives and managers to fill out this practice.
Matt Rizzetta
Rizzetta described todays cannabis players as akin to classic startups, an industry in its incipience that may have only recently realized that a marketing plan is something they cant afford not to have. Like many consumer brands, cannabis companies are seeking integrated communications programs to get their names into the marketplace, but Rizzetta said what many of these companies are now asking for often goes beyond earned media campaigns alone and encompasses everything from messaging, awards, speaking events and branding.
The most interesting observation weve seen in cannabis is that clients need earned media first, but theyre also leaning on us a littler earlier for services beyond that. They want their brand to be put on the map from a national perspective, so theyll need coverage and brand equity, but since theyre so early as a business theyll also need help with branding, social media, design work. They need us as business advisors. Theres a demand for ancillary services at a much higher rate than clients in other industries.
This is an industry that was working in the shadows for years, said Jonathan Bloom, CEO and founder of San Jose, CA-based tech and consumer agency McGrath/Power Public Relations.
McGrath/Power, which holds a range of clients in the B2B and B2C tech sectors, recently became agency of record for Richmond, CA-based medicinal cannabis extracts provider Constance Therapeutics, a leading manufacturer of therapeutic-grade cannabis oil, whose medicinal use is now widely recommended by physicians.
Jonathan Bloom
Bloom said his agency, whose forays into the cannabis world remain limited to the medicinal side, entered the field through the California investment community, which for several years had been quietly flowing funds into cannabis startups in a bid to broaden brands in these spaces or create new ones. Bloom said what were now seeing in the cannabis world is similar to what happened during the beginnings of the dot-com era, where several key industries applications, hardware, software converged to contribute to a larger movement that ultimately changed how companies and people share information.
When youre dealing with people who havent worked in a standard business environment, youll see requests for services that run the gamut. Its almost a one-to-one applicability to services wed do for any standard client, but were applying it to people, products and services that have never been in the light before, and weve now counseled them on everything from product names to market segment targeting, Bloom said.
Writing the cannabis PR playbook
Legal cannabis presents a new market for a centuries-old though until recently, entirely illicit product. A strategic conundrum exists here: how do you tackle communications duties for a movement where no script exists? Like any brand, Bloom said marketers ultimately have to walk consumers through the same classic buyers journey program that would be at play if a customer was looking to buy a pair of jeans or a new car.
We always look at any client through the same lens up front: what are their goals, who are the people we need to influence and what desired action do we want them to take? Bloom said. Whether its cannabis or cloud software, youre communicating with people so theyll understand something and then do something. Were not looking at consumers who want to catch a buzz. Were looking at people who are looking for true alternatives to existing treatment and many have a clear understanding of what theyre looking for. They need to be educated and they need to be informed, and we have to create an educational information flow that shows them whats possible, and we also have to be transparent and have a true conversation that introduces them to what is effectively becoming the new normal.
It seems that, at least for the time being, its primarily the mid-sized and boutique PR agencies doing most of the work in these spaces. Agencies like N6A have been on the ground floor of a movement, and as a result, have been able to learn about the cannabis industry, invest in relationships and gain a foothold long before it went mainstream. This sort of leap is often not possible at a larger PR agency, where bureaucratic red tape may tie these sorts of ventures to the springboard.
Weve scaled our business so that we have our hands in different industries and can afford to take a chance and a little bit of a risk, Rizzetta said. Were able to react quickly, and speed and expediency is key. If were going to beat the global agencies, were going to have to roll the dice.
Evan Nison
One such agency is cannabis-specific PR shop NisonCo, which was founded three years ago by owner Evan Nison. Nison, who bills his company as a socially driven public relations firm, began his career in college as a marijuana legalization advocate before being hired as a pro bono lobbyist for a publicly traded cannabis company. Hes the youngest member on the board of directors for nonprofit lobbying organization NORML and also sits on the board for Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
The cannabis industry is new. If youve been here for two or three years youre a veteran, Nison said.
NisonCos clients now include iconic cannabis publication High Times, as well as newer companies such as news platform CFN Media, cannabis aficionado social network MassRoots and Whoopi Goldbergs medical cannabis company, Whoopi & Maya.
Nison, who eventually plans to branch out his shop to represent clients in the sustainability and impact investing sectors, said the most common complaint he currently hears from clients is that most PR agencies simply dont yet understand the cannabis industry and its landscape.
Marijuana is similar to many other industries in that theres a need for a lot of ancillary services, but its different in basically every other regard because we have to be on top of whats happening both at a state and federal level related to regulation or legalization, Nison said. Marketing is different in cannabis for many reasons, one being that you cant just advertise many things on Facebook or Google.
Those FDA guidelines, of course, establish clear parameters for the cannabis sector whose adherence is paramount.
Its one of the primary reasons why research is critical, Bloom said. You cant make claims you cant verify, and you have to work within FDA guidelines or youre going to have a real problem. There have been times when weve had to walk our clients back more than encourage them to go forward in regard to what were willing to put our name on.
Media is receptive
As cannabis use becomes accepted by a larger percentage of the population, it becomes a topic taken more seriously by the press. Some outlets now consider it a beat in any other respect, and several media outlets such as CNN, Business Insider and Forbes have now begun to assign dedicated reporters to cover the cannabis space.
When we first started, cannabis was kind of wink, wink topic that wasnt taken very seriously, Bloom said. The media has since become far more receptive, and now youre seeing stories that are looking at everything from the business and medical impact of cannabis to the legislation stage. Were starting to see the medias thirst not only for medical impact but social and cultural as well.
Rizzetta said the mainstream media covering cannabis also remains different in some ways from mainstream reporters covering other categories.
We need to understand that when were dealing with national media, for the most part, its an education-first mindset. These reporters are still learning. They dont know a lot of about the industry, and thats an important distinction because as an agency you need to understand who youre dealing with, and the media is meeting our clients from an educational perspective so they can learn the beat, he said. The reporters covering cannabis are also on looser deadlines. They dont feel pressured to write the stories immediately. The same rules that apply to non-cannabis reporters dont apply to beat reporters covering the cannabis space in the mainstream media.
The type of media interested in cannabis is also changing. According to Nison, many of the trade and niche publications everything from accounting publications and law enforcement publications are beginning to write stories about the industry.
A lot of the firsts are gone. What would be considered new or groundbreaking is dramatically different from when I started, Nison said. In 2014 we were pitching the story that a lot of legitimate type people were leaving Wall Street and entering cannabis. That was considered groundbreaking then. Nowadays thats not news; its just a smart thing to do.
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SINGAPORE/DUBAI (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell said on Tuesday it would sell its stake in Thailand's Bongkot gas field to Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company for $900 million (719.5 million pounds). The move is the latest stage of the Anglo-Dutch company's push to reduce debt after buying smaller rival BG Group for $70 billion, bringing its total divestments since April 2015 to 8.7 billion. The transaction will include Shell's 22.2-percent equity stake in the Bongkot field and adjoining acreage off the coast of Thailand consisting of Blocks 15, 16 and 17 and Block G12/48, Shell said in a statement. "This transaction shows the clear momentum behind Shell's global, value-driven $30 billion divestment programme," the company said. Kufpec said in a separate statement that the acquisition would provide it with 68 million barrels of oil equivalent in proved and probable reserves and approximately 39,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of production. Kufpec expects the acquisition to be completed in February while Shell gave a timeline of the first quarter of 2017. PTT Exploration and Production PCL operates the offshore Bongkot field with a 44.445-percent equity while Total has a 33.333 percent stake. Shell is also nearing the sale of a large part of its North Sea oil and gas assets to private equity-backed Chrysaor for $3 billion. (Reporting by Florence Tan in SINGAPORE and Rania El-Gamal in DUBAI; Editing by Richard Pullin and Joseph Radford)
* Now expects FY industrial margin of 11-12 pct vs 10.5-11.5 pct
* Digital Factory profit jumps 60 pct, boosted by portfolio gain
* Group industrial profit 2.51 bln eur; Reuters poll avg 2.14 bln (Adds details on CEO's style, competitors, Egypt contract)
By Georgina Prodhan
MUNICH, Germany, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Top European engineering group Siemens raised its earnings forecasts on Tuesday after its industrial business profit jumped in the fiscal first quarter, lifted by its factory automation unit.
The German trains-to-turbines company said it now expected an industrial profit margin of 11-12 percent for the year to end-September, versus its previous forecast for 10.5-11.5 percent. It made 13 percent in the first quarter.
Siemens' core industrial software division, Digital Factory, reported a 60 percent profit jump in profit and a margin of 26.1 percent, boosted by a one-off portfolio gain but also a 4 percent rise in sales driven by China.
That lifted group industrial profit 26 percent to 2.51 billion euros, well above the average estimate of 2.14 billion euros in a Reuters poll, even excluding the 172 million-euro gain.
Siemens did not say in its statement whether sales had also risen in the United States, as they did in the quarter for U.S. rival Rockwell Automation, whose stock has risen about 19 percent since Donald Trump was elected president on Nov. 8.
"We will continue to rigorously execute our strategy programme," said Chief Executive and former finance chief Joe Kaeser, under whose stewardship Siemens' past execution blunders and related large one-off charges have largely disappeared.
Siemens said it was ahead of schedule with an 8 billion-euro ($8.6 billion) electricity contract in Egypt, its largest single order to date, which is designed to boost the north African nation's power-generation capacity by 45 percent.
But first-quarter orders fell by a greater-than-expected 14 percent, partly reflecting the lack of a similar large contract this year but also a sharp drop in power and gas orders from Europe and the Middle East and a big decline in the Americas.
Story continues
U.S. rival General Electric's orders in power-related equipment including gas turbines, where it competes with Siemens, fell 28 percent in the quarter, compared with a 40 percent drop for Siemens.
Siemens' first-quarter sales rose by a weaker-than-expected 3 percent on a comparable basis to 19.1 billion euros ($20.6 billion). The company stuck to its forecasts for "moderate" full-year sales growth and orders higher than sales.
It raised its earnings-per-share forecast to 7.20 to 7.70 euros from a previous 6.80 to 7.20 euros, after net profit jumped 25 percent to 1.94 billion euros.
Siemens gave no further details on plans for its healthcare division Healthineers, which it plans to list while keeping a majority stake, ahead of a press conference and annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday. ($1 = 0.9265 euros) (Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; Editing by Harro ten Wolde)
While unavailable for this months College World Series and U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, the Marriott Capitol District Hotel is among eight hotel projects on track to add a total of 1,000 or so guest rooms to the Omaha metro area by the end of next year, according to the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A federal judge on Monday sentenced Patricia Urbanovsky, owner of an Omaha event-planning business, to 63 months in federal prison and ordered her to pay nearly $4.7 million in restitution in connection with the sale of thousands of worthless airline flight vouchers.
At a sentencing and restitution hearing Monday in federal court, U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon accepted the plea agreement Urbanovsky brokered with federal prosecutors in September. He sentenced her for 16 counts of wire fraud.
Urbanovsky was originally charged with 16 counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering and faced up to 365 years behind bars. Under the plea agreement she pleaded guilty to only the wire fraud charges.
Urbanovsky sold thousands of worthless flight vouchers through her business, Creative Creations.
Before being sentenced, Urbanovsky offered the court a tearful apology: A lot of things got out of hand. I want the victims to know Im sorry. ... I hope to be able to grow and learn from this. Im sorry. I want to tell the court Im sorry.
Based on the amount of loss, the number of victims and the judges determination that Urbanovsky operated a sophisticated scheme, the federal sentencing guidelines mandated a sentence of 63 to 78 months. Bataillon imposed a sentence of 63 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, Urbanovsky will begin a term of supervised release of three years.
Urbanovsky, 31, was immediately taken into federal custody Monday following sentencing.
Jan Sharp, chief criminal prosecutor of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Nebraska, said it was Urbanovskys intention that money used to purchase actual airline tickets or vacation packages for early voucher customers would come from money paid in by newer voucher customers.
Prosecutors have called it a Ponzi-like scheme.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald J. Kleine, who prosecuted the federal case, has said that Urbanovsky used a considerable portion of the funds she collected for personal things, including for buying vehicles and paying rent, he said.
At Mondays hearing, a fraud investigator with Square Inc., a San Francisco-based payment-processing company, testified that the companys losses totaled more than $4.6 million. The company processed about $7.7 million in payments from Creative Creations. When Square tried to collect the chargebacks from Creative Creations, the money wasnt available.
Urbanovsky was ordered to pay approximately $4.6 million in restitution to Square Inc. and about $63,000 to Southwest Airlines for losses the airline incurred when it covered the flights of some of the people who had bought the worthless travel vouchers.
Southwest had no affiliation with Urbanovsky or Creative Creations.
An FBI investigator testified that the agency went through each invoice and counted the number of flight vouchers that were sold. Creative Creations honored about 7,000 of the 36,000 vouchers it sold, the investigator said.
Urbanovskys attorney, Steve Lefler, requested that a federal sentence of no more than three or four years be imposed. Lefler argued that it was difficult to reasonably tally the losses, and therefore the total loss should be capped at $3.5 million. He also argued that she operated not a sophisticated scheme but a mom-and-pop-type business that got out of hand and overwhelmed Urbanovsky, whom he said lacked business acumen.
If allowed, each argument would have permitted the judge to consider a lesser sentence under federal sentencing guidelines.
Bataillon, however, did not accept Leflers arguments, agreeing with prosecutors that the loss to Square was at least $4.6 million and that Urbanovsky operated a sophisticated scheme.
Ms. Urbanovsky had to set up a number of things for this to work, Bataillon said. She had to set up a processor. She had to set up bank accounts.
When the operation began to fall apart, he noted that Urbanovsky created a fictitious identity and an associated email account in which she posed as a vice president at Southwest Airlines to communicate with her employees and customers and further her scheme.
It took a while to admit she was wrong, Lefler said after Mondays hearing. She feels terrible. She really does. That wasnt a fake cry. She feels bad people got screwed out of money.
Last February federal authorities indicted Urbanovsky, charging her with nine counts of money laundering and 16 counts of wire fraud. In March she pleaded not guilty to all charges. In September she changed her plea to guilty.
Urbanovsky has been on home detention since early September after she admitted to having violated one of the conditions of her federal pretrial release.
The 16 counts of wire fraud stem from interstate wire communication that Urbanovsky admitted to using to solicit travel voucher sales. She communicated with employees and prospective customers throughout the country, including in Nebraska and Iowa, using Facebook, email and the companys website, according to charging documents.
The scam came to light in spring 2015 when complaints about Urbanovskys business began trickling into the Better Business Bureau in Omaha from all over the country. The BBB eventually received more than 1,600 complaints.
Purchasers booked flights through Creative Creations online portal. Some people were able to successfully book travel through late March 2015, but others came away with nothing.
Creative Creations sold vouchers for travel on Southwest Airlines that it said were valid for travel anywhere in the U.S. for about $150 or less.
Federal investigators say Urbanovsky ran the scam from about May 2014 to March 2015.
The case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department, FBI and IRS, Sharp said.
Meanwhile, Urbanovsky still faces three state felony counts of theft, accusing her of defrauding three Creative Creations employees out of $141,000. Her attorney said he expects Urbanovsky to enter a plea to those charges Friday in Douglas County District Court.
Parking in Omahas Central Business District is becoming scarcer as office buildings fill up and new developments aim to bring more people downtown.
But Omahas parking manager has plans that he says will keep downtown perking.
We need to get to a sweet spot where its working, said Ken Smith, an urban planner who, as parking manager in the City of Omaha Public Works Department, is working with an advisory committee of business owners, developers and others interested in downtown parking.
Downtowns parking will handle growth, Smith said, through strategies such as shared parking garages, price adjustments and public-private parking projects that avoid more parking-only buildings that kill blocks for pedestrian traffic.
Some of the change also might involve workers and employers changing attitudes about how close the parking spaces need to be to their workplace.
But the meter is running on the 6,056 parking spaces in the area city planners call the Central Business District, an area bounded by Harney, 14th and 19th Streets and Capitol Avenue that today is 86 percent occupied at peak times.
Parking is important for companies that want to move downtown and find nearby parking spaces locked up by other businesses.
One sign of the strong downtown parking demand:
When Jason Lanoha got the job of developing a high-profile vacant city block at 14th and Dodge Streets, several neighboring businesses called to see if they could pave the lot temporarily at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars and park employees cars there.
He answered no, to keep the property ready for development as quickly as possible.
Lanoha said new developments can deal with parking issues more easily than some existing buildings that dont have adequate on-site parking.
Parking is one factor among many with new developments, he said. The 14th and Dodge project, which city leaders hope will be an office tower, will have on-site parking costing as much as $2 million per 100 cars. Its expensive, Lanoha said. Theres no way around it.
Some other prices illustrate the scramble for parking in the area:
>> The former Paxton Hotel, converted into condominiums in 2006, sells underground heated parking spaces for $25,000 each. (Perspective: The New York Times recently reported that a Manhattan condo priced parking spots for $1 million each.)
>> Performing Arts Omaha recently bought a 212-car paved surface lot at 12th and Dodge Streets for the equivalent of $8,600 per spot to ensure parking for evening events at the Holland Center for the Performing Arts. Daytime parkers on the lot were given notices to vacate by early November.
>> The Omaha World-Herald has leased spaces on the Holland surface lot for parking. A division of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.s National Indemnity Co. has moved into one floor at the Word-Herald Building at 14th and Dodge Streets and is due to occupy more floors there. A parking garage owned by The World-Herald also hosts employees of Union Pacific and commodities company Gavilon, which moved 400 people into a new, five-story building at 1331 Capitol Ave. earlier this year, among other companies.
>> Union Pacific employees park in a city-owned garage at 13th and Dodge and walk though a tunnel to the railroad companys headquarters a block away. The 1,300-stall lot has a waiting list of more than 200 names, typical for garages in the Central Business District. Holland patrons also park there in the evening.
The Landmark Center at 13th and Farnam Streets has an attached 525-space parking garage, part of it open for public parking next to the Old Market. This fall, 104 employees of COR Clearing, a securities clearing firm, are due to move into the Landmark Center.
T.J. Twit of the Lund Co. said that if pending deals come through, new tenants will reoccupy two-thirds of the Landmark space being vacated by Pacific Life Insurance Co. for a move to Aksarben Village in midtown.
But Landmarks garage wont have enough space for all of their employees.
Some new developments downtown exacerbated this parking situation that was kind of already a problem, Twit said.
One study estimated downtown will have 14 million square feet of new development in the next 15 years, one-third of it in the Central Business District where today, many parkers look blocks away to find spaces.
As the downtown cores population of workers and residents continues to grow, something needs to be done, said Mike Moylan.
Moylans Shamrock Developments $200 million Capitol District development between 10th and 12th Streets will have a Marriott hotel, office and retail space, residential units and a parking garage with up to 500 spaces.
A similar project in the suburbs, where land prices are cheaper, would have parking for 1,500 cars.
In some parts of downtown theres an oversupply, in other parts an undersupply, said Moylan, a member of the citys parking advisory committee. You dont build a church for Easter Sunday. The same thing applies to parking. We cant build a parking garage for the College World Series.
Residents and some occupants of the Capitol District will have on-site parking, but others will find spaces at nearby garages and surface lots.
Downtowns parking situation can be viewed as a two-pronged monster, trying to serve daily parkers who work and live downtown and hourly parkers who visit for fun, food and shopping, said Holly Barrett, executive director of Omahas Downtown Improvement District.
It definitely is a balancing act, she said. Off-street parking is such a wonderful commodity, and there is a lot of it in downtown Omaha.
Barrett said theres a gap between open parking areas and the places where people work in the Central Business District. If we can figure out amenities that can help close that gap, that distance, that would be wonderful, she said.
One solution would be more public use of circulator buses, like the one that travels a loop along 14th, 17th and Dodge Streets and Mike Fahey Avenue during rush hours.
Theres also a need for education, Barrett said. Were a growing city with a growing downtown population. Were going to have these problems more and more. ... Its a better problem than having empty spaces downtown.
Said Brinker Harding, a vice president with the Colliers International real estate firm, Not everyones probably going to be able to park at the front door and walk into their office.
When Kristyn Antonio transferred downtown from a First National Bank office in west Omaha, parking was on her mind.
I figured it would be expensive, she said. But she found that First National provides free employee parking on surface lots north of its office buildings, plus free shuttle rides to and from the bank.
Brenda Dooley, senior vice president for First National, said hundreds of employees pay to park in three nearby garages, but there arent enough spaces for all.
Parking is about how much you want to pay and how far you want to walk, Dooley said. Weve worked hard to develop surface parking over the years. To provide parking thats not costly is very important to us as a company, to be able to excite employees to come to work downtown.
A study of downtown parking updated this year by Walker Parking Consultants found, during peak hours, 18,000 unoccupied spots among the total of 41,000 in private and public lots and at meters in the entire downtown, bounded by Cuming Street, Leavenworth Street, Interstate 480 and the Missouri River. That includes a significant number within two blocks of the Central Business District.
The challenge is not a shortage of supply, but rather the location of supply, the report said. The City should explore opportunities to increase access to the unoccupied parking supply.
Smith, the citys parking manager, said thats one of the things happening. His goal is efficient use of downtowns spaces and a variety of options so people can weigh cost and distance and choose where to park.
For example, use of the city-owned garage at 10th and Jackson Streets rose 40 percent when it switched from a flat $5 per car to $1 an hour. That simple step also opened up more nearby Old Market street spaces.
Such changes can help the Central Business District, too, he said.
Smith, who headed Lincolns parking system before taking the Omaha job in 2012, said he has other specific plans but is waiting for the right time to propose them.
He said his goal is to have 15 percent of spaces unoccupied at any time, which would leave one or two spaces open per block. Cars would move in and out of metered street parking so merchants customers could park conveniently.
If we can make parking downtown a non-experience, it will encourage more people to visit and in turn create a vibrant and thriving atmosphere, he said. City Hall owns seven parking garages and five surface lots and plans to manage them to usually break even, he said.
Market forces should dictate where people park, Smith said. From that standpoint, he said, employers distort the parking market when they subsidize parking costs, making parking unduly scarce in high-density areas.
A reserved spot close to work may cost as much as $140 a month. On the other hand, you can park for $2 a day at one of the surface lots toward downtowns perimeter.
Dozens of hardy souls park for free on the edges of downtown and walk up to 15 minutes to work, saving their coins and getting an exercise bonus.
Should the city build another parking garage in or near the Central Business District?
I wont say yes or no on that, Smith said, but parking garages of the future probably wont be like the citys parking-only garages. I have some thoughts about that, but its too early to be specific, Smith said. People get emotional about parking.
The citys parking operation is somewhat like a utility, he said, providing a basic but important service for fees to cover costs.
Its also a huge economic driver, he said, making developments possible because people can come to work downtown without worrying about parking. Its a huge resource for the city from an economic development standpoint.
Lanoha, Twit and Moylan said they think enough of the right people are looking at downtown parking and solutions can be found that will support future downtown development.
Harding, the Colliers real estate executive, said, I think the great thing is that there is a lot of interest in downtown Omaha. I think with both the city and private developers looking at how they can address some of these parking issues to be competitive with the suburban market.
People are trying to be creative and innovative on how to accomplish that.
Omaha-based Hayneedle will virtually double the floor space of its order fulfillment centers this spring in a bid to get ahead of future demand.
The online home furnishings retailer plans to open a 994,000-square-foot facility in June in Monroe, Ohio, where it already operates a fulfillment center. The project will add 104 jobs in the city, located northeast of Cincinnati.
Tom Clement, Hayneedles vice president of operations, said the company is poised for continued growth once more of the products it carries are listed on the websites of New Jersey-based Jet.com, which bought Hayneedle in February 2016 for $90 million.
Walmart in August bought Jet.com in a $3.3 billion deal. Hayneedle now operates as an independent subsidiary of Walmart.
Hayneedle has really been through two acquisitions (in the past year), and thats a pretty rare occurrence, I would have to imagine, Clement said.
Jet.com is carrying more than 700,000 products warehoused by Hayneedle, and there are about 400,000 such products at Walmart.com. Clement said the company has millions of products available through its own website.
Company officials declined to share 2016 sales figures, but Hayneedle Chief Executive Jon Barker told The World-Herald after the Walmart-Jet.com deal that sales were on track to exceed $500 million last year. Hayneedles 2015 sales were more than $350 million.
While sales heated up, so did the companys demand for local employees. Today Hayneedle has about 650 employees across three sites in Omaha, compared with 400 when the Jet.com deal closed in February 2016 and the company will be hiring more in the coming months.
Things have gone very, very smoothly, Clement said of last years ownership changes. The partnerships with Jet and Walmart are giving us access to the scale of Walmarts business and cost structures, and the expertise that comes with being the worlds largest retailer is now expertise we have access to.
Of Walmarts $485 billion in annual revenue, about $14 billion comes from online sales. That share is poised to grow thanks in part to the Jet.com deal, according to Morningstar analyst Erin Lash.
In an August research note to investors, Lash wrote that the deal makes sense, as Jet.com should give Walmart insight into Jets e-commerce strategies to encourage consumers to buy more items and access Jets 2,000 third-party vendors.
The new fulfillment center in Ohio will cost about $5.9 million. The company will receive a tax credit from the state of Ohio worth $369,000 over six years if its forecast $3.2 million in annual payroll is met, according to documents from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority.
Clement said the company considered other cities in Ohio and locations in Indianapolis and northern Kentucky before deciding to expand in Monroe.
Hayneedle has another fulfillment center, in Riverside, California. It doesnt operate any fulfillment centers in Omaha; the companys headquarters, photo studio and call center are in Omaha.
AMES, Iowa (AP) Iowa State University has agreed to rescind the 2015 firing of its longtime student counseling director, who alleged he was let go after warning about potentially dangerous shortages in mental health services on campus.
ISU President Steven Leath signed an agreement this month changing Terry Masons dismissal to a retirement, making Mason eligible for medical benefits and a $2,000 payout for unused sick leave. Mason, 61, agreed to drop his complaints accusing the school of whistleblower retaliation, defamation and age discrimination and not pursue any lawsuits.
Mason, an assistant vice president who had been director of the ISU Student Counseling Service since 1993, said Monday that he was very, very grateful the parties were able to reach an amicable settlement and that he was ready to move on. He said the university has also done an admirable job in recent months of increasing its funding for student counseling.
In a complaint filed with the State Appeal Board, Mason said he warned in 2012 that Iowa States student counseling center needed more counselors and that it was unable to adequately serve the campus at a time of soaring need.
The complaint noted that he wrote a letter to then-Vice President of Student Affairs Thomas Hill warning that it was only a matter of time before a mental health-related disaster would occur on campus.
According to the complaint, Mason warned in his annual budget request that the lack of funding and services could lead to students harming themselves or others, but that the university agreed to hire only one more employee and largely ignored his other requests.
Mason had alleged that Hill fired him without notice. As an at-will employee, the university didnt need cause to terminate him.
Masons dismissal letter said only that Hill wanted a leadership change. But the complaint accused Hill of defaming Mason by allegedly telling employees that Mason was an unethical person who couldnt be trusted. Hill retired as vice president months later but has remained a policy adviser to Leath.
The International Association of Counseling Services honored Mason months after his firing with a lifetime achievement award.
He is the current treasurer and past president of that group and has since started his own consulting firm.
His complaint noted that the association recommends universities have one full-time counselor for every 1,000 to 1,500 students. Iowa States staffing levels were nine employees below that goal when he was fired, it said. The settlement says Iowa State disputes Masons allegations and requires both sides not to publicly disparage each other.
The university is moving to expand mental health services with a $24 increase in mandatory student health fees that will go into effect next school year. The Board of Regents approved the increase last month.
Iowa State spokesman John McCarroll said the new funding would be used to hire three psychologists, two nurses and a psychiatrist, and he noted that the increase was supported by student leaders.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Growing up in Catholic school, faith has always been close to Maureen Sobilos heart.
And its that faith thats led her to pass on that passion to future generations as a second-grade teacher at St. Marys Catholic School in Bellevue.
Maryjo Holdcroft, a middle school math and science teacher at St. Matthew Catholic School, also chose to work at a Catholic school for the religious component.
Both teachers said they enjoy the freedom to include religion throughout their lessons. Sobilo is currently teaching her students about the qualities of being a good citizen helpful, kind, understanding which correlate with the qualities of being a good Christian, she said.
Holdcroft said she often answers sciences mysteries with religion.
Why was there a Big Bang? God, Holdcroft said. Why is the world the way it is? God started it that way.
At first Holdcroft only taught math. When asked to teach science, too, she said she panicked because shed never taught it before. She reached out to a few teachers at Gross Catholic High School and asked for help. They were more than willing to give her direction, she said, and they even lent her equipment for science projects from time to time.
Sobilo has also taken advantage of working with nearby Catholic schools.
Ive made friends from so many areas around here, Sobilo said. We have a lot of interacting between the different [Catholic] schools.
Small class sizes are another perk of Catholic schools, the teachers said. Theres plenty of one-on-one time with each student, and Sobilo said it helps classes act as a family.
Both Sobilo and Holdcroft are known within their schools for their long-term dedication. Before the school bell rings for the start of classes, Holdcroft is already teaching some of her eighth-graders geometry. St. Matthew Principal Jim Daro said Holdcroft has proved to be devoted to the entire parish and Catholic school community, not just the school.
To celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouts selling cookies, the Spirit of Nebraska Girl Scout Council is giving away a new car in a contest open to the public.
The 2017 Toyota RAV4 was donated by Baxter Toyota La Vista.
The contest is designed to help girls reach their cookie program sales goals, though no purchase is required to register for a chance to win the car. A special code is needed to enter. People can acquire the code from a Girl Scout during the cookie sale.
To find a cookie booth near you, use the cookie locator at GirlScoutsNebraska.org or call the cookie hotline at 877-636-4684.
For contest rules or to register, visit baxtertoyota.com/GirlScouts. The RAV4 will be awarded by random drawing in March at the conclusion of the cookie program.
SEATTLE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2017 / SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC PINK: SING), a full-service mobile technology and marketing provider, is entering an exciting niche of the cannabis industry through a Letter of Intent ("LOI") to acquire an interest in Jacksam Corp., dba Convectium, a profitable California-based provider of equipment, branding, and packaging solutions for the cannabis industry.
Convectium is the creator of the world's first oil filling machine focused on the cannabis industry that is capable of filling cartridges or disposable vape pens for wholesale distribution to dispensaries. The company's 710Shark and 710Seal system can fill and package up 100+ cartridges or disposable vape pens in 30 seconds, making it the fastest filling and sealing system of its kind.
Convectium operates a B2B equipment division in addition to its legacy B2C products. The proprietary equipment is solely distributed by EquipCanna.com, the Convectium B2B brand. Based on its market position and increasing demand for its products and services, Convectium forecasts revenues for 2017 at $3.5 million, an increase of 150% compared to revenue of $1.4 million for 2016.
Convectium ships its consumer brands to over 52 countries. The company's line of B2C brands include BlackoutX as well as HazeSticks, inspired by the Jimi Hendrix Cannabis Collection.
"To say we are excited about this opportunity is an understatement," states SinglePoint CEO, Greg Lambrecht. "Convectium's 710Shark and 710Seal system is incredible, and its capabilities are unmatched. After looking at hundreds of cannabis companies, finding an acquisition opportunity like we have found in Convecitum adds a new dynamic to our endeavors and the cannabis industry as a whole."
Per the LOI, SinglePoint will pay Jacksam a stock and cash consideration totaling $800,000. The transaction is expected to accelerate SinglePoint's existing presence in the cannabis industry - established by its SingleSeed subsidiary - while creating another avenue of participation in the "Green Rush" of the multi-billion dollar cannabis industry.
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"We are excited to enter into an agreement with SinglePoint, one of the leading and most visionary publicly traded cannabis companies in the market. Paired with our proprietary technology and commitment to the future of the infrastructure of the cannabis industry, Convectium and SinglePoint are creating a unique business dynamic with incredible potential," says Danny Davis, managing partner at Convectium.
A definitive agreement on the announced transaction is expected no later than May 24, 2017, subject to certain terms and conditions, the completion of due-diligence and obtaining the required consents and regulatory approvals. Upon closing the transaction Convectium will become a subsidiary of Singlepoint.
About SinglePoint, Inc.
SinglePoint, Inc. is a full-service mobile technology and marketing provider. The company provides solutions that allow its clients to conduct business transactions, accept donations, and engage in targeted communication through mobile devices. SinglePoint products connect small to mid-size companies to their target markets by providing innovative mobile technology at reasonable rates. SinglePoint recognized the strength in acquiring interest in undervalued subsidiaries in other markets, such as Daily Fantasy Sports, to create a diversified holding base.
Connect on social media at: www.facebook.com/SinglePointMobile, www.twitter.com/_SinglePoint_, www.linkedin.com/company/SinglePoint and www.youtube.com/user/SinglePointMobile
For more information visit www.SinglePoint.com.
About Jacksam Corp. dba Convectium
Convectium was founded in October of 2013 and based in South Orange County, California. Convecitum does not touch plants; its branding, packaging and equipment solutions help grow the companies that do. With the industry's first and only oil filling system, proprietary packaging systems and innovative devices, Convectium represents a commitment to the future of infrastructure in the cannabis industry.
See the 710Shark at work here: https://vimeo.com/169612830
For more information visit www.Convectium.com, www.BlackoutX.com or www.710Shark.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
Contact:
SinglePoint, Inc.
Greg Lambrecht
602-481-1544
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
SOURCE: SinglePoint, Inc.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. Tracie Pfeifle calls it her therapy after a long day at work.
Every day, when she gets off from her job at the Veterans Administration, Pfeifle volunteers at the Central Nebraska Humane Society in Grand Island, Nebraska, from 4:30 p.m. until the facility closes at 6.
On the weekends and during holidays, she volunteers at the humane society from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pfeifle has volunteered at the humane society for three years. Laurie Dethloff, executive director of the Central Nebraska Humane Society, said Pfeifle logged 1,012 volunteer hours in 2016. She added the humane society has around 200 volunteers.
Pfeifle began volunteering at the humane society as a way to occupy her time after work once her aunt and uncle moved south.
Thats where I spent a lot of my time, she said. When they moved, I needed something to occupy my time.
Pfeifle said her volunteer duties include checking the animals food and water, walking dogs and helping the front desk staff as needed. She has also transported dogs off-site.
Dethloff said Pfeifle will also answer phone calls and assist with agility training that determines whether a dog is fit for search and rescue.
Tracie will go out there with 30 foot leashes, throwing things into the pile, trying to see of they will go in and retrieve items, Dethloff said. She videos it so they (dogs) can go on to a career in disaster response.
Dethloff added only a select few dogs at the humane society go on to work in search and rescue.
The humane society has developed a high level of trust with Pfeifle. Dethloff can always count on her to be a back-up body whenever she needs help. This, she said, is what makes Pfeifle extraordinary.
She has a willingness to commit to being here no matter what the task is, Dethloff said. She is just game for anything that will help not only the animals, but the staff get through (the) day with the multitasking that goes on.
On Wednesday afternoon, Pfeifle volunteered her time sitting in the corner of a room next to a pitbull named Tonka. She said Tonka was shy and stressed out. By the end of Pfeifles interview with The Independent, he was asleep and snuggled up in a ball next to her.
When he came in, he was just inching closer and closer. When I scratch, hell reach over and let me pet him, Pfeifle said. But with him, his ears are kind of hot and hes panting. This means hes stressed out. I try to respect the fact that it stresses him out. Thats a big part of it.
Dethloff said the dogs may be stressed out or scared due to past history or not being socialized at a young age. She added some dogs may not have had physical contact due to being stuck in a small kennel for most of their lives.
Dethloff said a stressed dog will hide someplace dark or where no one can get to them.
Pfeifle said when she comforts a dog, she will go off to the side, avoid sticking her hand out and will just sit there.
I just try to be calm and not be frustrated, she said. If you can get them to take a treat from you, then its a big deal,
Pfeifle said one of the highlights of her time volunteering at the humane society has been the opportunity to work with a boxer-pitbull mix named Rosie.
Pfeifle later learned from humane society staff that Rosie was deaf. She trained Rosie by teaching her hand signals.
I did hand signals for good girl and she learned the sign for sit, Pfiefle said. She would learn down too.
The story of Rosie and Pfeifles efforts was picked by national media and led to Rosie being adopted by a deaf woman.
Someone (said) it is so sad (when a dog gets adopted). It is not sad. It is the happiest thing, Pfeifle said. They deserve a full-time person. Im only a part-time person. They deserve to have a family.
Pfeifle said volunteering is not about ones self, but rather what they are passionate about.
You can make a big impact on one person or one familys life, she said. You change peoples perspective of how the world works. I try to educate people about pitbulls not being ferocious or mean.
Disaster-response training has been scheduled next week for Omaha and Council Bluffs volunteers who want to help during natural disasters and severe weather.
The American Red Cross shelter training program is described as a short course that will educate volunteers on how the Red Cross prepares for a shelter operation during a disaster.
Training will be held Feb. 10 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Feb. 11 from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Red Cross said. The training will be held at the American Red Cross office, 705 N. 16th St., in Council Bluffs.
To register visit www.bit.ly/HeroOmaha. For questions, contact heather.allemang@redcross.org, or call 402-343-7747.
LINCOLN Anavelle Garcia of Omaha and Dania Delone of Lincoln are the exceptions.
Like hundreds of Nebraska girls each year, both got pregnant in high school, Garcia in her junior year, Delone in her sophomore year.
Unlike the majority of pregnant teenagers, however, both successfully juggled being mothers and students and managed to graduate on time.
Garcia made it, she said, although she had to stop breast-feeding because she couldnt catch up with classwork and take time to pump milk during the school day.
Delone finished in spite of a counselor advising her, while pregnant, to drop out because the school couldnt accommodate her needs.
I was striving hard to take the first steps to becoming a model parent, she said.
The two young women told their stories Monday to the Education Committee at hearings on a pair of bills aimed at helping out pregnant and parenting students.
Legislative Bill 427, sponsored by State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, makes clear that K-12 schools must accommodate student mothers who want to breast-feed.
The bill specifically requires that schools provide an appropriate place for students to pump breast milk and store it. The bill would apply to all public, private and parochial schools.
Vargas also introduced LB 428, which would require all school districts to adopt a policy for accommodating pregnant and parenting students.
The bill requires the state Department of Education to put out a model policy, which local districts could adapt.
At a minimum, however, district policies would have to address student absences during pregnancy, provide tutoring or other coursework alternatives for pregnant or parenting students, specify how districts would accommodate students who need to pump milk, and identify quality local child care providers if the district does not have in-school child care.
Vargas said the bills seek to make Nebraska schools more welcoming places for pregnant and parenting students.
Currently, he said, 70 percent of teen mothers leave school and do not return after having a child. That harms their future and the future of their children.
Vargas said the proposals seek to address this disparity and make all of Nebraskas schools a welcoming and inclusive place for pregnant and parenting students.
Currently, Nebraska school districts have widely varied policies about pregnant and parenting students, according to surveys done by the ACLU of Nebraska.
Only 17 percent have formal policies that address the breast-feeding needs of students, the surveys found.
Danielle Conrad, executive director of the state ACLU, noted that many districts work with students on an informal basis.
But she said schools have a legal obligation to accommodate those students. Federal Title IX, which requires gender equity in education, prohibits discrimination related to pregnancy and childbirth.
In addition, Nebraska law provides that women can breast-feed anywhere they have a right to be.
State and federal laws specifically require that employers accommodate women who are breast-feeding or needing a private, sanitary place to pump breast milk.
Both bills drew support from groups concerned about child well-being. No opponents spoke on either bill.
Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, gave neutral testimony about the breast-feeding bill. He raised concerns about how its requirements would be implemented.
LINCOLN - Nebraska lawmakers may have a chance to go on record expressing support for protecting refugees regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age or sex.
State Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln, with nine co-sponsors, introduced Legislative Resolution 27 Monday. Nine introducers are Democrats, the 10th is a Republican.
The resolution says that "many refugees have earned green cards and call this country home, and others have been shown, through extensive vetting, to bear good will toward our nation."
It also said refugees "include people fleeing war and oppression and include children and families in need of safety."
The measure will be referred to a committee for further consideration.
LINCOLN Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday he will continue working to restore the death penalty without waiting for lawmakers to decide a bill that would hide the identities of lethal drug suppliers.
The governor said during a State Capitol press conference that there is no timeline for when the Department of Correctional Services might get the lethal injection drugs. The comments were the first Ricketts has made publicly on the topic since last week, when he signed a new execution protocol.
As proposed several months ago, the protocol included a provision that would have allowed the corrections director to withhold the identity of drug suppliers. The final protocol removed the provision in response to comments at a public hearing that the secrecy rule would violate state law while breaking with Nebraskas tradition of open government.
A bill pending in the Legislature would allow state officials to shield the identities of lethal injection drug suppliers. Other states have used secrecy laws or procedures to maintain their drug supplies, saying disclosing the identities of sources subjects them to public pressure from death penalty opponents.
While the governor has said recently that he supports efforts to reinstate the death penalty in Nebraska, on Monday he declined to say whether he supports a lethal injection shield law. Regardless of what the Legislature does with Legislative Bill 661, Ricketts said his administration will move ahead with carrying out the executions of the 10 men on the states death row.
The revised execution protocol is designed to give the corrections director greater flexibility in obtaining lethal injection drugs.
The former protocol required the department to use three specific drugs in a defined sequence. The new protocol would allow one or more drugs to be used, and it would be left to the corrections director to select the drugs.
Death penalty opponents have predicted that court challenges will delay any executions for months or perhaps years.
The governor on Monday pointed out that 61 percent of Nebraskans rejected the Legislatures 2015 repeal of capital punishment during the November election. Lawmakers overrode the governors veto to enact the repeal, which in turn prompted Ricketts to help fund a petition drive to put the question on the ballot.
World-Herald staff writer Martha Stoddard contributed to this report.
LINCOLN An Omaha lawmaker is taking another stab at creating an independent advisory commission of citizens to redraw the states political maps.
Introduced by State Sen. Burke Harr, Legislative Bill 216 is similar to a proposal brought last year by Sen. John Murante of Gretna and then-Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha.
Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed the bill, citing constitutional objections. Murante did not seek a legislative override and has introduced LB 653, his own redistricting proposal, this year.
Harr told members of the Legislatures Executive Board on Monday that hes willing to work with Murante toward a compromise and has looked at Ricketts concerns.
I reintroduced the bill taking into account the governors concerns, he said.
But attorney Steve Grasz, speaking on his own behalf, argued that the proposal raises more constitutional issues than a law professor on exam day.
He said the proposal, among other things, would violate the state Constitutions requirement that the Legislature conduct legislative redistricting.
It cannot delegate this key legislative function to others any more than it could delegate appropriating money to an outside group, he said.
Under the bill, the independent commission would be tasked with handling redistricting after the 2020 census.
The proposed commission would make new district maps for six governmental bodies, including the U.S. House, the Nebraska Legislature and the State Public Service Commission.
Harr argued that the Legislature wouldnt lose power under his proposal because lawmakers would still have the final say in approving or rejecting the maps.
The commission would be a change from the special committee of lawmakers who handled redistricting in 2011, when lawmakers fought over redrawing the states 2nd Congressional District.
Among the differences between Harrs and Murantes proposals, Harr said:
Harrs bill would create an advisory commission of seven members, half Democrats and half Republicans. The chair would serve with no political party affiliation.
Murantes commission would have nine members, of which no more than five could be of the same party.
Murantes bill would require formal opinions from the Nebraska secretary of state and attorney general about the constitutionality of the maps. Harrs bill would not require such opinions.
An independent commission could address voter confidence issues that arise when allegations of gerrymandering occur, said Bri McLarty Huppert, director of voting rights for Nebraskans for Civic Reform, a Lincoln-based nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to make elections more accessible.
Gavin Geis, executive director of government watchdog group Common Cause Nebraska, testified in support of the bill, saying the proposal could create a more partisan system than the one in place only if the Legislature picks the most partisan hacks they could find to serve on the commission.
I dont see that being a reality, he said.
LINCOLN A dozen small-business representatives joined Gov. Pete Ricketts on Monday to call for cuts in the states top income tax rate.
The governor also touted support for his proposed cuts from key business organizations and conservative advocacy groups.
Four members of the Legislatures Revenue Committee joined in the press conference.
Ricketts said his proposed plan would encourage economic growth in Nebraska by putting money back in the pockets of small-business owners and other taxpayers.
If we want families to move here, if we want small businesses to grow, we need to make Nebraska more competitive, he said.
Mike Mapes, president of a professional employer company from Omaha, agreed. He said Nebraskas income taxes drive away college graduates and discourage potential employees from other states.
He called on lawmakers, if they really care about whats best for Nebraska and Nebraskas future, to support Legislative Bill 337.
The measure was introduced by State Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, the Revenue Committee chairman, on the governors behalf.
It would cut the top individual income tax rate from 6.84 percent to 5.99 percent in eight steps. The first step could occur in 2020, depending on growth in state tax revenues.
Barry Kennedy, president of the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that lawmakers need to focus on bringing down the top state income tax.
Our high income tax has negatively affected economic growth and job creation and has hurt Nebraska families, he said.
But Steve Nelson, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, took issue with the call for making income tax reductions first.
In a statement, he said reducing Nebraskas heavy reliance on property taxes offers the best way to improve the business climate and spur economic growth in Nebraska.
Fixing our property tax problem must be the priority for this legislative session, Nelson said.
Renee Fry, executive director of the OpenSky Policy Institute, said the proposed income tax cuts would do little to help small businesses, as 90 percent of the benefit would go to the wealthiest Nebraskans.
She raised concerns that the proposal could leave Nebraska short of money to fund schools, public safety and other services that support the states businesses, such as the Department of Economic Development.
But Jim Vokal, chief executive officer of the Platte Institute for Economic Research, said LB 337 would take a responsible approach to making the state more competitive.
The bill includes a trigger mechanism, meaning the state could take one step each year, but only if state tax revenues were projected to grow by more than 3.5 percent that year.
If a cut was deferred in one year it would take place in the next year that met the trigger.
The top income tax rate applies to the portion of an individuals income that exceeds $29,830 per year. For married couples, the rate applies to the portion of income that exceeds $59,660.
Jack Schreiner, owner of Bruckman Rubber of Hastings, praised the incremental nature of the plan and the trigger mechanism.
He said those would ensure that the state still has enough money to fund education while providing a boost to small businesses.
Schreiner said the level of taxes and regulations in Nebraska make it hard for small businesses to survive. He noted that most small businesses are structured so that they pay individual income taxes, not corporate taxes.
I pay the same type of taxes that my employees pay, he said.
Smith, who is co-sponsoring a competing income tax cut proposal, acknowledged that income tax and property tax proposals have often conflicted in the Legislature.
He expressed confidence that the two groups would work better together this year than in the past.
LINCOLN A proposal that would start to close the states looming budget shortfall was generally well-received by lawmakers Tuesday.
Some members of the Nebraska Legislature objected to proposed cuts, while others questioned whether the cuts represent a short-term solution to larger problems.
State Sen. John Stinner of Gering, chair of the budget-crafting Appropriations Committee, defended the plan.
This is not business as usual, he said. This is making the thoughtful, prudent cuts that we have to make in order to rebalance the budget as required by the state constitution.
Senators adjourned without taking a vote to advance the budget bill on to second-round debate.
Work on the current fiscal year budget has amounted to a special legislative session within the current session.
Members of the Appropriations Committee have begun working on the next two-year budget, during which lawmakers will face even tougher choices.
The budget gap is projected to be about $900 million through June 30, 2019, the end of the next two-year budget period. That projected shortfall equals about 6.3 percent of the budgeted and projected state spending during that same period.
The downturn has largely been blamed on flat tax revenues and a gloomy agricultural economy.
Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz, vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, said putting together the upcoming budget will be exceptionally difficult and urged lawmakers to consider both spending and tax policies that have reduced state revenue.
Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus said the Legislature needs to consider tax credits in particular. And he argued that the proposed cuts may not indeed be cuts at all, but a shifting of burden into the future. A debt. A borrowing.
Under the proposal, the cuts add up to about $157 million, but they are partly offset by $20 million in proposed spending increases. Ricketts had proposed $171 million in cuts that are also offset by $20 million in proposed spending increases.
The plan spares K-12 education, corrections and some Health and Human Services programs.
Omaha Sen. Bob Krist took issue with some proposed cuts to the Legislative Council. The plan calls for $811,000 in across-the-board cuts and takes back $3.8 million unspent in 2015-16.
The funds help to pay for maintenance when paint peels off the walls of senators offices in the State Capitol and for technology that allows the public to view the Legislature. Krist said he could live with the across-the-board cut but argued against the taking back of unspent money.
This is a deep gouge to one of the most frugal operations in the state, he said.
Under the committees plan, the University of Nebraska would face $13.3 million in cuts. Differing from the governors recommendations, the committee restored $5.2 million in unspent NU research money in 2015-16.
The committee brought back $4 million that Ricketts proposed be cut from the Supreme Court to preserve funding that covers treatments meant to keep low-level offenders out of overcrowded prisons.
It also restored $3.5 million to providers of developmental disability services to help make up a $7 million shortfall. The money would help cover some lost dollars due to an error by a state agency, said Lincoln Sen. Anna Wishart, who sits on the Appropriations Committee.
Bellevue Universitys graduation festivities last weekend reminded Michelle Root of the great joy and, then, searing pain she endured a year ago.
On Jan. 30, 2016, Michelles daughter, Sarah Root, graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average, eager to work in forensics.
The next morning, Michelle heard from her son that Sarah, 21, had been fatally injured by a drunken driver shortly after 2 a.m. in a crash near 33rd and L Streets.
Police have said the driver, Eswin Mejia, was street racing in a pickup truck and rear-ended Sarahs car. Mejia, who was in the country illegally, never appeared in court after posting bail and is still being sought by authorities.
Federal immigration officials had denied local law enforcement requests to detain him.
All these emotions run back to you, Michelle Root said Tuesday. For him to be out there free is not right, not right at all. It was an injustice done to Sarah.
Over the past year, Root has been a heartbroken mother, an advocate against illegal immigration and drunken driving and a supporter of Donald Trumps successful campaign for president.
A balloon release is scheduled for 7 tonight at 33rd and L to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Sarahs death. Representatives for U.S. Rep. Don Bacon and U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, both Nebraska Republicans, are expected to attend.
Mejia, then 19, was charged with felony motor vehicle homicide in connection with the Jan. 31 collision. He posted $5,000 bail the required 10 percent of the $50,000 amount set by Douglas County Judge Jeffrey Marcuzzo and did not appear at subsequent court hearings.
Lawmakers criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and questioned why the Honduran man wasnt detained by federal officials.
Nebraska and Iowa lawmakers have introduced "Sarah's Law." The legislation would require federal immigration officials to take custody of any person in the country illegally who is charged with a crime resulting in the death or serious injury of another person.
Michelle is still angry at Marcuzzo, ICE officials and Mejia.
I know Im a hypocrite, because I always taught my kids to forgive, but I will never forgive, she said.
Omaha Crime Stoppers will pay $5,000, and Sarah Roots relatives have raised another $10,000 for someone who provides a tip on Mejias whereabouts.
Tipsters can provide information anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 402-444-7867.
Trump mentioned Sarah in his campaign rallies to bolster support for a crackdown on illegal immigration. At an Omaha rally in May, Michelle Root and her family met with Trump. Trump even invoked the family's plight during his speech at the Republican National Convention.
Root said she supports the presidents recent executive order on travel restrictions for people from seven countries and the plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
I am very proud of him for keeping his word, she said. I want some of that stuff to become law. We still have a lot to do.
Root said she plans to continue to share Sarahs story in the hopes that no other families suffer.
On Friday, she will testify in front of the Nebraska Legislatures Judiciary Committee in support of State Sen. Carol Bloods bill that would allow evidence of drunken driving to be admissable in lawsuits.
We are still seeing deaths caused by illegal aliens, were seeing other crimes done, she said. I dont know that we can get rid of it all, but at least us speaking up has detained a lot of these criminals that have killed loved ones.
Stay with Omaha.com for updates from tonight's event.
By Tiisetso Motsoeneng JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said in court documents on Monday that a trio of Indian-born businessmen was waging an "organized campaign" against him and the Treasury, the latest salvo in a legal and financial battle that has unsettled investors. The Gupta brothers, who deny allegations that they wield excessive influence over President Jacob Zuma, had themselves accused Gordhan in a court filing 10 days ago of conducting a vendetta against them and trying to damage their business. The dispute is an unwelcome distraction for the finance minister, whose own relationship with Zuma has been tense, as he tries to persuade ratings agencies not to downgrade South Africa to 'junk' status in response to stuttering economic growth. Gordhan said in his affidavit that the Guptas' Jan. 20 court filing was part of a "systematic and highly organised campaign by the Gupta family and its associates against the National Treasury, myself and other targets." He denied having a vendetta against them. A statement from Oakbay Investments, the holding company for the Gupta family, said Gordhan's affidavit did not change the fact that its bank accounts remain closed. "Today's affidavit is a case of reverse victim syndrome," the firm's spokesman said. "We look forward to clearing our name in court." A previous filing by Gordhan last October had said that 6.8 billion rand ($500 million) in payments made by the three brothers, and companies they control and other individuals with the same surname, had been reported to authorities as suspicious since 2012. The Guptas, whose businesses range from mining to media, have said this statement was "riddled with factual and legal errors". Gordhan has asked a court for a declaratory judgment that he cannot interfere with decisions by South Africa's major banks to cut their ties with businesses owned by the Guptas. He has said they repeatedly asked him to intervene to have their accounts reopened. Between December 2015 and April 2016, FirstRand, Standard Bank, Nedbank and Barclays Africa all terminated the accounts of companies controlled by Oakbay Investments. Allegations that the Guptas wielded undue influence over Zuma were investigated last year by the Public Protector, a constitutionally mandated anti-corruption watchdog. It did not make conclusive findings but recommended that the president order a judicial inquiry to investigate the allegations, which has yet to happen. Zuma has said the Guptas are his friends, but denies anything improper about the relationship. ($1 = 13.6225 rand) (Editing by James Macharia and Mark Trevelyan)
An Omaha woman was taken in critical condition to the Nebraska Medical Center following a single-car accident on Maple Street between 68th and 69th Streets.
The woman, Anissa L. Williams, 42, underwent surgery late Monday afternoon.
According to Omaha police, the investigation showed that Williams was headed east in a white 2012 Mitsubishi Galant on Maple, east of 72nd Street, at 12:55 p.m. when she lost control.
The Mitsubishi crossed the center line, left the street on the north side and crashed into a chain-link fence at 6822 Maple. A portion of the fence entered the car and struck Williams. According to police scanners, a person in the vehicle had achain-link post through the chest.
Maple was blocked between 68th and 69th Streets as police investigated. Andrew J. Nelson
District hears frustration over proposal to close Bluffs school
Emotions ran high Monday night as the Council Bluffs Community School District addressed a number of concerns from parents, families and the community on the recommendation to close Crescent Elementary at the end of the school year.
Superintendent Martha Bruckner spoke before taking questions and comments. Bruckner cited the decline in enrollment and low student assessment scores as reasons to close the school.
The board is scheduled to vote on the matter Feb. 28. The district is encouraging anyone with additional questions and concerns to attend a meeting Feb. 14. World-Herald News Service
Man serving murder sentence dies in state prison
TECUMSEH Authorities are awaiting autopsy results from the body of an inmate who died at the state prison in Tecumseh.
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said Floyd Derry, 78, was serving 48 years to life for second-degree murder and a weapons conviction in Deuel County. The department said he died Jan. 21. AP
Driver who tried to hit trooper accepts plea deal
BRULE A man charged with trying to hit a Nebraska state trooper has accepted a plea deal.
Aaron Suppes, 25, pleaded no contest Monday in Lincoln County District Court to attempted assault on an officer with a motor vehicle and first-offense driving under the influence. A charge of possession of a stolen vehicle was dropped.
Suppes was arrested March 10 and accused of trying to ram his car into a trooper who had pulled over a vehicle on Interstate 80. The car struck the car that was pulled over but missed the trooper. World-Herald News Service
The Sidney, Nebraska, couple whose bodies were found Friday died as a result of a murder-suicide, authorities determined. The couple had been dead about a week before their bodies were discovered.
The husband shot the wife before turning the gun on himself, Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said Monday. He identified the couple as Jeffery C. Jensen, 39, and Rachelle C. Jensen, 36.
Schaub said preliminary autopsy findings show the cause of death for both was gunshot wounds.
Rachelle Jensens death has been ruled a homicide, and she is believed to have been killed on Jan. 9 at 12:20 p.m.
It was determined that Jeffery Jensen committed suicide and that the time of his death was 12:35 p.m. on Jan. 9.
Authorities found the couple at 2226 Maple St. in Sidney on Friday.
Law enforcement responded to the scene after the womans employer called to report that she had not been at work for several days.
Autopsies were conducted Monday morning.
The Cheyenne County Sheriffs Office, Sidney Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol investigated.
Pressure continues to mount on Douglas County Assessor Diane Battiato to roll back preliminary 2017 property valuations that have Omaha homeowners seeing red.
The Douglas County Board passed a resolution Tuesday asking Battiato to limit homeowners 2017 property valuation increases to 3 percent.
Also Tuesday, state tax officials, at the governors request, sent a letter to the county urging that the preliminary valuations be decreased.
Battiato said she will add the boards suggestion to several options shes considering to address large preliminary valuation increases that have shocked taxpayers.
She also said her office is working with the State Property Assessment Division on solutions.
Battiato said she and her staff are working on four or five options. She said she would return to the County Board to discuss them.
The resolution the County Board adopted Tuesday is nonbinding. The board doesnt have the authority to tell the county assessor how to set property valuations.
The vote Tuesday came after more than a dozen upset taxpayers complained at the County Board meeting that the countys preliminary valuations on their homes were wrong.
Battiato and County Board members have been inundated with calls and emails from taxpayers. This is the second week in a row that fired-up homeowners lined up to speak to the County Board.
The valuations need to come down significantly, said Sheila Karpf, leading a contingent of homeowners from the Sunset Hills neighborhood near 90th and Hickory Streets. They are unlawful. They are not based on market rates. They are way above market rates.
Karpf, holding a toddler on her hip, told the board that Sunset Hills valuations went up by more than 200 percent from 2016 to 2017.
That is outrageous, she said. Everybody is shocked. ... Everybody is angry.
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert also made a rare appearance before the County Board. She urged the board to pass the 3 percent resolution.
The county had posted the preliminary valuations on its website in mid-January, as required by state law. Taxpayers have until Feb. 10 to schedule an informal hearing with a County Assessors Office appraiser. They can call 402-444-6734 to make an appointment.
The final valuations are set in May. Taxpayers can file formal protests in June.
County Board Chair Mary Ann Borgeson said she received a call Tuesday morning from Gov. Pete Ricketts, who said a letter from the office of State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton was on its way.
Borgeson read aloud the letter, signed by Ruth Sorensen, administrator of the Property Assessment Division in the Nebraska Department of Revenue.
The letter noted that state law requires county assessors to set property valuations at 92 to 100 percent of market value.
Battiato has said one reason for the large increases was that many properties had been undervalued for several years and that if she didnt increase the valuations, the state would order increases, as it did in 2016.
But Sorensens letter said Douglas Countys preliminary 2017 valuations put the county as a whole at 99 percent of actual value. So the county could reduce them and still comply with state law, the letter said. It encouraged the county to consider uniform percentage decreases to some residential properties in the county.
This could be done before change notices go out in June to avoid many of the protests that may occur for those residential properties valued at more than 100% of actual value, Sorensens letter said.
County Board member P.J. Morgan made a motion to pass the resolution asking Battiato to limit increases to 3 percent. Board member Mike Boyle seconded it.
A longtime real estate executive, Morgan said he had looked into numerous taxpayer complaints about huge increases and agreed that they were not in line with market value.
Its not just that its outrageous, Morgan said. Its inaccurate.
The resolution passed 6-1. Clare Duda voted no. He said he hoped the Assessors Office could find more reasonable figures. But he said the resolution was meaningless and would mislead the public about whos in charge of valuations.
The 10th annual Shine the Light on Hunger campaign will allow the Food Bank of the Heartland to provide more than 1.4 million meals to hungry people in Nebraska and southwest Iowa.
The campaign, which ran from Thanksgiving through the end of December, raised more than $363,000 through the Conagra ice rink and other community donations. The Conagra Brands Foundation gave an additional $100,000, and the community collected 79,000 pounds of nonperishable food at collection sites across the city.
The food bank plans to distribute about 16 million meals to families in Nebraska and southwest Iowa this year.
We have such a generous community, said Susan Ogborn, president and CEO of the food bank. When we put out a need, people come fill it.
WASHINGTON Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., said Monday that President Donald Trumps travel ban is a complicated issue and hed prefer not to be put in the box of completely supporting or opposing it.
Im trying to do two things at once, keep two principles working in tandem: keeping America generous, keeping America safe, Fortenberry told The World-Herald. I think it is reasonable to pause and review our refugee policies from dangerous areas of the world, but the implementation of this has caused many difficulties and a lot of concerns so I think we need a process which I am starting to work on that potentially allows for expedited exceptions.
The order Trump signed on Friday to suspend refugee resettlements and restrict travel for people from certain countries has created a firestorm prompting demonstrations in the streets, court challenges and bipartisan criticism.
On Monday, for example, congressional Democrats rallied in opposition at the Supreme Court and offered Senate legislation to rescind the order an effort that was blocked by Republicans.
Meanwhile, some Republicans representing Nebraska and western Iowa, including Fortenberry, were trying to walk a tightrope on Trumps new immigration policy. They expressed support for the presidents stated goals, while also suggesting that his order could work better.
For Fortenberry, refugee issues strike close to home.
One of his early pieces of legislation a copy of which still hangs in his office raised the number of special visas available for Iraqi and Afghan translators who helped the U.S. military.
Fortenberry also represents Nebraskas 1st District, which includes Lincoln and one of the countrys largest communities of Yazidis a small group that follows an ancient faith tradition. He successfully pushed to get the plight of Yazidis and other religious minorities in Iraq and Syria designated as genocide in order to raise international attention.
You cant sit idly by and watch people systematically targeted for extermination based upon their religion, Fortenberry said.
He met Monday with a Yazidi man whose two brothers are in Lincoln. The man earned his U.S. citizenship by being a translator for the military, and his wife was supposed to arrive over the weekend. Because of Trumps order, she was not allowed to come.
Fortenberry said he assumes that the administration will develop a process for exceptions while the travel ban is in effect.
Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., was among those who kept a low profile through the weekend, declining opportunities to comment. She broke her silence Monday afternoon with a press release backing the purpose of the ban but also noting the confusion and anxiety produced by the new policy.
Our number one responsibility is to protect our nation, and I agree that we need to strengthen and reform the vetting process, Fischer said in the release. The intention of this executive order is on point, but the implementation of it must be orderly, careful and clear. As we work to keep dangerous individuals out, we must also remain a welcoming country to people of all faiths.
Sen. Ben Sasse was one Midlands Republican who did not support Trumps refugee policy. An outspoken critic of Trump during the presidential campaign, the Nebraskan was quick to say that while the president is right to focus on the importance of borders, his order is too broad.
If we send a signal to the Middle East that the U.S. sees all Muslims as jihadis, the terrorist recruiters win by telling kids that America is banning Muslims and that this is America versus one religion, Sasse said in a press release.
Democrats and a number of advocacy groups have been much harsher in their criticism, blasting the order as arbitrary, inhumane and un-American.
Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, on the other hand, seemed very much in support of the move. He wrote on Twitter that Trump had temporarily blocked Obama-led hijrah to the U.S. It may be too late for Europe ...
The word hijrah refers to Muslim immigration. King included a link to an article that characterized the flow of refugees into Europe from the Middle East as an attempt at Muslim colonization of that continent.
Reps. Adrian Smith and Don Bacon, Nebraska Republicans, both sounded supportive of the ban in statements that touted the need to review vetting procedures.
Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, said in a statement that the principal role of the federal government is to keep Americans safe. He compared the presidents action to a bill that overwhelmingly passed the House in 2015. It would have paused refugees from Iraq and Syria until more stringent vetting could be put in place. That legislation was supported by most House members from Nebraska and western Iowa, including former Rep. Brad Ashford, D-Neb., who now criticizes Trumps order. The one opponent was King, who said it didnt go far enough.
Young also echoed other Republicans assertion that President Barack Obama instituted a similar pause on refugees from Iraq in 2011. That claim is disputed by Obama officials who told the Washington Post that their stepped-up vetting procedures only slowed the process and still allowed people to come to America.
Young said the U.S. will continue to aid and be welcoming to those seeking refuge and asylum. But he said the nation needs to be extra cautious and vigilant, saying that terrorists seek to exploit the refugee program to harm Americans.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, also said it was prudent to reassess the vetting process but called for more clarity about its implementation. Ernst, who served in Iraq as a company commander with the Iowa Army National Guard, expressed support for those who helped the U.S. as translators.
In our efforts to protect our nation from ISIS, we also must ensure we are not inadvertently penalizing our allies in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism especially those who have supported U.S. military efforts in Iraq, she said.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said national security is the top responsibility of the federal government.
The goals of the executive order are commendable, and something President Trump promised during the campaign, Grassley said in a statement. But implementation will be key to ensuring the bad guys are kept out while remaining a welcoming nation to people of all backgrounds and religions.
Gov. Pete Ricketts
LINCOLN Gov. Pete Ricketts on Monday expressed confidence that the federal government will fix the problems that have occurred with implementing the presidents executive order on refugees and immigrants.
Theres always room for improvement, the governor said during a press conference.
Ricketts made no comment about the order itself, other than to note that he had expressed concern last year about how well refugees are vetted.
The order is just a temporary pause to look at the vetting process and make sure that the United States avoids problems, such as happened in Europe, where terrorists posed as refugees to carry out terrorist acts, he said.
Ricketts said Nebraska has always been a welcoming state and last year welcomed more than its share of refugees.
He encouraged Nebraskans concerned about those refugees to volunteer for one of the private agencies that help families get resettled in the state.
Nebraska Legislature
LINCOLN Nebraska lawmakers may have a chance to go on record expressing support for protecting refugees regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age or sex.
State Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln, with nine co-sponsors, introduced Legislative Resolution 27 on Monday. Nine introducers are Democrats, the 10th is a Republican.
The resolution says that many refugees have earned green cards and call this country home, and others have been shown, through extensive vetting, to bear good will toward our nation.
It also said refugees include people fleeing war and oppression and include children and families in need of safety.
The measure will be referred to a committee for further consideration.
University of Nebraska
University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds and the four NU chancellors issued a joint statement Monday, calling the presidents executive order disturbing and disruptive to our students and employees.
The statement said about 150 NU system students and faculty members come from the countries named in the ban.
Together our campuses make up a richly diverse community of scholars from around the globe, representing countless ethnicities, faiths, backgrounds and academic disciplines all brought together by a common desire to learn, to create a better future, and to use the power of education to change the world, the statement says, in part.
Now, more than ever, we must be more inclusive, not less. And universities should lead the way.
The four chancellors are Ronnie Green of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Dr. Jeffrey Gold of the University of Nebraska Medical Center; John Christensen of the University of Nebraska at Omaha; and Doug Kristensen of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Other statements in response to Trump order
For decades, refugee families have settled in Omaha and contribute to the important cultural diversity of our city. The City of Omaha has always been, and will remain, a very welcoming city for legal refugees. We need to do all we can to protect our homeland, but I hope any delays in pending legal refugee resettlement will be as short as possible. Our Human Rights and Relations Department provides important assistance to refugees as they begin their new lives in our city, particularly in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations. We will continue to work with local organizations such as Lutheran Family Services to provide safety and support for all Omaha residents. Mayor Jean Stothert
As a member of the board of Catholic Relief Services for the last five years, I have come to trust and admire CRSs work with international refugees. In response to the recent executive order, I am reminded of the words of Pope Francis: There must be no family without a home, no refugee without a welcome, no person without dignity.
We do not know the short-term outcome of the executive order; however, we do know what we can do now. We have the freedom to be Christ for those already in our midst. I encourage all Catholics to reach out to refugees and immigrants in our community who need help, and to contact their congressional representatives to make sure that this temporary moratorium is lifted as soon as possible. Omaha Archbishop George Lucas
An issue that I share with fellow university presidents is the diminishment of the strength of American universities research and education if the numbers of international students and faculty are sharply limited. The Society of Jesus has a particularly rich history of engaging foreign cultures and customs and, in particular, working with people who are suffering and displaced. ... It is that very Catholic, Jesuit mission that invites us to reach out in support of immigrants and refugees. the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, president of Creighton University
Creighton will hold an interfaith prayer service at St. Johns Church at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 8.
Compiled by World-Herald staff writers Martha Stoddard and Rick Ruggles
ONEILL, Neb. Nearly 150 opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline including some who own land in its path gathered Monday to renew their fight against the controversial project.
Were back at it, said Randy Thompson, a leader of Bold Nebraska.
They also discussed a last-resort, fallback plan: If the pipeline must be built, it should be laid alongside the existing Keystone oil pipeline that transects eastern Nebraska.
Mondays meeting was the first since President Donald Trump resurrected the Keystone XL debate by signing an executive order seeking to restart the project. The Keystone XL was rejected in November 2015 by then-President Barack Obama.
While opponents mostly conceded that they face a tougher fight to defeat the Keystone XL a second time, they also felt that people, especially Nebraskans, are now more aware of the threats posed by oil pipelines.
Trump and his family will be invited to visit Nebraska to see the project route firsthand. Wynn Hipke, a Trump supporter who owns farmland on the proposed Keystone XL route north of Stuart, said he thinks the new president can be persuaded to oppose the pipeline.
This is one thing I dont think hes totally informed on, Hipke said.
The farmer fears that pipeline leaks would ruin his land for his children and grandchildren.
The Keystone XL wont make America great again, he said.
Jane Kleeb, the head of the multistate Bold Alliance who led the pipeline opposition in Nebraska, said that if the new administration cannot be convinced to stop the pipeline, opponents will use tractors, horses and cows to block construction.
Were prepared to hold this off until the next election, she said.
Kleeb and attorney Brian Jorde, who represents a group of landowners fighting the pipeline, were the featured speakers at the two-hour meeting at a community hall in ONeill, which is just south of the proposed Keystone XL route.
They urged opponents to write their state senators to encourage tougher laws against the use of eminent domain and to urge the Nebraska Public Service Commission to reject a pipeline route for developer TransCanada Corp.
This is a pipeline for foreign oil, made with foreign steel and for a foreign market, Kleeb said.
She said that opponents would sue to block the use of eminent domain by TransCanada. Such government power should not be used to help a private foreign company for a project that has few benefits for Nebraska, Kleeb said.
Recent actions in Georgia and Ohio have supported private landowners in cases against pipeline projects for private companies. Nebraska eminent domain law, Kleeb and others said, needs to be changed so that companies that seek to take land through the courts must prove that their project provides a public benefit to local landowners, and not just faraway oil refineries or oil wells.
Jorde said that if the pipeline must be built, the most responsible and reasonable route would be to parallel the existing Keystone pipeline, which was completed in 2010.
That route, he said, avoids the shallow aquifers of the Nebraska Sand Hills, and is an area where landowners and counties already have dealt with a pipeline.
Jorde said that years ago, pipeline opponents had suggested twinning the new Keystone XL with the existing Keystone pipeline. To do so now, he said, is not a sign that they expect to lose the renewed fight over the Keystone XL but just a reflection of the new political reality.
In the past, TransCanada has rejected the idea of following the existing path of the Keystone pipeline, saying that it would add millions of dollars of expenses to the project because it is a longer route.
The 36-inch-diameter Keystone XL, proposed in 2008, would transport oil produced from tar sands in Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast. But while a key southern portion was built, the part that crosses Nebraska was blocked because of concerns about spills in the groundwater-rich Sand Hills.
TransCanada, after a special session by the Nebraska Legislature, agreed to alter its route. But opposition continued, and Obama eventually rejected the project, saying it would exacerbate climate change.
TransCanada has already reapplied for federal approval of the pipeline. The company has also said that it will reapply in Nebraska for approval of a route across the state.
WASHINGTON (AP) A senior U.S. official says 872 refugees will be allowed into the United States this week despite the Trump administration executive order suspending the U.S. refugee program.
Kevin McAleenan, acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, said these refugees would be granted waivers. He said that was allowed for under the order, in instances where refugees were ready for travel and stopping them would cause "undue hardship."
McAleenan said this was being done in concert with the State Department. He said 872 refugees will be arriving this week and will processed for waivers through the end of the week.
He was speaking at a press conference Tuesday about the administration's new immigration restrictions, which also suspends arrival by nationals from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, meanwhile, defended President Donald Trump's divisive executive order on refugees and immigration, arguing that while the rollout was bumpy, the policy is consistent with Republican principles.
"The president has a responsibility to the security of this country," Ryan told reporters. "What is happening is something that we support, which is, we need to pause. And we need to make sure the vetting standards are up to snuff so that we can guarantee the safety and security of our country. That is what this does."
"I think it's regrettable that there was some confusion on the rollout of this," Ryan said, adding no one wanted to see legal permanent residents caught up in the immigration ban, which initially happened before the administration clarified that they should not be.
Even though GOP congressional leadership was frozen out of the drafting of the order, Ryan told rank-and-file Republicans in a closed-door meeting before speaking to reporters that he backed the decision to stop the U.S. refugee program and ban all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
The action triggered mass confusion and chaos worldwide, split families and set off protests at airports across the country.
In the aftermath, Ryan told the GOP that the "rollout was a little bumpy, been a few potholes in the road but the actual policy he agreed with," said Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn.
Ryan warned lawmakers to expect protests at their offices, Roe said, but reminded them that the policy is in line with legislation the House has strongly backed in the past.
Another lawmaker, Rep. Dennis Ross of Florida, said the speaker's message was, "'Look this shouldn't be a surprise to anybody, this is what we all campaigned on ... We're looking at eight years of a legacy that we're essentially undoing."'
Said Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y.: "The speaker was very out in front today reminding our conference this is something we should be embracing."
Ryan's reassurances weren't enough to quiet frustration from some members.
"Basically, I think the thrust of the executive order should have been a very positive move," said Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y. "The way it was handled, though, put the Republicans on defense, and also caused great inconvenience to too many people. But the political question you ask, yeah, they're losing political capital for no reason. It was a self-inflicted wound."
Top congressional leaders of Trump's party, including Ryan, were left to find out the same way the general public did: from news reports as Trump signed the order Friday.
"I guess one of you guys probably told me about it. Thank you for that," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters Monday.
Then, as lawmakers struggled to gather details for constituents about the order, at least one prominent GOP senator was told that the State Department had been instructed not to communicate with Congress.
"There's not a lot of answers as of today. In fact my staff was told the State Department as of today was ordered not to talk to Congress about this issue," said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. "That cannot be a permanent position; we expect answers here fairly soon."
Next followed the surprising news, first reported by Politico, that the administration's repeated claims that Hill Republicans were involved in drafting the executive order apparently referred to staffers on the House Judiciary Committee who acted without the knowledge of GOP leadership.
Each new revelation set off alarm bells on Capitol Hill where Republicans, eager to give Trump the benefit of the doubt barely a week into his presidency, are confronting repeated bouts of chaos of the administration's own making. The failure to consult with lawmakers ahead of time on the immigration executive order set the stage for high-profile Republicans to criticize the measure once it started attracting widespread controversy, and so they did, despite leadership remaining generally supportive.
And the administration's decision to make a major foreign policy move with no notice to Congress raised questions about how well the Trump White House will work with Capitol Hill to push through a massive legislative agenda that includes repealing and replacing Barack Obama's health care law, overhauling the tax code and building a border wall. Although many Republicans remained optimistic that the failures amounted to growing pains for the new administration, congressional relations under the Trump administration seemed to be off to a sour start.
"I think they understand, let me put it that way, that this was not handled in the most productive manner," Corker said. "My guess is next time they attempt to do something that is far-reaching like this there'll be a lot more communication."
Copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Amina Mohamed had been happily and eagerly preparing for the arrival of her mother and orphaned niece from a Somali refugee camp.
She added another mattress to the bedroom of her sparse and modest midtown apartment. She made plans to cook a traditional chicken and rice dish on Wednesday, the day they were set to arrive.
But her hopes were dashed by a distressing and confusing phone call Sunday from her mother. Due to President Donald Trumps executive order on immigration and refugees, their flight had been canceled. Her relatives will remain in the camp indefinitely.
I had broken heart, the 25-year-old Mohamed said Monday, recalling her mothers tearful call. Because I am alone here. You have no one to talk. I feel really bad.
Mohameds family became among the first local casualties of Trumps far-reaching executive order, expected to significantly cut refugee resettlement in the United States.
In addition to Mohameds family, a family from Iraq that was expected to land in Lincoln Monday also saw its trip canceled over the weekend. Somalia and Iraq are among seven Muslim-majority nations made subject to an immediate 90-day travel ban under Trumps order.
That part of the order was not expected to stop two refugees from Nepal from arriving as scheduled in Omaha Monday night. However, by later this week, the order is expected to suspend all refugee resettlement in America from any nation around the globe for 120 days.
And even when resettlements resume, they will be significantly curtailed from previous rates. The order slashes resettlements during the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30 from the 110,000 approved by President Barack Obama down to 50,000. Its believed that more than 36,000 of those slots were already used on Obamas watch.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Monday that 800 refugees set to come to America this week were kept overseas by the travel bar. Some had already packed their bags, sold the personal effects they couldnt carry and said their goodbyes. Tens of thousands of others will be affected by the suspension and overall curtailing of U.S. resettlements.
The executive order is part of Trumps America First agenda necessary, he said, to assure that radical Islamist terrorists do not enter the United States.
But thousands in Omaha, Lincoln and around the country have rallied against the ban, some arguing that no one in the United States since 9/11 has been killed by a refugee from any of the countries named in Trumps order.
For her own part, Mohamed said she understands the presidents desire to protect the country. But she said you wont find terrorists living in the Somali refugee camps. Most have been living in tents for seven to 10 years since fleeing their war-torn country.
He has the right to protect the country. We need that, said Mohamed, who like most Somali refugees is Muslim. But there is not a terrorist living (in the camp). No one will wait around 10 years to destroy the country. We are poor, and we need someone to help.
State Department numbers show that Iraq, Somalia and Sudan three of the countries named in Trumps order have historically been among the largest sources of refugees in Nebraska. Since 2002, 1,261 Iraqis, 1,081 Sudanese and 734 Somalis have arrived to start new lives here. In the past year, theyve been joined by some 163 Syrians, also among the nations named in Trumps order.
The Somali refugees all fled their countrys decades-old civil war. Sitting late Monday in her dim living room, the only light source a window, Mohamed spoke of how the conflict has torn her family apart.
Her father, a civilian, was shot and killed in 2006. Her older sister went missing, going to the store and never coming back. Thats how her niece came to live with her and her mother.
There is no hope there, Mohamed said of Somalia. People are fighting for no reason. People are disappearing. You cant get job.
The three ultimately fled. They landed in 2007 in Kenyas sprawling Kakuma Refugee Camp, a tent city that has held as many as 180,000 refugees escaping from conflicts in Sudan, Somalia and numerous other African nations.
Arriving at age 15, Mohamed lived in the camp for nearly a decade, learning to speak English there. But after numerous interviews with United Nations and U.S. officials, she was approved last year for resettlement in the United States.
She was elated when she landed in Omaha in mid-December with dreams for a bright future. The plan was for her mother, Halimo, and now 12-year-old niece, Nimo, to join her.
Mohameds ultimate goal is to resume her schooling, train to become a nurse and have a good life. But after learning that her mother and niece are again in limbo, she said its hard for her to even think about the future right now.
My hope is to learn and get a good job, she said. But I dont know what will happen. My hope was destroyed.
Correction: The names of Amina Mohamed's mother and niece were misspelled in a previous version of this story.
Pedro Almodovar, Spain's most celebrated living movie director, is to lead the jury at this year's Cannes film festival (AFP Photo/Valery HACHE)
Paris (AFP) - Pedro Almodovar, Spain's most celebrated living movie director, will lead the jury at this year's Cannes film festival, its organisers said on Tuesday.
The flamboyant auteur, who made his name with a string of colourful and melodramatic black comedies including "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!", said, "I am grateful, honoured and a bit overwhelmed."
He is the first Spaniard to preside over the world's top film event in its 70-year history.
"I can only tell that I'll devote myself, body and soul, to this task, that it is both a privilege and a pleasure," the 67-year-old director added.
Although Almodovar won the best foreign film Oscar for his powerful 1999 drama "All About My Mother", which also won him best director at Cannes, he has never taken its top prize, the Palme d'Or.
The man who would become known as the "Tennessee Williams of La Mancha", first began to make his mark during the "Movida", the hedonistic Madrid-led cultural revival that followed the end of the Franco dictatorship in 1975.
"Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" (1988) brought him a cult international following, and his movies are often marked by the strength and warmth of his leading women, played by Carmen Maura, Victoria Abril, Rossy de Palma and Marisa Paredes.
- Exuberant rebel -
As his films grew more ambitious and serious, Almodovar helped launch the Hollywood careers of the actors Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.
Cannes film festival director Thierry Fremaux said his "20 films form an incandescent work, a legacy of his punk, protest-filled youth, driven by an insatiable passion for female figures and the history of film itself."
Born to a farming family in a small, dusty town south of Madrid where his mother wrote letters for her illiterate neighbours, Almodovar was sent to a Catholic seminary at eight in the hope that he might become a priest.
Story continues
But the exuberant rebel later ran off to Madrid and joined a parody glam rock duo, and began dabbling in film-making while he working as a telephone company clerk.
Fremaux said "with his dazzling and iconoclastic 35-year filmography, this virtuoso storyteller has forged a strong bond with filmgoers the world over."
Although he is "ever surprising", he said Almodovar never loses "sight of his pet themes: passion, friendship, destiny, guilt and buried secrets."
English-speaking directors have presided over the Cannes jury in eight of the past 10 years.
The 70th Cannes film festival will run from May 17 to 28.
The rest of the jury and the films that will make up its official selection will be announced mid-April.
The tumult that resulted from the White Houses temporary ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries ought to provide a teachable moment for the Trump administration.
The executive order, among other things, was poorly prepared, needlessly creating a host of complications and burdens. It was written without input by key departments. It put front-line workers in the untenable position of trying to make decisions on important issues the directive failed to address.
The order left people stranded overseas, separated family members at airports and left matters uncertain for university students and tech workers with permanent legal residency status. The order also threw up obstacles for entry by Iraqi translators who have provided assistance to our troops in the fight against terrorism.
The administration will be inviting more trouble for itself and the country if it uses this same subpar approach in tackling other issues, such as Obamacare. Among the lessons the administration needs to learn in the wake of recent days:
Involve far more people in policy preparation. The executive order, according to NBC, was developed by White House staff without consulting the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense and State. Those agencies have direct responsibilities on aspects of refugee issues, yet they were inexplicably left in the dark about the directives release until the last minute.
Coordination among appropriate federal departments isnt a mere nicety; its a central tool for addressing complications beforehand and getting all appropriate players in the loop.
Federal departments with direct responsibility on this issue have been forced to scramble and play catch-up because of the irresponsible go it alone actions by White House staff.
Recognize that details matter. Saying that the order carried out a well-known campaign stance by President Donald Trump is insufficient. Substance matters at least as much as form. Converting broad campaign promises into specific action requires meticulous preparation, particularly in cases involving important legal considerations.
The White House stumbled badly on this score. The executive order, among other things, failed to provide adequate guidance on how to handle cases involving green card holders (permanent legal residents), dual nationals (a citizen of one restricted country and one nonrestricted country such as Canada or Britain) and asylum seekers.
Avoid surprises, think through real-world consequences. The executive order caught most by surprise including the federal workers charged with enforcing it. The result was confusion for those workers, plus major disruption for individuals and families, universities with foreign students and faculty and private-sector employers. Tech companies have made clear their exasperation with the problems the order has created for them.
Trump won the election and made clear his intention to toughen the vetting process for admitting refugees. Its within the presidents authority to take action on this matter. And careful vetting, per se, is not necessarily a bad idea.
Its true, too, that the Obama administration banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months in 2011. Although the Obama administration raised its annual refugee cap to 110,000 for this budget year and accepted 12,587 people from Syria, the number of Syrian refugees admitted by the United States previously was surprisingly tiny (1,682 in fiscal 2015; 105 in fiscal 2014; and 36 in fiscal year 2013).
Such considerations dont erase the fact that with its initial actions on the refugee issue, the Trump administration botched it. Rather than getting defensive, the administration needs to learn the lesson here and use careful planning, communication and solid execution to increase the chances of getting things right the first time.
No help with valuation from state
I find it amusing that County Assessor/Register of Deeds Diane Battiato is going to talk with state tax equalization officials regarding 2017 Douglas County property values (City, county say theyll work to cut property tax rates, Jan. 25 World-Herald).
My appeal of the 7 percent increase in my 2016 valuation was denied by the county.
In September, I paid a fee to protest the denial to the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Committee.
I received a reply from TERC informing me my protest had been referred to Douglas County, and I havent heard from either since.
TERC is part of the problem, not the solution.
Nancy Woelfl, Omaha
The math argues against a Muslim ban
Regarding the ban on refugees from seven countries: If President Trump were banning Muslims in general, then why is Indonesia not on the list it has the largest population of Muslims in the world. The nations on the list Libya, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq and Iran combined dont even have a population equal to just the Muslim population of Indonesia.
This seems like a ban on national populations, irrespective of religion, to me. If it were a ban on a religion, then there are a lot of Muslim nations left off the list.
Seems like a lot more liberal hype again much like many of the protests since the swearing in of our new president.
Steven Wiseman, Bellevue
Most of us come from immigrants
I am an immigrants daughter, and it is troubling to witness the policies that are being enacted in this country around immigration.
My father was welcomed into this country and not turned away because of his religion or his nationality.
I have read the arguments that the times are different now, these people could be evil, this is about our safety, etc.
I believe it is imperative that we take a moment to reflect on our own personal history as there are very few of us who do not have ancestors who were immigrants at one time. Then this issue can be made personal rather than only political.
If we can become more compassionate, we can better craft legislation that will address the problems created by a few without punishing and alienating many nationalities.
Sister Anne Pellegrino, Omaha
Liberals should open their homes
President Trumps order to implement better vetting procedures for refugees from some Muslim-majority countries has nothing to do with stopping refugees from most countries and religious faiths from coming to the United States.
However, in order to satisfy the ideologues on the left, I propose that every person on the front line of protesting the presidents attempt to keep Americans safe should volunteer to take into their home one unvetted male refugee from either Syria or Libya.
Chuck Real, Omaha
How were countries decided?
Why is it that Donald Trump didnt include Saudi Arabia in his countries banned from immigration to the United States, especially considering the fact that the majority of the 9/11 hijackers were from that country?
Could it be he has business dealings in Saudi Arabia?
Janice Mohs, Omaha
DeVos is bad for public schools
I am surprised and angry by the lack of pushback from Nebraskas U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse about Secretary of Education-nominee Betsy DeVos, given their previous experience in education.
Teachers have always been fighting for people to put more value on public education, and its never been easy. By doing what DeVos envisions and pumping money into charter schools that have been shown to perform at the same level (and may have alternative motives) as public schools, we are cheating future generations of a better education that can be funded through public schools.
Katelyn Kukoly, Omaha
Grace University show a feast for senses
Although Grace University is faced with an uncertain future, its closing performance of Pirates of Penzance looked as though there was nothing to worry about. This show assembled a group of 52, including the orchestra, that displayed an immense quantity of talent that would have made Gilbert and Sullivan proud.
Director Mackenzie Dehmer included top-notch acting and wonderful choreography to make this show a feast for the senses. It seemed like the entire student body inspired the players to offer their best in a relatively small venue.
My wife and I were told that some of the lead performers were on the threshold of graduation, and we hope that all who remain will find an outlet for their talents.
As the show closed, one could see the camaraderie among the cast members. If the collective heart of a group could be measured, the university can be proud of what its students learn. Bravo.
Jerry Golmanavich, Omaha
Another above-average warm day is on tap for the Omaha area today.
But it wont feel as warm as Monday, which recorded at Eppley Airfield a high of 56. That high temperature was 13 degrees below the Jan. 30, 2012, record of 69.
The National Weather Service office in Valley said the Omaha area can expect a high around 45 today and an overnight low in the mid- to upper 20s. There is a chance of flurries tonight, too.
Elsewhere, Lincoln reached a high Monday of 61, nine degrees under its record mark of 70 for Jan. 30, also set in 2012.
Other high temperatures Monday in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa: Beatrice, 61; Blair, 54; Columbus, 54; Falls City, 61; Fremont, 54; Nebraska City, 58; Norfolk, 50; Offutt Air Force Base, 57; Millard, 59; Plattsmouth, 56; Tekamah, 52; Valley, 56; Wahoo, 55; Council Bluffs, 54; Clarinda, 57; Harlan, 48; Red Oak, 55; Shenandoah, 59.
Colder weather is expected for Wednesday and Thursday in the Omaha area, with highs in the upper 20s to mid-30s.
The average high for the Omaha area in January is 33 degrees.
The weather service said there is a 30 percent chance of snow Thursday night and a 20 percent chance Friday. Forecasters also said there is a chance of snow Saturday and Saturday night in the Omaha area. Weekend highs are expected to be in the mid- to upper 30s.
Ryan McPike, a meteorologist at KMTV, called for a 60 percent chance of light snow Friday and Saturday.
It doesnt look like anything major, but it does bear watching, McPike said. I dont think we're done with winter yet.
Also, a flood advisory was in effect until 5 p.m. Wednesday for southwest Hall County due to an ice jam causing minor flooding along the Platte River just south of Interstate 80 between the Alda and Wood River exits.
After Chidambaram, Rahul slams government for lack of 'job creation'
India
oi-Oneindia
By Oneindia Staff Writer
After former finance minister P Chidambaram, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has trained his gun at the Union government over the state of Indian economy and lack of jobs.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on Tuesday, Rahul said, "The government is a complete failure in job creation, this is my main point."
Chidambaram on Monday lashed out at the BJP-led Centre over the state of Indian economy and said the union government was trying to project a rosy picture by 'hiding behind numbers'.
The former finance minister said that the Congress has come up with a report that truthfully assesses the state of India's economy. He said there was no growth under the present regime in terms of jobs and capital investment.
Chidambaram, who was also accompanied by former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, said that the UPA had delivered a 7.5 per cent economic growth on an average during its tenure.
OneIndia News
For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications
Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 13:32 [IST]
BJP MP wants Pakistan to prosecute Hafiz Saeed
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Jan 31: BJP MP and former Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh on Tuesday dubbed the house arrest of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed an "eyewash" of Pakistan and demanded that the Mumbai attack mastermind must be prosecuted.
"There is no meaning of house arrest until he is chargesheeted and prosecuted. The Pakistani action is just an eyewash," Singh told reporters outside parliament. The JuD chief, wanted in India for masterminding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was on Monday night arrested in Lahore by Punjab Police. He is under UN sanctions and carries a bounty of $10 million on his head.
Singh also said that India should adopt tit for tat policy regrading Pakistan. "One surgical strike is not enough. India should make policy that whenever there is terror attack, it should respond hard.
"The approach should be if they kill our people we should hit back hard (tum maroge to hum bhi wapas jakar marenge)," Singh said. He however rejected that the claim that the Pakistani action was taken under India's pressure.
"Pakistan never acts on India's pressure. It might be of US after President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning entry of refugees from any country," he said. Singh said that US should also act tough on Pakistan.
IANS
Comedian Atul Khatri's joke on seatbelt becomes one on him as Mumbai Police responds
'Two-finger test' should be banned in matrimonial dispute cases too, says Maharashtra doctor
CBI takes over probe in extortion case against Rajan gang
India
oi-PTI
New Delhi, Jan 31: CBI has taken over investigation in the case pertaining to alleged extortion demand of Rs 26 crore by gang members of Chhota Rajan from a Mumbai-based builder in 2015.
Mumbai Police, which was probing the case, had filed a charge sheet last year against Suresh Shinde, Ashok Nikam, Sumit Mhatre, Nikhil Awaghade showing three main accused Chhota Rajan, Anolakhi Isam and Parmanand Thakkar as "absconding accused".
It is alleged that a call was made to the builder asking him to pay Rs 26 crore to Thakkar else he and his wife will be killed by the gang, according to the FIR filed.
Rajan was arrested in 2015 after being deported to India from Bali, Indonesia. Maharashtra government had handed to CBI all the case probed by the state police against Rajan.
PTI
CII wants HP govt to resolve issues of truck unions monopoly, infra in budget
India
oi-PTI
Shimla, Jan 30: The Himachal Pradesh government focus on resolving key issues like monopoly of truck unions, property tax levied on industries and lack of infrastructure in the state budget for 2017-18, industry body CII said today.
In a pre-Budget memorandum submitted to the state government today, Sanjay Khurana, Chairman, CII Himachal Pradesh State Council, said, "The Industries have been paying maintenance charges and External Development Charge (EDC) to the various departments of the Government but the levy of property tax levied by Municipal Committees on industrial units is unjustified and has created unnecessary hardship for the industry." CII strongly pleads that the industries should taken out from the purview of property Tax, he said.
The state Government should ensure that Truck Unions stop unfair and monopolistic trade practices as these Unions have already caused a huge damage to Brand Himachal Pradesh by way of discouraging fresh investments in the state, it said.
The CII also suggests that business establishments wanting to have their own fleet of vehicles should be allowed to do so and guarded against arm twisting tactics of truck unions, Khurana said. The government should provide adequate infrastructure through special budgetary allocations for the repair and maintenance of roads in various industrial areas of the state.
The State Electricity Board must put in place a robust contingency mechanism for power supply during the winter season as even in the key tourist places like Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie had no power supply for many days, putting people to a lot of inconvenience. The CII suggests that the State Electricity Department should take all precautionary measures and strengthen its infrastructure so that during winter tourists feel delighted to come to Himachal Pradesh, CII said.
PTI
'Severe' yet again: Delhi air continues to remain toxic with AQI at 431
Anand Mahindra's tweet about UPI at country's 'last tea shop' is every Indian's emotion
Congress blames AAP, BJP for stalled development in Delhi
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Jan 31: The Congress on Tuesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party of 'stalling' developmental projects in Delhi and said the people are fed up of their 'misrule'.
"People of Delhi are fed up with the 10-year misrule of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the three municipal corporations of Delhi and the two-year misrule of the AAP in the national capital as developmental works in the national capital have come to a halt," Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said at the party's convention.
The Congress released a booklet containing what it dubbed the chargesheet against Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, titled 'Kejriwal ke Bhrashtachar, Mauj Kare Rishtedar'.
The booklet details alleged corruption indulged in by close relatives of the Chief Minister.
Addressing the party workers, Maken said: "People are now fondly recalling the Congress rule in Delhi when it made giant leaps on the developmental front."
He claimed the Congress will return to power in the MCDs with huge majority.
Maken said: "The bye-elections from 13 MCD wards -- of which the Congress won five -- showed how people were eager to see the Congress back in power, as none of these wards was earlier held by it."
"Both the BJP-ruled MCDs and the AAP-ruled Delhi government have become dens of corruption; both parties have let down the people of Delhi with false promises," he said.
Senior Congress leader P.C. Chacko said that under the leadership of Maken, the Congress is set to return to power in the national capital.
IANS
Congress wants PM to take up US visa issue with Donald Trump
India
oi-PTI
New Delhi, Jan 31: Congress today termed as "regressive" the proposed legislation of the US administration that seeks to double minimum wages of H-1B visa holders, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter with President Donald Trump to help protect India's interests.
Congress leader Anand Sharma said both students and IT professionals will be hurt by the proposed measure which he dubbed as an "unfair practice" by the United States. "This is a regressive measure. It is an unfair practice which the US must not resort to. Because Indian IT professionals and skilled workers have built the US economy," he told PTI.
Sharma said if the US had enough skilled professionals, there was no need for others to be employed there. He said these were the apprehensions which they had expressed and asked the Prime Minister to seek credible assurances that there will be no targeting of the Indian IT professionals and no discriminatory visa regime will be put in place.
"The worst fears have come true. The Prime Minister should clarify whether when he spoke with President Trump, did he raise this issue and did he seek any assurances? What kind of a partnership we will build further," he said, asking the government to take it up with the new US President. Sharma said that one can term the expectations of the Modi government from Donald Trump as "misplaced and premature euphoria".
"You have to be hard-nosed and realistic in the conduct of diplomacy and in upholding India's national interests. It is the duty of the Prime Minister and this government to protect and safeguard India's interests and seek those guarantees," he said. The Congress leader said by proposing more than double the monthly salary of IT professionals, that will make it economically unviable for the IT companies and this is one way to throw them out.
Besides, the students will also be affected as the OTP (optional practical training) which they undertake after their graduation will be curtailed. The apprehensions come in the wake of a US legislation that proposes doubling of the minimum wages of H-1B visa holders to USD 130,000.
PTI
Delhi Government seeks more administrative powers
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Jan 31: The Delhi government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it was not seeking full statehood for Delhi but more administrative powers, contending that a "democratically elected government can't be subservient to the Lt. Governor".
Making a case for more administrative powers without the shadow of the Lt. Governor hanging over it, the Arvind Kejriwal government told a bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice R.K. Agrawal that "it is inconceivable that in a Cabinet form of government, you have a titular head who is not accountable but interposes himself on every decision".
The observations were made by the Delhi government's counsel during the hearing of its pleas that challenged the Delhi High Court verdict that upheld the primacy of the Lt. Governor in Delhi's governance.
Telling the court that the Lt. Governor can always remand back a decision by Delhi's Council of Ministers for reconsideration, senior counsel Gopal Subramaniam told the court that the question is "whether in the exercise of his discretion, can he nullify a decision of the Council of Ministers".
Referring to the constitutional provisions and that of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, Subramaniam asked if the Lt. Governor could interpose himself on every decision and if a Council of Ministers of a democratically elected government can only aid and advise him and that too was not binding.
Pointing to the dichotomy of the situation, the counsel said that there was a legislature under the Representation of People Act that came into being through direct elections and has a Chief Minister appointed by the President, but the decisions by this government can be eclipsed by the Lt. Governor "who is not answerable to anyone".
"Would there be a situation where the Chief Minister will tell the legislature that his government did take decisions but same were vetoed by the Lt. Governor?"
Referring to the constitutional provisions that the President or the Governors in the states were bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, Subramaniam wondered aloud: "Can the Lt. Governor have powers higher than those exercised by the Governors in the states?"
Assailing the High Court verdict that said that no decision of the Council of Ministers was valid unless certified by the Lt. Governor, Subramaniam said: "You can have special provisions for Delhi. You can't have a special form of a cabinet government where one Council of Ministers sits over the decisions of another Council of Ministers."
The senior counsel told the bench that the High Court judgment was a backward step from the top court's position that the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers is binding on the President or the Governor, as the case may be.
IANS
regina spektor
Spotify released a 20-song homage to global artists, called "The Refugee Playlist," in the wake of a travel ban. It quickly drew charges of poor-taste from some observers.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 27 that restricted people from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the US, in an effort to keep out "radical Islamic terrorists." The ban sparked protests in cities around the world over the weekend.
Tech executives from Google cofounder Sergey Brin to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckberg also chimed in, expressing a range of emotions over how restrictions on immigration might affect the global tech industry.
Not to be outdone, Spotify released a refugee-themed playlist on Monday. It includes such classics as "We Are The Champions," from British rock band Queen, and new hits including "Wavin' Flag" by Somali Canadian artist K'Naan and "Better" from Soviet-born Regina Spektor.
The tracks come from artists who were born outside the US and fled their home countries.
"In a world that welcomes refugees, we get world-changing music from artists like these," the playlist description read.
spotify refugee playlist
Some names might come as a surprise. Queen's Freddie Mercury and his family escaped a bloody revolution on the African island of Zanzibar in the 1960s. Maya Arulpragasam, better known as the rapper M.I.A., fled violence in Sri Lanka when she was 9.
The playlist received mixed reactions on Twitter. Some found the playlist to be in poor taste.
Hey @Spotify maybe a "refugee playlist" isn't in the best taste, especially when 'Ghetto Superstar' is one of the songs. pic.twitter.com/EcDvonw8Ev Lynsey Smith (@misslynsey) January 30, 2017
Making a refugee playlist on Spotify does t solve anything. Kinda dumb n weird they made one ThatFooBengie (@bennyboi626) January 30, 2017
Yo @Spotify wtf is up with your #refugee playlist. Including songs like "Under Pressure." Ever think that's incredibly disrespectful or...? Mia Renee (@MiaReneeCole) January 30, 2017
While others thought the playlist was uplifting and inspiring.
Story continues
Thank you @Spotify for "The Refugee Playlist." In #TrumpsAmerica, it's music like this that makes a difference. Matthew Merchant (@MattMerchantRC) January 30, 2017
Shout out to @Spotify for creating The Refugee Playlist and linking to https://t.co/UTg9sAVIqF! pic.twitter.com/RBVglposWs Chelsea Killea (@chelseakillea) January 30, 2017
A spokesperson for Spotify told Business Insider, "We put together this playlist as a celebration of music from artists who were once refugees."
You can listen to the playlist and decide for yourself here.
NOW WATCH: Heres how the top Silicon Valley companies are responding to Trumps immigration ban
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Eyes on Cauvery belt, BJP lures disgruntled Congress defectors
India
oi-Anusha
The Karnataka Congress is speedily losing its leaders; not coincidently many of those who have quit the party in recent times are from the old Mysuru region otherwise known as the Cauvery belt. The Bharatiya Janata Party is eagerly eyeing to lure the defecting congressmen with their eyes set on winning the Congress bastions in the region. The 22 assembly seats from three districts of Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Mandya have been elusive to the BJP which now sees an opportunity to beat the Congress on its home turf.
First, it was Siddaramaiah's former cabinet minister and Dalit strongman Srinivas Prasad and now it is veteran Congressman S M Krishna who quit the party. Senior leaders from the Mysuru region including MLC D Made Gowda sent their resignation letters to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dr G Parameshwar. Reports suggest that another mass leader, Ambareesh may defect to the BJP following his grouse with Siddaramaiah for being dropped from the cabinet. However, neither Ambareesh nor either party of Congress and BJP has confirmed the same.
Why BJP wants Cauvery belt
Coastal Karnataka and north Karnataka have historically been favourable to the BJP, while the Janata Dal-Secular is almost a non-entity, Congress has been the BJP's arch rival in both these regions. The Cauvery belt, however, with the strong Vokkaliga presence and high farmer representation, has been the bastion of the Congress with JD-S having significance presence. With Congress leaders from the region quitting the party, the BJP eyes an opportunity. These leaders have massive appeal in the old Mysuru region and the crowds that gathered to welcome Krishna and his wife in Mandya on Sunday were reflective of the same.
Srinivas Prasad joined in the BJP soon after he quit from the Congress, miffed over being dropped from the Cabinet, the Nanjangud strongman has promised to win the seat for the BJP this time around. S M Krishna is said to have met Amit Shah before he resigned from the Congress fuelling speculations of him joining the BJP. While leaders of the BJP in Karnataka including B S Yeddyurappa welcoming S K Krishna to join the BJP, the veteran politician has remained mum but political observers believe that it is only a matter of time before Krishna expresses his support to the BJP directly or in implied sense. Whether or not S M Krishna and Ambareesh join the BJP, the leaders maintaining their distance from the Congress is more than enough for the BJP to gain a foothold in the 22 assembly seats of the Cauvery belt.
How the numbers have been so far
Karnataka will see assembly elections in 2018 and things are not as rosy as the Congress would have liked it. In 2013, thanks to the infighting in the BJP and senior leader like B S Yeddyurappa floating a new party, even traditional BJP bastions in North and coastal Karnataka saw massive favour to the Congress. The first ever BJP government in Karnataka was decimated by the Congress that gained a clear majority with 121 assembly seats.
In 2013 the Congress won two seats of the seven in Mandya, eight of the 11 assembly constituency in Mysuru and all the four constituencies in Chamarajanagar region. The BJP failed to get a single seat and was a bigger failure than its 2008 run. In 2008 the BJP had managed to win two seats in Mysuru while Congress won eight, in Mandya and Chamarajanagar the BJP had failed to win any seat. The Congress, on the other hand, had won all four in Chamarajanagar and two of the seven seats in Mandya region.
It was the JD-S that managed to retain its bastions throughout the 2008 and 2013 assembly polls. With heavyweights like Srinivas Prasad on their side, the seat of Nanjangud is almost certain to be won by the BJP. If S M Krishna and Ambareesh join the party, major changes will be seen in the vote share of Mandya, Maddur, Srirangapatna and Malavalli assembly constituencies. The BJP is now putting in its resources to woo the leaders who can change its fortunes in traditional Congress bastions in the upcoming assembly polls in Karnataka.
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Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 12:32 [IST]
How these militants reacted after being cornered by the armed forces
India
oi-Vicky
By Vicky
Terrorists in Kashmir have been releasing a lot of videos these days. However, here is an interesting video that was released just as they were cordoned off by security forces. The video was shot at a house in Pahalgam in South Kashmir on January 15 just before the three terrorists were killed by security forces.
In the video one can see the terrorists discussing that they have been cornered by the security forces. One of them is showing up his mobile phone and saying that they were tracked through the cell. Another terrorists then asks if their hide out could have been busted due to information given by the house owner. However the other terrorist says that it was not the house owner who gave out their hideout, but they were tracked through the cell phone.
They constantly go outside the door to analyse the situation and then return and report that they have been cornered. One of the terrorists then says that they are not afraid and are ready to fight.
On January 15, three terrorists of the Hizbul Mujahideen were killed by security forces in an encounter. The militants who are locals were identified as Abid Sheikh, a resident of Satkapora area of Srigufwara, Maqsood Shah alias Masoom, a resident of Bewoora area of Srigufwara and Adil Reshi, a resident of Reshi Mohalla area of Bijbehara.
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'I spied against India so that I could visit my family in Pak'
India
oi-Vicky
By Vicky
The arrest of Sadiq Khan an alleged spy on the payrolls of the ISI has given the police a lot of information on the network works in India. Sadiq was detained at the Jodhpur railway station on Saturday following which he was quizzed by both the police as well officers from the Intelligence Bureau.
Officials who questioned him say that he was part of the module that operated along western Rajasthan. He, along with another spy Nandlal aka Nandu Maharaj had gathered sensitive information about the army and the movement of soldiers, and shared with their handlers in Pakistan.
[How this ISI spy sold out a top secret of the Indian army]
Sadiq told the police that he was helped by the ISI which facilitated his travels to Pakistan, where he has a family. However, once an ISI agent threatened him that he would not given entry into Pakistan. The ISI official then told him that his travel would be taken care of if he spied for them.
Sadiq said that he no option but to bite the bait. He also said that he was paid small amounts by his handlers each time he gave them information.
However, Sadiq reiterated that his main intention to get into the network was so that he could meet his family. He also said that the ISI official had even threatened to eliminate his family if he did not take up the job.
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Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 15:26 [IST]
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India conveys concerns' to US about Trump's proposed visa law
India
oi-Oneindia
By Oneindia Staff Writer
India on Tuesday convey its 'interests and concerns' to the United States' administration over the newly proposed legislation on H-1B visa, which has been introduced in the US House of Representatives.
The legislation, called the High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017, will make it difficult for American firms to hire foreign workers, including IT professionals from India.
Speaking to ANI, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "India's interests and concerns have been conveyed both to the US administration and US Congress at senior levels."
The legislation proposes doubling the minimum salary of H-1B visa holders to $130,000 (approximately Rs 88 lakh). This would lessen the gap between wages being paid to American workers as compared to foreign workers, and would discourage outsourcing.
[What you need to know about new legislation on H-1B visa]
California Congressman Zoe Lofgren,who introduced the bill, said his legislation would help create jobs in America and not replace them.
These proposed measures have triggered speculation among Indian IT companies as India receives highest H-1B visas issued worldwide.
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Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 17:22 [IST]
India, Russia discuss cross-border terrorism
India
oi-PTI
New Delhi, Jan 31: India and Russia today voiced concern over the emergence of Af-Pak region as the epicentre of terrorism, as the two sides discussed the threats posed by the menace, including state-sponsored cross border terrorism.
A composite Indian delegation led by Preeti Saran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs held talks with the Russian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg V Syromolotov here. "Both sides shared views and assessment on the threats posed by the scourge of terrorism, including state-sponsored, cross border terrorism faced by India," said an official release issued after the high level consultations.
They shared concerns regarding the emergence of Af-Pak region as the epicentre of terrorism and discussed successful experiences in curbing terrorism and countering radicalisation, it said. "Both sides agreed that the UNSC 1267 Sanctions List processes for blacklisting various terrorist individuals and entities must be stringently complied with," it added.
They also discussed prospects for deepening engagement on counter-terrorism under the UN, BRICS and SCO mechanisms. "Both sides agreed to a joint action plan which seeks to focus on enhancing capacity building, frequent expert-level meetings, sharing of insights, exchange of best practices in countering radicalisation and curbing terrorism," it added.
PTI
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Jallikattu violence: Retired HC judge to head probe
India
oi-Anusha
Taking cognisance of public anger against government's inaction over alleged police atrocities, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Tuesday announced that a commission headed by a retired high court judge would probe allegations of police excess during violence that followed Jallikattu protests in Chennai. The commission, the chief minister said, will inquire into the circumstances under which police acted in a particular way and how things got out of hand on the last day of peaceful protests.
"If videos of police torching vehicles and properties are proven to be true, stringent action will be taken against them for arson," said Panneerselvam while announcing the special probe committee. The chief minister also said that 36 students including 21 from Chennai who were arrested during the violence will be released. "Charges against 36 students involve din Jallikattu protests will be dropped and they will be released," he said.
The government also declared that compensation would be doled out to people in Nadukuppam fishing hamlet where arson and vandalism led to the loss of property.
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Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 13:12 [IST]
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Kerala MP suffers heart attack in Parliament, critical
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Jan 31: IUML leader E Ahamed on Tuesday suffered a heart attack and collapsed in Parliament's Central Hall when President Pranab Mukherjee was addressing it. As soon as he collapsed in the Parliament, he was rushed out on a stretcher with a doctor attending to him. His condition is said to be critical, doctors at RML hospital said.
"The condition of Ahamed is serious and he is currently under close observation of doctors in the ICU," a senior doctor at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital told.
The 78-year-old Ahamed, who was the Minister of State for External Affairs in the UPA government, was moved to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where doctors said he was under observation.
The Indian Union Muslim League leader has been a Lok Sabha member from Malappuram in Kerala since 1991.
According to hospital authorities, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Development Of North East Region Minister Jitendra Singh visited RML to inquire about the condition of Ahamed. Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi enquired about health condition of Ahamed.
IANS
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Mamata wishes E. Ahamed speedy recovery
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
Kolkata, Jan 31: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed concern about the health of former Minister of State E. Ahamed and wished him a "speedy recovery".
The 78-year-old veteran collapsed during President Pranab Mukherjee's address to both the houses of Parliament in the central hall on Tuesday afternoon.
"Just heard about hospitalisation of E. Ahamed ji. I wish him a speedy recovery," Banerjee said in a tweet.
Ahamed has served as Minister of State for External Affairs in the UPA government and has been a Lok Sabha member from Malappuram in Kerala since 1991. Doctors at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi said his condition is critical.
IANS
Man arrested for looting Rs 8.62 lakh from ATM
India
oi-PTI
New Delhi Jan 30: A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly looting Rs 8.62 lakh from an ATM in east Delhi's Shakarpur area. Puspendera Singh was an employee of a private firm that provides security to banks and ATMs. Police recovered Rs 8.60 lakh from his possession.
The accused took advantage of dysfunctional CCTV cameras at the Shakarpur ATM. But one of the cameras was functional. "On the examination of the said camera, we found that at 2.47 PM on Friday, a person entered the ATM cabin and was trying to operate the machine.
Further probe revealed that he is an ex-employee of a private security firm," Omvir Singh, DCP (East), said. He was on the run and was arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj district.
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Modi greets NDRF on its 12th Raising Day
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Jan 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday commended the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for its efforts in disaster response, rescue and relief.
Modi's remarks came on the occasion of the 12th Raising Day celebrations of NDRF.
"The NDRF is rightly focusing on strengthening systems, processes and capacity building, which help in minimising loss of life or property," the Prime Minister tweeted.
Set up in 2006, the NDRF is a specialised force capable of responding to any type of disaster in the country and abroad.
IANS
Oppn unimpressed as President refers to demonetisation
India
oi-PTI
New Delhi, Jan 31: The reference to demonetisation and surgical strikes by President Pranab Mukherjee in his address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday was welcomed with loud thumping of desks by NDA members led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Opposition members looked unimpressed and did not thump the desks as Mukherjee referred to the government's efforts to check black money or spoke of 'garib kalyan yojna' under which unaccounted money could be declared under a new taxation law.
However, Opposition members joined the ruling coalition members in the applause when the President referred to 'nari shakti' and mentioned the performance of women atheletes at the Rio Olympics and induction of women fighter pilots by the Indian Air Force. Unlike on previous occasions, several benches in the Central Hall were empty. During the earlier Presidential addresses to the joint sitting of the two Houses, extra chairs used to be placed on the peripheries of the historic hall to accommodate the MPs, many of whom used to stand and listen to the speech. But this time the attendance was quite low.
Among those missing were Trinamool Congress MPs who had announced they would attend the proceedings only from February two. During the nearly hour-long speech, several members were seen clicking pictures from their mobile phones while Anand Sharma (Cong), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) were seen busy in an animated discussion for some time.
The Prime Minister was seated next to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. Former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda were seated with BJP veteran L K Advani and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the front row. As soon as the President's address ended, Tiruchi Siva (DMK) was seen shouting about the suicides by farmers in Tamil Nadu.
When Vice President Hamid Ansari was reading out the first and last paragraphs of the President's address in Hindi, SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav was seen leaving the hall. He continued to walk when the National Anthem started playing to mark the end of the programme.
When members were leaving the Central Hall after the departure of the President, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was seen talking to party leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs S S Ahluwalia.
PTI
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PM praises President's address to joint session of Parliament
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Jan 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint session of Parliament as "best speech" describing government policies, informed sources said.
While addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's Parliamentary Party executive meet here, Modi also asked the party MPs to publicise it in their respective areas, especially in the poll-bound states.
"The President's address to the joint session was one of the best speeches explaining government policies. This should be published and used as a document of the government's achievements," a BJP leader, who also attended the meeting, quoted Modi as saying.
According to him, the Prime Minister also said that for the first time, the Padma awards were given to the deserving candidates and also to the unsung heroes and common man of the country. Modi stressed that even those close to power corridors were not given any extra weightage while giving away the awards.
Sources said that the Prime Minister asked the party MPs to attend Parliament's budget session despite election campaign. The budget session began on Tuesday with President's address to the joint session of both Houses.
IANS
Rs 4.12 crore stuffed with onions, potatoes; 3 held in Bengaluru
India
oi-Anusha
Tracking suspicious activities of a Kerala origin trio led the city crime branch police in Bengaluru to discover Rs 4.12 crore stashed away with onions and potatoes. Mohamed Afzal, Abdul Naser and Shamshuddin, all natives of Kerala were arrested for attempting to transport the new currency notes illegally in a mini lorry with a Kerala registration number.
Following a tip-off about suspicious activities at a residential building in Kodigehalli police station limits, raids were conducted by the CCB officials on Monday. Amid 35 bags of onions and 10 bags of potatoes, the police found Rs 4.12 crore, all in new currency notes, stashed away. All three men who had a role to play in stashing of the money were arrested.
Further investigations revealed that the trio, without legal documentation or evidence of source, was attempting to transport the unaccounted money to Kerala under the guise of delivering vegetables to the markets there. A case has been registered and investigations are on to find more about the source of the money and who it was being delivered to in Kerala.
OneIndia News
SC refuses to stay TN's Jallikattu bill
India
oi-Oneindia
By Oneindia Staff Writer
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the bill on Jallikattu and gave Tamil Nadu six weeks time to respond to the notices issued after the bill was challenged.
The court took serious note of the violence that erupted during the Jallikattu protests in Chennai and other parts of the state. "Law and order was clearly not followed," the Bench said while pulling up the TN administration. The court is hearing a petition that challenged the bill passed by the TN government in which Jallikattu or the bull taming sport.
The bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra while speaking about the violence said that in a rule of law this ought not to have happened. The bench also sought to know why TN had brought about a legislation to legalise Jallikattu. "What was the need for this?" the court asked.
In another development, the court permitted the Central government to withdraw its January 2016 notification legalising the sport. The Centre had filed an application in the court to allow it to withdraw the notification. This notification had been earlier stayed by the court.
The bench asked the TN government why it was defying the Supreme Court. "To say we want law peacefully is one thing, and to defy the SC is another matter," the court said. The bench also pointed out that 4 persons had died in Jallikattu this year. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi while backing the TN bill shot back by saying, " people die in every sport." The centre also defended the bill and told the court that Jallikattu would help preserve the bulls.
Senior counsel, T K Parasaran appearing for TN said that the Jallikattu protests were peaceful. However something happened that led to the violence, he also said. The bench remarked, "Tell the TN government law and order has primacy in in a civilised society. Tell the TN government that when the SC is hearing a matter, it expects compliance of its orders, the bench also said.
Further the Bench also said that it only wants to preserve the honour of the court. There should be no 'ifs' and buts' about it, the Justice R Nariman who is also part of the Bench observed.
Meanwhile senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who is also arguing this case pointed out that it is wrong to say that there was no violence. A police station was burnt during the protests he also pointed out. The Supreme Court then said, "Yes, that is exactly what we are talking about. During the course of the arguments some advocates complained about Swamy calling some people 'porki.' To this the court said, "Take all that outside the court."
OneIndia News
Survey gives simple majority to NDA in UP Assembly Election
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Jan 31: Uttar Pradesh is likely to witness a close race with the BJP and its allies expected to get 180-191 seats and the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance 168-178 seats, a poll survey telecast by India Today TV said on Tuesday.
According to the survey conducted by Axis APM and India Today Group, the Bahujan Samaj Party stands far behind and was projected to get 39-43 seats in Uttar Pradesh assembly election.
Elections for 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in seven phases starting from February 11 and culminating on March 8. The poll survey gave one to four seats to others.
The vote share projection in the pre-poll survey reveals that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies were expected to get 34.8 pre cent of the total votes whereas the SP-Congress alliance would get 33.2 per cent votes in the state. The survey puts BSP far behind with only a 20.1 per cent vote share whereas others would be able to get 11.9 per cent votes.
IANS
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Union Budget 2017 (Live): India's trade-GDP ratio greater than China's
India
oi-Oneindia
By Oneindia Staff Writer
New Delhi, Jan 31: The Budget Session of the Parliament began on Tuesday with President Pranab Mukherjee's address. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Economic Survey in the Parliament.
Here are all the live updates of the session:
2.26 pm: Universal Basic Income a radical new idea; an idea whose time is right for deliberation, not necessarily for immediate implementation: Subramanian.
2.23 pm: External challenges include rise in oil prices and protectionism: Arvind Subramanian.
2.13 pm: Full remonetisation expected in a month or two: Subramanian.
2.09 pm: The balance sheets of banks and corporates are still challenged: Subramanian.
2.04 pm: Not appropriate to do a before-after analysis of GDP growth, with respect to demonetisation: Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian.
2.02 pm: Bank credit has been affected by demonetisation, the most affected have been 2-wheelers. Aim of demonetisation is to bring down real estate prices: Arvind Subramanian.
1.53 pm: Demonetisation a very analytically unique and unusual experiment. Demonetisation simultaneously reduced supply of cash, and increased supply of deposits: Arvind Subramanian.
What demonetisation has done is both simultaneously reduced supply of cash, but by the same token it has increased supply of deposits: CEA pic.twitter.com/WNHDZ1NvuH ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
1.45 pm: FDI inflows are at a record high on the second half last year: Subramanian
1.43 pm: There's been robust macro economic stability in the past one year: Arvind Subramanian.
1.35 pm: Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian says:"This document is just the first installment, it's going to be as big sometime in summer."
Delhi: Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian addresses the media after tabling of #EconomicSurvey pic.twitter.com/avl7VKvBvz ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
1.31 pm: Capital inflows into India are no lower than in the average emerging market: Economic Survey.
1.27 pm: India's trade-GDP ratio is now greater than China's : Economic Survey.
1.23 pm: FDI reform measures were implemented, allowing India to become one of the world's largest recipients of FDI: Economic Survey.
1.21 pm: Demonetisation has had short-term costs but holds the potential for long-term benefits: Economic Survey.
1.20 pm: GST will create a common Indian market, improve tax compliance and governance, and boost investment and growth: Economic Survey.
1.18 pm: India's GDP growth pegged at 6.75-7.5% for FY 18.
1.10 pm: Universal Basic Income (UBI) Scheme an alternative to plethora of State subsidies for poverty.
1.09 pm: The current account deficit (CAD) narrowed in the first half (H1) of 2016-17 to 0.3 % of GDP: Economic Survey.
1.08 pm: Economic Survey advocates reforms to unleash economic dynamism and social justice. Real per capita GSDP between 1983 and 2014, shows across-the-board improvement.
1.07 pm: GDP growth rate at constant market prices for the current year i.e. 2016-17 is placed at 7.1 per cent.
1.05 pm: Economic Survey recommends reforms in labour and tax policies to make the Apparel and Leather sector globally competitive.
12.55 pm: Government tables Economic Survey 2017 before the Parliament.
12.10 pm: My government reiterates committment to fulfil aspirations of its people: President Pranab Mukherjee.
12.05 pm: India ratified Paris agreement on 2nd Oct 2016, thereby sending a strong message of our commitment to combating climate change: President Mukherjee.
12.00 pm: India has been facing grave challenge of terrorism, threat to global community. J&K affected by terrorism sponsored and supported from across the border. My government is committed to combat terrorism, and ensure that perpetrators of these acts are brought to justice: President Pranab Mukherjee.
11.58 am: Launch of BHIM App is a tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar who stood for the economic empowerment of the poor: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.54 am: My government welcomes a constructive debate on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies: President Mukherjee.
11.50 am: Our defence forces successfully conducted surgical strike to prevent infiltration by terrorists. We are proud of the forces, and the exemplary courage and valour displayed by them: President Mukherjee.
We are proud of the forces, and the exemplary courage and valour displayed by them: President Pranab Mukherjee #BudgetSession pic.twitter.com/Mi6nv16jXp ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
11.47 am: To combat black money, corruption, counterfeit currency and terror financing, the government took decision on Nov 8, 2016 of demonetisation. My government's very first cabinet decision was to set up an SIT on black money: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.38 am: My govt is focussing on reducing the isolation of the eastern and northeastern part of the country through roads. The northeast is the gateway to southeast Asia. My govt is focussing on reducing the isolation of the eastern and northeastern part of the country through roads: President Mukherjee.
11.36 am: All the policies of my govt converge for the benefit and welfare of the poor, deprived: President Mukherjee.
11.34 am: For the first time speech and learning disability has been included with Special Disabilities Act: President Mukherjee.
11.30 am: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana expanded ambit of risk-coverage, doubled sum insured and facilitated lowest-ever premium:Mukherjee.
11.29 am: The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme is yielding encouraging results. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan will provide comprehensive ante-natal care to all pregnant women. The revision of Maternity Benefit Act will support pregnant women at the workplace: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.27 am: 11,000 of 18,000 villages which were in darkness since independence have been electrified in record time, says President Pranab Mukherjee.
11.25 am: My govt has taken several steps for skilling the youth and improving their employability: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.22 am: My government is making 'naari shakti' an integral part of our development journey. They deserve equal opportunities. PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Deepa illustrate strength of our women: President.
11.20 am: Mission Indradhanush commits to vaccinate every child everywhere against preventable diseases: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.18 am: The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will make clean energy accessible to the poor: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.16 am: My government is committed to provide shelter to every houseless poor household through the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana. Mission Indradhanush commits to vaccinate every child everywhere against preventable diseases.
37 percent of the Ujjwala beneficiaries belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.12 am: To take the banking system to the doorstep of the poor and the unbanked, the Indian Postal Payment Bank has been started. Over Rs 2 lakh crore has been provided through 5.6 crore loans sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.09 am: Close to 13 crore poor have been covered under various social security schemes. An unprecedented 26 crore plus Jan Dhan accounts have been opened for the unbanked.
At the core of all my government's policies is the welfare of the garib, dalit, peedit, shoshit, vanchit, kisan, shramik and yuva: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.08 am: Janashakti has transformed Swachh Bharat Mission into a jan-andolan: Pranab Mukherjee.
Budget session of Parliament begins with President Pranab Mukherjee's address to members of both the houses. pic.twitter.com/glkplFHeEb ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
11.05 am: This is a historic session heralding advancement of budget cycle and merger of general budget with rail budget with the first time: Pranab Mukherjee.
11.02 am: President Pranab Mukherjee address joint sessions of both Houses.
10.52 am: President Pranab Mukherjee en route to Parliament.
Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee en route to Parliament pic.twitter.com/9izbaZ9jPl ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2017
10.50 am: Parliament must keep people's interest in mind. Hope this session is fruitful: Narendra Modi ahead of Budget session.
10.45 am: Government ready to discuss every issue. We have nothing to hide, worry about or fear: Venkaiah Naidu ahead of Parliament Session on Budget.
10.30 am: Copies of Economic Survey 2017 brought to the Parliament.
OneIndia News
Union Budget 2017: Opposition all set to make it a stormy affair
India
oi-Vicky
New Delhi, Jan 31: It is Budget Day on Wednesday and the ruling party is gearing up for a showdown in Parliament. Battle lines have already been drawn and the opposition will insist on a debate on demonetisation before the Union Budget 2017 is presented on February 1 by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
The opposition has been crying foul and has accused the government of advancing the budget session to February 1. The opposition feels that the timing of the budget is wrong as it coincides with the ongoing election process in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab.
Meanwhile, sources say that the opposition is likely to bring a privilege motion. The opposition would cite the RBI governor's submission to a house panel in which he had stated that it was the government which had asked the RBI to go ahead with the decision on demonetisation.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged all parties to allow Parliament to function. He said that all parties must participate in the debate. "There may be differences, but democracy must win," he said.
The opposition, however, is unwilling to listen and would insist on a demonetisation debate. Jaitley, however, defended the decision to present the Budget on February 1 and said that the same had been indicated 6 months back. The Supreme Court too had refused to entertain a petition which had sought advancing of the Budget session.
OneIndia News
What makes Hafiz Saeed such a darling of Pakistan
India
oi-Vicky
By Vicky
The ministry for External Affairs rightly pointed out that placing Lashkar-e-Tayiba boss, Hafiz Saeed under house arrest is not permanent solution. Exercises such as these have been carried out in the past also and only a credible crackdown on Saeed and his organisations would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity.
Earlier in the day, an Intelligence Bureau official had told OneIndia that the house arrest is hogwash and it is more like a protective custody of Pakistan's most important asset. So what makes Saeed, the man with a $10 million bounty on his head, so powerful and why is Pakistan scared of acting against him? Despite all the proof and the heaps of dossiers handed out to Pakistan on Saeed's role in fuelling terrorism, nothing has been done.
Let us find out why Pakistan fails and will continue not to act against him.
What makes Saeed so special?
India has maintained that Saeed enjoys the support of the Inter-Services Intelligence and his a free spirit in Pakistan. Looking at how the ISI has handled Saeed it is evident that he is one man they would not ever give up, as he holds the key to pushing Pakistan's policy against India.
Born at Sargodha (Punjab province of Pakistan) in 1950 to a Pakistani-Punjabi family, his hatred towards India started to build up when he lost 38 members of his family during the partition of India. His family was based out of Shimla and while migrating to Lahore his family members were killed in the riots.
He was very outspoken and his fiery speeches against India and the Kashmir issue made the Pakistan establishment sit up and take notice. Former Pakistan president General Zia-ul-Haq was the first to spot his abilities and appointed him as a member of the council on Islamic Study. He also served as an Islamic teacher at the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore.
A meeting with the jihadis:
In 1980s that he left for Saudi Arabia for higher studies where he made his first contact with jihadis, who discussed the war in Afghanistan with him. Saeed was told to join one Professor Zafar Iqbal and asked to dedicate more time in joining the warriors in Afghanistan against the Russians. To further this agenda Saeed floated the Markaz Dawa Wal Irshad with another member called Abdullah Azzam and a few youths.
The ISI which realised the potential of this group helped Saeed float the LeT in the 1990s. The primary intention of floating the Lashkar was the carry forward the battle at Kashmir. Saeed had become an inspirational figure, thanks to his oratory skills and this in turn helped the Lashkar pick up youth to take up jihad with ease. Saeed's anti-India remarks were an instant hit with the Pakistani youth and the establishment, and over the years, the Lashkar became a force to reckon with.
Going beyond Kashmir:
However, Saeed's war was not restricted to Kashmir alone. He realised that his group required to get more attention, and the best way to do this was to keep hitting a key locations in India so that the world took notice.
Saeed probably is the only terrorist in Pakistan who has an unblemished record with the ISI. He is the man who is capable of carrying out the Pakistan agenda against India. Moreover, he is much loved by the younger recruits who swear by him while taking up the path of Jihad. Indian officials say that the ISI cannot afford to lose him.
"Acting tough on Saeed could either weaken the LeT, or the outfit could spin out of control. The ISI would not want something of this sort to happen to it, as it is the only outfit which blindly executes the Pakistan policy against India," says an officer.
Former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, C D Sahay says every group or leader in Pakistan has at least once been on the back burner due to an altercation with the ISI. However this has not been so in the case of the Lashkar and Saeed.
House arrest = Hogwash
Saeed had in fact helped the Jaish-e-Mohammad carry out the Parliament attack 2001. After India put pressure on Pakistan, he was placed under house arrest. The next big attack staged by the Lashkar was in July 2006 when they triggered off the train blasts in Mumbai. He was kept under arrest for a month and later released after the Lahore high court cleared him. He was once again arrested, but only to be acquitted.
It was after the 26/11 attack, India made a formal appeal to the United Nations Security council to put Saeed under the watch list. India, in its appeal said that Saeed had stage-managed the attack, and till date continues to be a key player against India. The appeal also stated that the LeT runs at least 2,500 offices to pursue its agenda against India.
He was placed under house arrest once again. However, the courts in Pakistan, while ordering his release, termed the arrest as unconstitutional. After this episode, there was a Interpol Red Corner alert against him, following which he was once again placed under house arrest. The court however cleared him while stating that one cannot brutalise the law in the name of terrorism.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 17:16 [IST]
Women, blackmail: How the ISI trapped this Indian spy
India
oi-Vicky
By Vicky
Farhat Khan, the former personal assistant of Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament Chaudhary Munawwar Salim was in touch with the Inter-Services Intelligence since 1996. Farhat's name came up during investigation for the first time following the detention of Mehmood Akthar who was working at the Pakistan's high commission in Delhi.
[How an Indian spy helped Pak gain operational advantage during war]
According to Akthar, Farhat was in touch with the ISI since 1996. "When I came to India, I was told by the bosses about him. I got in touch with him and he in turned sourced crucial documents for us, Akthar had told the Delhi police before he was declared persona non grata and deported to Pakistan.
The Delhi police, while quoting Akthar's statement in the chargesheet says that it was Farhat who used his office as a personal assistant to the MP to source documents. The police say that Farhat was in touch with ISI agents since 1996 and had shared a lot of confidential information.
Farhat in fact became the PA of an MP in 1986 for the first time. Since then, he had been associated with the offices of at least 4 MPs. He would steal documents relating to the Parliament and sell them to the ISI, the chargesheet states.
How Farhat was trapped
For his first time, Farhat shared a document for the lure of money. The pressure was clearly building on him and of course the fear of getting caught loomed largely over his head. The first time that he handed over a document, the Pakistanis made sure that he was shot on camera.
This was the trap that had been set and Farhat had no choice but to keep passing on documents fearing that the Pakistanis may rat him out. He told the police that at times he felt that he should get out of this web. But each time he tried telling his handlers, they would threaten to make public the photographs in which he was seen handing over secret documents.
To make matters worse for him, at one party held at the Pakistan high commission, he was photographed with women. The women would be intentionally sent to him and then someone would shoot pictures. "This too was used as a blackmail tool against him," an investigating officer added.
During the course of the questioning, Khan revealed that he was in touch with various persons. Moreover, he had earned the trust of several politicians and had worked as their personal assistants. This helped him get access to secret files which he would pass on, he also revealed during his questioning.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 15:57 [IST]
Confusion worse confounded: Trumps Muslim ban fails, for now
International
oi-Oneindia
By Rajiv S Khanna
Four federal courts in New York, Virginia, Washington and Massachusetts have issued temporary restraint on the operation of an executive order, issued on January 27, 2017, that barred Muslims from certain countries to enter the USA. The Hill reported on the political background of the order and the comments from American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the New York plaintiffs.
The EO, issued most inopportunely on Holocaust Memorial Day, bars Syrian nationals from entering the United States as refugees indefinitely. It also halts all refugee resettlement in the US or 120 days, ostensibly to give the administration time to review its vetting processes. It imposes a 90-day US entry ban on people from seven countries -- Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan and Somalia.
The New York court decision
Judge Ann M Donnelly of the US district court for the eastern district of New York acted on an Emergency Motion for Stay of Removal in a putative class action complaint (Darweesh, et al. v. Trump, et al). against the EO. In her ruling dated January 28, 2017, the Judge granted temporary stay of removal proceedings in the case before her.
It is important to understand what this ruling is and is not.
In issuing the stay, as required by the law, the judge performed an evaluation whether or not the petitioners ultimately have a strong probability of winning the case. The judge noted that they do indeed have a high likelihood of prevailing on their claims of violation of their rights to Due Process and Equal Protection guaranteed by the US Constitution.
Additionally, the judge evaluated whether or not the affected people will suffer "substantial and irreparable" injury if the stay is not granted; and she found that they would. The Judge noted that the issuance of stay will not injure the government.
Accordingly, the judge ordered a stay of government action against:
Individuals who have their refugee status applications already approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services;
Other individuals from the barred countries who hold valid immigrant visas (green cards) and non-immigrant visas (such as tourists, students, temporary workers, etc); and
Other individuals from the barred countries who are already otherwise legally authorised to enter the USA.
The stay will be in effect until the case is finally decided. This, however, does not mean that the government has already lost the case. The judge has not allowed the affected people to enter the US, nor has she said anything against the government on the merits. But, this order does portend a strong likelihood that the Trump administration will lose this case on the merits.
Even though the court ruling is broad enough to cover the entire USA, the government can probably choose to consider itself bound by this ruling only in the jurisdiction of each court and not nationally.
There is precedent for that. The USCIS, Customs and Border Protection and other implicated agencies can claim that being national agencies, they are restrained only locally by local orders. However, the local-effect argument would no longer be legally tenable if the court accepts that the requested class consists of all the people nationally who are suffering from similar harm (class certification).
A ruling in a class action would be binding upon the government in relation to the entire class of people covered by the class certification, irrespective of where they are located.
The Virginia, Washington and Massachusetts court rulings
On 28 January, Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the US district court for the eastern district of Virginia (Alexandria Division) ruled that the green card holders being held at the Dulles airport must be permitted access to lawyers and that they cannot be sent back for a period of seven days (Aziz, et al. v. Trump, et al.). This ruling does not cover and protect all the categories of people or to the same extent and duration as does the New York Order.
On January 28, Judge Thomas Zilly of the US District Court for the western district of Washington also granted a stay of removal for two unnamed plaintiffs (John Doe, et al. v. Trump, et al.).
Similarly, On January 29, Judge Allison D. Burroughs of the US district court for the district of Massachusetts granted a stay of removal for two plaintiffs (Pourabdollah, et al. v. Trump, et al.). This ruling followed the same analysis as the New York court. In addition to granting stay, the Mass. Court directed:
The government to disregard the EO and use the screening standards that existed prior to the issuance of the EO;
The government not to apply the EO against any people who already possessed the legal right to enter the US (same as New York ruling above) before the EO was issued;
The CBP to instruct the airlines that at Logan Airport no person shall be returned or detained (the prohibition against detention is a step forward from the NY ruling) based upon the EO; and
That the stay will remain in effect for 7 days within which a hearing on the merits of the lawsuit will be held.
All the four court rulings so far hint strongly at the infirmities in the EO, which appears to be as ill-conceived as it is ill-received.
Overruled by the Trump admin
CNN reported that the Pentagon staff audience was largely clueless about what Trump meant when he announced on Friday, January 27 that he would be taking strict new measures to prevent domestic terror attacks. The EO was shown to the homeland security career staff only after it was signed. When DHS tried to exempt green card holders (as legally required) from this order, they were overruled by the Trump administration.
Despite Trump's assurances that his administration was fully prepared to implement his order, government agencies were obviously unprepared to administer this ban. It was quite obvious that the Trump administration had not briefed its agencies. The hurriedly posted notice from the state department dated January 27 is indicative of a scramble to change their procedures in compliance with the EO.
Even the US attorney's office that appeared to defend the New York lawsuit proceedings was unable to answer the questions asked by the judge, because they had not been adequately briefed by the administration.
Trump's Executive Orders remain
As of Sunday, 29 January morning, Trump administration is still issuing conflicting and confusing statements. On the same afternoon, the DHS has issued a press release entitled "Department Of Homeland Security Response To Recent Litigation:"
The department of homeland security will continue to enforce all of President Trump's Executive Orders in a manner that ensures the safety and security of the American people. President Trump's Executive Orders remain in place-prohibited travel will remain prohibited, and the U.S. government retains its right to revoke visas at any time if required for national security or public safety.
That appears to be clear enough. They will do what the president directs. But what about the various court rulings? DHS throws in this nugget at the end of the press release:
The department of homeland security will comply with judicial orders; faithfully enforce our immigration laws, and implement President Trump's Executive Orders to ensure that those entering the US do not pose a threat to our country or the American people.
Apparently, the DHS will obey the courts, congress and the president. So, do they intend to follow the given court rulings nationally or just locally? Unfortunately, this is still far from clear.
In the interim, the New York plaintiffs have moved the court for a clarification of the court order. They are seeking the court "to immediately clarify that its January 28 order is nationwide and order Respondents to enforce the stay of removal."
Strongly-opposed EO
Objectively assessing, there appears to be little rational justification for the EO. The citizens of the seven banned countries have not been implicated in any domestic terrorism in the USA. The countries whose citizens were so implicated are not on the banned list.
People from all walks, including concerned public, politicians, and civic groups, have strongly opposed this EO. Several businesses and business groups such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Box, Inc., The Internet Association (a coalition of tech companies), etc. have condemned the EO.
The EO is under legal challenge on the grounds of being discriminatory, violative of due process, and in contravention of several statutes and international law.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 provides that "no person shall receive any preference or priority or be discriminated against in the issuance of an immigrant visa because of the person's race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence" 8 U.S.C. 1152(a)(1)(A). In addition to the Constitutional Fifth amendment prohibition, this is a statutory prohibition against discrimination. Rewriting the Constitution and our nation's law is beyond a President's authority.
The Immigration and Nationality Act also provides that "[a]ny alien who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States...irrespective of such alien status, may apply for asylum...." 8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(1). The right to apply for political asylum is also a statutory right and a due process constitutional protection. This too is beyond the power of presidential action.
It is highly likely that the courts will overturn this EO, but in the meanwhile people affected by the EO are being detained and may continue to be detained by the CBP. It is well within the authority and the power of the hand that signed the EO to withdraw the order or at least spare these people, who range from infants to octogenarians, the discomfort and the indignity of confinement while the legality of the order is under consideration.
(Rajiv S. Khanna, @immigrationcom is the managing attorney at the Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, PC, Immigration.com, a firm practicing immigration laws since 1993)
OneIndia News
Hafiz Saeed blames his arrest on Trump-Modi friendship
International
oi-Vicky
Lahore, Jan 31: In a video released after he was put under house arrest, terrorist and Lashkar-e-Taiba boss Hafiz Saeed has blamed the decision on the friendship between American President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a video release, Saeed is heard blaming the friendship between the US president and the Indian prime minister.
"Trump is putting pressure on Pakistan to arrest me since he wants to become friends with Modi," Saeed said. He was placed under house arrest at the Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji in Lahore on Monday.
Indian officials who are closely monitoring the situation say that this is more of protective custody than house arrest. "He is a top asset for Pakistan and can shake up the system if he wishes," an officer from the Research and Analysis Wing said. Pakistan is clearly under pressure to act against Saeed. "They are yet to try him for the Mumbai 26/11 attack," the officer noted while adding that the house arrest is just an eye wash.
Meanwhile in Pakistan, police officials visited the offices of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the financial wing of the LeT and ordered that the Pakistan flag be hoisted. All the outfit's flags were taken down and the national flag was hoisted.
OneIndia News
Iran says it will not use ballistic missiles to attack other nations
International
oi-IANS
By Ians English
Tehran, Feb 1: Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran will never use ballistic missiles to attack other nations, nor will it produce nuclear warheads, but it reserves the right to self-defence.
Giving a press conference on Tuesday here, alongside his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault, Zarif said that the missiles aren't part of the nuclear accords.
"Iran will never use missiles produced in Iran to attack any other country. No Iranian missiles have been produced to carry nuclear warheads," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying. Zarif was responding to international reports that Iran had recently carried out ballistic missile tests.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed in 2015, saw the Islamic Republic agree to downscale its nuclear program in exchange for the alleviation of international sanctions. That deal was struck between Iran, the European Union and the P5+1 group (the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, France and China -- plus Germany).
Responding earlier on Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Alliance was investigating the incident. The United States and Israel reportedly called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to the reports of the Iranian ballistic missile testing to be held at the New York headquarters.
Russia, a fellow signatory in the nuclear accord, came out in defence of Iran's ballistic missile testing and accused the United Nations of "heating up the situation" by calling for a meeting. Late on Monday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his opposition to the Iran missile tests on Twitter, saying: "Iran launched a ballistic missile again. This is a flagrant violation of the Security Council."
IANS
Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan after Eid
Slip of Tongue in Pak Parliament: Speaker pronounces Nawaz Sharif's name instead of Shehbaz Sharif
Pakistans new govt issues passport to ex-premier Nawaz Sharif to return
Nawaz Sharif likely to return to Pakistan next month: Imran Khan
Maryam Nawaz gets her passport back after 3 years; meets father Nawaz Sharif in London
Nawaz Sharif urges international community to resolve Palestinian issue
International
oi-IANS
By Ians English
Islamabad, Jan 31: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged the international community on Tuesday to play its role in a just resolution of the Palestinian issue.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after their talks in Islamabad, Sharif said ensuring peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without a just settlement of the Palestine-Israeli dispute.
The Palestinian President arrived in Islamabad on a three-day visit late on Monday on his third visit to Pakistan. He is leading a 17-member delegation including five ministers.
Abbas and Sharif jointly inaugurated the newly-constructed Palestine Embassy Complex in Islamabad.
Sharif said the new embassy building in Islamabad would be a symbol of the brotherly relations.
The Pakistan government gifted a plot of land in 1992 for the construction of the Palestinian Embassy Complex. Subsequently, in 2013 Pakistan also contributed towards its construction.
The two leaders earlier held bilateral talks and exchanged views on regional issues and the challenge of terrorism.
Nawaz Sharif called for implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territory.
"Pakistan is firm in its support for the just cause of Palestinian people," Nawaz Sharif said.
The Palestine President thanked Pakistan for its steadfast support for the cause of Palestinian people besides financial assistance and scholarships for Palestinian students in Pakistani universities.
IANS
Pakistan briefs Palestinian President on Kashmir
International
oi-PTI
Islamabad, Jan 31: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today said Pakistan has "briefed" him about the latest situation regarding Kashmir, a media report said today.
Abbas, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, made the remarks during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here. The Palestinian leader said he had been briefed on the latest situation regarding Kashmir, Dawn reported. Later, Sharif and Abbas jointly inaugurated a newly- constructed Palestine Embassy Complex in the Diplomatic Enclave here. The two leaders hoisted the Palestinian flag at the new building.
The Pakistan government gifted land in 1992 for the purpose and in 2013 also contributed towards its construction. Abbas thanked Pakistan for its support on constitution of the embassy and told reporters he had briefed Sharif about the latest situation between Palestine and Israel.
"I have also informed your excellency about the dangers of moving the American embassy to Jerusalem and its effect on settlement activities," he was quoted as saying by the paper. Abbas emphasised the need for a joint committee for strengthening bilateral relations and constituting a social infrastructure for peace and prosperity.
The Palestinian leader is accompanied by a 17-member delegation, including five ministers. It is his third visit to Pakistan. He has previously been to the country in 2005 and 2013.
PTI
Resolving Kashmir issue key to Pak stability: Bilawal Bhutto
International
oi-PTI
Washington, Jan 31: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said resolving the Kashmir issue and the Afghanistan peace process are crucial for the stability of his country.
Bilawal, in an interaction with a Washington audience, rued that no big powers are trying to resolve the Kashmir issue, which he said is the most glaring bone of dangerous contention between the two South Asian nuclear-armed neighbours. In his remarks at the US Institute of Peace (USIP), a top American think-tank, Bilawal rued that he sees no future or peace and prosperity in the region, unless issues of hundreds and thousands of people of Kashmir are addressed.
Resolving the Kashmir issue and the Afghanistan peace process are crucial for Pakistan's stability, he said. Bilawal, who is eyeing to lead his party in the next general elections in 2018, accused India of trying to leverage its advantage over the Indus Water Treaty. This shows how extremist elements are failing the people in South Asia.
Arguing that Islamic extremism is not a tap that can be turned on and off, Bilawal said his party supports peaceful resolution of the Afghan issue. He supported an Afghan-led reconciliation process with the Taliban. In a tacit acknowledgement of changing mood about Pakistan in the US, Bilawal said he gets the sense that Pakistan is the "dispensable ally" once again.
"We are fighting the largest war against terrorism and it seems that we are doing it on our own," he said. "The spread of terrorism and violent extremism has redefined our lives in ways we could not imagine," Bilawal said and exuded confidence that through the democratic system, Pakistan will find its way through the darkness. Pakistan, he acknowledged, has a lot to answer for when it comes to treating minorities in Pakistan. The PPP leader rued that the foreign policy of Pakistan under the Nawaz Sharif Government is weak.
"We need a strong foreign policy," he said, alleging that Pakistan's relationship with each of its neighbors have deteriorated under Prime Minister Sharif. "Leadership is lacking at the moment in Pakistan's foreign policy," he said.
Bilawal supported China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), noting that it is helping create jobs in the country. "It is encouraging that China has stepped up," he said and strongly refuted the impression that this is at the expense of relationship with the US. Responding to a question, he said the issues of Balochistan, are not being properly discussed in the national Pakistani media. It is a serious challenge, he said.
On the Trump's Administration's executive order to ban people coming to the US from seven countries, he said this is "an extremely controversial" decision. "We have learned through history that this is not the way to address this issue," he said, adding that few criminals should not be allowed to spoil the situation. At the same time, he praised the outpouring of support in favour of those who have been affected by the travel ban.
PTI
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Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 9:55 [IST]
Saeed's detention a 'policy decision' in 'national interest': Pak army
International
oi-PTI
Rawalpindi/Lahore, Jan 31: In an unusual move, Pakistan's army on Tuesday said the detention of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a 'policy decision in the national interest' as the government announced that the Jamat-ud Dawa leader's 90-day house arrest could be extended if required.
"The detention is a policy decision taken in the national interest. The relevant department may give more information in a day or two and the situation will become clearer," Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters.
Saeed and four other JuD leaders were put under house arrest after order of detention was issued by Punjab province's interior ministry on Monday in pursuance to a directive from the federal interior ministry on January 27.
His aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz - were detained and placed under house arrest in Chauburji near JuD's Lahore headquarters.
"Although they belong to different districts of Punjab but the government has decided to place them under arrest in one house in Lahore," a senior police officer told PTI.
"The government has detained Saeed and four other JuD and Falaha-i-Insanyat leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 but this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required," an interior ministry official told PTI.
"The government may take some further steps against the JuD and its sister organisations in coming days," he said, adding that the names of several JuD and FIF activists have been placed on exit control list to stop them from leaving the country.
Maj Gen Ghafoor said Pakistan wants peace with India and resolution of all issues including Kashmir through talks held on the basis of self-respect and honour, but it should not be considered as weakness.
"We want the Kashmir issue to be resolve via United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness," he said.
After the Punjab home department declared Saeed's Jauhar Lahore residence as sub-jail, the JuD chief was shifted there from its headquarters Al-Qadsia Chauburji on Tuesday. First Saeed was allowed by police to hold a press conference before he left for his home along with dozens of his supporters amid high police security.
"My detention order has come from Washington and not Islamabad. If someone thinks that after placing me under house arrest will help check freedom movement in Kashmir he is living a fool's paradise. My arrest will give a fresh impetus to the Kashmiris' struggle against India," Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, told reporters.
Saeed further said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that he would get respite in Kashmir after his arrest he is seriously mistaken.
"We have declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris. All programmes we planned for Feb 5 will be held across Pakistan and (Pakistan-occupied) Kashmir," he said, and vowed to challenge his detention in the Lahore High Court.
PTI
Donald Trump fires official who said travel ban 'unlawful'
International
oi-IANS
By Ians English
Washington, Jan 31: US President Donald Trump has fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she called the travel ban enforced on seven Muslim-majority nations "unlawful", a White House statement said.
In a statement issued late on Monday the Trump administration said "Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the US."
The release said Yates was "relieved of her duties" and "Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, would "serve as Acting Attorney General until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate".
Yates was slammed as "an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration". The Trump administration said: "It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country."
On January 27, Trump put out a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the US and temporarily barred travellers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks.
Yates ordered the justice department not to enforce the travel ban.
IANS
Trumps Muslim ban: Where do America's terrorists come from?
International
oi-Vicky
By Vicky
On January 27, United States President Donald Trump, issued an executive order banning entry from seven Muslim majority countries - Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia. Interestingly, although the executive order cites the September 11 attacks three times, not one of the nations banned therein include the countries that most of the attackers came from.
Statistics reveal that all the 9/11 attackers hailed from Saudi Arabia, Egypt or Pakistan. The 9/11 attacks were carried out by 19 men, 15 of whom were from Saudi Arabia, two belonged to the United Arab Emirates, one hailed from Egypt and another one from Lebanon.
There have been 13 major attacks in the United States of America, including the September 11 attacks. Amongst the terrorists who struck the US post-9/11, three were African-American, three belonged to families that originally hailed from Pakistan, one came from Palestine, two more from Russia, one from Egypt and one each from Afghanistan and Kuwait.
The other route
Trump's order clearly was targeting the Islamic State and the al-Qaeda. The IS is strong in Iraq and where as the al-Qaeda still holds fort in Yemen. If one looks at the pattern, the IS and the al-Qeda has never sent out terrorists from their strongholds into other countries.
The IS fighters in Iraq and Syria have typically come from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia, Russia and Egypt. These countries are not on the ban list and there is a good chance that the IS may send fighters directly into the US from these nations.
Security experts also feel that the focus must be laid on these nations as well. The other issue that the Trump administration must watch out for is the growth of home grown terrorism. There is a good chance that lone wolves could get aggressive, experts point out. There is also a possibility of local modules within the US activating themselves to spread the menace of home grown terrorism.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 12:14 [IST]
Trump's policy can affect India's pharmaceutical companies
International
oi-IANS
By Ians English
Washington, Jan 31: Foreshadowing "Buy American" moves that could affect the largest market for Indian pharmaceutical companies, US President Donald Trump told drug makers on Monday to bring back manufacturing to the United States.
"I want you to manufacture in the United States," he told leaders of seven major pharmaceutical companies. "I want you to move your companies back into the United States." To facilitate this, he said: "We're going to be lowering taxes, we're going to be getting rid of regulations that are unnecessary."
India exported $6 billion worth of drugs to the US in 2015 and restrictions on pharmaceutical imports and manufacturing abroad could impact the industry in India. Trump also hinted at the possibility of ending a multi-layered pricing system for medicines by which rates are often set lower for drugs sold abroad than in the US.
"Our trade policy will prioritise that foreign countries pay their fair share for US manufactured drugs so our drug companies have greater financial resources to accelerate the development of new cures," he said. "And I think it's so important. Right now, it's very unfair what other countries are doing to us." The meeting was part of a series of meetings he has been holding with leaders of different sectors to get them to increase jobs and investment in the US to further his campaign promises. The CEOs of Amgen, Novartis and Eli Lily were among those who attended.
Trump emphasised deregulation of the strict controls on marketing medicines in the US. "We're going to be cutting regulations at a level nobody's ever seen before," he said. "And we're going to have tremendous protection for the people, maybe more protection."
He criticised the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval process for new drugs saying that he was troubled that a terminally-ill patient could not get a vital medicine because of the approval delays. An Indian American, Balaji Srinivasan, who is a technology and biotechnology entrepreneur and a critic of the functioning of the FDA, is among those being considered to head the agency.
"A lot of the companies have moved out, they don't make the drugs in our country any more," Trump said. "A lot of that has to do with regulation, a lot of it has to do with the fact that other countries take advantage of ous with their money and their money supply and devaluation." Trump also took aim at big pharmaceutical companies over their pricing policies. "we have to get lower prices, we have to get even better innovation, he said.
For this he said that he would favour smaller companies. "I'll oppose anything that makes it harder for smaller, younger companies to take the risk of bringing their product to a vibrantly competitive market," he said. "That includes price-fixing by the biggest dog in the market, Medicare, which is what's happening. But we can increase competition and bidding wars, big time." Medicare is the government health insurance programme for senior citizens.
IANS
Will Trump administration back India's UNSC bid?
International
oi-IANS
By Ians English
Washington, Jan 31: What will US President Donald Trump's stance be on India's quest for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council that received a ringing endorsement from his predecessor?
Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer left the answer hanging in the air when asked about it on Monday at his briefing, replying tersely, "I am not going to get any further with getting seats on the Security Council."
At the same time he said: "The relations between the two countries will go stronger."
The US policies are still taking shape and a permanent seat for India would be lower in its foreign policy priorities.
Former president Barack Obama had expressed full backing for India getting a permanent security council seat. US allies France and Britain have also endorsed India's bid, while Russia is ambivalent at best and China vehemently against.
If the US were to walk back on the support for a permanent seat offered by Obama, it would be a major development.
Trump had promised to be a friend of India during the campaign and emphasised after a coversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week that 'the US considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world.'
As a measure of the importance he gave India, Modi was the fifth world leader Trump called after taking office, ahead of key allies like France or Britain or important powers like Russia or China.
A permanent seat for New Delhi could also fit in with Trump's idea of remaking the world order, developing India into a counterweight to China in the region as Washington scales back some of its commitments to Asian allies.
Picer said that Trump as 'very pleased' with Indian American Nikki Haley being confirmed to the cabinet-level job of ambassador to the UN and that 'she is going to do a fine job representing us'.
Haley has called for reforming the world body and making it more efficient and rooting out corruption.
Before she presented her credentials on January 27, she spelled out a tough US agenda.
"Those who don't have our back...we will make points to respond to that accordingly," she warned.
The world views of India and the Trump administration will collide on some issues, with the Middle East being an important one.
IANS
Rami Mizrahi is Vice President of R&D at TopSpin Security, which has introduced the industrys first enterprise IoT security solution based on leading deception technology. Click here for high-resolution version
MAHWAH, NJ and HERZLIYA, ISRAEL--(Marketwired - Jan 31, 2017) - TopSpin Security, Inc., the leader in intelligent deception and detection solutions, today introduced the industry's first enterprise internet of things (IoT) security solution based on leading deception technology, now available in the latest version of the DECOYnet intelligent deception solution.
Deception offers a unique solution to protecting IoT environments. One of the main problems with IoT security is devices' minimal computing resources, which make the use of antivirus, encryption and other forms of protection within IoTs extremely challenging. IoT security poses a growing concern for organizations worldwide. Approximately 3.9 billion connected things were in use in 2014. Gartner expects this figure to rise to at least 25 billion by 2020.1
TopSpin's approach overcomes the limitations seen today for IoT security. The company's unique traffic and security analysis engine enables it to uniquely discover all types of IoT systems in the enterprise. Leveraging the ability to create the industry's most diverse set of deception traps, TopSpin can emulate enterprises' unique IoT systems for attackers to find, resulting in a tripped alarm and alerts to IT. The new solution will be unveiled and demonstrated publicly for the first time at the RSA Conference 2017, Feb. 14 - 16 in San Francisco, in TopSpin's Booth Number 4715 (North Hall).
"The Internet of Things is an increasingly attractive early link in attack chains," said Ray Wagner, Ph.D., Managing Vice President of the Secure Business Enablement group at Gartner. "By 2020, over 25 percent of identified attacks in enterprises will involve IoT, though IoT will account for less than 10 percent of IT security budgets."2
DECOYnet offers the most comprehensive security for the enterprise IoT environment powered by deception technology. Supported systems include: printers, cameras/DVRs, TVs, access control systems to doors/gates, employee attendance systems, VoIP devices, industrial control systems, central cooling/heating systems, routers/switches and more. Other deception solutions have a limited set of applications they can support, for example only SCADA-related (water pumps, sensors, antennas, etc.) systems. DECOYnet offers the industry's most flexible solution for creating the broadest set of traps and decoys most relevant to individual organizations' IoT security needs.
Story continues
"Today we are becoming more dependent on IoT devices, including in the enterprise, but IoT security measures are lagging behind, creating a gaping hole in security," said Rami Mizrahi, TopSpin's vice president of R&D. "TopSpin has the unique advantage of knowing exactly what is on the network and changing at all times, along with our ability to create the industry's most diverse set of traps to emulate many enterprise scenarios. We are laser focused on customer needs -- we don't just say 'We secure IoT,' but rather focus on the devices that our customers rely on to perform their daily tasks."
DECOYnet is the industry's only intelligent deception solution that offers a built-in traffic and security analysis engine -- enabling highly accurate placement of mini-traps and decoys, an additional security layer through analysis and threat detection, and adaptive and flexible deception that evolves with changing network conditions. With DECOYnet, TopSpin continues to perfect its asset profiling capabilities, uniquely mapping the network by every asset and subnet to build a comprehensive deception layer for each individual network. By constantly breathing the network traffic, DECOYnet actively adapts to dynamic network conditions, including new assets and IoT devices introduced, so the deception layer is always optimized.
DECOYnet enhances organizations' threat intelligence by combining data from decoys, traps, and internal and egress traffic monitors; and correlating it into single, actionable incidents. It also interacts with third-party security tools, enriching SIEM/SOC systems to help organizations build a comprehensive threat map. Constantly breathing traffic to detect suspicious activities and assess threats before they become critical, the solution allows security teams to stay on top of complex security issues.
Note 1 - "Predicts 2016: Security for the Internet of Things," Ray Wagner, Earl Perkins, Greg Young, Anmol Singh, Lawrence Orans, Dec. 2015.
Note 2 - "Predicts 2016: Security for the Internet of Things," Ray Wagner, Earl Perkins, Greg Young, Anmol Singh, Lawrence Orans, Dec. 2015.
About TopSpin Security
TopSpin Security is the leader in intelligent deception and detection technologies which allow organizations to quickly and accurately detect breaches, engage attackers and neutralize advanced cyber-attacks. Its technology is based on a network of decoys that lure attackers by mirroring valuable network assets and are fully adaptive to organizations' changing environments. Its unique traffic analysis engine and integration into organizations' existing security infrastructure deliver the industry's only deception solution that provides for strategic placement of traps and decoys; added security and internal correlation; and operational advantages such as automated, point-and-click configuration. Once engaged, the decoys interact with attackers, deceiving them and slowing their advances, while providing accurate, actionable alerts and forensics trails. TopSpin's DECOYnet is already deployed by leading Global 2000 companies. The company's U.S. operations are headquartered in Mahwah, N.J., with its R&D center in Herzliya, Israel. Learn more at https://www.topspinsec.com.
TopSpin and DECOYnet are registered trademarks of TopSpin Security, Inc., in the United States and other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
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(Adds details on immigration protest, statement from senator)
By David Lawder
WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats delayed the Senate Finance Committee's vote on U.S. Treasury secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin on Monday so they could protest against President Donald Trump's order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority nations.
The panel will now vote on Mnuchin's nomination on Tuesday at 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT), Finance Committee Republican spokeswoman Julia Lawless said, calling Democrats' objections to the scheduled Monday evening vote "irregular."
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer organized a candlelight protest on the steps of the Capitol to take place on Monday evening.
"This delay will allow members to protest the president's unconstitutional ban on Muslims entering the United States while voting on Mr. Mnuchin's nomination little more than 12 hours later," said Rachel McCleery, a spokesperson for Senate Finance Committee Democrats.
The move also could buy more time for some senators to reconsider their votes on Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive who later ran Southern California-based OneWest Bank.
Senator Ron Wyden, the panel's ranking Democrat, has sharply criticized Mnuchin's handling of thousands of foreclosures by OneWest after he led a group of investors to buy failed mortgage lender IndyMac at the height of the recent financial crisis.
Senator Mark Warner, another Democrat on the panel, on Monday announced he would vote against Mnuchin's nomination.
"Throughout the confirmation process, Mr. Mnuchin has failed to adequately demonstrate that he will be a forceful advocate for innovative policies that will make the U.S. economy work better for the majority of Americans," Warner said in a statement, adding that he is not convinced that Mnuchin would robustly enforce post-crisis financial services restrictions.
Republicans control a two-vote majority on the committee, so Democrats would need to persuade some Republicans to oppose Mnuchin to block the nomination.
Nevada Republican Dean Heller, who faces a re-election campaign in 2018, subjected Mnuchin to tough questioning on OneWest's foreclosures in Nevada during his confirmation hearing. A Heller spokesman did not immediately respond to questions about the senator's voting plans.
(Reporting by David Lawder; editing by Diane Craft and Tom Brown)
President Donald Trump claimed Monday that Lockheed Martin (LMT) cut $600 million off the cost of the F-35 fighter jet program that he has repeatedly slammed for cost overruns and delays.
Trump said it applied to the next 90 planes. The F-35 currently has a per-unit cost of about $100 million, which the company has pledged to bring down.
"I appreciate Lockheed Martin for being so responsive," Trump told reporters at the White House.
Since his electoral win, Trump has criticized Lockheed and Boeing (BA) for the cost of government contracts. Earlier this month, Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson said the company was "very close to a deal" to lower the cost of the fighter program.
Lockheed Martin did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment about Trump's announcement.
On Friday, Defense Secretary James Mattis ordered a review of the F-35 program to "determine opportunities to significantly reduce the cost."
The total cost of the program is an estimated $400 billion.
Lockheed shares traded slightly higher on Monday.
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New Integration Deal Benefits William Hill and Yggdrasil Both
Published January 31, 2017 by Lee R
Newfound capabilities and profile are huge boons in the course of each company's development.
A landmark integration deal between complementary iGaming superstars has set the two new partners down a much brighter road for 2017.
Win-Win
Yggdrasil Gamings new ink with operator William Hill is a big step up for the growing iGaming supplier, while traditional sportsbook giant William Hill looks to have secured the right deal to resuscitate performance that had rather visibly fallen off in 2016.
Incoming Slots
The deal gives William Hill access to the full range of Yggdrasils slots including popular titles Joker Millions, Vikings Go Berzerk and Big Blox.
Integrating Everything
In the direct integration deal, William Hill will also make full use of Yggdrasils trademark and award-winning collection of in-game promotional tools and technologies, which include BOOST and social sharing tool BRAG.
William Hill Reaction
William Hill Gaming Commercial Director Fraeme Powrie said his company had been hugely impressed by Yggdrasils commitment to innovation. Powrie further praised Yggdrasils gaming offerings amongst the strongest in the casino sector, offerings which William Hill can now call their own.
Yggdrasil CEO Reaction
Yggdrasil Gaming CEO Fredrik Elmqvist expressed his companys thrill with the deal, saying: William Hill is one of the most respected names in gaming, calling WH a trusted and successful tier one operator.
Yggdrasils Expansion
Meanwhile, Gibraltar-based Yggdrasils deals are getting better and better--fast. The William Hill signing is the fourth for Yggdrasil Gibraltar since receiving its licence last June.
Yggdrasils Momentum
Slots are at this point Yggdrasils wheelhouse, with the recent winning of Slot Provider of the Year at the 2016 EGR B2B Awards adding to a growing list of awards hardware which already included 2016 Gaming Software Supplier of the Year from International Gaming Awards and 2015 Software Rising Star from the EGR B2B Awards.
Yggdrasils Growing Stable
The deal adds Hill to the Yggdrasil Gaming client stable that already includes many of iGamings biggest operators, including bet365, Betsson Group, bwin.party, Cherry, LeoVegas, Mr Green, Casumo and Unibet.
Mark Cuban , a supporter of Hillary Clinton during the presidential campaign, told CNBC on Monday he's ready to help President Donald Trump "in any way possible."
"In the campaign, it was different because there was so much hate for Obama and Hillary Clinton," Cuban said in a "Squawk Box" interview. But now that Trump is in the Oval Office, the billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner said, "He's my guy now. This is my country."
An outspoken Trump critic, Cuban said he likes Trump's tax plan. "I [also] like a lot of the economic steps he's taking."
Cuban, an investor on "Shark Tank," said he likes some of Trump's Cabinet picks, but did not provide any names.
"I've had conversations with different people around [Trump]," he said. "I've tried to influence him with my thought process. And tried to learn about theirs."
It's a "good thing" that Trump is not a politician, Cuban said, but urged the president to do a better job communicating.
"I don't think he's done anything as a leader yet at all. Right now, he's a deal-maker," Cuban argued. "It's not about picking on Donald Trump. It's about doing what I think is right."
Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to "Shark Tank," which features Mark Cuban as a judge.
New Jersey Lawmakers Urge Trump to Leave Online Gambling Alone
Published January 30, 2017 by Elana K
Last week, the New Jersey General Assembly issued a Joint Resolution, sponsored by Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo, urging President Donald Trump and Congress to oppose any actions that might change existing laws regarding online gambling.
Last week, the New Jersey General Assembly issued a Joint Resolution, sponsored by Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo, urging President Donald Trump and Congress to oppose any actions that might change existing laws regarding online gambling.
In the resolution, New Jersey lawmakers say that a federal ban on online gambling would be a huge blow to the New Jersey budget, which receives a nice chunk of money from online gambling taxes. Moreover, shutting down online gambling would erase years of hard work and significant investments made by the state of New Jersey.
The Impetus Behind the Joint Resolution
The resolution comes on the heels of President Trumps nomination of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General. Sessions has been outspoken in his criticism of online gambling, and has gone so far as to state that if chosen, he would consider reversing the 2011 ruling of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that made it legal for states to regulate online gambling within their borders. Currently, only three states have taken advantage of this ruling - New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware - but many more are considering it, and a revocation of the original ruling would spell disaster across the country.
The resolution from the New Jersey General Assembly also comes following the recent revelation of the states 2016 annual revenue from online gambling - a record-breaking $196.7 million. $29.5 million of that went into state coffers, and disallowing online gambling would mean losing all that income the following year.
Trump is Keeping His Cards Close
Online gambling supporters are anxious about the measures President Trump will take regarding online gambling. Not only has he nominated Jeff Sessions for the position of Attorney General, but he also has the financial backing of notorious online gambling opponent, Sheldon Adelson. The only glimmer of hope is that he himself has not been outspoken against the issue. For now, online gambling supporters are holding on to that glimmer.
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: When Rajiv Jain left Zurich-based Vontobel Asset Management to strike out on his own in May of last year, shares of parent company Vontobel Holding AG dropped 11 percent in one day. Jain was the CIO of Vontobel Asset Management, a group within Vontobel Holdings, and he was also a career outperformer. Over his tenure, he helped to grow the firm from less than $400 million in assets under management in 2002 to nearly $50 billion in assets under management at the time of his departure in 2016. At Vontobel, Jain was also the manager of the $9.4 billion Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund, a fund which at that time, had beat 99 percent of its peers over five years, according to fund performance data. After a brief hiatus, Jain has returned to asset management as the Chairman and CIO of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based GQG Partners. Jain joined GQG Partners in June 2016 and oversees all of the firm's strategies. Today, Jain and GQG are launching the GQG Partners Emerging Markets Equity Fund (GQGPX). The fund, which invests in high-quality, large-cap companies in emerging market economies, will run the same emerging markets strategy Jain led at Vontobel, in a low-fee structure. "This is very much a bottom-up strategy, where we are focused on finding individual companies in emerging markets that are poised to do well regardless of what happens in the country in macro terms," Jain said in an interview with Opalesque...................... To view our full article Click here
There are legal actions now being contemplated to remove Trump from office, based upon his many conflicts of interests. Let us assume that none of them get past Congress or the Supreme Court. Then our great hope is that the momentum of demonstrations in every major city here and around the world will lead to actions that will stymie the intentions of the Trump administration.
The gigantic women's march in Washington D.C. of January 21 kicked-off what could be an unending climate of resistance to Trump rule. It is fitting that women lead this movement to emphasize the determined but non-violent nature of it - like the Suffragette movement.
They and cooperating groups plan to hold continuous demonstrations until their voices are acknowledged.
How might it evolve? We have already seen a first sign of resistance, when mayors of 100 sanctuary cities declared they will not abide by Trump's declaration of removing any federal funding of these cities. As Trump rolls out his regulations of presidential powers, each will be met with gestures of disobedience ranging from token local protests to some forms of obstruction, charging up the atmosphere and keeping the issues on the front page. It is essential that the issues remain as a continuous subject matter in the media, in the classroom, in every place of assembly.
As tensions increase, we may begin to see mass strikes disrupting essential services. This will greatly inconvenience both supporters and opposition to Trump, but it is the cost that must be paid for action. As in past episodes of history, state and federal governments are likely to bring out riot police and the national guard to obstruct and quell demonstrations. But with the exceptional climate surrounding the extremely unpopular presidential election, that strategy could backfire. Police and military personnel may sympathize with the crowds and be reluctant to carry out orders, as did the 100 mayors. The mothers of the women's movement could appeal to their sons in the militia to sympathize with the demonstrators. Among the civil servants of key government agencies, there might also be a clandestine movement - on a scale that could not be contained - to make Trump's regulations ineffective.
Other civil actions that could be carried out are the total boycotting of Trump properties. This could happen on a world-wide basis. Overseas, there might be little restraint to violence. People would be intimidated to not patronize Trump's properties. ISIS might car-bomb them. Such covert actions could carry-over into the USA. The list goes on.
At some point - sooner rather than later - Trump or his party might reconsider the insanity of having him as the president of our country in this critical time of history and very crucial time of environmental devastation. Before impeachment, he might consider doing a Nixon. Then perhaps, we would only have a humiliated and less reactionary Republican congress to worry about.
Trump voters lost, they just don't know it yet
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Of course a lot of Trump voters don't trust "government," because they have been taught that it is the problem." So we need to avoid framing our positive solutions as "government" supported by higher taxes. Being very specific about what an initiative would do to help them is the way to go: "Building bridges all across American will help us all move forward: more local jobs, more businesses able to move products safely etc." Of course, re that "government thing," there is huge bit of common ground staring us right in the face now. The "government" is now the GOP and the Trump cabinet, to say nothing of Trump himself, and Bannon, his puppeteer. The GOP has spent years pushing harmful ideas like killing Social Security and Medicare, along with slashing every kind of federal spending that could help our economy and all our people get into the 21st century and stay there. But now the "shoe," so to speak, is on their foot. If they actually try to do all they have promoted for so many years, the backlash will just continue to grow. We need to be part of that backlash, but carefully in sync with how it hurts everyone. Focusing on the specifics of how each destructive piece of GOP legislation, executive order or rule-dumping hurts us all is the way to go. Using simple words that are visceral in their impact is vital; no multisyllabic, latinate, fifty cent words! For example, try "Americans expect fair treatment about X, so we need to play by the rules about Y." "Fairness" is still a widely shared American value, if not by the 1%. So is "playing by the rules," which is another quintessentially American way of talking about fairness. Challenging the GOP/Trump axis to actually create real, lasting jobs is a good goal for us. Though Trump may make promises, true job creation is probably still just plain outside the GOP's DNA.
But what about the Trump/GOP assault on environmental protection and climate change action just now picking up speed? Americans want clean water, air, and food, even if they don't all believe in climate change.(To see what I've already recommended about framing climate protection now given that fact, see my most recent blog on this subject.) So our focus needs to be on 'the rules that protect us all from dirty water, air, and food that make us too sick to work." That last point is vital. Everyone understands the price of not being able to work. Again, let's specify what we need to do instead to "Keep American workers healthy so they can keep working! Clean up our water, air and food by doing X."
It all sounds like a tall order, doesn't it? But we must stretch to reach it. Of course a lot of Trump voters think "rigging" also includes government favoring freeloaders poorer than they are with handouts paid for with their hard earned tax dollars. This is hard for us to hear, but sometimes this is based on firsthand experience: In Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance writes about seeing people on public assistance come to the grocery to buy things he couldn't afford. The basic problem here is that working folks can't afford what they want, and flat wages or no wages are the most basic cause. We need to show we care about that and avoid labelling it as just racism or selfishness. It's also very important for us to figure out how to support communities of color or difference in a style that avoids playing into the hands of GOP operatives too. They know very well how to use Trump supporters'gut resentment against us about that. Talking about creating more jobs, more opportunity, and more fairness for everyone is the best strategy. And here are some more suggestions along that line: Trump types define the "elite" not as the !% we mean by the word, but as the Democrats and liberals who use what they call "political correctness" in ways that make them feel unseen, uncared about, small, ashamed, stupid, bad, and worthless. They know we think they are less worthy than those folks who receive government welfare or aid through affirmative action. Tea Partiers feel we scorn them for their religion, their kind of patriotism, their lack of education, and their reliance on family, church, and community for support. We need to find ways to counter that impression, even if we don't agree with everything their churches believe. Let's try some versions of "All Americans deserve the same fairness, respect, and protection of the law" instead.
Some Trump voters will believe our ideas for better job creation, health and safety if we have already established a reputation for feeling their pain and supporting their needs. It's also the first step of an American Political Framing process: listen to your audience. Pay attention to the images, metaphors, and catch phrases they use when talking about their problems. .Find a way to use that language for your own messages. (See our site for more on how to do this.) And if you are really serious, try being like Dr. Arlie R. Hochshild--get to know some local Trump voters. Find out what makes those particular people unhappy or scared. What are their hopes? Find out what their stories are. Some very good guidelines for exploring these kinds of conversations can be found at www.livingroomconversations.org>.
Maybe it will take some time for all of the oncoming GOP mistakes to surface, even if Trump is impeached and replaced with Pence. Make no mistake--we will still be in big trouble if that happens. But the GOP also always goes too far, once they get their hands on the throttle. They are seriously out of touch with their own people, and they still believe they can get away with this forever. I don't believe it. Electoral and cultural history show that they do get a comeuppance in the end. In the meantime, we need to frame our messages about what the American people want and expect of our government in the broadest possible positive terms, ways that will include everyone, even Trump voters. After all, we Americans all want to protect our freedom, we all want things to be fair, and we want people in government and out to play by the rules, we all want economic prosperity that benefits everyone, we all want our communities to be clean, safe, secure, we all want practical solutions to our problems that work for everyone, and we all want to be able to keep up with other countries in the global economy.That's what being American means to the majority of Americans. Word frequency research shows that the most used words in Trump's inaugural speech were "Dream, American, and Jobs." Let's make sure we progressives sound even more American than that!
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Susan C. Strong, Ph.D., is the Founder and Executive Director of The Metaphor Project, http://www.metaphorproject.org, and author of our book, Move Our Message: How to Get America's Ear. The Metaphor Project has been helping progressives mainstream their messages since 1997. Follow Susan on Twitter @SusanCStrong and check out her TEDxtalk too.
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Notes:
!. Bringing Down a Dictator, (film) and Blueprint for Revolution (book). See also veteran organizer George Lakey's http://wagingnonviolence.org/feature/stop-trump-10-point-strategy/.
From Consortium News
When Rachel Maddow finished a 26-minute monologue that spanned two segments on her MSNBC program last Thursday night, her grave tones indicated that she thought she'd just delivered a whale of a story. But actually it was more like a minnow -- and a specious one at that.
Convoluted and labored, Maddow's narrative tried to make major hay out of a report from Moscow that a high-ranking Russian intelligence official had been dragged out of a meeting, arrested and charged with treason. Weirdly, Maddow kept presenting that barebones story as verification that Russia's President Vladimir Putin had directly ordered the hacking and release of Democratic campaign emails in order to get Donald Trump elected president.
It was a free-associating performance worthy of Glenn Beck at a whiteboard. Maddow swirled together an array of facts, possible facts, dubious assertions and pure speculation to arrive at conclusions that were based on little more than her zeal to portray Trump as a tool of the Kremlin. Even when sober, Joe McCarthy never did it better.
We might dismiss her performance as just another bit of stagecraft on "MSDNC," but Maddow was in sync with widespread fear-mongering by pundits and Democratic Party loyalists who think they're picking some low-hanging fruit to throw at Trump. But what they're doing is poisonous -- and extremely dangerous.
The standard memes demanding hostility toward Putin virtually never address some crucial questions. Such as: What are the plausible results of escalating a new Cold War? Is it wise to push the U.S. government into evermore assertive brinkmanship with Russia? Wouldn't the degree of success in that endeavor increase the degree of danger that the antagonisms will spiral into a military confrontation and, from there, into a nuclear holocaust?
Such questions don't seem to bother the likes of Maddow, who has largely built her TV career on mocking, impugning and denouncing Republicans. Fair enough, except when it isn't -- and when it latches onto a Democratic party line of attack: no matter how bogus the reasoning or how dire the potential consequences for humans and all other life on this planet.
Sliding through a kind of time warp, Maddow's performance on the night of January 26 was akin to what the most extreme Republicans have reveled in doing to incumbent Democrats in past decades -- baiting them as accomplices of the Kremlin and warning against actual de'tente between the two countries.
To be clear: Donald Trump has already shown himself to be a horrendous president in countless ways that matter, from his Cabinet appointments to his numerous corrosive statements to his executive orders on subjects ranging from family planning for women overseas to immigration at home. Why spin into agenda-driven conjecture and illogic when there are so many empirical reasons to directly challenge Trump?
But for countless U.S. reporters and pundits as well as Democrats in Congress, the temptation to attack Trump as a servant of Putin is irresistible.
Airport resistance is the biggest step forward by the U.S. public in years.
Why do I say that? Because this is unfunded, largely unpartisan activism that is largely selfless, largely focused on helping unknown strangers, driven by compassion and love, not political ideology, greed, or vengeance, and in line with activism around the globe. It's also targeted at the location of the harm, directly resisting the injustice, and achieving immediate partial successes, including very meaningful successes for certain individuals. It's gaining support from people never before engaged in any activism. And it shows no signs of any significant undesirable side-effects. This is a movement to be built on, and I have an idea what a next step should be.
Of course it is not at all uncommon for people to selflessly act for strangers. Much of the charity industry is driven by that sort of generosity year after year. But activist organizations are constantly telling themselves that this is not the case, for example that ending the bombing of distant unknown families can only be accomplished by advertising the financial cost of it or instituting a draft or making known the harm to veterans of the military doing the bombing. Yet when the peace movement in the United States has been stronger, in the 1920s in particular and also in the 1960s, acting on behalf of others has been central, as it was to the first big activist campaign, that begun against the slave trade in London, and as it has been in countless campaigns. Working to protect the natural environment is work for future generations. You can't get more selfless or enlightened than that.
But what's unique about this moment of sympathy and solidarity with refugees from nations the United States has bombed (plus Iran which it has gone after in other ways) is that it runs counter to U.S. government propaganda, it replaces fear with courage, hatred with love. This isn't just love stepping into a void. This is a transformation into love from its opposite. This is why I think another major step might be possible.
When I listen to people interviewed at New York protests, or look at the signs they bring to the White House and to airports around the country, I'm struck by the expressions of love and concern for others, more than by the presence of partisanship or hatred for Donald Trump (though it certainly is a factor). And I'm bowled over by the widespread recognition of the lesson from history of the damage done to European Jews by U.S. immigration policy. Protesters' signs indicate an awareness that Jewish refugees were rejected by the West, that Western governments met and refused to accept their mass eviction from Germany, that the U.S. Coast Guard chased a ship away from Miami many of whose passengers later died in the camps, that Anne Frank's visa application was rejected by the U.S. State Department. I had no idea people knew these things, much less learned and applied a lesson from them.
Of course, some protesters have personal connections to those put at risk by Trump's Muslim ban (and that's what it is, based on his campaign promises and his renaming of the Global War on [of] Terrorism to the Fight Against Radical Islamism). And others find ways to identify themselves with those at risk, such as: "We're a nation of immigrants. My great-grandparents were immigrants." But this doesn't make the movement less altruistic. Identifying with people in some way, even as fellow human beings, is a common part of coming to care about them and to act for or with them.
There are indications that this sentiment is not limited to those protesting and resisting at airports. The ACLU has never raised more money before. And check out this tweet:
John Paul Farmer @johnpaulfarmer I'm 20 minutes from landing at JFK. Pilot just warned us about delays due to #NoBan protests at T4. The passengers' response? Applause.
There are also protests happening around the world, outside of the United States, allowing us to build a global movement against global injustices even when those injustices are headquartered in Washington, D.C. And in Washington D.C. and around the U.S. we see unprecedented resistance from an Acting Attorney General and from judges -- a group that seemed to be mostly asleep for the past 16 years.
And Canada, which has resisted U.S. wars, aided those enslaved, given shelter to conscientious objectors, and protected people from all variety of U.S. injustice for centuries, stepped up too:
Justin Trudeau @JustinTrudeau To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada
There are elements of partisanship in this uprising that could hold it back, and of nationalism as well. Some liberals are not so much concerned about human cruelty as about Trump disrespecting their sacred U.S. military. Where were these crowds when President Barack Obama was setting records for deportations, or when he was bombing the nations that Trump is now banning refugees from, or when he was purporting to create the presidential power to do what Trump is now doing?
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From Reader Supported News
Within hours of the leak (by a whistleblower) of a National Security Council draft Executive Order calling for the reinstatement of the illegal Bush-era CIA torture program, I was invited to participate in a round-table discussion about torture on Irish Public Radio. The other guests were an American living in London who claimed to have been a CIA counter-terrorism officer during the Bush administration (I was a CIA counter-terrorism officer at the same time this guy purported to be, and I had never heard of him) and a woman from New Jersey whose husband had been killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. It felt like a set-up from the interview's very first question.
That first question was, "Do torture techniques like waterboarding work?" I was dying to jump in immediately, but I wasn't called, and my microphone was off. The other CIA officer, "Mike," said that yes, waterboarding works, it's a proven method, it saved American lives, it disrupted attacks, blah, blah, blah. Then the widow was asked. She went on a long soliloquy, talking about what it meant to lose a husband in a terrorist attack, and saying that her children had been left fatherless and the family nearly lost their home. She finished by saying, "I don't see how sprinkling a little water on their faces is torture. It's just water. What about my husband? Wasn't it a form of torture to murder him in the World Trade Center?"
With all due respect to this woman and her family, their loss was irrelevant to the debate. The question of whether or not torture works also was irrelevant, and I said so.
Lots of things "work," I said. Raping and sodomizing prisoners "works." We don't do that. (At least we're not supposed to. This and other horrors were carried out by military officers and enlisted personnel at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq in the last decade.) Raping prisoners' wives works. We don't do that. Beating and torturing their children in front of them works. We don't do that either. The issue isn't whether something works. The issue is whether what we're doing is moral, ethical, and legal. Torture is not. Torture is an abomination. I was called a "monster" and a "terrorist lover."
I've been speaking out against torture for nearly a decade. I've debated a lot of people. But this encounter surprised and disgusted me. I think it's because people on the political right feel empowered by Trump's election. They feel like they can take outrageous -- and public -- positions on issues like torture (or rendition or secret prisons or drones) and the rest of us just have to accept them. The rest of us are the crazy ones. The rest of us are un-American.
For the record, torture is illegal. It is a violation of the federal Torture Act and of the United Nations Convention Against Torture. It's a violation of the 2015 McCain-Feinstein Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. In 1946, the United States executed Japanese soldiers who waterboarded American prisoners of war. Waterboarding was a war crime that demanded the death penalty. Today, we have to hear Americans describe it as "sprinkling a little water" on the face of a prisoner.
This is going to be a tough fight, especially with Trump in the White House. A recent Reuters poll showed that a clear majority of Americans -- 63 percent -- support the use of torture against terrorism suspects. Only 15 percent of us think that torture is never acceptable. Only 15 percent think that we should even bother to observe and respect the law.
Many of us have consistently underestimated Donald Trump over the past two years. We can't any longer. Trump has surrounded himself with people who support torture. He has said that he wants to re-institute the torture program. He has said that he wants to reopen black sites -- secret prisons -- overseas. We have to take him at his word. And we have to fight him. We must take to the courts, shout to the press, and march in the streets. We are on the right side of history here. We cannot remain silent.
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.
From Robert Reich Blog
Donald Trump has reorganized the National Security Council -- elevating his chief political strategist Steve Bannon, and demoting the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Bannon will join the NSC's principals committee, the top inter-agency group advising the President on national security.
Meanwhile, the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will now attend meetings only when "issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed," according to the presidential memorandum issued Saturday.
Political strategists have never before participated in National Security Council principals meetings because the NSC is supposed to give presidents nonpartisan, factual advice.
But forget facts. Forget analysis. This is the Trump administration.
And what does Bannon have to bring to the table?
In case you forgot, before joining Donald Trump's inner circle Bannon headed Breitbart News, a far-right media outlet that has promoted conspiracy theories and is a platform for the alt-right movement, which espouses white nationalism.
This is truly scary.
Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice calls the move "stone cold crazy." Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who also served under George W. Bush, says the demotions are a "big mistake."
Republican Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, told CBS News, "I am worried about the National Security Council. ... The appointment of Mr. Bannon is a radical departure from any National Security Council in history." McCain added that the "one person who is indispensable would be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in my view."
Here's the big worry. Trump is unhinged and ignorant. Bannon is nuts and malicious. If not supervised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, their decisions could endanger the world.
In Trump's and Bannon's view, foreign relations is a zero-sum game. If another nation gains, we lose. As Trump declared at his inaugural: "From this day forward, it's going to be only America First."
Some of you are old enough to recall John F. Kennedy's inaugural, when the young president pledged to support any friend and oppose any foe to assure the success of liberty.
But Trump makes no distinction between friend and foe, and no reference to liberty. As conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer observes, Trump's view is that all other nations are out to use, exploit and surpass us.
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In his first week as president of the United States, Donald Trump issued a flurry of executive orders on a number of subjects.
Some of those orders, such as his withdrawal of presidential recommendation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty (presidents propose treaties, the Senate ratifies them) and a hiring freeze in the executive branch, seem to fall squarely within his powers as laid out by Article II of the US Constitution.
Others, such as his conditioning of federal funding for "sanctuary cities" on their willingness to start doing the federal government's work for it, his order to begin building a wall along the US border with Mexico, and his ban on entrance into the United States by nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries, not so much.
Trump's early actions as president have given rise to substantial protest, not to mention litigation. Will he get away with ruling by decree? The Constitution says no. History says yes. The Trump presidency is far from sui generis . Rather it is the inevitable culmination of America's long slide into a nearly worshipful attitude toward executive power -- what Cato Institute vice-president Gene Healy dubbed, in his 2008 book of that name, The Cult of the Presidency.
The theory of American government is that the president is the chief executive. Words mean things. The president's job is to implement -- to execute -- the will of Congress as expressed in legislation. He's not the homeowner. He's the housekeeper.
That's the theory. In practice, presidents have, over time, carved out considerable personal power for themselves. Especially since World War Two and especially in the area of foreign policy (for example, Truman's decision to go to war in Korea first and ask Congress for approval second), they've tended to treat Congress as a rubber stamp. Instead of following Congress's lead, they expect Congress to follow theirs.
And it's worked. Americans have become accustomed to regard the president as what George W. Bush called himself: "The Decider." Or, as Barack Obama put it, "[w]e're not just going to be waiting for legislation .... I've got a pen and I've got a phone."
The "strong executive/weak executive" debate goes back to the founding of the United States. For the last half century and more, the "strong executive" side has been winning out. The result: President Donald Trump and, for all intents and purposes, the finale of our national transformation from republic to banana republic.
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121
"Rob Kall's book, Bottom-Up, offers valuable ways of seeing and powerful tools for enabling new power and connectivity to work to change the hope and promise for the future."
Jeremy Heimans, CEO & Co-founder of Purpose and coauthor of New Power
There are strong signs that countries in Asia and the Pacific region are turning away from the United States and tilting toward China as the Trump administration emphasizes "America First."
Perhaps the most alarming signals are coming from Australia , a country that has deep cultural and historical ties to the United States but which depends on exports of raw materials to China. Donald Trump is deeply unpopular in Australia, which like the United States is an immigrant nation.
Last week, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was open to the idea of China taking the place of the United States in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. The Obama administration had led the effort to build the TPP, and had designed the trading bloc with the U.S. at its center. But President Donald Trump effectively killed the TPP immediately after taking office.
China is Australia's largest market for exports of merchandise goods, according to the Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"Trump's policies are taking a whole bunch of countries that were already worried about America's commitment to lead and America's commitment to its alliances" and worrying them worse, said Ian Bremmer, president and founder of global political risk consultancy Eurasia Group.
"China also wants to be seen now as promoting globalization, promoting free trade, particularly for countries in Asia that don't want to count on the U.S.," Bremmer said.
Now that Trump has officially withdrawn the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership , "certainly there is the potential for China to join the TPP," Turnbull said in a Financial Times report.
The 11 other countries that were set to become part of the Trans-Pacific trade and investment agreement were Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
Turnbull added that he was speaking to other leaders from the region about a TPP that excludes the United States. Among them was Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, he said.
Story continues
Japan remains the strongest ally the United States has in Asia, but Trump has also created alarm there by criticizing Japan for supposedly unfair trade practices. Abe spoke by phone with Trump on Saturday, and they agreed to hold a summit in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 10., the Nikkei reported over the weekend.
South Korea
Internal political turmoil and shifting trade priorities are also seen pushing another traditional U.S. ally, South Korea , more toward Beijing as well.
South Korea President Park Geun-hye awaits a decision on her impeachment following an influence-peddling scandal there. Presidential hopeful Moon Jae-in, from the opposition liberal party, is seen as more friendly toward Beijing than Park was. Moon also has called for a U.S. anti-missile system to be delayed until the new administration is in place.
The U.S. is in the process of deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system in South Korea , as North Korea carries out further missile tests.
Beijing views the Thaad project as a security threat and has hampered South Korean business operations in China, even going as far as limiting performances by Korean pop stars on the mainland.
"In the meantime, the South Korean government has ramped up bilateral meetings with Chinese officials and looks to grow their bilateral trade relations," Bremmer said. It's "hard to imagine the U.S.-South Korea alliance looking nearly as strong in a year's time."
Vietnam
Vietnam , a country of 95 million people, had been edging closer to normal relations with the United States as a dispute with China over islands in the South China Sea intensified. But it has throttled back on its anti-China stance in recent weeks.
In mid-January, Vietnam police altered their normal pattern and stopped an anti-China protest within minutes, Reuters reported. The newswire noted that the country's government and police made no comment and state-controlled media did not report the protest, which occurred around an event related to China's seizure of the Paracel islands in the South China Sea in 1974.
"Vietnam is extremely reluctant to be as closely tied to the United States on security issues, given the Philippines are already moving in that direction," Bremmer said. Vietnam's leaders "don't want to be left by themselves, with an economy very vulnerable to their China ties."
China is the second-largest destination for Vietnamese exports and the primary source of goods imported into Vietnam, according to preliminary 2016 data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.
Earlier in January, China and Vietnam pledged to manage their differences and safeguard peace in the South China Sea during a visit to Beijing by Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong.
The Philippines , a long-time U.S. ally and former colony, turned sharply toward Beijing last year. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte insulted former U.S. President Barack Obama and announced a "separation" from the United States.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Other than to report the consistent poll findings that he had a fair chance to defeat Clinton but would lose in a landslide to Sanders, I voluntarily embargoed much mention of DJ Trump in my writing about last year's election. Now that he is President with the power to determine the future direction of the Supreme Court by his nomination on January 31, Trump becomes an integral part of the story of the corrupt plutocracy, its provenance and solutions that I do write about .
This salesman will pitch what his buyer wants, whether or not he has it in inventory. Trump's inaugural address thus claimed his political mission to be the restoration of democracy from the politically corrupt system that has usurped it. Trump's opening statement to the country with this message was mainly addressed to those swing independent voters who, along with the vagaries of the electoral college, put him into his first political office. Even before inauguration day these voters had already deserted him to produce Trump's historically low favorability ratings . By then, a Quinnipiac poll (Q3) showed, a large majority of independents (54% to 32%) had acquired an unfavorable view of Trump. This constituted a 28% shift in two months by Trump's decisive constituency. Exit polls showed Trump winning the crucial election day vote of independents by 48% to 42% (" 49 to 41 percent margin among independent [white] women and by 57 to 31 percent among independent [white] men").
These independents, many having voted for Obama , had supported Sanders over Clinton by a wide margin and then rejected the corrupt Clinton machine in the hope that a celebrity billionaire who campaigned against that corruption might just already be rich enough to display integrity in governance unlike an ordinary corrupt politician. Independents took a chance Trump would not sell policy to those plutocrats who in 2016 largely preferred a Clinton restoration over his expected erratic rule, as more likely to yield a higher return on investment .
Such independent hopes in the power of noblesse oblige were quickly belied by Trump's appointees who largely emerged from that same swamp Trump had promised to drain, but instead harvested to run his administration. Not one of these appointees represented an authentic anti-corruption constituency. Meanwhile Trump's own dismissive attitude toward his vast and unremedied conflicts of interest, including commission of a potential constitutional "high crime or misdemeanor" with respect to "emoluments" from his foreign business interests, suggested to many that he had no intention of maintaining any less corrupt a government than the Clintons would have been expected to run in their own Clinton Foundation style of cashing in on conflicted interests .
Trump, still the slippery-with-the-facts pitch man we know from his real estate and reality TV careers not to mention his campaign, in his very first formal address to the whole country, sought to sell the idea that he thinks: "What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people." This reference to the bipartisan corruption which has subverted representative democracy since the Supreme Court first legalized money in politics in Buckley v Valeo (1976) is both important and true. The fundamental political truth that partisan polarization is mostly a diversion from systemic bipartisan corruption resonates with the dominant political lesson of 2016 which elected Trump. Polling indicates that corruption is the issue that is highest in the concerns of voters of both parties but which nevertheless remains resolutely unaddressed in any effective manner by the corrupt establishment. The message of the inaugural was that Trump had heard this message.
But Trump's claim that "January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again" is risibly far from reality. Trump's revelation in Art of the Deal that he thinks "a little hyperbole never hurts" surely applies here. He claims to lead, perhaps even embody, "a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before. At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens." Trump's inaugural message promises that his presidency, by itself, will rescue representative democracy from its systemic corruption by plutocrats like himself and his cabinet.
This is patent hucksterism " carefully crafted to deceive ." First, of course, the Declaration of Independence established the consent of the governed as the guiding principle for the United States of America so that it would reliably "serve its citizens," provided it is not corrupted as the Supreme Court has done with the complicity of Congress. The world saw that and many other democracy movements long before Trump discovered restoration of democracy was a winning campaign issue for him in 2016.
Second, as President, Trump only controls the executive branch. It is highly unlikely that he would wage a robust anti-corruption campaign either within the branch he heads, in areas like procurement (which Obama made even more corrupt by adamantly refusing to require disclosure of campaign contributions by government contractors), or from his bully pulpit. Congress is a bipartisan systemically corrupt tool of plutocrats that will remain so until major strategic reforms are implemented by that separate branch of government over which Trump's portion of influence, such as his veto power, is unlikely to be used for eradicating systemic legislative conflicts of interest.
And then there is that pesky third branch, the Supreme Court, which has been complicit in the corruption of politics for two generations and continues to invent the plutocratic "money is speech" and other jurisprudence which has caused the loss of democracy to corruption. Trump gives no indication that he understands that he needs to use his appointment power to reform the Court's plutocratic judicial supremacist faction if he is going to undo the epochal damage the Court has wrought to American democracy and thereby keep his promise to restore control of its government to the governed. Control now resides in the judicial supremacist Court and the plutocracy it has served since Buckley .
Finally, Trump followed his extended statement of this central mission with no mention of any plausible strategy for turning back a systemically corrupt government to the control of its citizens by eliminating corruption. Without a strategy to prevent the plutocracy from buying corrupt politicians or politicians from delivering policy to pay-to-play plutocrats it is implausible, under Trump or anyone else, that government will be controlled by "the people" anytime soon.
One of several available strategies, the most immediate means Trump can deploy to seize control of government from a corrupt plutocracy and return it to its citizens, would be to appoint a Supreme Court justice who adamantly rejects the judicial supremacist power the Court has usurped to overturn federal and state anti-corruption laws. The whole legalization of political corruption since Buckley, now hinges on this single appointment of Justice Scalia 's replacement which left Trump's desk today. But there is no indication whatsoever that what Trump claims to be his priority concern "at the center of [his] movement" provided a litmus test for this highly pertinent appointment. He instead has said that the anti-abortion predilections of candidates for the Court will provide his litmus test, and maybe guns.
The right-wing Washington Examiner praised Trump for "making federal judge Neil Gorsuch the apparent front-runner." The other presumed favorite , Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Hardiman, had the advantage of serving with Trump's sister on the Third Circuit. In Lodge No. 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police v. City of Phila ., 763 F.3d 358 ( 3d Cir. 2014 ). Hardiman argued "Limitations on campaign contributions ... prevent the 'symbolic expression of support' evidenced by that donation." This symbolism excuse for legalizing influence peddling violates United States v. O'Brien , 391 U.S. 367 (1968) (penalizing draft card burning), which held that virtually any "governmental interest in regulating the nonspeech element" of the conduct claimed to be symbolic speech "can justify incidental limitations on First Amendment freedoms" implicated by that symbolism. O'Brien refused to protect conduct from regulation that did not "necessarily and inevitably" always constitute symbolic speech. Payments to politicians do not always constitute symbolic speech, if they ever do.
Campaign contributions mainly involve the conduct of making financial transfers to politicians in which a systemically corrupted government has a profound interest. The symbolism of support has many other means of expression and so its restriction is "incidental." Hardiman expanded the scope of Buckley corruption for this bogus reason by striking down a ban on police giving political contributions through a police union PAC. He claimed the prohibition "is poorly tailored to the City's articulated interests" in preventing corruption.
To support this classic judicial supremacist ploy for finding laws unconstitutional which in fact violate no text to be found in the Constitution, Hardiman used the naive ignorance of reality often displayed by Justice Kennedy. He argued that a police officer was allowed "to make public demonstrations of support, either through his union or on his own time. But Philadelphia's law "prohibit[ed] him from providing financial support." Hardiman mused: "It is hard to fathom how the latter is a more pernicious form of expression than the former," thus feigning ignorance of the fact that it is the money, not other merely verbal support, that corrupts.
It does not take much imagination to fathom how corrupt cops are almost uniquely subject to temptation to take money from criminals for looking the other way, and can then channel that money in the form of political contributions collected by police unions to support corrupt politicians who will grant them impunity. Lodge No. 5 leaves no question about Judge Hardiman's fidelity to the current system of corrupt politics, having taken such large steps to extend it to new kinds of corruption while reciting all the fraudulent arguments the Supreme Court has used to justify its legalization of plutocratic corruption.
Judge Gorsuch is much smoother, a Scalia on wheels, who has intelligence, impressive academic background, prodigious writing skills, and is devoid of the bombast bordering on crudeness of Scalia. There can be little question that he displays the plutocratic politics of Scalia. At the same time, like Scalia, he obfuscates supremacist rulings behind phoney "originalist" and "textualist" jurisprudential theories used by Scalia to pretend that principles rather than politics drive his right wing opinions. Gorsuch has already donned C.J Roberts' disingenuous disguise of his partisan political intentions when he prevaricated to Congress "I'm not an ideologue" and promised to act like a neutral "umpire." Roberts' opinions in such cases as McCutcheon and Shelby County belie any such intention. Similar prestenses by Gorsuch need to be searchingly challenged.
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At least two lawsuits were filed Monday (Jan. 30) against against President's Trump's Friday's "Muslim ban" executive order.
In Seattle, Washington, State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that he is challenging President Donald Trump's executive order banning Muslim immigrants and refugees, calling it unconstitutional and asking for a temporary restraining order.
In Washington DC, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 "John Doe" individuals who say President Donald Trump's unilateral "Muslim ban" action is unconstitutional. CAIR lists Trump, new Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, the State Department and the director of national intelligence as defendants in its lawsuit.
Washington State files lawsuit
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a statement that "No one is above the law -- not even the President." "And in the courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. It's the Constitution."
In documents filed Jan. 30 against Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and high-ranking Trump Administration officials, Ferguson argues that the order violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection and the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, infringes individuals' constitutional right to due process and contravenes the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
On Jan. 28, a federal judge in Brooklyn issued an order enjoining the Trump Administration from enforcing its Executive Order as to certain individuals who have arrived in the United States. Ferguson's office states that the attorney general's lawsuit is broader in scope and seeks to invalidate entire sections of the Executive Order nationwide.
Ferguson's complaint asserts that the President's actions are "separating Washington families, harming thousands of Washington residents, damaging Washington's economy, hurting Washington-based companies, and undermining Washington's sovereign interest in remaining a welcoming place for immigrants and refugees."
Washington Governor Jay Inslee
Washington Governor Jay Inslee joined the Attorney General Ferguson at the press conference. He said:"This is un American, it is wrong, and it will not stand." "The clear intent of this executive order is to discriminate against one faith amongst all God's children." Asked if he fears retaliation from the Trump administration, Inslee said "there's no predicting this president, but we will not yield, we will not be leveraged, we will not be threatened, we will not be intimidated."
Inslee said he learned the hard way over the years "you do not back down to bullies." Ferguson said he has been in contact with other attorneys general but at this point Washington state was acting on its own regarding the legal action.
Microsoft, Amazon join in lawsuit
Tech companies are joining forces with the Washington state government to fight against Donald Trump's recent immigration-related executive order.
Now, at least three tech companies -- Microsoft, Amazon, and Expedia -- are joining that legal fight. A Microsoft spokesman told Reuters that the company is providing information about the effect of the order in order to "be supportive." They also would "be happy to testify further if needed."
Microsoft, Amazon, and Expedia are all based in the Seattle, Washington area
Both Amazon and Expedia are also preparing statements that demonstrate the order's negative impact on their business. In an email to employees, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wrote that the company's legal team "has prepared a declaration of support for the Washington State Attorney General who will be filing suit against the order." They are considering other legal options, as well. Expedia hasn't publicly released its statement but Ferguson cited the company's help in a press release.
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From Counterpunch
Donald Trump's "Muslim ban" is being described as evidence of the rebirth of fascism in our time. While this may qualify as hyperbole, there is no doubting that the ban is a crude and crack-handed attempt to meet the threat of terrorism, a blunt knife that is tantamount to collective punishment.
The blanket ban on the admittance into the US of the nationals of seven Muslim countries stigmatizes millions of human beings, depicting them as a threat for daring to be adherents of a certain religion and cultures. It is redolent of the demonization suffered by Jewish people in Germany in the 1930s, which echoes as a warning from history.
Worse than the heartrending and disgraceful scenes of families being forcibly ripped apart as a result of Trump's ban is the fact that it has also had the effect of declaring open season on Muslims and Muslim communities across America itself. It is why Daesh and other Salafi-jihadi groups could not derive a more potent and effective recruiting sergeant if they tried.
Muslims are not the enemy of people in the West. How can they be when it is Muslims who have suffered most at the hands of this terrorist menace, along with the fact that it is Muslims who have been and continue to be doing most of the fighting and dying on the ground in resistance to it. To be specific we are talking here the Muslim majority Syrian Arab Army, Hezbollah, Iranian militia forces, and the Kurds. Are we now saying that they constitute the same threat as Daesh? The very idea is an outrage and an insult to justice.
Moreover, the fact that Iranian nationals are banned, when Iran has and continues to play such a key role in combating terrorism, while Saudi nationals are not banned, when Saudi Arabia has played a key role in fomenting terrorism, this cannot be justified on any level of logic. That is until we factor in the business interests the President has in Saudi Arabia, and the lack of same when it comes to Iran.
Donald Trump's first two weeks in office have been the most tempestuous of any president in US history. No sooner did he enter the Oval Office than executive orders started flying off his desk with the alacrity of a man intent on reshaping an entire country and world with the stroke of his pen. But in the process of doing he has cultivated a mass movement across America in resistance to his presidency that evinces, even at this nascent stage, the character of a popular backlash such as we have not seen in the US since the 1960s. Indeed it may well be the case that having sown the wind Trump is about to reap a whirlwind of public outrage that will leave him more isolated than any US president in living memory.
This being said, and in the interests of truth, we cannot allow to go unremarked the fact that while Trump has introduced a ban on Muslims entering the US, his predecessor Barack Obama bombed and slaughtered them. His role in prolonging the conflict in Syria, supporting along with his western allies moderate rebels that only ever existed in the reams of anti-Russian and anti-Syrian government propaganda that issued in the pages of a supine western mass media, should also never be forgotten.
As for Hillary Clinton, the footage of her clapping her hands and laughing in response to the news of the brutal murder of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, saying, 'We came, we saw, he died," leaves no doubt of the dark heart that beats inside this wicked woman's chest.
Such people and their supporters are in no position to take the moral high ground when it comes to Trump. On the contrary, without their hawkish attachment to a foreign policy of domination, hegemony and conflict without end, there would be no Trump presidency in the first place. Why? Simply because his elevation represents a backlash against a liberal order that has failed not only tens of millions of people across the Middle East and beyond, but also millions of its own people at home in America, given the untold billions and trillions of dollars wasted in the process. This is money that could and should have been spent on funding a system of universal healthcare consistent with a civilized country, investing in jobs, infrastructure, and all the things that the American people so desperately require but do not have.
The refugee crisis that has lapped up on Europe's shores in recent years is the direct result of a foreign policy of ruin and societal collapse in the name of democracy and human rights. The mess and carnage that has been left behind as a consequence Donald Trump was elected to clean up.
However the path he has embarked upon in cleaning it up is an exercise in punishing the victim, whether they are poverty-stricken migrants from South and Central America, Muslims, or whether they are refugees or minorities in general. It is why Trump has unwittingly posed the question of whose side are you on? In reply millions across America and elsewhere are already answering with one voice, "Not yours."
"America First" the man proclaimed during his inauguration speech, words dripping in fascism American-style, embraced by Lindbergh and Joe Kennedy and other Nazi sympathizing isolationists in the 1930s.
Many refused to take him seriously then. Some even laughed. They're not laughing now.
Many people are distressed that Mr. Trump's attitudes and actions are not truly American. However, taking a closer look at the history and attitudes of the American people over time, as I described in a recent editorial: one finds that Trump actually reflects what the majority of Americans, and particularly White Americans, have always wanted.
Take for example Mr. Trump's building a wall to keep the Mexicans out. White Americans have always viewed the Mexican culture, as inferior. They see little problems with the abusing Mexicans, Blacks or Moslems. In this action, Mr. Trump is not protecting American jobs; he is keeping the country cleansed from the soiling effects of what he considers lower cultures. In his businesses, there are probably thousands of Mexicans, blacks and Moslems among his employees.
The repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is another position that reflects cultural preferences. In general terms, White Americans are mostly selfish and individualistic. They believe that healthcare should be available only to those who can afford it. The poor are lazy and undeserving. Mr. Trump's actions in preferring private schools to public schools goes in the same vein. Why should we give non-white Americans the same opportunities as us? In addition, White Americans don't believe in the constructive and equalizing power of government. To them, Government is a waste of money and they are working hard to reduce its size and impact.
Another example is his demand for the complete annilation of ISIS. America has invaded and viciously tried to destroy many other countries and cultures in the recent past. Examples include: Iraq, Panama, Venezuela, Vietnam, and several other South American and Asian countries. There is really nothing new here except that America's behavior in the Middle East may have actually contributed to the creation of ISIS in the first place.
As to the withdrawal from NATO and similar alliances, many white Americans believe that it is to their advantage to go to war. After all, we are the strongest nation and have the toughest military on the planet. War has stimulated our economy in the aftermath of both world wars. It keeps our industry humming and our job opportunities growing. No one ever attacked us successfully on our mainland and succeeded (9/11 was just an act of terror). We are not afraid of war, especially when there is no draft. The soldiers enlist from the lower classes and many are non-white and expendable.
As to stopping the flow of refugees, here again there is nothing new. Historically, America has prevented many different types refugees from entering the United States even under the most severe of circumstances. The most frequently sighted example is that of "Saint Louis" a German ship loaded with Jewish German refugees who were denied entry to the United States in 1939. They were desperate and had no place to go. They ended up in Italy. Many of them were later killed in the Holocaust.
Let us face it: America has a culture that is significantly different from that of other countries. It was built through the effects of two cardinal sins: theft of Native American lands and slavery. These two main pillars still affect America's view and attitude towards the world today. That is the underlying reason why many people around the globe associate Americans with arrogance, greed and violence.
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Antinuclear Antibody Test Market Global Industry Volume and Region Analysis 2024
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Antinuclear antibody test is a sensitive screening test used to diagnose autoimmune disorders. The test is used in symptoms such as low-grade fever, skin sensitivity to light, persistent fatigue, weakness and inflammation, and damage to organs and tissues. The test gives two types of results: positive result and negative result. A positive test indicates the presence of autoantibody. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) are the two types of tests commonly performed to detect antinuclear antibody test. ELISA test results are reported as arbitrary units, and IFA test results are reported as rations, for example 1:320, which indicates one part of blood sample was mixed with 320 parts of a diluting substance. About 95% of antinuclear test is used to test lupus autoimmune disease. Lupus disease is followed by scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) and Sjogrens syndrome which shows positive results in about 60% and 40% cases, respectively. The prevalence of antinuclear antibody in healthy individuals is about 3% to 15% and production of autoantibody is age dependent, which increases from 10% to 37% over age 65. The antinuclear antibody test further provides additional diagnostic and prognostic information about the nature of the autoimmune process based on the targeted antigens. Other therapeutic conditions with modest frequency of antinuclear antibody are thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, and hepatitis C.Factors such as growth in health care awareness among people and increase in prevalence of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and type I diabetes, are driving the global antinuclear antibody test market. According to WHO, the number of people suffering from diabetes has increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014, and it is expected to increase further in the near future. Other factors such as government health care insurance & reimbursement policies and increase in health care expenditure are projected to fuel the antinuclear antibody test market. However, factors such as stringent regulation for product approval, diagnostic errors, and unavailability of skilled labor are estimated to hinder the antinuclear antibody test market globally.Download Exclusive Global Strategic Business Report:The antinuclear antibody test reagents market has been segmented by test type, product type, end-user, and geography. In terms of test type, the antinuclear antibody test market is classified into ELISA, IFA, and Dot Blot test. In terms of product type, the market is classified into assay kits and reagents. In terms of end-user, the antinuclear antibody test market is classified into hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, and research laboratories. The hospitals segment is expected to contribute a significantly large share due to developed infrastructure and safety test procedure. Geographically, the market is classified into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.Geographically, North America dominates the market owing to early disease diagnosis, growth in number of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, developed health care infrastructure, and large number of geriatric population. These factors are estimated to drive the antinuclear antibody test market in the region. According to Lupus Foundation of America, 1.5 million Americans and approximately 5 million people are living with lupus disease. North America is followed by Europe with a large market for antinuclear antibody test. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a higher rate during the forecast period due to rapid rise in population, high prevalence of autoimmune disorders, increase in public awareness, and improvement in health care infrastructure, which in turn boost the antinuclear antibody test market. Growing number of government awareness campaigns is the driving factor boosting patients to seek clinical diagnostics even for disease symptoms. Other emerging countries such as Brazil and South Africa are anticipated to create a large opportunity for the antinuclear antibody test market.Major players operating in this market include Alere Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Trinity Biotech PLC, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Becton Dickinson and Company, Biocom Biotech, Erba Diagnostics, ZEUS Scientific, Inc., and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Browse Full Research Report on Antinuclear Antibody Test 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:
Competitive Landscape for Heart Attack Diagnostics Market by Global Segments - 2024
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Heart attack diagnosis is associated with intensive care of patients battling with life threatening conditions, which requires sophisticated invasive monitoring devices and life support systems. Heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs due to reduced or total cut off of oxygenated blood supply to the heart muscle. It is one of the major causes of death observed worldwide and needs to be diagnosed rapidly and accurately. According to Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, about 735,000 Americans suffer from heart attack every year. Occurrence of heart attacks is increasing in adults as well as in geriatric population across the globe due to unhealthy lifestyle habits, high cholesterol levels, high BMI, and growth in tobacco and alcohol consumption. The demand for heart attack diagnostic devices has increased owing to rise in need for continuous monitoring of individuals, accessibility for patient, changing lifestyle, higher investments in R&D, and technological advancement. Further, various international organizations and government across the globe are creating awareness about monitoring devices among the population.Several factors are responsible to propel the heart attack diagnostics market, but few factors are likely to continue to restrain the growth of the market in the near future such as the low Medicare reimbursements provided for the peripatetic cardiac outpatient telemetry electrocardiogram (ECG).Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:The heart attack diagnostics market can be segmented on the basis of test, end-user, and geography. In terms of test, the market can be divided into electrocardiogram (ECG), blood test, chest X-ray, echocardiogram, coronary catheterization (angiogram), exercise stress test, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Among these, ECG has a wider application and contributes to tremendous growth of the market. End-user of this market includes hospitals, specialty clinics, and pathology among others.In terms of geography, the heart attack diagnostics market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In terms of market revenue, North America is estimated to dominate the global heart attack diagnostics market owing to increased adoption of technologically advanced diagnostic equipment. The Asia Pacific market is projected to grow at a higher rate owing to high incidence of heart attacks and soaring death rates due to heart diseases.The heart attack diagnostics market is highly fragmented due to involvement of many recognized as well as emerging players in this market. Key players involved in the heart attack diagnostics market include Abbott Laboratories, Beckman Coulter, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, GE Healthcare, Life Sign LLC, Hitachi Medical Systems, and Schiller AG.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Browse Full Research Report on Heart Attack Diagnostics 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:
With a CAGR of 11.9%, Alpha Mannosidosis Market is expected to be worth US$21.8 mn by the end of 2024
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Global Alpha Mannosidosis Market: SnapshotAlpha mannosidosis is an inherited medical condition tissues and organs of the human body to function in abnormal ways. The commonly seen dysfunctions in patients suffering from this disease are distinctive facial features, intellectual disability, and skeletal abnormalities. Some of the other facial features seen amongst patients are a protruding forehead, large head, rounded eyebrows, low hairline, outsized ears, expanded jaw, flattened bridge of the nose, overgrown gums, widely spaced teeth, and outsized tongue. Though this is a rare disease, a definite rise in the population has increased the number of patients thereby augmented the demand for drugs required for treating alpha mannosidosis.Owing to this reason, the opportunity in the global market is expected to be worth US$21.8 mn by the end of 2024 as against US$2.6 mn in 2015, as the market progresses at a CAGR of 11.9% between 2017 and 2024. The global market for alpha mannosidosis is being driven factors such as market exclusivity being enjoyed by orphan drugs, fee reductions, tax credits, increasing investment in the rare disease treatment, and premium pricing.Read Full Report:BMT Emerges as Leading Therapy for Treating Alpha MannosidosisStatistics show that alpha mannosidosis affects one in every 10, 00,000 people across the globe. The two types of treatment available for treating this disease are bone marrow transplant (BMT) and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Currently, bone marrow transplant (BMT) is the most popularly used treatment for patients. However, ERT is also picking up pace as the manufacturers operating in the segment are vying for commercial roll out of therapies. A promising therapy for lysosomal storage diseases (which are similar to alpha mannosidosis) is an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). The therapy introduces the missing enzyme in the patients blood stream, which is absorbed by the cells then delivered to the lysosomes.Asia Pacific and North America Show Promise of Steady Growth during Forecast PeriodGeographically, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is projected to hold a dominant share in the market in 2017. This dominance will be attributable to the growing awareness about the disease in developing countries. Presently, the Government of Australia has implemented a national plan for helping patients with rare diseases to reduce the mortality rate due to these diseases. The plan aims to raise awareness about the burden of rare diseases among patients, its impact on social life, and healthcare professionals.Download exclusive Sample of this report:North America alpha mannosidosis market is also expected to witness a remarkable growth rate in the coming years. The orphan drug law will boost the new drug discovery efforts as it aims to offer monetary as well as non-financial benefits to manufacturers. The biggest incentive offered North America is a 50% cut the cost incurred for conducting clinical trials, seven years of market exclusivity for orphan drugs, eligibility for federal research grants, and waiver of user fees.The leading players operating in the global alpha mannosidosis market is Zymenex. The company currently focusses on research and development of biologics that are designed to fight rare and life-threatening genetic diseases. The company has developed recombinant enzyme indicated for patients with alpha mannosidosis, which is known as Lamazym (velmanase alfa) in the market.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:
With a CAGR of 7.8%, Smart Medical Devices Market is expected to reach US$66.1 bn by 2024
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Global Smart Medical Devices: SnapshotSmart medical devices have gained traction in the recent past due to the multitude of benefits they provide to the patient and the caregiver. These devices have radically changed the way a disease is managed, by storing copious amounts of data in a logical format to draw insightful inferences. From understanding patterns of diseases or health issues, smart medical devices have largely helped users to keep an efficient tract of their health and fitness regime. Owing to these reasons, the global smart medical devices market is expected to soar at a CAGR of 7.8% to reach US$66.1 bn by 2024 as compared to US$33.7 bn in 2015.Read Full Report:Convenience of Tracking Health Issues through Smart Medical Devices Bodes Well for Global MarketSmart medical devices are being used as important tools by physicians to detect various disease by monitoring vital signs. Chronic disease such as hypertension and diabetes have thus received a fresh perspective from both the medical industry as well as the patients. From a broader perspective, these devices have drastically reduced the workload for healthcare providers by closely monitoring patient health and taking quick action in case of any major change in the readings. The report predicts that the demand for smart medical devices will be attributable to the growing pool of geriatrics, who are prone to a wide range of illnesses. Furthermore, the rapid technological advancements in the fitness devices have also lured in a large base of consumers who are interested in monitoring their heart rate, calorie intake, and the number of calories burned. The user-friendliness of these devices is also expected to fuel the uptake of smart medical devices in the coming few years.Diagnostic and Monitoring Devices to Remain Popular as Inclination toward Fitness IncreasesThe various products available in the smart medical devices market are On the basis of product, the global market is segmented into therapeutic devices, diagnostic and monitoring devices, and injury prevention and rehabilitation devices. Of these, the diagnostic and monitoring devices segment is expected to dominate the global market. Growing awareness toward fitness is expected to drive the uptake of these devices. The quick and easy accessibility to fitness prompts, near-accurate monitoring of health condition such as diabetes and blood pressure, and wide availability of devices in varying price range is expected to work in favor of this segment.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Improving Medical and Healthcare Services in North America Drive Regional MarketIn terms of geography, the global smart medical devices market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America is expected to exhibit excellent growth rate in the coming years. The adoption of technology in the region and its acceptability amongst the overall population is estimated to benefit the regional market. The ongoing upgradation of medical and healthcare services in the region have also played a crucial role in swift sales of smart medical devices all across North America.Some of the leading players operating in the global smart medical devices are Abbott Laboratories, Apple Inc., Dexcom, Inc., Fitbit, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic plc, NeuroMetrix, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, and Sonova. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. These players are expected to retain the lead in the coming years due to their penetration in emerging economies and product innovation. The growing investments in the development of sophisticated products are also anticipated to drive the soaring revenues of these players in the coming few years.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:
Annual Congress On Cell Science, Stem Cell Biology And Therapeutics 2017 during Nov 16-17, 2017 in Atlanta,USA
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Pulsus through its cmesociety.com is been very instrumental to provide an invaluable channel for scientists and researchers to exchange ideas and research by creating a forum for discussing the possibilities of future collaborations between universities, institutions, research bodies and organizations from different countries through international CME/CPD accredited conferences and meetings.Pulsus welcomes you to attend the World Congress on Cell Science, Stem Cell Biology & Therapeutics during Sep11-13, 2017 at Los Angeles, USA. We cordially invite all the participants who are interested in sharing their knowledge and research in the arena of at USA.About the ConferenceCell Science 2017 offers a unique window and opportunities to present and evidence the latest updates with a holistic approach to different areas of interest. We have done our outmost to get rid of the traditional approach in the elaboration of the program and most importantly, during the active sessions, in order to foster innovation and scientific curiosity. Our intention is, to create platforms which will gather eminent scientists, medical professionals who will undoubtedly enrich the conference.Pulsus is the publisher of peer reviewed scientific, technical, and medical journals and magazines. Since establishment 1984, has been instrumental in healthcare and medical dissemination. Pulsus expanded with the support from scientific societies and open its arm to conduct global medical and healthcare meetings. With immense please and support, Pulsus is proud to announce Annual Congress on Cell Science ,Stem cell Biology and Therapeutics to be held during Nov 16-17, 2017 in Atlanta,USA.Regards,Alex JohnsonCell Science 2017Pulsus Group40 Bloomsbury Way, Lower Ground Floor, London, UK, WC1A 2SEUSA/Canada Toll Free: 1-800-982-0387
Medical Carts Market Segments, Opportunity, Growth and Forecast By End-use Industry 2017-2027
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On the account of increasing number of people being hospitalised in the world, medical organisations and hospitals are compelled to facilitate medical services at rampant pace. Dispensing the necessary medical supplies plays an instrumental role in helping nurses and doctors perform a surgery or treatment operation, successively. Medical carts are such equipment that can bring ease to the workflow of transporting medical supplies and surgical tools within a hospital. These carts are trolleys mounted with trays, drawers, shelves or an entire cabinet. A medical cart continues to be a carrier of instruments in multiple surgical operations across all hospitals in the world, and incidentally aids the health of patients through quick disposal of tools and medical devices during the course of a medical operation.Global Medical Carts Market: DynamicsDistribution of medical carts is expected to expand considerably over the forecast period 2017-2027. E-commerce is being regarded as a cogent driver for the growth of global medical carts market. Manufacturers of medical carts are extending their market exposure through online retailing websites, which help them garner bulk orders instantaneously. Furthermore, the ever-evolving medical technology has created a wide range of new healthcare devices, which are befitting several critical medical procedures. The inclusion of new medical devices & supplies propels the demand for medical carts or trolleys for their conveyance. Surging need for immediate medical attention and rising importance of patient safety are also attributing to the growth in demand for medical carts. Bringing an ease in the clinical workflow of hospitals and improving the efficiency of nursing tasks in such medical organisations also fuels the global demand for medical carts.Request Free Report Sample@Nevertheless, growth of the global medical carts market continues to be tested by growing adoption of medical computer workstations. Mobile medication workstations, commonly known as medical computer carts, are gaining popularity across the globe, inhibiting the demand for medical carts. Since medical carts are simple trolleys equipped with drawers and cabinets, hospitals are now preferring mobile medical computer carts which have computers and other key electronic medical devices mounted atop surfaces. Lack of sterilising medical carts is also a key inhibitor of their demand since there have been cases where carts have spread allergies within a hospital. Limited labelling for drug storage and health risks arising when drugs stored in cart drawers interact with each other hazardously are also recognised as factors curbing the growth of global medical carts market.Visit For TOC@Key Products in Global Medical Carts MarketThe demand for medical carts will continue to vary on the grounds of medical facilities provided by them. Different types of medical carts serve the purpose of offering treatment-specific medical tools and devices. For example, doctors performing operations on patients suffering from heart-related ailments will be using cardiac crash carts, while emergency medical carts will be accessible to doctors working in ambulatory surgical centres. Medical carts, as products, can be distinguished as follow;Emergency Carts (also known as crash carts)Anaesthesia CartsProcedure Carts (also known as treatment carts)Other Carts (e.g. supply carts, isolation medical carts, etc.)About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Body Screening Market Key Trends & Industry Forecast 2016 - 2024
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Body screening is a specialized method of detecting any hidden objects within a persons clothes by creating an image of a persons naked body without any physical contact or without physically removing the clothes. Body screening is done through body scanners. Military wave technologies are used by these body scanners in order to see through the clothes of a person. Globally, this method is gaining popularity due to increasing concerns about security fueled by an alarming rise in global terrorism.The global body screening is expected a significant growth during the forecast period. This is mainly driven by a rise in drug trafficking, illegal migration, and terrorism.This method is increasingly being adopted in train stations and airports all over the globe, primarily due to rising threat of terrorism and for aviation security. Moreover, the stringent rules and policies undertaken by various governmental bodies worldwide are driving the growth of the market. For instance, the bill passed by the U.S government called S.A.F.E.R A.I.R Act makes body screening mandatory in all airports.Download Complete Healthcare Analytical Brochure:In the face of rising instances of in-flight detonation and fight hijacking, body screening helps in improving the security framework of airports. The ability to detect a wide range of threats, including explosives, is propelling the demand for body screening. Commercial airports are also engaging in making significant investments in body screening systems to adequately address the burning issue of drug-peddling.One of the major advantages of body screening is the reduced time taken to screen passengers. This gives body screening an upper hand over the conventional pat down approaches, which are both uncomfortable and time consuming. Growing interest in full body screening worldwide is spurring intensive research and development efforts to bring forth machines that are image free and result in less radiation.Despite all the advantages, full body screening is controversial, as it easily raises individual privacy issues. Critics claim it to be in violation of human rights, unreasonable, and illegal. These factors are expected to restrain the growth of the market for body screening to some extent during the forecasted period.The market is segregated on the basis of application, technology, system, and geography. By application, the global body screening market is segmented into homeland security, defense, and commercial. Homeland security is further sub-segmented into applications in seaports, airports, and security of VIPs. Defense is sub-segmented into applications in high security zones, military premises, and border crossing controls.On the basis of technology, the global body screening market is characterized as digital tape measurements, white light patterns, laser scanners, 3D body scanners, and image modeling & processing.By system, the market is segmented into X-ray systems, millimeter-wave, and backscatter.Lastly, on the basis of geography, the global body screening market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. North America holds a significant share of the global body screening market mainly due to the strict steps taken by the U.S government with respect to body screening in airports. The growth of the body screening market in Europe is expected to be limited during the forecast period due to the ban imposed on full-body scanning in the countries of the region. On the other hand, the growth of the body screening market in emerging economies of Latin America and Asia Pacific is estimated to be significantly fast due to increasing security concerns, rise in the number of low cost carriers, expansion of the tourism industry, and booming air travel.The key players operating in the global body screening market include Westminster International Ltd. (U.K), Tek84 Engineering Group LLC (U.S), Smiths Detection (U.K), Scan-X Security Ltd. (U.K), Rapiscan Systems (U.S), Nuctech Co. Ltd. (China), L-3 Security And Detection Systems (U.S), Digital Barriers PLC (U.K), Braun And Company Limited (U.K), American Science and Engineering (U.S), and ADANI Systems (Belarus).The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Browse Full Research Report on Body Screening 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. 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Throat Cancer Treatment Market: North America held the largest revenue share in market due to increase in the incidence of throat cancer because of increase in smoking, tobacco and alcohol consumption in these regions
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Throat cancer refers to the cancer of larynx, vocal cords and other areas of the throat which is a type of head and neck cancer. The symptoms of throat cancer are cough, change in voice, sore throat, ear pain and difficulty in swallowing and many more. The throat cancer is categorized into two types: pharyngeal cancer and laryngeal cancer. Globally around 157,000 new cases of laryngeal cancer were diagnosed in 2012. According to National Cancer Institute, about 1.1% of adult population will be diagnosed with pharyngeal cancer followed by 0.4% with laryngeal cancers at some point during their lifetime. The main causes of throat cancer are smoking tobacco, heavy alcohol consumption, HPV infection and chewing betel liquid. According to American cancer society, around 13,430 new cases were diagnosed with laryngeal cancer among them 79% were men and 21% were women in 2016. Throat cancer is more commonly seen in men than women that are probably because of their smoking habits.With increase in smoking population in developing countries, prevalence of throat cancer, rising aging population, alcohol consumption and raise in HPV infections are the major factors driving the growth of throat cancer market in the forecast period. However, lack of targeted/specific drugs to treat the throat cancer, side effects of the conventional chemotherapy drugs and lack of proper diagnosis of the disease are some of the factors that may hamper the growth of throat cancer treatment market in near future.Read Full Report:Global throat cancer treatment market has been classified on the basis of treatment type and end user.Based on treatment type, the global throat cancer treatment market is divided into following:Radiation TherapySurgeryTargeted TherapyChemotherapyAntimetabolitesPlatinum DerivativesPlant derivativesNitrogen MustardsAntibioticsOthersBased on end user, the global throat cancer treatment market is divided into following:HospitalsCancer Research InstitutesMultispecialty ClinicsAmbulatory Surgical CentersTo treat the throat cancer by chemotherapy, combination therapy, and single therapy is used. On the basis of treatment type segment, chemotherapy is expected to have the major market share in near future owing to its treatment technique with a combination of radiation therapy to reduce the tumor size and after surgery process to kill the smaller areas of cancer. Combination therapy is more preferred to treat the throat cancer because in combination therapy, drugs will act by different mechanisms and also decrease the resistance of the cancer cells to drugs. Cisplatin and 5-FU are more commonly used chemotherapy drugs to treat the throat cancers but these drugs have various side effects like diarrhea, kidney damage and heart problems. Currently, research is going to develop the newer chemotherapies like targeted therapies by using EGFR inhibitors and angiogenesis inhibitors to treat the throat cancer. Recently transoral robotic surgeries are gaining traction of the physicians to remove the tumors because they create small incisions on the body and conduct the surgery in a precise manner with fewer side effects. In the case of the radiation therapy, few doctors are trying to kill the cancer cells by using proton beam therapy because these cause less damage to the tissues they pass through than the X-rays.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Depending on geographic region, throat cancer treatment market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa. North America held the largest revenue share in throat cancer treatment market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific due to increase in the incidence of throat cancer because of increase in smoking, tobacco and alcohol consumption in these regions.Some of the key players in throat cancer treatment market are Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Hospira Inc, Baxter International Inc, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc, App Pharmaceuticals LLC., Sanofi-Aventis and Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd.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:
Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide Market - Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024
Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide Market
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Sodium hydrogen sulphide, also known as sodium bisulfide, sodium hydrosulfide, or sodium sulfhydrate, is a highly alkaline solution with a pH of 11.5 to 12.5. It is yellow to dark green in colour. Sodium hydrosulfide is manufactured by scrubbing hydrogen sulfide from outlet streams with sodium hydroxide. The NaSH solution is filtered and sold as a 44% to 46% solution. It is concentrated through evaporation to form a flake material of 70% to 72% sodium hydrogen sulphide. It reacts with all acids by releasing a highly toxic hydro sulphide gas. The NaSH solution reacts with oxidizing agents which helps precipitate the elemental sulphur. It is stable under ambient pressure and temperature conditions. It is used in various applications such as kraft pulping, copper minerals flotation, chemicals and dyes, leather processing, and rayon & cellophane desulfurization.Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide Market: Drivers and RestraintsSodium hydrogen sulfide is a low-cost alternative to chemicals such as sodium sulphate when it comes to kraft pulping. Low grade sodium hydrogen sulphide is preferably used for this purpose since it is a by-product from refineries and requires no prior treatment. Therefore, the emerging pulping industry is expected to drive the sodium hydrogen sulfide market. However, due to the low pricing and an oversupply situation in copper mineral flotation, the demand for sodium hydrogen sulfide in this sector is estimated to diminish. Also, the usage of sodium hydrogen sulphide in leather tanning been continually declining in the last few years owing to the relocation of tanneries outside the U.S. Environmental concerns associated with sodium hydrogen sulphide are predicted to hamper the expansion of this market too.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide Market: SegmentationThe sodium hydrogen sulfide market could be segmented based on forms such as: Solid fused form Flakes Aqueous solutionSodium hydrogen sulfide is mainly solid in nature but is preferred to be used as an aqueous solution due to its hygroscopic nature. Since it is more stable in its solution form, it is also transported as a liquid. In its solid fused form, it is packed and transported in iron drums, whereas the flakes are packed in polyethylene bags. The liquid solution (up to 72%) is delivered in tank wagons.Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide Market: SegmentationIn terms of end-users, the sodium hydrogen sulfide market could be divided into the following categories: Mining Leather Pulp & Paper Metal extraction Textiles Chemical processingSodium hydrogen sulphide is used a chemical intermediate in the manufacturing of thio-compounds such as sodium thiosulfate, thio & dithio benzoic acids, and thioamides. It is also employed as a finishing agent in leather tanning and glass making applications.Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global sodium hydrogen sulfide market is geographically distributed over North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific holds the maximum share in this market, which is ascribed to the presence of a large number of secondary processed product industries such as paper & pulp, textiles, and leather processing in this region. Local manufacturers expanding their respective production facilities are also projected to drive this market. The overall demand for sodium hydrogen sulphide in North America is likely to decline on account of stringent regulatory policies on the use of toxic products in this region.Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the sodium hydrogen sulfide market are: Lion Oil Albemarle Akzo Nobel Gary-Williams Energy Chemical Products, Cartersville PPG Industries Crompton Tessenderlo Kerley Jupiter Chemicals Great Lakes ChemicalAbout 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. TMR's 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.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
PTFE Fabric Market - Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024
PTFE Fabric Market
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PTFE fabric, a water based dispersed coating, is used for coating flexible woven and non-woven materials such as glass fiber cloth, woven wire, and aramid fabrics. PTFE fabric materials are self-lubricating, non-stick, non-flammable, friction-free, and non-brittle. They are chemically inert and can withstand temperature from -73oC to 232oC; hence, these can be used under various atmospheric conditions. PTFE fabrics are employed in various end-use industries such as construction, packaging, chemical, and textile. These fabrics are used as self-cleaning material in the building & construction industry.PTFE fabrics are employed as non-sticky pan liners in cooking vessels. They are also used in gaskets, seals, and bearings for chemicals, oils, gases, hot platens, chutes, hoppers, and troughs. Furthermore, PTFE fabrics are employed in protective curtains to seek protection from paint spraying and bottle washing, and laboratory aprons to seek protection from acid. They are also used in food packaging. PTFE fabrics are employed as baking mats and as proofing trays in the textile industry. They are used as lining material for piping compensators, and as coating for transport rolls in the chemical industry.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:Based on type, the PTFE fabric market has been segmented into glass fiber fabric and glass mesh fabric. Demand for glass fiber fabric is expected to rise at a significant pace as it offers properties such as excellent water resistance, alkali resistance, softness, and resistance to aging. PTFE glass fiber fabric possesses excellent tensile strength and flex life. It is widely used in natural marble, plaster board, reinforcing walls, artificial stone materials, and exterior insulation finishing systems. These features are driving the market for PTFE fabric.Growth in end-user industries such as building & construction is anticipated to boost the demand for PTFE fabric during the forecast period. Increase in consumption of PTFE in the form of industrial goods such as tubes, pipe & line fittings, and rods, in emerging economies of Asia Pacific and Latin America is estimated to propel the demand for PTFE fabric in the near future. Furthermore, demand for residential buildings in China and India, two of the largest economies in Asia Pacific, has risen exponentially. This is projected to augment the demand for PTFE fabric in the next few years. PTFE fabric is widely used in the construction sector due to its ability to withstand extreme weather and environmental conditions. However, implementation of stringent environmental legislations and fluctuation in prices of raw materials may hamper market growth.Geographically the market for PTFE fabric has been segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Currently, Asia Pacific is the leading market for PTFE fabric, followed by Europe and North America. China and India are likely to account for the major share of the PTFE fabric market in Asia Pacific during the forecast period primarily due to the presence of large number of end-user industries such as construction, chemical, food, packaging, and textile in the region. Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand are other key consumers of PTFE fabric in Asia Pacific. The PTFE fabric market in Europe and North America is saturated; it is anticipated to expand at a low to moderate pace during the forecast period. France, Germany, and the U.K. are the major consumers of PTFE fabric in Europe. Technological advancement and new product launches are estimated to boost the demand for PTFE fabric in the region during the forecast periodKey players operating in the PTFE fabric market include Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation, Urja Fabrics, Fiberflon GmbH & Co. KG , Daikin industries Ltd, Birdair Inc, W.L. Gore & Associates Inc, and Fothergill Group.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. TMR's 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.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Formaldehyde-Free Resin Market Dynamics, Forecast, Analysis and Supply Demand 2016-2026
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Formaldehyde-free resins are the adhesive which replaces traditional urea-formaldehyde glass mat resins and phenol-formaldehyde insulation. They are designed for mineral fiber and fiberglass applications in commercial & industrial and non-woven residential insulation. The global formaldehyde-free resin is expected to have substantially high growth rate, attributed to growing adhesive industry across the globe. North America accounts for significantly high revenue share in the global formaldehyde-free resin market, attributed to robust marketing and demand for furniture in the region.Global Formaldehyde-Free Resin Market Dynamics:The growth of global formaldehyde-free resin market is driven by growing furniture, construction, and adhesive industry. The macroeconomic factor responsible for the growth of global formaldehyde-free resin market is the rapid rate of urbanization, rising disposable income, and regulations over the use of adhesive for furniture. The advantages of formaldehyde-free resin including be easy-to-use, easy-to-store, reduce emissions of hazardous formaldehyde, and requiring no capital investment for retrofitting also fueling the global formaldehyde-free resin market. The company providing the formaldehyde-free resin have significantly high opportunity in regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, owing to the significant demand for formaldehyde-free resin with rising demand for the adhesive in the regions. The formaldehyde-free resin market also has a significant opportunity in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa region as these are the emerging market, attributed to rising disposable income of consumers in these regions.Global Formaldehyde-Free Resin Market Segmentation:Basically, global formaldehyde-free resin market is segmented on the basis of product type, end-use, and region. On the basis of product type global formaldehyde-free resin market is segmented as wood adhesive, foil bonding adhesive, fiberglass adhesive, and mineral fiber adhesive. Among the product type segment, chemicals contribute for the significant revenue share over the forecast period in global formaldehyde-free resin market, owing to increasing demand for formaldehyde-free resin in various segments of the chemical industry. On the basis of end-use, the global formaldehyde-free resin market is segmented as residential insulation and commercial and industrial (C&I) insulation, wherein commercial and industrial (C&I) insulation segment is growing at a significant growth rate.Request for sample report:Based on product type, the global formaldehyde-free resin market is segmented into:Wood AdhesiveFoil Bonding AdhesiveFiberglass AdhesiveMineral Fiber AdhesiveBased on end-use, the global formaldehyde-free resin market is segmented into:Residential InsulationCommercial and Industrial (C&I) InsulationGlobal Formaldehyde-Free Resin Market Regional Outlook:Based on the geographies, the global formaldehyde-free resin market is fragmented into seven key regions -- North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific except Japan, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa. Among the regions, North America accounts for a significant share of global formaldehyde-free resin market, owing to relatively high-value share of the region in the global furniture market. Western Europe is followed by North America region in the global formaldehyde-free resin market. The Asia-Pacific except Japan region accounts for significantly high volume share in the global formaldehyde-free resin market, owing to the substantial growth in the furniture industry in the region as a result of growing population. Eastern Europe and Japan also accounts for significant value share in the global formaldehyde-free resin market, owing to the significant growth of the adhesive product industry over the forecast period. The developing economy such as Middle East Africa and Latin America have a moderate opportunity in the global formaldehyde-free resin market, owing to the rapid rate of urbanization. Overall, the outlook for the global formaldehyde-free resin market will have a positive growth over the forecast period, owing to the increasing demand for the non-hazardous adhesive in end-use industries as an anti-counterfeiting measure.Request for TOC:Global Formaldehyde-Free Resin Market Player:Few players in the global formaldehyde-free resin market include DSM Inc., Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC, The Dow Chemical Company, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, EGGER GROUP, and NineSigma, Inc.About us:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. 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Industrial Embedded Systems Market Expected to Expand at a Steady CAGR through 2026
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The embedded systems are used in various industrial applications such as process control, sensors, actuators, robotics etc. The adoption of embedded systems in industrial applications provide power efficiency with high performance and robust environmental design which resist water, moisture, dust and extreme temperature conditions. The other major advantage of industrial embedded systems is it supports cost effective and advanced Human Machine Interface (HMI), supports high speed wired and wireless communication and features for safety implementation. The conventional micro-controllers and micro-processors in industrial applications are now replaced by system on chip (SoC) and system on module (SoM) embedded platforms.Industrial Embedded Systems Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe rising focus of manufacturers to improve the energy efficiency has resulted in adoption of embedded system supported devices, which is the major driver for the growth of industrial embedded systems market. The increase in adoption of smart embedded system with complex functionalities such as imaging, smart sensors, wireless connectivity etc. to enhance the production efficiency is expected to drive the growth of global industrial embedded systems market. The technological advancements in embedded systems increased reliability, less operational cost, reduced power consumption, enhanced applications etc. is expected to propel the growth of global industrial embedded systems market. The rising adoption of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions in developed economies is expected to boost the global industrial embedded systems growth. Japan accounts for significant share in industrial embedded systems market due to well-established embedded systems industry in the country.Request for sample report:Industrial Embedded Systems Market: SegmentationOn the basis of application,the global industrial embedded systems market can be segmented as follows:-Industrial PCProgrammable Logic Controller (PLC)Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)Micro Programmable Logic Controller (Micro PLC)Motor ControlIndustrial SensorsActuatorSecurity SystemsIndustrial CommunicationDigital Input Output (I/O)Industrial Embedded Systems Market: Region Wise OutlookThe global industrial embedded systems market can be divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Western Europe accounts for major share in global industrial embedded systems market. This is attributed to the well-established manufacturing industries in the region. The rising adoption of embedded system assisted automation system is expected to drive the growth of industrial embedded systems market in the region. North America holds significant share in global industrial embedded systems market. The digital transformation of industries and adoption of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions is expected to drive the growth of industrial embedded systems market in the region. APEJ is expected to generate significant revenue in industrial embedded systems market during the forecast, owing the rising industrialisation in the region.Request for TOC:Industrial Embedded Systems Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global industrial embedded systems market are as follows:Advantech Co., Ltd.Intel CorporationWinSystems Inc.National InstrumentsToradex Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd.Infineon Technologies AGBeckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KGAtmel CorporationTexas InstrumentsVIA Technologies, Inc.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 market segments such as geography, technology and applications.About us:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Dehydrated Meat Product Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2017-2027
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Dehydration is the process in which content of water or moisture is removed from the food product. Dehydration of meat is a simple process but it is an efficient method of preservation. Dehydration increases the shelf life of the meat product hence it can be stored for several months without any requirement of a refrigerator. As the water content in the meat product is low, chances of microbial attack decreases and possibility of spoilage by the microorganism is also prevented. However chances of deterioration of fatty tissue by rancidity still remains. So to prevent rancidity most of the time only lean meat is preferred. Continuous evaporation of water content from the meat changes the shape of the meat slice through shrinkage. The texture of meat becomes hard as well as the met piece becomes darker in color and lighter in weight. Dehydrated meat products are rich in nutritional value and are available at low price as well. Dehydration of meat product should be done in an aseptic condition and sterilization of the instrument used in this process should be done properly.Market Segmentation:Dehydrated meat product market is segment on the basis of technology, product type, packaging and region. On the basis of technology dehydrated meat product market is segmented into sun dried, solar dried, hot air dried, vacuum dried, spray dried freeze dried and others. Among all these segments manufactures prefer the sun dried process for the dehydration of meat as a large amount of drying is be achieved at once, followed by the hot air dried process. Vacuum dried technology is expected to show consistent growth if compared to the other segment. Spray dried technology is expected to give the largest revenue growth in the market followed by the freeze dried technology in the forecast period. On the basis of product type dehydrated meat product is segmented into chicken product, beef product, lamb product, pork product and others. In terms of packaging the market is segmented as canned or frozen products. Among all these product type beef product segment is very popular in North America. Dehydrated Chicken product is also gaining its popularity at a constant pace all over the world.Request Free Report Sample@Furthermore, on the basis of region the dehydrated meat product market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA and Japan. Among these segment North America is expected to have the major market share globally.Market Regional Outlook:Regional segment for the market of dehydrated meat product is divided into seven different regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA and Japan. Among these segment North America is expected to have the major market share globally. In North American region the United States is generating the major revenue followed by Canada. In terms of revenue Western Europe is also one of the prominent contributor in the dehydrated meat products market. Asia Pacific region is also expected to grow enormously in the forecast period.Market Drivers:Rising demand of meat products with longer shelf life coupled with lower price is pushing the growth of dehydrated meat product market during the forecast period. As the dehydrated meat products has easystorage properties these products can be easily transported from one place to other which is supporting to drive the market of dehydrated meat product in the comingyears. Increasing demand of canned and frozen meat products across the globe among the consumers is expected to support the growth of dehydrated meat products in the near future.Request For TOC@Market Key Players:Some of the key players in dehydrated meat product market are HENNINGSEN FOODS, Kublei Company LLP, The Campofrio Food Group, Tyson Foods, Inc, Pinnacle Foods Group LLC, Nu Harvest Foods and Hormel Foods.ABOUT US :Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
They dont have much in common, but Donald Trump and Barack Obama may soon share the distinction of having overreached on important policy matters, imperiling their popularity and political clout.
Trump has whirled into the White House like a Tasmanian devil, shredding policies he opposes with aggressive executive actions and presidential fulminations. He has banned immigrants from a handful of Muslim nations, repeatedly threatened border taxes on cheap imports, vowed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, declared war on regulations and made a down payment on the Mexican border wall.
Trump supporters are supposedly delighted that hes doing what he promised as a candidate. But Trump might want to pause for a moment and study how his predecessor, Obama, bungled by moving too far, too fast and overlooking Americans likely to be hurt by changes he felt were necessary. That happened during the rollout of the Affordable Care Act in late 2013, a fiasco that tarnished the rest of Obamas presidency and even set the stage for the coming repeal of what was supposed to be Obamas crowning achievement.
As everybody knows, Obama notoriously claimed that under the ACA, if you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it. That became an obvious falsehood in late 2013, as Americans began to sign up for health insurance valid the following year. Most major provisions of the ACA went into effect in 2014, and it turned out the law imposed new coverage requirements on all insurers, which led them to cancel noncompliant policies many people were happy with. Most people whose policies got canceled had to sign up for new policies that cost more, because they covered moreeven if those consumers didnt want the added coverage or didnt want to pay for it.
The media coverage was relentless and devastating, focusing on ordinary Americans who, in many cases, made too much money to qualify for subsidies under the ACA, yet faced insurance bills that doubled or tripled. The fiasco garnered Obama the Politifact Lie of the Year award for 2013. By December of that year, Obamas approval rating had plunged to the lowest level of his entire 8-year presidency.
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Victims first
Obamas cardinal mistake was his willingness to hurt some Americans in order to help others. Architects of the ACA knew that a relatively small group of people would have to adopt new coverage, and probably pay more for it, even if they were happy with what they had. From a public-health perspective, it made sense, because on the whole, far more people would end up better off than worse off under the new law.
What Obama and the technocrats who drafted the law didnt count on was the powerful backlash that arose when the president seemed to be punishing middle-class Americans who did nothing to deserve it. The beneficiaries of Obamacare may have outnumbered the victims 20-to-1. But the victims came first and their stories dominated the rollout of the law. The beneficiaries amassed over time and never had a single gripping narrative that matched the saga of heavy-handed feds blind-siding a bunch of ordinary working folks and kicking them off insurance.
Trump may be even more self-assured than Obama, and more oblivious to hubris. His ban on immigrants from 7 Muslim countries relies on the same public-good mentality as Obamacare did; some people will get hurt by the ban, but on the whole it will benefit America, by making the nation safer (at least thats Trumps theory). So it doesnt matter to Trump if a few people with a legitimate right to be in the country get separated from their families or otherwise inconvenienced. He thinks most Americans wont mind the tradeoff.
Hell amplify this sort of political risk if he imposes border taxes on cheap imports, as he has threatened repeatedly. At least some of those new taxes will get passed on to American consumers, because thats how tariffs work. Trump is betting Americans wont mind, because at some point this ought to create new jobs. But look at the parallels to Obamacare: The victims will come first, and the beneficiaries, if there are any, will only come later. An added wrinkle: If Trump pulls out of the North American Free Trade Agreement, fulfilling another threat, some Americans will lose their jobs right away, because their work depends on trade with Mexico. Again: victims first, with relatable tales of woe.
The repeal of the ACA is the political iceberg Trump is steaming toward. Some 20 million Americans have gained healthcare coverage because of the ACA, and Trumps challenge is to repeal and replace the law without making anybody worse off. Trump has vowed a new program that offers insurance for all, with lower costs and other goodies. But nobody knows how that will be possible, unless Congress is willing to appropriate far more money than Obamacare costs now. If Trumps replacement makes some people better off but others worse off, Trump could end up facing a worse PR problem than Obama did at the end of 2013, and perhaps his very own lie-of-the-year award.
Voters obviously sent Trump to Washington to shake things up and fix a government many view as failing. He has certainly shaken things up. But hes speeding much faster toward unintended consequences than Obama, who at least made it to a second term before one of biggest initiatives unraveled. Trump has hurt a few Americans during his very first month in office, and whether he realizes it or not, many others are standing in the way of his steamroller.
Newman tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com
Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.
Marine Propulsion Engine Market Value Share, Supply Demand, share and Value Chain 2017-2027
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Marine propulsion is the system or mechanism used to generate thrust that allows a small boat or even a ship to move across waterways. Modern ships are usually equipped with mechanical systems consisting of an electric motor turning a propeller, or even pump-jets or an impeller. These ships employ reciprocating engines as their main source of power because of their robustness, operational simplicity and lower emissions. The power required by a ship largely depends on the way it is used during regular operations for e.g. A passenger ship requires less power than either a trade or naval ship. The marine propulsion engine market serves offshore support vessels, commercial vessels, inland waterway vessels, submarines and more.Focus on renewable energy fuelling the marine propulsion engine marketA growing need for dependent and fuel-efficient ships is anticipated to be the main driver of the marine propulsion engine market. There has been rapid innovation in the industry that has led to the development of new high-performance engines that are more fuel-efficient than their predecessors. Leading companies in the marine propulsion engine market are continuously innovating and extending their product offerings to handle the growing demand for greater capacity handling. This is mainly due to a rise in international seaborne trade caused by a globalised world with heavy interdependence and interconnectivity.Request for sample report:The second major factor that is likely to impact the marine propulsion engine market is the focus on renewable energy sources. Global warming and an impending energy crisis are some of the biggest challenges faced by the world in the 21st century. Commercial and transport ships notorious for causing a lot of pollution and accidental oil spills not only damage the regional natural ecosystem but also negatively impact the companys goodwill and market image. That is why energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, electric energy and hydroelectric energy are becoming more important than ever before. The development of electric motors that can power ships and reduce fossil fuel consumption will definitely have a positive impact on the marine propulsion engine market. The depletion of shale gas and conventional reserves will increase the demand for LNG, particularly as a marine fuel.Regulatory hurdles the biggest challenge to the marine propulsion engine marketUncontrollable CO2 emissions from conventional engine systems have led to the implementation of stringent environmental regulations and various taxes such as carbon tax to help reduce the impact of climate change. The marine pollution convention (MARPOL) regulations help prevent sewage, oil and chemical spill contamination along with air pollution caused by marine propulsion engine exhaust fumes. Non-adherence to these governmental rules and regulations may lead to severe penalties running into billions of dollars. This can stifle the growth of the marine propulsion engine market particularly as smaller domestic companies may not be able to comply.Asia Pacific is the key marine propulsion engine market to watchAsia Pacific accounts for a major portion of the marine propulsion engine market and is anticipated to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is primarily because of key nations China, Japan and South Korea that have become manufacturing powerhouses heavily dependent on external trade. China is already the worlds largest exporter and would naturally require a greater number of commercial ships, thus having a positive impact on the demand for marine propulsion engines. In addition to trade, countries across the world have begun beefing up their navies to combat ocean piracy. Asian navies, in particular, are rapidly building their defence capabilities and this should increase the size of the marine propulsion engine market across the Asia Pacific region.Request for TOC:Marine propulsion engine market: key playersSome of the key players in the marine propulsion engine market are Caterpillar, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., General Electric Company, and Masson Marine.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 market segments such as geographies, types and applications.About us:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Cellulose Derivative Market: Expected To Observer Major Growth By 2026
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Cellulose is natural polymer present in plants, and cellulose derivative is produced from the pulp. The pulp is basically a fibrous material yielded after separation of cellulose fibres from fibre crops, waste paper or from wood. Naturally, the cellulose derivatives are water insoluble but with chemical process and alterations of the molecules, they are modified into water-insoluble cellulose derivatives. These water-insoluble cellulose derivatives find various applications such as in ceramics. Methylcellulose, cellulose derivative offers uniform thickness, better flow properties, and thermal gelation. Also, Cellulose ethers and cellulose esters which are also cellulose derivatives are widely used in pharmaceutical industries for formulations of health care products. Other pharmaceutical uses of cellulose derivatives include coating processes, mucoadhesive and bioadhesive drug delivery systems, osmotic drug delivery systems etc. Cellulose derivatives are also used in concrete mixtures as an additive, thus protects the water quality throughout construction. The cellulose derivatives are manufactured by various grades depending on the use such as, food grade, pharmaceutical grades, constructions grades etc. Cellulose derivative finds applications even in soaps and shampoos for producing long lasting foam. The cellulose derivatives market is expected to expand significantly during the forecast period due to increasing consumption in the diverse application.Global Cellulose Derivative Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global cellulose derivative market is primarily driven by the increasing demand from pharmaceutical, personal care, and cosmetic industries. Cellulose derivatives offer wide properties such as stabilization, emulsification, reversible thermal gelation etc. These properties are enormously required in the food industry and increasing demand for these functional additive properties propels the global cellulose derivatives market.However, the stringent regulations for cellulose derivative might impact the growth of cellulose derivative market.Request Free Report Sample@Global Cellulose Derivative Market: SegmentationOn the basis of cellulose derivative type, cellulose derivative market is segmented into:-Methyl cellulose derivativeCarboxymethyl cellulose derivativeHydroxyethyl cellulose derivativesEthyl cellulose derivativesOthersOn the basis of cellulose derivatives grades, cellulose derivative market is segmented into:-Food gradePharmaceutical gradeIndustrial gradeOn the basis of end use, cellulose derivative market is segmented into:-Food IndustryPharmaceutical IndustryPersonal CareConstructionPaint IndustryOthersGlobal Cellulose derivative Market: Region wise OutlookThe global cellulose derivative market is divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). APEJ holds the major share in the global cellulose derivative market due increasing consumption in various application such as food industry, construction and pharmaceutical industries. Followed by APEJ is North America and Europe and are expected to grow relatively at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. The global cellulose derivative market is anticipated to expand at a double digit CAGR growth due to expansion of end use industries during the forecast period.Request For TOC@Global Cellulose Derivative Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the global cellulose derivative market includes:Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., LtdLOTTE Fine ChemicalSamsung Fine ChemicalsDaicel Corporation.Akzo Nobel N.V. (Performance additives)Ashland Inc.SE Tylose GmbH & Co. KGCP KelcoShandong Head Europe BVSichuan Nitrocell Co LtdABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Otoscope Market Is Expected To Generate Huge Profits by 2016 2026
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According to a recent report published by WHO (World Health Organization) 360 million people worldwide is presently victims of some kind of audibility related disease. More than 32 million children are victims of deafness. Apart from this a massive pool of an adult population of the world is also crippled by deafness. This population is swelling alarmingly every year in South-Asia, Asia-Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa, which is also promoting the prospects of the emerging otoscope market in these regions of the world. The otoscopes and ophthalmoscopes are predominantly used by ENT specialists across the world for detecting any sort of ENT related disease. Presently a population of 285million visually impaired adults and children are living in this world. The population is rising every day. The otoscope/ophthalmoscope market can fetch the direct benefits of this rise as they are mostly needed for diagnosing eye and ear related ailments. Countries like India, China, Oman, Brazil and Morocco are some of the nation living in the shadows of diseases like glaucoma. Over the years they have made several consorted efforts to eradicate the disease but still it is prevalent amongst a large population. The market is completely untouched and mostly dominated by few domestic players and it is definitely under the radar of some of the biggies of the otoscope market. The US is not only one of the leading producers of otoscope devices, it also caters to the demand of the large global and local population. Statistics shows that almost 37 million Americans are suffering from sinus-related diseases. Thus the US is one of the largest thriving otoscope markets of the world.Otoscope market: DriversThere are several key components which are driving the growth and expansion of the otoscope market. The prime factor which is pushing the growth of this industry is the overall development of the healthcare infrastructure. Apart from this, the steady rise of the ENT related diseases around the world is another significant reason which are multiplying the development of the otoscope markets spread around the world. The constant economic rise of India in the recent past has had an positive effect on the entire healthcare and also on the otoscope market spread across the country The otoscope market in India is not only giving stiff competition to its western contenders but it is also fulfilling the demands of the local and regional demands through its domestic production.Request Free Report Sample@Otoscope market: RestraintsThough the otoscope market is out of its slumber and ginning pace with every single day. The regional markets spread across US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, India and China, Brazil, Morocco, Chile, Japan are performing properly for the last few years. But the dominance of the bi players based in the first world countries and the cloning of products in the Chinese and Indian otoscope markets are creating a massive gulf. It is also disturbing the uniformity of the otoscope market in this south East Asian regions and Latin American countries.Otoscope market: Key regionsThe growth of the entire otoscope market is concentrated on some of the prime pockets. The market is mushrooming in regions like India, China, US, UK and several other Latin American countries where the spread of disease related to ENT are galloping with time. A massive chunk of the market production is consumed by the healthcare giants present in these regions. The ENT industry is booming in India and it churns a few billion revenue from the different adjacent neighbouring markets. The production is high and cost effective which is also a major factor which is sustaining the players present in this segment in India.Request For TOC@Otoscope market: Key PlayersSome of the front runners of this section are camped in countries like Germany, US, UK , Japan, China and India. Heine, Riester, Welch Allen are some of the market leaders has been impacting the otoscope market for the last 100 years. Their quality products and robust market policies are the key ingredients which are fuelling their exports and providing them with the necessary tinder for survival.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Current and Projected 802.11ac Wave 2 Market size in terms of volume and value 2016-2026
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The promising features of 802.11ac Wave 2 standard is expected to create potential opportunities in the Wi-Fi space. While it will take some time for this second wave of products to prove their true potential, for sure the benefits will be tangible. Various organizations are paying close attention to the potential value and impact of the products supporting 802.11ac Wave 2 standard, and are expected to consider Wave 2 in their future technology plans.One major challenge in the adoption of wave 2 standard is the fact that many existing Wi-Fi clients lack forward compatibility with the new wave 2 features. Just like most new technologies, it will take some time for adoption of wave 2 standard to ramp up and for wave 2-enabled hardware to be released.Wi-Fi technology has undergone an incredible degree of transformation since its standardization as the 802.11 standard. 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard has been introduced in the commercial market in two distinct phases, dubbed Wave1 and Wave 2, both offering a significant performance increase from its predecessor standards.With supporting over 60 client devices and 25 routers, the 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi standard is quickly cementing its footprint in the commercial market and is expected to become the highest shipping Wi-Fi standard in coming years.The Wi-Fi Alliance, a global nonprofit association of companies that determine the interoperability of Wi-Fi technology, certified the 802.11ac Wave 2 standard in 2015. Wave 2 standard is built upon Wave 1 with some significant enhancements including support to speeds upto 2.34 Gbps in the 5 GHz band, support to multiuser multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) and greater performance with option of using 160-MHz-wide channels and a fourth spatial stream.Request Free Report Sample@Market Dynamics:Major factors driving the growth of global 802.11ac Wave 2 market include high growth in mobile video usage & VoIP services, continued shift to end-user mobility, increasing volumes of Wi-Fi-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and demand for high-speed delivery of large files and data access and movement.Wave 2 standard offers greater density of connected devices than wave 1 as it supports multiuser multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO). This enables efficient utilization of spectrum is for multiple connected devices providing consumers with options to easily get their devices on and off of the network. Other software improvements in MU-MIMO include ability to group/schedule the type of traffic for each device, dynamic adaptation of modulation & coding, and sounding rate control.Additionally, the market growth is further propelled by the trend to employ multiple connected devices per user and traction towards all wireless office user experience is expected to witness potential growth opportunities during the forecast period.Market Segmentation:Global 802.11ac wave 2 market is mainly classified on the basis of end users and geographies.On the basis of end users, global 802.11ac wave 2 market is segmented into enterprises, cellular operators, residential and public areas (such as airports, hotspots and conferences).Request For TOC@On the basis of regions, the market is segmented into 7 key regions:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeAsia Pacific Excluding JapanJapanMiddle East & AfricaKey Market PlayersSome of the major players in the global 802.11ac wave 2 market include NETGEAR, Inc., Cisco Systems, ASUSTeK Computer Inc., D-Link Corporation, TP-Link, Linksys and Buffalo Americas, Inc. to name a few.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
IoT Processor Market Analysis, Segments, Growth and Value Chain 2016-2026
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In this connected world, internet of things (IoT) is fueling every aspect of human lives. The data that is generated every day from these connected devices is humongous. Proper functioning of these connected devices requires real time exchange of data and information amongst them so that they can solve human problems. In another word IoT means more data, more sensors, agile responses, end-to-end connectivity and smarter user interfaces. All these features come at cost like high performance sensor, more silicon area, more power, and more heat. Here comes the concept of IoT processor, while general purpose processor are good to run application on embedded systems, they are not really capable of dedicated task like those required to support IoT applications. IoT processor is a low-power processor that can run number of applications from multiple connected devices in real time.Global IoT Processor Market: Drivers and ChallengesAs more and more devices are getting connected day-by-day, carrier providers are finding it difficult to collect, process, and dispatch information from one device to another device because of the limitation of interoperability of general purpose sensor. That is creating a separate need of IoT processors. For instance, IoT processors in wearable devices do a lot of controlling, sensing, processing, storing, and interpreting information while consuming very little power area. This would not have possible had vendors of wearable devices such Apple Inc. and Xiaomi would have deployed general purpose processors in their devices. Furthermore, technological advancements in the field of cognitive and affective computing are also driving the growth of IoT Processor market. Cognitive and affective computing systems generally process data which available in the form of video, image, sign etc.Request Free Report Sample@Despite the big opportunity IoT market present for processor makers, some processor companies have hesitated to make significant investment in this sector. The greatest issue is that products within the IoT sector tend to appeal to niche market and generate relatively low sales volume. But in coming couple of years more semiconductor companies will invest in IoT processor market.Global IoT Processor Market: SegmentationIoT Processor Market can be segmented on the basis of type, application, and region. Type category includes 8bit, 16 bit, and 32 bit processors. On the basis of application, the market can be segmented into automotive, manufacturing, energy and utility, and retail. Region wise, global IoT Processor Market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Japan, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Middle East & Africa.Regional OverviewNorth America is expected to the largest market of global IoT Processor market. Majority of IoT Processor vendors such as Intel and Texas Instruments are based in North America region itself and they are also investing in the field of IoT ecosystem of local market. For instance, BMW group, Intel, and Mobileye teamed up for autonomous driving.Request For TOC@Several IoT Processor startups such as Samsara, Notion, and Hologram IoT are expanding their operations in Europe region. Asia-Pacific region is expected to have moderate growth rate for IoT Processor market as countries such as China and Taiwan have advantage of large pool of semiconductor vendors. Latin America and Middle East and Africa regions are yet match the pace of global IoT Processor market.Intel Corporation, QUALCOMM, Samsung, and ARM are some of the key vendors of Global IoT processor market.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Multi Echelon Inventory Optimization Market - Segmentation, Drivers and Restraints, Regional Outlook, Global Research Report
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Inventory optimization is the balancing of investments in stock-keeping units and service goals, while taking into account the volatilities of demand and supply. One of the major challenges a company faces is matching its supply to consumers demand. How efficiently a company addresses this challenge directly impacts the companys profitability. Working capital being of utmost importance for any company, it is important for companies to keep low levels of stock and sell them quickly. Supply chains today have multiple layers of suppliers and distributors. With each layer adding some safety stock considering service requirements, a significant amount of working capital is involved. Multi echelon inventory optimization approach involves taking a holistic approach toward the entire supply chain and considering the impact inventories have at any given level in the supply chain. It answers where in the supply chain inventories should be placed and optimizing and updating buffer stock at all levels. By effectively modeling the entire supply chain from raw materials to manufacturing and finished goods, multi echelon inventory optimization creates what-if scenarios and explores alternate suppliers, transport links, lead times as well as locations. Levels of safety stocks and postponement strategies having lower cost implications are also verified in the process.Get Sample Report Copy :Multi echelon inventory optimization boosts the capability of supply chain teams in achieving service goals with minimum levels of inventory. With problems such as stock outs and obsolescence also taken care of, bottom lines of companies are significantly improved irrespective whether the supply chain is local or global. The biggest driver for multi echelon inventory optimization market is the financial losses that companies can avoid using these techniques. The complexities that multi-level supply chains present and the need to efficiently allocate resources and increase profitability is further likely to fuel the growth of multi echelon inventory optimization market. Investments in inventory being largest liquid asset for any organization, taking advantage of any technique that can lower inventory investments while maintaining and ultimately improving service levels are significantly aiding profitability to the organization. However, reducing the inventory should in no way affect customer service levels. Multi echelon approach addresses this concern by keeping more stock at the outer nodes so that the customer service level is not affected, while reducing overall level of inventory. However, for this strategy to effectively work, companies should be able to forecast customer demands. Inventory optimization process is dynamic, which requires frequent evaluation. Companies need to review their network frequently and change policies accordingly. Lack of skilled resources who can understand and use inventory optimization techniques effectively are hurdles in adoption of multi echelon inventory optimization technologies.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Analysis :The multi echelon inventory optimization market can be broadly segmented into types of solutions and industries. The solutions include replenishment, vendor managed inventory, demand forecasting, purchase order flow management, supply chain advanced analytics, value chain collaboration, supply and retail optimization, transportation and logistics optimization and cloud services. On the basis of industries, the market can be categorized into consumer goods, electronics, food and beverages, chemical, retail, and manufacturing. Geographically, North America has a large market for multi echelon inventory optimization due to the large manufacturing sector and the penetration this technology has achieved in manufacturing and processes. With high growth in manufacturing industries in countries such as China, South Korea, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia, there is expected to be high demand for multi echelon inventory optimization solutions and services in Asia Pacific during the coming years.The major companies operating in this market include ToolsGroup, Logic Tools Inc., Logility, Manhattan Associates, Inc., Smart Software, Inc., Arkieva, Kinaxis, Thrive Technologies and Planning Edge Corporation.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Konjac Flour Market Expected To Observer Major Growth By 2027
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Konjac flour can be defined as a Glucomannan Powder which is pure soluble fiber with no calories, no starch, no sugar, no fat and no protein which is wheat free and gluten free. Konjac flour is used as an ingredient as a thickening agent in food preparation and additives in food & beverage industry. Konjac flour is made from konjac plant roots, when konjac plants roots are matured, the roots are removed from the ground and peeled. Peeled roots are cut into pieces and dried by warm air, dried roots are then refined into a powder which separates the lighter components from the heavier flour, left glucomannan is used in noodles and other dishes. Konjac flour is an odorless, natural soluble fiber, which is found in the konjac plants.The food made from the corm of the konjac plant is widely known as konnyaku (yam cake) which is being cooked and consumed on daily basis in Japan. Research has found that konjac lowers down serum cholesterol levels and helps to delay the glucose absorption.Konjac Flour Market Segmentation:Konjac flour market can be segmented on the basis of applications, function, and by regions. Based on application, konjac flour is segmented into food & beverages, agriculture, medical & pharmaceutical industry. Konjac flour has gelling property which acts as a fat replacer in various types of processed foods. Konjac flour used as a thickener for smooth soups, gravies, bakery products, carbonated beverages, confectionery, desserts, noodles, yogurt, sauces, stews, glazes and casseroles. It is also used in cake fillings, puddings, pies and custard as a thickener. Konjac flour is odorless and is gluten-free, which is a perfect substitute in cooking and baking when flour and glutinous starches is to be avoided. On the basis of function the market of konjac flour is segmented into gelling agent, thickener, film former, emulsifier and stabilizer. The market on the basis of use is led by gelling agent segment followed by emulsifier. On the basis of region Konjac flourmarket is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA and Japan.Request For Report Sample:Konjac Flour Market Trends and Market Drivers:Konjac flour market is expected to witness sustained growth over the forecast period increasing demand for gelling, thickening and stabilizing agent is expected to grow the demand over the forecast period. Other factors attributable to the high growth includes rising health consciousness, increasing purchasing power, rise in per capita health expenditure. Konjac flour has special properties which provide various health benefits such as better immune system and better digestion. In addition, government bodies for example, FDA supports the use of konjac flour in numerous drugs and foods which is expected to push the growth of the market. Konjac flour is anticipated to witness relatively high share in the food & beverage segment. Pharmaceutical segment is also expected to expand at higher rate owing to the wide use of Konjac Flour in pharmaceutical segment for the treatment of constipation, weight loss and help in improving cholesterol level.Regional Outlook of Konjac Flour Market:On the basis of geographical market segment, it is segmented into seven different regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia-Pacific region, Japan and Middle East and Africa. In regional segments, Asia-Pacific is expected to hold a relatively high share in terms of market value. China has the largest konjac flour markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan region is expected to witness relatively higher growth in the Konjac Flour market. People in japan havethe habit of consuming konjac foods on daily basis which is the key factor to drive the market in this region.Request For TOC:Konjac Flour Market Key Players:Some of the key participating players in konjac flour market globally are Hubei Yizhi Konjac Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Zeroodle, Miracle Noodle, NAH Foods, Shanghai Brilliant Gum Co. Ltd and Henan Xin Industry Co. Ltd. And Baoji Konjac Chemcial Co., Ltd., NOW Foods among others. Companies in the konjac flour market are heavily investing in research and development activities to enhance the functional profile of konjac flour.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market Explores New Growth Opportunities By 2017 - 2027
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Diabetes has evolved as one of the primary healthcare epidemic characterized by high sugar levels and principle cause of mortality worldwide. In 2014, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 8.5% of adults living with diabetes. A diabetic person cannot either synthesize enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or either does not make enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin produced by the body (type 2 diabetes). Another type of diabetes that occur in women during her pregnancy is gestational diabetes. However, gestational diabetes is usually resolved after delivery but can precede towards type 2 diabetes later in a womens life. Most of the continuous glucose monitoring devices are invasive and involves use of needles leading to increased chance of infection. Furthermore, the invasive glucose monitoring device is considered to be discrete glucose measurement system which cannot be practically used for continuous monitoring of blood glucose. Certain evidences of hyperglycemia between measurements are however not recorded thus resulting in false or no representation of the blood glucose pattern. Noninvasive monitoring of glucose levels eliminates the need of painful pricking with increased risk of infection, and amount of damage caused to the finger tissue.Therefore, non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring devices are being widely investigated and studied over the past few years for their ability to monitor glucose continuously under highly controlled (e.g. in-clinic) conditions. Various techniques that involves measurement of blood glucose levels non-invasively includes, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), Mid -Infrared Spectroscopy (Mid-IRS), Raman Spectroscopy, Photo-acoustic Spectroscopy (PA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and many more.Request For Report Sample:Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring DevicesMarket: Drivers & RestraintsRising prevalence of diabetes globally is expected to result in greater use of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring devices among the prevalent population. Owing to the several disadvantages imposed by the use of invasive blood glucose monitors and growing need to develop noninvasive glucose monitoring diagnostic techniques, the market for non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices is expected to rise at a greater pace during the forecast period. For instance, in June 2015, researchers in U.K. developed blood glucose device that utilizes low-powered lasers in order to measure the blood glucose levels on the skin surface. Also a bench-top version of the system is currently in clinical trials studies which might land in the market over the next few years. This includes, a finger-touch device similar to a computer mouse and a wearable version for continuous blood glucose monitoring. In addition, increasing efforts by several startup manufacturers, for example, Prediktor Medical- a Norway based manufacturer is developing a wearable device for estimation of blood glucose levels based on the combination of several principles determining the noninvasive glucose monitoring including, advanced multivariate analysis and dynamic models for insulin or glucose interaction. The device is expected to be in the form of a watch or bracelet communicating with the mobile phone or a tablet for data presentation. This would enable patients monitor their glucose levels continuously without the need for an implant. Currently available blood glucose measuring devices lacks specificity and sensitivity due to the substantial physical and chemical interference. Non-invasive glucose monitoring devices use multivariate regression analyses converting optical signal to glucose concentration. Hence the device should be designed in such a way that it leads to accurate detection of blood glucose levels imperative for optimum therapy and disease management.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: SegmentationNon- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices marketis segmented by technology, modality end user and geography:By TechnologyMIR/NIR (Mid/Near Infrared Spectroscopy)Raman SpectroscopyOcclusion SpectroscopyOptical Coherence TomographyThermal Emission SpectroscopyPhotoacoustic SpectroscopyImpedance/Dielectric SpectroscopyElectromagneticPolarimetryFluorescenceBy ModalityWearable Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsNon-wearable /Table top Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsBy End UserHospitalsHome Care SettingsClinicsNon- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: OverviewRising prevalence of diabetes worldwide imposes significant economic consequences on the individuals life. Currently, there are 350 million people worldwide estimated to live with diabetes. Thus continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels is essential in order to manage the ever increasing prevalent population living with diabetes currently. For this reason manufacturers are focusing on developing diagnostic techniques that are highly reliable and monitors individuals blood glucose levels with greater accuracy with the capability to improve glycemic control and patient wellbeing. By integration of sensing elements, electronics along with a reliable power source in a single unit, noninvasive blood glucose monitors are offering immense opportunity for all the device manufacturers along with patients and various healthcare providers across the world. Accelerated regulatory approvals of blood glucose monitors is one of the another important factor leading to increased revenues of noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Request For TOC:Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Growing number of diabetic population in U.S. is the leading factor contributing towards higher adoption of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems. Center of Diseases Control and Prevention estimated 29.1 million of U.S. population with diabetes in the U.S. The data also estimated adult population with diabetes are at 50% higher risk of death. Furthermore, growing need of continuous non-invasive method of blood glucose diagnosis among patients is expected to create higher demand for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems worldwide. The incidence of diabetes is higher in regions such as Asia Pacific, North America and Western Europe. Presence of several pipeline blood glucose monitoring systems and their expected launch is expected to drive the market for noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices market are, Abbott, Animas Technologies, Bayer Healthcare, Cercacor, Pendragon Medical, OrSense, and Bayer Healthcare.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Impact of Existing and Emerging Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Trends 2017-2027
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Apart from military and commercial purposes, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been quite successful in gaining the attention of retailers like Amazon and DPDHL for delivery purposes. In military, these vehicles are preferred during missions where there is a threat to human life.Due to a wide range of applications like green-house monitoring, aerial remote sensing, etc., commercial unmanned aerial vehicles are expected to dominate the applications segment over the forecast period. Based on class, small UAV is anticipated to witness fastest growth during the forecast period as these are being increasingly preferred for commercial applications. However, strategic unmanned aerial vehicles are projected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Based on payload, synthetic aperture radars (SARs) are projected to witness significant growth over the forecast period due to various features like lightweight, compact size, real time imaging, less power consumption, etc.Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market: DriversIncreasing effectiveness in combating situations coupled with technological advancements in the unmanned aerial vehicles is expected to fuel the demand for this market during the forecast period. Moreover, increasing terrorist activities across the globe is anticipated to upsurge the demand for unmanned aerial vehicles in near future. Additionally, increasing demand for highly precise technology is further expected to propel the growth of the unmanned aerial vehicles market. The unmanned aerial vehicles are also being adopted in Germany for parcel delivery (DHL Packet), which in turn, is expected to incite other regions to use these vehicles for logistics, etc. This could prove to be another factor driving the growth of the global unmanned aerial vehicles market in future.Request Free Report Sample@Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market: RestraintsOne of the major factors restricting the growth of the global unmanned aerial vehicles is high accident rate of these vehicles. Moreover, stringent government regulations regarding the usage of unmanned aerial vehicles is also expected to hamper the growth of the market during the forecast period.Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market: SegmentationUnmanned aerial vehicles market can be segmented on the basis of class, energy source, endurance, payload, wing type and applications. On the basis of class, the global unmanned aerial vehicle market can be segmented into small, tactical and strategic. On the basis of energy source, the market can be segmented into hydrogen, solar, lithium ion, fuel cells and hybrid. On the basis of endurance, the global unmanned aerial vehicle market can be segmented into short (less than 5 hrs), medium (5 hrs 24 hrs) and high (more than 24 hrs). On the basis of payload, the market can be segmented into synthetic aperture radars (SARs), EW Systems, electro optic infrared sensors (EO/IR), C4I systems, and others. On the basis of wing type, the global unmanned aerial vehicle market can be segmented into fixed wing, tilt wing, unmanned helicopter and multicopter. On the basis of applications, the market can be segmented into military, commercial and homeland security.Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market: Region wise OutlookBased on regions, the Asia pacific, led by China and India is expected to be the most promising revenue generating region in unmanned aerial vehicles market due to increasing boundary conflicts in this region. Additionally, growing preference for automation in this region is further expected to fuel the demand for unmanned aerial vehicles. North America is estimated to dominate the unmanned aerial vehicles market. However, due to the cuts in defense budgets across this region, the region is projected to witness steady growth in unmanned aerial vehicles market during the forecast period. Middle East and Africa are projected to witness significant growth in unmanned aerial vehicles market in near future.Request For TOC@Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Market: Market ParticipantsSome of the market participants identified in the global unmanned aerial vehicles market are mentioned below:UAV Solutions, Inc.Lockheed Martin CorporationMartin UAVIsrael Aerospace Industries Ltd.EMT Ingenieurgesellschaft Dipl.-Ing. Hartmut Euer mbHSelex ES Inc.BlueBird Aero SystemsNorthrop Grumman CorporationDassault Aviation SAGeneral AtomicsBoeingAeroVironment, Inc.BAE SystemsAirbus DS GmbHABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Craft Bags Market Demand is Increasing Rapidly in Recent Years
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A craft made from wood fiber offers maximum strength and natural beauty. Craft bags are prepared through paper produced from chemical pulp during the craft process. Primarily plan craft bags are used for packaging of grocery items. Generally, two type of craft bags are available in market that are white and brown. Craft bags are used mostly for carrying light weight products such as fresh vegetable and fruits. Craft bags can also utilize for many different purposes such as grocery product, medicine and electronic goods. Craft bags are easily handled and are convenient for use which in turn, led the demand to grow among consumers. Global market for craft bags are expected to grow at significant rate in near future. Craft bags are degradable and are cost effective which led the manufactures to invest in craft bags production. Light weight and easy handling property of craft bags are attracting the interest of consumer towards the use of craft bagsGlobal Craft Bags Market: DynamicsCraft Bags are cheap and easy to use also easily recyclable which make craft bags packaging to grab the attention of manufacturers as well as consumers. Increasing demand for ecofriendly packaging is boosting the consumption of broad range of product, with the successive rise in demand for the paper based packaging for product. Increasing demand for convenient, smaller pack sizes, and rising grocery and personal care product in market is fueling the demand for craft bags across the globe. It is estimated that the demand for craft bags will exceed supply in coming years owing to increasing consciousness about nature safety. Also paper industries are expected to invest in craft bags packaging due to rise in demand among consumer. On the back drop of paper industry packaging industry is focusing towards large consumer base market such as cosmetic and fresh good market. The demand for craft bags are also increasing among cement manufacturers.Request For Report Sample:Global Craft Bags Market: SegmentationThe global Craft Bags market can be segmented on the basis of product type, application and region. On the basis of product type global craft bags market can be segmented into block bottom craft bags, paper carry bags, checkout craft bags, confectionery craft bags, and others. On the basis of application global craft bags market can be segmented into grocery, food, pharmaceutical, customer goods, stationary and confectionary, cosmetic & personal use product, home care product and others. Among application fresh vegetable and bakery product are ideal for craft bags packaging. Craft bags are ideal for grocery product packaging. On the basis of region global craft bags market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East and Africa.Global Craft Bags Market: Regional OverviewNorth America is expected to gain significant market share in craft bags owing to increasing demand for ecofriendly packaging product. Demand for craft bags will continue to grow, due to the manufacturing economies of China and other emerging countries. In fact, the overall market for craft bags will grow at a significant CAGR in forecast years. Craft bags packaging represents the largest market for paper industry. Major portion of produced paper in the U.S is acquired for manufacturing of craft bags. Among these produced paper some are exported to China and the rest are used to produce other craft bags such as boxboard, which includes folding boxes.Request For TOC:Global Craft Bags Market: Key PlayersThe main player of global craft bags market are international papers,Stanpac, Kent paper, Biopac, Genpak, Bemis Company Incorporated, Berry Plastics Corporation, Novolex and Linpac Packaging Limited.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Bioalcohols Market Growth Expected to Dominate Worldwide by 2027
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Bioalcohols are key in protecting the environment from greenhouse gases and global warming. Bioalcohols are biologically produced alcohols and some of the most common bioalcohols are ethanol; and propanol and butanol to some extent. They are produced by the action of microorganisms and enzymes through the process of the fermentation of sugars or starches. Bioalcohols are also produced through the fermentation of cellulose. The most common application of bioalcohols is their use as an alternative to gasoline. The global bioalcohols market is growing due to increasing scarcity of fossil fuels and huge fluctuations in global crude oil prices. Due to the problem of global warming, which is caused by the emission of carbon dioxide contributing to the greenhouse effect, bioalcohols are emerging as a popular alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Due to the increasing use of bioalcohols, the carbon footprint is reduced, and hence there is a lucrative opportunity for the use of such substances as the fuel of the future. Combined with this, the rising use of bioalcohols in emerging economies is fuelling the global bioalcohols market in a positive direction.Request For Report Sample:Bioalcohols as a fuel of the futurePresently, bioalcohols are manufactured by the process of fermentation of biomass including organic wastes. With latest technological advancements, the production of bioalcohols is increasing being derived from cellulosic biomass usage, thus supporting the growth of the global bioalcohols market. Cellulosic biomass comprises complex sugar molecules such as those found in switch grass and corn. Due to the rapid advances made by biotechnology, researchers have now devised a way to use this cellulosic biomass for improvements to fossil fuels. There are distinct advantages of bioalcohols over fossil fuels in terms of emissions related to sulphur, nitrogen oxide, ground ozone and carbon monoxide. The emission of such hazardous substances is reduced by mixing bioalcohols in fossil fuels. The only emissions that are generated by the use of bioalcohols are formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, that dont have any effect on the surroundings. Ethanol gases possess the property of having less atmospheric reactivity, and thus result in reduced oxidant formation. There are various hazardous substances that are emitted by the burning of fossil fuels, and some of them are even cancerous. The emission of such hazardous substances will be reduced by using ethanol and methanol, because they give out advanced steam pressure after getting mixed with petrol. There is no change in the performance of petrol by mixing it with ethanol or methanol.Key regions leading the production and consumption of bioalcoholsThere are various types of bioalcohols such as bio butanol, bio BDO, bio methanol and bio ethanol. Currently, Germany is the largest consumer and producer of bioalcohols. There are stringent norms in Germany regarding pollution control and protection of the environment, and hence the market for bioalcohols is growing in this country. However, the shortage of raw materials from which bioalcohols can be produced is acting as a major dampener in the bioalcohols market in Germany. United States is the second largest market for bioalcohols in the world. The administration in the United States has taken several initiatives to support the production of bioalcohols as an alternative fuel or as an additive to fossil fuels. The United States government is offering financial assistance to the manufacturers of bioalchols to set up the necessary infrastructure for the production of bioalcohols. Emerging regions such as South America are also a promising market for the production of bioalcohols. The South America region is a hub for the production of bio ethanol, which is one of the major products comprising bioalcohols.Request For TOC:Bioalcohols Market: Leading PlayersSome of the key manufacturers of bioalcohols are BASF SE, Cool Planet Energy Systems, DSM and Cargill.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Eyewear Market: Global Analysis, Trends, Forecast; To Double the Billion in Coming Years
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The global eyewear market is worth billions of dollars and is projected to grow significantly in the coming few years. The global eyewear market is driven by the rising user base, increasing disposable income levels, and growing renewal rate of lenses. Another trend that is shaping the growth of the global eyewear market is the rising demand for eco-friendly eyewear. Many companies in the global eyewear market observing this business opportunity have launched their own eco-friendly eyewear range, while some new companies have entered the market with their green offerings.The growing prevalence of eyesight disorders and wearer base expansion are the primary factors augmenting the growth of the global eyewear market. Moreover, a rise in the disposable income levels of middle-class consumers is expected to drive the demand for eyewear products in the next few years. Furthermore, the rising demand for premium eyewear, loyalty programs, and personalized services and rising implementation of product bundling strategy are estimated to contribute significantly towards the growth of the market.Get a Sample PDF for Profesional Insights atThe global eyewear market stood at US$81 bn in 2011 and is projected to register a 3.70% CAGR from 2012 to 2018, reaching a value of US$130 bn by 2018, states the market research study. The expanding distribution channels and growing marketing activities through social media are projected to drive the demand for eyewear products in the near future. Increasingly, eyewear is considered a fashion product worldwide and the innovations offered by key players are driving the global market.On the other hand, the rising adoption of refractive eye surgeries and the rising risk from counterfeit products are hampering the growth of the global eyewear market. Moreover, issues related to the side effects of eyewear products on the health of consumers and lack of awareness in low-income economies are estimated to restrict the growth of the market in the forecast period.Among the key geographical regions, in 2012, North America led the global eyewear market with a 30% share. The robust growth of this region can be ascribed to the rising demand for contact lenses and sunglasses. However, the Asia Pacific eyewear market is anticipated to exhibit a 9.0% CAGR from 2012 to 2018, owing to the extensive contribution from China and India.Companies Mentioned in the Research ReportThe global eyewear market is extremely fragmented in nature with the presence of several local and international players operating in the market. Key players are competing amongst each other for market share by improving their product portfolios and pricing strategies. Some of the leading players operating in the global eyewear market are CooperVision, Bausch & Lomb, De Rigo S.p.A, Carl Zeiss AG, Marchon Eyewear, Safilo Group, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Vision Express, CIBA Vision Inc., Specsavers Optical Group Ltd., Hoya Corporation, Luxottica Group S.p.A, Fielmann AG, and Essilor International.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Laminating Adhesives Market Sizing with Competitive Landscape by 2020
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Adhesives are use for joining and assembling of different materials surfaces. Both dry lamination technique and wet lamination technique are widely used in laminating adhesive. Laminating adhesive has its application in various industrial and domestic uses. It is particularly designed to attach or fix two different surfaces together. The different chemical compositions of laminating adhesives include polyurethanes, polyvinyl acetate, epoxy, styrenic block, and ethylene vinyl acetate. It is widely applicable in minimizing weight, vibration-dampening joint and leakage control of fluids or gases.A sample of this report is available upon request @Based on the different technology, the laminating adhesive the market can be broadly categorized in four different market segments namely; water-borne, solvent-borne, reactive, and hot melt. On the basis of different applications of the laminating adhesive, the market can be segmented as pressure sensitive adhesives, packaging, building & construction, automotive, woodwork & furniture, footwear, and others.The increasing demand of low volatile organic compound (Voc) and environmentally sustainable adhesives are some of the predominant driver of the global laminating adhesive market. Moreover the major end user market of laminating adhesive such as automobiles construction, woodworking, transportation, footwear, and packaging has witnessed a healthy growth over the last few years which in turn driving the growth of the global laminating adhesive marketInstability in raw material prices of the laminating adhesive coupled with stringent environmental regulations by EPA (environment protection agency) and REACH (registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals) in Europe and North America is acting as challenge for laminating adhesive market in this region.Asia Pacific is the largest producer and consumer of laminating adhesive, followed by Europe and North America. North American market of laminating adhesive is heading towards maturity and the growth is mainly anticipated from the emerging market of Asia Pacific and Latin America. India and China are the two biggest market of laminating adhesive in Asia Pacific. Brazil is one of the fasted growing market laminating adhesive in Latin America region.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major companies operating in global laminating adhesives market include, Ashland Inc, BASF SE, Bostik SA, Dymax Corporation, Henkel AG & Company, Sika AG, The Dow Chemical Company, ADCO Global Inc. and Henkel AG & Company,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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Advanced Packaging Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2021
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During the final stages of semiconductor development, a tiny block of materials (the silicon wafer, logic, and memory) is wrapped in a supporting case that prevents physical damage and corrosion and allows the chip to be connected to a circuit board. Typical packaging configurations have included the leadless chip carriers and pin-grid arrays of the 1980s, the system-in-package and package-on package setups of the 2000s, and, most recently, 2-D integrated-circuit technologies such as wafer-level, flip-chip, and through silicon via setups.Download PDF Sample of Advanced Packaging Market@Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Advanced Packaging in Global Market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversASEAmkorSPILStats ChippacPTIJCETJ-DevicesUTACChipmosChipbondSTSHuatianNFMCarsemWaltonUnisemOSEAOIFormosaNEPESBrowse Full Report with TOC:Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America, Middle East and AfricaMarket Segment by Type, covers3.0 DICFO SIPFO WLP3D WLPWLCSP2.5DFilp ChipPlace Purchase Order for this Report@Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoAnalog & Mixed SignalWireless ConnectivityOptoelectronicMEMS & SensorMisc Logic and MemoryOtherThere are 13 Chapters to deeply display the global Advanced Packaging market.Chapter 1, to describe Advanced Packaging Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Advanced Packaging, with sales, revenue, and price of Advanced Packaging, in 2015 and 2016;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2015 and 2016;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Advanced Packaging, for each region, from 2011 to 2016;Chapter 5, 6, 7 and 8, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 9 and 10, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2011 to 2016;Chapter 11, Advanced Packaging market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2016 to 2021;Chapter 12 and 13, to describe Advanced Packaging sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, appendix and data source.Table of Content:1 Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles3 Global Advanced Packaging Market Competition, by Manufacturer4 Global Advanced Packaging Market Analysis by Regions5 North America Advanced Packaging by Countries6 Europe Advanced Packaging by Countries7 Asia-Pacific Advanced Packaging by Countries8 South America, Middle East and Africa Advanced Packaging by Countries9 Advanced Packaging Market Segment by Type10 Advanced Packaging Market Segment by Application11 Advanced Packaging Market Forecast (2016-2021)12 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers13 AppendixList of Tables and Figures:Figure Advanced Packaging PictureFigure Global Sales Market Share of Advanced Packaging by Types in 2015Table Advanced Packaging Types for Major ManufacturersFigure 3.0 DIC PictureFigure FO SIP PictureFigure FO WLP PictureTable Advanced Packaging Sales Market Share by Applications in 2015Table ASE Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and CompetitorsTable Advanced Packaging Type and ApplicationsTable ASE Advanced Packaging Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2015-2016)Table Amkor Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and CompetitorsTable Advanced Packaging Type and ApplicationsTable Amkor Advanced Packaging Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2015-2016)Table SPIL Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and CompetitorsTable Advanced Packaging Type and ApplicationsTable SPIL Advanced Packaging Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2015-2016)Table Stats Chippac Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and CompetitorsTable Advanced Packaging Type and ApplicationsTable Stats Chippac Advanced Packaging Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2015-2016)Orbis Research is a single point aid for all your Market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customised reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialisation. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required Market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Email ID: sales@orbisresearch.comFollow Us on LinkedIn:
Global Nano UAV Drones Sales Market Report 2017 (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, Others) Analysis by Manufacturers, Regions, Type, Application and Forecast to 2022
Global Nano UAV Drones Sales Market Report 2017
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GlobalQYResearch published new market size, share, growth, trends report "Global Nano UAV Drones Sales Market Report 2017 " Forecast 2022.This report studies sales (consumption) of Global Nano UAV Drones Market 2017, especially in United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these regions, coveringParrot SA3D Robotics Inc.Microdrones GmbHLockheed Martin CorporationIsrael Aerospace Industries Ltd.Aerovironment Inc.Elbit Systems, Ltd.DA-Jiang Innovations Science and TechnologyBAE SystemsThe Boeing CompanySAAB ABThales GroupTextron Inc.Download sample copy of this report atMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Nano UAV Drones in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSplit by product Types, with sales, revenue, price and gross margin, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoFixed WingRotary WingOthersSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Nano UAV Drones in each application, can be divided intoDefenseCommercialOthersView full report atTable of ContentsGlobal Nano UAV Drones Sales Market Report 20171 Nano UAV Drones Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Nano UAV Drones1.2 Classification of Nano UAV Drones1.2.1 Fixed Wing1.2.2 Rotary Wing1.2.3 Others1.3 Application of Nano UAV Drones1.3.1 Defense1.3.2 Commercial1.3.3 Others1.4 Nano UAV Drones Market by Regions1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Nano UAV Drones (2011-2021)1.5.1 Global Nano UAV Drones Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Global Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Global Nano UAV Drones Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Nano UAV Drones Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2011-2016)2.1.2 Global Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2011-2016)2.2 Global Nano UAV Drones (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Global Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.3 Global Nano UAV Drones (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016)2.3.2 Global Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016)2.4 Global Nano UAV Drones (Volume) by Application3 United States Nano UAV Drones (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Nano UAV Drones Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 United States Nano UAV Drones Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 United States Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 United States Nano UAV Drones Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)3.2 United States Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 United States Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Application4 China Nano UAV Drones (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Nano UAV Drones Sales and Value (2011-2016)4.1.1 China Nano UAV Drones Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.2 China Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.3 China Nano UAV Drones Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)4.2 China Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Application5 Europe Nano UAV Drones (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Nano UAV Drones Sales and Value (2011-2016)5.1.1 Europe Nano UAV Drones Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.2 Europe Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.3 Europe Nano UAV Drones Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)5.2 Europe Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Application6 Japan Nano UAV Drones (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Nano UAV Drones Sales and Value (2011-2016)6.1.1 Japan Nano UAV Drones Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.2 Japan Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.3 Japan Nano UAV Drones Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)6.2 Japan Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers6.3 Japan Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Application7 Southeast Asia Nano UAV Drones (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7.1 Southeast Asia Nano UAV Drones Sales and Value (2011-2016)7.1.1 Southeast Asia Nano UAV Drones Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)7.1.2 Southeast Asia Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)7.1.3 Southeast Asia Nano UAV Drones Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)7.2 Southeast Asia Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers7.3 Southeast Asia Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Type7.4 Southeast Asia Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Application8 India Nano UAV Drones (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8.1 India Nano UAV Drones Sales and Value (2011-2016)8.1.1 India Nano UAV Drones Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.2 India Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.3 India Nano UAV Drones Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)8.2 India Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers8.3 India Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Type8.4 India Nano UAV Drones Sales and Market Share by Application9 Global Nano UAV Drones Manufacturers Analysis9.1 Parrot SA9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.1.2.1 Fixed Wing9.1.2.2 Rotary Wing9.1.3 Parrot SA Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 3D Robotics Inc.9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.2.2.1 Fixed Wing9.2.2.2 Rotary Wing9.2.3 3D Robotics Inc. Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 Microdrones GmbH9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.3.2.1 Fixed Wing9.3.2.2 Rotary Wing9.3.3 Microdrones GmbH Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.4 Lockheed Martin Corporation9.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.4.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.4.2.1 Fixed Wing9.4.2.2 Rotary Wing9.4.3 Lockheed Martin Corporation Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.5 Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.9.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.5.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.5.2.1 Fixed Wing9.5.2.2 Rotary Wing9.5.3 Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.6 Aerovironment Inc.9.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.6.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.6.2.1 Fixed Wing9.6.2.2 Rotary Wing9.6.3 Aerovironment Inc. Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.7 Elbit Systems, Ltd.9.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.7.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.7.2.1 Fixed Wing9.7.2.2 Rotary Wing9.7.3 Elbit Systems, Ltd. Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.8 DA-Jiang Innovations Science and Technology9.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.8.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.8.2.1 Fixed Wing9.8.2.2 Rotary Wing9.8.3 DA-Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.9 BAE Systems9.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.9.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.9.2.1 Fixed Wing9.9.2.2 Rotary Wing9.9.3 BAE Systems Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.10 The Boeing Company9.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.10.2 Nano UAV Drones Product Type, Application and Specification9.10.2.1 Fixed Wing9.10.2.2 Rotary Wing9.10.3 The Boeing Company Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.11 SAAB AB9.12 Thales Group9.13 Textron Inc.10 Nano UAV Drones Maufacturing Cost Analysis10.1 Nano UAV Drones Key Raw Materials Analysis10.1.1 Key Raw Materials10.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials10.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials10.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials10.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure10.2.1 Raw Materials10.2.2 Labor Cost10.2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Nano UAV Drones10.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Nano UAV Drones11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers11.1 Nano UAV Drones Industrial Chain Analysis11.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing11.3 Raw Materials Sources of Nano UAV Drones Major Manufacturers in 201511.4 Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders12.1 Marketing Channel12.1.1 Direct Marketing12.1.2 Indirect Marketing12.1.3 Marketing Channel Development Trend12.2 Market Positioning12.2.1 Pricing Strategy12.2.2 Brand Strategy12.2.3 Target Client12.3 Distributors/Traders List13 Market Effect Factors Analysis13.1 Technology Progress/Risk13.1.1 Substitutes Threat13.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry13.2 Consumer Needs/Customer Preference Change13.3 Economic/Political Environmental Change14 Global Nano UAV Drones Market Forecast (2016-2021)14.1 Global Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue and Price Forecast (2016-2021)14.1.1 Global Nano UAV Drones Sales and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.1.2 Global Nano UAV Drones Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.1.3 Global Nano UAV Drones Price and Trend Forecast (2016-2021)14.2 Global Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast by Regions (2016-2021)14.2.1 United States Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.2 China Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.3 Europe Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.4 Japan Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.5 Southeast Asia Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.6 India Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.3 Global Nano UAV Drones Sales, Revenue and Price Forecast by Type (2016-2021)14.4 Global Nano UAV Drones Sales Forecast by Application (2016-2021)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixTo Purchase this premium Report With Complete TOC at :About Us:Global QYResearch () is the one spot destination for all your research needs. Global QYResearch holds the repository of quality research reports from numerous publishers across the globe. Our inventory of research reports caters to various industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc. With the complete information about the publishers and the industries they cater to for developing market research reports, we help our clients in making purchase decision by understanding their requirements and suggesting best possible collection matching their needs.Contact Us:Mr. Jay SmithSenior Manager Client EngagementsCall: +44 20 32390-2407Follow us:Twitter:Linkedin:
Lecithin & Phospholipids Market Estimated to Grow Strongly by 2020
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Lecithin is obtained by extracting and processing phospholipids from natural products such as soy, eggs, and sunflower. Lecithin has both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties and has different resemblance for oil and water. It is extensively use in various applications such as pharmaceuticals, food, nutrition and supplements and cosmetics.A sample of this report is available upon request @Based on the different type of lecithin the market can be segmented in four different classes namely, standardized or refined, fractionated, de-oiled, and modified. On the basis of various applications the global lecithin market can be broadly classified in four different segments namely food, animal feed, nutrition & supplements, and cosmetics. Food was the largest market segment of lecithin whereas nutrition & supplements is the fasted growing market segment in 2013.Based on the different sources the global phospholipids market can be divided in three broad categories namely soy, egg and others. Soy is the largest market segment in 2013 owing to the easy and cheap availability. On the basis of various end user applications of phospholipids the market can be broadly categorize in three broad segments namely, pharmaceuticals, nutrition & supplements, and others. Pharmaceutical was the largest application segment whereas the nutrition and supplements is the fasted growing application segment of phospholipids in 2013.The increasing demand for green and naturally sourced ingredients, coupled with increasing consumer awareness towards healthy life style are two dominant drivers of the global lecithin & phospholipids market. More over the increasing consumption of convenience foods and functional food and beverages drives the lecithin marketIndividual allergy soy lecithin, the health hazards associated with use of hexane to Extract Lecithin from Soybean, and continuously fluctuating price of the raw materials are acting as some of the major challenge for the industry. Growing demand for Non-genetically modified lecithin in Europe and North America is providing new market opportunity for global Lecithin & Phospholipids MarketEurope is the largest market for lecithin and phospholipids followed by North America and Asia Pacific. The high level of consumer awareness about functional food and growing health concerns among consumers is keeping growth highest in Asia Pacific region. Moreover the increasing demand for convenience food in changing life style scenario in this region is expected to boost the market even further in upcoming years.Request to view Table of content @Some of the leading companies operating in global lecithin & phospholipids market include, Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), Cargill Incorporated, Lasenor Emul Sl., Lipoid Gmbh, Stern Wywiol Gruppe, Avanti Polar Lipids Inc, E. I. DU Pont DE Nemours and Company, Lecico Gmbh, Ruchi Soya Industries Limited, and Vav Life Sciences Pvt. 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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Automotive Starter And Alternator Market Value Share, Analysis and Segments 2017-2027
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Modern day automobiles widely use starters and alternators. These are generally used in diesel and gasoline engines. The rising investments on R&D by key players in the market coupled with acquisitions and mergers is expected to make the global automotive starter and alternator market flourish in near future. The manufacturers of automotive starters and alternators are expanding their businesses to emerging economies like China, India, Russia, etc. as these countries are focused on development of automotive sectors in order to serve the rising demand across the globe.Electric starters are expected to dominate the segment during the forecast period. The different types of electric starters used in automotive sector are gear reduction, inertia starter, folo-thru drive and moveable pole shoe. Based on alternator type, the claw pole alternators are projected to witness significant growth in near future.Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: DriversOne of the major factors driving the growth of the global automotive starter and alternator market is increase in production of vehicles across the globe. According to OICA, the total vehicle production increased by around 1% in 2015. Moreover, increasing adoption of electric vehicles due to environment concerns such as rising air pollution, is further expected to escalate the demand for automotive starter and alternator market during the forecast period. Additionally, increasing preference for light weight and fuel efficient vehicles is further projected to escalate the demand for automotive starters and alternators in near future.Request Free Report Sample@Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: RestraintsThe increasing production of hybrid vehicles is anticipated to hamper the growth of the global automotive starter and alternator market. The hybrid vehicles use one or more motors which ignite with the help of internal combustion engine. Due to this reason, these vehicles have eliminated the use of automotive starters and alternators which, in turn, is expected to restrict their demand in near future.Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: SegmentationThe global automotive starter and alternator market can be segmented on the basis of starter type, alternator type and vehicle type. On the basis of starter type, the market can be segmented into electric, hydraulic and pneumatic. On the basis of alternators, the market can be further segmented into claw pole alternator and cylindrical alternator. On the basis of vehicles, the global starter and alternator market can be further segmented into light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles and passenger cars.Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: Region wise OutlookBased on regions, Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the automotive starter and alternator market over the forecast period. Asia Pacific, led by emerging economies like China and India, is projected to be the dominant region during the forecast period due to the presence of continuously increasing automobile manufacturing companies in this region. North America, led by U.S. is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The increasing demand for starters and alternators in North America, owing to rising production of vehicles, coupled with continuous investment in this market is expected to fuel the demand for automotive starters and alternators in near future. The automotive starter and alternator market in Middle East & Africa and Latin America is anticipated to witness steady growth due to sluggish demand in this region. However, increasing demand for vehicles is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for automotive starters and alternators in near future.Request For TOC@Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: Market ParticipantsSome of the market participants identified in the global automotive starter and alternator market are mentioned below:Valeo SADenso CorporationRobert Bosch GmbHNingbo zhongwang auto fittings Co.,LTDHitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Mitsubishi Electric CorporationASIMCO Technologies LtdHella KGaA Hueck & Co.BBB IndustriesUnipoint Electric MFG Co., Ltd.Remy International, Inc.Lucas Electrical LimitedMitsuba CorporationFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
PVC Market Will Continue to Grow by 2020
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Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the third-most widely produced polymer, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is one the most widely used plastics and is produced by polymerization of the monomer vinyl chloride. PVC has an amorphous structure with polar chlorine atoms and has fire retardant properties and oil/chemical resistance. PVC is widely used in construction, packaging, automotive and electrical industries due to the various properties such as light weight, good mechanical strength, abrasion resistance and toughness associated with it. PVC can be bifurcated into two basic forms: rigid and flexible. The rigid form of PVC can be used in manufacturing of pipes, doors and windows and plastic bottles. The flexible form of PVC can be used in plumbing, electrical cable insulation, imitation leather and signage.A sample of this report is available upon request @On the basis of product type, PVC market is classified as wire and cable, pipes and fittings, bottles and others. Based on the application, PVC market is divided into two segments: rigid polyvinyl chloride and flexible polyvinyl chloride. The PVC market is also segmented on the basis of their end-users: automotive, electrical, construction, packaging and others.Asia Pacific is the largest market for PVC market accounting for more than 50% of the global PVC market. Asia Pacific region is expected to show a good growth rate over a forecasted period due to high growth potential of building and construction industry. China represents the largest market for PVC in the Asia Pacific region. Europe is the second largest market for PVC, followed by North America.The market of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is expected to witness a double digit growth rate in the coming years. Some of the major drivers contributing the overall market growth of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) market include high growth in the building and construction sector, high growth in the automobile industry and growing medical devices. Some of the major restraints for PVC market include increasing competition from steel and concrete pipes and prohibited use of PVC in the construction of green building.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major companies operating in the PVC market include Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Solvay S.A., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., Formosa Plastics Group, Ineos Chlorvinyls Ltd, Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co. Ltd., Mexichem S.A.B., KEM one and Axiall Corporation.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Electrochromic Smart Glass Market Set for Expansive Growth Over Next 10 Years
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An Electrochromic smart glass is a technological glass, which can change its properties according to the needs of its environment. Electrochromic smart glasses consist of two glass panes with various layers sandwiched between them. Electrochromic smart glasses can be tinted, clear, colored, and opaque. This glass has the capacity to modulate heat and transmit light transmission according to the situation. Low-power consumption and integration of color without color filters are some of the advantages of electrochromic smart glasses. The switching speed of electrochromic glass is slow and it varies according to the size of the glass panel. Larger glass panels may generally take more respond time as compared with shorter glass panels. The desire to regulate the solar radiation through the windows is one of the key reason; most people prefer to use electrochromic smart glass.A sample of this report is available upon request @Electrochromic smart glasses is are modern and innovative smart glasses, which can be used in educational, buildings, corporate, commercial, and residential buildings, hotels, hospitals, labs, and retail outlets , commercial and residential building to create partitions in their walls, windows, and skylights. GrowIIncrease in architectural ing investments over architectural segment further helps to increase in boosting the growth of the electrochromic smart glass market. Aviation is also one of the major sectors, where the demand for electrochromic smart glasses is expected to growing during the forecasted period.This further helps in the growth of global electrochromic smart glass market.Application of eElectrochromic smart glasses is found a wide range of application in the in the automobile sector. Premium automobile players, such as Mercedes-Benz SLK and BMW AG, use electrochromic smart glasses in their windows and roofs. Global brands such as SAGE Electrochromics and Smartglass International Limited offer most highly-innovative electrochromic smart glasses in the market with emphasis equipped with the latest technologies and better quality. GrowinIIncreaseing in investments over research and development, on electrochromic smart glass and introduction of new technology and technological advancements further helps in the drive the growth of the electrochromic smart glass market.Asia Pacific is one of the prominent markets for electrochromic smart glass market. With the growthIncrease mining investments over in domestic and institutional buildings construction in Asia Pacific, is boosting the growth of the electrochromic smart glass market is also on the risen this region. Rising economy and grow increasing ng household income are some of the key factors which triggers driving the growth of the electrochromic smart glass market in Asia Pacific region. Asia Pacific, This region is expected to witness the fastest-growing market for electrochromic smart glasses during the forecasted period. In the U.S., the energy consumed by commercial and residential buildings is estimated to be around 40% of the total nations annual energy consumption of the country. Heat transmission through windows accounts s for around 20% of the total energy consumed. by buildings.The Use of electrochromic smart glasses further helps in the energy reduction of energy consumption. Government initiatives regarding promote the Net-Zero energy Buildings concept further helps in the drive the growth of the electrochromic smart glass market. In North America, the U.S. holds the largest market share of the electrochromic smart glass market. The global of electrochromic smart glass market is expected to grow in witness a double-digit growth rate during the forecasted period from 2014 to- 2020.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major companies operating in the global electrochromic glass market are Smartglass International Limited, SAGE Electrochromics, Asahi Glass Corporation , View, Inc., Shenzhen Hongjia Glass Product Co, Dupont, Saint-Gobain S.A., and Guangdong Kangde Xin Window Film Co., 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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Cooking Oil Market - GCC and Qatar Industry Analysis 2024
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GCC and Qatar Cooking Oil Market: SnapshotThe cooking oil market in the GCC has been witnessing a major shift in investment patterns in recent years. Over the past decade, the investment in this market has doubled owing to players realizing the scope this market presents. The increasing population and a higher propensity of consumers to spend on edible oils are the primary factors driving the cooking oil market in the GCC. The presence of leading companies in the region has increased of late with the growth in demand. Improvisation and diversification of products in this market is a key strategy adopted by vendors.However, the high cost of raw materials required for the extraction of cooking oils is a major restraining factor for any new player in this market. The lack of local production of cooking oils due to adverse climatic conditions and less rainfall is another major factor limiting the scope of the GCC and Qatar cooking oil market.In terms of revenue, the cooking oil market in the GCC and Qatar was valued at US$988.2 mn in 2015 and is expected to reach US$1.7 bn by 2024, expanding at a 6.6% CAGR therein. In terms of volume, the market is projected to register a CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Sunflower Oil Most Preferred Cooking Oil in GCCOn the basis of product, the cooking oil market in the GCC and Qatar is segmented into sunflower oil, corn oil, palm oil, and others. The others segment comprises soybean oil, flaxseed oil, and coconut oil, among others. Sunflower oil recorded a significant share in the cooking oil market, accounting for more than 70% in 2015. The segment is expected to lead the GCC and Qatar market throughout the forecast period owing to the widespread use of sunflower oil among residents in the GCC region. Despite accounting for a share of less than 7% in 2015 in the GCC and Qatar cooking oil market, corn oil is expected to grow at the fastest rate through 2024.By packaging type, the market is bifurcated into retail and bulk. Retail package emerged as the key contributor in the cooking oil market in GCC, accounting for more than 70% in 2015.High Consumer Purchasing Power a Prominent Driving Factor in Qatar Cooking Oil MarketGeographically, the GCC and Qatar cooking oil market is divided into Qatar and other GCC countries, such as Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, and Oman. The cooking oil market in Qatar is currently experiencing meager growth, with the arid regions low population being the major restraining factor. Nevertheless, consumer spending in Qatar is likely to rise rapidly in the next few years, with the growth being centered on the food sector. The purchasing power of Qataris is higher compared to other GCC countries and coupled with the surge in healthy eating habits, the country is forecast to witness considerable growth in the cooking oil market.The cooking oil market in the rest of GCC has been experiencing steady growth and is expected to maintain a similar trend throughout the forecast period. The demand for several types of cooking oils is supported by the rising presence of expatriates from European countries such as Italy, Spain, and Greece. This trend is especially true for UAE, with Dubai being the most lucrative destination for market players.The leading players operating in the GCC and Qatar cooking oil market include Savola Group, United Foods Company, Asia Africa General Trading L.L.C, Hayel Saeed Anam Group and Co., Omani Vegetables Oils and Derivatives Co. LLC, and Al Ghurair Resources Oils and Proteins.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:
Less than two weeks into his administration, President Donald Trump on Tuesday summoned the heads of many top drug manufacturers to the White House in a first step towards making good on his campaign pledge to crack down on soaring drug prices that have dramatically driven up the costs of Medicare, Medicaid, and employee health programs.
He also pledged to speed up Food and Drug Administration approval of cutting-edge drugs for treating cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We have to do better at accelerating cures, he declared.
Related: Trump Jolts the Pharmaceutical Industry with Vow to Bring Down Drug Prices
Trump complained recently that the major drug companies were getting away with murder by gouging consumers and the government. And at the top of his first bargaining session with pharmaceutical industry executives and lobbyists, the president complained about astronomical drug price increases.
We have to get the prices way down, Trump told the CEOs of Merck, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Novartis and Johnson & Johnson, as well as the head of the trade organization PhRMA. "We have to get prices down for a lot of reasons. We have no choice, for Medicare and Medicaid, we have to get prices way down.
While providing few specifics with reporters and cameras in the room, Trump outlined what is likely to be the heart of his strategy for overhauling U.S. prescription drug industry practices: Jawboning companies to moderate future hikes in drug costs under the threat of government sanction; encouraging competition through government deregulation and tax breaks; pressuring multinational drug companies to bring jobs back to the U.S., and cutting the time it takes the FDA to approve new drugs by months or even years.
"Were going to be cutting regulation at a level nobody's ever seen before," Trump said in the meeting with executives. "You cant get approval for the plant and then you cant get approval to make the drug, other than that youre doing fantastic," he said.
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Related: How Big Pharma Lobbyists Keep Medicare Drug Prices High
Reforming the FDA to put greater focus on the need of patients for new and innovative medical products was a key provision of Trumps campaign health plan. Trump said today that too often, the FDA has been overly cautious in approving new drugs desperately needed by sick patients sometimes resulting in unnecessary deaths.
Congress last November approved the so-called 21st Century Cures legislation that earmarks $6.3 billion of biomedical research, opioid abuse prevention and support for the FDA in overseeing the safety of drugs. The new law also contains a handful of provisions to ease the requirements for drug manufacturers seeking government approval to sell their products. Trump says he wants to go much further.
"You're going to get your prices either approved or not approved," Trump told the executives. "But it's going to be a quick process. It's not going to take 15 years." (It's not clear what Trump meant by prices being approved since the government does not negotiate drug prices.)
Whether it all turns out to be political window dressing or a serious reform effort remains to be seen. Much of what Trump said was more rhetorical flourishes than specifics. And little can be done to flesh out his proposals until Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), Trumps choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services, and a new head of the Food and Drug Administration are in place.
However, as Trump demonstrated with his initial flurry of executive orders on Obamacare, immigration and building a wall along the southern border, he is determined to quickly turn campaign promises into concrete policy.
Some of the drug company CEOs expressed interest in working with the new White House on drug pricing issues as the meeting was beginning. And the National Coalition of Health Care, a group of dozens of medical groups, insurers and consumer advocates, hailed the meeting as an important first step in addressing the drug pricing issue.
We applaud President Trump for making the out-of-control prices of prescription drugs a priority in his Administration, John Rother, the president and CEO of the coalition, said in a statement.
Increased competition in the prescription drug market, real transparency into the drivers of drug prices, and ensuring that prices are linked to the value they provide are what will deliver lower prices for hardworking American families, he added. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to ensure that all patients are able to obtain lifesaving medications at prices they can afford.
Related: Two Big Reasons Prescription Drug Prices Are So Much Higher in the US
Prescription drug prices have risen at a double-digit rate in recent years and are projected to continue to rise at that clip this year. Over the past two years, the country has been wracked by outrageous cases of price gouging by pharmaceutical companies by as much as 1,000 percent to 5,000 percent for some life-saving drugs.
Some of the worst offenders include Mylan Pharmaceutical, maker of the EpiPen drug dispenser for allergic children; Gilead Sciences, a manufacturer of two biometric wonder drugs for treating the Hepatitis-C virus, and Turing Pharmaceutical, formerly headed by Martin Shkreli, the notorious hedge fund manager. None of those companies were invited to the White House session.
Trump first highlighted his concerns about skyrocketing drug prices in September 2015 when he lashed out at Shkreli for raising the price of a 62-year old drug from $13.50 to $750 per pill. "He looks like a spoiled brat to me," Trump told reporters at a press conference in South Carolina.
Perhaps as a shrewd bargaining tactic going into his meeting with drug company CEOs today, the former billionaire real estate businessman held back on his toughest ideas that were aired during the campaign. That may have been a bargaining tactic to use as leverage in extracting future concessions.
Related: The Feds Finally Make a Move on Soaring Drug Prices
One idea would be to allow the importation of cheaper drugs from Canada to enhance competition. Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton both advocated that change, despite strong opposition from the drug industry.
Another would permit Medicare officials to negotiate down prices with major drug companies by eliminating a non-negotiation ban contained in the 2003 Medicare Part D drug legislation. That prohibition provided major pharmaceutical companies with billions of dollars in windfall profits.
Some analysts say Medicare, the premier health program for the elderly, could save more than a half trillion dollars over the coming decade by tough negotiations with drug companies.
PhRMA and its long-time GOP allies on Capitol Hill have fought for years to preserve that ban on negotiating drug prices for the national health care program for seniors and are digging in again to block efforts to repeal the restriction.
Related: Trump Might Adopt a Democratic Plan to Crack Down on Drug Prices
However, Trump says he is determined to shake up the status quo even at the expense of his Republican allies on Capitol Hill. And he has begun conferring with a prominent senior House Democrat, Rep. Elijah C. Cummings of Maryland, who along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have waged war with the drug companies for years and co-sponsored one of the toughest price control bills in Congress.
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Bottled Water Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024
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Global Bottled Water Market: SnapshotThe global market for bottled water has gained significant momentum in the past few years, chiefly owing to the increasing global demand for convenient, safer, healthy, and refreshing beverages. Rising concerns regarding the adverse effects of the high-sugar content of carbonated soft drinks and increasing disposable incomes of the population in Asia pacific, Latin America, and Eastern Europe have also significantly contributed to the increasing demand bottled water in the global market.Transparency Market Research estimates that the global bottled water market will expand at a 6.6% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024. If the projection holds true, the market will rise from a valuation of US$169.9 bn to US$307.2 bn by 2024.bottled water marketDownload exclusive Sample of this report:Flavored and Functional Bottled Water to Register Promising GrowthOf the key varieties of products available in the market, including still bottled water, flavored bottled water, carbonated bottled water, and functional bottled water, the segment of still bottled water dominates in terms of both revenue and volume. The segment is expected to hold 78.8% and 82.2% in terms of revenue and volume, respectively, of the global market by the end of 2016, and is also expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. The vast rise in the global population of health conscious consumers and diabetics is key to the rising demand for still bottled water as this product variety does not contain artificial sweeteners or ingredients.Rising concerns regarding the high sugars in carbonated soft drinks are also shifting the consumers focus from flavored and carbonated soft drinks to flavored and carbonated bottled water. The segment of carbonated bottled water is presently the second dominant segment of the market and is expected to grow at a healthy pace throughout the forecast period as well. However, the segment of flavored bottled water is expected to register the most promising growth, exhibiting an 8.4% CAGR from 2016 through 2024. The segment of functional bottled water is expected to register a slightly less but equally promising CAGR over the said period.Developing Economies to Remain Key Growth DriversThe markets for bottled water in regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa are expected to register high growth rates between 2016 and 2024. The bottled water market in Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the global market in terms of market share owing to high demand for bottled water from India and China, Thailand and Indonesia. The region will remain ahead of other regional markets in terms of overall uptake of bottled water owing to the rising per capita consumption of bottled water across urban areas in developing economies. Also, the easy availability of bottled water through well-developed supply chain for bottled water products in the region will enable the bottled water market in the region gain traction.In term of value, Asia Pacific accounted for a share of 26.9% in the global bottled water market in 2015 and is expected to account for 31.0% by 2024. In terms of volume too, the bottled water market in Asia Pacific is expected to remain the dominant regional market throughout the forecast period. The bottled water market in Latin America is also expected to witness favorable growth over the forecast period owing to the vast rise in focus of key manufacturers and suppliers of bottled water and an increasing number of manufacturing facilities in the region.Key players in the global bottled water market report include bottled water suppliers and manufacturers such as Nestle Waters, Groupe Danone, PepsiCo Inc, The Coca Cola Company, Mountain Valley Spring Company, LLC., Suntori Beverage & Food Ltd, Unicer - Bebidas SA, Grupo Vichy Catalan, Icelandic Water Holdings ehf., CG Roxane, LLC.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:
Processed Fish Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024
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The word fish is associated with eatable aquatic species such as finfish, crustaceans, and mollusk. Fish is one of the delicate food which demands proper handling for a long shelf life so that it do not lose its nutritional value and desired quality, the primary concern from which fish is to be protected is the deterioration issue. Many contributors are involved in fish processing such as fishermen, fish sourcing suppliers, seafood processors, manufacturers, logistics and distribution, marketing & sales, and end-use industries or consumers. Hence processed fish or fish products are obtain by undergoing series of operations from the time fish were harvested; till the time fish or fish products are delivered to the consumers. Mostly, big business in fish processing operates their own fish farming operations. Earlier fishery products were dependent upon very simple methods majorly on knives and salt, this hinder quality of the fish product when reached to the consumers at distant places. In 1980 market price of fish products totally liberalized, this brought a great change in seafood industry; all modern techniques adopted while giving the variety of processed fish food globally.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Processed Fish Market: Market DynamicsThe growth in the processed fish market is primarily attributed to the increasing demand for processed seafood among consumers and economic growth landing to rising disposable income are driving the growth of the processed fish market. Besides, change in lifestyle pattern, particularly in the developing countries, are increasing demand for processed fish. Due to hectic lifestyle, time-strapped people prefer processed fish products over others as it provides healthy food options which are convenient to cook and minute ready to eat. On the other hand, the major factor restraining the growth of processed fish market is the increase in the price of raw material used for manufacturing processed fish.Processed Fish Market: Market SegmentationThe global processed fish market is segmented into four categories based on the product type, sources, species, equipment, and applications.Based on the product type, the global processed fish market is segmented into:FrozenCannedSurimiFish MealSun-DriedCuredRoastSmokedSaltedOthersBased on types of source, the global processed fish market is segmented into:MarineInlandBased on species, the global processed fish market is segmented into:FishMolluskCrustaceansOthersBased on the type of equipment used, the processed fish market is segmented into:SlaughteringGuttingScalingFilletingDeboningSkinningOthersBased on the type of applications, the global processed fish market is segmented into:FoodNon-FoodProcessed Fish Market: Regional OutlookRegarding geography, the processed fish market has been categorized into seven key regions including North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa. The Processed Fish market is expected to register healthy CAGR during the forecast period. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is experiencing the rapid increase in the production capacity of processed fish market as a demand ready to eat seafood as a substitute for protein is rising in developing countries such as China, India, and South Korea. The Eastern and Western Europe are projected to register healthy growth in countries such as UK, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany shows increment in the usage of marine food in catering while demanding processed seafood. North and Latin America is also witnessing steady growth in processed food market.Processed Fish Market: Key playersSome of the key players global processed fish market are Iglo Group, High Liner Foods, Norway Pelagic ASA - Pesconova S.A., Royal Greenland A/S, Leroy Seafood Group, Thai Union Frozen Products Public Company Limited, Marine Harvest, Dong Won Fisheries, Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd., Leroy Seafood Group ASA, Empresas Aqua Chile, Beijing Princess Seafood International Trading, Findus Group, Faroe Seafood, Kverva, Hansung Enterprise, Maruha Nichiro Corporation, and Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL among others.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:
Hispanic Foods Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024
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The word Hispanic refer to the nation, culture, people adhering ancient relation with Spain. It is a colony of Spanish people in America and Asia particularly covering Latin America and Philippine region. They are majorly illustrated as the Spanish speaking, Hispanic food eating people, who participate in Hispanic festivals and holidays. There are wide-ranging food products in the Hispanic community which is gaining popularity all over the world especially, North America and Asia. Nachos, pickles, tortillas, peanut butter, burritos, salsa, pretzels, tacos are some of them who made recognition as international food and entrance in international restaurants. Due to popularity for Hispanic food among Americans attracted many food manufacturing firms to come up with the variety of product lines. It is encountered that scope of Hispanic food is far large than Hispanic food consumer and this provide retailers and mainstream marketers to experiment with traditional Hispanic food with other varieties as per consumers regional area and eating preferences.Hispanic Foods Market: Market Dynamics and RestraintsOngoing growth of the Hispanic American population, in quantities and as a share of the total population; the rising interest of the majority population regarding the desire for new dining experiences; and the creative efforts of the vendors to accomplish buyers desire has enhanced the growth of Hispanic Foods across the globe. Growing distribution channels are positively affecting the market of Hispanic foods. Availability of Hispanic foods in packages has also enhanced its market all over the world and provided a growth opportunity for Hispanic food to cover the broad range of customers. Major Hispanic food marketers are coming up with new varieties especially with the product line which contains aura of authenticity. This variety is attracting foodies all over the globe. Also, marketers are coming up with the combination of their product with the latest trend, especially joining the trend of free from type of foods. This strategy provides them the opportunity to capture trend following consumers as well.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Hispanic Foods Market: Market SegmentationThe global Hispanic Foods market is categorized into three segments based on their Mexican, Authentic and Nuevo product types.Based on Mexican Hispanic Foods, the global Hispanic Foods market is segmented into:TortillasTacosSalsaRefined BeansBurritosTex- Mex CuisineNachosOthersBased on Authentic Hispanic foods, the global Hispanic foods market is segmented into:Products imported from Hispanic countriesProducts prepared locally using traditional recipesBased on Nuevo Latino foods the global Hispanic foods market is segmented into:Fusion of American foods and Hispanic foodTraditional food with Hispanic flavorsHispanic Foods Market: Regional OutlookRegarding geography, the global Hispanic foods market has been categorized into seven key regions including North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa. The Hispanic Foods market is expected to register healthy CAGR during the forecast period.The growing appetite of non-Hispanic Americans for Latino cuisine pooled with the rapid increase in Hispanic population in countries such as U.S, Canada and Mexico made North America followed by Latin America dominating region in the market of Hispanic Foods. The other region is Asia-Pacific excluding Japan which is accounting as an emerging region in Hispanic foods market because of the rising trend of in taking processed food, packaged food, urban lifestyle, tight schedule and restaurant eating trend in developing countries such as India, China, Soth Korea, etc.Hispanic Foods Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players of global Hispanic Foods market are Grupo Lala, Abuelo's, Taco Bell, AlegroFoods, PepsiCo, Amigofoods, Patron, B&G Foods, Pappasito's Cantina, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Barcel USA, Ole Mexican Foods, Campbell Soup, Not Just Mexican, Churromania, My Mexican Pantry, ConAgra, La Preferida, Concha y Toro, Kraft Heinz, Del Taco, Juanita's Foods, El Meson Sandwiches, Jose Cuervo, Frito-Lay, Rowland Coffee Roasters, General Mills, Hormel, Goya, Herdez, Gruma, Grupo Modelo, and Grupo Bimbo Bakeries.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:
Worldwide Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market: Gas Analyzers to Remain Most Valued Product
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Global Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market: SnapshotThe rising levels of air pollution have emerged as a matter of serious concern across the world. Coupled with the increasing enforcement of stringent government regulations, this factor is reflecting positively on the demand for air quality monitoring equipment, globally.According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global market for air quality monitoring equipment stood at US$4.2 bn in 2015. Expanding at a CAGR of 9.10% between 2016 and 2024, the market is likely to cross US$8.9 bn mark by the end of 2024.Gas Analyzers and Detectors to Remain Leading Product Segments due to Continued DemandAir pollution sampler, particle counter, gas analyzers and detectors, anemometers, and electrostatic precipitators (ESP) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) control systems are the main products available in the global market for air quality monitoring equipment.Gas analyzers have been the most valued products in this market are likely to remain so over the period of forecast. However, the NOX and ESP control systems are projected to offer the most lucrative growth opportunities to manufacturers due to their widespread application in a number of industries.Get More information :Ongoing Expansion in Power Generation Sector to Ensure Dominance of North AmericaAsia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World, including South America, the Middle East, and Africa, are the predominant geographical segments in the global market for air quality monitoring equipment. With the implementation of a number of government regulations to control air pollution, North America has acquired the leading position in the overall market. The ongoing expansion in the power generation sector is also adding significantly to the growth of the market for air quality monitoring equipment in North America.Analysts expect this regional market to continue to lead during the forecast period, thanks to the technological advancements in North America. The growing prevalence of respiratory disorders is also projected to influence the demand for air quality monitoring equipment in this region over the next few years.In terms of revenue, the North America air quality monitoring equipment market is closely followed by the European market. The rising count of strict regulations to maintain air quality standard in the U.K. and Germany has been driving this market substantially. Moreover, the rise in the chemicals and the power generation sectors is likely to fuel the demand for air quality monitoring equipment to a great extent in the coming years.Rise in Oil and Gas Sector to Boost Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market in APAC and RoWSimilarly, Asia Pacific and the Rest of the World is also expected to witness a rising adoption of these systems in the near future. China, Japan, and India are likely to be the leading domestic markets in Asia Pacific. The expansion of the chemicals and the oil and gas sectors in these countries is projected to emerge as the key driving force behind the growth of the Asia Pacific market for air quality monitoring equipment in the years to come. The markets in the Rest of the World is likely to be impacted by the swift rise in the oil and gas and the power generation sectors over the next few years.Aeroqual, Vaisala, Horiba Ltd., Servomex, Teledyne Technologies Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., CEM Corp., Fortive Corp., Siemens AG, and Kusam Meco are the leading manufacturers of air quality monitoring equipment across the world.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:
Global Plasticisers Market Trends, Forecast Report by 2026
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A plasticiser is a chemical substance which is added to another material, usually a plastic, to make it flexible, resilient and easier to handle. There are more than 300 different types of plasticisers out of which around 50-100 are currently used commercially. The most common plasticisers are phthalates and adipates. Plasticisers are added to a polymer matrix to increase its flexibility and enhance its chemical properties in the final plastic product. Addition of a plasticizer can lower the glass transition temperature, melt viscosity and elastic modulus of the polymer. Plasticisers are additives which increase the plasticity or fluidity of a material. Plasticisers also enhance the properties of materials such as concrete, clays, and other related products.A sample of this report is available upon request:Plasticisers Market: Drivers & RestraintsBio-based plasticisers are produced from vegetable raw materials and are used as an alternative of petroleum based plasticisers. In order to assure sustainability, end users are looking for safe, bio-degradable and non-phthalate-based plasticisers. Decreasing supply of harmful phthalate and increasing consumer awareness are factors limiting growth of the global market. At the same time, ban on phthalate-based plasticizers in consumer goods, food packaging material and medical products have led to the development of eco-friendly bio-based plasticizers. Higher cost of bio-plasticizers as compared to phthalate-based plasticizers is a key challenge faced by the bio-plasticizers market players.Plasticisers Market: OverviewPlasticisers are the most commonly used additives in the global plastic market. The global plasticiser market exceeded 8 Mn metric tons by 2014 end. The most dominant application areas of plasticisers are plastics and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Efforts are in progress by different regulatory authorities to promote environmental friendly products which have led to an increase in the demand for bio-plasticizers in developed regions. Phthalate-based plasticizer was prominent and represented more than 75% share in the global plasticisers market. However, stringent government regulations and increasing health concerns of the consumers, stimulated the demand for bio-plasticisers which is currently a significant trend in the market.Plasticisers Market: Region wise OverviewGeographically, global plasticisers market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Middle East and Africa (MEA). By 2015 end, North America held the largest share in the global market due expanding application in flourishing industries of healthcare, chemicals and packaging. Europe all together is an established market due to stable growth in manufacturing and healthcare industry. In Western Europe countries, around 1 Mn tons of phthalates are produced annually, out of which approximately 0.9 Mn tons of phthalates are used to plasticize PVC. Overall, Western Europe, APEJ and North America are projected to hold more than 75% share in the global plasticiser market.Plasticisers Market: Key PlayersThe key research institutes in global plasticisers market are Eastman Chemical Company, BASF SE, Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, Perstorp Holding AB, Exxon Mobil Corporation, PolyOne, Supreme Plasticizers, Vertellus Specialties Inc., KLJ Group to name a few.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, accessories 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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Organic Fertilizer Market Headed for Global Expansion by 2026
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With increase in demand for green products and pollution free agricultural products, the term organic has become an irresistible trend of modern agriculture and is creating a buzz in the global fertilizers market. Rapid development of organic agriculture coupled with augmenting demand for organic food is expected to increase the demand for organic fertilizers.A sample of this report is available upon request @Organic fertilizers are derived or made from human waste, animal waste or vegetable matter (usually rotten or non-consumable by humans). Naturally-occurring organic fertilizers consist of animal matter from meat processing industries, peat, slurries, manures and guano. As organic fertilizers are extracted from naturally-occurring substances, the risk of environmental damage is low. Use of organic fertilizers also reduces the risk of diseases in humans, as many fertilizers find their way to human food. Prominent organic fertilizers available in the market include blood meal, bone meal, composites, earthworm castings, bat guano, fish emulsion, alfalfa meal, feather meal and rock phosphate. Selection of organic fertilizers is usually done after determining the nutrients required from the crop.The global market for organic fertilizer has witnessed steady growth in the recent past owing to government support and favorable perception among farmers and end-users. The efficiency of organic fertilizers is slow and long time. As compared to chemical fertilizers, the production of organic fertilizers has less investment and high benefits. This factor is expected to augment the global organic fertilizers market over the forecast period. Owing to the eco-friendly nature of organic fertilizers, governments in many countries have subsidised the prices, making it easier for farmers to use it.Government and environmental policies minimizing wastage and reduction in the consumption of non-biodegradable raw materials has led to an increased production of organic fertilizers. Regulations are also emphasizing more on human safety, so are supporting markets like organic fertilizers to reduce risk to human life and the environment.The organic fertilizers market is dependent upon the weather (rains/water supply) of that region or area; hence, weather conditions can hamper the growth of organic fertilizer market. Another concern with organic fertilizers is that a majority of them have lesser nutrient ratio than chemical fertilizers, which can massively impact farm produce.Request to view Table of content @The global organic fertilizer market can be segmented into seven geographical locations North America, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan and Middle East and Africa. North America and Europe are expected to dominate the global organic fertilizers market throughout the forecast period. The market in North America and Europe is anticipated to grow robustly owing to conducive climatic conditions and the ample availability of land for farming. In the APAC region, strong government policies and rules are expected to contribute to the growth of organic fertilizer market. Owing to large agricultural land in India, the organic fertilizers market is anticipated to increase at a significant rate over the forecast period.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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Solar Modules Market Research, Industry Analysis, Market Share and Growth Rate, Forecast Report 2017
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The report analyzes and presents an overview on "Global Solar Modules Market Research Report 2017" worldwide.Production, means the output of Solar ModulesRevenue, means the sales value of Solar ModulesThis report studies Solar Modules in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringYingli SolarJA SolarTrina SolarReneSolaCanadian SolarFirst SolarSunpowerSharp SolarKyoceraREC SolarSuntechLinyangCEEGMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Solar Modules in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSplit by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoType IType IISplit by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Solar Modules in each application, can be divided intoApplication 1Application 2Get The Sample Copy Of This Report:Table of ContentsGlobal Solar Modules Market Research Report 20171 Solar Modules Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Solar Modules1.2 Solar Modules Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Solar Modules by Type in 20151.2.2 Type I1.2.3 Type II1.3 Solar Modules Segment by Application1.3.1 Solar Modules Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Application 11.3.3 Application 21.3.4 Application 31.4 Solar Modules Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Solar Modules (2012-2022)2 Global Solar Modules Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Solar Modules Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Solar Modules Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Solar Modules Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Solar Modules Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Solar Modules Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Solar Modules Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Solar Modules Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, ExpansionBrowse More Pharmaceutical Market Research Reports:3 Global Solar Modules Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Solar Modules Production by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Solar Modules Production Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Solar Modules Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Solar Modules Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Solar Modules Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Solar Modules Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Solar Modules Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Solar Modules Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia Solar Modules Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Solar Modules Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Solar Modules Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2012-2017)4.1 Global Solar Modules Consumption by Regions (2012-2017)4.2 North America Solar Modules Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Solar Modules Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Solar Modules Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Solar Modules Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia Solar Modules Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Solar Modules Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Solar Modules Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Solar Modules Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Solar Modules Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Solar Modules Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Solar Modules Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Solar Modules Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Solar Modules Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Solar Modules Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. 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Global Pyrite Market Set to Grow Exponentially, 2021
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Pyrite also known as iron pyrite or fools gold is an iron sulfide mineral. Pyrite is pale brass yellow colored and has metallic luster thus having resemblance with gold. Pyrite is found with other oxides and sulfide in rocks and coal beds. Some of the countries such as Peru, the U.S., Russia, Spain and South Africa have commercially important deposits of pyrite. The flat radial disks of pyrites are also known as dollars or sun. Pyrite is used in various applications such as production of sulfur compounds such as sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid, cathode material, semiconductor material and marcasite jewelry items. In addition, pyrite is used as filler in wheels and brake pads. Moreover, the pyrites are used as an ore for gold, as both forms under similar conditions and are available in same rocks. Pyrite is also used as gemstone and is considered as a stone of warmth and power.A sample of this report is available upon request @The market for pyrite was mainly driven by jewelry and sulfur compounds market. Huge demand of pyrite for manufacturing of sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide has been driving the market in past few years. Pyrite is used in jewelry items such as necklace with beads and cabochons. In grinding industry, pyrite is used as filler in grinding wheels and brake linings. Pyrite is also used in friction markets to increase the thermal conductivity. Pyrite also helps in adjusting the friction coefficient in brake pads. In electronics industry, pyrite is used as a semiconductor material and as an electrode in lithium ion batteries. In paper and pulp industry, pyrite is used in manufacturing of paper. Pyrite as an iron ore is one of the biggest opportunity for the market if the current iron ore becomes scarce. Moreover, pyrite is also considered as probable substitute in photovoltaic solar panels as it is inexpensive and abundant in nature. However, health and environmental hazards associated with pyrite are anticipated to hider the growth of the market in next few years to come.In terms of demand, North America was the leading region for pyrite market in 2013. Increasing demand from sulfur compounds, electronics and jewelry has been major drivers for the market in past few years. The U.S. had the largest demand for pyrite owing to huge demand from sulfur compounds and grinding industry. However, Mexico is considered to be the fastest growing country in this region owing to increasing demand for pyrite in jewelry. Europe had the second-largest demand for pyrite market in 2013. Increasing demand for pyrite from sulfur compounds and in paper industry has been driving the market for pyrite in Europe. Germany is one of the largest consumers of pyrite in this region owing to the huge demand from grinding and electronics industry. Other countries such as Spain, Italy, and the U.K. are likely to show stable demand in next few years to come. Asia Pacific was the fastest growing region in pyrite market in 2013. The demand is huge owing to rise in markets such as gemstones, fabricated jewelry and grinding industry. India, China and Japan are anticipated to be the fastest growing markets for pyrite in this region. Rest of the World market is anticipated to be potential market for the pyrite in near future.Request to view Table of content @Some of the key manufacturers in the pyrite market are Hickman, Williams & Company, Iron Duke Pyrites, Turkish Minerals and Washington Mills 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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Soda Ash Market to Register a Robust Growth By 2021
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Soda ash also known as sodium carbonate is a salt of carbnoic acid. Soda ash is hygroscopic in nature and forms strong alkaline solution in water.Soda ash is manufactured via three different process viz. Leblanc process, Solvay process and Hous process. Solvay process is most preffered manufacturing process in the industry due to its efficiency and cost. In this process, sodium chloride to sodium carbonate in presence of ammonia. Soda ash finds applications in various end-user industries such as glass, detergents, food and beverages, chemicals and dyeing among others.A sample of this report is available upon request @The market for soda ash was driven by various factors from different end-user industries. Huge demand from buildings & construction industry is driving the soda ash market in past few years. Soda ash is used in manufacturing of flat glass which is used in modern construction activities.Increasing demand from end-user industries such as automotive from emerging countries has been one of the major factors for the growth of flat glass, subsequently increasing demand for soda ash.Another, major factor driving the soda ash market is increasing demand for powder detergents from developing countries.Soda ash is also used in various applications such as metallurgy, personal care and water treatment among others. Rising demand for personal care and water treatment industry is expected to open new markets for the soda ash market during the forecast period. Increasing demand for soda ash from fiberglass and silicates is likely to provide major opportunities for soda ash market in next few years to come. However, stern regulations faced by soda ash industry are anticipated to hider the growth of the market in next few years.In terms of demand, Asia Pacific was the leading region in soda ash market. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be one of the fastest growing markets for soda ash due to increasing demand for glass and detergents from emerging countries such as India, Indonesia and Korea among others. The demand forsoda ash is huge especially from buildings & construction, automotive and personal care end-user industry. The market for soda ash in Asia Pacific was led by China. However, India is likely to provide better opportunity for soda ash market owing to increasing consumption from various end-user industries. Asia Pacific was followed by Europe. Increasing demand from modern construction activities has been driving the market for flat glass in Europe, thus driving the demand for soda ash in this region. Germany, the UK, France and Italy were the major consumers of soda ash in Europe. However, certain regulations related to soda ash industry is likely to stagnant the growth of the market in this region. North America had the third-largest demand for soda ash in 2012. Increasing demand from glass and detergent industry were driving the growth of the market in this region. The U.S. had the largest demand for soda ash owing to huge demand from end-user industries such as buildings & construction, personal care and automotive among others. Rest of the World market is anticipated to show potential growth for the soda ash market in near future.Latin America is anticipated to show fastest growth for the soda ash market in this region. The demand is huge owing to increasing applications in personal care and water treatment applications.Request to view Table of content @The market for soda ash is fragmented and however, various manufacturers have dominated in particular regions. Some of the key manufacturers in thesoda ashmarket areGujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd., Solvay Chemicals Inc., OCI Chemicals Corporation and Tata Chemicals 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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Sodium Borate Market to Maintain Healthy CAGR by 2021
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Sodium borate also known as borax is a mineral, a boron compound and a salt of boric acid. Sodium borate is available in crystalline form and is water soluble. Sodium borate can also be easily converted to borates and boric acid. Borax decahydrate is the commonly used grade in the market. Some of the countries such as Turkey, the U.S., Chile and Romania have commercially important deposits of borax. Sodom borate is used in variety of end-user industries such as personal care, biochemistry, paints & coatings, metal processing, food processing, mining, paper processing, water treatment and ceramics among others. Sodium borate is also used as buffer solutions in biochemical processes and laboratories. Fire retardant is another major outlet for sodium borate and is likely to grow in years to come.A sample of this report is available upon request @The market for sodium borate was mainly driven by end-user industries such as increasing demand from personal care, water treatment and disinfectant market. Huge demand for sodium borate as antiseptic solution from detergent, disinfectant and water treatment has been the major factor for the growth of sodium borate in past few years. Sodium borate is used in manufacturing of glass, ceramics, paints & coatings and coated paper among others. Sodium borate is also preferred as a flux in metal processing industry as well as in metal welding. In ceramics, sodium borate is used as ingredient in enamel glazes and as ingredient in ceramic slips. In agricultural chemicals, sodium borate is used in micronutrients to correct the boron deficiencies in the soil. In food processing, sodium borate is used as food additive, food preservative or to improve the rubbery texture of the food. Increasing demand for treated water thus driving the water treatment industry is likely to be major opportunity for the sodium borate market in upcoming years. In spite of so many applications, environmental and health regulations associated with sodium borate are anticipated to hider the growth of the market in next few years.In terms of demand, Asia Pacific was the leading region in sodium borate market in 2013. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing markets for sodium borate due to increasing demand from agricultural chemicals, detergents, ceramics and water treatment in this region. The market for sodium borate in Asia Pacific was led by China. Other Asian countries such as India and Japan are likely to provide better opportunity for sodium borate market owing to increasing consumption from water treatment and agricultural chemicals end-user industries. Asia Pacific was followed by North America. Increasing demand from detergents, agricultural chemicals and water treatment industry is driving the demand for sodium borate in this region. U.S. had the largest demand for sodium borate owing to huge demand from end-user industries such as personal care, water treatment and ceramics among others. Europe had the third-largest demand for sodium borate market in 2013. Increasing demand for sodium borate from personal care industry coupled with chemical industry has been driving the market for sodium borate in Europe. Germany is one of the largest consumers of sodium borate in this region owing to the huge demand from ceramics and paper processing industry. Rest of the World market is anticipated to show positive outlook for the sodium borate market in near future.Request to view Table of content @The market for sodium borate is highly oligopolistic in nature. Some of the key manufacturers in the sodium borate market are Etimine S.A., Larderello S.p.A., Quiborax S.A. and Rio Tinto Group 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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
If you follow the news, it may seem like President Trump is everywhere. Now The Donald is appearing somewhere else: In public company earnings.
Trump has shown up in 32 S&P 500 (^GSPC) companies' quarterly earnings conference calls so far in 2017, according to a CNBC analysis. That means the new president has been mentioned by name in over 20 percent of calls for the 148 companies from the index that have reported earnings so far this year, as of the end of last week.
While companies often address how a new administration will affect their company in the quarter after an election, Trump has already been mentioned more than President Barack Obama was at the beginning of 2009.
After the election, executives at some companies, like American Electric Power, (AEP) expressed enthusiasm for how Trump's infrastructure promises, regulatory reductions and tax code changes might affect their companies.
Others brought up concerns that isolationist policies might change their business operations abroad.
"Our perspective is that the United States is tightly woven with its trading partners," said Union Pacific (UNP) CEO Lance Fritz in its January call. "Our consumers benefit greatly from free and open international trade."
Many of the Trump mentions in earnings calls came not from the executives, but from analysts and reporters looking for answers to how the new president's policies might make a difference for a company.
"I'm going to ask the Trump question since I get it five or six times a day," said a Citigroup (NYSE: C) analyst in an earnings call for Analog Devices after the election. "So who knows what this guy is going to come up with policy-wise, but maybe (you could) share with us your thoughts on how you think this impacts you."
Executives at Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI") told analysts they didn't think that Trump's support for the Keystone pipeline has had much effect on the company's own Trans Mountain pipeline business. TE Connectivity (TEL) said that it might see some benefit from Keystone and EPA changes floated by Trump, but "that's not assumed right now."
Story continues
Other companies, likeDow Chemical (DOW) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN), simply wanted to point out that they have a connection to the new administration. Wynn CEO Stephen Wynn said that he has reason to believe that the White House shares the company's desire to build trade relationships in China.
"As you know, I am acquainted with the administration," Wynn said. "Several of us in our business were sitting within 30 feet of President Trump when he took his oath of office on the platform last Friday."
Trump campaigned on a platform of increasing jobs, especially for manufacturers, and they continue to look for opportunities within the new political landscape. He was mentioned in a number of manufacturers' calls in January, including Rockwell Automation (ROK), Corning (GLW) and Whirlpool (WHR).
Executives from Milwaukee-based Rockwell suggested that an improved tax environment could lead the company to expand operations in the United States. The company makes systems to help advanced manufacturers operate, so an increase in U.S.-based manufacturers would be a boon for the company.
A little more than half of Rockwell's 2016 sales were to U.S. customers, with the balance spread around the globe. The company has at least 772,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Mexico and 745,000 square feet in the U.S., according to a November filing. A border-adjustment tax , like the one Trump has championed, could lead the company to relocate some of its operations north of the border.
"It's very important to note that we've got flexibility in our global supply chain," said Theodore Crandall, who at that time was Rockwell's CFO. "We believe we could make adjustments if there were changes in the tax law that made that appropriate."
Since the election, defense contractors have found themselves in the crosshairs of Trump's frequent Twitter attacks, often to the detriment of their stock prices. Executives from Boeing (BA), Lockheed Martin (LMT) and United Technologies (UTX) all tried to ease concerns about how Trump's brash public rhetoric will affect their business.
"It's not about slashing our profit; it's not about our margins when we have those discussions. It's about how do we get the cost of the aircraft down today and in the future," said Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson of her meetings with Trump on the cost of the company's F-35 fighter program.
Despite harsh words from Trump on China , Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said that Trump understands the importance of trade with China. He suggested that opening a finishing center in China the plant has been planned since 2015 could fit with Trump's "America First" rhetoric. Each plane that's "finished" in China is built mostly in the U.S., he said.
"As we increase sales in China, we increase building airplanes here in the U.S.," he said. "It's a great example of how growth in China creates growth in U.S. manufacturing jobs." About 13 percent of the company's 2015 revenue came from China, according to FactSet. China is likely to buy more than $1 trillion worth of planes over the next 20 years, Boeing said in September.
Twice, Muilenburg was asked by reporters about Trump's use of social media to go after companies he wanted to publicly shame. He pivoted from describing "what it was like to be the target of critical tweets" about the company, saying that he was encouraged by the fact that Trump was "engaging" government contractors.
"We had some targeted discussions," he said. "I think having direct, open dialogue is productive and very good for the future."
Boeing's stock dropped about 1 percent following Trump's Dec. 6 tweet, which said an order for a new Air Force One should be canceled because of its high cost.
One of the first mentions of Trump in a conference call in a political context came long before voting day in January 2016, when an analyst joked about whether Trump would have an impact on Eli Lilly (LLY)'s performance.
"I was just wondering If Donald Trump is elected, would that impact your long-term margin guidance?" asked the analyst. Then he walked it back: "That's not a serious question."
But by March, with Trump in the lead in the primaries against only a few remaining opponents, analysts starting taking the prospect more seriously.
"This isn't a joke," said a Morgan Stanley (MS) analyst in that quarter's H&R Block (HRB) earnings call. "What do you think would happen to your business if Donald Trump becomes president?"
Global Bismuth Market is Expected to Reach US$ 400.0 Million by 2024 End
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Global demand for bismuth is expected to grow at a Y-o-Y growth rate of 4.9% by 2016 end. China is a major consumer, producer, and exporter of bismuth and is anticipated to maintain its dominance in the global market in the near future. The country is estimated to account for 27.0% share of overall bismuth sales by the end of 2016. The increasing use of bismuth oxide in growing manufacturing industries is anticipated to drive consumption in the region. The rapid growth of the automobile end-use industry is expected to drive further market growth.A sample of this report is available upon request:Increasing environmental regulations regarding lead usage in various end-use industries would drive demand for bismuth and bismuth derived compounds. Stringent regulations and initiatives by leading manufacturers in end-use industries to phase out lead production is expected to spur bismuth market growth. Major paints & coatings manufacturers such as BASF SE and PPG Inc. are actively offering bismuth-based products replacing their lead based portfolio, in order to provide environmentally-friendly product offerings.The bismuth market in APAC is anticipated to witness higher growth rates due to increasing manufacturing activities in China and India. Demand in Europe is also anticipated to be above average due to stringent lead restricting directives in the region, while demand in North America, Latin America, and MEA is expected to be moderate. Declining lead production due to regulations and declining consumption of lead-acid batteries is anticipated to be a major restricting factor for the global market. The increasing use of bismuth alternatives in pharmaceuticals and alloys is also a major obstacle to market growth.Hunan Jinwang Bismuth Industry Co. Ltd., Hunan Bismuth Co. Ltd., and Nui Phao Mining Company Limited are some of the top producers of bismuth, with a cumulative annual production capacity of 11,000 metric tons.Request to view Table of Content:PMR Long-term Outlook on Global Bismuth Market: The global bismuth market is expected to reach US$ 400.0 Mn expanding at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period (20162024). Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the largest market for bismuth, with a market share of 46% in overall sales by the end of 2024.To Buy Full Report for a Single User: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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Digital Phase Shifter Market To Make Great Impact In Near Future by 2027
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Digital phase shifter is a type of control device that changes the phase of RF, microwave or millimeter wave signals with practically negligible attenuation. These devices are programmable or can be controlled via a computer interface. Digital phase shifters have a variety of applications, including RF power amplifier linearization/RF distortion, amplitude and phase modulation, variable attenuators, and fiber optics. Different types of digital phase shifters such as 4-bit, 5-bit, 6-bit, and 8-bit digital phase shifters, etc. are used for telecommunication, VSAT communications, navigation, and radar. A digital phase shifter consists of high performance GaAs switches, low/high pass filter, and integral TTL driver. GaAs switches have little power consumption, fast switching time, and extremely low switching transients. Depending on their end-use, different kinds of digital phase shifters are used for different applications. For example, 8-bit digital phase shifters are designed to be used in a broad range of applications including beam forming networks, active antenna systems, distributed antenna systems, and phased array applications.Global Digital Phase Shifter Market: DynamicsDigital phase shifter is an essential device used across various end-use industries such as telecommunication, aerospace and defense, weather, etc. An increase in demand from various end-use industries including aerospace, mobile, mobile broadband, internet, satellite, and fixed broadband sector is one of the crucial factors boosting the demand of digital phase shifters, which in turn, is propelling the overall growth of the global digital phase shifter market. That apart, continuous development in information technology sector is pumping their growth in the global market.Request Free Report Sample@One of the key challenges faced by the digital phase shifter is that it is difficult to maintain linearity which provides near constant phase shift over an octave in these devices. Usage of technologies such as UltraCMOS technology, an advanced form of SOI, is the key trend observed in the global digital phase shifter market. This technology has proved to be quite effective at solving digital phase shifter market's biggest challenge, which is linearity. Digital phase shifters, with phase range of 90, are used in wireless communication for single side band generation, image rejection, and IQ modulation. Hence, 90 digital phase shifters are in high demand.Global Digital Phase Shifter Market: SegmentationThe global digital phase shifter market can be segmented on the basis of number of bits, phase range, applications and end use industries. On the basis of number of bits, the global digital phase shifter market can be segmented into 4-bit, 5-bit, 6-bit, 8-bit and others (1-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit, etc.). On the basis of phase range, global digital phase shifter market can be segmented into less than 45, 45, 90, 180 and 360. On the basis of applications, the global digital phase shifter market can be segmented into communication, microwave instrumentation and measurement, navigation, electronic warfare and phase cancellation, and radar systems. On the basis of end use industry, global digital phase shifter market can be segmented into aerospace & defense, network infrastructure (telecommunication, radio, television, weather radar system, etc.), and other industrial applications (e.g. healthcare).Global Digital Phase Shifter Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global digital phase shifter market is segmented into 5 key regions. These are categorized as -- North America, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe. North America and Europe are anticipated to remain the key regions in the global digital phase shifter market throughout the forecast period. Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America are expected to be the emerging markets as the large population in these areas will increase the pressure on the existing telecommunication infrastructure, which in turn, will lead to an increase in demand for global digital phase shifters.Request For TOC@Global Digital Phase Shifter Market: Market ParticipantsSome of the well-known market participants involved in the manufacturing of digital phase shifters include MACOM, Analog Devices, Inc., Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., TriQuint Semiconductor, GT Microwave Inc., Pulsar Microwave Corporation, Mercury Systems, Inc., Planar Monolithics Industries, Aelius Semiconductors Pte. Ltd., Astra Microwave Products Limited, Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Custom MMIC, Dbwave Technologies CO.,LTD, Lorch Microwave, Pasternack Enterprises, Inc., Qorvo, Inc, SAGE Millimeter, Inc., Telemakus LLC., United Monolithic Semiconductors, Vaunix Technology Corporation,etc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Cheese Ingredient Market, 2017-2027 by Segmentation: Based on Product, Application and Region
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Cheese is a milk product which is formed by the coagulation of casein, a milk protein. Cheese is consumed everyday all over the world. The global cheese ingredient market is expected to change rapidly due to fast changing patterns of eating across all the globe. The use of cheese is increasing day by day because people all over the world are consuming more fast foods like pizza and burger on daily basis, which is expected to drive the cheese ingredient market in the forecast period. The basic cheese ingredient which is required to make cheese are milk, bacterial culture, enzyme and additives such as cheese salt. The bacterial culture which is used as cheese ingredient are probiotic in nature which is very essential for our body, so the selection bacterial culture has high importance fro he production of cheese. Recently, consumers have also been preferring healthy cheese products with good taste, availability at convenience and use of quality ingredients. Companies are also investing heavily in research and development to innovate new cheese products in order attract the consumers.Market Segmentation:Cheese market is segment on the basis of cheese type, ingredients and region. On the basis of cheese type market is segmented into processed cheese and natural cheese. The demand for natural cheese is more due to the benefits it offers such as, it is rich in vitamins, proteins, minerals, healthy bacterial culture (probiotic) and enzymes. On the basis of cheese ingredient the market is segmented into bacterial cultures, milk type (milk cream, powdered milk and fresh milk), milk additives (food colors, cheese salts and others) and enzymes (lipase and rennet). The market of ingredient segment is led by milk, followed by enzyme. The demand for enzymes is high due to the increased shelf life of the enzyme modified cheese makes it a preferred option for the manufacturers. On the basis of region cheese ingredient market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA and Japan.Request Free Report Sample@Market Regional Outlook:Regional segment for the market of cheese ingredient is divided into seven different regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA and Japan. Among these segment North America is expected to have the major market share globally, as it is the largest exporter and producer of cheese.In North American region the United States is generating the major revenue followed by Canada. In terms of revenue Asia Pacificis also one of the prominent contributor in the cheese ingredient market. New Zealand and Australia has the largest cheese ingredient markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Large scale milk production in countries like India and china has led to low cost production of cheese.Market Drivers:Rising demand of enzyme modified cheese with longer shelf life coupled with lower price is pushing the growth of cheese ingredient market during the forecast period. Factors such as rapid urbanization and increasing food budget have also increased the demand for cheese ingredients. The growing demand from the emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil among others, the market of cheese ingredient is expected to grow at a faster pace in the forecast period. Moreover, the market is also driven by the increasing awareness among the consumers about the health benefits associated with the ingredients used in the manufacturing of natural cheese.Request For TOC@Market Key Players:Some of the key players in cheese ingredientmarket areArla Foods, Fonterra Co-operative Group, CSK Food Enrichment, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Almarai, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Saputo Inc. and Alpura.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Precipitated Barium Sulfate Market to Record an Impressive Growth By 2024
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Barium sulfate is a white crystalline solid that is odorless and insoluble in water. Barium sulfate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula BaSO4. It occurs as mineral barite, which is the main commercial source of barium and material prepared from it. The white opaque appearance and its high density are exploited in its main application. Precipitated barium sulfate is widely applicable in the industries such as paints coating, pigment, paper, plastic, rubber, ink, leather, ceramic etc. for its purity, low oil absorption, high burning point, insolubility in water, precise PH value, longer shelf life, non-toxicity and effectiveness. In order to ensure the quality, precipitated barium sulfate is stringently tested on defined parameters. Precipitated barium sulfate is a synthetic barium sulfate precipitated with specified particle size. These product can be used effectively for industrial paints, enamels and plastic material, also can be utilized successfully in adhesives, coating and sealants. The demand for precipitated barium sulfate is expanding owing to increasing application of precipitated barium sulfate products. Precipitated barium sulfate is expected to exhibit significant CAGR over the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Global precipitated barium sulfate is added to various types of synthetic resin such as acryl resins as a light diffusing material, and is thereby useful in diffusing light such as transmitted light and reflected light. Precipitated barium sulfate is a white crystalline solid odorless and insoluble in water. It transpires as the inorganic barite, which is the salable source of barium and materials prepared from barium. The precipitated barium sulfate is used for white plastic raw material such as for resin pellets and the translucent opaque reflection sheet. The precipitation of barium sulfate from aqueous solutions of barium chloride and sodium sulfate is investigated experimentally in a continuous Y Mixture to avoid any mixing influence. The increasing preference of plastic product among the consumer is boosting the overall precipitated barium sulfate market worldwide. The precipitated barium producers are targeting the coating industry for the precipitated barium sulfate trade. On the backdrop of coating and rubber industry precipitated barium sulfate market is expected to expand substantially in the near future.The global demand of precipitated barium sulfate can be segmented on the basis of type, application and region. On the basis of type, global precipitated barium sulfate market can be segmented into ordinary precipitated barium sulfate, modified barium sulfate, nanometer precipitated barium sulfate and others. Based on type nanometer precipitated barium sulfate expected to exhibit momentous growth in near future. On the basis of application global precipitated barium sulfate market can be segmented into coating industry, rubber industry, plastic industry and others. Among application segment plastic industry is expected to dominate the precipitated barium sulfate market worldwide. On the basis of region global precipitated barium sulfate can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa.Asia Pacific region is dominating the overall precipitated barium sulfate market owing to increasing rate of industrialization in this region. Among countries in the Asia Pacific, China is expected to dominate the precipitated barium sulfate market. The rising demand for raw plastic among the chemical manufacturers in boosting the precipitated barium sulfate market in Asia Pacific region. Europe is also expected to expand significantly, following North America over the forecast period. Latin America and Middle East and Africa market is estimated to register moderate growth rate during the forecast period.Request to view Table of content @Few of the market players in global precipitated barium sulfate are Cimbar, Barium & Chemicals, Solvay, Jiaxin Chem, Fuhua Chem, Huntsman, NaFine, Xinji Chemical, Nippon Chemical Industry, Onmillion Nano Material, Redstar, Sakai Chem, Onmillion Nano Material, and Suns Chemical & Mineral.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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Vinyl Acetate Polymers Expected to Be Biggest Emerging Market by 2026
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Vinyl acetate or VAM for short is one of those low-profile behind-the-scenes polymers. Because of its unique chemical characteristics, VAM is used as a key intermediate which is utilized in the making of some polymers and resins for adhesives, coatings, paints, films, textiles and other end-products. It is also used in developing barrier resins for the plastic bottles. Adhesives and plastic products demand are increasing day to day for peoples convenience in everyday activities. And with such surge of the request for various products which are manufactured with vinyl acetate, it can be anticipated that vinyl acetate market will accelerate over the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @The growth of global vinyl acetate market is driven by growth in adhesive industries. Woodworks, furniture, fixtures, paper products manufacturers are increasing across the globe and manufacturing such products different adhesive, and glue is needed. And glues and adhesive binding properties are mostly dependent on vinyl acetate. Such demand will drive the growth of vinyl acetate market. Industries such as diapers and feminine hygiene products are manufactured in a way which can be easily be used with opening and closing of adhesive label in it. Such design has been able possible due to vinyl acetate based adhesives. Such features and uses about vinyl acetate are few of the key factors for driving the vinyl acetate market globally.Factors such as decline in growth of vinyl acetate consuming industries, since vinyl acetate is a crude oil derived product, price fluctuation and crisis in production of crude oil, environmental regulations and bans on specific industries can downwardly impact the growth of vinyl acetate industries.Global vinyl acetate market is segmented by application, end-user, and region. By implementation, global vinyl acetate market is segmented as coating, adhesive ingredient. Among the application segment, adhesive ingredient contributes for the significant revenue share over the forecast period in global vinyl acetate market, owing to increasing demand for the various type of adhesives in various segments. By end-user, the global vinyl acetate market is segmented as the construction industry, FMCG industry, and Automobile industry.Request to view Table of content @Based on the geographies, the global vinyl acetate market is fragmented into seven key regions North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific except Japan, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa. Among the regions mentioned above, North America accounts for a significant share of global vinyl acetate market, owing to relatively high-value share in the region in the global adhesive industry. The high demand of vinyl acetate in North America is due to high penetration of various industries such as FMCG, woodworks, ancillary industries etc.. Western Europe is followed by North America region in the global vinyl acetate market, owing to the substantial growth of various industries in the region which require a lot of adhesives. The Asia-Pacific except Japan region accounts for significantly high volume share in the global vinyl acetate market, owing to the substantial growth in the manufacturing industry in the region. Eastern Europe and Japan also accounts for significant value share in the global vinyl acetate market over the forecast period. The developing economy such as Middle East Africa and Latin America have been exhibiting moderate opportunity in the global vinyl acetate market, owing to the average growth rate in the construction industry and growing population. Overall, the outlook for the global vinyl acetate market will have a positive growth over the forecast period, owing to the increasing demand for the pharmaceuticals as an anti-counterfeiting measure.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.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Machine Health Monitoring Market -Significant Growth In The Heating, Ventilation, And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems Accelerate The Growth
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Global Machine Health Monitoring Market: OverviewThe global market for machine health monitoring market is projected to witness significant growth in the next few years. The rising importance of asset management and the increasing focus of manufacturers to surge efficiency and optimize productivity are some of the vital reasons, which are predicted to encourage the growth of the global machine health monitoring market in the next few years.The research study offers an in-depth analysis of the global machine health monitoring, highlighting the latest trends, growth opportunities, and the driving factors. In addition, the research study has discussed several challenges and limitations that are being faced by the market players while operating in the global machine health monitoring market. The key segmentation and the competitive scenario of the global market have also been included in the scope of the research report to offer a strong understanding of the market and guide the new entrants in making effective business decisions in the near future.PDF Sample For Full Details with Technological breakthroughs is @Global Machine Health Monitoring Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe rising use of wireless communication technology and the preferential shift from preventive to predictive maintenance are some of the most important factors that are estimated to encourage the growth of the global machine health monitoring market in the next few years. In addition, a significant growth in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems market is anticipated to accelerate the growth of the overall market in the next few years.On the flip side, the requirement of additional expenses for retrofitting existing systems and the unpredictable maintenance schedules are some of the major factors that are predicted to inhibit the growth of the global machine health monitoring market throughout the forecast period. Moreover, the lack of availability of expertise, especially at remote locations is likely to restrict the growth of the overall market in the near future. Nevertheless, the emergence of big data analytics and the advent of Industrial Internet of Things are projected to offer promising opportunities for the market players.Global Machine Health Monitoring Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global market for machine health monitoring has been classified on the basis of geography into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World. As per the research study, North America is predicted to lead the global machine health monitoring market and account for a large share of the market in the next few years. The robust growth of this region can be attributed to the innovations and technological developments in the field of healthcare. Additionally, the rising adoption of machine health monitoring across this region is expected to accelerate market growth in the near future.On the other hand, Asia Pacific is projected to witness substantial growth in the coming years and register a healthy grow rate in the coming years. The increasing number of production bases being set by the prominent market players in the semi-conductor, automotive, and consumer electronics sectors is expected to encourage the growth of the machine health monitoring market in Asia Pacific. The estimated growth rate and share of each regional segment have been presented in the research report.Key Players Mentioned in the Research Report are:The global market for machine health monitoring market is estimated to witness significant growth throughout the forecast period. Some of the prominent players operating in the machine health monitoring market across the globe are The Emerson Electric Company, AZIMA DLI Corp., National Instruments Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Bruel & Kjaer Vibro GmbH, General Electric Corporation, Fluke Corporation, SKF Company, Parker Kittiwake Ltd., and Rockwell Automation Inc. The research study has offered a thorough overview of the competitive landscape of the global machine health monitoring market. The business policies and strategies that are being used by these players to maintain their dominance have been discussed to guide the new entrants in the market.View Exclusive Business Strategic Report @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Railroad Equipment Manufacturing Market Driven By Rising Demand For Freight Rolling Stock
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Global Railroad Equipment Manufacturing: Inclusive InsightCompanies operating in the railroad equipment manufacturing industry are involved in the manufacturing of brakes, locomotives, passenger rail cars and freight, and other parts used in operating railroads. The transport equipment manufacturing industry has become the pivot for economic developments across several countries worldwide. The demand for these equipment has intensified owing to the rising volume of transported products and the expansion of the distance covered by logistics vehicles. This particular trend is expected to gain traction over the coming years. The industry is however moderately consolidated with a few key players holding the top notches in the market. The market is likely to expand conferring to the long-term growth opportunities it holds and the expansion of global trade and burgeoning globalization.PDF Sample For Technological breakthroughs is @This industry study is an evaluation of the growth prospects and historical tract of the global railroad equipment manufacturing market. It deals with the assessment of the facets that are projected to sway the expansion of the market both negatively and positively. Further, the key trends have also been indicated in the publication. The research study further presents a wide outlook on the seller landscape of the market with reference to Porters five forces analysis. The research report deals with the R&D activities, mergers, acquisitions, and particulars on certifications and partnerships. The report reviews the approaches related to shares, publicity, and product range of the key accomplices in the global railroad equipment manufacturing market.Global Railroad Equipment Manufacturing: Trends and ProspectsThe demand for freight rolling stock is significantly high in the global railroad equipment manufacturing market. This demand is basically due to the hike in the prices of fuel across the globe at it acts as the key source behind the working of the transportation industry. This has shifted the trend of freight transport to rails from trucks. The profit in this particular industry is purely dependent on gaining lease and long term agreements with big railroad companies. Big multinational companies are at advantage owing to their capacity to manufacture bulk goods in large quantities, thus attaining economies of scale.However, the challenges that the industry is likely to face in the near future is basically due to the various policies relating to railroads implemented by different governments across the globe. It also tends to make the market price sensitive. The opportunities lies in investing in R&D and focusing on product innovation, speeding production, and decreasing price and weight and also ensure passenger safety with it.Global Railroad Equipment Manufacturing: Regional OutlookRegion-wise, Europe and Asia Pacific are the leading regions in terms of manufacturing of railroad equipment. This growth is mainly due to effective policies and large scale investment by leading companies and governments. Brazil, China, and India have been identified as emerging markets in the Asia Pacific region. Rise in domestic consumption, demand for freight transport, and growth in passengers are also some of the leading factors behind the growth of the market in these regions.Global Railroad Equipment Manufacturing: Companies Mentioned in the ReportSome of the key companies are Nippon Sharyo, Siemens, CSR Corporation, China CNR Corporation, Alstom, Bombardier, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies, Trinity Industries, Greenbrier, GE, Electro-Motive Diesel, and American Railcar Industries.Market Insight can be Viewed @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Analog ICs Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Integrated circuits are set of electronic circuits in which all the active and passive electronic components are fabricated on a single chip. Different active components include operational amplifiers (op-amp) and batteries among others. Passive components are capacitors, resistors and inductors. Continuous development of production processes and design of ICs lead to cost reduction of electronic equipments.. Additionally, these ICs increase the reliability as different components are fabricated on a single silicon chip and thus reducing the size of circuit board.A sample of this report is available upon request @Integrated circuits can be classified on the basis of circuit technology, design style, circuit size and design type. Technologies used in manufacturing ICs are complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), bi-polar junction transistor (BJT) and BiCMOS among others. Different design styles are standard cell, field programmable gate array (FPGA) and gate array. On the basis of size ICS can be categorized as circuit size includes very large scale integration (VLSI), large scale integration (LSI), medium scale integration (MSI), small scale integration (SSI), and giga scale integration (GSI). The design types available are analog, digital and mixed-signal.Analog integrated circuits are those ICs which performs functions of amplification, demodulation and active filtering. In an analog IC current and voltage vary continuously with time. These ICs are consists of electronic components that allows them to communicate and connect with the microprocessor. They are widely deployed in most of the electronic products as these ICs consume less power while maintaining their functionality. Integrated circuits have widespread applications in computers, mobile phones and electronic digital home appliances such as digital camera. These circuits offer various advantages such as low power consumption and low cost for implementation. They reduce the size and complexity of an electronic circuit and provide high speed of operation. Due to these advantages ICs are used in televisions, portable devices such as laptops, microwaves, play stations, cameras, computers and cell phones. Additionally, they are used in data processing and switching telephone circuits. Analog ICs are used in LED Lighting systems due to their less power consumption capability.Need of power management in electronic product and increasing demand of ICs in automotive sector is supporting the growth of market. However, imbalance in demand and supply of analog IC is affecting the market growth. Moreover, rapid technological advancement and increasing applications of analog ICs in LED lighting system offers potential opportunity for the market.Analog integrated circuit market can be segmented on the basis of category, type of analog ICs and end-users. Analog ICs are categorized into radio frequency IC and linear ICs. Different types of analog ICs available are operational amplifiers, sensors and power management circuits. Analog ICs have widespread application across various industries such as electronic industry, automotive sector, telecommunication industry, healthcare and semiconductor industry among others.A TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the key players in analog ICs market are Analog Devices Inc., Qualcomm Inc., STMicroelectronics NV, Infineon Technologies AG, Caterpillar Inc., Texas Instruments Inc, EPOS Development Ltd., Linear Technology Corp., Intel Corp., LG Electronics, NXP Semiconductors, Maxim Integrated products, ON Semiconductor, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Renesas Electronics Corp., Cummins Inc., Kohler Co. and Skyworks Solutions Inc among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Defense Robotics Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Most of the countries utilize the defense robotic system or are in the process of acquiring or building the technology to incorporate into military programs. These robots are used in form of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned group vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Unmanned group vehicles are robots that move on wheels or tracks and perform the function of sentry duties and examine the potential hostile location. Unmanned aerial vehicles are essentially remotely controlled or automated robots. The use of all these robotic system includes same purpose of replacing or supplementing human in battlefield situations. Deployment of autonomous or semi autonomous robotic system in the battle field helps in improving the military efficiency, operational performance and accuracy.A sample of this report is available upon request @Defense robotics has many advantages, the important one being performance similar to human being without danger of human casualties. Robots can endure damage done by bombs or other types of weapons that can destroy the human body. Another advantage includes various sizes of robots which enables them to fit into spaces that are not accessible for humans. Other advantages include transportation, drones and bomb disposal. The defense robotic system market across the globe is expected to show a substantial growth with a single digit increase in CAGR by the year 2019. The growth is due to the procurement of robotic vehicles for control, communication, simulation, training and other applications for military purposes.The market for defense robotics system is driven by factors such as desire to reduce the casualties in the field of operation and reduce the military spending. Development in the field of computer programming, sensing technology and material science help to create more advanced tools. Some of the factors restraining the market growth include reduced spending on defense system due to weak economic conditions, and high cost required in manufacturing of robots. Technological availability is enabling diverse applications of robots besides improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the system. Applications such as border patrolling are creating an increasing demand for UAVs and UGVs in countries such as Israel, South Korea, China and United States.The segmentation of defense robotics market can be done on the basis of product type, application and geography. On the basis of product type, the market for defense robotics can be segmented as unmanned group vehicles (UGVs), unmanned underwater vehicle (UUVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). On the basis of applications, the market can be segmented as simulation, control command and security, training and others. Global defense robotics market can also be segmented based on geographical markets as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the world. North America is the most technological advanced region in defense robotic system and Asia Pacific represents a strong opportunity due to the availability of technology in countries including China, Japan and India.A TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the players in the defense robotics market include iRobot Corp., Allen-Vanguard Corporation, Honeywell Aerospace, GeckoSystems Intl. Corp., Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Bluefin Robotic Corp., AB Electrolux, Deep Ocean Engineering Inc., ECA Hytec SA, McArtney Group, Fujitsu Ltd., Toyota Motor Corp., AeroVironment, Lockheed Martin and 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.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
Smoke Evacuation System Market Key Trends & Industry Forecast 2016 - 2024
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Since the past decade, a large number of surgical procedures are moving out of the traditional ways, and they are replaced by minimally invasive techniques which is driving the market of smoke evacuation system globally. Use of electrocautery and electrosurgery devices is unavoidable in minimally invasive surgery which produces surgical smoke. Researchers have found more than 80 organic compounds in surgical smoke such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide that can cause upper respiratory infection, nausea, and other short-term symptoms. Smoke evacuation system has been developed to overcome this problem. The system is intended to remove smoke, aerosol, and noxious odors produced during electrosurgical procedure. Smoke evacuation systems are high-flow vacuum sources used to capture, at the surgical site, the smoke aerosols and gases generated during the use of lasers and electrosurgical units.There are a number of factors that affect the growth of the smoke evacuation system market. Some of the key factors include growth in demand for minimally invasive surgical procedures; development and advancement of energy based electrocautery and ultrasonic devices; and rise in global geriatric population. Other key growth drivers include technological advancements in smoke evacuation system, increase in the number of cosmetic procedures, and high or sudden rise in the number of surgeries related to elderly population. The market is further witnessing restraints, or challenges in its path such as development of other non-invasive surgery technologies, alongside stiff competition among existing smoke evacuation system manufacturers. Moreover, product recalls and government regulations for reduction of overall health care cost are restraining the growth of this market.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:The global smoke evacuation system market is segmented on the basis of product, application, modality, end-user, and region. Based on product, the smoke evacuation system market is categorized into smoke evacuation filters, pencils & wands, smoke evacuation fusion products, and accessories. The smoke evacuation filters segment is further divided into ULPA filters, HEPA filters, charcoal filters, in-line filters, and pre-filters. The ULPA filters sub-segment is expected to hold a significantly large share of the smoke evacuation filters segment. A significant share of this segment is attributed to technological advancement and extraordinary evacuation capacity as compared to other filters. The smoke evacuation accessories segment comprises adapters, reducers, sensors, and smoke evacuation tubing. Among the accessories, the smoke evacuation tubing sub-segment is expected to account for a significant share in the near future. Rise in number of surgeries performed and recent product launches in this sub-segment is contributing to the large share in this market.On the basis of application, the smoke evacuation system market is divided into electrosurgical devices, electrocautery units, radiofrequency units, ultrasonic devices, laser units, and others. The electrocautery devices segment is anticipated to hold a significant share of the market during the forecast period. Increase in demand for minimally invasive surgeries and rise in geriatric population are expected to fuel the demand for the electrocautery devices segment during the forecast period.Based on modality, smoke evacuation systems are available in portable evacuation systems and centralized evacuation systems. High cost associated with maintenance of centralized evacuation systems and less efficiency as compared to portable evacuation systems are estimated to hamper the growth of the centralized evacuation systems segment. New launches and product innovation in portable evacuation systems are further expected to drive the growth of the market of this segment.On the basis of end-user, the smoke evacuation system market is segmented into hospitals, specialized clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers. The hospitals segment accounted for a major share of the market in 2015 due to increasing demand for electrosurgical devices from corporate hospitals. Globalization of health care and pharmaceutical standards is likely to support the growth of better hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America. This in turn is expected to propel the growth of the smoke evacuation system market in these regions.Geographically, the global smoke evacuation system market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to dominate the global smoke evacuation system market during the forecast period. Large geriatric and obese population facing cardiac and orthopedic problems and rise in incidences of cancer are anticipated to drive the market in this region. Asia Pacific has a high growth rate and is expected to offer growth opportunities in this market. Improved health care infrastructure and rise in health care spending by government are estimated to increase adoption of smoke evacuation system in this region.Key players operating in this market include Bovie Medical Corporation, Medtronic, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH, Boston Scientific Corporation, Olympus, Johnson & Johnson, Symmetry Surgical Inc., ConMed Corporation, KLS Martin, and Bowa-electronic GmbH & Co. KG.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Browse Full Research Report on Smoke Evacuation System 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:
Donald Trumps 90-day travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen struck a chord with academic America.
The order is stranding students who have been approved to study here and are trying to get back to campus, and threatens to disrupt the education and research of many others, the nonprofit Association of American Universities stated on Saturday evening.
That group represents 60 US research institutions, including Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Northwestern, Stanford, the University of California system, UChicago, UPenn, Yale, and the University of Michigan, among other prestigious universities.
University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel was among the first college presidents to refuse to release students immigration status, reiterating the institutions nondiscrimination policy. Once students are admitted, the university is committed to fostering an environment in which each student can flourish, his statement read.
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (Photo by Albin Lohr-Jones/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Beyond a humanitarian perspective, some people outside academia argue the loss of these international students will hurt universities bottom lines. David Kotok, the chairman and chief investment officer of Cumberland Advisors, a portfolio management firm, expressed his concerns around the move, specifically from an investing standpoint, in a note to his clients.
[Trump] impairs knowledge transfers. For example, one of the large exports of America is education. Our universities sell courses and academic degrees, and foreigners come here and buy them and mostly pay cash in US dollars, he said.
Billions are transferred each year. University education for Americans is subsidized by foreigners who occupy seats in classrooms and do so as paying customers. Look at any of our schools for evidence. Ask any dean or provost what his schools financial structure would look like if there were no foreign students enrolled. Trump has dealt a blow to higher education with an executive order. The pain will be felt by Americans, he added.
Story continues
Kotok brings up a valid argument. International students contributed an estimated $35 billion to the US economy in 2015, according to the US Department of Commerce, up from $31 billion in 2014.
International students in the US topped 1 million for the first time in 2016, according to a new report from the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit that collaborates with governments and education foundations around the world. Though foreign students only make up 5% of students in the US higher education system, they represent strong growth among students in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Among the countries listed on the temporary ban, Iranian students, in particular, make up a bulk of foreign students studying in the US. Students from Iran increased by 8.2% between 2015 and 2016 hitting 12,269 students, the highest US enrollment by Iranians in 29 years, according to IIE.
Vahideh Rasekhi, an Iranian doctoral student at Stony Brook University, greets friends and family as she is released from detention at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The ban has affected students like Vahideh Rasekhi, an Iranian who was returning from a trip to visit her family just after Trump issued his order. Rasekhi was initially told that she would not be allowed to enter the US. But with the aid of volunteer lawyers from the International Refugee Assistance Project and the Legal Aid Society, Rasekhi was released over 16 hours later.
Rasekhi, a sixth year doctoral student in linguistics, serves as the president of Stony Brook Universitys graduate student organization. She came to the US as a Fulbright Scholar at UC Santa Barbara and subsequently received her masters degree in linguistics.
In a statement to Yahoo Finance, she says she had recently traveled to Iran to visit her family and it was such a blessing to be able to visit with them again. She is thankful to have the opportunity to return to her dissertation research.
Blocking out immigrants from countries like Iran would not only disrupt the lives of people like Rasekhi, but it could also do lasting damage to the US economy.
Melody Hahm is a writer at Yahoo Finance, covering entrepreneurship, technology and real estate. Read more from Melody here & follow her on Twitter @melodyhahm.
Protein Labelling Market to Witness Steady Growth During the Forecast Period 2017-2027
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Various biological research often involves the use of molecular labels that are attached to a protein of interest to facilitate detection or purification of the labeled protein and/or its binding partners. Proteins can be labeled during cell growth by incorporation of amino acids containing different isotopes, or in biological fluids, cells or tissue samples. The main applications for protein labeling are biological processes monitoring, reliable quantification of compounds and specific detection of protein modifications and isoforms in multiplexed samples, enhancement of detection sensitivity and simplification of detection workflows. There are multiple types of labels available, their varied uses are preferable for specific applications. Typically, three different types of tags are employed: stable isotopes, mass tags, and fluorophores, to the target protein or sequenceProtein Labelling Market: Drivers and RestraintsIncreasing healthcare expenditure is majorly driving the market. Increase in the R&D expenditure leading to a reduction in process complexity for protein labeling by companies coupled with improvement in existing technologies that are anticipated to accelerate growth. The market is witnessing a number of new product launches and growing adoption of bioengineering technologies to speed up the market growth.Request Free Report Sample@Development in the technology to produce advanced dyes that rapidly conjugates with the specific peptides or nucleotidein order to detect their presence and further purification process more accurately are expected to make the process more efficient and will have positive impact on the market. Improvements in accuracy, resolution and procedures used in techniques such as fluorescence & biorthogonal tagging are estimated to grow over the forecast period.The adoption of IT technology anticipate to automate and ease up the research and development and expected to boost experimentation and research. Also, technological advancement and upcoming innovation in Global Protein Labeling market such as computer-controlled systems for fluorescence and laser-confocal microscopy are creating scope for the market.Protein Labelling Market: SegmentationOn the basis of products, the protein labeling market is segmented into reagents, kits, and services. Whereas based on application, the protein labeling market is segmented into cell-based assays, fluorescence microscopy, immunological techniques, mass spectrometry, and protein microarray. Global Protein market further segment by labeling technique and contribute considerable market share through in-Vivo and in-Vitro techniques.Segmentation by ProductReagentsKitsServicesSegmentation by ApplicationCell-based assaysFluorescence MicroscopyImmunological TechniquesMass SpectrometryProtein MicroarraySegmentation by Labelling TechniqueIn-VivoIn-VitroProtein Labelling Market: OverviewGlobal Protein Labeling Market by product includes reagents like enzymes, monoclonal antibodies, proteins, probes/tags, kits and service markets. The reagents used for protein labeling accounted for the largest share of revenue. The larger share can be augmented due to high demand for labeling of peptides, antibodies and proteins at reaction locations of functional amino acids, and development of novel reagents that have chemo selective capabilities & amino acid cross linking abilities. The market is expected to witness a significant growth rate during the forecast period.Protein Labelling Market: Regional OverviewThe geographic segments for Protein Labelling are North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. North America is further segmented into the U.S. and Canada. North America has the most lucrative market and accounts for over 45% of the global revenue in 2015. North America generates highest revenues across the globe due to presence of most major players in the region working on enhancing their portfolios on offer and rise in adoption of protein labeling in tandem with development of genomic sequencing and personalized medicine are the major factors accounting for the regions dominant position. While Asia Pacific is poised to witness the highest growth rate from 2015 to 2026. Untapped APEJ countries such as China, India, and Korea are the most emerging economies and expected to create huge opportunity for Global Protein Labeling Market. Improved healthcare spending, infrastructure development and favorable government policies are the key factors which are expected to drive the APEJ market.Visit For TOC@Protein Labelling Market: Key PlayersMajor participants of the protein labeling industry include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., General Electric Healthcare Life Science, Merck Millipore, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, PerkinElmer Inc, Promega Corporation, LI-COR Inc., New England Biolabs, Eurogentec S.A., Kirkegaard & Perry Laboratories (KPL).About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Wiring Devices Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Wiring devices refers to any electrical devices that are used to provide and control connection points or joining points for low voltage lighting control systems, electrical sockets and wall switches. Wiring devices includes current carrying wiring devices and non-current carrying wiring devices. Current-carrying wiring devices market is highly variable depending on certain factors such as consumer purchasing power, growth in GDP, economic conditions and overall health of domestic construction and housing industry. Non-current carrying wiring devices contains boxes, plates, conduit and fitting, among others. The electrical conduits are used to protect the electrical wiring from weather conditions and mechanical injury.A sample of this report is available upon request @Wiring devices market can be segmented on the basis of products and geography. Based on the products the wiring devices market can be categorized into receptacles, light dimmer, lamp holders, metal contacts, electric switches, wire connectors and other current carrying devices. Switches are used for controlling inductive and resistive loads mostly in the electric discharge lamps. Increasing use of electronic switches in construction and residential industry is one of the factors which is driving the growth of wiring devices market across the globe. The automated electronic switch owing to a number of features are widely being used in residential, construction and institutional occupancies. For instance, the fully automated lighting control system allows outdoor or indoor light to be operated remotely from any point within the system containing receiver and controller. The technological displacement in the field of wiring devices is expected to fuel the market growth. The company such as Schneider-electric is offering self-powered and wireless switches which allow instant installation and location flexibility. These switches are deprived of batteries which result in low maintenance and low running cost. These switches are self-powered and scavenging ambient energy powers the switches.Construction activity, consumer spending and private spending are expected to increase over the forecast period owing to the rising number of households which in turn is expected to stimulate the market growth. The boost in industries such as tourism, hotel and real estate will furthermore trigger the demand of wiring devices market owing to the huge investment in current carrying wiring devices. Moreover, the increasing use of light dimmers are expected to fuel the market growth due to the energy efficient nature of the light dimmer. The light dimmer is increasingly used for limiting the brightness of the light. The dimmer light switch can be controlled with the help of knob which ultimately results in energy efficiency. Increasing regulations for use of tamper resistant receptacles in the developed economies are expected to fuel the market revenue. National Electrical Manufacturers Associations (NEMA) and U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) are focusing on the extensive use of straight-blade and locking-type receptacle and plug caps and temper-less receptacles for safe usage of wiring devices.A TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the key players in this marketplace include ABB Incorporated, Cooper Industries plc, Eaton Corporation, Hewlett-Packard (HP) Development Company L.P., Hubbell Inc., Legrand Group, Leviton Manufacturing Co Inc., OREL Mfg. (Pvt.) Ltd., Schneider Electric SA, and SMK Corporation, among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Optical Chopper Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Optical choppers are the devices or equipment utilized to vary and interrupt light beams at regular or fixed time intervals. By deploying variations in the frequency of the optical chopper, the frequency of the light can be respectively varied. Invented in the mid-1800s, the optical chopper was used to measure the speed of light. The optical chopper contains a circular metal disc possessing holes and gaps at regular or irregular intervals which is attached to a rotating motor which rotates at a certain speed. The light beam passes through this optical chopper and in turn through these holes and thus the frequency of the light can be calculated using the frequency of the optical chopper. The optical chopper finds its main advantage in achieving a regular frequency of light beam. Optical choppers can be either operated by mechanical or electronic means. Predominantly used technologies for optical choppers are rotating disk, tuning fork and optical shutters.A sample of this report is available upon request @On the basis of geography the optical choppers market can be segmented as North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. Application of optical choppers is extensively found in optical spectrometers, wheel speed sensors, ion neutron beam instruments, intensity modulation of optical signals and anti-lock braking systems. Optical choppers are available in various specifications and types as variable frequency rotating disc chopper, fixed frequency tuning fork and shutter.Rotating disc choppers are widely utilized in laboratories and research institutions where chopping frequency is fixed by operator or user and size of aperture is large when compared with other devices. Tuning fork optical choppers are designed to operate at fixed frequency, smaller aperture size and at high frequency. Optical shutters are preferred for low frequency chopping applications, these type of optical choppers allow the operator to follow varying or arbitrary patterns of chopping.Optical choppers are extensively used in electronics products such as television sets for controlling the color of pixels on screen, signaling lamps, camera, movie projectors, signal detection and recovery and other equipment. Depending upon the requirement and extent of accuracy required the optical choppers find their wide use in industries, scientific research, aerospace, healthcare and military applications.Widening application area of the optical choppers are amplifying the growth of global optical chopper market. Expanding demands for high tech cardio machines in the hospitals, anti-lock braking systems, movie projectors etc. are creating a big opportunity for the global optical choppers market. Moreover, technological advancements in machine vision and imaging coupled with increasing demand for advanced equipment in research institutions is likely to drive growth in optical chopper market globally during the forecast period.Some of the minor restraints identified in the optical chopper market are linked with technological limitations such as distortion in frequency measurements due to presence of moving parts and thus giving rise to machine vibration and mechanical wear and tear.A TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the major market participants involved in the manufacturing of optical choppers are Altechna, SRS, McPherson, Hinds Instruments, Scitec Instruments, Thor Labs, New Focus, Edmund Optics, Newport Corporation, Boston Electronics Corporation etc.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
Semiconductor Wafer Cleaning Systems Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Semiconductor wafer manufacturing requires utmost quality standards to be followed and the production output needs to be free from contamination. Superior quality of wafer surface is a necessary requisite for easy and suitable fabrication of VLSI and ULSI circuits. Presence of unwanted particles or materials during the manufacturing process of semiconductor wafer, results in the degradation of product quality. The unwanted particles, materials, or contamination can be of caused due to presence of alkali metals, heavy metals, organic contamination, dopants, base, acid contamination, etc. These impurities are removed with the help of semiconductor wafer cleaning systems. The demand for semiconductor cleaning systems is closely related with electronics production which is mainly concentrated in Asia Pacific region.A sample of this report is available upon request @Semiconductor wafer cleaning systems, on the basis of technology are classified as cryogen aerosol based cleaning technology, vapor cleaning technology, local area cleaning technology, fine particle detection technology and supercritical fluid based cleaning technology. There are various steps involved in wafer cleaning process which are often identified as purposes such as pre diffusion clean, particulate removal clean, metallic ion removal, film removal, and post etch clean.On the basis of type of equipment, the semiconductor wafer cleaning systems can be segmented into rotary wafer etching system and semi-automated or manual wet batch system. On the basis of end use the semiconductor wafer cleaning systems can be segmented into those being used for removal of particle contamination, metallic contamination, and chemical contamination.On the basis of geography the semiconductor wafer cleaning systems market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Japan, Middle East & Africa, Latin America, North America and Europe. Asia Pacific region is expected to be the largest market for these systems owing to increasing semiconductor production and electronics industry output. Prominent countries in Asia Pacific to represent promising growth in semiconductor wafer manufacturing systems include China, South Korea and Taiwan. Some of the underlying demand driving factors include miniaturization of electronics devices, reducing thickness of circuit systems, increasing demand of portable consumer electronics devices and constantly improving quality standards of production. Reduction in size of microelectronic devices and introduction of advanced materials in semiconductor manufacturing has substantially increased the demand for wafer cleaning and thus semiconductor wafer cleaning systems.Some of the trends identified in end use industry sectors such as increasing automation in industries / factories, increasing preference of customers towards aesthetics of electronics or consumer products, improving standards of product performance and increasing scale of defragmentation in electronics industry is driving electronics manufacturers to constantly evolve and generate quality output. Such initiatives are in turn expected to drive adoption of semiconductor wafer cleaning systems across the globe.A TOC of this report is available upon request @Utilization of semiconductor wafer cleaning systems at vital stage in electronics production leads to low bargaining power of electronics component manufacturer over the system suppliers. Some of the players in the market we identified includes, Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd, Tokyo Electron Limited, Cleaning Technologies Group, Lam Research Corporation, Falcon Process Systems, LLC, MEI Wet Processing Systems and Services LLC, Modutek Corporation, and Akrion Systems LLC.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
Silicon Photonics Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/5930
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Silicon photonics refers to the application of photonic systems using silicon as an optical medium. The silicon material used in such photonic systems is designed with sub micrometer precision and is deployed into the microphotonic components. The silicon photonics systems works at the wavelength of 1.55 micrometer that falls under the infrared spectrum and is most commonly used for optical communications. Silicon photonics combines technologies such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and 3D Stacking. The basic operation of silicon photonics includes the transfer of data as optical rays between the computer chips. Silicon photonics is basically an approach for designing optical devices using silicon and use photons to transfer enormous data at high speeds. Additionally, this technology enables data transfer at low power consumption over an optical fiber. Moreover, silicon photonics satisfies the mounting need of high data transfer rate and enhances the capabilities such as computational and processing needs of data centers.A sample of this report is available upon request @Pressing bandwidth, cloud computing performance needs for data centers, virtualization, fast-growing internet traffic and other intensive data are the key factors driving the growth of silicon photonics market. Silicon photonics are majorly used in telecom, datacom, consumer applications (connecting laptops, PCs, HDTVs), datacenters and high performance computers, commercial video, metrology and sensors, medical, military and aerospace. Data communication is one of the major market share holders and it dwarfs all other silicon photonics application. In addition, features such as low environmental footprint, low heating of components, low operating cost, high optical functions integration, high density of interconnects, low error rate and spectral efficiency are adding value to the silicon photonics products. Thus, these factors are expected to drive the market of silicon photonics in the coming years. However, the major challenges such as technical mismatches with high volume markets and availability of substitute technologies such as vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) are expected to hinder the growth of silicon photonics market.The silicon photonics based systems deploy several components such as wavelength division multiplexer filters, optical modulators, optical interconnects, silicon photonic waveguides, silicon LED's and silicon photo-detectors. The silicon photonics systems exhibits physical properties such as optical guiding and dispersion tailoring, Kerr non-linearity, two-photon absorption, free charge carrier interaction, second order non-linearity and the Raman effect. These properties govern the propagation of light through an optical medium. Silicon photonics technology is used for providing optical interconnects, optical routing and signal processing. Moreover, with technological advancement it is expected that this technology will widely be deployed for long range communication applications over the coming years. Silicon phonics finds its applications in several industries such telecommunications, IT, sensing and metrology, healthcare, consumer electronics and displays, and research and development.Countries with high level of technology adoption and advancement across North America and Europe are the leading markets for silicon photonics. Moreover, Asia Pacific market is expected to witness rapid technological upgrades and thus serves as an opportunity for this market in the coming years. The ongoing use of silicon for developing integrated circuits and the compatibility of silicon photonics technology with the existing fabrication techniques encourages several research institutes and large players in the electronic manufacturing industry to adopt silicon photonics technology.Request to view Table of Content @Leading players in silicon photonics market are Luxtera, Molex Inc., Mellanox Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Global Foundries, Altis, Texas Instruments, BAE Systems, TSMC, Avago Technologies, LightWire, Intel, Teraxion, Infinera, Color Chip, Fujitsu, Cisco, HP, IBM, NTT, Oracle, Leti, imec, ePIXfab, Scorpios Technologies, Caliopa and Aurrion among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Touchless Sensors Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Touchless sensing is the next generation evolution in human machine interface (HMI) technology. It is typically used to detect the presence or motion of a person within the coverage area of sensor. Touchless sensing is a technology that combines the advantages of optical sensing with biometric sensing systems. Touchless sensors enable scanning of biometric images or simply the presence of a person without the need for physical contact with the sensors. The optical source in the system illuminates the object and the image is scanned using camera. The optical source used for illumination is highly sophisticated and ensures high quality image for detection. Touchless sensor systems are highly appreciable in areas with hygiene concerns such as washrooms, restaurant kitchens and others. In addition, touchless sensors are increasingly being preferred for automatic entrance/exits in shopping malls, railway stations, airports and other public places.A sample of this report is available upon request @Touchless sensors market is currently in nascent stage and is expected to show strong growth in near future. This is majorly due to several advantages of touchless sensors over conventional touch based sensing systems. Touchless sensors are cost effective as compared to the touch based sensors and require low maintenance cost. In addition, as the system is touch free, wear and tear caused to the sensor system is significantly reduced thereby extending the life of system. Touchless sensors can be easily installed with the existing hardware and do not incur additional installation costs. As the systems are based on touchless sensing technology, touchless sensor systems can also be used for security purposes especially in areas with restricted access. Furthermore, growing demand for sophisticated and contact-free sensing systems is another significant factor boosting the growth of touchless sensors market. Unlike conventional touch based sensors, touchless sensors analyze the biometric image to check if it is unmodified. This significantly increases the security against fake entries at access points.Touchless sensors market is broadly segmented based on type of technology, product, application and geographic regions. Touchless sensors are based on different technologies such as infrared, ultrasonic sound waves, electric/capacitive near field and others. The products in touchless sensors are categorized based on touchless biometrics and sanitary equipment. Some of the products for sanitary equipment are soap dispenser, faucets, trash-can, flushes, paper towel and hand dryer. Touchless biometrics includes products such as iris, fingerprint, face, voice and other object recognition sensors. The touchless sensors find wide applications in healthcare, consumer electronics, retail stores, public places, automobile industry, security, home appliances and other automation systems. Touchless sensors are used for security majorly in government sector and are expected to be the most lucrative application due to growing security concerns in government sector. Furthermore, touchless sensors market based on geographic regions is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). At present, North America is the largest market for touchless sensors owing to the high demand for sophisticated sensing sanitary systems as well as touchless biometrics.Request to view Table of Content @Some of the leading companies in the touchless sensors market are Cognitec Systems GmbH, Cross Match Technologies, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Pebbles Ltd., Qualcomm, Inc., XYZ Interactive Technologies, Inc., Microchip Technology, Inc., MorphoTrak, LLC (Safran group) and others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Automated Fare Collection System Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Automated fare collection (AFC) system is the automated version of manual fare collection. It allows public transportation authoritys such as metro, rail, and buses to implement fast and efficient ticketing system. The automated fare collection system allows tracing and managing the funds generated through sales and by use of transport fare media, thereby helping to thrust revenue of the companies. Contactless technology, smart card, and electronic payment reduce the cost associated with handling cash transaction. Smart cards technology is extensively used fare collection systems because it offers benefits such as reduced maintenance & operating cost, improve efficiency, and reduced frauds.A sample of this report is available upon request @The automated fare collection system market is segmented on the basis of technology, components and geography. Based on technology, the automatic fare collection system market can be categorized into smart cards, magnetic strips, near field communication (NFC), and optical character recognition (OCR). The adoption of NFC technology is expected to remain high owing to its benefits such as fault tolerance and high speed contactless transaction. These technologies reduce the cost associated with handling cash transactions and save time of travelers by eliminating the queue for obtaining tickets. On the basis of components, the automated fare collection system market can be segmented as hardware components and software components. Hardware components include vending machine, hand held terminals, and fare gates. Furthermore, on the basis of geography the automated fare collection system market can be categorized into five major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. North America and Europe are anticipated to be the dominant regions over the forecast period owing to the increased government spending for improving transport infrastructure. Asia Pacific automatic fare collection systems market is also expected to witness significant growth owing to the development in countries such as India and China. China and India are focusing on building better commutation facilities such as high speed train, metro train and mono rail.Governments of various countries such as India, China, and U.S., among others are focusing on enhancing the transportation infrastructure and security systems, which in turn is fueling the growth of automated fare collection system market. New payment gateways such as account based payment systems using credit; debit and bank cards are driving the demand of automated fare collection systems.Development of monorail and metro in metropolitan cities is furthermore expected to stimulate the growth of automated fare collection system market, globally. Increasing adoption of NFC based mobile phones is anticipated to furthermore spur the demand of automated fare collection systems. NFC enabled devices allows travelers to perform safe transactions by holding it close to the electronic terminal. Rising need to enhance business process in an organization for increasing profit margins is one of the key factors triggering the demand for automated fare collection systems across the globe. Transit agencies are collaborating with the financial institution, payment gateway providers, and system integrators to reduce the overall cost and providing cost effective shared infrastructure.Request to view Table of content @Some of the key players in the automated fare collection system include Advanced Card Systems Ltd., Atos SE, Cubic Transportation Systems, Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH, NXP Semiconductors, Omron Corporation, ST Electronics, Thales Group, Trapeze Group and Vix Technology among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Radio Frequency Components Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Radio frequency components are the fundamental components required by any communication device for its proper functioning. The advancements in technology and miniaturization property (capability to fit in small size) of RF components are the factors driving this market forward. In addition, with advancements in universal mobile telecommunication network (3G and 4G), the market has seen high demand for tuners and switchers for offering precise functionality to other radio frequency devices such as demodulators, power amplifiers, etc. Although, the radio frequency components market is witnessing good growth, the production of radio frequency components requires significant investment from vendors, posing a challenge to the growth of radio frequency component market.A sample of this report is available upon request @The radio frequency components market is segmented on the basis of components, modules, applications, and geography. The radio frequency components market is segmented on the basis of its components into five major categories, namely- RF filter (RX/TX FILTERS), duplexers, power amplifiers, antenna switches, and demodulators. On the basis of applications, the radio frequency components market is segmented into four major categories, namely- cellular phones, tablets and note books, SMART TVs, and STB (Set Top Box). The global traction transformer market is further segmented on the basis of modules into six major categories, namely- TX module, RX module, antenna switch module, duplexer + PA module, multi duplexer module, and RX + duplexer module. The radio frequency components market is segmented on the basis of geography into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of World (ROW).Request to view Table of content @Some of the leading players in the radio frequency components market include Triquint Semiconductors (U.S.), Murata Manufacturing (Japan), RDA Microelectronics (China), Skyworks Inc. (U.S.), RF Micro devices (U.S.), and AVAGO Technologies (U.S.). Other key players in the market include, ANADIGICS Inc., Vectron International, Tektronix, Inc., Epson Toyocom, WIN Semiconductors Corp., and Mitsubishi Electric 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
Nurse Call Systems Market Worth USD 1.8 Billion Globally by 2021
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New York, January 31: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Nurse Call Systems Market By Equipment Type (Nurse Call Buttons, Nurse Call Intercoms, Nurse Call Mobile Systems, and Nurse Call Integrated Communication Systems) and By Communication Technology (Wired Communication Equipment and Wireless Communication Equipment) - Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021The global Nurse Call System Market to cross at USD 1.8 billion by 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 14% in the given forecast period.Browse Full Report:A Nurse Call system is an emergency call system used for the patients to call for nurse service in case of an emergency. This is used by majority of hospitals or health care facilities to alert nurses. The alarm used can be a buzzer or audio or visual way. Due to the growing demand for emergency communication and in order to provide better health services these systems are widely used. There will be rise in the innovative nurse call systems in the coming years.The major driving factors of Nurse Call systems are as follows: Increasing baby boomer population. Need for more diversified and integrated platforms. The preference for mobility devices. Changing reimbursement scenario. Rising budget allocation in healthcare for elderly people.The restraining factors of Nurse Call systems are as follows: The government regulations on distribution and manufacturing of nurse call systems are restricting the growth of this market.Download Free Sample Report:The Nurse Call systems is segmented by equipment type as Nurse call buttons, Nurse call intercoms, Nurse call Mobile Systems, Nurse Call Integrated Communication Systems. The Nurse Call Systems is segmented by communication technology as wired communication Equipment, Wireless Communication Equipment. The Nurse Call system is segmented by End use as Hospitals, OPD Clinics, Assisted Living Centers, and Ambulatory Services.The Nurse Call Systemsgeographic 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 Nurse Call Systemsand related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2021.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for Nurse Call systems.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 Nurse Call systems 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 Rauland-Borg Corporation, Stanley Healthcare, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Tyco SimplexGrinnell, Ascom Holding AG, Cornell Communications, Inc., Azure Healthcare Limited, Jeron Electronic Systems, Inc., and Vigil Health Solutions, Inc.. are provided in the report. 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 Market Segmentation of Nurse Call Systems is as follows:By Equipment Type Nurse Call Buttons Nurse Call Intercoms Nurse Call Mobile Systems Nurse Call Integrated Communication SystemsBy Communication Technology Wired Communication Equipment Wireless Communication EquipmentBy End-use Hospitals OPD Clinics Assisted Living Centers Ambulatory ServicesBY GEOGRAPHY North America Asia Pacific Europe Latin America and Africa Middle EastAbout 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
Wireless Chipsets Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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A wireless chipsets are a part of internal hardware made to enable a device to communicate and connect to another wireless device. A wireless adapter or chipset internet card is an inner hardware design, which is used in wireless communication systems or computer to connect with other devices. The market is expected to grow with a double digit CAGR. The consumers shift towards portable devices coupled with the increase usage of wireless devices increases the use of wireless chipsetsA sample of this report is available upon request @The growth of the market is fueled by increased demand of the wireless devices and increased application areas of wireless chipsets. In addition, the shift from wired to wireless technology acts as a driving force for the wireless chipsets market. Some other drivers for this market are fast growth in the tablets and PC market and technology advancement related to the communications protocol and introduction of frequency bands in some emerging countries. However, complex inserted systems increases the cost of production and swiftly changing technological requirements acts as a restraint for the market.The total market can be segmented on the basis of type, application and technology. The segmentation by type includes mobile ZigBee chipsets, WiMAX chipsets, wireless/Wi-Fi chipsets, LTE chipsets and wireless display/video chipsets. The application segment includes Computers, laptops, mobile phone, global positioning system (GPS), routers and other wireless devices. The technology segment includes such as HD Display and Video, Low-power WLAN, Dual-protocol ZigBee and Multi-mode LTE. The market can be segmented by geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and RoW.Request to view Table of content @The key players of the wireless chipsets market are Greenpeak Technologies Ltd., Atmel Corporation, Altair Semiconductor, Inc., Amimon Ltd., Gainspan Corporation, Broadcom Corporation, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Intel Corporation and GCT Semiconductor Inc., among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
(Recasts after conclusion of meeting)
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, warned Iran that its testing two days ago of a long-range ballistic missile is unacceptable and an act the United States believes violates its nuclear accord with world powers.
"I will tell the people across the world that is something you should be alarmed about," Haley told reporters after the Security Council's consultations on Iran. "The United States is not naive. We are not going to stand by. You will see us call them out as we said we would and you are also going to see us act accordingly."
Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif neither confirmed or denied the launching of the missile.
Iran said on Tuesday it would never use its ballistic missiles to attack another country and defended its missile tests, saying they are neither part of a nuclear accord with world powers nor a U.N. Security Council resolution endorsing the pact.
The Security Council recommended the matter of the reported missile testing be studied on a committee level, according to British U.N. ambassador Matthew Rycroft.
"On Iran, there was very significant concern about the ballistic missile launch which has now been confirmed," Rycroft said.
A U.S. official said on Monday that Iran had test-launched on Sunday a medium-range ballistic missile that exploded after 630 miles (1,010 km).
In July 2015, Iran and six world powers reached a deal under which it curbed its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from sanctions.
(Reporting by Ned Parker; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Automation Instrumentation Market Headed for Growth and Global Expansion by 2021
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Automation is the use of several control systems for operating equipment such as boilers and heat treating ovens, machinery, switching in telephone networks, stabilization and steering of aircraft, ships and other applications with reduced or minimal human intervention. Automation saves labor and energy and improves quality and precision. Automation can be broadly divided into process and discrete automation. Instrumentation is the science and art of control and measurement of process variables within a manufacturing or production area. Several types of instrumentation techniques include network instrumentation, programmable instrumentation, operating systems instrumentation and processor instrumentation. Instrumentation goes together with automation as instruments are used in the automation process to measure, analyze or monitor the level of a products performance.A sample of this report is available upon request @One of the major factors driving the growth of automation instrumentation market is the increasing demand of automation instrument from process industries. However, lack of effective product differentiation may pose a challenge to the growth of automation instrumentation market. For example, various automation instrument retailers face augmented competition from regional and local vendors owing to lack of effective product differentiation. To overcome this problem, many retailers have started presenting customized automation solutions which not only meet the client needs but is offered to them at a competitive price. As a result, several companies across process industries which include Chemical, Oil and Gas and Petrochemical are opting for automation instruments so that they could enhance their operational efficiency.A TOC of this report is available upon request @By geography, countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China are witnessing rapid growth in the automation instrumentation market due to the upstream industries of Refining Chemicals along with Electric Utilities, Oil & Gas, Metals and Mining. Some of the key players in the market include Emerson Electric Co., BB Ltd., Yokogawa Electric Corp. and Honeywell International Inc. among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Temperature Probe Market 2016 - 2024; Technical developments and advent of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are likely to create greater opportunities
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Temperature probes are used to measure the amount of coldness and heat energy, generated by a system. These sensors help in detecting physical change to the temperature producing digital output. Furthermore, temperature sensors are mainly used in sectors including healthcare, food & beverage, automotive and consumer electronics, defense industry. They have proved to be essential in serving the growing demand for advance automation in theTemperature sensors are used in various industrial applications, which need process control with high accuracy. These probes are mainly used for sensitive processes, which need controlled process environments for example in chemical mixing, monitoring. Industrial processes which frequently requires to test and measure equipments temperature and volume, also use temperature probes on large scale. For example, clinical research processes have highly controlled manufacturing environments.These probes play important role in manufacturing, handling, storing of medical equipment and drugs, as they maintain basic overall performance by monitoring temperature. The current developments in healthcare sensing probes are responsible for increase in the trend of continuous patient monitoring. As a result it can reduce overall healthcare costs and help to improve treatment outcomes. These medical sensors are capable of monitoring of vital signs, for example patients temperature and blood pressure that are directly recorded in the electronic format. It also reduces sloppy management of patient records and providing the user with the latest information. Currently consumer healthcare is amongst the major fields which holds a promising future for sensors with a fastest growth rate than all other applications.Read Full Report:The escalating burden of chronic disorders as well as, the worldwide, surging population count has consequently propelled the demand for these equipments. Chronically ill patients and the large elderly population subset form the target population for the sensor-based devices as it is imperative for them to undergo routine checkups; thus, facilitating remote and point-of-care patient monitoring.Besides this, increased adoption rate of surveillance and checkup devices are further driving the temperature sensors market. In addition, factors such as strict government guidelines to ensure environmental safety and ongoing demand for electronic products and computing peripherals have kept the prospects of the market high.The raw material used for manufacturing plays a crucial role in sensor efficiency and durability. Use of new raw materials such as lithium-niobate and langasite has increased the measurement ranges of temperature sensors. However, silicon based sensors are primarily used owing to their availability and low cost as they are produced in bulk. Multisensors are increasingly used for mass applications owing to their stability which, is expected to drive overall temperature sensors market growth.Technical developments and advent of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are likely to create greater opportunities.The home healthcare category such as pregnancy kits and glucose monitoring kits is anticipated to witness lucrative growth over the years. The cost of diagnosis in hospitals and other healthcare units is high; hence, the preference of home healthcare equipments, such as diagnostic kits, over hospitals is observed to be rising. The high-unmet needs of the huge target population are expected to further open avenues for the market players in the industry.However, dominance of legacy technologies and awareness of end-users have hampered the market growth. Quality, accuracy of temperature probes and raw material used for manufacturing has hampered the market.Download exclusive Sample of this report:The Global Market of Temperature Probe is segmented on basis of product type, application, end user, and geography. The market by product type includes fiber optic, temperature sensors IC, bimetallic, resistance temperature detector, IR temperature sensor, thermistor, and thermocouple. Based on applications, the market is segmented as surgical, diagnostic, therapeutic and monitoring. The end user of temperature probes include hospitals, physician offices, nursing homes, home healthcare facilities and others.Geographically, the market is segmented into six major regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Rest of the World (RoW). In terms of geography, North America followed by Europe account for the largest market share for because of availability of sophisticated primary, secondary, and tertiary-care healthcare settings supported the market. Moreover, the well-established reimbursement network, suitable government funding, and the increasing health awareness further facilitates the incorporation of the sensors in the medical devices.The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness a remunerative growth over the next few years. This can be attributed to the heightened number of individuals suffering from chronic disorders, such as diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory problems.The key market players active in the temperature sensor market are Analog Devices Inc., Maxim Integrated, Measurement Specialties Inc., Microchip Technology Inc., Honeywell International Inc., NXP Semiconductors, STMicroelectronics, Panasonic Corporation, Texas Instruments and Siemens AG.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.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:
Flat Panel X-Ray Detectors Market (Application - Security, Manufacturing, Construction, Semiconductors, and Bomb Disposal) Outlook 2024
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Global Flat Panel X-Ray Detectors Market: SnapshotThe global flat panel X-ray detectors market is currently being driven by the surge in demand shown by the manufacturing sector due to improving quality check standards. The use of these detectors also reduces the overall need for manpower while increasing production efficiency. The growing demand for electronic products has also led to the growing need to increase manufacturing capabilities, further increasing the scope of demand for flat panel X-ray detectors. The market is also being bolstered by the advancing research and development efforts that are contributing in making the units more affordable. However, the global flat panel X-ray detectors market is being restrained by the increasingly stringent regulatory framework applied to the detectors due to them being classified under radiation emitting devices.The global flat panel X-ray detectors market is being projected at a CAGR of 5.9% in terms of value from 2016 to 2024. The markets revenue at the end of 2016 was calculated to reach US$1.08 bn and is expected to reach US$1.72 bn by the end of 2024.Get More Information:APAC Demand for Flat Panel X-ray Detectors SurgesIn terms of geography, the global flat panel detectors market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America grabbed the leading share in the global flat panel X-ray detectors market for 2015, owing to the increasing use of these detectors in security and bomb disposal services. Their continued use in the above applications as well as the growing use in manufacturing is expected to drive the regions market further during the forecast period. Flat panel X-ray detectors are also being used extensively in the medical sector. Furthermore, the steady recovery of North America from recession is resulting into increased infrastructure development for manufacturing, putting more focus on the use of flat panel X-ray detectors for quality analytics purposes.The flat panel X-ray detectors market in Asia Pacific is characterized by its growing demand in the emerging economies of India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, especially in the healthcare sector. The flat panel detector market in Asia Pacific offers considerable opportunities to global and regional players and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2016 to 2024, mainly due to the availability of untapped opportunities, improving health care infrastructure, and increasing awareness about modern diagnostics. Moreover, the region is witnessing growth in terms of new manufacturing facilities due to easy availability of workforces in China and India. The use of flat panel detectors to improve production quality is aiding their demand in Asia Pacific as well.Manufacturing Utilities for Flat Panel X-ray Detectors on the RiseBy application, the global flat panel detectors market has been segmented into security, manufacturing, construction, semiconductors, and bomb disposal. The manufacturing sector is expected to hold the leading market share over the given forecast period. Other applications in the global flat panel X-ray detectors market lie in the industries of healthcare, automotive, and aerospace, all of which are likely to provide sizeable opportunities to players over the coming years.The leading players in the global flat panel X-ray detectors market so far have included Rayence, Inc., PerkinElmer, Teledyne DALSA, Inc., Konica Minolta, Inc., Olympus Corporation, YXLON International , Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd. , Varian Medical Systems, Bruker Corporation, and Hamamatsu Photonics.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:
Healthcare BI Platform Market to Exceed USD$ 3.9 Billion By 2023
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New York, January 31: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Healthcare BI Platform Market (By Function - Clinical Analytics, Financial Analytics, Operational Analytics, and Others; By Deployment Type - On-premise and Cloud; By Model Type -Self-service BI and Corporate BI) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023The healthcare BI platform market is expected to exceed more than USD$3.9 Billion by 2023 growing at a CAGR of more than 11% in the given forecast period 2015 to 2023.You Can Browse Full Report Here:Business intelligence consists of different tools and techniques which gain and transform the row information into useful and valuable data for business purpose. It provides present, past and future view of business processes. In health care the meaning of executive performance is varying as rapidly as the requirement for it is increasing. Healthcare BI contains business oriented actions includes decision support and reporting all technical data warehouse content. Healthcare associations such as HMOs, clinics and hospital gather and study patients sensitive data and patients financial data. Healthcare BI industry provide security model so that only authorized peoples are see the patients private data and no lack of clinical, financial and operational data in healthcare. These organizations contains digitizing medical data for over many years and can search, access and use all type of public and government sector data.The major driving factors of healthcare BI platform market are as follows: Increasing requirement for reduction in healthcare costs Centralized healthcare permission increase the Uptake of BI Solutions increasing in data availability Requirement to develop healthcare result and improve patient fulfillmentThe restraints factors of healthcare BI platform market are as follows: Need of resources with cross functional ability Healthcare BI platform system complexityDownload Free Sample Report:The healthcare BI platform market is segmented on the lines of its product, deployment and model. The healthcare BI platform market is segmented on the lines of its product like clinical analytics, financial analytics and operational analytics. Under deployment segmentation it covers on-premise and cloud deployment. The healthcare BI platform market is segmented on the lines of its model like self-service and corporate model.The healthcare BI platform 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 healthcare BI platform 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 2020.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for healthcare BI platform.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 SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, SAS Institute, Inc., IBM Corporation, OpenText Corporation, and Information Builders .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 Healthcare BI platform Market has been segmented as below:by Product Segment AnalysisGlobal Healthcare BI Platform Market, by Function Clinical Analytics Financial Analytics Operational Analytics Others (Regulatory Reporting, etc.)by Deployment Analysis On-premise Cloudby Model Analysis Self-service Corporateby Regional Analysis North America Europe Asia-Pacific Rest 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
Smart View Systems Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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With growing population and increasing crime across the globe, the individual safety is becoming a major concern. In order to overcome such problems, technological implementations such as installations of video camera play a vital role which is realized by many entities and individual around the world. Smart view system comprises set of various hardware and software such as video surveillance system and recorders. Nowadays, smart view systems can be easily be installed in commercial as well as residential places to ensure the seamless operation while ensuring the high-level security. By implementing such system within the cities and commercial facilities the local government/municipalities and an individual has benefited in many ways such as increased safety and reduced level of pollutants.A sample of this report is available upon request @Rising concern over safety, stringent government laws towards video surveillance in commercial places are some of the major drivers along with macroeconomic factors such as increasing national income resulting in infrastructural developments and growing GDP are fuelling the growth of the global smart view systems market. However, the high cost of implementation and slower adoption rate in some countries can pose a major challenge towards the growth of the global smart view systems market.Global smart view system market is segmented on the basis of geography, by a range and by end users. On the basis of range, the market is segmented into three categories;Short RangeMedium RangeLong RangeOn the other hand, on the basis of end-users the market is categorized into two segments namely; residential and industrial & commercial.The global smart view system market is expected to grow with the significant rate over the forecast period from 2015 to 2025. As of 2014, the medium range of smart view camera dominated the market, while long rage is expected to expand at higher CAGR. In terms of volume commercial & industrial segment accounted for more than 60% shares due to expanding industrial and commercial infrastructure activity in developing economies such as India and China.The global smart view systems market is geographically segmented into seven key regions which are, North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan and the Middle East & Africa. As of 2014, Asia Pacific dominated the global smart view system market followed by North America and Europe. In terms of value and volume, Asia Pacific is anticipated to remain dominant over the forecast period. On the other hand, BRIC countries are expected to grow at higher CAGR when compared to other countries in their respective regions.A TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the key players identified in global smart view systems market are CBS Interactive Inc., ADLINK Technology Inc., CCTV Camera Pros, Secureye Pvt Ltd., Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc. among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
fluidOps Builds Market Presence through New Partner Program
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31 January 2017. Walldorf, Germany fluid Operations AG (fluidOps), a leader in semantic technologies, today announced the launch of its new partner program. The program empowers partners to support their clients with the technologies and solutions from fluidOps and create new perspectives through Smart Data.The multitiered program is geared to the different business models of current and potential partners. Solutions and services support the requirements of value-added resellers (VARs)/sales partners, system integrators/consulting partners, ISVs/OEMs and technology partners.The program is open to partners with expertise in Data Management, the Internet of Things (IoT) as well as Data Center and Cloud Management. In the areas of Data Management and IoT, fluidOps delivers Information Workbench, a powerful, complete platform from integrating to implementing Smart Data applications. This platform supports partners and their clients in modelling future-proof, innovative Industry 4.0 and IoT applications as part of the digital transformation. In the fields of Data Center and Cloud Management, eCloudManager provides a cloud management app for increasing productivity and automation levels even in hybrid cloud environments. eDataCenterAnalyzer ensures the necessary transparency across the data center.Industry 4.0, cloud computing, IoT, digitalization and Big Data provide an opportunity for our partners and their clients to strengthen their market positions with new concepts and business models, explained Stephan Friedlein, Director Partner & Solution Business, fluidOps. fluidOps has the technology and products to optimally address this challenge. Our objective is to build our market position through strong partnerships that generate win-win-win benefits.About fluid Operations Semantifying Businessfluid Operations AG (fluidOps) is a leader in semantic technologies. Its product portfolio includes:- Information Workbench - the Smart Data platform- eDataCenterAnalyzer - the app for data center transparency- eCloudManager - the cloud management app- IoT Manager the solution for IoT use casesUsers implement pioneering business models based on Smart Data and innovative use cases in data centers and IoT environments. The company and its employees have been honored with multiple awards for outstanding innovations. Its clients are renowned companies in the automobile, telecommunications, IT, media, healthcare and life sciences industries as well as public organizations. Founded in 2008, fluid Operations AG is based in Walldorf, Germany. Learn more atPress contactSimona Macikowski, Tel: +(49) 6227 3580 87-30, Email: press@fluidops.comfluid Operations AG, Altrottstr. 31, 69190 Walldorf, Germany
Digital Maps Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Digital maps are a virtual image created by collecting data and formatting it into an image. It is also called as cartography. The process of collecting data and formatting it into a virtual image is called as digital formatting. Its main application is to create maps that can provide accurate information and representation about a particular area, road or any other point of interest. Digital maps evolved from the traditional paper maps such as Thomas Guide.A sample of this report is available upon request @Digital maps are used in technology such as Google Maps, Foursquare, Global Positioning System (GPS) and Google Earth. Digital maps for GPS satellite networks are commonly used in automotive navigation systems. In the past decade, there have been a lot of technological advancements in digital maps such as traffic updates, road blocks, updated places of interest, landmarks etc. and hence making digital maps more user-friendly.Most of the traditional map providers such as AutoNavi and TomTom provides map updates for a few days only. However, few map providers are now providing map updates on a real-time basis. The digital map technology has evolved in the market in three steps: the first step is the introduction of digital maps, the second step is the increase in a coverage area and updates of digital maps. The third step is the updating digital map on real time basis.The key market drivers of digital maps are the increasing adoption of advanced technology in making maps and surveying and increasing adoption of digital maps in industries. The increase in competition among the providers of digital map technology is prompting the vendors to increase their product portfolios and to enhance their technology to offer more user-friendly maps to the customers. Motorized stations are GPS technologies are now being adopted in place of optical and mechanical instruments which were earlier used for surveying. Update on real time basis technology and greater coverage of remote areas are the new technological trends in digital maps market.One of the major Challenges of the market is the increasing adoption of crowdsourcing digital maps.Digital maps Market: SegmentationOn the basis of Usage, the global Digital Maps market is segmented intoIndoor MapsoAirportsoDepartmental StoresoMallsoOthersOutdoor MapsoAutomotive NavigationoMobile and The internetoPublic Sector Agencies and EnterpriseoOthersThe by 2015 end, APAC is estimated to have a fastest growth rate for Digital maps market due to advancement in technology and rising economic outlook. Europe and North America are estimated to be matured markets with slower growth of the market. However, North America is expected to lead other regions in terms of market share. The Middle East & Africa Digital maps market are still at a nascent stage. However, emerging countries such as UAE and Brazil are expected to have a significant market share in the near future.A TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the key market participants in the global Digital maps market are Apple Inc. AutoNavi Holding Ltd., Google Inc., Micello Inc., Tom Tom NV, NavInfo Co. Ltd., ArcGIS Online, Yahoo! Maps, Zenrin, WoNoBo , Bing Maps , GeoMapserver, MapQuest, MapSherpa, NearMap, OpenStreetMap, Inrix, Mapion, Mappy, Roadtrippers, WikiMapia, MapmyIndia, ViaMichelin, Magellan Navigation, Bhuvan and Baidu MapsAbout 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 Real and Compound Chocolate Market to Expand at 7% CAGR during 2016-2022
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Market research future published a half cooked research report on the global real and compound chocolate market has been estimated to grow over 7% post 2022.Market HighlightsChanging preferences of the direct consumption choice by the consumer, especially dark chocolate which is considered to be healthy, has application in various confectionaries and dairy products is driving real chocolate sales. Globally, there has been increase in preferences for the fat-free and healthy food products by the consumers. Major real chocolate companies are tapping into people's growing health and wellness concerns by improving the nutritional profile of its chocolates portfolio.Major companies have also invested in vending machines, so as to create awareness, advertise new products, and also to get feedback from the consumers. Among major applications of compound chocolate, choco-dipped strawberries has gained higher demand which has increased the potential growth of compound chocolate.Request a Sample Copy @Key PlayersThe key players profiled in real and compound chocolate are as Hershey's (U.S.) Ferrero (Italy) Nestle (Switzerland), Domingo Ghirardelli (U.S.) Lindt & Sprungli (Switzerland) Scharffen Berger (U.S.) Lotte (Japan) Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd. (Japan) Fuji Oil Co., Ltd (Japan) Barry Callebaut (Switzerland)Overall, increasing industrial demand from confectionery, chocolate processing bakery foods, and beverages will have a positive impact on the global real and compound chocolate market. Hence, the global real and compound chocolate market has been estimated to grow over 7% post 2022.Market Research Analysis: Rapid innovation in the compound chocolate products inclusion of various flavors, application-specific products like choco-chips, chocolate syrup are driving the compound chocolate market Real Chocolate is generally considered as premium chocolate, has led to innovation in various formats like low sugar, fortified chocolate, and etc. has also supported the real chocolate market to a greater extentTaste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread in 110 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Real and Compound Chocolate Market Research Report- Forecast to 2022Intended Audience Chocolate manufacturers Dairy beverages manufacturers Bakery product manufacturers Confectionary product manufacturers Retailers, wholesalers E-commerce companies Traders, Importers and exportersU.S. and Europe accounted for higher market shareU.S. and Europe accounted for higher market share in the real and compound chocolate during the period 2011-2015, with market value of USD XX million and is expected to grow over USD XX million by 2022. Major real and compound chocolate companies are targeting APAC as potential region for investments in the real and compound chocolate market due to potential demand scenario.Browse full report @The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Table of Content1 Executive Summary2 Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Markets Structure3 Research methodology3.1 Research process3.2 Secondary research3.3 Primary research3.4 Forecast model3.5 Market Size estimation4 Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges5 Market Trends6 Market Factor AnalysisContinue..List Of TablesTable 1 Pestle Analysis-U.STable 2 Pestle Analysis- IndiaTable 3 Pestle Analysis- ChinaTable 4 Pestle Analysis- JapanTable 5 Pestle Analysis- GermanyTable 6 Key Suppliers Of Raw Materials For Functional Beverages ProductionContinueList Of FiguresFigure 1 Research MethodologyFigure 2 Primary Data Analysis ApproachFigure 3 Secondary Data Analysis ApproachFigure 4 Trend In Functional Beverages Imports 2011-15Figure 5 Growth Rate In Functional Beverages Imports 2011-15Figure 6 Functional Beverages Imports Market Share By Top 5 Importers (2011 Vs 2015)ContinueRelated ReportGlobal Savory Ingredients Market Information- by Product Type (Ribonucleotides, Monosodium Glutamate, Yeast Extracts, Hydrolyzed Animal Protein), by Ingredient Type, by Wellness Perspective, by Application and by Region - Forecast to 2022. Know more about this report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Paper Bags Packaging Market Insights by Type and Application - Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2022
Paper Bags Packaging Market
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Market Research Future published a half cooked research report on Global Paper Bags Packaging Market that contains information from 2016 to 2022.Market HighlightsPaper bags packaging are used extensively as eco-friendly and economic packaging material. These paper bags continue to be a popular choice for shopping and food items due to their eco-friendly disposition. Paper bags have become a fashion and status symbol in todays market, due to the amount of time and effort that brands spend designing attractive paper bags for their products. The major packaging industries are increasing the usage of the packaging in order to achieve the customer attraction. Many manufacturers are now shifting focus from the conventional packaging methods to paper packaging in order to differentiate their products in the market. Additionally, the paper bags helps in controlling pollution by providing disposable and eco-friendly packages. These are flexible and easy to use materials and offers various benefit to users. The increased awareness about environment protection induces the growth of the market.Request a Sample Report @The market is highly driven by the increasing awareness about the use of paper packaging and the demand from the North American region. The region is seen as highly potential market for the paper bags packaging and is expected to show even better market share by the end of the forecast period.Key PlayersThe key players of Global Paper Bags Packaging Market report include- DS Smith Plc., International Paper Company, WestRock Company, OJI Holding Corporation, Smurfit Kappa Group Plc., Georgia-Pacific LLC., INDEVCO, Holmen AB, and Hood Packaging Corporation.Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global Paper bags packaging industry, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the Global Paper Bags Packaging Market as products and application. On the basis of product it is segmented as flat paper bag, multi-wall paper sacks / paper shipping sacks, twisted paper bags and others. On the basis of application it is segmented as bakery & confectionery, dairy, consumer goods, pharmaceutical and others.Ask for your Specific Company Profile and Country Level Customization on Reports.Access Report Details @Market Research Analysis:The global market of paper bags packaging is growing rapidly. Disposable nature and quicker access are result of paper packaging market which makes the task easy and more flexible. It is expected that the Global Paper Bags Packaging Market will advance with higher growth rate as compared to previous years due to increase awareness among the people. However the current challenge for the market is the durability of the paper bags and such bags cannot be used for heavy items.Make an Enquiry of your Interest @On the basis of application, food industry leads the market in all the major regions across the globe. The reason is attributed to the eco-friendly material along with widening scope in food segment. On the basis of region, North America takes the lead as the largest market, followed by Europe and Asia-pacific. Furthermore increased investment in packaging by the key players has further fueled the demand for such market. The trend is expected to remain the same by the end of the forecast period.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Cleaning Robot Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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Cleaning is one of the basic requirement at household which is essential on daily basis and consumes both time and energy. Cleaning robot is an approach to make cleaning a time efficient and easy task and provide comfort to humans. Cleaning robots helps to detect the position of the area to be cleaned, estimates the path to reach the detected position and cleans the area with the help of vacuum cleaner attached. The camera is mounted on the roof so that the robot can easily navigate an area and clean the room using vacuum cleaner attached with the robot. Cleaning robots are widely used in commercial, healthcare, and other applications for cleaning floors, windows, lawns and pools. Moreover, cleaning robots constantly capture video and images and can sense the movements of any object or living thing.. It can be used to sound alarms in case of unwanted movements being noticed, thus ensuring security. Cleaning robot maintains the log of unclean and cleaned area in the secondary storage which helps to keep a track of records for future assistance.A sample of this report is available upon request @The cleaning robot market can be segmented on the basis of product, end-use application and geography. On the basis of product type, the cleaning robot market can be categorized into pool robot, window robot, floor robot, and lawn robot. Based on the end-use verticals, the cleaning robot market can be segmented into residential, commercial, industrial, and healthcare applications. Furthermore, on the basis of geography, the cleaning robot market is classified into five major regions including North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America is the most dominant market for cleaning robots owing to the presence of well-established cleaning robot manufacturers and high labor cost.Smaller size and ability to fit in limited space as compared to traditional robots is one of the key factors which is driving the adoption of cleaning robot, globally. The cleaning robots can also clean in areas with hazardous environment and where the human entry could prove fatal. These robots save labor cost and time since a single machine can perform the work of multiple laborers in lesser time. This is one of the factors fueling the demand of cleaning robots across the globe. Furthermore, the technological advancements, especially in visualization and sensing equipment is expected to trigger the growth of cleaning robotics market over the forecast period. The emergence of futuristic robotics is supporting the innovation of low cost, smaller size and technologically advanced cleaning robots. However, the low battery life and durability issues are some of the factors hindering the growth of cleaning robotics market.A TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the key players in cleaning robotics market include Dyson Ltd. (U.K.), Ecovacs Robotics, Inc. (U.S.), Infinuvo (U.S.), iRobot Corporation (U.S.), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), LG Electronics, Inc. (South Korea), Neato Robotics, Inc. (U.S.), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (South Korea), Intellibot Robotics LLC (U.S.), Moneual Inc. (US), and Yujin Robot Co., Ltd (South Korea).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
Grid-Connected Battery Storage Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR By 2021
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For over a period, energy storage in power sector has been conquered by one technology which is pumped hydropower storage. The deployment of renewable energy and policies for modernizing the electricity production as well as consumption are significantly propelling several advancements including the battery storage. This particular technology chemically stores energy and are located at the grid level where there is a point of demand. From technological side, battery storage is mature market with many suppliers providing reliable systems. Several issues related to battery storage such as performance, safety and regulatory, need to be handled before it is integrated into the power grids. Its use saves large amounts of renewable electricity and increases the system reliability. Battery storage offers positive as well as negative regulation capacity and faster ramp rate as compared to fossil fuel power plants which are constrained by a minimum operating level necessity below which the operation as well as maintenance costs would agonize.A sample of this report is available upon request @Battery storage provides flexibility to the grid systems across the end use applications. It is deployed mainly to aid solar and wind power energy as they are variable renewable sources and their production fluctuates with the unpredictable availability. The various application areas where the storage batteries are deployed for variable renewable energy savings include off-grid electrification with renewable energy, households using solar photovoltaic and in short term electricity supply in ancillary market. The battery storage system consists of various components such as battery enclosures, battery charge controller and sub panels for load circuits. The grid connected battery storage systems provides uninterruptible power and reduces the energy costs leading to better power management. The disadvantages of these battery storage system include additional battery costs and loss of efficiency while battery charging. In power sector, storage batteries can also be used for electricity frequency regulation. In addition to that, battery storage may stop the need for combustion turbines being online hence avoiding the excess emission of greenhouse gases from the grid plants.The increasing demand for renewable energy and rising diesel costs are significantly intensifying the need for battery storage systems in the power grids. Increased knowledge of the benefits provided by these installations among the utilities would make these storage batteries more competitive in the market. The growth in manufacturing sectors as well as technological advancements in power grids has propelled the grid-connected battery storage market. The government is also taking initiatives by providing subsidies as well as regulating the tariffs to elevate the market for grid-connected battery storage. In May 2015, Tesla Motors, Inc. an electric vehicle manufacturer launched battery storage offerings, with usage ranging from commercial to utility storage systems. In May 2015, the company along with Gaelectric Energy Storage Ltd announced the collaboration for developing multiple battery projects in Ireland in order to build new transmission services for integrating renewable energy such as solar and wind.A TOC of this report is available upon request @The market for grid connected battery storage is highly fragmented and includes various key players such as NGK Insulators, Ltd. Samsung SDI Co Ltd, Younicos, LG Chem Ltd., Johnson Controls, Inc., SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), GS Yuasa Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, BYD Auto Co., Ltd., AES Corporation and A123 Systems, LLC.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
3D NAND Memory Market Dynamics, Key Players Analysis, Business Opportunities, Industry News and Forecast to 2027
3D NAND Memory Market
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Synopsis of 3D NAND Memory MarketIndustry News In July 2016, Toshiba is planning to start manufacturing worlds first 64 layer 3D flash memory chips by the end of year 2016 In May 2016, Micron announced the new product launch of two 3D NAND solid state drives. In May 2014, Samsung announced the production of Industrys first 32 Layer 3D NAND memory.Key players in 3D NAND Memory MarketThe key players in the market of 3D NAND Memory market are- Samsung (South Korea) Toshiba (Japan), SanDisk (U.S.) Micron (U.S.) Intel Corp (U.S.) SK Hynix (South Korea) Apple Inc. (U.S.)Request a Sample Report @Market Overview3D NAND Memory is type of flash memory and non-volatile with various applications. It is a three dimensional arrangement of an array on a silicon substrate. This memory came into existence in the year 2013 by Samsung.Market Segmentation Segmentation by Type: Single-level Cell (SLC), Multi-level Cell (MLC) and Triple-level Cell (TLC). Segmentation by Application: Consumer Electronics, Mass Storage, Industrial, Aerospace & Defence, Telecommunication among others.Regional AnalysisAsia-Pacific is dominating the market of 3D NAND Memory. The main reason behind this is the increase in the demand for consumer electronic products in this region. India, China and Japan are some major countries dominating this market in Asia-Pacific region. Europe stands as third biggest market for 3D NAND MarketAccess the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 108 numbers of pages of the project report 3D NAND Memory MarketAccess Report Details @Brief Table for Contents for 3D NAND Memory Market1. Report Prologue2. Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market Segmentation3. Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast Model4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Mega Trends4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Value Chain Analysis5.2 PORTERS Five Forces5.3 demand & supply: gap analysis5.4 Pricing Analysis5.5 Investment Opportunity Analysis5.6 Merger and Acquisition Landscape5.7 UP-Coming trends in Global 3D NAND Memory Market5.7.1 Market trends5.7.2 Technological trends5.7.3 Insurance & Regulations5.7.4 Others6. Global 3D NAND Memory Market by Type7. Global 3D NAND Memory Market by Application8. Global 3D NAND Memory Market by RegionCONTINUEDGet In-Depth Table of Contents with List of Figures @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Red Berries Market Global Industry Demand, Growth, Prize and Business Forecast of 2021
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Research Beam added a report Global Red Berries Market Research Report 2016Description:Global Red Berries Market Research Report 2016The Global Red Berries Research Report is a comprehensive study of the recent market trends and consumption analysis in the global industry. The report provides an in-depth analysis for the historic period, 20112016 and the forecast period, 20172021. Market overview is offered on the basis of product overview and scope of 2017 Global Red Berries Market Research Report in the Food and Beverage. Furthermore, the study covers a detailed segmentation in terms of types, applications, and regions.Get Sample Report @: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: Berryhill Foods Inc. Dohler Group Fruit d'Or Hortex Group Kerr Concentrates Inc. Maberry & Maberry Berry Associates Milne Fruit Products NorthWest Berry Co-op. Ocean Spray Cranberry Inc. Pacific Coast Fruit Products Ltd. SunOpta, Inc. Townsend Farms, Inc.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.GetEnquire@TOC Includes: Market Overview Segment by Application Global Market Competition by Manufacturers Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017) Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2012-2017) Market Analysis by Application Manufacturing Cost Analysis Market Forecast (2017-2022)Check Full TOC@:About 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:
United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Market Report 2017: Market Size, Share, Growth, Segmentation, Consumption and Forecast 2022 Report
United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Market Report 2017
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GlobalQYResearch published new market size, share, growth, trends report "United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Market Report 2017" Forecast 2022.This report studies sales (consumption) of United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Market, focuses on the top players, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player, coveringSamsungSunny OpticalPrimaxGSEOFUJINONKOLENDIOSTECHHynixSONYAPTINAOmniVisionLITEONTISHICONRequest more informaiton atMarket Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisSplit by product types, with sales, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoType IType IISplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Mobile Phone Camera Module in each application, can be divided intoApplication 1Application 2View full report atTable of ContentsUnited States Mobile Phone Camera Module Market Report 20171 Mobile Phone Camera Module Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Mobile Phone Camera Module1.2 Classification of Mobile Phone Camera Module1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.3 Application of Mobile Phone Camera Module1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.4 United States Market Size Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) of Mobile Phone Camera Module (2012-2022)1.4.1 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Competition by Manufacturers2.1 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Revenue and Share by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.3 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Average Price by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.4 Mobile Phone Camera Module Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 Mobile Phone Camera Module Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by States (2012-2017)3.1 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.2 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Revenue and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.3 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Price by States (2012-2017)4 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (2012-2017)4.1 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.2 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.3 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Price by Type (2012-2017)4.4 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)5 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales (Volume) by Application (2012-2017)5.1 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)5.2 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)5.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis6.1 Samsung6.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors6.1.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.1.2.1 Product A6.1.2.2 Product B6.1.3 Samsung Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.2 Sunny Optical6.2.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.2.2.1 Product A6.2.2.2 Product B6.2.3 Sunny Optical Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.3 Primax6.3.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.3.2.1 Product A6.3.2.2 Product B6.3.3 Primax Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.4 GSEO6.4.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.4.2.1 Product A6.4.2.2 Product B6.4.3 GSEO Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.5 FUJINON6.5.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.5.2.1 Product A6.5.2.2 Product B6.5.3 FUJINON Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.6 KOLEN6.6.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.6.2.1 Product A6.6.2.2 Product B6.6.3 KOLEN Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.7 DIOSTECH6.7.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.7.2.1 Product A6.7.2.2 Product B6.7.3 DIOSTECH Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.8 Hynix6.8.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.8.2.1 Product A6.8.2.2 Product B6.8.3 Hynix Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.9 SONY6.9.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.9.2.1 Product A6.9.2.2 Product B6.9.3 SONY Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.10 APTINA6.10.2 Mobile Phone Camera Module Product Type, Application and Specification6.10.2.1 Product A6.10.2.2 Product B6.10.3 APTINA Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.11 OmniVision6.12 LITEON6.13 TI6.14 SHICON7 Mobile Phone Camera Module Manufacturing Cost Analysis7.1 Mobile Phone Camera Module Key Raw Materials Analysis7.1.1 Key Raw Materials7.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials7.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials7.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials7.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure7.2.1 Raw Materials7.2.2 Labor Cost7.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses7.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Mobile Phone Camera Module8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers8.1 Mobile Phone Camera Module Industrial Chain Analysis8.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing8.3 Raw Materials Sources of Mobile Phone Camera Module Major Manufacturers in 20158.4 Downstream Buyers9 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders9.1 Marketing Channel9.1.1 Direct Marketing9.1.2 Indirect Marketing9.1.3 Marketing Channel Development Trend9.2 Market Positioning9.2.1 Pricing Strategy9.2.2 Brand Strategy9.2.3 Target Client9.3 Distributors/Traders List10 Market Effect Factors Analysis10.1 Technology Progress/Risk10.1.1 Substitutes Threat10.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry10.2 Consumer Needs/Customer Preference Change10.3 Economic/Political Environmental Change11 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Market Forecast (2017-2022)11.1 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales, Revenue Forecast (2017-2022)11.2 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales Forecast by Type (2017-2022)11.3 United States Mobile Phone Camera Module Sales Forecast by Application (2017-2022)11.4 Mobile Phone Camera Module Price Forecast (2017-2022)12 Research Findings and Conclusion13 AppendixTo Purchase this premium Report With Complete TOC at :About Us:Global QYResearch () is the one spot destination for all your research needs. Global QYResearch holds the repository of quality research reports from numerous publishers across the globe. Our inventory of research reports caters to various industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc. With the complete information about the publishers and the industries they cater to for developing market research reports, we help our clients in making purchase decision by understanding their requirements and suggesting best possible collection matching their needs.Contact Us:Mr. Jay SmithSenior Manager Client EngagementsCall: +44 20 32390-2407Follow us:Twitter:Linkedin:
Global Bidets Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022
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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Global Bidets Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.A bidet is a low fixed container in a bathroom which you can use to wash your bottom. It looks like a toilet but has warm-water jets for personal hygiene after you use the toilet. Bidets are normally situated near the toilet and are especially helpful to: people who are recovering from surgery; people who have physical disabilities; people with dexterity or other problems that limit their range of motion; people who have various medical conditions, such as hemorrhoids, diarrhea, dysentery, difficult bowel movements, or other ailments that involve the rectal or genital areas; people who have developmental disabilities, such as Down's Syndrome, mental retardation, autism, or cerebral palsy; men and women who want better hygiene before or after sexual activities; and women who want more effective feminine hygiene during monthly menstrual periods.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Bidets in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Kohler TOTO LIXIL Corporation Panasonic ROCA Hocheng Group (HCG) Geberit Group Villeroy & Boch NCM Coway Duravit Samhong TechMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, covers Conventional bidet Bidet shower Add-on bidetsMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Household CommercialThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Bidets market.Chapter 1, to describe Bidets Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Bidets, with sales, revenue, and price of Bidets, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Bidets, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Bidets market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Bidets sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceTo Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @About ReportsWorldwide.comReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-4994Fax +1 (617) 398-4995abigail@reportsworldwide.com
Learn details of the Advances in Preclinical Imaging Market Forecast and Segments, 2017-2027
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Preclinical Imaging is used for imagining of living animals specifically for research purposes, research can be for drug development and other types. Imaging products are very important so as to observe the changes in organs, cell or a tissue these changes are observed in animals that respond to environmental changes or physiological changes. Imaging modalities are mostly non-invasive and in vivo and are considered to be important for studying animal. There are different types of modalities which are used for preclinical imaging such as CT imaging, MRI imaging, PET/SPECT imaging, multimodal imaging, optical imaging, ultrasound imaging, and photoacoustic (PAT) imaging. Apart from above factors preclinical imaging market has huge growth potential and is expected to continue over the forecast period. Technological advancement in preclinical imaging and the increasing adoption of molecular imaging technology for drug development tool are some factors that are expected to drive the preclinical imaging market over the forecast period. Moreover, companies are into collaborations with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to increase its geographical footprint globally which is expected to drive the global preclinical imaging market over the forecast period.Preclinical Imaging Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe demand for preclinical imaging market is fueled by technical innovation and discretionary funding which is thereby expected to drive the demand for preclinical imaging market over the forecast period. In addition the increasing number of clinical research organizations (CROs), research and development institutes, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals companies and other end users are propelling demand for preclinical imaging products. Encouragement for research and development, huge investments by government for research and need for drug development is expected to witness robust market growth during the forecast period. Moreover increasing applications such as life sciences, cosmetic industry and others for preclinical products is another factor that is expected to drive growth of the global preclinical imaging market over the forecast period. However, high cost of preclinical imaging systems and lack of awareness regarding preclinical imaging technology is expected to impede revenue growth of the preclinical imaging market over the forecast period.Request Free Report Sample@Preclinical Imaging Market: SegmentationThe global preclinical imaging market, is segmented on the basis of product type, by application, by end user and region.Segmentation by Product TypeMedical DevicesCT ImagingMRI ImagingPET/SPECT ImagingMultimodal ImagingOptical ImagingUltrasound ImagingPhotoacoustic (PAT) ImagingReagentsServicesSegmentation by ApplicationsOncologyNeurologyCardiologyInflammationInfectious diseasesSegmentation by End UserHospitalsClinicsResearch InstitutesPreclinical Imaging Market: OverviewThe preclinical imaging market, is largely penetrated by some global players and these players are creating opportunities for the tier 2 and tier 3 players by withdrawing their products from the market. Moreover the major players in the market are focusing on introducing technological advance products. Above mentioned factors are expected to witness robust CAGR over the forecast period. Moreover, increasing research and development for drug development and for identification of unknown agents that causes death is expected to fuel demand for preclinical imaging products such as CT, MRI and others.Preclinical Imaging Market: Regional OverviewGeographically, the global Preclinical Imaging Market, is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Middle East and Africa (MEA).North America dominates the global preclinical imaging market followed by Europe. North America and Western Europe regions are expected to witness robust growth due to increase in research and development and with the number of developed research infrastructure is expected to fuel the revenue growth in these regions. APEJ is expected to witness significant growth as compared to other regions and countries owing to government programs for preclinical imaging and funding for research and development expected to fuel market growth in this region. Moreover, rapidly expanding contract research organization in this region is expected to have a significant impact on the market growth. However, increasing research and educational institutes may boost the growth of preclinical imaging market in these regions during the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Preclinical Imaging Market: Key PlayersSome of the players operating in the market for preclinical imaging market are Bruker Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, General Electric, PerkinElmer, Inc., VisualSonics, Inc., MILabs B.V., Siemens A.G., TriFoil Imaging, Mediso Ltd., and Agilent Technologies and others.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Automotive Seat Recliners Market Would Register a Healthy Growth Rate During the Forecast 2016 - 2026
Automotive Seat Recliners Market, Automotive Seat Recliners, Automotive Seat Recliner Market, Seat Recliner, Seat Recliners market
http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10978
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Automotive Seat Recliners Market: OverviewAutomotive industries are prominent field in todays experimental world with constant innovative technologies playing in to deliver better comfort and secured ride for occupants. Automotive recliner is a type of seating which reclines backwards upon leaning and raises its footrest by means of a lever. Automotive seat recliner is a key component in automotive seating systems to provide comfort for neck, spine and foot while driving so that one feel relaxed. Automotive seat recliner mechanism consists of seat cushion and seat back with upper and lower arm mounted, spiral springs to exercise radial forces on a rotatable cam for locking and unlocking operation. High quality chromium steel or magnesium are mostly used as materials to withstand high impact forces during accidents which can otherwise harm the occupant. For the increased seat size twin recliners are used to endure static and fatigue loads. Growing automotive industries globally and major players launching innovative models generates bright prospectus for automotive seat recliners market.TOC of this report is available upon request @Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Drivers and RestraintsAutomotive seat recliners market is driven by the demand for comfortable and relaxed seating and also with new trends in seat designs and increasing demand for premium vehicles has opened opportunities for automotive seat recliners market. The emerging technological advancements in automotive seat recliners is also fostering the growth for automotive seat recliners market. For instance, one of the major player Faurecia has launched a technologically innovative seat recliner in the market which detects persons health conditions such as respiration, heart rate and replies with solution such as energizing massage, warming or cooling according to the need, this emerging trend is expected to foster growth in the automotive seat recliners market globally. However, the increased seat recliners cost with variety of features in-build is limited to premium vehicles which might restraint the global automotive seat recliner market causing lesser impact in low economic regions.Automotive Seat Recliners Market: SegmentationOn the basis of vehicle type automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows:- Passenger Cars Light commercial vehicles Heavy commercial vehiclesOn the basis of type of recliners automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows:- Lever type recliner Rotary type recliner Slider type recliner Slider cum latch recliner Walk in recliner Rear seat reclinerOn the basis of recliner mechanism automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows:- Ratchet / Tooth engagement Recliner Taumel Recliner Power Taumel ReclinerOn the basis of distribution channel automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) AftermarketAutomotive Seat Recliners Market: Region Wise OutlookSample of this report is available upon request @The global automotive seat recliner market is divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among the aforementioned regions the APEJ market for automotive seat recliner market is expected to hold the largest market share by the end of forecast period. The exponentially growing automotive sector with advanced technologies in China is contributing to the growth of automotive seat recliner market in the region. The Latin America market and Western Europe market is followed by the APEJ market for automotive seat recliners. Japan being the automotive manufacturer hub, automotive seat recliner market in the region is expected to show significant growth. The market in Middle East and Africa are expected for improvement during the forecast period.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Polypropylene Random Copolymers Market Segments, Opportunity, Growth and Forecast By End-use Industry 2014-2020
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A World Health Organization factsheet states that 17.5 million people the world over die every year because of cardiovascular diseases. This amounts to nearly 31% of the total yearly deaths. A large number of these deaths occur in low or middle-income countries and are primarily caused by strokes or a heart attack. Such ominous statistics are the primary reason driving the growth of the global cardiovascular surgical devices market. Cardiovascular surgery is performed to cure heart tissue defects by replacing heart valves if they are blocked, or grafting or replacing the heart tissue in case of damage. The two main types of heart surgeries are open heart surgery and closed heart surgery.The global cardiovascular surgical devices market comprises beating heart surgery systems, cardiac aberration devices, cardiopulmonary bypass equipment, and perfusion disposables. The device to be used depends upon the type and the purpose of the surgery. Going forward, the cardiovascular surgical devices market is expected to play an important role in improving the quality of life of the aged population, along with those individuals who may suffer from some kind of heart disease.Request Free Report Sample@Cardiovascular Surgical Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsAccording to the American Medical Association (AMA), more than 80 million people in the country suffer from some kind of heart disease. An increasingly fast-paced life has given rise to a number of lifestyle-related ailments such as stress, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. This affects not only the geriatric population that is at the greatest risk but has also begun to trouble individuals in their 30s and even 20s. While cardiovascular surgery has long been performed, recent innovations including beating heart surgeries, minimally invasive procedures, Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) and other improvements are anticipated to be a major driver of the global cardiovascular surgical devices market. These technological advancements cause fewer side effects and allow patients to spend less time in post-surgical recovery. A growing pool of elderly people in North America, the European Union, China and Japan is also likely to be a key factor benefitting the cardiovascular surgical devices market. They are predicted to ensure that the market grows in double digits throughout the forecast period. In addition to this, rising stress levels, poor nutrition causing obesity and other health issues that are the bane of a modern lifestyle can potentially lead to cardiovascular diseases.Today, insurance agencies and companies have begun providing plans specifically targeting chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. People have become much more aware of how debilitating these diseases can be and they have begun to show greater concern for their health, following the mantra of prevention being better than cure. Government and private insurance company encouragement in creating awareness should definitely benefit the cardiovascular surgical devices market.There are a few challenges that can stifle the growth of the cardiovascular surgical devices market. Alternative technologies are growing at a much faster rate than conventional surgical technology examples include ablation techniques that are minimally invasive or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Developing countries face a dearth of skilled medical professionals and the high cost of such treatments can be a major deterrent, especially for those unfortunate individuals who are afflicted with a heart disease but cannot afford an insurance cover.Cardiovascular Surgical Devices Market: Key RegionsNorth America, led by the U.S., is the largest cardiovascular surgical devices market as the region has maximum employment in the tertiary sector leading to a stressful, sedentary lifestyle; easy availability of junk and fast food causing obesity; and a population that is rapidly ageing. Europe is the second largest cardiovascular surgical devices market due to the same reasons as North America, while China is expected to become an increasingly important contributor to the global cardiovascular surgical devices market in the days ahead.Visit For TOC@Cardiovascular Surgical Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the leading players in the cardiovascular surgical devices market are Abbott Cardiovascular, Biosensors International, Bioventrix Inc, Cordis Corp and Terumo Cardiovascular Systems.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Speciality Fertilizer Market Size, Share, Analysis, Report and Forecast to 2022
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According to Stratistics MRC the Global Specialty Fertilizers Market is expected to reach $13.86 billion in 2015 and is estimated to reach $24.07 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period. The plant releases nutrient and ammonia due to evaporation, which considerably multiply the risk of environmental pollution, in order to stop this Speciality fertilizers are used. The growing demand for food and decreasing land are creating challenges for farmers, in order to increase yield per capita they are opting for speciality fertilizers which in turn is fuelling the market growth. High cost of fertilizers and limited storage capacity are restraining the market growth.Cereals segment among the crop types is estimated to be the fastest growing because of global demand for cereals, which is followed by oilseeds and commercial crops. North America is accounted for the largest share of the Global Specialty fertilizers market, but Asia pacific will be the emerging market led by the dependency of people on agriculture.Some of the key players in market include Atlantic Gold Inc., Behn Meyer Group., Agrium Inc., Haifa Chemicals Ltd., Israel Chemicals Ltd., Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Inc., Sinochem Group, Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A., Tessenderlo Group, The Mosaic Company and Eurochem.For More, Please Visit:Crop Types Covered: Commercial crops Fruits & Vegetables Cereals Turf & Ornamentals Oilseeds Other Crop TypesFertilizers Type Covered: Ammonium Nitrate Granular N and P fertilizers (GNP) Monopotassium Phosphate (MKP) Phosphoric Acid Granular N, P and K fertilizers (GNPK) Potassium Chloride Potassium Sulfate UAN (30%) Urea Potasasium Nitrate Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP) Granular P and K fertilizers (GPK) Other Fertilizer TypeApplications Covered: Horticulture Fertigation Foliar Nutrition Aquaculture Hydroponics Other ApplicationsRegions Covered: North Americao USo Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo UKo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific Rest of the Worldo Middle Easto Brazilo Argentinao South Africao EgyptWhat our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsFor More, Please Visit:We offer wide spectrum of research and consulting services with in-depth knowledge of different industries. We are known for customized research services, consulting services and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) services in the research world. We explore the market trends and draw our insights with valid assessments and analytical views. We use advanced techniques and tools among the quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify the market trends. Our research reports and publications are routed to help our clients to design their business models and enhance their business growth in the competitive market scenario. We have a strong team with hand-picked consultants including project managers, implementers, industry experts, researchers, research evaluators and analysts with years of experience in delivering the complex projects.STRATISTICS MRC17049 King James Way, Gaithersburg,MD, 20877, USA
National Resilience Council Indonesia, Indonesia Defence University and Institute of Sciences Indonesia confirmed to co-host ARTC 2017
31 January 2017 National Resilience Council Indonesia (NRCI), Indonesia Defence University and Institute of Sciences Indonesia are confirmed to co-host the 20th Annual ARTC (Asia Refining Technology Conference) taking place in Jakarta on 29 30 March.Lt Gen Nugroho Widyotomo, Secretariat General of National Resilience Council Indonesia will give an Opening keynote address on Vision for Indonesias refining future: meeting demand and creating a sustainable downstream industry.By the organisers of ERTC, the largest Refining conference in Europe, ARTC will bring together global investors, oil companies and technology providers with a view to investing in Indonesias refining future and the RDMP, as well as the wider Asian downstream sector.Having recently rejoined OPEC, the Indonesian Government has ambitious plans to cut fuel imports and increase refining capacity. Pertaminas $25 billion Refining Development Master plan to modernize existing refineries is underway, as are plans to build two new greenroots refineries.Speakers for ARTC include: Dempsy Robby Kambey, GM Asset Management, PT Kreasindo Resources Indonesia Didier Casimiro, Vice President for Refining, Petrochemicals, Commerce and Logistics, Rosneft Mahendra Kumar Rastogi, Vice President Inspection & Reliability, Bharat Oman Refineries Limited Dr XU Youming, Regional Representative of Technology and Marketing, SINOPEC Mathew George, Deputy Manager - Petrochemicals Marketing, Indian Oil Corporation Philip Graham, Managing Director & Co-Head of Energy, Power and Utilities, CitibankKey topics to be discussed: Investing in IndonesiaHear from Indonesia's National Resilience Council on how the Government are preparing for future energy demands Explore trends in Asia's refining and petrochemicals market from leading local analyst Clive Gibson of Nexant Refiner panelHear first-hand how Asia's refiners including PTT Global Chemicals and Petronas are tackling declining margins, regional supply and demand and external market threats Asian Clean Fuels Association explains what the growing biofuels market means for refiners Digital refining panelA look at how Reliance Industries, Indian Oil Corp, PT Kreasindo, Singapore Refining Company and more are using digital technology to improve operations, maintenance and supply chainClarence Woo, Executive Director of Asian Clean Fuels Association comments: ARTC is an established platform by which the refining industry can come together to learn more about developments and technologies that can improve the industrys competitiveness, not just within the industry, but more importantly, being prepared against global changes that could drive a complete overhaul of how we operate.Sponsors include: Axens, Alfa Laval, Air Liquide, Cat Tech, CRI, Dupont, ExxonMobil, General Atomics, Hoerbiger, Rezel Catalyst Corp, Sabin Metal, Shell Global Solutions, Criterion, Wika, Gayesco, Zyme-Flow and UOP.---------------------------------------------------------End of release---------------------------------------------------------Information about the 20th Annual ARTC:Event dates and location:Conference: 29 30 March 2017Location: Jakarta, IndonesiaFor more information, interviews and media accreditation:Kelly TeaSenior Marketing ExecutiveEmail: kelly.tea@clarionevents.comTel: +44 207 384 7807About the World Refining AssociationThe World Refining Association was founded in 1996 with the launch ofRussia Refining & Petrochemicals in Vienna. Over the years our business has grown from conferences to serving thousands of customers every year through our networking events, industry reports, conferences and exhibitions. We now operate in 18 countries, Europe, Russia and the CIS, the Middle East, and Africa with offices in London, Singapore and the UAE. We are committed to providing the best experience for our customersBedford HouseFullham GreenFullham High StreetLondonSW6 3JW
BERLIN, Feb 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's policy decisions are going in "a totally wrong direction," German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said in a newspaper interview on Wednesday, warning that protectionism would cost growth and jobs in both economies.
Germany is one of the world's leading trading nations, with exports accounting for some 45 percent of its gross domestic product. The United States became Germany's top trading partner in 2015, overtaking France for the first time since 1961.
Asked about Trump's first policy decisions since the new American president took office, Zypries told Bild newspaper: "What we are witnessing over the past 10 days is alarming and irritating. This is going in a totally wrong direction."
Zypries pointed out that only 10 percent of German exports were going to the United States while 60 percent went to other European countries.
But a protectionist U.S. trade policy would still be "bad for the German economy and therefore also for jobs", she added.
Asked about how the German government was planning to react, the minister said: "We have to talk, talk, talk. Such a isolationist policy, which Donald Trump apparently plans to implement, is hurting all sides - also the American economy."
Zypries noted that some of the trade measures which Trump announced before taking office were violating the basic rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), without elaborating.
The minister also said that a protectionist trade policy would have negative consequences for U.S. citizens since also companies on American soil were depended on high-quality, cross-border supply chains.
Her comments came after the head of the BDI industry group said on Tuesday that the German economy would be badly affected if Trump pursued protectionist trade policies.
Trump signed an executive order last week withdrawing the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. He has also threatened to impose a border tax of 35 percent on vehicles German carmakers import to the U.S. market.
Story continues
On Tuesday, Trump's top trade adviser, Peter Navarro, stepped up the pressure, accusing Germany of using a "grossly undervalued" euro to gain a competitive advantage.
His remarks drew a rebuff from Chancellor Angela Merkel who said that the euro exchange rate was linked to the European Central Bank's monetary policy and that the German government had no influence on the ECB's rate decisions.
Government officials have also suggested that German firms should take advantage of any trade opportunities in Asia and South America created by a more protectionist United States.
(Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Alan Crosby)
Global Roller Lever Arm Market 2016 : SQUARE D, DAYTON,HONEYWELL MICRO SWITCH, EATON
Roller Lever Arm
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Global Roller Lever Arm Market Research ReportThe MRS Research Group Roller Lever Arm report by QY Research represents an inclusive evaluation of the Roller Lever Arm Market and comprises considerable insights, historical data, facts,and statistical and industry-validated data of the global market.Additionally,it consists of estimated data that is evaluated with the help of suitable set of methodologies and assumptions.The MRS Research Group report research highlights informative data and in-depth analysis of Roller Lever Arm market and its corresponding segments that are based on technology,geography, and applications.The report comprises precise information, comprehensive analysis in two ways qualitative and quantitative industry experts inputs, and information provided by industry analysts and industry participants involved in the entire value chain.The report highlights exhaustive study of major market and their present trends,along with corresponding market segments.Click Here For Sample Research Report @The Roller Lever Arm report also provides data regarding various market factors and their impact on the overall market and its segments.Every market segment of the Roller Lever Arm industry is analyzed in a quantitative as well as qualitative way in order to provide the customers with a relative estimation of the global market. Essential information such as definition, the industry value chain and its analysis, and the trends are also explored in the MRS Research Group Roller Lever Arm report.MRS Research Group is the worlds giant collection of the Market research Reports. Where we specialized in global publisher, tailor made reports and specialists consulting. Global Publisher provides in-depth analysis of global and Chinese market. Tailor-made reports represent methodologies deliverable to proper insight of the client. While, expertise research specialist helps to provide strategic solution in specialists consulting.Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.com
Global Cardiotocograph Market Professional Survey Report 2016
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The market research report on the global Cardiotocograph market analyzes the prominent trends and technologies in the global Cardiotocograph market that are expected to play a key role in the overall development and future growth prospects of the market. The report highlights the key drivers, challenges, and opportunities that are expected to have a sizeable influence on the marketas growth prospects over the period between 2016 and 2024.The report includes exhaustive and in-depth market-related data to present the reader a detailed outline of the global Cardiotocograph market. The report includes data that has been gathered with an investigative approach to examine the prominence of crucial market elements that are expected to affect its development over the next few years.To Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @The report presents an eloquent an easy-to-comprehend analysis of the global Cardiotocograph market, which is supported by numerous tables, bar and pie charts, and other graphic data elements in the report. The report presents data pertaining to the basic industry-specific definitions of key market elements, segmentation, and characteristics of the key aspects related to the global Cardiotocograph market.The report presents a thorough outline of the global Cardiotocograph market in a way that allows the reader to easily understand the crucial factors that will have a major impact on the development of the market, including the applications and the end-users. The vast data included in the report has been congregated with the help of a variety of primary and secondary research methodologies.The report presents a thorough overview of the competitive landscape of the global Cardiotocograph market with the help of detailed business profiles of key companies in the market. Along with vast details regarding the companies in terms of finances, product portfolios, revenues, and other aspects, detailed SWOT analysis of the key companies operating in the market has also been included in the report.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Cardiotocograph Market Professional Survey Report 20161 Industry Overview of Cardiotocograph1.1 Definition and Specifications of Cardiotocograph1.1.1 Definition of Cardiotocograph1.1.2 Specifications of Cardiotocograph1.2 Classification of Cardiotocograph1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.2.3 Type III1.3 Applications of Cardiotocograph1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Cardiotocograph2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Cardiotocograph2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Cardiotocograph2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Cardiotocograph3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Cardiotocograph3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Cardiotocograph Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Cardiotocograph Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Cardiotocograph Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Cardiotocograph Major Manufacturers in 20154 Global Cardiotocograph Overall Market Overview4.1 2011-2016E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2011-2016E Global Cardiotocograph Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2015 Cardiotocograph Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2011-2016E Global Cardiotocograph Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2015 Cardiotocograph Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2011-2016E Global Cardiotocograph Sales Price4.4.2 2015 Cardiotocograph Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)For Latest QYResearchreports Press Release Visit @QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.QYResearchreportsContact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States+1-518-621-2074866-997-4948USA-Canada Toll freesales@qyresearchreports.comFor Latest Press Release Visit @
Ambulance Drone Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2016-2024
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Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), also known as drones, are the most exciting topic in discussion today. This new technology is believed to revolutionize various industries by enabling faster delivery, reach, and monitoring (GPS). The U.S. military is already using drones as GPS or surveillance system to track its troops movements and weapon facilities to launch attacks on terrorist organizations. With increasing research and development activities pertaining to drones, the governments and regulatory authorities in various countries are endeavoring to commercialize this new technology. Currently available drones are classified based on the purpose as camera, toy, and racing drones. Drones can be used in food delivery, product delivery, traffic monitoring, rescue operations, army activities, and delivery of goods within a selected area and many such activities.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A FREE PDF Sample :Ambulance Drones Market - Multiple Applications in HealthcareDrones hold the potential to transform the delivery of healthcare services. Drones can be especially useful in emergency situations. Applications include dropping of emergency equipment and medicines, conducting search and rescue operations, responding to natural disasters, collection of blood and tissue samples, and reaching out to remote locations for medical help. Drones are already operating in countries such as the U.S., Haiti, and some parts of Europe. Emerging economies are yet to commercialize the technology. Effective implementation of the technology would spur growth of the ambulance drones market.Research in the Ambulance Drones MarketDrones can also find application in ambulance services. Ambulance drone design developed by Argodesign, Texas (U.S.) in 2015 provides a speedy emergency support in rural areas and provides quick medical aid during major traffic accident sites that are otherwise inaccessible by road. These drones are equipped with essential instruments for quick treatment at the site of traffic accidents. These drones are about the size of a compact car and do not need a pilot on location to depart. Due to its small size it can land safely on a street. The vehicle can accommodate one patient and is steered via GPS and controlled remotely.Alec Momont, a student at the Technical University of Delft, developed a prototype of a compact drone that has a small storage space in it. The drone was developed to provide essential supplies to the people on spot and also advanced life support. The first drone contained an automated external defibrillator. This small ambulance drone is not affected by the current road infrastructures and can fly at a speed of 60 miles per hour. It transport a defibrillator to a patient within 12 sq. km. zone within a minute. The drone tracks the emergency mobile calls and uses GPS to navigate to the patient site. However, there are certain things such as steering mechanism and legal issues which needs to be cleared off for a smooth transitioning of the ambulance drones market.Ambulance Drones Market plagued with regulatory issuesThere are many legal and infrastructure issues that need to be tackled before full scale commercialization of ambulance drones. Clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), regulatory authorities, medical authorities, and defining the flight levels are essential to prevent any hindrances during flight operations. Extensive tests need to be conducted to provide complete assurance of the safe and efficient operations of all related processes of ambulance drone. Moreover, risks that need to be considered include the loss or damage to any component while in transit and avoidance of collisions between drones. Regulatory and environmental clearance would pave way for rampant growth of the global ambulance drones market.Browse Research Report At :The global ambulance drones market is expected to see its first product being commercialized by 2020. A push up to this new technology would enable for a faster and cheaper method of healthcare emergency service delivery during emergency situations.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Raj ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Medicinal Cannabis Market- Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2016-2024
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Medicinal cannabis, also known as medicinal marijuana, is used either to treat disease or improve symptoms. Cannabis has been considered to be a major source of drug addiction. Extract from the dried flower bud part of the plant called as Marijuana has certain medicinal properties. The two cannabinoids - delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are being used in treatment of certain disease or health conditions such as pain, blood pressure, memory, concentration, appetite, sensory stimulus, muscular problems, and seizures.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A FREE PDF Sample :Medicinal Cannabis Market DynamicsHowever, the debate still continues regarding the approval, safety and usage of cannabis (marijuana) for medicinal purpose, due to differences in the laws pertaining to this smoked drug. Hence, studies are conducted extensively to establish the safety aspect of this drug. Various states in the U.S. have already legalized cannabis (marijuana) for medicinal purposes. Scientific research of chemicals in the cannabis plant for its potential medicinal use has led to a shift in its demand purpose. Regulatory clearance has played a major role in the growth of medicinal cannabis market.Other names of Cannabis - grass, pot, dope, Mary Jane, hooch, weed, hash, joints, brew, reefers, cones, smoke, mull, buddha, ganga, hydro, yarndi, heads, and green.The U.S. FDA has approved two medications, Marinol and Syndros, which contain dronabinol in pill form. However, the FDA has not approved the marijuana plant as a medicine. The medicinal cannabis (marijuana) is administered in either of the ways liquid extract, vaporized form, smoked or solid form.Prevalent Scenario in the Medicinal Cannabis MarketAccording to the Medical Marijuana, Inc., the estimated size of the legal marijuana industry in the U.S. is US$ 7.1 billion in 2016. This is an increase of 25% Y-o-Y. As of 2016, 28 states in the U.S. have legalized marijuana for medicinal purpose with some more gearing up for votes on the recreational use of marijuana. California, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts states in November 2016, voted to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana. The accelerated pace of legalization of cannabis (marijuana) in the U.S. has attracted the attention of global investors in the medicinal cannabis market. However, lack of formulation of a comprehensive law pertaining to medicinal marijuana in some states inhibits patient access to the drug.Important role of Regulatory Authorities in the Medicinal Cannabis Market TrendAccording to the United Nations, marijuana was the most widely used drug globally in 2014, with around 183 million users. Such a large user base makes it highly lucrative taxable opportunity, which is influencing various governments worldwide to initiate studies regarding legalization of the drug for medicinal use. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is still conducting research on cannabis (marijuana) to treat numerous diseases and conditions such as autoimmune disease, pain, inflammation, seizures, mental disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Regulatory compliance is a key factor that influences cost, quality, and safety of cannabis (marijuana) medicines, as well as the capacity for the manufacturers in the medicinal cannabis market to be responsive, scalable, and innovative.Browse Research Report At :Medicinal Cannabis Market Future OutlookPotential medicinal cannabis markets other than the U.S., include Canada, Israel, Australia, and Spain. Mexico is also in process to consider the legalization of cannabis. Other countries are expected to consider legalization of the drug, once conclusive evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of cannabis are obtained through extensive research. According to Arcview Groupa cannabis industry investment and research firmaround 200 investors met companies to capitalize on lucrative opportunities from commercialization of medicinal cannabis. This implies that there is a huge potential in the medicinal cannabis market and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies need to focus on increasing awareness about the drug emerging economies.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Raj ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Learn Details of the Global Beer Dispenser Industry 2017 Market Strategies and Key Players
Market Research Reports
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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Beer Dispenser Market Professional Survey Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report on global Beer Dispenser market is a research study that answers pertinent questions about the emerging trends and growth opportunities in this industry. It also identifies each of the prominent barriers to growth, apart from identifying the regional trends and trends within various application segments of the global market for Beer Dispenser. Collecting historical and recent data from authentic resources, and based on all the factors and trends, the report presents a figurative estimation of the future of the market, along with compound annual growth rate (CAGR).To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The study segments the market by geography into: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. It provides forecasts of revenue of the market as a whole as well as each application segment. The competitive landscape is mapped based on product and technology. This study also offers an overview of pricing trends and ancillary factors that will influence pricing in the global Beer Dispenser market. The market study, estimation, and market sizing have been done utilizing a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches.Of special value are the key recommendations and predictions by our analysts, intended to steer your strategic business decisions. The company profiles section of this research service is a compilation of the growth strategies, product portfolio, financial status, and recent developments of key market participants. The report provides detailed industry analysis of the global Beer Dispenser market with the help of proven research methodologies such as Porters five forces. The forces analyzed are bargaining power of the buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and the degree of competition.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Beer Dispenser1.1 Definition and Specifications of Beer Dispenser1.1.1 Definition of Beer Dispenser1.1.2 Specifications of Beer Dispenser1.2 Classification of Beer Dispenser1.2.1 1 keg1.2.2 2 kegs1.2.3 3 kegs1.2.4 4 kegs1.2.5 Others1.3 Applications of Beer Dispenser1.3.1 Commercial1.3.2 Household1.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Beer Dispenser2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Beer Dispenser2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Beer Dispenser2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Beer Dispenser3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Beer Dispenser3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Beer Dispenser Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Beer Dispenser Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Beer Dispenser Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Beer Dispenser Major Manufacturers in 2015For Market Research Latest Reports Visit @QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
Global Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM Industry 2016 High-Profile Management Operations, Technical Market Solutions & Challenges
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The readers of the market research report on the global Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM market get a fuller perspective of the market, and a holistic approach towards understanding the markets trends and dynamics on a more detailed plane. The approach focuses on the precision of data provided by the researchers. The qualitative approach has helped the researchers to create a highly relevant document to the current aspects of the global Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM market. At the same time, the research does not compromise on the quantitative aspect of information, thereby disseminating as many details as possible, in the clearest of tones. The research report employs the SWOT analysis and Porters Five Forces analysis model to illuminate the major elements in the global Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM market.This report studies Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2011 to 2015, and forecast to 2021.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringEtQC3globalITC InfotechJoe BarkaiBy types, the market can be split intoQuality Process ManagementCloud Computing in ManufacturingRequest a Sample Copy of this Report @With the help of tried and tested market measurement tools, the analysts who have worked on this report provide its users a descriptive examination of the global Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM market, which can help them make well-informed and strategically beneficial business decisions. The details provided in the research report are a result of deep analytics that incorporate a macroscopic as well as a microscopic perspective. The report has been collated with the help of primary and secondary methodologies of research. The researchers have perused through historical data on the market and cross-linked it with the current developments in the market to map a trajectory of the global Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM market for the near future.The global Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM market is also explained according to its competitive landscape and the level of effect that the regulatory framework can have on it. The research report also features profiles of some of the top players in the global Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM market, which helps it explain their financial status, research and development activities, consolidation efforts, investment portfolio, and product portfolio. To put it simply, the report intends to be a prime and valued source of data and guidance for all the market enthusiasts and policy makers associated with it.Traverse through Full Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM Market Professional Survey Report 20161 Industry Overview of Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM1.1 Definition and Specifications of Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM1.1.1 Definition of Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM1.1.2 Specifications of Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM1.2 Classification of Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM1.2.1 Quality Process Management1.2.2 Cloud Computing in Manufacturing1.2.3 Type III1.3 Applications of Hype Cycle for Discrete Manufacturing and PLM1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 IndiaVisit here for New Research Reports @QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.QYResearchReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
P&IDs, pipework and piping isometrics in one go yes, this is possible!
3D pipework design with a wide range of functions
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MPDS4 provides an integrated suite of intelligent software that enables design information to flow from the P&ID to 3D pipework layout and onto the production of piping isometric drawings.Cambridge, UK and Pittsford, NY 25 January 2017: The use of MPDS4 offers huge potential for savings. Design work can be performed more quickly and effectively and expensive tasks, such as the manual drafting of piping isometrics, are completely eliminated.Process Plant Design A Multi-Facetted Design DisciplineProcess plant design begins with the creation of a schematic piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) to define the overall process. This is followed by the creation of a pipework layout that shows the position of the process equipment and the interconnected pipework, steelwork and other necessary components. Lastly, piping isometric drawings are generated for the pipework. These drawings detail each pipe spool ready for manufacture and assembly.When the above tasks are undertaken using traditional drafting methods, or even with specialised, but separate, unintegrated software packages, this results in poor re-use of information between the design stages. This leads to the duplication of design data input at each stage, and therefore many opportunities for human error to creep in. This in turn leads to lengthy design times, poor overall design quality and inevitably, downstream construction problems and delays.For example, with many P&ID drafting packages the resulting P&IDs often contain simple graphics with little or no detailed information about the actual components to be used. Even when intelligent P&IDs can be produced, the lack of integration between the packages means that much of the design data has to be input again during the pipework layout stage, and there is no way to check the consistency of the design data from P&ID to pipework layout. Furthermore, where piping isometrics are manually produced using a separate package, this again requires further duplication of data and gives scope for problems to arise.A Fully Integrated SolutionMPDS4 provides an integrated suite of intelligent software that enables design information to flow from the P&ID to 3D pipework layout and onto the production of piping isometric drawings. This avoids the duplication of data input, thus eliminating opportunities for human error and speeding up the overall design process.MPDS4 also offers comprehensive standards-based symbol libraries and parametric part catalogues, which further greatly speed the design process. This is complemented by MPDS4s auto-routing capability that enables designers to quickly explore and finalise pipework routes.MPDS4s integrated piping isometric system automatically generates piping isometric drawings directly from the 3D pipework layout at the push of a button. This can save weeks of time on a large project, and ensures high quality manufacturing documentation compared with manual drafting methods.MPDS4 is a modern, affordable, integrated software solution for process plant design.Find out more about the benefits of integrated design:Why not try MPDS4 free of charge today:Huge potential for savingsThe use of MPDS4 offers huge potential for savings. Design work can be performed more quickly and effectively and expensive tasks, such as the manual drafting of piping isometrics, are completely eliminated. Thanks to MPDSs interference and consistency checking systems, design errors can be easily detected and resolved, thereby avoiding costly on-site construction issues and project delays. It soon becomes clear that MPDS4 will pay for itself after just a few projects.About CAD SchroerCAD Schroer is a global software development company and engineering solutions provider, helping to raise the productivity and competitiveness of customers working in manufacturing and plant design, including the automotive sector and its supply chain, the energy sector and public utilities. CAD Schroer has offices and subsidiaries throughout Europe and in the United States.CAD Schroers product portfolio includes 2D/3D CAD, plant design, factory layout and data management solutions. Customers in 39 countries rely on MEDUSA4, MPDS4 and STHENO/PRO to provide an efficient, flexible and integrated design environment for all phases of product or plant design cutting costs while raising quality. CAD Schroer emphasizes close customer partnerships and supports its clients objectives through extensive consultancy, training, development, software support and maintenance services.CAD Schroer UK Ltd2nd Floor Godwin House Castle Park Cambridge UK CB3 0RAKate PottleBus Dev
Snack Food Packaging Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends | Forecast 2016 - 2024
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Snack food is becoming a mainstream trend that has gathered force over time and is considered as one of the most preferred form of commodities, hence snack food packaging should be attractive to buyers in order to gain their attention. Shifting preference of consumers for snack foods into meals are changing how restaurants and packaged food manufacturers market food. Packaged food manufacturers stay on top of their changing preferences and needs, mostly for health, value and quality as well. For instance, nearly 80% of consumers looks for best value products.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights atSnack Food Packaging Market: DynamicsThe growing number of nuclear families coupled with increasing disposable incomes has unwrapped tremendous opportunities for the ready to eat snack foods which in turn driven the growth for the global snack food packaging market in the near future. The opportunity to indulge in exotic flavor options at reasonable prices, convenience and changing consumer lifestyle are the major factors that influence the growth of snack food packaging market. The consumers crave for healthier snack food products and they are unwilling to sacrifice flavor as these are now trends in the overall snack food market. Furthermore, the trend of eating snacks in between meals has led to the tremendous demand for the global snack food packaging market.Branding and product innovation act as a decisive factor which has provided impetus to the global snack food packaging market. Manufacturers emphasis on their product offering in order to suit the taste of the consumers and developing new alternatives to provide to geographic specific demand which has expanded their consumer base.Innovations in the global packaging industry, such as sophisticated packaging products which are made of materials such as biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP), biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET), and cast polypropylene (CPP) has led manufacturers of snack food packaging market to provide attractive and colorful packs to draw attention to consumers.Snack Food Packaging Market: SegmentationOn the basis of material type, the global snack food packaging market is segmented intoPlasticBOPPPolypropylenePolyethyleneLLDPEPolyesterOthersPaperMetalOthersOn the basis of packaging types, the global snack food packaging market is segmented intoFlexible PackagingRigid PackagingOthersOn the basis of application, the global snack food packaging is segmented into,Bakery SnacksCandy & confectionsSavory SnacksNuts & Dried FruitsOthersOn the basis of end-use, the global snack food packaging market is segmented into,RestaurantsFull service restaurantsQuick service restaurantscateringFood truckSnack Food Packaging Market: Region wise OutlookIn geography, the global snack food packaging market is divided into majorly five regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa. In the global snack food packaging market, developed countries of North America like U.S, accounts for largest market share which is attributed to the high consumption of consumers as well as stringent government regulations on the safety and the quality of the snack food products. U.S is considered as a mature market for bakery and snack foods and is projected to grow with around 4% throughout 2016 to 2020 and Europe is considered to be the second largest market in the global snack food packaging market. However, outside of the U.S the opportunity to increase the sales of snack foods is also increasing as well. Asia Pacific is expected to be primarily driven mainly by china, Japan and India in the global snack food packaging market. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to witness sluggish growth over the forecast period. In Latin America, Brazil, Mexico and rest of Latin America are expected to create market opportunities for companies involved in the global snack food packaging market.Snack Food Packaging Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players who are engaged in manufacturing snack food packaging are Sonoco Products, Sealed Air Corporation, Graham Packaging Holdings, Bemis Company, American Packaging, Bryce Corporation and many others, Swiss pack private limited and many more.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.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:
Rising Popularity of Yoga across World to Fuel Demand for Yoga Mats
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QYResearchReports.com has recently announced the addition of a new study based on the global market for yoga mats. The research report, titled Global Yoga Mat Market Research Report 2016, examines the historical as well as the current performance of this market, emphasizing especially on each of the geographical segment.With the heightened popularity of yoga across the world, the demand for yoga mats has witnessed a remarkable rise in the recent times. Analysts expect this demand to remain high in the years to come. Mostly utilized at homes and yoga studios, yoga mats are specially designed to support consumers, by preventing their hands and feet from slipping when practicing yoga.Get Report Sample @This 122-page research study provides an all-inclusive analysis of the worldwide yoga mat market, taking various factors, such as production capacity, pricing of the product, the dynamics of demand and supply, revenue, and the growth rate of the overall market, in consideration.According to the research report, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and India are the primary regional markets for yoga mats. India, being the origin of Yoga, leads the demand for yoga mats across the world. The swift proliferation of this ancient practice in other parts of the world has also boosted the demand for yoga mats in North America and Europe significantly.In this study, the global market for yoga mats has been broadly analyzed on the basis of the product type and the application. Based on the product, the market has been classified into rubber yoga mats, PVC yoga mats, and TPE yoga mats. PVC yoga mats report a higher demand among consumers than other yoga mats due to the grip they provide. The segment is likely to witness strong demand in the coming years, states the research study.Based on the application, the report segments the global yoga mats market into yoga mats for household purposes and yoga mats for yoga clubs. As of now, the demand for yoga mats used for household purposes is higher than the latter, states the report.The research report also presents a detailed assessment of the competitive landscape of the global market for yoga mats. It reviews the profiles of the leading players in this market in order to study their growth potential and the trending strategies adopted by them for business expansion.Full Report With TOC @Manduka PROlite, Easyoga, HATHAYOGA, Gaiam, Yogarugs, JiangXi Lveten Plastic, Khataland, Kharma Khare, Aerolite, Aurorae, Barefoot Yoga, Hosa Group, PrAna Revolutionary, Copeactive, Lululemon, Yogabum, Jade Yoga, A. Kolckmann, Hugger Mugger Para Rubber, Yogasana, Liforme, Keep well, and Microcell Composite are the key manufacturers of yoga mats across the world, states this research study.About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Organ-on-a-chip Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2016-2024
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Organ-on-a-chip Market OverviewOrgan-on-a-chip is gaining prominence on the backdrop of regulatory measures on animal testing and growing complexity in therapeutic applications. Various players are trying to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the organ-on-a-chip devices market. It is a unique cell culture process, wherein biomimetic microsystem is used as a platform.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A FREE PDF Sample :These devices are built on silicone, which can be used to grow internal organs. This finds application in organ transplantation and also therapeutics. Harvards Wyss Institute is engaged in lung-on-chip production, commercialization of which would help in exponential growth of the organ-on-a-chip market. Moreover, partnerships of biotech and pharmaceutical companies with universities is expected to scale up the commercialization process in the near future. This billion dollar industry is expected to create significant market opportunities for players. Some companies such as Mimetas are currently engaged in development of kidney-on-a-chip. This technology is gaining traction as this unique technology greatly reduces the amount of testing carried out on animals, while providing highly accurate results.Organ-on-a-chip Market DynamicsOrgan-on-a-chip is expected to cater to wide range of applications ranging from disease modelling to patient stratification and phenotypic screening. Most of the demand is expected to be generated from lung-based organ culture, followed by kidney application. The technology offers better clinical examinations compared to petri dishes and animal testing helping scientists and companies to better understand the functioning of internal organs such as the brain and lungs.Funding and government initiatives are projected to further boost market growth in the near future. Though the market is expected to create substantial opportunities, high cost and early stage in R&D are some of the factors leading to slow growth of the market. Market is expected to witness rampant commercialization post-2020.Organ-on-a-chip Market - Regional AnalysisNorth America and Europe are expected to dominate the overall organ-on-a-chip market throughout the forecast period. The regions are early adopters of newly developed technology. Moreover, demand is expected to be further propelled by large consumer base in these regions. North America spends over 16% of its GDP on healthcare. Moreover, various research activities are carried out in the region, which is home to some of the leading players in the market. Also, organ transplant rate is high in the region. Growth of the Europe market is expected to be primarily driven by rising demand for organ-on-chip in Germany, U.K., and France.Browse Research Report At :Asia Pacific is a lucrative market for companies engaged in organ-on-a-chip market. However, commercialization is not expected to take place in early years. As market is still in its early stage, it would take a few years before companies can expect return on profit. Japan and China are key markets in Asia Pacific. These countries account for over half of the pharmaceutical market in Asia Pacific. Also, these countries are well equipped with technologically advanced medical devices and research centers.Organ-on-a-chip Market - Competitive LandscapeOrganovo, Hepregen, Hurel Corporation, Nortis, TissUse, Tara Biosystems, and AxoSim are some of the players engaged in organ-on-a-chip market. These companies are located in North America, with most being start-ups albeit with major funding and are expected to attain major commercial success in the near future.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Raj ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Rising Demand for Improved and Reliable Cyber Security Solutions to Encourage Growth of IoT in Global Defence Market
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QYReseachReports.com has recently announced the addition of a new market research report to its comprehensive collection of research studies. The 102-page research study, titled Global IoT in Defence Market Research Report 2021, offers a thorough analysis, presenting insights into the key growth prospects and opportunities in the market. The research study has made use of analytical tools to determine the current trends and challenges in the market. In addition, the historical data and estimated statistics of the global IoT in defence market have been included in the study with the help of tables, infographics, and charts.The defence market across the globe has witnessed several technological changes in the last few years. Developments in the field of information technology, the rising volume of classified information, and up gradation of existing weaponry with surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance systems are expected to encourage the use of the Internet of Things in the global defence market in the coming years. Moreover, the increasing need for improved and reliable cyber security solutions for the defence sector is expected to augment the growth of the overall market throughout the forecast period.Full Report With TOC @The growing dependence of the defence sector on internet network is one of the prominent factors expected to boost the demand for adoption of Internet of Things in the defence market. On the basis of product type, the global market for IoT in defence has been categorized into military personnel monitoring and tracking, smart weaponry, and infrastructure and equipment monitoring. Furthermore, the global IoT in defence market has been divided on the basis of geography into India, Japan, Europe, North America, China, and Southeast Asia. The demand, supply, and growth rate of each segment have been included in the research study to give a clear picture of the global IoT in defence market.The key players in the market are focusing on the designing innovative operating systems, improved cloud computing solutions, and virtual machine technologies. The introduction of these technologies is expected to offer breach-free and highly reliable software systems in order to defend their cyber space against rising cyber-attacks from diverse groups in the near future. Furthermore, the emergence of connected combat systems in the global defence market, thanks to the Internet of Things, is projected to create diverse opportunities for the leading players in the next few years.Get A Report Sample @AeroVironment, Textron Systems, Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Track 24, Freewave, Elbit Systems, Radisys, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and Prox Dynamics are some of the prominent players operating in the global market for IoT in defence. The company overview, financial status, SWOT analysis, product portfolio, and recent developments have been included in the research study. Moreover, the key strategies adopted by the prominent players have been highlighted in the study to guide the key players in formulating business policies effectively.About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Research Report delves Global Digital Coins Industry 2016 by its Market Protocols, Trends, Government Initiatives, Exchange Policies & Investments 2021
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This report on the global Digital Coins market is an amalgamation of both primary as well as secondary research and is collated by conducting various surveys and interviews. It is a meticulous guide that covers the global Digital Coins markets future growth prospects and also presents an extensive overview of the current state of the market. Market dynamics such as the market drivers, trends, challenges, and opportunities have been covered along with their impact on the growth of the Digital Coins market.The report describes the major segments and sub-segments currently leading the market and also predicts their future owing to the fact that a market environment never remains constant and is continuously changing. Keeping the continuously changing environment of the market in mind, all aspects of the market have been studied and scrutinized in detail. The major technological developments bound to take place in the global Digital Coins market and the way these developments will change the market dynamics also form an integral part of this study.Request a Free Sample Copy of this Report @This report studies the global Digital Coins market, analyzes and researches the Digital Coins development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeBitcoinsEthereumRippleLitecoinDogecoinDashFactomMaidSafeCoinPeercoinNovacoinNamecoinMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaThe competitive landscape section of the report presents the major players dominant in the global Digital Coins market along with presenting information related to their key product offerings, product specifications, and contact information. This part of the report also presents the key strategies adopted by the dominant players, coupled with the major challenges faced by them. The explanation of both the strategies and challenges helps the emerging players in making better business decisions and also provides information on the major countries they may invest in for better penetration in the global Digital Coins market.Explore Full Report with TOC @QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.QYResearchReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Printing Ink Additives Market Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019 | Now Available at Researchmoz.us
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Printing Ink Additives Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019" to its huge collection of research reports.Printing inks finds applications in print media, packaging, textiles and catalogs and brochures among others. Depending upon the requirement of the applications, special additives are added to printing inks in order enhance its performance and add new features to it. Printing ink additives help to maintain various characteristics such as pH, viscosity, softening point and cloud point among others. Printing ink additives include dispersants, defoamers, emulsifiers, stabilizers, rheology modifier and wetting agent among others. Based on the processes, printing inks are classified as rotogravure, flexographic, digital printing and lithography among others. Depending upon the technology, printing inks additives are classified as water based, solvent based, oil based and radiation cured systems among others. In 2012, solvent based rheology modifier and dispersants were the largest used printing ink additives in the industry.The market for printing ink additive is driven by huge demand from packaging and printing inks end-user market. The demand for printing ink additives from commercial printing was high as they drive performances and aesthetics of the product. Increasing demand for defoamers and wax additives has been major factor for growth in printing ink additives market. Printing ink is also used in packaging applications and is expected to provide better opportunities for printing ink additives in near future. Digital printing is one of the fastest growing processes in printing inks market and is likely to offer huge boost for the printing ink additives market in next few years. Water based printing ink additives are anticipated to provide more opportunity for the printing ink additives due to their lower VOCs content. However, stringent environmental regulations and fluctuating supply are anticipated to hider the growth of the market in next few years.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @In terms of demand, Asia Pacific was the leading region in printing ink additives market. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be one of the fastest growing markets for printing ink additives due to increasing demand from commercial printing and packaging end-user markets. The market for printing ink additives in Asia Pacific was led by China and Japan owing to huge demand from commercial printing and publications. However, emerging countries such as India and South Korea are likely to provide better opportunity for printing ink additives market owing to increasing consumption from commercial printing and packaging end-user industries. Asia Pacific was followed by Europe. Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Sweden were the major consumers of printing ink additives in Europe. The demand for printing ink additives was huge from digital printing markets, one of the fastest growing processes in printing industry. However, stringent regulations related to printing ink additives are likely to act as restraint for the printing ink additives market in this region. North America had the third-largest demand for printing ink additives in 2012. Increasing demand from digital printing is driving the growth of the printing ink additives market in this region.The demand for printing ink additives was led by the U.S. in North America. However, Canada and Mexico are likely to exhibit more demand for printing ink additives owing to rise in commercial printing industry. Rest of the World market is expected to show huge potential for the printing ink additives market in near future. In terms of demand, the Middle East is the major consumer of printing ink additives in this region. The demand for printing ink additives is high from end-user industries such as packaging and printing publications.Some of the key manufacturers in the printing ink additives market are BASF SE, Clariant AG, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Honeywell International Inc. and MUNZING Micro Technologies GmbH among others.This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report include- North America- Asia Pacific- Europe- Rest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis of- Market growth drivers- Factors limiting market growth- Current market trends- Market structure- Market 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.Reasons for Buying this Report- This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics- It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth- It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow- It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future- It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors- It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments- It provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsMake 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 @
Ukraines Wind Power Market - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles, Outlook to 2030, Update 2017
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ResearchMoz presents this most up-to-date research on "Ukraines Wind Power Market - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles, Outlook to 2030, Update 2017"."Wind Power in Ukraine, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2016 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the wind power market in Ukraine.The report provides in depth analysis on global renewable power market and global wind power market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in Ukraine (includes conventional thermal, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details renewable power market outlook in the country (includes wind, small hydro, biopower and solar PV) and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in Ukraine wind power market. A detailed coverage of renewable energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to wind power is provided in the report. The research also provides company snapshots of some of the major market participants.ScopeThe report analyses global renewable power market, global wind power (Onshore and Offshore) market, Ukraine power market, Ukraine renewable power market and Ukraine wind power market. The scope of the research includes -- A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption.- An overview on global renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends, generation trends and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources. The information is covered for the historical period 2006-2015 (unless specified) and forecast period 2015-2030.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @- Power market scenario in Ukraine and provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) with forecasts up to 2030.- An overview on Ukraine renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends (2006-2030), generation trends(2006-2030) and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources in 2015.- Detailed overview of Ukraine wind power market with installed capacity and generation trends and major active and upcoming wind projects.Reasons to buy- The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner.- Identify key growth and investment opportunities in Ukraine wind power market.- Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for wind power market.- Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential.- Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events.- Identify key partners and business development avenues.- Understand and respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects.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 @
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Industry In The US Will Grow Steadily At A CAGR Of 7.16% During 2014-2019
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Market in the US 2015-2019" to its huge collection of research reports.PBMs are responsible for processing prescriptions for corporations or insurance companies. Earlier, their major role was administration and negotiation with drug pharmacies and manufacturers to get rebates on drug prices. Now they have evolved into entities taking over the drug benefit portion of health plans in the US. Recent healthcare reforms in the US have contributed significantly to increase their area of expertise. Increase in costs of drugs and other healthcare services has made PBM's services more desirable. PBMs act as an intermediary between the payer and other entities in a healthcare system. They generate revenue through service fees they charge from large customer contracts for activities such as operating mail-order pharmacies, processing prescriptions, and negotiating with drug manufacturers and pharmacies.The analysts forecast the PBM market in the US to grow at a CAGR of 7.16% during 2014-2019.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the current scenario and the growth prospects of the PBM market in the US for the period of 2015-2019. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated by PBMs by offering pharmacy benefit services to end-users in the healthcare market in the US.The report, Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Market in the US 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the PBM market landscape in the US and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Catamaran- CVS Health (CVS Caremark)- Express Scripts- OptumRx- Prime TherapeuticsOther prominent vendors- Aetna- Argus Health Systems- Centene- Cigna- Humana- Medlmpact- Rite AidMarket driver- Increase in healthcare expenditure- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Criticisms of PBMs- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Shift toward multi-tier prescription drug plans by employers- For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?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 @
Asia - Fixed Broadband Market - Statistics and Analyses Industry Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Asia - Fixed Broadband Market - Statistics and Analyses" to its huge collection of research reports.North Asian countries lead the fixed broadband market but other Asian nations catching upSouth Korea and Japan are the leading two countries in Asia with regards to internet penetration with penetration reaching 91% in 2016. Behind South Korea and Japan are Singapore (84%), Taiwan (83%), Azerbaijan (79%), and Hong Kong (79%). China leads in terms of overall number of internet users in 2016 (730 million), followed by India (290 million), Japan (115 million) and Indonesia (63.1 million).The expansion of broadband was for a long time a phenomenon limited to the developed economies, with narrowband dial-up access being the norm in the majority of the poorer developing countries of the region. However this has been gradually changing. In those economies, there is now increasing access to broadband, both DSL and cable modem platforms have both proved popular, with DSL establishing a clear advantage. More recently, we have seen the arrival of FttX as an alternative platform for broadband access in Asia. There also continues to be considerable activity in the broadband markets across Asia including amongst the many number of smaller countries such as Azerbaijan, Maldives and Macau.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @China leads the fixed broadband market in terms of both overall subscribers and market penetration. Subscribers reached 213 million in 2016 and market penetration reached 53%. Although China boasts the largest number of broadband connections in the world, annual growth rates are subsiding as housing penetration reaches levels indicative of market maturity. China Telecom and China Unicom are the largest suppliers of fixed broadband. Fixed broadband levels in China are expected to continue rise more gradually due to a confluence of factors that includes telecom operators seeking revenue growth, a government seeking to reach ambitious targets, the increasing wealth of end users and digital media giants seeking new audiences.South Korea holds second place with fixed broadband subscriber penetration of 41% in 2016. The move towards faster speeds and becoming full-service operators is expected to drive further growth. FttX deployments have increased as operators try to gain customers through bundled services such as high-definition IPTV. Broadband subscription rates in South Korea are low at less than US$30 per month for speeds over 100Mb/s.Hong Kong takes third place with fixed broadband subscriber penetration of 32% in 2016. Broadband subscriber growth in Hong Kong has flattened due to high fixed household broadband penetration and increased product substitution due to higher speed mobile broadband services based on HSPA and LTE.However, fixed broadband services will continue to grow based on the sheer volume of data traffic as the market shifts from:- Connecting people to connecting devices;- Increasing usage of cloud services;- Increasing bandwidth demands from higher quality HD and 4K streaming services.Key highlights of the fixed broadband market in Asia in 2016:- South Korea and Japan are the leading two countries in Asia with regards to internet penetration.- Behind South Korea and Japan are Singapore, Taiwan, Azerbaijan, and Hong Kong.- China leads in terms of overall number of Internet users, followed by India, Japan and Indonesia.- China leads the fixed broadband market in terms of both overall subscribers and market penetration (53%).- South Korea holds second place with fixed broadband subscriber penetration of 41% in 2016.- Hong Kong takes third place with fixed broadband subscriber penetration of 32 % in 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 @
Agricultural Disinfectant Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024
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Agricultural Disinfectant Market: SnapshotThe global market for agricultural disinfectants has been expanding at a steady pace across most regions, driven primarily by the rising demand for meat products in India and China. The rapid growth of the agricultural disinfectant market is also attributed to the increase in research and development activities in order to improve the quality as well as efficacy of disinfectants.There has been a growing emphasis on minimizing operating expenditure, improving performance, ensure crop protection, and adhering to regulatory standards. The development of greenhouse vegetable production and vertical farming are also considered to be key drivers in the global agricultural disinfectants market. The market is expected to grow from a value of US$1.7 bn in 2015 to US$2.5 bn by 2024, at a CAGR of 4.4% therein.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Livestock Farms Surpass Agricultural Farms in terms of DemandBy form, the agricultural disinfectant market has been divided into liquid, powder, and others, such as gels and granules. The liquid agricultural disinfectants segment captured the leading share in 2015 due to their easy availability, low cost, and soluble nature. Liquid agricultural disinfectants are used in agricultural farms to ensure better crop productivity and in the drinking water of the livestock.Based on application, agricultural disinfectants are used on land, in the water, and in the air. The application of these disinfectants is most common on land, followed by the water sanitizing and aerial segments.On the basis of end use, agricultural disinfectants are used in agricultural and livestock farms. Livestock farms surpass agricultural farms in terms of demand owing to the rising demand for meat products and the need to ensure the safety of the livestock. Farmers are especially concerned about newborn livestock as they are increasingly vulnerable to diseases.Growing Importance of Crop and Livestock Protection Key Driving Factor in EuropeBy geography, the agricultural disinfectant market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America dominated the market in 2015, accounting for more than 33.0% of the global agricultural disinfectant market that year. The region has been displaying strong growth owing to the increase in livestock and a rising demand for quality meat products, which in turn, results in the growing demand for agricultural disinfectants in livestock farms.The agricultural disinfectant market in Europe held the second largest share in 2015 and is expected to grow consistently during the forecast period. France boasts of a large number of agricultural fields and hence captures the dominant share in the region. The growing focus in Germany about the importance of crop and livestock protection is likely to boost the agricultural disinfectant market in the country.Asia Pacific is expected to witness impressive growth during the forecast period, attributed mainly to the rising opportunities presented by developing countries. Continuous research and development and the increasing demand for meat products in countries such as India and China is expected to boost the market for agricultural disinfectants by 2024.The vendor landscape of the market is immensely consolidated owing to the presence of several domestic and international manufacturers. This makes the market rather competitive. The leading players in the agricultural disinfectant market include Zoetis (U.S.), The Chemours Company (U.S.), Nufarm (Melbourne), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), The Stepan Company (U.S.), The Thymox Technology (Canada), Neogen Corporation (U.S.), Fink Tec GmbH (Germany), QuatChem Limited (U.K.), and Entaco N.V. (Belgium).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:
Global Mobile Health Apps Market Report: 2016 Edition | Now Available at Researchmoz.us
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Mobile Health Apps Market Report: 2016 Edition" to its huge collection of research reports.Gen's report, 'Global Mobile Health Apps Market Report: 2016 Edition' provides detailed market and segment level data on the Global and Chinese consumption of Mobile Health Apps. The report provides historic, forecast and growth patterns by company, country and type/application from 2016 to 2021.This report delivers an extensive overview of Global Mobile Health Apps industry with a focus on China. 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. It also helps the companies to better understand the trends of Soups market to seize opportunities and formulate crucial business strategies.With this report, you will get access to:1. Market overview including definition, industrial chain (upstream & downstream), manufacturing technology details and the costs analysis from the aspects of raw materials, labor costs and depreciation.2. Value and volume consumption status and trends of the market, including Global and Chinese top players capacity & production, price & production value, cost & profit and market shares from 2011 to 2016.3. Worldwide supply/demand pattern of Mobile Health Apps by country or region (North America, China, EMEA, Asia except China), and by application/type.4. Growth, trends and forecast of 2016-2021 Mobile Health Apps market and some important proposals for new investment of Mobile Health Apps Industry before evaluating its feasibility.Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2011-2021 Global and Chinese Mobile Health Apps industry covering all important parameters.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table Of ContentChapter One Description1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Findings of IndustryChapter Two Brief Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Industry Chain Structure2.2.1 Upstream Raw Materials2.2.2 Downstream MarketChapter Three Development and Trends3.1 Key Manufacturing Technologies3.2 Issues and TrendsChapter Four Cost Structure4.1 Bill of Materials (BOM)4.3 Labor Costs4.4 Depreciation Costs4.5 Manufacturing CostsChapter Five Worldwide Key VendorsCompany ACompany BCompany CCompany DCompany ECompany FCompany GChapter Six Market Overview6.1 Global Market Size6.2 Chinese Market SizeChapter Seven Market Status7.1 Market Competition Status by Key Vendors7.2 Regional Market Competition StatusChinaNorth AmericanEMEAAsia except ChinaChapter Eight Consumption Pattern8.1 Regional Consumption8.2 Global Consumption by Application8.3 Chinese Consumption by ApplicationChapter Nine Market Forecast9.1 Market Size Forecast9.2 Regional Consumption Forecast9.3 Global Consumption Forecast by Application9.4 Chinese Consumption Forecast by ApplicationChapter Ten Development/Trends10.1 Policies and Events10.2 2015 New SituationMake 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 @
North America Vision Care Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Outlook to 2022
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "North America Vision Care Market Outlook to 2022" to its huge collection of research reports.New report, "North America Vision Care Market Outlook to 2022", provides key market data on the North America Vision Care market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars, volume (in units) and average prices (USD) within market segements - Contact Lenses, Spectacle Lenses, Contact Lens Cleaning and Disinfecting Solutions and Microkeratomes.The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for each of these market segements, and global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants. Based on the availability of data for the particular market and country, information related to pipeline products, news and deals is available in the report.Extensive interviews are conducted with key opinion leaders (KOLs), physicians and industry experts to validate the market size, company share and distribution share data and analysis.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Scope- Market size and company share data for Vision Care market segements - Contact Lenses, Spectacle Lenses, Contact Lens Cleaning and Disinfecting Solutions and Microkeratomes.- Annualized market revenues (USD million) and volume (units) data for each of the market segements. Data is provided from 2008 to 2015 and forecast to 2022.- 2015 company shares and distribution shares data for each of the market segements.- Global corporate-level profiles of key companies operating within the North America Vision Care market.- Key players covered include Alcon, Inc., Essilor International, Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Carl Zeiss AG and Others.Reasons to buy- Develop business strategies by identifying the key market segments poised for strong growth in the future.- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.- Design competition strategies by identifying who-stands-where in the market.- Develop investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.- What are the key distribution channels and whats the most preferred mode of product distribution - Identify, understand capitalize.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 @
Fertility Testing Devices Market By Analysis of Major Industry Segments 2024
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Fertility testing is done by both men and women for the assessment of their fertility and various conditions associated with it. A reasonable period of unprotected intercourse without conceiving is a condition referred to as infertility. Couples carry out fertility testing to detect the root causes responsible for their infertility. Men and women both experience the fertility problems at equal rates, but women are considered to be more concerned about fertility testing. The gynecologist or general physician first review the fertility test results to diagnose the exact issue and recommends the corrective measures or treatment accordingly. The rising awareness about fertility testing devices is driving the patient adoption rate effectively for such devices instead of opting for laboratory based tests. Fertility testing is performed at home and is time saving and economical, helps maintain privacy, and is comfortable for females.Increase in infertility cases due to changing lifestyles in women, growth in awareness about the fertility testing in women, rise in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) cases, continuous decline in fertility rate in both men and women globally are factors which are expected to drive the growth of the global fertility testing devices market by 2024. The restraints which impact the growth of the global fertility testing devices market are high cost of fertility and ovulating monitors, increase in utilization of mobile applications & websites for ovulation tracking, and easy availability of generic diagnostic tools such as saliva testing and blood testing. Some of the trends in the global fertility testing devices market are monitoring sperm quality by keeping track of heart rate, body temperature, air quality & environmental function, and emergence of technological advances such as trak system. Introduction of various techniques such as hysterosalpingogram, sonohysterogram (ultrasound scan), laparoscopy, and hysteroscopy are projected to boost the growth of the global fertility testing devices market.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:The global fertility testing devices market can be segmented by product and end-user. The product segment involves ovulation predictor kits and fertility monitoring devices. The ovulation predictor kits are further segmented into urine based kits, saliva based kits, and others. In 2015, the ovulation predictor kits segment captured a significantly large share in the global fertility testing devices market, which is attributed to lesser cost and user-friendly technique. However, the fertility monitoring devices segment is expected to grow at a higher rate during the forecast period, which is driven by continuous rise in the technological advancements in the fertility monitoring techniques and investments. Based on the end-user segmentation, the global fertility testing devices market is classified into hospitals, specialty clinics, and homecare settings.Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America held a significant share of the fertility testing devices market in 2015, which is attributed to the rise in awareness about technological innovations and their benefits in the fertility testing market and increase in prevalence of PCOS. The awareness about the fertility testing is high in the region. Therefore, the use of ovulation predictor kits and fertility monitoring devices is increasing in the North America fertility testing devices market. The anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) test is likely to be adding more value to the existing Europe fertility testing market leading to its further growth in region. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a higher rate during the forecast period owing to increasing investments in the fertility testing devices market, declining fertility rate, and rising number of women suffering from lifestyle disorder in the region.Major players operating in the global fertility testing devices market include Hilin Life Products, Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Fairhaven Health LLC, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Geratherm Medical AG, AccuQuik, Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc., Quidel Corporation, and Alere Inc.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Browse Full Research Report on Fertility Testing Devices 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 Denim Jeans Market Professional Survey Report 2016 | Now Available at Researchmoz.us
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Denim Jeans Market Professional Survey Report 2016" to its huge collection of research reports.Mainly covers the following product typesThe segment applications includingSegment regions including (the separated region report can also be offered)USAChinaEuropeSouth AmericaJapanAfricaThe players list (Partly, Players you are interested in can also be added)Levi StraussVF CorporationPVHUniqloInditexThe Gap Inc.H & MEdwinAEOAarvee Denims and ExportsKIPONEParasucoDiesel7 For All MankindTrue ReligionMaviTexwoodZebgzhiWith no less than 15 top producers.Data including (both global and regions): Market Size (both volume - K Units and value - million USD), Market Share, Production data, Consumption data, Trade data, Price - USD/Unit, Cost, Gross margin etc.More detailed information, please refer to the attachment file and table of contents. If you have other requirements, please contact us, we can also offer!To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Denim Jeans1.1 Definition and Specifications of Denim Jeans1.1.1 Definition of Denim Jeans1.1.2 Specifications of Denim Jeans1.2 Classification of Denim Jeans1.3 Applications of Denim Jeans1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Denim Jeans1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Denim Jeans1.5.1 Industry Overview of Denim Jeans1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Denim Jeans1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Denim Jeans1.7 Industry News Analysis of Denim Jeans2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Denim Jeans2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Denim Jeans2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Denim Jeans2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Denim Jeans2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Denim Jeans2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Denim Jeans2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Denim Jeans3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Denim Jeans3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Denim Jeans Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Denim Jeans Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Denim Jeans Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Denim Jeans Major Manufacturers in 20154 Global Denim Jeans Overall Market Overview4.1 2011-2016E Overall Market Analysis4.2.1 2011-2015 Global Denim Jeans Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2015 Denim Jeans Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2011-2015 Global Denim Jeans Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2015 Denim Jeans Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2011-2015 Global Denim Jeans Sales Price4.4.2 2015 Denim Jeans Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)4.5 Gross Margin Analysis4.5.1 2011-2015 Global Denim Jeans Gross Margin4.5.2 2015 Denim Jeans Gross Margin Analysis (Company Segment)5 Denim Jeans Regional Market Analysis5.1 USA Denim Jeans Market Analysis5.1.1 USA Denim Jeans Market Overview5.1.2 USA 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 USA 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 USA 2015 Denim Jeans Market Share Analysis5.2 China Denim Jeans Market Analysis5.2.1 China Denim Jeans Market Overview5.2.2 China 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2015 Denim Jeans Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe Denim Jeans Market Analysis5.3.1 Europe Denim Jeans Market Overview5.3.2 Europe 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.3.3 Europe 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Sales Price Analysis5.3.4 Europe 2015 Denim Jeans Market Share Analysis5.4 South America Denim Jeans Market Analysis5.4.1 South America Denim Jeans Market Overview5.4.2 South America 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.4.3 South America 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Sales Price Analysis5.4.4 South America 2015 Denim Jeans Market Share Analysis5.5 Japan Denim Jeans Market Analysis5.5.1 Japan Denim Jeans Market Overview5.5.2 Japan 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.5.3 Japan 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Sales Price Analysis5.5.4 Japan 2015 Denim Jeans Market Share Analysis5.6 Africa Denim Jeans Market Analysis5.6.1 Africa Denim Jeans Market Overview5.6.2 Africa 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.6.3 Africa 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Sales Price Analysis5.6.4 Africa 2015 Denim Jeans Market Share Analysis6 Global 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2011-2016E Denim Jeans Sales by Type6.2 Different Types Denim Jeans Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types Denim Jeans Product Driving Factors AnalysisMake 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 @
Beauty Drinks: Global Market Intelligence
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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report titleBeauty Drinks: Global Market Intelligence to its growing collection of premium market research reports.The report Beauty Drinks: Global Market Intelligence provides market intelligence on the different market segments, based on type, application, and geography. Market size and forecast (2011-2020) has been provided in the report.The primary objectives of this report are to provide1) comprehensive global market intelligence through detailed segmentation,2) market size and forecasts, growth rates, market dynamics, industry structure and developments, market situation, trends,3) detailed analysis of current dynamics and trends, key market players, and strategies in the market,4) detailed value chain analysis and review of growth factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants,5) provide emerging opportunities in the market and the future impact of major drivers and restraints of the market and,6) support decision makers in making cost-effective business decisions.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:KEY FINDINGS FROM THE REPORT- Beauty drinks are consumed for various beautification aspects like hair, nails, anti-ageing, along with the glowing skin.- Japan alone contributes more than 60% of the global market of beauty drinks.- Plastic is a widely used packaging material in beauty drinks.- Sprout Intelligence expert team estimated that the global beauty drinks market in 2015 was worth more than USD 4 billion.To Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @About ReportsWorldwide.comReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-4994Fax +1 (617) 398-4995abigail@reportsworldwide.com
Latest Study Reveals Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market Research Report 2017 | Researchmoz
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringBrightSource EnergySolar Millennium AGAbengoaArevaSiemensAccionaESolarSolarReserveSchottWilson SolarpowerCool EarthNovatecLointekAcciona EnergyShams PowerZED SolarAbsoliconRioglass SolarMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSplit by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoTrench Concentrating Solar Power SystemsTower-type Solar Power Tower SystemsDish Concentrating Solar Power SystemsSplit by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) in each application, can be divided intoGenerate ElectricityIndustrial HeatingOthersTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of ContentsGlobal Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market Research Report 20171 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)1.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) by Type in 20151.2.2 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems1.2.3 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems1.2.4 Dish Concentrating Solar Power Systems1.3 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Segment by Application1.3.1 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Generate Electricity1.3.3 Industrial Heating1.3.4 Others1.4 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) 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 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) (2011-2021)2 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.4 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.5 North America Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.6 Europe Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.7 China Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.8 Japan Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.9 Southeast Asia Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.10 India Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)4 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.1 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Consumption by Regions (2011-2016)4.2 North America Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.3 Europe Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.4 China Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.5 Japan Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.6 Southeast Asia Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.7 India Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)5 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.2 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.3 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Price by Type (2011-2016)5.4 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production Growth by Type (2011-2016)6 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Consumption and Market Share by Application (2011-2016)6.2 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2011-2016)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries7 Global Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 BrightSource Energy7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.1.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.1.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.1.3 BrightSource Energy Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Solar Millennium AG7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.2.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.2.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.2.3 Solar Millennium AG Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Abengoa7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.3.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.3.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.3.3 Abengoa Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Areva7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.4.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.4.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.4.3 Areva Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Siemens7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.5.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.5.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.5.3 Siemens Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Acciona7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.6.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.6.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.6.3 Acciona Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 ESolar7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.7.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.7.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.7.3 ESolar Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 SolarReserve7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.8.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.8.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.8.3 SolarReserve Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Schott7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.9.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.9.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.9.3 Schott Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Wilson Solarpower7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.10.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Product Type, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Trench Concentrating Solar Power Systems7.10.2.2 Tower-type Solar Power Tower Systems7.10.3 Wilson Solarpower Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 Cool Earth7.12 Novatec7.13 Lointek7.14 Acciona Energy7.15 Shams Power7.16 ZED Solar7.17 Absolicon7.18 Rioglass Solar8 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Manufacturing Cost Analysis8.1 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Key Raw Materials Analysis8.1.1 Key Raw Materials8.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials8.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials8.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials8.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure8.2.1 Raw Materials8.2.2 Labor Cost8.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses8.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)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 Analysis and Market Forecasts on MediPoint: Central Vascular Access Devices | Researchmoz
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "MediPoint: Central Vascular Access Devices - Global Analysis and Market Forecasts" to its huge collection of research reports.Central vascular devices, particularly catheters, have been a mainstay of modern medicine for the last 40 years. These devices are intended for patients with both acute and chronic diseases such as systemic infections, which require catheters that are able to be situated comfortably and confidently within a patients venous system for extended periods of time.The report analyses the market at a category (PICC, Non-tunneled, tunneled, port, hemodialysis catheters and Huber needles) and subcategory level (E.G. antimicrobial vs non-antimicrobial and acute vs chronic hemodialysis catheters) highlighting trends and issues affecting utilization, volume and value of central access devices at a country level.Key topics discussed include the increasing utilization of PICCs thanks to the development of nurse led implantations and the reasons for the slow adoption of antimicrobial technologies within major markets.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @HighlightsKey Questions Answered- What is the current and future outlook of the central vascular access devices in developed and emerging markets?- What are unmet needs in the central vascular access devices market? What are the clinical and non-clinical barriers in this space? What is hampering innovation within this market?- What trends are affecting the global central vascular access devices market?Scope- Competitive assessment: Currently marketed central vascular access devices products and evolving competitive landscape- In-depth analysis of practice patterns and adoption trends of different segments and sub-segments of central vascular access devices- Insightful review of the key industry drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges. Each trend is independently researched to provide qualitative analysis of its implications- Other key topics covered include utilization trends, market access, reimbursement considerations, and implications for the overall market- Market share analysis of the competition in different regions- Annualized Individual and cumulative sales units and market revenues for the PICC (Antimicrobial vs Non-antimicrobial), Non-tunneled (Antimicrobial vs Non-antimicrobial), Tunneled, Implantable Ports, Hemodialysis catheters (Chronic vs Acute) and Huber needles market from 2012-2022Reasons to buyThe report will enable you to -- Develop and design your in-licensing and out-licensing strategies through a review of pipeline products and technologies, and by identifying the companies with the most robust pipeline- Develop business strategies by understanding the trends shaping and driving the global market- Drive revenues by understanding the key trends, innovative products and technologies, market segments, and companies likely to impact the global market in the future- Formulate effective sales and marketing strategies by understanding the competitive landscape and by analysing the performance of various competitors- Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolios and create effective counter-strategies to gain a competitive advantage- Track device sales in the global market from 2012-2022- Organize your sales and marketing efforts by identifying the market categories and segments that present maximum opportunities for consolidations, investments and strategic partnershipsMake 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 @
New Survey Reveals Legal Marijuana Market with Focus on US & Canada Industry Analysis (2016-2020) | Researchmoz Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Legal Marijuana Market (Medical & Recreational) with Focus on US & Canada: Industry Analysis (2016-2020)" to its huge collection of research reports.
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, belongs to a family of plants called Cannabaceae. There are over 700 varieties of cannabis, which have been described till date. Based on characteristics such as shape, color, height, smell, it is usually recognized by two main types: Cannabis Sativa, which originated in the Western hemisphere and Cannabis Indica, which originated in Central and South Asia.
The report Marijuana Market provides an in-depth analysis of the US and Canada market on the basis of its segments. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The key players in the industry, American Cannabis Company, mCig, Inc., GreenGro Technologies, Inc. and Mentor Capital Inc. are being profiled.
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The key factors driving the growth of the marijuana/cannabis market are technological advancement, premium pricing due to high energy consumption in marijuana production, rising social acceptance of marijuana and growing business opportunities, increasing business sophistication, large base of potential cannabis consumers, medical cannabis on the rise, growing popular support in cannabis market and the growth of the vaporizer industry. Some of the noteworthy trends and developments of this industry are national expansion & brand growth, emergence of large grow, banking & financial services, cannabis as healthcare treatment and innovative product development. However, the expansion of marijuana/cannabis market is hindered by legal issues.
In addition to the legalization of medical marijuana, there are states which have also legalized the recreational use of this drug for adults who are 21 years old or older. So far, four states as well as the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana use, and 23 states allow marijuana use for medical purposes. These changes in state laws have helped the growth of the cannabis industry. The new and revised laws show that people are finally starting to realize that this drug can have legitimate uses.
Table of Content
1. Marijuana Market Overview1.1 Cannabis Ingestion Methods
1.2 Uses of Marijuana/Cannabis
1.3 Medical Indications and Benefits
1.4 Adverse Effects of Marijuana/Cannabis
1.5 Overview of Marijuana Legalization Models
1.6 Overview of Cannabis Testing Technologies
2. Marijuana Market Analysis
2.1 The US
2.1.1 The US Legal Marijuana Market Forecast by Value
2.1.2 The US Legal Marijuana Market Forecast - Medical and Recreational
2.1.3 The US Cannabis Industry - Total Economic Impact Forecast
2.1.4 The US Prevalence Rate of Marijuana by Age Group
2.1.5 The US Prevalence Rate of Marijuana by Gender
2.1.6 The US Prevalence Rate of Marijuana by Race
2.1.7 The US Prevalence Rate of Marijuana by Region
2.1.8 The US Medical Marijuana Patient Breakdown by Medical Condition
2.1.9 California Medical Marijuana Sales
2.1.10 California Medical Marijuana Sales Forecast
2.1.11 California Marijuana Prevalence by Age Group
2.1.12 Colorado Marijuana Market by Type
2.2 Canada
2.2.1 Canada Medical Marijuana Market Forecast by Value
2.2.2 Canada Medical Marijuana Market Forecast by Type
2.2.3 Global All-Terrain Vehicles Unit Sales
3. Market Dynamics
3.1 Growth Drivers
3.1.1 Technological Advancement
3.1.2 Premium Pricing Due to High Energy Consumption in Marijuana Production
3.1.3 Rising Social Acceptance of Marijuana and Growing Business Opportunities
3.1.4 Increasing Business Sophistication
3.1.5 Large Base of Potential Cannabis Consumers
3.1.6 Medical Cannabis on the Rise
3.1.7 Growing Popular Support in Cannabis Market
3.1.8 The Growth of the Vaporizer Industry
3.2 Market Trends
3.2.1 National Expansion & Brand Growth
3.2.2 Emergence of Large Grows
3.2.3 Banking & Financial Services
3.2.4 Cannabis as Healthcare Treatment
3.2.5 Innovative Product Development
3.3 Challenges
3.3.1 Legal Issues
3.3.2 Use of Pesticides
4. Competitive Landscape
4.1 Financial Comparison of Key Players
5. Company Profiles
5.1 American Cannabis Company
5.1.1 Business Overview
5.1.2 Financial Overview
5.1.3 Business Strategies
5.2 mCig, Inc.
5.2.1 Business Overview
5.2.2 Business Strategies
5.3 GreenGro Technologies, Inc.
5.3.1 Business Overview
5.3.2 Financial Overview
5.3.3 Business Strategies
5.4 Mentor Capital, Inc.
5.4.1 Business Overview
5.4.2 Financial Overview
5.4.3 Business Strategies
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Europe Alkyd Paints Market Research Report 2017
Alkyd Paints MARKET
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Alkyd Paints MARKETSummerySales, means the sales volume of Alkyd PaintsRevenue, means the sales value of Alkyd PaintsThis report studies sales (consumption) of Alkyd Paints in Europe market, especially in Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy, Spain and Benelux, focuses on top players in these countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these Countries, coveringWarren Paint & Color Co.APV Engineered CoatingsGFC Coatings & Chemicals, Inc.Aexcel Corp.ACA PAINT & COATINGS BUYERS GUIDEDaily Polymer CorporationReliable PaintsD.S.V. ChemicalsMarket Segment by Countries, this report splits Europe into several key Countries, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Alkyd Paints in these countries, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeGermanyFranceUKRussiaItalySpainBeneluxRequest for Sample Report @Split by product type, with sales, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoSolvent-based alkyd paintWater-soluble alkyd paintSplit by application, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Alkyd Paints in each application, can be divided intoMechanical?and?electrical?productsAutomobileTractorHuge buildingComplete Report @Table of content:Europe Alkyd Paints Market Report 20171 Alkyd Paints Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Alkyd Paints1.2 Classification of Alkyd Paints1.2.1 Solvent-based alkyd paint1.2.2 Water-soluble alkyd paint1.3 Application of Alkyd Paints1.3.1 Mechanical?and?electrical?products1.3.2 Automobile1.3.3 Tractor1.3.4 Huge building1.4 Alkyd Paints Market by Countries1.4.1 Germany Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 France Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 UK Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Russia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Italy Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 Spain Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.7 Benelux Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Europe Market Size (Value and Volume) of Alkyd Paints (2011-2021)1.5.1 Europe Alkyd Paints Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Europe Alkyd Paints Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Europe Alkyd Paints by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Europe Alkyd Paints Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Europe Alkyd Paints Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.1.2 Europe Alkyd Paints Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Europe Alkyd Paints (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Europe Alkyd Paints Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Europe Alkyd Paints Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.3 Europe Alkyd Paints (Volume and Value) by Countries2.3.1 Europe Alkyd Paints Sales and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.3.2 Europe Alkyd Paints Revenue and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.4 Europe Alkyd Paints (Volume) by Application3 Germany Alkyd Paints (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 Germany Alkyd Paints Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 Germany Alkyd Paints Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 Germany Alkyd Paints Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 Germany Alkyd Paints Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)3.2 Germany Alkyd Paints Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 Germany Alkyd Paints Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 Germany Alkyd Paints Sales and Market Share by Application8 Spain Alkyd Paints (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8.1 Spain Alkyd Paints Sales and Value (2011-2016)8.1.1 Spain Alkyd Paints Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.2 Spain Alkyd Paints Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.8 Spain Alkyd Paints Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)8.2 Spain Alkyd Paints Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers8.3 Spain Alkyd Paints Sales and Market Share by Type8.4 Spain Alkyd Paints Sales and Market Share by Application11 Alkyd Paints Manufacturing Cost Analysis11.1 Alkyd Paints Key Raw Materials Analysis11.1.1 Key Raw Materials11.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials11.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials11.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials11.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure11.2.1 Raw Materials11.2.2 Labor Cost11.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses11.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Alkyd PaintsBuy now @Tables and Figures:Figure Picture of Alkyd PaintsTable Classification of Alkyd PaintsFigure Europe Sales Market Share of Alkyd Paints by Type in 2015Figure Solvent-based alkyd paint PictureFigure Water-soluble alkyd paint PictureTable Application of Alkyd PaintsFigure Europe Sales Market Share of Alkyd Paints by Application in 2015Figure Mechanical?and?electrical?products ExamplesFigure Automobile ExamplesFigure Tractor ExamplesFigure Huge building ExamplesContinued...Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories. Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India Ph: +91 841 198 5042
US Testosterone Market Industry Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2016
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "The US Testosterone Market Report: 2016 Edition" to its huge collection of research reports.Testosterone industry is a prominent segment of the pharmaceutical industry. Testosterone is a steroid hormone which exerts effects on the males throughout life. Testosterone is significant for maintaining muscle bulk, adequate levels of red blood cells, bone growth, a sense of well-being, and sexual function. Low testosterone may result in decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, depression and loss of muscle mass. The testosterone level starts falling as the age of the person increases. Many other factors like injury or loss of testicles, chemotherapy, genetic abnormalities, chronic diseases and alcoholism may also result in low level of testosterone. Testosterone directly impacts the endocrine system, reproductive system, central nervous system and circulatory system of the body.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Testosterone replacement therapy is used for treating the low level of testosterone. Testosterone therapy is available in several forms like gels, patches, injections and oral testosterone tablets. There are various benefits associated with the therapy like an increased sex drive, increase muscle mass and an improved bone mineral density. However, studies have shown that high risk of cardiovascular diseases and prostate cancer after the testosterone therapy due to which FDA has issued regulations. Due to FDA regulations the market has suffered in the US because of the warning given through labeling done on the products but the market is coming back on track with the introduction of more efficient products. Key products like Androgel, Axiron and Otrexup are performing well in the market and many are pending for approval.Browse Detail Report With TOC @The key factors driving the growth of the market in the US are ageing population of the US, increasing healthcare expenditure per capita, decrease in fertility rate, increase in the US obese population and increased risk of developing hypogonadism. Some of the noteworthy trends and developments of this industry are introduction of oral testosterone pills and new drug, innovative gel technologies and testosterone therapy for women. However, the expansion of market can be affected by high risk of cardiovascular diseases, legal regulations and risk of prostate cancer.The report The US Testosterone Market provides an in-depth analysis of the US testosterone market along with product analysis. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The major players in the industry, Acrux, Antares Pharma, AbbVie and Endo International are being profiled.For Market Research Latest Reports Visit @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 @
Shipbuilding Analysis 2016 Focus on Asian countries (South Korea, Japan and China) with Current and Future Trends, Forecast 2020 and Eco-Friendly Ships Growth
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Albany, New York, Jan 31,2017"Global Shipbuilding Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2016-2020)" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global Shipbuilding Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of the global shipbuilding market with detailed analysis of market size and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides market size of each of the segments of the market on the basis of the types of ships.Get Sample Report With TOC @The report provides detailed regional analysis of Asian countries, leading the global market, which are South Korea, Japan and China. Regional analysis includes market size of the basis of new orders, order book, order completions and delivery trend along with the commercial vessel market.The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. The current status of the overall global shipbuilding market has been analyzed, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in the global shipbuilding market is stiff and dominated by the big players like DSME. Further, key players of the market Hyundai Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies. Regional CoverageSouth KoreaJapanChina Company CoverageDaewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering CompanyHyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Executive SummaryThe maritime business has long been known for being cyclical. In times of growth and high profits, ship owners have positive cash flows and they order new capacity. This capacity, however, takes time to be delivered. There are waiting times, because shipbuilding berths tend to be full in times of prosperity; any new construction will only be started two to three years after it has been ordered, and then the construction itself can take up to one year. During the industry's boom years, the world saw records for new vessel orders being set year after year. The companies in this industry build and repair barges, cargo ships, naval vessels, and passenger ships, as well as platforms used for oil and gas drilling and production.The global shipbuilding market can be analyzed on the basis of new orders, order book and delivery trend of ships. Currently, the market is experiencing tough times but is expected to regain its momentum with Asia leading the global market. South Korea, China, and Japan are the leading countries in the market accounting almost the entire global shipbuilding market. The shipbuilders in a given country typically specialize in certain types of vessels. South Korean companies, tend to focus on containerships and tankers. China produces large numbers of dry bulk containers and Japan builds large numbers of oil tankers.The growth drivers of the global shipbuilding market, especially for the global shipbuilding market are: rise in seaborne trade & shipping confidence level and upsurge in the demand for eco-friendly ships. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as: volatile oil prices, write-downs on existing backlogs, increasing competition in the commercial segment, delay in financial decisions, political & financial instability, financial crises and stringent environmental regulations.ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Global CNG Vehicles Market 2016 - Fiat Chrysler, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Iran Khodro, Nissan, Volvo Group, Hyundai, Honda, Suzuki
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The recent report on CNG Vehicles market offers insightful information about the present scenario of the market across the globe. The report, titled CNG Vehicles points out the key factors affecting the growth of the market. Latest market trends as well as the future growth opportunities have been mentioned in the report. The report takes into account the various micro- and macro-economic factors governing the overall growth of the CNG Vehicles market and assesses the valuation and size of the market in the coming years.The report talks about the distinct traits of the CNG Vehicles market and provides in-depth study of the various segments of the market. The report especially focusses on the development of the CNG Vehicles market in China owing to the increased demand from the region which has attracted the attention of the key manufacturers. Various regulations directly or indirectly affecting the CNG Vehicles market in the region have been discussed in the report. The report takes note of the present state of the global economy, which after witnessing double-digit growth for three decades, is slowing down. Governments efforts to push the economy is expected to positively affect the various sectors and increase demand from the market.The report discusses the competitive vendor landscape of the CNG Vehicles market in the globe. Some of the key players in the market have been profiled in the report and crucial information about them such as their business overview, revenue segmentation, and product segmentation have been mentioned in the report. The report takes note of the market share held by the key players and estimates their future growth through SWOT analysis. It serves as a useful guide for the new entrants in the CNG Vehicles market.Download Free Sample Report @Several analytical tools such as market attractiveness analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis are employed to study the global CNG Vehicles market, whereas SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis are utilized to evaluate the major players in the CNG Vehicles market in this report.This report not only provides a complete picture of the overall condition of the CNG Vehicles market, but also assists the players in this market to create profitable market strategies in order to gain a competitive edge.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:
Worldwide Analysis 2017 "Travel Insurance" grow at a CAGR of 11.6% - 2020 with all Types of Claims, Termas and Condition, Market Growth
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Albany, New York, Jan 31,2017"Global Travel Insurance Market 2016-2020" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-Travel insurance covers the expense, such as trip cancellation, cancellation due to the medical emergency, resulting from unexpected events during domestic and international travel. Some of these policies also pay for damage to rented equipment, such as car, or for ransom in case of kidnapping. Many online companies that sell flight tickets or tour packages offer travel insurance at an additional cost to its customers.Get Sample Report With TOC @Travel insurance is a hard-selling product. Regulatory authorities and governments of several countries worldwide have made travel insurance mandatory, which will likely increase the uptake of these products during the forecast period and expand business and increase profitability of travel insurance providers. Growing market and evolving demand have pushed the insurance companies to develop and customize products to suit client needs, making the market highly competitive for the local and international private travel insurance companies that offer competitive pricing for their products.* Technavios analysts forecast the global travel insurance market to grow at a CAGR of 11.6% during the period 2016-2020. Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global travel insurance market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the total gross premium generated from EMEA, APAC, and the Americas.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Travel Insurance Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. Key vendorsCSA Travel ProtectionSeven CornersTravelSafe InsuranceUSI Affinity Other prominent vendorsACE Asia PacificAllianz Global AssistanceAmerican International Group Inc.AXA Market driverGrowing tourism and business travelsFor a full, detailed list, view our report Market challengeDifferent healthcare laws in different countriesFor a full, detailed list, view our report Market trendInsurance for unconventional expensesFor a full, detailed list, view our report Key questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
U.S. government debt prices were mostly higher on Monday as investors focused on economic data.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury notes (U.S.:US10Y), which moves inversely to price, was higher at around 2.490 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was higher at 3.086 percent. The two-year note yield, meanwhile was higher around 1.216 percent.
On the data front, pending home sales for December rose 1.6 percent, while personal income rose 0.3 percent, below an expected increase of 0.4 percent.
Bond investors also looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's first monetary policy meeting of the year, with most expecting the central bank to hold rates steady. Market expectations for a rate hike this week are just 4 percent, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool.
"This week is very busy ... we have a packed data calendar," said Thomas Simons, a money market economist at Jefferies in New York. "I think that may lead to a bit of a malaise to start the week here ... there isn't a lot to get going on yet."
Overseas, Greek bonds fell sharply on worries about whether the International Monetary Fund will participate in the indebted southern European country's bailout program.
Yields on short-dated bonds spiked 300 basis points, on track for their biggest one-day jump since July 2015, while 10-year bond yields rose to their highest in almost three months.
Germany said on Monday it believed the IMF would participate and that it was too early to start thinking about other possible scenarios.
But concerns were heightened after a leaked report that the Fund expects Greek debt to explode to 275 percent of GDP by 2060, analysts said.
"There's a bit of disquiet regarding the IMF's role...," said Orlando Green, European fixed income strategist at Credit Agricole. "The bottom line is that the IMF wants debt relief for Greece and the EU has taken baby steps towards this, but it is not what the IMF is looking for long-term. When there are divisions between the EU and IMF, that arouses concerns about Greece."
Story continues
In oil markets, prices were dragged lower as investors grew increasingly concerned that rising production in the U.S. would offset output cuts pledged by OPEC and other producers.
Brent crude (Intercontinental Exchange Europe: @LCO.1) traded at around $55.24 a barrel on Monday, down 0.50 percent, while U.S. crude (New York Mercantile Exchange: @CL.1) was around $52.68 a barrel, down 0.92percent.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Healthcare Market Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecasts To 2022
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The Global Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Healthcare Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.2% during the forecast period. Growing healthcare expenditure on emerging technologies and devices, rising private funds and greater emphasis on delivery of efficient healthcare services are the key factors driving the market growth. Lack of clear regulatory guidelines for their medical use is restraining the growth of augmented reality and virtual reality in healthcare market. North America is the leading market followed by Europe. Key factors contributing to the market growth in North America are the ease of access to technologies and well-established distribution channels. Emerging markets act as lucrative destinations for players involved in the market.Download Sample Report @Some of the key players in the market include Siemens Healthcare, CAE Healthcare, Layar B.V, Artificial Life, Inc., Philips Healthcare, Intuitive Surgical Inc., OnStar, LLC, Foursquare Labs, Inc., EON Reality, GE Healthcare, Hologic, Inc., Vuzix Corp, Vital Images, Inc., Simulab Corp, Medtronic, TheraSim, Inc., VirtaMed, Laerdal Medical, WorldViz, LLC, Immersion Corp, Oculus VR, LLC, Aruba Networks and Gowalla.Application Covered:Fitness ManagementPharmacy benefit ManagementEducationDiagnosticsRehabilitation and TherapeuticsMedical TrainingPain DistractionSurgical and Diagnostic ImagingPatient Care ManagementVirtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)SimulationOther ApplicationsProduct Covered:Augmented Reality (AR)o AR Displayso AR Sensorso AR Input Deviceso AR Semiconductor ComponentsVirtual Reality (VR)o VR Semiconductor Componentso VR Deviceso VR SensorsTechnology Covered:Augmented Reality (AR)o Wearable AR Systemo Vision-based AR Systemo Mobile Device-based AR Systemo Spatial AR SystemVirtual Reality (VR)o Semi-immersive VR Systemo Fully-immersive VR Systemo Non-immersive VR SystemEnd User Covered:Advertising AgenciesHospitals and ClinicsResearch laboratoriesCommunity PharmacyPharmaceutical and Biotechnology CompaniesAcademic Institutes UnitGovernment AgenciesOther End UserComplete Report Details @What our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements....ContinuedDiscount On This Report @For more information, please visitMarket Reports Center is an e-commerce platform obliging the needs of knowledge workers, experts, professionals who are subject to market research information for their work, or to make strategic business decisions. Market Reports Centers team consistently works to update and extend our existing repository of market research reports by partnering with new publishers and adding their studies to our website.Sam Collins303, Astral Court,Aundh, Pune,MH - 411045, India
Tele-intensive Care Services Market By Analysis of Major Industry Segments 2024
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The report on global tele-intensive care services market is enriched with fruitful information, statistics, and data, which holds the potential to benefit readers. It provides a basic overview of the tele-intensive care services market including definition, classifications, applications, and industry chain structure.As per an article in the Permanente Journal a journal of medical science, social science in medicine, and medical humanities, the cost of treating critically ill patients crosses US$67 bn per year in the U.S. alone. The mortality rate is around 10% and even reaches up to 28% in ICU settings. In order to limit ICU deaths, healthcare professionals and hospital managers are actively exploring tele-intensive care services. This keen interest by healthcare professionals in tele-intensive care services is owing to the number of benefits these services can offer to providers and receivers of critical care. Tele-intensive care units have helped patients in keeping medication errors in check and have decreased the length of stay (LOS) in ICUs. This is driving the global tele-intensive care services market.For the purpose of giving a clearer picture to the readers, the growth and decline of each of the segments have been given in the report along with the underlying reason behind the state of the segment. The leading segment and sub-segment and also the fastest growing segment are given.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:Tele-intensive Care Services Market OverviewThe demand for tele-intensive care services is driven by the rapid adoption of telemedicine among people across the globe. The rising number of patients requiring intensive care is burdening hospitals and as such, the adoption of tele-intensive care services is an ideal solution. Moreover, there is an increased interest and confidence among healthcare professionals in remote patient monitoring. This is fueling the growth of the market globally. Additionally, the cost and time savings associated with the ability to make quick decisions by the adoption of these services will further boost their demand.The centralization of the massive amount of patient data will aid the interest of healthcare professionals in tele-intensive care services. The decreased hospital stay and the reduced risk of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are some of the other factors encouraging the adoption of tele-intensive care services. The adoption of tele-intensive care services helps medical practitioners to monitor any important signs in patients and also receive alerts in case of deviations in the set health parameters of a patient. Moreover, the implementation of tele-intensive care services prevents hospital-setting related issues from occurring.According to TMR, tele-intensive care services will be centered on IoT and various smart medical devices in the future. An increasing number of hospitals are realizing that the adoption of these services can be very profitable after the initial cost of investment has been recovered. This is further expected to encourage other hospitals to adopt these services, thus driving the global tele-intensive care services market.The global tele-intensive care services market is segmented on the basis of type, component, and geography. By product, the market is segmented into hardware and software. Hardware components are further categorized into therapeutic devices, communication lines, computer systems, physiological monitors, display panels, and video feeds. By type, the market is segmented into intensivist, open, co-managed, open with consultants. By geography, the market can be segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World.Companies Mentioned in the ReportThe report studies key players operating in the global tele-intensive care services market. These include: Advanced ICU care, inTouch health, UPMC Italy, INTELEICU, iMDsoft, INOVA, and Philips. The business and financial overview, recent products and developments, and the strategies implemented by each of the companies are given in the report.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:
Circuit Breakers Market - Rise due to their Economical Pricing 2015 - 2021
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Robust infrastructural development and the rising demand for energy derived from solar power augur well for circuit breakers sales across Brazil. As per Transparency Market Research (TMR), the Brazil circuit breakers market is poised to surge at a positive CAGR of 6.3% between 2015 and 2021.Favorable policies encouraging rising spending in residential, public, and commercial construction fuel will considerably boost sales of circuit breakers across Brazil.Contrary to this, the rising availability of counterfeit products will limit the scope of circuit breakers sales, despite the prevalence of lucrative opportunities in the country. Nevertheless, TMR forecasts, the growth run of the market to continue as demand for smart technologies rise in Brazil.As per TMR, the Brazil circuit breakers market was valued at US$437.8 mn in 2014. The market is projected to reach US$645.9 mn by the end of 2021. By volume the market is expected to rise from 190.3 hundred units in 2014 to 241.1 hundred units in 2021, exhibiting 4.1% CAGR during the forecast period.Urbanization in Brazil to Fuel Demand for Circuit Breakers from the Construction SectorBased on application, the Brazil circuit breakers market constitutes automotive, construction, oil and gas, industrial, power generation, and other sectors. Of these, the power generation industry emerged dominant in the market in 2014. The segment held over 37.1% of the market in the year.Request A Sample Of This Report The increasing installation of smart grids across Brazil is expected to seal the dominance of the power generation industry in the market. As per TMR, the power generation segment stood at US$162.4 mn in 2014. Rising at a CAGR of 6.9%, it is expected to reach US$248.1 mn by the end of 2021.The circuit breakers market in Brazil will significantly gain from the rising demand from the oil and gas industry. It is expected to emerge as the second-largest application segment in the market exhibiting a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period.The rising construction activities in Brazil is also projected to boost the sales of circuit breakers. Brazil being a developing economy, considerable focus is given on planning the countrys urbanization. The consumption of electricity is thus likely to surge exponentially, fuelling demand for circuit breakers in response.Besides this, the use of circuit breakers is also expected to increase in the automotive sector and other industrial purposes. In the automotive sector, the rising demand for electric and smart vehicles will fuel demand for circuit breakers.Demand for Air Circuit Breakers to Rise due to their Economical PricingBased on arc quenching media, air circuit breakers emerged as the largest contributor to the Brazil circuit breakers market. It held a share of over 54.6% in the market in 2014. Accounting for around 24.1% of the market, the SF6 circuit breakers emerged as the second-largest segment in the same year.The increasing use of air circuit breakers to protect electrical machines such as capacitors, generators, motors, and transformers fuels their sales across Brazil. Their demand is likely to surge further in the forthcoming years, as air circuit breakers are available at a comparatively economical price.By revenue, TMR pegs the air circuit breakers segment in the Brazil circuit breakers market at US$239.0 mn in 2014. Rising at a CAGR of 6.0%, the segment is projected to reach US$348.1 mn by the end of 2021.With a share of around 9%, vacuum circuit breakers constituted the second-largest segment in the market in 2014. This type of switchgear are used in low voltage and medium voltage applications. Their demand is expected to increase significantly in the forthcoming years due to their environmental friendliness.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global T-Shirt Market Share, Size, Trends, Growth and Forecast 2017-2025
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IndexBox has just published a new report "World: T-Shirts - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025" ().This report has been designed to provide a detailed analysis of the global t-shirt market. It covers the most recent data sets of quantitative medium-term projections, as well as developments in production, trade, consumption and prices. The report also includes a comparative analysis of the leading consuming countries, revealing opportunities opened for producers and exporters across the globe. The forecast outlines market prospects to 2025.In 2015, the value of total imports of T-shirts stood at 34.4 billion USD. In physical terms, the total volume of T-shirts decreased to 10.2 billion units in 2015, which was 338 million units (3%) less than the year before.In 2015, the U.S. (3 billion units) was the main importer in the T-shirt market, accounting for 31% of total imports. It was distantly followed by the UK (7%), Germany (7%), Italy (4%), France (4%), Japan (3%), and Belgium (3%).According to market research conducted by IndexBox, from 2007 to 2015, Belgium (+3.4% per year) and the U.S. (+3.3% per year) had the highest growth rates of imports. France (-4.7% per year) and the UK (-1.1% per year) showed negative dynamics. In 2015 (compared with 2014), most of the global trade leaders showed a decline in import volumes, with the exception of the U.S., which increased its imports by +7%. France (-37%) had the largest decline in imports.The U.S strengthened its position in terms of the global import structure, while the other countries saw their shares reduced from 2007 to 2015.TABLE OF CONTENTS1. INTRODUCTION1.1 REPORT DESCRIPTION1.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2.1 KEY FINDINGS2.2 MARKET TRENDS3. MARKET OVERVIEW3.1 MARKET VOLUME AND VALUE3.2 CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY3.3 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES BY COUNTRY3.4 MARKET FORECAST TO 20254. PRODUCTION4.1 PRODUCTION IN 2007-20154.2 PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY5. IMPORTS5.1 IMPORTS IN 2007-20155.2 IMPORTS BY COUNTRY5.3 IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY6. EXPORTS6.1 EXPORTS IN 2007-20156.2 EXPORTS BY COUNTRY6.3 EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY7. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERSDownload a free sample of the report now!IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. We conduct market research and publish reports.You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.We collect this data from hundreds of highly reliable sources, verify it and carry out market analysis, uncovering new business opportunities and empowering you with actionable insights.The structure of our reports is intuitive and clear. We do our best to allow you to make strategic decisions and take immediate action. If you want to go further and be a step ahead of the market, just tell us your goals and we will tailor a report to your needs.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QWWebsite:
New study on Global Frozen Meat Market 2021 industry trends & forecast just published
Global Frozen Meat Market 2021
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This report studies Frozen Meat in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with Production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringCheck Complete Report @ Cargill Beef JBS BALTIC FOODS Ashbourne Meat Processors Patterson Food Processors KILCOY PASTORAL COMPANY Rantoul Foods KSP Elfab Co XIEJIMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Frozen Meat in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), like North America Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaGet Sample Brochure of the Report @Split by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided into Frozen Chicken Frozen Pork Frozen Beef Frozen LambSplit by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Frozen Meat in each application, can be divided into Foodservice operators Grocery stores Supermarkets Restaurants Food Players DistributorsOrder a copy of Global Frozen Meat Market Report now @About us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated. It curates the list of reports, publishers and studies to ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients.MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand Supply Gap. We cover more than 15 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Contact us:Mayur SSales Manager2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statespr@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343
MobileBridge Survey Sees Enhanced Priority in Marketers Adaptation to Ever-Evolving Consumer Preferences for Mobile Engagement
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Nashua, NH (January 31, 2017) Following the biggest year ever for consumer activity via the mobile channel, an underwhelming number of exec level marketers understand the necessity of keeping pace with the rapidly evolving consumer preferences for mobile engagement, according to MobileBridges first edition of its Mobile Marketing Trends Report.The fluidity and omnipresent change in the way consumers engage with a brand via mobile presents obvious challenges to marketers in todays business landscape, said MobileBridge CEO, Eyal Oster. While it is clear marketers are only beginning to scratch the surface in creating truly engaging mobile experiences for consumers, expediting this learning curve is crucial for organizations to thrive in the present market.MobileBridge surveyed professionals in various marketing and management roles from a range of organizational sizes, industries, and global regions for the first edition of its Mobile Marketing Trends Report. Key findings included:Digital Transformation: Top initiatives for respondents included: Building a responsive website - 59% Building a new mobile app - 54%o Surprisingly, only 35% included revamping or updating existing app.o With 57% declaring to already have a mobile app, this presents an obvious missed opportunity by not investing in enhancing an existing app to leverage work and assets already in place.Whos Responsible for What: Marketers are increasingly responsible for a companys mobile strategy: 70% responded mobile strategy falls under marketing departments responsibilities.o 90% stated mobile initiatives designed for existing customers.o 40% stated mobile initiatives designed for attracting new prospects.o 2% stated mobile initiatives designed for engaging employees. Top goals for respondents mobile apps include:o Engage customers 84%o Drive Revenue 66%o Build customer loyalty 63% Companies are investing heavily to achieve these goals:o 70% stated budgets will somewhat or significantly increase in 2017.Defining Success: Which metrics are used to define success of mobile apps? Active users 91% Revenue 56% Downloads/installs 47%Strategies & Tactics: How are marketers going about mobile customer engagement? Push messaging 88% Social media 72% In-app messages 56% Coupons/offers 28% Surveys 16% Games 6%o 59% stated their app engages their customers only somewhat or not at all.o 78% stated ability to measure mobile success is merely somewhat or not sufficient at all.Systems: Increase in number of tools being used to attract and convert prospects to customers: Web content management (WCM) 63% Customer relationship management (CRM) 56% e-commerce 45% Marketing automation 39%Key takeaways from the survey show marketers have evolved from using mobile just to inform and are now using the channel to interactively engage customers and potential customers. While advanced mobile engagement is still in its infancy, adapting to early lessons and iterating quickly is of great necessity. While data shows there is much work to do in improving advanced customer engagement via mobile, the report shows there are vast opportunities of which organizations can take advantage to achieve mobile success faster and easier than ever.The 2017 Mobile Marketing Trends Report is available for download now.MobileBridge is driving the next generation of mobile engagement for organizations worldwide. Our leading mobile engagement automation solution improves your mobile channels so you know and engage your customers better by bridging their on-line and offline worlds. Providing marketers the ease and flexibility they need, our cloud-based platform easily integrates with CRM, POS, marketing automation, ecommerce and more to enable true omni-channel marketing. With solutions in proximity marketing, customer engagement, mobile commerce, and customer insights, we help businesses increase customer loyalty, retention, and revenue.With offices in Boston, Amsterdam, and London, we help companies like Volkswagen, Pirelli, and Burger King fast-track mobile success. For more information, visitDPA Communications256 Hanover StBoston, MA 02113
Earnings to Grow by 2024; Sigmoidscope Devices Market Migration to Happen
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According to U.S. FDA, sigmoidoscope is a class II medical device used in a sigmoidoscopy procedure to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. Generally, sigmoidoscope is a small tube-like device which consists light source to see the internal part of the rectum and sigmoid colon. Physician or nurse inserts this device into the colon through end part of the large intestine called anus and pushes slowly into the rectum and sigmoid colon. Over the last few decades, prevalence and incidence rates of gastrointestinal diseases (GIT) is increasing notably and is expected to drive the overall GIT diagnosis devices market including sigmoidoscope devices over the forecast period. There are two different types of sigmoidoscopes such as flexible sigmoidoscope and rigid sigmoidoscope are available in the market to cater the patients. Among all, flexible sigmoidoscope devices are commonly used. These devices allow a physician to see around bends in the colon and it provides prominent results in the lower colon examination. Rigid sigmoidoscope is used to check the rectum part and is used less often when compared to flexible sigmoidoscope. In the aforementioned devices, flexible sigmoidoscopes are expected to register robust growth in a CAGR over the forecast period.Get the Upcoming Market Analysis of Sigmoidscope Devices at:Generally, sigmoidscope is used to find the cause of abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. Moreover, the device used to find the malignant polyps and benign, as well as early signs of cancer in the lower part of colon and rectum. By using flexible sigmoidoscope device, the physician can see inflammation, intestinal bleeding, ulcers and abnormal growths in the descending colon and rectum. The entire sigmoidoscopy procedure will take 20 minutes to complete and whilst performing the procedure, the patient may feel uncomfortable. Before performing procedure, patients rectum and colon must be empty. Moreover, patient has to take only clear liquids for 12 to 24 hours beforehand. Patient has to take edema before performing procedure, so that washes out the intestine.Increasing prevalence of GIT diseases is one of the major factor which is expected to drive the overall sigmoidoscope devices marker over the forecast period. Moreover, increasing technological advancements in the medical devices industry along with increasing awareness about healthcare is expected to drive the overall market demand for sigmoidoscope devices during forecast period. However, the cost of the procedure and dearth of skilled healthcare professionals in the under developed countries is expected to hamper the marker revenue growth over the forecast period. Moreover, availability of high end medical devices which offer multiple services including sigmoidoscopy is one of the key restraints for this market.This market can be categorized on three major bases such as product type, application, end user, and geography. On the basis of key products, the market can be classified into flexible sigmoidoscope and rigid sigmoidoscope. Based on the application, the market has been segmented into diagnosis, monitoring. Based on end user type the market has been segmented into hospital, ambulatory surgical centers, and gastroenterology institutes.Geographically, the sigmoidscope devices market can be classified into five regional markets such as North America (United States and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, etc.) and Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, Japan, India, etc.), Latin America and rest of the world. The emerging markets in Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are expected to register robust growth during the forecast period 2016-2024. This would majorly be attributed to increasing investments by the key players operating in these countries, increasing prevalence of Gastro intestinal track cancers. India, China and Brazil are expected to drive strong growth among the emerging countries, owing to the increasing investments by government bodies to enhance healthcare facilities.Read the Present Market Status of Sigmoidscope Devices at:Key companies operating in the global sigmoidscope devices market are Anetic Aid, Parburch Medical Ltd., HIENE USA LTD. Welch Allyn, Jindal Medical & Scientific Instruments Company (Pvt.) Ltd., Pal Surgicals and Evexar Medical, GE Healthcare to name few.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:
Baby Scale Market Continue with Long as Technical Developments Helps it to Communicate Through a Wireless Network
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Baby Scales are commonly used to determine the weight of infants and toddlers. Weight of a baby is an indication of the growth, it should be within the standards and hence, it is important to check the weight gain during the growth process and also ensure that it follows a regular trend. A sudden increase or decrease in the weight points out an anomaly. These baby scales replace the traditional methods of weighing. They are designed in a manner that they are equipped with secure baby trays or seats that allows for comfort to the baby and convenient readings to the physicians or nurses working with the infants or newborns. The baby scales are useful as they offer reliable height and weight measurement for assessment of growth and nutrition. With the advancement in technology, various shapes and sizes of scales are available that could weigh with better accuracy and precision. Baby scales vary in their make, capacities, design etc, however, an ideal baby scale need to precise, easy to use, highly portable, durable and of low cost. It should be made up of material that provides stability and support during the weighing process. Baby scales have been customized in a way that they could be programmed to measure and record the data.Global baby scale market has been segmented by product type, type of material, end user, and geography. In term of product type, the market has been categorized into Digital balances and Electronic Balances. The digital balances can further categorized as Beam balances and spring balances. The beam balances are more preferred than the spring balances owing to its better holding capacity and design. The Electronic baby scales provide an accurate measurement and is also often accompanied with self-calibration capability. Based on the type of material used for baby scale, the market is segmented into Plastic, steel and others like glass. The Plastic type such as polystyrene baby scales are more prevalent and considered by majority of people owing to its enhanced safety and other features associated. End users for the Baby scale market consist of hospitals, neo-natal care centers, clinics and home-care settings.Geographically, the Baby Scale market has been segmented into five regional markets, namely, North America (United States and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, etc.), Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, Japan, India, etc.), Latin America (Mexico, Brazil etc.) and Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa etc.). Asia pacific region with high birth incidences is expected to register a higher growth. North America and Europe regions is anticipated to lead the market due to the advancement in technology. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are expected to record robust growth during the forecast period 2016-2024 due to growing health care industry.The baby scales market is an uprising market with addition of new technologies and features in the product that better serves the intended purpose. For example, the Withings Smart Baby scale by Withings SA, was awarded with CES Innovations Award in the year 2012 for its ability to connect with Wi-fi the weight measurements of the infants and toddlers. In addition to this, there are other factors that affect the growth of the Baby scales market such as rising awareness amongst parents and technological advancements such as development of Baby scales that could communicate through a wireless network. The convenience of having a baby scale at home-care settings avoids the frequent visit to the doctor. The market is also experiencing certain restraints, such as, the lack of guidelines and information about which type of baby scales to be used.Key players:The major players operating in the neuroendovascular coil market include DETECTO Scale Company, seca, Zhejiang Conqueror Weighing Apparatus Co.,Ltd, DUCK image, Salter Housewares, Sunbeam Products, Inc, Binatone Global, Withings SA., TanitaTransparency 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:
Future of The Acetaminophen (paracetamol) Market : Explore Current Trends, Expected Growth Analysis & Projected Value 2024
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Acetaminophen, commonly known as Paracetamol is the most widely used analgesic and antipyretic that relieves pain and reduce fever. Discovered in 1877, the drug is typically used for mild to moderate pain. It is prescribed either alone with or in a combination with cold medication. The name Paracetamol is approved by the International Nonproprietary, Australia and Britain, while Acetaminophen is the name that is approved and used in U.S and Japan.Acetaminophen market: UsageIts pain reliever content is derived from a coal tar and is safe at recommended doses. It also appears to be safe during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. The drug is classified as mild analgesic used for relieving headaches, arthritis and other minor pains. It is also recommended for cold and flu remedies. As acetaminophen is normally used to treat inflammatory pain, it is classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).Acetaminophen is commercially available in the form of tablets, liquid suspensions, and capsules. The common adult dose is 500 to 1000 mg and the drug is safe for all age groups including children and infants. Acetaminophen is safe for use at recommended doses but overdose of drug leads to nausea, vomiting and sweating. Serious skin rashes may rarely occur, however high dose of the drug can result in liver failure.Acetaminophen is composed of active metabolite of phenacetin and acetanilide, but unlike phenacetin and acenilide, their combination acetaminophen is not carcinogenic at therapeutic doses. Its effects last between two-four hours.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:Acetaminophen market growthOwing to the increasing cases of chronic diseases and conditions that need pain management solutions on regular basis, the Paracetamol market is showing a growth. The market of Asia-Pacific leads in the market of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) driven by the high growth markets of India and China. The high population and availability of cheap drugs has made Paracetamol highly popular in the market. Acetaminophen is also widely used and prescribed in North America and European markets. Although the drug has high growth market in India, in its recent guidelines on the Safety and efficacy of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug, Indian Medical Association (IMA) asked people to desist from using Paracetamol, saying that it cause more harm than good if taken without medical supervision.The Paracetamol market is currently being driven particularly in countries such as South Africa, Brazil, and Argentina by spikes in healthcare costs and the easy availability of affordable Paracetamol drugs without the requirement of a prescription. The major companies which are involved in manufacturing Acetaminophen include Glaxo SmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Captab biotech, Arika healthcare, Aknil biotech, M.M. Pharma and Genesis Biotech.Download Exclusive Brochure of This Report :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:
Malignant Neoplasm Therapeutics Market Studies Research Report, Industry Survey, Growth and Major Policies Report 2024
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Malignant neoplasm is believed to be one of the extended conditions of neoplasm. It is a form of cancer that develops an abnormal growth of tissues usually leading to the formation of a tumor. The primary cause of this disease is understood as damaging of DNA under certain circumstances that further escalates to a stage of cancer. The very beginning of malignant neoplasm is the occurrence of abnormal patterns of growth in the tissue known as dysplasia or metaplasia.Higher Prevalence of Malignant Neoplasm in Geriatric Population Driving the Market GrowthThe global cancer incidences have increased to a considerable number over the past few decades owing to a rise in the geriatric population, increasing life expectancy and changing lifestyle. In addition, factors such as advanced cancer diagnostics and early initiation of the treatment are fuelling the global malignant neoplasm therapeutics market. Development of targeted therapies are revolutionizing the conventional concepts of cancer treatment and are likely to get higher preference in the coming years. Moreover, a higher success ratio of these latest cancer drugs compared to traditional anti-carcinogenic treatment is expected to further drive the market growth in the near future. These latest drugs are capable of countering more than one type of cancer. For example imatinib, which was first developed for treating a single type of cancer was later found effective on multiple cancer types.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:Novelty in cancer treatment has significantly influenced the present treatment models. However, a complete cure for the disease is still not ascertained. Further, many of the advanced treatment models are often expensive and only available in developed regions of the world. In some case, delay in integration of the novel drugs into current treatment methods limit the options for the patient. Other factors such as price risk and credibility of the drugs are few of the other concerns for the market.Over the years, the subject of oncology has received paramount attention from biomedical researchers, health care experts and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Owing to a severe need for effective treatment of cancer, heavy investments are being made in further research and development of the particular subject. Many of the pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis International AG and Pfizer Inc. are introducing a range of anti-carcinogenic drugs under their brand names promising to be more efficient. The global malignant neoplasm treatment market has become increasingly competitive in the recent years with more player joining in. Currently, most drug manufacturers offer two primary cancer therapeutic programs, namely cytostatic hormonal treatments and antineoplastics.Malignant Neoplasm Therapeutics Market: Regional SegmentationOn the basis of region, the global malignant neoplasm therapeutics market has been segmented into six key regions namely North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is considered as one of the largest market of malignant neoplasm therapeutics owing to a strong presence of drug manufacturers in the region and availability of advanced healthcare facilities. In terms of value, the U.S accounts for a healthy portion of the global malignant neoplasm therapeutics market attributed to the growing demand for cancer treatment in the country. In addition, Europe is one of the other regions where the market is growing at a considerable rate and is expected to continue a similar in trend in the coming years.Key PlayersFew of the key players identified in the global malignant neoplasm therapeutics market include F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Novartis International AG, Sanofi S.A., AstraZeneca plc, Eli Lilly and Company, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Pfizer Inc. Bayer AG, Amgen, AbbVie Inc and Celgene Corporation.Download Exclusive Brochure of This Report :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:
Companies have been vocal about President Donald Trump's executive order that prevents refugees and travelers from seven countries to enter the United States. has pledged to hire 10,000 refugees. Lyft will donate $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union. Airbnb is providing free housing to people affected by the executive order.
Early Monday morning, Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten also fired out a response. Rakuten's CEO Hiroshi Mikitani tweeted that its messaging platform Viber would offer free international calls to the affected countries.
This means that Viber users will be able to make free international calls from the United States to Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. (Right now, calls made on the app from the U.S. to landlines in those seven countries range from $0.15 per minute to $0.70 per minute.)
We connect people no matter where they're from. Calls to any landline or mobile between and are now free. Viber (@Viber) January 30, 2017
Viber also issued a statement saying the company is offering free calls "so that those affected will now have one less barrier to cross when trying to reach their loved ones."
Rakuten acquired Viber for $900 million in 2014.
See original article on Fortune.com
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Dermatology Devices Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, And Forecasts 2016 - 2024
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Global Dermatology Devices Market: OverviewThe global dermatology devices market is expected to grow at a significant pace in the coming years. The key motivating factor, which is leading to a growth of the market is the growing prevalence of skin problems such as scars and acne. Some of the other factors driving the global dermatology devices market are high demand for at-home devices, growing number of obese people, and significant increase in the non-invasive liposuction procedures.Dermatology devices comprise RF devices, lasers, microdermabrasion devices, and other related accessories. These devices are installed at dermatology clinics and hospitals to assist physicians in the treatment of skin diseases and also help with the diagnosis of skin cancer. The report gives a brief overview on the industry and focuses on key drivers and restraints impacting the growth of the dermatology devices market. It segments the market on the basis of geography, product, end user, and application.Global Dermatology Devices Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe global dermatology devices market is anticipated to experience a significant growth in the coming years due to the growing aesthetic awareness and consciousness about appearance. The demand for non-invasive cosmetic correction procedures is also increasing and this will also fuel the growth of the dermatology devices market. The growing healthcare expenditure, rising disposable income, and growing geriatric population are collectively boosting the demand for dermatology devices. On the other hand, the high cost of dermatological treatments is expected to restrain patients from getting a procedure. In addition to this, there are various side effects of dermatological treatments and this is posing a grave challenge for players in the market.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:On the basis of product, the market is segmented into lasers, electrosurgical equipment, liposuction devices, cryotherapy devices, microdermabrasion, LED light therapy devices, lasers. The laser segment is further sub-segmented into fractional, infrared, diode, alexandrite laser, potassium titanyl, Nd:YAG, phosphate (KTP), and pulsed. The LED light therapy devices segment is expected to lead in the market in the coming years. On the basis of application, the dermatology devices market is segmented into vascular lesions, psoriasis, hair removal, acne removal wrinkle removal, tattoo removal, skin resurfacing, skin rejuvenation, and scar removal. Of these, the vascular lesions segment not only led in the past but is expected to continue to do so even in the coming years. On the basis of end user, the global dermatology devices market is segmented into hospitals, private clinics, and specialty dermatology clinics.Global Dermatology Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global dermatology devices market is segmented on the basis of geography into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World. The dermatology devices market is expected to lead in North America owing to a high number of skin disorders, skin cancer among people. The increasing preference for cosmetic surgeries will also help the dermatology devices market to grow in North America.Key Players Mentioned in the ReportSome of the vendors operating in the global dermatology devices market are Agilent Technologies Inc., Amd Global Telemedicine Inc., Ambicare Health Ltd., Applisonix Ltd., Biolitec Ag, Cynosure Inc., Bruker Corp., Ellipse A/S, Genesis Biosystems, Ge Healthcare, Lucid Inc., Nikon Corp., Michelson Diagnostics Ltd., Olympus Corp., Palomar Medical Technologies Inc., Toshiba Medical Systems, Syneron Medical Ltd., and Alma Lasers Ltd.Download Exclusive Brochure of This Report :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:
Wireless Mesh Network Market - Forecast CAGR of 13.7% from 2016 to 2024
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Wireless mesh networks are rapidly emerging as a cost-effective solution for the improvement of wireless communications across various industry verticals. Their fast and easy deployment in the public safety infrastructure is indicative of their rising popularity and the significant growth the wireless mesh market is likely to experience in the coming years.The adoption of these networks has become critical in most industries where worker safety is a concern and this is a major factor driving the global market.The surging demand for wireless mesh networks is reflected in the projected volume growth of the market. In 2015, the demand was pegged at 13.3 mn units and this is expected to rise to 37.2 mn units by the end of 2024.Regulatory Mandates Driving Demand for Wireless Mesh Networks in North AmericaThe global market for wireless mesh networks comprises five key regions: North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America was the largest contributor to the wireless mesh network market in 2015 owing to the high adoption of mesh networks in safety and security systems in the utilities and energy sectors. Worker safety regulations in the region mandate the use of critical communication systems and mesh networks form the backbone of this communication infrastructure.The growing adoption of Internet of things (IoT) devices has also spurred the use of wireless mesh networks for connectivity and data sharing in North America.Request A Sample Of This Report In terms of revenue generation, Europe is the second-largest market. Asia Pacific is projected to be the most rapidly expanding regional segment with a forecast CAGR of 13.7% from 2016 to 2024 thanks to the development of public infrastructure and growing needs from smart city projects.APAC countries such as Japan, China, and India have been witnessing a rising number of initiatives for smart city projects of late with the aim of transforming the safety and communication infrastructure of their cities. Smart metering initiatives by private and government bodies have also generated the demand for wireless mesh networks in APAC.Smart meters have been replacing old gas and electricity meters for enhanced data transfer and accurate usage analysis. Moreover, the cost required for wiring is reduced since they are connected to wireless mesh networks.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
The Drilling Jars Market is forecast to gain from the increasing drilling activities and investment in oil and gas explorations worldwide :2024
Global Drilling Jars Market
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Global Drilling Jars Market: OverviewThe success of cable tool drilling is determined by the performance of a drilling jar, as it is a crucial component of a drilling string. With the recent advancements, drilling jars have become more advanced and provide better results and reliability. With the increasing offshore exploration and drilling activities worldwide, the demand for drilling jars is expected to increase at a rapid pace in the near future, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :The report provides a holistic overview of the global drilling jars market covering the various factors influencing its growth. To study its trajectory over the years, the report also sources data from its historical roadmap. To present an in-depth overview, the effect of Porters five forces on the global drilling jars market is analyzed as well.Global Drilling Jars Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe global drilling jars market is forecast to gain from the increasing drilling activities and investment in oil and gas explorations worldwide. Based on recent findings, TMR forecasts strong growth for the market as oil industries make huge investments to explore offshore resources and deep-water reserves. It is due to this, that the gradual shift from onshore to deep offshore reserves is foretold to create lucrative market opportunities. This shift however is steered by the depleting onshore reserves and the potentially attractive rate of returns from investment in the unexplored deep water reserves.It is due to the increasing demand for energy that companies are compelled to invest heavily in hydrocarbon exploration. With the trend less likely to subside anytime soon, the future of the global drilling market seems much promising. Besides this the market in the recent years is gaining from the rising efforts towards unconventional hydrocarbon resources explorations. Perhaps with government support and strong regulations to cater to the rising energy demands, the developing markets will emerge as more lucrative pockets in the forthcoming years.However, the markets trajectory will not remain uninhibited as it still faces restraints from the volatile crude oil prices. In addition, geopolitics and other market forces will continue having significant influence on the global drilling jars market.Global Drilling Jars Market: Regional and Other Key SegmentsRegionally, the market is expected to strong growth in North America. As the region boasts abundant shale gas reserves and ultra-deep water oil, it provides immense opportunities for players domiciled therein to capitalize from. While Europe and Asia Pacific will continue being lucrative markets for drilling jars, the accelerated efforts in North America to produce unconventional energy will seal the regions dominance in the global map. In the Rest of the World however the market will continue raking high profits from the Middle East and Africa.Besides regional segmentation, the report also classifies the global drilling jars market based on type into hydraulic drilling jars, hydraulic mechanical jars, and mechanical drilling jars. Of these, hydraulic as well as mechanical jars are available in single or two unit jars, which offer a combination of hydraulic and mechanical actions. Following the recent advancements, drilling jars also provide a two way action, which enables operators to drill through in both downward and upward actions.The report presents a detailed assessment of the factors affecting the markets trajectory across the aforementioned segments. Information thus obtained is intended to help market participants identify sectors in the market that will prove to be the most lucrative.Global Drilling Jars Market: Vendor LandscapeIn order to provide insight into the prevailing vendor landscape, the report profiles companies such as Schlumberger Limited, Toro Downhole Tools, Odfjell Drilling Ltd., Wenzel Downhole Tools Ltd., BICO Drilling Tools, Inc., Tasman OMM, Cougar Drilling Solutions Inc., TTGM International (USA), Inc., VNIIBT-Drilling Tools Ltd., Knight Oil Tools, AOS ORWELL, and National Oilwell Varco.Browse the Full Brochure at :In order to study their strengths and weaknesses the report conducts SWOT analysis on the leading market players. The analysis also provides insights into the threats and opportunities that could affect their operations over the course of the forecast period.Geographies analyzed under this research report include-North America-Asia Pacific-Europe-Rest of the WorldThis report gives you access to decisive data such as:-Market growth drivers-Factors limiting market growth-Current market trends-Market structure-Market projections for the coming yearsAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact TMRTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog : http://cmfeglobalreports.blogspot.com/
Columbia Sportswear establishes separate headquarters for its Sorel brand in downtown Portland
Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle issued an emotional appeal for tolerance on Monday in reaction to Pres. Trump's travel ban.
(Andrew Theen/Staff)
In an emotional and idealistic memo to employees, Tim Boyle, Columbia Sportswear chief executive, slammed the Trump administration travel ban recalling his own family's experience fleeing persecution from 1938 Nazi Germany.
Boyle's grandparents and mother found a welcoming home in the U.S. and quickly opened a hat distributorship that eventually became Columbia Sportswear.
"We are here because the United States was open and tolerant enough to let us in," Boyle wrote in the message to employees."Both our family and our business were encouraged to engage with the world. Our presence in America, coupled with the tremendous growth of Columbia Sportswear Company and the thousands of jobs created in Oregon and across the world, are direct rewards of global engagement that are often lost in political debates on all sides of the political aisle."
Boyle's memo
January 30, 2017
To all Columbia Sportswear Company employees:
This message, like our company, has roots that reach back to 1938. That's when Columbia Sportswear Company was founded -- the year after my family fled Nazi Germany and my mother and grandparents settled safely in Portland, Oregon. Because they were able to come to the United States, they were able to start a small regional hat distributor and name it "Columbia."
We are here because the United States was open and tolerant enough to let us in. Both our family and our business were encouraged to engage with the world. Our presence in America, coupled with the tremendous growth of Columbia Sportswear Company and the thousands of jobs created in Oregon and across the world, are direct rewards of global engagement that are often lost in political debates on all sides of the political aisle. You, our colleagues around the world, are a key part of that story.
I start with that basic history because political rhetoric and news reports in the U.S. could easily lead our tremendous group of global employees, or many of our international customers, to question America's commitment to tolerance, diversity and fairness, along with our commitment to engagement across cultures.
At Columbia Sportswear Company, we are deeply committed to those principles. They are what brought us to Oregon and carried us to where we are today. It should not be necessary in 2017 to say that we at Columbia do not judge people based on their religious beliefs, nor should it be controversial for us to say it. But in today's political environment, I am taking a moment to restate that fundamental view. We have faced a religious test in the past and will never support one.
Perhaps more than most companies, we understand the challenges of providing security for individuals in this country and around the world. We have long partnered successfully with the U.S. Government on anti-terrorism programs to ensure that our supply chain is secure. Furthermore, in 2015, we were extremely proud to have had the opportunity to assist the families of three heroes who foiled a terrorist attack in Europe. Our experiences tell us that such tremendous challenges require us to work together, across parties and all differences. We know what is possible when people care and work together.
In a global company, most of us are used to working with people who may see the world a little differently than we do. In fact, one of the most enjoyable parts of working at a global company like Columbia Sportswear Company is that we get to work with individuals from over 100 countries who have unique perspectives, different religious beliefs and rich ethnic backgrounds. Any of our team members can easily end up working closely with a colleague or customer many time zones away, bridging cultural and language differences to find solutions to reach a common goal. This is how we grow as individuals and make progress together. It is how we learn that we, as humans, have far more similarities than differences, and that whatever differences we may have are not to be feared but celebrated.
That approach seems to be in short supply in today's politics. When it comes to fundamental debates about freedom, tolerance and security, I expect people of all parties in government to work across their differences and help us move forward together. People of good faith in different parties and different branches of government ought to be able to do this, while at the same time, protecting all of the fundamental principles that brought us here, including freedom of belief, expression and due process. I, alongside my family and colleagues, will be encouraging them to do so.
Thanks,
Tim Boyle
Chief Executive Officer
Columbia Sportswear Company
Global engagement is not high on Trump's "America First" agenda. Making good on a campaign promise, the president signed an executive order Friday prohibiting entry by people from seven majority-Muslim nations for 90 days. Citizens of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya -- roughly 218 million people -- would be banned from entering the U.S. for the period, while the government develops its "extreme vetting" process.
Opposition continued to build Monday as foreign dignitaries and U.S. politicians joined protesters, who gathered at airports across the country. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said his state intended to file a legal challenge.
Before a federal judge blocked enforcement of the ban Saturday, some visa and green-card holders were blocked from boarding flights to the United States and several people were being detained at U.S. airports when they arrived.
For Boyle, who grew up with tales of being Jewish in Nazi Germany, news of the temporary ban and that the U.S. government would give preferential treatment to Christians was all very distressing.
"It should not be necessary in 2017 to say that we at Columbia do not judge people based on their religious beliefs, nor should it be controversial for us to say it," he wrote. "But in today's political environment, I am taking a moment to restate that fundamental view. We have faced a religious test in the past and will never support one."
Columbia Sportswear is one of a handful of apparel and footwear companies at the vanguard of the global economy. It has about 6,000 employees, most in Oregon. It has offices in Japan, Korea, Austria, sells its products into 100 countries.
Though Trump vows to revive American manufacturing, companies like Columbia and Nike source the huge majority of their products from low-cost overseas factories.
Boyle said one of the great rewards of working for Columbia is the opportunity to work with people from different lands and cultures.
"This is how we grow as individuals and make progress together," Boyle wrote. "It is how we learn that we, as humans, have far more similarities than differences, and that whatever differences we may have are not to be feared but celebrated.
"That approach seems to be in short supply in today's politics."
-- Jeff Manning
503-294-7606, jmanning@oregonian.com
ed ray.JPG
Ed Ray, Oregon State University's president, criticized President Donald Trump's immigration and refugee policy.
The presidents of Oregon's three largest public universities criticized President Donald Trump's temporary ban on travelers from seven majority Muslim nations as a blow to global scholarship, research and diversity at their respective campuses.
The presidents of University of Oregon and Portland State issued statements over the weekend criticizing Trump's executive order, and Oregon State president Ed Ray joined the fray Monday.
"These orders lack detail, are being unevenly implemented, and have created anxiety, uncertainty and hardship among thoroughly vetted refugees, immigrants, those with green cards, and their families and friends," Ray said in a message to OSU students, faculty and staff.
Ray, the longest-serving current leader of an Oregon public university, said he was angry, disappointed and deeply saddened by the administration's move on Friday. His campus is also the most affected by the prohibition; it counts 165 students from the targeted countries of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen at its Corvallis campus.
Trump's executive order suspends travel from the seven countries for 90 days and bars all refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 days. Critics dispute the president's assertion that the policy is needed to keep Americans safe, The Associated Press reports, noting that recent acts of extremist violence have been carried out either by U.S. citizens or by individuals whose families weren't from the nations singled out in the order.
The ban sparked protests at airports across the country, including in Portland, and legal challenges. Oregon's Ellen Rosenblum was one of 15 attorneys general to condemn the order as "unconstitutional, un-American and unlawful."
Days after the controversial decision, the ripple effects are still being realized across academia. Travel restrictions could limit the applicant pool from the seven nations or others that might fear reprisal from the Trump administration. Research grants and foreign relationships between universities could be in jeopardy.
Collectively, nearly 300 university students in Portland, Eugene and Corvallis are caught in the middle. The university presidents are telling students to avoid travel and to tell their families to cancel visits for the time being.
Steve Clark, OSU's spokesman, said the swirling uncertainty could have a chilling effect on admissions, right as OSU and others approach an early admissions deadline of Feb. 1 for students hoping to enroll in the fall.
Study abroad programs also could face repercussions, as other countries consider travel bans for U.S. students.
"Until there is greater clarity on the implementation and enforcement of this executive order," Clark said in a statement, "we will strongly recommend to Oregon State faculty, employees and students that they carefully assess all international travel plans."
In Eugene, officials planned a town hall type meeting Monday night to answer questions.
Dennis Galvan, UO's vice provost for international affairs, said the staff is trying to be proactive with students and tell them to expect the unexpected.
UO has seven students in the pipeline for early admission this fall who are from the seven countries included in the order.
The UO tries to recruit the best and the brightest from foreign nations, Galvan said, but they have no certainty in telling those students they will be able to study in Eugene. "It's always the case that we tell this this is contingent on them obtaining a visa," he said.
But Galvan, who has worked in international affairs at universities for two decades, can't recall a time where the situation was as uncertain. "The closest equivalent is 9/11," he said.
UO has students from 98 countries, and one Middle Eastern nation and U.S. ally not included on Trump's banned list ranks behind only China in the number of students.
Some 143 Saudi students are currently studying at UO.
Galvan said any expansion of the travel ban would have ramifications on campus. "Expanding the list to any number of countries, just expanding it, would be a big issue of concern," he said. "It would raise a lot of issues."
He described attracting the best and brightest students, both foreign and domestic as "integral" to the UO's mission. "You have got to be globally connected in research," he said.
Portland State President Wim Wiewel, himself an immigrant and long-time U.S. citizen, criticized Trump's move in a statement to students and faculty. PSU has about 1,900 foreign students, with about 70 from the seven countries in questions.
"We depend on these students for cultural and academic contributions that are crucial to our mission and enrich campus life for everyone at PSU," Wiewel said.
PSU has close ties to the Middle East and subcontinent of Asia. The engineering school is named after Fariborz Maseeh, an Iranian-American businessman and philanthropist. The School of Urban Studies and Planning is named for Nohad Toulan, an Egyptian-American who was killed in a car crash in 2013 with his wife.
Staff at any of the schools aren't immune to the uncertainty either. Fourteen percent of UO's faculty aren't U.S. citizens.
At PSU, one Syrian accountant is worried he may have to move back to his war-torn homeland to unite with his family.
Mahmoud, a PSU graduate and university employee whose last name The Oregonian/OregonLive is protecting at his request, is now separated from his fiancee and his mother and father in Damascus.
His sister was detained in Denver over the weekend for three hours along with her young daughter, Mahmoud said.
Mahmoud, who applied for U.S. citizenship in December, said he is now seriously considering moving to Syria to be with his fiancee, as she won't be able to come to the states anytime soon. He was able to travel to Syria three times during the past five years, but it is still risky.
He still loves the U.S. and its people and considers it home, but he's worried about what life looks like under the Trump administration.
"I don't feel welcomed anymore," he said.
-- Andrew Theen
atheen@oregonian.com
503-294-4026
@andrewtheen
A construction worker who spent a month in a Portland burn unit after being injured in a butane-fueled explosion in Astoria last fall has filed a lawsuit against the company that made the cannabis extract, the property owner and the company that sold the flammable gas used to make the product.
Jacob Magley, 34, of Portland is suing 11 businesses and three people for violations of workplace safety laws. He filed the suit in Multnomah County and is seeking $8.9 million in damages.
Magley was working as a contractor in the building when it exploded. The suit claims the company making the extract failed to keep butane from filling the room. He says the facility lacked adequate ventilation and exit routes, automatic sprinklers and gas detectors among other safety features.
According to the suit, he was not given fire retardant clothing or other protective equipment and was not warned about the dangers posed by butane.
Magley claims that Jason Oei, one of those named in the suit, consumed cannabis oil in a technique called "dabbing" while William "Chris" West handled butane. Magley alleges Oei's dabbing caused the explosion, which rocked the building on Oct. 19. West, too, was injured in the blast.
Amy Margolis, a lawyer for the pair, declined to comment Monday.
Making hash oil using butane can be dangerous. For years, the activity was unregulated and underground, carried out by home producers who often misunderstand the risks. The gas, a cheap and flammable solvent, is used to extract tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, from marijuana flowers and leaves.
It can quickly fill an enclosed space, where something as ordinary as a pilot light can ignite a fireball.
The dangers led to a new state law that makes unlicensed production of marijuana extracts a felony. The provision is intended to target homemade butane hash oil operations and not commercial operations, which are regulated by the state.
Clatsop County authorities launched a criminal investigation into the explosion. That inquiry is pending. An official with Oregon OSHA, an agency whose mission is worker safety and health, said Monday that its investigation also is ongoing.
Meanwhile, Oei and West are have applied for licenses to produce and process marijuana for the recreational market, said Mark Pettinger, a spokesman of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
Pettinger said the agency is not processing the application until outside agencies complete their investigations. The outcome of those investigations could factor into whether the state issues a license, he said.
Magley's lawyer, Jonah Flynn, of Atlanta, Georgia, said Monday that his client suffered burns on his upper torso and that emergency workers arrived to find his skin "falling off."
The episode has caused Magley lasting trauma, his lawyer said.
"He's having a hard time," he said.
Flynn said Astoria Trading Co. is the parent company of Higher Level Concentrates, which at the time of the blast was on the Oregon Health Authority's list of state-authorized marijuana processors.
Flynn, a personal injury lawyer, also represented a Gresham man severely burned in a 2013 butane hash oil blast that killed his friend. That suit has been "resolved" and dismissed, Flynn said, adding that the terms of the resolution are confidential.
-- Noelle Crombie
503-276-7184; @noellecrombie
Trump Travel Ban Impact Los Angeles
Police officers, foreground, watch as demonstrators march inside Tom Bradley International Terminal at the Los Angeles International Airport during a protest following Trump's executive order restricting travel from seven primarily Muslim countries.
(Chris Carlson/AP Photo)
By Eugene Robinson
WASHINGTON -- President Trump's refugee ban and travel restrictions are a disgraceful exercise in cruelty. They do nothing to make us safer -- and may, in fact, make us less safe -- but they punish Muslims, and that is his whole point.
Fear and loathing of Islam was one of Trump's campaign themes. He appealed to those who wrongly see the fight against terrorism as a clash of civilizations between Christian and Muslim worlds -- and see Muslim immigrants as a kind of fifth column intent on destroying America from within.
During the campaign, Trump called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." He later modified this position into a call for "extreme vetting" of Muslim immigrants, including Syrian refugees. But he continued to cite a discredited survey, conducted by a stridently anti-Muslim group, purporting to show that many Muslims in this country support "global jihad" and the replacement of our legal system with Islamic Sharia law.
Is Trump just playing politics or is he truly an anti-Muslim bigot who believes this rubbish? At this point, it hardly matters. He has fulfilled his campaign promise by striking a gratuitous blow against would-be immigrants and visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries -- Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Libya and Yemen.
Even more shamefully, Trump has barred entry by refugees from all nations worldwide. Perhaps he will have the Statue of Liberty toppled and sold for scrap.
"This is not a Muslim ban," the president claimed in a statement. But unquestionably it is.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an early Trump supporter, said Saturday on Fox News that "when [Trump] first announced it, he said, 'Muslim ban.' He called me up. He said, 'Put a commission together. Show me the right way to do it legally.'" Giuliani said the ban is not based on religion, but rather "on places where there [is] substantial evidence that people are sending terrorists into our country."
The countries covered by Trump's executive order were indeed singled out by the Obama administration for extra scrutiny. But if "sending terrorists" were the major criterion, surely Trump would have included Saudi Arabia, where 15 of the 19 hijackers in the 9/11 attacks came from.
And as for the supposed goal of "extreme vetting" for refugees, former President Obama already put such a system in place. In 2011, Obama paused the refugee flow so that authorities could reinvestigate tens of thousands of refugees who had already come to the United States. Homeland Security officials instituted rigorous vetting procedures for new refugees that require multiple interviews, and many months of waiting, before an applicant is cleared for entry.
What, then, is the point of Trump's executive orders? To kick around some Muslims who are too weak to kick back -- and to further the pernicious narrative of global conflict between Muslim and Christian worlds.
Trump's orders carve out an exemption for religious minorities, which in this context clearly means Christians in majority-Muslim countries. By all means, I believe, the United States should be a haven for Christians or any other religious group that is persecuted. But the vast majority of those who have suffered at the hands of the Islamic State, the Syrian regime, al-Shabab and other evil forces in the affected countries are Muslims. If you prick them, do they not bleed?
Trump's action was abominable; the reaction, however, has been heartening. Thousands of people spontaneously gathered at airports around the country in protest. Immigration lawyers set up shop in busy terminals and worked to gain entry for passengers who were detained. Federal judges intervened to keep travelers from being sent home. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that his nation would welcome any refugees the United States turned away. Other world leaders criticized the move, as did -- cautiously -- a few Republican senators. Iran and Iraq announced they would reciprocate and close their borders to Americans.
Trump's orders were not circulated through the normal interagency process before being issued, and it showed; key questions were left open, such as the status of green card holders from the affected countries. But while the administration's incompetence might have blurred the orders' impact, it did not soften their intent.
This wasn't about making America safe. It was about nationalism, xenophobia and punishing innocent Muslims for the vile acts committed by terrorists. It was a betrayal of our most fundamental American values. And he's been president for barely a week.
Eugene Robinson's email address is eugenerobinson@washpost.com.
(c) 2017, Washington Post Writers Group
Oregon Bridges : Fremont Bridge
Mike Gehring, ODOT bridge crew maintenance supervisor, climbs to the top of the Fremont Bridge on August 13, 2015. Bruce Ely / Staff
(Bruce Ely)
SALEM -- An independent review of the Oregon Department of Transportation shows that while the agency's overall performance is at par with other states, there's room to improve and prevent taxpayer money from being left on the table.
Certain, mostly small projects managed by the transportation agency run late and over-budget, costing taxpayers millions of dollars, according to the 69-page report released to The Oregonian/OregonLive Monday in response to a public records request. Auditors also found "mixed success" in ODOT's organizational structure, which it said leaves senior officials at odds with their oversight commission, the Legislature and the governor's office.
The audit, which cost $1 million, was conducted by national consulting firm McKinsey & Co. at the direction of Gov. Kate Brown. The fitness of the transportation agency to manage large construction projects is an essential question as lawmakers weigh whether and how to launch a substantial road construction package that ODOT would lead.
The agency earned auditors' praise for a core function of transportation departments: road building. ODOT is a national standout when it comes to actual road quality, auditors said, and spends less per-mile to build roads than comparable states. But the agency then wastes money when it paves and repaves roads.
Insufficient project management, inaccurate cost predictions and being too ready to agree with consultants leaves some projects up to 90 percent over-budget, auditors found. Most of the projects that experience such cost overruns are the agency's "small" initiatives -- those costing $10 million or less. Yet large projects also run over-budget, like the U.S. 20 expansion, which ran $38 million past its $140 million budget.
Auditors also found inconsistent practices among high-level transportation officials that impair operations. Some senior officials don't sufficiently challenge their staff, auditors said, and their performance reviews are "largely informal." Others manage too many people. Some officials aren't encouraged to think strategically about cost savings.
"Two parallel management systems" exist, auditors said -- one with official goals and another with informal, implicit objectives. "This can lead to confusion and ambiguity, and delay the timely completion of projects," auditors said. Double standards have led to workarounds and inefficiencies, they wrote.
Transportation department officials, along with the commissioners that oversee them, also have trouble figuring out who's in charge of what. Roles for ODOT and its overarching Oregon Transportation Commission are "inconsistently and vaguely defined," auditors said. "Competing commandments," inconsistent charter documents and ill-defined relationships with the Legislature and governor's office compound management problems.
Auditors recommended ODOT consolidate its goals, and that the Legislature set realistic expectations of the agency. Lawmakers "without a robust understanding" of transportation policy mandate policy goals for ODOT, which can hinder agency performance, they wrote.
The agency could save money if it standardized maintenance of its vehicle fleet, renegotiated its facilities contracts and gave procurement officials strategic responsibilities, auditors said. Implementing such moves in other states has resulted in up to 20 percent cost savings, according to the report.
Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said there's much to digest in the audit. He said it could be a "roadmap" for lawmakers as they develop transportation policy.
Lawmakers are set to do just that in the coming months. The Legislature begins its annual session Wednesday and crafting a transportation package is high on the docket.
Lawmakers central to crafting a transportation package have stressed the importance of this review, saying ODOT needs a clean bill of health before another spending package can be agreed upon.
The governor ordered the review in 2015 after negotiations to reach a massive transportation spending package collapsed. The review of agency management faced bumps along the way -- including the initial auditor being dropped because of a conflict of interest -- but Washington, D.C.-based McKinsey ultimately delivered the review on time.
Brown has said she's "committed" to implementing the suggestions that come out of the final report, which is due to land on her desk at the end of February. A spokesman said Brown looks forward to improving the transportation agency.
Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, said he has questions about the auditors' methods and data given to them by the transportation agency. "Not that I don't trust ODOT, but I don't trust ODOT," said Boquist, one of four lawmakers leading the committee tasked with devising a transportation package. Auditors should meet with lawmakers to discuss their findings, he said.
While no such meeting is set, representatives from McKinsey and Co. are scheduled to meet with transportation commissioners this week to go over their findings. Auditors, along with the commission and officials at the Department of Administrative Services will then draft policy recommendations, which are due to the governor by the end of February.
-- Gordon R. Friedman
gfriedman@oregonian.com; 503-221-8209
Greg Walden.jpg
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said the No. 1 job of the president is to keep America safe. He issued the statement in response to Donald Trump's orders on immigration and refugee travel.
(The Associated Press)
Members of Oregon's congressional delegation have all released statements about President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration and refugee travel.
Oregon's sole Republican in Congress, Rep. Greg Walden, was the only member of the delegation who did not condemn the orders, issued Friday. The president's actions set off days of protests in Oregon and around the country.
On Monday, several Democrats joined a candlelight vigil outside the Supreme Court building. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici called on Trump to reverse his orders.
Reps. Kurt Schrader and Peter DeFazio also released statements condemning the orders as antithetical to American values.
Walden said in a statement Monday that he wanted more clarity on the details of Trump's plans. His full statement:
"The number one job of the President is to keep America safe. While I, too, seek additional clarity on the details of the President's plan, we need to make sure that extremists who seek to do us harm are not able to infiltrate a system designed for legitimate visitors, refugees, and immigrants."
Merkley said:
"The president's ban on Muslims and refugees offends fundamental American values. We're a nation that treasures religious freedom and religious tolerance. We're a nation that doesn't slam the door shut on refugees fleeing persecution and blight. Moreover, the Muslim ban profoundly endangers our security by feeding the fires of ISIS propaganda promoting the idea that America is at war with Islam. It endangers all Americans."
Wyden's statement:
"America is a nation of immigrants and refugees who came to these shores fleeing persecution and seeking unparalleled opportunities for freedom. Today we stand together against those who would betray both the law and our history to impose an unconstitutional religious test on immigrants. This illegal order endangers America by emboldening terrorists and undercutting our allies in the fight against ISIS. Simply put, we're going to fight like hell against this cruel, senseless and un-American order."
Blumenauer said:
"This weekend, we all watched in horror as the immediate impacts of Donald Trump's cruel and unjustified executive order to turn away immigrants and refugees took shape. Families are being torn apart. Innocent people are being detained. This will not stand. Together, we are fighting this injustice and will do everything we can to put a stop to this executive order."
Bonamici said:
"Turning our backs on refugees betrays our American values and won't make our country safer. The discriminatory and unconstitutional Executive Order created chaos among federal agencies over the weekend, spurred protests at PDX and across the country, and left immigrant families in crisis. I am proud to stand with my Oregon colleagues against this ban and get to work keeping our country safe and upholding the American value of religious freedom."
Schrader said:
"To unilaterally stop visas for 90 days and refugees fleeing persecution, murder and rape for 120 days without cause, due process or justification goes against everything we hold dear in the Constitution. This president has shown absolutely no respect for or understanding of the democratic republic he supposedly represents. It is time for Congress, the constitutional lawmaking body, to assert itself. This is dangerous to our own liberty."
DeFazio said:
"President Trump's ill-conceived and unlawful executive order uses false rhetoric and preys upon Americans' fears without doing anything to address the real terrorist threats facing our nation. Instead, it sends a dangerous message that Muslims are not welcome in America, alienates our allies, and serves as a recruiting tool for ISIS and other terrorists groups. This irresponsible action puts our nation at risk and stands in opposition to the ideals that our country was founded upon. It's clear to me that my colleagues in Congress on both sides of the aisle will need to work together to restrain President Trump from inflicting more damage to our country."
-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
The friend shot on a camping trip by Portland Police Chief Larry O'Dea insisted from the beginning that he hadn't accidentally wounded himself by putting his pistol in a shoulder holster, but that's what O'Dea told the deputy who initially responded to the call last year.
A state report of the shooting shows key contradictions in O'Dea's version of what happened last April when he and seven other friends went to southeastern Oregon and sat in a row of lawn chairs on the high desert shooting at ground squirrels.
Among them: How Robert Dempsey got injured, what O'Dea was doing at the time and why O'Dea never told Harney County authorities that he eventually realized he was the one who shot Dempsey in the back.
Both Dempsey, as well as O'Dea's former police partner who was on the trip, had to convince O'Dea when they talked several days after the shooting that the police chief was responsible, the investigation shows.
But O'Dea repeatedly objected to any suggestion that he tried to hide his role in the shooting.
Mugshot of Larry O'Dea at the Harney County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 17. The judge ordered O'Dea be booked and released, before he signed an order dismissing a negligent wounding charge and accepting a civil compromise. (HCSO)
"There's no way this is a cover up. It was an accident,'' O'Dea told state investigators. "One accident, and it feels like 30 years of service is out the window. It's really upsetting for me.''
He also denied that he had been drinking. He said he had some Irish cream in his morning coffee about 6:30 a.m. and was just popping open a beer before the shooting occurred.
Others said men in the group may have had a couple of beers but no one was drinking heavily. Dempsey said he had three to four beers that day. Another man, Stephen Buchtel, a retired Portland police lieutenant, said he had a couple of sips of whiskey just before Dempsey was shot.
Documents: Oregon Department of Justice reports, obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive through public records request
O'Dea resigned last June as he was under investigation by Oregon State Police. A grand jury indicted him on a negligent wounding charge, but in early January a Harney County judge agreed to a civil compromise that will allow the charge against O'Dea to be dismissed.
Investigators reconstructed what occurred that April 21 afternoon by reviewing audio recordings and body camera videotapes of the camping party's first interviews with a Harney County sheriff's deputy, the deputy's notes and report, photos of the firearms and through follow-up interviews with O'Dea and all the other campers, the mayor, the Police Bureau's internal affairs captain and an assistant chief.
At their isolated camping spot, Dempsey cursed loudly, moaned in pain and dropped to a knee in front of his chair, holding his back once he was shot. As members of the group hurried to bandage up their friend and rush him to the hospital, O'Dea suggested to Dempsey that he had shot himself when he was reholstering his pistol.
But Dempsey immediately challenged that scenario, telling O'Dea and another friend at the scene: "I didn't shoot myself. I didn't.''
Document: Harney County sheriff's deputy interview of O'Dea in Fields
Document: Oregon State Polcie Det. Mitch Meyer's incident report
Document: DOJ investigator's report on interview with Mayor Charlie Hales
Document: Forensic report on testing of O'Dea's rifle
Nonetheless, O'Dea repeated the theory to the deputy who met the group at Fields Station, about 50 miles away, after a helicopter arrived to take Dempsey to St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. Dempsey was already on LifeFlight and told a medic he didn't see where the shot had come from.
But he was sure he didn't shoot himself, even asking a doctor at the hospital to confirm it. The doctor told him there was no way he could have shot himself. The surgeon also told him he was very lucky. The hollow-point bullet entered the lower left part of his back, traveled across his back and fragmented. Dempsey was released from the hospital the next day, the bullet still lodged in his back.
Retired Portland police Sgt. Mike Lieb, who had been O'Dea's patrol partner in the late 1980s, told investigators that he had been standing behind a line of lawn chairs when he realized Dempsey had been hit.
He saw O'Dea sitting to the left of Dempsey with his .22-caliber rifle either across his lap or the arms of his chair and the barrel facing toward Dempsey.
"I heard a kind of muffled shot," Lieb said.
O'Dea told investigators that it wasn't until he spoke to Lieb by phone three days after the shooting that he realized that "oh crap'' he had shot Dempsey.
"After talking to Mike, it just hit me like a ton of bricks that it had to be me,'' O'Dea said.
He told state investigators that he didn't recall exactly where his gun was before the shooting, but spoke of his "intention to set it against the chair.''
O'Dea said he had stopped shooting, went to his truck to get some food, grabbed a can of beer, placed it in the cup holder of the table attached to his chair, sat and then stood up again to remove his electronic earmuffs.
O'Dea grabbed the unopened beer can, he said, and set the rifle down against his chair, stepped to his left and heard Dempsey moan.
"The best that I believed ... I know my intention is I'm going to set my rifle down, take this can and go over to where my truck is,'' O'Dea said.
O'Dea also wasn't sure where his rifle was after the shooting: "I couldn't tell ya,'' he told investigators.
In hindsight, he said he's been "wracking'' his brain, asking himself, "Where did my gun land? Was it still against the chair?"
But Lieb told investigators that O'Dea was sitting down when the gun went off.
"I have no doubts about what I had saw,'' Lieb said.
Dempsey recounted to investigators that Lieb told him: "Mike said when he heard the shot and me scream, he turned and he saw Larry with the rifle in his hands.''
Lieb ended up traveling to Idaho and driving Dempsey back home the next day. On that drive, they agreed that O'Dea must have shot him. Dempsey said he called Buchtel first, and said, "One of you guys shot me.'' Buchtel said it couldn't have been him. Dempsey then called O'Dea.
"You shot me,'' Dempsey told him. O'Dea, he recalled, responded, "Yeah, I know,'' in an unusually matter-of-fact manner, Dempsey told investigators.
About five days after the shooting, O'Dea called Dempsey and this time was extremely emotional and apologetic, Dempsey said. O'Dea also told Dempsey that he had called the sheriff's office, the state report said.
But that never happened.
O'Dea told state investigators that he believed the Harney County deputy was on vacation and so he had asked Dempsey, who was planning to talk to the deputy, to tell the deputy to contact O'Dea.
But Dempsey said O'Dea never made that request and instead told Dempsey that he had contacted the sheriff's office himself.
The Harney County Sheriff's Office turned over the investigation to the state after learning from Dempsey that Portland's police chief had shot him. Sheriff's Deputy Chris Nisbet had taken photos of the hunting party's firearms, but never went to the campsite where the shooting occurred because the group had cleared out of the spot. No deputies went to the hospital where Dempsey was admitted.
When Oregon State Police Detective Mitch Meyer asked O'Dea why he didn't call the Harney County Sheriff's Office the day he realized he was responsible for shooting his friend, O'Dea responded:
"In hindsight that was the biggest mistake I ever made ... in hindsight that was very foolish. I should have called somebody and said, 'Here's something significantly different than how it started out.'''
State Justice Department investigator Jodi Shimanek asked Lieb if there was any concern or conversation about how the shooting would look bad for O'Dea as police chief if it came out publicly. "Sure, we're all aware of that, absolutely," Lieb said.
Once O'Dea realized he had shot Dempsey, shouldn't have O'Dea called the sheriff's office, she asked Lieb.
"I didn't know he didn't,'' Lieb said.
Safety rules that are prominent in Portland Police Bureau's Central Precinct and its firing ranges. (Courtesy of Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon State Police investigators)
His fellow campers said O'Dea had been having trouble with his rifle jamming and misfiring earlier that day. In follow-up interviews, Dempsey and another camper, Jeff Purvis, told investigators that on more than one occasion O'Dea had left his rifle resting across the armrest of his chair, one time facing toward Dempsey and another time facing toward Purvis.
The state investigators included in their reports a photo of a sign posted in the Portland Police Bureau's precincts, titled the "Four Cardinal Safety Rules.'' The first two rules are: "1. All firearms are always loaded 2. Never Point the Muzzle at Anyone or Anything You Are Not Willing to Destroy (Including Yourself)."
O'Dea said he told 18 people of his accidental discharge by the Monday after the Thursday shooting, including Mayor Charlie Hales, four assistant chiefs and the captain who oversees the bureau's Internal Affairs Division. He said he didn't want to publicize the shooting until the Harney County Sheriff's Office had completed its investigation.
Then-Capt. Derek Rodrigues, supervisor of Portland's Internal Affairs Division, said O'Dea told him about the shooting after their usual Monday morning meeting when Rodrigues briefs him about division cases.
He said O'Dea said one of his friends was shot in the stomach area while camping and that O'Dea later realized he had an accidental discharge. Rodrigues said the chief never mentioned that the Harney County Sheriff's Office was investigating the shooting.
He didn't realize the magnitude of what occurred, Rodrigues said, and thought O'Dea was talking to him about a personal matter. An internal investigation wasn't started until after the shooting became publicized a month later.
Mayor Charlie Hales said O'Dea told him that Monday morning that an internal affairs investigation would be conducted, but the internal affairs captain said O'Dea had never requested one.
O'Dea never told the bureau's public information officer. The shooting didn't become public until May 20 when reporters asked about it.
"My concern why we wouldn't make something public was until the deputy was back and has the rest of the information,'' O'Dea told investigators. Somehow, the shooting got leaked to the press, the chief noted, adding, "The problem with letting 18 people know.''
-- Maxine Bernstein
mbernstein@oregonian.com
503-221-8212
@maxoregonian
Portland Commissioner Chloe Eudaly's proposed tenant protection rule up for vote Thursday could entangle Portland in a lawsuit that could block or delay some or all its provisions, attorney John DiLorenzo says.
Multifamily NW, an association of companies that own or manage many homes and apartments in Portland, intends to sue the city if it passes an ordinance requiring landlords to help pay substantial moving costs for tenants whom they evict without cause or who say they must move as a result of a landlord increasing their rent by 10 percent or more in one year.
DiLorenzo asserts that the proposal conflicts with Oregon state law that prohibits rent control measures.
Eudaly said the ordinance does not infringe on landlords' rights to raise rents, but instead requires landlords to share the financial burden when they "choose to cause an economic displacement".
"We feel very confident that this is highly defensible in court," Portland's newest commissioner said.
DiLorenzo has sued the City of Portland at least seven times, including a case over misspent utility money that dragged out for more than five years and cost the city roughly $13 million.
He said Eudaly's office failed to consult with landlords about "unintended consequences" before drafting the ordinance. He also argued that Eudaly's office rushed her proposal.
"I don't believe any of this has been drafted in a collaborative process at all," DiLorenzo said.
The rule could go into effect the day it is passed -- just over a week after Eudaly publicly disclosed her plan. That would require a unanimous council vote. The rule would last throughout the housing emergency set to expire in October, unless the City Council votes otherwise.
DiLorenzo provided The Oregonian/OregonLive a list of potential hardships that he said could result if the city requires landlords to pay tenants hit with no-cause evictions or 10 percent rent hikes $2,900 to $4,500 to help them relocate.
Homeowners who wish to move back into a home they own would have to pay those fees, he complained. Landlords who need to raise rents by 10 percent to cover the costs of necessary repairs also would face them, he said. So would landlords who want problem tenants out for good reason but face challenges in documenting the just cause, he said.
Eudaly called the hypothetical scenarios DiLorenzo posed "misinformation to rile up opposition."
"The landlord lobby likes to conjure up these bad tenant boogeymen," Eudaly said. "I don't believe in policy-making based on personal anecdote and I certainly don't believe on policy making based on fantasy or myth."
She said, however, she is considering exempting "mom and pop" landlords with a limited number of properties from having to pay the fees.
Eudaly said her office has spoken with several landlords who expressed their support for her tenant protection plan.
Her staff did not consult DiLorenzo or Multifamily NW because she does not believe they have real solutions, she said.
"If they're coming to testify on Thursday, I'm all ears," Eudaly said. "I'm so excited to hear what their solutions are."
Commissioner Nick Fish called Eudaly's proposal a "thoughtful compromise," considering that she advocated rent control during her campaign and won handily. He also urged landlords to come up with alternative solutions to the housing emergency.
"If there is a different and better approach I want to hear it," Fish said. "If we have to fight this in court, so be it."
Commissioner Dan Saltzman said he thinks the emergency ordinance, which requires five votes, will pass Thursday. His chief concern is the effect economic displacement has on children and their education.
Mayor Ted Wheeler has already said he supports Eudaly's proposals. Commissioner Amanda Fritz declined to comment.
--Jessica Floum
503-221-8306
Portland lawyer.JPG
Portland lawyers from the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the American Civil Liberties Union are volunteering to help immigrants and refugees who may be stopped at Portland International Airport this week.
(Courtesy of ACLU)
Portland lawyers from the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the American Civil Liberties Union are volunteering to help immigrants and refugees who may be stopped at Portland International Airport this week.
Mat dos Santos, legal director for Oregon's ACLU, said lawyers spoke with three people Monday who were stopped for secondary interrogation.
Dos Santos spoke with one green card holder, through an interpreter, Monday night, who said he had been held for three hours after returning from Iran. The man did not want to be quoted by name but said he had been treated fairly. Officials offered him coffee and food, he told dos Santos.
A Portland couple was also stopped in Denver, according to The Denver Post. The paper reported that agents stopped to question Dr. Abolfazi Mehdizadeh Kashi, 62, and his wife, Dr. Shahla Chaichian, 61, after the couple got off a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt.
Attorneys told The Denver Post that the couple was allowed to continue traveling after two hours.
"There is no reason for two respectable surgeons, married, in their 60s, to be detained," Abolfazi's sister Zahra Kashi told The Denver Post. "They've done nothing and are simply coming home."
In Portland, lawyers were not allowed into the airport's customs area, dos Santos said, so have been waiting in the international arrivals area.
"We'll do it as long as it makes sense to," dos Santos said. "This is a fluid situation. The executive order has created chaos and confusion. People are desperately seeking information about what their rights are. We need to make sure people know we're there."
-- Casey Parks
503-221-8271
cparks@oregonian.com; @caseyparks
The Oregonian/OregonLive's Jim Ryan contributed to this report.
Portland Police Bureau Chief Mike Marshman called for officers to be "a source of reassurance" to immigrants and refugees Monday after President Donald Trump signed executive orders curtailing immigration and the rights of refugees.
In a Monday news conference that featured speakers from Yemen and Somalia -- both countries named in Trump's travel order -- Marshman promised to ramp up protections for immigrants and refugees who have "heightened fear" following the executive orders.
He said he had sent a message to all members of the bureau, saying, "I want you, the members of the Portland Police Bureau, to be a source of reassurance to the community.
"We must be diligent in our efforts to the community, who now more than ever might see us as a source of fear," Marshman said. "We must be the ones who reach out first."
That means, Marshman said, reminding community members that Portland officers have not enforced and will not enforce immigration laws. And, in the wake of an attack on a mosque in Quebec, Canada, Marshman called for officers to patrol local mosques, Islamic schools and community centers to protect Muslims.
"While we have no known threats locally, our presence may provide reassurances to those in fear," Marshman said.
Wajdi Said, who came to the United States from Yemen 30 years ago, said that fear was very present this week at the Muslim Educational Trust in Tigard. Instead of reacting from fear, Said said, he would prefer to build coalitions with other immigrants and minorities who have faced discrimination.
"The Native American have faced it. Women have faced it in our society. Japanese American, Jewish American, Latinos and so many others," Said said. "When will it be 'enough is enough'? If you are a bigot and hateful person, it's time for you to reevaluate yourself as a human being. It is time we heal and build bridges of understanding."
Said turned to Marshman and thanked him.
"Chief, we are in front of you," he said. "We are on your left and your right and behind you."
Sho Dozono, a Japanese immigrant who once ran for Portland mayor, said he and others of Japanese ancestry will fight for Muslims' rights.
Seventy-five years ago, he reminded the crowd, it was an executive order that sent people with Japanese ancestry, including those born in Portland, to camps.
"Our motto is never again," Dozono said. "We will never let this happen again to anyone, to anyone in this country."
Dozono looked out at the crowd, which included immigrants from Tonga and Russia, as well as refugees from Laos and Egypt.
"I want to hear everyone say it," he said.
The crowd joined him in repeating, "Never again."
-- Casey Parks
503-221-8271
cparks@oregonian.com; @caseyparks
017d2c7b3a76d2b11e5f16819e4c1a2d60421987fa.jpg
Cindy Spinnett, a supporter of President Donald Trump, poses for a photo with protesters rallying against his immigration policies at Portland international Airport on Sunday.
(Courtesy/Steve and Cindy Spinnett)
On Sunday, more than 600 people turned out at the Portland International Airport to rally against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily halting immigration from seven countries in Africa and the Middle East.
A small group of loud Trump supporters briefly became the focal point of the larger group's frustrations and one of the president's supporters was attacked and knocked unconscious.
That was not the experience of Steve and Cindy Spinnett, Trump supporters who also went to PDX on Sunday to thank the president "for keeping his promises to the American people," Steve Spinnett wrote in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive.
"We saw this as an opportunity to take signs that said 'Thank You President Trump,'" he wrote.
The couple said things were rough at first and that their presence was not immediately welcomed by the large group of protesters, but after some conversation, both sides appeared to soften.
"At first we ran into resistance from some protesters, but as we spoke to them, we could see they were sincere about their beliefs," Steve Spinnett said.
"We told them they were sincere and were glad to see them out there expressing their beliefs. We then warmed up to each other," he continued, noting that, before all was said and done, the couple posed for pictures with some of those from the other side.
"We agreed that loving one another was more important than our disagreements politically," he said.
-- Kale Williams
kwilliams@oregonian.com
503-294-4048
SEC Gymnastics Weekly Honors Jan. 31, 2017 SEC Gymnast of the Week: Kennedi Edney, LSU SEC Specialist of the Week: Kennedy Baker , Florida SEC Freshman of the Week: Amelia Hundley , Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. A Gator duo and- picked up Southeastern Conference Gymnastics weekly honors, the league office announced Tuesday. Baker is the SEC Specialist Gymnast of the Week and Hundley claims the SEC Freshman of the Week award.This is the first such honor for both. Baker was a four-time SEC Freshman of the Week recipient in 2015.Baker ended the 11th Annual Gators Link tomeet with a 10.0 floor exercise routine. It was her second 10.0 floor routine of her career, as her 2017 perfect mark was two days shy of her one-year anniversary for her first 10.0.Baker is one of two in the nation to record a 10.0 on floor this season and the first among SEC competitors. She's three-for-three for floor wins this season and now owns nine for her career.It was the 10th floor exercise perfect mark in Florida's history. Baker is now one of three Gators who have earned the score on multiple occasions ( 4x,-2x, Baker-2x).Her season average of 9.95 puts her in a three-way tie for No. 1 in the current Road to Nationals floor rankings . She is also the No. 5 ranked all-arounder (39.538 average) and No. T14 in vault (9.887).Hundley collected her first two collegiate event title in Florida's win over Auburn all-around (39.55) and uneven bars (9.95).The total by Hundley 39.55 was the second-highest among the SEC competitors last weekend. She is tied for 16th in the latest national all-around rankings with her average of 39.381. Hundley is the first Gator freshman to win an all-around title sincetook the 2016 Gators Link totitle.Hundley equaled Florida's season-best of 9.95 to take the uneven bars title. She is tied for ninth in the latest Road to Nationals uneven bars ranking s (9.888).She also took second on beam (9.90). Hundley's marks last Friday for all-around (39.55), bars (9.95) and beam (9.90) were personal season bests.Hundley is a current member of the U.S. Senior National Team and finished ninth in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.No. 3 Florida travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face No. 6 Alabama on Friday, Feb. 3. Meet time is set for 8:30 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum.Friday's action is the second of a six-meet stretch of live SEC Network appearances for the Gators. Calling the action are Olympic medalists Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson Clarke with Gator grad Laura Rutledge reporting from the sideline.The meet also can be found on SEC Network +.
Construction is underway for the Mevers Berkeley School of Excellence, which would be Berkeley County's first public charter school.
The CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Regions 24th annual Mardi Gras Auction will take place from 5:30-10 p.m. Feb. 23 at Horizons Conference Center in Saginaw.
Tickets are $75 each for the limited-seating event.
Senate Democrats Grow an Inkling of Spine
By Dustin Rowles | Politics | January 31, 2017 |
Watch this video at around the 8:00 mark:
I watched this yesterday, and saw the crowds basically revolting against a Senator and thought, Jesus, what Republican is that?
Its not a Republican. Its Senator Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, who is being flayed by a liberal crowd demanding to know why he voted for Mike Pompeo, and insisting that he vote no on the rest of Trumps nominees. After hemming and hawing, he basically concedes to their demands, too.
This is whats happening around the country for Congresspeople of both parties right now: Democracy is harassing the sh*t out of them.
Its working, too. It took 4 million people marching two weekends ago, and hundreds of thousands more marching this weekend to finally get Senate Democrats to listen, but theyre listening and pulling some Mitch McConnell shit on the Trump cabinet nominees. Its a beautiful thing.
This morning, Senate Democrats boycotted the confirmation hearings for Price and Mnuchin, blocking their votes.
.@sensherrodbrown on why Senate Dems boycotting Price and Mnuchin committee votes. https://t.co/qr5oT2gOHX Andrew Rafferty (@AndrewNBCNews) January 31, 2017
The GOP is not happy.
Some of this is just because they dont like the president, Orrin Hatch said. Later, he said of Democrats: I think they ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), one of the other Republicans in the room, agreed: I think this is unconscionable. We did not inflict this kind of obstructionism on President Obama, added Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), the only other senator in the room.
The fuck you didnt.
Meanwhile, the Democrats are also pushing a new scandal on Betsy DeVos, who clearly plagiarized many of her answers. The 48 Dems have already decided to vote no on her confirmation, and two Republicans may be joining them:
Murkowski seems to be following Collins' lead: Will vote #DeVos out of committee, but hasn't decided what she'll do on Senate floor. The Education Trust (@EdTrust) January 31, 2017
She did pass the committee vote this morning, but she still has to withstand the full Senate vote.
Meanwhile, Democrats are also at least putting up a fight where it concerns Jeff Sessions, debating about whether he would follow the law or if hed follow orders from the President, a particularly touchy issue after the firing of Sally Yates last night, and this exchange between Sessions and Yates from the archives:
Will it mean anything a week or two from now, after most of these folks have been confirmed? I dont know. I hope so, but also, it shows that the Senate Democrats stood up for something. Right now, thats what matters, because were going to need a lot more of this in the coming months. We had to basically drape them over ourselves and give them piggyback rides, but they finally have our backs.
Hell, if this 70-year-old woman with a hip replacement can stand up and protest the confirmation hearings, its the least the Dems can do.
I've got a hip replacement! I'm 70 years old, protester says as she's dragged out of Sessions hearing pic.twitter.com/4gME2wUgii Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) January 31, 2017
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 Gap and Gap Kids stores at Eastland Mall will close Feb. 23.
Signs at both stores announced the closing and referred questions to the stores' corporate headquarters. A spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment.
The closings follow recent announcements by Macy's that it would close its two-story anchor store at Eastland Mall and that The Limited and RadioShack both would close in January.
Macy's is anticipated to close March 31, according to mall owner CBL Properties, which intends to purchase the location and two others in Kentucky and Texas that will also be closed from Macy's for $5 million.
The Gap and GapKids stores opened at the mall in February 2000. The number of employees working at both stores was not available.
There were no closing signs posted at Old Navy, a sibling company of Gap. That store opened at the mall around the same time as the Gap and GapKids.
PEORIA The decision by Caterpillar Inc. to move its headquarters to the Chicago area may be felt more emotionally than economically, said the CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council.
I think this could be a tremendous psychological blow, Kyle Ham told The Pantagraph Tuesday, following the announcement by the heavy equipment manufacturer that it will locate a limited group of senior executives and support functions later this year.
When you have someone who has been there for 75 to 100 years, you have generations of folks who have worked there in what is a mainstay for the community, just like State Farm is here, he said. To think the decision-makers will no longer be in the community is unfortunate and you hate to see it.
The company expects about 300 people to be based at the new location. A site has not yet been selected.
"Locating our headquarters closer to a global transportation hub, such as Chicago, means we can meet with our global customers, dealers and employees more easily and frequently," said CEO Jim Umpleby in a press release.
Peoria Congressman Darin LaHood said he will urge the board of directors of Caterpillar to reconsider its decision.
"I am stunned, saddened and extremely frustrated to hear the news that Caterpillars corporate world headquarters will abruptly be moving from Peoria to Chicago, LaHood said in a statement. This is sad news for our community and our citizens.
In February 2015, Caterpillar announced it intended to expand, keep its headquarters and modernize a downtown complex in what was defined as a recommitment to the city.
This, in some ways, is a betrayal of our community and in complete disregard for the hard-working employees and citizens of Peoria," LaHood said. "Like many Peorians, I joined with countless Caterpillar employees in the unveiling of the new state-of-the-art world headquarters in downtown Peoria in February 2015. Now, it appears that we have had the rug pulled right out from under us.
Caterpillar, like State Farm in Bloomington, is the biggest economic engine in the Peoria area and employs workers from throughout Central Illinois.
Caterpillar has facilities in Pontiac, Decatur and in and around the Peoria metro area. A year ago, Caterpillar announced it would add 160 new jobs to the Pontiac plant as a result of company restructuring. In 2016, more than 80 of those jobs were added.
Adam Dontz, CEO of the Greater Livingston County Economic Development Council (GLCEDC), said Tuesdays announcement shouldnt have any effect on the Pontiac plant.
I am pleased the GLCEDC and local units of government could work with Caterpillar to maintain and increase their employment level at the Pontiac facility," he said. "Caterpillar has been, and continues to be, an excellent corporate citizen of the Pontiac and Livingston County community."
Rachel Potts, the corporate media manager for Caterpillar, also said the Pontiac plant will continue to proceed as planned.
We dont anticipate changes in Pontiac, and really, even in Peoria. The vast majority of our employees will not relocate, she said. We have chosen to tell our employees and the community leaders about our plans early. We understand there is a range of emotions people are going through, but in the end, our singular focus is to grow this company and in order to do that, we have to prioritize our resources.
Umpleby said the company's board of directors "has been discussing the benefits of a more accessible, strategic location for some time."
"We value our deep roots in Central Illinois, and Peoria will continue to be our hometown. The vast majority of our people will remain in this important region where we have many essential facilities and functions," added Umpleby.
Woodford County Board Chairman Stan Glazier said the announcement caught him off guard at a time when Woodford County is working on its economic development strategy.
Its quite disappointing and detracts from our economic development goals, Glazier said. I dont know how it will impact us yet, but it is worrisome.
BLOOMINGTON A buyer wants to develop the site of the former General Electric plant in east Bloomington into a shopping center, but the deal is contingent on receiving city incentives.
The plan is to construct a 180,000-square-foot retail shopping center what's known in the industry as a power center, said Christopher Zoellner of Balke Brown Transwestern, a St. Louis realty firm brokering the sale, which is under contract.
That means the center would be occupied by larger tenants, with stores varying in size from 15,000 to 60,000 square feet, he said.
The site is 30 acres and the contract is for 20 acres basically the western two-thirds of the property, Zoellner said. The property is located on General Electric Road just east of Veterans Parkway.
The buyer is not being disclosed, but Zoellner said it's a large national developer from Minnesota.
The sellers are Mark Sperry, Linda Fillingham Carol Kant, who own Mechanical Devices Co., 2005 GE Road, and former GE plant, Sperry said. Their company currently uses about one-third of the plant.
The shopping center would be similar in size and design to the center in Normal that currently houses Fresh Market, which is along Veterans Parkway north of College Avenue, he said.
It would be four or five larger national box store brand tenants, he said. I can't disclose any names at this point, but it would be clothing retailers, sporting goods, that kind of stuff. There also would be smaller retail space or a sit-down restaurant, he added.
The buyer is looking for a potential tax abatement and sales tax rebates from the city, said Zoellner.
When the 400,000-square-foot plant opened in 1955 it employed more than a 1,000 workers. GE shuttered the facility in 2010.
It's really an albatross," said Zoellner. "Between demolition, environmental abatement and associated infrastructure costs, it's a big (development cost) number.
Zoellner added, "We've been talking to the city, but we have not officially submitted anything."
The private developer/buyer has engaged a third-party consultant to calculate proposed sales tax that could be generated in order to come up with the amount of incentives needed from the city, said Zoellner.
The city is currently evaluating the proposal and considering all potential options that the property could hold, including potential renovation of the existing building or its demolition and complete redevelopment of the site, said Bloomington Economic Development Coordinator Austin Grammer.
The city will further evaluate if a public-private partnership could be possible, he added.
"It's a great location, a great piece of property," said Grammer. "It's just depends on if the proposed development is financially feasible."
The city has no tax increment financial district around that property, but it is included in the Bloomington/Normal/McLean County Enterprise Zone, Grammer noted.
BLOOMINGTON As widespread protests continue over President Donald Trump's immigration policies, local residents are finding ways to support their immigrant neighbors.
Not In Our Town Bloomington-Normal is sponsoring a community solidarity rally at 6 p.m. Wednesday inside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. The theme is "Supporting Our Neighbors."
"Due to recent presidential actions targeting particular nations, Not In Our Town wants to show its support for diverse people, immigrants and different faith communities that are part of the McLean County community, said NIOT, a movement to stop hatred, discrimination and bullying, in a statement on Monday.
Protests erupted Saturday at airports nationwide following Trump's order that bans entry by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days, halts America's entire refugee program for 120 days and indefinitely bans all people from war-ravaged Syria.
Meanwhile, local demand for yard signs expressing solidarity with immigrants and promoting the Twin Cities' diversity has skyrocketed.
The travel ban follows Trump's orders last week to move forward on building a U.S.-Mexico border wall and eliminate federal grants for immigrant-protecting "sanctuary cities." Bloomington and Normal are not such cities.
Muslim community members plan to participate in the NIOT rally, which will open and close with words from different faith traditions, said Mohammed Zaman, president of the Bloomington mosque, Masjid Ibrahim.
"The community's support continues to be overwhelming," said Zaman on Monday. "Not In Our Town has always been there not only for our Muslim community, but other communities dealing with immigration issues and deportation issues."
Zaman said he knows of no local Muslims who have been affected by Trump's travel ban.
State Farm, whose employees include people of East Asian, Indian, Pakistani and Hispanic ethnicities, said in a statement, "We are committed to an inclusive environment at State Farm, where all our associates and customers are treated with respect and dignity, and differences are valued."
Jennifer Carrillo, mission impact director for YWCA McLean County, called Trumps immigration executive orders "extremist and unconscionable."
YWCA McLean County stands strong in support of immigrants, refugees, and asylees and condemns the actions of the president," Carrillo said in response to questions from The Pantagraph.
"Merely one week into his presidency, Trump has bolstered the building of a deportation force, has established a mechanism for mass deportation and has implemented a cruel refugee ban, specifically directed at Muslim immigrants, legal residents and citizens."
Dimmitt's Grove Neighborhood Association, NIOT and YWCA McLean County have partnered to provide "Welcome Neighbor" yard signs with the message No matter where you are from, we're glad you're our neighbor" printed in Spanish, English and Arabic.
Oh my gosh, I can't keep up with the orders, said Mary Aplington, a NIOT member who is helping Dimmitt's Grove resident Pam Eaton distribute "Welcome Neighbor" yard signs.
About 300 signs are in yards or spoken for, but since Thursday we had orders for 227 more most of those orders coming in since Saturday, said Aplington. "We're all out and I've ordered 300 more."
She added, "The number of orders is a real, clear indication of the number of people in our community who are real supportive of everyone, because that's the sign's message that we don't hold with divisiveness based on religion or country of origin.
Proceeds from the $10 signs will go to Western Avenue Community Center, which has English-language and outreach programs for Hispanic families, and Dimmitt's Grove Neighborhood Association.
With permission from the neighborhood association, Eaton started distributing the signs to her neighbors on Jan. 6 and estimated that by mid-February there probably will be more than 1,000 signs displayed throughout the city.
Eaton and her husband, Herb, borrowed the design and concept for the signs from a Mennonite minister in Harrisonburg, Va., who used them to promote community support for refugees coming there.
The signs weren't intended to be political, but to be a message about humanity and the importance of knowing who your neighbors are and making them feel welcome, said Pam Eaton.
SPRINGFIELD First-term Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and long-serving Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan agree that Illinois long-term budget deficits are a major threat to the state's economic vitality.
Where they diverge is how to address those deficits, and that fundamental disagreement has been at the root of an impasse that is now more than two years old.
Rauner's prescription has been his turnaround agenda, a set of policies, such as changes to workers compensation laws and collective bargaining rights, that he contends will jump start Illinois economy and bring more money into the states coffers.
While he's acknowledged that tax increases in some form are needed to balance the budget, Raruner has said he'd only sign on if the Democratic-controlled legislature agreed to some of his proposals.
Madigan, meanwhile, has argued that much of what the governor wants runs afoul of the Democratic Partys core values, and has accused Rauner of holding the budget-making process hostage to advance his personal agenda.
Madigan's solution has been a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, adding Democrats dont have the votes to pass a tax increase on their own.
More recently, hes proposed a 50 percent reduction in the corporate income taxes wiith provisions to ensure every company pays something and increased investments in higher education and infrastructure to spur economic growth. But Madigan isnt tying that to budget negotiations.
In separate recent interviews with Lee Enterprises' Springfield bureau as part of The Pantagraph's State of the Standoff series, Rauner and Madigan showed that their positions havent significantly changed since the last comprehensive state budget expired on June 30, 2015.
The reality is our system in Illinois has been broken for a long time and has needed significant changes, Rauner said. The reason I ran for governor was to change it. We need more jobs. We need better funding for schools. We need to have balanced budgets.
Among the changes Rauner has pushed are term limits for elected officials and an independent commission to redraw legislative districts actions he thinks would send a message to businesses and taxpayers that Illinois is changing.
Madigan and many Democrats counter that those ideas have nothing to do with the budget and should be addressed separately.
The speaker notes that, despite their political differences, he was able to reach compromises with former Govs. Jim Thompson, Jim Edgar and George Ryan, previous card-carrying Republicans who held the office during his tenure.
All three of them were very successful in working with a Democratic legislature, identifying governmental problems, acknowledging political differences, and then working through all of that and coming to agreements that would be in the best interest of the people of the state of Illinois, Madigan said, adding that Rauner could learn from his GOP predecessors.
Both leaders said theyve attempted to compromise, often to no avail.
One situation that typifies those attempts was a proposal early in Rauners tenure to privatize some operations of the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Madigan said House Democrats supported the effort, but wanted to put in a three-year sunset provision to re-examine the setup because similar arrangements in other state, including Wisconsin, have run into problems and scandals.
Rauner said the Democrats proposal might have made for a good headline, but wouldnt have been effective because the new agency wouldnt be able to attract talented people if they thought it might go away in a few years.
Instead, Rauner helped launched an independent, not-for-profit corporation last year to work with DCEO to attract businesses to the state.
Looking back at the last two years, neither Rauner nor Madigan could offer an example of something either could have done differently to bring the standoff to a swifter end.
But looking forward, both said they have some degree of optimism that a resolution may be in sight.
Rauner said hes heartened by the Senates discussion of a grand bargain on the budget and other issues, including changes to workers compensation laws and term limits.
Hes also encouraged that House Democratic leaders are talking about the need for economic growth, noting the House passed a bill at the end of the last legislative session that wouldve required voter approval for future property tax increases.
While hes previously made specific items on his agenda prerequisites to a budget deal, Rauner said hes not insisting now that any specific item be included.
The critical thing is that whatever compromise we work out, it needs to be real and needs to really make a difference, Rauner said.
Madigan said his optimism is a little tempered with reality and hope based on his four decades in Springfield.
When people want to be reasonable, you can come to an agreement, he said.
Verso Receives Tax Incentive Ahead of Corporate Office Consolidation in Ohio
In November of 2016, Verso announced an organizational plan that included a consolidation of its corporate offices in Memphis, Tennessee and Miamisburg, Ohio, into a single headquarters located in Miamisburg (pictured above).
Jan. 31, 2017 - According to a news story on the Dayton Business Journal's website, Verso Corp. has received a tax incentive for the planned consolidation of its headquarters in Miamisburg, Ohio.
In November of 2016, Verso announced plans to consolidate its corporate offices in Memphis, Tennessee and Miamisburg, Ohio, into a single headquarters to be located in Miamisburg.
Ahead of the move, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) voted [Jan. 30] on a six-year tax incentive worth $1.2 million for the company if it creates the jobs promised in the next three years.
According to the Dayton Business Journal's story, Verso will create $11.2 million in new payroll with 46 new full-time positions, and retain its existing $18.5 million in payroll in the Dayton region.
This job creation tax credit will help Verso in our efforts to reduce costs as we build a stronger, better company for the future, said Kenneth Sawyer, Verso's senior vice president of human resources and communications.
The full story is available on the Dayton Business Journal's website:
www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2017/01/30/memphis-company-gets-tax-incentive-move-to-dayton.html
SOURCE: Dayton Business Journal
This Sunday, Discwoman and the Yellow Jackets Collective will be throwing their Queer Lunar New Year Party at Manhattan's Mission Chinese.
Featuring performances from Yaeji, Haruka Salt, DeSe, NK Badtz Maru and MIN2, the festivities are set to bring together NYC's QTPOC community to "ring in the new year of the Rooster," all while celebrating "your daily resistance and survival with us."
Based on the lunar calendar, which has historically served as the primary calendar for East Asian, Hindu, Bengali, Buddhist and Islamic peoples, this celebration will be focused on creating an inclusive, welcoming space for those of all stripes. A much needed gathering, especially in these dark times.
As they explain in the Facebook event, the Lunar New Year is a time that connotes familial reunion, so "we want to reinterpret this tradition by celebrating with our chosen families and our queer Asian-American diasporic families. We want to meet and strengthen each other for the year of resistance and community-building we have ahead of us."
Check out the official flyer below and find out more via the Facebook event page.
Last night, a terrorist attack on a mosque in Quebec left 6 people dead and 19 injured. An attack on the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec's evening prayer, the victims range in age from 35 to 70, and, according to Canadian media, the fatalities include a university professor, pharmacist and grocery owner.
In response to this horrific incident, Canada Zakat has begun working with the Quebec community to raise immediate funds for funeral services via a new GoFundMe. Once they hit the goal of $35,000, Canada Zakat says they will consult with the victims' families to see what further financial aid they need.
"We know Canadians are generous people. We know Muslims have a big heart. We all come together in times of crisis," they wrote in the GoFundMe description. "Let us dig a little into your pocket to alleviate the suffering of grieving families who have lost a loved one in this terrorist attack."
Donate here.
photo via YouTube/BBC
Some of the biggest names in music will reportedly be skipping the Grammy's this year a move that reinforces that appears to reflect artists' growing disappointment with the awards show.
While Kanye West, who has four nominations, he's infamously shared his disappointment in Grammy winners in the past and will not be attending this time around. Drake's Views was nominated eight times but he will likely remain in Europe for his 'Boy Meets World' tour.
Then there's Justin Bieber, also with four nominations this year, who, alongside Frank Ocean, allegedly believes the Grammys are outdated and irrelevant.
Ocean won two Grammys in 2013 for 'Channel Orange', but didn't even submit his sophomore album 'Blonde' for Grammy consideration despite its critical success, claiming the institution has "nostalgic importance."
"It just doesn't seem to be representing very well for people who come from where I come from, and hold down what I hold down."
Yikes!
[h/t TMZ]
Image via David X Prutting/BFA.com
Iranian-Dutch musician Sevdaliza has just released a powerful new track called "Bebin" in response to the Islamophobic/xenophobic mandates and rhetoric affecting the current American political climate.
"In protest of the inhumane political climate, I could not rest my head in privilege," Sevdaliza wrote in a statement. "I wrote 'Bebin' in Farsi, to solidify. I stand strong with love. In this case I choose to avoid mainstream media, because I have no interest in part taking in a victimized concept."
She also mentions that she will not be able to travel to the US for an indefinite amount of time, but ends her note with a touching reminder that, "In the act of love, there is no place for racism nor bigotry."
Listen to "Bebin" below, and donate to get the track here. All proceeds from the track will also be "immediately transferred towards funds supporting victims of racial exclusion."
Children think of themselves as equals regardless of gender but only up to the age of five. Study shows that 6-year-old girls already think of their male counterparts as smarter and more brilliant than girls. This shows that gender perception exists even among very young children when they reach a certain age.
The study published in the journal Science was based on experiments involving 400 kids. They were given a test without giving away any clues on gender. University of Illinois psychologist Lin Bian said they left out any clue as to the gender of a person when they asked the kids about a story's protagonist.
Bian said 5-year-old kids in the study chose characters who belonged to their own gender. But this has changed within a year because at the age of six, boys picked their own gender while girls chose boys too, according to CNN.
"When they enter school around 5 or 6 years of age, they get to have much more exposure to the cultural message," Bian said. "That's when they learn a great deal of the information about the social world."
The kids were then asked to do an activity that was meant for very smart children. The 5-year-olds were equally enjoying the task, as per WTKR.
The 6-year-old girls and older, however, lost interest. Researchers said this could also mean that gender stereotyping already exists even at a young age. The study cited that girls tend to stay away from activities identified for very smart kids, according to The Atlantic.
At the age of six, girls are starting to learn stereotypes from media and even from their parents and peers. Child psychologist Madelaine Portwood however attributed this to the differences in developmental age.
Experts said that this could perhaps explain why girls shy away from demanding courses because of this belief that boys are better than them. This stereotyping has been blamed for the under representation of women in more prestigious careers. Experts note that something must be done to liberate girls from this unfounded belief and allow them the freedom to explore their innate abilities and passion.
Like many parents with youngsters, Kerri Couillard experienced the stress of flying with baby. Bulky strollers and carriers were a necessity she and her family had to carry along with their luggage at a busy airport. Lugging it around, however, was an inconvenience.
When Coulliard's children outgrew the baby gear and needed it less during travels, her garage was filled with unused clutter. Her husband begged her to get rid of the stuff but she decided to establish Babierge in Santa Fe to address two birds with one stone: do away with the items and help traveling parents.
Babierge allows parents flying with baby to rent out strollers, carriers, cribs, high chairs and other equipment from the site so that they won't have to bring their own. Couillard eventually partnered with Match.Com SEO Fran Maier to develop an AirBNB-like gear rental service to serve its growing client base, according to Forbes.
Babierge serves traveling families in the U.S. and Canada with its current 27 operation locations, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Michigan and Chicago, Santa Fe New Mexican reports. The company's trusted partners deliver the baby gear to the families as soon as they arrive at their destination.
"The level of demand and gratitude we see from parents is phenomenal and more than I would have expected," Maier told Forbes. Their patrons are mostly millennial parents but some grandparents have also benefitted from their rental service. Apart from baby equipment, some parents also make use of Babierge to rent out toys or books during family travels.
This AirBnB-like gear rental service, however, is a fairly new market, thus it comes with some kinks and challenges but Couillard and Maier have plans of expansion. They are also working to partner with hotels and car rental companies to streamline their operations. Learn more about Babierge in the video below.
A growing number of students with autism are attending colleges and school support matters to these kids now more than ever. Two universities have come up with programs to help these students with special needs cope with college life and eventually thrive in the real world better. So far, the results have been positive.
Nathan Terrell, 19, benefits from a mentoring program set up by his school, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He is part of the Spectrum Support Program (SSP) in RIT where he regularly meets with his mentor, Atiya Smith, a licensed therapist, according to Deseret News.
Smith assists Terrell in many matters that concern college survival. She mentors him about homework or school activities or they discuss dorm issues and sometimes, even college girls.
Over 70 students with autism are under the SSP, which has an end goal of teaching self-reliance, academic competence and career-readiness for kids in the autism spectrum disorder. The program, however, is not free especially since each student receives specialized service from trained practitioners. It does, however, serve and comply with the requirements of students with special needs as stipulated in the Americans With Disabilities act.
Utah Valley University (UVY) also has a similar paid program called Passages for its students with autism. It's a 9-week course that is also open to outsiders but living within the school community.
Some 80 students are currently part of Passages, which also provides specific and individualized mentorship. "Whatever is going on in the current students' lives, they can share that information and we'll build it into what we're teaching," the program director Lauren Bowen told Deseret News.
Terrell said having a program like SSP will help students with autism feel more accepted in the community. Experts acknowledge that eventually these types of programs will become the norm for universities but there are still many challenges ahead.
Autism is different from other special needs in that it's also a misunderstood condition. These schools, however, are taking small but significant steps to changing the system for the better.
Twins Annabelle and Imogen Weir's premature birth at 23 weeks and four days last April became a cause of great concern for their parents, Claire and James, and the doctors. Their chance of surviving was unclear, especially since they were born on the second trimester of their mother's pregnancy.
The twins came into the world so tiny that they fitted snuggly on each of their parents' hands. They were immediately sent to intensive care where they would stay for at least four more months and undergo surgery, as well several blood transfusions.
"They are the youngest and smallest surviving twins to be born in Scotland," Claire said, according to BBC. Today Annabelle and Imogen are safely at home with their parents.
The twins now weigh 11 and 12 lb. and it's a big improvement from when they were just a pound at birth, according to Daily Mail. The girls still need nasal tubes to breathe but these will come off eventually.
Claire said that she felt guilty for what her tiny twins had to go through but she was surprised to see her daughters' resilience. The twins also surprised the hospital workers who looked after them as their condition continued to progress at the NICU.
"They will always be our little miracles," Claire said. "Now we are experiencing all the normal struggles new parents have but we have loved every minute. We know how lucky we are," the mom said, according to Mirror.
The twins' miraculous progress has brought to light issues regarding abortion. Currently, the termination limit is set at 24 weeks. But as the twins born at 23 weeks have proven, babies can survive less than that with the help of medical science improvements.
"The so-called time of viability where a baby can be born alive and survive outside the womb is going to be pushed lower and lower," Peter Williams of the Right to Life group said, according to Premier. His group would like the abortion limit to be reduced to 20 weeks, at least in Scotland, where the twins are from.
What's your stand on this parents? Should abortion laws reconsider lowering the limit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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Apple has been working on a MacBook with cellular connectivity for at least seven years, as this is when we began covering this invention category the we have dubbed the Cellular MacBook. With the introduction of the iPad, Apple had little interest in providing a competing product for macOS. But now Microsoft is going full tilt in 2017 supporting cellular Notebooks based on a new partnership with Qualcomm. Microsoft OEM's like Huawei and Lenovo will introduce notebooks with cellular connectivity this year as will most major OEMs. Even Xiaomi introduced one in late December for the Chinese market. This will be a real test for Apple this year. Will they finally deliver a cellular MacBook solution beyond tethering an iPhone for real power users, or will they ignore this emerging trend to continue to support their iPad Pro product line. On the flip side, should Apple want to go this route, they'd have to work with Intel or other source because they're presently at war with Qualcomm who is likely not all that interested in supporting a new Apple product until their patent war is settled, which could take years.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a a newly granted patents for Apple covering a cellular MacBook antenna which could be hidden in the cavity of a MacBook display hinge.
Specifically, a future MacBook could support wireless communications circuitry that operates in long-range communications bands such as cellular telephone. It would also support Bluetooth, NFC and satellite navigation system communications.
Apple's patent FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of MacBook having a lid in an open position and having antenna structures built-in that would support cellular antennas that could also be used for telephony and not only data as noted in FIG. 2's flowchart.
Apple's granted patent was originally filed in Q2 2015 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments.
The European Union's competitIon stated earlier today that Apple has not fully paid the 13 billion euros ($13.9 billion) it owes to Ireland in illegal tax benefits even though the deadline of January 3 has come and gone, reports CNBC.
EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager responding to a CNBC question during a press conference, stated that "the recovery is not done yet but we have been working with the Irish authorizes and we can see that they are moving forward to do the recovery of the unpaid taxes. It's a tricky thing to do because it's a large sum so of course you have to figure out how to do that. It's not as an escrow account in some of the other cases where it might be 25 or 30 million euros and therefore I do respect that it's a complicated matter and it may take a little more time."
"We are continuing to make progress of the recovery from Apple with the full cooperation of the company and the EU Commission," a spokesperson for Ireland's Ministry of Finance told CNBC by email. "The Commission are satisfied with the progress we are making. We have committed to complying with the decision and we fully intend doing that."
CNBC's report lastly noted that "Still both Ireland and Apple have pledged to fight the decision via the European courts. Vestager said at the press conference that she does not know when the court case will take place for Apple and Ireland to appeal the EU's decision."
The Financial Times adds to this by noting that "Ms Vestager denied there was any attempt to single out US companies and said she was not concerned that the Apple ruling would affect US investment in Europe. But she insisted the Irish government had to collect the 13bn owed by Apple."
John McGuinness, chairman of the Oireachtas all-party Finance Committee said that Apple "employs thousands of people in Ireland and this ruling could have far-reaching implications for multinationals in this country."
Apple should do what Samsung has done in their patent infringement case with Apple; hold back most of the money owed until every last appeal is exhausted in every conceivable court in the land. With Ms Vestager not even having an appeal tabled, Apple should just continue to hold back funds until they're fair enough to schedule a time for Apple's appeal. But of course Apple will play by the rules and play nice, even though they shouldn't. Apple's CEO Tim Cook once said that this whole matter was political crap and most of us, in Apple's camp at least, agree.
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Something I think we lose sight of. America represented something different in the age of nation-states: a nation built, not on cultural unity or shared history, but on a set of aspirational values. A nation founded, not on the gradual accrual of historical rights granted to citizens, but on the inherent rights of men.
The story of America is a story about challenging, fighting over, and extending that vision. Attempting to rectify inconsistencies that marred it and countering ideologies that denigrate or reject these foundational ideals.
America is large. America is wealthy. She wont be brought low by bombs and guns. But she can be utterly destroyed by the abandonment of that founding vision. She might limp on for a while as a political arrangement, but she will not be a nation, and she wont be worth fighting to preserve.
I am Canadian, to my bones. I love what Canada is. But the entire world has been shaped by who America was and the vision of liberty and opportunity she once represented, and we, your neighbours to the north, are no exception.
In all of your political and policy disputes, neighbours, I hope that you will remember this. The world need you to be something different; we need you to be better than your enemies. We need you to still be that scrappy idealist that challenges us all to be fearless and seek freedom for all.
Be generous, inspirational, aspirational. Be the light upon a hill.
Be America.
President Danko issued the following statement today (January 30, 2017):
Dear Members of the Butler Community,
In the wake of the executive order on immigration signed on January 27, I want to reaffirm Butler Universitys role as an institution where all people are welcomed and valuedregardless of religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or political beliefs.
I stated in my post-election message in November that many members of the Butler community were feeling anxiety, fear, anger, and vulnerability. Fridays executive order has, understandably, only intensified these feelings. Several members of the campus community are directly affected, with family members living in countries from which immigration to the United States is now blocked.
The immigration ban, and the manner in which it has been implemented, is contrary to the principles of Butler University and detrimental to our educational mission. I join the many other leaders and citizens across Indiana, the United States, and the world in condemning this executive order and asking that it be revoked.
As we process the news of yesterdays attack in Quebec City and we approach Butlers annual Founders Week, let us remember and adhere to our founding principles. Butler University stands in support of all people of Muslim faith on our campus, including our Muslim Student Association (MSA). This group of extraordinary young leaders is integral to the fabric of the Butler community, and their contributionsin the classroom, on campus, and in Indianapolisexemplify the very best of our University. We stand in support of Butler community members of any religion or no religion, any person who is marginalized or vulnerable, and anyone who is affected by our nations rapidly changing policies and discourse. Butlers Community of Care is alive and well, and we remain committed to a community of inclusivity that is as old as the University itself.
Butler offers free and confidential Counseling and Consultation Services to all students. Students living in the residence halls may also seek the support of their Resident Assistant or Residence Life Coordinator. The Diversity Center is open to all students and will host an information session for international students on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at 5:30 pm to discuss the executive order and related travel restrictions. The Center for Faith and Vocation (CFV) is open to all students, faculty, and staff looking for space to study, reflect, and find support. The CFV is available for one-on-one conversations of support and there are 13 student-led CFV groups that meet weekly to gather in community, including the MSA.
Thank you for all you do to cultivate a culture in which all members of the Butler community can learn, work, and thrive together in the spirit of compassion, fairness, and respect that has always defined our University.
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
France in strong show of support for Iran ties and nuclear agreement
01/31/17
Source: Press TV
France is using a visit to Tehran by its Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to show its support for the expansion of economic relations with Iran in the face of growing tensions resulting from what many see as the unfolding anti-Iran approach by US President Donald Trump.
Iran's FM Javad Zarif (R) with his visiting French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault
Tehran, January 31, 2017 - photo by Islamic Republic News Agency
Ayrault told a meeting of Iranian-French business leaders that last year's nuclear deal with Iran had opened a new era that had already led to a major expansion of relations between the two countries.
He said that protecting the Iran nuclear deal - the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - was "extremely important" for Paris.
The French top diplomat emphasized that it was the JCPOA that opened the way for France to move ahead with the expansion of its relations with Iran in all areas.
Ayrault said the expansion of France's economic ties with Iran would benefit both countries, adding that Paris had never been so eager to develop relations with any other country.
He further named the deals that Iran had already signed with companies Total, Renault and Airbus as examples of French determination to promote economic ties with the Islamic Republic.
Nevertheless, Ayrault emphasized that the current banking hurdles remaining from the years that Iran was under sanctions still needed to be removed to further facilitate trade between the two countries.
French FM Jean-Marc Ayrault (L) meets Iran's President Hassan Rohani
Tehran, January 31, 2017 - photo by Islamic Republic News Agency
The remarks by the French foreign minister came on the heels of a controversial decision by President Trump to ban Iranian nationals from entering the US.
Apart from Iran, citizens of Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen have also been banned from entering the US for a period of 90 days.
The move drew an immediate reaction from Iran with the country's Foreign Ministry pledging a response in kind.
Ayrault had criticized Trump's move upon arrival in Tehran on Monday. He had called for avoiding any move that he said would promote discrimination against nationals of other countries - what he suggested Trump's order would lead to.
The French foreign minister - who is heading a delegation of 100 businesspeople in his Tehran trip - had further announced that Paris would double visas for Iranians in 2017 in what was seen as a response to the US ban against Iranians.
Many Iranians living in the US are already expressing shock at Trump's decision. The worst affected appears to be a community of about half a million Iranians living in Los Angeles.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the same meeting of Iranian-French business leaders in which Ayrault was speaking that Tehran was determined to promote economic relations with the European countries, specifically France.
Zarif said the volume of Iran's trade with France tripled after the implementation of the JCPOA and the subsequent removal of sanctions against Iran. Nonetheless, he said there was still room for both countries to further increase their level of mutual trade.
He further said Iran counted on France - as a party to the JCPOA - to help remove the banking obstacles that were blocking the full exploitation of trade opportunities with Iran.
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Heres the situation: You walk out of the supermarket with three bags in each hand and it already feels like your arms are gonna fall off. Weve all felt like a pack mule at some point, and one company is hoping to change that with its personal cargo robot, Gita.
The bot was created by Piaggio Fast Forward, a sister company of Piaggio Group, most famous for creating the Vespa. Piaggio Fast Forward describes Gita (pronounced jee-ta) as an autonomous vehicle that extends a persons cargo carrying abilities.
The vehicle is 26 inches tall and can carry up to 40 pounds of goods at speeds as high as 22 mph. It can either follow a human operator or move about autonomously in pre-mapped areas. A number of sneak-peek videos on the companys YouTube page show potential uses for Gita including picking up and delivering a package, carrying someones purchases at a market, and even walking a dog.
According to a company press release, Gita will debut on Feb. 2 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at which time more details about the robot will be made available. Piaggio Fast Forward says it will deploy Gita in a number of different business-to-business pilots in the near future with an eye toward future consumer applications.
A Fontana woman reunited with her family Monday, Jan. 30, after being detained in Saudi Arabia and again at Los Angeles International Airport as a result of President Donald Trumps executive order temporarily halting some foreigners entry into the United States.
Areej Ali, who has a green card, had trouble coming home from Sudan, where she attended her sisters wedding. Ali was detained for 12 hours in Saudi Arabia while attempting to board a connecting flight to LAX.
I felt confused, upset, sad, the software developer said by phone Monday. All my rights and everything I worked for my whole life everything was getting stripped away from me within seconds.
Through the assistance of friends and family in California, and the use of social media, they were able to get the attention of Sen. Kamala Harris, who intervened to help get Ali on a flight back to the U.S.
Harris spokesman Tyrone Gayle said the senator is relieved for the refugees who have the opportunity to be reunited with their families at LAX and across California. Harris staff is working to provide resources and support for those who have been contacting the senators office, he said.
The ordeal began Friday, Jan. 27, when Alis sister, Abeer Abdelrahman, saw Trump sign the order. Despite the time difference it was 3 a.m. in Sudan she called Ali and alerted her to the developing events. Ali had traveled to Sudan with her mother, Nadia Faqeer, a U.S. citizen.
I told her they needed to come home right away. I knew I needed to get my family back home, Abdelrahman, 30, of Laguna Hills, said.
Ali immediately began reading the news reports about the executive order and said she sensed the urgency. Less than 12 hours later, Ali and her mother were on a flight back home.
I actually thought they were going to face some issues in Sudan, but we didnt think it would be in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). We got a call at 9 a.m. telling us they wouldnt let her board and that they were having to ship back to Sudan any non-U.S. citizens, Abdelrahman said by phone Monday afternoon.
Ali said airport officials in Saudi Arabia tried to separate her from her mother, but Faqeer refused to leave her daughters side.
For the next several hours the Fontana residents called, texted and emailed friends from a lounge area, trying to figure out how she could return to the country she called home.
At first I didnt what to do, I felt so helpless, Abdelrahman said. I started to make calls and check into social media.
The air carrier stopped her at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia because officials there were concerned about getting fined, she said.
The executive order suspends resettlement of Syrian refugees indefinitely, suspends all other refugee resettlement for 120 days, and bans the entry of nationals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen for 90 days.
Over in Fresno, family friend Gadeer Muhammad said she became aware about her friends situation through Facebook.
She never expected this to happen to her, Muhammad said. They were devastated and have had to go through so much the last few days.
Muhammad said this was the first time in two decades years the U.S. resident had left the country. But she didnt want to miss her sisters wedding.
It turned a happy experience into a nightmare for them, Muhammad said, who lived in Fontana for 13 years. She and Ali became friends while at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga.
Ali and her family had traveled to Sudan for Abdelrahmans wedding in December. But the longtime Fontana resident and her mother stayed behind to help her uncle, who planned to travel to the U.S., with a February appointment to get his visa, Ali said.
They cut the trip short without even saying farewell to family in Sudan, she said.
While Ali and her mother were in Saudia Arabia, the family eventually came in contact with representatives from Harris office as well as Orange County-based attorney Courtney Black, who was able to obtain a letter saying that Ali was a U.S. resident and the executive order did not apply to green card holders.
Ali messaged her sister, informing them they were boarding a flight and would be back on American soil by 11 a.m. Monday.
Thank God it worked, Abdelrahman said. I was so happy because I thought I wasnt going to see her for a long time.
Abdelrahman and her husband, who were able to return to the states before Trump issued his executive order, were at LAXs Tom Bradley International Terminal on Monday, waiting to be reunited with sister and mother.
Alis mother was released, but Ali was detained, then questioned, for more than an hour.
The first person Ali said she saw exiting the gate was her sister. The two embraced.
I felt extremely relieved and overwhelmed, she said. I couldnt believe I was here and it made me appreciate America. I felt the support of everybody and everyone going through what Im going through.
Contact the writer: lmarquez@scng.comTwitter: @JournaLiset
Photographer Gary Mumaw will present photographs he has taken of Arizona, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe at the Tuesday, Feb. 7 meeting of the Sierra Clubs San Gorgonio Chapter.
A news release says the Rancho Cucamonga resident began working as an industrial photographer in 1979. In the more than thirty-year career that followed, he worked for defense contractors like Lockheed Martin.
A hike in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona in 2009 rekindled an early interest in outdoor photography.
The Sierra Club meeting, open to the public, is 7:30 p.m. at the San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands. Parking and admission is free, with donations accepted for room rental.
Information: sangorgonio2.sierraclub.org
Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com
UC Riverside professors now have a much greater ability to look inside the minds of students, as well as those belonging to other research subjects.
On Monday, Jan. 30, university officials cut the ribbon on a new Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, which houses a state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging machine. It is the only such machine in the Inland Empire, officials said, and one of only three comparable university-based research MRI units in Southern California.
The other two are at UCLA and USC.
Such diverse behaviors as stuttering, Parkinsons disease and autism are expected to be studied using the new facility.
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Bioengineering professor Xiaoping Hu is the director of the center. He came to UCR in August from Emory and Georgia Tech universities and has been doing brain imaging research since 1986. His recent studies have focused on Parkinsons disease and he has received funding from the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Were going to continue the stuff weve been successful with, said Hu, whose team recently identified an abnormality in the brainstem directly associated with Parkinsons disease.
Hes now looking at mounting a study that would use that abnormality to identify the disease before symptoms arise, potentially allowing for earlier treatment.
Hu said UCR researchers wont be the only ones using the new center.
Were welcoming the neighboring institutions to use this, he said, mentioning Cal State San Bernardino, Loma Linda University and the VA medical center in Loma Linda. Its going to stimulate a lot of collaboration. Its going to put UCR on the map with some of the big players.
The effort to bring the $3.5 million machine to the campus the pricetag for the center was $6 million began six years ago. A group of psychology researchers, frustrated with having to use MRI machines at other facilities, decided UCR needed its own unit. The project received approval and funding in 2014.
Vice Chancellor of Research Mike Pazzani said the addition is part of the universitys push to become a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
Theres really not a major university that doesnt have one of these, Pazzani said.
Psychology professor Aaron Seitz, was one of the original group of people pushing for the MRI machine. He said it is almost a necessity.
Without one, he said, Its hard to be competitive. All the new universities that have been inducted into the AAU, they all have research facilities (with MRIs).
Pazzani credited Chancellor Kim Wilcox with understanding that we want to put UCR on the map.
Wilcox cut the ribbon on the new building Monday morning. He called the center a physical marker of a bigger push.
During his 3 years at UCR, Wilcox has embarked on an ambitious plan to enlarge the campus, both physically and in terms of students and personnel, and give it a higher profile. That process hasnt always been smooth, but Wilcox said the new center is an example of how things work when theyre done right.
This is a place where weve done pretty well. he said.
There was concern at one point that the magnetic output of the MRI machine would require a perimeter fence around the center to protect people with pacemakers from getting too close. In the end, such protection was deemed unnecessary.
Wilcox said the research center will attract people to the campus both short and long term.
Lets say some come to do research here, he said. Theyre not going to come in, do their work and just leave. Theyre going to interact with people. Theyre going to learn about us. Theyre much more likely to send future students.
He said they are also likely to recommend UCR to fellow researchers.
It becomes a center of activity, he said.
MRI physicist Jason Langley was conducting tours prior to the ribbon cutting. He showed off the unit, from a distance, as well as computer images of an active brain scan.
Tracking the water flow in the brain along tracts of white matter has revealed many connections that were not known before, Langley said.
He produced a piece of obsidian that had been chipped into an arrowhead shaped hand ax. In a study published four months ago, he said, subjects were taught how to make the primitive tool. Their brains were scanned before and after the process.
We looked at the changes in white matter tracts, he said. After about 100 hours of (chipping the stones), we found strengthening in the language areas.
Such discoveries open up new lines of investigation.
Hu said the center is ready to accommodate such studies.
I think the opportunities are endless, he said.
Contact the writer: mmuckenfuss@scng.com or 951-368-9595
A man was arrested on suspicion of arson Monday, Jan. 30, in the same area of Norco where a fire at a business destroyed a vehicle and about 2,500 hay bales.
Christian David Saddler, 18, was arrested on Sixth Street in Norco by Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department authorities at 6:30 a.m., about 2 1/2 hours after a fire was contained in the 1300 block of Sixth Street.
A Cal Fire spokeswoman on Tuesday confirmed that an arrest was made in connection with the fire but said she did not know the name of the person arrested.
Flames destroyed 2,500 hay bales and a vehicle, causing about $250,000 in damage, according to a news release from the Fire Department. Nobody was injured.
No update has been made to that news release indicating the arrest.
He was arrested on suspicion of felony property arson, one count of felony arson of a structure and possession of tools for the use of arson, according to jail records.
Second-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor possession of burglary tools were also listed in his booking log. Bail is set at $35,000.
An ex-con accused of gunning down his sister in Hemet pleaded not guilty Monday, Jan. 30 to murder and other charges.
Alfredo Abran Esqueda, 26, was arrested on Jan. 13 following a Hemet police investigation into the slaying of 24-year-old Josefina Esqueda.
Along with the murder count, the defendant is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a gun during the commission of a felony.
He was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Johnson, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for March 3 at the Banning Justice Center.
Esqueda is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.
The convicted felon allegedly shot the victim in the head on Jan. 6 at their family home in the 300 block of Franklin Street. A possible motive was not disclosed.
Friends took the mortally wounded woman to Hemet Valley Medical Center and dropped her in the emergency room, then immediately left the location, according to Hemet police Lt. Eddie Pust.
She was transported a short time later to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where she lingered in a coma for three days before succumbing to her gunshot wound, he said.
Detectives were able to determine that the shooting occurred at the Franklin Street location and began questioning potential witnesses, culminating in the identification of Alfredo Esqueda as the alleged perpetrator, according to Pust.
The ex-con was found in the 16000 block of Maplegrove Street in La Puente, where he was taken into custody without incident.
According to court records, Esqueda has prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily injury and parole violations.
Defiant in the face of an international backlash, President Donald Trump pressed into his second week in office defending his sweeping immigration ban and then fired a Cabinet head who refused to enforce it.
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates earlier Monday ordered Justice Department lawyers to stop defending the executive order, which temporarily suspends the U.S. refugee program and bars all immigration for citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days. By Monday night, she was out.
The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States, the White House press secretarys office said in a statement.
Trump named Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve in Yates place until Sen. Jeff Sessions, his permanent pick for the position, is confirmed by the Senate.
The Yates decision came as Trump pressed into his second week in office defending his sweeping immigration ban. Protests persisted at major airports, and concern mounted from U.S. diplomats and members of his own party.
Trump denied that his order was to blame for weekend chaos at the nations airports, instead pointing to computer glitches, demonstrations and even the fake tears of Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.
The president publicly shifted his focus, signing an executive action aimed at cutting regulations for small businesses and teasing his plans to unveil his Supreme Court pick Tuesday night.
But the immigration ban remained at the forefront of his first fortnight in the White House and officials were pondering more actions moving forward.
According to a draft document obtained by The Associated Press, Trump is considering an executive order that would target some immigrants for deportation if they become dependent on government assistance.
The draft order calls for the identification and removal as expeditiously as possible of any foreigner who takes certain kinds of public welfare benefits. Such immigrants have been barred from the U.S. for the better part of a century and they can already be deported. The proposed order appears to signal a Trump administration effort to crack down on such welfare cases.
Another draft order under consideration would make changes to several of the governments foreign worker visa programs. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the draft orders.
Trump immigration order prompted predecessor Barack Obama to wade into politics for the first time since leaving office.
A spokesman for the former president said Monday that Obama fundamentally disagrees with discrimination that targets people based on their religion. Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis alluded to but did not specifically mention Trumps order but added that Obama was heartened by the civil engagement being seen across the country.
Obama has said he will give Trump room to govern but will speak out if his successor violates basic U.S. values.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trumps order was about the safety of America, while the new president played down its impact, saying on Twitter that just 109 people were detained and held for questioning. White House officials have said that was during the first 24 hours after the ban.
But nearly 400 legal permanent residents were delayed upon their arrival back in the United States between the time the travel ban was signed and Sunday evening, according to a federal law enforcement official. All of those people were ultimately allowed back into the country.
The official said one other green card holder is now facing deportation after an extra background check done after the executive order was signed revealed a criminal conviction. Details of that persons case were not immediately available.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to publicly disclose details of the travel bans implementation.
Trumps order, which also halts all refugee admissions for 120 days, does not address homegrown extremists already in America. And the list of countries it applies to Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen doesnt include Saudi Arabia, where most of the Sept. 11 hijackers were from.
Growing numbers of Republican lawmakers expressed concerns about Trumps action. Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Tim Scott of South Carolina said in a joint statement that the manner in which these measures were crafted and implemented have greatly contributed to the confusion, anxiety and uncertainty of the last few days.
Washington states attorney general said he would sue Trump, making Washington the first state to announce a legal action against the administration. Democrat Bob Ferguson was one of 16 state attorneys general who released a statement Sunday calling Trumps action un-American and unlawful.
A number of U.S. diplomats also prepared a memo criticizing the order. In a dissent cable being drafted for State Department leadership, the diplomats said the ban runs counter to American values and will fuel anti-American sentiment around the world.
The cable originated in the State Departments Consular Affairs bureau, which handles visas.
Unfazed, Spicer retorted that if career bureaucrats have a problem with the order, they should either get with the program or they can go.
The president also mocked Schumer, the New York Democrat who grew emotional as he called the ban un-American. Said Trump: Im going to ask him who was his acting coach.
Trump blamed an airline glitch for much of the disorder at the nations international airports that dominated the weekends news. Though a Delta systems outage Sunday night led to departure delays and cancellations of at least 150 flights, the chaos started the day before as protesters packed some of the countrys major airports.
Reactions from the Inland congressional delegation to President Donald Trumps executive order on immigration have fallen along partisan lines.
Heres a look at what Inland members of Congress have to say about the order that clamps down, at least temporarily, on travel to the U.S. from seven predominantly Muslim countries considered by the Trump administration to be potential harbors for terrorists.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands:
On Friday, President Trump issued an executive order that targets refugees and immigrants based on their religion, Aguilar said in a news release.
His xenophobic rhetoric and actions are not consistent with the values of our nation. This executive order will do nothing to make our country safer and only sends a message of hate and bigotry to the rest of the world. This order would not have prevented the attack in San Bernardino and the use of San Bernardino as justification for this anti-Muslim policy is a revolting way to exploit our community.
Federal judges around the country have issued orders to halt detentions and deportations. Despite these orders, the Department of Homeland Security, under the presidents direction, is continuing to enforce the executive order and proceeding with detentions, removals and denial of access to attorneys. This is abhorrent. This is inhumane. This is unconstitutional. President Trumps actions are in violation of the United States Constitution and he must be held accountable immediately.
Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona:
Keeping Americans safe is my highest priority. For some time now, Ive had serious concerns about the efficacy of the immigrant vetting process for nationals from certain countries, like Syria and Iraq, Calvert said in an emailed statement.
Some of these nations simply are not cooperative with providing information to our national security agencies, while others simply lack the technical capability to verify identification. That is why I do support a narrow, country-based pause until more strenuous vetting procedures can be put in place, he said. To that end, I introduced the SAFER Act, H.R. 441, earlier this month to require the use of polygraph examinations, the collection and screening of biometric data and DNA, and a review of social media activity to the refugee vetting process.
For many of the same reasons President Obama slowed down the Iraqi refugee program in 2011 to implement new security screening requirements, I believe it makes sense to ensure we know who exactly we are allowing into our country. To be clear, the pause of immigrant and non-immigrant visas for nationals from seven countries that are terrorist conflict areas is not based on religion.
Furthermore, these seven countries were identified as a cause for concern through a process established by Congress and the Obama Administration through the Visa Waiver Improvement Act. It is important to note that the executive orders allow the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security on a case-by-case basis to issue visas or other immigration benefits to nationals of countries for which visas and benefits are otherwise blocked.
Rep. Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley:
The President took action over the weekend in an effort to keep Americans safe by issuing a temporary ban on immigration and travel for individuals from seven countries. Previously, these seven countries were identified as countries of concern under the Obama administration, Cook said in a news release.
A December 2015 law, signed by former President Barack Obama and passed with bipartisan support in Congress, ended visa-free travel from those same seven countries due to the threat of terrorism. President Trumps actions are built on this foundation.
Specific intelligence gathered prior to President Trump taking office demonstrates that ISIS is attempting to infiltrate the United States through our immigration and refugee channels in order to carry out attacks on our soil. Weve seen attacks in Europe by terrorists posing as refugees, and the President was not willing to make the same mistakes here. Many of the countries included in the temporary ban have failed governments or are suffering from immense internal conflict. Amid failing governments and civil wars, there is often no way to verify the true identity of an applicant seeking to immigrate to the United States. Other countries included in the temporary ban, such as Iran and Sudan, are governed by regimes that sponsor terrorism directly.
That being said, I urge the President to take another look at the implementation of this temporary ban to ensure that individuals who have already been vetted and have valid green cards or visas are protected. Im encouraged by Secretary Kellys announcement last night that holders of green cards would not be denied entry into the United States and hope that he and the President will take a look at other aspects of the order to ensure that it minimizes disruption. The bottom line is that this is a temporary measure while the administration implements new security and vetting procedures to keep the American people safe.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine:
Hunter and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., sent a letter to Trump supporting Secretary of Defense James Mattis request to exempt Iraqis who served alongside the U.S. military from the ban.
The letter reads as follows:
Dear Mr. President:
With regard to your executive order to temporarily halt immigration originating from specified countries, we want to register our strong support for the request of Secretary of Defense James Mattis to exempt military interpreters, aides and other allies who risked their lives alongside U.S. personnel in Iraq. Congress established the Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program in 2008 and we are acutely aware of the significant contribution of these individuals in support of Americas global campaign against radical terrorism.
These allies risked their own lives, as well as the well-being of their families, to advance Americas security interests in a region where their skillsets and willingness to confront extremism have been invaluable to mission success. We are concerned that, with specific application to individuals who worked with the U.S. Government on the ground, certain immigrants deserving prompt consideration are likely to be overlooked. We encourage you to make special consideration in the review process for these individuals, who are certain to face threats to their own lives as part of the broader pause in refugee and immigrant admissions.
It is important that a special exception is made for the consideration of individuals who directly supported American personnel overseas. We respectfully ask that you take this action to ensure these individuals are not put in any further danger. Doing so would send a strong signal to those who show such immense courage to advance U.S. security interests at a risk to their own safety, as well as the many veterans and warfighters whove relied on the service of these individuals for their own protection and to accomplish their objectives.
Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-La Quinta:
The Presidents Executive Order is wrong and misguided. It threatens our moral clarity, American values, and national security, Ruiz wrote on Facebook.
I am appalled by these actions and the very real human toll they will have on innocent families. I will support @ACLUs legal challenges. If you know someone in need of assistance, call the ACLU CA hotline at 213-977-5245.
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside:
Today, President Donald Trump issued an executive order on immigration that is inhumane, wasteful, and illegal, Takano said in a news release. Instead of investing in Americas schools, rebuilding our infrastructure, or cutting taxes on the middle class, the president is moving forward with the construction of a border wall that will cost American taxpayers billions of dollars while failing to address the challenges in our immigration system.
In addition, his plan to coerce sanctuary cities into compliance with deportations is plainly unconstitutional and disregards the humanity of the undocumented families living peaceful and productive lives across the country, not to mention the vital role they play in many local economies.
In his typical fashion, President Trump has introduced a policy based on ignorance, xenophobia, and lies. Its time for us to recognize that his reckless campaign promises should be taken both literally and seriously, and we must resist them at every turn.
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona:
Donald Trumps Executive Order on refugees is more reckless fear-mongering that has no basis in reality, Torres said in a written statement. Refugees already undergo a long, rigorous screening process that often takes years. While we should work to continuously monitor and improve that process, there is no reason to bring it to a crashing halt or to enact a blanket ban on those coming from certain Muslim-majority countries.
Having spoken to many refugee families in my district, I know that they are no different from me and my family. We all are looking to provide a future for our loved ones and contribute to this great country. Closing Americas doors to those fleeing unimaginable hardships is an affront to our values as a nation, and targeting people based on their faith is downright un-American. Throughout our history, our nation has been a beacon of hope and freedom. Todays actions go against those very ideals and will ultimately erode the moral leadership of the United States across the globe.
Riversides Community Police Review Commission will determine Feb. 22 whether Riverside Police Department officers acted within policy during a shootout with a suicidal man in 2015.
The commission comprised of volunteers who review officer-involved deaths and make nonbinding suggestions to the police department determined last week that commissioners had all of the information they needed to gauge whether officers acted within policy. Commission manager Frank Hauptmann said the commissioners opinions on the incident will then be compiled into a report that will be made public.
The commission was provided with a report on the incident by former Los Angeles homicide detective Mike Bumcrot, who now runs a Norco-based consulting firm.
In his report, Bumcrot said officers acted in lawful self-defense when returning fire at 31-year-old Stephen Lewis on Feb. 23, 2015 at a home in the 2800 block of Prospect Avenue. Lewis shot and killed himself during the incident.
Officers Daniel Macias, Spencer Weddle and Edward Romero went to the home after receiving a report that two men and a woman were arguing and that one of them had a shotgun, authorities said. They had gone to the house two other times the day before for a family disturbance and a complaint of loud music.
When officers arrived, they heard Lewis yelling and exiting the back door. Lewis went into a shed and came out with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to police reports. Lewis reportedly shot at Macias twice, missing both times. Macias returned fire. Weddle also fired.
At some point, Lewis was shot in the stomach.
Lewis ran inside a friends house in the next block where he shot himself in the head with the shotgun, according to Bumcrots report.
Bumcrot said Lewiss actions gave the officers a a fear of imminent death or serious bodily injury which justified their use of deadly force.
Though Lewis was shot by one of the officers in the stomach, the bullet did not pierce any vital organs, Bumcrot said. The self-inflicted gunshot is what killed him.
I find that this officer-involved shooting was in lawful self-defense and the investigation into the shooting and subsequent suicide of Steven Lewis was completed in a fair and impartial manner and met or exceeded Peace Officer Standards and Training standards of practice, Bumcrot wrote.
Contact the writer: 951-368-9284, atadayon@scng.com, @PE_alitadayon
SANTA ANA A murder charge was filed today against a 22-year-old Moreno Valley resident accused of gunning down a man in the parking lot of a Target store in Brea.
Thomas Allen Jenkins III, who also faces a sentence-enhancing allegation of the discharge of a firearm causing death, is scheduled to be arraigned at the Central Jail in Santa Ana.
Jenkins is accused of killing 44-year-old Alex Lin of Brea about 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the underground parking lot of the store at 855 E. Birch St., according to Brea police Lt. Darrin Devereux.
Police suspect that Jenkins, who was arrested about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, shot Lin during a robbery, Devereux said.
Police arrived to find the mortally wounded victim, who had been shot several times, Devereux said.
President Donald Trump says his executive order to freeze the flow of refugees and travelers from seven Muslim countries is a lot like a program instituted six years ago by then-President Barack Obama.
My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months, Trump said Sunday evening. The seven countries named in the executive order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror.
To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting, the president continued. This is not about religion this is about terror and keeping our country safe.
There are some similarities. But a deeper comparison shows they differ in key ways, including, perhaps, intent.
Q: What was Obamas order about?
A: In 2011, Obama learned that two Iraqi nationals admitted to the United States during the Bush administration were connected to roadside bombings in Iraq.
That fact prompted the administration to look hard at how visas were issued and to re-screen thousands of Iraqis already in the United States. The process took about six months and helped spur changes to the vetting process from other countries considered possible exporters of terrorism. Its partly why, prior to Trumps executive action, it took 18 months or longer for a Syrian refugee to get the OK to stay in the United States. Several U.S. agencies research the background of each applicant.
Q: Was Obamas order a ban on Muslims?
A: No. Contrary to Trumps assertion, Obamas policy never constituted an outright ban. The U.S. continued to accept refugees under the new background check system.
Q: How are Trumps order and Obamas similar?
A: Some argue that both are aimed at vetting potential terrorists.
The way that theyre similar is that in 2011, there was a risk detected and a desire to figure out what more could be done to improve the screening of people that we were admitting to the U.S., said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a D.C. think tank that favors immigration restrictions.
The idea is the same that what were doing to screen refugees is not good enough, and we need to put admissions on hold until we can figure out how we can do better, Vaughan said.
Q: Were terrorist attacks in the U.S. linked to refugees admitted under Obama?
A: No. Whats more, while Trumps executive order calls for the implementation of extreme vetting, others argue thats what we already do. Under Obama it took 18 months or longer for a Syrian refugee to get approval to stay in the United States.
A study by the Cato Institute found that no person admitted to the United States as a refugee has been connected to a terrorist act since at least 1980.
Several high-profile attacks, including 9/11 and the San Bernardino massacre, were carried out by people who were either American citizens or on visas from countries not connected to Trumps proposed ban.
Q: How do the two orders differ?
A: Trump wants to put an indefinite hold on the resettlement of any Syrian refugees and halt all refugee admissions for 120 days to allow the federal government to review its vetting procedures.
The order also puts a 90-day ban on anyone entering the U.S. from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
I dont think its a valid comparison, said Kevin Johnson, dean of the UC Davis School of Law and an expert in immigration policy. Im not familiar with, in recent years at least, any kind of ban on immigration from a select number of countries. Its also quite extraordinary to have a suspension of refugees for four months.
Q: Trump has suggested that his administration will prioritize the admission of Christian refugees from Muslim-majority countries. Is he favoring one religious group over another?
A: The hard question that the administration is going to have is to prove that they can blanketly say that people from those countries except for Christians are detrimental to the United States, said Bill Hing, a law professor who heads the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic at the University of San Francisco.
Thats what a court is ultimately going to have to decide.
More than 100 people from mountain communities and the valley below attended a public meeting Sunday to discuss Nestle Waters North Americas controversial withdrawal of spring water from a remote canyon in the San Bernardino National Forest.
The League of Woman Voters and the Rim Forest-based Save Our Forest Association sponsored the event to address the expired special use permit that continues to authorize Nestles water withdrawals.
The water is sold under the Arrowhead bottled water brand.
The meeting was designed to increase public participation in a campaign of letters, emails and calls to stop water withdrawals until an ongoing environmental study can be completed, officials said.
We want to see a more visible opposition to what is going on, said Miranda Fox, a community organizer for the Story of Stuff, a citizens group that has long opposed Nestle bottling operations nationwide.
A similar meeting was set for Monday night at San Bernardino Valley Colleges Library Viewing Room, Fox said.
Officials from the San Bernardino National Forest and Nestle declined invitations to attend the meeting, said Susan Longville, a board member for the League of Women Voters of the San Bernardino Area.
Strawberry Canyon, where the water is extracted, is rare in the San Bernardino Mountains for the amount of water it contains, with many animals and plants dependent on it, said Steve Loe, a retired San Bernardino National Forest wildlife biologist who was among the first to bring the issue about Nestles water removal to the forefront.
Between 1947 and 2015, Nestle and its predecessors have extracted an average of more than 62 million gallons annually and as much as 124 million gallons in peak years, Longville told the group.
Federal judge Jesus G. Bernal rejected arguments in September that the Forest Service had broken federal procedures by allowing Nestle to remove water from the remote West Fork of Strawberry Creek, which is above San Bernardino.
The three plaintiffs - the Center for Biological Diversity, the Story of Stuff Project and The Courage Campaign have filed a notice that they will appeal the decision. They have until May 1 to file the appeal.
In 2015, Nestle tapped 36 million gallons of water from Strawberry Creek, paying $524 annually for an expired permit that National Forest officials say stays in force until it is renewed or denied.
Under pressure from environmental groups lawsuits, the Forest Service last year conducted a comprehensive environmental review of the Switzerland-based bottled water giants continuing operations in Strawberry Canyon.
Nestle has objected to the review, saying it would disrupt established water rights and the longstanding legal process of regulating water use in the state of California.
Contact the writer: jsteinberg@scng.com@JamesDSteinberg on Twitter
A UC Riverside student sued Wells Fargo in federal court Monday, saying the bank illegally denied loans to young immigrants who have temporary legal status under an Obama-era program.
UCR student Mitzie Perez sought a student loan through Wells Fargos website and was denied because she acknowledged that shes not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, according to the suit filed by the Los Angeles-based Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Perez, the suits lead plaintiff, is part of former President Barack Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly called DACA. The program was enacted in 2012 by an executive order.
It allows people who arrived in the United States before age 16, and who meet certain other criteria, to defer deportation. They are granted Social Security numbers and can get work permits, continue their education and apply for permission to travel in and out of the country.
Perez had the necessary documentation to meet bank requirements, the suit said. The suit was filed on behalf of Perez and all others similarly situated.
We need to bring this to light and hear from Wells Fargo why theyre denying DACA recipients from student loans when all we want to do is continue our education, said Perez, 25, of San Dimas.
Im at the point of maybe having to drop out of school because I cant afford it, added Perez, a third-year student majoring in gender and sexuality studies.
Wells Fargo, in a statement, said it was disappointed the plaintiffs sued instead of working directly with the bank to find a solution.
Wells Fargo understands the dream of pursuing higher education, and we remain focused on our responsible lending practices to assist temporary and permanent residents and U.S. citizens in obtaining student financing, the bank said in a statement.
The lawsuit contends Wells Fargo violated federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination based on immigration status. The suit seeks class-action status on behalf of other DACA beneficiaries who have been denied loans by Wells Fargo. It also seeks unspecified monetary damages.
The lawsuit was filed at the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California and comes amid concerns that the DACA program will be ended by President Donald Trump, who signed executive orders last week that toughen federal immigration laws.
All students should be treated equally in accessing the loan assistance needed to complete a university education, said Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, in a statement.
Contact the writer: 951-368-9462, amolina@pressenterprise.com, or on Twitter @alemolina
Ghanas Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia surprised workers of the Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority (GPHA) today by paying them an unannounced visit. Todays visit makes it the second time he has made a surprise visit to a major government facility.
Today's visit was to afford the Vice President an opportunity to acquaint himself of the operations at the port and issues regarding confiscated goods.
The Tema Port is a major backbone of the country's revenue collection efforts, generating a significant percentage of annual domestic revenue. The Tema Collection Point of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) however missed its 2016 target, mobilizing GH7,334,174,613.10 against a target of GH7,690.380.000.00. The shortfall was 4.63 percent.
Jacob Kwabla Adorkor, Director of Ports, and officials of the Customs Division including sector commander, Confidence Nyadzi conducted Dr Bawumia round to observe the operations of the Nick TC Scan, Meridian Port Services (MPS), Golden Jubilee Car park, State Warehouse, and Atlas Copco, among others.
In brief comments after the tour, Vice President Bawumia, indicated that the Akufo-Addo government would take steps to consolidate some of the functions at the port that interface with the public in order to reduce the frustrations of Agents and port users, while plugging any revenue leakages.
On Wednesday, January 18, 2017, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia paid a surprise visit to the Registrar-Generals Department to familiarise himself with the challenges facing the State outfit.
During his visit, he met with the Registrar General, the staff of the Department and ordinary Ghanaians who had gone to register their businesses.
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected]
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the African Unions theme for 2017 - Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in the Youth is essentially a pact leaders on the Continent have made with both present and future generations to leave them a better legacy than we inherited from our forebears.
According to President Akufo-Addo, Africas present generation must be at the measure of our history, and, thus, urged his colleague African Heads of State to do well to help implement the raft of policy measures agreed to at the Summit, so as to meet the aspirations and wishes of their peoples.
The President made this known on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, when he delivered the vote of thanks at the end of the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He described the 28th AU Summit as a landmark one, largely because of the far reaching decisions taken by the Heads of State present.
We have made the bold decision to admit one of new Africas founding states, the Kingdom of Morocco, into our fold and extend the reach of our organization, finally, to all parts of our continent, with all its implications, he said.
The President continued, We have adopted the comprehensive proposals for the reform of our institutions prepared by the respected leader of Rwanda, His Excellency President Paul Kagame, and his advisory council of experts. If vigorously implemented, these proposals will give a significant and enhanced impetus to the operations of our Union.
The Assembly also took the decision to finance its operations from its own resources, thereby weaning itself off foreign dependence and charity, with President Akufo-Addo describing this decision as necessary for our self-respect.
The President also applauded the Assembly for meeting the deadline of putting into place a programme for the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area to boost Africas chances for self-reliant economic development. This, he stressed, will help realise the enormous potential of the continent and help bring prosperity and dignity to the long-suffering peoples of Africa.
If these and other measures are carried out in their letter and spirit, they will, indeed, mean that this has been a landmark Summit, one which will have succeeded in rekindling the values of unity, solidarity and cohesion that have been the founding values of our continental organization.
It will mean that the decision we made, in establishing this Union 15 years ago in 2002, to build our Union brick by brick, in His Excellency President Robert Mugabes eloquent phrase, is paying off, and that, sooner rather than later, we will arrive at the goal of realizing our vision of an integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa, speaking with one voice, that has been the dream of successive generations of pan-Africanists, President Akufo-Addo said.
The President used the opportunity to commend the outgoing Chair of the AU Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for successful completion of her tenure of office, and wished her well in her future endeavours.
Her vision of freedom and prosperity with its bold initiatives for all our peoples, in particular women, who constitute the very backbone of our survival and progress, means that millions of women and men around the continent are, today, holding the torch of womens social, economic and political empowerment. Nkosazana, wenze kahle.
We wish you well in your future endeavours. Who knows, you may next year be the second elected female leader on our continent if the South African people and your party so consent, he said.
President Akufo-Addo also commended President Idriss Deby Itno, the outgoing Chair of the AU, for his calm, sterling leadership, which has brought new dynamism into our Union, characterized by the strategic policies during your tenure that have enlarged immeasurably the horizons of our continental body.
We are deeply indebted to you for the sacrifices you and the Chadian people have made to inspire the success of your mandate.
In concluding, the President thanked the Union for its assistance in helping to make Ghanas 2016 elections credible and its outcome acceptable, thereby enhancing the countrys principles of democratic accountability, which have reinforced the peace, stability and unity of Ghana.
He also thanked his colleague Heads of State for the big vote of confidence you gave to my country Ghana, not just by the massive endorsement of Ghanas candidate for Deputy Chair of our Commission, but also for the selection of my compatriot, Prof. Dakoure, as one of the two awardees of this years Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award.
To the new Chair of the AU, the Guinean President, His Excellency Alpha Conde, President Akufo-Addo noted that the elements are in place for the successful tenure of office of President Alpha Conde, and we wish him well.
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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VOTE OF THANKS DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE 28TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE AFRICAN UNION, ON JANUARY 31, 2017, IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA.
Ghana and my modest person are honoured by the invitation of the newly installed Chairperson of the Assembly, His Excellency Alpha Conde, to move the vote of thanks to all who have contributed in their various ways to the outstanding success of this landmark Summit.
It may, somehow, be appropriate that, at a time when we are attempting to renew our organization and its values, a Guinean should be in the chair and a Ghanaian at the podium, for this may recall the early days of Africas independence, when the strategic alliance of Ghana-Guinea-Mali was one of the seminal events that paved the way for the establishment of our predecessor body, the Organisation of African Unity, in this historic, ancient city of Addis Ababa, in 1963, some 54 years ago.
We salute the election to the leadership of our Union of the Guinean President, His Excellency Alpha Conde, a renowned fighter for democracy and human rights in his native Guinea. Sir, ayekoo, as they say in Ghana. The Assembly has conferred on you a new Bureau, composed of some of the most redoubtable figures of contemporary African politics their Excellencies Yoweri Museveni, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, King Mswati III, and Idriss Deby Itno and a new Commission led by the accomplished Foreign Minister of Chad, with an equally accomplished Ghanaian diplomat as his Deputy and a new set of apparently solid Commissioners. The elements are in place for the successful tenure of office of President Alpha Conde, and we wish him well.
We thank the people and government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia for their traditional, warm hospitality for our meeting. Addis Ababa continues to cement its reputation as the diplomatic capital of Africa. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, thank you.
The Commission of our Union, together with all the other organs, be they policy or advisory, deserve our commendation for the dedication and professionalism with which they have mobilised the facilities placed at our disposal throughout the period of the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, including the working documents and the transportation, interpretation and protocol services. Every human organization can always be improved, but we remain, nonetheless, sincerely grateful for their efforts.
I have called this Summit a landmark one, because of the far reaching decisions that we have taken here. We have made the bold decision to admit one of new Africas founding states, the Kingdom of Morocco, into our fold and extend the reach of our organization, finally, to all parts of our continent, with all its implications. We have adopted the comprehensive proposals for the reform of our institutions prepared by the respected leader of Rwanda, His Excellency President Paul Kagame, and his advisory council of experts.
If vigorously implemented, these proposals will give a significant and enhanced impetus to the operations of our Union. We owe President Kagame and his team a profound debt of gratitude for their excellent work. We have taken the equally bold decision to finance our operations from our own resources and wean ourselves off foreign dependence and charity.
The implementation of that decision is necessary for our self-respect. We have also met our deadline of putting into place a programme for the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area to boost our chances for self-reliant economic development, which will, hopefully, help realise the enormous potential of our continent and help bring prosperity and dignity, at long last, to the long-suffering peoples of Africa.
If these and other measures are carried out in their letter and spirit, they will, indeed, mean that this has been a landmark Summit, one which will have succeeded in rekindling the values of unity, solidarity and cohesion that have been the founding values of our continental organization.
It will mean that the decision we made, in establishing this Union 15 years ago in 2002, to build our Union brick by brick, in His Excellency President Robert Mugabes eloquent phrase, is paying off, and that, sooner rather than later, we will arrive at the goal of realizing our vision of an integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa, speaking with one voice, that has been the dream of successive generations of pan-Africanists.
I acknowledge the outgoing Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, and all the outgoing Commissioners for their sacrifices and contributions to this Union and, indeed, the overall progress of our continent.
I cannot conclude this vote of thanks without making special mention of two persons, one a woman, the other a man. The woman is Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, outgoing Chairperson of the Commission. A former colleague as Foreign Minister, her vision of freedom and prosperity with its bold initiatives for all our peoples, in particular women, who constitute the very backbone of our survival and progress, means that millions of women and men around the continent are, today, holding the torch of womens social, economic and political empowerment.
Nkosazana, wenze kahle. We wish you well in your future endeavours. There were many in this room who could not have missed the symbolism of that other outstanding African woman, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and ECOWAS current leader, standing by your side on the podium at yesterdays opening ceremony. Who knows, you may next year be the second elected female leader on our continent if the South African people and your party so consent. In Twi, we say nante yie go well, fare thee well.
The other is a man, the Chadian statesman, Idriss Deby Itno. Excellency, your calm, sterling leadership has brought new dynamism into our Union, characterized by the strategic policies during your tenure that have enlarged immeasurably the horizons of our continental body. We are deeply indebted to you for the sacrifices you and the Chadian people have made to inspire the success of your mandate.
M. le President Idriss Deby, chef renomee de letat Chadien, on vous remercie vivement pour tout votre oeuvre au sein de notre organisation pour le progres et bien-etre du people africain, qui restera toujours tres reconnaissant de vos efforts. Goodbye and even greater success in the future, both in Chad and in Africa.
We need to remind ourselves regularly that, in launching the theme for 2017 Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in the Youth, we have made essentially a pact with both present and future generations to leave them a better legacy than we inherited from our forebears. Let our generation be at the measure of our history.
In conclusion, on behalf of all Ghanaians, I thank the Union for its assistance in helping to make Ghanas recent electoral contest credible and its outcome acceptable, thereby enhancing our principles of democratic accountability, which have reinforced the peace, stability and unity of the Ghanaian nation. I also thank your Excellencies for the big vote of confidence you gave to my country Ghana, not just by the massive endorsement of Ghanas candidate for Deputy Chair of our Commission, but also for the selection of my compatriot, Prof. Dakoure, as one of the two awardees of this years Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award.
Thank you and may God bless the African Union and Mother Africa.
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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The payment of allowances to persons contracted by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana to help with the 2016 elections has begun, following the release of the election managements budget by the Ministry of Finance.
Eric Kofi Dzakpasu, Director of Public Affairs of the EC, told TV3 Network Tuesday 31 January that the ministry has now released the budget so payment has started".
Some of the officials who served in various capacities including presiding officers, returning officers at the various polling centres, those who were in charge of issuing ballot papers and indelible inks are expected to be paid between GHS400 and GHS800.
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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Former President John Mahama has criticized US President, Donald Trumps travel ban describing it as regrettable.
According to him, the development, which has become of great concern to many countries across the world, should be key on the agenda for African leaders attending the African Union (AU) Ordinary session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.In a series of tweet on Tuesday [January 31], John Mahama, who is also the immediate past Chairman of ECOWAS, a bloc under the AU, also congratulated Ghanaian, Ambassador Kwasi Quartey on his election as Vice Chairman of the AU. Donald Trump last Friday signed an executive order barring citizens from seven Muslim countries; Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somali, Sudan and Syria from entering the United States for 90 days.
The order also placed a moratorium on refugees entering the country for a 120-day period. Many world leaders have criticized his decision, describing the order as being divisive, illegal, insulting and discriminatory. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described the ban as divisive and wrong, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the move was shameful and cruel. Their comments came two days after Prime Minister Theresa May, became the first foreign leader to officially meet with Trump. African leaders are yet to be vocal on the matter, which some social commentators on the continent say has negative implications on Africans. President John Mahamas open condemnation of the development may spark a continental debate, and Africas official position on it since countries such as Sudan, Somalia and Libya are involved.
Source: citifmonline.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 Magistrate has lamented about the slow pace of preparing a bill of indictment on cases presented by the Attorney Generals Department. I get hurt when accused persons are tossed up and down. Accused persons can only be freed when they are proven not guilty.
I think the case is being delayed by the Attorney General and the bill of indictment is taking too long, Mr Ebenezer Kweku Ansah, a Magistrate who presided over the J.B Danquah case at the District Court lamented.
The Judges lamentation came about when the two suspects who are being trailed in the murder of Mr J. B. Danquah Adu, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North of the sixth Parliament, appeared before him at the District Court in Accra. Mr Stephen Owusu, the substantive judge is on leave.
The suspects are Daniel Asiedu aka Sexy Dondon, and Vincent Bosso aka Junior Agogo are being held for the murder of the late MP in an incident which occurred on February 9, 2016, at the MPs Shaishie residence.
Bosso has been charged with abetment of crime but the pleas of the two, who are on remand, have not been taken. The Magistrate said he did not know what was keeping the state attorneys from preparing the bill of indictment noting some bill of indictment could be prepared within some few minutes. On the strike embarked by state attorneys, the Judge said it was not the entire state attorneys who embarked on that strike, and that the senior ones worked during the period. Prosecuting Superintendent of Police Mr. Francis Baah told the Court that he spoke with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) but she could not tell if the bill of indictment was ready. Mr. Baah reminded the Court that state attorney had been on strike and they just resumed.
The Prosecutor also informed the Court that the Police had rectified the food problem encountered by Aseidu.
Defence Counsel, Mr. Augustines Obuor informed the Court that Aseidus wife had delivered and he wanted to see his baby. The Court adjourned the matter to February 15 and tasked the Police to follow up at the AG.
According to Mr. Baah, the Prosecutor, on February 8, 2016, at about 2340 hours the deceased came home in his private vehicle driven by his driver, Samuel Berko Sarkodie.
Prosecution said the driver after parking handed over the ignition keys to the deceased and left for his residence at Kasoa, while the deceased retired to his bedroom. He said at about 0100 hrs, Asiedu and Bosso who were armed went to the house of the deceased where Asiedu entered the bedroom of the deceased through the window, while the deceased was asleep. Asiedu began to search the room and the noise woke up the deceased who held him. Asiedu resisted and stabbed the deceased on the right chest above the breast.
The Prosecution said the deceased held the knife while Asiedu pulled the knife through the deceased hands creating a deep cut in his palm.
Prosecution said the deceased who was bleeding profusely fell by his bed helpless while Asiedu stabbed him several times on the right chest and neck.Realizing that the deceased was almost dead, Asiedu left him and took away his three iPhones. The Prosecutor said the security man who heard a strange sound in the house alerted other security men within the vicinity. Mr. Baah said Bosso realising the danger took to his heels leaving Asiedu behind. Asiedu, however, managed to descend from deceased room to the back house, climbed one of the poly tanks in the house and jumped over the electric fence into the adjoining house and escaped.
He said the security man then called the police emergency line and informed them of the situation. When the Police arrived the victim was already dead and his body was conveyed to the Police Hospital mortuary.
On February 15, an autopsy report from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital gave the cause of death as Exsanguination and multiple stab injuries on the anterior and chest.
Prosecution said Police investigations led to the arrest of accused persons who stated that their aim of going to the house of the deceased was to steal. The Prosecutor said Asiedu explained that the deceased struggled with him when he entered the room and this compelled him to use the knife on him.
Source: GNA
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Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Hon Seth Acheampong has urged Majority members in Parliament in particular and the government in general to be wary of the wiles of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Hon. Acheampong advised his colleague legislators not to fall into the trap of the opposition because they would do everything possible to derail the current administration.
According to him, members of ruling New Patriotic Party should watch their tongue and response to issues broached by the opposition NDC.
Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo regarding the bribery allegation leveled against the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, the Mpraeso MP said he has a strong conviction that Boakye Agyarkos accusers will be brought to shame.
They want to falsely accuse us of corruption and bribery before the end of our administration. But it wont work today or tomorrow. We know them pretty wellI strongly believe some people want to smear Boakye Agyarkos name.
He however called for a probe into the issue, saying "I wont say Osei Owusu has done anything wrong. I wont say Ayariga has committed a crime . . . I'm not holding brief for anybody . . . Im calling for a probe and when we delve into the issue, then we will know whos guilty and whos not.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi /Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Acting General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party [NPP], John Boadu has dismissed calls by some individuals for the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko to give up his job over allegations of bribery levelled against him until his name is cleared through investigations.
According to him, such suggestions should be treated wit the contempt it deserves With the kind of politics we do here and how people can be untruthful to each other, then the president will rule without any minister if he goes by alleged issues
Because if any of his minsters is accused of anything, then he [the president] must suspend that person. That shouldnt be the case, he added
Retired Ghanaian diplomat K.B Asante among others have called on the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko to resign after MP for Bawku Central and a Member of Parliaments Appointments Committee, Mahama Ayariga accused him of palm-greasing some committee members.
Mr Asante noted that the President must impress upon Mr. Agyarko to quit since the allegation does not bode well for his government.
It is a good idea that he should leave the scene. You cannot work with a minister with so many allegations especially when we have so many important things to do. He said
But John Boadu in an interview with Neat FMs morning show dubbed Ghana Montie cautioned that We should be very careful of what we are asking for
If there is evidence to prove the allegation against Mr Agyarko, Nana Addo will not hesitate to sack him, he is capable of doing that. We should be very careful, he counselled.
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007
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Anita De Sosoo, former National Womens Organiser for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has on behalf of Otiko Afisa Djaba, Minister-designate of Gender, Children and Social Protection, apologised to all Ghanaians and former president John Dramani Mahama over some comments she made about him during the electioneering period.
Her decision to apologise on Ms Djabas behalf follows the NPP National Women Organisers failure to apologise to the former president during her vetting by the Appointments Committee of parliament on Monday January 30.
Ms Djaba said: I dont owe him (Mr Mahama) or you (Alhassan Suhuyini) any apology, in response to the Tamale North MPs question during her vetting on Monday, 30 January, about whether she would apologise to the ex-president on whom she used those words during the electioneering period ahead of the 7 December 2016 elections.
My comment about he being an embarrassment was in relation to SADA. It was in relation to SADA that I said he had embarrassed Northerners and the Northern chiefs themselves had come to say same, Ms Djaba justified, explaining: When I talked about his wickedness, the people of Ghana were asking for reductions, they were asking for dumsor to be solved, people were losing jobs and so forth what I said was within the context of that period. But speaking in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom, on Accra100.5FM on Tuesday January 31, Ms De Sosoo said: If you are wrong and several people are calling on you to apologise, out of respect you should do that, but I was very sad with the posture of Otiko Djaba during her vetting.
Those comments she made about former president Mahama, that he was an embarrassment to Ghanaians and so on, were below the belt, which she should have apologised for. Nonetheless, I am standing on my sisters behalf to apologise to all Ghanaians. If you want to be a leader, you dont lord over anybody; you need to be submissive to all persons.
videos below-
Source: classfmonline.com
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Ghana Music Week Festival 2017 was successfully launched at the Alliance Francais in Accra, yesterday, January 27, 2017.
2017 GMW would be held from March 5 to 12. However, the key attraction for this years festival is a 3-day Celebration of Ghanaian music and dance plus comedy, fashion, merchandising vending, products sales and exhibitions at the Independence Square from March 10-12, 2017, dubbed The Festival. Entry is free to the general public for all three days as the organisers expect good attendance, in order to patronize the concerts and exhibitions.
Aside The Festival, there would be a cross communication of cultures through music at the International Expo & Honours on March 5, 2017 and a major seminar at the British Council on March 5, 2017.
MUSIGA President, Bice Osei Kuffour, in his keynote message, used the platform to reassure musicians that one of his key agendas of 2017 would be to put pressure on collecting society, GHAMRO to be more proactive in ensuring that the logging system is implemented and royalties paid appropriately to right owners.
On behalf of Tourism Minister-designate Hon. Catherine Abelema Afeku; a Director at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Mr. Edwin Owusu-Mensah pledged the Ministrys full participation and support for GMW 2017.
I am aware of some of the major concerns that have engaged the attention of practitioners and stakeholders in this sector; including the need for the immediate passage of the Creative Industries Bill which will give the appropriate legislative framework for the operations of the sector. As you may be aware, the manifesto of the National Patriotic Party under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo has captured the aspirations of the creative arts and we intend to address those issues comprehensively, said the Minister-designate.
Josephine Thompson, Head of Cultural Affairs and Events at Alliance Francias, reiterated her outfits commitment to ensuring participation of some musicians from Francophone Africa at this years GMW.
There were performances by Ben Brako, Jupitar, Koo Ntakara, Knii Lante, Fatau Keita, Nenebi, the Tesaa and Aayalolo Cultural Troupes.
As part of activities of the night, www.ghanamusicweek.com, the Festivals official website was launched and tour given by GMW IT Head and webmaster/creator, George Fitzgerald Adjebeng.
For more info on GMW, please hit www.ghanamusicweek.com or https://twitter.com/ ghanamusicWk, https://www.facebook.com/ ghanamusicweek, or https://www.instagram.com/ ghanamusicweek
Ghana Music Week Festival is organized by the Musicians Union of Ghana, Showbiz Africa and other partners, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts.
Angela K. Padi ([email protected]), Showbiz Africa, Communications Officer.
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The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.Its extremely funny how most times the people youd take a bullet for,are the ones behind the trigger.
Coincidentally,legendary highlife musician,Nana Quame has revealed that he now knows God exists after being betrayed by his manager Prince Dadzie and some artistes he helped in the past .
Nana Quame who was speaking in an intriguing interview with Dr.Who on Accra based Hot 93.9fm, affirmed that his dream was to come back to Ghana from London and continue doing the wonderful music he did a decade ago but that did not come to fruition because he has been shabbly treated by people he entrusted:
I spent all my money I brought from UK and I felt there was no place for me in Ghana since almost everyone was turning against me and no help was coming from anywhere-My own manager whom i housed and fed together with a company duped me to the tune of GHC200.000.00 meant for my Nana Quame and friendsshow in Cape Coast-
Some artistes i helped during my hey days doesnt want to even collaborate with me but God has a way of blessing everyone and I think my trying moments has drawn me closer to God. I now know God is the only one I can trust,He told Dr Who with much passion.
Known for songs like Odo Shock, Asew Konofo, Julie, Asem Sebe, Eno Abena, Koyo Meho Adie, Awodeme and many others, Nana Quame who has also won numerous awards accentuated further that,his new single,Guy Guy is enjoying massive airplay hence he is hoping to break through again in order to shame his enemies.
The despondent part of the interview was when the Atia Donko" hitmaker surprisingly shed uncontrollable tears after a caller called on the show to give his account of Nana Quames ordeal.
The legendary Nana Quame was then consoled by the host of the show Dr.Who.
Watch excepts of what transpired in the studio:
Source: Razzonline.com
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Multiple Award Winning Ghanaian Hip-Hop / Afrobeats Star, Desmond Kwesi Blackmore better known by his stage name, D-Black aka The Ghana Bwouy signs Promotional and Management deal with Gas Promotions (Nigeria).
D-Black is a part Ghanaian, part English, multiple afrobeats / hiphop artist based in Ghana. He is also the CEO of Black Avenue Works Ltd with subsidiary firms including Black Avenue Muzik, an independent Record Label home to himself, super music producer 'Dj Breezy', 'Tonga' hitmaker Joey B and more, Black Avenue Clothing, Livewire Events, Black Avenue TV (producers of THE EFGH Show). He is also sole owner and CEO of Club Onyx, a plush nightclub located in the residential areas of Cantonments, Accra.
The 30 year old music mogul, has 70 award nominations and 15 wins both home and abroad to his name including Best African Act nods at the 2011 BET Awards, winning Channel O Awards, Ghana Music Awards, Ghana's 4Syte Music Video Awards and more.
He has performed with international acts including Jay Z, Chris Brown, Fat Joe, Akon, Busta Rhymes, Stevie Wonder, Omarion among others and collaborated with other African Acts including Davido, Cassper Nyovest, Seyi Shay, Fally Ipupa, Stanley Enow, Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, Phyno, Sean Tizzle, Bucie and more.
Gas Promotions signs on D-Black to join the likes of Nigerian afro-pop superstar L.A.X, London based multitalented artiste, Cyfar under the management company.
His newest album 'Lightwork' is scheduled for release in Nigeria in March 2017.
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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The Herald Sun is reporting that a super strong batch of ecstasy is doing the rounds, particularly in Melbourne.
The crystal cap is reported to be around 80% MDMA, while majority the pills were normally able to access here in Australia sit at around 30 40% MDMA.
The police are currently analysing the batch in relation to the recent events on Chapel Street in Melbourne: five people passed away due to overdose, and another 20 were hospitalised. According to the Herald Sun, its looking possible that these heartbreaking incidents were caused due to the stronger-than-average pill.
A pretty major part of this is the culture surrounding drugs in Australia due to lack of regulation and therefore low and/or fluctuating dosages in the recreational drugs we take, its pretty damn common ifor us Aussies to take more than one pill in a night.
However, if the dosage of MDMA is drastically increased without users knowing, theyll obviously take a potentially double or triple dose with the first pill then take more. Literally just double dropping could easily mean overdose, and potential death.
News.com.au spoke to Hospital Emergency consultant David Caldicott about the batch of super strength ecstasy:
The two big things we are scared about is the amazingly pure and high dose MDMA being detected in Europe. Australians tend to take two or three MDMA pills at a time, and this is made worse with drugs being a criminal rather than a health issue. Generally an ecstasy pill will be between 75mg and 100mg, but in Europe we are detecting MDMA of between 200mg and 300mg. That is going to cause big problems. When you start dealing with 200mg doses, you can die.
But hey, well say it again, for all the politicians with their heads planted firmly in the sand harm minimisation works, and so does pill testing.
Remember, fam: you can buy pill testing kits at chemists, and theyre super cheap, easy to use and dont take long at all. Look after yourselves, and each other.
Source: News Corp / Herald Sun.
Photo: Randy Quan / Getty.
Yesterday, a 33-year-old woman lost her life after battling injuries sustained 10 days ago from the Bourke Street attack in Melbourne.
The woman has now been identified as Bhavita Patel, who lived in Blackburn South, and was a senior manager with financial company Deloitte.
The Age describes Patel as a greatly respected member of her workplace who had been promoted many times over the past few years. She was seen as a high-flyer. She had been walking back to the office after her lunch break when she was struck.
Understandably, her friends and colleagues are devastated.
Patel was the sixth victim of Dimitrious Gargasoulas driving through the pedestrian area of Bourke Street Mall. The horrific incident has already claimed the lives of 10-month-old, Zachary Bryant, 10-year-old Thalia Hakin, 33-year-old Matthew Si, 22-year-old Jess Mudie, and a 25-year-old Japanese national.
On Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews described some victims who remain in hospital in a grave condition.
Our thoughts continue to be with those who are suffering from the monumental loss of Patel, and all other victims.
Source: The Age.
Photo: Facebook / Bhavita Patel.
Sad news, gamers and TV fans. The ABC has brought the axe down on the hugely beloved and enduring Good Game, bringing to an end a pretty remarkable 10-year run on air.
The show announced that they would not be returning in 2017, as a result of two key presenters leaving the production at some point over the shows summer break. The show was at pains to stress that spinoff show Spawn Point will continue on, but will be undergoing a format review as the way audiences consumes gaming news shifts to a more bite-sized, purely-online format.
Sad news. After the programs summer break, two of the key presenters of Good Game announced they were leaving to pursue other opportunities.
In light of this major setback, and changes in the way audiences are choosing to get their information about gaming, the ABC has decided to end the long and successful run of the show. We plan to continue Spawn Point in a new format.
We expect to retain all the remaining Good Game team.
The ABC would like to acknowledge the wonderful work of Janet Carr and all of the Good Gamers. Any show that makes it to a 10th birthday is something to be proud of. Good Game pioneered video game TV. Its commitment and innovation has been repeatedly and appropriately awarded. The show has had a tremendous run and plenty of adventures, none of which would have happened without the ongoing love and support of you, the GG community.
Thank you.
The current Good Game web-series Pocket has also been cancelled, in line with todays announcement.
Pocket has been cancelled as well. https://t.co/z9Uksub5H5 Marf (@JLaG013) January 31, 2017
Show hosts Stephen Bajo ODonnell and Stephanie Hex Bendixsen have both taken to social media since the official announcement. ODonnell, who started with the series back in 2007, has already confirmed that he, and fellow show presenters Gus Ronald and Angharad Yeo, be staying on with the ABC and Spawn Point.
Hey gang, to clarify Im still with the ABC and Spawn Point will continue with @angharadyeo myself and @DARRENgg #ggtv Steven ODonnell (@bajopants) January 31, 2017
Bendixsen, however, appears set to move on from her life at Aunty, if the tone of her Instagram post is anything to go by:
There are no words to describe how upsetting it is to share this news with you today. Good Game is the place I truly discovered who I was. Found strength and confidence in myself and what I loved to do. The incredible team Ive worked with have been my family. The show was provided ten incredible years of a love and passion for gaming, and Ive been lucky enough to be a part of this wonderful family for seven of them. Rest assured, there is a brilliant team still at the ABC who are ever-committed to making Spawn Point the best possible show it can be for gamers, by gamers for younger viewers on ABC ME. This whole journey has been SO special, and in the last month incredibly emotional. I count myself lucky to retain such strong, life-long friendships with Bajo and everyone on the team. The future holds some pretty big changes for me, however Im eternally grateful for every blissful experience both online and IRL that Ive had in my seven years on the show. Thank you for watching and supporting myself and the team for all these years. It means more than you can ever know. Hex out.
The show premiered on the ABC back in September of 2006, and produced some 400+ episodes during its run.
Its cancellation leaves a massive hole in regards to Australian gaming media, and its legacy can never, ever be understated.
Thanks for everything, GG.
Source: Twitter.
Photo: Good Game/Facebook.
Thousands of gay and bi men convicted of sexual offences in the United Kingdom which no longer exist have officially been pardoned, after the so-called Turings Law took effect. The pardons were announced last year.
Justice Minister Sam Gyimah says thousands of gay & bisexual men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences have been posthumously pardoned Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) January 31, 2017
The laws were demanded after Alan Turing the Second World War codebreaker often described as the father of the modern computer was issued a similar pardon. Turing killed himself after being chemically castrated following a conviction in 1952 for gross indecency with a 19-year-old man.
Obviously, given so many men were charged with offences under laws repealed later down the track for being patently unjust, the LGBTQI community were keen to see further pardons. Those who have died since they were charged are issued an automatic posthumous pardon, but men who are still alive can apply.
Justice Minister Sam Gyimah said the UK Government is pleased this passed. This is a truly momentous day. We can never undo the hurt caused, but we have apologised and taken action to right these wrongs.
I am immensely proud that Turings Law has become a reality under this Government.
Stonewall, the LGBT charity, issued a statement applauding the move:
Another important milestone of equality has been secured in law. Gay and bi men, cautioned or convicted for kissing, holding hands or just chatting up men, can now have these crimes deleted from their record. The more equality is enshrined into our law books, the stronger our equality becomes, and the stronger we as a community become. This is not just equality for gay and bi men, the passing of this law is justice.
Not everyone is totally pleased with the way it went down, and the language of the legislation. Some think a pardon isnt enough, and others pointed out that the UKs harsh immigration regime deports many LGBT people.
You dont *pardon* someone for being who they are. These convictions should be quashed, & the UK Gov should apologise for the persecution. https://t.co/t7ZliOklBh Rachel Evans ???? ? (@rvedotrc) January 31, 2017
Govt doing this also forcibly deporting gay men and other LGBT people from the UK TODAY. not our allies. @followMFJ https://t.co/GjaDV8Nvbu Michael Segalov (@MikeSegalov) January 31, 2017
Fantastic news of course. But I cant stop thinking about all the men who took their own lives. It didnt get better for them. #NeverForget?? https://t.co/xsQb4aaofr Simon Blee (@simonbleeNI) January 31, 2017
Source: The Telegraph.
Photo: Wikipedia.
If you clicked on this story, you probably want to know what the hell 80 majestic hawks are doing flying on a commercial plane like its no biggie.
*rolls up sleeves*
WELL, do I have a story for YOU.
The baffling image was posted to Reddit by user Lensoo, who said my captain friend sent me this.
He claimed that a Saudi prince bought individual plane tickets for his harem of hawks (or falcons, depending on how much you know about birds of prey) so they could be transported to an unknown destination on a Qatar Airways flight.
Its blown the fuck up on Reddit because I guess its not something you see in your average airplane cabin, but the transportation of falcons on Middle Eastern airlines is actually pretty standard practice.
Qatar allows up to six of the birds to be accompanied in economy class, with prices ranging from AU$150 to Au$825 per flapper depending on the destination but theres a lot more than six in this particular photo, which suggests their owner may have been granted special privileges i.e. those of a prince.
Birds of prey even have their own passports in the United Arab Emirates, as one Redditor explained.
For those wondering, this is probably one of the gulf states royal families going hunting. Stuff like this is common to a lesser degree in the Gulf on regular flights. If you fly Etihad or Emirates or Qatar enough you will eventually see someone flying in first class with a falcon sitting next to them. They have their own passports so they can travel for hunting and there are special laws in the gulf states to prevent discrimination against falcons (seriously). In the UAE, its actually illegal to deny a falcon and its owner basic accommodation. So if a falconer comes into Starbucks and requests a chair for his falcon, you have to give it to him and let the falcon sit there in the store.
Wondering which of the cabin crew draws the worlds shortest straw and has to clean up mountains of bird shit after a long-haul flight?
The birds are actually placed on cloths so their poop is easy to dispose of, and their feet are tied together so they cant fly about the cabin because that would be both terrifying and dangerous.
Ornithophobes need not board.
Source and photo: Reddit / Lensoo.
Who is your weirdest relative? Is it your strange aunt who constantly ruins family lunches with her ability to turn any conversation into one about chemtrails? Is it your cousin who bought an air rifle to shoot birds from his bedroom window? Is it your dad?
It doesnt matter, because you are wrong. Your strangest relative is in fact a relative we all share. It could be our earliest known ancestor: a tiny prehistoric creature with a weird bag-like body, a huge mouth and no anus. Again not your dad, despite the obvious resemblance.
Here it is:
Its called the Saccorhytus coronarius, and scientists say it lived 540 million years ago. It was discoveredin sedimentary rock in the Shaanxi province of central China, according to a new publication in the journal Nature.
Its the oldest known member of a group of animals called deuterostomes which include a huge number of species, from humans to starfish. Simon Conway Morris, professor of palaeobiology and co-author of the study, says its a pretty significant discovery:
In effect what we are suggesting here is that this is the earliest, oldest, most primitive of the deuterostomes. This is, if you like, the starting point of an evolution which led ultimately to things as different as a sea urchin, starfish and rabbit.
The creatures are only a millimetre in length, so the enormous mouth and minuscule anus is really just relative to its already puny body.
While Conway admitted that the team might have actually just missed the anus on this thing, hes pretty sure it doesnt exist. He also pointed to the fact there are other small organisms these days which crucially lack a butthole. These things are so small, you can envisage something which is basically just a digestive sack with holes on the side.
Imran Rahman, research fellow at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History told The Guardian that hes pretty thrilled:
These are really interesting and to my mind surprising fossils. [They have the] potential to greatly improve our understanding of the early evolution of deuterostomes, which is the major group to which vertebrates including humans belong, so they are obviously going to be important going forwards for understanding our evolutionary history.
So there you go, folks. Your oldest ancestor is a millimetre long weird bag with a large mouth and zero butthole. Just in case anyone ever tells you you arent pretty.
Source: The Guardian.
Photo: S Conway Morris / Jian Han.
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Taipei, Jan. 31 (CNA) A Chinese-born modern Japanese historian on Monday called for a broader approach to academic research into the Nanjing Massacre and related cases involving the killing of civilians and prisoners of war (POW) by the Imperial Japanese Army. He also said that historical research should not be influenced by state ideology or national sentiment in China.
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Taipei, Jan. 31 (CNA) A Chu-Kuang Express () train running from eastern to southern Taiwan derailed in Taitung, resulting in delays to train services that impacted more than 860 passengers, the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) said on Tuesday. Officials added that the reason for the incident was under investigation but no one was injured.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto during the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Trudeau has had a phone conversation with his Mexican counterpart in which they discussed trade, job creation and competitiveness in North America. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister speaks to the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto on Friday, January 13, 2017. Pallister has told a Winnipeg newspaper that he used imprecise and possibly inflammatory language earlier this month when he told rural municipal politicians that tension surrounding night hunting is leading to a "race war." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Alexandre Bissonnette is shown in a photo from his Facebook profile page. Neighbours on a sleepy suburban street where the man charged in the Quebec City mosque shooting was raised say as a kid he played baseball, swam in backyard pools and explored the nearby forest like many local boys.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Facebook MANDATORY CREDIT
Athba Samarai is seen in this undated handout photo. Athba Samarai is an Iraq-born Canadian permanent resident who fears she will be detained if she attempts to cross the border into the U.S. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Photo courtesy Athba Samarai MANDATORY CREDIT
Brent Hawkes heads from provincial court in Kentville, N.S. on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. The Toronto pastor was found not guilty of indecent assault and gross indecency in the case the dealt with allegations dating to the 1970s. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
In this Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017 photo, a woman walks near shops in downtown Westport, Conn. A town-sponsored essay contest on the topic of white privilege has stirred controversy in the affluent, overwhelmingly white town on Connecticut's shoreline. (AP Photo/Michael Melia)
I just didn't get around to it
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Here, there, everywhere why car washes seem to be on every corner
Oil industry affected by Trump's ban, Halliburton workers to stay put
Energy braces for Trump ban fallout as Halliburton advises affected workers not to come to the U.S.
HOUSTON
Petroleumworld.com 01 31 2017
Oil-services giant Halliburton Co. told employees to stay put. Another global oil company is reconsidering whether to place a crude trader in Houston. And universities that train energy workers across the country estimated that hundreds of students may be affected.
Of all the energy sectors that may feel the pain of President Donald Trump's order to temporarily ban people from seven majority-Muslim countries, oil and natural gas companies -- industries he vowed to help during his election campaign -- stand to be hit the hardest. On Monday, energy companies led declines in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index as investors weighed Trump's first week in office.
Oil and gas is going to have the most heartburn from this, Michael Webber, deputy director of the Energy Institute at University of Texas at Austin, said by phone Monday. Other parts of the energy sector, like the electricity sector, are more domestically situated with its workforce and its assets.
Just last week, Trump said during a speech that he'd work to unleash the full power of American energy. On Monday, those energy companies -- from oil and gas explorers to electric utilities -- withheld comment while working to assess the impact of his immigration order on their businesses.
Halliburton warned workers not to travel to the U.S. if they are from any of the countries named in Trump's immigration ban signed last week. The order targets those from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya.
The company is notifying employees of these nationalities that travel to the U.S. is inadvisable during the travel restriction period, Lawrence Pope, Halliburton's executive vice president of administration and chief human resources officer, said in an e-mail to employees.
The four worst performers in the S&P 500 at 4:36 p.m. New York time on Monday were oil and natural gas companies. The S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry index was down 2.9 percent.
San Ramon, California-based Chevron Corp. said in a statement Monday that it's still reviewing the White House 's executive order, adding that it values the contributions of all employees, regardless of their countries of origin or religion.
Monday was a reversal of the initial trade that was based on the idea that Trump would be a traditional Republican, and that his anti-immigration and trade restructuring promises were just to get elected, Bill O'Grady, chief market strategist at Confluence Investment Management in St. Louis, which oversees $6.1 billion, said by telephone.
Energy companies may think twice about basing jobs in the U.S., said George Stein, managing director of New York-based recruiting firm Commodity Talent LLC. Stein said he knows of one international oil company that's already reconsidering posting a new crude trader in Houston.
The firm may instead place the job in Latin America, said Stein, who declined to name the company but said it was one of his clients. Some companies will be able to meet their hiring needs if a non-U.S. citizen is the best choice by installing them in London or Singapore or Sao Paulo or Calgary, he said.
Future Workers
Another unintended consequence: The countries targeted by Trump's ban may end up retaliating by refusing to work with U.S. oil and gas companies, according to University of Texas at Austin's Webber. Supervisors in Houston could be prevented from visiting employees and clients in nations affected by the executive order, he said.
Iraq's parliament has already urged its government to bar U.S. citizens from entering the country in response to Trump's entry ban. Halliburton and Exxon Mobil Corp. are among U.S. energy companies that do business there.
Trump's ban could have long-lasting consequences for the next generation of U.S. energy leaders, Webber said. Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Stanford University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Houston and Texas Tech University -- all of which run programs that train energy professionals -- have a total of almost 700 students, faculty and scholars from the countries listed in Trump's ban.
Trade Groups
MIT said Monday that two of its students are stranded abroad and barred from reentering the U.S. University of Texas at Austin and University of Houston were among those that advised affected students to refrain from international travel.
If the best students in the world aren't joining the American workforce, Webber said, then they will go somewhere else.
Major U.S. energy trade groups had yet to take a stance on Trump's immigration order on Monday.
The American Petroleum Institute , a Washington trade group representing the oil and gas industry, didn't immediately have comment. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers declined to comment, and Edison Electric Institute similarly didn't have a statement.
Neal Kirby, spokesman for the Washington trade group Independent Petroleum Association of America , said it's not taking a position and that the impact on the group's members would be a company-by-company-specific situation.
Mark Brueggenjohann, a spokesman for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Washington, said the group doesn't know how many of its members may be affected by Trump's order because it doesn't collect information by nationality or religious affiliation. United Mine Workers of America spokesman Phil Smith said the union hasn't seen an impact on its members.
The following are responses from those in the agriculture and mining industries:
Trump's order didn't spur queries by members of the American Exploration & Mining Association, spokeswoman Devon Coquillard said.
Newmont Mining Corp., one of the world's biggest gold miners, said it was still evaluating whether individual employees would be affected.
Miners Freeport-McMoRan Inc. and Barrick Gold Corp. and aluminum giant Alcoa Corp. declined to comment, as did steelmakers Nucor Corp. and U.S. Steel Corp.
Equipment supplier Caterpillar Inc. and AK Steel Holding Corp. didn't respond to requests for comment, and neither the American Iron and Steel Institute nor the United Steelworkers union provided comment.
35 percent of the 441,000 people working in animal slaughtering and processing are immigrants, according to data compiled by the Migration Policy Institute.
Many refugees work in the meatpacking and dairy-farm industries across the U.S., said Eskinder Negash, senior vice president at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in Washington.
During peak season, California's farming industry collectively employs about 400,000 and relies fairly heavily on foreign-born workers, according to Bryan Little at the California Farm Bureau Federation .
Vegan eating has skyrocketed in popularity over the course of recent decades, with more than 1,400 plant-based restaurants opening all across the US. While Philadelphia is historically known for cheesesteaks, countless vegan restaurants now call the city home. This is
Stuart, FL, Mayor Eula Clarke admits to making a comment implying one of her officers was a pig. But she says she has high regard for law enforcement officers. (Photo: Screen shot from CBS 12 video)
A union representing several thousand law enforcement officers in south Florida is furious with the mayor of Stuart, FL, over a comment she made.
Mayor Eula Clarke walked into a convenience storeTaylors Grocery--in Stuart January 11 where Stuart Police officer Edward Fitzgerald was inside talking to one of the store employees.
Then the mayor made the comment, according to the police union, I didnt know we were serving pig tonight.
John Kazanjian, president of the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, Inc., said he and union members are outraged. How does a community leader, a public servant do that to one of our officers? he said.
Clarke has responded that she didnt intend to insult the officer. I have the highest opinion for law enforcement. I value them, I value what they do. There was no intention for any harm, or anything harmful, Mayor Clarke told CBS 12.
The Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association says the mayor needs to go to the police station and apologize in person to each and every member of the Stuart Police department.
The police union also says it will help her opponent in the next election.
What began as an unwanted person at a local motel Sunday ended with deadly violence as an officer fatally shot a man who had been hitting her with her own TASER, police said.
"It's a very difficult time for us," said Leonard Bunnell, lieutenant of the 26-member Montville police force, which operates under the supervision of the Connecticut State Police. The officer is recovering at home and will return to work when her physician says it's OK, he told the Hartford Courant Monday.
On Tuesday, state police said the man was Val Thomas, 53, whose last known address was on West Main Street in Norwich. Neither state police nor Bunnell released the officer's name.
Omaha police officer Jill Schillerberg was shot Monday in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect. (Photo: Omaha PD)
A police call in Omaha quickly turned violent Monday when an officer was wounded in the leg and a 20-year-old man was shot multiple times by police.
The man, Monroe G. Evans III, was taken in critical condition to the Nebraska Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. He remained in critical but stable condition Monday night, his father said.
The police officer, Jill Schillerberg, 39, was treated at the medical center and released. She had been struck in the lower left leg, Omaha.com reports.
Police say that Evans exchanged gunfire with officers and that his handgun was recovered at the scene.
Remote Colorado schools are arming staff to counter possible attacks. (Photo: Screen shot from Denver Post video)
Teachers and staff members in at least a dozen of Colorados most remote school districts are arming themselves instead of waiting for local law enforcement to rescue them in the face of a Columbine-style attack.
Those districts have employees carry concealed weapons, train like law officers and then be the first line of security should a school or classroom be targeted by assault.
Colorado law prohibits firearms in the classroom but does allow for security personnel to be armed. These smaller districts, fearing their vulnerability because of their far-flung locations, are training and reclassifying some teachers and staff as security personnel and overseeing the safe storage of their weapons, the Denver Post reports.
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During a protest of Donald Trumps recent Muslim ban by Senate Democrats, Sen. Elizabeth Warren stormed the floor of the U.S. Senate to ask her Republican colleagues to show some backbone and stand up to the new president.
Warren rattled off a list of Republicans who voiced opposition to Trumps Muslim ban during the campaign, including Vice President Mike Pence, and asked why they arent standing up to him today.
Where are you? she said after calling out GOP leaders that are silent now but opposed Trumps proposal during the campaign.
Video:
Elizabeth Warren on the Senate floor blasting GOP leaders who previously opposed Trumps ban: Where are you? #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/kJeWSlbI9M Sean Colarossi (@SeanColarossi) January 31, 2017
Warren said:
Donald Trump is doing exactly what he said he was going to do. During his presidential campaign, he promised a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. Thats what he said. And last year, it seemed like pretty much everyone agreed that this was not acceptable in the United States of America. Speaker Paul Ryan declared that a religious test for entering our country is not reflective of Americas fundamental values. I reject it. So where are you now Paul Ryan? Have you rejected President Trumps order to impose a religious test for entering our country? Have you introduced a bill to overturn it? You have the power. Where are you? As governor of Indiana, Vice President Mike Pence said that calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offesnive and unconstitutional. So where are you right now, Vice President Pence? Have you called to overturn President Trumps offensive and unconsitutional order? Have you asked Republicans to introduce a bill to overturn it? You have a platform. Where are you? And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called a Muslim ban completely and totally inconsistent with American values. So where are you right now, Mitch McConnell? Have you rejected President Trumps Muslim ban that is completely and totally inconsistent with American values? Have you introduced a bill to overturn it? You have the power. Where are you?
President Trump ignored these Republican leaders and today these Republican leaders will not stand up for what is right, Warren added.
While Trumps executive order targeting Muslims and refugees is now a stain on Americas image, it has had the consequence of uniting millions of people around the globe and bringing Democrats together in total opposition to the new president.
During what is typically considered the honeymoon phase of a presidency, the new administration generally attempts to unite the country, particularly following a bitter election contest.
Instead, Trump decided to burn all of his bridges and move forward on his most offensive and divisive campaign proposals. His decision has united and mobilized Democrats to fight his dangerous agenda at every turn and it has driven his already-high negative ratings even further into the ground.
As Sen. Warren said Monday night on the Senate floor, these actions will not be ignored by Democrats in Congress or by the American people, and its already clear that they will stand up to him at every turn.
President Trump may be willing to ignore the Consitution and the laws of the United States of America, and the Republican leadership in Congress may be willing to ignore the Consitution and the laws of the United States of America, but the American people are not, she said.
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The opposition to Donald Trumps recent ban of refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries grew even bigger on Monday, with hundreds of State Department officials joining forces to express their opposition to the unpopular new presidents order.
A policy which closes our doors to over 200 million legitimate travelers in the hopes of preventing a small number of travelers who intend to harm Americans from using the visa system to enter the United States will not achieve its aim of making our country safer, the memo said, according to the leaked draft of it. Moreover, such a policy runs counter to core American values of nondiscrimination, fair play and extending a warm welcome to foreign visitors and immigrants.
While its not unusual for letters of dissent to be sent to Statement Department management, the Guardian reports that this one is unprecedented and its happening just 10 days into a new administration.
From the report:
The state department management usually receives four to five dissent channel memos a year, but they are usually confidential and rarely have more than one author. By mid-afternoon on Monday, Foreign Policy was reporting more than 200 had signed it, and sources close to the state department said the number was climbing rapidly, which would make it unprecedented in scale.
The letter is being transmitted through the State Departments dissent channel, which allows officials to express their opposition to policies being pursued by their own administration. Those signing the memo are protected by laws and department rules, but that didnt stop White House spokesman Sean Spicer from lashing out against them on Monday.
These career bureaucrats have a problem with it? Spicer told the press. They should either get with the program or they can go.
Instead of heeding the advice of State Department officials who understand the world in a way the White House clearly does not, they lash out at them for pointing out the new administrations incompetence and the danger of Trumps Muslim ban.
Donald Trumps presidency isnt just facing an incredible backlash from the outside; its already starting to crumble from within.
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Ive written about this at length in the past, but its hard to avoid having to discuss it again as Donald Trump and his apologists keep arguing that the only goal of the new presidents executive order is to keep America safe and thoroughly vet those coming into the United States.
Refugees, they say, are pouring over the border without going through a tough screening process to ensure the safety of the American people.
As Mr. Trump would say: Wrong!
For terrorists hoping to come to the U.S. quickly and easily, going through the refugee vetting process would be the last route theyd take its incredibly stringent and takes up to two years to even be completed.
As the New York Times pointed out in a 2015 report:
Syrians must pass many layers of security checks before being admitted to the United States, a process that can take two years or longer. In most cases, the refugees do not enter the United States until the very end. They are also subject to an additional layer of checks beyond those for refugees of other nationalities; after the Paris attacks, the House voted to further tighten screening procedures.
The Times noted that there are 20 steps refugees must complete in order to be allowed on American soil. While the normal refugee processing time spans anywhere from 18-24 months, those from Syria often take significantly longer, as CNN pointed out in 2015.
Which is why this tweet from Trump posted on Monday is particularly bizarre and reflects just how little the new president knows about his own countrys vetting procedures:
If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the "bad" would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad "dudes" out there! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017
Even if terrorists posing as refugees wanted to rush into our country, they wouldnt be able to because of the existing vetting process, which is exhaustive and effectively weeds out militants before the toughest part of the screening even begins.
It should also be noted that, of those who do eventually pass the thorough screening and are approved for resettlement abroad, they are the most vulnerable refugees, like torture victims or medically needy families. The vast majority of them are women and children.
According to USA TODAY, citing data from the State Department, nearly 80 percent of the thousands of refugees admitted to the U.S. are women and children, while a 2015 report from TIME notes that only 2 percent of those allowed are single males of combat age.
Despite Trumps fear mongering, there is no flood of ISIS fighters coming across our border. This was campaign rhetoric meant to scare enough voters into thinking there was a widespread problem brown people from faraway places that only he could stop.
In reality, the screening procedures currently in place the procedures Trump has no knowledge of already ensure that those coming into the United States via the refugee program are among the most thoroughly vetted people in the world.
And its clear the process has worked.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, there have been zero deadly terrorist attacks carried out by foreign refugees. In fact, 80 percent of attacks since 9/11 have been carried out by American citizens.
So not only is Trumps ban largely symbolic, but itll shut out some of the most vulnerable people in the world and tarnish Americas image abroad. Worse, its already being used as a recruiting tool for ISIS-affiliated organizations.
Donald Trumps executive order targeting refugees and Muslims seeks to solve a problem that doesnt exist and its already making America less safe.
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*
It has always been difficult to come to a reasonably consistent assessment of the Catholic Churchs Pope Francis because on several occasions he appears to be what one can confidently call a fairly real Christian. He certainly does preach and talk like Jesus Christs representative on planet Earth, but he does not always walk the talk in many important regards; primarily not selling off everything the Church owns and giving it to the poor which is precisely what Catholic Jesus commanded his followers to do to make it to Heaven. However, as far as preaching, admonishing and praying that all Christians follow the ethical examples and teachings of his religions namesake, Francis has been a reliable advocate for being a real follower of Christ.
Although he has not officially weighed in and joined the growing chorus of the religious and non-religious alike condemning the Trumps patently un-Christian, illegal, and unconstitutional executive overreach banning Muslims from majority-Muslim nations from entering America, Pope Francis revealed what a Christian thinks about Trumps ban last October.
The Pope couldnt have known that Trump would only ban Muslims from Muslim-majority countries that dont profit Donald J. Trumps bottom line. That would have incurred another level of Christian wrath from the Pope about the pursuit of wealth. The Pope also would have railed on Trump for lying and saying his religious tyranny is not aimed at the Muslim faith. That lie was monumentally exposed because the ban exempts Christians from those majority Muslim countries where Trump doesnt make money. The Pope couldnt have addressed the special treatment Trump gave Christians, or the exemption for terror-supporting, Muslim-majority nations he profits from, but he did know enough about the fallacious nature of Americanized Christianity to call Trump and his evangelical supporters hypocrites and not real Christians.
According to the report from Catholic News Service just prior to the election, the Pope berated the phony Christians in the West as hypocrites for claiming Christianity as their be all, end all faith and yet readily reject its most fundamental tenet; be like Christ and follow his teachings and examples explicitly. The Holy Fathers remarks targeting the West meant America and when he used the term hypocrites he meant dirty Donny and his evangelical sycophants who are now celebrating banning beleaguered refugees and legal immigrants, including American citizens, from entering America because they worship according to the wrong faith. Those Muslims that actually made it into the countrys international airports were immediately detained and deprived of due process; a patently unconstitutional action ordered by Trump the Christian.
The Pope listened to so-called Trump Christians in America talk like cruel savages and took time to condemn the hypocrisy from Christians who are merciless to refugees and people of other faiths. In particular, the Holy Father rebuked the contradiction of those who want to defend Christianity in the West, and, on the other hand, are against refugees and other religions. This is not something Ive read in books, but I see in the newspapers and on television every day. Now the Pontiff is watching the realization of that hate speech come to fruition in America while the evangelical Trump supporters revel in their victory.
The Pope actually gave a little Jesus lesson that every real Christian already knows, but the hypocritical Christians in America still cannot possibly fathom the meaning of Jesus teaching or they would not have voted for, or now support, the Trump. First, the Pope reminded American Christians what Jesus considered a major sin; hypocrisy. The Pope said,
The sickness or, you can say the sin, that Jesus condemns most is hypocrisy, which is precisely what is happening when someone claims to be a Christian but does not live according to the teaching of Christ. You cannot be a Christian without living like a Christian.
The Pope explained his meaning by making a reference to what is known, or should be known, to anyone calling themselves Christian as the Judgment or the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. The Pope said,
You cannot be a Christian without practicing the Beatitudes. You cannot be a Christian without doing what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 25. That passage contains Jesus Christs commandment to help the needy by doing humanitarian and merciful works such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and welcoming the stranger no matter their faith or country of origin.
In a direct shot at the Trump and his American barbarians, the Pope charged that,
Its hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help. If I say I am Christian, but do these things, Im a hypocrite.
There isnt much doubt that Trump, a savage barbarian whose only form of worship is reserved for himself, will even remember that the Pope condemned his un-Christian proposal to be cruel to the stranger simply for the sake of being cruel. However, the Popes condemnation of the Trumps evangelical supporters may have some impact on a segment of Americas Christians; at least on marginal Christians who were not necessarily caught up in the fear-mongering from the fascist now in the White House.
It is a sad fact of life in Trumps fascist America that no amount of condemnation or criticism from a Pope, many humanitarian religious groups, Democrats, or the masses protesting an un-American act by an un-American living in the White House will have any effect whatsoever. Although it seems the Trump painted himself into a corner with an unpopular, un-Christian, and unconstitutional Muslim ban predicated on which Muslim-majority nation makes money for the Trump, it is important to remember that Donald Trump believes he is above any and all laws unrelated to profit for Trump or promoting his deification.
Trump rejects not only the law of the land but the law of the religion he claims is his own when it is profitable, like his latest money-making ban on certain Muslims who are learning that it is dangerous and insane to want to come to Trumps America.
The above commentary is the sole opinion of its author.
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The White House has drafted an executive order that would be an unprecedented attack on LGBT rights and protections. Sources say the order would allow federal employees to refuse to serve LGBT people based on religious beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity will be fireable offenses for federal employees and contractors, and allow discrimination against the LGBT community by those who receive federal funding.
UPDATE: The White House backed off and caved on the original LGBT Executive Order, but left the door open for taking action that would discriminate against the LGBT community. Read more here.
Josh Rogin of The Washington Post got confirmation of the Executive Order from sources in the White House:
I'm told reliably there is a draft Executive order on LGBT issues including adoption. Details and timing unclear. Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) January 30, 2017
Follow up: Admin source says LGBT EO could affect federal employee benefits & protections & adoption agencies that receive federal funding Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) January 30, 2017
More: EO could allow fed employees to refuse to serve LGBT based on belief marriage is b/t man & woman or gender is immutable from birth Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) January 30, 2017
PoliticusUSA sources confirm Rogins report and add that upcoming executive order makes sexual orientation and identification a fireable offense for federal employees and contractors, and would allow adoption agencies and social service agencies that receive federal funding to discriminate against the LGBT community.
The part of the EO allowing federal employees to refuse to serve LGBT individuals based on religious grounds has also been confirmed by multiple sources.
If the Trump administration thought that the backlash to their Muslim ban was severe, they havent seen anything compared to what will happen if this Executive Order ever sees the light of day.
It is important to note that although the Executive Order has been drafted, it has not been signed yet.
There is still a chance that the administration will back off if public pressure is severe enough, but Donald Trump clearly intends to take America back to a time when LGBT rights didnt exist. Trump is preparing an all out assault on the protections and rights that the LGBT community has fought for decades to achieve.
The American people must not allow this to occur.
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The worst fear of President Trump and his party has come true. Former President Obama has returned to the public eye to encourage protesters to exercise their constitutional right to assemble, and he also criticized Trumps Muslim ban.
Through a spokesperson former President Obama said:
President Obama called Trumps ban what it really is. Discrimination based on religion.
The one thing that the will drive the deeply insecure Trump nuts is having his very popular predecessor return to encourage the protest against him and criticize his policies.
President Obama probably would have been happy to stay in quiet retirement for a little while longer, but the actions of the Trump administration compelled him to speak out publicly. In his final address, Obama promised that he wasnt leaving, that he would stand with the American people as a citizen and continue the fight.
The message is clear. Obama is back, and he is using his ample platform to encourage dissent and speak out for what is right. Barack Obama has gone from fighting for the American people from the Oval Office to standing alongside them as a private citizen.
The Obama coalition is alive and well, and their leader is back to speaking out.
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When asked about the detention of a five-year-old US citizen with an Iranian mother, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer spoke about the potential threat posed by terrorist children who may try to infiltrate America.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) told the story of a five year old boy who was detained for hours at the airport:
Video of Press Secretary Spicers reply:
https://youtu.be/QnMstgpzC94?t=5s
Spicer said, To assume that just because of someones age or gender or whatever that they dont pose a threat would be misguided and wrong.
That is the Trump administration defending the detention of a child who is a US citizen, because kids coulsd be terrorist too. It doesnt seem to matter to the Trump White House that this threat was an American citizen who authorities were given advance notice of by a sitting US Senator.
Apparently, Donald Trump thinks America elected him to protect the nation from the imaginary threat of child US citizen terrorists. Every time the White House tries to defend their Muslim ban, they sound more ridiculous and absurd.
President Trump is making America great by forcing the federal government to waste resources screening and detaining children instead of looking for the real threats both at home and abroad.
Statements like the one that Spicer gave today are the reason why the majority of America is mocking and laughing at Donald Trump.
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Donald Trump doesnt seem to be aware that you cant executive order away the Constitution; its still the Constitution; its still in force. It, and not Donald Trumps executive orders are the law of the land. Trump is going to require the constant reminder of courts.
Ana Navarro observed last night that his headlong charge into Trumtatorship leaves the rest of us little choice:
After last 10 days, if u oppose Trumptatorship, u got 2 choices: live in blissful oblivion; 2) protest & resist & then do it again & again. Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) January 31, 2017
Resistance is not always so easy, however. We have already seen Kellyanne Conway demand the firing of anyone in the press who talked smack about Trump.
Weve seen the acting attorney general fired not for disagreeing with Trump but for betrayal. As The Washington Posts Ann Applebaum puts it,
Language used to fire Attorney General: Not "we disagree" but "betrayal." If you don't obey Trump, you aren't a patriot or a Real American Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) January 31, 2017
And Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper may have joined the chorus of those condemning Trumps Muslim ban, but if you were protesting at Denver International Airport Friday you were informed by Denver Police Commander Tony Lopez,
Stop doing anything that could be construed as free speech without a permit.
Yes. He said that.
Watch courtesy of Darren OConnor:
Makes it sound like free speech is a crime because thats how we usually speak of crimes, as in Dont do anything that could be construed as a crime, kids. Lopez even told protesters they needed a permit to carry a copy of the Constitution.
Protester: I cannot carry a copy of the Constitution without a permit?
Lopez: Correct.
Its bad enough that the guy who seems to be running the country, Trumps bloated, alcoholic Nazi Steve Bannon, looks, as John Fugelsang put it, like a guy who stayed up watching porn until 6:45am and his alarm went off at 7.
At least Hitlers go-to guy, Martin Bormann, was a natty dresser. Yes, Hitler had better-dressed Nazis.
If we look further into the box of horrors that is the Trump administration we have seen questions raised as to whether Trump even understands his own executive orders. He says hes a smart guy but you have to wonder.
And his fact checker, the Toronto Stars Daniel Dale (safely removed from Kellyanne Conways demand to fire Trumps critics in the press) pointed this out:
Wait, what?!! President Trump, in a statement, says a policy he has always called extreme vetting is"not extreme." pic.twitter.com/TBe3o6JcSC Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 31, 2017
So is it, or isnt it? Are definitions so malleable for Trump that they can mean one thing one minute and another thing a minute later? Does extreme have alternate definitions so it can mean both extreme and not extreme depending on what is needed?
That is certainly in line with how Trumps morals seem to work. Not well. Like his command of quotation marks, capitalization and the meaning of various words.
And then there is the little fact that extreme vetting already exists. There is a reason no refugees on Trumps list have killed anyone in terrorist attacks on American soil.
And while Sean Spicer claimed Trumps ban affected only 109 people, we all know its more than that. At Chicago OHare alone 40 people were still being held as of late Monday afternoon.
In fact, the Chicago Tribune did some fact-checking and discovered it affected more like 90,000.
It would be nice to have an honest dictator, at least. Or one who counted better than he used punctuation.
Trump has been president for only a few days but he has already shown us how tenuous is our Constitutionally-guaranteed freedom. As Joy Reid tweeted,
As former Nixon WH counsel @JohnWDean has said, Trump is Nixon without the intelligence or the government and foreign policy experience. https://t.co/a6L9m16qeb Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) January 31, 2017
Not only does Trump lack the chops, he has less respect for the Constitution than even Richard Nixon, as Andrew Coyne pointed out:
Ive said before: Nixon was a crook, but even he handed over the tapes when the SCOTUS told him to. I dont think we can say Trump would. Andrew Coyne (@acoyne) January 31, 2017
Ann Applebaum remarked, Am about to spend the whole day at the British library reading about the Bolsheviks. Are Trumps critics Enemies of the People now too? The short answer seems to be Yes.
And thats the scary part. When push comes to shove, Donald Trump seems to sincerely believe he is above the law. We used to say George W. Bush wiped his backside with the Constitution but Trump doesnt seem to be aware it even exists as a roll of toilet paper.
Lets face it: the only thing worse than a dishonest Trumptator is a stupid Trumptator, and ours is both.
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Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and called Democrats idiots after Democratic Senators successfully boycotted and held up votes on two Trump nominees.
Hatch first made his comments to reporters after Democrats boycotted the Senate Finance Committee vote on Trump Treasury pick Steven Mnuchin.
Sen. Hatch said, I think they ought to stop posturing, and acting like idiots. Im really tired of this type of crap. I mean, my goodness, theres no excuse for it.
Hatch expanded on his tantrum while speaking to CNN:
Sen Hatch told CNN, Well, they are idiots. Anybody that would do something like that. Its a complete breach of decorum. Its a complete breach of committee rules. Its a complete breach of just getting along around here.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) organized the boycott and he described what Democrats want, In a normal time, the majority party would just say you should withdraw to these two, but they didnt, so we are saying we dont want this committee to vote until the public knows and we know.
Hatch was one of the main drivers of the Republican obstruction of President Obamas Supreme Court and judicial nominees. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, the Utah Senator thinks anyone who boycotts or obstructs the president is an idiot.
Republicans are demonstrating that they can dish it out, but they cant take it.
Sen. Hatchs fit is a sign that the Democratic tactics are working. Republicans expected Democrats to roll over and play dead. Instead, a vibrant opposition is using every trick in the book to wage a guerilla political campaign against this president and the Republican-controlled Congress.
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The panel on Morning Joe talked this morning about the frightening way in which Trump fired acting attorney general Sally Yates yesterday, saying It is frightening that the Trump admin. actually views dissent that way.
While Joe Scarborough speaks of the Trump administration we all know this means Donald Trump. And this is in keeping with other examples of how Trump and his cronies view dissent.
Watch courtesy of MSNBC:
WH: Yates betrayed' the DOJ @JoeNBC: It is frightening that the Trump admin. actually views dissent that way https://t.co/f8BeysSZkR Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) January 31, 2017
It wasnt that Scarborough thought Trump did not have the right to fire Yates, it was the way he did it:
The word betrayed, using the word betrayed for somebody, thats frightening. Thats what an autocrat would use, whoever put that word in there.
And this is coming from a guy who is friends with Trump, who has occasionally criticized him but by and large supports him. As for whoever, it may have been Trump or it may have been his resident Nazi, Steve Bannon. The ultimate responsibility, however, lies with Donald Trump.
Scarborough went on to say,
There are people that can have reasonable differences without saying that, if they dont agree with you, theyve betrayed you. That is frightening, chilling language, whether they had a right to do this or not But saying somebody betrayed the Justice Department because they dont agree with you? Take that to Venezuela, OK? We dont really want to use that sort of language here. Its time for you guys to grow up. It really is time for you to grow up.
There we have it again: the charge that Trump and his administration need to grow up. Trump acts in a childishly petulant manner and he does it regularly, in reaction to almost anything that makes him unhappy, at any real or imagined criticism.
Trump is acting like an oligarch and has been since his first day. And Republicans who promised to be a check on Trump have proven to be enablers instead. We can expect more, not less autocracy going ahead.
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*
Nobody likes a bully. It doubtless is why so many Americans dont like Donald Trump because he is nothing if not a colossal bully. Oh, it is true he is a liar and a fascist, but those delightful qualities are the result of being permitted to be a bully; first by his parents, then by his immediate family, and now by establishment Republicans. However, there is one thing savvy Americans and playground kids know about a bully; the best way to handle them is not being intimidated by their threats and being willing and able to hit them where it hurts; with valid and painful threats. California Governor Jerry Brown is not one to be bullied by any Republican, but especially a Republican bully named Donald J. Trump; regardless he gets to live in a place he has no right even visiting, much less occupying.
Since Trump does get to reside in the peoples house, he thinks its his right to bully refugees if they subscribe to the wrong religion to worship the biblical god Jehovah and unconstitutionally deny them due process guaranteed under the document Trump doesnt believe applies to him. It wasnt enough to bully refugees and visitors who arent Christians, or happen to come from majority-Muslim nations that Trump doesnt profit from, so he decided to bully and threaten states and cities that offer sanctuary to the people the fascist and his acolytes are bullying, punishing, and singling out for the most typical kind of Republican discrimination hate.
Many states and cities are resisting the Trumps un-Christian action against the needy, but one state, California, is standing up to the Trump and leveling its own threat against him; and in this case California is just big enough, humanitarian enough, and has the means to carry out its threat and hurt Trump. They can also inflict some serious damage on red-state bigots supporting the Trump and his unconstitutional assault on the people Jesus Christ ordered his followers to assist. It was one thing for Trump to threaten immigrants and refugees, but he never should have threatened to withhold federal funding from cities and states that are loyal to the Constitution and that one uniquely American quality that made it exceptional: giving refuge to anyone in need no matter their point of origin or religious preference.
Shortly after the Trump threatened to cut federal funding for sanctuary cities, Governor Jerry Brown responded with his own threat by warning that if Trump cuts federal funding, California will stop paying federal taxes. Now, this is no idle threat and not a meaningless warning. California is what is known as a donor state which means it sends significantly more in federal tax payments than it gets back in federal aid. California receives about 78 cents for every dollar it sends to the feds; what a so-called business mind like Trump would call a really bad investment deal. Still, since Californians are not savages toward other human beings, it faithfully invests at a loss to itself to help pay the poor red state residents federal aid and assistance bills.
First, a sanctuary city is one that will accept the people Trump intends to oppress including immigrants, Muslims, members of the LGBT community, and anyone the fascist regime designates as its enemies. Trumps threat to cut funding for sanctuary cities is, according to constitutional scholars, patently unconstitutional.
Specifically, it is a violation of the Tenth Amendment since it is an attempt to commandeer state and local officials; something not included in the Constitution or the Tenth Amendment. In fact, there is no clause or section in the entire Constitution that even addresses sanctuary cities or any mention of authority of the White House occupant to withhold funds from them; no individual has that authority. Like everything Trump has done thus far, his threat is founded on the law of the man who doesnt believe settled law or the Constitution applies to him.
Since California is ranked as the 46th most dependent state on the federal government, it is used to taking a substantial investment hit from the federal government and loses 22-cents on every dollar California sends to help poor Republican state residents who are only poor because they live in Republican states. Those Trump-supporting states will cry foul when their federal funding takes a hit because California is not going to be bullied by a fascist barbarian. And they will take a significant funding hit because Trump-supporting states are the most reliant on federal funds. Each and every one of those Republican states are welfare states because the takers receive significantly more in federal aid than they contribute with their tax dollars.
It is true that Californias largest sanctuary cities, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, will be negatively affected if the Trump follows through on his threat and withholds federal funding, but Governor Brown and the Democratically-controlled legislature is already exploring the various avenues a rich state like California can take to pick up the slack. Remember, in the past two elections California voters not only approved, by a wide margin, tax hikes on the rich, they also approved very substantial bonds to expand healthcare, education and various social programs specifically to aid the least fortunate among us; including immigrants and those seeking refuge from the religious extremists and bigoted savages supporting the Trump.
Californias Democratic leaders are not issuing an idle threat to Trump and if he doesnt believe it he had better come to grips with that fact sooner than later. In fact, a highly-respected former speaker of the state assembly, Willie Brown Jr. told KPIX 5 news on Sunday that, California could very well become an organized non-payer. They could recommend non-compliance with the federal tax code.
What that means is that individual taxpayers could join Governor Brown and stop paying federal income tax and hurt Trump even more. And this author can attest that there are a very significant number of people who are ready and willing to withhold personal tax payments as a form of resistance and protest to Americas brand new fascist regime and its tyrannical dictator.
Like nearly every real decent American, Californians are appalled at the vile actions of this nasty regime and they are taking action to protect their fellow citizens. Californias vast University system is advising its professors, employees, and students against going out of country because they understand the risk that they may not be allowed back into America. Remember, Trump officials are already scouring incoming travelers social media looking for any reason to keep them out, including not idolizing Donald J. Trump. There are even reports that border agents were interrogating those attempting to enter America to determine if they support Trump or not.
Californias governor and legislature are taking the right steps to resist the Trump and his unconstitutional and illegal fascist overreach targeting Muslims from countries he doesnt profit from; it is a step other states should emulate. It is true the massive protests might have some impact on some Republicans in Congress, but the Trump is not enthralled. However, a state like California withholding payments to the feds will have an impressive impact on the nation and particularly the Republican states supporting that fascist who thinks that just because he lives in a place he has no right residing he is a law unto himself. If enough Americans stand up to the bully, it is possible that Republicans in Congress will get a clue that no-one likes a bully no matter where he lives, no matter what political office he holds, or no matter that his name is Trump and he too is a Republican.
*The above commentary is the sole opinion of its author*
Watchdog and Public Service reporter
Thad Moore is a reporter on The Post and Couriers Watchdog and Public Service team and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. To share tips securely, reach Moore via ProtonMail at thadmoore@protonmail.com or on Signal at 843-214-6576.
The massive amount is unusual for a local school board race and thousands more than any of the other 31 candidates have managed to raise. Read moreA CCSD board candidate has raised almost $100K in campaign funds
Berkeley County, dating back to 1682, just 12 years after English settlers landed at nearby Charles Towne, is drenched in history, with Revolutionary War battles, a secret weapon developed during the Civil War, a man-made canal connecting two rivers and a lake built during the Great Depression. With much of the county protected in the Francis Marion National Forest, outdoor activites include hikes along the Palmetto Trail, boating and fishing on Lake Moultrie and numerous attractions such as the nature preserve Cypress Gardens, where numerous Hollywood films have been made. The county is now tapping into its assets to boost its tourism industry. Read moreBerkeley taps into battlefields, boating and butterflies to boost budding tourism business
In an undated photo provided by Parastoo Amiri, Nazanin Zinouri poses for a photo with her PHD degree from Clemson University. Zinouri has a visa and has lived in the U.S. since August 2010. On Jan 20, 2017, Zinouri flew to Iran, expecting to have three weeks of family time with her mother, brother and sister. Instead, she was barely in Tehran before she began trying to get home to South Carolina. (Parastoo Amiri via AP)
Just south of the North Carolina state line is one of Horry Countys last undeveloped stretches of oceanfront property, and everyone should celebrate now that a decades-long effort to keep it that way has finally paid off. And everyone should encourage South Carolinas political leaders and Read moreEditorial: Waties Island deal a win not only for SC environment but also for taxpayers
The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication.
Nearly 13 percent of registered voters in South Carolina have already cast ballots for the 2022 general election after the state opened up no excuse early voting to all for the first time. More than 438,000 votes were in as of the end of Thursday, which was the 10th day of early voting, according to statistics from the South Carolina Election Commission. Read more13% in SC have already cast ballots with new early voting
PROVIDENCE, R.I. Many online shoppers in the United States have for years had to pay state sales taxes whenever they buy goods from Amazon. But the Seattle e-commerce giant has dragged its feet on collecting sales taxes in small and sparsely populated states where it doesn't have any distribution centers or corporate offices.
That's quickly changing this year. And governors and state legislators looking to balance their beleaguered budgets are rejoicing as they brace for a boost of revenue from Amazon sales.
Amazon customers in at least 10 states will begin paying sales taxes on their website purchases for the first time this winter. Tax collection begins Wednesday in Mississippi, Missouri, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont. It already started this month in Louisiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah, and begins in Wyoming on March 1.
The company didn't return request for comment and hasn't explained its rapid shift, but the move follows last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rejected a challenge to a Colorado law requiring online sellers to notify customers about how much they owe in taxes. Colorado officials had estimated they were missing out on as much as $172.7 million a year.
To avoid collecting taxes, Amazon has historically relied on another high court ruling that predates the era of online shopping. That 1992 decision bans states from forcing out-of-state retailers to collect taxes if they don't have a physical presence in the state.
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Rhode Island, which has long fought for Amazon to remit sales taxes, is now counting on nearly $35 million in tax revenue next year from the company and other online retailers that follow its lead.
"Amazon's doing the right thing," said Robert Hull, the director of the state's revenue department. "They're an $85 billion revenue animal that's making sales, historically, into Rhode Island and not paying the 7-percent sales tax."
Customers might not be as pleased as state budget-writers. Those in Rhode Island and other states were technically supposed to declare the taxes owed on items bought online at the end of the year, but almost no one did. A proposed Rhode Island law would mimic Colorado's in ordering companies that don't collect sales taxes to post a "conspicuous" online pop-up notice informing customers about what they owe and following that up with an email and an annual tax obligation mailing. The measure is a way to effectively coerce companies to collect the tax if they don't want to burden their customers with unpleasant notices.
Excluding states that don't have a sales tax, only six states remain where Amazon doesn't collect sales taxes or hasn't announced plans to do so. Amazon already collects sales taxes in the most populous states and has been for years, so expanding to the entire country is unlikely to hurt its appeal to customers, said R.J. Hottovy, an e-commerce analyst for Chicago-based Morningstar, Inc.
"It really hasn't been that big of a deterrent in preventing people from shopping on Amazon's platform," Hottovy said. "Expedited shipping is almost as important as price in making a purchase decision."
Not celebrating the boost to state coffers is Rhode Island state House Republican Minority Leader Patricia Morgan, who said the tax comes out of the pocket of average customers, not companies. She said it makes sense that online retailers no longer have an unfair advantage over brick-and-mortar shops but it's wrong to look at the increased revenue as an excuse for increased spending.
"Let's not give a 'high-five' over this," Morgan said. "Who is it coming from? Families that are already strained by a high cost of living."
Gov. Mark Dayton issued a statement this morning criticizing President Donald Trump's string of recent executive orders, saying some are "ill-conceived" and others are "unconstitutional."
"My administration is closely monitoring the ill-conceived Executive Orders that have recently been issued by the White House," Dayton wrote. "Some of them are unconstitutional. Others are antithetical to our American values. All of them have ramifications for our state and our people. As these and future Executive Orders are issued, I have instructed my cabinet to determine what impacts they will have in the lives of Minnesotans.
"I support the statement made yesterday by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. I will work with her to defend the rights, freedoms, and Constitutional guarantees of the people of Minnesota. I will uphold my sworn oath to 'support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Minnesota,' and do everything possible to ensure that every Minnesotan is treated lawfully and fairly."
A month after a face-to-face meeting with then President-Elect Donald Trump, key players in the medical world including Mayo Clinic's John Noseworthy have noted that Trump's travel ban could prevent life-saving medical care for high-risk patients.
While some are actively calling on the president to rescind the travel ban, Noseworthy has taken a milder approach, while acknowledging growing concern among Mayo employees.
The clinic released a statement from Noseworthy Sunday saying he's "actively monitoring this situation" while noting that Mayo is "a place of compassion, respect and trust, and our collective diversity helps make us the best place to work and receive care."
Mayo released another statement on Monday noting that "approximately 20 (Mayo Clinic) patients may be affected" by the 90-day travel ban. Another "80 staff, physicians or scholars associated with Mayo Clinic" have ties to the seven countries included in the executive order.
Mayo treats about 1.3 million patients annually from all 50 states and 140 countries, including the seven named by President Trump for the temporary travel ban. It's unclear how many patients typically travel from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen to seek treatment at Mayo, the top-rated hospital in America, according to U.S. News & World Report.
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"A number of Mayo Clinic staff and trainees have expressed concern about the potential impact this order might have on their future plans, and we are working to more fully assess and advise on these concerns in a rapidly changing legal environment," Mayo spokeswoman Ginger Plumbo said in a news release. "We are aware of approximately 20 patients who might be affected, and are working with any patients who have any concerns related to travel to or from Mayo Clinic."
Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins said Monday they have a combined 20 patients affected by the current 90-day travel ban. While Mayo didn't release information about its patients, Johns Hopkins noted the impact on 11 patients held in limbo.
"These are very, very ill patients," Pamela Paulk, president of Johns Hopkins Medicine International, told STAT News. "In most cases, these are not cases to be postponed."
Doctors Without Borders and the Association of American Universities have called on the administration to rescind the executive order.
"We recognize the importance of a strong visa process to our nation's security," the universities association wrote. "However, the administration's new order barring the entry or return of individuals from certain countries is already causing damage and should end as quickly as possible."
Cleveland Clinic is attempting to walk a fine line in regard to the executive order. It moved forward with its plan to hold a fundraiser at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort during the weekend, while also issuing a terse statement after one of its first-year residents, Dr. Suha Abushamma, was prevented from returning from Saudi Arabia during the weekend.
"Recent immigration action taken by the White House has caused a great deal of uncertainty and has impacted some of our employees who are traveling overseas," Cleveland Clinic wrote Sunday. "We deeply care about all of our employees and are fully committed to the safe return of those who have been affected by this action."
Leaders from Mayo, Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins met Dec. 28 with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss health care policy. Mayo said the discussion centered around "research as a driver of innovation and economic growth, as well as the barriers posed by overregulation of health care."
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Linnea Waters, a Mayo nurse in Rochester, said those discussions with the president-elect pressured local employees "underground" with their concerns about the new administration until Noseworthy's weekend statement "inspired me to action."
She organized a peaceful protest Monday afternoon at Rochester International Airport.
"I completely concur with (Noseworthy)," Waters said. "He is speaking out and operating within Mayo's hallmark statement, which is 'a patient's needs come first.' I think it's a call to action."
Mayo's Noseworthy meets with Trump in Florida
Rochester rallies against immigrant ban
1 / 2: Dr. John Noseworthy 2 / 2: Mayo's Gonda Building in downtown Rochester.
Rochester resident Zaid Al Showbacki was watching the news about President Trump's order banning all entries from seven Muslim countries when he felt a flush of anxiety.
Showbacki's mother, Salwa Habeeb, a permanent U.S. resident (green-card holder) who lives in Rochester, was visiting relatives in the United Arab Emirates when Trump signed the order. Amid the confusion about the order's implications for green-card holders, Showbacki's first concern was for his mom: Would she be barred from re-entering the U.S. as initial news reports seemed to suggest?
"It's like, 'Oh, my God, my mom (is) going to be trapped," said Showbacki, realizing that the order would have a direct impact his family.
Showbacki served as a translator for U.S. Special Forces during the Iraq war from 2003 to 2005. Afterward, he immigrated to the U.S. under a special visa program for foreign nationals whose service might put them in danger and vulnerable to retaliation in their home countries.
Today, Showbacki is a U.S. citizen and works as an employment counselor for the Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association. In 2013, after an extensive vetting process, his mom joined Showbacki's family in Rochester as a permanent U.S. resident.
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Showbacki said he and his mom are taking a wait-and-see approach to the immigration controversy, hoping that the issue will sort itself out in her favor.
The UAE is not among the seven countries listed in the executive order whose citizens are barred from entering the U.S. for the next 90 days. But Habeeb falls under its potential restrictions because she is an Iraqi citizen. Throughout the weekend, White House officials have sent conflicting signals about how green-card holders would be treated.
On Sunday evening, John Kelly, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, offered guidance that suggested such cases would be settled on an individual basis.
"Absent the receipt of significant derogatory information indicating a serious threat to public safety and welfare, lawful permanent resident status will be a dispositive factor in our case-by-case determinations," he said in a statement.
Showbacki said his mom's initial reaction to the policy change was denial. She was planning to fly back to Rochester in February when, hopefully, the coldest part of winter had passed.
"She is like, 'This can't be right. My card is valid. It's not expired,'" he recalled her saying on the phone. "I want her to come here as soon as possible and not risk it anymore."
Habeeb, Showbacki said, often travels to the UAE for extended periods to escape Minnesota's frigid winters. A trained attorney, Habeeb can't practice in the U.S. because her credentials, obtained in the UAE, are not acknowledged here.
"It's too cold for her," Showbacki said. "She keeps telling me, 'If you moved south, I wouldn't have to make this trip anymore.'"
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Showbacki said he has no problem with the U.S. taking "extra steps" to fortify and improve security, but he believes the order overly broad and stigmatizes people simply on the basis of ethnicity and nationality.
"I love this country, because they gave me shelter when nobody else did," he said. "So I worry about this country's security. But let's not generalize and (target people) who worked so hard to get here, who are actually legal and living in this country, just because their original nationality was Iraqi or Syrian."
Gov. Dayton criticizes Trump's orders
Rochester rallies against immigrant ban
MINNEAPOLIS A Minnesota Republican congressman criticized President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries Monday, joining a growing number of GOP lawmakers who've expressed concerns that the executive order Trump issued on Friday goes too far.
"Unfortunately, the president's executive order is too broad and has been poorly implemented and conceived," U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen said in a statement. "It is clear from the events this weekend that the executive order does not ensure that legal residents, including green card holders, and nonthreats, such as those who served alongside the American military in Iraq, are treated fairly and with the dignity they deserve."
Another Minnesota Republican, Rep. Tom Emmer, told WCCO-TV people should "take a deep breath." He said Trump's order isn't a travel ban but a temporary suspension, and it's not a litmus test based on religion.
But Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, said that's precisely what it is.
"It's absolutely a Muslim ban, and, more seriously, it's a religiously based ban," Ellison said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," pointing to Trump's previous statements.
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Minnesota's only other Republican in Congress, Rep. Jason Lewis, was generally supportive of Trump. Americans expect their government to properly vett people who wish to harm the U.S., he said in a statement. But he also said he doesn't support religious tests for immigration or banning entry for green card holders, no matter where they are flying from, nor people who've aided the U.S. military.
Most of Minnesota's other Democratic representatives and senators condemned the order, though the reaction was more muted from Rep. Collin Peterson, a conservative Democrat.
"I have reservations with how the administration has gone about this process with a broad stroke of the pen, instead of working with Congress to ensure a dialogue and getting to a sensible solution," Peterson said in a statement.
There were no immediate reports of any travelers detained at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as a result of the order, but immigration lawyers were standing by there in case they were needed, said Regina Jeffries, of the Center for New Americans at the University of Minnesota Law School.
After the first work days of the Trump presidency, I have an inkling of what a Ross Perot presidency might have looked like in 1993.
Both men are billionaires. Both are successful businessmen. Both have enormous energy for crinkly old white guys, as well as have common sense, but only one of these leaders tweets and shoots his mouth off on "alternative facts" or implants bullet holes in his shoes.
Obviously, our new president is quite a character, one we will all have to learn to live with, at least until he decides he's had enough.
One thing I did not realize throughout the recent campaign was his level of energy. Somehow I missed that during the news highlights. Bam! Bam! Bam! Is he a "whirling dervish," "Tasmanian devil" or the "Energizer Bunny?"
He has already addressed freezing the growth of the federal government, stopped a major bad trade deal (the Trans-Pacific Partnership), temporarily halted visas and immigration, pounded the EPA to stop its grants, established grounds for withholding funds to sanctuary cities, paved the way to build his wall, and established an English-only White House web site, and much more. The stream of executive orders seems endless for the future as well.
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The meetings with CEOs, union leaders, congressional leaders and Republican retreaters seem to indicate he is going to "get 'er done," but what about his negatives the instant tweets and alternative facts? We are also seeing obsessions with inauguration crowd size, torture, and voter fraud.
In August, before the election, I wrote a column about why we should vote for him. The below extract from that column may help us deal with our new president's character:
"Huffington Post columnist Christina Wilkie reported that Carl Paladino, the honorary co-chair of Donald Trump's New York campaign, got it right when he said in an NPR interview that Trump is a "raccoon exterminator."
His tale is that we go on vacation and come back to find that raccoons have invaded our basement. The raccoons are symbols of our government doing everything poorly, illegally, or doing nothing at all but leading us in the wrong direction.
We don't care what the raccoon exterminator looks like or acts like or smells like. We just want the darn varmints out of our basement, and Trump is the best raccoon exterminator in the business. There is a lot of truth to that analogy, but there are other reasons to give the exterminator a second look.
I went on to describe the various "children" by name and organization that are doing everything they can to stop, delay, obstruct, or ridicule his actions. What he is doing is fixing bad government, which we have nurtured by voting for lawyers and professional politicians rather than raccoon exterminators the business men and women of our world. And the communist, socialist, progressive, politically correct, multi-cultural, and ever-smaller crowd of liberals doesn't like it one bit.
Sooner or later in this first 100 days, President Trump is going to hit a brick wall, so to speak. Many in Congress, including some high-profile senators on his side of the aisle, are not going to let their elite, globalist establishment disappear in this avalanche of populism.
That's when conservatives must unite and keep pressuring the raccoon lovers the bad guys from both parties to keep the exterminating process moving forward until the raccoons are all, finally, out of our basement.
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The Energizer Bunny we have in the White House has shown he is willing to work exceptionally hard to make this country great again. If there still are some folks who don't understand how far we have slipped behind Asian countries like South Korea and others, you may keep saying our country is great right now.
My response to those folks is to travel to Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, and other similar cities and see what is now the first world. We need to catch up and surpass them. We can do it with the lead from our own Energizer Bunny.
David Shaver is a retired U.S. Army colonel and former faculty member at the U.S. Army War College.
Richard Pollock at the Daily Caller offers this flashback one thats not without irony:
Despite todays outrage over President Donald Trumps refugee executive order, many liberals in 1975 were part of a chorus of big name Democrats who refused to accept any Vietnamese refugees when millions were trying to escape South Vietnam as it fell to the communists. They even opposed orphans.
The chorus was led by Jerry Brown who, then as now, was the governor of California. The no to refugees chorus also included George McGovern, the leading Democratic leftist of the day, and Joe Biden who, then as now, was wrong about nearly everything.
The sharpest opposition came from California and was led by Gov. Brown. Julia Taft, who in 1975 headed up President Fords Inter-agency Task Force on Indochinese refugee resettlement, recalled our biggest problem came from California due to Brown. The eccentric governor even attempted to prevent planes carrying Vietnamese refugees from landing at Travis Air Force Base outside San Francisco.
What drove the opposition to taking in refugees who had worked with or supported the U.S. during the Vietnam War and whose lives, therefore, obviously were at risk when Saigon fell to the Communists? Was there any record of pro-U.S. South Vietnamese engaging in acts of terrorism against the U.S.? Of course not.
Was there a concern about vetting them? I doubt it. If there was, it was not the stated reason for opposing their resettlement here.
The stated reason was concern that Vietnamese refugees would take American jobs or go on welfare. Taft recalled:
[Opponents] didnt want any of these refugees, because they had. . .unemployment. They had already a large number of foreign-born people [in California]. They had they said they had too many Hispanics, too many people on welfare, they didnt want these people.
Gov. Brown stated:
We cant be looking 5,000 miles away and at the same time neglecting people who live here.
Biden had his own pretext for opposing refugee settlement. He charged that the Ford Administration didnt inform Congress adequately about the number of refugees. But as, Quang X. Pham, who was born in Saigon and later served as a Marine pilot in the Persian Gulf War, noted in a Washington Post op-ed critical of Biden, no one could know the number of refugees at the time of the chaotic evacuation of Saigon.
I suspect that anti-anti-Communism also played a role in Democratic opposition to taking in refugees who had helped us defend South Vietnam from the Communist North. One detects something of this ideology in George McGoverns statement, quoted by Polloack, that 90 percent of the Vietnamese arrivals would be better off going back to their own land.
Im pretty sure that Democrats and liberals had no sympathy for anyone benighted or reactionary enough to have opposed Uncle Ho Chi Minhs takeover of South Vietnam. After all, these suckers were on the wrong side of history.
Refugees from todays Middle East may (or may not) like what the U.S. stands for. But most of them have nothing in their past that smacks of backing the U.S. and nothing that undermines their status as unambiguously the other. Thus, its okay for leftists to seek special treatment for them and to castigate as heartless, or even racist, anyone who objects to limiting their ability to settle here.
Meanwhile, in his final days in office, Obama ended the wet foot-dry foot policy that allowed most Cubans fleeing communist Cuba who reach U.S. soil to stay and become legal permanent residents after one year. For todays left, Raul Castro makes a passable stand-in for Ho Chi Minh.
Last night, soon after it happened, I wrote about the shooting at a mosque in Quebec City. As I warned, some of the information being reported initially was inaccurate par for the course in these kinds of situations. But the main details turned out to be correct.
Here is what it now being reported with reasonable confidence:
There was one shooter. He is Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27 year-old political science student.
Bissonnette has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder using a restricted firearm, numbers that correspond to the number of people killed and injured. He appears to have acted alone despite initial reports of a second gunman.
Bissonnette had no previous criminal record. He is said to be an introvert who was bullied in school.
An organization that helps Syrian refugees settle in Quebec says that Bissonnettes name and photograph are familiar. It states that he is known by several activists in Quebec City for his viewpoints that were pro-Le Pen and anti-feminist, as expressed in social media and at Universite Laval where Bissonnette is a student.
A fellow student, who has known Bissonnette since high school, says the shooter had developed radical views. The fellow student added: He was not overtly racist or Islamophobic, but he had borderline misogynist, Islamophobic viewpoints.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard have characterized the shooting as terrorism. However, Bissonnette has not been charged with any terrorism-related offences.
Asked why, the prosecutor explained that Bissonnette was charged according to the evidence available. However, he left open the possibility of adding terrorism charges depending on what evidence emerges. Youll understand that the events happened very recently, the prosecutor told reporters.
Section 83.01 of the Criminal Code defines terrorism as an act committed in whole or in part for a political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause with the intention of intimidating the public . . .with regard to its security, including its economic security, or compelling a person, a government or a domestic or an international organization to do or to refrain from doing any act.
Based on initial reports about Bissonnette, including those mentioned above, the crimes hes accused of may well have been committed in part for a political/ideological purpose e.g. to deter Muslims from gathering in public to pray and/or to drive them out of the area. However, the evidence at this stage appears to be too thin to support this conclusion.
It may be that Bissonnette shot up the mosque simply because he hates Muslims, without any intent to intimidate anyone or affect the political or policy landscape. In that event, his action might more properly be characterized as a hate crime than as terrorism.
In Canada, and here too quite possibly, the line between hate crime and terrorism seems blurred.
I dont know how important it is to characterize Bissonnettes act as terrorism, hate crime, both, or neither. If he did what is alleged, his crime is heinous and should result in the strongest punishment allowed under law.
But we can expect endless discussion about whether Bissonnette is a terrorist, so I thought I should offer an initial take on how to think about the question.
If youre a leftist, hes about to become the devil incarnate for accepting President Trumps appointment as acting attorney general in place of the disobedient Sally Yates. In reality, Boente is a long-time civil servant who was appointed during the Obama administration to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana and later as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA).
For years, Boente was Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Fraud Unit of the EDVA. Before that, he served in the Criminal Section of the Justice Departments Tax Division.
Here is what liberal Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine said about Boente when they recommended to President Obama that he be named U.S. Attorney for the EDVA:
Danas long-time service has provided him with extensive experience in national security matters, public corruption, and securities and financial fraud. In New Orleans, he successfully led the U.S. Attorneys Office through an important time of transition. In addition, as acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana has shown himself to be a capable manager of a fast-paced and dynamic office of well over 100 prosecutors, the Senators wrote.
Boente, then, is no Robert Bork, a leading conservative law professor before coming to the Justice Department. Some readers will recall that it was Bork who agreed to serve as Attorney General in connection with the Saturday Night Massacre at the Nixon Department of Justice (and who in that capacity fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox).
Bork or not, and allowing for the fact that Boente didnt fire anyone, I wonder whether Boente may be in for some modern day borking. He likely will be if President Trump ever appoints him to a job requiring Senate confirmation.
Diamond Drilling Commences on High Grade Quartz Vein, Niangouela Gold Concession, Burkina Faso, West Africa, Drills to Target High Grade Gold Anomalies
Diamond Drilling
PR-Inside.com: 2017-01-31 19:29:23
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Nexus Gold Corp. (NXS -TSX Venture) reported it has commenced phase one drilling at its Niangouela gold project located in Burkina Faso, Africa.The Company has initiated a 1000 meter diamond drill program on its 179 square kilometer Niangouela exploration permit. Crews from Falcon Drilling Burkina SARL have been mobilized to the site and are currently drilling. The 1000 meter phase one drill program is designed to test the primary quartz vein and associated shear at depth and along strike. The program will target areas of gold anomalies identified from rock samples and Rotary Air Blast (RAB) drilling that was conducted by the Company in December 2016 and January 2017.About the Niangouela Gold ConcessionThe 178 sq km Niangouela gold concession is located on the Boromogreenstone belt (as is the Company's Bouboulougold concession), and is proximal to the Kalsaka deposit and the Sabce shear zone. It is accessible by road and has one major orpaillage (artisanal workings).In December 2016 the Company conducted an 802m rotary air blast (RAB) drill program that delineated an approximately 1,000-meter (1km) quartz vein and a 500-meter secondary strike, running oblique to the main vein. This vein has now been identified in trenches, artisanal workings and through RAB drilling. It remains open in all directions.A total of 11 rock chip and grab samples were taken during the initial exploration phase. Eight of the 11 samples returned values of 1 gram-per-tonne (g/t) gold or better. Best results of the 11 include sample NG005, taken directly from the primary quartz vein at 46m depth (accessed via an artisanal mining shaft), which returned a value of 2,950 g/t gold. Sample NG006 was collected from the artisanal dumps of the sheared intrusive and returned a value of 23.9 g/t gold. Sample NG007 contained coarse visible gold, and was taken from material extracted from the eastern shaft from a depth of approximately 60m, returned a value of 403 g/t gold. Sample NG008 was taken from the western shaft, 10 to 12 meter west of the eastern shaft, and consisted of a single large piece of primary quartz vein containing host rock inclusions and a cluster of visible gold. NG008 returned a value of 49.8 g/t gold.Historical exploration at Niangouela consists of 556 pits and 11 trenches, with numerous rock and soil samples. Previous exploration work has returned gold in soil samples of up to 34 g/t Au. Rock samples have returned values of up to 18 g/t Au and trenching has returned values of 4.85 g/t Au over 10 meters. Historical assays of 5.93, 4.83 and 4.12 g/t Au over sample lengths of two meters have been returned from trenching over the vein. A qualified person has not taken steps to verify this historical data.About Burkina FasoBurkina Faso is a landlocked nation, located in West Africa. It covers an area of roughly 274,000 square kilometers and has an estimated population of more than 16 million people. The country has a stable political setting with a pro-mining and foreign investment stance. Burkina Faso is the fastest growing gold producer in Africa, and was the 4th largest gold producer in Africa in 2012. Eight new mines have been commissioned there over the past six years. The country has excellent geological potential. The Greenstone Belts that host all of the major deposits in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire continue northward into Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso has undergone less than 15 years of modern mineral exploration, remaining under-explored in comparison to neighbouring Ghana and Mali; both of which host world-class gold mines in the same belts of Birimian rocks.About the CompanyNexus Gold Corp. is a Vancouver-based gold exploration and development company operating in some of the worlds premier mining districts. The Company is currently concentrating its efforts on two gold projects located in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The Bouboulou gold concession is a 38-sq km advanced exploration target where previous drilling has confirmed multiple zones of gold mineralization. The Niangouela gold concession is a 178-sq km project featuring high grade gold occurring in and around a primary quartz vein 1km in length. For more information on these projects, please visit the Company website at www.nexusgoldcorp.com Warren Robb P.Geo., Senior Geologist is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this release.
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Actress Sai Lokur (who debuted in Kapil Sharmas Kis Kis Ko Pyaar Karoon) and actress-model Madhu Sneha (Pantaloons Femina Miss Fashionista 2012 and Kingfisher Calendar finalist) were part of the jury for the eagerly awaited inter-collegiate fashion show during Spandan 2017, the fourth edition of the annual festival of Xavier Institute of Engineering, Mahim. Out of the nine finalist participating colleges, Thakur College (theme Carnival) was declared as the winner while DY Patil College (theme Game of Thrones) was the runner up. The best male model was Sudhir Singh (Lords Universal College) and the best female model was Shloka Goyal (Thakur College).Scintillating actress Sai Lokur said, It was nice to see students donning diverse attires and avatars during the fashion show at XIE Spandan 2017. The students chose interesting themes from Indian culture to Goa carnival to Game of Thrones to Dubai to Zodiac Signs to Death to Wild Life to interpret fashion in novel ways. The students really made of a lot of efforts in terms of using hand-made props and accessories. The future of Indian fashion is bright if these students continue to flaunt their unique style quotient confidently with a lot of panache. Sai Lokur won hearts of the students at Spandan 2017 with her simplicity and beauty blending modernism with traditional classicism.Fashion icon Madhu Sneha said, In sync with their theme of Around the World, the multi-talented students chose vignettes of fashion from different parts of the globe. The beautiful and confident way in which they walked the ramp displaying their striking fashion attire showed that Indias students can be smart, tech-savvy and also stylishly cool at the same time. The glittering fashion show at Spandan 2017 showed that Indians can rule the world in all aspects including beauty and brains!Madhu Sneha was the toast of Spandan 2017 as students cheered her dynamic energy, fashion sense and vivacious personality as she roped in everyone to click selfies galore!Madhu Sneha was also part of the jury for JJS-IJ Jewellers Choice Design Awards 2016 by The Indian Jeweller (Magazine). She had adjudged Sydenham College management institution annual fest Simerations 2014 and crowned the winners Bhola & Group from KES College & Lords Dancing Crew from Lords College. Madhu Sneha is participating in a workshop on acting being conducted by the iconic Jeff Goldberg. JG Studio works with Bill Hopkins Media in New York and Film Acting Paris (Charles Weinstein) amongst others. She is honing her skills wrt to various offers that she is getting leading Bollywood producers and directors.After debuting in Kapil Sharmas film, Sai Lokur has been getting several roles but she is taking her own time to choose the right one from her career point of view. She is keen to portray a modern girl of substance in projects being conceived by eminent filmmakers. Multi-talented Sai Lokur has been honing her numerous skills including practicing Bharatnatyam and various dance forms.
HAMMONTON Its a competition that tests students knowledge of state consumer laws, like the Lemon Law.
In a very close contest, Cedar Creek High School beat its sister school Absegami to win the Atlantic County Consumer Bowl on Tuesday at St. Joseph High School.
Cedar Creek, also last years winner, beat Absegami by just one question in the daylong competition among six local high schools.
Your level of confidence is important, especially in the lightning round, said Samantha Brandt, a member of the Cedar Creek team, which also included captain Michael Lyons, Cassidy Hayes, Nicholas Klapatch, and Alyson Schlee.
Brandt said she thought Lemon Law questions were the hardest because the questions were very specific and involved knowing a lot of data.
The law is different for new cars and older cars, she said.
Hayes said the questions on amusement games, bingo and raffles were the easiest because the information was easy to remember. They have some experience with the subject matter.
Teacher John Gazo, who advises the team, said as many as 50 students will apply to be on it.
Some of the topics, like mortgages, are hard for them because they dont have a lot of experience with them, Gazo said. I remember the year after Hurricane Sandy there were a lot of questions about flood insurance.
For Absegami, which has also won in several previous years, the loss was bittersweet.
It was tough to lose by just one question, but we did our best, said Sainsarg Mehta.
Absegami team captain Prashit Parikh said the lightning round was the most difficult because they had to not just know the answer, but beat another team to the buzzer.
Absegami won the lightning round, but still came in second on total points scored.
Absegami team members come from the schools Future Business Leaders of America club. Teacher and adviser Dawn Kosco said she looks for students who are curious and ask a lot of questions.
Other Absegami team members were Aarsh Patel and Priya Parikh. Other participating schools were Buena Regional, Egg Harbor Township, Oakcrest and St. Joes.
The annual competition is sponsored by the State Division of Consumer Affairs. This year 77 high schools are participating in the event. The county winners go on to the regional competition in April with the finals held May 16 in Trenton.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Flax seeds may be small, but theyre versatile.
That makes them potentially perfect for outer space, where in the proper environment they could generate food and fabric for future space travelers.
Two Stockton University students, Valkyrie Falciani, 23, of Hammonton, and Danielle Ertz, 22 of Woodlynne, hope to learn just how useful flax can be with an experiment scheduled to be tested this summer in the International Space Station.
Titled Spores in Space: The Effects of Microgravity on Endomycorrhizae, the project was chosen from among three submitted by Stockton students to the Student Space Flight Experiment Program run by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education. Initially, 24 students developed 11 proposals. They were reviewed by faculty to pick the top three.
Falciani and Ertz said they started with about 10 ideas each, then whittled them down with assistance from Associate Professor of Biology Tara Luke, their project mentor.
The experiment is a bit risky, since they are using two bio components, flax and the fungus spores. If one dies, they both die, Falciani said.
But growing food in space is a big issue, so they felt the risk was worth it.
The students have already run into a problem with mold, and spent Monday cleaning out contaminated test tubes and preparing them for sterilization. But one tube was growing nicely, showing some roots.
Thankfully that happened early, when we have time to start over, Falciani said.
The students work on the project twice a week and other students have volunteered to assist.
I just thought it was so cool that wed get to send it into space, said Francisca Ekekwe, 28, of Egg Harbor Township.
Their process involves mixing flax seeds with the fungus to see how they interact. Flax has already been grown on the space station, so it is a good risk. The fungus was chosen because of its ability to form symbiotic relationships with plants and possibly help them grow. The results could promote more research into agriculture in space.
The experiment has to fit in a specifically sized tube, adding to the challenge. The students experiment will have three sections containing the fungus, flax seeds and distilled water.
Once at the space station, the astronauts will break open the clamps to mix the materials and see what happens. The results from the space station will be compared with the experiments at Stockton.
No matter what the results are, we will get more information, Luke said.
The experiment is scheduled to leave on a SpaceX flight in August from Florida. Students plan to attend the launch and later present their results at the annual conference for the program at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
In 2015, Ocean City High School students sent an experiment to the space station designed to determine the rate at which bacteria multiply in microgravity. That project also related to future food production in space.
ATLANTIC CITY A bill intended to spur economic development in the citys neighborhoods cleared a state Assembly panel this week.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee approved a bill Monday that would extend a state tax-credit program designed to revitalize areas of distressed cities to include Atlantic City. The measure is sponsored by Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic.
The Neighborhood Revitalization State Tax Credit Program offers tax credits to businesses that invest in projects in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Entities receiving the credits must use 60 percent of the tax-credit funds on projects related to housing and economic activity. The rest must assist small businesses.
The program currently covers cities that receive special state aid, have poor school districts or are areas adjacent to those cities and have similar socioeconomic characteristics. Atlantic City is not included.
Projects that have qualified under the program include rehabbing abandoned properties, job training and neighborhood beautification, according to a project list on the Department of Community Affairs website.
While building upon the unique recreational experience Atlantic City provides, we can also combat poverty and unemployment by encouraging economic development in the citys low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, Mazzeo said in a statement. We need to use everything in our arsenal when it comes to reinvigorating Atlantic Citys economy, helping the middle class and bringing tax relief and job creation throughout Atlantic County,
A similar bill was introduced in 2015 but was never considered by the full Assembly or state Senate.
A proposal to drastically reduce this years summer flounder catch could get final approval at a federal regulatory meeting Thursday morning in Virginia.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Committee is scheduled to consider strategies that would reduce the summer flounder harvest by up to 41 percent coastwide and implement tighter restrictions on bag and size limits for recreational fishermen.
Its a proposal that has been met with widespread criticism in New Jersey from recreational fishermen, both U.S. senators, other politicians and even the head of the state Department of Environmental Protection.
In August, the ASMFC and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council set the summer flounder harvest limit at an all-time low in response to the most recent stock assessment, and, last month, the regulatory bodies approved a set of options to meet that goal.
Recreational fishermen and owners of fishing-related businesses gathered at a meeting in January in Galloway Township and expressed disappointment with all five options presented in the plan.
What theyre doing is taking away our ability to fish, George Sylvester, 64, a fisherman from Cape May, told The Press of Atlantic City at that meeting. Theyre just making it harder and harder for the average guy to catch fish.
Kirby Rootes-Murdy, a senior fishery management plan coordinator at ASMFC, has said the flounder stock is in an overfishing situation.
Last year, recreational fishermen were limited to five fish at 18 inches in the Atlantic Ocean and four fish at 17 inches in the Delaware Bay. Both were for a 128-day season.
If the plan is approved Thursday, fishermen could face a variety of stricter regulations, ranging from two fish at 18 inches during a 59-day season to three fish at 19 inches for varying season lengths.
State DEP Commissioner Bob Martin is planning to testify at Thursdays meeting. He has called for federal regulators to keep 2016 regulations in place until a more thorough review of the scientific data about the flounder stock can be completed.
The chemical that made Erin Brockovich a household name is being debated in state government.
Hexavalent chromium, also called chromium 6, is both a naturally occurring chemical and an industrial pollutant and carcinogen found in drinking water supplies throughout New Jersey and the nation.
But whether the levels in New Jerseys drinking water present a health risk was debated Monday before the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, which was gathering testimony on the issue.
It is the chemical that polluted the water of Hinckley, California, prompting Brockovich to become an environmental activist as portrayed in a 2000 movie starring Julia Roberts.
Power-plant pipeline would endanger pinelands, water, communities, climate Get those gas transmission pipelines through the N.J. Pine Barrens by whatever means possibl
The highest level of hexavalent chromium found in the state was 3.8 parts per billion, said Ann Mason, senior director of the American Chemistry Councils Northeast Region, which represents manufacturers. That is well below both the federal standard for total chromium of 100 parts per billion and Californias standard of 10 parts per billion, she said.
Mason said the human body detoxifies hexavalent chromium by converting it into trivalent chromium, or chromium 3, which she called an essential micronutrient.
She said studies have shown that only huge doses of the chemical at a range of 5,000 to 100,000 parts per billion pose a cancer risk.
But David Pringle of Clean Water Action and Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey Sierra Club disagreed, saying the states Drinking Water Quality Institute recommended a state standard of .07 parts per billion in 2010 but the Department of Environmental Protection never adopted it.
Its not surprising we are not in agreement with the American Chemistry Council, said Pringle. The council is saying, Everything is fine, theres nothing to see here.
B.L. England repowering is dirty deal of Christie administration The B.L. England plant was supposed to close in 2007 but because of political games and mani
Tittel said New Jersey has hundreds of industrial sites where chromium was left behind as a pollutant, making the issue even more critical in areas of high contamination.
Michael Furrey, chairman of the New Jersey section of the American Water Works Association, which represents all aspects of the drinking-water industry, said he believes the Drinking Water Quality Institute is the best source of guidance for legislators.
Several speakers said they felt the institute has been shut down by Gov. Chris Christie, but the institute has a Feb. 17 meeting coming up and there are minutes online from a Sept. 16 meeting.
DEP spokesman Larry Hajna said the institute stopped meeting in September 2010 and resumed in April 2014.
MARGATE It wasnt that long ago, disconnecting your kids from the internet was as easy as shutting off the family desktop. Now, with smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, kids are more connected to internet than ever.
A growing concern for parents is how to keep their children safe from dangers that occur online every day.
Kids engage in risky behaviors, Special Agent Daniel Garrabrant said to a group of Margate school parents, during a seminar on Jan 26.
Garrabrant, a Margate resident, has worked for the FBI out of the Northfield office for 19 years. He spearheaded the Innocence Lost task force for Atlantic City and is dedicated to the mission of keeping kids safe and parents aware of whats out there online. Hes seen how kid use the internet, not only for his job, but also as a parent.
While most people today have constant internet access, Garrabrant explained that children are using online apps and programs for different reasons than their parents.
You use the internet for its utility, Garrabrant explained email, work kids use it to find their identity
The increase of social media apps like SnapChat, Kik and Instagram has given Garrabrant more reasons to educate students and parents of what potential dangers are out there.
In South Jersey, theres a concern not only about predators online, but cyber bullying between kids and sextortion, the extorting of pictures or sexual messages with the threat of publicly distributing.
A similar seminar was given to students of the Tighe Middle School the next day, focusing on the permanency of things posted on line and being sure you know who youre chatting with.
Questions parents asked ranged from setting parental controls on devices and security apps to download, to understanding what social media sites are appropriate for school-aged kids.
The FBI has multiple resources for school age kids, explaining online safety at www.sos.fbi.gov. Parents can contact Garrabrant directly via email Daniel.garrabrant@ic.fbi.gov
ATLANTIC CITY The citys conventions bureau held an emergency board meeting Tuesday to pass a resolution opposing a proposed $2 fee on city hotel rooms to pay for public safety.
Meet AC is against a bill that would add a $2 daily surcharge for each occupied room in the city. The fee would last two years, and all revenue would go toward the citys police and fire departments, which are bracing for deep cuts under a state takeover.
This action would be damaging to not only the Atlantic City tourism industry, but the meetings and convention industry as well, said Jeff Albrecht, Meet ACs board chairman and general manager of the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel.
Meet AC commissioned a study last year showing taxes already make up 19 percent of casino rooms renting at $100, which was higher than rooms in cities such as Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore.
But proponents of the bill, including the citys public-safety unions, say it would raise $8 million annually and help avoid police and firefighter layoffs. On Monday, union officials testified at a state Assembly panel hearing the state is seeking $14 million in givebacks from the public-safety unions by Wednesday.
The bill is sponsored by Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and unanimously cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Monday.
PLEASANTVILLE One officer remains on medical leave after he and a second officer were injured Friday while attempting to arrest a suspect, police said.
Police responded to a report of a domestic assault at 10:25 a.m. at the Bay Harbor Village at 1006 S. Main St., police said.
Patrolmen Daniel Davis and Juan Morillo arrived to find an injured woman and the suspect, Keith Robinson Jr., of Atlantic City, police said.
While officers tried to take Robinson into custody outside the building, he violently resisted and tried to grab Davis gun, police said. More officers arrived and took Robinson into custody, police said.
Davis suffered a fractured hand, an abrasion to the head from striking the concrete steps and leg injuries, while Morillo suffered leg injuries and contusions, police said.
According to Captain Matt Hartman, Morillo returned to work Monday. Davis remains on medical leave for the fractured hand and minor head injury
Police said Robinson complained of respiratory difficulty after he was arrested.
Davis, Morillo and Robinson were all taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, for treatment and were released, police said.
Robinson was charged with simple assault and criminal restraint in the domestic incident, as well as aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a police officer, attempting to disarm a police officer and two counts of resisting arrest. He was sent to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
PLEASANTVILLE The day after firefighters rescued a severely injured man from a burning home, officials said the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Firefighters and police responded to a fire on the 1500 block of Sixth Avenue about 6 a.m. Monday. One of the two occupants of the three-story condo, Payao Clemons, 72, had escaped, but the other, David Milano, suffered injuries in the blaze after running back inside, Clemons family said Tuesday.
Clemons daughter Jacqueline DAmbrosio, of Linwood, took a break outside the home Tuesday afternoon while going through her mothers belongings. She said shes glad the two made it out alive and that no one else was hurt in the blaze.
Milano remains in the hospital without burns, but he has se-vere smoke inhalation, she said.
They were both asleep. Somebody woke them up, DAmbrosio said.
Police said the man was rescued from the first floor in the rear of the burning unit. He suffered severe internal injuries and was taken to Crozer-Chester Burn Center in Upland, Pennsylvania.
On Tuesday, Battalion Chief Ken Crawford said theres an estimated $100,000 in damage to the home.
Pleasantville fire and police, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office and the Fire Marshals Office are still investigating the cause of the fire. While no cause has been solidified or suspected, Crawford added investigators are bringing in arson dogs to sniff for accelerant.
Whenever you have a serious injury, it brings in a higher authority figure than our local efforts, Crawford said.
Also affected by the blaze was next-door neighbor Marsha Stern. She was displaced from the fire due to smoke and water damage in her home.
Her unit is attached to Clemons and Milanos home, where the fire damaged all three floors and an attached garage behind the building.
They got the worst of it, Stern said.
One residents car was also damaged in the blaze.
Neighbors stopped by the home Tuesday afternoon to check on the place and help if they could, while the family took pictures of the damage and assessed what could be salvaged. Neighbors and DAmbrosio said they think the fire started in the garage.
This was the third fire in Pleasantville in less than a week. Last Wednesday, a house fire damaged the bedroom of a home on Ingersoll Avenue. On Friday, fire damaged a vacant apartment on Sassafras Run.
The CRDA spent $3 million on it, but who actually owned the art? Is the CRDA getting any of that money back?
Patrick Duffy
Atlantic Citys old Wonder art park moving to California
Great idea. Send them a ticket with a big fine.
Timothy J. Moore
via Facebook
Bill to use cameras to catch cars passing school buses approved by state Senate
OK, Ill be the odd one and praise the system that gives him a paycheck while waiting for his name to be cleared, which it was.
Steven Alfonso
via Facebook
Grand jury clears officer
in shooting in Joshlee Vadell case
Lawmakers should be drug tested. ... They should be monitored because they determine how we live our lives.
Gary Mulhearn
Senator proposes substance-abuse screening for all high school students
If natural gas pollutes water, why arent the back bay areas closed for shellfishing? Methane gas is constantly rising from the water. These people will say anything to stop progress.
William Scull
Tensions erupt at natural gas
pipeline hearing
They just dont want it parked by their house. Have some compassion, people.
Ken Probst
via Facebook
Ventnor residents fight over new location of FoodBank mobile pantry
Good thinking, Prieto. Keep taxing the hell out of the vistors until they say enough is enough, and go elsewhere.
Jack Ringheiser
Prieto proposes $2 hotel room fee to pay for Atlantic City public safety
This would have been huge news if she actually did what was in the headline. Fake news.
Joey Acampora
via Facebook
Kellyanne Conway allegedly punched a man repeatedly during an inaugural ball
609 should be Ocean City to Cape May.
Shawn Scheuermann
Could South Jersey be getting a new area code?
Yet the companies for the pipeline somehow, miraculously, got all their people inside.
Tracy Davis
via Facebook
Tensions erupt at natural gas pipeline hearing
Trump, common citizen, deserves a chance
Donald Trumps victory was thought to require a miracle. He was behind in every poll, and the media all but handed Hillary Clinton the victory.
This great country was founded by patriots and revolutionaries who, despite having long odds against a formidable English army, battled on and eventually won independence. It was almost an act of God for ragtag militias to defeat such an army.
Trump, a citizen businessman, faced 12 or more experienced politicians. He stuck to his principles and philosophies, which at times sounded a bit disjointed because he isnt an experienced talking head politician who can twist words and put up a smokescreen. He struck a chord with citizens of America who agreed with a majority of his principles.
Many in Trumps own political party didnt support him fully, yet he single-handedly brought them back to the forefront of American politics a sort of political revolution in itself.
Trump is successful in business and sharing his vision of America. No other common citizen (he is prominent and well known) who hasnt held a public office before, been a member of the military or a lawyer has won the presidency. Time will tell if he can deliver the positive change that he speaks of. His methods and explanations seem a bit crude and certainly unlike the responses from politicians, but give him a chance to shine through. He just may have everyones best interests at heart.
Richard S. Baxter
Mays Landing
Guns destroy greatness
In 2012, Donald Trump applied for and received a trademark for the slogan Make America Great Again. The slogan was originated by Ronald Reagan in his 1980 campaign for president. When I first heard it, the words rang high for Trumps lofty goal. But something in those words rang hollow for me. They begged the question, when was America great? Which period in American history served as the benchmark for greatness?
I hope that Trump will take on the task of making America great by combating the things that make America un-great. One thing that stands out is the increasing violence perpetrated by the use of guns. Yes, guns dont kill people, people kill people, but guns make it easy. Too many guns are in the hands of irresponsible people. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a well-known phrase in the Declaration of Independence and those three ideals are increasingly threatened by the random, senseless killing and maiming of innocent Americans on their home soil.
Life, liberty and happiness should not be threatened in elementary schools, universities, airports, shopping malls and churches. Trump can only make America great again if he raises the quality of life. The proliferation of guns is only one of many ills destroying the fabric of American culture. I pray that Trump and all elected officials have the courage to face the forces that are removing the foundation of Americas potential for greatness. Without that courage, America will continue to slide into un-greatness. Trumps slogan sets the bar high.
Lee von Doehren
Egg Harbor Township
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.
Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.
Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.
to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.
Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.
View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.
Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.
Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.
One of Afghanistans most powerful regional leaders is now aiming to assume political center stage by negotiating a power-sharing deal with the president.
From his base as acting governor of northern Balkh Province for more than a decade, Atta Mohammad Noors possible deal with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani could change Afghanistans political landscape ahead of the presidential election in 2019.
Noors talks Ghani, which have been going on for several weeks, would undermine the standing of Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.
A former rival to Ghani, Abdullah joined him in an often tenuous power-sharing deal following controversial presidential polls in 2014. Noor, a former key backer of Abdullah, is now pushing to replace him as the representative of the Jamiat-e Islami party in Afghanistans national unity government.
The move, however, has created divisions among the predominantly Tajik supporters of Jamiat-e Islami. Many leaders and members of the Islamist party have enjoyed a large share of power within the various administrations following the demise of the hard-line Taliban regime in 2001 -- one of their main military rivals.
"I am here to continue my talks with the honorable president and also for the better formation of Jamiat-i Islami [and to] bring some changes in appointing more deputies within the divisions of responsibility of the party, Noor said of his aims, as well as bringing some changes to provinces, working to make Jamiat more active and play an organized role."
Under Noors stranglehold since 2004, Balkh has seen stability with its capital, Mazar-e Sharif, undergoing a reconstruction and commercial boom. But the astute former anti-Taliban and anti-communist figure has also faced accusations of defying Kabul and using his power to amass a personal fortune.
He now sees a similar role on the national stage and appears ready to hand over his northern support base for Kabuls power corridors.
"There have been suggestions that I could take a job in Kabul, but I never asked for a job. My talks with the president at the national level and my demands are for bigger party participation within the government; that's the priority for me," he told Reuters.
The move has pitted Noor against Abdullah, many of whose supporters feel betrayed.
Speaking to Radio Free Afghanistan, Daud Asaas, an adviser to Abdullah, alleged that Attas negotiations are aimed at preserving his personal gains.
"The talks between Atta Mohammad Noor and the presidential palace are personal, he said earlier this month. [The Afghan presidential palace] Arg has pledged them a number of ministries and provincial posts, and I don't think the talks have reached any conclusions yet."
Another Abdullah supporter, Fazel Sancharaki, was more open in pointing out Attas motives.
Atta can talk with the presidential palace about personal matters like his bank accounts, his foreign trips, or the issue of his acting-governorship of [northern] Balkh [Province], he told Radio Free Afghanistan. But regarding the provisions of the political [power-sharing] agreement [with Ghani], only Abdullah can speak.
The internal tensions within Jamiat-e Islami, one of the main factions in the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance in the 1990s, are part of a broader realignment in Afghan politics.
Since the end of NATO combat operations in late 2014, the Taliban insurgency has expanded with the insurgents now controlling large swathes of the countryside.
Kabuls peace deal with the Hizb-i Islami faction led by controversial Islamist warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has opened the door to renewed rivalry among factions whose infighting during the 1990s ruined Kabul.
Ghanis ruling coalition also faces a complicated struggle with First Vice President Rashid Dostum. The ethnic Uzbek former communist general has proved on occasion to be a wild card. Amid allegations of torture and sexual violence against a political opponent, the Afghan attorney general last week ordered the arrest of nine Dostum bodyguards.
-- With reporting by Reuters
LONDON, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
This announcement contains inside information within the meaning of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) (No 596/2014).
BCRE - Brack Capital Real Estate Investments N.V.
("BCRE" or the "Company")
Deconsolidation of Brack Capital Properties N.V.
As announced on 28 September 2016, the Company sold 420,809 shares of Brack Capital Properties N.V. ("BCP"), whose shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, through an off-market transaction at a price of NIS 324 per share and for a total consideration of NIS 136,342,116 (approximately EUR 32.4 million). This transaction reduced the Company's holding in the issued share capital of BCP to 28.31%.
Due to the reduction of the Company's shareholding in BCP and after careful consideration, the Company has now reached the conclusion that, it no longer has control over BCP and therefore will not consolidate the financial position of BCP starting from 28 September 2016 ("Deconsolidation date"). This conclusion is also supported by the recent receipt of an indication that changes to the voting arrangement in respect of BCP, to which the Company is a party, will be made and the further reduction of the Company's shareholding in BCP to approximately 26.33% (non-fully diluted basis) due to the share issuance as announced by BCP today. It should be further noted, that to the best knowledge of the Company, the aforesaid deconsolidation is not expected to have an effect on the classification of the controlling shareholders of BCP, in accordance with the applicable Israeli securities law, 1968.
From the Deconsolidation date the investment in BCP will be accounted for using the equity method. The financial results of BCP will be consolidated, for the financial year ended 31 December 2016, up to the Deconsolidation date and subsequently will be accounted for under the equity method. The estimated gain (net of transaction costs) from the sale of BCP shares and the revaluation of the remaining investment in BCP to fair value upon loss of control is approximately between EUR 47 million to EUR 57 million (unaudited). In addition, the estimated decrease in the total assets and total liabilities of the Company will be approximately between 53% to 58% and between 58% to 63% respectively (unaudited), compared to the Company's total assets and total liabilities as of 30 June 2016.
The deconsolidation does not impact the compliance by the Company with any covenants under its various loan agreements.
The Company will publish its Annual Report for 2016 in due course.
ENQUIRIES:
BCRE - Brack Capital Real Estate Investments N.V.
Ariel Podrojski, Chief Executive Officer
Nansia Koutsou, Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer, +31 20 514 1004
Novella Communications
Tim Robertson
Toby Andrews, +44 203 151 7008
About BCRE
BCRE is an international real estate development and investment group, headquartered in the Netherlands and listed on the London Stock Exchange. Through its subsidiary and associated undertakings, the Company is interested in, develops and operates an international portfolio of real estate assets, predominantly located in the USA, Germany and Russia.
The Company has established local management team platforms with significant local market expertise in the US, Germany, Russia, India and the UK with exclusive access to over 550 staff. At present, the Company has offices and teams in New York, London, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Moscow, Kazan, New Delhi, Amsterdam and Limassol.
This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire.
SOURCE BCRE - Brack Capital Real Estate Investments N.V.
PARIS, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
The best businesses from France were honoured at an exclusive event last night at the British Ambassador's Residence in Paris, for The European Business Awards sponsored by RSM.
(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/463165/French_National_Champions.jpg )
The 33 firms were chosen by a panel of independent judges, including senior businesses and academic leaders, to be 'National Champions' in Europe's largest business competition.
At the event attendees had the chance to speak to leading businesses in their field and hear from guest speakers including Lord Llewellyn, British Ambassador to France, and Mr Jean-Michel Picaud CEO & Chairman of RSM France.
British Ambassador, Lord Llewellyn said: "I was delighted to host this event for the European Business Awards to celebrate the success of the 33 organisations that were selected to represent France as National Champions in the first stage of the competition. The awards have become a showcase for Europe's most dynamic companies. The innovation and determination shown by the entrants from France is very impressive. I am sure they will help foster great business opportunities, including with the UK and across Europe, in the years to come."
Lead sponsor RSM, is the sixth largest network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms worldwide, and has supported the European Business Awards since its inception.
Jean-Michel Picaud CEO & Chairman of RSM France said : "Every day, RSM supports middle market companies with their growth strategies. Giving successful French businesses recognition is an important part of this role. Events like this for the European Business Awards are a great way for them to create synergies and business opportunities and much can be learnt by all."
All the National Champions are currently taking part in the Public Vote, which opened on 9 January. To vote go to http://www.businessawardseurope.com. Category winners and the overall winner of the public vote will be announced at the Gala Final in May 2017.
The European Business Awards was set up to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe. This year it engaged with over 33,000 businesses from 34 countries.
Further information about the National Champions and the Awards can be found at http://www.businessawardseurope.com and http://www.rsm.global
About the European Business Awards:
The European Business Awards' primary purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe.
For all citizens of Europe, prosperity, social and healthcare systems are reliant on businesses creating an even stronger, more innovative, successful, international and ethical business community - one that forms the beating heart of an increasingly globalised economy.
The European Business Awards programme serves the European business community in three ways:
It celebrates and endorses individuals' and organisations' success
It provides and promotes examples of excellence for the business community to aspire to
It engages with the European business community to create debate on key issues
The European Business Awards is now in its 10th year. This year it engaged with over 33,000 businesses from 34 countries. Last year's public vote generated over 227,000 votes from across Europe. Sponsors and partners include RSM, ELITE and PR Newswire.
http://www.businessawardseurope.com.
About RSM:
RSM is the sixth largest network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms, encompassing over 120 countries, 760 offices and more than 38,000 people internationally. The network's total fee income is US$4.64 billion.
RSM is the lead sponsor and corporate champion of the European Business Awards promoting commercial excellence and recognition of entrepreneurial brilliance.
RSM is a member of the Forum of Firms, with the shared objective to promote consistent and high quality standards of financial and auditing practices worldwide.
RSM is the brand used by a network of independent accounting and advisory firms each of which practices in its own right. RSM International Limited does not itself provide any accounting and advisory services. Member firms are driven by a common vision of providing high quality professional services, both in their domestic markets and in serving the international professional service needs of their client base. http://www.rsm.global
About ELITE:
ELITE is a full-service programme designed to share best practice and increase growth opportunities for fast growing companies, with a focus on understanding the capital markets. ELITE is an innovative programme based on exclusive training and a tutorship model, supported by access to the business and financial community. Its aim is to prepare companies for their next stage of growth and investment.
For further information on the programme, companies and the full list of partners, please go to:
http://www.elite-growth.com
About PR Newswire:
PR Newswire is the leading global provider of PR and corporate communications tools that enable clients to distribute news and rich content. We distribute our client's content across traditional, digital and social media channels in real time with fully actionable reporting and monitoring.
Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimisation network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information on PR Newswire please visit http://www.prnewswire.co.uk
SOURCE European Business Awards and RSM
STOCKHOLM, Jan 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Coor has won a new assignment from ABB regarding delivery and development of several FM services to ABB in Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Baltics. The total estimated contract value is over SEK 1,000 m.
ABB, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Following an extensive tendering process, ABB has signed an agreement with Coor relating to the coordination, delivery and development of a large number of FM services to 26 office locations and production sites across the Nordics and Baltic states.
The services include hard FM services, security, cleaning, soft FM, coffee and fruit. The agreement runs for 5 years, with an estimated annual volume over SEK 230 MSEK.
"In the past, ABB has opted to collaborate with a number of different service providers in the Nordics and Baltics. They are now choosing a single IFM-provider who will take overall responsibility and simplify, rationalize and develop services across a number of national markets and service categories. This is a task that we look forward to engaging with," commented Mikael Stohr, President and CEO of Coor.
Delivery is scheduled to begin on 1 April 2017. The parties are collaborating on the start up of the assignment and Coor will need to recruit new personnel in some locations.
"The agreement between ABB and Coor is the single largest new IFM contract to have been concluded the last twelve months. The deal confirms our position as the leading IFM provider in the Nordics," commented Mikael Stohr, President and CEO of Coor.
For more information, images etc., please visit www.coor.com or contact:
Mikael Stohr,
President and CEO at Coor,
Tel: + 46 10 559 59 62,
E-mail: mikael.stohr@coor.com
AnnaCarin Grandin,
President at Coor in Sweden,
Tel: +46 10 559 59 57 70,
E-mail: annacarin.grandin@coor.com
Asvor Brynnel,
Communications and Sustainability Director at Coor,
Tel: +46 10 559 54 04,
E-mail: asvor.brynnel@coor.com
This information is information that Coor Service Management Holding AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 08:00 CET on January, 31, 2017.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
http://news.cision.com/coor/r/coor-signs-new-nordic-ifm-agreement-with-abb,c2176913
The following files are available for download:
http://mb.cision.com/Main/8962/2176913/621327.pdf PDF http://news.cision.com/coor/i/coor-employee,c2066206 Coor employee http://news.cision.com/coor/i/130130-mikael-coor-v2a0386,c2066207 130130 Mikael Coor V2A0386
Related Links
http://www.coor.com
SOURCE Coor
HAMBURG, Germany, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
The emoji company GmbH announced today that they purchased SABAN BRANDS trademark "emojiville" including all related assets and domain rights.
(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/462220/emoji_company_Logo.jpg )
(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/462221/Marco_Huesges.jpg )
The emoji company, owner of the registered emoji trademark and owner of more than 450 trademarks globally has more than 230 active relationships with reputable license partners from all over the world and is primarily focusing on merchandising, promotions and loyalty programs while numerous global corporations are using the emoji companies' icons and characters for their TV commercials as well as for general advertisement campaigns.
Just a week ago the emoji company announced its licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Animation (SPA) which allows Sony Pictures Animation ( SPA ) to use the term "emoji" in connection with SPA's worldwide merchandising program for SPA's upcoming comedy feature The Emoji Movie, coming to theaters August 11th, 2017.
"The acquisition of the 'emojiville'-trademarks was a logical step for us to strengthen and extend our global brand strategy" says Marco Huesges, CEO of the emoji company, and adds: "Based on our various trademarks and IPs we are proactively developing new brand concepts to address different target audiences and to support our global partners with fresh and powerful marketing concepts."
For more information visit: http://www.emoji-company.com or contact: licensing@emoji-company.com
Contact:
emoji Company GmbH
Herr Jose Eiroa Santiago
Telephone: +49(0)2132-6719983
E-Mail:jose@emoji-company.com
SOURCE emoji Company GmbH
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- FiREapps, the leader in Currency Sensitive Analytics for multinational corporations, today announced the promotion of Malcolm Cummings to Managing Director, Product Management. Among other responsibilities, Cummings will lead FiREapps' new Cash Flow Exposure Management solution.
Cummings joined FiREapps in 2016, with 20 years of management experience in financial markets and technology. Most recently, he was Product Manager for Deutsche Bank's currency and global markets ecommerce products.
"Malcolm has been a great addition to the FiREapps team. When he joined the team last year he immediately took on a leadership position that resulted in the new product. His drive, talent, and currency background are perfect to lead our newest product, providing clients with currency-sensitive cash flow exposure forecasting," said Wolfgang Koester, CEO of FiREapps.
"With the upcoming launch of our new Cash Flow Exposure Management solution and our impressive investment across our range of products, FiREapps continues to provide our clients with an industry leading solution and further cement our position as the leader in the currency analytics market," said Cummings. "We work closely with clients and industry experts throughout the product development cycle, and with the support of a highly talented and dedicated team at FiREapps, I am really looking forward to the official launch of the new Cash Flow Exposure Management product next month and supporting FiREapps in its continued and remarkable growth."
About FiREapps
FiREapps is the leading provider of Corporate Currency Analytics and FX exposure management technologies. Established in 2005, FiREapps developed the first solution to automate foreign exchange exposure management for multinational companies. Through a combination of software solutions and expert analysis, FiREapps helps companies ensure they're accurately measuring and managing their FX exposures. Numerous Fortune 500 companies rely on FiREapps technology to help them reduce FX risk and increase efficiency every day.
FiREapps is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, with offices in Portland, London and Frankfurt.
MEDIA CONTACT: John Vaupel, +1 480 865 2880, media@fireapps.com.
Related Links
http://www.fireapps.com
SOURCE FiREapps
DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "IoT in Manufacturing Market - Global Forecast to 2021" report to their offering.
IoT in Manufacturing market size to grow from USD 6.17 Billion in 2016 to USD 20.59 Billion by 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27.2%.
Manufacturing enterprises are focusing toward increasing their business processes and production output with optimum resource utilization. IoT in manufacturing is gaining traction with the advent of smart devices, advanced data analytics techniques, and increasing need of manufacturers to deploy IoT enabled sub-systems so as to increase the overall efficiency. Industrial IoT vendors are also achieving control over multiple heterogonous manufacturing processes by integrating advanced IoT platforms and solutions to automate manufacturing operations. Industrial IoT delivers transformational value in productivity and competitiveness through data analytics & real-time computing systems and controls the overall industrial process with high precision.
Smart manufacturing allows users to track the real-time data of all the manufacturing processes. The data generated through IoT devices can be integrated and analyzed with the help of different analytics techniques. The report generated after data analysis is used by process engineers, yield engineers, and factory managers for decision making. Hence, smart manufacturing is instrumental in transforming businesses into pre-emptive, autonomic organizations that can forecast & resolve disruptive issues, develop operations & delight customers, while increasing the bottom line and productivity.
Lack of standards for interconnectivity & interoperability and data security & privacy concerns are some of the restraining factors for the IoT in manufacturing market. However, the recent developments, new product launches, and acquisitions of major market players in the IoT in manufacturing arena are boosting the growth of the market.
Companies Mentioned:
Bosch Software Innovations GmbH
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Clearblade Inc.
General Electric
Huawei
IBM Corporation
Impinj
Konux
Litmus Automation
Microsoft Corporation
Mocana
PTC Incorporation
Rockwell Automation
SAP SE
Siemens AG
Uptake
Zebra Technologies
Key Topics Covered:
1 Introduction
2 Research Methodology
3 Executive Summary
4 Premium Insights
5 Market Overview
6 Industry Trends
7 IoT in Manufacturing Market Analysis, By Component
8 IoT in Manufacturing Market Analysis, By Software
9 IoT in Manufacturing Market Analysis, By Platform
10 IoT in Manufacturing Market Analysis, By Service
11 IoT in Manufacturing Market Analysis, By Application
12 IoT in Manufacturing Market Analysis, By Vertical Markets
13 Geographic Analysis
14 Competitive Landscape
15 Company Profiles
16 Key Innovators
For more information about this report visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/gqg89k/iot_in
Media Contact:
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470
For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
Related Links
http://www.researchandmarkets.com
SOURCE Research and Markets
Federal counterterrorism authorities in Pakistan have banned a local charity that is suspected of luring recruits to battle alongside Iranian-backed fighters supporting government forces in Syrias civil war.
The ban on Ansar ul-Hussain, reported by Pakistani media last week, took effect on December 30, according to the website of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), which monitors terrorist organizations in the country. The ban makes it illegal for the group to operate in Pakistan.
Abdul Qayyum, chairman of the Senate Defense Committee and leading member of the ruling Muslim League party, told VOA that following the ban, Pakistan is further pursuing whether any other network is involved in recruiting people for Syria within Pakistan.
Little publicized in Pakistan, Ansar ul-Hussain, which bills itself as a Shi'ite humanitarian organization, has quietly been luring and sending Shiite youths from several northwestern areas in Pakistan to Iran, where they are trained to fight and then sent to Syria, according to media reports and local intelligence officials.
Ansar ul-Hussain has been skilled at avoiding surveillance, but Pakistani authorities say they were able to detect its recruiting activities.
We have a very effective system of tracing and eliminating terrorism within the country, said Qayyum, a retired lieutenant general. Thats the reason we were able to catch and ban Ansar-ul-Hussain.
Islamabad's counterterrorism measures have been widely criticized by many Pakistani politicians and U.S. lawmakers for being largely ineffective. As militant groups continue to flourish in Pakistan, the government faces threats of increasing diplomatic isolation from some U.S. lawmakers over its inability to curb homegrown militancy and the threat it poses to its neighbors.
Pakistani media reported last year that more than 1,000 Pakistanis are fighting in Syria alongside Irans elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The recruited Pakistanis are reported deployed in the Zaynabiyoun Brigade in Syria, comprising Pakistani fighters recruited from inside and outside Pakistan, including Pakistani students in Iran, analysts told VOA.
There are a number of Pakistani Shia who are in Iran, said Phillip Smyth, a researcher at the University of Maryland who focuses on Irans role in the Syrian war. At times, they are there for religious learning, and these types are more easily recruited due to the Islamic Republic's mixing of ideology and religion.
Tehran says its forces are in Syria to protect the Zeinab Shrine in Damascus, a Shi'ite holy site. But since 2011, Iran has been a major backer of the Syrian regime in its war with rebel groups across the country, at first sending advisers, then forces from the IRGC -- expanding far beyond the shrine area.
The Pakistani fighters presence is known inside Syria, according to watchdog groups. Pakistani fighters have been spotted with pro-Iranian militias, including Irans proxy, the Lebanese Hezbollah.
The primary role of the Pakistani militia is to fight in areas around Damascus, Ahmed Khaddour, a media activist from eastern Damascus, told VOA, talking of where pro-Iranian forces are prevalent.
Pakistani recruits for the Syria fight are often lured to Iran by social media, Smyth said.
This has been done on Twitter and Facebook, he said. It often involves posting phone numbers where potential recruits could call in and state their abilities and see if they were applicable to be recruited.
Pakistani recruits are promised financial incentives and Iranian citizenship, analysts say. The IRGC organized a rally in Tehran last summer to honor fallen Pakistani fighters in Syria.
We have thousands of fighters in the brigade fighting on the frontlines, Abu Talib Musawi, a Pakistani fighter in Syria, told the Tehran-based conservative Panjera magazine. VOA could not independently verify his account.
A Facebook page bearing Ansar ul-Hussain name lambasted the Pakistani governments decision to ban the organization. The page pledges allegiance to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
We are proud that you are our leader, the Facebook post reads.
Noor Zahid and Madeeha Anwar wrote this for VOA. Mehdi Jedinia and Sirwan Kajjo contributed to this report from Washington.
NEW YORK, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Rising demand from industrial sector, growing use for power generation and declining average landed prices to drive demand for LNG in Turkey through 2025
According to TechSci Research report "Turkey LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025", LNG Imports in the country is projected to surpass 9 MMT by 2025. Increasing application of LNG in industrial sector for manufacturing of glass, ceramics, fertilizer, cement and steel, coupled with rising mining activity for chrome and copper are the major factors driving demand for LNG in Turkey. Electricity generation capacity in Turkey reached 4.56 MW in 2015 and gross electricity consumption was recorded to be 264.12 billion kWh in 2014. Thus, rising use of LNG as an alternate power source and increasing capacity addition in gas based power plants are the major factors anticipated to fuel demand for LNG in Turkey during 2016 - 2025.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 )
Browse 9 market data Tables and 15 Figures spread through 42 Pages and an in-depth TOC on
"Turkey LNG Market"
https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/turkey-lng-market-demand-supply-analysis-by-region-by-application-by-lng-terminal-competition-forecast-and-opportunities/900.html
Marmara region dominated Turkey LNG market in 2015 and the region is further anticipated to continue dominate the market through 2025, owing to increasing industrialization and growing number of gas-fired electricity generation units in this region. In 2015, industrial sector was the leading end use sector for LNG in Turkey, and the same trend is anticipated to continue in the coming years as well, due to rising application of LNG in manufacturing of glass, ceramics, fertilizer, cement, steel, etc.
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"Declining domestic production and imports of natural gas from Russia, coupled with continuously rising demand for natural gas from various end use sector are the major factors widening demand-supply gap of LNG in Turkey. However, supply of LNG from Algeria, United States and Qatar are anticipated to increase in the coming years. Moreover, growing need for environment-friendly fuels and favorable government policies are further expected to positively impact Turkey LNG market during 2016 - 2025.", said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.
"Turkey LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025", has evaluated LNG market across Turkey and provides statistics and information on market structure, industry behavior and trends. The report includes market projections and potential demand forecasting. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers to take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges, and opportunities available in LNG market in the Turkey.
Browse Related Reports
Global LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region (Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, South America and North America), By Country, By LNG Terminal, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025
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https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/global-natural-gas-compressors-market-by-technology-positive-displacement-compressor-vs-dynamic-compressor-by-application-upstream-midstream-and-downstream-by-region-competition-forecast-and-opportunities-2011-2021/658.html
About TechSci Research
TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends.
Contact
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SOURCE TechSci Research
BUCHAREST, Romania and MORRISTOWN, New Jersey, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A Louis Berger-led joint venture signed a 2.7-million-euro ($2.9 million USD) European Union (EU) funded technical assistance and design contract for the development of water and wastewater infrastructure in Gorj county in Romania.
"Romania has made considerable investments in upgrading its water and wastewater infrastructure, but there is still more work to do," said Slav Marjanovic, vice president and managing director for Eastern Europe. "EU investments in water and wastewater in Gorj are needed to improve community access to potable water and sanitation services."
The project team will prepare the EU financing application, which includes the feasibility study and design. The Louis Berger-led joint venture will provide design assistance during the project execution and will draft tender dossiers for the project management and construction supervision services contracts, two equipment supply contracts, and nearly 30 works contracts.
The current project consists of water treatment and distribution and wastewater collection and treatment investments in both rural and urban areas of Gorj county. Upon completion, it will lead to European Commission standard water quality; will provide 100 percent connectivity to the water and wastewater network; and will reduce physical water losses.
During the past 20 years, Louis Berger has won more than 35 water, wastewater and solid waste projects in Romania. Services include planning, technical assistance, studies, design, project management, operations and maintenance, construction management and supervision, and communications.
About Louis Berger
Louis Berger is a $1 billion global professional services corporation that helps infrastructure and development clients solve their most complex challenges. We are a trusted partner to national, state and local government agencies; multilateral institutions; and commercial industry clients worldwide. By focusing on client needs to deliver quality, safe, financially-successful projects with integrity, we are committed to deliver on our promise to provide Solutions for a better world.
Louis Berger operates on every habitable continent. We have a long-standing presence in more than 50 nations, represented by the multidisciplinary expertise of 6,000 engineers, economists, scientists, managers and planners.
Contact:
Madalina Randasu
mrandasu@louisberger.com
+40756032651
Related Links
http://www.louisberger.com
SOURCE Louis Berger
Irreplaceable Blood Samples from Nepal are Shipped to Canada
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Marken has successfully completed shipments originating from Mount Everest as part of an important research program designed to study the effects of high altitude on the human body.
Blood samples were collected from 67 subjects at various altitudes on the mountain and then transported to Kathmandu and on to a laboratory in Canada. The subjects were accompanied by Sherpa and an expedition team from the University of British Columbia. Study participants donated 3000 vials of blood taken at a variety of altitudes. The blood samples were shipped by helicopter to transport the samples from various higher camps on the mountain to the base camp. Marken collected the samples in Kathmandu and shipped them over a weekend in a frozen state to the University of British Columbia for testing.
Marken took responsibility for managing the shipments during the lengthy trip from Nepal through Turkey and on to Canada. Marken's Global Control Center in Mumbai tracked the shipment in real time through every leg of the journey. The Mumbai team monitors all shipments into and out of the region and transmits data through its proprietary Maestro operating system. Maestro is supported by its exclusive Sentry device which monitors GPS location, temperature, altitude, light exposure and shock.
"We congratulate the expedition team and the study participants on this successful undertaking while overcoming adverse weather conditions and navigating difficult terrain in order to achieve the study goals," said Wes Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer for Marken, "I also want to acknowledge the commitment of our Marken team members who made it happen for our clients. We are privileged to be entrusted with a shipment of this importance, and I'm pleased to share results that highlight how our team members continue to go above and beyond every day to support important clinical research."
About Marken
Marken is the only patient-centric supply chain organization 100% dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Marken maintains the leading position for Direct to Patient services and biological sample shipments and offers a state-of-the-art GMP-compliant depot network and logistic hubs in 45 locations worldwide for clinical trial material storage and distribution. Marken's more than 680 staff members manage 50,000 drug and biological shipments every month at all temperature ranges in more than 150 countries. Additional services such as biological kit production, ancillary material sourcing, storage and distribution, shipment lane verification and qualifications, as well as GDP, regulatory and compliance consultancy add to Marken's unique position in the pharma and logistics industry.
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Related Links
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SOURCE Marken
GRAZ, Austria, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
ARM founder Hermann Hauser invests via eQventure into the Austrian audio startup
The Austrian micro speaker pioneer USound (http://www.usound.com) secures a growth investment of 12 million Euro. Lead investor is eQventure, an Austrian venture capital firm based in Graz, who also brought in ARM founder Hermann Hauser as an USound angel investor. The investment qualifies as one of the biggest financing rounds for an Austrian startup these past years.
Double the team
The new capital will serve to accelerate organizational growth and to hire additional staff. "Several well-known hardware producers have expressed interest in our product. First customer orders have been booked. Our current priority is the serial production, and for this we aim to increase our personnel from roughly 30 engineers to almost 50," explains USound CEO Ferruccio Bottoni.
Smallest speaker in the world
In a project that stretched across several years, USound developed the smallest speaker in the world. It is now ready for market-entry and safeguarded by numerous patents. This first digital version of a micro speaker is based on innovative MEMS technology (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) that enables the extreme miniaturization as well as highest levels of energy efficiency. The founders believe that the micro speakers can be deployed in a vast array of applications. "Headphones are only a starting point", reveals Bottoni, "our product is set to have an impact across all aspects of life as it enables a new paradigm for audio smart systems in portable devices."
Bottoni concludes: "With the fresh capital we can swiftly start mass production."
eQventure brings Hermann Hauser on board
The lead investor eQventure offers USound financing, support in corporate development and a worldwide business network. It was through their doing that Hermann Hauser could be won as an eQventure investor. The entrepreneur, venture capital investor and ARM founder Hauser contributes capital as well as strategic industry know-how. There are several reasons for why this undertaking is attractive to Hauser. "The company is led by an excellent management team with a wealth of experience and impressive track record in microsystem technology. I am convinced that USound can soon lead the billion dollar micro speaker market into the digital age."
USound
USound GmbH is a fast growing audio start-up, founded with the mission of developing and producing the most advanced audio systems for mobile applications based on MEMS technology. The technological platform developed by USound is enabling the production of a revolutionary generation of MEMS micro speakers that are to be deployed in the world's top mobile applications. USound is a fabless company: process R&D and manufacturing operations are outsourced to world class industrial partners.
Hermann Hauser
The entrepreneur and venture capital investor Hermann Hauser has been active in the global tech industry for more than four decades. One of his biggest successes is the British chip developer ARM, whose chip design is nowadays found in every smartphone. In September 2016 ARM was sold for 31,4 billion dollars to the Japanese tech giant Softbank.
eQventure
eQventure is based in Graz (Austria) and offers young tech companies and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) financing, a strong business network and fast, dynamic support in all phases of corporate development. eQventure is driven by a group of successful entrepreneurs and angel investors.
Press contact
Thomas Reiter, Reiter PR
Tel.: + 43-676-66-88-611
Email: thomas.reiter@reiterpr.com
SOURCE USound GmbH
HARLOW, England, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Morplan is delighted to announce the addition of the Panache Display range of mannequins and display accessories to the portfolio of products it offers to UK retailing. Since the 'glam' days of the 1970s, Panache Display has been a lead player in the global fashion business - producing ever-changing looks to set its own trends in mannequin design and visual display - while establishing an enviable reputation for quality as well as creativity.
(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/463210/PRNE_Morplan_Logo.jpg )
Suppliers to the retail industry for over 170 years, Morplan has been a trusted partner to countless outlets, providing an extensive range of over 6,000 products - from carrier bags and coat hangers to shopfittings and equipment. Their existing ranges of mannequins competitively priced between 100 to 300 have been a reasonably priced solution to independent retailers throughout the UK.
"We are thrilled to be able to add the prestigious Panache brand to our portfolio" says Morplan M.D. Mark Chatterton. "Morplan has always provided good quality products - now we can offer top quality. The collections we now offer, including Jersey Girl, Army Girl, Bloomsbury Set, Nouveau and the new LDN Girls will enable us to offer the best quality mannequins and become a serious contender in the VM market".
In addition we will continue to offer the highly valued services of rental and refurbishment options on these high end mannequins.
For more information visit http://www.morplan.com or http://www.panachedisplay.co.uk
SOURCE Morplan
STOCKHOLM, Jan 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Nordic Waterproofing Finland has today acquired 100 percent of the shares in the Finnish company SPT-Painting Oy ("SPT"). The company operates in the fast growing floor coating market, providing floor coating installation services for construction, ship building and industrial customers.
SPT was established in 1990 and is one of the leading coating companies with a significant share of the Finnish market for floor coating. Customers consists primarily of construction companies and shipyards and their contractors. The company's operations are based in Helsinki, with 20 employees and annual sales of about SEK 80 million.
The purchase price is approximately SEK 31 million and the transaction will be financed by Nordic Waterproofing's available cash. SPT will be integrated in the business unit Finland and be consolidated in the Nordic Waterproofing accounts as from 31 January 2017. The acquisition is expected to have a marginal positive impact on the earnings per share of Nordic Waterproofing in 2017.
"The acquisition of SPT is in line with our strategy to strengthen Nordic Waterproofing's position in main markets by product portfolio and segment expansion", commented Martin Ellis, CEO of Nordic Waterproofing. "SPT has a strong market position and we expect to find good synergies as our operations in Installation Services share the customer base with SPT. It is easy to offer floor coating to the same customers that we now offer roofing contracting. Nordic Waterproofing will become a more important partner as we are offering products and services for roofing as well as floor coating. In addition, the ship building industry is a stable customer segment. Outlook for the Finnish ship building business is very good, with the leading shipyard reporting 30 percent growth potential the next five years."
Harri Vesterinen, Managing Director at SPT-Painting said: "We believe that SPT is well positioned to grow in line with the overall floor and deck coating contract work market, and as a part of Nordic Waterproofing we are able to further speed up our plans and entering new geographical markets."
"I am very pleased that the current management team of SPT-Painting will continue to develop the business. They and their colleagues have an excellent knowledge of their industry and have the ability to efficiently carry out several large simultaneously running projects. We welcome all new employees and customers to the Nordic Waterproofing group", said Martin Ellis, CEO of Nordic Waterproofing.
This information is such that Nordic Waterproofing Holding A/S is obliged to make it public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information submitted for publication, through the contact person set out below, on 31 January 2017, at 11.45 a.m. CET.
For further information, please contact:
Anders Antonsson,
Investor relations
Telephone: +46-709-99-49-70
E-mail: anders.antonsson@nordicwaterproofing.com
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
http://news.cision.com/nordic-waterproofing-holding-a-s/r/nordic-waterproofing-acquires-finland-s-spt-painting---adding-new-product-categories,c2177376
The following files are available for download:
SOURCE Nordic Waterproofing Holding A/S
PORTLAND, Oregon and PUNE, India, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Pharmaceutical Packaging Market by Product Type: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014-2022," the pharmaceutical packaging market was valued at $68,749 million in 2015, and is expected to reach $104,882 million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2016 to 2022. In 2015, plastic bottles and parenteral containers together occupied two-fifths of the total market share.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140911/647229 )
Expansion of generic market, technological advancement, and strict governmental regulations for conventional packaging are major factors that drive the market growth. In addition, various technologies, such as RFIDs, temper-evident packs, holograms, labels, and special inks, are used to combat counterfeit medicines. Investments and innovations in R&D activities propel the market players to initiate manufacturing projects in eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging, which is expected to surge in near future. In addition, patent expiration of various medicated drugs is expected to fuel the pharmaceutical packaging market during the forecast period.
Summary of Pharmaceutical Packaging Market can be accessed on the website at:
https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/pharmaceutical-packaging-market
According to Sriram Radhakrishnan, Team Lead, Healthcare at Allied Market Research, "Emerging drug market along with product innovation is a flourishing market for pharmaceutical solutions."
Plastic bottles and parenteral containers are expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.84% and 8.45%, respectively, during the forecast period. This is because packaging companies are constantly focusing on eco-friendly packaging materials, techniques, and technologies to overcome the increasing environmental concerns.
Key findings of the study
Asia-Pacific is expected to continue to dominate the market during the forecast period, followed by Europe .
is expected to continue to dominate the market during the forecast period, followed by . Plastic bottles and parenteral containers together occupy two-fifths of the total share, in terms of revenue.
Middle East is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.2% from 2016 to 2022.
is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.2% from 2016 to 2022. South Korea grows at a faster rate in Asia-Pacific pharmaceutical packaging market, registering a CAGR of 7.4%.
grows at a faster rate in pharmaceutical packaging market, registering a CAGR of 7.4%. In Europe , France is expected to occupy the highest CAGR of 6.3%.
In 2015, Europe and North America together occupied approximately two-thirds of the total market share, by volume. India has adopted the growing need for environmental concerns by advancement in technologies; the pharmaceutical packaging market is expected to expand with a CAGR of 7.36%.
The prominent players operating in the market include Amcor Ltd, Berry Plastics Corporation, Gerresheimer AG, Becton Dickinson and Company, MeadWestvaco Corporation, Graphic Packaging Group, RPC Group, Owen-Illinois Inc., Schott Pharmaceutical Packaging, and West Pharmaceutical Services Inc.
Read similar market research reports on Pharmaceuticals at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/life-sciences/Pharmaceuticals-market-report
About Us:
Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions". AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.
We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.
Contact:
Rahul Thakur
5933 NE Win Sivers Drive
#205, Portland, OR 97220
United States
Direct: +1-503-894-6022
Toll Free: +1 (800) 792-5285 (U.S. & Canada)
Fax: +1 (855) 550-5975
E-mail: sales@alliedmarketresearch.com
Website: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com
SOURCE Allied Market Research
Across the OECD countries there is a 14:1 range from highest to lowest MBB price per GB.
BOSTON and LONDON, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Strategy Analytics latest Mobile Broadband price data shows that the price per GB of post-paid MBB services is declining at an average rate of 10% per year. However, there is still a huge variation in prices from USD $1 per GB in Poland to well over $13 per GB in Colombia, Germany and Chile.
Mobile Broadband Price per GB Q4/2016 (PRNewsFoto/Strategy Analytics)
Strategy Analytics has released the latest update of the OECD Mobile Broadband Price Benchmarking System which analyses over 100 providers across 36 countries, and includes over 2,600 SIM-only, modem, laptop and tablet plans. Other key findings from the report include:
SIM-only plans account for 38% of all plans in this update, and 80% of the plans are post-paid.
Over 84% of all plans are now 4G/LTE.
Since 2011, the size of the largest post-paid data allowances for MBB has increased five times, from a maximum of 200 GB in 2011 to a maximum of 1000 GB in 2016.
Data value has improved over the last 6 years with the average price per GB falling 39% against the 2011 index of 100.
The cost of data varies significantly by country, however. The figure below shows both the average and the lowest price per GB across 36 countries, as of December 2016, taking into account all relevant post-paid offers from the three most prominent providers in each country.
Figure 1: Mobile Broadband Price per GB, Q4/2016
Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/463227/Strategy_Analytics_Mobile_Broadband_Prices_Infographic.jpg
Strategy Analytics' Teligen Director Halvor Sannaes says, "Prices have fallen an average of 10% per GB across the OECD countries from 2015 to 2016. There is however a significant variation in the price per GB between the countries, with a factor of 14:1 from highest to lowest country average." Senior Consultant Josie Sephton adds, "While prices are falling on average, overall, they aren't falling everywhere. Over the past year, we have seen increases in the average per GB price in one third of the countries tracked."
The OECD Mobile Broadband Price Benchmarking system is a service offered by Strategy Analytics with quarterly updates. To view the service please visit: https://www.strategyanalytics.com/access-services/networks/tariffs---mobile-and-fixed/broadband/oecd-mobile-broadband/market-data#.WJCdpk3ruUk
About Strategy Analytics
Strategy Analytics, Inc. provides the competitive edge with advisory services, consulting and actionable market intelligence for emerging technology, mobile and wireless, digital consumer and automotive electronics companies. With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, Strategy Analytics delivers insights for enterprise success. www.StrategyAnalytics.com
Teligen Contacts:
Halvor Sanns, +44(0) 208 185 0401, hsannaes@strategyanalytics.com
Josie Sephton, +44(0) 208 185 0410, jsephton@strategyanalytics.com
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Related Links
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SOURCE Strategy Analytics
- Investors cite high volatility in currencies, commodities and capital markets as top risks for foreign direct investments into Europe
- Over 70% of investors have already felt some impact following the Brexit vote
- 96% of businesses do not feel well-prepared for future uncertainties
LONDON, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite current geopolitical and financial market volatility, investment plans into Europe over the next three years are strong, with 56% of global investors planning to grow their presence in Europe, according to the EY 2017 European attractiveness survey Plan B for Brexit. This contrasts with the findings from the EY survey conducted last May, which found that only 36% of European investors had a positive investment outlook for Europe.
Investors cited instability on the continent as their primary concern in respect to future investment plans. However, Europe's talent, innovation capacity and large, integrated market and production system are still valued by global investors. Of the 254 global investors surveyed, high volatility in currencies, commodities and capital markets was identified as the biggest risk to investment decisions in Europe (37%), while economic and political instability within the European Union (EU), excluding Brexit, (32%) and the impact of Brexit (28%) were identified as the second and third biggest risks respectively.
Andy Baldwin, EY Area Managing Partner Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, says:
"It is encouraging that the investors we are tracking continue to have strong investment appetite in Europe despite the instability and mixed geopolitical environment. However, investor patience is finite. Europe's historical investor appeal was built on certainty and predictability. Europe is in danger of developing an emerging market 'geopolitical risk profile' without commensurate returns. For the foreseeable future, pure economic factors will vie alongside political considerations in influencing final investment decisions."
The lines of Europe's foreign direct investment map are starting to shift
Heightened geographic and political risks across Europe and the UK are prompting 1 in 10 companies with a presence in Europe to review their geographical footprint. However, the survey finds that the UK's EU referendum result is a far bigger concern for foreign companies established in the UK (33%), compared with those that are not (15%). Companies not established in the UK cite geopolitical and wider EU instability (31%), coupled with the slowdown in trade flows (30%) as more urgent concerns.
Fourteen percent of foreign investors with a presence in the UK plan to change or relocate some of their European operations in the next three years should the UK leave the European single market. Overall, 11% plan to modify their UK presence in Europe following Brexit. Germany was identified as the preferred destination for those investors moving out of the UK (54%), followed by the Netherlands (33%) and France (8%).
Hanne Jesca Bax, EY EMEIA Managing Partner Markets & Accounts, says:
"Agility is key for businesses to succeed in a volatile landscape. Investment appetite across Europe is growing, but business structures will need to flex to accommodate future and unpredicted changes. Mitigating the impact of possible increases in import costs, for example, will be critical. But businesses should not only address the risks. They should also seek opportunities to capture new business and improve operational efficiency as they strive to grow and expand their business."
Brexit impact on financial services, technology and mid-sized companies
Financial services (FS) companies are the least optimistic about their growth prospects in Europe over the next three years: only 12% anticipate strong growth, while 6% expect to "slightly reduce" their existing presence in the region. FS firms are also nearly twice as likely as manufacturing firms to identify EU instability (51%) and Brexit (41%) among the top three growth risks, with volatility seen as a much less severe risk.
The technology sector is leading growth into Europe with 72% of respondents planning to invest in Europe in the next three years, and of those, 33% expecting to grow their presence significantly identifying Europe as a powerhouse in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (IA), the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. Mid-sized companies1 are also driving growth, with more than two-thirds expecting to grow their presence in Europe and 26% planning significant expansion.
Brexit reshaping boardroom agendas
More than 70% of foreign investors say they have already felt some impact following the UK's referendum on EU membership. These investors have seen an impact in at least one area of their business operations in Europe and have cited operating margins, cost of purchase and sales, in particular. Companies with a strong presence in the UK were hit the hardest, with 31% reporting an increase in purchase costs and the same percentage identifying operating margin pressures.
Assessing and managing the immediate impact of Brexit on costs (largely import-driven) and supply chain are fundamental concerns for respondents, with 32% and 27% respectively highlighting these as urgent agenda items. Despite concerns over the geopolitical environment, only 4% of respondents report being well-prepared for the uncertainty arising from new risks and a changing regulatory environment.
Baldwin concludes:
"The financial impact of Brexit is not confined to the UK. The survey shows that 70% of European businesses we surveyed have been impacted in some way. European businesses and investors need certainty and want clarity on the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU27. In the meantime, we will likely see a pick-up in businesses reconfiguring supply chains and distribution arrangements to mitigate currency volatility and cost pressures. Flexibility and agility will be key."
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.
About EY's European attractiveness surveys
EY's European attractiveness surveys analyze the attractiveness of a particular region or country as an investment destination, and are designed to help businesses make investment decisions and governments remove barriers to growth. A two-step methodology analyzes both the reality and perception of FDI in the country or region.
This survey is part of the EY's European attractiveness surveys, which studies the forces shaping flows of FDI into Europe. In November and December 2016, EY interviewed 254 senior business executives at foreign investors in Europe, dividing our sample group into three groups of approximately equal size, based on whether their companies had global headquarters in the US, in Asia or in Europe.
1 Annual sales between 150m and 1.5b
Raffaella Santarsiere
EY Global Media Relations
+44 (0) 7467 441509
raffaella.santarsiere@uk.ey.com
Related Links
http://www.ey.com
SOURCE EY
NEW YORK, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
New Payments-Platform-as-a-Service model delivers high value to banks, including substantial reductions in the cost of processing payments
DH Corporation (TSX: DH) ("D+H"), a leading provider of technology solutions to financial institutions globally, today published a white paper outlining the market drivers and business benefits of Payments-Platform-as-a-Service, an on-demand, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model for payments processing.
The paper examines how this new innovation allows banks to quickly and easily migrate from what has historically been a set of processes and technologies owned and managed in-house, to an outsourced cloud environment managed by an external provider. Available on an outsourced pay-per-use basis and delivered through a cloud environment, this new model brings all the benefits of performance, faster time to compliance, scalability and flexibility that come with cloud provisioning. The paper also highlights how one European bank estimates they will be able to save up to 60% in payments transaction costs by eliminating the need for hardware, software or specialist payments technical teams.
To receive a copy of Payments-Platform-as-a-Service: The Next Evolution in Global Payments, go to: http://www.dh.com/resources/white-papers/payments-platform-service-next-evolution-global-payments.
"Given the clear advantages of Payments-Platform-as-a-Service, it is hardly surprising that banks around the world are taking a closer look at what this model can offer their business," says Veejay Jadhaw, Chief Technology Officer, Global Payments Solutions, D+H. "It may only take a few forward-thinking banks to transform the entire industry to a point whereby an outsourced model will become a prerequisite of staying competitive."
About D+H
D+H (TSX: DH) is a leading financial technology provider that the world's financial institutions rely on every day to help them grow and succeed. Our global payments, lending and financial solutions are trusted by nearly 8,000 banks, specialty lenders, community banks, credit unions, governments and corporations. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, D+H has more than 5,500 employees worldwide who are passionate about partnering with clients to create forward-thinking solutions that fit their needs. With annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion, D+H is recognized as one of the world's top FinTech companies on IDC Financial Insights FinTech Rankings and American Banker's FinTech Forward rankings. For more information, visit dh.com.
Patrick Kilhaney, Public & Analyst Relations Manager, Global Payments Solutions, D+H, +1-917-286-1053, patrick.kilhaney@dh.com; Anthony Gerstein, Head of Investor Relations, +1-212-331-3937, anthony.gerstein@dh.com; Cognito, +1-646-395-6304, dh@cognitomedia.com
SOURCE DH Corporation
A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Monday, Jan. 30, 2017:
IPERS REVIEW: Gov. Terry Branstad plans to appoint a panel of citizens to review the states retirement plans to look at whether changes need to be made to ensure their long-term stability.
Branstad said Monday he has been talking to his former chief of staff, Gretchen Tegeler, now president of the Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa, and others about the future of the state pension systems, the largest of which is IPERS. It covers about 350,000 employees of state and local governments, including schools, with 52 percent either retired or inactive.
A lot of private sector have made transition from the old system of defined benefits to defined contributions, Branstad said at his weekly news conference. The benefit is portability. So if you leave one position, one job and go to another, if you have a defined contributions system, you can just roll it over and still have it.
However, Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds said any changes would be made slowly so as not to affect people receiving IPERS benefits.
They believe IPERS is a well-run pension, but believe it makes sense to get people with knowledge and expertise and people who are part of these various pensions to take a long-term look at it.
They did not indicate their timetable for that review.
SAVE MEDICARE: AARP has launched a campaign designed to protect Iowans from congressional proposals to change Medicare.
About 17 percent of Iowans, or 543,000 people, were provided coverage by Medicare last year. AARP estimates that 20 percent of Iowans, 625,000 people, are between the ages of 50 and 64 today and will transition into Medicare over the next 15 years.
Congressional proposals to change Medicare into a voucher system would dramatically increase health care costs and risks for both current and future retirees, AARP said.
Older Iowans depend on Medicare for affordable health care, said AARP State Director Kent Sovern. A voucher system would dramatically increase health care costs and risks for current and future retirees. It could mean many thousands of dollars out of their own pockets.
FURLOUGH UPDATE: Gov. Terry Branstad, who has repeatedly said he wants to reduce layoffs and furloughs of state employees to deal with a $118 million general fund budget shortfall, said Monday those decisions will be left to individual departments.
We do respect and recognize not just the Judicial Branch, but other departments and agencies of state government have to make decisions they think are most appropriate, the governor said Monday.
He believes that by exempting K-12 education and Medicaid from cuts and fully funding the property tax backfill to local governments, his administration has avoided the disruption caused when Gov. Chet Culver ordered a 10 percent across-the-board cut.
Friday, the Judicial Branch, which is a separate branch of government, announced its employees will be furloughed for a day to deal with a $3 million funding cut.
Likewise, decisions about how to deal with state employee unions not accepting the states request to give up their 2017 pay raise will be left to individual departments, Branstad said.
The state has not been able to get that concession from two unions. A third -- AFSCME, which represents 19,000 state employees will vote in February whether to forego the 1.25 percent raise that started Jan. 1.
CHANGING PHONES: The decrease in wired phone lines in Iowa is the same as the increase in wireless phones -- 25 percent, according to the Iowa Utilities Board.
The number of total access lines or wired phones dropped by 367,342 between 2009 and 2015, the IUB said in a report to the House Commerce Committee. Over the same time period, the number of wireless phones increased 554,653 from 2,190,054 to 2,744,707.
TRESPASSING CHANGE: A measure aimed at protecting landowners from being sued by trespassers who should not have been on their land won approval Monday by a Senate Judiciary subcommittee.
Backers of Senate Study Bill 1011 said the legislation would codify Iowas current common law standard and protect property owners against any future granting of expanded liability via court decisions.
Land owners still would have a duty of care to refrain from willfully or wantonly injuring a trespasser and to use reasonable care to avoid injuring a trespasser once the trespassers presence becomes known.
The liability provision would not remove responsibility for property owners to protect children from having dangerous conditions or from having items on the property that might attract children to come on the land.
A similar bill (House Study Bill 35) has been introduced in the Iowa House. A House subcommittee approved a separate trespassing bill (House File 69) on Monday that sets the fine for trespassing first offense at $200 rather than the current range of $25 to $625. The penalty increases for each subsequent offense.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: If we were perfect we wouldnt need to meet every year, Rep. Greg Forristall, R-Macedonia.
LUXEMBOURG, January 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
The music business has drastically changed and still seems to be looking for the right model, as observed in the past few years with the decline of digital sales and the rise of on-demand streaming. In this ever-evolving landscape, one thing remains obvious: artists are making less money. Not a week goes by without seeing in the media an artist discussing the low level of revenue coming from streaming platforms. These days, musicians and songwriters are left on their own, struggling to find the most efficient way to promote and monetize their music.
(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/462153/Jamendo_Logo.jpg )
With its licensing marketplace, based on a royalty-free model with fair share, Jamendo answers that issue. And with more than $1 million paid to thousands of artists in 2016, it proves to be a valuable model to support music creation.
https://www.jamendo.com
Jamendo achieves this by placing independent tracks in advertising campaigns for prestigious brands such as Ford, Nestle, Sony, Huawei or Mercedes-Benz, as well as providing background music to global retailers such as United Colors of Benetton, McDonald's or Swatch. This strategy results in a strong income redistributed directly to artists, with only Jamendo keeping a piece of each revenue and leaving a fair share to the right-holders (up to 65%).
"We are definitely observing a strong increase in the need for music to license, and more and more artists are joining Jamendo to monetize their creations", says Emmanuel Donati, Jamendo's General Manager.
The music licensing business is indeed in fast growth, following the constant increase of videos uploaded across the web. As a matter of fact, 500 hours of video are uploaded on YouTube every minute, and the vast majority contains music. With its services constantly improving, there is reason to believe that Jamendo will reach higher milestones in the near future.
Jamendo 2016 music retrospective: https://www.jamendo.com/2016-in-review
About Jamendo
Jamendo is a worldwide community of independent music, with thousands of artists sharing more than 500,000 tracks to stream and download for free. Jamendo supports independent artists by licensing their songs for commercial use (film, TV, advertising, background music in stores, etc.), generating fair revenue for them.
https://www.jamendo.com
Contact
Emmanuel Donati
[email protected]
+352-26-53-421
SOURCE Jamendo
The inaugural Vine to Wine dinner features distinguished grower Dick Boushey, a recipient of the Wine & Spirits "Grower of the Year" award. The four-course pairing menu will be presented by El Gaucho, a recent winner of the Washington State Wine Commission's Restaurant Group of the Year. The event will take place at the iconic DeLille Cellars Chateau in the heart of Woodinville Wine Country. Co-Founder and Executive Winemaker Chris Upchurch, Co-Founder and President/CEO Greg Lill, Co-Founder and Executive V.P. Sales and Marketing Jay Soloff, and Winemaker Jason Gorski will be in attendance.
Additional dinners in the series will take place at renowned restaurants in the Puget Sound region. Tickets will be on sale soon. Please visit the DeLille Cellars Event Ticket page for more information.
DeLille Cellars will continue to celebrate its 25-year legacy at its spring and fall release events, along with an inaugural Rose Picnic at the DeLille Cellars Chateau in June.
2017 Celebratory Events:
For the latest event details, please visit http://www.delillecellars.com/25-Years and the DeLille Cellars Events page.
Vine to Wine Inaugural Dinner: Wednesday, March 22nd at the DeLille Cellars Chateau
Spring Barrel Tasting: Saturday and Sunday, May 20th & 21st at the DeLille Cellars Winery and Production Facility
Rose Picnic: Sunday, June 25th at the DeLille Cellars Chateau
End of Summer Blanc Party: Sunday, August 27th at the DeLille Cellars Carriage House Tasting Room
Fall Release: Friday through Sunday, November 3rd through 5th at the DeLille Cellars Chateau
Special Offers at the DeLille Cellars Carriage House Tasting Room in Woodinville:
Quarterly drawing to win a D2 6 Liter for the price of a 750ml
Winemaker Fridays (the second Friday of each month): Special tasting from 4-6 PM with a member of the DeLille Cellars Winemaking Team
with a member of the DeLille Cellars Winemaking Team Special offers during Taste Washington and Washington Wine Months in March and August on current vintage D2, Chaleur Blanc and Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon
Special Offers at Maison DeLille Wine Lounge in Kirkland:
Wine Wednesdays: $10 glass pours of D2
glass pours of D2 Throwback Thursdays: By-the-glass specials on library vintages
About DeLille Cellars
DeLille Cellars is a boutique artisan winery located in Woodinville, Washington. The winery was founded in 1992 by Charles and Greg Lill, Jay Soloff, and celebrated winemaker Chris Upchurch. DeLille Cellars pioneered Bordeaux-style blends from Washington State, and has maintained a tradition of quality and excellence with over 180 wines scored 90+ (across 25 vintages) from leading publications such as Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Vinous/Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, and Wine Enthusiast.
The winery focuses on the Red Mountain AVA and grape sourcing from Washington's leading Grand Cru vineyards, including Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, Upchurch, Red Willow, Sagemoor, Klipsun, Boushey and Harrison Hill. DeLille Cellars was named the "Lafite Rothschild of Washington State" and a 5-star/outstanding producer, the same designation awarded Cheval Blanc and Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, by Robert Parker.
DeLille Cellars is a Bacchus Capital portfolio company.
For more information, visit www.delillecellars.com
SOURCE DeLille Cellars
Related Links
http://www.delillecellars.com
HORSHAM, Pa., Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. ("AAMCO"), franchisor of the world's largest branded chain of transmission specialists and an industry leader in total car care services, announced today it has expanded in California with the opening of its first location in San Marcos. The new auto repair shop is located at 1286 West San Marcos Boulevard, Suite 100, and features transmission, auto repair and fleet services. AAMCO of San Marcos marks the brand's 80th location in California, and is owned and operated by local resident and first-time franchisee George Love.
"I've always had an entrepreneurial mindset and a love of cars, so when I saw an opportunity with a brand as recognizable as AAMCO, I knew it was a perfect fit," said Love. "I am thrilled to bring AAMCO to the growing community of San Marcos. My goal is to provide a seamless customer experience to San Diego County residents and visitors alike for many years to come."
Prior to joining AAMCO, Love spent 36 years in the automotive industry, working in all aspects of the business, including sales, and most recently owned a local car dealership in Southern San Francisco. The former U.S. Marine Corps veteran has lived in the Carlsbad community for more than 30 years and is closely involved in a variety of local charitable organizations.
For more than 50 years, AAMCO's network of locally owned and independently operated automotive service centers has employed the latest technology. Expert technicians diagnose a repair, fix it right the first time and back it with a nationwide warranty. Known as the world's leading transmission expert, the company has evolved into a total car care brand that provides a variety of services including brake repair, tune-ups, shocks and struts, routine maintenance and more. AAMCO was named to Entrepreneur's 2017 Franchise 500, ranking at the top of the transmission repair category for the third consecutive year. Based on network size, growth rate and financial strength, last year, the brand also earned a spot on Entrepreneur's "Best of the Best" list. Additionally, AAMCO has been consecutively ranked on Franchise Times' Top 200+ for the last two years.
AAMCO in San Marcos serves customers Monday Friday from 8:30 a.m. 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. noon. For more information, please visit www.aamcosanmarcosca.com or call 760-607-6099.
About AAMCO
AAMCO is the world's largest branded chain of transmission specialists and a leader in total car care services. AAMCO has nearly 650 franchised automotive centers throughout the United States and Canada. Established in 1962, AAMCO-branded centers are proud to have served more than 45 million drivers. For more information, visit: aamcouniversity.com, aamco.com or aamcoblog.com.
Contact:
Claibourne Rogers
Fish Consulting
407-808-2426
[email protected]
SOURCE AAMCO
Related Links
http://www.aamcosanmarcosca.com
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP today launched a comprehensive campaign to protect Medicare in the face of proposals by some in Congress that would hurt hardworking Americans who have paid in to the program, their entire lives. Television and digital ads feature President Trump in a video clip saying, "I am going to protect and save your Social Security and your Medicare. You made a deal a long time ago."
Protect Medicare
The advertising debuts following President Trump's announcement that he would address a joint session of Congress at the end of February. Americans can find information about the importance of Medicare, see the new ad, and stay up to date on AARP's new campaign at aarp.org/ProtectMedicare.
Over the next few weeks, AARP staff and volunteers in all 50 states expect to meet with members of Congress to underscore the importance of Medicare to the 57 million beneficiaries and the millions of workers who now pay in on the promise of benefits later. The nationwide campaign specifically counters proposals that would increase costs and risks for seniors, and 'voucher-ize' Medicare.
In a recent letter to Congress, AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins said: "The average senior, with an annual income of under $25,000 and already spending one out of every six dollars on health care, counts on Social Security for the majority of their income and on Medicare for access to affordable health coverage. We will continue to oppose changes to current law that cut benefits, increase costs, or reduce the ability of these critical programs to deliver on their benefit promises. We urge you to continue to do so as well."
AARP's Public Policy Institute also has put out new, detailed national and state analyses about Medicare vouchers, including Premium Support and the Impact on Medicare Beneficiaries. The report notes that "premium support could force people with fewer financial resources to leave traditional Medicare and enroll in less-expensive plans, with more limited benefits and restrictive provider networks."
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.
SOURCE AARP
Related Links
http://www.aarp.org
Congressional proposals to change Medicare into a voucher system would dramatically increase health care costs and risks for both current and future retirees. Over the next few weeks, AARP staff and volunteers will meet with members of Congress to underscore that this proposal would put 2,016,275 seniors' benefits at risk and threaten the guarantee of benefits for 2,419,021 workers, ages 50-64, who are currently paying into the system.
"Older Ohioans depend on Medicare for affordable healthcare," said State Director for AARP Ohio, Barbara A. Sykes. "A voucher system would dramatically increase health care costs and risks for current and future retirees. It could mean many thousands of dollars out of their own pockets.
In a recent letter to Congress, AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins said: "The average senior, with an annual income of under $25,000 and already spending one out of every six dollars on health care, counts on Social Security for the majority of their income and on Medicare for access to affordable health coverage. We will continue to oppose changes to current law that cut benefits, increase costs, or reduce the ability of these critical programs to deliver on their benefit promises. We urge you to continue to do so as well."
AARP's Public Policy Institute also has put out new, detailed analyses about Medicare, including state fact sheets , and Premium Support and the Impact on Medicare Beneficiaries. The report notes that "premium support could force people with fewer financial resources to leave traditional Medicare and enroll in less-expensive plans, with more limited benefits and restrictive provider networks."
Additionally, the campaign includes television and digital advertising that urges Congress to keep President Trump's commitment on Medicare. During the election, President Trump was very clear about his position, saying, "I am going to protect and save your Social Security and your Medicare. You made a deal a long time ago."
A new website for the campaign www.aarp.org/protectmedicare -- also launched today.
Follow us on Twitter: @AARPOhio and Facebook: AARP OH
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Espanol, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity of AARP that is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.
SOURCE AARP Ohio
Related Links
http://www.aarp.org
ACA GPS continues onboarding new clients to the ACA Management Tool via an online portal at www.acagps.com/products . After supplying the company information, clients are able to begin using the solution immediately to create the 1095 forms B or C series.
ACA Reporting is $925 per EIN and includes:
Subscription to ACA Management Tool software solution
Up to 1,000 Form 1095's (Download as PDFs for printing & distributing)
E-Filing with the IRS (no TCC number needed)
Unlimited corrections / resubmissions
Dedicated Customer Service Representative
Data templates (B or C series forms)
Exclusive Coding Guide (C series forms)
OPTIONAL: Print Pack & Mail service ($2.00 per form)
Deadlines for Tax Year 2016 are fast approaching:
March 2nd, 2017 : 1095s postmarked to employees/responsible individuals
1095s postmarked to employees/responsible individuals February 28th, 2017 : Deadline for mailing* the 1094/1095s to the IRS
*employers with less than 250 forms are eligible to submit their information returns to the IRS via USPS first class mail
Deadline for mailing* the 1094/1095s to the IRS March 31st, 2017 : Deadline for electronic filing** of the 1094/1095s to the IRS
**employers with 250 or more forms are required to submit their information returns to the IRS electronically
NOTE: All subscribers to the ACA Management Tool can file electronically, regardless of form count
Get started today:
Visit www.acagps.com to learn more.
Visit www.acagps.com/products to purchase a Reporting Only Subscription today.
Email [email protected] to receive more information.
Call 470-239-5524 to get more information or schedule a demonstration.
About ACA GPS, LLC
ACA GPS, is a Florida-based Limited Liability Corporation that developed the ACA Management Tool to assist employers with complying with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). ACA GPS provides the highest quality, most comprehensive, easy to use and cost-effective ACA management tools and services in the marketplace. ACA GPS maintains the highest levels of customer service and remains up to date with changes to mandates or regulations that are part of the ACA. For more information, please visit www.acagps.com (http://www.acagps.com) or call 470-239-5524.
ACA Management Tool: the affordable solution to reporting on the Affordable Care Act.
SOURCE ACA GPS, LLC
Related Links
http://www.acagps.com
MIAMI and BARCELONA, Spain, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cien, Inc. a company based in Miami, Florida just announced a $1 Million Seed financing round, from seasoned accredited investors and the founding team. "We are thrilled by the reception our AI enabled mobile Sales Productivity app has received from both the business and investor communities," said Rob Kall, CEO and Co-founder.
AI is eating the world
The current boom in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has captured a lot of attention, but it is not all about self-driving cars, and flying robot drones. There is a tremendous upside for businesses to use AI to further automate and improve their operations. Research firm Tractica estimates that the market for AI enabled systems will be over $36 billion by 2025. Cien, Inc. is part of this new revolution. "The old saying was that 'Software is eating the world.' Now we are saying that AI is eating traditional software," according to the Cien team.
Co-founder Margot Carter who also sits on multiple public and private company boards added, "Virtually all forward-thinking companies are discussing how to use AI to gain a competitive edge. Cien offers an easy solution where it matters the most; in improving Sales Productivity."
Optimizing Sales Productivity is the easiest way to make any company grow faster and more profitably. However, until now, many things that affect productivity; like team mood, macro factors such as competition and the quality of leads have been intangible and impossible to measure.
Jerome Rose, VP of Sales at a multinational IT services firm said, "The revolutionary tools that Cien offers executives, helps them identify areas of improvement within their sales team and helps them report meaningful metrics to their executive leadership team and investors. Cien's mantra: 'Measure what Matters' means that things that previously were just gut feelings can now be incorporated into our management strategies."
"People are talking a lot about Predictive Analytics, the ability for AI enabled tools to see into the future, but to be truly useful you also want Prescriptive Analytics, i.e. what you should do next with this information," Ben Strum, CTO and Co-founder said. "That's what our new 'Cien Mentor' feature delivers. When you act on these insights you can get ROI of over 1,000%," Rob Kall added.
The company which was founded in mid-2016, plans to use the fundraising proceeds to expand their sales and marketing efforts, and set up a product development and operations center in Barcelona, Spain. "We chose Barcelona because of the excellent balance of quality of life and cost of living, which attracts world-class talent from all over the world. The current strong US dollar also makes this a very attractive economic proposition," Rob Kall said. The round closed in late 2016 and Stanley 'Stash' Jacobs of Greenberg Traurig represented the company. For more information including career opportunities, go to www.cien.ai.
Contact:
Rob Kall
CEO/Co-Founder
[email protected]
+1 305 496 4404
SOURCE Cien, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.cien.ai
PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) announced today the tax treatment of its Year 2016 distributions as described in the chart below. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors as to their specific tax treatment of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. distributions.
Dividends
Capital Gains
Ticker Symbol
Record Date
Payment Date
Distribution Per Share
Taxable Ordinary
Qualified (1)
Total Capital Gain
Unrecaptured
Section 1250 (2)
Return of Capital (3) ARE
12/31/2015
1/15/2016
$ 0.770000
$ 0.19371311
$ 0.23824508
$ 0.33804180
ARE
3/31/2016
4/15/2016
0.800000
0.20126038
0.24752736
0.35121226
ARE
6/30/2016
7/15/2016
0.800000
0.20126038
0.24752736
0.35121226
ARE
9/30/2016
10/17/2016
0.800000
0.20126038
0.24752736
0.35121226
Total Common Stock (Cusip # 015271109)
$ 3.170000
$ 0.79749425
$ 0.98082716
$ 1.39167858
Percentage
100 %
25.157547 %
%
30.940920 %
%
43.901533 %
ARE PRD
12/31/2015
1/15/2016
$ 0.437500
$ 0.19619835
$ 0.24130165
ARE PRD
3/31/2016
4/15/2016
0.437500
0.19619835
0.24130165
ARE PRD
6/30/2016
7/15/2016
0.437500
0.19619835
0.24130165
ARE PRD
9/30/2016
10/17/2016
0.437500
0.19619835
0.24130165
Total Series D Preferred Stock (Cusip # 015271505)
$ 1.750000
$ 0.78479340
$ 0.96520660
Percentage
100 %
44.845337 %
%
55.154663 %
%
%
ARE PRE
12/31/2015
1/15/2016
$ 0.403125
$ 0.18078276
$ 0.22234224
ARE PRE
3/31/2016
4/15/2016
0.403125
0.18078276
0.22234224
ARE PRE
6/30/2016
7/15/2016
0.403125
0.18078276
0.22234224
ARE PRE
9/30/2016
10/17/2016
0.403125
0.18078276
0.22234224
Total Series E Preferred Stock (Cusip # 015271703)
$ 1.612500
$ 0.72313104
$ 0.88936896
Percentage
100 %
44.845337 %
%
55.154663 %
%
%
(1) Qualified dividends are a subset of, and included in, the taxable ordinary dividend amount. (2) Unrecaptured section 1250 gain is a subset of, and included in, the total capital gain amount. (3) Represents a return of shareholder investment.
About Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) is an urban office REIT uniquely focused on collaborative life science and technology campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, with a total market capitalization of $14.2 billion and an asset base in North America of 25.2 million square feet as of December 31, 2016. The asset base in North America includes 19.9 million RSF of operating properties and development and redevelopment of new Class A properties (under construction or pre-construction) and 5.3 million square feet of future ground-up development projects. Alexandria pioneered this niche in 1994 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 Park. Alexandria has a longstanding and proven track record of developing Class A properties clustered in urban life science and technology campuses that provide its 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. For additional information on Alexandria, please visit www.are.com.
SOURCE Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.are.com
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ALIGNED BEVERAGE SOLUTIONS, launched January 1, 2017, brings an innovative and cutting-edge approach to the sales and marketing of alcoholic beverage brands in the U.S. The full service sales & marketing firm is a collaboration between industry professionals, Hans Christian Holst, Chairman, and Jay Harkins, CEO. Collectively, they hold nearly 50 years of industry experience across several facets of the business.
The new company's business model and philosophy is based on delivering a flexible and hyper-focused strategy that is unique to each of their partner companies. After a 360 analysis of a brand and its related category, ABS develops and structures the plan centered around what is required to ensure that specific brand's success. This individualistic approach makes ALIGNED BEVERAGE SOLUTIONS a more forward-thinking and dynamic alternative to the more traditional route-to-market options available.
"I have known Hans for several years and I am excited to be working closely with him in this endeavor," said Jay Harkins, CEO. "With consolidation on both the supplier and wholesaler levels at an all time high, the industry continues to present countless challenges for brands trying to penetrate the barriers of entry."
Hans Christian Holst commented on the venture by saying, "We are very pleased to introduce ALIGNED BEVERAGE SOLUTIONS to the wine and spirits industry. In this rapidly evolving market, we have seen a great need in the US for a firm that is more adaptive and flexible in focusing on the precise needs of individual brands."
Hans Christian Holst has 25 years of brand-building experience with companies including Conjure Cognac, The Island Rum Company and Arctic Beverage Group, where he co-founded Beso Del Sol Sangria. Hans is currently the Global CEO of Arctic Beverage Group in Norway and also serves as the Chairman for the fastest growing Cuban Rum, Black Tears by Vigia.
Jay Harkins holds more than two decades of experience including senior positions with Southern Wine & Spirits of NY and Domaine Select Wine Estates. In 2012, he co-founded Blackheath Beverage Group, which grew to represent a portfolio that generated nearly $20m in annual revenues within 18 months.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Erin Colantoni
Aligned Beverage Solutions
60 E 42nd Street, Ste. 4600
New York, NY 10165
212.324.1714
[email protected]
www.alignedbeveragesolutions.com
SOURCE Aligned Beverage Solutions
Related Links
http://www.alignedbeveragesolutions.com
NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. David Norris, Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has become the new President of American Skin Association (ASA). Dr. Norris will be taking over the position from Dr. Philip Prioleau, who has held the position since 2014. Prior to Dr. Prioleau's tenure, the position of President was held by ASA Founder Dr. George W. Hambrick, Jr. for over 25 years.
Dr. Norris has been on the faculty of the University of Colorado for 39 years and has supervised 25 trainees, many of whom have entered academic careers. Dr. Norris has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1980. He is Director of the NIAMS-funded P30 Skin Diseases Research Core Center at the University of Colorado Denver and is co-Director, with Dr. Dennis Roop, of the NIAMS T32 training grant that has been funded for 34 years. This NIAMS supported Research Center is a consortium of 49 investigators. For 12 years, Dr. Norris has also been funded by a Department of Veterans Affairs Merit Award to study drug combinations that kill melanoma by overcoming anti-apoptotic defenses, especially in melanoma initiating cells.
"As Chairman of ASA, I would like to congratulate Dr. David Norris. He has been an integral member of the ASA team for twenty years and his insights and vision as our new President will help us to continue our most vital work of bettering the lives of those afflicted with skin cancers and diseases," said Howard P. Milstein.
Dr. Norris has been a part of ASA since 1997, serving on its Board of Directors and as the Chair of its Medical Advisory Committee (MAC). As Chair of ASA's MAC, which is composed of leading physicians and scientists, Dr. Norris has overseen the committee's annual grant review and award process. Under his leadership, the program has supported the work of investigators ranging from gifted young researchers in the earliest phases of their careers to recognized leaders in the field. The program also supports medical students committing themselves to the study of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.
Dr. Norris is an internationally renowned investigator in cutaneous immunology, cell biology and melanoma research. He began his research career studying mechanisms of cell death in photosensitive lupus and vitiligo, and made seminal discoveries regarding the role of ultraviolet light in inducing translocation of auto antigens to the plasma membrane in keratinocytes in photosensitive lupus. His interest in immune mechanisms in vitiligo led to many years of research in pigment cell biology, which eventually developed into studies of the resistance of melanocytes and melanoma to apoptosis. His current research, funded by NIAMS and the Department of Veterans Affairs, focuses on the network of anti-apoptotic defenses in the skin, how these defenses can be maintained in inflammatory and immunologic disease, and how they can be overcome in cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.
Dr. Norris has held many positions in academic dermatology. From 1989 to 1992, he was Editor of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, on the Program Committee from 1980-1985 and was President of the Society from 1998-1999. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Melanoma Research Foundation from 2003-2005. He has been a long-standing member of grant review committees for multiple Foundations: Dermatology Foundation (1985-1987, 2000), National Psoriasis Foundation (1998-present), ASA (1997-present), and National Alopecia Areata Foundation (1993-2010). Dr. Norris is Chairman of the Medical and Scientific Review Committee of the National Psoriasis Foundation (2003-present), Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council of NAAF (2003-2010), and Chairman of the MAC of ASA (2012-present).
ABOUT AMERICAN SKIN ASSOCIATION
A unique collaboration of patients, families, advocates, physicians and scientists, ASA has evolved over thirty years as a leading force in efforts to defeat melanoma, skin cancer and other skin diseases. Established to serve the now more than 100 million Americans one third of the U.S. population afflicted with skin disorders, the organization's mission remains to: advance research, champion skin health particularly among children, and drive public awareness about skin disease. For more information, visit americanskin.org.
SOURCE American Skin Association
Related Links
http://www.americanskin.org
DES MOINES Legislative Democrats and education lobbyists met Republicans proposal to increase state aid for K-12 public schools by $40 million a 1.11 percent bump with disappointment and outrage Monday at the state capitol.
In addition to what they called an inadequate funding level, Democrats in the Senate Education Committee railed against Republicans and said they were not told of the substance of the bill until only hours before a scheduled vote. That prevented them from consulting with constituents about its possible repercussions, Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said.
Im supposed to work with a bill with no input on what the effect will be, Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, said. What is the impact on rural schools? Is it going to mean consolidation? Is it going to mean closing? Is it going to mean more bussing?
There are a lot of unanswered questions.
Republican legislators said their proposed 1.11 percent increase to K-12 education funding which would raise the states per-pupil funding to $6,664 is in line with the states available revenue.
Funding for K-12 is approaching $3.2 billion.
Republican legislators have calculated they have about $200 million in new state revenue to spend in the fiscal 2018 budget, said Rep. Walt Rogers, R-Cedar Falls, chairman of the House Education Committee. Education and Medicaid are at the top of the list of priorities, along with public safety and corrections.
We just felt that $40 million of the new revenue was the appropriate amount of money that we could in good conscience give to K-12 education, he said. We are also looking at many ways to relieve pressure with district budgets by looking at inequities in district cost per pupil and flexibility of spending.
Education lobbyists told members of the House Education Committee the small increase could force cuts at school districts across the state.
We know that there are many, many issues that we need to work on and we appreciate that, but we also know that growth in funding for schools the last few years has been extremely low, said Tom Narak of the School Administrators of Iowa. And schools are getting into a crisis area.
Rep. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, called the GOPs proposed increase woefully inadequate given that state tax collections are projected to grow by 4.2 percent in the coming fiscal year and Republicans were proposing to boost state aid by $73 per pupil.
She said more than half of Iowas school districts have declining enrollment, which means property taxpayers will have to pitch in $23.64 million to make up for the lack of state supplemental aid.
I would like to think that we could do better than this, she said.
Gov. Terry Branstad who recommended a 2 percent increase in K-12 state aid for each of the next two fiscal years conceded his fellow Republicans were offering less than the $78.8 million he sought for fiscal 2018 and $63.5 million for the following year. But he applauded their willingness to decide the funding issue within the sessions first 30 days.
He also noted that K-12 schools were not being asked to take any cut in the current fiscal year due to lower-than-projected tax collections that are forcing nearly $118 million in adjustments by June 30.
But Winckler pointed out that Republican legislators were not abiding by state law that required the fiscal 2018 funding level for K-12 schools to be established last session and the fiscal 2019 aid total to be set this February.
Rep. Rogers said legislators may look at the fiscal 2019 school aid funding issue once they get the March state revenue estimate.
Dr. Murray will be critical to driving new innovations in product development for Enzymedica, as well as leading research efforts to create next generation formulas that will be groundbreaking for the industry.
In addition to his role with Enzymedica, Dr. Murray will be working closely with the Roskamp Institute in Sarasota, Fl. This non-profit organization is performing cutting edge research for organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD) and the European Union (EU). Roskamp is renowned for their team's research on Alzheimer's disease, Gulf War Illness, and other complex diseases. Dr. Murray and the Institute will be developing better answers for improving brain health, the human microbiome and digestion.
Enzymedica's strategic relationship with the Roskamp Institute gives it the resources and expertise critical for providing innovative, science-based natural products, furthering its contribution to digestive health. This close partnership is further demonstrated by Sensenbrenner, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Roskamp Institute.
Dr. Murray says, "I am thrilled to be part of the team at both Enzymedica and the Roskamp Institute. It is a dream come true."
Sensenbrenner and Dr. Murray previously worked together in the 1990s at Enzymatic Therapy, which was later acquired by the German company Dr. Wilmarr Schwabe Pharmaceuticals.
For media requests, please contact:
Ryan Sensenbrenner
[email protected]
771 Commerce Drive
Venice, FL 34292
Phone: 888.918.1118
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
[email protected]
About Enzymedica:
Florida-based Enzymedica, Inc. was founded in 1998 to offer consumers targeted enzyme products, and only uses the highest quality vegetarian enzyme sources available. Digest and Digest Gold are the two top-selling digestive enzymes in the U.S. market according to SPINS, a market research and consulting firm for the Natural Products Industry. Enzymedica is a proud supporter of many green initiatives, including use of solar energy, recycled steel for its building and recycled paper for packing and shipping. Enzymedica also sponsors initiatives in autism, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) of Sarasota, and others.
About Dr. Murray:
Dr. Murray is one of the world's leading authorities on natural medicine. He has published over 30 books featuring natural approaches to health. He is a graduate, former faculty member, and serves on the Board of Regents of Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington.
SOURCE Enzymedica, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.enzymedica.com
GLENVIEW, Ill., Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Argo Translation has officially moved into its new headquarters at 1884 Johns Drive in Glenview, Illinois.
Argo Translation town hall and collaboration space Argo Translation project management area
The 2,800-square-foot facility houses the company's main corporate office and includes space for its project managers, sales, marketing and administrative team members. The new location features offices, a large conference room, a collaboration room, and a visually stunning town hall room with lunch and lounge areas, kitchen, and more collaborative space. Upgrades were made to the phone and server systems, fiber connectivity and redundancy; in addition, performance dashboards are now displayed throughout the building on large-screen televisions.
Argo spent 14 years in 1,600 square feet space in an office park on Ravine Way in Glenview, but "things were getting pretty cramped," founder Peter Argondizzo said.
"I wanted to make sure we have good space to collaborate with co-workers, contractors, and clients. In this new space, employees can easily work in groups, and it invites them to take breaks, a very important part of working in a fast-paced environment like ours," Argondizzo said.
The Johns Drive location has "room to grow," he said, looking toward the future.
"Argo Translation is fun place to work; you can sense it when you walk in the door," he said. "I feel this is the perfect environment for the type of work we do."
The company maintains a satellite office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the city in which Argo was founded.
ABOUT ARGO TRANSLATION
Argo Translation provides specialized and professional language translation services for all industries. With teams of linguists around the world, Argo is able to capture not only the technical meaning but also the appropriate and necessary cultural understanding for all translations. Dedicated project management teams, updated technology, and professional translators help businesses connect across language barriers in all domains, including legal, technical, marketing, financial, and more. Argo Translation is a complete translation department for businesses around the world. More information is available at: http://www.argotrans.com/
Contact
Susan Dawson-O'Brien / 405.641.1087 / [email protected]
SOURCE Argo Translation
Related Links
http://www.argotrans.com
Boxed wine has been gaining continued consumer acceptance with the proven quality, value, and the added benefits of sustainability and convenience. Made at Delicato's certified sustainable winery in California, each 3L box contains the equivalent of four bottles of wine and lasts four weeks.
"The trade and consumers are increasingly appreciating the quality and value of Bota Box, and boxed wine in general," noted President and CEO Chris Indelicato. "Wine occasions now expand far beyond the dinner table, and Bota Box offers wine drinkers an environmentally-friendly way to bring their favorite varietals anywhere they go, or enjoy the convenience at home. The Bota Box consumer is adventurous, environmentally-minded and economically savvy but also social and sophisticated when it comes to wine."
Gene Sullivan, EVP, General Manager, SGWS of Florida added, "SGWS of Florida is thrilled to be the state that received the 5 millionth case of the dynamic Bota Box brand. Bota Box is perfectly positioned to take advantage of current consumer trends looking for both quality and value in their selection. Congratulations and on to 6 million cases!"
The Bota Box portfolio includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Old Vine Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and two Red Blends: Redvolution and Nighthawk Black. Bota Box wine is available in 3-liter and 1.5-liter BPA free Mylar bags in 100% recyclable boxes and in 500ml Tetra Pak.
Launched in 2003, Bota Box was created in the spirit of the traditional Spanish wine skin known as a "Bota" used to carry wine for centuries. The Bota bag gained global popularity in the 1960s and 1970s with hikers, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts and eco-conscious consumers who wanted to bring wine on adventures without the weight, waste and inconvenience of glass bottles.
For more information about Bota Box, visit www.botabox.com or www.facebook.com/botabox.
*xAOC Liquor Plus, 12/03/16
About Delicato Family Vineyards
Delicato Family Vineyards is a pioneering family-owned California winery founded in 1924. Four generations of the Indelicato family have guided grapes from vineyard to bottle and into homes and dining establishments around the world. Delicato Family Vineyards produces and represents wines of the highest quality made in accordance with sustainable winegrowing practices. For more information, visit www.delicato.com.
SOURCE Delicato Family Vineyards
Related Links
http://www.delicato.com
"San Antonio is an important market for us and one that continues to experience substantial growth," said Eric Evans, President of Hospital Operations for Tenet Healthcare, the parent company of Baptist Health System. "We believe that having two strong operators in place will assist us in enhancing key service lines and delivering an even greater care experience to patients."
Pilgrim previously served as Senior Vice President responsible for acquisition, corporate partnership, business development and marketing strategy out of Tenet's corporate office in Dallas. The opportunity to return to San Antonio, which Pilgrim called home from 2003 to 2012, is a welcome career move. Pilgrim's more than 30 years in healthcare include positions with Ernst & Young, OrNda Healthcorp and Vanguard Health Systems.
"I am excited to return to San Antonio, a city where I have deep roots and relationships," said Pilgrim. "Baptist Health System is an outstanding provider of care, and I look forward to working closely with Graham, the leadership teams, physicians and caregivers to build upon the successes of this great system."
Under Reeve's tenure, the system opened Mission Trail Baptist Hospital and completed two major expansions at North Central, including the recently opened orthopedic institute. He also helped the system become a pioneer in bundled payments and established the first Accountable Care Organization in San Antonio.
"We've grown considerably in San Antonio, but I'm most proud of the Baptist team of clinicians and staff who provide compassionate care to our patients every day," Reeve said. "I am happy to welcome my friend and colleague Trip back to San Antonio and excited by the prospect of working together again to serve our community. Additionally, my new role will allow me to spend more time in the hospitals, which has always been my passion."
Media Contact:
Trish DeBerry, 210-223-2772
SOURCE Baptist Health System
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Barite Market: Overview
Barite, also known as baryte, is a milky white crystalline mineral mostly composed of barium sulfate. It has one of the highest specific gravities among all weighting agents. Barite is widely used as a weighting agent, filler agent, and extenders. It is employed in oil & gas industry, rubber industry, plastics industry, etc. It is also used in pharmaceutical applications such as production of barium meals for body tissue radiography. Barite is processed in various grades based upon specific gravity, with each grade used for various purposes.
The report estimates and forecasts the barite market on the global, regional, and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the barite market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market.
Global Barite Market: Scope of the Study
The report analyzes opportunities in the barite market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes substitute analysis of barite and global average price trend analysis.
The report includes Porter's Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the barite market. It comprises qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users and countries have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for barite between 2016 and 2024.
Global Barite Market: Segmentations
The study provides comprehensive view of the barite market by dividing it into grade, application and geography. The barite market has been segmented by grade into Up to Sp. Gr. 3.9, Sp. Gr. 4.0, Sp. Gr. 4.1, Sp. Gr. 4.2, and Sp. Gr. 4.3 and above. Based on application the market is segmented as Drilling Mud, Pharmaceuticals, Rubber & Plastics, and Others (Paints & coatings, Paper & Pulp, etc.).The segments have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends.
Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for barite in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Key countries such as the U.S., France, Germany, Norway, the U.K., China, India, ASEAN, South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil have been included in the study. Market segmentation includes demand for individual grade and application in all the regions and countries.
Global Barite Market: Competitive Analysis
The report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Major players profiled in the report include Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation Limited, Halliburton Company, Excalibar Minerals LLC, P & S Barite Mining Co. Ltd., CIMBAR Performance Minerals, and Anglo Pacific Minerals. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).
Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.
In-depth interviews and discussions with wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players' product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis team's expertise and market understanding.
The global barite market has been segmented as follows:
Barite Market Grade Analysis
Up to Sp. Gr. 3.9
Gr. 4.0
Gr. 4.1
Gr. 4.2
Gr. 4.3 and above
Barite Market End User Analysis
Drilling Mud
Pharmaceuticals
Rubber & Plastics
Others (Paints, Coatings, Paper, Pulp. etc.)
Barite Market Regional Analysis
North America
U.S.
Canada
Europe
Germany
France
Russia
U.K.
Norway
Rest of Europe
Asia Pacific
China
India
Oceania
ASEAN
Rest of Asia Pacific
Middle East & Africa
GCC
Northern Africa
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Rest of Latin America
Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04662501-summary/view-report.html
About Reportlinker
ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.
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SOURCE Reportlinker
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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel, the leading global engineering, procurement, and construction firm, was honored by the American Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi (AmCham Abu Dhabi) with the prestigious "Falcon Award" for "demonstrating an outstanding commitment to sustainable U.S.-U.A.E. business relations." The official announcement for the award took place at the AmCham Abu Dhabi 7th Annual Excellence Awards on January 27.
"Winning the 'Falcon Award' is a great recognition of Bechtel's proud 50-year history in U.A.E." said Sherif Zaki, U.A.E. Country Manager. "We look forward to connecting communities in the U.A.E. for decades to come."
Bechtel is currently developing the Al Taweelah Alumina Refinery and Borouge 3 petrochemicals complex and has played a significant leadership role in developing several megaprojects in the U.A.E. since 1962, including the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi. Through its membership with AmCham Abu Dhabi, Bechtel also promotes the professional development of women through the chamber's "Women Achieve" program.
AmCham Abu Dhabi serves as a member of the global network of American Chambers of Commerce and has worked to promote commerce and investment between the U.S. and the U.A.E. since 1986.
About Bechtel:
Bechtel is one of the most respected global engineering, construction, and project management companies. Together with our customers, we deliver landmark projects that foster long-term progress and economic growth. Since 1898, we've completed more than 25,000 extraordinary projects across 160 countries on all seven continents. We operate through four global businesses: Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Oil, Gas & Chemicals; and Mining & Metals. Our company and our culture are built on more than a century of leadership and a relentless adherence to our values, the core of which are safety, quality, ethics, and integrity. These values are what we believe, what we expect, what we deliver, and what we live. www.bechtel.com
Media contacts:
Adi Raval
T: +1 571 392 3861
C: +1 571 471 9732
[email protected]
SOURCE Bechtel
Related Links
http://www.bechtel.com
Mr. Cramer is a managing shareholder of Berger & Montague, P.C. in Philadelphia, and Co-Chair of the firm's antitrust department. He has repeatedly been selected by Chambers & Partners as a top tier antitrust lawyer; highlighted by The Legal 500 as one of the country's top lawyers in the field of complex antitrust litigation; and been deemed one of the "Best Lawyers in America." In 2014, he was selected by Philadelphia Magazine as one of the top 100 lawyers in Philadelphia and, also in 2014, received an "Honorable Mention" for Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement in Private Law from the American Antitrust Institute for his work in the Marchbanks v. Comdata matter, in which as co-lead counsel, he achieved a $130 million settlement on behalf of a class of independent truck stops.
He is currently co-lead counsel in multiple antitrust class actions, and is responsible for winning numerous significant settlements totaling well over $2 billion. He is Vice President of the Board of Directors of the American Antitrust Institute; was a past President of COSAL (Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws), a leading industry group; serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Consumer Antitrust Studies of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law; and is member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Public Justice, a leading trial lawyer organization and public interest law firm.
Additionally, Mr. Cramer has written widely relating to class certification and antitrust law, including co-authoring The Puzzle of Class Actions with Uninjured Members, 82 G.W. L. Rev. 858, 859 (May 2014), which the First Circuit cited in In re Nexium Antitrust Litigation, 777 F.3d 9, 27 (1st Cir. 2015), and Antitrust, Class Certification, and the Politics of Procedure, 17 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 4 (2010) (http://ssrn.com/abstract=1578459), which was also cited in Nexium as well as in the Third Circuit's decision in Behrend v. Comcast Corp., 655 F.3d 182, 200, n.10 (3d Cir. 2011), rev'd, 133 S. Ct. 1426 (2013).
Mr. Cramer is a summa cum laude graduate of Princeton University (1989), where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School with a J.D. in 1993.
The American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law is the leading professional organization for antitrust and competition law, trade regulation, consumer protection, and economics. Its members include attorneys and non-lawyers from private law firms, in-house counsel, nonprofit organizations, consulting firms, federal and state government agencies, as well as judges, professors, and law students.
Since its founding in 1970, Berger & Montague has litigated many of the most significant civil antitrust cases alleging price fixing and monopoly abuse. The firm has also played a principal role in obtaining over one billion dollars in settlements from drug companies alleged to have impeded the entry of generics and artificially inflated drug prices. As a result of its successes and the skill, reputation, and experience of the firm's antitrust lawyers, Berger & Montague is routinely appointed by federal courts to serve in leadership roles in complex antitrust class action cases.
Please contact:
Eric L. Cramer
Berger & Montague, P.C.
1622 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone: (215) 875-3009
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bergermontague.com
SOURCE Berger & Montague, P.C.
Related Links
http://www.bergermontague.com
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Blink Fitness, the premium-quality, value-based fitness club, announced today that it has signed a development agreement with franchise industry veteran Dean Panos to open five Blink Fitness locations in Central New York. Panos's clubs will join the more than 70 corporate-owned and operated locations open or in development throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
"I'm excited to introduce Blink to Central New York," said Panos, a Syracuse native whose family owned and operated 8 McDonald's restaurants in the Syracuse, Oswego and Auburn markets for over 45 years. "Blink is a great fit for the community and, beyond its beautifully-designed gyms, the brand's focus on how working out makes you feel rather than exclusively on how it makes you look is groundbreaking. Blink's thoughtful design, friendliness and impeccable cleanliness mirror how we ran our restaurants and played a big part in attracting me to the brand."
Panos's Blink Fitness gyms will be the first locations for the brand in Central New York. Site selection is currently underway for the first location, with the goal to open in late 2017. This multi-unit deal signifies meaningful growth for the brand as it plans for continued franchise and corporate expansion nationwide.
"We are truly pleased to welcome Dean into the Blink family. His franchise experience is incredible and he's also a tremendous cultural fit for us," said Todd Magazine, president of Blink Fitness. "We're looking forward to expanding into the Syracuse area. Blink offers a luxury member experience at an affordable price, and we're confident that Central New York will respond enthusiastically."
Aiming toward 300 locations over the next five years through franchise and corporate growth, Blink Fitness intends to transform the attitude Americans have towards exercise. Recently dubbed 'the Target of gyms' by Yahoo! Finance, Blink offers a distinguishing Feel Good Experience, with a commitment to providing modern and colorful design, elevated customer service, a relentless focus on cleanliness, energizing music and confidence-boosting training programsall while offering memberships at a low cost (starting at just $15 per month).
Blink is also on a mission to change the rhetoric around fitness through its Mood Above Muscle philosophy. While the majority of the fitness industry touts unrealistic goals and perfect body images, Blink breaks an industry paradigm by celebrating the positive feeling their members get from working out as opposed to just the physical benefits. This concept comes to life in the company's latest ad campaign, "Every Body Happy," which features real Blink members of all shapes and fitness levels.
About Blink Fitness
Founded in 2011, Blink Fitness is a premium quality, value-based fitness brand with more than 70 locations open or in development throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Blink Fitness puts Mood Above Muscle which celebrates the positive feeling you get from exercise, not just the physical benefits. Each club employs the company's signature Feel Good Experience that highlights enthusiastic staff members, a clean environment, an open, spacious, and colorful design, energizing music and fitness training that is motivating and affordable.
For more information about Blink, visit blinkfitness.com. Franchising details are available on blinkfranchising.com. Blink Fitness has franchise opportunities available nationwide with a focus on the following markets: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Tampa and several areas of Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Facebook: BlinkFitness
Twitter: @BlinkFitness
Instagram: @Blink_Fitness
SOURCE Blink Fitness
Related Links
http://blinkfitness.com
LONDON, Jan. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- About Blood Bank Refrigerators
The demand for blood products is likely to grow during the forecast period due to an increase in the incidence of diseases in the US, which is home to the fastest growing elderly population. This might escalate the number of chronic and age-related diseases, necessitating an increase in blood transfusion as a part of treatment. This has made it indispensable for hospitals and diagnostic centers to employ highly specialized refrigeration equipment to ensure the proper preservation and storage of blood units, which can be made immediately available for transfusion or research purposes. Considering the lack of an adequate supply of blood in the US, organizations such as the American Association of Blood Banks have set stringent guidelines to ensure appropriate storage and supply, thereby forcing end-users such as blood banks and hospitals to use highly efficient cold storage systems to store blood units.
Technavio's analysts forecast the blood bank refrigerator market in the US to grow at a CAGR of 5.79% during the period 2017-2021.
Covered in this report
The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the blood bank refrigerator market in the US for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of blood bank refrigerators in the US.
Technavio's report, Blood Bank Refrigerators Market in the US 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.
Key vendors
- Biomedical Solutions
- B Medical Systems
- Helmer Scientific
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
Other prominent vendors
- ARCTIKO
- Bionics Scientific Technologies
- Dometic
- Dulas
- Haier
- Glen Dimplex
- Kirsch
- LABCOLD
- Lorne Laboratories
- Macro Scientific Works
- REMI GROUP
- Sure Chill
- Vestfrost Solutions
Market driver
- Growing number of blood banks
- For a full, detailed list, view our report
Market challenge
- Uncertain performance of temperature alarm system
- For a full, detailed list, view our report
Market trend
- Developments in monitoring systems
- For a full, detailed list, view our report
Key questions answered in this report
- What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?
- What are the key market trends?
- What is driving this market?
- What are the challenges to market growth?
- Who are the key vendors in this market space?
- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?
You can request one free hour of our analyst's time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.
Methodology
Research methodology is based on extensive primary and secondary research. Primary research includes in-depth interviews with industry experts, vendors, resellers and customers. Secondary research includes Technavio Platform, industry publications, company reports, news articles, analyst reports, trade associations and the data published by Government agencies.
Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4647401/
About Reportbuyer
Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers
http://www.reportbuyer.com
For more information:
Sarah Smith
Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 208 816 85 48
Website: www.reportbuyer.com
SOURCE ReportBuyer
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SEATTLE, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Blueprint Registry, the only all-in-one gift registry based on the layout of your home, today announced they now offer the lowest credit card processing fee among cash gifts and honeymoon registries within the $55 billion dollar wedding industry. At a flat rate of 2.5%, Blueprint's credit card processing fee is approximately 5% less than their competitors. With the average cash registry valued at around $2,000.00, Blueprint Registry will save couples an average of $100 in fees.
Blueprint Registry features an array of products from well-known retailers including Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, Target, Williams-Sonoma and West Elm and many more, while also offering the lowest credit card processing fees in the industry at 2.5%. Blueprint Registry offers convenient features such as importing existing registries, ability to add a gift from any retailer, honeymoon registry, cash registry and group gifting. Blueprint Registry is an all-in-one registry platform.
In addition, Blueprint Registry announced the launch of two new features that allow users to aggregate existing registries into one account: one-time import and automatic import. The one-time import feature allows customers who have previously created one or multiple registries to import their existing registries from any retailer with just one click, instantly adding those items to their Blueprint Registry.
Blueprint Registry's automatic import works with major retailers including Target, Crate & Barrel, Macy's and more. This feature not only imports an existing registry, but continually updates product details including pricing, availability, quantity and purchase status, in real time, without requiring any work from the engaged couple.
Paired with the lowest credit card processing fee in the industry, the launch of these new features continues Blueprint's mission to provide couples with an all-in-one platform through which they can seamlessly register for products from top retailers with ease.
"We are seeing a major growth in the use of the honeymoon registry and cash gifts, with 70% of couples registering for at least one cash or honeymoon gift. Creating a honeymoon fund or a cash registry can be a great starting point as you begin your new life together. For many, getting married is the beginning of a new financial future as you work together to save for buying a home, paying off loans, planning for kids, etc. At Blueprint Registry, we believe couples deserve to get the most out of their cash and honeymoon registry. That is why Blueprint is taking a stand against hidden fees and working hard to ensure customers get the most for their money" said Nevin Shetty, CEO of Blueprint Registry.
With a current month-over-month growth rate of 35% month-over-month and over $10M in sales since their launch in 2014, Blueprint Registry now plans to expand their platform in 2017 to cover life's other biggest milestones. This will broaden their offering to include baby registries, dorm registries and more. In advance of this expansion, the company has already added new major retailers, including Target, Macy's, Food52, etc.
Blueprint Registry recently completed the first Target + Techstars accelerator program and has since raised a little more than $1 million in seed funding.
Becoming a member of Blueprint Registry is free for both engaged couples and guests. To register, or for more information, http://www.blueprintregistry.com.
About Blueprint Registry:
At Blueprint Registry, we are redening the registry experience by making it more convenient, personal and visual. Our signature room-by-room shopping experience allows you to browse an extensive product catalog in a more visual way, so that you can see exactly what you want, need and desire for your new life together. Blueprint features an array of products from well-known retailers including Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, Target, Williams-Sonoma and West Elm and many more, while also offering the lowest credit card processing fees in the industry at 2.5%. Blueprint Registry offers convenient features such as importing existing registries, ability to add a gift from any retailer, honeymoon registry, cash registry and group gifting. Blueprint Registry is an all-in-one registry platform.
Media Contact :
Sara Morgan
Eleven Eleven PR
703-298-2243
[email protected]
SOURCE Blueprint Registry
Related Links
http://www.blueprintregistry.com